&  ' 4 5   6 7     7  7 VRGR '%&((!1#VCEB R BP A"'!#$#1!$"$#$%T ‰utqBVQWBu‚xy( ./!#.$567 ()*(* + ,(-. / )(-0 12 5 # +,5 .+,,$; ..;-1$;53;$,)1, 5 '<, $ ,./0.1)'+;- -/0,/;1$,;5 ' 0+#03$,$ 3 +)/03 0513 )/ +0 3/ ,/3 1+ /&,3 < =0% &-  8.)  4+..( 9 8 $  ,    )  1% %8% % 8 91:9:;%:                                              !"                 %&&    +,-,./0 to resist the locals. However, they were large group of men claim- promptly stopped by farmer Aing to be local residents union volunteers which helped clashed with protesting farm- the situation from turning ugly. ers at Singhu border on Friday, “They are not locals, but triggering chaos resulting in the hired goons. They were throw- resorting to firing ing stones, petrol bombs at us. tear gas shells and baton charge They attempted to burn down to break up warring groups. our trolleys also. We are here to The protesters hurled resist them. We won’t leave the stones at each other at the site. place,” said Harkirat Mann Delhi Police SHO (Alipur) Beniwal, 21, from Punjab’s Pradeep Paliwal sustained Khana district. severe injuries in the violence Thousands of protesting after a man attacked him with farmers had clashed with the a sword, an official said, adding police during the tractor rally that several other protesters called by farmer unions on and policemen sustained January 26 to highlight their injuries during the clashes. demand for repeal of the Police said they have arrested Centre’s three farm laws. Many accused Ranveer Singh, a res- of the protesters, driving trac- ident of Punjab, who attacked tors, reached the Red Fort and the SHO. entered the monument. “SHO Alipur, Delhi, inter- Some protesters even hoist- vened between rioting pro- ed a religious flag and a kisan testers (MKSC faction) and                              !    union flag on its domes and the                           local Singhu villagers, who had      #   $  (  #    flagstaff at the ramparts, where          !       #   $  &' gone to register their protest the national flag is unfurled by against the happenings on Republic Day. while raising slogans against is barred for entry from out- the Prime Minister on   +,-,./0         Republic Day-2021 and con- Armed with sticks, the them. side, came out in large numbers Independence Day. tinued loss of ordinary liveli- group of locals reached the site The protesters at the mid boycott by the          hood for over two months,” the and asked the farmers to leave Singhu border, much of which AOpposition of his address Delhi Police said in a tweet. &  ! !     to the joint session of       In another tweet, police Parliament, President Ram said, “This is how the SHO was Nath Kovind on Friday LAC” and that the Government farm reform laws, the President assaulted; he has suffered griev-        !!      &  announced that the was “committed and alert” said 10 crore small farmers ous injuries on his hand. Peace Government would respect the towards protecting the country were immediate beneficiaries of has been restored. Legal action Supreme Court’s decision to and the Army was prepared. reform laws. is being initiated.”         suspend three farm reform He said that in June 2020, “The biggest benefit of The group claiming to be laws and claimed that the laws 20 of our soldiers made their these agricultural reforms also locals demanded that the farm- have “given new rights” to the supreme sacrifice in the started getting to more than 10 ers vacate the Singhu border,     farmers. Galwan Valley to protect the crore small farmers immedi- one of the main protest sites He regretted violence and motherland. “Every country- ately. Many political parties around the Capital, alleging %&&    +,-,./0 that had reduced to 500 on “disrespect to tricolour” on man is grateful to these mar- had given full support to these that the protesting farmers had Thursday night has now again the Republic Day saying right tyrs,” the President said. reforms from time to time “insulted” the national flag hazipur border on Friday increased with around 1,000 to freedom of expression goes In his address, he also only after realising these ben- during their tractor parade on Gwitnessed a surge of crowd farmers joining the stir. hand in hand with the talked about a new beginning efits to small farmers,” he said. as around 1,000 farmers from Flanked by supporters, Constitutional duty to follow in Jammu & Kashmir saying The President further said western joined Tikait remained at the cen- the rule of law. the Union Territories con- “at present, the implementation '$( )*+, the trestage of the protest site on As many as 16 Opposition ducted local bodies polls, first of these laws has been post- ,./0!/+,1,$ (BKU) members who have the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, parties, including the Congress since independence, and J&K poned by the country’s highest stayed put on at the UP Gate to which has been barricaded *    &                and its allies, Left parties, the is “moving towards a new free- court. My government will /2/+#3,0+(//3(/ demand the repeal of agri laws. from both sides, prohibiting   !!    $ , &  !       Trinamool Congress as well as dom”. respect and follow the Supreme Notwithstanding the regular traffic movement.        !  P     !   &' the AAP, the SAD and the BSP In the middle of President’s Court’s decision in full respect.” Chandigarh: Actor-turned- administration’s However, extra security boycotted the address, protest- address, Rashtriya Loktantrik Referring to the violence activist Deep Sidhu, who has ultimatum to the protesters to forces deployed at the protest  *12 ## 3+ 3 A day after BKU leader ing Government’s handling of Party (RLP) MP Hanuman on January 26, during “tractor been booked in connection vacate the UP Gate protest site have been sent back. Rakesh Tikait broke down at farmers’ protest. Beniwal showed a placard and rally”, Kovind said the “insult” with the religious flag inci- site, more farmers from west- Several farmers from parts ens of thousands of farm- Ghazipur and tension spi- Reading the customary raised slogans, demanding the to tricolour on the “holy day” dent at Red Fort, has said he ern Uttar Pradesh districts of Haryana have also decided Ters gathered in ralled amid fears that the Government statement in the repeal of the three agriculture of Republic Day “is very unfor- needs some time to bring out such as Meerut, Baghpat, to move towards Delhi borders town on farmers who had been camp- joint session of Parliament, laws. SAD party president tunate.” the truth and will then join Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar, to join the ongoing agitation Friday to attend a mahapan- ing there for two months marking the beginning of the Sukhbir Singh Badal along He said, “The Constitution the investigation. The 36- Moradabad and Bulandshahr against agri laws and held chayat in support of the would be forcibly removed by Budget Session, the President with other party members held which gives us the right to free- year-old Sidhu is in the eye of reached the UP Gate early protests against lookout notices Bharatiya Kisan Union-led the local administration, all spoke about border escalation placards on the Parliament dom of expression, the same a storm for being among the morning to join the stir fol- to peasant leaders and the protest against the Centre’s roads in western Uttar along Line of Actual Control premises. Constitution teaches us that law protesters who put up a reli- lowing an emotional appeal by Ghaziabad administration’s new farm laws in Ghazipur Pradesh it seemed led to (LAC) saying “additional forces Against the backdrop of and rule should be followed gious flag atop the Red Fort BKU leader Rakesh Tikait. ultimatum to vacate protest site. on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Muzaffarnagar. have also been deployed to pro- the farmers’ agitation for the equally seriously.” on Republic Day. The crowd of protesters Continued on Page 2 border. Continued on Page 2 tect ’s sovereignty over the complete roll-back of three Continued on Page 2  $ $  #  //0     1  2 3     % !            and the US ranked among the and comparable data on coro-   +,-,./0 Amid farmers’ protests enable the creation of “One in economic activities as the  .     bottom. navirus managed the pandem- which entered the 64 days over India, One market” and offer rollout of COVID-19 vaccines &      Overall, countries in the ic to date following their hun- ndia’s economy is set to wit- the farm laws, the Economic more opportunities to farmers. gathers traction,” the survey Asia-Pacific did a better job at dredth case. Iness a V-shaped recovery as Survey termed the three agri- At the same time, services, said.   +,-,./0 controlling the pandemic while The report has come at a the country’s growth engine is cultural reform laws as a “rem- manufacturing and construc- The growth will further be Europe and the US were time when India’s latest tally of back on track after a coron- edy”, building a case for its tion were most hit by the lock- supported by supply-side push ndia has scored near the “quickly overwhelmed.” China the coronavirus disease (Covid- avirus-led slowdown, the Pre- acceptance among the farm down that was imposed to from reforms and easing of reg- Ibottom of a Covid-19 per- was excluded from the list as 19) is 10,720,048 as on Friday. Budget Economic Survey said community that has strongly curb the outbreak of the Covid- ulations, push for infrastruc- formance index where almost the Lowy Institute cited a lack The number of recoveries from on Friday. opposed it. 19 pandemic. tural investments, boost to 100 countries were profiled of credible public data. the disease is closing in on the The economy may see an According to the survey, “After an estimated 7.7 per manufacturing sector through for their response to the pan- An independent think tank 1.04 crore mark, as 20,746 new 11 per cent growth in the next the agricultural reforms would cent pandemic-driven con- the Productivity Linked demic that has swept the world. based in Australia, the Lowy discharges took total recovered financial year, while Gross enable farmers to sell where traction in 2020-21, India’s real Incentive Schemes, recovery of The Lowy Institute pub- Institute looked at how coun- cases to 10,394,352. Domestic Product (GDP) they get the “best deal” and GDP is projected to record a pent-up demand for services lished its index on Thursday tries with publicly available Continued on Page 2 could see a contraction of 7.7 thereby, allow competition, an growth of 11.0 per cent in sector, increase in discretionary and New Zealand, Vietnam, per cent in the current fiscal essential condition for the wel- 2021-22 and nominal GDP by consumption subsequent to and Taiwan appeared as the top ending March 31, 2021. India fare for the small farmer. 15.4 per cent. These conserv- roll-out of the vaccine and three countries with the best witnessed its last annual con- The Economic Survey said ative estimates reflect upside pick up in credit given adequate worldwide handling of the cri- #   $ %&' traction of 5.2 per cent in the that the Centre’s recent reforms potential that can manifest due liquidity and low-interest rates, sis. Meanwhile, Britain, Brazil,     (  fiscal year 1979-80. in the agricultural markets will to the continued normalisation it said.  ) "    &    +,-,./0 year. Now it looks like it is get- "      # O   P ting a much bigger proportion.    P cientists at the CSIR-Centre No symptoms issues with     *+*&         Sfor Cellular and Molecular N440K,” Mishra told agencies.      Biology at Hyderabad said that “Either this (the different           they have found a different variant) has become normal or % %  % **1 IGP, Vijay Kumar, “A joint cor-     variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the earlier one became weaker. don and search operation was    southern parts of the country. But certainly symptom wise if n the first encounter of 2021, launched by police, 42RR and  %    +,-,./0     Rakesh Mishra, director it is not equal, it (the different Ithree local terrorists belong- 180Bn CRPF in village      of CCMB, said the different one) is milder. We don’t have ing to the pro- Hizbul Mandoora Tral area of ecurity apparatus in the     variant (N440K) appears to be enough data as of now. We are Mujahideen terrorist outfit Awantipora after receiving a Shighly sensitive Lutyens’   milder than the existing one accelerating... I think in the were eliminated by the joint specific input generated by Bungalow Zone went into a and the institute is stepping up coming days we will do large- team of the security forces in Awantipora Police regarding spin after an improvised explo-    research on it to ascertain its scale sequencing,” he explained. Mandoora Tral area of presence of terrorists in one of sive device (IED) went off near      prevalence in the country. He said the variant is seen Awantipora on Friday. the houses in the area on the Israel embassy situated at !!#!$     The findings came amid in Telangana and Andhra Meanwhile, soon after the Friday.” Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in "     the concerns of a mutated vari- Pradesh among other southern Inspector General of Police, The IGP said, “During the New Delhi on Friday evening.  #     ant of SARS-CoV-2 found in States and scientists have no Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar search operation as the pres- Police said while no person was     $  the UK recently. sufficient data to prove its exis- briefed the media about the ence of terrorists got ascer- injured, some cars were dam- % & '  “It is not a new variant that tence in other parts of the first encounter, another tained they were given an aged in the blast.          we found. It is N440 K. It is a country. encounter of the day was opportunity to surrender, how- A letter addressed to Israeli &'          different variant. This is there Mishra said the CCMB launched by the security forces ever, they fired indiscrimi- Ambassador to India was % O)  for some time. This N440K was did not see any increased num- in Lelhar area of South nately upon the joint search recovered from near the blast lows away from the Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi  O* a very small number in ber of cases or symptoms with Kashmir’s Pulwama district on party, which was retaliated site. The blast took place at the embassy. and assured him of “fullest pro-   September and October last this variant of the virus. Friday. leading to an encounter. pavement opposite Jindal External Affairs Minister S tection” to the jews nation’s Briefing the media, the Continued on Page 2 House which is three bunga- Jaishankar spoke to his Israeli diplomats and its mission.    !"#!#$  

