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THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE AWRITER’S KOLKATA,LATECITY REVOLT DECEMBER6,2020 Acampaign of hate brought 14PAGES,`5.00 Perumal Murugan, SHareesh (EX-KOLKATA`7,`12INNORTHEASTSTATES&ANDAMAN) to mainstream attention DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI,JAIPUR,KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM PAGES 11, 12, 13

Govt seeks OFFER TO AMEND LAWS TURNED DOWN Cleared in UK, Pfizer foot in to first in India to apply make IIMs Farmershardenstance,Govtweighs more easily for emergency use options,Housesessionnotruledout an application on December 4to PAYALBANERJEE the DCGI seeking emergency use fall in line NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 authorisation (EUA) forits Covid- As unionsinsist 19 vaccine," asource said. "The Education Ministry PFIZER INDIA has becomethe firm has submitted the EUAap- on repeal of laws, seekspowers to firstpharmaceutical firm to seek plication in Form CT-18for grant Govt says will from the Drugs Controller of permission to importand checkBoardonIIM General of India (DCGI)emer- market Pfizer-BioNTech'sCovid- getbackwith gency use authorisation forits 19 mRNAvaccine BNT162b2 in Act‘violations’ Covid-19vaccine in the country, the country,"the source said, cit- proposal on Dec 9 afterits parent companysecured ing the application. suchclearance in the UK and VKPaul, who chairs the RITIKACHOPRA Bahrain. high-levelNational Expert NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 HARIKISHANSHARMA In itsapplication to thedrug Group on Vaccine &LIZMATHEW regulator,Pfizer has soughtper- Administration, had earlier IN WHATmarksasignificant re- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 missiontoimportthe vaccine for spelledout India’s strategy with versal of itsearlier stance, the sale and distribution in the coun- respect to candidates likePfizer Government is exploring op- THE CENTRAL government try, besides waiver of clinical tri- and Moderna whichhaveshown tions that could, in effect, erode found itself hemmedinon als on Indian population in ac- positive resultsinPhase III the autonomyofthe Indian Saturday withfarmer unions cordance with the special abroad but arenot being tested InstitutesofManagement (IIMs). once again taking amaximalist provisions under the NewDrugs here. “Weknowthat doses of Almostthreeyearsaftergrant- position demanding arepeal of and Clinical TrialsRules, 2019,of- this vaccine(Pfizer) will notbe ing autonomytothe 20 premier all three farm laws. ficial sources said. available in hugequantities...If businessschoolsundertheIIMAct, To resolve thestand-off,an "Pfizer India has submitted CONTINUEDONPAGE2 theMinistryofEducation(MoE)is option to convene aspecial consideringaproposalempower- Parliament session is being con- ing the Government to initiatean sidered,asenior government Representativesoffarmer unionsbroughttheir ownfood forthe meeting at Vigyan Bhawan, in NewDelhionSaturday. ANI inquiryagainstthe Boardof source told TheIndianExpress.“It SUNDAY STORY Governors (BoG) of an instituteif is notruledout, but no decision it’s ostensiblyfoundtobeacting, has been taken,” the source said whattheGovernmentthinks,isin to aquestion if aspecial session ROLLING OUT contravention of theAct. wasbeingconsidered. GOVTINABIND No politics, only farmissues:Ateam THE VACCINE The MoE recentlyshared a On Thursday, Leader of ■With so manyvoices Backend preparations draftexecutive orderwith the Opposition forCongress in the from 40 farmerunion monitorsthe stage, decides speakers forthe mammothexercise LawMinistrytothis effect and Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan representatives, the of inoculating lakhs has sought ameeting to discuss Chowdhurywrote to Speaker Om government finds itself in the same, The SundayExpress has Birla requesting ashort winter abind.Itarguesthatithas AMILBHATNAGAR PAGE 7 learned. If okayedbythe Law session of Parliament to address madekey concessions, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 Ministry, theorder will be issued “veryimportant issues” including from paritybetween under Section 38 of the IIM Act. the “ongoing farmers agitation”. mandisand private MORE THAN 500people sit Section 38 states, “If anydiffi- But sources in the Speaker's office markets, setting up a cross-legged listening to Covaxin volunteerVij culty arises in giving effect to the said the government had notyet registrationsystemfor speeches blaring out of two provisions of this Act, the Central discussedsuchapossibility. traders and giving loudspeakers fixedatopatrac- Government may, by order pub- On Saturday, talksbetween assurances on MSPbut tor, as farm leaders address them testspositive,govt says lishedinthe Official Gazette, the government and represen- farmersare insistent on a from the main stageatSinghu on makesuchprovisions notincon- tativesoffarmerunions repeal. With littleelbow the Delhi-Haryana border —the CONTINUEDONPAGE2 focal point of their agitation. Diljit Dosanjh at the protestatSinghu border on Saturday. ANI sistent with the provisions of this room politically,its ally was yet to get full dose Act, asmayappeartoittobenec- gone and the Opposition Their stand resoluteagainstthe essaryorexpedientforremoving lending itsweighttothe farm laws,and conscious of at- the difficulty.” The MoE onlyhas JAISHANKAR TO SKIP tempts to painttheiragitation as makes it to the stage, the vetting teers. Details of the speakers are CANADAMEETING protests, anyresolution athree-year windowact under seems achallenge. dictated by vested interests,the handedovertoamanagement carefullymaintained, and chits EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE this Section. That windowexpires MORE REPORTS, PAGE 6 protesters arecareful of who committee, including volun- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CHANDIGARH,NEWDELHI, on January31, 2021. DECEMBER5 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 TWOWEEKSafter takingthe firstdose as partofthe trials for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vac- PM to layfoundation stone for new cine, Haryana HealthMinister Anil Vij, 67,announcedon Saturdaythat he washospi- Parliament building on December 10 talisedafter testing positive for Anil Vijinhospital after thecoronavirus. testingpositive on Saturday Vijwas thefirstvolunteerfor the Covaxin Phase III human tri-

LIZMATHEW alsinHaryana, as partofwhich ED NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 around 600people in the state Two-dose and over 25,000 across the vaccine PRIME MINISTER Narendra countryare enrolled—half of PLAIN E ● candidate Modi will laythe foundation them receiving aplacebo as part EX stone forthe newParliament of the"double blind"study.The buildingonDecember 10,and Union Health Ministryaswell COVAXIN IS meanttobe the ceremonywill be attended as officials conducting the trials takenovertwo doses, and T-108, with thesnare-like wirecoiledaroundits neck. Express by leaders and representatives in the statesaid Vij's infection on November 20, Anil Vijre- of all parties who will be present could notbeattributedtothe ceived the firstshot(witha physicallyorvia virtual mode. vaccine, as even if he was 50% chance of it having Ranthambore camera Making this announcement amongthe volunteers who got been aplacebo). Both the at apress conference Saturday, Amodel of the newParliament building whichisestimated to cost Rs 971crore. PTI the vaccine,itwas only the first government and Bharat Speaker Om Birla said: “We of twodoses, and sufficientan- Biotech said antibodies startedthe journeyofindepend- tibodies onlydevelop afterthe were meant to develop only traps find wire noose entIndia in the old building, and building… It will notbeabuild- The building, he said, will re- terms of architecture, modernity second. twoweeksafter the second when we complete 75 years, we ing of bricksandstones,itwill be flect the country's diversity and and safety. Adiabetic, Vijrecentlyunder- dose, with the whole will have the session of both the fulfilmentofthe dreams of richart culture, and will be the “The present Parliament went asurgeryafterfracturing his process spread over 42 days. around tiger’sneck Houses in the newParliament 130crore people.” best Parliament building in CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2

day—one wasofFriday morn- DEEPMUKHERJEE ing while the other wasfromthe WORLD GOVT &POLITICS JAIPUR,DECEMBER5 night before —whichshowed TMC leader’s murder case :MukulRoy the tiger,T-108,with awiretan- ASTATEWIDE alertagainst gled around its neck. It wasa poaching has been issuedafter matterofconcern. The field di- named in CID’s supplementary chargesheet cameratraps in and around the rector contacted us to seekper- RanthamboreTiger Reserve cap- mission fortranquilising the courtofAdditional Chief Judicial said: “Atleast45cases arepend- tured images of atiger with a tiger,” said Arijit Banerjee, SWEETYKUMARI MagistrateatRanaghat in Nadia ing againstme. Idonot believe hunting snare-likewirenoose Additional Principal Chief U.S. COURT ORDERS KOLKATA,DECEMBER5 district. in politics of violence. Ihave coiledaround itsneck. Conservator of Forests(Forest REINSTATEMENT OF According to sources, Roy's neverindulged in it when Iwas DACA TO PROTECT Stateforestdepartment offi- Protection) and officiating Chief WESTBENGALCID on Saturday BJP leader name allegedly croppedupdur- with TMC, and even nowwhen I BJP TOLD CONG MLAS cialssaidthetiger,T-108,wastran- WildlifeWarden, Rajasthan. IMMIGRANTS namedBJP national vice-presi- Mukul Roy ing thecourseofinvestigation. am with another political party, quilisedandthewireremovedon Banerjee said permission dent Mukul Royinthe second He has also been questionedby Irefrainfromsuchthings.” RAJASTHAN WILL BE Saturday. Thedepartmenthasor- wassought from the National RUSSIA STARTS supplementarychargesheetin the CID earlier,following which He added, “Theycannot SIXTH GOVT TO BE dered an inquiryintothe issue. TigerConservation Authority MASS SPUTNIK V connection withthe murder of said sources. he had secured an anticipatory arrest me. Istill have two TOPPLED: GEHLOT “Two images from separate (NTCA)totranquilise the animal. VACCINATION PAGE 10 Trinamool Congress MLAfrom The second supplementary bail from the high courtlastyear. months’ time.” PAGE 5 cameratraps were seenyester- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Krishnaganj Satyajit Biswas, chargesheetwas filedinthe Speaking to reporters, Roy CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Kerala polls new chapter in love story starting from Dantewada accident

PAGE 1 lifefor the young woman from people in fluentMalayalam. Vikas away on time, saving his initiallyhedid notknowJyoti posedthe match. So, one day, ANCHOR Bacheli in Dantewada district. Jyotisays theJanuary3, life, but getting herright arm had losther arm tryingtosave she walked out of her home and Shewent on to marry PVVikas, 2010,accident had cut shorther crushedbetween the bus and him. “Atthe hospital, aco- travelledtoPalakkadalong with aCISF personnel from Kerala dream of serving people as a the truck. passengertoldmewhat had Vikas. In April 2011,theygot and the stranger who had been nurse. "If elected,Ihope that Shewas rushed to alocal happened. Iwas moved. When married. SHAJUPHILIP her fellowpassenger on the bus dream will blossom in anew hospital and later to aspecialty Iasked her whyshe triedtosave With Vikas's CISF job taking THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, thatmet withanaccident. way." hospital in Raipur,whereher astranger,Jyoti said she is a him across the country, Jyoti DECEMBER5 NowJyoti Vikas, she is con- That day, Jyotihad been arm wasamputated belowthe nursingstudentand could not staysathometakingcareof testing as aBJP candidate from travelling home from her col- shoulder,shatteringher dreams justlook away." their young children.The deci- ELEVEN YEARS ago, while try- the Kollangode blockpanchayat legehostel. Vikas, who wason and those of her parents. “He Vikas says he felt responsi- sion to contestwas as instinc- ing to save astrangerfrombe- in Kerala’s Palakkad district, his waytoaCISF camp,sat in (Vikas) took me to hospitaland ble. “I thought Ishould give her tive as that day's 10 years ago. "I ingcrushedinabus accident in whichwill go to polls on the rowahead of her and was stayed therethroughout my anew life. That ledtothe mar- have notbeen active in the BJP. Chhattisgarh, nursing student December 10.Amother of two, dozingwhen she sawaspeed- treatment. He also paid the hos- riage proposal." But when BJP leaders asked me JyotiKundulosther right arm aged 8and 4, the 30-year-old ingtruckheading straight into JyotiVikasisaBJP candidatefromPalakkad's Kollangode pital bills," says Jyoti. However, Jyoti's family, par- to contest,Iagreed... Ithink till almosther shoulder.That has been drawing an enthusias- the bus. Realising what wasgo- block panchayat. Express Vikas, nowpostedat ticularly father Govind Kundu, politics would offermeanew markedthe beginning of anew tic response as she addresses ing to happen, Jyotipushed Coimbatoreairport, says that agovernment employee, op- avenue." Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THE SUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020

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Pfizer applies Other Punjabi artistes, in- The IIM Act, party's infighting.Ajoint team cluding Harbhajan Mann and whichcame into of the stateCID andNadia dis- for emergency Ranjit Bawa,havealsoshown effect on January trict police has arrested several up.Among those barredfrom 31,2018, gives Farmer unions harden stance, Govt people, including the main ac- use of its the stagewas Punjabi actor sweepingpowers cused,Abhijit Pundari, from Deep Sindhu, who had sparked to all 20 business Radhamohanpur in West vaccine arow withcommentsthat schools, including Midnapore.. this vaccinecandidatehas to were seenaspro-Khalistan. appointment of di- to get back with proposal on Dec 9 The false murder chargesheet come, and if we requireit, we Behindthe meticulous rectors, chairper- on Mukul Royshows howshe arepreparing ourselves... we checks is apprehension among sons and Board is trying to suppressthe oppo- have parallelplans,” Paul had farmers and their leaders of at- members. Earlier, remainedinconclusive.Bothsides, keydemands of farmers suchas Kumar Kakka, leader of Rashtriya repeal the three farm laws and sition by her conspiracy.When said. tempts to distract from the forinstance, the di- however, agreedtomeetagain on levelling the playingfieldbetween Kisan Mahasangh. makealaw forthe guaranteeof MamataBanerjee herself is a Forthe vaccine to be consid- main issues, and to paint the rector wasap- December 9. APMCmandis andprivate mar- When askedabout this, Tomar MSP,” said RashtriyaKisan guest forfew days,what's go- ered foruse here, the Indian protests as having been “organ- pointedbythe Briefing reporters aftera kets, mandatoryregistration of said,“Duringdiscussions,manyis- Mahasangh leader Kakka. ing to happen afterthis,she subsidiary of Pfizer will have to ised” by “certaingroups”. "We boardbut with the marathon five-hour session, traders,and recourse to civil courts sues come to thefore…Whatever To ademand that MSP be should thinkonce.” approachthe regulator and aremaking everyattempt pos- prior approval of Union AgricultureMinister when disputes arise, the govern- the outcome, it will be in thein- hardwiredintothe law, the Union Biswas wasshotdead from sharethe data it has submitted sible to ensurethis is purely the Appointments NarendraSingh Tomar told re- ment wastaken abackbythe terest of farmers.” ministers explainedthe difficulty apoint-blank rangewhen he to the UK regulator.“Theycan about farmers' issues and we Committee of the porters,“Thediscussiontookplace hardening of stance by farm TheAgriculture Ministersaid in doing this. “TheUnionMinisters wascoming down from adais then ask foranapprovaland, will notlet anyother issue hi- Cabinet(ACC) in averycordial atmosphere. We unions on Saturday. At one point, thegovernmentwasreadytotake said thereare different APMC during aSaraswati Puja cultural accordingly,the regulator will jackit," said ManjeetSingh of headedbythe said thereisnothreat to theyeventhreatenedtowalk out. steps to strengthen the APMCs. mandis across differentstates.The programme in the Nadia dis- take adecision,” an official had BKU (Doaba). “Our policyis Prime Minister. Minimum SupportPrice and any Sourcessaid Tomar offeredto “The APMC Actisastate Act. crops and the mandisystems also trict in February2019. told The Indian Express. very simple,ifsomeone comes The latestpro- doubt about it is completely un- amend some provisions of the Neither we have intentiontoaf- varyfrom statetostate.Wehaveto Initially,fivepeople were The UK on Wednesday be- up on the stageand says any- posal comes amid founded.” farm laws and even agreedtogive fect the state’s mandis northese discuss this with the officials and namedinthe FIR. Later,Biswas' came the firstcountry to ap- thing apartfromfarmer issues, the current stand- Representativesof40farmer awritten assurance on MSP and arebeing affectedby the newfarm other ministries. We will do the familylodged acomplaint provethe Pfizer/BioNTechvac- that person will notbeallowed offbetween the organisations participated in the procurement, but representatives laws.The government is ready to homework on that,”saidasource. against43people, including BJP cine againstCovid-19, with the again.” Government and meeting that commencedat2.30 of the farmersunions spurnedthe clear anydoubtsregarding the Ahead of the talksonSaturday, leaders Royand Sarkar.Inthe UK regulator Medicines and Makkhan Singh, convener of IIMs over theone- pm and continuedtill around 7 offer. APMCs,” he said. Prime MinisterNarendraModi supplementaryFIRs, names of HealthcareproductsRegulatory the Krantikari Kisan Union, year MBAdegree. pm. Tomar wasaccompaniedby Justbeforethe teabreak,the “Wewantedprecise sugges- discussed“various possibilities to both Royand Sarkar were in- Agencygranting temporaryau- Patiala, said, "Even if (Punjab The MoE, in July Ministerfor ConsumerAffairs and unions took out a‘YesorNo’ plac- tions from farm union represen- end the stalemate” with some cludedinthe listofaccused. thorisation forits emergency Chief Minister) Captain this year,had red- Food and Public Distribution ardseeking the government’s re- tativesonvarious subjects… This senior Cabinetcolleagues includ- Officialshaveaccusedthem of use. The British regulator said AmarinderSingh comes, he will flaggedthe one- PiyushGoyaland MinisterofState sponsetotheir demand that the would have made it easier forus ing Home MinisterAmitShah, being the mastermind behind the jab, whichclaims to offerup have to wait outside... Since Day year executive forCommerce and IndustrySom three laws be repealed“The min- to find away.Wewill wait forthat Defence Minister RajnathSingh, the murder. to 95 per cent protection 1wehavestatedthat this is not MBAdegree saying Prakash. isters were nottaking adecision. nowwhen we meet again on TomarandGoyal.Themeetingbe- The ruling TMC had alleged againstCOVID-19, is safefor apoliticalprotest. We arehere thatitis“notinac- In fact,despitespelling itsin- So we took a‘YesorNo’ placard December 9,” Tomar said. ganataround 10 am,and went on that it wasaplannedattackcar- roll-out. againstthe farm Bills andwe cordance with the tention on Thursday to address and showedittothem,” said Shiv “Ours is onlyone demand — till about 1pm. riedout by theBJP,whilethe Bahrain on Fridayalso an- want to ensurethat spirit. For UGC Regulations”. saffron party claimedthe mur- nouncedthatithas granted an that purpose, dedicated per- In other words, the der wasaresult of the ruling EUAfor the two-dose vaccine sons managethe stagesince University GrantsCommission notfeasible. During ajoint session, the dose. So, the complete cycle had said, "The firsttwo phases party's infighting.Ajoint team made by Pfizer and itsGerman someone can come and give (UGC)mandatesthataMaster’s The PMO, eventually, pre- newLok Sabha chamber will be takes42days.Inbetween there of the trials were forrestricted of the stateCID andNadia dis- partner BioNTech. The pharma provocative speeches and dis- degreeshould be of twoyears, vailed. The ministryhad to re- able to accommodate1224 is no protection." categories. But, this thirdphase trict police has arrested several companyhas already applied to tract from the issue. The and notone and the IIMs, in the vise itsCabinet Note thrice, members. The newbuilding The Union Ministryof is open forevenhigh-riskcate- people, including the main ac- the US FDAseeking EUAfor the speeches aremostlymade by Government'sview, violated with over 10 substantive willnot have aCentral Hall. Health &FamilyWelfaresaid, gory people. Idid notfear for cused,Abhijit Pundari, from vaccine. members of farmer unions who thatprovision. In theletter, the changes in all,beforeitwas The building, whichisgoing "The antibodies againstthe in- even aminute... Doctors will Radhamohanpur in West The extreme lowtempera- talk about their struggle and premierbusinessschools were green lit. to come up in an area of 64,500 fection build up in ahumanbe- monitor my health forone Midnapore. tureofminus70degrees hope to inspirepeople." directed to “act in conformity In September 2018,Prime sq matacostofRs971 crore, ing onlyafter aspecific number year." He hadalso hopedthat Celsiusrequired forstoring the By rotation, ateam of five withthe UGC Act1956”. Minister NarendraModi, refer- willbeearthquake-resistant, of days pass afterthe second his step would encourageoth- Ranthambore vaccine pose abig challenge for members handles the stage, Some of the IIMs had con- ring to autonomytoIIMs, had and adaptable to the most dose." ers to come forwardtovolun- itsdelivery in acountry like and is stationed next to it. One verted their one-year diploma said,“Sarkar kahin nahi aayegi, modern digitaltechnology.It BharatBiotech also said that teer. camera traps India,where maintaining such member notesdownthe name for working professionals into koibabu aakar nahi baithega willincorporate indigenous ar- the vaccine efficacy could be cold chain facilities would be and organisation details of each adegree programme afterthe (Government will notinterfere, chitecturefromdifferent parts determinedonlyafter the sec- TMC leader’s find wire noose very difficult, topgovernment speaker in aregister. Chitsare IIMAct,2017, alloweddegree- no officer will have anyrole).” of the country, and showcase ond dose,and reiterated that around tiger’s officialshavesaid. issuedtothe speakers as per granting powers to the20busi- Hailing the IIM Actasa the cultural diversity. volunteers had a50per cent murder: Mukul When contacted,Pfizer said the sequence of their speeches ness schools. Out of the 20, IIMs “landmarkexperiment”related The Speaker saidaround chance of havinggot the neck it remains committed to engag- and eachperson is given5-10 in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, to higher education, the Prime 2000people will be directlyin- placebo."Covaxin hasbeen de- Roy named in ing with the Government of minutes.The speeches begin Kolkata, Indore, Kozhikode, Ministerhad said the govern- volved in itsconstruction, while signedtobeprotectivetwo supplementary “I asked theRanthambore India and exploring opportuni- around 10 am andcan go on till Lucknowand Udaipur offerthe ment would take this forward another 9000 will be therein- weeksafter volunteersreceive field director to followall the ties to makethis vaccine avail- 6pm, depending on the day's one-year degreefor executives. to more institutions. “ButIam directly. Morethan 200artists the second dose," the company chargesheet standard operating proce- ablefor use in the country. programme. At barricades be- The IIMs defendedthe one- surprisedthatthis is notbeing from various parts of thecoun- said, adding, "All volunteers dures... Aftertranquilisation, "During this pandemic phase, hind the stage, twopeople year degree to theGovernment discussedinthe country. trywill also work forthe build- have been advised to followthe the wirewas safelyremoved Pfizer will supplythis vaccine checkIDs. and continue to run the pro- Intellectualsare silent… those ing. guidelines forprevention of Thefirstchargesheet in the thismorning, and the tiger has onlythrough government con- The team makes surethe gramme. who were advocatingauton- An adjacent building, which Covid-19set by theMinistryof case wasfiledinMay lastyear. been releasedinthe forest.We tractsbasedonagreements speakers areaffiliated to farmer The MoE is learnedtohave omyand had been writing will come up on the siteof Health." Asupplementarychargesheet didn't find anyphysical injuries with respectivegovernment organisationsand notpolitical cited afew other instances -- in- about it for20-25years would Shram Shakti Bhavan, will have Savita Verma,the principal wasfiledinSeptember,in on the animal.Wehaveordered authorities and following regu- parties.Whilethereisaseating cluding IIM Rohtak’sattempt at nothaveimagined it,” the PM rooms forall MPs, and will be investigator of the team formed whichBJP MP Jagannath Sarkar an inquiryintothe matter and latoryauthorisation or ap- area demarcated in frontofthe appointing itsBoG chairperson hadsaid,adding that these“in- connected via an underpass, to conductthe vaccine trials in wasnamed. have issued astatewidered proval," the global pharma ma- stage, hundredsstand on the by acircular resolution instead tellectuals”weresilent because the Speaker said. Haryana,said, "Mr Anil Vijwas Terming it aconspiracy to alertagainstpoaching, direct- jor saidinastatement. sidelines to listen. of approvingthe selection in a theydidn’t want the “credit to He saidtherewill be more giventhe firstdose on suppress the Opposition in ing all territorial and wildlifedi- Five vaccines areinad- "The speakers mostlycome formal meeting attendedby go to Modi”. committee rooms and all min- November 20. He wassup- Bengal,BJP leader Kailash visions to work in congruence, vancedphases of clinical trials from the 30 farmer unions in- members -- to the LawMinistry istrieswill have offices.“Tata posedtobegiven the second Vijayvargiyatweeted,“Mamata patrol inside and outside of pro- in India. volved in talkswith the govern- in itsproposal. ProjectsLtd hasbeen giventhe dose on December 18.Fourteen Banerjee's conspiracy contin- tected forest areas. All leaves PTI ment.The speeches address is- The latestmoveissignifi- PM to lay contract forthe project. The de- days afterthe seconddose, ad- ues. Thefalsemurder have been cancelledexceptfor sues about the farm laws and cant giventhat therewas a signhas been prepared by HCP equateamountsofantibodies chargesheetonMukul Roy emergencies,”hesaid. No politics,only aremeant to motivate people. strong difference of opinion foundation Design, Planning and areformedinthe subject's shows howshe is trying to sup- Tikam Chand Verma, Chief Theyalso talk about the history within the Government –over Management PvtLtd,” he said. body.Itispertinent to mention press the opposition by her Conservator of Forest and Field farm issues: A of farmers and Sikhstoremind autonomyand accountability - stone for new The existing Parliament that Mr Vijhas notgot Covid conspiracy.When Mamata Director,Ranthambore Tiger us of ourstruggles.It's ademo- -atthe timeofthe drafting of Parliament building, the Speakersaid, will due to this vaccine/placebo. In Banerjee herself is aguestfor Reserve,said the noose was team vets stage cratic space exceptfor those the IIM Act. be conserved as an archaeolog- the entire country, 25,800per- fewdays,what'sgoing to hap- made of galvanisediron(GI) who want to playpolitics," said In 2015,while the MoE had building on ical assetofthe country. sons aretobeadministered this pen afterthis,she should think wire, around 2mmthick. at protest on Ranjeet Singh, member of the advocated retaining govern- trial vaccine in the thirdphase... once.” “According to preliminary Delhiborder Azad Kisan SinghCommittee, ment control in the name of en- December 10 Nobody knows if avolunteer Biswas wasshotdead from findings, it appears thatitisa whowas assignedThursday's suring financial and adminis- Covaxin has got aplacebo or avaccine... apoint-blank rangewhen he loose noose,probablyset for handedout to plan aschedule. stagemanagement duty. trative propriety, the Prime buildingisgoing to be 100years The firstand second phases wascoming down from adais animals likeboars or nilgais Thosewith political linksare In the evening, the Guru Minister’s Office (PMO) had old, and it is amatter of pride volunteer Vij have been extremelysuccess- during aSaraswati Puja cultural outside the forest.But even if it expressly kept out. Granth Sahib is read from the wanted ahands-off approach. for130 crorepeople in this ful... No major side effectshave programme in the Nadia dis- wasmeant forother animals, it Celebrities, including stageasthose in the crowd The draftlaw went backand countrythat the newone will tests positive, cometolightsofar." Verma trictinFebruary2019. is still hunting,whichisillegal. singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, who humalong. "Wewant theModi forthfor almost ayear—from be built by our ownpeople as a govt says he’s went on to caution, "I would Initially, five people were Moredetails will emergeafter spoke on Saturday,are allowed governmenttohear us. And we October 2015 to September prime example of Atmanirbhar liketoappealtoall the volun- namedinthe FIR. Later,Biswas' the inquiry. We will inquireif on the condition that they will ensurewedosoeven 2016 —duringwhichthe Bharat. PrimeMinister yet to get full teers that till42days afterthe familylodgedacomplaint therewas anylaxity in monitor- speak about farm issues. standing at the border," said Education Ministry stucktoits NarendraModi is going to do its firstdose, thereisalwaysadan- against43people, including BJP ing,” said Banerjee. Dosanjh, abig star in Punjabi Makkhan Singh. guns under SmritiIrani, but bhoomipujanat1pmon dose gerofinfection." leaders Royand Sarkar.Inthe “A collaborative team of films who hasbeen vocalinhis yieldedafter Prakash Javadekar December 10,” he said. Vijhad got theshoton supplementaryFIRs,names of TigerWatch and the forest de- supportfor the protests, said, "I took over in July 2016. The Speaker metthe Prime thigh bone. Health Department November 20 from aRohtak both Royand Sarkar were in- partment found the image, am heretolistenand notto Govt seeks foot Under Irani, the ministry MinisterSaturdaytoofficially officials who visited him told PGIMS team, and his healthand cludedinthe listofaccused. whichisfromnear Devpura speak. Irequestthe national heldatleast four discussions invitehim to the function. The SundayExpress hisparam- vitals were being monitored Officials have accusedthemof area, Phalodi. It seems to be a media to showthings as they in to make IIMs withthe PMO and wrotethree In the newbuilding, the Lok eters were fine. VijtoldPTI from since. He had been attending being the mastermind behind hunting snare, even if it may are. No one is violent here. The letters —including one from the Sabha chamberwillhave888 hospital, "I wastold that anti- office at the Haryana Civil the murder. notbemeant fortigersbut for farmers aresitting peacefully. more then higher education secre- seatswhile therewillbe384 bodies starttodevelop afterthe Secretariat, as well as meeting Theruling TMChad alleged smaller animals. The govern- AndIhaveonlyone requestto accountable to tary VS Oberoi to principalsec- seatsinthe RajyaSabhacham- second dose, whichisadminis- people at his residence. He told that it wasaplannedattackcar- ment shouldensureproper the government -- that they retary to PM NripendraMisra— ber. Currently, thestrengthof teredafter 28 days of the first PTI he wasfine exceptfor asore riedout by the BJP,whilethe monitoring,” said Dharmendra should listentothe farmers and it arguing whysome of the Lok Sabha is 543and that of shot. Andfull antibodies de- throat, bodyacheand fever. saffron party claimedthe mur- Khandal, conservation biolo- their demands." changes being thrust on it were RajyaSabha 245. velop 14 days afterthe second Aftergetting the shot, Vij der wasaresult of the ruling gist, TigerWatch. Woman travels to Dubai with ‘fake’ documents, arrested after return to India: Police

agousingafake nameand a work as ahouse helpand re- be rejectedonaccount of some Passport Office with the help of Airport.She came backtoIndia an Aadhar Cardwhichhad her remandedher in police custody ATIKHRASHID forged Aadhaar card, the Pune turnedonaVandeBharat flight criminal offencesregistered aman she identifiedasSurya. via the Dubai-Puneflight being picturebut aname different till August8.The investigating PUNE, DECEMBER5 Police said Saturday. The afterfailingtofind ajob. againsther backhome. She is said to have claimedthat run underVande Bharat than the one borne by thepass- officer arguedthatthe police Visakhapatnam resident, Damu Sitaratnam allegedly told the Gajanan Pawar, Senior Police thissame man who also sup- Mission.Immigration officers at port. Theydetained herand neededtointerrogate her to A22-YEAR-OLD woman who Sitaratnam, wasarrested police thatshe hadgot aforged Inspector,AirportPolice Station, pliedher with the forged the airport were curious about handedoverthe case to us,” said find out more aboutthe associ- arrivedonaDubai-Pune flight shortlyafter landing in Pune. AadhaarCardbearingthe fake said Sitaratnam had obtaineda Aadhar Card. suchashorttrip.After notget- Pawar. ate, Surya,and to probeifthere on Thursdayhad allegedly trav- According to officials, she had name because she feared that passportwith the fake namein “She leftfor Dubai on ting satisfactoryanswers, they Sitaratnam has been pro- wasalargerringtocreatepass- elledtothe Gulf nation justdays travelledtoDubai to lookfor her passportapplication would March from theRegional November 29 from Delhi checkedher baggageand found ducedher at alocal courtwhich ports using forged documents.

