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THESUNDAY EXPRESSMAGAZINE CHANGE BEGINS AT ,LATECITY THE DOOR JANUARY31,2021 As home spaces turn 14PAGES,`5.00 multifunctional, alook at the evolution of the drawing room DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, ,JAIPUR,KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI,NAGPUR,, VADODARA WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM PAGES 11, 12, 13 BUDGETPMatTO BEall-pTABLEDarTOMtyORROWmeet:Offertopausefarmlaws stillontable,AgriMinisterjustphonecallaway

CatchRed Fort culprits,ifinnocent framed, stir will grow:Azad An investigation team at the blastsitenear the Israeli This assurance came afteral- lawwill take itsown course.” EmbassyinNew Delhi on Saturday. Praveen Khanna MANOJCG&LIZMATHEW mostthe entireOpposition, Condemning the RedFortin- NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 whichhad boycottedthe cident, Azad said the culprits President’s address yesterday, should be punished but “it DAYAFTER BLAST NEAR EMBASSY WITH THE Budget session of raisedthe farm protests issue. seems that the Government in- Parliament getting under way, Many,including the Congress, stead of catching the real cul- Bomb used military PrimeMinister NarendraModi demandedthe repeal of the laws prits,istrying to implicate the Saturdaychaired an all-party and adiscussion in Parliament. farmer leaders.” meeting wherehesaid the Leader of Opposition in Rajya “I don’t think that anysensi- BKU leader Rakesh Tikait’s Government’soffer to keep the Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad ble farmer leader wasparty to emotional appeal went viral grade explosive; implementation of the three flaggedFIRs being filedagainst that incident at the RedFort,” he on social media. ANI file farm laws on hold for18months farm union leaders in connec- reportedlysaid. “Therewere is still on the table. And that tion with the Republic Dayvio- some lumpen elementswho Israel envoy says AgricultureMinisterNarendra lence in Delhi.Leaders likeCPM’s had done it and those lumpen el- Tikaitvideo President RamNathKovind, Prime MinisterNarendraModi, Singh Tomar is justaphone call Elamaram Kareem, too, raised ementsshould be caught and Defence MinisterRajnath Singh at Rajghat on Saturday. PTI away fortaking forwardtalks the FIR issue. To whichthe Prime punishedseverely. All of us, who effect: Govt probing with India with protesting farmer unions. Ministerreportedlysaid:“The CONTINUEDONPAGE2 snaps internet DEEPTIMANTIWARY& P5 at all three SHUBHAJITROY protestsites NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 ADAY afteralow intensity ex- plosiontook place near the ` 60 per kilo SUKRITABARUAH& IsraeliembassyinNew Delhi, THEEXPRESS DEEPTIMANTIWARY Israel’s ambassador RonMalka NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 said Indian and Israeli agencies INTERVIEW were working together “tofind ` 88 per kilo RON MALKA SHORTLYAFTER avideoofa out what happened, who is ISRAEL’S AMBASSADOR weeping Rakesh Tikait went vi- standing behind this”. The ` 106 per kilo ralonsocial media galvanising SundayExpress haslearned that morefarmers from Haryana investigators have found clues ED ` 58 per Dozen and western UP to join the whichpoint to asophisticated protests,the MinistryofHome attempt at launchingacoordi- 29years& Affairs Saturdayextendedthe nated international attackwith PLAIN E ● roadahead Five identified suspension of the internetin the aim of sending amessage. EX the capital’s border areas to in- Sources in the security estab- at Red Fort have clude all protestsites:Singhu, lishmentsaid preliminaryforen- THE INCIDENT comesata Ghazipur,Tikriand their adjoin- sic examination of the siteand time when India and Israel criminal records ing localities. the bombhaverevealedthatthe aremarking 29 yearsof The ban, ostensiblyto"main- explosive usedwas PETN.Amil- formal ties, and arelook- in Punjab: probe Protesting farmers and their supporters at the Ghazipur border on Saturday. Amit Mehra tain public safetyand avertemer- itarygrade explosive,PETN is not ing to strengthenties fur- gency," will be until 11 pm on easilyavailable and has been ther.While the 2012 attack January 31.OnJanuary26, inter- usedinthe pastbygroups such on an Israeli diplomat in MAHENDERSINGH netservices herehad been sus- as Al Qaeda formaking bombs. NewDelhi had pointed to MANRAL EXPRESS NETWORK pendedfrom12noontomidnight. Investigators have also found an Iranian hand, this probe NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 Roadsblocked but Ghazipur numbers Telecom service providers remains of a“Hi-Watt” 9volt toowill lookatevery pos- arebound by their licence agree- battery“fortransistorradios” sibility. India’s ties with INITIALINVESTIGATION by the FACING INTERNET swell, many showupwithrations, water mentstocomplywith suchgov- from the blastsite. Suchbatter- arealso strategic given Delhi Police intothe vandalism CURBS,KHAPS ernment orders. ies, sources said, have been used thatChabahar grants it ac- at RedFortbyasection of farm TURN TO TEMPLE on tractors and trucks loaded when she sawTikait weeping on The January26ban had been earlier in bombs assembledby cesstoAfghanistanand protesters who veered offthe LOUDSPEAKERS IN JIGNASASINHA with rations and waterbottles. TV.Policecan't arrest him,he extendeduntil January27. the Indian Mujahideen and even Central Asia. designated routeonRepublic HARYANA NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 Subodh Kumar,afarmer didn't do anything wrong. Ihave Following this, the internet CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Dayhas indicated that at least from Khanjarpurwho came to some vegetables and rice with speedhad been significantlyre- five of those identifiedhavecrim- AFTER DECADES, ADAY aftertheyattendedthe the Delhi-UP border with three me… Iwill cook or donate it at ducedintheseareas. But after inal records in Punjaband were Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat friends, bought tarps and wires the langar.Wewill also help the Ghazipur tension and the pickedupbystate police earlier, TIKAITS OF WEST U.P. to rallybehind BKU leader along theway and setupatent farmers withthe seva by clean- fact that farmers’ rankshaveonly POCSO verdict: SC sourcestold TheSundayExpress. TAKE CENTRESTAGE Rakesh Tikait, hundredsoffarm- near the flyoveratthe border. ing roads,” he said. swelledafter Tikait’s outburst, Raids areontoarrestthem, IN CAPITAL AGAIN ers from villages in Uttar Pradesh “Weare heretostay. My wife With the numbers swelling the nethas been suspended sources said. PAGE 5 and Haryana showedupatthe and children aretaking careof at the border,BKU and Rashtriya again, sources said. collegium set to CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Ghazipur protestsiteSaturday — the farm now. She also wept CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 withhold promotion Chirag invited for NDA TURF WAR ESCALATES IN BENGAL of Bombay HC judge SUNDAY Day after quitting TMC,ex-minister STORY meet, skips citing ‘health’ Justice Ganediwala faces extended PAGE 8 after JD(U) protests fliestoDelhi with rebels to join BJP probation forher take on sexual assault weighing itsoptions to either EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE APURVAVISHWANATH& send the judgebacktothe district LIZMATHEW& KOLKATA,NEWDELHI, ANANTHAKRISHNANG judiciaryfromwhereshe wasel- HARIKISHANSHARMA JANUARY30 NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 evated in February2019orex- NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 tend her probationbyacouple of ‘Unwell, in INTENSIFYINGTHE turf warbe- THE SUPREME CourtCollegium years— and addedthat it is more PUTTINGTHE ruling BJPinaspot, self-isolation’ tween the ruling TMC and the is settowithdraw itsrecommen- likelytotakethe latter option. itsBihar ally Janata Dal (United) BJP ahead of the assemblyelec- dation to appoint additional In the past, the Supreme objectedto itsmovetoinviteLok tions in West Bengal, former judgeofthe BombayHigh Court Court’s unique in-house mech- Janshakti Party(LJP) to Saturday's On January20, Parliamentary state ministerRajib Banerjee, Justice Pushpa VGanediwala as anism of appointing judges has NDAmeetingchairedbyPrime Affairs MinisterPralhadJoshi sent who quit the TMC Friday, apermanent judgeofthe court made indirect interventions — MinisterNarendraModi. alettertoPaswan requestinghim reachedDelhi along with some afteraclose scrutinyoftwo of from tacit requests forresigna- A to Z of Sources said that on Friday, to attend the NDAmeeting to dis- rebelMLAsand leaders on aspe- her recent verdictsfor their con- tions to ensuring alternative what to the BJP had to requestLJP presi- cuss “important issues and busi- cial flight Saturday. Theymet Aftermeeting Amit Shah in NewDelhi, Saturday. Amit Mehra troversial interpretation of sex- quasi-judicial appointments— dent Chirag Paswan, son of the ness forthe ensuing Budget ses- Union Home MinisterAmit Shah ual assault underthe Protection while handling concerns on the expect late RamVilas Paswan,not to at- sion of the Parliament.” and will be formallyinducted of Children from Sexual Offences conduct of non-permanenthigh tend the meeting afterJD(U) On Saturday,after he skipped intothe party at aHowrahevent Baishali Dalmiya, former Parthasarathi Chattopadhyay Act, 2012 (POCSO) Act. courtjudges. Monday made it clear it would stay away the meeting, Paswan told Sunday. Howrah MayorRathin and actor Rudranil Ghosh Sources told TheSunday It is learnt that by breaking if Paswan waspresent. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 MLAs Prabir Ghosal and Chakraborty,former TMCMLA CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Express that thecollegium is CONTINUEDONPAGE2 In bamboo clone crash barriers, acost-effective road safety solution Nagpur-based VNITexpertsworkondesign,Gadkari youwill seehow strong bamboo benefitfarmers.We willusethem tional metalbarriers, VNIT direc- Bamboo structures withstand extreme in all access-controlhighways, so torPramod Padole said. says letfarmers makemoneyfromBeema bamboo Built-Up rainfalland everything,” he said. that humansand animals cannot “Our departmentsofCivil Support Crash barriers aretypically strayintohighways, and livesare Engineeringand Applied meanttoprevent vehicles from saved,” Gadkari said, adding that Mechanics areworking on this. AVISHEKGDASTIDAR (VNIT), Nagpur,are workingon told The SundayExpress. going offhighways andshould hewillalsoappealto IITsandother We willbetestinghowmuchload NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 the design using Beema bamboo “Iamafarmermyself.Myidea therebeanaccident, the barrier engineeringinstitutesto comeup the structurecan take,and other —the local product of mainly isthatif we aretoinstallcrashbar- willcushion the impact and min- with suchlow-costsolutions us- variables of the proposed design WHATCOULD be an inexpensive Karnataka and adjoining areas. riers worthRs25,000 croreper imise the chance of fatality to the ing natural, indigenous materials usingcomputersimulation.Once yeteffective alternative to steel “Wehaverecentlygiven the year in highway projects, letthat extent possible. that farmers can grow. thatissettled,we willgo foractual barrierstohelpreduce accident task to VNIT to work on it.Iwant moneygotothe country’s farm- Sources said conventional Beema or Bheema bamboo is installation on highways foron- deaths on highways? Maybe farmers to grow the Beema bam- ers. So Ihaveasked theexperts to crash barriers made of metaland atype of bamboo engineered to sitetesting,” Padole said. bambooand coir. boo, and the road sector will use preparethis,” he said. Bamboo alloymay costaround Rs 2,000 beastronger, fast-growingandtall Around 1.5lakh peopledie CrashbarriersmadeofBeema it. Right nowtheycostaround Alongwithawarenessanden- Built-Up per metre. Thebamboobarrier is clone of the traditional bamboo everyyear in close to 5lakh road bambooandcoirarebeingdevel- Rs4,000perton.Therewillbefive forcement,hesaidroaddesign,in- Rafter likelytocostafraction of that. foundintheIndiansubcontinent, accidentsinIndia. Over athirdof opedasalow-cost solution asthe feet fencingofthe bamboo in- cluding installationofcrash bar- Around 5per centofthe costof especially theNorth-East.Thisva- those accidents happen on the Centrelooksforinnovative,newer stalleddeep intoconcreteslabs riers, areestablishedpractices to the entirebouquetofworkin- rietygrowswellinsouthernIndia. highways.Currently, India is en- ways to bring down fatalitiesand and held together by strong coir enhanceroad safety. volvedinmaking India’s high- In the current iteration of the gagedinaproject to remove acci- mishaps on roads. ropes. That is the basic design,” But will suchstructures be CRASH BARRIER MADE OF BEEMA BAMBOOS ways go intoroad furniture. designof theBeemacrashbarrier dent-prone “blackspots”and rec- ExpertsfromtheVisvesvaraya Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for durable and weather-proof?“Of Conceptual sketchbyDeptofApplied Mechanics, VNIT “Wewill use jute, coir and being developed, the costisesti- tifyroaddesignsonhighwayswith National InstituteofTechnology Road Transportand Highways, course. Go to theNorth-Eastand suchmaterial,notplastic.Thatwill mated to beone-third of conven- loansto thetuneof Rs14,000crore WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THE SUNDAYEXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021

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Tikait video effect andjointheprotest.We willmakeweeklytrips districtjudge. to take careofourfarms,orourwivesandchil- Thishasbeencoupledwithheavydeploy- dren willstaythere. Fornow,weneedmore PM at all-party meet: offer to pause farm laws Israelenvoy mentof securityforcesatSinghuandGhazipur people heretofight," said Rakesh Gautam, a the Lashkar-e-Toiba. The IM though mostly borderswhichhavealsoseenclashesbetween farmer from Shamli. usedeasilyavailableammoniumnitrateasthe “locals” and protesters in the lastcouple of AnilChaudhary, asugarcane farmer from still on table, Agri Minister just phone call away explosive in itsbombs. days. Meerutwho joinedthe protestearly in the TheIED,itislearned,waspackedwithball Internet,voice,aswellasotherbroadband morning,said,“Weweretoldto getvegetables were watching television, including police, The Prime Minister’s statement is sig- While BJD’s Pinaki Misrademanded bearings in acan anddropped in aflowerpot telecomservices,canbesuspendedcitingpub- from our villagefor the langar. We came from security forces and intelligence agencies, nificant as the government had been silent that thelongpendingWomen’sReservation across the road from the Israel embassyonDr lic safetyand security,either by the Mohan Nagarbecausepolice don't letanyone have seen those culpritsonTV. However, in on resumption of talkssince the violence Bill should be takenand passed–he found APJAbdul Kalam Road. Departmentof Telecommunications(DoT)or enterfromotherdirections.We have alsotold the name of violenceonJanuary26, if inno- on Republic Dayand the forcible entry at supportfromTRS’s KKeshavRao and The explosion took place shortlyafter 5 by theorder of an officer of the rank of Joint our friendstobring food via that route." cent farmerleadersare framed, then this RedFort. In fact, afterthe RedFortincident, YSRCP’s VVijayasai Reddy –CPM’s Kareem pm Friday, damaging afew vehicles parked Secretaryorabove,authorisedbythe Centre agitationwill grow exponentiallywhichthe senior Government officials had indicated raisedthe anti-conversion laws in UP that, nearby. Hours later,abomb planted near the or the statehome secretaryincase of “un- Chirag invited Government will notbeable to manage,” “therewas notmuchtodiscuss.” he said, aremeant to deterinter-faith mar- Israel embassy in Paris wasalso discovered. avoidable circumstances”. The SundayExpress:“Icould notattend the he said. But the UP government's attempt to riage. This has ledinvestigators to lookatthe possi- ApartfromDelhi, internethas also been meetingdueto my health.Iwasfeelingunwell Azad also demandedthat the evict the farmersfromthe protestsiteatthe Leadersof manysmallerpartiesinclud- bility of this being an attempt at launching a suspendedinatleast17districts of Haryana, so Ihavekeptmyselfinthe self-isolation.” Government bring aBill in Parliament im- Ghazipur border Thursdaynight has given ing TDP,TRS, YSRCPand Akali Dal argued coordinated attackagainstIsraeli establish- including the Delhi-borderingdistrictsof Incidentally, themeeting wasvirtual. mediatelyfor restoration of statehood of afresh lease of lifetothe agitation with theydon’t getadequatetime to speak dur- ments. Jhajjar,PalwalandSonipat,allwithina2-hour Joshi, in his January20letter, had said that Jammu and Kashmir. moreand morefarmersfromWestern UP - ing debates. In his reply, Modisaid that fre- Asimilar series of eventshad takenplace driving distance from Central Delhi. the link forthe meeting will besharedin “due The Prime Ministertold the leaders the -drawing from the politicallysignificant Jat quent disruptions meant smaller parties during the attackonanIsraeli diplomat’s car Internetservicesinthe NCRwerelastsus- course.” government has an “open mind” on the community –joining the protests. sufferand largerpartiesshouldensure there in NewDelhi in 2012.Onthe sameday,a pendedinDecember 2019,during the anti- SpeakingtoThe SundayExpress Saturday, farm laws.“He said that the government's The Prime Ministeralso told leaders that arenodisruptions and that smaller parties bomb had been found under acar parkednear CAAprotests. Acting on aDelhi Police order, JD(U)'sseniorleaderKCTyagisaid:“ThePrime stand is the same as it wasonJanuary 22, the government is open to adetaileddis- areable to voice their views in Parliament. Israel’s embassy in Georgia whileanattack telecom operators hadsnapped all services, Ministerhimself declared in Bihar that the and the proposal givenbythe Agriculture cussion on issues raisedintoday’s meeting. Misrasaid the Parliament should notbe took place near the Israel embassy in Thailand. including voiceand SMS, forfour hours,be- Nitish Kumar-ledNDA has BJP,JD(U),VIP Ministerstill stands,” an official statement He reaffirmedthe importance of the disruptedasthis would effectively give the An Iranian group wasthen suspectedto have tween 9amand 1pm, on December 19,2019. (Vikassheel Insaan Party) and HAM said. smooth functioning of Parliament and com- rulingparty afreepass.WhileShivSena’s carriedout all three attacks,but Iranian offi- Snappingtheinternetwillhittheprotests. (Hindustani Awam Morcha).BJP president JP ParliamentaryAffairs MinisterPralhad prehensive debatesonthe floor of the VinayRawat demandedfreeCovid vacci- cials deniedany role in the incidents. For, allcoordinationbetween villages and the Nadda had categoricallysaid it wasthe Joshi, who waspresent at the meeting, un- House. Therewas aconsensus that nation forall BPL families and UT status for “Heretoo, the suspicion is on some Iranian protestsite, mobilisation of eventsand per- NDA…In Bihar,this alliance justscraped derlined this:“In the 11th Centre-farmer Parliamentmustbeallowedtofunction BelgauminKarnataka, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva group. But involvement of the Islamic Stateor sonnelare donevia videos on social mediaor through. Howcan Chirag, whoattackedthe negotiations, we had said that the govern- smoothly. raisedthe attackson Tamil fishermen by the Al Qaeda cannotberuledout. Access to PETN sent viaWhatsApp. NDAsofiercely, be partofNDA now?” ment is open fordiscussion. The Prime The Opposition demandeddiscussions Sri Lankan Navy. suggests involvementofeither atrans-na- TheTikaitvideosetoff mobilisationacross Paswan’s LJP quit the NDAinBihar just Ministerhas said that the Agriculture on severalissues including: the ongoing YSRCP’s Reddy demandedspecialcate- tional terror group or agroup sponsored by a Haryana prompting severalkhappanchayats aheadof theelectionobjectingto theBJP’sde- Ministersaid he is justaphone call away… tensionwithChina at the borders;fuelprice gorystatusforAndhraPradesh and said the State. The blastwas deliberatelykeptlow in- to give acall forfarmers to move to Delhi in cision to fight the election under the leader- wheneveryougive acall he is ready fordis- rise, ballooningunemployment and the inter-linking of rivers must be made ana- tensity as the aim, it appears, wastosend a large numbers.InPunjab,too,severalpanchay- shipofNitish Kumar.The LJP,whichcam- cussion.ThePM toldthepoliticalparty lead- economic slowdown. tional project wherein riverflowmustbe message,” asecurity establishmentofficer atspassedresolutions asking people to send paignedintenselyagainstKumar,contested ers that the offerstill stands good.” TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyaysaid that checkedevery 15 days. said. one person from everyvillage.Inall these almostalltheconstituencieswhere JD(U)had In abid to break the protracted dead- some 20 Opposition parties had boycotted The Prime Ministercondemnedthe Incidentally, aletterinanenvelope ad- cases,WhatsAppmessages,audiosandvideos itscandidates.ButhepraisedModiandsought lock, theGovernment had proposedthat it the President’saddresswhich is astrong desecrationofMahatma Gandhi’s statuein dressed“to Israel Embassyambassador” was have played akey role. votes in his name. could suspend the laws for18months and messagefor the Government to withdraw the US and said suchanatmosphereofhate found at the siteofthe Fridayexplosion. The Indeed,since the sit-in startedin Forall the noise, the LJP wononlyone seat form acommittee to address theissues the the farm laws. is neverwelcome in today’s world. Sources letter contains athreat, and describes the ex- November,protesters at the three sites have butitscampaignagainstNitishisconsideredto farmers have raised. However, farm union He said the Prime Ministermustcon- saidmanyleaderscongratulatedthePrime plosion as a“trailer”,sources said. It also refers also usedsocial media to fightwhat theycall have playedaroleinpulling down theJD(U) leaders rejectedthe offerand remainedfirm vene ameeting of all partyleaders on the Ministerfor the successful rollout of the to two“Iranian martyrs”, QasemSoleimani “misinformation” and “biased” coverage in from 71 to 43 seats. on their demand forthe laws’repeal. protests and discuss the issue. Covid vaccination drive. and Dr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. sectionsof themedia.Youngmenandwomen Afterthe alliance won, JD(U) said the LJP MajGen Soleimani, assassinated in a recordingFacebooklivesisacommonsightat cannotbetaken back in the NDAatany cost. United States drone strikeinJanuary2020, theprotest sites, and severalTwitterhandles Indeed, BJP leaders came out againstChirag ‘5 identified at Red Fort have criminal records in Punjab’ wasIran’s mostpowerful general, the com- fromamongtheprotestershave becomepop- Paswan, who,manybelieved wasprompted mander of the Quds Forceofthe eliteIslamic ular online sources on the protests withad- by the BJP to ensure that “Nitishwas cut to An estimated 1,000 people, on 30-40 Sourcesalso said some violent protest- InastatementreleasedThursday, police RevolutionaryGuardCorps. Fakhrizadeh, as- dressesby farmleadersbeingstreamedinreal size.” tractorsand around150 motorcycles and ershave beenidentifiedasresidentsof Delhi had alleged that the protesters had a“pre- sassinated lastNovember,was Iran’s topnu- time. The NDAhas lostits traditional alliesShiv cars,hadforcibly enteredRedFortpremises, and police arecollecting evidence before conceivedand well-coordinated”plan to clear scientist. suspectshewas killed “Manymediahousesrunstate-sponsored SenaandShiromaniAkaliDal(SAD)aswellas wheretheychasedand assaulted police- making arrests. breakthe security agreement reachedbe- by Israel using aremote-controlledweapon. propaganda.Thereare seniorjournalistswith the HanumanBeniwal-ledRLP.BothSAD and men, lootedtheir anti-riotgear,held some AdditionalPRO(DelhiPolice)AnilMittal tween the police and farm leaders forthe Sources said multiple agencies have been alarge numbers of followers putting up mis- RLPwalked out over the farm laws. hostageinsideapublictoiletandvandalised said theyhavesofar registered38cases in tractor rally. pressedintoaction with considerable help information through their online handles.In In the meeting, Modi urgedallies to theticketcounter,accordingto anFIRbased connection with the farmers’rally, andar- The Delhi Police has issuedaLookout from Israel’s intelligence establishment. that situation, social media is our onlyway to counter the Opposition on issues likefarm on acomplaint by SHO (Kotwali) Rituraj. rested 84 persons. Notice against severalfarmer leaders and “TheCCTVcameras trainedonthat stretch communicatewithalarge number of people laws.“The PM said that afterthe pandemic, a Sourcessaidthatafterscanningfootage On Saturday, aforensic team reached their passports will be seizedinthe days were notworking.Agencieshave triedtoscan to counter this,” said GaramneetMangat, a newworld order is about to take shape and from severalCCTVcameras,police have RedForttocollectevidence.Sourcesalsosaid ahead, aseniorofficer said. other CCTVcamerafeeds from across the committee member of the Ghazipur Kisan Indiahasabigroleto playintheemergingnew identifiedsomemen. “Details on the back- probeofficersaretryingto getdetailsof trac- “Wehaverecovered morethan 1,700 road, but the visuals aretoo grainytocometo Andolan Committee. worldorder,” said Joshi. ground of five to sixofthem have been ver- tors using their registration numbers. “We CCTVclips and footagefromgovernment anyconclusion. DNAsampleshave beentaken There'sapersonalpurpose,too.Manyhave “Hesaidthisdecadeisveryimportant,just ifiedwith Punjab Police. Some have an at- willtracetheownersandsummonthemfor agenciesisalsobeingretrieved.Ateamfrom from the letter even as telecom towerdumps beenattheprotest sitesforalmost twomonths likethe decade afterWorld WarII…and un- tempttomurdercase in the past, while questioning.We willalsomatchtheirdetails ForensicUniversity,Gujarathasbeencalled arebeing analysed,” another officer said. nowandtheysay videocallswithfamiliesback likeinthe past, we arenot goingtobeamute othershave beenarrestedoverbrawls,”said usingafacerecognitionsystem,”saidasen- in to analysethe videos,” asenior policeof- Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador Ron homearetheonlyway to stay connected.That spectator. We will rise to the occasion based asource. ior policeofficer. ficer said. Malka, in an interviewtoTheSundayExpress, has been interrupted, theysaid. on our traditions and ideals of Vasudhaiva said that therehad been “threats” in the last Kutumbakam,the PM said.” fewweeksand the embassy wasonaheight- Roadsblocked POCSO verdict Forappointmentasadditionaljudgeofthe judgments.Itseemedthatthejudge hadmore enedstate of alert, and prepared forsuchat- LokDal(RLD)workersalsosentwaterandfood TMC ex-minister this convention, the collegium could notonly Bombay High Court, Justice Ganediwala’s experience in teachingrather than in legal tacks. forfarmers.Deshpal Singh, amember of BKU, accompaniedBanerjeetoDelhi. setaprecedentfordirectinterventionwhena name wasfirstrecommendedbythe High practice,” said asource. “Weare notscared,and no one can deter who runs one of the langars on NH-24, said, BJPgeneralsecretaryKailashVijayvargiya, judge’sactionsareclosely scrutinisedbutalso CourtinNovember2017and came up before Although three mostseniorjudgesofthe us, andwe aregoingto continueto thrive and “Earlier,wewerecookingfor over 1,000 peo- who is the party in-charge forWestBengal, send astrongmessagetojudges to abide by the SC collegium in September 2018 along SC, headedbythe CJI, form the collegium that to grow,and even to expand the relations be- ple. Now, Ithink thereare morethan 3,000 confirmed the meeting of the leaders with judicial propriety. with five other judicial officers from the state. decides on appointment of judgestoHCs, tween Israel and India because if this wasthe farmers.Myfamilymembershave alsojoined Shahand said theywouldjoin the party “Theonlyissuethatwasflaggedbeforethe The collegium deferredher candidature. judgesfamiliarwiththeworkingofparticular target…Soagain, they'renot going to achieve the protest. Everyone is givingusration, and Sunday. collegium wasthatofthe quality of the judg- “As regardsSmt. P.V. Ganediwala, Judicial High Courts areconsultedfor their views. it,because youknowyesterday whenthisevil we have calledtwo morecooksfromShamlito Earlier, before leaving forDelhi, Banerjee mentsandnothingmore.Thereisnoquestion Officer…having regard to the material on Additional judges to High Courts areap- attackwas conducted,wejustcelebratedthe helppreparethe langar.” said: “AfterIresignedasMLA and gave up aboutthejudge’sprobityorintegrity,”asource recordand all relevant factors, her case de- pointedeitherfromtheBardirectly orstateju- 29thanniversaryfor the establishment of for- Singh said his brothers send five tractors my primarymembership of the TMC yester- told The SundayExpress. serves to be deferredfor some time. The pro- diciaryunderArticle224(1)of theConstitution eign diplomatic relations between Israel and from Baghpat and Shamli everyday,with day, Igot acall from Amit Shah who invited On January19, Justice Ganediwalaacquit- posal would be takenupfor consideration by foraperiodnot exceedingtwo years. India… So it might notbeacoincidence. But 5,000 watercans in eachvehicle. “There's me to Delhi forameeting today. Partyleader tedamanof sexualassaultonthegroundsthat the Collegium aftersome time,” said the col- Theageofretirementforadditionaljudges it might be.” shortageofwaterhere.TheDelhigovernment Kailash Vijayvargiyaalso reachedout to me. pressingthebreasts of achildoverherclothes legium statement on September 11,2018. of highcourts isalso62years.Additionaljudge Malka did notblame anycountryor ishelping,butwe have moreprotestersnow,” Ifelt Ishould respond to Amit Shah's appeal. without direct “skintoskin” physicalcontact Thethree-membercollegiumatthattime postsareconstitutionallyintendedtodealwith grouping forthe blast, and indicated that the he said. Therefore, Ihavedecidedtomeethim today. doesnotconstitute“sexualassault”underthe comprisedofthenCJI Dipak Misra, Justices the“increasedburdenof thecourt”butarein- Israeli intelligence agency,Mossad, waswork- Agroup of RLD workers, farmers said, also Aftermeeting him, Iwilljoin the BJP.Iwill Protection of ChildrenfromSexual Offences Ranjan Gogoi and Madan Lokur. creasingly usedasprobationaryperiods for ing with Indian agencies to investigatethe in- sent vegetables from Muzaffarnagar and alwaysworkfor the developmentofthe (POCSO) Act. The High Court’s recommendation was judges before theyare promotedasperma- cident. nearbyvillages. state.” Saying that Section8ofPOCSO provides takenupagain in January2019withthe col- nentjudges. Underlining that the investigation is in its With Delhi Police and UP Police having “For the development of Bengal, both the forstringent punishmentoffiveyears’ of rig- legium comprising former CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Thisisbecauseonceajudgeismadeaper- early stages,hesaid: “Weneedtounderstand sealedalmostfourroutesleadingto theborder, stateand Centre mustworktogether. At pres- orous imprisonment, sheobserved that former Justice AK Sikri and (then) Justice SA manentjudge,constitutionalimmunitykicks whathappenedthere. Take the pieces, build farmersare travelling via the Amroha- ent, it is the need of the hour to join theBJP.I “stricter proof and seriousallegations arere- Bobde. in to protect them forremovalfromoffice -- the puzzle pieces of information from differ- GhaziabadroadorMohanNagarinGhaziabad want nothing but development forthe state quired”.Sothemanwasconvicted“undermi- This time, on January16, 2019,the col- under theconstitution, impeachment of the ent places, evidence from the scene. So we are to reachthe protestsite—navigating through and itspeople. So whateverrole is assignedto noroffenceu/s354ofIPCandsentencedto un- legiumsaid:“Havingregard to allrelevantfac- judge is the onlyprocess to remove ajudge of gathering all together,joint effort of Israeli se- threelayersof barricadingonthehighway and me, Iwill accept,” he said. dergoRI,”the judgesaid. The maximum tors, the Collegium is of the considered view aconstitutional courtfromoffice. curity authorities and Indian securityauthori- other roads. Banerjeeand the other leaders aretobe sentence is five years and the minimumone that Smt. PVGanediwala, Judicial officer,is District judges aresubjected to the disci- ties. And Ithink thattogether,weare goingto By Saturdayafternoon, roads adjacentto formallyinducted intothe BJPataparty pro- year foranoffence underthis section.On suitable forbeing appointedasJudgeofthe plinaryjurisdictionof thehighcourtbutthere find out what happened,who is standing be- the flyoverwerepackedwith protesters and grammeatDumurjala stadiuminHowrah January27, the SupremeCourtstayedthis or- BombayHighCourt.” isnomechanismto scrutiniseperformanceof hindthisand,of course,to bringhimto justice.” langarstalls. Sunday. UnionMinisterSmriti Irani will be at der. The SundayExpress has learnt that the col- apermanent judge. He saidbesidestheForeignMinisters and ShoutingslogansinsupportofTikait,farm- the event whereShah toowill address party Bornin1969 at Paratwada in legium receivedtwo strong notesofdissent If amemberof theBarappointedasanad- ForeignSecretaries,NationalSecurity Advisor ers said theyhavecalledtheirrelativesand workers via virtualmode. ’s Amravati district,Justice from consultee-judges of the BombayHigh ditionaljudgeisneithergivenanextensionnor Ajit DovalspoketoIsrael’s NSAMeir Ben- friendsto theborder.“We don'twantTikaitsa- In December, former stateminister Ganediwalawas directlyelevatedasadistrict CourtJustices AMKhanwilkar and DY promotedasapermanentjudge, she demits Shabbat and gave assurances that India is go- hab to weep again. Police will continuetoha- SuvenduAdhikariquittheTMCandjoinedthe judgein2007. She wasapanel advocatefor Chandrachud. Despitethese, the collegium office automatically. However, in the case of a ing to take all measuresneededtoprotect rassus;theyhaveblockedalmostallroutesbut BJP along with Bardhaman Purba MP Sunil banksand insurancecompanies and also sent itsrecommendation and she wassubse- judgeelevatedfromthe statejudiciary,asis IsraelirepresentativesinIndia and will fulfil theycan't stop farmers who areready to KumarMondal,nineMLAsandseveralothers taughtinvariouscollegesinAmravatiandthe quentlyappointed as additional judge. the case withJusticeGanediwala, the judge a“full investigation that will makeout what protesthereforayear.Itoldmy friendsto come at aMidnapore rallyinthe presence of Shah. Amravati University. “Even then the issue wasthe merit of her mayhavetoreturn to the previousofficeasa happenedhere”. Basic amenities still aday dream in many villages, politics should not come in way of development, says Bombay High Court January28whilerejectingawritpetitionfiled PalsapkurkaandKanerwadigrampanchayats guardianminister, thestate governmentis- changing the implementing agency.The peti- electrification, fuel, connectivity,healthcare OMKARGOKHALE by fourgrampanchayats inOsmanabad,which throughadvocatesVDSalunkheandMayurV suedacorrigendum in April 29, 2020, taking tionershave nolegalrighttoinsistuponapar- centre,school,playgroundandrecreationalfa- MUMBAI,JANUARY30 soughtthesettingasideof aMaharashtragov- Salunke. The petitioners told the courtthat in away the worksfromthe zilla parishad and ticular implementingagency when thereare cilities and manymore.” ernment order issuedlastApril, transferring 127villages,roaddevelopmentworksurgently handedthemtothe PWD forexecution. no rules or the statute,” the HC noted. TheHCadded:“Thepoorandmarginalised THEAURANGABADbenchoftheBombayHigh sanctioned development worksworth Rs 4 neededtobeundertakenand under the The courtheld thatnoprejudicewas The benchled by Justice Gangapurwala sectionslivinginruralinteriorpartsare denied Courtrecentlyobservedthatmanyvillagesand crorein127 villages from the zilla parishad to PanchayatRaj system, gram panchayat, pan- caused to the petitioners though theimple- added,“Basicamenitiesaretheessentialfoun- basic amenities in spiteofdedicated schemes hamlets aredeprivedofbasic amenities and the public worksdepartment. chayat samiti and zilla parishad arebound to mentingagencywaschangedandthatthegov- dation foradecent living and it enhances eco- andbudgetaryallocations.Stillthereare many thatpoliticsshouldnotcomeinthewayoftheir Adivision benchofJusticeSanjay V provide fundstocarry out the said works. ernment wasempoweredtoget good quality nomic growth and quality of life. The scope of villages and hamlets wherebasic amenities development. GangapurwalaandJusticeShrikantDKulkarni Salunkesaid thatinviewofthe changein of work donethrough the PWD. basic amenities includes safedrinking water, areaday dream. Politics should notcome in The court made the observations on washearingthewritpleafiledbyAlni,Ekurka, therulingpartyandundertheinfluenceofthe “It is notacase of political interference in sanitation,housing,allweatherroadto village, the wayofdevelopment of villages.” WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THESUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021 3 THE CITY