  !"!!#$ $          %&'(   ,#    4     (             ( R $       Q  R      (  )       *1'      **   +    United Nations: UN Secretary-  2           <,0%0+ lesson learned through the two General Antonio Guterres has  1+0,+ 0;+$ Washington: The Biden countries’ efforts over the past said it is “absolutely essential” for administration is going to  %,31$ .,* and ensure the safety of Israelis FM Gabi Ashkenazi about the hina on Friday said the decades to keep our ties mov- India and Pakistan to be able to ndia’s vaccine production remain committed to a strong and Jews who are there”, the explosion outside the Israeli Cborder issue with India ing forward,” he said. come together and seriously dis- Icapacity is one of the best bilateral relationship with sraeli Prime Minister officials said. Embassy. We take this very should not be linked with bilat- The foreign ministry cuss their problems, cautioning assets the world has today, UN India, the Pentagon has said, a IBenjamin Netanyahu on The two sides agreed to seriously. Assured him of the eral ties, even as it welcomed spokesman also hoped the that any military confrontation chief Antonio Guterres has said day after US Defence Secretary Friday expressed “full confi- continue full cooperation fullest protection for the External Affairs Minister S India will work with China to would be a “disaster of unmit- as he applauded India for sup- Lloyd Austin spoke for the dence” in the Indian authorities through all channels, they said. Embassy and Israeli diplo- Jaishankar’s remarks on the properly manage the differ- igated proportions” for both plying Covid-19 doses to nations first time with Defence in ensuring the safety of Israelis India’s External Affairs mats,” he said. significance their ties and the ences, promote practical coop- countries and the whole world. around the world to combat the Minister Rajnath Singh. and Jews in India following a Minister S Jaishankar also The Minister further added importance New Delhi eration, and get the bilateral “Well, what I said in the catastrophic global health crisis. “The Secretary made it blast close to the country’s spoke to his Israeli counterpart that the matter was under attached to relations with relations back on the right statement...Is unfortunately the The UN Secretary-General very clear that we’re going to embassy in New Delhi. Gabi Ashkenazi and assured investigation. “No effort will be Beijing. track. same that I can say today. I also expressed hope that India remain committed to a strong A minor improvised explo- him of “fullest protection” to spared to find the culprits,” he “I have noted his remarks,” In his address, Jaishankar mean, I do believe that it is will have all instruments nec- US-India bilateral relationship,” sive device (IED) blast took diplomats and the mission. said. Earlier, the Israeli foreign China’s Foreign Ministry outlined eight broad principles absolutely essential to have a essary to play a major role in Pentagon Press Secretary John place outside the Israeli In a tweet, Jaishankar said ministry said all its diplomats spokesman Zhao Lijian told a and three “mutuals” to mend de-escalation of the situation, ensuring a global vaccination Kirby told reporters at a news Embassy in the heart of India has taken the incident and embassy staff are media briefing here while strained ties between India namely in the Line of campaign becomes possible as conference here on Thursday. Lutyens’ Delhi on Friday “very seriously”. “safe and sound” following the responding to a question on the and China, and said the two [Control],” the UN chief said. the world fights the pandemic. “(They) had a good chat yes- evening. “Spoke just now to Israeli blast. online address by Jaishankar to countries are truly at crossroads Guterres was responding to “I would like to say how terday. They discussed a lot of India’s National Security the 13th All India Conference and their choices will have a question by a Pakistani jour- much we count on India. I issues, including our two nations’ adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval spoke of China Studies on Thursday. profound repercussions, not nalist on tensions between mean, India has one of the response to the coronavirus,” to his Israeli counterpart Meir “External Affairs Minister just for them but for the entire India and Pakistan over the sit- most advanced pharmaceutical Kirby said responding to a ques- Ben-Shabbat and updated him .    Jaishankar’s stress on the sig- world. uation in Kashmir. The ques- industries. India played a very tion on the maiden phone call on the situation and ongoing nificance of China-India rela- Issues related to the border tion also referred to the state- important role in the produc- between Austin and Singh. investigation into the bombing  *1*< 0 panes of three vehicles nearby tions showcases the impor- figured prominently in ment Guterres had issued in tion of generics for use that was Retired general Austin became near the Israeli embassy, offi- were damaged, Delhi police said. tance the Indian side attaches Jaishankar’s eight point princi- August 2019 on the situation in a very important element of the first African-American to cials said here. aharashtra deputy chief “Reviewed the situation in to its ties with China. We ples to develop bilateral ties. Jammu and Kashmir where he democratisation of access to lead the Pentagon when the The update was conveyed Mminister Ajit Pawar said the state holding discussion approve of that,” Zhao said in The minister said the had appealed for maximum medicines all over the world,” Senate confirmed him as US to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the security situation in with the state’s home minister comments posted on the developments in eastern restraint. Guterres said. He was respond- Defence Secretary on January 22. they said. Maharashtra was reviewed in and director general of police Chinese Foreign Ministry Ladakh last year brought the Tensions between India ing to a question by PTI dur- During his conversation Netanyahu asked to convey view of the low intensity against the backdrop of the website. relationship under “exception- and Pakistan spiked after New ing a press briefing on with Singh on Wednesday, to his Indian counterpart improvised device blast near blast outside Israeli Embassy. “Meanwhile, I need to al stress” and India is yet to Delhi abrogated provisions of Thursday on India helping Austin pledged to work col- that Israel has the Israeli Embassy in New Issued instruction to strength- stress that the border issue receive a credible explanation Article 370 of the Constitution countries around the world in laboratively with India to sus- “full confidence that the Indian Delhi on Friday. en the security apparatus in the shall not be for the change in China’s stance to withdraw J&K’s special sta- the fight against the global tain the progress in the bilateral authorities will do a thorough The blast did not cause state along with Mumbai and linked with bilateral rela- or reasons for amassing troops tus and bifurcated it into two pandemic by supplying Covid- defence relationship, the investigation of the incident injuries to anyone, though the Pune,” Pawar tweeted. tions. This is also an important in the border areas. Union Territories in 2019. PTI 19 vaccines. Pentagon said earlier. PTI

4   Chaudhary sahab’s (Ajit gave an ultimatum to agitating the UP Gate due to an exces- by midnight, a move that came     L    ;     Singh’s) message,” the RLD farmers to vacate the UP Gate sive deployment of security close on the heels of three   M      5 **  vice president said in a tweet in protest site but Tikait remained personnel since Thursday farmer unions calling off their   111 N <O       C Hindi. Jayant Chaudhary also adamant, saying he would evening,” he added. protest against three farm laws &3+2!0 5         %'      ,,, visited the protest site at commit suicide but won’t end According to the officer, of the Centre over the violence         From Page 1 Ghazipur. the stir. some BKU protestors were in Delhi on January 26. 5         *6     +  The farmers claimed that The Kejriwal Government Ghaziabad District served notices under section Thousands of farmers have              issuing the lookout notices and also extended its support to the Magistrate Ajay Shankar 133 (removal of public nui- been protesting at Delhi’s bor-   L            +H, asking the farmers to vacate the farmers with Deputy Chief Pandey and Senior sance) of the Code of Criminal ders with Haryana and Uttar        0 L,          site will not weaken the ongo- Minister Manish Sisodia visit- Superintendent Procedure (CrPC) on Pradesh, demanding a roll- 3 0             ing agitation against the ing the Ghazipur border protest of Police Kalanidhi Thursday. back of the Farmers’ Produce           ;    N O Centre’s new farm laws. site to check the arrangements Naithani visited the protest Ankit Sahrawat, a farmer Trade and Commerce    M   0 $   A number of farmers from made for them by the city site post midnight to review the from Muzaffarnagar, said he (Promotion and Facilitation)   M L*  )     Jind, Rohtak, Kaithal, Hisar, Government. situation at the site where hun- reached the Act, 2020, the Farmers 5             Bhiwani and Sonipat will be Talking to reporters, the dreds of security personnel in UP Gate early on Friday (Empowerment and                      heading towards various Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) anti-riot gears were deployed along with 40-50 people. Protection) Agreement on          0  protest sites at Tikri, Singhu leader said the farmers’ protest on Thursday. “More farmers from west- Price Assurance and Farm # 6        5  <30)$     M  5     and Ghazipur, farmer leaders has full support of the Delhi Many of these personnel, ern Uttar Pradesh districts will Services Act, 2020 and the        ' 3    5 /     I    from Haryana claimed. Government. Sisodia said including those from the reach here. Everybody has con- Essential Commodities L O %    Backing the protesting farmer leader Rakesh Tikait Provincial Armed demned what happened in (Amendment) Act, 2020.              6  F   3   farmers, Rashtriya Lok Dal had spoken to Delhi Chief Constabulary (PAC) and the Delhi on Republic Day but now The protesting farmers   0 $         L      (RLD) chief Ajit Singh Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Rapid Action Force (RAF), left they have made Chaudhary have expressed the apprehen-      M %    0   announced support to the asked for basic amenities. “On the protest site in the dead of sahab (Rakesh Tikait) cry. sion that these laws would      G   -   H BKU. The former Union the orders of the Chief the night following official Unke aansu pave the way for the disman- B                Minister spoken to BKU pres- Minister, the arrangements instructions. nikle hain, wo sahan nahi tling of the minimum support     6         ident Naresh Tikait were made at night,” he said. “Excess security force from hoga (Farmers will not tolerate price (MSP) system, leaving     L*       M and spokesperson Rakesh Kejriwal said the AAP fully the protest site has been with- that Tikait had to shed tears),” them at the “mercy” of big cor-  5      *5    Tikait, RLD vice president and backs the ongoing protest of drawn and only a minimal Sahrawat told reporters. porations. However, the 5     M      his son Jayant Chaudhary said. farmers, calling their demands deployment of personnel The Ghaziabad adminis- Government has maintained       $   6      6 “It is a matter of life and valid and attempts to discred- remains there,” a Ghaziabad tration made a “verbal” com- that the new laws will bring         L   ) 9   death for farmers, but do not it them completely wrong. police officer told PTI on the munication to the BKU on better opportunities to farmers     C %D'     worry. All have to stay togeth- The Ghaziabad adminis- condition of anonymity. Thursday, giving it an “ulti- and introduce new technolo-    3    9     er, united in this -- this is tration late Thursday night “Tension was building at matum” to leave the UP Gate gies in agriculture.      6 M

son Rakesh Tikait, party vice -.  (   /0   ,,, president Chaudhary said. “It is a matter of life and '   0   111 From Page 1 death for farmers, but do not The GIC ground near worry. All have to stay togeth-    From Page 1 Mahaveer Chowk was packed, er, united in this -- this is Death toll crossed the a sea of people congregating to Chaudhary saahab’s (Ajit 1210 3  154,000 mark as 163 fresh back the protesters at UP Gate Singh’s) message,” the RLD fatalities took the total number in Ghazipur. Hundreds of trac- vice president said in a tweet in From Page 1 of deaths to 154,010. tors with the tricolour and Hindi. The Tikait brothers, “In the ensuing encounter, The top-ranked powers flags of farm unions were sons of legendary farm leader three terrorists were killed and remained the US, followed by parked along city roads, dis- Mahendra Singh Tikait, are their bodies were retrieved China, although America has rupting traffic movement. leading the BKU. from the site of encounter. seen a halving of its 10-point The GIC ground was the Members of the group have They have been identified as overall lead over its rival in the centrestage and scores of been protesting at Ghazipur for Waris Hassan resident of past two years, said the think- regional farmer leaders took more than two months to Naibugh, Aarif Bashir resident tank. the mike to back the protesters demand a rollback of the con- of Monghama and Ahtishamul “Japan, India and Russia at the UP Gate in Ghazipur as tentious farm laws brought by Haq resident of Check were next in the rankings list, Muzaffarnagar became the the Centre in September last Noorpora area of Awantipora. but those three countries also meeting point for farmers from year. The RLD, which was vir- All the killed terrorists were suffered falls in their scores,” it across the region, Rashtriya tually wiped out in the last linked with proscribed terror said. Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, outfit Hizbul Mujahideen,” he The report warned that of also announced support for the was founded by Singh, son of added. all countries in the Indo- BKU and his son, party leader former prime minister and As per police records the Pacific, India’s economy has lost Jayant Chaudhary, participated farmer leader Chaudhary killed terrorists were part of the most growth potential as a in the mahapanchayat too. Charan Singh. The mahapan- groups involved in several ter- result of pandemic-inflicted Singh, RLD president and chayat was called by BKU ror crimes. On January 2 Arif damage - meaning “its position former Union minister, had national president Naresh Bashir lobbed a hand grenade as a future peer competitor to spoken to BKU president Tikait over the developments in on security forces near Bus China has become less certain”. Naresh Tikait and spokesper- Ghazipur. Stand Tral resulting in splinter injuries to one jawan and eight civilians. Terrorist Waris Hassan, along with others, was involved in firing upon a patrolling party of Awantipora Police on 05/10/2020. In this regard vide FIR No. 140/2021 U/S 7/25 Arms Act 13 UA(P) Act has been already registered in Police Station Awantipora. Besides, the group was also involved in threatening posters of proscribed terror outfit HM to keep public away from elec- tions and also pasting of threat posters at Dadsara area on 02/12/2020. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 182/2020 U/S 506 IPC 13 ULA (P) stands already registered at PS Awantipora. IGP Kashmir also appealed to the parents of the local mis- guided youth to come forward and help police in bringing them back as they are always welcome to return to the main- stream. He also requested par- ents to take note of the activi- ties of their wards as gullible youth are falling prey to the anti-national elements through social media.

