4  0 <65    * =     =  = RNI Regn. No. CHHENG/2012/42718, Postal Reg. No. - RYP DN/34/2013-2015 45(<49,32/ 56 5 , 75 8 9 #65 : ; 5 @  7+6A+ 9.,@,+?9B,69 +C7:,88: ,./.7$+9- 8/95.8/78+,?-: B,:?6A ??9.B,5:.,+6 9769@0?6+D 6,?6 :+$/:57: $/+):/ ,/:7+ /A,:8BCA- >. $  %&;1 44+ "3# > ?  ,    !-! =  ""-"#"#>  ,".                )   23             !!"#$ "$%   +,-,./ “As a measure of abundant        %  2       %  precaution, passengers arriv-    0#11"2& 3##'00(#112# +,-,./ mid fears over the spread ing from the UK in all transit    * 10'&300&'04##3&'2  )  !   Aof a mutated strain of coro- flights (flights that have taken armers sitting on ’s navirus — reportedly 70 per off or flights which are reach-   5  #(#1"( ('(##4(#4( Fborders with and   %  R ! cent more infectious than the ing before December 22 6+ #'(14& 00112(#43(& Uttar Pradesh began their day- one that caused the Covid-19 at 23.59 hrs) should be subject    ,-##-$0-#$1   ('2#(' &#0( 430 long “relay” hunger strike at all 11 members sat on hunger — India has joined over two to mandatory RT-PCR test on protest sites on chilling strike in the first batch. '45&'46('7'4P dozen countries in suspending arrival at the airports con-  ,-/2-,./  40(#'# ,#-.#/21#&31 Monday. Another batch of 11 members all flights from and to the cerned,” the Ministry said. 7  5  2(34"0 #01423101' Meanwhile, the farmer will sit on a hunger strike at 11 45'*( (65'4&8( United Kingdom from Civil Aviation Minister  % - 8 2"#"3" 13'020&'"1 leaders on Monday claimed am on Tuesday. December 23 to December 31. Hardeep Singh Puri said on that there is nothing new in the Meanwhile, several farmers 79(&+5'(  Union Health Minister Twitter that those passen- 12-.0-#$, 9 "&4214 0#1& "&043( Centre’s latest letter to them also contributed to the hunger Dr Harshvardhan said the gers who are found Covid   %"-1,-,33 :;  &111'1 &4&4&#2"&& seeking a date for the next strike and stayed without food : A day after authorities are keeping a close positive would be sent for 6 &#0("' 0202&("4&2 round of talks and said they are for the entire day. Facebook temporarily shut watch and there is no need to institutional quarantine set ready for talks with the gov- Reacting on the letter by down a page on the ongoing panic as the Government is up by the States or Union $   &4#3(( "011&31&0# ernment, if there is a clear solu- Agriculture Ministry Joint farmers agitation against the alert on the issue. Territories (UTs). “Those /  &2#01( &#"&&31#3' tion. Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, the Centre’s new farm laws, the The ban will start from found negative should be 8  &3(2"0 0"2# &30"2# Scores of farmers from farmers’ leaders said there is protestors on Monday said Wednesday and passengers advised to isolate at home for ) ;  &"4&21 3&30&&'31" Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, nothing new in the letter and social media was crucial for arriving from the UK in 7 days and will be medically Tamil Nadu, Punjab, the farmers have already their movement as it allowed flights that will land in India monitored by the 5  &"&"01 "31'&0(((2 Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and rejected the Government’s them to tell the “truth in by 11.59 pm on Tuesday will States/UTs,” Puri added. Haryana continued to join the proposal to amend the new their our own words”. The undergo mandatory RT-PCR Till date, the rules stated farmers protest sites at Singhu, farm laws. social media giant had test at the airports concerned. that if an international pas- Chilla, Tikri and Ghazipur “In its letter, the Sunday evening shut down Those who test positive will senger had a Covid negative borders across the National Government has asked us to the page of ‘Kisan Ekta be sent to institutional quar- certificate from a test done 72 Capital. discuss its proposal and con- Morcha’ that shares “official antine while the rest will be hours prior to the journey, The farmers started a day- vey a date to it for another updates” on the agitation, asked to home-isolate for s/he need not undergo Covid- long relay hunger strike on round of talks. Don’t they only to restore it three hours seven days. 19 test again on arrival at the Monday morning at all sites of know our demand? We just later following social media Several major European Indian airport. protest against the new agri want a complete repeal of the outrage. countries including France, The decision followed an 1  %) %  ) ) Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute laws and at Singhu border, new agriculture laws,” said The Kisan Ekta Morcha’s Germany, Italy, Belgium, the expert meeting of the Health of India and Pfizer — filed with which has become the epic cen- Abhimanyu Kohar, the farmer Instagram page was also tem- Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Ministry’s joint monitoring  !% %   the Drugs Controller General tre site of the protest, a team of leader. porarily suspended. Burgalia, Denmark, Sweden, group (JMG) on Covid-19 of India are being examined by Switzerland, in addition to which reasoned for abundant the Covid-19 subject expert countries like Canada, caution as the new strain is   +,-,./ er consideration and conduct- committee of Central Drugs Kuwait, Colombia, Morocco, under review. ing its trials on a sufficient sam- Standard Control Organization Iran, Israel, Turkey were The JMG met on Monday Parliamentary panel on ple size. (CDSCO). among those that shut off to study evidence from the AMonday recommended to In a report submitted to The Parliamentary com- travel ties after Prime UK which said the bee strain the Government that any vac- Rajya Sabha chairman and mittee report noted that the Minister Boris Johnson was out of the country and cine against Covid-19 should Vice President M Venkaiah CDSCO has given no emer- warned that a highly infec- was 70 per cent more infec- be granted emergency use Naidu, the Parliamentary gency use authorisation in the tious new strain of the virus tious than the original. authorisation only after prop- Standing Committee on Home past, and suggested that all was a danger to the country. Affairs chaired by senior necessary and mandatory Saudi Arabia, notably, has Congress leader Anand requirements must be duly suspended all international Sharma said there is a need for fulfilled and all trial phases flights over the fear of the a comprehensive public health completed. new strain of coronavirus. law to keep tabs on private hos- “Trials on small animals, According to the pitals and check black-mar- human trials should be Ministry of Civil Aviation,  ! 78 December 22 in the metropo- keting of medicines. mandatorily undertaken on a the Government has decided lis and other Municipal The report comes even as sufficient sample size popula- that all flights originating n what will put a virtual stop Corporation areas in the State the Government considers tion…if at all emergency from the UK to India will be Ito the Christmas and New from 11 pm to 6 am, following applications of at least three authorisation would be given, suspended from 11.59 pm Year-eve celebrations in detection of a new strain of firms seeking emergency it should be given by December 22 till 11.59 pm on Mumbai and other major cities Covid in the United Kingdom. approval to roll out their vac- Government with proper con- December 31. Consequently, in the State, the Maharashtra Chief Minister cines against the coronavirus in sideration and caution and flights from India to the UK Government on Monday Uddhav Thackeray reviewed the India. this provision should be used will also stand suspended announced the imposition of pandemic situation in the State. The Centre on last Tuesday in rarest of the rare cases,” the Detailed report on P5 & !         ' P   !    ) *"  +   during the period. 14-day-long night curfew from said the applications — by report reads. - . "!0            P #  ! - )  O   # % As it is the market was     P looking for an excuse to correct  !  Q!R 0     &'( )   since the Indian equities have       outperformed global markets !   ! 9.6 eration index. this State. We have always      &***"+ , by a wide margin in recent “Contrary to what they remained united and will con-      months. All BSE sectoral day after Union Home said Bengal is number one in tinue to do so in future.”        +,-,./ indices also closed lower, with AMinister Amit Shah staged many fields,” she said speaking The Chief Minister earlier    metal, oil and gas, utilities, real- the “biggest roadshow in about the Kanyashree, Sabuuj thanked her counterparts and      

ears were back on the Dalal ty, basic materials, industrials, Bengal”, Chief Minister Saathi and other projects for Opposition leaders from other        BStreet with renewed feroc- power and bankex falling as Mamata Banerjee has promised which the State had won inter- States saying how “the Central   ity and left a trail of bloodbath much as 6.05 per cent. At the to repeat the feat by the end of national recognition. Government is interfering with that eroded the investors’ BSE, 2,433 companies declined, this year leading a counter Shah had on Sunday my Government by transfer- P   wealth by 6.59 lakh crore on while 592 advanced and 167 rally at Bolpur along the same attacked the TMC Government ring three IPS officers.”   Monday as equities tanked remained unchanged route. The rally is likely to be for taking Bengal backwards in Thanking the Chief    O after the UK reported a new The brutal bloodbath came held on December 29, party every respect. Minister’s of Punjab, Delhi,       strain of the Covid-19 virus. after the UK reported a new leaders said. “Why are they telling lies to Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan      The new strain of the coron- coronavirus strain on Sunday. Hitting out at the BJP lead- the people of the State, what gain for voicing solidarity with     "#  avirus was up to 70 per cent The Dala street took a further ership (read Shah) for deliver- they will make by telling lies,” Bengal, Mamata said federal    $ more contagious. cue from the European mar- ing “a garbage of lies,” on Mamata said adding her party ideas were under attack in the      The market gave no corner kets in the afternoon amid fear Bengal’s development, the was committed to unity and that present situation and needed to to hide as the 30-share BSE of fresh traveling lockdown Chief Minister said, “Some it would not let people be divid- be preserved. She also thanked  !"##$   Sensex plunged 1,406.73 points restrictions across countries. people are coming from Delhi ed for narrow political gains. Dravida Munnetra   %     or 3 per cent to close at 45,553.96 The UK imposed a fresh and discharging a garbage of Saying the BJP was a “party Kazhagam (DMK) president &'()*+'   after hitting an all-time high of when indices lost nearly 30 per 6,59,313.65 crore to lockdown in London and lies in Bengal,” countering of cheating baz (cheats)” MK Stalin who      47,055.69 during the session. cent in a matter of days. 1,78,79,323.05 crore. In the southeast England, warning Shah’s claim that the State was Mamata said, “There is a nefar- described the “unilateral trans-    &''(  There was a sense of déjà vu as Following the sharp sell- broader market, the BSE mid- that the potent new strain of lagging far behind in econom- ious design to spread commu- fer” of senior Bengal cops by   ) *  the equities saw the same free for ing, the market capitalisation of cap and small-cap indices the Covid-19 virus was “out of ic development, industrial nal hatred in Bengal to win elec- the Centre as “autocratic and      all as was witnesses in March BSE-listed firms plummeted by tanked up to 4.57 per cent. control”. growth and employment gen- tions which is not the culture of anti-federal.”           

   dollars. These air defence sys- d’affaires at the Russian tems will enable India to Embassy, described the USA  !  " !     detect and destroy incoming secondary sanctions on arms missiles and aircraft after purchases from Russia as “ille-   +,-,./    picking up their flight path gal tools of unfair competition more than 400 km away. The and pressure”. eteran Congress leader   systems will start coming to Maintaining that India VMotilal Vora passed on India by 2021 and entire five and Russia are disciplined Monday, a day after he cele-   +,-,./ systems will be inducted in a members of the international brated his 93rd birthday. Vora, five-year schedule. arms control regimes, who had recovered from Covid- he six billion dollar deal for Brushing aside the USA Kudashev also said their bilat- 19 in October, was admitted to TS-400 air defence systems caution to India over the past eral defense ties will not pose Delhi’s Escorts Hospital after he between India and Russia is two years about the possibili- “any threat to the regional bal- complained of breathlessness on moving as per schedule despite ty of sanctions for procuring ance”. December 19. the USA threat of sanctions. weapons from Russia, “As far as sanctions are Having held one of the  % This assertion from the Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev with the “” and rifles production are expedited, concerned, it’s hard to predict most important organisation-  "#-,1"$L ",-"#"# Russian Ambassador to India said ongoing deals with India “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initia- soon we will see good progress, and let the Biden al post of the All India on Monday came days after the for military hardware are tives, Kudashev said. which is especially important Administration first announce Congress Committee (AICC) hospital. this year, Vora was not given USA imposed sanctions against advancing well. Elaborating upon the due to deep interests expressed publicly its plans and foreign treasurer for nearly two A former Chief Minister of any party responsibility in view Turkey for going ahead with a “There can be good progress of the defence deals by the Indian armed forces.” policy vision. We do not decades, Vora was appointed as Madhya Pradesh and a former of his advancing age. deal for S-400 missile system progress if decisions related to with India, the Russian envoy On the USA threat of sanc- recognise or welcome unilat- the general secretary in charge Governor of Uttar Pradesh, A journalist by profession, manufactured by Russia. China the procurement of Ka-226 said, “As far as current deals tions against India, Kudashev eral sanctions as a tool...of of administration in 2018. Vora, a Gandhi family loyalist, he worked with Navbharat has already bought more than helicopters and production of [are] concerned, we are said Russia like India, does not interstate or international rela- Vora’s successor Ahmed was known for his relations Times as its correspondent in six such systems from Russia. AK-203 assault rifles are expe- advancing well, including with recognise sanctions other than tions, sanctions other than Patel held the post till his across political spectrum. Bombay (now Mumbai), then India and Russia inked a dited, and Russia is prepared to S-400 supplies. If relevant deci- those imposed by the UN those applied by the UN death on November 25 this In a party reshuffle carried served with Navbharat in deal for five S-400 systems in share the most advanced tech- sions to start works related to Security Council. Security Council, this is also year. He died of post-Covid out by Congress president Nagpur and Raipur and later 2018 worth over 5.6 billion nologies with India in line Ka-226 helicopters and AK-203 Roman Babushkin, chargé the case of Turkey,” he said. complications in a Gurugram Sonia Gandhi in September with Nagpur Times in Nagpur.    ! !   Nadu, the government impos- )/D8 es electric towers on the farm- ers' land and no compensation n the 26th day of farmers is paid to the farmers. Advocate Oprotest at Ghazipur (UP Rajneesh Sharma, National gate) several farmers joined at Convenor of Tower Line the protest site. Theatre artist Association Awareness Forum from Punjab also performed a from Himachal Pradesh, said nukkad natak at the protest site. that Anil Ambani's company Farmers from states, Tamil and 10 other companies have Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and installed high voltage power Kerala reached the site of the towers on farmers' land all agitation on Monday. over Himachal Pradesh.  +,-,./ passed by the Supreme Temple Addressing the farmers, the “The farmers have not of Democracy, the Parliament? National Organizer, he Tamil received any compensation till ember of Parliament ( MP Bidhuri said that, with this Nadu Farmer Conservation date. The BJP had promised MMP ) from South Delhi new Farm Acts, farmers will be Association, advocate Ishan during the election that if our Lok Sabha constituency, no longer bound to sell their said that the movement is not government comes, we will Ramesh Bidhuri took out the crops in mandis, they can sell only for UP Punjab but also for completely eliminate the prob- Kisan Kalyan Samarthan Yatra their crop wherever they get farmers from all over India lem of farmers but so far no in Kalkaji, Sangam Vihar and fair price,” Bidhuri said, adding, which is evident as farmers action has been taken,” he said. Deoli Legislative Assembly on “Goal of the Modi govern- from Tamil Nadu and Kerela At the protest site, on Monday. ment is to double the income have arrived here to mark their Sunday night ragani was sang Bidhuri interacted the of farmers by 2022. MP protest against the centre new by singers, theatre artists from farmers and inform them about Bidhuri further said that, few farms law. Punjab staged a play on the atti- new farm laws. farmers are protesting. 80 crore He alleged that in Tamil tude of the farmers. The Yatra started from farmers of the country are ISKCON temple, passed with this Act brought by the through Kalkaji, Nehru Place, central government. Farmers Govindpuri, Tughlakabad who are opposing this law are ?;C Extension and Sangam Vihar misled by opposition parties on like Congress, Aam Aadmi   8 Bidhuri addressed a public Party, Communist and leftist meeting in Govindpuri during ideology. Small farmers of the 5E    +,-,./ the single-day fatality count even more than the US, ed with 133 new fatalities, the October 26 had spiralled to the visit and said that, some country who own one or two now indicate a marked Kejriwal said, adding that when highest single-day death count 15.26 per cent on November 8. political parties are engaged in acres of land, such farmers are  +,-,./ he national Capital report- improvement in the situation New York reached its peak the till date. However, on However, since first week of finding their political land in very supportive of the Farm Ted 1,091 fresh cases on since the third wave of the pan- patients were lying on the December 13 only 33 fatalities November, the positivity rate the name of Kisan protest. Acts brought by the Modi gov- am Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday and the daily positiv- demic had hit the city in streets and corridors of hospi- were recorded, the lowest since has gradually fallen and the fig- Targeting Chief Minister ernment.” AMonday appointed senior ity rate reached to 1.29 per cent. November. tals, almost 7000 beds were September 21, when it stood at ure stood at 1.31 per cent on Arvind Kejriwal, the BJP leader MP Bidhuri told to leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev The COVID-19 situation Delhi Chief Minister lying vacant when the highest 32. December 20, according to said Kejriwal mislead the peo- empower farmers, Modi gov- Jha as the State in-charge of in the national capital has Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday number of corona cases was Soon after the third wave of official data. ple of Delhi and the country ernment brought Agricultural Bihar and in-charge of AAP improved in the last several said that the national capital reported in a day in Delhi. the pandemic hit the national The number of contain- about the Farm Acts. Mechanization Scheme, Crop Delhi Purvanchal days. According to the latest has now overcome the third The highest single-day capital, daily cases had surged ment zones in Delhi has shown “In the Delhi Legislative Insurance Scheme, Soil Health Organisation. health bulletin the death toll wave of Covid-19 infections. spike 8,593 cases till date was and containment zones count intermittent rise and fall in the Assembly, he acted against the Card, Kisan Samman Nidhi, Delhi Chief Minister and rose to 10,304 with 27 new The highest number of daily reported on November 11. also kept mounting. last several days, with the fig- Constitution by tearing up apart from the provision of AAP national convenor Arvind fatalities. coronavirus tests is being con- On November 18, 7,486 The positivity rate which ure standing at 5,843 on copies of the Farm Laws. How sendin Rs 6000 in the farmers' Kejriwal congratulated Jha for The number of cases and ducted in the country, which is COVID-19 cases were record- had stood at 8.23 per cent on Monday. can a Chief Minister tear a law account every year. his appointment. Jha said that he will work round the clock to ensure the work of the party in Bihar and strengthen the party     3        !4 ' in the state. "Congratulations and best wishes to u Sanjeev," tweeted     +,-,./ brought in by project Empathy &+ &<&95&+ 5 Kejriwal. run by Avika Diwan, a class 10 45+948&+9<4659 On the appointment, Jha elhi Deputy Chief Minister student of Shri Ram School, &-&+'5(8'4 said, "I want to thank Delhi DManish Sisodia lauded the Aravalli (Gurugram). Chief Minister and AAP    education team in Delhi for Sisodia while distributing 45**9+*94*5&5 national convener Arvind carrying out good work during the smartphones to the stu- < 5'(96&'5;+' Kejriwal for giving me this  +,-,./ the Covid19 crisis and extend- dents said this was a symbol of responsibility as the in-charge ed his congratulations to the the collective goodness of peo- &'7548&& of Bihar. I will work round the elhi Chief Minister Arvind teachers and principals of ple coming together in such 5(8'4(&5& clock to ensure the work of the DKejriwal on Monday urged Government Sarvodaya co-ed dire times. “The pandemic has 7(9+4*'&+9<+5(4& party in Bihar and strengthen the Union Government to ban Vidyalaya, Sector 8 Rohini had the worst impact on edu- the party in the state." flights from the United during his visit. cation. Schools had to be shut *'&+9<5() & Jha was born on 01 August Kingdon where a new, infec- Sisodia said, “This world is down, and classes were shifted 5'4*&4<5&6 1979 to a Hindu family in tious strain of the virus has full of good people. This morn- online.” 8('' &+554 Sunderpur Bithhi Village, been detected. ing is a witness to that as we cel- Sisodia said, “Though &8(444 Madhubani district, Bihar State. New mutation of corona ebrate that goodness.” nobody thought studies could In the February 2015 Delhi virus has emerged in UK, UK Prime Minister Boris The deputy chief minister be shifted online, our teachers Assembly election, which which is a super-spreader. I Johnson also had announced said through the efforts of the stepped up despite not being resulted in a landslide victory urge Central Govt to ban all on Saturday that millions must school’s Principal Awadhesh trained for it. Our Government for AAP, he was again elected flights from UK immediately,” cancel Christmas plans and Kumar Jha and Vice Principal school teachers have not only from Burari, With over 67,950 tweeted Kejriwal. stay at home from Sunday Bharti Kalra, 230 smartphones made us proud but also Delhi votes. Later he appointed as Kejriwal’s reaction came Pertinently, the new strain were collected for the students proud by taking on the respon- classes. With different organi- team members on his grand- you, we are proud of you Spokesperson and Prabhari of after Birtain’s health minister of the virus which has already in need, with the help of the sibility of carrying out these sations, volunteers, and citizens father’s birthday also gifted today.” During his interaction State Bihar and Jharkhand by warmed that a strict lockdown accounted for one-Third of civil society. online classes well.” having stepped forward to 100 smartphones,” he added. with the students, Sisodia said Aam Aadmi Party. In 2016 imposed on London and the current cases in London is The smartphones were dis- Sisodia said that for a lot of mobilise getting phones to help While praising the student that though each one of them Delhi Govt. Appoints him southeast England may last believed to be 70 percent infec- tributed to the students from students, not having a smart- the students, such contribu- Avika Diwan for her Project would have a different career in Parliamentary Secretary of for months because the new tious that the other strains in class nine to class 12. Out of the phone made it difficult for tions reflect the goodness of Empathy, Sisodia said, “The their life, their goal should be Transport. strain was out of control. circulation. 230 phones, 108 phones were them to access their online people. “Recently, one of our people of Delhi are proud of one - to be a good person.              

