Full- Sited Through the British Airport

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GAUAHAR TIES THE KNOT OLI GOVT SHOW-CAUSED FOUR CHANGES Actor Gauahar Khan marries beau Zaid Darbar Nepal’s Supreme Court issues a show-cause notice After Adelaide humiliation, India have made on Christmas Day and shares to Prime Minister KP Oli-led government on four changes in the team for the 2nd Test against Australia photographs of the wedding LEISURE | P2 dissolution of Parliament INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 264 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26 | 2020 12 PAGES | `4.00

IRREGULAR by MANJUL Mohapatra appointed Centre contradicts state’s chief secretary POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: The state government Friday appointed senior IAS officer Suresh Chandra Mohapatra as the new Chief Secretary itself on PM-CARES and Chief Development Commissioner, the CMO said. Mohapatra, a 1986 batch Indian Administrative Service officer, was currently serv- PM-CARES IS CONTROLLED BY GOVERNMENT, BUT DOESN’T ing as Development Commissioner of the state COME UNDER RTI ACT, SAYS CENTRE IN NEW RESPONSE and working chairman of Temple Management Committee. He will Yes, much before we bring a Bill, Vaccine dry run in AGENCIES scribed the fund as a private en- succeed Asit Kumar corporates come to know about it. tity, exempting it from RTI scrutiny. Tripathy, who will You see, ours is a transparent govt. New Delhi, Dec 25: In a new RTI The fund has, however, been reg- retire from govern- 4 states next week reply, the Centre has said that the istered with the revenue department service MAN KILLS PARENTS Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance ment of Delhi, with the prime min- December 31. AGENCIES and Relief in Emergency Situations ister as chairperson and senior Born February 4, NUAGAON: A man killed his (PM-CARES) fund is “owned and es- ministers as trustees. 1962, Mahapatra New Delhi, Dec 25: To as- parents over a land dispute at tablished” by the government. This Opposition parties have repeat- started his career as sess readiness of the mech- Bishupur under Nuagaon block in is in sharp contrast with the gov- edly raised questions about the Nuapada sub-col- anism laid out for the Sundargardh district Friday. The ernment’s recent claim that the fund’s transparency, and have ques- lector in 1988. He has COVID-19 inoculation drive, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra deceased were identified as fund was private. tioned the need to create the re- served as a collector a dry run has been planned n The mock drill will include Monbas Singh (65) and his wife The government made the an- DODGING RTI serve when Prime Minister’s in Bhadrakh, Kandhamal and Puri, chief ad- by the Centre December 28 review at block and district Lila Singh (60). In the morning, nouncement while responding to The controversy over PM-CARES’ National Relief Fund already ex- ministrator in Srimandir, MD of OMFED, CEO and 29 in four states -- levels he scolded his parents over a ownership erupted after the fund’s RTI applicant Commodore (retired) isted. This is not the first controversy of CESU and CMD of GRIDCO. Punjab, Assam, Andhra land issue when his younger trust deed was made public n Focus will be on any possible Lokesh K Batra’s query. However, Pradesh and Gujarat. brother Somen (35) opposed surrounding the fund. The trust He also served as sec- Asit Tripathy will adverse events following A clause in the document called the him. The accused lost his cool it said that the fund does not come was registered March 27 this year retary in the departments The exercise will include immunisation fund a private entity, exempting it be the new and attacked the couple with a under the RTI Act as it is funded by and on the next day, the Ministry of of Energy, Water re- necessary data entry in Co- from RTI scrutiny chairperson of the vegetable-cutting instrument private sources. Corporate Affairs issued an office sources and additional WIN, an online platform for COVID-19 vaccine, man- killing the two on the spot. “This Fund (PM CARES FUND) However, the fund has been memorandum qualifying PM- chief secretary in Forest Western Odisha monitoring of vaccine de- agement of crowd at session is completely financed by dona- registered with the Revenue dept of CARES as a Corporate Social and Environment de- Development livery, testing receipt and sites with proper physical tions received from individuals or- Delhi, with the PM as chairperson Responsibility initiative to receive partment. Council (WODC) allocation, deployment of distancing, the ministry said. WEATHER ganizations, CSRs (corporate so- corporate donations. “I will try my best for team members, mock drill Each state will plan it in cial responsibility), foreign Act, 2005 and therefore, PM CARES According to documents accessed the overall development of all people and areas of session sites with test two districts and preferably BHUB CTK individuals, foreign organization Fund cannot be considered as a by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj, PM- of the state. I will work for revival of the liveli- beneficiaries, as well as rein five different session-type MAX 28.2° 27.8° PSUs and not at-all financed by the public authority,” the government’s CARES was defined as a “fund set up hoods of the people in the post Covid-19 sce- porting and evening meet- settings -- district hospital, appropriate government and ad- response stated. by the central government”, in the cor- nario,” he said. Tripathy, a resident of Bolangir ing, the Union Health community health centre TEMP MIN 24.0° 12.4° Forecast ministered by the private individ- The controversy over PM-CARES porate affairs memorandum. But the district in western Odisha, will be the new chair- Ministry said Friday. (CHC) or primary health Humidity 93% 77% Fog/mist ual as Trustees, which is a com- erupted earlier this month after trust deed said it was not govern- person of the Western Odisha Development It will also include test- care centre (PHC), urban in the Rainfall Nil Nil pulsory condition to invoke section the fund’s trust deed was made ment-run, and thus was not eligible Council (WODC). He will be the first non-polit- ing of cold storage and trans- site, private health facility

morning 2(h) of the Right to information public. A clause in the document de- for corporate donations. ical person to hold the crucial post. portation arrangements for and rural outreach.

k y m c P2 KERRY WOULDN'T WISH GAL GADOT DEFENDS HER SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR COVID-19 ON ANYONE CASTING AS CLEOPATRA Singer Kerry Katona and her Israeli origin Hollywood star Gal Gadot has responded to criticism fiance Ryan Mahoney are over her casting as Cleopatra in a new film on the life of the Egyptian currently battling Covid-19. queen. In an interview with BBC Arabic, Gadot was reminded that a

Katona says she would not wish section of Egyptian viewers were of the opinion that her casting as y

leisure the virus on anyone. Queen Cleopatra is another instance of whitewashing in Hollywood.

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FORTUNE FORECAST Gauahar and Zaid say ‘qubool hai’ Remo’s wife thanks

Mumbai: Actress Gauahar Khan bridal jewellery, Zaid chose a got married to beau Zaid sherwani and churidar in the ‘angel’ Salman Khan Darbar on Christmas Day, same colour. Mumbai: Choreographer-film- ..... hugging u after a week of the ARIES and the couple shared Gauahar and Zaid recently maker Remo D’souza was hospi- worst emotional ups and downs. photographs of the announced their wedding date on talised for a cardiac problem ear- I know acc to u am a superwoman You may decide upon a wedding on their social media and kept fans up- lier this month. His wife Lizelle but I suddenly felt like a small bold approach at work. You may even come up verified Instagram dated with photographs of their has now thanked superstar little child lost... only one thing I @pra- with innovative ideas and opinions. But accounts. preparations as well as their Salman Khan for providing sup- knew and trusted was ur prom- chityagi my lil elf for being the by afternoon, you will again be at a loss. ‘Qubool Hai’, lockdown love story. port during ordeal. ise to me that u will come out as biggest support and handling Ganesha suggests that you take time off they wrote as cap- On Thursday, a day before the Sharing a photo of her hug- a fighter and the lord above.” everything at the hospital so that from work and recharge yourself. tion, and fans wedding, Gauahar shared pho- ging Remo, she posted “Really would love to thank I could mentally function and yes showered love and tos of her mehndi ceremony for on Instagram: "My the drs and staff @kokilaben- even for capturing such moments blessings. Gauahar fans and followers. best hospital #dr Sunil Vani for being that I will cherish forever thanks TAURUS and Zaid chose to Noted music composer Christmas the best .... thanks Dennis for @salmanyusuffkhan I always twin with their Ismail Darbar's son Zaid also gift ever the patience I know everyone knew what Remo and I meant to Your loved ones may wedding outfit shared photographs clicked ever ever made u mad .... thanks to u but saying and showing are two cause a financial setback colour. While after the mehndi ceremony ...... this mo- @mounmounamzali and opposites u proved it what it today, says Ganesha. You may have arguments with siblings regard- Gauahar wore a and wrote: “Writing our love ment I'll al- @bobbykhan18 for being at meant thanks a ton for being ing sharing property. You will tend to be heavily embroi- story on each other’s hearts ways cherish my side and not leav- there till discharge.” impatient and belligerent with them in the dered ivory-hued forever with the blessings of ing me for the Her thank you list also included afternoon. Keep a check on your negative Sharara along our family and friends and 48hrs and the Salman, who had worked with emotions, advises Ganesha. with traditional above all Allah.” IANS end Remo on Race 3. Thanks “I really from the bottom of GEMINI my heart want to thank @be- ingsalmankhan for being the You have a penchant for biggest emotional support u are organising family functions and social pro- Kareena reveals son Taimur loves turkey an angel thank you so much bhai grammes. Today, you are likely to for always being there,” she wrote. organise one more. You plan to reno- Mumbai: Actress Kareena Kapoor with his family and friends. Kareena and Saif had announced “Thanks to all my friends and vate your house in the afternoon. By Khan has revealed that her son Taimur “That warm, fuzzy feeling... Merry on August 12 that they are expecting family for emotionally being there evening, you will be back to your social- Ali Khan loves turkey. Xmas people,” she wrote as caption. their second child. The actress re- and thanks to people all over ising self and may hang out at a popular local joint with a childhood friend. In an Instagram image Kareena The couple got married in 2012 and cently completed her shoot for the praying ..... @remodsouza I love posted, she poses for the camera along Kareena gave birth to upcoming film Laal Singh u to the moon and back...... pls with husband Saif Ali Khan, while their first-born, Chaddha co-starring Aamir now u need to stop making me CANCER Taimur, who is fondly called Tim by Taimur, in 2016. Khan in Delhi. IANS prove it to u time and again .... It's time to meet friends, his parents, gorging on She is currently ex- cmon let the joy of Christmas family members, neigh- turkey. pecting their sec- festivities begin...... Happy bours, acquaintances, “Someone loves ond baby, and she Holidays,” she concluded and people in general. Now that you are meeting so many peo- turkey,” Kareena often shares her post. IANS ple, you will also pay a visit to the wrote. photographs of Almighty. So a visit to a nearby temple, Kareena her baby bump mosque, church or any other religious and Saif on social place is likely. hosted a media. Kiara: Don’t think Christmas LEO eve dinner There are rough patch- I’m a very content es that all families must deal with. Ganesha says there are chances that today, you may disagree with your siblings and other members of the family. kind of a person Money and property will be your key areas of concern. New Delhi: Actress Kiara Advani has impressed in hit films as M.S. has had a satisfying year. She Dhoni: The Untold Story, Kabir was among the rare Singh, and Good Newwz, as well VIRGO Bollywood stars to have as the digitally released anthol- Be the crab who wants releases on OTT as well ogy Lust Stories. to get out of the bas- as theatres, in a year She is, however, not in a mood ket, and make bold, that has been fraught to rest on her hits. “I am yearn- brave moves at work, by the pandemic. ing for more. I don’t think I am especially in the way you accomplish This year, she was a very content kind of a person your tasks. Also, contribute with bril- liant, refreshing ideas. You shall, how- seen in the OTT-re- — (I am) somebody who always ever, in all probability, remain at sea in leased films Guilty wants to push and try doing bet- the afternoon. But, don't despair, take and Laxmii, while ter. I think the drive is very much a break from work and recharge those Indoo Ki Jawani alive and it should be that way. So, sodden batteries, says Ganesha. opened theatri- yeah that is how I am as a per- cally across son,”Kiara told IANS. India earlier The actress has three films LIBRA this month. lined up over the next months -- Kiara, Shershaah opposite Sidharth Sharing is the key to joy, and today, you shall be who started Malhotra, the Kartik Aaryan- unlocking many doors her jour- starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and with that key as you ney in Jug Jugg Jeeyo" co-starring Anil reveal your innermost feelings. Share Bollywood Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Varun them unabashedly with your family mem- with Fugly Dhawan. IANS bers. You are backed up with high energy in 2014, levels that will soar as the day proceeds.

SCORPIO SUDOKU Though not like in an X- post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, Files series, expect to find PEANUTS CROSSWORD yourself open to the column and box must contain the numbers unknown and the super- 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. natural today, says Ganesha. Time spent at your work station will be troublesome. You may end up spending a small fortune on your health. You shall achieve your short-term targets, predicts Ganesha.

SAGITTARIUS Your mood is high on expectations today. You shall plan meticulously before noon, and then in the afternoon, your plans shall fall in place, and deliver expected results. The opposite sex will find you intellectually stimulating and attractive. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN The day will be spent juggling work and meeting personal demands, says Ganesha. It may virtually be a tug-of-war, in which your SOLUTIONS friends and relatives will emerge victorious as you will end up spending more time with them. You will catch up with gossips that you missed while trying to impress your boss.

AQUARIUS

Good news about a loved one will bring on a festive mood. You only need an BREVITY itsy-bitsy excuse to party, and that's CROSSWORD what you'll do today! You will make new friends, and they will prove helpful in times of need.

y PISCES

Today will find you res-

k y m c olute and unwavering in everything that you pursue, and it is a good thing to be, for you will find yourself making substantial progress come afternoon. New

relationships could be in the offing today as CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU well, says Ganesha. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 FOR YOUR KIDS SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD A vendor sells dolls and World 7,99,54,769 5,63,03,049 17,53,032 soft toys near the Exhibition Ground in India 1,01,47,468 97,17,198 1,47,128 Bhubaneswar, Friday

downtown Odisha 3,27,867 3,23,378 1,853

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Nuapada farmer thanks FOR SMOOTH DARSHAN Modi for PM-Kisan The PM interacted with farmers virtually after releasing over `18,000 crore to more than nine crore farmer families under PM-Kisan

PNN/AGENCIES tiliser, seeds, pesticide and other requirements for cultivation. Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Naveen He also thanked Modi for the Thakur, a farmer from Nuapada PM-Kisan Nidhi scheme and Kisan district, Friday told the Prime Credit Card. Minister that the Kishan Credit “The twin schemes have com- Card helped him in getting loan at pletely changed my life,” he said. a nominal interest rate of 4 per The PM interacted with farm- cent. Thakur thanked the Prime ers virtually after releasing over Rs Minister for his farmers’ welfare 18,000 crore to more than nine crore schemes amidst nationwide agita- Earlier, we used to take farmer families under the ‘Pradhan tion demanding withdrawal of the loan at 20% interest Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi’ (PM- three farm laws. from Sahukars, now we KISAN). Thakur got the opportunity to in- are able to take loan at a Modi released the instalment of teract with the PM through video- nominal interest of 4% Rs 2,000 to every farmer on the conferencing during a farmers’ from the banks due to the birth anniversary of the former outreach programme. Kisan Credit Card PM and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari The PM began the interaction Vajpayee, which is every year cel- greeting Thakur by saying, “Jai NAVEEN THAKUR I NUAPADA FARMER ebrated as ‘Good Governance Day’ Jagannath, Naveen ji! Tell me, how by the saffron party. has the PM-Kisan scheme bene- fited you?” On his part, Thakur appreciated Outfit to beat utensils during ‘Mann Ki Baat’ the scheme and said, “I have received Rs 10,000 in five instalments BHUBANESWAR: The state-based Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan through PM-Kisan and utilised it to has vowed to oppose the controversial farm Bills during the Mann The Puri district administration and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration have made elaborate arrangements to facilitate smooth darshan of the buy fertiliser and necessary things Ki Baat speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. deities for the residents of the Holy City. The locals of Puri are allowed to visit the shrine from December 26 to December 31. The police Friday conducted for farming.” The farmers' outfit has decided to ring bells and beat utensils on a mock drill to manage the crowd. Metal detectors have been installed at the entrance while cabins have been set up to verify the visitors’ Replying to the Prime Minister’s December 27 when Modi will be speaking during the weekly porgramme. identity proofs OP PHOTOS question on the Kisan Credit Card, The outfit has planned to organise the protests across the state. This Thakur said, “I received a Kisan comes after the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, the national union formed Credit Card March 12, 2019. I have for the protest against the legislations, called for a nationwide stir. availed a bank loan of Rs 27,000 at “We have decided that when the PM will be delivering his Mann Fire breaks out at SCB the rate of 4 per cent interest. ki Baat, we would be beating utensils and ring bells to mark our protests “Earlier, we used to take loan at against the controversial Bills of the Union government,” Sesadev POST NEWS NETWORK 6 nat’l spokespersons in BJD’s 20 per cent interest from Sahukars, Nanda, state convenor of the outfit, said. now we are able to take loan at a He said that his outfit has around 7 lakh members across the state Cuttack, Dec 25: A fire broke out nominal interest of 4 per cent from and would rise to the occasion to mark their presence felt and protest at the Telemedicine department of the banks due to the Kisan Credit though this way against the farm Bills. It has been planned that the the SCB Medical College and newly-constituted media team Card.” event would be organised in different blocks and panchayats across Hospital here Friday afternoon, but The Odisha farmer told Modi the state to magnify the event. The outfit also had taken part in the there was no report of any casu- POST NEWS NETWORK that the loan amount availed national level protests at the state capital raising their apprehensions alty, a senior Fire official said. BJD foundation day today through the Kisan Credit Card is on the ramifications of the disputed Bills. According to Fire official Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: After re- being utilised in purchasing, fer- Sushant Das, a major mishap was constitution of various wings of BHUBANESWAR: The ruling Biju averted, thanks to the swift SCB the party, BJD president and Chief Janata Dal (BJD) is all set to ob- as well as Fire officials. Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday serve its 24th foundation day No respite from reconstituted the media team of Saturday at its party headquarters GOVT OPTIMISTIC AHEAD OF the party. here and in all constituencies across cold-wave in state The party has appointed six lead- the state while adhering to Covid BLACKBUCK CENSUS IN FEB ers as national spokespersons while guidelines. POST NEWS NETWORK 16 have been named as state THE TEAM CONSISTS Party president and Chief POST NEWS NETWORK ment official said. spokespersons and 14 as panelists, OF SIX NATIONAL Minister Naveen Patnaik will ad- Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: The pre- He also said that several special BJD general secretary (media af- dress the leaders and party work- vailing cold-wave situation will Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: The state initiatives have been undertaken by “SCB officials who spotted the fairs), Manas Mangaraj, said in a SPOKESPERSONS, 16 ers through videoconferencing. continue in the state for the next Forest department is now gearing the department to conserve the an- inferno in the afternoon alerted the press note here, Friday. As per the direction of party few days including the Zero Night, up for the latest round of black- imal species and give them the nec- Fire authorities. A team from Senior BJD leaders and MPs— SPOKESPERSONS AND president, the foundation day will as per local Met office forecast. buck census. essary support for the SCB’s fire station reached the spot Prasanna Acharya, Pinaki Mishra, 14 PANELISTS also be celebrated in all con- Night temperature, which is below The census exercise will growth of their popu- and began the operation after the Achyuta Samanta, Amar Patnaik, stituencies and municipalities of the normal, will continue to remain the be taken up by the depart- lation. “We have started power supply to the department Sasmit Patra and Sarmistha Sethi Raseswari Panigrahi, Kasturi state. As the party has now changed same, it said. Meanwhile, the mini- ment in February 2021. The growing pulses on was snapped. The team managed have been appointed as the national Mohapatra, Anubhab Patnaik, his stand against BJP and party mum temperature fell below 10 de- Forest department is opti- farmlands near vil- to douse the blaze within a few spokespersons of the party. Former Lopamudra Buxipatra, Lenin leadership started targeting the grees Celsius at seven places, Friday. mistic about the rise in the lages where they go. minutes,” Das said, pointing out principal AG Patnaik will specifi- Mohanty, Sanjay Baboo, Sulata Deo, Central government, all eyes are now Phulabani and Daringbadi were number of blackbucks owing This is to ensure that that the fire was seemingly caused cally speak on economic issues and Srimayee Sweta Snigdha Mishra, on Naveen’s speech. the coldest places in state recording to community participation and they do not destroy the crops of by an electrical short circuit. foreign affairs while other issues will Chinmaya Sahoo, Elina Dash and 6 degrees Celsius each, while steps taken by the department to other villagers," he said. Notably, the Telemedicine wing be handled by five others. Harish Choudhury were appointed Sundargarh and Bhawanipatna protect the threatened species. Several parts of Ganjam district of the premier state-run facility has Similarly, Berhampur MP as state spokespersons. Tumbanath Panda, Prasanta Kumar recorded 8 degrees and 9 degrees, “We are readying for the Census like Bhetanai, Buguda, Balipada, been playing a key role in con- Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Besides, Chandrani Murmu, Sahoo, Amit Mallick, Chhabi respectively. The minimum tem- which is scheduled in February. Khallikote and other areas. In 2011, necting the patients and the health- Nabarangpur MP Ramesh Chandra Priyabrata Majhi, Chakradhar Mahali, Maheekshita Mishra and perature at Jharsuguda was 9.4 de- We are optimistic that the popu- the blackbuck population was stated care experts, especially during Majhi, legislators Pratap Keshari Dash, Om Prakash Sahu, Smruti Nanda have been appointed grees, Boudh 9.5 degrees and lation of blackbuck will rise in to be 2,194 while it increased to the pandemic, reducing the foot- Deb, Snehangini Chhuria and Madhusmita Nayak, Ipsita Sahoo, as panelists of the party to attend Koraput 9.6 degrees. Ganjam district," a Forest depart- 3,806 in 2015 census. fall at the outdoor of SCB. Byomakesh Ray along with Jyotshnamayee Parida, Sofia Alam, debates in media. Pandemic takes sheen off Christmas celebrations Free filming allowed at 46