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THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020 3 WEST BENGAL

BJP: In TMC, DURING BJP’S ‘AARNOY ANYAY’ CAMPAIGN STATECOUNT Powerseekers TOTAL CASES Suvendu will TMC, BJP workers clash in Asansol 499697 always be a INCREASE DEATHS he said. tacked our workers with bombs 3207 8677 gettingplacein EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE AsansolMayor and district and shotatthem. Some shops BJP claimedtheir ‘karmachari’ 467056RECOVERED KOLKATA,DECEMBER5 workers were targeted TMC chief JitendraTiwari denied and motorcycles were burnt," the allegations and termed said Roy. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE with bombs and that 6091668 SAMPLES VIOLENCEBROKE out duringa the incident as “politically Asimilar incident took place TESTED TILL DEC 5 KOLKATA,DECEMBER5 TMC:Minister door-to-door programmebythe severalofits workers motivated.” in Panihati, sources said. BJP in Asansol’s Barabani on were injured.The TMC “The BJP is doing suchthings Tensions eruptedatthe gate of EVEN IF Suvendu Adhikari tries Saturday. whenaclash erupted themselvestoportray that Panihati municipality over the 3,175 new cases, to stay on in the Trinamool between TMC and BJP. deniedthe allegations. Asansolisdisturbed.Trying to BJP's ‘Aar noyAnyay’pro- Congress (TMC), he “cannotbea EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE The BJP claimedtheir work- malignthe imageofthe TMC. gramme. The TMC allegedly put 49 more die of leader as those with TMC are KOLKATA,DECEMBER5 ers were targeted withbombs But TMC willnot letBJP do so up abanner opposing the only‘karmacharis’(employees) andthat severalofits workers some motorcycles were also set and disturb the environment of AgricultureAct duringaBJP Covid in aday and notleaders,”said Bengal BJP AMID SPECULATION over dissi- were injured, sources said .The on fire.Police intervenedthe sit- Asansol," said Tiwari. meeting in front of the munici- chief Dilip Ghosh on Saturday. dentTMC leader Suvendu TMC deniedthe allegations, uation wasbrought under con- BJP national general secre- pal gate.The BJP tooput up a Ghosh wasaddressing agather- Adhikari’s next move,another claiming that BJP workers trol.Police forcehas been de- tary andin-charge of West banner counteringthis. RAF per- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE ing in Egra, Purba Medinipur,a stateministerand TMC leader bargedintotheir camp. ployedinthe area. Bengal polls, Kailash sonnelweredeployed to bring KOLKATA,DECEMBER5 district considered to be a Rajib Banerjee on Saturday The BJP had organiseda Union ministerand Asansol Vijayvargiya, said ,“The people the situation under control. stronghold of Adhikari. lashedout at the party leader- door-to-door programmeunder MP Babul Supriyoalleged that of Bengal willavengethisculture Condemning the incidents, WITH 3,175people testing posi- BJP startedits ‘Aar Noy ship. “Those who aredoing well Those who aredoing well, its‘Aarnoy Anyay’ ('Nomorein- those with linkstocoal mafia of violence of TMC.” BJPstate chiefDilip Ghoshal- tive forCovid-19inthe last24 Anyay’ ('Nomoreinjustice') pro- those withability... theyare side- with ability,sidelinedin justice') initiative at avillagein and TMC workers were behind Later in theday,BJP leader leged that lawand order has col- hours, the total number of cases gramme in severaldistricts linedinTMC. The scoreofthose theparty:Rajib Banerjee Jhargram around 11:30 am. The the incident. Mukul Royheld apress confer- lapsedinWestBengal. in West Bengalshotupto wheresenior party leaders vis- who applaud the team is higher. BJP claimedthat TMC workers “Local TMC leaders arebe- ence and said four BJP workers “Therule of lawhas ceasedto 4,99,697. Thestate recorded49 ited houses under‘Griha My scoreislow because Ican't. If hurledbombs andalsoshotatits hind the attack. Those involved areunder treatment forinjuries existinWestBengal. Onlyifthe deaths in the last24hours, tak- Sampark Abhiyan’ and partici- Suvendu Adhikarileaves, ahuge Mamata BanerjeeurgedTMC MP workers. Supporters of both par- with the coal mining mafia were causedbybullets andbomb BJPcomestopower will lawand ing the toll to 8,677,the state pated in public meetings. void will be created in the team. from Contai Sisir Adhikari, who ties allegedly clashedwith each also involvedinthe incident. This splinters. "BJP's programme was order be restored in the state,” health bulletin reportedon “Thereisarevolution hap- It is important to find out whythe is the father Suvendu Adhikari, to other later.Sourcesclaimedthat is the reality of West Bengal," going on when miscreantsat- said Ghosh. Saturday. pening within Trinamool leaders aresoangry. These issues rid the party of leaderswho are Therewas adip in the num- Congress. No one canbeleader should have been thought about allegedly engaged in anti-party berofpatientsdischargedwith in TMC. HoweverSuvendu tries, earlier.Those who work in the activities.Inavirtual internal the recovery of 3,207people. The he cannotbealeader there. He field do notget the upper hand. meeting held by Banerjeeon SAD, TMC leaders meet: ‘Will jointlyoppose farm laws’ total number of people dis- will have to be akarmachari,” Powerseekers aregetting a Fridaywiththe topparty leader- chargedtill datewas 4,67,056, said Ghosh. “The end of place in the team. It is difficult ship, district unitchiefs, MPs and drawal. "Thank youfor fighting SADleader Chandumajrasaid, while the recovery rate stood at Trinamool Congress will start to say... [in TMC] good is bad, MLAs, she reportedlygavealot EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE foryour rights. Your fight is my “Didi is averyrespected leader. 93.47per cent. from Purba Medinipur,” added bad is good.” of importancetothe Contai MP. KOLKATA,DECEMBER5 fight," she told farmers over We want allparties to participate The number of active cases Ghosh. TMC leaders were unavail- This put an end to speculation phone. in this movement. This move- was23,964. “Many(leaders) had come to able forcomment. that Sisir Adhikarimay notat- ADELEGATION of Shiromani In atweet,she recalledher ment is no longer onlyfor the As manyas44,389samples BJP and theyhavegot posts.We On whether Suvendu tend the meeting consideringhis Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturdaymet ownhunger strikein2006. The farmers.So,we willfightthisunit- were tested in the last24hours, have made themMLAsand MPs. Adhikari is planningtojoin the son’sequation with the party. TMC leaders in Kolkataand de- CM is expectedtoannounce pro- edly.” pushing the total number of Mukul Roygot posts,including BJP,the party’s national vice pres- Aministerwho attendedthe cidedtooppose the newfarm grammesto protestthefarmlaws Headded,“Soon,we willmeet samples tested to 60,91,668. being MP,after he came to BJP,” ident, Mukul Roysaid, “Suvendu meeting informedthat the CM laws unitedly.Akali Dal has al- TMC MP Sudip Banerjee in the comingdays. in Delhi with all parties who are Out of 3,175positive cases, addedGhosh. is aproduct of mass movements. entrustedSisirAdhikari, the ready quit the NDAinprotest (left); SADleader Prem Trinamool RajyaSabha MP supporting the movement and Kolkata and itsadjacent four dis- “I am heretostart the ‘Aar The dilemma over this issue will party’s vice-president, of flagging againstthe newlaws. Singh Chandumajra DerekO'Brien, who reached therewewill decideour further trictscontinuedtorecordthe NoyAnyay programme’. In West be clear in aday or two.” Roy, a partyleaders who were indulged Leader of the Lok Sabha and SinghuontheDelhi-Haryanabor- course of action.” maximum caseload. In Kolkata, Bengal,corruption, politicalvio- former TMC leader,added, “I did in anti-partyactivitiesinPurba TMC MP Sudip Banerjee told me- der,connected her to farmer The TMC has announced 788 people tested positive,729 lence and crimesagainstwomen apolitical blunder by removing Medinipur. The ministeradded diapersonsafterthemeetingthey MalayGhatak were also present groups over phone, whichwas movementsacrossthestatefrom in North24Parganas, 261in areincreasing. We want to put Suvendu as (TMC) youth wing thatBanerjee askedSisirAdhikari would “ethicallysupport” the during the meeting. SADvice- put on speaker modesothatsev- December 8-10. Theywill stagea South 24 Parganas,125 in an end to that. We will visit peo- president. Iregretit.” to work withTMC statepresident strikeonDecember 8called by presidentand MP Prem Singh eral peopletherecouldhear her dharna at Esplanade on this issue Howrah and 113inHooghly. As ple, go door-to-door.Wewill give On Rajib's remarks,Roy said, SubrataBakshi and ensurethat farmer organisations across the Chandumajra, along with four speak. and on December 10,the CM will manyas142 tested positivein aleafletateachhousehold, high- “What Rajib said reflectsthe pain rebels arereplaced with loyal country. Banerjee said,“Wehad a MPs, metTMC leadersat the TMC “I want to thankyou forrais- address the dharna. Nadia, 86 in Bankura and92in lighting the failures of the TMC of those who formedthe party partyleadersinplaces suchas talk with the SADdelegation. We headquarters. ing farmers'issue. Ialso went on AfterthemeetingonSaturday, Paschim Bardhman. government. We willalso high- (TMC).Ifyou listen carefully, you Nandigram, Haldia, Contai, decidedtoparticipate further On Friday, West Bengal Chief a26-day hungerstrikewhen the SADleader Chandumajrasaid, In NorthBengal, Darjeeling light the programmes and will hear suchwords from sev- Nandankumar and Ramnagar. with the farmers' movement in MinisterMamataBanerjee landof farmerswasbeingforcibly “Didi is averyrespected leader. recorded138 cases, Jalpaiguri schemes of the Centrethat have eral other TMC leaders. Our stand On Friday, theTMC took ac- anyform, suchasdeputation to reachedout to farmers protesting seized. That is whyyourmove- We want allparties to partici- 106cases and Malda 72 cases. been deniedtothe peopleofthe is clear forTMC and others... who tion againstaclose aide of the President of Indiaoragitation on the Haryana-Delhi border mentismy movementandwe are pate in this movement. This According to the stateHealth statebecause of theTMC govern- ever wantstojoinhands withus Suvendu. On Saturday, theTMC withregionalpartiesacrossIndia.” againstthe three Centralfarm ready to extend anyhelp you movement is no longer onlyfor Department, 87,456 people are ment's stance,” Ghosh told me- arewelcome." took action againstfour more TMC RajyaSabha MP Derek laws,saying she fullybackedthe need...If youwant,”Banerjeesaid. the farmers. So, we will fight still in home quarantine, while diapersons later in Egra. On Friday, Chief Minister close aides of his,sources said. O’Brien and Labour Minister demandforthe ordinances'with- AfterthemeetingonSaturday, this unitedly.” 625 areinsafehomes. ‘TMC govt hampering development’

Kolkata:AllegingthattheMamata laws,hasdeprivedatleast75lakh Banerjeegovernmentdidnotim- of them of the benefits available plement central schemes forits under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi "narrowpoliticalinterests",Union Yojana.Similarly,underJalJeevan MinisterGajendra Singh Mission, around 20 lakh families ShekhawatonSaturdaysaid"this would have got clean drinking approach by theruling dispensa- waterathomesbut"thestatewas tion"was hampering the state's unableto successfullyimplement development. the project. Taking ajibeatBanerjee, “Didi didnot implementthe Shekhawat, during apress meet AyushmanBharatYojana, which here,saidtheCM,whoiscurrently wouldhavegiven thepoor free extendingher supporttofarmers accesstohealthcare," the BJP agitatingoverthenewagricultural leader said. PTI

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YOURWEEKAHEAD BRIDGE SUNDAY CROSSWORD 2298 If it’s your Dealer: South,Vulnerable:None ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sep24-Oct 23) QUICKCLUES Birthday It’s definitelyatime Happydays arehere NORTH ACROSS forco-operationand again. That’s the 1. Moody (13) ♠ Q76 compromise, so don’t messagefor most WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 10.Stand-in, foradoctor say(5) ❤AK10975 be toomuchofa Librans as 1♣ 11.Beginsorstartsajourney? ♦ 52 (4,5) SundayDecember 6 bossy,demanding Arien this affectionateVenusoffers you Pass 1❤ Pass 1♠ week.Other peoplereallydo itssupport. The one flyinthe ♣87 12.Primitive weapon (9) Partners mayhavebeen behaving out of deserveaspotofthe action at ointment could be family Pass 3❤ Pass 3NT 13.Feel longing for(5) character.You maynow decide that SOUTH Pass Pass Pass 14.Something awful (3,4) longlast. Moneystars arenot muddles or disappointed ♠ AK53 16.Adriaticport (7) someone is bluffing, and youcould well be that strong, but theremay be a hopes or confusionathome. ❤42 18.Eight-sided room (7) right. The question is whether youare chance foraflutter towardsthe However, no problem is 20. Dispatchedordismissed, in away prepared to do anything about it. end of the week.. insuperable and good ♦ AQ (4,3) organisation should solve ♣QJ643 22. He steals secretly (5) TAURUS(Apr21-May 21) anydifficulties. 24.Takethe place of (9) MondayDecember 7 All-in-all, you’re 26. Strengthen (9) Underneath all your responsibilities lies a heading forapositive SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 23) West's lead of the jack of diamonds was won by South's queen. Afriendly 27.The lowest point (5) week,one which This week’sstars are start suggesting that West did have the king of diamonds. If so, 4H might readiness to letgowhichissooften 28. Thievish (5-8) notbemaking.3NT is notyet home. Where are nine trickscoming from? suppressed.Whatisimportantisrelaxation, brings valuable urging youto Howdoyouplaytheheartsuit? DOWN lessons. Moneymatters should develop certain 2. Put in (7) notwork. It’s alesson that can carry you nowbedealt withand cash private aspectsof TheWest Hand: S-92H-QJ83 D-KJ1093 C-A2 3. Molly-coddling or spoiling through the coming months. affairs should be under control, your Scorpionic nature- TheEastHand: S-J1084H-S D-8764 C-K1095 (9) leaving youfreetoget on with your interestinpsychology 4. Dreadlocks wearer (5) Southcantryanumberofplays. Hecanplaythetwotophearts. Thisloses theimportantjobsofthe day. For forexample, or your fascination 5. Relieves (9) TuesdayDecember 8 ifWesthasfourtotheQJ. IfEasthasfourtotheQJ,thesuitwon'tbemuch one thing, aclose partner forstrange theories. 6. Attractively stylish (5) You’resupposedtobegoodwiththe facts worthinanyevent.Or,Southcanfinessetheten. Ifitlosestoanhonour,he requires putting in their place. Mysteriesaboundand won'tknowwhethertofinesseagainortoplaytheaceandkingonthenext 7. Backpayments(7) andthat’sperfectlytrue. You’reentering a round. Thereisawaytousetheheartsuit.Doyouseehowtodothat? 8. Theytravelthe worldand seven you’ll relish aspot phase when your mind will be at itsmost GEMINI (May22-June 21) of investigation. seas (5,8) Your solar horoscope is looking Win the diamond queen and lead aheart to the ace. East follows with alit- 9. Reversal of feelings lucid, and at times utterly brilliant. tleone.Cometoyourhandwithaspadeandleadyoursecondheart. IfWest brighter by the day SAGITTARIUS (Nov 24 -Dec 22) (6,2,5) follows,youarehome. Ifheplaysanhonour,youwinitandforceouttheother an interval(5) 21.Driedfruit is gathered during rains andthereisa Your social stars are honour. IfWestplayslow,youfinesse. IfEastwins,thesuitisdividingforyou 15.Style of type (5,4) WednesdayDecember 9 (7) welcomeabsence of looking so positive and the rest of the suitisgood.IfWest has four hearts to the QJ, your fi- 17. Lack of knowledge 24.Tolaudinaway that’s flattering (9) Thenextyearcouldseeyoufulfillingalong- nessewillwin. Youcancontinuethesuit,losingonetrick,andyouwillhave (9) 26. Not aprofitable type of 23. Walker getting up to sayitagain difficultcelestial that yousimply tentricks. 19.Capital of Georgia (7) underwriting(9) briefly(5) standing ambition. Youcan makethe most indications.The planets say mustbehavinga 21.Behind schedule (7) 27.Colder hereinParis emergency 25. Timelyuptoapoint of all your talentsbyseizing opportunities almostnothingaboutworkbut good time. This is aperiod for WesthasfourheartstotheQJ. Playingcarefullyisnecessary. Ifyouplaythe 23. Between fourth and sixth? room (5) (5) agood deal about enjoying confidence and self-belief. I’d suit from the top, the defenders will prevail since you will not be able to get youwould normallynot consider. 28. `Oh, go reptiles’ -onthe brainhe yourselfand gettingasmuch advise youtoget involved in more than your original two heart winners.South is pleased to see that 4H (5) would havegonedown. 25. Song of praise (5) has, no doubt (13) Solutions to 2297 pleasure as youcan out of whatever community activities CRYPTIC CLUES DOWN ThursdayDecember 10 almostevery situation. aregoing on. Romantic and Dealer: East,Vulnerable:Both ACROSS 2. Becomes involvedwith getting QUICKCLUESAcross: 1TheThreeBs,6 Put partners firstand don’t expectthat single Sagittariansmay play 1. Aghast;effortswasted, positions brownondifferent legs (7) Agog,9Multimedia,10Ante,12 everything should go your way. The fact is CANCER (June 22 -July23) the field. NORTH SOUTH(YOU) Adjudication,15Athlete,16Flemish,17 Familyaffairs are unfilled(5,8) 3. Notescity holdingand German that even in routine matters, selflessness ♠ QJ10 ♠ 10.Concerned with strangecharacters fruitfulness (9) Classic,19Baptism,20Strengthened,23 increasingly CAPRICORN (Dec 23 -Jan 20) Inch,24Lossofface,25Malt,26 (5) 4. Beatssoftfootwear! suitsyou. Plus, you’ll build up goodwill. important as, of Put personal ❤Q874 ❤ KJ10953 Leadership. Down:1Tamp,2Eely,3 (5) concernstoone side ♦ 9832 ♦ A76 11.Sculptoroffers Greek cross to Hairdressing,4Execute,5Bailiff,7 course, theyshould vendor (9) 5. Ruling elitelackenergywhen Gingivitis,8Green-thumb,11 FridayDecember 11 be to agood Cancerian. It’s andplayyour part in ♣A ♣9764 12.Pacific islands in thesea lane I’m controlling oil charges(9) Hasenpfeffer,13Narcissism,14 Tolerance is your strength, so give family necessarytorecreateasgood an public affairs. This is crossing (9) 6. Esterinsomewhat morenatural Theatrical,18Cathode,19Blessed,21 atmosphereasyou can,and no time to tuckyourself 13.Carrying on thus, forsome reasonI form (5) Bath,22Help.CRYPTICCLUESAcross: members achance to compromise before that includes beefing up away or hide your light WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH create asort of boom (5) 7. Crosbyupsetabout ageing but 1Peachmelba,6Blah,9Doesnogood,10 things getout of hand. The sooner youtalk, personalrelationships as well underabushel. There’s a 1♣ 1❤ 14.Changeinrates with more valuablewriter (4,3) Pang,12Downthehatch,15Undress,16 the closer the resolution. as gettingonwith repairs whole wide worldout there unpleasant outcome 8. Fagin’s pupilsweremembers of it ! Lectern,17Pitiful,19Charade,20 ready to offeryou praise 1♠ 4❤ 4♠ 6❤ Harpsichords,23Grab,24Left-handed, and decorations. (7) (8,5) foryour noble qualities 25Nosh,26Hypnotists.Down:1Pads,2 SaturdayDecember 12 Dbl PassPass Pass 16.American native or Frenchanimal 9. Yourepaintcar properly as ameans LEO (July24-Aug 23) and acclaimfor (7) of protection (13) Ayes,3Handoverfist,4Engines,5 Your lifeiscrowdedwith people and Brothel,7Leadtheway,8Highhanded,11 Professional and your achievements. 18.Mouth finding little newinspicy 15.Being strangelysatirical, he sees Thickandfast,13Jumpthegun,14 pressuresdemandingyoudofirstthisthing, personalaffairs are Wheneveryonehasshapeandagoodfit,thebiddingcangetwild.Westled curry (3-4) things in blackand white(9) Editorials,18Lechery,19Crouton,21Ida’s, reaching aturning AQUARIUS (Jan 21- Feb 19) thejackofclubs,wonindummywiththesingletonace. Decideonyourplay thentheother.Theyseemto forgetthatthis 20. Adoublerum is put out fora 17. Calling animal firstthat’srunning 22Ades. Your travel stars are beforecontinuing. is your special time of year. point. This is aclassic Japanese warrior (7) riot(9) periodfor manyofyou andyou’ll improving with Howshould Southcontinue? 22. Imustleave recount to returnafter 19.River chart that can be drunk (7) have amajor chance to put everyday that yourself on themap,and passes, and this impresssomeone you’redeeply reallyisthe perfect time fora attracted to.You will draw good long trip. If youcan’t getright JUMBLED WORDS DifficultyLevel3s fortune towardsyou,but you away,isthereany chance of Instructions mayalso be slightlyover- arranging aweekend Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, sensitive andthereforelikelyto adventure, preferablyin inspiringorcolourful therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget everydigitfrom1to9 4313 react unpredictably. surroundings? theanswerforthegivenquip. mustappearineachofthe

