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AHMEDABAD l SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 122

HAPPY

HOLIDAY NOTICE The press and offi ces of First will remain closed on March 28 and 29, 2021, on account of Holi. There will, therefore, be no edition As devotees throng the Sri Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan to celebrate Holi, on Saturday, all corona protocols of the paper on March 29 and 30, were put aside, as many were seen without face masks and 2021. Wishing all our readers a social distancing too was absent. —PHOTO BY PTI very happy & safe Holi. —Editor

Sachin tests covid positive, India, Bangladesh sign five Bengal, Assam vote now in home MoUs to further enhance ties quarantine Addressing the Matua community, PM Modi said both India and Bangladesh want to see peace, stability and love in world Dhaka: India and Bang- ladesh on Saturday their heart out signed five MoUs to fur- ther enhance bilateral Nearly 80% turnout in Bengal, 72% in Assam in 1st phase ties between the two na- tions during Prime Kolkata/Guwahati: Mumbai: Former In- Minister Narendra Voting was held in a total TMC ALLEGES dian cricketer Sachin Modi delegation-level of 77 seats — 47 in Assam Tendulkar has tested meeting with his Bang- and 30 in West Ben- ‘POLL RIGGING’ positive for COVID-19. ladeshi counterpart gal——in the first phase A 10-member Tendulkar confirmed Sheikh Hasina. PM PM Modi and Sheikh Haseena during a meeting on Saturday. of polling for the 2021 As- Trinamool Congress that he is infected with Modi is on a two-day sembly elections. Over- Parliamentary the virus on his official visit to the neighbour- Sheikh Mujibur Rah- desh want to see peace, all, record- delegation met the Twitter profile. ing country where he man’ in Tungipara. stability and love in the ed 79.79% voter turnout Election Commission “I have been testing also paid tribute Sheikh Addressing the Mat- world. “Both India and and Assam registered in Kolkata on myself and taking all Mujibur Rehman by ua community in Bang- Bangladesh want to see 72.14% turnout in the Saturday to raise the recommended pre- laying a wreath at ‘Mau- ladesh’s Orakandi ear- the world progressing first phase of polling for some ‘serious cautions to ensure Cov- soleum of Father of the lier in the day, he said through their own pro- the assembly elections. concerns’ regarding id is kept at bay. How- Nation Bangabandhu both India and Bangla- gress. Turn to P6 Assam and Bengal polling in fi rst phase ever, I’ve tested positive will have three-phase alleging vote-rigging Voters undergo scanning while waiting to cast votes in Bengal. today following mild and eight-phase elec- symptoms. All others at tions, respectively. The BOMBS HURLED, home have tested nega- counting of votes will tive,” Tendulkar wrote 91 killed in one of deadliest be on May 2. Voting is SHOTS FIRED ACTIVISTS OF BJP, TMC CLASH in a statement on his of- being held today in 30 BEFORE VOTING IN NANDIGRAM, THREE INJURED ficial Twitter profile. days since coup in Myanmar of Bengal’s 294 Assem- Hours before polling Kolkata: A clash broke out on Saturday between “I’ve quarantined my- bly seats. There are 191 began in Bengal, the activists of the BJP and the TMC in Purba self at home and am fol- Yangon: Myanmar me- March 14, which ranged candidates in the fray, East Medinipur dis- Medinipur’s Nandigram constituency, which is lowing all the necessary dia say security forces from 74 to 90. The kill- and over 73 lakh voters trict witnessed vio- set to go to polls on April 1, leaving at least three protocols as advised by have killed 91 people in ings quickly drew inter- are on the rolls to exer- lence - bombs were persons seriously injured, a senior police offi cer my doctors,” the state- deadliest day since last national condemnation, cise their franchise. hurled and shots here said. Seikh Sufi yan, the election agent of TMC ment further read. month’s military coup. with multiple diplomatic The prominent candi- fi red in Bhagabanpur supremo Mamata Banerjee, however, claimed that Meanwhile, former The online news site missions to Myanmar dates include BJP dis- constituency. Two goons hired by the BJP carried out an attack on India all-rounder Yusuf Myanmar Now reported releasing statements trict president Sukham- security personnel the workers of the state’s ruling party, a charge Pathan also tested posi- the death toll, higher that mentioned the kill- oy Satpati, actress June were reportedly in- denied by the saffron camp. tive for coronavirus on than all estimates for Anti-coup protester in Yangon ing of civilians Saturday, Maliah, four-time Con- jured in the incident. Saturday. Pathan is quar- the previous high on in Myanmar on Saturday. including children. gress MLA Turn to P6 antined at home.

CONGRESS FIELDS LATE MLAs’ SUVERTING HISTORY KIN FROM SUJANGARH & SAHADA, SOCIAL WORKER IN RAJSAMAND Is there a hidden agenda behind the Gandhi Ashram devt? Gargi Raval First India Bureau Gayatri Devi will contest Reason for globe over the years? against BJP candidate The “hidden agenda” Jaipur: The Congress Ratanlal Jat. This seat Gandhi Gandhinagar: After a activists and political on Saturday fi elded late fell vacant after her wait of nearly two observers say, is to MLAs’ kin from Sujan- husband Kailash Trivedi Ashram years, the authorities snatch a piece of history garh and Sahada con- died in October after be- have now become vocal away from Mahatma stituencies and a social ing infected by Cov- Precinct is regarding the new Gan- Gandhi and make space worker from Rajsamand id-19. Tansukh Bohara, dhi Ashram Precinct for Prime Minister Modi for bypolls scheduled a social worker, will be to replace (GAP) to be developed at the centre of the GAP. on April 17. The party contesting against BJP’s at Mahatma Gandhi’s Social activist and po- fi elded Manoj Meghwal, Deepti Maheshwari from the Sabarmati Ashram. litical observer Mahesh former minister Master the Rajsamand assem- A new governing Pandya takes it a step Bhanwarlal Meghwal’s bly constituency, which Mahatma body and executive further to say that Modi son from the Sujangarh fell vacant after Deepti’s council were set up for and his Bharatiya Janata assembly seat which fell mother Kiran Mahesh- with Modi, the purpose in the first Visitors pay their respects to a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram. —FILE PHOTO Party are attempting to vacant after his death wari died due to the week of March, and replace Gandhi’s legacy last year. For Sahada Covid-19 in November says Tushar the Ahmedabad later the next fiscal. still: What is the gov- popular attraction that and ideology. “The BJP assembly constituency, last year. Turn to P6 allocated Rs10 crore Yet, the question on ernment so insistent on has drawn thousands of and Modi have no legacy Gandhi for the GAP project in many people’s minds is redeveloping an already visitors from across the of their own. Turn to P6 NEWS www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia I facebook.com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 02 Anand district tops Gujarat in soil salinity SALINITY HAS AFFECTED SOIL ACROSS 7,000 HA OF FERTILE FARMLAND First India Bureau An expert who works cilities. on land conservation The soil conservation Gandhinagar: Data told First India that expert says that the so- from the state’s agri- there are two kinds of lution to this problem is culture department soil salinity to reduce water con- shows that 7,000 hec- The first, salinity in- sumption. For that, tares (ha) of fertile gress, refers to the pro- both the state govern- agricultural land in cess of saltwater invad- ment and farmers will Anand district were ing areas that previ- have to identify alterna- hit by soil salinity. On ously contained only tives such as drip irri- the plus side, 10 dis- freshwater. This mostly gation. tricts show no soil sa- affects groundwater in He added that laser linity at all. coastal areas. drip irrigation systems Replying to a ques- The second reason currently under devel- tion from MLA Virji for saline soil is the opment--through which Thummar, Gujarat’s overconsumption of only the required Agriculture Minister surface water resourc- amount of water is used RC Faldu admitted es--commonly for irri- in fields--cost about a that his department gation purposes. fifth of that traditional does not carry out Farmers in Anand drip irrigation systems. any survey or study have been exploiting The other option is to on soil salinity in ag- the district’s good irri- train farmers to culti- ricultural land, add- gation facilities to culti- vate crops that require ing that the depart- vate crops through the less water, for which the ment’s soil conserva- A fi eld affected by soil salinity. —FILE PHOTO year for the past few state needs to develop tion efforts, such as decades. This overcon- an agriculture map in injecting gypsum in Department. was brought under con- Vadodara was the Surendranagar, with katha, Rajkot, Botad, sumption of water has accordance with irriga- the land, have now According to agricul- servation programmes second-worst hit, 1,183 ha each. and Narmada were created the soil salinity tion facilities or follow been handed over to ture department data, between 2014-15 and with salinity ingress Gandhinagar, among 10 districts problem in Anand and China in using irriga- the Panchayats and 7,050 ha of agricultural 2018-19, since it was af- affecting 1,953 ha, fol- Panchmahal, Mahisa- unaffected by soil sa- other such districts tion facilities with Rural Development land in Anand district fected by soil salinity. lowed by Amreli and gar, Dahod, Sabar- linity. with large irrigation fa- drainage systems.