POST NEWS NETWORK ASI-protected monuments LOW-KEY AFFAIR Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: The Covid- POST NEWS NETWORK 19 pandemic and its protocols took THE ST CATHEDRAL CHURCH IN sheen off several festivals in the THE CITY WAS IN DARKNESS AT Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Following state and Christmas was not any dif- THE MIDNIGHT OF THURSDAY a Central government directive, ferent. There was no big midnight WHILE SOME DEVOTEES WERE Friday, filming and shooting will be ceremony or mass with carol singing SEEN LIGHTING CANDLES OUTSIDE allowed for free at 46 ASI-protected by devotees to welcome baby Jesus. THE CHURCH monuments of Odisha, barring The St Vincent’s Pro Cathedral the iconic sites like Konark in Puri. church in the city was in darkness THE UNION CHURCH IN CITY Commemorating the 75th year of at the midnight of Thursday while DIDN’T CELEBRATE THE India’s Independence, the Culture some devotees were seen lighting CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR FEARING Ministry in an official statement VIRUS SPREAD candles outside the church. The said that people or agencies work- Union church didn’t celebrate the THE ST VINCENT PRO CATHEDRAL ing on projects involving the her- Christmas this year fearing virus CHURCH CELEBRATED THE itage and culture will be exempt spread. They had only virtual CHRISTMAS WITH LIMITED from paying fees for shooting pho- THE EXEMPTION IS masses. On the other hand, the St GATHERING tographs or videos at the monu- Vincent Pro Cathedral church cel- ments maintained by the ASI. ALLOWED FROM ebrated the Christmas with lim- “The exemption commences ited gathering. People offer Christmas prayers at a church in Satya Nagar area of Bhubaneswar OP PHOTOS become less effective as they shed from the birth anniversary of for- DECEMBER 25 TO John Barwa, Archbishop of St leaves. There have been significant mer Prime Minister Late Atal AUGUST 15, 2021 Vincent’s Pro Cathedral Church, God’s plan to make people realise providing the same) by about 30 claimed that an average tree se- researches establishing the role Bihari Vajpayee December 25 till said, “Only 140 persons were al- the true meaning and importance college students, all volunteers of questers about 1 tonne of carbon of trees in reducing respiratory next Independence Day (August lowed for each mass and all had to of Christmas,” John Barwa added. Bakul Foundation. Santa himself in its lifetime. But in winter, they diseases, he added. 15, 2021). Online permission is There are about 46 monuments wear mask and sanitise their hands Santa turns green was heard shouting and singing, needed to carry out such shooting where rates are charged for filming before entering the church. Only Meanwhile, city-based Bakul ‘Santa Ho HoHoHo’ (to the tune of activities. This waiver will, however, or shooting. Out of these 46 mon- three persons were allowed to sit on foundation made the Red and White Ramba Ho HoHo Ho) not be applicable at the iconic sites uments, there are about six ASI a bench. If we all remain safe then Santa turn green this year as he Founder of Bakul Foundation, that include world heritage sites,” protected monuments in the capi- we will celebrate next Christmas in joined hands with DediLoku (Tree Sujit Mahapatra, said, “This ini- the statement said. tal city including Raja Rani temple, a grand way.” Man in the Kui language), the green tiative is important now. The risk It can be mentioned that Sun Mukteswar temple and Lingaraj The church set different timings superhero, to give tree gifts to the of Covid-19 is higher in urban areas, temple at Konark and Fatehpur temple among others. for masses throughout the day. The city people. Instead of the sledge where the pollution is more, ven- Sikri in Uttar Pradesh are among The ministry in its statement Bhubaneswar Municipal pulled by the reindeer, the Santa tilation is less and trees are fewer. the 27 sites across the country further maintained that the ob- Corporation (BMC) allowed the city had a bullock cart which carried the Moreover, in winter, the polluting listed, which are exempted from jective to permit other than the

churches to celebrate Christmas saplings as well. particulate matters such as nitro- the relaxation. “The sites named in world heritage monuments is to

k y m c with limited number of partici- The bullock cart with Santa Claus gen dioxide remain suspended for the list were the ones where the promote the lesser popular mon- pants and prior permission. and DediLoku moved from the longer.” filming or shooting will not be al- uments and encourage people's en- “Christmas is not about exter- Bakul Library at Satyanagar to Trees and natural greenery lowed during the relaxation pe- gagement with them. “Earlier, the nal decoration, it should be cele- Janpath amid shouts of ‘Gachha have an important role as they riod,” an official of superinten- process of issuing permission for brated as a spiritual festival. This Neba Gachha, Santa Deuchi Gachha’ sequester carbon and other pol- ding archaeologist Bhubaneswar shooting at ASI sites has already year’s restrictions are part of the (Do you want saplings? Santa is lutants and release oxygen. It is Saplings being distributed by volunteers in Capital city circle said. been fast tracked,” it said. P4 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

NAYAGARH HORROR 62ND SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS’ CONFERENCE

Hearing of PILs seeking State seeks proposals for

k y m CBI probe deferred Bipin Rawat to address senior cops Swabhiman Anchal devpt c PRESS TRUST OF INDIA POST NEWS NETWORK Out of the provision made for Cuttack, Dec 25: The Orissa High CHIEF MINISTER TACKLING LAW & ORDER be held on various issues like law 2020-21 under the scheme, the Court has deferred to January 11 NAVEEN PATNAIK and order, crime scenario, left-wing Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: The state Planning and Convergence de- the hearing on the petitions, seek- Brainstorming sessions will be held extremism, organised crime, drug government has asked various department is having a balance ing a CBI probe into the kidnap- TO ADDRESS THE on various issues like law and order, trafficking, quality investigation, partments to submit new project amount of Rs 23.69 crore. Therefore, ping and murder of a five-year- crime scenario, left-wing road safety, paperless policing dur- proposals for socio-economic de- the 10 administrative departments old girl in Nayagarh. VALEDICTORY extremism, organised crime, drug ing the four-day conference. velopment of ‘Swabhiman Anchal’ were also asked to submit new pro- A division bench of Justice B R SESSION trafficking, quality investigation, Similarly, the officers will hold dis- (erstwhile cut-off region) of posals for the current year (2020-21). Sarangi and Justice Pramath road safety, paperless policing cussions on important issues re- Malkangiri district. The state government has so far Patnaik adjourned the hearing POST NEWS NETWORK during the four-day conference lated to State Vigilance, Prisons, Planning and Convergence de- sanctioned Rs 129 crore during The officers will get the on two public interest litigations Home Guards & Fire Services and partment has asked 10 depart- three years under the SETU scheme opportunity to obtain tips from (PILs) after the Special Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: The an- The officers will hold discussions on Odisha Police Housing and Welfare ments—Rural Development (RD), for the development of Chitrokonda important issues related to State many domain experts in the field Investigation Team (SIT) chief nual conference of senior officials Corporation. Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), block of Malkangiri district. Vigilance, Prisons, Home Guards & of policing, anti-terrorism submitted a status report on the of Odisha police for 2020 will be Fire Services and Odisha Police operations, cybercrime and The officers will get the oppor- Water Resources (WR), Women & According to official sources, investigation into the case. held online between December 27 Housing and Welfare Corporation forensic science tunity to get tips from many do- Child Development (W&CD), School Rs 49.23 crore was sanctioned in the The two PILs, seeking the CBI and 30 here. Chief Minister Naveen main experts in the field of polic- & Mass Education (S&ME), first financial year 2018-19, while Rs inquiry into the case, were filed by Patnaik will address the officers ing, anti-terrorism operations, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, 3.77 crore was released during FY an advocate Padmalaya Mohapatra on the valedictory function of the The Superintendents of Police Home Guards, Fire Services and cybercrime and forensic science. Energy, SC & ST Development, 2019-20 and over Rs 76 crore in the and Bharatiya Vikash Parishad, ‘62nd Senior Police Officers’ (SPs) of all the districts, DCPs, Civil Defence Organisation, State Several dignitaries including Fisheries & Animal Resources current financial year. a social organisation. The five- Conference-2020’. Commandants of all Armed Police Vigilance, OPH&WC, Prison Director of IIT Kanpur, Director Development (F&ARD) and In July 2018, Chief Minister year-old girl was kidnapped and The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Battalions, Range IGPs, DIGPs, and Organisation and others have been Interpol from Singapore are sched- Works—to submit their proposals Naveen Patnaik had inaugurated murdered in July. The Odisha gov- General Bipin Rawat is scheduled Senior Police Officers of various invited as guests to the conference. uled to share their rich and en- to be taken during financial year Gurupriya Setu over Janbai River ernment ordered a high court- to deliver the keynote lecture dur- Police Establishments will partic- Speaking to mediapersons, ADGP, riching experiences with the sen- 2021-22 under Socio-Economic and announced Rs 100 crore for monitored SIT investigation keeping the virtual conference of top cops ipate in the conference going to be Law and Order, Y K Jethwa stated ior officials of the state during the Transformation and Upliftment development of the area on the ing in view the gravity of the case in the state. held virtually. Senior Officers of that brainstorming sessions will virtual conference. (SETU) scheme. other side of the bridge. and the failure of the police to make any headway even after five months since the incident. The SIT has recently arrested PROBE ON a person, who is a resident of the 4-yr-old UK returnee Covid +ve victim's village, in connection with the case. POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: The State registers 325 fresh Bhubaneswar Municipal D Prakash Rao Corporation (BMC), Friday, revealed that a four-year-old girl, who hospitalised had recently returned from the nCoV cases, 3 fatalities United Kingdom (UK) was tested POST NEWS NETWORK positive for Covid-19. Boudh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri BMC Additional Commissioner, Cuttack, Dec 25: Noted social Suvendu Sahu, stated that the child and Rayagada did not report any new positive case worker and Padma Shri awardee along with her parents had rein the last 24 hours D Prakash Rao was admitted to the turned to Odisha from the UK, intensive care unit (ICU) of SCB December 20. Though, the Covid-19 he state Friday reported 325 Medical College and Hospital’s reports of the girl’s parents turned new Covid-19 cases, pushing Covid Hospital here as his health out to be negative, she has tested pos- Tthe coronavirus tally in deteriorated, hospital sources said itive for the novel coronavirus, he Odisha to 3,27,867, a senior Health Friday. added. and Family Welfare (H&FW) de- “Rao, who had tested positive for According to Sahu, the girl’s par- partment official said. Covid-19, has multiple complica- ents will undergo Covid-19 test Meanwhile, the Covid-19 death tions like high blood sugar and again Saturday. At present, all the toll in the coastal state rose to 1,853 blood pressure levels. As his health family members are in institutional with three fresh fatalities in the deteriorated Friday morning, Rao quaran- last 24-hours, said the official, has been admitted to the ICU of tine as THE FAMILY adding that the three fatalities were SCB’s Covid Hospital. His condi- per the MEMBERS OF reported from Balasore, Dhenkanal tion is critical,” SCB Medicine proto- and Khurda districts. The twin city Commissionerate Police raids the residence of Dhalasamanta brothers at CDA Sector VI area in Cuttack, head Jayant Panda told the media. cols, he THE GIRL The new Covid-19 cases were de- Friday, in connection with illegal arms trade. (Insets) The gangster siblings being brought to their home as part of the added. CHILD ARE IN tected in 24 of the 30 districts of In a nutshell ongoing investigation OP PHOTOS It can Odisha, with 187 reported from dif- Action against forest be men- INSTITUTIONAL ferent quarantine centres and the Khurda recorded the highest tioned remaining 138 were local contact number of new cases at 36, QUARANTINE followed by Sundargarh (33) ranger recommended that a 34- cases. Trade licence of litterbugs to be scrapped year-old AS PER THE Khurda district of which the and Angul (32) Launched under BHUBANESWAR: The principal man PROTOCOLS state capital Bhubaneswar is a part The three fatalities were POST NEWS NETWORK chief conservator of forests from the recorded the highest number of reported from Balasore, ‘Mu Safaiwala’ (PCCF) Odisha wrote to the state Capital new cases at 36, followed by Dhenkanal and Khurda districts Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Acting government Thursday seeking city had tested positive for the virus Sundargarh (33) and Angul (32). tough on shopkeepers and street campaign, the disciplinary action against Sadar following his return from the UK, Six districts—Boudh, Gajapati, Khurda alone accounted for 318 vendors who are littering the cap- deaths followed by Ganjam civic authority in forest ranger on charge of December 18. Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri ital city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal (246), Sundargarh (163), dereliction of duty in connection As per sources at the Biju Patnaik and Rayagada—did not report any Corporation (BMC) directed offi- Cuttack (138) and Puri (114) November had with a recent jumbo death in International Airport (BPIA), about new positive case in the last 24 cials to cancel their trade licences. passed an official Sambalpur. PCCF, Harishankar 61 returnees from the UK, includ- hours, the official pointed out. The state has tested over 67.70 Informing the media, BMC Upadhyay, took serious note of the ing 45 to the Capital city, had tran- Taking to Twitter, the H&FW lakh samples for Covid-19 so far Commissioner Prem Chandra order banning incident and said despite a full- sited through the British airport. department said, “Regret to in- including 32,782 Thursday Choudhary said that despite re- fledged squad to track the jumbos Odisha is the 11th state in the form the demise of three numbers peated warnings and awareness The BMC has installed dustbins at strategic littering in public straying into human habitats and Odisha’s positivity rate stands country where a UK returnee had of Covid positive patients, while drives, there are some habitual of- locations in the City OP PHOTO railway lines, the Sadar forest at 4.84 per cent spaces ranger failed to conduct thorough tested Covid-19 positive. The BPIA under treatment in hospitals.” fenders who make it a habit to patrolling. Absence of patrolling in had issued fresh SOP to the air- Apart from 1,853 fatalities re- throw waste in front of their shops as well. We had discussed with the campaign, the civic authority in the area is the key reason behind port staff and airlines to tackle any ported so far, 53 Covid-19 positive As many as 25 other districts re- making the atmosphere unhealthy shopkeepers and street vendors to November had passed an official the deaths of elephants by train untoward situation. patients have also died in the state ported casualties below 100. for commuters. He also mentioned keep two types of bins – one for order banning littering in public accidents and electrocution, The Bhubaneswar Municipal due to comorbidities, said the The state has tested over 67.70 that strict implementation of the di- dry waste and another for wet spaces. Upadhyay said. A jumbo was killed Corporation had also swung into ac- H&FW department official. lakh samples for Covid-19 so far, in- rective will begin December 28. garbage. But as the move did not The BMC had also begun its December 6 after it was hit by a tion initiating intensive contact Khurda district alone accounted cluding 32,782 Thursday. “The erring shopkeepers will yield any fruitful results, we have crackdown on littering in public train near Gargadabahal village tracing after the United Kingdom for 318 deaths followed by Ganjam Odisha’s positivity rate stands at not only be fined, their trade li- decided to cancel licences of the places and collected about Rs between Jujumura and Hatibari returnee was tested positive (246), Sundargarh (163), Cuttack 4.84 per cent, the data released by cences will also be revoked. If erring traders,” stated Choudhary. 10,000 fine in three days earlier area in Sambalpur district. of Covid-19. (138) and Puri (114). the H&FW department said. needed, their shops can be sealed Launched under ‘Mu Safaiwala’ last week. CP to launch bail monitoring system Plea seeks removal of encroachments on Mahanadi

POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Under the bail THREAT TO ECOSYSTEM Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: In an at- monitoring system, the Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: A petition tempt to put an end to the habitual police officials will look has been submitted to the Cuttack THE PETITION WAS FILED BEFORE offenders getting bail in just a few Collector and District Magistrate to THE COLLECTOR SEEKING REMOVAL days after their arrests, the into various lacunae remove illegal construction works OF A TEMPLE STRUCTURE AND Commissionerate Police will launch that are used by the on Mahanadi riverbed. OTHERS WHICH ARE ILLEGALLY a system soon to monitor the con- The petition was filed before the BUILD ON THE RIVERBED NEAR ditions under which the antiso- offenders to get bail Collector seeking removal of a tem- RATILO IN KISANNAGAR TEHSIL IN cials succeed in getting bails so ple structure and others which are CUTTACK DISTRICT quickly. As many as 16 antisocials have cure bail. We will monitor the bail illegally build on the riverbed near These criminals, after getting been detained under NSA during conditions through the system.” Ratilo in Kisannagar tehsil in THE NGT HAD EARLIER ASKED FOR released on bail, involve themselves 2020. Under the bail monitoring system, Cuttack district. INSPECTION OF THE AREA. A JOINT INSPECTION REPORT OF THE STATE in various nefarious activities again. In order to tackle the situation, the police officials will look into The case was earlier filed before GOVERNMENT ALSO ADMITTED This has turned as one of biggest the CP will launch a system soon various lacunae that are used by the the National Green Tribunal (NGT) THAT A PANCHAMUKHI HANUMAN headache for the twin-city police. to monitor the conditions under offenders to get bail. where it was alleged that illegal TEMPLE WAS BUILT IN THE AREA A helpless police usually slap which the dreaded and habitual Recently, a court granted bail to construction works were being car- ILLEGALLY National Security Act (NSA) against criminals succeed in getting bails some fake journalists arrested for ried out on the Mahanadi riverbed, such accused persons as a last re- so quickly. extorting money from a business- causing threat to the natural ecosys- THE TRIBUNAL HAD ALSO ASKED sort to put the history-sheeters be- Speaking on the issue, man as the IO failed to submit the tem of the area. FILE PHOTO FOR AN ACTION-TAKEN REPORT hind the bars for the sake public Bhubaneswar Deputy charge-sheet in time. The NGT had earlier asked for in- (ATR) IN THE CASE, WHICH THE order. Commissioner of Police (DCP) The officials will go through the spection of the area. A joint in- the panel admitted the illegality. has asked the Collector to inter- PETITIONER CLAIMED HAS NOT Recently, the Commissionerate Umashankar Dash said, “The in- documents produced by the bailers. spection report of the state gov- The tribunal had also asked for an vene in the matter and remove the BEEN FILED Police slapped NSA against gang- vestigating officers rarely receive Many bailers were also found pro- ernment also admitted that a action-taken report (ATR) in the illegal structures to reduce any ster Raja Acharya who had suc- the bail orders. So, they are unable ducing fake properties and other doc- Panchamukhi Hanuman temple case, which the petitioner claimed chance of threat to the river. form a panel to frame laws to pre- ceeded in getting bail in an extor- to go through the orders to find the uments to help the under-trials re- was built in the area illegally. has not been filed. Taking up the issue suo motu, the vent encroachments on Mahanadi

tion case December 18. loopholes that help the accused se- lease on bail. However after the orders of NGT, The petitioner, Dilip Samantaray, NGT asked the state government to floodplains.

k y m c P5 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR state OMM, DMF push

millet farming

k y m in tribal pockets Mining in state now reduced to extraction & sale c POST NEWS NETWORK INDUSTRIALISTS WHO HAVE INVESTED BIG HERE DON’T GET RAW MATERIAL ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS RESULTING IN THEIR UNITS FALLING SICK Keonjhar, Dec 25: As millet is a traditional staple food for tribals in POST NEWS NETWORK not permitted to sell the ore in the are on the verge (PCC) President Niranjan Patnaik hilly and forested areas, the Odisha open market. of closure for said he has in- Millet Mission in collaboration Joda, Dec 25: Post leasing out of About 90 per cent of mines in Joda shortage of formed the with the District Mineral mines, the mining sector in the area are merchant mines who sell iron iron ores. The Chief Minister Foundation (DMF) fund has been state is reduced to mineral extrac- ores to industries outside the state at state govern- about this in pushing this mission in many areas tion and sale only. According to re- a premium. However, industrialists ment should writing before of the tribal-dominated district. ports, the Joda mining circle has who have invested in the state are provide raw the start of the The efforts are on to ensure high quality iron ore which have unable to get the raw material material to auction process successful comeback of this tra- high demand abroad but the local according to their requirement, re- them through for mines. ditional farming in Keonjhar, industries have become sick. sulting in their units falling sick. its PSUs. Or else, they will face clo- Bansapal, Harichandanpur, Given high profits in mineral Investors who came to the state sure. Thousands of staff and work- BJP leader Murali Manohar Jhumpura, Joda, Champua, business, all lease holders and from all over the country and set up ers will be rendered jobless. The Sharma said for Hatadihi blocks. Geo climatic con- traders generally raise the prices of iron ore-based units had initially government should take steps to shortage of raw ditions of these areas are minerals depending on demand. dreamt of cheap and easily acces- operationlise the closed iron and materials, in- favourable for millet farming. The When demand for iron ores goes sible raw material. Their idea was manganese mines. About 50 per dustries in the OMM is encouraging tribal farm- up, lease holders lower mineral ex- they would get sufficient raw ma- cent of the iron ores being extracted state have fallen ers to adopt Sri Method to boost traction and create an artificial terial either through captive mines by merchant mines should be ear- sick. Steel in- harvest. raw material shortage for indus- or from merchant mine owners. marked for industries in the state dustries have Notably, millet was fast fading tries and seek exorbitant prices However, with the new method of only,” Rout observed. closed while the from agricultural landscape of from industries. auctioning and licencing adopted by number of un- the district. The nutrient-rich ce- As many as 106 iron ore mines in the government which has little Kapil Mohanty, secretary of employed youths in the state is in- real has been revived and is get- Joda are known for high quality consideration for existing plants, Keonjhar creasing, he added. ting the much-needed attention iron ore. All Steel Authority of India their future is bleak. With imminent as per the requirement of industries. sick or closing down. Due to tax mines and across the state because of its Ltd mines are included in it. In closure, unemployment looms large However, the government is un- evasion in the form of poor rev- forest work- Champua MLA Meenakshi high nutritional value. Millets Joda mining circle, there are 98 on the horizon for thousands of able to provide minerals to indus- enue payment, the state govern- ers union, Mohanta said the such as ragi, gurji and kosla (small merchant mines and eight captive local workers during this pandemic tries based on their actual needs. On ment incurs huge losses. It is also said the state state government millet), kodo, kangu (foxtail mil- mines. when other avenues of income have the other hand, merchant mines heating the employment prospect government is committed to let) and jowars are age-old tradi- The merchant mines can extract vanished. supply high quality iron ores to in- of youths. had no idea development of tional food of the hill dwellers. minerals from their mines and Requesting anonymity, the owner dustries outside the state. To evade According to AITUC state sec- on how the in- industries and re- transport them abroad or sell them of a steel unit said during the sign- taxes they show low quality iron retary Maheswar Rout, most of the dustries moval of unem- to industries at their own will. On ing of MoUs, the state government ores, he revealed. mineral based industries set up in should operate and from where ployment prob- the other hand, captive mines are agreed to provide mines or provide Industries in the state are fac- the state use iron ores. “There are they would get raw materials. lem. She however, supposed to extract ores for use of iron ores to industries from the ing an artificial shortage of raw scores of sponge iron, pellet and refused to speak their industries only and they are public sector undertaking mines material, leading to their falling other small plants in the state. They Pradesh Congress Committee more on mines and industries. Covid-19 worries haunting Haldhar’s poems in Gulzar’s book POST NEWS NETWORK The first page of the book also car- hun, Haldhar. Sambalpur ki mitti ries a message from Gulzar. He se ugaa hua yeh Adivasi kavi, Sambalpur, Dec 25: ‘A Poem a writes, “Dear Haldhar, you are like ‘Kosali’ zabaan mein likhta hai… Ganjam people once again Day’, a collection of Indian poems the sunrise of my book.” (I am writing a letter to you, Haldhar. selected and translated by legendary Padma Shri Nag recently re- Son of the soil of Sambalpur, this POST NEWS NETWORK poet, lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar, ceived a copy of ‘A Poem a Day’ Adivasi poet writes in Kosali lan- 3 UK returnees in Berhampur has featured two of Padma Shri along with a letter from Gulzar. In guage...” Farmers are provided finan- Ganjam, Dec 25: With the emergence of awardee Haldhar Nag’s poems. the letter, the noted filmmaker ex- cial assistance. In the first year, each a new strain of coronavirus in England, the BERHAMPUR: Even as the was conducted twice and re- The Kosali poet’s poems getting pressed his desire to meet the poet farmer is provided Rs 5000 and in Ganjam district administration has put a mutated coronavirus strain in ports came out negative for space in the filmmaker’s book is not in person. Reciprocating the feelings, second year Rs 3000 and in third ban on government officials and employ- the UK is causing worldwide Covid-19. a mean achievement. What is even the Kosali poet also expressed his year Rs 1500. ees leaving the district headquarters. panic, the district administra- Efforts are underway to more impressive is the fact that deepest gratitude to Gulzar. Those adopting line sowing are Initially when the Covid-19 pan- tion Friday confirmed trace out the other two re- Gulzar featured two of Nag’s poems The poet was featured in ‘Virtual provided input incentives of Rs 2500 demic was at its peak, Ganjam that at least three turnees,” he said, adding, peo- on the first page of ‘A Poem a Day’. Bharat’ - a collection of short sto- each per acre in the first year, Rs district remained at the top persons have re- ple should not let their guards The book has 365 contemporary ries, exploring India’s art, culture, 1500 in the second year and Rs 100 of the list by reporting turned to down. Rather, the emergence poems in 34 languages penned by music, folklore and human stories. in the third year. Improved tech- maximum number of Berhampur of the new strain of coron- 279 poets of India. The film produced by filmmaker and nologies like transplantation are positive cases contin- from the avirus has meant we are more ‘Pancha Amruta’ and ‘Chitthi documentary director Bharatbala being adopted with less seeds and uously for months. UK. vigilant to keep the virus at Deuchhen Re Haldhar’ are the two was released on YouTube in 2019. root intensification in these areas. However, the district On the bay. poems of Nag that have found place In the opening of the film, Gulzar Besides, the government has administration’s ef- sidelines Referring to people of on the first page of ‘A Poem a Day’. says, “Main tumhe khat likh raha made a provision of mandis to fective handling of the of launch- Ganjam district, he said the procure millets from farmers after situation bore fruits ing ‘Covid district has won the battle harvest so as to prevent distress and the pandemic has Sachetanata against coronavirus in its first sale. now been controlled in Rath’ which phase and it was possible due Biraja temple to reopen from Dec 29 The objective is to increase mil- the district. will cover two to the cooperation of people. let production with marketing Having experienced the blocks every day The same cooperation is re- POST NEWS NETWORK A detailed standard operating support and to promote millet- sting of Covid-19, the Ganjam ad- till December 29, quired to triumph over this in procedure (SOP) for compliance of based food processing entrepre- ministration seems to be in no mood District Collector Vijay the second phase. Jajpur, Dec 25: After a wait of nine Covid-19 safety protocols will be neurs, said an official. to take the recent case of a new strain of Amruta Kulange Friday in- Since it is suspected that months following the outbreak of issued for the visitors as well as Millet farming assumes im- coronavirus emerging in the UK casually. formed about the Britain re- the mutated coronavirus has Covid-19 pandemic, the district ad- the temple servitors, an official portance now as the state gov- Sensing the seriousness of the situa- turnees. already reached cities like ministration decided Friday in source informed. Keeping in mind ernment has laid stress on millet tion, Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange has “We have already traced Delhi, Karnataka and favour of reopening Biraja temple the expected rush during the New meals which are being served as put a ban on government officials leaving one of the three returnees Maharashtra, all have to be in Jajpur for devotees from at a presser held here. The devotees Year’s Day, visitors will not be al- ‘khichhdi’ and ‘upma’ under the the district headquarters. He also directed who is in home quarantine. extra cautious, he added. December 29. will be allowed to have darshan of lowed into the temple January 1, 2 ICDS and MDM programmes in his officials to ensure zero gatherings at pic- However, there is no need to The district reported two This was informed by District Maa Biraja between 6am and 5pm and 3. Darshan of the deity will Anganwadi Centres and schools. nic spots and on Gopalpur sea beach. get panicked as RT-PCR test positive cases Friday. Collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore every day, Rathore added. resume from January 4. Pregnant woman carried on Bimlagarh-Talcher rly line hits land hurdle

POST NEWS NETWORK would be no problem for construc- Inordinate tion of the railway project (82.65 cot to hospital in Koraput Rourkela, Dec 25: The state gov- delay has km stretch) in Angul district. ernment has delayed acquisition escalated The government is likely to hand POST NEWS NETWORK The family of the woman and handing over of land to the over 192 acres of private land and East Coast Railway for the the project 81 acres of government land for 32- booked a 102-ambulance. Koraput, Dec 25: Yet another in- Bimlagarh-Talcher railway line cost from km stretch in Deogarh by December cident of poor road connectivity Although the ambulance project. As a result, its pace of con- end. As of now, only 17.62 km from playing with the lives of people liv- struction has slowed down. The `806 crore to Talcher to Sunakhani has been arrived, due to streams ing in remote areas of the state project was supposed to be com- `3,000 crore completed while the next stretch of surfaced Thursday as a pregnant and hilly terrains it could pleted by 2022, but its completion is 16.3 km is targeted to be finished by woman was carried on a cot to avail expected to be delayed by three March, 2022. health services in Koraput district. not reach the woman years. Its cost has escalated to Rs was filed at the High Court by Talcher- ernment and the Sangram Samiti, This has dealt a blow to the key The incident was reported from 3,000 crore from Rs 806 crore, a re- Bimlagarh-Sangram Samiti. Padhi 664 acres of forest land have been railway infrastructure project as Debasandhagura village under Frequent incidents of pregnant with villagers carried her on a cot port said. discussed the land issues with made available in 2019. As per in- the state government has failed to Nandapur block in Koraput dis- women and patients being carried and waded through a stream and The project is passing through Rourkela Collector, ADM, sub-col- formation from the East Coast rail- acquire the required land. trict. According to locals, a woman on cots and slings owing to non- hilly terrains to reach the ambulance Angul, Deogarh and Sundargarh lector and land acquisition officers. way December 18, 2020, all private According to ECoR, only 298 of the village experienced labour motorable roads and lack of trans- which was stationed two kilometres districts. The project is expected to He said all legality in the matter and government land in Talcher acres of the total 921 acres of pri- pain Thursday evening. Her fam- portation facilities in several pock- from Debasandhagura village. boost the economy of these districts, of land acquisition has been com- and Kaniha tehsils have been handed vate land could be acquired till July ily members booked a 102-ambu- ets of Odisha have revealed the She was immediately rushed to a report said. Commissioner of pleted but it is getting delayed for over to the railways,” revealed. 14. No land could be acquired in lance. Although the ambulance ar- ground reality of the healthcare Nandapur Community Health commerce and transport shortage of staff. The Collector has In Pallahada tehsil, 391 acres Sundargarh and Deogarh districts. rived, due to streams and hilly delivery system in the state. Centre (CHC) in the ambulance Madhusudan Padhi visited these been asked to take necessary steps have been acquired but it has not Of the total 422 acres of govern- terrains it could not reach the Without an alternative, the where she is undergoing treatment districts to take stock of the land ac- in this regard. been handed over to the railway, ment land, only 162 acres could be woman. woman’s family members along and is stated to be stable now. quisition. His visit came after a PIL “Due to the efforts of the gov- he said. Padhi assured that there acquired. Wild bear visits temple on a regular basis SIT chief shields real culprit: Pari’s mom

POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK n The tribal people living here worship The SIT is making Budharaja as their deity. There is a Koksara, Dec 25: A bear has fallen temple at the foot of Sahajkhol hill Nayagarh, Dec 25: The deceased, stories just to save the in love with temple prasad! Sounds below Aamapani Ghat where Pari's mother, Saudamini Sahu, al- actual criminal. Babuli unbelievable, but it is true. A bear Budharaja is worshipped by these leged Thursday evening that SIT has been regularly visiting a tem- tribal people. chief Arun Bothra has been mak- Nayak and his gang ple at the foot of Sahajkhol hill in ing stories to shield the real culprit are involved in the Koksara block on the outskirts of n Villagers say: Bear is a wild animal and in the much-talked about rape and Kalahandi district to eat prasad has been notorious for getting fierce at murder case in Nayagarh district. crime, says Saudamini offered by devotees. times, causing serious injuries to people. Notably, the Special Investigation The tribal people living here But this bear is not like that. After sunset, Team (SIT) has been investigating worship Budharaja as their deity. it comes to the temple, eats the fruits the alleged rape and murder of the crime,” Pari’s mother Saudamini “The SIT hasn’t used dog squad. There is a temple at the foot of offered by the deportees and then minor girl at Jadupur village. said. Saudamini further claimed So I cannot comment on dog squad.” Sahajkhol hill below Aamapani returns to the jungle on its own Nearly, 75 per cent bones of the that her daughter was killed for “The towel which Saroj used to

Ghat where Budharaja is wor- victim are missing. “The cops have organ trade. clean blood stains after killing the

k y m c shipped by these tribal people. found 12 pieces of bones along with Earlier in the day, Bothra had 5-year-old girl, has been sent to lab- For last couple of days, what the “Bear is a wild animal and has temple, eats the fruits offered by the are learnt to have stopped coming the skull. Our body has 206 bones; clarified that bones of the deceased oratory for testing. The accused villagers have been witnessing is been notorious for getting fierce at deportees and then returns to the out of their houses after the sun sets so, where are the other bones. The girl are not missing. When asked as had washed the towel several times a rare experience for them, they times, causing serious injuries to jungle on its own,” they observed. in. The local forest department of- SIT is making stories just to save to why the police sniffer dogs failed but bloodstains were found. The stated. According to them, a bear people. But this bear is not like Even if it has not attacked any- ficers could not be reached for the actual criminal. Babuli Nayak to trace the decomposed body by fol- towel and leggings are major evi- is coming to the temple every day. that. After sunset, it comes to the one as yet, people are in fear. They their comments. and his gang are involved in the lowing the stench, Bothra said, dence in the case,” he added. P6 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR power post

The whole world yearns after FOCUS PEOPLE freedom, yet each creature is in love with his chains; this is the

first paradox and inextricable

k y m knot of our nature. c SRI AUROBINDO WHO IS AMERICA?

