. RNI Regn. No. CHHENG/2012/42718, Postal Reg. No. - RYP DN/34/2013-2015 (% 0($ 789: 045 6 01#2#023 (027 ! 6 10,7 "0()( 6.,, 3 4.5,)() (+ 55+:O' ,5*)' +),-. ,06(5* 1-5 , 1-01 ()'* 1 (6O' 3.("' (-. .0 - (+." - ,) '3 89 3 ))5(: '3 , )')() +)- +0( -:+) 1 + 4.& :* + 5; ((+ ;< = ' ) ! 1/ 1 ! " =>? 7= @ ! " # $ %% $ & ()* +),-. #$ $ % ! ()* +),-./ 01 . tor bank would stand altered to the moratorium period of thir- 5,000 crore and number of ty days ends.” earing further explosion of & '() s distress calls and long equity shares to 2,400 crore Meanwhile concerns have Fcoronavirus cases in the * +, - Aqueues of customers were having face value of 2 each, as been raised over the restruc- wake of rise in number from six witnessed on Friday at various per the RBI proposal. turing scheme for Yes Bank, to 31 this week in India, the branches of the crisis-ridden Earlier in the day, SBI which has 1,000 branches Government and other author- Yes Bank whose control was Chairman Rajnish Kumar, who across the country. One of the ities continued the spree of can- seized by the RBI in a dramat- met Sitharaman on Friday, said biggest losers in case the RBI’s celling various events. ic move late on Thursday, the the resolution to the Yes Bank restructuring scheme for Yes India’s total number of Union Government rushed to crisis will come “very shortly”. Bank goes through will be the confirmed cases stands at 31, assure depositors that their “This is not a sectoral problem. additional tier-I bond holders after a person from New Delhi money is safe and the RBI has It is a bank-specific problem,” who have bets totalling to with a history of travel from been asked to assess reasons for he said. Yes Bank’s RBI- 10,800 crore on the lender. Thailand and Malaysia tested the crisis and fix responsibili- appointed administrator The investors in such instru- positive, an official from the ties and resolve the crisis. Prashant Kumar, an ex-chief ments typically include mutu- Union Health Ministry said. Soon after, State Bank of financial officer of SBI, said, “A al fund houses and bank trea- His seven family members India (SBI) decided to pick up solution is being worked upon suries, experts said. have been quarantined at their 49 per cent stake in Yes Bank ! to revive the Bank well before Continued on Page 4 residence in west Delhi. The under a Government-approved latest case is the third from the bailout plan depositors’ money steps taken are in the interest at least three years. In its draft national Capital. is safe. of depositors, banks and econ- “Yes Bank Ltd. Reconstruction As part of the precautionary A day after the RBI capped omy. I am in continuous inter- Scheme, 2020”, RBI said the drive, the Government withdrawals at 50,000 for the action with the RBI. The RBI strategic investor bank will announced curtailment of civil next one month and imposed is fully seized of the matter and have to pick up 49 per cent Tirupati: Authorities at the aviation show ‘Wings India strict limits on operations at the has assured they will give a shareholding in the recon- richest temple here withdrew 2020’ to be held in Hyderabad country’s fourth-largest pri- quick resolution.” structed bank at a price not less 1,300 crore from crisis-hit later this month. The authori- vate lender that faced “regular According to the RBI’s than 10 (Face value of 2) and Yes Bank in October. Tirumala Bhubaneswar: Devotees of ties also banned use of biomet- outflow of liquidity” after an draft scheme of reconstruction premium of 8, and it cannot Tirupati Devasthanams , which Lord Jagannath and priests at ric system in all ministries and effort to raise new capital failed, for the crisis-hit lender reduce holding to below 26 per manages the affairs of Tirumala the centuries-old temple in Central Government offices. an Olympic test event in Tokyo they reached Amritsar for Finance Minister Nirmala announced on Friday, a strate- cent before three years from the temple, on Friday said the Puri are worried following RBI Taking a cue, the CRPF stands cancelled due to the being possible carriers of coro- Sitharaman said, “I want to gic investor like SBI will have date of capital infusion. From withdrawal in October and it restrictions on Yes Bank where and the BSF too cancelled offi- coronavirus outbreak. navirus while two employees of assure every depositor that to pick up 49 per cent stake in the appointed date, the autho- had nothing to do with the cri- 545 crore is deposited in the cial events to celebrate Holi fes- The Government has asked the Northern Railways have their money shall be safe. The Yes Bank and stay invested for rised capital of the private sec- sis in the bank. IANS deity’s name. PTI tivities. Also, daily retreat cer- people not to pay attention to been sent to RML hospital for false rumours that the novel further treatment. Two cases coronavirus was spreading reported to Northern Railway through non-vegetarian food Central Hospital (NRCH) ! like eggs, chicken, mutton and casualty ward on March 5, in seafood while the UGC has whom there was a history of directed universities to avoid cough and fever. Since they had large gathering in view of the travelled abroad recently, they coronavirus outbreak. have been sent to RML ()* +),-. the facility of isolation beds for Besides the fresh case Hospital. They are, however, yet COVID-19 patients, that is 10 detected on Friday, the 30 to be confirmed for COVID- ll Government and private per cent of the total bed capac- other positive cases include a 19, said Dr Anand E Barla, Ahospitals in southwest Delhi ity of all Government and pri- 45-year-old man from Delhi’s nodal officer, ACHD/medi- have been directed to reserve 10 vate hospitals under SWD,” Mayur Vihar and six of his rel- cine/NRCH in a statement per cent beds for coronavirus the order stated. atives from Agra whom he here on Friday. patients, according to an official So far, 31 people have test- had recently visited. Another is Till date, nearly 29,000 order issued on Friday. ed positive for coronavirus in a Paytm employee who works people have been put under Southwest Delhi District India, according to the Union in Gurgaon and lives in West surveillance, Harsh Vardhan Magistrate Rahul Singh on Health Ministry. Delhi. They are all being treat- said after holding a meeting Friday issued the order, asking Meanwhile, Delhi Chief ( () * ed at the Safdarjung hospital. here to review preparedness for all Government and private Minister Arvind Kejriwal on # $ %& $ A middle-aged man from managing coronavirus out- ()* +),-. hospitals to create such facili- Friday said anganwadis have Ghaziabad, who tested positive break and stressed on the ty for COVID-19 patients. been closed in view of the coro- decided to set up separate Bara Hindurao Hospital. for the virus, is being treated at importance of states keeping he Government on Friday “As you are aware that navirus scare. The Government wards for the deadly disease at The Delhi Government the Ram Manohar Lohia hos- quarantine facilities, isolation Tdecided that employees there is an emergency situation child-care centres have been four hospitals run by it. The has also constituted a State- pital in the national Capital. A wards and testing labs in active under suspension or against of COVID-19 in Delhi. closed from Friday, he added. civic body has already set up a level task force to deal with the 24-year-old man from readiness. whom sanction of prosecu- Therefore, all Government and North Delhi Municipal separate ward with 14 beds for coronavirus in the national Hyderabad, who has also test- The coronavirus, which tion has been granted in cases private hospitals need to create Corporation (NMC) has also coronavirus patients at the Capital. ed positive for coronavirus, can cause respiratory illness of corruption will not be able has been isolated. that can lead to pneumonia, to get a passport. emony at Attari-Wagah border Besides, 16 members of a emerged in the central Chinese The move follows a review O P in Punjab will be conducted tourist group from Italy and city of Wuhan late last year. But of the existing guidelines by the #(2 * (+( '%$ #$ % &&' ( without public presence due to their Indian guide have been it has now spread in numerous Personnel Ministry, in con- #*$ % % ' +*%#( # * % coronavirus. found infected by the virus. countries. Globally, there have sultation with the Central & &( % ,*- % ' # * #+( '#(( Rashtrapati Bhawan, Prime While one Italian man and been more than 100,000 cases Vigilance Commission (# +( * +-/ ( +%0# ,( Minister Narendra Modi and his wife are being treated at and more than 3,400 and the Ministry of External ( % / & +*$ *$ (+#-$ '# (( +# *$ * % various BJP leaders have already Jaipur’s SMS hospital, 14 mem- deaths. Affairs (MEA). Kanpur: In a bizarre case, a 1*%$ % %( # 2$' announced that they would bers of the group and their Authorities are screening It is required to check the policeman allegedly faked coro- , % * ( % * #,#( ( +*$$ #**-( # not attend celebrations for the Indian guide, who were quar- international travelers at 30 air- vigilance clearance of such navirus infection for his failure Cuttack: An Irishman, sus- M$(%+#0*-N ', & ( % Holi festival. Modi has already antined at the ITBP camp in ports and have already tested Government servants for grant nisance of by a court of law, the to record the statement of a pected of being infected with # #$*((5 canceled travel plans to Brussels Chhawla, have been admitted more than 3,500 samples while of passport, said the order order added. molestation victim. The matter coronavirus, fled from a hos- for an India-EU summit amid to the Medanta hospital in the Indian Army is preparing issued by the Personnel All departments have been came to light after an audio clip pital on Thursday but was a rising caseload in Belgium. Gurgaon. at least five large-scale quar- Ministry to secretaries asked to check as to whether in which the cop, identified as traced to a hotel in The virus scare cast its Health Minister Harsh antine centres. of all Central Government any provision of the Section sub-inspector Ram Sevak, who Bhubaneswar, Odisha, where shadow on the Bollywood too Vardhan said that the Following the increase in departments. 6(2) of the Passport Act, 1967 was deployed at Chakeri police he has been kept in isolation with the organisers of the Government is in discussions load of screening samples from Accordingly, it has been is attracted in case of employ- station in Kanpur, was heard with another person with International Indian Film with Iranian authorities and a suspected cases with symp- decided that vigilance clear- ees who are working under saying that he suffered from whom he had come into con- Academy Awards, one the main ferry flight, carrying around toms and travel history to the ance can be withheld if an offi- them while obtaining an Indian coronavirus infection. PTI tact, officials said. PTI ceremonies for the Bollywood 300 swabs of Indians suspect- affected countries, the Indian cer is under suspension or a passport. film industry, announcing that ed to have coronavirus infec- Council of medical Research chargesheet has been filed in a Passports can also be 6 they were postponing the event tion, from Tehran is coming to (ICMR) has commissioned 51 court by the investigating refused in case a warrant or 1 1 / ! scheduled for later this month. the national Capital. laboratories for COVID-19 agency in a criminal case, it said. summons for appearance or ! The Lotus Makeup India The plane, to be operated testing in the country. In The vigilance clearance for a warrant for arrest of the ! . Fashion Week (LMIFW), by Iran’s Mahan Air, would not addition, NCDC Delhi is also obtaining a passport can also be applicant has been issued by 2* ! ! scheduled to begin on March have any passengers and engaged in testing in its 57 lab- denied to employees after grant a court under any law for the ! # 1' 3 11, too has been postponed. Iranians in India would be oratories which have an oper- of sanction by the competent time being in force or that an ! As a preventive measure, taken back in its return journey. ational Real-Time PCR plat- authority under the Prevention order prohibiting the departure ' 3 1' the upcoming combined shoot- The Government said a 13- form, said a statement here of Corruption Act or any other from India of the applicant has # ing World Cup in New Delhi member group of tourists from from the criminal matter and taken cog- been made by any such court. ! too has been postponed, while Italy are under scanner after ICMR. P ()* +),-. International airport. be one of the most intense fairly widespread rainm, thun- The IMD also predicted western disturbances seen so dershowers could also occur hose who have already formation of fresh western dis- far this year, and added that it over northeastern States Ttucked away their winter turbance which will affect the will bring widespread snowfall (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, clothings and brought out the western Himalayan region and to the hills and rain to the Meghalaya and Nagaland, summer wear hoping of warm plains of northwest India from plains. Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura) O weather around Holi should March 10 to 14. The western disturbance is between March 7 and 8. P rethink as the India Kuldeep Srivastava, head of currently over south-west Also, the IMD predicted Meteorological Department regional meteorological centre Afghanistan. Under its influ- rain and thunderstorm in (IMD) has predicted that a at the IMD, said the wet spell ence, an induced low pressure Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, ! slight cold spell will continue that hit the region is due to a area has formed over south- interior Karnataka, Kerala, " till March 15-18. western disturbance. west Rajasthan. In addition, interior Maharashtra and # Due to intense western “Four western disturbances there is high moisture feeding Madhya Pradesh mainly disturbance over south-west are witnessed in March. from Arabian Sea at lower and between March 7 and 8. L Afghanistan, country’s Western Therefore, it is raining,” mid tropospheric levels over Western disturbances are M & Himalayan region, north, east Srivastava said. “From the rem- north-west India. storms that originate over the ' and north-east, and north- nants of systems in westerlies, Due to it, Jammu & Mediterranean region and west expanse on Friday wit- scattered to fairly widespread Kashmir and Ladakh, which typically hit India in ! " nessed heavy rain accompanied rain / thundershowers also Himachal Pradesh, parts of winter, bringing rain. " by lightening hail and gusty occurred over east & Northeast north Chhattisgarh, Bihar, According to the IMD, 22 winds. Widespread rain lashed India,” he added. Jharkhand, north Odisha and western disturbances have '# " # $ %& $ (! # several parts of Punjab and Rain also lashed the west Bengal, Sikkim and occurred this year. ' Haryana on Friday, triggering national Capital all through the Uttarakhand will witness fair- Bhartiya Kisan Union fear among farmers about dam- day on Friday, affecting traffic days has brought the mercury morning. The maximum tem- Region (NCR), and parts of the ly widespread to widespread (Ekta Ugrahan) general secre- age to wheat crop. movement with visibility drop- down. perature is likely to settle at 22 northern plains could see rain and snowfall on March 7. tary Sukhdev Singh said rains # Arrival and departure of ping considerably in the after- The city recorded a mini- degrees Celsius. thunderstorms and gusty winds The situation will remain the are not good at this stage and several flights were affected at noon due to dense clouds. mum temperature of 12 According to Srivastava, till Saturday. same on March 8. it will certainly affect yield of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Rain over the last two degrees Celsius on Friday Delhi and the National Capital Scientists are expecting it to The IMD said scattered to wheat crop. ! ! adding Service hospitals will ponement, navy officials said ()* +),-. work in synergy with local the conduct of MILAN 2020 civil medical authorities and had generated a very enthusi- he Army on Friday asked designated Indian Council of astic response, with Navies Tits troops to avoid crowd- Medical Research (ICMR) lab- around the world having ()* +),-. minus the spectators amid the country. The festival of colours is entertained. The ceremony will ed places, refrain from all non- oratories. expressed their desire to global concern over the The paramilitary forces’ scheduled for celebrations on be conducted without specta- essential foreign travel and Service personnel will participate; and in def- he Central paramilitary pandemic. strength is about 10 lakh and March 10. tors,” a senior BSF official said. said it will set up five camps for be encouraged to utilise erence to this inter- Tforces like the CRPF and For its part, the CISF has includes the Central Reserve This is the third straight As for the CISF, its main coronavirus screening. These shopping complex facil- est, the Indian the BSF have decided to call off postponed its anniversary Police Force (CRPF), the year that these forces will not event entailed a mega parade camps will come up at ities within the canton- Navy looks for- official events to celebrate Holi parade and related celebra- Border Security Force (BSF), be celebrating Holi on an offi- and martial drills display, Suratgarh, Jaisalmer, ments, military stations ward toward in the wake of the Coronavirus tions scheduled for next week the Central Industrial Security cial level. involving thousands of troops Secunderabad, Chennai and and avoid visits to crowd- scheduling MILAN scare. The BSF has also decid- across the country. In a similar Force (CISF), the Indo-Tibetan In 2018, the celebrations and their families, was to take Kolkatta besides one quaran- ed areas like movie halls at a later convenient ed to hold the beating retreat move, the CRPF has also post- Border Police (ITBP) force, were called off after 25 CRPF place on March 13 at a CISF tine facility already functioning and shopping malls, officials date. ceremony at Attari border poned an event scheduled to be the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel were killed in a camp in Ghaziabad near here at Manesar near Gurugram. added. held at the India Gate in the and the National Security Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s to mark the 51st raising day of The new camps will cater to at These advisories come two national capital to mark the Guards besides Assam Rifles. Sukma district and last year. the Force. least 1,500 people, officials days after the Navy postponed International Women’s Day on They function under the oper- Likewise, the festivities were All the formations of the said here. MILAN-2020- a multilateral March 8. With these cancella- ational command of the Union cancelled in order to express force in the country also hold As regards instructions to naval exercise scheduled to be tions, the CRPF anniversary Home Ministry. solidarity with the 40 CRPF various events to mark the day its troops in all formations conducted from March 18 to 28 parade scheduled to be held “No Holi Milan celebra- personnel who were killed in in scaled down manner. about precautions, they said at Visakhapatnam taking into later this month in Gurgaon tions to be organised in CRPF the Pulwama terror attack in “The CISF day parade in following