AAP reveals first list for GMC polls HIMMATNAGAR CIVIC BODY Party withholds names for PRESENTS BUDGET FOR 2021-22 Bhavesh Barot

Wards 2 & 5, Himmatnagar: The newly elected body of but Congress the Himmatnagar na- garpalika chaired by defector its president and standing committee Mukesh Patel chairman gathered at a local town hall on not on list AAP state unit prez Gopal Italia with other leaders releasing the candidate list for GMC election. Thursday to pass the budget for the year First India Bureau party is yet to announce remaining two wards election notifications 2021-22. candidates for Wards 2 soon. came out—was not Presented by stand- Gandhinagar: Aam and 5. Political analysts be- named in this first list. ing committee chair- Aadmi Party (AAP) on At the event, Italia lieve that AAP has with- According to sources, man Savan Desai, the Friday announced its exhibited confidence held the candidates for Congress and BJP are budget of the fiscal Nagarpalika president Yatinben Modi at the meet. first list of candidates about AAP’s perfor- ward 2 and 5 as a strat- still finalising the can- year as well as supple- for the Gandhinagar mance in Gandhinagar egy; they are waiting didates for the upcom- mentary budget for nagarpalika in the inben Modi, adding form of various grants municipal corporation and expects it will re- for Bharatiya Janata ing elections. While the year 2020-21 was new financial year in- that the nagarpalika from the state govern- elections next month. peat the party’s success Party (BJP) to an- Congress party has del- also sanctioned by the cluding three over- will soon have a new ment. The last day of filing in Surat municipal nounce their candidate egated senior office body. A total amount head water tanks and building in coming The civic body also nominations is April 1, polls. for the two wards. Pre- bearers to discern party of Rs105 crore was al- two new water pumps months. passed a resolution in and voting is scheduled Tuli Banerjee, AAP’s viously, former mayor workers before finalis- located for the year for water storage, eas- The new financial which Desai expressed for April 18. media convener, assert- Ritaben Patel, from BJP ing the candidates, BJP 2021-22 without the ing its shortage in the year will also boost the his gratitude to the Sa- AAP state unit presi- ed that the party was had contested from parliamentary board is added imposition of town. The purifica- earning of the nagar- barmati Gas Limited dent Gopal Italia, along proud of having re- ward 5. conducting an exercise new taxes on citizens. tion of the Narmada palika with Rs9.19 for waiving more than with other office bear- leased the candidates’ Political enthusiasts to finalize its list. It was passed by a ma- water supplied to citi- crore coming from Rs2 lakh in dues for ers, released the names list much before the so- were surprised to see Caption: AAP state jority vote at the meet- zens will be one of the taxes and Rs1.18 crore gas supplied to the cre- of 36 candidates vying called national parties that Mukesh Patel—for- unit president Goal Ita- ing. new resources created generated from the matorium in town for 9 out of the 11 wards such as BJP and Con- mer city president for lia with other leaders “A few major infra- by the local civic body’s assets. Also, the amid the COVID-19 and 44 seats in Gandhi- gress. She also assured Congress who resigned releasing candidates structure projects will body,” said newly nagarpalika will re- pandemic on humani- nagar Municipal Cor- that AAP will announce from the party to join list for the GMC elec- be undertaken by the elected president Yat- ceive Rs5,38,820 in the tarian grounds. poration (GMC). The the candidates for the AAP days before the tions, on Friday. Consumer forum directs crop insurance co to pay 7% interest About 600 farmers had filed a petition FARMER CHARRED TO DEATH to pay him Rs47,748 as crop insurance amount against SBI General Insurance at a 7% rate of interest. It also directed the firm First India Bureau akkar before the con- to pay Rs2,000 towards sumer forum. Jhala’s mental harassment and Surendranagar: The grievance was that he Rs1,000 for expenditure district consumer dis- and his family had paid incurred to file the com- pute redressal forum Rs32,803 in premiums plaint. The company here has directed SBI for crop insurance, and has to make this pay- General Insurance to had borrowed Rs5.95 ment within 30 days. pay farmers the crop lakh against the estate The forum came to insurance amount fixed land survey number. ance has not even paid On Thursday, the fo- this conclusion observ- by the forum at an inter- Heavy rainfall severely crop insurance, so rum headed by Vinay ing that before the crop est rate of 7% in addi- damaged the standing farmers were hit with a Nayak and member was ready for harvest- tion to other charges. crop, causing him huge Floods washed out several acres of crops in 2017. —FILE PHOTO double whammy. Not Lalit Dave decided 16 ing, it was washed out Farmer Bharatsinh losses. only were they adverse- matters in favour of due to heavy rains, and Jhala was among 600 Jhala complaint be- ance policy--the insur- This means that the in- rowed from the bank. ly affected by the natu- farmers. So far as Jha- so the farmers have suf- farmers who moved a fore the forum was that- ance firm has to repay surance firm was duty- However, the firm has ral disaster, but also by la’s case is concerned, fered loss and so the petition through advo- -according to terms and the loan amount to the bound to repay the not done so till date. the bank and insurance the forum has directed company is liable to pay cate Himanshu Th- conditions of the insur- bank if the crop fails. Rs5.95 lakh he had bor- Further, the insur- companies. SBI General Insurance crop insurance. GUJARAT www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia I facebook.com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 03 Negative RT-PCR result must to enter Guj Surat Mayor among day’s record-high of 2,276 fresh cases; after months of silence, state says 2.49% of those tested on Saturday were nCoV +ve