Localtrains for public from tomorrow: BMC’s heritage Cash-strappedBMCinfix RPF presence doubled,more entry-exit walk initiative beginswith tomeetitsrevenuetargets points, all ticket counters to operate groupof15 tions willalsobedoubled. however, hasnot gonedownwell Mumbai: The BMC’s Heritage EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Thestategovernmentandthe as manyfeel that it will notease Walk beganwiththe firstgroup Civic body aims to raise Rs 4,000crorebyfloatingmunicipal bonds MUMBAI,JANUARY30 Railwayshad on Fridayan- their problems of commuting to of 15 people on Saturday. nouncedthatallcategoriesof peo- andfrofromtheirworkplacedur- The group wasgreeted by on cash reservesisfalse. It might MUMBAI’S SUBURBAN railway plewouldbeallowedtoboard lo- ingthemorningandeveningrush MayorKishori Pednekar on the SANJANABHALERAO Forthe financial year of 2020-21, BMCisstaring be true five years back, butnot system is bracing itself for cal trains starting February1in a hours. “There should be no re- walk,whichisbeing conducted MUMBAI,JANUARY30 at ashortfall of nearly Rs 11,000crore, after anymore. Tappingintonew rev- Mondaywhenthe general public restrictedmanner.Apersonhold- strictions. Commuters should be by Khaki Tours and organisedby enue sources, disciplined spend- will be allowedtotravelbylocal ing avalid ticket or pass wouldbe allowedtoboard trains at all the MaharashtraTourism THE BRIHANMUMBAI failing to generateonlyRs11,616crore as income ing, streamliningofadministra- trains during non-peak hours. allowedtoboard trains till 7am, times, as wasbeing done before Development Corporation Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) from taxes, fees and premiums as against tive expenditure, municipal Anticipating thenumber of between 12 pm to 4pmand after the lockdown. Restrictions do (MTDC). Tourism and plan to float municipal bonds to itsrevenue target of Rs 28,448 crore bonds, levyingcharges, the en- dailypassengers to increase from 9pmtillthe lasttrain of the day nothelp people who areforced Environment MinisterAaditya raise Rs 4000 crore, stems from tryfee forthe floating population the existing over 18 lakh to 40 leaves. The proposal addedthat to spend hours everyday on the Thackeray also took the tour on the pinchthe country’s richest thatuses BMCs infrastructure, lakh, the authorities have taken travelbetween7amto12pmand road to commute to work,” said Saturday municipal corporation is feeling among others, aresome of the severalmeasures to prepare 4pmto9pm–deemedtobepeak Nazim Sayyed,aresident of Eachtour lasts around an due to falling revenues and its taxwill be exempted forhouses salaries, pensions, administra- methods,” said asenior civic of- themselves. hours –shouldbereserved only Kalyan, who is forced to use the hour and includesadetailed failuretotap intonewer sources up to 500squarefeet. With less tive expenses, interestistermed ficial. While earlier,entrypointsto forpeopleinvolvedinessential bus to travel to hisParel office. question-and-answer session at of income. than twomonths forthe current as revenue expenditure, which In 2020-21, the then munici- moststations were restricted,the servicesandthoseallowedbythe The decision to regulatethe the end. The heritagetours will While theBMC has failedto financial year to end, BMC has is moreorless the fixedoutgo- pal commissioner,Praveen authorities have decided to in- government.Suburbantrainserv- service on the nation’s largest be conducted over the week- meetits revenuetargets since nowbeguntoissue property tax ing of anyentity. Pardeshi dippedintothe re- crease the number of entryand ices have been shut since March commuter train networkhas ends and people can book the 2012,the gapbetween itsexpec- bills to these houses. The shortfallinrevenuehas serves to withdrawRs4,380 exit pointstofacilitatesmooth 23.WhileCRusedtooperate 1,774 causedhardships to manyresi- tour forRs300.The firstgroup of tations and reality has never The actual property taxcol- forced thecivic bodytoprepare crore. If the BMC continuestodip movementofpassengers. All services, Western Railway oper- dentsofMumbai'ssatellitecities, 15 people toured theiconic BMC been as starkasin2021. Forthe lected till December wasonlyRs aplan of cost-savinginall de- intoits available reserves of ticketcounters and ATVM ma- ated 1,367services eachday be- especially thepoor,duringthelast headquarters building and ex- financial year of 2020-21the 734crore,againstthe estimate partments. ?52,286crore in everybudget, chines will also be operated on fore lockdown. Presently, the 10 months.Asbusinessesopened, plored itsvarious features. The BMC is staring at ashortfall of of over Rs 4,000 crore. The real Ahead of the budget2021- the reserves aresuretorun dry full capacity.While the Central Railwaysisrunning2,985services manyofthecity’sworkforce,who firsttwo visitors were presented nearly Rs 11,000crore, afterfail- estate slumpalso contributed to 22, BMC has sought depart- in about adecade with the civic Railway (CR) will operateall lifts daily –95per centof3,141 serv- stay in farawaylocations, have amementobythe BMC. ing to generateonlyRs11,616 asteady drop in the income from mentstofind newsources of in- body’s increasing expenditures. and escalators in itsstations,the icesitran before thelockdown. seen their daily commutetime to The HeritageWalk initiative croreasincome from taxes, fees premiums. The income from real come and strictly implement the The BMC has another Rs 26,382 number of Railway Protection The decisiontorestrict travel Mumbai double with restricted wasinaugurated by CM Uddhav and premiums as againstthe estate premiums fell to Rs 708 existing ones. croreinits reserves whichcan- Forcepersonnel deployedonsta- timings forthe general public, access to local trains. Thackeray on Thursday. ENS revenue target of Rs 28,448 croreasofDecember2020,as The dip in the revenuesource notbeutilisedeveninemergen- crore. againstthe target of Rs 3,879 has pushedthe civic body to take cies as it has been allotted for KIRITSOMAIYA’SSON Since the discontinuation of crore. aharder look at howmuchitcan committed liabilities likeprovi- octroi in 2017,the BMC has had While the BMCs income is spend. It means either the civic dent fund, pensions, gratuity and QUIZZEDINEXTORTIONCASE to depend largely on property struggling to meetthe target,the body will have to find newareas other deposits. Mumbai: PoliceSaturdayrecorded the taxasits revenue source,which spending on capital workshas to increase itsincome or find a Forthe firsttime since it was statementofBJPcorporatorNeilSomaiya, makes up 24 percent of its already overshot as of December waytofund itsinfrastructure suggestedbyformer BMC sonofBJPleaderKiritSomaiya,inconnec- income. 2020. Againstthe target of Rs projects. Commissioner Sitaram Kuntein tion with an extortion case registered However, the collection of 5,744 crore, BMC has incurred Implementation of the in- 2014,the BMC is considering againsthis associates lastyear.Neil is not property taxisriddledwith is- capital expenditureofRs5,875 crease in the lease, rent and pre- raising municipal bonds. an accusedthe case and wasallowedto sues: thereare pendinglitiga- croreasofDecember 2020. miums of all vacant land tenancy “BMC cannotforever tapinto go afterhis statement wasrecorded. An tions,and due to alackofstrong "Our capital expenditureisas properties, through whichBMC itsreserves. Presently, BMCs cre- officer said an FIR wasregisteredlast laws against non-compliance, good as lastyear,and all work expectstomop up Rs 500-600 dentials aregoodand we can get JanuarybyMulund police in connection the listoftax defaulters is long. has takenoff post-monsoon.If croreannually, cutting down ad- an interestrateof6-6.5 per cent withanattempt to extort aprivate con- To mop up revenue from the we exclude the Rs 1,800crore we ministrative expenditureinclud- if we float the bonds now. The tractor.Thecomplainanthasallegedthat propertytax, the BMC in 2019 spent on Covid-19, ourexpendi- ing electricity,internetand bond period willbe10-15years," threepersons,whowere arrestedforde- had seizedmoveable properties turefor other departmentsand transportation bills, emphasis on the official said. manding Rs 1.5lakh, extorted himat suchascars and helicopters. projects hasnot sufferedatall,” property taxcollection and ref- Raising of municipal bonds Neil's office. DCP (Zone VII) Prashant However, none of these have said PVelrasu,additional munic- ormation in taxcollection mech- comes in with caution. “The Kadam said Neil's statement was been auctionedtill date. ipal commissioner. anism, implementation of estate moneyraisedfromthese bonds recordedonSaturday. Callsandmessages To addtothese problems, in Capital expenditurerefers to and marketredevelopment pol- needtobelinkedwiththe spe- to KiritSomaiyawent unanswered. ENS 2019,therewas confusionover the moneyspent on acquiring, icy,the introduction of fire serv- cific plannedfuture projects. exempting houses less than 500 creating,upgrading and main- ice feeamounting to Rs 50 crore Otherwise, these earnings squarefeetfromproperty tax. taining physical assets,and is the annually, areafew steps likelyto would go wasteinthe routine The civic administration has parametertolook out forto be proposedinthe upcoming work likeupkeep of drains or nowclarifiedthat onlythe gen- gauge the expensesoninfra- budget. roads among others,” said asen- eral component of the property structure. The amount spent on “The idea that BMC is sitting ior official. Raj Thackeray set to visit Ayodhya in March

The win, however, remains EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE facile forthe MNS that has MUMBAI,JANUARY30 steadilylostits base in Maharashtra.The Sena's decision IN AN attempt to shoreupits de- to join handswithCongress and clining electoral fortunes and oc- NCPisseen by many MNS lead- cupythe "Hindutvaspace" left ers as alifeline through whichthe partiallyvacant afterthe Shiv party can rebrand itself and oc- Senajoinedhands withCongress cupythe Hindutvaspace. They andNCP, MNSchiefRaj Thackeray believe that hardcoreSena ac- willbevisitingAyodhya in March. tivists,who aretroubledwith the Thackeray is expected to visit party's decision to jump ontothe Ayodhya betweenMarch 1and 9, "secularbandwagon" while still and the visit willbecoinciding keeping their distance from the with theparty's 15th anniversary BJP,may desertthe Sena to sup- on March 9. portthe MNS. The decision to visit Ayodhya As partofits "Hindutva wasmade at ameeting of the top makeover", the party also brass of the MNS leadership on changedits flag into all-saffron Friday. Thackeray,who floatedthe with the seal of Maratha warrior MNS in 2006 aftersplitting from king Chhatrapati Shivaji em- the ShivSena, hit the state's elec- bossedinthe middle. The flag was toralstage with abang by win- earlier saffron, blue and green ning 13 seatsinthe 2009 stripes. Assemblyelection. Thereisalso afeelingamong Since then, his party has only MNS leaders thatthe BJPmayalso spiralled, losingmembersaswell prop the MNS as acounterfoil to as popularity.Inthe 2019 the Senainthe upcoming BMC Assemblyelection, it wononlya elections. The MNS, in the 2017 single seat in Kalyanrural, where BMC polls, wonseven seats, a Pramod RatanPatil emergedas massive dip from the 28 it man- the winner. aged to win in 2012.

20.23 lakh TOTALCOVID-19CASES INMAHARASHTRA Active Cases 44,199 New Cases 2,630 TotalDeaths 51,042 New Deaths 42 Quarantined1.93lakh Tested 1.45 crore 3,08,492 TOTALCOVID-19 CASESINMUMBAI New Cases 429 TotalDeaths 11,345 New Deaths 7 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 MAHARASHTRA THE SUNDAYEXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021

Four detained COVID PATIENT FOUND DEADINJALGAON CIVIL HOSPITAL FARMERS’ AGITATION PM’S ALL-PARTY MEETING after MP tweets Pay Rs 5lakhcompensation to kin of patientwho Hazareon video of 2men died duetonegligence of hospital staff: HC to state whose side,Shiv Pawar:Newfarm waving guns at Sena asks after truck drivers the observation on January27 of thehospitaladministration.The governmentandcivilhospitalsare activist calls off lawswillaffect OMKARGOKHALE whilepassingajudgmentonaPIL concerneddoctors and staff usuallyfromweaker sectionsof Mumbai: Police have detained MUMBAI,JANUARY30 filedbysocialworkerPratibha nurses on duty prima facie seem societyastheycannotaffordtreat- hunger strike four people afterAurangabad MP Shinde and twoothers, who lost to be responsible forthe unfortu- ment in privateand corporate Imtiaz Jaleel tweetedavideo on THE AURANGABADbenchofthe lovedones to Covid-19inthe natedeath of Malati Nehete.” hospitals. “Shortcomings and MSP,weaken Saturday, showing twomen in a Bombay High Courthas recently Jalgaon hospital. The benchled by Justice lapses in providing immediate EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE carwavinggunsatatruckdriverin directedthe stategovernment to The petitioners, through sen- Gangapurwala said, “In awelfare medicaltreatmentamountstovi- MUMBAI,JANUARY30 abidto overtake thevehicleonthe payacompensation of Rs 5lakh iorcounsel Gayatri Singhand ad- state, it is the primaryduty of the olation of right to lifeguaranteed busyMumbai-PuneExpressway. within four months to the legal vocateAnkitKulkarni,alsosought government to secure welfareof underArticle 21 of the ADAY afteractivistAnna Hazare mandisystem TheAIMIMleaderallegedthatthe heirs of MalatiNehete (82),a ahigh-level inquiryunder the the people. Providing adequate Constitution. The statecannot calledoff his proposedhunger twomenwere ShivSenaactivists, Covid-19patient,whosepartially statechief secretaryintothe medical facilitiesfor the peopleis avoiditsconstitutionalobligation strike, ShivSena on Saturday butthepartyhasdeniedthesame. decomposedbodywasfoundina deaths at the Covid ward of the anessentialpartofobligationun- in that regard,” the HC observed. asked him to clarify hisstand on ThecarhastheSena'sinsignia toiletcubicleof Jalgaoncivilhospi- hospital. The stategovernment dertakenbythe government in a Disposing of the PIL, the HC the three newfarm laws and EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE of agrowlingtiger, andcanbeseen tallastJune. The courtalsosaid it said it has already suspendedal- welfarestate...Thepreservationof alsodirected principal secretary whether he supports thefarmers MUMBAI,JANUARY30 weaving through heavy traffic has no hesitation to hold that leged negligentofficials,initiated human lifeisofparamount im- (public health) to take appropri- protesting againstthem. Hazare Sharad withthe men inside waving guns Nehete died“dueto culpableneg- departmental inquiryand regis- portance.Thegovernmentisduty ateaction on basisofareport wastosit on an indefinitehunger CHIEF OF the NCP, Sharad Pawar Pawar to scare truckdrivers away to ligence of doctors, nurses and teredanFIR in the matter. bound to provide timelycareof submitted by athree-member strikefromJanuary30insupport on Saturdayreiterated hiscon- makeway."This is on Pune- paramedic staffonduty...”. Noting that the PIL seeking patientsinserious conditions. committee and anotherbythe of protesting farmers but calledit cernsoverthenewfarmlaws stat- Mumbai expressway in Adivision benchofJustice compensation was“certainly Medical facilities and treatment Jalgaon district collector into offafter meeting BJP leaders. ing that their implementation tweeted. Maharashtra!Thelogoontheve- SanjayVGangapurwala and maintainable”,the benchob- cannotcircumvent at anycost.” the deaths at the civil hospital “WhatisAnna’sstandonagri- wouldadverselyaffectMinimum Pawaralso said he wascon- hicle says it all! ShivSainiksbran- JusticeShrikant DKulkarni made served, “It is acase of negligence Itaddedthatpeoplecomingto “as expeditiouslyaspossible”. cultureandfarmlaws thatwillde- SupportPrice (MSP) and weaken cernedabout the amended dishing revolvers while trying to stroy thefarmers? Does Anna the mandi system. Essential Commodities Act. makeway fortheir vehicle on supportthe farmers who are "The newlawswill adversely ''Accordingto theAct,thegovtwill Fridaynight.Can HM/DG take protesting againstthese laws on impact the MSP procurement in- intervene forprice control onlyif note of this lawlessness!" Jaleel Providedetails on status of setting up anti-human the Singhuborder? Whose side frastructure, therebyweakening ratesofhorticultural produce are tweeted.Soonafterhistweet,po- Annaison? At least,Maharashtra the mandi system. The MSP increasedby100percentandthat lice detainedfourmen. The Shiv trafficking unitsinall districts,HCtellsstate should knowthe answers to all mechanismhasto beensuredand of non perishableitems increase Sena, however, deniedthat the thesequestions,”saidaneditorial strengthenedfurther," Pawar by 50 per cent. Stockpiling limits men were from their party."Ato- status of setting up anti-human JusticeGirishSKulkarnion sought directions to theauthor- inthepartymouthpieceSaamana. tweetedaftertakingpartintheall- have beenremovedonfoodgrain, taloffour men have been de- OMKARGOKHALE trafficking units(ATHU) across all January27passedthesedirec- ities to setupATHUs in everydis- The editorial addedthat the cen- party meeting with Prime pulses,onion,potato,oilseedsetc. tained.Of thetworevolversseized MUMBAI,JANUARY30 districts. It also asked the central tions whilehearing aPIL filedby trict and hand over the investiga- tralgovernmentistryingto crush MinisterNarendraModi,inwhich Itmayleadto apprehensionsthat from them, one is fake.None of governmentifthe proposalofthe NGORescueFoundation, work- tion of all related cases to these the agitation and has cornered issues related to the proposed corporatesmay purchase com- themareassociatedwiththeShiv THE BOMBAY High Court re- statetoset up ATHUs hasbeen ing forthe rehabilitationofhu- units. farmersbycuttingoff water, elec- agenda forthe Budget session, moditiesatlowerratesandstock- Sena," said MinisterofState for centlydirected the stategovern- accepted.Adivisionbenchof man trafficking victims, seeking The state government, during tricity and food supplies. “The farmers' agitation, women's bill, pile and sell at higher prices to Home ShambhurajeDesai. ENS ment to provide details on the Chief JusticeDipankar Dattaand directivestothe statetoimple- earlier hearings, had said it was farmershave beenissuedlookout among others,werediscussed. consumers,''hetweeted. ment the amendedanti-human keen to coordinatewith other notices,asif they areeconomicof- Pawarsaid while reforms Addressing afarmers' rallyat trafficking lawinletterand spirit. states to strengthen inter-state fenders.What is Anna’s stand on were necessary, they couldnotbe Azad Maidan in Mumbai on The NGO, throughadvocate cooperationonrescue, rehabili- it?”itasked. at thecostofdemolishingasys- January25, Pawarhad accused ChetanMali, claimedthatthe tation, safereturn, transfer and It pointed out thatwhen tem. ''Reform is acontinuous Modi of displaying "complete in- statehas enabledsettingupof reintegration of victims of traf- Manmohan Singh wasPrime process and no one would argue difference and insensitivity" to- suchunits in only 12 of 36 dis- ficking and prosecution of of- Minister, Hazarevisited New againstthe reforms in the APMCs wardsfarmers protesting forthe trictsand this wasinsufficient.It fenders. The government affi- Delhi twice to hold an agitation. (agriculture producemarketcom- past60days on the outskirts of davit further statedthatwhile 12 “Then BJP added fuel to it. In the mittee) or mandisystem; aposi- Delhi,andhadwarnedthatangry ATHUs have come up, 24 new lastseven years, people arefrus- tive argument on the same does farmers could bringdowngov- ones arebeing setupinthe re- trated by various decisions of the notmeanthatitisdoneto weaken ernments. maining 24 districts.Asper the Modigovernment–fromdemon- or demolishthe system,''hesaid. "Let it be known that if you affidavit, Mumbai, Thane Rural, etisation to lockdown. But Anna ''During my tenure, the draft persistwithlawsthat aredetri- Thane city,Pune, Sangli, Nagpur, didnotsay anything.Doesitmean APMC Rules, 2007,wereframed mental to farmers, it willhavese- Ahmednagar,NaviMumbai, thatagitationsshouldbeheldonly forsetting up specialmarkets, riousramifications.If thelaws are Solapur city, Beed, Kolhapur and during the Congress regime? Has therebyprovidingalternateplat- enforced, farmers willbeup- YavatmalhaveATHUs at present. Ramrajya come?”askedtheSena. forms forfarmers to market their rooted. And anyattempt to do so AdvocateDPSingh, repre- Hazare,speakingto themedia, commodities, and utmostcare will lead to farmersusingtheir senting the Centre, sought time said his agitations were forthe wasalso takentostrengthen the mightto uprootthegovernment," to obtain instructions regarding countryand society,irrespective existing mandi system,'' he Pawarhad then said. the status of the proposal. The of the party.“It is notabout BJP, court askedhim to apprise it Shiv Sena or Congress. We held whether the proposal has been agitationswhenwe sawdecisions acceptedornot during the next notinthe interestofthe country State raises Maratha hearingonFebruary17. and society,” he added. quota, border dispute with Karnataka

Karnataka government,” he EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE added. MUMBAI,JANUARY30 On the issueofMaratha reservation, which has been IN THE all-party meeting chaired stayed by the SC, Raut said: “The by PrimeMinisterNarendraModi topcourthas issuedanotice to on Saturdayaheadofthe tabling the Centre while staying the of the Budget in the Parliament, reservation. So, the Centre should ShivSena soughtthat the dis- hold discussions with the stateto puted area on the Maharashtra- understand itsside andplead in Karnataka borderbedeclared an the SC to revoke the stay on UnionTerritory, Centre’sinterven- Maratha reservation.” tion in Maratha reservation issue He raisedtheseissuesaweek andmakingCovid-19vaccinefree afterChief MinisterUddhav forpeople living BelowPoverty Thackeray had asked MPs from Line (BPL)and senior citizens. Maharashtra–cutting across all VinayakRaut, ShivSena MP party lines –totakeupMaratha and party'sleader in the Lok reservation and Maharashtra- Sabha, said the Maharashtra- Karnataka border disputeduring Karnataka border disputehas the Budget Session of the been pending foryearsinthe Parliament. Supreme Court. “Until the court The Sena leader also de- givesafinalverdict, the disputed mandedthatCovid-19vaccinebe area, including Belgaum-Karwar, givenfreeofcosttopeople be- should be declaredanUnion longing to the BPL categoryand Territory. Thiswillfreethepeople senior citizens. “TheUnion gov- residing in the area from the in- ernment mustbear the financial justice metedout to thembythe cost,” he added.