 +,-,./ Commissioner of Police cessing fee. The complainant mobile phones, eight ATM 10 per mobile number.  all air quality recorded at the (DCP), Northwest district, a deposited Rs 6,000 in the cards and 10 SIM cards from Thereafter, the accused used to +,-,./ lower end of the Very Poor cat- he Delhi Police has arrest- complaint was received where alleged account, but later he their possession. During inves- call the victims impersonating egory. Surface-level winds mea- Ted five persons, including a the complainant alleged that he found it was suspicious and tigation, it was also learnt that themselves as executives of ue to western disturbances sured low and South-westerly. woman for allegedly running a got calls from the unknown lodged the complaint,” said the alleged account was opened online shopping portals, the Dover Jammu & Kashmir “A gradual rise in mini- fake call center and duping numbers where persons imper- the DCP. on October 21, 2020 and total DCP said. and Himachal Pradesh, the mum and maximum tempera- people in northwest Delhi’s sonated themselves as execu- “During enquiry, the transaction amount within a “They induced victims minimum temperature may ture likely in the Delhi region, Keshav Puram area. tives of online shopping web- alleged bank account was period of one month was found with their lucrative schemes. increase in Delhi, the weather- however surface winds are like- Pollution Control Board The accused have been sites. found opened in the name of Rs 27 lakh,” said the DCP. The accused used to tell the vic- man has predicted. ly to slow down and surface (CPCB) data shows that at identified as Mani Kartik (32), “The callers informed the Arora. The call detail records of Explaining their modus tims that on the basis of their According to SAFAR, the inversion likely to form. A 7am on Monday, the hourly a resident of Keshav Puram and complainant that he has been the alleged numbers were ana- operandi the DCP said that the last shopping, they have been increased moisture in the air sharp deterioration ventilation average air quality index (AQI) the kingpin of the racket, N selected as lucky customer and lyzed and a fake call center accused persons called any selected as lucky customers may increase the pollutants’s condition is forecasted for the reading was 324, in the very Marimuttu (37), K Rahul (18), won a car on the basis of his which was being operated at data provider and asked them who won iron, LED TV, laptop, levels. The overall Air Quality next two days. Hence, AQI will poor zone. The overall air C Shiva (28), residents of previous shopping. They Keshav Puram came to notice. for providing data of the cus- car etc. When the victim got Index ( AQI ) settled 329 at the be at the higher end of the Very quality index (AQI) reading on Shakurpur, and Prachi Arora offered him option to receive Thereafter, a raid was con- tomers who recently purchased influenced with their offers, the National Ambient Air Quality Poor category on December Sunday was 321, categorised as (20), a resident of Burari. the car or cash. When he ducted and five persons were from online shopping portals. accused persons asked them to Index( NAAQI ) on Monday. 22and likely to stay in the high very poor. On Saturday the air According to Vijayanta agreed to receive cash instead arrested,” said the DCP. “Data is easily available deposit processing fee,” said the According to SAFAR’s end of Very Poor,” It said. quality index (AQI) reading Arya, the Deputy of car, they asked him for pro- “Police recovered eight from data providers for Rs 2 to DCP. short range forecast, the over- According to Central was 290, in the poor zone.       ! 12  !)   8C5    +,-,./      P ! ith 33 fresh cases reported   Wlast week, the number of  order to do the work of his people infected with dengue has )7:7): office on the e-platform, it is reached 1,259 this year. One new necessary that all the offices  F5 case of malaria and three cases -office system will soon be have IDs on the National of chikungunya were also report- Eimplemented in all Informatics Centre (NIC), so ed in Delhi last week taking the Government offices in that the e-office platform can  +,-,./ total number to 319 and 126 Gurugram. Regarding this, the be used while logging in from respectively till December 12. city magistrate Brahm Prakash anywhere. enior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and MCD in-charge According to the latest said in a review meeting with During the meeting the SDurgesh Pathak on Monday said if the BJP-ruled report released by all three the officials of the depart- magistrate said e-office is a Municipal Corporations has no money to pay the salary of Municipal Corporation, mos- ments concerned and gave management system built on the employees then from where do they get money to give quito-breeding has been report- them necessary guidelines. a virtual platform. The offi- advertisements in the newspapers justifying the Rs 2500 crore ed in at least 109447 households During the meeting the cials of all departments should scam. and 84625 legal notices have city magistrate said that it is ensure that new noting or file The AAP leader said that the BJP is giving advertisements been issued this year. The dengue the priority of the state gov- is sent to the officers only in newspapers by misusing public money received by breeding checkers have checked ernment to introduce an e- through e-office. In case of Municipal Corporation as tax to avoid CBI investigation. 22734561houses and also issued office system in government any difficulty in coming to the Pathak said that today MCD employees have no food to challans to 10364numbers of offices. With the introduction office live, the officer con- eat and no money to pay the school fees of their children. office and residential premises. of this system, there will be cerned should contact NIC He further said that the BJP has tried unsuccessfully to hide A senior SDMC official transparency in government and implement this system in their corruption by installing hoarding-posters all over Delhi, said that all the preventive work, while the disposal of his office as soon as possible. salaries could have been given to employees by using these steps have been taken to reduce files will also be done in a rel- A major advantage of crores of rupees properly. the cases. “The key to preven- atively short time. Also, the digitisation is that approvals The response came after Bharatiya Janata party alleged- tion of Dengue is ensuring files will not be lost. or observations from the offi- ly gave an advertisements to various newspapers clarifying there is no clean stagnant The magistrate directed cials for any work can be stand on the Rs 2500 crore alleged scam of the BJP ruled water in homes and around, the officers of all departments done at any time and files MCD. which does not allow the to prepare government e-mail won’t remain pending even if “At one side the BJP claims that they do not have money Aedes mosquitoes to breed, Ids of their employees to deal the concerned official is on to pay the employees of the BJP ruled MCD but on the other and therefore dengue cannot with the files of their offices. leave,” the City Magistrate hand they are giving advertisement of crores of rupees to the spread,” he said. The official said that in said. newspapers. Where is this money coming from?” chhattisgarh 03 RAIPUR | TUESDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2020 BJP MLAs suspended for ruckus Baghel pays tribute STAFF REPORTER n government was ready for a RAIPUR discussion with immediate to Cong veteran Vora effect. The reply can be given JP members were sus- after the discussion. n Bpended from the STAFF REPORTER BJP's Brijmohan Agrawal RAIPUR Chhattisgarh Assembly on sought compensation of `25 Three-day State day one of the winter session lakh to nearest kin of otilal Vora, who was for- on Monday after they entered deceased farmers who com- Mmer Chief Minister of mourning in C’garh the Well of the House over mitted suicide. This led to slo- undivided Madhya Pradesh farmers’ issue, mainly seeking RAIPUR: The ganeering from both sides. twice and the Governor of compensation to those who Chhattisgarh government had committed suicide. The Chair asked Uttar Pradesh once, passed declared a three-day State The BJP members led by Shivratan Sharma to com- away on Monday, a day after mourning from December Shivratan Sharma, Brijmohan mence the discussion. With celebrating his 93rd birthday. 21 to 23 as a tribute to vet- Agrawal, Leader of the ruckus continuing, the Chief Minister Bhupesh eran Congress leader and Opposition Dharamlal House was adjourned for five Baghel expressed profound former Chief Minister of Kaushik and 13 others during minutes. grief over the demise of Vora, Madhya Pradesh Motilal Zero Hour through a call The chaos continued calling it an irreparable loss Vora who died earlier on attention motion sought an when the House met again. not only to Chhattisgarh but Monday. adjournment and a discussion Congress MLAs blamed the to the entire Congress family. During the mourning on the farmers’ issue. opposition for running away "We have lost a guardian," He said that it was only 1972, he became a Congress period, national flags on They sought details on from a discussion. Later BJP Baghel said. yesterday (Sunday) when MLA for the first time. In government buildings will the non-payment of instal- MLAs and Dharamjeet Singh A former journalist, Vora Vora's 93rd birthday was cele- 1977 and 1980, he was re- fly at half-mast and no began his political career ment promised to the farmers (JCC-J) entered the Well. brated. "No one expected this elected as MLA. Then entertainment or cultural ` The Presiding Officer from scratch and made his tragic news today." Madhya Pradesh Chief at 2,500 per quintal, the sui- programme will be organ- then announced the automat- way through hard work to the He said that as Chief Minister Arjun Singh cide of farmers due to reduc- ized, a press release said. Sharma announced accept- detailing the steps and initia- ic suspension of the members national level. He was a dedi- Minister of undivided appointed him a Cabinet tion in area of their cropping The government has land holding and other allied ance of the proposal and tives taken by the govern- and adjourned the House for cated member of Congress Madhya Pradesh, Vora made Minister. decided that the last rites reasons, compensation to the scheduled the matter for dis- ment. the day. The BJP members party all his life. immense contribution to the He served as Chief deceased farmers and prob- cussion at 3.00 pm. With opposition mem- then staged a sit-in-demon- Baghel said: “Babuji Vora all-round development of the Minister of Madhya Pradesh of Vora, who died a day lems faced by farmers due to Cooperative Minister Dr bers disrupting the Minister’s stration before the statue of was one of the important peo- then Chhattisgarh region. twice. He was also the after his 93rd birthday, lack of gunny bags. Prem Sai Singh gave reply to reply, Chief Minister Bhupesh Mahatma Gandhi in the ple in my life, from whom I In 1968, Vora was elected Governor of Uttar Pradesh would be performed with Chairman Satyanarayan the call attention motion, Baghel intervened to say the Assembly premises. learnt a lot about politics." as a Corporator of Durg. In and a Union Minister. state honours.

GOVERNMENT OF CHHATTISGARH, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT Over 1.61 lakh Covid-19 OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, KELO PROJECT CONT. DIVISION LAKHA Eight IFS officials samples tested in Surajpur Chhattisgarh Assembly pays TEPMP H.Q. KHARSIA, RAIGARH (C.G.) e-Procurement Tender Notice SURAJPUR: Over 1.61 lakh Covid samples eProcurement Portal: https://eproc.cgstate.gov.in have been tested in Chhattisgarh's Surajpur (SECOND-CALL) get fresh postings district, a press release said on Monday. tributes to departed leaders SYSTEM TENDER NO. 69917 / NOTICE INVITING TENDER NO. 06/SAC/2020-21 Dated: 17.12.2020 The Surajpur Health Department has Online Tenders are invited for the following works up to 07-01-2021 (17.30 hours IST). STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR adopting an aggressive testing strategy, STAFF REPORTER n Baghel in his address said System Group Name of Work Probable Janak Ram Nayak No. Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) Dr RAIPUR Markam had dedicated his life Tender amount of he Chhattisgarh government on No. contract (2001 batch) has R.S. Singh said. for the rights of tribal com- TMonday issued fresh posting he Chhattisgarh Assembly munity and their develop- Construction of under ground pipe line system for orders for eight Indian Forest Service been appointed Chief As soon as a Covid positive patient is Command Area Development and Water Management Ton Monday paid rich ment. He recalled the services structures for 4170.00 Ha. developed under AIBP in (IFS) officers in a minor administra- detected, he or she is immediately provided tributes to four former MLAs Conservator of treatment, the press release said. rendered by Jangde, Tekam command area WUA Badebhandar and WUA tive reshuffle. at the start of the winter and Sahu. Chhichhorumariya of Kelo Project including necessary Tapesh Jha (1989 batch) has been Forests, Raipur circle Currently there is one dedicated Covid survey, planning, design, drawing, Layout plan, collection of session after which the Leader of Opposition village maps, Land records, khasara, B-1 etc. from Revenus appointed Member Secretary of the hospital and six Covid care centres in House adjourned for five Surajpur district. Dharamlal Kaushik, former Department, preparation of Layout drawings for complete Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity batch) will be Chief Conservator of minutes. Chief Minister Raman Singh Layout planning for laying UGPL system, getting consent A Covid control room has been estab- from concerned farmers, field Layout, collection of 10% of Conservation Board. Forests (Wildlife) and Regional Deputy Speaker Manoj and Mohan Markam also paid lished in the district from where doctors 69917 functional grant from concerned farmers for the work of M.T. Nandi (1991 batch) has been Director, Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Singh Mandavi read out the rich tributes to the departed CAD & WM, after Layout for completion of UGPL system as Rs. made Additional Principal Chief Reserve, Raipur. contact Covid patients in home isolation per specification and norms of CG WRD for construction of 1155.74 obituary references to Heera leaders. Lakhs Conservator of Forests Janak Ram Nayak (2001 batch) and take their updates daily, the release Singh Markam, Puran Lal The Assembly observed a UPVC pipe lines with all joints and structures, valves for said. necessary and successful flow of water. The work also (Administration Gazetted and has been appointed Chief Conservator Jangade, Lal Mahendra Singh two-minute silence after includes construction of micro irrigation work in 10% area Coordination). of Forests, Raipur circle. According to Health Department, on Tekam and Ghanaram Sahu. which the Speaker adjourned (417.00 Ha.) as per the guidelines of water resources Arun Kumar Pandey (1994 batch) Abhay Kumar Shrivastava (2001 December 20, 953 Covid positive patients Chief Minister Bhupesh the House for five minutes. department. The work includes, Workshop, Seminar & were detected in Chhattisgarh. In Surajpur Training etc. by expert with respect to agriculture, has been named Additional Principal batch) has been named Chief horticulture, sericulture, crop rotation, Creating awareness Chief Conservator of Forests Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and district, 30 such patients were found. to farmers regarding importance of CAD works, making (Development and Planning). Regional Director, Udanti Sitanadi So far, the total number of Covid posi- POLICE HEADQUARTERS, CHHATTISGARH, them to accord consent to let the land be made available to tive patients the district has seen is 5,173. lay UGPL system, providing knowledge, motivation etc to A 2001 batch officer, Mohammad Tiger Reserve, Bijapur. POLICE HEADQUARTERS, ATAL NAGAR, NAVA RAIPUR the farmer for optimum use of water, third party evaluation Shahid has been appointed Chief Soma Das (2002 batch) has been Of this, 4,693 were discharged upon recov- of CAD & W.M. work by national or state level recognized Conservator of Forests, Jagdalpur cir- appointed Chief Conservator of ery. The virus has claimed 31 lives in Notice inviting 2nd Tender institution/firm. cle. Rajesh Kumar Pandey (also 2001 Forests (Bamboo Mission). Surajpur district. No. PHQ/Sec.-10/Prove-1/ 5661 /2020 Raipur, Dated : 16/12/2020 The details can be viewed & downloaded online directely from the Govt. of Sealed tenders are being invited by the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh Integrated e-Procurement portal (https://eproc.cgstate.gov.in) Chhattisgarh on behalf of Governor of Chhattisgarh from original equipment from dated 24-12-2020 at 17.31 hours (IST) onwards. NITI Ayog again manufacturers (OEM) Or authorized by manufacturer for the following items :- Note: All eligible/interested contractors /bidders are mandated to get enrolled Sl. No Name of Item Qty EMD in Rs on the integrated e-Procurement portal (https://eproc.cgstate.gov.in) and get approval on specific vendor class from PWD under centralized contractor/ lauds work of 1 Network Analysis Tools 01 1,20,000/- supplier registration in order to download the tender documents and BJP walks out over power participate in the subsequent bidding process. The tender offer in the prescribed tender form along with all the relevant Chhattisgarh women documents sealed and completed in all the respect, must be submitted as per the schedule below - Executive Engineer Kelo Project Const. Division Lakha SCHEDULE FOR TENDER G- 85725/5 Ryp/Dtd 21.12.20 Temp. H.Q. Kharsia, Raigarh (C.G.) connection to irrigation pumps a) Address for submission of AIG of Police(P&P), Block no.-3, Room No.309 Tender Document Police Headquarters, Chhattisgarh, Sector 19, Nava Raipur. n POLICE HEADQUARTERS, CHHATTISGARH, NAVA RAIPUR STAFF REPORTER issue will be resolved. action on it. b) Last Date and time of 18/01/2021 till 03.00 pm RAIPUR Baghel said during the Intervening, BJP submission on Bids Block no. 3, Room No.309 Police Headquarters, TENDER NOTICE period 2,720 applications MLAs Ajay Chandrakar, Chhattisgarh, Sector 19, Nava Raipur. No. PHQ/Admn/Rect./M-3364/2020, Nava Raipur Dated : 17.12.2020 JP members walked for permanent and 3,372 Brijmohan Agrawal and c) Place, Time and Date of Block no. 03, Room No.309 Police Headquarters, Director General of Police. Chhattisgarh, Raipur. on behalf of Bout during Question applications for temporary others supported the issue opening Technical Bid :- Chhattisgarh, Sector 19, Nava Raipur. 18/01/2021 at 4:00 pm Governor of Chhatttisgarh, invites sealed tenders in 03 separate Hour on day one of the connection were received. raised by Congress mem- envelops earmarked as (pre-qualification bid. Technical bid and Chhattisgarh Assembly's d) Place, Time and Date of Shall be intimated later. Of these, 579 permanent ber and said the fact that opening Financial Bid :- Financial bid) for outsourcing following services required for the winter session on Monday, connections have been ruling party members are e) Date till which the Bid to 120 days from the scheduled date of submission recruitment of Chhattisgarh Police for following items : peeved over the reply provided while power sup- RAIPUR: NITI Aayog has again raising the issue indicates remain valid of the Bid. SI.No. Name of Item given by Chief Minister ply has been given to all the ground situation appreciated women self-help groups Note:- 1- Providing RFID system for measuring running time during Physical of Chhattisgarh for their confident over providing power con- the temporary connec- across the state. Efficiency Test (P.E.T.) RFID synchronisation nection to irrigation tions. Chandrakar urged the 1. In case of tender opening date being declared as holiday, tenders will be steps towards financial independ- opened on next working day. 2- Providing digital solutions for outdoor events of Shot Put, Long Jump pumps as sought by farm- A total of 422 applica- government to raise the ence. 2. Tender documents can be downloaded from our website and High Jump during Physical Efficiency Test (P.E.T.) NITI Aayog has tweeted from ers. tions for permanent budget and target to pro- www.cgpolice.gov.in and at the time of submission of document tender fee 3- Comprehensive application software for the recruitment program its official Twitter account about the Khujji Congress MLA connections were rejected vide permanent connec- Rs. 3000/- will be paid in the form of DD of State Bank of India/Scheduled including integration of previous available data, evalution of OMR women of aspirational district Channu Chandu Sahu on grounds of inadequate tions. Bank (other than Cooperative Bank) payable at Raipur in favour of sheets, complete data entry and compliation of result. raised the question to the Baghel said the same Assistant Inspector General of Police (Accounts), Police Headquarters, Kanker who are becoming financial- documents while 1,719 Chhattisgarh, Atal Nagar Raipur Or State Govt Challan of Rs. 3000/- to be Chief Minister, who holds applications are pending. process is being followed The tender document may be obtained from the office of the ly independent with the help of cus- deposited in the Head of A/C-0055-Police-800- other receipt. Tender fee is under signed on payment of Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand only) the Energy portfolio, on based on the previous gov- non refundable and can't be exempted in any condition. tard apple pulp processing machine. Against a target of 1,000 in the form of Demand Draft/Banker Cheque issued by any With the tag line ‘Badhte Kadam the permanent and tempo- pumps for year 2020-21, ernment and it is a contin- 3. Modification/Amendments/Corrigendum, if any shall not be advertised nationalized/Scheduled bank in favour of A.I.G., Accounts, Police on the news paper but shall be published in the aforesaid web site only. Atmnirbharta ki or’, it said custard rary power connections 74 connections are expect- uous process. Already the HeadQuarters, Nava Raipur, Payable at Raipur. Tender form can be apple pulp processing machines demanded by the farmers ed to be completed by 94,950 temporary connec- 4. If any bidder sends tender documents through Courier/Speed post, the downloaded from Chhattisgarh Police Website and can be submitted tions have been given. BJP tender documents will be accepted till 03.00 pm on 18/01/2021 at Block have been put up in many villages of for irrigation in her con- March 31, he said. no. 1, Room No. 106, Police Headquarters, Chhattisgarh, Sector 19, along with Rs. 1,000/- Demand Draft. Detail of the Scope of work & Kanker through the women self- stituency from 2018-20. The MLA said most members alleged the gov- Nava Raipur only. Received tender documents in any other address at tender condition are available on the website of Chhattisgarh Police help groups are preserving the pulp She wanted to know applications are being ernment was not respond- PHQ on stipulated date and time, will not be accepted. i.e. http: www.cgpolice.gov.in. and selling it in the market at attrac- how many applications are rejected over low voltage ing sympathetically to The tender offer in the prescribed tender form along with all the A.I.G. of Police (P&P) tive prices. pending and when the and sought immediate farmers and walked out. G- 85716/4 Ryp/Dtd 21.12.20 For-Director General of Police relevant documents sealed and completed in all the respect, must be submitted as per the schedule below- ` SCHEDULE FOR TENDER Centre okays 5 Cr ∑§Êÿʸ‹ÿ ◊ÈÅÿ •Á÷ÿ¥ÃÊ, ‹Ù.ÁŸ.Áfl. ⁄UÊC˛Ëÿ ⁄UÊ¡◊ʪ¸ ¬Á⁄UˇÊòÊ.⁄UÊÿ¬È⁄U (¿.ª.) a) Address for submission of Tender Room No.: 307, Block No. 3. First Floor. Four of family found murdered Document:- Police Headquarters, Chhattisgarh, Nava for synthetic football ∞∑§Ë∑§Îà ¬¥¡ËÿŸ ¬˝áÊÊ‹Ë •¥Ãª¸Ã ‚ˇÊ◊ üÊáÊË ◊¥ ¬¥¡Ë∑§Îà Δ∑‘§ŒÊ⁄UÙ¥ ‚ ÁŸêŸÁ‹Áπà ÁŸ◊ʸáÊ ∑§Êÿ¸ „ÃÈ •ÊÚŸ‹Ê߸Ÿ (Online) ÁŸÁflŒÊ Raipur STAFF REPORTER n DURG unidentified accused on ground in Bastar •Ê◊¥ÁòÊà ∑§Ë ¡ÊÃË „Ò—- b) Pre - Bid conference 28-12-2020 at 11.30 AM Sunday night, Thakur said. ∑˝§. ÁŸ.•Ê.‚Í.∑˝§. ÁŒŸÊ¥∑§ Á‚S≈U◊ •Ê߸«Ë ∑˝§. ∑§Êÿ¸ ∑§Ê ŸÊ◊ ∑§Êÿ¸ ∑§Ë ÁŸÁflŒÊ ∑˝§ÿ ∑§⁄UŸ c) Last date & time for availability of 18-01-2021 till 12.00 Hrs. our members of a family The bodies of the two women RAIPUR: The Central gov- tender forms were brutally killed while •ŸÈ◊ÊÁŸÃ ‹ÊªÃ ∑§Ë •¥ÁÃ◊ ÁÃÁÕ F were found in the yard of the ernment has sanctioned `5 d) Last date & time for receiot of tender 18-01-2021 till 15.00 Hrs. an 11-year-old boy was house and those of the father crore for development of a 1. 17/CE/NH/ 2020_MORTH Construction of Bhejji to chintaguffa Rs. 159.73 08-01-2021 severely injured by unidenti- TC/44-20 /2020 _604027_1 Road Km. 21.00 to 22.00 = 2.00 Km. Lacs e) Place. Time and Date of Opening Meeting Room, Block No. 1, First Floor, and son in the water tank. synthetic turf football Technical Bid :- Police Headquarters, Chhattisgarh, fied persons at their home in (1st Call) In Sukma (Balance Work) District in A cyber cell, dog squad ground and running tracks Nava Raipur 18-01-2021 at 16:00 Hrs. a village in Chhattisgarh's Dt. 17-12-2020 Chhattisgarh Under L.W.E. Project and forensic team have been for sportspersons in Bastar f) Place. Time and Date of Opening Shall be intimated. Durg district on Monday. in Chhattisgarh. 2. 18/CE/NH/ 2020_MORTH Construction and Widening of to 2 Rs. 206.89 08-01-2021 Finanical Bid :- After being alerted by sent to the spot and more details would be available This follows Chief TC/44-21 /2020 _604031_1 Lane and Improvement of Road, Lacs g) Date till which the Bid to remain 31.12.2021 or completion of the locals, police found bodies of (1st Call) Bridge and Culvert Chintalnar - valid recruitment process, which ever is later Balaram Sonkar (65), his wife after the postmortem, the Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s initiative, and will help pro- Dt. 17-12-2020 Maraigudem Road Km 01 to 02 = 2.00 Dulari Bai (60), son Rohit official said. Km in Sukma District Under LWE Note:- (30) and daughter-in-law The boy has been admit- mote sports infrastructure Special Project 1- In case of tender opening date being declared as holiday, Kirtin (25) and the severely ted to a government hospital development in the state. tenders will be opened on next working day. w. ©¬⁄UÙQ§ ÁŸ◊ʸáÊ ∑§ÊÿÙ¸ ∑§Ë ÁŸÁflŒÊ ∑§Ë ‚Ê◊Êãÿ ‡ÊÃ¸, œ⁄UÙ„⁄U ⁄UÊÁ‡Ê. ÁflSÃÎà ÁŸÁflŒÊ ÁflôÊÁ#, ÁŸÁflŒÊ ŒSÃÊfl¡ fl •ãÿ ¡ÊŸ∑§Ê⁄UË ‚«∏∑§ injured grandson Durgesh in critical condition. Prima Development of a syn- 2- Tender forms shall not be supplied by Post. (11) in Khudmuda village, facie it seems the murders thetic turf football ground is ¬Á⁄Ufl„Ÿ ∞fl¥ ⁄UÊ¡◊ʪ¸ ◊¥òÊÊ‹ÿ (MORT&H's) ∑‘§ ߸-¬˝ÙÄUÿÙ⁄U◊¥≈U fl’ ¬Ù≈U¸‹ https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app ‚ «Ê™§Ÿ‹Ù« Durg Superintendent of were linked to some dispute, a golden opportunity to the ∑§Ë ¡Ê ‚∑§ÃË „Ò– Prashant Thakur said. the officer added. Police are sports talent of Bastar, an ◊ÈÅÿ •Á÷ÿ¥ÃÊ (Sd/-) All four adults had been investigating the case from all official communication said ‹Ê.ÁŸ.Áfl. ⁄UÊC˛UËÿ ⁄UÊ¡◊ʪ¸ ¬Á⁄UˇÊòÊ, Director General of Police hit by stones by the possible angles, he added. on Monday. G- 85728/2 Ryp/Dtd 21.12.20 ⁄UÊÿ¬È⁄U (¿U.ª.) G- 85735/4 Ryp/Dtd 21.12.20 Chhattisgarh    ! ! "