hy would a US to declare that the baser instincts President in the last lurking in the darkened corners of weeks of his ad- American life were “not who we Lateral entry runs W ministration want are” as Americans. Torturing pris- to start executing federal prison- oners in “black sites” all over the ers at a furious pace, even as he par- world was “not who we are.” Racist dons four American mercenaries killings in black churches were into a babu wall who murdered 14 Iraqi civilians in “not who we are.” And so on. cold blood? The federal govern- Obama was nothing if not an as- arlier this year, Arvind Panagariya, former vice-chief of the government has killed ten men already pirational leader. He expressed in ment NITI Aayog, wrote in his book “India Unlimited – Reclaiming the this year – more judicial killings his books and his speeches a high ELost Glory” that Indian babus suffered from the socialist hangover, which than in all of America's states ideal of the United States. In this has slowed down the pace of reforms the Modi sarkar wishes to introduce combined. Three more executions respect, he followed the example (Dilli Ka Babu, April 16. 2020). To buttress his view, he claimed that the gov- remain to come before Donald of Martin Luther King, Jr. Both ernment’s attempts to privatise several PSUs remained stalled for long de- Trump leaves office next month – One of former President Barack Obama’s men were fully aware of America’s spite Prime Minister Modi’s push to get Cabinet approval for the list of one for a murder committed when coarse, violent, racist side. Both PSUs drawn up by the NITI Aayog. He also cited Modi’s initiative for lateral the condemned man was barely 18 verbal tics was to declare that the baser tried hard to appeal to people's entry at the top levels of the bureaucracy. According to Panagariya, babus years old, and one the first woman instincts lurking in the darker corners of better nature. They hoped that slowed down the process to the extent that at the very end of his term only Ian Buruma put to death by the federal gov- their country would one day live nine officers could be inducted from outside. ernment in 70 years. American life did not represent “who we are.” up to their vision of it. His prophecy now seems to be coming true (though this will be hotly con- The Trump administration’s But four years of Donald Trump’s presidency, That is exactly what provoked tested by the babus!). One of the nine officers has decided to call it quits. According THE TRUMP killing spree goes against all recent the aggression of Trump and his to sources, domain expert Arun Goel who had joined the Commerce Ministry norms and trends, which have re- which is ending with an unprecedented spree devoted supporters. Being crass, as joint secretary has put in his papers, barely a year after the much tom- ADMINISTRATION’S duced executions to almost none. of federal executions, suggest that millions prejudiced, and extolling violence tomed lateral entry of specialists in KILLING SPREE And the frenetic activity on death was the key to Trump's success. The government. It is widely believed that BABUDOM row is going on even as the lame of Americans disagree coarser his language, the cruder the others hired under the scheme GOES AGAINST duck administration is doing very his behavior, the more his sup- may similarly exit the government. BYTES little else, aside from angrily con- ing in a noisy café somewhere in refinement. Few Presidents in his- porters cheered him on. It was If that happens, it will ring down the ALL RECENT testing the election results. It is Australia. The radio was playing tory have his gift for English prose. their revenge on Obama, and every- curtain on one of Modi’s pet “re- Dilip Cherian NORMS AND President-elect Joe Biden who is rubbishy pop music. Then, as Obama is not only a stylish writer, thing he stood for. forms”, which no previous gov- trying to talk sensibly about the though by a miracle, the pro- but a discerning reader. His be- Biden's popularity has been ernment had shown the inclination to implement. TRENDS, WHICH Covid-19 crisis in America, not gramme changed and Leys heard havior in office was always im- based on the exact opposite. He The signs are already there. There have been no new appointments this HAVE REDUCED Donald Trump. the glorious sound of a Mozart peccable, and he and his wife, is the anti-Trump who promises year through lateral entry since the scheme was introduced last year to bring Is Trump’s bloodlust due to a fit quintet. After a moment of silence Michelle, are the model of a highly to restore dignity to American in domain experts from outside to fill the shortage of specialists in the EXECUTIONS TO of pique because he lost the elec- in the room, a man abruptly rose civilized couple. politics. Like Obama, he ex- upper echelons of the bureaucracy. ALMOST NONE tion? Is it just a matter of per- to his feet and, as though in a fit And that is precisely what some presses faith in reason and pa- Is it a brave experiment destined not to succeed? Some observers sonal malice? Or is it symbolic, a of anger, switched the radio back of his opponents could never abide. triotic bipartisanship, and prom- believe that the scheme was not expected to succeed since the en- brutal gesture toward “law and to musical pap. The relief in the Racists hated the very idea of ises that his administration will trenched babus were wary of those who intruded on to their turf and order,” setting up Biden as a softie café was palpable. being governed by a black man. But put an end to an era of social would stymie any such attempt by the government. The babus seem if he carries out his promise to abol- Leys reflected on this peevish the fact that he was such a well-ed- and political vandalism. to have fought off this breach of their castle. The walls they have erected ish the death penalty? gesture. Did the man hate classi- ucated and cultivated black man We don't know whether he will around themselves are still holding up. Thinking about a possible ex- cal music? Did he have a peculiar made his ascent to the highest of- succeed. It is far easier to destroy planation, I was reminded of an an- loathing of Mozart? Or perhaps his fice even more intolerable. than it is to rebuild, as Trump’s NDDB gets new chief ecdote told by the late great Belgian lack of cultivation made it im- Many commentators in the presidency demonstrated time Until 2014, the chairmanship of the National Dairy Development Board sinologist and essayist Simon Leys. possible for him to appreciate the past four years have pointed out and again. And no matter how (NDDB) was held by dairy professionals. But in its six years term at the Centre, He was responding to the British beauty of this music. Leys con- that Trump was driven by an ob- much Biden wishes to pursue the Modi sarkar has chosen to name only able senior administrators to the journalist Christopher Hitchens, cluded that it was none of those sessive desire to tear down every- Obama’s aspiration of a more civ- top post at NDDB. who had written a scathing book things. It was, on the contrary, thing his predecessor had built. ilized society, there are millions of Earlier this month, the government named Varsha Joshi, a 1995-batch IAS about Mother Theresa, entitled, in precisely because the man sensed Various reasons were given: Americans who still think that is officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the new chairperson of NDDB. Previously, a typical Hitchens provocation, the quality of the music that he had Trump's deep insecurity; his not at all “who we are.” Joshi was the Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and The Missionary Position. Leys, a to cancel it. Mozart had made him playing to his base; or his own Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. Her ap- devout Catholic, believed that feel small, insignificant, uncouth. racial prejudices. I think Leys' an- Ian Buruma is the author, pointment ended speculation on Dilip Rath who was Managing Director of Hitchens was so overawed by the He had to drag the music down to ecdote about the Australian café most recently, of ‘The NDDB and later held additional charge of the post of Chairman since 2016 spiritual superiority of Mother his own level. offers the best explanation. Churchill Complex: The Curse getting another extension. Theresa that he wanted to drag A similar type of aggression Trump had to erase the image of of Being Special’, ‘From Sources say that Rath’s claim to being the only Indian after Dr Amrita Patel, her down to his own base level. has marked the four years of high civilization that Obama rep- Winston and FDR to Trump another former chief of NDDB, to be elected to the board of the International Whether or not Leys was right Trump’s presidency. Barack Obama resented. He had to drag it down and Brexit’. Dairy Federation, and his showcasing of his achievements on social media about Hitchens, the anecdote bears had his flaws as a president, but he to his own level. did not endear him to the powers that be. repeating. One day, Leys was work- always exuded an air of dignity and One of Obama’s verbal tics was ©PROJECT SYNDICATE Varsha Joshi has been Commissioner, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Secretary, Power, Delhi Government, joint Secretary in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and Director with the Census of India.

Share a babu experience! Follow [email protected]. SPECTRUM EDUCATION Let’s multiply the effect. WISDOM CORNER The magic of the syllabus If something is important enough, even if the odds are stacked against you, you should still do it. uring the 2007-08 financial the course that they can’t do at the about academic honesty, accom- board or chalk was doing the teach- ELON MUSK crises, many experienced beginning? What happens when modations for special learning ing, yet today we risk imagining that Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great. Dwhat literary scholars call we ask that question? By building needs, and grievance policies. Yet, our sophisticated technology can JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER a “crisis of representation.” their courses backwards in this at its heart, the syllabus is a piece make up for the lack of a robust, People who wonder if the glass is half empty or full miss the point. Globally, more than $15 trillion way, professors could then add the of writing that a teacher crafts in practical pedagogy. Professors who The glass is refillable. UNKNOWN seemed to evaporate, and people needed skills in stages. This sim- order to imagine a classroom com- are asking how tech can improve wondered, “Wait a second, what ple idea is not exactly new, but it is munity into being. their teaching are asking the wrong William Germano & is money? How could all of this not at the center of current higher- That is not the traditional view, question. WORDSWORTH value just disappear? If this thing education debates. of course. Back in the mid-twentieth Using the pandemic to reimag- Kit Nicholls that represented that other thing Partly because faculty has not or- century, the syllabus was mostly a ine the goals of teaching might be can vanish, was there ever any- ganised themselves to answer the list of the knowledge a professor the unexpected upside of a miser- Bridegroom thing there in the first place?” essential question of what and how would deliver to students. But today, able situation. Teachers can find LOSING MOST OF Those of us who teach at uni- universities teach, that task has the syllabus is an opportunity to plot within this crisis the opportunity Groom is common as a short form of bridegroom. How the word that we THE PHYSICAL versities are currently going fallen increasingly to administra- a story in which the students – not to rethink the precious classroom Anow use for a man who looks after horses came to be linked to one half through something similar because tors responsible for “assessment.” teachers – are the protagonists. dynamic. After all, teaching stu- of a marrying couple is one of the classic stories of popular MARKERS OF of Covid-19. Losing most of the A set of “measurable objectives” is Devising one gives any teacher the dents how to learn, and to learn how misunderstandings — folk etymology — that cause language to evolve in physical markers of academic life set in various planning and ac- chance to do what good writers do, to do things themselves beyond unpredictable ways. In Old English, a bridegroom was a brydguma, a ACADEMIC HAS – no classrooms or offices, and stu- creditation documents and “stu- and engage empathetically with the classroom, is education's nec- compound of bryd, a bride or marriage, and guma, a man. Guma, which is FORCED US TO dents instead beamed into our dent outcomes” are standardised others’ experiences. That way, teach- essary gift to society. related to Latin homo, was a poetic term for a man, which turns up in the homes via Zoom – has forced us to at the institutional level. Many ers can create classes that take stu- Giving that gift, and making epic poem Beowulf, as does another version of the same word, gome. By the QUESTION WHAT A question what a university is and professors fear that these admin- dents through difficulty and change sure it is received, will require a lot sixteenth century brydguma had become brydegome (though the spelling UNIVERSITY IS AND what higher education means. istrative structures and strictures to somewhere new. of good writing – not the bureau- was variable). This was starting to look puzzling, because gome had become In 2020, the answer is not obvi- are gaining greater purchase dur- We are not advocating making cratic or disposable kind, but some- obsolete, and people didn’t connect it with that old word for a man. On the WHAT HIGHER ous. Virtual teaching, like online ing the pandemic. Online courses every class somehow “vocational,” thing more imaginative. That may other hand, they did have groom. EDUCATION MEANS business, socialising, or prayer, is can be monitored and recorded, much less sentimentalizing the not sound like the syllabus you re- nothing like the real thing. Subtract and may come to resemble algo- hard work of learning. Rather, member from your own univer- dorm life, parties, physical class- rithms rather than learning com- teachers should plan their courses sity days, but it is what we need now. Bridewell rooms, and office hours in actual munities. backwards by developing assign- offices from the higher-education But long before college presi- ments – readings, experiments, William Germano is n the early sixteenth century, what was modestly called lodging was experience, and what remains is dents had MBAs and academic and projects – in a progression so Professor of English at The Ibuilt for Henry VIII on the banks of the Fleet River in London. It was quite sterile. human resources managers had that students learn how as much as Cooper Union for the actually a brick palace arranged around three courtyards. Its claim to But this pared-down environ- more job security than professors, what, week by week, even class by Advancement of Science fame is partly etymological and partly artistic. The latter came about ment may also be revealing some- US higher education had its own class. and Art’s Center for Writing. because in 1533 it was the scene of Holbein’s famous painting, The thing essential that had been hid- planning document: the humble Technology of all kinds can be Kit Nicholls is Director Ambassadors. The former was due to Edward VI, who gave the palace to den by all the climbing walls, course syllabus. critical, and especially now, when of the Center for Writing the City of London as a hospital, orphanage and prison. Later it was used cafeterias, and culture wars – Many professors worry that the almost all of us are teaching on at The Cooper Union mainly for the short-term confinement and punishment of petty namely, the mechanism by which syllabus has itself fallen prey to too screen. But it is, and must be, a for the Advancement of offenders and those who were regarded as anti-social misfits, such as learning happens. What should many bureaucratic requirements, tool, not a proxy. No classroom Science and Art. vagrants, itinerants, vagabonds and loose women. The palace was sited students be able to do at the end of including quasi-legal disclaimers teacher ever thought that the black- ©PROJECT SYNDICATE near an ancient holy well called St. Bride’s Well and became known as Bridewell. The name was passed on to the prison. Steady fall Roll on Brexit LOL Sir, From being a caged parrot of the powers that be, the inability of the Sir, The so-called Brexit deal between the UK and the EU has Show him your badge any land... No Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take investigation and prose- just reached the final stage at last with both the parties questions asked or etters cution in crucial and sensational criminals cases to their logical con- clinching the final deal. On the other part, there have been answers given. Have I clusion have bamboozled everyone. That courts are increasingly ques- different stories and confusing signals from certain quar- EA officer stops at a ranch in made myself clear? Do you tioning the CBI’S integrity is a shocking indictment of the latter. The ters about the deal. As a result of the Brexit deal, business Texas, and talks with an old understand? " The rancher nods TOL THE EDITOR Allahabad High Court judgement in the Aarushi Talwar-Hemraj Banjade patterns, facets of export/import and farming and job scene D rancher.. He tells the rancher, "I need politely, apologizes, and goes about Readers of Orissa POST double murder was a classic lesson to the CBI on how not to investigate are all up for some more breaking points. But it is all about to inspect your ranch for illegally his chores. A short time later, the old are most welcome to contribute letters a case. However, two recent verdicts of the Madras High Court questioning the good rapport and business coexistence between the peers grown drugs." The rancher says, rancher hears loud screams and sees (200 words), articles and the competency, expertise and integrity of CBI officers should come as and neighbors at the end of the day. In general, cutting a columns (between 750-1250 "Okay, but do not go in that field over the DEA officer running for his life words). Contributors are another wake up call for the agency. The agency ‘lost’ in its custody 103 deal takes a lot of efforts and introspection. There will be ini- there," as he points out the location. chased by the rancher's big Santa requested to send their kg of the 400 kg gold it seized from a private corporate giant in 2012 kept tial hiccups. However, they have to bear the brunt of every- The DEA officer verbally explodes Gertrudis Bull... With every step the contact numbers and full in the latter’s safes and vaults under its responsibility. When the case thing out there. One report shows that the farmers involved

saying, "Mister, I have the authority bull is gaining ground on the officer, postal address/email ID. They may also came up for hearing, there was no plausible explanation forthcoming in Scottish seed potatoes cultivation have been left out of the

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c of the Federal Government with me." and it seems likely that he'll get gored and suggestions, preferably by email, from the CBI. To add insult to injury, the high court asked the state CB- Brexit business pact. Cherry-picking-choosing only the ben- Reaching into his rear pants pocket, before he reaches safety. The officer to: [email protected] CID to investigate the matter, a move fiercely opposed by the CBI but to efits- won't do. So in the current context, the UK and the EU he removes his badge and proudly is clearly terrified. The rancher throws no avail. Generally, the CBI is entrusted a case by governments after their should adjust to the new patterns through mutual under- displays it to the rancher. "See this down his tools, runs to the fence and state investigation agencies fail to do their work. But in the instant standing and encouraging all the agriculture and business ac- badge? This badge means I am yells at the top of his lungs... "Your B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, case, the unthinkable ‘reverse’ happened. tivities across the board. allowed to go wherever I wish.... On badge... Show him your badge!" Bhubaneswar-751010 Ganapathi Bhat, AKOLA P Senthil Saravana Durai, MUMBAI MADHYA PUNJAB P7 PRADESH

SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Farmers, BJP activists face off Amarinder asks farmers not c

