Follow us on: @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/dailypioneer Established 1864 RNI No. APENG/2018/764698 Published From *Late City Vol. 3 Issue 46 NATION 5 MONEY 6 VIJAYAWADA DELHI LUCKNOW *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable INDIA TO BECOME WORLD’S 5TH BHOPAL RAIPUR CHANDIGARH FARMERS CONTINUE TO BHUBANESWAR THRONG DELHI’S GATES LARGEST ECONOMY IN ’25 RANCHI DEHRADUN A GUTSY, HYDERABAD VISAKHAPATNAM SELF-MADE OFFICER VIJAYAWADA, SUNDAY DECEMBER 27, 2020; PAGES 12 `3 12

www.dailypioneer.com RASHMIKA JOINS AMITABH BJP ALLY RASHTRIYA LOKTANTRIK QUITS FARMER UNION LEADERS ASK GOVT TRUMP REFUSES TO SIGN COVID AID BILL, BACHCHAN IN VIKAS BAHL'S NEXT NDA IN PROTEST OVER FARM LAWS TO HOLD TALKS ON TUESDAY MILLIONS TO LOSE JOBLESS BENEFITS

outh star Rashmika Mandanna will feature alongside he Rashtriya Loktantrik Party led by Hanuman Beniwal on he protesting farmers have accepted the centre's offer of illions of Americans saw their jobless benefits expire on Smegastar Amitabh Bachchan in filmmaker Vikas TSaturday said it was quitting the BJP-led National Ttalks to end the deadlock over the three contentious MSaturday after US President Donald Trump refused Bahl's next directorial venture. The 24-year-old Democratic Alliance (NDA) to protest the three agricultural agriculture laws passed earlier this year. The joint front to sign into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and actor, who works predominantly in Telugu and laws that have provoked massive demonstrations by of around forty farmers' unions on Saturday wrote to spending package, protesting that it did not do Kannada-language films, made her acting debut farmers. "We won't stand with anyone who are against the government and proposed that the talks be held enough to help everyday people. Trump stunned in 2016 with Kirik Party (Kannada). Some of her farmers," Mr Beniwal, a Lok Sabha MP from Rajasthan's on December 29. They also said that repealing the Republicans and Democrats alike when he said this successful movies are Yajamana (Kannada), Nagaur, said, addressing protesters at the Shahjahanpur- three laws should be on top of the agenda. Today, week he was unhappy with the massive bill, which Geetha Govindam (Telugu) and Devadas (Telugu). Kheda border in Rajasthan's Alwar district. Mr Beniwal the unions held a meeting to chalk out their future provides $892 billion in badly needed coronavirus It is a slice-of-life comedy film which Bahl is had launched the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) in course of action. The fresh discussions came a day relief, including extending special unemployment directing. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rashmika Rajasthan after quitting the BJP before the 2018 state after Prime Minister Narendra Modi - in his strongest benefits expiring on December 26, and $1.4 trillion for Mandanna in the lead. There is also a large elections. The party allied with the BJP ahead of the 2019 attack on the opposition since the beginning of the normal government spending. Without Trump's ensemble cast, including Neena Gupta and others, a general election but has been critical of the farm laws and protests - stressed that farmers' lands won't be taken signature, about 14 million people could lose those extra source close to the film's team told PTI. extended support to the farmers' movement. away, adding that "some people are spreading lies". benefits, according to Labor Department data.

NEW YEAR GIFT BJP raises stink over Centre agrees to release funds for garbage dumping Polavaram at 2017-18 price index in front of banks PNS n VIJAYAWADA

SVN SUDHIR The Andhra Pradesh unit of n VIJAYAWADA The money trail the BJP is seeing the dumping of garbage in front of banks by In a shot in the arm for the YS n Total expenditure sanitation workers as a well- ‘India, US need to be Jaganmohan Reddy govern- incurred since the thought-of conspiracy to ment, the Union Jal Shakti inception of defame the Central govern- attentive to devel- Ministry has explicitly stated Polavaram project till ment. opments’ that the approved cost of the October 31, 2020 On Thursday, sanitation prestigious Polavaram multi- (estimated)— Rs workers in Krishna district purpose project is at the 2017- 17,665.29 crore dumped garbage in front of 18 price level, which works out bank branches in Vijayawada Rajendranath after which an to Rs 55,548 crore. n Expenditure incurred and Vuyyuru to vent their inquiry was ordered into the Chief Minister YS on the project before it anger at the delay in disbursal incident by the municipal 6 Jaganmohan Reddy had a few was declared a of their loans under various authorities. months ago written to Prime National project — Rs welfare schemes of the AP BJP state unit president Minister Narendra Modi for 5,135.87 crore. government. Somu Veerraju too con- the funding of the Polavaram n The beneficiaries alleged demned the incident and project and urging him to Expenditure incurred that despite repeated requests, demanded strict action on accept the 2017-18 price level. after it was declared a the bank officials neither sanc- those behind the incident. He also met Union Jal Shakti National Project from tioned loans under YSR “At 15:15 hrs today, spoke to Minister Gajendra Singh April 1, 2014 to October Cheyutha scheme nor did give Finance Minister Shekhawat on December 16 31, 2020 — Rs 12,529.42 proper replies. @IamBuggana garu on and urged him on the accep- crore It is suspected that the BJP garbage dumped at the tance of 2017-18 price level. completion of the project as per November. for the release of a pending bill. n Amount Reimbursed to took affront since the issue entrance of bank branches in Later on, both State Finance the original plan and schedule. The PPA had called for an The PPA meeting assumed involved loans to be sanc- Krishna Dist, AP, inconve- Minister Buggana Chief Secretary designate emergency meeting with AP significance as the fresh stand- Andhra Pradesh by tioned under a State niencing staff & customers. He Rajendranath and Irrigation Aditya Nath Das, who is irrigation officials after Jagan off between Centre and the AP Polavaram Project Government scheme. In fact, assured me that all steps will Minister Anil Kumar Yadav presently the irrigation secre- had written to the Prime government had generated Authority — Rs the BJP took the issue so seri- be taken to ensure safety for made several trips to Delhi to tary, had also effectively put Minister after reports surfaced enough political heat in the 8,507.26 crore ously that Union Finance all. @PIB_India @pibvi- impress upon both the Union forth the state government’s that Centre had put a rider that state with the opposition TDP n Amount to be Minister Nirmala Sitharaman jayawada @DFS_India (sic),” Jal Shakti and Finance argument on the 2017-18 price the state government need to sensing an opportunity and reimbursed (Tentative) intervened. Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted. Ministers over the acceptance level at an emergency meeting accept 2014 Revised Cost stepped up its attack on ruling She spoke to State Finance — Rs 4,022.16 crore 2 of the 2017-18 price level of the Polavaram Project Estimate (RCE) which would YSRCP. Minister Buggana which will facilitate smooth Authority (PPA) held in be almost half of the 2018 RCE, 2 Strange are the trends in local body polls BUILDING BLOCKS Dry run to test AP healthcare officials, 2 infrastructure and readiness yet again TODAY PNS n VIJAYAWADA Oxford vax may be first to get Six out of 1,214 If there is one thing the ALMANAC pandemic has done is bring nod for emergency use in India UK returnees to Month & Paksham: froth the real unlikely heroes and heroines, and AP test positive Margashirsha & Shukla Paksha expose the zeroes. Covaxin still in phase-3 trial stage Panchangam Healthcare authorities Vijayawada: Six out of 1,214 Tithi : Trayodashi: 06:19 am (Next Day) in Andhra Pradesh, who PNS n NEW DELHI people who returned from the UK to Andhra Pradesh in Nakshatram: Kritika: 01:19 pm have emerged as undis- puted heroes in the face With preparations underway recent days tested positive for Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start of an unprecedented for a possible vaccine-rollout coronavirus but it has not yet any important work) health crisis, are now by January, the Indian drug been established whether or not they contracted the new Rahukalam: 04:24 pm – 05:46 pm Praveen Prakash, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, takes a picture with a beneficiary of the State Government’s readying themselves for regulator is looking at the strain that was detected in that flagship programme of Navaratnalu ‘Pedalandariki Illu’ during his day-long tour of Kakinada city. Prakash interacted and another major challenge UK, which sources believe Yamagandam: 2:17 pm – 01:39 pm country. ensured every beneficiary got her house site patta and was pointed the precise location of her plot in the layout comprising — the delivery of the may give its nod to the Oxford Varjyam: NIL State Health Commissioner 16,000 plots Covid-19 vaccine. In this Covid-19 vaccine next week, Gulika: 03:01 pm - 04:24 pm context they are prepar- before deciding on giving Katamaneni Bhaskar said in a release on Saturday that two Good Time: (to start any important work) ing to conduct a dry run, emergency use authorisation ahead of the rollout of the to the Serum Institute that is gency authorisation for the persons in Guntur and one Amritakalam: 10:39 am – 12:25 pm YSRCP MLA M vaccine. manufacturing the shots here. vaccine here, official sources each in East Godavari, Krishna, Abhijit Muhurtham: 11:55 am – 12:39 pm The dry run would be Once the UK drug regu- said. Anantapur and SPS Nellore Rajinikanth is doing districts tested positive for Babu questions conducted in eight dis- lator gives its approval to the The process of granting VIJAYAWADA tricts of four states — Oxford vaccine, the expert emergency use approval for Covid-19 upon their return WEATHER integrity of judges Andhra Pradesh, Assam, committee on Covid-19 at Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 from the UK."Till date, 1,214 well, reports hospital Gujarat and Punjab — the CDSCO will hold its vaccine 'Covaxin' may take persons returned to the state Forecast: Sunny on December 28 and 29. meeting and thoroughly time as its phase 3 trials are and we have traced 1,158 of

Temp: 31/18 PNS n HYDERABAD It may be recalled that review the safety and still underway, while Pfizer them. Another 56 remain to be Humidity: 63% n traced," Bhaskar said. o

earlier this week, Health immunogenicity data from is yet to make a presenta- t 3

Sunrise: 06:44 am r Of those traced, 1,101 were

Superstar Rajinikanth, being Minister Harsh Vardhan the clinical evaluations con- tion. o Sunset: 05:50 pm e sent into quarantine, the p g treated for blood pressure had said Covid-19 vacci- ducted abroad and in India e a 2 Current Weather Conditions r Commissioner said.

P

l fluctuation, is stable and a nation could commence before granting any emer- Updated December 26, 2020 5:00 PM l u decision on discharging him any time in January. F would be taken tomorrow, Krishna district has Apollo Hospitals said here on been identified for the UK tests instant immunity antibody drug for Covid Saturday. dry run in Andhra The hospital, providing an Pradesh and the exercise PNS n LONDON Houlihan, recruited the first VANTAGE POINT -NNARSIM update on the 70-year old is aimed at providing participant in the world to the actor's health, said results of insights to gaps or bot- Scientists in the UK have study earlier this month and some of the investigations car- tlenecks so that those begun trials of innovative has recruited 10 participants ried out today showed nothing Chief Minister K Palaniswami could be addressed before antibody drug treatments that since then. alarming, similar to those spoke to the actor over phone the commencement of the they hope could provide “We know that this anti- completed before. and enquired about his health, vaccination itself. instant protection against body combination can neu- "Rajinikanth is stable," the an official release in Chennai “The opportunity will Covid-19. tralise the virus, so we hope to brief bulletin said, adding a said, adding he prayed for the be utilised to test pre- The University College find that giving this treatment few more reports were await- star's speedy recovery. paredness for vaccinat- London Hospitals NHS Trust via injection can lead to ed. Earlier in the day, the hos- ing pre-identified benefi- (UCLH) said that the immediate protection against "Based on the reports of pital said the actor's blood ciaries from specified researchers in the Storm the development of Covid-19 remaining investigations and pressure was still on the high- groups supported by Co- Chase study believe a Long who have been recently in people who have been his blood pressure status er side though it was under WIN, an electronic appli- Acting AntiBody (LAAB) exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 exposed when it would be too overnight a call will be taken better control than on Friday cation,” a healthcare offi- known as AZD7442, devel- coronavirus and prevent them late to offer a vaccine,” said tomorrow morning on his and he is progressing well. cial said. oped by AstraZeneca, may developing Covid-19. Houlihan. discharge," the hospital said. 2 offer immediate and long- The study, led by UCLH Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu 2 term protection to people virologist Dr Catherine 2 VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020 vijayawada 02