First India Bureau

Gandhinagar: A day after First India re- ported that the state was seeing a dou- bling rate of 10 days in COVID-19 cases, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on Saturday mandated that anyone wishing to enter the state must have a negative RT-PCR result, with the test no more than 72 hours old. The order comes in response to the fact that a number of new patients have a history People await their turn for the COVID-19 vaccine in Ahmedabad. —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI People line up to get tested for COVID-19 in Ahmedabad, on Saturday. —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI of recent travel, in an effort to curb the ping 2,276 new cases Surat city accounted Surat topped the dis- Surat’s new mayor, in Gandhinagar (39), the last 24 hours. After months of si- spread of the novel and five deaths in the 24 for two of the day’s fa- trict-wise chart of Himali Boghawala Bhavnagar (38), Jamna- There are currently a lence on the issue, the coronavirus. hours ended 5 pm. With talities, while highest infections with was among those gar (37), Dahod (20), Pa- total of 10,871 active state’s COVID-19 bul- Meanwhile, the state this, the state’s total Ahmedabad city, 760, followed by who tested positive tan (19), Kheda, Kutch, cases in Gujarat, with letin said 88,099 tests witnessed another re- case load has risen to Bharuch district and Ahmedabad (612), Va- for COVID-19 on Sat- and Mehsana (18 each). 157 patients on ventila- were conducted on cord single-day spike on 2,98,596, and its death Bhavnagar city each dodara (326) and Ra- urday. Botad did not record a tor support--double the Saturday, of which Saturday, with a whop- toll, to 4,484. saw one. jkot (172). Cases also appeared single positive case in number seen on Friday. 2.49% were positive. Vadodara woman arrested for Woman tries Seagull eggs to kill herself, Unsustainable: 2 held for posing as government employee drinks phenyl destroyed for Kutch road work trying to First India Bureau burn Dalit First India Bureau Vadodara: A woman man alive was arrested by local Surat: A woman from police for allegedly im- the city attempted sui- First India Bureau personating a govern- cide on Saturday after ment employee who allegedly being threat- Bhuj: Two people worked for the district ened by her husband, ac- allegedly beat judge. The woman al- cording to police. She and attempted to legedly forged govern- ingested phenyl and was burn alive a Dalit ment documents and subsequently rushed to a man from the dis- issued forged letters nearby hospital. The trict, local police and appointment or- Divyaben Patel with one of the police offi cers who arrested her. woman is currently be- said. According ders, according to po- ing treated at a nearby to the police, the lice. The accused has a criminal complaint address in Gandhinagar. hospital. two individuals, been identified as Di- filed by the registrar of Based on the informa- The woman and her who work as trad- vyaben Nareshbhai the Vadodara district tion, police apprehend- husband got married in ers in the area, Patel by Gotri Police. and sessions courts. ed Divyaben from Navs- 2009 and have two chil- attempted to She was arrested for a When the registrar ari, who was in posses- dren. According to po- murder the vic- variety of offences un- checked the appoint- sion of a forged identity lice, the woman also dis- tim because his der the IPC, including ment orders, he discov- card issued by the Gov- covered that her hus- The seagull eggs, before they were destroyed. younger sister cheating. The police are ered a fake signature of ernment of Gujarat dis- band is having an affair married the looking into the case and the Gujarat High Court’s trict court. According to with another woman. First India Bureau NOT THE FIRST TIME nephew of one of how far she went in com- registrar general. Even police, she enticed vic- The husband also alleg- the accused. mitting the crimes. The the stamp on the ap- tims by presenting them edly video called his wife Bhuj: Birdwatchers The victim, investigation was pointment order bore with forged appoint- when he was cheating on and environmental- Paresh Parmar, launched in response to the Gujarat High Court’s ment letters. her, police said. ists are up in arms was admitted to after thousands of GK hospital in seagull eggs were Bhuj, with several smashed while con- burn injuries, but UP IN FLAMES structing a road in the doctors re- the Greater Rann of ferred him to Kutch on Friday. Ahmedabad Civil Environmentalist ty, was among the first and his team. hospital. Ghanshy- and birdwatcher Ma- people to discover “They did not both- am Thakkar and hesh Pandya told the nesting sites of flamin- er to protect or pre- another trader media that he had seen goes and sea gulls in serve the eggs, or were named in the several thousand the Rann of Kutch. He even inform the for- complaint. seagull eggs next to the explained that, since est and environment The victim and roadside when he vis- the Greater Rann of department that they his family were ited their nesting Kutch has been receiv- were there before cal- also reportedly grounds in Kutch on ing very good rains for lousing smashing abused and subject- Friday morning. By af- the past few years, sev- them,” Pandya told ed to casteist re- ternoon, he said, they eral lagoons have been First India, adding, marks, police also had been bulldozed in created, which attract “A case should be reg- said, adding, the order to construct a foreign birds. istered against the accused persons road in the area. Pandya and other en- contractor and his poured petrol on Pandya, along with vironmentalists have crew under the Wild- the victim in an at- ornithologist BM Par- called for the immedi- life Protection Act. tempt to burn him Stubble left over after the harvest is burnt in a fi eld on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, on Saturday. —PHOTO BY GARGI RAVAL asharya of the Anand ate and stern action They should be pros- alive. Bhuj A divi- Agriculture Universi- against the contractor ecuted.” sion police station PSI Yuvrajsinh Jadeja has record- ed the statement of the victim on Fri- Maldharis demand overhaul of pastoralist identity day and lodged criminal com- Masuma Bharmal Jariwala urbanization, shrink- processes and tools plaints against the  in association with the state department of ing forest areas and no that enable academic two. The case is A seminar Rajkot: To help the animal husbandry and profitable livelihood institutions, depart- now investigated pastoralist Maldhari the Surendranagar options. This has also ments and government by Ashish Pandya, on ‘Revital- community strength- District Co-Operative adversely affected the as well as private insti- Deputy Superin- en its economic sta- Milk Producers’ Union ecosystem and the live- tutions in directed in- tendent of Police. izing Pastoral tus and diversify Ltd (Sursagar Dairy). stock breeds, pushing puts towards research Identity and livelihood options, a Minister of State for them to extinction. and policy framework one-day national Agriculture and Farm- The seminar’s fo- keeping in mind breed Economy’ was seminar on ‘Revital- ers Welfare Parshot- cused on development conservation, liveli- izing Pastoral Iden- tam Rupala attended of a mechanism to se- hood options by facili- organized by tity and Economy’ the gathering as the cure support from fi- tating milk collection Kutch NGO was organized at the chief guest along with nancial institutions so by district-based milk around 200 Maldharis as to help establish federation and produc- Sahjeevan Auditorium in Ra- from across Saurash- value chain-based en- er companies to sup- jkot on Saturday. tra and Kutch. —FILE PHOTO terprises with pastoral port first-generation in Rajkot on The event was or- The event hosted dis- dairy products. entrepreneurs; start Bhuj A Division police ganized by a Kutch- cussions on the role government for the A few challenges faced The event also pro- ups and recognizing station. —FILE PHOTO Saturday based NGO Sahjeevan and strategies of the Maldhari community. by them include rapid moted collaborative desi wool. PERSPECTIVE www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 04