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THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020 5 EXPRESS NETWORK BRIEFLY Aligarhmanbeatenuponwayto Law grad seeks RTI info, Gujarat registerinterfaithmarriageincourt varsity responds: Malik,isofMuslimfaith and was wasalleged that in courtsome Her father had lodgedacom- “Wegot the statement of the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE allegedly pretending to be a people learnt of his identity.In plaintwith Nayagaon police,stat- girl, who is minor, recordedbe- NEWDELHI/LUCKNOW, Hindu, the police said. one of the videos,the girlcould ing that his daughter,astudent fore amagistrateinMohali. The Prove citizenship The Jagannath Puri DECEMBER5 “Wereceivedinformation be seen shouting that she of Matricand aminor,had gone youth would be producedbefore Temple. File that aman hadbeen assaulted "loved" him, while she washeld to meet her friend on November the courtinthe case lodged A21-YEAR-OLD manwas as- while he wasonhis waytoreg- by police personnel. 29, and did notreturn home sub- againsthim," Singh said. the RTIapplication seeking de- saulted while on waytoregister isterhis marriageinAligarh Another video shows thegirl sequently. Thecomplaintstates AligarhSSP Muniraj Gsaid RITUSHARMA tails firstfromher college. After ODISHA an interfaith marriageinan court. We investigated and telling the media: “Wehad been that the familycould notfind her the couple wasthrashedbymis- AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER5 receiving an “unsatisfactory” re- Templefiles AligarhcourtonThursday, the foundthattherehad been an FIR speaking foralong time.Heonly and that an unknown person had creantsand acase has been sponse from the college, she police said on Saturday. forkidnapping by the woman's told me that his name is Sonu. takenher away. lodged in thematter. THE GUJARATUniversity has filedasimilar application with complaint According to police, theman familyinPunjab. He waspre- We came from Chandigarhthree Acting on the complaint, The case has been filedat asked alaw graduatefromone the Gujarat University.“Ibelieve comes from Aligarhand had met tending to be aHindu. An FIR has days ago. Hisfamily would al- Punjab PoliceregisteredanFIR Civil Lines police station on of itsaffiliated colleges in that the internalassessment againstAmazon the girl, who is aminor,inMohali, been filedfor assault forthe at- ways say'assalamualaikum' and againstanunknown person un- chargesofcriminal intimidation, Gandhinagar, who had sought marks sent by the collegeand Punjab, wherehedid odd jobs. tack in the courtcomplex. We Irealisedthat theymight be der IPC Sections363 (kidnapping) rioting and others. information under Right to what has been announced by Bhubaneswar: The The twohad come to Aligarh will investigatethe incident," SP Muslim. He wanted to register and366-A(procuringminorgirl). The girl’s father said Sonu Information (RTI) Act, to provide the university arenot the same,” JagannathPuritemplead- on December 1toregistertheir (City,Aligarh) Abhishek said. our marriageincourt.” Nayagaon SHO, Sub- triedtomarry his daughter but proof that she wasanIndian cit- she said. ministrationhasregistered marriage underSpecial Marriage According to police, avideo As perthe girl's family, she Inspector JagjeetSingh, told The wasexposed. He said theywill izen. Nagori adding thatshe is a acomplaint against Actatadistrict court. It was on social media shows Sonu be- had befriendedSonu on social Indian Express thattheyfound soon lodgeaseparatepolice The applicant, Tanaz Nagori, gold medallistand in the 60th Amazon Indiafor unau- found during investigation that ing dragged outofcourton media and later learnt that he the girlfromAligarhafter UP complaint againsthim forcon- who is agraduatefrom annual convocation of the thorisedsale of their the man, identifiedasSonu Thursday as the girlprotests. It belongs to another religion. Police informedthem. cealing his religious identity. Siddharth LawCollegein Gujarat University in January, Nirmalaya prasad on the Gandhinagar’s Sector 16,had she wasawarded four gold website.Afterscreenshots soughtphotocopies of mark medals forher exemplaryper- of nirmalaya beingsoldon sheetsfor the internal assess- formance in five semesters. thewebsite wentviralAjay Rajkot journalists Arnab moves HC overRaigad mentsofLLB sixthsemesteron “I am an advocatemyself, Jena,temple’sadministra- October 19 from the university thereisnoclause in the tor(development) lodged under RTI. Constitution or the (RTI) Act acomplaint against booked for sting Policechargesheet, seeksstay In response to her applica- whereyou have to proveyour Amazon India, seeking le- tion,the Public Information Indian citizenshipfor filing an galaction.“...asperthepro- notgranted. Officer (PIO)ofthe university’s RTIapplication. Iamgoing to cedure, noticewill be EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE On Friday, the Raigad police examination branchonchallengethis in the High Court,” served to the concerned op at police station MUMBAI,DECEMBER5 fileda1,914-pagechargesheet, December 3stated, “The infor- Nagori said. authoritiesforquestioning. invoking IPC Sections 306(abet- mation soughtunder theRight The response, dated on We arealsogetting details Published reportclaiming‘VIP REPUBLIC TV editor-in-chief Arnab ment of suicide) and 109(abet- to Information Act, 2005, December 3, from the GU,which of the seller on the plat- Arnab Goswami has movedan Goswami ment), among others. Section 6gives right to citizens Nagori receivedonFriday, ends form,” Puri SP,Kanwar facilities’ forhospital fire accused interim application before LateonFriday,Goswami filed of India to seek information. It with an “important note”stat- Vishal Singh said. ENS BombayHigh Court, seeking a an applicationagainstthe is requestedthatyou provethat ing: “The Indian citizenship the news reportwepublishedis direction to theChief Judicial On Thursday, Goswami had chargesheetthrough lawfirm youare an Indian citizen. After proof can be submitted citing the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE incorrect.What theyhavestated Magistrate, Alibaug, to nottake movedanurgentinterimappli- Phoenix Legal, in apending pe- getting proof of your Indian cit- case number in personatthe RAJKOT,DECEMBER5 in theFIR is that the journalists cognizance of the chargesheet cation before the HC and sought titionfiledbyhim earlier,which izenship,the processfor giving givenaddress or be sent through BJP told Cong obstructed theirwork, their se- filedbyRaigad Police on Friday astayonfiling of achargesheet had soughtquashing of the FIR. information will be consid- mail...” THE RAJKOT city police has cret work.Since when did the in the abetment to suicide case. and further proceedings in the Goswami referred to the ered.” The information soughtby MLAs this will booked four journalists of police station become asecret Goswami and twoothers, abetment to suicide case. November 29 pressconference Himanshu Pandya, the Vice- her under RTIincludes the total Gujarati newspaper Divya place?,” Bhatnagar said. Feroze Shaikh and Nitish Sarda, The Supreme Courthad last by MaharashtraHome Minister Chancellor of Gujarat University number of students who have be sixth govt Bhaskar,onFriday, days after In his complaint,Gadhvi said were arrested on November 4af- month ordered therelease of Anil Deshmukh, wherein he had (GU), told The SundayExpress, takenthe exam,among them theyconducted asting operation the accusedcame to the police terthe police reopenedacase in- Goswami and other co-accused allegedly declared that a‘strong “As this matter is limited to the howmanytook it offlineand on- at the Rajkot Taluka police sta- station on December 1identify- volving the deathofinterior de- on interimbail on abondofRs chargesheet’ would be filed PIO, and Ihavenot seen the ap- line, if online and offline marks to be toppled, tion and publishedareport ing themselvesasjournalistsand signer AnvayNaik and his 50,000 each. againstGoswami ‘soon.’ plication and itsresponse, Ican- were evaluateddifferentlyorun- claiming three persons arrested sought information about peo- mother Kumud Naik at their Stating that he wasarrested These remarks were made notcomment. But it is certain der asimilar evaluation pattern, says Gehlot in connection with the fire at a ple in the lockupand started home in AlibauginMay 2018. on November 4with “mala fide despiteanabsolute, prima facie that we do notpractiselikethis copyofmarksheets of allstu- private hospital in thecity were shooting videos and clicking According to police, theNaiks intention”, and in an illegal man- decision of the Supreme Court (this is notcommon practice).” dents’ internship assessment given“VIPfacilities” by thepo- photographs. diedbysuicide over allegednon- ner,Goswami sought that the HC on his bailplea, that the FIR reg- The applicant told The marks sent to theGujarat EXPRESS NEWS lice. “When told thattheywould payment of duesbyGoswami’s transfer the investigation to CBI isteredagainsthim wasfrivo- SundayExpress that suspecting University by the collegealong SERVICE Basedonacomplaint filedby notbeallowedtodophotogra- channel and the companies of or anyother independent lous/illegal, Goswami's plea discrepancies in the internalas- with details of the examination JAIPUR,DECEMBER 5 Head Constable Jignesh Gadhvi, phyand videographyinsidethe Shaikh and Sarda. agency, in case therelief of stay is stated. sessmentmarks,she hadfiled pattern, among others. the police have filedanFIR police station,theysaid they RAJASTHAN CHIEF Minister againstMahendrasinh Jadeja, were doing their job and asked Ashok GehlotonSaturdayal- Pradeepsinh Gohil, Prakash us to do ours,” the complaint Gujarat HC leged that Congress MLAs met Ravrani and Imran Hothi. The FIR stated.Rajkotcity police com- Defamation case: Ramani disputes Granthiat BJP leaders, including Home states the journalists tried“to de- missioner Manoj Agarwalsaid judge dies MinisterAmit Shah andUnion fame the police forceand com- the accusedentered sections of Akbar’s claims of ‘stellar reputation’ Delhigurdw MinisterDharmendra promise the investigation...” police station building whosein- Pradhan, during the political DivyaBhaskar stateeditor, formationisnot shared even un- during Covid were many women whomade crisis earlier this year in the DevendraBhatnagar,said the der the RTIAct. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE allegationsagainsthim but he ara hit on state, and were allegedlytold journalists were following the “On December 2, the FIR treatment NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 chose to file the case onlyagainst thatthe party’s government “dharma of journalism”. notes, DivyaBhaskar published Ramani. He knewtherewere the head will be the sixth to be toppled “.... The FIR nowheresays that the report. JOURNALISTPRIYA Ramani,fac- other women and he knew by the BJP. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE ing trial in acriminal defamation about it,” John told the court. The BJP has hit backat AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER5 case filedbyformer Union min- John reliedonseveral judg- with tabla Gehlotoverhis allegations PHONE TAPPING CASE isterMJAkbar,has through her PriyaRamani and MJ Akbar mentstoargue that this Firstpost “withoutevidence” and for ASITTING judge of Gujarat High lawyers disputed his claims of article canbeusedbythe defence. EXPRESS NEWS failingtocontrol the “lavaof Cops file final report in Court, Justice Ghanshyam having astellar reputation before ShereadAkbar'sstatementtoANI SERVICE dissatisfaction within the Udhwani (59), diedfollowing se- aDelhicourt. ment. With severalwomen denying rape allegations made by NEW DELHI,DECEMBER 5 Congress”. vere lung infection on Saturday Ramani's lawyer Rebecca coming forwardwith similar al- journalistPallavi Gogoi and his During avirtual inaugura- case on scribe, Pilot aide while undergoing treatment for John wasmaking her final argu- legations, Akbar had resigned as wife's statement on the allega- AMAN who worked as a tion of aCongressoffice in Covid-19ataprivate hospital in mentsbeforeAdditional Chief MoSExternal Affairs. tions. Johntold thecourtthat the granthi at agurdwarainRK Sirohi district on Saturday, terthe investigation process. Ahmedabad. Metropolitan Magistrate John had referred to an article “purposeof exhibiting thesedoc- Puram waskilledwhile per- Gehlotsaid the BJP is “about to HAMZAKHAN On August7,during the polit- Accordingtodoctors, Justice RavindraPandeyonSaturday. in Firstpost annexedbyAkbar in umentsistodisputehis claims formingkirtan, policesaid startthe game in Rajasthan JAIPUR,DECEMBER5 ical crisisinthe state, the Pilot Udhwanihad tested positivefor Her argumentscould notbecon- his complaint and told the court that he had astellar reputation. Saturday, addingthat the vic- once again”. camphad accusedChief Minister the coronavirus infection on cludedand will be heardon that the article featured embed- He himself says thathewas in a tim, Ravinder Singh, was “TheBJP is conspiring in DAYS AFTERthe Rajasthan High Ashok Gehlotoftapping the November 19 and wasadmitted December 10. dedtweetsofmultiplewomen consensual relationship which thrashed with atabla by the ac- everystate.People saynextis Courtsought the “assistance” of phones of at leastsix MLAs be- to SALHospital in Ahmedabad on Akbarhas suedRamani for making allegations against washampering his familylife. Is cused, also agranthi. the turn of Maharashtra...They theAdvocateGeneral regarding longing to his owncampstaying November 22. He also had co- defamation over allegations of Akbar.“When Akbar filedthe this the conduct of aman with Both the victim and the ac- areabouttostart thegame in filingof FIRagainstajournalist,the at HotelSuryagarh in Jaisalmer, morbidconditionsofhypothy- sexual misconductand harass- complaint againstmethere sterling reputation?” cusedlived in the staff quarters Rajasthan onceagain,” Gehlot RajasthanpoliceonSaturday filed with the help of the police. It had roidismand dyslipidemia (ab- at the gurdwara. Theincident said at the event, whichwas itsfinalreportinthe phonetap- also shared adocument purport- normallevels of bad lipids such took place on Fridaymorning, also attendedbyAjayMaken, pingcase. edly showing alistofcalls made as cholesterol). The final cause of Madhya Pradesh: around 8.30amatthe RK who is Rajasthan in-charge of Manoj Kumar,Deputy to theMLAs. death wasdue to respiratoryfail- TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE Puram Sector 6gurdwara. the Congress,state Congress Commissioner of Police,Jaipur On October 1, an FIR wasfiled ureand lung inflammation or bi- For classes 1-8, Granthis read the Guru presidentGovindSingh South,confirmed that afinal re- against Singh andKumar accus- lateral pneumonitis, doctors said. CASES: ACTIVECASES:4,09,689 Granth Sahib and arecaretak- Dotasraand otherCongress porthas been filedinthe matter. ing them of spreading “mislead- Acritical intensivistatthe schools reopen 278 ers of the gurdwara. leaders. Kumar said the “origin” of the ingand fake news”regarding the SALHospital, who wasapartof DAYSSINCE 96,08,211 DEATHS:1,39,700 Police said Ravindergot PANDEMIC “AjayMaken-ji waswithus WhatsApp texts—on the basis of accusationsmade in August. the team of doctors treating from next BEGAN TESTS: 14,58,85,512 | RECOVERIES: 90,58,822 intoafight withDarshan, the at the hotelfor 34 days.He whichthe FIR wasfiledagainst Following the FIR, Lokendra JusticeUdhwani, saidatthe time accused, who allegedly hit him knows whatwas happening in SachinPilot’saideLokendraSingh Singh had approachedthe High of his admission ahigh-resolu- academicyear CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS multipletimes on thehead Rajasthan. And the wayour and AajTak’s Rajasthan Editor CourtinOctober seeking quash- tion computerisedtomography DEC4 36,652 51242,53311,57,763 with atabla. MLAs metAmit Shah. Sharat Kumar —“could notbees- ingof theFIR.Duringahearingon (HRCT) had indicated infection The victim's familyclaimed DharmendraPradhan (Union tablished”. December 1, the HC had stayed in 70 percent of his lung and so EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Darshanwas jealous of Minister) wassitting there, Afinalreport refers to that anycoercive action by police he wasstarted on Remdesivir BHOPAL,DECEMBER5 Ravinder’s wealth and his job Syed Zafar Islam,who nowhas documentwhichrecordsthecon- againstSingh till the disposal of (an antiviral medication)and as he wasthe head granthi at becomeRajya Sabha (member) clusionarrivedatby thepoliceaf- the case. steroids. MADHYAPRADESH Chief the gurdwara. He had been of BJP, who brought Scindia to MinisterShivraj SinghChouhan working therefor thelast16 the BJP,hewas also present said Saturdaythat schools for years. therealongwith our MLAs,” classes 1to8inthe statewill re- STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES DCP (Southwest) Ingit Gehlotsaid, adding the crisis Uttarakhand: Uptick in untimely forest sume with the newacademic Pratap Singh said, “Ravinder’s ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK wasresolvedafter Congress year beginning April 1. wifeManinder Kaur came to leaders suchasAjayMaken, K fires, fewer blazes during regular season The schools will remain shut Uttarakhand 5,789 318 save herhusband but she was CVenugopal, Randeep until March 31 owing to the Assam 3,554 279 also hit and sustainedinjuries Surjewala and AvinashRai faster than plainsdue to lower Covid-19outbreak.Studentsup Gujarat 14,778 146 to hereye.The crime team has Pandeyintervenedand decided LALMANIVERMA accumulation of rainwater. to class 8will be promoted based inspected thespotand col- to suspend the Congress leaders. DEHRADUN,DECEMBER5 The situation improves be- on their projectswhile those in STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING lected evidence.” During the event, Gehlot also tween the beginning of Julyand classes9and 10 will be calledto ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK The couple were rushed to allegedthatDharmendra Pradhan BETWEEN OCTOBER and the end of September when the school twiceaweek. Delhi28,252 9,929 SafdarjungHospital fortreat- tried to boostthe moraleof December,Uttarakhand monsoon maintains moisturein Chouhansaid social distanc- Haryana 14,329 6,071 ment and Ravinder succumbed Congress legislators by “pretend- recordedmoreforestfires than the atmosphereaswell as soil. ing will be maintainedinclasses Andhra6,432 5,705 to his injuries Saturday. ing to talk to HighCourt and the four-month period from “But no rain wasrecordedin forgrades 9and 11.The boardex- The victim’sfamilyalleged Supreme Court judges”. “They Februaryinwhichthese blazes the stateafter September 20. amination will be held forthose STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES Darshan had attackedRavinder metfor an hour andthose usuallyoccur,government data Forest firesoccur in thefour Therewas light rain forafew days in class 10 and 12. ONDEC4TOTAL afew months agoaswell. MLAs told me, ‘sir,wewere shows.Infact, the number of in- monthsstarting February only in November.Following a Chouhanannouncedthe de- Kerala 5,717 6,25,767 “Howcan aman kill inside ashamed, therewas one Sardar cidentsduring the forest fire sea- prolonged dryspell of 45 to 60 cision afterholding ameeting Maharashtra5,2291,842,587 the gurdwara?Thisisnot the PatelwhowastheHomeMinister son—a major partofwhichcoin- days,treeleavesdriedupearly with School Education Minister Delhi 4,067 5,86,125 firsttime he hasattackedmy and nowthereisthis Amit Shah cidedwith thelockdown—was dle of February—the onsetof thisyear.Whenthemovementof Inder Singh Parmer. family. Afew monthsago,we who is the Home Minister... feed- the lowest in the last20years. spring when the trees sheddry humans started in the forest to During the meeting, STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS filedacomplaint againsthim ing us sweets,snacks’. And As per Forest Department leavesand the soillosesmoisture collect wood forthemselvesand Chouhan spokeabout bringing ONDEC4TOTAL when he tried to kill ourfather. DharmendraPradhan is pretend- records, therewere185 wildfires due to arise in temperature. This fodder forlivestock,and theylit about a"radical change" in the Maharashtra129 48,678 Police came herebut the gurd- ing to talk to judges of the High from October 1toDecember1, forest fire season continuesusu- wasteaswell as bonfires in the education impartedinMadhya Delhi 73 9,497 wara committee told us to re- CourtandSupremeCourtinorder affecting 245hectares of forests. allytill mid-June. Owing to alack fields. These triggered firesin Pradesh. Forthis, he said, acom- West Bengal 52 8,628 solve theissue.Theyshould to boostourmorale.However, the Stateforestofficials calledthese of rain during this time, the forests,” said aforestofficial. mittee of educationists should have removedDarshanfrom DataasonDecember4,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical BJPhitbackatGehlot forhisclaims. incidentsuntimely. ground moisturelevel remains During the forest fire season, be constituted whichwould first Researchandstategovernments.Often,thenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays here,” alleged Lakhvinder, FULLREPORTON In Uttarakhand, forestsfires lowand the surface dries up. In therewere135 incidentswhich study the education systems im- aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive Ravinder’s daughter. www.indianexpress.com begin everyyear from the mid- hillyareas, the surface gets drier affected 172hectaresofjungles. plementedinother states. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 EXPRESS NETWORK THE SUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020

Bollywooddirector FARM AGITATION 49 YEARS OF 1971 WAR Bangla delegationtotake part seeks to retain JaishankartoskipCanadacall; in VijayDiwascelebrations foster child, daysafterTrudeauremarks this year: Eastern Command mother says she’s EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE KOLKATA,DECEMBER5 medically fit now ‘Scheduling issues’likelyreasonfor skipping video-call; Canada PM’s THE ARMY’S Eastern Command on Saturdayrecalledhow UN chiefGuterres, 36 UK legislatorsbackfarmers’protest farmer remarks Pakistan’s armyhad surrendered While the woman wasre- to the Indian armedforces and EXPRESS NEWS ferred to the Shraddha spokesman forthe UN Secretary hypocrisy, says Mukti Bahini49yearsago.The BangladeshDeputy High SERVICE Rehabilitation Foundation, an SHUBHAJITROY General, said in NewYorkon historic militaryvictoryresulted CommissionerToufique MUMBAI, DECEMBER5 NGOfor mental illness treat- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 Fridaywhilerespondingto aques- Chauthaiwale in Pakistanceding control of Hasan (right)and Major ment, the infant wastaken by tion on the farmers' protestin then EastPakistan, paving the General General Service ATWO-YEAR-OLD toddler's the CWCunder itscare. Ayear EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MinisterS India. wayfor the birth of the sovereign (MGGS) VSreehari, Eastern fate hangs in the balance with old by then,hewas placed Jaishankar willnot be partofa InLondon,agroupof 36cross- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE nation of Bangladesh. Keeping Command, in Kolkataon aBollywood film director- with FSC. The latter put him in video-callatthe initiative of partyParliamentarianshave writ- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 Covid protocols in mind, the Saturday. Express writer who fostered thechild the careofafamily. Canadian Foreign Minister tentoUKForeign Secretary Eastern Command will pay over the pastseven months,as By November lastyear,the François-PhilippeChampagneon Dominic Raab and askedhim to BJP SATURDAY slammed homage to those from Indiaand his biological motherunder- woman had recoveredenough Monday, days afterIndia sum- makerepresentations to his CanadianPrime MinisterJustin Bangladesh, who were partof Bangladesh. went treatment forschizo- to remember the address of monedthe Canadian envoy and Indian counterpart, SJaishankar, Trudeau'ssupportfortheprotest- the Bangladesh Liberation war Major General VSreehari, SC phrenia,seeking to retain his her father, afarmer, in Bhojpur, protestedagainstPrime Minister SJaishankar regarding the impact on British ingfarmersinIndiaas“nothingbut in 1971. ,MGGS, Eastern Command, who custody longer. Bihar,and officials were able JustinTrudeau’scomments onthe Punjabis affected by the demon- hypocrisy”, claiming Canada is a ABangladeshi delegation, wasalso present during the cur- The 30-year-old mother to trace her to Kanpur. ongoing farmer protests here. strationsbyfarmers againstnew "strident critic" of MSP and other comprising Mukti Jodhas and tain raiser,said 30 Mukti Bahinis saidshe wasmedically fitto However, aCWC membersaid, Officially, the Indian side has been 11 suchvideo-callstill now. agriculturalreformsinIndia.“This agriculture policiesatthe WTO. their familymembers, along with spouse and six Bangladeshi lookafter her son now, butthe theboy's father wasn't willing conveyedtothe Canadian side On November 3, Jaishankar took isajointlettercallingforrepresen- BJP's foreign affairs depart- withserving Bangladesh armed serving armedforce officers will foster familyhas raised con- to cometoMumbai, and they that Jaishankar will notbeable to partinthe11thcallof theministe- tation to be madebyyourself to ment in-charge Vijay forces officers, will participatein be here forthe celebration.The cerns over her mental state. decided to continue the foster attend the video-call dueto rialcoordinationgrouponCovid- yourIndiancounterpartaboutthe Chauthaiwaletweeted:“Canada the celebrations at Fort William. Eastern Command will also host Amidstall this, the childhas caretill the mother fullyrecov- “scheduling issues”. 19 hostedbyCanada. impact on British Sikhs and is amember of the CairnsGroup “I must congratulateEastern an exhibitionofbooksand livedinthree homes over the ered. Sourcescautionedthatitisnot Meanwhile,thespokesperson Punjabis,withlongstandinglinks of agri exporters, whose objective Command fortheir commend- movies related to the 1971 war. pastone year. In Januarythis year,the correctto linkJaishankar’srefusal forUNchief AntonioGuterresand to landand farming in India," the in WTOnegotiationsistoseek in- able job that theyare doing by The 1971 warstarted on At ameeting of the womangot amedical fitness to participate inthemeetingwith agroup of 36 cross-party UK par- MPs stated. creasedmarketaccessincountries celebrating this historic day December 3and lastedfor 13 Mumbai CWConDecember 1, certificateand mether son for the issue of commentsfromthe liamentarianshavealsocomeout Theletter,issuedonFriday, has likeIndia.Itseeksreductioninthe jointly. Bangladeshi delegation days.The warofficiallyendedon the Bollywood director and an hour on January21. Canadian leadership, since New in supportofthe agitatingIndian been draftedbyBritish Sikh agrisubsidiesprovidedtodomes- is coming to be apartofit. December 16,when the the NGOthat had been However, in Maythis year, Delhihasnotgiventhatastherea- farmers, saying that people have Labour MP TanmanjeetSingh tic producers,evenifsuchsubsi- Thankstothe Indian Armed Pakistanarmysurrendered to handed over the careofthe theNGO shifted the babyto son. “If it wasindeedanaction to aright to demonstrate peacefully DhesiandsignedbyotherIndian- dies aresubsistence-level,” Forces and Mukti Bahini that we the Indian Armedforces. On babysaid theyshould keep theBollywood director's home convey India’sdispleasure, we and authorities should letthem origin MPs, including Labour's Chauthaiwale said. got our independence. We got December 16,1971, General AA him longer,asthe mother was as the other familysaid the would have saidso. We wouldn’t do so. VirendraSharma, Seema “Italsoopposesimportrestric- moral, diplomatic and material Khan Niazi, chief of the Pakistan notyet fitmentally. The CWC lockdown made it difficult for have givenschedulingasarea- “As to the question of India, Malhotra andValerie Vazaswell tionstoprotectIndia'sfarmers.The supportfromIndia .I paytribute Army, had surrendered along directed that the child be them to carefor him. The CWC son,” the source said. what Iwould saytoyou is what as former Labour leader Jeremy questions posedbyCanada to to all the freedom fighters who with 93,000 troops to the allied movedout of the foster home said it wasnot informedabout Since March 15,Canada has I'vesaid to others when raising Corbyn. IndiaregardingIndia’sagripolicies sacrificedtheir livesduring forces of the IndianArmyand and giventoalocal NGO, but this. been having avideo-call with theseissues is thatpeople have a It urgesthe minister to setup in WTOare evidence of the fact the1971war.It’safive-day, joint Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini. This reversedthe same afew hours Under the Juvenile Justice Foreignministersof Brazil,France, right to demonstratepeacefully, an urgent meeting withthem to that Canada has scarce interestin celebration” said TofiqueHasan, dayiscelebrated as VijayDiwas later,atmidnight. TheWomen Act, afamilyisassessedbyan Germany, Italy, Singaporeandthe and authorities needtolet them discuss the “deteriorating situa- the genuine well-being of Indian Deputy High Commissioner of or VictoryDay. and Child Development NGObefore it is referred to the United Kingdom –therehave do so,” Stephane Dujarric, tion in the Punjab”. farmers ,” he said. (WCD)'s Mumbai city depart- WCDtoberegisteredasafos- ment has nowcalledfor ade- tercaregiver. As per Model tailedinquiryreportfromthe Guidelines forFosterCarefor- DMK urges PM Prepare to fight Kerala parties CWCand the NGOs involved, mulated by the Centre, afos- even as the CWChas sought a terfamilycan adoptachild af- to hold talks coalitionslike questionbid to fresh medical fitnesscertifi- terfiveyears of care, if the catefor the mother from a child has no biological family withfarmers we did in Bihar: rename biotech government hospital. “Wewill claiming her.The director is take adecision by next week,” notlooking to adoptthe boy, Salem:Extendingsupportto farm- JPNadda in institute after Deputy WCDOfficer,Mumbai, FSC officials said. ers protesting outside Delhi Prema Gadgesaid. Says the mother:“Since againstCentre’sthreecontentious Uttarakhand Golwalkar It is the firsttime thatthe JanuaryIamtrying all means farm laws,the DMK on Saturday director who has made several to gethis custody.Iwill look urgedPrimeMinisterNarendra high-profile movies, and who afterhim, Iwill take good care Modito holdtalkswiththemand LALMANIVERMA EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE is marriedand has ason, has of him." With the lockdown demandedwithdrawingthe leg- DEHRADUN,DECEMBER5 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, fostered achild. causingdelay,itwas finally islations. DECEMBER5 He did notrespond to calls onlyonNovember 4this year DMKpresidentMKStalinand WITH Areference to the or messages from TheSunday that FSC wrotetothe child’s senior party leadersstaged Opposition'sGrand Alliance in KERALA'S RULINGCPI (M) as Express. grandfathertotake his cus- protests in different parts of the Biharand the recentAssembly well as the Opposition Congress The mother had wandered tody.“Aapjald se jaldMumbai state,extending supporttothe pollsinthestate,BJPnationalpres- on Saturdaylodged protests offfromthe home of her hus- aakar apne naati ko apne ghar farmers,mostlyfromPunjab,who identJPNaddaonSaturday asked againstthe Central govern- band, adailywager,inKanpur le jayiye(Come to Mumbai at have been agitating fornearly 10 party workers in Uttarakhand to ment's move to name the up- with the toddler,then anew- the earliestand take your days outside the national capital. stay preparedto fightagainstsuch coming second campus of Rajiv born, leaving a12-year-old son grandsonbackhome),” the let- Stalin,Leaderof Oppositionin coalitions in the next Assembly Gandhi Centrefor Biotechnology behind. tersaid. Tamil Nadu Assembly, ledawell- pollsinthestate—slatedfor2022. (RGCB) afterRSS ideologue MS By early 2019,she wasliv- Dr Bharat Vatwani, the attended protestdemonstration On the second of his four-day Golwalkar saying the move ing on aMumbai footpath founderofShraddha,inhis here,whichhappensto bethena- tour of the state, Nadda firstad- would promote communalism. withthe baby.InSeptember communication with the tive district of Chief MinisterK dressed agathering of party MPs, While addressing acurtain 2019,according to the NGO CWC, has said the woman may Palaniswami. MLAs, ministers and office-bear- raiser session of the sixthedition Family Service Centre(FSC) develop “severe reactive de- In his address, Stalinsaid the ers and later,also spokewith a of the IndiaInternationalScience that handledhis foster care, pression” if kept away from farmers were protestingagainst TEJASHWI BOOKED members from the academic Festival, hostedbyRGCBon the Borivali Government herson forlong.The founda- the laws on issues including lack community in Dehradun. In both Friday, Union Ministerfor Railway Policefoundthe child tion has also assured that it of assurance on minimum sup- RJD leader Tejashwi Yadavand others from Congress and Leftparties protested againstthe events,hecitedthesaffronparty's Scienceand Technology Dr badlybruised, with bite will monitor her futuretreat- portprice(MSP) and the "corpo- newfarm laws in front of theGandhiMaidan in Patna on Saturday. At least18leaders of the performance in Bihar polls and Harsh Vardhan had said ,“Iam marks,with the woman ment in Bhojpur. ratesenjoying the freedom to de- RJD, Congress and the LeftParties,includingTejashwi,werelater booked forstaging askedmembersto promote Prime happytounderstand thatthis re- claiming he hadslipped outof FULLREPORT ON cideto whomtheproduceshould demonstration in a“prohibited area” and forviolating Covid norms. MinisterNarendraModi’s devel- search facility will be named as her hands and injuredhimself. www.indianexpress.com be soldand at what rate."ENS opment model. the ShriGurujiMadhavSadashiv “Despitethe coalition of such Golwalkar National Centrefor KARNATAKA STATEPOLICE HOUSINGAND Sand hurdle forces, we emergedvictorious in ComplexDisease in Cancer and Bihar with your blessings. This is ViralInfection.” INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONLTD. delays Ayodhya thestrengthof theBJPandModiji,” On Saturday, Kerala Chief (A Government of Karnataka Undertaking) Nadda said. He exhortedworkers MinisterPinarayiVijayan wrote #59, Richmond Road, (Gen K.S. Thimmaiah Road) Bengaluru-25. Ram temple to remain firm in their task of bat- to Harsh Vardhan asking him to Ph: 080 –25584102 /25594893 Website: www.ksphc.org Asansol Municipal Corporation tling suchalliances. “You alsostay reconsider the decision. “...this email :[email protected], [email protected] construction prepared.All these forces will instituteisapremier research in- No.: EE/KSPH&IDCL/CNT/TND/2020-21/393 Date: 05.12.2020 Asansol cometogetherandyouhavetode- stituteand has been above polit- SHORT TERM NOTICE INVITING TENDER Notice Inviting Tender Lucknow:The Constructionofthe featallof them.Thisshouldbeour ical divides. The Government of Ramtemple in Ayodhya hasbeen goal.Youbesure,theyallwillcome Kerala is of the opinion that the Tender Notice No. T-716/PW/Eng/20 dated 03-12-2020 KSPH &IDCL invites online tender through e-procurement portal https://eproc.karnataka.gov.in for furtherdelayedafterexpertshave together,” Nadda said. campus be namedafter some the following works: Tender Notice No. T-715/PW/Eng/20 dated 03-12-2020 Tender Notice No. T-714/PW/Eng/20 dated 03-12-2020 found loose sand afew feet deep “Nationalpartieshave beenre- eminent Indian scientistofinter- Approx. Contract intothe earth. The finding has not ducedtoregional parties and re- nationalrepute,instead of the Amount Period Memo No. 687/WS/Eng/2020 dated 03-12-2020 Sl. Class of surprisedexpertsfromIIT-Madras, gional parties have been reduced proposedname. This will keep Name of Work put to (including Memo No. 688/WS/Eng/2020 dated 03-12-2020 the Central Building Research to familyparties. Exceptthe BJP, up the reputation of the institu- No. Contractor Memo No. 689/WS/Eng/2020 dated 03-12-2020 tender (Rs. monsoon) Institute (CBRI) and Larsen & thereisnopolitical party whichis tion and help avoid controver- in Lakhs) in months Please visit to website ww.asansolmunicipalcorporation.com Toubroasthe sitestands in close notafamilyparty.FortheBJP,party sies in public domain,” he wrote. PACKAGE-37: Developmental works for PG-2020: or www.wbtenders.govt.in. proximity to the banksofthe isthefamily,”Naddasaid.Thereare Opposition leader Ramesh Construction of Additional Septic Tank for Disposal of For details, intending contractors may also contact Eng. Dept. of Saryu river. Members of ShriRam familyparties in Jammu and Chennithala on the other hand Sewage Water for Police Qtrs at Belakavadi, Melukote, this office and office notice Board. JanmabhoomiTeerthKshetrahad Kashmir,Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, wrotetoPrime Minister Class-II & 1 Kikkeri and Keragodu in Mandya Dist and Construction of 366.003 Sd/- earlierdecidedtobegintheactual Bihar,WestBengal, Odisha and in NarendraModi urging him that above compound wall, RCC Box type Storm drain to Police qtrs Superintending Engineer construction by October 15. severalstatesinsouthIndia, thesecond campus also should Asansol Municipal Corporation at DAR premises in Chamarajnagara, Gundlupet, Begur in ENS Nadda said. be namedafter RajivGandhi. Chamrajnagardistrict . PACKAGE-38: Developmental works for PG-2020: Class-III & GOVT.OFODISHA 2 Construction of compound wall to Police qtrs at Rona, 87.32 3 OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER above HC quashes rape Mulagunda &Binkadatti in Gadag district. NORTH EASTERN RURAL WORKS CIRCLE, KEONJHAR O-641 eProcurement Notice for Road Works PACKAGE-39: Developmental works for PG-2020: Identification No. Road OnlineNCB No. 281 case against man Construction of Compound wall, Road and Drain for Class-III & No. 2144 /Date: 26.11.2020 3 163.80 3 1. Name of the work :Improvement of Road Works under RIDF &Inter District Inter Block Connectivity Police Qtrs at Haveri shahara, Haveri Rural, DAR Haveri, above 2. Totalno. of work :05(Five) Nos. 3. Estimated Cost :Asper Annexure. Rannebennur Rural, Halageri and Hirekerur in Haveri Dist. 4. Class of Contractor :Asper Annexure. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE 5. Period of Completion :Asper Annexure NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 PACKAGE-40: Developmental works for PG-2020: 6. Other details Construction of Compound wall, Road and Drain for Police Class-III & Procurement Officer Bid Identification No. Availability of tender On-line for bidding Last Date &Time of seeking Date &Time of Opening of Tender in O/O S.E. N.E.R.W. Circle, Keonjhar 4 128.45 3 From To Tender Clarification Technical Bid Financial Bid THE DELHI High Courthas Qtrs at Rattihalli, Thadas, Savanur and Hanagal in Haveri above 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 District. Superintending Engineer, North Eastern Rural Road Online NCB No. 281 Dt. 08.12.20 at 11.00 A.M. Dt.19.12.20 up to 3.00 P.M. Dt.18.12.20 up to 3.00 P.M. Dt. 21.12.20 at 11.00 A.M. Will be intimated later quashedarapecase againsta Works Circle, Keonjhar PACKAGE-41: Developmental works for PG-2020:
Further details can be seen from the website: www.tendersorissa.gov.in Sd/- man afterthe complainant said Superintending Engineer, N.E.R.W. Circle, Keonjhar Construction of Compound wall, Road and Drain for Police OIPR-25048/11/0008/2021 the FIR waslodged “outofanger” Class-III & 5 Qtrs at Adur,Bankapura and Hamsabhavi in Haveri district 126.00 3 following an altercation. above and Providing Grill Work to Balcony for 180 PC +2PSI qtrs GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA “Since the prosecutrix has in Haveri District. Office of the Superintending Engineer,Rural Works Circle, Sambalpur made awrong statement which Tel-0663-2548268,E-mail Id [email protected] PACKAGE-42: Developmental works for PG-2020: O-658 culminated intothe present FIR, Class-III & No:2325 Dated:03.12.2020 6 Construction of Compound wall, Road and Drain for Police 82.86 3 The Superintending Engineer Rural Works Circle, Sambalpur on behalf of Governor of Odisha invites online percentage rate Bid from experienced &eligible bidders for 1(One) group of road work under thereforeshe is liabletobepros- above Qtrs at PTS Aimangala in Chitradurga District. Annual maintenance plan 2020-21 for periodical maintenance of 5-year completed PMGSY road works, such as renewal coat with laying SDBC in the districtsofDeogarh. ecuted underthe law. However, 1 Name of work : Annual maintenance plan 2020-21 for Periodical maintenance of 5-years completed PMGSY Road works, such as renewal coat with laying sheseeksunconditional apol- PACKAGE-43: Developmental works for PG-2020: SDBC under R.W Division, Deogarh. Class-III & 7 Providing safety grills for the opening area for Police Qtrs 43.78 3 2 No of works : 1(One) group details as per DTCN. ogy and submitsthat she is a above 3 Estimated cost : Approximately Rs 212.20 lakhs. (Block-A, B, C) at Austin Town in Bangalore. marriedwoman having two 4 Class of Contractor. : Band A children and her matrimonial The InterestedContractors may participate in the tendering process. The details such as Tender Fee, 5 Cost of tender paper and mode of deposit. : Rs. 10,000/- per set.( to be deposited On-line) in favour of concerned Executive Engineer. 6 Mode of submission of tender : Tender should be submitted only On line in website www.tendersorissa.gov.in.(https//tendersodisha.gov.in) lifewill be destroyedifthe pres- EMD, Tender Documents etc., are available on e-Procurement Portal from 14.12.2020. 7 EMD and mode of deposit : 1% of estimated cost appearing in DTCN (to be deposited On-line) in favour of concerned Executive Engineer. entcaseissent fortrial,” said “KSPH &IDCL reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids without assigning anyreasons.” 8Summary of key dates are provided below : Note :Henceforth any changes /modiications in the tender will be updated only on Justice Suresh KumarKait in the Procurement Officer Bid Identification No. Availability of Tender on-line for bidding Last date &time for seeking Date &Time of opening of tender order dated December 4, while e-Procurement portal. From To clarification Technical Bid Financial Bid Sd/- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 accepting her apology. DIPR/DDU/1955/AAA/2020-21 ExecutiveEngineer –Contracts I/c Superintending Engineer Rural, Road Tender Online - 08.12.2020 at 18.12.2020 17.12.2020 19.12.2020 at 11.00 23.12.2020 The courtnotedthat though Works Circle, Sambalpur RWCSBP-08 11.00.A.M. up to 4.00 P.M. up to 4.00 P.M. A.M. at 11.00 AM *Further details can be seen from the e-procurement portal www.tendersorissa.gov.in. (https//tendersodisha.gov.in) theSupreme Courthasruledthat Sd/- *Subsequent modification/ corrigendum/Addendum if required shall appear in website only. Superintending Engineer, the FIR in arape case should not *The amount put to bid is exclusive of GST Rural, Works Circle, Sambalpur *Bidder should inspect the road before bidding and quote his rate accordingly. be quashedasitisaheinous OIPR-25091/11/0011/2021 offence.