various advisories consideration the safety of all remains uncertain. in view of the threat of Novel Jammu and Kashmir on Ghaziabad and related events by the Government on participants and travel restric- The paramilitary forces Corona Virus (COVID-19). It February 14 last year. to be held all across the coun- COVID-19, the Army head- tions imposed by the spread of engaged in a variety of internal is also desirable to avoid mass “As per the government try on March 13 have been quarters has issued detailed COVID-19. More than 40 security roles and border public gatherings and congre- guidelines to counter COVID- postponed in view of the instructions with respect to countries were scheduled to guarding duties have issued gations,” reads an advisory 19, congregations are to be Coronavirus scare,” a senior preparations and emergency take part in the exercise held directives to cancel events to issued by CRPF headquarters avoided, hence visitors/specta- official said, adding the move response in tackling the virus. every two years in India. collectively celebrate Holi at to its field formations on tors to the Beating Retreat cer- comes following instructions The latest advisory Informing about the post- their formation across the Thursday. emony at Attari will not be from the Union Home includes detailed instructions Ministry. for actions at various military An order issued by the stations, Army formations and paramilitary force said the Service hospitals. “Local mil- event was being cancelled due itary authorities will exercise to “administrative reasons and suitable control to avoid/post- until further orders”. pone all non-essential mass Troops from all over the gathering like festivals, welfare country converge here for the activities and public gatherings ness of the House. more interest in making other ()* +),-. It said all the ministries have been asked to main event and are hosted at till situation improves,” the ()* +),-. “I have to make an obser- things as their headlines exempt their employees to mark attendance various camps of the force in advisory says and regular vation. The other day...The ignoring this,” he said. he Centre on Friday exempted all its employ- through the Aadhaar-based biometric atten- the National Capital Region health information education ice President M Venkaiah Minister for Health had made Naidu said picking head- Tees from marking attendance through the dance system till March 31. “However, all employ- (NCR), with elaborate mea- and counseling activities will be VNaidu on Friday said it a detailed statement about lines is the media’s prerogative Aadhaar-based biometric system as a preventive ees are required to mark their attendance in the sures made for their stay and carried out at all military was unfair and unfortunate the steps that are being taken, and “we can’t help it...But measure to check the spread of the coronavirus. attendance register (as done prior to launch of the meals. The main event in stations. that a section of the media were taken or will be taken ignoring such a vital, impor- Instead, they will be marking their attendance man- biometric system), during this period,” the order Ghaziabad was to be presided Military hospitals were “ignored” an important debate with regard to the spread of tant aspect concerning the ually in the attendance register, according to a issued to all central government departments said. over by Union Home Minister directed to establish isolation in Rajya Sabha on the spread coronavirus...Members also people of the country that is Department of Personnel Ministry order. Though only a small number of novel coro- Amit Shah and senior officials wards and have separate Out of coronavirus. Naidu, who is gave their valuable sugges- not fair”. “It is learnt that the most common method navirus cases have been reported in the country, of the security establishment. Patient Departments (OPD) the Chairman of the Upper tions. But unfortunately sec- He expressed hope that of transmission of the virus seems to be through it is a must to take all possible preventive measures A fresh decision will be for screening of symptomatic House of Parliament, made his tions of the media, they did the media will take care in infected surfaces. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid to stop its spread, the personnel ministry said. The taken based on a review of the cases to prevent avoidable observation on the matter not focus on the important future while reporting such touching surfaces, which might be infected due total number of coronavirus cases in the country prevailing situation of the dis- transmission, officials said before taking up regular busi- issue and they were showing important issues. to human touch,” the order said. is 31, according to health ministry officials. ease, the official said. ! ( , P " 67; ' " ()* +),-. The Lok Sabha, which has place in the House between 2 ' # been for last three-days func- March 2 and 5, the house was committee, chaired by Lok tioning in the absence of a informed by the Chair after the ASabha Speaker Om Birla, “hurt” Speaker Om Birla who Opposition demanded revoca- will look into the incidents that has chosen to stay away from tion of the suspension of seven took place in the House presiding the House due to the Congress MPs. ideas have destroyed India’s P ! between March 2 and 5, lead- ruckus, managed to pass in The House had witnessed ()* +),-. economy,” the former Congress ing to suspension of seven between the spell of adjourn- uproarious scenes on March 2 chief said in a tweet. Yes Bank 3 + 2 Congress members which the ments, two Bills -- the Mineral as the Opposition demanded aking a dig at the BJP-led was placed under a moratorium ' Opposition wants to be Laws (Amendment) Bill and a discussion on Delhi riots. On TGovernment over the mora- on Thursday, with the Reserve # ! " # revoked. In the meantime the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Thursday, after papers from the torium placed on Yes Bank, the Bank of India capping deposit , & ! though, proceedings in both Code (Second Amendment) table of the Speaker were torn Congress on Friday alleged that withdrawals at the bank at Rs @9 # the Houses of Parliament were Bill -- amidst continuous amidst bedlam seven Congress Prime Minister Narendra Modi 50,000 per account for a month AB< disrupted for the fifth consec- protests by the Opposition. MPs were suspended. and his “ideas” had destroyed and superseding its board. utive day on Friday due to slo- As soon as Lok Sabha On the same day an RLP the country’s economy. The “BJP has been in power for 1. ganeering by Opposition mem- assembled at 11 am, some member made some contro- party also tweeted from its six years. Their ability to govern bers seeking an immediate dis- members of the Congress and versial remarks relating to Twitter handle, saying the cus- and regulate financial institu- 1 cussion on the riots in Delhi, other Opposition parties such cornonavirus against Congress tomers of Yes Bank were going tions stands exposed. First, it was " which claimed at least 53 lives. as the DMK and the Indian Sabha, was also in the Well. He scenes, the House passed the president Sonia Gandhi and her to face tough times ahead due to PMC Bank. Now it is YES Bank. 3 ' While the Lok Sabha Union Muslim League trooped was seen picking up a book, Mineral Laws (Amendment) family members triggering a the withdrawal limits. “BJP has Is the government concerned at 1 ! - passed two Bills amidst pan- into the well of the House, seek- apparently the rule book of Bill. The chair again adjourned strong reaction from Congress. successfully managed to sink the all? Can it shirk its responsibil- ! demonium , in the Rajya Sabha ing discussion on the riots and Parliament, and showing it to the House for about 10 minutes While protesting the economy without any remorse, ity? Is there a third bank in the ! its Chairman M Venkaiah raising slogans demanding the chair. till 12.45 pm. remarks, Congress member regret or even a plan to put it line?,” Chidambaram said. & '# ! Naidu termed the turn of Home Minister Amit Shah’s As the commotion contin- When the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi pulled papers back on track,” it said. He also wondered if the events in both the Houses resignation. Many Opposition ued, Kirit Solanki, who was resumed business, it took up from the Speaker’s table and While party leader Rahul BJP-led government would con- ! & ' “unfortunate” before adjourn- members also wore black bands presiding the proceedings, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy flung them in the air. Gandhi took a jibe on the firm that YES Bank’s loan book ing the Upper House of on their arms in protest. announced adjourning the Code (Second Amendment) Gogoi, who could face a Government by his one liner on had grown under its watch from "1 Parliament for the day barely 15 Congress leader Rahul House till 2 PM. He later Bill amidst the Opposition strict action and six other social media “No Yes Bank”, for- Rs 55,000 crore in FY 2014 to Rs A minutes after it assembled at 11 Gandhi was among those who revised the adjournment time protests and declared as passed members were suspended from mer Finance Minister P 2,41,000 core in FY 2019. “When 3 ' am. sported black bands. However, to 12 noon. When the House before the house was adjourned the House for the remainder of Chidambaram hit out saying its overall bank credit during the Both the Houses will he did not join the members reassembled at noon, the for the day. the Budget Session. Along with “ability to govern and regulate above period grew by about 10 reassemble on March 11 after protesting in the well. protests and sloganeering by The committee, chaired by Congress, TMC, DMK and financial institutions stands per cent, how did YES BANK’s the Holi break when the dis- Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the opposition continued. Lok Sabha Speaker , will look NCP also opposed suspension exposed”. loan book grow by about 35 per ! cussion on the issue is slated. Leader of the Congress in Lok However, amidst the noisy into the incidents that took of members. “No Yes Bank. Modi and his cent?,” Chidambaram asked. " 1 & ! 2 7 ' !" -
1 ! " . ! New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday # CC@ asked activist Harsh Mander to file response to !" # . ' O the allegations of Delhi Police that he made hate . ! speeches, including certain objectionable ()* +),-. Rather also allegedly harboured remarks against the top court during anti-CAA JeM terrorists Adil Ahmad Dar protests here. he National Investigation Agency (Pulwama suicide bomber), Sameer 1 A Bench, comprising Chief Justice SA T(NIA) on Friday arrested two Ahmed Dar and Kamran (Pakistani) 1 1 1 Bobde and Justices BR Gavai, made clear how- more accused persons in connection at his house a number of times in the 3 ' ever that it has not issued a contempt notice to with the 2019 Pulwama terror attack run up to the Pulwama attack. Mander on the plea of Delhi Police alleging case. The duo is alleged to have used Rather is also alleged to have O “derogatory remarks”, making insinuations the Amazon online shopping portal to facilitated shelter for the JeM terror- # against the apex court and its judges and said procure chemicals for making IEDs, ists, including the suicide bomber Adil # ! . /0 1 % that the plea would now be heard on April 15. batteries and other accessories. Ahmed Dar and others at the house of # 2 . % 1 3 4 . Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, appear- The arrested accused are Waiz ul the accused Tariq Ahmed Shah and his ! ! 1 ing for the activist, alleged that the government Islam, 19, resident of Baghe Mehtab, daughter Insha Jan of Hakripora, ( . 55 was trying to “brow beat” Mander and there was Srinagar and Mohammad Abbas Pulwama, who were arrested on March nothing “objectionable” and “contemptuous” in Rather, 32, of Hakripora, Pulwama. 3. The two arrested accused will be his speeches. “ During initial interrogation, produced before the NIA Special “There is nothing contemptuous, dis- accused Waiz ul Islam has disclosed Court at Jammu on Saturday. ! paraging or inflammatory in his speeches”, Dave that he used his Amazon online shop- said, adding, “I am concerned that the ping account to procure chemicals for ()* +),-. ibility of the electoral system in ple entries in electoral rolls. web camera”. Government is willing to shoot the messenger, making IEDs, batteries and other the country. The EC had proposed that He, however, made it clear while not taking action against the real perpe- accessories on the directions of the n a move to bring more The committee, headed by provisions of the that voters will have to reach a trators”. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Pakistani JeM terrorists. He also per- Itransparency in the electoral Bhupendra Yadav, recom- Representation of the People designated venue during a pre- Mehta, appearing for Delhi Police, referred to sonally delivered the items to the JeM system, a department-related mended that the Government Act be amended to allow the decided period of time to be another speech of Mander and said its contents terrorists after procuring the incrim- Parliamentary Standing may undertake appropriate Election Commission (EC) to able to use this facility. After a are also “contemptuous”. The Bench then inating material online as a part of the Committee on Personnel, actions for the purpose of link- seek Aadhaar numbers of those voter’s identity is established by asked the top law officer to file the contents of conspiracy to carry out the Pulwama Public Grievances, Law and ing unique Aadhaar Card applying to be voters and also the system, a block chain the other speech also by filing another affidavit attack,” the NIA said in a statement. Justice has supported the number with Voter ID Card to those who are already part of enabled personalised e-ballot which can be responded to by Mander as well. Accused Mohd Abbas Rather is an Election Commission’s move to purify the electoral roll which voters’ list. paper will be generated. When old Over-Ground Worker (OGW) of link voters’ Aadhaar numbers is in larger interest of democ- On the block chain tech- the vote is cast , the ballot Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the NIA with the electoral roll to clean ratic polity. nology, an EC official said that would be securely encrypted alleged. up data of duplicate entries. In August last year, the the concept is a “two-way elec- and a block chain hashtag (#) “Rather has disclosed that he gave The EC has also informed commission had asked the tronic voting system, in a con- will be generated. This hashtag shelter at his home to Jaish terrorist the committee that it is also Government to give it statuto- trolled environment, on white- notification would be sent to Mohd Umar (IED expert) after Umar exploring the possibility of ry backing to collect Aadhaar listed IP devices on dedicated various stakeholders, in this came to Kashmir in April-May 2018,” using block chain technology numbers of new applicants and internet lines, enabled with case—the candidates and polit- the agency said. which would enhance the cred- existing voters to check multi- biometric devices and a ical parties. chhattisgarh 03 RAIPUR | SATURDAY | MARCH 7, 2020 Budget session of C’garh Assembly Govt refutes rumours of Dissatisfied with Min’s answer coronavirus infection from oppn boycotts for entire day China-made Holi items STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR STAFF REPORTER n lakh was done on it. Now the ealth Minister T.S. RAIPUR state government had HSinghdeo on Friday decided to sanction `10,000 refuted any possibility of issatisfied over the for each Gauthan, he said. getting coronavirus infection Danswer of minister on The opposition mem- from the China-made Holi Gauthan issue, combined bers objected to his answer items, such as colours, masks opposition on Friday staged charging that the figures and water-guns. walkout in between questions mentioned in Governor’s The minister in a reply to and boycotted the session for address was something a call attention motion of the rest of the day. different to the ministers’ Congress legislator from The issue of Gauthans written answer and the Bilaspur, Shailesh Pandey said was raised in the assembly statement made in the the rumours that Chhattisgarh by Janta Congress House. too could come under the grip Chhattisgarh - Jogi (JCC-J) Thereafter raising of coronavirus in case legislator Renu Jogi. In her objection on the contradic- China-made Holi items are question, Jogi asked about tory figures, the combined used in upcoming festival of the numbers of Gauthans opposition walked out of the colours is unfounded. constructed by the state expenditure incurred on it. Choubey replying to it Gauthans were constructed House and boycotted the As per the information government and the Minister Ravindra informed that a total of 1771 and an expenditure of `17132 session for rest of the day. from World Health Organization it is not proved that the coronavirus is spread with the use of colours, masks and water-guns imported Coronavirus Scare from China, he said. said. virus is now available in All He however accepted that A special 30 bedded India Institute of Medical the China was badly affected quarantine ward has been Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur and with the deadly virus and said established in civil hospital of the samples are also sent to the Govt suspends biometric the state was well prepared to Mana in the capital city to labs in cities of Pune and tackle the menace. All admit the suspected patients. Nagpur, he informed. necessary precautions are Apart from this isolation Till date 23 among the 24 being taken and publicity ward, control rooms are estab- suspected cases in the state mediums are rightly used to lished in each and every dis- were found negative and test attendance in offices prevent the citizens here from trict headquarters, he added. report of one is yet to come, infecting with the virus, he The test of the deadly the minister informed. STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR The fear of the spread tate government through an order Sissued instruction to all departments of the virus has also to suspend their biometric attendance Bijapur adjudged third system till March 31 in the wake of the led to cancellation of spread of coronavirus. The General Administration Holi-Milan Department in the order exempted the use of biometric device for attendance in programmes of the in NITI Aayog ranking government institutions and Chief Minister organisations and suggested registering STAFF REPORTER n among the aspirational attendance manually. Bhupesh Baghel. The RAIPUR districts across India, Notable, experts say as the disease NITI Aayog has found spreads through close contact also the use Chief Minister hhattisgarh’s aspi- the works done at rational district, of biometric system increases the risk of C Bijapur quite good and infection. Bijapur has been cancelled his the district was placed If a sick person has punched the ranked at third place system then microbes tend to remain Holi-Milan programmes by NITI Aayog for third for works done in on the surface of the system, risking the outstanding work agriculture and water spread if a healthy person touches the as per Union done in agriculture sectors. Mamit in system. and water sectors. Mizoram