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%&&    +,-,./0 Hindi. Delhi Deputy Chief elhi Chief Minister Arvind Minister Manish Sisodia also DKejriwal on Friday said the visited the Ghazipur border, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) fully where farmers are protesting backs the ongoing protest of against the agri laws, to check farmers, calling their demands the arrangements made by the valid and attempts to discred- Delhi government. it them completely wrong. The Ghaziabad adminis- The chief minister was tration late Thursday night responding to a tweet from an gave an ultimatum to agitating unverified account of farmer farmers to vacate the UP Gate leader Rakesh Tikait in which protest site but Tikait remained he had thanked him for mak- adamant, saying he would commit suicide but won't end the stir. 9  Hundreds of Bharatiya ing arrangements at the border farmers' movement, calling the Kisan Union members stayed for farmers. farmers as traitors and making put on the Delhi-Meerut  6  "Rakesh ji, we are fully false cases against the farmer Expressway early on Friday, with the farmers. Your leaders who have been agitat- notwithstanding the Ghaziabad  < demands are valid. It is com- ing peacefully for so many administration's ultimatum to   pletely wrong to discredit the days," Kejriwal tweeted in vacate the UP Gate protest site. %&&    +,-,./0                            he Delhi Police has arrest-       !    Ted nine protesting farmers      #   $  for attacking one of its per-     (  #    sonnel at the Burari protest       site on Thursday evening. %&&    +,-,./0 215, second floor, Old Delhi Several farmers have been Police Headquarters, ITO dur- camping at DDA ground in he Delhi Police on Friday ing office hours, on any work- "3     Burari on the outskirts of the Tissued an appeal and urged ing day or contact on 2 3    national capital since people to share any evidence or 8750871237 or 011-23490094     November-end against the information about the Republic or send e-mail on kisanan- Centre's three agri laws. Day violence in the national [email protected] 4R     Q  R According to police, at Capital. om.       around 7.30 pm on Thursday, According to the appeal by The tractor parade on some protesters came out and the Delhi Police, all members Tuesday that was to highlight %&&    +,-,./0 “During interrogation, he %&&    131 3 * ed to outrage religious feelings), On January 26, the farmers tried to move towards Red of the public, including media the demand of the protesting disclosed that he was told to Section 505 (2) and Section protesting against the three Fort, however, they were persons, who are witnesses to farmer unions for repealing the he Delhi Police has arrest- not follow the route and go he Gurugram Police on 120B (criminal conspiracy) agriculture laws took out a stopped by assistant sub- the incidents or have any infor- three new agriculture laws Ted Ajay Rathi who had towards Red Fort before even TThursday lodged an FIR and others of the IPC at the tractor rally led by several inspector Harbans Lal mation about the incident or turned violent as the protesters allegedly snatched a wireless set the tractor parade started. He against Congress MP Shashi Cyber Crime police station in farmers’ leaders, including deployed at the main entry have captured any activity on deviated from the pre-desig- from a constable during a trac- was involved in the rioting in Tharoor and several journalists, Gurugram. The complaint was Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam gate. their mobile phones or camera, nated routes, attacked police tor parade by farmers at the area,” said the DCP. including India Today’s filed by a resident of Jharsa vil- Singh Chaduni. Clashes broke “The farmers then assault- are hereby requested to come personnel, overturned vehi- Nangloi on Republic Day. Delhi's border points at Rajdeep Sardesai, National lage in Gurugram. out between the police and pro- ed the policeman and tore his forward and give their state- cles and hoisted a religious flag According to the police, the Tikri and Singhu remained Herald’s Mrinal Pandey, Zafar The complainant alleged in testers during the tractor uniform. A case was registered ments/footage/picture in their on the ramparts of the iconic accused, a resident of Haryana under heavy police deploy- Agha of Qaumi Awaz, The his complaint that these people march, in which more than 350 under relevant sections of the possession at room number Red Fort. was previously involved in ment on Friday in the after- Caravan’s Paresh Nath Anant had spread misinformation on police personnel were injured. Indian Penal Code (IPC) at The police issued lookout three cases lodged in the math of the violence that broke Nath and Vinod K Jose for social media and were respon- On January 26, agitating the Mukherjee Nagar Police notices against farmer leaders national capital in 2019. out during the farmers' tractor allegedly spreading misinfor- sible for violence during the farmers' had clashed with the Station against nine people,” on Thursday and announced a “Following the technical parade in the national capital mation on the farmers’ tractor farmer's tractor rally on police during the tractor rally said the police official. probe into the "conspiracy" surveillance and inputs, police on January 26, officials said. parade on January 26 in the Republic Day in Delhi. called by farmers' organizations “The accused were behind the Republic Day vio- have arrested Ajay Rathi who Personnel of the Delhi national capital, officials said The Gurugram police have to highlight their demand for protesting under the leader- lence. snatched a wireless set from Police, along with those of the on Friday. begun an investigation into rollback of the three con- ship of Jaskaran Singh Kahan The police have so far reg- Constable Sonu at Nangloi on paramilitary forces, have been The FIR has been lodged the matter. The complaint tentious farm laws. Singh Wala of Shiromani istered 33 FIRs in connection Republic Day. The wireless set deployed at the borders. Several under several sections, includ- alleged that these people had Akali Dal (Kisan wing, with the violence and issued has been recovered from his roads have been closed and the ing Section 124A (sedition), spread misinformation about Amritsar). The accused were lookout notices against 44 peo- possession,” said A Koan, the traffic police has asked the 153-A (promoting enmity the Farmers' tractor parade on sent to judicial custody,” the ple, including most of the Deputy Commissioner of commuters to take other between groups), 153-B (delib- January 26," said Karan Goel, * senior police official added. farmer leaders. Police (DCP), Outer district. routes. erate and malicious act intend- ACP (DLF).  6  !    (  Q        $/;   %  %   Delhi was attacked by terrorists sions suggest it could be a mis- data records of cellphones and      !   +,-,./0 owing allegiance to an Iranian chievous attempt to create a satellite phones that were active outfit. As the information per- sensation,” said Anil Mittal, the in the vicinity. Agencies are also %&&    +,-,./0 plight of the millions of farm- traitors so BJP must stop such %&&    ecurity apparatus in the high- taining to the low intensity blast Additional PRO of Delhi sifting through the registers of ers to accommodate few capi- dirty politics. Chadha said that +,-,./0 Sly sensitive Lutyens' was relayed on the police net- Police. Atul Garg, Director of the hotels, guest houses and eputy Chief Minister of talists of the country. That is the the BJP has also stopped langar Bungalow Zone went into a work, senior officials rushed to Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said lodges across the National DDelhi Manish Sisodia said reason it has resorted to repres- service of Kejriwal govern- Station House Officer spin, after an ‘Improvised explo- the spot and the area was cor- that a call regarding the blast Capital region to identify any the Utttar Pradesh sive techniques to crush the ment and deliberately sus- A(SHO) of Alipur Police sive device’ (IED) went off near doned off. Special Cell, the was received on Friday follow- suspected check in, sources Government’s oppressive mea- farmers' protest," he said. pended internet so that the Wi- station deputed at Singhu the Israeli Embassy, situated at Anti terrorist unit of Delhi ing which three fire tenders added. sure to stop drinking water and Sisodia said that instead of Fi service provided by us does border was attacked by a Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in Police has been pressed into were rushed to the spot. There Later in the day, Delhi electricity facilities for the blaming farmers for the vio- not work. man with a sword when he New Delhi on Friday evening. service to investigate the inci- were no injuries and situation Police Commissioner SN farmers at the Ghazipur Border lence, the central government Hundreds of Bharatiya intervened in the clashes Police said no was injured dent while National was brought under control. Srivastava and Director is highly condemnable. should pay heed to farmers’ Kisan Union (BKU) members between protestors at Singhu in the incident while some Investigation Agency ( NIA) Anti- terrorism specialists Intelligence Bureu Arvind Sisodia along with Water interest and roll back all the stayed put on the Delhi-Meerut border and locals. Police cars were damaged in the blast. too has joined the probe. have been roped into to assist Kumar briefed the Union Minister Satyendar Jain and three unjust farm laws. Expressway on Friday, notwith- said that the SHO has suffered The low intensity blast took Explosive experts of National Delhi Police in carrying out a Home Minister Amit Shah MLA and Delhi Jal Board Vice The deputy chief minister standing the Ghaziabad admin- grievous injuries on his hand. place at the pavement opposite Bomb Data Center have lifted detailed investigation and about the incident. Home Chairman Raghav Chadha vis- mentioned that on the request istration's ultimatum to vacate The official said police Jindal House which is three the debris from the spot for the unmask conspirators behind Minister is believed to have ited the Ghazipur Border on of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, the UP Gate protest site. arrested , Ranveer Singh, a bungalows away from the Isreal forensic examination. this attack, said a senior police ordered the explosive experts of Friday to take a stock of the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal More farmers are joining in resident of Punjab, who embassy. Police Control Room According to the prelimi- official involved in the investi- the National Security Gaurds ( water, toilet and other arrange- directed authorities to set up from western Uttar Pradesh attacked the station house received a call around 5 min- nary investigation, a very low gation. NSG) to help the Delhi Police ments. drinking water and toilet facil- and Haryana, following an officer. utes past 5 pm on Friday, when intensity improvised device Sources maintained that it in the ongoing investigation. "It is for the first time in ities for the farmers at the emotional appeal made by On Friday, the Alipur dignitaries including the went off on Friday at around 5 could be the handiwork of Security agencies have also history that nation loving Sikh protest site. Tikait, who has defiantly held SHO Pradeep Paliwal was President, Vice President and PM at Abdul Klam Road near Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), issued a security alert at air- community is branded as trai- On the other hand, Jain his ground. intervening in the clash Prime Minister were present at Jindal house. the rogue external spy agency ports and vital security and tors by the people in the cen- said that the BJP is stopping the Tension prevailed at the between farmers and a large Vijay Chowk to witness Beating “No injury to any person of Pakistan which wants to governmental establishments tral government under the basic facilities like water, food, protest site throughout group of men claiming to be the Retreat. was reported and nor was there exploit the ongoing farmers in the aftermath of the blast pressure from their ‘capitalist toilet and others. Thursday as police and para- local residents over vacating It was redux of February any damage to property except protest to revive the moribund near Israel Embassy here and friends’. Adding to this, Chadha military forces in anti-riot gear the Singhu border protest 13,2012 when a woman diplo- the glass panes of three vehicles militancy in Punjab. Security security has already been aug- The BJP government at said that the farmers of our conducted flag marches on site -- one of the hotspots for mat of Israeli Embassy in New parked nearby. Initial impres- agencies are scanning the call mentation, they said . the Centre is ignoring the country are not terrorists or either side of it. the ongoing farmers' agitation against the agri laws. The two sides also hurled    "#    stones at each other as police     ! 5  7 8 // ! $ 9 fired tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge to  $##   %   break up the clash, an official %&&    +,-,./0 nation instructions for Class said. "SHO Alipur, Delhi 9th and 11th. For Class 11th, % 4% % 131 3 * intervenes between rioting chools will be reopened in practicals, projects and internal %2+,0/!''3,$$'3+<!2$ protestors (MKSC faction) Sthe national capital for Class assessments etc will be con- ollowing a crackdown on proclaimed offend- +==,$3.>#!*(2'3.12!,+=/2 and local Singhu villagers, 9th and 11th students from ducted at the school level from Fers/bail jumpers and wanted criminals, the 3!$,0/3!33./:@/+9 who had gone to register February 5, Delhi Deputy Chief 1st March 2021. Gurugram Police's Proclaimed Offender (PO) their protest against the hap- Minister Manish Sisodia said "It is advised to the schools staff and Crime Branch units claimed to have !3..+==,$3.3!33./$ penings on Republic Day and on Friday. that they may conduct these arrested 42 proclaimed offender/bail jumpers #/(3(03!2'+< ./!==$ continued loss of ordinary Sisodia also announced assessments before the com- and 22 wanted criminals over the last three #(#A,.'

