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NO MAKE-UP OK! ELURU MYSTERY ON JOURNO HANGED Actor Kirti Kulhari says she is not 14 agencies, on the job, seek more time to zero An Iranian journalist, accused of fanning unrest afraid of facing the camera in on the exact cause of the mysterious during the 2017-18 protests, was executed Saturday by the govt without make-up LEISURE | P2 illness in Eluru TWO STATES | P7 INTERNATIONAL | P10

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 251 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 | 2020 12 PAGES + SUNDAY POST | `4.00 IRREGULAR by MANJUL Temple admin for Srimandir reopening A MEETING OF ‘CHHATISA NIYOG’ WAS HELD AND THE SJTA WILL SEND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE GOVT FOR FINAL APPROVAL

AGENCIES

Puri, Dec 12: The Srimandir here is likely to throw open its gates to devo- tees before New Year after being closed for nine months due to COVID-19, the US okays Pfizer vax New Parliament will have better facilities temple administration said Saturday. for the Opposition too... probably a The Shree Jagannath Temple bigger, deeper well in the House Administration (SJTA) chief admin- for emergency use istrator Krishan Kumar said the deci- sion on reopening the temple was taken keeping in view the religious senti- AGENCIES TMC MP questions ments of the devotees and the COVID- 19 protocol will be strictly observed Washington, Dec 12: The MHA summons to when the 12th century shrine reopens. United States said it au- A meeting of temple servitors thorised the use of Pfizer WB’s top 2 officials ‘Chhatisa Niyog’ was held and the Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine It is one step in a SJTA will send its recommendations Friday, with the first inoc- sequence of AGENCIES to the state government for the final ap- ulations expected within steps that will proval to reopen the temple, he told days, marking a turning bring this pandemic to Kolkata, Dec 12: A day after the PTI. point in a country where an end MHA summoned two top officers Kumar said that it is planned to re- the pandemic has killed AMESH ADALJA | of the Bengal government open the temple December 23 and the more than 2,95,000 people. SENIOR SCHOLAR, JOHNS HOPKINS December 14, the state’s ruling people of Puri will get the first oppor- Meeting of the ‘Chhatisa Niyog’ underway The US Food and Drug CENTER FOR HEALTH SECURITY TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee tunity to enter the temple. The detailed Administration granted an Saturday wrote to Union Home standard operating procedure will be have to produce identity cards for entry The decision on emergency use authorisa- States and could accelerate Secretary Ajay Bhalla alleging issued after the government’s approval. into the shrine. reopening the temple tion for the vaccine, devel- a return to normality.” US “political vendetta” as the motive We will urge the government to re- Initially, 5,000 devo- was taken keeping in oped with German partner health authorities, shipping for the summons. open the temple for residents of Puri tees will be al- view the religious BioNTech, which was shown services, hospitals and phar- “We firstly want to inform you in the first five days of its reopening. lowed to enter sentiments of the devotees and to be 95pc effective in pre- macies have been readying that Law and Order subject is These people are unable to have darshan into the tem- the COVID-19 protocol will be venting the disease in a late- a nationwide inoculation within the domain of the state of the Lords even though they live ple. strictly observed when the 12th stage trial. It said the vaccine campaign. Pfizer said it under the 7th schedule of the state very close to the temple, he said. “Thereafter, century shrine reopens can be given to people aged would start shipping im- list of the Constitution of India. How The temple will remain closed the num- 16 and older. mediately and state public in respect of Law and Order situ- January 1 and 2 in view of the possi- ber of KRISHAN KUMAR | SJTA CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR Healthcare workers and health systems have been ation you can call both the two of- bility of the rush of devotees to the devo- elderly people in long-term planning to begin shots as ficers of any sorts or discussion? pilgrim town on New Year’s Day. tees lowed per day will be gradually in- care facilities are expected early as Monday. Can you under the Constitution However, from January 3 onwards the al- creased every week,” he added. to be the main recipients of The government plans to of India and any other law, inter- temple will be kept open for all. From The SJTA chief administrator a first round of 2.9 million accelerate vaccinations in that day COVID-19 negative certifi- thanked servitors for the smooth con- doses this month. BioNTech the coming weeks and CAN YOU (MHA) cates given in the last 48 hours will be duct of the world famous Ratha Yatra Chief Executive Ugur Sahin months, especially if a sec- UNDER THE required and both RAT and RT-PCR tests of Lord Jagannath during the COVID- said the vaccine “will help ond vaccine from Moderna CONSTITUTION OF INDIA will be allowed. All temple servitors will Re-barricading work in progress near Srimandir, Saturday OP PHOTO 19 pandemic. to save lives across the United Inc is quickly approved. AND ANY OTHER LAW, INTERVENE IN RESPECT OF LAW AND ORDER OF THE STATE? State attracted `1Lcr investments First discuss repealing KALYAN BANERJEE | TMC, MP even during pandemic: Naveen Probe ordered into ‘missing’ three new farm laws, vene in respect of Law and Order farmers set condition of the state?” Banerjee said in the AGENCIES three-page letter. 103kg gold from CBI custody AGENCIES The Trinamool MP said that New Delhi, Dec 12: Odisha has he was surprised to come across been able to attract new invest- New Delhi, Dec 12: Sticking to the letter and the MHA’s summon ments of over Rs1 lakh crore across AGENCIES their demands, farmer leaders was coercion of the officers of the multiple sectors even during the Saturday said they are ready to hold state government with political COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Chennai, Dec 12: The Madras HC talks with the government, but vindictiveness. Naveen Patnaik said Saturday. has ordered a probe by the Crime will first discuss repealing the The MHA summoned state Addressing FICCI’s Annual Branch-Crime Investigation three new farm laws. They an- chief secretary Alapan Convention, Patnaik said Odisha The Chief Minister was Department (CBCID) into the miss- nounced that representatives of Bandopadhyay and director gen- is fast emerging as a manufactur- addressing FICCI’s ing 103.864 kg gold out of 400.47 kg their unions would sit on a hunger eral of police Virendra for an ing hub of eastern India and listed Annual Convention seized by the CBI from Surana REPRESENTATIVE PIC strike during a nationwide protest explanation on the law and order a series of steps taken by his gov- Corporation Ltd and kept under December 14. situation in the state, especially ernment to promote industries and lock and key. Corporation and the keys were showing undue favours for Surana Addressing a press conference in the wake of an attack on the investments across different sectors. tract new investments of over `1 The 103.864 kg gold was found handed over to a special court for Corporation, a gold importer. at Singhu Border here, farmer convoy of Bharatiya Janata He added that Odisha has been lakh crore across multiple sectors,” missing when it was weighed to CBI cases. The probe agency had raided leader Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu Party (BJP) national president recognised as an industry desti- the CM said. be handed over to the liquidator Rejecting an objection raised by Surana Corporation and seized also said that thousands of farm- JP Nadda Thursday. nation of choice over the years, Patnaik added the state has also of Surana Corporation. the CBI against the CBCID probe as 400.47 kg of gold. ers will start their ‘Delhi Chalo’ was ranked number one in terms developed a dedicated land bank The high court order came Friday. it would bring down the prestige of Later, the CBI said the seized march with their tractors from of attracting investments during with over one lakh acre of land The CBI in a curious submis- the organisation, the High Court gold was not needed for prose- Rajasthan’s Shahjahanpur through WEATHER April-September 2019, and poised available on the GIS based plat- sion told the court that the gold said all policemen are to be trusted cuting the MMTC officials for the Jaipur-Delhi Highway at 11 to continue this leadership posi- form for easy site selection by the when it was seized several years and ordered the probe. corruption but filed another case am Sunday. BHUB CTK tion. industries. back was weighed together and The court also ordered the liq- in 2013 against Surana MAX 31.6° 31.8° “I am happy to note that the in- He said in the recent past, new when it was to be handed over to the uidator C Ramasubramaniam to Corporation for violation of vestor sentiment towards Odisha industrial projects were launched liquidator each item was weighed lodge a complaint with the CBCID. Foreign Trade Policy. TEMP MIN 17.8° 16.5° Forecast is extremely encouraging. Even in diverse sectors ranging from individually and hence there was The case dates back to 2012, when The seized gold was transferred Humidity 96% 96% Fog or mist during the difficult COVID pan- healthcare, renewable energy, a difference. the CBI had booked a case against from 2012 case to 2013 case. Later, in the demic time, I am happy to inform steel and aluminium to food According to CBI the seized gold the officials of Metals and Minerals the case was closed as there was no Rainfall Nil Nil morning you that Odisha has been able to at- processing. were kept in the vaults of Surana Trading Corporation (MMTC) for offence committed.

The distance between Shahjahanpur and Delhi-Gurgaon border is around 94 kilometres. Can’t force family planning, Centre tells SC Spelling out their strategy to make the agitation even “bigger”, the farmer leader announced that THE SUBMISSION WAS MADE IN RESPONSE TO A PIL FILED BY BJP LEADER AND LAWYER ASHWINI KUMAR UPADHYAY CHALLENGING A DELHI HC ORDER their mothers, sisters and daugh- THAT DISMISSED A PLEA SEEKING CERTAIN STEPS, INCLUDING TWO-CHILD NORM, TO CONTROL ‘THE COUNTRY’S GROWING POPULATION’ ters will also join them soon, and that arrangements for their stay AGENCIES The submission was made in the implementation process of the as per the prescribed guidelines. are being made at the protest sites. response to a PIL filed by BJP guidelines and schemes in a proper The ministry only allocates Farmers’ move to further in- New Delhi, Dec 12: The Centre leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar perspective,” it said. funds to state governments for im- tensify their agitation comes on a has told the Supreme Court that Upadhyay challenging a Delhi High “The answering respondent no. plementation of the approved day Prime Minister Narendra India is unequivocally against forc- Court order that dismissed a plea (ministry) plays a supportive and schemes, it added. Modi assured them that his gov- ing family planning on its people. seeking certain steps, including facilitative role in achieving the The Ministry of Health And ernment was committed to their Any coercion to have a certain two-child norm, to control the health care reforms and outcomes. Family Welfare told the top court welfare and that the three legis- number of children is counter- country’s growing population. It is reiterated that the answering that India has adopted a com- lations were aimed at giving them productive and leads to demo- The ministry said that ‘public respondent no. 1 merely acts as a prehensive and holistic National alternative markets to boost graphic distortions, it said. health’ is a state subject and the facilitator for providing accessible Population Policy (NPP), 2000, income. In an affidavit filed in the top state governments must lead the and affordable healthcare through with clearly articulated objec- Without directly referring to court, the Health ministry told process of health sector reforms state-led reforms in the health sec- tives, strategic themes and op- the farmers’ agitation, which en- y the apex court that the family wel- in a suitable and sustainable man- tor,” it said. erational strategies. tered the 17th day Saturday, Modi

fare programme in the country is ner to protect the common people The ministry said that as far as The National Health Policy said at the annual meeting of in-

k y m c voluntary in nature, which en- from health hazards. implementation of the guidelines (NHP), 2017 provides for a policy dustry body FICCI here that agri- ables couples to decide the size of “Improvement in the health sec- and schemes in the states is con- guidance to inform, clarify, culture reforms as part of gov- their family and adopt family plan- tor can be effectively led by the cerned, it does not have any di- strengthen and prioritise the role ernment efforts are aimed at ning methods best suited to them, state government with effective rect role and it is the prerogative of the government in shaping removing roadblocks, and the new according to their choice and with- monitoring and specific inter- of the respective state govern- health systems in all its dimen- laws will also bring in technol- out any compulsion. vention to control and regulate ments to implement the schemes sions, it said. ogy and investment in the sector. P2 SINGER GAVIN ROSSDALE JAMIE DORNAN SUFFERS SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR IS INSPIRED BY HIS KIDS NASTY ALLERGIC REACTION Singer Gavin Rossdale feels inspired by his Actress Emily Blunt accidentally gave an allergy children. He says he makes music with an intention breakout to co-actor Jamie Dornan while they of impressing his kids. He has three sons -- were on the sets of their upcoming countryside Kingston, 14, Zuma, 12, and Apollo, 6 -- with his film, Wild Mountain Thyme. Both actors are

y leisure former wife, singer Gwen Stefani. He is also a allergic to farm animals and the film is set on a

k y m father to 31-year-old model Daisy Lowe. farm in Ireland, reports aceshowbiz.com. c FORTUNE FORECAST ‘No fear of facing Malaika Arora is ‘out of focus’ ARIES camera sans make-up’ Mumbai: Actress Recently, Malaika Do something really Mumbai: Actress Kirti “I’m playing the role of a mur- Malaika Arora has and her best friend exciting today – perhaps you could put on your Kulhari will be seen in the der suspect who is vulnerable shared a picture Kareena Kapoor trekking boots and explore unknown web series Criminal Justice: and frightened. Embodying her where the mood, ac- Khan were in territories. Ganesha advises you to keep Behind Closed Doors donning was a challenge and the zero cording to her, is out Dharamshala, where busy but not to go overboard. In group a zero make-up look. She says make-up did its job,” she added. of focus. actors Saif Ali Khan activities today, everybody will focus she is not afraid of facing the Told from a woman’s perspec- Malaika posted and Arjun Kapoor their attention on you. camera without make-up. tive, the upcoming season of the the picture on were shooting for “It’s very important for me to series chronicles a murder alle- Instagram. In the their next film, Bhoot TAURUS render the character I'm essay- gation against an eminent image, she is seen Police, a horror com- ing with sincerity. I have no fear lawyer’s wife, Anu Chandra. It lounging on a sofa edy. Malaika posted Today, says Ganesha, you of facing the camera without looks like an open-and-shut case dressed in a white a lot of images from will are likely to make-up; to be honest it’s but there’s more to the crime shirt and striped the scenic hill town encounter someone who is bent upon provoking and getting on quite a relief and it than meets the eye. Actor Pankaj pants. during her your nerves. You are urged not to retaliate saves time,” she Tripathi will be seen as lawyer “Outta focus..” Dharamshala trip. and do things unbecoming of your good said. Madhav Mishra. IANS Malaika wrote. IANS nature. Keep calm and unruffled.

GEMINI The Dirty Picture actress Arya found dead You will be surrounded by conflicts today. However, you will come to realise the Vidya Balan-starrer The Dirty within a short while the solutions required Picture and Dibakar Banerjee’s to troubleshoot your way out of your diffi- LSD: Love Sex Aur Dhoka. She cult circumstances. You will desire soli- tude and peace so much so that you will had also done some modelling not find even your family members wel- assignments in Mumbai. come company, says Ganesha. According to Kolkata Police sources, the actor was found dead inside her room when CANCER the sleuths broke open the Your way of talk today door of her third floor apart- will be such that it can ment and found the body of cause misunderstand- the 35-year-old in the bedroom ing. In a fit of emotion, you will take a hasty decision. You will Arya with Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture Friday. regret the same in future, but you will “We will only be able to also get a chance to rectify the same. So, Kolkata: Actor-model Arya posh south Kolkata residence, the ascertain the reason for says Ganesha, do not take a any ad hoc or Banerjee (35), the youngest daugh- police said on Saturday. her death once we receive temporary decision but a firm decision. ter of sitar maestro late Pandit Actor-model Banerjee used to the post-mortem re- Nikhil Bandyopadhyay, whose real stay alone at her Jodhpur Park res- port,” a senior city name was Debdatta Banerjee, was idence with her pet. She worked police officer LEO Kirti Kulhari mysteriously found dead in her in several Hindi films, including said. IANS You will try to finish your tasks as per sched- ule and will also be able to earn well. You will benefit from the influence of high rank- ing officials. They will appreciate your Regional actors court pan-India limelight in digital space dedication. A promotion may come your way. You will reap the rewards of your Actor Pratik Gandhi’s portrayal of ‘Harshad Mehta’ Indian web-series of 2020 Swastika Mukherjee hard work, says Ganesha. according to IMDb. Swastika has been an established star made him a household name with the show being Jisshu Sengupta in Bengal for a while but her tryst with VIRGO declared by IMDb as the top Indian web series of 2020 Jisshu is an established name in Bangla Mumbai filmdom wasn’t having much Ganesha sees you cinema but he has occasionally done of an impact. She did a role in the Sushant keeping away from a Hindi films, too. He was seen in Barfi!, Singh Rajput-starrer Detective Byomkesh joint venture. You are Mumbai: This year, OTT platforms Mardaani, Piku, and Manikarnika. Bakshy! as well as films like The Stoneman capable enough to emerged as ready spaces for several re- However, Jisshu has come of age in the Murders and Mumbai Cutting, but was far handle big projects yourself. You are gional actors. The likes of Pratik Gandhi, attention span of Hindi film buffs only this from a recognised face among Hindi cine- most likely to lead and coordinate large teams and extract work from Jisshu Sengupta, Samantha Akkineni, year, with his well-crafted performances goers. Earlier this year, she also appeared them as you will. and Swastika Mukherji have been con- in Shakuntala Devi and Durgamati. in Sushant’s last film, Dil Bechara. She will sistently doing good work in their re- next be seen in the upcoming web show spective regional turfs, and occasionally Black Widows, after a strong performance LIBRA courting the dazzle in Hindi film indus- Samantha Akkineni in Paatal Lok earlier this year. AGENCIES Ganesha says today will try. While cinema halls remained closed Samantha Akkineni is a star of South be a wonderful day and for most parts, these actors represented Indian films and is married to Telugu su- bring forth a break- an emerging lot that have looked at wider perstar Naga Chaitanya. She is all set to through for you. You reach beyond their regional realms. make her debut in the Hindi digital space shall get to know and learn a lot from top Pratik Gandhi prominence with his performance in in the second season of the much-awaited most officials and elderly people. The Born and brought up in Surat, Pratik filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s drama web-se- series, The Family Man starring Manoj higher ups in your office will give you good support today. Ganesha warns you predominantly works in Gujarati the- ries Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story. Bajpayee. She had earlier appeared the to stay away from judicial proceedings or atre and cinema. He has been seen in Pratik’s portrayal of Harshad Mehta was digitally-released Tamil anthology Super pleadings, as today is not a good day for Hindi films such as Mitron and Loveyatri. bang on, and it made him a household Deluxe, and will hope to reach out to pan- fighting court battles. However, it was in 2020 that he rose to name overnight. The show is the top Indian audiences with her new role.

SCORPIO The crown jewel of your SUDOKU character will be your PEANUTS post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, supreme confidence CROSSWORD column and box must contain the numbers today. Try to pick up tasks 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. that require herculean efforts, and you shall come close to achieving them, pre- dicts Ganesha. Your nerves and buoyant nature will be infective and also leave people awestruck.

SAGITTARIUS Your business is likely to grow with leaps and bounds, foresees Ganesha. Increase in financial returns will keep you happy for the entire day. Work in progress gives out positive signals. Your expert advise will be valued at work. In short, a day full of activities. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN You will be a live wire, today. With amazing exuberance you have completed mammoth tasks and have spread the energy SOLUTIONS around. It will give you tremendous job-satisfaction, foresees Ganesha. Everything seems well and good the personal front, too.