was at the top The fear of the spread of the virus has government’s advisory The ranking was while Hazaribagh in also led to cancellation of Holi-Milan declared for the Jharkhand was at the programmes of the Chief Minister Minister cancelled his Holi-Milan month of January, second place. Likewise, Anjali Sharma of Raipur was on Thursday crowned as Miss Bhupesh Baghel. programmes. As per Union officials said here on Ramgarh and Latehar Chhattisgarh-2020 in a beauty pageant organised by Fashion Fusion Official sources informed that government’s advisory, it has asked Friday. of Jharkhand were at in the capital city. She was also conferred the titles of Miss followed by the advisory issued by leaders to avoid crowd and public According to fourth and fifth Confident and Miss Talent. Pioneer Photo Union government, the Chief meetings, sources said. official information, position respectively. Special gram sabhas on Road accident claims five lives in Dantewada STAFF REPORTER n who hailed from Bijapur, died Women’s Day tomorrow on the spot, he added. DANTEWADA “Car driver apparently failed to negotiate a sharp bend The deceased were identi- STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR The gram sabhas will ive persons, including four on the route that passes through a dense forest, causing fied as Surendra Thakur (45), Fgovernment officials, were sub-engineer in the Public o mark the International Women’s specially hold killed in a road accident in the vehicle to skid off the road and crash into a tree” Health Engineering (PHE) TDay, special gram sabhas will be Dantewada district in the early department (Bijapur district), organised in all the gram panchayats discussions on subjects hours of Friday, police said. Ramdhar Pandey (42) and Anil across the state. The gram sabhas will such as women nutrition, The incident took place Parsul (30), clerks in the same specially hold discussions on subjects around 2.30 am near Ganesh department, Chhattisgarh such as women nutrition, education, education, health, Bahar rivulet under Barsoor Armed Force jawan Sukhlal health, equality, security among other police station, when the victims Pandey (25) and Rajshekhar relevant issues. equality, security among were heading towards Barsoor Lambadi (23), the car driver, he Official sources informed people of other relevant issues from Jagdalpur town in a car, said. rural areas will participate in these gram Dantewada superintendent of As per preliminary infor- sabhas to discuss women nutrition, This is an exemplary initiative towards police Abhishek Pallava said. mation, the PHE department education, health, equal opportunities, women empowerment in Chhattisgarh. The car driver apparently personnel were returning to security and rights. Directorate of Directorate has directed to include failed to negotiate a sharp bend Bijapur after completing an offi- Panchayat has issued circular stating that women self-help groups, cleanliness on the route that passes through cial work in Jagdalpur, Pallava women elected under the 50% ambassadors, mahila jagriti samiti, a dense forest, causing the said. reservation in three-tier panchayat raj women groups, aanganbadi workers, vehicle to skid off the road and A case has been registered institutions in Chhattisgarh are fulfilling mitanins, ANMs and community crash into a tree, he said. and further investigation was their responsibilities with dedication. resource persons. All five occupants of the car, underway, the SP said. Dignity of Padma Shri awardees will be maintained, says CM Jail inmate reportedly commits STAFF REPORTER n award, Baghel said all RAIPUR possible efforts would be made on government’s suicide, judicial probe ordered hief Minister part to maintain their STAFF REPORTER n CBhupesh Baghel on dignity. to mental hospital Kendri in Friday assured the AMBIKAPUR Bilaspur. However, due to Around dozen of unavailability of guarded Padma award winners of Padma Shri award jail inmate reportedly com- transport his transfer could the state that their winners of the state mitted suicide by hanging including Dr ATK Dabke, A not happen, the jailer said. honour would be self at Ambikapur Central Jail, On Wednesday late night maintained. archeologist Dr Arun police said here on Friday. Sharma, Dr Surendra he tore the blanket and used it Baghel was speaking “Two jail staffs have been Dubey, J.M. Nelson, for hanging self from the to the Padma Shri award Madan Chouhan, Anuj suspended while magisterial in a double murder case and windows of the cell he was winners who paid cour- Sharma, Anup Ranjan inquiry and judicial probe have was brought to Ambikapur incarcerated in, the jailer said. tesy visit to him at the Pandey, Mamta already been ordered in the case,” from Ramanujgunj in April Jail guard Ganraj Singh Vidhan Sabha premises. Chandrakar, Saba Anjum Jailer Rajendra Gaikwad said. 2009, Gaikwad informed. Kanwar and Chief guard Vijay Asserting that they and Shamshad Begum The deceased was identi- The deceased was strug- Bahadur Singh have been have glorified the state by were present on this fied as Ramanarayan he was gling from mental problem suspended in this connection, bagging the Padma occasion. sentenced life imprisonment and was supposed to be shifted he added. ! ! #
! " $ . 6 )+ 549:: ,5 New Delhi: Prime Minister 787 3.0 3. 6 # Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at 'right talking' critics of his Bhubaneswar: Devotees of Lord a police station in Puri demanding uthorities at the richest temple here withdrew Government's decisions such as Jagannath and priests at the centuries- probe over depositing the money in A 1,300 crore from crisis-hit Yes Bank late last year. the new citizenship law and old temple in Puri are worried fol- a private bank, but no action was Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which Mumbai/New Delhi: The scrapping of special status for lowing RBI restrictions on Yes Bank taken. manages the affairs of Tirumala temple, on Friday said Enforcement Directorate (ED) Jammu & Kashmir, saying they where 545 crore is deposited in the Allaying concerns, Law Minister the money was withdrawn in October and it had noth- filed a money laundering case have hatred for people who deity's name. Pratap Jena said the money is with the ing to do with the crisis in the bank. and carried out searches at the walk the path of 'doing the right The RBI has capped withdrawals bank as fixed deposits and not in a The clarification came following the moratorium residence of the bank's founder things' and break the status from Yes Bank at 50,000 for the next savings account. “The Government imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on with- Rana Kapoor, officials said. quo. one month and imposed strict lim- has already decided to transfer the drawals from Yes Bank till April 3. The central financial probe Speaking at the ET Global its on operations after the cash- funds from Yes Bank to a nationalised A spokesperson of the temple body clarified that agency also issued a look out Business Summit, he said the starved lender faced “regular outflow bank after tenures of the fixed the money was withdrawn on maturity of the deposit circular against Kapoor, so that global economy has been going porary provision of Article 370 judgment of the Supreme of liquidity” following an effort to deposits end this month,” he said. term in October. “We have officials who monitor he does not leaves the country. through a difficult phase but and full implementation of the Court is not in their raise new capital failed. The RBI Asked whether the government deposits in banks and the maturity periods. It's not that A senior ED official told the fundamentals of the Indian Indian Constitution in Jammu favour.” restrictions on Yes Bank have caused has taken up the matter with the RBI, we suddenly withdrew the amount,” he said. IANS, “Yes, the agency regis- economy are strong and poli- & Kashmir, he said. The Prime Minister said panic among the devotees, said senior the Minister said, “I have not talked TTD officials said that they act as per the decisions tered a case of money launder- cies are clear that will aid in “There is nothing wrong when his party first won elec- 'Daitapati' (servitor) Binayak to the bank authorities so far. I am of the board with regard to depositing money or gold ing in the Yes Bank matter.” reaching the target of nearly with talking the right things. tions in 2014, it had the option Dasmohaopatra. “We demand a thor- sure, we will be able to transfer the in banks. They pointed out that in November last year, Confirming the searches doubling the size of the econ- But these people have a par- of walking down the beaten ough probe and action against the money from Yes Bank without any the board decided to deposit money only in nationalised carried out at Kapoor's resi- omy to USD 5 trillion. ticular hatred for people who track or take a new route with persons responsible for depositing problem.” Former law minister and banks. dence in Mumbai by the central In his strongest attack on are doing the right things,” he a fresh approach. such a huge amount in a private bank ex-Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty The temple body earlier deposited funds in private financial probe agency, the offi- critics yet, Modi said the 'right said. “So when changes are “We opted for the new for a little more interest,” he said. said it was not proper to keep the banks because of the higher interest rates offered by cial said, “Yes, the searches talking' gang advocates for brought in status quo, they see road that gave priority to aspi- “It is illegal as well as unethical money with a private bank for more them. started late in the evening at his rights of migrants world over this as disruptions.” rations of people,” he said. to deposit the lord's funds in a private interest. TTD's cash deposits in the banks crossed 12,000 residence.” but are opposed to India giving “People who project them- “For us, nation-building is not bank. Shree Jagannath Temple “The SJTA should immediately crore in April last year. The board recently projected Another ED official, also citizenship to persecuted selves as the messiah of gender about development, good gov- Administration (SJTA) and the take up the matter with the RBI and Rs 706 crore income from interest on deposits for 2020- related to the probe said the minorities of neighbouring justice are against triple talaq ernance, and convenience but Temple's Managing Committee ensure that the money is safe,” 21. agency has issued LOC against nations. law,” he said. “People who talk about our conviction - convic- should be held responsible for the Mohanty said.The law minister last The body that governs the shrine last week Kapoor, so that the does not This gang talks of the pro- of justice don't hesitate to ques- tion to do the right things, the uncertainty,” said Jagannath Sena month told the assembly that of the approved a budget of 3,309 crore. The income from leaves the country. The copy of tecting the Constitution but tion the intention of the high- conviction to break the status convenor Priyadarshi Patnaik. lord's total 626.44 crore, 592 crore deposits is the second highest source of income after the LOC has been sent to the opposes the removal of tem- est court of the land when one quo.” PTI He said a complaint was filed at was kept in Yes Bank. PTI offerings made by the pilgrims ( 1,313 crore). airport's with details of his passport. The ED's action comes a day after the RBI superseded ( % the Yes Bank board for 30 days and appointed an administra- 1 01 . tor, putting a cap of 50,000 on 1 P !! withdrawal by account holders day ahead of Shiv Sena for a month. Apresident and Chief the angry reactions from dif- activists had on Thursday after- visited Ayodhya. On June 16, The RBI said that the Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s ferent quarters, late Bala saheb noon left from Mumbai’s 2019 year after the Lok Sabha bank's board was superseded visit to Ayodhya, the Shiv Sena had stuck to his stand. No one Lokmanya Tilak Terminus polls, he once again visited “owing to serious deterioration on Friday reiterated its demand can forget the stand taken by (LTT) to the temple town in Ayodhya and offered prayers at in the financial position of the for representation on the 15- late Balasaheb then and the Uttar Pradesh. the makeshift Ram Lalla bank”. Former SBI CFO member autonomous trust set contribution of thousands of Uddhav’s visit is being seen shrine. Prashant Kumar was appoint- for the construction of Ram Shiv Sainiks in the prolonged as attempt to send a message The stand taken by Sarnaik ed as administrator of Yes Bank. temple at Lord Ram’s birthplace agitation for Ram temple,” across to the Sena cadres as well is line with the stand taken by Yes Bank has over 1,000 of Lord Ram in Uttar Sarnaik wrote. the Opposition BJP that the the Shiv Sena in an editorial branches and 1,800-plus ATMs Pradesh. Sarnaik went onto urge there is no erosion in his party’s published in its official mouth- across the country which are In a letter written to Prime the Prime Minister to nominate Hindutva credentials even after piecre “Saamana” which that under severe stress after the cri- Minister Narendra Modi on the a fervent “Ram bakt” from the forming a government with the then to-be appointed tem- sis erupted last night. eve of Uddhav’s visit to Shiv Sainik as member on the “secular” Congress and NCP. ple trust should have repre- Earlier in the day, Union Ayodhya, senior Shiv Sena Ram temple construction trust Uddhav, who had sentation of all the organisa- Finance Minister Nirmala leader and MLA Pratap Sarnaik formed by the Centre. announced after the Supreme tions which campaigned for the Sitharaman said that the bank said: “The Union Government Uddhav is visiting Ayodhya Court verdict in the Ayoidhya temple construction, if it is an was put under watch since recently announced the for- on Saturday on the occasion of dispute case that he would go “autonomous body”. 2017 and developments relating mation of a 15-member trust to Shiv Sena-headed Maha Vikas once again Ayodhya on The Shiv Sena, which had to it were being monitored on undertake the work of con- Aghadi government complet- November 24, 2019, had post- long campaigned for the tem- a day-to-day basis. “Since 2017, 3 ( = /0 > 4 " struction of a Ram temple at ing the 100 days in office. poned his visit then, owing to ple construction, said that it the central bank noticed gov- Ayodhya. We regret that you As per the schedule drawn the impasse in the govern- was active in the campaign for ernance issues and weak regu- have chosen to ignore the con- up by the ruling Shiv Sena, ment formation in the state. temple construction from day latory compliance at Yes Bank, tribution of the Shiv Sena in the Uddhav – along with Shiva The public perception was that one. besides wrong asset classifica- campaign for the construction Sainiks –will have darshan of the Sena would soft-peddle its “The BJP itself had then tion and risky credit decisions,” of Ram Temple at Ayodhya” Lord Shriram on Saturday Hindutva agenda as long as it admitted that the Shiv Sainiks the Finance Minister said. “You will recall that after afternoon. He will perform is running the government in landed hammers on the Babri The bank took many risky the Babri Masjid was demol- Aarati on the ghats of Sarayu the state with the Congress and (mosque) and the (then) Shiv credit decisions, and the RBI ished in 1992, late Balasaheb river in the evening. NCP. Sena chief (late Bal Thackeray) had advised change in man- Thackeray had taken respon- Ahead of chief minister It may be recalled that said he was proud of the Shiv agement, she said, adding such 7 sibility for the development. Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to Uddhav had on November 25, Sainiks who brought down the decisions were taken in the ,06(5* EOW case (number 540/2019) a FIR on November 2, 2019 in the His stand had sparked a con- Ayodhya on Saturday, a special 2018 – along with his wife Babri,” the editorial had interest of the bank's registered against the accused scam after it came to light that troversy in the country. Despite train carrying Shiv Sena Rashmi and son Aditya, had averred. health. IANS ore trouble is in store for under sections 409, 420, 467, UPPCL employees’ PF trust had Msome senior officials of 468 and 471 of the Indian deposited the provident fund Uttar Pradesh Power Penal Code at Hazratganj money in the DHFL, a compa- 3 ,!! O 64 Corporation Limited (UPPCL) police station had been trans- ny which was in deep trouble as after waiting for over four ferred to the CBI police station after facing several scam charges. months, the Central Bureau of on Thursday. On the same day, the inves- Lucknow: Authorities here in the posters have said they erty of the accused will be con- granted bail. “We are not Investigation (CBI) has finally As per the fresh FIR of the tigation was recommended to put up roadside banners with will go to court over the “pub- fiscated if they fail to pay the absconding,” she said, adding decided to take over probe CBI, lodged on behalf of CBI the CBI but the EOW was photographs of people asked to lic humiliation” when the compensation. that they have appeared before into the 4,122 crore scam in Anti-Corruption Bureau’s asked to continue with the pay compensation for damage charges against them are yet to Activist-politician Sadaf the court and police whenev- ; which provident fund money Superintendent of Police probe till the central agency to public property during anti- be proved. Jafar, who is among those er asked. of the power employees was Raghavendra Vatsa, CBI-ACB took over the probe. CAA protests, triggering out- A government spokesman whose photo appears on the “Why are we being target- invested in the tainted Dewan inspector Sabhajeet Chauhan In the EOW investigation, rage among those being said the posters have been up posters, termed the move ed like this? Did they put up Housing Finance Corporation will be the investigating officer it was found that share brokers “named and shamed”. on the chief minister's directive unethical and vowed to take posters of Vijay Mallya and Jalpaiguri (WB): A part-time (DHFL). The UP Government in the case. The CBI investi- were involved in the scam The banners came up at at important intersections, legal recourse. Nirav Modi at all airports? teacher of an Industrial had sent a letter to the CBI on gating officer would take all the along with some senior UPPCL major road crossings in including the main crossing in “How can we be publicly Had they done it they would Training Institute (ITI) in West November 2, 2019, asking the documents of the case from the officials. On the other hand, the Lucknow late on Thursday the busy Hazratganj area and in humiliated for something that have not fled with the country's Bengal's Jalpaiguri district is central agency to take over the EOW in a day or two, sources Enforcement Directorate had night on the directions of Chief front of the Assembly has not yet been proved in wealth,” she said, referring to suspected to have committed investigation of the power said. The EOW has already also started investigation in the Minister Yogi Adityanath, an building. court,” she said. the two absconding business- suicide allegedly due to fre- employees’ PF scam from the arrested 17 accused, including alleged money laundering of official said. The spokesman said the “This is not