<<

Follow us on: RNI No. TELENG/2018/76469 @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/dailypioneer Established 1864 sPublished From ANALYSIS 7 MONEY 8 SPORTS 12 HYDERABAD DELHI LUCKNOW TREES GIVE LIFE TO NO IMPACT ON CURRENT ORDER BENGAL STRIKE LATE BHOPAL RAIPUR CHANDIGARH LIFE-GIVING GANGA BOOK, REVEALS WELSPUN CORP TO EDGE AHEAD BHUBANESWAR RANCHI DEHRADUN VIJAYAWADA

` *LATE CITY VOL. 2 ISSUE 150 HYDERABAD, TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2020; PAGES 12 3 *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable SHRUTI SET FOR A HAT-TRICK WITH PK? { Page 11 } www.dailypioneer.com

I HOPE IT'S A GIRL: KATY AUSSIE WATCHDOG SUES FB OVER THAMBIDURAI, MUNUSAMY BOTH VIRALITY, FATALITY RATE OF PERRY ON HER PREGNANCY CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA BREACH AIADMK CANDIDATES FOR RS COVID-19 OVERSTATED: ELON MUSK

inger Katy Perry, who is expecting her first baby ustralia's privacy watchdog announced legal action against Facebook amil Nadu's ruling All Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam fter his controversial tweet that the "coronavirus panic is dumb", Swith actor Orlando Bloom, hopes to give birth to AMonday for alleged "systematic failures" exposing more than 300,000 T(AIADMK) on Monday announced former state minister KP ATesla CEO Elon Musk has made an attempt to explain why he thinks a girl. The singer, who opened the final of the ICC Australians to a data breach by Cambridge Analytica. The Office Munusamy, Propaganda Secretary M Thambidurai as its so. In his replies to a Twitter user, Musk on Sunday said Women's T20 World Cup here on Sunday, shared of the Australian Information Commissioner said it had initiat- candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls on March 26 in the that both the virality of the novel coronavirus (COVID- her wishes with the crowd. "I hope it's a girl," Perry ed proceedings against the tech giant and that Facebook com- state. The party also allotted one Rajya Sabha seat to 19) and fatality rate are overstated. "Virality of C19 is told the crowd of over 80,000 at the post game mitted "serious and/or repeated interferences with privacy". former Union Minister and Tamil Maanila Congress chief overstated due to conflating diagnosis date with performance while singing her hit "Wide Awake". The commission alleges the personal information of Aus- GK Vasan. The announcement was made by AIADMK contraction date & over-extrapolating exponential This will be the first child for Perry. Bloom, 43, tralian Facebook users was disclosed without their permi- Coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O growth, which is never what happens in reality. Keep shares nine-year-old son Flynn with his ex-wife, ssion to an app called "This Is Your Digital Life", which then Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator and Chief extrapolating & virus will exceed mass of known model Miranda Kerr. sold the data to political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. Minister K Palaniswami in a joint statement here. universe," the Tesla CEO reasoned.

Jagan fulfils Ambani’s wish, MARKET MAYHEM

The Pioneer wishes its sends Parimal to Rajya Sabha Investors lose Rs 7 lakh-crore as readers, advertisers, suppliers and agents a colourful Holi As our „ Mopidevi, Bose, Ayodhya Rami Reddy too in list offices will remain Sensex, Nifty log steepest-ever fall closed today L VENKAT RAM REDDY n (10-03-2020), there HYDERABAD KCR maintains suspense Equity markets crash as fears mount of slowdown due to Covid-19 will be no issue of the YSRCP supremo YS Jaganmo- paper tomorrow han Reddy on Monday fulfilled over his choice for the RS PNS n MUMBAI companies stood at Rs (11-03-2020). the wish of Reliance Industries 1,44,31,224.41 crore at the end US STOCKS PLUNGE ALMOST 6 PC — RESIDENT EDITOR Ltd chairman Mukesh Ambani HYDERABAD: While the In their biggest ever single-day of trading on Friday. by nominating his friend and March 13 deadline to file nom- drop in absolute terms, the BSE Traders believe mounting industrialist Parimal Nathwani inations for two Rajya Sabha Sensex crashed over 1,941 poi- fear of recession in major TRIGGERING HALT TO TRADING to the Rajya Sabha from AP. seats in Telangana nearing, nts and the NSE Nifty tumbled economies due to the out- S stocks plunged almost 6%, whipsawing back from losses that It may be recalled that there is no word or indication 538 points as no let-up in Utopped 7% and triggered a trading halt, as a full-blown crude Mukesh Ambani, accompa- from TRS supremo and Chief Covid-19 spread and ma- price war rattled financial markets already on edge over the nied by Nathwani, had met Minister K Chandrasekhar ssive crude oil plunge fu- spreading coronavirus. Treasury yields plummeted, oil sank more Jagan on February 29 at his Rao over who will be the lucky elled global recession than 30% and credit markets buckled. The S&P 500 is now down Tadepalli residence in two to get berths. fears. 18% from its Feb. 19 all-time high, threatening to end the record- Vijayawada and made a per- TRS is sure to win two RS n Investor wealth plum- long bull market that began 11 years ago to the day. NYSE circuit Two RS vacancies in breakers halted trading for 15 minutes at 9:34 a.m. in New York, in a sonal request in this regard. seats hands down given its Telangana meted by nearly Rs 7 lakh- Jagan, who had sought time brute majority in the Assembly crore on Monday as equity move designed to limit panic. The next circuit breaker will trip if losses reach 13%. to take a decision, finally while Opposition parties lack n KK confident of extension markets crashed tracking glob- approved Ambani's request. the numbers to even field can- al equity sell-off amid mount- There are four vacancies fr- didates. n Nizamabad TRS leaders want ing fears of an economic slow- om AP for which elections The tenure of the two Rajya KCR to nominate Kavitha for down due to the coronavirus break has sent equities into a will be held on March 23. Since Sabha members from second seat outbreak. downward spiral. the YSR Congress Party has Telangana — Garikapati Market capitalisation (m- The overall confirmed cases RIL suffers biggest 152 of the 175 MLAs in the AP Mohan Rao (who defected n Kavitha reportedly not cap) of the BSE-listed compa- on the mainland reached Legislative Assembly, the party from the TDP to BJP recently) keen on RS seat nies saw a massive decline 80,735 by the end of Sunday single-day loss winning all the four seats ha- and Dr KVP Ramachandra n after the Sensex plunged over which included 3,119 people nds down is a foregone conclu- Rao (Congress) will come to an Damodar Rao, Ponguleti 2,467 points during the day, the who have died so far, 19,016 hares of companies engaged sion. end on April 9. Though both Srinivas Reddy, B Vinod 30-share index settled 1,941.67 patients undergoing treatment Sin crude oil exploration Nominate Jagan also finalised the hail from Andhra, they were Kumar, Kadiam Srihari, Nayini points or 5.17 per cent lower at and 58,600 patients dis- business fell sharply after crude names for the remaining three allotted to Telangana, after in race 35,634.95. Likewise, the NSE charged, China's National oil prices crashed in Piyanka Gandhi seats on Monday. bifurcation in 2014. The term Nifty slumped 538 points or Health Commission (NHC) international markets. from MP, He has nominated two of his of another member K Keshava 4.90 per cent to close at said. The operator of world's largest Cabinet ministers Mopidevi Rao (TRS) will also end on 2006. He served till 2012 and 10,451.45. Meanwhile, oil prices crude oil refining facility at demand Venkata Ramana and Pilli April 9. However, Keshava quit Congress in 2013 The carnage wiped plunged nearly 30 per Jamnagar and operator of KG- Congress leaders Subhash Chandra Bose, who Rao, currently the TRS secre- demanding statehood for out investor wealth worth cent to USD 32.11 per D6 basin in Krishna Godavari are both MLCs, to Rajya Sabha. tary-general, was allotted to Telangana and joined TRS. Rs 6,84,277.65 crore, taking barrel after Saudi Arabia basin - Reliance Industries - The other seat was offered to . He is confi- The TRS nominated him to the total m-cap to Rs launched a price war in slumped as much as 13.65 per 1,941 cent, its biggest single-day fall his close friend and industri- dent of getting re-nominated Rajya Sabha again in 2014. His 1,37,46,946.76 crore on the response to a failure by leading alist, Ayodhya Rami Reddy, for a third time. six-year term will end on April BSE at the end of Monday's producers to strike a deal to in at least 10 years, to hit an 5 intra-day low of 1,096.65, data who owns Ramky Group. KK was sent to Rajya Sabha 9, 2020. trading session. support energy markets. from BSE showed. The opposition TDP or any by Congress the first time in 2 The m-cap of BSE-listed 2 ‘Dissent muzzled’, In Leh, man dies of suspected ‘Debt-ridden’ doc say 8 Oppn parties coronavirus; cases rises to 45 shoots himself PNS n HYDERABAD gunshot wound on the head," PNS n NEW DELHI Three-year-old from Kerala among those infected said Rakshitha K Murthy, A doctor committed suicide Malkajgiri DCP. Eight opposition parties have PNS n SRINAGAR other vital organs. till March 31. by shooting himself with his Police, along with a CLUES sent a joint resolution to the "We have sent the samples of Meanwhile, a 60-year old licenced firearm in his home team and a dog squad were BJP-led Central government, Authorities on Monday sealed the deceased for coronavirus lady who returned to Jammu At Saket Mithila in rushed to the spot to investi- demanding the immediate a village in Leh district of test and the results are still from Iran on February 23 test- Jawaharnagar on Monday. gate. The firearm believed to release of all political detainees Ladakh region after a pilgrim awaited", said the superinten- ed positive for the dreaded He was identified as Dr have used in the suicide has in Kashmir, especially the who had visited Iran died in dent of the hospital where the virus on Monday. Ravindra Kumar, a native of been recovered. Infosys asked three former Chief Ministers the hospital of suspected coro- patient died on Sunday. "The lady has been undergo- Siddipet. Kumar was the A suicide note, purported- to submit -- Farooq and Omar Abdullah navirus infection while a lady Two persons who returned ing treatment in the isolation managing director of Aditya ly written by Kumar was and Mehbooba Mufti. Under Omar Abdullah also tested positive for the after pilgrimage from Iran ward", officials said. Hospitals in Dammaiguda recovered from the spot. resolution the Narendra Modi govern- dreaded virus in Jammu. have already tested pos- The number of coronavirus and was living with his wife According to police sources, plan in 15 days ment, "democratic dissent is August, when the government "The deceased had itive in the Ladakh cases in India rose to 45 on in an apartment at Saketh in financial difficulties were the being muzzled by coercive ended the special status of recently returned region. Monday with four people, Kapra under Jawaharnagar reason for the doctor taking administrative action, which Jammu and Kashmir granted from Iran after a Following including a three-year-old police limits. the extreme step. His family has threatened the basic ideals under Article 370 of the con- pilgrimage. He these develop- child in Kerala who had "Kumar shot himself using members who were in the of Justice, Liberty, Equality and stitution and bifurcated the was admitted in ments authori- returned from Italy, testing his licenced gun when he was adjacent room heard the gun- 8 Fraternity as enshrined in our state into two union territories. the Sonam ties have closed positive, Health Ministry offi- alone at home on Monday shot and rushed to the room, Constitution," the resolution Omar Abdullah and Narboo hospital all schools up to cials said on Monday. morning. After a complaint the sources said. TODAY read. Mehbooba Mufti have been in the Leh town the higher sec- Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and was received, officials rushed Kumar's body was shifted The former Chief Ministers detained under the stringent for treatment of ondary level Jammu reported one case each, to the spot and found the to Gandhi Hospital for post- ALMANAC and the political leaders have Public Security Act. severe ailment involv- in Leh officials said. body lying in a pool of blood mortem. been under detention since ing his pancreas and town in the bedroom. There was a Month & Paksham: 2 2 2 Phalguna & Krishna Paksha Panchangam: Tithi: Pratipada: 07:22 pm My father was no coward to commit suicide: Amruta Crisis brews in MP; 17 Nakshatram: Uttara Phalguni: 10:01 pm Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start any important work) Maruti Rao’s daughter denies her marriage to a Dalit was the reason for his extreme step Cong MLAs in Bengaluru Rahukalam: 03:23 pm – 04:52 pm n n Yamagandam: 09:28 am – 10:57 am PNS MIRYALAGUDA have committed suicide long PNS BENGALURU back," she reasoned. There co- Varjyam: 07:24 am – 08:48 am, Maruti Rao's daughter Amruta uld be other reasons, she said. The Kamal Nath-led Congress 07:00 pm – 06:45 am on Monday responded to the Amruta denied any other government in Madhya Gulika: 12:26 pm - 01:55 pm news of her father committing differences with her father, Pradesh has been brought on Good Time: (to start any important suicide by saying that he was save her marriage. "The only is- the edge of a collapse as MLAs, work) not a coward to have taken his sue between me and my father including some ministers, Amritakalam: 03:45 pm – 05:09 pm own life. was Pranay's murder. I wished close to former MP Abhijit Muhurtham: 12:02 pm – 12:50 pm "I don't think a person who he received punishment for his Jyotiraditya Scindia were can order killing of a person crime," Amruta said. Monday flown to BJP-ruled HYDERABAD can commit suicide as he was Amruta She said that she has no Karnataka by a chartered flight WEATHER no coward. I don't think he interest in her father's assets, from Delhi. Jyotiraditya Scindia ended his life just because of it will arouse suspicion, and made it clear that she does According to airport Forecast: Partly Cloudy mental stress," Amruta said. Amruta opined. not wish to inherit them. sources in Delhi, about 10 per- Bengaluru in a Falcon 2000 Temp: 31/21 She hinted that property di- T Maruti Rao’s body is laid to rest at Miryalaguda on Monday. After he was got out from jail As she left her parental sons, including Bankim aircraft. Humidity: 68% sputes could be one of the rea- on bail, Maruti Rao made home after marrying Shravan, Silawat, the son of Congress A source said that the char- Sunrise: 06.27 sons that drove her father to kill there were property disputes ulted my father twice," she attempts to bring her home, a the property was shared Minister Tulsi Silawat, and tered flight left from Delhi at Sunset: 06.24 himself. between her father and her said. shocked Amruta said. between her father and Scindia's close aide 8 a.m. and reached Bengaluru Current Weather Conditions Speaking to the media here paternal uncle Shravan. "To my Shravan could have got his "If my marrying a Dalit was Shravan, Amruta said. Purushottam Parashar, flew by 10.40 a.m. Updated March 09, 2020 5:00 PM on Monday, Amruta said that knowledge, Shravan had assa- name deleted from the will as to be the sole reason, he would 2 from the national capital to 2 HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020 hyderabad 02

