12
T he Congress leadership in Delhi claims to have resolved the immediate crisis to the Congress Government in Rajasthan at the backdrop of feud between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, but all eyes will be at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Jaipur on Monday morning. Pilot is unlikely to attend the meeting and is reportedly ready for a showdown with the backing of two dozen or so MLAs. “We have conveyed his (Pilot’s decision to skip the meeting) to the high com- mand. He would wait for their call to take his decision,” sources close to Pilot said. Currently, Pilot along with his 20 ‘loyalists’ MLAs is camp- ing in Delhi to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and it was not clear till late evening whether he will proceed back to Jaipur. AICC has deputed Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala as observers and they have reached the state to foresee the impending political crisis. Several Congress leaders were aghast that Sonia and Rahul didn’t bother to meet Pilot even when the situation was so grave. “ This mentality has destroyed out party,” said a senior Congress leader. Echoing this frustration, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal tweeted, “”Worried for our party. Will we wake up only after the horses have bolted from our stables.” AICC sources said that Rahul Gandhi is in touch with Pilot over the last couple of days and hence there will be ne redo of the Madhya Pradesh scenario in Rajasthan. Rumour had it that Pilot met Scindia in Gurugram, but these later turned out to be false. But Scindia took to Twitter to express his solidar- ity with his old Congress col- league saying even he has been sidelined and he felt pity on the issue. “Sad to see Sachin Pilot be sidelined by Ashok Gehlot,” Scindia tweeted. The Congress strength in 200-member Assembly is 102, with its Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance having one MLA. After 6 Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs joined the Congress, the ruling party’s score in the House climbed up to 108. With the support of 13 Independents, 2 Bharatiya Tribal Party and two CPI-M MLAs, its tally stands at 125. The e BJP has 72 MLAs, with 3 MLAs from alliance partner Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. Party sources that around 20 MLAs seems to back Pilot and if they leave the party, the Congress numbers will fall under 100 while the BJP num- bers will touch 100. Sachin Pilot met senior party leader and party trouble shooter Ahmed Patel who has now briefed the situation to Sonia. Patel has conveyed to Pilot not to ‘panic’ over minor political issues and that he can solve it amicably and during the course his demands may be met. P resident Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit to a military hospital on Saturday, the first time the President has been seen in public with the type of facial covering recommended by health officials as a precaution against spreading or becoming infected by the novel coron- avirus. Trump flew by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Washington to meet wounded service members and health care providers caring for Covid-19 patients. As he left the White House, he told reporters, “When you’re in a hospital, especially ... I think it’s a great thing to wear a mask.” Trump was wearing a mask in Walter Reed’s hallway as he began his visit. He was not wearing one when he stepped off the helicopter at the facili- ty. The President was a late- comer to wearing a mask dur- ing the pandemic, which has raged across the US. Since March and infected more than 3.2 million and killed at least 134,000. Most prominent Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence, endorsed wearing masks as the coronavirus gained ground this summer. Republican Governors have been moving toward requiring or encouraging the use of masks as the pandemic has grown more serious in some States in the South and West. Trump, however, has declined to wear a mask at news conferences, coronavirus task force updates, rallies and other public events. A day after Amitabh Bachchan and his actor- son Abhishek Bachchan tested positive for Covid-19, Bollywood on Sunday suffered another jolt, as his daughter-in- law and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and granddaughter Aaradhya, senior actor Anupam Kher’s mother Dulari, his brother, bhabhi and niece tested positive for coronavirus. In a related development, the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sanitised four bungalows of the Bachchans — Jalsa, Pratiksha, Janak and Vatsa — earlier in the day on Sunday. The four bungalows, located at Juhu in north-west Mumbai, which fall under K/West ward have been sealed and declared as “con- tainment zones”. Abhishek, who had short- ly before Saturday midnight confirmed about Sr Bachchan and he having tested positive for Covid-19, tweeted on Sunday evening, “Aishwarya and Aaradhya have also tested Covid-19 positive. They will be self quarantining at home. The BMC has been updated of their situation and are doing the needful. The rest of the family including my mother have tested negative. Thank you all for your wishes and prayers.” Sr Bachchan and Abhishek are currently at Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital at Vile Parle in north-west Mumbai. “My father and I remain in hospital till the doctors decide otherwise. Everyone please remain cautious and safe. Please follow all rules!,” said Abhishek in another tweet. Sr Bachchan’s Rajya Sabha member-wife Jaya tested neg- ative for the pandemic. Confirming that his moth- er and other family members had tested positive for Covid- 19, senior actor Anupam Kher had tweeted, This is to inform all that my mother Dulari is found Covid + (mildly). We have admitted her into Kokilaben Hospital. My broth- er, bhabhi & niece in spite of being careful have also tested mildly positive. I got myself tested as well & I have tested negative. @mybmc is informed.!” Talking to mediapersons, Maharashra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said Rapid Antigen test of Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan had been done. “Both tested positive and are having an old cough and fever. Bachchan ji has specifically said in his tweet that all people who came in contact with him in past 5-7 days should get test- ed and quarantine them- selves...,” he said. I n an effort to equip frontline soldiers guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, the Army is all set to procure more than 74,000 assault rifles from the US. Given the current securi- ty situation, especially on the LAC in Ladakh, these rifles may be inducted through fast- track procedure. These Sig Sauer rifles man- ufactured by a US firm will considerably bolster the fire- power capabilities of the Indian Army infantry soldiers deployed on the 4,000-km long LAC and 750-km long LoC. Moreover, these versatile rifles will also enhance the close quarter battle capacity of the soldiers in the counter terror- ist operations in Jammu & Kashmir. Stressing these factors, sources said here on Sunday, the Army has already bought the first batch of 72,000 Sig Sauer rifles last year. The Rs 700 crore deal on fast track basis was inked in February 2019 and the rifles started arriving in December. Most of the lot is now in use in the Northern Command which guards the LAC, the LoC, anti-terrorist and anti-infiltration operations and the Siachen glacier. The order for another batch of nearly 74,000 rifles will be placed as per the special finan- cial powers granted to the armed forces for such emer- gency purchases, they said. Since the assault rifle is the basic and most crucial weapon carried by the infantry soldier, the Sig Sauer rifles will replace the existing Indian Small Arms System (Insas) 5.56x45mm rifles used by the forces and manufactured locally by the Ordnance Factories Board. The induction of these more than one and half lakh US made rifle, currently used by many countries around the world, will enable the soldiers to fight a modern day warfare, they said. While the latest planned induction comes in the back- drop of tension for more than eight weeks on the LAC in Ladakh, a pending order for 16,000 light machine guns (LMG) was also placed. F ishing in troubled waters of Rajasthan politics where Deputy Chief Minister and PCC chief Sachin Pilot is sig- nalling a revolt over differences with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday claimed that like him Pilot too has been “sidelined” by the Congress leadership which kills talents. Rajasthan politics has been in the flux over last few weeks with the ruling Congress in the State charging that BJP is try- ing to topple the Gehlot Government and replicating the Madhya Pradesh model where Scindia recently broke away with around 22 MLAs loyal to him and made way for the ouster of the Kamal Nath Government. Scindia who joined BJP in March, this year, after quitting as Congress General Secretary took pot shots at the Congress leadership for “sidelining Sachin Pilot” in preference to Gehlot and thus ignoring “merit”, he said. Tweeting on the current political situation in Rajasthan, he said, “Sad to see my erst- while colleague, Sachin too, being sidelined and persecut- ed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. T rue, love, veneration and agony know no logic. With entire India uniting in prayers for early recovery of superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his family members from corona, fans, nay his “devotees”, have started special prayers accom- panied by Mahamrityunjay Jaap in this unique temple — arguably the only one in the whole universe — dedicated in the name of what they call “Jay Shri Amitabh.” Cut to Sridhar Roy Road at Tiljala area of Kolkata where Sanjay Patodia has converted a part of his palatial mansion into a dedicated temple of the Big B whom he worships as the living “God of the Kalyuga.” The family skipped its dinner on Saturday night after learning about Bacchhan’s illness. “Ever since we learnt that Bachchan has corona we have started a special puja,” said a woman. Detailed report on P5 T here is immense potential in Chhattisgarh to work in the sectors of food processing, value addition of forest minor produce and medicinal plants including in areas where Naxalites are active, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Sunday. The Government will extend all assistance to NGOs interested in working in Naxalite areas in these sectors, he said. The Chief Minister was addressing ‘Pan IIT Global e- Conclave’ from his official res- idence office through video, an official statement said. While interacting with Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh, Baghel said that with 44 percent forest cover in the state, there are ample resources of minor forest produce and medicinal plants. Horticulture, agriculture and flora which have demand outside the state can also be taken up, he said. The value addition can generate employ- ment to locals. The Chief Minister also spoke about the steps taken to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the state, ensure employment opportunities through different schemes, opportunities to pre- pare ethanol from rice besides challenges on the Naxalite front. Baghel highlighted the hosting of Buyers-Sellers Meet for promoting agro-based industry. The state govern- ment has urged the Union Ministry of Aviation to estab- lish cargo transport facilities from Raipur. The statement said the Chief Minister highlighted the flagship programmes like Godhan Nyan Scheme and Suraji Gaon Yojana linked schemes. RNI Regn. No. CHHENG/2012/42718, Postal Reg. No. - RYP DN/34/2013-2015

˘ˇ ˆ !# #ˇ · 10 hours ago  · scenario in Rajasthan. Rumour had it that Pilot met Scindia in Gurugram, but ... President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit Saturday, the

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Page 1: ˘ˇ ˆ !# #ˇ · 10 hours ago  · scenario in Rajasthan. Rumour had it that Pilot met Scindia in Gurugram, but ... President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit Saturday, the

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The Congress leadership inDelhi claims to have

resolved the immediate crisis tothe Congress Government inRajasthan at the backdrop offeud between Chief MinisterAshok Gehlot and Deputy CMSachin Pilot, but all eyes will beat the Congress LegislatureParty (CLP) meeting in Jaipuron Monday morning.

Pilot is unlikely to attendthe meeting and is reportedlyready for a showdown with thebacking of two dozen or soMLAs. “We have conveyed his(Pilot’s decision to skip themeeting) to the high com-mand. He would wait for theircall to take his decision,”sources close to Pilot said.

Currently, Pilot along withhis 20 ‘loyalists’ MLAs is camp-ing in Delhi to meet Congresschief Sonia Gandhi and RahulGandhi and it was not clear tilllate evening whether he willproceed back to Jaipur. AICChas deputed Congress leadersAjay Maken and RandeepSurjewala as observers andthey have reached the state toforesee the impending politicalcrisis.

Several Congress leaderswere aghast that Sonia andRahul didn’t bother to meetPilot even when the situationwas so grave. “ This mentalityhas destroyed out party,” said asenior Congress leader.