Afghanistan. men. Former IPS officer, S R quent salary cuts, police said on Economic Offences Wing UPPCL’s former Managing UPPCL employees’ provident They bear photographs, people on the posters are those Legal issues cannot be brought Darapuri claimed that the Friday. (EOW) of UP Police. Director AP Mishra, and all are fund which was parked with names and addresses of those who had damaged public prop- into public like this. Our bail move is illegal. “Our life, Twenty eight-year-old Official sources here on in judicial custody at present. DHFL. The EOW investigation accused of vandalism during erty under the pretext of order says there is no adequate property and freedom have Abhrajyoti Biswas, a resident of Friday confirmed that the The government had lodged report said that Rs 4,122 crore protests in December against protests, and notices have evidence against us,” Jafar told been put in jeopardy by putting Siliguri, was found hanging in was parked with DHFL the Citizenship Amendment already been issued seeking PTI. up these posters and our rep- one of the rooms of the ITI on between March 2017 and Act. compensation from them. She was arrested after the utation has been damaged,” Thursday, a police officer December 2018. Some activists who figure The posters say that prop- violence in Lucknow and later he said. PTI said. Colleagues of Biswas have alleged that he was depressed O> 6 ), % over the frequent slashing of his 1-01 ()'* integrate the software with e- 1-01 ()'* shramik, ESI and EPF data- he Government has initi- base. o mark the International Tated steps for application of It was deliberated in the %% TWomen’s Day, The Coders technology in shape of ‘e- meeting that this new software Nation, a finishing school for Muster Roll’ for keeping over- would serve three main pur- From Page 1 engineering and MBA stu- sight on payment of wage to poses. It would enable the “The instruments qualify- dents and NHRD Network the labourers along with authority to have an oversight ing as additional tier-1 capital, organised a National HR EPF/ESI deposits. of the payment of wage to the issued by Yes Bank under Conclave on the topic, "Women A high level meeting to workers engaged by different Basel-III framework, shall and Future-of-Work" here on this effect was held under the contractors. It would ensure stand written down perma- Friday. chairmanship of Chief timely payment of wage to the nently, in full, with effect from It was inaugurated by IT Secretary Asit Tripathy where- labourers through electronic the appointed date,” said Minister, Electronics and in Secretary Works Dr Krishan mode of payment. It would experts. Information Technology, Founder, CEO, The Coders sitization is a must in schools, Kumar presented utility of the also help in disposal of change As chaos prevailed on Sports and Youth services, Nation, Bobby Patnaik, HR colleges and among software in good governance. requests received under Friday regarding the future of Tusharkanti Behera in presence Head of Infosys Diversity and corporate. Considering the adminis- Contractor Database Yes Bank, its shares came under of CEO CRY (Child Rights and Inclusivity India and vice pres- Government also has gen- trative, technical and financial Management System (CDMS). massive selling pressure, plung- You) Puja Marwaha and for- ident of NHRDN Bhubaneswar der equality policies. Common facets of the proposal, Chief Chief Secretary Tripathy ing 56 per cent at close as mer CMD Nalco Tapan Chand. and many more corporate HR ethical issues and economic Secretary Tripathy directed directed to integrate the e- investors deserted the counter. Distinguished guests Dr and business leaders from dif- insecurity in workplace must the departments to apply e- Muster Roll software with ESI During the trade, it nosedived Santanu Ratha, Director ferent organisations were pre- be reported to authorities and Muster Roll software on pilot and EPF database in interest of 84.93 per cent to Rs 5.55 --- its Personnel OMC, Amitabh Das, sent. Behera said, "Gender sen- brought to light.” basis. Tripathy also directed to the workers. 52-week low. Moody’s Investors Presenting the software, Service on Friday downgraded Secretary Works Dr Kumar Yes Bank Ltd’s rating to Caa3 said, “The CDMS software is from B2, saying, “The ratings already in operation. Presently, remain under review, with the it is being used by major infra- direction structure building departments uncertain.” like Works, Water Resources, Addressing a press confer- Rural Development, Housing ence here, Sitharaman said the and Urban Development, RBI had been since 2017 close- Panchayati Raj and Drinking ly scrutinising Yes Bank where Water. E-Muster will have “it noticed governance issues of oversight on project wise labor serious concern, weak compli- tagging, online wage payment, ance, and wrong asset classifi- labor attendance and ESI/EPF cation together with risky cred- deposits. it decisions”. % ! ! & $ ' ! P Tehran: An adviser to Iran’s 1 foreign minister who took A part in the 1979 US embassy 1 1 " 1! () hostage crisis has died from coronavirus, the official IRNA + ' 2 & B*- * news agency reported. L M # ! ) Hossein Sheikholeslam, ! 3 ! # 0 ' L !M “a veteran and revolutionary diplomat” died late Thursday, 3 ! " ! ! ! IRNA said. 0' # Kabul: Gunmen opened fire on reported 32 people were killed Iran has been scrambling 2 ( 6 C#CEE BEE#EEE ! @< Friday at a ceremony in and 58 were wounded, while to contain the rapid spread of 1 ! ! & O . # # " . # Afghanistan’s capital attended the Interior Ministry reported coronavirus which so far has 6 B9BE B9A< 22 K by prominent political leaders, 29 dead and 61 wounded. infected 3,513 people and & killing at least 29 people and There was no immediate expla- killed at least 107 people in & ' ! 3 wounding dozens more before nation for the discrepancy. the Islamic republic. ! ' 3 !# # the two attackers were slain by Opposition leader Six of those who died 6 ! F BA F # CEE police, officials said. Abdullah Abdullah, who is the from coronavirus are politi- The Taliban denied they country’s chief executive and cians or government officials. were behind the attack, which was a top contender in last Before his death, * +-%. $ -%(12 5 6 came less than a week after the year’s presidential election, was Sheikholeslam was advisor to US and the group signed an among several prominent polit- Foreign Minister Mohammad 3 7 ambitious peace deal that lays ical officials who attended the Javad Zarif. $ $ /0 out a path for the withdrawal ceremony but left before the A former ambassador to Washington: President Donald Centers for Disease Control 6 of American forces from the attack and were unhurt. Syria, he also served as deputy Trump on Friday signed an and Prevention in Atlanta. But 4 country. Several TV journalists were foreign minister from 1981 to USD 8.3 billion measure to help he told reporters Friday that Beijing: About 8.27 lakh people Vatican City: The Vatican While no one has claimed covering the ceremony inside 1997. tackle the coronavirus out- concerns were raised about who returned to Beijing from an confirmed the walled city- responsibility for the blood- an walled compound when Sheikholeslam was also break that has killed 12 people “one person who was poten- extended Chinese Lunar New state’s first case of the new shed, Afghanistan’s upstart the gunmen began shooting, one of the students involved in the US and infected more tially infected” who worked at Year holiday are currently under- coronavirus on Friday and Islamic State affiliate has and a reporter and a camera- in the 1979 Iran hostage cri- than 200. the CDC. Trump said the per- going a 14-day home quarantine closed some offices as a pre- declared war on the country’s man for a local broadcaster sis. The legislation provides son has since tested negative for to help contain the deadly new caution while Pope Francis minority Shiites. Many of those were among the wounded. That year, and less than federal public health agencies the new virus and that he still coronavirus, the city’s epidemic continued recovering from a at the ceremony were Shiites Karim Khalili, the chief of nine months after the toppling with money for vaccines, tests hopes to visit the agency at control office said on Friday. cold. because it was commemorating Afghanistan’s high peace coun- of the American-backed shah, and potential treatments and some point. The Chinese capital has so A health clinic inside the 1995 slaying of Abdul Ali cil, was delivering a speech Iranian students stormed the helps state and local govern- The Senate passed the $8.3 far reported 422 coronavirus Vatican City was closed for Mazari, the leader of when the gunfire interrupted US embassy in Tehran and ments prepare and respond to billion measure on Thursday to cases, including eight deaths. sanitising following the pos- Afghanistan’s ethnic Hazaras, him. He was not hurt and took 52 Americans hostage. the threat. The rapid spread of help tackle the outbreak in Zhang Tongjun, deputy head itive test result received on who are mostly Shiite. later went on TV to denounce This prompted the virus has rocked financial hopes of reassuring a fearful of the epidemic control office, Thursday, Vatican There were conflicting the violence. Several witnesses Washington to sever diplo- markets, interrupted travel and public and accelerating the gov- said Beijing’s anti-epidemic bat- spokesman Matteo Bruni accounts of the number of said that,amid the panic, mem- matic ties with Iran in 1980. threatens to affect everyday ernment’s response to the virus. tle has entered a critical period said. casualties in the attack in the bers of the security forces The hostages were freed life in the United States. Its rapid spread is threatening to as the possibility of further infec- Vatican employees and Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood guarding the event had fired at in January 1981, after 444 Trump had planned to upend everyday life in the US tion from both outside and with- their families are eligible for of Kabul. The Health Ministry civilians in the crowd. AFP days in captivity. AFP sign the bill during a visit to the and across the globe. AP in the city is still high. PTI health care at the clinic. AP * * $ 6 6 6 Q $ R 6 /0 7 8 4 8 Washington: President Donald Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s anti-cor- 1MDB monies from abroad,” she Washington: Moderate Trump on Friday said the Taliban ruption chief, who had been inves- said in a statement. Democrats are continuing could “possibly” overrun the Afghan tigating scandal-hit state fund “He was fully supportive of Tunis: Suicide attackers struck claim of responsibility. to coalesce around Joe government after the United States 1MDB, said Friday she had resigned these actions.” Last week, Malaysia’s outside the US embassy in the Police at the scene said the Biden following his strong withdraws from the country, leaving after a reformist government col- attorney general Tommy Thomas, Tunisian capital on Friday, assailants drove to the area on performance in Super the US-backed authorities to fend lapsed and a graft-tainted party who had brought corruption charges killing a police officer, wound- a motorcycle and detonated Tuesday primaries, which for themselves. took power. against ex-premier Najib Razak over ing five other people and shak- their explosive devices as offi- reset the 2020 Democratic “Countries have to take care of The “Pact of Hope” alliance, the 1MDB controversy, also ing a city repeatedly hit by cers deployed at a roundabout race as a two-man contest themselves,” Trump told reporters at which stormed to a historic victory resigned. jihadist violence. leading to the embassy between Biden and the White House. “You can only in 2018 and ousted a long-ruling Billions of dollars were stolen The latest attack comes approached them. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. hold someone’s hand for so long.” coalition, fell apart amid infighting from 1Malaysia Development despite a state of emergency “The operation led to the Biden’s campaign announced on Friday Asked if the Taliban could even- last week and prime minister Berhad and spent on everything imposed in the North African death of two assailants, wound- he had secured backing from Maggie Hassan, tually seize power, Trump said it’s Mahathir Mohamad resigned. from a super-yacht to pricey art- nation in 2015 following a ed five police and lightly injured a first-term New Hampshire senator and for- “not supposed to happen that way Mahathir, 94, then sought to works, in a fraud allegedly involving string of bloody assaults a civilian,” the interior ministry mer governor, who did not make an endorse- but it possibly will.” “We can’t be return as premier but unexpectedly Najib and his cronies. claimed by the Islamic State said in an initial toll. ment before her state’s early primary. there for the next 20 years. We’ve lost to ex-interior minister Najib’s coalition, which had gov- group. It later announced that In a statement, Hassan said she voted for been there for 20 years and we’ve Muhyiddin Yassin, who heads a erned Malaysia for six decades, was An explosion rocked the one of the police officers, iden- Biden, who she said has “the experience and been protecting the country but we coalition dominated by the multi- ejected from power in 2018 in large Berges du Lac district where the tified as Lieutenant Taoufik character to lead our country forward.” can’t be there for the next -- even- ethnic country’s Malay Muslim part due to the 1MDB allegations, highly fortified embassy is Mohammed El Nissaoui, had Former presidential hopeful John Delaney tually they’re going to have to pro- majority. Latheefa Koya, a leading and he is on trial for corruption. located at around midday died of his injuries. “All the also released a statement reiterating his tect themselves,” he said. human rights activist who had been Mahathir’s government had Friday, causing panic among security units are on high alert,” Super Tuesday endorsement of Biden, prais- Trump said the Afghan gov- head of the anti-corruption com- started recovering money from over- pedestrians and motorists in the ministry said. After the blast ing his commitment to “progress through ernment’s ability to defend itself mission since June, said she had seas allegedly looted from the fund. the area. “Two individuals tar- police dispatched reinforce- pragmatism.” from the guerrillas after US forces informed Muhyiddin she was quitting But the new ruling coalition geted a security patrol... In the ments to the area, including Biden’s campaign says more than 50 elect- pull out was unknown. “I don’t earlier this week but insisted she was includes Najib’s United Malays street leading to the American forensic experts, as a helicopter ed officials and community leaders have know. not pressured. National Organisation (UMNO) embassy,” the interior ministry buzzed over the Berges du Lac, signed on to support his bid since Super I can’t answer that question,” he “I also briefed the prime minis- party, and there are concerns his trial said in a statement. a district protected round-the- Tuesday, in which Biden won the majority of said. “We’ll have to see what hap- ter about our ongoing actions and and others linked to the 1MDB scan- There was no immediate clock by security forces. AFP states over Sanders. AP pens.” AFP efforts for the recovery of the stolen dal could be affected. AFP 8 : 9 Kastanies (Greece): Clashes shoulder more of the burden erupted on the Greek-Turkish of caring for refugees, Karachi: At least 70 workers critical condition, the Dawn border on Friday morning, although the EU insists it is of a chemical plant here were News reported. with Greek authorities using abiding by a deal in which it hospitalised on Friday after The chlorine gas leaked tear gas and a water cannon to disbursed billions of euros inhaling leaked chlorine gas, from the air vents in the repulse an attempt by migrants for care in return for Turkey according to media reports. plant, the report added. to push through the frontier keeping the refugees on its soil. The leak was reported in Jinnah Post Graduate into Greece, while Turkish His decision and its after- Engro Polymer and Medical Centre (JPMC) authorities fired volleys of math on the border with Chemicals Plant in Karachi’s Executive Director Dr Seemin tear gas onto the Greek side of Greece have alarmed govern- Port Qasim. Jamali told the Dawn News the border. ments in Europe, which is still “Timely precautionary that one of the workers was in Thousands of migrants seeing political fallout from measures were taken to pro- critical condition while the and refugees have been trying mass migration that started tect the employees working in rest were discharged from to get into Greece through the five years ago. the plant. The affected were the hospital. country’s eastern land and Erdogan’s move to open taken to a nearby hospital and This is the second gas leak sea borders over the past the border came amid a Syrian the plant has been temporar- incident in Karachi in the last week, after Turkey declared its government offensive in Syria’s ily closed,” a spokesperson of one month. A mysterious previously guarded borders northwestern Idlib province, Engro was quoted by The toxic gas had killed at least 14 with Europe were open. where Turkish troops are Express Tribune as saying. people and sickened several After months of threats, fighting. The Russia-backed All the 70 affected work- others on February 16. The Turkish President Recep offensive has killed dozens of ers were discharged from hos- source of the toxic gas leak Tayyip Erdogan said his coun- Turkish troops and sent near- pital, excepting one who is in remains unclear. PTI try would no longer be the ly a million Syrian civilians gatekeeper for Europe. toward Turkey’s sealed border. He has demanded Europe AP ? *@ !=00 G @ < ; $5- 7 " ! / - @ ( # H A = ( " ( 6 " ! $ % & ' ' > S he clutch of recent develop- 7 ments centred round the 8 = protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the , @ stomach-turning communal 0 riotingT in north-east Delhi raises a couple BC ! " of fundamental questions: Have India’s pol- itics and politicians failed the country? 8 P Q 9 What is the future of politics in the coun- ( @ try? The questions are relevant given the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) claim that its victory in the recent Delhi Assembly elec- , @ - tions heralds the advent of a new kind of politics in the country — kaam ki rajneeti ! 7 6 !! or the politics of work. AAP’s work in improving schools, )7!!* healthcare services in the form of mohalla ( (neighbourhood) clinics, providing up to 20,000 litres of water free to each household and drastically reducing electricity bills has 9 8 brought it 62 out of the 70 seats in the Delhi 0 Legislative Assembly. Nevertheless, the S 7 conduct of its leaders and legislators dur- ing the recent communal riots in Delhi has P( + Q launched a thousand arguments. Two things require attention. The first 0 is their claim that they are not responsible for the Delhi Police’s abysmal performance visiting affected areas when vio- people but were now put to use One must go beyond kaam # P Q as the force is controlled by the Union Home lence is raging; nor does it make during the riots. The other pos- ki rajneeti for this to happen. + Ministry. The second is their overwhelming- up for failure to do so. sibility is that they have achieved Work gets done in a political, ( ly perceived absence from the scenes of vio- Had they been present, AAP a level of spiritual elevation that economic, social and cultural 0 lence. Both require critical examination. leaders might have confronted enables a person to leave his/her environment and a moral uni- As to the first claim, the fact is that the the mobs with their followers corporal body behind and tra- verse. It will not benefit the peo- 7!! ?