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THESUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021 5 EXPRESS NETWORK Elgaar Parishad Specialcourt: POCSO BJP cancels Punjabseesprotestrevivalas 2021: Arundhati Act deals with offences Tiranga Yatra Roy calls after face-off morepeopleheadfordoorsofDelhi for resistance against children, accused with farm stir againstRSS then panchayat will bear ex- to be punished under it supporters ANJUAGNIHOTRICHABA& penses for its repair. With signa- RAKHIJAGGA turesof over1,700 voters,theres- CHANDANHAYGUNDE JALANDHAR,LUDHIANA, olution carries the signatures of PUNE,JANUARY30 insteadofIPC Sec 354 DIVYAGOYALGOPAL JANUARY30 the sarpanch – Manjeet Kaur. LUDHIANA,JANUARY30 Gurpreet Singh, one of those AUTHOR on accused then ran away. AFTER SEEMINGLYgoing on the who signed the resolution, said: Saturday called for a united SADAFMODAK An FIR was filed under TENSION PREVAILED in the Old backfootfollowingtheviolenceon “Thoughwe areregularly goingto fight against “Bramhanical” MUMBAI,JANUARY Section 8 of the POCSO Act and City area of Ludhiana Saturday Republic Day during the tractor the borders (of Delhi) since and “capitalist” forces in the Section 354 of the IPC, and the after traders and shopkeepers, rally in Delhi, farmers' unions of November 26, this fresh an- country and that the struggle A SPECIAL court in Mumbai re- accused was subsequently ar- raising slogans in support of Punjab are now witnessing a re- nouncement has been done to should be named as “Satya cently held that since the rested. Section 8 of the POCSO protesting farmers, did not allow newed vigour,withmanyvillage- beat the rumours that after Shodhak Resistance (SSR)” Protection of Children from Act prescribes punishment for a Tiranga Yatra by the BJP to pro- level committees sending a large Republic Day episode morcha is against the Rashtriya Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act is a sexual assault of a minor. Sexual ceed forcing the saffron party to number of people – and not just about to end and people have Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). special provision dealing with assault under Section 7 of the Act cancel the programme. The local farmers – to support the move- started coming back.” “Ye wajood ki ladai hai (This is offences against children, an ac- includes an act done with sexual BJP unit later said that the yatra mentagainstthenewagricultural In another resolution passed a fight for existence)... In this city cused is to be punished under intent, which involves physical has been ‘postponed’ following laws. In several villages, people by Nangal Kalan village of Mansa, (Pune) where Dr B R Ambedkar the Act and not under Section contact without penetration. orders from party’s state leader- said they were moved by the ithasbeenstatedthatonevillager was ‘blackmailed’ to sign the 354 (outraging modesty of a While Section 8 has a minimum ship. videoof farmleaderRakeshTikait from each house will go to Delhi Poona Pact, the place where woman) of the Indian Penal punishment of three years, a The BJP had planned to take gettingemotionaloverhowfarm- morcha forminimumseven days Savitribai and Jyotiba Phule did Code. person convicted under Section out a ‘Vishal Tiranga Yatra’ to con- erswere beingbrandedasterror- and the ones who cannot go will their revolutionary work, we can The facts of the case before 354 of the IPC can be sentenced demn the January 26 violence in ists. They said several farm lead- give Rs 1,500 that can be con- name our struggle... May be, it the special court are similar to to a minimum of one year in jail. Delhi during the farmers' parade. ersinPunjabneededto learnfrom tributed to the ongoing struggle. should be called ‘Satya Shodhak the one decided by the Bombay The special court held that The yatra was to start from MC Tikait’s dedication. “Thisfundcanbeusedfor fuel Resistance’ (SSR)... RSS ke khilaf High Court's Nagpur bench on both offences under Section 354 Zone A office and move via Around 150 vehicles pro- Farmers, their families at Mansa railway station to board a expensesorevenfor repairof trac- khada SSR...” she said, speaking January 19, where the man was and Section 8 of the POCSO Act Meena Bazaar Chowk, Girjaghar ceededtowards DelhionSaturday train to Delhi to join the protests. Express tors going to Delhi,” said Nazam at the ‘Elgaar Parishad 2021’ held acquitted under the POCSO Act were proven against the ac- Chowk, Kesarganj Mandi Chowk fromPhagwara undertheleader- Singh, one of the villagers. in Pune. but held guilty under Section cused. It took into consideration before culminating at Mahatma ship Kirpal Singh of Bharti Kisan Addressing the media in Activists of the ‘Bhima 354 of the IPC stating that there Section 42 of the POCSO Act, Gandhi’s statue in Ludhiana. Union (BKU) Doaba, while a large from each village home to the week. The resolution said that Chandigarh on Saturday, BKU Koregaon Shourya Din Prerna was no "skin to skin contact with which states that, in such cases, The BJP workers carrying the number of youths accompanied dharnas on the borders of Delhi. thosenotcomplyingwiththede- president Balbir Singh Rajewal Abhiyan’, who blame Hindutva sexual intent by the accused". the offender is liable to punish- Tricolour and led by district pres- the BKU (Rajewal) leaders. Virk Khurd village panchayat cision will befined Rs 1,500 and if said,“It(protest)was hitfor aday- leaders Sambhaji Bhide and The Supreme Court stayed ment under whichever law has ident Pushpinder Singal start the Meanwhile, to shore up the in district Bathinda passed a res- a person refuses to pay the fine, and-a-half.Now farmersareagain Milind Ekbote for the Koregaon the HC judgment on January 27 punishment "greater in degree". yatra while raising slogans such dwindling numbers at protest olution on January 27 mandating the village will boycott that per- rushing to Delhi borders to Bhima violence, decided to hold with Attorney General KK "Though the offences punish- as ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Tirange ka sites,several panchayatsinPunjab thatonevillagerfromeachhouse- son.Theresolutionalsostatedthat protest.We arethankfulto Tikait- the Elgaar Parishad again on Venugopal submitting before able under Section 354 of the IPC apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan’, have started passing resolutions hold will go to the Delhi borders if any villager’s vehicle gets dam- sahib.We willinvitehimto Punjab December 31, 2020, but Pune the court that it is likely to "set a and under Section 8 of the and ‘Vande Mataram’. asking people to sendone person and stay there for at least one aged during the Delhi morcha and honour him.” police denied permission for it dangerous precedent". In the POCSO Act are proved,in view of Soon, a group led by traders citing Covid-19 and law and or- special court's order delivered on the mandate of Section 42 of the and shopkeepers from Akalgarh der reasons. January 18, a 17-year-old girl, POCSO Act, the accused has to be market started protesting. The Haryana khaps decide to use temple speakers to beat internet curbs Police, however, granted per- who was visiting a public toilet punished under the provisions of protesters, carrying the national mission for the Elgaar Parishad in her locality, was pulled by a the POCSO Act as this is the spe- flag, Nishan Sahib and one sup- form committees in eachofthe anywhere,quickannouncements 2021 event held on Saturday. The 25-year-old man into his home. cial provision dealing with of- porting farmers' agitation, raised SUKHBIRSIWACH 306villagesinwhichtheyhavein- willbemadefromtheloudspeak- day-longconferencewas inaugu- He then pressed her breasts and, fences against children. So, the slogans such as ‘Jai Jawan Jai CHANDIGARH,JANUARY30 fluence to ensurequickreaction ers of villagetemples asking the rated at the Ganesh Kala Krida when she began shouting, he accused is to be punished under Kisan’, ‘Vyapari Kisan Ekta incasegovernmentmakesanyef- farmerstogather.Not onlythis, Manch with tearing of posters on clamped her mouth shut. She Section 8 of the POCSO Act and Zindabad’, ‘Hindu Sikh Ekta AS HARYANA governmentex- fort to forciblyremove protesters thikri pehras will be undertaken thefarmlaws, CAA-NRC, newed- pushed him away and began not under Section 354 of the IPC," Zindabad’. They also blocked the tended the mobile internet sus- from dharnasites. by the farmers in villages to re- ucation policy and Unlawful shouting, following which her the court said, sentencing the ac- way and did not allow BJP yatra pension in state’s 17 districtsfor The panchayatwas held at main alertroundthe clock. We Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). cousins rushed to her rescue. The cused to three years in jail. to proceed. another day“to prevent anydis- Khatkar toll plaza on Jind-Patiala mayplan blockageofroads,ifthe turbance of peace and public or- At Khatkar toll plaza on highway inwhichalarge number internetservices arenot restored der”, the farmers protesting Jind-Patiala highway. of women tooparticipated.The early as the move is affecting on- againstthe agri laws hit upon an Manoj Dhaka newstrategy wasformulated af- line studies of studentsahead of ‘We feel warmth, friendship idea to bypassthe ban. Theyhave tertheauthoritiestriedtoremove exams,” said Azad Palwa, leader decidedtousetempleloudspeak- farmers from Ghazipur border of of Dhadan khap of Jind district. ers to maketheir voice heardand Duringapanchayat,leadersof UP-Delhi Thursdaynight. PalwaisalsoJinddistrictpresident on mutual trust...feel safe here’ makemessagesreachallvillagers. 17 khapsofJinddistrictdecidedto “If anysuchmove is repeated of the BKU. After decades, Tikaits TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE A DAYafter a low-intensity blast A note that has been found is the assurances that India is going took place outside Israel’s em- addressed to you, the Israeli to take all measures needed to bassy in Delhi, Israel’s ambassa- ambassador, which says that protect Israeli representatives of west UP take centre NUMBER OF dor RON MALKA speaks with this is just a trailer. It also here. VACCINATIONS SHUBHAJIT ROY. Excerpts: names two Iranian figures Second, to fulfill a full investi- stage in capital again (JAN 30) who were killed. Does this gation that will make out what 2,06,130 On Friday evening, there was a point to the involvement of happened here. So in these spe- low-intensity blast outside the possible players? cialtimes,we feelthewarmth,the of protesting farmers -- inadver- Total:37,06,157 Israeli embassy in . AsIsaid,theinvestigationisin strong friendship and commit- DAKSHPANWAR tentlygalvanising protestersin How did you come to know itsearly stages,soIcannotrefer to mentthatisbasedonmutualtrust NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 western UP and Haryana. The re- NUMBER OF ADVERSE about it? themindetail.Itmightevenharm and mutual respect – we feel safe inforcements came in as aray of EVENTS AFTER Oursystemisveryimmediate, theinvestigationto get to anyspe- here.We knowthattheIndianau- BETWEEN 1987 and2001, ase- hope foranagitation that has IMMUNIZATION so once it [the blast] happened I cific details, but I can share with thoritiesaredoingwhateverthey ries of political misadventures facedintense pressure afterthe got themessagethatgoes[out]for you thatwe arenotscared,andno can to protect us and to support, triggered asteadydecline in the January26violence, and in the 71 diplomats.Oncethathappens,we one can deter us. We are going to andwe arereallythankfulforthat. aura of thecountry’s mostcharis- process, Rakesh found his mo- Total:2,491 arealways alert,always prepared. continue to thrive and to grow, matic farm leader Mahendra ment under the sun. Andespeciallyinthelastfew days THEEXPRESS and even to expand the relations Has Israeli PM Benjamin Singh Tikait, and with it Sisauli, a CASES: ACTIVECASES:1,69,824 and weeks, there were some between Israel and India because Netanyahu and PM Narendra bustling Muzaffarnagarvillage Political debut 334 DAYSSINCE 1,07,33,131 DEATHS:1,54,147 events and some threats and we INTERVIEW if this was the target...they are not Modi been in touch, or have nestledamidstsugarcane fields On the 33-km drive from PANDEMIC raisedthelevel of alertof alldiplo- going to achieve it, because you they been updated about this whichwentfrombeingcalled Muzaffarnagar to Sisauli, thereis BEGAN TESTS: 19,58,37,408 | RECOVERIES: 1,04,09,160 mats, and security. WITH know yesterdaywhenthisevilat- incident? “Kisano ki Rajdhani” (farmers’ achance one mayencounter RON So the message spread very tack was conducted,we just cele- I don’t know about being in capital) to “Jaton ki Rajdhani” youngsters running alongside CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS fast [after the blast] and we re- MALKA bratedthe29thanniversaryof the touch.Of course,theyareupdated (capital of the Jats) to “Baliyano bullock-carts andtractor-trolley - JAN29 13,083 13714,808 7,56,329 ISRAEL AMBASSADOR alised that there was something TO INDIA establishment of foreign diplo- and they know exactly what’s ki Rajdhani” -- capital of the -not aspiring marathoners but that was happening. We took all maticrelationsbetweenIsraeland happened. This is not something Baliyankhapheaded by Tikait. preparing forthe next “Dilli STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES precautions. India. It was a celebration for a that you just go on with. So of And thenhewould getasec- Police ki bharti”. In these parts, CASES(JAN29) TOTAL The embassy is in a very high- thriving and growing, expanding course they are updated. ond wind.In2001, Tikait, on theysay aDelhi Policesipahi is Kerala 6,2689,17,631 You said there were threats security area. Does this tell you and fruitful, and rewarding rela- whose call lakhs occupiedthe equal to a100-bigha farmer, Maharashtra2,771 20,21,184 from the last few days. What about some kind of tions between Israel and India. It The cooperation between the Boat Club lawnsinthe national sortedfor life. Sisauli alone has Tamil Nadu 509 8,37,327 kind of threats were these – if intelligence lapse from the might not be a coincidence, but it two nations really capital in 1988, wasstruggling to senthundreds of foot-soldiers to you can elaborate. Indian side or anywhere else? might be.So, all options out there strengthened since the 26/11 musternumbers foraprotestat Delhi Police. One of them was STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS(TODAY) Therearesomeeventsallover I don't think so. At the end of (are being) investigated. Mumbai terror attack. This the Muzaffarnagar town hall. Rakesh Tikait. DEATHS(JAN29) TOTAL the world — some of them are re- the day, those terrorists, the per- cooperation that has been Thinking that the modestgath- Had he notquit the jobat28 Maharashtra5952,237 lated to Israel; assassinations and petrators, didn't reach, didn’t get Within hours, there was ongoing, is that helping right ering wasbeinganuisance, an and joinedhis father when he Kerala 22 3,752 different operations that some (to) the target. They tried, but contact between the two sides. now between the two sides? overzealous sub-divisionalmag- wasleading his breakthrough Punjab115,601 terrorists were killed. Israel was they couldn't do anything and Can you please tell us about AsIalways say, IsraelandIndia istrateordered lathi-charge,and demonstration —in1987against blamed for that. It [threats] came couldn’t do any harm. In that these conversations? not only share values and inter- in the ensuing chaosthe sexage- electricity bills near Shamli — DataasonJanuary29,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical from Iran, from Hezbollah in case, I don’t think that we can say First, I can say that it’s these ests,butwe alsosharesimilarhos- narianfarm leader fell withanin- who knows he mighthavebeen Researchandstategovernments. Lebanon,andotherplacesthatare or talk about any lapse. But still, special times, the strong and tilities and threats, and countert- jurytohis forehead. Images of a on the other side of the divideto- goingto retaliate....Soitwas there the investigation is in its early warm friendship between us re- errorism is one of them. woundedTikait in the papers the day, trying to implement the gov- SII applies for trials of another vaccine last[few] weeks,therewere these stages; we need to understand ally reflects itself because, as you Of course the terror attack of next dayledto an outpourofsup- ernment orders againstprotest- kinds of threats... in these times, what happened there. mentioned,justafter thisblast the 2008 in Mumbai put us together. port the farmer leader hadn’t ers. Pune: Serum InstituteofIndia Swedish companyAstraZeneca. we don’t underestimate our ene- Take the pieces, build the External Affairs Minister of India, We were both hurt from this at- seeninyears. But Rakesh, second of Tikait’s CEOAdar Poonawalla Saturday In atweet,Poonawalla said, “Our mies and we take seriously every puzzle (with) pieces of informa- Dr Jaishankar, called our minister tack. Sowe understandthatinor- Twenty yearslater,on four sons, has always been abit said his firm has appliedtostart partnership foraCOVID-19vac- threat. tion from different places, evi- of foreign affairs, Mr Gabi der to defeat terror, we need to Thursdaynight at the Ghazipur of arebel. While his father tried the trials of another COVID-19 cine with @Novavax has also So we raised the level of alert dence from the scene. We are Ashkenazi. The Foreign Secretary collaborate to work together, to border,asimilar chordwas hardtomaintainanapolitical im- vaccine and that it hopes to publishedexcellentefficacy re- (and) we were prepared. We are gathering all (this) together – (it calledourDG,ForeignAffairs.The join forces since terrorism is a struck, this time by his son age, Rakesh dabbledinpolitics launchitbyJune 2021. sults. We have also appliedto notsurprised.AsIsraelidiplomats is a) joint effort of Israeli security NSA in India called our NSA. global disease. Rakesh, who brokedownduring and failed miserably. SII has already produced starttrials in India. Hope to areall over the world, we areal- authorities and Indian security And of course theyoffered FULLREPORTON apress conference as police per- FULLREPORTON Covishield, co-developedbythe launch#COVOVAX by June ways prepared. authorities. theirsupport,theirassistanceand www.indianexpress.com sonnel movedintoclear the site www.indianexpress.com University of Oxfordand British- 2021!” PTI Authoritarianism, majoritarianism played role in 2019 polls: Ansari in new book

MinisterNarendraModi, one of Ansari also says that formany nationalism and the closing of ness of language, ethnicity,reli- adopteddolittle credit to the passed in the din and that nor- DIPANKARGHOSE them being when he had justbe- decades afterIndependence, a the mind is also ‘a manifestation gion, territoryand culturewas regime of Rule of Lawand the mal procedures of obtaining NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 come Vice President and was “pluralistviewofnationalism of insecurity about one’splace in administeredsuccessfullytoa principlesofdemocracy pro- consent will be observed.He calledonbyModi, then Gujarat and Indianness” characterized the world,” he says. little over athirdofthe elec- fessedbythe Republic. They then said thatthe RajyaSabha FORMER VICE President Hamid Chief Minister. “I referred to the India’s thinking, but recentlyhas Ansari writes in the book: torate...It is evident that asub- amount to what has been called TV wasnot favourable to the Ansari has said in his newauto- post-Godhrahappenings in his been supplanted by onethat “The success of populism version of corevalues is nowun- ‘a showofbrutemajoritarian- government. My responsewas biographythat “authoritarian- statein2002and asked whyhe “threatens to rule out dissent”. (rightlydepicted notasanideol- derway, an exercise that touches ism,”itsays. that while Ihad arole in the es- ism, nationalism and majoritar- allowedittohappen. He said “Morerecently, aversion of ogy but rather astrategytoob- everycitizen and leavesnone Ansari also recountsthat tablishment of the channel, I ianism” playedarole in the 2019 that people look at onlyone as- nationalism that places cultural tain and retain power, and thriv- untouched. Itsimpact is com- around “2014-15” Prime had no control overthe edito- election and that a“subversion pect of thematter and paynoat- commitmentsatits coreand ing on conspiracy, poundedbythe abdication or MinisterModihimself walked rial contentand that acommit- of corevalues is nowunderway”. tention to thegoodworkhehas promotesintolerance and arro- criminalizationofall opposition, failureofother social and politi- intohis RajyaSabha office un- teeofRajya Sabha members, in The book,ByManyaHappy initiated, particularly forthe ed- gant patriotism has tendedtoin- playing up external threats) cal forces to comprehend itstrue scheduledand sought to know whichthe BJP wasrepresented, Accident, is on Ansari's life as a ucation of Muslim girls. Isought trude intoand take over the po- The book, By ManyaHappy proved itself in the 2019 general natureand the urgency to whyhewas notpassing aBill providedbroad guidance to the diplomat,AMU V-Cand then itsdetailsand suggestedthat he litical and cultural landscape. Accident,isonAnsari’s lifeas election. It wasassistedbyau- counter it.” amid the din in the House. “I channel, adding that from all ac- Vice President and RajyaSabha should publicize it;‘that does not One manifestation of it is ‘an in- adiplomat, AMU V-Cand thoritarianism, nationalism and The book also touchesonthe repliedthat the Leader of the counts, the channel’s pro- Chairman fortwo terms. It also suit me politically’ wasthe re- creasinglyfragilenational ego’ then Vice President and majoritarianism. Thisideologi- Centre's steps in the erstwhile House and his colleagues, when grammesand discussions were contains severalaccountsof vealingly candid response”, the that threatens to rule out anydis- RajyaSabha Chairman cal potion, premisedsimplisti- stateofJammu and Kashmir. in Opposition, hadappreciated appreciatedbythe viewers,” the Ansari's interactionswith Prime book says. sent howeverinnocent. Hyper- callyonthe desirability of one- “The sleight-of-hand tactics the ruling that no bills will be book says. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 CALENDAR THE SUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021 YOURWEEKAHEAD BRIDGE SUNDAY CROSSWORD 2306 If it’s your Dealer: South,Vulnerable:North South ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sep 24 -Oct 23) QUICKCLUES NORTH Birthday Mars, your ruling Thegroup of planets ACROSS ♠ Q872 6. Suggests or givesacue ? planet, is still offering which will be aligned WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH yousolidsupport, withyoursign over ❤J2 (7) even if it is alittle the coming months ♦ 1094 1S 7. Extreme (5) Pass 2S dbl 4S 9. Means of moving water(4) SundayJanuary31 over-emotional. Your energy is urging youtomake ♣Q865 10.Faltering, foundering or wavering maytherefore swing from one fundamental reforms in your 5C Pass Pass 5S Confusion regarding children and younger SOUTH (10) extreme to another,yet always whole life.However, your Pass Pass Pass 11.Disparage(8) relations should be clearedupwith alittle the general movement will be in experience, wisdom and ♠ AJ10964 13.Demand or assert extraattention to detail. If there’s one item apositive, forwarddirection. maturity mean that, in the (6) future, youwillhavemuch ❤Q105 of valuable advice, it is listentothe facts, TAURUS (Apr 21 -May 21) ♦ AKJ7 15.Doublereed(4) greatercontrol over the final 17.Label differently (5) Current outcome of your actions. ♣ 18.Drumbeat (4) MondayFebruary1 communication Southplaysin5Safteracompetitivesequence. Southwasalittleoptimisticwith 19.(Degree) from Cambridge(abbr. Prosperous stars lie ahead. There’ll be difficulties will be SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 23) his5Sbidbutinfairness,Northshouldhavedoubled5C. Thatwouldhavegone (6) nobody as skilledasyou at makinga easedbythe This week is not downtwoorthree tricks. 20. By ahair’sbreadth, in away ?(8) profitable investment. At work,you have relationship of Mercurytoyour exactlyset to be a South got the lead of thejack of clubs, which he ruffed. With two heart losers 23. Paralysis of both lowerlimbs(10) sign, whichishelpingyou to time of peace and andpotentiallosersinspadesanddiamonds,Southwasnotabigfavourite.The 26. From (2,2) thebestideas,andif colleaguesfailto listen, bidding, however, had beeninformative. Southfoundaline based on the bid- think clearly.Mars and Saturn, quiet, at leastnot as dingthattoldhimthatEasthadthehighcardpoints andWesthadtheclubs. 27.Nonsense(5) that’s their problem. on the other hand,are sending farasthe celestial spheres are Obviously,Southmightdecidetolaydowntheaceofspadesinsearchofasin- 28. Mauveflowers (7) youchallenging patterns, concerned.You have everything gletonking. Thatisagainsttheodds. Probably,finessingforthekingofspades DOWN indicating that youmusttakea going foryou,yet somewhere isabetteridea.AssumingSouthisgoingtodothat,howshouldheplaythehand? 1. Tribute(10) TuesdayFebruary2 moreflexible attitude, alongthe line it looksasifyou TheWestHand: S-3H-8643 D-86C-KJ10742 2. Outcome (6) You’reacombination of great vulnerability TheEastHand:S-K5H-AK97 D-Q532C-A93 3. United States InformationService, abandoning some of the mightmakeablunder,perhaps Southneedstogettodummy. Onewayistoruffaheart. Anotherwayistoset and fieryconfidence.That’s arecipefor acronym ?(4) your expectations.. betraying aconfidence or up aheart trickand to discard one of dummy's diamonds. That will let South success if youcan promote your owngoals revealing secret plans. ruffadiamondtodummy.Soisitheartsfirst? 4. Full of activity(8) GEMINI(May22-June 21) 5. Coup d’- ___ :changeofGovt. and ambitions with sensitivity and an Itis. Leadahearttothejack. Eastwillwinandwillreturntheaceofclubs,which Mercury, your ruling SAGITTARIUS (Nov 24 -Dec 23) Southruffs. Continue hearts, losing this trick to East, who continues with an- (4) awareness of what familymembers need. otherclub. Youruffandcashthetopheart. Dummy'sdiamondgoesonthistrick 6. Shortbreak (5) planet, is behaving Mars is still the andnowyoudonothaveanydiamondlosers. 8. Memoryloss (7) work with ajemmy(6) 21.Cope with ahorse capturedby itself foronce.Mind critical factor,driving Following the original plan, South plays the ace and king of diamonds. If West 12.Pop singer ___ John (5) 20. Supporter of public enlightenment myself(6) WednesdayFebruary3 you, youmight have youforward with its ruffsin,theplanfallsapart.Doyouthink there isanychancethat Westwillruff (8) 22. One might paytohaveitout It hasn’t been easy over the pastyear,but to resign yourselftothe fact that relentless power. Yet theseconddiamond? Howoftenwillthathappen? 14.Stifled (10) Virtuallynever. Whatever West has in clubs, they cannot have been overly at- 16.Brazenlyobvious (7) 23. It’s wonderful beinggodlike(10) (5) nobody can denythat you’vegainedin partners could disagree with possiblyyourmajor period is tractive.Ifhehadasingletondiamondhewouldhavebeenhappierleadingthat. 17.Revolted(8) 26. Apresagefor me:nogoing back 24.Grudgethe better-offfortuned(4) statureafter all you’vebeenthrough. You’ll you, and mayevendecline to mid-weekwhen your financial BRIDGE TIP: Playerslead singletons all too often as it is. If someone makes a 21.Logic (6) outside! (4) 25. Drinkbrought in around (4) offeryou thesupportthat you fantasieswill collidewith the boringlead,hedoesnotratetohaveasingleton. 22. Vandalizes or robs (5) 27.Bringbacksin to the north and soonknowthatthefutureismuchbrighter. believeyou deserve. From your real world. Hopefully, the result Given that West does not have asingleton diamond, you can ruff adiamond in 24.Musicalsolo (4) become energetic (5) Solutions to 2305 point of view,it’sbestto willbeaprofit! Youmay have to dummy. Thiswillsucceedalmostallofthetime. Whenyougettodummywith 28. Practical joke-enough to land you adiamondruffyoucantakethespadefinesse,making5SwhenEasthastheking. 25. Hand over(4) ThursdayFebruary4 listencarefully. travel in search of social or CRYPTIC CLUES in forastretch (3-4) West's 5C bid. He expected that South could make 4S and his 5C bid was an QUICKCLUESAcross: 6Dribble,7 There’s muchgoing on behindthe scenes, romantic fulfilment. ACROSS DOWN effort to either escape for asmall penalty or to push South to 5S. This was a Planner,9Skein,10Enunciate,11 and you’ll be keepingsecrets from people CANCER (June22-July23) goodbidbyWest. 6. Averagelifespan in selfish times ? 1. They enable supporterstorise Replica,13Ethane,15Paraphernalia,19 Although your CAPRICORN (Dec.23-Jan. 20) Dealer: North,Vulnerable:NorthSouth above the head (10) (4,3) Apiary,20Nouveau,23Fireproof,24 whooughtto knowwhat’sgoingon.Bothat personalprospects Solar patterns bring 7. Lofty operator responsible forBlair 2. Cowboydevelopingacough (6) NORTH SOUTH(YOU) Wharf,26Rustles,27Systole.Down:1 work and at home, be fair with all. arestill looking good, to mindthe ancient being withoutone-to-one(3,2) 3. Some people appear allergic to Dice,2Ubangi,3Telepathy,4Calcutta, and youare busier proverb to the effect ♠ AK92 ♠ QJ873 9. Toomuchchlorine in this lumpof suchfruit(4) 5Oneatatime,6Desire,7Pour,8 than usual, see this as aperiod of that, if youthink you ❤A73 ❤J52 dirt? (4) 4. SpottedAmerican filmstarina Reeked,12Plagiarism,14Transfuse,16 FridayFebruary5 caution; atime to push ahead areconfused, youshouldn’t 10.Comicrepresentation toboggan (8) Abruptly,17Payfor,18Ruffle,21 Dynamic aspectsoverthe next fewweeks worrybecause the next person ♦ Q864 ♦ A3 5. Getneedling in abig way(4) Unwise,22Dots,25Anon. CRYPTIC withyourown plans as countenancedbyKatisha (10) setthe scene foramoment of opportunity is probably muchmore ♣A9 ♣Q64 6. The toastofformer opera-goers (5) CLUESAcross:6Gnocchi,7Plunger,9 conscientiouslyaspossibleand 11.May find what’s wrong with muddledthan youare.Infact, instrument (8) 8. Composerless curtailed about skill Inkle,10King’sHead,11Refusal,13 and growth in six months time. When to respect the fact that this is aperiod of supreme WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 13.These assets areavailable:51old (7) Instil,15Safety-matches,19Ingear,20 generous offers arrive,respond graciously. colleagues have their ownideas Kindled,23Lookahead,24Genie,26 inspiration, so dreamyour 1NT 2H 3S English pounds(6) 12.Stair postinveryrecent Spanish which areevery bitasvalid article(5) Dangled,27Whippet.Down:1Monk,2 dreams, andsee whereyour Pass 4H dbl 4S 15.Ruler of someterrible contrivance Ockers,3PinkFloyd,4Subsonic,5A SaturdayFebruary6 as yours. 14.Moneyyou don’t getfor nothing ? imagination leads. (4) greatdeal,6Goitre,7Pant,8Riddle,12 Pass Pass Pass (4,3,3) Mercury’srelationship withNeptune is LEO (July24-Aug 23) 17.The gun we hid inside fell out Flatground,14Backsdown,16 AQUARIUS (Jan. 21-Feb.19) (5) 16.Rival organisation taking over inspired and romantic, but could be Youhaveanatural Erasable,17Billed,18Advent,21 Youshouldfollow West led the ten of hearts. Not wishing to win the ace and let them have 18.Debt instrumentsfoundin trade union in all but name (7) tendency to over- Noggin,22Tend,25Nape. confused.Beforeyou gettoo muddled, your ruling planet’s twohearttricksattheirleisure,Southplayedlow,allowingEasttowinwith piousness (4) 17. Birdanewspaperman has to dramatisesituations, friends might justmean what theysay. down-to-earth thequeen.Backcamethetenofdiamonds. IsEastgivingyouanearlybirth- 19.Heardit’s highlyvaluedsogot to quieteninarow (8) nevermoresothan daypresent? Whatisyourplan? disposition by when an emotionalplanetsuch makingmoreeffortto as Venus is creating tension and implement your plans.Too raising the passionate often, youhavehad ideaswhich JUMBLED WORDS DifficultyLevel3s temperature.Deal withpersonal can onlybedescribed as problems correctly andthe brilliant, but have lackedthe will Instructions coming period will be atime to Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, or theability to puttheminto rejoice in the companyofyour practice. Nowisthe time to therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget everydigitfrom1to9 4368 familyand friends. changefor the better. theanswerforthegivenquip. mustappearineachofthe Wisdomisoftentimesnearerwhenwe___thanwhenwe__.-WilliamWordsworth(5,.,4) nineverticalcolumns,in VIRGO(Aug24-Sep 23) PISCES (Feb 20 -Mar 20)