Echoing this frustration,senior Congress leader Kapil

Sibal tweeted, “”Worried forour party. Will we wake up onlyafter the horses have boltedfrom our stables.”

AICC sources said thatRahul Gandhi is in touch withPilot over the last couple ofdays and hence there will be neredo of the Madhya Pradeshscenario in Rajasthan.

Rumour had it that Pilotmet Scindia in Gurugram, butthese later turned out to befalse. But Scindia took toTwitter to express his solidar-ity with his old Congress col-league saying even he has beensidelined and he felt pity on theissue.

“Sad to see Sachin Pilot besidelined by Ashok Gehlot,”Scindia tweeted.

The Congress strength in200-member Assembly is 102,with its Rashtriya Lok Dalalliance having one MLA. After

6 Bahujan Samaj Party MLAsjoined the Congress, the rulingparty’s score in the Houseclimbed up to 108. With thesupport of 13 Independents, 2Bharatiya Tribal Party and twoCPI-M MLAs, its tally stands at125.

The e BJP has 72 MLAs,with 3 MLAs from alliancepartner Rashtriya LoktantrikParty. Party sources that around20 MLAs seems to back Pilotand if they leave the party, theCongress numbers will fallunder 100 while the BJP num-bers will touch 100.

Sachin Pilot met seniorparty leader and party troubleshooter Ahmed Patel who hasnow briefed the situation toSonia. Patel has conveyed toPilot not to ‘panic’ over minorpolitical issues and that he cansolve it amicably and duringthe course his demands may bemet.

���� C5�0-@:!D@

President Donald Trumpwore a mask during a visit

to a military hospital onSaturday, the first time thePresident has been seen inpublic with the type of facialcovering recommended byhealth officials as a precautionagainst spreading or becominginfected by the novel coron-avirus.

Trump flew by helicopterto Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center insuburban Washington to meetwounded service members and

health care providers caring forCovid-19 patients.

As he left the White House,he told reporters, “When you’rein a hospital, especially ... Ithink it’s a great thing to weara mask.” Trump was wearing amask in Walter Reed’s hallwayas he began his visit. He was notwearing one when he steppedoff the helicopter at the facili-ty.

The President was a late-comer to wearing a mask dur-ing the pandemic, which hasraged across the US. SinceMarch and infected more than3.2 million and killed at least

134,000. Most prominentRepublicans, including VicePresident Mike Pence,endorsed wearing masks asthe coronavirus gained groundthis summer.

Republican Governorshave been moving towardrequiring or encouraging theuse of masks as the pandemichas grown more serious insome States in the South andWest. Trump, however, hasdeclined to wear a mask atnews conferences, coronavirustask force updates, rallies andother public events.

����+�5������� �5�*��

Aday after AmitabhBachchan and his actor-

son Abhishek Bachchan testedpositive for Covid-19,Bollywood on Sunday sufferedanother jolt, as his daughter-in-law and actress Aishwarya RaiBachchan and granddaughterAaradhya, senior actorAnupam Kher’s mother Dulari,his brother, bhabhi and niecetested positive for coronavirus.

In a related development,the Brihan Mumbai MunicipalCorporation (BMC) sanitisedfour bungalows of theBachchans — Jalsa, Pratiksha,Janak and Vatsa — earlier inthe day on Sunday. The fourbungalows, located at Juhu innorth-west Mumbai, which fallunder K/West ward have beensealed and declared as “con-tainment zones”.

Abhishek, who had short-ly before Saturday midnightconfirmed about Sr Bachchanand he having tested positivefor Covid-19, tweeted onSunday evening, “Aishwaryaand Aaradhya have also testedCovid-19 positive. They will beself quarantining at home. TheBMC has been updated oftheir situation and are doingthe needful. The rest of thefamily including my motherhave tested negative. Thankyou all for your wishes andprayers.”

Sr Bachchan and Abhishekare currently at Nanavati SuperSpecialty Hospital at Vile Parle

in north-west Mumbai. “My father and I remain in

hospital till the doctors decideotherwise. Everyone pleaseremain cautious and safe.Please follow all rules!,” saidAbhishek in another tweet.

Sr Bachchan’s Rajya Sabhamember-wife Jaya tested neg-ative for the pandemic.

Confirming that his moth-er and other family membershad tested positive for Covid-19, senior actor Anupam Kherhad tweeted, This is to informall that my mother Dulari isfound Covid + (mildly). Wehave admitted her intoKokilaben Hospital. My broth-

er, bhabhi & niece in spite ofbeing careful have also testedmildly positive. I got myselftested as well & I have testednegative. @mybmc isinformed.!”

Talking to mediapersons,Maharashra Health MinisterRajesh Tope said RapidAntigen test of AmitabhBachchan and AbhishekBachchan had been done.“Both tested positive and arehaving an old cough and fever.Bachchan ji has specificallysaid in his tweet that all peoplewho came in contact with himin past 5-7 days should get test-ed and quarantine them-selves...,” he said.

��5��������� @GC��G60-

In an effort to equip frontlinesoldiers guarding the Line of

Actual Control (LAC) facingChina and the Line of Control(LoC) with Pakistan, the Armyis all set to procure more than74,000 assault rifles from theUS. Given the current securi-ty situation, especially on theLAC in Ladakh, these riflesmay be inducted through fast-track procedure.

These Sig Sauer rifles man-ufactured by a US firm willconsiderably bolster the fire-power capabilities of the IndianArmy infantry soldiersdeployed on the 4,000-km longLAC and 750-km long LoC.Moreover, these versatile rifles

will also enhance the closequarter battle capacity of thesoldiers in the counter terror-ist operations in Jammu &Kashmir.

Stressing these factors,sources said here on Sunday,the Army has already boughtthe first batch of 72,000 SigSauer rifles last year. The Rs 700crore deal on fast track basiswas inked in February 2019and the rifles started arriving inDecember. Most of the lot isnow in use in the NorthernCommand which guards theLAC, the LoC, anti-terroristand anti-infiltration operationsand the Siachen glacier.

The order for another batchof nearly 74,000 rifles will beplaced as per the special finan-

cial powers granted to thearmed forces for such emer-gency purchases, they said.

Since the assault rifle is thebasic and most crucial weaponcarried by the infantry soldier,the Sig Sauer rifles will replacethe existing Indian Small ArmsSystem (Insas) 5.56x45mmrifles used by the forces andmanufactured locally by theOrdnance Factories Board.

The induction of thesemore than one and half lakhUS made rifle, currently usedby many countries around theworld, will enable the soldiersto fight a modern day warfare,they said.

While the latest plannedinduction comes in the back-drop of tension for more than

eight weeks on the LAC inLadakh, a pending order for16,000 light machine guns(LMG) was also placed.

����������� ���������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������ �������������������� � ���!"�������������������������� #��$���������%������

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Fishing in troubled waters ofRajasthan politics where

Deputy Chief Minister andPCC chief Sachin Pilot is sig-nalling a revolt over differenceswith Chief Minister AshokGehlot, BJP leader JyotiradityaScindia on Sunday claimedthat like him Pilot too has been“sidelined” by the Congressleadership which kills talents.

Rajasthan politics has beenin the flux over last few weekswith the ruling Congress in theState charging that BJP is try-ing to topple the GehlotGovernment and replicatingthe Madhya Pradesh model

where Scindia recently brokeaway with around 22 MLAsloyal to him and made way forthe ouster of the Kamal NathGovernment. Scindia whojoined BJP in March, this year,after quitting as CongressGeneral Secretary took potshots at the Congress leadershipfor “sidelining Sachin Pilot” inpreference to Gehlot and thusignoring “merit”, he said.

Tweeting on the currentpolitical situation in Rajasthan,he said, “Sad to see my erst-while colleague, Sachin too,being sidelined and persecut-ed by Rajasthan Chief MinisterAshok Gehlot.

��������������������������������������� ��� ������� ��������� � ���������������������� ������������� �

&���������������������������������������������������������������������������������#�$������� ����'�������&��������������(���������������� �)*

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True, love, veneration andagony know no logic. With

entire India uniting in prayersfor early recovery of superstarAmitabh Bachchan and hisfamily members from corona,fans, nay his “devotees”, havestarted special prayers accom-panied by MahamrityunjayJaap in this unique temple —arguably the only one in thewhole universe — dedicated inthe name of what they call “Jay

Shri Amitabh.”Cut to Sridhar Roy Road

at Tiljala area of Kolkata whereSanjay Patodia has converteda part of his palatial mansioninto a dedicated temple of theBig B whom he worships asthe living “God of theKalyuga.” The family skippedits dinner on Saturday nightafter learning about Bacchhan’sillness. “Ever since we learntthat Bachchan has corona wehave started a special puja,”said a woman.

Detailed report on P5

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There is immense potentialin Chhattisgarh to work in

the sectors of food processing,value addition of forest minorproduce and medicinal plantsincluding in areas whereNaxalites are active, ChiefMinister Bhupesh Baghel saidon Sunday.

The Government willextend all assistance to NGOsinterested in working inNaxalite areas in these sectors,he said.

The Chief Minister wasaddressing ‘Pan IIT Global e-Conclave’ from his official res-idence office through video, anofficial statement said.

While interacting withRajya Sabha member JairamRamesh, Baghel said that with44 percent forest cover in thestate, there are ample resourcesof minor forest produce andmedicinal plants.

Horticulture, agricultureand flora which have demandoutside the state can also betaken up, he said. The valueaddition can generate employ-ment to locals.

The Chief Minister alsospoke about the steps taken tofight the Covid-19 pandemic inthe state, ensure employmentopportunities through differentschemes, opportunities to pre-pare ethanol from rice besideschallenges on the Naxalite

front. Baghel highlighted thehosting of Buyers-Sellers Meetfor promoting agro-basedindustry. The state govern-ment has urged the UnionMinistry of Aviation to estab-lish cargo transport facilities

from Raipur.The statement said the

Chief Minister highlighted theflagship programmes likeGodhan Nyan Scheme andSuraji Gaon Yojana linkedschemes.

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Page 2: ˘ˇ ˆ !# #ˇ · 10 hours ago  · scenario in Rajasthan. Rumour had it that Pilot met Scindia in Gurugram, but ... President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit Saturday, the

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The members of GairsainRajdhani Nirman Abhiyan

termed the plan of construct-ing the State’s third VidhanSabha building in Raipur,Dehradun as a foolish politicaldecision by the StateGovernment.

In a meeting of the associ-ation on Sunday, the memberssaid that implementing thisplan would lead to a totalwaste of money and resourcesof the State.

