ISO 9001: 2015- IN 13770A R.N.I.: UPENG/2008/44159 NATIONAL ENGLISH DAILY ISO 14001: 2015- IN 13770B Postal No. GPOLW/NP-119/2016-18 Volume: 14 Issue 07 Pages: 8 Price: Rs. 2/- Lucknow, Tuesday 16 March 2021 Moral Jagana Hai, Bharat Banana Hai SRISTI MAIL

Negligence towards Samyukta Kisan Morcha Sushil Kumar opts out of COVID-19 appropriate... 2 Seeks Judicial Probe...... 3 trials, Tokyo hopes...... 7 INSIDE India’s import of arms decreases Nationwide strike impacts banking by 33 per cent, says SIPRI Agency on imported military affected supplier, although platforms and hardware. India’s imports of US arms services of PSU banks on day one In reply to a question in also fell, by 46 per cent.” New Delhi: India’s Agency General Secretary Sowmya He said the striking conveyed to the Finance official said. import of arms decreased Rajya Sabha, Minister of “The drop in Indian arms State for Defence Shripad imports seems to have been Dutta said the government employees have taken out Minister to withdraw her The bigger branches by 33 per cent between New Delhi: Banking policies are going to have ill rallies, wherever permitted, statement from the floor of headed by chief managers 2011–15 and 2016–20 and Naik said approval mainly due to its complex (Acceptance of Necessity) procurement processes, services such as cash effects on the economy as across the country, and Parliament about or AGMs are about 20 per Russia was the most withdrawals, deposits, also it will be reflected in given a sat-in and if the privatisation of the state- cent, so even if these senior affected supplier, according was given to 112 proposals combined with an attempt between 2018-19 and to reduce its dependence on cheque clearing and the upcoming polls in some government does not listen owned banks, he added. level employees are not to a report released on states. to them they will go for an All bank employees from taking part in the strike, Monday by Stockholm- 2020-21 (till December) Russian arms. India is business transactions were worth around Rs 1.99 lakh planning large-scale arms impacted across the country He said nearly all the even bigger, indefinite the scale I, II and III had a they alone cannot run the based defence think-tank bank, said the official cited SIPRI. It said the drop in crore under various imports in the coming years on Monday, the day one of from several suppliers,” it the PSU bank union's strike,  United Forum of above. said. The government has against the proposed Bank Unions (UFBU), an Meanwhile, branches of been majorly focusing on privatisation of two more umbrella body of nine private sector lenders like boosting domestic defence state-owned lenders. unions, had given a strike ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank production and set a target United Forum of Bank call for March 15 and 16, and Axis Bank are open as Unions (UFBU), an they are not part of the of Rs 1.75 lakh crore (USD and claimed that about 10 25 billion) turnover in umbrella body of nine strike. unions, had given a strike lakh bank employees and The government has defence manufacturing by officers of the banks will 2025. In May, Finance call for March 15 and 16, already privatised IDBI Minister Nirmala and claimed that about 10 participate in the strike. Bank by selling its majority Sitharaman rolled out a lakh bank employees and strike like the one on the 100 per cent participation stake in the lender to LIC in Indian arms imports categories of capital number of reform measures officers of the banks will bank employees have taken lines of ongoing farmers' across the banking sector in 2019, and has merged 14 seemed to have been the acquisition to promote the for the defence sector participate in the strike. part in the two-day strike agitation. Monday's strike, said a bank public sector banks in the result of the country’s domestic defence including making separate In the Union Budget except for top-level "We are connected with official who is not last four years. complex procurement manufacturing. budgetary outlay to procure presented last month, employees. crores of population authorised to speak to the According to All India processes combined with The report by the Indian-made military Finance Minister Nirmala "All banking services are through our branches, we media. Bank Employees an attempt to reduce its Stockholm International hardware, increasing FDI Sitharaman had announced impacted from cash are educating our customers "We call them assistant Association (AIBEA) dependence on Russian Peace Research Institute limit from 49 per cent to 74 the privatisation of two withdrawals to deposits, about the government's ill managers, managers and general secretary CH arms. In the last few years, (SIPRI) said, “Arms per cent under the public sector banks (PSBs) business transactions, loan policies and how it is going senior managers. At this Venkatachalam, services at India has taken a series of imports by India decreased automatic route and as part of the government's process, cheque clearing, to impact them," Dutta said. level, there is 100 per cent branch level; cheque measures to boost domestic by 33 per cent between generating a year-wise disinvestment plan. account opening and Through the Department participation in the strike clearance; and government defence industry with an 2011–15 and 2016–20. negative list of weapons All India Bank Officers business transactions," he of Financial Services, the and 80-90 per cent branches transactions have been aim to reduce dependence Russia was the most which won’t be imported. Association (AIBOC) said. bank unions have also are headed by them," the affected. Monk, saint, thala Batla House encounter fans react to captain Delhi Police reopen portion cool Dhoni’s new Delhi court awards death penalty to Ariz Khan for killing inspector look ahead of IPL Agency serial bomb blasts in the I am referring the matter to murder of a law national capital in which 39 Delhi Legal Services enforcement officer who of Delhi-Meerut Expressway New Delhi: From short New Delhi: A Delhi people died and 159 were Authority for award of was a defender of justice. Agency convenience, the shut again after hours. spikes to pony tail, former court Monday awarded injured. additional compensation,” Ansari said the case carriageway of NH-24 While the Ghazipur Indian captain MS Dhoni death penalty to Ariz Khan The court also imposed a the judge further said. attracts exemplary Ghazipur: Delhi Police going towards Ghaziabad border has been shut down has always experimented for the murder of decorated total fine of Rs 11 lakh on Additional Public punishment, which is have opened a portion of from Delhi has been for the past 110 days, all with new hairstyles every Delhi Police Inspector capital punishment. the Delhi-Meerut opened in due consultation the six carriageways other year. Mohan Chand Sharma in He further said a police Expressway to aid with the police officials of connecting Delhi and This time, with his connection with the officer was killed while vehicular traffic moving Ghaziabad district, Uttar Ghaziabad were brand new monk look, the sensational 2008 Batla discharging his public duty. towards Noida and 'Captain Cool' has House encounter case, “Ariz along with others Ghaziabad. The triggered a meme fest saying the offence fell was carrying deadly carriageway, which allows online. under the “rarest of the rare weapons which clearly the commuters to head to Fans are calling Dhoni category” warranting the suggests that they were Noida and Ghaziabad from maximum sentence. ready to kill anybody in the Delhi side, was with different names, any eventuality. They were including the ‘Monk’, Additional Sessions reopened in the early hours Judge Sandeep Yadav said the first to start fire without of Monday. Additional ‘Saint’, ‘Thala’, as he any provocation,” the gears up for the 14th Ariz be hanged by neck till Deputy Commissioner of death. public prosecutor said. Police (East) Vinit Kumar Pradesh, in public completely shut for the past edition of the Indian Ariz in the case. Prosecutor A T Ansari, He added that Premier League (IPL) Inspector Sharma of the confirmed the development interest,” Kumar said. 48 days, post January 26 police’s special cell was It said Rs 10 lakh should appearing for the police, widespread concerns were with a late-night post on The same portion was Red Fort violence. The rest leading the Chennai Super be immediately released to sought death penalty for raised after the incident temporarily opened on five carriageways continue Kings' (CSK). killed during the Batla social media. “In view of House encounter between the family members of Ariz, allegedly associated regarding the safety of the prevailing law and March 2 to assist to be shut with multi- the police and alleged Sharma. with the terror outfit Indian police officers and it order situation at the maintenance work that was layered barricading and Right to reject: SC terrorists in Jamia Nagar in “I feel the fine of Rs 10 Mujahideen, saying it was instilled fear in the minds Ghazipur border and being carried out on the deployment of police notice to Centre, EC south Delhi following lakh is insufficient. Hence, not just any killing but a of the common people. keeping in mind the public National Highway but was personnel. on BJP leader’s plea Punjab second among all states in contributing to Army’s rank and file New Delhi: The India to take up with UK 'racial Supreme Court on Agency per cent. With 1,67,557 with 87,835 soldiers to the Army, however, is Monday issued notice to soldiers, Uttar Pradesh tops occupies the third slot significantly more than the Centre and the issue' of Rashmi Samant at Oxford Chandigarh: Piping its the list of states followed by Rajasthan, with their share of the national Election Commission on a Agency president of the Oxford the House," he said. "I do neighbours, Punjab, often contributing manpower to 79,481 soldiers.Among population. The Ministry’s BJP leader’s PIL seeking a University Students Union, want to say that as a land of referred to as the sword the Army. While Uttar other states in the region, data shows that with 65,987 direction to the poll panel New Delhi: India will the minister said New Mahatma Gandhi, we can army of the nation, has the soldiers, Haryana accounts to nullify an election take up with the UK when Delhi has strong ties with never ever turn our eyes second highest number of for 5.7 per cent of the rank result and conduct a fresh required the alleged away from racism soldiers, other than and file where as its share of poll if the maximum votes incidents of racism in wherever it is. Particularly officers, serving in the the national population is in a particular Britain, External Affairs so when it is in a country Army amongst all states 2.09 per cent. Jammu and constituency were for Minister S Jaishankar said where we have such a large and union territories in the Kashmir, along with NOTA. in the Rajya Sabha on diaspora," he said. country. Ladakh, and Himachal A Bench headed by Monday. He also described Samant, the first Indian The strength of army Pradesh have 47,457 and Chief Justice of India SA India as the land of woman to be elected as personnel from Punjab is 46,960 active duty soldiers, Bobde asked the Ministry Mahatma Gandhi and said president of the Oxford 89,088, according to respectively. While they of Law and Justice and the it can never turn its eyes University Students Union, information placed by the account for 1.01 per cent Election Commission of away from racism. was forced to resign within Ministry of Defence in Pradesh, the nation’s most Haryana is sixth in the and 0.57 per cent of the India to respond to the Responding to concerns five days of her Parliament today. This populous state, makes up national tally while Jammu national population, petition filed by Delhi CJI raised by a BJP MP over the UK and will take up appointment over several accounts for 7.7 per cent of 16.5 per cent of the and Kashmir and Himachal respectively, they make up leader and advocate racism and cyberbullying such matters with great of her social media posts the Army’s rank and file, country’s population, its Pradesh 11th and 12th 4.1 and 4 per cent of the Ashwini Kumar that forced Indian-origin candour when required. that were labelled anti- even though its share of the share in the rank and file is position, respectively. The army’s strength, Upadhyay. Rashmi Samant to resign as "I note the sentiments of Semitic and racist. national population is 2.3 14.5 per cent. Maharashtra, contribution of these states respectively. Security forces kill JeM commander Sajjad Centre giving step-motherly treatment to Punjab: Bajwa in Rajya Sabha Afghani, another militant in J-K’s Shopian Agency Development Fund (RDF) and paddy, the Congress MP from 3 per cent to 1 per cent, pointed that this move Agency In message to the joint search operation was retaliated leading to an Lashkar-e-Taiba. One US- New Delhi: Congress which will cause a loss of comes barely 15 days before force of J&K Police, launched by the forces on encounter. J&K Police said made M4 carbine, three Rajya Sabha member from over Rs. 1,000 crore to the the harvesting of wheat New Delhi: Jammu and Army’s 34 Rastriya Rifles Saturday. Police said even on Sunday morning magazines, 36 armour exchequer of the state”. He begins in Punjab. “The new Kashmir Police on Monday and the CRPF, IGP during the search they made repeated piercing rounds and Rs Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa said that top commander of Kashmir Vijay Kumar operation, as the presence announcements asking the 9,600 were recovered from on Monday accused the requirements such as 12 per Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) congratulated them for of terrorists got ascertained hiding terrorists to the slain militant’s Centre of meeting out a cent moisture content and Sajad Afghani had been eliminating Afghani during possession at the encounter step-motherly treatment to reduction of foreign matter killed in an encounter at site, J&K Police said, the state and highlighted in the produce are weather Rawalpora area of Shopian J-K DGP Dilbag Singh adding that three houses, how instead of lending a related, and by penalising district in south Kashmir. told the media that from where the militants helping hand in dealing with the farmers for this, the J-K DGP Dilbag Singh Afghani, who was were firing, were damaged COVID-19 induced Government of India is told the media that instrumental in recruiting after security forces fired economic slowdown, it is essentially arguing that Afghani, who was terrorists, had been killed mortars.Meanwhile, three cutting down on central also highlighted that at the global warming is in the instrumental in recruiting in the encounter that youths and a police assistance. Raising the height of the pandemic, the hands of the farmers.” he terrorists, had been killed entered its third day on constable were injured in matter during Zero Hour in Centre had arrears over Rs. said. Bajwa alleged that the in the encounter that Monday. clashes as part of the three- the House, Bajwa said, 8,200 crore to the state, due Centre is trying to punish entered its third day on day encounter where “Instead of helping the State to slow release of GST dues. the farmers for their protests Monday. Besides Afghani, the three-day-long security forces initially of Punjab recover from the Further noting the March 11 by making it practically the other terrorist killed in encounter that started on they were given the surrender but the terrorists fired pellets, burst teargas COVID-19 economic order of the Food impossible for them to sell the encounter has been Saturday after specific opportunity to surrender, fired on the joint search shells and resorted to slowdown, the Government Corporation of India, in their products at MSP, and identified as Lashkar- inputs regarding presence but they fired party which led to Jahangir lathicharge to disperse the of India has taken steps to which it has been proposed thereby allowing the central affiliated Jahangir Ahmad of terrorists. indiscriminately upon the Ahmad Wani’s death. Wani stone-pelting harm the State, such as tighter quality controls for government agencies to run Wani from Rakh Narapora. A joint cordon and joint search party, which was affiliated to the demonstrators on Sunday. cutting the Rural the procurement of wheat away from procurement. NATIONAL Tuesday 16 March 2021 2 Suvendu seeks rejection of Mamata’s nomina- Negligence towards COVID-19 appropriate tion for ‘suppressing’ info on criminal cases Kolkata: Suvendu in her affidavit has not TMC. behaviour behind rising cases: Vardhan Adhikari, the BJP mentioned at least six cases In a significant ruling in candidate against Mamata which are under trial March 2018, the Supreme New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs facilities. “In the camps per cent of the rising cases. important to ascertain that Banerjee in Nandigram, against her. One is a CBI Court had said the Health Minister Harsh Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, organised during the last The negligence towards COVID appropriate Monday said he has sought case and five others are in returning officer for an Vardhan on Monday said Minister of State for Health few years, a large number COVID appropriate behaviour is followed even rejection of the nomination Assam. election can reject negligence towards Ashwini Choubey, Rajya of beneficiaries, including behaviour is the main after the vaccine is of the West Bengal chief “I have appealed to the nomination papers of a COVID-19 appropriate Sabha Deputy Chairman MPs, ex-MPs, their family reason behind it. It is available.” minister for not declaring behaviour is the main Harivansh Narayan Singh members and other staff six criminal cases against reason behind rising cases, and other dignitaries were members, availed of the her while filing her papers. adding that few states also present at the event. services. In-house SAD leader Dyal Singh In his complaint to the account for more than 80 Election Commission, per cent of the cases. Kolianwali dies of cancer Adhikari, a former He stressed that confidante of Banerjee, coronavirus appropriate Muktsar: SAD leader Dyal Singh Kolianwali, a close claimed she suppressed the behaviour like wearing aide of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, information about five masks and maintaining passed away at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on cases filed against her in social distancing should be Monday morning. The three-time SGPC member was Assam and another lodged followed despite the suffering from blood cancer. by the CBI in West Bengal. availability of vaccine His political career began when he became close to He said he has against the disease. SAD leader Jasvir Singh Kakhanwali of Lambi area. mentioned the case Vardhan was speaking After Kakhanwali’s death, Dyal Singh became close to numbers in his complaint ECI (for rejecting her candidate for non- during the sixth mega the Badals. but did not elaborate on the nomination). I hope they disclosure and suppression health camp for super- Talking about the health arrangements have also He started as a sarpanch of Kolianwali village and was offences allegedly will take necessary action. of information, including specialist consultations for facilities provided at been made for COVID the Muktsar district president of the SAD. He held committed by the TMC I will wait and see what those related to their assets parliamentarians held in Parliament House Annexe testing and vaccine several key positions member of the Punjab Subordinate supremo, sources in the action they take. The action and criminal background. Parliament House Annexe. medical centre round the