n an unprecedented devel- opment, Lok Sabha Speaker IOm Birla has been confined to his chamber while his deputy Opposition subverting Parliament with ruckus Bhartruhari Mahatab presided over the LS sessions. Mahatab the House wherever it feels nec- fidence of traders. penalties, interests easily The Congress leaders who attributed this to the Speaker essary. It should strive to gain Delhi returned to normalcy after the Because of the instead of having pro- have close ties with the bank being pained at the misdeeds of the credibility of people and get recent riots that claimed at least 40 atrocious atti- longed litigation. management did not appreciate some of the members. voted to power. tude of the TRULY The Bill boosts con- the measures but started poli- Delhi returned to normalcy How can the Opposition lives. The Opposition Congress and Opposition, SPEAKING fidence of business ticking on the issue. after the recent riots that claimed throw the House into pande- other parties, knowing full well that the two Bills had organisations and indi- Why are Opposition mem- at least 40 lives. The Opposition monium and launch a scathing to be deemed to viduals and helps revive the bers trying to create panic in the Congress and other parties, attack on the members? they have no majority in LS, have passed without economy. House on Delhi riots at a time knowing full well that they have Discussions on Budget and conducted themselves improperly. discussion. Besides, The scheme helps resolve 90 when the people are leading a no majority in LS, conducted Bills which the government the Bill introduced by Nirmala per cent of litigation involving normal life and students taking themselves improperly. Pained at feels crucial should take place in Pained at this, the LS Speaker Sitaraman 'Vivaad Se Viswas' direct taxes. However, the examinations? The reasons are this, the LS Speaker confined the Budget session. confined himself to his chambers had to be passed without Opposition has no interest in not far to see; the Opposition himself to his chambers. Birla, hundreds of times, debate. Amendments proposed getting such historic Bills wants to reopen the healed The strength of BJP in LS is appealed to the Opposition by the Finance Minister were passed. wounds. 303, while that of Cong is only members to exercise restraint as papers from the Speaker's table raised slogans in the House Y SATYA KUMAR also passed amidst pandemoni- The Government has been The Congress leaders 52. Can outfits lacking popular they attempted to throw the and threw them into air. How against the government. BJP National Secretary um. giving shape of law to historic behaved atrociously in the support dictate the agenda of House into pandemonium, can the Speaker remain undis- The Speaker was forced to The Bill paves the way for Bills in spite of no support from presence of party president the LS? rush to the Well, resort to turbed witnessing such behav- suspend seven members of the resolving easily 4.83 lakh direct the Opposition. Sonia Gandhi and former pres- Be it riots or any other issue, fisticuffs with members of iour? Opposition as snatching papers Despite such chaos, the taxes cases, involving Rs 9.32 All BJP members were pre- ident Rahul Gandhi. It would the Business Advisory Treasury benches leading to Apparently not concerned from desk was unheard of. Government did not forget its lakh-crore, piled up in the sent in the House and approved mean that the two leaders are Committee discusses and a shoving and jostling. by upsetting the Speaker, the "The anarchic forces in the responsibility and decided to offices of I-T commissioners, I- the Bill. When LS session is in bent on vitiating the atmos- consensus is reached on the The Speaker also held meet- Opposition snatched the papers House showed no intention of give shape of law to the ordi- T Appellate Tribunals, Debt progress, a private bank landed phere not only in the country agenda. Speaker's ruling is the ings of Floor leaders of various from the table of panel speak- behaving democratically. These nances - the Mineral Laws Recovery tribunals, High in crisis forcing the government but also in the Lok Sabha. They final and binding on all mem- parties and urged them to er Rama Devi and threw them forces were responsible for (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 Courts and the Supreme Court. to respond quickly and take the did not spare the Rajya Sabha bers. The Opposition should uphold the dignity of the House. into the air. The Opposition lynching of at least 3,000 Sikhs and The Insolvency and Last year also, at least 1.90 bank chairman and his near too. respect the priorities and coop- Appeals by the Speaker for entered the House carrying in 1984 and then ordering no Bankruptcy Code lakh such cases have been and dear into custody and rope Their attitude reflects the erate with the treasury bench- restraint and to follow rules and placards demanding resignation investigation. Their priority is (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 resolved through the 'Sab Ka in services of the SBI to protect severe crisis in Congress and es in running the House Parliamentary traditions have of Home Minister Amit Shah not to herald peace, but to as they would have lapsed. Viswas' scheme. the interests of the account their despair. smoothly. fallen on deaf ears of the holding him responsible for arouse tensions," said Prahlad The two Bills will make the The 'Vivaad Se Viswas' holders. The attitude of the Congress, The Opposition always has Opposition. riots. They displayed the plac- Joshi, Minister for investment climate in the coun- scheme would help resolve This reflects the sincerity of which is likened to demon the right to stage a walkout from The Opposition snatched ards on the Speaker's table and Parliamentary Affairs. try healthier boosting the con- objections over direct taxes, the Modi government. Bhaskasura, is suicidal. IMPACT OF OP PRAHAAR Crisis in MP brews up... Political parties search for Maoists shift their base Continued from Page 1 women leaders to promote Apart from the two close PV KONDAL RAO where the Vindhya, Maikal Scindia associates, the others AVINASH DEEPAK PULI Major political Though BJP fielded two n WARANGAL and Satpura ranges converge. were Rajyawardhan Singh, n MAHBUBNAGAR parties, including women candidates in There is talk that the central Pradhuman Singh Tomar, Mahbubnagar parliamentary Central government’s committee members of the Giriraj, Raksha Sinoriya, Jaswant In most countries, political TRS, BJP and elections, they didn’t win. In ‘Operation Prahaar’, an inten- Maoists also roam in the same Jatav, Suresh Dhakad, Jajpal parties are the primary and Cong, are keen to Mahbubnagar district, other sive anti-Maoist operation, region and the MMC secretary Singh and Brijendra Yadav. most effective structure promote women than Aruna and Seetha which is sending shivers down Deepak Teltumbade is sta- Attempt to contact the through which women as their future Dayakar Reddy, no new gen- the spine of Maoists, is forcing tioned in this belt to expand MLAs did not succeed as they become politically engaged eration leader has emerged so them to shift base to adjoining and protect the armed squads switched off their mobiles. and get elected. generation leaders far. Madhya Pradesh. operating in Chhattisgarh and The shocker for the Political parties’ practices, in the districts Similar is the case with Initially, the forces suspect- other states. Madhya Pradesh govern- policies, and values can have a Nalgonda district. ed that the Maoists would The central forces believe ment comes on a day when deep impact on women’s polit- Though they have leaders move into the Kerala hill zones, that the Naxalites have even Chief Minister Kamal Nath ical participation and represen- the BJP are keen on guiding like Uma Madhava Reddy and but the forces say that they conducted training camps in met Congress chief Sonia tation. more new generation leaders Padmavathi Uttam Kumar have developed a ‘base area’ in the belt and they are reported- Gandhi at her residence in To promote women’s equal in the erstwhile Mahbubnagar Reddy, there are no fresh faces Amarkantak forests to operate ly recruiting tribal youths. New Delhi and briefed her and full political participa- district. Though women pub- who could join them in lead- in Maharashtra, Madhya It may be recalled that since about the current political tion, major political parties, lic representatives have ing the party from the front. Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. January 18, when ‘Operation situation in the state follow- including TRS, BJP and emerged victorious at the Since the dearth of women Currently, the Naxalites hold Currently, the Naxalites hold the bastion of Prahaar’ was launched, 15 ing the last week's attempt to Congress, are keen to promote urban and rural local bodies, leaders is being felt, parties the bastion of Abujhmarh for- encounters took place between topple the government. The women as their future gener- not a single woman won elec- across the districts are now est as their safe zone and they Abujhmarh forest as their safe zone and police forces and Naxalite party witnessed witnessed a ation leaders in the districts. tions to the Lok Sabha or searching for new generation have been running ‘Janatana they have been running ‘Janatana Sarkaar’ cadres in the erstwhile and pre- political slugfest over the Leaders like DK Aruna of Assembly. of women leaders. Sarkaar’ in this region since a sent bastions of Naxalites in last few weeks, giving a scare decade or so. in this region since a decade or so Chhattisgarh, Odisha, to the Congress state govern- Following ‘Operation Green Maharashtra and Andhra ment. Hunt’, believed to have begun Pradesh. The forces eliminat- Last week, 10 MLAs had ‘Dissent in November 2009 along five forests. It is said that Amarkantak is ed a total of eight Naxalites and gone 'missing' but eight of Jagan fulfils Ambani’s states in the ‘Red Corridor’ and The Amarkantak forest belt “highly inaccessible” because of injured several others. The them have returned to the muzzled’... ‘Operation Prahaar’, launched is located between Madhya its tough hilly terrain and pro- police also located and state, the latest being on January 18 this year, the Pradesh and Chhattisgarh vides adequate safe haven for destroyed some IED planted by Congress' Bisahu Lal Singh, wish, sends Parimal... Continued from Page 1 Maoist leadership reportedly states and it is on the converg- the senior leadership of Maoists underground. Twenty who met Kamal Nath in took the decision of shifting ing point of Maikal and Maoists. Amarkantak also has Naxalites were also caught Bhopal on Sunday, after Continued from Page 1 The others in the race from Pointing out that the BJP their ‘base’ to Amarkantak Satpura ranges. abundant water resources during the crossfire. returning from Bengaluru. the TRS include KCR's close has allied with all three lead- However, KK was allotted to aide and media baron D ers and their parties in the Rajya Sabha under AP quota Damodar Rao, and former past, the resolution said, based on draw of lots to bifur- Karimnagar Lok Sabha mem- "There is nothing in the past cate Rajya Sabha members ber B Vinod Kumar, who is records of these three leaders ‘My father was no coward to commit suicide’ between Telangana and AP also known to be KCR's close to lend credence to the Modi following bifurcation of the aide. Damodar Rao was government's false and self- Continued from Page 1 see the baby but she refused, "Amruta, who vowed to strating a new found love for He said that Maruti Rao had state in 2014. appointed member of TTD serving claim that they pose Amruta revealed. send Maruti Rao, her own her father after his death, he gathered evidence to prove Since KK enjoys very cor- Board in September 2019. a threat to "public safety" in She also suspected a threat to She made it clear that she father, to the gallows, is now wondered. "She did not even that Pranay was not an SC and dial relations with KCR, he is Many believe that his appoint- J&K or that they have endan- her mother's life from Shravan would never go to live with her levelling meaningless allega- addressed Maruti Rao as gave it to him. Even as he was confident of securing an ment was made by YSRCP gered national interests with because of the property dis- mother. "In case my mother tions against me," Shravan 'daddy'," Shravan said. preparing to file the counter in extension. However, for the supremo YS Jaganmohan their activities". pute. preferred to live with me, I said. He revealed that prior to "In spite of being innocent, High Court on Tuesday, Maruti remaining seat, there are Reddy on the recommenda- The indefinite detention of In honour killing the issue, would gladly accept the Pranay's murder, he was not on I was sent to jail in Pranay's Rao took the extreme step on scores of aspirants, who are tion of KCR. the three former Chief Shravan provoked father many responsibility," Amruta said. talking terms with his brother. murder case. She is now level- Sunday. "Division of property lobbying hard and trying to Similarly, KCR appointed Ministers and other activists times, Amruta alleged. Meanwhile, refuting "She is the nucleus to all dis- ling allegations against me did not figure in my discus- impress KCR for the ticket. Vinod Kumar as vice chair- is a "blatant violation of their She also criticised her rela- Amruta's allegations, her uncle putes. Because of her mis- again," he said. He urged the sions with him at any juncture," TRS leaders from man of TS Planning Board in fundamental rights", the res- tives for not allowing her a last Shravan described them as deeds, a Pandora's Box has media not to rush to print false the advocate said. He said that Nizamabad district are August 2019. In this backdrop, olution said. glimpse of her father at the bur- mere drama enacted with an been opened," Shravan said. information. Meanwhile, Maruti Rao was well aware of requesting KCR to give the there are speculations that ial ground. "My sole objective eye on the property. The way she conducted her- Maruti Rao's lawyer Venkata the fact that he was most like- ticket to his daughter K. KCR may not consider them was to see bid adieu to my Addressing media at his res- self in the wake of her father's Subba Reddy too said that he ly to be convicted of murder. Kavitha and send her to for the Rajya Sabha this time. father," Amruta said, adding idence, he said that he was death was objectionable, he was not someone who would Perhaps out of fear for punish- Parliament again, after she This apart, former In Leh, man dies that she was not allowed to pained at Amruta's behaviour. said. If she loved her father commit suicide. ment, he would have commit- lost Lok Sabha election to the Khammam Lok Sabha mem- even come near the body by "She is accusing me of so much, why did she not Subba Reddy said that ted suicide, Subba Reddy said. BJP from Nizamabad in May ber, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, of suspected... Shravan's daughter. threatening my brother. If she turn up on Sunday itself, Maruti Rao had spoken to He revealed that his acquain- 2019 and has been inactive in who defected from YSRCP to "I know the pain of losing a apprehends a threat to her life Shravan asked. "I am not him at around 8.30 pm on tance with Maruti Rao dated politics since then. TRS in May 2016 and sacri- Continued from Page 1 husband. That is why I visited from me, she is free to someone who would threaten Sunday to discuss the case. "He back seven years. However, TRS sources said ficed his seat for TRS candi- the burial ground," she said. approach the police," he said. anybody," he said, justifying the was disturbed at the prospect Maruti Rao's spouse Girija that Kavitha is not keen on date Nama Nageshwar Rao in The ministry in a statement After the birth of her son, Shravan reminded that the police giving him clean chit in of a fast-track court trying his also met him earlier, he said, entering Rajya Sabha and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, is also clarified that the patient her mother visited her once at police had given him a clean the murder case. case. He tried to seek adjourn- and described her as a talkative wants to contest again from expecting Rajya Sabha ticket, from Murshidabad, West Pranay's house and wanted to chit in Pranay's murder case. Why is Amruta now demon- ment," the lawyer revealed. person. Nizamabad LS seat in 2024. in lieu of his sacrifice. Bengal, who died on Sunday had tested negative for HYDERABAD COVID-19 and "hence so far YES BANK SCAM no death has been reported due BULLION RATES Investors lose to the disease in the country". GOLD Officials said the patient in Rs 7 lakh-cr... Jammu is learnt to have a ` (10 gm) 44,240 Kapoor, family got Rs 600-cr kickback as loan travel history to Iran while Continued from Page 1 ` 230 the patient from UP had SILVER All Sensex components PNS n NEW DELHI It was a part of the criminal conspiracy come in contact with the six closed in the red, led by loss- people from Agra. ` 45,900 (10 gm) hatched from April to June 2018 between ` 1,000 es in ONGC, Reliance, The CBI investigation into IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, the case involving Yes Bank Rana Kapoor, Wadhwan and others for TCS, SBI and ICICI Bank. founder Rana Kapoor has extending financial assistance to ‘Debt-ridden’ doc CHICKEN Traders said investor sen- revealed that he and his fami- timents also remained frag- ly members were paid Rs 600 DHFL by Yes Bank Ltd shoots himself RATES `/KG ile amid incessant foreign crore as kickback by DHFL Continued from Page 1 Dressed/With Skin `75 fund outflows. On a net promoter Kapil Wadhwan in Without Skin `86 basis, foreign institutional the garb of a 'builder loan'. Simultaneously, the Central Ltd in which Rana Kapoor's The Jawaharnagar Police said investors sold equities worth It was a part of the criminal Bureau of Investigation FIR wife Bindu Kapoor is a direc- that a case under Section 174 Broiler at Farm `52 Rs 3,594.84 crore on Friday, conspiracy hatched from April mentioned, Wadhwan paid tor and 100 per cent sharehold- of the Crpc (suspicious data available with stock to June 2018 between Rana kickback of Rs 600 crore to er. The investigators found death) was registered and an exchanges showed."With oil Kapoor, Wadhwan and others Kapoor and his family in the that Rana Kapoor's daughters investigation was underway. EGG prices collapsing in the wake for extending financial assis- garb of 'builder loan'. The -- Rakhee Kapoor Tandon, In a similar incident last RATES `/100 of weak global growth and tance to Dewan Housing kickback was Roshni Kapoor and month, a doctor, the MD of with the COVID-19 spread- Finance Limited (DHFL) by given by DHFL Radha Kapoor -- are a hospital, committed suicide HYDERABAD 290 ing to over thirty countries, Yes Bank Ltd. In lieu of sub- to DOIT also 100 per cent by hanging himself. Dr K VIJAYAWADA 321 global markets were rattled stantial undue benefits to him- conspiracy was hatched, said tures of DHFL for the purpose Urban shareholders of Ajay Kumar, chairman and today (Monday) and India self and his family members the CBI First Information during the period between Ventures DOIT Urban managing director of Sri VISAKHAPATNAM 355 also bore the brunt of relent- through the companies held by Report (FIR) filed on March 7. April and June 2018, said the (lndia) Pvt Ltd Ventures (lndia) Pvt Vaishnavi Hospital at LB RETAIL PRICE `2.90 less selling," said S Rana Kapoor, Wadhwan and Yes Bank invested Rs 3,700 FIR which named five compa- -- a wholly owned subsidiary of Ltd through Morgan Credits Nagar, committed suicide in (IN HYDERABAD) Ranganathan. his family members, the whole crore in the short-term deben- nies and seven individuals. RAB Enterprises (lndia) Pvt Private Limited. his hospital chamber.

Although every possible care and caution has been taken to avoid errors or omissions, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that information given in this publication is merely for reference and must not be taken as having authority of or binding in any way on the writers, editors, publishers, and printers and sellers who do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person, a purchaser of this publication or not for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only. Readers are advised and requested to verify and seek appropriate advice to satisfy themselves about the veracity of any kind of advertisement before responding to any contents published in this newspaper. The printer, publisher, editor and any employee of the Pioneer Group's will not be held responsible for any kind of claim made by the advertisers of the products & services and shall not be made responsible for any kind of loss, consequences and further product-related damages on such advertisements.

Printed and published by B Krishna Prasad for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd., Phone: 040-23322341, Hyderabad Office: F-502, Diamond Block, Lumbini Rockdale, Somajiguda, Hyderabad - 500 082. Telangana. Printed at Sree Seshasai Enterprises, Plot No.19, IDA Balanagar , Hyderbad-500037, Medchal -Malkajgiri District, Telangana. Chief Editor: Chandan Mitra. Resident Editor: B Krishna Prasad, AIR SURCHARGE of Rs 2.00. HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020 hyderabad 03

RIME VIBRANT HUES CORNER APPS, SOCIAL MEDIA BOON Newly-married man hangs self newly-married youngster FOR PROSTITUTION RINGS committed suicide by A NAVEEN KUMAR prostituting them in apart- hanging himself at his n HYDERABAD n Online sex ments rented on Airbnb or residence in Neredmet on Monday.The victim was racketeers have Oyo rooms, said Samuel Neil, identified as 26-year-old Rahul Prostitution as a business is cr- now moved on an activist. Yadav, an employee with the eeping onto social media appli- "Modern apps like Tinder, cations, wherein profiles are to applications Instagram and Snapchat are South Central Railway. Five like Instagram months ago, Yadav got being openly operated by being utilised, to contact young married to Ravalika, who is pimps to conduct 'business' and Tinder girls and promise them the using sleazy pictures to lure chance to make a lot of money studying BDS, said the police. n According to the Neredmet customers. Following the very quickly. Sexual encounters Police, Yadav, who was to It is also very difficult for law constant with clients are set up at prop- leave for work on Monday enforcement to track the offen- n erties which are rented on ders because of the way they crackdowns over The Airbnb. Tinder, a dating app, is morning, was not seen. Then the years by gangs his family members searched keep their adverts ambiguous. considered to be the easiest frantically for him but soon In Hyderabad as well, sex rack- Hyderabad Police, the started using way to find prostitution ser- found his body hanging from eteers hitherto thriving on organisers became professional vices," said the activist. the ceiling in the bedroom. The online platforms and classified cautious and started methods to Explaining the process of this family members rushed him to advertisements have now deal with racket, an official from SOT a nearby hospital, but he was moved onto applications like taking precautionary Rachakonda said, "After a clients People of all age groups with their faces and clothes smeared with different colors of ‘Gulal' celebrate Holi festival with great declared brought dead by the Instagram and Tinder. measures potential customer approaches enthusiasm and fervour at Begum Bazaar in Hyderabad on Monday doctors. The police then Following crackdowns over them via the social media pro- shifted the body to Gandhi the years by police, the organ- file, which displays semi-naked Hospital for autopsy. Prelimi- isers have become cautious payment," said a senior official "Manipulative boyfriends or photos of women with a phone nary investigation revealed that and started taking precaution- from the Task Force team, persons who seduce young number, he is asked to pay 50 financial issues forced him to ary measures. "The gangs start- adding that the organisers girls, often minors, and force per cent of the amount and will Home guards await salary dues take the extreme step, said the ed using professional methods started contacting their coun- them into prostitution are be given a contact number of police. Based on a complaint to deal with clients. Once a terparts in other states, asking active in India and other coun- an escort to chat up with on PNS n HYDERABAD from Yadav's uncle, the client contacts the phone num- them to 'exchange' victims for tries. In addition to this, more WhatsApp. After a time and LONG WAIT Neredmet Police registered a bers available online, the agent a week or month and prepared and more young people are vis- date is fixed, a cab is taken by Home guards working in the would confirm if the customer a rotational schedule. iting brothels, alone or in the pimp and the escort to the Police Department have been case of suspicious death and n are investigating the death. is genuine. He would ask which Research from an anti-pros- groups, to assert their virility," decided place and later, the rest facing problems due to delay in Home guards have n All of them hotel or lodge the customer is titution group has last year said a Paris-based Fondation of the amount is paid." payment of wages every been pleading the do not receive staying at and then he would found out that social media Scelles report that analysed The other aspect which month. Until this Friday, home authorities to credit their wages at Student dies as call the hotel reception to applications, including digital trends in 35 different misses the eye in this issue is guards did not receive the the due amount of once as the check if the person has actual- Facebook and Tinder are play- countries, including India. that the victims are very vul- wages for the month of Rs 12,000 towards attendance lorry hits bike ly checked in. After confirm- ing a major role in the rise of Prostitution has moved nerable to danger, said an offi- February. They are also com- daily allowance 21-year-old student was ing he would call again and will online prostitution and sexu- 'from the street to the Internet' cial from Women Cell of plaining about wages due in records from Akilled after a lorry hit his give details of the woman and al exploitation. where pimps recruit girls for Telangana Police. the month of May last year. n They urged various police two-wheeler on Sunday night The officials are not paying any the officials to stations should at Vanasthalipuram. The victim attention to payment of dues pay at least reach the home was identified as Raheem and feeding charges. Rs 6,000 guards office Arbaz, a resident of Mettuguda L&TMRHL bags Home guards usually draw pursuing Btech. Raheem's Major fire breaks out at Rs 22,000 per month as salary friend, Mohan Kumar, was 3 awards at in spite of working shoulder- their bank accounts on 1st of and three other units received injured in the mishap. Accord- to-shoulder with the city every month. The police offi- the wages on March 6. They ing to the Vanasthalipuram PRCI conclave police. cials have decided to reckon are yet to receive the remain- Police, Raheem and Kumar art gallery; no casualties All home guards do not the attendance of home guards ing 10 days' wages. were returning from Hayathn- PNS n HYDERABAD receive their wages simultane- from 20th of the month and Apart from this, the home agar when the mishap took PNS n HYDERABAD ously every month since atten- promised to credit the 10 day guards have been pleading the place. Kumar was driving the L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) dance records from various wages in their bank accounts authorities to credit the due vehicle and Raheem was a A major fire broke out in a Limited (L&TMRHL) has re- police stations and special subsequently. amount of Rs 12,000 each pillion rider. A lorry was taking building on Road No. 12 in ceived three national awards units should reach the home The home guards accepted towards daily allowance. They a u-turn before it crashed into Banjara Hills on Sunday night. for public relations, social guards office. At the office their the condition on the prospect urged the officials to pay at bike. Raheem came directly The residential building had a media & branding at the wage bills are prepared and of receiving salary on 1st of least Rs 6,000, but their pleas under the truck's rear tires and commercial office in which the Public Relations Society of sent to commissioner's office every month. Later, the home have fallen on deaf ears. suffered major bleeding injur- fire broke out, causing damage India (PRCI)- Global Com- for approval. Later, the salary guards received wages on 1st of One of the home guards ies. Kumar sustained injuries. worth lakhs of rupees. munications Conclave held will be credited to their every month, for 10 months. speaking to The Pioneer on the The police claim that Raheem The fire officials said that the recently in Bangalore. accounts. The officials have not credited condition of anonymity said died on the spot. However, his mishap was reported at Ridhi Managing director of They used to receive wages the 10 days wages in the bank that how should the home family members alleged that Sidhi Art Gallery located in the L&TMRHL KVB on the 20th of the month for accounts. guards survive if the salary is Raheem died in the ambulance second floor of the building. Reddy stated, the work done from 1st to 30th As far as February, 2020 not paid on time. while being taken to hospital. Residents living in the same "It is a proud or 31st of the previous month. salary is concerned, all home No officer is paying atten- "The driver of the ambulance building spent anxious moment for In May last year, the police guards did not receive their tion to clearing their 10 day took him to a hospital which moments as they were afraid of L&TMRHL bosses decided to change the wages simultaneously. As due wages. Moreover, they are was far away despite other the flames spreading. to receive practice and made plans to many as 6,700 home guards not serious to pay them their hospitals being nearby. Had he According to fire officials, a short circuit from a cable of an tion of a residential complex. PRCI Natio- take steps to credit salaries into working in the city traffic unit daily allowance too. been taken to a hospital near- call about fire was received on electrical appliance in the art However, in violation of nal Awards. by, he might have survived," Sunday night from residents in gallery premises. Paintings GHMC's permission, six floors Awards are alw- said a family member. The the building. worth lakhs were gutted in the were constructed and the ays a sign of accomplishment family members also said that The residents said that the flames and the total estimate of building had commercial and success. I would like to Top cop denies action should also be taken art gallery was engulfed in the loss is being evaluated. offices as well as residential congratulate the Corporate against the ambulance driver flames with all the material No casualties were reported houses. Sources said that con- Communications wing for permission to as they suspect a alleged inside burning. Fire officials as the gallery was closed. struction did not adhere to fire their innovative campaigns to nexus between him and the rushed to the spot and con- According to sources, safety regulations. reach out to the commuters, teachers for hospital. The Police registered trolled the flames. Vikram Kimithi, the building The Banjara Hills Police enabling an increase in rider- a case against the lorry driver Preliminary investigation owner, had taken permission registered a case and are inves- ship and help better underst- Chalo Assembly and took him into custody. revealed that fire was due to a from the GHMC for construc- tigating. anding of the travel etiquette. PNS n HYDERABAD