is going to spread to other   +,-,./0   +,-,./0 states and cannot be sup- pressed. The whole issue is not he Economic Survey 2020- he Congress on Friday hit just about farmers and this will T21 predicted that air pas- Tout at the Centre over the go from farmers to workers to senger travel and aircraft farmers’ protest against the urban areas and slums, he movements are predicted to new farm laws, with former added. % %  +,-,./0 broke down as both the sides reach pre-Covid-19 levels in party president Rahul Gandhi Asked about the Republic were adamant on their previ- early 2021 as a result of swift alleging that Prime Minister prices of food are going to sky- Day violence, he said, “Who mid farmers’ protests, ous stands. and decisive interventions and Narendra Modi was “weaken- rocket,” said Rahul who has allowed the farmers to enter Awhich entered the 64th “The three agricultural effective measures put in place ing” India by “attacking” them. been everyday attacking the the Red Fort; is it not the home day on Friday, the Economic reform legislations are by the Government. The At a Press conference, Modi government in support ministry’s job to stop them Survey 2020-21 termed the designed and intended pri- Economic Survey 2020-21, across the world. “It has thus al protection equipment Rahul said the only solution to of the protesting farmers. from doing so.” three agricultural reform laws marily for the benefit of small which was tabled in Parliament reported over 30 lakhs pas- essentials being were made the farmers’ issue was throw- “What is being done to the As the farmers’ protest at as a “remedy”, building a case and marginal farmers which on Friday said that Indian avi- senger arrivals by 13 available. The Survey adds ing the new agri laws in the farmers is absolutely criminal. Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad for its acceptance among the constitute around 85 per cent ation market was among the December 2020, with over 27 that despite the severe chal- “waste paper basket” and You (Government) are beating got a new lease of life, farm community that has of the total number of farm- biggest in the world and lakhs facilitated through char- lenges posed by COVID-19, warned that if not resolved, the them, you are threatening Congress alongwith , strongly opposed it. ers and are the biggest suffer- domestic airlines had begun to tered flights and Air India the aviation industry perse- agitation will spread to other them, you are bullying them, Samajwadi Party (SP) and the According to the survey, er of the regressive APMC see a recovery in passenger Group, making it the largest vered through the crisis and parts of the country. In a no- you are trying to discredit Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) the agricultural reforms would regulated market regime,” the traffic. evacuation mission in human demonstrated long-term holds-barred attack at the them,” he said. The rallied support for the move- enable farmers to sell where Survey said. “Despite the severe chal- history,” the survey said. resilience. Centre, Rahul accused the gov- Government needs to talk to ment and slammed the BJP they get the “best deal” and Farmers have been camp- lenges posed by COVID-19, According to the Survey, Domestic passenger ernment of trying to intimidate the farmers and provide a over the contentious farm thereby, allow competition, ing on the outskirts of the the Indian aviation industry the turnaround can be attrib- flights remained suspended and discredit the farmers, using solution to them, he said. laws. While SP president an essential condition for the national capital demanding a has persevered through the uted to a number of steps put between March 25 and May the National Investigation Rahul asserted that the only Akhilesh Yadav threw his welfare for the small farmer. repeal of the three laws— crisis and demonstrated long- in place including ensuring 24 last year due to the pan- Agency. Earlier in the day solution is repealing these laws party’s weight behind the The Economic Survey said Farmers (Empowerment and term resilience and full com- 24x7 operations of cargo ter- demic. When domestic flying Congress 16 Opposition par- and “putting the laws into the farmers’ movement and hit out that the Centre’s recent Protection) Agreement on mitment to serve,” the survey minal facilities, with suitable started on May 25, airlines ties also boycotted the cus- waste paper basket”. at the BJP for “torturing” the reforms in the agricultural Price Assurance and Farm said. The survey made a spe- health safety measures, incen- were allowed to operate only tomary joint session of “The Government must peasants and levelling “false markets will enable the cre- Services Act, 2020, and cial mention of the Vande tivising early clearage of air 33 per cent of their pre- Presidential address ahead of not think that the farmers are accusations” against them, BSP ation of “One India, One mar- Farmers’ Produce Trade and Bharat Mission, the repatria- cargo warehouses at airports COVID flights. Currently, the Budget session of the going back home. They are not supremo demanded ket” and offer more opportu- Commerce (Promotion and tion exercise that was to leave clear passage for domestic airlines are allowed Parliament. going home and my concern is immediate repeal of the new nities to farmers. Facilitation) Act, 2020 and launched on May 7 to evacu- essential shipments and inter- to operate up to 80 per cent of “It is very obvious that the that this situation is going to agri laws and its “dilly-dally- “The newly introduced Farm Services and the ate stranded Indians from national medical and person- their pre-COVID flights. farmers are very agitated spread. We do not need this ing” approach on matters of farm laws herald a new era of Essential Commodities because the Government is situation to spread, we need a public interest. market freedom which can go (Amendment) Act, 2020. The restrictions in marketing their price is higher in an other and the fact that they sponsor destroying their livelihood. It conversation with farmers and Congress Uttar Pradesh a long way in the improve- survey highlights the benefits produce. There were restric- mandi is a characteristic fea- monopolies. Specifically, is destroying the livelihood of we need a solution,” he said unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu ment of farmer welfare in of the farm reforms through tions for farmers in selling ture of APMC mandis. “The Economic Surveys for the our labourers and it is going to further. reached the Ghazipur border India,” the Economic Survey three bills. agri-produce outside the noti- delays result in large post-har- years 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013- give the middle class a shock in Responding to a question, to express solidarity with the said in the chapter on agri- In the section of benefit of fied APMC market yards. The vest losses to the tune of 4-6 14, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2019-20 the coming times because the he said the farmers’ movement farmers’ movement. culture and food manage- farm reforms, the survey said farmers were also restricted to per cent in cereals and puls- focused on the reforms ment titled ‘recent agricultur- that the new farm laws will sell the produce only to reg- es, 7-12 per cent in vegetables required in this context,” the mentioned principle, allow farmers “to move up the “modern business enterprise” al reforms: a remedy, not a empower farmers in their istered licensees of the State and 6-18 per cent in fruits. survey said. Government recently value chain in food process- for which “urgent reforms” are malady.’ The government had engagement with processors, Governments Total post-harvest losses were On the MSP, the survey increased the MSPs for all ing–from farm to fork, create required to enable sustainable earlier proposed to the agi- wholesalers, aggregators, large The survey noted that estimated at Rs 44,000 crores said that “The Union Budget mandated kharif and rabi jobs and increase incomes”. and consistent growth. tating farmers unions to defer retailers and provide a level- long queues of farmers wait- at 2009 wholesale prices,” it for 2018-19 had announced crops for 2020-21season.” Lauding the farm sector India’s agricultural sector the implementation of the playing field. Defending the ing, most often, in the hot sun said. that MSPs would be kept at The survey said that for demonstrating resilience has shown its resilience amid new laws by one-and-a-half three farm laws, the survey to sell their produce with lim- Several Economic Surveys the level of 1.5 times of the besides creating “One India, during the pandemic, the the adversities of COVID-19 years. The talks between the said that the farmers in India ited ability to take their pro- have expressed concern at cost of production. One market” for agri-prod- Survey suggested the govern- induced lockdowns, the Government and farmers have suffered from various duce elsewhere even if the functioning of the APMCs On the basis of the above- ucts, the reforms will also ment to see farm sector as a Survey noted.     &  )<0     <       )   +,-,./0 BJP leader Smriti Irani alleged The BJP leader said Rahul that Rahul has “declared war on instigated violence and chal-  F   ,  $ he BJP on Friday con- the people of the country.” lenged administration. “This Tdemned Congress leader “His call of violence will be has exposed his face”, she said      +,-,./0 requirements and “the value of Rahul Gandhi for what it met with sustained peace”, On taking action against outsourcing in terms of value of described as a “call for violence” announced Irani. Rahul, Irani said “he wants   +,-,./0 ith tension persisting at production for the FY 2019-20 by him. She said injury to 300 Delhi action against himself so he Wthe Line of Actual stands at 41.70%.” Addressing a Press confer- policemen or journalists did becomes a martyr.” he CBI has registered a Control (LAC) for the last nine Also, during the past few ence here, Union Minister and not evoke sympathy of Rahul. Tcase on a complaint from months and the armed forces years a wide vendor base has Principal Commissioner of on full alert, the Economic track’ route worth about 5, 000 been developed that includes a Customs, Ahmedabad against Survey on Friday said the allo- crore and in addition, capital large number of medium and five private persons and two cated capital Budget for defence procurements worth over  13, small-scale enterprises and large Superintendents of Customs, was fully utilised. In fact, the 000 crores were concluded. scale industries, the Survey       Air Intelligence Unit, SVP entire allocation was consumed. The Economic Survey said noted. Exports from Ordnance International Airport, In fact, this was the trend since the focus now was on giving a Factory Board (OFB), DPSUs Ahmedabad on the allega- 2016-17, reversing the previous push to indigenisation and the and the private sector (based on tions that some unscrupulous trends of surrendering of Defence Public Sector authorization issued by      persons were indulging in unutilised funds, it said. Undertaking’s (DPSU) and Department of Defence smuggling of gold in the form The capital allocation for Ordnance Factories (OF) were Production (DDP) have of paste and also 24 carat 2020-21 was  1,18, 555 crores increasing the indigenous con- increased from  4,682 crore in pure gold jewellery from and the overall budget allocation tent in the equipment’s and 2017-18 to 9,116 crore in 2019- ' 2   abroad through the airport by for defence was 4,71,378 crores products manufactured by them. 20, the survey said. engaging carriers. including civil estimates and “The indigenous content The report said since open- It was further alleged that pension. The allocated budget (Degree of Indigenisation) as on ing of defence sector for private   +,-,./0 and sought suggestions from the private persons in con- for the last fiscal was  40,367.71 March 31, 2020 was 74.56%,” it sector participation in 2001, so the stakeholders on establish- nivance with two then crore over the budget estimates stated. far 44 Foreign Direct Investment he Centre on Friday said ment of the virtual universities. Superintendents of Customs, of 2019-20. On efforts to boost private (FDI) proposals and Joint Tthat the Education Ministry . had indulged in smuggling of The capital funds prior to sector participation in domestic Ventures have been approved for is working towards conceptu- The Education Minister gold chains, gold bars and 2016-17 used to be returned to defence manufacturing, it said as manufacture of various defence alising virtual universities. also suggested that the National other goods in commercial the Government due to under- a policy, DPSUs and OFs have equipment, both in public and Union Education Minister Education Technology Forum quantities running into crores utilisation. The reasons for this been outsourcing many of their private sectors. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank should be seeded in UGC India of rupees through the air- were long procurement process said that the Government will and All India Council For port, the CBI said. and delays in finalising deals in soon take necessary steps to Technical Education (AICTE) Searches were conducted time during the financial year. establish virtual universities in and it should start work imme- at the residential and official The nearly complete uti- the country as these universi- diately in this ambitious project premises of the accused and lization in 2020-21 was due to ties will help in achieving the of virtual universities investigation is continuing, the armed forces opting for desired gross necessitated at the backdrop of the CBI said. emergency procurements to enrollment ratio (GER) in pandemic circumstances. “The Those named in the FIR shore up their operational readi- higher education as envisaged Online and virtual education in are Superintendents of ness due to the situation at the in National Education Policy. the last session conducted by all Customs Somnath Chaudhary LAC in Eastern Ladakh. At While chairing a review institutions to regularise the and Sujeet Kumar and private present, the entire 4,000km meeting of the implementation education system even during persons Sajahan Jahangir, LAC is under the watch of the of NEP,. Nishank directed all Covid times made the Shahidul Jahangir, armed forces. the concerned Ministries and Government to expedite for- Mohammad Sarfaraj Army Chief General M M agencies to speed up the works mation of virtual universities,” Mohammad Sharif Mansuri, Naravane had said on June 12 to ensure seamless said a senior Education Shamim and Mohammad that last year 38 deals inked implementation of the NEP Ministry official. Azam. through ‘emergency and fast    !"#!#$ " (

7 2   5'   5   !% )# : #48(; <&   Q   : :P  %%  %  ';.'  India Trinamool Congress as Cabinet… now I have decided TMC leaders joining the saffron Later on Saturday Shah will well as from all other positions something and that decision I outfit in presence of Shah a address the social media volun- : In a new twist to the chit fund case ours before Union Home held by me in the party and its will make known in a couple of senior State BJP leader said teers at Science City Auditorium  . $  the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) HMinister Amit Shah was to associates with immediate days,” adding however that he “there are a number of them in Kolkata. on Friday carried out raids at the Kolkata embark on his two-day pre-elec- effect,” Banerjee, who had had yet to speak to the BJP lead- who will join us” in the Home On Sunday he is likely to Mumbai: Questioning the manner in which funds residences of renowned magician PC Sorcar toral visit of Bengal former State stepped down from the state ership. Banerjee is the third Minister’s presence. visit Sri Aurobindo Bhawan in are being collected door-to-door for the Ram Junior. The Central agency is reportedly Minister Rajib Banerjee on cabinet last week, wrote in his minister after Adhikari and The Home Minister who Kolkata and then to Bharat Temple construction in Ayodhya, the Maharashtra investigating Sorcar’s connection with the Friday quit as a primary mem- resignation letter to the Chief Laxmi Ratan Shukla to quit the has visited poll-bound Bengal on Sevashram Sangha on Rash Congress on Friday warned that it may be “swindled” Tower Group ponzi group. ber of the ruling Trinamool Minister. Government and the party. several occasions in the recent Behari Avenue in South Kolkata. off by the unscrupulous elements. The CBI team raided four premises Congress stoking speculations “I have resigned as MLA of Banerjee is among a bevy of months is likely to begin his two- Shah was earlier scheduled to “Given the background of the Bharatiya Janata including the magician’s Mukundapur and that he was joining the BJP dur- the State Assembly and submit- TMC MLAs from North and day tour from Mayapur visit Ishwar Chandra Vidya Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the money Ballyguynge houses sources said adding the ing Shah’s rally in Howrah. ted my resignation letter to the South Bengal and an MP have Chandrodaya Temple of Sagar’s residence but the pro- collected in the name of Lord Ram may be siphoned Agency had found transaction links between Banerjee who also quit as a Speaker,” he said thanking “party left the party in the past couple International Society for Krishna gramme was later dropped fol- off by its activists for their personal use instead of the two sides whereby funds had been trans- TMC MLA on Friday carried president for of months or so. Apart from him Consciousness (ISKCON) on lowing reports that the TMC the Ayodhya Temple,” said Congress spokesperson ferred to his bank account from the chit along with him a photograph of providing me with an opportu- two other MLAs including Saturday before addressing the supporters were planning to Sachin Sawant. fund company. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nity to serve the masses.” Baishali Dalmiya --- the daugh- Matua community at a public show black flags there, sources Addressing a media conference, Sawant said that “The magician allegedly signed a busi- who he described as a “mother Dropping hints about his ter of former BCCI president rally at Thakurnagar in North 24 said. On Sunday he will also earlier the BJP and its affiliates have already raised ness deal with the company years ago, and figure to me who gave me so future plans Banerjee who has Jagmohan Dalmiya --- who was Parganas district. address a public rally at huge amounts for the Ram Temple, but no accounts today's search operation was carried out to much of opportunity to serve the strong possibilities of joining the last week expelled from the Erstwhile refugees from Dumurjola in Howrah before have been given about it yet. examine the deal as well as the transaction people of Bengal.” BJP in presence of Shah said “I TMC and Hooghly MLA Prabir the Matua com- paying a visit to Ramakrishna Besides, urging the masses to take adequate pre- between him and the chit fund company,” Banerjee, like his former want to remain in the politics in Ghoshal are also likely to join the munity has more than one mil- Mission headquarters, Belur cautions before donating money out of devotion for a CBI official said adding some ministerial colleague Suvendu order to serve the people and in BJP in Shah’s presence sources lion members and it can influ- Math. Lord Ram, he also called upon the Maharashtra gov- documents had also been seized in this con- Adhikari had been speaking in parliamentary democracy you said. ence the voting pattern of North Meanwhile, with an appar- ernment to enquire and verify if the funds collect- nection. a rebellious tone criticizing the cannot do so as an Independent A third leader Rathin and South 24 Parganaas as also ent view to gauge the party leg- ed from the state go for the intended purpose. Sources said the fund traced to his bank way the Government and the candidate … so I will have to Chakrabarty the former Howrah Nadia and parts of Burdwam. islators’ minds the Chief “The Nirmohi Akhada, which fought the Ram account could be the fees for the works he party had been functioning all find a political platform for Mayor too is likely to join the During the visit, Shah is expect- Minister on Friday called a Temple cause for many years, had accused the Vishwa did for the chit fund group as a brand these years and the way the “cor- myself under which I can work saffron outfit along with his ed to clear his party’s stand on closed-door meeting of the Hindu Parishad of looting Rs 1,400 crore. In 2015, ambassador. The family members howev- rupt sidekicks of the top party for the people of my con- other party colleagues though the Citizenship (Amendment) TMC MPs and MLAs at her the All India Hindu Mahasabha (AIHM) had er remained tightlipped about the Friday brass” always got the front bench stituency and the State.” the BJP sources remained Act (CAA) as local BJP MP from Kalighat residence where she charged VHP with embezzling Rs 1,400 crore plus raids. in the hierarchy. On whether he was joining tightlipped about the new join- Matua community Shantanu reportedly disclosed the party’s several quintals of gold and a complaint was lodged The star magician had been a BJP mem- “I do hereby tender my res- the BJP he said “I gave myself ing in that party. Thakur had repeatedly been poll strategy asking them to hit with the Prime Minister's Office on August 4, 2017,” ber and fought parliamentary elections from ignation as a member of the All some time after quitting the When asked about the raising the issue. the streets from February. said Sawant. IANS Barasat constituency on saffron ticket. PNS =          ;    .  5  ;;<    ! # *&       ! 5           &       ;  