administration this year,” Services Selection Board and chairman of Punjab Agro office of the state’s Chief must be as per the law,” It had ruled that voters The camp was inaugurated year, Vardhan said services he was quoted as saying in Foodgrains Corporation. A resident of Kolianwali village Electoral Officer (CEO) Adhikari told reporters. have a fundamental right to by Lok Sabha Speaker Om of specialists from various the statement. Speaking on in Lambi, he was currently focusing on Sarawan area said. A senior EC official said know about their Birla in the presence of the specialties are available rising COVID-19 cases in comprising 17 villages. Dyal Singh was not new to “The TMC candidate for the matter is being looked candidates and leaving health minister, a health along with the provision for India, the health minister controversy. He was arrested by the state vigilance the Nandigram assembly into. columns blank in the ministry statement said. laboratory investigations, said, “Only few states bureau in a disproportionate assets case in December constituency, the No immediate reaction nomination paper amounts Minister of X-ray and ultrasound account for more than 80 2018 and got bail in February 2019. honourable chief minister, was available from the to violation of their right. Bollywood superstar Aamir Congress following in Jinnah's footsteps, will destroy India: Shivraj Naharkatia: Instead of Chouhan said, referring to The BJP leader alleged Borphukan (Ahom infiltration into the state, Khan quits social media following Mahatma the opposition party's that Rahul Gandhi is general), Indira Gandhi and Chouhan alleged. Gandhi, the Congress was alliance with AIUDF in "dividing India" into north Rajiv Gandhi gave only The Congress will Mumbai: Bollywood and warmth on his pretence. We will continue following in "Jinnah's Assam, ISF in West Bengal and south, while doing the infiltration, violence, "become history" under the superstar-producer Aamir birthday. to communicate as we did footsteps", Madhya and IUML in Kerala. same politics in Assam, terrorism, agitation, hunger leadership of Rahul Gandhi Khan on Monday “Thank you so much for before,” he added. Pradesh Chief Minister "Congress has allied with creating differences and unemployment," and Priyanka Gandhi announced that he has all the love and warmth on Khan, who has backed Shivraj Singh Chouhan Badruddin Ajmal, who has Vadra, he claimed. decided to leave social my birthday. My heart is films such as “Lagaan”, said on Monday, asserting filled Assam with "The Congress only media, adding that updates full,” the actor said in a “Taare Zameen Par”, that it would "destroy" the infiltration... He has a knows drama and theatrics. “Dangal”, and his country. perfume business, but is Rahul swam in the sea in upcoming “Laal Singh Chaddha” under his stable Addressing a rally in spreading poison in the Kerala, while Priyanka Aamir Khan Productions, Naharkatia in poll-bound society... If 'naagraj' and plucked tea leaves in also revealed that the Assam's Dibrugarh district, 'saapraj' ally, then Assam Assam. She didn't even production house has come the senior BJP leader said cannot be developed," know that it was off- up with its verified page. that the Congress has failed Chouhan alleged. season! Was there any film “In addition, AKP has to carry out any He said that the Congress shooting going on?" he created its official channel! developmental work in the should feel ashamed for asked. So future updates on me Northeastern states since joining hands with AIUDF, Chouhan also targetted and my films can be found Independence. claiming that even former Rahul Gandhi over his there. Here is the official "Congress is not chief minister Tarun Gogoi between different tribes Chouhan alleged. promise of setting up a about his future projects statement shared on his handle @akppl_official,” following in Mahatma did not ally with that party. and communities. The Congress has always fisheries ministry, saying will be available on his social media pages. he added. Gandhi's footsteps. "Congress has allied with "Congress ruled Assam used illegal immigrants as that it is already in place. production banner’s “In other news, this is “Laal Singh Chaddha”, Congress and Rahul Muslim League in Kerala for 55 years, but what has it their vote bank, while "His tube light lit a little official account. going to be my last post on also starring Kareena Gandhi are following in and ISF in West Bengal. given? Assam, which was Prime Minister Narendra late. This party which is so Khan, who turned 56 social media. Considering Kapoor Khan, is slated to Jinnah's footsteps. And Congress is doing divide not defeated by the Modi and Assam CM directionless, how will they yesterday, also thanked his that I am so active anyway, be released on Christmas Jinnah's steps will destroy and rule politics," he Mughals due to the Sarbananda Sonowal took work for the development well-wishers for their love I have decided to drop the 2021. Assam and India," claimed. heroism of Lachit initiatives to curb of Assam?" BJP, AIADMK file nomination Sukhbir Badal announces 87-member for same seat in Puducherry Chennai: The BJP and AIADMK, which are alliance working committee of Shiromani Akali Dal partners have filed nominations for the same seat, Chandigarh: Shiromani vice president, general Singh Nakai, Malkeet Bhunder, Sarbjit Singh Didar Singh Bhatti, Lakhi Tanda, Seth Satpal Nelithope in Puducherry. The seat which was vacated by Akali Dal president secretary and other office- Singh AR, Baljit Singh Makkar, Harinderpal Singh Harpreet Kaur Mall, Parmjit Singh Pamma the former Chief Minister and Congress leader V Sukhbir Singh Badal on bearers had already been Jalalusma, Amarpal Singh Chandumajra, SR Kaler, Mukhmailpur, Dr Darsha Advocate, Sarwan Singh Narayanaswamy is now a bone of contention between Monday announced 87- announced. He said the list Boney Ajnala, Parmbans Talbir Singh Gill, Bawa Sukhi, Kulwant Singh Kular, Yadwinder Singh the BJP and the AIADMK. member Working of Working Committee Kanta, Satnam Singh Rahi Yadu, Balwinder Singh BJP leader Vivian Richards, son of former MLA A Committee of the party members was being Advocate, Amarjit Singh Sandhu, Harbhajan Singh John Kumar, had vacated the seat for V Narayanaswamy comprising senior party released on Monday. Chawla, Darbara Singh Dang, Vijay Danav, Tirath when he became the Chief minister. leaders. Bibi Jagir Kaur, Guru, Isher Singh Singh Mahla, Barjinder Later John Kumar left the Congress to join the BJP Badal also constituted a Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Prof Mehraban, Gurpreet Singh Singh Brar, Bhupinder and has been nurturing the constituency even after he three-member Kirpal Singh Badungar, Raju Khanna, Suba Singh Singh Sahoke, Ranjit Singh had vacated the seat. AIADMK former MLA Om Sakthi Disciplinary Committee Bhai Gobind Singh Badal, Parkash Singh Gill, Ajmer Singh Khera, Sagar who had won the seat in 2011 but lost to John led by Jathedar Tota Longowal, Sikander Singh Bhatti, Gurtej Singh Satbir Singh Khatra, Kumar in 2016 filed the nomination from the Nelithope Singh. Gulzar Singh Maluka, Gulzar Singh Ghuriana, Jagjiwan Singh Mohinder Lalwa, Nirmal constituency. Ranike and Parkash Chand Ranike, Surjit Singh Khirnian, Satinderjit Singh Singh Hariau, Surjit Singh Garg will be other two Rakhra, Avtar Singh Hit, Manta, Prem Kumar Garhi, Kabir Dass Nabha, members of the Hira Singh Gabria, Baldev Valecha, Avtar Singh Zeera, Harpal Juneja, Indermohan committee. Singh Mann, Manjinder Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon, Singh Bajaj, Surjit Singh Announcing this in a Singh Sirsa, Harmeet Arvinder Singh Rasulpur, Kohli, Harmohan Singh statement released from the Singh Kalka, Bhai Manjit Hardeep Singh Dimpy, Sandhu, Mohd Urvais, party head office here, Singh, Veer Singh Lopoke, Tejinder Singh Middukhera, Vinnerjit Singh Goldy, party senior vice president Capt Balbir Singh Bath, Alwinderpal Singh Rajinder Deepa Sunam, and spokesman Daljit Mohinder Kaur Josh, Singh Bunty Romana, Singh Gumanpura, Pakhoke, Jarnial Singh Iqbal Singh Sandhu and Singh Cheema said party Manjit Singh Manna, Bhag Kanwarjit Singh Rozi Darshan Singh Kotfatta, Wahad, Harjinder Singh Raghujit Singh Virk from office bearers, including Singh Malla, Darshan Barkandi, Baldev Singh Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, Dhami, Sarbjot Singh Haryana will be members secretary general, senior Singh Shivalik, Jagdeep Khaira, Dilraj Singh Joginder Singh Jindu, Sahbi, Lakhwinder Singh of the Working Committee. No proposal to bring petrol, diesel, ATF, gas Naidu asks TDP cadres under GST: Finance Minister Sitharaman not to be disheartened New Delhi: Amid Central government prescribes that the GST to cushion consumers Hyderabad: Former addressing all the public record-high fuel prices, continued to levy excise Council shall recommend against the spike in retail Andhra Pradesh Chief issues while keeping the Finance Minister Nirmala duty on them while state the date on which the goods prices. Minister and Telugu state’s future in mind. “If Sitharaman on Monday governments charged VAT. and services tax be levied To a separate question, Desam Party (TDP) we work with this spirit, said there is no proposal as These taxes, with excise on petroleum crude, high- her junior in the Finance supremo N. Chandrababu we will win in the days to of now to bring crude oil, duty, in particular, have speed diesel, motor spirit Ministry, Anurag Singh Naidu has told the party come,” the TDP chief petrol, diesel, jet fuel (ATF) been raised periodically. (commonly known as Thakur said excise duty on cadres not to feel added. The TDP has and natural gas under the While the taxes haven’t petrol), natural gas and petrol was Rs 19.98 per disheartened at the party’s alleged massive rigging by Goods and Services Tax come down, a spike in ATF. litre a year back and is Rs defeat in the just- the ruling YSR Congress (GST). global oil prices on demand “So far, the GST Council, 32.9 now. Similarly, on When the GST was recovery has pushed petrol in which the states are also diesel, the excise duty has represented, has not made been raised from Rs 15.83 any recommendation for to Rs 31.8. inclusion of these goods “The excise duty rates under GST,” she said. have been calibrated to The Council may generate resources for consider the issue of infrastructure and other inclusion of these five developmental items of petroleum products at a expenditure keeping in time it considers view the present fiscal appropriate keeping in view position,” Thakur, Minister all the relevant factors, of State for Finance, said concluded urban local Party (YSRCP) in the local including revenue giving reasons for raising bodies elections in the body elections in which the implication, she added. the levy. state. TDP has been completely introduced on July 1, 2017, and diesel to an all-time Including oil products in On the impact of higher Addressing the TDP wiped out. The YSRCP amalgamating over a dozen high, leading to demand for GST will not just help fuel rates on general prices, central and state levies, five them to come under the companies set off tax that he said ‘petrol for vehicle’ leaders and cadres after the has, however, denied the commodities—crude oil, GST. they paid on input but will inflation has increased from results, Naidu said: “There allegations and responded natural gas, petrol, diesel, “At present, there is no also bring about uniformity 7.38 per cent in January is no need to get by saying people have and aviation turbine fuel proposal to bring crude in taxation on the fuels in 2020 to 12.53 per cent in disheartened by the results. responded to the “misrule (ATF) -- were kept out of petroleum, petrol, diesel, the country. January this year. Despite rowdyism, threats, of the TDP”. its purview given the ATF and natural gas under Sitharaman has in recent Similarly, ‘diesel for abuse of power and Except, Tadipatri and revenue dependence of the GST,” Sitharaman said in a weeks talked of inclusion vehicle’ inflation has inducements, we have still Mydukuru municipalities, central and state written reply to a question of fuel under GST as well increased from 6.44 per fought valiantly.” the TDP lost all other seats, governments on this sector. in the Lok Sabha. as Centre and states taking cent in January last year to He called on them to including the municipal This meant that the She said the law a joint call on cutting taxes 12.79 per cent this year, he advance with the goal of corporations. UTTAR PRADESH Tuesday 16 March 2021 3 Farmers' Protest: Ghazipur Border Reopens Man Rapes Girl In Aligarh, Stabs UP BRIEFS Traffic Allowed From Delhi To UP Her Uncle Before Fleeing: Police UP Govt to Spend Rs 2 Crore on Sristi Mail reporter However, the movement is ience, the carriageway of the Republic Day violence, Biggest Mass Marriage Event for allowed only for those NH-24 going towards was reopened for vehicular Underprivileged Families Ghazipur: The decision entering Uttar Pradesh Ghaziabad from Delhi has movement. Later, the bor- to open the carriageway of from the national capital. been opened after consulta- der was closed for traffic the National Highway-24 The decision to open the tion with police officials of movement. going towards Ghaziabad carriageway of the Ghaziabad District, Uttar Ghazipur border is from Delhi has been National Highway-24 Pradesh," said Delhi among those sites where opened after discussions going towards Ghaziabad Police. "Traffic Alert: farmers have been protest- between Delhi Police with from Delhi has been Gazipur Border, Delhi to ing since November 26 last police officials of opened after discussions Gazipur is open for traffic year against the three newly enacted farm laws Farmers' Produce Trade Aligarh: As the girl cried for help, her uncle rushed to and Commerce (Promotion her aid but the man stabbed him and sped away, the police and Facilitation) Act, 2020; said, adding that the girl's uncle escaped with minor the Farmers Empowerment injuries. and Protection) Agreement A teenaged girl who had stepped out of her home in a on Price Assurance and village near Aligarh at midnight to relieve herself was Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government has, so Farm Services Act 2020 allegedly held captive and raped by a man in his vehicle far, facilitated the marriage of more than one and a half and the Essential parked near her house, the police said today. lakh daughters in the State. Commodities As the girl cried for help, her uncle rushed to her aid but One of the biggest programmes of mass marriages will (Amendment) Act, 2020. the man stabbed him and sped away, the police said, be held in Lucknow on March 18 when 3,500 daughters As agitating farmers adding that the girl's uncle escaped with minor injuries. belonging to poor families are married. assemble at the Gazipur The shocking incident took place on Saturday midnight The Yogi Adityanath government has, so far, facilitat- Ghaziabad district. between Delhi Police with movement," Delhi police border and tried to break in a village under Gangiri police station area, around 50 ed the marriage of more than one and a half lakh daugh- The Ghazipur border, police officials of tweeted. Gazipur Border, police barricades, one car- km from Aligarh, the police said. ters in the state. which was closed due to Ghaziabad district. Delhi to Gazipur is open riageway of the National Following this, the girl's father lodged a complaint at According to the government spokesman, Chief farmers' protests against "In view of prevailing for traffic movement. On Highway 24 for Uttar the police station, naming a village man as the accused. Minister Yogi will be personally present to bless the cou- Central farm laws, was law and order situation at March 2, the Ghazipur bor- Pradesh to Delhi was first Circle Officer Suman Kanojia said the accused had ples at the event that is being organised by Uttar Pradesh reopened on Monday for the Ghazipur border and der, which remained closed closed for traffic on allegedly brandished a knife threatening to kill the girl if Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare traffic movement. considering public conven- since January 26 following December 3 last year. she raised an alarm. Board. Poor families from Lucknow, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Hardoi and Barabanki dis- tricts have been registered for this matrimonial pro- 'Kumbh Sandesh Yatra', from Kanyakumari, reached Prayagraj gramme. Under this scheme, the government provides financial Sristi Mail reporter five thousand kilometers medium to connect people cance of Kumbh to the Sandesh Yatra has been Gangajali to the people assistance of Rs 55,000 to those who perform marriages and reached the with Sanatana Dharma. common people. Srinivas taken out to free people involved in the yatra. The at their homes, Rs 61,000 for the ‘divyang’ and Rs PRAYAGRAJ: This is Kumbhanagri Tirtha Raja This meaningful initiative Reddy, who is leading the from fear and bring new Shankaraviman Mandapam 75,000 for the marriage of girls who register for the an attempt to connect the Prayag. needs to continue uninter- yatra, gave information consciousness to life. A was welcomed under the event. people with the mystery of A meeting of saints based rupted. Dr. Ramnaresh about the meaningful result dozen people including leadership of Brijendra The state government will spend Rs 2.10 crore on the the nectar Kumbh and the on Kumbh was held at Tripathi threw light on the of the journey so far. Dilli Vasant, Balakrishna Mishra. March 18 event. religious, mythological, sci- Reddy, Madhusudan Arge, The Kumbh Sandesh Additional Labour Commissioner, B.K. Rai, said that entific and cultural secrets Mastan Reddy are involved Yatra left for Varanasi on the chief minister’s scheme is directly benefiting the of the Kumbh Mela, which in the yatra. Tuesday. Acharya Avinash poorer sections of the state. came out of the sea churn- The Kumbh Sandesh Rai said that on March 24, ing between the gods and Yatra was welcomed by the the yatra will reach Delhi. Teenage Girl Stepping Out of the demons. Yes, for the High Court lawyers at Leaving the vehicle from same purpose, 'Kumbh Eklavya intersection. At the there, he will reach Her Village Home to Relieve Sandesh Yatra', which came same time, the people Haridwar on March 31. out of Kanyakumari in involved in the yatra were Worshiping the Ganges in Herself Raped: UP Police Tamil Nadu on 27 February, led to the Prayag Sangeet Haridwar will share the came to Prayagraj on Samiti led by Dr. Bibi experience and results of Monday. There was a grand Agarwal. Bhardwaj Ashram the journey with saints and welcome of the place. was welcomed under the akharas. Then they will be Saints, lawyers, practition- leadership of MLA discussed about Kumbh. ers and leaders embraced Harshvardhan Vajpayee. After discussing all the the message of Kumbh by Kaivalya Dham Ashram scientific significance of The national spokesper- Harshvardhan said that this issues, a proposal will be offering flowers and wel- Jhansi. Tikaramafi Ashram Kumbh. Takshak son of the yatra, Jyotirvid yatra is spreading new made and given to the coming those involved in Peethadheeshwara Swami Peethadhishwar Ravi Acharya Avinash Rai, said awakening in the despotic Union Ministry of Culture, the yatra. The people Harichaitanya Brahmachari Shankar Ji Maharaj empha- that the world is afraid of atmosphere of Corona in so that they can work in involved in the yatra com- said that the Kumbh sized on bringing the reli- the corona epidemic. In the society. Dr. Ranjana accordance with it to pro- pleted the journey of about Sandesh Yatra is a powerful gious and scientific signifi- such a situation, Kumbh Vajpayee presented mote Kumbh.