The Hyderbad Police Com- missioner issued a notice sa- ying no permission was given 24-yr-old woman abducted, raped for the proposed Chalo Ass- embly rally by the Teacher's PNS n HYDERABAD After driving into an Association. Hyderabad Police Comm- A 24-year-old woman was isolated area, Praveen issioner Anjani Kumar said allegedly abducted and raped by stopped the vehicle and during the Assembly session, a known acquaintance in the raped the victim. no gathering was allowed in city outskirts at Shabad area. the city, particularly in the The victim was planning to go Though the victim vicinity of the Assembly home from a neighbouring vil- raised the alarm, her building. "Smooth running of lage when she was approached cries were not heard Assembly session is the foun- Corona screening: by the accused who offered her dation of a healthy democra- a lift, said the police. cy and it is our responsibili- The accused, identified as purchased the SIM. After she she raised an alarm, her cries ty to ensure that there is no Praveen, and the victim purchased the SIM card, she were not heard as the place was disturbance in that," he said. Etela visits RGIA belonged to the same village. was waiting on the road for a away from the main road," The Commissioner warned According to Shadnagar police public transport to go home sources said, adding that she of strict legal action if any PNS n HYDERABAD With the danger of the virus officials, the victim was mar- when the accused approached managed to escape and attempt was made to mobilize spreading it from those affect- ried four years ago and was her and offered lift in his car. reached home in an auto-rick- crowds for such 'Chalo Health Minister Etela Rajender ed by it being more, those Mayor performs residing with her husband at "However, he diverted the shaw late in the night when she Assembly' calls by the on Monday inspected the ther- arriving from countries affect- Chandanavelly village of car midway into an unknown informed her husband. Teacher's Association. mo screening facility estab- ed by the virus are being Shabad mandal. path and when she questioned On Saturday, the couple "Their institution heads lished at the Rajiv Gandhi screened at the RGIA. On Friday evening, the vic- him, he slapped her repeated- approached Shabad police and will also be informed for International Airport (RGIA) The Minister interacted ‘Palabhishekam’ tim had gone to the neigh- ly and threatened her to keep lodged a complaint. A rape taking action at their level. in Shamshabad here to screen with RGIA officials and the bouring village to purchase a quiet. After driving to an iso- case was registered and The transport agencies are passengers arriving from for- healthcare team there to assess new SIM. The accused was at lated area, he stopped the Praveen was detained for ques- also advised accordingly," the eign countries for the COVID- the arrangements made at the to CM's portrait the shop where the victim vehicle and raped her. Though tioning. Police Commissioner said. 19 virus. airport. PNS n HYDERABAD With Rs 10,000 crores, FREE TO USE PUBLIC WASHROOMS works will be taken to devel- 28-yr-old woman The Mayor of Greater Hyd- op sewerage, storm water erabad Municipal Corporation drainage, Corridor improve- ends life, family (GHMC) Bonthu Rammohan ment, junction improvement, blames in-laws Covid-19 scare: LooCafe takes special measures thanked the Chief Minister K water, electricity, FOBs, Under Chandrashekar Rao and per- pass, skyways, footpath, Nala PNS n HYDERABAD PNS n HYDERABAD Special sanitisation methods include formed 'Abhishekam' with widening and others. milk to his photo at GHMC Officials are making efforts Awoman committed suicide Amidst the threat of coronovi- cleaning of loocafes with special Head Office, for allotting Rs to make Hyderabad a tourist by hanging herself reported- rus, team LooCafé has taken up steam machines, disinfected and 10,000 crores to GHMC in destination and in this regard ly due to the harassment by special measures to sanitise all employee, staff & customers safety 2020-21 Budget, for all round they are taking up beautifica- her husband and in-laws at Loo Cafes, which are free to use development of city. tion of Musi River under River LB Nagar on Sunday night. for public across Hyderabad. and precaution is being extended Addressing the press confer- Front development The woman, identified as The special sanitisation ence Mayor thanked Chief Corporation. Arshiya Begum, 28, was mar- methods include cleaning of Minister and Municipal Simultaneously priority is ried to Shaik Ibrahim, 30, in LooCafes with special steam mask, googles and gloves. The to stay at home when sick and Administration and Urban given for law and order, March 2017 and the couple machines, disinfected and team is encouraged to wash avoid contact with others when Development Minister KT Education, Health, and was living at NTR Nagar employee, staff& customers their hands before and after the sick, except if needing to visit Rama Rao's efforts in getting Environment. If a city provides along with their two daugh- safety and precaution is being services and also spread aware- a medical provider. Do not the much required funds to infrastructure according to ters. extended. LooCafe team is ness to fellow colleagues and travel or go to work while sick. GHMC from government. the changing needs the city On Sunday night, Arshiya trained and well equipped in customers. Operation director Krishna Since, the CM's vision on sustains and competes with hanged herself in her home. extending the sanitised envi- He further said, "Employees Chaitanya said that the team is development is for next gen- the other cities. Her family members who ronment in Loocafe. are briefed to cover coughs and being trained and briefed about erations, accordingly master Since, the state government noticed it alerted the police. Speaking on the occasion sneezes: cover your mouth and Covid-19 and what they need plan is being prepared to pro- is providing the best facilities, Her parents told the police founder of Loocafe Abhishek nose with a tissue or mask (not to do in case of emergency or vide facilities and infrastruc- many corporate companies that Ibrahim and his parents Nath said special sanitisation your hands) when coughing or panic. They were showed cir- ture to sustain the Hyderabad are coming forward to estab- were harassing and torturing drive is being undertaken to kill the bacteria rise, the disinfect the public washrooms. sneezing. dispose of tissue culars from the state govern- city on par with the world lish their business in Arshiya following which she ensure the restrooms are thor- Loocafe team is using special He added LooCafe team is properly and perform hand ment and awareness materials class cities. Hyderabad. slipped into depression. oughly sanitised and fogged to steam machines to sanitise and operating with covered face hygiene, employees are briefed were circulated to the team. HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020 hyderabad 04 CS: State taking steps to BJP dares KTR over potholes l Party will give away Rs 1 lakh for each prevent spread of Covid-19 pothole-free road in the city, says Laxman K VENKATESHWARLU PNS n HYDERABAD n HYDERABAD

Chief Secretary Somesh Taking a dig at IT Minister KT Kumar on Monday informed Rama Rao, the BJP on Monday Prakash Raj the Cabinet Secretary that offered the state government Telangana government was that it would give away Rs 1 extends vigilant and taking all steps to lakh for each pothole-free road prevent spread of Covid-19 in in the city. support to the state. Addressing the media here Cabinet Secretary Rajiv at the party office, Telangana Sipligunj Gauba conducted a video BJP chief Dr K Laxman said, conference with Chief “I dare IT Minister KT Rama PNS n HYDERABAD Secretaries of all states. Rao to show roads that are free Addressing the Chief of potholes. The party is ready Actor Prakash Raj extended Secretaries, Gauba said, “All to give Rs 1 Lakh to the gov- his support to playback singer the functionaries related to ernment for each road without and Bigg Boss3 Telugu winner health at Centre and the state potholes. KTR offered only Rs ‘jumbo Budget’, Laxman asked figures show the deception of Rahul Sipligunj, who was should coordinate with each Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and others during a video conference with Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, in the city on Monday 10,000 per pothole, but the BJP the TRS government to reveal KCR. There is no link between injured in an attack during a other in order to contain fur- is offering Rs 1 lakh per road as to how it had overcome election assurances and the brawl in a pub last week. He ther cases of coronavirus.” Thermo N95 Masks besides without potholes.” from economic crisis within Budget allocations.” alleged that relatives of a rul- The Cabinet Secretary CS requested the Centre to provide two two more laboratories for Alleging that the TRS gov- six months and introduced Laxman even found fault ing TRS MLA were behind the Rajiv Gauba stressed to take testing for coronavirus in the ernment allocated Rs 10,000 Rs 1.82 lakh-crore Budget. with Chief Minister for stating incident. all necessary steps to bring Thermal Scanners at RGIA, 50 Thermo N95 state. crore to Hyderabad City devel- He also found fault with the that coronavirus can be cured Actor Prakash Raj and awareness among the gener- Masks besides two more laboratories for A Santhi Kumar, special opment in the Budget, Laxman TRS government for openly even with paracetamol, a med- Rahul Sipligunj on Monday al public. State governments Chief Secretary, Dr Yogita said that TRS government did stating that it will sell lands in icine that is usually taken for met Government Chief Whip should invariably check all the testing of Covid-19 in the state Rana, Commissioner Health, nothing in Hyderabad. Hyderabad. “Telangana people the common cold. “Instead of Vinay Bhasker in his chambers entry points with utmost care Swetha Mohonty, Hyderabad “The Phase-II of MMTS will never forgive Chief taking preventive steps and in Assembly premises. and see that no persons are Collector, Dr Preeti Meena, project is progressing at snail’s Minister advising people over coron- Speaking on the occasion, left unscreened and suspect- The Chief Secretary, ment to provide two Thermal Director TSACS, Dr. Varsini, pace. There is no talk about the K Chandrashekhar Rao if it avirus, the Chief Minister is Prakash Raj said, “I condemn ed cases quarantined with all Somesh Kumar further Scanners at Rajiv Gandhi IAS, Director, IIHFW and Metro Rail up to Falaknuma,” sells government lands. It is not making irrelevant comments. the attack on Rahul. Don’t necessary precautions. requested the Central govern- International Airport, 50 others were also present. he alleged. He claimed that the correct on part of the TRS gov- KCR had surpassed ‘Shankar think that there is no one to state government had set up ernment to sell lands instead of Dada MBBS’ in this regard,” he support him. We are with Basthi Dawakhanas with the tapping resources. There is no said. him and there are his fans too. funds allocated by the Central recession in the state. Its only Later, Laxman said that the Going to a pub is not wrong, KTR FARMHOUSE ROW Two kids government. The TRS govern- KCR who is on the recession BJP would chalk out an action but how can they attack some- ment is trying to cover up its path,” he remarked. plan to wage fight on PRC one with beer bottles? Will drown in lake inefficiency by criticising the Taking potshots at the implementation, unemploy- they kill him? We are not going Centre, he alleged. Telangana Budget for the ment issue and other along to compromise on the issue. Jagga Reddy takes U-turn Finding fault with the TRS financial year 2020-21, with the students of universi- Why Rahul has to compro- in Warangal government for introducing Laxman said, “The Budget ties in Telangana. mise? One who committed a l Says there is no need to create political furore over the issue PNS n WARANGAL mistake has to compromise. I will approach Commissioner PNS n HYDERABAD police arrested them. Two children met with of Police and ask him to take Lobbyists harming watery grave at Kapula Sajjala confident the issue seriously.” Expecting bail for Malkajgiri Kanaparthy village in the It may be recalled that some MP Revanth Reddy, the fol- Congress' interests district on Monday. The inci- of winning local relatives of an MLA attacked lowers of the MP have planned Taking potshots at some leader dent happened when the Rahul Sipligunj with beer bot- a rousing reception. It is said for allegedly harming the deceased, Davud Rakesh and body polls tles few days ago at Prism Pub. that the MP’s followers held a party’s interests, the Kandakatla Yashwanth were The singer even wrote to IT meeting in this regard on Sangareddy MLA said, “We are taking bath in the Paya Lake PNS n VIJAYAWADA Minister KT Rama Rao that he Monday. It may be recalled that heroes here in the state. But after playing ‘Holi’. had always voted for the TRS Revanth Reddy has been some leaders are heroes in While three boys drowned Advisor to Government since he wants to ‘serve arrested for taking pictures of Delhi in doing lobbying. It is in the lake, another boy was Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy Telangana as long as’ he lived. a farmhouse allegedly belong- a curse for Telangana rescued by the locals. said that the local body elec- Sipligunj, however, rued its ing to Minister KT Rama Rao Congress.” According to the police, the tions, called at short notice, leaders ‘misusing their power’. in Janwada using a drone. He urged AICC president incident took place at around are a challenge to the govern- He added that he was ‘shocked’ However, Congress MLA Sonia Gandhi to take steps to 11:00 am when four friends ment, which would have to that MLA’s brothers were ‘mis- from Sangareddy T Jagga revive the party in the state. He went to the lake to take bath. Prof NV Ramana Rao, Director NIT Warangal and CA Prasad, president, PSI, forfeit Rs 5,000 crore from the behaving and hitting people’, Reddy on Monday took a u- ing lot of troubles,” he said. said that some leaders, who are While they were playing in Hyderabad showing the MoU on Monday Centre if elections are not using the leader’s influence. turn on TRS working president Jagga Reddy urged the Chief allegedly lobbying with the the water, Rakesh, Yashwanth held before March-end. KT Rama Rao’s farmhouse Minister K Chandrashekhar high command for top posts in and Raj Kumar slipped into Addressing the media at issue. “There is no need to cre- Rao to see that the Centre the state, are even of the same the water and were unable to the party office at Tadepalli ate political furore over KT scraps GO 111. “Most of the opinion. He alleged that some swim back to the bund. NIT-Warangal inks pact here on Monday, he said the Disha case: Rama Rao’s farm house issue. farmers, who have lands which ‘gatekeepers’ are obstruction Another boy present with YSRCP fought elections There are several industries come under the GO, belong to senior leaders like V them, Sadaran Rakesh shout- bravely whenever they were Father of being operated in that area SC and BC communities,” he Hanumantha Rao by not giv- ed for help. The villagers with PSI, Inventaa held. The government is pre- which comes under GO 111. added. It may be recalled that ing Rahul Gandhi’s appoint- came and pulled out Raj pared to win the elections in accused dies The then Congress govern- Jagga Reddy, along with the ment. He made it clear that the Kumar who became uncon- PNS n HYDERABAD per the rules of the respective spite of short period to get the ment urged the Centre to Congress MLAs, visited Janwada party was getting affected not scious. He was rushed to the institute, for limited periods as funds from the Centre. PNS n HYDERABAD scrap the GO 111 as farmers, on Saturday. He also staged a sit- because of opposition leaders nearby hospital. The other The NIT-Warangal has signed mutually agreed upon; The YSRCP wants to go in who have one or two acres in on the road at Sabitha Nagar but because of its own party two could not be rescued in a Memorandum of Organisation of joint confer- for local body polls in The father of one of the land, from 84 villages were fac- Crossroads at Kokapet before leaders. time. Understanding (MoU) with ences and seminars; Practical November or December. But accused in the Disha gang Pre-Engineered Structures training of NITW students at the polls were delayed because rape and murder case, which Society of India (PSI) here on PSI; PSI may depute its per- of court litigation. The litigation sparked nation-wide outrage, Monday. Accordingly, NIT-W sonnel as visiting faculty to has arisen as the quota for the died more than two months and PSI will encourage inter- NITW to teach any of the reg- BCs increased to 59 per cent. after he was hit by a car. The Stay NPR-related activities in TS: Congress actions between the precast ular Course or specialized top- A TDP leader approached the accident occurred soon after industry in large and engi- ics; PSI personnel may also be court objecting to the quota, he his son and three other PNS n HYDERABAD other. In light of this, we neers, scientists, research fel- allowed to enrol for their reasoned. The Chief Minister accused were gunned down NPR is the first step to implementing a nation-wide believe that the resolution lows, faculty members and Ph.D./M.Tech among others. reduced the period of cam- in a police encounter on the Telangana Pradesh Congress NRC. Data from the NPR is going to be used to instil passed by the Government of students of both the organisa- Meanhile, NIT-W has also paigning giving no room for outskirts of Hyderabad. Committee president and fear of the 'undocumented and illegal immigrant' and Telangana, while a step in the tions through exchange of per- signed a MoU with Inventaa liquor and money power in Kurumaiah (48), father of Nalgonda MP N Uttam Kumar justify initiating the process of conducting NRC right direction, is not an ade- sonnel through deputation as Industries Pvt Ltd. elections, he said. Chennakeshavulu (A4 in the Reddy urged Chief Minister K quate response to the threat of Disha case), was a resident of Chandrashekhar Rao to stay all — N UTTAM KUMAR , TPCC president communalisation,” Uttam said Gudigandla village of Marikal activities related to National that other states, like Kerala, mandal in Narayanpet dis- Population Register (NPR) in (NRC) in the wake of gal immigrant' and justify ini- have issued Government trict. He was hit by a Innova the State by issuing a GO on Citizenship Amendment Act- tiating the process of conduct- orders to stay all activities Bamboo cultivation, the next big thing car on December 26, 2019 — the lines of Kerala 2019, the State Government ing NRC. The problem is not related to the NPR. “It is my PNS n HYDERABAD two days after his son’s death Government. orders to stay all the activities necessarily with the NPR itself sincere request to you that the — while he was returning “While we welcome a reso- connected with the upda- but the blatantly communal Government of Telangana do Telangana State Planning Board home from neighbouring lution by the Telangana tion of National intentions of the BJP the same. vice-chairman B Vinod Kumar Jakllair village on his motor- Assembly against NPR, NRC Population Government that is Apart from being more effec- on Monday undertook a two- bike. He suffered severe and CAA, this alone may not Register in the implementing it. tive than the resolution, this will day tour of Kudal taluk in injuries to his head. suffice to stop the NPR work State forthwith,” Information, by send a strong message that the Maharashtra's Sindhu Durg dis- The car owner was identi- in Telangana State. To clear any Uttam Kumar itself, is value free State of Telangana, which is trict to study the bamboo cul- fied as the sarpanch of ambiguity in the State Reddy said in but when it is home to an extremely diverse tivation and bamboo industries Tankara village in Hanwada Government officials, a clear an open letter mobilised to population, stands firmly there. In 2004, the Centre mandal, whose son-in-law is GO should be issued by the to the Chief serve an agenda it opposed to the communal agen- announced the National a DSP posted in Hyderabad. Government as has been done Minister on can be a dangerous da of the BJP-led Central Bamboo Mission Their family helped cover the in some other states. I am Sunday. weapon- and we are Government,” he said. and announced several incen- medical expenses of attaching GO (MS) No. The TPCC chief all aware of what the “As someone who has fought tives to promote bamboo Kurumaiah, who was admit- 247/2019/GAD dated said that the Congress Modi-Shah and risked his life for a free and cultivation and bamboo Telangana State Planning Board vice-chairman B Vinod Kumar during his study ted at NIMS for close to 70 20.12.2019 of the Government was in full support of the res- Government's agenda is. We diverse India, I strongly believe based units. tour in Maharashtra's Sindhu Durg district days. He was discharged four of Kerala. Paragraph 2 and 3 olution to be passed by the believe that it is important that that it is the need of the hour In 2017, the Centre strength- days ago and breathed his last of this G.O. read as: Government of Telangana the Government of Telangana that we stand against those ened the mission. Taking advan- ers harvest bamboos again and Reddy, state horticultural com- on Monday afternoon. "Considering that the appre- against NPR, NRC and CAA. take a documented and defin- forces which are trying to divide tage of the incentives, farmers again. Bamboo can withstand missioner Venkatram Reddy, It may be recalled that last hensions among the general “NPR is the first step to itive stand against any steps the country, encourage hatred in Kudal cultivated bamboo any climatic conditions. The ASCI director Achilender Reddy, week, Chennakeshavulu’s public about the conduct of implementing a nation-wide taken by the Central towards our friends and neigh- and reaping its benefits. In fact, bamboo can be harvested after NRI Gogineni Srinivas, bamboo wife gave birth to a girl at the National Population Register NRC. Data from the NPR is Government to communalise bours and destroy the principle bamboo is not a plant it belongs four years of sowing the seeds. expert from Canada Sudhir Mahbubnagar Government (NPR) related activities leads to going to be used to instil fear public discourse and polarise of diversity on which our great to a grass species. Malkajgiri LS constituency Kodati and others accompa- Hospital. National Register of Citizens of the 'undocumented and ille- Indian citizens against each nation was founded,” he added. The same tuber helps farm- in-charge Marri Rajasekhara nied Vinod in his study tour. RGIA best in environment, ambience in Asia-Pacific Ministers hail TS Budget PNS n HYDERABAD all heads of account have reg- PNS n HYDERABAD stone echoes the rigour and fact as well and honoured us istered an increase,” they said. ASQ is the world's teamwork of our stakeholders with the Best Environment and Ministers Talasani Srinivas After a gap of seven decades, GMR-led Hyderabad including DGCA, CISF, Ambience by Size in our cate- Yadav, Gangula Kamalakar justice is being done to BCs in International Airport has leading airport BCAS, AAI, Immigration, gory. We have also recently and Srinivas Goud hailed the Telangana. The BCs will emerged as the winner of the passenger service Customs, Airlines; our employ- been certified by ACI as a car- State Budget presented by remember KCR for long. coveted Airports Council and benchmarking ees and all business partners / bon neutral (Level 3+, neutral- Finance Minister T Harish The credit for allocating Rs International (ACI) Airport programme vendors, who are working at the ity) airport- a feat which we Rao in the Assembly on 500 crore in the state Budget Service Quality (ASQ) airport towards a common goal have achieved thrice in a row," Sunday, describing it as “the for building temples goes to Departures Awards by being measuring to serve our customers. We are he added. Best Budget” and terming it as KCR, they said. adjudged as the 'Best Airport by passengers' also thankful to the Ministry of The Airport Service Quality a pro-weaker sections’ Refuting Congress criticism Size and Region' and its first- satisfaction while Civil Aviation for their support. programme is the world's lead- Budget. of the Budget, they said that ever 'Best Airport in This award is testimony of our ing airport customer experience They gave the credit of the more funds were allocated for Environment & Ambience by they are travelling tireless efforts to make our pas- measurement and benchmark- realistic Budget to Chief BCs in the Budget than that of Size', both in Asia-Pacific region through an airport senger experience the best and ing programme. The ASQ Minister K Chandrashekhar the sub-plan. They asked the for 2019, in its category of 15- our pursuit towards excellence." Departures programme mea- Rao’s rigorous financial exer- Opposition parties to stop 25 Million Passengers Per "While we are expanding to sures passengers' satisfaction cises in consultation with their unsubstantiated criti- Annum (MPPA). tion while they are travelling Customer Experience Global GHIAL, said, "We feel hon- build a future-ready airport across 34 key performance experts stretching over six cism against the government. ASQ is the world's leading air- through an airport. The award Summit, taking place in Krakow, oured that our passengers have doubling our capacity, we are indicators. In 2019, more than months. In spite of economic recession, port passenger service and trophy will be conferred during Poland in September 2020. chosen us as the Best Airport in also sensitive towards environ- half of the world's 8.8 billion “Economists welcomed the the state government ear- benchmarking programme the ASQ Awards Ceremony to Speaking on the recogni- the annual ASQ survey 2019 ment and the ambience of the travellers passed through an Budget, which gave priority to marked Rs 30,000 crore for the measuring passengers' satisfac- be held during the third ACI tion, SGK Kishore, CEO, conducted by ACI. This mile- airport. ACI has recognised this ASQ airport. BC welfare. Allocations under BCs, they said. HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020 nation 05