369 Judging from your eachoftheninehorizontal Mars is stillmaking solar chart, it seems itsprolonged EPAOR EGOOST rowsandineachofthe unlikelythat amajor U4 nineboxes. passagethrough upheavalisonthe sensitive regions of SUDOKU way. Instead, you’ll be presented your chart, forcing youtoface withaseries of opportunities to up to your attitude to work, HPWOO ARTYPS DifficultyLevel breathe freshair intosituations ION career questions and which youhavesometimes

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THESUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021 Crude Wa tch US CRUDE SETTLES LOWER NewYork: US oilpricessettled slightly lowerafter trading in atight range,asinvestorsworried about the lingering pandemic and slow 7 ECONOMY vaccine rollouts. Brent crude settled up 36 cents, or 0.6per cent abarrel, at $55.88. US WTI crude futures fell 0.3per cent to $52.20. REUTERS

STRENGTHRISESTO713ASOFNOV,COMPAREDTO669ASOFMAR:ECOSURVEY INTERVIEW WITHPRESIDENT &MD, MG MOTORINDIA ‘GSTrationalisation, GrowingairlinefleetinIndia scrappage policy amust bucksCoviddistresstrend for spectaculargrowth’ THOUGH THE passenger vehicle the situation.But, as of now, our craftbyAirbus were deliveredto intothe newyear and addedtwo segmenthaswitnessedagoodre- cars aredoingwell and we arere- PRANAVMUKUL airlines suchasVistara and GoAir. morewide-bodiedfreighters — covery over lastthree months, ceiving good response from con- NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 Globally, Airbus delivered566 Boeing 767and Airbus A330 —to thereisasensethatforthegrowth sumersandwe areabletoselland aircraftin2020,downfrom863in itsfleetinJanuary.Aftertheinduc- to continue, the economyhas to areexpanding.Idon’tknowabout INDUCTIONOF44newaircraftby 2019.Vistara also took deliveries tionsofthesetwoplanes,thecom- grow.RAJEEV CHABA, president thefuture,howitwillshapeupbut India’slargest airlineIndiGo—the of twoBoeing 787wide-bodied pany’s total cargofleetsize in- and MD, MG MotorIndia, told we areexpandingour capacity to highestdeliveredto anysingleair- planes from the American plane- creasedto19, including five SANDEEPSINGHthatbesidesroad up to 1lakh cars. line by Frenchmanufacturer makerduringtheyear—thefirstof wide-body aircraft. infrastructurethatisspeedingata Airbus in 2020 across the globe— whichwas deliveredinFebruary. Apart from SpiceJet, logistics good pace, the industryneeds re- Over lastfiveyears, we have and athree-fold increase in num- In addition to passenger aircraft, firmBlueDartoperatesafleetofsix forms suchasrationalisation of seen adecline in pace of berofdedicatedairfreightersto 20 airlines suchasSpiceJetalsocon- Boeing 757wide-bodiedaircraft GSTand scrappagepolicy fora industrygrowth. What arethe ensured that India’s fleetstrength Afleetofairplanes at the IGI airport in New Delhi. Express file tinuedtoexpandtheircargo fleets in the country. Meanwhile,the strong growth going forward. biggestfactors impacting it? number buckedthe trend of avia- giventhe disproportionate fall in Economic Survey predicted that Having already launched an EV in Even pre-Covid, 2-3 factors tion industry’s poor performance capacitywhencomparedwiththe air passengertraveland aircraft Indian market, he said the com- limited thegrowth auto sector. in ayear markedbythe Covid-19 whichbuttressed the fact that Airbus commercial aircraftdeliv- fall in demand forair cargo trans- movementswould reachpre- panyisworkingtobring another Automotive salesgrowthislinked pandemic.Asperinformationpro- 2020 wasthe worstyear forthe eries forthe year ... This shows the port. In August2020, SpiceJetin- Covid levelinearly 2021“as are- EV at pricepointofless than RajeevChaba clearly to the country’s economy. videdinthe Economic Survey for aviation sector in history. intrinsicstrengthandresilienceof ductedtheAirbusA340aircraftits sultof swiftanddecisiveinterven- Rs 20 lakh. Edited excerpts: Our GDP growth has been pretty 2021-22,tabledbeforeParliament Airframe maker Airbus said theIndian commercialaviation firstwide-bodiedcargo aircraft. tions and effective measures put averageandanaemicandthathas onFriday, thetotalfleetstrengthof thatitdelivered57aircraftin2020 sector.Italso demonstrated our Withthisinduction,SpiceJet’sded- in placebythe government”. While the industryhas seen also talkingofbatteryassembly beenonereason.Secondisthatthe Indiancarriersincreasedto713 as to Indian carriers,ofwhich44 abilitytoadaptquickly ...were- icated freighter fleethad nine air- Currently, these numbers areop- growth in the lastquarter, do and havingserious engagement costofbuying kept going up be- of November 2020, compared to were to IndiGo. In addition to this, main cautiouslyoptimistic as we craftcomprising five Boeing737s, erating at around 70 percent of yousee it sustaining? with certain players to do that in causeofvarious regulations, fea- 669asofMarch 2020. IndiGo also inducted ATRturbo- begin 2021, although challenges threeBombardierQ-400sandone pre-Covid level. Thegovernment Afterthe pandemic and lock- India.Weare alsocollaboratingon tures and also because of costof Thiswasinvariationwithmost prop planes.“Weare honouredto and uncertainties remain high,” Airbus A340. Between then and hasimposedarestrictionallowing down the situationwas grim.Un- chargers, end of lifecycle-battery operationsasgasolinepricesrose. major indicators suchaspassen- have delivered57aircrafttoour Remi Maillard, president &MD, December,the airline inducted airlinesto operateonly80percent lockdownstartedinJune-Julyand, disposal system, batterymining Thethird factor,Iwouldsayisthat gertraffic,cargo tonnage,deployed customersinIndiain2020,which Airbus India &SouthAsia told The eightmorefreighterplanes.Itcon- of their scheduledflight capacity by September,theindustrystarted system(canwe have secondlifeof the big cities likeMumbai,Delhi capacity and airline revenues, wasalittle over 10 percent of all SundayExpress.Theremainingair- tinuedtotakeinmoreplaneswell on the domesticsectors. doing fine. By December,enough the battery), among others. were notgrowing at same pace people startedcoming to show- because of shared mobility and rooms.Whiledemandroseonac- Thereisaborder situation with consumption peaked andstarted count of preference forpersonal China and it does playon to decline. These were some rea- TELECOM WATCH Growthincredit mobility and pent-up demand, people’s mind. Howhas it been sonsthatlimitedthegrowthof au- NEW SERVICES RBI: Non-food bank credit 9.4% toagriculture these factors can onlysustain de- achallengefor you? tomotive.Idon’texpectspectacu- andalliedactivitiesinthereporting mand forthis quarter(Januaryto In general, politics is some- lar growth unless thereare big growsat5.9% in December monthfrom5.3percentin March).Afterthat,ithasto bemore thingelse.Governmentcomesout reforms suchasrationalisationof December2019,thedataon than feel good and individual fac- withright policies forthe country GSTand scrappagepolicy,which 5G roll-out: How cut Non-food credit growth of banksstood at 5.9 per cent in sectoraldeploymentofbankcredit torsandhasto alignwiththeecon- and forsectors wheretheywant is amust. The thirdisthe road in- December 2020, compared to 7per cent in thesame month forDecember2020,releasedby omy. So, in medium to long run it investment or don’t want invest- frastructure, whichisspeeding at of theprevious year,ReserveBank of India datashowed RBI showed will depend on economy. We all ment.So,thatwe willleave itto the agoodpace.Theseallcouldleadto hope that the Budget would be government and complywith all spectacular growth. in notice period will contractionin good and the real factors would government guidelines. As faras 1.2% loanstoindustry, come intoplayfor theeconomy. consumers areconcerned,Ithink Youoperateinasegment that comparedto1.6percentgrowth, thatnormallyconsumersdon’tgo has been doing well —SUVs. smoothenprocess mainlyduetocontractionincredit What is your plan on EVs? by origin of thecountryconsider- What arethe localisation levels tolargeindustriesby2.4percent Electric vehicle is astrategic ation. Forthem the whole value youhaveachieved? alsobuysomespectrumfores- ascomparedwith1.8percent playforusandgovernmentisalso proposition has to be good. Our We have three SUVs and they AASHISHARYAN tablishing secured communi- ` growthayearago pushingit. EV wasour second brandpillarswhichholdusingood have all been doing well. Now, we NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 cation between their various product in India. We arenot only shapeare—technology,customer plan to launchour fourth product locations. The DoTthus man- Decelerated working on the product side but experienceandcommunitydiver- whichwillalso be an SUV.For EV THE DEPARTMENT of dates that all such newtech- 9.5% growthin on the overall ecosystem. We are sity.Therewould always be some and theGloster,the volumes are Telecommunications(DoT)on nologies being launchedfor personalloansinthereporting working with students, startup customers who would notbuy small, but forHector,whichisa Thursdayreducedthe notice commercial purposes give a monthascomparedwith15.9per worldand institutions thatare pi- product of acertain countrybe- volumeplayer, we areat70-80per period fortelcos to 6months notice period. centgrowthinDecember2019 oneeringinnovation. We are cause of their beliefsorbiases,or cent depending on model range. forrolling out newservice by working with enablers to getthe experiences be it China, Japan, We intend to raise localisation by usingnewtechnology.Thisno- Howwillthe reduced Vehicle loans continuedto game going on technology side. Germany or America.What we another 8-10per centoverthe ticeperiodwasearlieroneyear period helpinfaster5G Growthin Growthincreditto performwellregisteringan Youwillhearmorenews infu- needtoensureisthatourproduct next 18 months andweare look- fortelcos. roll out? 15.3% creditto 1.2% microandsmall acceleratedgrowthof7.8percent tureonbatterytechnology in remains relevant to consumers. ingatinvestingmoremoneyinlo- Inthenoticeinvitingappli- mediumindustries,comparedto industriesinthereportingmonth inDecember2020ascomparedto terms of mileage, consistency of calisation efforts. Whydotelcos needtogive cations forthe spectrum auc- 2.5percentayearago ascomparedto0.1%ayearago 7.2percentayearago mileage, rangeof500 km and we Does this border situation We have already committed notice before launching tions to be held in March,the arehopeful that we willlaunch cross your sponsors mind in Rs 3,000 croreand, this year,we newservices? DoTamendedthe clause by that in 18 months. We arealso ex- holding backplans forIndia? should be doinganother Rs 1,500 Under pressure: Credit growth to rubber plastic and their products, cementand cement Source: As partofthe National cuttingdownthenoticeperiod ploringif we candoacarthatisun- Overall,obviously, if thereisno crorefor newproduct, enhancing products, all engineering, beverages and tobacco, infrastructure, basic metaland metal RBI/PTI FrequencyAllocation Plan to 6months from oneyear.A products and construction decelerated/contracted der Rs 20 lakh. We arethinking of change ...We don’tknowaboutthe capacity in the plantand on ven- (NFAP), whenevera total of 2,251.25 asecondEVintwoyearstimeand futurebecauseitalldependsupon dor localisation. newcompanywants MHz of spectrum to enter intothe across 7frequency telecommunications bands at areserve Survey purpose Biyani: Amazon marketoranexisting priceofRs3.92 Q3: ICICIBank Delhi shifts stance, telecom company lakhcrorehasbeen not clear, says playing dog in wantstolauncha put up forsale. newtechnology, a While in this Chidambaram netrises19%,asset the manger tweaks quarantine notice period of one year had auction the government has to be giventothe DoTsothat put up, on auction, frequency NewDelhi: Congress leader NewDelhi: FutureGroup pro- the authorities could make bands only for4Gservices PChidambaramhas said the pur- moterKishoreBiyani has alleged arrangementsfor the spec- could mean that the telecom poseof theEconomicSurvey isnot quality improves that Amazon is “playing the dog rules for UK flyers trum required.The firstNFAP companies could start limited clearasitaidstheself-congratula- in the manger” and trying to cre- releasedin1986,hassincethen commercialtestingof 5Gserv- toryconclusionthattheModidis- ateaconfusion aboutthe group’s been revised multiple time to ices on frequency bands that pensation implemented “far ENSECONOMICBUREAU Loans worth`8,280 cr Rs 24,713-croredeal with PRANAVMUKUL suit thegrowing number of arebeing auctionedinMarch. sighted policy response foreco- MUMBAI,JANUARY30 were notclassifiedas Reliance Industries. NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 usersinthe countryaswellas Forexample, on Thursday, nomic recovery”. “... Amazon is playing the dog the demands of the telecom Bharti Airtelannouncedthe The former Union Finance PRIVATESECTORlenderICICIBank NPA, owing to the inthemanger,goingalloutto cre- THE DELHI governmenthas lifted companies.TheUniongovern- successfuldemonstrationof its Ministertookto Twitterto saythat hasreporteda19percentyear-on- Supreme Courtorder, atearuckus...Forreasonswe never therequirementof mandatory7- ment owns all the publicly live 5Gserviceoveracommer- the “bestdecision” takenbythe year rise in netprofitatRs4,940 according to the bank believedearlier but quiteevident dayinstitutional quarantine for available assets within the ge- cialnetworkinHyderabad,the government is the decision notto croreinthe quarter ended today, this battle is about owner- passengers arriving from the UK ographical boundaries of the firstinIndia, showcasing the print the Economic Survey. December, compared to Rs 4,146 shipof theIndiancustomeratany and testing negative forCovid19 country, which also include readinessof itsnetwork forthe “Now,the Survey hasappar- croreinthe year-agoperiod. indicators areseeing an improve- cost,” he said in his letter written at the airport. This assumes sig- airwaves. With the expansion nextlevelofmobiletelephony. entlyadifferent purpose, al- The bank’s assetquality im- ment.Accordingtothebank,loans onFriday. Meanwhile,Amazondid nificance as the Delhi govern- in the number of cellphone, The networkhas been though the purpose is notclear,” proved,with gross non-perform- worthRs8,280 crorewerenot notrespondtoemailedquery on ment had earlier this month wireline telephone and inter- rolledout on ause case basis he said in atweet. ingassetsdecliningto 4.38percent classifiedasNPA,owing to the the matter. brought in the nowrevoked rule Sample forCovid test being netusers, the needtoprovide on anon-standable basis on “All this in aid of the self-con- in the latestquarterfrom5.95per Supreme Courtorder.This in- BiyanisaidAmazon’spolicyof without sufficientnotice —some- collected at IndiraGandhi morespace forthe signals the 1,800MHz frequency gratulatoryconclusion that gov- centlastyear.Thebankheldaggre- cludedretail loans worth Rs 7,521 “vexatious litigationand harass- thing whichcaught hundredsof International Airport. File arises from time to time. band. The roll out on anon- ernment implemented ‘far gate Covid-19-relatedprovisionof croreandRs759-croreworthcor- ment”was akin to Greekcon- passengers by surprise. Thespectrumwaves,how- standalonebasismeans that sighted policy response foreco- Rs 9,984crore,including contin- porate andsmall business loans. quererAlexander’sruthlessambi- ever,are also usedbyagencies networkcan fall backon4Gif nomic recovery’,” he said. gency provision forproforma The bank said totaldeposits tion to scorch theearth. Rule forpassengers arriving Lastmonth,theIndiangovern- suchasthe Indian Space thereare some glitches in the The government did not NPAsamountingto Rs3,509crore grew by 22 per cent year-on-year Biyani said theFutureGroup from the UK intoDelhi ment had decidedtosuspend all ResearchOrganisationandde- 5G network. print the Economic Survey,pre- forloansnotclassifiedasnon-per- to Rs 874,348 crore, with 19 per wasthetargetof anew formof at- Earlier this month, with the flights from the UK —and these fencesystemsforsecurecom- Full reporton sented in Parliament on Friday, forminginthe wake of the cent growth in averagecurrent tack andthata“corporatebattle”is Centre resuming flights from the were partiallyresumedJanuary8 munication.Somecompanies www.indianexpress.com and onlyadigital version was Supreme Court’s interim order. and savings account (CASA) de- being fought forsupremacy over UK that were bannedonaccount onwards. This wasdone in lightof made available. PTI Thebanksaidtheassetquality positsinQ3of2021. Indian customers. PTI of themutatedCovid19strain,the the spread of the mutated coron- Delhi governmenthad deviated avirus strain, whichoriginatedin from the Union HealthMinistry’s theUK,andspreadtoovertwotwo BRIEFLY Need to makeefforts to guidelines and mandated each dozen countriesatthe time, in- GameStop ‘tulip’ may be a andeverypassengerarrivingfrom cludinginIndia.Afterassessingthe NewSBICard the UK to undergo institutional situationpertaining to this mu- get rating upgrade in line quarantineforsevendays uponar- tatedstrain, the central govern- MD&CEO rival. This wasasurprise formore ment decidedearlier this week to case for investor caution than 200passengers onboardan further extend the restrictions on NewDelhi: SBICards and with fundamentals:CEA AirIndiaflightfromLondonto the number of flightsfromthe UK till PaymentServices(SBICard) Streetwaitstoseehowlongitwill UK, giventhat the newrule had February14. on Saturday said Rama REUTERS take forhistory to repeat itself. agencies)...Thesechangeshappen been notifiedafter the flight took Mohan RaoAmarahas NEWYORK,JANUARY30 Shares of video game retailer PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA over time. Theydon’t happenin- offfromLondon. Air India, how- Passenger guidelines takencharge asthenewMD GameStopCorphave soared1,625 NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 stantaneously,but youhaveto ever,has contestedthis and said The travel guidelines forpas- &CEO of the company. IT SOUNDS likethe startof apara- percentsince thestartofJanuary. continue making efforts,”hetold that passengers were informed sengersremainthesameintheex- ble: Investors stuckinside during Drivingtherallyare individualin- INDIA WILLhavetopersistently PTI in an interview. aboutthe changeinruleatthe tendedrestrictions.Inlinewiththe apandemic begin to bid up an as- vestors who have been stuckat makeefforts forimprovement in The Survey said sovereign London airport. guidelines forother international TVSgroup setuntilitspricebecomesunteth- home forthe last10months. itssovereign rating by different credit ratings methodology must arrivals, allinbound passengers firmstomerge eredto reality. Thevaluesoarsun- These amateurinvestors are globalagenciesinlinewithitseco- beamendedto reflecteconomies’ Norm relaxed from the UK will have to submit til one daythe marketruns out of buoyedbysavingsbuiltupoverthe nomic fundamentals, Chief abilityandwillingnessto paytheir In afresh order,the Delhigov- self-declarationformontheonline NewDelhi: TVSMotor buyersandfreezes,causingprices pandemic,tworoundsof stimulus Economic Adviser KVdebt obligations, and suggested ernment has said that the situa- portal(www.newdelhiairport.in) CompanyonSaturday said to plummetand some unlucky and near zerointerestrates. “The Subramanian said on Saturday. that developing economies must tion has been reviewedand con- atleast72hoursbefore thesched- the boards of TVSHolding fewtolosefortunesmorethanten GameStop Corphas soared reality is that GameStopdoesn’t The Economic Survey pre- cometogetherto addressthisbias sidering the lowpositivity rate of uledtravel. All the passengers ar- Companies and TVS times their annual incomes in the 1,625% since January. Reuters file hurtWall Street.Itmight hurta sentedinParliamentonFridayex- andsubjectivityinherentinsover- the UK returnees, it has been de- rivingfromthe UK alsoneedto Investmentsand Holdings span of afew hours. coupleof hedgefundmanagersout pressedconcern over lowersov- eign credit ratings methodology. cidedthattheadditionalmeasure carrynegative RT-PCR test report, have approved acomposite Thedate:February3,1636.On there, but no one is going to cryfor ereignratingassignedbyagencies He addedthe countrywould of compulsoryinstitutionalquar- forwhichtestshould have been scheme of amalgamation thatday,theinfamousDutch tulip asquicklyastheysoar,leavingonly them. The people who will be los- likeFitch, S&Pand Moody’s to witness revivalof‘animal spirits’ antine of travellers testingnega- conductedwithin72hours prior andarrangement,whichisto bubble burstduring an outbreak pain behind. ing lifesavings aresmall retail in- India despiteits strong economic of privateenterprises with the tive maynot be required. to undertaking the journey. be filedwith NCLT soon. PTI of the bubonic plague, illustrating Now, almostexactly385years vestors,”saidBenInker,headof as- fundamentals.“Wehavemadethe economystaging a‘V-shaped’ 11 Fullreport on thatassetpricescanplummetjust and another pandemic later,Wall setallocation,GMO. case veryveryforcefully(to rating per cent growth in the next fiscal. Status with UK flights www.indianexpress.com WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THESUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021 8 SUNDAY STORY