AQUARIUS One way or the other, money matters will be the highlight of the day. Working environment at BREVITY your office will be better than before. Be CROSSWORD prepared to work harder as today your bosses may assign you some new proj- ects, foresees Ganesha.

y PISCES

To get away from your

k y m c daily tasks you will con- centrate on entertain- ment, fun and rest today. You will feel like a free bird today. In all this also some important task will need your

attention today. Ganesha says you feel nice CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU as things around you change. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 DISPLAYING TALENT SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Girls perform at a district- World 7,16,63,565 4,98,25,228 16,05,060 level cultural event at Bishwambhar Vidyapitha India 98,26,775 3,24,328 1,42,628 in Puri, Saturday

downtown Odisha 3,23,364 3,18,683 1,802

k y m c CS takes stock of 7 major rly projects HAZY MORNING

POST NEWS NETWORK expenditure of around Rs 3,550 CLEARING HURDLES crore; 174.11-km Sambalpur-Talcher Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: Reviewing doubling rail link involving Rs progress of seven major railway The Chief Secretary 679.27 crore; 264.6-km long projects in the state, Chief Secretary asked the District Vizianagaram-Sambalpur 3rd line Asit Tripathy directed the officials Collectors and with Rs 2575 crore and 170-km long concerned to provide advance pos- tehsildars to give Budhapank-Salegaon 3rd and 4th session of government land for advance possession rail line with an investment of Rs faster implementation of the proj- of government land 1,173 crore. Likewise, the progress ects. to ensure of 101-km long Rourkela- Tripathy reviewed the progress uninterrupted Jharsuguda 3rd new rail link with of the projects and resolved the is- progress of `1,173 crore; 98.7-km long Angul- sues relating to ground level im- construction of Sukinda new line involving `638.5 plementation at a high-level meet- projects crore and 155-km long Talcher- ing held on digital mode at Lokseva Bimlagarh new line with an ex- Bhawan here recently. Issues related to distribution of compensation money to the land owners, penditure of ` 810.78 crore was also Commissioner, Railway handing over the possession of the government land, forest clearances, reviewed. Coordination, Manoj Mishra pre- compensatory afforestation, setting up of towers, shifting of utilities, Issues related to distribution of sented the updates for discussion. wildlife clearances and other issues were deliberated and resolved compensation money to the land The Chief Secretary asked the owners, handing over the posses- District Collectors and tehsildars strict ground-level follow-up of the trade infrastructure points of view, sion of the government land, for- to give advance possession of gov- work schedule till completion and all the related field-level officials est clearances, compensatory af- ernment land to ensure uninter- commissioning of the projects. should be on alert and proactive forestation, setting up of towers, rupted progress of construction Tripathy set timelines for dif- mode,” he said. shifting of utilities, wildlife clear- of projects. ferent phases of the projects. “Since He reviewed the progress of 289- ances and other issues were He directed the departments and the projects are critical from coal km long Khurda-Bolangir new deliberated and resolved at the the project proponents to ensure evacuation, passenger traffic and broad gauge railway line with an meeting. Dense fog causes inconvenience for the commuters as visibility reduces in Bhubaneswar, Saturday OP PHOTO `194Cr Central fund for state State govt allows 1 more PHULBANI SHIVERS to withstand Covid dent AT 9.5 ° CELSIUS POST NEWS NETWORK chance to OCS aspirants POST NEWS NETWORK 14 places recorded minimum New Delhi, Dec 12: The Union POST NEWS NETWORK Many meritorious Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: Cold wave temperature of 15 degrees government has released Rs 194 continued to grip many parts of Celsius or below crore to Odisha out of Rs 388 crore Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: Good news OCS aspirants could not the state even as Phulbani recorded it during the last 24 hours sanctioned under ‘scheme for spe- for those who have either exhausted appear in the OCS the state’s lowest temperature of 9.5 cial assistance to states for capital the chances of appearing the Odisha degrees Celsius, Saturday. The Met department said expenditure’ in view of Covid-19 Civil Services (OCS) examinations Preliminary Examination As many as 14 places recorded the dense fog is very likely to pandemic. or have attained the upper age limit. held in March owing minimum temperature of 15 de- occur at one or two places in According to the Ministry of The state government has allowed grees Celsius or below it during Nayagarh, Boudh, Cuttack, Finance, the scheme is aimed at one more attempt to these aspi- to Covid-19 pandemic the last 24 hours. The minimum tem- Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal, assisting the state governments rants to appear in the OCS exami- perature at Daringbadi was 11 de- Rayagada and Koraput in which have faced shortfall in tax rev- nations, 2020. Even though the Covid-19 was grees C while it was 11.6 degrees C between Sunday night and enue due to the Covid-19 pandemic. from the state governments. “Capital Keeping Covid-19 pandemic in announced as a disaster in the at Angul, 12.2 degrees C at Koraput, early Monday “Capital expenditure has a higher expenditure proposals of Rs 9,879.61 mind, the General Administration allowed one more compensatory state, Odisha Public Service 12.6 degrees C at Bhawanipatna multiplier effect, enhancing the crore from 27 states have so far and Public Grievances department attempt for appearing the OCS Commission (OPSC) conducted and 13 degrees C at Sundargarh. future productive capacity of the been approved by the Ministry of has issued a notification in this re- Examination- 2020. the OCSE-2019 (Prelims) March Similarly, Keonjhar recorded two places in Nayagarh, Boudh, economy, and results in a higher rate Finance. A total of Rs 4,939.81 crore gard. The provisions of the OCS, The state government has al- 15. As a result, many meritorious night temperature of 13.2 degrees, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, of economy growth. Therefore, de- has been released to the states as Combined Competitive Recruitment ready given two additional at- rural OCS aspirants could not preceded by Jharsuguda (13.4), Kandhamal, Rayagada and Koraput spite the adverse financial posi- the first tranche of assistance under Examination (CCRE), Rules, 1991 will tempts to the aspirants following appear in the examination. Baripada (13.6), Boudh, Talcher in between Sunday night and early tion of the Union government, it the scheme,” the ministry said. be amended accordingly, it said. their request. In spite of that, Welcoming the move of the and Bolangir (14.5 each), Sonepur Monday. was decided to extend special as- Capital expenditure projects The candidates, who have ap- some aspirants have once again government, Satya Mohapatra, (14.8) and Sambalpur (15). Besides, shallow to moderate sistance to state governments in re- have been approved in diverse sec- peared in OCS examinations-2018 urged the government to allow an OCS aspirant, said, “All edu- Bhubaneswar and Cuttack wit- fog would occur at a few places of spect of capital expenditure, in fi- tors of economy like, health, rural or 2019 and are ineligible to appear additional chances to appear in cational institutions still remain nessed a minimum temperature Rayagada, Kandhamal, Koraput, nancial year 2020-21,” the Finance development, water supply, irri- in the test in 2020 for attaining both preliminary and main ex- closed. We are unable to prepare of 17.8 and 16.5 degrees Celsius, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Ministry said. gation, power, transport, educa- upper age limit or those who aminations considering the Covid- for the examinations at home. respectively. Khurda, Puri, Kendrapara Bhadrak, It is further said that the scheme tion, urban development, the min- have exhausted the attempts pre- 19 induced disruptions to coach- The government should consider The Met department said dense Kalahandi and Boudh districts, in has received very good response istry added. scribed under the Rules, will be ing and library facilities this year. for another chance.” fog is very likely to occur at one or the morning. Cyber crooks dupe two of `4 lakh BJD ditched farmers, says Purandeswari

POST NEWS NETWORK that the criminals hacked the phone POST NEWS NETWORK was fulfilled in 2019. It was clear that The victims, Manoj Kumar and in which he had downloaded ‘Yono’ The BJP leader raked up the government has failed on this Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: Cyber crim- Mustaq Ali Khan, have lodged app attached to his wife’s bank ac- Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: BJP’s the issue of KALIA money front too. In rural areas, more than inals duped two persons of around two separate complaints at count. Odisha in-charge D Purandeswari, 2 lakh kutcha houses are yet to be Rs 4 lakh by fraudulently securing Chandrasekharpur and Tamando Similarly, Manoj received sev- Saturday, took a swipe at the state and said that many made pucca,” she said. the account details from the mobile police stations eral OTP messages on his mobile government for the alleged anti- eligible farmers are yet She also questioned the state phones of the victims. phone recently. Later, upon check- farmer policies of the latter and to receive the assistance government for not joining The victims, Manoj Kumar and Police have been investigating ing his credit card applications, he accused Chief Minister Naveen Ayushman Bharat scheme. Mustaq Ali Khan, have lodged two the incidents after registering found online transactions of around Patnaik of not keeping his poll However, Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) separate complaints at two separate cases Rs 1 lakh through Amazon pay. promises. it had 35 lakh farmers but later it said national spokesperson Sasmit Patra Chandrasekharpur and Tamando Subsequently, he informed the The senior Bharatiya Janata it has 21 lakh farmers. It hints that said, “It would have been better if police stations in this regard. The accused asked him to open Amazon authorities about the fraud- Party (BJP) leader held a presser they have failed to do a proper enu- she had spoken more about farmer According to sources, Khan re- a link sent on his WhatsApp num- ulent transactions and asked them here to fire salvos at the state gov- meration of the farmers.” D Purandeswari addresses the related issues, particularly hiking ceived a call from the cyber crook ber and follow the instructions. to return the amount deducted ernment and the Chief Minister. She also said that the state gov- media, Saturday the MSP as per a unanimous reso- who introduced himself as an em- Accordingly, Khan opened the from his account, but to no avail. Purandeswari said, “The state is ernment has also failed in provid- piped water projects,” she said. lution of March 25, 2017 in Odisha ployee of Paytm, an online pay- link on his cellphone and followed He also requested the credit card making so much noise on the farm- ing adequate irrigation facilities The BJP leader also accused the Assembly seeking revision of MSP ment gateway. The fraudster told the instructions given there to up- authorities to not pressurize him ers’ issue but the farmers here un- for the farmers while the drinking Chief Minister of not fulfilling the of paddy from Rs 1,470 to Rs 2,930 Khan that his Paytm account would date the KYC details. for the repayment but the banking derstand very well as to which gov- water promises also remain un- promise of pucca houses. “The BJD per quintal.” be blocked if the KYC details were A few minutes later, he received officials allegedly refused consider ernment has stood with them.” fulfilled. “There are many villages government never keeps its prom- Patra also said, “It seems that not updated immediately. several messages regarding the on- his request. She also said, “The state came up in Odisha where water available ises it makes to the people. In 2014, she is unaware that Odisha has re- Subsequently, Khan called him line transactions worth around Rs Police have been investigating with the KALIA scheme but the dues in their area is not fit for drinking. the government had said that it ceived five awards from her party’s back to know the detailed proce- 3 lakh which was deducted from the incidents after registering two are yet to be paid to the eligible farm- There are more than 1,000 villages would turn all kutcha houses into government at the Centre for con- dure to update the KYC. his wife’s account. Khan alleged separate cases. ers. Initially, the state had said that in the state which are yet to see pucca. However, the same promise structing largest number of houses.” GOLDEN HARVEST BMC lauded for safe sewage mgmt POST NEWS NETWORK For a better city Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: Lauding Initiated by the Union efforts of the Bhubaneswar Ministry of Housing and Municipal Corporation (BMC) for Urban Affairs, the Safai Mitra initiating safe faecal sludge man- helpline number 14420 is agement, the Chief Minister aimed at discouraging usage Naveen Patnaik, Saturday, con- of manual labour in cleaning gratulated the civic body for mak- of sewage ing Bhubaneswar the ‘first city’ The ministry had launched in the country to launch 24X7 ‘Safai the scheme to ensure that no Mitra’ helpline. life of any sewer or septic Initiated by the Union Ministry tank cleaner is ever lost of Housing and Urban Affairs, the again owing to the issue of Safai Mitra helpline number 14420 ‘hazardous cleaning. is aimed at discouraging usage of manual labour in cleaning of The scheme is being sewage. The ministry had launched implemented in five other the scheme to ensure that no life cities in the country other of any sewer or septic tank cleaner than Bhubaneswar is ever lost again owing to the issue of ‘hazardous cleaning. The formation on safe cleaning of sep- thority’s permission or dumping

scheme is being implemented in five tic tanks/sewers & registering com- waste in open drains.

k y m c other cities in the country other plaint for hazardous cleaning.” Moreover, the Centre will also in- than Bhubaneswar. Other than providing informa- troduce a review system for the Taking to his official Twitter tion over de-sludge of sewer, the cities that will be judged on the handle, the Chief Minister said, helpline will also be used to gather parameters like services, aware- “People can now call on the toll information for private operators ness, campaign activity and eco-sys- Farmers spreading newly-harvested paddy alongside Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway near Pipli to dry out the grains, Saturday OP PHOTO free number ‘14420’ for more in- working without the civic au- tem. P4 SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR downtown Woman Maoist shot RAGING FIRE

LOCALS RALLY AGAINST dead by security

k y m forces in Kandhamal c ILLEGAL SAND MINING POST NEWS NETWORK Cuttack, Dec 12: In a major crack- ing laws and sought action against down Friday, a woman Maoist was the miner in the case. It was al- gunned down during a combing op- leged that use of excavators was eration jointly conducted by the rampant while permission was Special Operations Group (SOG) only for manual mining (through and District Voluntary Force (DVF). labour). The exchange of fire took place It has also been alleged that min- between the security forces and ing is going on beyond allocated Left-wing extremists at Gochhapada areas, mining in excess of per- village in Kandhamal, Director missible limits is done while the ve- General (DG) of Odisha Police hicles engaged in mining are caus- Abhay informed Friday afternoon. ing pollution to the area as they move without covering the top of the Two firearms and four vehicle against the norms. rounds of live bullets “There is a bridge in the Brahmani river at (Kabatghai- including Maoist literature Sasan) in close proximity to the were seized from the spot present mining site at Pankapal. Further the bridge is already dam- POST NEWS NETWORK aged and in this regard a warning At a presser at the police head- Norm violations has been placed on the bridge. quarters in Cuttack, DGP Abhay Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: Villagers The environmental clearance was Hence using earth movers (exca- said, “Combing operation has been Members of All India Kishan Sangharsh Coordination Committee and other trade unions staging a demonstration at Pipli from the Pankapal village in Jajpur granted for five years in 2015 for vators) and heavy vehicles at min- intensified in the area following the toll plaza on Bhubaneswar’s outskirts calling out motorists not to pay toll fees at the gate as a mark of protest against the district have written to the state conducting sand mining over an area ing site and plying of heavy vehi- encounter between the forces and Centre’s new farm laws OP PHOTO authorities seeking their inter- of 7.84 hectare in Pankapal-I under cles on bridge will further impact the ultras. The body of a woman vention into alleged sand mining ac- Danagadi Tehsil in Jajpur in the damaged condition of the Maoist in uniform was recovered tivities along the Baitrani river Brahmani river bridge,” the letter written by the vil- from the area.” lying in close vicinity of their area. lagers to the state authorities Two firearms and four rounds They claimed the validity of sand Villagers alleged that mining is claimed. of live bullets including Maoist Covid-19 fatalities cross 1,800-mark mining operations in that area ex- going on beyond allocated areas The letter has been addressed literature were seized from the PNN/AGENCIES pired October 3, 2020 but local min- in excess of permissible to the chief secretary, state pollu- spot during thorough search fol- ing is continuing in open defiance limit while the vehicles engaged tion control board, water resource lowing the encounter. Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: The state’s THREE DISTRICTS - of sand mining norms and orders in mining are causing department and others. The offices Acting on a tip-off, combing op- Covid-19 death toll crossed the 1,800- pollution to the area as they move of the National Green Tribunal have been asked to take stock of eration was initiated under mark Saturday as four more pa- GAJAPATI, without covering the top of the (NGT) on the matter. Gochhapada police limits which has tients succumbed to the disease, vehicles against the norms the situation and take stern action KANDHAMAL AND The environmental clearance in this regard. been continuing since December while 335 new cases pushed the for the same was granted for five The aggrieved villagers have 9. Notably, the DGP appealed to tally to 3,23,364, a health and fam- SUBARNAPUR - years in 2015 for conducting sand Jajpur in Brahmani river. also sent photographs of use of ex- the ultras on this occasion to shun ily welfare department official said. REGISTERED NIL CASES mining over an area of 7.84 hectare The villagers have also reported cavators and other violations of violence and join the mainstream Four fresh fatalities – two from in Pankapal-I in Danagadi Tehsil, several other defiance of sand min- rules to support their allegations. in their better interest. Sundargarh and one each from Balasore and Malkangiri districts ported from different quarantine Subarnapur - did not register any – pushed the coronavirus toll in the centres and the rest detected dur- case since Friday, he said. state to 1,802. Khurda district, of ing contact tracing. Meanwhile, Odisha currently has 3,231 ac- Four sand, which Bhubaneswar is a part, has 405 patients have recovered from the tive cases, while 3,18,278 people Private bank in soup for using accounted for 308 fatalities followed disease, the official said. have recovered from the disease stone-laden by Ganjam (245), Sundargarh (154), Sundargarh recorded the maxi- so far. Over 63.45 lakh samples have Cuttack (137) and Puri (110). Fifty- mum number of new cases at 52, fol- been tested for the novel coron- three Covid-19 patients have also lowed by Khurda 31 and avirus in the state, including 32,998 trucks seized same TC to finance 3 vehicles died due to comorbidities. Mayurbhanj 29. Three districts - Friday. The positivity rate stands at POST NEWS NETWORK Of the 335 new cases, 193 were re- Gajapati, Kandhamal and 5.1 per cent, the official added. POST NEWS NETWORK ticular trade certificate with a Meanwhile, sources in the Khurda, Dec 12: Illegal trans- unique number which can be RTO revealed that the bank au- portation of minor minerals in Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: The used for one vehicle only from thorities have admitted com- Jankia police this district is on the rise as rev- local branch of a prominent pri- the RTO office. The banks and mitting mistake out of igno- AKASH PATHAK DUPED enue officials raided various vate bank is in trouble after it fi- NBFCs have also been directed rance of the rules. places and seized four vehicles, nanced three vehicles using the to pay a specific amount for get- It also assured the authori- crack youth’s Saturday. Three sand laden Hywa same trade certificate. The ting the trade certificate and ties that such mistakes will not MANY YOUTHS, SAYS CB dumpers were seized from the Regional Transport Office, number each time. be repeated in future. murder new bus-stand area in the town Bhubaneswar- II has lodged a However, the bank reportedly On the other hand, the RTO of- POST NEWS NETWORK Pathak was issuing fake while a truck loaded with lat- complaint with the Infocity po- financed three vehicles using ficials claimed that senior offi- erite stones was seized from the lice against the bank authori- the same trade certificate and the cers of banks were informed Cuttack, Dec 12: Additional job letters to gullible POST NEWS NETWORK National Highway-16. ties for flouting the directions of unique number. The RTO offi- and trained in procedures and Director General of Police (Crime The matter came to the fore the transport commissioner. cials came across the mischief rules for vehicle registration. Branch) Soumendra Priyadarshi aspirants after Khurda, Dec 12: Jankia police when the revenue officials led As per orders, financial in- while uploading the related doc- Police have been investigat- Saturday claimed that Akash collecting money from cracked the murder case of a youth by additional tehsildar Rabindra stitutions intending to finance uments presented by the vehicle ing the incident after register- Pathak, son of suspended IFS officer who was killed at a marriage party Padhi conducted raids at vehicles have to secure a par- dealers in VAHAN portal. ing a case in this regard. AK Pathak, has duped many youths them through Panigrahi as it arrested six persons of various places in and around of huge amount on the pretext of and his close associates Ramabili village in the district Khurda town. providing jobs in a reputed company. for the offence, Saturday. The revenue officials inter- Addressing a presser here, The victim was identified as cepted three sand laden trucks en 2 killed, 1 hurt in Nuapada road mishap Priyadarshi revealed that six of ferred money directly to the ac- Bikash Sahu of Dia village under route to Nayagarh near the new the duped youths had filed com- count of the accused MLA. Nirakarpur police limits. His mar- bus-stand and asked drivers to POST NEWS NETWORK Sushil Dharua has been undergo- centre (CHC) in the district. plaints with police. “Based on the “During investigation by Cyber riage had been fixed with his en- show papers. ing treatment at a hospital in Raipur. However, the doctors treating complaints, a case has been regis- Police Station of the CID CB, it is gagement scheduled to be held They seized the vehicles when Nuapada, Dec 12: A youth and his The three persons were return- at the CHC declared both Kalyan tered at the Economic Offences found that Akash had used fake soon. the drivers failed to show them brother-in-law were killed and an- ing to their respective villages at and Lakhan ‘brought dead’. Sushil Wing of the Crime Branch. All oth- logo and stamp of Tata Motors and The incident spread tension in papers. Later, the truck loaded other sustained critical injuries Rajpur and Binapur areas in was later shifted to a private hos- ers cheated by Akash Pathak can also created fake email ID and vis- the area as family members re- with laterite stone was seized Friday night after an SUV in which Nuapada district. Owing to poor vis- pital in Raipur as his condition lodge their complaints with po- iting card to impersonate himself the covered Bikash’s body from an from the national highway. they were travelling overturned ibility, the vehicle hit a huge stone, deteriorated. lice,” Priyadarshi said. MD of the company. He was issuing abandoned well in Ramabili village, at Timanpur village under Sinapali following which the driver lost con- Sinapali police immediately The Crime Branch ADG further fake job letters to gullible job aspi- Friday. police limits in Nuapada district. trol over the ill-fated vehicle lead- reached the spot after they were claimed that six youths had trans- rants after collecting money from Family members and villagers According to sources, the de- ing to its overturn. informed about the tragic road ferred money to the bank account them through Panigrahi and his staged a road blockade on New CLASSIFIED ceased were identified as 25-year- Some local villagers rescued the mishap. Police have sent the bodies of MLA Pradip Panigrahi and his close associates. Pathak had also Jagannath Sadak demanding im- old Kalyan Bag and 16-year-old three critically injured and rushed for post-mortem and launched a close associates after being assured started online training classes for mediate arrest of the accused and AFFIDAVITAFFIDAVIT Lakhan Bag. The critically injured them to Sinapali community health probe in this connection. of jobs, of which two had trans- such job aspirants,” said Priyadarshi. transfer of Jankia IIC over police inaction, Friday. They relented By an affidavit before after SP Ajay Pratap Swain in- Notary, Bhubaneswar, I tervened and assured to look into POLL FERVOUR their demands. Barik Priyanka (22), CP GRILLS ATM LOOTERS The accused were identified Aadhaar No. 723565330333, as Dillip Mohapatra, 30, alias D/o. Prashant Barik Dilu, Trinath Mohapatra, 60, alias resident of Flat No. 203, BROUGHT ON REMAND Sarat, Gopinath Mohapatra, 52, 2nd Floor, Jagannath alias Joka, Nilamani Pradhan, Plaza, Gajapati Nagar, POST NEWS NETWORK 10 and 11. The sleuths took the ac- 57, Bijay Mohapatra, 48, and P.O.- Sainik School, P.S.- cused duo to the spot and recreated Srikant Sahu, 45, alias Sura in Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: A special the loot incident. Ramabili village. They were pro- squad of the commissionerate po- The police recently brought duced in court and remanded to Bhubaneswar, Dist.- lice Saturday started interroga- Samarjyot Singh and Zafar Sadiq judicial custody after their bail Khurda declare that I have tion of two interstate ATM looters. on a three-day remand from Vizag. pleas were rejected. changed my name from They were involved in the looting Police also revealed that Singh Bikash had been to Ramabili “Barik Priyanka of PNB ATM at Patia Station Road was a high school dropout while village as part of a groom’s en- Prashant” to “Barik in the intervening night of October Sadiq has studied till Plus 2. tourage December 9 when the par- Priyanka” on 10.12.2020 The duo revealed before police ticipating members had a fight for all purpose. that they had learned the loot tech- with the local youths. niques from YouTube, popular Unnerved, they escaped from video sharing website. the spot while Bikash failed to do By virtue of affidavit The looters reached so. Family members and villagers before Notary Public, Bhubaneswar October 5 and on finding him absent visited Puri, I, Trinath Jena, S/o checked in to two hotels during Ramabili village again but failed Late Markand Jena of their stay here. They used gas cut- to trace him. Village Khataphiringi, ters to open the ATM kiosks before Family members tried to lodge P.S.- Brahmagiri, Dist.- decamping with the cash. complaints in the Jankia police Puri do here by declare Following the loot, they went to station first and later, at New Delhi by a flight and later Nirakarpur police station but that my younger son’s reached Chandigarh on road. their pleas were turned down, correct name is Bipini Subsequently, they also visited November 10. Jankia police reg- Kumar Jena and his Date Bangalore and Vizag. istered a case and started an in- of Birth is 2nd February The duo revealed that Singh had vestigation only after the SP in- 2002 for correction of spent `3 lakhs from the looted cash tervened on the request of the