Over 30K beneficiaries Popular Front of India "Training Techie robbed of SUV in Greater Noida Lucknow: A teenaged girl stepping out of her home in inoculated in GB Nagar Sristi Mail reporter mother-daughter duo a village near here at midnight to relieve herself was in March so far around 200 metres away allegedly held captive and raped by a man in his vehicle Commander" Arrested In UP: Cops Greater Noida: An from the crime spot,” parked near her house, police said on Monday. As the NOIDA: The Gautam engineer was allegedly Chander added. girl cried for help, her uncle rushed to her aid but the man stabbed him and sped away, the police said, adding Sristi Mail reporter Task Force (STF) said on Basti, Hemraj Meena said. Budh Nagar district health robbed of his SUV by two Nishant dialled 112 and Sunday. He said a probe has been men in Sector Omicron on informed the police about the girl's uncle escaped with minor injuries. department inoculated over The shocking incident took place on Saturday mid- Gorakhpur: "Acting on a tip-off, an initiated into the matter. 30,000 out of the identified Sunday evening. Police the matter. STF team late on Saturday The STF, in a statement night in a village under Gangiri police station area, Mohammad Rashid was 65,048 beneficiaries said they have launched a A police team was apprehended from near night arrested Mohammad issued in Lucknow, said, hunt to nab the suspects. patrolling the area. “The around 50 km from Aligarh, the police said. Following Rashid near Basti railway "During interrogation, the against Covid-19 in 11 ses- the Saturday night incident, the girl's father lodged a Basti railway station in sions held this month so The car owner was iden- suspects drove into in a station. Police recovered PFI training commander tified as Nishant. housing complex and exit- complaint at the police station, naming a village youth as Basti district of the state far, officials said on when he was trying to go to some documents with anti- said the main aim, in order According to police, ed from another gate to the accused. Sunday. Mumbai via Lucknow to Nishant, his wife and their escape police. The Circle Officer Suman Kanojia said the accused had allegedly brandished a knife threatening to kill the girl if take part in the upcoming GB Nagar district magis- daughter were going to a patrolling team received a trate Suhas LY said the all market in their Vitara tip-off, launched a hunt, she raised an alarm. The accused has been booked under "meetings or training ses- stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from sions" of the PFI, the Uttar the government and private Brezza at around 6pm. but the suspects managed hospitals were asked to “On their way to the mar- to escape,” Chander said. Sexual Offences Act, she said, adding the police have Pradesh Police's Special launched a search to nab him. Task Force (STF) said on maintain the updated data ket, Nishant had stopped A police team reached Sunday. entries of vaccination. and went out of the car to the spot and rejoined the Police in Uttar Pradesh Chief medical officer Dr buy vegetables from a family members and sent Out Shopping With Wife And have arrested a man whom Deepak Ohri said that as roadside vendor in Sector them home. According to the mother-daughter duo, they alleged to be a "train- many as 1,484 senior citi- Omicron. Nishant had left Child, Noida Techie Robbed the key in the car as his they were not harmed in ing commander" of the zens and 45 years’ above with co-morbidities were wife and daughter were the incident. Of Car At Gunpoint Popular Front of India inside it,” said Harish “A case of looting will (PFI). vaccinated on Sunday. “Out of it, 1,176 were the Chander, deputy commis- be registered at the Noida: The incident took place around 6 pm when the Mohammad Rashid was sioner of police, Noida Surajpur police station. apprehended from near national material, a CD, to spread their ideology, senior citizens, while the Greater Noida (West) resident was out to shop for veg- Central. The suspects fled We have launched a etables near Migsun roundabout in Surajpur area. Basti railway station in which is suspicious, a fake was that the youth from a remaining beneficiaries with the vehicle, after hunt to nab the suspects,” Aadhar card and a mobile particular community who were from over 45 years’ Two unidentified men allegedly fled with the car of an Basti district of the state dumping the two around the DCP said. engineer after holding him at gunpoint while he was out when he was trying to go to phone (from him). A case are physically strong are age group having co-mor- 200 metres away from the Nishant is a resident of has been registered against brain-washed, and are bidities. Besides, 485 with his wife and child on Sunday evening for shopping Mumbai via Lucknow to crime spot. “The suspects Omaxe Palm Greens in in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, officials said. take part in the upcoming him under various sections imparted physical and healthcare workers and pointed a gun at the vic- Sector Mu of Greater "meetings or training ses- of the IPC at Kotwali police weapons training and pre- frontline workers also took tims, boarded the car, and Noida. He is an engineer at sions" of the PFI, the Uttar station in Basti," pared to trigger an incident their maiden or booster drove away with the vehi- a mobile company in Pradesh Police's Special Superintendent of Police, in any part of the country." dose today,” he said. cle. They dropped the Greater Noida. Two more suspects involved in dry 2-Feet-Tall Man Approaches UP Police to Help fruits scam nabbed from Gurugram Sristi Mail reporter 58 police station in Him Find Bride, Says ‘Hurt By Rejections’ December 2020 and another Noida: The police said at Phase 2. According to Sristi Mail reporter Rana. now. Is it not time for me to because of his height, they they arrested two more sus- Noida police, the suspects Then, he wrote to Chief have someone to share my turn him down,” said his pects allegedly involved in would allegedly start a firm Lucknow: He tried to Minister Yogi Adityanath life with? I am hurt by brother-in-law Kasif. the dry fruits scam from and then shut it within a few contact Chief Minister Yogi but got no response. rejections.” A similar incident had Gurugram on March 13. months after duping people, Adityanath, even Shamli Kotwali SHO The youngest of six sib- been reported last year. The arrests were made by a following which they would approached the police to Satpal Singh said, “He lings from a Kairana-based Three wives of a 22-year- team from the Sector 58 start another firm at a sepa- help him solve his ‘prob- came to us a week ago with family, Azeem has faced old Pakistani man were police station. Four people, rate location. “We had lem’, but for Azeem a request to find him a taunts and insults in school. helping him look for his The incident took place around 6 pm when the Greater including prime suspect inputs that associates of the Mansuri, the answers are fourth wife. He had one Noida (West) resident, who works with a private compa- Mohit Goel, had been gang had started another eluding. The police are in a condition – her name needs ny, was out to shop for vegetables near Migsun round- arrested by Sector 58 police company in Gurugram’s quandary and do not know to begin with an ‘S’. about in Surajpur area, they said. in January while a fifth was Sector 57 from January 15, how to solve his ‘problem’. According to reports, the Central Noida Deputy Commissioner of Police Harish nabbed in February. Goel four days after the master- The problem with Azeem man in question is named Chander said the police have launched an investigation was the alleged mastermind mind was arrested, follow- Mansuri, 26, is that he is Adnan, who is redient of into the incident. of the 2016 Freedom 251 ing which a team was sent unable to find a bride for Sialkot. Adnan got married "The police are taking the complaint from the victim scam which offered the there and the duo was taken himself and is desperate to for the first time when he and the process for lodging the FIR is underway. How world’s cheapest smart- in police custody,” said get married. was only 16-years-old. At many people were involved in the incident is yet to be phones to the public. He assistant commissioner of Azeem is just two feet that time, he was a student. ascertained but there were two people who fled with the was arrested in 2017 in con- police, Zone 1, Rajneesh tall and though he earns a He married for the second car," Mr Chander said. nection with the Freedom Verma. The suspects arrest- handsome amount from his time when he was 20 and According to officials, Nishant, who lives in Omaxe 251 case and nabbed again ed March 13 were identified cosmetic shop, no girl is the third wedding took Green Palm society, was out to buy vegetables and on January 11 this year as Akash Deep Sharma and willing to marry him. place in 2019. returning to his Maruti Brezza car when he was held by along with an accomplice Pankaj Prakash, from Last year, Azeem went to bride. He says it is our duty He left school in Class five The 22-year-old also has the men, who then fled with his vehicle. for allegedly duping whole- Punjab and Haryana, the Kairana police station to to do ‘public service’ and and started assisting at the a condition that his fourth The police said Nishant had left the car key inside the salers by purchasing dry respectively. Police said seek help from the sub-divi- find him a bride. We do not cosmetics store, owned by wife must meet him first vehicle, while the family alleged that he was held at gun- fruits and spices from them they have been named in the sional magistrate (SDM). know what to do. But we one of his brothers. and that her name should point by the two men who then snatched the key to get at cheap prices and then not initial cases and allegedly “He addressed a letter to will see what can be done.” His parents tried to find a begin with an ‘S’ to match into the car. paying them. The police worked as purchase admin the SDM, through us, to Azeem, meanwhile, said, suitable match for him but the initials of the rest of his His wife and child were allegedly in the car when the said that a case was regis- managers in the initial help him find a wife,” said “I cannot sleep at night. I failed. wives, Shumbal, Shubana have been trying for so long “People come but and Shahida. men entered it. They were forced out of the vehicle by tered in this regard at Sector firms. Kairana SHO Premveer the two men before they fled the spot. EDIT Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 4 Reservation debate: a new, post-myth era Satish Deshpande of Brahmins on these apolitical criterion like Depressed Classes are hand, the same Constitution Press Opines opportunities despite the proportion of population is forced to retreat from the adopts the lists of Scheduled With the Supreme Court fact that they constituted not decisive, though it is status of a community as Castes and Tribes created in readying itself to raise its only about three per cent of related to the popular notion entitled as any other to its 1935 as the basis for previously-imposed ceiling the population. The GO also of “justice” that anchors this share in the nation, to the reservation. This A high growth plan for of 50 per cent as the upper signalled the arrival of arrangement ideologically. status of a supplicant group contradiction is limit for reservations, the popular politics, and was Fast forward to the next granted a special immediately weaponised by spiral of history has the culmination of a decade when the British concession. The Poona Pact the upper castes and the completed a full cycle in successful campaign for government grants separate leads directly to the Madras High Court uses Indian agriculture almost exactly one hundred electoral power by the so- electorates to different Government of India Act of Article 15 to strike down years. It is a spiral because called non-Brahmin religious and caste 1935, which first creates the caste-based reservation, a we have not returned to the movement spearheaded by communities. The Schedules naming the ex- decision upheld later by the d as a critical factor of growth. By ensuring exact place where we were the Justice Party. These recognition of the untouchable castes and Supreme Court, thus a century ago. But we are government opportunities Depressed Classes (roughly Adivasi tribes, thus coining provoking the insertion of a timely access to sufficient irrigation, states indeed rediscovering, albeit were to be shared among six today’s Dalit castes and the now-ubiquitous protective clause through like Gujarat and Punjab could explain their Adivasi communities) as a acronym SC-ST. the First Amendment to the separate electorate threatens Jump now to 1947, Constitution in 1951. high performances. Role of uninterrupted the legitimacy of the Indian Independence, and the The Constitution National Congress as the formation of the (especially after the First quality power too emerged important in this. party that represents Constituent Assembly or Amendment) cemented the Diversification of the agricultural basket of a “India”. Without the Dalit- the new nation’s proto- ideological position of Adivasi group, the parliament. In the aftermath reservation as the exception state was found to strengthen a state’s agri- Congress is left of Partition, ideological to the norm of meritocracy, representing only “Caste lines have hardened, and the thereby locking the code performance (Figure 1). Hindus”, or just about half Assembly is dominated by words “reservation” and For the period between 2000-01 to 2015-16, of the Indian population. voices unwilling to “merit” into an implacable, Mahatma Gandhi is recognise internal divisions mutually-exclusive we found that among the six states, GVO in determined to prevent this within the new-born nation, dichotomy. The arrival of and announces his first-ever which is asserted to be one. the backward castes on the agriculture grew the fastest in Gujarat at 9.1 in changed circumstances, communities: Brahmins, fast unto death in September Communities identified by national stage in 1990 and per cent. About a quarter of this growth came what we may have non-Brahmin Hindus, 1932. The enormous their comprehensive the extension of reservation intentionally or Mohammedans, Indian pressure brought to bear by exclusion from mainstream to the Other Backward from growth in livestock, followed by cotton unknowingly forgotten. Christians, Anglo-Indians the Mahatma’s unilateral society for which Classes (OBC) disturbed In September 1921, the and Europeans, and others. fast effectively a veto forces untouchability is the this firm positioning, which and F&V sectors that each made about an so-called “Communal GO” Significantly, caste is Ambedkar and other overarching metaphor are was finally disrupted equal contribution of 17 per cent. Madhya (or Government Order) was only one factor alongside Depressed Class leaders now described in the entirely by the reservation passed in the Madras religion and race in the into the so-called Poona developmental language of for Economically Weaker Pradesh with an average GVO growth of 8 per Presidency by a provincial identification of Pact: The separate “backwardness”. Active Sections (EWS) brought government led by the communities. But most electorate is given up in discrimination is translated about through the 102nd cent grew second fastest. Again, it was fruits Justice Party. The important here is the return for a fixed number of into passive disadvantage. Amendment to the and vegetables and livestock that together Communal GO was rationale for this policy it is seats for them in the This crucial shift of Constitution of 2019. essentially a power-sharing not based on any form of legislature. Reservation is perspective bears fruit in the Coming after the explained about 39 per cent of this growth. agreement that had the backwardness or born. newly-minted Constitution proliferation of demands for blessings of the colonial disadvantage. Rather, it is With this one-sided adopted on January 26, sub-quotas within existing The lowest growth was observed in Punjab, government. It allocated an explicitly political “pact”, Gandhi and the 1950. On the one hand, the quotas and agitations for the about 35 per cent of this came from livestock government jobs and seats principle of sharing the Congress gain the Constitution (through creation of new quotas, the in public higher education state’s resources and immeasurable political Articles 15, 16 and 17) Supreme Court’s most sector and about 30 percent from cereals. institutions to different opportunities. The political distance that separates a appears to banish all forms recent initiative only begins communities in specific nature of this sharing is “Caste Hindu” party from a of discrimination, the process of accepting in Oilseeds contributed largest to growth in proportions. It was designed highlighted by the fact that party that stands for “India”. specifically including caste principle what has anyway Gujarat (16.9 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh to check the near-monopoly an “objective” hence Ambedkar and the discrimination. On the other been true in practice. (12.5 per cent). Pulses made a substantial contribution only in case of MP (11.6 per cent) and sugar emerged an important growth PrPreepaidpaid popowwerer isis notnot thethe silvsilverer bbulletullet driver in UP (11.6 per cent). The requirement to undertake policy toto solvsolvee prproboblemlem ofof discomdiscom ffinancesinances Ashwini K Swain systems globally, in electricity provision in for smart meters is that bulk requirement. Ultimately, reforms, mainly related to marketing, addition to renewable India? There are at least of the non-payment is by they will reduce the cost of emerged as a key driver and predictor of Smart meters are the third energy and energy storage three reasons to doubt the state government supply and the retail tariff. pillar of the proposed technologies. Prepayment wisdom of a rush to smart departments. Instead of For example, the Delhi growth. We mapped (Figure 2) historical technology-driven is an additional feature of meters and prepayment. imposing stricter discipline Electricity Regulatory transition in electricity these meters that has gained First, prepaid meters on a small number of Commission allows 1 per agricultural growth rate averages of Indian systems globally, in prominence in India, based address only a small part of (predominantly cent rebate for prepaid states against the state-wise ranks on the addition to renewable on two hoped-for the problem of discom government) defaulters, the meter users. How these energy and energy storage outcomes. First, finances non-payment of Centre is choosing to various cost factors balance NITI Aayog’s Agricultural Markets and Farmer technologies. (File) prepayment is seen as a billed amounts. In fact, impose prepayment on all out, and whether The Union Finance remedy for the financial discom losses have two customers. This is unlikely transitional financing is Friendly Reforms Index AMFFRI, an index that Minister, while presenting ailments of the electricity additional components: to be either effective or needed, does not seem to evaluates Indian states on the extent to the Budget 2020-21, urged distribution companies Line losses in the efficient. have been considered states and union territories (discoms), thus solving a distribution network, and Second, smart meters adequately. which each of them undertook required agri- to replace all conventional long-standing problem. theft outside the meters, will require access to Third, prepaid smart electricity meters with Second, consumers are neither of which will be network and support meters are advocated as reforms; a low AMFFRI rank implies the state prepaid smart meters over expected to be empowered helped by smart meters. architecture to transmit and pro-poor, but the poor may, is undertaking desired reforms. It was found the next three years. to plan consumption in an Moreover, non-payment store data. There is no in fact be the first to suffer. Mentioning it in the budget efficient manner, and be accounts for the smallest clarity on the network