SHORT READS CORONAVIRUS Centre wants 5,400-bedded quarantine facilities ready PNS n NEW DELHI

The government has directed Health Ministry Adequate stock of drugs the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to prepare sending available COVID-19: Two militants killed in quarantine facilities with a bed capacity to admit over directives to Union Minister encounter in Shopian 5,400 people to deal with PNS n BENGALURU interest in the earlier days for district cases of coronavirus across the states: Vardhan this formation of API parks, country, officials said on Underlining the Centre's pre- pharma parks and drug SRINAGAR: Two militants were Monday. These forces, com- PNS n NEW DELHI paredness to deal with parks across the country. killed in an encounter with prising the Central Reserve COVID-19, Union Minister Now, we have planned for security forces in Jammu and Police Force, the Border Union Health Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers that. We are going to have six Kashmir's Shopian district on Security Force, the Central Harsh Vardhan on Monday D V Sadananda Gowda on mega pharma powers in var- Monday, the Army said. Industrial Security Force, the said the government is pre- Monday said there was suf- ious corners of the country, Security forces launched a Indo-Tibetan Border Police, pared to deal with novel ficient stock of Active including one in Raichur, he cordon and search operation in the Sashastra Seema Bal and coronavirus and his min- Pharmaceutical Ingredients said. Reban area of the south the National Security Guard, istry is sending directives, (API) for the next three Gowda ruled out scarcity of Kashmir district on Monday have also been asked to create including guidelines, to months. masks or drugs to deal with morning after receiving specific 75 isolation wards as part of states in all the languages As soon as this news came COVID-19. "I will tell you, information about the presence preparations to combat possi- on ways to contain it. out from China (about the there are two aspects. One is of militants there, an Army ble large-scale outbreak of the "We are sending detailed novel coronvirus outbreak), black-marketing and anoth- official said. He said the virus. Officials told PTI that guidelines to all states on we had a meeting with all the er is sending this false pro- operation turned into an the Union home ministry has Centre, Delhi govt Man booked for dumping ways to contain coron- industrialists, pharma indus- paganda (about shortage). I encounter after the militants asked these forces to create a working in tandem, avirus. Have asked states to trialists, and we took stock of don't think there is any fired upon a search party, total of 5,440-bed capacity at strengthen laboratories and the API. It is more than suf- scarcity. Of course, it has which retaliated. The official 37 locations in the country. says Kejriwal used masks at open space manpower to effectively ficient for another three appeared in the newspa- said two militants were killed in 75 isolation wards are also NEW DELHI: The Centre and deal with coronavirus and months, Gowda told pers," the Minister said. the gunfight. He said weapons to be created at these locations the Delhi government are PNS n THANE could complete their task, the form early rapid action reporters. Following the reports, and war-like stores have been by these forces, they said. working in close coordination accused, Imran Shaikh (22), teams," Vardhan told The Union Minister said searches were carried out recovered from the site of the "The aim is to build capac- to deal with coronavirus, Amid the coronavirus scare, a allegedly removed all the masks reporters adding, that the recently at the Pharma-2020 and some black-marketeers encounter and added that the ity. These forces have also Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal man has been booked for from the godown and dumped government is prepared to conclave in Ahmedabad that were found, said Gowda operation is in progress. been asked to earmark and said here on Monday. allegedly dumping used face them at an open space at Purna deal with the infection. the pharma companies had adding that everything has depute their respective teams Talking to reporters after a masks at an open space in village on Retibunder Road in The Union Health assured him that there was been resolved. Pak shells forward of doctors, paramedics and review meeting with Union Maharashtra's Thane district, Bhiwandi, a police official said. Minister Harsh Vardhan no need to worry about the When asked that the drug sanitation officials who will Health Minister Harsh police said on Monday. Later, videos of the masks chaired a review and coor- coronavirus. In China also, controller had stated that areas along LoC in man these quarantine facili- Vardhan on the preparedness The matter came to light after dumped in the open were also dination meeting with apart from two affected dis- masks do not come under his J-K's Poonch ties," a senior home ministry for COVID-19, the chief some television channels telecast by some channels fol- Lieutenant Governor Anil tricts, the other districts have perview, Gowda said direc- officer said. minister said people arriving showed clippings of used masks lowing which the police regis- Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister started manufacturing API, tions have been given by the JAMMU: Pakistan army The Indo-Tibetan Border from foreign countries are stored at a godown in Bhiwandi tered a case against Shaikh on Arvind Kejriwal, mayors of he added. Prime Minister and a group resorted to firing and mortar Police (ITBP) force, which is being screened at airports. township on Saturday. Sunday evening. the Municipal Corporations Gowda, however, conceded of five ministers, who are shelling on forward posts and already running such a quar- A campaign will be run to Taking suo moto cognisance Shaikh has been booked of Delhi and senior officials that India did not take much monitoring the situation. villages along the Line of antine centre in Delhi's make people aware about the of the reports, district health under Indian Penal Code of various departments. Control (LoC) in Poonch Chhawla area, has also been preventive measures to officer Manish Renge directed Section 269 (whoever unlaw- Union Health Minister district on Monday, a defence asked to prepare training contain the spread of the the Food and Drug fully or negligently does any Harsh Vardhan stressed on spokesperson said. "Around modules for specialist trainers disease, Kejriwal said. Administration, act which is likely to coordinated action between 12.15 pm, Pakistan initiated of these forces. Maharashtra spread the infection all concerned departments unprovoked ceasefire violation ITBP experts will hold Pollution of any disease dan- and agencies for activities by small arms firing and workshops and prepare online eigners, evacuated from Control Board gerous to life), such as contact tracing, shelling with mortars in the modules for these forces to Wuhan in China are still liv- (MPCB) and Narpoli police sta- community surveillance, Shahpur sector. The Indian make them understand the ing at the ITBP centre. the police to tion's senior hospital management, iden- Army is retaliating befittingly," management and other med- ITBP Director General carry out an inspector Maloji tification of isolation wards, he said. The spokesperson ical protocols to run a quaran- (DG) S S Deswal, they said, inspection of Shinde said, ensuring adequate person- said the cross-border shelling tine centre for coronavirus will also be holding an aware- the godown. adding the al protection equipment was going on when last reports affected people, officials said. ness session on these measures However, accused has and masks and risk com- were received. However, there The second batch of people, on a free-to-air Doordarshan even before not yet been munication for mass aware- was no report of any casualty including Indians and for- channel. the authorities arrested. ness. in the Pakistani firing and shelling, he said.

Army rescues 390 Teacher held for In Kashmir, Jaishankar meets kin of people stranded in Iran people stranded n due to heavy snowfall raping minor kids PNS SRINAGAR The officials said that over 100 relatives External Affairs Minister S of those stranded had gathered at the Itanagar, Mar 9 (PTI) The PNS n JAJPUR (ODISHA) threatening them with dire Jaishankar arrived on a surprise complex to meet the minister and they Indian Army has rescued 390 consequences, Jena said. visit to Kashmir on Monday people who were stranded at A 31-year-old teacher of a The matter came to the and met the relatives of those demanded that the Centre airlift them Sela Pass in Arunachal government-run school was fore on Friday after one of the people, including students, from Iran immediately Pradesh's Tawang district due arrested for allegedly raping girls told her mother that she who are stranded in Iran to heavy snowfall, a Defence two minor students repeated- will not go to school any- amidst coronavirus scare, offi- official said here on Monday. ly in Odisha's Jajpur district, more. When asked about the cials said. started & follow up arrange- industry who raised several The rescue operation was police said on Monday. reason, she narrated the inci- They said the Union minis- ments are being discussed with issues confronting the sector. carried out at an altitude of 14,000 feet on the intervening The teacher of an upper dent. After the school author- ter reached the valley on Iranian authorities. This is top Jaishankar then visited the nights of March 7 and 8, Tezpur primary school at Karada ities allegedly did not respond Monday morning and he will priority & Embassy team Regional Passport Office based Defence Spokesman Lt under Panikoili police station to the plea of the girl's father, take a briefing on the security @india_in_iran is fully Srinagar located in Boulevard Col Harsh Wardhan Pande said. was arrested on Sunday on he lodged a complaint against situation in the valley from a engaged on this," Jaishankar area of the city and took stock The rescued people were the basis of complaints filed the teacher with police on top Army commander here. wrote on Twitter. of its functioning. provided with immediate by the parents of the victims. Saturday night. Jaishankar met the relatives "Our Emb @India_in_Iran He will also visit Passport medical support and hot Ajaya Kumar Jena, Soon after, another man of those stranded, which continues to maintain close Seva Kendra in Baramulla dis- snacks. They have expressed Inspector In-charge of reached the police station include students and pilgrims contact w Indian fishermen in trict of north Kashmir, they their gratitude towards the Panikoili police station, said and complained that his from the Union Territory, at #Iran. No case of #COVID19 added. Army, he said. the part-time instructor was daughter too was sexually Kashmir International lift them from Iran immediate- be airlifted as soon as possible, reported among them. The minister will also get a Besides saving precious lives, accused of repeatedly raping abused by the same teacher. Convention Complex situated ly. they added. Ensuring that they have ade- briefing from General Officer the 16-hour-long operation in two class 6 students in the When contacted, Jajpur on the banks of Dal Lake here, The officials said the Union Jaishankar had on Sunday quate supplies. Will continue to Commanding of the Srinagar- sub-zero temperature, school premises after classes District Education Officer the officials said. minister briefed the families on said efforts were underway for monitor their welfare (sic)," he based 15 Corps over the secu- strengthened the bonhomie and were over on the pretext of Krushna Chandra Nayak said The officials said that over the steps being taken by the return of Indians stranded in said in another tweet. rity situation in the valley, the bonding between the Army and teaching them privately. an inquiry will be launched 100 relatives of those stranded Centre to bring back their Iran. The officials said that after officials said. the civilians, the spokesperson The man had forced the into the incident and allega- had gathered at the complex to loved ones. "Efforts underway for return meeting the families, the min- The minister will leave for added. two girls to enter into a phys- tions against the part-time meet the minister and they The minister assured the of Indian pilgrims in Qom ister interacted with some peo- Delhi in the late afternoon after ical relationship with him instructor. demanded that the Centre air- families that the people would #Iran. Screening process has ple associated with the tourism his Baramulla visit, they added.