IN-DEPTH FIRST PHASE ‘RESTLESS AS MERCURY’ ENDS WITH A PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO COMPLAINTS OF DISCREPANCY GANDHI’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY he first phase of voting for 30 of K NATWAR the 294 seats ended in West Bengal SINGH and Assam on Saturday evening. The voter turnout in Bengal was T The author is Former Minister recorded at a healthy 79.79 per cent. Barring a clash between workers of Tri- of External Affairs of India namool Congress and the Bharatiya in the Nandigram constituency, which goes to poll on April 1, voting areas remained have respect for few people. Go- peaceful. Junglemahal where polling was pal Gandhi, I respect for several held in the first phase comprises Paschim reasons. Firstly, he does not Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, and Bankura flaunt his unique pedigree- Pa- is a tribal belt from where BJP won five of six ternal grandfather Mahatma Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and led in 31 of the Gandhi. Maternal grandfather 41 Assembly segments. It was then said that C. Rajagopalachari. You can’t some TMC leaders had sabotaged their par- I do better than that. In his own ty’s chances. The BJP, therefore, holds a clear sensitive way, he has contrib- advantage in this region where tribal voters uted to the advancement of ci- though acknowledge her contribution feel vility in our social, academic dissatisfied at the quality of work and the and political arenas. He is both conduct of local leaders. a doer and a thinker. In his pres- The BJP also has the added advantage of ence, one feels comfortable. having some TMC stalwarts in its kitty, I am personally not aware brightening its prospects in Junglemahal about his faults. He must have even further. One will have to view the high some. Even people of the high- voter turnout in this context. est character and morality can The day was not uneventful though. A par- be bores. Gopal is anything but liamentary delegation of TMC leaders met a bore. His humility is structur- the Election Commission to complain about al not an act. For me, it is a great the change in the system of appointing booth pleasure to have him as a friend. panion Hajee Ally met Church- tion. I can come only if I pay the agents. The TMC demanded that from the He is sixteen years younger ill, Under Secretary of state for fine, which I must not. If you next phase booth agents “must be local to the than me and sixteen years wiser. the colonies. “He spoke nicely. keep courage and take the nec- concerned polling booth”. He is well-known author. He was He asked us whether we were I HAVE RECENTLY READ essary nutrition, you will re- The allegation of discrepancy in voter a first-rate diplomat. An excep- not afraid of responsible gov- HIS LATEST BOOK, cover. If, however, my ill-luck so turnout appeared more serious. Derek tionally good Governor of Ben- ernment in case the ordinance “GANDHI RESTLESS AS has it that you pass away, I O’Brien, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP, said in a let- gal. I could go on. was refused assent. What if a MERCURY”. IT IS AN should only say that there ter to the EC spoke of a sudden drop in voter I have recently read his latest worse act was passed by the EXTENSION OF GANDHIJI’S would be nothing in your doing turnout at Kanthi Dakshin (216) and Kanthi The present book, “Gandhi Restless As Mer- new government? We replied AUTOBIOGRAPHY WHICH so in your separation from me Uttar (213) constituencies. At 9.13 a.m. it was book is divided cury”. It is an extension of Gan- that we could not imagine an DISAPPOINTINGLY ENDS while I am alive. I love you so 18.47 per cent and 18.95 percent respectively into six dhiji’s autobiography which Act worse than the present or- WHEN HE WAS IN HIS dearly that even if you are but four minutes later it was reduced to 10.60 disappointingly ends when he dinance and that we had asked FIFTIES. EVEN IN, “THE dead, you will be alive to me. and 9.40 per cent. Prima facie the reduction sections. Book was in his fifties. Even in, “The for refusal of assent leaving the STORY OF MY Your soul is deathless. I repeat appears inexplicable and it is for the EC to one deals with Story of my Experiment with future to take care of itself. He EXPERIMENT WITH what I have frequently told you resolve the mystery if there’s one. The TMC his birth, Truths”, he left so much out. then asked us to send a brief TRUTHS”, HE LEFT SO and assure you that if you do also complained of VVPAT showing votes childhood, early Gopal Gandhi has filled sev- note covering, say, a foolscap MUCH OUT succumb to your illness, I will cast in its favour going to the BJP. schooling, and eral gaps. He has quite clearly sheet of all we had to say on the not marry again. Time and If the TMC went to EC with issues that marriage to studied, “The Collected Works of question as a whole. He would again I have told you that you could impact the poll outcome in the first Mahatma Gandhi”, which run read it and let us know.” must quietly breathe your last phase, the BJP attacked the ruling party Kasturba. Book into nearly a hundred volumes. Churchill did not do so. changed his life was, “Unto with faith in God. If you die, goondas of violence. Party’s national general two is about his The present book is divided During these years, Gandhi’s This Last” by Ruskin. He also even that death of yours will be secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya in a letter to three years in into six sections. Book one character, personality, family read Tolstoy and corresponded a sacrifice to the cause of satya- the EC alleged that there have been several England (1888- deals with his birth, childhood, life and decision to practice celi- with him. But the most moving graha. My struggle is not mere- instances of violent behaviour by “goons and 1891). And his early schooling, and marriage bacy and his becoming a trusted parts are about Kasturba’s very ly political. It is religious and miscreants belonging to the ruling party, i.e., decision to go to to Kasturba. Book two is about spokesman of the humiliated serious illness in November. therefore quite pure. It does not Trinamool Congress.” The letter said, “At his three years in England Indian community are high- She had suffered a hemorrhage matter much whether one dies present, there are disturbances in Saraswati South Africa, a (1888-1891). And his decision to lighted. He takes part in the and needed her husband. He in it or lives. I hope and expect Bajar, Hazrakata More, Jorsulis and the Ken- rabidly racist go to South Africa, a rabidly Anglo-Boer war and the Zulu was in jail. To his wife he wrote, that you will also think like- damari gram panchayat and Mahammadpur country. His racist country. His plan was to rebellion. He starts “Indian “Beloved Kastur, I have re- wise and not be unhappy. I ask gram panchayat areas, there is complete plan was to stay one year in the country. He Opinion” and established the ceived Mr. West’s telegram to- this of you. Mohandas”. chaos, anarchy and it is all organized and stay one year in stayed twenty-one. Book three Phoenix settlement. And Tol- day about your illness (Gandhi I like to imagine that at times supported by the local police.” BJP also al- the country. He covers the years 1906 to 1908. stoy Farm later. The word Satya- was in jail). It cuts my heart. I the grandson must have felt that leged rigging by a TMC block president. stayed twenty- In 1906 Gandhiji lead a dele- graha is invented by Gandhi. am very much grieved but I am his grandfather went too far. This is only the beginning of charges and gation to London, put the case Book four is devoted to 1909 not in a position to go to nurse Read this book. It will make countercharges being levelled by the two one. Book three of the Indians before the Brit- only. Gandhi does a lot of read- you. I have offered my all to the a better man of you. main contestants. There are other phases to covers the years ish government. On 27th No- ing during the year including satyagraha struggle. My com- THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY follow. Will they be as peaceful? 1906 to 1908 vember Gandhi and his com- Socrates. The book that ing out there is out of the ques- THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top The absent voices of development economics TWEET @rsprasad he lack of repre- Development Economics, a institutions and serve on funding for it – is increas- PMJDY has become the biggest sentation of leading outlet for research the editorial boards of top ingly concentrated in the financial inclusion initiative in the world under the leadership of marginalized papers in the field. Neither economics journals. This richest universities (J-PAL PM @narendramodithat is groups in the the journal’s editor nor crucial gatekeeping role was established at MIT). benefiting poor of the poorest T corridors of any of its ten co-editors are gives them agenda-setting Indeed, the cost of carry- people across the country. Under this scheme people can open a power – political, financial, based in a developing coun- power. Two decades ago, for ing out RCTs can run into zero-balance savings account and and cultural – is a growing try. Just two of its 69 asso- example, there were virtu- millions of dollars per pa- start saving. #DigitalIndia source of global concern. ciate editors are, with Af- ally no RCT-based papers per, making it difficult for Knowledge confers power, rica and Asia completely in development economics; developing-country re- Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda so who creates it matters. unrepresented. in 2020, according to our searchers to study their Addressed public meeting in As the Nobel laureate econ- Then there is the World analysis, they accounted own countries without Thogupuzha Municipal Ground, Kerala. From Gold Scam of LDF to omist Paul Samuelson fa- Bank’s prestigious Annual for about 40% of the arti- genuflecting to wealthy in- Solar Scam of UDF it is clear that mously said, “I don’t care Bank Conference on Devel- cles in the leading journals. stitutions’ academic ortho- corruption in Kerala has risen to who writes a nation’s laws… opment Economics (AB- And exclusion character- doxies. If these research- monstrous level with CM’s office under it’s heat. I urge people if I can write its textbooks.” CDE). The 2019 event cele- izes the RCT movement it- ers cannot do RCT-based to give us a chance for good Development economics brated the 75th anniversa- self. At the Abdul Latif Ja- studies, they have little governance & development. focuses on improving the ry of the Bretton Woods meel Poverty Action Lab chance of getting pub- well-being of billions of conference that established (J-PAL), the most influen- lished in leading journals, people in low-income coun- the World Bank and the In- world institutions. immense credit for high- tial global center for devel- and risk being consigned Spiritual tries, but the Global South ternational Monetary The long-standing prob- lighting the need for eviden- opment-related RCT re- to second-class status. is severely underrepre- Fund, but none of the 77 lem of underrepresentation tiary rigor in development search, about 5% of the Even on a generous inter- SPEAK sented in the field. Unfor- participants were from an is being amplified by the economics, it has had exclu- nearly 225 affiliated profes- pretation of authorship, tunately, a small number institution located in a de- growing use of randomized sionary consequences. sors are based in developing our analysis suggests that Approach those who have of rich-country institu- veloping country. And our controlled trials (RCTs) to By virtue of their well- countries, with no repre- developing-country insti- realized the purpose of life tions have appropriated it, analysis of the ABCDE’s test the effectiveness of spe- deserved academic reputa- sentation from institutions tutions accounted for less and question them with with serious consequenc- three-decade history shows cific poverty-reduction in- tions, RCT-oriented econo- in East Asia. Moreover, con- than 10% of RCT-based pa- reverence and devotion; they es. And the problem ap- that just 7% of those au- terventions in low-income mists now work at the ducting RCTs is expensive, pers in the top six econom- will instruct you in this pears to be getting worse. thoring conference papers countries. Although the world’s most prestigious which means that poverty- ics journals in 2020. wisdom. —Bhagavad Gita Consider the Journal of have been from developing- RCT movement deserves universities and research reduction research – and SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE l Vol 2 l Issue No. 122 l RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad. Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra. Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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INDIA www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 06