costs, The pro-poor argument is that states that undertook reforms, and were speech was a symbolic able to choose the supplier share of discom losses – who will bear it, and the that prepaid meters allow nudge to an issue that has and tariff plan in a future about 2.5 per cent in the 21 impact on the electricity payment in small, thus ranked low on AMFFRI, witnessed a already gained traction. multiple supplier system. per cent AT&C loss (based bills of the poor. affordable fragments, offer relatively faster agri-GDP growth rate (blue Last year, the Central Both are virtuous goals. on the power ministry’s Prepayment will imply a sense of disciplined Electricity Authority and But will prepaid smart claim that the Ujwal elimination of security autonomy and control over box) and states which did not undertake the Ministry of Power meters deliver on these Discom Assurance Yojana deposits, which offer cheap consumption, and thus, (MoP) had envisaged a promises? Is prepayment an has improved collection working capital. Both relieve the poor of the debt required reforms, and thus were ranked high complete switch to prepaid effective disciplining efficiency to 97 per cent). factors impose costs on they accumulate with the on the AMFFRI (red box), witnessed relatively smart meters. technique? What are the This is far lower than theft, discoms. On the positive discom. However, poor Smart meters are the third political consequences of which is estimated to side of the ledger, prepaid agriculture-dependent lower agri-GDP growth rates. pillar of the proposed such a technological shift, account for half of discom meters will reduce meter- households currently treat technology-driven given the barely concealed losses on an all India basis. reading and billing costs, electricity dues as a credit There were some exceptions: Karnataka, transition in electricity political context of Further weakening the case and working capital option. Haryana and Maharashtra. These states undertook reforms, and thus had low AMFFRI ranks, but they witnessed a low agri-GDP Lessons in direct income support from Odisha growth rate. This is likely to be attributed to Shilpa Kumar databases with “green effect on income. clearly defined at the mechanism (GRM) for forms” which were KALIA has now laid the outset, so that there is no KALIA in 2019 which was the delayed effect of reforms on the agri- The recent farmer essentially applications foundation for a state- possibility of misuse, and accessible to farmers agitation has brought the from farmers who wanted wide farmer database with personal data of citizens “offline” at the Common performance. issue of farmer distress to opt in. Together, this led 100 per cent Aadhaar, must be fully protected. In Service Centres closest to As a part of the roadmap, the book makes a front and centre in the to the creation of a list of mobile number and the case of KALIA, the them. Nearly 10 lakh public consciousness. The 1.2 crore applicants. The financial address seeding. Odisha government grievances were received case for states to move beyond production- time seems ripe to find new second step involved This database can be obtained consent for use and resolved using this solutions to the structural verification of information leveraged for targeted of citizen data. The data GRM. Going forward, it centric approach to a value-chain approach challenges facing farmers. through databases like the scheme delivery beyond was kept behind a secure will be important to with FPOs at its centre. It highlights One promising step is the Socio-Economic Caste DIS, issuing customised firewall, and access to monitor GRMs to ensure shift from non-targeted Census, National Food agri-advisories and farmer data was only timely redress and carry importance and requirement of growing agriculture subsidies Security Act and other improving financial available to relevant out design iterations based towards direct income databases; de-duplication access. public investments in basic infrastructure, support (DIS). A key through Aadhaar; and bank As governments build like roads, markets, power supplies, and agri- question has been on account verification and enhance tech systems “targeting”, that is, through bank databases. for social welfare, KALIA R&D. And finally, in the longer run, whether one can reach the The third step involved emphasises that intended beneficiaries in a excluding ineligible governments should use rationalising subsidies (both input and output) cost-effective manner applicants like government an “open digital via direct income transfer is suggested, as through DIS. employees, tax payers, ecosystems” approach in Over the last few years, large farmers, and those design. Three key that will not only empower farmer but will also several DIS programmes that voluntarily opted out. learnings stand out. have been launched with The use of technology First, existing citizen give them right signals for efficient use of states leading the charge: and non-farm databases and transaction databases Telangana’s Rythu Bandhu also meant that KALIA can be creatively these resources (fertilisers, power, water). and Odisha’s KALIA could include leveraged to identify This will help put agriculture on a higher schemes being two sharecroppers, tenant and intended beneficiaries examples, followed by the landless farmers as (KALIA used more than growth trajectory, augment farmers’ incomes, Centre’s PM-KISAN. beneficiaries, which is a 20 existing datasets). As Odisha’s KALIA significant step towards governments build more officials on a need-to- on feedback from the and promote sustainable development of scheme offers some inclusive agricultural databases and GovTech know basis. Going ground. agriculture. important lessons for DIS policy-making. platforms, keeping them forward, “privacy by The potential of schemes everywhere. Have these efforts borne interoperable, modular, design” principles must be technology to transform If the Narendra Modi government follows this Under its first phase, Rs fruit? Preliminary results with open-source woven into the social welfare delivery is 2,500 crore was given as from a World Bank technology and open architecture of such exciting. An approach that path of investing in infrastructure, ensuring a DIS to 51 lakh farmers, in evaluation suggest that APIs, will allow these GovTech platforms. leverages data to more diversified agriculture and linking small- a four-month period. KALIA beneficiaries are platforms to “talk to each Third, effective maximise citizen benefits, Odisha used a three-step less likely to take out crop other” and enable their grievance redressal is while ensuring privacy, holder FPOs with markets, it will pay rich framework, called loans. Those who do take rapid and cost-effective critical if schemes like security and access, must “Unification-Verification- crop loans, take smaller leveraging. these have to work for be the way forward, if we dividends not only to the farming community Exclusion”, to identify loans than non- Second, the governance, every Indian. Odisha are to truly realise the but also the entire economy. beneficiaries. The first step beneficiaries. This or “rules of engagement”, established an online power of digital to serve involved unifying state suggests a smoothening of such databases must be grievance redressal every Indian. FEATURES Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 5 Approach with caution: cleaning the Afghan mess...... Ram Madhav country hardly has any could not be built except they are now putting does not have any friends in Islamic arc is emerging in Jinping’s China is an predicament: “Holding the serious security challenges around American power. If pressure on Ghani to share the Taliban. The romantic India’s neighbourhood aggressive superpower. tail of a tiger” . You can The Americans now want emanating from near about. Americans instead turned power with the Taliban notion that there cannot be comprising Pakistan, Iran, “Time and momentum are neither hold on to it nor India to be a part of The long-distance back to their narrow, without an election. They any “good” and “bad” Iraq, Syria and Turkey. A on our side”, Xi declared leave it. Afghanistan is that Afghanistan deliberations. challenges are largely from selfish, provincial did the same thing in the Taliban has led to its refusal Taliban regime in recently at the Fifth Plenum tiger. India should tread US Secretary of State Tony unstable regions like the purposes, the peace would 1990s after the withdrawal to engage even when Afghanistan would of the Communist Party. Xi cautiously. One thing in Blinken wrote to Afghan Middle East or rising new collapse,” he warned. FDR of Soviet troops. They not sections of the Taliban naturally become a member will play an active role in India’s favour is the President Ashraf Ghani powers like China. The dismissed his critics, only supported Gulbuddin wanted its support. Nor of that arc. Iran is the only Afghanistan with the help dominant public opinion in recommending an UN-led Americans are thus a insisting that even if Hekmatyar’s mujahideen to does it have any great country in the arc with of his comrade-in-arms Afghanistan. Converting it deliberation hosted by relaxed people. Having America were not fight the Soviet forces but friends on the other side whom India has better Putin once the US into a strategic advantage is Turkey and participated in developed enough military threatened by Germany and allowed them to train their after the tragic killing of relations. Finally, China. withdrawal is complete. the challenge that India’s by the US, Pakistan, India, might to evade any future Japan directly, “a world in guns on Najibullah’s General Razik two years While America is a There is a proverb that security establishment Iran, Russia and China. In Pearl Harbour and 9/11- which those powerful government and take over ago. A new non-Arab reluctant superpower, Xi aptly portrays India’s should be seized of. other words, the “Doha type attacks, American dictatorships dominated the country. process” will become the public opinion now swings would be a shabby and History is “Istanbul process”. But the in favour of reduced global dangerous place to repeating itself now. Russians do not want India. responsibility. Theodore live in”. After the Taliban Social distancing, work from home, Russia has called for its Roosevelt was the first US Dean takeover, the meeting in Moscow, where President before World War Americans want India was not invited. India I to encourage a greater the mess to be would “eventually” be a role for America handled by provide a template for paper-less courts part of the process, Russia in the global countries like In the past few days, “corona” is a word that has dominated every discussion. But this crisis also presents an said. It is obvious that security India. India opportunity. It has given us a glimpse into how we may solve overcrowding problems in the future, whether in terms Russia was not keen on landscape by has been a of traffic, in healthcare facilities or the courtroom. If social distancing and working from home is a way to cope with India’s participation. calling for the reticent the coronavirus epidemic, could these form the basis for technology-guided solutions in the future as well? Earlier, India was not keen formation of a regional A couple of years ago, I spoke at an event about the concept of paperless and people-less courts. This an achievable either when it was invited “World League power in and realistic goal. We just have to change our attitude. The legal curriculum has to change. Future generations of by Russia, despatching two for Peace of all these lawyers should study not only legal subjects but also technology and management. We have to think out of the box junior officers from the Righteousness”. decades. It is and change mindsets. Paperless courts have been a topic of discussion in the last few years, and we can see some steps External Affairs Ministry as President Woodrow the largest being taken in that direction. But old habits die hard. passive spectators. Wilson made it a development donor of over Just as continuous legal education is part of a lawyer’s routine, adaptation to technology must also become a Afghanistan is America’s reality in the form of $3 billion in Afghanistan. professional goal. By using video evidence, video-conferencing and telepresence technologies effectively, a paper-less latest bloody nose in Asia. the League of Nations Acheson, Yet, it stayed away from and crowd-less court can indeed become a reality. By leading from the front in this area, India will be also doing its Almost all US interventions after the war. Franklin President Harry conflict resolution activity part to combat global warming. With the reduction or near elimination of paper, and a reduced crowd at courts, there in the region after World Roosevelt (FDR) laid the Truman’s Secretary of for all these years. It would will be a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of the country. War II have been major foundation for the United State, had declared that the display righteous Technology can be indeed a solution for the legal fraternity while dealing with both contentious and non-contentious disasters. In Korea in the Nations Organisation after US would be “the indignation at being matters. We must invest in virtual courtrooms and I am convinced that, barring a few exceptions, hearings can be 1950s and Vietnam in the World War II. locomotive at the head of excluded from the Doha conducted on a virtual basis. This will eliminate paper and it will eliminate crowding. But it will certainly not eliminate 1970s, the Americans were Both Wilson and FDR mankind”. talks, but privately, the work and the workplace. In the era of high-speed internet and other advanced technologies, we can change our future humiliated by forces faced resistance largely Yet, the core American leadership was happy to be and create opportunities for everyone. Virtual courtrooms and case management, and the use of technology, data science supported by Mao’s Red from the Republicans, who public sentiment remained out of the quagmire. and artificial intelligence will address the issue of judicial delay that has clogged our legal system. The rule of law Army. The record in South insisted that America’s one of a reluctant global Before deciding to will be upheld in the true sense when the justice delivery system will become efficient, people-friendly and citizens and West Asia has also been enthusiasm to build a new player. Even before it puts change that reticence, India can receive legal redress in a time-bound manner. one of strategic blunders world order is against the one foot in a troubled must take into account a We have an opportunity to transform the relationship between the law and the community by increasing access to and tactical failures. In Iran, principles of its founding country, it readies the other few ground realities. The justice, removing the disadvantages engendered by increasing inequality. But most of all, we can address the increasing it repeatedly cut a sorry fathers and would be costly foot for return. It largely Taliban are a much stronger demands of people. The administration of justice will need a new approach, new strategy and more empowered figure. The Afghan story, for its people. Wilson plays it safe. We have seen force in Afghanistan today. decision-making in the digital world. Most of all, the adaptability and agility of the modern judiciary in leading a court too, does not seem to end defended his initiative by its hot and cold manoeuvres They control almost all system that keeps pace with the rapidly changing demands of society will be on test. differently. insisting that America’s in Pakistan several times. It highways. Their estimated COVID-19 has forced people to maintain social distance, work from home – a minimum number of people, purely The problem with interests lie in a “liberal is happening now in strength is between 80,000 based on need, come to the court. But this can be extended beyond the current crisis. Let’s convert this crisis into an America is that it is a Europe, peaceful Asia and Afghanistan. The to 1,00,000 warriors. On the opportunity. Let us debate and explore the possibilities of how we can change in the future. reluctant superpower. open and safe oceans on Americans are in a hurry to other hand, the Afghan If 2020 will be dominated by the effects of the coronavirus, the year should also be one when we learnt from the Sitting in a safe cocoon with which the Americans and go back before May 1, forces will be substantially crisis. We owe this to New India. Let’s challenge the status quo. Paperless courts have been a topic of discussion in vast oceans and friendly their goods can travel 2021. After the highly- weakened in the absence of the last few years, and we can see some steps being taken in that direction. But old habits die hard. powers on all sides, the safely”. “Such a world lopsided Doha agreement, American airpower. India

Till my last, will serve humanity Tastes like cardboard: the long term effects of Covid Tilted and wilting, uprooted I stand. The early days of Ektaa Malik sourness of the For some, the aftereffects taste, or hypogeusia, rajma-chawal or the COVID-19 drew our my life were spent in the company of friends, big and accompanying mango of the infection are worse doesn’t at first seem as convenient weekday attention to another fault small, most of who are no more. My early reminiscences There was a certain pickle. Instead, as I chewed than the infection itself and serious as some of the other breakfast of idlis might not line in our relationship with are of birds nesting on me. It was blissful to be a home to Pavlovian anticipation to my first mouthful, it felt getting back to life as it aftereffects of COVID. But be culinary breakthroughs food, by rendering many various kinds of beings, also on wings. Squirrels would the whole exercise, as I like I was eating cardboard. was, before the virus it impacts the brain and our but, often, they remind us “long haulers” incapable of scamper on my branches all day. It was an ambience of kneaded the dough, mashed Frantic online searches wreaked havoc on the body, mental health much more of simpler times, when we smelling or tasting their jungle. I was sad to see a cunning cuckoo destroy eggs in boiled potatoes, added and long calls with my isn’t easy. Roughly one in than we think. Along with had fewer things to worry food. For them, even if they a nest and placing its own eggs there. chopped coriander and doctor revealed that I was three COVID anosmia the complete or about. The last one year has could afford it, the warm One day, we witnessed the activity of humans. They combined everything to a suffering from what many survivors partial loss of smell it can exposed the fraught and comfort of cooking and walked erect and worked with machines. From the talk of lumpy consistency. It had call “long COVID”. suffers wreak havoc on one’s fragile relationship we food remained elusive. my avian residents, it came to pass that humans were been a month since I had COVID “long haulers” perception of food. have with food. Millions This loss of taste is only going to build a hospital in our sylvan surroundings. The tested negative for suffer from exhaustion, Every time you cook, struggled to find food or now being acknowledged hospital was for a disease called tuberculosis. It was COVID-19, and after a brain fog and or are around your were left hungry by as a noteworthy side effect exciting to observe humans working! Sometimes, prolonged period of eating recurring favoured foods, an lockdowns around the of the virus. Vaccination disturbing too. The President of the country came to khichdi, curd-rice and body anticipation builds. world. Many, like the drives against the virus inaugurate the hospital. What a festive day! similar recuperative food, I But then, the stranded migrant workers have begun and, hopefully, Humans, ailing and withering, came and stayed in this felt that a stuffed, ghee- moment you eat, it of India, had to endure the pandemic will recede hospital. The sick and their attendants would relax in my laden aloo is replaced by extreme hardships to be without causing more shade and discuss