New Delhi: To ensure that there up. A total of 33,68,734 benefi- workers has been uploaded on   % %% *1*< 0 .3<.303!$(! before the lockdown, the   % %% *1*< 0 Thursday. Singh’s arrest fol- is no wastage of Covid-19 vac- ciaries (till 7 pm on Friday) were Co-WIN portal. In a letter to the ,<3!.$=+3/<+,,,<+= Central Railway (CR) used to lowed seizure of drugs. cines, the Union Health Ministry vaccinated through 62,939 ses- States and Union Territories, ore than ten months after '!..,03.!,$/+!+$ operate 1,774 services daily, ontinuing its crackdown Three drug peddlers who on Friday asked the States to sions, as per the provisional Health Ministry Additional Mit suspended the subur- <3+$,0!,$/+2!,/!,.+<! while the Western Railway Con the drug peddlers oper- are said to be running a thriv- cover frontline workers from report. At least 4,40,681 benefi- Secretary Manohar Agnani said ban train services in the $./!,<,0&3+2 *   KOCHI : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi who “The local train services Mumbai Metropolitan Region Before the lockdown, a Singh.While Shaikh and The NCB registered two represents Wayanad in the Lok Sabha refuted the charges will be restricted to the essen- (MMR). whooping 80 lakh commuters Chandran were intercepted in a drugs cases in the wake of the Jaipur: Industries Minister Parasadilal made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that Central tial services staff only as is From November 2 used to travel daily in suburban Chevrolet Beat car and arrest- investigations launched by the Meena said that Government probe agencies were harassing honest officers in the State being permitted currently from onwards, the Central and trains on the Main and ed late on Wednesday. CBI into the death of actor is working with a multi-pronged by questioning and arresting them on flimsy grounds. 7 amto 12 noon and from 4 pm Western Railways increased Harbour lines of the Central Based on the inputs given Sushant Singh Rajput in June approach to provide a favourable envi- Addressing leaders and workers of the Congress-led to 9 pm,” Kumar stated in his the number of services by Railway and the Western by Vineet and Chandran, the last year upon the directive ronment to the investors in the State. United Democratic Front at Kalpetta late Thursday letters to the chief GMs of the another 753 and together Railway to and fro from the NCB arrested Singh late on issued by the Supreme Court. With our efforts, Rajasthan will evening, the Nehru-Gandhi family scion said the Central Central and Western Railway. operated 2,773 suburban train distant suburbs to their offices, grow into a major agencies (Enforcement Directorate, CBI, DRI and It may be recalled that the services. a majority of which are locat- hub for petrochemicals products, he Customs) were having a relaxed time in Kerala. Central and Western Railways, During normal times ed in south Mumbai. said. Through extensive policy reforms “This is because the BJP at the Centre has a soft cor- and simplification of rules, we have ner towards the CPI(M). The Central prone agencies are made the path of investment easier. having a relaxed time in Kerala while they were tor- There are unprecedented possibil- menting and harassing leaders in States where the oppo- ities of investment and employment sition was in power,” charged Rahul Gandhi addressing opportunities in the state through the the UDF delegates in what was being seen as the launch- Petroleum Chemicals and ing of his election campaign in Kerala. Petrochemicals Investment Region “BJP used central probe agencies like the CBI and the (PCPIR) being developed in the area ED to harass leaders in States where the Opposition was adjoining the Rajasthan Refinery. in power. PNS    !"#!#$ )

(  (  6 7   4 5    7  7 &&!"=.&+ #   3  *( ( R                $  &!-&*+            R                        (  < "                                   <       /               + ) 5)  6;                E $  0    0      <  P     Q  S          ( he dissolution of the               -+ $   @ ?   Lower House of the -   +   (%    %         ( Nepalese Parliament     P   Q        #       has caused looming political instability in         P> 0 Q   <      theT Himalayan nation. Prime           <   Minister KP Oli continues to      8F4         assert his position in the Nepal             Communist Party as the “legiti- mate” chairperson after the    G8F   84      - Election Commission ruled in his        %   >  favour and revoked his suspension  < )%><*  >    by the Prachanda and Madhav            <   Kumar Nepal-led faction last week. The onus now rests on the     /D><(86 2   ;   Supreme Court to decide on the          G84  legitimacy of the House’s dissolu-  ?  ? +  =   tion and holding of fresh elections 0       /D><(86    in March or April. Meanwhile, it is unlikely that the court will rule        <S P   against Oli, considering his record ; Q   ;    P   Q <      with the court and the favours  D 8F /   /        $ <   given in judicial appointments. .                    At stake for China: While the lin- gering uncertainty has led to          <         /D><( political upheaval, Nepal is being Economic calculations: China as a counter to India’s tradi- With China alleging that the 86            ? :  0  /  ( closely monitored by India and accounts for more than 60 per tional security ties with Nepal. MCC was a US-led military ini-                        ( China. India has officially com- cent of the total FDI in Nepal. However, the House dissolu- tiative, it has been in political     /D>H    E.D      " municated it as an “internal mat- Until 2014, India had the tion leaves little space for lurch for a decade now. ter” of Nepal, but China has largest FDI share in Nepal but China to get the Nepal Army However, soon after Joe Biden    /D><(86                 rushed to control the damage. following the then friendly along for the exercise. took over, the US Ambassador #                 ( The arrival of Guo Yezhou, a Communist Government in Beijing also expects an has held meetings with                       Vice-Minister of the International Nepal, China managed to early conclusion of its extradi- Prachanda and the Opposition              E /      ( Department of the Chinese surpass India. In the past tion treaty with Nepal. During leaders, indicating a renewed Communist Party (CCP), in three years, China has tripled Jinping’s October 2019 visit, effort to pursue Nepal for join-     /                 Nepal was a clear indication of the its investment in the hospital- the treaty was almost signed ing the MCC.     H @ $  <  1     ( Chinese holding their breath. ity, tourism, cement manufac- but human rights advocates Conclusion: Many in India        +                    But Beijing failed to facilitate a turing and construction sec- vehemently opposed the move. believe that our recent efforts to        +               truce despite the fact that the del- tors. Popular tourist destina- /,))5/ $ Amid the protests, the treaty hold talks and the ongoing egation made headlines in the tions like Thamel in was replaced by the Mutual medical diplomacy will help ease /              <    ( political and strategic sphere of Kathmandu are primarily ,$ <.0$/,0,$ Legal Assistance on Criminal ties with Nepal. Contrary to this                 ( Nepal. With an unsuccessful leased by Chinese business- -0//,+)5/, Matters Treaty, similar to extra- understanding, Oli has a clear                       attempt to unite the warring fac- men, who have been accused dition. An extradition treaty agenda on the border issue tions of the Nepal Communist of sheltering Chinese nation- ))53,);**,+$ will enable China to prosecute with India, and he is ready to                         Party (NCP), China has the fol- als involved in scams, traffick- ;/,)/0+,$, anti-China and free-Tibet advance Nepal’s ties with China.                 lowing issues at stake. ing and bank fraud in Nepal. ;=,3+*,+/, voices in Nepal as it is home to Considering the upcoming Political leverage: Politically, the With the CCP-NCP nexus in 20,000 Tibetan refugees. polls, Oli will re-use his anti- )*+, CCP has established ties with the place, diplomatic immunity , 3,,;# Lost traditional space: India centric ultra-nationalism NCP. The CCP recommends to has become the synonym of ,);+;*0) + Traditionally, the United States to appease voters. Therefore, the Chinese Government the Chinese interests in Nepal. (US) has followed India’s course India needs to be cautious of degree of economic and defence Strategic Beijing: China’s ,#,+), of action concerning peace every friendly move it makes. As assistance to Nepal, making it the immediate strategic stakes $$0$ +),; and security in Nepal. The Oli’s anti-India manoeuvrings primary connection between the rest with the Belt and Road two hold a similar position on help Beijing to assert its position two Governments. The CCP Initiative (BRI), military ties +,5 .* '0+ 0 protecting the rights of Tibetan in Nepal, China would like him and the NCP had formalised and an extradition treaty. /,530* 3& refugees in Nepal, which irks to remain in power. Meanwhile, political ties during Chinese Beijing has more than 10 BRI Beijing. To appease the Chinese, it is the Opposition’s responsibil- President Xi Jinping’s visit to projects running in Nepal, );++,)0;+ Oli has stepped back from ear- ity to make the Nepalese pub- Kathmandu in October 2019. and a non-Oli Government <,-,,+/,-; lier commitments to join the lic aware of Chinese debt traps The party allegedly provides may cost big dimes to Beijing. Millennium Challenge and strategic moves that have political funding to the NCP Also, the People’s Liberation ;=,3+*,+$ Corporation (MCC) — an already been proved in Sri through “humanitarian chan- Army was planning the third innovative and independent Lanka and the Maldives. nels” like the Madan Bhandari edition of the Sagarmatha US foreign assistance agency to (The author is an ICSSR Foundation. With the NCP now Military Exercise by 2020 end help fight global poverty. The Doctoral Fellow at the JNU, New divided, the CCP will have to re- with Nepal Army, which US Government began work- Delhi, and Senior Fellow at the establish ground for political began in 2017. Beijing pro- ing with Nepal in 2012 toward AIDIA, Kathmandu. The views leverage in Nepal. jects the joint military exercise developing an MCC compact. expressed are personal.) ++ + ++  + SOUNDBITE

 P  Q * 4        &  &  P          , 4 Sir — The rich countries are running out   " "$" $%&' 5   of Coronavirus vaccines and witnessing  new cases, strains and deaths, while the            O   O 0  5 )*  poor countries are having to go without   access to the vaccination.   *  H     In India, meanwhile, the number of O6         0  <  ==!R          active cases is declining. With the worst     6# behind us, there is the possibility of           3.$,/  >         ? relaxations for public activity from the            K3+'  month of February, including higher                $  )$*        occupancy in cinema theatres and hold-       ;                 +  O - $   )-$* ing exhibitions. This will come as a relief     L   M0    H  N  $ to some of the outlying sectors that could            0 56 O -  % $ . $    %  #                   S        ( not fully unlock so far, although most other     - activities have been permitted. ;     "                           /  0   1   .            The Maharashtra Government has, 5 O"    /    H                              meanwhile, extended the COVID-19 lock-  5             H  H                         down till February 28. The Maharashtra                   H Government had earlier extended the         <3/!3A,3!       1                 -$ O    L    ongoing lockdown imposed in view of the 5 O"    " 5H =       2     ( COVID-19 pandemic till January 31. The      ;   O L    M   0           34    State has been witnessing fewer than 5,000   5   K    ML     0        56   #  COVID-19 cases for 26 successive days.               0 H That said, extending the lockdown in the      G David Milton | Tamil Nadu       $       74     containment zones is perfectly justifiable.    0 85     0      In an economy struggling with a '  + 56     +    9489     demand contraction for goods and ser- The decision was taken apparently to Support Price (MSP) intact and give it 0    H       /       vices, a graded opening is the prudent send out the message that there is no place statutory backing. Many unfortunate      course with strict enforcement of public for fake news in the media house. If that’s incidents have taken place since the farm- % 0=   0       -     +  reporting that the man who had died dur- farmers’ unions have announced with-           9499 1         ( ing the farmers’ tractor rally in Delhi on Sir — Since September 27, 2020, when drawal from the ongoing protest. India the three agriculture Bills became Acts 0                  ?@$   /     January 26 had been “shot” by the police. can’t afford such violence at this critical     following the consent of President Ram time of vaccination drive. Let’s all be part                 A P# Though the scribe had deleted his    tweet and mentioned on air that the farmer Nath Kovind, it’s been a contentious topic of a new India, let’s educate the framers                        98  had been killed in an accident after his across the country. about the real benefits of the farm laws   99   Q     D       S %      tractor toppled, the channel’s administra- If analysed technically, the laws have and boost our country’s pride.   the potential of boosting profit and                      tion has taken the right step. Whether it N Soumik | Bhubaneswar   0 was done to please the Union Government productivity, both of the farmers as well             S        or under pressure from the powers that be, as of the nation, but the demand of the   !!  2 %''               (   is another matter. farmers was also to keep the Minimum //3./+'+,3E02!<+2 K )6    !"#!#$ ,