According to one of themembers Manoj Dhyani, whenthe whole country is sufferingdue to Covid-19 pandemic,this plan appears to be super-fluous. Therefore, the membersof the association demanded

the government to utilise thesaid resources to construct anInternational Covid-19 andOther Viruses Research Centreand Hospital in Uttarakhandfor the welfare of the public.

Moreover, they alsodemanded the Government togive the manufacturing con-tracts of the State only to theresidents of Uttarakhand inorder to provide employmentand livelihood to the young-sters.

It is pertinent to mentionhere that State Government isplanning to build a new com-plex at Raipur housing both theVidhan Sabha and secretariat.Apart from existing VidhanSabha building in Dehradun,one also exists in the summercapital Gairsain.

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Announcing the setting upof the SIT during his

#AskCaptain Facebook Livesession on Sunday, PunjabChief Minister CaptAmarinder Singh has alsowarned that the StateGovernment would not allowprivate hospitals or laboratoriesto profiteer from the unprece-dented crisis facing humanity.

“I had received a complaintagainst Tulli lab and had askedthe Vigilance Bureau to lookinto the matter. But when ini-tial investigation showed thatthere was no involvement ofany Government Departmentor officer, the case was trans-ferred to the Punjab Police,” hesaid.

The Chief Minister saidthat the three-member SITtasked with the probe is head-ed by Amritsar PoliceCommissioner Amritsar, whohimself is a doctor, with CivilSurgeon as a member. “I haveordered the SIT to conduct athorough investigation andsubmit its findings soon, sothat suitable action can be

taken,” he added.A spokesper-son of the Chief Minister’soffice later said that the ChiefMinister had taken strongexception to SAD leaderBikram Singh Majithia’sattempts to “politicize” thesimple jurisdictional decisionof transferring the probe to thedistrict police.

“Apart from the fact thatthe Vigilance Bureau had,prima facie, not found anycomplicity of governmentdepartment or official in thecase, Tulli Labs itself hadmoved the Court challengingthe Bureau’s jurisdiction,” hesaid, adding that theGovernment deemed it fit totransfer the case to the PunjabPolice to ensure that no legalhurdle is posed later.

“Rather than raising sucha nonsensical issue and weak-ening the morale of the PunjabPolice, Majitha should investhis time and energy in pres-surizing the Akalis’ politicalmasters in Delhi to put a stopon CBI interference in thePunjab Police investigation inthe Bargari and other sacrilegecases, and the subsequent

policing firing incidents,” saidCapt Amarinder.

ON HARYANA-TYPEQUOTA IN JOBS

Ruling out quota forPunjab’s youth in jobs on thelines of Haryana, CaptAmarinder said that he did notthink the neighbouring state’srecent decision in this regardwould stand judicial scrutiny.

Responding to a questionby a youngster on why PunjabGovernment could not followthe Haryana model in thisregard as mostly outsiderswere getting jobs in Punjab,Capt Amarinder said that theConstitution and the lawbarred any such discriminationin the matter of jobs.

He pointed out thatPunjabis were employed allover the country, with norestrictions by any state. “Wecannot stop youth from otherstates taking up jobs inPunjab,” he said, adding that hedid not believe Haryana’s deci-sion could be upheld in thecourts.

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In response to a questionwhether the recentlyestablished Shiromani AkaliDal (SAD) of Sukhdev SinghDhindsa was a Congressgame-plan, the ChiefMinister made it clear thatwhat happens in the Akaliparty “is not our job”.

“They keepfighting…History shows thatthey keep getting divided.There is nothing new in it. Atone point of time, there wereseven Akali Dals. The Akaliparty is like a rubber band —it keeps expanding and con-tracting,” he quipped, addingthat these kinds of things arenormal in their party.

He added, “If Dhindsacould not stay with them afterbeing part of SAD his entirelife, what can one say…Thebeauty of democracy is thatone can align with any partyany time”.While he welcomesas many political parties aswant to join the political band-wagon, the Chief Minister saidthat he was against any partywhose main intent is to disturbthe state’s peace.

FIND WAYS TO

ENSURE ONLINE EDUCA-TION ACCESS FOR POORAND RURAL STUDENTS:CAPT TO EDU DEPT

Amidst reports of gov-ernment school teachers get-ting the data pack recharge oftheir students from poor orworkers’ class, Punjab ChiefMinister Capt AmarinderSingh on Sunday tasked thestate Education Department towork out ways to ensure seam-less delivery of education tostudents with no or inadequateonline access.

“Given the COVID-19 sit-uation, which was preventingregular offline classes to beheld, it was imperative toensure equal educationalopportunity and access for allstudents, including the poorand rural students,” the ChiefMinister said in response to aquestion during #AskCaptain.

He said that the EducationDepartment was exploringways and means to deal withthe challenge of impartingeducation to those who do nothave access to online systems.

“The new processes would

be put in place very soon toensure that students do notsuffer due to the prolongedsuspension of physical classes,”he added.In response to anoth-er question regarding schoolfees, Capt Amarinder said thatthe State Government hadalready filed a Letters PatentAppeal (LPA) challenging thePunjab and Haryana HighCourt’s decision allowing pri-vate schools to charge fee evenwhere no online classes wereheld during the lockdown peri-od.

On the issue of universityand college exams for the finalterm students, the ChiefMinister made it clear that hedoes not agree with the latestUGC guidelines making itmandatory for exams to beheld by September.

“The UGC should leave itto the states to decide, giventheir ground realities,” he said,adding that he hoped thePrime Minister, to whom hehad written a letter a daybefore in this regard, wouldunderstand the State’s con-cern and intervene in the inter-est of the safety of the students.

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Chief Minister Shivraj SinghChouhan has said that

Corona pandemic has affectedthe street vendors involved insmall business the most but theState Government standsbeside them.

Madhya Pradesh tops inimplementing the PradhanMantri Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (P.M. SwaNidhi) scheme, which is beingimplemented in the state tohelp the street vendors to con-tinue their business and toincrease it. Chouhan said that

maximum benefit of thescheme will be given to smallbusinessmen like vegetablevendors, people running chaatshops and related to tailoringworks besides tea sellers in thestate, so that all these can besaved from the burden of inter-est and can conduct their busi-ness smoothly for the suste-nance of their families.

The Government will lendfull support to the people doingsmall businesses to removetheir economic difficulties. TheChief Minister Chouhan washolding talks with the streetvendors of the state through

Video conferencing fromMantralaya. Street vendorswere very joyous to have veryaffectionate conversation withthe Chief Minister Chouhanand most of them addressedChief Minister Chouhan asMama.

The Chief Minister saidthat under the scheme, theprocess of providing identitycards to all registered streetvendors in the state should becompleted. He said that thescheme will be reviewed con-stantly. Apart from urban streetvendors, a scheme to provideinterest free assistance of Rs

10,000 is being implementedfor the street vendors of ruralareas of the state. On timelyrepayment of the loan, doubleamount i.e. Rs 20,000 will besanctioned next year. Chouhanfurther said that many times, aperson engaged in small busi-ness spent all his life time inpaying off the debt.

Under this scheme, thebeneficiary will have a facilityto repay the loan in one yearand business of everyone willget boost because of the loanwithout interest. The govern-ment will take the loan guar-antee. Many businessmen who

had shut down the business willnow be able to restart theirbusiness.Chouhan held talkswith the beneficiaries of vari-ous districts. Most of the ben-eficiaries believed that the gov-ernment has lent them a greathelp during the crisis.

Pooja Rathore of Anuppuris involved in tailoring work.She had started sewing work inJanuary this year after pur-chasing 4 new machines.

She never expected thecorona virus crisis. Pooja toldthat her business was shut, shealso ran out of the savings andbecame indebted.

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Indian Railways loaded spe-cial parcel train to

Bangladesh for the first timeon Sunday. The train startedfrom Reddipalem in Gunturdistrict of Andhra Pradeshstate and for Benapole inBangladesh.

A senior railways officialsaid that Guntur and its sur-rounding areas in the state ofAndhra Pradesh are wellknown for Chillies cultivation.

“The quality of this farmproduce is internationallyrenewed for its uniqueness intaste and brand.

Earlier, the farmers andmerchants in and aroundGuntur area have been trans-porting dry Chillies by road toBangladesh in small quantitiesand that was costing aroundRs 7000 per tone,” he said.

“During the lockdownperiod, they could not movethis essential commodity byroad. Then Railway staff andofficials approached the con-signors and explained the

facilities to transport by rail,”the ministry said in a state-ment.Accordingly, they havemoved the dry chillies by railin bulk through goods trains.But for moving the consign-ment by goods trains, it ismandatory for the farmersand merchants to mobilisethe quantity in bulk i.e. at leastmore than 1500 tonnes ineach trip, it added.

To mitigate this problemand to facilitate the Rail usersto move their quantities insmalls i.e., up to a maximumof 500 tonnes in each trip,Guntur division of South

Central Railway took the ini-tiative and moved the specialParcel express to Bangladesh,it added.“This has helped thefarmers and merchants ofGuntur to market their farmproduce beyond the countryborder by transporting theDry Chillies in small quanti-ties through parcel express,”

he sai.Accordingly, onetrain consisting of 16 parcelvan moved to Benapole inBangladesh. Parcel van wasloaded with 466 dry chilliesbags, weighing around 19.9tonnes and the total weightcarried by the expres is around

384 tonnes. The cost per tonnefor carrying by rxpress is Rs.4,608 and which is very cheapand economical as comparedto Road transport which isamounting to Rs. 7,000 pertonne, he said.It may be notedthat Indian Railways has takena series of steps to boost par-cel train traffic during theCovid period.

The ministry said thattransportation of essentialitems like medical supplies,medical equipment, food, etcin small parcel sizes are avery important items thatneeded for business as well asconsumption purposes.

In order to fill in thisvital need, Indian Railwayshas made railway parcel vansavailable for quick masstransportat ion by e-Commerce entities and othercustomers including stategovernments,

the official said, addingthat railways has been run-ning time-tabled trains onselect routes, to ensure unin-terrupted supply of essentialitems.

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Cybercrime cases jumpedby more than 67% per

cent till June 2020, in thecyber city as compared toJune 2019.

A total of 5,779 cases havebeen reported in the city inthe first half of the currentyear. The figure was 3,466 in2019 during the same timeperiod, according to theGurugram police data.

The common types ofcybercrime were e-commercescams, phishing, debit/creditcards, mobile wallets, pre-tending to be customer carerepresentatives and many oth-ers.

Cyber experts suggest thatthe reason behind the drasticincrease in number of cybercases the pandemic ofCOVID-19 and the imposedlockdown, has led to morepeople to be confined at homewith many more hours tospend online each day andincreasingly relying on theInternet to access services,they normally obtain offline.

At the same time, thelockdown has also signifi-cantly increased concernsabout vulnerable personsonline.

The elderly, who usuallyrely on offline shopping andhave now to purchase whatthey need from the internet,equally find themselves moreexposed to cybercrime.