ities of religion-based parties as the Leftists would like us to and multiple alliances would believe, the handling of the ‘ALL AND Strange are the trends in local body polls assume that the Left Front corona virus pandemic and would perform poorly in the the welfare measures helped elections, unless parties make over Telangana PCC presi- twin elections to panchayat roll back anti-incumbency. SUNDRY’ mid-course corrections. After its debacle in the GHMC elections and dent. Even in Rajasthan, the and municipal bodies. The After their release from These signs can be ignored in the Dubbak Assembly by-election earlier, septuagenarian Chief Minister outcome was exactly the long incarceration in the wake series of elections held in only at the losers’ peril. The TRS leaders are in a sullen mood, more so Ashok Gehlot has won the reverse. The LDF won in vil- of scrapping Art 370, leaders quick succession to local Congress did exactly this in local body elections but has to lages as well as in towns, of the National Conference Abodies in Jammu & 1981, after losing in the polls because their campaigns were helmed by take into account the challenge while the Congress-led UDF and the People’s Democratic Kashmir, Kerala, Rajasthan and to the panchayat samithis due the redoubtable cousins T. Harish Rao and K. posed by his younger party put up a poor show. Party expected to reap a rich in Hyderabad make an interest- to public hostility against party T. Rama Rao.KCR has shifted to his favourite colleague Sachin Pilot (43). The allegations of gold harvest in the District ing case study of how people’s MLAs. As the elections were In these elections, the smuggling involving M. Siva Development Council elec- perception towards parties can held without party symbols, retreat -- the farmhouse at Erravalli -- amid Congress could win only 81 Sankar, principal secretary to tions called at short notice in swing in unexpected ways. then Chief Minister T. Anjaiah unverified reports that he is planning to ush- out of the 222 panchayat sami- Chief Minister, the question- Jammu & Kashmir. Their A mixed result in Rajasthan papered over the defeat and er in unprecedented changes in the party tis and five out of the 13 zilla ing of Minister K. T. Jaleel by expectations were partly brought no cheer to the cleverly announced: “All those parishads, yielding ground to central investigating agencies, belied as the BJP redeemed Congress government and in who won are Congressmen”. S NAGESH KUMAR the BJP but, paradoxically, arrest of Swapna Prabhu itself by winning three seats in Hyderabad too the incum- Two years later in the Gajwel -- amid unverified apprehension that Prime Former Resident Editor, performed far better than the Suresh, following the seizure the Valley and emerging as the bency factor impacted the Assembly elections, all those reports that he is planning to Minister may execute his plan The Hindu BJP in urban local bodies. of 14 kg of gold being shipped largest single party in J & K. Greater Hyderabad Municipal who lost were mainly usher in unprecedented of holding simultaneous elec- This busted several myths. to the UAE Consulate, besides The tally – Gupkar Alliance Corporation results. Just the Congressmen. After its deba- changes in the party and the tions to the Lok Sabha and anti-incumbency is written all The urban electorate, often the implication of Bineesh 110, BJP 75 and Independents opposite happened in Kerala cle in the GHMC elections and government at the very top. State Legislatures which would over. With some elections or bandied about as the BJP’s tra- Kodiyeri, son of CPI (M) 49 – has proved less important where the Pinarayi Vijayan in the Dubbak Assembly by- KCR is apparently con- lead to advancing Telangana another always round the cor- ditional support base, was not State Secretary, by the than the conduct of the elec- government bucked incum- election earlier, Telangana vinced about the need for Assembly polls due on ner, it is not enough to depend too willing to support it. On Narcotics Control Bureau, all tions in a peaceful and trans- bency to put up a smart show, Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders such radical transformation to December 2023. on populist schemes and cash the other hand, the assump- portended defeat for the LDF parent manner, when the while there was an altogether are in a sullen mood, more so put the party back on track In the immediate future, doles. tion about the Congress being and a good show by the Valley was in turmoil. different story in J & K -- a because their campaigns were after its sub-par performance the party has to fight by-elec- TRS has to keep pace with strong in rural areas was Congress and the BJP-led Among all the recent local Union Territory now under helmed by the redoubtable in the GHMC elections when tions for two Legislative changes in other parties too, proved wrong though Gehlot NDA. body elections, those in President’s Rule (read the NDA cousins T. Harish Rao and K. it could win just 56 out of 150 Council seats, the Assembly especially the preference for claimed his party polled 40.87 Unlike as in Telangana, the Kashmir bear greater signifi- government rule). The results T. Rama Rao. Party president divisions, while the BJP by-election in Nagarjunasagar younger leaders like Bandi per cent votes, against 40.58 by incumbency factor did not cance for democracy as they show in which directions the K. Chandrashekara Rao has increased its tally from four to and polls to the Warangal and Sanjay (49), president of a the BJP. work here and the LDF won may open the gates for con- winds will blow in the next shifted to his favourite retreat 48. What must also be weigh- Khammam Municipal resurgent BJP, and A. Revanth Now in Kerala, anyone the equivalent of 101 ducting elections to the J & K Assembly or Parliamentary -- the farmhouse at Erravalli in ing on KCR’s mind is the Corporations, at a time when Reddy (51) tipped to take untutored with the complex- Assembly seats out of 140. Or, Assembly. Convict misleads SC, gets notice Centre agrees to release funds for PNS n NEW DELHI fied that the appellant S Shankar the top court in the graft case misled this court by producing against the High Court's verdict Polavaram at 2017-18 price index The Supreme Court has issued wrong copy of the judgment dated confirming the judgment of the a show-cause notice to a con- December 31, 2000 passed by the trial court. Continued from page 1 ject on behalf of the that the number of families to vict for misleading it by pro- Special Judge for CBI Cases, Shankar was convicted along Government of India. The be evacuated has risen consid- ducing a wrong copy of a trial Hyderabad. with others in the graft case for var- While the PPA had agreed approved cost of the Project is erably in 2017-18 as compared court's verdict to get a "Let, therefore, show-cause ious offences, including the crim- to the State Government’s Rs 55,548.87 crore (at 2017-18 to 2005-06 from 44,574 to favourable order which had notice be issued to the appellant S inal breach of trust, conspiracy and argument and recommended it price level)”. 1,06,006, by which the land allowed him to walk free on Shankar as to why order dated July corrupt practices. He was award- to the Union Jal Shakti The Union Ministry also acquisition relief and rehabil- payment of a fine only in a 23, 2019, passed by this court, be ed a year in jail, and a fine of Rs Ministry, an official announce- said that after declaration as itation cost has increased. graft case. not recalled and modified, and fur- 1,000 was also imposed. ment has been awaited. National Project, a sum of Rs On December 15, the Chief The top court, while issuing the ther suitable action be not taken The top court termed as justi- The Union Jal Shakti 8,614.16 crore has been Minister had met Union notice to convict S Shankar, asked against him," a bench comprising fied the submissions of Shankar's Ministry, in its year-end released for execution of Home Minister Amit Shah him why it should not recall the justices Surya Kant and Aniruddha lawyer that "he was only sentenced review, on Saturday said, Polavaram Irrigation Project so and requested his interven- order sparing him the jail term and to Shankar but had only imposed sentence of imprisonment was Bose said. to pay a fine of Rs 500 on each “Polavaram Irrigation Project far, out of which Rs 1,850 crore tion in addressing issues per- take "further suitable" action for the a fine of Rs 1,000 for offences of imposed on Accused No. 5 Venkateswara Rao Anumolu, count, thus totalling Rs 1,000 , and was declared as National has been released since taining to the Polavaram pro- act of misleading it. criminal breach of trust and con- (Shankar) by the trial court and the advocate-on-record, accepted the in default to undergo one month's Project under Section 90 of AP January’2020. ject. The SC, had on July 23, 2019, spiracy under the IPC and some high court ," the top court had show-cause notice on behalf of simple imprisonment". Reorganisation Act, 2014, In addition, Rs 2234 crore Apart from providing irri- allowed Shankar to walk free in the other charges under the Prevention ordered, granting the relief. Shankar and was granted four "No sentence of imprisonment which came into force on 1st has been sanctioned for gation water to lakhs of aya- corruption case on payment of Rs of Corruption Act. However, a subsequent inquiry weeks to respond. was passed against him. The March 2014. The Central release during 2020-21. This cut and drinking water to 1,000 after his lawyer argued that "Since we find that the trial court and a report of the secretary gen- "The Registry is directed to sup- appellant herein has already paid Government is funding 100 amount shall be released by thousands of villages and the Andhra Pradesh High Court had merely imposed a sentence of eral of the apex court indicated that ply a copy of the report submitted the fine imposed upon him. He is percent of the remaining cost NABARD shortly. An expen- meeting Vizag’s industrial "wrongly construed" the operative payment of fine of Rs 1,000 on the prima facie, the convict "misled" the by the learned Secretary General not interested in pursuing this of the irrigation component of diture of Rs 17,327 crore has needs, completion of portion of the judgement of a trial appellant, the judgment of the high bench to avoid a jail term. of the Supreme Court to the state appeal," it said. the project, as on 01.04.2014. been incurred for the project Polavaram project works dur- court delivered in the year 2000. court is clarified accordingly. In "After perusal of the report sub- counsel. List the matter thereafter," The top court had disposed of The Government of Andhra works up to March 31, 2020. ing his tenure will also bring It was argued the trial court had view of the above, the appeal stands mitted by the Secretary General of it ordered. his appeal, which has now been re- Pradesh is executing the irri- Jagan, during his meeting huge political dividends to the not awarded a jail term of one year disposed of, making it clear that no the Supreme Court, we are satis- Shankar had filed an appeal in opened after the inquiry. gation component of the pro- with Shekhawat, informed Chief Minister. BJP raises AP Covid tally reaches 8.80 Rajinikanth is... Daily deaths below 300 after over 6 months lakh with 282 new cases Continued from page 1 stink over PNS n NEW DELHI India's Covid-19 infection The total 1,47,343 deaths PNS n VIJAYAWADA and Vizianagaram added four His blood pressure med- tally had crossed the 20-lakh reported so far in the country garbage each. Guntur and East ications were being titrated India's daily new Covid-19 mark on August 7, 30 lakh on include 49,129 from Confirmed cases of coron- Godavari reported 56 and 53 carefully and he would con- fatality count was reported August 23, 40 lakh on Maharashtra, followed by dumping... avirus touched 8.80 lakh in fresh cases while the remain- tinue to be under close mon- below 300 after over six September 5 and 50 lakh on 12,048 from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh on Saturday ing seven added less than 40 itoring, it said. He has been months, taking the death toll to September 16. 12,044 from Karnataka, 10,414 Continued from page 1 as the state added 282 afresh each. advised complete rest in view 1,47,343, while the infection It went past 60 lakh on from Delhi, 9,536 from West to its count while the active Only Krishna still has 639 of his labile blood pressure tally rose to 1,01,69,118, September 28, 70 lakh on Bengal, 8,279 from Uttar “As usual, the state govern- caseload fell further to 3,700. active cases while all other dis- and visitors were not being according to data updated by October 11, 80 lakh on October Pradesh, 7,091 from Andhra ment changed the name of a The latest bulletin said 442 tricts have less than 500 each. allowed to meet him, it said. the Union Health Ministry on 29, 90 lakh on November 20 Pradesh and 5,269 from Punjab. Central government scheme patients had recovered while In fact, Vizianagaram and Rajinikanth was on Friday Saturday. and surpassed the one-crore The health ministry stressed PM Swanidhi aimed at small only one death was reported in Kurnool have only 62 and 86 admitted to Apollo Hospitals A total of 251 more deaths mark on December 19. that more than 70 per cent of vendors living in the urban the state in 24 hours ending 9 active cases now. here for severe blood pressure and 22,273 new infections were 19 case fatality rate stands at According to the Indian the deaths occurred due to co- areas who lost livelihood am on Saturday. Government data said that fluctuation. He is in the reported in a 24-hour period, 1.45 per cent. Council of Medical Research morbidities. during the Covid induced The total recoveries now after 1.15 crore sample tests, Telangana capital since the data updated at 8 am The active caseload remained (ICMR), 16,71,59,289 samples "Our figures are being recon- pandemic,” Somu Veerraju increased to 8,69,920 and the overall infection positivi- December 13 to shoot for showed. below three lakh for the fifth have been tested up to ciled with the Indian Council of said. deaths to 7,092. ty rate in the state came to 7.61 Tamil film, 'Annaatthe,' a The number of people who consecutive day. There are December 25, including Medical Research," the Ministry He accused the YSRCP Kurnool and Prakasam dis- per cent while the recovery Sun Pictures production, and have recuperated from the dis- 2,81,667 active coronavirus 8,53,527 on Friday. said on its website, adding that government of not only tricts reported only one new rate touched 98.77 per cent. he isolated himself after four ease surged to 97,40,108, push- infections in the country, con- The 251 new fatalities include state-wise distribution of figures changing the name of the case each, the lowest in about The mortality rate remained of the crew members tested ing the national recovery rate to stituting 2.77 per cent of the 71 from Maharashtra, 31 from is subject to further verification Central government scheme six months, while Srikakulam constant at 0.81 per cent. Covid-19 positive days ago. 95.78 per cent, while the Covid- total caseload, the data stated. West Bengal and 30 from Delhi. and reconciliation. but also tweaked some con- ditions providing eligibility to even rural vendors. “However, at some places banks refused to sanction VH offers APCC chief loans as they go by the rule- Oxford vax may be first to get nod for emergency use... book. We condemn this inci- dent and treat this as an Continued from page 1 attack on Central institu- UK tests instant immunity... Dry run to test AP healthcare officials... post to Pawan Kalyan tions. State government "Going by this, Oxford vac- should immediately inter- cine 'Covishield' is likely to be Continued from page 1 duces to help fight infec- Continued from page 1 the dry run would be held PNS n HYDERABAD vene and take action against the first to be rolled out in tions. Monoclonal antibodies according to norms issued by those who are responsible for India," a source said. are artificially produced in a The dry run would includ- the Central government. Senior Telangana Congress the incident,” said Veerraju. Serum Institute of India UCLH said its new vaccine laboratory and designed as ed planning and prepara- As part of the dry run, leader V Hanumantha Rao, (SII) last week also had submit- research centre is running two possible medical treatments. tions including prerequisites, three rooms would be estab- who has been on a roll with ted some additional data clinical trials testing a LAAB They are designed to be creation of facilities and users lished in each centre where 25 shocker after shocker of late, VIJAYAWADA required by the Drug combination treatment to injected directly into the body, on CoWIN application, ses- health workers each would on Saturday surpassed himself BULLION RATES Controller General of India protect against Covid-19. unlike vaccines which train sion site creation and map- undergo registration, vaccina- by offering the post of the AP (DCGI), the sources said. The second Provent study the immune system itself to ping of sites, healthcare work- tion and observation process Congress Committee presi- GOLD Amid fears about the mutat- is looking at the use of produce antibodies. er beneficiary data uploading in those three rooms. dent to Jana Sena chief Pawan Suryapet district on Saturday, ` 50, 950 (10 gm) ed variant of SARS-CoV-2 AZD7442 in people who may These two clinical trials are on Co-WIN, receipt of vac- Dr Suhasini said that per- Kalyan “if he joins the Hanumantha Rao said that the detected in the UK, govern- not respond to vaccination, an important addition to test- cines by the district and vac- sons from various categories Congress”. community which is barely 3 ` 00 ment officials recently said for instance where someone ing new therapeutic cine allocation using Co- like differently-abled, or with The only hitch in percent of the population, SILVER that it will have no impact on has a compromised immune approaches, as antibody treat- WIN, session planning, vac- comorbidities, those above 50 Hanumantha Rao’s offer is destroyed the Congress in TS. ` 71, 300 (1kg) the potential of emerging vac- system or are at increased risk ments may offer an alternative cinator deployment, vaccine years and women would be that the veteran Congress “Some are threatening me ` 100 cines that are being developed of Covid-19 infection due to to patient groups who cannot and logistics mobilisation at selected for the dry run and leader has no say in the for demanding the TPCC chief in India and other countries. factors such as age and exist- benefit from a vaccine, such session site, mock drill of ben- arrangements were being appointment of the PCC chief, post from the high command,” Bharat Biotech, Serum ing conditions. as immunocompromised eficiary vaccination and made for the exercise. of any State. Hanumantha Rao said, CHICKEN Institute of India (SII) and “We will be recruiting peo- patients, said Professor reporting and review meet- Krishna district collector A Without pausing to think emphasising that he is not RATES `/KG Pfizer had applied to the Drugs ple who are older or in long- Stephen Powis, the medical ings at block, districts and Md Imtiaz said that all about incumbent APCC pres- someone that shivers in the Controller General of India term care, and who have con- director of National Health state and provide feedback to arrangements were made for ident Sake Sailajanath, or for face of any threat. He added Dressed/With Skin `144 (DCGI) seeking emergency ditions such as cancer and Service (NHS) England. guide actions will be carried the dry run. that matter anyone else, that he was ready to sacrifice Without Skin `163 use authorisation for their HIV which may affect the The LAABs have been out. “December 26 will be con- Hanumantha Rao said that he his life for the sake of the party. Broiler at Farm `99 Covid-19 vaccines early this ability of their immune sys- engineered with Krishna district medical sidered ‘0-day’, December 27 wished to see someone from Soon after Hanumantha month. tem to respond to a vaccine. AstraZeneca's "proprietary" and health officer Dr Suhasini would be considered IT-relat- the Kapu community hold Rao’s offer to Pawan Kalyan, The subject expert commit- We want to reassure anyone half-life extension technolo- said that dry run would be ed dry run, the following the reins of power in Andhra the senior leader’s rivals in the EGG tee (SEC) on Covid-19 of the for whom a vaccine may not gy to increase the durability held on December 28 in day, logistics mock drill Pradesh. The Kapu population Congress went at him hammer RATES `/100 Central Drugs Standard work that we can offer an of the therapy for six to 12 Government General would be conducted and on in the State is about 27 percent. and tongs, ridiculing his state- Control Organisation alternative which is just as months following a single Hospital (GGH), December 29, vaccination “After Vangaveeti Mohana ments. VIJAYAWADA 521 (CDSCO) on December 9 had protective,” said Dr Nicky administration. The combina- Prakashnagar Urban Primary trial run would take place,” he Ranga, it’s Pawan Kalyan that They took pains to remind HYDERABAD 519 sought additional safety and Longley, UCLH infectious tion of two LAABs is also Healthcare Center and said. has made the Kapu communi- Hanumantha Rao that it was efficacy data for Covid-19 vac- diseases consultant leading designed to reduce the risk of Poorna Hospital (private) at Imtiaz said that at all the ty proud,” the veteran leader he who had said that the party VISAKHAPATNAM 505 cines of SII and Bharat Biotech the Provent study. resistance developed by the Vijayawada, the government five centres, there would be a said. After unveiling a statue high command was not even RETAIL PRICE `5. 21 after deliberating upon their Antibodies are protein SARS-CoV-2 virus, which school at Tadigadapa and waiting room and vaccination of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga giving him appointment for (IN HYDERABAD) applications. molecules that the body pro- causes Covid-19. PHC at Uppulur. She said that room. in Dondapadu village in the last two year.