5 ! !   23   P 6 1 7+ A  ! +,-,./ beginning the families of only of the State through state gov- the small and marginal farmers ernment machinery. Banerjee  ith the Assembly elec- (those having a combined land further requested Tomar to   +,-,./ Wtions knocking at the holding/ownership of up to 2 “kindly recall” the letter written door, the political battle between hectares) were eligible. Later, by her on September 9, 2020 ndia and Vietnam on Mamata Banerjee Government from June 2019, the scheme was regarding PM Kisan Samman "# IMonday reviewed the entire and the Modi Government fur- extended to all farmers irre- Nidhi scheme in which, the gamut of bilateral relations as ther intensified on the issue of spective of the size of their TMC supremo had said that the Prime Minister PM-KISAN scheme. landholding. The scheme, how- scheme will be implemented in hope that in the remaining two said that Vietnam was an West Bengal Chief Minister ever, is yet to be implemented in West Bengal “if the funds are quarters as well, the balance of important pillar of India’s Act Mamata Banerjee has written to West Bengal. routed through the state gov- recovery will be maintained,” East policy and significance of the Union Agriculture Minister In a letter to Tomar, ernment”. he added. this partnership will increase Narendra Singh Tomar seeking Banerjee emphasised that the On September 9, the chief Sharma was a part of the next year when both the coun- transfer of funds to the State decision of the central govern- minister had wrote to the group of 23 dissenters who tries will be members of the administration for the imple- ment on implementation of the Union agriculture minister wrote to party president Sonia United Nations Security mentation of the PM Kisan scheme in West Bengal and expressing her desire to be an   +,-,./ Gandhi seeking a complete Council (UNSC). Samman Nidhi Scheme. transferring the requisite fund to intermediary for the farmers as overhaul of the organisation Addressing the India- as Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), Indo-Vietnam cooperation can Banerjee wants the funds to be the state government for onward a condition to join the PM- day after Congress interim within Congress. On Saturday, Vietnam Virtual Summit, Modi ITEC and e-ITEC initiatives, contribute to maintaining peace routed to farmers through her disbursement to the farmers KISAN. In West Bengal, 96 per Apresident Sonia Gandhi Sonia Gandhi held a meeting of said Vietnam is a vital partner of PhD fellowships, as well as pro- and stability in the region. government. According to through the state government cent of these farmers fall under reached out to dissenters with- all dissenters, including its Indo-Pacific Vision. jects in water resource manage- Modi said, peace, stability Banerjee, more than 73 lakh machinery is “still awaited”. the small and marginal cate- in the party, senior party leader Sharma, with an aim to end the “Next year both of us will be ment in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and prosperity in Indo-Pacific farmers are to be benefitted The letter further states, gories, much worse than the and former Commerce ongoing crisis. members of the UN Security region, SDGs, digital connectiv- region is a common aim of under the scheme. “Decision of the central gov- national average of 86.2 per Minister Anand Sharma on Congress leaders including Council. So the significance of ity, and heritage conservation is both the nations. “After disbursement of ernment on implementation of cent according to the 10th Monday praised the Modi Rahul Gandhi have taken fre- our cooperation in the global also understood to have been Prime Minister expressed funds, a list of beneficiaries will the scheme in West Bengal and agriculture census of 2015-16. Government saying India had quent jibes at Prime Minister context will increase. We will discussed. condolences on the loss of lives be sent to you (centre) for your transferring the requisite fund to The Centre earlier increased its infrastructure in Narendra?Modi over the state implement a Joint Vision The two leaders reviewed and property in central Vietnam information,” said Banerjee in the State Government for appealed to her on a number recent years and congratulated of the economy. Document 2021-23 which is a the entire gamut of bilateral due to floods and landslides. and her letter. onward disbursement to the of occasions, including one the Centre and State Last month, Sharma had to plan of action for bilateral relations, discussions on region- expressed hope that the aid sent The centre had already farmers through the State when the Union agriculture Governments for working issue a clarification and amend engagement,” Prime Minister al and global issues of mutual by India will be helpful. He said rejected West Bengal’s request to Government machinery is still minister, on February 24, 2020, together towards it. his tweet when it was construed said as he held a virtual meeting interest. India and Vietnam have signed not pay famers directly under awaited. The State Government made a public request to join “India has increased its as praise for PM Narendra with his Vietnam counterpart In his opening remarks, seven new agreements on areas the PM-Kisan scheme but rout- is already implementing a the scheme on its first anniver- infrastructure and I congratu- Modi. “Prime minister Shri Nguyen Xuan Phuc on to dis- Modi said, Vietnam is an impor- such as defence, scientific ing it through the state govern- scheme of direct fund transfer to sary. late central and state govern- Narendra Modi visit to Serum cuss the strategic partnership tant pillar of India’s Act East research, nuclear and renewable ment saying the scheme is based the farmers including the share- PM-KISAN was launched ments for it as they worked Institute, Bharat Biotech and between the two countries. Policy and vital partner of our energy, petrochemicals and other on idea of direct benefit trans- croppers with death benefit by Prime Minister Narendra together for it. The country Zydus Cadilla was a recogni- Both the leaders held dis- Indo-Pacific Vision. diverse . fer to farmers’ account and scheme as had been enumerat- Modi on February 24, 2019, stood in the face of this crisis,” tion of Indian scientists and cussions on defence, energy, He said, the relation between Earlier in February, Vietnam “routing money through state ed in my letter under reference”. when Rs 2021 crore was trans- Sharma said. their work to produce the vac- healthcare , development part- India and Vietnam are growing vice president Dang Thi Ngoc government would be against Banerjee has urged the ferred to bank accounts of India made a comeback in cine for COVID-19 That alone nership and economic revival rapidly and spreading to new Thinh visited India on an official the spirit of the scheme.” Government to arrange transfer more than 10 million benefi- the second quarter after the will lift morale of frontline war- plan post-covid19. areas. The Prime Minister said, visit while Modi and Phuc had Under this scheme, a total the requisite fund to the State ciaries. The Government so far first quarter was the worst for riors and reassure the nation,’ India’s development and India looks at the ties with a telephone exchange in April to income support of 6,000 per Government for onward dis- has disbursed 93,000 crore to the economy as the GDP was Sharma had tweeted after the capacity building assistance to Vietnam with long-term and discuss the COVID-19 pan- year is provided in three equal bursement with full responsi- farmers since launch of the adversely hit, he said. “We PM’s visit to vaccine centres. Vietnam through initiatives such strategic perspective. He said, demic. instalments to farmers. In the bility to the farmer beneficiaries scheme in February 2019. '8)4 .  2)  +    4 3 5  4         8 4   3&   ed. for the AICC treasurer’s post. Deputy Chairperson Rajya As AICC treasurer, Vora   +,-,./ #   $       Sabha and several union apart from managing the Ministers and Chief Ministers finances of the grand old party he CBI has booked +         $  across the country recalled would also decide on allocat- TGujarat-bssed Siddhi $      $$   their memories with Vora who ing the rooms at the party Vinayak Logistics Ltd and its spent more than six decades of headquarters at Delhi’s 24, promoters in a bank fraud  '8           political journey. Akbar Road. case for defrauding Union    $        A former chief minister of It was well-known in party Bank to the tune of over 100   +,-,./ Madhya Pradesh and a former circles that Vora kept a strict crore. '!+       governor of Uttar Pradesh, vigil on the party functionar- The CBI registered the olitical leaders cutting Vora, a Gandhi family loyalist, ies at the Congress office. case following a complaint   +,-,./   +,-,./ Pacross party lines condoled was known for his relations Former Uttar Pradesh from the Union Bank of India Development Studies break the number of events the death of veteran Congress across political spectrum. chief minister Mayawati made dated December 17 under nion Minister of State rime Minister Narendra (NISTADS), New Delhi. has been increased and there leader Motoilal Vora who In a party reshuffle carried it a point to greet the veteran Indian Penal Code Sections U(Independent Charge), PModi will deliver the inau- She was addressing at J C is a plan to increase it in the passed away on Monday. out by Congress president Congress leader whenever she relating to cheating, forgery Development of North Eastern gural address at the India Bose University of Science and consecutive festivals. Prime Minister Narendra Sonia Gandhi in September saw him in the Rajya Sabha. It and presenting forged docu- Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, International Science Festival Technology, YMCA during the Information on various Modi said he was saddened by this year, Vora was not given was Vora who had recom- ments as genuine among oth- Personnel, Public Grievances, (IISF) 2020 on December 22 curtain raiser of the event activities related to the Science his death and remembered any party responsibility in mended removal of Samajwadi ers besides provisions of the Pensions, Atomic Energy and via video conferencing. The recently. Festival and registration of him as a leader with vast view of his advancing age. Party leader Mulayam Singh Prevention of Corruption Act. Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh on Ministry of Science and Dr Aggarwal elaborated partners is available on the administrative and organisa- A journalist by profession, Yadav from the chief minister’s Besides the firm, those Monday released revised CBI Technology and Ministry of on the various events and their IISF website www.sciencein- tional experience. he worked with Navbharat post on June 3, 1995, a day named in the FIR are Crime Manual in an official Earth Sciences in association scopes and briefed about how diafest.org, said an official “Shri Motilal Vora Ji was Times as its correspondent in after the infamous “Guest Roopchand Baid, Laxmidevi event. The event was attended with Vijnana Bharati students can be benefitted with from the Science and among the senior-most Bombay (now Mumbai), then House” episode. Baid, Rajkumar Baid, Deepak by CBI Director Rishi Kumar (VIBHA)conceptualized the- the programs at the ease of sit- Technology sMinistry. Congress leaders, who had served with Navbharat in Armed SP leaders and Kumar Baid, unknown public Shukla and others including mega science event to promote ting at their homes but without Launched in 2015, the vast administrative and organ- Nagpur and Raipur and later workers tried to assault servants and unknown per- senior officers of the agency. scientific temper in society. missing the real science. IISF is a celebration to pro- isational experience in a polit- with Nagpur Times in Nagpur. Mayawati who locked herself sons. Singh congratulated the “In the pandemic when a “When the pandemic hap- mote science and technology. ical career that spanned A two-term Madhya in a room in a bid to escape the “Siddhi Vinayak Logistics CBI for bringing out the updat- lot of excitement seems to have pened, we thought it will get It aims to engage the public decades. Saddened by his Pradesh chief minister – first attack. Ltd. And other accused persons ed CBI Crime Manual after fif- come to a halt, it is science and over in few months and we will with science, celebrate the joy demise. Condolences to his from 1985 to 1988 and later in On the same day, during the period from teen years by keeping sight of technology that is keeping the be able to conduct the program of science and show how family and well-wishers.Om 1989, Vora also served as the Mayawati took oath as the September 2012 to October latest developments in law, spirits high. One such live like we did last year. But by Science, Technology, Shanti,” the PM tweeted. union health minister in the chief minister with the outside 2015 were party to a criminal investigation techniques and example is IISF 2020 where sci- September it became clear that Engineering and Mathematics Congress president Sonia then Prime Minister Rajiv support of the Bharatiya Janata conspiracy to cheat the Union procedures. ence can be experienced virtu- it won’t be possible for us to (STEM) can provide solutions Gandhi, former Congress pres- Gandhi’s cabinet in 1988-89. Party (BJP) and the Janata Bank of India and in pur- ally. conduct it physically, then we to improve lives, he said. ident Rahul Gandhi and party He retired as a Rajya Sabha Dal. suance to the criminal con- “We have events where thought of conducting it at vir- The goal of the IISF 2020 general secretary Priyanka member from Chhattisgarh in Vora would often recall his spiracy, the accused direc- company became stressed due students can go for virtual tual platforms” said Jayant is to help youth develop 21st- Gandhi Vadra termed Vora a April this year. “bumpy” car journey that led tors/guarantors of the firm to non-payment interest and tours, 3D exhibitions, virtual Sahasrabudhe, National century skills, with a focus on true Congressman and a won- During his four terms in to greater familiarity with for- induced Union Bank of India instalments during June 2014. events, panel discussions, lec- Organizing Secretary, VIBHA. scientific knowledge, creativ- derful human being. “Vora ji the Rajya Sabha, Vora was mer Prime Minister Atal Bihari to sanction term loans to SVLL The period crime men- tures and many more. There He explained that IISF is ity, critical thinking, prob- was a true congressman and a appreciated for his attendance Vajpayee while on a tour from and disburse aggregate loan tioned in the FIR is September are 41 events and everyone is involving global and overseas lem-solving, and teamwork. A wonderful human being. We and participation. Lucknow to a remote village in amount of 102 core for pur- 2012 to October 2015 and loan welcome in the event”, said Dr Indian researchers and acad- long-term objective is to will miss him very much. My Congress leaders would the state during his term as the chase of 337 commercial vehi- accounts were subsequently Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, emics, beyond the barriers of encourage students to study love & condolences to his fam- often quote Vora’s tips for dis- Uttar Pradesh Governor from cles,” the reads the FIR. declared as Non-Performing CSIR-National Institute of time and borders. He said and work in scientific fields, ily and friends,” Rahul tweet- cretion which made him ideal 1993-19 The loan account of the Assets. Science, Technology and that despite the corona out- the official added. N ?A O *6  %93"0 0     ? * 0 3'  ) 95 *)    2  0&    :       %#;#7-     +,-,./ '    03       +,-,./ ution, the highest number of 8,071 leopards were found in book ‘Meri Sangh Yatra’   +,-,./ mobilised and led the crowd he population of leopards in central India and eastern ghats, Aby Sangh Worker Om   +,-,./ gathered at KG Halli Police TIndia has increased from which include the states of Prakash Garg was released by he National Investigation station to attack the police per- 7,910 to 12,852, up by 60 per- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sah Sarkaryavah Dattatreya PIL seeking to establish TAgency (NIA) on Monday sonnel, causing huge damage cent in four years since 2014, Rajasthan, Odisha, Hosbale and Akhil Bharatiya Aspecial anti-corruption arrested 17 SDPI/PFI lead- to the public and police station according to a report ‘Status of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Sah Sampark Pramukh courts in every district to ers/activists for their involve- vehicles,” the NIA said in a Leopard in India 2018’, released Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Ramlal of RSS. Director decide cases related to various ment in the violent attack and statement. by Union Environment In the western ghat region, General of the Indian Institute economic offences like money large scale rioting at KG Halli Likewise, accused Abbas, Minister Prakash Javadekar on in a total of 51,337 leopard pho- which comprises Karnataka, of Mass Communication laundering and tax evasion Police Station, Bengaluru on SDPI President of Nagwara Monday. tographs using pattern recog- Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala, (IIMC) Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi within one year has been filed August 11 after a controversial ward had also mobilised large “India now has 12,852 leop- nition software. The statistical there are 3,387 leopards while was also present. in the Supreme Court. Facebook post by the nephew crowds at the KG Halli police ards as compared to the previ- analysis estimates the leopard there are 1,253 leopards in On the occasion, The PIL filed by BJP leader None of the welfare of Congress MLA of Pulakeshi station through his associates ous estimate of 7,910 conduct- population at - 12,800 leopards Shivalik and Gangetic Plains Dattatreya Hosbale said that and advocate Ashwini Kumar schemes and government Nagar, Bengaluru. Azil Pasha, Irfan Khan and ed 2014. The States of Madhya within the tiger’s range,” said a which includes Uttar Pradesh, several books in different lan- Upadhyay has also sought departments are corruption- The case was originally Akbar Khan, the agency said. Pradesh, Karnataka and statement issued by the Union Uttarakhand and Bihar. In the guages have been published directions to high courts to take free, it said. registered as FIR No .229/ Investigation also revealed Maharashtra recorded the high- Environment Ministry later. northeast hills, there are just about the Sangh but every appropriate steps to decide “Due to long pendency 2020, PS KG Halli, dated the use of social media chan- est leopard estimates at 3,421, The ministry claimed that 141 leopards. book has its own importance. cases related economic and ineffective anti-corrup- August 12 and was re- regis- nels like Facebook, Instagram, 1,783 and 1,690 respectively,” the tiger has not only served as “The leopard was estimat- When a Sangh worker writes offences. tion laws, even after 73 years of tered as RC-35/ 2020/ NIA/ WhatsApp to spread terror Javadekar said as he remarked an umbrella species but even its ed across forested habitats in a book, that book not only The petition has made the independence and 70 years DLI on September 21 by NIA. among people and mobilised that monitoring of the tiger in monitoring has helped evaluate tiger range areas of the coun- encloses his experiences but Ministry of Home Affairs, the after becoming a socialist sec- “Investigation so far has people from far away places to India has clearly shown its the status of other species, like try but other leopard occupied also his feelings. Ministry of Law and Justice, ular democratic republic, none revealed that the SDPI (Social gather at KG Halli Police umbrella role in the ecosystem, the leopard which are among areas such as non-forested He said that this book is and various states and Union of our districts are free from Democratic Party of India) Station. Accused Saddam, which has shed light on other the most adaptable carnivores, habitats (coffee and tea plan- a document of Sangh for territories parties in the case. cases related to black money, leaders, namely, Md. Sharieff, Sayed Sohel, Kaleemulla alias charismatic species like the and are known to exist very tations and other land uses future generations. The PIL, filed through benami property, dispropor- President, Bengaluru District, Shahrukh Khan were active leopard. close to human habitations. from where leopards are While Ramlal said that advocate Ashwani Kumar tionate assets, bribery, money SDPI, Imran Ahmed, social media users who par- “India’s world record tiger A study earlier this year had known to occur), higher ele- RSS cannot be understood Dubey, contended that due to laundering, tax evasion and President, KG Halli Ward, ticipated in riots as well as survey also estimated the pop- found four distinct sub-popu- vations in the Himalayas, arid merely by listening about it long pendency and ineffective similar other economic along with other senior lead- instigated others to gather at ulation of leopards and the lations of leopards in India landscapes and a majority of but by observing it, the author anti-corruption laws, India has offences,” the petition said. ers like Rubah Waqas, the police station, it said. tiger range was found the home with high genetic variations - North East landscape were not Om Prakash Garg, said that never been ranked among the India’s anti-corruption laws Shabbar Khan and Shaik Till so far, as many as187 to 12,852 (12,172-13,535) leop- leopards of the Western Ghats, sampled and, therefore, the this book is not an top 50 in the Corruption are very weak and ineffective Ajmal had conducted meet- accused persons have been ards. They occur in prey rich the Deccan Plateau semi-arid population estimation should autobiography but is a com- Perception Index. The Centre and fail to control corruption, ings at Thanissandra and KG arrested in connection with protected areas as well as multi- region, the Shivalik mountains, be considered as the mini- pilation of the inspiration to and state governments have and even the Benami Halli wards in Bengaluru in the case. Further investigation use forests. and the Terai region in North mum number of leopards in work, which he got by joining also not taken appropriate steps Transactions Act, passed in the evening of 11.8.2020 is continuing in the case, it “A total of 5,240 adult indi- India. each of the landscapes,” the the Sangh and the in this regard, the petition 1988, is gathering dust without wherein they conspired, added. vidual leopards were identified As for region wise distrib- Ministry said. society. said. action, it said.    ! ! &