- S Union Home Ministry directly controls the and halted them in their tracks. verse the cosmos in his/her ple if a Government prioritises Delhi Police. The question of the latter’s If groups of common people in ,.1)3: *.,, invisible astral self. Only they did crony capitalist interests; liber- as well as the Delhi Government’s respec- some localities could do it and (53 1) ) ,.')+ not travel millions of light years ty will not be realised on the tive roles, however, comes up in the con- save lives, homes and places of in seconds to explore distant ground if sections remain in eco- P QP Q text of preventing and/or controlling vio- worship, there is no reason why 5( 3-) "50(+ galaxies but visit riot-torn areas nomic bondage and/or suffer ;2 0 lence. While police action is critical in the they could not do so. AAP . ')3.5(' offering solace in subsonic voic- discrimination. One would need - - matter, the fact is that the police act in a spokespersons have waxed es that most people did not hear. a philosophy of freedom based social, political and administrative context indignant on television and else- ) .( .( Of course, as invisible as on compassion, humanity and a , 0 and the Delhi Government might have where, saying that their MLAs )5(5. them were leaders of most other commitment to liberty, cradling , been able to compel it to act even though and leaders were very much on political parties. Did they also a programme to further social = + 6 the Union Home Ministry controlled it. the ground, forming peace com- 15(+ ") (+/5 have the invisibility pill and the and economic justice and India’s The presence of Chief Minister Arvind mittees, asking people not to '0) capacity for travelling in their cultural and religious diversity, > Kejriwal and AAP Ministers and leaders resort to violence, providing astral bodies and speaking sub- to realise the goals of the (S 0 in troubled areas might, for example, have relief and solace to the discon- +.'..( 3.5( sonically? Whatever the reason, Constitution. Also, one would 9 0 S put policemen on the ground under pres- solate and those rendered des- their invisibility shockingly need money to build up such a sure to act, particularly if the netas had titute. Since one does not want 5() *50,+ ())+ underlines their lack of concern political formation. Corporate 7!!( >7 stepped forward and confronted the mobs. to believe that what they were -.,5'5-: 5 for the people and political iner- entities would not provide it; Otherwise, the men and women in uni- saying was not true, and given ))+5 1 ')+ tia. All this leads us to the sen- they would bet on parties in ,(' form would have been held responsible if that the overwhelming majori- timent whose relevance has not power. One would have to anything had happened to them. ty of the people seem to hold 5( 5 ''.5(# been withered by the years — depend on crowd-funding, ( Chief Minister Kejriwal visited the hos- that AAP leaders were conspic- politicians and political parties in which will not be easy. Finally, " $ pitals. He also visited some of the riot- affect- uous by their absence, one can -0 (.3: (+ India have failed the people. the architects of such a move- ed areas along with Deputy Chief Minister only conclude that they were 5.3)(3 35 This lack of faith in politi- ment must have the wisdom to Manish Sisodia. But that was after the vio- present but not visible. cians and parties has clearly led keep their ambitions on hold lence had more or less subsided. He had also This writer can only specu- ,.1)3: 5 to spontaneous protests like the and weave an intricate tapestry called for curfew to be imposed and the late on how this could have hap- ) ,.'.(" Shaheen Bagh sit-in and meet- of plural relationships to make deployment of the Army besides announc- pened. One possibility is that ings, rallies and processions by a nation-wide political structure * ing a slew of measures, including the pay- those in the higher echelons of "5 ,' 5 3-) students’ and citizens against the possible. But then, as Victor = > ment of various amounts of compensation, AAPs hierarchy have received 5('3.303.5( Citizenship Act. The question is Hugo said, “Nothing is as pow- ranging from 10 lakh to the kin of those pills that make them invisible for whether the development would erful as an idea whose time has ? @ killed to 25,000 for each rickshaw destroyed. pre-determined periods. These prove ephemeral or the protests come.” Has the time come for a All this, however, is what any Government might have been originally given would coalesce, widen their new and very different political P Q is expected to do in the aftermath of a seri- to them to inspect unseen the concerns and transmogrify formation in India? ous communal riot and the AAP effectiveness of the themselves into a new political (The writer is Consultant Government should have been seriously Government’s delivery systems formation with a well-defined Editor, The Pioneer, and an remiss if it had not. Neither is it the same as on facilities provided to the ideology and programme. author) ! " P Q ( ) #$ " * - . 3 1& ! % . . ! 3 " '# . 5 ! 2 O ' $( )'$(* # 2I .'# # ! ( + , - + S : 1 . H '/ #$ ' #($*% '% # ,(% *C( #-* "*(%# *-#(( $# , ( " K 4 ( K. 6 K' I K ! ! ! '/ + / ( on the masses. The fourth estate, + / '/ with its alarmist coverage about the “progressive onslaught” of the ! / 0 '/! / Sir — A group of 190 economists # L1 M J
broadly defined as, “The use of biolog- a number of countries, to be precise 16, In the meantime, US Republican It looks like a perennial affair and there highly vulnerable to BW. Thus, India ical toxins or infectious agents like bac- including major powers like Canada, Senator Bob Cotton has asserted that the are fears that the next attack during the needs to evolve and institute a exhaus- teria, virus and fungi, with the intent to Cuba, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Coronavirus originated from a high monsoon would be of greater magni- tive mechanism by harnessing both mil- kill or incapacitate humans, animals or North Korea are reportedly maintain- security laboratory in Wuhan. This tude. However, it is believed that locust itary and civil resources. In fact, the late plants as an act of war.” These are pri- ing and expanding their BW invento- claim further substantiates global fears larvae can be genetically engineered and Manohar Parrikar, the then Defence )')4.(" 3-) marily meant to cause mass casualties, ry. As per Steven Block, a bio-physicist, against Chinese designs as the country if this happens, this menace will add a Minister, cautioned the nation against (54),O' (54),3: infect a large number of people, natur- the US and Russia are reportedly keep- is also said to be working on gene edit- new dimensions to BW. BW and stressed that we need to be fully al resources and above all, spread panic ing frozen stocks of smallpox along with ing technology — a targetted bio- So far, there are no reports to cor- prepared against it. *# ! 2 among the rival armed forces. conventional bio-agents like anthrax weapon that was successfully tested in roborate that rogue elements or non- Keeping this in mind, we must cre- ! Devastating agents like Bacillus and typhus. 2018. State actors have got access to bio- ate awareness, both at the research and %!$ (- Anthracis, Botulism and Variola are used China, under its advanced To coin a new terminology, the weapons. But one cannot sit complacent operational level. At the national level, to spread epidemics like anthrax, bioweapons programme launched a few “geo-biological” scenario is becoming because keeping in mind the current the Ministry of Home Affairs should be istory tells us that bio-agents cholera, plague and smallpox. years ago, is not only trying to gain par- alarming and of late virus outbreaks fragile global security scenario, such the nodal Ministry to oversee opera- 2 were restrictively used in both Mustard gas, a primitive bio-agent, ity with the US and Russia but is aggres- have become rampant. First it was the assumptions are short-lived. In the tions. Foremost, the concept of “nation- B@ Hthe World Wars (WWs). was used during the WW-I, leading to sively working towards engineering Ebola in Kenya followed by the Zika meantime, a new concept, “black biol- al bio-defence” must be evolved to ! 3 However, since then, biological warfare a global outrage, which culminated in new virus spores. One may call it a coin- virus attack in Nigeria in October ogy” is doing the rounds. This is a shad- encompass threat assessment; effective # (BW) has largely been avoided and an unratified treaty banning bioweapons cidence but the sudden outbreak of 2019 and then came the Nipah virus in owy science in which organisms are surveillance and early detection, lead- though a few attempts were made by in 1925. Similarly, during WW-II, the Coronavirus, perhaps the most potent Asia, particularly Kerala. Going by the genetically engineered for the sole pur- ing to specialised treatment, including # ! some non-State actors during the Japanese allegedly used bio- agents and devastating in recent times, from suspicions over the origin of the pose of creating bio-terrorism. Keeping protective vaccines right up to the pri- : 1970s-80s, by and large BW has been against Chinese prisoners, while the Wuhan, China in December 2019, has Coronavirus, we cannot rule out that in mind the devastating effects of BW, mary healthcare level. Bio-contain- ! kept in abeyance. But of late, covert and Russians did the same with the given credence to these claims. other countries are also engineering new there is a need to have a ratified glob- ment labs both at the national and * - clandestine research and development Germans. Thereafter, no major use of This pandemic has already spread bioweapons, the likes of which have al treaty banning research, production regional level are required to isolate and by various countries and the production bio-agents was reported, except for the to 85 countries and claimed 3,400 lives never been seen before. and the use of bio-agents and virus arrest threatening bio organisms. ! of bio-agents during the post WW-II era Sarin gas attack in 1995 by the Japanese with over 1,00,000 confirmed cases that Take for instance, the recent locust spores and also instituting stringent Accordingly, the armed forces should have brought it closer to, if not at par cult Aum Shinrikyo in a Tokyo subway. are growing by the day. India, too, has clouds that originated from West Asia sanctions against its pilferage for use by also reappraise and upgrade the med- ! with its close cousins — nuclear and A few treaties banning the use of BWs seen 30 cases and this has led to can- and struck part of Pakistan and India terrorist outfits. Closer home, due to the ical support infrastructure to ensure, ! chemical weapons. Known by different were initiated but did not make any cellation of Prime Minister Narendra — particularly Punjab, Rajasthan and peculiar climatic conditions, vast land protection and treatment of troops. pseudonyms such as the “poor man’s headway as some countries refused to Modi’s visit to Brussels for an India- Gujarat — causing extensive damage to mass, the high density of population and (The writer is a retired Infantry atom bomb” or “germ warfare”, BW is sign on the dotted line. The result is that European Union summit. crops in an area of 1.70 lakh hectares. lack of primary healthcare, we are Officer with vast operational experience) J K ! ! /
5= ' : F 1 01 . will be transferred to a ‘Green coming financial year at last 5 years, State has raised crop loans,” the DCM said. Fund ’,” Pawar 3,47,457 crore, as against the loans of 2,82,448 crore and a Pawar also announced two resenting a 9,511 crore rev- Pawar, who holds the anticipated the revenue expen- total amount of outstanding debt additional schemes— one for Penue deficit Budget for the Finance and Planning Portfolios, diture of 3,56,968 crore. In and liabilities at the end of farmers having arrears more 7HH 66 year 2020-21, the debt-trapped said that the Green Fund would effect, the budget indicates arev- January 2020 is 4,33,00,901 than 2 lakh in respect of prin- Maharashtra Government on be utilised by the Government enue deficit of 9,511 crore dur- crore.... The cost of infrastructure ciple and interest of crop loan / A $+0( % C' *&+($C Friday proposed to increase the for the conservation of environ- ing the year ending March 31, projects undertaken by the State restructured crop loan taken Value Added Tax (VAT) on the ment, specifically for the projects 2021. Government is 2,78,271 crore during the period 1.4.2015 to Mumbai: Training guns at sale of Petrol and Diesel by One related to sewage disposal and Pawar attributed the decrease and the State Government has 31.3.2019 in the form of a ben- the ruling Maha Vikas rupee per litre, in addition to the waste management and such in the State’s receive receipts also to bear direct and indirect efit of Rs. 2 lakh in respect of loan Aghadi (MVA) in existing rate of VAT, a measure other projects. during 2019-20 which was esti- liability of these projects,” he said. outstanding on 30.9.2019 as one Maharashtra as it completed which will bring in an addition- The deputy chief minister mated at 3, 14,640 crore to the Among other things, Pawar time settlement and second one 100 days of formation, the al revenue of 1,800 crore to the announced a major tax conces- reduction in receipt of State said that the State Government for farmers who have regularly BJP on Friday labeled the State exchequer. sion for home buyers in the form share in central taxes by 8,543 had made a provision of 15,000 repaid up to 30.6.2020 in the Shiv Sena-led Government A day after the Economic of one per cent rebate for the next crore. crore for the much-discussed form of a maximum Rs. 50000 as as confused and one which Survey of Maharashtra estimat- two years in the Stamp Duty and Blaming the Narendra Modi loan waiver scheme “Mahatma incentive for the amount of crop stayed works the previous ed the State’s debts would rise to other related charges applicable Government for the delay in the Jotirao Phule Shetkari Karjmukti loan taken during the year 2018- dispensation had undertak- alarming 4.71,642 crore during on registration of documents in State getting GST compensa- Yojna 2019” during the year 19. en. 2019-20, Deputy Chief Minister the area of Mumbai Metropolitan tion from the Centre, Pawar 2019-20, while it had proposed On the health front, Pawar Leader of the Ajit Pawar—presenting the Region Development Authority said: “Every two months, the 7,000 crore allocation for the proposed an outlay of Rs.5,000 Opposition in the Assembly ties with the BJP and joined outside the State legislature Budget for 2020-21 in the and in the areas of Municipal State Government receives the same scheme during 2020-21, crore, of which 50 percent will be and BJP legislator Devendra hands with the NCP and the building complex in south Assembly — proposed to Corporations of Pune, Pimpri- GST compensation from the “so that the total of 22,000 Cr. set aside for medical education Fadnavis alleged MVA con- Congress, both its ideologi- Mumbai. To drive home his increase VAT on the sale of Chinchwad and Nagpur. Central Government in accor- will be available for the scheme”. like construction of new hospi- stituents Shiv Sena, the NCP cal opponents. There is point, the former chief min- Petrol and Diesel by one rupee In an effort to promote dance with the Goods and The scheme covers the short tals, revamping existing hospitals, and the Congress do not absolutely no coordination ister said the MVA first per litre over and above the industries in the state, Pawar pro- Services Tax Act, 2017. However, term crop loan taken by farmers medical colleges, buying new trust each other and that among the ruling parties. announced complete farm existing rate of VAT — to create posed to reduce the Electricity there is delay in getting GST from the nationalised banks, ambulances, etc. their government is the one Their Ministers make loan waiver, free electricity a special dedicated fund for duty on Industrial use from 9.3 compensation from Central private banks, rural banks, dis- The DCM said that an which makes announce- announcements which come up to 100 units usage and implementation various envi- per cent to 7.5 per cent of the Government to the State. As a trict co-operative banks and var- amount of Rs.1000 crore would ments only to retreat later. to their mind, while the 100 per cent scholarship, ronmental projects. consumption charges result, timely funding the expen- ious primary agricultural co- be spent on revamping all roads Shiv Sena president chief minister says nothing but later retreated. “This (additional taxation) “Due to the two tax conces- diture on development works in operative societies. “Till today, leading to major urban markets Uddhav Thackeray was such (with regard to minis- He also referred to will enrich the State exchequer by sions, it is expected that there will the State is becoming difficult”. 9,035 Cr. have been transferred in all cities in the state, and sworn-in as chief minister on ters announcements) has Minority Affairs Minister an additional rupees 1800 Crores be yearly revenue shortfall of Pawar said that his govern- to the accounts of 13.85 lakh Rs.1,300 crore for higher and November 28, 2019, along been decided. Nawab Malik announcing per annum. The Government around rupees 2500 crore,” he ment was bearing direct and farmers. The remaining amount technical education. with six Ministers. It is a Government giving 5 per cent quota to will create a special dedicated said. indirect liability of loans raised will be transferred to the Pawar said a whopping The three-party which just makes announce- Muslims, while Thackeray fund called ‘ Green Fund ’ and The Budget estimates pre- by the previous Devendra accounts of the eligible farmers 500,000 solar power pumps Government was formed ments and then retreats on it saying no decision has been the additional collection of Value sented by Pawar for 2020-21 peg Fadnavis dispensation during before the kharif season 2020, so would be distributed to farmers after the Shiv Sena snapped later, Fadnavis told reporters taken yet on the issue. PTI Added Tax from proposed levy the revenue receipts during the the last five years. “During the that they will be eligible for new in the next five years. = " C ! Q= B