disconcerting matters. It was painful to paratha was a disappointment able to scrape together a distress. listen to stories of human disease and squalor. I saw many good way to and, finally, a single square meal. Meanwhile, in the four sick people getting better, but I was also a witness to the get back on a feeling of Then there were those months since I tested last journey of some. Once a young man came to see a normal diet. I emptiness. It’s who began to cook and eat negative, I haven’t tasted relative and on learning that there was no teashop there, set had contracted like playing because they could afford the perfect cup of tea that up a makeshift shop under my shade. Years later, I learnt COVID-19 in hide and to as a way of managing once made all the that this kind soul got afflicted with tuberculosis and bade November and seek with a stress during an difference between a good goodbye to this world. experienced the mirage. unpredictable time. As the morning and a bad one. A few years ago, construction activity resumed on a debilitating For pandemic raged outside, Every day, I deal with the huge scale to start a medical school. Labour came, as did bodyache and many today, people who were safely at grey scale that my taste the machines. And then one day, a bunch of young girls exhaustion that are food is not just home, including the rich buds have reduced my and boys started living here. Many more came year after among the most sustenance. Many of us and the famous, could world to. Right now, food is year. I am privy to their cuddling and cajoling. The sweet common symptoms. cook and eat for pleasure, channel their energies just fuel, one that makes me nothings they shared are a holy secret. Many of these But it was the loss of my from some because we can and towards food. Food, for cringe every time I chew. young lovebirds later became life partners, and when they ability to smell and taste such aftereffects, because we want to. There them, was the perfect The diminished ability to revisit this place with their kids, I feel like a blessed that left me reeling. So even after the infection is a particular sensation or escape during these trying taste, or hypogeusia, parent. When buildings needed expansion, humans were now, even before I took a period of 15-21 days. As we satisfaction that we are times. In fact, given the impacts our mental health ruthless in cutting some of my roots and branches. I turned bite of my first normal meal pain, learn more and more about looking for, when we eat sheer number of people much more than we think. weak. During a storm, my roots gave way, and today here in months, my mouth began frequently the virus, it is now believed our favourite foods. For who had suddenly turned to Along with anosmia the I am uprooted, tilted and wilting. But I found happiness salivating, anticipating the accompanied by the that “long COVID” lasts example, comfort food baking, many stores in complete or partial loss of once again when humans started to hang clothes on my soft, chewy comfort of the impairment of the ability to three-six months. feeds our nostalgia. The Mumbai and Delhi ran out smell it can wreak havoc on branches to dry. paratha set off against the taste. The diminished ability to simple Sunday lunch of of baking supplies. one’s perception of food. Airlines must take Covid precautions seriously Pankaj Butalia COVID restrictions for talking to a friend in the Airlines hand out masks, conditioning with greater The second factor is a activities outside the airport permission to airlines to fly flights. It seems, however, front row as we waited for sanitisers as well as face frequency than in offices. statistical fantasy because region. Also, once there is should be made to travel by On March 5, 2021, that bodies like DGCA passengers from a London shields to all passengers but The other has been a there has been no serious confirmation of a case on a air more often. DGCA Justice C Hari Shankar of respect and respond to the flight to join us. “Since do nothing to implement the statistical one – stating that effort either to track flight, rarely is rigorous recently issued strict the Delhi High Court stick, and not concern for when does a flight get use of the same on the though millions have taken passengers who travelled tracking put in place to see guidelines regarding masks travelled from Kolkata to citizens. At 71, I had spent delayed for an hour and a flight. It is a routine sight to to flying during the by air, nor do passengers if there was any spread of on flights since the alarm Delhi by air. He was the better part of 2020 half because of a few see passengers putting pandemic, there are hardly alarmed by the situation dodging COVID passengers?” I asked him. away masks given by any cases of flight-based that confronted him. He successfully. For this ill- He shrugged his shoulders airlines and carrying on infections. The air found “many passengers… fated flight, we had inserted disinterestedly. “Ask the wearing whatever loose circulation system of exhibiting a stubborn Betadine in our nasal management. It’s their masks they came to the modern planes is certainly reluctance to wear their cavities just before decision. I’m only an airport with. Face shields better than that of most masks properly”. Within boarding and wore double employee”. This provided by airlines are offices. But that is true only one week of the Hon’ble masks and face shields. But carelessness cuts across rarely used. Considering when the plane is in the air judge’s comments, the such protections become airlines as well as the the wearing of fresh masks and its air-conditioning DGCA (Director General of meaningless when other various airport authorities. and face shields were part system is in full flow. If a Civil Aviation) issued strict passengers are talking The security check is the of the conditions on which plane is on the ground for an guidelines governing the without masks, while their first area of confusion. This airlines obtained hour and a half after wearing of masks on maskless children, who “no man’s land” is where permission to operate in the boarding, it’s like fitting in flights. scream for more food, eat multiple authorities operate first place, it is nothing but 200-300 people in a small The DGCA did no such throughout the journey. The but no one is responsible. a travesty of the whole box and letting them exhale thing when I complained in airline joins in by delaying This is also the area in process for airlines to hand as much COVID- November that my wife and the flight by more than an which crowding happens these out but not insist on contaminated air as they I had contracted COVID on hour and a half after with passengers struggling them being used. may wish to. The low-level a flight between Delhi and boarding, feeding to get ahead – often with Airlines have been air conditioning that is Goa. I complained that air passengers for over an hour masks worn under the chin screaming from treetops functional in planes on the hostesses, as well as out of a two-hour flight, and and with no concept of that air travel is COVID- ground may as well not be passengers, were lax in presiding over a free-for- distancing. This crowding safe. Two factors have been there. Why these don’t find implementing guidelines all, mask-less journey. I is also seen at the boarding touted as evidence of this. mention in standard who may have caught the that infection or not. was raised by Justice C Hari mandated by the DGCA complained to the two air site where the same casual One has been the air operating procedures of infection on board have any This incessant search for Shankar of Delhi HC. But itself, as well as by the hostesses, but both pleaded attitude is repeated right circulation system onboard airlines during a pandemic way of knowing if their profit shall surely be the airlines have been too Supreme Court, as a pre- helplessness. I called out to under the noses of airline aircraft, which introduces like COVID is something infection could be death of us one day. Or, casual about implementing condition for the easing of the pilot who was busy employees. fresh air into the air that defies logic. attributed to the flight or to maybe judges who grant Covid restrictions. Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 6 On Mexico’s border with US, desperation as migrant traffic piles up Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions Vatican: The Vatican said does not permit homosexual ples.”For this reason, it is not The migrants’ hopes have In the United States, feder- the U.S. Customs and Border networks who prey on Jenny Contreras, a 19- on Monday that priests and marriage. licit to impart a blessing on been drummed up by human al authorities are scrambling Protection. From his office in migrants’ desperation to year-old Guatemalan mother other Catholic Church minis- Pope Francis approved the relationships, or partner- smugglers who promise that to manage a sharp increase in Ciudad Juárez, Enrique extort or kidnap them for ran- of a 3-year-old girl, collapsed President Joe Biden’s admin- children who are crossing the Valenzuela sprang from his som probably would. in a seat as Valenzuela hand- ters cannot bless same-sex response, the CDF said, ships, even stable, that istration will welcome them. border on their own and then chair, leaving a meeting to The migrants nine adults ed out hand sanitizer. unions and that such bless- adding that it was “not involve sexual activity out- Instead, the United States being held in detention facil- run to the bridge to meet the and 10 children wiped their “I did not make it,” she ings are “not licit” if carried intended to be a form of side of marriage (i.e., outside is expelling them back to ities, often longer than per- families after his daughter, tears as Valenzuela drew sobbed into the phone as she out. The Vatican’s doctrinal unjust discrimination, but the indissoluble union of a Mexico, where they wait mitted by law. And the Elena, 13, spotted them com- near. The moment was one of spoke with her husband, a rather a reminder of the truth man and a woman open in along with tens of thousands twinned crises on both sides ing. Jenny Contreras, left, is several such scenes of butcher in Chicago. of the liturgical rite”. itself to the transmission of of the border show no sign of consoled by Lidia despair and confusion wit- “Biden promised us!” It said such blessings were life), as is the case of the abating. Near the crossing Hernandez, both of nessed by New York Times wailed another woman. not permissible even though unions between persons of with El Paso, Texas, a group Guatemala, after being noti- journalists at the border over Many of the migrants said they were “motivated by a the same sex,” it said. of mothers and fathers fied of their pending deporta- three days. “The border is they had spent their life sav- sincere desire to welcome The Vatican's doctrinal clutching their children were tion in Ciudad Juarez, closed,” Valenzuela said. ings and gone into debt to and accompany homosexual office, the Congregation for sobbing as they walked back Mexico, March 13, 2021. “Come with me, I will help.” pay coyotes human smug- persons” and help them grow the Doctrine of the Faith into Mexico from the United (Daniel Berehulak/The New He led the group to his office glers who had falsely prom- office, the Congregation for in the faith. (CDF), issued the ruling in States on Saturday. They York Times) near the rusty border wall ised them that the border was the Doctrine of the Faith The CDF note said that response to questions and of others hoping to cross. The walked unsteadily, in sneak- Valenzuela, a coordinator that separates El Paso from open after Biden’s election. (CDF), issued the ruling in since marriage between a moves in some parishes to pressure, and desperation, is ers too loose after their for the Mexican govern- Ciudad Juárez, topped with Still, the migrants keep response to questions and man and a woman was a impart such blessings as a quickly building among fam- shoelaces were confiscated ment’s migration efforts in miles of new concertina wire coming, and many officials moves in some parishes to sacrament and blessings are sign of welcome to gay ilies stuck in Mexico, as shel- and discarded along with all Chihuahua state, knew that if installed in the final weeks of believe the numbers could be impart such blessings as a related to the sacrament of Catholics since the Church ters and officials struggle to their other personal items he couldn’t get to them to President Donald Trump’s bigger than those seen in sign of welcome to gay marriage, they could not be does not permit homosexual help them. when they were detained by offer help, organized crime administration, officials said. recent years. Catholics since the Church extended to same-sex cou- marriage. Martial law imposed in parts of Myanmar She was buried with a silver crown Was she the one who held power? About 3,700 years ago, a appear to have been mem- The New York Times) embellished the diamond- University of Barcelona and city as deaths rise, at least 38 killed man and a woman were bers of the Argaric upper She died in her 20s, possi- shaped ceramic pot near her, one of the discoverers of the Myanmar’s ruling junta has townships, Hlaing Thar Yar dozen civilians were wound- buried together in the south- class. And the woman may bly of tuberculosis, and had and triple plates of silver burial. “It’s shining. You declared martial law in parts and neighboring Shwepyitha ed and described a large num- east of the Iberian Peninsula. have been the more impor- been placed on her back with embellished her oak-wood could actually see yourself in of the country’s largest city as were being placed under mar- ber of junta forces engaged in Their tomb was an ovoid jar tant of the two, raising ques- her legs bent toward the awl a symbol of woman- the disc. Framing the eyes of security forces killed more tial law. the township. beneath the floor of a grand tions for archaeologists man. In life, she had a range hood. that woman, it would be a protesters in an increasingly Video from Hlaing Thar At least four people were hall in an expansive hilltop about who wielded power of congenital anomalies such Her most fantastic silver lethal crackdown on resist- Yar township showed people shot dead during protests in complex known as La among the Argarics, and as a shortened, fused spine artifact is an impeccably ance to last month’s military running away after gunfire Myanmar on Sunday, as secu- Almoloya, in what is now adding more evidence to a and a stunted left thumb. crafted diadem a headband- coup. At least 38 people were was heard. Those fleeing car- rity forces continued their vio- Murcia, Spain. It’s one of debate about the role of On and around her were like crown that still rested on killed Sunday and dozens ried one injured person and lent crackdown against dis- many archaeological sites women in prehistoric sublime silver emblems of her head. Only six have been were injured in one of the tried to revive two others, one sent following last month’s associated with El Argar cul- Europe. wealth and power. Her hair discovered in Argaric graves. deadliest days of the crack- who seemed to be dead or military coup. ture of the Early Bronze Age A photo shows a 3,700- had been fastened with silver She would have shim- down, according to the dying, the footage from inde- Since the takeover six that controlled an area about year-old grave in the La spirals, and her silver earlobe mered in life. “Imagine the Assistance Association for pendent Democratic Voice of weeks ago, Myanmar has the size of Belgium from Almoloya archaeological plugs one larger than the diadem with a disc going very, very impressive thing Political Prisoners, an inde- Burma showed. been under a nationwide state 2200 B.C. to 1500 B.C. site in southern Spain. other had silver spirals down to the tip of her nose,” to see. And the ability of pendent group tracking the Hlaing Thar Yar was the of emergency, with its civilian Judging by the 29 high- (Arqueoecologia Social looped through them. A sil- said Cristina Rihuete somebody to be reflected toll of the violence. location of 22 civilian deaths leaders ousted and detained value objects in the tomb, Mediterrània Research ver bracelet was near her Herrada, an archaeologist their face in another face Most of those killed 34 Sunday, according to the aid and military leaders in charge described Thursday in the Group, Universitat elbow, and a silver ring was and professor of prehistory would have been something were in Yangon, where two group, which said more than a of all government. journal Antiquity, the couple Autònoma de Barcelona via still on her finger. Silver at the Autonomous shocking.” 2 killed, 13 wounded at party on Chicago’s South Side UK PM Boris Johnson ‘deeply concerned’ Gunfire erupted at a party fire department spokesman The Tribune cited prelimi- medical examiner’s office said investigators were still at footage of police breaking up vigil on Chicago’s South Side Larry Merritt told the nary information in a police said. seeking a possible motive. British Prime Minister Common on Saturday night,” at the failure of police and early Sunday, killing two Chicago Sun-Times. Others report as saying the shooting Speaking to reporters near Brown said four guns were Boris Johnson said on Johnson said in a statement, wider society to tackle vio- people and wounding 13 oth- went to hospitals on their may have been gang-related. the scene of the shooting in recovered at the scene, but he Sunday he was deeply con- referring to the London park- lence against women. ers in what authorities say own or were taken by A woman who had been shot cerned at footage of police land near where the Johnson said he would may have been a gang-relat- acquaintances, which com- in the head was found dead breaking up a weekend vigil impromptu gathering took chair a meeting of senior ed shooting. plicated getting an accurate outside the building, and a for a murdered woman that place in defiance of a police ministers and police on Officers responded at count of the wounded, said 39-year-old man was found drew heavy public criticism ban on due to COVID-19 Monday to look at what more around 4:.0 am (local time) to authorities, who initially dead inside in a back room, of the force. London police restrictions. Johnson said the needed to be done to protect reports of a shooting at a tow- reported that 10 people had according to the police faced an official inquiry into Metropolitan Police women and ensure streets ing company where the party been shot but later raised the report. Authorities hadn’t their actions after they inter- Commissioner Cressida Dick were safe. The meeting will took place, police said. Jose total to 12 and then 15 peo- made any arrests as of vened on Saturday night in had committed to reviewing cover how the criminal jus- Jara, a department ple. Sunday afternoon. the vigil for Sarah Everard, the police action and Interior tice system works to protect spokesman, said in a state- Red and black balloons The Cook County medical 33, who disappeared as she minister Priti Patel had victims of rape and sexual ment that those shot were and a shoe were on the examiner’s office later identi- walked home on March 3. ordered a review to learn les- assault, and consider experi- between the ages of 20 and ground outside the business fied those killed as 30-year- A policeman has been sons on how to improve ences that many women 44. shortly after the shooting, the old Rayneesha Dotson and charged with her murder. policing of such events in shared on social media and Seven of the wounded Chicago Tribune reported. It 39-year-old Lionel Darling. Chicago’s Park Manor neigh- didn’t say whether investiga- “Like everyone who saw it I future. Everard’s killing has elsewhere in recent days were taken to hospitals in said a blood stain was also They were pronounced dead borhood, Police tors believe more than one was deeply concerned about provoked a huge outpouring about the fear they feel on serious to critical condition, visible on concrete. at 4:55 am at the scene, the Superintendent David Brown person fired shots. the footage from Clapham of grief and dismay in Britain Britain’s streets.”