“The dangers of cyber-crime have been there formany years, but the increasein the percentage of the pop-ulation connected to theInternet and the time spentonline, combined with thesense of confinement and theanxiety and fear generatedfrom the lockdown,

have provided moreopportunities for cybercrim-inals to take advantage of thesituation and make moremoney or create disruption,”said the cyber experts.Onlinefraud cases are on the rise; thefraudsters manage to obtainconfidential details such asdate of birth, CVV/PIN num-bers,

credit/debit card num-bers, expiry date and evenOTP from gullible customersunder the pretext of callingthem from the bank’s cus-tomer care office.

According to police, aftergetting the details, the scam-mers make payments tomobile phone and online pay-ment service providers, whichare quite difficult to trace or

retrieve. The cyber criminalsmainly, targeting senior citi-zens, chi ldren andwomen.Cyber cell cops alsoblame easy access to infor-mation and technologicaladvancement for the spikes incyber crime cases.

Net banking has made iteasy for criminals to siphonoff money from accounts andsuch fraud takes time to solve,said an official with the cybercell.

“On an average, we receive5 to 10 complaints a day.Fraudsters operate from far offplaces such as Mewat inHar yana, Bharatpur inRajasthan and Mathura inUttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

They also change thephone numbers which areobtained using fictitiousnames.

Also, network signals fre-quently jump from one mobiletower of one state to anotherproviding an appropriateshield for the fraudsters.

Moreover, the victims filecomplaints very late, whichmakes it tough to nab theaccused,” said a senior policeofficial of the city police.

He further said, “We aretaking immediate action onthe complaints of online bank-ing fraud.

If any complaint isbrought to us within 24 hours,we can recover the moneywith the help of the bankingstaff. Only a few percent ofvictims report within 24hours,” he said.

“The only way to avoidsuch fraud among the peopleis awareness. They should notreveal their bank details toanyone because no banksasked any account holderdetails on the phone.

The only trusted websiteshould be used in the onlinetransaction,” he said , addingthat we have also instructedthe bank officials of the sev-eral banks they must takequick actions on the victimcomplaints and strict actionwill be initiated against themif any lapses are found on theirbehalf,” he said.

“Although the risk ofbeing attacked will remain,some mitigation measuresmay help users and employ-ers. For the users, it is rec-ommended to be very vigilantabout phishing emails andwebsites, practice good cyberhygiene, use only trusted Wi-Fi networks and consideradopting a password manag-er to help to avoid using thesame password for multiplewebsites.” he added.

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With over 1,573 fresh coro-navirus cases being

reported on Sunday, the totalnumber of people infected withCovid- 19 reached 1,12,494till date, in the National Capital.

As per the Sunday heathbulletin released by the Delhigovernment, 89968 patientshave recovered and dischargedor migrated so far, while num-ber of active cases stood at19155, it said

Rapid-antigen tests werestarted in the city on June 18.Since then a total of 789853tests through the RT-PCR(reverse transcription–poly-merase chain reaction) andrapid-antigen methods havebeen conducted in Delhi witharound 9443 (RT-PCR) testsconducted on Sunday.

According to healthauthorities, rapid-antigen test-ing is an easy and cheapermethod as compared to theRT-PCR test. Each testing kitcosts Rs 450 and can provideresults within 30 minutes ascompared to RT-PCR test thattakes three to four hours.

The kits, called Standard QCOVID-19 Ag detection, havebeen developed by South

Korean company S DBiosensor. The testing methodinvolves looking for antibodieswhich are produced when thebody is exposed to a pathogen.If a person has antibodies asso-ciated with novel coronavirus,it means the person is eitherCOVID-19 positive or hasrecovered.

According to the IndianCouncil of Medical Research,suspected individuals who testnegative for COVID-19 inrapid-antigen test shouldundergo RT-PCR to rule outthe infection.

While positive test resultsshould be considered as truepositive and do not need recon-firmation by RT-PCR test, itsaid. Rapid-antigen testingrequires a prescription and anICMR form filled by a regis-tered doctor, and a governmentidentity proof, same as that forRT-PCR test.

According to the govern-ment the active cases of coro-navirus reported on Saturday inthe national capital were thelowest in the last 31 days andnot even a single coronaviruspatient under home isolation inthe city has died in July andthere has been a "sharp decline"in daily fatality figures in thepast two weeks.

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Roorkee mayor Gaurav Goeland 12 councillors of

Municipal Corporation ofRoorkee (MCR) joined theBharatiya Janata Party at a func-tion here in the presence of BJPState president Bansidhar Bhagatand chief minister TrivendraSingh Rawat on Sunday.

Goel was earlier in the BJPbut had contested the MCR elec-tion as an independent candi-date after being denied a ticketby the party. Speaking on theoccasion, the CM said that theBJP had registered victory in fiveout of eight municipal corpora-tions in the State.

With Goel joining the BJP,there will now be BJP mayors insix of the eight municipal cor-porations. Rawat said, “Localbodies are in themselvesautonomous mini-governmentswhich strengthen the StateGovernment. With the Roorkeemayor and 12 councillors join-ing the BJP, the party will defi-nitely become stronger. Now, 75per cent of municipal corpora-tions have BJP mayors. We havegiven the state a completely

corruption-free government andthe state is presently movingforward swiftly. We are confi-dent that Goel will continueworking efficiently for the devel-opment of Roorkee and fulfillexpectations of the public,” saidthe CM.Speaking on the occa-sion, the BJP state president wel-comed Goel to the party, statingthat though he had contested theelection as an independent can-didate due to some conditions,he never made a negative com-ment about the BJP organisa-tion.

Bhagat said, “Goel alwaysmaintained good coordinationwith the BJP workers. Today hehas once again become a part ofthe BJP. Not only in Uttarakhandbut across the antion, the partyis moving ahead strongly. Theblame for causing degenerationin the nation goes to theCongress party. There was aperiod when Atal BihariVajpayee assumed charge at theCentre following which thenation began progressing swift-ly in the right direction.However, unfortunately theCongress came to power againand brought the nation to dire

straits. Today under the leader-ship of PM Narendra Modi,India stands in the front row ofpowerful nations,” he said, whileadding that in the future too theBJP will continue holding func-tions to bring new memberswithin its folds to furtherstrengthen the party.

Expressing his views, Goelsaid that he had contested thelocal body election as an inde-pendent due to the circum-stances. But, even then his sen-timents for the party were thesame as when he was a memberof the party. He said, “I contest-ed the election but never usedwrong words for the BJP and its

organisation. I am experiencingconsiderable joy in once againbecoming a member of theBJP,” said Goel.

The councillors who joinedthe BJP along with Goel includeDevki Devi, Punam Devi,Virendra Gupta, SachinChowdhary, Navnit Sharma,Ankit Chowdhary, NeetuSharma, Geeta Devi, VinitaRawat, Dhiraj Saini, Nitin Tyagiand Ajay Pradhan.BJP state vicepresident and MLA Khajan Das,State minister Dhan SinghRawat, state vice presidentDevendra Bhasin and otherparty leaders were also presenton occasion.

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Page 3: ˘ˇ ˆ !# #ˇ · 10 hours ago  · scenario in Rajasthan. Rumour had it that Pilot met Scindia in Gurugram, but ... President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit Saturday, the

RAIPUR | MONDAY | JULY 13, 2020chhattisgarh 03

Tribal farmers of Bagicha block of Jashpur district, Chhattisgarh, are involved in growing the horticulture crop Pear (Naashpaatee) in 750 acres of land,producing around 660 metric tonnes each year. Now, this pear is being supplied to New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other states. Pioneer Photo

STAFF REPORTER nBHILAI

Police have arrested aBangladeshi woman from

Chhattisgarh's Bhilai town-ship for living in India evenafter her visa had expired.

Following a tip, the 30-year-old woman, Jyoti RaselShaikh, was arrested fromSector 6 Avenue Quarters onSaturday night, the SHO ofBhilainagar police station,Trinath Tripathi, told ThePioneer over phone.

Her visa for India expiredon September 13, 2018. Butshe stayed on in the countryand illegally obtained Aadhar

and PAN cards and alsoopened an account at theIndian Bank at Juhu, NagarNavi Mumbai, the officer

said.She got these Indian doc-

uments claiming that she is acitizen of India, he added.

Police have charged withviolating a string of laws. Shewas presented before a courton Sunday, the officer said.

Bangladeshi woman livingwith expired visa arrested

STAFF REPORTER nAMBIKAPUR

Ambikapur has become thefirst city in Chhattisgarh

to make masks mandatory forpurchasing goods as part ofthe fight against Covid-19.

The decision was jointlytaken by the city's Chamber ofCommerce and theAmbikapur MunicipalCorporation (AMC) onSunday.

“At a meeting of AMCand the Chamber, business-men voluntarily proposed a‘no mask, no goods’ policy.Now customers will have towear masks for purchasinganything from shops,” MayorAMC Ajay Tirki told The Pioneer over the phone. It was also decided to

keep the city market closedfor two days, he said.

Ambikapur marketremains normally shut onTuesday. Now it will be closedon Wednesday too.

Ambikapur is the head-quarters of Surguja district,where, as per official data, 87persons have been foundcoronavirus positive so far. Ofthese, 31 are still undergoingtreatment. One person fromAmbikapur died due to Covidinfection.

Health Minister T.S.Singh Deo represents theAmbikapur assembly seat.Ambikapur, was declaredIndia's second cleanest city in2019 after Indore.

‘No mask, no goods’in Ambikapur STAFF REPORTER n

RAIPUR

With the detection of 96fresh cases of Covid-19

in Raipur of the total 150cases found acrossChhattisgarh, the state capi-tal remains the hotspotruson Sunday.

Two deaths were alsoreported on Sunday, officialssaid.

A man from Durg diedof septic shock and othercomplications at the Dr BRAmbedkar MemorialHospital, Raipur. And a 41-year-old COVID positiveman from Raipur too died ofcoronavirus infection at thehospital. He suffered massivecardiac arrest, officials said.

Among the 150 newcas-es, 96 were from Raipur, 17from Janjgir-Champa, 9

from Kanker, 5 from Surguja,3 each from Balod, Bilaspur,Korea, Bastar andNarayanpur, 2 fromDhamtari and 1 each fromDurg, Gariaband,Kabirdham, Baloda Bazar,Raigarh and Balrampur.

The total number ofactive Covid cases hasswelled to 900 inChhattisgarh while 19 per-sons have died due to thedeadly infection. So far 4,081persons have been detectedcorona positive in the state.

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarhgovernment has againpostponed the entranceexaminations for the PrayasResidential School foradmission in Class 9 andEklavya Model ResidentialSchool for admission inClass 6.