()* +),-. 1 01 . “Equality between women said: “Women have made enor- and men is a fundamental aim mous contributions in sci- mid the n a novel initiative under- of the Swedish feminist foreign ences, politics and social Aongoing Itaken in the run-up to the policy. Through WikiGap, empowerment and continue friction Women’s Day 2020, a WikiGap Sweden aims to bridge the to do so. Yet the recognition for between him edit-a-thon is being organised gender gap on Wikipedia. Since these women is not as wide- and Chief at IIT Bombay as a step towards young citizens are decision- spread as it should be. Today, Minister making a more gender-equal makers of tomorrow, they have Wikipedia is one of the most Mamata Wikipedia, a more gender- been the focus for this initia- widely used online tools. Banerjee, equal internet and a more gen- tive. We are glad to host WIKI- WikiGap is an exciting initia- West Bengal der-equal world. GAP at IIT Bombay in part- tive to strengthen women's Governor The “WikiGap edit-a-thon” nership with WikiMedia India rights, resources and repre- Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday Dhankar said during his – hosted jointly by the and Idobro,” Bjorn Holmgren, sentation online and IIT met Union Home Minister tenure so far, he has noticed Consulate General of Sweden, Consul, Consulate General of Bombay is delighted to be a Amit Shah here. “I have availed issues of law and order in the Mumbai will be hosting a Sweden, Mumbai said part of this initiative together this opportunity to apprise the State which were highly dis- WikiGap edit-a-thon at IIT “The theme is in line with with the Consulate General of Union Home Minister of var- turbing and antithetical to Bombay in association with Sweden’s Tekla initiative that Sweden in Mumbai and Idobro ious issues of serious concern democracy. WikiMedia India, Idobro encourages young women to Impact Solutions.” touching upon the governance “I have been to various Impact Solutions, Centre for take up STEM sciences. IIT Karon Shaiva, Managing in the State. I discussed with parts of the State and have got Policy Studies and several Bombay, being a leading Director, Idobro Impact him a variety of issues,” reports from several areas of departments from IIT Bombay Science university globally, is Solutions said, “Idobro and Dhankar told reporters here. severe political victimisation by – got off to a start on Friday, an ideal partner for WikiGap,” Rise Infinity Foundation seeks The meeting complex the police. False cases against with an introductory and tech- Holmgren to co-create solutions by bring- comes a within a week of innocent people have been nical session on March 6th. The Rahul Deshmukh, ing the 4 key stakeholders Shah's visit to Kolkata. At a rally filed based on political con- event will conclude on March President of WikiMedia India together - Government, in the city, the Union minister siderations. 9. said, “Currently, Wikipedia is Academia, Industry and Civil had expressed “anguish” over “I have apprised the Home “Women’s representation available in 301 languages, of Society. International Women’s the law and order situation in Minister of the various areas in on Wikipedia is quite low com- which the English edition is the Day helps to increase the West Bengal. the State that call for the atten- pared to that of men. Globally, largest with over 5.8 million awareness around women However, coming out from tion of the Central there are 4 times more articles articles. The female (47%) to issues and the gaps that exist in Home Minister's office in Government in the interest of about men than women on male readership ratio (53%) is society at multiple levels.” Parliament complex, Dhankar the people,” he said Wikipedia. Nine out of 10 approximately the same. Prof. Shishir Jha, Professor avoided a volley of questions of Dhankar said no action has Wikipedia editors are men,” an However, only 16% females and Head of Department, media about his appraisal of the been taken against those who IIT-B spokesperson said. convert themselves to editors. Centre for Policy Studies said, law and order situation in the accosted him at Jadavpur WikiGap is a global initia- To bridge this gap, several ini- “Our world views are shaped by state. “I had myself sought this University and University of tive that aims to take a step tiatives have been undertaken our daily experiences, which in meeting. I had sought this Calcutta and this is a “serious towards making a more gen- worldwide” turn is molded by the societal meeting under the background reflection” of the adverse law der-equal Wikipedia, a more “Since 2014, Wikimedia structures and positions that we that over the (past) seven and order situation in the State. gender-equal internet and a India has also been striving to occupy. Both rationality and months I have been able to Tamil Nadu Governor more gender-equal world. It bridge this gender gap through logic are not entirely invariant. appreciate the situation on the Banwarilal Purohit and his involves inviting people to its annual ‘Women’s Edit-a- There are, in other words, ground with respect to the Haryana counterpart Satyadeo ‘edit-a-thons’ to strengthen thon’ activity around World many possible ways to logical- critical issues of governance,” Narain Arya also called on the women's rights, representation Women’s day,” Deshmukh said. ly engage with the world. A he said. Union Home Minister. and resources on Wikipedia. Prof. Swati Patankar, Dean woman's viewpoint could (International Relations) and arguably be more inclusive and Faculty in Department of comprehensive, in many areas BioSciences and of life, because of her daily B @ Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, experiences. Q < ()* +),-. Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Director General Tony rasar Bharati CEO Shashi Hall. PShekhar Vempati has “As a fellow public broad- turned down an invitation caster of global repute, it is dis- from the BBC to attend an maying that the BBC has filed awards function for Indian such a singularly one-sided sportswomen, citing the version of the incidents of vio- British broadcaster's “one- lence in Delhi which rather sided” reporting on the Delhi than help break the cycle of violence. violence has only contributed Vempati had been invited to further vitiating the atmos- for the BBC's Indian phere while insinuating the Sportswoman of the Year brave men and women in awards ceremony due to be uniform who are charged with held in New Delhi on the onerous responsibility of March 8. maintaining law and order,” he “I must respectfully wrote in the letter dated March decline the invitation in view 4. In the said report certain of the recent coverage of the visuals have been shown of the BBC of certain incidents of Delhi Police without context to violence in Delhi,” Vempati insinuate communal behav- said in his letter to British iour, he added. ! ! 0 1 METAL TO EXCELLENCE, MAKING OF THE ALL-NEW HYUNDAI CRETA
1 " -)(( . mounted paddle-shifts for gears as well as a panoramic sunroof. he Hyundai factory lies around The process of manufacturing a car 90 minutes outside downtown starts at the ‘Press Shop’. This has nothing Chennai, when ground on the to do with the media, but is where giant factory was broken in 1996 coils of automotive-grade steel are cut and with operations starting in then literally ‘pressed’ into shape by a huge 1997,T no-one could have predicted the amount of force, in the case of the roof immense success that the Korean car- panels on the all-new Creta a whopping maker would go on to enjoy in India. In 5400 tons of force is used. And not just any the 23 years of operation, Hyundai steel would do, the high-tensile, high- India’s assembly plants in Chennai have strength steel used actually means that the manufactured over nine million cars. If steel frame of the all-new Creta can sup- all the steel coils used in manufacturing port the weight of two full-grown African all those cars were unfurled, they would elephants. One roof panel emerges every go around the equator four times over, 15 seconds from the press. There are three Ganesh Mani S, Director, Production, huge presses and each of them can be fit- Hyundai Motor India Limited tells me. ted with different dies for different parts. With two assembly plants and three Each of the panels you see in a car is indi- engine plants on the premises today, vidually pressed, and the dyes are changed Hyundai India can make 750,000 cars a frequently depending on demand. year, “We manufacture 17 different cars After the steel has been pressed into in over 350 different variants and export shape, they are stored in between the press paint is applied using electrostatic force to other manufacturers exiting the segment. bulk of the models. This line has an out- line. Hyundai employees use gravity- vehicles to over 100 countries”, he adds. shop and the second-stage of the process, ensure an even finish. But we are Again, much of the process of put of 45 cars every hour, each car visit- assisting devices to help them manipulate With 650 fourth-generation robots the ‘Body Shop’. At Body Shop One, one not allowed inside the paint- machining is automated, ing almost one hundred different stations. heavy components such as the central con- and 13,000 employees, the factory works of two at Hyundai’s facility, 220 robots do shop as the chemicals and but employees assemble But how do employees differentiate sole and tires. The factory is a perfect twenty-four hours a day, six days a week, everything from manipulating the pressed the low tolerance for the various parts. The between different cars, since the Hyundai example of Henry Ford’s moving assem- totalling 295 days a year. Even when the metal parts to doing the critical spot weld- dust means that few engine is tested factory produces over 350 different vari- bly line concept. The line is constantly factory is rolling cars out, a car rolls off one ing and then a final robot even tests a ran- people are allowed using a cold-start ants and employees can easily be moved moving, with each station knowing exact- of the several final assembly lines every 33 dom completed body shell for any defects. inside any automo- system, which from one station to the next? ly what to do, it is almost perfect sym- seconds, engineers and mechanics are ser- The robots manufacture bodyshells with tive paintshop. drastically “We use computer simulation to metry, a carefully choreographed dance vicing and repairing the robots and a ridiculously low error rate and can do Instead we are reduces emis- ensure that everyone on the line knows his that would make Bollywood, rather given equipment, so much so that the in-house it repeatedly and fast, most bodyshells taken to the sions inside the or her role. Electronic tablets give them a where we are Kollywood, jealous. kitchens at the facility work around the exhibit errors less than 1mm as compared Engine Shop 3, plant. And quick reference to what they have to do, After this, the cars undergo a pre- clock without a single day off. At full-load, to the 3D drawings, no matter it is a Santro this is where before the and our parts management system ensures delivery check. In 800 seconds, twenty the kitchens produce 26,000 meals daily. or the all-new Creta. The dance of the Hyundai India is engine is sent to that they only receive the parts specific to Hyundai India employees check every- But, The Pioneer has been given robots as they get a car, is mesmerising but manufacturing the the plant, or often the product in front of them”, Ganesh thing on a 150-point checklist. From the unprecedented access inside the Hyundai also has given Ganesh and his team at the 1493cc (1.5 litre) exported, a final points out. The computer simulation interiors including the infotainment sys- facilities not to see the kitchens but how factory to try out something new with big four-cylinder U2 robotic check, ensured that everyone on the final assem- tem, the horn, lights and the exteriors for a car is made. More specifically, we have data. The robots at Hyundai’s facilities gen- CRDi turbodiesel where a robot takes 45 bly line knew exactly how to put togeth- any possible scratches under a brightly lit come to see how the second-generation of erate 11.7 billion data points every year, engine for the new Creta as photographs of various er the all-new Creta even before the first tunnel, to ensure that the car is dispatched Hyundai’s bestselling compact Sports with better data management and algo- well as the Verna. This 115PS points of the engine and one rolled off the line. Hyundai is antici- to dealers with no flaws whatsoever. Utility Vehicle (SUV) the Creta is put rithms in place, Ganesh told The Pioneer engine has several changes com- checks it against a database, all in pating heavy demand for the all-new Again, a carefully choreographed dance together. The first-generation Hyundai that they can now predict when a motor pared to the previous generation, to make just over a minute is done. The error rate Creta, thus every second vehicle on this ensures that the car that you might call Creta was a bonafide best-seller with the or a electro-welding gun is about to fail. it BS6 capable including a new variable- is infintessibly small. assembly line is the new model. your own one day, maybe the all-new Chennai factory pleasing 663,817 cus- “This has reduced downtime on these geometry turbocharger, new catalysts Finally, the car that you and I might The first thing workers do on the line Creta in this case is as good as it possi- tomers in 78 countries to date. But pro- changes from about 40 minutes to under and an higher-pressure fuel injector. call our own is ready to be put together. is actually remove the doors on the vehi- bly can be as Hyundai India’s factory at duction for the Indian market has shift- 17 minutes, a 100 percent plus improve- These have not only reduced emissions, Hyundai has two assembly shops at cles. This is to ensure easy access to the Sriperumbudur assures both buyers in ed to the second-generation of the car. The ment”, he says proudly. His work with data but have also improved the power output Chennai, and the all-new Creta is being inside as well as prevent inadvertent India and across the world that it is one new car that was showcased at the recent- has won kudos from Hyundai Motors of the car. put together at the original line. There are damage and scratches to the paint job. The of the best car manufacturing facilities ly-held Auto Expo in Greater Noida is big- globally and the practice is being rolled out Hyundai India remains bullish about three lines here, the first where the all-new doors, where the windows and speakers anywhere in the world. Making this a ger than the outgoing model, features all- at other facilities as well. diesel technology in the BS6 era despite Creta, and some first-generation cars for are fitted are actually finished on a sepa- ‘Make In India’ success story and while new BS6 engines including a 140PS 1.4 After the body-shop, the the export market and the Venue rate line and Hyundai’s computer systems Indian buyers will enjoy the all-new Creta turbocharged petrol engine, also manu- empty shells go to the make up a a ensure that they perfectly meet their vehi- with its stunning new features before factured at Chennai, with this paint-shop. The cle back a few stations down the other buyers, it will will soon be sent to variant featuring markets across the world. steering ! ! 0 2 $ $ 66 sustain in the near term,” said Gaurav Dua, Senior VP, Head — Capital Market Strategy & 01 . out the troubled lender, once a Investments, Sharekhan by Dalal Street darling. BNP Paribas. he Sensex plunged 894 Tata Steel was the top lag- Meanwhile, Finance Tpoints while the Nifty gard in the Sensex pack, crack- Minister Nirmala Sitharaman F crashed below the key 11,000- ing 6.51 per cent, followed by and RBI Governor Shaktikanta mark on Friday as regulatory SBI, IndusInd Bank, HDFC, Das on Friday assured Yes ()* +),-. curbs on Yes Bank triggered a ICICI Bank and ONGC. Bajaj Bank depositors that their crisis of confidence among Auto, Maruti and Asian Paints money is safe and all steps will tate Bank of India Chairman domestic investors. were the only gainers. be taken to ensure stability in SRajnish Kumar on Friday A heavy sell-off in global During the week, Sensex the financial sector. said the problem of Yes Bank is markets on coronavirus con- plunged 720.67 points or 1.88 All BSE sectoral indices “lender-specific” and not a cerns took a further toll on risk per cent, while Nifty sank ended in the red, with metal structural issue. He also said sentiment, traders said. 212.30 points or 1.89 per cent. plunging 4.40 per cent, fol- that there was no need for any- After nosediving over According to analysts, investors lowed by bankex, finance, ener- one to panic. 1,459 points during the day, the took the Yes Bank episode gy, realty, oil and gas, power “The problem at hand is $ ; 30-share BSE Sensex settled very negatively, raising ques- and industrials. lender-specific and not sec- ! ! 893.99 points or 2.32 per cent tions on the stability of the The broader BSE midcap toral,” he told reporters after ! lower at 37,576.62. Likewise, overall Indian financial system. and smallcap indices too skid- meeting Finance Minister per cent fall. the broader NSE Nifty tanked “Another bank bites the ded up to 2.36 per cent. World Nirmala Sitharaman here. Kumar said. On SBI picking up Earlier RBI Governor 279.55 points or 2.48 per cent dust. This time its Yes Bank - markets sank deeper into red as The SBI board on Thurday a stake in Yes Bank, he said the Shaktikanta Das said that the ! 4 to close at 10,989.45. one of the large private sector the coronavirus outbreak gave its “in-principle” approval lender already has an in-prin- Central bank will come out Banking counters wilted banks. RBI has stepped in and stoked fears of a global reces- to exploring investment oppor- ciple approval for doing so. with a scheme very shortly to under selling pressure, with Yes leading state-owned institu- sion. Bourses in Shanghai, tunities in Yes Bank but he said The SBI chief also said revive Yes Bank within 30 days. Bank plummeting over 55 per tions are patching up a bailout Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo there has been no negotia- there is no need to panic on “We took the step (of ; cent, after the RBI placed the plan for the bank and more sank over 2 per cent. tions yet. “The RBI has said account of developments in the putting it under moratorium) lender under a moratorium, importantly, safeguard the European benchmarks were they will come out with a Yes Bank. when we found that Yes Bank capping deposit withdrawals at interest of depositors. However, also trading significantly lower restructuring plan (for Yes “What’s there to panic, no efforts were not working. 