pension book. on hair transplantation. A lawyer casting his vote at a polling booth for elections to Bhubaneswar Bar Association Saturday OP PHOTO family members.

k y m c P5 SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR state

TRUE REFLECTION

k y m Jumbo corridor in jeopardy c NEARLY 40K TREES LIKELY TO BE FELLED FOR SOLAR PROEJCT; IDCO TO ACQUIRE LAND

POST NEWS NETWORK AN ECOCIDE IN THE OFFING he elephant corridor spreads over Sambalpur, Dec 12: The elephant Tareas like Beladunguri, Niladunguri and Kutarajuri, which are part of the corridor in Sambalpur forest divi- proposed solar proejct sion is going to face massive dam- age due to a solar project. About he forest department is spending 40,000 valuable trees will be chopped Tcrores of rupees for safety and pro- off to make space for the project, a tection of forest and elephant, this proj- report said. ect will deal a blow to the efforts, it was According to the report, The ele- alleged phant corridor spreads over areas he department has granted permis- like Beladunguri, Niladunguri and Tsion for the project while tree count- Kutarajuri, which are part of the ing has begun. However, some locals proposed solar project. were worried over this project and On one hand, the forest depart- warned of agitation ment is spending crores of rupees for safety and protection of forest TILL DATE, 25,000 TREES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. AN OFFICIAL OF THE FOREST DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THERE and elephant, this project will deal ARE 40,000 TREES, INCLUDING VALUABLE TREES, SAL, PIASHAL, GAMBHARI, JACKFRUIT, MANGO, NEEM, ASANA, a blow to the efforts, it was alleged. AND KHAIR IN THE LAND EARMARKED FOR ACQUISITION The forest department has granted permission for the project quisition. department have been routinely before the tree felling. while tree counting has begun. Most of these trees have grown carrying out survey for trees. Jujumara tehsildar Suman Minj However, some locals were worried over decades. Bamboo plants are Locals and some environmen- said the land acquisition process was over this project and warned of ag- aplenty on the land. Elephants are talists have expressed concern over started two years ago. This place is itation. usually fond of bamboo leaves. this development. not human settlement, but ele- Till date, 25,000 trees have been This area plays a favourable host The land is under the revenue de- phants reside there. identified. An official of the forest to the elephants. Meanwhile, the partment. But the area has been Padiabahal range officer department said that there are process has started to acquire 500 made dense with trees planted by Prabhakar Behera said that the 40,000 trees, including valuable acres of land. IDCO had in fact ini- the forest department. forest department has initiated the trees, sal, piashal, gambhari, jack- tiated the land acquisition process Locals alleged that the local Vana process of identifying tress to be cut fruit, mango, neem, asna, and khair in 2018. For the last few days, the Surakhya Samiti and gram sabha down. About 25,000 trees have been in the land earmarked for land ac- forest department and the revenue had not been taken into confidence identified till date, he added. A fisherman catching fish in Mahanadi in Sambalpur as his image is reflected on rippling water of the river OP PHOTO Woman dies after 3 diarrhea patients carried family planning Gemstone smuggling thrives in Rayagada operation; kin fume MAFIA IS ON A LOOTING SPREE IN BISAMKATAK EVEN AS THE GOVT LOSES CRORES OF REVENUE on cart as ambulance fails

Jagatsinghpur: Tension gripped POST NEWS NETWORK Prashant Kumar Vaid, a resi- Ersama community health centre dent of Bhusan-Dakulguda, said,”A (CHC) in Jagatsinghpur after Bisamkatak, Dec 12: Gemstone gemstone mine was explored in family members of a woman, who mafia has been on a looting spree Dakulguda hill 21 years ago. The died following a family planning in various parts of Rayagada dis- mines department had made ef- operation Friday, staged a protest trict. About three days ago, the STF forts to dig the place. But the gov- at the CHC Saturday. They held the of the Crime Branch arrested a ernment did not take it over. This doctor and the staff responsible person involved in gemstone quar- provided an opportunity for the for their patient’s death. rying and smuggling. Some gem- mafia to loot gemstones.” According to sources, Trilochan Rout, a resident of Nalakani stone quarries have been lying in- He added that the Odisha Mining village, had taken his wife operative, but the mafia is Corporation and the forest and en- Bindulata Rout (34) to the CHC for plundering these precious miner- vironment department had jointly a family planning operation. After als at their will. On the other hand, held a public hearing over quar- waiting for some time, her turn the mines department and the ad- rying of gemstones. The adminis- POST NEWS NETWORK Bad road connectivity came and she was taken to the ministration have allegedly not tration had put of a fence around operation theatre. Later, her taken any action against them, a re- Jitendra Behera. His car was loaded the mine. Locals were hopeful of Nabarangpur, Dec 12: Bad road has been acting as a husband and other family port said. with two gunny bags of illegally getting income from the gemstone connectivity has been acting as a hindrance in shifting members waiting for her to come Rampant gemstone loot has procured gemstones worth over business and development of their hindrance in shifting patients from out of the OT were said that caused resentment among locals. crores of rupees. area, but the government has so remote pockets of Nabarangpur patients from remote Bindulata had died. Not in a The government is losing crores Rayagada police arrested two far refrained from mining form district to hospitals. With ambulance pockets of abarangpur position to believe that a person of rupees due to smuggling of gem- more persons on charge of sup- gemstones till date, Vaid noted. failing to reach doorsteps, villagers walking into the OT by herself stones. plying the semi-precious stones illegal mines operating in Takiguda Since then, the place has been a carry patients on cots or slings to district to hospitals could die, family members alleged A gem stone mine is at Paika and arranging buyers. One of the area and sold them to Behera. haven for gemstone mafia. As good the vehicle which waits at the near- Community Health Centre. medical negligence. They alleged Dakuluguda under Bisamkatak two is a block grant school teacher This has exposed the illegal gem- quality stones are available from this est motorable road. The three patients are currently their patient had died at the hands block. Mafai has been active here of Boudh district. stone mining in the district. quarry, some traders have engaged In a fresh incident, as many as undergoing treatment at the hos- of Dr Pratap Das, a retired doctor. for a long time. Every day, valuable During investigation into Behera’s Many local people claimed that locals to dig out gemstones and three of Patakhalia area under pital. Doctors at the Community They demanded compensation gemstones are being mined with illegal trade network, police nabbed gem stone loot had been taking they are supplied to different parts Chandahandi block of Nabarangpur Health Centre informed that the and action against the retired doctor. the help of locals and are trans- Mahana and Ratnallu, who admit- place at several mines in the district of the country. district reportedly suffering from di- three patients were given neces- ported outside. ted to its involvement in gemstone with the help of local residents. As for the alleged loot of the gem- arrhea and vomiting had to be car- sary treatment and their condi- Notably, the STF has got clues smuggling. “Though local administration stones, the tehsildar said after the ried on a bullock cart for 5 kms to tion is stated to be stable now. about gem stone trafficking. Mahana and Ratnallu have close and police are well aware of such public hearing, not step was taken an ambulance waiting on the mo- The Patakhalia area is cut off Boat ambulance November 7, the Special Task Force links with prime accused Behera. illegal activities, they are keeping for mining of the place. But he has torable road, Saturday. According from the mainland as the muddy (STF) of the Crime Branch had ar- The three used to run a racket. quiet. This has raised many eye- received no complaints about gem- to a source, three people of road and paddy fileds are the major service launched in rested ganja and gemstone smuggler Ratnallu procured gemstones from brows,” they lamented. stone smuggling, he said. * Patakhalia area were suffering from obstacles. A motorable road is the diarrhea and vomiting. As their long-standing demand of villagers. Malkangiri district condition deteriorated, the villagers But neither the district adminis- contacted the 108 ambulance serv- tration nor the local MLA are tak- Malkangiri: The long-awaited boat Farmer couple ice. The ambulance, however, could ing necessary steps despite re- ambulance service was launched Another minor girl missing not reach the village which lacks peated requests. in the electrocuted road connectivity and stood waiting The villagers said that they have Swabhiman POST NEWS NETWORK about 5 km away on the main road. been requesting the district ad- Anchal of With no options left, the three pa- ministration for the facility for Malkangiri Berhampur, Dec 12: In a shock- tients were carried on a bullock years but no measures have been district Friday. in Nayagarh raises concern ing incident, a farmer couple was cart to access the ambulance. On taken to provide road connectivity Two boat POST NEWS NETWORK rassed and distressed parents of electrocuted after coming in con- reaching the main road, they were to the villages. As a result of which ambulances the victim attempted self immola- tact with an 11KV live wire over shifted to the ambulance which the residents of the village have were pressed into service to Ranpur, Dec 12: At a time when tion in front of the Odisha their field at Puruna Burupada took them to Chandahandi been facing untold miseries. facilitate emergency medical care of people living in cut-off areas. the Pari death case is still hugging Legislative Assembly November village under Hinjilicut police The service was inaugurated by headlines, Nayagarh district has 24 when the Winter Session was limits in Ganjam district. Collector Yeddula Vijay while reported yet another missing of a underway. The deceased was identified many officials of the district minor girl. The five-year-old girl went miss- as Heena Samal (65) and Forest dept staff attacked administration were present on The girl went missing Friday ing from her house at Jadupur Bishnu Samal (55) of Puruna the occasion. The boat ambulance and is still untraced, according to under Sadar police limits in Burupada village. service will benefit over 20,000 her family members. Nayagarh district June 14. Her The mishap occurred in the by stone mafia in Dhenkanal people in 40 villages in the area The missing girl has been iden- body was recovered from a spot wee hours of Saturday. The live lacking road communication. It tified as the daughter of Sanjay only 50 metres away from the place wire snapped from an electric pole POST NEWS NETWORK spot. As they came under their has been decided to station one Sahu of Budhipatna village under at every possible place, they even- where she went missing June 23. was lying in the field. radar, the miscreants launched a boat ambulance at Arapadar and Ranpur police limits. tually lodged a missing report at Meanwhile, Nayagarh Sadar po- The couple had gone to their Dhenkanal, Dec 12: As many as fierce attack with sticks and stones. another one at Kuntarpadar. The According to the family, the girl Ranpur police station. lice station IIC Rinarani Sahoo was farm to pluck cauliflowers at seven forest department employees Informing about the incident, boat ambulances, fitted with GPS was playing in the village Friday. The police have launched an in- suspended and sub-divisional police around 4.00 am. They were hardly sustained critical injuries after il- Dhenkanal DFO Prakash Chand devices, have been connected with It was when she did not return vestigation, taking the case seri- officer (SDPO) Niranjan Padhi was aware of their death lurking in legal stone mining mafia caught Gogineni said the miscreants were the 108 Ambulance service. It can until late, the family members ously which is par for the course. transferred. The case is being probed their own field. As they entered the them unawares and attacked them around 25 in number. One of the be available by dialing the launched a frantic search for her. Notably, the Pari death case cre- by the SIT formed by the state gov- field, they came in contact with the with sticks and stones. The team miscreants has already been iden- emergency number. Not finding her despite searching ated ripples in the state after the ha- ernment. live wire and died. was on its way to an illegal stone tified as Pramod Lenka. mine to conduct a raid. “We have already informed the The incident was reported from Collector about the incident and Karadabani area under Nihalprasad lodged a report at the Nihalprasad police limits in Dhenknal district police station,” he added. Dhenkanal tourist spots to shut till New Year Saturday. Among the injured were two POST NEWS NETWORK Similarly, restrictions are to be im- forest guards and five forest watch- THE COVID-19 INFECTION posed on other picnic spots as well. ers. They are all undergoing treat- Dhenkanal, Dec 12: Last year, the GRAPH IS SHOWING A In this regard, District Collector ment at Barapada primary health tourism spots like Saptasajya and DOWNWARD TREND IN THE Bhumesh Chandra Behera wrote a centre (PHC). After injuring them Kapilas in the district were full of DISTRICT. RESTRICTIONS ARE letter to the superintendent of po- seriously, the miscreants also activities with tourists and pic- BEING EASED IN PHASES AND lice. Similarly, the sub-collectors snatched service revolvers, cell nickers thronging these sites in LIFE IS SLOWLY LIMPING BACK have been directed to deploy police phones and other articles away large numbers. However, that is TO NORMALCY force at tourist and picnic spots from them. not the case this year due to COVID- THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION under their jurisdiction. Picnic at After getting information about 19 pandemic. BELIEVES THAT SINCE THE any tourist spot has been banned and the incident, Nihalprasad police The COVID-19 graph is showing PANDEMIC IS SAID TO BE MORE there will be police deployment on reached the spot and carried out a downward trend in the district. SERIOUS DURING WINTER, holidays and Sundays to avoid con- an investigation. A manhunt has Restrictions are being eased in THERE IS NEED FOR MORE CARE gregation. been launched to nab the culprits, phases and life is slowly limping AND CONCERN IN THESE TWO When contacted, sub-collector it was learnt. According to a back to normalcy. As of now, peo- MONTHS - DECEMBER AND Saphalya Mandit Pradhan said that source, the forest department was ple are eagerly waiting for when JANUARY fearing a rush, all the tourist spots tipped off that illegal stone min- the administration will announce in the district have been closed ing activities were rampant at

opening of the tourist spots in the Collector Bhumesh Chandra Behera wrote a letter to the superintendent of police while the sub-collectors have since the beginning of this month. Karadabani. A team was formed

k y m c district. been directed to deploy police force at tourist and picnic spots under their jurisdiction. Picnic at any tourist spot The restrictions at these places and sent to the location to carry Even though there has been a has been banned and there will be police deployment on holidays and Sundays to avoid congregation will be stricter between Christmas out a raid. decline in COVID-19 cases, the dis- and New Year. Regarding deploy- However, anticipating the for- trict administration believes that the be more serious during winter, the December and January. Saptasajya and Kapilas during the ment of police force at these places, est department’s move, the mis- danger has not been over as yet. administration is becoming more Meanwhile, the administration period from Christmas to New Year a meeting with the Collector has al- creants had been well prepared to And since the pandemic is said to careful in these two months - has decided to deploy police force at to not allow picnickers at these spots. ready been held. stop the team from visiting the P6 SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS AGRICULTURE Whatsoever has courage can give

courage to others just as the

k y m flame of the candle can light up c another. THE MOTHER FARMERS VS. THE STATE