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020 7 SUNDAY STORY

NJANUARY11, Chinashared the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV2, the coronavirus shutting down bordersand O economies across the world. On March 16,US-basedbiotech firm Moderna and aweeklater,researchersat OxfordUniversity announcedthe startofhu- man trials on vaccines againstit. In India, the government resortedtoan unprecedented lockdown to contain the virus. Up untilApril 19,bywhichtime the countryhad reported15,712 cases and 507 deaths, avaccine wasnowhereonthe hori- zon. That day, at the dailybriefing by the MinistryofHealth &FamilyWelfare,Joint SecretaryLuv Aggarwal saidahigh-leveltask forcewould “identifyapathway forvaccine development” —the firsttime the govern- ment mentionedthe V-word. With that, the ball wasset rolling. By July, the Indian regulator had cleared Phase 1hu- man trials of the firstindigenous vaccine can- didate, developedbythe Indian Councilof Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech. Some slips followed(including the ICMR’s incredulous August15deadlinefor a vaccine), but nowIndiaisfinallyonthe cusp of avaccine forCovid-19. With the UK already granting emergency use approval forthe Pfizer vaccine, regula- tory bodiesare seeking to rush through their approvals. With at leastfivecandidates in dif- ferent stages of clinical trials, India hopes to roll out itsfirstvaccine in thenextfew weeks. However, therollout would be justthe startofanunprecedented exercise,with India seeking to vaccinateasmanyofits 1.3 billion people as possible, with at leasttwo, maybeeventhree, doses each. Taking the vaccine from the factorytothe syringebroadly involves threestages—trans- portation, storageand the actual inoculation. Thegood news is Indiahas muchofthe infra- structure in place, thanks to itsUniversal Immunisation Programme (UIP), oneofthe largest public health schemes in the world, covering close to 2.67 crorenewbornsand 2.9 crorepregnant women against12diseases. At the Pune-based Serum InstituteofIndia, whichhas collaborated with OxfordUniversity and pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca forthe productionofone of the five vaccine candidates in India. Reuters “Since 1984,when the UIP wasstarted, India has created anetwork of more than 26,000 cold chainpointswith temperature trackers forvaccines.Now we only needto augmentthis,” asenior HealthMinistryof- ficial told TheSunday Express. Whichiswhy,despitepubliclyvoiced ROLLING OUT concernsoverinfrastructure to storeand transportvaccines, with private players of- fering to pitchin, sources in the government saythis is one area where the countrycould be comfortable —atleastfor now. The real challengewould be thelogistics involvedintakingthe vaccine to the benefi- THE VACCINE ciaries, and in tracking them. Notjustmultiple vaccines arebeing used againstone diseasebut also, unlikeUIP, whichfocuseslargely on children, the Covid With the government claiming that India is weeksawayfromgettinga inoculation drive is to covernewborns to vaccinefor Covid-19, KAUNAIN SHERIFFMonthe hectic backend adults, from the healthytothe infirm, those with underlying diseasesand thosewithout, preparations forthe mammoth exercise of inoculatinglakhs of people,adults those in urban areas to thoseinsome of the remotest geographies. and children—and working outwho willget the shotwhen, andhow

The blueprint Officials saystate has ensured90% immunisation despitepandemic. Gargi Verma As early as August12, thefirstmeeting of “Vaccine procurement will be negotiated In India, cold chain technologyasbase infra- the National ExpertGroup of Vaccine centrallyand quality control will be also at structurewithin the logistics networkissuf- Administration (NEGVAC)—co-chaired by the central level. But once the stocksaregiven ficient enough. All we have to do is compart- Dr VKPaul, member,NITI Aayog, and Union to the states, the logistics should all be under mentalisewith wall panels and we can store SPOT REPORT HealthSecretary Rajesh Bhushan —decided the stateand district administration.” the vaccines alongside food. India also has that on the agendashould be augmenting Reddy also underlinedthe value of plan- about20,000 transport trucksdesigned to 310 km from Raipur, atrek technology platforms to ensurethat eachvial ning. “Howtogiveanintramuscular injec- storeupto-25 degrees Celsius,” he said. of the vaccine and eachbeneficiaryistracked. tion, howtolook forside-effects, howtodo Saying it’s moreimportant to focus on Since 2015,India has had avaccinetrack- sterilisation, and dispose of the syringe, can management, Kohli pointed out, “Weare not of half-a-day with vaccine, ingmechanism as partofthe existing immu- be ataught in amatter of fewdays. This Abigexercise planning forstorage;millionsofvaccine nisation programme. CalledeVIN or should nottoo difficult, but should be taught doses will getoverinafewweeks. We must Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network, the under good supervision. Initial injections DESPITE THE experience withthe identifythe terminal inoculation centres, hoping to catch tribals in time software, whichworks through asmart- should be givenunder the supervision of ex- Universal Immunisation then work backwards andplan howthat phone application, has digital information periencedpeople.” Programme, one of the largest public centrecan be providedaparticular coldstore. on vaccine stocks and the temperatures in At his meeting withChief Ministers last health programmes in the world, The planning will have to factor in the dis- Covid-19vaccination drive.Dantewada the cold chain. One of the firsttasksassigned week,Prime MinisterNarendraModi too Covid vaccination will be an entirely tance between point Aand B.” GARGIVERMA district has had over 5,000Covid-19cases wasbeefing up the eVIN. asked states to send detailedplans on last different ball game forIndia. Unlike States aresubmittingtheirplans to the (43 active now) and 15 deaths so far. Multiple vaccine candidatesmean each mile-delivery.“Theexperience of states (on the UIP,whichfocuses largely on Centre. Forinstance, Karnataka has proposed ROUND10amonaThursday, In Gadhmiri, mitanin Malati is among has itsown cold-chain requirements—mak- vaccine administration) is of utmostimpor- children, the Covid exercise involves three newvaccine stores in Bengaluru, a mitanin (community health the over twolakh healthcareworkers reg- ing digital tracking critical. Anyexposure to tance. Because everything movesfromthe amajor chunkofthe population, Shivamoggaand Ballari districts. The state volunteer) and an auxiliary isteredonastate governmentportalforthe outside temperatures can reduce the po- statelevel,” he said. withfivedifferent vaccines to track, A nurse maketheir wayto Phase-1Covid-19vaccinationdrive.Acru- has also identified30,000 vaccination sites, tency of avaccine and hence wastage. In an Idea Exchange session at TheIndian from dosestobeneficiaries. and sought additional cold storageequip- JharawayavillageinMuchnar gram pan- cial link between thenurse and locals, the “You needanITsystemtoknowwhere Express, Nandan Nilekani, former chairman ment from the Centre. chayat in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, 310- mitanin has been assignedaround100 the vaccine is procured from, howand where of the UIDAI and the architect of Aadhaar,had On September 10,Additional Secretary, odd km from the statecapital Raipur. families in her para,spread out over 4km. it is kept,whether temperatureparameters proposedaroadmap. “My suggestion is that COLDCHAINFORIMMUNISATION Health Ministry, Manohar Agnani, wroteto Armedwith vaccine boxescarrying pre- “Weweretrainedfor the Covid-19vacci- aremaintainedetc. All this tracking is needed we createaplatform to do 8-10million vac- (Disruptionofthecoldchainintransit stateimmunisation officers and cold chain ventive shotsfor Japanese Encephalitis, nation drive and taught about social dis- on real-time basis,” atop government offi- cinations aday by authorisedvaccinators. mightreducethepotencyofthevaccine) officers with 15 directions,including repair of the small team arrivesatanullah fedby tancing,amongotherthings.Ourancestors cial had said afterthe August12meeting. We have asystemtotrain 200,000people on non-functional cold chain equipment. the Indravati river, where the motorable have followedthat conceptfor years,” Since then, keyfeatures have been added howtovaccinate,explain to people the side- road ends. The villageisstill 5kmaway laughs the mother of three, speaking in to the eVIN app. NowcalledCo-VIN,the soft- effects... Thereisanapp, and one can take an And when things go wrong... and theywalk over alow,narrowbridge Hindi and the local Halbi languages. She ware can trackthe beneficiaryand allocate appointmentfor vaccination. Iwill give my Acrucial unknown is the possibility of ad- to reachtheir destination, where agroup says thereare somefamiliesthatmakeex- avaccinationsession. Also, once aperson is name, do an Aadhaar authentication...The verse eventsorhealth complications follow- of 10 children arewaiting at the angan- cuses,“butItake thechildren anyway”. vaccinated and if thereisnoadverse event, a information could then be sent in real time to ing the vaccination. wadi centrefor the shots.During mon- In Chandenar village, Sukalu Bai, 55, QR-based digital certification is generated. acloud location, and it will send backadigi- Indiahas an existing mechanism called soon months, when the nullah swells up says she has “managed”toconvince res- States across the countryhavealready talcertificate to me...Becauseinthe Covid- Vaccine manufacturer the AEFI (Adverse EventsFollowing andoften drowns the bridge, the health identsofher villageabout the benefitsof startedusing Co-VIN foranother important 19 vaccine system, it is notonlyimportant Immunisation) Secretariat under theUIP,in- workers saytheywade through the wa- vaccination. “Earlier,mothers worried task: uploading the database of healthcare that Iamvaccinated, it is alsoimportant that cluding doctors, dataspecialistsand health ters to reachthe paras (neighbourhoods). that the shots would give their children workers, who will be the firstpriority group youknowthat Iamvaccinated.The digital workers. Butagain, Covidisawhole newter- About 55-kmaway, in Toyalanka vil- fever.Iwould explain things to them, to getavaccine. On November 23, the Centre certificatecan then be shown at ajob inter- ritory. Whilethe AEFI is limitedtotracking lage, anganwadi worker Bindu Sodhi says even scold them. Now, theyall under- told states to identifythe potential vaccina- view, airport, railway station, bus stand etc.” Vaccine Refrigerated trucks adverse eventsamong children, nowadults her assignedareais“half-a-day’s trek”. “I stand,” says the grandmother of five. tors among the healthcareworkers. will have to be kept an eyeon, particularly have to walk 10 km to reachthe houses “In preparation forthe Covid-19vac- Along with adetailedarchitecturetoaug- Storage, distribution giventhe comorbidities risk in Covid-19. on the hill. When immunisation pro- cination, we have collected dataofall ment the IT platform, the expertcommittee Akey partofthe roadmap is taking stock Ice packed Experts also flag another issue. “Given grammes begin, the nurses inform me at healthcareworkers,including mitanin, built ablueprint forvaccine administration. of thecoldstorage facilities at different stages thermocol boxes that the vaccine will be administeredonthe leasttwo days in advance or else by the anganwadi workers, and medicalstaff of On October 26, the Health Ministryrec- onceavaccine leavesthe factory. in air cargo basis of emergency use authorisation, we time Itrekup, everyone has leftfor col- private hospitals, and it is being uploaded ommendedthe creation of statesteering By the end of lastweek,the government don’t have enough dataonlong-term safety lecting mahua flowers or forother activ- on aportalfor easy access. We arealso committees headedbyChief Secretaries; had identifiedasmanyas28,947cold chain and efficacy.Therefore, from asafetypers- ities in the jungle,” Sodhi says. working on increasingthe cold storage statetask forces by Principal Secretaries, points. These areessentiallydeep freezers pective,itwill very crucial to strengthen ad- As India prepares to roll out the vac- points,” says officer Thakur.The statecur- Health; and district task forces —toplan, im- and ice-linedrefrigerators to storethe vac- verse event reporting,” said Dr Anant Bhan, cine forCovid-19, resolving issues of ac- rentlyhas 630 cold storagepointswith plement and mobilise resources and to carry cines at primaryand community health cen- aresearcher in bioethics andglobal health. cessibility suchasthese is apriority for morethan80,000litresoffreezing capac- out “mid-course correction”,ifneeded. tres and districtsat2to 8degrees Celsius; as Government Statestores States have been directed to revamp the the government. Likeinlarge parts of the ity,believed to be sufficientfor thefirst The expertgroup alsobuiltanarchitec- well as largerwalk-in coolers and freezers at Medical Store AEFI committees to include, apartfrompae- country,Chhattisgarhhas been success- phase of the Covid-19vaccination. turetoensurelast-mile reachofany vaccine, thestate and regional levels. Depots* diatricians, neurologists,cardiologistsand fullycarrying out year-round vaccination WhileThakursays thestatehassought since real work on theground will have to be Sources said these 29,000 pointsare ad- respiratorymedicine specialists.The Centre drivesunder the Universal Immunisation morecold chainpoints and walk-in cool- done at the blocklevel. equatefor vaccines neededtobegiven in the hasalso sought adequatestocksofadrena- Programme. “Thestate has achievedover ers forSarguja and Bastarregions, sources On November 24,VandanaGurnani, firstphase to healthcareworkers. line injections, to be administeredinthe 90% immunisation despitethe pan- inthegovernmentclaimthatthecoldchain AdditionalSecretary&Mission Director In parallel,the subgroup headedby event of anysevereallergic reaction. Next demic,” says stateimmunisation officer pointsbeingset up can onlyprovide tem- (NHM) in the Health Ministry, wrotetostates SAparna, Secretary, Department of District Community week,itwill issue guidelines to states on how Amar Singh Thakur. However, the officer peratures between 2-8 degreeCelsius, seking BlockTaskForces, headedbySub- Pharmaceuticals (DoP), is mapping cold stor- stores Health Centres to communicatetopeople on vaccine safety. admits “issues of accessibility” and “last whichwon’t help if the Covid-19 vaccine Divisional Magistrates/tehsildars, who would ageavailable with food processing industries. In his meeting withCMs, the PM had said, mile connectivity” have prevented100 requiresstorageatsub-zerotemperatures. “identify vaccinators across government and Pawanexh Kohli, former CEO of the Atthesecentres, “For us, safetyisasnecessaryasspeed.” At per cent success, apartfromthe lackof “A lotdepends on the final drug that private sectorssoastominimise disruptionof National Centrefor Cold Chain Development, thevaccinesare an all-party meeting on December 4, he said awareness, tribal customs, preference for the Centreprocures. Apartfromlast-mile routine immunization services”. athink-tank on agri-logistics,said India has storedinregular experts believe a“cheap andsafe” vaccine traditionalmedicines over injections in connectivity,transportation and admin- Stressing on decentralisation as a“crucial sufficient cold storageinfrastructure, includ- PrimaryHealth refrigerators would be ready in the next fewweeks. “It is interior partsofthe state—all issues istration will be achallenge,” said an offi- and important” aspect, public health expert ing in the private sector.“Acold chain is not Centres natural the worldiswatching India,” he said. whichcould also come up duringthe cial involvedinthe process. Dr KSrinath Reddy told TheSunday Express, definedaccordingtosector but temperature. * ■ Kolkata ■ Mumbai ■ Chennai ■ Karnal (Haryana) As arebillions of Indians. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 8 OPINION THE SUNDAYEXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020

Across Fifth THEAISLE COLUMN TAVLEENSINGH AfraudontheConstitution Twitter@tavleen_singh