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Printed and published by B Krishna Prasad for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd., Printed at Sree Seshasai Enterprises, D.No. New 3-88, Old 3-22, Chandra Theatre, Gosala, Penamaluru Mandal, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh - 521 151, Resident Editor: B Krishna Prasad, AIR SURCHARGE of Rs 2.00. VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020 vijayawada 03 AP making rapid strides in healthcare Now, YSRCP MLA M Babu PNS n VIJAYAWADA was put in place by opening The year started with Chief questions integrity of judges testing facilities, starting Covid Minister YS Jaganmohan The state government has care centres and setting up a Reddy fulfilling his election largely been successful in tack- structured network right from promise by launching the pilot PNS n CHITTOOR ling the Covid-19 pandemic, 104 toll free number to project on January 3 in West thanks to the initiatives telemedicine. Godavari district to provide Adding to a long list of contro- launched by the Chief Minister The number of virology medical cover to any treatment versial, some might even say YS Jaganmohan Reddy to labs quickly went up to 150 that costs Rs 1,000 or more disparaging statements, against develop healthcare facilities from zero. The state has fol- bringing 2,059 ailments under the judiciary, Puthalapattu in the state. lowed a decentralised model of its purview from the earlier YSRCP MLA M Babu on The state made rapid strides sample collection centres and 1,059. Saturday lashed out at judges in developing infrastructure about 1,519 facilities acted as The scheme was extended to and made sweeping comments and facilities to control the sample collection centres rang- Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, against them. pandemic. The government ing from teaching hospitals to Guntur, Prakasam, YSR The MLA demanded to has also widened the health primary health centres and Kadapa and Kurnool districts know how judges could deliv- network by pressing into the mobile units. from July 16 covering 2,200 ail- er judgments in favour of one service the Village Secretariat Doctors, para- medical staff, ments. Later, it was imple- particular set of people "by system and closely monitoring Government followed a decentralised employees of village and ward mented in Srikakulam, East receiving bribes". the situation. model of sample collection centres and secretariats, volunteers, sanita- Godavari, Krishna, Nellore, "How could judges resort to Several testing labs were about 1,519 facilities acted as sample tion workers, ASHA workers Chittoor and Anantapur dis- corruption. Were they not opened in record time. The 3T collection centres ranging from and ANMs played a vital role tricts to cover the entire state, born in poor families? Are they By questioning their integri- their alleged derogatory com- mantra (Trace, Test and Treat) during the pandemic. the number of procedures not aware of the travails of the ty, M Babu joins a long list of ments against judges of the was the policy adopted by the teaching hospitals to primary health YSR Aarogyasri was were increased by 234 taking poor?" the MLA said. YSRCP leaders and activists Supreme Court and the AP officials to check the havoc centres and mobile units strengthened by bringing more the total to 2,436 on November He said that that every sin- who have made controversial High Court on social media. caused by Covid. The health diseases under its cover and 10. gle complaint, or petition, filed remarks against judges and The CBI had taken over the staff, ANMs, Village and Ward the revamping of existing During the year, the state on the orders of former chief courts. investigation from the State Volunteers and sanitation were conducted covering near- with an average positivity rate Government hospitals under has recruited 508 new Aarogya minister N Chandrababu Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation workers did a commendable ly 20 per cent of the state pop- of 7.64 per cent, the death rate Nadu- Nedu. Giving green Mithras and 670 new help Naidu in court is being given High Court took such remarks Department on the orders of job in containing the pan- ulation as on December 25. AP was just 0.81 per cent much signal to start 16 more teach- desks were set up in the net- utmost importance by judges. seriously and entrusted the the AP High Court based on demic. stands first in conducting lower than the national aver- ing hospitals, covering tribal work hospitals. About 1,404 "In such instances, are the case to the CBI. the complaint of B Rajasekhar, According to official Covid tests in the country. age. areas as well, will go a long way ambulances of 108 and 104 judges not doing injustice to Following this, the CBI filed the Registrar General of the sources, about 1.15 crore tests About 8.80 lakh were infected An effective control system in healthcare. were pressed into service. their post?" the MLA said. 12 cases against 17 persons for court. YSRCP leaders distribute pattas to beneficiaries CM inciting caste feelings for political gains: Lokesh PNS n VIJAYAWADA house for free of cost. He said He stated that a new bus that people would teach a befit- stand would come in PNS n VIJAYAWADA that just for narrow immediate Minister for endowments ting lesson to the TDP in the Vijayawada city and assured all gains, the Chief Minister was Vellampalli Srinivas Rao distrib- future for creating hurdles in the round development of the city. TDP MLC Nara Lokesh has going on making one serious Non-cooperation from uted house site pattas to women house sites distribution pro- In a separate programme, criticised Chief Minister YS mistake after another without beneficiaries during Navarat- gramme. Vijayawada Central minister for transport Perni Jaganmohan Reddy for 'delib- thinking about the massive nalu - Pedalandariki Illu scheme MLA Malladi Vishnu alleged Venkataramaiah alias Nani dis- erately misinterpreting' demo- harm his thoughtless policies YSRC for Vijayawada in Gandhiji Municipal High that TDP created hurdles in the tributed house site pattas at Kara graphic imbalance as caste would cause to the people School at Vijayawada on house sites distribution pro- Agraharam in Machilipatnam imbalance with the ulterior eventually.. Saturday. He said that Chief gramme through Court stay mandal on Saturday. The min- motive to derive undue polit- Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy orders which shows the anti- ister said that YSRCP govern- ical advantage. development, alleges Nani was implementing all welfare people attitude of the opposition ment was distributing 25,000 Lokesh said that the Chief schemes braving the party. house sites in Machilipatnam. Minister was spreading lies to Jagan misrule akin to PNS n VIJAYAWADA Coronavirus pandemic but the He said that people were Krishna district collector A Md provoke caste feelings and opposition was trying to defame keenly observing vindictive pol- Imtiaz said that the government divert the attention of the peo- TDP leader and Vijayawada the YSRCP government by lev- itics of TDP and predicted that was distributing house sites to ple from the pressing issues and Palegar system, says TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) elling baseless allegations. the public would teach a befit- 3.3 lakh women beneficiaries in problems in the state. on Saturday alleged that the He asked people to make ting lesson to TDP for its anti- the the district and the distrib- Jaganmohan Reddy knew PNS n VIJAYAWADA YSRCP government was not good use of the housing scheme welfare policy throwing the ution process would be contin- it well that demographic cooperative for the develop- to get house sites and pucca party from the state. ued till January 7. imbalance had nothing to do Telugu Desam Party spokesman ment of Vijayawada city. He with caste, but yet he was G Deepak Reddy on Saturday claimed that Rs 7,800 crore playing cheap political gim- accused the Jaganmohan Reddy funds were allotted for the micks with utter disregard government of launching an development of Vijayawada 44 civic schools for decorum and decency, he oppressive regime similar to that city due to his unrelenting Dokka criticises TDP, alleged. of the erstwhile Palegar system efforts. to be developed He said that it was because without any respect or and MLAs are misinterpreting Nani said that the TDP of his non-stop lying that commitment to the democratic facts. The video footage clearly always stood for holistic hails housing scheme into smart Jaganmohan Reddy was being rights and aspirations of the shows how the YSRCP MLA development and will contin- called as a fake CM. people in the state. Deepak behaved atrociously and how the ue to do so in the future. ment project that the people PNS n VIJAYAWADA campuses "No section of the society in Reddy alleged that the YSRCP local police fully supported them The MP, along with TDP have been wishing for," he Andhra Pradesh is ready to MLA along with his son, during the attack, he asserted. spokesperson Nagul Meera, said YSRCP MLC Dokka Manikya PNS n VIJAYAWADA trust the words and statements henchmen and the local police He alleged: "The Chief Minister participated in the inaugural The TDP MP said that it Varaprasad slammed the of the Chief Minister consider- attacked the residence of JC and the government is working function of CC Road built was Chandrababu Naidu who opposition leaders for making As part of City Investments to ing his dubious track record in Prabhakar Reddy in Tadipatri. with the sole purpose of gagging with his MP funds of Rs set out to realise the dream derogatory comments on var- Innovate, Integrate and Sustain just 19 months of his misrule. Ironically, the DSP and other the voice of the Opposition in 33.11 lakh in Anjaneya Wagu capital of Andhra Pradesh, ious welfare schemes being (CITIIS) programme, the The real caste imbalance is police officials are showing their order to loot the whole state." area between 48th and 51st Amaravati, and gathered peo- implemented by the YSRCP- Greater Visakhapatnam Smart taking place in the present weapons to the victims instead of "The JC family has been politically Divisions in Vijayawada West ple whose common goal was led state government just for City Corporation Limited regime as it is discriminating pointing them at supporters of active in the past forty years and constituency on Saturday. development. political gain. (GVSCCL) is developing 44 the weaker sections in nomi- the ruling party's MLA who their ancestors took part in On the occasion, Nani However, YSR Congress The MLC on Saturday crit- shortlisted municipal schools nated posts and works," he said. entered into Prabhakar Reddy's freedom struggle too. They thanked the people of has betrayed not only the icised the opposition leaders into smart campuses with a Alleging that over 850 posts house in violation of the laws. haven't allowed a single untoward Vijayawada for re-electing him farmers but also the entire for vilify the government's cost of Rs 65 crore in line with at the top levels in the govern- The TDP leader said that the AP or violent incident in the five as the Member of Parliament state with their three capital Navaratnalu scheme of dis- 'Mana Badi Nadu-Nedu pro- ment and corporations were Home Minister was telling lies years of the TDP regime," he said. and assured every citizen that plan, he asserted. tributing houses site pattas for distributing houses to the gramme', said GVMC given to persons from one and spreading falsehood that the Instead of checking the excesses he won't rest until Vijayawada "A corrupt Minister in the poor. poor. The TDP leaders have Commissioner G Srijana. particular caste, Lokesh said YSRCP MLA went to Prabhakar of YSRCP leaders, the police are becomes world-class and Vijayawada is currently loot- Varaprasad hailed the state their mental balance, he said. Addressing the media here that the Chief Minister was Reddy's house for peace talks openly encouraging them and world-renowned city. ing temple property and government initiative of hous- The state government want- on Saturday, the commission- shamelessly making allegations with the JC family in Tadipatri. If atrocities, he added. The TDP "Though the present gov- assigning unchecked power to ing for the poor. He flayed the ed to provide houses for er said that in the development against the TDP. that was the case, the Home leader accused the CM of ernment has been non-coop- his own people," he alleged TDP leaders for creating hur- 54,000 poor families in the process, consultations are being Jagan Reddy is mistaken if he Minister should explain why they continuing his ‘political terrorism' erative in development works, and reassured that TDP dles for government schemes Amaravati region. However, held with stakeholders involv- thinks that giving insignificant brought sticks and axes with unabated in the entire state only we ensured that necessary would always fight for the by moving courts, he dared TDP leaders approached the ing respective school manage- posts to the weaker sections them, forcibly entered into to eliminate the entire Opposition aid and funds were allocated welfare of the people of them to withdraw cases if they High Court on the ground ment committees, parents & and backward classes was actu- Prabhakar Reddy's house and and then to rule Andhra Pradesh for the development of Andhra Pradesh and would had any concern for the poor that demographic imbalance school management staff etc. to ally the real demographic bal- beat the persons, he asked. unopposed and unchallenged for Vijayawada Parliamentary remain accessible to provide people. would be created if poor peo- collect their inputs and feedback ance or social justice. Jaganmohan Reddy, his Ministers the next 30 years. Constituency. We will com- them service at any time even Housing for poor scheme is ple were given houses there. in the preliminary conceptual The TDP MLC deplored plete every single develop- while in opposition. the brainchild of Chief Criticising the TDP leaders designs prepared by the GVSC- Minister YS Jaganmohan for playing such cheap polit- CL. She said that stakeholder Reddy who took inspiration ical gimmicks, he dared them consultations in 43 schools of Amarnath dares Velagapudi from his father YS Rajashekar to withdraw the case immedi- Zone 1,3,4,5 & 7 have been ‘CM’s comments on Amaravati unpardonable’ Reddy who had provided shel- ately and support the housing completed. As per their sugges- PNS n VIJAYAWADA and life of Telugu speaking to prove his innocence ter for lakhs of people. scheme under which houses tions and feedback, conceptu- people, he recalled. Giving away 31 lakh hous- would be provided to about al designs are being modified TDP politburo member Varla Varla accused the ruling YSRCP PNS n VIJAYAWADA slammed TDP leaders for es is not a welfare activity but 54,000 families at Amaravati. and finalised. Stakeholder meet- Ramaiah on Saturday strongly leaders of speaking thankless obstructing the distribution of it is an economic activity. The TDP leadership never ing will be conducted in Zone- objected to what he described as words against Amaravati only out YSRCP MLA Gudivada Amarnath house site pattas at Amaravati Nearly three per cent of the had an intention to serve the 5 MH Colony Primary school the disrespectful statements of political vengeance. It would on Saturday criticised that TDP region stating it would create state GDP will grow as the poor and completely ignored in this week. Further, the ten- being made by Chief Minister YS only cause huge harm to the leaders were enacting a political demographic imbalance. The MLA project will create direct and them during their term. der for the development of HB Jaganmohan Reddy to hurt the people of the state because of drama only to divert people’s said that TDP leaders grabbed lands indirect employment worth Even the left parties Colony Primary school as smart people of Amaravati capital city the thoughtless and mindless attention from the housing scheme in Vishakapatnam and MP Vijayasai Rs 20 crore. Majority of the remained silent and stood campus on a pilot basis is also region. Varla Ramaiah reminded actions of the government. The being implemented in the state by Reddy had been working to recover employment comes from away from appreciating the released under CITIIS pro- the CM of the fact that there was TDP leader further said that it the YSRCP government. all the encroached lands. He housing sector next only to welfare activity. He said that gramme, she said. a long history for the capital area kingdom with Amaravati as their reflected poorly on the state of Speaking to the media here on demanded that Velagapudi agriculture, he explained. all sectors have been facing a where Buddhism flourished in capital city. There has been mind of the Chief Minister who Saturday, the MLA said TDP had Ramakrishna should to announce He said that the TDP was slump due to Covid crisis the past. It was totally uncalled diversity in the region from the was making unceasing created many hurdles for the the illegal assets he had amassed intentionally playing spoil- across the country and it was for on the part of the ruling beginning. Several castes and statements hurting the prestige distribution of house site pattas by along with Chandrababu Naidu. He sport with jealous. Any a great thing that the state has YSRCP leaders to repeatedly religions prospered in this and pride of Amaravati people. moving to courts. However, Chief challenged Ramakrishna to come to responsible opposition would taken up housing to create level caste-based allegations region. Buddhism once had a The YSRCP regime would pay a Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy Sai Baba temple tomorrow evening demand houses for the poor, economic activity besides con- against Amaravati. The TDP glorious time in these parts. The heavy price for its narrow was firm on providing shelter for and take an oath that he didn't but the TDP leaders are filing tinuing the welfare pro- leader asserted that the place is also a witness to the minded and unpardonable policy lakhs of people within 18 months encroach the lands in cases when the government is grammes, he said. Satavahana kings ruled their majesty and glory of the culture towards the AP capital issue. after coming to power, he said. He Vishakapatnam. Challenges offer opportunity Rush causes traffic jam at Lammasinghi C PRADEEP KUMAR According to sources, a n VIJAYAWADA huge traffic jams at Koruvalli for innovation, says ISRO chief junction on the ghat road and Huge traffic jams have become at Lammasinghi junction road PNS n VIJAYAWADA cal atmosphere globally. earth observation as well as dis- common in Lammasinghi due were reported on the day after The government has aster management. to heavy rush of tourists who Christmas celebrations. Always keep in mind the chal- announced space sector SRMIST Vice-Chancellor Dr are thronging the place to Vehicles are stuck in traffic lenges our country is facing reforms for greater participation Sandeep Sancheti, Ravi view the scenic beauty during jam for either side of the junc- and each of these challenges of non-governmental agencies Pachamoothoo, Pro Chancellor winter. According to the tion on the ghat road. The offers an opportunity for inno- in space activities. He said our (Academic) Dr P reports, vehicles stuck in a traf- Narsipatnam road leads to vation, said Dr K Sivan, next PSLV launch will have Sathyanarayanan, Chairman of fic jam as long as nearly 10 km Chintapalli and Tarangi at the Chairman, ISRO, Bangalore, satellites from start-up agencies Ramapuram & Trichy cam- due to mad rush of tourists on Lammasinghi junction. It took and Secretary, Department of as the first product of these puses Dr R Shivakumar, Pro Saturday. hours for the traffic to get Space, Government of India. expect less than others. He reforms, he said.He said that Vice Chancellor (E&T) Dr C Tourists thronged the hill cleared, said the local people. Addressing students virtual- said that SRMIST has designed, PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Digital Muthamizhchelvan, Pro Vice station in view of the festival The traffic jam occurred as ly at the 16th Annual developed and building its own India’ initiative is another key Chancellor (S&H) Dr R holidays to spend quality time cars and other vehicles were Convocation of SRM Institute nano-satellite, SRMSAT, in col- area to leverage; ISRO has Balasubramanian, Pro VC with family and friends. The parked haphazardly on either of Science & Technology, he laboration with ISRO. It was already initiated reforms to (Medical) Lt Col Dr A Ravi unexpected rush of tourists sides of the ghat road which said the job scenario is vibrant launched with the twin scien- make its digital assets available Kumar, Registrar Dr N and motorists to the further restricted the move- currently and one must defi- tific objectives of monitoring easily to the industry as well as Sethuraman and COE Dr S Lammasinghi caused traffic ment of vehicles carrying veg- nitely work more than others, and estimating carbon dioxide to start-ups for making innov- Ponnusamy among others took snarl for about 10 km on the etables and milk to the people know more than others and and water vapour in the tropi- ative applications in navigation, part in the event. ghat road to the hill station. on the hill station. VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020 nation 04 ‘Honour killing’: BJP wins Pasighat civic body Centre proposes to set up Two arrested in Kerala polls in Arunachal Pradesh varsity for disability studies PNS n PALAKKAD PNS n ITANAGAR Two people, including the The BJP on Saturday wrested father-in-law of a 27-year the Pasighat Municipal PNS n NEW DELHI bilities hereby invites comme- old man, who was hacked to Council (PMC) from the nts from the public on the draft death in Palakkad district Congress by winning six of the The government has proposed University of Disability Studies on Friday, have been taken eight seats of the civic body in to set up a "first of its kind" uni- and Rehabilitation Sciences into custody in connection Arunachal Pradesh, while the versity covering the entire Bill, 2021 by January 3, 2021. with the incident, which is JD(U), in its maiden contest in gamut of disability studies and Prominent disabled rights suspected to be a case of hon- the Itanagar Municipal Corp- rehabilitation sciences in an body National Platform for our killing. Aneesh, a painter, oration polls, bagged four war- accessible environment. the Rights of the Disabled, had married Haritha (21) ds, according to the trends In a public notice issued on however, called it another "ill- some three months ago. available so far. The Congress, December 24, the Department conceived idea", which denied Due to the differences in which had won seven seats in of Empowerment of Persons adequate time or space for their caste and financial sta- the 2013 PMC elections, secured The counting of votes is also with Disabilities (DEPwD), stakeholders to respond. tus, the woman's father, only two wards this time. BJP won 6 of 8 going on for 142 Zilla Parishad under the Ministry of Social "In this case, a mere nine Prabhukumar and uncle Of the 20 seats of Itanagar seats of PMC in seats and 1,670 Gram Justice and Empowerment, has days have been given to elicit Suresh Kumar, used to threat- Municipal Corporation (IMC), Arunachal, while Panchayat segments in the invited comments from stake- response to a 131-page docu- en them often, Aneesh's rel- five candidates from the BJP state, the SEC official said. holders on a draft bill to set up ment," NPRD said in a state- atives told media personnel. have been elected unopposed. the JD(U) bagged Seventy-three per cent vot- the university. In this regard, ment. Aneesh along with his "The results of four IMC four wards in ing was recorded in the rural the DEPwD said, a draft bill Varsity will have 8 wings viz. "All the more unacceptable younger brother Arun, was wards of the remaining 15 have and civic polls in the state on namely the University of disability studies; rehabilitation is the fact that this university riding a motorcycle and had been declared and the JD(U) Itanagar civic polls. December 22. Disability Studies and sciences; audiology and speech would be 'self-sustaining', in stopped to get some soft dr- won all of them by slender mar- According to the SEC, the Rehabilitation Sciences Bill, tune with the thrust of the New inks when they were waylaid gins. The counting of votes is BJP won 96 of the total 240 2021 for establishing the pro- language pathology; special education; Education Policy 2020. With and attackednear Thenkurissi taking place for other seats of (4), the BJP (3) while People's Zilla Parishad seats and 5,410 posed university has been pre- psychology; nursing; orthotics and finances being generated from on Friday. Arun, who witnes- the local body," State Election Party of Arunachal (PPA) and an of the 8,291 gram panchayats pared. prosthetics and assistive technology; tuition fees, affiliation fees etc. sed the murder, and is yet to Commission (SEC) Secretary independent won one each. without any contest. The DEPwD said it intends students from the margin- recover from the shock, said Nyali Ete said. The performance of the At least 110 Gram Panchayat to set up a University of Disab- and inclusive and universal design. alised sections will stand Haritha's father, who came on The PMC had 12 seats while Janata Dal-United in the civic segments in the state have ility Studies and Rehabilitation deprived," it said. a two-wheeler with her uncle, the IMC had 30 during the polls assumes significance as fallen vacant due to various Sciences, Kamrup district, "Rather than wasting huge allegedly hacked Aneesh 2013 civic polls. However, the the party received a major jolt reasons. The SEC will take a Assam through a separate act rehabilitation sciences in an inclusive and universal design. amounts of money on self-sus- using a sharp weapon. number of seats of both the in Arunachal Pradesh, with six final call on conducting by- of Parliament. accessible environment," the "The proposed university's taining segregated centres of Aneesh's father said the urban local bodies was reduced of its seven MLAs shifting elections to these seats after the "The proposed university, DEPwD said. programmes will adopt a cred- learning, it would do auger well accused used to threaten the after delimitation of wards. allegiance to the ruling BJP. current electoral process is the first of its kind, will be a The proposed university will it and grading system. The pro- if the government adheres to couple often and despite filing The Congress had won The JD(U), led by Bihar over, the official said. unique multidisciplinary aca- have eight departments viz. posed university will offer affil- the guiding principles of the a police complaint last month, seven seats in the last PMC Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Elections to the Zilla demic institution conducting disability studies; rehabilitation iation to other institutions in Rights of Persons with no action was taken, he alleged. polls, the BJP bagged two and won seven of the 15 seats it Parishad seat in Vijaynagar in research, programmes and sciences; audiology and speech disabilities and rehabilitation Disabilities Act of equality and Palakkad SP S Sujithdas said independent candidates contested in the 2019 Changlang district along with courses from bachelor's level language pathology; special sciences in the country," it non-discrimination and adopts Prabhu was arrested from emerged victorious in three. Arunachal assembly elections 40 Gram Panchayats and onwards to cater to various dis- education; psychology; nurs- said. and promotes an inclusive, Coimbatore early on Saturday The Congress had managed to and emerged as the second- Hawai North Zilla Parishad ciplines covering the entire ing; orthotics and prosthetics The Department of Empo- multidisciplinary approach," and Suresh was picked up last secure 21 seats in the 2013 IMC largest party after the BJP, segment in Anjaw were kept in gamut of disability studies and and assistive technology; and werment of Persons with Disa- the NPRD said. night itself. elections, followed by the NCP which had bagged 41. abeyance for various reasons. RJD dares Nitish to snap N.East has emerged as growth engine under Modi’s leadership: Shah

PNS n GUWAHATI ment, and has visited the "Assam was earlier known before the assembly elections ties with BJP following region "30 times in the last six for agitations and violence, in which it will emerge win- Union Home Minister Amit years and each time, he has but Sonowal and Sarma have ners with huge majority. Shah on Saturday asserted come with some gifts". unified the people of the state The home minister said that the northeast has Speaking at a programme and the region with the rest of all militant organisations in Arunachal developments emerged as the growth engine to launch various projects, the country by upholding and the state have surrendered of the country under the lead- Shah said Assam has promoting heritage and tradi- and returned to the main- PNS n PATNA ership of Prime Minister embarked on a journey of tions," he said. stream. Narendra Modi. peace and development under Shah said NDA's triumph He also urged farmers agi- The Rashtriya Janata Dal on He said Modi considers Chief Minister Sarbananda in the just-concluded tating against the new agricul- Saturday hinted at the possi- the northeast as the focal Sonowal and Finance Minister Bodoland Territorial Council ture laws to resolve their bility of a fresh alignment in point for the nation's develop- Himanta Biswa Sarma. polls was like a semifinal issues through discussions. Bihar if Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chose to snap ties with the BJP following the "humil- iation" in Arunachal Pradesh. UP Cong chief, SHORT TAKES RJD national vice-president MP Freedom of Religion Shivanand Tiwary, however, 50 workers made it clear that the ball lies 33 injured as van overturns in the court of the JD(U) boss held for taking who needed to realise that the Bill gets state cabinet nod in Palghar district development in the north- out ‘padyatra' eastern state, where his party PNS n BHOPAL Scheduled Tribes (ST) and t least 33 members of a MLAs defected en masse to Religious conversion minors, a provision has been Amarriage party were injured, the BJP, was aimed at "settling many seats."The BJPs strategy PNS n LALITPUR (UP) The Madhya Pradesh Freedom in violation of this law made for imprisonment of some of them seriously, when the old scores". Tiwary recalled the was, firstly, to cut Nitish of Religion Bill 2020, which two to ten years and Rs 50,000 pick-up van they were travelling in incident of about a decade ago Kumar to size which it did suc- Uttar Pradesh Congress pres- provides for prison term of up would be considered fine, he said. There is provision overturned in Dahanu tehsil in when Kumar had cancelled a cessfully in the assembly polls. ident Ajay Kumar Lallu and to 10 years and fine of Rs 1 of three to ten years of impris- Palghar district of Maharashtra, dinner organised for visiting Now it has begun to humiliate over 50 party workers were lakh for conversion through null and void onment and fine of Rs 50,000 police said on Saturday. The BJP leaders who were in Patna him. What else could explain arrested here on Saturday marriage or by any other in cases of marriage carried out incident occurred on Friday to take part in the partys poaching of six JD(U) MLAs after they tried to take out the fraudulent means, got the state conspiracy for religious con- by hiding religion, misrepre- evening near Sarani Road, a Kasa police station officer said, adding national executive. in Arunachal Pradesh where 'Gai Bachao, Kisan Bachao' cabinet's approval on Saturday, version will also be prohibited sentation and impersonation, that the injured included women and children.A medical officer at "Nitish Kumar had then the BJP was already enjoying march without permission, Home Minister Narottam under it," he said. he said. Kasa public health centre (PHC) said at least half a dozen injured made it amply clear that while a very comfortable majority", police said. Mishra said. Any marriage solemnized in The minister said that in persons, including children, were shifted to Thane civil hospital and he was okay with the BJP, he Tiwary asked. However, district Congress He claimed that once violation of this law will be case of mass religious conver- to a hospital at Vapi city in neighbouring Gujarat. The driver of the was very much averse to Tiwary, who had on the pre- president Balwant Singh enforced, it will be the most considered null and void, the sions (of two or more persons), van is on the run, the police officer added. Narendra Modi, his then vious day sought to welcome Rajput, who was among those stringent law in the country minister said, adding that fam- a provision of five to ten years Gujarat counterpart. Now, any bold step by Kumar, said arrested, claimed around 200 against religious conversion ily court will hear such cases. of imprisonment and mini- Modi is not a man who is when asked to elaborate, "if he party workers were arrested. carried out by fraudulent A provision has been made mum fine of Rs one lakh has going to forgive and forget the leaves the NDA, it cannot be He alleged that about two means, allurement or threat. that those willing to convert been made. Those found vio- Leopard kills teenage girl slight", Tiwary said. that we will join hands with dozen party workers were The violation of the pro- need to apply before the dis- lating the law for more than 17-year-old girl was killed by a The veteran RJD leader, the BJP to run Nitish Kumar injured in the incident. The posed law will be considered a trict administration 60 days in once will face five to ten years Aleopard at Kasan village under the who has also been with the down. We have been consis- Congress had announced it cognisable and non-bailable advance, Mishra said. of imprisonment, Mishra said, Shetrunji wildlife division in JD(U) for some time, insisted tent in opposing the BJP and will take out the 'Gai Bachao, offence, he said. The religious leaders facili- adding that the registration of Gujarat's Junagadh district, an that the development in he joined us for some time but Kisan Bachao' march in dif- After the cabinet's approval, tating the conversion should any organisation involved in official said on Saturday. The victim, Arunachal Pradesh was "part switched sides because of rea- ferent districts of the bill will now be presented also inform about it 60 days in such violation would be can- Aartiben Makwana, was attacked by of the chain of events that sons best known to him". Bundelkhand to highlight in the state Assembly. advance, he added. Its violation celled and those involved will the big cat at a farm when she was began with Chirag Paswans Kumar had joined hands the alleged mismanagement "This bill will replace the would attract imprisonment of also face the punishment. washing clothes on Thursday rebellion". with his arch rival Lalu Prasad, in cow shelters. Religious Freedom Act of 1968 three to five years and fine of Religious conversion in vio- evening, said Dushyant Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests Paswan, the LJP president, the RJD supremo, ahead of the "About 50 to 60 workers, (after the approval by the state Rs 50,000, he said. lation of this law would be con- (Wildlife), Junagadh. Makwana died in a hospital in Mahuva town had pulled out of the NDA assembly polls in 2015. Ajay Kumar Lallu and district Assembly)," Mishra said. Mishra said that there would sidered null and void, he said. hours later, said another Forest official. He said the leopard dragged ahead of the Bihar assembly The Grand Alliance that chief Balwant Singh Rajput "The new legislation will be a provision one to five The parents, legal guardian Makwana by her throat some distance away but fled after labourers polls vowing to dislodge came into being with the two were arrested from Dailwara prohibit religious conversion years of imprisonment and or custodian and brothers and working in the field raised an alarm. The deceased was a daughter Kumar from power. The LJP parties, and the Congress, township while trying to take or such efforts by misrepresen- fine of Rs 25,000 for the reli- sisters of the converted person of a migrant labourer, he added. In a separate incident, a 14-year-old came a cropper in the elections coming together, won the elec- out the march without per- tation, allurement, force, gious conversion carried out in can lodge a complaint in this girl was mauled to death on Monday by two Asiatic lions in though it succeeded in cutting tions handsomely and Kumar mission. They have all been undue influence, coercion, violation. regard, he said, adding that the Dhanfuliya village in Vanthali taluka in Junagadh district. into JD(U)s votes, with BJP returned as CM with Tejashwi taken to police lines," ASP marriage or any other fraudu- In cases of religious conver- crime would be cognisable rebels fighting on its tickets in Yadav as his deputy. Brijesh Kumar Singh said. lent means. Abetment and sion of Scheduled Caste (SC), and non-bailable. PM Modi dresses in ‘pheran' gifted by J-K farm labourer BJD will make women reservation a major issue: Patnaik rime Minister Narendra Modi has often Pchosen to dress in the traditional attire of a PNS n BHUBANESWAR panchayats and urban polls in issue a national movement", place in the political space of our women. "If we Indians want to groups across the state have region while attending an event related to it, and Odisha. Patnaik added. country. compete with the developed emerged as the strength of it was a Kashmiri 'pheran' on Saturday as he Taking a swipe at the national "Basing on Biju Patnaiks ide- The BJD supremo said, "From "Though BJD is a regional countries, we must first give Patnaik, who became chief min- launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme to parties for talking about women ology, our BJD government has now on in every session of Lok party, we will continue to rights to our women," he said. ister of Odisha in five successive extend health insurance benefits to all residents empowerment only during polls raised the reservation ratio for Sabha, Rajya Sabha and legisla- demand 33 per cent reservation Patnais statement is signifi- terms since 2000. of Jammu and Kashmir. Sources close to the and conveniently forgetting women in panchayats and urban tive assembly, BJD will raise the of seats for women in assemblies cant as the state is all set to go The BJD had fielded 33 per prime minister said he had received the pheran afterward, Odisha Chief bodies to 50 per cent," the chief womens reservation issue and Parliament," Patnaik for the elections to 114 Urban cent women candidates in as a gift in winters last year from a farm Minister Naveen Patnaik minister said. and remind the said. Local Bodies next year. 21Lok Sabha seats in the state labourer from Jammu and Kashmir. Modi had planned to wear this Saturday said BJD will make "The national parties remem- national parties Noting that The urban polls in 2021 is last year. during his visit to the region, but the onset of the COVID-19 women reservation issue a ber women empowerment dur- about their for- empowerment of considered crucial for the ruling During its 23 years of exis- pandemic meant that such a trip could not materialise. He took the national movement by raising it ing elections and commit in gotten promis- women is the BJD as it will be held prior to the tence, the BJD has already opportunity of the launch of the scheme through video-conference in every session of Lok Sabha, their manifestoes only to conve- es". empowerment 2022 panchayat polls and 2024 become a social movement, on Saturday to wear the "special gift", the sources said. He has also Rajya Sabha and the Legislative niently forget after winning "We cannot of the nation, general elections for Assembly Patnaik said adding, "Women been recently donning Bengali shawls multiple times in his virtual Assembly. polls," Patnaik said without tak- deprive half of Patnaik said and Lok Sabha. are the soul of this social move- programmes. Speaking on the occasion of ing names of any party. our population that no country After stupendous perfor- ment." 24th foundation day of Biju He said BJD will remind the of their rights. or a state could mance in the 2019 general elec- Union minister Dharmendra Janata Dal, Patnaik said BJD will national parties about their for- They must have progress without tions in which it won 8 out of a Pradhan ridiculed Patnaik's con- Bitter cold in eastern UP continue to demand 33 per gotten promises on 33 per cent their rightful strengthening total 21 seats in Odisha, only cern for women. evere cold-wave conditions cent reservation for women in reservation for women in four less than the BJD, the saf- "You can see how women and Sprevailed at isolated places over assemblies and Parliament. Assembly and Parliament elec- fron party has been making children are treated in Odisha", eastern Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. The BJD president said the tions. We cannot deprive half of our population efforts to further increase its Pradhan said, adding that The meteorological department regional party named after his The BJD supremo said they of their rights. They must have their political footprints in the east- Odisha government failed to said that the lowest temperature in father Biju Patnaik has all along would ensure that each woman rightful place in the political space of our ern state. Patnaiks BJD contin- give justice to a five year old girl- the state was 3.2 degrees Celsius been fighting for the rights of in India is made aware about her ued to remain in power since child in Nayagarh. was recorded at Churk observatory women. rights. country. Though BJD is a regional party, 2000 mostly based on the sup- The girl was killed on July 14. in Sonbhadra district, while the Patnaik said his father was the "The BJD though a regional we will continue to demand 33 per cent port of women who constitute "Patnaik assertions are only to highest was 25.1 degrees in first chief minister in the coun- party, will take the message to reservation of seats for women in almost half of about 3.20 crore divert public attention from Allahabad and Jhansi district. The weather will most likely remain try who in 1992 reserved 33 per every doorstep, every village and assemblies and Parliament voters in Odisha. atrocities on women and girls, dry and shallow-to-moderate fog is expected at isolated places on cent of seats for women in the make the women reservation About 80 lakh Mission Shakti he added. Sunday morning. VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020 nation 05