$&'( *'8    6. - !  82!   4   !  78 idence in north-west Mumbai 7& &5'5 4-/$C('C&9 Dharma Productions employ- After the seizure of drugs on November 9. (7*(4< 45 (596&' ee Kshitij Prasad had earlier and cash, the NCB officials ctor Arjun Rampal was The NCB had earlier sum- 4)45 &+56'8( been arrested by the NCB in arrested five persons, including ) Aon Monday grilled for the moned Rampal for questioning (5&( 4(&475'(94- connection with the Sushant Firoz A. Nadiadwala’s wife second time in five weeks in on December 16. However, 5<'&5'&6(85&'P4C Singh Rajput’s death-related Shabana Saeed. !   ! 9.6 could put up no Chief Minister that you had worked hard to connection with the ongoing the actor had sought a week’s 6'9 (<'(75'(94 drug case and expanded More than 25 persons candidate. She said, “it is diffi- ensure my victory but asking for investigations into the time from the NCB to appear (9+45'((C('85856'9 Bollywood-drug nexus case. –including Sushant’s girlfriend he weird poaching contest cult for me to work for a party posts in lieu of that is not Bollywood-drug mafia nexus before it for questioning. (+('5-<&5&6&7' Sushant, it may be recalled, Rhea Chakraborty and her Tbetween the Bharatiya Janata which has six probable names acceptable as the BJP does not case. Rampal arrived at the NCB’s (''459(''55 was found hanging from a brother Showik --- have been Party and Trinamool Congress for the CM post and 13 others believe in kinship politics” Rampal, who had been office for questioning on &&&9C9'+ 7(6(+4 ceiling fan in his closed room arrested and a large number of has reached the bedrooms of for that of deputy CM… You reminding how the TMC had questioned for eight-long hours Monday morning. The actor 8(4 of his duplex flat at Mont persons have been questioned politicians with Bishnupur BJP cannot talk about Narendra victimized her by taking her job earlier by the NCB on may be arrested, if the agency investigated after the death of Blanc building at Bandra’s in connection with a case reg- MP Soumitra Khan on Monday Modi all the time because he is and through other means when November 13, was grilled once finds evidence to suggest the actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Carter Road in north-west istered by the NCB on August threatening to divorce his wife your Prime Minister and cannot she was campaigning for him. again by the investigating doctor's prescription submit- Bartel, an architect by pro- Mumbai on June 14. 28, two days after it registered Sujanta Mondal Khan for join- come to Bengal to works as the “This is my appeal to you to agency, this time around over ted by him is fake. fession who resides at Bandra Incidentally, the raid on a case suo moto. Subsequently, ing the Bengal ruling outfit Chief Minister.” remove my surname ‘Khan’ the doctor’s prescription for Among other things, 47- in north-0west Mumbai, was Rampal’s residence came a day Rhea was granted conditional barely two days after dozens of She had singlehandedly from your name,” he said saying psychiatric medicines submit- year-old Rampal is being inves- arrested on November 13. The after the NCB officials carried bail by the Bombay High Court TMC leaders led by ace Mamata crafted the victory of her hus- how “when you lost your job due ted by him to the investigating tigated for his links with South actor has known Bartel for a out searches at film producer in the Sushant death-related Banerjee aide and former band a former TMC MP who to Mamata Banerjee or agency. African national Agisialos long time. He used to be a reg- Firoz A. Nadiadwala’s resi- drug case on October 7, 2020. Minister Suvendu Adhikari join- had then freshly joined the BJP. Abhishek Banerjee I transferred The NCB is examining if Demetriades, the brother of ular touch with Agisialos dence along Gulmohar Cross As part of the investiga- ing the saffron fold. As his entry was barred in 50% of my salary to your the doctor’s prescription for actor’s live-in friend Gabriella Demetriades, the brother of Road at Juhu Vile Parle tions, the NCB had earlier Sujata who was instrumen- Bishnupur for various reasons it account every month… so that psychiatric medicines pro- Demetriades and Australian- actor’s live-in friend Gabriella Development (JVPD) Scheme questioned Bollywood’s tal in her husband’s win from was Sujata who slogged it out you don’t have to ask for it… duced by the actor is genuine architect friend Paul Bartel, Demetriades. in north-west Mumbai. During prominent actresses Deepika Bishnupur constituency earlier ensuring him get more than 6 Now you have joined hands with or fake. Unconfirmed reports both of whom were arrested The NCB’s investigations the searches, the NCB sleuths Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, joined the TMC in presence of lakh votes. Minutes after wife she those who had harmed you in said that the actor had obtained earlier with the Bollywood- have revealed that Agisialos seized a total of 717.1 gm of Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul senior leader Sougato Roy and joined the TMC her husband past.” Almost bursting into tears the doctor’s prescription drug mafia nexus case. was in touch with Omega Ganja, 74.1 gm charas and Preet Singh. Kunal Ghosh explained her said “she is doing a big mistake” the MP said “every family has its through a friend from a New Agisialos was arrested by Godwin, a Nigerian national 95.1 gm MD (Commercial The agency had also arrest- volte face saying despite the hard and asked her to change her fights. But, you have chosen pol- Delhi-based doctor. The inves- the NCB from Lonavala near who had earlier been arrested Quantity) along with Rs ed television comedian Bharti work she did for her party there decision or else he would send itics over family to feed you high tigating agency had found on October 19. Agisilaos for supply of cocaine in 3,58,610. They also seized 10 Singh and her husband Harsh was no recognition coming her her a divorce notice. ambitions… and in doing so some psychiatric medicines is alleged to be a part of a larg- Mumbai. During his custodi- gm of Ganja from another Limbachiya. It has also issued way. Besides she expressed her Khan, also State BJP youth they have trapped you making during the raids it had con- er drug syndicate operating in al interrogation, Godwin had accused Wahid Abdul kadir summons to film-maker Karan dislike for a situation where BJP wing president, said, “I concede you to do a big mistake. ducted on Rampal’s Bandra res- Bollywood, which is being named Agisialos. Earlier, ex- Sheikh @ Sultan. Johar.     6$    3 7      5H     !  gramme,” declared while tion, his alliance partners that in the last assembly election, not win the election. $/,++ addressing the party workers include the Congress, CPI(M), points out a senior Congress This was in contrast to Aligarh: We welcome the across the State on Sunday. CPI, VCK, MDMK, MMK and leader. He said the Congress what the DMK’s second in Aligarh: The police adminis- address, special attention is , Shri he constituents of the Stalin reminded the party other fringe groups may have would not settle for anything command M K Kanimozhi, tration has started their prepa- being given to avoid the inter- Narendra Modi Ji to be a part TDMK-led alliance in Tamil workers that the DMK-led to content with the remaining less than 40 seats. (Stalin’s step-sister and former rations for Prime Minister net, screen and any other inter- of Aligarh Muslim University Nadu are upset and shocked alliance had won 38 out of the 34 seats. There are reports that The DMK is launching the chief minister Karunanidhi’s Narendra Modi's virtual ference. During the program, a (AMU) centenary celebrations, over the declaration made by M 39 seats from the State in the the DMK is in talks with the 2021 election campaign on lone daughter by his third wife address at AMU on centenary large number of police will be and sincerely hope that his K Stalin, president, DMK, that 2019 Lok Sabha election and Vanniyar dominated PMK Wednesday. Party’s ordinary Rajathi) had told last week in celebration. Stringent arrange- deployed in the AMU campus presence will help in the quan- his party would not be content the party workers should repeat which is right now with the workers will undertake vil- Coimbatore. “The DMK is not ments are being made by coor- and its surroundings, including tum jump in the overall with even one seat less than 200 the performance in the assem- AIADMK-led front. lages in their areas with the slo- at all ruffled. dinating with the AMU PAC and RAF. Police will also progress and development of in the upcoming Assembly bly election too. In the last Assembly elec- gan “We reject the AIADMK”. The actor has announced Administration. Close moni- do patrolling in the city. The AKTC and the Faculty of election. Political commentator tion the DMK had contested Stalin himself would hit the the launch of his party for toring will also be done on the intelligence department has Unani Medicine. “Our goal is Mission-200. Kolahala Srenivasan told The 178 seats leaving 40 seats to the campaign trial from January January 2021. I can say that it AMU campus and sensitive been activated and input is “The Prime Minister has Though we can form the gov- Pioneer that Stalin may find the Congress, five seats to the onwards. The DMK chief is will not impact the DMK’s places in the city to avoid being collected for expected laid special emphasis on tradi- ernment by winning 117 of the Mission-2000 tough. “Since Muslim League and nine seats upset over the possibility of victory and you can be sure that interference during the address. protest. Those who create dis- tional medicine and we are sure 234 seats in the Assembly, we 1996 Assembly election, the to fringe groups. Since then, the matinee idol Rajinikanth play- Stalin will be the next chief SP City Kuldeep Singh turbances will be strictly dealt that his participation in the are contesting not to secure just DMK has never crossed the CPI(M), CPI, VCK and ing spoilsport in the assembly minister,” Kanimozhi had told Gunawat told that the meeting with. centenary programme as the 117 seats. We cannot content three-digit mark. It is going to MDMK, have joined the DMK election as he reportedly told the media during her campaign is going on with the AMU The centenary program Chief Guest will go a long way with even one seat less than be a tough task for him to real- camp and this would make it party workers that the entry of in Coimbatore on December 6. administration regarding the will start on December 22 at 10 in the further improvement of 200. Our aim is to win 200 seats ize this dream,” said Srenivasan. difficult for the Dravidian film stars into politics was The volte-face by the party program. Systems are being am. Its link has been released facilities and infrastructure of the on our own and that’s why we If Stalin is serious about major to contest even 178 seats only with the objective of leadership within a fortnight is finalized after discussing every on the virtual card from Tibbiya College,” said Prof Saud have this Mission-200 pro- Mission-200 in the 2021 elec- which it had set apart for itself ensuring that the DMK does interesting. point. During PM Modi's AMU. PNS Ali Khan (Principal, AKTC). /$ + !     0        $<#$      !'  !   +!)     =  Aligarh: There is great enthu- '  #9 siasm from elders to children  B /6/:? around the village were accus-     !  78 we will have to be extremely to celebrate the birth of Lord ing them of killing their daugh- Thiruvananthapuram: With 8'&445 5(5-"-3#-.$0 vigilant over the next 15 days. Jesus. Christmas is celebrated he girl's relatives, who have ter. The CBI found out the coronavirus case numbers on *&*'+9'&<4'(5& n what will put a virtual stop Accordingly, we have imposed every year on 25 December all Tbeen saying not to leave truth by interrogating relatives Monday seeing a lower trend as ('&+4*(84  5:A):C Ito the Christmas and New night curfew in all municipal over the world. Boolgadhi, now want to leave other than the family. fewer samples get tested on a Year-eve celebrations in corporation areas till January 5,” The tune of Jingle Bell - Jingle Hathras. The family members The exercise began to get a Sunday, Kerala registered 3,423 were 60,504 active cases. he Allahabad High Court Mumbai and other major cities Uddhav said. Bell has started in the gift gal- have felt that the accused will get copy of the charge sheet filed by new infections from 34,847 A total of 27 deaths were Thas granted bail to Faisal in the state, the Maharashtra “The new strain of Covid- leries of the markets with dif- severe punishment after filing a the CBI. Lawyers of both sides samples. reported taking the death toll Khan, who was arrested for Government on Monday 19 detected in Britain is spread- ferent kinds of decorative items chargesheet in the Special Court were preparing for this. They In a statement issued here, to 2,843. Across the state, offering namaaz on the premis- announced the imposition of ing rapidly. Its severity will be including Christmas tree dec- under the Scheduled Castes and want to know what charges state Health Minister 2,80,375 people were under es of the Nand Baba temple in 14-day-long night curfew from known in the coming days. orations are also being pur- Scheduled Tribes Act of Hathras have been mentioned in the K.K.Shailaja also said that the observation in various places Mathura district. December 22 in the metropo- Therefore,. Beginning today, chased here. Santa Claus dress- by the CBI. charge sheet and what evidences day saw 4,494 people turn neg- which included 13,610 people The court however, direct- lis and other Municipal we are taking extra-precau- es are also the center of attrac- The father of the deceased have been given. The CBI has ative, taking the number of in hospitals. The statehad 457 ed Khan not to use the social Corporation areas in the state, tions. There will be a thorough tion. said that CBI has found out the filed a charge sheet of murder cured to 6,45,779, while there hotspots. IANS media till the conclusion of the following the detection of a new check-up of passengers arriving The bells will start ringing at 12 truth. Now the accused will be and gang rape against Sandeep, trial. strain of the SARS-CoV-2 in the in the state from international night on 24th December on the punished severely, but seeing the Ramu, Ravi and Lavkush of the Justice Siddharth allowed United Kingdom. flights,” the chief minister said. birth of Lord Jesus. People will atmosphere of the village, they famous Bulgadhi case. All the the bail application observing Amid news reports that a Uddhav said that the pas- greet each other after cutting want to leave Hathras and go to four accused are in Aligarh Jail. that “having considered the distinct phylogenetic cluster of sengers who have either arrived the cake. The next day prayers Delhi. They also want the trans- The charge sheet has been pre- material on record, larger man- SARS-CoV-2 that causes or will arrive from all European will be held in the churches at fer of the case from here to pared based on the victim's last date of the Article 21 Covid-19 has been detected and countries and Central-East 10 am. PNS Delhi. They said that people statement. (Protection of life and person- it is spreading rapidly in the Countries will be quarantined al liberty) of the Constitution United Kingdom, Maharashtra at various institutions for 14- of India and the dictum of apex chief minister Uddhav days. These passengers will court in the case of Dataram Thackeray reviewed the pan- undergo an RT-PCR test on the !    Singh Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh demic situation in the state and 5th or 7th day. They will be and another, reported in (2018) announced night curfew allowed to go home after their 3 SCC 22 and without express- between 11 pm to 6 am, from 14-day period gets over. ing any opinion on the merits December 22 to January 5, The Chief Minister direct-      of the case, applicant can be 2021. ed the municipal commission- released on bail”. At a high-level meeting ers across the state to make Patna: The Urban and Housing anonymity, told IANS that was very difficult to replace the In Dataram Singh's case, chaired by the chief minister and arrangements of hotels and Development Ministry of Bihar connecting pipelines to every old pipelines with the new the Supreme Court had held attended among others by state Independent hospitals where has claimed that it will provide household was part of the 'Saat ones in some cities like Patna, that “grant of bail is a general chief secretary Sanjay Kumar, the international flights arrive tap water to every household in Nishchay Programme' Muzaffarpur, Gaya as they are rule and putting a person in jail Mumbai police commissioner in municipal jurisdiction. 30 cities in the next three during the previous tenure of ancient and developed in an or in a prison or in correction Param Bir Singh and other top “Passengers arriving from months. the Nitish Kumar government. unplanned way, the official home during trial is an excep- officials, the Maharashtra gov- non-European countries will be Providing tap water to “The deadline of the pro- added. tion and presumption of inno- ernment also decided to quar- stamped on their hand and every household is an ambi- ject was December 2020, how- Citing the problem in cence, i.e. person is believed to antine compulsorily all passen- home quarantined. All the tious project of Chief Minister ever, installation of pipelines in Muzaffarpur, the official said be innocent until found guilty, gers arriving in Maharashtra, workers who will undertake Nitish Kumar and it has also some of the cities is still under- that earlier the proposal was to is fundamental postulate of particularly Mumbai, from UK, check-up of passengers arriving been included in the 'Saat way. It is expected that it will be complete the project in Rs 98 criminal jurisprudence. It is not Europe and Middle East, as a from European countries and Nishchay Progamme' of the completed by March 2021,” he crore but the amount necessary to go into the cor- precaution. Central-East countries will be state government. said. was not adequate so the author- rectness or otherwise of the “In view of the detection of provided PPE kits at the air- A senior official from the The delay in connecting ity has released more funds allegations made against the a new deadly virus in the UK, ports”, Uddhav said. ministry, on condition of the pipelines happened as it now. IANS accused as this is a subject mat- ter to be dealt with by the trial judge”.    ! !  ' $   $   * =   <65      =  = $*+,/0$/2 " 36 2       )  9 :  39             7 ?   8'"   !  1!  '   +        )   ;                  0       )  9 !;)9<       9 3&R9S : ) -  !   O   !+ O         "    7.? 1   @     O ( 1   %&')/+    !S 9 )  !     ith COVID cases in 9          0 :!      India falling from a              9 '   ! peak of 98,000 new              9:  cases per day last WSeptember to below the 25,000     !( !       !   ! mark, it can now be said that the           9  9:    collective efforts of the Union  "       )S '  0    Government, the State Governments, health administra-      +        tors and the entire healthcare sec-       )9    + !    "! tor over the last eight months is        !      finally yielding the results. Prime Minister Narendra "   !          +  Modi has been leading from the    +  S        "   front and has taken 10 meetings          5   -  of Chief Ministers devoted whol- ly to the tackling of this pandem-    !     1!       ic. His hands-on approach, con-            +  ! " stant State-wise monitoring of the            0!  :: spread of the virus, interaction )     )    !8 ' !1 '"   with Chief Ministers of the worst- hit States, visits to pharmaceuti-  !  +            cal companies to get an update on      !    !  "    the manufacture of the vaccine     +              have all contributed in a substan- municipal corporation levels. nurses working there had in it by the Constitution to deal tial way not only in controlling Yet, despite the fractious nature themselves contracted COVID with national emergencies and  ! )9  :!7%$B! "   the disease but in keeping the of our politics and high-decibel in the course of duty. Yet, they disasters. The States also realised 9 ! );2:5 N( < 9   9 ! ) morale high among doctors, nurs- political battles that have been were back at work after recov- that in the absence of unity of ;:   <         es, paramedical staff and admin- fought between the BJP-led ery. There are many such action, all States would be istrators and researchers in the Centre and States run by other reports from other hospitals as doomed because the virus 9:      !      "  field of medicine. parties in the recent years, they 6/??6/,?5:6 well. But the one disturbing fac- respects no geographical bound-              !  Apart from the Prime have by and large put aside their 9@$9E95,:6B, tor is the rapacity of some pri- aries separating States.   +  9             Minister, many Chief Ministers political differences and come vate hospitals and reports of Those who breathe nega- have put politics aside and worked together to fight the pandemic. @,,:.?6/6 them charging mind-boggling tivity are unable to see all this.         +      ! tirelessly alongside the Union This is the spirit of co-operative sums just to provide a room for They are the doomsayers, hop-  + ! 9S 5       Government to control COVID- federalism that Modi was keen 9-?,,+69 COVID patients. The ing that this diverse nation will  !         !     19 in their respective States. At last to usher in and it goes to the 7?/,:++6 Government has a responsibil- collapse like a house of cards. count, there are over 40 political credit of all the players that they ity to identity these institutions, But all indicators show that this  !      +   !!        parties governing this country at have displayed a unity of pur- )9,?696/, investigate their practices and country’s political leadership, 1        ):   )   )S the national and State level. This pose to fight COVID-19 which $:,69@..6/, penalise them once the pan- both at the national level and  !                 includes members of the National is in contrast to the intense polit- demic is under control. in the States, is capable of ris- Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the ical battles that are fought on the 5.A,:?6/6 Meanwhile, Modi has ing over petty politics to offer +        "9 Centre, regional parties with huge ground in normal times. 6/,A/B, reviewed India’s vaccination a united challenge to this pan- 1 1      ! + )   majorities in States like the Biju A good example of keeping strategy, the current status of the demic and to win the battle.   !                Janata Dal in Odisha, the Aam politics out and putting in a joint ?5.A, research and the distribution of Just look at the situation in the Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, the effort can be seen in the initia- 7+6A9@57:59?, the vaccine when it is available. US and you will realise how      "        All India Trinamool Congress in tives taken by Union Home Here again, consultations with blessed we are. Unfortunately, !      +1 !     West Bengal, the YSR Congress in Minister Amit Shah to reach out 69@)/6$9BE01 the States is already on. America has been unable to    '  +     !  )  Andhra Pradesh and the to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind +$9+6:?669 This brings us to the lessons show a unity of purpose and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Kejriwal and to find ways to that we have learnt over the last the confidence to deal with the     5         in Telangana. There are also sev- improve Delhi’s infrastructure to 6/,7?7.+6,+?, 10 months. If one reflects over pandemic and this has result- 7%$?"S     +   +   (9 eral States like Kerala, led by the tackle COVID-19. Shah had 59.6$.866.,? the situation when the crisis first ed in COVID-19 spiralling out                    !  Communist Party of India more than a couple of meetings hit us and the Union of control in that country.               $,?D  ! (Marxist) and Bihar with the with the Chief Minister and his Government announced a lock- Hopefully, the new year Janata Dal (United) at the helm, officials when the COVID sit- down and decided its extension, should see COVID-19 cases    (9   !+ !0   which are run by coalition uation in the Capital began to there was a nation-wide debate decline in India to the barest    !)&     3 :   Governments. Apart from these cause concern. He was joined by on the efficacy of the lockdown minimum, followed by a credi-         &       parties, we have the national par- Union Health Minister Harsh itself. Thereafter, many Chief ble, reliable vaccine. That day, we ties — the Bharatiya Janata Party Vardhan, who has been work- tackle COVID-19. Ministers were highly critical of must wholeheartedly acknowl-   -   +    +S   !! 5  (BJP) and the Congress party ing vigorously over the last 10 This is also the moment to the Centre and the latter had a edge the integration that the   9 +S           (INC) — running several big months to confront and contain acknowledge the work of our lot of complaints about the non- political leadership brought       !     !0     States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya the biggest challenge to public doctors, nurses and paramed- response of States like West about and the heroic fight that Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, health in this country. ical staff, especially in the Bengal to the directions issued our doctors, nurses and every-           "*+& $, S    Rajasthan, Punjab and The meetings in November Government sector, who have by the Centre. It took some time one in the healthcare sector put    ,%  )S 8 & +    Chhattisgarh, to name a few. resulted in Delhi getting more been working relentlessly for all the stakeholders to realise up against COVID-19 which This is indeed a mind-bog- ICU beds and equipment. After against huge odds to treat that the Union Government’s enabled us to overcome the gling kaleidoscope of political this meeting, the Delhi Chief COVID-19 patients. On testing directives regarding the lock- deadliest health crisis this coun- parties governing 1,400 million Minister thanked Union Home COVID positive, this writer down, social distancing, wearing try has faced in the recent times. people and this does not include Minister and said he had the was treated at the Trauma of masks, closure of businesses, (The writer is an author ) several dozen more sub-regional assurance that all Central and Centre at AIIMS, which has entertainment industry, educa- specialising in democracy political entities in positions of State Government agencies been converted to a COVID tional institutions and so on studies. The views expressed are 7 power at the zila parishad and would work together to Centre. Several doctors and flowed from the powers vested personal.) 42            *  - # .,(        5    6     *         6          O  6                          8C5              H                  8  L6M                D$  * ?              6               -     !!    !               $    )      !  !"     A '(48'5(' *(F4'745' 85&' '8)5' K5? 9 K$ )       #    $% KB;  K ? & '  (  )  ! #                 ( (  )  ( * (( +   #,(*) !           !                              ! !!    Sir — It is truly delightful that the Sir —This refers to the editorial           "*+& $,        Sports Ministry has approved     L5     M  ‘Congress deal for Rahul?’ +  -             ! -    +  the inclusion of four indigenous 6          (December 21). Since the Gandhi Indian sports which are very            scion and young Congress leader       !.%        popular and hail from different            E quit as the party chief, taking moral                 !   regions — Gatka (Punjab),             responsibility for his party’s embar-    / )  0        (Kerala), Thang-Ta      6    )   -/9O rassing drubbing at the BJP’ hands   )             !   1       (Manipur)and in the last parliamentary election, (Madhya Pradesh and        2    the grand old party has been at the         -      Maharashtra) — in the forth- +              receiving end of one after anoth- !    2 3  !          coming Youth Games          C  er body blow as several dissenting C                     !  !+         !   !  2021, scheduled in Haryana. leaders from both the new and the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju ?          old guard have deserted the           /      has rightly said that India has a 32                 +   5 8    Congress with several heavy- !           !  ! rich heritage of indigenous sports               *        E weights even joining the ruling    -/9O               L M         & S  !    "  and it is a priority for the Sports BJP’s juggernaut, either after sulk- Ministry to preserve, promote                     ing over having no say with the       !       - !     and popularise these games.   8             $      party leadership or for the sake of        !  The Khelo India Games is def-      &'''          ?      seeking greener pastures on the                      initely an excellent platform where       8 B;E)       O      other side of the fence. athletes of these games can com-    7       E    I subscribe to the editorial     !/ +          pete and showcase their talent not   *        E Rajesh Pathak view that this rapprochement               +  only in these sports but also bring     /  7 L     M Bhopal between the Gandhi first family   !  &  !           national and global attention to and the dissenters is driven with these sports which are very pop-      ground with the Government in involvement of corporates who the dual purposes of keeping the       5     !  ular since the ancient times. talks that have been held so far. might later control the fortunes of Congress’s flock together and !+                 +  Rijiju stated that these four Sir — This refers to the report One can understand the issues the agriculture market, thereby paving the way for Rahul’s come-      + 6    2 3  disciplines, along with yogasana, ‘Government plans breakthrough in raised by the farmers with the putting farmers in the background. back at the helm simultaneously by will get due attention among the kisan talks’ (December 21). Government but to put up such a But the laws do farmers a convincing the dissenters over the  !   !  +   (     7 %%% sports enthusiasts and the youth. Farmers have put themselves in massive congregation at the bor- favour by eliminating the com- redressal of their grievances.   !0      S        #   The Sports Ministry is planning great inconvenience by staging ders of the Capital is perhaps not mission agents. So one does not Azhar A Khan    !1 !             to include more indigenous protests in cold weather conditions. the best way to resolve the impasse. know as to where things are Rampur sports in Khelo India Games. They are putting their lives in The farmers’ concern is that headed with regards to the talks.        !    +   M Pradyu danger and, at the same time, the new farm laws initiated by the Devendra Khurana 3 ) 4 7 '              Kannur unable to find a common meeting Government would facilitate the Bhopal 55'45&*&'E 7(;8&7    ! !   0 $   $ 1,)(*- ,  ()*+,*-()()*+,           !   =        A B P  =    B    ;    ; A =  ; 6        L!     L           F8           =A -.'++/ #2) 839 !    & :  66                           ! 1         O                  +   0' +     )                 6  !     7%! '   60      ! 66S           ! 7%$%7%$$     5    +  ! 5  +/!    ,,3(           !       ! +'! E(!    he Government is expected to announce a             !' 3,00,000 crore electricity distribution reform   (    !  Tprogramme to reduce losses and improve the    !    S    efficiency of power distribution companies or dis-             coms. Christened ‘Reforms-Linked, Result-Based            !   Scheme for Distribution’, the move is aimed at help-        ing discoms trim their electricity losses to 12-15 per cent from the present level and gradually narrow the   deficit between the cost of electricity and the price '  S    0   !   at which it is supplied, to ‘zero’ by March 2025. This 77     PQ P !Q!8  is quite similar to the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance 1  H)           !& S Yojana (UDAY) launched in 2015, wherein the tar- !P Q  +   :  !8 gets were missed by a huge margin. The Centre’s ;+:8<           planned electricity distribution reform programme      S        5  ! will also meet the same fate as the real intent is not  :  S   ! S 5   reform but to give money to the beleaguered dis-             coms so that they can clear dues to power genera-  0     !    tors and other suppliers. Meanwhile, amid the cacophony of farmers’   H1S    / !  protest over the enactment of the three farm laws     !I!!  !+   by the Narendra Modi Government, a demand that 0       I went unnoticed relates to doing away with an amend-   ! + + !0  !      ment to the Electricity Act (2003) that requires farm-        +       ers to pay tariff for electricity supply at the un-sub-     P+    Q sidised rate even as the State concerned provides           (DBT) of subsidy to their    0  : +       bank account. Reportedly, the Centre has accepted /9-,B,:6/,   +-       0    this demand. 86O?.7+$/?            5      What it means is that the Centre will continue 55,:,? with the existing dispensation of supplying power ..59.6$.         at subsidised rates to farmers (in some States it is been on top of the Central Government’s The reforms are also aimed at improv- That the Government is not serious ! !5   5:6,? even free of charge). If it is done for farmers then ::,?5,$6B, agenda. In November 2015, it launched the ing the reliability and quality of power sup- about the reforms agenda in the power / !       5     !   logically, other beneficiaries of subsidised power, such UDAY. The prime objective of the scheme ply. It may also have a compulsory pre- sector, it has further vindicated by promis-    1               !   as poor households should continue under the sub- 9@6/,: which ran for nearly four years was to cut paid and smart metering component to be ing farmers that DBT of power subsidy +     !   !    sisting arrangement, too. You can’t have two differ- ,9.9)$. the losses of discoms by reducing AT&C implemented across the power supply won’t be implemented. DBT is a transfor- / !-           ent methods of delivering subsidy to different albeit 99:+)?K losses and the ACS-ARR gap. These loss- chain, including in about 250 million mative reform. Under it, subsidy is given           :  vulnerable sections of society. -/,6/,:+6/, es were a result of the increase in the cost households. directly to the beneficiaries even as tariff O           5   Do we then take it that the Government has )9B,:+,+6 of power purchase on one hand and sup- The Government is expected to con- is cost-based or market-determined. The  S !   '!    0  junked its plan on DBT? A cursory glance at a spate 9:+6/, ply to farmers at heavily subsidised rates tribute around 60,000 crore to the discoms will set tariff in a manner as to    !      of announcements coming from the top may help 9559?69+K on the other. They were required to reduce scheme’s corpus and the rest may be raised fully recover their cost of purchase, us in unraveling the truth in regard to the DBT or -+6 AT&C losses from 20.7 per cent during from multilateral funding agencies such wheeling and distribution thereby avoid-    +         @     for that matter, fate of other reforms in this crucial 2015-16 to 15 per cent by 2018-19. as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) ing loss. They won’t also be saddled with                6/,?,.B,? sector. Under the special economic and comprehen- 698,?,,+? Further, they were asked to reduce the and the World Bank (WB). The Centre’s pending subsidy dues from the State as +    !          sive package for the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ ACS-ARR gap from 0.59 per unit dur- contribution will be met through the pre- then, the latter will be dealing directly with  5 0     ! announced in May, Finance Minister Nirmala ?755.A+) ing 2015-16 to ‘zero’ by 2018-19. vious commitment of the ongoing beneficiaries for subsidy transfer. /! !    +       Sitharaman had provided for a special loan of ,.,$6:$6A69 Simultaneously, the Government gave schemes viz. the Integrated Power Under the DBT dispensation, discoms           90,000 crore from the Rural Electrification @:,:?@:,,9@ them a financial restructuring package Development Scheme (IPDS) and the also need not charge more from industries +          Corporation (REC) and the Power Finance $/:),/,+$, (FRP). Put simply, this was nothing but Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna and businesses which they have to do ! !      !    !  Corporation (PFC) to discoms. This was done to 6/,A/B, condoning their debt of about 4,00,000 (DDUGJY). The funds will be released under the present regime to offset the loss        !  !S enable them to clear their dues to independent power B,?6,+6,:,?6 crore (while 75 per cent of this was taken subject to their meeting reform-related suffered on subsidised sale to farmers and  +          producers (IPPs) and generators in the public sec- +$9+6+7+) over by the States, for the balance, discoms milestones. poor households. This in turn, will help tor, such as the National Thermal Power Corporation -6/6/,  were allowed to issue bonds at a prefer- The proposed electricity distribution the latter reduce their cost of operations ! S 5 !       (NTPC). But, this was conditional upon the discoms ential interest rate). The stated rationale reform programme is more or less simi- and stay competitive. The new regime will 08  '           6..6/,:, implementing reforms such as DBT of power sub- ?+959.6$. behind giving FRP was to enable them lar to UDAY but for the change of name also empower consumers as then, it will !   D %%%+         sidy, “open access” i.e. allowing consumer to draw start on a clean slate. In return, discoms and insertion of some catchy phrases such be easier to implement the “open access” *      !   0     power from a supplier of his/her choice and so on. -..69,+ were expected to set their house in order as Reforms-Linked, Result-Based and so policy thereby enabling them to source       !    Sitharaman had linked the hike in the borrow- 6/?6/,:,$+ by achieving the milestones as specified on. One sees the typical syndrome of “old power directly from a supplier who offers ; < ! ing limit of States to the extent of 0.25 per cent of 8,+9:,. above. But, they did not deliver. wine in a new bottle.” Just as the real pur- the lowest tariff.    !0     + the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) (out of 59-,::,@9:? During 2019-20, AT&C losses of pose of the UDAY scheme was to extin- In short, DBT will be a win-win for +    ! D%! !S    an overall increase of two per cent allowed to them) ++ discoms were 18.9 per cent against the tar- guish the liabilities of discoms, the pro- all stakeholders viz. agriculture, industry, ! !   ! @!! to power sector reforms. Of this, 0.05 per cent is pred- get of 15 per cent for 2018-19. As regards posed electricity distribution reform pro- businesses, exchequer (both Centre and / S $.!        0 icated on the State reducing aggregate technical and the ACS-ARR gap during 2019-20, it gramme, too, seeks to give them the States) even as farmers have nothing to commercial (AT&C) losses (a sophisticated nomen- stood at 0.42 per unit against target of money on a platter. This will help them lose (as only the method of delivering sub-           ! clature for theft) of its discoms, another 0.05 per cent ‘zero’. This would mean that after initial clear their dues to power generators and sidy changes). 9   ;   < !  to their reducing the gap between the average cost reduction from 52,000 crore during keep some cushion to take care of future However, the DBT’s launch is a pipe     :!      of supply and average revenue realisation (ACS-ARR 2015-16 to 17,000 crore during 2017-18, losses. dream as all political parties irrespective   0+   !     gap) from the sale of electricity and the remaining the discoms’ loss increased to over 30,000 The talk of trimming AT&C losses or of their ideological moorings — whether !           S 0.15 per cent to DBT. crore during 2019-20. In turn, this has led lowering the ACS-ARR gap to zero is in the Government or in the Opposition :  O0:   S      Each State was required to formulate a scheme to a piling up of their dues to IPP/PSUs laughable when seen in the backdrop of — want themselves to be seen as supply-     !  to roll out DBT to farmers in lieu of free electrici- in excess of 1,30,000 crore. similar target having been missed in the ing electricity to farmers free of charge.     0      ty from 2021-22. The scheme has to be implement- Faced with the same predicament as past. Under UDAY, discoms were required Hence they have a vested interest in con- ed in at least one of its districts by December 31. in 2015, the Government is working on to reduce AT&C loss to 15 per cent in tinuing with the status quo. Till there is no    !     I   !   + !     S  ! Based on the progress on the above three parame- a 3,00,000 crore electricity distribution 2018-19; now the reformers want this fig- political will to end this, there can be no ters, the Power Ministry was required to recommend reform programme, which may be ure to be reached in March 2025. Similarly, real power reforms in India.            (to the Expenditure Department under the Finance announced in the ensuing Union Budget. the zero gap for ACS-ARR was targeted (The writer is a New Delhi-based pol- ;  S   R       Ministry) the release of 0.25 per cent by January 31, It was approved by the Public Investment for 2018-19; under the new scheme, this icy analyst. The views expressed are person-       S  !  "#    #  $< 2021. Even prior to this, power sector reforms have Board (PIB) early this month. gets shifted to 2025. al)                     1*),3-2