SKILLS BUDGET ’21 Datashows that even with- out Covid, formal manufac- turing in India has grown moreand morecapital inten- sive over the years. In other words, firms arereplacing labour with capital (read ma- chinery). This is true even for the so-calledlabour-intensive sectors suchastex- COUNTDOWN tiles, leather and jute. While this maybegreat for consumers, forthe large swathes of unemployed IN&OUTOFCOVIDSHADOW and lowlyskilledIndians, this is aterrifying prospect. The government hopes that the private sector (see W) will createthe millionsofjobs re- At thestart of the joint session of Parliament on Friday, PM NarendraModi quired to soak up India’s labour force. But that may nothappenthankstoacontinued preference for said Finance MinisterNirmala Sitharaman had already announced3-4 automation to drive down costs.Skill up-gradation and re-skilling is no longer aquestion of policy mini budgetsand that the 2021-22 Budget shouldbeseenasan choice;itisanimperative. extension of thesame effort.Asthe countryrecovers TAX RELIEF from Covid and one of itsworstyears as an Beforeevery Budget there aretwo innocent-sounding economy, UDIT MISRA unscramblesthe demands from the people. One, theywant the govern- AtoZof what to expect tomorrow ment to spend moreand two, theywant the government to reduce their taxes. Of course, both thingscan’t happen because the government’s moneyisnothing but the taxpayer’s money. From thegovernment’sperspec- tive,the tricklies in choosing who to taxfor raising the additional revenues. In 2019,for example, be- fore the Lok Sabha election, the government pro- videdincome taxrelief forindividual taxpayers. Afterthe elections, it sharplycut corporatetax rates. erage. In essence, thelosses of the have-nots were This year,though, it is unlikelythat anymassive tax fardeeper than what the averagedecline shows. relief will happen because the government is Informal, unskilled, young, women —all have found already struggling to meet itsexpenses. themselvessignificantlyworse off. But, giventhe parlous stateofgovernment finances, it is unlikely URBANISATION that inequality will elicit asignificant response. That India livesinits villages is no longer justafactbut the JOBS articulation of aproblem. If Persistentlyhigh unemploy- Indiahas to grow —that is, if ment notonlyreflects poorly India’s per capitaGDP has to on the government but also rise —then Indiancitieshave threatenssocial order.Even to grow and prosper.There before Covid, India waswit- arejusttoo manypeople in ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT EDUCATION nessing veryhigh levels of un- rural India and notenough scope forincreased pro- employment —the highestin ductivityinour villages. The question is: Do ourcities Some areborn atmanirbhar Apartfromthe hit to the severaldecades. Covid just have thatpotential?Can theyprovidebasic ameni- (self-reliant/self-sufficient), physical health of Indians, made that worse.The government can either focus ties forIndiatotransition intoabroad-basedmod- some achieve atmanirbharta, especiallychild malnutri- on financing ever-growing social securities or take a erneconomy? Does our Budget reflect this vision? and some have atmanirb- tion, Covid’s second-biggest leaf out of ThomasSowell’sbook when he says that harta thrustuponthem. This long-term adverse impact is “the real minimum wage is zerounemployment”. Vaccination is likelytobethe dominant the disruption of educatio- Even though India theme fordifferent sectors of nal attainment. Even with- KISAN prides itself fortaming the economyinthe coming out Covid, India’seduca- The farm sector suffereddue theCovid curve, there- Budget.Oddlyenough, the push towards atmanirb- tional achievementswerealarminglypoor as to backtobackdroughtsin turn to normal growth harta maynot mean areduction in the govern- showcasedrepeatedly by annual ASER reports.The 2014 and 2015 before de- will depend on how ment’s intervention in the economyand adecided pastyear has deepenedinequalities thankstothe monetisation in 2016 turned quicklyand effectively move towardsagreater playofmarket forces. Far digital divide.Expect the Budget to redouble the out to be an even bigger India vaccinatesitself. The global collaboration from it. It will likelybeamix. Forinstance, if youare government’s effortstobridgethe digitaldivide. strain. Since then, however, around findingthe Covid vaccine also putsinper- afarmer,the statemay recede in favour of the If this happens, it will be asmall price to paytoput farmers have enjoyedpoliti- spective thecalls of being “vocal forlocal”. private sector but if youare asteel manufacturer or up with aslewofrather inelegant policy names cal heftvia forcing massive dairyproducer,the statemay protect youfrom starting with “e—”. loan waiversand the first-of-its-kind direct cash WAGES VS WEALTH CREATORS international competition. transfers scheme —the PM-Kisan (Kisan Samman rebound and grow by 11%. Over the years, the relative FDI AND FPI Nidhi)Yojna. Butsince the passageofthree farm Netresult:Atthe end of size of the Central govern- BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE... Foracountrythat suddenly laws lastyear,the distance between the farmers and March 2022, India’s GDP is ment budget has reduced. ...of consumers and busi- decidedtobecome atma- the PM seems to have increased. Raising the outgo likelytobejust2%higher Today, all the states spend1.5 nesses. One of the mostim- nirbhar afterCovid, it is quite under PM-Kisan is one waytoassuagehurtfarmers. than what it wasinMarch times the Centre. The Centre portant things to watchout remarkable howIndia rou- 2020.That implies that India cannotbethe prime job crea- forinthe Budget would be tinelycelebrates everyincre- LABOURER would have lost9-10% of GDP torfor the country. The push the policy tools employedby ment of foreign investment Lastyear sawlakhs of mi- over the twoyears. This is the output loss and the towardsdisinvestment and the FM to changethe beha- —direct or portfolio. Of grant labourers firstgetting real measure of howbadlyeconomies were affected privatisation should beseeninthiscontext. PM Modi viour of different economic course, India is acapital strandedawayfromtheir due to Covid. Howdoes India compare? According has repeatedlyexhortedthe importance of “wealth entities in the economy. scarce (read poor) countryand so it makes alot of homes and then, in the ab- to calculations by GitaGopinath, chief economist creators” in amove to present businessmen and Covidnot onlyforciblyreducedconsumption in sense to acknowledge foreigners investinginIndia. sence of timelyand adequate at IMF,the global averagewould be justatadless women in amorepositive light. This is happening the short-term but also crimpedincomes and PM Modi has promisedtobethe bridgebetween supportfromthe govern- than4%. The US and Chinawouldhavelostjust at atime when wages—the fruitsoflabour (as afac- scared peopleintosaving morethanusual.But if the cash-richforeign businesses and India. ment, literallywalking back about 1-1.5% of GDP while emerging economies in torofproduction) —havebarelygrown. In fact, consumers continue to spend less, then it will delay thousands of miles. What Asia (including India but excludingChina) would according to International Labour Organisation’s economic recovery.The RBI has already brought GDP GROWTH made matters worse forthem waswhen several have suffered almost8%output loss. Global Wage Report2020-21, in India, formal work- down interestrates to disincentivise savings. Forits The government aims to turn states decidedtosummarilydisband almostall ers’ wageswerecut by 3.6% while informal workers part, the government cancut direct taxes—indi- India intoagas-basedecon- labour laws under the misplacednotion that set- POVERTY have experienced amuchsharper fall in wagesof rect taxesare withinthe ambit of the GSTCouncil — omy(no pun intended). This ting aside even minimum wage and the mostbasic By all measures,the pandemic 22.6%. Contrastthis with over 20% profitsbookedby as it did in the LTCcash voucher scheme lastOctober. involves improving gaspipe- safetyrequirementswouldsomehowleadtoasurge would have raisedthe levelof listedcompanies (entrepreneurs) last year. Similarly,Budget mayannounce steps to incentivise line connectivity as well as in corporateinvestments. Forawhile, theywere povertyinthe country. The the purchase of affordable houses, cars etc. turning farmers from ‘Anna providedsuccourthrough the much-malignedru- fact that no less than 80 crore X-FACTOR Similarly,investmentsbybusinesses had been (food)-data (giver)’ into ‘Urja raljobs guarantee scheme. But as the economyre- Indians —that’s roughly60% Indiaiscoming backfromits falling even before Covid hit. Unsureifconsumers (energy)-data’. However, the turns to the normal rate of functioning, thereisa of India’s population —had to worstyear as an economy. On will spend, businesses continue to hold backfresh moreimportant question that the Budget has to needtoensurethat India’slabourers —migrant or be givenfreerations under- paper,the coming year will investments. In 2019,the government cut corpo- answer is: What will drive fast economic growth in otherwise —donot sufferthe same wayagain. scoreshow vulnerable India is likely see double-digit GDP rate incometaxes. Nowitwill have to find other asustainable manner? India’s growth rate decele- in terms of poverty. From apolicyperspective,the growth rates. It is unlikelythat ways to incentivise investments. ratedsharplyfrom8.3% in 2016-17to4.2% in 2019- MEDIUM-TERM trouble starts with India’slastofficial estimates of the FM will notcapturethe 20. In other words, justbeforeCovid hit India at the Eachyear,the government’s poverty being almostadecade old. essence of this confidencein CESSES AND SURCHARGES end of 2019-20, India grew by justabout 4% with Budget documentsinclude a the form of some poetry. So Of the twocertainties of almostall engines of growth —private consump- thin note calledthe “Medium QUALITY OF LIFE whichpoetwill it be this year? Tamilpoetand human life—death and taxes tion, business investments, and exports —faltering. term fiscal policy cum fiscal Over the pastfew years, as philosopher Thiruvalluvar has already been pressed —onlyone can be compoun- Government spending, the lastengine, can boost policy strategy statement”. India lostits growth momen- intoservice fartoo often. President RamNath Kovind ded. When aCentral govern- growth in the short-term but fast growth cannotbe This is rarely read by most tum, therehas been avigo- has already quoted Malayalam poetVallathol. The ment imposes anew taxon sustainedwithout private consumption and because budgetsare,bydefi- rous debate about whether odd-on favourites is Tulsidas with some rousing an existing tax, it is referred business investments. nition, annual exercises. But GDP is the right variable to coupletfrom Ramcharitmanas but, giventhe farmer to as aCess (if it is foraspe- this year,thereismorecuriosity about India’s evaluategrowth.GDP does protests,the darkhorse is Guru Tegh Bahadur. cific purpose, say, Swachh HEALTHCARE “medium-term” prospects—roughlythe period notpoint out howrisingpol- Bharat Cess) or asurcharge (if purpose notspeci- The central takeaway from between 1to5years hence. Why? To easethe lution or inequalities impact YOUTH fied). Fortaxpayers, atax by anyother name would Covid is that India’s private demons of uncertainties and provide apredictable our long-term growth sustainability.Nor does it According to theUNPopulationFund, India will costjustasmuch. But forCentre, Cesses and sur- healthcareinfrastructure — policy environment forall economicagentstoget captureour happiness, the wholesomeness of our continue to have one of the chargessmell sweeterthan regular taxesbecause as efficient and as affordable backtonormal economic behaviour. relationships or the overall quality of our lives. It is youngestpopulations in the suchrevenues don’t have to be shared withthe state as it mayappear in global no fault of GDP though —itisjustameasure. If we worldtill 2030. It is also true governments.Don’t be surprisedifaCovid Cess comparisons —isneither as NPAS want to assess the quality of our lifemoreaccurately, thatIndia has the mostnum- makes an appearance on Monday. efficient nor as affordable in It can be arguedthat the perhaps we should have adifferent measure. berofmalnourishedchildren timesofacrisis. The upshot biggestmacroeconomic hur- Perhaps the newmeasurewould be able to capture in the world, one of the most DEBT being: India needs to boost investmentsinpublic dle facingthe Indian econ- the unpaid careworkthat women silentlyprovide malnourishedadolescents Thereistough competition healthcareprovisioning. ForacountryofIndia’s size omybetween 2010 and2020 or the diminution one suffers on the basis of caste, population,the highest num- for this letter this year.You and GDP,Indian governmentshavespent abysmally (until Covid hit) wasthe high creed, gender or income. berofpoor on the planet. On education too, India's arelikelytohear alot about lowonhealthcare.But the massive demand for levelofnon-performing as- massive technical pool cannothide the millions of Digitalisation—acrossfields. healthcareisalso an opportunity forIndia to grow sets (NPAs)inthe Indian REFORMS unskilled(read unemployable) and unemployed Youmight also learn how and createnew jobs. If aonce-in-a-century banking system. These, in The one unchanging truth youth. As the firstone forthis decade, this Budget pent-up Demand has ledto pandemiccan’t induceaquantumleap in health- turn, hit the bank’s profitability.Inthe pastdecade, about policymaking in India has itsjob clearly defined. India’s ‘V-shaped’ recovery or carebudget,what can? severalpublic sector bankssufferedsuchhigh NPA is: “Everything is areform”. what the Budget will do to levels that even theirviability came under question. When restrictive labour laws ZZZZZ bolsterIndia’s Defence againstChinese aggression. INFRASTRUCTURE Covid is expected to almostdouble the levelofNPAs were brought in, it wasa Abraham Lincoln,the greatestAmerican President But the mostimportant word this year could No matter whichway one when India starts recognising the true extent of reform. When labour laws before Donald Trump(ac- well be “debt”. Or,tobeprecise, Debt-to-GDP ratio. looksatit, the pastyear has damagenextfinancial year.The FM would thus were repealed—eventothe cording to Trump), once apol- The Budget maysignal ashiftawayfromtargeting seen amassive rise in in- needtobudgetfor moneythat the government extent of notrequiring to pay ogisedthus: "I'm sorry I fiscaldeficit (or totalborrowings) as apercentage equality.The richhavegot would needto“recapitalise” publicsector banks.In minimum wages—thattoo wasareform. When wrotesuchalong letter.Idid of GDP to targeting totaldebt as apercentageofGDP. richer and the poor have got other words, justlikeIndia has pent up demand minimum supportprices were introduced, it wasa nothavethe timetowrite a Totaldebt is nothing but the debt of the pastyears poorer.For instance, in 2020, drivingthe recovery,italsohas pent up bankrupt- reform; when theyare being phasedout, it is are- shortone.” Lastyear,FM plus the borrowings in the current year.The signi- India’sper capitaincome has cies that areless talked about. form. When MGNREGAisimplemented, it is are- Sitharaman deliveredthe ficance: this shiftmay allowthe government to fallen to levels lastseen in form. Whenitisberated,itisareform.When it is longest-everBudget speech spend more(breaching the existing fiscal deficit 2017 and the averageGDP contracted by over 7%. OUTPUT LOSS persistedwith, that again is areform. Basically, noth- —lasting almost 2hours 40 norms) in the next fewyearsand still appeartobe Yet, listedcompanies retrenchedemployees and In the current financial year,India’s growth will con- ing that anyIndian government ever does is any- minutes. Hopefully, she has had the time to writea fiscallyresponsible. cut expendituretonotch up 20%-25% profitsonav- tract by almost8%. Next year (2021-22), it will thing shortofreform. Be ready formorereforms. significantlyshorterone this year. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 9 OPINION THE SUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021

Across Fifth THEAISLE COLUMN TAVLEENSINGH Noexpectations,nodisappointment Twitter@tavleen_singh

NOTHINGISgoing well forthe govern- 2018-19and continuedfor eight succes- To search forone will be Vain and to pre- economyfor aperiod of six months and ment. The farmers areangry, the protests sive quarters ending March 31,2020. The dict one will be Vanity.The Chief reviewthe situation afterwards. have spread to other parts of thecoun- pandemic pushedthe economyintoan EconomistofIMF,DrGitaGopinath, has 3. Devise arescue plan forMSMEs in Settle with try, andthe farmers of Punjab, Haryana abyss: -23.9 per cent in the firstquarter stated that the Indian economywill order to reachpre-slowdown production and Uttar Pradesh aredeeplyhurtby of 2020-21and -7.5 per cent in thesec- reachpre-COVID levels onlyin2025. If levels andrecoverthe jobsthatwerelost. what theybelieve to be the machinations ond quarter. Ms Sitharaman has the dis- thereisarecoveryofsorts,itwill resem- 4. Reduce taxrates, especiallythe GST the farmers, PCHIDAMBARAM of the central government and the BJP. tinction of presiding over the firstreces- ble the letter K—some will see their in- rates, and the crippling taxesonpetrol Website:pchidambaram.in China has dug itsheels and has refusedto sioninforty years. come and wealth grow while the major- and diesel. Twitter@Pchidambaram_IN vacateIndian territorythat itstroops It is nowacknowledgedthatthe year ity willsufferpain and economicloss. 5. Increase government’s capital ex- please have occupied. The Budget is being pre- 2020-21will end with negative growth. That is exactlywhat happenedinthe penditure. In the current year,the capital sented under extremelystrainedcircum- The revenuetargetwillbemissedbya pandemic-affected year (2020-21) as re- expenditureofthe central government stances with lowerrevenues and higher largemargin, capital investmentwill vealedinastudy by Oxfam titled and stategovernmentsare falling woe- THE ONLY time Imet the Pakistani father demands. All but oneallyhaveleftthe take ahit, the revenue deficit will be close ‘Inequality Virus’. fullyshortofthe budgeted amounts. of the Khalistanmovement he said some- NDA; the crypto-allies (YSRCP,TRS,BJD, to 5per cent and the real fiscal deficit will Idon’t wish to anticipatethe Budget. 6. Lendingmustbeincreased. Hence, thing that Ihaverememberedoften in re- BSP) have distancedthemselvesoncon- cross 7per cent. Budget 2020-21 wasa Thereisauniversal demand forincrease recapitalize publicsector banksurgently cent days.General Hamid Gul wasinre- tentious issues;and the alienationbe- disasteratthe startand will be acatas- in investment in health infrastructure and encouragethem to lend without the tirement in Rawalpindi when we met. It tweenthe TreasuryBenches and the trophe at the end of thefiscal year. and increase in defence expenditure, and fear thatevery loan will be probed by the wasjustafter Benazir Bhuttowas killed Idon’t wishtoanticipate the Opposition is complete. The reality is thatthe economyisina Isupportthat demand.The FM maypro- investigating agencies. and we had along chat in his small,cozy Budget. There is auniversal The President’s Address did notcon- recession;current unemployment rates videmorefunds under the twoheads. 7. Protectionism is outdated and living room. When the interview wasover, demand forincrease in tain anynew or imaginativeagenda. The arehigh (rural: 9.2 per cent and urban: Otherwise, Ihavenoexpectations of this wrong. Protectionism has hurtIndianin- he askedif IwereaSikh. Isaid Iwas, and he speech revealedthat thegovernment 8.9 per cent); anti-farmer laws andretro- government.Inthe past, theyhavebeen dustry. Acurrent account surplus in ade- said withanote of regret in hisvoice,“The investment in health waslooking at the country’s future grade import/exportpolicies foragricul- exceptionally obstinateand impervious veloping countryisnot amatter of cele- Sikhs shouldnever have gone to India. infrastructure and increase in through the rear-viewmirror. Thenext tural produce have hinderedagricultural to good advice, and Idonot see any bration. Abandon the bias against Theyshould have stayed here.” My re- defence expenditure,and I opportunity is the Budget for2021-22. growth; the industrysector hasnot at- changeintheir approachorbehaviour. imports,re-engage withthe worldand sponse wastosay nothing,but Pakistan’s support that demand. The tracted hugeinvestment;exportsand Ishall makemywish listsecure in the enter intobilateral trade agreements. firstjihadistGeneral’s wordshavere- imports areinthe doldrums because of knowledge that theywill be ignored by 8. Formulatesector-specific revival mainedimprintedin my memory.Ashave FM mayprovide more funds DISASTER TO the government’sprotectionist policies the government! In the unlikelyevent of packages forsectors suchas those years of terrible violencewhen going under the twoheads. CATASTROPHE and because the world’s economyis some suggestions being accepted, it Telecommunication, Power, to Punjab wassodangerous that most Otherwise,Ihaveno limping;and inequalities have grown. would certainlynot be acknowledged! Construction, Mining, Aviation and Delhi journalists neverwent tillafter expectations of this Ihope the Budget does notsharethe India mayhaveearnedthe prize forbe- Travel, Tourism&Hospitality. JarnailSingh Bhindranwale wasdead. fate of the previous Budget (for 2020-21). ing home to the largest number of poor 9. Reviewand rescind amendments Ofteninthe pastfew weeksasIhave government. In the past,they That Budget begantounravel within people, overtaking Nigeria. The forego- MY WISH LIST to taxlawsthat arewidelyviewedastax watchedsenior ministers call Sikh farm- have been exceptionally weeksofits presentation. The Finance ing is the contribution of the Modi gov- Heregoes my list(and Ihavedeliber- terrorism. ers ‘Khalistanis’, and famous TV anchors obstinate and impervious to Ministerherself unmademanyofthe an- ernment at the end of sevenyears! atelylimited it to 10): 10. Reviewthe regulations made by paint the farmers protestasnothingmore good advice,and Idonot see nouncementsshe had made.Evenwith- 1. Impartalarge fiscalstimulustothe various regulatorybodies and correct the than an attempt by the Sikhstorevive out the pandemic, the economy would economy, even if it is belated. effect of over-regulation. Khalistan, the wordsofGeneral Gul have anychange in their approach have continuedonthe downward path K-SHAPED RECOVERY 2. Makedirect cashtransfers to 30 per Since Ihavenoexpectations Iampre- come backtome. They came backtome or behaviour that had begun in the firstquarterof TherewillbenoVshaped recovery. cent of the familiesatthe bottom of the pared to be disappointed on February 1. mostterrifyingly lastweek when Isaw the Khalsa flag raisedonthat sacred flagpole on the ramparts of the RedFort, where onlythe Indian flag has ever been raised since August15, 1947.Therewas much who metTamil Nadu CM EKPalaniswami history vandalismthatday,but this wasmore inside laterthis month inDelhiexpressedannoy- WhyRajini is no MGR, thanvandalism, it wasaprofanity. ancethattheBJPinTamilNaduhadwasted It wasalso areminder that Pakistan TRACK aprecioussixmonthsbecauseGurumurthy HEADLINE would likenothing morethantosee a COOMIKAPOOR hadledthepartytobelieve thatactorRajini- ARUNJANARDHANAN revivalofthe Khalistan movement. This kanthwouldallywiththem.Healsovetoed and other starry stories wassoessentialapartofPakistan’s end- Gurumurthy’sproposaltoincludeVKSasi- [email protected] less, cowardly,undeclared waragainst kalainthe AIADMK-BJPalliance. Inciden- India that one of the founders of the tally, there wasmuchspeculationinthe R&AWrevealed in an interview that when SHRINKINGSPACE Tamil media as to whyNarendra Modiwas WHILE ’S on again-offagain Benazir became prime ministerand asked missing in the posters showing EPS and flirtation with politics seems indefinitely Hamid Gul, then head of the ISI (Inter- IT WASapparent at the start of theLok ShahtogetherannouncingtheBJP-AIADMK suspendedfor now, it adds another chap- Services Intelligence), to stop whathewas SabhaonFridaythattheoldorderinParlia- alliance.Theexplanationwassimple:Modi tertothe tiesbetween TamilNadu poli- doing in Punjab, he refused. He reportedly ment has yieldedtoacompletely new, un- wassitting at one end of the 12-foot-long tics and itsfilmindustry. And though MGR said, ‘Madam, keeping Punjab destabi- familiar world, at leastfor the media. Part Cabinet table in Delhi and EPSatthe oppo- remains itsmostsuccessful link —for rea- lized is equivalent to the Pakistanarmy of thechangeisthelandscape.Forinstance, siteend.Itwas hard forlensmen to capture sons beyond his stardom —this story having an extradivision at no costtothe thelandmarkseatedstatueoftheMahatma them in the sameframe.And because pre- doesn’t begin or end withhim. taxpayers.’ has been shiftedfromthe portico entrance sentingshawlsandgarlandsisbanneddue If SSRajendran, Sivaji Ganesan, AfterwhathappenedonRepublicDay in preparation forconstructing anew par- to thepandemic, therewas no photo-op. Jayalalithaa, Captain Vijayakanth arethe it should be cleartoeventhe stupidestof liament. Muchofthe compound has been moreknown examples, and Kamal advisorsinthe Prime Minister’s echo dug up to relocatepipes, cables and other Haasanhopestojoin their ranks, there chamber that the farmers protesthas be- infrastructure. Entryfor newspersons is NEW AVATAAR were others who fell along the way. The come somethingbigger andmoredan- through the Parliament Annexe.The num- In his earlierstint as Madhya Pradesh CM, common thread is that unlikeother parts gerous. On the farm laws,all that is leftto berofjournalists covering Parliament has Shivraj Singh Chouhan pridedhimself on of the country, cine stars enteringpolitics sayisthat thereisatotal breakdown of been restricted to abareminimum. The running an inclusive andconciliatoryad- in Tamil Nadu have failed to clickwithout trust. Farmers believe thenew laws will Railway canteenwhichhandledcatering ministration, which ensured all sections of asolid grounding in politicalideology. destroy existing farm markets andthrow fortheParliamentcomplex,probablysince society were on board, in contrasttoUPCM Ascholar of South Asian cinema, them intothe hands of private traders. itsinception, has been replacedbythe far YogiAdityanath’sdivisive image.Forinstan- Gopalan Ravindran, who teaches at the Theybelieve this is happening because moreexpensive IndiaTourismDevelopme- ce,Madhya Pradesh’skanyadaanschemefor Central University of Tamil Nadu, points the government is toobroke to paythat ntCorporation.CentralHall,thefamoushub newly-wedsincludedminorities.Hehosted out that the founder of Dravidian move- Minimum SupportPrice (MSP) that guar- whichservedasameetingplace forsenior IftaarpartiesforEidwherehedonnedaskull ment, Periyar,didn’t viewfilm stars antees them their meagre profit. scribes, MPsand ex-MPs, is outofbounds cap. He allowedexemptions to those not favourably. “But Annadurai (Periyar’s dis- On December 29, Tamil superstarRajinikanthannouncedthat he would not This mayormay notbetrue but what forallexceptsittingmembers.Someof the- singing Vande Mataram or recitingthe bho- ciple who lefttoset up the DMK) wasa enter politics owing to his ill health. File is true is that thereare very fewrichfarm- sechangescanbedueto thepandemicand janmantra.Butinhisnewavataar,Chouhan theatreartiste andwriter,and ropedinhis ers in India. On government friendly ‘pri- the building activity foranew parliament. appears to be modeling himself on Adi- followers likeKarunanidhi and MGR to vate’TVchannels Ihavebeen astonished But thereason fornot renewing Lok Sabha tyanathwithahardlineHindutva approach communicatewith people. Annadurai wasclearabout his political ambitions kanth’s heterogenous fans,” he says. to hear commentators vent their rage passesforaccreditedjournalistsintheLong sincehecannolongerriskdispleasingModi usedacombination of mediums... There and worked on this.“He pickedroles Apartfromthis, MGR wasapowerful against‘rich, greedy farmers’. If therewere andDistinguishedcategoryseemspartofa and Shah. Chouhan has introducedloveji- were also manyfactors... cinema wasnot wherehewas cast as an idealistic man, orator with complete command over the richfarmers there wouldbenoneedfor a largerpatternforshrinkingthemediaspace. had laws andimposedharsh penalties. seenasaseparateentity unliketoday,” and cultivatedanimageofbeingbenevo- Tamil language,Bhaskaran says,with minimumsupportprice. This is some- Recently, thestate policearrestedcomedian Ravindran says. lent to the poor.Hemarketed and branded Rajinikanthtrailing on both accounts. thing that the ‘agricultural experts’who MunawarFaruqui foroffending religious The actorstoo belonged to the post- himself forthe masses.” If JJayalalithaa This is why, Bhaskaran feels, that devisedthe newfarm laws appear notto NOHURRY sentiments,evenbeforethe performer had Independence erawherenationalism was washis protege,MKarunanidhi wrotethe despiteall the hype surrounding have noticed. Thereisnoquestion that re- Indiandiplomacygot aboostershotwiththe actuallyuttered an offensive word. at itspeak,and cinema of- scripts formanyofMGR’s anyannouncement by Rajinikanth formsare needed in agriculture anda Covidvaccineexports.Ourdiplomatsinthe tenreflected that, along Thecommon films, with both eventually regarding politics, he willfail if he restson good firststepmight even be opening neighbouringcountriespressedtheMEAfor with themes of socialism. joining politics. Karuna- “merestardom”, without firm politics accesstoprivate marketsbut if farmers gettingthefirstbatchofvaccinesforthehost YEDI’S 9LIVES One of Annadurai’s first thread is that unlike nidhi carved aseparate or ideology. believe that this will leave them at the countries to earn goodwill. In the running In the lastfew months, it seemedasifthe choices wasKRRama- other parts of the space on the strength of his One of the mostrecent examplesof mercy of richand ruthless traders, they were:the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri scandal-hit Karnataka CM BSYediyurappa swamyorKRR. Amuch-in- country, cine stars writings, both fortheatre this is Captain Vijayakanth, whose DMDK willnever seethe newlawsasanattempt Lanka. Brazil, with the second largest fatali- might finallybeonthe wayout. Apowerful demand actor at the time and film, and his poetry. blazedtothe second-highestnumberof at reform. It is true that theyhavebeen ties afterthe US, wasfirsttomakeadown lobbyled by BJP’s general secretary(organ- (1950-60s), whostarred in entering politics in Thisiswherethe older seatsafter the winnerAIADMK in the obdurateand unrelenting about their payment foraconsignment. In the end, the isation)BLSanthoshisagainsthim.Besides, both theatreand films, TamilNadu have film stars differfrom 2011 Assemblypolls, but is nowreduced demand thatthe three laws be repealed governmentoptedtodispatchthefirstbatch the unenviable task of meeting ministerial Ramaswamywas acom- Rajinikanth’s ambitions, de- to zeroMPs and MLAs. Kamal Haasan’s but should the government notbetrying to Bhutan.Ironically, theBhutanesewillnot aspirationsof MLAswhohaddefectedfrom mitted DMKfunctionary failedtoclick spitethe latter’s unsur- party Makkal Needhi Maiam failedto to find out why? utilise the vaccines forwell over amonth other parties and theold BJP loyalists was who kept aside his entire re- without asolid passedsuccess and name open an account in the 2019 Lok Sabha It is possible that by thetime youread since an inauspicious period, ‘Dana’, begins proving to be ahugeheadache. Yet, despite muneration forthe party. groundingin recognitionthatextends to polls, with itsvotesharenot crossing even this therewould have been an attempt to shortlyand would end onlyinearly March. some hiccups, the 78-year-old warhorse Soon after, theDMK had NorthIndia. single digits. crushthe protestswith police action. Signs TheBhutangovernmentintendsto launcha seemsto have pulleditoffagain.Apparently, twomoreactors in itsranks, political ideology Tamil film historian Kalaippuli SThanu, aveteran Tamil of this became evident lastweek.What vaccination drive at the end of Dana. PMModiandAmitShahwere againstrepla- SSRajendran a.k.a SRR and TheodoreBhaskaran calls a film producer known forseveral also became evident if youwatched TV cing Yediyurappa, fearing it would risk the Sivaji Ganesan. Morepopular than comparison between MGR and Rajinikanth superhitsincluding Kabali, news is that acrackdown has the fullest fall of the government givenits wafer-thin Rajendran, Sivaji toowas adiehardDMK Rajinikanth “foolish”.“Rightfromhis 30s, says thesuccess of film stars in politics supportofthe media. Anchors have made NOPHOTO-OP majority in the Assembly. Yediyurappa ex- functionary. It waswhen he got toobusy MGR wasactive in politics, initiallyinthe is athing of the past, and notjustbecause their loyalty to the government morethan AmitShah cancelledhis trip to Chennai on pressedgratitude,comparingShahto Sard- with his movie career,and branchedonto Congress and then the DMK. When he left theyare notasrootedinpolitics as be- clear by raving on about howwrong it is to January14wherehewas to be the chief arPatel,bothbeingGujaratihomeministers, mythological movies (seen at variance the DMK to form the AIADMK afterparty fore.Actors had acertain aura,Thanu allow‘anarchists’tochallengethe might of guestattheanniversarycelebrationsof the whichnodoubt pleasedShah immensely. withthe DMK’sprofessed atheism)that founder CNAnnadurai’s death,the fol- pointsout,with alarger-than-lifeimage, the Indian state. Thuglakmagazinenoweditedby theSangh AsHomeMinisterintheAtalBihariVajpayee the space vacated by him in the DMK was lowers he took along with him were not accessible onlyonthe big screen. My fervent hope is that if thereisa ideologueSGurumurthy. Instead, he flew government,LKAdvani,dubbedasLohPur- filledbyMGRamachandran. merefilm fans but ahighlypolitical, ho- “Also, unlikethe past, fans tooare no crackdown it will notinclude the casual to Ahmedabadforakiteflyingfestival.Shah ush,likewisewascomparedwiththeSardar. Gopalan says that unlikeSivaji, MGR mogenous setofpeople, unlikeRajini- longer political.” brutality that we usuallysee in suchsitu- ations. My fervent hope is that somehow away is found to persuade the farmers that they have wontheir battle andcan nowgohome in victory. Iamnot givento ferventlyhoping foranything in this col- She umn but this time Idosincerely, forthe SAID Bizarre interpretation,problematic order reason thatthe thought of Punjab sliding backintoanother period of violence and SHRUTHI chaos is tooawful to thinkabout. It could RAMAKRISHNAN Act, read with IPC Sections 354(sexual as- chose to applySection 354ofthe IPC, a Also, sexual assault under thePOCSO aggressively questions the victim’s ageto happen because this is exactlywhat the [email protected] sault and criminal forcewith intention to colonial provisionthat punishes “assaults” Act, 2012,carries aminimum of three remove the application of the Actwhich jihadistmilitarymen next door aretrying outragethemodestyof awoman),363(kid- or use of “criminal forcetoany woman, in- years imprisonment whichmay extend onlyapplies to those belowthe ageof18. to achieve.Theyhaveworkedhardand napping),and342(wrongfulconfinement). tending to outrage... her modesty”, which to five years, in addition to afine. In com- In the recent case, the defence did not long to stir up secession through shady THE JUDGMENT of the Nagpur Bench of Section 7ofthe POCSO Actdefines carries asignificantlylenient punishment. parison, Section 354ofthe IPC carries only raise the issue as it would onlysabotage Sikh organisations in north America who the Bombay High Court, whichheld that sexual assault of achild as “whoever, with The highcourt’s bizarre interpretation one year of minimum imprisonment. If their case, and neither of the courts un- could notwin an election in Punjab if they groping “without skin-to-skin contact” sexual intent touches the vagina, penis, has even moreabsurdimplications forthe the impetus forsuchajudgment wasto dertook the inquiry. tried. What theycan do, though, is desta- does notamount to “sexual assault”un- anus, or breastofsuchperson....” In a other provisions of the POCSO Act. Forin- sparethe perpetrator from the stringent This oversight, coupledwith the case bilise India at atime when thereisalready der the Protection of Children from Sexual markeddeparturefromthe mostobvi- stance, Section 3defines‘penetrative sex- punishment of the POCSO Act, this reluc- being delayedfor nearly four years, and the enough trouble in another (former) state Offences (POCSO) Act, has evoked im- ous interpretation of the clause that has ual assault’ as being committed whenever tance warrantsclose inquiry. tactless interpretation of the HC seriously on our northern borders. mense criticism. While the Supreme been appliedinthe lastnine years, the thereisapenetration of anyobject, penis, Alookatthe trial court’s judgment also impairs the effective implementation of Thereisnoquestion that it is Pakistan Courthas nowstayedthe controversial single judgeHCbenchstated, “as per the or hand to anypartofthe vagina, anus, reveals another gross oversight. The birth the POCSO Act. While the Supreme Court that has encouraged violence in Kashmir order,the interpretation of the offence definition of sexual assault,a‘physical mouth, or urethraofthe child; or if the ac- certificateofthe child acceptedbythe trial has stayedthe order afteritwas arguedthat and Punjab. But, thereisalso no question and the Actbythe HighCourt is problem- contact with sexual intent without pen- cused“applies his/her mouth to the pri- courtshows she wasborn on May25, the judgment was“likelytoset adanger- that the door has been openedfor this to atic at severallevels. etration’ is an essential ingredient of the vate parts of the child”. This section,like 2005, and at the time of the offence ous precedent”, it remains to be seen how happen by bad policies made in Delhi. The In the case, the perpetratorpressedthe offence”, with “physical contact” requir- Section 7does notexplicitlystate ‘direct (December 14,2016),she was11years old. the apexcourtresponds to this unprece- Prime Ministermustdesistfrommaking 12-year-old victim’s breastand attempted ing “skin-to-skin contact” and notjust contact’. Then, the BombayHC’s ‘logic’ So, in fact, it’s notsexualassault under dented interpretation of the POCSO Act. the repeal of his farm laws aprestigeis- to remove her salwar,atwhichpoint the anycontact. would mean that if aperpetratoruses a Section 7, but aggravated sexual assault Shruthi Ramakrishnan is alegal suebecause since lastweek thereare signs child screamedand wasswiftlyrescuedby The judgedid notinterpret the offence condom while penetrating the child, it under Section 9ofthe POCSOAct which researcher working on child rights. that the problem India faces is muchbig- her mother.The accusedwas convicted by to constituteanattempt to commitsexual would notconstituteanoffence since carries aminimum of five years impris- National Editor Shalini Langer curates gerand infinitelymoredangerous than thetrialcourtunderSection8ofthePOCSO assault underthe POCSOAct,and instead therewas no ‘direct contact’. onment.InmostPOCSOcases, the defence thefortnightly‘She Said’column angryfarmers. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THESUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021 MEANWHILE COACHELLA MUSIC FEST CANCELLED AGAIN TheCoachella music festival, one of thelargest music festivals in the world,was cancelled by local health officials in southernCalifornia,where it wasdue to be 10 THE WORLD heldinApril 2021,because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It wasthe third time the outdoor event had been cancelled or postponed because of the pandemic.