ndia’s capital is under siege for some flexibility and conces- from more than two million sions when required, than with farmers, who are currently faceless, intractable corporations Perils of formalisation Igathered at the city’s border that can use various means – such in a massive protest that started as “quality control” during pur- he head of the NITI Aayog said something that upset many people and two weeks ago. Old and young chase – to deprive them of their due. so he had to explain himself. This was of course his statement, repeated men, women, and even children To be sure, farmers must also Ttwice, that India had too much democracy. However something else from farming families are camp- worry about ecological constraints was said in the same speech that did not get as much attention though, in ing on open roads in the bitter and soil degradation resulting my opinion, it is far more important and concerning. The fact checking web- cold of a Delhi winter. They have from ever-greater reliance on chem- site altnews.in analysed the video recording of his speech and confirmed abandoned their concerns about ical agriculture, scarce and con- that he had indeed used the words he denied using. It reported: “In India we viral infection and come prepared taminated water, and climate are too much of a democracy so we keep supporting everybody.” He went for the long haul, bringing enough change (reflected in adverse on to elaborate, “For the first time in India a government has thought big food to last for several months. weather events and changing rain- in terms of size and scale and said we want to produce global champions. The movement began when sev- fall patterns). But the Modi gov- Nobody had the political will and the courage to say that we want to support eral thousand farmers from the ernment’s policies, farmers fear, five companies who want to be global champions. Everyone used to say I want neighbouring states of Punjab would worsen these problems. to support everyone in India, I want to get votes from everyone.” and Haryana drove their tractors India’s farmers view the new legislations very So far, the government has That second bit is the thing that got ignored. The head of NITI Aayog, which Jayati Ghosh toward Delhi in the hope of pub- differently. They fear that these “modernising” sought to deal with the angry farm- is the prime minister’s think tank, was explaining the strategy of the Modi licising their grievances in the ers much as it has done with all government on the economy. It has not been articulated as clearly as it was city’s center. The protests subse- laws will pave the way for the predatory democratic protests. It initially in the statement above but has been expressed in policy quite clearly. IN RECENT quently swelled as more farmers corporate commercialisation of Indian agriculture, ignored the demonstrators, before In brief, the theory is that India has too many small companies and this YEARS, arrived from other states, and claiming that they were being mis- is inefficient. It should instead have only a handful of very large players run- show no sign of dissipating. More led by politically well-connected tycoons led and manipulated by malevolent ning its economy and these giants can then COLLAPSING than 500 farmers’ organisations opposition forces. The govern- compete with the world. So what will the gov- across India are supporting the ment then implied that the Sikh ernment do to make this possible? It will try and DEMAND IN protesters’ demands, and the farm- agriculture, led by politically well- kept prices for agricultural produce farmers were “anti-nationals” and make it difficult for small and medium size in- THE INDIAN ers’ calls for ‘Bharat Bandh,’ or a connected tycoons. Others argue low. This was the result of policy therefore “terrorists,” and used dustrialists to compete. This is also called ‘for- national shutdown, on December that the laws effectively deregu- blunders – two in particular – that brute force to quell peaceful malisation’. It assumes that the small and ECONOMY 8 garnered widespread support late farm-produce transactions, destroyed many informal eco- protests. Pliant mainstream media medium sized entities in business are all tax HAS KEPT from trade unions and several op- contract farming, and stock hold- nomic activities and damaged and social media trolls have been thieves. They cheat the government by operating position parties. ing in ways that will harm farm- livelihoods: the November 2016 unleashed in an effort to under- in cash. To make their existence difficult if not PRICES FOR The immediate trigger for the ers. Small and marginal farmers demonetisation initiative and the mine the farmers and discredit impossible, the first step is to remove cash from AGRICULTURAL protests was the government’s fear they will be the worst affected. subsequent poorly conceived and their demands, just as they have the economy. This was done on Tuesday, 8 hasty enactment of three new farm These measures were probably the implemented national goods and aggressively attacked all dissenters November 2016. Businesses that depended on PRODUCE LOW laws, introduced during the COVID- proverbial last straw for many services tax. over the past six years. cash transactions, even if they were legitimate 19 pandemic without consulting farmers, whose protests have be- The government did not use fis- The government has refused to ones, were not able to operate for weeks and were Aakar Patel stakeholders, like the farmers come more vocal in recent years as cal policy to revive employment and bend to the farmers’ central de- hampered for months. The large businesses themselves, or state governments, threats to their livelihood have in- demand, so both incomes and con- mand of doing away with these were not affected because they could do with elec- Atmanirbhar which are responsible for agri- creased. True, farm incomes were sumption declined, keeping crop laws. It apparently thinks the open- tronic transfers just as the upper class in the culture under India’s Constitution. declining continuously before Prime prices low. The pandemic subse- air protests may in time fizzle out, metro areas managed with their credit cards. privileges the On the face of it, the laws appear Minister Narendra Modi came to quently made it much harder for especially given the cold that has The second stroke against the small and industrialist over harmless or even beneficial for power in 2014. In fact, farmers farmers to grow produce and get already claimed the lives of several medium was the Goods and Services Tax which farmers. They relax restrictions on played a crucial role in Modi’s ini- it to market, while crop prices have demonstrators. was made so complicated as to require large teams the consumer but the purchase and sale of farm pro- tial election triumph after he prom- remained well below 2019 levels. But this could be hubris. Around of people in-house for compliance. The repeated that is not the duce, remove constraints on stock- ised to double their incomes in five Farmers suspect that the new half of India’s total workforce de- and frequent filing of returns and the manag- piling under the 1955 Essential years by offering minimum support laws will sound the death knell pends on agriculture, and two- ing of the digital system meant that once again way that it is Commodities Act, and enable con- prices (MSPs) for their produce for the public food-procurement sys- thirds of the population (and 70 per a large number of people exited from busi- advertised tract farming based on written (sold to the public food-procure- tem, which, though imperfect, still cent of rural people) depend on nesses that became unviable because of added agreements. The government’s ment agency) that were 50 per cent provides them with some basic farm incomes directly or indi- cost or simply because people could not cope with declared purpose is to create “an above total cultivation costs. But protection against the vagaries of rectly. The protesting farmers’ re- the complications and chose to do something else. ecosystem where farmers and Modi failed to keep that promise, the market. And they can see that solve, and their widespread pub- Who benefited from the exit of the small and medium was again the large. traders enjoy freedom of choice,” and farmers instead received prices crop prices in states like Bihar lic support, suggest that this time The third stroke was the lockdown of this year which broke the back of with “competitive alternative trad- that were even lower relative to (which has already ended the mo- could be different. the small and medium, who had neither the cash reserves to be able to deal ing channels” that “promote effi- their costs than they had been nopoly of regulated market yards) The writer, Executive with such a blow or the ability to get staff to ‘work from home.’ cient, transparent, and barrier- under the previous government. fall well below the MSPs. Secretary of International The Economist, the most respected global magazine, reported that the net free” trade. Several of Modi’s other promises One of the new laws aims to do Development Economics worth of Mukesh Ambani had gone up by 350 per cent since November India’s farmers view the new to the agriculture sector also turned away with “middlemen” like com- Associates, is a member of the 2016. The net worth of Gautam Adani has gone up by 750 per cent in the same legislations differently. They fear out to be hollow, further eroding mission agents. But farmers say Independent Commission for period. And all this happened in an economy that has been in decline. This that these “modernising” laws will farmers’ trust in his administration. they would rather interact with the Reform of International month, December, is the 36th straight month that India’s economic growth pave the way for the predatory cor- In recent years, collapsing de- such people, and potentially de- Corporate Taxation. has been slowing down. porate commercialisation of Indian mand in the Indian economy has velop a relationship that allows ©PROJECT SYNDICATE The collapse began in January 2018 according to government data and has continued for three years. The finance ministry’s chief economic advisor last week asked that a survey that the Modi government had refused to re- lease be released finally. What did it show? It showed that Indians were spending less money in 2018 than they had been in 2012. Meaning that they SPECTRUM SOUTH ASIA were earning less also. Not all Indians of course: some were making much more precisely because of the fact that the others were making less. Everything that seems to many to be puzzling about the Modi government’s economic policy makes sense after we consider what it is deliberately doing to this nation. Modi’s former advisor and enthusiast Arvind Panagariya com- The road ahead for SAARC plained about Atmanirbhar, saying it was merely import substitution and had failed before. What does that mean? It means that Modi has applied tar- n the 36th SAARC Charter Maldives and Nepal cuts both ways. has been ruled directly or by proxy Lahore as a symbol of rebuilding iffs on imported things that Indians buy, like television sets and mobile Day Anniversary, the heads It could be the biggest market for by the military. Efforts have been friendship was received warmly phones, so that local industrialists can sell their goods at a higher price than Oof SAARC countries deliv- neighbouring countries, and also be made largely by India to build peace, in Islamabad raising hope for peace. the imported ones. ered messages albeit conflicting perceived as a bully. Wrongly or and admittedly, occasionally, de- But the military as said before Atmanirbhar privileges the industrialist over the consumer but that is ones. Indian Prime Minister rightly, the latter has been the per- pending on the leadership in wanted to scupper it and sent mer- not the way that it is advertised. Who does the policy seek to make Atmanirbhar? Narendra Modi gave not-so-veiled ception of quite a few countries. Pakistan, Islamabad has responded. cenaries to Kargil. Rest is history. It is not the consumer or the citizen. It is those selected favourites of the gov- warning, “the full potential of The history of two other countries But the military, time and again Even Modi began well by inviting ernment who have been tasked with winning while the rest of us are made D.K. Giri SAARC can only be realised in an being a part of India in the past has torpedoed any attempt at rec- the heads of SAARC nations to his deliberately to fail. atmosphere free of terror and vio- brings up other traditional problems. onciliation with New Delhi. One first swearing-in ceremony as PM. lence.” He called upon its leaders to The socio-religious configuration incident worth recalling was when He went to Lahore on social visits THE CRUX OF “recommit to defeating the forces that in South Asian countries emanat- Morarji Desai won the hearts of to show warmth and friendship. WISDOM CORNER support and nurture terrorism.” ing from such a history is unique. even Pakistan military by offering But sadly, Islamabad did not recip- REVIVAL OF SAARC Nepal PM and SAARC Chairman India is a Hindu majority country Indian military assistance to it. On rocate and things have gotten worse. KPS Oli made an appeal for SAARC with a large Muslim population one occasion, Desai telephoned Zia- Pakistan-sponsored terrorism con- Arrange whatever pieces come your way. IS A GENUINE process to be resumed. In his mes- along with other smaller religious ul-Haq, “General, why do you spend tinues unabated. There is no scope VIRGINIA WOOLF Time is the least thing we have of. DEMOCRACY IN sage he said, “SAARC is not a groups. Pakistan, Bangladesh, on your military instead of put- for dialogue. Pakistan while con- ERNEST HEMINGWAY choice but a necessity for mean- Afghanistan and Maldives are ting the scarce resources into de- niving with China to foment trou- Forever is composed of nows. PAKISTAN ingful regional cooperation in South Muslim majority countries with velopment. If your country is under ble in India wants to have dialogue EMILY DICKINSON REFUSING TO PLAY Asia. The longer we will delay, the other minorities. Nepal is Hindu ma- attack, I will put my military behind with New Delhi. It is fast learning more will be the opportunity cost.” jority and Sri Lanka is Buddhist ma- yours.” No wonder, Morarji was the Chinese art of duplicity. CHINESE GAME IN Pakistan PM Imran Khan gave jority with Tamils, Muslims and honoured with Pakistan’s highest That has been the SAARC story, WORDSWORTH his message which was as expected Christians as minority. Such de- civilian award. stalled by a recalcitrant Pakistan SOUTH ASIA critical of India. He said, “It is un- mographic composition should Similarly, IK Gujral had invented hopelessly under military grip, POLITICS fortunate that due to long standing make the countries socio-religiously a doctrine for peace and security thriving on terrorism and drugs, Wanion unresolved disputes amongst the inter-dependent. Strangely that’s in South Asia known as Gujral playing a sidekick as a satellite member states, SAARC countries not the case. Doctrine. It comprised principles country of China. Unless SAARC he first generation of editors of the Oxford English Dictionary were have been unable to achieve the Similar is the history of con- to guide conduct of foreign relations countries put pressure-- moral or Tespecially literate men and this shows in their definitions, which sometimes desired socio-economic coopera- flicts and wars between the mem- with India’s immediate neighbours, otherwise on Pakistan, SAARC is needed a dictionary to interpret them (luckily, the reader always had one tion and prosperity in the region bers of European Union. The mainly Pakistan. a no-go. The crux of revival of immediately to hand, if a rather cumbersome one). Take wanion. Its still- so far. Artificial obstacles had been Détente between two major Former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee SAARC is a genuine democracy current OED definition, written nearly a century ago, says: “An altered form of raised against the SAARC process.” European powers France and had famously said, “You can change in Pakistan refusing to play Chinese ‘waniand’ used in certain formulas of asseveration or imprecation.” A modern From the very beginning, the Germany made EU possible. A sim- your friends, but you cannot change game in South Asia politics. dictionary aiming at plain English definitions might say instead that in set SAARC has been a body of unequal ilar development between India your neighbours.” The statement phrases it meant an emphatic statement or curse. In itself, wanion means “in and disparate members. The size of and Pakistan could perhaps do the was made in reference to tradi- The writer is Professor, the waning of the moon”. It’s from the Old English verb wanian, to lessen, from India as the biggest country com- trick for SAARC. Unfortunately, tional tensions between India and International Relations, which we get wane. You may feel wanion is too mild and agreeable a word to pared to smaller ones like Sri Lanka, while India is a democracy, Pakistan Pakistan. His famous bus trip to JIMMC. INFA be attached to a curse, but in bygone centuries the waning of the moon was thought to be an unlucky time. Various fixed expressions took on the word and the idea, such as with a (wild) wanion (with a plague or with a vengeance), a wanion on (a curse on) and fetch one a wanion (bring one a misfortune). Farmers on tenterhooks Atmosphere & weather

Sir, Farmers in our country are now on tenterhooks as the Sir, Among the handful of atmospheric phenomenon which determines government has passed laws against them which led to weather and climatic condition of India is El Nino. Most of us, more or less etters massive protests. Farmer leaders rejected the proposal have some knowledge on El Nino and its impact on rainfall in India. However, LOL from the government to amend the laws. If the govern- the advanced monsoon season also popularly known as rainy season provides ment bows under pressure, it is a signal that any reform ef- plenty of rainfall across India during the months of June to September, ex- listened to Jones’ TOL THE EDITOR fort in our country can be oppressed by some interest cept some areas such as leeward side of Western Ghats, Central India, west- War insurance sales pitch. Jones explained Readers of Orissa POST group’s opposition. Now the question arises how should the ern parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan and Ladakh and so on. The cyclic nature irman Jones was assigned to the the basics of the GI insurance are most welcome to contribute letters laws be amended to appease the farmers. The majority of of seasons continues in India except during El Nino affected years. Geographers, induction centre where he was to to the new recruits, and then said: (200 words), articles and farmers are from Punjab, the state which has overdepen- climatologists, and meteorologists had confirmed in earlier years that when A columns (between 750-1250 advise new recruits about their “If you have GI insurance and go into words). Contributors are dence on public procurement of cereals. If the MSP is not El Nino -- a warm ocean current of Pacific Ocean occurs, it pulls the mois- government benefits, especially their battle and are killed, the government requested to send their guaranteed, it would leave many farmers at loss as they can- ture laden winds from the Indian Oceanic region leaving India dry. On fur- GI insurance. has to pay $200,000 to your contact numbers and full not find buyers for their produce. Odisha on Wednesday passed ther scientific research and exploration on drought, the branch of IISC,

It wasn’t long before Captain Smith beneficiaries. If you don’t have GI postal address/email ID. They may also a resolution to move the Centre with a demand to implement Bangalore - the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences - recently

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c noticed that Airman Jones had almost insurance, and you go into battle and and suggestions, preferably by email, the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee confirmed that atmospheric disturbance in mid-latitude region of North Atlantic a 100 per cent record for insurance get killed, the government has to pay to: [email protected] on MSP of crops. According to this committee, the MSP should Ocean too is severely impacting the rainfall status of India. Ten out of 23 droughts sales, which had never happened only a maximum of $6000.” be at least 50 per cent more than the weighted average cost in previous centuries in India had occurred due to disturbance in atmospheric before. “Now,” he concluded,” which bunch do of production. It is also to be noted that the Modi govern- conditions in North Atlantic Ocean and during non-El Nino years. Intensive Rather than ask about this, the Captain you think they are going to send into B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, ment pushed these farm bills through the parliament in an scientific research on the impact of atmospheric conditions on weather is stood in the back of the room and battle first? Bhubaneswar-751010 autocratic manner. P Shantarani Jena, BERHAMPUR the need of the hour. Santosh Kumar Satapathy, PARALAKHEMUNDI KERALA

P7 ANDHRA PRADESH

SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Eluru illness yet to be decoded Termed ‘missing’ c 14 AGENCIES ON THE JOB SEEK MORE TIME TO ZERO IN ON THE EXACT CAUSE by Oppn, Vijayan

INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE MoHF preparing slams detractors Eluru (AP), Dec 12: As many as 14 agencies working to ascertain the detailed report INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE nature of the mysterious illness in Eluru, the district headquarters of New Delhi: With the health crisis Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 12: Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari, caused by a mysterious illness in Hours after Leader of Opposition are yet to zero in on the exact cause Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru getting Ramesh Chennithala Saturday and some of them have indicated better, the Union Ministry of wanted to know about the where- that they needed more time. Health and Family Welfare (MoHF) abouts of Kerala Chief Minister “The National Institute of is busy preparing a detailed report Pinarayi Vijayan, as he was not Nutrition (NIN) has also found the based on the preliminary seen in public even during the cam- presence of organophosphate in information shared by a Central paigning for the Kerala civic polls, blood samples and requires some team visiting there. The report will the latter surfaced and took on his more time for further investiga- be completed soon after the detractors. Central team returns to the tions,” West Godavari Joint Collector He blamed the Central agencies national capital from Eluru, the Himanshu Shukla said in a state- headquarters of West Godavari probing the gold smuggling case. He ment. also attacked the BJP for what they district in Andhra Pradesh, where I wish to point out that The All India Institute of Medical only two new cases were reported did in Tripura and Karnataka and Sciences, New Delhi, has tied up a day ago in the backdrop of many finally said he will bring every- Communists are made of with other institutions to study the people getting hospitalised with thing to the attention of Prime sterner stuff and will not presence of organochlorine and the 'undiagnosed' illness. Union Minister Narendra Modi. be cowed down by any sort organophosphates in the blood of the Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan Vijayan Saturday evening re- of intimidation affected people. and Joint Secretary in the Health leased a list of names, all Congress PINARAYI VIJAYAN I KERALA CHIEF MINISTER As part of investigations on sev- Ministry Lav Agarwal shared the leaders who had been jailed. “Just eral samples, AIIMS found the pres- inputs with Vice President M. look what happened to former ence of lead and nickel only in two Residents prescribed helmets to counter collapsing injuries Venkaiah Naidu Saturday while Union Minister P. Chidambaram misdeeds are forgotten. Any num- of the 40 urine samples. apprising him of the latest health and present Karnataka Congress ber of names can be given,” added Eluru: Amid cases of people suddenly collapsing in Eluru on being struck with the mysterious illness, doctors “AIIMS and the Indian Institute situation in Eluru. Bhushan briefed president D.K. Sivakumar. They Vijayan. advised the townspeople on the go to wear helmets for safety. “We advised all the people travelling outside to Naidu on the preliminary findings of Chemical Technology (IICT) wear a helmet. Because even when riding a bicycle or a two-wheeler they are suddenly falling,” West Godavari were in jail and did the Congress He said ever since the gold smug- have not found anything adverse of the Central committee that is on treat them as outcasts. Late gling case surfaced, it remains to District hospital superintendent Mohan told IANS. He said there is a high risk of sustaining injuries and the a visit to the affected areas in in the water samples and claim that helmet prescription applies to everybody in Eluru. “Cases of people falling off from vehicles were reported. They Congress veteran Ahmed Patel was be seen if the Central agencies are water is unlikely to be the source,” Eluru. He said that a detailed another person who was haunted conducting the probe in the right were in countable numbers, some auto-rickshaw drivers fell down while driving and starting their vehicles. report will be prepared upon the said the statement. by the Enforcement Directorate manner. He said he expects the Motorcyclists have fallen. People fell down while working,” highlighted the senior doctor. Mohan also observed Central team's return to Delhi and Experts from Hyderabad-based that some people suffered convulsions while just sleeping. Corroborating the caution advised by doctors, a 26- necessary advisory will be issued and now his son and son-in-law Prime Minister to act and hence he NIN asked time till Monday to fur- year-old mother of two, who suffered the mysterious illness vouched with the doctor's advice. Sri Sai Hima accordingly. The Vice President are also on their radar. The Punjab is approaching him with a letter. “I ther analyse water samples, which Bindhu, a resident of JP Colony, one of the hardest hit with the illness, suffered three bruises on her face when was told that the number of new Chief Minister’s son is another wish to point out that Communists were found to be laden with pesti- she suddenly collapsed in Rampachodawaram near Rajamundry while talking with her friends as she was cases in Eluru has come down one. The others in the Congress are made of sterner stuff and will cide organochlorine. enjoying a cascade, away from home in Eluru. “What will happen to me if I get fits while pillion riding my sharply with only two new cases who have come under the national not be cowed down by any sort of However, officials claimed that husband’s two-wheeler. My husband took me to the hospital, and there was nobody else. Suddenly if something getting reported on Friday. agencies’ scanner include Priyanka intimidation,” added Vijayan. Eluru water was found to be potable happens and I get fits and fall down, what would happen?” she queried. Commenting on the preventive Gandhi, Robert Vadra, Ghulam He responded to the Congress and “absolutely fit for human con- measures advised for people in general in the wake of the scourge experts were struggling to decipher, doctors Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot and oth- and the BJP leaders' allegations sumption.” told people to be careful while consuming vegetables. People have also been advised to be careful with drinking ness had included three to five min- ers,” said Vijayan. that he was missing during the In food samples such as vegeta- water. They have been recommended to change drinking water regularly. "If you are drinking one kind of water, utes of epileptic fits without repe- “Another thing is just see what civic polls campaigning, by stat- bles, NIN detected herbicides which change it to another. Do not drink tap water," said the senior government doctor. tition, forgetfulness, anxiety, vom- happened in Tripura. Overnight ing that he did not want to go out are incidental to the study. “Other iting, headache and back pain. the BJP took over the Congress in the open for campaigning be- results relating to vegetables, rice, available by the coming Wednesday,” evening, but only six of them were now, only one patient succumbed Eluru, which is 58 km north-east party. Another thing that's hap- cause he did not want to have fish, meat and soil are under analy- said the note. Meanwhile, the num- active cases, and even two of these to the illness. of Vijayawada, is a coastal paddy cul- pening is if anyone joins the BJP, crowds gathering with the Covid sis and the results will likely be ber of cases reached 616 by Friday were ready to get discharged. Until Symptoms of the mysterious ill- tivation and aquaculture hub. they become clean and all their pandemic unabated. Free Covid vaccine for all in Kerala IN GOD’S OWN COUNTRY