MNS sets up RAJYA SABHA POLL shadow Maha cabinet Nominate Piyanka Gandhi from PNS n MUMBAI The Maharashtra Navnirman MP, demand Congress leaders Sena on Monday announced a Funds for east 'shadow cabinet' for the state, PNS n BHOPAL of Congress veteran Digvijaya DELHI VIOLENCE giving the 'tourism portfolio' to Members of a state's Legislative Singh, and BJP leaders Vidarbha cut, chief Raj Thackeray's son Amit, Amid infighting in the Assembly vote in the Rajya Sabha Prabhat Jha and Satyanarayan in the process pitting him Madhya Pradesh Congress elections. Ten Congress MLAs from Jatiya will end on April 9. claims Maha against state Tourism minister and allegations of poaching by As per the arithmetic in the Man held on charges and cousin Aaditya Thackeray. the BJP, some Congress lead- Madhya Pradesh went 'missing' last 230-member Madhya Pradesh BJP leader Amit's name as shadow ers have demanded that week. The party pointed fingers at the Assembly, the two parties are tourism minister, and 'law and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be BJP, which denied any role in it sure to win one Rajya Sabha PNS n NAGPUR of communal riots plot judiciary minister'. which pits nominated from the state for seat each and a tussle is like- the youngster against CM the upcoming Rajya Sabha ly for the third seat. Former Maharashtra minis- PNS n NEW DELHI tified as Mohd Danish, a res- Uddhav Thackeray, was anno- polls. While the Congress has ter and senior BJP leader ident of Trilokpuri area, they unced at the party's 14 Founda- Madhya Pradesh Chief PTI. facing "lot of crisis" these 114 MLAs, the opposition Chandrashekhar Bawankule A 33-year-old man, suspected said. The arrest was made by tion Day here by Raj Thacke- Minister Kamal Nath has left Former Union minister days as two of its MLAs are BJP has 107 legislators. on Monday alleged that the to be a member of the Popular the Special Cell of Delhi ray. The rivalry between Raj for New Delhi on Sunday Arun Yadav also demanded still 'missing, they said. Four Independent MLAs, Uddhav Thackeray govern- Front of India (PFI), was on Police. The PFI, which is an and Uddhav was part of the night to meet top Congress that Priyanka Gandhi, who is The Congress recently two lawmakers of the Bahujan ment had reduced funds of Monday arrested for alleged- alleged radical group, has state's political grapevine when leaders to discuss the current the Congress general secre- alleged that the BJP "abduct- Samaj Party and one legisla- six district planning commit- ly hatching a conspiracy to been accused of funding the former was with the Sena, political situation in the state tary, be nominated for the ed" some MLAs to bring tor of the Samajwadi Party are tees of east Vidarbha, which, incite the communal riots in protests against the and out in the open when he and nominations for the Rajya Upper House of Parliament down the Kamal Nath govern- supporting the Congress-led he claimed, would hit devel- northeast Delhi, police said. Citizenship Amendment Act walked to form the MNS on Sabha polls scheduled on from Madhya Pradesh. ment. state government. opment works. The accused has been iden- (CAA). March 9, 2006. March 26. During his Delhi However, the Two seats are vacant follow- Talking to reporters here, "Priyanka Gandhi visit, Kamal Nath BJP denied the ing the demise of a Congress he said the Maharashtra gov- should be nominat- will be meeting allegation, say- and a BJP legislator. ernment had reduced Nagpur ed by Congress for Congress presi- ing it has noth- Members of a state's DPC funds by Rs 125 crore in Injured after jeep set afire, man dies the Rajya Sabha seat dent Sonia ing to do with Legislative Assembly vote in the 2020-21 budget. from Madhya Gandhi and the develop- the Rajya Sabha elections. "The Nagpur DPC funds PNS n BIKANER accused stopped the jeep in accept his body unless the Pradesh. Once senior party ment, which it Ten Congress MLAs from were Rs 525 crore in 2019-20 which the four men were trav- accused are arrested. she arrives, leader Jyotiraditya claimed was Madhya Pradesh went 'miss- which has come down to Rs One of the two men who were elling and had set fire to the "The condition of Ajit Singh, many things Scindia, sources in the result of ing' last week. 400 crore in 2020-21. critically injured after their jeep vehicle after pouring petrol on who is admitted at the hospital, would settle the party said. "infighting" The party pointed fingers at Chandrapur which got Rs was set afire by miscreants here it in Nokha town over a dispute. is stable," the police said. down in The Congress-led among Congress the BJP, which denied any role 375 crore in 2019-20 has got died during treatment on Two of the men had received Primary investigation reveals Madhya government in leaders ahead of the in it. Rs 248 crore for 2020-21. Monday, police said. They said burn injuries. The police said that Ajit Singh and others had Pradesh," state Madhya Pradesh is Rajya Sabha elec- Since then, eight of the Bhandara, Gadchiroli and that 30-year-old Shanti Lal suc- that no one has been arrested so thrashed a man in Ugamsar vil- Public Works tions. 'missing' Congress MLAs have Gondia have seen fund cumbed to burn injuries at far and teams are trying to trace lage some time back and the Department The Rajya returned and expressed their reductions of Rs 31 crore, Rs PBM government hospital. them. Meanwhile, Lal's family accused wanted to take revenge Minister Sajjan Sabha support to the ruling party in 30 crore and Rs 10 crore On Sunday, seven or eight members said they will not for it. Singh Verma told terms the state. respectively," he said. HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020 op nion 06 www.dailypioneer.com facebook.com/dailypioneer | @TheDailyPioneer | instagram.com/dailypioneer/ PAPER WITH PASSION Stop the virus We need to activate our existing flu surveillance programmes to check its spread at the community level A re-run of past follies ithout setting off a panic, India has undoubtedly mounted a preventive Not learning from past mistakes, when it had to return to Afghanistan in 2001 to take on its Wprotocol and self-imposed curfews to halt the Coronavirus. Since the Wuhan out- break in neighbouring China, the containment own Frankenstein monster, the Taliban, the US has again signed a peace pact with it has meant that large numbers of infected returnees have been tracked and their circle of contacts tapped into. Even then, what is wor- risome is the rapid spread of the infection by each host with overnight occurrences going up from six to 30 and now 40. It is just not Kerala, suspected cases are popping up from every corner, be it Ladakh or Tamil Nadu and in multiple cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Patna. That shows the possibility of the host, BHOPINDER SINGH who may have cleared the routine test but maybe incubating the virus for a fort- night while being asymptomatic, unknowingly infecting many people in a domi- eporting from the Afghan front- lines, 22-year-old cavalry officer no effect. India, being the second most populated country in the world, faces and war correspondent Winston surveillance challenges because of this “bleed into the crowd” inevitability. The Churchill had talked about the other risk factor is behavioural; Indians rarely voluntarily subject themselves to bravery of the Pathan warriors: “TheirR swordsmanship — neglecting guards checks, scans and quarantine and there have been cases of suspected patients — concerns itself only with cuts and care- fleeing isolation wards. That’s why the penalty for failure to report on arrival is less of what injury they may receive, they a welcome move. Right now, the threat has percolated from the outside. Once devote themselves to the destruction of their opponents.” However, the warrior-scholar it spreads in the community internally, one wouldn’t know where to set up the was far less charitable with the “mullah” barriers amid a wildfire. Even zonal shutdowns won’t work in dense and inter- among the Pathans: “Their holy men — the active clusters, be it markets or places of religious gathering such as temples, mullahs — prize as chief privilege, a sort of droit de seigneur (right of the lord). It is mosques and churches. All of these are porous to transmission because reli- impossible to imagine a lower type of being gious tourism is high and faith-based practices are difficult to negotiate. ISKCON, or a more dreadful state of barbarism.” though, given its largely international footprint, has advised foreigners from the The Afghan wastelands, which were immortalised for hosting the fictionalised Coronavirus-affected countries not to visit for two months as a precautionary “great game” by novelist Rudyard Kipling, measure. We may have to limit influx at our tourist hotspots, which usually reg- actually live up to their literary billing. The ister high footfalls and revenue this time of the year. Both the religious and tourism barren swathes of the unforgiving heights of the Hindu Kush mountain ranges to the economies around the world, including Mecca, Vatican and even Tibet, have taken Wakhan panhandle have witnessed the a hit but are restricting events to avoid mass congregations. unquenched ambitions of various empires In such a scenario, we have to work on an original template that’s practical — from the Persians to the Greeks, Mongol, Turkic, Mughals, Qajars, Tsarist, British to and manageable. Our public healthcare system doesn’t have the efficiency of the erstwhile Soviets in the 1980s. The edifice of the so-called peace between warring factions, with- release Talibani prisoners. China but we do have a record in defeating polio, taming the swine flu in 2009 bloody graveyard of empires was exempli- hope is predicated on the com- drawal of its troops (exactly the Ghani’s comments that, and confining the deadly Nipah virus. The National Polio Surveillance Project, a fied by the retreating British forces from plete disownment and U-turn of same terms as in the latest “the Government of Kabul, when only one out of 18,500 soldiers Talibani behaviour, conduct Afghan peace treaty), effec- Afghanistan has made no com- collaboration between the Government and the WHO, already has a grid for com- made it out of the ferocious Afghan tribes- and ideology — from their his- tively leaving the depleted US- mitment to free 5,000 Taliban munity surveillance and contact testing, both of which can be activated aggres- men, who slaughtered the contingent of the torically violent, sworn intran- supported faction to fend for prisoners” and further clarifica- sively to contain the virus. Authorities say health workers contacted nearly 450 then most powerful military in the world. sigence and without any hard survival. Expectedly and with- tion that the US could not take people, who had been in touch with five Indians who tested positive in three States. Yet again, arguably the most powerful commitment to reform itself. in a few months, the US-sup- unilateral decisions on its behalf empire in the world today, the US, has suc- The Ashraf Ghani THE US FOLLOWS ported South Vietnamese forces by stating that, “it is not in the We also have an influenza surveillance programme, which covers four types of cumbed to the irascible, uncontrollable and Government in Kabul has been THE USUAL were slaughtered. authority of the US to decide, flu viruses. This is usually conducted and executed through medical colleges fierce warriors of the region, albeit under a mute, unengaged and side- PRETENCE OF While accepting the surren- it is only a facilitator”, augurs a that screen flu patients. This programme, experts say, can be used to do ran- the cover of a pact, “Agreement for Bringing lined spectator in the entire der, North Vietnamese Colonel bleak future. Peace to Afghanistan.” After suffering over process and is hopelessly left to LEAVING THE Bui Tin rubbished the so-called In 1989, the US had stalled dom community checks. Since COVID-19 infections begin mild, the quick diag- 2,400 American combat fatalities (addition- fend for itself as the American “peace deal” provisions and all overtures, invitations and nostics approach could work in identification. Of course, the disease is a good al 1,100 NATO soldiers) and with over soldiers extricate themselves. SITUATION TO THE asserted, “Between Vietnamese, concessions by the then wake-up call for animal food safety, preservation and processes, be it in dairy, 20,660 men injured, the longest war in the This withdrawal from the con- LOCALS TO there are no victors and no van- Mohammad Najibullah regime US’ modern history (over 18 years since flict zone follows an unmistak- quished. Only the Americans and persisted with the jihadi fisheries or poultry. Population pressures mean that we are increasingly getting 2001), and burning over a two trillion dol- able pattern with the US unilat- ‘HANDLE THEIR have been beaten.” Today, Kabul mujahideen, the forbears of closer to the possibility of an intra-species jump of viruses. According to esti- lar in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, US erally bolting out from a precar- DESTINY.’ stares at a similar deal with an the present-day Taliban. mates by the Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, 72 billion ani- President Donald Trump signed an osten- ious situation — it had done so irreconcilable terror organisa- Washington, DC, had wrongly sible “peace deal” with the Afghan Taliban. earlier from this very region in SUBSEQUENT tion that is not even monolith- punted on the Inter-Services mals (chicken, poultry, cattle and goats) are killed each year but they all have The deal was inked from the Taliban the late 1980s; in Iraq after EVENTS HAVE ic or unified in control and has Intelligence-supported extrem- the potential to transmit new viruses to us. An epidemic can swamp us in days. side by its co-founder, Mullah Ghani removing Saddam Hussein; in a dubious track record of shift- ist forces and paid a bloody A preventive drill needs to be put in place rather than waiting for positive or neg- Baradar, who is described as a typical “old- Libya after eliminating ALWAYS BEEN ing loyalties among its warlords price by supporting a puritan- fashioned Pashtun tribal head.” The Taliban, Muammar al-Gaddafi; in EVEN MORE — the portents are ominous. ical ideology that would haunt ative test results, some of which have to be conducted over several rounds. For which has been the principal terror organ- Lebanon after the 1983 Beirut Almost immediately, the it in the near future. example, some experts suggest that diagnosis could begin with chest scans that isation in Afghanistan, responsible for barracks bombings; in Somalia CHAOTIC, FILLED obviousness of the “face saving” By 2001, the US had reveal a pattern of pneumonia similar to the Coronavirus. This could speed up over 157,000 deaths (as per research from and in Vietnam among others. instrument that afforded the returned to Afghanistan to take the Cost of War Project at Brown It follows the usual pretence of WITH VIOLENCE, Americans to cut-and-run is on its own Frankenstein mon- identification and treatment protocols and arrest criticality of the disease in advanced University), has incredulously been leaving the situation to the BLOODSHED, proving true. Within days of the ster, now called the Taliban. The stages. This assumes significance in view of a warning by a leading epidemi- promised that it would work along with locals to “handle their destiny.” so-called “peace deal”, brazen then President, George Bush, ologist at the University of Hong Kong that COVID-19 could infect 60 per cent other members of the United Nations Subsequent events have always CAPITULATION violations by the Taliban includ- had famously said, “As a result Security Council to “remove members of been even more chaotic, filled AND TAKE-OVER ed a wave of ferocious attacks, of the US military, the Taliban of the globe if left unchecked. Also given the better resistance of Indians to the the Taliban from the sanctions list with the with violence, bloodshed, capit- forcing the US to make “defen- is no longer in existence.” He flu virus in general, milder infections can be taken care of with a home quaran- aim of achieving this objective by May 29, ulation and take-over by BY EXTREMIST sive” air strikes against the was clearly wrong and the pre- tine, freeing up hospitals for critical patients. We need massive information dis- 2020.” extremist forces. FORCES Taliban in the Helmand sent President has again signed semination down to the anganwadi and panchayat networks and have to be con- The weakly worded and vacuous In an eerily similar situation province — hardly reassuring of another deal with the historical- Afghan “peace deal” that is inherently lop- from the past history, when the the road ahead. While Trump ly untrustworthy Taliban. fident rather than be overwhelmed. An inter-State mitigation plan should be set sided in favour of the Talibanis — with mea- US had tired from the unend- spoke about his “good talks” History is deemed to repeat into motion so that undeserved areas do not become potential time bombs. We surable deliverables from the US and vague ing and inconclusive fighting in with the Taliban leader Baradar, itself. must have a targetted yet decentralised approach before the virus mutates mon- generalities in the form of Talibani deliver- Vietnam, it signed a “peace expected fissures erupted with (The writer, a military vet- ables — is telling in terms of who had the agreement” entailing a ceasefire, the Afghan President Ashraf eran, is a former Lt Governor of strously. upper hand in the negotiations. The entire release of prisoners, talks Ghani rejecting the demand to Andaman & Nicobar Islands) When yes became no! S O U N D BITE I really felt for Shafali It’s humbling that industry China's contribution bought The Government is prepared The Government may have saved Yes Bank and prevented Verma at the end. It was stalwarts are trusting me to be precious time for the internation- to deal with novel tough seeing her in tears a part of their projects. It adds al community to enhance Coronavirus. We are sending a run on banks but public confidence is at an all-time low but she should be very to the responsibility but I'm preparedness. Pompeo's attempt directives, including guide- he Government-inspired rescue plan for proud of the way she’s grateful that they are making to smear China's epidemic lines, to States in all the lan- Yes Bank, which calls upon the State performed in Australia. me a part of their vision. response will never succeed. guages on ways to contain it. TBank of India (SBI) to buy up to 49 per Former pacer Actor Chinese official Union Minister cent of its stake besides making an initial —Brett Lee —Bhumi Pednekar —Geng Shuang —Harsh Vardhan investment of upto `2,450 crore, appears to have saved the investors and even equity hold- ers to a certain degree but has ruined bond L E T T E R S T O TH E EDITOR holders. While the crisis has led to serious Rescue plan non-performing asset (NPA) cri- questions being asked about how the bonds An economic blunder in the making sis is still brewing. Regulatory were sold by bankers, the depositors have laws need to be tightened to been breathing a sigh of relief. Still, there are Sir — This refers to the editori- his refers to the editorial, “Train wreck” (March 7). ensure the recovery of bad loans. several unanswered questions surrounding al, “Train wreck” (March 7). In the recent past, many institutions like IDBI Bank, Interest rates on fixed What a huge fall from grace it has TIL&FS, Dewan Housing Finance Corporation and deposits are at an all-time low. the collapse of Yes Bank. At least the authorities were able to lure co-founder been for Yes Bank, which started Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank among oth- Despite this, people opt for banks and former boss Rana Kapoor back to Indian shores before he could run away its operations in 2004. Since ers, have struggled to survive. The latest entry is that to invest. Given the state of affairs then, it has followed an aggressive of Yes Bank. Like other failed institutions, Yes Bank, too, today, it’s important not just to to the den of criminals and conmen, London. It is possible that Kapoor’s ques- approach to attract customers. had shifted depositors’ funds into the money chests of restore people’s faith in the bank- tioning will reveal why and what he did and who he worked in cahoots with From offering lower interest rates a favoured few, who, as was to be expected, defaulted. ing system but also revive the to perpetuate the fraud allegedly conducted by him. But the image of Indian to funding credit disbursements To recall, in the days after demonetisation, when demand already stressed economy. banks, both public and private, has taken a huge hit in the light of Yes Bank’s through both deposits and bond for credit had plunged, Yes Bank seemed to be lending Devendra Khurana issues, it broke all norms followed to a fever pitch unmindfully. It is now known that of the Bhopal collapse. This came close on the heels of the failure of the Punjab and by other banks. It wasn’t surpris- `2.45 lakh crore lent, about `0.45 lakh crore have turned Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC Bank) a few months ago. While the Yes ing then that its business figures into non-performing assets (NPAs). Risking lives Bank story played out in slow motion, it appears that elements both within the rose at a much higher rate than During a press conference, Finance Minister Nirmala advocated privatisation of the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) others and it became the darling Sitharaman dwelt at length about the steps taken by her to steady the stumbling economy. As if to strengthen bank and outside tried to scupper any rescue deal being structured without for stock investors. Government to steady the bank. While lauding her their arguments, NPAs in the PSBs — loans defaulted Sir — In the wake of more than Kapoor retaining a modicum of control. This was likely done to provide a pro- But within almost a year, it hit Government for launching a strict “vigil”, she blamed the willfully/otherwise — kept mounting in the last five years. 40 confirmed cases of tective shield to the kickbacks that were paid to firms linked with Kapoor and one roadblock after the other and previous UPA Government for the disaster. Carefully, she The demand for haircuts and write-offs, ostensibly to Coronavirus in India, the Prime could not come to terms with the avoided saying anything about the defaulting borrowers regain health, too, grew steadily. The protagonists of pri- Minister should have called for a his family in lieu of loans being issued to companies whose profile would have harsh reality. Banking is not and the actions initiated to book them. Indications abound, vatisation of PSBs are silent these days. Surprisingly, ban on mass gatherings today. scared away even the most bullish of bankers. Yes Bank continued to provide rocket science, which involves too the State Bank of India (SBI) has turned proactive to the financial institutions owned by the Government are Holi is a festival of joy and social- credit to some deeply distressed firms. much technological knowledge; acquire 49 per cent of its shares for about `2,450 crore in a scurry to absorb the failing private sector banks and ising but this year, it poses a dead- one just needs to take calculated and has earmarked funds of `10,000 crore. The Reserve other financial institutions. Are we, yet again, on a nation- ly threat to public health. A sin- That said, it is important for private depositors and large corporate account risks after assessing them and Bank of India (RBI), too, has expressed readiness to alisation spree? gle person with the disease holders to maintain a level of confidence in Indian banking. The Ministry of Finance mitigant in credit proposals. But advance about `10,000 crore to improve its liquidity. Haridasan Rajan attending a Holi gathering can and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have to make the right noises. A probe by in the last one-and-a-half decade, Interestingly, since long, many had vociferously Kozhikode cause a crisis that affects many. banking has also seen cut throat Enjoyment cannot come at the the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is underway. But this isn’t sufficient to competition, especially in the cost of lives. reassure the depositors that they are trying their best. Criminal charges have to private space. Yes Bank was not restructuring plan by April 3, we Restore people’s faith disturbing that banks, which are Reshma be framed against those bankers found guilty of corruption and fraud. At the same an exception to this. hope the transition will be as considered to be the safest place Via email Now that the Reserve Bank of smooth as possible. for parking savings, are running time, cash deposits in automated teller machines and bank branches must be India (RBI) has asked the State Bal Govind Sir — This refers to the editori- into trouble again and again. Send your feedback to: made available so that everyone knows that their money is safe. Bank of India (SBI) to submit a Noida al, “Train wreck” (March 7). It is This is signal enough that the [email protected] HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020