INDIA CORNER Farmers continue to throng Delhi’s gates On the run for two years, murder PNS n MUMBAI accused nabbed in Thane A group of farmers from Tiwari offers to clear Kejriwal’s Maharashtra on Saturday 44-year-old man involved in joined protesters at one of the ‘doubts' about farm laws the killing of a Pune-based borders of Delhi, an All India Aland developer in 2018 has Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader PNS n NEW DELHI these laws will not harm farmers. been arrested from said and added that tillers have But what is their benefit? They Maharashtra's Thane city, police expressed willingness to discuss BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on say that now the farmers will be said on Saturday. Acting on a tip- issues with the government Saturday invited Delhi Chief able to sell their crop anywhere off, the Thane police on Friday but wanted ceretain clauses Minister Arvind Kejriwal to his outside the market. But outside evening nabbed Abhimanyu from the three agri laws residence here, offering to clear the market, the crop is sold at Tiwari who had come to a bus removed. his "doubts" and explain to him half the price. How is this a stop on Ghodbunder Road to sell On Monday, thousands of benefits of the Centre's three benefit? The truth is that these some firearms, senior inspector Kishore Khairnar of Kasarwadavali farmers from Maharashtra had farm laws. Kejriwal, who is Aam laws will do a lot of harm and police station said. The accused was carrying a country-made left for Delhi from Nashik in Aadmi Party's convenor, on don't have a single benefit," revolver and a live cartridge at the time of the arrest, the official said. vehicles to join the ongoing agi- Friday claimed the new Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi on An offence under relevant sections of the Arms Act and Maharashtra tation seeking the repeal of the agricultural reform laws will not Friday. Tiwari, former Delhi BJP Police Act has been registered against him with Kasarwadavli police legislations. benefit farmers in any way and president, said that Prime station, he said. The accused is a notorious criminal involved in the "We received a rousing wel- will do a lot of harm. Taking a dig Minister Narendra Modi on killing of Pune-based land developer Deven Shah (52), who was come at a New Delhi border. at the chief minister, Tiwari said Friday explained benefits of farm gunned down in the parking area of his apartment on Prabhat Road Farmers sitting on protests Kejriwal does not allow anyone laws and senior leaders including of Deccan Gymkhana in January 2018, the official said. here welcomed us and thanked to enter his house and refrains Union Home Minister Amit Shah According to the police, the accused also faces charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and has five us for joining them," All India from meeting public representa and national president JP Nadda tives or extending invitations. have repeatedly assured that offences of beatings and running a gambling den registered against Kisan Sabha secretary, him at police stations in Thane and Mumbai. Maharashtra, Ajit Navle, said in Recently, three mayors and MSP and Mandis will continue as a statement. with the national capital. other leaders of BJP- well. "Still, if Arvind He said that farmers have The farmers have expressed It seemed the farmers were ruled municipal Kejriwal cannot expressed willingness to discuss apprehension that the new laws prepared for a long haul as they corporations sat find any Drop in night temperatures at their issues with the govern- carried their ration and other on a dharna benefits in would pave the way for eliminating the three ment, "but we want some claus- essentials in their trollies. outside the several places in Rajasthan es in the recenty-passed laws, the safety cushion of MSP and do "We will rest only when the chief farm laws and has which do not protect the inter- Modi government repeals the minister's ount Abu was recorded the away with the mandi system, leaving some ests of farmers, removed". farm laws," said an elderly residence for coldest place in Rajasthan doubts he The farmers from them at the mercy of big corporates farmer headed from Amritsar 13 days but at 2 degrees Celsius as may M Maharashtra, who started off in to the protest site near Singhu he did not several places in the state saw a accept my private vehicles from Nashik on border. meet them. drop of one-two notches in night invitation. I Monday, were led by leaders of Minimum Support Price and peasants protesting against the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Tiwari tweeted temperatures, the Meteorological will be happy the Kisan Sabha. do away with the mandi sys- Centre's new agriculture-relat- Ugrahan), one of Punjab's to Kejriwal, (MeT) Department here said on to help him see inviting the AAP Saturday. In plains, Churu, According to the Kisan tem, leaving them at the mercy ed laws for a month now. largest farmer organisations the benefits of the convenor to his official Sriganganagar and Pilani recorded Sabha, cultivators from 21 dis- of big corporates. According to farmer union protesting against the recent farm laws," Tiwari said. residence on Mother Teresa 4.1 degrees Celsius each on Friday tricts in Maharashtra had The government has repeat- leaders, peasants from various laws, claimed that thousands of Farmers from various parts of Crescent in Lutyens Delhi on night, a MeT Department official said. During the same period, the joined the "vehicle march" to edly asserted that the MSP and places including Sangrur, farmers will march from the the country have been camping Sunday 3 pm to explain te minimum temperature was recorded at 4.5 degrees Celsius in Sikar; Delhi. Mandi systems will stay and Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Khanauri and Dabwali borders at different border points of Delhi benefits of farm laws before 6.4 degrees Celsius in Sawai Madhopur; 7 degrees Celsius each in Enacted in September, the has accused the opposition of Gurdaspur and Bathinda dis- towards protest sites near the for four weeks now to demand mediapersons. "Lets do Banasthali and Dabok; 7.6 degrees Celsius in Alwar; 8.2 degrees three farm laws have been misleading the farmers. tricts were headed towards national capital. The outfit's repeal of the three agri laws, constructive politics for farmers' Celsius in Bundi; 8.3 degrees Celsius in Kota; 8.4 degrees Celsius in projected by the Central gov- Multiple rounds of talks held Singhu and Tikri borders. General Secretary Sukhdev which were voted through in benefit," Tiwari said in his tweet. Jaipur and 8.9 degrees Celsius in Ajmer, the official said. ernment as major reforms in between the government and They began their journey Singh said that many women Parliament in September amid the agriculture sector that will the protesting farmers, mostly despite fog and biting cold are also part of the fresh batch- Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party have come out strongly in strong protests by opposition remove the middlemen and from Punjab and Haryana, wave conditions in many parts es of farmers. parties. The three farm laws allow farmers to sell anywhere have failed to break the ongo- of Punjab on Saturday. On Friday too, several batch- support of protesting farmers. Earlier this month, the chief have been projected by the Revenue officer suspended for in the country. ing impasse. Tractor trollies, cars and es of farmers under the banner minister had visited Singhu central government as major However, the protesting Carrying ration and other other vehicles carrying farmers, of the Kisan Mazdoor border, one of the protest sites, reforms in the agriculture sector issuing fake document farmers have expressed appre- essential items with them, sev- including elderly and women, Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) and reviewed arrangements that will remove the middlemen hension that the new laws eral batches of farmers from were seen on the Amritsar- headed for the protest sites made for farmers by the city and allow farmers to sell their lekhpal has been suspended in would pave the way for elimi- Punjab headed towards Delhi Delhi national highway, pro- from Amritsar and other government "The BJP says that produce anywhere in the country. Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur nating the safety cushion of borders on Saturday to join the ceeding towards the borders places. Adistrict for allegedly issuing fake domicile certificates to two men who used them to get jobs in the Army, officials said on Saturday. RAIDS ON CONTRACTORS IN ASSAM District Magistrate Indra Vikram Active Covid caseload continues to decline Singh took action against Rakesh Kant, the lekhpal (revenue officer) of PNS n NEW DELHI Among these, Kerala report- I-T detects black Khutar, after he was prima facie ed the highest number of sin- found guilty. Residents of The exponential rise in gle-day recoveries at 4,506, Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, Upendra Kumar and Aman Kumar COVID-19 recoveries in tan- followed by 1,954 in West had got the fake domicile certificates made with the help of the dem with lower daily infections Bengal and 1,427 in income of Rs 100 cr manager of a 'Jan Seva Kendra', Aftab Khan, in Khutar area of the has resulted in a consistent Maharashtra. PNS n NEW DELHI closed income to the tune of district, DM Indra Vikram Singh said on Friday. The forged decline in India's active case- Kerala also reported the approximately Rs 100 crore documents showing the two as residents of Khutar area were issued load, which presently stands at highest number of fresh cases Unaccounted income of Rs has been unearthed so far by the lekhpal on the basis of which they got recruited in the Army, 2,81,667, the Union Health at 5,397, followed by 3,431 in 100 crore has been detected during the search and survey the DM said, adding that the incident came to light when a letter Ministry said on Saturday. Maharashtra and 1,541 in West after the income tax depart- operation," the Board said in reached Khutar police station for verification. The active cases comprise Bengal. ment raided three "leading" a statement without sharing 2.77 per cent of the country's As many as 251 case fatali- contractors of Northeast India the identities of those raided. total infections, it said. ties were reported in the coun- based in Assam early this It added that "jewellery of India's total number of try the previous day, the min- week, the CBDT said on Rs 9.79 lakh has been seized recovered cases is nearing 97.5 istry said. Saturday. and the sources of acquisition Solar energy-enabled modern lakh (97,40,108) and the cumu- Ten states and UTs account The search and survey of some other jewellery worth lative COVID-19 recoveries for 85.26 per cent of the new action was initiated on Rs 2 crore is under verifica- beat booth at India Gate are the highest in the world, the deaths. December 22 at fourteen loca- tion." he Delhi Police on Saturday set ministry said. daily recoveries recorded in the day, the ministry said. Of these, Maharashtra tions in Guwahati, Silapathar The entities covered are up a solar energy-enabled The recovery rate has country have been more than It said 73.56 per cent of the recorded the highest number and Pathsala in Assam and in "leading contractors of T"modern beat booth", which is crossed 90 per cent in all states the daily cases. A total of new recovered cases were of fatalities at 71, followed by Delhi. Northeast and one group is also water, fire and vandalism and union territories, it added. 22,274 people recovered and observed to be concentrated in 31 in West Bengal and 30 in "Cash of Rs 2.95 crore has also involved in the hospital- proof, at the iconic India Gate here, Since the last 29 days, the were discharged the previous 10 states and UTs. Delhi. been seized. Overall, undis- ity business," it said. officials said.Inaugurated by Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), South Zone, Satish Golchha, the booth is dust proof too, they said.The booth is 21-year-old set to Initiative to revive Henwal river paying off solar energy-enabled with a storage capacity of 10 hours. It is remote wifi-enabled for digital display of informative or awareness PNS n RISHIKESH merges here – has begun to pay where it merges with the charge level of the tributary, messages on LED panels installed on top of it and has a public (UTTARAKHAND) off and its discharge level has Ganga. Efforts to revive the DFO Dharma Singh Meena announcement system, said Anil Mittal, Additional PRO (Delhi become India's improved, officials said on Henwal were launched about a said. Even the NITI Aayog, in Police)."The cabin is equipped with extreme weather regulator, A holistic approach based on Saturday. year ago by the Narendra a report in 2018, had said 50 movable wardrobe, first-aid facility and a public facilitation desk. the springshed and aquifer The Henwal river flows from Nagar Forest Division after per cent of the water resources This model beat booth will not only enhance the people-friendly youngest mayor recharge method to revive the near the revered Surkanda concerns were raised in a in the Himalayan states, image of the Delhi Police, but will also provide a comfortable Henwal river – a tributary of Devi temple in Tehri district to Central Water Board report in including Uttarakhand, were environment even in extreme weather conditions to police personnel the Ganga with which it Shivpuri area of Rishikesh, 2018 over the declining dis- drying up, Meena added. manning it," he said. PNS n THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