AGENCIES had managed to get inside before farmers started their demonstration. to disrupt telecom services Chandigarh, Dec 25: Tension pre- The protesters also did not allow vailed between protesting farmers several BJP activists, including and BJP activists in Punjab Friday Bharati Sharma, district president There were reports that farmers at various places in Punjab were disconnecting power over functions to mark the 96th of BJP's Mahila Wing, to go inside supply to mobile towers of a particular telecom operator, disrupting their services birth anniversary of former Prime the hotel, police said. Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Those who had gone inside had PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Urging farmers not to take the law The farmers have been protest- to slip one by one from the hotel's into their hands by forcibly shutting ing against the three farm laws backdoor under police protection Chandigarh, Dec 25: Amid re- down telecom connectivity or man- brought by the BJP-led central gov- in order to save themselves from the ports that power supply to mobile handling employees and techni- ernment. wrath of the protesters, police said. towers was being disconnected by cians of telecom service providers, The main events where the dis- They included BJP district and protesting farmers in different the chief minister said such ac- ruption, even minor scuffles, took block presidents Rakesh Duggal parts of the state, Punjab Chief tions were not in the interest of place were held at Punjab's Bathinda and Paramjit Singh Pamma Minister Amarinder Singh Friday Punjab and its future. and Jalandhar towns. Chachoki and former Mayor Arun appealed to them to not inconven- Singh, in a statement here, said At Bathinda, the agitated farm- Khosla. Mussapur alleged that BJP's ience the general public with such the people of Punjab were standing ers reached the spot where the BJP programme and anti-farmers' prop- actions. with farmers in their fight against workers were going to hold a func- Police intervene after a mild altercation between BJP supporters and a aganda were being done under the He urged them to exercise the of a request from the Tower and the "black farm laws and will con- tion to celebrate the birth an- section of protestors who were agitating against the new farm laws, in Bathinda, garb of Vajpayee Jayanti celebra- same restraint that they had been Infrastructure Providers Association tinue to do so". niversary and allegedly manhandled Friday. PTI PHOTO tion. He said 'kisans', 'mazdoors' showing over the past several (TAIPA), a registered body of tele- He requested the farmers to re- them and pelted them with stones. (farm labours) and 'mulazams' (em- months and said that telecom con- com infrastructure providers, ask- ciprocate by ensuring that the bat- Police had to use mild force to dis- of protest we didn't allow them to ter Atal Bihari Vajpayee, forcing ployees) will boycott the hotel and nectivity had become even more ing the state government to per- tle for justice does not cause any perse the protesters. Later, the farm- mark the function.” “Moreover, our them to slip out from the backdoor the company's products. critical for people amid the COVID- suade farmers not to resort to any problems for the people of the state. ers staged on sit-in protest there. protests against state BJP leaders under police protection. The protesters raised slogans 19 pandemic. unlawful activity in their fight for “Forceful disruption of telecom Bathinda BJP chief Vinod Gupta have been going on for over three The protesters claimed that the against the Narendra Modi gov- The chief minister said the farm- justice, a state government statement services due to snapping of power and state BJP legal cell co-convener months,” he told the media. hotel was owned by a BJP activist ernment and Union minister Som ers protesting against the Centre's said here. supply to mobile towers by farmers Ravinder Gupta, among others, sus- Likewise, the farmers didn't allow who also ran a company supply- Parkash. Protesters hoisted the new farm laws should show the There were reports that farm- in several parts of the state is not tained minor injuries in the melee. the BJP to hold a similar event in ing cattle and chicken feed. They said BKU flag on a pole outside the same discipline and sense of re- ers at various places in Punjab, in- only adversely affecting the studies Farmer union BKU (Ekta Jalandhar city. they will boycott the company's hotel, warning it's owner that if sponsibility which they had been cluding Mansa, Barnala, Ferozepur and future prospects of students, Ugrahan) leader Mothu Kotra said: Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) ac- products. Led by the union’s vice the flag was removed or any BJP exercising during their protest at and Moga, were disconnecting the who are dependent entirely on on- “The farmers are sitting in the tivists Friday gheraoed local BJP president Kirpal Singh Mussapur, function was allowed at the hotel the Delhi border, which completed power supply to mobile towers of a line education, but also hamper- open despite severe cold on the leaders who had gathered at a hotel a number of activists held a protest in future, farmers will 'gherao' one month, and also earlier dur- particular telecom operator during the daily life of people working Delhi borders and the BJP was cel- in Phagwara to observe the birth an- outside the hotel and gheraoed both the hotel and the company ing their agitation in the state. ing the past few days, disrupting from home due to the pandemic,” ebrating something here. As a mark niversary of former prime minis- those BJP leaders and workers who along national highway. Singh’s appeal came in the wake their services. Singh said. Owaisi’s AIMIM to contest MP may get a new LoP from Congress Within the party, it is being said that after the demise of senior leader Ahmed Patel, Kamal Nath’s urban local body polls in MP role at the centre can increase and he can get a greater responsibility from the party high command INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Singh Rathore are also said to be INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE in the contention. HEARTLAND POLITICS Bhopal, Dec 25: In Madhya Senior Congress leader and for- Bhopal, Dec 25: The All India Till now there There are some Pradesh, the Congress may soon mer minister PC Sharma believes Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has been a parts of the appoint a new leader of opposi- that the Leader of the Opposition (AIMIM) led by Lok Sabha MP direct political state where tion in the Assembly since state of the Congress should be one who Asaduddin Owaisi would contest the fight between the Bahujan chief Kamal Nath is expected to re- can put up a decent fight on the upcoming urban local body elec- the Congress Samaj Party linquish the post. Still, Nath is ground. tions in Madhya Pradesh, for which and the BJP in (BSP) is likely to have a say in the selection Congress sources say Nath has the party has devised a strategy to large parts of engaged in a of his successor. convened a meeting December 27, conduct a survey in the Muslim- the state triangular fight The three-day session of the a day before the assembly session. dominated areas of the state. Political experts believe that if the state Assembly is going to begin It is possible a big decision is taken The urban local body polls using AIMIM also contests the urban local from December 28. Before that spec- in this meeting. EVMs are likely to be held in Madhya body elections, the Congress is ulation is rife about the new leader Political pundits believe that Pradesh in February next year for expected to suffer a political dent of the opposition. Within the party, many Congress leaders want Kamal which the State Election Commission it is being said that after the demise Nath to relinquish one of the posts: has completed all the preparations. there are a large number of Muslim in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections, of senior leader Ahmed Patel, state party chief or leader of op- AIMIM is all set to enter the politi- voters. Owaisi is specifically fo- 38 candidates were fielded from Kamal Nath’s role in the politics of Kamal Nath appears to have made up his mind to position so that another leader can cal fray in the state through these cusing on Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain, different constituencies, but it failed the Congress at the centre can in- quit as leader of the opposition, because he is get a chance on one of them. polls. Naeem Ansari, the acting Khandwa, Sagar, Burhanpur, to win a single Assembly seat. crease and he can get a greater re- Nath appears to have made up his President of the party's Madhya Khargone, Ratlam, Javra, Jabalpur, At the same time, 44 candidates sponsibility from the party high keen to take on a big responsibility in the mind to quit as leader of the op- Pradesh unit, has accepted that the Balaghat and Mandsaur. won the elections in the recent command. Nath’s recent meeting assembly elections in the year 2023 position, because he is keen to take prospects of the party's status are Owaisi has tried to increase Greater Hyderabad Municipal with Sonia Gandhi is also being on a big responsibility in the as- being explored in the wake of the AIMIM's political base outside Corporation elections. Owaisi is linked to this. uled castes or tribes. This is be- is affecting the claims of those sembly elections in the year 2023. local body elections along with a Hyderabad in the last few years. now trying to expand his party's base If the claimants of the leader of cause Vikrant Bhuria, a promi- like Bala Bachchan and Dr Vijay So, it is more likely that Nath will survey to be conducted soon. His party fielded 20 candidates in in north India, which he has an- the opposition are to be seen, it is nent face of the tribal category, has Lakshmi Sadho. Besides Sajjan remain the head of the party and Sources said that AIMIM is eye- the recent Assembly elections in nounced by entering the political known that the party is likely to won the election as state presi- Verma, leaders such as Dr Govind anoint a person of his choice as ing especially those areas where Bihar and won five seats. Similarly, field in Madhya Pradesh. bet on a leader from the sched- dent of the Youth Congress. This Singh, Harsh Yadav and Brijendra leader of opposition. India’s first hot air balloon PUNJAB EMERGES AS HUB OF Online campaign to solicit wildlife safari launched ILLEGAL CIGARETTE SALE NRIs’ support for farmers PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PRESS TRUST OF INDIA the launch of the hot air balloon Manik Goyal and Joban wildlife safari. It is the first in any Trade insiders believe Chandigarh, Dec 25: A group Randhawa, who are Umaria (MP), Dec 25: India’s tiger reserve in the country. Now of Punjab residents has launched first hot air balloon wildlife safari like Africa’s forests, tourists in besides Amritsar, an online campaign urging NRIs organising the in a tiger reserve was launched India will also enjoy hot air balloon to come to India to lend “moral and #NRIsChaloDelhi Friday in the world famous wildlife safari,” Shah told reporters Chandigarh, material” support to farmers Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve by after inaugurating the new service protesting against the Centre's campaign, said they Madhya Pradesh forest minister by taking a ride. Ludhiana and agriculture laws. want to increase Vijay Shah. He said the state was planning Manik Goyal and Joban Shah said the activity will be to introduce this service in Pench, Jalandhar are the Randhawa, who are organising awareness among NRIs restricted to the buffer area and peo- Kanha and Panna tiger reserves main transit points of the #NRIsChaloDelhi campaign, and channelise their ple can watch tigers, leopards, as well. said they want to increase aware- support for the Indian sloth bear and other wild an- The service is being operated the imported and ness among NRIs and channelise imals from a height. by Jaipur-based Sky Waltz and their support for the farmers’ farmers’ cause “One more adventure has been company official Jai Thakur said cheap Indian brands cause. added for tourists coming to the it was hoping for a good response A group of NRIs has decided to farmers' agitation,” they said. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve with from tourists. of cigarettes that are reach India on December 30 to The organisers said the ongo- routed from Delhi Chandigarh and Panchkula cities have an lend “moral and material” support ing farmers' agitation has led to to protesting farmers camping at “worldwide interest and annual legal market of 20 million and 10 million the Singhu border on the out- support.” INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE cigarettes respectively, and the illegal market skirts of Delhi in a bid to further As children of farmers and has a share of 15-20 per cent strengthen their agitation against Punjab, it is the moral duty of Chandigarh, Dec 25: Punjab has the three farm laws, the organisers NRIs to stand with the toiling been emerging as a hub of illegal said Friday. sons and daughters of India who sale of imported cigarettes and a cru- “Delhi Customs (Preventive) con- market accounts for 20-30 per cent. “NRIs led by Surinder Mavi are braving harsh winter nights cial route to neighbouring Jammu ducted multiple searches, including Chandigarh and Panchkula cities (Toronto-Patiala) and his friends at Delhi borders for their rights, and Kashmir and Himachal the warehouses of logistics service have an annual legal market of 20 Raman Brar (Toronto-Faridkot), they added. Pradesh, posing a threat to the providers. Seized 19.3 lakh foreign million and 10 million cigarettes re- Vikramjit Saran (Vancouver- Thousands of farmers, mostly health of smokers too who are get- cigarettes valued at Rs 2.35 crore. spectively, and the illegal market has Mansa), are coming to India to from Punjab, are camping at Delhi ting hooked to the cheap quality Four arrests so far. Investigation is a share of 15-20 per cent. contribute towards farmers' cause borders for about a month de- of international brands sans health on,” Customs (Preventive) Delhi Most of the illegal cigarette so as to provide moral and mate- manding the repeal of "anti- warnings, trade insiders said informed in a tweet Wednesday. brands attract the retailers as they rial support towards the ongoing farmer" laws. Thursday. According to the officials, the are available at a significantly lower A major tax inspection by the seized cigarettes were smuggled price than the legal cigarettes. They Excise and Taxation Department on from countries like China, Malaysia, are sold in the market at one fifth two prominent cigarette distribu- South Korea and Indonesia to evade the price of the legal product, said tors of the Amritsar city was con- taxes and sell them in Delhi and the investigator. ducted this week. other major cities. Take the case of an imported Official sources told IANS it “When compared to the Indian brand. A pack of 20 cigarettes costs seems the tax evasion by both the brands, consumers prefer to buy for- Rs 20-30 to a retailer, who is selling distributors is of nearly Rs 50 lakh eign brands due to the interna- at a cost of Rs 100. While an Indian that comprises banned tobacco tional quality, catchy labels and brand cost between Rs 250 and Rs products, lesser known Indian nice packaging,” an investigator 300 with a profit margin of ap- brands and a large stock of the im- told IANS. Whereas cigarettes pro- proximately Rs 5.

ported ones. duced and packed in India have to A spokesperson for the Punjab

k y m c Trade insiders believe besides adhere to specified health warn- government said 21,446 fines under Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana ings, both in pictorial and text for- the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco and Jalandhar are the main tran- mats, to discourage the smokers. Products Act or COTPA were im- sit points of the imported and cheap State Forest Minister Vijay Shah launches India’s first hot air balloon wildlife Trade insiders say Punjab alone posed in 2019-20 and the maximum Indian brand of cigarettes that are safari at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, in Umaria district, Friday. PTI PHOTO has an annual legal market of 120 fines were against selling cigarettes routed from Delhi. million cigarettes and the grey without pictorial warning. P8 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

THE YEAR 2020 WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING AND EXTRAORDINARY. THREE

k y m UNHAPPY FARMERS THINGS THAT DEFINED 2020 WERE THE PANDEMIC, ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN AND WAVES OF GRIEF c he 2020 Indian farmers' protest is an ongoing protest against the WIDESPREAD PROTESTS ACROSS THE WORLD. FROM BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE Tthree farm acts which were passed by the Parliament of India in US TO THE NRC-CAA PROTESTS AND THE FARMER PROTESTS IN INDIA NOW, THE September 2020. The acts have been described as ‘anti-farmer laws’ HK CLAMPDOWN by many farmer unions, and farmer unions and politicians from the YEAR SAW A WAVE OF PUBLIC ANGER. DESPITE THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH opposition also say it would leave farmers at the ‘mercy of corporates’. Farmers, mostly from the Sikh-dominated state of CHALLENGE IN OVER A CENTURY — AND THE VIRUS THREAT, LOCKDOWNS AND n June, a year after a massive wave Punjab, have been camped on the borders of New Delhi since last Iof demonstrations, China imposes a month, demanding Modi roll back the reforms intended to bring INCREASINGLY REPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT THEY TRIGGERED — PROTESTS sweeping new security law on Hong investment in the antiquated farm sector but which the farmers REMAINED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE GLOBAL POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. Kong that opponents say undermines say will leave them at the mercy of big corporations. Angry the semi-autonomous city's liberties, farmers staged demonstrations near New Delhi after rejecting ORISSA POST TAKES A SHARP LOOK AT SOME OF THE MAJOR POLITICAL AND promised under its handover from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurances that the laws would Britain in 1997. Pro-democracy double farmers’ income. The farmers have been undeterred by SOCIAL UPHEAVALS OF THE YEAR. lawmakers are ousted, harassed and the COVID pandemic and bone-chilling Delhi cold. arrested. In December, three prominent Hong Kong activists are jailed including Joshua Wong. THEIR DEMANDS PROTESTING he key demand is FARMER Tthe withdrawal of ATTEMPTS SUICIDE the three laws which 65 year old farmer from deregulate the sale of A Punjab protesting at the their crops. The farmer PROTESTS AMID Delhi-Singhu border tried to unions could also commit suicide. He was settle for a legal admitted to Rohtak’s PGIMS assurance that the hospital and is said to be MSP system will in a stable condition. continue, ideally THAI UPRISING through an amendment to the laws. They are tudents spark pro-democracy also pressing for the Sprotests in July that roll on for the withdrawal of the WHAT THE CENTRE SAYS PANDEMIC rest of the year calling for a new proposed Electricity constitution, reform of the (Amendment) Bill 2020, he Narendra Modi government untouchable monarchy, and for Prime fearing it will lead to says the new laws will give more T Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to resign. an end to subsidised options to the farmers to sell their electricity. Farmers say crops and get them better prices. It rules against stubble has assured that there is no move to burning should also not end the MSP system, and the new Acts apply to them. do not refer to it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday (Dec 25) released over Rs 18,000 crore to more KEY PLAYERS than nine crore farmer families under the 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman he `Delhi Chalo” Nidhi' (PM-KISAN). With the push of a call was given by T button, Modi enabled the transfer of the All India Kisan money at an event which the ruling NAVALNY AFFAIR Sangharsh BJP has made into a mega exercise to Coordination reach out to farmers by having its remlin critic Alexei Navalny is Committee. Several leaders interact with the farming flown to Berlin in a medically other organisations K community at more than 19,000 induced coma after becoming including Rashtriya venues across the country and also violently ill from tea he drank as he Kisan Mahasangh and listen to the prime minister's boarded an internal flight to Moscow. factions of the address. Modi released the Tests reveal he was poisoned with the Bharatiya Kisan Union instalment of Rs 2,000 to every farmer Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. (BKU) came out in on the birth anniversary of former Navalny accuses Russian President support. The march is prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Vladimir Putin of trying to kill him. being held under the Bihari Vajpayee, which is every year banner of Samyukta celebrated as "Good Governance Day" Kisan Morcha. by the ruling party.

efore “Delhi Chalo” farmers in Punjab and Haryana held Bsit-ins and blocked roads in sporadic protests. Punjab farmer unions then announced a "rail roko" agitation, which lasted for abour two months, leading to a suspension of trains CHINA-US TENSIONS to the state and shortages in critical areas, including coal for 020 sees US-China relations EARLIER thermal power stations. nosedive, with Trump calling PROTESTS 2 Covid-19 the "China virus" and saying Beijing is responsible for "a mass worldwide killing". They also clash over the repression of Turkic speaking KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD Uighur minority in the Chinese region Anti-lockdown protests of Xinjiang, as well as the national security law imposed on Hong Kong. acism has been called America’s origi- But the protests and conversations Rnal sin. But it is a sin that extends be- about justice and equality went far beyond the United States. On May 25, George yond America’s borders. Floyd, a forty-six-year-old Black man, From Paris to Nairobi to Rio de was arrested in Minneapolis for al- Janeiro, people took to the streets legedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill. One to protest Floyd’s death and to of the arresting officers kept his knee highlight their own countries’ on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and racial inequalities. Canadian Prime fifteen seconds, killing him. Minister Justin Trudeau said that Floyd’s death at the hands of officers “Racism is real. It’s in the United NAGORNO-KARABAKH whose mission is to “protect and serve” States, but it’s also in Canada.” followed on the heels of literally hundreds But the same could be said of most eavy fighting for the Armenian- of similar police killings of Black other countries, including those Public health restrictions have become the latest Hpopulated region of Nagorno- Americans, including Trayvon Martin, like China and Iran that seized on contested symbol in broader conversations about how Karabakh, which broke away from Tamir Rice, and Breonna Taylor. Video of Floyd’s death as evidence of US Azerbaijan after a war in the 1990s, Floyd’s killing triggered protests across the hypocrisy on human rights issues. to align citizens’ needs with government action goes on for 45 days. Several thousand United States and sparked a long overdue Injustice and inequality remain a global die before a Kremlin-brokered peace national conversation about systemic racism. challenge. he wave of anti-government coronavirus restrictions. Such deal on November 9, with Armenians Tprotests that roiled global demonstrations have emerged losing swathes of territory to politics over the past decade in every region of the globe, Azerbaijan forces. initially seemed to be an early not only in wealthy countries casualty of COVID-19. Lockdown like Australia, Germany and the measures, especially stay-at- United States, but also in home orders and restrictions on poorer ones like Brazil, Mexico ETHIOPIA: TIGRAY CONFLICT CHAOS IN BEIRUT TEACHER BEHEADING IN FRANCE mass gatherings, halted and Nigeria. Moreover, anti- protests almost everywhere. lockdown uprisings are thiopian Prime Minister and Nobel Yet as the pandemic has occurring in states with very Peace Prize winner Abiy Ahmed n 17 October 2019, the Lebanese cabinet announced new E dragged on, the increasingly different governance orders a military response to attacks tax measures to address an economic crisis. In response, O strained relationship between systems—consolidated on federal army camps in the tens of thousands of peaceful protesters took to the streets governments and citizens in autocracies and liberal dissident northern Tigray region. The across the country calling for their social and economic many countries has brought democracies alike. These rights, for accountability, an end to corruption, and the demonstrators back into the popular eruptions have resignation of all political representatives. Although the streets. While many renewed generally occurred in two cabinet resigned, many of the ruling figures who have protests reflect anger over waves: An early one in April dominated the Lebanese political scene for decades remained familiar issues like corruption, and May emerged soon after in power. In January 2020, a new cabinet was appointed, with political repression and the virus spread around the little change to address the population’s demands, and the economic hardship, a striking world, and an ongoing second protests continued. On 4 August, an explosion at the port of new trend is afoot: citizens one started in early August in Tigray People's Liberation Front -- Beirut killed at least 190 people, injured more than 6,500, and openly challenging the public reaction to the extension of which has dominated Ethiopian left an around 300,000 people homeless. The blast was caused health measures governments public health measures. As politics for nearly three decades -- by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored have taken to slow the spread large demonstrations in the denies responsibility and says the unsafely in a warehouse. This tragic event, against the of the coronavirus. Since March, past month across multiple reported attacks are a pretext for an backdrop of a global pandemic, financial crisis, and political Thousands rallied following the murder of a teacher who showed cartoons of the more than 30 major protests in regions have made clear, their "invasion". Federal forces take the crisis, reignited the October protests on 8 August with calls Prophet Muhammad in class AP FILE PHOTO 26 countries have targeted tempo is accelerating. Tigrayan capital November 28. for accountability and justice.