Donald Trump’s nation- New Zealand decriminalises abortion al security advisor to Ebola-hit West African nations on New Zealand’s parliament abortion to go through many abortion was a win for Prime attend Russia’s May 9 decriminalised abortion on hoops,” Little explained. Minister Jacinda Ardern and Victory Day parade Wednesday, with members “That resulted in delays to her center-left coalition party. Moscow: US National voting 68 to 51 in favor of access a procedure, and that The reform was an issue she Security Advisor Robert alert amid coronavirus pandemic reforming the country’s 1977 was less safe.” had campaigned on when she O’Brien will travel to abortion legislation. The new “Today change has finally was elected in 2017. Moscow to attend Russia’s People in Liberia, Guinea outbreak was officially official, Nathanial Blama In communities across the law is expected to be signed come,” Little continued, New Zealand is the latest and Sierra Leone are ramping declared over. who was the first recorded country, memories of the World War Two Victory Day by the nation’s governor gen- “and safe abortion is legal in celebrations in May, US up preparations for a potential deadly Ebola virus, which eral. “For over 40 years abor- New Zealand.” ambassador John Sullivan coronavirus outbreak, with killed 4,800, are still strong in tion has been the only med- Jackie Edmond, the chief was cited as saying on many worried they will see a people’s minds. Prior to the ical procedure considered a executive of Family Thursday by the Interfax repeat of the chaos and misin- outbreak in 2014, Liberia’s crime in New Zealand,” Planning, the country’s news agency. formation associated with the health system was still strug- Justice Minister Andrew largest referrer of women to President Vladimir Putin 2014 – 2016 Ebola outbreak. gling to recover from the civil Little said in statement. “But abortion services, hailed the presides over an annual Although the virus has not war which ended in 2003, from now abortions will be vote and the fact that women nation in the world to loosen parade on May 9 to com- yet hit the continent as hard as with only 50 doctors for a rightly treated as a health were finally being trusted to abortion restrictions, follow- memorate the Soviet other parts of the world such population of over 4 million. issue.” Under the 1977 law, make their own health deci- ing South Korea’s high court Union’s World War Two vic- as Europe, the World Health Teacher Ruby Martine told an abortion was considered a sions. decision to overturn the tory over Nazi Germany and Organization (WHO) has DW she is already preparing crime, except when two doc- ”It’s fantastic Parliament country’s abortion ban and uses the occasion to show off expressed concern over the for the worst. tors certified that continuing has addressed something that Ireland’s legalisation via ref- the country’s military hard- vulnerability of resource- “You notice I have my a woman’s pregnancy would they should have addressed erendum. ware. Relations between poor countries with weak In Liberia, authorities have case in the country after gates locked right now,” she result in danger to her mental 40 years ago,” Edmond said. New Zealand is the latest Russia and the United States health systems. The 2014 – ordered schools to close for at returning from Switzerland. said, “You don’t know who or physical health. Conservative lawmaker nation in the world to loosen are at post-Cold War lows, 2016 Ebola outbreak in West least a week, with at least two Blama was allegedly sus- has the virus, because the peo- If found guilty of unlaw- Simeon Brown, who abortion restrictions, follow- strained by everything from Africa highlighted serious confirmed cases of the new pended from his position as ple we are depending on to fully terminating a pregnan- opposed the new bill, said an ing South Korea's high court Russia’s detention on spying flaws in emergency response coronavirus as of March 18. the head of the Environmental help us during the Ebola crisis cy, a woman could face a jail unborn child should be con- decision to overturn the charges of a former US systems, with the epidemic The second case was identi- Protection Agency after refus- can’t even help us now term of up to 14 years. sidered a person, treated with country's abortion ban and Marine to US allegations ultimately claiming over fied as a domestic worker in ing mandatory quarantine, because they too have the “The previous law dignity and respect. Ireland's legalisation via ref- that Moscow meddled in its 11,000 lives by the time the the home of the government however Blama disputes this. same problem.” required women seeking an The decriminalization of erendum. 2016 election. Iran’s supreme leader Some countries are better armoured for epidemics than others China defends expulsion of to pardon 10,000 journalists, accusing US of prejudice prisoners, including No European country is small firms and self- were a condition for receiv- fering of their neighbors. political ones escaping the economic con- employed people will suffer ing bailouts. Now these “While there are some Hong Konng: An increas- Around a dozen reporters expulsions were a response sequences of the coron- as well, because these busi- countries are tragically vul- countries far better prepared ingly rancorous rivalry could be required to leave, in to the Trump administra- Iran’s Supreme Leader avirus, but the pain won’t be nesses typically have thinner nerable. than others, no countries are between the United States a move that Beijing said was tion’s decision to limit the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei divided equally. financial reserves to survive The virus has spread its well prepared,” said Ryan and China entered a new reciprocation for the United number of Chinese citizens will pardon 10,000 prison- Southern Europe, which a sudden plunge in sales. woe in unpredictable ways, Morhard, a global health phase Wednesday as Beijing States’ forcing out of about from five state-controlled ers including political ones bore the brunt of the last big Greece and Italy are exam- and there are certain to be security expert at the World accused the Trump adminis- 60 Chinese reporters, who media outlets who could in honour of the Iranian economic crisis, will suffer ples, but so is the more unpleasant surprises. Economic Forum in Geneva. tration of starting a diplomat- worked for propaganda out- work in the United States to new year on Friday, state the most. Countries like Netherlands. Other countries “It’s still hard to say which Asked to name a country ic clash that led it to expel lets, this month. 100. On Wednesday, the TV reported. Greece and Italy depend may have hidden strengths. country will be hit the most that has handled the crisis almost all American journal- “The United States cannot Chinese government indicat- “Those who will be par- heavily on tourism and are An economy with lots of and which will be the most fairly well, Morhard cited ists from three newspapers. proceed from ideological ed it was prepared to take doned will not return to jail still suffering the lingering companies that can deliver resilient,” said Carsten Singapore, which of course The Chinese government prejudice, use its own stan- more measures if needed. almost half of those securi- effects of the eurozone debt their services digitally, and Brzeski, chief eurozone is not in Europe. cast its expulsion of the jour- dards and likes and dislikes “We urge the United States ty-related prisoners will be meltdown over the last where employees can work economist at the Dutch bank With solid government nalists from The New York to judge the media of other to immediately change its pardoned as well,” judici- decade, including austerity from home, should be rela- ING. “We are still in the mid- finances, low unemployment Times, The Wall Street countries, let alone suppress course, correct mistakes, and ary spokesman programs that left their tively resilient. This could be dle of the wave.” and a broad social safety net, Journal and The Washington the Chinese media unreason- stop political suppression Gholamhossein Esmaili health care systems ill pre- Estonia’s moment; its capi- The European economy is, Germany looks resilient. The Post as necessary to defend ably,” Geng Shuang, a and unreasonable restrictions told state TV on pared for a pandemic. tal, Tallinn, has a lively digi- by design, highly intercon- government was able to Beijing against what it per- Foreign Ministry spokesman, on Chinese media,” Geng Wednesday. On Tuesday, But even countries regard- tal startup scene. nected, and even countries assemble a powerful stimu- ceived as an ideological cam- said at a news conference in said. “If the United States Esmaili said Iran had tem- ed as paragons of competi- The most important eco- that seem relatively well pro- lus package without endan- paign by the United States to Beijing on Wednesday. insists on taking its own porarily freed about 85,000 tiveness, like Germany and nomic policy for any coun- tected will not be able to iso- gering the country’s credit impose its values on China. Beijing has said that the course, compounding mis- people from jail, including the Netherlands, may turn try, economists at Oxford late themselves from the suf- rating. takes, China will be forced to political prisoners, in out to have weaknesses that, Economics point out, is to take further countermea- response to the coronavirus until a few weeks ago, were get the virus under control. sures.” The expulsions, not epidemic. Esmaili did not regarded as strengths. That gives the advantage to seen to such an extent in say whether British-Iranian Germany’s automakers, for countries with effective lead- recent history, point to the aid worker Nazanin example, have dominated the ers and well-equipped health governing Communist Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was luxury car business. But the care systems. Party’s growing resolve to temporarily released on virus exposed their depend- Countries in southern strike back in all aspects of Tuesday for two weeks was ence on sales in China, and Europe cut back on health what is quickly becoming a among those who would be now they are closing facto- care spending during the bare-knuckled competition among those who will be ries all over the region. eurozone debt crisis to meet with the United States. pardoned. Any country with lots of stringent budget limits that Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 SPORTS/BUSINESS 7 ICC rates Narendra Modi Stadium Day after fighting fire in train, MP pitch for two-day Test match ‘average’ The Narendra Modi at the new stadium, which runs in what was the Stadium in Ahmedabad has is the world’s biggest shortest completed test archery team puts on a fired-up show avoided being hit with cricket venue with a match since 1935. demerit points after the Junior archer Sonia not panic. The teenager told me to not restrict the morale was intact despite some time to set the bow pitch for the pink-ball Test Thakur saw fire in the from Mandla near Jabalpur movement of other the trauma. She first shot a and adjust the finger tab on between India and England compartment of the train immediately alerted her passengers and stay low on score of 642 to emerge the bow, apart from was rated as “average” the floor (in case of fire). second in the ranking- drawing the bow several despite the match lasting That’s what we did.” But round on Sunday. Later, she times. Once that was done, only two days. she felt a pang shiver paired with Amit Thakur to I shot with a fresh mind and Venues can be suspended through her. “To see all our claim a silver medal in the it helped me to keep my for a year if they pick up equipment burn, I felt like mixed team recurve event, focus,” adds Thakur, who five demerit points and for losing something precious. after losing 2-6 in the final. will compete in the two years if they pick up 10. Like any kid, I cried a little MP archery team MP individual medal rounds on A “below average” rating as I lost my certificates and archery team members with Monday. by the International Cricket Aadhar card. But once we coaches at Dehradun. It was coach Ashok Council’s match referee reached Dehradun, the All this with a new bow, Yadav who first spotted the brings one point, a “poor” coaches made sure that we as the old one was fire and alerted the team rating brings three while the capacity of seating 132,000 Several former England only worry about getting a consumed by fire. She has members and the lowest rating of “unfit” people.Former India fast players and pundits night of good sleep,” she been practising with the passengers. Amit Kumar comes with five. Demerit bowler Javagal Srinath was questioned the suitability of narrated the ordeal to The. same bow since 2018 at the rushed to alert the Railway points remain active for a the match referee for the the pitch while their Indian they were travelling from seven other teammates and Soon after they were Madhya Pradesh Archery Police Staff personnel in the rolling five years. four-match series, which counterparts said the poor Delhi to Dehradun on fellow passengers. evacuated, she called her Academy, and hence took train and later held the India won the third test the hosts won 3-1. batting was due to the pink Saturday for the 41st Junior The advice of her father, father Mohan and assured time to adjust to the new sliding door on the other inside two days after 30 England collapsed for 81 ball, which replaces the National Archery a gym instructor, was him she was safe. The next one. “Once the new end to let the passengers wickets tumbled in five in their second innings, and traditional red balls for day- Championship, but she did ringing in her ears. “He had day, she ensured that her equipment came, it took rush out. sessions on a turning track neither side reached 150 night test matches. Fencer Bhavani Devi makes Di Maria forced to leave PSG game Jasprit Bumrah, Sanjana Ganesan begin history, qualifies for Olympics after ‘violent robbery’ at home in Paris She wears a see-through, sport isn’t particularly easy Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria was ‘new journey together’, get married in Goa mesh tri-colour on her full- to just lace up shoes and substituted Sunday during the second half of his team’s face masked helmet. She is pick up – this qualification French league game amid reports his home had been India pacer Jasprit ceremony attended by close together. Today is one of the League 2021 where also deeply influenced by points to Bhavani’s burglarized with his family inside. On the field, days after Bumrah tied the knot with friends and family happiest days of our lives defending champions the tale of Queen Velu individual endeavour and the high of knocking out Barcelona in the Champions sports presenter Sanjana members. Bumrah, 27, and we feel blessed to be Mumbai Indians will be Nachiyar, or Veeramangai, her blazing ambition. League, PSG came tumbling back down to reality with a Ganesan in a private shared the news on able to share the news of taking on Royal the ruler of Sivaganga who Bhavani DeviYoungest 2-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Nantes. ceremony in Goa on Instagram with the caption, our wedding and our joy Challengers Bangalore in is supposed to have waged of four children, born to an Leonardo leans over to speak to Pochettino. Leonardo Monday, beginning their “Lsove, if it finds you with you. Jasprit & the season opener at the the first war of freedom on always encouraging gets on his phone, Pochettino then brings Di Maria off & ‘new journey together.’ worthy, directs your course. Sanjana.” MA Chidambaram Stadium the British in 1770s. homemaker mother and a both disappear down the tunnel only for Poch to reappear Bumrah and Sanjana got Steered by love, we have Bumrah had requested in Chennai on April 9. But what Chadalavada father who was a priest. shortly after Around the hour mark, PSG coach Mauricio married in a private begun a new journey Anandha Sundhararamana There was never a doubt Pochettino left the field for a few moments following an Bhavani Devi, India’s first that Bhavani had the speed earlier discussion with sporting director Leonardo, who Why Ishan Kishan delayed raising ever fencer to qualify for the was on his cell phone. It was unclear why the exchange Olympics, has managed in happened but it coincided with Argentina veteran Di his bat after scoring 50 on debut the modern world of Maria going off. competitive sport, is a Pochettino accompanied his countryman Di Maria back Ishan Kishan got to his half-century on T20I debut for pioneering toe-hold into to the locker room with his arm around him. India with a cracking six off Adil Rashid in the 2nd T20I what is considered one of “There was a situation outside of sport itself that you’re vs England on Sunday, but he raised his bat to the most elite disciplines. now aware of,” Pochettino said after the game, without acknowledge the cheers after a momentary delay. Fencing with its regal mentioning Di Maria by name. “For the players this goes Speaking after the match, Kishan said he realized he had sporting origins in Europe, for sabre, the fastest of the beyond soccer and it should be taken into consideration.” crossed 50 only after Virat Kohli, who was at the non- remains the preserve of the sword events. Italian coach RMC Sport reported that club captain Marquinhos’ striker’s end, told him. the Board of Control for Sanjana has hosted a first world with a Nicolo Zanotti has spoken parents were also burgled on Sunday night, without giving “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I had reached my fifty. Cricket in India (BCCI) to number of shows on the stranglehold of the earlier of her ability to grasp further details. Angel Di Maria & another PSG player had When Virat bhai told me ‘Top innings’, that’s when I be released from the fourth Indian Premier League continent’s sporting the nuances while keeping their homes broken into during the Nantes match. In Di realised. But after a fifty, I usually don’t raise my bat. and final Test against (IPL), badminton, etc. for superpowers in this sport up the speed of movements. Maria’s case, his family were present. Virat bhai ki peeche se awaaz aati hai ‘Oye, chaaro taraf England for personal Star Sports. The 28-year- being very tight. China, But for someone hailing Defending champion PSG’s seventh defeat of the Japan and Korea have from a middle-class family ghoom ke bat dikha. Sab ko bat dikha, pehla match hai reasons. Ever since, old has also been hosting league season left it three points behind leader Lille and tera’ (But Virat bhai shouted from behind, ‘Raise your speculation over his the weekly show for the IPL broken through in the in Chennai’s discipline that carries a Washermenpet, Olympics level with third-place Lyon, which hosts PSG next Sunday bat to all four corners of the ground. Show it to everyone, marriage started doing the franchise Kolkata Knight and won in Paris earlier this season. it is your first match).’ Only then I raised my bat because rounds on social media. Riders (KKR) titled staggering 36 medals and is was like reaching the moon hence pushed by every when she took up the sport PSG has lost five more games than Lille and four more I felt it was an order,” Kishan said while speaking to The Indian pacer was not ‘Knights Club’. than Lyon, and would be further adrift if those two sides Yuzvendra Chahal on the spinner’s talk show on bcci.tv. added to the T20I squad for Sanjana is a Miss India country to amp up the medal in her school at age 9. placings. Youngest of four children, had not drawn so many games. A win would have moved Kishan and Kohli added 94 runs in the 9 overs they the England series and is 2014 finalist and the PSG ahead of Lille on goal difference. were together, setting off India’s chase after the early unlikely to be part of the Maharashtra girl also But for an Indian to born to an always dream of cracking those encouraging homemaker “We missed the chance to go first. We lost points and wicket of KL Rahul. Both batsmen started by rotating ODI series as well. participated in the MTV that’s always frustrating and disappointing,” Pochettino the strike in the partnership, before Kishan set off first, He will, however, be show Splitsvilla 7 before highest of echelons of mother and a father who Olympic sport when was a priest, but gorged on said. “It’s getting more difficult now, but there are still a reaching his half-century amidst a storm of boundaries, back in action for the starting her career as a lot of games left.” Only nine, though, and Nantes felt PSG getting to the mark off 28 balls. equipment is niche, literary texts in multiple upcoming Indian Premier sports anchor and presenter. coaching is specialised, the languages. was there for the taking. Govt’s late rescue act for telcos means it stands to lose the most Nifty Pharma in green led by Lupin; volumes On 24 October 2019, if the order was payments due from But pointing all this out the apex court agrees to the of Vodafone Idea, ITC, YES Bank surge when the Supreme Court implemented strictly. Vodafone Idea Ltd, which is has earned the government government’s proposal of ordered telecom companies According to its own expected to go bankrupt. the Supreme Court’s ire. staggered payments. But The Indian stock market The auto index included Maruti Suzuki, to pay dues related to calculation, telecom firms Besides, there are a One way to look at this is even then, the massive is witnessing a roller underperformed, down Axis Bank, M&M, Tech licence fee and spectrum owe the government 1.69 number of other that the government liability— ?58,254 crore in coaster ride with Sensex is over 4 percent dragged by Mahindra and Bajaj usage charge, this column trillion in all, as a result of consequences, such as overplayed its hand. But a all for Vodafone Idea—is down 309.62 points or Bharat Forge which tanked Finance. The stocks which had said that the the order. The government disruption in telecom more accurate reading, say expected to break the 1.07% at 28559.89, and the over 11 percent followed by moved the most with government should be the is unlikely to receive even services, and risks to the analysts tracking the sector, company’s back. It has Nifty fell 128 points or MRF, Maruti Suzuki, respect to volumes included first to protest the order. half of this, not to mention banking sector, which the is that the government is to already paid ?6,854 crore, Mahindra & Mahindra and Vodafone Idea which was Even though it had won the the risk of losing out huge government tried to explain be blamed for the state the and doesn’t have much cash Ashok Leyland. up 6 percent. It was trading case, it had far more to lose amounts in deferred in an affidavit to the industry now finds itself in. left on its books for However, share price of with volumes of Supreme Court. Its rescue act came too late additional repayments. Hero MotoCorp jumped 69,405,744 shares, In addition, a self- in the day. Even with a further hike over 5 percent and was the compared to its five day assessment of dues by Vodafone Group Plc. has in tariffs, cash flows may top Sensex gainer followed average of 137,829,265 telcos themselves came up already written off its not be enough to service the by Exide Industries, Bajaj shares, a decrease of -49.64 with a far lower liability investment in the Indian massive debt and other 1.51% at 8340.80. Auto and Motherson Sumi percent. YES Bank stock figure. For telcos that are operations, and is unlikely regulatory payments. If the Nifty Pharma was the Systems. The volatility price was down 11 percent. still operational, the to invest large amounts to government is really keen only sector trading in the index is up 12.71 percent at It was trading with volumes liability figure through the salvage the situation. This on Vodafone Idea’s green, up almost a percent 72.09 level. The stop of 16,053,611 shares, self-assessment method means that the government survival, it would now need led by Lupin which jumped gainers included ITC, Hero compared to its five day stood at just 31% of the will be the biggest loser, in to consider measures such over 5 percent followed by MotoCorp, Bharti Airtel, average of 27,911,783 amount calculated by the terms of lost revenue. as sharp reductions in Divis Labs, Glenmark Kotak Mahindra Bank and shares, a decrease of -42.48 government. The only hope now is that regulatory levies. Pharma and Sun Pharma. Infosys while the top losers percent. TCS overtakes RIL to become most valued firm Tata Consultancy However, decline in Last week also, Reliance IndiGo Cuts Senior Employees' Pay, CEO Takes 25% Hit Services on Wednesday shares of TCS was not that shares came under massive IndiGo, the country's spreading coronavirus know how hard it is for salary cut of 15 per cent. number of coronavirus went past Reliance sharp as it fell 0.44 per cent selling pressure amid largest airline by market outbreak, which has almost families to take a cut in Assistant vice presidents, cases in India had risen to Industries Limited yet again to Rs 1,650.95 at close. On plunge in international oil share, on Thursday 2,19,000 cases reported "take home pay". cabin crew and "Band D" 169, after 18 fresh cases to become the most valued March 9 also, Tata prices. In just about four announced a pay cut for its globally and caused more "With a great deal of employees will take a pay from various parts of the Indian firm by market Consultancy Services had months, Reliance Industries senior employees due to than 8,900 deaths. reluctance and a deep sense cut of 10 per cent, whereas country. valuation. raced past RIL to become m-cap has slumped from the shrinking revenues. Chief "With the precipitous of regret, we are therefore a 5 per cent cut will be At close of trade on the most valued domestic firm highs of Rs 10 lakh crore it executive officer Ronojoy drop in revenues, the very instituting pay cuts for all RNI No. : BSE, the market by m-cap. hit in November last year. Dutta said he will take a cut survival of the airline employees, excluding UPENG/2008/44159. For capitalisation (m-cap) of A heavy sell-off in the RIL and TCS have in the of 25 per cent as the industry is now at stake," Bands A and B, starting TCS was at Rs 6,19,499.95 equity market since past past also competed with coronavirus outbreak has the IndiGo CEO wrote in an April 1, 2020," Mr Dutta Moral Vision Prakashan crore, which is Rs 5,320.02 few days has pulled down each other for the number affected the profitability of email to the airline's staff. wrote in the letter. Most of Pvt. Ltd. Printed & crore more than that of RIL's market valuation one position in terms of the commercial aviation "We have to pay careful IndiGo's staff belongs to RIL's Rs 6,14,179.93 crore sharply. RIL shares fell for market capitalisation. industry. IndiGo's attention to our cash flow so bands A and B. Published By Shyam valuation. RIL shares the third consecutive day on At close of trade on announcement comes at a that we don't run out of Employees at senior vice Bihari Gupta from 529 witnessed selling pressure, Wednesday, dropping 12.47 Wednesday, the market time when industries - cash." president and higher roles applicable to "Band C" falling 3.97 per cent to close per cent and wiping out Rs capitalisation chart was especially airlines - in many The CEO, who himself will take a pay cut of 20 per staff, the CEO said. D/2/718, Kalyanpur the day at Rs 968.85. 87,506.07 crore from its topped by TCS followed by parts of the world are facing took a hit of 25 per cent in cent, My Dutta wrote, and Earlier on Thursday, the Pashchim Near Ram During the day, it tumbled market valuation in three RIL, HDFC Bank, HUL and a slump in travel demand his pay, also wrote to vice presidents as well as Ministry of Health and 4.72 per cent to Rs 961.20. days. HDFC. due to the fallout of the fast- IndiGo employees that he cockpit crew will take a Family Welfare said the Dhram Kanta Ring Road, Lucknow, Printed Govt mulling up to Rs 120 billion rescue for aviation sector as coronavirus takes toll on airlines at The Indian Express Pvt. Ltd, C-26 Amausi India is planning a rescue sector, including a deferment of the sources said, adding that the Governments the world over airlines to address the financial CAPA's India unit said that Industrial Area package worth as much as $1.6 aviation fuel tax, said the companies could be permitted to are scrambling to rescue airlines impact during the crisis. regardless of any fiscal billion for the aviation sector, sources, who have direct pay the taxes interest-free in the that have been forced to park Vistara, a joint venture of concessions and support the Nadarganj, Lucknow. which has been battered after the knowledge of the matter. next tax cycle. planes and cut jobs as the virus Singapore Airlines and India's government may offer, most Editor- Shyam Bihari coronavirus outbreak forced The rescue package, proposed The coronavirus has infected puts the brakes on travel. Airlines Tata Group, and budget carrier airlines will have to shrink their countries to close borders and by India's civil aviation ministry, over 200,000 people and caused may need a bailout of more than GoAir have suspended their operations and the more Gupta. brought air travel to a near-halt, is likely to be worth up to Rs 100- nearly 8,500 deaths in 164 $200 billion, the International international operations. IndiGo, vulnerable carriers may Ph. 0522-2750084, two government sources told 120 billion ($1.3-$1.6 billion), nations, triggering emergency Air Transport Association India's biggest carrier, has shutdown. Reuters. the two sources said. lockdowns and injections of cash (IATA) estimates. cancelled several overseas CAPA estimates that Indian 9839056553. Email: The Finance Ministry is "Taxes could be deferred till unseen since World War Two. In The Trump administration, flights and may be forced to park airlines, excluding state carrier [email protected]. considering a proposal that the coronavirus spread is India more than 150 people have earlier on Wednesday, sought some planes as domestic air Air India, will report losses of up includes temporary suspension contained and the aviation sector been infected and three have approval from Congress for $50 travel also falls. to $600 million for the January- All disputes are subject of most taxes levied on the can come back to its feet," one of died. billion in secured loans to U.S. Global aviation consultancy March quarter. to Lucknow Jurisdiction. ENTERTAINMENT/LIFESTYLE Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 8 Andhadhun Tamil remake: Ramya Samantha Akkineni on Shaakuntalam: After a Krishnan to play Tabu’s role? Mohan Raja, whose last remakes. A source says, release was “Mohan Raja is currently Sivakarthikeyan-starrer working on the final draft, decade in the industry, I am playing my dream role Velaikkaran, will direct the and soon, we can expect Tamil remake of him to reveal the rest of the Samantha Akkineni, Dev my dream role has always is so passionate about,” she the film. When the title When I narrated the script, took out time to prepare for Andhadhun. The 2018 star cast.” Further, multiple Mohan, director Gunasekhar been to be in a period film or continued. Shakuntalam was she instantly gave her nod. I Shaakuntalam’s character. black comedy, directed by sources say the shoot will and producer Dil Raju play a princess,” Samantha The 33-year-old said that announced, everyone, was so happy that she agreed “She underwent classical Sriram Raghavan, had begin in the coming days. launched their upcoming said at the film’s launch she has never been a part of training for four months. She Tabu, Ayushmann The story of Andhadhun magnum-opus event, which took place a project that has no refer- worked really hard, irrespec- Khurrana and Radhika revolves around a pianist Shaakuntalam on Monday. today. ence point. “I have never tive of how busy she has Apte in important roles. who gets involved in the In the ‘epic love story’, The Majili actor stated heard of such a script with been with her projects, While it has been con- murder of an actor. Samantha will be seen play- that growing up, Disney so much detail. There is no including The Family Man. firmed that Prashanth will Prashanth was last seen ing the titular role while films used to be her comfort reference to the film. Her involvement and Dil play the character por- in Johnny, the Tamil Sufiyum Sujatayum fame watch, “During my child- Everything about the film is Raju’s support has impressed trayed by Ayushmann in remake of Johnny Gaddar, Dev Mohan will be making hood, if I was upset or sad, I in director’s head. So, I am me. I have no doubt that the original, we hear directed by Sriram his Telugu debut with the would cheer myself up by extremely excited to be part Samantha and Dev will leave Ramya Krishnan is likely Raghavan. film in which he plays the watching a Disney film. It of this project and want to an impression as Shakuntala to step into Tabu’s shoes. In an interview with the role of Dushyant. Talking has been my greatest make the director’s vision and Dushyant, ” Gunasekhar However, an official con- Times of India, about being a part of strength. Even now, those come true,” she concluded. concluded. firmation is awaited. Thiagarajan was quoted Shaakuntalam, Samantha films are my go-to film.” Shaakuntalam’s writer- Shaakuntalam, a pan- The Tamil remake rights saying, “Almost every pro- said it is a gift to her from “At this point of my director Gunasekhar was all Indian film, is also produced of Andhadhun have been duction house and star in Dil Raju and Gunasekhar as career, Dil Raju sir and Guna praise for Samantha and pro- by Gunasekhar’s daughter obtained by Prashanth’s our industry was trying to she has always wanted to sir have given me my ducer Dil Raju. He said Neelima Guna. The film’s father and filmmaker-actor get the remake rights for play either a princess or a biggest gift of my career. In when he narrated the script shooting will begin next Thiagarajan. According to this film. But I managed to lead in a period drama. 