However, it wasted away soon, yield- side and the ambitious regional satraps announcing on the eve of the recent years. Fourth, the regional leaders do States. They hope that this powerful ing space to another Front called the who are dreaming of national leader- Greater Hyderabad Municipal not mind taking issue-based help from alliance against the BJP would work United Front in 1996, of which Deve ship, on the other. Corporation (GHMC) elections that the Congress, both in Parliament and in their favour. There is no doubt that Gowda became the Prime Minister, The question is, can this alliance, he plans to visit Delhi soon to discuss outside, as the alliance would be for any democracy to function prop- followed by IK Gujral. This alliance when it is formed, survive? The a non-BJP alliance. opposed to the BJP in their respective erly, there is a need for a powerful and too, was short-lived. answer to this can only come with Second, leaders like the Biju States and also at the national level. effective Opposition. It is also clear that The next Front was the National time. But there is no doubt that the Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik, The regional bigwigs are miffed with the splintered Opposition in the 6/,5,95., Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by AB regional leaders view this as an oppor- Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo the Centre as they feel that Prime country has not been effective, even ?6:7)).,9+ Vajpayee in 1998 and 2004. Soon after, tune time to strengthen their positions Mamata Banerjee, Nationalist Minister Narendra Modi is not adher- with a majority in the Rajya Sabha. 0'+*+-/) Congress chief Sonia Gandhi formed further and work towards an alliance. Congress Party (NCP) head Sharad ing to the dharma of federal cooper- The ruling NDA has been able to get 9     the United Progressive Alliance They are quietly sounding out the Pawar, Shiv Sena president Uddhav ation on many issues, including the many controversial Bills passed in the      n the early ’80s, buoyed by his big (UPA), which ruled for ten years. The other regional strongmen and mobil- Thackeray are really worried about the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the House of Elders because of the disuni-  *  O   victory against the Congress the year 2014 saw the grand return of the ising their support. They realise that way the BJP is growing in their back- money due to them for dealing with ty in the Opposition ranks. Ithen Andhra Pradesh Chief BJP-led NDA and its winning streak the Congress Party has lost its sheen yard and they have been unable to the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, State leaders believe that       Minister NT Rama Rao (NTR) talked is still continuing. As the late Congress and there is also a leadership crisis in check its growth. Even neutral lead- Fifth, many senior leaders in the they must emerge as an alternative to       about the formation of a Front for leader Ahmed Patel used to point out, the Grand Old Party. Moreover, in the ers like Rao and Patnaik are consid- regional parties are reluctant to work the Congress and the ruling BJP for       regional satraps called the Bharat the UPA was not a Front after the 2014 last six years, the Congress has failed ering joining this Front, as they were under the leadership of former democracy to thrive in the country.  7L    M Desam. But, this did not materialise elections. The Congress’ slide has to lead the Opposition, despite repeat- hesitant to part of any group in which Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Earlier efforts to form a Third Front    )   for many years as NTR’s vision was made it easier for the regional satraps, ed attempts to do so. the Congress was a partner. They would not mind, for instance were all short-lived because of the ego ahead of his time. Finally, in 1989 the who are growing in number, to come The purpose behind the bid to Third, they are concerned about working under the leadership of problems among them. From the     National Front was born, of which together. Several of them, with a form a new alliance is to stall the BJP’s the aggressive campaigning by the BJP Sharad Pawar because, being a senior Janata Party days to the present times,   6   NTR became the chairman. The strong base in their respective States, juggernaut. They want to float it now for even municipal polls, like it did in both in terms of age and political expe- every decade the idea of a Third Front          National Front came to power and VP are now thinking of forming a non- so that they will not be caught napping the recent GHMC elections. The BJP rience, he is more acceptable to the surfaces. The present move is one of       Singh of the Janata Dal became the BJP and pro-Congress alliance. This in the next Lok Sabha polls. One might has jumped from two seats to 48 — other stalwarts. Last but not the least, them. )    Prime Minister defeating the Congress is necessary because of the vacuum recall the Telangana Rashtra Samithi just a few less than the TRS — which the satraps think that the BJP does not (The writer is a senior journalist. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. created by a weak Congress on the one (TRS) chief Chandrashekhar Rao was ruling the roost for the last six have any leader of stature in most The views expressed are personal) L   M    ! !   4  !    23     