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA KERALA IS THE Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 12: LATEST TO COVID-19 vaccine will be made available free of cost to all people ANNOUNCE FREE OF in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Saturday. COST COVID-19 “No one will be charged for the VACCINE FOR ITS vaccine. This is the stand of the government,” he told reporters at PEOPLE. STATES, Kannur. INCLUDING TAMIL Kerala is the latest to announce free of cost COVID-19 vaccine for NADU AND MADHYA its people. States, including Tamil PRADESH, HAVE Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, have already made a similar an- ALREADY MADE nouncement. Vijayan said the quantity of the If the cases do not increase, this The Centre Tuesday said three vaccine that would be allotted to trend (of cases declining) will con- A SIMILAR COVID-19 vaccines, developed by the state by the Centre was not tinue, the chief minister added. ANNOUNCEMENT Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute yet known. Kerala Saturday recorded 5,949 of India and Pfizer, are under ac- “The fact is that the number of COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths, tak- would worsen further. tive consideration of India's drug COVID-19 cases are decreasing, ing the caseload to 6.64 lakh and A total of 3,15,167 people were regulator and there is hope that which is a matter of relief. However, the toll to 2,594. The active cases under observation in various dis- early licensure is possible for all it needs to be seen if the local body stood at 60,029. tricts with 13,334 of them in hos- or any of them. polls, two phases of which are over, Vijayan urged the people to ex- pitals. There are 437 hotspots in Five vaccine candidates are under would contribute to increase in ercise extreme caution against the the state with the addition of German Ambassador to India Walter J Lindner (R) with EU Ambassador Ugo Astuto (L) and French Ambassador different phases of clinical trials in cases. That will be known only in spread of the disease, saying oth- Manarkkad in Palakkad and re- Emmanuel Lenain during their visit to Kerala on the occasion of fifth anniversary of Paris Agreement on climate change, the country. the days to come,” he said. erwise the situation in the state moval of four localities. in Kochi, Saturday. PTI PHOTO ED detains PFI youth AP records 7.5 pc growth leader while trying Sivagiri to host a virtual pilgrimage to flee country in farm loan disbursal PRESS TRUST OF INDIA tract thousands of pilgrims and VVIP guests annually during the INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Scheme,” said the Chief Minister. Varkala, Dec 12: The annual time of the pilgrimage. He said that 50 per cent of farm- Sivagiri pilgrimage at Sivagiri mutt “This time, there will be no mass Amaravati, Dec 12: Andhra ers have less than half a hectare of here in Kerala, observed annually meetings and programmes like in Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan land in the state and 80 per cent of in memory of social reformer and the past. Speeches and classes by dig- Mohan Reddy Friday asked sen- investment cost to those farmers sage, Sree Narayana Guru, will be nitaries will be telecast online on ior bank employees to focus on would be covered through this virtual this time in view of the Sivagiri TV from December 25,” doubling farmers’ income, reduc- scheme. COVID-19 pandemic. the Mutt officials said. ing investment costs, providing Reddy said that Rs 7,500 is being With less than 1000 pilgrims As part of efforts to avoid over- proper market facilities for crops credited to the bank accounts of daily, online speeches and classes crowding during the pilgrimage, and supporting them at the time of beneficiaries before kharif in May, by dignitaries and no usual mass no trade stalls would be allowed in natural disasters. Rs 4,000 in October and Rs 2,000 to INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE meetings and programmes, the and around Sivagiri. Reddy was addressing the 213th farmers for Sankranti in January. 88th edition of the pilgrimage There would be no food distri- State Level Bankers Committee “The state government paid all New Delhi, Dec 12: In a timely would be celebrated fully in ad- bution or accommodation facility (SLBC), where he announced that arrears of the previous govern- intervention, the Enforcement herence with the COVID proto- for pilgrims as usual, the additional a 7.5 per cent growth rate has been ment pertaining to interest free Directorate (ED) Saturday de- cols and guidelines. district magistrate said. registered in the last quarter in is- loans and encouraging farmers to tained Popular Front of India Mutt management sources here Pilgrims should avoid coming suing loans and 99 per cent of crop take interest free loans,” he said. (PFI) youth leader Rauf Sheriff said preparations already began as large groups and the Mutt au- loans were disbursed. The CM also asked the bank em- and prevented him from leaving for the three-day pilgrimage. FESTIVAL DURING PANDEMIC thorities should give them strict “The government has started ployees to support MSMEs as they country, sources said. “This time, the pilgrimage will instruction in this regard, he said. various initiatives to reduce the play a key role in the financial sec- According to ED sources, Sheriff be in compliance with the strict ith less than 1000 pilgrims daily, he Sivagiri Mutt is the There won't be regular special bus investment cost to farmers. The tor. He explained them about several was detained from Kerala's COVID protocols. It will be held on Wonline speeches and classes by Theadquarters of the Sree or train services this time as part government has been providing other empowering and welfare ini- dignitaries and no usual mass meetings Thiruvananthapuram December 30, 31 and January 1 as Narayana Dharma Sangham, of reducing congestion, he said financial assistance of Rs 13,500 tiatives of the government towards and programmes, the 88th edition of an organisation established International airport when he virtual pilgrimage," they said. adding that facilities should be en- per annum through Rythu Bharosa minorities and backward classes. the pilgrimage would be celebrated by the Guru to propagate his was trying to flee from country. To avoid heavy rush, only less fully in adherence with the COVID doctrine 'One Caste, One sured for all pilgrims to meet COVID An ED source said that Sheriff than a thousand pilgrims would protocols and guidelines Religion, One God for Man'. protocols. was wanted in a money launder- be allowed to enter Sivagiri daily, For this, sanitiser and thermal ing case by ED as well as by the UP Mutt officials said in a meeting, LOCATED OVER 50 KMS FROM THE KERALA CAPITAL, THE MUTT USED TO scanners should be made available Police for the Hathras case. chaired by additional district mag- ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS AND VVIP GUESTS ANNUALLY DURING and special arrangements should The source claimed that Sheriff istrate V R Vinod at the Collectorate, THE TIME OF THE PILGRIMAGE. be made for pilgrims to wash hands

illegally received about Rs 2 crore Friday. at the Mutt and other parts of

k y m c in his account from Oman and The meeting, attended by Sree Sivagiri. Qatar in 2020 and was suspected Narayana Dharma Sangam of the preparations of the an- tion established by the Guru to The health department has been to be used for subversive activities. Trust general secretary Swamy nual event. propagate his doctrine 'One Caste, directed to provide necessary med- Sheriff was evading summons Sandrananda and district po- The Sivagiri Mutt is the head- One Religion, One God for Man'. icines and other facilities for pil- on pretext of the pandemic and was lice chief, B Ashokan among quarters of the Sree Narayana Located over 50 kms from the grims at Varkala Taluk hospital, hiding for quite a long time. others, was held to take a stock Dharma Sangham, an organisa- Kerala capital, the Mutt used to at- officials added. Despite crossing P8 eight decades of his NEW YEAR EVE REVELRY BANNED SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR life, Pawar Saheb is IN COVID-HIT BANGALORE just as enthusiastic today as he was. His energy to work New Year eve revelry on December 31 tirelessly inspires us all. I wish night would not be allowed in public you a long and healthy life. places across Bangalore to contain

y Happy birthday coronavirus spread, a senior minister

national SUPRIYA SULE | SHARAD PAWAR’S DAUGHTER said Friday

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of the day uote JOY RIDE I have been EC initiates debate on working for farmers for the last 20-25 years. I know the situation. These laws have been made on the basis of ground realities poll expenditure limit NITIN GADKARI | UNION MINISTER The Election Commission has sought views of political parties on what should be the Joint release of limit of expenditure for candidates contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly polls commemo- rative stamps to mark the 70th PRESS TRUST OF INDIA per cent. anniversary of The 10 per cent hike was appli- diplomatic relations New Delhi, Dec 12: The Election cable in the Bihar Assembly polls between India and Commission has sought views of and various by-polls. China was one of the activities recognised national and state par- The maximum limit for candi- agreed with the Chinese side last ties on what should be the limit of dates differs from state to state. year but there had been no expenditure for candidates con- While it is more in larger states it discussion on any launch date testing Lok Sabha and Assembly is different for smaller states.

ANURAG SRIVASTAVA | MEA SPOKESPERSON polls. After the Law Ministry notifi- In a letter sent out December 7, cation of October, in bigger states Tourists take a boat ride on the Narmada river as seagulls fly past them in Jabalpur, Saturday PTI PHOTO the commission asked parties to like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar send their “views and suggestions” The BJP's and Haryana, the maximum ex- n stand on caw on as to what should be the ceiling The political parties have been penditure a candidate can incur slaughter ban limit of election expenditure for asked to send their views to the for campaigning in Lok Sabha polls ` ` is diametrically candidates for Lok Sabha and nodal officer of the committee is now 77 lakh. So far it was 70 132 ARRESTED, 1.63 LAKH opposite in Goa Assembly elections in the future. that was set up in October to lakh. For Assembly polls, it has state to what the The parties have been asked to revise the expenditure limit been hiked from `28 lakh to `30.8 send their views to the nodal offi- party has taken here. n Expenditure limit for candidates lakh. cer of the committee that was set In both the states it is the ruling was last revised in 2014. For For Andhra Pradesh, Assam, REGISTRATIONS CANCELLED party up in October to revise the expen- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE SIDDARAMAIAH | CONGRESS LEADER diture limit. the limit was enhanced in 2018 Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, - had not filed their GSTR-3B re- While there is a limit on candi- Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya turns for more than six months dates to spend on their election mission had said in October while Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, New Delhi, Dec 11: In its drive to were first issued cancellation notices campaign, there is no such cap on announcing constitution of the Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, check fake firms, fly-by-night op- and then their registrations were SHORT TAKES political parties. panel. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, erators, and circular trading enti- cancelled as per the standard op- The committee was tasked to ex- The committee will assess the Chhattisgarh Uttarakhand, ties, the GST field formations have erating procedure, the sources said. amine the issue of revising the ex- change in number of electors across Jharkhand, Telangana and Delhi, cancelled 1,63,042 registrations in Also, out of 720 deemed registrations 4 PLFI militants penditure limit for candidates for states and Union Territories, and the expenditure limit for candi- the month of October and November granted between August 21, 2020 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in its bearing on expenditure. dates for Lok Sabha polls is now `77 this year due to non-filing of GSTR- 1,430 cases against more than 4,586 to November 16, 2020 where Aadhaar held in J’khand view of the increase in number of It has also been mandated to as- lakh and for Assembly elections, it 3B returns for more than six months, fake GSTIN entities identified across authentication was not done, 55 Simdega: Four militants of electors and rise in the Cost Inflation sess the change in Cost Inflation is `30.8 lakh. sources in the Department of the country. deemed registrations have been the banned People’s Index. Index and its bearing on the pattern In Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Revenue said. Sources in the Department under identified for discrepancy and the Liberation Front of India Expenditure limit for candidates of expenditure incurred by candi- Nagaland and Tripura, the new the Finance Ministry said that the process of cancellation was initiated (PLFI) were arrested in two was last revised in 2014. For Andhra dates in recent elections. limit is `77 lakh for Lok Sabha elec- GST INVOICE FRAUD fourth chartered accountant, in these cases as per the SOP issued separate operations in Pradesh and Telangana, the limit The committee is likely to sub- tions and `22 lakh for assembly In one month of its nationwide Akshay Jain, was arrested from earlier. Jharkhand's Simedga and was enhanced in 2018. mit its report early next year to polls. For Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, drive against GST fake invoice Visakhapatnam for his involve- Sources said that further, 28,635 Lohardaga districts, police “In last six years, the limit was the poll panel. Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar frauds, the Directorate General of ment in issuing fake ITC (input taxpayers who have not filed their said Saturday. Three not increased despite an increase Considering the difficulties can- Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and GST Intelligence (DGGI) and CGST tax credit) to the tune of `20.97 GSTR-3B returns for more than 6 militants were arrested in in electorate from 834 million to didates could face in campaigning Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Commissionerates has so far ar- crore on the invoices of cement by months as on December 1, 2020 Simdega district in a raid in 910 million in 2019 to 921 million now. amid Covid-19, based on the rec- Lakshadweep, Puducherry and rested 132 persons including four creating 14 fake firms without sup- have been identified and all the Kanarwa forest in the Bano Further, Cost Inflation Index dur- ommendations of the EC, the gov- Ladakh, it is `59.4 lakh for Lok chartered accountants and a woman ply of goods. The investigation on GST Commissionerates have been police station area. Pistols, ing this period has increased from ernment had in October enhanced Sabha elections and `22 lakh for for availing or passing on ineligi- the matter is still going on. directed to initiate suo-moto can- cartridges, a motorcycle and 220 to 280 in 2019 to 301 now,” the com- the existing expenditure limit by 10 Assembly polls. ble ITC fraudulently and have filed All these GSTIN entities who cellation process in these cases. three mobile phones were seized from the militants, Superintendent of Police Shams Tabrez said. Acting on SINO-INDIAN STAND-OFF 8 more arrested specific inputs, police conducted the raid and made Farmers consider expanding for attack on the arrests, he said. ‘India is being tested; will Nadda’s convoy RTI activist meet security challenge’ protests to ‘pan-India’ scale PRESS TRUST OF INDIA commits suicide PROTESTING FARMERS TO HOLD A DAY-LONG ‘HUNGER STRIKE’ DECEMBER 14 PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Kolkata, Dec 12: Eight persons Patna: A 26-year-old RTI INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE were arrested Saturday from var- activist allegedly committed New Delhi, Dec 12: External ious parts of South 24 Parganas dis- suicide by hanging himself Affairs Minister S Jaishankar New Delhi, Dec 12: Getting no trict for their alleged involvement from a ceiling fan in his Saturday said India was being positive signal from the Central in the attack on BJP national pres- house in Buxar district. The tested in the seven-month-long bor- government about rolling back the ident JP Nadda’s convoy at deceased was identified as der standoff with China in eastern three contentious farm laws en- Diamond Harbour, a senior po- 26-year-old Amit Rai, who was allegedly found hanging Ladakh and expressed confidence acted in September, farmers protest- lice official said. in the bedroom of his house that the country will meet the na- ing on the national capital's dif- With this the total number of located in the industrial area tional security challenge. ferent borders Saturday announced people apprehended in connec- of Buxar district. He Calling the “events” along the the standoff. their plan to expand the demon- tion with the attack on the BJP reportedly committed suicide Line of Actual Control (LAC) in east- When asked whether it will be a strations and expand them to a leader has increased to 15, he told Friday evening. According to ern Ladakh “very disturbing”, long-haul or a breakthrough is ex- 'pan-India' scale, appealing all sec- this news agency. Dinesh Kumar, Station House Jaishankar also said what has hap- pected soon for a resolution to the tions of society, including girls and All the eight arrested Saturday Officer (SHO), Buxar pened there was not in China's interest military standoff, Jaishankar said: women, to join them. have been booked under various Industrial area, Rai's family as it is facing the prospect of losing “I would not go into prediction zone Declaring that they’ll hold a day sections of the IPC for rioting, ob- members went out for dinner goodwill in India that was developed at all, whether it is going to be easy long ‘hunger strike’ December 14, Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Delhi-Jaipur route on Sunday structing a public servant in the on Friday evening and he was carefully in the recent decades. or not, and what will be the time- farmers representatives of 32 dif- 2020; and The Essential Commodities and all District Collector offices discharge of public functions and alone in the house. He said these events have raised lines.” ”I do not believe that the ferent unions jointly announced (Amendment) Act, 2020. would become the Centre of the other offences. some very “basic concerns” as the events of this year have helped at all. their plans for a 'pan-India' protest Addressing a press conference at protest on December 14. “other party” has not abided by In fact I think the real danger is if the government does not accept Singhu border, Kisan Sangharsh Announcing that all the lead- Punjab Police agreements on respecting the LAC. that the goodwill which was so care- their demands and withdraws the Samiti President Kawalpreet Singh ers of 32 unions would sit on a day- HC quashes I-T Participating in an interactive ses- fully developed will dissipate,” he said. three laws -- The Farmers Produce Pannu said: "We have decided to long hunger strike at the Singhu bust drug cartel sion at the annual general meeting “But I also would say that, yes, Trade and Commerce (Promotion expand this movement pan India." border protest site from 8 a.m. to proceedings Chandigarh: With the arrest of the industry body FICCI, he de- we are being tested. I have every con- and Facilitation) Act, 2020; The The farm leader said that farm- 5 p.m. December 14, Pannu sought of two people and seizure of clined to be drawn into a discussion fidence that we will rise to the oc- Farmers (Empowerment and ers will move from Rajasthan's support from other sections of against Karti four kg of heroin, Punjab on any timeline for a resolution of casion,” he added. Protection) Agreement of Price Shajapur to Delhi borders blocking society. Police Saturday said it has busted a major drug cartel PRESS TRUST OF INDIA with an international trail as well as links to gangsters and Chennai, Dec 12: The Madras terrorists. Initial Callous apathy awaits patients at JK Lone hospital High Court has quashed the investigations have exposed a Income Tax proceedings initiated nexus of the accused – DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT’S ASSURANCES, LITTLE SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED AT KOTA’S JK LONE HOSPITAL WHERE against Karti Chidambaram, son Jaswinder Singh and Ramesh of former Union Finance Minister Kumar, both residents of OVER 100 INFANTS HAD DIED A YEAR AGO AND NINE MORE CHILDREN DIED LAST THURSDAY P Chidambaram,and his wife over Jalandhar district – with some alleged non-disclosure of cash gangsters lodged in Punjab's AGENCIES were seen waiting for long hours to government is “responsible” for transactions of about `7 crore fol- jails and a Dubai-based get a sonography done with no one the death of infants and demanded lowing sale of a property near smuggler. Director General of Jaipur, Dec 12: Despite Rajasthan to attend to them. Several of these resignation of the state health min- here. Police Dinkar Gupta said investigations suggest that government’s assurances, little women had arrived at 6 am with ister. The Court, while ruling that the proceeds generated from seems to have changed at Kota’s JK their children. “Same kind of incident happened the action is "not maintainable the sale of the drugs, Lone government hospital where Sonography at the hospital is last December also. I would request and premature", clarified that pro- smuggled into Punjab from over 100 infants had died a year ago. scheduled to start at 9 am but even the minister not to speak the lan- ceedings may be initiated again if Kashmir, were probably being In December 2019, over 100 in- after spending close to 2.5 hours, guage that the doctor does. If he the authority concerned deemed used to fund terror activities. fants died at JK Lon government hos- scores of women were seen waiting has facts, as per investigation, then the same is required after proper pital in Kota triggering a major at the hospital not knowing when he should put them forward,” an- assessment. furore. On Thursday, it was reported it will be done. No one was there at other senior BJP leader, Gulabchand The prosecution case was that that nine infants have died over 24 the counter to attend them as they Kataria, said. Karti, the Congress Member of Buddhadeb’s health hours at the JK Lone government waited for hours. Nine infants have died at the JK Parliament, representing condition stable hospital. A day before, Rajasthan Health Lone Hospital in Kota in 24 hours. Sivaganga, and his wife Srinidhi The tragic death of nine infants, Minister Raghu Sharma had prom- Out of the nine, five died Wednesday received `6.38 crore and `1.35 crore Kolkata: The health condition after the death of over 100 children ised that health officials were told night. in cash respectively, through sale of former West Bengal chief in December 2019, underlines the to not be negligent and that not After this, the families of the of a land owned by them near minister Buddhadeb medical apathy and negligence in even a single death due to negli- victims created a ruckus at the hos- Muttukadu.