ANTI-CAA PROTESTS ‘COUNT EVERY VOTE’ CRISIS IN BELARUS

k y m c

Belarus strongman President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed victory in August 9 elections Protestors hurl brick-bats during clashes between a group of anti-CAA protestors and Supporters of President Donald Trump pause for prayer during a rally outside the Maricopa sparks four months of anti-government protests, centred on his main rival, political novice Svetlana supporters of the new citizenship act, at Jafrabad in north-east Delhi PTI FILE PHOTO County Recorders Office in Phoenix AP FILE PHOTO Tikhanovskaya. Opposition leaders were jailed or driven into exile. REUTERS FILE PHOTO RAJINI ADMITTED TO HOSP P9 India and the US will SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR need to be attentive to the Superstar Rajinikanth was dangerous currents in the Friday admitted to Apollo Indo-Pacific to ensure that the Hospitals in Hyderabad for region continues to be a zone of severe blood pressure peace, prosperity and pluralism

fluctuations and he was y

national NISHA DESAI BISWAL | US INDIA BUSINESS “stable”, the hospital said

k y m COUNCIL PRESIDENT c

of the day uote GOVT READY TO DISCUSS ALL CHILLING OUT The Congress is shedding crocodile tears for farmers now. Why did the Congress not give ISSUES WITH FARMERS: PM permission to install gates on the dam for seven years? You let the water of Narmada went Modi, Mamata into the sea when farmers were in in war of words need of that water to save their crops. It all happened when you rime Minister Narendra Modi were in power (before 2014) PFriday lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata VIJAY RUPANI | GUJARAT CHIEF MINISTER Banerjee, accusing her government of "destroying" the state and depriving its over 70 Farmers, who lakh farmers of benefits from the sell their Centre's flagship PM-KISAN produce at the scheme under which Rs 6,000 per market yards, have year is given to each farmer. to pay transport, Modi also made a veiled attack labour, weighing on the once-potent political force and other charges. in the state, the Left parties, This is injustice AGENCIES efit of the farmers and nobody saying that those who ruled the Children play with balloons at Girgaon beach in Mumbai PTI PHOTO can snatch farmers' lands. "I am sat- state for three decades, brought DEVENDRA FADNAVIS | SENIOR BJP LEADER New Delhi, Dec 25: As the farm- isfied that now there are no mid- it down and did not do anything ers' agitation along the borders of dlemen and the farmers are getting for farmers. Assembly elections Delhi entered its 30th day on Friday, money directly and till now, Rs are due in West Bengal in April- TRP SCAM Japan invites The noble Prime Minister Narendra Modi 1,10,000 crore has been deposited May next year and the BJP has ideals said the government is open to without any cut and commission. already launched a massive German warship enshrined in hold discussions with the farm- This is good governance," the Prime campaign to unseat Banerjee-led the Srimad ers and opposition political parties Minister said. He also targeted Trinamool Congress government in Ex-BARC CEO sent for naval drill Bhagavad Geeta to iron out the confusion over the some political parties for latching the state. Banerjee has been West have radiated Bengal's Chief Minister since 2011 newly passed farm laws. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE across the world. on to the farmers' protests, and Modi said this after transfer- said: "They are trying to disturb the after ending 34-year-old Left rule in They motivate people to lead life to the state. "Mamata Banerjee's ring more than Rs 18,000 crore to economy of the country and also to police custody New Delhi, Dec 25: Japan wants the fullest potential and be ideology has destroyed the state over nine crore beneficiary farmer Germany to send a warship to compassionate. On Geeta Jayanti giving nightmares to the people and her actions are against the we celebrate the values mentioned families as part of the seventh in- of Delhi. "If APMC is good then farmers," he said. Mamata reacted East Asia in the newyear as it in the Geeta & recall the teachings stalment of the PM-Kisan Samman why it's not in Kerala? The online strongly to PM's charge and drums up support from like- of Bhagwan Shri Krishna Nidhi Scheme -- a direct transfer Mandis have done a business of accused him of trying to mislead minded nations against Chinas scheme for the farmers -- even as Rs 1 lakh crore," he said. hegemony in the Indo-Pacific NARENDRA MODI | PRIME MINISTER the farmers of West Bengal with the farmers continued to hold fort Modi said the government has half-truths. "Today, PM showed region. against his government over the tried to decrease the input cost of apparent concern for farmers German state-owned broad- contentious farm laws. the farmers through various means. through televised address, instead caster Deutsche Welle reported SHORT TAKES Defending the farm laws, the "The government is promoting of proactively working to resolve that in talks between Japanese Prime Minister said some people micro irrigation, per drop more their issues. While he publicly Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi are misleading the farmers. "We are crop," he said, adding that the gov- claimed his intention to help and his German counterpart, Man gets new ready to discuss all the issues with ernment is building infrastruc- farmers of West Bengal through Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the farmers and also the political ture and storage near the villages. his PM Kisan Yojana ... fact is he's Kishi hoped that a German war- lease of life parties which are against the farm The Prime Minister also had a trying to mislead people with half- ship would hold joint exercises truth," Mamata said. New Delhi: A youth suffering laws, but the discussion will be interaction with the farmers from with Japan's Self-Defense Forces from a rare cardiac anomaly on issues related to the laws," six different states during in 2021. got a new lease of life at the Modi said. the event. The farmers shared other initiatives taken by the gov- Kishi suggested that such an AIIMS, New Delhi, Thursday While defending the farm laws, their experiences with the PM- ernment for the welfare of PRESS TRUST OF INDIA tody of crime branch till December act would also ensure the right after the heart of a 17-year- the PM said they are for the ben- KISAN scheme and also on various the farmers. 28. Dasgupta is the fifteenth person of passage through the South old brain-dead girl in Mumbai, Dec 25: A magistrate's to be arrested in the case related to China Sea (SCS), most of which Vadodara was flown to the court here Friday remanded Partho alleged rigging of Television Rating is now claimed by China. Over national capital and Dasgupta, a former CEO of the Points (TRP) by some TV chan- years, Japan has voiced for a transplanted in him. This rating agency Broadcast Audience nels. free and open Indo-Pacific was the third heart Nation remembers Vajpayee on his b’day Research Council (BARC), inpo- The court Thursday had granted (FOIP), as a large volume of transplant at the AIIMS here lice custody till December 28 in bail to another accused in the trade goes through the region, this year. The other two PRESS TRUST OF INDIA minister from the saffron party. the alleged fake TRP scam. case,Ramil Ramgarhia, a former particularly energy supplies. were conducted in mid- Vajpayee's visionary leadership Dasgupta was arrested by the chief operating officer of the BARC. Japan Times reported that february and early march, New Delhi, Dec 25: President Ram Mumbai crime branch from Pune before the COVID-19 saw the country's development The probe was over and therefore Kishi stressed upon the Germans lockdown was imposed. Nath Kovind led the nation on reach unprecedented heights, Modi district on Thursday and produced his detention was not needed, the that China is "strengthening its Friday in paying homage to for- said in a tweet. "His efforts for mak- before the court Friday. The police court observed. attempts to unilaterally change mer prime minister Atal Bihari ing a strong and prosperous India sought his remand for further Most of the accused in the case the status quo with force in the Vajpayee on his 96th birth an- will be remembered forever," he probe, saying his custodial inter- are now out on bail. Mumbai police background." He also welcomed Encounter breaks niversary with leaders hailing the said. Vice President M Venkaiah rogation was required to under- began the probe after the BARC, a Germany's efforts to strengthen out in Shopian BJP stalwart's vision of a strong and Naidu shared several poems penned stand his role in the scam. rating agency, filed a complaint its maritime presence and con- prosperous India. by Vajpayee to remember him fondly Dasgupta's lawyer Kamlesh about rigging of TRP by some chan- tribute to maintaining order Srinagar: An encounter broke An event was held in the Central and lauded him as a "great vision- Ghumre argued that the offences nels. in the region. out between terrorists and Hall of Parliament where Prime ary" and the "man of masses". of cheating and criminal breach of TRP, measured by recording The defence ministers of the security forces in Jammu and Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha President Kovind paid homage Born in 1924, Vajpayee was a trust for which he has been booked viewership data at sample house- two nations met at a time when Kashmir's Shopian district Speaker Om Birla, Union minis- to Vajpayee at 'Sadaiv Atal', a me- founder member of the Jana Sangh were not made out against him. holds, is crucial as it helps TV Germany had expressed inter- Friday, officials said. The ters and many parliamentarians morial to the former prime minis- and then the BJP, a party which The probe was harassment and a channels attract advertisers. It was est over sending its navy to pa- firefight broke out after paid floral tributes. Modi also re- ter, here. Besides Kovind and Modi, rose from the margins to rule India use of pressuring tactics by po- alleged that some of these house- trol the Indian Ocean trade security forces cordoned off leased a book, "Atal Bihari Vajpayee: top Union ministers also attended for the first time in 1990s with him lice, the lawyer alleged. holds were being bribed to tune routes. Addressing Australian Kanigam area and launched a A Commemorative Volume", to a prayer meeting at the memorial being its main face. His tenure is After hearing both the sides, the into certain channels to ramp up and German think tanks, search operation on the basis of a specific information about mark the occasion. and paid homage to the first prime credited court sent the accused in the cus- their ratings. Kramp-Karrenbauer had re- presence of terrorists there. cently said that her country would also like to have closer defence cooperation with Australia. Leopard China has ruffled the feath- found dead On Christmas, Dharavi records zero Covid cases ers of nations in its neighbourhood by laying claim to Bareilly: A leopard was AGENCIES "We salute the people of Dharavi for their anonymity. onslaught by implementing the 'Dharavi large parts of the SCS in op- found dead with head full cooperation, following the BMC's Till date, Dharavi has notched a total Model', it yielded rich dividends and by the position to the rights of smaller injuries in Uttar Pradesh's Mumbai, Dec 25: In what could be termed SOPs and other health guidelines that 3,788 cases, - compared with Mumbai's third week of June, the 2.25 square km nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, Bareilly district Friday a "Christmas present" for the BMC, Asia's has helped immensely," an elated BMC 289,800 - and just 12 active cases vis-a-vis neighbourhood was already off the 'Corona the Philippines and Brunei, as morning, forest officials largest slum Dharavi notched zero cases Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal the city's current total of 20,128. critical' list. well as Taiwan. The commu- said. They said the leopard, Friday - first time since the Covid-19 pan- told IANS. After a quiet entry into Dharavi on As Dharavi's success spread cheer, the nist giant has also taken over which was around a year demic appeared in the congested settle- "This is a major progress and achieve- April 1, the locality attracted national World Health Organisation, the World islands and reefs, often violat- old, died after being hit by a vehicle. The carcass of the ment April 1, health officials said. ment since the first case and death was re- and even global attention as Bank, and the Centre ing the exclusive economic leopard was found this At one point, it ranked as the worst ported from Dharavi April 1.” cases continued to soar in April-May- praised the successful efforts while the zones (EEZ) of the Association morning in the fields in hotspot and the most worrisome for the “All our efforts to control the pandemic June, posing a huge challenge for the Philippines announced that it would im- of South East Asian Nations Lakhanpur village. The health authorities, but Dharavi now has here have yielded fruitful results. BMC and the Maharashtra government. plement a similar model to control the (ASEAN) by sending fishing villagers informed the a mere 12 active cases currently under Nevertheless, our vigil continues," said a As the state and civic administrations contagion in the less affluent districts of trawlers, research and explo- officials and the carcass treatment in local hospitals. local BMC Ward official, requesting girdled their loins to tackle the Covid-19 Manila. ration vessels and even Coast was sent to Indian Guard ships. Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) for a post- mortem examination, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Bharatlal said. 2020: A GLIMPSE OF LIFE WITHOUT TRAINS

Jilted lover PRESS TRUST OF INDIA It was May 1 that the wheels of icines and even ventilators. tering a record loading of 102 Million trains started chugging again. This The innovation was to realise Tonnes (MT), which is the highest kills girl New Delhi, Dec 25: The year 2020 time, to ferry migrant workers that if the Railways could not move ever loading for the month of Gopalganj (Bihar): A man in showed India a glimpse of how life home. Between May 1 and August passengers freely, it could move September in any year. The mo- Bihar's Gopalganj district would be without trains. 30, the Railways ferried 63.15 such freight instead. mentum in freight loading contin- stabbed a girl to death for As the coronavirus lockdown workers home across 23 states in over Business Development Units ued and growth of 15 per cent and refusing his marriage was announced on March 24, the 4,000 Shramik Special trains, not only (BDUs) were set up at Railway 9 per cent has been obtained in the proposal. The incident took Railways for the first time in its bringing huge relief to the stranded Board, Zonal Railway and Divisional subsequent months of October and place in the Sidhwalia area 167-year-old history shut down all migrants, but also hope for the oth- levels. Multi-disciplinary teams November respectively. and the accused has been its services. ers that their lifeline was down, from BDUs have been reaching out With passenger trains off the identified as Anil Yadav. People stranded across the coun- but not out. to customers to attract new business. tracks, the Railways doubled the try and who usually looked to the It was, however, the Shramik It also introduced time-tabled par- speed of freight trains from 24 kmph Railways to ferry them home, were Special trains which saw the cel services to provide reliable serv- a year ago to 46 kmph which means Urdu poet Faruqi left without their lifeline. Some, Railways being criticised by the ices to courier services, e-commerce half the time taken for sending like the thousands of migrant work- Opposition parties over the fares while Kolkata Metro was running and used the crisis as an opportu- companies. products. It also completed over 350 y is no more ers, took to the streets choosing to being charged from the migrant 60 per cent of its services, Mumbai nity. The Railways also launched eight critical and long pending major

walk to their destinations. workers. While the Railways said suburban was running on 88 per cent While passenger movement Kisan Rail Services to enable farm- bridge and track works.

k y m New Delhi: Legendary Urdu c poet and critic Shamsur As the Railways directed its re- that it did not charge a penny from and 50 per cent of Chennai subur- dipped resulting in an estimated ers to send their produce across While the year saw no major ac- Rahman Faruqi passed away sources towards carrying essen- the workers and spent more than Rs ban services were in operation. loss of 87 per cent as compared to the nation with enhanced speed cidents, the Railways family bore the on Friday at his Allahabad tials across the country, lakhs of 2,000 crore on their transportation, Railway Board Chairman and CEO last year, the Railways' made dras- and reduced cost. pain of 30,000 employees infected home, a month after tickets were cancelled during the the politics over the issue continued. VK Yadav agreed that it was a tough tic changes in their freight move- With all its focus on freight move- with coronavirus and saw more recovering from COVID-19. summer holidays -- something un- Currently, the Railways is oper- year for the national transporter, but ment, introducing parcel services, ment, the Railways' freight staged than 700 frontline workers breathe He was 85. heard of in rail history. ating 1,089 special train services, also highlighted how it innovated carrying essentials like milk, med- a recovery in September by regis- their last. Vaccines are needed MICHAEL JACKSON’S NEVERLAND P10 for everybody, SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR especially for the most RANCH SOLD TO BILLIONAIRE vulnerable and needy. We can’t Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in let closed nationalisms impede California has found a new owner in us from living as the true human billionaire businessman Ron Burkle, family that we are who views the 2,700-acre property in POPE FRANCIS | Los Olivos as a land banking international HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH

opportunity

k y m c of the day uote PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION

(Having US lawmakers urge Pompeo achieved the Nepal’s apex court post-Brexit deal) we have taken back control of every jot and tittle issues show-cause of our regulation in to take up issue with India a way that is complete and unfettered PRESS TRUST OF INDIA BORIS JOHNSON | BRITISH PRIME MINISTER FARMERS’ PROTEST IN INDIA notice to Oli govt Washington, Dec 25: A group of I am pleased seven influential US lawmakers, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA that the including Indian-American negotiators of the European Union Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Kathmandu, Dec 25: Nepal’s and Britain have have written to Secretary of State Supreme Court Friday issued a reached an Mike Pompeo, urging him to raise show-cause notice to Prime Minister agreement and that the issue of farmers’ protest in KP Sharma Oli-led government, the future relations between the India with his Indian counterpart. asking it to submit a written clar- European Union and Britain are India has called the remarks by ification over its decision to abruptly clearly regulated foreign leaders and politicians on dissolve Parliament. protests by farmers as “ill-informed” The notice was issued after a ANGELA MERKEL | GERMAN CHANCELLOR and “unwarranted”, asserting that preliminary hearing at the five- The deal with the matter pertains to the internal member Constitutional bench the UK is affairs of a democratic country. headed by Chief Justice Cholendra ‘Prachanda' and Madhav Kumar essential to “We have seen some ill-informed Shumsher Rana on the writ peti- Nepal, senior leaders Jhala Nath protect our citizens, comments...relating to farmers in tions filed against the government’s Khanal, spokesperson Narayan Kaji our fishermen, our India. Such comments are unwar- decision to dissolve the 275-mem- Shrestha along with the party's producers. We will ranted, especially when pertain- ber House of Representatives, ac- Central Committee members and make sure this is the ing to the internal affairs of a dem- cording to court officials. members of the dissolved House case ocratic country,” External Affairs The bench sought the written gathered near the Prime Minister’s