For the first time in life, she had walked into the presti- gious council hall of the cap- Covid had massive impact on Indian aviation sector italcity's Municipal Corporati on building six days ago to PNS n NEW DELHI take oath as a Councillor of the When the pandemic started spreading ruling Marxist party. The COVID-19 pandemic had across the country, all scheduled Though she was the 'baby' a massive impact on the Indian international flights and domestic among the councillors, the aviation sector in 2020 and proud Arya Rajendran faced major airlines facing losses passenger flights were suspended the sea of onlookers in front of and challenging times laid off from Mar 23 and Mar 25, respectively her with confidenceand employees, sent them on leave uttered the oath with sheer without pay, or cut their maturity. salaries. Air India more attractive, the based businessman Murari But, that day, the 21-year The government also had to government changed the bid- Lal Jalan and London's old college student- turned- According to extend the deadline for submit- ding parameter in October - Kalrock Capital won the bid councillor never thought that sources, the ting bids for Air India five bidders will now quote enter- on October 17 to revive Jet she would soon come back to times during the year. prise value instead of equity Airways. It expects to start the historic council hall as its ruling CPI(M) When the pandemic started value. This means that the operating the airline by the supremo-the Mayor. recommended spreading across the country, bidder will be able to quote summer of 2021. If everything goes as Arya's name for all scheduled international how much cash it would give The consortium said it is expected, Arya, now a sec- the post of flights and domestic passenger and how much debt of the air- awaiting the NCLT and other ond year graduation student flights were suspended from line it would be able to carry. regulatory approvals, includ- of a city college, would not mayor March 23 and March 25, However, the government ing reinstatement of slots and only become the new Mayor respectively. Scheduled domes- made it clear that minimum bilateral traffic rights by the of Kerala's capital, a position tic flights were restarted in a 15 per cent of the bid amount civil aviation ministry and held by several significant become the mayor of Nagpur limited manner from May 25. arrangements were formed million passengers -- 40-50 plan to sell Air India has been has to be in cash while the Directorate General of Civil personalities in the past, but Municipal Corporation at The effect of this disruption with around 24 countries since million domestic and less than hit. After its unsuccessful remaining would be the debt Aviation (DGCA). also the youngest ever Mayor the age of 27. While replying can be gauged by the loss fig- July. However, scheduled inter- 10 million international -- attempt to sell the national car- component. Air India's debt When Jet Airways went in the country. to endless congratulatory ures of India's two largest air- national flights remain sus- would travel in 2020-21. rier in 2018, the government in was Rs 58,255 crore as on bankrupt in April 2019, its According to party messages from her modest lines. IndiGo incurred net loss- pended in India. In 2019-20, approximately January restarted the divest- March 31, 2019. Later in 2019, slots and rights were tem- sources, the rented house at es of Rs 2,884 crore and Rs "The revival of overseas trav- 205 million air passengers -- ment process but the pandem- Rs 29,464 crore of this debt porarily given to other Indian Thiruvananthapuram dis- Mudavanmukal here, Arya 1,194 crore in Q1 and Q2 of el is expected to be slower and 140 million domestic and 65 ic forced it to extend the date was transferred from Air India carriers by the government so trict secretariat of the ruling said she was yet to get official this fiscal respectively. SpiceJet more challenging than domes- million international -- trav- for submission of expression of to a government-owned spe- that they can start new flights CPI(M), which met here on confirmation from her party posted net losses of Rs 600 tic. This will hurt Air India in elled in India. interest (EOI) five times. cial purpose vehicle called and fill the supply gap. Now, Friday, recommended Arya's about the new responsibility. crore and Rs 112 crore in Q1 particular as around 60 per CAPA India projected in The last date of EOI submis- Air India Assets Holding as other airlines have added name for the post of mayor, A staunch party activist hail- and Q2, respectively. cent of its revenue was earlier October that the Indian avia- sion was December 14. The Company Limited (AIAHL). planes and started flights con- which has to be ratified by ing from a hardcore Marxist The government, mean- generated from international tion industry will lose a com- government has received mul- While Air India was unable sidering these slots and rights the party's state secretariat. family, she said maturity and while, permitted special inter- operations," said aviation con- bined USD 6-6.5 billion in tiple EOIs and it will announce to get a private owner in will remain with them, it is BJP leader and former leadership qualities cannot national passenger flights sultancy firm CAPA in FY21, of which airlines will the name of qualified bidders 2020, bankrupt airline Jet not clear what decision the Maharashtra Chief Minister, be measured with anyone's under Vande Bharat Mission October. account for USD 4-4.5 billion. by January 5. Airways was able to find one. government will take on this Devendra Fadnavis had age. since May and air bubble It estimated that just 50-60 As a result, the government's In order to make debt-laden A consortium of UAE- matter in 2021. VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020 money 06 India to become world’s 5th largest Centre, states need to continue with counter-cyclical fiscal measures: RBI economy in ’25, 3rd largest by 2030 PNS n MUMBAI The Centre and state govern- ments need to continue with PNS n NEW DELHI banking system, adjustment sector, which has been buoyed the counter-cyclical fiscal mea- to reforms and a deceleration by a bountiful harvest. sures to sustain the momen- India, which appears to have of global trade," it said. "The pace of the economic tum of economic growth been pushed back to being the The COVID-19 pandemic, recovery will be inextricably which went through a rough world's sixth biggest economy the think tank said, has been a linked to the development of patch following the outbreak of in 2020, will again overtake the human and an economic cat- the COVID-19 pandemic, both the coronavirus pandemic, UK to become the fifth largest astrophe for India, with more domestically and internation- according to an RBI article. in 2025 and race to the third than 140,000 deaths recorded ally," it said. "Capital expenditure, which spot by 2030, a think tank said as of the middle of December. As the manufacturer of the collapsed in H1:2020-21, will on Saturday. While this is the highest majority of the world's vaccines need to be scaled up as a pri- India had overtaken the UK death toll outside of the US in and with a 42-year-old vacci- ority. Public investment in in 2019 to become the fifth absolute terms, it equates to nation programme that targets healthcare, social housing, in the second quarter and observed in a normal year. largest economy in the world around 10 deaths per 100,000, 55 million people each year, education and environmental growth is expected to turn pos- With deterioration in fiscal but has been relegated to 6th which is a significantly lower India is better placed than protection is the need of the itive in the third quarter. balances at both levels of gov- spot in 2020. figure than has been seen in many other developing coun- hour to build a more resilient "Notwithstanding the severe ernment, the combined GFD "India has been knocked off as India becomes more eco- world's third-biggest economy, much of Europe and the tries to roll out the vaccines and inclusive economy," said impact of COVID-19 on gov- (centre plus states) in H1:2020- course somewhat through the nomically developed, with the in dollar terms, until the early Americas. successfully and efficiently next the RBI article on 'Government ernment finances already 21 stood at 85.9 per cent of BE, impact of the pandemic. As a annual GDP growth expected 2030s when it would be over- "GDP in Q2 (April-June) year. Finances 2020-21:A Half- realised in H1, it is imperative significantly higher than 70 per result, after overtaking the UK to sink to 5.8 per cent in taken by India, pushing 2020 was 23.9 per cent below "In the medium to long Yearly Review'. for Centre and states to contin- cent in H1:2019-20, said the in 2019, the UK overtakes 2035." Germany down from fourth to its 2019 level, indicating that term, reforms such as the 2016 The governments, it added, ue with the counter-cyclical fis- article authored by Rahul India again in this year's fore- "This growth trajectory will fifth. nearly a quarter of the coun- demonetisation and more will have to effectively balance cal measures to sustain the Agarwal, Ipsita Padhi, casts and stays ahead till 2024 see India become the world's The CEBR said India's econ- try's economic activity was recently the controversial between continued fiscal sup- momentum of the recovery," Sudhanshu Goyal, Samir before India takes over again," third largest economy by 2030, omy had been losing momen- wiped out by the drying up of efforts to liberalise the agricul- port for the fragile recovery the article said. Ranjan Behera and Sangita the Centre for Economics and overtaking the UK in 2025, tum even ahead of the shock global demand and the collapse tural sector can deliver eco- process and addressing the The paper noted that Gross Misra in the Fiscal Division of Business Research (CEBR) said Germany in 2027 and Japan in delivered by the COVID-19 of domestic demand that nomic benefits," the think tank medium-term debt-deficit Fiscal Deficit (GFD) for the Department of Economic and in an annual report published 2030," it said. crisis. accompanied the series of strict said. imbalances, while ensuring Union Government in 2020-21 Policy Research (DEPR), RBI. on Saturday. The UK-based think tank The rate of GDP growth national lockdowns," it said. However, with the majority good housekeeping and ade- crossed 100 per cent of the The RBI said the views The UK appears to have forecast that China will in sank to a more than ten-year As restrictions were gradu- of the Indian workforce quate transparency in the fis- budgeted amount by the fourth expressed in the article are overtaken India again during 2028 overtake the US to low of 4.2 per cent in 2019, ally lifted, many parts of the employed in the agricultural cal reporting. month of the financial year those of the authors and do not 2020 as a result of the weakness become the world's biggest down from 6.1 per cent the economy were able to spring sector, the reform process The economic growth (July 2020), and stood at 119.7 necessarily reflect the views of of the rupee, it said. economy, five years earlier previous year and around half back into action, although out- requires a delicate and gradual dipped by 23.9 per cent in the per cent of the budgeted the central bank. As per the The CEBR forecasts that the than previously estimated due the 8.3 per cent growth rate put remains well below pre- approach that balances the first quarter of the current amount by October 2020. article, the build-up of com- Indian economy will expand by to the contrasting recoveries of recorded in 2016. pandemic levels. need for longer-term efficien- financial year on account of the For states, H1:2020-21 GFD bined fiscal deficit in H1:2020- 9 per cent in 2021 and by 7 per the two countries from the "Slowing growth has been a An important driver of cy gains with the need to sup- impact of the coronavirus pan- stood at 58.4 per cent of bud- 21 is sharper, but attributable cent in 2022. COVID-19 pandemic. consequence of a confluence of India's economic recovery thus port incomes in the short- demic. The contraction, how- geted amount, significantly mostly to the developments in "Growth will naturally slow Japan would remain the factors including fragility in the far has been the agricultural term. ever, narrowed to 7.5 per cent higher than the 35-40 per cent the first quarter. No time to rest: EU nations Forex reserves up by Foundries MONEY MATTERS demand import CronJ completes security project assess Brexit trade deal with UK duty cut on key PNS n $2 b to record $581 b for Saudi Arabia coast guard BRUSSELS ger hit at least in the near-term, as it is more reliant on trade PNS n MUMBAI raw materials next-generation global leading Ambassadors from the with the EU than vice versa. PNS n KOLKATA technology firm ‘CronJ' which European Union's 27 nations “I have a small present for The country's foreign Aoffers products related to convened on Christmas Day to anyone who may be looking exchange reserves surged by Hit by surging input costs, the security, surveillance and safety start assessing the free trade for something to read in that USD 2.563 billion to touch a foundry industry in the using the latest digitization and deal the bloc has struck with sleepy post-Christmas lunch record high of USD 581.131 country has demanded machine vision technologies former member Britain, a his- moment, and here it is, tidings, billion in the week to reduction of import duty for recently completed an AI-based toric accord that takes effect in glad tidings of great joy, December 18, RBI data pig iron and other raw digitization project for Saudi Arabia just a week. because this is a deal,” Johnson showed. materials, an official said on Coast Guard. Sharing about the project, CEO, CronJ, Mr. Monu At Friday's exceptional said in his video message, In the previous week, the Friday. Kumar said, “Coast guard was looking for advanced automatic meeting, the EU delegations brandishing a sheaf of papers. reserves had declined by USD Prices of pig iron and cognitive decision-making solutions for any kind of threat or asked for more time to study gling since the U.K. voted nar- “A deal to give certainty to 778 million to USD 578.568 other raw materials for the intrusion in the sea 24x7 through multiple media like email, the texts before sending them rowly to leave the EU in 2016. business, travelers and all billion. exchange reserves. industry have gone up by WhatsApp message and hooter/buzzer. Meanwhile, CronJ's AI to lawmakers at the European Although the U.K. formally left investors in our country from In the reporting week, the The gold reserves increased 30-50 per cent, Institute of solution was able to fulfill their expectations, which further led to the Parliament, according to an the bloc on Jan. 31, it remains Jan. 1. A deal with our friends increase in reserves was due to by USD 1.008 billion in the Indian Foundrymen (IIF) award of the new projects." EU diplomat. The ambas- in a transition period tied to and partners in the EU,” he a rise in foreign currency reporting week to USD 37.020 president Vijay S Beriwal sadors are expected to meet EU rules until the end of this said. assets (FCAs), a major compo- billion in the week ended said. again on Monday. year. Both sides claim the 2,000- nent of the overall reserves. December 18, the data The industry body has British Prime Minister Boris Without a trade deal to set page agreement protects their FCAs rose by USD 1.382 showed. also sought subsidies on About 45K entities to come Johnson hailed Thursday's out the terms of their new rela- cherished goals. billion to USD 537.727 billion, The special drawing rights power from the govern- agreement as a “new begin- tionship, tariffs and other Britain said it gives the U.K. the Reserve Bank of India's (SDRs) with the International ment to stay competitive in under 1% cash payment ning” for the U.K. in its rela- impediments would have been control over its money, bor- (RBI) weekly data showed. Monetary Fund (IMF) rose by the global markets. tionship with its European imposed on trade between the ders, laws and fishing grounds. Expressed in dollar terms, USD 12 million to USD 1.515 "Steel prices have he mandatory requirement of 1 neighbors. two sides starting Jan. 1. Both The EU says it protects the the foreign currency assets billion. increased by 30-50 per cent per cent cash payment of GST In a Christmas message, sides would have suffered eco- EU's single market and con- include the effect of appreci- The country's reserve posi- in the last 5-6 months and Tliability with effect from Johnson sought to sell the nomically from a failure to tains safeguards to ensure that ation or depreciation of non- tion with the IMF also rose by foundry chemicals have January 1 would be applicable to deal to a weary public after secure a trade deal, with the Britain does not unfairly US units like the euro, pound USD 160 million to USD become expensive by 15-20 about 45,000 taxpayers, which is years of Brexit-related wran- British economy taking a big- undercut the bloc's standards. and yen held in the foreign 4.870 billion. per cent," Beriwal said. only 0.37 per cent of the total businesses registered in the Goods and Services Tax system, Revenue Department sources said on Saturday. To curb tax evasion by way of fake invoicing, the Central DLF rental arm to ‘India, US need to be attentive to developments’ Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) had earlier this week PNS n NEW DELHI tributes to former prime min- Central Asian Affairs, said the amended GST rules making it mandatory for businesses with ister Vajpayee on his 96th birth time has come for the US and monthly turnover of over Rs 50 lakh to mandatorily pay at least 1 per buy Hines stake India and the US will need to anniversary. India to further bolster their cent of their GST liability in cash. The new rule restricts use of be attentive to the "dangerous "We (India and the US) will partnership to realise the full input tax credit (ITC) for discharging GST liability to 99 per cent PNS n NEW DELHI sition of their stake in Fairleaf currents" in the Indo-Pacific to need to take bold steps to potential of the ties, particular- effective January 1, 2021. However, this restriction will not apply in Real Estate, which owns and ensure that the region contin- rebuild our economies. And we ly considering the challenging cases where the managing director or any partner have paid more Realty major DLF's rental operates 'One Horizon ues to be a zone of peace, pros- will need to be attentive to the situation thrown up by the than Rs 1 lakh as income tax or the registered person has received a arm DCCDL has entered Center'. perity and pluralism, US India dangerous currents in the coronavirus pandemic. refund amount of more than Rs 1 lakh in the preceding financial year into an agreement to acquire "The purchase considera- Business Council president Indo-Pacific to ensure that the "In a world ravaged by the on account of unutilised input tax credit. the stake of US-based Hines tion for this acquisition is Nisha Desai Biswal said on region continues to be a zone pandemic where businesses in a premium commercial approximately Rs 780 crore, Friday. of peace, prosperity and plural- and communities are strug- project in Gurugram for Rs subject to customary closing Delivering the Atal Bihari ism. None of this will be easy. gling to overcome the alienat- 780 crore, the company said adjustments," the company Vajpayee memorial lecture, the US as they will have to But working together all of it ing and isolating impact of this Tenders worth Rs 40K cancelled in a regulatory filing. said in a late night filing on Biswal also said India and the deploy a tremendous amount is possible," the US India virus, when our global institu- DLF Cyber City Friday. US will require to work togeth- of attention and resources to Business Council (USIBC) tions are weakened and our due to restrictive conditions Developers Ltd (DCCDL), Hines has around nearly er closely in the economic stem the spread of COVID -19, president said. traditional alliances are being the joint venture firm of 52 per cent stake in the One sphere to succeed and be com- while also deploying approved There have been mounting tested, the time has come for enders worth Rs 40,000 DLF and Singapore's sover- Horizon Centre while the petitive with the production vaccines across broad geogra- global concerns over China's the United States and India in crore was cancelled or eign wealth fund GIC, has rest is with DCCDL. DCCDL capacity of China. phies. military assertiveness in the partnership to rise to their full Tmodified due to entered into a securities pur- has the first right of refusal She said the coming days The online lecture was Indo-Pacific region. potential to build the better discriminatory and restrictive chase agreement with funds with respect to acquiring and months will be deeply organised by the Ministry of Biswal, a former Assistant future we know is waiting for conditions with an aim to managed by Hines for acqui- Hines' stake. challenging for both India and External Affairs to pay glowing Secretary of State for South and us," she said. promote 'Make in India' in government procurement, according to the commerce and industry ministry. Releasing its achievements for 2020 on Friday, the ministry also said that unique products with export potential have Funding renewable energy sector: India to bank on innovative ways been identified for 500 districts. Technical Regulations (TRs) on focus products with import value of about USD 47 billion was PTI n NEW DELHI He also said that implemen- Minister R K Singh said, "We is a big opportunity to invest in formulated to ensure low quality and harmful products do not enter tation of renewable projects are going to come out with India," Modi had said. the market, it said adding customs duty was increased on 173 items India will look to be more and innovation in tendering more innovative bids (in With the impact of COVID- and imports of 44 items are either prohibited or restricted. "Tenders innovative in its approach to them to attract investors would 2021)." 19 on a gradual decline and worth Rs 40,000 crore cancelled/modified due to discriminatory and garner additional investments play a key role in 2021. He told PTI that earlier higher visibility of vaccine restrictive conditions," it added. For startups, it said 80 per cent worth Rs 1.75 lakh crore for According to him, India efforts of the government availability, 2021 promises to be rebate granted to 4,905 patent applications and 50 per cent rebate having 35 GW of renewable needs to design innovative ten- helped to position India as the an exciting year for the renew- was granted to 12,264 trademark applications on filing fee. power generation capacity next ders with the inclusion of wind, most favourite destination for able sector. year to meet the ambitious tar- solar and energy storage to investment, especially in the As per industry estimates, get of 175 GW of clean energy ensure that renewable can clean energy sector and it is evi- the cumulative capacity of 20 capacity by 2022. replace fossil fuels to a great dent from USD 64 billion GW clean energy is scheduled Dish TV gets notice of Rs 4,164 At present, the country has extent. investment in renewables. to be commissioned, which a total installed renewable This year has been challeng- The minister also cited some shows increased opportunities crores from govt for licence fee energy capacity of 90 GW. ing for the renewable energy examples of round the clock, for equipment suppliers. This includes 39 GW of wind sector but the industry has hybrid and manufacturing Dutt said that agencies irect-to-home operator Dish and 37 GW of solar generation been able to withstand the cri- linked auctions for clean ener- implementing renewable ener- TV on Friday said it has capacity. sis caused by the pandemic gy in the country. gy projects are facing chal- Dreceived a demand notice Around 50 GW of renewable with support of the govern- Prior to that, the tariff had proactive and innovative to As per the government esti- lenges with respect to signing from the government for energy capacity is under con- ment. declined to a record low of Rs attract investors into the sector. mates, the demand for domes- Power Sales Agreements (PSA) payment of Rs 4,164.05 crore, struction and there is also a Moreover, confidence of 2 per unit in an auction for India had set an ambitious tically manufactured solar cells for around 16 GW with power which includes licence fee and strong pipeline of 30 GW for investors in the sector has 1,070 MW projects conducted target of having 175 GW of and modules is likely to be distribution companies (dis- interest. The Ministry of new bids. soared further as was evident by the Solar Energy renewable energy capacity by around 36 GW over next three coms) and electricity procur- Information and Broadcasting "There is a fund requirement from solar power tariff breach- Corporation of India (SECI) in 2022. This includes 100 GW years. In November, Prime ers.Such a situation shows that (MIB) through a letter dated December 24, 2020 asked the Essel of Rs 1.75 lakh crore to achieve ing the psychological barrier of November. from solar, 60 GW from wind, Minister Narendra Modi said the implementation of the group firm to pay the said sum towards licence fee from the period the balance capacity of 35 GW Rs 2 per unit. In July this year, solar power 10 GW from biomass and 5 there are huge renewable ener- ambitious target of 175 GW from the date of issuance of DTH licence till the financial year 2018- (under bidding/ to be bid out/ Solar power tariff dropped to tariffs fell to a low of Rs 2.36 GW from small hydro power. gy deployment plans for the will be possible only when 19, the company said in a regulat-ory filing. The MIB has intimated auctioned) to achieve an over- an all-time low of Rs 1.99 per per unit in an auction of 2 GW Talking about the challenge next decade. there are assured buyers for that basis the accounts of the company and payment made by it all target of 175 GW," Director unit in an auction of projects capacities by the SECI. of bringing required invest- "These are likely to generate clean energy across the coun- towards licence fee from the period from the date of issuance of DTH General of Solar Power of 500 MW capacity by Gujarat Now, in order the the main- ment next year to achieve the business prospects of the order try. Otherwise, it will not be license till FY 2018-19, "an amount of Rs 4,164.05 crore is payable Developers Association Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd tain the momentum, the gov- 175 GW target, Union Power of around 1.5 lakh crore rupees viable to set up huge generation by the company and has directed the company to remit" the amount Shekhar Dutt told PTI. (GUVNL) in December. ernment will have to be more and New & Renewable Energy or USD 20 billion per year. This capacities. within a period of 15 days, the filing said. #VIRAL2 2 VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020 bugged 09 GO WITH YOUR GUT The pandemic exposed chinks in India’s healthcare sector. Till date there have been 1.47 lakh deaths in our country with the global deaths standing at 1.74 crore. With compromised immunity, people resorted to alternate medicine and probiotics to increase their body’s resistance to fight the Coronavirus. Yoga and exercising took the front seat as did following a healthy eating pattern. Meanwhile, countries have been scrambling to find a cure and an effective vaccine is in the pipeline with India starting vaccination in 2021