y Bhattacharjee was stable on one of the biggest government hos- gence would be acceptable. However, they had neither dis- Saturday morning, an official pital and accused the medical staff

pitals of Kota. Apart from Kota, On Friday, a row erupted over of negligence. Relatives of two in- closed the same in their assess-

k y m said. Bhattacharjee, who is c on non-invasive ventilation, children from Baran, Sawai able as it used to be last year when lack of care and empathy for pa- the deaths of nine infants at the fants sat on a dharma inside the ment nor paid taxes for the in- slept well last night, she said. Madhopur and nearby districts of over 100 children had died and tients and their relatives, inade- hospital as several BJP leaders hospital premises Thursday. The come. Hence, the I-T department “Mr Bhattacharjee is okay. He Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh the government had made sev- quate infrastructure for young lashed out at the Ashok Gehlot gov- relatives alleged that no one from initiated criminal prosecution for is still on NIV and taking it also visit this facility. eral promises to improve the in- children was hard to miss. ernment. the medical staff came forward to alleged non-disclosure of income well. He is maintaining all A visit to the Kota hospital re- frastructure and the health con- On Friday, women, who had ar- Senior BJP leader Bhawani Singh look into their children’s condition by them to the tune of `7.73 crore critical clinical parameters. vealed that it remains as miser- dition. Unhygienic conditions, rived hours ago at the hospital, Rajawa claimed that the Rajasthan when they went to them. for 2015-16 fiscal. In most of the P9 cases, girls have MUSEUM AT STATUE OF UNITY TO SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR a consensual SHOWCASE MAKING OF INDIAN NATION relationship, a live-in setup and then file an FIR Gujarat government has decided to build a (First Information Report) museum at the Statue of Unity campus site to for rape after separation showcase recollection of history that made the

y KIRANMAYEE NAYAK | CH’GARH dream of united India possible

national WOMEN’S COMMISSION CHIEF

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of the day uote Modi assures farmers The India readies for 600 million Covid vax jabs worrisome situation in INDIA WILL DEPLOY ITS VAST ELECTION MACHINERY TO DELIVER 600 MILLION DOSES OF COVID-19 on agriculture reforms West Bengal is police don’t reply, VACCINES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS and no action has PRESS TRUST OF INDIA been taken on the AGENCIES “I am hoping at the earliest be- complaints cause we are ready.” The govern- New Delhi, Dec 12: As farmers New Delhi, Dec 12: India will de- ment, however, was yet to have for- vowed to expand their protests REKHA SHARMA | NATIONAL COMMISSION ploy its vast election machinery to mal talks on pricing and had no over new farm laws, Prime Minister FOR WOMEN CHAIRPERSON deliver 600 million doses of Covid- firm purchase orders, he said. Narendra Modi Saturday assured 19 vaccines to the most vulnerable “The Indian companies know them that his government was Pawar saheb people in the next six to eight months the government will give a fair and committed to their welfare and had last week through conventional cold chain reasonable price.” that the legislations were aimed said that he systems, the expert leading the ini- Supplies and storage at giving them alternate markets wanted the tiative said. At present, Indian regulators are to boost income. Opposition parties The government has lined up considering three vaccines for emer- Without directly referring to the to come together. It cold storage facilities with temper- gency use authorisation, includ- farmers’ agitation, which entered is not important atures between 2°C and 8°C (36°F ing those from Pfizer Inc, the 17th day Saturday, Modi said who will lead the front. That can be and 48°F), said VK Paul, who heads AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech. agriculture reforms as part of gov- laws. The government has so far re- decided later the group of experts on vaccine ad- But, Pfizer’s limited stockpiles and ernment efforts are aimed at re- fused to heed to their demand but NAWAB MALIK | NCP LEADER ministration for Covid-19 that advises its extreme storage condition re- moving roadblocks, and the new has promised to continue the MSP- India’s Prime Minister Narendra he told Reuters in an interview. pharmaceutical player Hetero inked quirements at minus 70°C or below, laws will also bring in technology based procurement. Modi. Paul said these preparations Serum Institute of India, the a deal with Russia’s RDIF to man- would likely limit its use in India, and investment in the sector. The three new laws remove re- I am meet the requirements of what he world’s largest vaccine maker, is ufacture over 100 million doses of which lacks such infrastructure. The government, he said, is com- strictions on marketing farm prod- extremely in said were the four emerging candi- already mass producing and stock- the Russian Sputnik V Covid-19 “In a theoretical scenario, where mitted to protecting the interest ucts and allow cultivators to en- pain to see the dates in the race for India’s vaccine. piling AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine per year in India. there is no vaccine with conven- and welfare of farmers through gage with private companies to suffering of my “The four that I can see, includ- shot, while Indian biotech players The government expects the first tional cold chain requirement, its policies and actions. sell their crops. This, the govern- farmer brothers. Government should ing Serum, Bharat, Zydus, and Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila are approvals “very soon” from the in- minus 70°C capacities will have to “Reforms will help draw in- ment says, allows farmers an al- do something fast Sputnik need normal cold chain. I developing their own vaccine can- dependent drug regulator for emer- be created, and we will do so,” vestment in the agriculture sec- ternate avenue to sell crops, rais- see no problem for these vaccines,” didates. And last month, Indian gency use, he said. Paul said. tor and benefit farmers,” he said at ing their income and is aimed at DHARMENDRA | HINDI FILM ACTOR the annual meeting of industry making farming more competi- body FICCI here. “The aim of all tive. Workers go on government reforms is to make Listing his government's farmer- SNOW BLANKET farmers prosperous.” friendly measures, SHORT TAKES The new legisla- The govt has so far Modi said the gov- rampage at tions, which were ap- refused to heed to ernment has en- proved in the previ- couraged producing Soldier dies after iPhone plant ous Parliament the farmers’ ethanol from sugar- falling into gorge session, give farmers demand but has cane. This ethanol is PRESS TRUST OF INDIA an additional option promised to blended in petrol to Jammu: A soldier died outside of the desig- cut India's oil import Saturday after accidentally Bangalore, Dec 12: The workers of nated mandis to buy continue the dependence and gives falling into a deep gorge Taiwan headquartered Wistron or sell their crops, he farmers remunera- along the Line of Control Corporation, which manufactures said. MSP-based tive prices for their (LoC) in Rajouri district of iPhone near here went on a ram- “The idea is to help procurement crops, he said. Jammu and Kashmir, officials page on Saturday in the facility over increase farmer in- Modi said farmers said. Lance Naik Suresh issues related to ‘salary’, police said. comes," Modi reiterated. will get technology and benefit Gurgey was part of a Quoting preliminary inputs, po- Hundreds of farmers from states from access to the market. patrolling party in the Kalal lice said employees at the facility in like Punjab and Haryana have Expressing dissatisfaction over area of Nowshera sector, the Narasapura Industrial Area of blocked some of the highways lead- the limited participation of India they said, adding he slipped Kolar district, about 51 kilometers ing to Delhi borders for more than Inc in the agriculture sector, the and fell into the gorge and from here, rampaged through the two weeks now against the new Prime Minister asked industries to sustained severe injuries. He plant premises overturning cars farm laws which they fear will show their interest and increase in- was immediately taken to a and damaging furniture besides prompt the government to stop vestment in the sector. hospital, where he died. other things. A police officer told making direct crop purchases at Unfortunately the India Inc has PTI that workers pelted stones, minimum state-set prices, called not made adequate investments in smashed glass windows, damaged ve- minimum support price (MSP). agriculture and private players did 3 killed in tractor- hicles, furniture, computers and They have vowed to expand their not explore the sector to its full po- truck accident laptops in connection with 'salary protests across the country until the tential, rather they worked in a People remove snow from a bridge after the town received fresh snowfall at Keylong in Lahaul Spiti, Saturday PTI PHOTO related issues.' government scraps the new farm limited fashion, he said. Shahdol: Three persons were killed when a truck hit their stationary tractor-trolley on SUSPECTED HONOUR KILLING National Highway 43 near EC toys with Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol Protesting farmers ‘unwilling’ district in the early hours of Saturday, police said. The 24-YR-OLD WOMAN idea of digital accident occurred at around 4 am near Batura village on NH- voter ID card 43 between Shahdol and KILLED BY BROTHERS to undergo Covid-19 test Anuppur, where the tractor- trolley broke down and was PRESS TRUST OF INDIA police. On November 17, Chandni parked on the side of the road, came to her village, Faranji, from PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Singhu border protest site, said de- Ekta (Ugrahan) Punjab general sub inspector Vikas Singh. Mainpuri, Dec 12: In a suspected Delhi after she was called by her spite her team's "best efforts", farm- secretary Sukhdev Singh said farm- case of honour killing, a 24-year- brothers, police said, adding that New Delhi, Dec 12: With the ers are not willing to get tested for ers don’t want to “create a prob- old woman was shot dead by her Jatav tried to reach Chandni on her shadow of coronavirus looming Covid-19. lem” by undergoing Covid-19 test. brothers and her body was buried phone but got no response. large over protest sites, the Sonipat “Our district's medical vans and He said farmers have come to Celebratory in a field in Faranji village in Uttar On November 23, he, his mother district administration is offering teams have been deployed at Singhu Delhi to protest against the new firing kills boy Pradesh’s Mainpuri district, police and family members reached testing facility to farmers protest- border. They (protesters) are getting farm laws and not for coronavirus said Saturday. Chandni Kashyap’s Faranji and enquired about ing the Centre's new agri laws but medicines from us for cough, fever testing. Rajgarh (MP): A 12-year-old body was found buried in the field Chandni. However, they were told most of them are “unwilling” to and other health problems, but are Asked why most farmers are not boy was killed in celebratory on Friday after her brothers Sunil that she had gone back to Delhi, po- get tested, fearing they would be iso- are unwilling to undergo Covid-19 willing to undergo Covid-19 test, firing at a marriage function in and Sudhir, and mother Sukhrani lice said. Jatav, after going back to lated if found positive and this test,” Kaushik told this news agency. Singh said, “If some farmers test PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Laharchi village in Madhya were taken into custody, they said. Delhi, lodged a complaint at the would “weaken” their agitation. The district medical officer said positive, the government will have Pradesh’s Rajgarh district, She had married Arjun Jatav Mayur Vihar Police Station against Farmers’ leaders said the new the ongoing protests by farmers, a reason to isolate them and that will New Delhi, Dec 12: The Election police said Saturday. The (26), a resident of Todarpur village Chandni’s brothers, accusing them farm laws pose a “greater threat” only a few of whom wear face masks, only weaken our agitation against Commission (EC) is toying with the incident occurred on Friday night when a man, who was in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh dis- of abducting her, they said. to the lives of protesters than Covid- not only pose a threat to their lives the new farm laws.” “We have been idea of providing voters with elec- part of the marriage trict, against her parents’ wishes “The Delhi Police during in- 19.Thousands of farmers have been but also to those of hundreds of protesting for over five months and tion photo identity card in a dig- procession,, opened fire from at a temple June 12, police said. vestigation reached Faranji and in- camping at Delhi's different bor- workers of various factories lo- coronavirus cannot stop us from ital format for easy accessibility, his gun, and the round hit the Chandni and Jatav after get- quired about the whereabouts of der points for over two weeks, de- cated on the Delhi-Sonipat road. raising our voices.” a senior official said. boy who was standing close by, ting married moved to Delhi where Chandni. Sudhir and Sunil during manding a repeal of the three agri- She said the administration has Two DCP-rank officers of the He, however, made it clear that said Kalipeeth police station in he worked at a factory. They were interrogation confessed to killing culture reform laws. been distributing masks among Delhi Police overseeing security no decision has been taken by the charge Jitendra Chouhan. in a relationship for eight years be- her and burying the body in a Senior Medical Officer (Sonipat) the protesters so that they can pro- arrangements at Singhu border EC yet in this regard. fore their marriage, according to field,” an official said. Anvita Kaushik, who is also the tect themselves against coronavirus. have tested positive for Covid-19. “We keep getting suggestions in-charge of medical facilities at the However, Bhartiya Kisan Union Both of them are in isolation. and ideas from officers on fields, Three killed as through working groups of (state) chief electoral officers and public. car rams into SUV This is one such idea we are work- ing on,” the functionary said. Unnao (UP): Three people In book, Pranab blames Sonia, Dr Singh for 2014 debacle Asked whether the digital voter were killed and another identity card would mean that a injured when their car collided head-on with an SUV The memoir, ‘The Presidential Years’ by former President Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled for a global release in January 2021 voter can carry it on his or her mo- here, police said Saturday. bile phone using an application, The incident took place late PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Singh was preoccupied with sav- difficult decisions he had to make the official said once the EC takes Friday night, they said. Circle ing the coalition, which took a toll and the tightrope walk he had to un- a decision, such details will be Officer, Bighapur, Kripa New Delhi, Dec 12: The Congress on governance, (Narendra) Modi dertake to ensure that both con- settled. Shankar Kanaujia said, “The had lost political focus after his el- seemed to have employed a rather stitutional propriety and his opin- “It can be on a mobile, website, accident took place when the evation as the President and some autocratic style of governance dur- ion were taken into consideration, through e-mail... The idea is to passengers of the car were party members believed that had he ing his first term, as seen by the bit- it further said. provide faster delivery and easy ac- returning from Shuklaganj become the prime minister in 2004, ter relationship among the gov- The book also reveals a minor cessibility. The physical card takes after attending a marriage the 2014 Lok Sabha poll debacle ernment, the legislature and the diplomatic issue that arose during time to print and time to reach function.” could have been averted, Pranab judiciary.” the visit of US President Barack the voter,” he explained. Mukherjee wrote in his memoir. “Only time will tell if there is a Obama in 2015 when the US Secret The Aadhaar card, Permanent Mukherjee completed the book better understanding on such mat- Service insisted that their presi- Account Number (PAN) card and ITBP jawan injured "The Presidential Years" before his ters in the second term of this gov- dent travel in a specially armoured driving licence are available in death. It will be published by Rupa ernment,” Mukherjee said in the vehicle that had been brought along digital mode. in IED blast in January. book, according to the statement from the US, and not in the car des- In digital mode, the picture of Narayanpur: A personnel The former President died August by Rupa. ignated for use by the Indian head the voter will also be clearer, mak- from the Indo-Tibetan Border 31 at the age of 84, following Covid- “This is a deeply personal account of state. ing the identification easier. Police (ITBP) was injured 19 complications. of the manner in which one of the “They wanted me to travel in the Another senior poll panel offi- when a pressure improvised His observations come at a time country’s most respected, veteran same armoured car along with cial said to prevent the misuse of explosive device (IED) of intense internal turmoil in the politicians reshaped the function- Obama. I politely but ¬firmly re- technology, the EC will have to planted by Naxals went off in Congress. ing of Rashtrapati Bhavan and re- fused to do so, and requested the look into the safety aspects before y Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur The publishers issued a state- sponded to tumultuous events as the MEA to inform the US authorities taking a decision.

district Saturday, police said. ment announcing the book. party’s leadership lost political MPs,” Mukherjee is quoted as say- country’s first citizen, leaving be- that when the US President trav- Eligible voters who are on EC’s

k y m c The blast occurred around 1 “Some members of the Congress focus after my elevation as president. ing in his book. hind a legacy that will be hard to els with the Indian President in electoral rolls are provided with pm on Narayanpur-Kurusnar have theorized that, had I become While Sonia Gandhi was unable to “I believe that the moral authority match,” the statement said. India, he would have to trust our a physical voter identity card. road under Kurusnar police the PM in 2004, the party might handle the affairs of the party, Dr to govern vests with the PM. The In this first-person account, security arrangements. It cannot Introduced in 1993 for the first station area where a team have averted the 2014 Lok Sabha (Manmohan) Singh's prolonged ab- overall state of the nation is re- Pranab da, as he is affectionately be the other way around,” time, the election photo identity from the ITBP’s 53rd battalion drubbing. Though I don't subscribe sence from the House put an end to flective of the functioning of the PM called, recollects the challenges he Mukherjee wrote in the no-holds- cards are acceptable as proof of was out patrolling. to this view, I do believe that the any personal contact with other and his administration. While Dr faced in his years as President - the barred account. identity and address. P10 138 SCRIBES KILLED IN PAK SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR It is significant to integrate the At least 138 journalists implementation of the China- have been killed in proposed Belt and Road Pakistan since 1990, Initiative with the work of the according to the Eurasian Economic Union International Federation