ASSAMBLY POLLS IN ASSAM AND WEST BENGAL Cast vote to strengthen democracy: Rahul Gandhi urged voters to cast their ballots against “divisive forces” to strengthen Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of democracy as polling began for the Assembly elections in West Bengal & Assam New Delhi: Congress threatening railway workers leader Rahul Gandhi No impact of Kharagpur: West Ben- of the party, the work- urged voters on Satur- gal Chief Minister ers will be transferred. day to cast their ballots CAA-NRC on Mamata Banerjee on I was the Railway Min- against “divisive forc- Saturday accused the ister two times. I know es” to strengthen de- polls, BJP will rival Bharatiya Janata the railways very well.” mocracy as polling be- Party (BJP) of threaten- “There are plans to sell gan for the first phase be back: ing railway workers, and privatise the rail- of the Assembly elec- adding that it is selling way. How many railway tions in West Bengal Sonowal the railways and wiping Mamata Banerjee workers will be left? and Assam. Dibrugarh: As- out jobs. Kharagpur is a rail Congress leader Pri- sam Chief Minis- Speaking at a public cannot build a single town, 90 per cent of it yanka Gandhi Vadra, ter Sarba- rally in Kharagpur, home themselves, yet comes under the rail- who has been cam- nanda Mamata said: “BJP they threaten the TMC way area. If railways paigning for the Assam Sonowal talks big and threatens and say that if they do are sold, What will you polls, urged people to on Satur- railway workers. They anything at the behest eat?” she asked. —ANI vote for progress and day as- the golden future of the serted BJP trying to state. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during election rally, in Pathanamthitta on Saturday. —PTI that peo- Vehicle of Adhikari’s In a Facebook post in ple in the state are change system Hindi, she urged the VOTE FOR PROGRESS, GOLDEN FUTURE OF ASSAM: PRIYANKA aware that the Citi- people of Assam, espe- zenship Amend- brother attacked in WB of polling in Assam: As polling began wrest power from the my sisters, to go to the cially youngsters and ment Act (CAA) Purba Medinipur: for the first phase of BJP in Assam which is polling booths today and Bengal: TMC women, to vote in large assembly elections in voting in three phases vote in large numbers,” and the National numbers. Assam, Congress leader starting on Saturday. The Priyanka Gandhi said in a Register of Citi- (BJP) leader Suvendu Kolkata: Trinamool “Do cast your ballot Priyanka Gandhi Vadra counting of votes will be Facebook post in Hindi. zens (NRC) would Adhikari’s brother Sou- Congress (TMC) on Sat- against divisive forces on Saturday urged on May 2. Vote for progress not affect them and mendu Adhikari’s vehi- urday alleged that the to strengthen democra- the people to vote for “Today, the first phase and golden future of As- they will vote BJP cle was attacked by mis- BJP was trying to cy,” Rahul Gandhi said progress and golden of polling is being held sam,” said the Congress back to power. “We creants at Sabajput change the process of in a tweet in Hindi. future of the state. The in Assam. I appeal to general secretary, who have worked for area in Contai and his polling agents in West The Congress is con- Congress-led ‘Mahajot’ the people of Assam, has campaigned in the the people of As- driver was thrashed al- Soumendu Adhikari Bengal, as the polling testing the West Bengal alliance is seeking to especially the youth and state. sam in the last five legedly by Trinamool for the first phase of polls in a coalition with years. People are Congress (TMC) mem- block president Ram state assembly elec- the Left parties and the satisfied with us. bers, as polling for the Govind Das had orches- tions is underway. Indian Secular Front round of voting sched- from the Bharatiya Ja- as well as for the Kera- We followed ‘Sabka first phase of West Ben- trated the attack and TMC MP Sudip Ban- (ISF). Elections to the uled to take place on nata Party (BJP) in As- la, Tamil Nadu and Pu- saath, sabka sabka gal assembly elections that he was involved in dyopadhyay informed 294-member state As- April 29. sam, which is voting in ducherry Assembly vikaas and sabka is underway. poll rigging in three that a nine-member del- sembly are to be held in The Congress-led three phases starting polls will be taken up vishwas,” Sonowal Soumendu and his booths. Soumendu was egation visited the eight phases starting “Mahajot” alliance is Saturday. The counting on May 2. told. —ANI brother Dibyendu Adhi- unharmed in the inci- Chief Electoral Officer Saturday, with the final seeking to wrest power of votes for both states —ANI kari alleged that TMC dent. —ANI (CEO). —ANI

BJP MLA beaten up Prez condition stable, shifted to Covid: Increase testing, Centre to 12 states, UTs New Delhi: As India re- rate, the strategy to be ODISHA REPORTS 210 NEW CASES by farmers in Punjab AIIMS for corded the sharpest rise adopted included effec- Chandigarh: BJP MLA rounded by a group of in weekly COVID-19 cas- tive isolation and con- Bhubaneswar: The lakh vaccinations daily from Abohar Arun Na- protesting farmers and planned bypass es since May last, the tact tracing of those in- Odisha government on and urged the Centre rang was allegedly black ink was thrown at New Delhi: President Centre on Saturday fected, Re-invigoration Friday requested the not to discriminate. thrashed and his them, officials said. Ram Nath Kovind, was came out with 5-point of Public and Private Central government “We are unable to plan clothes torn by a group Deputy SP (Malout) on Saturday shifted to containment strategy Healthcare resources, to supply COVID-19 vaccination sessions of farmers at Malout in Jaspal Singh said the AIIMS, Delhi, from Ar- for 12 states and UTs re- ensuring of COVID Ap- vaccines for at least 15 for even 15 days in Muktsar district on Sat- protesters were ada- my’s Research and Re- porting a surge that in- propriate Behaviour days in advance to the advance due to insuf- urday, the police said. mant that they would ferral hospital for a cluded exponential in- Rajesh Bhushan and targeted approach state in order to con- ficient supply, is seen When Narang not allow Narang to planned bypass proce- crease in testing while to vaccination in dis- tinue the uninterrupted that other states are reached Malout along hold press conference. dure which is expected worst affected Maha- highest single day rise tricts reporting large inoculation drive. achieving up to 3 lakhs with local leaders to ad- Punjab CM Amarinder to be performed on rashtra announced a so far this year. Besides numbers. This was fi- In a letter to the vaccinations daily due dress a press confer- Singh has condemned March 30, Tuesday, complete ban on all “strong advice” given by nalised after a meeting Union Health Ministry, to adequate vaccine ence, they were sur- the attack. —PTI Rashtrapati Bhavan types of gatherings. the Centre for a signifi- chaired by Union Health State health secretary supply. It is requested said in a statement. On Saturday India cant increase of testing Secy Rajesh Bhushan PK Mohapatra men- that there should not Confirming that the registered 62,258 new in- in all districts in line with officials of 12 states tioned that other states be any discrimination,” —ANI President’s condition is fections in a day, the with their positivity and UTs. —PTI were receiving up to 3 Mohapatra said. Didn’t meet the woman, stable, the President’s Secretariat said that he HOPE TO LAUNCH COVOVAX BY SATYENDAR JAIN WEEKEND RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED says Shivakumar is under the care of ex- SEPTEMBER: ADAR POONAWALLA SAYS LOCKDOWN IN KALYAN-DOMBIVLI Bengaluru: Karnataka perts. Kovind, 75, had to New Delhi: Pune-based a partnership with NOT A SOLUTION Mumbai: Amid the except the essential Congress chief DK Shi- undergo a health check- Serum Institute of India Novavax and Serum New Delhi: In view of rising number of services remain vakumar on Saturday up at Army Hospital CEO Adar Poonawalla Institute of India. It has the rising new COVID-19 caseloads in Maha- closed. Moreover, clarified that he did not after he felt a chest dis- on Saturday informed been tested against cases in the national capi- rashtra, the Kalyan- restaurants will offer meet the woman who is comfort on Friday that the trials for ‘Covo- African and UK variants tal, Delhi Health Minister Dombivali Municipal takeaway services believed to be involved morning. vax’, a vaccine devel- of COVID19 and has Satyendar Jain on Satur- Corporation (KDMC) only during this pe- in the sex CD scandal PM Modi, who is on a oped by Novavax, have an overall efficacy of day said that lockdown is imposed weekend re- riod. Chief Minister case. “I did not meet DK Shivakumar two-day visit to Bangla- begun in India, and 89 per cent. Hope to not a solution to deal with strictions (Saturday- Uddhav Thackeray that lady and have noth- desh, spoke to the Presi- added that he is hoping launch by September the problem. “There is no Sunday). Issuing a on Friday (March ing to do with the the woman, purported- dent’s son yesterday the vaccine launch will 2021,” Poonawalla possibility of lockdown. notice in this regard, 26) had ordered a Ramesh Jarkiholi alle- ly the one who has filed and enquired about his take place by Septem- informed in a tweet. It There has already been a Kalyan- Dombivali night curfew in entire gations,” he said. a complaint against health. Defence Minis- ber this year. may be noted that the lockdown and as it kept Municipal Corpora- Maharashtra from Shivakumar said this Jarkiholi, stating the ter also “Covovax trials finally SII is already manufac- extending, the coronavi- tion (KDMC) said that March 28 until further after a leaked audio con- role of ‘Mahanayak’ visited President Ko- begin in India; the vac- turing millions of doses rus spread did not stop,” all the establishments notice. ­­—ANI versation on Friday had has come out in the vind at the Army hospi- cine is made through of Covishield vaccine. references to him, with open. —ANI tal on Friday. —Agencies said Satyendar Jain.­—­ANI