London: France became the mutation of the novel coron- “The amount of evidence latest European country to avirus, with the country’s death in the public domain is woe- close all its borders with the UK toll rising by 326 to hit 67,401. fully inadequate to draw strong : after Germany, Italy, Belgium, “Everybody, particularly or firm opinions on whether Denmark, Bulgaria, the Irish people in Tier 4 areas, needs to the virus has truly increased Republic, Turkey and Canada behave as if they might well transmission,” added Professor suspended flights amid grow- have the virus – that is the only Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the Amsterdam: The European data on their vaccine for the next ing concerns of an “out of way we are going to get it under University of Nottingham. Medicines Agency is meeting year. The European regulator control” new variant of coron- control,” UK Health Secretary It is thought the variant to consider approving a coro- came under heavy pressure last avirus spreading at a much Matt Hancock said, adding either emerged in a patient in navirus vaccine developed week from countries calling for faster pace in parts of England. that the situation is “deadly the UK or has been imported by BioNTech and Pfizer that the vaccine to be granted India, so far, remains in the serious” as the government from a country with a lower would be the first to be approval for use as quickly as travel bubble with the UK, tries to contain the rapid strain ability to monitor coronavirus authorised for use in the possible. EMA had originally set with strict testing and self-iso- of an “out of control” virus. mutations. European Union. Dec. 29 as the date for its eval- lation rules in place. But with “This is a deadly disease, The variant can be found The closed-doors meeting uation of the vaccine made by most of Britain now in the we need to keep it under con- across the UK, except Northern comes weeks after the shot was Germany-based BioNTech, but strictest Tier 4 lockdown, all trol, and it has been made more Ireland, but it is heavily con- granted permission under moved the meeting forward non-essential travel remains difficult by this new variant,” he centrated in London, the South emergency provisions by regu- after calls from Berlin and oth- banned for the majority. said. East and eastern England. lators in Britain and the United ers to move quicker. Other countries and terri- The new variant is said to Cases elsewhere in the country States. The vaccine has already tories to announce restrictions be 70 per cent more transmis- do not seem to have shot up in If EMA scientists conclude been given some form of reg- on UK travel include Hong sible, though health experts say a similar way so far. that the vaccine is safe, officials ulatory OK in more than a Kong, Israel, Iran, Croatia, there is no evidence that it is The government’s New and at the Amsterdam-based agency dozen countries. Argentina, Chile, Morocco and more deadly or would react dif- Emerging Respiratory Virus are expected to give condition- Britain, Canada and the US Kuwait. ferently to vaccines. Threats Advisory Group al approval for it to be used authorised the vaccine to be UK Prime Minister Boris “It is really too early to (Nervtag) estimates the variant across the 27-nation bloc. The used according to emergency Johnson will chair a meeting of tell… but from what we see so could increase the R number — European Commission must provisions, meaning the shot is the government’s emergency far it is growing very quickly, it or rate of infection — by still rubber-stamp the decision an unlicensed product whose committee on Monday to take 6           !  "1   +   60 is growing faster than [a pre- between 0.4 and 0.9. The R before the vaccine can be rolled temporary use is justified by the stock of the situation as a huge vious variant] ever grew, but it number is how many other out, a process German officials pandemic that has killed almost backlog build up on the border at the ports. a meeting in Brussels to discuss infections in the UK jumped to is important to keep an eye on people one person will infect on say could begin Dec. 27. The 1.7 million people worldwide to with France after even trucks European Union (EU) a more coordinated response as 35,928 on Sunday, down to the this,” said Dr Erik Volz from average and an epidemic is in pharmaceutical companies will date, according to Johns and ferries were blocked entry member states are also due for the number of coronavirus much faster spreading new Imperial College London. effect if it rises above one. PTI also need to submit follow-up Hopkins University. AP '      ! >  !  0  !  '    and former premier Pushpa affected the government’s func- want to indulge in unfair prac- Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ with- tioning. tices behind closed doors and Washington: Top Capitol Hill Sunday or Monday and Senate in the ruling dispensation. “The elected government reach a compromise with negotiators sealed a deal action would follow. In a special address to the was pushed to a corner and them,” Oli said, adding that giv- Sunday on an almost $1 trillion Lawmakers are eager to leave nation, Prime Minister Oli said picketed against and was not ing a chance to the people for 38; Covid-19 economic relief pack- Washington and close out a that he was forced to dissolve allowed to work so I decided to a fresh mandate is “the best age, finally delivering long- tumultuous year. Parliament and announce mid- dissolve the house,” he said. democratic alternative.” Dubai: Dozens of journalists at spyware to repressive govern- overdue help to businesses and A breakthrough came late Kathmandu: Nepal’s embattled term elections after he learnt “Against the people’s man- “This move could be seen Al-Jazeera, the Qatari state- ments. individuals and providing Saturday in a fight over Federal Prime Minister KP Sharma about a plan to move a vote of date and their will, national pol- as an abrupt step for now, but owned media company, have Most unnerving to the money to deliver vaccines to a Reserve emergency powers that Oli on Monday defended his no-confidence against him. itics was dragged into an end- some of my party leaders been targeted by advanced spy- investigators was that iMessages nation eager for them. was resolved by the Senate’s top move to abruptly dissolve “I was forced to seek a fresh less and goalless direction by should be held responsible for ware in an attack likely linked were infecting targeted cell- The agreement, announced Democrat, Chuck Schumer of Parliament, saying he was mandate through elections as creating controversy, making creating this situation who did to the Governments of Saudi phones without the users tak- by Senate leaders, would estab- New York, and conservative forced to seek a fresh mandate attempts were made against my Parliament meaningless as the not cooperate with my Arabia and the United Arab ing any action — what’s known lish a temporary $300 per week Republican Pat Toomey of through elections as the rift government, not to allow it to elected government could not Government,” Oli said. Emirates, a cybersecurity as a zero-click vulnerability. supplemental jobless benefits Pennsylvania. That led to a within the ruling Nepal function properly,” the prime receive its support but always Prime Minister Oli also watchdog has said. Through push notifications and $600 direct stimulus pay- final round of negotiations. Communist Party severely minister said while defending faced opposition and dragged insisted that his government Citizen Lab at the alone, the malware instructed ments to most Americans, The final agreement is the affected his Government’s his decision to dissolve into the controversy,” Oli said. had done well in terms of safe- University of Toronto said on the phones to upload their along with a new round of sub- largest spending measure yet. It functioning. Parliament and announce dates He accused some of his guarding the country’s territo- Sunday it traced malware that content to servers linked to the sidies for hard-hit businesses combines Covid-19 relief with Oli on Sunday sprang a for mid-term elections. own party leaders of being rial integrity and sovereignty. infected the personal phones of NSO Group, Citizen Lab said, and money for schools, health a $1.4 trillion Government- surprise on his rivals and got Oli, who is also one of the responsible for forcing him to “I was victimised for 36 journalists, producers, turning journalists’ iPhones care providers and renters fac- wide funding plan and lots of the President to dissolve two chairmen of the ruling take this step. enhancing national pride by anchors and executives at Al- into powerful surveillance tools ing eviction. other unrelated measures on Parliament, a controversial party, said that the intra-party “When the prime minister publishing a map with the Jazeera back to the Israel-based without even luring users to The House was expected to taxes, health, infrastructure and move amidst a prolonged tus- rift in the ruling Nepal of the majority government was inclusion of Kalapani and NSO Group, which has been click on suspicious links or vote on the legislation very late education. AP sle for power between him Communist Party severely not allowed to work, I did not Lipulekh,” Oli said. PTI widely condemned for selling threatening texts. AP   <2  -  3 :)  7 QR    !    ('& .      ,       ! ) Bangkok: A well-known leaders, she presented herself at monarchy. She has helped pro- Brussels: The European Union         actress who is one of the most a police station in Bangkok to vide food, protective gear and on Monday warned Bosnia  *    Beijing: China’s Government on high-profile supporters of hear charges that they had other equipment for the protest that thousands of migrants '$    * Monday criticised President Thailand’s pro-democracy violated the country’s lese rallies over several months that face a winter without shelter,  &'02  O Donald Trump’s suggestion that protest movement answered a majeste law, which calls for a have attracted thousands of and it urged the country’s bick-        Chinese hackers, not Russia, police summons on Monday prison term of three to 15 people. ering political authorities to set L   M  might be behind a cyber espi- charging her with violating years for defaming the king or Charging Inthira “sets a aside their differences and take    7?     onage campaign against the the country’s harsh law against members of his immediate very disturbing precedent,” action.     8 United States. defaming the monarchy, even family. said Sunai Phasuk, a “The migration situation in     Trump on Saturday scoffed though she is not known to The law, known as Article researcher for New York-based Bosnia and Herzegovina is (* (('(G! H C    at assertions by Secretary of State have spoken publicly about 112, has long drawn criticism Human Rights Watch, adding alarming,” the EU commis- ?    Mike Pompeo and other officials the royal institution. for its harshness and terms that that it now seems that being an sioners responsible for foreign  *   that the Kremlin was behind Inthira “Sai” Charoenpura, let anyone file a complaint, accessory to any actions that policy, migration and enlarge-         attempts to spy on federal agen- who is also a singer, has drawn allowing its use for partisan Thai authorities consider to be ment said in a joint statement.  ) O  cies. Trump, without offering both praise and criticism for political purposes. offensive to the monarchy are Bosnia has been widely  0(       evidence, said “it may” be China. giving material support and Its use against Inthira punishable. “So now the net is criticized in recent years for  E  ;    The Foreign Ministry said China raising funds for the student- appeared to be unprecedented being cast very wide, much mishandling the arrival of         opposes cyber spying and has led movement. since she was not directly tied wider than ever before,” he thousands of people, many      O crackdown on cyber crime. AP Along with seven protest to any comments about the said. AP fleeing war and poverty. AP        5    ! !

"3 2< New York: Global shares Most investors had already the UK Health Secretary using The US stimulus agree- applying for jobless benefits retreated Monday as worsening factored in expectations for the phrases such as 'out of control' ment is includes temporary and weaker than expected sales New Delhi: Around 83 per cent and satisfaction level from 5G The survey conducted in coronavirus outbreaks over- fresh stimulus, Jingyi Pan of IG to describe the new strain, $300 per week supplemental for retailers. Wall Street's hope people in a survey in India services is around 80 per cent. November covered 5,000 con- shadowed news that US law- said in a commentary. Sterling is, unsurprisingly, jobless benefits and $600 direct is that the stimulus for the shared that 5G is one of the fac- The technology is pushing sumers in the age groups of 18 makers finally set a deal on "The tentative accord on under pressure today," Jeffrey stimulus payments to most economy might help carry it tors they consider while buying growth of video content cre- to 35, spread across India more support for American the approximate $900 billion Halley of Oanda said in a Americans, along with a fresh through a tough winter, until a new phone and nearly three ation in markets where it is (3,000), China (1,000) and families and businesses. coronavirus stimulus deal, hav- commentary. round of subsidies for hard-hit the widespread rollout of in every five existing premium available and the same is Western Europe (1,000). Markets fell in Paris, ing been the talk of the town In Asia, flaring COVID-19 businesses and funding for COVID-19 vaccines might smartphone users are looking expected to follow in India as The survey found that 5G London, Frankfurt and Tokyo for weeks, brought forth little outbreaks have led authorities schools, health care providers, bring relief. to upgrade their device to the well, according to the report. in smartphones is a key pur- but rose in Shanghai. U.S. fresh enthusiasm for markets," to impose lockdowns or other and renters facing eviction. But it will be months before next generation technology, "In global markets, 5G chase consideration every- Futures were lower. Pan said. Germany's DAX and restrictions in Australia and The final agreement was most people can get the shots, according to a report released smartphones are fuelling video where. Concern about the coron- the CAC 40 in Paris fell 3.1%. Thailand. reached after a breakthrough and the pandemic is likely to do by Cybermedia Research. content creation and con- "In China, Huawei is the avirus outbreak grew, as sever- In Britain, the FTSE 100 gave Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index over Federal Reserve emer- even more damage in the inter- According to the survey, 81 sumption, video calling, as most preferred 5G smartphone al European Union nations up 2.5% to 6,436.30. lost 0.2%, regaining some of its gency powers was resolved by im. In the bond market, the per cent respondents prefer well as use cases such as mobile brand (91 per cent), followed banned flights from the UK US futures also weakened, earlier losses after the Cabinet the Senate's top Democrat and yield on the 10-year Treasury Oppo for 5G smartphone and gaming, among others. I by Apple (58 per cent) that is and others considered similar with the contract for the S&P approved a record annual bud- a senior conservative slipped to 0.91% from 0.94% 79 per cent opted for believe that when 5G becomes gaining ground. precautions aimed at prevent- 500 down 1.7%. The futures for get of 106.6 trillion yen ($1.03 Republican. Wall Street retreat- late Friday. Samsung. available in India within the Samsung scores the high- ing a new strain of the virus the Dow industrials dropped trillion) for the coming fiscal ed on Friday, with the S&P 500 US benchmark crude oil The global survey con- next two years, it will give a est in Western Europe (88 per from gaining a strong foothold 1.6%. year, which begins April 1. losing 0.4% a day after it and lost $2.01, or 4.1% to $47.23 per ducted in India, China and considerable thrust to the cent), followed by Huawei (65 on the continent. The British pound, some- In Hong Kong the Hang other major indexes breached barrel in electronic trading on West Europe found that 5G increasing trend of short-form per cent). In India, amongst That overshadowed the times called the pound sterling, Seng declined 0.7% and South record highs. the New York Mercantile users, where the service is video creation and sharing, early 5G smartphone adopters expected passage by the U.S. fell 1.8% against the dollar, to Korea's Kospi recovered from The pandemic's chokehold Exchange. Brent crude, the available, have experienced amongst millennials," CMR and tech intenders, OPPO Congress of the nearly $1 tril- $1.3274, down from $1.3522 early losses, gaining 0.2%. The on the economy has wors- international standard, better video calls, faster down- industry intelligence group scores the highest (81 per cent), lion COVID-19 economic late Friday. "Combined with Shanghai Composite index ened, with reports showing declined $1.80 to $50.46 per loads and ability to stream head Prabhu Ram said in a followed by Samsung (79 per relief package later Monday. European border closures and gained 0.8%. growing numbers of workers barrel. AP ultra high definition videos statement. cent)," the report said. PTI ,-.),1 %   )   ?6    ? 8+    ,   *

  =%    !  7?3'               ?65                 *          F4"    ?,  @A&'&&F$: New Delhi: 63 Moons New Delhi: The Asian New Delhi: Telecom service New Delhi: The government's ing to travel and take a break,  0'  Technologies on Monday said Development Bank on Monday providers could undertake the decision to suspend all flights and the focus will be on choos- the Securities Appellate Tribunal said it has signed a USD 40 mil- next round of tariff hikes over the from and to the UK from ing Indian destinations, he New Delhi: Agriculture Minister has issued a notice to Sebi on an lion loan to Northern Arc next one or two quarters, which December 23 to December 31, added. Narendra Singh Tomar on appeal filed by the company Capital Limited (NACL) to is expected to fuel revenue in view of the emergence of a In a statement, a Monday said the government is against the order related to support the livelihoods of growth in fiscal 2022, ICRA said new COVID-19 strain, is not MakeMyTrip spokesperson focusing on farm mechanisation providing Straight Through microfinance borrowers and on Monday. likely to have much impact on said the sudden turn of devel- and asked the industry to pro- Processing (STP) services. MSMEs in India. The industry topline is the tourist traffic, and the com- opments in the UK has creat- vide small machines and equip- On December 3, Sebi said The loan is disbursed to expected to grow by 11-13 per panies are monitoring the sit- ed a sense of confusion and ment to farmers with less land- that 63 Moons has been offer- NACL as part of ADB's ongo- cent over the next two years, with uation, travel industry players anxiety among travellers who holding to boost their income. ing STP services without its ing COVID-19 response. operating margins improving ?   L$ M     +755.5  5 ;  said on Monday. were planning to visit family The minister was speaking approval and allowed the com- NACL will on-lend the to about 38 per cent for the 75?   C??     $ )  "The impact of the current and friends during this winter at the annual general meeting of pany to provide such services loan proceeds and provide financial year 2022 on the back        C   5  5 ;  +755.  flight suspension to the UK and holiday season. Tractor and Mechanization for three more months to clients guarantees to financial institu- of improved cash flows, moder- 0#0&&'&'? 6   ?    )    from there will have a negligi- "While we are yet to see Association on Monday. in order to avoid any possible tions and individual ate capex and limited borrow-   $ ? :*  $? ? 5? ble impact on tourist traffic. any impact on bookings from Tomar talked about the gov- disruptions for securities mar- borrowers. ings, it said. 75:B7+.? ?;C   $,9?   Due to the current environ- India to the UK, we do expect ernment's target to double farm ket participants. NACL will also on-lend to "Next round of tariff hikes :        / O  5  ment of COVID-19 and the inbound queries from cus- mechanization per hectare in 10 Generally, financial firms affordable housing finance are expected soon as the indus- ?  ?8 / O.)  ? 7  quarantine rules and off season, tomers who were planning to years and said it was only possi- use STP to pass information companies, ADB said in a try debt continues to remain ele- + 5?  *6  +  ? tourism to the UK in any case return home in the coming ble with the support from indus- electronically in order to opti- statement. vated, likely to at Rs 4.7 lakh ?  *  ?? ;         had not picked up," days. try, CII said in a statement. mise the speed at which they "The pandemic has had a crore as on March 31, 2022,"          EaseMyTrip co-founder and "We are closely monitoring The government's emphasis process transactions. This elim- deep impact on the country's ICRA said in a release. 5 ; +7  5 5  . L+755.M;     CEO Nishant Pitti told PTI. the situation and together with is on providing large advanced inates the need for a hands-on informal economy, especially Given the higher funding +.$. L+  )   ,   M7  This will lead to a faster our partners, we will work agricultural equipment to farm- re-entry of data that has already among microfinance borrow- needs arising from sizeable pay- 5 :;B 7 +. L)     growth and demand for towards addressing travel con- ers for their field, the minister been completed at the source. ers and MSMEs”, said ADB's outs towards statutory liabilities, 7  5 M  $ ?    6 5  domestic tourism, especially cerns of home-bound trav- said. He urged the members of The watchdog's directions Private Sector Operations spectrum purchase, regular rev- 5      01#'-L"44'-M )  6 when the international option ellers as the situation evolves," the association to provide small were part of an order wherein Department Director Christine enue share with the government  +   7  5  20F31O       is limited. Travellers are aspir- it added. PTI utility machines to small acreage it rejected 63 Moons' application Engstrom. PTI and auction instalments. PTI farmers, so that 86 per cent of seeking renewal of approval to    !   ! these farmers can acquire provide STP services on the &)(5(F :       machines easily and their income basis of 'fit and proper'         can increase. PTI criteria. PTI         12!!!  -%,      *             *         New Delhi: The Finance tation. The Centre had set up a    Ministry on Monday released the special borrowing window in     *  eighth weekly instalment of Rs October, 2020 to meet the esti-   8  6,000 crore to the states to meet mated shortfall of Rs 1.10 lakh ?      the GST compensation shortfall, crore in revenue arising on &'0&&'&'   taking the total amount released account of implementation of    so far under this window to Rs GST. The borrowings are being      48,000 crore. done through this window by the *            "The Ministry of Finance has Centre on behalf of the States and    *    6 ;    released the 8th weekly instal- UTs.  *           * ment of Rs 6,000 crore to the The amount borrowed so         #3   States to meet the GST com- far was released to the states on         pensation shortfall. Out of this, October 23, November 2, an amount of Rs 5,516.60 crore November 9, November 23, = C =   has been released to 23 states and December 1, December 7, +7<( :  ?*  $  L:?$M   an amount of Rs 483.40 crore has December, 14 and December 21, $?: ;  8    6 $  * E been released to the 3 Union 2020. *      7  5 / 5 ; Territories (UT) with Legislative "The amount has been bor-   ) ;  5 6   ;  Assembly (Delhi, Jammu & rowed this week at an interest  *    0''' :?$$99 Kashmir & Puducherry)," it said rate of 4.19 per cent So far, an ?+L/ *        in a statement. amount of Rs 48,000 crore has    ; ?:6/       The remaining five states -- been borrowed by the Central  8    * E*       Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Government through the special M Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim borrowing window at an aver- -- do not have a gap in revenue age interest rate of 4.69 per PTI  7?#0 6   on account of GST implemen- cent," the statement added. + @5     0&     F:     C   Mumbai: Foreign portfolio Mumbai: Tata Motors on investors (FPIs), which own Monday said its commercial more than 24 per cent of the vehicle prices will be revised domestic market, pumped in a upward from January next record USD 8.1 billion last year. month, highest in 12 years, and The steady rise in materi- at USD 5 billion to date, al and other input costs, December also looks to get impact of forex and transition record inflows, says a foreign to BS-VI norms, have cumu- brokerage report. latively increased the cost of At USD 8.1 billion, India manufacturing vehicles, has received the highest FPI necessitating a price revision inflows among the emerging to partially offset the impact, market peers in November, as the company said in a Brazil got only USD 6.2 billion, statement. South Korea (USD 5.2 bil- "There will be a price lion), Taiwan (USD 4.5 billion) increase across Tata Motors and Thailand at USD 1.1 bil- commercial vehicle range, lion. effective January 01, 2021," This inflow had the valua- the company said in the state- tion premium of India to other ment. It said the actual emerging markets in the MSCI change in price will depend Index shooting up by 5 per- on individual model, variant centage point to 46 per cent and fuel type. and is 5 per cent above the The company had thus long-term average, says Bank of far been absorbing the addi- America Securities in a report tion in costs but with their on Monday. steady rise in line with mar- Meanwhile, with over USD ket trend, it has become 2 billion pullout, the domestic imperative to pass at least funds turned negative on the some portion of the cost market in November. increase to customers via At over USD 8.1 billion, appropriate price revisions, it FPIs inflows are the highest in added. 12 years in November, while The price increase is with over USD 2 billion expected across the portfolio redemptions, domestic funds of medium and heavy com- were net sellers in the mercial vehicles, intermedi- month. ate and light commercial The fund inflows were dri- vehicles , small commercial ven by active funds, BofA vehicles as well as buses, Tata Securities said. PTI Motors said. PTI  "#$:    ! ! +  %   % & ' ('('* % + (&  (