international VLADIMIR PUTIN | RUSSIAN PRESIDENT of Journalists

k y m c of the day uote Journalist hanged Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed lawsuit The Covid-19 pandemic PRESS TRUST OF INDIA legislatures. Trump had said he ex- provides overwhelming pected to prevail in the Supreme for 2017 protests Washington, Dec 12: The US Court. Pennsylvania, in its response evidence that we need more and Supreme Court has rejected a law- to the lawsuit, alleged that Texas more effective Ruhollah Zam, who ran the anti-government Amadnews suit seeking to overturn the results wanted the justices to disregard multi-lateralism, with vision, website, was hanged Saturday morning of the presidential election in sev- the Constitution, not interpret it. It ambition and impact. We cannot eral key battleground states won by said Texas' filings attempted to con- respond to this crisis by going back Joe Biden, effectively ending struct a surreal alternate reality. to what was or withdrawing into INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE President Donald Trump's bid to “Texas' effort to get this Court national shells. We need more challenge the outcome of the to pick the next President has no international cooperation and Tehran, Dec 12: An Iranian jour- November 3 polls. basis in law or fact. The Court stronger international institutions nalist, accused of fanning unrest The Supreme Court Friday re- should not abide this seditious ANTONIO GUTERRES | UN during the 2017-18 nationwide jected a bid from Texas' attorney gen- abuse of the judicial process, and SECRETARY-GENERAL protests, was executed Saturday eral and backed by President Trump should send a clear and unmis- after the Supreme Court upheld a to block the ballots of millions of vot- takable signal that such abuse death sentence against him. ers in battleground states of Georgia, must never be replicated,” said According to a BBC report, Michigan, Pennsylvania and ident to challenge and overturn embarrassment to the USA." the response filed by the State of We all signed Ruhollah Zam, who ran the anti-gov- Wisconsin that went in favour of the election results decisively won Trump and his campaign team Pennsylvania. the Paris ernment Amadnews website, was President-elect Biden. by Biden, a Democrat. have been making unsubstantiated Reacting to the development, Agreement. hanged Saturday morning. The Supreme Court Justices Samuel Biden not only bagged the most Now let's insist that allegations of massive voter fraud Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House we put it to work. I Iranian government has accused the Alito and Clarence Thomas said popular votes in the presidential and electoral malpractice in the of Representatives, said, “The Court urge all world news portal of inciting the 2017-18 they believed the court was required electoral history of the United election. State election officials and has rightly dismissed out of hand the leaders to act. Act unrest after it shared videos of to hear the case but expressed no po- States, his tally in the electoral col- mainstream media say they have not extreme, unlawful and undemoc- for all of us. Act for our future. Act protests and damaging informa- sition on Texas' claim. As many as lege was 306, more than the 270 found any such evidence. ratic GOP lawsuit to overturn the will for our children and grandchildren tion about officials. According to Amadnews, Zam's 126 Republican Congressmen had votes required for winning the race Texas Attorney General Ken of millions of American voters.” The BBC said the journalist, closed-door trial began in February also backed the lawsuit. to the White House. Trump received Paxton in his lawsuit alleged that She said the Republican mem- VOREQE BAINIMARAMA | FIJIAN PM who had been living in exile in 2020 and ended in May. “Texas has not demonstrated a 232 electoral votes. The election re- four battleground states -- Georgia, bers that signed the lawsuit brought France, was reportedly detained "The proceedings were secret judicially cognisable interest in sults are scheduled to be formally Michigan, Pennsylvania and “dishonour” to the House of while travelling to Iraq last year. and Zam was not allowed to choose the manner in which another State certified next week by the 538-mem- Wisconsin -- had violated their Representatives. “Instead of up- Europe is the Details of his arrest however re- a defence attorney," it said. The conducts its elections. All other ber Electoral College. own state laws, and thus the US holding their oath to support and leader in the mains unclear. court charged Zam with "assembly pending motions are dismissed as Reacting to the verdict, an angry Constitution. The lawsuit urged defend the Constitution, they chose fight against But a news report on the moot,” the Supreme Court said in climate change. We and conspiracy with intent to com- Trump tweeted, "The Supreme the court to bar these four states to subvert the Constitution and decided to cut our Amadnews' website quoted the mit crimes against national and a brief unsigned order on Thursday, Court really let us down. No Wisdom, from casting their electoral votes undermine public trust in our sa- greenhouse gas journalist’s wife as saying that international security", encour- delivering a devastating blow to No Courage!"He also said the ver- for Biden and as such shift the se- cred democratic institutions," the emissions of at least Zam was lured to Iraq in September aging people "to wage war and riot, the efforts of the Republican pres- dict was a "legal disgrace" and "an lection of electors to the states' top Democrat said. 55 per cent by 2030 2019 and was kidnapped and trans- effective persuasion of devoted ferred to Iran by the Islamic members of the armed forces to CHARLES MICHEL | EUROPEAN COUNCIL Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) mutiny, desert, or refuse to per- PRESIDENT and convicted to death. form their military duties". PROMPT ACTION Algeria leader The spokesperson for the Islamic In a statement earlier, the IRGC Republic's judiciary announced had alleged that Zam was "under goes ‘missing’ SHORT TAKES four days ago that the Supreme the guidance" and protection of Court had approved Zam's sen- intelligence services in France, ASSOCIATED PRESS tence, the Amadnews report added. Israel and the US. 4 killed, 8 hurt Algeirs, Dec 12: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune Abuja: At least four people marks a year in office Saturday but were killed and eight others he is nowhere in sight since his injured when two cars evacuation to Germany more than exploded in Nigeria's This calculator says who six weeks ago for treatment of northeastern state of Borno, according to the Nigeria COVID-19. delegation of the must get vaccines first The President's office issued a International Committee of statement November 30 saying the Red Cross. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Tebboune had left a “specialized” medical facility, was continuing his New York, Dec 12: Researchers, convalescence and should be re- including one of Indian origin, turning home “in the coming Two killed have developed a new online days.” The statement compounded Colorado City (US): Two men calculator for estimating the the growing mystery surround- were killed when a helicopter individual and community- ing the 75-year-old Tebboune, his crashed in a field in West level risk of dying from whereabouts and his health. Texas, authorities said. Covid-19. The clinic where he was treated Mitchell County Sheriff Patrick The study, published in the was never made public. The ab- Toombs said Friday night that journal Nature Medicine, re- Health officials disinfect an area near duck farms following bird flu cases at Jangseong, South Jeolla Province, South sence of the head of state, who the helicopter crashed vealed that the calculator will be Korea, Saturday UNI PHOTO also serves as defense chief, re- Thursday about eight miles useful to public health author- vidual risk based on factors such called the long absences of his (13 kilometers) southwest of ities for assessing mortality as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and predecessor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Colorado City, which is about risks in different communities, medical history and can be used for treatment in France of a stroke 250 miles west of Dallas. and for prioritizing certain to define risk for a group, such in 2013 and later in Switzerland groups for vaccination as Covid- as for a particular community, US executes Louisiana truck driver for numerous medical check-ups, 19 vaccines become available. corporation, or university, based with lots of speculation and little China renews The algorithm underlying on the mix of relevant factors that In his last words, Bourgeois offered no apology and instead struck a deeply defiant information on his whereabouts or the calculator uses informa- define the group. tone, insisting that he neither killed nor sexually abused his baby girl health. Bouteflika rarely appeared alert for fog tion from existing large studies In their paper, the research in public but kept ruling. He was Beijing: China's to estimate risk of Covid-19 team used their calculator to de- forced to abandon his bid for a fifth meteorological authority mortality for individuals based scribe the risk distribution for ASSOCIATED PRESS term last year before being pushed Saturday has renewed its on age, gender, socio-demo- the whole US population, show- from office under pressure from yellow and blue alerts for fog graphic factors and a variety of ing, for example, that only about Terre Haute (US), Dec 12: The street protests and the powerful and a cold wave across the different health conditions. four per cent of the population Trump administration continued army. Tebboune left for Germany country. In an update, the The risk estimates apply to at high risk -- defined as five its unprecedented series of post- October 28. “I expected him to give National Meteorological individuals in the general pop- times greater risk than the US election federal executions by put- us a surprise by returning home Center said the yellow alert ulation who are currently un- average -- is expected to con- ting to death a Louisiana truck today for the first anniversary of his was issued for fog that will infected and captures factors as- tribute close to 50 per cent of the driver who severely abused his 2- election,” Hassiba Aoudia, a re- cover parts of Hebei, Tianjin, sociated with both risks of total deaths. year-old daughter for weeks in tired French teacher said. Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, future infection and complica- The researchers also showed 2002, then killed her by slamming Zhejiang, Hubei and Hunan tions after infection. that population-level risk varies her head against a truck's win- provinces, reducing visibility "Our calculator represents a dows and dashboard. to less than 200 metres, considerably from city to city Pro-China news reports Xinhua news agency. more quantitative approach and and county to county. "For ex- Alfred Bourgeois, 56, was pro- should complement other pro- ample, the percentage of the nounced dead at 8:21 pm. Eastern channel in Taiwan posed qualitative guidelines for adult population exceeding the time Friday after receiving a lethal determining individual and fivefold risk threshold varies injection at the federal prison in a deeply defiant tone, insisting executed this week, with three ends broadcasts 10 rockets community risks and allocat- from 0.4 per cent in Layton, Terre Haute, Indiana. that he neither killed nor sexu- more executions planned in hit Kabul ing vaccines," said study sen- Utah, to 10.7 per cent in Detroit, His lawyers argued Bourgeois ally abused his baby girl. "I ask January. ASSOCIATED PRESS ior author Nilanjan Chatterjee Michigan," Chatterjee said. had an IQ that puts him in the in- God to forgive all those who plot- As the lethal injection of pen- Kabul: At least one person from the Johns Hopkins The calculator allows users tellectually disabled category, say- ted and schemed against me, and tobarbital began flowing through Taipei, Dec 12: Employees and sup- was killed and two others Bloomberg School of Public to calculate the mortality risk ing that should have made him in- planted false evidence." And he IVs in both of his arms, Bourgeois porters rallied for a Taiwanese were injured on Saturday Health in the US. of individuals by combining eligible for the death penalty under added: "I did not commit this crime." tilted his head to the side to look pro-China cable news channel as after 10 rockets were fired The calculator based on the information on individual-level federal law. Victor J. Abreu, said it Bourgeois was the 10th federal at his spiritual adviser standing it was taken off air Saturday, after into different parts of Kabul model is available online for factors with community-level was "shameful" to execute his client death-row inmate put to death in a corner of the death chamber the government refused to renew city, Afghanistan's Interior public health officials and in- pandemic dynamics, as available "without fair consideration of his since federal executions resumed clutching a small Bible. Bourgeois its license, citing accuracy issues. Affairs Ministry said. terested individuals alike. It en- from a large variety of fore- intellectual disability." under President Donald Trump gave him a thumbs up sign, and CTiTV's channel 52 broadcast a According to the Ministry, the In his last words, Bourgeois of- countdown and then went black rockets were fired from ables a user to determine indi- casting models. in July after a 17-year hiatus. He his spiritual adviser raise his capital city's Lab-e-Jar area, fered no apology and instead struck was the second federal prisoner thumb in reply. after midnight. The cable network, TOLO News reported. whose non-news channels were not affected, plans to continue putting news on YouTube and Protesters other digital platforms. Relatives make plea for info on HK detainees in China A large crowd chanted “Hang on, hurl eggs CTiTV” and held up signs reading “Thank you CTiTV, we will see Seoul: Angry protesters ASSOCIATED PRESS want to visit him so badly. I haven't glasses, caps or hoods to hide their you again.” Employees, some tear- threw eggs and shouted seen my son in a very long time — identities as they spoke at a news ing up, sang songs and swayed in insults as one of South Hong Kong, Dec 12: Relatives of a it's almost four months. Please tell conference. They did not give their unison wearing matching blue Korea's most notorious child dozen Hong Kong residents who me (about the trial). I'm just an or- names. Owen Chow, an activist who windbreakers. Liao Chia-yu, a lan- predators was released from have been detained in mainland dinary mother.” The 12 were ar- has been helping the families, said guage teacher, said she would keep a prison in southern Seoul China for more than 3 1/2 months rested at sea in August while they they wanted to know whether the tri- watching CTiTV on YouTube. “I also on Saturday at the end of a made a plea Saturday to be informed were apparently making a bid to flee als would be open to the public and hope they don't forget their ideals,” 12-year term. Law enforcement authorities of the timing of any trials and to Taiwan after a tough national if family members could attend. Liao said. "They should put out strapped the 69-year-old whether they can attend. security law took effect in Hong He and some family members whatever they want, and report Cho Doo-soon with an The request underscored the Kong earlier this year. questioned the authenticity of let- on the truth.” electronic anklet and sharp contrast between the rela- They were picked up after enter- ters some of the latter had received, The National Communications escorted him to his home in tively open legal system in Hong ing mainland waters for crossing purportedly from their detained Commission cited repeated vio-

Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese the maritime border without per- relatives, saying they were being lations of rules on accurate re-

k y m nearby Ansan, where c authorities have added and territory, and that of the mainland, mission. At least some took part in held in a good environment and porting in rejecting the renewal last upgraded security cameras where often little information is anti-government protests in 2019 and not abused. “The only thing I can month. The station has been fined and vowed around-the-clock divulged until a trial is over. were facing charges in Hong Kong. to and from the mainland. Two are Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city do is to have dissatisfaction and be 25 times in the past six years for monitoring for a man “I miss my son so much,” the Though Hong Kong is a part of being held on suspicion of organ- that borders Hong Kong. angry,” said a relative of Tang Kai- spreading inaccurate information. residents still see as a risk mother of Wong Wai-yin, one of China, travelers must still pass izing an illegal border crossing. The relatives covered their faces yin, another detainee. “I don't know The station is owned by the Want to their community. the detainees, said, choking up. "I through immigration when going The group has been locked up in with masks, and some wore sun- what else to do.” Want China Times media group. P11 ‘SBI TO PREFER CO-ORIGINATION MODELS’ SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR The government is taking State Bank of India (SBI) will prefer the co- a series of measures to origination model to cater to the financing make India highly needs of MSMEs and collaboration with competitive in the global fintechs is a good idea as it helps in economy with focus on assessing the risk profile of the borrower in business sunrise sectors a better manner, its chairman Dinesh Kumar

AMITABH KANT | CEO, NITI AAYOG

k y m Khara said Saturday c of the day uote Handicraft, GI Toys ‘Tech key to exploring new frontiers of eco recovery’ exempted from We have AGENCIES said: "The ability to use the digital The innovation in India Nadella elucidated: "Computation ‘Quality Control Order’ witnessed an tools and our built-in infrastruc- and computing fabric is now em- increase in around digital New Delhi, Dec 12: Microsoft's ture and capability around the dig- bedded in the real world and the wholesale numbers infrastructure in every Chief Executive Officer Satya ital track is going to create resilience layer of AI and data capability is in November, where field, from financial Nadella Saturday said that despite and transformation." getting embedded in every con- PVs grew by 4.65% services, healthcare to retail the constraint caused by the pan- Asserting further on the future sumer and business application is and two-wheelers is tremendous due to the by 13.43% over the corresponding demic, digital technology is being during a fireside chat with Ficci tremendous." adopted to scale core resilience, not President Sangita Reddy, Nadella ubiquity of computing fabric According to Nadella, public sec- month of last year, primarily on that is available through account of the festive season only for future transformation but said that broad paradigms are re- tor should be supported in their for business continuity. shaping the expectations especially from financial services, healthcare every Indian business and modernisation. "To develop the RAJESH MENON | Addressing the 'AI and the New the exponential changes and the to retail is tremendous due to the every Indian citizen economy, a catch-up growth is pos- DIRECTOR GENERAL, SIAM Digital World Ahead' session at in- exponential change is technology. ubiquity of computing fabric that SATYA NADELLA I CEO, MICROSOFT sible when both the public institu- AGENCIES dustry body Ficci's 93rd Annual "The innovation in India around is available through every Indian tion and public sector can move Our General Meeting (AGM), Nadella digital infrastructure in every field, business and every Indian citizen," he said. Taking this a step further, rapidly," said the Microsoft CEO. New Delhi, Dec 12: Centre has ex- expectations empted 'Handicraft, GI Toys' from have to be quality control order. The devel- realistic. If the opment comes after Department Indian economy FICCI ANNUAL CONVENTION FinMin approves `9,879cr for Promotion of Industry and grows at 5% in the Internal Trade (DPIIT) released the era of Toys (Quality Control) Second deglobalisation, then it will be a Amendment Order, 2020. significant achievement. It is no capex proposal of 27 states Subsequently, the order exempts longer feasible in the world of Economic indicators show goods manufactured and sold by deglobalisation to grow at 7% as AGENCIES artisans registered with exports cannot grow at 20% or 30% "Development Commissioner' in a year New Delhi, Dec 12: The Finance (Handicrafts), from use of 'Standard RUCHIR SHARMA | CHIEF GLOBAL Ministry Saturday said it has ap- Mark under licence from Bureau STRATEGIST, MORGAN STANLEY encouraging signs: PM proved `9,879.61 crore worth capi- of Indian Standards, as per tal expenditure proposals of 27 Scheme1 of Schedule-II of BIS states. Of this, `4,939.81 crore has (Conformity Assessment) Investment PRESS TRUST OF INDIA been released as the first install- Regulations, 2018". climate in six years, the government has en- India is couraged stakeholders in all sectors ment. "The 'Amendment Order 2020', improving and the New Delhi, Dec 12: Economic in- and this is reflected in the all-round In a statement, the ministry said also exempts products registered economy will dicators have shown encouraging reforms in sectors ranging from all states, except Tamil Nadu, have ll states, except Tamil Nadu, as 'Geographical Indications' from bounce back faster signs of recovery of the Indian manufacturing to MSME; agricul- availed benefits of the newly an- Ahave availed benefits of the following 'Indian Toy Standards' in the next financial economy post-pandemic, Prime ture to infrastructure; from tech nounced scheme for 'Special newly announced scheme and compulsory use of Standard year from the impact of the Minister Narendra Modi said industry to taxation and from real Assistance to States for Capital he ministry said the scheme is Mark licence from Bureau as per pandemic Saturday as he vowed to keep gov- estate to regulatory easing. Expenditure', which was announced Taimed at boosting capital Scheme 1 of Schedule-II of BIS(CA) ernment controls to a bare minimum on October 12 as part of Regulations, 2018," the Ministry of MANOJ KOHLI | Talking about various reforms un- expenditure by the state COUNTRY HEAD, SOFTBANK (INDIA) and encourage private capital. dertaken by the government in the AatmaNirbhar Bharat package. governments who are facing Commerce and Industry said in a In this time of pandemic, he said, last six years, he said changes have "So far capital expenditure pro- difficult financial environment this statement Saturday. the government has accorded high- been brought in manufacturing, posals of `9,879.61 crore of 27 states year "The Gazette notification is- est priority to saving lives of Indians MSMEs, agriculture, infrastruc- have been approved by the Ministry sued by the department says that SHORT TAKES and the way India has handled the A decisive government ture and regulatory easing. of Finance. An amount of `4,939.81 he capital expenditure projects "nothing in this Order shall apply Thave been approved in diverse crisis through concerted effort has always strives to As a result of taxation reform, he crore has already been released to to goods or articles manufactured surprised the world. said, India has got competitive ad- the states as the first instalment sectors like, health, rural and sold by Registered proprietor Exim Bank extends development, water supply, Compared to February when the remove obstacles for vantage in corporate tax rate and under the scheme," it said. and Authorised user of a product irrigation, power, transport, pandemic started, things have initiated faceless assessment and The ministry said the scheme registered as Geographical $448mn LOC others and always tries education, urban development changed in December, he said, faceless appeal leaving behind the is aimed at boosting capital ex- Indication by the Registrar of Mumbai: Export-Import Bank adding, there is a road map to deal to contribute towards scar of tax terrorism and Inspector penditure by the state governments Geographical Indications, Office of India (Exim Bank) with this now. Raj. Pointing out that the old polices who are facing difficult financial of Controller General of Patents, Saturday said it has extended the society and the a $448-million line of credit "Even the economic indicators are protected inefficiencies while environment this year due to the in financial year 2020-21," it added. Designs and Trademarks (CG- (LOC) for various encouraging," he added. Various nation, Modi said 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' is shortfall in tax revenue arising The capital expenditure proj- PDTM)." infrastructure projects in measures taken by the government guided to promote efficiency in all from the COVID 19 pandemic. ects have been approved in diverse Uzbekistan. The LOC has in the last six years has instilled con- obstacles for others and always the sectors, he said the government "Capital Expenditure has a higher sectors like, health, rural devel- been extended on behalf of fidence among global investors, he tries to contribute towards the so- has introduced Production Linked multiplier effect, enhancing the opment, water supply, irrigation, Now, Oracle to the Indian government, Exim said. As a result, he said, "India ciety and the nation. Incentive (PLI) scheme to promote future productive capacity of the power, transport, education, urban Bank said in a statement. has seen record Foreign Direct Recalling the time when gov- sunrise sectors and technology economy, and results in a higher rate development. move Silicon Valley With the signing of this LOC Investment (FDI) and Foreign ernment was in all the sectors, he based industries. of economy growth. Therefore, de- As part of the AatmaNirbhar agreement, Exim Bank has Portfolio Investment inflows during said, a visionary and decisive gov- This scheme is for those indus- spite the adverse financial posi- Bharat Package, the government headquarters now in place 266 LOCs, the pandemic." ernment, on the other hand, en- tries which are on path to make tion of the Central Government, it had announced that the Centre covering 62 countries in Addressing the FICCI Annual courages all the stakeholders to re- India a global champion and those was decided to extend a special as- will offer `12,000 crore special in- AGENCIES Africa, Asia, Latin America, Convention, he said, a decisive gov- alise their potential. who would perform would be en- sistance to the state governments terest-free 50-year loan to states, Commonwealth of ernment always strives to remove Modi pointed out that in the last titled to incentive, he added. in respect of capital expenditure, exclusively for capital expenditure. San Francisco, Dec 12: Cloud Independent States and the major Oracle has announced to Oceania, with credit move its California-based head- commitments of around quarters to Austin, Texas and cited $26.59 billion, available for FIND SWADESHI ALTERNATIVES flexibility of employee work as financing exports from India, Mahanadi Coalfields produces the key reason behind the deci- it added. TO IMPORTS, URGES GADKARI sion. The decision came a day after PRESS TRUST OF INDIA the company posted revenues of RBI appoints 3 87.74MT coal in eight months $9.8 billion in its fiscal second exec directors New Delhi, Dec 12: Asserting that quarter, a growth of 2% (on-year) India was importing "a lot of things" POST NEWS NETWORK and Cloud services and licence Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of from China, Union Minister Nitin support revenues were up 4% to India (RBI) has appointed R Gadkari Saturday urged the do- Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: A leading $7.1 billion. Subramanian, RS Ratho and mestic industry to come up with coal producer Mahanadi Coalfields "Oracle is implementing a more Rohit Jain as executive Swadeshi alternatives to the im- business expert but I am seeing a huge Limited (MCL) posted 87.741 million flexible employee work location pol- directors. In the new role, ports from various nations without potential for electric cars, e-bikes, elec- tonne (MT) in coal production in icy and has changed its Corporate Subramanian will look after compromising with their quality and tric autorickshaws and even elec- eight months reaching steadily to Headquarters from Redwood City, foreign exchange cost. Addressing the annual meet- tric trucks," said the minister. its target for financial year 2020- California to Austin, Texas. We department, financial ing of Ficci virtually, the MSME and He called upon business experts 21. The company has set target to believe these moves best position markets regulation road transport minister highlighted to deliberate with the domestic au- achieve 173 million tonne of coal dur- Oracle for growth and provide department, internal debt management and the need to reduce imports and in- tomotive industry, especially those ing current fiscal in Odisha. 15.98MT in coal production from MT coal in a month. Also a media our personnel with more flexi- international department, a crease exports. He said this can engaged in manufacturing of elec- MCL reached 87.741 million tonne opencast and underground min- report claimed that the coal pro- bility about where and how they statement from RBI said. help enhance economic growth tric vehicles, to find out what prod- in November, 2020 when it pro- ing in November, 2020. ducer has also set a target to pro- work," a company spokesperson Prior to being promoted as and boost the contribution of do- ucts are being imported, like mag- duced 12.79 MT in same month. The subsidiary of Coal India duce 263 million tonne of coal by told CNBC Friday. executive director, he was mestic manufacturing to the GDP nets and lithium ion batteries. According to the data available managed to produce 0.411 lakh 2023-24. "In addition, we will continue to CGM-in-Charge, Enforcement to up to 30 per cent. "We should find out Swadeshi in MCL’s website, the company tar- tonne of coal from underground Currently, MCL has 48 coal blocks support major hubs for Oracle Department. Citing the example of magnets alternatives in the country without getted to achieve 104.15 MT in eight and 127.531 lakh tonne from open- having mineable resources of 29,100 around the world, including those used in electric vehicles, he asked compromising with the quality months, but have reached 87.741 cast mining,” the data revealed. MT, which can meet the requirement in the United States such as industry experts to study which and cost," he added. MT falling short from their yearly The company had produced 11.08 of thermal coal for another 100 Redwood City, Austin, Santa ‘No specific parts are being imported by India. Highlighting the need for in- target. MT of coal in October, 2020. years. There are also another mis- Monica, Seattle, Denver, Orlando "Now the magnet, there are a lot jecting liquidity into the market, he “The company has been declin- According to sources the com- cellaneous 22 projects are in pipeline, and Burlington, among others, plan needed’ of things we are importing from said: "I know that there are some ing from getting their monthly tar- pany expected to extract around 5 which includes washeries, coal and we expect to add other locations China. I am not a businessman or a problems. get. MCL targeted to achieve lakh tonne of coal per day and 15 gasification and solar power. over time," Oracle said. Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Saturday said that borrowers opting for resolution of COVID-related stressed loans are not required to submit any Post-Covid world order offers limitless opportunity for India specific plans. In FAQs on Resolution Framework for PRESS TRUST OF INDIA and affordable data," demic "exacerbated global supply COVID-19 related stress, the Chandrasekaran said. chains and clearly outlined a new RBI said that borrowers can New Delhi, Dec 12: The post- He added that the government global world order", Chandrasekaran invoke the resolution COVID-19 new world order offers lim- should also establish the regulatory reiterated that "2020 marks the de- framework by merely itless opportunity for India but for standards that are required on coupling of China and the US. What submitting a request to the the country to be ready to partici- data privacy, data residency, data it means is countries and companies lending institutions. pate in it, there is a need to estab- localisation and taxation in general. will need to de risk and balance lish regulatory standards on data and Stating that there is tremendous their supply chain" in the future. taxation in general, Tata Sons and limitless opportunity for India If India's first plank for the 21st ‘Innovative’ Chairman N Chandrasekaran said in the aftermath of the coron- Century is digital, he said the sec- Saturday. avirus pandemic, he said that in the ond plank is a new approach to award for LMW Speaking at the 93rd annual con- past, India has often struggled to global value chain. vention of industry Chamber FICCI, grow manufacturing as a per- "India's strength is our largest Coimbatore: The city-based I see a collaborative Lakshmi Machine Works- he also said that if the idea "that the centage of GDP. talent pool, and we can leverage 2020s belong to India" has to be re- "We usually highlight issues like this to become a key player in the role between the industry Textile Machinery Division and the government here. (LMW TMD) was named as alised, industry should be bold and power, logistics and labour. We have global value chain. the "Most Innovative start visioning all projects at scale, pointed (out) high interest rates "The vulnerabilities exposed by The government should company of the year 2020", while there is also a need a new and also have underscored over- the pandemic, and the new geopo- enable this partnership by CII. The Confederation of focus on talent, enable data and reach and interference. litical order only accelerates this op- and to make India ready to Indian Industry announced bandwidth. "But, in the future, if we put this portunity and the time is now," participate in this new