www.dailypioneer.com analysis 07 FIRSTCOLUMN Challenge POINTCOUNTERPOINT EVERY FINANCIAL CRIME IN INDIA HAS DEEP LINKS WHY DID THE (YES BANK) LOAN BOOK RISE BY 100 the old order WITH THE GANDHIS. RANA KAPOOR BOUGHT PER CENT IN TWO YEARS AFTER DEMONETISATION? PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA'S PAINTINGS. WERE THE PM AND FM SLEEPING OR COMPLICIT? It would be presumptuous to think that the Aurat —BJP'S IT WING IN-CHARGE —CONGRESS SPOKESPERSON march will cause a major change in the lives of Pakistani women. But it is a step in the right direction AMIT MALVIYA ABHISHEK MANU SINGHVI End the chemical epidemic MARKANDEY KATJU The P and K nutrients supplied by non-urea fertilisers are as vital as N supplied maan mujhe roke hai, jo khenche hai mujhe kufr. Kaaba merey peeche hai, kaleesa merey age,” goes a couplet by the renowned poet Mirza by urea. Yet, India is facing an increasing imbalance in the NPK use ratio IGhalib. We in the Indian subcontinent are living in a transitional era. The passage from a feudal agricultural society to a modern industrial one. At present, we are neither totally feudal nor modern but somewhere in between. A transitional era is a very painful period in society, full of tur- bulence and strife. If we read the history of Europe when it was pass- ing through its transition from feudal to modern society, that is roughly from the 16th to the 18th centuries, we find that this period was full of turmoil, wars, revolutions, chaotic conditions, intellectual ferment and so on. It was only after going through this fire that modern society emerged in Europe. The Indian subcontinent is presently going through this fire. We are going through a very painful period in our history, which I guess will last another 15-20 years ( it won’t last 300 years, as it did in Europe, UTTAM GUPTA because the pace of history has speeded up in view of technical advances). For what is a historic transition? It is a period when the old society is or decades, farmers in India have been being totally uprooted and torn apart. Can this happen peacefully? One resorting to indiscriminate and excessive use wishes it could but historical experience shows otherwise. The vested Fof chemical fertilisers such as nitrogen (N), interests in the old order always put up a fierce resistance to any funda- phosphate (P) and potash (K) besides a host of mental change in the existing social and political order as they feel their secondary and micro-nutrients. This is leading to deterioration in soil health, an adverse impact interests may be endangered thereby. on the environment and imperiling public One feature of a transitional era is a clash of values. Every social health. The mother soil is the repository of these order has its moral and social code, which is destroyed in a great upheaval nutrients and the precise quantum in any given and replaced by another code. But in the intervening period, that is, in location depends on their stock to begin with, the transitional era, while old values are being challenged and eroded i.e. when farmers started cultivating the land (say (for instance the caste system, religious fundamentalism, arranged mar- 100 years ago or even earlier), addition from riages and so on) new values have not yet been put in their place. The application of chemical fertilisers (or organic whole of society becomes topsy-turvey. As Shakespeare said in Macbeth, manure) and their uptake by the crops grown. “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” In other words, what was regarded good By conducting a soil analysis, it should be pos- earlier (like the caste system and arranged marriages) is being regard- sible to find out the stock of each nutrient viz. “N”, “P”, “K” and so on. ed outdated by the enlightened sections of society (who are against the Juxtaposed with the requirement for grow- caste system and in favour of love marriages). ing a particular crop, the farmer can deduce how A STUDY BY THE The same is happening in the Indian subcontinent. Modern mind- much of each nutrient needs to be supplied exter- HYDERABAD-BASED ed people are challenging casteism, communalism, superstitions, and nally albeit from chemical fertilisers (or not to NATIONAL feudal beliefs and practices. The Aurat (woman) march and its opposi- be applied at all, a scenario when the soil itself INSTITUTE OF tion, the Haya (modesty) march, must be seen in this historical context. is in a position to meet all the requirements for AGRICULTURAL While the former represents a progressive force in history which seeks uptake by the crops). But, this procedure is rarely EXTENSION to emancipate women and take society forward, the latter represents a followed, which causes a serious mismatch, lead- Considering that the study covers Based Scheme (NBS). The cost of feedstock supply — non-urea fertilis- ing to either deficient or excessive use of a given MANAGEMENT, a fraction of farmers, one wonders transportation (it includes primary ers have been at the receiving end. Their reactionary force, which wants to preserve the status quo in society, that COVERING 3,184 is, the feudal values of patriarchy and subordination of women to men. nutrient. whether these results are truly represen- movement by rail from the plant and woes are further exacerbated by high There is excessive use of urea — a dominant FARMERS tative of all cultivators in the States con- secondary movement from the unload- dependence on imports (100 per cent Mirza Ghalib’s couplet, quoted at the beginning of this article, depicts source of ‘N’ vis-à-vis complex fertilisers such as CULTIVATING cerned. Assuming that this is the case ing rake point by road to the retailer) in K and nearly 90 per cent in P) and this situation. In that sher, as in much of Urdu poetry, words are not to diammonium phosphate (DAP) the main source COTTON, PADDY and even if the reduction in use of is reimbursed to urea manufacturers resultant exploitation by global cartels be interpreted literally but metaphorically or figuratively. The word “kaaba” of ‘P’ and muriate of potash (MOP), the main AND SOYBEAN chemical fertilisers by up to 10 per cent under a uniform freight policy. On the by way of charging a high price. This in it represents feudal society, while the word “kaleesa” represents mod- source of ‘K’. This has led to an increasing imbal- ACROSS 199 (as per the NPC study) was entirely in other hand, manufacturers of decon- discrimination has persisted for close ern society. Ghalib wants us to reject feudalism and move forward to a ance in the NPK use ratio. On an all-India basis, VILLAGES IN 16 urea use, this is nowhere near the tar- trolled complex fertilisers like MOP to three decades following their decon- modern society. The transitional era in history is also depicted in a mar- currently this ratio is 6.7:2.4:1 against an ideal STATES, get of a 50 per cent cut set by the (excluding SSP) get reimbursement of trol in 1992, even as urea remained vel of condensation in the following sher of Firaq Gorakhpuri. “Har zarre 4:2:1 with the attendant adverse effect on crop SHOWED THAT Government for itself. freight cost only towards primary under control with disproportionately- par ek kaifiyat-e-neemshabi hai. Ai saaqi-e-dauraan yeh gunaahon ki ghadi yield, health of soil and humans. This has even In the backdrop of the World Soil movement on the basis of actual rail high subsidy all through. The P and K pushed some States on the brink of a chemical AGRICULTURALISTS Day on December 5, 2017, while deliv- freight, as per the Railway receipts. nutrients supplied by non-urea fertilis- hai.” Here the expression “kaifiyat-e-neemshabi” indicates that we are WHO APPLIED living in an era which is neither night nor day but somewhere in between. epidemic. For instance, in Punjab, where per ering his Mann Ki Baat radio address, Thus, the manufacturers/importers ers are as important as N supplied by hectare fertiliser use is higher than the nation- FERTILISERS AND the Prime Minister said, “Can our farm- of decontrolled complex fertilisers, urea. Merely because, the Government In other words, the old social order is partially gone but the new order al average, chemicals have found their way into NUTRIENTS AS PER ers take a pledge to reduce urea use by MOP and SSP receive a stepmotherly decided to decontrol non-urea fertilis- is not yet in place. Also, the expression “gunaahon ki ghadi” means it the soil, ground water, the food chain and are RECOMMENDATIONS half by 2022? If, they promise to use less treatment vis-à-vis manufacturers of ers even while retaining urea under is an age of sins. Sins against what? Sins against the old (feudal) code. identified as a key factor responsible for cancer WRITTEN ON THEIR urea in agriculture, the fertility of the “controlled” urea. In case of complex control, does not render the former any For instance, the old code required one to marry within one’s own caste in the State. To arrest this trend, in February 2015, SOIL HEALTH CARDS land will increase and the lives of farm- ones (MOP/SSP), even as the less important. Yet, it is this flawed per- and religion and to someone arranged by one’s parents. But the enlight- the Modi Government launched the National Soil REDUCED ers will start improving.” Government normally keeps the sub- ception in the minds of our policymak- ened sections in society are challenging this. The old code required a Health Programme (NSHP) under which it dis- CULTIVATION This is not to suggest that the sidy unchanged, increase in the cost ers that has contributed to the present woman to accept her status as inferior to that of men and always obey tributed soil health cards (SHCs) to over 140 mil- COSTS BY NSHP can’t play a potent role in guid- leads to an ever-increasing MRP. In mess. The SHC can, at best, guide the the husband but now many women, such as those who participated in lion farmers. Growers are encouraged to test their ing farmers towards a balanced fertilis- sharp contrast, it keeps the MRP of urea farmers on proper fertiliser use but it soil every two years in State-run mobile and vil- FOUR PER CENT er use. While, the Government should at a low level (the current price `5,360 can do little to stem the opposite the Aurat march, are challenging this and demand equality with men. TO 10 PER CENT It would be presumptuous to think that the Aurat march by itself will lage-station laboratories. The laboratories analyse continue with the scheme, it needs to per tonne is more or less the same as impact of flawed policies. the soil on various nutrients including secondary AND INCREASED attend to an overarching factor that lies it was nearly 20 years ago) even as all These glaring anomalies can be cause a fundamental change in the lives of Pakistani women. That will and micro-nutrients and then the SHCs offer cus- THEIR NET INCOMES at the root of the increasing imbalance. escalations in cost are absorbed by addressed by dismantling controls on only happen after a revolution, which is many years ahead and will only tomised recommendations on fertiliser use. BETWEEN This has to do primarily with the pol- increasing subsidy. MRP and the existing system of rout- be attained after a long, arduous struggle against the reactionary ele- According to a study by the National 30 PER CENT icy environment with regard to the pric- This results in disproportionately ing subsidy through manufacturers ments, in which tremendous sacrifices have to be made. But Aurat march Productivity Council (NPC) which was carried TO 40 PER CENT ing and availability of each of the fer- low MRP of urea vis-a-vis that of com- for both urea and non-urea fertilisers. marks an awakening of women, without which no revolution is possi- out in 76 districts, spanning 19 States and cov- tiliser types. To make fertilisers afford- plex fertilisers, prompting farmers to Instead, give subsidy directly to farm- ble (like the march to Versailles of the Paris women in October 1789, or ered 1,700 farmers, growers have cut the use of able to farmers, the Centre controls use more of the former and less of the ers via the direct benefit transfer mode. the demonstrations of the women of St Petersburg on International chemical fertilisers by up to 10 per cent. Further, their maximum retail price (MRP) at latter. The discrimination against com- With this, the grower will be Women’s Day in Russia which culminated in the February Revolution productivity has gone up between five per cent a low level unrelated to their cost of pro- plex fertilisers and MOP is also evident empowered in the true sense and will of 1917). Hence it is of historical significance. No doubt some serious and six per cent on assessed crops, resulting in duction and distribution, which is way in their not getting freight subsidy on be free to use subsidy for buying fer- mistakes were made in it, like giving the slogan “mera jism, meri marzi higher farm incomes. Another study by the higher. The excess of cost over MRP is secondary movement to retail point tiliser types needed by the soil that Hyderabad-based National Institute of reimbursed to the manufacturer as sub- (manufacturers of SSP don’t even get would be based on the recommenda- (my body, my wish)” which is liable to be misconstrued and gave ammu- Agricultural Extension Management (NIAEM) sidy. In the case of urea, the subsidy primary freight for movement from tion embedded in the SHC. There could nition to reactionary elements opposed to women’s emancipation like covering 3,184 farmers cultivating cotton, paddy varies from unit to unit and is admin- plant to railhead) as also in denial of not be a better way of reining in Maulana Rehman to create public opinion against the march. But mis- and soybean across 199 villages in 16 States, istered under the New Pricing Scheme natural gas, the feedstock used for mak- excess fertiliser use and reducing the takes are made in every progressive movement. The important thing is showed that agriculturalists who applied fertilis- (NPS) whereas for decontrolled com- ing of ammonia — an intermediate imbalance in the NPK ratio. Modi to learn from them and correct them. I am sure my brave sisters of Pakistan ers and nutrients as per recommendations writ- plex fertilisers, MOP and single super- used in manufacture of complex fertilis- should use his political capital to crack will do it. Long live the progressive Aurat march. Down with the reac- ten on their SHCs reduced cultivation costs by phosphate (SSP), a “uniform” subsidy ers — to their plants. In short, in almost the whip on this long-pending reform. tionary Haya march. four to 10 per cent and increased their net fixed on per nutrient basis is given to every aspect, be it subsidy support, (The writer is a New Delhi-based (The writer is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India) incomes between 30 to 40 per cent. all manufacturers under the Nutrient reimbursement of movement cost or policy analyst) Trees give life to life-giving Ganga Forests are the most significant players in the life of a river and their health, density and composition are vital for maintaining its food web. Hence, in any Ganga restoration plan, the role of trees has to be appreciated and should be an integral component the Ganga River Basin Management food web of the river. It is the food web different forest types also have an to address forest management under ed and under construction in the high of water, land and forest resources and Plan, it is a dying river. of the river that makes it vibrant and impact on the degree of water reten- varied conditions of terrain, climate, biodiversity regions of the Indian also sensitising decision-makers and So what has made the Ganga a living. Hence, in any river restoration tion. For instance, coniferous forests geology and hydrology. Himalayas will result in the submer- building community awareness so toxic, extremely polluted, threatened plan, the role of trees has to be appre- retain more than 10 per cent more than People have observed that when- gence of 54,117 hectares of forests. This that a location-specific sound policy river? Broadly, anyone can count the ciated and should be an integral com- mixed forests. ever there has been a loss of tree cover, will not only submerge many biodiver- can be formulated along with effective factors on their fingertips: Inadequate ponent. Out of the 8,51,475 sq km of Though extensive research has perennial streams have oscillation sity hotspots it will seriously alter the application of regulations. . ecological flow; impact of human the Ganga basin, only 5.6 per cent con- been carried out on various aspect of between dry river beds and floods. habitat by changing the depth and So far, the rejuvenation of the activities that add to its toxicity; over- stitutes dense forest, the rest of the the river, most of these studies have Why does this happen? The leaves of duration of water in the remaining Ganga is dominated by engineers extraction of biological and other landscape comprises open forests, limitations because the Ganga has trees intercept a proportion of the rain. areas along the dams. and bureaucrats. River ecology was rel- BKP SINHA material; degradation or death of mangroves or shrubs. The function of never been observed for a long peri- That which falls on the ground, loses The assessment of the impact of atively a non-focussed, unapplied linked water-bodies; disappearance of forests ceases to be effective if densi- od of time. Hence, data are skewed, its momentum and its erosive power urbanisation that results in increased instrument kept aside. Serious gaps in f the Ganga dies, India dies,” says riparian vegetation; poor health of ty falls below 40 per cent. There is of sparse or point at spatial coverage. This is considerably reduced. The inter- flow variability, extreme channelisation ecological research, the management Vandana Shiva, a prominent scien- basin catchment or draining streams; course some mention of trees in the is particularly true regarding its ecol- stices within the soil created by roots of nutrients, toxic chemical invasion of the river to revive its ecology and Itist, campaigner and an environ- dying springs and the multiplicity of detailed project report but so far it has ogy. The Ganga is a living identity and provide ample room for water absorp- of biota and decreasing stream vege- to restore its ecological integrity, are mental activist. The Ganga basin cov- institutions dealing with different remained a non-starter. it has its own cleansing mechanism tion and storage. Thus, the trees, tation cover are also not available for great stumbling blocks, preventing ers more than a million square kilo- dimensions of the river and the river- For augmenting the ecological and ecology. through their roots allow the rest to various locations. management of the Ganga on ecolog- meters and deposits sediments which scape. flow of the Ganga, catchment reforesta- The 1995 records of the Forest enter the soil slowly to increase the But the real challenge facing the ical principles. It is seldom appreciat- are more than a kilometer deep in The Ganga has three distinct tion/enrichment of at least 7.40 mil- Survey of India show that 85 per cent groundwater table. It also reduces the country is the managerial knowledge ed that the Ganga is an ecosystem that some places. These are a boon for zones, the upper catchment, the mid- lion sq km should be a high priority. of river basins are devoid of any for- run-off to retard its power of soil ero- and expertise of field foresters, land has its own cleansing mechanism crops in North India and Bangladesh. dle part and the deep lower reaches. The Ganga basin is diverse in its geol- est cover. While the headwater tribu- sion. The relationship between water managers and those managing the that allows it to function efficiently. Based on historical evidence, until the All these zones have their own aute- ogy, climate and in its aquatic ecolo- taries of the Ganga, like the Bhagirathi and forests is complex and in the water resources. Also absent on the However, for that to happen, its eco- early 19th century, the bank of the river cology. But in all these parts the sur- gy but in every zone, trees have a key and Alaknanda still support a few absence of research on river ecology ground is the integrated symbiotic logical integrity must be maintained, Ganga teemed with wildlife, including rounding landscapes are key players role to play. Various experiments and stretches of good riparian forest cover, and lack of scientific data, the manage- approach reflecting the absence of which includes ecological processes dolphins. The Arthashastra of Kautilya that influence the river’s ecosystem and studies have shown that any water sub- these forests almost disappear down- ment of Ganga on its ecological prin- effective institution. Water managers such as production, decomposition, mentions that the banks of the Ganga its integrity. To make the ecological basin which has a forest cover of more stream. This can be attributed main- ciples has not seen the light of day. and foresters need to maximise the nutrient dynamics and movement of were covered by forests full of wildlife, cleansing mechanism effective, the tree than 30 per cent retained 25 per cent ly to agriculture, which has been the Further, regulation of rivers by multifaceted forest benefits without biota. Thus, the good health of the river including herds of wild elephants. cover has to be restored in the catch- more water than basins with lower cov- dominant land use in the Gangetic construction of dams and reservoirs, adversely impacting the quality and refers to fully-functional unstressed Ganga is the lifeline of India in view ment and riparian regions. erage. In sub-basins where the forest plains for centuries and has affected the logging, grazing, mining, water extrac- quantity of flow and the function of the river ecosystems and a healthy river has of its economic, ecological, historical, They are the most significant cover is over 70 per cent, water- green cover and polluted the river. The tion and tourism have all deteriorat- ecosystem of the river. Therefore, to high resilience to recover from stress cultural and spiritual imperatives, yet, players in the life of a river and their retention is 50 per cent more than the relationship between trees and water ed riparian forests. According to a address this challenge there is a dire induced by disturbances. despite the national restoration pro- health, density and composition are sub-basin where forest cover is only 10 is quite intricate and requires sound study by Pandit and Grumbine, around need for deeper understanding and (The writer is a retired IFS officer grammes, the Ganga Action Plan and most important for maintaining the per cent. The study has also found that skill, knowledge and field experience 300 dams proposed to be construct- integration of policies for management and Advisor, Amity University) HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020 money 08