The examination wasscheduled on July 14 andJuly 16 respectively.

According to astatement from the Tribaland Scheduled CasteDevelopment Department,the examinations have beenpostponed in view of thecrisis created by Covid-19pandemic across the state.The next dates for tests willbe notified.

In the first instance, theexamination was fixed onJune 24 for Prayas and onJune 26 for Eklavya schools.

STAFF REPORTER nKOREA

District Collector SatyaNarayan Rathor on

Sunday discussed ways to pro-mote the Amritdhara,

a natural waterfall locatedin Korea district in the north-ern part of Chhattisgarh.

Holding a review meet-ing, the Collector asked offi-cials from different depart-ments to take up the renova-tion of cottages for tourists'stay, ensuring power supplyand extending canteen facili-ties at the earliest.

He directed the officialsto fix the rate for stay so thatonline booking facilities canbe extended to the tourists.He told them to raze the oldbuildings near the RestHouse, according to an offi-cial statement.

The Public Health

Engineering department wastold to install water supply inthe cottages. To ensure secu-

rity, deployment of ForestGuards and Constables wasordered.

Closed Circuit Television(CCTV) will come up tomonitor the cleanliness. The

other works suggested werefixing entertainment equip-ment for children, cleanlinessof public comfort stations,installing sign boards, paint-ing of main gate and beautifi-cation of the spot by planta-tion, said the statement.

The Amritdhara waterfall, inManendragarh block, originatesfrom Hasdeo river, a tributary ofthe Mahanadi. The water fallsfrom a height of 90 feet.

In 1936, the then King ofKorea state, Ramanuj PratapSingh Judeo, started a fair onMaha Shivaratri, givingimportance to a Shiv templelocated nearby. It continuesto be held till date, with lakhsof devotees visiting the tem-ple on Maha Shivaratri.

The officials were told toput up railing at the TourismInformation Centre and nearthe waterfall for the safety ofthe public.

STAFF REPORTER nRAIPUR

Thanks to the good rainfallin Chhattisgarh, all the

major reservoirs in the statehave seen their water holdingcapacity going up to around60 percent.

Average rainfall in thestate between June 1 and July12 has been 397.3 mm, said anofficial statement on Sunday.

According to the StateFlood Control room data,Korba recorded the highestaverage rainfall of 17.8 mm,Balrampur 17.4 mm andJanjgir-Champa 13 mm, saidthe statement. Dhamatrireceived the least averagerainfall 0.1 mm.

The good rainfall has helpedin filling up the reservoirs.

According to the DailyTank Gauge Report ofImportant Reservoirs ofChhattisgarh Water Resources

Department, all the 11 majorwater reservoirs in the statehas average water filling of60.58 percent.

The level at DamsMinimata-Bango reservoir is84.45%, at Ravishankar Sagar( Dhamtari) 50.78%, Tandula(Balod) 28.94%, Dudhwa

(Kanker) 67.35%, Sikasher(Gariaband) 53.4%, KharangBilaspur 79.11%, Sondur(Dhamtari) 77.03%,Murumsilli (Dhamtari)55.21%, Kodar(Mahasamund) 55.54%,Maniyari (Mungeli) 100% andKelo (Raigarh) 14.66%.

Residentialschool admissionexams postponed

Major reservoirs filled up to 60%

STAFF REPORTER nRAIPUR

Suspecting foul play, BJPleader and Leader of

Opposition in theChhattisgarh assembly,Dharamlal Kaushik, onSunday demanded a high-powered committee to probethe deaths of three female ele-phants in the state.

The report from theCentre for WildlifeConservation Managementand Disease SurveillanceIndian Veterinary ResearchInstitute (IVRI), Bareilly,Uttar Pradesh, mentioned thepresence of some heavy met-als and HCN (HydrogenCyanide) in the tissues of thedead elephants.

It ruled out the presenceof chemicals used in fertilizerin the viscera sent for the test.

“There is no clear men-tion that pesticides consump-tion caused the deaths. OnMonday, the state-level com-mittee will meet and analyzeit, after which we will be ableto brief about the reasons fordeaths,” Additional PrincipalChief Conservator of Forest(Wildlife) Arun Pandey toldThe Pioneer over phone.

Three female elephants

were found dead in PratappurRange of Surguja andBalrampur Forest Division onJune 10 and 11.

BJP's Kaushik alleged thatthe state government was notserious about elephant con-servation.

“The government shouldform a high-level independ-ent committee to probe thecause of deaths so that it canbe clarified under what cir-cumstances these are happen-ing,” Kaushik was quoted assaying in a press release.

The death of seven ele-phants in the past one monthis a matter of concern for us,the BJP leader said. On anaverage one elephant diedevery fourth day. It has raisedmany questions includingwhat is the government doingfor the conservation of wildelephants, he said.

Govt acts to promote Amritdhara waterfall

Kausik seeks high-level panelto probe elephant deaths

Report from IVRI, Bareilly,

mentionspresence of

heavy metals in bodies ofelephants

STAFF REPORTER nRAIPUR

In an attempt to increase itsefficiency, police have

launched a drive to collect thedetails of Aadhaar and PANcard numbers and bankdetails of rogue elements andhabitual offenders in theChhattisgarh capital.

Also being sought aredetails of their whereabouts.

“All anti-social elementshaving criminal records aresummoned in respectivepolice stations of Raipur withtheir vital records, includingtheir identification IDs, fin-gerprints and their Aadhaarand PAN numbers and bank

details,” Raipur'sSuperintendent of Police AjayYadav told The Pioneer onSunday.

"By doing this, our objec-tive is very clear. We want to

increase the efficiency ofRaipur Police by strengthen-ing the basic policing and alsowant swift and comprehen-sive action in criminal cases,"the officer added.

This will help police toact more swiftly, Yadav said.

On Sunday, 377 habitualoffenders and criminalsshowed up at police stationsacross Raipur, he said.

Police collect records of Aadhaar,bank details of criminals

Covid kills two, 150fresh cases found

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The Centre on Sunday said it hasdecided to ensure capturing of

FASTag details while registering orissuing fitness certificate to vehiclesall over the country.

In a letter addressed to NIC,with copies to all the States and UTs,the Ministry has informed that fullintegration of National ElectronicToll Collection (NETC) withVAHAN portal has been achieved,Ministry of Road Transport andHighways said in a statement.

The VAHAN system is nowgetting all information on FASTagsthrough VIN/VRN (vehicle iden-tification number/ vehicle regis-tration number), it added.

FASTag employs radio fre-quency identification (RFID) tech-nology for making toll payments on

national highways directly from theprepaid or savings account linkedto it.

A prepaid tag, fixed on vehicles'windscreen, allows automateddeduction of toll charges, and letsany vehicle pass through a toll plazawith zero human contact.

"As such, the ministry hasasked to ensure capturing FASTagdetails while registering new vehi-cles, as also while issuing fitnesscertificates to vehicles plying undernational permit," the statementsaid.

The fitment of FASTag in newvehicles at the time of sales of vehi-cles of category M and N, was mademandatory in 2017.

"But the integration with bankaccount or they being activated wasbeing avoided by citizens, whichwould be checked now. Fitment ofFASTag is to ensure that vehiclescrossing the National Highway feeplazas use electronic medium ofFASTag payment, and cash pay-ment is avoided.

"This usage and promotion ofFASTag will also be effective tominimising possibilities of spread-ing Covid at NH Toll Plazas," thestatemenr said.

The ministry had issued aGazette notification in November2017, on this scheme.

A total of 1.68 crore FASTagshave been issued across the coun-try till the beginning of May 2020.

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In a double whammy for themiddle class and the poor,

already suffering from the lock-down impact and coronaviruspandemic, prices of essentialgrocery items and vegetableshave increased across India.

Traders are also citingmonsoon rains, short supplyand the unprecedented rise inprices of diesel and petrol tohave led to a massive hike inthe prices of essential com-modities.

As per wholesale marketsdata, prices of vegetables havedoubled in the past few weekswith tomato prices havingreached to �80-90 a kg.

According to Ministry ofConsumer Affairs’ data, prices

of essential commodities havebeen increased in several partsof the country. In Pune, priceof rice has touched �56 a kgwhile wheat is being sold at �45in Nashik. Atta and Gram dalis being sold at �57 and �90respectively in Mayabundar inAndaman & Nicobar. Arhar isbeing sold at �140 in Andaman& Nicobar.

In Mumbai, Moong dal isbeing sold at �150 a kg. Masoordal is being sold at �115 inSiliguri. In Jammu, Vanaspatioil is being sold at �150 a litrein a packet. Mustard oil inTirupathi is �200 a kg.

In Mumbai, the rice isbeing sold at �33; Atta ( Wheat)�36; Gram dal �85; Arhar�108; Moong at �151 a kg. Therice is being sold at �52 a kg ;

wheat at �38 a kg; Gram dal at�68 a kg; Arhar at �108 a kg;Urad at �126 a kg and Gur at�50 a kg in Bangaluru. InDelhi, the price of rice, Atta(floor)wheat, gram, arhar,

sugar, potato, onion and toma-to is �35, �24, �74, �96, �38,�32, �25 and �60 respectively.

As compared to the lastmonth data, there is an increaseof �2 to 10 in essential com-

modities except vegetables inthe some parts of the country.Market experts say that tradersattributed the increased to highcost of transportation due toincrease in diesel and petrol

prices. As far as vegetables prices

are concerned, the prices haveincreased due to short supplyand high transport cost.

In the national capitalregion, the wholesale prices ofthe common kitchen staple —onion, tomato and potato —have doubled in the majormandis (markets) across thecountry owing to an increase inthe wholesale demand for veg-etables and transportation cost.

The wholesale price oftomato has more than doubledfrom �4.8/kg to �50-60/kgfrom 3 June to July 8. In theretail market, tomato is beingsold between �80-�100 a kgwhile the mandi prices of onionhave also increased from�6.5/kg to �20/kg in the sameperiod. The wholesale rate ofpotatoes for the same period

has shot up from �13/kg to �21/kg. The spike in wholesaleprices of these vegetables is alsolikely to inflate the retail pricesof these commodities.

Traders say that the supplyof fruits and vegetables is stilllow as farmers are said to bereluctant to bring their produceto the mandis.

In the last five weeks, dieselprice has increased on 24 occa-sions while petrol rates haverisen 21 times.

The cumulative increasesince the oil companies start-ed the cycle on June 7 totals to�9.17 for petrol and �11.55 fordiesel.In Mumbai, petrol ispriced at �87.19— unchangedsince June 29, while diesel ratewas hiked to �79.17 litre from�79.05.