its Industrial Innovation "I see a collaborative role between behind, by visioning our scale we COVID-19 pandemic and its impact of the mainstay of manufacturing. Chandrasekaran asserted. world, it should ensure

k y m c Award recently through an the industry and the government will become a pivot for the new on India on a positive frame of "We need to recognise the fact Underscoring environmental that every village has online ceremony recently and here...The government should en- world order," he said. mind. He stressed on the need to that tech manufacturing and en- resilience as the third plank for sufficient bandwidth and named LMW as the most able this partnership and to make Chandrasekaran said his years reimagine "the whole technology ergy are converging in the creation India, he said, "Within two affordable data innovative company for 2020, India ready to participate in this new at TCS shaped him in such a way blueprint nationwide" and make of new platforms and new ecosys- decades, nearly 20 new energy a company release said. N CHANDRASEKARAN I world, it should ensure that every that his roots are embedded in tech- technologies like robotics and AI (ar- tems," he added. sources could likely be powering CHAIRMAN, TATA SONS village has sufficient bandwidth nology, which made him see the tificial intelligence) become part Stating that the coronavirus pan- the global economy." P12 SUNDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR sports

Aussie media lauds

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k k y y m m c PANT, VIHARI PROPEL INDIA Siraj for his gesture c PRESS TRUST OF INDIA out in an unfortunate manner to leg- spinner Michell Swepson. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Siraj and umpire Gerard Abood Sydney, Dec 12: Rishabh Pant (103 Swepson bowled a faster one and rushed to check on the star all- batting, 73b, 9x4, 6x6) and Hanuma Gill, shaping up to flick it, missed, Sydney, Dec 12: India fast bowler rounder, who patted Bumrah on Vihari (104 batting, 194b, 13x4) put prompting the bowler to appeal for Mohammed Siraj’s fine gesture of the leg to assure him he was OK,” themselves in the reckoning for an lbw even as the ball headed to- rushing in and attending to rival said abc.net.au. next week’s first Test with con- wards the first slip where a diving Cameron Green after he was hit on “Mohammed Siraj, at the non- trasting hundreds as India thor- Sean Abbott held on to it. the head during the opening day of striker’s end, dropped his bat and oughly dominated Australia A in the TV replays were inconclusive the warm-up game here has got immediately rushed to check on pink ball warm-up match here and the absence of DRS and snick- praised from the Australian media. the injured bowler,” wrote Saturday. ometer in the practice game, a dis- Green attempted a catch off a cricket.com.au. Needing 19 runs to reach his cen- appointed Gill had no option but to straight drive from Jasprit Bumrah Siraj’s gesture has also taken tury when Jack Wildermuth com- walk back to the dressing room as off his own bowling but the ball flew the internet by storm with neti- menced the second evening’s final umpire’s decision could not be chal- through his fingers and hit on the zens lauding him for his sports- over, Pant clobbered him for 4, 4, 6, lenged. right side of his head. Siraj im- man spirit. “Absolutely brilliant 4, 4 to remain unbeaten. At the That ended a 104-run partner- mediately dropped his bat and from Mohammed Siraj ... Did not other end, Vihari laboured his way ship for the second wicket between rushed to check on Green. Bumrah care about the run and straight- to a fine 104-run knock off 194 balls. Gill and Mayank Agarwal (61, 120b, also did the same following his away dropped his bat and checked Also staking a claim for selection 4x4, 2x6), who was joined in by teammate. on Green. Top spirit by him,” wrote is young Shubman Gill (65, 78b, Vihari for another half century Green, who suffered concussion, a Twitter user. 10x4), with an elegant half century. stand. was later ruled out of the remain- The BCCI also shared a picture In the final session of play, Pant’s Thereafter, the duo of Vihari and der of the three-day pink warm-up in which Green can be seen on his aggressive approach paid dividends skipper Ajinkya Rahane was in- game between the Indians and knees after the blow on his head and as he smashed the Australia A volved in a partnership of 78 runs Australia ‘A’ side. Siraj standing next to him and bowlers to all corners of the Sydney for the fourth wicket as the “Indian cricketer Mohd Siraj checking on the Australian. Cricket Ground, the southpaw mak- Australian bowlers toiled hard for has been praised for his sports- “Non-striker batsman Mohd ing a strong case for himself for self one of the opening slots with wickets. manship in helping young all- Siraj quickly rushed to check on the wicketkeeper’s job in Adelaide his dazzling strokes, Hanuma’s ef- There was a brief rain inter- rounder Cameron Green after he Cameron Green, who got hit on ahead of Test specialist Wriddhiman fort might force the Indian team to ruption after Pant walked in at the suffered a blow to the head during his head by a Jasprit Bumrah Saha. play an additional batsman in the fall of Rahane’s wicket. But he the match,” tweeted 9News straight drive,” the BCCI said on its To cite an example of his power- series opener. straightaway played his shots to Australia.“Non-striker Mohammed Twitter handle. hitting, Pant swept one over the Coming out to bat again in the be- further unsettle the Australian cow corner for a six, leaving Nic ginning of the day’s play, India lost bowlers. Maddinson to search for the ball Prithvi Shaw in the second over as Even as Vihari showed great among the rows of chairs at the the young right-hander drove the ball composure and patience in col- SCG. At the close of play, India were at cover-point without any great lecting his runs, Pant was quite at strongly placed at 386 for four for an foot movement. It was a bit of a ease while clearing the fence, reach- overall lead by 472 runs, having soft dismissal. ing his fifty with a cracking square bundled out the home team out for If Shaw missed out on an op- cut in just 43 balls. a paltry 108 in their first innings portunity to make a big score in Pant continued in same vein till Friday. good batting conditions, his con- the end of the day’s play and hur- In their first innings, India were temporary Gill grabbed it with both tled towards his century with a all out for 194, which would have hands on the way to reaching his flurry of big hits. While Vihari, in been far less if not for pace spear- half-century off 49 balls. all, struck 13 boundaries. head Jasprit Bumrah’s maiden first- During his stay in the middle, Brief scores: India 194 & 386/4 class fifty, but the visitors staged a Gill played some elegant drives and (Hanuma Vihari 104 batting, Rishabh strong comeback with both bat and looked assured while going on to the Pant 103 batting, Shubman Gill 65, ball. backfoot, which seems to be his Mayank Agarwal 61); Australia A While Gill may have booked him- forte. However, the 21-year-old got 108. Match to continue. Jamieson fifer put NZ in control Yet another loss for Odisha FC ASSOCIATED PRESS AGENCIES of the half when Igor Angulo found nate proceedings in the second half Baxter introduced Marelinho in Wellington, Dec 12: Kyle Jamieson the back of the net from Alexander as well as Odisha no real urgency the final few minutes of the game. (5/34) has made a reputation in his Goa, Dec 12: FC Goa edged out Romario’s pass. to score an equaliser. The Brazilian’s absence was felt short Test cricket career for New Odisha FC 1-0 in their fifth match The winger beat Shubham Juan Ferrando’s side could have throughout the match as there was Zealand as a man who makes things of the ongoing Indian Super League Sarangi on the left edge of the box easily increased their tally if not for clearly a lack of creativity in the mid- happen. (ISL) season Saturday at the GMC and found the Spanish forward who Arshdeep Singh’s brilliant per- field. He enhanced that reputation Stadium in Bambolim. Igor Angulo’s beat Steven Tayor with his first formance under the bar. Jorge Ortiz FC Goa moved up to the fourth Saturday on the second day of the first half strike (45+2nd minute) touch and struck past Arshdeep came close to score twice but on position on the league table while second Test, taking a five-wicket was enough to seal a comfortable Singh to hand his team the lead. both occassions the Odisha goal- Odisha languished at the bottom half haul as New Zealand had the West win for the Gaurs over the The Gaurs continued to domi- keepers pulled of quality saves. after Saturday’s result. Indies 124/8 at stumps in reply to Juggernauts. its first innings of 460. The tourists This was fourth defeat in five need 136 to avoid the follow on. matches for the Bhubaneswar-based Goa players celebrate It was Jamieson’s second five side as they are 10th in the 11-team their goal against wicket bag in only five Tests in standing with only one point, which Odisha FC, Saturday which he has increased his claim came from a draw. to the designation ‘all-rounder’ Stuart Baxter made four changes with a half century and two in- to the Odisha lineup who lost to nings of 40 or more. Mumbai City FC in their last game. Drama seems to attend every- Arshdeep Singh, Hendry Antonay, thing Jamieson does in the test 92b, 11x4) and Shamarh Brooks to Earlier, Henry Nicholls (174, 280b, Vinit Rai and Manuel Ownu re- arena. He took two West Indies re-establish the ascendancy New 21x4, 1x6) and Neil Wagner (66 n o, placed Kamaljit, Goerge D’Souza, wickets with consecutive deliveries Zealand had held through most of 42b, 8x4, 4x6) posted their highest Nandhakumar Sekar and Daniel in his opening over Saturday — a the second day. Test scores and shared a 95-run Lalhimpuia. double wicket maiden — and nar- He completed his five-wicket bag partnership for the ninth wicket Juan Ferrando made just one rowly missed a hat-trick when his late in the day with the wickets of which allowed New Zealand to lift change to the winning combina- appeal for lbw from the next ball was West Indies captain Jason Holder their overnight total of 294/6 to tion from their game against turned down. (9) and Alzarri Joseph. 460. Kerala Blasters. Alberto Noguera The on-field umpire denied the First Test century-maker Nicholls batted for five minutes returned to the lineup replacing appeal, with it the hat-trick, and Blackwood, who survived more than seven hours and was Edu Bedia. his decision was confirmed when Jamieson’s hat-trick ball, again the last man out for 174, beating Goa controlled the game right the television official saw replays provided most resistance among his previous Test-best of 162 against from the off and had more than 65 that showed the ball just clipping the West Indies’ batting lineup but Sri Lanka. Wagner was left not out per cent of ball possession in the first leg stump. An lbw appeal from the was out shortly before stumps for on 66 after celebrating his 50th Test half. Odisha, on the other hand, following, which might have given 69. with his maiden half century. were not up to the mark and failed Jamieson the consolation of three Tim Southee, who began the de- Brief scores: New Zealand 460 to pose any threat in their attack- wickets from four balls, was also re- cline of the West Indies’ innings with (Henry Nicholls 174, Neil Wagner ing third. fused. the early wickets of Kraigg 66 n o, Shannon Gabriel 3/93, Alzarri Ferrando’s men exploited both The tall right-armer then broke Brathwaite and Darren Bravo, re- Joseph 3/109); West Indies 124/8 flanks and created numerous scor- a 68-run fifth-wicket partnership moved Blackwood and ended the day (Jermaine Blackwood 69; Kyle ing opportunities but were not able between Jermaine Blackwood (69, with 3/29 from 16 overs. Jamieson 5/34). Match to continue. to convert those until the very end We’ve achieved our primary target: Marijne F1: Mick Schumacher

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA One of our goals was makes practice debut improving fitness and Bangalore, Dec 12: Indian women’s that worked out very well. In AGENCIES make his practice debut at the hockey head coach Sjoerd Marijne the past few weeks, we also Nuerburgring in October, ahead Saturday said that the team have worked with the junior men’s Abu Dhabi, Dec 12: Mick of the Eifel Grand Prix, with Alfa achieved their primary target of team in a few sessions to test Schumacher made his first track Romeo but fog prevented the improving fitness level of the play- our speed and handling skills appearance as a fully signed-up German from doing any laps on ers as they were left with practi- and I am happy with the Formula One driver Friday when home asphalt. cally no competition this season progress we have made as a the German took part in opening Steiner said the 21-year-old would due to the COVID-19 pandemic. practice at the season-ending Abu have a more meaningful stint when group The team did not play any com- Dhabi Grand Prix. the Yas Marina circuit hosts a petition since February when it SJOERD MARIJNE The newly crowned Formula young driver test next week. had travelled to New Zealand. Since Two champion, son of Ferrari “FP1 (first practice) is always then they have been camping at attitude they have showed these great and seven times F1 World difficult, you’ve got two sets of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) past four months and I understand Champion Michael Schumacher, tyres, everybody is looking at Centre here. The camp ends that the training camp was physi- did 23 laps and was 18th fastest you, the pressure is high, your Saturday. cally and mentally quite challeng- for the US-owned Haas team he focus is not doing anything “One of our goals was improving ing. This break will be especially good will race for in 2021. wrong,” he said. “The real work fitness and that worked out very to recover from the mental fatigue.” It was the first time a starts Tuesday.” well. In the past few weeks, we also The players are given certain Schumacher had taken part in a ses- Schumacher told reporters on worked with the junior men’s team team-related assignments when sion at a grand prix weekend since a video conference that every- in a few sessions to test our speed they are on a break. “I would want Michael’s last race with Mercedes thing had gone well with no and handling skills and I am happy the players to enjoy time with their in Brazil in 2012. major issues. with the progress we have made family and follow the Hockey India “I think it’s an exciting moment “It was a hell of a ride, it was re- y as a group,” Marijne said. SOP when they meet people and for the whole of Formula One, not ally fun and great to be back in a

He believes the core group had socialise because the pandemic is only for us. We are honoured to be Formula One car,” the German,

k k y y m m c c worked hard towards a good build- matches early next year that will head coach explained. done it without complaining about still not over,” the coach said. giving him the first (official) out- who has tested in F1 and done up to the Olympic Games next year. show where we stand and we can Marijne said the break the play- anything – be it living in a bio bub- “They have all been given some ing,” declared Haas team principal demonstration runs in older cars “We have done well so far in utilising plan the months leading up to the ers are getting will help them recover ble with zero outside interaction homework to do as well because Guenther Steiner. “It’s a fantastic including those raced by his fa- this time and our primary focus is Games keeping in mind the areas from the mental fatigue. “The play- or living away from their families this break is part of our training thing to have a Schumacher back ther, said of his first run. “Any the Olympics. that require improvement basis ers have worked hard these past for so long. schedule except, they won’t be using in Formula One.” running is good and great prepa- “We are hopeful of playing good our performance in these tours,” the four and half months and they have “I am extremely happy with the the stick and the ball.” Schumacher had been due to ration for next year.”

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