CAPSULE CRUDE MELTDOWN ‘Investors' total AT-1 No impact on current order book, reveals Welspun Corp bond exposure to PNS n NEW DELHI banks at Rs 93K-cr’ Notwithstanding the sudden Asian markets Chalasani Venkat meltdown in crude oil prices PNS n MUMBAI Nageswar named in the international market, collapse as oil The report comes two days after IndusInd DMD, CFO of SBI Welspun Corp Ltd on Investors have total bets of Bank virtually dropped a plan for the issue Monday said the company prices crash, over Rs 93,000 crore on the of the AT-1 bonds by deferring a board meet NEW DELHI: State Bank of has no impact whatsoever on additional tier-I bonds in India on Monday said its current order book which virus Indian banks and a complete following the Yes Bank package by RBI, Chalasani Venkat Nageswar stands at Rs 8,484 crore. HONG KONG: Equity markets write-down proposed in the implementation of which is set to erode has been given additional Crude oil prices plunged collapsed Monday as the Yes Bank restructuring may investments charge of deputy managing nearly 30 per cent to USD rapidly spreading coronavirus lead to risk aversion, accord- director and chief financial 32.11 per barrel after top fans fears over the global ing to a report by domestic officer (CFO) of the bank. exporter Saudi Arabia economy, while a crash in oil rating agency Icra. issuances and also 2022-23. The reduc- "Chalasani Venkat Nageswar, launched a price war in prices added to the panic with The report comes two days the investor base tion in the risk Deputy Managing Director, response to a failure by lead- energy firms taking a after IndusInd Bank virtually for future appetite for International Banking Group, ing producers to strike a deal hammering and wiping dropped a plan for the issue of issuances will investors will be has been given additional to support energy markets. GULF STOCKS NOSEDIVE hundreds of billions off the AT-1 bonds by deferring take a beating constraining charge of deputy managing In a regulatory filing the DUBAI: Stock markets in the energy-rich Gulf states nosedived at valuations. As the deadly a board meet following the Yes because of the banks from director and CFO with company said that the sudden the start of trading Monday after oil prices crashed amid a price war disease claims more lives Bank package by the Reserve move, it said. A rolling over these immediate effect till further meltdown in the oil prices in in the global market. Kuwait's Premier index tumbled 9.5 per cent around the world, dealers are Bank of India (RBI), imple- total of Rs bonds by exercis- orders," the country's largest the international market was and trading was suspended, while Dubai Financial Market dropped fleeing out of riskier assets mentation of which is set to 93,669 crore of ing call option and lender said in a filing to the due to certain geo-political 9.0 per cent and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange shedded 7.1 per and into safe havens, sending erode investments. AT-1 bonds is out- fresh issuance, it said. BSE. SBI stock was trading at realignment. cent. Oil prices crashed at the opening on Monday after OPEC and gold and the yen surging and As part of the SBI-led standing as on date In such an event, and Rs 259.35, down 4.10 per "We wish to clarify that the its allies failed to reach an agreement on production cuts. pushing US Treasury yields to restructuring package (Rs 84,574 excluding Yes also the absence of fresh cent, on the BSE. company has no impact what- new record lows. While announced by the RBI, there Bank), of which Rs 39,315 issuances, the capital buffers soever on its current order governments and central is a proposal to write down crore will be in private banks over regulatory levels will book which stands at 1,052 third quarter of this year," it banks have unleashed or the entire outstanding on AT- (Rs 30,620 crore excluding Yes decline by an estimated 1 per KMT valued at Rs 8,484 said. Over and above, the Saudi shares tumble prepared to roll out stimulus 1 bonds, which has been Bank). The largest outstand- cent of risk weighted assets, crore," the filing noted. company said, it has been measures, the spread of pegged at Rs 8,695 crore by ing is with SBI at Rs 27,432 it said. The company further said short-listed as one the key as Aramco drops 10% COVID-19 is putting a huge Icra on Monday. Investors crore, followed by ICICI Bank The agency added that that, in the USA, all confirmed suppliers by the Saudi Aramco RIYADH: The Saudi strain on economies and have reportedly approached at Rs 10,120 crore, while the under the large exposure orders would keep its current by long-term frame agree- stock market, the stoking concerns of a the banking regulator seeking immediate call option is com- framework, exposure to single capacity occupied till the third ment which will bring addi- largest in the region, worldwide recession. Trading help. The proposal is "likely to ing up for Bank of Baroda on borrower or group of borrow- quarter of this year and even tional significant gains to its tumbled 9.2 per cent floors were a sea of red, with further increase the risk aver- a Rs 400 crore bond, it said. ers is linked to tier-1 capital, RPP Infra Projects the potential beyond is also Saudi portfolio. at the start of trading Tokyo and Manila plunging sion of investors as the Most of these bonds were and reduction in tier-1 capi- looking fairly robust as the "As regards India, we enjoy Monday with energy giant Saudi more than five per cent, while investors will factor in a high- issued in 2016-17 and 2017-18 tal upon redemption of these bags Rs 78 cr order major play for the company a very healthy order book of Aramco diving 10 per cent, well Hong Kong dived 3.6 percent. er probability of write-downs with first call option after bonds will also reduce the in Tamil Nadu continues to be in 522 KMT valued at Rs 4,166 below its listing price. The drop Sydney shed 7.3 per cent. on these bonds", Icra said in fifth year from issuance, ability of the banks to gas sector. crore and we are short-listed comes following a crash in oil Mumbai, Taipei, Singapore, the report. which means large bonds are take large exposures to a bor- NEW DELHI: RPP Infra "As regards the Saudi for major projects in South- prices on the global market after Seoul, Jakarta and Wellington Appetite for future due for call in 2021-22 and rower group. Projects has bagged an order Arabia, we enjoy a healthy East Asia. This put together, OPEC and its allies failed to reach were more than three percent worth Rs 77.52 crore in Tamil order book of 297KMT valued reflects a healthy and a con- a deal on production cuts to shore down, Shanghai shed 2.5 per Nadu, according to a at Rs 2,066 crore and that will sistent growth prospects for up prices dented by the cent and Bangkok gave regulatory filing by the also keep us occupied till the company," it said. coronavirus. up 6.8 per cent. GSTN GLITCH company. The order pertains Torrent gets to 'rehabilitation and modernisation' of anicut and Infosys asked to submit nod to raise channels in Thanjavur and Covid-19 to cause first annual decline in oil use: IEA Cuddalore districts of Tamil up to Rs 5K-cr PARIS: The world is set for its ularly severe because it is stop- resolution plan in 15 days Nadu and is expected to be first annual decline in oil con- ping people and goods from PNS n NEW DELHI completed within two years, it sumption in more than a moving around, dealing a PNS n NEW DELHI an urgent presentation before added. The company's stock decade due to the impact of the heavy blow to demand for the GST Council on March 14. Torrent Pharmaceuticals on was trading at Rs 35.25, down coronavirus outbreak, the IEA transport fuels," IEA chief Fatih The finance ministry has asked Meanwhile, in a strongly word- Monday said it has received 6.62 per cent, on the BSE. said on Monday. Birol said. Infosys to provide within 15 ed letter to Infosys on March 5, shareholders' nod to raise up In its latest report — which "This is especially true in days a plan for quick resolution the ministry said some of the to Rs 5,000 crore through did not take into account an oil China, the largest energy con- of glitches on the GSTN portal, problems highlighted as early as various instruments, includ- price war after Saudi Arabia and sumer in the world, which as it took strong note of the 2018 are still unresolved and ing qualified institutional Russia failed to agree to contin- accounted for more than 80 per "unresolved" problems and failures month after month lead placement (QIP). ue production cuts -- the cent of global oil demand "tardy" progress made over the to genuine taxpayers "getting In a filing to the BSE, the International Energy Agency based on the assumption that mbd was in China. While the growth last year," he added. last two years on multiple issues frustrated". company said around chopped its current demand China brings the outbreak there IEA did not provide specific China has imposed quaran- faced by taxpayers in filing "It is requested to go 99.299 per cent votes were forecast by 1.1 million barrels under control by the end of the monthly consumption figures, tines in large swathes of the returns. On Saturday, Revenue through the pending cast in favour of "issuance Non-bank custodians per day (mbd) in its base case month and that containment that is likely a drop of around country, with many factories Secretary held a meeting with issues, day-to-day dis- of equity shares including scenario as the coronavirus measures elsewhere have less of 4.5 per cent. shuttered and millions of peo- top Infosys officials on the ruptions and the future convertible bonds/deben- can manage gold, continues to spread around an impact on demand. Oil con- "The coronavirus crisis is ple in lockdown. While some persistent glitches seen on road map and come up tures through QIP and/or say new Sebi rules the world. That would make for sumption tanked in February, affecting a wide range of ener- factories have resumed produc- GST network, and decid- with a plan for depository receipts or any a small annual drop of 90,000 with the IEA estimating it fell gy markets — including coal, tion, global supply chains have ed to ask Infosys quick resolution other modes for an amount NEW DELHI: Market regulator barrels per day, the first since by 4.2 mbd from the same gas and renewables — but its already been badly disrupted in Chairman Nandan within not exceeding Rs 5,000 Sebi has revised mutual fund 2009. That forecast, however, is month last year, of which 3.6 impact on oil markets is partic- some industries. Nilekani to make 15 days. crore." regulations to permit non- bank Sebi-registered custodians to manage gold or gold-related instruments. YES BANK CASE Currently, only the banks that Qatar bans entry are registered as custodians with Securities and Exchange Working to restore all services, says administrator Board of India (Sebi) are of people from India, permitted to manage gold PNS n NEW DELHI exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other gold-related 13 other countries New Delhi, Mar 9 (PTI) RBI- ANMI URGES RBI TO EXEMPT products. "In case of a gold appointed Yes Bank adminis- exchange-traded fund scheme, PNS n NEW DELHI trator Prashant Kumar on CAPITAL MKT TRANSACTIONS the assets of the scheme Monday said the lender is NEW DELHI: Stock brokers moratorium, with the RBI being gold or gold related Qatar has temporarily working to restore all bank- association Anmi has urged the capping deposit withdrawals at instruments may be kept in banned entry of people com- ing services for its customers RBI to relax conditions of Rs 50,000 per account for a the custody of a custodian ing from India and 13 other as as soon as possible. moratorium imposed against Yes month and superseding its registered with the board," countries in the wake of coro- "I think for us, the first pri- Bank for payments by the private board. In a letter written to the Sebi said revising the mutual navirus outbreak. ority is the customers and lender's account holders against central bank on Friday, Anmi has fund norms. After the revision their outstanding capital market requested the RBI to consider of norms, non-banking The temporary ban would how to provide the seamless transactions. The development exempting outstanding capital custodians as well as banking also be applicable on people business to our customers comes after Yes Bank on market transactions wherein a custodians can manage gold coming from Bangladesh, ment, the temporary suspen- and like you must have seen Thursday was put under a Yes Bank account is involved. ETFs and other gold-related China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, sion of entry would affect all on the very first day, all our products. For this, the Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, individuals intending to enter ATMs were up for the cus- regulator has amended Philippines, South Korea, Sri from these countries, includ- tomers," Kumar said in an Securities and Exchange Lanka, Syria and Thailand. ing visas upon arrival, those interview to a TV channel. TV 18. Yes Bank customers Board of India (Mutual Funds) "This decision comes as a with residence or work per- He said, since Saturday have been restricted with a Regulations, 1996. The preventive measure due to the mit, and temporary visitors. evening even the ATMs of cash withdrawal limit of Rs Insolvency may tighten credit mkt, widen pain: S&P amendments to the regulation spread of coronavirus Earlier, Qatar Airways other banks were available for 50,000 till April 3 ever since NEW DELHI: S&P Global Ratings board of the Bank, a troubled private-sector were made after Sebi's board (COVID-19) worldwide," announced temporary sus- customers for cash withdraw- the Reserve Bank superseded on Monday said quick resolution private sector bank with 1.8 per cent of the in February approved a Qatar government said in a pension of flights to and al. "And in our branches, our the board of the bank on of Yes Bank's insolvency will lender with country's bank deposits (as of proposal to allow bank and statement dated March 8. from Italy, one of the coun- staff is reaching out to cus- March 5, 2020 and appointed keep India's banking sector immediate March 31, 2019). "Quick resolution non-bank custodians to offer Flagship carrier Qatar tries worst affected by the tomers. They are dealing with Kumar - a former SBI execu- contagion at bay, but as credit effect. Following this, country's of Yes Bank's insolvency will keep custodian services for gold or Airways has also stopped coronavirus outbreak. their issues. I would also like tive - as its administrator. markets tighten there could be a largest lender State Bank of India India bank-sector contagion at gold related instruments such flights from India, sources Other airlines that fly to to take this opportunity to Kumar also assured that for possibility of wider economic pain (SBI) on Saturday said it will bay, though it poses pain for as gold ETFs. The move is said. Qatar, include IndiGo, GoAir thank all our customers who the remaining days of the in the country. The Reserve Bank invest Rs 2,450 crore in the investors in bank hybrid securities. aimed at reducing Qatar Airways operates and Air India. have really cooperated with moratorium on Yes Bank, the last week imposed a moratorium troubled private sector bank As credit markets tighten, we also concentration of custodial 102 weekly flights from Doha There was no immediate us, who have shown lot of bank staff is working hard so on the capital-starved Yes Bank, against 245 crore shares. "The see a possibility of wider services for gold or related to 13 Indian cities, including statement from the three air- patience. And I think this is that all banking services capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 Indian government is working with economic pain in the country," instruments, Sebi had said. New Delhi. lines about the status of their the faith in the brand of Yes could be restored at the per account and superseding the the SBI to inject capital into Yes S&P Global Ratings said. According to the state- flights. Bank," Kumar told CNBC earliest. Rolls-Royce, IIT Madras ink pact for joint research programmes CBI searches seven locations in Mumbai in Yes Bank case PNS n NEW DELHI a premier technology institute Under the collaboration, like IIT Madras to promote Rolls-Royce will sponsor select PNS n NEW DELHI unidentified people. Besides Aero engines major Rolls-Royce upskilling and professional employees keen to pursue Rana Kapoor, the agency has on Monday said it has entered development of our engineering Masters and PhD level studies, The CBI carried out searches booked his wife Bindu, daugh- into a collaboration with Indian talent, and facilitate higher edu- as part of its Technical Higher at seven locations on ters Roshini, Raakhe and Institute of Technology (IIT) cation and research in areas of Study Framework, in partner- Monday in connec- Radha. Madras to promote and explore strategic interest." ship with IIT Madras. tion with the Yes Kapil Wadhawan, opportunities for joint research Commenting on the collab- To qualify for the program, Bank scam case promoter of Dewan programmes. The company will oration, Industrial Consultancy employees must first clear the pertaining to the Housing Finance also roll-out a 'Technical Higher and Sponsored Research IIT Madras selection process, Rs 600 crore Corporation Study Framework' to facilitate Associate Dean, IIT Madras, V and their topic should be alleged bribe to Limited (DHFL) higher education for its engi- Kamakoti said, "the interac- aligned with Rolls-Royce strate- the family of its and Dheeraj neers, in partnership with IIT tion with Rolls-Royce will cer- gic research priorities and capa- co-founder Rajesh Kumar Madras, Rolls-Royce said in a tainly induce multi-faceted bilities, it added. Rana Kapoor by Wadhawan, statement. pursue advanced research in Madras is another step in our nological solutions," Rolls- interdisciplinary technology The program is open to all DHFL, officials Director of RKW An MoU has been signed areas of relevance to future efforts to promote collaborative Royce India and South Asia exploration involving the permanent employees at the said. The CBI has Developers Private between the company and IIT technological and program- research programmes with like- President Kishore Jayaraman diverse specializations avail- Rolls-Royce Engineering Centre named in the FIR five Limited, a company linked Madras for the collaboration. As matic needs of the company, it minded partners in India. We said. He further said, "at the able at IIT Madras and mapping in Bengaluru who have com- companies, seven individu- to DHFL have also been part of the MoU, Rolls-Royce added. look forward to exploring areas same time, we are keen to them into specific application pleted 36 months of service with als, including Kapoor's wife named as accused, the officials and IIT Madras will also aim to "The association with IIT where we can co-develop tech- leverage this collaboration with areas of high practical value." the company. and three daughters, and said. Follow us on @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/ dailypioneer

Tuesday March 10, 2020 Celebrating 10 years of LAMAKAAN amakaan, the open bours cited nuisance to the March 12, is the Hindi adap- cultural space, has public. tation by poet, journalist and competed a Thousands of cultural translator Neelabh, of L decade of helping enthusiasts had supported ‘Mother courage and her people share their Lamakaan then and the children’. The original was creativity, ideas notice was withdrawn. written by German play- and talent through talk Kranthi said, “Due to parking wright Bertolt Brecht. Like shows, workshops, plays, issues and noise, the neigh- these we have one special musical nights, organic bours started having prob- programme every day till bazaars, art shows, movie lems. They complained to March 17.” screenings and much more. GHMC and many people Manohar, a techie and reg- Lamakaan started hosting supported to save Lamakaan. ular visitor to Lamakaan said, events from March 2010. It Finally, the problems were “I have been attending vari- was founded by Ashhar resolved when we reached an ous thought-provoking Farhan, Humera Ahmed, Biju agreement. People have to events in Lamakaan Mathew and Elahe Hiptoola. understand that Lamakaan is since 2016. By coming Speaking to The Pioneer, not a commercial space and here, I got to know Kranthi, manager of they have to support it by the reality of var- Lamakaan said, “Lamakaan maintaining silence. New ious national belongs to M Hassan, a comers don’t know this and issues. founder-member of the Save create problems by parking These Rocks Society. After his haphazardly.” days, death, his nephew Ashhar To commemorate the com- we Farhan turned the space as a pletion of a decade, the cultural centre for people. organisers are planning to The main objective is to pro- conduct various cultural vide a space for talented peo- events from March 11 to Lamakaan ple to showcase their work 17. Kranthi shares, “To and meet like-minded peo- celebrate our 10th completed a ple. It majorly gives space for anniversary, we are art and culture events.” organising events decade of providing a Over the decade, over like Resistance: 4,000 events including art, Music as space for creative people theatre, movies, talk shows, Politics musical nights, meetings of where writers, organic bazaars and to come up with various more have taken place here. Kranthi adds, “Lamakaan is cultural events as part of maintained with money earned from the canteen. its 10th anniversary We don’t charge for free events and charge nominal fee for ticketed events. We celebrations, finds also have multiple layers of events including a Write V SATEESH Club, which has been holding meetings every Saturday for Sumangala, REDDY the last four years. Every a teacher of are week, we have an organic popular music sharing bazaar.” studies, will pre- inform- Lamakaan is also known sent, through music, ation blindly for it’s tea and aloo samosa. some examples of how on social media Many people come here to music has been used to without checking. have tea with samosa and articulate resistance to the This makes it diffi- take part in cultural activi- social and political order in cult to verify. Spaces ties. The venue also faced a different parts of the country. like Lamakaan have shut down notice by the The play Himmat Mai become reliable sources for GHMC in 2015 after neigh- which will be staged on people like me.”

Vijaya Murthi, a sister. “My husband and my “Cooking as a family or CITY GIRL to resident of in-laws used to love cooking with loved ones or friends Hyderabad, has and eating good food. I grew brings us together because Capturing D authored her first up in that kind of back- we share our culture and book Authentic ground. So cooking comes heritage through food. represent India at ITF Godavari Non-Veg naturally to me,” she says. Coming together and sharing Recipes which is slated for a The 84-page book com- a meal is the most communal worldwide online release on prises of 50 plus non-veg thing in the world. In an era Tennis as a sport is very taxing and tiring on people, recipes for March 8, World Women’s recipes which are her family where food is ordered online, Day. The food prepared by and friends’ most favourite. cooking is missed. Home- the homemaker binds her She was encouraged by her cooked food is healthier and but also keeps one fit at the same time. Barring a husband, children and in- son D Pavan Kumar, an helps build a bond among laws says the 67-year-old. advocate, to be a part of the family. One cannot think few, there haven't been many women tennis players Murthi learnt these recipes Wirally food’s Facebook well, love well, sleep well if who have gone on to represent India internationally. eternity from her mother and elder channel. She also credits one has not dined well,” the Swapna, her daughter-in-law, author adds. for being instrumental in Now Hyderabad girl Saumya Ronde is set to make making this book a reality. Food is a necessity for a human or any other When asked how it feel to her mark on international court. — PNS be an author at 67? She said, THE 84-PAGE BOOK creature to survive. However there are foodies “Growing old is optional! COMPRISES OF 50 ity-based tennis player Saumya Age is just a number. Many Ronde is on a high after being who have turned this love for food into elderly have accomplished PLUS NON-VEG selected to represent India in greater things at a much RECIPES WHICH ARE C the Under-14 category of the something more. One such woman from older age than me. If you World junior ITF tennis cham- compare me with them, this HER FAMILY AND pionships to be held at Gold Hyderabad has taken her love to the next level is nothing. I just don’t want Coast in Australia. the recipes to be lost in obliv- FRIENDS’ MOST She is taking the place of Shruti by penning a cook book at 67. — PNS ion.” FAVOURITE Ahlawat, from Haryana, who was part of a three-member team, but had to pull out due to medical reasons. Saumya, 14, is ranked no. 4 in the country and started her journey when she was seven years old from Asif tennis club under the able guidance of Mr Narleekar. She credits her technique and strong basics to the rigorous coaching by Narleekar. Asif Tennis club has supported her in many ways. She is especially thankful to Om Prakash and all other members of the club for their support. She currently trains 6 hours a day starting with Asif's in the morning, before heading to YMCA. In the evening she practices at Narayanguda. She has won many National Levels (AITA) tournaments including ATF (Asian Tennis Federation). She has won ATF Tournaments held in Raipur and Hyderabad and currently ranks 30 in Asia. She was also ranked No.1 in Under - 10 (2016) in Telangana State. She is a student of St. Josephs Public School, King Koti and says she is also thankful to the principal, PT sir and man- agement for their encouragement and support. Coming from a middle-class family, her parents are finding it difficult to bear her coaching, travel and tournament expenses and are looking for sponsors to help her pursue her dream of winning a Grand Slam for India. 10

Hyderabad Tuesday March 10, 2020 what’s brewing? TRIBUTE TO CITY GUIDE FASHION EASHWARI BAI EVENTS short film, Agnisikha on Indian politician and social PUPPETRY DAY worker late Eashwari Bai, mother of former minister lNori Art and Puppetry Centre is conducting World FIESTA ADr J Geetha Reddy, was screened recently in the Puppetry Day Celebrations on March 21 at Lamakaan airang — a lifestyle city. Socialites attended for the movie screening and from 6.30 pm. showroom recollected Eashwari Bai’s work for women. Kdedicated for women — was inaugurated in

Hyderabad on Hari Priya International Women’s l Day. Models and fashionistas attended the event and checked out the latest collection on display.