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t’s time we must be on guard to prevent our- Iselves from falling sick. The winter season  is known to bring along cold, cough and fever and aggravate respiratory and cardiac issues. People with low immunity are at a higher risk of falling ill. If you face high stress, frequent occurrence of infections, tiredness, stomach disorders, it implies that you need to work on your immunity levels. The rapid transmis- sion of the COVID-19 pandemic also under- scores the need to strengthen our immune system. The advent of globalisation, chang- ing lifestyle and food habits warrants the need for a sound immune systemto keep pathogens at bay. *#*# Yoga is a formidable natural immuni- ty booster for long life. Its key advantage is its simplicity of asanas, diversity of asanas to suit all age -groups and a time-tested nat- ural way of boosting immunity. It is a holis- tic and simple regime, and if followed cor- rectly, can yield good results. Here are a few he winter time can be a dreaded season for asthmatics as dur- , asanas that you must perform if you are ing the colder seasons it is common for them to witness an , looking to boost immunity. T increase in asthma attacks. This is mainly because of two rea- Pranayam: The word ‘prana’ refers to sons, one is that people are more frequently exposed to certain the universal energy that sustains our life. indoor allergens during the winter and another is the cold tem- This technique refers to the art of control- perature itself. The dry wintry air can irritate the inner lining ling breath and regulating it in sync with of the throat. During the colder season, the heart also works dou- -                various asanas. This body of knowledge bly hard in order to keep the body warm and in asthmatics the believes that a high prana level indicates a lungs may find it difficult to keep up with any extra or strenu-   :?+CB+)      *    continuous flow of energy and a calm mind. ous activity. However, with careful self-observation and with the However, lack of knowledge and inadequate right tools on hand, the winter season can be enjoyable too! The *      attention to breath can block nadis and following are some helpful tips on managing your asthma dur- chakras, leading to tension, worries, fear and ing the colder season: o you encounter problems for foods like alcohol, sugar, or Do not rub your nose too hard conflict. Bhramari pranayama refers to bee Identify triggers and try to eliminate them like nasal congestion? Is even dairy can lead to nasal conges- as it can lead to bleeding. breathing to give a break to your hectic Since we’re all spending most of our time indoors, identify that nagging cold giving tion and lead to inflammation in the Elevate your head while sleep- schedule and an occupied mind. It is certain allergens that trigger your asthma. Dust mites, pet hair, you a tough time by not body. ing as it can help you manage immensely beneficial for hypertension pollution or construction site dust, mould, pollen etc can all con- allowingD you to do your real-world- The symptoms can be a your congestion. patients. tribute towards increasing asthma attacks. Indoor dust is one of activities with ease? To top it all, do headache, runny nose, and swelling Breathing exercises can help Vrikshasan: This asana denotes the the most common triggers, so make sure you keep your floors you encounter breathing issues con- of the sinuses, nasal congestion, nasal you clear your nasal passages. steady yet graceful pose of a tree. Unlike and fans clean! Change your bed sheets often, fluff your pillow stantly? Then, you will have to con- discharge, and breathing problems. Also, take the medication other asanas, this asana is performed with and remove dust from your blankets by shaking vigorously on sult a doctor as it could be sinusitis. Furthermore, people having chron- prescribed by the doctor on eyes open to balance the body. Vrikshasan a daily basis. Do this in an open area so as to not trigger anoth- Sinusitis, also known as sinus, ic sinusitis experience facial, upper time. is best performed on an empty stomach er attack. affects people of all age groups. jaw, and tooth pain. Postnasal drip, Getting a flu shot in winter can with at least four to six intervals between Keep your immunity high Winter, indoor and outdoor pollu- sore throat, loss of taste because of 6/,?A569?9@ help prevent sinusitis. meals and the asana. One must avoid During the winter season you are at a greater risk of devel- tion, allergies, and the common cold the congestion, and fatigue are some ?+7?6?$+8, Eat a well-balanced diet loaded putting the sole of the lifted foot beside the oping coughs, colds, flu or can trigger this condition, and give of the classic symptoms of this con- with fresh fruits, vegetables, knee as it builds pressure on the latter. This ( !    other chest infections which you a tough time. One may dition. You will have to take antibi- /,$/,:7++A and legumes. Do not go over- asana helps in achieving concentration and can worsen asthma. Take extra encounter a sinusitis problem otics to manage pain and inflamma- +9?,?-,..+)9@ board on antibiotics and wash mindfulness.     care to avoid unwanted expo- because of the inflammation of the tion. Remember to recognise the your hands frequently to keep Surya Namaskar: This asana denotes   sure to viruses, focus on immu- tiny air pockets that are located sinusitis problem on time, and take 6/,?+7?,?+?. germs and bacteria at bay, and the salutation to the Sun and involves 12  7  nity boosting foods such as around the bones of one’s nose. the expert’s advice. $9+),?69++?. avoid getting cold or allergies. poses. It involves stretching of almost all green leafy vegetables, fruits, Normally, the sinus, or the pocket, Here are a few tips to tackle Say no to smoking as it may irri- parts of the body and serves as an excellent  $   whole grains and protein. is filled with air, and then one will sinusitis: ?$/:),+ tate your sinusitis. cardiovascular workout. It stimulates the    Smoking and drinking are a big be shocked to know that the area gets In order to generate more oxy- 8:,6/+) Keep your windows closed and nervous and cardiovascular system,     no. Channel your energy in filled with germs or fluids that can gen, it is advisable to keep oxy- prevent dust from entering the strengthens the immune system and more productive ways by exer- invite infection. One with sinusitis gen plants at home. 5:98.,? house. Also, clean your bedding, enhances cognitive abilities.  $ 7  cising or find some other cre- may feel that he/she is getting cold. Do not eat cold stuff and try to carpets, and rugs from time to Vajrasan: This asana is also known as     8 ative outlet to keep your mind Seasonal allergies and pollen can drink a lot of warm water. @7:6/,:9:, time. Also, avoid the thunderbolt, involves sitting straight on     healthy. Consider getting a flu trigger this condition, and the symp- Taking steam on a daily basis will 5,95.,/B+) during those chilly days to keep the kneeswith feet flat on the ground with     vaccine if required. toms worsen during winter. help you clean your nasal pas- sinusitis at bay. soles pointing upwards. It focuses on Keep warm Know why winter can be harsh sage. The excess mucus will be $/:9+$?+7?6? Change your air filters regular- breathing and holding the posture for at 9  Get ample Vitamin D on people with sinusitis cleared and you will be able to ,5,:,+$,@$. ly. This will help get rid of dust, least 30 seconds. It is the only asana that is whenever you can catch some Winter season leads to a change breathe freely. So, just inhaling pet dander, and even pollen. performed on a full stomach after having sunlight, and go out and stand in the air pressure. Moreover, it is the the steam for merely 20 minutes 755,:C-+ Wear jackets and sweaters dur- a meal. It relieves constipation and serves on the balcony for 15-20 min- time you get cozy in those blankets. can do the trick. 6996/5+ ing those chilly days to avoid as an exercise for the liver, stomach and utes daily even when the sun isn’t directly visible. Wear woolen But, make sure that it doesn’t carry Stay hydrated all the time. Drink getting sick as this can aggravate uterus. The resting of feet over hips stretch- clothes or thermals to help your body maintain a stable temper- dust as this can aggravate your a lot of water which will thin the sinusitis. es and flexes quadriceps. ature. Consider investing in an indoor heater and humidifier if sinusitis pain. Moreover, carpets mucus and help manage sinusi- Avoid exercising in the cold Anjaneyasan: This asana involves you stay in very cold regions. Keep a flask of warm water handy and rugs at home that are filled with tis. Not only will this, drinking weather. If you go out for morn- bending a knee on the floor right above the and preferably drink warm liquids throughout the day. Hot water dust can also be problematic. During enough water to ensure that ing walks during those chilly hips. The arms are extended upwards with bags could also be used when you sleep at night to help keep the winter, one also tends to opt for your lungs are lubricated. days then you are doing it all palms facing each other. The lower back is body warm and ease congestion inside the lungs. Avoid too much indoor heating. You will be shocked Do not sit in a humid environ- wrong. The cold weather can extended, and hips are aligned in such a way caffeine. to know that the air will dry out ment. Avoid opting for a humid- wreck havoc on your health. So, that it stretches the frontal region of the leg Keep your medicines handy owing to electric heaters and air con- ifier as it could lead to dry air be careful! Do not step out dur- and hip flexors. Those with hypertension If there is a change in asthma severity particularly during ditioners causing irritation to your and cause inflammation of the ing winter. or knee injury should avoid this asana. winters or if you experience asthma only during the winters, your nasal passage. Furthermore, opting sinuses. ?   1*?   6'  ?   '1>*!) * ' doctor may prescribe a different medicine for you apart from the standard inhaler. This can be a different strength or type of inhaler or allergy control medications such as antihistamines,    nasal sprays or eye drops. The doctor may also suggest nasal irri- gation or a saline rinse depending on the severity of your attacks he Himalaya Drug Company, and the condition of your airways. 2 India’s leading wellness With the cold wave gripping The crux of preventing an asthmatic attack depends on suc- Tbrand, shared the results of cessfully identifying and eliminating or finding the best ways to most parts of the country, 76= the clinical study they commis- cope with a reaction. Exercise may trigger an attack in some peo- having a sore throat is sioned to evaluate the role of their ple whereas in others it may be less obvious things such as insects, 2::36 well-known herbal products (Tab fragrances, smoke from fire, etc. Speak to your doctor for more common. ROSHANI DEVI Septilin and Tab Bresol in combi- detailed advice on coping measures that are designed for your shares easy home remedies he perfect season of warm ing from outside. Don't forget by soaking them into lukewarm nation) as an adjuvant treatment in particular health background and you will understand if you Tcuddles and hot chocolate to tap your hands dry with a water, cleansing and applying a mildly symptomatic and asympto- require a vaccination, and if so what kinds, and the best type of that can help relieve it has arrived along with the soft towel/napkin and not with good hand moisturiser to keep matic COVID-19–positive patients. medication suited for you. chilly air that can wreak havoc a rough cloth to avoid rashes. them clean, strong and healthy. The clinical trial was conducted etting a sore throat is honey is commonly used in on your skin — making it dry, Cover it up: Our hands can The moisturiser mantra: under the supervision of Dr CR  horrifying, especial- relieving a sore throat. itchy, and irritated. For all the be the first to indicate dry skin. Always consider a moisture Jayanthi (MBBS, MD), Dean and Gly during the current Use peppermint. seasonal highs that winter With more family members at cream that not only works in Director of the prestigious Victoria    Brown rice is also benefits our nervous and time. However, it is not Peppermint contains men- brings and comforts of heaters, home especially with WFH sync with your skin but also Hospital (BMCRI — Bangalore rich in proteins, thiamine, reproductive systems. only COVID-19 that caus- thol, which helps thin blowers and hot water, there is becoming a norm, it also with your daily routine. While Medical College and Research calcium, magnesium, fiber, The naturally occurring es it, there are other factors mucus and calm sore also an unpleasant side that increases the amount of clothes there are various types of skins Institute), Bengaluru. and potassium. For those oils are beneficial for the body too. Here are a few reme- throats and coughs. manifest in the form of dull and and dishes to be washed. with different needs, it is essen- Septilin is a well-known propri- trying to lose weight or those as these healthful fats help dies that will help Peppermint also dry skin making it lack lustre Hence, invest in a good water- tial to have some ingredients etary Ayurvedic formulation with suffering from normalise cholesterol lev- you. has anti- and glow. And as health and proof pair of gloves to save your that are vital to keep it soft and time-tested ingredients such as Diabetes, it can els. The fiber content Gargle inflammato- hygiene takes precedence with hands from being exposed to supple. Hence, look out for a Guggulu, Yashtimadhu, and prove a healthful of brown rice with salt and ry, antibac- the constant washing and sani- water a lot. Moreover, as the dermatologically-approved Guduchi, and possesses strong staple given its keeps bowel lukewarm terial, and tising of our hands, its essential temperature drops especially in good intensive hand cream immunomodulatory property. The low glycemic function at water. Take antiviral to take the right amount of care regions like North India, it is enriched with Jojoba oil and safety and efficacy of Septilin has rating which it’s peak a cup of properties, to ensure our hands stay advised to wear gloves; howev- Vitamin E that is anti-greasy been extensively evaluated in mul- helps reduce since it lukewarm which healthy, hydrated and soft. er, woolen fabric tends to be and can quickly absorb and tiple clinical and preclinical stud- insulin spikes. makes diges- water, add may Here are five easy tips to irritating on the skin and leaves refresh the skin. You can also ies. It is also tion that half tsp of encourage take care of your hands this rashes. Hence, you should apply it regularly after your The study was conducted with rich in seleni- much easier. salt and gargle healing. winter season: always apply a moisturising cleansing ritual for smooth, soft a strong rationale that both Septilin um which It is the perfect twice a day. Baking Too hot to handle: While hand cream to keep your hands and supple hands. and Bresol have been proven, in reduces the risk for addition to the Drink hot water. soda gargle. While we all switch the hot water on soft under the gloves. And so, as we settle into the preclinical and clinical studies, to developing common daily diet for those While it doesn’t taste too the saltwater gargle is more to escape the cold weather out- Nailing the look: An new normal, keep these simple provide support and have a positive, illnesses such as cancer, seeking bowel regularity. great, but it is advisable to commonly used, gargling side, make sure we don’t use important yet unspoken factor steps in mind for the perfect multifaceted influence on immuni- heart disease and arthritis. In addition, it also makes have hot water at regular baking soda mixed with steaming hot water as it can about hand care is also nail care hand care winter remedy at the ty and respiratory functions. These One cup of it provides 80 per the tummy feel full which intervals. It will help calm salt water can help relieve a strip away the moisture of your as nails are an extension of the first sign of chill and enjoy this adhere to stringent quality parame- cent of our daily manganese translates to smaller meal por- down your throat. sore throat as well. It can kill skin. Use lukewarm water skin and hence require the season to the fullest! ters, which makes them ideal to be requirements. Manganese helps tions and thereby aiding in Honey can help. Mixed bacteria and prevent the instead to wash your hands same tender loving care. Hence, ?   8 -@""  tested against COVID-19 without the body synthesize fats. It weight loss. in tea or taken on its own, growth of yeast and fungi. before and after eating or com- give them some extra attention   :) any concern whatsoever.    ! !    ::

arols, bells, lights, dec- orations, chilly winters Cand rum cake — the season of joy is here! People are set to welcome Christmas and New Year with open arms. :3723::> Considering the year we have had, it is only wise and suitable for us to keep the cel- decor including Christmas ebrations low-key. But with = trees, starry decorations and the holiday season in full accessories that fit and get swing, some things never = along the merry making vibe. change. So let’s find out how We are giving away amazing various cafes and restaurants =7:3 4243 packages for people to cele- are safely celebrating brate the eve with us.” Christmas this year. fresh berries and mushrooms those in the society who are a little stove with various They are set to celebrate made of meringue or marzi- less fortunate. Says Kazem breads or veggies to dip. the power of women with DJ   pan. They are offering it in Samandari, Laurent’s father While keeping the tradition Akanksha Popli and DJ Gouri. A special menu, a live four variants: The traditional and executive chairman of the alive, CDH has added an The menu has varied offerings saxophonist and food tap- coffee bûche, much-loved brand, “This year, we have Indian twist in the menu. where you can entice your ping music along with the fes- black forest, the indispensable decided to dedicate five per One can enjoy different vari- taste buds with different vari- tive decor will make it an passion fruit and chocolate cent of the revenue generated eties of it such as chocolate eties of salads and soups. Lets unforgettable Christmas expe- and the youthful red velvet from our hamper sales to Main fondue, cheese fondue and spread the festive joy with rience. They always believe variant. Tendue, the charity which sup- spinach fondue, a north enjoying the live counters of that festivals should give one Their Christmas pudding ports 10 Indian NGOs.” Indian winter delight. pasta, pizza and roasted a lot of memories to cherish and plum cake are among the turkey. Cold cuts like pepper- later. Hence, they have care- most sought-after Christmas         -   = oni, salami and sliced grilled fully crafted their menu and specialities, which are widely Cafe Delhi Heights is cel- Tarun Hassija, owner of chicken are just too perfect to offerings keeping in mind the anticipated during the whole ebrating the festival with the the cafe, shares, “Christmas is resist. So, if you are looking to taste and preferences of the year. Christmas and New-Year famous ‘Fondue menu’. celebrated like any other big enjoy Christmas in the perfect clients. celebrations are also an occa- Fondue is melted cheese festival in India now. We are way, Friction, The Drinkery Avantika Sinha Bahl at sion for them to remember served in a ceramic pot over getting ready with the right awaits you. Kampai says, “One has to move on and accept the new normal while taking all the necessary precautions. We are making sure that we and our team adhere to social distancing norms and follow hygiene protocols to stay safe. But we will also make sure to give you merrier times. People are gradually stepping out and all they need is the assurance of safety. With proper precautions in place, we are sure people will want to step out.” The chefs have curated the menu where people can choose between the variety of soups, salads and dimsums. The appetizers available are — Tori no Kkarage, Yaki buta baraniku, Rock shrimp tem- pura and more. Sushi rolls like Aburi salmon roll, spicy tuna roll, Ebi tempura roll, crunchy vegetable roll are on the offer. The main course where the chef has some of his star dish- es includes Tori no teriyaki, Yasai teppan, Teppanyaki fried rice, Yaki soba noodles, Lamb bulgogi and much more. To end the meal on a sweet note, the chef has made a special cocktails adds to the overall plum cake. experience and is a perfect Right from Kampai Irish way to make your Christmas coffee, Myth of Monarch to The merrier. Auld alliance, there are some best concoctions to make your P day. The exclusive Christmas Christmas and New Year packages are priced at 2,999 are the most important cele- and 3,999 plus taxes. brations of the year in France and many other European  ! countries. Their day is special- Christmas at Molecule ly dedicated to family, unity will be a hearty affair. Manish and friendship. It’s a time for Sharma, founder of Molecule, solidarity and, of course, a says, “Those festivals at time to savour succulent, fes- Molecule are complete fun, tively baked and decorated food and frolic as we are desserts. always up for extravagant and “I have many great mem- magnificent affairs, and this ories of my childhood during year is no different. Starting Christmas,” remembers with the performance of Laurent Samandari, co- celebrity DJ ATIS on founder and MD of L’Opéra. December 24, we are all “I particularly remember how prepped up. We have done much I used to love the warm successful bashes post- smell of baking of alpine nut COVID lockdown already and ads, air breads, pizzas, pastas most exciting part of the fes- cake. It used to be nice and we are lucky that we are get- and more. Not only this, tival along with bright deco- comforting. I wish to offer the ting love from our people, melange of different artists at rations and fares. Holiday same feeling to L’Opera guests who are very well aware of our different time slots will be per- meals have a special feel when and patrons. We are bringing conscious efforts to fight the forming to make sure each paired with great drinks. Plum back its classic selection of pandemic. We will continue to music lover gets to hear their by Bent Chair is coming up products encompassing bûch- act safely and with this, we are favorite. The packages start at with exciting handcrafted es (Yule log), chocolates, sure people will step out of 1,800 plus taxes. cocktails that one can sip on panettone, Christmas pud- their homes.” during the festival.” The pack- ding, biscuits, plum cake, Molecule will be dressed !=   ages start at 2,000. alpine nut cake, galette des up in the theme of Money Restauranteur Priyank rois as well as a signature tof- Heist. One can expect servers Sukhija says that the merry   fee sauce to relish with the dressed up as Dali with live spirit of the holiday season is Make this Christmas all Christmas pudding. Bûche bands, rooftop brunch, winter all set to arrive at Plum By about magnificent vibes and (Yule log) is a traditional cocktails and more. The ambi- Bent Chair. Witness the stellar music as Diablo invites dessert served during pre- ence will be decked up with charm of eccentricity and the you for a groovy night with Christmas dinners and lun- fresh flower arrangements. quirk of colorful hues as you Danza in the city. What makes cheons in France and in other Right from flea stalls, face dwell in the season of festiv- it even more special is that neighbouring countries. It is paintings to DIY cocktail cor- ity with Santa and Plum over Techpanda X Kenzani will be made of a delicate sponge ners and edible flower ice Pan Asian delicacies. After all showcasing their album on cake to resemble a miniature cubes in your drinks — one that you’ve been through this Christmas eve. While you actual Yule log. A bark-like can find the little things which year, they specially crafted sway, they make sure you feel texture is often produced by will make you happier and exotic cocktailia, inspired welcomed with their modern dragging a fork through the merrier. Along with these ele- from the magic of Christmas, Middle Eastern delicacies. icing and powdered sugar ments, one can enjoy the spe- to turn your night The true flavour of sprinkled to resemble snow. cially curated chef delights #Plumazing. Priyank says, Mediterranean cuisine paired Other cake decorations may such as sushi, dimsums, sal- “Food and drinks are the with handcrafted artisanal include actual tree branches, 3 ctor Amit Sadh finds perplexed the character is. as well as a victim in the Acomfort boring, and Comfort is boring. I want mother-daughter tension says he constantly wants to to try my hand at new played out in the story. experiment with new gen- genres and characters that “Seldom is there a nice res and characters. “I want are completely different story of a mother and a to play characters that chal- from what I have done in daughter, and when they lenge me. I constantly tell the past. I want to be part are Shankuntala Devi and myself to choose films and of films that shape me both Anu it becomes more spe- characters that help me tap as a human being and as an cial. I am always fascinated into a different side of me,” actor. I want to do charac- with real cinema. I was said Amit, who has featured ters with a never-dying fascinated to be on the sets in the OTT-released films human spirit. Stories of the with so many supremely Yaara and Shakuntala Devi underdog also fascinate me. talented women, including this year, besides the web But I don’t want to bore the my director, my DOP, and series Avrodh: The Siege audience with my method,” the actors. When this film Within and Breathe: Into he added. came out, my fans made The Shadows. He is now Amit found his role in this outing even more spe- gearing up for the release of Shakuntala Devi particular- cial for me and gave it the web series Zidd. ly interesting, as Ajay their love. Also, Vidya “There are actually sev- Abhay Kumar, who is mar- Balan was in the film and eral things. I call it the ried to Sanya Malhotra’s so I was happy to be a part magic box. They start with character Anupama, of it,” he said about the film five boxes, which are halved daughter of the titular pro- that will air on Sony MAX in 10 to 20 boxes depend- tagonist played by Vidya soon. ing on how complexed and Balan. Ajay becomes a pivot L6*3   :    ! !