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nlike the Economic Survey for 2019-20, which was prepared keeping in mind the Uambitious target of achieving a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25, this time around, the over- *.//0 $+  arching theme revolves around demonstrating              how brilliantly the Government has managed the                 ( Coronavirus pandemic. Through lucid elaboration # on the details and modeling with facts and figures                     $            — using international as well as inter-State com- parison within India, Chief Economic Adviser                 (CEA) Krishnamurthy Subramanian has given    <            ample justification for the “early” and “stringent”                  ( lockdown from March and thereafter calibrated lift- <  !   / "            ( ing of restrictions from June onward. Tacitly, he has                 F4     also admitted that this led to compression in demand 94F4 .                (discretionary spending during this period was                      almost completely exterminated) on one hand, along with supply side disruption on the other hand.          )%.%*    ( The precipitous decline in the Gross Domestic      -             ( Product (GDP) growth by 24 per cent during the          #       first quarter of the current Financial Year (FY) end-           8I      ( ing June 30, 2020, and continuing deceleration but     94(           # at a moderate 7.5 per cent during the second quar-                 ( ter ending on September 30, 2020 is the inevitable      #      J outcome of the above strategy that was focused pre- dominantly on saving human lives and keeping                other health-related damage to the bare minimum.             ( ( However, there was sharp rebound during the /,), - +, trillion in just about three years by thousand crore more or leaving not clear whether these will see the                  second half when the decline was expected to be 2024-25 is next to impossible. No more money in the hands of the peo- light of the day.                     marginal at 0.1 per cent. This has to do primarily ;,P5,0, wonder, even the CEA (unlike last ple (through tax concessions or The Modi Government is betting 3,#;3*$0+     )2/0*       2/0     with fast normalisation of business activities, a cal- year) is only talking of actions in the direct cash transfer to the poor/vul- big on investment in infrastructure; ibrated exit from the lockdown and release of pent < +'0+ #;; short term. Accordingly, the nerable) won’t be of much help in it is reiterated in the Economic     (          +#,30.0$,3                  ( up demand (with festive demand acting as the icing Economic Survey for 2020-21 has spurring demand or even enthusing Survey, too. That will need massive on the cake). For the whole year, growth is estimat- $1<$0&. + suggested that “the Government entrepreneurs to invest. Of crucial resource mobilisation to the tune of           (      ( ed to be minus 7.7 per cent (against a much sharp- )Q10$00;+ should come up with more fiscal importance is the need to actually 100 lakh crore over the next five                 ( er decline in double digits forecast earlier by many ,+#;3),*,+;# measures for short-term support to execute reforms and make them years. A whopping 39 per cent has to                  (  ( agencies). For 2021-22, the survey projects the );+3 )$ the economy and businesses.” work on ground zero. Unfortunately, come from the Centre and States         growth to be 11 per cent which is also in sync with ,.0*0+ 0;+;# In other words, he wants the this is not happening. Here are some each and the balance 22 per cent the projection by the International Monetary Fund <13, 1)3 0) Government to go for a more loose examples. from the private sector. Till date, we (IMF) at 11.5 per cent. 3, 5, fiscal policy notwithstanding the Under a stimulus package don’t have a strategic plan of action This much-trumpeted V-shaped recovery (also 3,*;= .;# fact that already the fiscal deficit (FD) announced last year, 3,00,000 crore on how to do it even as State agen- described as the best among all emerging market <;.,+,)'$0+ for the current year is expected were to be given to micro, small cies such as the National Highway economies) has been correlated by the CEA with 3 +$5;3 0;+ to be about 7.5 per cent. This and medium enterprises Authority of India (NHAI) and so on, synchronised policy action — on the demand side +)., 3 +),$ does not include off-Budget (MSMEs) or identified continue to be saddled with the by way of reducing interest rate, pumping liquidi- /,5;3$ liabilities and extra- stressed sectors under responsibility to fund the investment ty, tax cuts and so on — and on the supply side /0$0$ budgetary resources the Emergency Credit mostly out of borrowings, pushing through agricultural and labour reforms. This may $1$ 0+ <., (EBRs). Once these Line Guarantee them into unsustainable debt. be bit of an exaggeration. The recovery has to do $;.10;+;/, are included, the Scheme (ECLGS). Look at the steep cut in corpo- overwhelmingly with the exemplary success in 53;<.,*;#.;- deficit will increase Under this scheme, rate tax that makes India one of the implementing measures on containing the virus and further and will be more than dou- as against a target of eight million most attractive investment destina- 2/0             ( ,* + + avoidance of a second wave of infection. $.;- 3;-/ ble the Budget estimate of 3.5 per MSMEs beneficiaries, only four mil- tion: At par with even Singapore. Yet,    <         2/0     Pertinently, the survey itself notes: “Contrary cent. lion got loan aggregating to 1,50,000 if one looks at the fine print and in                 ( $&+3;*,-0..  to expectations of a faster growth in FY22 helping , **;0<0, While, talking of measures to crore. Likewise, the 65,000 crore particular, several riders for availing             ?   ( to shave off the sharp GDP contractions this year, /,<1..,R boost growth, the official think tank additional amount given for fertilis- the benefit, this could end up dis-   2/0          ( the Indian economy will take at least two more years needs to introspect as to why despite er subsidy under the last tranche of couraging investors, including for-            <        ( to return to the growth levels achieved in the pre- a number of fiscal measures (com- the stimulus package was meant for eign companies, to go for it. pandemic period.” This is also in line with the IMF’s plemented by monetary measures) clearing pending subsidy dues to fer- To conclude, it may be worth                  ( projections, according to which after touching 11.5 taken during 2020 — branded by the tiliser manufacturers. It is not an recalling what the CEA had expect-                   per cent in 2021-22, GDP growth will slide to 6.8 Centre as several mini-Budgets — additional support to farmers. ed the Government to do in the sur- ;             O  per cent during 2022-23. both consumption and investment As regards the reforms in the vey for 2019-20. The CEA wanted to              At the time of taking charge for his second stint demand continue to remain weak. field of marketing agricultural prod- expedite reforms in banking, food      O           in May 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had For instance, look at the steep cut in ucts, we have seen the fate of the three and fertiliser subsidy, land acquisi-                  ( set the GDP target for 2024-25 at $5 trillion. This the corporate tax rate to 15 per cent Central laws which have the poten- tion, enforcement of contracts, elim-      2/0         by itself was highly unrealistic as it would have on new investment granted in tial of substantially increasing price ination of bureaucratic red tape, required an annual growth of 20 per cent (never seen September 2019. Yet it failed to spur realisation by the farmers and could removal of bottlenecks in trans-            in the past). Now, with the steep decline of 7.7 per investment. This has been the posi- have played a vital role in doubling portation and clearances at the ports. <                 cent during the current FY, even if 11 per cent The writer is a tion since the third quarter of 2018- farmers’ income. This is a sustainable solution to the          5K       S  growth is achieved during 2021-22, the GDP would New Delhi-based policy 19 (that was much before the pan- As things stand today (right problem of low demand and slow analyst. The views       34      %.%  .   ( have merely recuperated to the 2019-20 level or expressed are personal. demic) leading to a decline in growth now the Supreme Court has put a growth syndrome. Will Team Modi                   about $2.1 trillion. Starting from here, to reach $5 quarter after quarter. Spending a few hold on their implementation), it is bite the bullet?               (   %.%  E                        POINTCOUNTERPOINT   54     I4    #                       %% 8     &   )% )&%  8    % %                 % 4  )% &  4  )%  4%     8)      #   (                       & %%    &%  P 4  % & &%  % )             L&%   %   L   &         * %% % 4  )%  7     >      D  E                      

he “establishment” has article for The Spectator. Fairlie use “hidden persuaders and startling exposition of political gence of “neo-conservatism” self-appointed anti-establish- increasingly become one had used the term while writ- psychological warfare tech- scandals, unleashed a powerful in the 1980s is a case in point. mentarians, the “neocons”, also Tof the most frequently ing about the disappearance of niques” for this purpose. sentiment of mistrust towards The “neocons” emerged to began to be seen as being part used words in political com- two UK foreign officers. By However, ironically, the mainstream political players. announce that they would be of the establishment. mentaries and debates across “establishment” he had meant kingmakers did not hesitate to The consensus that was rolling back Government inter- There is no tangibility in the world. Simply put, it to describe the influential peo- nominate the far-Right fire- achieved after the World War- ference in people’s lives. They the image of a group of power- describes a tightly-organised ple who were defending the brand and populist Barry II, between the mainstream saw themselves as the anti- ful men sitting in a secret matrix of shadowy elite, whose officers’ families from the Press. Goldwater as their candidate for Left and Right groups in demo- establishment. But there were smoke-filled room, deciding invisible actions and secret 2*//1   Yet, within a few years, the the 1964 polls. He was someone cratic countries, had begun to inherent contradictions in what the fates of the polity. But this decisions engineer the eco- word had been picked up by Schlafly was more than happy crumble. This created an open- they did. Take, for example, is not to suggest that segments nomic, political and social fates scores of political commenta- to see contesting the liberal ing for groups who were seen Ronald Reagan’s America and influencing a nation’s politics of the polity. During the 2016 tors, journalists and activists to incumbent, Lyndon Johnson. to be sidelined for being anti- Zia-ul-Haq’s Pakistan. Both and economics do not exist. As presidential poll campaigning mean something a lot wider Johnson swept the elections. establishment. These were greatly lessened State interfer- the veteran US congressional in the US, the populist than what Fairlie had original- Even though the term was of the military, the bureaucra- adherents of “negative liberty” ence in matters of economics so aide Mike Lofgren once stated, Republican Party candidate ly intended it to mean. The being used in the UK and the cy and “22 families” running coming in to eradicate the that the people could achieve such groups, call them estab- Donald Trump and the Left- term gained more mention US, articles in Pakistan and in Pakistan as a dictatorship. “excesses of positive liberty.” individual growth by acting lishment or “Deep State, “hide leaning Democrat Party con- and momentum in the US India did not use the term The political scholar Simon In 1958, the political upon their desires of acquiring in plain sight.” Take Pakistan’s tender Bernie Sanders were than in the UK. For example, between January 1960 and Reid-Henry says that the seeds philosopher Isaiah Berlin material wealth. Yet, even so-called military establish- often described as “anti-estab- during the primaries for the January 1970. of the existential crisis that defined two concepts of liber- though this freed the State ment. It doesn’t really conceal lishment”, whereas another con- 1964 US presidential elections, However, some Indian democracy is facing today were ty. To Berlin, “positive liberty” from trying to aid society its political influence. That’s tender, the Democrat Party’s the conservative author Phyllis newspapers did use the word initially sown during the eco- involved pursuit of liberty that through welfare programmes, it because power cannot be fully Hilary Clinton, was under- Schlafly lamented in her 1964 “syndicate” in 1969 to describe nomic and political upheavals was driven by reason and not coupled economic freedom exercised from the shadows. stood as the candidate of the book ‘A Choice Not an Echo’ the “kingmakers of the of the 1970s, which saw politi- restricted by inner constraints with external constraints, such Those wielding power need to “establishment.” that the Republican Party was Congress Party.” The syndi- cians and established political such as irrational passions and as abstract ideas of morality, tra- be seen if they are to be obeyed The term “establishment”, being manipulated by the cate was described as a group of parties lose their ability to con- desires. “Negative liberty” is dition and faith. (or feared). in the context that it is gener- Republican establishment to party elders who were against trol the outcome of events. when the pursuit of liberty is After the economic crash of The establishment is there- ally understood today, was not keep out those who threatened Indira Gandhi’s anti-business Rising inequality, growing not restricted by external con- 1987 and rising incidents of fore not a shadowy conspiracy part of any political lexicon till The views expressed are its interests. She also claimed ideas. In the Pakistani Press domestic and international ten- straints, such as State and contradictory behaviour that but a position of visible power personal. 1955, when the British journal- Courtesy: Dawn that this establishment was (from 1967 onwards) there was sions between races, ethnic Government interference in peddled amoral materialism that many want to become a ist Henry Fairlie used it in an made up of kingmakers who mention of a powerful matrix groups and nations and the the lives of people. The emer- with religious piety, this set of part of. Many do.    !"#!#$ "!- .

*  *  (=  . &' +++*  % %  %4% & %& %  - $/0+ ;+ Sheikh and his three Pakistani to try to hold Mr Pearl’s mur- *,0 ) #  accomplices in the case of all derers accountable, and we do !          oicing outrage over the the charges, ordering that note that as of right now, Omar     I   Vacquittal of those involved Sheikh and others be immedi- Sheikh remains in detention in   in the brutal murder of Daniel ately freed from jail. Pakistan under national secu- @     A  !    H     H Pearl in 2002, the White House Hours after the ruling, rity authorities. 56    has asked Pakistan to expedi- White House press secretary “But we call on the  0$. * <  dismissed by the top court on ing Pakistan to report on      tiously review its legal options, Jen Psaki underlined the new Pakistani government to expe- Thursday. Pakistan’s Supreme Islamist militant networks in        including allowing the US to Biden administration’s com- ditiously review its legal akistan authorities on Court on Thursday dismissed the country and on the links       prosecute al-Qaeda terrorist mitment to secure justice for options, including allowing the PFriday filed a review peti- appeals against the acquittal of between the country’s power- Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh Pearl’s family. United States to prosecute for tion in the Supreme Court Sheikh in the kidnapping and ful spy agency ISI and al-    4)   and other suspects to secure Psaki, during her daily the brutal murder of an against the aquittal of British- murder case of Pearl and Qaeda following the September   %)%     justice for the American jour- news conference on Thursday, American citizen and journal- born al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed ordered his release, a judge- 11, 2001 terror strikes. He was )!.,0/+, 5 %<  nalist’s family. said: “The United States is out- ist,” Psaki said in response to a Omar Saeed Sheikh and his ment denounced by the kidnapped in Karachi, the cap- 6    "  Pearl, the 38-year-old raged by the Pakistani Supreme question on Pakistan’s apex three accomplices in the 2002 American journalist’s family ital of Sindh, and beheaded  - /   South Asia bureau chief for The Court’s decision to affirm the court’s decision. kidnapping and murder case of as “a complete travesty of jus- days later.  -3 Wall Street Journal, was visit- Pakistan’s Supreme Court acquittals of those responsible Sheikh and his three aides American journalist Daniel tice.” Sindh Prosecutor General + *  * ) ing Pakistan to report on on Thursday dismissed appeals for Wall Street Journal reporter - Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil Pearl, hours after the US The apex court cleared Fiaz Shah, while talking to the Islamist militant networks in against the acquittal of British- Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping and and Salman Saqib - were con- expressed outrage over the Sheikh and his three Pakistani media, confirmed that a peti- %  :6A8 A the country and on the links born al-Qaeda terrorist Sheikh brutal murder which shocked victed and sentenced in the decision terming it as an accomplices in the case of all tion was lodged to “seek a   & )   between the country’s power- in the kidnapping and murder the world’s conscience in 2002”. abduction and murder case of “affront” to victims of terror- the charges, ordering that review and request the court to !+3 SHH$  ful spy agency ISI and al- case of Pearl and ordered his “This decision to exonerate Pearl in Karachi in 2002. ism. Sheikh and others be immedi- recall the order of acquittal.   56 O$  Qaeda following the September release, a judgement and release Sheikh and the The United States, she said, The review was filed by the ately freed from jail if not The Sindh government, in      11, 2001 terror strikes. He was denounced by the American other suspects is an affront to is committed to securing justice Sindh Government in the wanted in any other case. the petition, pleaded the court     kidnapped in Karachi, the cap- journalist’s family as “a com- terrorism victims everywhere, for Pearl’s family and holding Supreme Court after its appeal Pearl, the 38-year-old to review its verdict and rein-       ital of Sindh, and beheaded plete travesty of justice.” including in Pakistan. We terrorists anywhere account- against the acquittal verdict of South Asia bureau chief for The state their sentences as there  /  days later. The apex court cleared recognise past Pakistani actions able for their heinous crimes. Sindh High Court (SHC) was Wall Street Journal, was visit- were certain loopholes in the       8     ) ' *       2      #8  .        *      + )     7    ;           *  *    Moscow: After a round of talks ( R       in Moscow, the Taliban said     % +' 3 &+3233.$,/ Friday they expect the United +,!$3(2' % - $/0+ ;+  - $/0+ ;+ States to fulfill its pledge to )   % / ' island since December, but we urkey hopes the United (,!/3!/$3 withdraw all its troops from have the capacity of accom- TStates will return to the %23