EMMANUEL MACRON | FRENCH PRESIDENT Ministry Spokesperson Anurag clarification from the Office of the Office for the protest. “We are here,” Srivastava said earlier this month. Prime Minister and Council of “Reinstate the House of This is an issue of particular Minister and Office of the President Representatives,” and “dissolution of SHORT TAKES concern to Sikh Americans linked n Remarks by foreign leaders and abroad who are currently protest- However, the government has as they are made defendants in all the House is unconstitutional,” were to Punjab, although it also heavily politicians on protests by farmers as ing peacefully against agricultural maintained that the new laws will the writ petitions, they said. the slogans raised by the protesters. impacts the Indian Americans be- “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”, as laws that many Indian farmers see bring farmers better opportunities The court has also asked the Around 300 Central Committee the matter pertains to the internal longing to other Indian states, the as an attack on their economic se- and usher in new technologies in government to submit an original members of the NCP and nearly 100 6.3-magnitude quake affairs of a democratic country lawmakers said in their letter to curity,” the lawmakers said. agriculture. There have been mul- copy of the recommendations made members of the House were present jolts Philippines Pompeo dated December 23. n This is an issue of particular concern Thousands of farmers from tiple rounds of talks between rep- by the government to dissolve the in the protest rally. After staging a sit- Manila: An earthquake “Many Indian Americans are di- to Sikh Americans linked to Punjab, Punjab, Haryana and several other resentatives of the protestors and House and the decision made by in, the crowd marched towards the measuring 6.3 on the Richter rectly affected as they have family although it also heavily impacts the states have been protesting on var- the Indian government but the log- President Bidya Devi Bhandari to Election Commission (EC) office. scale Friday jolted the members and ancestral land in Punjab Indian Americans belonging to other ious borders of Delhi since jam continues. authenticate the government’s rec- The EC will decide which faction of Philippines’ Batangas and are concerned for the well-being Indian states: US lawmakers November 26, seeking repeal of In addition to Jayapal, the letter ommendations within 10 days. the NCP is legitimate to carry the province located on the main of their families in India. In view of three farm laws enacted in has been signed by Congressmen Earlier, the apex court demanded party name and election symbol. island of Luzon, authorities this serious situation, we urge you to offer counsel to India during their September. Donald Norcross, Brendan F Boyle, an amicus curiae from Nepal Bar “We have the support of the ma- said. According to the contact your Indian counterpart to current period of social distur- Dubbing these laws as "anti- Brian Fitzpatrick, Mary Gay Association and Supreme Court jority of the Central committee mem- Philippine Institute of reinforce the United States’ com- bance. “As national legislators, we farmer", these farmers claim that Scanlon, Debbie Dingell and David Bar Association in connection with bers. Therefore, we are going to the Seismology and Volcanology mitment to the freedom of political respect the right of the govern- the newly enacted legislations would Trone. Over the past few weeks, the hearing. Meanwhile, the Pushpa commission to prove and show that (Phivolcs), the quake, which speech abroad," they said. ment of India to determine na- pave the way for the dismantling of more than a dozen US Congressmen Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda'-led faction we are the legitimate faction,” protest- struck at 7.43 a.m. hit at a In their letter, the lawmakers tional policy, in compliance with the minimum support price sys- have expressed their concerns on of the ruling Nepal Communist ing leader Sunil Manahdhar, who is depth of 102 km, about 11 km said that the US as a nation that is existing law. We also acknowledge tem, leaving them at the “mercy” of the ongoing protest by the farm- Party (NCP) staged a protest rally also a Central Committee member of southwest of Calatagan familiar with political protests can the rights of those in India and big corporations. ers in India. in Kathmandu against the decision. the NCP, told this news agency. town, some 100 km south of Manila, reports Xinhua news agency. Metro Manila and CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR nearby provinces of Pearl’s murder Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, HOLIDAY IN HOSPITAL Rizal also felt the tremor, the institute said. China backing away from accused to be released today Italy in ‘red zone’ promises made to Pakistan PRESS TRUST OF INDIA amid nCoV spike AGENCIES Karachi, Dec 25: British-born Rome: Italy has entered a Islamabad, Dec 25: China ap- al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar nationwide ‘red zone’ of pears to be backing away from its Saeed Sheikh and his three aides, very high risks in the wake initial financial promises to whose release in the abduction of a second wave of the Pakistan under Beijing-financed and murder case of US journalist coronavirus pandemic, which is set to remain in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Daniel Pearl was ordered by a place through Christmas (CPEC), a $60 billion infrastruc- court here, would walk out of the and New Year’s Day to ture building plan, amid rising Gwadar Sea Port prison on Saturday, police and January 6, 2021. Red zone corruption and terrorist attacks lawyer said Friday. rules include a ban on travel on Chinese engineers. billion in 2020, according to data of In a surprise move, a two-judge between regions, a 10 p.m. According to Asia Times, Boston University researchers in bench of the Sindh High Court to 5 a.m. curfew, closure of Pakistan Army is set to take near- the United States. Thursday directed security agen- shops, bars and total control of the CPEC The belt-tightening is cies not to keep Sheikh and other restaurants, as well as an in a bid to reassure Beijing Pakistan Army is believed to be in line with accused under “any sort of de- urge for keeping holiday that their investments will set to take near- Beijing’s so-called “re- tention” and declared all notifica- gatherings at home to a be more secure amid ter- total control of think strategy” for its $1 tions of the Sindh government re- minimum of two adult rorist attacks on Chinese the CPEC in a bid trillion BRI, which is lated to their detention “null and visitors. To contain the engineers and others fa- to reassure under broad fire for void”. The court observed that the second wave, the cilitating the infrastruc- Beijing that their “structural weaknesses” four men's detention was “illegal”. investments will government has ture projects. including opacity, cor- According to the Jail categorized Italy as three be more secure The new Bill comes at amid militant ruption, over-lending to Superintendent, the four men colour-coded areas, namely a time when reports sug- poor countries resulting could not be released from yellow, orange and red. attacks: Report gest that China is slowly in “debt traps” and ad- Karachi's Central Jail Thursday retreating from its promises. verse social and environmental as the prison authorities received Overall lending by the state- impacts, the Boston University re- orders from the Sindh High Court Explosion rocks backed China Development Bank searchers said. for their release very late. Nashville and the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran The legal counsel for the four China declined from a peak of $75 Khan is also facing flak in his coun- men said that they would now be Nashville (US): An explosion billion in 2016 to just $4 billion last try for not prioritising and expe- shook the largely deserted A medical worker in a protective suit works inside an intensive care unit for coronavirus patients at the San Filippo year. Provisional 2020 figures show diting big-ticket Chinese infra- streets of downtown Nashville Neri hospital in Rome, Italy, on Christmas day REUTERS PHOTO that amount shrunk to around $3 structure investments. early Christmas morning, shattering windows, damaging buildings and wounding three people. Authorities said they believed A pandemic Xmas: Churches shut, borders complicated the blast was intentional. The FBI is leading the investigation. Police cases last week, and two new asymp- spokesman Don Aaron said Curfews, quarantines restaurants and prisons. The 1,241 tomatic cases were reported Friday. new daily cases reported by the the 6:30 a.m. Explosion was and even border believed to be “an intentional One of several notices was posted Korea Disease Control and act.” Police earlier said they closings complicated at Beijing’s St. Josephs’ Church, Prevention Agency Friday was a believe a vehicle was involved which was built originally by Jesuit record for the country. in the explosion. Christmas celebrations missionaries in the 17th century. Song Ju-hyeon, a resident in Paju, released Saturday as Friday is a Border crossing closures kept near Seoul, who is expecting a child public holiday in the country. Friday for countless thousands of migrants from eco- in February, said home is the only Meanwhile, the United States on people around nomically devastated Venezuela place she feels safe now. “It doesn't Friday expressed “deep concern” 2 Afghan army who live in Colombia from going feel like Christmas anyway, there are over Sindh High Court's order to officers killed the globe home for Christmas. Colombia’s no carols being played on the release Sheikh and his aides and government shut down the crossings streets,” she said. said it will continue to monitor any Kabul: At least two Afghan in a bid to slow down the spread of In Paris, members of Notre Dame developments in the case. army officers including a Covid-19 infections. Those trying to Cathedral's choir, wearing hard “We are deeply concerned by the battalion commander were ASSOCIATED PRESS return home for the holidays this hats and protective suits — not reports of the December 24 ruling killed Friday when their year had to turn to smugglers. vehicle was hit by a against COVID-19 but for con- of Sindh High Court to release roadside bomb in the Rome, Dec 25: Curfews, quarantines Yakelin Tamaure, a nurse who left struction conditions in the me- multiple terrorists responsible northern Balkh province, and even border closings compli- Venezuela two years ago, won’t be dieval landmark ravaged by fire in for the murder of Daniel Pearl. the military said. Hanif cated Christmas celebrations Friday going home and said there will be Christmas since getting married Thailand is 14-day quarantine upon 2019 — sang inside the church for We have been assured that the ac- Rezaie, a spokesman for the for countless people around the no gifts or new clothes for her two in March, Nattasuda Anusonadisai arrival. Thai citizens can stay at the first time since the blaze. In cused have not been released at this army in the country's north, globe, but ingenuity, determination children, aged 10 and 15. Tamaure and Patrick Kaplin are cooped up in state facilities for free but foreign- Rome, partial lockdown measures time," the US State Department said Capt. Mohammad and imagination helped keep the day said that she hasn’t been able to quarantine in a Bangkok hotel room. ers like Kaplin, from Canada, must were keeping the faithful from gath- said in a tweet.

special for many. find work as a nurse because she still It wasn't great fun but they did make pay to stay at an approved hotel, ering in St. Peter’s Square, where It said that the US will continue

k y m Qasim Paikar and another c officer were killed and two In Beijing, official churches doesn’t have a Colombia residence sure to get a Christmas tree. the option the couple took so they in past years tens of thousands to monitor any developments in the other soldiers were abruptly cancelled Mass on permit. Her parents are still in They returned earlier this month could stay together. would receive a papal blessing and case and will continue to support wounded in the explosion, Christmas Day in a last-minute Venezuela. from a 4 1/2-month trip to Canada Churches in South Korea have ig- hear the pope's traditional Christmas the Pearl family "through this ex- which took place between move, after China's capital was put Others successfully crossed bor- and the United States, making a 32- nited clusters of coronavirus in- Day message. But they wouldn’t tremely difficult process" while Balkh and Char Bolak on high alert following the confir- ders elsewhere only to find them- hour journey from Montreal via fections in densely populated Seoul, have been able to see Pope Francis honouring the legacy of Pearl as districts. AGENCIES mation of two confirmed COVID-19 selves in quarantine. For their first Doha. One condition of entering along with hospitals, nursing homes, anyway this year. a “courageous journalist”. P11 There is a steady uptick OVER 4 CRORE ITRs FILED SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR in the credit growth. Retail, home and agriculture The Income Tax Department Friday said that over four loans are doing well, and MSMEs crore income tax returns (ITRs) have been filed for the again, with the intervention of the assessment year (AY) 2020-2021. An IT Department government through the ECLGS tweet said that as of December 24, nearly 3.98 crore ITRs and other similar schemes, were filed, compared to over 3.92 crore ITRs. Another

business have also picked up tweet said that nearly 5.83 lakh ITRs were filed Friday

k y m DEBASISH PANDA | SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SERVICES c of the day uote RIL to buy out IMG ‘India should aggressively pursue FTAs with EU, UK’ Worldwide’s stake Russia PRESS TRUST OF INDIA "There is not much gain for Indian There is not much Rakesh Mohan Joshi, professor expects to for `52.08 crore goods, but we can gain in services gain for Indian goods, at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade support an New Delhi, Dec 25: With European sector in both the UK and EU mar- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA increase in oil but we can gain in (IIFT), said that after the trade production by the Union (EU) and the UK clinching kets. We will gain more in the UK services sector in both the deal with the EU and the UK, India group, known as a post-Brexit trade pact, India market as we are English speak- UK and EU markets. We will will get a better opportunity to New Delhi, Dec 25: Billionaire OPEC+, of another should now aggressively pursue ing country," Federation of Indian gain more in the UK cater to the demands of both the Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance 500,000 bpd from February at next free trade agreements (FTAs) sep- Export Organisations (FIEO) market as we are English markets. Industries Ltd (RIL) has agreed month’s summit of the leading arately with both the regions, ac- Director General Ajay Sahai said. speaking country "But India needs to plan accord- to buy out IMG Worldwide LLC global oil producers cording to experts. He said there are no specific cus- ingly," he added. from their sports management AJAY SAHAI I DIRECTOR GENERAL, FIEO Although it is premature to assess toms duty benefits for domestic Apparel Export Promotion joint venture for `52.08 crore. ALEXANDER NOVAK | DEPUTY PM, RUSSIA the gains for India from the agree- goods from this agreement. while negotiating FTA with the EU. Council (AEPC) Chairman A The nation’s biggest company ment between European Union "Now we should push the FTA ne- However, after Brexit, the UK could move "aggressively" on starting ne- Sakthivel said India-UK FTA would by market value, in a stock ex- (EU) and the UK, Indian goods gotiations with both the EU and have different stand on those is- gotiations for FTA with both the help in removing the customs duty change filing, said it will buy IMG The EPFO would not get much benefit from this the UK. Indian competitors like sues and now "India should pur- EU and UK. disadvantages faced by domestic Worldwide's 50 per cent stake in would have to pact, they said. Vietnam have greater duty advan- sue FTA talks again with both the "We have requested the govern- players in Britain. IMG-Reliance Ltd (IMG-R) for no expand the However, India can explore op- tage in sectors like apparel and ma- regions". ment to sign an MoU (Memorandum Britain clinched a historic deal more than `52.08 crore in cash. ambit of its portunities in service sectors like rine goods," Sahai said. schemes as well as He added that there is a possibility of Understanding) regarding a dead- with the European Union on network for IT, architecture, research and de- Sharing similar views, Biswajit of doing a favourable free trade line to conclude FTA talks with Thursday as both sides managed to providing social velopment and engineering in both Dhar, a professor of economics at pact with the UK. Britain during the visit of UK Prime thrash out a post-Brexit free trade security to unorganised sector the markets as the EU-UK pact does Jawaharlal Nehru University, said FIEO President Sharad Kumar Minister Boris Johnson next month agreement just days before the workers. These workers would get not cover services, they added. India had a lot of contentious issues Saraf said that India should now in India," Saraf said. December 31 deadline. social security benefit under the Code on Social Security VIRJESH UPADHYAY | FORMER GENERAL BUDGET 2021-22 RIL will rebrand the company SECRETARY, BHARATIYA MAZDOOR SANGH Centre, states must continue with after the closure of the deal. RIL had formed an equal joint Govt may reduce oil venture with IMG Worldwide, an Specifically international sports marketing engineered for and management company, in 2010 the Indian counter-cyclical fiscal measures: RBI to develop, market and manage mini-truck customer subsidy budget by half sports and entertainment in India. who values superior PRESS TRUST OF INDIA momentum of the recovery," the IMG is a global leader in sports, mileage, Super article said. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE fashion, events and media, oper- Carry has fulfilled its Mumbai, Dec 25: The Centre and ating in more than 30 countries, and promises. Being the 1st LCV The paper noted that Gross Fiscal launched with a BS6 petrol variant state governments need to continue Deficit (GFD) for the Union New Delhi, Dec 25: A rather sta- is a part of the Endeavor network. offering a powerful 1196cc 4 with the counter-cyclical fiscal Government in 2020-21 crossed 100 ble phase of oil prices is expected IMG-R is engaged in the business cylinder dumdaar engine measures to sustain the momen- per cent of the budgeted amount by to help the government make big of creation, management, imple- tum of economic growth which the fourth month of the financial cuts in the oil subsidy allocation in mentation and commercialisation SHASHANK SRIVASTAVA | EXEC DIR went through a rough patch fol- year (July 2020), and stood at 119.7 next year's budget. Sources said of sporting, fashion and enter- (MARKETING & SALES), MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA lowing the outbreak of the coron- per cent of the budgeted amount by that the mathematics being worked tainment events in India. avirus pandemic, according to an October 2020. out by the Finance Ministry ahead "The company has entered into RBI article. For states, H1:2020-21 GFD stood of the presentation of Budget 2021- definitive agreements to acquire "Capital expenditure, which col- at 58.4 per cent of budgeted amount, 22 in February next year could see the shares held by IMG Singapore SHORT TAKES lapsed in H1:2020-21, will need to be significantly higher than the 35-40 petroleum subsidy burden falling Pte Ltd in IMG-R, for a cash con- scaled up as a priority. Public in- per cent observed in a normal year. by more than half from the FY21 for FY21, a 6 per cent increase from sideration not exceeding `52.08 IOC to purchase vestment in healthcare, social hous- The governments will With deterioration in fiscal bal- levels of `40,915 crore. `38,569 crore allocated for the last crore," the filing said. ing, education and environmental ances at both levels of govern- A major saving on the subsidy is fiscal. Out of this, the allocation for hydrogen buses protection is the need of the hour have to effectively ment, the combined GFD (centre expected to come from reduced LPG subsidy has been increased to New Delhi: To give a fillip to to build a more resilient and in- balance between plus states) in H1:2020-21 stood at government support for domestic `37,256.21 crore for the current ‘FASTag’ toll collection India’s push to usher in a clusive economy," said the RBI ar- continued fiscal support 85.9 per cent of BE, significantly LPG cylinders. A favourable global year. hydrogen-based mobility ticle on 'Government Finances 2020- higher than 70 per cent in H1:2019- oil market, in the first half of cur- If the current price trend holds crosses `80 crore solutions ecosystem, Indian 21: A Half-Yearly Review'. for the fragile recovery 20, said the article authored by rent fiscal, helped the government and the projections that oil prices Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to The governments, it added, will Rahul Agarwal, Ipsita Padhi, to completely eliminate the sub- remains range bound at around $ per day for first time buy 15 buses that can run on have to effectively balance between process and addressing Sudhanshu Goyal, Samir Ranjan sidy paid under direct benefit trans- 45-55 per barrel next year, the gov- hydrogen fuel. The country’s continued fiscal support for the the medium-term Behera and Sangita Misra in the fer (DBT) to eligible domestic con- ernment's LPG subsidy burden INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE largest oil refiner and fuel fragile recovery process and ad- Fiscal Division of Department of sumers from September this year. could fall by almost `20,000 crore in retailer is also setting up a dressing the medium-term debt- debt-deficit imbalances Economic and Policy Research While a slight firming of global FY22. The subsidy could be higher New Delhi, Dec 25: The toll col- facility at its Faridabad R&D deficit imbalances, while ensur- (DEPR), RBI. oil prices has raised domestic LPG if government extends provision lection per day via 'FASTag' crossed centre to produce hydrogen ing good housekeeping and in the second quarter and growth The RBI said the views expressed prices (non-subsidised) by `100 per of three free cylinders for the poor `80 crore Thursday as 50 lakh to run the buses, the adequate transparency in the is expected to turn positive in the in the article are those of the authors 14.2 kg cylinder in December to as part of Covid-19 relief meas- transactions took place via the company said in a statement. fiscal reporting. third quarter. and do not necessarily reflect the `694, even if a `100 per cylinder ures in FY22. electronic highway user fee col- Like all electric vehicles The economic growth dipped by "Notwithstanding the severe im- views of the central bank. subsidy is to be provided by the India has about 28.65 crore LPG lection system. According to state- (EVs), fuel cell EVs use ` electricity to power an 23.9 per cent in the first quarter of pact of COVID-19 on government fi- As per the article, the build-up of government during FY22, the al- consumers. Of these, around 1.5 run NHAI, 80 crore per day toll electric motor. the current financial year on ac- nances already realised in H1, it combined fiscal deficit in H1:2020- location towards this end would crore are not eligible to get LPG sub- collection mark was crossed count of the impact of the coron- is imperative for Centre and states 21 is sharper, but attributable mostly be 14,000 crore higher. sidy since December 2016 because December 24. avirus pandemic. The contraction, to continue with the counter-cycli- to the developments in the first The government had allocated they have an annual taxable in- Foundries demand however, narrowed to 7.5 per cent cal fiscal measures to sustain the quarter. `40,915 crore as petroleum subsidy come above `10 lakh. import duty cut Kolkata: Hit by surging input costs, the Foundry industry in NO REVISION IN FUEL Manufacturing firms log ‘softer the country has demanded reduction of import duty for pig iron and other raw materials, an official said PRICES ON CHRISTMAS contraction’ in sales in Q2 FY21 "With more than 2.20 crore Friday. Prices of pig iron and AGENCIES 'FASTag' issued till date, adoption other raw materials for the industry have gone up by 30- AGENCIES expansion in sales of telecommu- of 'FASTag' by the highway users 50 per cent, Institute of New Delhi, Dec 25: Petrol and nication and real estate companies. has seen unprecedented growth. Indian Foundrymen (IIF) diesel prices remained unchanged Mumbai, Dec 25: Demand condi- Sales growth of IT sector com- With FASTag being mandatory President Vijay S Beriwal on Friday as oil marketing com- tions in the manufacturing sector panies remained steady at 3.6 per for vehicles from 1st January 2021, said. The industry body has panies continued to maintain a returned to the recovery mode with cent (Y-o-Y) in Q2 FY 2020-21. the NHAI has made all necessary also sought subsidies on wait and watch stance amid range a softer contraction of 4.3 per cent As per the data, sales of non-IT arrangements to provide seam- power from the government bound global oil prices. The OMCs have gone on a pause (Y-o-Y) in the second quarter of firms and IT firms during the sec- less movement of vehicles at fee to stay competitive in the Accordingly, the pump price of mode at a time when the news of a this fiscal in terms of nominal sales ond quarter stood at `80,842 crore plazas," the statement said. global markets. petrol remained at `83.71 a litre successful coronavirus and ex- after shrinking 41.1 per cent in the and `1,01,353 crore, respectively. "Adoption of 'FASTag' has helped and diesel `73.87 a litre in Delhi pectations of big pick up in de- previous quarter that was hit by ported sales of `5,99,479 crore in "Operating profits of manufac- highway users to save time and fuel Friday. Across the country as well mand had kept crude on the boil countrywide lockdowns due to the second quarter, compared to turing companies increased on the at the toll plazas. The digital trans- IKEA India FY20 the price of the two petroleum with prices breaching $50 a bar- COVID-19, according to RBI data. `3,97,233 crore in April-June of FY back of savings in expenditure; op- action has got necessary push products remained unchanged. rel mark. The recovery was led by iron 2020-21. The data has been drawn erating profits of services (both IT through the recent amendment loss widens The price of petrol in Mumbai Petrol price was very close to and steel, food products, cement, au- from abridged quarterly financial and non-IT) companies also in- in 'Central Motor Vehicle Rules'." remained at `90.34 and diesel `80.51, breaching the all-time high level of tomobile and pharmaceuticals com- results of 2,637 listed non-govern- creased in Q2:2020-21," the RBI said The user fee collection system New Delhi: Furniture retailer the two fuels remained at `86.51 `84 a litre (reached on October 4, panies, showed the data on the per- ment non-financial (NGNF) com- in a statement. uses 'Radio-Frequency IKEA India saw its net loss ` ` widen to `720.1 crore in the and 79.31 a litre respectively in 2018) when it touched 83.71 a litre formance of the private corporate panies, the RBI said. On expenditure, it said input cost Identification' (RFID) technology. financial year ended March Chennai. The retail price of petrol on December 7. But the march has sector during the second quarter of Nominal sales of non-IT services pressure from raw materials re- "The payment is made digitally 2020, according to regulatory remained at `85.19 and `77.44 a litre been halted ever since then with no 2020-21. sector also registered lower con- mained subdued for manufacturing through the FASTag linked to the documents. The company in Kolkata. price revision by the OMCs. Manufacturing companies re- traction of 14.5 per cent (Y-o-Y) led by sector in the July-September quarter. bank wallet," the statement said. had registered a loss of `685.4 crore in the financial year ended March 2019, according to Registrar of Companies filing shared by market intelligence firm Realty sector plunges deeper into crisis this year Tofler. However, IKEA India saw its net sales grow 64.68 BUILDERS LOOK TO 2021 WITH HOPES OF REVIVAL IN DEMAND per cent to `566 crore in FY 2019-20 from `343.7 crore AGENCIES saw muted demand for housing and The economy, which leading to near-zero demand," in the previous fiscal. office space through September CREDAI President Satish Magar New Delhi, Dec 25: India’s real even as the developers quickly witnessed one of the said. Post-lockdown, he said sales estate industry has been trying to adopted digital tools to reach out to world's strictest have improved but are yet to touch Myntra sells get back on its feet ever since the 2016 prospective buyers. pre-COVID levels in most cities. lockdowns that lasted 1.1 crore items note ban laid the sector low but Only in October did the prop- "There are indicators that point 2020 was hardly the year to stand tall. erty market start seeing some trac- over two months, saw towards recovery in the sector, but Bangalore: Fashion With the pandemic devastating de- tion, driven by pent up as well as at a less than desired pace," Magar ecommerce platform Myntra mand in the economy, the indus- fresh festive demand that got further muted demand for said. Friday said it sold 1.1 crore try is now looking to the New Year consolidated towards trusted de- housing and office space The CREDAI President said the items to more than 32 lakh with the hope of a sharp recovery velopers. government and the RBI took steps customers during its 13th, in sales. Still, data compiled by property through September to help the sector but those do not five-day End of Reason Sale Stable property prices, low home consultant Anarock showed that address the prolonged problems as that ended December 24. loan interest rates, discounts and housing sales fell 47 per cent year- sure owing to all the reforms, the he sought both demand and sup- Also catering to more than 50 freebies offered by developers and on-year to 1.38 lakh units in 2020 COVID-19 pandemic made things ply side interventions in the up- lakh orders, the fashion lower stamp duty rates offered by across top seven cities -- Delhi-NCR, viving demand in Mumbai and altors' apex body CREDAI's worse as the sector is reeling under coming Budget.