AMERICANS CANheave asigh of relief Protection of lifeand personal liberty;and (Amendment) Act, the dismemberment who love or marry or live with Hindu that Mr Donald Trumpwill be finallyout Article 25 —Freedom of conscience. of thestateofJammuandKashmir,thede- women. The text of the UP lawisdirected on January20, 2021. Yet, theycannot Mindful of the havocwrought follow- nialof humanrightsto under-custodyand againstinter-faithmarriages or living to- Modi’s wish away thesobering fact that ingthePartition,theConstituentAssembly under-trialprisoners,thedetentionof po- gether,particularly Hindu-Muslim cou- 73,890,295 citizens of the United States made twospecial provisions to reassure litical leaders without charge or trial, the ples.The questionable text reads: voted forMrTrump, only6,136,426 less minorities: Article 29 forprotection of in- erosionby stealthof thereservationforSCs, “No person shall convert or attempt to dangerous PCHIDAMBARAM than the number that voted for terests of minorities and Article 30 for STsandOBCs,theonslaughtonfederalism convert, either directly or otherwise, any Website:pchidambaram.in President-elect Joe Biden. America is di- rightsofminorities to establishand ad- and the brazen attempt to impose an other person from one religion to another Twitter@Pchidambaram_IN videdasnever before since 1860. ministereducationalinstitutions.Anycit- Oneness in everything from ration cards by misrepresentation, force, undue influ- isolation The civil warof1860 wasfought on izenhavingadistinctlanguage,script,cul- to entrance examinations to elections. ence,coercion, allurement, fraudulent the issue of ‘right to equality’. Should tureorreligionwas a‘minority’. It is amajoritarian agenda. The37.38 means or marriage....” REMEMBER NARENDRA Modi’s sneery blackAmericans be treatedasequal be- In the US, as the years rolledby, new percentvoteandthe303seatssecuredby The lawequates marriage withmis- comment about the ‘Khan Marketgang’ fore the law? The divisive factor wasrace. facets of equality were discovered and theBJPinthelastelectionto theLokSabha representation, force,undueinfluence, co- during the election campaign lastyear? Eventually, afterabitter warinwhichan upheld by the courts:amongthem were did notmean that 50 per cent+1citizens ercion, allurementand fraudulentmeans! Remember howhesaid that it wasonly estimated 800,000 liveswerelost, the right to vote,right to desegregated supportedthe agenda of the BJP.The BJP It is abrazen attempt to legislateon this ‘gang’ who disapproved of him? President Lincoln prevailed. He also got schools and public spaces,and rightto hastherightto rule,butnottherightto de- something very private —choice of part- Remember howassoon as the resultsin- the Congress to pass the 13th abortion. The fountainhead wasthe stroy or subvert theConstitution. ner.The lawdepartmentsofthese states dicated asecond term forhim,aggressive Amendmenttothe Constitution. 13th Amendment. have evidentlynot read the judgments workers descendedonthis fashionable Throughout the struggle forIndian of the Supreme Court(Shafin Jahan, bazaar waving BJP flags and banners with Independence, Indians were notdivided ONSLAUGHT ON Puttaswamy)and the Allahabad High amenace that frightened ordinaryshop- on race, religion, caste,languageorgen- PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS LIBERTY Court(Salamat Ansari vs StateofUP, dated pers. Mercifully, this bizarre exercise was Thelatest excess—testing der.The pages of history of the struggle ManyIndians seemtohaveforgotten 11-11-2020). Morelikely, having read neverrepeated. But, Modi’s comment the limitsofegregiousness arefilledwith names of people who be- history.Manyappearto repudiatethefun- The BJP governments have the right them, the draftsmen have been assured made suchanimpact on hissupporters —isthe lawmade by Uttar longedto different regions, spokedifferent damental principles of the Constitution. to protect the cowbut no right to stipulate by theirpolitical masters that those that his description of those once dis- Pradesh to punishwhat is languages, identifiedthemselveswith dif- Manyare proudlyproclaiming their as- that no one (including Christians and judgmentswill be overruledand the law missedas‘Lutyens libtards’ has nowen- ferentcastesand practiseddifferentfaiths. sumeddistinctiveness and superiority. people of the Northeast) shall eatbeef. re-written to pander to theprimitive in- teredour political vocabulary. crudely called ‘love jihad’... Theseprimitive instinctswerekeptunder Theyhavethe righttoencouragethe use stinctsofthe rulers. Modi’s victoryinlastyear’s general Thelaw is an onslaught on EQUALITY ENSHRINED checkaslong as the political space was of Hindibut no righttoimpose the lan- The lawisanonslaught on choice;on election buried forgood the old effete, choice; on freedom; on dominatedby personswhobelievedinlib- guageupon non-Hindi speaking people freedom; on privacy;ondignity;onthe English-speaking ruling elitewho once privacy; on dignity;onthe At thedawnofindependent India, erty,equality and fraternity of all the peo- or makeitdifficult forthe latter to partic- equality of man and woman; and on the controlledall the levers of political power, therefore, ‘equality before law’ of every pleofIndia. When the BJP —and itsmen- ipateinthe governance of the country. righttoloveorlivetogether or marry.The but it did somethingelseaswell. It built equalityofman and woman; Indian wasagiven.The idea waseffort- tor, the RSS —acquired apresence, and Theyhavethe righttoprevent obscenity Constitutional courts,whichhavere-af- around thePrime Ministeranauraofin- and on theright to love or lesslytranslatedintofundamental rights grew,inthepoliticalspace,theseprimitive in public butnoright to unleash the po- firmedtheirforemostduty to protect lib- vincibility.His second victoryinageneral live together or marry. The of citizensand embodiedinthe instinctsacquiredpolitical legitimacy. lice on young lovers in apark. erty,willundoubtedly strikedownthelaw. election seemedtoconvince him that he Constitutional courts Constitution: Article14—Equalityand We can citemanyexamples: the im- The latestexcess —testing the limitsof The ultimateresultisnot in doubt. It is could do what he liked.Hecould change equal protection of the laws;Article 15 — position of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking egregiousness —isthe lawmade by Uttar the ‘meanwhile’ that putsinperil democ- Kashmir’s special status and demote it to will undoubtedly strike Prohibition of discrimination;Article 16 people, the discriminatoryNational Pradesh to punish what is crudelycalled racy and freedom. Thefirstvictim, mean- aUnion Territory. He could amend the cit- down the law —Equality of opportunity; Article 21 — RegisterofCitizens and the Citizenship ‘love jihad’. Thetargets areMuslimmen while, of the UP lawisMrOwais Ahmad. izenshiplaw by making it discriminatory. When Muslims sawthis as athreat to their citizenship and protestedinthe streetsofcities and on university cam- puses, he could allowhis ministers to dis- Gehlotand KamalNath areconsideredpos- miss them as jihadistsand Pakistanis. inside sible replacements, but both have their history He could turn Parliament House intoa drawbacks.Gehlot’s organisational con- ‘Museum of Democracy’ and build anew TRACK tactsandaccessibilitygivehimanedge,but HEADLINE Thirty-twowinters ago, one to loom over it. He could buildhimself COOMIKAPOOR he has little connect with other political anew residence in the shadowofIndia parties and theMumbai business world, RAKESHSINHA Gatetransforming the Central Vista. He the latter being Nath’s strength.Nath’s [email protected] thehookah, the hukumat could getawaywiththat serious mistake drawbackishis lackofapproachability. in handling Covid-19inwhichheclosed Also,Gehlotwill resistany suggestion to India down at four hours’ notice,causing PLUSH PLANE step down as RajasthanChiefMinister. unspeakable suffering to millions of our Indeed, he has so farrefusedtorelinquish AT FIRST,therewas atrickle. Within hours, poorest, mostvulnerable citizens. The fact PRESIDENT RAM Nath Kovind is said to be anyofhis nine ministerialportfolios,altho- that trickle became aflood as tens and that the people of Bihar gave theBJP a excited about the newVVIP Air India One ugh asked to do so by athree-member thousands of farmers —ontrucks, trac- mandatedespitethis appears to have fur- aircraft, equippedwith the latestfeatures, committee, whichincludedPatel.Athird tor-trolleys,bullockcarts,motorcycles — ther emboldenedhim. Agoodish BJP per- including asophisticated defence system contender is Karnataka leader DK showedupatthe gatesofDelhi. And formance in lastweek’smunicipal elec- and audio/video communications. Itsplush Shivakumar,who is adeptatfundraising. campedtopress their case. tion in Hyderabad will add to hissenseof interiors withconferenceroomsandsuites Thirty-twowinters before farmers invincibility. But,inademocracy thepeo- arereportedly on apar withtheUS Preside- from Punjab and Haryana begantheir sit- ple’s voice is notheard justthrough the nt’s Air ForceOne. Kovind waskeen to try SAD PHENOMENON in at the borders of Delhi, BharatiyaKisan ballotbox,and it is beginning to look as if out the aircraftdedicated forthe exclusive In the lastfortnight of November,senior Union leader Mahendra Singh Tikait mo- the Prime Ministerhas forgottenthis. use of the President, Prime Ministerand MP AhmedPatel,former CM Tarun Gogoi, bilisedfarmers of western Uttar Pradesh It should be heardthrough the media. Vice President, and went on the inaugural and RajasthanMLA Kiran Maheshwari and headedtothe country’s seat of power, But, as Ihaveadmitted before in this col- flight. The aircraftlandedinChennai and diedofpost-Covidcomplications.That determinedtoget them their due. umn, the media does notdarespeak truth the President travelledtoTirupati in ahel- marks aworryingly high mortality rate Foraweek beginning October 25, 1988, to powerany more. Thereare conse- icopter. PM Modi hasyet to use theaircraft among VIP politicians. To date, at leastfour nearly 500,000farmers took over the quences. The media has been ‘managed’ and is reportedlywaiting tillheflies abroad. MPs and eight MLAs have diedafter test- heartofthe Capital, occupying Boat Club in ways that aresounsubtlethat when a ing Covid positive,apartfromother known and itslawns,within earshotofNorth and group of TVreporters went to meetfarm- namesinthe political world. The listoffa- SouthBlocks,and Parliament where the MahendraSingh Tikait with farmers from western UP on the BoatClub lawns, ers at the barricades on Delhi’snorthern ALL DOORS OPEN talitiesincludesformer President Pranab winter session wastostart days later. duringaprotestthat lastedaweek in October 1988. Express Archives border,theywerechasedawaybyangry Thereismajor churning on in talksfor Mukherjee, Union MoS forRailways Curious, surprisedand somewhat be- Sikh farmerswho said theyhad no wish to Tamil Nadu’s Assemblypolls to be held Suresh Angadi,UPministers Chetan wildered,manyinDelhi had no clue why talk to ‘godi media’. Lapdogs. TheBJP’s me- next year.The DMK’sMKStalinissaid to Chauhan and Kamal Rani Varun, former the farmers were here—this wasstill the Congress government sat there,one that But that onlysteeledtheir resolve.And dia managers also control social media be discussing the possibility of an alliance RJD leaderRaghuvansh Prasad Singh,for- eraofgovernment-controllednews via had control over Uttar Pradesh. thetidebeganturningin Delhi. Alreadyun- platformswith amix of aggression and with SRamadoss’sPMK.Ifthe alliance were merCentralministerfromLeh PNamgyal Doordarshan and All India Radio, and peo- The October siegeofDelhi wasanex- popular because of the Bofors scandal and abuse. Thosewho dare to tweetagainst to materialise, then Dalit leader Thiru- and former Goa health ministerSuresh plehad to tuneintoBBC or wait forthe tension of the BKU’s Meerut campaign. It the resignation of VPSingh, RajivGandhi thePrime Ministerorhis policies arela- mavalavanofthe VCKwould walk out of Amonkar.EvenCentral ministers Amit morningnewspaper forinformation.There also signalled the arrivalofTikait on the and hisgovernment cameunderpressure. beled‘traitors’. If theyare women,they the DMK camp. His preference would be a Shah and DharmendraPradhanhavehad wasno24X7 TV,noprivate television net- big stageasmanythought he would fill a The fact that the BKU wasnot lettingpoliti- also face verbal sexual abuse. joint front with the Congress and Kamal protracted post- Covidcomplications. A work,noInternet, no mobile phone. vacuuminwestern UP.Its tallestleader cians take thestage to addressthe farmers The farmers’ protestonthe borders of Haasan’s party.The snag is that Rahul Covid-19specialistbelievesthe reason Tikait and his men wasted no time in and the country’s fifthPrimeMinister, —atthat point, Tikait wanted to keep it Delhi that has gone on nowfor more than Gandhi is unlikelytoabandon the DMK, could bepolitical leaders plunging straight disseminating information. Theyheld ChaudharyCharan Singh, hadbeen inca- purelyapolitical —didn’t go unnoticed, and aweek comes as asharp and timelyre- even if the Congress is allotted ahumiliat- away intonormal activity afterrecovery, huddles with reporters, morning to night, pacitated by astrokeinNovember1985 there were editorials on the hookah and the minder that Modi’s critics existbeyond the ing number of seats. Another option forthe instead of taking it easy forsix weeks. patientlyexplaining eachofthe 35 de- —hepassedaway18months later —and hukumat aspublicsympathyslowlybegan ‘Khan Market gang’. Forthe firsttime since VCKistojoinhands with Asaduddin mands theyhopedthat the RajivGandhi the region yearnedfor oneworth his salt. gravitating towardsthe farmers. he became Prime Minister, he has been Owaisi’s AIMIM, amovewhich coulddam- government would concede. Therewas a In Lucknow too, therehad been a On October 31,aweek into the sit-in, publiclyattacked. When Punjabi farmers agethe DMK. The AIADMK, meanwhile, is LIMITED SUCCESS litanyofcomplaints —ofagrariandistress, changeofguard. In June, months afterthe the Congressmoved itsrally on the an- were asked whytheydid notacceptthe planning atie-up with the BJP and actor The Haryana Policewas told to prevent delayedpayments, complicated bureau- Meerut sit-in, Singh had been replacedby niversary of Indira Gandhi’s assassination Home Minister’s offertotalk to them as Vijayakanth’s DMDK. The keyquestion of the Kisan brigade, travellingintractors cratic rules, and an administration cold to NDTiwari, the man he had succeeded as to the RedFortgrounds, away from Boat soon as theymovedtheir protesttoa‘struc- course is with whom superstarRajinikanth and buses, from reaching Delhi. Their their suffering. Chief Minister, and wascalledtoDelhi Club. The very next day, Tikait liftedthe tured’space in Delhi, thisis what theysaid: ties up. As aTamil Nadu politician put it, hands were tiedthough, as theywereor- Loudspeakers toolistedtheirdemands, wherehewas made MinisterofCommu- siege of Delhi. Therewas no formal agree- “Modi, Shah have provedthat theyare such “All doors areopen at this juncture.” dered nottouse strong-arm measures. the emphasis moreonahigher price for nications in the Rajivgovernment. ment although concessions were assured. liars that we can no longer trustthem.” The policeresortedtowater cannons and sugarcane produce, waiver of dues, con- By then, western UP wasrestless,and The following year,beforethe Lok Sabha Everycommentatorhas atheory on why tear gas, but the farmers simplyretreated cessions in electricity and watertariff. bristling. So when the call came from elections,NDTiwari signedapactwith the farmers aresoangryoverchanges in FILLING HIS SHOES and then re-grouped. The Haryana Yetthese demands were notnew,and Sisauli, Tikait’s home near Muzaffarnagar, the BKU,conceding manyofits demands. farm laws thattechnicallygivethem more The Congress faces atough time finding a Police’s onlyrecourse wastoerect block- AgricultureMinisterBhajan Lal knewthat. hundredstroopedout of everyvillage. Etchedinthe collective memoryof options to sell theirproduce. My theoryis suitable replacement forAhmedPatel. ades along the road with heavy-duty Because nine months before he showed At Boat Club,asthe farmers sat out Delhi, Boat Club had amessage. Partici- that their rage comesfromatotal lackof PawanBansal mayhavebeen appointed cranes and seeminglyinsurmountable up in Delhi,Tikait hadstagedasimilar sit- nights, policemen kept watch. Therewere pating in aparliamentarydebate, the communication. The ivorytowerthink- interim treasurer,but Patel’s role wasfar iron barricades. But the well-prepared in outside the office of the Meerut divi- attemptstowear them out. Everytrickin BJP’s Hanamkonda MP CJangaReddy — tanksinDelhi’s highestcorridors of power morewide-ranging.Hewas akey interme- farmer organisations came armedwith sional commissioner,with the same de- thebook wasemployed—loud music, at he and Mehsana’sAKPatel were the only clearly did notinclude farmers when they diary betweenCongresspersonsand the implements and accompaniedbytrained mands forthe VirBahadur Singh times western, wasplayedatnight, hop- twoparty candidatestoget electedtothe made their ‘agricultural reforms’. Gandhi family. When Congressmen sought mechanics and successfullycleared the government in Lucknow. ing this would unsettle the farmers and Lok Sabha in 1984 —warnedthe govern- Then came the inexplicable mistake time to meet Sonia Gandhi, she invariably roads. Apolice officer claimedthat while Severalconsultations later,Singh had their cattle,and make them leave; water ment:“The rallyheld at Boat Club seven of treating protesting Punjabifarmers like suggestedtheyspeak to Patel, rarely direct- theycould notprevent the farmers even- invited the BKU to Lucknow. But Tikait supplyinand around theareawasstopped, days agoisaprecursor of moreralliesto criminals when theyreachedHaryana. ing them to Rahul. No senior party leader tually reaching the Delhiborder,they had other plans. Delhi wascloser than so wasdelivery of food packetstofeedthe come. An agitated farmer means an agi- Watercannons and tear gasshells were has Patel’s invaluableattributes. Ashok managed to slowdownthe march. Lucknow, andheknewthat abigger vast gathering. tatednation.” usedtokeep them from getting pasta wall of barbed wirebehind whichstood asmall army of policemen. When Iasked My ISOLATION afriend, who is aBJP supporter,why this had happened, he said, “Initially, overcon- AWEEKLY WINDOW INTO THE LIVES OF INDIA’S NEWSMAKERS AND THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THEM fidence. Then, wrong assessment. Believing that agitation is manufactured. And mishandling.” If Ineededconfirma- ‘I missmyfiancée. Over 10 monthssincewelastmet’ tion that Modi no longer has his ear to the ground, this wasit. He is nowsoisolated from ‘the people’ thathecan no longer What precautions areyou taking now? eocallsto discusshockeyoranalyseagame. What precautions do youtakewhile feel their pain, their anger or their disgust Itestedpositive forCovid-19 in August In August,Indian hockey travelling? with those of his policies that theythink on arrivalfor the nationalcoaching camp What gloves and mask do youuse? My onlyrecent travel wasgoing from cause them harm. heldby theSportsAuthorityof India(SAI)in team captain MANPREET Iuse acloth mask that can be washed Bengaluru to Jalandhar and back. Iwore His communication with ordinary Bengaluru.Everyone wastestedonarrival SINGH, 28, tested positive and reused.While travelling, Iuse regular masks, face shield, gloves and also carried Indians is through arambling mono- and kept in quarantine for14days... On the forCovid-19.Five of his use-and-throw gloves. ahand sanitiser. logue onceamonththat usuallyignores thirdday of arrival, Ilostmysense of taste teammates, too, were the issue of the moment. He gets no feed- and smell... Iimmediatelyinformedchief While interactingwith people,how do Howmuchtime do youspend in front backfromthe media because onlythose coachGrahamReid,whotheninformedSAI infected. Nowrecovered, youensureyour safety? of ascreen? whofall intothe ‘godi’categoryhaveac- and HockeyIndia(HI) officials. Singh and the team have Apartfromthe pitch, we wear amask During isolation, Ispent hours... That cess to him. Thereisnot one person in restarted their preparations everywhere. Even when we arewalking wasthe only pastime Ihad. hisCabinet who would dareoppose any- What wasyour routine likeinself- forthe 2021 Tokyo fromthehosteltothepitch,wewearamask thing he says or does. And, in this year of isolation? and followsocial distancing.... Howdoyou keep your mind offthe the Chinese virus he has notbeen able to It wasone of the mostchallenging ex- Olympics. Singh talks pandemic? move out much. His deep isolationisnot periencesof my life.Iamsomeonewhoen- about his life in abio-secure Howlong did yougowithout seeing Since Iamnow back to training, my fo- just harmfulfor democracy it is harmful joys the companyofteammates. In the bubble and spending your family? cushasshiftedtohockey.Wehavetwo ses- forhim personally, because it has given camp, we arealwaysuptofun and banter months away fromfamily Ithasbeenaboutfourmonthssincethe sions aday and team meetings or one-on- him afalse sense of invincibility.The offthe field. We gettogether in one room, lastbreak.Beforethat we had asix-week onemeetingswiththechief coach.Theday farmers who have braved cold nightsin maketea, chat and playonthe PlayStation. breakwhenwemet ourfamilies.However, flies by without us realising it. the open and endured deprivations of all During my isolation, it waschallenging INTERVIEWBY Imissseeing my fiancée. It has been more kinds to maketheir voice heardshould to just be in aroomwithout doingany- MIHIR VASAVDA than 10 months since Ilastvisited her.She What is the firstthing youwant to do in remind the PrimeMinisterthatheisnot thing... IwatchedNetflix, Amazon Prime livesinMalaysia... We arecommunicating aCovid-free world? invincible. In ademocracy,nopolitical andplayedPUBG.Ialsoattendedteamvid- Illustration: Suvajit Dey virtually. Playhockeyinfrontof apackedstadium. leader should be.

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020 Crude Wa tch OIL RISES, HOVERSBELOW $50/BBL NewYork:Brentcrude oilfutures rose more than 1per cent ,remaining just under $50 abarrel,asexpectations of aUSeconomic stimulus package and hopes of avaccine forthe coronavirus overrode rising 9 ECONOMY REUTERS supply and increased Covid-19 deaths.

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX SHORTFALL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR WRITES LETTER WITH PLAN TO ACQUIRE 51% Divestment: Air India official Jharkhandoptsin,allstatesnow seeks employees’ contribution, onboardCentre’sborrowingplan unions ask them to stay away ENSECONOMICBUREAU the shortfall attributedtoGST The GSTCouncil had earlier NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 ENSECONOMICBUREAU STATETOGET`1,689CRVIASPECIALWINDOW implementation issues. amendedthe lawtoextend the NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 Option-1ofthe scheme also tenureofthe compensation fund ADIRECTOR at disinvestment- ■ Jharkhand will get`1,689 ■According to theFinance allows states unconditional per- whichwas to lapse in 2022 — bound Air India has approached ALL 28 states andthree Union crorethrough the special Ministry,the next instalment mission to borrowthe final in- five year sincelaunchofthe in- nearly 20,000of the airline’s em- Territories have nowaccepted borrowing windowtomeet of `6,000crorewill be stalment of 0.5 per cent of gross direct taxregime. ployees seeking contribution of option-1 of the borrowing the GSTimplementation released to the States/UTs on statedomestic product (GSDP) This collection in the fund be- Rs 1lakheachtoparticipateinthe scheme meant to raise money shortfall, while it has been December 7 out of the 2per cent additional yond 2022 will be usedtopay bidding process. forcompensating states forthe permitted to raise an ■Option-1 of the scheme borrowings permitted by the the interestand principal of the However, someemployee shortfall in protected Goods and additional `1,765 crore also allows states Centre. This amountstoalittle loan first, afterwhichthe pro- unions of the loss-making na- Services Tax(GST) revenue, with ■The borrowing scheme unconditional permissionto over Rs 1.05 lakh croreinthe cur- ceeds will go to the states for tional carrier have already the onlyremaining state under aspecial windowwas borrowthe final instalment rent financialyear forall states, covering up the unmetshortfall thwartedthe plan by asking their Jharkhand accepting it, the operationalised on October of 0.5% of GSDP out of the 2% and is over and above the special of the current year. members nottoparticipate or ac- The deadline forplacing of bids forthe debt-laden airlineis Finance Ministrysaid Saturday. 23 and the Centrehas so far additional borrowings windowofRs1.1 lakh crore. The Centrehas estimated knowledge the process. December 14,and qualifiedbidderswill receive intimation “Now theState of Jharkhand borrowed`30,000crore permitted by the Centre Initially, about 10 states had Rs 1.1lakh croreasthe GSTshort- Meenakshi Mallik,Air India’s on their offers by December 28. Express file will also receive funds raised been opposedtothe scheme on fall forstatesthis fiscal from the commercial director,lastweek through this windowstarting the grounds that theyshould be levelofprotected revenue guar- wrotealettertothe employees from the next round of borrow- rowing windowtomeetthe GST the central government has so compensated fullyfor shortfall anteedtothem under the law. with aplan to acquire51per cent makeacontributionofnomore asked their members to nottake ing. The next instalment of implementation shortfall, while farborrowedRs30,000 crorein pegged at Rs 1.82 lakh crore, in- States areassured of a14per stakeinthe airline. Forthe re- than INR 1,00,000 to bid forthe partinthe process of strategic dis- Rs.6,000crorewill be releasedto it has been permitted to raise an five instalments. This has been stead of onlyaportion (Rs1.1 cent year-on-year growth in GST maining 49per centstake, Mallik company...,” Mallik wroteinthe investment. the States/UTson7th December, additional Rs 1,765crore. passedontostatesand UTsas lakh crore) that is purelydue to revenue whichismet by their wrote, that the team would look letter. “In this regard allpilots aread- 2020,” the Ministrysaid. The borrowing scheme un- back-to-backloans. The total GSTimplementation issue with- ownrevenue and anyresultant forafinancialpartner.Multiple “Until we crossStage 1(EoI visednot to acknowledge or par- Jharkhand will getRs1,689 der aspecial windowwas oper- borrowing under the scheme is out factoring in theimpactofthe shortfall is compensated from attemptstoreachMallik were un- Stage), no monies areneededto ticipateinthe process initiatedby crorethroughthe specialbor- ationalisedonOctober 23 and fixedatRs1.1 lakhcrore,whichis Covid-19pandemic. cess funds. successful. becollectedfromtheemployees. the management official till the “The PIM(preliminary infor- Moreover, aftersuccessfullycom- disproportionate70per cent pay mation memorandum)... made it pleting stageone, we areplanning cut forpilots vis-a-vis AirIndia’s BRIEFLY possible forthe employees of Air our bid in suchaway that no sin- topmanagementofficials(10per COVID-19IMPACT India to charge and ownership of gleemployeewill have to take on cent) is addressed,” ajoint-letter Petrolpriceat the airline, and to this end, pro- afinancialrisk orcontribute more by Indian Commercial Pilots’ ‘Digital likelytodrive over 80% vides various terms and condi- than INR 1,00,000,” she added. Association and Indian Pilots’ two-yearhigh tions,whichneedtobefulfilled, Accordingtosources, more Guild, said. of spend forenterprises’ and whichweintendtocollec- than 200employees arealready The deadline forplacing of of`83perlitre tively achieve andsatisfy ... Dueto on boardwith the plan, and are bids forthe debt-laden airline is With enterprises looking to rewiretheir operatingmodels, the supportwewill receive from in process of identifying afinan- December 14,and qualifiedbid- NewDelhi: Petrolprice on over80% of near-term spending maybedriven by ourfinancial partner,while Ian- cial partner. ders will receive intimation on SaturdaybreachedtheRs83 ticipate that eachofuswillhaveto Employeeunions, however, their offers by December 28. per litre-mark in Delhifor pandemic-resilient digital offerings, areport by Nasscom the firsttime in morethan and McKinsey&Companysaid twoyearsafter arallyinin- ternationaloil prices forced Fasterdigitaladoption,risein areseeinganincreaseindigital TReDS platform back in action, a13thincreaseinratesinthe outsourcing:Asperthereport dexterityofemployeesandare lastfortnight.Petrolpriceon titled‘FutureofTechnology activelyreviewingprocessesto Saturdaywas raisedby27 Services—NavigatingtheNew identifyopportunitiesfor MSME registrations rise as paise per litreand diesel by Normal’,therehasbeenan automationanddigitisation Recruitmentprocesschanging: EXPENDITURERISEIN 25paise,accordingto aprice extensiveaccelerationindigital Enterprisesareadoptingan VARIOUSSEGMENTS: notificationof oilmarketing adoptionbyenterprisesandthereis Improvedperformanceforcosin analytics-driven,recruitment 30%: businesses reopen: RXIL MD companies. Petrol price in apotentialincreaseinoutsourcing Q2:Amidfasterthanexpected processforimprovedefficiency Delhi rose to Rs 83.13per intensityduetoremoteworking recoveryforthetechnology anddigitisingrecruitmentprocess Digitaltransformationdeals servicesindustry,topIndian byusingsocialmediaprofiling, litrefromRs82.86. Diesel 80%: Cloud spending notclaim damages from the rateswent up from Rs 73.07 Employeesimprovingdigital technologyserviceprovidershave hackathons,videointerviewsfor GEORGEMATHEW ‘`6KCRBUSINESS MSME,” he said. to Rs 73.32 per litre. skillset:Withanincreasingfocus performedbetterthananalyst improvedconversionrateandoffer 15%: Customer experience MUMBAI,DECEMBER5 EXPECTEDFORFY21’ MSMEs, whichare partof onremoteenablement,companies estimatesinQ2ofFY21 tojoinratio TReDS, have been able to avail TRADE RECEIVABLES and easier finances. “Asper MSME ■ Receivable ONGCVidesh Discounting System (TReDS), an associations, we have helped $6TRILLION: $3BILLION: WHYISITIMPORTANT: ExchangeofIndia electronic platform forfacilitat- them reduce the interestcosts strikesoilin Growthinmarketcapitalisation Revenueof‘technativesanddigital Theworldhasleapfroggedondigitaladoptionby3-5yearsin (RXIL) —set up by ing the financing and discount- by 50 percent. Considering most (m-cap)betweenJanuaryand reinventors’,whohavedriven65%of thelast9months,withanincreasedemphasisondigitisation SIDBI and the National ing of trade receivables of MSMEs don’t have access to for- Colombiablock July2020 them-capgrowthinJanuary-July acrossverticals StockExchange(NSE) MSMEs through multiplefinan- mal sources of finance and se- in 2016 afterthe RBI NewDelhi:ONGCVideshLtd, ciers, is backinaction with busi- curefunds at aminimum inter- allowedTReDS in 2014 the overseasinvestment nesses reopening aftermonths estrateof18per cent per annum, —expectsbusiness of arm of state-ownedOil and under lockdown. while on averagethe interest `6,000crorefor Natural Gas Corporation Receivable ExchangeofIndia ratesonTReDS hovers between 2020-21despitethe (ONGC), has made a“signif- How intellectualproperty cooperation (RXIL) —set up by SIDBI and the 8-10per cent going as lowas4.8 lockdown impact on icant”oildiscoveryinanon- National StockExchange (NSE) per cent whichhelps them lower MSMEs, according to shoreblock in Colombia. in 2016 afterthe RBI allowed interestcosts and utilise the sav- MD and CEO OVLstruckoil while drilling TReDS in 2014 —expectsbusi- ings to expand business,” MoU with US could benefit industries KetanGaikwad an appraisal well ‘Indico-2’ ness of Rs 6,000 crorefor 2020- Gaikwad added. in CPO-5 blockinLlanos 21 despitethe lockdown impact TReDS has the potential to Basinof Colombia,thecom- designs, as well as the protec- on MSMEs, according to manag- handle athroughput of Rs 1lakh panysaid in astatement. PRABHARAGHAVAN It wasvirtuallysignedbyDPIIT tion, enforcement and use of in- ing director and chief executive offeredtotheir buyers. crorewith all the three compa- OVLstruckoil while drilling NEWDELHI, DECEMBER 5 SecretaryGuruprasad tellectual property rights. officer KetanGaikwad. Another reason forbringing nies —RXIL, A.TReDS and an appraisal well ‘Indico-2’ It also provides forthe ex- In an interview to The Sunday this platform is to provide M1xchange—combined, but in CPO-5 blockinLlanos INDIA AND the United States, Mohapatraand USPTODirector changeofinformation on the Express,hesaid, “An initial dip in MSMEs an alternatesource of currently, thetotal transaction Basinof Colombia,thestate- earlier this week,signeda Andrei Iancu on December 2 development and implementa- registrations waswitnessed creating credit history. amount is about Rs 15,000crore. ment added. memorandum of understand- tion of automation and mod- with the sudden onsetofthe The discounting/interest “Thereisalot of unutilised ing (MoU) on intellectual prop- ernisation projects, newdocu- lockdown. However, that trend ratesare discoveredonthe scope. We areactively working erty (IP) cooperation. tween Indiaand USA, and pro- public as well as between and mentation and information sawacomplete U-turn by June- platform through an online bid- on effortstoincrease awareness TCPLtosell vide opportunities to both among the industry, universi- systems in IP and procedures JulyasRXIL sawatremendous ding mechanism whichhelps in of TReDS platform and itsbene- MAPCoffee What is the MoU about? countries to learn from the ex- ties, research anddevelopment formanagement of IP office increase in the number of discovering ratesaslow as 4.8 fits.Thereare multiple initiatives The agreement, between perience of eachother,espe- organisations, and small and services. MSMEs requesting to be on- per cent. in the pipelinetomakethe plat- Business theCommerce Ministry’s ciallyintermsofbestpractices medium-sizedenterprises. It is also expected to foster boardedtothe TReDS platform.” This enables MSMEs lower form reachmoreand more Department forPromotion of followedinthe other country. This will happen through their cooperation to understand TReDS has so farprocessed their interestservicing costs and MSMEs. Trade credit insurance NewDelhi: Tata Consumer Industryand Internal Trade “It will be alandmarkstep their participation in pro- various issues relatedtotradi- over Rs 24,000croreworth of in- utilise the savings to expand is one of the recent develop- ProductsLtd (TCPL) said (DPIIT) and the United States forwardinIndia’sjourneyto- grammes and eventsthat are tional knowledge and the ex- voices that helpedover14,000 business, Gaikwad said. ments,” the MD and CEO of RXIL Saturdaysaid itsAustralia Patent and TrademarkOffice wardsbecoming amajor player singlyorjointlyorganisedby changeofbestpractices, includ- MSMEs withbetterliquidityand MSMEs getfunds credited to further said. basedstep-downsubsidiary (USPTO), aimstoincrease IP co- in global innovation and will the participants. ing those related to traditional access to fundsonfavourable their accountswithin 48 hours is selling MAP CoffeeBusi- operation between the two further the objectives of It is also expectedtoencour- knowledge databases and terms since 2017.RXIL, which of the bid being accepted. What is TReDS ness to Buccheri Group for countries. National IPR Policy,2016,” agecollaboration in training awareness raisingonthe use of has 39 financiers and 4,763 reg- “TReDS platform gives TReDS is the institutional 1.25 million Australian dol- It wasvirtuallysignedby stated theCommerce Ministry programmes,exchange of ex- existing IP systems to protect isteredMSMEs, fulfilledover MSMEs access to alarge number mechanism created by the lar(Rs6.74crore).According DPIIT SecretaryGuruprasad in arelease. perts,technical exchanges and traditionalknowledge. 237,620 invoices amounting to of financiers who arewilling to Reserve Bank forfacilitating the to TCPL’s website, MAP Mohapatraand USPTODirector outreachactivities. Rs 6,165crore,Gaikwad said. place bids on their invoices. One financing of trade receivables of Coffeewas establishedin Andrei Iancu on December 2, Howwill the deal The MoU providesfor the Howwill it be implemented? He added that one of the ma- of the biggestadvantages of MSMEs from corporateand 2002 and supplied Austr- nearly 10 monthsafter the increase IP cooperation exchangeofinformation and The twosides will draw up a jorreasons forthe introduction TReDS platform forMSMEs is the otherbuyers through financiers. alian cafes, restaurantsand Union Cabinetgavethe ap- between the two? best practicesonprocesses for biennial work plan to imple- of TReDS is to ensuretimelypay- fact that the funds disbursed Tradereceivable is thetotal barswitharangeofItalian proval forthe countrytoenter The MoU would facilitate registration and examination of mentthe MoU,including de- mentstomicro, small and through TReDS arewithout re- amount owedtoacompanyfor and locallyroastedcoffee. It intothis MoU withthe US. exchangeand dissemination of applications forpatents, trade- tailedplanning to carry out the medium enterprises (MSMEs), course or collateral. In the case goods or services it has sold, joinedTCPL in 2014. PTI “The MoU will go alongway best practices,experiences and marks,copyrights, geographi- cooperation activitieslikethe allowing them to access credit at of non-payment by the corpo- whichisreflected in invoices, but in fostering the cooperation be- knowledgeonIPamong the cal indications, and industrial scope of action. an interestratewhichwould be rate buyer,the financierwould has notyet receivedpayments. ‘No deadline extensiontodivest BBB recommends Ramann for post Forex reserves slip off TikTok US assets; talks to go on’ of SIDBI CMD; Tomar as MD, IFCI record high, at $574.8 bn the national security risks.” whichwas November 12,in India’s firstInformation Utility. for week ended Nov 27 DAVIDSHEPARDSON& Lastweek,CFIUS granted Trump’s order. ENSECONOMICBUREAU The names were Besides, the Bureaurecom- ECHOWANG TikTok parentByteDance aone- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 ReserveBank of India (RBI) The Justice Departmentdid recommendedby mended ShivendraTomar for WASHINGTON/NEWYORK, week extension until Fridayover notimmediatelyrespond to re- the postofMDand CEO of IFCI. ENSECONOMICBUREAU showedthatFCA rose by $352 DECEMBER5 the order to shedTikTok’s US as- quests forcomment, while the THE BANKSBoardBureau(BBB) BanksBoardBureau, Tomar,currently, is managing di- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER5 million to $533.455billion. sets.PresidentDonald Trump’s WhiteHouse did notcomment. —the headhunter forstate- the headhunterfor rector of IFCI VentureCapital Expressedindollarterms,FCA THE TRUMPadministration on Augustorder gave the Justice TikTok declinedtocomment. ownedbanksand financial insti- Funds Ltd, asubsidiaryofIFCI. As AFTERREACHINGalifetime high includestheeffectof appreciation Fridayoptednot to grant Department the powertoenforce The Trumpadministration tutions —onSaturday state-ownedbanksand manyasfivecandidates ap- in previous week,foreign ex- or depreciationofnon-US units ByteDance anew extension of an the divestitureorder once the contends TikTok posesnational recommendedthe name of S financial institutions peared forthe position of MD of changereservesslipped$469mil- likethe euro, pound and yenheld order requiringtheChinesecom- deadlineexpired,but it is unclear security concerns as the personal Ramann forthe postofCMD of IFCI. lionto $574.821billionintheweek in the foreign exchangereserves. panytodivestTikTok’s US assets, when or howthe government dataofUSusers could be ob- SIDBI, and ShivendraTomar as BBB is headedbyformer endedNovember27,accordingto Gold reserves declinedby but talkswillcontinue over the mayseek to compel divestiture. tainedbyChina’s government. the MD of IFCI. “Keeping in viewtheir per- DepartmentofPersonnel and datafromthe RBI. $822 millionto$35.192 billionin shortvideo-sharing app’s fate, Trumpwas said to have per- TikTok,whichhas over 100mil- “The members of the Banks formance in the interviewand Training SecretaryBPSharma. In the previousweek ended theweekendedNovember27,the twosources in the knowsaid. sonallymade the decision notto lion US users, denies the allega- BoardBureauinterviewed20 their overall experience, the bu- Thegovernment in 2016 had November 20, the reserves had datashowed. ATreasuryDepartment rep- approveany additionalexten- tion. Under pressurefromthe US candidates on December 4and reau recommends SRamann for approved theconstitutionofBBB risen by $2.518billiontoreach a The specialdrawing rights resentative said lateFridaythe sions at ameeting of senior US of- government, ByteDance has been 5, 2020 forthe vacancy of chair- the position of chairman and as abody of eminent profession- highof $575.29billion.Forthere- (SDRs) withthe International Committee on Foreign Invest- ficials, according to aperson in talksfor months to finalize a man and managing director managing director in SIDBI,”it als and officials to makerecom- porting week,the reserves de- Monetary Fund (IMF) increased ment in the UnitedStates (CFIUS) briefed on the meeting. The gov- deal with WalmartInc and Oracle (CMD) of Small Industries said. Ramann, 1991-batchIndian mendations forappointment of clineddespiteanincrease in for- marginallyby$2millionto $1.494 “is engaging with ByteDance to ernment had previouslyissueda Corp to shift TikTok’s US assets Development Bank of India Audit &AccountsService officer, whole-time directors as well as eigncurrencyassets(FCA),amajor billion. The reserve position with complete the divestment and 15-dayand seven-dayextension intoanew entity aimedtosatisfy (SIDBI),” the BBB said in astate- is currentlyCEO of National non-executive chairpersons of componentof theoverallreserves. IMF decreasedby$1million to other steps necessary to resolve of the initial 90-day deadline, the divestitureorder. REUTERS ment. E-Governance ServicesLimited, public sector banks(PSBs). Weeklydatareleasedbythe $4.679 billion. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020 10 THE WORLD