ISHI TOTAL KHOSLA CASES IN INDIA HAS BREACHED THE ho could have thought that an T cells, the informants which 1 CRORE MARK intestinal cell wall wherever adhe- invisible virus could hold the world help the body recognise friend sion is possible such that the dis- Wto ransom? And that the trillions from foe and decide whether According to the list put out by IMA, ease-causing microbes do not get of microbes inside us orchestrate our lives : or not to attack a cell. at least 500 doctors have lost their lives outnumbered. literally determine who we are inside out! A disturbance in the gut All in all, probiotics augment THE SIMPLEST WAY What we look like to how well we are! microbiome directly affects in the fight against COVID-19 till October our defense through antibody Twenty five hundred years ago, when diseases such as inflammato- production, increasing natural TO MAINTAIN A Hippocrates stated that: All disease begins ry bowel disease, diarrhoea and Global COVID caseload stands at killer-cell activity and the process HEALTHY GUT IS TO in the gut. He had an incredible intuition that many other digestive disor- 7.98 crore with 4.47 crore recoveries and of engulfing of foreign matter par- only recently has been fully appreciated ders. It can also be the starting 17.51 lakh deaths ticles. ENSURE AN because of new insights into the pathogen- point of several other chronic Today we know that all diseases ADEQUATE SUPPLY esis of many chronic inflammatory diseases degenerative diseases outside the US is the worst-hit country begin with inflammation in the gut and (CIDs) afflicting humankind. Until 30 years gut including asthma, skin diseases, with 1.91 crore cases that two-third of our immune system OF ago, when the Human Genome Project was autoimmune diseases and metabolic resides here. The gut is the largest immune still in its planning stage, the general hypoth- diseases. organ called gut associated lymphoid tissue MACRONUTRIENTS esis was that genetic predisposition and expo- Professor Sarkis Mazmanian, Professor and produces more antibodies than any AND sure to an environmental trigger were both of Microbiology at CalTech, who has stud- other tissue in the body — B&T lympho- necessary and sufficient to develop CIDs, ied the effect of Gut microbes on health for macronu- cytes . If what we eat is wrong for our gut MICRONUTRIENTS. including infectious, allergic, neuroinflam- more than a decade, points out that: The bal- trients (carbs, proteins, fats) and micronu- it is wrong for immunity. And that strength- BESIDES A matory/neurodegenerative, autoimmune ance of different bacterial species in the gut trients (vitamins, minerals) that can support ening our gut means strengthening our diseases, and cancer. can influence whether the immune system the cells and tissues of the immune system. immunity. WHOLESOME However, the epidemiological observa- becomes activated or not. Besides a wholesome balanced diet, regular With 25 years of my clinical practice this BALANCED DIET, tion showing a major surge of CIDs during The connection between probiotics and consumption of probiotics is linked to good concept has stood the test of time . The recog- the past four decades in the Western hemi- immunity, although well-established in the immunity. The immune response relies nition of food sensitivities and gut health has REGULAR sphere coincident with the declining rate of scientific circles, is not easily understood by upon the balance of the microbes residing made it possible for me to treat almost all dis- CONSUMPTION OF infectious diseases was at odds with the the common person. Decoding the role of in the gut. Manipulating the population of eases from the root including Diabetes, gene/environment paradigm. This generat- ence gene expression. probiotics in building immunity can lead to these microbes through the consumption of coronary artery disease, thyroid disorders, PROBIOTICS IS ed the hygiene hypothesis supporting the Many might be surprised to learn that greater acceptance of these foods. probiotics is a sureshot way to better arthritis, asthma , psoriasis , depression to LINKED TO GOOD notion that we had made ourselves too clean more than two-thirds of the immune system Probiotic organisms exert a direct immune health. Several strains of bacteria, name a few. for our own good and that people embrac- is located in the gut. The function of this antagonist effect on harmful microbes by including the genera lactobacillus and bifi- While the pandemic has thrown up IMMUNITY ing a Western lifestyle would slowly die of system is to try and eliminate an invader by decreasing their numbers, impairing their dobacterium, have been recognised for uncertainties, gloom & despair the good news CIDs instead of rapidly succumbing to creating inflammation and activating anti- metabolism, and also by directly stimulat- their ability to suppress pathogens and is that it has also brought with it a positive infectious diseases as still is happening in bodies to fight it. The immune system also ing our immune system. Seventy per cent of build up resistance to infections. However, impact by way of being a leveller & a time developing countries. (Alessio Fasano eliminates the body’s own cells when they our immune system is governed by our gut it is critical to choose a scientifically proven when immunity & diet have assumed January 2020) become diseased. (intestines). Clearly, the gut is not just a diges- and established probiotic strain for this pur- unprecedented importance. It is now clear that the gut microbiota is In order to perform these activities, the tive organ but is also the largest immune pose. It’s the perfect time to begin taking a deep- central to the pathogenesis of immune sys- cells of the immune system need to be able organ. The discourse around the health of The modus operandi of probiotics in er dive into the gut and heal yourself to build tem disorders .While multiple mechanisms to tell friends from foes. Gut microbes again the heart, liver and lungs has always been their immunity-providing avatar is varied a resilient body. are involved, the immune system clearly plays play a central role in this: during digestion, prevalent, but thanks to the pandemic, we and complex. Explained in simple terms, on The writer is practicing clinical a special role. Indeed, the breakdown of the they break down fibre into small molecules have begun to take gut health more serious- reaching the intestines, the probiotic bacte- nutritionist, columnist, author, physiological balance in gut microbial com- which include short chain fatty acids ly. ria get into a competitive mode to oust any entrepreneur, researcher & position leads to dysbiosis, which is then able (SCFAs). These SCFAs influence the immune The simplest way to maintain a healthy disease-causing and aberrant microbes. welfare worker to enhance inflammation and to even influ- function of the Gut and the activity of the gut is to ensure an adequate supply of Probiotic bacteria occupy the sites on the Conventionally yours EFFECTIVE SUGAR PILLS COVIDWARRIOR DR PARTAP CHAUHAN make us live happier and healthier lives. DR KUSHAL BANERJEE sibility lightly. Ayurveda is the ancient MASOOM REZA e have all heard the saying, And during the pandemic, if we practice Indian system of healing, but homeopa- ‘Sleep is the best medicine’ but all these things, we can have improved he provision of advice of homeo- thy’s home has also been India for many NEW DELHI Wdue to our ever increasing respiratory efficiency, less anxiety and pathic or other AYUSH systems decades. The sheer popularity of the sys- deadlines, especially in the work from better immunity. was and still is, conveniently, tem amongst Indians is unparalleled. home era where work never seems to stop The reason why Ayurveda is so being equated to promotion of risk Policy makers should ensure that the allo- and home has become the 24x7 effective is that it treats the actu- Tincreasing behaviour. The ministries of cation of resources to AYUSH systems is office, we are increasingly sac- al cause of the disease. It AYUSH and of health made it clear that equitable and rise above a misplaced rificing our sleep. Getting 6- goes to the root of the all public health advice regarding preven- sense of patriotism. 8 hours of sleep every night THE REASON WHY problem. While main- tion of COVID-19 was to be followed. In the context of COVID-19 and in the can help in restoring phys- AYURVEDA IS SO stream medicine focus- Middle ground seemed to emerge where practice of evidence-based medicine in ical, mental and emotion- EFFECTIVE IS THAT IT es more on treating the complementary and alternative medicine general, the absence of evidence is not evi- al health. symptom of the dis- (CAM) advice could be dispensed while dence of absence. This adage is being Along with good sleep, TREATS THE ACTUAL ease, Ayurveda cor- enforcing other measures. drugs which have been in use for two hun- applied to conventional medicine and we also need to have a bal- CAUSE OF THE DISEASE. rects the root cause of Some titans of industry also felt com- dred years and which have an impeccable ignored for CAM. CAM should not be anced, healthy diet and IT GOES TO THE ROOT OF the problem and fortable lending their voice to encourage safety profile have still not been complet- withheld from patients who are not lifestyle. Ayurveda places improves the overall the consumption of homeopathy. We ed. The difference in pace may be attrib- responding to conventional medicine or A phlebotomist by profession, 35-year-old Reza great emphasis on ahar (diet) THE PROBLEM quality of life. were keen to understand the protective uted partly to the almost complete absence those who are unable to take convention- was the first person in Delhi-NCR to collect a and vihar (lifestyle). For exam- So while you are regular- effect of our prophylaxis protocol. of interest by homeopathic pharmaceuti- al medicines because of co-morbidities or sample of a suspected Corona patient back in ple, you must have heard from ly wearing your masks and It is disappointing that while a vaccine cal companies in conducting peer reviewed conventional drug interactions which March. It wasn't as easy as it seems. The elders to have kadha once a day for pro- maintaining social distancing along with was developed from scratch following the research. Running a series of expensive tri- preclude its use. Most importantly, the val- profession demanded him to keep a close watch tection against Coronavirus and boost washing your hands, do not forget to sequencing of the genomic code of a new als involving commonly available home- ues and preferences of patients should on his body to check for any symptom. In the immunity. Yoga is also known to be ben- inculcate the ageold practices of Ayurveda, virus discovered just over 11 months ago opathic drugs does not provide any return always direct our clinical decision-making, nine-month long fight against Corona, despite eficial for all sorts of health problems. which can help in leading a better life. and run through multi-national trials on investment to these companies. rather than our personal bias. being on the forefront, Reza has come across What is important to understand is The writer is Director of Jiva Ayurveda, author, involving hundreds of thousands of par- India is the torch bearer of CAM for The writer is Consultant Homeopath, Dr Kalyan people who didn't shy away from discriminating that the use of alternative medicine can public speaker, TV personality and Ayurvedacharya ticipants; trials involving homeopathic the world. We should not take this respon- Banerjee’s Clinic against him, because he wore a PPE kit. sunday magazine ONE IS NEVER AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN; ONE IS AFRAID OF tarot 8 THE KNOWN COMING TO AN END — JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI Vijayawada, December 27, 2020 For good health and long life

You are more focused at work, You will take a more practical This week, you will be the ndia with its diverse culture pay attention to minute details approach and weigh in all centre of attention and will and religions is a melting pot of customs and traditions. Vrat and strive for perfection. You options before arriving at any spend a lot of time and I will find someone who is or fasts are observed in almost all conclusion. You may work on energy enhancing your smitten by you and will begin religions, be it Hinduism, Jainism, your appearance, but try to personality and appearance. dating them, or take your control your expenses. You Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, existing relationship to the next You might develop a secret or Islam. Fasting is a spiritual act are likely to feel more liking for someone. You level. If you feel bored, try energetic, but have a tough mainly performed to purify the may deal in real estate and learning about different time dealing with your body and mind and acquire divine even acquire a new house. blessings. cultures. partner and children. Rohini Vrat is one of the main Lucky colour: Red Lucky colour: Yellow Lucky colour: Blue fasts undertaken every month by This week you will get greater This week, you may want to take women from the Jain community. recognition at work, especially some time off, indulge in your Women observe Rohini vrat for a if you work in media and hobbies or catch up with friends. communication. You might You may want to redecorate your long, fulfilling married life as well gain in lottery or even plan a home or even opt for renovation. as for the longevity of their hus- trip abroad. While you may feel With your carefree attitude, band’s life. Women end the fast all pumped up with energy, try abstain from dictating over with the rising of the Margashirsha not to be aggressive or others, mainly at your workplace. Nakshatra. The religious texts describe 27 constellations, among intimidating. Lucky colour: Green Lucky colour: Red which one is the constellation of Rohini. The Rohini nakshatra rises You may want to go on a solo trip to a This week, you feel more comfortable at on the 27th day of every month. So place of different culture or some place YOUR home and bond with your family, particularly vrat is observed once every 27 days that offers religious solace as you seek with your younger siblings. Any business by the women of the Jain commu- venture in the communication sector is likely nity when Rohini Nakshatra rises spiritual growth. Take the much needed WEEK to get a boost. You might need to make in the sky. This month, the vrat is alone time so that you are back with AHEAD some adjustments-personally and observed on Monday, December only the women of the family it is completed with the your best when the time is right. professionally-to continue your relationships. 28. Rohini Nakshatra Begins on observe Rohini Vrat, but in some Udyapana. On the day of Rohini Lucky colour: White Lucky colour: White December 27, 2020, at 1:19 pm and households, the entire family vrat, the women undertaking the ends on December 28, 3:40 pm. observes the vrat. On Rohini vrat fast wake up early in the morning This is a week of day, the women revere Bhagavan and take a holy bath. They set the You are more focused on Why is Rohini Vrat transformation as you will try observed? Vasupujya and seek blessing for altar in the puja room with the to understand things better your career, and want to the family. The women pray for idol of Bhagavan Vasupujya who and make some important make big gains with your Jainism advocates strict forms prosperity and enrichment of is one of the twenty-four changes in life. You will genuine ideas, especially in of spiritual practices. While saints their quality of life. Tirthankaras. Elaborate rituals are commit to your romantic group projects at work. follow the strict codes, the com- then conducted by giving the idol You will feel drawn towards What are the benefits of partner or deepen the bond mon man is granted some lenien- Rohini Vrat? a bath with holy water, followed with your spouse. You will people of authority. You cy in the spiritual practices fol- by decorating with fragrant mate- also make big plans for your may work harder and earn lowed by the Jain community. The vrat undertaken by women rials. Puja is performed and final- future and strive towards more, but be careful of Rohini vrat helps the women in will secure the good health and ly, the Prasad is offered. At the that goal. your rising expenditures. Jain households observe the spiri- long life of their husbands. Under- conclusion of the puja, the fasting Lucky colour: Green Lucky colour: Yellow tual discipline in a trouble-free taking this fast also brings in pros- process commences which lasts You need to spend some It is your time to There might be some way since it is usually difficult for perity. Misunderstanding between until the Margashirsha Nakshatra 'me' time, away from socialise, make short misunderstandings and you them to observe strict fasts. When couples is cleared and promotes a rises in the sky. Women who people and the spotlight, trips, or convey your will try to iron out the women observe Rohini vrat, their harmonious relationship within observe Rohini vrat can decide on to help you rejuvenate thoughts very easily, as differences with your husbands, and immediate family the family. Women can feel peace the duration to observe the vrat; and move ahead. You will you find it easy to partner. You are more members too receive blessings. and helps to maintain tranquillity at the end of this period, the vrat feel comfortable with communicate. Try not to ambitious and work harder, The fast helps to imbibe patience, at home. should be concluded with an someone who shares splurge on expensive but there might be some self-control, and harmony within appropriate udyapana, or con- similar interests and will articles. You will feel very issues with your boss or Rohini Vrat fasting rules oneself. It helps one endure all cluding ritual, which may include try to build a rapport with energetic, so try to keep seniors, and you may need difficulties in life and also control The vrat can last for three, five, feeding the poor and the needy, them as they are easy to yourself busy, or it might a creative approach to settle desires. This helps them to culti- or seven years, continuously. Vrat visiting the temple of Vasupujya talk to. turn into anxiety. such disputes. and engaging in charity. Lucky colour: Blue Lucky colour: Red Lucky colour: White vate good values and understand- for five years and five months is ing within the families. Usually, the most advocated duration and — Inputs by Click Astro THE ROHINI VRAT KATHA Scientific Saint Guru ViswaSphoorthi ust as every fast has an asso- ness. The sage narrated that in the king learned about his wife’s ince ages, religion, philosophy and The Omnipotent. People who seek his divine guidance know the activities performed their ciated story, Rohini vrat also ancient times, there lived a king deeds, he was enraged and and science have been trying to "Having been with the universal and blessings can reach Him at spiri- bodies before. Jhas a vrat katha which named Vastupala in the city expelled her from the palace. Sexplain about creator, creation, inspiration of the inventive and intu- tual centers known as Dhyana Mano Also, wherever the programmes should be recited while under- who had a friend Dhanamitra. Due to her evil deeds, she was God and Soul with umpteen theories. itional mind, caused by the influence Prasthan. Even at these centers related to Guruji are conducted, His taking the fast. The story is as Dhanamitra had a daughter afflicted with leprosy and had to However clarity and completeness and confluence of the sci- Guruji doesn’t arrive with His phys- invisible arrival is suggested by ‘redo- follows: who had a foul body odour and face a lot of anguish before are not to be found in any of these. ence and conscience... it ical form. He interacts with lence’ – a particular pleasant fra- King Madhava of was therefore called Durgandha. finally dying. After her death, Religions do not agree with one is my inclination of people using a unique divine grance. All those who assemble there Champapura lived with his Dhanamitra was always worried Sindhumati reached hell where another while Science has not been being coronated as method referred to as can feel and experience it. Besides, queen Lakshmipati, seven sons about his daughter. she suffered a lot and was then consistent with new theories being the scientific saint" ‘Medium’ Concept. A those who silently chant Guruji's and a daughter named Rohini. Once, Sage Amritsen visited finally born inside an animal proposed with the advancement of … Sri Sri Sri Guru “Medium” is a person mulamantra get the similar experi- Once, the king consulted a Hastinapur and Dhanamitra before being born as research. ViswaSphoorthi who is under control of ence, including Guruji’s voice and gyani (learned man) to know went to meet the sage along Dhanamitra’s daughter. Here is a saint, the scientific saint, Sri Sri Sri Guru Guruji’s spiritual vibra- vision. Guruji also spiritually treats about the ideal husband for his with his daughter to enquire Hearing this, Dhanamitra explaining and elucidating the long Viswa Sphoorthi – tions. Guruji, who has patients remotely through spiritual daughter. The gyani said that about her future. The sage stat- asked for a solution to over- standing chaos about the origin of The Scientific been conducting His spiri- vibration from the place of his resi- Rohini will be married to ed that King Bhupal who ruled come this curse. The sage stated universe, formation of life, human Saint, is an embodi- tual activities through the dence. All these are not written just Ashoka, the prince of in a city near Mount Girnar had that Durgandha should observe mind, atma, paramatma etc for the ment of simplicity. It 'medium' process lives at his because of anyone’s personal belief, Hastinapur. Upon the gyani’s a wife, Sindhumati, who was the Rohini fast on Rohini benefit of human – not based on age would be quite unbeliev- own residence and converses with figment of imagination or respect for advice, King Madhava organ- very proud of her beauty. When nakshatra of every month and old scriptures and complex theories able, at the first glance, that He who people who come to Him at various Him. It can be confirmed with peo- ised a Swayamvara in which the king and the queen went abstain from consuming food. but by His Divine Wisdom, in a way is leading such a ‘down-to-earth’ life places on different issues and prob- ple who have got such experience at Princess Rohini chose Prince out to visit the forest, they saw She should spend time in per- that is comprehensible by human rea- in its truest sense is the genitor of the lems simultaneously. During the different places. And YOU can expe- Ashoka as her husband and the sage and the king asked his forming religious worship and soning. magnanimous super-human period Guruji is in ‘Medium’ nothing rience it too. they were married. Prince wife to arrange for the sage’s charity and should perform this Not restricting Himself to theory, grandeur that is experienced through personal related to the ‘Medium’ is Since Guruji’s Medium perfor- Ashoka along with family went feast. While Sindhumati agreed fast for five years and five He is making people experience the multi-dimensional depth in His writ- exposed. As long as Guruji dwells in mance is contemporary to our lives, to meet Sage Sricharan in the to obey her husband’s order, she months. Dhanamitra and his Omni concepts: Omnipresence, ings and the mystic yet practical spir- the ‘Medium’, the bodily changes, there is opportunity for anybody to forest of Hastinapur. Ashoka was enraged within and in her daughter Durgandha duly fast- Omniscience and Omnipotence. He itual performance through expressions, including modulation, get proof of it personally and experi- confided in the sage that his anger, she served the sage a bit- ed on the day and as a result; is The Scientific Saint, His Holiness 'Mediums'. are naturally of Guruji. After Guruji ence it. There is no need to suspect it; wife remained very calm and ter gourd and after consuming she attained moksha and Sri Sri Sri Guru ViswaSphoorthi – Guruji usually lives in solitude. His leaves the ‘Medium’ they resume nor any place for belief. Just be with asked the reason for her calm- the food, the sage died. When reached heaven. The Omnipresent, The Omniscient appearance in public is quite rare. their own ‘personality’ and do not no Prejudice.