FROM PG 1

Is there a... absolutely no need to than a few photos of of the prominent fac- across 12 districts of him and his family of prayers. vember. The list of So they are trying to ap- restructure or devel- the Prime Minister. es are Chief Minister Upper Assam and the distributing money “Today, I got the op- candidates was issued propriate Gandhiji’s op anything now or to It will be like visit- , Northern Bank of among people the portunity to offer by All India Congress legacy. Godse could not relocate those who ing the Shyamji state Congress chief Brahmaputra. night before polling. prayers before Maa Committee general kill Gandhian ideology have been staying Krishna Verma me- Ripun Bora and Rai- Meanwhile, West Kali…I prayed to her secretary Mukul Was- so they are introducing there for years. Modi morial in Mandvi in jor Dal’s Akhil Gogoi. Bengal Chief Minis- India, to free the human nik on Saturday. Poll- another ideology under barely even visited Kutch, where there In West Bengal, ter Mamata Banerjee Bangladesh... race from COVID-19,” ing in these three con- the name of Gandhi. ” the Ashram when was are 10 large photo- polling is being held accused Prime Minis- Both the nations want the Prime Minister stituencies will be “Modi is behaving chief minister. ” graphs of Modi. The amid tight security ter of to see stability, love, said. held on April 17 from like the pharaohs of Political observer same will happen in with the Election doing “vote market- and peace in the world 7 am to 6 pm, and Ancient Egypt, who Hemantkumar Shah Gandhi’s Ashram,” he Commission deploy- ing” during his two- instead of instability, Congress fields... counting will take built their own pyra- echoed the same sen- said. ing around 730 compa- day visit to Bangla- terror, and unrest,” Manoj Meghwal will place on May 2. mids. Like them, he timent. “The authori- nies of central forces, desh, saying her party the Prime Minister be contesting the by- The nomination pro- wants a memorial ties say they are plan- Bengal, Assam... guarding 10,288 poll- will complain about said. election from Sujan- cess is underway and during in his own life- ning a world-class me- from Baghmundi Ne- ing booths housed in this to the Election At the onset of his garh against BJP the last date of filing time,” Tushar Gan- morial. Gandhiji is pal Mahato and San- 7,061 premises. A total Commission. second day in Bangla- leader and former nomination papers is dhi, the Mahatma’s himself world-class, jukta Morcha’s Susan- of 300 companies of She also called out desh, Prime Minister minister Khemaram March 30. Scrutiny of great-grandson told no one needs to re- ta Ghosh. In Assam, security forces have her former aide Suv- Narendra Modi visit- Meghwal. Bhanwarlal nomination papers First India. build that image. none 47 Assembly seats are been deployed in the endu Adhikari, who is ed the Jeshoreshwari Meghwal, who was will be held on March He added, “Gandhi- need to rebuild the going to polls, with first phase in Assam, fighting the polls and Orakandi Tem- the state social justice 31 and nominations ji’s simplicity attracts image. However, the 264 candidates in the in which voting will against her in Nandi- ples in southwestern and empowerment can be withdrawn by people from the world completed project will fray. Over 8 lakh are take place at 11,537 gram on a BJP ticket, Shatkhira and Go- minister, died of April 3. even today. There is do doubt have more eligible to vote. Some polling stations a ‘traitor’ and accused palganj to offer brain stroke in No- —With PTI Inputs TALKING POINT www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia I facebook.com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 07

First ever image of a black hole. —EVENT HORIZON TELESCOPE, CC BY-SA Secrets of the

ZIRI YOUNSI UKRI Stephen Hawking Fellow, UCL

here was a lot of excitement when the Event Horizon Tele- T scope collaboration showed the world the first ever image of a black hole back in April 2019. Weigh- ing in at 6.5 million times the mass of our Sun, this supermassive black hole is located in the galaxy Messier 87, or M87, some 55 million light Universe years away from Earth. This was the first direct evidence that black holes exist. It also provid- ed an extraordinary test of Einstein’s theory of gravity and its underlying notions of space and time – probing gravity in its most extreme limits. But we still don’t know much about these monsters. It’s been a year since a black hole’s Now, nearly two years on from this historical achievement, we have un- veiled a new image of M87 using a different technique. Our research, magnetic field was imaged a for the first published in two new papers in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, is pro- viding important insights into the mysterious nature of black holes. time on. Here’s what we’ve discovered

SEEING THE INVISIBLE NEW IMAGE Due to its distance from us, imaging this The image of M87’s black hole provided behemoth of a black hole is enormously overwhelming support for the idea that challenging. It requires a resolution supermassive black holes lurk in the sharp enough to focus on an orange on hearts of most (if not all) galaxies. the surface of the Moon, or being able to They are the glue holding galaxies to- see individual atoms in one’s own finger. gether and governing their dynamics The telescope manged this thanks to an and evolution. But exactly how they unprecedented collaboration between operate is unclear. scientists across the globe, linking to- Our new image uses polarised light gether eight ground-based radio tele- – light waves oscillating in only one di- scopes and transforming the Earth into rection – produced by matter at the one giant virtual radio telescope. edge of the black hole. Unpolarised Black holes are perhaps the most enig- light is made up of light waves oscillat- matic objects in nature, powering some ing in many different directions. Light of the most energetic – and unobservable can become polarised if it moves – phenomena in our universe. Due to through super hot regions of space that their event horizon, the boundary beyond are highly magnetised. The strong mag- which nothing, not even light, can escape, netic fields present around the black Black holes have long held a we cannot see a black hole directly. But hole are such regions and through stud- fascination for fans of science fi ction. matter that falls towards a black hole is ying the properties of this polarised —THOMAS RAUBE/EUDERION. drawn in by its immense gravitational light we can learn much more about the DEVIANTART.COM, FLAT ERIC pull and becomes extremely hot and lu- matter which produced it. minous. Our new polarised image gives com- As it approaches the event horizon, this pelling new evidence for how strong matter is super heated by friction and magnetic fields around black holes can intergalactic medium, are connected to ages of M87’s black hole are, it is still only moves close to the speed of light, emitting launch and sustain concentrated jets of black holes through these strong magnet- the beginning for the Event Horizon Tel- copious amounts of radiation. It is radia- charged gas over thousands of light ic fields. escope collaboration and the science of tion in the form of radio waves produced years. We now think that such highly Astronomers have invoked different black hole imaging. We are already work- by this gas moments before it crosses the energetic and bright jets, launching models to explain how matter behaves ing on what the image of the black hole event horizon that the telescope is de- enormous amounts of matter into the near the black hole to better understand that resides in the centre of our own Gal- signed to detect. this process of jet formation, but they still axy would look like, which we hope to pub- do not know exactly how jets larger than lish later this year. This is Sagittarius A*, the galaxy itself can be launched from its or Sgr A*, our galaxy’s supermassive central region, nor how exactly matter black hole. falls into the black hole. We now find that Compared to M87, this new image is only theoretical models featuring strongly much more challenging to obtain. We are magnetised matter can explain what is looking at the black hole through our seen at the event horizon. blurry, turbulent interstellar medium –

Our observations provide new, detailed there’s a large amount of dust and gas in SHONKIYA DESIGN: SHYAM information about the structure of the the way – making it significantly harder magnetic fields just outside the black hole. to take a clear picture. In the years to Not only does this bring us a step closer to come, new telescopes will be added to the understanding how these mysterious and Event Horizon Telescope array, both on powerful jets are produced, it also ex- Earth, and eventually even in space, plains how some ultra hot matter can lurk promising ever sharper images of black outside a black hole, resisting its gravity. holes and providing a much more inti- Our research suggests that the magnetic mate understanding of these enigmatic fields are strong enough to push back on entities. the hot gas and help it resist gravity’s pull. There will be many more surprises in Only the gas that slips through the field store. This is an exciting new era in hu-

can start flowing inwards to the event ho- mankind’s exploration of strong gravity THECONVERSATION.COM SOURCE : A still from a video explaining how magnetic rizon. and the nature of space and time, and un- fi elds affect black hole images. As exciting as these new polarised im- doubtedly the best is yet to come. —YOUTUBE.COM Greetings on Holika Dahan and Holi may the holy fore burn away all your trials and tribulations and colours bring vibrancy and joy to you! —Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, First India 2ND FRONT www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia I facebook.com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 08