50,000 per account for a month the already weak sentiments in their morning sessions. Brent Bank),” he added. need to panic, all depositors are Depositors’ interests will be and superseding its board. have been dented further. crude oil futures fell 2.54 per The resolution will come safe... RBI Governor has said fully protected. A decision has The unusual move late “The series of accidents in cent to USD 48.72 per barrel. “very shortly”, he said. “This is also, just be patient, everything been taken not only to deal Thursday evening came hours the Indian financial sector On the currency front, the not a sectoral problem. It is a will be fine,” Kumar told the with the problem in the indi- 01 . “Our salary gets credited after finance ministry sources sends out a very poor message Indian rupee depreciated 32 bank-specific problem. The reporters. vidual entity but also to main- on 21st of every month. I am confirmed that State Bank of to the foreign investors. The paise to 73.24 per US dollar RBI will take all steps to ensure Yes Bank shares were down tain the resilience of the Indian ven as the RBI and the a little worried about my India (SBI) was directed to bail negative bias is expected would (intra-day). financial stability,” Rajnish to 15.10 from 21.70, a 58.97 financial sector.” EGovernment are assuring upcoming salary as I have a the public of their money being salary account with Yes Bank. safe in Yes Bank, depositors I am going to provide details of continue to queue up my other bank account to HR R = 0G0 $ outside branches of the trou- today so that my money does- F 7 bled private lender. n’t get blocked,” said an MNC $ R * $ 6 Several customers are now employee who was standing in New Delhi: The RBI superseding the board of Yes contemplating opening up new a queue at one of the branch- % Bank casts light on governance risks in India’s New Delhi: Be it an epidemic “Given the way our banks are accounts in other banks. es in suburban Mulund. banking sector, Fitch Ratings said on Friday. scare or a financial distress, the toppling, I think the promise There were cases of heated Pradeep Kumar, an engi- New Delhi: Moody’s Investors Fitch said there is a risk that the already poor Twitterati know how to make made was to make India a 3- exchange between bank staff neer by profession, working Service on Friday downgraded operating environment for the banking sector a day as the microblogging site trillion economy. Three trillion and customers, who failed to with a large real estate developer, Yes Bank Ltd’s rating following could suffer further impairment if the govern- got flooded with memes on the paise that is. #yesbankcrisis.” withdraw money. said, “I have some money right RBI imposing a 30-day mora- ment’s efforts to tackle problems in the bank fail Yes Bank crisis amid fears that A ‘reporter-FM joke’, shared On Thursday, the Reserve now but I have come to with- torium that prevents the lender to provide reassurance to depositors and investors. depositors may lose their hard- by @dilippanawar with Bank of India (RBI) superseded draw more since it is the begin- from making payment to its “The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) takeover of earned money. The RBI, in #yesBankcrisis, read: “Reporter: the board of Yes Bank and ning of the month and there are creditors. “The ratings remain Yes Bank casts light on governance risks in India’s consultation with the FM, #YesBank has gone bad. FM: imposed a 30-day moratorium some payments lined up.” under review, with the direc- banking sector,” Fitch Ratings, which has a neg- Government, on Thursday put I don’t care my account is in after the Rana Kapoor-promot- Kumar had tried to with- tion uncertain,” Moody’s said ative outlook on India’s banking sector, said in a the cash-strapped private sec- ICICI.” Another user @i_thein- ed bank failed to raise capital to draw money yesterday night downgrading Yes Bank Ltd’s statement. The central bank’s takeover of Yes Bank tor lender under moratorium dian wrote: “History repeats address potential loan losses. but ATM went dry before his long-term foreign currency appears intended to restore depositor confi- for a period of 30 days, restrict- itself. #DeMonetisation #yes- The bank’s depositors are turn came. issuer rating to Caa3 from B2. dence. “However, we believe that there is a risk ing the overall withdrawal limit bankcrisis”, posting a picture of allowed to withdraw cash up to Yes Bank has 1,000 branch- Moody’s has also down- that the RBI’s move could backfire if it prompts of 50,000. Reacting to the people sitting in a line with 50,000 from their accounts es across the country. To graded the bank’s long-term depositors to shift their money to institutions that ! . developments, a Twitter user closed shutters in the back- during the 30-day moratorium streamline the withdrawal foreign and local currency are perceived to be safer,” Fitch added. PTI @Abhishekmissh posted, ground. PTI period, according to a process, some of the branches bank deposit ratings. The Government gazette. are giving limited tokens to the downgrade “is a result of an The withdrawal limit, how- customers. event of default triggered by the ! , ever, can be relaxed up to 5 “The branch manager has Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) "KG 6 lakh in case of medical emer- refused to give me a token since 30-day moratorium, which pre- 5:4@:: gencies, higher education and I reached late. They are giving vents Yes Bank from making a 6 () 0< 0< @ for expenses related to mar- tokens to up to 130 people,” full and timely payment to its riages, it said. said a customer who was seen senior creditors,” the rating ()* +),-. shall expire on May 28, 2020. The rush to withdraw fighting with the manager of agency said in a statement. No Futures and Options con- money from the bank contin- the branch in suburban “Despite the event of default, eading stock exchanges BSE tracts shall be available in Yes 65,6 3 01 . ued despite Finance Minister Mumbai. Security was also the Caa3 rating takes into Land NSE on Friday decided Bank for trading in equity Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief tightened at the bank’s head- account Moody’s expectation to drop Yes Bank from derivatives segment from May he moratorium on Yes Bank by RBI could have ne of the biggest losers in case the RBI’s Economic Advisor quarters, its branches and that although recovery rates for Futures and Options segment 29, 2020 onwards”. Ta rippling effect on the operating jute mills and Orestructuring scheme for Yes Bank goes Krishnamurthy Subramanian ATMs across the city. It’s not the banks’ senior creditors may from May 29. Derivatives markets or wages of lakhs of workers associated with the through will be the additional tier-I bond and Reserve Bank Governor just salaried customers, but be high given the close involve- The existing Futures F&O segment reflect expecta- industry just ahead of Holi. holders who have bets totalling to Shaktikanta Das trying to allay entrepreneurs and small busi- ment of the Indian authorities and Options contracts across tion of spot prices in the future, According to jute industry sources, payments 10,800 crore on the lender. the fear among the depositors. nessmen are also affected. and stated intention to resolve all expiries will expire on and current price bands or cir- to mills got stuck in totality though 60 per cent The investors in such instruments typically the bank quickly, the ultimate May 28. cuit filters are generally not of the payment is not associated with Yes Bank. include mutual fund houses and bank trea- timing and form of eventual res- The development came applied on them. The Yes Bank crisis has led to halting in payment suries, experts said. olution remains uncertain. after Yes Bank on Thursday was At present, there are over release for the mills. The immediate fallout is a “The instruments qualifying as addition- "3 A54799 4 “Actions by the authorities to put under a moratorium, with 200 stocks in F&O segment. threat over wages and advance payments to mill al tier-1 capital, issued by Yes Bank under date have not reduced the prob- the RBI capping deposit with- Further, the bourses said due to workers just ahead of Holi festival, jute sector Basel-III framework, shall stand written down ability of default as evidenced by drawals at 50,000 per account the recent development in Yes sources told PTI. permanently, in full, with effect from the $ the moratorium announcement, for a month and superseding its Bank it has been decided that Approximately two lakh workers are associ- appointed date,” the draft of the ‘Yes Bank Ltd. and highlights the continued board. no fresh or renewal of bank ated with the jute mills in West Bengal and a large Reconstruction Scheme, 2020’, said. " "/ " " uncertainty around private sec- In similar-worded circu- guarantees and fixed deposit section of them are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, The draft, which is open for public com- tor bank resolutions in India and lars, the exchanges said,” the receipt issued by the private and Holi is a major festival for them, the sources ments, added that the same is in conformity New Delhi: Beleaguered Vodafone Idea Ltd on Friday put its total the recovery prospects for senior existing Futures and Options lender will be accepted as col- said. In jute mills, wages are usually paid on the with the RBI’s regulations based on the Basel dues to the government following a Supreme Court order at creditors,” it said. PTI contracts, across all expiries lateral. 7th and 21st of every month, mill officials said. framework. 21,533 crore — less than half of what the Telecom Department has estimated, even as the Vodafone CEO indicated keenness to make a “new, good beginning” in India. Vodafone Group CEO / !" Nick Read met top ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala : 1 # Sitharaman and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and ! ! # informed them that UK telecom giant’s India joint venture, L M # Vodafone Idea Ltd is “exploring” options to make additional pay- : 1 J'K# ment towards its outstanding statutory dues. 2 2 ! ! Vodafone Idea in a statement said it has already paid 3,500 1 3 : 1 crore out of the “self-assessed” liability of 21,533 crore. The DoT, 3 # # following the Supreme Court ruling in October last year which said $ > 3 ! P & +)1: ,.4)55, a bad spell) but one defeat feels like two LIVERPOOL MOMENTUM le Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged defeats — it’s not a massive difference. Klopp said rediscovering momen- Manchester United to compete on three urgen Klopp has urged Liverpool to “It’s how you get back on track tum was important ahead of the sec- Ofronts after they moved into the FA Cup J“fight” as the runaway Premier immediately and you can do that not ond leg of the Champions League tie quarter-finals with a 3-0 win at Wayne Rooney’s League leaders battle to end their mini- by hoping that things are now click- against Atletico next week and he Derby on Thursday. slump against relegation-threatened ing even better than expects a strong response against Solskjaer’s side were never in danger of a shock Bournemouth today. the game before Bournemouth. “In a lot of moments we fifth round exit against the second tier Liverpool have lost three of their so we have just could have done better,” he said, refer- Rams as Luke Shaw’s opener and past four matches in all competitions to work really ring to recent matches. Odion Ighalo’s double booked a quar- but remain 22 points clear of hard. We have “We know that 100 percent and ter-final trip to Norwich. Manchester City at to fight back that’s what we are working on but we Rooney, United’s record goalscor- the top of the league Liverpool vs Bournemouth on track.” don’t take it for granted from now on er, is back in English football after table. . 311) that we will not score any more and moving to Derby from DC United in Tuesday’s FA 0*=> 0!G>*0 0<2< * 7 they will score with each chance that January and he was twice denied by Cup defeat at the they have. That’s not like it is. Sergio Romero in his first meeting hands of Chelsea followed a shock “We know if we perform at our with his old club since 2018. Premier League loss against Watford highest level, and there’s nothing else But United were always on top and extend- last week. we want to do tomorrow, it will be dif- ed their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine In February they lost 1-0 to ficult for Bournemouth. We should not games ahead of Sunday’s derby showdown with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their forget that.” Manchester City at Old Trafford. had seven clean sheets in those nine games.” Champions League last 16 tie. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has They remain in the hunt for the FA Cup, the United are chasing a record-equalling 13th FA The 3-0 defeat at Watford brought been ruled out of the Bournemouth < Europa League and still have a chance of quali- Cup triumph. an abrupt end to a run of 18 straight match after suffering a muscle injury fying for the Champions League via the Premier They took control at Pride Park after 33 min- victories in the Premier League but ahead of the midweek FA Cup tie at League. utes when Shaw scored just his second career goal, they need just four more wins to Chelsea. Earlier, Sadio Mane has also F : United are fifth, three points behind Chelsea, his volley bouncing over Kelle Roos via a deflec- guarantee winning the title for the urged Liverpool to use the worst week and Solskjaer has urged his players to keep their tion off Jesse Lingard. first time in 30 years. of their season as fuel to power the ,5(+5( ) foot on the gas as they look to turn a troubled sea- Nigerian striker Ighalo, signed on loan from Klopp said his team’s Premier League leaders a step closer . /01) son into a memorable finale. Shanghai Shenhua in January, got the second goal approach would not change to the title when they face Cherries. ottenham man- 0*=> 0!G>*0 0<2< * 7 “Today was the highest priority because we’re seven minutes later. despite their rocky run. “Of “We have another important Tager Jose not going to pick and choose games or competi- Martyn Waghorn went close for Derby after course winning gives you con- game on Saturday and then on Mourinho says Eric Dier will be tions. We have to go for everything, that’s what it the break but Ighalo ended the contest when he fidence, losing costs you con- Wednesday, so we will be ready and selected against Burnley today is to be at Manchester United,” Solskjaer said. fired home to complete his double with 20 min- fidence, that’s completely nor- we will be back again,” Mane said. after declaring the England “I’m very pleased with the performance and utes left. mal,” the Liverpool boss told “This can happen in football midfielder has recovered from to go through. You never know, away from home, “He’s doing what he says on the tin and what his pre-match press conference and we are used to it. his astonishing row with a fan. being the favourites and having City on Sunday we asked for when we signed him. I’m very happy on Friday. “We just have to keep working Dier climbed into the how it’ll affect their mindset, but it was profes- with him. That type of striker is vital for a team,” “You start thinking about differ- hard and keep going if we want to be stands at the Tottenham sional. “We’ve found form and defended well, we’ve Solskjaer said of former Watford forward Ighalo. ent things. It’s a long while ago (since great champions.” Hotspur Stadium to confront a supporter following Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round defeat against Norwich. The 26-year-old tried to approach the fan ' ! .',# .2, who was allegedly abusing his brother before being led away from the incident, which is likely to trigger a Football Association 01 . cessful Asian countries are following that Chhetri if the situation is like this. We can- probe. rule and that is why they are successful,” not take someone who has never played Dier was reported to be unflustered once ational football team head coach Stimac said at a media briefing. as a striker and put him in the national he returned to the dressing room and NIgor Stimac is not happy with more “That is why they have option for team. Where am I going to find a strik- Mourinho insisted he is in the right frame foreign players featuring in a match in national team to have strikers, offensive er? Even in I-League, there are five foreign of mind to feature at Turf Moor. Indian Super League and I-League, say- midfielders and the centre-backs,” he players. “Eric is in the right frame of mind to play ing it was coming in the way of the coun- added. “We don’t have (Indian) strikers in I- tomorrow, of course. The only thing that try producing a future Sunil Chhetri. Currently, ISL and I-League teams can League. Only Indian Arrows is putting matters is: first of all, that nothing really big Stimac said the ISL and I-League, the field five foreign players at a given time in (striker) Vikram (Pratap Singh) to play. We happened,” Mourinho told reporters on country’s first and second tier leagues, a match. On the other hand, AFC are in a big problem. We need to start Friday. should follow Asian Football Champions League competition rules changing the things in favour of nation- “Secondly he played so, so well in the last Confederation’s (AFC) policy of allowing state that “each participating club may reg- al team.” two matches. Of course he is going to play. a maximum of four foreign players in a ister four foreign players but at least one The Croatian said “it would be ideal “I would never do that (rest him). The match instead of the five permitted by must have the nationality of an AFC mem- to merge the two leagues (ISL and I- player played so well. Nothing happened, them currently. ber association”. League)”. nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be “My suggestion for top tier (league) in Stimac said in the current situation, The Indian team is out of reckoning ashamed of. the country is to follow AFC rule of 3+1, it was difficult to get replacement for star for a 2022 World Cup berth but Stimac “The football world is behind (him) and that’s the basic rule for number of foreign striker Chhetri. said the country will have a chance to qual- understands completely the circumstances.” players. It’s not strange that that most suc- “We will never find a replacement for ify for the 2026 edition. Mourinho acknowledged Dier, who has become a target for some frustrated Tottenham supporters this season, was % wrong to confront the fan given he is sup- I 0 posed to set a professional example, but admitted he would have done the same thing. +.+ semi-final since 1969, then took + , 3 0 )4 “I look at myself and I am of course much a 2-1 overall lead thanks to a goal older than Eric, and of course I have much goal nine minutes from from German Sanchez after 76 356:5 1 ),5( more years in football than Eric,” he said. Atime by defender Yuri minutes, again with apan’s badminton king Kento Momota said he is again “And as you know, I was born a foot- Berchiche took Athletic Machis the provider from Jdreaming of Tokyo Olympics Gold on Friday but did- uique Setien admitted on Friday his assis- baller’s son, and I grew up as a football man- Bilbao into an all-Basque a corner. n’t know when he’d return to action after a car crash that Qtant Eder Sarabia was wrong in the way ager, and the only thing that I can say is that: Copa del Rey final against However, their hopes left him fearing his career was over. he lambasted Barcelona’s players if I see something happening with my son, Real Sociedad on of making the final were The world number one admitted his “spirit was almost with a series of foul-mouthed I would do the same. Thursday when they dashed when left-back broken” after the accident in January — hours after he won rants during last weekend’s . 