ASTROTURF BHARAT BHUSHAN PADMADEO Let guru be your guide limited window frame, usually not open tarily keep playing out. icking up threads from the previ- instinctive judgment ending, which car- to look beyond for a reality check or Here comes the role of a Guru. He ous issue, let us first have a look ries equal probability of ending up either explore a better option available. Such doesn’t play a magic wand. Having him- Pinto the construct and chemistry of way — rewarding or frustrating. minds are seldom receptive to fresh self addressed his limitations, and mind. For, it defines and drives through Now, coming to the chemistry of educative inputs. expanded his vision, he would know the functional mandate of a being. There mind. Mind takes off on the thought Another aspect of mind is that how to lead you through towards a bet- are three functional tools of mind — feeds in store — the Karmic carryover unmindfully it continuously keeps ter tomorrow. He first makes you aware Buddhi, Ahamkara and Manasa. They from the past. Mind does also respond breeding thoughts, a good majority of of your latent potential, which though don’t have separate identity by them- to external promptings and influences. them inconsequential, some of them immense, remains untapped. He, thus, selves. They are rather interwoven into In both cases, Ahamkara is supposed to even negative. And mind keeps random- first encourages you to get better an integrated mechanism, all working in engage Buddhi for due diligence before ly flirting with them like a monkey in empowered. The way forward is to train support of each other. allowing them a field play. The paradox, the wild, playfully jumping from one your mind to access its full landscape, Coming to individual attributes of however, is that for those living unmind- branch of tree to the other. That further where after it knows no limits, as it looks the three, Buddhi is the faculty of dis- fully, often Ahamkara takes the thought clutters our minds so much that it does- at issues in hand with an open mind, criminate intelligence. It lets you dispas- feeds on their face value, when it doesn’t n’t leave scope to process an issue in without any limitations whatsoever to sionately analyse the issues in hand, and feel the necessity of due diligence. It, hand or any fresh thought objectively, pick up the right lead. To make it hap- arrive at the right judgment to pick up thus, comes out that we fail to use our and with obvious consequences. pen, the Guru first puts you through a the right lead. But Buddhi doesn’t play empowerment tools optimally, and when Consequently, mind becomes so com- process to clear off the clutters of mind. out involuntarily. It has to be consciously we fail, we try to find escape in our des- plexed that it can’t see simple truths Sufficient mind-space thus becomes invoked by Ahamkara. With its inbuilt tiny. lying in front. It keeps moving round available to absorb fresh educative sense of ‘I’ consciousness, Ahamkara It may be pertinent to add here that and round, but truth eludes its attention. inputs. Second, he make aware of your mandates how to go about in life. And in store thought feeds in mind, precon- Remember, you cognise only such things inherent limitations and the way to Manasa, acting from the front acts two dition our minds. They bind you to its where you pay attention. That makes it address them. He then offers lessons in ways. It translates the indwelling desire inherent tendencies one is born with — incumbent upon us to first come out of realities of life, which when absorbed in trends into action. Also, it gathers outer desire trends, virtues and attributes, likes the limitations of mind, if at all wish to the deep realms of mind, finds reflection field data. In both cases, Ahamkara is and dislikes, prejudices and obsessions, improve our lot. But habits die hard. in your usual conduct. You are thus supposed to engage Buddhi for due dili- habits and attitudes. That restricts our Even if you become aware of your inher- geared up to rewrite your own destiny. gence before taking any call. The irony, scope of vision to a limited mind-space ent tendencies either through self-reflec- The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant however, is that often Ahamkara takes having in store only the thought feeds tion, which we are capable of, or by and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at the inputs on their face value, when carried over from the past. We, thus look whatever means, it is ordinarily difficult Tel: 91-111-99818037273/9871037272 Manasa would react and respond on at issues in hand within the scope of a to come out of their bind. They involun- Email: [email protected]

TEAM AGENDA DESK > NAVNEET MENDIRATTA, CONSULTING EDITOR | H LAYOUT AND DESIGN > SATISH CHANDRA JAKHMOLA, SENIOR EDITOR (CREATIVE) Now you can write to us at [email protected] sunday magazine READING IS A CONVERSATION. ALL BOOKS TALK. BUT A GOOD books 09 BOOK LISTENS AS WELL — MARK HADDON Vijayawada, December 27, 2020

Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism is the first authentic biography of the Grand Old Man of India that hits the bookshelves across the country 112 years after his death, writes KUMAR CHELLAPPAN The untold story of a great life t is said that history is written by victors. This is a refrain which some attribute to Winston Churchill. Though there are disagreements over who the author of this dictum Iis, it has been stated by many historians, archaeologists and philosophers that the power and mighty decide and manufac- ture history to suit their convenience. Hence robbers and dacoits get elevated as freedom fighters and great warriors. India is a victim of manufactured his- tory. Our political masters decided what the countrymen should and shouldn’t learn as history. Much has been written by S L Bhyrappa about the manufactured history from his personal experience. The Karnataka scholar has written a true account of how late G Parthasarathi, the advisor to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi played a pivotal role in getting the Indian history re-written to suit the political convenience of his master. Sir Henri Miers Elliot, English civil servant and historian who authored The History of India, As Told by Its Own Historians has stated frankly that his NAOROJI: PIONEER OF objective while writing history was to “make the native subjects of British India INDIAN NATIONALISM more sensible of the immense advantages accruing to them under the mildness and Dinyar Patel equity of the present rule”. Hence, he had quoted only those portions from Persian Harvard, `699 and Arabic works which make the Indians feel that they were better served Annie Besant with an aged Dadabhai Naoroji at his house in Versova in 1915 by their colonial masters. fourth of the annual tax revenue raised in This has been reproduced by Dr K M them from the pandemic fell on deaf ears. galaxy of stars like Dadabhai Naoroji, It was Naoroji who set the Indian Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian India, went into British coffers rather Munshi, former union minister and Thousands perished in this pandemic Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915) Bal Independent Movement in motion by Nationalism authored by Patel is the first than being reinvested in the country. founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, in his which could have been averted had the Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920), Chettur telling the world about the unashamed authentic biography of the Grand Old This inference was not based on foreword to The History And Culture of British administrators showed some con- Sankaran Nair (1857-1934) who stood for robbery committed by the British mas- Man of India and it hits the bookshelves Government statistics. It was arrived at by the Indian People, the 11-volume series of cern for Indian lives. This was the period liberating the country from the colonial ters. Angus Maddison, the British econo- across the country 112 years after the the young students of Bombay’s the sub-continent’s story edited by the before the advent of Mohandas masters using intellectual prowess and mist who specialised in quantitative demise of the protagonist. Dinyar Patel Elphinstone College, the topmost of them legendary R C Majumdar. The pattern Karamchand Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel, knowledge. There is a common thread macro economic history found that India has done an excellent job in presenting to being Dadabhai Naoroji, who occupies was blindly followed by the brown sahibs Jawaharlal Nehru, Subash Chandra Bose which united these personalities who and China were the world leaders, con- the new generation of Indians the period the numero uno place in the list of the who manipulated and mis-interpreted etc into the arean of the freedom move- struggled for their objective before tributing more than 40 per cent share to in which Naoroji lived and the challenges College’s Distinguished Alumni. It was facts and documentary evidences to write ment. This was the era when the East Gandhi and Nehru entered the scene. the global GDP before the Mughals and he had to face. the education which he received from history as per their whims and fancies. India Company and the British colonial Their motto was to educate the masses, Britishers annexed the country. Between the late 1860s and the early Elphinstone College which helped him to The result? Many fighters who fought masters swindled India bare. especially women, and take on the British Maddison’s finding was sometime in 2006 1880s, he produced a prodigious amount understand the truth that the provinces from the frontline battles against The shining star who led India’s quest from a position of bargaining power as part of a project he undertook for the of literature — containing extensive cal- that had employed Indian bureaucrats invaders, colonial masters and thugs who for freedom from British exploitation and without giving them an option to boss OECD and European Union. culations, international comparisons, were buffered from drain of wealth and robbed India of its spiritual and material- coined the term self-rule too died unsung over the Indians. But Naoroji had established through compilations of historical evidence and were economically more robust than istic wealth ended up as unsung heroes — Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917). Other While we have sufficient literature his research between 1867 and 1880 that refutations of government pronounce- British India. and non-entities. than unofficially honoring him with the about Gokhale and Tilak, there wasn’t Indian poverty and pestilence were the ments and statistics — highlighting the For Naoroji, national education History students feigned ignorance title ‘The Grand Old Man of India’, the much known published works on the life fall outs of the drain of wealth from India stark impoverishment of Britain’s Indian meant mass public education. He dreamt when asked about Shivji Maharaj, Tatia motherland is yet to give due recognition and times of Dadabhai Naoroji, born in a by the “European leeches”. He took the subjects. Significantly, he established a of an India that was developed, progres- Toppe and Chapekar Brothers of Pune to this great son of the sub-continent who poor Parsi family in Gujarat and went on fighting straight to the lion’s den — direct link between poverty and British sive and prosperous as France which he whose names evoked respect, adoration resembled a commander-in-chief of the to emerge as a unifying force of the Britain. The white men had no answer to rule. “So far as my inquiries go at present, visited in 1855 during his trip to the UK. and admiration throughout the sub-con- Indian freedom movement while strate- Indian National Congress in its Calcutta the claims by the Parsi gentleman from the conclusion I draw is that wherever the Patel’s book reads like the script of a tinent. Damodarpant Chapekar of Poona gising and devising ways and means to session in 1906. Had it not been Naoroji, Bombay. The story of Naoroji’s life and East India Company acquired territory, film and he creates right in front of us a did not think twice before eliminating liberate India from the shackles of slavery the Congress would have split vertically times has been retold in an immaculate impoverishment followed their steps”, period in India, uncorrupted by digital Walter Charles Rand, the special plague without shedding a drop of blood or sac- in that session and subsequent the party style by Dinyar Patel, an Indian-born his- argued Naoroji. technology and greed. It is an era of inno- commissioner in Poona on June 22, 1897 rificing the lives of innocent agitators. would have disintegrated into factions torian working as an assistant professor at Naoroji famously contended that the cence and love the theme of which was when all pleas by the citizens to save The sub-continent was blessed with a and fractions. the University of South Carolina. drain of wealth, whereby as much as one- Manav Seva Madhav Seva. NEW ARRIVALS De-mystifying the black hole paradigm

THE ROCK BABAS Mitra’s book discusses critical issues on astrophysics and general relativity in layman's AND OTHER STORIES Ameya Prabhu Westland, `399 language, as also shares anecdotes on scientific intolerance, writes Dr Kanika Das The Rock Babas and Other s a mathematical Mitra and his American Stories is a map of human physicist and colleagues have argued that fragilities and resilience that is researcher in gen- ECOs must be strongly magne- as true in the Himalayas as it is in the state eral relativity and tized and should be of Georgia. An ageing tycoon, Takahashi cosmology, initial- Magnetospheric ECOs or Watanabe, donates his fortune to charity Aly I was bit annoyed with the MECOS. It is heartening to see when faced with a terminal illness, in an very title of this book, and I that, in 2006, Center for attempt to reconnect with his estranged thought that Mitra was brag- Astrophysics, Harvard, issued a daughter. Special Agent Jackson Holder, an ging, there could never be long Press Release on a African-American agent of the Georgia anything like a “fall” of the research claiming that the so- Bureau of Investigation overcomes racial black hole paradigm. But as I called black hole at the heart of biases to crack a homicide with domestic finished through the book, I a famous quasar should be a hate crimes undertones. Swiss Hotelier realised that even if we com- MECO. This press release Helmut Kauffman’s transforms under the pletely ignore the peer admitted that the concept of tutelage of the eponymous ‘rock babas’, a reviewed research by Mitra MECO can be traced to the group of monks playing rock and roll and living high up in the Himalayas. A deposed and his few American col- idea of ECO developed by the dictator in prison reflects on his life and leagues: The black hole para- Indian astrophysicist Abhas times. Thought-provoking and mystic, digm has always been contro- Mitra in 1998. While as an profound and light of touch, caustic and versial as apart from Albert Indian, I feel proud to see that comic, Ameya Prabhu’s sparkling debut is Einstein, almost two dozen THE RISE AND FALL OF THE an ivy league press release is an ode to the challenges life throws up and general relativists who have related to an idea developed by to the people who rise up to meet them. argued that true mathemati- BLACK HOLE PARADIGM a lone Indian battling innu- cal black holes should not Abhas Mitra merable odds both within his occur even within the context Macmillan, `599 institution and outside world, QUEEN OF of classical general relativity. my heart bled when I read that MAHISHMATHI I was not aware that way CfA later removed its own Anand Neelakantan back in 1969, the noted French only contained quasi-black or quantum gravity effects; and black hole mimickers having on leaking bit of radiation. In press release later for reasons Westland, `499 relativist Luis Bel had shown holes.” the black hole mimickers could even billions of solar masses. this sense, this ultra-hot ball of best known to them. Sivagami’s missteps have only that a true mathematical black Mitra goes at great lengths result from such unknown And the only such known radiation should keep on con- This book not only dis- deepened her determination to hole, assumed to be a sphere, to explain what these “quasi- mysterious quantum gravity generic effect is that, all kinds tracting eternally in order to cusses several critical issues on fulfil her father’s wish and should actually behave like a black holes” could be. For most effects. Mitra exerts that there of light, heat and radiation achieve true black hole state astrophysics and general rela- stop the despicable activities at Gauriparvat. point implying that its mass- of the practical purposes, they is not a single research paper must get trapped by the rapidly E=Mc2 =0 suggested by the tivity in a layman’s language, And so she battles on. Unknown to her, energy is E=Mc2 =0. If this is pretend like true black holes which has ever shown how increasing gravity of the col- Bel’s 1969 paper. Mitra nick- but also reveals several anec- however, Maharaja Somadeva’s challengers true, the black hole paradigm and we certainly cannot rule massive stars composed of pro- lapsing star as it would be named such an ever contract- dotes on scientific intolerance have begun to close in on the king, and certainly fell right in 1969 even out the fact the Event Horizon tons , neutrons, electrons and about to become a true black ing ball of fire as Eternally and herd mentality which try Sivagami finds herself suddenly at a though we mathematical physi- Telescope detected the shadow radiation can turn into an hole. Mitra then argues that Collapsing Object (ECO). As a to ostracise a minion non- disadvantage. With a player like Somadeva, cists cannot accept such a trag- of a black hole pretender and Exotic Compact Object com- the outward radiation pressure mathematical physicist, I do influential researcher who though, the biggest mistake you can make ic climb down. I was also not the same of a true black prising negative pressure dark of the trapped radiation must not understand all the finer refuses to sing the mainstream is to not immediately checkmate and unaware of a 1988 research hole possessing an event hori- energy bubble or seething ball counteract the inward pull of points of this narrative but I narrative. A must read for not destroy. The game of chaturanga is not quite over. As Sivagami takes on the paper by two famed Indian rel- zon. of elementary strings. gravity, and the massive star rely on the fact the relevant only students of physics but kingdom’s enemies, guided by Somadeva, ativists Jayant Narlikar and I also learnt that post the On the other hand, Mitra shoul turn into a quasi-static papers have been published in also for all professional astro- she finds in her own manoeuvres an echo Thanu Padmanabhan in which research of Mitra, in the past emphasises that if formation of ball of fire supported entirely reputed journals like Physical physicists and general rela- of the man she has always detested. In her they had argued that the two decades, innumerable the- true black holes must be pre- by its radiation pressure. Review (D), New Astronomy, tivists. journey to becoming the queen, Sivagami “problems related to the source oretical physicists have argued vented, it must be due to some Though this ball of fire is Monthly Notices Royal The reviewer is a professor must choose between love and ambition, (black holes) could be avoided that the formation of true well known generic effect almost as compact as a mathe- Astronomical Society ,and in the Department of principles and deviousness, selflessness if the event horizon did not black holes may be inhibited which can be equally effective matical black hole, it has no Monthly Notices Royal Mathematics, Gauhati and envy. What does she hold on to? form and that the universe by some quantum mechanical and inevitable for incipient event horizon and hence keeps Astronomical Society Letters. University, India sunday magazine Vijayawada, December 27, 2020

The internet to me is kind of like a black hole, and I never really go on it — Jennifer Lawrence

FROM THE INSIDE The untold story of a great life How about a rejuvenating jaunt? Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism is the first authentic The Covid-19-induced lockdown biography of the Grand Old Man of India that hits the has taken a toll on everyone. bookshelves across the country 112 years after his... 09 11

OFOF MOBILEMOBILE ECOLOGIESECOLOGIES,, HYBRIDHYBRID HISTORIESHISTORIES Fractured Forest, Quartzite City: A History of Delhi and Its Ridge by THOMAS CROWLEY tells the tale of the Ridge, which resonates far beyond the boundaries of Delhi. The Ridge offers a crucial vantage point for viewing these historical and geographical interconnections. Its trees can't be separated from the stones below them, nor the cities that rose and fell around them. Only with this perspective does a clear picture of the Ridge — and Delhi as a whole — emerge. An edited excerpt: Illustrations by deepani seth

he British had placed a legislative stamp cal footprint. This remained the case during estate industry tick, a group that, apparently, repression. Within a span of four days in May on a process they had started more British rule as well, despite the compulsions of includes a temple priest and his hired muscle. 2007, police opened fire on four different groups subtly decades earlier: the assault on British land settlement efforts and despite pockets Real estate is now the shadow that hovers, of protesters, in conflicts which left 25 Gujjars and pastoral livelihoods and commonly of quarrying. But, over the past several decades, unavoidably, over Mangarbani and the three vil- one policeman dead. held village land, and the replacement Mangarbani has increasingly been drawn into the lages that surround it. This, though, is a relatively In early June, the protest turned national, as Tof such land with individual, salable plots inter- orbit of a rapidly expanding Delhi, a trend that recent development, and it has gained traction Gujjar groups from around the country descend- spersed with government-controlled enclaves. has threatened the survival of the grove. due to the changing role of the Gujjar landowners ed on Delhi and other major cities, including Regular readers of Delhi newspapers may be in the villages. The fact that Gujjars are the domi- Jaipur and Ahmedabad. In a remarkable show of From Sacred Grove to Real Estate familiar with this story. On almost a weekly basis, nant landowners suggests that, in this area at least, community strength, the protesters successfully This process, which started on the Northern one reads about a new threat to the old forest. Or they long ago made the transition from nomadic cut off all road access to Delhi, effectively Ridge, took a long time to spread southwards; about threats to people in the forest. By far the tribe to settled community. Pastoralism still plays blockading the national capital. While the agita- indeed, the story is still unfolding at the far reach- most dramatic headline came on 31 March 2014: a role here, but it has long been complemented by tion was largely non-violent, some protesters set es of the Southern Ridge and beyond. Here, one “Birdwatchers Thrashed at Mangar Forest”. agriculture, and it has taken place around fixed fire to buses and trains. For the elite of Delhi, this can find traces of older ways of life, of the “reser- The events described in the article are a com- village settlements. And Gujjars have integrated destruction of property and interruption of their vation of wood-producing land... generally con- bination of the disturbing, the tragic, and the into a caste-based village structure, finding them- everyday life could not be countenanced. All the nected with religion”, which the British found absurd, a mix that characterizes much of the selves in a powerful position within the local hier- slurs and all the urban disdain toward Gujjars, when they first entered the region. The most Delhi region in an era of runaway growth. The archy. from Babur to the British, were dredged up. A remarkable example of this is the sacred grove of birdwatchers were from nearby Gurgaon-not too The complexity of the caste system is in full municipal councilor in Delhi is on the record say- Mangarbani. The grove technically falls in long ago, a sleepy farming village and now an view with the Gujjar community. In most states in ing that, for Gujjars, “killing is in their blood”. Haryana, outside the bounds of the National urban hub conjoined to Delhi and filled with India, Gujjars come under the administrative cat- Protests continued the next year, with 38 more Capital Territory of Delhi (a clear- cut boundary automobile factories, multi-national corporate egory of Other Backwards Classes (OBC), which Gujjars shot down by police. The agitation only that owes its contours to the British). Officially it offices, small-scale garment industries, and a puts them below the traditionally “high” castes, stopped when the government agreed to give is not part of the Delhi Ridge. But it is on the seemingly endless expanse of malls. (The city was but above Dalits (administratively: Scheduled Gujjars reservations, not as a Scheduled Tribe, but Aravallis, so its underlying stones and soil are renamed Gurugram in 2016, a Hindu nationalist Castes or “SC”) and tribals (Scheduled Tribes or as a Denotified Tribe-the official post-colonial identical to those of the Ridge. nod to the Mahabharata sage Guru Dronacharya, “ST”). It also makes them eligible for a range of term for groups that the British had dubbed What grows out of this stony soil has amazed who supposedly lived in this area thousands of reservations made available by the state. But this Criminal Tribes. observers from Delhi. Mangarbani is densely years ago. However, for the sake of avoiding cut-and-dry state-imposed category hardly gets at At the height of the agitation, protesters from forested, and it is full of trees that have long disap- anachronisms, I will stick with “Gurgaon”, the THE VERY EXISTENCE OF the nuances and the internal differences within Rajasthan got strong support from leaders of peared from the Delhi Ridge, most notably the name that was current when the following events SUCH A REMARKABLE Gujjar communities. In some parts of India, espe- Gujjar-dominated villages in the Delhi region, who graceful, hardy dhau tree. The thriving forest is took place.) ECOSYSTEM IN THE cially in the Himalayan foothills, Gujjars still live a both benefit and suffer from their proximity to part of common lands shared by the three villages The birders had gone to Mangarbani to spot more tribal, nomadic existence, with little integra- state power. Their strength at the village level gives of Mangar, Bandhwari and Baliawas, which are winged wildlife in the native forests of the grove. MIDST OF THREE tion into settled caste systems; however, in other them significant pull in local elections, but despite dominated by the Gujjar community; these vil- When the first car reached the grove, they came GUJJAR SETTLEMENTS contexts, including Mangarbani, they are not only that they cannot compete with the real power lages maintain Mangarbani as a sacred grove in upon a man who said he was the priest at the NEATLY REFUTES THE integrated, they are also the most powerful com- players of the capital. Economically, too, they have honor of a holy man named Gudariya Baba who local temple; he wanted to know what they were ARGUMENT ORIGINALLY munity in a given village. benefited from the ever-expanding markets of used to roam these parts. doing there. Things got a bit heated, and the priest While OBC may, then, be a wholly inadequate Delhi, but, except in rare cases, they have not The very existence of such a remarkable took out his phone and made a call. Within min- PUT FORWARD BY way to describe Gujjars, the designation is still found a place at the table of the city's elite. ecosystem in the midst of three Gujjar settlements utes, a group of young men sped onto the scene in MACONACHIE AND vitally important, given its link to reservations. In The traditional ruling classes in Delhi still see neatly refutes the argument originally put forward a jeep. They jumped down, armed with sticks and BEADON, AND STILL some cases, Gujjars have demanded a lower sta- Gujjar-dominated areas as a backwards hinter- by Maconachie and Beadon, and still echoed iron rods, and attacked the birdwatchers, a group ECHOED TODAY BY tus, so that they have access to more state benefits. land, even though, with the expansion of the capi- today by some government officials and environ- which included an elderly woman and a young These are the exigencies of modern-day caste pol- tal, they are often right in the midst of the urban mentalists: that villagers, especially those with child. The attackers fled, though, when the rest of SOME GOVERNMENT itics. While the impulse behind reservations is a sprawl. If not physically, they are still metaphori- strong pastoral traditions, like the Gujjars, do not the birdwatchers, another four or five carloads, OFFICIALS AND deeply progressive one-to provide support and cally on the edge of an urban zone that houses a care about trees, and land must be taken away arrived on the scene. ENVIRONMENTALISTS: opportunities to groups that have historically been far more powerful set of elites. And it is increas- from them and vested in the government if it is to The priest was later arrested, along with some THAT VILLAGERS, exploited and marginalized-their application must ingly not just an Indian elite housed in the Indian be protected. of the assailants. Now, though, they are all out on deal with the messy terrain of competing commu- capital, but an international elite housed in the Instead, Mangarbani suggests another lesson: bail, as the rusty machinery of the justice system ESPECIALLY THOSE nities, internal discord, and intersecting layers of multinational offices and luxury high-rises of that the ecological behavior of pastoralists is does its agonizingly slow work. Many of the news WITH STRONG privilege and power. Gurgaon. This is the larger context in which the molded by the larger systems in which they are reports after the attack asserted that the priest has PASTORAL TRADITIONS, Such complex dynamics often lead to explo- Mangarbani drama has played out, as the sacred ensconced. For example, during Mughal times, played a central role in real estate transactions in sive results. In 2007, in the state of Rajasthan, a grove is being inexorably pulled into the capital's the Gujjars living close to Shahjahanabad put the area. The British may have been the first to LIKE THE GUJJARS, DO group of Gujjars began to agitate for the inclusion sphere of influence. excessive pressure on their commons because of introduce the idea of land as a commodity in the NOT CARE ABOUT TREES of Gujjars as a Scheduled Tribe (ST), in a sense a Excerpted from Fractured Forest, Quartzite urban demands for meat and milk; meanwhile, Delhi region, but now, centuries later, the idea has step “down” from OBC, but one which would pro- City by Thomas Crowley, jointly published by the Gujjars of Mangarbani, much further away become common sense. It is embraced with gusto vide them with more state support. As the SAGE Publications and Yoda Press under the Yoda- from city influences, left a more balanced ecologi- by the wide range of players that make the real protests gained momentum, they triggered state SAGE Select imprint VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020 In focus 11