carnival witnessed 51 per some states are what the industry Mumbai Metropolitan Region Pune. Many developers absorbed Chairman Jaxay Shah said the re- the worst ever crisis," Shah said. To help developers tide over the

k y m c cent increase in traffic over hopes will aid in the recovery after (MMR), Bangalore, Hyderabad, the balance stamp duty to boost alty sector in the last few years has "The real estate sector has been crisis, the Centre invoked force ma- the previous winter edition. housing sales and office space leas- Pune, Chennai and Kolkata. their sales. The pandemic rein- "borne the repercussions of fiscal facing headwinds for the past few jeure clause under the Real Estate The company said it processed record-breaking ing sunk by 40-50 per cent this year. Stamp duty cut by the forced the importance of home and non-fiscal reforms", be it de- years. The situation became tougher (Regulation and Development) Act more than 19,000 items per The economy, which witnessed Maharashtra government provided ownership in a world enamoured monetisation, introduction of GST owing to the COVID-19...Uncertainty (RERA) to extend the deadline for minute at peak. one of the world's strictest lock- a big relief to builders and buyers with the concept of shared economy. or RERA. over jobs and livelihoods robbed completion of projects by six to downs that lasted over two months, alike, and was instrumental in re- On the performance in 2020, re- "While the sector was under pres- the market of its potential buyer-base nine months. P12

SATURDAY | DECEMBER 26 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR sports

k k y y m m c REDEMPTION TIME c INDIA LOOK FOR SALVATION UNDER STAND-IN CAPTAIN AJINKYA RAHANE

AGENCIES do without their best batsman – (Virat Kohli), Pant (Wriddhiman bowler Jasprit Bumrah will have Virat Kohli. But then as they say STATS TRIVIA Saha) and Mohammed Siraj to bring his ‘A’ game to the fore. Melbourne, Dec 25: It is a do or die ‘cometh the hour, cometh the man’, he game at the MCG will be the 100th (Mohammed Shami). Among the He needs to strike at regular situation for India when the face so who knows how India will shape TTest between India and Australia four, Gill and Siraj will be making intervals if India are to Australia in the Boxing Day up when the game begins. their Test debut. fightback and that will cer- Test at the MCG here Saturday. No doubt, stand-in skipper Ajinkya ustralia have won 30 of the 49 Tests It’s not about the defeat but the tainly take the pressure off It is time for redemption for Rahane will be looking for salva- Athey have played against India at manner of capitulation which can debutant Siraj and Umesh home. India have emerged victorious in them after getting bowled out tion. India have the talent to fight back come back to haunt India, a side Yadav. There can be no doubt seven away games for 36 at the Adelaide Oval a few and if they have achieve redemp- that’s not short on quality. The next that India’s hour of reckoning has days back. And their job gets tion, it is Rahane and Cheteshwar ndia have been stronger at home too. few days will be a test of real char- arrived… no denying that. doubly difficult as they have to Pujara who will have to take the IThey have won 21 of the 50 Tests acter and it’s only fair that onus. The question is whether the played. Australia, on the other hand a strategic shift was on the Australian bowlers will loosen have won emerged victorious in 13. cards. The Australians INDIA AUSTRALIA the shackles. ndia’s first win against Aussies came aren’t known to take any Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Mayank What makes this Test doubly in 1959 at Kanpur. It was the 10th prisoners and an un- Tim Paine (captain and wicket- I Agarwal, Shubhman Gill, intriguing is the nature of the encounter between the two countries. changed XI that is expected keeper), Joe Burns, Matthew Wade, pitch. Usually the Melbourne to play at the MCG will not Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, ince 2001, India have held a slight Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), pitch has something for both the Sedge over Australia. They have won take its foot off the pedal, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Pat batters and bowlers. This time 17 Tests while the Australians have skipper Tim Paine insisted. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, it looks very firm with a lot of triumphed in 15. However, more importantly Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit bounce. Hence, the Indian batters for India, their premier fast Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon MATCH STARTS: 5.00AM IST Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj LIVE ON SONY CHANNELS ‘Have to be wary about India’ can expect a barrage of short balls ‘We will focus on our strengths’ from the Australians. It is a condi- MELBOURNE: Australian captain Tim Paine said Friday a ‘proud’ cricketing nation like tion that Aussies definitely cherish MELBOURNE: India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane I am just India is not going to roll over like Adelaide. India lost the first Test by eight wickets, and the likes of Pat Cummins, said Friday he would rather focus on his team than worry- telling the boys to stick bowled out for 36, their lowest Test score. But Paine is in no mood to take it easy Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, ing about Australia’s ‘mind games’ ahead of the ‘Boxing against their battered opponents. “Well, we can’t pay any attention to mental scars to their brand of not to forget Cameroon Green, will Day’ Test. The Indian skipper stated that his players would or whatever thing they’re talking about,” the skipper said. “We know India are a focus on their own strengths rather than think about what cricket. We know be raring to go once more. proud cricket country, an extremely talented Test match side with lots of danger- the Aussies are doing. “Australians are very good at play- our abilities and ous players. So we have to be wary. If we give them an inch, they will take a mile,” India have made four changes in ing mind games and I will let them do that. We are we know our he asserted. Paine said winning is a habit and the the team – two forced and two ex- focussing on ourselves, what we want to do as a unit and strengths. If We got to Australians would go for the jugular. “We saw last year pected. What was unexpected how- we are going to back every individual,” Rahane said on everyone raises be bang how England came back against us after being 1-2 down. ever, was the omission of KL Rahul. the eve of the match. “I think what I want to do is back my the bar, nothing on the Since then our focus has been winning after winning,” he India are going into the game with team. So focus is not on me, it is all about team and how to worry mark against said. Talking about the quality of the opponents, Paine five bowlers, hoping that Hanuma we want to do well. We are focussing on that,” the skipper AJINKYA RAHANE India. If we give heaped praise on Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul (not aware of Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh added. Rahane asserted that one hour of poor cricket on them an inch, his non-inclusion). “KL Rahul or Rishabh (Pant), are all Pant can contribute substantially the third morning in Adelaide doesn’t define this team. they will take a dangerous players. So we got to be bang on the mark if the situation demands so. The “We had two good days, just one bad hour, where we actually mile tomorrow (Saturday) as we were in Adelaide,” he added. changes that have been made are lost it completely,” Rahane pointed out. TIM PAINE Shubhman Gill (Prithvi Shaw), Jadeja

India made 445 and 59/2 against Australia’s 262 and 308. DECEMBER 26-29, 1991: Australia won by eight wickets THE TWO DEBUTANTS MELBOURNE Australia romped to an eight-wicket win courtesy a 12-wicket match-haul by pacer Bruce Reid. India were bowled out for 263 and 213 as Australia got 349 he door opened for Mohammed Siraj, after Mohammed and 128/2. T Shami got injured in the first Test and was ruled out of the series. Siraj also could have missed out on the Test MUSINGS DECEMBER 26-30, 1999 : Australia won by 180 runs series. His father died during the T20 series, but Siraj Sachin Tendulkar’s 116 in the first innings and 52 in refused BCCI’s offer to fly him back to attend the last rites. the second were in vain as Australia beat India by 180 He knew that for the trip he would have to be under runs. Australia made 405 and 208/5 declared and quarantine for 14 days and that would rule out his chances. bowled India out for 238 and 195. So he decided to listen to skipper Virat Kohli who told Siraj, DECEMBER 26-30, 2003 : Australia won by nine wickets “Stay strong for your dad’s dream.” The decision to remain Virender Sehwag’s 195 was overshadowed by Ricky back in Australia seems to have been a boon for the son of Ponting’s 257 and Matthew Hayden’s 136 as Australia an auto-rickshaw driver. Now the sky is the limit for him. aced a run-fest, winning by nine wickets. The hosts replied to India’s 366 with 558 in the first innings MOHAMMED SIRAJ (BOWLER) before bowling the Indians out for 286 in the second First Class M-38 W-152 BB-8/59 5W/I-4 essay. List A M-46 W-81 BB-5/37 5W/I-2 India have played 13 Tests at the then shot India out for 331 and 67 to win by an DECEMBER 26-30, 2007 : Australia won by 337 runs innings and 177 runs. Vinoo Mankad hit 111 for India Hayden was the star once again with 124 in the first T20s M-67 W-90 BB-4/20 4W/I-3 MCG. Their best records are at this in the first innings. innings that helped Australia to 343. It was followed *Siraj so far has played one ODI and three T20s for hallowed ground. India have won DECEMBER 30, 1967- JANUARY 3, 1968: Australia won up with 351/7 declared in the second innings. India India picking up three wickets. three of the 13 Tests they have by an innings and four runs were dismissed for 196 and 161. Australia posted 529 and bundled out India for 173 DECEMBER 26-30, 2011: Australia won by 122 runs hubhman Gill’s languid grace and the played at the MCG. The last one and 252. Only Mansur Ali Khan (75 and 85) shone It was the first game of series in 2011-12 which India Sability to play the ball late have fetched with the bat. came in 2018 and helped India lost 0-4 of. Australia made 333 and 240 and bowled him rave reviews. Cricket legend Sunil DECEMBER 30, 1977- JANUARY 4, 1978: India won by India out for 282 and 169. Gavaskar spoke very highly about Gill during 222 runs the IPL. He is a classy act with plenty of time clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy DECEMBER 26-30, 2014 : Match drawn It was India’s first win at the MCG courtesy spinners at his disposal to play the bowlers. After the for the first time in 72 years. Here’s Bishan Singh Bedi and BS Chandrasekhar who picked It was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s last Test match. debacle in Adelaide, the visitors will how the matches have panned out. 18 of the 20 Aussie wickets to fall. India made 256 Australia got 530 and 465 while India replied with 465 certainly be hoping Gill comes good at the and 343 against Australia’s 213 and 164. and 174 for six. top of the order. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said that the role of an opener in any game is JANUARY 1-5, 1948 : Australia won by 222 runs FEBRUARY 7-11, 1981: India won by 59 runs DECEMBER 26-30, 2018: India won by 137 runs very important. In this game Sir Donald Bradman scored centuries in The game will be remembered more for Sunil An iconic Test as it enabled India to win the both innings. Australia posted 394 and 255/4 Gavaskar threatening to walk off. However, that did Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time. declared. India declared on 291/9 in the first innings not happen. An injured Kapil Dev took five wickets in Jasprit Bumrah ran through the Australians SHUBHMAN GILL (BATSMAN) and were bowled out for 125 in the second. the second innings as Australia were bowled out for picking up nine wickets in the game. India First class M-23 R-2,270 H-268 100s-7 50s-11 FEBRUARY 6-10, 1948: Australia won by an innings 83 chasing a victory target of 143. India made 237 scored 443/7 declared riding on Chetshwar and 177 runs and 324. Australia got 419 in the first innings. Pujara’s 106. They then bowled out the Aussies List-A M-58 R-2,313 H-143 100s-6 50s-11 Australia piled up a mammoth 575/8 declared and DECEMBER 26-30, 1985 : Match drawn for 151 and 261. T-20 M-51 R-1,217 H-78 100s-0 50s-9

NEWS IN BRIEF INDUCTION INTO BCCI’S NEW SENIOR SELECTION PANEL Subhranshu to lead Odisha T20 squad

2 Man City players POST NEWS NETWORK dergo seven-day quarantine. ODISHA TEAM test Covid positive This year the tournament was de- Debashis ready for new role Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Odisha Subhranshu Senapati (captain), ferred due to the COVID-19 out- MANCHESTER: Manchester City cricketers will have the chance to Biplab Samantray, Govind Poddar, break in India. Originally the event players Gabriel Jesus and Kyle POST NEWS NETWORK show their prowess when the do- Pratik Das, Shantanu Mishra, Ankit was scheduled to be played in Walker have tested positive for mestic 2020-21 season starts January Yadav, Aditya Rout, Gourav November. However, now it will be coronavirus. The club said two Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Just ele- 10 with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Choudhury, Sukesh Heera, Walter played from January 10 with the staff members also tested vated to the BCCI senior selection The Odisha Cricket Association an- Toppo, Rajesh Dhupar (wicket- finals coming off January 31. positive and that all four are committee, former India fast bowler nounced Friday a 20-member team keeper), Pravin Loha (wicket-keeper), Forty four teams are taking part self-isolating in accordance Debashis Mohanty feels that life to take part in the tournament. Suryakant Pradhan, Sarbeswar in the event. The teams have been with Premier League and has turned a full circle for him. Odisha will be led by Subhranshu Mohanty, Tarini Sa, Pappu Ray, divided into seven groups. While government protocols. This has Debashis has been a player, then a Senapti and seniors like Biplab Ankitkar Jaiswal, Rajesh Mohanty, Groups A to F will have six teams been an injury-plagued year for coach before finally being inducted Samantray and Govind Poddar have Sunil Kumar Roul and Asish Rai each, the Plate Group will com- Jesus. He has just scored four into the junior selection committee. found a place in the team. prise of eight sides. Odisha, no goals in all competitions. The Now he has moved a step forward Odisha have been placed in Group where a bio-bubble will be created. doubt are in a tough group with club wished all four ‘a speedy recovery over the Christmas to the senior level and he feels that ‘C’ with Jharkhand, Bengal, Tamil All the teams will have to reach teams like Tamil Nadu, Bengal and period ahead of their return to it is a role which has a lot of Nadu, Hyderabad and Assam. All the venue by January 3 so that the Hyderabad. However, they have the work, training and competition’. responsibilities. BCCI’s senior selector Debashis Mohanty poses with kids at the Sahid Sporting the matches will be played in Kolkata players and support staff can un- talent to surprise superior sides. Talking to reporters here at the Club ground at Bhubaneswar, Friday Sahid Sporting Club, the former India fast bowler said that his main Odisha cricketers will Debashis informed. ‘Negative impact’ aim will be to identify the real tal- have to perform Debashis, Abey Kuruvilla and 40-day foreign camp for wrestler Vinesh KARACHI: Former Pakistan ents. He also asserted that Odisha consistently at all Harvinder Singh have all played captain and chief selector cricketers will have to perform con- levels across all formats. together and incidentally all the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA planned by Akos. It gives Vinesh Inzamam-ul-Haq has said the sistently at all levels across all Then only will they come into three were fast bowlers in their the opportunity to spar with many recent Mohammad Amir formats to attract attention. national reckoning prime. Will playing together help in New Delhi, Dec 25: The Central European wrestlers in her weight retirement controversy will “I am now a national selector, their role as selectors? “Well, cer- Government has sanctioned a 40-day category. Akos is sure it will im- have a negative impact on the so I have to identify talented play- DEBASHIS MOHANTY tainly there will be better under- training camp in Hungary and prove her her technical and tactical country’s cricket. Amir retired ers from all over India, not just Debashis was asked as to which standing as we all know each other,” Poland for champion wrestler aspects. Vinesh is looking forward from international cricket due Odisha,” Debashis said. “Odisha role he enjoyed the most – player, Debashis said. “It will enable fruit- Vinesh Phogat along with her per- to the overseas training camp. “As to his differences with team cricketers will have to perform con- coach and now selector. “Each has its ful discussions,” he added. sonal coach Woller Akos, sparring a wrestler, I need to know my level management comprising chief sistently at all levels, be it the own responsibilities, but the one Debashis identified Priyam Garg partner Priyanka Phogat and phys- and getting to spar with good coach Misbah ul Haq and Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Ranji or Duleep role I have enjoyed most is repre- and Kartik Tyagi as players to look iotherapist Poornima Raman wrestlers will be very helpful in as- bowling coach Waqar Younis. Trophy. If they do so, I will cer- senting India on the cricket field,” said out for the future. He also said that Ngomdir for a total cost of Rs 15.51 sessing where I stand,” Vinesh said. y “It is not about the impact tainly highlight their perform- the man who was a member of the a cricketer should identify the for- lakh. The tour was sanctioned Vinesh has qualified for the Tokyo

Amir’s decision will have on our ances,” Debashis added. 1999 World Cup team. mat he is comfortable in and hone under the government’s Target The total cost includes airfare, Olympics scheduled for July-August

k k y y m m c bowling resources or strength c Debashis was quick to point out that “Coaching is a different job al- his skills accordingly. He also spoke Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). local transportation, boarding and 2021 in the women’s 53 kg event because life moves on. But what bothers me more is the the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) together and as a selector the main highly about current Odisha skip- The camp will take place from lodging charges and out of pocket after winning the bronze medal at negative impact such incidents is on the right track to unearth talented focus is to identify talents that will per Subhranshu Senapati stating December 28 to January 24 at the allowance. Vinesh is a part of the the 2019 World Championships. have on our cricket and its players. “I am sure in the next few be useful for India. Each role has its that the player is a very ‘talented’. Vasas Sports Club in Budapest and TOPS and is a medal prospect at the Her last competition before the image,” Inzamam said. AGENCIES years we will see a lot of talented pros and cons. Frankly speaking, “If he works hard, he has a very from January 25 to February 5 at the Tokyo Games. COVID-19 lockdown was the Asian faces in Odisha cricket,” he asserted. I have enjoyed each and every role,” bright future,” stated Debashis. Olympic Training Centre in Szczryk. The training camp has been Senior Championships in February.

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