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%%%    % ) %   Q%  R #       5/))0H3"$)    -  5   <    +,-,./0 <   <   3 0   B   ! 3     <   <       ndia is reaping the “lock- *6<"9% Idown dividend” from the >   "#$%&!'        !  preventive measures it adopt-   6   !        $ 6  )   $ ed at the onset of the Covid-19     #(%!)*+) 5 0 $)   pandemic indicating its will- I #50      ! !  3"/  < ingness to take short-term pain ,-..//0/       for long-term gain, said the  +,-,./0 inflows in 2020,” according to      +,-,./0      <   <          Economic Survey tabled in the Survey tabled in  +,-,./0           Parliament on Friday. ndia was the only country Parliament on Friday.  +,-,./0 he economic survey for               The document also said Iamong emerging markets As a result of strong he country’s exports are T2020-21 has suggested                 despite the hard-hitting eco- to receive equity inflows from inflows, buoyant Sensex and ndia’s sovereign credit ratings Texpected to contract by revision in the weightage of <   <    3"/  <  nomic shock created by the FPIs in 2020, as the country Nifty resulted in India’s mar- Ido not reflect the economy’s 5.8% and imports by 11.3% food items to gauge the true               0 $ global pandemic, India is wit- attracted USD 30 billion in the ket-capitalisation to Gross fundamentals, the Economic during the second half of the picture of inflation in the  D*. O  <   <      nessing a V-shaped recovery first nine months of the year, Domestic Product (GDP) ratio Survey said on Friday and current financial year, though country, and said new sources    <   <            with a stable macroeconomic according to the Economic crossing 100 per cent for the nudged the global agencies to implementation of several of price data also need to be           situation aided by a stable cur- Survey. first time since October 2010. become more transparent and measures by the Govt would incorporated in the wake of      <*  rency, comfortable current Also, net inflows from for- “While stock mar- less subjective in their ratings. help support exports going increasing retail e-commerce   account, burgeoning forex eign portfolio investors (FPIs) kets value the potential future The Economic Survey 2020-21, forward, according to the transactions. As per the sur- reserves, and encouraging signs recorded an all-time monthly growth, these elevated levels tabled in Parliament, said that Economic Survey 2021.With vey, the current spike in con- %%  % %% %    &  4% in the manufacturing sector high of USD 9.8 billion in still raise concerns on the dis- sovereign credit ratings gradual recovery of econom- sumer price-based retail O%  %  P output. November 2020, as investors’ connect between the financial methodology must be amend- ic activities, the survey said inflation of food prices is $ 6  "  “India is reaping the ‘lock- risk appetite returned. markets and real sector,” the ed to reflect economies’ abili- that imports and exports mainly a supply-side phe-  5 O down dividend’ from the brave, “During April-December Survey noted.However, other ty and willingness to pay their have picked up.During the nomenon. "      preventive measures adopted at 2020, equities witnessed an emerging markets like debt obligations, and suggest- first half of 2020-21 (April- The survey noted that the  *' H the onset of the pandemic...,” it inflow of at USD 30 billion, Indonesia, Malaysia, South ed that developing economies September), exports dipped weights of all items in retail     said in the opening chapter five times its previous year Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, must come together to address by 21.31 per cent to USD inflation are based on the *   titled ‘Saving Lives and value - India was the only Brazil, Thailand and South this bias and subjectivity inher- 125.25 billion while imports NSO household consumption O   Livelihoods Amidst a Once-in- country among emerging mar- Africa witnessed outflows ent in sovereign credit ratings declined by 40% to USD expenditure survey of 2011-   a-Century Crisis’. kets to receive equity FII from FPIs last year. methodology. 148.69 billion. 12. 6 6    / Unlike Oscar Wilde’s cynic, L ) M/        6  ‘who knows the price of every- “Therefore, the ‘price’ paid the temporary shock caused by ed that an early, intense lock- ic. This enabled flattening of response while gradually )        6 thing and the value of nothing,’ for temporary economic the pandemic, human lives down provided a win-win strat- the pandemic curve and, there- unlocking and easing eco-           India’s policy response to the restrictions in the form of tem- that are lost cannot be brought egy to save lives, and preserve by, provided the necessary time nomic activity. As per the sur-  6/  B)       pandemic stemmed funda- porary GDP decline is dwarfed back. livelihoods via economic to ramp up the health and test- vey, India has transformed the F6       B5 mentally from the humane by the ‘value’ placed on human The response drew on epi- recovery in the medium to ing infrastructure,” it said. short-term trade-off between *   '&"       ; principle advocated eloquent- life,” said the survey. demiological and economic long-term. “To implement its Faced with enormous lives and livelihoods into a + ;3 )     ly in the Mahabharata that The document further research, especially strategy, India imposed the uncertainty, India adopted a win-win in the medium to $ 6$         ‘Saving a life that is in jeopardy said India recognised that while those pertaining to the most stringent lockdown at strategy of Bayesian updating long-term that saves both lives '3"    S   is the origin of dharma.’ GDP growth will recover from Spanish Flu, which highlight- the very onset of the pandem- to continually calibrate its and livelihoods.        5  /     R  1**--0..   &1) D  A *+*+ **) 2, 3

 +,-,./0 --**)4 6* he output of eight  *1*< 0 Tcore infrastruc- ture sectors contract- he Sensex and Nifty buckled under selling ed by 1.3 per cent in T December 2020 pressure for the sixth session on the trot on dragged down by Friday as the pre-Budget Economic Survey failed poor show by crude to cheer investors amid continued selling by for- oil, natural gas, refin- eign funds and a bearish trend overseas. ery products, fertiliser, steel and 2020-21, the sectors’ output Both the benchmark indices fluctuated cement sectors. dropped by 10.1 per cent between gains and losses in a highly volatile ses- The production of eight against a growth rate of 0.6 per sion. core sectors had expanded by cent in the same period of the The 30-share BSE Sensex crashed 588.59 3.1 per cent in December 2019, previous year. points or 1.26 per cent to finish at 46,285.77 - according to the data released The output of crude oil, - taking the six-session aggregate loss to by the Commerce and Industry natural gas, refinery products, 3,506.35 points or 7.04 per cent. Intra-day, the Ministry on Friday. fertiliser, steel and cement index swung 1,263.20 points. Barring coal and electric- declined by 3.6 per cent, 7.2 per Likewise, the NSE Nifty furthered its loss ity, all sectors recorded negative cent, 2.8 per cent, 2.9 per cent, by 182.95 points or 1.32 per cent to settle at growth in December 2020. 2.7 per cent, and 9.7 per cent, 13,634.60. Over the last six days, the NSE barom- During April-December respectively. eter has shed 1,010.10 points or 6.89 per cent. On the Sensex chart, 26 shares closed in the red. Dr Reddy’s, Maruti, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Auto, Infosys, TCS, NTPC and Bajaj FinServ 5  Q     R were the major losers, slumping as much as 5.69    ' )   per cent. New Delhi:Highlighting the need for strong indigenous phar-   9     ma companies, a Parliamentary panel has recommended that the pharma industry should be categorised as a “strategic sector” and C9S  1$T called for a necessary follow-up action in this regard. In its report, tabled in Parliament on Friday, on the review Mumbai:The rupee gained 9 paise to settle of loss-making central public sector enterprises, the Committee at 72.96 against the US dollar on Friday even on Public Undertakings chaired by Meenakshi Lekhi observed that as the domestic equity markets closed with the indigenous awareness of healthcare facilities is of paramount significant losses. importance of any nation. The Committee said it was of the strong At the interbank forex market, the local opinion that pharma sector plays a very important role to keep unit opened at 73.01, and hit an intra-day high the nation healthy and strong, and this has been quite apparent of 72.93 and a low of 73.01. It finally finished during the current pandemic when the need for strong indigenous at 72.96, higher by 9 paise over its last close. pharma companies has been realised with more intensity. PTI    !"#!#$ 1   %& ' ()*%%( ) ) %)  (* ( % ( ,  %' % L*%) .)*   2 )(( %/00   0(0

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ENROLL YOURSELF INTO AN INSTI- TUTE: Study in a stellar institute like National School of Drama and you will  + come out as a changed human being and definitely a better actor. When I came to Mumbai, I was awe struck by the perfor- * 1*25.3*.*6//   mances of NSD actors which inspired me to join it and try my luck in Bollywood.

         NO EXPERIENCE IS A WASTE: Often your experiences make you deliver your   (3!*,!-& !-*1* best performances. The experiences of my initial days in Mumbai helped me a lot in e Wasseypur hai...yahan kabu- performing the character of Bhosle in the tar bhi doosre ke pankh se apna film. izzat bachata hai... Seldom does it happen that when you BE OVER-PREPARED: Always be over- read a dialogue (Gangs of prepared because in acting, this is a Wasseypur,Y 2012), visuals of the film and blessing and is an alternative word for the actor delivering it start forming in your being rehearsed. But sometimes you head. But then, this is just one in the list have to keep something unknown as of many performances where actor Manoj an actor to maintain that authentic- Bajpayee left an impact with hard-hitting ity and remain organic. dialogues. Bajpayee, last seen in Suraj Pe Mangal KNOW YOUR POTENTIAL: Bhari, decided to teach the tricks of his You must have the knowledge craft with Unluclass which has been about your capabilities and launched by the learning and entertain- should work on them to ment platform, Unlu. Says Bajpayee, uncover them. “Over the years, you gain some skill sets ;#,+&;13 which can help others upskill their talent. ENJOY WHAT YOU DO: From cracking the audition and charac- ,P5,30,+),$ You have to be happy and  8>"+ ter biographies, to method acting and enjoy what you do, and voice training, we have covered a lot in the * ',&;1 then only you can deliver class. Its been a mix of fun and learning.” ,.0=,3&;13 your best performance. The actor further shares 10 tips for the This is not only applicable    emerging artists to take their craft to <,$ for actors but for any greater heights. 5,3#;3* +),$ artist or profession. ap stars Badshah and KRSNA and thats reflective in this track,” PRACTICE: The first and the most /,,P5,30,+),$ TRUST YOUR have united for the first time KRSNA said. important thing for an artist is riyaaz. One UNIQUENESS: Every Rto drop a single titled Roll up. Badshah said, “Its an extreme- must do it constantly and regularly to ;#*&0+00 . individual is different The track comes with rap verses ly exciting collaboration because sharpen the skills. And make sure that it  &$0+*1*< 0 and offers something along with a blend of hip-hop. KRSNA is one of the most prolific comes out naturally because you cannot unique which others The track delivers rap verses writers we have right now and hes fake emotions in acting. /,.5,*, .; dont possess. Trust your embracing the duos signature style established himself as one of the uniqueness and put that coupled with a free-flowing hook best rappers in the scene. Its real- GET INTO THE SKIN: The other thing 0+5,3#;3*0+ in your performance whilst throwing some shade on the ly exciting for both his fans and my to keep in mind is that you have to live in /,)/ 3 ),3 because that is what will hip-hop-influenced lifestyle of the fans, also I think itll take the Delhi the skin of the character for a long time make you stand out from millennial generation, supported by hip hop scene to greater heights! I which means make the role your own, as ;#