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Even as drugs like Remdesivir andTocilizumab have been recom-

mended as "investigational therapies"for the treatment of a hospitalisedcoronavirus patient, the Union HealthMinistry wants the States and Unionterritories to tread cautiously in theusage of these medicine “as their indis-criminate use or use in conditions forwhich they are not desirable, maycause more harm than good.”

In a video conference with stateson Covid case management, officialsof the Ministry asserted that in theabsence of a cure, the clinical man-agement protocol for Covid-19 wouldbe most effective for the standard ofcare treatment for mild, moderate andsevere coronavirus cases.

"The States have been told that theavailable evidence for Remdesivirsuggests that it may decrease thetime for clinical improvement when

used in moderate to severe cases.However, there have been no benefitsin terms of reduced mortality.

“It has to be used with extremecaution due to its potential for seriousadverse effects including liver and kid-ney injury," said the Health Ministryofficial.

Similarly, Tocilizumab studieshave not shown any benefits in mor-tality reduction. However, if used forpatients with severe conditions, prop-er informed consent is required.Rampant use is to be discouraged sincethe effect of the drug is directed at the"cykotine storm", added the official.

"For mild cases, which are nearly

80 percent of the total cases,Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has beenrecommended. The standard of caretreatment strategies have shown toyield positive results," said the official.

According to the Ministry, all the"investigational therapies" are requiredto be carried out only in properhealth care facilities where close mon-itoring of patients is possible so thatpotential complications can be man-aged.

"The ICMR strongly recom-mended that the focus of clinical man-agement should continue to remain onoxygen therapy (including high flownasal oxygen), steroids (which arewidely available and inexpensive),appropriate and timely administrationof anti-coagulants and high-qualitysupportive care, including mentalhealth counselling for patients andclinical management of pre-existingillness and palliation of symptoms,"said an ICMR official.

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The much-awaited changes in the teamof BJP President JP Nadda, who has

taken over the reins of the party from AmitShah, are expected to be effected soon evenas the Union cabinet too is required to fillvacancies existing on account of the demiseof top party leaders including Arun Jaitley,Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar.

The sudden emergence of the coron-avirus pandemic had thwarted the meet-ing of the party’s National Council, the toppolicy making body, to approve Nadd’s ele-vation from working president to the full-time chief of the BJP as also the reshufflein the party and the Union Cabinet,according to sources.

A major reconstitution of the party’soffice bearers was awaited even during thetenure of Shah but that did not happen as

a highly centralised mechanism did notapparently require more hands as manyassembly polls and subsequently the 2019Lok Sabha polls were contested under theguidance of Prime Minister NarendraModi and Shah.

The untimely passing away of centralMinisters Jaitley, Swaraj, Kumar and the ele-vation of M Venkaiah Naidu, another for-mer Minister, to the Constitutional post ofVice President has created slots in theModi Cabinet. Against this backdrop, a fewhands from the party may be shifted to thegovernment, they said.

The Parliamentary Board of the BJP,the highest decision making body, toowould need fresh inductions in view of theabsence of the three veterans. Swaraj, theonly woman representative in the Board,could have a replacement with anotherwoman party leader.

New Delhi: Naresh Kadyan, thedisgruntled former HaryanaKhadi Board employee bookedfor filing a false complaint againstKhadi and Village IndustriesCommission (KVIC), is abscond-ing, said a report by the DelhiPolice.

The police in its probe foundthat Kadyan, with a “mala fide”intention to defame KVIC,accused the Gandhian institutionof dealing with prohibited items- ivory and whale bone.

The investigators, who havefiled its probe report before acourt here to carry forward fur-ther investigation, now reportedthat Kadyan has fled his Delhiresidence and that his mobilephone was not reachable.

The report said the Delhipolice officer investigating thematter had gone to his residencein the national capital to serve

him a notice to join the investi-gation on the complaint filed byKVIC but “the residence ofNaresh Kadyan was foundlocked.”

“His neighbours informedthat Kadyan is currently out ofDelhi. However, on furtherenquiry, two security guards ofthe society informed the policethat Palwal Police, Haryana, alsohad come looking for Kadyan afew days ago and probably,Kadyan has fled his house,” thereport said, adding, "his mobilephone could not be reacheddespite several attempts".

Earlier, the Delhi Police hadissued a notice to Kadyan askinghim to join investigation in thecomplaint filed by KVIC whichhas accused him of concealingfacts and filing a false complaintagainst it.

Issuing notice to Kadyan,

the Delhi Police also asked himto appear before it on July 2 at 10am with the original documentspertaining to various organisa-tions formed by him where hehad fraudulently used the word“National” with the name of hisorganisation and designated him-self as Chief NationalCommissioner.

Kadyan, masquerading as anRTI activist and a social workerto file frivolous complaints and

harassing government officials,has been booked by Delhi Policeunder section 182 of IPC for giv-ing false information in a crimi-nal complaint lodged by him at IPEstate police station in Delhi.

However, the probe reportfiled before MetropolitanMagistrate said the charges lev-elled against KVIC were ‘baseless’and ‘malafide’ and Kadyan hadfiled the case with the intentionto malign the image and reputa-tion of KVIC.

“Since by filing a false com-plaint with mala fide intentionand deliberately concealing thevital information in the com-plaint, the complainant has mis-led the police and is misusing theprocess of law to defame a reput-ed government organization,appropriate process may be ini-tiated against him,” police told thecourt. PTI

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When Covid-19 patientshave an acute ischemic

stroke (AIS), it not only has asevere but also a fatal effect,according to new findings pub-lished in Stroke.

Some of these complica-tions include acute respiratorydistress syndrome, cardiacarrhythmias, acute cardiac injury,shock, pulmonary embolism,cytokine release syndrome andsecondary infection, contribut-ing further to the worse out-comes including higher mortal-ity in these patients, said theresearchers in the study.

They had analyzed data on

patients with Covid-19 and AIStreated at 28 health care centersin 16 countries this year ie 2020and compared their health withAIS patients without Covid-19from the Acute Stroke Registryand Analysis of Lausanne(ASTRAL) Registry, from 2003to 2019. Researchers sought todetermine the clinical charac-teristics and outcomes of patientswith Covid-19 and AIS.

Between January - May2020, there were 174 patientshospitalized with Covid-19 andAIS. Each Covid-19 patient withAIS was matched and comparedto a non-Covid-19 AIS patientbased on a set of pre-specifiedfactors including age, gender

and stroke risk factors (hyper-tension, diabetes, atrial fibrilla-tion, coronary artery disease,heart failure, cancer, previousstroke, smoking, obesity anddyslipidemia).

The final analysis included330 patients total. In both patientgroups, stroke severity was esti-mated with the National Instituteof Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS),and stroke outcome was assessedby the modified Rankin score(mRS).

When AIS patients withCovid-19 were compared tonon-Covid-19 patients, it wasfound that the former categoryhad more severe strokes , high-er risk for severe disability fol-

lowing stroke and were morelikely to die of AIS.

The researchers noted thereare several potential explanationsfor the relationship betweenCovid-19-associated strokes andincreased stroke severity: "Theincreased stroke severity atadmission in Covid-19 associat-ed stroke patients compared tothe non-Covid-19 cohort mayexplain the worse outcomes.

“The association highlightsthe urgent need for studies aim-ing to uncover the underlyingmechanisms and is relevant forprehospital stroke awarenessand in-hospital acute strokepathways during the currentand future pandemics."

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Attacking the Congress for its unin-terrupted criticism of the Modi-

Government on a range of issues includ-ing national security and economy, seniorBJP leader and Union Minister MukhtarAbbas Naqvi on Sunday hit out at it forbeing probed for a spate corruptioncharges and asserted that the “commo-tion of corruption” under the "carpet ofclan” is “crystal clear” and thus creating“chaos” in the Opposition party.

Naqvi said arrogance of ‘Merchantof Corruption’ proves that ‘there is some-thing fishy’ (Dal me kuch kala hai).

“Commotion of Corruption underthe ‘Carpet of Clan’ is ‘Crystal Clear’. This‘Commotion of Corruption’ has become‘Chaos of the Congress’,” he told newsper-

sons here in a rhyming way.The Minority Affairs Minister said

that those who cannot differentiatebetween “burger and baingan (brinjal)”,“pyaz (onion) and pizza”, ”ganna (sugar-cane) and gur (jaggery)”, “dhan (grain)and pan (betel leaf)”, “solar plant and solarpark” are giving statements full of igno-rance on country’s economy, security andreforms.

They are trying to become “PoliticalPantywaist in Pandemic Period”.

Naqvi said that India is the onlydemocratic country of the world which,under the leadership of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, provided free food to 81crore people, one nation one rationcard, free gas cylinders to 8 crore fami-lies, Garib Kalyan Package worth �1.70lakh crore.

He said �1,500 were given into bankaccounts of 20 crore women, �19,000crore given under PM Kisan SammanNidhi during the challenges of Coronapandemic.

These steps instilled a sense of‘Development with Trust’ among the peo-ple of the country, he added.

Naqvi said during the Corona crisis,the Modi Government brought historicand path-breaking reforms in socio-economic-educational fields, adminis-tration, trade, labour, defence, coal, civilaviation, power distribution, space, for-est land, agriculture, communication,banking, investment.

These bold reforms have ensured thatIndia has converted ‘disaster into oppor-tunity’ and increased peoples’ trust inModi’s leadership, he said.

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Senior Bharatiya Janta Party(BJP) leaders including

National Vice PresidentAvinash Rai Khanna, NationalGeneral Secretary RamMadhav and MoS PMO, DrJitendra Singh on Sunday vis-ited the residence of SheikhWasim Bari, killed by the ter-rorists last week, in Bandiporaand offered condolences to theclose family members on behalfof the Prime Minister of India,Narendra Modi.

Hailing him as BJP's 'Tigerin Kashmir valley', senior BJPleaders said, "the sacrifices of

these Nationalists will not go invain. BJP stands with familymembers of Bari in this hour ofgrief ".

Bari's father Bashir Sheikhand younger brother OmarSultan were also killed in coldblood by the terrorists whilethey were sitting together insidetheir office cum shop.

BJP leaders also demand-ed that the administration ofJammu & Kashmir must tracethe killers as early as possibleand neutralize them soon.

During their meeting with thefamily members Ram Madhavassured the family membersthat terrorists and their sup-porters will be taken to task.

"Those people who areresponsible for this act, shouldbe neutralized. He alsodemanded fool proof securitycover for BJP leaders and partyworkers.

Senior BJP leaders alsohanded over a Cheque ofRs.10 Lac to the Wife of LateWaseem Bari and assured themfull support in future as well.

Avinash Rai Khanna said,"We expressed our sympathieswith the family and assuredthem of all possible help".

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Sunday saw 4,244 new per-sons testing positive for

Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu while68 deaths were reported in theState in the last 24 hours,according to a medical bulletinby the Department of PublicHealth and PreventiveMedicine.