DUSHYANT’S strengthen the Kisan FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL joined the group ‘G23’ presented their side to MOTHER IS ANGRY movement”. While non- BY TRIDIB RAMAN of the dissidents and their leader. WITH SON! Jat MLAs were of the signed a letter written here is growing dis- opinion that, “If we to the Congress Presi- ...AND FINALLY T content among par- have got a chance to dent and then in recent ty leaders, MLAs and stay in the government, days went to Jammu workers over the farm- then we should not miss and Kashmir on the call ers’ movement in Hary- this opportunity, but of dissident Ghulam ana Deputy Chief Min- should extend our party Nabi Azad, then Rawat ister Dushyant Chauta- further by staying in spoke to this old friend la’s Jannayak Janata the government”. Du- tant role in giving speed lunch, Sidhu angrily “Na maine manga thaa, formance in Andhra’s to study his mind. Man- Party. Dushyant had to shyant was shocked and edge to the farmers’ called Rawat and said na mangane ki baat ki civic elections. Naidu ish told Rawat, that he recently call an impor- when his mother Naina movement. Assembly “Captain neither spoke thi” (Neither did I ask told the PM that Jagan’s neither has any inten- tant meeting of the Chautala, who is also elections are going to be of the first thing nor for it nor talked of ask- party had bought the tion of leaving the Con- Mamata Banerjee party MLAs, but he got party MLA, also insist- held in Punjab in the the second”. Then Raw- ing it for me”. support of the people gress nor he is joining secret information that ed, “we should immedi- coming year, in view of at called Captain. On on the basis of money the BJP. He is just talk- three MLAs, including ately withdraw support which Punjab Congress the first day, Captain WILL CHANDRABABU and ‘Kapu’ votes had ing about reforms n this election, Devendra Babli, Raj Ku- from this government, in-charge Harish Rawat did not even come on RETURN TO NDA? also shifted towards within the party by I Mamata Banerjee is mar Gautam, would as our family has al- has taken up the task of the phone, but on the elugu Desam Party Jagan. It is said that af- staying in the party. Af- going through a period boycott the meeting. ways been in support of bridging the gap be- second day, Rawat re- T (TDP) leader Chan- ter this, Naidu ex- ter this, on the advice of introspection facing Sensing the sensitivity the farmers”. Then Du- tween annoyed Navjot ceived a call from Cap- drababu Naidu thrice pressed his wish to the of Rawat, Tiwari the saffron storm. She of time, Dushyant held shyant explained to his Singh Sidhu and Cap- tain. Rawat demanded sought time to meet PM to rejoin the NDA. sought time to meet So- somewhere feels that this meeting at the mother that even his tain. Rawat first spoke to know from him why Prime Minister Naren- If sources are to be be- nia Gandhi. Tiwari she had to lose a num- house of MLA Raj Ku- younger grandfather to Captain, persuaded he did this after all? dra Modi, but Modi was lieved, in response to wanted to present his ber of her loyalists due mar Gautam so that the Chaudhary Ranjit Sin- him and then sent Sid- Captain’s reply was, unable to give time due Naidu’s plea, the PM book to Gandhi. The to her MP nephew Ab- angry MLAs would not gh is also Power and hu to lunch with him. “He is unable to make to his busy schedule. If simply said, “Welcome, meeting lasted for 45 hishek Banerjee. So, face any problem in at- Jail minister in the gov- Rawat had told Sidhu Sidhu his deputy. Yes, sources are to be be- we will meet soon.” minutes in a cordial at- when Mamata recently tending the meeting. ernment and he has nei- that Captain Saheb will Sidhu can join his cabi- lieved, Naidu recently mosphere, where Ti- came to know that Ab- According to sources, ther made any state- talk to him about two net as a minister if he got a call from the PMO WHEN MANISH wari openly shared his hishek was spending this meeting was full of ment in support of the things - “You should wants to.” So Rawat telling him, “You want- MET SONIA! feeling with Gandhi Rs 10 lakh per rally on ruckus. All the Jat farmers’ movement nor join my cabinet and said that “You give him ed to meet the PM, for anish Tiwari, MP and said that he could Didi’s rally, while MLAs of the party has he ever offered to take charge of the dep- number two, i.e. Home now the PM will only M from Anandpur never go against the spending Rs 30 lakh on raised the voice in sup- step down as minister, uty CM” and secondly, office”. But Captain de- talk to you”. It is said Sahib in Punjab, has an party, his intention was one of his rally, Didi port of the farmers’ even though he is an in- “After me, you have to nied Rawat’s proposal, the leaders had a long old friendship with to strengthen internal was furious and she agitation in unison and dependent MLA. Dush- handle the party.” saying, “I cannot give meaningful talk. The Punjab in-charge Har- democracy and bring called Abhishek and said, “we should with- yant wanted to explain Agreeing to the propos- home, we have a border PM expressed concerns ish Rawat, both of transparency in the took him to task. Sourc- draw our support from to his mother in ges- al, Sidhu arrived at state and his (Sidhu’s) over the attacks on tem- whom have started party. Sonia was satis- es reveal that Didi the Khattar govern- tures - ‘Mother, under- lunch. The food was ex- Pakistan love is well ples in Andhra and also their political journey fied with Manish’s bluntly told Abhishek, ment and at the stand the politics!’ cellent, but Captain did known”. Rawat help- wanted to know about from student point, only after that he “Money is spent on the same not share lessly called Sidhu say- Naidu’s politics. was included in the list leader’s rally, don’t time, WHY SIDHU IS NOT any of ing, “You leave home views on When of star campaigners waste party money on READY TO ACCEPT Rawat’s and take any other Jagan’s Ti- of the party. After yourself.” Sources AMARINDER AS HIS menus ministry”. It is said party’s wari this, following the claim that if Didi’s re- CAPTAIN? with Sidhu was very hurt spec- first footsteps of Manish, gime returns in Bengal, unjab Chief Minis- Sidhu. by this. He told Raw- tacu- Anand Sharma and Abhishek would be P ter Captain Ama- After fin- at, “Now I accept lar Bhupendra Singh shown the door. rinder Singh is the mas- ishing what I have already per- Hooda also The author is a jour- ter of political parleys. left!” After this, Sidhu came to nalist and political com- He is also considered to tweeted describ- meet So- mentator and views ex- Dushyant Chautala have played an impor- Navjot Singh Sidhu ing his agony, Chandrababu Naidu Manish Tiwari nia and pressed are his personal

Sharad Pawar, Patel 1 dead, 2 injured as inebriated owner of meet Adani in A’bad Surat bakery ploughs into parked mopeds First India Bureau Gandhinagar: N C P Atul Vakariya has been arrested by Umra police for rash driving; two survivors of crash sent home after treatment (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Sharad First India Bureau SPLIT-SECOND was in the backseat at straight.” Pawar and his lieuten- the time of the acci- Dr Dinesh Mondal ant Praful Patel ar- Surat: Atul Vakaria, dent, which occurred of New Civil Hospital rived in Ahmedabad the owner of the on the Udhna-Magdal- said that the medical on a flying visit on Sat- Atul Bakery chain la road, since he is examination showed urday, to meet with has been arrested by well-connected politi- that Vakariya, had in one of the country’s Sharad Pawar. —FILE PHOTO Umra police in a case cally. fact been drinking. leading industrialists of rash driving, after Urvashi’s brother The report will be sent Gautam Adani, who is in a parked car outside his car rammed into Niraj said, “My sister to the police station. also considered to be a industrialist Mukesh several parked mo- was sitting on the mo- Police inspector of close confidante of Ambani’s Mumbai resi- peds. Urvashi Chaud- ped, waiting while I Umra Police station Prime Minister Naren- dence Antilia, subse- hari (28)--one of the collected a food parcel Kuldeepsinh Zala said, dra Modi. quent events had created three people injured we had ordered. An “We are waiting for the Although neither of a rift between Maha- in the crash--suc- out-of-control car came medical report to file the parties confirmed rashtra and the Centre. cumbed to her inju- Passerby took pictures of the accident’s aftermath. out of nowhere and the charges. With the the meeting, it reported- Incidentally, Union ries. The other two dragged her with it be- help of CCTV footage ly was to break the ice Home minister Amit were sent home after nessed the accident alcohol level tested af- The family of the fore we could do any- nearby, we are investi- between the Maharash- Shah returned to the city being treated for mi- turned Vekariya over to ter an eyewitness ac- victims have raised thing. The owner was gating whether Vaka- tra government and the on Friday, but it is un- nor injuries. the police. He was then cused him of being concerns that Vakari- so drunk that he could riya or his driver was Centre. With the recent clear if Pawar and Shah Passersby, who wit- sent to have his blood drunk. ya, who has claimed he not even stand driving.” discovery of explosives met in person.

GOING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Rajkot mayor to set up dashboard to monitor response to citizens’ issues City to also get dedicated phone number, email for grievances

First India Bureau Dav told First India, “There are around 15 Rajkot: To ensure major departments timely solutions to lo- where citizens have di- cal problems and to rect concern, such as monitor the work light, water, drainage, done by various de- birth, death, and mar- partments, newly ap- riage certificates. When Rajkot Mayor Dr Pradip Dav. —FILE PHOTO pointed mayor a citizen has a problem, Pradeep Dav plans to they usually file a com- dashboard, Dav also track the status of the launch a first-of-its- plaint, but there is no plans to set up a special complaint,” he said. kind Mayor’s Dash- status on their com- number and a dedicated “This system will also board very soon. plaint. The overall goal email address for people hold the relevant depart- The system will be de- is to establish a timeta- to register grievances. ment and its officials ac- signed so that Dav will be ble for all departments “Even if they submit countable. The overall Physical distancing turned out to be a hit-and-a-miss situation as passengers scurried to board buses that would take them able to directly monitor so that every single com- a written complaint in plan is to have a proper home to their families in time for the Holi-Dhuleti long weekend, at the Geeta Mandir Terminus, in Ahmedabad, on Saturday. the citizens’ complaints plaint received receives person, it will be han- system in place for the —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI and the time taken to proper attention.” dled in a systematic betterment of the city,” provide a solution. In addition to the manner, and they can Dav further explained. www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia facebook.com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia 09 AHMEDABAD, SUNDAY MARCH 28, 2021