TOPOFTHE Bahrain nowsecond nation to approve WORLD UScourtordersfullDACA Pfizer Covid vaccine for emergency use restorationinreliefto It did notrespond to questions to thepoint of vaccination.” JONGAMBRELL from The AssociatedPress. The Theimmediatechallengefor DUBAI,DECEMBER5 Pfizer shots,aso-called“mRNA Bahrainwould betheconditions undocumentedimmigrants vaccine,” contain apiece of ge- in whichthe vaccine mustbe THE ISLAND kingdom of Bahrain neticcodethat trainstheimmune kept.Itmustbestoredand said it has become the second system to recognize the spiked shipped at ultra-cold tempera- Indians among those whowill benefit;blowtoTrump’s bid nationinthe worldtogrant an protein on the surface of the virus. tures of aroundminus70degrees emergency-use authorization Pfizer latertold the AP that Celsius(minus 94 degrees to endDeferredAction forChildhood Arrivals programme Awomancasts her forthe coronavirus vaccine thedetails of itssales agreement Fahrenheit).BahrainisaMideast vote in the town of made by Pfizer and itsGerman Britain had on Wednesday with Bahrain, including the “tim- nation that regularly seestem- Hawally, Kuwait. AP partner BioNTech. approved the vaccine made ing of delivery and the volume of peraturesinthe summer of PTI&AP Thestate-runBahrain News by Pfizer and itsGerman doses,” wasconfidential and de- around 40°Cwith highhumidity. WASHINGTON,DECEMBER5 Agencymadetheannouncement partner BioNTech. AP clinedtocomment. Bahrain operates astate- THE GULF on Fridaynight,following anear- “Wehavedevelopeddetailed ownedcarrier,Gulf Air,that REVERSINGTHE decision of the Kuwaitvotes lier announcementbythe United logistical plans and tools to sup- could be usedtotransport the outgoing Trumpadministration, Kingdom on Wednesday, making sis and review undertaken by the port effectivevaccine transport, vaccine. In the nearbyUnited afederal courthas ordered full forParliament Britain the firstinthe world. authority of all available data,” the storageand continuous temper- Arab Emirates, the Dubai-based reinstatement of an Obama-era “The confirmationofapproval kingdom said. aturemonitoring,” Pfizer said. long-haul carrier Emirates has programmethatprotectsundoc- amideconomic, by theNationalHealth Regulatory Bahrain did notsay howmay “Our distribution is builtona already said it is preparing itsfa- umented immigrantsbrought to viruschallenges Authority of the kingdom of vaccines it has purchased, nor flexible justintime system cilities to distributevaccines at the US as minors from deporta- Bahrain followedthorough analy- when vaccinations would begin. whichwill ship the frozen vials ultra-cold temperatures. AP tion,arulingthatwill help alarge KUWAIT VOTED Saturday number of Indian migrants. forits National Assembly, The Trumpadministration the firstelection since the WHO chief: triedendingthe Deferred Action DACA recipientsand their supportersoutside the US death of itslongtime rul- forChildhood Arrivals (DACA) in Supreme CourtinJune. Reuters ing emir and as the oil- World can start 2017,but the US Supreme Court richnation faces serious blockedits attempt in June. economicproblems un- dreaming of Afterthat, Acting UncertaintyremainsforDreamers der the coronavirus pan- Department of Homeland demic. This tinycountry’s pandemic’s end Security SecretaryChad Wolf hundredsofthousands of had issuedamemoinJulysus- THE DACA programme feredbyDACAtoundoc- voters selected lawmak- pending DACA fornew applica- is the product of an umented immigrants ers for50seatsinthe EDITHMLEDERER tions and reducing howlong re- Obama-eraexecutive brought to theUSasmi- Parliament, the freestand UNITEDNATIONS,DECEMBER5 newals were valid from two order.Atthe time, nors —often called most-rambunctiousas- years down to one year. Congress had refusedto Dreamers —can be di- sembly in theGulf Arab THE UN health chief declared On Friday, US District Judge pass legislation to makeitalaw, luted or takenawaybynew ad- countries. The newly Fridaythat positive resultsfrom Nicholas Garaufisinthe Eastern and Biden is alsolikelytoface ministrations. If the protections electedParliament will coronavirus vaccine trials mean District of New York directed the an uphill task in trying to con- were written intolaw,the fu- needtomakedecisions the world“can begin to dream Department of Homeland vinceaGOP-majority Senateto tureofDreamers would notbe on anumber of matters, about the end of the pandemic”, Security to extend the two-year pass legislation on the subject. so dependentonchanging po- perhaps none moreim- but he said richand powerful na- renewals to DACA recipientsand This means the protectionsof- litical winds in Washington. portant that Kuwait’s tions mustnot trample the poor startaccepting applicationsfrom economy, whichhas been and marginalised“in the stam- first-time applicantsbeginning hit by the pandemic. AP pede forvaccines”. Monday. with unlawful presence in the US According to a2019report by In an address to the UN Thismeansthat the firsttime afterbeingbrought to thecoun- South AsianAmericans Leading GeneralAssembly’sfirsthigh-level Awoman receives an injectionofthe SputnikVvaccine at aclinicinMoscowonSaturday. Reuters sinceSeptember 2017,new ap- tryaschildrento receive arenew- Together(SAALT),thereare atleast session on the pandemic, World plicantswho were notprevi- able two-year period of deferred 630,000 Indianswho areundoc- SRI LANKA Health OrganisationDirector- ouslyeligible maynow applyfor action from deportation and be- umented,a72per cent increase Govtsayswill General Tedros Adhanom the programmewhichshields comeeligibleforaworkpermitin since 2010.AsofAugust2018, Ghebreyesuscautionedthatwhile Moscow starts mass Covid-19 undocumented immigrants the US. DACA recipientsare often thereare approximately2,550ac- expediteEaster theviruscanbestopped,“thepath who came to theUSaschildren referred to as “Dreamers”. tive IndianDACArecipients. Only ahead remains treacherous”. from deportation. Approximately640,000 im- 13 percent of the overall 20,000 bombingsprobe Referring to thecurrent up- vaccination with Sputnik Vshot DACA is an immigration pol- migrantsare enrolledinthe DACA eligible Indians have ap- THE SRI Lankan govern- surge in infections and deaths, icy that allowssomeindividuals DACA programme. pliedfor DACA,SAALTsaid. ment will expeditethe on- Tedros said without naming any “You areworking at an edu- MayorSergeiSobyanin wroteon going probeofEaster countries that “wherescienceis REUTERS cational institution and have his personal websiteonFriday. Sunday suicidebombings drownedout by conspiracy theo- MOSCOW,DECEMBER5 top-priority forthe Covid-19vac- The agefor those receiving Trump orders all that killed258 people, in- ries, wheresolidarityisunder- cine, free of charge,” read a shots is cappedat60.Peoplewith Biden officially secures cluding 11 Indians,last minedbydivision,wheresacrifice MOSCOW BEGAN distributing phone text messagereceived by certain underlying health condi- American troops year,asenior Cabinetmin- issubstitutedwithself interest,the the Sputnik VCovid-19shotvia oneMuscovite, an elementary tions, pregnant women and those istersaid on Saturday. virus thrives, the virus spreads”. 70 clinics on Saturday, marking school teacher,early on Saturday whohave had arespiratoryillness enoughelectors to out of Somalia Ninesuicide bombers car- He warnedthat avaccine Russia’s firstmass vaccination and seen by Reuters. forthe pasttwo weeksare barred riedout aseries of blasts “will notaddress the vulnerabil- againstthe disease, the city’s Moscow, the epicentreof from vaccination. that tore through three ities that lie at itsroot” —poverty, coronavirus task forcesaid. Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, Russia has developedtwo become US President HELENECOOPER churches andasmanylux- hunger,inequality and climate The task forcesaid the registered7,993 newcases Covid-19vaccines, Sputnik V WASHINGTON,DECEMBER5 uryhotels in Sri Lanka on change, whichhesaidmustbe Russian-made vaccine would overnight. whichisbackedbythe Russian theEaster SundayonApril tackledonce the pandemic ends. firstbemadeavailable to doctors “Over the firstfivehours, Direct Investment Fund and an- MICHAELRBLOOD& US PRESIDENT Donald Trump, 21,2019. “Sri Lankan gov- However, the progress made and other medical workers, 5,000people signedupfor the jab other developedbySiberia’s NICHOLASRICCARDI pressing his end-of-term troop ernment will expeditethe on vaccines means“the light at teachers and social workers be- —teachers, doctors, social work- Vector Institute, with final DECEMBER5 withdrawals from conflicts ongoing probeofEaster the end of the tunnel is growing cause theyran thehighestrisk of ers, those who aretodayrisking trials forthe both yettobe around the world, willpullUS Sundaysuicidebombing. steadilybrighter”, he said. AP exposuretothe disease. theirhealth and livesthe most,” completed. CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED itspres- forces out of Somalia, where Iwill meetthe Attorney idential election Fridayand ap- theyhavebeen trying to push General on Mondaytosee pointed 55 electors pledgedto backadvances by Islamic insur- howwecouldproceed,” 18 killed due to Pressure on Nepal PM as US ends exchange votefor Democrat Joe Biden, of- gentsinthe Horn of Africa. Sarath Weerasekera, the ficiallyhanding him the Electoral The Pentagon announced ministerofpublic security, excessive level of programmes with Collegemajority neededtowin Fridaythat virtuallyall of the ap- said. PTI ruling party feud worsens the WhiteHouse. California on Fridaycertified proximately700 troops in poisonousgas in China,calling SecretaryofState Alex Biden’s victory in thestate Somalia —mostSpecial USA Chinese coal mine them ‘propaganda’ Padilla’s formal approval of Operations troops who have been ahead of key meeting Biden’s win in the statebrought conducting training and coun- Firefightersmake his tallyofpledged electorssofar what we call projections.” terterrorismmissions—will be progressagainst KJMVARMA REUTERS to 279, according to atally by The TheelectorsnamedFridaywill leaving by Jan 15,fivedaysbefore BEIJING,DECEMBER5 YUBARAJGHIMIRE WASHINGTON,DECEMBER5 Associated Press. That’s justover meetDec.14,alongwithcounter- President-elect Joe Biden is Californiablaze KATHMANDU,DECEMBER5 the 270threshold forvictory. partsineachstate,toformallyvote scheduledtobeinaugurated. FIREFIGHTERS HAVE EIGHTEEN PEOPLE have been THE US StateDepartment said These steps in theelectionare forthenextpresident.Moststates The withdrawal from made some progress killeddue to an excessive levelof NEPAL PRIME Ministerand co- on Fridayithas endedfivecul- oftenignoredformalities. But the have laws bindingtheirelectorsto Somalia followedTrump’s or- reining in ablaze in a thepoisonous carbon monoxide chairman of the ruling Nepal tural exchangeprogrammes hidden mechanics of electing a the winner of the popular votein ders to reduce the US presence Southern California gasinacoal mineinChina,offi- CommunistParty,KPSharma withChina, callingthem “soft US president have drawnnew their state, measures that were in Afghanistanand Iraq. canyon, but facedmore cials said on Saturday, the latest Oli, could face calls to resignin powerpropaganda tools”. The scrutinythisyear as President upheld by aSupreme Courtdeci- Thedebateoverthe value of high winds and lowhu- miningdisasterinthe world’s an upcoming meeting of the KPSharma Oli Department said it “terminated” Donald Trumpcontinuestodeny sionthisyear.Therehavebeenno counterterrorismand training midity on Fridaythat largest coal producing country. party’s standing committeeaf- the Policymakers Educational Biden’s victoryand pursues in- suggestions that anyofBiden’s missionsliketheoneinSomalia,is threatenedtostoke the One person wasrescued terfeudingfactions were unable ChinaTripProgram,theUS-China creasinglyspecious legalstrate- pledged electorswould contem- growing —amongthe public, in flameswhichhad forced from the closedDiaoshuidong to sortout their differences. icallyweighedagainstOli, and FriendshipProgram,theUS-China gies aimedatoverturning the re- platenot voting forhim. Congress and even the Pentagon. thousands to leave their colliery situated in Yongchuan During afour-hour session of during ameeting of the commit- LeadershipExchange Program,the sults before theyare finalised. Resultsofthe Electoral But Trump’s push to leave homes. The Bond Fire district in Chongqing the party’s central secretariat teeonSunday, the members are US-China TranspacificExchange Although it’s been apparent Collegevote aredue to be re- Somalia before he leavesoffice wasless than athird Municipality,state-run Xinhua that followedhis one-on-one scheduledtodiscuss the corrup- Program andthe Hong Kong forweeks that Biden wonthe ceived, and typicallyapproved, comes at adelicatetime forthe containedafter it broke news agency reported. meeting with the other co-chair- tion allegations brought against EducationalandCulturalProgram. presidential election, his accrual by Congress on Jan. 6. Although EastAfrican nation: It is prepar- out on Wednesdayon The accident took placeon man of the party,Pushpa Kamal Oli by the Prachanda faction. This “The five programmes in of morethan 270electors is the lawmakers can object to accept- ing forparliamentary elections the road forwhichitis Fridayevening when workers Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Oli categori- could result in Oli being told by question arefullyfundedandop- firststeptowardthe White ing the electors’ votes, it would next monthand apresidential namedand quickly were dismantling equipment in callysaid he wasneithergoing the party to resignasparty co- erated by the (Chinese) govern- House, said EdwardB.Foley, alaw be almostimpossible forBiden election scheduledfor early engulfed muchof the pit, the reportsaid. to step down from his leadership chairman or as PM, or both. But if ment as softpower propaganda professor at OhioStateUniversity. to be blockedatthat point. February. Theremovalof Silverado Canyon, driven The mine wassuspended role in the party nor from the this were to happen, Olihas pri- tools,” the StateDepartmentsaid. “It is alegal milestone and the “As apractical matter,we American troopscould compli- by strong SantaAna and shut down twomonths ago. postofPrime Minister. vately warneddetractors that he The Chinese embassy in firstmilestone that has that sta- know that Joe Biden is going to cate anyability to keep election winds. REUTERS The cause of the accident was The 43-member standing could dissolve Parliamentandcall Washingtondidnotimmediately tus,” Foleysaid. “Everything be inaugurated on January20,” rallies and voting safefromal- notimmediatelyknown. PTI committeeofthe party isnumer- foranearly election. replytorequests forcomment. prior to that waspremisedon Foleysaid. AP Shabab bombers. NYT

THE HAYABUSA2MISSION CEMENTS JAPAN’S ROLE IN EXPLORING THE SOLAR SYSTEM Japan’sjourney to an asteroid ends with ahuntinAustralia’s outback

probelaunchedbyJAXA,Japan’s Phobos, amoonof Mars,andcon- capsule. The area, usedbythe phere.At analtitudeof 6miles,the The team hopes to recoverthe KENNETHCHANG space agency,in2014toexplore tributetoNASA’sArtemisprogram Australian militaryfor testing, capsule will release aparachute, capsule, perform initialanalysis DECEMBER5 an asteroid namedRyugu, a to sendastronautstoEarth’smoon. provides awide-open space that and whereitwill drift as it de- and whiskitbacktoJapan within dark, carbon-richrockabit more But the immediatechallenge is ideal forthe return of an inter- scendswilladdto theuncertainty. 100hours. Even though the cap- JAPAN’S SPACEagency is nearing than half amile wide. willbesearchingin darkness fora planetary probe. “Thelandingplacedependson sule is sealed, the worryisthat the end of ajourneyofdiscovery Thesuccessof themissionand 16-inch-wide capsule containing The small return capsule sep- the wind on that day,”Yoshikawa Earth air will slowlyleak in. that aims to shedlight on the the science it produces will raise theasteroid samples somewhere arated from themainspacecraft said.Theareathatsearchersmight “Thereisnoperfect sealing,” earliesteons of the solar system Japan’sstatusasacentralplayerin amidhundredsofsquaremiles in about 12 hours before the sched- have to covercould stretchsome Tachibana said. and possiblyprovide cluesabout deep spaceexploration,together aregion280 miles north of uledlanding, when it wasabout 60 miles,hesaid. Once the capsule is found, a the origins of lifeonEarth. with NASA,the European Space Adelaide, the nearestlarge city. 125,000 milesfromEarth. The trail of the fireball of su- helicopterwill take it to alabo- But first, it is going to have to AgencyandRussia.JAXAcurrently “It’s reallyinthe middle of The capsule is expected to hit perheated air created by the ratory thathas been setupatthe go on ascavenger hunt in the has aspacecraft in orbit around nowhere,” saidShogo Tachibana, the ground in theearly hours of reentering capsule will help Australian air forcebase at Australian outback. Venus studying that planet’s hell- the principal investigator in Sunday(local time) in Australia. guide the recovery team, as will Woomera. Thereaninstrument This weekend, bitsofanas- ish climateand is collaborating charge of theanalysis of the In an interview, Makoto the capsule’s radio beacon. The will extract anygases withinthe teroid will land in abarrenregion with theEuropeans on amission Hayabusa2 samples. He is partof Yoshikawa,the mission manager, task willbecome much more dif- capsulethatmay have been re- near Woomera, South Australia. that is on itsway to Mercury. ateam of more than 70 people Japan’s spaceagency installedanantenna in Woomera, said thereisanuncertaintyof ficult if the beacon fails or if the leasedbythe asteroid rocksas These arebeing ferriedtoEarth In the comingyears, Japan from Japan who have arrivedin Australia, in preparation forthe Hayabusa2’s return. AP about10 kminpinpointingwhere parachutefails to deploy. theywereshaken andbroken by Hayabusa2, arobotic space plans to bring back rocksfrom Woomerafor recovery of the thecapsulewillreentertheatmos- Thereisabit of arush, too. during reentry. NYT Kolkata DECEMBER 6, 2020 | WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM | PAGE 11 THE SUNDAY EXPRESSMAGAZINE

BOOKS ARTS etc ● An interview with Stephen Alter on his new book Songs of Belonging that reimagines Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book Brooklyn-based PriyaDarshini’sdebut album ● Review of VinaySitapati’s Jugalbandi: about identitypolitics and immigration crisis The BJP BeforeModi wins anomination to the GrammyAwards eye ● Review of Robert Galbraith’s Troubled Blood

THE SECOND THE FINE PRINT COMING SHareesh won the Ta mil writer Perumal JCB Prize for Murugan announced Literaturethis year the death of the writer and Jallikattu,afilm in him after avicious basedonone of his attack on his novel short stories,isIndia’s Mathorubagan (One entrytothe Oscars Part Woman) in 2014 this year AWriter’s Revolt PHOTOS:EXPRESSARCHIVE

It was acampaign of hateagainst their work that brought Ta mil writer Perumal Murugan and Malayalam writer SHareesh to mainstream attention. Now, with accolades and international recognition, they hope for amore nuanced reading of their work

Amrith Lal major Malayalam publisher,announcedthe cial hierarchies of that time, among them tion of caste relations. The alchemistinhim (Penguin)in 2013 andhe had rejoinedhis col- Murugan has been that he got to travel to publicationof Meesha.Thefirsteditionsoldout sportinga meesha(moustache). Withitsmul- transformsall that he observes into layered legeinNamakkal, wherehetaughtTamil lan- manyparts of thecountry. He rarely refuses innotime.Amonthlater,athree-judgebench tiple references, beginning with the figureof stories that sparkle with wit and sarcasm, in- guageand literature,after asabbatical to com- invitations to speak at literaryfestivals and WO YEARS afteramob cam- of the SupremeCourtdismissedaplea to ban Ezhuthachan, who unwittingly initiated voking adeep empathywith the underdog. plete the sequels to Mathorubagan,when the seminars. “For me, it is akind of thanksgiving paign forced SHareesh to with- the bookonthe groundthat it had references Vavachan’s rebellion by introducing the sub- The Englishtranslationof Meesha,Hareesh campaign againstthe novelstarted. to allthose people who stood by me in those draw Meesha,his novelthen se- derogatory to Hinduwomen. versive recreationalformof theatre to thevil- says,has been rewarding,for it has allowedan Murugan receivedthe firstabusive callon darkdays,” he says. rialisedinaMalayalam The controversy helpedsales, but it lage, Meesha took flight to become amagical uncluttered reading of thebookpurelyasa December 1, 2014,while he wasatthe college. Publisher and friend Kannan Sundaram T magazine, itstranslation colouredthe reception of the novel. Meesha is tale, morethan justaprovincial narrative or a pieceof fiction.Thereaderof theEnglishwork What started as acampaign on social media pointsoutthatMuruganisnot justabest-sell- Moustache (2019,HarperCollins) by Jayasree acomplex, multilayeredworkthat, in poetK storyofaDalit rebel. It wasanother seems to have the eyeand ear forthe storyand turnedintoavicious personalattack,andlater, ingauthornowbuthasattractedinternational Kalathil, has been chosen forthe 2020 JCB Satchidanandan’s words, seekstoresurrect a Ezhuthachan in the 16th century, who first itsfine details. Therewas, of course, the occa- became acommunalmobilisation, that forced attention. Mathorubagan sold over 25,000 Prize forLiterature. Hareesh, of course, is languagewithin alanguage.Hareesh,45, had imaginedanew Malayaliidentity throughhis sional criticism, fuelledbyafailuretorelateto him to sign an apology.Singed by the attack, copies in Tamil,but what’s moreinteresting is happybecause the translation, and the prize, hopedthat his novel, ambitious in itshistori- retellings of the epics, Ramayana and the finer pointsofrural life. Murugan wrotehis now-famous obituaryon that Murugan has since been translated into willfetch himaninternational audience. This cal and ecological canvasand innovative in Mahabharata. Theatrewas an important in- So,howdid this very“provincial”bookfind Facebook,declaring that Perumal Murugan atleast10IndianlanguagesaswellasinFrench, unassumingwriter, who watchesthe world narration, would be read and reread in quiet. strument, too, forthe radical figures of 20th an audience among the urban English-speak- the writer wasdead.Ittook awhile forthe German, Czech, Slovene, Chinese and Korean. from his home in Neendur,avillageatthe With adozenorsoshortstories, he had al- centurywho shapedmodern Kerala by chal- ing middle class? Hareeshhas aready answer: Tamil public to realise the importance of Kannan recalls the buzz aroundMurugan north-eastern edge of Kuttanad,Kerala, rel- ready carvedoutaniche in thecrowdedworld lenging caste and classre- When human lifeis Murugan’s “death-note”,that it wasnot asim- whenhewaspresentattheFrankfurtBookFair ●●● ishing MarioVargas Llosa’sfictionover Gabriel of Malayalam fiction. This washis firstnovel. lations. Kuttanad has had turnedintoagood story, ple case of awriter ending his writing career, in 2018.“The controversyhelped, but Garcia Márquez’s, rejecting Che Guevara and The controversy,hebelieves, preventedaclose itsfictional chroniclers — readerslove it. He alsobe- but the murder of awriter by amob. Solidarity Murugan’s booksare doing well because he is Fidel Castrobecause theyhad an authoritarian and intimatereading of the work.The regret forinstance, the great BothMurugan and lievesthatalot of Indian meetings were held in manyplaces across honestasawriter,” Sundaram says. streak,also mustbesmiling at the ironyofthe remains to thisday. There have beenveryfew Thakazhi Sivasankara writinginEnglishis about Indiaandahostoforganisations,amongthem Hinduright-wingcontributing to hislaunch as discussions on the aesthetics of thebook, Pillai —but Hareesh un- Hareesh are hyperlocal urban, upper-caste expe- the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists ■ ■ ■ an international writer. though it has sold nearly 50,000 copies and coveredahiddenecology riences: “The madness of Association, movedthe MadrasHigh Courtin Hareesh’sstory, of course,recallstheunex- wonaprizefromthe Kerala SahityaAkademi. of floraand fauna, birds, in their writings but writing (ezhuthintepran- 2015 againstthe targetingof Murugan.Ayear Murugan and Hareesh arealso the bene- pectedtrajectoryanother writer’s career took The JCB Prize, hopefully, will triggerafresh fish and reptiles, sharing thu)isless, Ithink writers later, the courtdeliveredascathing judgment ficiariesof anewfound interestinregionallan- afteraright-wing mob in another language look at the book. space and in conflict with unambiguously from arural background againstthe curbing of free speechand ap- guagewriters.Satchidanandan, who has been andcultural settingforcedhim to apologise Did the experience of threatstolifechange their biggestpredator,the humanist in their have it more,” he says. pealedtoMurugantoresurrect his writinglife. on manyprize juries, lists multiple reasons for over hurtsentiments. That episode in the writer in him? Notreally, he says.There humans,andin arefresh- Sincewriting Meesha, Sincethen, Murugan has publishedsev- this attention on bhashawriters: “The expan- December 2014 turnedPerumal Murugan wastension initially, but that wasmostlybe- ingly newnarrative style. moral vision Hareesh has been in- eral works, including Songs of aCoward: Poems sion of the publishing industryand reader from being aprovincialwriter,largely known cause people were only talking about the con- However, some volved in movies. His of Exile (2017,Penguin), Poonachi: The Story of base,whichwantstolook beyond Indianwrit- to seriousreaders of Tamil literature, to an in- troversy.Alesson he learnt was—“Ididn’t Malayali readers, espe- ●●● scriptfor the Sanju aBlackGoat(2019,Context) and Amma (2019, ing in English, the realisationinEuropean lan- ternationallyrecognisednovelist. Theban- knowthereweresomany savarna commu- ciallythe upper-caste Surendran film Aedan Eka), amemoir of his mother,and has been guages that authenticwriting about Indian the-book campaigns in both cases had posi- nal fellows around us.” At leastone neighbour Hindu, failedtosee beyond the “ugliness” of (2018), basedonashortstory from his 2014 translated intonumerous languages. He has experience is in regionallanguages, transla- tive outcomes, with the judiciaryexpressing stoppedtalking to him. The Dalit community someof thecharacters.Hareeshhas anexpla- collection, Aadam,won astate award; Lijo Jose been told that the mob attackturnedout to tors who arefamiliar with contemporarylit- unambiguous supportfor the writers while —the heroofthe novel, Vavachan, is apulaya, nation forwhy his characters speak and be- Pellissery’s Jallikattu (2019), basedonanother be beneficial to him in the end, but Murugan erarylanguage, areorientation in reading pref- reaffirming India’s constitutional commit- aDalit caste —backedhim throughout, de- have theway theydo: “Thereare manychar- story“Maoist” from the collection, is India’s remindsthem thatatthe time,he wasn’tsure erences as well as academia, and prizes that ment to free speech. spitethe odd murmur about savarna writers’ acters in thisnovelwho speakinwaysthat are entryfor theOscars this year.But cinema is that he would survive the hate, letalone keep value translations to be on par with original obsession with the oppressive past of the anti-women and anti-human...I agree that nothis space, he believes. “Not aplace forme writing. The fear,hesays,islikelytostaywith writing in English,” he says. ■ ■ ■ community.Hareesh cautions againstread- thesecharacters should have shown more to take adip and those who chose to take the him all through his life. Beyond all this, bhasha writers have been ing Meesha as aDalitnovel: “MuchofMeesha’s careand behavedmoreresponsibly. But nov- plunge,didn’t surface,” he says.Heisworking Did it changehim as awriter?Itinfluenced at theforefrontofresistingthepolitics of hate. It wasafriendwho firstalertedHareesh to social space is the worldofupper castes. In els arefreecountries, and thereisverylittle a on his second novel, and an English transla- him nottobedirect in his politics; to seek out The award wapsi in2015 sawnumerouswrit- the tension brewing over Meesha,whichthe fact, I(anon-Dalit) could nothavewritten in writer can do about what the characters get tion of aselection of his short storiesisdue allegorical tools, be more subtle in depicting ers from all major Indian languages protest- Mathrubhumi IllustratedWeekly had just anyotherway. And, Vavachan is escaping this up to,” he says.Inaway,the assault on the next year. humancondition.InPoonachi...,the firstbook ing the murder of MM Kalburgi, Narendra startedserialising.ThatwasinJuly, 2018.“Pani world,” he says. novelwas afailure of theimaginationof those afterthe controversy,heconfidedthat he Dabholkar andGovindPansare,andstanding varunnundu(there’stroublecoming),”hehad Setinthe firsthalf of the 20th centuryin protesting. In their egotistic selves, burdened ■ ■ ■ chose to writeabout goatsbecause they are upforthe rightto speechand dissent.Theap- warnedHareesh.Thereafter, itwas“arelentless Kuttanad, aunique landscape of land, water by memories of vacuouscaste prideand fam- problem-free,harmless and above all, ener- preciation fortranslations from Indian lan- showerofabuse fordays,” says thewriter.The and wetlands, Meesha wasaterrific reimag- ilyhonour,storieshadceasedtobestoriesbut In Namakkal, afew hours by road from getic. He confessedthat he had become fear- guagecould well be asubconsciouspolitical mob waslargely upper-casteHindus and the ining of aplace, itsinhabitants, ecosystem, so- sharp jabsthat forcedthemto confront apast Neendur,Perumal Murugan, 54,has asimilar ful of writing about humans, even morefear- pushback againstattemptstoimpose the no- Hindu right-wing. When the abuseextended cialrelationsand even language. It wasdeeply that offeredlittle to be proud of. storytotell.LikeHareesh, Murugan, too, was fulofwriting about gods. The fact is Poonachi tion of aunitarian, Hindi, Hindu India. to hisfamily, Hareesh withdrew thenovel. political in itsown way, foritwas woven Meesha is notexceptional in itsirreverent awriter relatively unknown outside the Tamil hasbeen as political or morethanany of his Muruganand Hareesh,whoarehyperlocal in Fortunately, acounter mobilisation wason, around the figureofaDalit rebel, who, in- lookat the past—Hareesh’sshortfictionis rich readingpublic until acontroversy brokein previouswritings, itsironic tone gripping and their writings but unambiguously humanist in withreaders, politiciansand the stateadmin- spiredby acharacter hegot to playinadrama, in subtle inversions of upper-castehistories 2014.His 2010 novel, Mathorubagan,had just biting while capturing the fear of our times. their moral vision, seem to berepresentatives istrationbackinghim.InAugust, DC Books, a challenges the establishedcivicnormsandso- and in manywaysprovokesadeepinterroga- been publishedin English as One Part Woman The best outcome of the eventsof2014for of afederal India asserting itself culturally. Kolkata EYE,THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 6, 2020 ARTS etc 12 DOWN IN JUNGLELAND