/4* CA TO HONOUR INDIGENOUS PIONEER '#7)8' Melbourne: 6        8   6              C    

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-  B              0#4# f opener Joe Burns’ views are 286     7  L6  any indication, another oner-  3    8   6         Ious task awaits an embattled 4?2         C    Indian team, as Australia are    0#4#  *       entering the second Test believ- Adelaide: Senior batsman   ,., long spells, then there is no debate             P ing that a favourable result for Rohit Sharma can start train- at all. Jadeja replaces Vihari on the  M$    6   them in Melbourne could “decide ing from January 3 ahead of he Indian team management basis of his all-round skills. Also it the fate” of the four-match series. the Sydney Test. He is current- Twill be keenly monitoring gives us an option to play five INDIAN MEN IN 4TH SPOT IN FIH RANKINGS Trailing 0-1 in the series ly locked in a hard quarantine Ravindra Jadeja’s progress leading bowlers at the MCG,” a senior Lausanne: 6  *  after the batting debacle in in a two-room apartment in up to the Day Test against BCCI source told PTI.   &'&'           Adelaide and with Virat Kohli Sydney. Australia this weekend as, if fit, the Jadeja has 1869 runs in 49    ;        going back to India for the birth Cricket Australia has all-rounder could walk into the Tests at an average of 35 plus which   $ E01   6      / * of his first child, India will be led already flown David Warner playing XI in place of Hanuma includes a hundred and 14 fifties. @   L@/M       8  by Ajinkya Rahane in the remain- and Sean Abbott from Sydney Vihari. He has struck half centuries in H  +  H   der of the of the series. to Melbourne due to restric- Jadeja, who suffered a concus- both England Australia on previ-         *C   @/ “We have got some scars as tions imposed by the New sion during the first T20I, also sus- ous tours.           E well, we just have to prepare well, South Wales state Government tained a hamstring injury which On the other hand, Vihari, in *        E    start well and carry on the in the wake of another surge ruled him out of the first Test. his 10 Tests, has scored 576 runs          @/ momentum from the last game,” of Covid-19 cases. However, over the past few with a hundred against West Indies     6          Burns said during a virtual press The BCCI, at the moment, days when India were playing the and four half-centuries at an aver-             * conference on Monday. can’t shift Rohit in the middle Test match, Jadeja has slowly age of 33 plus.          “We know that Indians are of quarantine. returned to the nets. There is a school of thought going to bounce back in the The other aspect is that It has been learnt that the that if pure batting skills are taken LILLE RECLAIM TOP SPOT WITH PSG DRAW next Test, which is going to play CA is still confident of hosting senior all-rounder is recovering into account, then there is not Lille: .  *  . 0 ?   a crucial role in (deciding the) the third Test in Sydney from well but it can’t be said with cer- much of a difference between  5?)       fate of the series.” January 7 as per schedule and tainty that he will be 100 per cent “specialist Vihari” and “all-rounder     E . *    The absence of Kohli and in that case, there is no need fit for the second Test in Jadeja”. @     .        Mohammed Shami will be “big to shift the senior player to Melbourne starting on With Mohammed Shami   ;          losses” but Burns is expecting a Melbourne as in any case he is December 26. already ruled out of the series       5?)    * strong comeback by the visitors. not playing the second game. But if fit, the axe because of a wrist fracture,               “I think Shami and Virat are In case the situation will fall on Andhra India might just be tempted to         *       obviously big losses for India. In changes and the third Test Pradesh batsman go in with five specialist +              saying that the Indian team does match is shifted, the BCCI will Vihari, not because of bowlers instead of the usual          have very good depth as well. So, discuss with CA and take nec- his low scores in the four, which has been their tem-   * * they are still going to be very chal- essary steps. PTI Adelaide Test but plate for years. lenging,” Burns said. purely based on HAMILTON WINS BBC'S TOP SPORTS PRIZE “It is always hard to replace saying his goal was to get match- the best combina- PRACTICE CANCELLED London: ?E  @   9   . world class players like that, but winning hundreds. tion that Ajinkya The Indian team had /             when we look (at the guys) that “We have got three more Rahane and a scheduled practice 88$H? 5     A  6"2E they got to come in, we are 6    =8  4   '   ?!0      % ? 60 Test matches to go, it is going to Ravi Shastri can session at the Adelaide  E            O    going to prepare well for the next be very tough and my job and my put on the field. Oval on Monday but ?    H     @0     game. We know that Indians are in Australia’s second innings and world, very confident against goal is to go and get big match- “If Jadeja due to steady rain, it C  /    /       8   going to bounce back strongly,” he said it felt nice to be back everyone in every venue. Our winning hundreds in those gets fit to bowl had to be cancelled.     H        the opener added. among the runs. bowlers are unbelievable, so I games,” he signed off. “It is obviously nice to make think they bowled well in the first GENOA FIRE MARAN AFTER SLOW START ‘BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD’ some runs myself again. In the innings and didn’t get the Genoa:    )    :    Woefully out of form in the lead up to the game I was short rewards; in the second innings, -    0 4,      *     run-up to the series opener, of few runs but more than any- they (Indians) just nicked every-    &E'  8 ) ;  Burns got his mojo back with a thing it just was nice get back the thing. New Delhi: Legendary Indian Gavaskar told Sports Tak on pos- with a lot of positivity. Australia’s  0"  ?  half-century in his team’s second rhythm. “Our bowlers have done for batsman Sunil Gavaskar wants sible changes in the line-up. weak point is their batting,” he said.  01              ?  innings at Adelaide Oval. “I felt fantastic out there and a long time, so we know that KL Rahul to open in place of an He did caution that if India Gavaskar also rued the missed -       2(E Burns said that a pull shot he looked to get the job done, (it game in and game out they are out-of-form Prithvi Shaw and the can’t stay positive, a 0-4 drubbing catches which also reduced the lead  E     Q6   * played off pacer Umesh Yadav was) an amazing day for going to be doing that, putting promising Shubman Gill to play in might just be on cards. “India have to a mere 53. “Had we held on to          Q  changed the momentum for him. Australian cricket to back up their pressure on the opposition, it is middle order during the second to believe that they can come back our catches well and had good field “It is funny how in this game bowlers and finish the job really a great luxury that our team has,” Test against Australia at the MCG in the remainder of the Test series. placements, there might not have GAYLE, AFRIDI TO PLAY IN ABU DHABI T10 how often one shot can get you quickly.” he added. from December 26. If India don’t find the positivity, been any problem, Tim Paine and Abu Dhabi: ?     H      everything that you are searching Pacers Josh Hazlewood (5-8) Burns took a blow on his “India will look at making 2 then 4-0 series loss can happen. But Marnus Labuschagne would have  *   * $  ) ?     for as batters. Probably, the first and Pat Cummins (4-21) demol- elbow off a Jasprit Bumrah deliv- changes. Firstly, maybe KL Rahul if they have positivity, why not? It gotten out early. “We could have 8          pull shot I hit off Umesh Yadav, ished India with the pink ball as ery in Adelaide but the opener should replace Prithvi Shaw as an can happen (comeback),” Gavaskar got a lead of 120 runs. Australia got 60'    C  &#

I was on four and felt amazing,” the hosts won by eight wickets to has been cleared for MCG after opener. At No 5 or No 6, said, sounding hopeful. ahead in the Tests because of @  46     D said the opener, who has 1438 take a 1-0 lead in the four Test scans. Shubman Gill should come in. “India should start the those dropped catches, they got the $  * ?  -)  6  Test runs. series. The batsman has his sights His form has been good. Things Melbourne Test well, it’s necessary lead down to 50 runs,” Gavaskar            R  8    The 31-year-old top-scored “We are the best team in the set on the remaining three Tests, can change if we start well,” for them to step onto the ground added. PTI 8 :  +  -   6  ,  P$     .8 ) ! ! @    < +   % *C ? Melbourne: Former Australia 2A7 wicketkeeper Brad Haddin reck-   +5,:   +,-,./ ments, this will be the first time that ons the opening day/night Test top Indian players, apart from was India’s best shot at winning akistan captain Babar Azam and opener Imam- ndia’s top shuttlers PV Sindhu and Srikanth, will feature in any interna- in the ongoing series as it will be Pul-Haq were on Monday ruled out of the upcom- ISaina Nehwal will be seen in action tional tournament. very difficult for the visitors to ing first Test against New Zealand with thumb for the first time since the coron- The former World No 1, Srikanth script a turnaround after demor- injuries, prompting the tour selection committee to avirus-forced break when they com- had made a comeback when he alizing eight-wicket loss in include rookie Imran Butt in the 17-member squad. pete in three upcoming tournaments played the Denmark Open in Adelaide. The Boxing Day Test is scheduled to be played in Bangkok, including the prestigious October. India were bundled out for in Mount Maunganui from December 26-30. BWF World Tour Finals. “We are very happy to see bad- their lowest-ever Test score of 36 While Babar has fractured his right thumb, With Olympic qualifications in minton finally getting back on the in their second innings as Imam has injured his left thumb during training ses- mind, the Association of court. It gives us hope that tourna- Australia claimed an eight-wick- sions in Queenstown last week. India (BAI) on Monday announced ments can eventually make a steady et win in the pink-ball Test to According to a statement issued by the Pakistan a strong eight-member squad to par- comeback in near future. Most of our take a 1-0 lead in the Border- Cricket Board, both the batsmen are yet to return ticipate in the three upcoming tour- players haven’t played tournaments in Gavaskar trophy. to the nets and the team’s medical staff was closely naments, scheduled in January. That will be followed by Toyota the last 7-8 months,” BAI general sec- “I don’t think they will India created history by start of day three about how monitoring their progress. The team, consisting of Olympic- Thailand Open (January 19-24) and retary Ajay Singhania said. (recover from the loss),” Haddin registering their maiden series Australia would get back into it, “Decision on their participation in the second bound shuttlers Sindhu, Saina, B Sai the prestigious HSBC BWF World “However, they have been train- told SEN Radio. win Down Under in 2018-19 on but the collapse they had has to Test, which commences in Christchurch on 3 Praneeth, Kidambi Srikanth, Tour Finals which is rescheduled for ing to the best of their abilities at the The 43-year-old, who fea- the back of a lethal pace-bowl- leave some marks.” January, will be made closer to the time,” the PCB Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag January 27-31. camp. The purpose of sending a full- tured in 66 Tests for Australia, ing attack. With skipper Virat Kohli said. In Babar’s absence, wicketkeeper Mohammad Shetty, Ashwini Ponappa and N Sikki After the coronavirus outbreak in strength team in these tournaments feels the conditions at the However, the visitor’s are returning home for the birth of Rizwan will lead Pakistan in the first Test and will Reddy, will begin their campaign with March disrupted the sporting world so that players can get the much- Adelaide Oval were conducive to without the experienced Ishant his child, India are faced with become his country’s 33rd Test captain. Yonex Thailand Open from January resulting in cancellation or post- needed tournament practice ahead of the Indian bowling attack. Sharma and Shami, who suf- selection dilemmas. Also returning to the Pakistan Test side are Abid 12-17. ponement of a number of tourna- the Olympic qualifiers,” he added. “I thought their only oppor- fered a fracture after being hit on “There were a few perfor- Ali, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, tunity to win a Test match was the elbow during India’s second mances from the Indian bats- Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shan Masood, the first Test at Adelaide. “I innings on Saturday. men that will come under scruti- Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah. thought the conditions suited “They had a great bowling ny over the next week. They will replace Abdullah Shafiq, Haider Ali, &     their bowling and I thought attack the last time they come “Do they go in with Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil they’d get enough runs. But I out here, and now with Shami (Wriddhiman) Saha? Who goes Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Musa Khan, Usman don’t think they’ll be able to turn out with a broken arm they don’t to the top order for Prithvi Qadir and Wahab Riaz, who will now join Pakistan    it around. “You’ve got one Test have enough depth to cover Shaw? Rohit Sharma comes out Shaheens (A team) for five T20 matches against the up at Brisbane where no one that,” Haddin said. of quarantine, does he come local and New Zealand XI sides.  : ence, but have the better head- beats Australia. These next two Reflecting on the Indian back into the side? “They have The PCB further said that Imad Wasim and to-head record, which is how wickets will be suited to Indian batting collapse Haddin said “I a lot of things they’re going to Mohammad Hafeez will no longer be seen in action arim Benzema was level teams are split at the end of cricket, but I don’t think they’ll think it’s really concerning.” have to tackle over this next on the New Zealand tour. While Imad will travel Kdescribed as “phenomenal” the season. be able to turn it around,” “Yes India were driving the week leading into this next to Australia to join Melbourne Renegades in the after scoring the opening goal Diego Simeone’s Atletico Haddin added. game and we were talking at the Test,” Haddin added. PTI BBL, Hafeez will return to Pakistan. and creating two others as Real have two games in hand, Madrid won 3-1 at Eibar on though, after Saturday’s 3-1 suc- Sunday to move level on points cess against Elche. with city rivals Atletico at the top Eibar started brightly, but   , 6     4  ! of La Liga. fell behind in the sixth minute Benzema and Luka Modric as Rodrygo fed Benzema to slot       ?. express my special thanks to  :9, scored inside the first 13 minutes in his seventh league goal of the Mr President who has always in the Basque Country to put season. London: South African role with the Proteas last supported the development of oach Gennaro Gattuso watched from the Zinedine Zidane’s men on their Benzema created the sec- legend Jacques Kallis was year in the Test series cricket and encouraged our Csidelines with a black patch over his right way to a fourth straight league ond goal seven minutes later, on Monday appointed as against England. players. eye as an out-of-sorts Napoli fell to consecutive win, with Lucas Vazquez scor- cutting inside and picking out the batting consultant of It is not yet known if “After initial formalities, defeats for the first time this season following ing a late third after Garcia Kike Modric who fired home right- the England team for next Kallis’ appointment will the construction of the stadi- a 2-0 loss at Lazio in Serie A on Sunday. pulled one back for Eibar. footed. month’s two-match Test extend to the marquee um will also commence and we Fifth-placed Napoli suffered against Lazio, “He is decisive. What The striker should have tour of Sri Lanka. tour of India beginning will ensure it is done with best in eighth, who are their direct rivals for the he does is phenomenal,” doubled his tally in the 16th The England and February next year. quality,” he said. Champions League places. said Real coach Zinedine minute, but he headed Wales Cricket Board Former England According to the report, Napoli were playing without injured Zidane in praise of French Modric’s cross past the post. (ECB) said in a state- batsman Paul the stadium will include “a five- Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and club compatriot Benzema. Eibar got themselves ment that the team will Collingwood will be assis-   87. um. star guest house, a standard record scorer Dries Mertens, with captain “Not just in back into the match in depart for Sri Lanka on tant to head coach Chris “With the construction of swimming pool, indoor and Lorenzo Insigne suspended for insulting the ref- terms of goals. I’m spectacular style January 2. Silverwood in Sri Lanka, fghanistan Cricket Board this ground, we will be able to outdoor academies, canopies eree in their defeat at Inter Milan last time out. repeating myself before the half-hour “Seven coaches will while Jon Lewis will be Achief Farhan Yusefzai is host international cricket and for crowd, health clinic, Napoli were never really in the game with on Karim, but he mark. join the squad for the the bowling coach. Jeetan confident of bringing interna- our people will watch interna- mosque, car parking, adminis- Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina barely tested doesn’t just score Kike collected two-Test tour, with the Patel will be the spin tional matches to the country tional players playing at their trative block and other such apart from a Fabian Ruiz strike after 18 minutes. goals. Karim the ball outside the tour party departing on 2 bowling consultant and in the near future after secur- ground in the centre of the cap- facilities”. Ciro Immobile headed home the opener in brings clear-sight- area before curling a January,” the ECB said. Carl Hopkinson will serve ing land for a new stadium in ital Kabul,” Yusefzai was quot- The stadium will have a the ninth minute, with the Italian forward set- edness to our fine finish past “Former South Africa as the fielding coach. Kabul, having played most of ed as saying by Cricbuzz. capacity to accommodate ting up Luis Alberto for the second on 55 min- game, that’s very Thibaut Courtois. all-rounder Jacques Kallis James Foster will be the their ‘home’ games in India so It is major breakthrough in 35,000 spectators. utes following a blunder in the Napoli defence. important. Vazquez joins the England setup wicketkeeper coaching far. Afghanistan President the strife-torn country’s quest Since getting full member- “A step backwards compared to many “When he scores wrapped up the for the first time as batting consultant. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on to start hosting international ship from the ICC a few years other games, it wasn’t us, lacklustre, ugly, light, it’s even better, but points in injury time coaching consultant,” it Both the Tests will be Sunday allocated more than cricket matches. ago, Afghanistan has hosted all soft,” blasted Gattuso’s assistant Luigi Riccio. beyond that he is very with a cool finish added. played at Galle from two acres of land in Alokhail “Kabul will be home to a its ‘home’ matches at neutral “We’re sorry, but this isn’t the team we are. important to us.” from a tight angle, The 45-year-old January 14-18 and area of Kabul for the construc- standard state-of-the-art inter- venue India, mostly in We have to react immediately against Torino on Real sit behind having been played Kallis worked in a similar January 22-26. PTI tion of a state-of-the-art stadi- national cricket stadium. I Dehradun and Greater Noida. Wednesday.” Atletico on goal differ- in by Benzema.