Artistes from the Attraction Dance Company performing at the First India Holi Milan Samaroh at Marriott on March 25! —PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia I facebook.com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia HAPPY HOLI! AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 10-11

The scintillating dance performance on the songs of Holi by artistes of Attraction Dance Company Radha Krishna enactment by Attraction Dance company Bollywood Holi Mash-up by Elite Miss Rajasthan girls: Shashi Bhati, Isha Agarwal, Soni Kumari and Karishma Tak A modern ghoomar performance by Attraction Dance company HOLI KE RANG MEIN... First India Holi Milan Samaroh was replete with the spirit of the festival of colours- dance, music, laughter, togetherness, sumptuous snacks and magic in the air! City First brings you some more glimpses of the magical moments captured on camera which are just the foreground for Ranoo Srivastava and Nirmala Sewani Ashok Jagwani & Bhavna Jagwani the millions of smiles and moments which were sprinkled throughout the evening! Shishir Awasthi, Jinendra Singh and Kamal Kant Vyas —PHOTOS BY SUMAR SARKAR AND SANTOSH SHARMA

Dr Sudhir Sachdeva enjoying the peformance

Piyush Sen, Divyanshu Sharma, Veena Morani, Soniya Motwani, Dr Amla Batra and Renu Uva Akanksha Sharma and Mahima Gupta

Jagdeesh Chandra greets Ashish & Seema Saraf Kavita Pant, Kavita Chauhan and Purva Shree Mahasani

Giriraj Saini Col Anupam Jaitly, Dr Dolly Jaitly and KK Parashar Toshi Vijay and Maulik

Kavita Pant, Ritu Kuchhal, Suheb Nazar, Rashmi Kuchhal and Apra Kuchhal Ayushi Shekhawat BK Sood & Sushma Sood

Harshvardhan Singh, Suman Rathore, Sujata Singh and Bharat Singh Minda

Tanu Choudhary, Riya Suledia, Akshita Dutta, Monika Kanwat, Khushboo Dahiya, Tripti Arora, Lalita Meena and Aanchal Ajay Pal Madhu Bhat Haneet Singh and Dr Sandeep Sharma Jyoti

Ashok Bishnoi, Dinesh Mathur, Sanjeev Sharma, Kavita Pant and Indraraj Singh Gurjar

Priya Agarwal, Akansha Shekhawat, Shaad, Ravi Sharma, Phoolon ki Holi perfomance Ashok Singh Radha and Krishna come alive on stage in a heartfelt dance perfomance Manali Sharma, Rewati Upadhyay, Divya Shekhawat and Kiran Jangid Bhavya, Deepanshu, Praveen Nirwan, Yash Saini and Arpit Gangwar CITY BUZZ www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia I facebook.com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 12

Pink City witnessed the grand opening of The Leela Palace, Jaipur in an event ‘A Royal Sojourn’ held on Saturday at Sunderban Lawns. Many dignitaries attended the opening. Drawing inspiration from A ROYAL SOJOURN Rajasthan’s royal heritage, The Leela Palace Jaipur is an elegant reflection of modern palatial grandeur and an epitome of true Indian luxury brought to the Pink City by Mohan Sukhani and Vikram Sukhani. From a single elegant hotel, once considered to be located on the edge of Bombay, it has now grown to be one of the most respected hospitality brands worldwide.

Jagdeesh Chandra with (from left) Ashwani Bajaj, Mohan Sukhani, Ashok Parnami and Kali Charan Saraf Vikram Sukhani and Himmat Singh IPS Gaurav Srivastva and Rajeev Arora Dr Sandeep Bakshi Spreading happiness CELEBRATIONS! —PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Himanshi Gehlot fitting the wig

CITY FIRST, JODHPUR Hands Society has indeed has lost her hair during the treat- Jagdeesh Chandra with Kavita Pant, Syed Umar, Anita Hada and team First India on the occasion of Holi celebrations at the brought a smile to a face on ment. Seema was delighted to see Newspaper office on Saturday evening. ocial worker and Saturday. After spreading the wig and the team of Inventive wife of Vaibhav awareness regarding cancer, Helping Hands at Mathurdas Ma- Gehlot, Himanshi Ge- she encouraged people to donate thur Hospital, Jodhpur. GL Mee- hlot who has been a their hair which she used to na and Dr Pradeep Gaur were S prominent part of the make a wig for a nine-year-old present during the team’s visit to Inventive Helping girl who is a cancer patient and support their endeavour.

‘BALAM PICHKARI’ —PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Jagdeesh Chandra congratulated Kajal Pathak, daughter of RTI Activist Ashok Pathak, for clearing the Scientific Assistant Examination in the first attempt. He wished her Jagdeesh Chandra greeted Amin Pathan, President Dargah Deepak Gupta, Pramod Goel, Navratan jain, Anjali Gupta, all the best for future endeavours. Committee, Ajmer during a courtesy visit on Friday. Nidhi Goyal, Manali Goyal with Madhu Bhatt and Pawan Goel

n the occasion of Holi, Goyal, Navratna Jain, Pan- WHAT’S HAPPENING! the Raaga Club organ- kaj Saxena, Deepak Gupta, IN THE CITY! Tiled Brownies by Rachna ised a musical event JD Maheshwari, Dhirendra —PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA O‘Balam Pichkari 2021’ Raghav and other members at the Hotel Grand Safari on of the club were present dur- Saturday. During the show, ing the event. Raaga Club Holi and the Singer and actress Madhu convener Pawan Goyal said Bhatt performed live while that the Raaga Club has been many music lovers enjoyed formed to promote music. brownies... the musical evening. Pramod [email protected] CITY FIRST

enowned home baker Dr Ra- chna Nahta brought out a new Survival of the fittest version of tiled brownies, en- trenched in deep hues of the R Holi gives us many Holi festival, making it even more vibrant. The brownies wore a drape reasons to smile. Seen here is Swati Jangid of colours and carried ‘Happy Holi’ enjoying while swaying wishes in Hindi and English lan- the colours of Holi. guage. These master art creations were made at her kitchen studio ‘Pink Clouds by Rachna’, Raj: Kalanari Art Gallery organised inspired by Biscuit CITY FIRST ball player who became the a four days Charcoal Art Workshop Boutique.co UK. Dr world’s first Indian female from March 22 to March 25, Rachna, a former ICCI Ladies Organisa- amputee to climb Mount Ev- based on the 20th-century theme Head of Advertising tion, Jaipur Chapter erest. She didn’t stop there. by renowned local artist Durgesh and Asst. Professor stepped strongly to- She was determined to Atal. He taught students to make Dr Rachna Nahta of Fine Arts at IIS F wards its final event of spread the Indian tri-colour the art within 3 hours using University has won the tenure 2020-21 featuring on all the highest peaks of all the charcoal technique. People several awards for her creative pieces Arunima Sinha on Saturday. the continents. Ravindra Manch organised from all age group attended the of eggless designer cakes, cupcakes, Chairperson Wandana Par- Guest Speaker Arunima, a mini theatre session workshop. Director Somya Vijay French puff pastries and Bundt nami concluded her tenure talked about her story of how in conversation with Sharma shared that many more cakes. She has a passion for whipped with a very inspiring story she never gave up in the renowned Actor Rajesh workshops would be organised cream cakes instead of fondant laden of Padma Shri Arunima Sin- worst of her life. She also Tailang on Friday. soon. cakes. [email protected] ha, the national-level volley- shared her journey.

CITY FIRST heartening to see the ac- Role of Honour tion taken in the situa- neel Gambhir tion is being recognised was awarded who have made a achievements by way of Top 100 CFO Top 100 CFO difference with from the previous 2021- Role of Honour A 2021- Role of their acumen, at- calendar year in Award”, thank you all Honour by CFO India. titude and leader- different areas. stakeholders and men- Raj: Under the aegis of Akhil Bharatvarshiya Dahima Dadich Bhramin Mahasaba, a session The CFO100 Programme ship. It brings to- He shared, “2020 tors for being there, for on importance of body-donation was organised at the auditorium of SMS Medical College, annually recognises the gether 100 CFOs who has been a tough year support and encourage- Jaippur on Saturday. The event was attended by chief guests Nitya Vyas, RD Gupta, Dr top 100 senior finance are a cut above the rest for many of us due to ment.” Dheeraj Saxena, Dr Bhawana Sharma and retired IAS Manoj Kumar Sharma. Nitish Dadich Aneel Gambhir professionals in India and honours their the pandemic. It is [email protected] shared that during the event, more than 13 people fi lled the form to donate their body.