COMEDY NIGHTS

PARTY l Stand-up comedian Vivek Muralidharan is hosting his new stand-up show on March 22 at Phoenix Arena from 5 pm. Parvathi l l Ritu l Sushma

l Santhi Rao l J Geeta Reddy

MADHUBANI PAINTING l Madhubani painting exhibition will be held on March 14 at Phoenix Arena from 2 pm onwards. Preethi l y r a h C V S y b b s o t o h P

Ashna GET YOUR EVENT LISTED: To get your events l listed, send your details along with a poster and contact number to [email protected]

l Sana l Karishma Manglani l Sathyacama Jabal l Renuka l Rajesh Touchriver FUN

ARCHIE CALVIN AND HOBBES

GARFIELD REALITY CHECK SPEED BUMP CROSSWORD

NANCY

SUDOKU Yesterday’s solution

GINGER MEGGS

Rules l Each row and column can contain each number (1 to 9) exactly once. l The sum of all numbers in any row or column must equal 45. 11

Hyderabad Tuesday March 10, 2020 tollywood Kalyani to wield VIRATA PARVAM the megaphone tarting off as a Pelliki Mundu Prema Katha child artiste in in the past. cinema Interestingly, Kalyani, best S in 1986, Kalyani known for her turns in has done a wide Pedababu, Dongodu, to be sent to festivals number of films in Taxiwaala, has also floated a South in a career spanning production house K2K ana Daggubati and Telugu states,” said a more than three decades. Productions to produce the Sai Pallavi-starrer well-placed source And now, she has decided to untitled film, which is a psy- Virata Parvam close to the unit. go back behind the camera. chological thriller laced with 1992 is in the final Set in ’90s backdrop, She is debuting as a a unique love story. It is R phase of comple- Virata Parvam, a love director with an inspired by real inci- tion. Recently, the story, sheds light on the upcoming Telugu- dents. To go in front makers shot it in Hyderabad, Maoist movement, Tamil bilingual of the cameras Medak and Vikarabad for 15 specifically the moral featuring shortly, the film days non-stop, with which 90 dilemma that prevailed Chethan features Siddi, per cent of the film has been back then. It sees an Cheenu. He Suhasini wrapped up. impressive line-up of had done Maniratnam, “The unit is on a small prominent supporting films like Rohit Murali break currently and a sched- actors such as Nandita Raju Gari and Shweta ule of 10 days in Hyderabad Das, Priyamani, Sai Gadhi, in support- and Vikarabad shortly will Chand, Easwari Rao and Mantra 2 ing roles. call it a wrap for the entire Zarina Wahab in key and film. Rana, Sai Pallavi and roles, while Suresh Priyamani will take part in Bobbili is the music com- this outing. One of the pro- poser. ducers of the film, Suresh Babu (the other being Sudhakar Cherukuri), is con- SET IN ’90S sidering sending the film to festivals once director Venu BACKDROP, VIRATA Udugula locks the edit. He PARVAM, A LOVE believes the hard-hitting con- STORY, SHEDS tent can fetch him awards and helps the film on promo- LIGHT ON THE tional front before it opens in MAOIST MOVEMENT cinemas across the two Coronavirus scare for Nithiin's wedding ithiin, who was set to marry long- time girlfriend Shalini, a doctor, N in Dubai on April 16 is rethinking about the venue because of Coronavirus. Although the wed- Aha registers ding is a good 40 days away from now, the actor’s family is keen on not taking a chance in view of the deadly virus, which has taken many lives world over. With impressive numbers elders from both the families standing at high risk of contracting the virus in case if month into staggering 36 minute reviews, films like Arjun they accidently come near an affected per- its test per user, the pure Suravaram, Khaidi and son, his family is reconsidering the venue, launch, Aha Telugu OTT platform Pressure Cooker have says a source. The family has hired the ser- has managed currently has two mil- helped the platform a vices of an event management firm from A to attract lion active unique users. great deal. We have Mumbai to conduct the wedding but they impressive While web series like already reported that asked them to not to proceed with prepa- viewership. While the Masti’s, Kotha Poradu, Allu Aravind, co-owner rations as of now. full-scale promotions #ShitHappens and of Aha, has convinced “The wedding date won’t be changed have yet to begun, the Geetha Subramanyam 2 the likes of Sukumar, but it’s likely the venue will be. The family app has become one of haven’t got exceptional Sudheer Varma and is considering hosting the wedding at a the fastest applications Venu Udugula to do farmhouse belonging to them in in the regional OTT some web series for the Hyderabad outskirts. Also, some members sector to have registered AHA THAT app and their names believe that Coronavirus scare will not be over 500k installs in a will be announced on effective in a month from now as measures short span of just two REGISTERED OVER March 25, on the occa- to control it have been put in place across weeks and is fast pacing 500K INSTALLS IN sion of Ugadi — the the world and that Nithiin and Co can towards a million at the Telugu New Year — at a ahead with the destination wedding in moment. The applica- JUST TWO WEEKS glittering ceremony in Dubai. However, the family is playing the tion has already marked HAS ALREADY the presence of industry waiting game as of now. It’s unlikely that around 671k down- stalwarts, celebrities, Dubai will host the wedding as things loads. With the average MARKED AROUND and promoters of the stand now,” added the source. streaming duration of a 671K DOWNLOADS group.

ilmmaker VV Vinayak’s act- ing gig Seenayya was in the Seenayya news recently for being F shelved. However, The Pioneer has learnt the film, a pure emotional drama with a tinge of realistic action, is very much on SHRUTI and will roll freshly again later this is on month. “It is true that Vinayak was unhappy with the rushes that director Nnarasimmha shot sometime back but set for a it’s untrue that the film has been put in cold storage altogether. After go through the footage, Vinayak felt that the script required a once-over and later suggested hat-trick that Nnarasimmha take the help of senior writers and script doctors Paruchuri Brothers for it. The senior writers are on the brink of wrapping up their work. Vinayak is also not in favour with PK? of stopping the film after the glitzy launch in October last s Shruti Haasan set to romance year as his reputation will Pawan Kalyan for the third be at stake,” said a source. time again? Well, that’s what At the launch, he had I the word is from the corridors said, “I’m excited about of Film Nagar. Pawan’s come- the acting gig. It’s a back film Vakeel Saab needs an feeling I can’t describe A-lister for a small part and the makers in words.” are considering Shruti for it. In the film, a Dil “The film has a romantic flashback Raju production, portion involving Pawan and his wife. Vinayak will be And the makers are keen on Shruti essay- seen as a mechanic ing it, as she has already shared screen based in Guntur in space with Pawan in the past, sharing a ’80s, while good chemistry. Dates wouldn’t be a Sangeetha will be much a problem as the role’s portions can seen as his wife. be wrapped up under a week. Discussions After wrapping up to this end have been initiated with the this film, the direc- actress. Director Venu Sriram is hopeful tor will shift atten- of her participation as he already worked tion to his direction with her in Oh My Friend and shares a again. He is in talks to good equation with her,” said a source, do a film for Megastar who added that the fact that Shruti has Chiranjeevi from a immense respect for Pawan can also work screenplay of writer in favor of the project. Prasanna Kumar Bezawada. Shruti has only one Telugu project in her kitty which is Ravi Teja-starrer Krack. She has taken a break from movies after IN THE FILM, VINAYAK her last project Behen Hogi Teri (2017) but is now looking to sign more movies WILL BE SEEN AS A in all the languages she has worked MECHANIC BASED IN before. GUNTUR IN ’80S HYDERABAD | TUESDAY | MARCH 10, 2020 sport 12 Bengal strike late to edge ahead PTI n RAJKOT one is low and slow. Another 100-150 spinner for three consecutive bound- runs will be really good for us. It is Bengal vs Saurashtra aries. eavyweight Cheteshwar not a typical Rajkot . Having Live from 9:30am IST Medium pacer Akash Deep pro- Pujara turned up with fever as said that, we lost one wicket too STAR SPORTS 2 NETWORK vided the second wicket to Bengal HBengal nosed ahead against a many,” he said. when he removed a well-set Barot scratchy Saurashtra in what was was Saurashtra, playing their first with a ball that pitched around off an attritional opening day’s play in the final at home, opted to bat in friend- stump and straightened, taking a faint Ranji Trophy final here. ly conditions. edge to Wriddhiman Saha. Avi Barot (54 off 142) and The Bengal pace attack has deliv- Vishvaraj and centurion of the Vishvaraj Jadeja (54 off 92) struck ered all season and the team relied on semi-final against Gujarat, Arpit gritty half-centuries before Bengal them to get the early breakthroughs. Vasavada (29 ), took pacer Akash Deep struck late in the Ishan Porel and Mukesh Kumar Saurashtra to 155 for two in 61 overs. final session to leave Saurashtra at 206 tested Harvik Desai (38) and Barot in It was a surprise that Pujara did not for five at stumps on Monday. their opening spell but the openers come out to bat at number four, his Pacer Akash Deep, who was did well to take Saurashtra to 77 for usual position for the state team. He Bengal;s standout bowler with three no loss in 35 overs at lunch. Luck also bats at number three for India in Test , had Chetan Sakariya caught smiled on the home team with . behind, bringing the end of day's play. Bengal grassing three difficult catch- Bengal pacers lifted their game in With the pacers doing the bulk of the es in the session. Desai was dropped the final session with Akash Deep job, only 80.5 overs could be bowled. twice while Barot got one life. castling Jadeja with a sharp incom- An unwell Pujara walking off the Bengal got their first wicket in the ing ball soon after the batsman com- field after scoring five off 24 balls put third over after lunch when Desai, pleted his second half century of the the home team in a spot of bother surprised by the extra bounce gener- season. after Barot (54 off 142) and Jadeja (54 ated by left-arm spinner Shahbaz Two overs later, Porel trapped off 92) had played themselves in. Ahmed, pushed it straight into the Saurashtra's leading run-getter The India player, who returned hands of the silly-point fielder to leave Sheldon Jackson who had got going from New Zealand only a couple of his team at 82 for one in the 38th over. with two cover drives off Kumar’s days ago, had fever due to throat Though there was assistance on tempting half-volleys. Hero of the infection but will bat on the second offer for spinners, Ahmed was con- semi-final against Karnataka, Kumar day, said skipper Jaydev Unadkat. tent to bowl the containing line and was guilty of offering too many free- Bengal may have the edge after bowled as many as 20 overs in his first bies to the opposition. day one but Saurashtra batsman spell, majority of them from over the Jackson’s fall finally brought Vishvaraj said another 100 runs on wicket, with pacers operating from Pujara in the middle but he walked the slow and low surface will be of the other end. off the field looking unwell. immense value. Vishvaraj then got together with The ball often kept low in the “The surface used for the semi- Barot and opted for an aggressive final session, signs that the batsmen's final had a lot more bounce but this approach against Ahmed, hitting the Bengal bowler Aakash Deep celebrates the wicket of Saurashtra batsman A A Barot during the Ranji Trophy final match played in Rajkot PTI job is only going to get tougher. Could have been better in Shafali loses top spot, slips to third No change of all departments: Shikha PTI n DUBAI tournament, moved down a spot to stance on be ranked seventh, Rodrigues PTI n MELBOURNE eenage Indian batting sensation remained static on ninth. TShafali Verma on Monday lost Mooney’s opening partner Alyssa enior pacer Shikha Pandey admitted that India were outclassed the top spot in the ICC women’s T20 Healy has risen two slots to fifth posi- Dhoni's future Snot just the but in all three departments which led to International rankings as she slipped tion after a blistering 39-ball 75 in the the side’s humbling defeat against Australia in the Women’s T20 to third after managing only two runs final against India while South PTI n RAJKOT World Cup final. in the World Cup final against Africa's has “Nerves weren’t really a factor. Once you get onto the field, Australia in Melbourne. advanced 13 slots to reach a career- he addition of two new members, you just zone out. I don't think I felt nerves,” Pandey told the ICC The 16-year-old Shafali (744 best 31st place after a valiant 27-ball Tincluding the chairman, in the nation- website. points) had grabbed the top spot at 41 in their semifinal against Australia. al selection committee has not changed the Pandey rued the dropped chances of (78 not the end of the league stage of the just- India’s Deepti Sharma advanced panel’s stance on M S Dhoni, who will out), whose caught and bowled opportunity was missed by concluded women's T20 World Cup 10 slots to reach 43rd position “have to perform” in the upcoming IPL to Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Alyssa Healy (75), who was dropped in Australia which the hosts won for among batters and is among the top be considered for T20 World Cup selection, off the fifth ball of the innings by Shafali Verma. The opening duo an unprecedented fifth time. five all-rounders for the first time. a top BCCI official told PTI. then nicely set it up Australia’s record-breaking win. Australia opener Beth Mooney, Deepti, Radha Yadav and The Sunil Joshi-led selection panel met “Initially, if you gift chances to batters in form they're going who hit 78 not out in the final on Poonam Yadav occupied the sixth, for the first time in Ahmedabad on Sunday to use them. It could have gone either way but those chances cost- Sunday, jumped two spots to num- seventh and eighth sports respective- to pick a rather “straightforward” squad for ed us. We could have been better in all three departments, it was- ber one with 762 points to her kitty. ly in the bowlers ranking led by the three ODIs against South Africa begin- n’t just the fielding,” she said. Mooney scored 259 runs at an England’s Sophie Ecclestone. ning in Dharamsala on March 12. Healy and Mooney’s efforts shattered the confidence of the average of 64 in six innings, the high- Australia's Megan Schutt and Joshi’s predecessor MSK Prasad had Indian bowlers from the first over itself and Pandey, who was at est aggregate by anyone at a single South African Shabnim Ismail occu- made it clear that the team has moved on the receiving end, said even she had to appreciate the former's bru- edition of the competition and was py the second and third place respec- from Dhoni and he has to first play to be tal hitting. named Player of the Tournament. She tively among bowlers. considered for selection. “You do have plans against a batter like her, but the kind of has topped the rankings for While Australia left-arm spinner “It was a pretty straightforward selec- shots she played were amazing. Sometimes you can just stand and the first time in her career. reached a career-best tion meeting and since Dhoni was obvious- acknowledge, and appreciate the shots she was playing. It was one New Zealand’s Suzie 728 points and fifth place, her best ly not in the reckoning this time (for South of those days when I was on the receiving Bates (750 points) remained position since a career-best fourth Africa series), there was no formal talk end.” in second position in the list that ranking in November 2017. about his future,” a BCCI source told PTI. The 30-year-old Pandey was hit for also features the Indian duo of Her team-mates Sophie “He will be back in the reckoning only three boundaries from her first 12 overs Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Molineux and Delissa Kimmince if he has a good IPL. And why only him, delivered in the tournament and the only Rodrigues in the top ten. have advanced 10 places each to there are so many senior and young play- one that got away in the first two games While the India vice- reach joint-16th and 31st places ers who will play in the IPL. If was struck by Healy in the early overs Mandhana, who had a forgetful Indian opener Shafali Verma plays a cut shot during the Women's T20 World Cup T20 WC/Twitter respectively. they do well, they are ought to of the opening game. be considered too. So, you Pandey held her nerve to could see some surprise help India secure a crucial win inclusions,” he said. over New Zealand and seal The T20 World Cup will top spot, playing a crucial WC loss not end for Ind, they’ll be back: Lee be played in Australia in role as one of the oldest in October-November and the a squad featuring three IANS n MELBOURNE However, she didn’t have the best of days in games India play after teenagers. the final as she dropped a catch in the very the IPL leading up Despite struggling in ormer Australia speedster Brett Lee feels India’s first over of the game and then could man- to the mega event the final as Australia Fdownfall in the Women’s T20 World Cup final age just two runs with the bat. will also be a fac- reached 184 for four is “not the end for them” and they will be coming “I really felt for Shafali Verma at the tor in the final from their 20 overs, back stronger in the times to come. end, it was tough seeing her in tears but squad selec- Pandey revelled in the A record-breaking attendance for a women's she should be very proud of the way she’s tion. occasion with the India cricket match of 86,174 watched on as Australia performed in Australia,” said Lee. “But the team getting the chance to meet ten- downed first-time finalists India by 85 runs at the “To come out here and face your first performance nis star and sporting icon Billie Jean MCG on Sunday. “As for India, it was a disappoint- tournament head-on is testament to her in the IPL King after the trophy presentation. ing night for them but they'll certainly be back — talent and mental strength, and she’s could be “It’s huge to meet people like Billie this is not the end for them, this is just the start,” only going to get better from here. the clinch- Jean King in person. I was privileged to Lee wrote in his column for the ICC. “When you drop a chance, the one er,” the be part of the event although it's dis- “They’d never played in a final before and we thing you want is another one and source appointing to be on the wrong end of saw in Melbourne how vital that experience is, it unfortunately she didn’t get it, but she’ll added. the result. takes a long time to get settled and by the time they learn from this experience and come “It’s an honour to meet someone did, unfortunately the game was gone." back stronger. who has done so much for women’s Playing in front of a crowd like that takes plen- “Moments like this can define you sport in general and is working for ty of getting used to so they'll be better for it, and by the defending champions in all the three disci- in a positive way — it’s never about equal opportunities. Just to meet her should take a lot of heart from the way they played plines of the game in the final. what happens, it’s about how you in person is a good thing. in Australia," he added. Lee further said it was tough for him seeing respond to it and Shafali has proven she “She said we were unlucky to have lost India had defeated Australia in the opening teenage sensation Shafali Verma in tears after the can cope with anything. Don't be sur- and to keep working hard,” Pandey said. game of the tournament. However, they failed to match. Shafali scored 163 runs coming at a jaw- prised to see her put a big score on the replicate that performance as they were outplayed dropping strike rate of 158.25 in the tournament. Aussies the next time they play,” he added. SL name 16-man squad for Eng Test series ‘Faf's experience in Indian conditions will help team' AFP n COLOMBO PTI n NEW DELHI Boucher feels that having Du Plessis also means he will have ri Lanka Monday named a 16- ormer skipper Faf du Plessis' some selection headaches, which is Smember squad, including two Flong experience of playing in a good thing to have. injured players, for the two-match Test IPL and international cricket in “It’s a good headache to have. series against England starting next India will come in handy during the Just him being around the squad week. upcoming three-match ODI series, will add a lot of value and experi- Sri Lanka Cricket said Kusal Perera feels South Africa head coach ence as well. We will look at con- was included in the squad even though Mark Boucher. ditions and then put together com- the injury-hit wicketkeeper may only The series starts in Dharamsala binations. Why you would want to be fit to play in about two weeks. on February 12. have Faf is because he has done Another injured player, Wanidu Du Plessis, who last played an really well in those (Indian) condi- Hasaranga, was also included in the ODI during the 2019 World Cup, tions.” B'desh beat Zimbabwe in 1st T20 squad despite never having played at had an indifferent T20 series While South Africa lost the that level before. against Australia, with scores of 24, T20 series 1-2 to Australia, they AFP n DHAKA off 39 balls to entertain the A replacement for Hasaranga will 15 and 5. blanked the visitors 3-0 in the home crowd at the Sher-e- be named before the first Test against “If you go to a place like India, ODIs, which gives them confidence oumya Sarkar and Liton Bangla National Stadium. England on March 19 in Galle, the you need to find a balance between going into the series against India. SDas struck half-centuries Liton set the platform for board said. The second Test is due to youth and experience. I think Faf “T20s are important this year to power Bangladesh to 200-3 Bangladesh's highest-ever start on March 27 in Colombo. is really doing well in ODI cricket given we have the T20 World Cup. in the first Twenty20 interna- Twenty20 score against Srilanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne watches his for South Africa. The last time he But in general, Proteas and Cricket tional of a two-match series Zimbabwe with a 92-run open- SRI LANKA SQUAD shot AP played, he got a hundred. He Faf du Plessis right with teammate Vander South Africa (CSA), we need to against Zimbabwe in Dhaka on ing stand with Tamim Iqbal, Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), knows the Indian conditions very dussen SA/Twitter find ourselves growing. Monday. who made 41 off 33 balls. Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, well,” Boucher said during the “We have just beaten a very Soumya hit an unbeaten 62 Sikandar Raza, Chris Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kasun Rajitha, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith team’s pre-departure press confer- reached India on Monday morning good team now. We needed confi- off 32 balls, his second Mpofu and debutant Wesley Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Embuldeniya, Lakshan Sandakan and ence on Sunday. and will take a chartered flight to dence and it will certainly give us Twenty20 50 and a career best, Madhevere claimed one wick- Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Wanindu Hasaranga. The South African team Dharamsala on Tuesday. a lot of confidence.” after an in-form Liton made 59 et each