TOPOFTHE WORLD CDCorderssweeping UStransportationmask

Fauci says vaccinemakers will have to be ‘nimble to be mandateasCovidrages able to adjust readily’ to virus mutations Face covermustonplanes, trains, buses, taxis from Monday Fauci: SAfrica The Wockhardt plant in Wrexham. Reuters DAVIDSHEPARDSON virus variant’s WASHINGTON,JANUARY30 resilience a BRITAIN THE US Centers forDisease Manchargedover Control and Prevention (CDC) is- ‘wake-up call suedasweeping order lateFriday packagesentto Amunicipal worker disinfectsEleftheria squareinNicosia, Cyprus,onSaturday. Asteady requiring the use of face maskson AstraZeneca decrease in newcoronavirusinfections three weeksintoCyprus' nationwide lockdown is nearly allforms of public trans- THENEWYORKTIMES allowing forthe startofthe gradual, targeted lifting of closuresand restrictions, the portation as the countrycontin- JANUARY30 vaccineplant country's health minister said lastweek. Reuters ues to reportthousandsofdaily AMAN has been charged Covid-19deaths. DR ANTHONY Fauci warned afterasuspicious package The order,which takeseffect Fridaythat newclinical trial re- wassent to afactory in on Monday, requires face masks The order says passengers mustwear amask in transit except sultsfromJohnson&Johnson, WHO drops its opposition to to be worn by all travellers on forbrief periods, suchastoeat, drink or take medication. Reuters showing that itsvaccine is less Wales that produces AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 airplanes, ships, trains, sub- effective againstahighlyinfec- vaccine resulting in a ways,buses, taxis, and ride- tious variant of the coronavirus temporarysuspension of vaccinatingpregnant women shares and at transportation Govt backing for airlines’rules circulating in South Africa, manufacturing, British hubs likeairports,bus or ferry were a“wake-up call”. police said on Saturday. terminals, train and subwaysta- He said the virus will con- The Wockhardt plant in theWHO’searlierposition.Theex- believe therewill be specific tions and seaports. MOSTAIRLINES al- The neworder by tinue to mutate,and vaccine Wrexham provides so- APOORVAMANDAVILLI perts notedthat it wasinconsis- risksthat would outweigh the US President Joe Biden on ready requirepassen- the CDC is expected manufacturers will have to be calledfill-and-finish ca- JANUARY30 tentwithguidanceonthesameis- benefitsofvaccination forpreg- January21ordered government gers to wear masks. to makeiteasier “nimble to be able to adjust pacityfor AstraZeneca’s suefromthe US Centers for nant women.” The recommen- agenciesto “immediatelytakeac- But anumber of forairlines to enforce readily” to reformulating the British supplychain, THE WORLD HealthOrganisation Disease Controland Prevention, dation is nowcloselyaligned tion” to requiremasksinairports travellers in the US the requirement to vaccines if needed. whichisthe final manu- on Fridaychanged itsguidance and would confuse pregnant with the CDC’s stance. andoncommercialaircraft,trains have relentlesslyrefusedto wear masks, because are- Fauci’s warning, at the White facturing step of putting forpregnantwomenconsidering women looking forclear advice. Expertspraisedthe shift. and public maritime vessels,in- wear face coverings, leading fusal to complywould be a House briefing on the virus, vaccinesintovialsorsy- aCovid-19vaccine, abandoning The vaccines made by Pfizer- “I wasverypleased to see that cludingferries,intercitybusserv- to conflict with flight crew. federal offence. comes amid increasing concern ringes and packaging opposition to immunisation for BioNTechand Moderna, while WHO changed their guidance re- ices and all public transportation. about newand moreinfectious them. Police said mostexpectant mothers unless theyhavenot been tested in gardingofferingtheCovid-19vac- Under Donald Trump, who variantsofthe virus that are AnthonyCollins, 53, was theywereathigh risk. pregnant women, have not cine to pregnant women,” said Dr waspresident until Jan 20, aCDC fidence that we canonce again likelyifneeded. The order will be emerging overseas and turning chargedwith dispatching The changefollowedanout- shown anyharmful effectsinan- Denise Jamieson, an obstetrician push to mandatemasksintran- travel safelyevenduringthis enforcedbythe Transportation up in the US. the packageinthe post. It crytothe WHO’s previous stance, imal studies. And the technology at EmoryUniversity and amem- sit wasblockedand the agency pandemic,” said the 11-pageor- Security Administration and fed- Dr Rochelle Walensky,the was“notaviable device”, whichstatedthat the organisa- usedinthe vaccines is generally beroftheCovidexpertgroupwith instead onlyissuedstrong rec- der signedbyMarty Cetron, di- eral, stateand localagencies. newdirector of the Centersfor police said. REUTERS tion did “notrecommend the known to be safe, experts said. theAmericanCollegeofObstetrics ommendations formask use. rector forCDC’s Division of Global The order says passengers Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination of pregnant women” The WHO’s newphrasing re- and Gynecology.The association Trumpalso rejected effortsby Migration and Quarantine. mustwear amask in transit ex- who wasalso at the briefing, is- with the vaccinesmade by Pfizer- flectsthis information: wasamong themanyhealth or- Congress to mandatemask use. The CDC said people violating ceptfor brief periods, suchasto sued aplea to Americans to con- BioNTechand Moderna. “Basedonwhat we know ganisations that had urgedPfizer “Requiring masksonour the order could potentiallyface eat, drink or take medication. tinue wearing masksand prac- IRAN Severalexpertshadexpressed about this kind of vaccine, we andModernato speedupvaccine transportationsystems willpro- criminalpenalties but suggested Masksmay be either manufac- tice social distancing, and to Tehranrejects disappointmentonThursdaywith don’t have anyspecific reason to tests in pregnant women. NYT tect Americans and provide con- civil penalties would be more tured or homemade. REUTERS avoid travel. newparticipants tonucleardeal Blinken dials Pak foreign minister, Myanmar’s military IRAN’S FOREIGN ministry rejectedany newnegotia- tionsorchangesto thepar- urges accountability in Pearl case allays coup fears, says it ticipantsofTehran’s nu- cleardeal with world tance of continuedUS-Pakistan will protect constitution powers, afterFrench LALITKJHA& DanielPearl cooperation on the Afghan peace President Emmanuel SAJJADHUSSAIN waskilled process, support forregionalsta- by itscommander-in-chief, Macron said newtalks WASHINGTON,ISLAMABAD, while he was bility,and the potential to ex- REUTERS Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, should include Saudi JANUARY30 in Pakistan pand our trade and commercial YANGON,JANUARY30 about abolishing the constitu- Arabia.“Thenuclearaccord in 2002 ties, Price said. tion had been misinterpreted. is amultilateral interna- The UAE’s economy has been hit by the coronavirus US SECRETARYofState Antony The PakistanForeign Office MYANMAR’S MILITARYsaid on “The Tatmadawisprotecting tional agreement ratified pandemic and lowoil prices, promptingtens of thousands of Blinken has spoken over the said in astatement that the two Saturdayitwouldprotect and the 2008 constitutionand will by UN Security Council expatriates to leave. Reuters phone with PakistanForeign Spokesperson NedPrice said on leaders discussed“recent devel- abide by theconstitution and act act according to thelaw,” it said. Resolution 2231, whichis MinisterShah Mahmood Fridaythat Blinken reinforced opmentsinthe Daniel Pearl according to law, amovethat “Some organisations and media non-negotiableandparties Qureshi and discussedthe need America’s concernoverPakistan case” and Qureshi “underscored could allayconcerns that the assumedwhat theywantand to it areclear and un- foraccountability in the murder Supreme Court’s ruling acquit- that it wasimportant and in the armedforces might attempt to wroteasTatmadawwill abolish changeable,” Iran Foreign UAE adopts amendments of AmericanjournalistDaniel ting Pearl’s killers. mutual interestthat justice is seize power. the constitution.” Ministrysaid. REUTERS Pearl, according to the US State “Blinken and Qureshi dis- served through legal means”. Thestatementcomesaday af- Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling to grant citizenship to Department. cussedhow to ensureaccounta- Qureshi congratulated terUNSecretary-General Antonio National League forDemocracy USA Pearl, the 38-year-old South bility forconvicted terrorist SecretaryBlinken on assuming Guterresand Western embassies Party(NLD),whichwon 11soldiers Asiabureauchief forTheWallStreet AhmedOmar SaeedSheikh and his office, underscoring in Myanmar expressedserious November’selectioninalandslide, investors, professionals Journal,was abducted and be- othersresponsibleforthe kidnap- Pakistan's commitment to forg- concerns about the possibility of calledthestatementa“suitableex- hospitalisedafter headedwhile he wasinPakistan ping and murder of American ing acomprehensive partner- armyinterventionin Myanmar,a planation”. NLD spokesmanMyo drinkingantifreeze the publicwelfaresystem. The investigatingastoryin2002onthe journalistDanielPearl,” Pricesaid ship with the United States countryruledbythe militaryfor Nyunt told Reuters the party REUTERS UAEspends billions of dollars linksbetweenthecountry’spow- in areadout of the call. basedonthe convergence of in- 49 years aftera1962coup. wanted themilitarytobeanor- ELEVEN SOLDIERSatFort DUBAI,JANUARY30 eachyear on free education, erful spyagency ISI and al-Qaeda. In addition, Blinken and terestsonawhole rangeofis- The military, known as the ganisation “that accepts the peo- Bliss in Texas remained healthcare, housing loans and StateDepartment Qureshi discussedthe impor- sues, it said. PTI Tatmadaw, said recent remarks ple’sdesire regardingtheelection”. hospitalisedonFriday, one THE UNITED Arab Emirates has grantsfor itsestimated 1.4mil- dayafter theydrank an- adoptedamendmentsthat lion citizens. tifreeze,believingitwasal- would allowthe Gulf stateto Foreigners in theUAE usu- HD MEDIA SAYS GOOGLE ‘THREATENS THEEXTINCTIONOFLOCAL NEWSPAPERS’ IN U.S. 4-yr-old Sikh girl cohol, during afield train- grant citizenship to investors allyhaverenewable visas valid ing exercise, military and other professionalsinclud- foronlyafew years tiedtoem- West Virginia newspaper publisher sues Google, FB becomes one of officialssaid.Initiallabtests ing scientists,doctors and their ployment. The government in showedthe soldiers were families,the governmentsaid recent has made itsvisa policy that Google and Facebook con- Chavern, head of the news youngest in UK experiencingethylenegly- on Saturday. moreflexible, offering longer TALIARBEL spiredto further their dominance trade group News Media col poisoning afteringest- “TheUAE cabinet, local residencies forcertain types JANUARY30 withasecretagreement,referring Alliance. He said the group was to get into Mensa ingtheantifreezeonthefi- Emiri courts andexecutive of investors, studentsand to asuit filedby10Republican at- notinvolvedinthe suit. naldayofa10-daytraining councils will nominatethose el- professionals. AWESTVirginia news publisher torneys general in December. HDMediafiledinfederalcourt exercise,Lt.Col.AlliePayne, igible forthe citizenship under Lastyear,the government ex- has filedanantitrustsuit against The companydoes notspec- in West Virginia and asked fora ADITIKHANNA aspokeswomanfor the clear criteria setfor eachcate- tendedits “golden”visa system - Google and Facebook,who to- ify the impact on itsbusiness of jurytrial. It asked for unspecified LONDON,JANUARY30 FirstArmored Division at gory,” Dubai’s ruler and UAE whichgrants10-year residency gether receive roughlyhalf of all the behavior of Facebook and damages and that the courtstop Fort Bliss, said at anews Vice President Sheikh in the Gulf state-tocertain pro- digital ad dollars in the US and Federal antitrustauthorities Google beyond saying that it has GoogleandFacebookfromtheun- AFOUR-YEAR-OLD BritishSikh conference.ColonelPayne Mohammedbin Rashid Al fessionals, specialiseddegree- arefacing antitrustchargesfrom have suedbothGoogleand hurtits ability to “effectively competitive conduct it is alleging. girlhas become one of the declinedtodiscussthe Maktoum said in atwitter post. holders and others. federal and stateauthorities. Facebook in recent months monetise itscontent” because Federal and stateantitrust youngestinthe UK to be ac- episode in detail, saying “The lawallows receivers of An oil and gasproducer,the The company, HD Media, Google is enabledtotakeanun- authorities have suedboth ceptedintothe eliteMensaclub it remainedunderinvesti- the UAEpassporttokeep their UAE’s economy has been hit by owns severalpapers in the state, competitive shareofthe news Google and Facebook in recent forpeople with ahigh intelli- gation by US Army existing citizenship,” Sheikh the coronavirus pandemic and includingthe Herald-Dispatch in so monopolisedthe online ad publisher’s ad revenues. months. The Justice gence quotient (IQ). CriminalInvestigation Mohammedadded. lowoil prices,promptingtens Huntington and the Charleston marketthat “itthreatens the ex- It’sthe firstantitrustlawsuit Departmentalleges that Google Dayaal Kaur,who liveswith Command. NYT It wasunclear if newpass- of thousands of expatriates Gazette-Mail. tinctionoflocalnewspapersacross againstatechplatform focused abuses itsdominance in online her familyinBirmingham, had portholders would benefit from to leave. HD Media claims Google has the country”. The suit also alleges on news publishing, said David search andadvertising. AP displayedexceptional learning abilities. Sheexpressedanen- thusiasm to appear forthe Mensa test,conducted online from home due to the coron- ‘WE NEED THIS CATALYST,NOW’ avirus lockdown, and achieved an IQ scoreof145,whichputs herinthe topone per centof As protests grip Russia, Putin critics of many stripes rally around Navalny the UK's population in the “verygiftedorhighlyad- vanced” category. “Entering aphase of intense the protests,ashehas in the past, personallydenying Navalny’s ac- —theyjustwant changeinthe “Weare delighted to wel- ANTONTROIANOVSKI crisis is alesser evil than this using asprawling security appa- cusationthathehadbuilthimself country,”Milovsaid. come Dayaal to Mensa, where MOSCOW,JANUARY30 slowdegradation of the coun- ratus adeptatstifling discontent asecret palace on the BlackSea. Navalnymade aname as an she joins acommunity of about try,”Pasechnik,42, said. “We while avoiding large-scale repres- Putin’s usuallyatomisedcrit- anticorruptionbloggerintheearly 2,000 junior and teen mem- ALEKSANDR PASECHNIK, aso- needthis catalyst, now.” sion that could inflame passions ics have come together around 2000s,butalsoengagedinnation- bers,” said John Stevenage, cialist, sees thejailedopposition Opposition to President further.Evenmanyofthe protest- the figureofNavalny,44, notfor alistpolitics,turningoffmanylib- British Mensa’s chief executive. leader Aleksei Navalnyaspartof Vladimir Putin has come in many ers themselvessaidit wouldtake his political views but because erals.Three-quartersof theview- “Her familycan makeuse of the “liberal intelligentsia”. hues—fromStalinistswhodream farbigger crowds to persuade the he is perceivedasasymbolofthe ersofhis “NavalnyLive” YouTube the supportive parents’ network Mikhail Svetov,Russia’sbest- of resurrecting the plannedecon- Kremlin to changecourse. main source of theanger that channel were men,its director, thathas developedand we hope known libertarian, recoils from omy, to nationalists who want to Still, the latestflash of discon- manyRussians feel toward the LyubovSobol, told The NewYork that as she growsup, Dayaal Navalny’s economic populism. restrictmigrationandannexmore tent is notable because it unites Kremlin: injustice. Times lastMay.Sobol attributed makes manylifelong friends and OlgaNikiforova, amonarchist, of Ukraine,to liberalswholongfor “Enteringaphaseofintense crisis is alesser evil than this right and left, old and young; and Vladimir Milov, aformer that phenomenon to Navalny’s experiences some of the many long refusedtobelieve that democracyandclosertieswiththe slow degradation of thecountry,”said Aleksandr Pasechnik, the protesters,rather than deputy energy ministerand now brusque, radical style. learning and networkopportu- Navalnywas poisoned. West.Rarelyhavethese disparate asocialist. NYT vaguelytargeting government an advisertoNavalny, said the Yetlastweekend,about45per nities that Mensa offers,” he said. Yetdespitetheirmisgivings,all groupscometogetherastheyhave officials, areunabashedlyattack- opposition leader’s team did not cent of thoseatNavalny’srally in Dayaal, whose dream for three risked arrest to join the inthelastweekaroundNavalny— ing Putin himself. viewideology as an important Moscowwerewomen,and42per nowistobecome an astronaut protests that sweptacrossRussia because the moment has arrived, “Navalny has, forthe firsttime, the MoscowSchoolforSocial and ThatmeansPutinfacesanun- factor in mobilising protesters. centsaidtheyhadneverprotested and also to have astable full of lastweekendcallingforNavalny’s moreand moreRussians say, sparkedaRussian protestmove- EconomicSciences.“It is ahistoric usuallyvolatile moment —asev- “The vast majority of people before this year,accordingtoa horses, took the test justbefore release —and were considering when theycan no longer abide ment againstthe President,” said moment forthe country.” idencedbythe extraordinary whocomeoutarenot partisansof group of sociologists whosur- her fourth birthdayinOctober doing so again on Sunday. passive acceptance of Putin. Konstantin Gaaze, asociologistat Putin is in position to ride out spectaclerecentlyofthePresident anyideologyorhave specificviews veyedthe crowd. NYT lastyear. PTI JANUARY31, 2021 | WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM | PAGE 11 THE SUNDAY EXPRESSMAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT BOOKS In the Dead ● Interview with historian Audrey Truschkeonher of Night new book, The Languageof Theroadhas been long History: Sanskrit Narratives and hard forAssam’s anti- of Muslim Pasts witch-hunt crusader ● Review of SL Bhyrappa’s BirubalaRabha,recently UttaraKaanda honoured with the ● Review of SaiParanjpye’s Padma Shri APatchworkQuilt: A eye CollageofMyCreativeLife

C HANGE BEGINS AT THE DOOR As the pandemic turns home spaces multifunctional, alook at the evolution of the drawing room