Out of the 4,244 personsdiagnosed with Covid-19 in theState, 1,168 were from Chennai.The three neighbouring dis-tricts Chengalpet (245),Kancheepuram (385) andThiruvallur (232) continuedto be problematic spots with noabatement in the number ofinfected persons.

The scenario in other dis-tricts is no different as Madurai(319), Thoothukudi (136),Vellore (151) , Virudhunagar(246) and Tirunelveli (131)showing considerable increasein the number of persons diag-nosed with the pandemic.

As on Sunday, Tamil Naduhad 46, 969 covid-19 patientsacross the State. The number ofcovid-19 cases detected tilldate in the State reached 1.38lakh.

The number of laboratoriesin the State to test the samplesrose to 105. The number ofpersons tested on Sunday were41, 325 while till date morethan 1.5 million persons acrossthe State have been tested.

Out of the 68 deaths regis-tered on Sunday, 60 had co-morbidity conditions.

The only news that offeredsome consolation was the num-ber of patients cured of thepandemic. On Sunday, 3,617persons were discharged fromhospitals fully cured and thistook the number of personscured in the State till date to89.532.

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China’s wildlife trade shouldbe thoroughly investigated

as part of efforts to uncover theorigin of the coronavirus pan-demic, researchers have saideven as the World HealthOrganization (WHO) hasrushed its scientists to thedragon country, ahead of plansfor a larger internationalresearch team to probe the pan-demic’s origin.

“The mission objective is toadvance the understanding ofanimal hosts for Covid-19 andascertain how the diseasejumped between animals andhumans,” said TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus, theWHO’s director-general,

recentlyThe team will work close-

ly with officials and the scien-tific community in China todecide what kind of investiga-tions are needed and where,said Michael Ryan, director ofthe WHO’s emergencies pro-gramme. He said a good placeto start is in Wuhan, where thefirst clusters of atypical pneu-monia emerged.

Researchers said the focusshould be on activities linkedto China’s wildlife trade —both legal and illegal — includ-ing hunting areas, storage facil-ities, farms and markets. “Allparts of the wildlife supplychain need to be investigated,”said Alice Latinne, an evolu-tionary biologist at the WildlifeConservation Society Vietnam

in Hanoi. “We need to test anywild or farmed wild animalspecies that could potentially bein close and frequent contactwith humans in China,” shesaid.

Most researchers agreedthat the SARS-CoV-2 virusprobably originated in horse-shoe bats, but the route it tookto get to humans remains amystery. The virus could havejumped directly from bats topeople and evolved over timeinto the current pandemic

strain, or it could have passedthrough intermediate animals.

Researchers pointed outthat the wildlife trade — inwhich many animals comeinto close proximity with eachother and people — offers theperfect conditions for a virus inone species to spill over intoanother.

The investigators shouldscrutinize the circumstances inwhich the pangolins in Chinawere seized, the animal speciesthey were housed with, andwhether people involved inthe wildlife trade have coron-avirus antibodies, said ArinjayBanerjee, a coronavirusresearcher at McMasterUniversity in Hamilton,Canada. Following that trailcould help scientists find a

closer relative to SARS-CoV-2,he said.

The WHO investigationsshould also look at other mam-mals commonly hunted andtraded in southern China, espe-cially small carnivores androdents, said Latinne. Anotherpriority should be bats in thesouthern province of Yunnan,she said — a hotspot for batcoronaviruses where the clos-est known relative to SARS-CoV-2, called RaTG13, hasbeen identified.

Researchers should alsokeep an open mind, and lookbeyond the wildlife trade andknown coronavirus reservoirs,added Sophie Gryseels, an evo-lutionary biologist at theCatholic University of Leuven,Belgium.

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Page 5: ˘ˇ ˆ !# #ˇ · 10 hours ago  · scenario in Rajasthan. Rumour had it that Pilot met Scindia in Gurugram, but ... President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit Saturday, the

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Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh reportedanother record single-day tally of 1,933new coronavirus cases in 24-hoursending 9 am on Sunday, the fourth con-secutive day of an all-time high num-ber of daily cases, and 19 more casual-ties -- another record.

The state tally of new cases was1,814 on Saturday, 1,608 on Friday and1,555 on Thursday.

Health Department officials saidthat the total corona cases in AndhraPradesh were now 29,168.

As per the Covid bulletin, new caseswere reported from all 13 districts --East Godavari with highest 268, fol-lowed by Kurnool with 237 cases,Krishna with 206 cases, and Chittoorwith 159. Guntur reported 153 newcases, and Srikakulam 145 cases.

In all, 17,624 more tests were doneas against 20,590 in the cycle endingSaturday morning. As many as 846 per-sons were discharged from hospitalsand Covid treatment centres in the state.

By Sunday, active cases in AndhraPradesh totalled 13,428, apart from15,412 cured patients.

A total of 19 deaths were reported

from different parts of the state, thehighest reported on any day since thecorona outbreak. Kurnool andSrikakulam reported four deaths each,Krishna and Visakhapatnam threeeach, Chittoor two, and Nellore,Anantapur, and West Godavari onedeath each. The total death toll now is328.

Meanwhile, positive cases amongreturnees from other states to AndhraPradesh fell by 16 over previous day'snumbers. But returnees from Telanganacontinued to dominate this category,with 16 of the 18 new cases from amongreturnees from the neighbouring Telugustate. One case each was reportedfrom Odisha and Karnataka returnees.

As of Sunday morning, 2,403 per-sons have so far tested positive amongstate returnees. This category's activecases total 559, with 1,844 recoveries.

Only one new case was reportedfrom foreign returnees -- a patient withtravel history to Kuwait.

The total tally in this category is429, with 323 cured patients. As ofSunday, 106 patients in this category areunder treatment. IANS

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For the first time July 13 will not beobserved as 'Martyrs day' by the

Government of Jammu & Kashmir onMonday.

After the Abrogation of Article 370 andreorganisation of the erstwhile state intotwo Union Territories on August 5, twopublic holidays, on July 13 along with thebirth anniversary of former Chief MinisterSheikh Abdullah celebrated on December5, were both omitted from the list by theadministration in December 2019.

Earlier, leaders belonging to the main-stream political parties would converge atthe Mazar-e-Shuhada at Ziyarat HazratNaqshband Sahib (RA) in Shehar-e-Khaas,Srinagar to offer floral tributes to the 13thJuly, 1931 martyrs.

Interestingly, this time, in the wake ofCovid-19 pandemic the district adminis-tration in Srinagar has also decided to reim-pose lockdown conditions in certain

areas of Srinagar district to contain thespread of coronavirus from Monday.

On Saturday, the total tally of positivecases crossed 10,000 mark in the Union ter-ritory of Jammu and Kashmir.

On Sunday, at least nine patients dieddue to Covid 19 in Kashmir valley alone.

“The lockdown will be imposed in 68containment zones of the city from Mondayand no movement would be allowed inthese areas without permission”, a formalorder issued by the district administrationsaid.

“In view of the major spike in Covid-19 cases, we will have to carve out con-tainment zones for effective restrictions indifferent areas of Srinagar. Local cooper-ation is solicited in the best interest of pub-lic health,” Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar,Shahid Iqbal Choudhary tweeted sepa-rately.

According to Deputy Commissioner,Srinagar, ''No entry and exit will be allowedwithout a movement pass from the red

zone in case of essential services,” adding,''no civilian or employee shall be allowedto come out or go inside a red zone with-out a valid movement-proof.''

The decision to reimpose the lockdownin these areas of the city was taken at ameeting late Saturday evening, officialsources said. The city has witnessed a spikein the number of coronavirus cases over thepast one week.

Meanwhile, the district authorities inAnantnag and Kupwara too have decidedto impose strict lockdown guidelines amidfresh surge in the cases of coronavirus.

Soon after the decision was taken, alarge number of tourists present inPahalgam area of Anantnag were directedto return within a span of two hours .

On the other hand, the situation inJammu region remained partially better butthousands of local residents,ignoring socialdistancing guidelines, Sunday travelled toa local tourist hotspot in Patnitop andNathatop to enjoy cool climes.

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Kerala tested more than 400covid-19 cases for the third

successive day on Sunday. Theday saw 435 persons gettingdiagnosed with the pandemicwhile there has been a steep hikein the number of persons (206)getting infected through socialcontacts.

While 128 out of the 435who tested positive were expa-triates, 87 were those whoreturned to the State from otherparts of India. The number ofpersons undergoing treatment inthe State due to covid is 3,743.

13, 478 samples were sentfor testing on Sunday. The num-ber of persons admitted to hos-pitals too saw a hike. A total of633 persons were admitted tohospitals in the State on Sunday.

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True, love, veneration andagony know no logic. With

entire India uniting in prayersfor early recovery of superstarAmitabh Bachchan and hisfamily members from corona,fans, nay his ‘devotees’ havestarted special prayers accom-panied by MahamrityunjayJaap in this unique temple —arguably the only one in thewhole universe — dedicated inthe name of what they call “JayShri Amitabh.”

Cut to Sridhar Roy Road atTiljala area of Kolkata whereSanjay Patodia has converted apart of his palatial mansion intoa dedicated temple of the Big Bwhom he worships as the liv-ing “God of the Kalyuga.”

The family skipped its din-ner on Saturday night afterlearning about Bacchhan’s ill-

ness one is told. “Ever since welearnt that Shri Bachchan hascontacted corona we have start-ed a special puja andMahamrityunjay Jaap to securehis wellbeing,” said one of thewomen members of thePatodia household. Accordingto the Hindu traditionsMahamrityunjay Jaap is doneto save the life of a person froman imminent danger.

The 24x7 special Puja willcontinue till each member ofthe Bachchan family gets cured,said senior Patodia adding,“we have nothing in our lifesave Bachchan ji. Despite beingin Mumbai we feel his presencehere.

We have secured dresses,shoes, spectacles used by himand they are all worshippedseparately. Here but from todaywe have made differentarrangements apart from the

daily puja of Amitji,” he saidpointing at the “Garbha Griha”or sanctum sanctorum of the“temple” where they haveinstalled an idol of the super-star sitting on a throne like aGod.

On a normal day of regu-lar puja a “Filmy Aarti” is per-formed here every six minutes

where they chant a speciallycreated Amitabh Chalisa of 9pages. After the Puja the visi-tors are given Prasadam.Patodia a staunch Amitabhaficionada constructed thetemple in way back in the year2001. Since then he organizesa daily Puja here of whom hecalls “my living God.”

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The National InvestigatingAgency court in Kochi

remanded Swapna Suresh andSandeep Nair, the main accusedin the gold smuggling case bust-ed by the customs officials atThiruvananthapuram, remand-ed to three days by judge PKrishnakumar on Sunday.