RanjitLal

Ranjit Lal is an author, environmentalistand AVAVoiceoice frofromm birdwatcher ththePePeripheryeriphery Don’t Let Me Down When the trees of Central Vista PHOTO:JAMESFIDELER wanted me to include it,”saysPriyaDarshini, demand to be declared sacrosanct Meet US-based Indian singer Priya Darshini, whose who falters sometimes in this difficult piece, the fatigue catching up, it seems, but she and part of asacred grove debut album, about identity politics and immigration pulls through with her classical training. Born intoamusical family, one of Priya NE LOCATION wheresome of the over 400 crisis, has been nominated at the 2021 Grammy Awards Darshini’s grandmothers wasaveena player trees from the Central Vista will be movedand and the other aCarnatic classical vocalist. In transplanted,owing to agrand newproject is, Mumbai,agedeight, Priyalappedupevery- Oapparently, the NTPC eco-parkinBadarpur, Suanshu Khurana Anderson and Jesse Paris Smith(Songs from thingshesawonMTV.“Curiousaboutthe mu- over 20 km away.One venerable old tree tells Down in theBardo), Canadian guitarist Jim “Kimo” West sic that wasnot coming to us, Istarted asking Jungleland’s botanical correspondent that some of his fel- (MoreGuitar Stories), Helsinki band people who’d travel, to getmemusic from las have ostensiblyalready been shifted. EVEN yearsago,when Mumbai- Superposition (Form/Less), CoryWong and Jon wherever theywent,” she says.One of the DIJ: Isn’t this agreat, empathetic move on part of the basedsinger PriyaDarshini moved Batiste (Meditations). Theonlyother Indian tapes her father brought from an official trip Government? In the old days,theywould have simply to the US,she could neverfeel at name to feature in thehallowednominations abroad had songs by jazz queen Ella Fitzgerald. hackedyou to pieces and made akilling from the sale of home.BorninChennai into aTamil- is Anoushka Shankar,for her album Love “The vocals blewmymind,” says Priya your wood. Now, notonlyare theytransplanting youbut Sspeaking familyand raisedin Letters, under BestGlobal Music Album. Darshini, whosoon begantoconsumejazz, will also be planting 10 newsaplings in your place. Mumbai,Priya Darshini would oftendwell Shankar’s half-sisterNorah Jones (I’ll Be Gone listeningto thelikesof trumpeterlegend Miles Tree: Have youforgottenthatwearen’tordinary, but upon the conceptofhome and what it really with Mavis Staples) also finds anomination, WHERE DO IBELONG? Davis.She soon felt thestyle’ssimilarities to heritagetrees? We’vebeen here, in the centreofpower, for meant.“Wasitaspace,aconstruct, acommu- under BestAmerican RootsMusic. (From top) Priya Darshini; the cover of the structures of Indian classical music. decades—generationsofbabus have sat gossiping away nity?” she would oftenintrospect. But just The earthyEast-West crossover Periphery, her Grammy-nominated album ShetrainedinitiallyunderCarnaticclassi- under our shade in summerafternoons. Children have when she wasallowing “all the beautiful cul- whichunfurls slowly, blends PriyaDarshini’s cal artiste BombayLakshmi Rajagopalan and gleefullyclimbed our boughs and plucked our fruit. And tures in lifetoco-exist”, including that of her Indian classical training with Americanfolk likeusing averyold-school recording style, then in Hindustani classical music from Pandit nowthey’re justshunting us offtoplaces likeBadarpur, fa- husband and musician Max ZT’s Jewish- and pop. It features Max ZT,cellistDaveEggar, wherethe pastmeets the future,” says Priya SunilBorgaonkarforthe last15years.She per- mous onlyfor itsdust? Would youdismantle the TajMahal Americanfamily, thepoliticalunrestowingto drummer Will Calhoun and percussionist Darshini. In suchaset-up, therecouldn’t have formedwith collegebandswhile studying or Meenakshi Temple and reconstructthemingodfor- theanti-immigrationrhetoricoftheoutgoing ChuckPalmer. TheBanyanTree and Cocoon been anyretakes or separation of tracks,so, mass media at KC CollegeinMumbai, before saken wasteland justsoyou couldbuildsomeuglygovern- Donald Trumpadministration joltedher. “Like take root in her melancholia. The latter song, even if one person made amistake,all of them pursuing filmmaking at New York Film ment structureintheirlocation, and stroke your ego? And other immigrantsfromaroundthe world, I basedonragaPuriyaDhanashree, moves had to startoveragain. Academy. Abrief Bollywood playbackstint, then, say, “oh don’tworry”, we’llbuild10moremini-Taj constantlyfelt on the periphery,”she adds. hauntingly to cello notes. The sounds in Des, “Theonlyway”tomeetthe challenge, says with Vishram Sawant’s D (2005) and David Mahals and Meenakshi Temples if the originals collapse. Whenshe channelledher distressthrough so- the melodic raga Deshcomposition, and the PriyaDarshini, “isbydiving deep intowho you Dhawan’s Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), left DIJ: Think of it as you’regoing to anew home and cial-media commentsand posts about wondrousJahaan,co-writtenwithfilmmaker are, andstaying honest. We had to beveryvul- her disenchanted.“It justwasn’tfor me. Ifelt they’replanting 10 fresh saplings in addition. In the end American politics, shewas snubbedalmost Devashish Makhija(Bhonsle, Ajji),saunter from nerable, drop all our walls and function from very disconnectedfromit. Icravedtocreate therewill be moretrees. immediately. “They saidIdidn’tbelong.If Isaid SufitoMiddle Eastern. that space of vulnerability. So,itreallymat- original music,” she says.In2008, she wascho- Tree: Not all of us aregoing to survivethe move:sev- something about Indian politics, people in With recording engineer Nicholas Prout teredtomethat Iwas surroundedand work- sen by American musician RoyWilfred eral have already approachedtheir therapists and areon India would tell me that Ididn’t even live at the helm, the entirealbum has been ing with peoplewho Icould holdthe space Wooten forhis famedBlackMozartEnsemble, the vergeofanervous breakdown. Second, we know only there,” says PriyaDarshini,36, over the phone recordedlivein12days,and on one micro- with. It wasanemotional and powerful expe- whichcombinedjazzwithclassical music,hip toowell howgoodgovernmentsare at maintenance —af- from Brooklyn, NewYork. phone, placedinanabandonedchurch in rience forus,” she says. hop and bluegrass. PriyaDarshini travelled teramonth, they’ll justforgetall about us. As forthe 10 Her grappling with theidea of notbelong- Brooklyn. The sound is strippedofany com- Trainedunder santoor virtuoso Pandit with the band forthree years (2005-08) and saplings —atotal of 4,000-plus —wherewill theyplant ing anywherebirthedher debut album pression or post-productionembellishments. ShivKumarSharma, Max —aka “Jimi recordedinNashville, the US, often. It wason them? Even if theyfind space, in no time some big devel- Periphery (Chesky Records) in March.Itleads Crystalclear vocals and church acousticsof- Hendrix of the hammered dulcimer” — atrip backhome around the same time that oper will want to put up amassive condominium or with the delicatesingle Home, whichlooksat feranimmersive experience. “You can feel weaves abeautiful tapestrywith his ham- she metMax, who wasstaying in Mumbai shopping plaza there—and it will be “offwith their the conceptofcomplexidentities in aworld thespace, the architectureofthe room. It’s mered dulcimer (Western cousin of the then to learn from Sharma on howtogivethe heads” all over again. If by then, goatshaven’t eaten them. wheresome peopletellothers aboutwho has Indian santoor), with themainpercussion hammered dulcimer an Eastern touch. the right to live where. “Writing the record sound createdbysweeping Indian brooms Muchbeforestarting the artiste collec- ●●● wascathartic. It helpedmeprocess that it was againstthe floor.PriyaDarshini moved tive Brooklyn Raga Massive in the US in 2017, justabout finding stillness within myself and around the space to getadifferent rangeof she wasakeen sportsperson. At 23,she be- learning to embracemyself in all my authen- Abrief Bollywoodplayback stint, with D sound foreachsong. The album, in English came the firstIndian woman to complete the ticity and honesty,” she says.The exploration and Hindi, alternates betweenmanyworlds. 100-mile HimalayanUltraMarathon.“I’m of geopolitics has earnedPriyaDarshini’s (2005) and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), It even features her rendition of Sanware mostcomfortable amid nature, whichisalso Periphery anomination in the BestNew Age left her disenchanted. “It just wasn’t for me. Sanware —composedinragaBhairavibysitar the sense you’ll getinthe album,” she says.A Albumcategoryatthe 63rdGrammyAwards, legend Pandit Ravi Shankar and originally videofor Home,shotinBorivali National Park, to be held on January31at Staples Center in Ifelt very disconnected from it. Icraved to sung by Lata Mangeshkar in Hrishikesh near whichshe livedfor manyyears, wasre- Los Angeles. Aboutthe prestigious nomina- Mukherjee’s 1960 film Anuradha.“This piece centlyaddedtoPeriphery.Willthe once- tion, she says,“the feeling hasn’t sunk in”. create original music,” she says. is suchatall order. Iwasn’t planning to sing Borivali-girlbring “home” the hallowed The singer is up againstTibetan multi-in- it at all. But label founder David Chesky had gramophone? If it happens, she says,“It strumentalistTenzin Choegyal with Laurie ●●● heardmesing this at abenefit concertand would be huge.”

RANJITLAL BOUGH OUT Lop off abranch and go to jail, wish the trees Does that provideawider perspective? ACCTVcamera,for us, is an exampleof DIJ: It’s notalways likethat. See howwell the Metro ‘Weare living in a ‘general purpose technology’,whichisn’t lim- has been maintained. ited by itssupposed use.The aimistomake Tree: Bah! Don’t talk to me aboutthe Metro.Doyou people awareofthe extent to which this tech knowhow manyvenerable old trees, whichwitnessed is ‘environmentally present’ today. If instead the making of history,wereslaughtered in itscause? of using film cameras we use CCTV whichis Nothing shortofamassacre—acrime againstbotany. transformative time’ already everywhere, this mayflip over to yield Who do youthink supplies oxygen to this city? We suck anew cinematic languageand newethics. In up the carbon-dioxide and all the other muckyou spew, 2008, we made afilm with 208 existing cam- that’s likebreathing in your farts24x7,and we give you Mumbai studio CAMP founders Ashok Sukumaran eras in the UK’s largest mall. In 2009, we took oxygen in return. Some gratitude is in order here! acameratoJerusalem, and Palestinian fami- (By now, ahost of birds and squirrels have gathered into and Shaina Anand, the Nam June Paik Art Center lies filmedfrominsidetheir homes, with the whatseems like avociferous JantarMantar protest.) Prize 2020 winners, on their transdisciplinary approach cameramounted on their roofs. As apartof Squirrels et al: We’vebeen living on these trees for PHOTOSCOURTESYSTUDIO.CAMP the 2017 MAMI Film Festival, we mounted a eons. We’vefamilieswith babies. This is our home! So, cameraontop of Phoenix Mills’PVR hall to one can go to jail forseven years forkilling apeacock, but Vandana Kalra LIFE IN ART itsfromthe road’stollboothsgo to aninterna- project alive, panning-zoomingviewofthe what about massacring trees wholesale and everything Al jaar qabla al daar tional consortium? Our five-screen video edit outside ontothe IMAX screen, with three of living in them, is that perfectlyall right? Youmakeussick! has itsown proposal of howtonarrate such us speaking over it about Pareland its150- Tree: Look at what you’reabout to do in Dehradun, ACCORDINGTOits concept note,at (The neighbour before things,alongafacetedjourneynosingleperson year history,likealivemovie.Tounderstand and what they’vedone in so manyother national parks CAMP,you ‘trytomovebeyond binaries’ the house), 2009-11, can take. such landscapes in adeeper way, youhaveto and sanctuaries. Lakhs of trees have been slaughtered,in (art/non-art, commodity markets/free in Jerusalem; experiencethem in away thatneither social the name of what youcall “development”, whichisnoth- culture, individual/institutional will) (left) Ghar Mein In what waydothe public histories in media, mainstream cinema, norany ideology ing but destruction. to build what’s‘possible,equitable Shehar Hona Part 2, Past,Present,Future (2020) engagewith can give you. It emergesfromexplorations DIJ: Well, you, squirrels and birds, can always follow and interesting...’. What prompted 2020-21, in the urbanlandscape of Mumbai? parallel to technicalprogress. the trees, wherethey’rereplanted,and setuphome again. itsformation? The urban landscape is continuous with Squirrels et al: It’s all about location, location, loca- Dindoshi, Mumbai Thatnote is from 2007,when,among other landscapes. Some of itsfeatures arein- Sukumaran is partofGulf Labor tion! Your great ministers pass snide remarks about Khan other things, we were in the middle of an art- teresting to us: moredensity,morebuilt infra, coalition, aglobalboycott by artists to Marketand “Luchens” Delhi and the “suit-boot” crowd— marketboom. The effect on manycontem- others in South Asia: Sri Lanka, Pakistanand less establishedsocial protocols, moreestab- fight migrant labour exploitation in the and wheredotheylive? Would youratherliveinJor Bagh poraryartists of ourgeneration waslarger- the Maldives. We deployedartisticinstincts lishedsocial movements. Cinema is ageneral construction of museums on Saadiyat or some derelict dust-heap in Uttar Pradesh, with fre- sizedworks,art mutual-funds, international and methodstosocial sciences whichare inspiration. In the present, we canhavethe Island in AbuDhabi. Howimportant is it quent powercuts, waterscarcity and robbery? fairs. We were interestedinother possibili- themselvesenteringanewterritorybystudy- 2020 hindsight.The pastisfull of options and nowfor artists to voice concerns? DIJ: The government will surelyhear your grievances. ties, especiallyinalong-term local presence ing infrastructure, and notjustdoing ethnog- paths nottaken, whichare notthereinthe The artworld hasbeen intenselyglobal Squirrels et al: Oh, give us abreak! If we enter their of- and global collaborations beyond markets. raphy. Engaging another discipline in their present, but thepresent has akind of deep in itshorizon, and thereare attemptstocut- fices, theycome afterus“vermin” with lathis and brooms. We were also interestedinnew kinds of art. use of images, video,sound, maps, data, form, access to that via digitisation.The future is and-paste it intonational ambitions, while DIJ: Don’t lose heart. Therewas this remarkable case, Thoseinvolvedincludedafilmmaker,coder, language,etc.,and, in general,learning to in- that vision or calculation whichshapes the exploiting global labour flows (in thatspe- in Goa or wasitinBengaluru —wheretheydiverted a media artistand architect, and others who terpret and inhabitthe landscapetogether. present (likerisk-tradingand insurance does cific case, Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, highway around avenerable old tree that wasinthe way. were pushingtheir ideas/workintoanunfa- WhetherinIndia,SriLankaorPakistan,one in anarrowfinancialsense). As we arelaying Nepalis, Filipinos,etc.,who areindebt and Tree: If we’vebeen living in aplace forover50years, miliar zone that contemporaryart could, cansee roads being built at aspeedand with a down our ownpaths, we should sense these arebeing paidlessthaninmanypartsoftheir howcome we arealwaysinthe way? We were therefirst. temporarily, hold or exhibit. To do this, we logicof ‘development’whichwouldhave been dimensions and possibilitiesacutely. home countries, to build super-luxurymuse- So naturallythe highway has to skirtrespectfullyaround neededtoset up our ownsceneofproduc- necessaryand logical half-a-centuryago,but One of the firstconcreteworks to come ums).Suchmoves should be de-legitimised. the tree —whichismorethan can be saidregarding tion, thus CAMP wasborn. nowisfullofdoubt. Severalempirical studies out of this long-term project is Ghar Mein Itisquiteatransformativetime we areliv- what’s happening here. nowsay,theeconomicbenefitsofroadsare far Shehar Hona: City Housing in aCultural Matrix ing in. It usedtobethat contemporaryartwas DIJ: So, what laws would youliketosee framedfor The work APassageThrough Passages from clear. Climatechangefurther addstothe (2019-20),a70-year-long journeythrough all about being open-ended, abit shapeless your better protection? (2020),onthe cultureofroad-building doubt, since more transportcapacity begets the cityand itshousing questions,toldin andindeterminate, but we areagainstthat. Tree et al: That we’redeclared sacrosanct:That you in SouthAsia, emergesfromfiveyears of moreemissions.Wefound both subtle and three two-hour parts,that we starteddoing Artisnot ablur-filter,and randomness in math can go to jail for10years if yousomuchaslop abranch, ethnographicand archival work.Could tremendous social changebrought about by firstonour rooftopinKhar, then at architec- is very specific. We think it’s time to be lucid, forget about cutting us down. The government keeps youshareyour findings? newroads. Beyond ‘is xconnected to y?’, the ture schools. Thishas justbeen publishedas and to beambitious. We don’t have to speak in harking backtohow great we were in ancient times: well This video projectisaresult of acollabo- questionbecomesaboutwhatflows alongthe aWeb trilogy,linked to dense resources of the existing languages or in expected direc- have theythought about the sacred groves that flourished ration with agroup of anthropologistsstudy- path, and in what patterns. Howcome every film, video clips and documentsfromthe on- tions, of course. But in the importance of lay- then? That’s an example to follow. Declarethe trees in the ing newinfrastructure, with the backdrop of dhabaonaroadinMadhya Pradeshisintensely line archives Pad.ma and Indiancine.ma. ing down some tracks we described above, Central Vista as partofasacred grove. the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative.Inour localised(invitingtruckersfromHP-02/Shimla we do all have to participateinremaking the case, it centred around twoIndian roads and orPB-04/Faridkot,forinstance)whiletheprof- Youmakealot of use of CCTVcameras. world, even if it’s from avillageinMumbai.

Kolkata EYE,THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE

13 BOOKS DECEMBER 6, 2020

SHELF LIFE Ayoung eco-warrior’s It Happened climate-friendly suggestions and a One Night collection of poetry written in response JK Rowling’s latest novel as to prompts Robert Galbraith is aremarkable exploration of human caprices and the nature of evil ALLSHADES OFGREEN BY AARAV Paromita Chakrabarti SETH 24by7 Publishing VEN BEFORE JK Rowling’s Troubled Blood —the fifthnovel in her detective series under the `146 pseudonym Robert Galbraith —hit the stands, (ebook only) E criticism of the book had been rife. In ayear that has highlighted inequalities likenever before,Rowling’s controversial views on transgender rightshas rakedupa Go Green storm of disappointment and resentment at her pur- portedtransphobia. So, when news brokeout about her latestbook featuring acharacter who cross-dresses to lure AARAVSETH’S AllShades of Green is a vulnerable women to their painful deaths, it wasseen as a book of solutions. While the author further indictment of her lackofnuance. Afterall, in an es- has explainedthe perilsofclimate sayonJune 10,she wrote—“…I want trans women to be changeand theneedfor acircular safe. At the same time, Idonot want to makenatal girls COURTESYSTEPHENALTER economy, the book is mainlyaguide and women less safe. When youthrow open the doors of to becoming eco-friendlybymaking bathrooms and changing rooms to anyman who believes smallchanges to dailylife. Among or feels he’s awoman —and, as I’vesaid, gender confirma- other things, it adviseswhat one tion certificates maynow be granted without anyneed should keep in mind while purchas- forsurgery or hormones —then youopen the door to any In the Forest of Shadows ing anew vehicle; cleanliness tips that and all men who wish to come inside.” couldconservewater;ingredientsto It’s difficult to separateawriter from her politics. This look out forwhile shopping forcos- holds especiallytrue forcrime fiction, as it explores socie- metics and howtodraft emails to re- talfault lines that upend the natural order of life. In mak- ture some of the shadows andfears that the Hamletand eachofthem has added some- duce digital carbon footprint. ing sense of the mayhem, one arrivesatasomewhat Stephen Alter on takingforward original Jungle Books evoked.Thereissome- thing to his story, through different inter- Seth covers anumber of issues, makeshiftrestoration of balance and an understanding, as thing tragicabout Mowgli being an orphan pretations. It’s the same sortofthingwhen from dailytransportation, “energy it were,ofwhat ledtothe fissures in the firstplace. Which Mowgli’s story in Feral Dreams but also in his inevitable exile from the jun- Iwriteabout Jim CorbettorMowgli. As a vampires”, wastedisposal to eco- is why, the inclusion of aserial killer who likes to dress up gle, confronting the moral dilemmas of civil- writer,Itrytosurpriseand unsettle a tourism, makingthem accessible to as awoman might seem insensi- and his enduring bond with isation. Because Igrew up in amissionary reader’s preconceivedexpectations and the layman in clear,simple terms. tive in the light of itsauthor’s familyand community,Iwasaware of showhim or heranew wayoflooking at a Whilethe author’s understanding of views but it does notfalloutside Christian teachings about good and evil, but familiar character. his subject comes through well, he the scope of reality.And giventhe the Himalayas my parents emphasisedcompassion over couldhaveaddedmoredepth to the fact that the character is justone dogma. Through the character of Miss Your acclaimed Wild Himalaya (2019)is book by elaboratingeachissue with of the elaboratecastthat this over Cranston, who adopts Daniel (asMowgliis an overarching portrait of this dataand case studies. 900pagebook throwsup, this in- Devyani Onial christenedinthe orphanage) as her son, I’ve magnificent mountain range. Have they Around the world, young climate clusion does notimpedethe cred- triedtoexploremyown ambivalence regard- been afixed address in ajourney that activists likeGreta Thunberg, Leah ibility of the narrative. ing what’s right and what’s wrong. has takenyou places? Namugerwa and XiyeBastida are Troubled Blood opens in 2014, MOSTPEOPLE areacquainted with the Iwas born in the Himalaya,inMussoorie, making it difficult fordecision mak- with Brexit and the Scottish refer- characters of The Jungle Book,whether All theWay to Heaven: An American whichgives me asense of belonging to the ers to ignorethem.This book by a17- endum dominating conversations it’s through RudyardKipling’s book or Boyhood in theHimalayas (1998) is avivid mountains. Morethan anything,however, it year-old student is areminder that it in the UK. On avisit to Cornwall, itsmanyfilm and television adaptations. account of your growing up years in has been the manyjourneys I’vemade is the young,growing up in aworld of TROUBLED London-baseddetective Your FeralDreams: Mowgli and his Mussoorie, the time spent in Uttar throughout the Himalaya that give me a greater uncertainties, who have the BLOOD Cormoran Strikeisoffered acold Mothers takesforward the story. When Pradesh whereyourparents’ work took strong connectiontothis region.When you mostatstake in this struggle and that BY ROBERT case that’s toointriguing to ig- did youfirstread thebook and what them and the in-betweentrips to the US. travel on foot,you learn agreat dealabout their voices matter. GALBRAITH nore. Nearly four decades ago, a made youturn to it now? At one place,you writeofyour stories the landscapeand the people, as well as the Sphere young doctor,Margot My firstmemories of Kipling’s Jungle written in high schoolas‘full of invisible historical,spiritual and naturalheritageofa 929 pages; `899 Bamborough, lefther practice one Books areofmymotherreadingthe stories FERALDREAMS: borders and erasedidentities’. Howmany place. Being awriter allows me to retell the evening to walk down to alocal to me when Imusthavebeen five or sixyears MOWGLIANDHIS of these personal journeys have travelled experiences and stories that I’vegathered pub to meet her friend. She never old. Theyleftalasting impression on my intothe lifeofyour protagonist, who, too, along the way. ThoughI’vealways consid- MOTHERS CITYPOETRY arrivedthereand wasnever seen again. Foryears, her mind, akind of personal mythology and lore. BY STEPHEN movesbetween so manyworlds? ered Mussoorie to be my home, it’s as much daughter Anna, who wasjustoverayear old at the time of The forestsofIndia have alwaysheldastrong Identity is apretty slipperyconceptand aplace that Idepart from as it is apoint of FORTHE ALTER (IN)FREQUENTLY the disappearance, has waited to find out what took her fascination forme. As aboy,Ispent agood I’venever been able to define myself in any origin where Ireturn. Aleph Book MOBILE mother away.Now,she wantsaresolution. The deal is deal of time wanderingabout in the jungle. conclusive manner.You look in themirror Company struck—if in ayear,Strikefails to find out what happened, Later on, Ibecame an amateur naturalistand andsome days yourecognise yourself while As someone from Uttarakhand and as BY NANYA Anna will trytomoveonwith her life. wroteabout wildlifeand the environment. 208 pages other days youthink,‘Who on earth is that?’ the writer of Elephas Maximus: A SUDHIR The investigation that follows is oneofthe best in the Of course, Irealise nowthat Kipling knew `599 The inherentuncertainty in recognising Portrait of theIndian Elephant (2004), Ve rses series yet, thoughitcomes with toomanydigressions. Two very little about the natural history of India oneself has neverreally bothered me, howdoyou seethe decision to denotify 176pages; successive policeteamshad investigated thecasewithlit- and drew upon booksbyother writers rather though I’vebeenable to explorethis para- the Shivalik Elephant Reservetopave `295 tle success. An investigator had even sufferedabreakdown than his ownobservations. Muchofhis work doxinmanyofmybooks. Ultimately,Isup- the wayfor the expansion of the Jolly and looked forasolutioninoccult and astrology.There are contains overtlycolonial stereotypes and pose FeralDreams is abook about identity Grant airport? star charts andastrologicaldeductions thatthe Strikeand racistperspectives, whichI’vetriedtoover- but youcould probablysay that about al- The Dehradun Valleyhas lostmostofits In the Mood his partner Robin Ellacott mustmakesense of andlengthy turn in my book,though FeralDreams is not mostany novel. ForDaniel or Mowgli, the forest coverduring the lasthalf century. detours intotheir parallel investigations. Had it notbeen intended as acritique. Isuppose the book biggestquestion isn’t ‘Who am I?’ but in- Everytime Iread about trees being cut down forRowling’sstature, the book’ssize would certainlyhave couldbedescribed as aform of recovered stead ‘Who do Iwant to become?’ to makeway forroadsorother forms of de- for Verse been pared down.But when it actuallygets going, this cold memory, stories that come outofmysub- velopment, it seems unjustifiedand short- case offers sharp insightsintothe caprice of human nature. conscious and haunt my imagination. That’s Beforethis, in In The Jungles of theNight sighted.Ofcourse, Iknowthat people want One of Rowling’s successes with this series has been the magic and mysteryoffiction! (2016)you have takenthe lens of fiction theconvenience of air travel and JollyGrant ONE HAS to read development econ- the creation of Ellacott, the temp who became the busi- to capturethe lifeofJim Corbett. How airport hasgrown busier and busier in re- omistNanya Sudhir’s collection City ness partner.Asexual-assault survivortrying to come to Aplaintive strain runs through Feral challenging is it to recaststories that are cent years but Ithink theremustbesome Poetry forthe (In)frequently Mobile one termswith abitter divorce, Ellacott’s struggle to find her Dreams.One always knows that already so well-known? other waytoaccommodatemoreflights, poem at atime to appreciatethe vari- feet in aman’s worldforms some of the finestsections of Mowgli’s days in thewild arenumbered. Adapting popularstories or recasting without destroying the limited tractsoffor- etyofher thoughts. this book.Her experience of being takenfor granted by Then, as he is takentoanorphanagerun well-known personalities and giving them estthat remain. In these poems, originally written male employees, the sexism she has to overlook everyday by American missionaries, youdonot afresh narrative is abit likebeinganactor forTypetrigger,anonline platform and her unresolvedfeelings forStrike form an invisible knowwhether thepastwas an who performs afamous role. Thousandsof As we nearthe endofanunsettling year, wherepieces arewritten in response bridgetothe lifeofthe missing woman. Bamborough’s imagining, adream.Your grandfather different people have played the partof as awriter howdoyou make sense of it? to prompts, Sudhir writes of dreams lifewas whollyunlikehers but her experience of being andfather were both missionaries. Do Howwould youremember2020? newand nowlost, love across long put down by menwas notverydifferent from Ellacott’s. It yourecall that worldbothasaninsider Frankly, I’d liketoforget2020 completely distances,friendship, work life. She givesthe missing woman atangible presence in the story, and an outsider? Thereissomething tragic about but I’m notsurethat 2021isgoing to be any writes about being unconventional — piecedtogether by the testimonies of those who knew Mostpeopleassociate The Jungle Book better.For me, the mostunsettling partofthe shopping in aclothing store’s men’s her.Infact, there arelotsofwomen in this noveland some with the Disneycartoon version from 1967. Mowgli being an orphan but also in pandemic has been the wayinwhichithas section and of notwearing makeup. notverylikeablemen and it is up to Strikeand Ellacott to It wasalighthearted feel-good storywith separated me from familyand friends. The poems take the reader around the find out who is speaking the truth and to whatlengths happysongs and amusingcharacters. Ire- his inevitable exile from the jungle, Despitethe technology that allows me to world, from Damascus in turmoil to a some would go to protect their interests.Once she gets member watching it the year the film came communicatefromisolation, there’s still a protestduringthe 2017 presidential pastthe windowdressing, this is Rowling at her best, out and enjoying it enormously. But Kipling’s confronting the moral dilemmas feeling of personal connections being lost. inauguration in Washington DC to peeling away the manylayers of her characters’s identi- storieshad amuchdarkerside to them, Perhaps, whenit’s all over,we’ll meetagain NewYorkCity,and offeravariety of ties to look at what drivesevil and howeasy it is some- whichDisneyerased, and I’vetriedtorecap- of civilisation as if we have become strangers. moods, with something foreveryone. times to hide thetruth in plain sight. SURBHI GUPTA