Shiny Varghese collectibles areondisplay, while theliving neighbours above or below. In Bombay, real- “the integration of the drawing-cum-dining roomis aplace whereyou sit easy.Itgivesyou estate mechanisations areleading to vanish- space,ithasblurredtheformality of thedraw- afeeling of balance, while the drawing room ing balconies. Carpenters bring down win- ing room. It is nowevolving intoamoreflex- IL HE DRAWINGroom is dead. is the crutchthat establishes your place in so- LUS dows on the parapetand breakdownwalls ible and fluid space,” she says.Itgoes without Long live thedrawing room!” ciety,the imageyou wish to portray to the TR between the living room and the balcony, to saying that the shifthas also made adiffer- AT It’s aphrasethat has neverbeen world. The primarydifference is betweenthe IO makethe room bigger.Ithas further discon- ence to hierarchies. If earlier women weren’t N: morerelevant.As spaces in our ‘tohave’ and‘to be’state of mind. The drawing SH nectedus from the outside. This pandemic has allowedtocome to the front of the house be- YA homes become multifunc- room became ademonstration of power,”says MK madeonefeel theabsenceof balconiesmuch fore outsiders,thosewallshadnowcollapsed. Ttionalin anincreasinglyvirtual Delhi-basedarchitect VerendraWakhloo. UM more,” says Dalvi. “The traditional Indian floor-basedseat- AR worldand we arereducedtothumbnail win- Often, ahierarchywas notuncommon — PR The other move from British bungalows to ingwasreplacedbymultipleclusters of raised AS dows on meeting platforms, has the drawing the drawing room would have adesignated AD modernist architecturewas the democratisa- furniture, central to which were carved and room come full circle? From formal spaces chair forthe man of the house while the seat- tion of spaces within the house. The 2BHK upholsteredsofasetsand central tables. New wherewereceivedguests,the drawing room ing forguests would be less comfortable, to eliminated the needfor adrawing room carpentryskills acquiredby local woodwork- has become our work-from-home station, send themessage thatonecannotoverstay. and gave everyone the ubiquitous hall. ers also enabledawider application of styles, whereaspirational virtual backgrounds Mumbai-based architect This transition meant amove motifsand elements. However, till the 1930s, (beachesor bookshelves) have takenover. Yet, Chandrashekhar Kanetkarhas worked towardsahomogenisationof homes. we see singular styles and themes of period muchbeforethe drawing room wasthe otla, on numerous high-end residences “With the modernistera,the idea furniture—beittraditional, colonial, ArtDeco thinna, baranda, balcão —the public space to wherethis powerplaytakes centre of the community disintegrated. or modern —dominatingdrawing-room aes- courtyardhouses,whereneighbours dropped stage. Drawing rooms have been In the modern age, our lives thetics. AfterIndependence, the drawing by forachat or strangers stoppedto askfor di- designedasmultiple sections, have become generic,” says room has been the quickest to absorb and in- rections—“it formedthe public threshold,the some leading intocourt- Mumbai-basedurbande- tegratetrends and styles to become an eclec- interface with the street,wheresocialinter- yards, some offering signer and academic ticspace with furniturepieces from various actions with strangers and neighbours wasat glimpses of libraries, to Rohan Shivkumar.The eras —modernistmasters chairs nowsit street level. Therewas no conceptofaformal cater to different types of modern plan of a alongsidesankheda(low-seating) sofa-chairs drawing room. Indian domestic spaces, typi- visitors. His designs also house had become and Portuguese loveseats,” says Bose. callyfor large joint-families, focusedonmul- incorporatebar uniform with mass Décor magazines, by the late1990s, and tifunctionality and flexibility of spaces. There lounges and drawing housing.The unique platforms suchasPinterest,in late2000s, have wasalso no conceptofformal furniture. It was rooms with show individual designs made it possible to dream of newwaysto largely floor-basedorlow-height, suchas kitchens. “There of adrawing room dress up homes, and advertisements, inter- khatiyas, gaddis, jhoolas,orchatai,which are should be an ele- were leftbehind national trade fairs and e-commerce sites gave lightand easyto move around. Theadditionof ment of curiosity to accommodate peopleaccessto wider markets,makingitpos- adrawing room as aformal and enclosed when youplan a requirementsofa sible to buy that designer chair or those drip- space to meet visitors firstarose in well-off drawing room. It’s a BHK format. ping chandeliers. Mood lighting and state- Indian homes, with the arrivalofthe game of hide and Spaces could be ment décor racedtheir wayintohomes. Portuguese and the British,” says Kamalika seek,” says Kanetkar, modifiedtosuit However, while the marketconnected Bose,conservationarchitectandco-authorof adding, if youreveal anyfunction —just people, modular living made it impossible to AHistory of Interior Design in India (SID all at one go,there the nomenclature tell astory.Livingspaces lookedlikecatalogues Research Cell, CEPT University,Ahmedabad). is little lefttoengage had shifted. and algorithmsdictated the newaesthetic. Over time, the drawing room grew to be- the guest. Architect Whilethe look had changed,the sentiment come amarkerofclass and status. The draw- The coming of GautamBhatia recalls wasstill the same —adisplayofsocial status. ing room wasthe nucleus of the house and it drawing rooms made his childhood years However, Wakhloo points to adifferent wasbestreferenced in films, wherea the connection with the wherethe drawing imagination as he references homes of grand staircaserosefromthe livingroom and outside worldshrink. room wasacollageof Pritzker winnerBVDoshi and Delhi-basedar- apianosymbolised opulence. In the 1949 Traditional houses with manytravels. “Our parents chitect Ashok BLall. “In Doshi’sAhmedabad film Andaz,the staircase is semi-publicplaces made it neverthought of what a house, the living room is likealarge foyer, where all the actionunfolds, while in Sooraj possible forowners to connect drawing room couldbe. It was whichconnectstothe basement, wherehis Barjatya’s Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), a with the neighbourhood and the aplace forall kinds of col- meditationroom is,and,tothe upper floor, fatalfall from the living-room stairs steers the street.One movedfromthe outside lectibles, from the Air India to the open area in the garden andthe story. Even today, Hindi serials carryforththe to the inside, transcending thresholds Maharajaashtrays to souvenirs and kitchen.You enter the livingroom, andyou legacy of grandstaircases, forevil in-laws to of privacy and engagement. As ground- even chippedcups. It wasabout filling getthe feel of being in acovered courtyard. makeunsuspectingvictims tumble down hugging homes made wayfor high-storeyed up the space,” he says. Ashok Lall’s living room with itsmagnificent those heights. apartments, balconies took the spaceofthe Bose testifies to howinmodesthomes, skylightallowsyou to viewthe skyfromin- Mumbai-basedarchitect-academicSmita otla or the verandah. “The balconybecame the drawing room also doubles up as asleep- side. It connectsthe ground to the sky and Dalvi, whose doctoral thesis wasonhomes that in-between space whichconnected the ing space, with the occasional sofa-cum-bed one is humbledbyit. Youare no longerthe and Hindi cinema, says,“The house wasal- house to thesky and the ground, and to your making an appearance. In recent times, with protagonistofthe space, youbecomeaware ways larger than life. Hindi filmsevengov- of thelargeruniverse. Thereisnoexaggera- ernedthe fashion quotient in our homes. For tion of the self, likeinaformal drawing room. example, in Ayan Mukerji’s Wake Up Sid AROOM OF THEIR OWN Ahome shouldfinallyreflect your family, a (2009), Konkona Sen sets up a‘my corner’with vision of yourself and the cosmology you fairylights, booksand posters,presentingher- THE DRAWINGROOM IN LITERATURE carry within you,” he says. self as asingle girlonalowbudget witha Drawing rooms maywell be dead in the charming personality.Muchbefore, Farhan VICTORIAN SOCIETY believed in “drawing-room naturalism” in her stories. pandemic, however, experiences of aspace Akhtar’s Dil ChahtaHai (2001)presented the specific activities forevery room and the In ashortstory that the American novelist neednot be.Chennai-basedarchitect Pramod modern living roomas an aspirational space.” “withdrawing room” waswhereladies wroteatage 11,she opens with aguest’s Balakrishnan givesthe example of one of his Somewhereinthe mid ’80s, the drawing retired afterdinner.Thisprivate room entryintoMrs Tomkins’s house and the residential complexesinPerumbakkam, room, wherethe formality of lifetook place, soon came to be known as the “drawing hostsays, “IfonlyIhad known youwere Chennai. “Wegaveresidentsmultiple ways to wassupersededbythe living room. The for- chamber”orthe drawing room going to call, Ishould have tidiedupthe reachtheir ownhomes. It wasn’t justaliftand mer wasthe formal space to receive visitors, drawing room.” Wharton’s mother is said astaircase. We even hadachessboardsquare oftenseparatedfromthe rest of the house, the JANE AUSTEN, the 18th centuryEnglish to have remarked: “Drawing rooms are in common areas, wherepeople could come, latter waswherethe familyhung out, where novelist, best describeinterior spaces in always tidy” playand interact. The formality of the draw- the wifechoppedvegetables on thetable, the her work.Objectsofahouse reveal a ingroomhas diminishedaspeoplemeettheir children kept their feet up on thesofaasthey character’s emotions and situation, be it a THE COMEDYOFMANNERS or friends outdoors, playagame of chess and en- watchedloud TV andthe pressurecooker in fadedfootstool or ashabby sofa. In drawing-roomplays have been part of gage with others who probablyare watching the kitchen whistledinthe background. Northanger Abbey (1817), forinstance, the theatresince Victorian times, when the them play. It changes the waywecommuni- The“see-but-don’t-touch” drawingroom, 19th centuryfurniture andEnglish china action waslocatedinthe drawing cate, exchangeideas and build relationships. onthe otherhand,camewithspotlessuphol- setspeak of opulent modernity COURTESYSHABNAMGUPTAHOMES room. Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of It’s an attempt at taking it backtowhereitall stery, art andcrystal collections. “It became a WHERE THE ACTION WAS Being Earnest (1895) is one of its began,andincreasingtheinteractionwiththe room of illusions. Aplace whereyour prized EDITH WHARTON is known for Comedy of Manners or drawing-room plays have been part of theatre since the Victorian times finestexamples street and neighbours,” he says. EYE,THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE

12 SPOTLIGHT JANUARY 31, 2021 DOWN IN Reclaiming JUNGLELAND Our Bodies RanjitLal Aletter to young women on

Ranjit Lal is an author, body diversity, body positivity environmentalistand birdwatcher and social justice Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Bat? IMAGINE Afair hearing to the creature at by SheljaSen the receiving end of pointed fingers every time there’s avirus scare DEAR YOU, decades,wewere force-fedthe idea of Body ATSHAVEbeen squarelyblamedfor starting the Walking in aparkinthe winter sun, among Mass Index(BMI)asacrite- COVID-19catastrophe, so, Down in Jungleland families sprawledonthe lawns forSunday pic- rion of fitness and obesity only went deep intoabat cave in aremote forest to nics,Iwasparticularlydrawn to alittle girl, to discoverthat all it did wasfatten the Bfind out what the batshavetosay forthemselves. maybearound sevenyearsofage,dancing to weight-loss industry. Ahostofassortedcreatures joinedthe conversation: aBollywood song. Carefree and completely In my work with young girls, I’vefound DIJ: Good evening, god, it smells here... Well, sir,what’s oblivious to the people around, their stares or that this “gaze” or judgement hounds us your take on thefact that humans were blaming your smiles,as if transportedtoanother world, she through these tactics: species forspreading this scourge around the world? swung her hips and swayed her hands, with Comparing: Pushingyounggirls to evalu- Scientists have admitted that theywerebitten by some of eyes closedand asmile on her lips. atetheir bodies and worththrough self-sur- youwho were already infected. Iwalkedon, but that sight stayedwith me. veillance. A13-year-old told me, “Everytime Bat: What the hell were your precious scientists doing My initial delight and warmth graduallygave Imeetsomeone or see apicture fingering us in the firstplace? Of course, we’ll biteifyou waytoasenseofunease. When would this on social media, the take such liberties. Youwereresearching us forsome little girllose this disinhibition and startbe- firstthing Icheckis nasty viruses, weren’t you—whichyou could then raise comingaware of the constant “gaze”that fol- if she’s thinner or and develop and use as bio-weapons on your ownkind? lows women? Whenwould theindulgent fatter than me.It’s become GETTYIMAGES Well, we gave youone forfree, so, whyare youcomplain- smiles turnintolooks of judgement? When an automatic reaction.” ing? Youhumans makeussick—you have evil intentions would she startfinding her thighs toofat, Convincing:Another 15-year-oldshared, —Doyou think it is unjustthat the prob- thenarrowidea of beauty.Social media is a towardsyour ownkind and, when things boomerang, you voice tooloud,spirit toowild?Whenwould “I live 24x7 with the shame of being so ugly”. lem has been located in women’s bodies double-edgedswordwhere, on theone hand, blame us. Thousands of us have been slaughtered by pan- she startchecking whatshe says,how she The voice of judgement is so compelling that rather than the problematic cultural notions it indoctrinates constant preoccupation with icky people. All we want is to be leftalone so that we can says it,measuring her worththrough her it’s difficult to fight it alone. What happens if of beauty? perfection, while on the other hand, it’s wit- continue pollinating your bananas, durians, and ahostof body measurements? all the women in our livesare also going In my collaborative work with young nessingamovement wherewomenare re- other food plants. If we stopped, youwould starve. When would self-consciousness creep in, through similar battles,andbodyshaming be- women, we’vefound three effective steps to sistingthisoppressive ideaofbeautybypost- DIJ: But alot of this research is aimedatdeveloping making her suckher cheeksin, tuckinher comes ataken-for-granted wayofrelating flip the gaze on the judgement and reclaim ing pictures with unbridled, unfiltered swag. medicines so we can make sickpeople well. Thereare so tummyorpull and push at different bitsof with ourselvesand eachother? our agency,our bodies: Solidarity: Self-judgement can isolateus manymedicines that arebasedonanimal parts and prod- flesh in despair? Taking selfies, adding aflat- Concluding: The trickiestbit is thatjudge- Microactsofresistance: Sanna (name intolocating the probleminourselves, but ucts. People have been using these traditional medicines tering filter before puttingituponInstagram, ment keeps us alwaysdissat- changed), 21,shared with what if we refusedtolet it pit us againsteach ●●● forthousands of years. anxiouslywaiting forthe worldtoacknowl- isfiedwith our bodies, as we me that she had experienced other? What if we stoppedbody-shaming Bat: None of whichhavebeen scientificallyprovento edge her worth. Maybescrolling down and nevermatchuptothe toxic intense body-shaming as a ourselvesand eachother and committed to actuallywork. Youpeople aregoodatrunning such checking other accountswith Insta-perfect perfect-body advertisingin- We need to raise our voice, write child and nowwas commit- finding beauty in all shapes, sizes and colours? money-making rackets. It’s amazing howacountry bodies and glowing skins with asinking “I’m cessantlyfed to us and con- tedtotakingtinystepsby not Sanna said she will do whateverittakestoen- whichwantstorulethe worldstill believesthat “eye of suchafailure” feeling, and slowlyshutting her- clude we are“weak”, “lazy”, about it, makeonline videos to letting other people’s com- surethat her 12-year-old cousin doesn’t have newt and toeoffrog, wool of bat and tongue of dog” will self offorstarving herself. “notgood enough”. mentsdefine her.“I’vefound to go through what she had to because “If Ido makeyou well. Manyadultsreading this might dismiss it I’m notheretoadvise question the narrow idea of beauty my ownstyle of dressing notlook out forher who will?” (There’s astirassome other animals —amongthem, a as “girls these days!” As if they arethe prob- you, we knowthat does not ●●● that expresses my identity,” Standing up forbody diversity is notaper- ragged-looking Siberian tiger,dog,pangolin,dehorned rhino, lem. I’veoften heardwords like “obsessed work.Instead, let’s sit back she said, adding thatitwas sonal battle but an issue of social justice. We and buffalo —joinin.) with their looks”, notrealising that the prob- and reflect on the workings of this judgement “a dailybattle but Ilook at myself in the mir- owe it to that little dancing girland millions Tiger: Do youknowwhat Iam? Afarmedtiger.Have lem actuallylies in our society’s constant and ask afew questions of ourselves: rorevery morning and say, ‘I’m hot, I’m gor- likeher.Are youready? youeverheardofanything moreshameful? Thereare judgement of women’s bodies. Women have —Doyou see howitisolates eachofus geous, and I’m notletting anybody steal that thousands of us in so-calledtiger farms —whereyou hu- notbeen allowedtoown their bodies —there intolittle cocoons and makes us believe we away from me.’” She has informedher family In solidarity, mans intend to kill us and use our bones, blood and pri- arestrict norms on how“good girls” carry arethe problem? Doesn’t the problem lie in and friends of these “respectful boundaries”, Shelja their bodies — coverup, kowtow,havemeek the waywomen’s bodies have been judged and theyare her biggestallies now. voices and trytobe“thin, fair and lovely”. and controlledovercenturies? Documenting theseresistances: What DrSheljaSenisanarrativetherapist,co-founder, Social media and thediet, beauty and fitness —Doyou think it is fair that judgement would it look likeifwestarted acounter-cul- ChildrenFirst,writer,and,inthiscolumn,she industryhaveexploited it with minimalre- (comparing, convincing and jumping to turethat objectifies the “gaze” rather than let curatestheknow-howofthechildrenandyoung gard to the damaging impact on young conclusions) robs us of joy, confidence, self- it objectify us? We needtoraise our voice, peoplesheworkswith.Writetoher women or complete disregardfor ethics. For worthand peace of mind? write aboutit,makeonline videosto question [email protected] In the Dead of Night

RANJITLAL HIGH AND DRY The road has been long and hard for Assam’s anti-witch-hunt crusader,Birubala Rabha, recently honoured with the Padma Shri If bats stopped pollinating food plants, humans would starve To ra Agarwala this law. “Webegan to lookatunderlying causes of whythese incidentshappen,” says vate parts formaking foul concoctions which, youthink, Dr Natyabir Das, aGoalpara-basedphysician, will turn youintoCasanovas. Thereare moreofusincap- SOMETIME IN 2010,Birubala Rabha thought who has long been associated with Rabha’s tivity on farms than thereare in the wild. she wasgoing to die.Afloat theBrahmaputra, work.“Biru baideo (sister), being avillager, DIJ: Take it as acompliment, we humans think youare with afilmcrew who wasinterviewing her, maybealittle superstitious herself, but over so virile and macho that we need your body parts. thewoodenboatsuddenly capsized, throwing the years, she has understood that the root SiberianTiger (growling):Shame on you! overboardthe camera, acrew member and cause of all this can be tracedbacktothe lack Pangolin (piping up):You makesoup and wine with Rabha, 61 at the time. Gasping forbreath, she of educationandhealthcarefacilities, and the our fetuses thinking it’s good foryou. Youreallyare sick. somehowmanaged to swim to safety. “The general lackofdevelopment,” he adds. Dog: Onlyyour species will think of eating what you waterwas very deep and Itold myself, ‘Okay, Today, in villages across Assam, Mission call your best friend. As forusing our private parts,Iwould todayisthe dayIamgoing to die’,” Rabha Birubala —whichisanetworkofsocial ac- rather notget intothat —it’s toorevolting forwords. Why chuckles at the memorymorethan adecade tivists,witch-hunt survivors, lawyers —holds on earth do we still wagour tails when youget backhome later. “But then again, Ihaveneverbeen afraid awareness meetings, whereRabha, dressed from work! of death. Andthatisprobably whyImanaged in a patani (the traditional attireofthe Rabha Bear (shambling in, grunting): And youkeep us captive to live,” she adds. tribe, found acrossAssam’s Goalparaand and suckour bile out with syringes —tomakeyour pre- It is this fortitudethat has guidedRabha, Kamrup districts, and parts of Meghalaya, cious so called-medicines. Assam’s plucky crusader againstwitch-hunt- West Bengal and Bangladesh), hair tiedback Rhino (snorting): Look at me, sir,justlook at me! My ing, through aremarkable life. Alifethat was in atight bun, delivers long rousing speeches pride and joyhas been hackedoff!Toyou, our horns are honoured with one of India’s highestcivilian about her life, to the roaring applause of the moreprecious than gold because youstupidlybelieve awards, the Padma Shri,lastweek.“Ithink this crowds. “She maybesmall andunassuming, that it, too, will turn youintoCasanova studs. Our horns one is morespecial than theothers,” Rabha but when shespeaks, everyone justlistens,” arejustcompressedhair,eat your nails if youwant ker- says,ather home in Goalparadistrict, lined says Usha Rabha,aclose aide. In 2005,Usha atin. Areyou reallythe planet’s so-calledintelligent crea- with mementos of different shapes and sizes. sawaphoto of Rabhadelivering aspeechin tures or plain imbeciles? “I’mgetting double the phone calls Iusually the local paper.“Everything about the picture Tiger: Your species, especiallyyour gender,has ama- do. But Iamtelling them, awards arewelland wassoinspiringthat Iwentseekingher,” says jor confidence problem. Howdoyou impress your ladies good, but thepointis forhumansto helpother Usha, 55, “Now Iamher shadow.” with suchanattitude? humans, forustobebrave and unafraid.” Together,Usha says,theyhavewalked— DIJ: But youhavetoadmit that notall of us disrespect JustlikeRabha has been through her 72 and sometimes run —long hours to meet you: in India, cows areconsidered sacredbymillions and years of life. She wasn’t afraid whenshe trav- TORAAGARWALA women in remote villages through scorching cowdung and urine aretreated likeelixirs. elledtoavillageinMeghalaya, in the dead of usedthe time to work towardseradicating the ANY WITCH Sanabala,Lakshmi...,”shereadsoutthe names sunshine andraging thunderstorms, climb- Buffalo: So, whyare theremorestarving cows roam- night,respondingto acallof awomanaccused practice,” she says.Since Rabha wasalready WAY of those she and her team have rehabilitated ing hills, navigating through cemeteries, ing the streetseating plastic bags than anywhereelse in of being a“daini”orwitchbyher neighbours, an active member of her village’s local Mahila over the years, alistofaround ahundred. swimmingacross rivulets.“Thething about Birubala Rabha the world? That’s some veneration! shewasn’tafraidwhenamobsurroundedher Samiti (women’s self-helpgroup) fightingso- In Assam, where witch-hunting is ram- her is thatshe nevergetstired,” says Usha, “On DIJ: Well, what messageshould Itakebacktomy with daos (a flat-blade sword) and sticks, cial evils likealcoholism and domestic vio- pant, mostcauses of witch-hunt murders are severaloccasions, we have metpeople who species when Ireturn to civilisation? threateningtobeat her up at the entranceof lence, her newavatarasavoiceagainstwitch- prima facie basedonsuperstitious beliefsthat have threatenedtokill us, brandishing sticks Animals (in chorus): Justleave us alone to continue thevillage,andshewasn’tafraidwhenin2000, hunting came to her all toonaturally. the “witch” —oftenasingle woman, awidow, and knives. But Biru baideo says,“Katilekaat, our work in keeping the planetinrunning order! Why in apublic villagemeeting held to decide the “Atone point, even Ibelievedthat there or,sometimes, aman,too—hasmagicalpow- maarile maar,moi norokhu (killme if youhave mustyoung men jumponthe backs of young heifers, take fate of five womenwhowere brandedwitches wasatruth to allthis, that witches do exist,” ers to bring aboutdeath and disease in the to,Iwon’t stop).” them by the horns, so theygoberserk? What have they near LakhipurinAssam, she stood up before says Rabha, who has studieduptill Class V. community.But adeeperdive intomostofthe Over the years, Rabha has maintainedadi- done to you? We knowyou use us formeat —manyofus hundredsand boldlyannounced: “Thereare “But then my son, Dharmeshwar,who has a cases shows they areusuallyameans to settle arywhereshe recordsthe incidentsofher life also hunt —but that is to live.You harass us foryour enter- no witches, witchcraftdoes notexist.” mental problem,fell ill in 1985, and alocal personal scores —jealousy,property conflicts in case her memoryfails her aheadofanin- tainment, use us fordiabolical, dubious purposes. Be The very next day, hundredsofvillagers quacksaid that he waspossessedbyafairy, or familial strife—inthe name of superstition. terview. On Thursday, when we visited her, warned, youdon’t knowquite what you’remeddling surroundedher house, to compel Rabha to and would die in three days.” He did not. For While stateslikeJharkhand, Chhattisgarh, twointerviews had already happened, and with: this COVID-19calamity could be just the tip of the sign adisclaimer that she waswrong to say Rabha, the incident wasnothing shortofan Bihar, Odishaand Rajasthan have already thereisanother in the queue. Aftertheyleave, iceberg. Haven’t youlostenough of your people to it? what she did, and that, in fact, dainis do exist. awakening. “I realisedthat innocent villagers criminalisedthe practice,the Assam Witch Rabha says shewill feed her chickens,fetch Haven’t yousufferedenough? But Rabha remainedresolute, refusing to sign were being duped,” she says. Hunting (Prohibition,Protection and water, and if thereistime, finishweavinga Bat: Don’t mess with us anymore. the document, and thus beganalifedevoted In the yearsthat followed, with theSamiti’s Prevention) Act, 2015 came intoeffect onlyin half-done pajar,atraditional Rabha scarf, she Animals (in chorus): Justleave us in peace! to fighting the malaise of witch-hunting in the support, Rabha went from villagetovillage 2018.Rabha’sworkand theorganisation is working on. And if, in the midstofit, she gets state. “Afterthat incident, theyostracisedme whenevershe heardtherewas acaseof witch- formedin2011under her name, Mission acall from awoman in distress, she will leave and brandedmeawitchtoo, but instead, I hunting. “Raneshwari, Padumi, Anjali, Birubala, playedakey role in bringingabout it all, and run. EYE,THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE

JANUARY 31, 2021 BOOKS 13

Brave OldWorld The Storyteller Historian Audrey Truschkeonwhy religious identitywas never of primary importance in Writes pre-modern India and countering ideological readings of the past with facts Sai Paranjpye’s memoir is long on

Paromita Chakrabarti mythology is notjustacolonial hangover.Itis details about her creative life and acritical partofIndia’spresent, and Indian groups areresponsible forthis nexus of intol- short on personal insights NHER firstbook, CultureofEncounters erance and bigotry.Asahistorian, my response (2016), historian Audrey Truschkehad is to meet this prejudice with knowledge. exploredthe crucial role playedbycul- Alongside manycolleagues, Iresearch real as- tural exchanges between the elites of pectsofIndian history and communicate Ithe Mughal court and the Sanskrit- them to anyone willing to listen. speaking populace in establishing the Mughals within the social, political and cul- Whilenoting traces of the idea of tural framework of the region. Truschkehad Kashmiriyat —the notion of an arguedthat the Mughal empire’s dynamism indigenous, syncretic Kashmirisociety — reliedonits ability to embrace awide range in along tradition of Sanskrit writing of culturalinfluences, especiallySanskrit. The from the region, youalsocautionagainst associateprofessor of South Asian History at examining itspresent politics through RutgersUniversity, USA,returnsto thistheme the lens of the region’s pre-modern past. in her thirdbook, TheLanguageofHistory: Couldyou elaborate? SCENESFROM ASUNNYPLACE Sanskrit Narratives of Muslim Pasts,inwhich Kashmiriyat is alovelyidea, but itshistoric- Astill from Chashme Buddoor she analyses Sanskrit textswritten between ity is another matter,asIindicateinthe book. the 12th and 18th centuries to note an absence Scholarship on Kashmir has been hampered of anymarkedreligious animositybetween in recent years by theongoing conflict in the Rita Kothari Hindus and Muslims in the subcontinent. region. Ilook forwardtoall involvedactorsre- Truschke’s views areoften metwithviru- specting international agreements, halting lent criticism by right-wing idealogues,that human-rightsviolations, and allowing FYOU’RE amovie fanand meetsomeone who un- reachedits peak with the publication of her Kashmiris to use their inherent right of self- derstands your references to Miss Chamko, or who, second book,abiography of Mughal emperor determination. while passing around acigarette,says,“zaramunh Aurangzeb. In this interview, Truschke, 38, Ikadvakarvale”, youknowyou can build something speaksofexploringtheresilienceof pre-mod- At the time of writing Aurangzeb: The with that person. At the very least, an adda.Films like ernIndiainhernewbookandherrefusalto be Man and theMyth (2017,Allen Lane), you ChashmeBuddoor (1981) and Katha (1983) occupyaspe- stymiedbythehatedirectedatherforcounter- WIKIMEDIACOMMONS writethat you’d been legallycounselled cial place forsome of us who were watching films in the ingpropagandist readingsof historyorforcall- worksorareflection of the land’s to notventureintowriting about Shivaji. 1980s. The ineptNaseeruddin Shah from Katha andthe ingoutIslamophobia,sexismorhuman-rights cosmopolitan nature? Youhavetaken it up in this book, bright-eyedDeepti Navaland Farooq Shaikh from violationsaround the world. Excerpts: TreatmentofPersianlooksdifferentamong exploring what ledtoShivaji’s ChashmeBuddoor jostledwith superstars and modified Sanskritintellectualsthanamongothergroups investment in projecting aKshatriya our memoryofcinema of that period. Sai Paranjpye,in Youwriteinthe epilogue of your new in pre-modern India.That’s because Sanskrit identity forhimself. Whywas this critical particular,with her (RK) Narayanesque humour,captured book that your attempt to broadenthe thinkers had to contendwithafairly robust, forhis political career? As ahistorian, the middle class and itsfoibles and graces in afable-like scope of history might be misconstrued time-honouredset of philosophical positions howurgent is it foryou to address form. This quality stems from the very sunnyand comic as a‘de-emphasisonfactsand accuracy’ thatlimitedthe number of literarylanguages. revisionisttendencies? vision of lifeshe brought to the worldofarts. This sunni- Howdid youdecide on the textsthat Thishardlyprovedinsurmountable,butittook Shivaji wasaman of his times, andhe ness warms but doesn’t scorch.Her memoir APatchwork youdiscuss? awhile forSanskrit intellectuals to warm up caredalot aboutcaste andclass. Iknowthisis Quilt beckonedwith the promise of this warmth and nos- Being written in Sanskrit wasaniron-clad to Persian. In the 12th century, forexample, asensitive subject forsome today, but that is talgia. Iwon’t call her “pioneer- rule forinclusion but communi- Jayanaka(Kashmiripoet-historian, amodern,notahistorical,problem.Itryto re- ing” and “woman director”, in or- cating accurate politicalhistory composer of the Prthvirajavijaya) coverhistory as accuratelyaspossible, and I der to respect Paranjpye’s wasnot.Asaresult, Idiscuss texts likenedPersianto thecriesof wild willpublishasmuchofitaspermittedwithin vexation with suchlabels. She thatplayfastand loose with the birds. By the 18th century, the legal and practicalrestraintsofIndia’santi- writes, “Wherever IgoIam never facts(forexample, transposing Lakshmipati (whosepatron was free speechlawsand authoritarian turn. Ihave allowedtoforgetthat Iama chronologies),suchassomeof the JagacchandraofKumaon,whoop- neverand Iwill neverchangemyhistorical woman filmmaker.This can get 14th-centuryJain prabandhas.I erated under the aegis of the opinion in the face of public pressure. quiteexasperating….Tothe eter- also analyseworks that offeras- Mughals)playedwithPersian,us- nal question that Iamplagued tonishing details of political in- ingPersianwordsandevenbitsof Howdoyou copewith the abuse online? with —what is the main disad- trigues —and even the Mughal Persian grammar in Sanskrit. This MATTEROF who were thinking about Indo-Persian rulers. Withsomedifficulties,asanyonemightex- vantageofbeing awoman direc- king Farrukh Siyar’s medical his- journeyisremarkable. RECORD perience,butoverwhelminglywithconviction tor—myanswer is: being tory —suchasLakshmipati’s Youtrace howMuslim patronagefor thatIamdoingmy jobethicallyandto thebest endlesslyharanguedwith this (Top) The APATCHWORK twinnedearly 18th-centuryhis- Youwritethat Sanskrit Hindu temples wasnot uncommon,beit of my abilities. Ihavenever givenintobullies QUILT:ACOLLAGE very question.” tories (Nrpatinitigarbhitavrtta and THELANGUAGE intellectuals didnot use the desecration of the during the reign of the Khiljisorthe or ignorance, and Iamnot abouttostart. The book has interesting tid- OFHISTORY: Somnath Te mple by OFMYCREATIVE Abdullacarita). SANSKRIT religiousterm ‘Musalmana’ Mughals or even earlier,justas LIFE bitsabout her work and the peo- The book does notclaim to be foravery long time, because Mahmud of Ghazni desecrationoftemples wasnot a An old interviewofyours, in whichyou ple she worked,arguedand lived NARRATIVESOF BY SAIPARANJPYE comprehensive,and Isignal in the theysaw Islamic incomers as in 1025 was hardly uniquelyIslamic trait either.Isitthe speak of the harshness of the colonial with. It begins with an invocation MUSLIMPASTS HarperCollins notesanumberoftexts that I justanother addition to their mentioned in burden of colonial scholarshipthatthe reimagining of Aurangzeb as areligious to herintrepid mother hopeother scholars might work BY AUDREY socio-politicalset-up.How idea of the desecrationoftemples relates bigot,keeps reappearing online, drawing 452 pages Shakuntala, who acted in V Sanskrit writings of on going forward. TRUSCHKE important wasreligious to Islamic rulers in popular imagination? flak. Do youthink youcan ever leave `599 Shantaram’s (1937) at a Allen Lane identityatthe time? the time, writes Howdoes one counter this ideological Aurangzeb completely in your past? time when women were In pre-modern India, Sanskrit 412pages Thereisacirca 700CEuse of Truschke; the author reading of the past? Sooner or later,anew historianwill writea nowherenear the screen. Paranjpye inherited cultural wasthe languageofpower, `799 ‘Musalamana’inSanskrit, which Thereisacolonialhistory of misunder- biographyofAurangzeb to supplant mine. capital and talent from her familyand, in some sense, the but incoming language allows us to meaningfullyask: standingtempledesecrationthathasbeen en- Manyofuslookforwardtothatday, perhaps,for lifeofamultifacetedartistwas scriptedfor her early. groups were also acknowledged, Whydid hundredsofyears pass before this hancedbycertain trendsinindependentIndia. different reasons. In themeantime, the most APatchwork Quilt is the English translation of her especiallyPersian,with wordsfromit morereligious term wasagain usedin In recent decades, aband of Hindu nationalist recent, best work on Aurangzeb is by Richard Marathi memoir Say: Maza Kalapravas (Rajhans being incorporatedintoSanskrit. Was Sanskrit? The answer,simplyput, is that reli- groups, who followthe ideology of Hindutva, MEatoninhisIndiainthePersianateAge:1000- Prakashan, 2020), whichgrew outofher popular column this symbiosis amatterofpragmatism giousidentitywas notthe one that mostin- have fuelledhatred of Muslims, including by 1765 (2019,Allen Lane), whichisamust-read ‘Saya’inLoksatta.Init, she described herjourneythrough forwider dissemination of literary terested or concernedSanskrit intellectuals maligningtheir imaginedpastdeeds. This forall those interestedinIndian history. the “magical labyrinth of radio, theatre, television and film, likeacarefree gypsy.” The book’s subtitle indicates that it is notanautobiography: Paranjpye writesthe auto- biographyisa“genreofself-revelation” and one that SHELF LIFE makes her sceptical. “An honestlifestory should leave nothing out. Everydetail of alifewell-livedshould be ilyrecipes, have been handeddownfrom chickencurry.This, honestly, is the kind shared with the reader,” she writes. Finding herself not Secret Sauce generation to generation —suchasthe of insight that can transform cooking ready to undertake this journey, Paranjpye instead idea that the number of whistles in a from achoretoajoy. chooses to document her creative journey. DID YOUknowthat youcan caramelise ingand viewitthrough the lensoffood pressurecooker reliably indicatehow This book is so packedwithinforma- Although the account of her growth in different cre- onions moreefficientlybysimplyadding science and engineering.” Which, if well-cooked the food insideisorthat an tion that it’s best read as needed,oryou ative fields is detailed, it is alittle disappointing. The per- apinchofbaking soda? Or,that when you’vewondered whyyou should dry over-salted dish can be salvagedbydrop- risk being overwhelmed. Forexample,if sonal details figureinaprecious and curated manner; cooking arecipe that calls fortomato roastwholespices before grinding them ping in aball of dough. you’replanningtomakechanamasalafor hiding behind the disclaimer that the account is notauto- purée, asachetoftomatoketchup, in ad- or why kasuri methi shouldonlybeadded The best section is ‘Burn the Recipe’, lunchtomorrow, go to the section where biographical. Bereftofaninsight intothe self, the details dition to thepurée, will ensurethat the fi- when the dish is almost ready,isawel- wherethe author putstogether all the he explains howtoget soft, perfectly- seem banal. Howabout asking some pertinent questions nal dish packsaflavour-jammedwallop? come exercise.The book,whichshould knowledge dispensedsofar to create an cookedchickpeaswith alittle bit of bak- about the times one has livedin? Does Paranjpye,given Krish Ashok’s Masala Lab: The Science be in everyserious amateur’s library, algorithmic approachtoalmostany dish ingsoda and whyadding atea bagtothe her long innings, believe that artisinbetterhealth now? of Indian Cooking is fullofsuchadvice breaksdownthe how-to and why-to of that the reader might want to make chickpeasisagoodidea. If you’replan- Or,isitless meaningful? Does it deliveronthe promises it MASALALAB:THE which, if followed, promises to notjust almostevery step of the cooking process SCIENCEOF and/orimprovise —fromsimple chut- ning idlisfor breakfastone day, go to the makes; does Paranjpye’s focus on optimism obfuscate improvethe tasteofthe food youcook, in an Indiankitchen—frommakingper- INDIANCOOKING neys andraitas to more complexrice section whereheoutlines the process for these questions even forher,let alone the reader? The but also makethe whole process of cook- fectlyfluffy rice to making chapati dough dishes and gravies. The Kerala chicken making idli batter from scratch. Of course, comic vision amidstchaos and unexpected turns of ing moreefficient and rewarding. In his with 100per cent hydration to explain- BY KRISH ASHOK curry youmakeusingAshok’s Indian if you’resimplycuriousabout the science eventsmakes this book quintessentiallyParanjpye,but its introduction, Ashok,aChennai-based ing howdifferent kinds of saltsshould be Penguin GravyAlgorithm maynot be authentic, of cooking,read thebook, covertocover, lackofinteriority is bewildering. softwareengineer,describes his book as used. Along the way, the author also ex- 280 pages but it will help youunderstand whyit’s in one go.Itwill stillbeveryrewarding. an attemptto“de-exoticise Indian cook- plodes certain myths that, likemostfam- `399 different from aChettinadu or Punjabi POOJA PILLAI RitaKothariisprofessorofEnglishatAshokaUniversity