10 years of being in the film to the producer, he instantly including fans, suggested to the film, was able to con- week. sources, the makers are get it.” “In the journey of 50 industry, it is today that I am got on-board to back the Samantha as the perfect fit nect to the role and was As Shaakuntalam goes on keen to have Ramya on Previously, rumours films, I have done different getting to play a role, which film. for the role as she has the ready to put every effort it floors, Samantha Akkineni board, but she is yet to sign mills were abuzz that roles and different genres. I has been my dream for a Talking about Samantha, innocence the role needs. requires.” opened up on how she has on the dotted line. Siddharth and Dhanush have even attempted action very long time. I hope I am Gunasekhar said, “There was When I approached her for He informed the media been waiting to play a One may recall that had expressed their interest in The Family Man and have able to give 100 percent to a lot of curiosity around who the role, she said she will that irrespective of being princess or be the lead of a Mohan Raja has directed to feature in the Tamil also portrayed a villain but the project, which Guna sir will be playing the lead of love to hear the story first. busy with other projects, she period drama. several hit films that were remake of Andhadhun. Fast and Furious Esha Deol wish- Jawaani Jaaneman director Nitin Kakkar: 9 teaser: It’s all Aamir Khan quits social es Abhay Deol about the family on his birthday Didn’t feel that Alaya F was a debutante Saif Ali Khan, Tanu and a newcomer on the set.” music vs recreations, and he The first teaser of Vin media to ‘drop the pretence’ Esha Deol has wished her debutante Alaya F starrer Alaya is the grand-daugh- said, “I think original music Diesel starrer Fast and cousin brother Abhay Deol, Aamir Khan, who cele- so much for all the love and accounts. Fans clearly did Jawaani Jaaneman is all set ter of veteran actor Kabir is original music, there is no Furious 9 is out, and by the who celebrates his 45th to hit the screens on January Bedi. Her mother Pooja comparison in that sense. I looks of it, Diesel’s brated his birthday on warmth on my birthday. My not seem happy with the 3 Sunday, has decided to quit heart is full. In other news, Idiots actor’s decision as birthday today. The actor 31. Director Nitin Kakkar Bedi played a pivotal role in feel it is not rocket science Dominic Toretto seems to posted a picture on has helmed the project the 1992 film Jo Jeeta Wohi to say that we should create have become a full-blown social media. In his ‘last this is going to be my last they requested him to not post’, the Bollywood super- post on social media. leave. A fan named Debi Instagram to wish Abhay. which brings back Saif in Sikandar. new music. But with the family man. The teaser Sharing the photo, Esha his cool and casual avatar. Jawaani Jaaneman is also market trend, producers shows Dominic caring for star shared that given he is Considering that I am SO wrote, “Opened twitter not active anyway, he has active anyway I have decid- account mainly to follow called Abhay her “sun- In an interview with indi- creating waves with its have a preference for recre- his toddler Brian and vow- shine.” She wrote, “Happy anexpress.com, Nitin recreated music tracks. The ations because they get eye- ing to safeguard him from decided to drop the pre- ed to drop the pretence. We you. It’s true you were not tence. will continue to communi- active much but those notifi- birthday brother Love you! Kakkar spoke about work- music album of the film fea- balls more quickly. There is the impending dangers of abhay deol “u are that sun- ing with newcomer Alaya F, tures a few recreations a recall value, and there’s an life. We also catch a Starting by thanking cate as we did before. In cations of your tweets pop- everyone for their love and addition, AKP has created ping up on my phone always shine in my pocket I carry who had a big task at hand including new renditions of association of the audience glimpse of Michelle for life”.” as she was sharing screen “Ole Ole” and “Gallan with an old song.” Rodriguez’s Letty, who is warmth on his birthday, its official channel! So used to make me happy. Will Aamir shared the news, future updates on me and miss that little moments of Apart from Esha, Dia space with two industry vet- Kardi”. We asked Nitin Jawaani Jaaneman releas- married to Dominic. While Mirza, Bipasha Basu and erans, Saif Ali Khan and about his take on original es in theaters on January 31. the teaser doesn’t show any adding that he would contin- my films can be found there. joy”. Another one Sam ue to communicate like ear- Aamir Khan enjoys a replied creatively by sharing musician A. Shawn were Tabu. The director believes action taking place, it is safe Alaya aced the challenge. to assume that the movie lier times. The 56-year-old massive fan following on the ‘Tussi jaa rahe ho, tussi among the people who sent also mentioned that his pro- social media. While his naa jao’ GIF on Aamir’s Abhay birthday wishes. Nitin Kakkar said, “If the will be action-packed. This actor is good and hardwork- is the Fast and Furious fran- duction house Aamir Khan Instagram has 3.6 million post. A fan page Cinema In an interview with the Productions has started its followers, his Twitter page Fanatic reasoned out the Hindustan Times, Abhay ing, it’s all about playing the chise after all! Along with character right. Alaya was the teaser, the makers also new official page, which has more 26.7 million fol- actor’s decision by posting, said he is not a birthday per- will henceforth keep every- lowers, while his Facebook “Introvert type ka banda hai very excited, and she’s a revealed a poster of Fast son. “I am not at all a birth- really hard-working kid. The one updated about him and page has 18 million likes. ye Limelight pasand nahi day person. I stopped cele- and Furious 9 featuring Vin isko Sahi hai good deci- day we started shooting, I Diesel and the release date brating it after I turned 25. I didn’t feel that she was a sion.” This is not the first don’t do anything. What of the trailer as well. The time that a celebrity has debutante because she was poster shows the back of usually happens is my so confident about her work. taken a break from social friends will come over. Dominic a shot taken from media. Amid nepotism None of us felt that she was inside a car. debate and Sushant Singh’s Priyanka Chopra death case, actors Sonakshi Sinha, Saqib Saleem and Zack Snyder’s Justice League final trailer shows off to join the cast of filmmaker Shashank Khaitan had decided to quit never-seen-before Darkseid footage, reveals his evil plans Matrix 4? Twitter to stay away from negativity and toxicity. The final trailer for Zack Loki in The Avengers. We hero. We should end up with Justice League, determined to Actor Priyanka Chopra Others like Zaheer Iqbal, Snyder’s Justice League is just hope we will see more fleshed out characters ensure Superman’s (Henry Jonas is in final negotia- Neha Bhasin and Aayush here. The trailer reveals more Superman squaring off with with more backstory that had Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was tions to join the cast of Sharma have also said good- of the overarching villain of Darkseid, if only briefly. to cut from Joss Whedon’s not in vain, Bruce Wayne Matrix 4, Variety reported his films. Wrote Aamir He shared the same post on bye to the micro blogging the epic superhero movie, It remains to be seen version. The fans are elated. (Ben Affleck) aligns forces on Wednesday. Khan, “Hey guys, thank you all his social media site. Darkseid and his eventual whether the film can justify One tweeted, “I can’t believe with Diana Prince (Gal Details about Priyanka’s plans for the earth. its runtime of more than four were gonna watch this film Gadot) with plans to recruit a character are still under The trailer is long-ish at hours, but it truly looks epic, after 3 years of fighting and team of metahumans to pro- wraps. If PeeCee signs the No Time To Die sums up Daniel two and a half minutes and and should, at any rate, be hoping! this is such an amaz- tect the world from an dotted line, she will join reveals more footage of better than the original the- ing experience seriously approaching threat of cata- the likes of Keanu Reeves, Craig’s journey as Bond: Ben Whishaw Darkseid than we have seen atrical release, which was a thank you to everybody that strophic proportions. The task Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya before. While Steppenwolf collision of two conflicting helped this moment come ! proves more difficult than Abdul-Mateen II and Neil Fans will see the story of Daniel Craig’s James Bond reach a satisfying end in the upcom- remains the main villain of visions. The best thing so far this is truly Justice.” Bruce imagined, as each of Patrick Harris who have ing film No Time To Die, says actor Ben Whishaw. Zack Snyder’s Justice appears to be how much the A Sri Lankan fan wrote, the recruits must face the already been confirmed as The Golden Globe-winning actor, who returns to the action spy franchise as tech wiz, Q, League, Darkseid is like trailer, and hopefully the “We are about to experience demons of their own pasts to cast members of Matrix 4. said the film will tie all loose ends for Craig’s iconic character Agent 007. Thanos to Steppenwolf’s movie, spend on each super- the biggest & most epic battle transcend that which has held The film will be helmed Craig, 51, made his first appearance as the suave spy in 2006’s Casino Royale, and went sequence in a movie, within them back, allowing them to by Lana Wachowski, one on to reprise his role in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, and 2015’s Spectre. just 3 days. Thank you Zack come together, finally form- half of the Wachowskis, No Time To Die, directed by Cary Fukunaga, is the actor’s fifth and final stint as Bond. Snyder for making us fans’ ing an unprecedented league who directed all three films “It’s Daniel’s last film as James Bond, so I think what they can look forward to is a kind long awaited dream come of heroes. Now united, in the sci-fi action fran- of summing up, I guess, of all of the previous Bond films that Daniel’s done. There are true. All the enjoyment shall Batman (Affleck), Wonder chise with sister Lilly. strands from all of the films in it, kind of reaching a conclusion,” Whishaw told Collider. be ours. Much love from Sri Woman (Gadot), Aquaman The Warner Bros. and Talking about his collaboration with Fukunaga, the actor said he felt as if he was work- Lanka Zack Snyders Justice (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Village Roadshow film ing on an independent movie. League Restore The Snyder Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra will hit the screens on May “It was great. What was amazing is that he treated it, or was able to approach it as an inde- Verse.” One fan request to Miller) may be too late to 21, 2021. The Matrix, pendent film. It was quite improvisational. We didn’t do many takes. It was very light. inject Zack Snyder’s Justice save the planet from released in 1999, is consid- Sometimes quite chaotic, but I’m very excited to see how he’s constructed the final film,” League “into my veins.” Steppenwolf, DeSaad, and ered to be one of the best Whishaw said. Also featuring Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Lea Seydoux, Jeffrey Wright, The official synopsis of the Darkseid and their dreadful and most influential. Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and others, No Time To Die hits screens next month. film reads, “In Zack Snyder’s intentions.” Kartik Aaryan welcomes Tabu back on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 set Shah Rukh Khan’s After a long break, Tabu is smile at the camera. Kartik stars Tabu, Kartik Aaryan film. The production on the Pakistani cousin Mysskin treats his actors like back on the set of her psy- captioned the post informing and director Aneez Bazmee. horror-comedy was affected Noor Jehan passes chological-comedy-thriller his fans that Tabu has been Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a last year due to the COVID- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The film bringing in her own Z++ Bio sequel to the Akshay 19 pandemic, when the away in Peshawar a baby: Udhayanidhi Stalin stars Kartik Aaryan and Bubble and refuses to come Kumar, Vidya Balan and team was shooting in Kiara Advani in the lead out of the same. The actor Shiney Ahuja starrer 2007 Lucknow. Noor Jehan, a cousin of 2020 has begun on a great are trying to say. But I was to him and react to situations roles, and is set to release in wrote, “Welcome back tabu- Bollywood superstar Shah note for Udhayanidhi Stalin, aware of the potential that given to me. In fact, he did- theatres on November 19. tiful Ji But she refuses to Rukh Khan, passed away in who played the protagonist the character (Gautham) n’t want me to act at all.” He Aaryan shared a cheeky post come out of bubble, brings Oscar Nominations complete list: Peshawar on Tuesday after in Mysskin’s Psycho that hit had. When I saw the film, it cites an example. “Mysskin on his Instagram welcoming her own portable Z++Bio- Priyanka Chopra’s The White a prolonged illness. screens last Friday. “I thank was a pleasant surprise for has a unique way of story- Tabu back and also gave a Bubble to shoot Bhool Jehan’s husband Asif Mysskin sir for keeping his me. The credit goes only to telling and works a lot on glimpse of how strictly Tabu Bhulaiyaa2 .” Tiger gets a nod, Mank scores big Burhan said that she was faith in me. Actually, sir and Mysskin sir,” he tells us. ‘silences’. To bring meaning takes precautionary meas- Kiara Advani also shared suffering from oral cancer. I were to collaborate on As a filmmaker, Mysskin to those silences, an actor ures while at work during a photo on her Instagram The Oscar nominations are finally out in a year hit by the Jehan, 52, a paternal Yuddham Sei, but it didn’t is very different, observes should understand his direc- the pandemic. story writing that with pandemic, with most awards taking the virtual route. The cousin of the Bollywood happen,” says Udhayanidhi, Udhayanidhi Stalin. tor. Once that connection is In the photo, Tabu is seen Tabu’s arrival, the family is nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards were superstar, resided in adding, the director offered “Mysskin sir is extremely established, everything sitting behind a tall-walled now complete. She wrote, announced on Monday by actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Mohallah Shah Wali Qataal him a role, unlike anything passionate about what he becomes easy,” he says. plastic shield to avoid any “Welcome back tabutiful Jonas and singer-songwriter-actor Nick Jonas. The nomina- area close to Peshawar’s he has done before. “Though does and treats his actors like Udhayanidhi reveals the tions were announced in a total of 23 categories. Qissa Khwani Bazaar. we discussed ideas, things a baby. Right from my hair- most exciting thing about “The Father,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” Having previously served never fell in place. Once, he do to the glasses I was wear- playing Gautham was that it “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” as a district and town coun- told me a script, based on ing, everything was his breaks the quintessential “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7" are cillor, Jehan was politically aliens. I had to say ‘no’ choice. All I did was to listen mould of a hero. competing in the Best Picture category. In the Best Director active and even filed nomi- because it was beyond my nominations, Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Emerald nation papers for the intelligence,” laughs Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”) will compete against provincial assembly PK-77 Udhayanidhi. After a pause, Thomas Vinterberg (“Another Round”), David Fincher seat in the 2018 General the actor says he listened to (“Mank”) and Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”). Interestingly, Elections before withdraw- the one-liner of Psycho in a this is also one of those rare times when two female direc- ing at the last moment. Asif car. “I quite liked it. I didn’t tors have been nominated for the Best Director category — said Shah Rukh’s father and want to miss the opportunity Chloe Zhao for Nomadland and Emerald Fennell for Jehan’s father were siblings of working with PC Sreeram sort of human contact. The Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 fam is Promising Young Woman. and she used to contact her sir and Ilaiyaraaja sir,” he actor is seen posing with her now complete.” Meanwhile, David Fincher movie Mank scored maxi- cousin on telephone occa- admits. But Psycho isn’t the trademark namaste in the kiara advani, bhool bhu- mum nods, a total of ten. Sound of Metal, Minari, Judas sionally. She visited India to kind of film that picture while Kartik, Kiara laiyaa 2 Kiara Advani and the Black Messiah, The Trial of the Chicago 7, meet Shah Rukh Khan in Udhayanidhi usually does. and director Anees Bazmee shared this photo with co- Nomadland and The Father tied on six nominations. 1997 and 2011. He says, “I know what you