4411) “I wouldn’t think two seconds about edged Granada on away Berchiche scored with a the Malaysia Masters — which killed the driver of the vehi- Clasico. "= < GG& doing the same. So, that’s why I said I would goals. low drive in the 81st minute after cle taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport. Spanish television pro- do the same. Athletic had led 1-0 from being set up by Mikel Vesga to Momota, 25, had been expected to be out for two gramme Vamos showed Sarabia making a “But, as professionals, sometimes we have the first leg of the semi-final but secure his team a spot in the months but he needed surgery for an eye socket fracture number of angry outbursts, in which Antoine to go through difficult situations. And we fellow La Liga side Granada lev- April 18 finale in Seville. in February, dashing plans to return for this month’s All Griezmann, Gerard Pique and Nelson Semedo have to try to cope with it.” elled the tie on the night through With 23 titles, Athletic England Championships. were among those targetted for criticism by After the penalty shoot-out defeat to Carlos Fernandez in the 48th Bilbao are second on the all-time “I thought about it. How long will it take?” he said, Setien's assistant coach. Norwich, Mourinho said he would only be minute with a fine header from list of Copa del Rey winners when asked if he had been worried that he might never Barca were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid and able to prioritise one of the next two games, a cross by Venezuelan Darwin behind Barcelona who have tri- play again. “There were times when my spirit was almost Sarabia’s antics on the bench have caused a stir with a Champions League clash against Machis. Granada, in their first umphed 30 times. broken.” in the Spanish media, with some reports claim- Leipzig following the Burnley game. Momota, who missed the 2016 Olympics after he was ing the players were unimpressed. Tottenham, hit by injuries to several play- suspended for visiting an illegal casino, is now back in train- Setien told the newspaper El Periodico on The loss to Madrid has put the pressure ers including star forwards Harry Kane and ing but doesn’t know when he’ll be compete Thursday he had apologised to the players and back on Barcelona, who are now a point Son Heung-min, need Premier League B again. when asked about the issue in a press confer- behind in La Liga ahead of a tricky game at points in the race to qualify for the “Of course, the Tokyo Olympics is on ence on Friday, he added: “This topic home to Real Sociedad today. Champions League. my mind,” he told reporters in Tokyo. doesn’t need too much attention, the only “I have no problem with the players,” They also trail Leipzig 1-0 ahead of the (-)'3) not. I don't think we can. It's “I have received support from so many thing he has done wrong is the way he has Setien said. “The players are taking every- last 16 second leg in Germany on Tuesday. one of those where you get told people and received such passionate words expressed himself, which I don’t like and thing with an extraordinary attitude. Mourinho now says Tottenham will do le Gunnar Solskjaer has when you're going to play, so of encouragement that now, I feel that I want to make that clear. Some give us their opinion because we ask their best to win both games. Ovoiced his frustration over we've not got any help before I really want to go for the “It is normal to shout on the pitch, it for it but they are clear about everyone’s “We are in a situation where I think it is how Manchester United's this one." Gold at the Tokyo is normal to warn the players, to communi- role.” very hard to prioritise,” he said. preparations for their derby United go into the derby Olympics.” cate and to demonstrate your character in this Real Madrid play away at Real Betis on “But as I was saying after the match it was against Manchester City have with some momentum, having Momota added: “I feel way, I love that and that doesn’t worry me. Sunday and Setien is confident there will be a discussion to have internally and especial- been impeded by the schedul- set up an FA Cup quarter-final I am regaining the sharp- “What I am worried about is the way it plenty of twists during the run-in. ly the players feelings and the communica- ing of their midweek FA Cup tie. with Norwich and taken their ness of my body and move- happens. We have apologised because there are “I think it will be very difficult for the two tion with the players is always the most United cruised through to unbeaten run to nine matches ments. a number of words that I understand should leaders to win all their games until the end of important thing. the quarter-finals at second-tier in all competitions. “The issue I have to tack- not be used when you represent a club like this. the season,” he said. “Of course we want to win tomorrow and Derby on Thursday, when Luke Solskjaer's side has risen to le now is that whenever I’m on the “For the rest, everyone accepts that a coach “The league is very complicated and it the tie on Tuesday but we have to find a way Shaw's second career goal and the big occasions this season, court, I want to get into the action. and his assistant shout and the players accept takes a lot to win the games, not only for us where we give some players a better chance two strikes from January sign- including December's Premier I have to make sure I take it easy.” that as well.” but for Madrid too. to perform.” ing Odion Ighalo wrapped up a League win at the Etihad 3-0 win. Stadium and a 1-0 triumph Europa League football this there the following month in season means United are used the League Cup semi-finals. " 2 .', ! 0 < " 6 to playing on Thursdays, but - Old Trafford defeat - City have an extra day to pre- But that second-leg victo- pare for Sunday's Old Trafford ry was not enough to make up " 5 need at least five goals to encounter after beating Sheffield for the 3-1 loss inflicted by Pep move to the final. Wednesday the previous Guardiola's men at Old C Goa face Chennaiyin Chennaiyin head coach evening. Trafford, where a poor start FFC in the second leg of Owen Coyle has mentioned "It's that help we get from proved their undoing -- some- their Indian Super League that his players would not the FA again -- that extra 24 thing Solskjaer knows cannot semifinals, looking to over- be lackadaisical in the sec- hours that they've had," be repeated. turn a 4-1 deficit, at the ond leg, despite enjoying a Solskjaer said. The United boss admitted Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium three-goal lead. "I cannot believe why there's his players' heads "went for a lit- here today. He would also ask for a derby on Sunday and we've got tle while" in that match after FC Goa will be boost- , foreign centre-backs in an improved performance to play Thursday night. What's City took the lead through ed by the return of Edu . 201) Mourtada Fall and Carlos from the front three of the point in that? That doesn't Bernardo Silva's superb strike. Bedia who missed the first 0*=> 0!G>*0 <*?G>& Pena. Nerijus Valskis, Rafael level the playing field." "It wasn't an issue until our leg game in Chennai — “We have to win to Crivellaro and Andre .' as Saint-Etienne hit back moments before City also had an extra day heads went for a little while, so which they lost 1-4 — due from their game in the first overcome the deficit, but Schembri who had a quiet half-time. ahead of December's derby at we've got to control our emo- to personal reasons. leg. that does not mean we go all game by their standards in yad Boudebouz struck a stoppage- Saint-Etienne are languishing two the Etihad Stadium, although tions more," said Solskjaer. There is more good Ferran Corominas will out from minute one. It’s 90 Chennai. FC Goa also need Rtime winner as Saint-Etienne defeat- points above the relegation zone in Marcus Rashford and Anthony "And we have, we have news as Brandon Fernandes play as a number nine after minutes and more and to keep a check on the ed French Cup holders Rennes 2-1 on Ligue 1, but the hosts upped the pressure Martial scored in a shock 2-1 learned, so that's an experience and Hugo Boumous, who playing as a withdrawn for- whatever football that I Chennaiyin attackers who Thursday to qualify for the final for the in the closing stages and substitute win for United. we'll bring into this game def- were injured for last week’s ward in the last game. The know, it is not decided in are more than capable of first time in 38 years. Boudebouz drilled in from the edge of the Solskjaer aired a similar initely." tie, are back in contention Spanish striker has 14 goals the first 10 to 15 minutes. It hurting the opponent Saint-Etienne will take on record 12- area to earn Claude Puel’s side a last-gasp grievance about the Premier Harry Maguire is a doubt for a start. Boumous, in par- to his name this season and will be till the final whistle through a quick counter- time winners Paris Saint-Germain in the victory. League after winning at Chelsea for the derby after rolling his ticular, has been in spectac- FC Goa need his goals now and we will take it minute- attack. final at the Stade de France on April 25. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as last month on a Monday, saying ankle in training and missing ular form this season hav- more than ever. by-minute,” Miranda said. “When you have any Saint-Etienne won the last of their six PSG won 5-1 at 10-man Lyon in the first he could not understand why the match against Derby, the ing scored 10 and assisted Interim coach Clifford Meanwhile, sort of advantage, it’s good French Cup titles in 1977. semi-final on Wednesday. they did not play on the day of his 27th birthday. 11 in 14 matches. Miranda will have a deci- Chennaiyin FC would look to have that. That being said, Mbaye Niang blasted home from the Neymar scored from the penalty spot Saturday following the winter "Well it's touch and go With the return of sion to make as to whether to score first and make the we know we have a very spot to give Rennes, who beat PSG on after Fernando Marcal was sent off in the break. because he rolled his ankle Brandon, FC Goa would he would deploy an all- task even more improbable dangerous match. Over the penalties in last year's final, the lead on 64th minute while Pablo Sarabia grabbed Asked if he had complained and he twisted his ankle but hope for better deliveries attacking line-up of Bedia, for the home side. Should course of the 18 games in 33 minutes at the Stade Geoffroy- the other goal, as PSG bounced back after about the scheduling this time, hopefully he'll recover quickly," from wide positions, some- Boumous and Corominas Chennaiyin find the back of the league, they have been Guichard. Timothee Kolodziejczak head- falling behind to an early strike from the Norwegian said: "No, I've Solskjaer said. thing which was missing or choose to go with two the net, FC Goa would the best team,” said Coyle. ed in an equaliser from a Lois Diony cross Martin Terrier. 2 ! ! JERUSALEM o visit to the region would be complete Nwithout a trip to Jerusalem. With a his- tory stretching back almost 5,000 years, and " sights including the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and al-Aqsa Mosque, few cities resonate in the same way. Religion and rit- uals both come alive in images that reflect customs. The Jewish family during a bar mitzvah ceremony at Western Wall as well as the expressionist elegance of A young boy during his bar mitzvah ceremony are % ! intense and inspiring. The black and white images have a resonance that talk to us about the mapping of life’s infinite greys. 5 . 1 ! It is through the delicacy of details that shows us how Idris has a hand that is both .+.' -)+O # ! O experienced as well as restrained in its # 2 ) ! # nuances of freezing the frame. country to showcase the char- # # ! F TIME REGAINED acter of its people and the sanctity of the land they are so 0 ( . ! dris gives us a repertoire of the resolute in preserving. “While Iconfluence of communities tourists flock to the salty waters 6 . and their moments in everyday of the Dead Sea, and the his- symbolism. Muslim woman toric sites around its shores, EVERYDAY IDIOMS walk towards Dome of the most are unfamiliar with the Rock and Muslim kids play in Western Galilee region (the itting at the mouth of the front of Dome of the Rock are country’s most mountainous),” Smeandering Yarkon river, Tel two images that clearly signify says Idris. “It calls itself the Aviv has a six-mile beach pop- the vitality of religion as well as ‘Tuscany of the Middle East’, ular with young, laid-back locals. a zest for living. The idea of the thanks to the lush greenery and Cyclists, joggers and dog walk- plurality of religions comes to Crusader sites, including the ers stroll the promenade, while the fore when we glimpse the Montfort fortress, a ruined sunbathers and surfers rule the images of Young orthodox Jews castle you can climb to enjoy beach, giving Israel’s second city walking on the streets of spectacular views. The rolling a certain ‘Californian feel.’ “Israel Jerusalem as well as the noncha- landscape is perfect for a scenic has a tremendous history and lant symbol of gay abandon day of cycling.” legacy, architecturally speaking, when we look at Young Israelis Ultimately you must pause much of which dates back to the skateboarding around old port over the two images that echo architecture in Jerusalem which at Namal, Tel Aviv. the passion of the rituals in evolved over three millennia, We can gauge from these Christianity — Holy Fire, where formed by inspirations from the images the lifestyle that cruis- an orthodox Christian pilgrim best Persian, Roman, Ottoman es in front of the camera — is holding candles during the Turkish architecture, with a bit from colourful marketeers to Holy Fire ceremony on Easter of colonial German architecture families in prayer at the and Divine Light, which has thrown in the mix,” says Idris Western Wall, these incredible monks lighting up candles at who captures vignettes of the images move beyond the typi- Coptic Chapel on Good Friday. modern. cal postcard images of the They transcend time and space. rom Michelin-starred restaurants to hole-in-the- Fwall gems, awe-inspiring global cuisine to aromatic street carts, New York City has endless ) dining options. The cuisine of each borough and neighbour- hood tells the story of the city’s history, culture and latest trends, (& ,: 3-5 ' + most famous gesture — the making food tours the perfect chest pounding while standing way to experience authentic on two legs where he hit the NYC. Visit the neighbourhoods chest alternately with open that make each borough so spe- an example for future genera- National Park. hands — rather than with cial. tions. After what seemed like an When we reached an alti- clenched fists as portrayed in Two days after arriving in eternity, we were divided into tude of 1,300m after an arduous most films. But much as we’d Goma, I huddled in an ageing groups and directed to follow the trek, the onslaught of humidity, have liked to applaud our good Prado with a forest ranger and trained guides into the forest. heat and no signs of silverbacks luck, we still remained on the drove over roads that can best be But let me give you a brief weakened our morale. Despite ground. described as difficult. We were background before I relate the that, we continued to drag our The silverback dropped to headed to the headquarters of rest of the tale. Goma, the lake- feet over wet and slippery earth, all fours, stared at us briefly Virunga National Park. Here, we side town of Democratic deep inside the park with only before ambling away. No one heard a lengthy explanation on Republic of Congo, borders one aim in mind — sighting pri- moved till the rangers gorilla conservation and how Rwanda. It is the United Nation’s mates. Taking tiny sips of water, announced in jest. “It’s safe now. each of the families was differ- biggest base for peacekeeping we plodded on, occasionally had seen us. We can go to see the family. ent. The audience that had gath- force and is the starting point of hacking away at bushes to cre- Even before we could let They are not aggressive and ered there was urged to follow all adventures in the eastern side ate a trail, waiting for the the sight sink in, he let out a there are many babies. You the rules and guidelines that of DR Congo. The town is moment when our rangers blood-curdling scream and will get your private time. You would help preserve the apes’ flanked by an active volcano and would give us the good news. began pounding his chest open- can take pictures.” diminishing population and set is the gateway to Virunga We had been warned against fisted and rhythmically — left, On that assurance, we crept wandering off the path but con- right, left — battering our con- into a clearing and there they sidering the non-existence of fidence on the forest floor. It were. The gorilla family — all one, they needn’t have worried. was the closest I have ever come seven of them, young and old, We kept our heads down and to an ape and any bravado that lost in their world of bamboo focussed on our step. we had carried, deserted us shoots — unmindful of intrud- We were in untouched ter- completely. He was so close, I ers. We were given “time to ritory. There were no tracks to could smell him. connect” with them, provided follow and except for the rangers’ It was a moment that every we obeyed the seven metre dis- instincts honed by experience gorilla-tracker hopes to experi- tance rule. and vague clues along the track ence but it took everything we At some point, I watched as — like depressed bamboo thick- had not to react even though we mother gorilla grabbed her ets, there was little else to lead shared about 90 per cent of our baby from its father and disap- us to the primates. The walk was DNA with the ape, who looked pear into the bush. So like energy-sapping and we had lost determined to trample his humans. I stopped photograph- all hope when suddenly, the breathe. Masks in place, we intruding cousin. Out there, ing. I wanted to see their faces, rangers motioned us to pull on waited. After what seemed like family bonding didn’t exist. noses and feet and maybe make our surgical masks. And stay an eternity, less than 10 feet The pounding continued. eye contact. However, they did- still. away, a scene straight out of the We watched, transfixed. After n't stay in one place for long, “They are very close,” we movies played out. A giant sil- the initial surge of fear, some of preferring to rest under thick- were told. The evidence of it was verback was pulling himself up the confidence returned, just ets in each other's company. in a fresh pile of gorilla poop slowly, a sign that he was agi- enough so that we scrambled We maintained a safe dis- that was currently under inspec- tated and about to show it. for our cameras. The gorilla- tance but the seven metre rule tion by one of the rangers. He Bloodshot eyes stared out of his world, we’d been told, was didn’t deter a little baby from prodded the poop to check for black, hairy face. The closer he rather dramatic and loud and hurtling himself at me — talk freshness with a finger. It was came, the greater was his fury. alternated between screams, about family bonding. warm. It might sound funny but From where we lay, he hoots, growls and roars so they Perhaps, just perhaps I the sight of gorilla poop elevat- appeared bigger than his 1.5 could be heard in the wild. The could touch it? Inadvertently, I ed our spirits immensely. metre height. My heart beat sounds they produced depend- slipped off my mask; something Suddenly, three words rang out wildly as I watched this magnif- ed on their state of mind but like a maternal instinct gripped sharply. “Down. NOW. Quiet.” icent creature grow bigger and none of that information helped me, I wanted to pick him up We dropped to our fours. somehow more menacing right when facing the real thing. and hold him close. But the Some of us pressed against the before my eyes. Strangely, I was We had been extremely smell hit me. There was a rea- bamboo thicket, not daring to not afraid. No one breathed. He fortunate to see the gorilla’s son for the mask after all.