Bored with being cooped

up at home or Gottam gota or Gottam offers a breathtaking panoramic district. Gutta: view of the entire region. Visitors Things to do: Nature, suffering from Located on the Telangana- can find an impressive collection sightseeing. Trek at Karnataka border, 120 km from of armories, stables, trap doors, Besides, if you are a heritage FOMO? Feel Rachakonda Fort Hyderabad, this is a paradise for and other tools of historical buff or enjoy trekking and camping. It is a interest. Special trekking tours to worship in a like escaping beautiful, wooded area where ascend the fort are added rustic everyone would love to camp and attractions. ambience, to some place, enjoy a night of adventure with How to reach: The Bhongir you all your friends. It is as if Mother fort in the Nalgonda district have where you can Nature is there to meet your of Telangana is at nearly demands for excitement and she 35 km Hyderabad and be sure of a smiles at you positively when she is well accessible by makes you happy. The tourist road and train. vitalising location is set amidst thick green Singur trees and the natural beauty Dam Nagarjunasagar makes it an ideal place for hikers dam, Nagarjuna break? Sunday Sagar Wildlife and adventurers. The forests are The Sanctuary & Pioneer's a privileged destination for Buddhist Ethipothala tourists looking to spend time sites near waterfalls: K RAMYA in the lap of nature. There are the dam and historic temples nearby. he Kondapochamma TNagarj the Nagarjuna SREE Reservoir Amidst the amazing Hill nestled in an enlists backwaters of the una Sagar Dam, India's second- island amid the he Covid-19-induced Chandrampalli Dam built reservoir. There are several weekend lockdown has taken a on the Bhima River, largest reservoir with waterfalls in the area that add to the toll on everyone. this place is a natural the tallest and the largest getaways Shrewd ones among beauty, which dam in the world, is one of beauty of the place and one such T us have explored and calls for a visit. the most picturesque places waterfall that you must visit is the where you can discovered untapped skills How to near Hyderabad. It has been so for Ethipothala Waterfalls. This waterfall is at a within us, during the whale of reach: It is many decades now and will continue small distance of 15 km from Nagarjuna have your a time we had during the 120 km to be so for generations to come. Sagar and offers a breathtaking view of clear lockdown. Having gone from It is not just the dam that holds your water cascading down from a height of 70 wishes through Covid scare, work attention here, but also the lush green feet. If you are a nature lover and a wildlife stress, anxiety linked to depth knowledge of the rich medieval Hindu town planning Hyderabad. landscape around it. Tourists flock enthusiast, you must head to the Nagarjuna fulfilled and prolonged stay indoors, many history of Telangana in general and architecture, apart from Can be reached to this dam for boating, fishing, Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a tiger millennials want to escape and Hyderabad in particular unending views of the valley. via Zaheerabad, and photography. The sunset reserve. You would be able to spot several get back home from the hustle-bustle at least may think that there is hardly Once you trek to the top, enjoy followed by here is sure to give you rare species of plants, animals, and for one day to reconnect with anything to explore around the lush green shrubs around the Chandrapalli. It is 25 some Instagram- birds here, while observing their the same day. themselves. Hyderabad. Fortunately, the fort. Just feel the mesmerising km from Zaheerabad and worthy pictures. behavior in their natural habitat. People who do not have in- state government is going all- breeze at the top. The best time 7 km from Chandrapalli. You can see out to give facelift to less- to start your trek will be in the Osman Sagar lake: excavated known, but enchanting tourist morning or before noon. This How to reach: ocated at about 90 km from Hyderabad City, spots in Telangana. There are will ensure you are back down Osman Sagar, also called ancient There are two ways of reaching this dam Ananthagiri Hills is a popular destination for umpteen spots to which one before dusk. It takes easily about Gandipet, is an excellent picnic from Hyderabad. One route takes you L Ananthagiri trekking and for those who love adventure. Ancient Hills can go from Hyderabad, 2-2.5 hours overall to complete spot, located on the outskirts of through Nalgonda and the other takes you caves, medieval forts-like structures and ancient unwind in Nature's lap, and the trek. However, if you want to Hyderabad. Osman Sagar is a Singur through Devarakonda, the latter being a temple give one an idea of the rich history of the area. return home rejuvenated the catch the sunset, you can always beautiful lake, located 20 km west Dam, beautiful pit-stop worth a stopover. Visitors rate it as one of the most beautiful places for same day. Be it treating your start early in the afternoon and of Hyderabad. The lake has an constructed a weekend getaway from Hyderabad. The road is in loved one with a romantic return before dark. abutting bund with lush gardens, across the DISTANCE FROM HYDERABAD: 153 KM good condition and takes you into dense forests with weekend getaway or an HOW TO REACH: which provide an ideal ambience Manjeera River, is beautiful trees and streams all along the way. Near invigorating trek with friends, for an outing. It also houses a among the most the lighthouse, if you take a 2 km diversion, you can here is a list of some of the If you plan to drive to heritage building, Sagar Mahal, favorite places for a places like Chilkur Balaji reach the topmost point in the Vikarabad region, places near Hyderabad to de- Rachakonda from Hyderabad, it which was built as a resort by the one-day trip from Temple, Sanghi Temple, which offers an excellent viewpoint. A trip to stress and rejuvenate oneself: will take you roughly around 1.5 Hyderabad Nizam. It was later Hyderabad. The deep waters Keesara Gutta, Sri Rama Vikarabad on a cloudy day with a little drizzle is all in one day! hours to reach the Galib Saheb transformed into a lake resort by of the reservoir are home to Chandra Temple, Yadagirigutta, simply an unforgettable experience and it is a poor RACHAKONDA FORT: Dargah. Rachakonda is situated the Department of Tourism. The about 1,000 crocodiles. The dam Jain Temple, Kolanupaka, Medak man's Ooty in summer. Do not forget to make a halt 64 km from Nalgonda and is well Gandipet lake beckons provides water to Hyderabad and Church, all distanced below 100 at the picturesque Sunflower Garden en route. Rachakonda Fort is an accessible by road. holidaymakers all over the year Secunderabad and is a source of km from Hyderabad. enchanting place to trek. It is Distance from Hyderabad: from all corners of the twin cities. hydro-electricity power. It So, what are you waiting for? How to reach: Ananthagiri Hills are easily accessible secluded from even the 56.5 km The cool breeze and soothing attracts many migratory birds in Pickup your trekking shoes, road, located nearly 90 km away from Hyd. surrounding villages. Many call Kondapochamma ambiance add to the serene winter. The lush greenery around pack your bags, and get ready to it ‘a hidden gem’! The history of Reservoir environment. Sprawling gardens the dam is a delight for nature be lost in Nature this weekend. the Rachakonda Fort is with colorful flora, vegetation, and lovers and bird watchers. intricately woven with the Everyone knows Shamirpet trees towards the dam’s lower How to reach: It is 92 km (With inputs from history of the Velama lake. If you travel about 15 km sides make the place truly Hyderabad and is accessible by Telangana Tourism) Edupayala Vana rulers. The fort gives a from Shamirpet, you can find the picturesque. The lake also offers road from Sangareddy in Medak Durga Bhavani breathtaking view of the picturesque Kodapochamma boating facilities to visitors Temple entire city, particularly Sagar Reservoir. Ever since its looking forward to a pleasant when you take the ambience came into limelight, the ride. vantage point at the fort’s place has been attracting legions How to reach: Osman Sagar Pocharam south-east corner. The of young and old alike. The spot, lake is accessible by road at Dam uniqueness of this fort lies located around 50 km from nearly 30 km from Hyderabad. in its construction. It has Hyderabad, offers a breath-taking Bhongir Fort: been built without using view. It is also a perfect location any mortar in cyclopean to picnic with your family. The Many of India’s heritage masonry. The fort is also view from there seems like it is structures have lost their charm adorned with beams and straight out of a dream, nowhere in course of time due to lintels with ornate rock- close to the concrete city. With elements; yet, to this day, they cut walls. These rocks are lush greenery on the one side and represent magnificent pieces of about 2.5 million years pristine blue water body on the architecture. The Bhongir Fort How old. Every inch of this fort other, this place is just the sight in Nalgonda district of to reach: It is provides plenty of food one needs to beat monotony. Telangana is one such structure. well accessible by for thought for those How to reach: This place is It is a massive, impregnable road from Medak, nearly steeped in history. A trek located 50 km from Hyderabad. structure erected by Chalukya 15 km away and around t 3.5 km from Nagasanpally, 19 km from Medak Bus Station, and 110 km in this spot will take you It can be reached both on a two- ruler Tribhuvanamalla 110 km from from Hyderabad, the shrine of Sri Edupayala Vana Durga Bhavani is located A through plenty of gateways, wheeler and a four-wheeler and Vikramaditya VI, and is traced Hyderabad. near Nagasanpally in Medak district of Telangana. This is one of the popular underpasses, inscriptions and the drive is quite smooth and back to the 10th century. At the pilgrimage sites to visit around Medak and Hyderabad and one of the famous give you an inkling of the effortless. highest point, the Bhongir Fort one-day trips near Hyderabad. Built in the 12th century, the Edupayalu temple is one of the most famous and powerful temples in Telangana. River his place is a must-visit if you love picnics by the lakeside. You can sit under shades of Manjeera, flowing as seven streams, confluence at this place. The nearest tall trees and enjoy your meal first, and then walk a bit on the dam or dip your feet in town, Medak, is mere 8 kilometers away. Most tourists who visit Edupayala, T the water. You can carry your barbeque equipment with you, grill meat, and enjoy the go to the temple first, reach Medak, and then continue towards Edupayala. yummy food, lost in nature. There is a wildlife sanctuary near the dam, which is How to reach: Edupayala has good road connectivity. You can easily drive here surrounded by lush green forest. The place has rich flora and fauna, attracting from anywhere in the state. Medak is close to this location and is connected to winged visitors such as Brahminy Bucks, Bar-Headed Goose, and Open Billed the rest of the state through bus facilities. You can first reach Medak and then Stork. The sanctuary is home to animals like Wild Dog, Leopard, Wolf, take a bus to Edupayala, if you do not have a personal vehicle or a hired car. Jackal, Forest Cat, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, and four-horned Antelope. History and architecture lovers can stop by the Medak Fort, which is now abandoned. If you like to get a good view of Medak, you should get to the top of the fort too. 12 VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | DECEMBER 27, 2020

TOUCHING MOMENT… r a f 0 f 0 y In the 1980s and 1990s, r 0 e 2 v 2

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d when I was in the area, A I asked a tribal family what it was like. They OFFICER were so thrilled to see their child in a proper uniform, their pride and joy was evident on their faces. It’s a memorable From not knowing the difference between IFS, IAS and IPS to even what a moment for me. SEPARATION newspaper is, S Narsing Rao has come a long way to become the principal OF TS… During bifurcation of secretary to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. While he credits Andhra Pradesh, there his success to unbridled curiosity, focus and determination, he humbly fails to were some complex issues and mention his acute intelligence, his excellent grasp of Chemistry and, above all, apprehensions regarding Law & Order his drive to do well. Narsing Rao is described as ‘gutsy’ for his spontaneous and (safety and security to bold decisions, and it was one such decision that drove him to Civil service. the lives and properties of people from outside ’s Telangana), Left-wing From Singareni to ITDA project, he has excelled in every Theresponsibility, Pioneer A PROUD FATHER… extremism and including the ones thrust on him. Hailing from an agricultural family, Narsing I married Vanitha, a distant relative electricity crisis etc. of mine in 1985. She is a home- The TS Govt Rao’s journey is a true roller-coaster ride. In a first, he speaks to maker. Our son, Sankalp, was immediately focused about his childhood, education, agriculture, weathering the born on December 26. He shares K RAMYA SREE his birthday with Mao Zedong. on these issues very storm of State formation and everything in between. Mao changed the life of 1.5 billion seriously and the lecturers, and I had privilege as a people; I hope and wish my son results are there before THE ROAD TO collector, but they used to be sur- WANTED TO CIVIL SERVICE... makes a positive difference to 1.5 us on all these prised at my commitment and million people. I am a friendly EXCEL IN patience. issues—law and order, CHEMISTRY… During my PG, I went to the father, I gave him freedom while room of one of my friends in the HAVE BEEN A FARMER raising him to be focussed. He naxal issue and My mother always college hostel. My friend’s room- EARLIER… has fairly good academic career. electricity etc. The fact wanted me to become a mate was preparing for Civil After graduating in Computer that TRS party won T teacher. One of my Services. One look at the books I never played any sports in Science and Engineering from school or college. Things started 66% of the GHMC seats cousin was a primary school spread all over triggered my BITS Pilani, he joined the curiosity and I ended my dream of moving only post Masters. But it University of Columbia in New in February 2016 is a teacher. He used to take care of doesn’t mean that my childhood farm work and manage his job as doing Phd overseas. I saw a test York. He was working for testimony that within paper and I could answer a few was dull; rural life allows one to Bloomberg in New York in one year the goverment well. She wanted me to do the enjoy more than kids in urban same, but she wanted me to questions. I decided to try for Quintech area but quit and could dispel all such Civil Services. I went to Koti and areas can. went to join Harvard Business become a high school teacher. She Life was harsh but enjoyable; we fears from the minds of also didn’t want me to go to purchased all the books I could, School. He’s now working for a not even knowing what an aspi- got electricity in our village in tech strategy consultancy. I am people. Hyderabad for higher studies as 1972. We used to study in the she felt I might fall into bad com- rant should study. Even the shop- a proud father! keeper took pity at my confusion lamplight. I was born in a small pany. She insisted I go to village in Narsapur. Sangareddy for my and innocence. During my second Intermediate. I would stay year, more than attending classes, home for a few months and attend college for a few months as I WORKING OVERSEAS… had to take care of farming as well. I In 1997, there was a position for a technical joined a college in advisor overseas. I wanted to experience the thrill Jogipet for BSc. I of working overseas. I applied and got the job. I became serious went to Rome, but I was confused in terms of han- about education dling my family as my son was just six at that time. only after my UG. Later, I applied for a chief tech advisor position in I defied my Burma. They offered me the post of chief tech mother for the advisor, rural development. I worked overseas for first time by opt- many years and saved quite some money. As time ing for a Masters passed by, the urge to return to your home country instead of intensified. The government too wanted me to

becoming a return. My wife too was keen to return, but my son

teacher. I took 2006 in profits net into got it as CMFirst ever Dividend paid to GoAP by Singareni by GoAP to paid Dividend ever CMFirst

Handing over Maiden Dividend cheque to the to cheque Dividend Maiden over Handing wanted to continue there in an international admission in school. There was also the fact that I felt responsi- Osmania bility for my mother — it’s the son’s responsibility University for to take care of his parents. MSc Chemistry. My dream was My parents were from an agri- THE URGE TO SEE HPS… to do something I would sit and study for Civils. I cultural background. I too was a Studying in a rural school, I barely knew how a in the field of first applied for State Forest farmer — my father passed away school in a city looked like. When I was studying Chemistry, some- Service, later IAS. Surprisingly, I when I was 12 years old. here, a friend came from Karimnagar to seek thing respectable. cleared my prelims and then the From 1971 to 1979, I worked as admission for his brother’s child in HPS. I was so NOT READING fitness test. Everybody was a farmhand for my livelihood. At thrilled hearing that name itself. I wanted to see NEWSPAPERS… thrilled. I cleared my UPSC exam the age of seven, I used to walk 8 what HPS was like. I went with him to the school too. km to and fro to attend school, for just to have a look at HPS. Coming from Zilla You’ ll b e sur- eight years. Parishad, looking at such a humongous school was prised to know I FROM STATE FOREST SERVICE TO IAS… BEST TIME WITH a thrilling moment in my life. And now my son has didn’t even know TRIBAL WELFARE… been to two Ivy League universities — Columbia the difference I didn’t even know the differ- and Harvard. Early on, I worked mostly in between tennis and ence between the State Forest SINGARENI’S DEVELOPMENT… table tennis nor had I Service and IAS. As luck would tribal areas in East Godavari, ever read a newspaper. have it, I cracked IAS in my first Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam. My vision for Singareni was straightforward — I After my Class X results attempt, solely because of my The people at the International knew a one-time investment would fetch perma- were declared, I went to smart preparation. With my back- Fund for Agricultural nent returns. Without the power plant, there's no my school, and asked the ground in Chemistry and Development used to like me for Singareni. Now, Singareni yields a net profit of Rs son of one of my teachers if Zoology, I got All-India No. 5 my knowledge and interest. I 600 crore and will continue to do so for the next 25 I had passed. He said yes. rank. I did two years of State worked really hard for tribal years. This was achieved by a lot of hard work. I When I asked him how he Forest Service training, one year of development. My posting in Vizag joined Singareni in 2006; and there were no strikes knew, he said they were pub- Indian Forest Service, two years of with the tribal welfare department in 2007, for the first time in its history. Earlier, lished in the Indian Express. I IAS — six years of continuous is most memorable and the sec- workers used to strike every year. I would not had no idea that a newspaper training. It certainly helped me a ond-most was Burma. I think reveal how we did it, suffice to say that I did not lot in my career. During my because of my rural background, want the trade unions to dictate terms to the gov- called Indian Express existed! agriculture knowledge and sinceri- In Sangareddy, I started going course in Chittoor, I wanted to ernment. study Economics and enrolled ty, I could perform extremely well to the information centres to there. OPENING A BANK IN MALDIVES… read newspapers out of curiosi- myself in SV University. I used to ty. Until +2, I had never touched work in the morning and study I had a substantial part to play in setting up a a newspaper. from 10 pm to 1 am. I had kind developmental bank in Maldives. Before 2002, there was no such bank in Maldives. When we started the Bank of Maldives, we could hardly find anyone qualified for a bank job. Today they have a

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