sonality that wanted to be free-spiritedlike Panipat to learn the artofunity from but, for Vajpayeebut wasimprisonedbythe idea of a their followers, the leaders’ wordswerefinal, The Power of Tw o Hindutvautopia. In away,hewas asplit per- come what may. sonality.Advani on the rath yatra in 1991 and The history of aparty likethe BJP can’t be Advani at Jinnah’s mausoleum in 2005 were fullygraspedwithout understanding itside- Anew book delves in the BJP’s history and how it grew notthe same person. Vajpayeedid nothave ological mooring. If organisation is the the dilemma of Advani. Sitapatibeautifully lifebloodof the RSS, then Hindutvaisthe soul. under the Vajpayee-Advani leadership captures the twocontrasting personalities This book focuses on the personalities but for when he writes, “It is easy to fall in love with the reader to understand thenuances of their Vajpayee. Anepicurean,acharmer. It is harder behaviour and the main text of their politics, Ashutosh ideology.Inhis newbook, Jugalbandi: TheBJP to feel forthe colourless,odourlessAdvani. But the ideology mustbedetailed. Is it possible to BeforeModi,VinaySitapati has dug deep to JUGALBANDI:THE some of that mustsurelybebecause Advani comprehend the finer pointsofcommunism find the symphonybetween thetwo to ex- BJPBEFOREMODI wasmoreaman of principlethan Vajpayee, withoutreading MarxandLenin?Itistruethat “ARRE ASHUTOSH ji,havealaddu. The inter- plain the rise of Hindutvafrom1952 to 2004. less altered by makeup.” the RSS does nothaveastructured philoso- BY VINAY viewcan wait abit.” It’s been almost30years, Forthe present generation, it is difficult to Sitapati has aflair forwriting. His language phyofHindutvabut it has very strong build- but these wordsare etched in my memory. I comprehendthatatone time the BJP thatis SITAPATI is lucid.Politics forhim is qissagoi or story- ing blocks.The elaborationof the definition of wasinterviewing Atal BihariVajpayee, who todaysynonymous with Hindutvawas the pe- Penguin Random telling. Butwhat he adds with his language, Hindutva, itssense of history,its antagonism usedtothen live on Raisina Road. In the mid- ripheryand Congress wasthe centre. The ide- House he loses in analysis. When he uses the towardsIslam-Christianity-communism,the dle of the interview, hishelp brought in ologywhichclaimsto carrythe beaconof an- 409 pages; `799 metaphor of the Battle of Panipat in 1761 to desiretoreclaimthe gloryofancient India, the samosas and laddus. With his eyes closed, as cient Indian civilisation, wasonce explain the Hindutvanationalismvow for utopia of Hindu rashtra,would have givena washis style, Vajpayee ji wasanswering my “untouchable”.TheleadershipofVajpayeeand TWIN TOWERS unity,hebecomesshrill and superficial. clearer view. questions. He stoppedwhen he sawthe food Advani earnedrespectabilityfor Hindutvaand Vajpayee (left) The BJP is probablythe onlyorganisation Sitapati is right when he says,“... contrary and, with asmile, asked me to help myself to itspolitical avatars —first, the Jana Sangh and, with Advani whichhas neversplit. Vajpayee-Advani have to those who think that the rise of the BJP in laddusand samosas. Iwas young and was later,the BJP.Sitapati’s book is amustread for had their serious differences, but both knew the 1980s wastop down, it actuallybegan as stuckbyhis magnetic informality. those to whomVajpayee-Advani areantiques the leading ideas and the worldwas split into Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Deen Dayal that their strings were controlledbythe RSS, inchoate, demand-driven angerat theground In my long careerIhaveinterviewedmany and Modi is the colossus who, in their opin- twocamps. RSS chief MS Golwalkar’s words Upadhyaya’s thought processes. He wasthe the real leader of the Parivar. And, in the RSS, level”. But the book finds him at acrossroads leaders and celebrities, but no one could ion, has dwarfed others. were seen andheardwith contempt.After the one leader who did notsufferfromthe “mi- the one thing ingrainedinthe minds of the when the writer asks, “What is the glue that match hismagnetism. Topleadersnormally The 1950s, when Vajpayeeand Advani en- murder of Gandhi, Hindutvaneededaface nority” complexofthe majoritycommunity of swayamsevaksfromdayone is thattheleader holds RSS together?” This question leads to a treat otherswithdisdain;not Vajpayee. Ihave teredpolitics, wasthe eraofNehruvian con- that could convince the people of India about the Hindutvabandwagon. is infallibleand his wordshavetobefollowed. minefield of answers and interpretations interviewedLalKrishnaAdvani, too,butIhave sensus, wrappedinrevolutionary, commu- itsinnocence. Dhoti-clad Vajpayee, aquintes- Advani, in away,was also amodern man. Within the Sangh Parivarthereisaconcept, whichrequires another book. no memoryofhim —ofany kind. nistthinking. The worldwas getting over the sential Brahmin, wasamoderniser within the Hehadbeen educatedin aChristian mission- called“Ek chalak anuvartitva”, that is That is the difference between Vajpayee tormentsofnationalism; internationalism, SanghParivar. He didnot carrythe ideological aryschool. Buthe waschainedbythe norma- “Obedience to the leader”. Hitler and Ashutoshisaseniorjournalistand and Advani, the twostalwarts of the Hindutva secularism,democracy andmodernismwere bitterness that wasthe hallmarkofGolwalkar, tive ethos of the RSS. His wasasculptedper- Mussolini’s parties did nothaveaBattle of theauthorofHinduRashtra

Kolkata THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER6,2020 J UVE DIRECTOR ASUSPECT IN SUAREZ CASE Adirector at storiedItalian football club Juventuswas revealed to be asuspectinacrim- inal investigation linked to the attempttosign Luis Suarez. Juventus said in astatement its sportsdirector Fabio Paratici hasbeennotified of his involvement in an investigation 14 AP SPORT by prosecutorsinthe city of Perugia. No allegations were detailed.

BRIEFLY Pujara was SA-EnglandODI Hanging by athread subject to racist seriestogoahead With battlefor places heatingupand his perceivedtechnical deficiency,Pandeyfaces uphill battlefor T20I spot jibe at Yorkshire, The One-DayInternational series be- tween South Africaand England will says former startinPaarlonSundayafter the SRIRAMVEERA WARM-UPFORTEST host’s squad returnedafull setofneg- MUMBAI,DECEMBER5 SPECIALISTS employee ative resultsintheir latestround of coronavirus testing, officials have con- HOWLONGcan Manish Pandeylastinthe firmed. The series due to starton Indian T20 team? It’s aquestion that has been Sydney: India will look to figure PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA Fridayhad been thrownintodoubtaf- askedforawhilenow andhealwayscomesup out their playing XI as the Test LEEDS,DECEMBER5 teraSouth African playertestedpos- with knocks to silence the doubters. Then the squad gets intothe groove by itive in the team’s bio-secure hotelen- chatterstartsagain. Thepressureisenormous. taking on Australia 'A' in athree- ENGLISH COUNTYside Yorkshirefinds itself vironment during mandatorytesting, Pandeyisn’tapower-hitter,hedoesn’tbowl,is- daywarm-up game at in the centreofaragingissue with itsformer with the firstmatchatNewlands n’t alower-order finisher or adestructor,and Drummoyne Oval from Sunday. players andemployees back- postponedanhour before itsstart. hisgameisn’ttightenoughforhimto popupas With India and Australia playing ing cricketer Azeem Rafiq's England expressedconcernoverthe asaviour afteraflurry of wickets. The riotous the secondT20I on the same day, claims of "institutional strength of the bio-secure environ- cryfor Suryakumar Yadav’s inclusion, even if the visiting Test squadhas been racism"atthe club, including ment afterthe positive result, whilea unintended, heaps morepressureonPandey. namedIndia 'A' forthe firstofthe reference to India's South African team investigation has It’s harsh, but in the cut-throat worldoftop- twopractice games scheduled Cheteshwar Pujarawitha notyet shown howthe unnamed levelsport, he will be collateral damagethat ahead of the much-anticipated genericname. playercaught the virus. “The entire won’ttriggeroutrage.Andyet,contrarytoper- four-Test series.The tour games FormerWest Indiesinter- Proteas team has returned negative ception, Pandeyaverages44.31in39T20Is. In will be achance to sortout India's national Tino Bestand resultsfromthe COVID-19tests that the lasttwo years, it has actuallyshotupto57. combinations both in the batting Pakistan'sRanaNaved-ul-Hasanprovidedev- were conducted yesterdayevening in Hehasfloatedalloverthebattingorder.When and bowling departmentsahead of idenceinsupportofRafiqaspartof anongoing Cape Town ahead of the three-match one factors in his game, it’s remarkable how Seasonedbatsman RobinUthappa has followedPandey’s game closely and he opening Day-Night Test scheduled investigations intohis allegations. One-DayInternational (ODI) series,” well he has adapted andcontinues to defeat feels, “nothing has come easy forManish. He won't give up without afight”. PTI at Adelaide from December 17. According to ESPNcricinfo, twoformer Cricket South Africa(CSA) confirmed stereotypes and pressure. Yorkshireemployees -- TajButt and Tony in astatement. Bowry--havealso givenevidence againstthe Technique all his own in the Indian team atmosphere. At 31,with the where it gets tough forhim. He isn’t aKieron wicket,doesn’t panicinmatchsituations and club whichhas institutionalisedracism. Pandeyisaquiteanunconventional bats- likes of Suryakumar in the wings, he will now PollardorPandyawho cancome in, take five throw itaway asheknowshecanmakeuplater "(Therewere) continuous references to Lifeinbio-bubbleis man. He likes to stay beside the line of the ball, be expected to performasasenior player.He balls to ease in,and then explode in the hand- andtakecontrol.Youwillseehimgetmorenot- taxi drivers and restaurant workers when re- taxing: Burns getontothe leg side of it. Likeatennis player came outatNo. 5behindSanju Samson in the ful of deliveries lefttomakeadifference. outsinODIs -taking it to the endand hitting ferringto(the) Asian community," Butt,who movingaroundsothatshe/hecanplay thefore- firstT20IonFriday, scored2off 8balls,anddis- Pandeybatted at No.5onFridaybut if the top out in the lastfew overs. The young Manish wasemployedwithin the YorkshireCricket England opener handmore.Pandeywouldconstantlysidestep, appeared.Itwon’tbeasurpriseif HardikPandya order doesits job,hewill be morethanlikely would have perhapsgone formoreshots right Foundation as acommunitydevelopment of- Rory Burns said getadjacent to the line rather than behind it – is sent ahead of him in the matches to come, if pushed belowPandyaand in Jadeja’s current away,buttheexperiencedversionknows when ficer,was quotedassayingbythe cricket por- limits on move- and look to tap, chop, punchtothe off. hedoesn’tperform. InJanuarythisyear,Pandey form, even belowhim.It’snot that inconceiv- to aceitup.Hehasalwaysscoredatabriskpace, tal. "Theycalledevery person of colour 'Steve'. ment in and outof It'salsothereasonwhyhedoesn’tgive anair spokeaboutthepressureonhim.“Competition able to see him at No.7. hasunconventionalshotslike thepullovermid- Even (Indiabatsman)Cheteshwar Pujara, bio-secure bub- of assurance even when he gets the job done. hereistootough,andI’vegot to makemyplace, on and can manoeuvrethe ball.” who joinedasanoverseas professional, was bles took atollon That movement also allows him to pull back- have to squeezein.Soevenif they give meNo.6, Trouble in T20s calledSteve because theycould notpro- his mental health of-lengthdeliveriesontheoffthroughmid-on. I’m happytotakeit.” Robin Uthappa is someone who knows Options galore nounce his name." Butt tenderedhis resigna- during the home Abusy player, with an urge to constantlykeep With Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar,Shivam Pandeywell,and has playedfor years in the But Uthappa concedes thatwith the com- tion within six weeksofjoining. Having summer and may thescoreboardticking. Dubeand the rest waiting to getbackin, he is same stateand IPLteams. “Nothing has come petitionforplaces leadingup to theT20 World worked as acoachuntil1996, Bowrywas the restrict hisavailability forupcoming in trouble. It has been this wayfor awhile but easyto him.That’showhiscareerhasgone.He Cupnextyear, the team willtry out different culturaldiversityofficerattheYorkshire Cricket international tours. Players have been Burden of seniority has escalatednow. “I have no choice(with the hashadto work bloodyhardtogetwhereheis. contenderslike SuryakumarandSanjuSamson Boardfrom1996until 2011,beforehewas ap- livinginbubbles sinceinternational The pressureonPandeyisinteresting, and Indian role). Ihavetobegood withit.” What Morethan anyone he will knowthe pressure withevenJadejaupgradinghimself asapower- pointedasacricket developmentmanager to cricket resumedinJulyafter the wasdetailedwell by former New Zealand can abatsmanlikePandeydointhe loweror- he is in and is in abetterposition to handle it. hitter these days.“The fact that theyretained develop the game forblack communities. COVID-19 hiatus,with strict rulesen- bowler Simon Doull on air duringIPL. Doull der? At times, he canget justfiveto10balls. He waited so manyyearstoget in, andwon’t him(Pandey) over other options is ashowof "Manyyoungsters struggledtomake forced to curb the spread of the coro- talked about howPandey has to dwellonthe Even if he gets moredeliveries to face, with give it away without afight. Mind you, he has confidence,” Uthappa says.“Whichisveryim- progress, and the fewthat did found the envi- navirus.Burns posted234 runsinthe fact thathecomes good forIndia, but is notas Pandyaand Jadeja –ifheisinthe XI -tocome, producedthegoodsconsistentlyinT20s.From portantto aplayer. Youcan’tbreedinsecurity.If ronment of the dressing rooms very difficult three testsagainstWestIndies but fol- successful forSunrisers Hyderabad where he hecan’tevenseehimselfasthelastrecognised the outside,people might think his game isn’t aplayerknows he will be givenafair run, he and unwelcoming, as adirect result of racism lowedupwith just20runsacross is expectedto performas aseniorplayer. Doull batsman to manoeuvrethe remainder of the suitedforthelowerorderandwhatnot,buthe willgo into thesamesituationwithadifferent theyfaced," Bowrysaid. three gamesagainstPakistan. “Bubble explaineditaspressureofbeingoneof thekey innings. He better hit an outrageous cameo or hasperformed,”Uthappatellsthisnewspaper. outlook.The same 10 balls will be dealt differ- "It affected performance... theywerela- lifewas different. It’s notsomething I players in IPL team, whichhinders him. For bedoomed.“If youwantto bat[at]6,youhave UthappaisconfidentthatPandeywoulddo ently. But if he is made to feel as if his head was belledtrouble-makers." Speaking about his personally enjoyedthat much,” Burns India,Pandeyisn’toneof theseniorplayers,but to be ready.The game is already setfor youat well in the ODIs but admitsthe T20 spotisin on the block, he will go forsurvival. It’s ahuge experiences at the club, former off-spinner told London’s EveningStandard. “I like steps up. It is an interesting line of thought – No.6 and youjusthavetosometimes go and some jeopardy.“Manish is someone who has difference,” says Uthappa. Rafiqwho leftYorkshirein2018, said he had to go foracoffee, see amateormymis- and makes one wonder howPandeywill now performatthe speedthatthe previous bats- crackedthe ODI code in recent times. He now TV: India vsAustralia,second T20I, live been closetocommitting suicide afterwhat sus; refreshing yourself by notthink- handlethepressure thathasfallenonhimeven men have setfor you,” Pandeysaid.This is takesittothe end overs, has put avalueonhis on SonySports network,1:40pm he experienced. ingcricket —and that’s alot harder to do in the bubble setting. That wasthe main challengefor me.” TALKING POINT Lampardkeento extendChelseastint Different narratives to concussion subplot Frank Lampardhassaid he wantstoex- tend his contract as Chelsea manager old fashionedand I ‘DON’TMISUSELIKE ence to drive home the point that effectsof vantage.SoIthinkAustraliashouldn’tcomplain." to become partofalong-term project EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE have alwaysbelieved RUNNERRULE’ concussion maynot be immediate. “I washit at StamfordBridge. Lampard, 42, has NEWDELHI, DECEMBER 5 that if youare not on the helmet manytimes so Iknowhow it LIKE-FOR-LIKEQUESTION 18 months left on his contract at good enough to play FORMER AUSTRALIA feels but duringour times therewerenosuch Chelsea, having succeededMaurizio YUZVENDRA CHAHAL playing as "concus- the bouncer and get captain MarkTaylor felt rules,” Sehwagsaid. AUSTRALIA ALL-rounder Sarriin July2019.Afterguiding Chelsea sion substitute" forRavindraJadeja wasthe hit on the helmet, if theconcussion rule is “Fromour side, it wasaright decision as Moises Henriques, after to afourth-place finish in the Premier talking point afterthe leg-spinner took then youdon't de- misusedbyteams it RavindraJadeja wasnot fittoplayand could the game on Friday, League lastseason, Lampardisnow three wickets andbagged theMan of the serveasubstitute. I could go the wayofthe runner-rule. He notbowlaswell,” Sehwag said. “It wasanop- questioned whether working to makethe club title con- Matchaward in thefirstT20I in Canberra am sorry," Gavaskar clarifiedthat he wasnot suggesting it hap- portunity whichIndiagot because he washit Chahalwas alike-for-like tenders, having overseenasquad re- on Friday. Australia coachJustin Langer was told IndiaToday. penedduring the firstT20 international. on the head and when replacement forJadeja. build that costaround 220 million seen on camera arguing with matchreferee However, he also "The concussionrules aretheretopro- youare hit on thehead, “Once adecision has pounds in the summer transfer win- David Boon because Jadeja,struggling to addedthat therewas toomuchbeingmade tect players," Taylor,aformermember of nobody can saythat been made youjust dow. “Intermsof my contract,itseems run betweenwickets,was notgiven acon- about leg-spinner YuzvendraChahal com- the ICC CricketCommittee, wasquotedas concussion willhappen move forwardand do to have flown by,the time I’vebeen cussion test on thefield but waslater diag- ing out as aconcussion substitutefor left- saying by 'SydneyMorning Herald'. atthattime.Ittakestime. what youcan to win the fixture. When here,” Lampardtold anewsconference. nosedtohavebeenaffected by the ball hit- arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who also con- "If theyare abusedthere's achanceit Youmightget symp- you’vegot professionals in place to make “I knewtherewerealot of circum- ting him on the helmet. Experts have tributes with the bat. "Firstand foremost will go likethe runner's rule. The reason toms within 24 hours.” thosedecisions, and there’snodoubt he stances at the beginning that were go- weighedinsince. letmesay that the matchreferee is afor- the runners were outlawedwas because it He also felt the got aknockonthe helmet, so from my ing to makelastyear transitional and mer Australiancricketer DavidBoon. He startedtobeabused. It's up to theplayers Australians should not point of viewIdoliketotry and seethe best maybeslightlydifficult. “Now Ifeellike ‘IFYOUCAN’TPLAYBOUNCER, wasokaywith Chahal substituting for to makesuretheyuse the concussion sub be complaining (hosts in everyone. Iwould love to bepartofthe long-term Jadeja. Theynormallysay like-for-likeand fairly andresponsibly. I'm notsuggesting were raising questions “But having said that, whether it wasa plan here. The signings we made in the DON'TDESERVESUBSTITUTE’ Chahal is notanall-rounder but if he goes that didn't happen lastnight." aboutalike-for-likere- like-for-likereplacement, that’sthe only summer,other than probablyThiago FORMERINDIA captain Sunil Gavaskar said out withthe bat whether it's one run or 100 placement)astheyhavebenefittedfromcon- thing moving forward, that’s the question Silva,particularly,weresignings for he does notbelieve teams should be given runs, he is an all-rounder." "An Australian cussion substitutes. “When SteveSmith was we’d liketosee,” he stated."One’s an all- nowand the future.” the option of aconcussion substitute. matchreferee had no objection to that. So ‘IKNOWHOWITFEELS’ hit on the head (during the Ashes) rounderand agun fielder,and the other AGENCIES "On the business of concussion substi- Idon't see whythere is so muchofnoise VIRENDERSEHWAG,theformerIndiaopener, Labuschagnecameout to bat in place of him one is an out-and-out bowler who bats tuteitself, Idon't agree with it. MaybeIam about it." who is an expertonSonySix gave his experi- and made runs.So, Australia also got that ad- at 11."

FOR LOVE OF THE GAME Adamant Anwar willing to take chances on return to the field

acase likehim –constant monitoring by a tion, his onlywords were ‘Allah chahegatoh regular surveillance. signedaone-monthcontract with Techtro NITINSHARMA cardiologist–is notvouchedfor. tu football khelega (if God wishes,you will “I don’tevenknowhow to spell the heart Swades United and also acontract owning KHAD(UNA),DECEMBER5 Ali’sfather Razak herds cattle at Chumo playfootball).” condition. And Iwant it to remain that way. all the risk on himself. He is also ready to give villagenear Jalandhar.The youngestoffour An AIFF official said: “The AFC has warned The onlychange whichIhavemade is that I the same affidavit to AIFF, stateassociations ANWAR ALI’S love forfootballhas come up children, Ali’s skills as defender in the 2017 that the condition Anwarissuffering can have gone totallyvegan now,”says Ali. The and anyclub that signs him.” againstoverwhelming medical advice coax- U-17 WorldCup wouldresult in acontract cause cardiac arrest and hence, have recom- letter,excerpts of whichare providedby Amention about some of the interna- ing him to stop playing the game he loves. with ISL’s Mumbai City FC the following year. mendedheshould be restricted from com- Bajaj, also says there’s a2.5 per cent addi- tional footballers likeFabrice Muamba, who The 20-year-old turnedout forTechtro Six months later,hewould getanational call- petitive sportsactivity.Wewill decide what tionalrisk compared to someone leading a collapsedinthe middle of aPremier League Swades United FC againstSAI Football up undercoachIgorStimac. But the muscle is in the best interestofthe player.” sedentarylife. matchin2012, and British media reporting Academy, Kangra in the Himachal Football condition, in whichthe heart walls thicken Bajajbelieveshe’s done due diligence.“I him to be suffering from HCM, drawsablank league, albeit with massive disclaimers affecting pumping of the blood,was found Glimmer of hope had to provetothe worldafter the High Court from Ali. “I don’t think or read about such printed in bold warning him of the risks. soon after. But his desperation would see Ali seek order and medical experts’opinionthathe medical conditions in the past. The onlyin- The ground at Khad village, with apopu- out playing time on his own. “When doctors canplayfor 90 minutes in afull professional ternational footballer Iread about is Sergio lation of 1,200, an unevenground along a Matters of the heart in Francetermed it toorisky,Itold them Iwas senior division match. The fact that he has Ramos. It’s all in the mind and all these rivuletflanked by hills and fields and acre- Medical experts in Mumbai as well as ready to takethe risk.Onmyreturn,Iwas playedtwo matches in three days in the months, Ihavenot thought about the med- mation ground and is worlds away from the France, wherehewent forfurther checks, gettingfrustrated sitting in Mumbai and Himachal Pradesh League proves his fitness ical condition but about beingafootballer. U-17World CupwhereAli firstcame to the termedAli’sheartcondition toorisky to play. waiting. So, Iwould pickupmykit and pay and the same wassaid by Dr Sharma.Hehad That’s what my fatherand family wanted fore.Detected with acongenital heartcon- “When theytold aboutthe congenital heart private turfsfor training. Playing football for opined that thereisevidenceofplayers with and that’swhat Iwant. Idream to play for dition Hypertrophic Cardio Myopathylater, condition, Idid notunderstand. Iplayedlike those 1-2 hours made me train my mind that similar conditions playing in thePremier India one day,”says Ali. that sawthe All India Football Federation that my whole lifeand what changed with everything is likeearlier in my life,” says Ali. League and other European leagues, so Ali has savings of close to Rs 15 lakh and (AIFF) step in to stop him, Ali returnedlast that diagnosis? Iwas bit depressedfor aday His mentor Ranjit Bajajalso approached what’s the problem with AnwarAli playing believeswhatever has to happen,will hap- fortnight on the backofaDelhiHigh Court or twobut when Italked with my parents, I chairman of England Football Association’s in India?” pen. “Whether local or anyclub, Iamhappy order that allowedhim to play tillAIFF takes realisedthatifIhave to play, Ihavetoplay,” cardiology consensus panel and lead car- playing. And while it’s completely my risk,I afinaldecision. Ali told TheIndian Express. diologistfor the London Olympics, Sanjay AnwarAli, who’s been diagnosedwith a Willing to take the risk want all to see and treat me liketheydid ear- Twoambulances with Automated “Deathcan happen anytime, whether it Sharma. Sharma concluded, afterdeliber- heart problem, in action during aHimachal However, Bajajwillnot take responsibil- lier.Therehas been no changeinmyap- External Defibrillators arestationedoutside be an accident or outside football. When my ating on the risks, that athleteslikeAli can Football League tie on Wednesday. Jasbir Malhi ity.“Iamhis guardian, agent and mentor.For proachand nor do Iwanttolet this affect my the ground. But medical supportneededfor father got to knowabout the medical condi- play competitive sport providedthereis the Himachal Football League, Anwarhas approachtofootballorlife,” says Ali.

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