the reader this is notbitterness but ahigher form of vishada yoga,deep contemplation on When Sita Speaks the unresolvable ambivalence of life. Dressed as abride,the now-widowedSitagoesto eter- nal sleep in afurrowofthe land she had been Anew translation of the powerful Kannada novel Uttara Kaanda tilling, saying, “In my endismybeginning.” The strength of the novelisthe wayin retains the force and rhythm of the original whichBhyrappa rewrites the epic as an earthlytale whichcould be happening next Rajendra Chenni been her “Appa” Janaka, who educates her in door.Hehad done it with the Mahabharatain dharma and thephilosophicalsystems. But ,and, in UttaraKaanda, he movesclose her destinyhad other plans. Fewwomen to thespirit of the Ramayana whichis, first SL BHYRAPPA,author of 24 novelsandseveral UTTARAKAANDA could have survived, unscathed, what she ex- and foremost, a kaavya (poem) and nota non-fictional works, withprobablythe largest BY SL BHYRAPPA perienced: marriagetoRama —whichtook dharmictext,asanothergreatKannada writer, readership of all living Kannada writers, is a placeowingto his resolutedefence of dharma Masti VenkateshaIyengar,had forcefullyar- TRANSLATED BY controversial figure. Mainstream Kannada in the face of Dasharatha’s opposition on the gued. Fleshing out the novelare original and criticism has been disapproving of the autho- RASHMI TERDAL grounds that Sitaisafoundlingof an unknown distinctive recreations of Urmila, Lakshmana rial manipulations,reinforcedculturalstereo- Eka caste —a14-year-longexile, abduction by and Valmiki, aswell as ahostofcharacters like types and the conservative brahminical ide- 356 pages Ravana, war, andpublic humiliation when Sukeshi, Ahalya and Shabari. ology in his fiction. In the last twodecades, `599 Rama castdoubt on her chastity twice. Sita The excellent translation by Terdal suc- Bhyrappa has publishednovels whichare meditates on the ambivalence in human re- ceeds in staying close to therhythms of the badly-written ideological tractswith themes lationships and wonders what happenedto everydayspeechemployedbyBhyrappa to in consonance with the right-wingagenda. UttaraKaanda (2017), recentlytranslated theRama who would comb her hair withten- demythologise the Ramayana. She has also Kavalu (2010) is amisogynistic attack on fem- intoEnglish by Rashmi Terdal,isone of the der,almost maternal, love,protectherthrough retainedthe narrative powerofthe original. inism and Aavarana (2007)isacommunalised mostsignificant novels in Kannada. Apower- the hardships of exile and teachher dharma It is afine addition to the hostofIndian liter- narrative of Indian history. (1998) al- ful narrative whichdemythologises the by example? Didhedoall that onlybecause of aryworks whichexplorethe ‘Uttarakanda’ leges that Buddhism enervatedHindu valour Ramayana, it deconstructsthe epic from the his adherence to dharma,whichshe nowsees partofthe Ramayana which, scholars say, and, thus,madeIndiavulnerable to foreign in- perspectiveofSita. In this long soliloquy,punc- as rigid and abstract. In the lastsections, un- wasnot by Valmiki but alater interpolation. vaders. However, he is also an enigmatic fig- tuated by othervoices, areflective Sita nar- equalledin intensityand transparency of lan- WIKIMEDIACOMMONS In Indian literature, interpolations seem to urebecause, in his five-decade-old literaryca- ratesher lifewith Rama. Afoundling, discov- guage, Sitaconcludes that the present Rama, TRIAL BY FIRE Ayodhya forthe 10th-dayrituals. She has re- provoke moreoriginal recreations than the reer,hehas also producedsome of the finest ered by the king Janaka in afurrowwhile king of Ayodhya,isnot the Rama she loved. Fewwomen could alisedthat, born of mother earth, she can only original texts. writing in Kannada fiction. Gruhabhanga levelling the ground forasacrifice, she is In this bold retelling, Sitarefuses to sit with be happy tilling land and leading afarmer’s have survived what (1970), Vamshavriksha(1965) andParva (1979) markedbyadeep sense of separateness and Rama as his wifetoconclude the ashvamedha life. She ask whether this is because of her RajendraChenniis awriterandactivistandformer aretestimonytoBhyrappa’s great talent. solitude. The greatestinfluence on her has sacrifice and, when he dies, refuses to go to Sita did abandonment by Rama. The novelconvinces professorofEnglish THESUNDAY EXPRESS,JANUARY31,2021 S HAH IS ACCPREZ BCCI secretaryJay Shah wasunanimously elected as the President of theAsian Cricket Council (ACC) on Saturday.The32-year-old replaces Bangladesh CricketBoard (BCB) 14 SPORT chief Najmul HasanPapon. PTI

Micro-managing bowlers Notthe firsttime When asked wherethe messagewas In the firingline SMH also reports that some senior play- Aprevious confrontation between Langer comingfrombyLanger,Khawaja replied: ers arefrustratedbythe micro-manage- and his players over his coaching style—after “Um, Ithink the boys areintimidated by you, ment, with Langer bombarding bowlers failedtoregain the Border-Gavaskar Alf. Ithink there’s abit of the walking-on- AustraliancoachJustin Langer’s headmaster-like with statistics and instructions during lunch trophytwo years ago—was aprominent eggshells sort of thing.Ifeel likeIthink the breaks. Langer deniedthe accusation: “It’s theme of the Amazon-produceddocumen- boys areafraid to sayit.” approachisnot working, says areport actuallythe oppositeofwhat happens. I taryTheTest: ANew Erafor Australia’sTeam'. nevertalk about statistics to the bowlers, Thecoachwas givenastern messagedur- An old NewYear’s Resolution The reality sandwich ever.Idon’t go to anyofthe bowlers’ meet- ing ateam meeting afterthe 2018 Boxing Day Afterthe 2-1 defeat in 2018-19, Langer re- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Accordingtothe report, duringthe final ings. That’s what the bowlers’ coachis Test drubbing. solvedtobemoremellowfor the ODI series JANUARY30 Test in Brisbane,Langer ordered aplayerto meant to be doing. And the learnings of the Captain TimPaine wanted Langer to be in India. The team came backfroma0-2 stop habituallystuffing atoastedsandwichin lastfew months areIshould startlooking at morepositive and batsman Usman Khawaja deficit to win afive-matchseries. AFTERTHE Test series loss againstIndia, his pocketbeforewalking ontothe field. that more.” asked him to notmakethings “too compli- Afterthe 1-wicketdefeat in Leeds dur- Justin Langer’s coaching stylehas come un- “You’rewalking on againstIndia, we’re cated”for the team. ing the Ashes, Langer waited aday before der scrutiny. Sources close to the team told trying to win aTestmatchand one of our Langer’s response “Wecan’t alwayscontrol the result. You conductingapost-mortem to avoidan The SydneyMorning Herald that the Australia players walksonwith atoastedsandwichin On Friday, Langer said anysuggestion of getbetterasindividuals, players,staff,every- emotionally-chargedfeedbacksession. head coach’s “headmaster-like” styleofman- his hand,” Langer —whose contract as a deteriorating relationships with players one, be in better control of that emotion, be Australia struckbacktowin at OldTrafford agement “worethin” withplayers. According three-format coachand selectorlasts an- “couldn’tbefurther from thetruth” but morelevel-headed, without trying to make and, while theylostatThe Oval, managed to thereport,Langer’s intensity and mood other 18 months —was quoted as saying.“I added, “leadership isn’t apopularity contest”. it toocomplicated,” Khawaja wasseen say- to retain the Ashes. swingshavedrainedexperienced players, spoketo(the player) about it at length yester- CoachJustin Langer’s contract lasts “If players just want someonetotickle ing. “I think that’s what the boys aretrying All seemedwell lastyear. who have spent monthsonend in either day. Isaid, ‘Howdoyou reckon it looks, another 18 months. their stomachs all the time then I’m notdo- to say. Does thatmakesense?Ifitdoesn’t Then India came visiting again. quarantine or bio-bubbles. mate?’ Is that notsomething Ishould say?” ing my job.” then...” ENS Sonamsnares bigfishonmat

18-yr-old uses superior upper body strength to get the better of Olympic medalistSakshiMalik

MIHIRVASAVDA AGRA,JANUARY30

IT WASonlyfiveyears agothat SonamMalik startedregularly competing againstgirls. And before she couldevenget ahang of it, she al- mostwas forced to stop wrestling. Today, the18-year-old girlwho grew up wrestling with the boys in hervillage in Haryana and overcame acareer-threatening arm injuryisregardedasthe next big thing in Indian wrestling. Ironically, on thestrength of her arm locks.OnSaturday, Sonam pro- videdevidence of it as she out-manoeuvred SATURDAY’SRESULTS THE WOMEN’s national wrestling championship got WRESTLINGISthe firstmajor Olympic disciplineto HOWEVER, AS wasthe caseduring the men’s Rio Olympics bronze medalistSakshi Malik (OLYMPICCATEGORIES): underwayataschool in the outskirts of Agra on conductthe national championships sincethe championship,social distancing guidelineswere to be crownedasthe newnational champion Saturday. Thetwo-dayevent hasattracted about 240 outbreak of the Covid-19pandemic. All wrestlers had floutedasspectators mingled with the wrestlers and in the 62kgweight categoryinAgra. 50KG: GOLD: Minakshi (Haryana); wrestlers in 10 weight categories. to submit Covid negative results. amajority did notwear amask. Mihir Vasavda The result is significant forseveral rea- SILVER: HennyKumari (Haryana); sons. This is the thirdstraight time Sonam BRONZE: Swati Shinde (Maharashtra) has defeated –her twoearlier wins and Kirti (Delhi) came during selection trials forinternational 57KG: GOLD: Anshu (Haryana); Ranji Trophy tournaments–thus making the hierarchy in SILVER: Lalita(Railways); You wantyourstrongest team, the 62kg class amplyclear.Crucially, there- BRONZE: Raman Yadav(MP) and sult also solidifies her chances to make the Mansi (Haryana) shelved cut forthe qualifiersofthe TokyoOlympicsat 62KG: GOLD: Sonam (Haryana); the expense of Sakshi. So, when the referee SILVER: Sakshi Malik (Railways); but rotationisimportant: Buttler Mumbai:The Ranji Trophywon’t be held dur- raisedSonam’s right armand declaredher BRONZE: Pushpa (MP) and Manisha ing the truncated 2020-21season, instead as the winner of the final, the symbolism of (Haryana) the BoardofControl forCricket in India (BCCI) the momentcouldn't be missed. Ironically, freshatthe back-endofthe India sojourn. so to playagainstabrilliant side likeIndia has decidedtoconduct the 50-overVijay the same arm wasthe reason whyher career VISHALMENON While this mayseem likeapragmatic ap- givesusthe perfect preparation forthe HazareTrophyand the senior women’s One- nearly crashedbeforeitactually took off. “In competed onlyagainstboys from our vil- NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 proach, thereare manywho reckon that WorldT20,” he said. daytournament. This is the firsttime in 87 2018,she damaged anervesobadlythat her lage,” Rajsays. Buttler,aseasonedIPL regular,would get Buttler defendedEngland’s rotation pol- years that the prestigious tournament has arm went limp,” Sonam’s father Rajsays. Soon,she startedwinningatthe district IN ‘NORMAL’times, Jos Buttler,England’s hardenedand battle-ready forthe ICC event icy,whichhesays wasnecessitated by the been droppedfor aseason. The incidenttook place during the 2017 and statelevels, whichearnedher aplace on first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman in long- by facing some of the finestIndian and inter- coronavirus pandemic and apackedinter- In alettertostate associations on Friday, cadetworld championships. Shortlyafter she the national team. form cricket, would have featured in allfour national recruitsinthe T20 league. “I think national schedule. BCCI secretaryJay Shah while highlighting wonthegoldmedal,Sonamfeltabitof uneasi- In her firstglobal meet, the 2017 world TestsinIndia. But as things stand, he will be the IPL does give youfamiliarity with the “You want your strongestteam outevery the time lostbecause of the pandemic, wrote, ness in her arm. cadetchampionship, she wonthe gold be- rested forthe final three, onlytoreturnfor wickets. If youhaven’tfaced someone like time, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem “It is extremelyimportant forustoensure At first, her coaches believeditwas arou- fore injuring her arm. the subsequentfive-matchT20I series. With Jasprit Bumrah, who has abit of unique ac- possible at the moment… Youdofind it chal- thatwomen’scrickettakes placeand Iam tine injuryand triedall the desi nuskhe.But the “Four months afterher arm stoppedre- aspotinthe WorldTestChampionship final tion, it can be abit of aproblem.Ittakes some lenging having to stay away from your fam- extremelyhappytoinform youthat we are painremainedandbravingthat,shecontinued sponding, it regainedmovementsand it took theoreticallystill up forgrabs (England need (time) getting used to it,” Buttler said during ilies, being in quarantine and lockedupin going to conduct the Senior Women’sOne to takepartindomestictournaments.Thatyear, her afew moremonths to rebuildthe lost to blank India 3-0 to stand achance), and avirtual press conferencefromChennai. hotels. ECB has been forward-thinking in ro- daytournamentsimultaneouslywith the duringastate championship,herarmstopped strength,”Raj says. giventhe squad’s inexperience of playing in Even as he spelt out the benefitsofplay- tating players forthis series,” he explained. VijayHazareTrophyand followitupwith moving. “If we liftedthe armoverher head, it Whenshe eventuallyreturnedonthe India, wouldn’t the visitors be better served ing in the IPL, the five-matchT20 series Buttler is in the midst of arichveinofbat- Vinoo Mankad TrophyUnder 19.This has would fall right back,”Raj says. mat, it looked likeshe wasnever away.In having Buttler forthe entireduration of the againstIndia, Buttler argued, is equallyim- ting form in red-ballcricket. He conjured up been decidedafter having receivedyour It wasn’t amomentarything. Sonam lost 2018,Sonam wonabronze medal at the Test series? Acombination of factors seems portant, since it givesarelatively young team acareer-resurrecting 152againstPakistanin feedbackonthe domestic season 2020-21.” her grip and the arm would notdowhat her cadetworlds followedbyagoldin2019, thus to have prompted the selectorial call. ample time to geltogether and getfamil- Southamptoninthe final Test of the English However, the BCCI has decidedtocom- mind would say. “Thedoctors felt even if she becoming the onlyIndian wrestlerafter two- The England and Wales Cricket Board iarisedwith their respective roles. summer,followed by significant knocks of pensatedomestic players forthe matchfees regainedfull strength,wrestling wasnot an time Olympic medalistSushil Kumar to win (ECB) believesthe upcomingT20I series gives 55 and 46 notout in the second Test against theywouldhaveearnedduring the Ranji option forher anymore,” Rajsays. twocadet worldchampionshipgold medals. them the perfect opportunity to prepare, fine- Settledteam is important Sri Lanka at Galle. Trophy, approximatelyRs40000aday. ForSonam, who startedwrestling when On Saturday,Sonam endured acutepain tune their skills, and chartablueprint forthe “Wehad averysettledteam during the Getting rotatedout of the Test squad It is learnt that VijayHazarewill be played she turned11, quitting wrestling was in the stomach–and even took medication T20World Cup,scheduledinIndia later this ODI WorldCup, as guyshad playedfor a could surelyhamper his momentum, but along the lines of the on-going Syed Mushtaq unimaginable. She joinedanakharastarted forspasms afterher second-round match– year.This is whytheyhaveyielded to their longperiodoftime, and Ithinkthatwas a Buttler isn’t perturbed.Ifanything, he looks Ali Trophy—insix designated bio bubbles. in her village, Madina in Sonepatdistrict, by to outlastSakshi in athrillingfinal, in which limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan’s request hugeplus forusgoing intothat tournament. at the positives. “Thepandemic has had peo- The venues will be finalisednextweek and aretired ArmySubedar.“Therewerenot she made acomebackafter being 0-4 down to have their strongestsquad forthis leg of As farasthis T20 side is concerned, we ple whose worldhas been turnedupside the teams will enter the bio-bubble in the manygirls in our neighbourhood who wres- to win 7-5 by using her superior upper body the tour.Buttler being vital to England’s T20 haven’t had time to playtogether as agroup down and we areveryfortunatetoplay firstweek of February. tled. So Sonam,for thefirstfiveyears or so, strength to her advantage. WorldCup hopes, it’s no secret they want him and getfamiliarisedinthe respectiveroles, cricketand do our job that we love.” DEVENDRAPANDEY Egg-flipand astrong brew of discipline:How coachNambiar groomed Usha

CoachNambiar wasataskmasterbut also place close to Nambiar sir's house. So I neededNambiar by her side. The conceptof thegoldat Kuwait City,whichmadeNambiar NIHALKOSHIE incentivisedtraining. "Whoeverdid the droppedin. He insisted thatIhaveacup of apersonal coachwas unheardofinIndia, confident of being on the right track. NEWDELHI,JANUARY30 warm-up drills the best would getatoffee. I tea," Usha says."Whenever Imeethim alot Usha says.Once an athlete waspartofthe "Nambiar sir told me Ihaveagoodstride pat- am the one who got the mosttoffees," Usha of memories come flooding back." Indianteam, coaches at the national camp tern andhe saidIhavethe potentialto become ONE OF PT Usha's earliestdreads wasthe says of the early days of the successful coach- In the 80s, the supportsystemwasn't took over.Usha wasadamant to changethe atop 400metre hurdlesrunner," Usha says. thought of reaching latefor coachOM athletepartnershipwhichbegan in the late great so Nambiar had to wear manyhats, one system. She firsttriedtoconvince athletics Howthe tilt at Olympic gloryended in a Nambiar's training session at 6am. An old- 1970s. Afourth-place finish at the Los of them being anutritionist. When training federation officials, but when that failedshe heart-breaking fourth place finishatLos school coachand astickler fordiscipline, Angeles Games and multiple medals wonby at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New went to the sportsministry. Finally, she Angeles has been retold over the years. In Usha came under Nambiar's wings when she Usha at the Asian Games and Asian Delhi, Nambiar hit it offwith the wrestling knockedonthe door of prime ministerIndira Usha's latestretelling her coachwas incon- joinedthe hostelofthe SportsDivisionin Championshipsearnedher the monikerof squad. "Wrestlers were big into badam milk. Gandhi. "The prime ministerwas notinher solable. "Atfirstwhen theyannouncedthe Kannur as aClass 8student. "If anyone Golden Girl. Nambiar,her coach, mentor and He would always getaglass forme. Aftera office but Imet PC Alexander (principal sec- top-three finishers my name wasthird. Then reachedat6:05 am, theywouldbepunished. constant shadowbecameahousehold name point the wrestlers would keep badam milk retary)and told him whyitwas crucial for theystarted going through the slow-motion Youhad to run withyour pair of spikes held in the 1980s. forme," Usha says. Nambiar sir to travel withme. Mr Alexander camerafor half an hour.Iwas in the dope over your head around the ground. Ihad to Earlier this week Nambiar wasnamedas It wasNambiar who asked Usha, a said, 'don't worry, it will be done'." room when it wasofficiallyannouncedthat run likethat once or twice justafter Ijoined aPadma Shri winner.At89, he is suffering for pescatarian to startconsuming eggs and the Romanian came third. Nambiar sir broke the hostel, but notafter that," Usha recalls. Parkinsons, rarely gets offthe bed andneeds adoptanon-vegetarian diet. At first, Usha Decision to target hurdles down. He wouldn't stop crying. Iwas hurt- To reachontime, it wascrucial to wake up assistance to walk."When he heardabout be- found it hardbecauseshe didn'tlikethe This wasaround the time Nambiar had inginside,but Ididn't want my coachtosee by 4:45 am at least. The hostelhad justtwo ing awardedthe Padma Shri he wasvery smell of eggs. But as 'sir' wasinsisting, she proposedthe idea of Usha focussing on the it. So Iheldmyself together and consoled toilets andthree bathrooms for80trainees. happy. He felt he should have receiveditear- knewitwould onlybenefit her on trackand 400metreshurdles forthe 1984 Los Angeles him. 'Don'tworry we willwin amedal at the Along bathroom queue wasnot an excuse lier,butbetter late thannever,"Sureshhisson during training. Olympics whichwas ayear away.Itwas a next Olympics' Itold him." the retired airforce sergeant-turned-coach says.Nambiar won't be able to travel forthe "I wasavegetarian who would eat fish. smart move by the coachasthe eventwas Ushaand Nambiar minted medals in would accept. "I would getupreally early and awardceremony, Sureshconfirms."Haven't In the sports hostel, Iwould noteat the boiled PT Usha during atraining sessionwith relatively newand wastobepartofthe Asia, but the Olympic medal remainedan stand in the queue. At times Iwould tell some- thought aboutityet.Maybeafamilymember egg and would storeitawayinmybag. But coachOMNambiar. Usha’s album Olympics forthe firsttime. Usha wasstill unfulfilleddream. 'A great regret'iswhat one to holdmyplace in the queue and have a will have to represent him. The onlytime he eventually, Nambiar sir found out and gave smarting from bagging onlythe silverinthe both have calledit. quickshut eyebeforemyturn," Usha says. leavesthe house is foramedical check-up." me ayelling. There were so manyeggs in my 100m and 200m at the Asiad in Delhi and the She is full of gratitude though as her The police ground, in the middle of the On Monday, hours before the listofaward bag and theystarted smelling," Usha says. makefor her everyother day."Iwould close coachwas keen to challengehis ward. coachisbeing bestowed aprestigious award. city,did nothaveany structures blocking the winners wasofficiallyannounced, Usha had Over the years, Usha got usedtothe egg-flip my nostrils with my fingers and drinkit. As The Asian Trackand Field meetinKuwait “Without Nambiar sir's guidance Iwould not view. "If youwerepunished the whole town visited her coach. "Wehad gone forthe en- -raw egg mixed in aglass of hotmilk and Nambiar sir wasgivingittomeIdrank it." is whereNambiar tested Usha's potential by have been able to achieve whatIdid forthe literallyknewabout it," Usha says. gagement of my husband's niece. It took stirredtill it froths -whichNambiar would By the early 1980s,Usha knewshe makingher run in the400 metres.She won country."

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