ctor Bhumi Pednekar has always been an environmental- ly conscious citizen who has taken up climate conser- Avation as a cause to raise awareness among fellow Indians. Bhumi has launched an online and offline initia- tive called Climate Warrior through which she is mobilis- here should one start painstakingly, along with col- ing citizens of India to contribute towards protecting the envi- with the story of leagues and students from the ronment. Bhumi is thanking her industrys role in constant- WBhimbhetka, because it Archaeological Survey of India ly coming forward to raise awareness about climate conser- is a fascinating one. An hours drive (ASI), and what you can see today vation and zero-waste. south of Bhopal, the earliest evi- is his lifes work. On World Environment Day last year, celebrities like dence of human civilisation in the And what you see inside the Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Anushka country is accessed through a Bhimbhetka rock shelters, would Sharma came forward for Bhumis One Wish For narrow road that crosses the make any inquisitive Indian ask The Earth initiative and urged everyone to plant main north-south rail line across some very pertinent questions. more trees and do their bit to take care of their a lovely little railway crossing. The About who the earliest Indians environment. Last Diwali, Bhumi wished her hill where the rock shelters are were, where did they come from, industry by sending her colleagues saplings located is a lovely drive up in and what were the flora and fauna that they could plant in their homes. most popular new premium of the time. In fact, some of the “The support that my fraternity gave hatchback, the Hyundai i20 which oldest skeletal remains of early that campaign was immense. And its just makes it a pleasure to steer up this humans were found in the town of not that campaign. There is a certain winding, narrow, twisty road after Hoshangabad, which is a few change in the mindset that we have dealing with the brilliant new kilometres away, dating back some seen like within the fraternity as well, highway connecting the capital of 50,000 years. When Wakankar While inside many rock shel- ly are older, because not only are you know. My last three films, the sets Madhya Pradesh to this site. You excavated the site he found a bur- ters the ochre and white paintings the paintings more rudimentary were plastic-free. There was no use can see the unique structure of the ial site of a male, who might have on the wall have faded into histo- but they are also very similar to of single-use plastic. The crew used rock shelters as you approach it, been a chieftain of sorts, but he ry, they are remarkably well pre- paintings found in similar shelters steel water bottles. These are very pro- lying on top of a hill that rises 100 was found with served in others, even though at and caves in Europe and elsewhere. ductive steps, because the kind of garbage meters from the surrounding ostrich eggshells. some you do have to strain your One can continue writing that is like – that comes out of a film set is large. countryside. eyes to notice the finer details. The about Bhimbhetka, but genuinely And this is a conversation that I have with most This is what allowed ochre colour is a result of the iron seeing a site like this in India is a of my film teams,” says she. renowned archaeologist Vishnu rich soil of the local area whereas tremendous privilege and an eye- “Another thing that I talk to the team with Shridhar Wakankar to notice the in others like Shelter number five, opener as well as a lovely drive. is about wastage of food and the industry is hills from a passing train which you have intricate paintings in Seeing the rock shelters brings his- doing whatever it can to ensure this doesnt hap- seemed very similar to other white. tory alive and if you are a natural- pen on sets. Like, for example, on Durgamati, rock shelters he had noticed Some of the paintings are ly inquisitive person, it is a place because that was my last project that I shot in Europe while visiting sites believed to be as old as 10,000 that you must visit and you must for before the pandemic, all the excess food there. Not one to wait years ago while others depict drive there, because India is indeed was distributed in a very hygienic way to around, he promptly got scenes from wars with calvary a great country with amazing people who are less fortunate. There were off at the next station and and infantry with spears and sites to see and discover. At the extra meals cooked on set that we could went straight to the site. swords, such as in Shelter num- end, I must also thank the distribute to people. It was a complete- What he found was remark- ber five, which is evidence that Bhimbhetka and Bhojpur travel ly pet bottle-free set. So, these are the able. Wakankar had discov- these natural shelters provided a guide from Madhya Pradesh productive changes that we have to ered evidence of the largest pre- place of rest until at least 500 AD. Tourism, produced by GoodEarth bring about,” Bhumi adds. historic human settlement in The earliest ones though, such as Publications which is, in my opin- India and over the years he worked at the famous ‘Boar’ shelter, clear- ion, essential reading.    !"#!#$ 22 )(( %/00   0(0

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contemplative man, Wahid Khan, weaved in snippets of Ajail — the square cell, books, a banyan tree in the yard, a bucket, utensils used by prisoners to make food and tea, the wide grey metal- lic rods of gate and birds eating left- over meals — in his rug Zindagi ki seekh. An avid believer, he also wove symbols of Gandhi such as dhoti and charkha. To the people that see his rug, he said, “For life to be enjoyed to the fullest, you must learn to take it seriously. Even in laughter, enjoy it for what it is, do not lose yourself in it as that may have con- sequences.” During his stay in prison, he has learned to connect with himself more, appreciate the simple things in life and experience every is a sustainable development initia- emotion vividly which, in turn, has tive where weavers get to design their helped him to prepare the rug more own rug for the first time in the State. intricately. It taps into the untamed fashion in One would wonder how prison- rural India by nurturing their cre- ers waiting to escape the darkened ative potential and empowers a enclosure with scratched walls have community. Each rug, hand-made become the warp and weft of carpet with more than 200,000 knots, is the weaving. Under an initiative that story of its creator,” said Choudhary. began in September 2018, Jaipur India has millions of craftsmen Rugs collaborated with jail inmates who are engaged in traditional to launch a special collection — crafts that symbolise the cultural Manchaha-Freedom Edition — of identity of the civilisation. However, handmade rugs. The brand has there is a growing concern that our worked with authorities in Jaipur ancient crafts are dying and skilled Central and Bikaner Jail to provide artisans are an endangered species. its inmates meaningful work by “This is because a number of these teaching them the art of carpet weav- crafts do not provide sustainable ing. It has opened bank accounts for livelihood which has deterred the inmates to help them receive the next generations from taking them payment directly and provide for One of the biggest tragedies to through it.” embraced by nature. For a quiet per- to see the final result bloom. He is mind, who according to mythology up. Hence, we tried to make weav- their families while being lodged in befall a family is the incarceration of An inmate, Amar Chand, is 44 son, his thoughts come out boldly in his 40s and feels that the initia- is the one who looks after the dis- ing into a sustainable livelihood that jail. the breadwinner. Their lives are years old and hails from Diggi, and in clear detail on the rug.” When tive has been his liberation from the paraged. He said, ‘I felt shattered to generations can practice from the Brand director, Yogesh upended irreversibly. Most of the Rajasthan. Amar, an experienced asked about the message expressed difficult events that resulted in his be in prison but Shiva took me under comfort of their home,” says Choudhary, shared, “We believe in prisoners come from economically weaver, was surprised to see weav- in his design, Amar said, “Happiness incarceration. his protection and gave me an Choudhary. being an inclusive development weak backgrounds and are rarely lit- ing as an activity for prisoners in and sadness come and go but peace He used Tikona (triangle) to opportunity to work and find my On the consumer front, lack of practitioner to promote creativity. erate. Their lives are marred by Jaipur and didn’t hesitate to partic- can truly stay. That’s what my car- express the patterns on his rug. Said redemption.’” awareness among the end-users Under this initiative, we are work- poverty and crime and the only way ipate in it. Choudhary shared, “He pet and design ‘Old is gold’ stands Choudhary, “He attempted to The art has certainly helped var- about India’s traditional art forms ing with over 100 inmates across to bring about a change is to empow- was constantly reminded of tradi- for.” explore the creative limits of a trian- ious inmates to find and express poses a tough challenge for ancient Jaipur, Bikaner and Dausa Central er them economically. Under the ini- tions that he feels are slowly fading Next in line was Ghanshyam, an gle, weaving small and large patterns their inner calling. The campaign’s Indian art forms. “To make the cus- Jails to provide them meaningful and tiative, we teach carpet weaving to in today’s world. He filled the one he inmate in Central Jail, Jaipur. He that branch in or out. The wide array title itself speaks of the freedom it tomers see the tremendous value of fulfilling work. The capacity to inmates who are serving long sen- wove with intricate designs along learned weaving as a part of the pris- of patterns mesmerise the onlook- hopes the inmates to achieve. these ancestral art forms and make imagine motivates which, if nurtured tences with the aim of creating sus- with simpler symbols like an ele- oners’ rehabilitation programme. er. Ghanshyam shared that during “Manchaha, a Hindi word popular them realise their uniqueness are the appropriately, adds to the prestige tainable livelihood for them so that phant, horse, duck and bees. It Yogesh described him as intelligent the weaving process, the Hindu in Rajasthan’s weaving community, true tests of all brands in this and prosperity of individuals. they can support their families seemingly comes out as a carnival yet playful, who enjoys working hard god Shiva, was constantly in his means “expression of my heart,” and space,” he added.    !"#!#$ "! 2 &>"& +&+=! +&     <OH 6  

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ebutant Nauman Ali took five and fellow spinner Yasir DShah grabbed four to give Pakistan a seven- victory in the first Test against South Africa in Karachi on Friday. Nauman finished with 5/35 and Yasir took 4/79 as South Africa slumped to 245 all out in their second innings on the fourth day on a wearing National Stadium pitch that favoured spin bowlers. Pakistan, needing 88 for victory, lost openers , Imran Butt and Babar Azam for a total of 52 runs before achiev- ing the target in 22.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Azhar Ali was 31 while Fawad Alam — who hit a fighting hun- dred in the first innings — hit the win- ning boundary. Anrich Nortje bowled Abid in the first over after lunch and then had Butt caught behind to finish with figures of 2/24. Azam, on his Test captaincy debut, was dismissed leg before by Keshav Maharaj. It was a spinners’ battle on a brown- ish wicket, allowing Nauman to record figures of 7/73 and Yasir 7/133. In con- trast, South Africa’s spinners managed   >  ?     !          !     !   4! >    @    A/BC 4 just four wickets. Pakistan had taken a crucial 158-run first innings lead, thanks to a fighting cen- tury from Fawad and half centuries from !        , Faheem Ashraf and Azhar. The writing was on the wall as South  ' 3 )/0 adjust to conditions in men got bogged down they need to have belief in them.” Africa lost nightwatchman Maharaj on Pakistan despite the Covid-19 tried to play shots, but on this Babar said scoring runs the first ball of the day, bowled for two outh Africa’s captain situation. pitch, playing patiently was abroad gave him more con- by pacer Hasan Ali. SQuinton de Kock on “We let ourselves down the requirement. fidence than amassing big South African skipper Quinton de Friday put down his team’s in the first innings. Obviously, Pakistan skipper Babar numbers at home. Kock had a miserable 50th Test as he fol- defeat in the first Test against when you bat first you need Azam said it is his ambition He termed the win over lowed his 15 in the first innings with just Pakistan to soft dismissals, more than 220 and then we to see his team start winning South Africa as “very neces- two runs as he was caught off a lazy push saying his players had enough had them something like 40 overseas. sary for the team”. off Yasir. time to adjust to the slow for four, but we allowed them “I think, at home, you “I think this victory Temba Bavuma, who scored 40, nature of the pitch here. to come back into the game.” are expected to do well came through because all added 42 for the seventh wicket with “Obviously our first Talking about recent bat- because conditions suit you, the 11 players contributed George Linde before being the last man innings batting performance ting collapses by South Africa but we need to start winning and especially the way out as Nauman took the last four wick- let us down, there were a cou- in Test , he said the overseas as well. Nouman Ali bowled in this ets in a rapid 22 balls. ple of soft dismissals and it led team was trying to work out “I think we need to show match. It was his debut and He dismissed Linde for 11, Kagiso to our losing the game,” de why they were happening. more trust in our players and there was pressure on him Rabada for a single run, and Anrich Kock said after the match. “Trust me if we knew it our top performers. We can’t against a good team, but he Nortje for a duck, before removing De Kock said his team would not be happening.” discard players after just one delivered. We need to trust Bavuma. had not taken too long to He said when the bats- or two bad performances, we our players.” !     < + ';' still had a chance. Unfortunately the match with Tai went the lready out of contention other way, so I didn’t have a Afor the knockouts, World chance. Otherwise, it was a champion P V Sindhu ended her good game,” Sindhu said. campaign with a consolation “For any athlete, losing two win at the BWF World Tour games is going to be hard to Finals but Kidambi Srikanth come back stronger to, but I had a disappointing finish after think it’s very important from yet another close defeat, here on these wins to come back Friday. stronger and believe in yourself. Sindhu, the Olympic Silver I just played my game after yes- +< $*   medallist, notched up a 21-18, terday’s upset,” she said. 21-15 win over world No 13 Srikanth, however, went  /*, <  stand. Pornpawee Chochuwong in her down 21-12, 18-21, 19-21 to Chasing 155, TN lost C third and final match after suf- Hong Kong’s NG Ka Long B Arun Karthik led Tamil Hari Nishanth (4) early when he fering defeats in first two days. Angus in what was yet another KNadu into their second suc- was trapped in front of the wick- “Well I think it was a good narrow defeat in a three-game cessive Syed Mushtaq Ali et by Tanveer-Ul-Haq (1/22). finish. Actually until yesterday I thriller. Trophy final with an unbeaten Tamil Nadu were in spot of 89-run knock that shaped their bother at 17/2 after Aparajith (2) seven-wicket victory over was caught in the slip cordon. Rajasthan in the first semi- But a determined Narayan ;    final, while Baroda beat Punjab Jagadeesan (28) and Arun by 25 runs in the second game, Karthik came to the rescue as had not even scored in their Mane’s initial effort into his here on Friday. they put together 52 runs for the last four league games, but path. Arun Karthik’s 89-run part- third wicket and took the game Jurgen Klopp said he recog- Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s nership with skipper Dinesh away from Rajasthan. nised his side again as their brilliant strike from outside Karthik (26 not out) meant Young leggie Ravi Bishnoi front three sparked back into the box halved the deficit just that Tamil Nadu overhauled the (1/32) tried to bring Rajasthan life after Roberto Firmino two minutes later. 155-run target with eight balls back into the game by remov- ended a 492-minute goalless Liverpool, though, rarely to spare. ing Jagadeesan, but then Tamil drought in first-half stoppage looked troubled after Kane TN had lost the summit Nadu cruised as skipper Dinesh time. departed and could have won clash by just one run to Karthik joined Arun and the Sadio Mane got in behind far more convincingly. Karnataka, last year. duo tore apart the Rajasthan and squared for Firmino to Mohamed Salah’s power- Rajasthan’s decision to bat attack. bundle in at the back post for ful strike was ruled out after first at the Sardar Patel stadium Arun Karthik hammered his first goal in eight games. a VAR review for a handball seem to be working well but nine boundaries and three sixes, %& .;+;+ Trent Alexander-Arnold’s by Firmino earlier in the Tamil Nadu restricted them to in his match-winning knock drop off in form has been move. a sub-par 154 for nine despite and fittingly finished the game iverpool ended a five-game another major part of But Mane restored the skipper Ashok Menaria’s 51 off with a boundary. Lwinless run in the Premier Liverpool’s regression from two-goal cushion when he 32 balls. In the second game, put League to move back into the the side that romped to the pounced on an error from Joe The left-handed Menaria, into bat first, Baroda rode on top four with a 3-1 win at title last season with 99 points. Rodon to fire high past Lloris. whose knock was laced with five skipper Kedar Devdhar’s fight- Tottenham Hotspur on However, the England Victory takes Liverpool fours and two sixes, took on the ing 64 to post a competitive 160 Thursday as Spurs also lost right-back connected sweetly back above West Ham, who Tamil Nadu bowlers as he and for 3 and then bowlers’ impres- Harry Kane to an ankle injury. to drill in his side’s second they face on Sunday, into Arjit Gupta (45 off 35 balls) sive show restricted Punjab to The English champions after Lloris could only parry fourth. raised a 83-run third wicket 135 for 8.