The duo was arrested by theNIA team probing the case fromBangalore late Saturday evening.They were brought to Kochi bySunday noon and were subject-ed to covid-19 test at Aluva, theresult of which is expected byMonday.

Judge P Krishnakumar whoheard the NIA ordered thatSwapna and Sandeep be sent tocoronavirus centers at Karukuttiand Thrissur respectively. Oncethey test negative for Covid-19,the NIA team has been asked toproduce them before the court.

The NIA asked the court tosend them to custody for tendays. But the judge decided tosend them to corona observationcentre for three days and asked

the agency to produce theaccused in the court on Mondaywhen the court would take adecision on the plea by the NIA.

Later, Swapna and Sandeepwere sent to coronavirus obser-vation centers.

The case got wide publici-ty because of the links theaccused had with senior officialsin the Chief Minister’s Office. MSivasankar, Principal Secretary tothe Chief Minister was shuntedout following disclosures madeby a section of the media that theformer had close liaison withSwapna Suresh.

Swapna, who was holding animportant position in one of theventures launched by theInformation TechnologyDepartment has since been dis-missed from service. The goldsmuggling case hogged limelightbecause of Swapna’s involve-ment in getting the consignmentaddressed to the UAE Consulatein Thiruvananthapuram releasedfrom the Customs officials at theAircargo complex.

The Customs officials hadraided the apartments of Swapna

and Sivsankar atThiruvananthapuram andreportedly seized incriminatingdocuments. Following chargesmade by the Opposition partiesthat the CMO had a role in thegold smuggling, Chief MinisterPinarayi Vijayan wrote to thePrime Minister asking for acomprehensive probe into thewhole affair. The Centre prompt-ly handed over the investigationto the elite NIA which took intocustody Swapna and Sureshwithin hours.

Sarith, former PRO of theUAE Consulate has been held bythe Customs officials lastMonday itself. It was Sarith andSwapna who reportedly inter-vened for the Consulate in get-ting the consignment released.Sarith is the first accused in thecase as per the FIR filed by theNIA.

The agency had listed FazilFareeth a Dubai based busi-nessman as the third accused.The Customs had taken Ramees,a specialist in gold smugglingfrom Malappuram, who is beinginterrogated at Kochi.

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Madras High Court’s observationmade on Thursday that vested

interests were acting against the devel-opment of Siddha branch of medicine asit was not being given due recognitionsubstantiates the doubts expressed byIndia’s medical warriors Prof B M Hegdeand Dr C V Krishnaswami.

Justices N Kirubakaran and V NVelumani while hearing a habeas corpuspetition filed on behalf of

Thiruthanikachalam, a Siddha practi-tioner, who was arrested under theGoondas Act for circulating a videoaccusing the Tamil Nadu Government ofnot having done anything to contain theCovid-19 pandemic, said that vestedinterests were acting against the devel-opment and promotion of Siddha.

The judges said in their interim orderthat both the Union Government and theState Government were not doing enoughto make use of Siddha branch of medi-cine in the country.

Jammu�� A Lashkar-e-Toiba terroristfrom Pakistan, Usman responsible foran attack on a CRPF party in the modeltown area of Sopore on July 1 wasamong three terrorists gunned downby the joint teams of security forces inRebban area of Sopore in Baramulladistrict on Sunday.

According to a police spokesman,“the encounter started in the Rebbanarea of Sopore on the basis of a pin-pointed information in the wee hoursof Sunday”. The encounter lasted sev-

eral hours and the joint teams of secu-rity forces exercised restraint to avoidany collateral damage in the area.

Late evening, Inspector General ofPolice, Kashmir range, Vijay Kumarsaid, “one of the three terrorists includ-ed a Pakistani LeT terrorist Usman. Hewas involved in the recent terror attackat Sopore in which one CRPF jawanwas martyred and one civilian waskilled”. Police teams also recovered 3AK rifles and other ammunition fromthe site of gunfight. PNS

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NCP chief and formerDefence Minister Sharad

Pawar said here on Sunday thatChina—which “has the power,vision and programme to actagainst Indian interests” -- wasa “bigger threat to India” thanPakistan.

In the second part of athree-part interview being pub-lished in the Shiv Sena’s officialmouth-piece “Saamana”, Pawasaid: “Whenever we think of anenemy country, the first coun-try that comes to our mind isPakistan. But, we need notworry much about Pakistan.From the long term point ofview it is China – which haspower, vision and programme– that is a bigger threat to Indiathan Pakistan”.

“There is a huge differencebetween the military power ofChina and Pakistan. China isten times stronger than India interms of both Military mightand economic power,” Pawarsaid.

Pawar said that the stand-off between India and Chinacould not be solved through awar but it had to be resolvedthrough diplomatic strategies.“Instead of striking, we shouldtry to put international pressureon Chinathrough negotiations

and diplomatic channels,” hesaid.

Mr Pawar said that inrecent years, China had turnednot just Pakistan, but evencountries like Nepal,Bangladesh and Sri Lankaagainst India.

In elaboration, Pawar said:“When (Narendra) Modibecame prime minister for thefirst time, he went to Nepal tooffer prayers at thePashupatinath temple. (PM)Modi praised Nepal, calling itIndias friend and the firstHindu nation. Now Nepal isnot with us, but on Chinasside,” the former Union minis-ter said.

“India took the lead to lib-erate Bangladesh, and now theneighbouring country hassigned a treaty with China, hesaid.

Disapproving the rulingBJP’s criticism of PanditJawaharlal Nehru and Indira

Gandhi for their handling ofChina and Pakistan, Pawarsaid: “During the tenure ofNehru, India and China sharedwarm relations. ...JawaharlalNehru was of the view thatChina will become a super-power some day and that Indiashould maintain a cordial rela-tion with it since tensions werenot beneficial to either of thetwo countries”.

On the issue of the eco-nomic crisis in the country,Pawar said that India neededanother Dr Manmohan Singhto revive Indian economy.“Modi should consult econo-mists and experts likeManmohan Singh to revivethe economy. WhenManmohan Singh, PranabMukherjee, P Chidambaramwere finance ministers, theywould constantly be in touchwith experts and political lead-ers cutting across party lines toascertain their views on variousissues facing the country,” hesaid.

“When Manmohan Singhwas the Union finance minis-ter, he gave a new direction tothe Indian economy. I was alsopart of that Union cabinet. Icredit Singh and late P VNarasimha Rao for the turn-around of the economy fromthe crisis,” the NCP chief said.

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Maharashtra on Sundaycrossed another mile-

stone of 2.5 lakh in terms ofCovid-19 infections as 7,827more people tested positivefor the pandemic, while 173more deaths were reportedfrom various parts of the State.

With the fresh 7,827 posi-tive cases, the total number ofinfected cases rose to a stag-gering 2,54,427 in the state.

Simultaneously, the totalnumber of deaths – which hadcrossed 10,000 mark onSaturday – went up to 10289deaths.

Of the total 173 deaths,Thane accounted for 48 deathsand for the fourth time thismonth went past Mumbai interms of fatalities.

In Mumbai, there were 44deaths on Sunday, taking thetotal number of deaths in themetropolis from 5,244 to 5,288now, while the number ofinfected cases in the city shotup by 1,243 cases to touch92,988.

In addition to 48 deathsrecorded in Thane and 44 inMumbai, there were 37 deathsin Pune, 8 each in Palghar andNashik, 6 in Aurangabad, 3

each in Solapur, Nanded andJalna, 2 each in Raigad, Dhule,Jalgaon, 1 each in Kolhapur,Ratnagiri, Latur, Beed, Akolaand Gondiya. In addition, oneperson from another state diedin Maharashtra.

With 61869 infected casesand 1,646 deaths, Thane con-tinued to be the second worsthit district in Maharashtra.

Pune, which has emergedas the third worst affected dis-trict in terms of spread of thepandemic, has recorded 39125infections and 1097 deaths tillnow.

In a related development,the total number of patientsdischarged from various hos-pitals after full recovery sincethe second week of March thisyear touched 1,40,325.

The recovery rate in thestate stood at 55.15 per cent.The mortality rate in the stateis 4.04 per cent. The statehealth authorities pegged thenumber of “active cases” in thestate at 1,03,516.

Out of 13,17,895 samplessent to laboratories, 2,54, 427have tested positive (19.3 percent) for Covid-19 untilSunday.

Currently, 6,86,150 peo-ple are in home quarantinewhile 47,801 people are ininstitutional quarantine.

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Bengaluru: The city civicbody has initiated the processto recruit 1,700 medical pro-fessionals, doctors, staff nurs-es and support staff to scale upits workforce to establish 30,000Covid care beds, an official saidon Sunday.

According to the official, toestablish and run 30,000 Covidcare beds, 1,800 doctors and3,600 nurses are required.

The health department hascalculated that one doctor pershift is needed for every 100patients and one staff nurse forevery 50 patients. IANS

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Page 6: ˘ˇ ˆ !# #ˇ · 10 hours ago  · scenario in Rajasthan. Rumour had it that Pilot met Scindia in Gurugram, but ... President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit Saturday, the

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India’s most wanted gangsterVikas Dubey is dead. The policeencounter may have raised sev-eral questions even as politicians,civil rights activists and human

rights workers have called it a “coldblooded” murder. But the fact remainsthat over 100 families rejoiced as thenews about Dubey’s encounterreached Bekaru — the non-descriptvillage in Kanpur — where his fiefdomran large. Sweets were distributed andthe family of the eight policemen, whowere martyred on July 3 in an ambush,expressed satisfaction, saying justicewas finally done. Even Dubey’s parentsdisowned him and said he deservedwhat he got.

The saga that started on the nightof July 3 ended on the morning of July11 but the episode has many twists andturns. Many high-profile actors —who puppeteered Dubey behind thescene — may have heaved a sigh ofrelief following his killing. They con-tinue to be safe and unseen. This iswhy this encounter will not bring anend to the criminal-political nexus,which thrives in every gram panchay-at of Uttar Pradesh and which, accord-ing to lawmakers, is an elixir ofIndian politics, one that has kept thepolitical system going.

The story of a young man, hav-ing political ambition, entering theblind alley of crime to follow the ordersof his political masters is not new inUttar Pradesh. “Yeh gaon gaon kikahani hai (this is the story of everyvillage),” said a lawmaker with a wrysmile. A few hundred rupees in one’spocket, a motorcycle and caste back-ing are enough to turn any youth, job-less and restless, into a short-timecriminal. In a matter of years, he wouldqualify to become a full-time crimi-nal. Sometime later, he could start con-testing the elections and even win theAssembly or the Lok Sabha polls.Sometimes, even from jail.

Dubey’s story is no different. Heand Lallan Bajpai, who was the headof the Shivli nagar panchayat, werefriends but in 1996, differencescropped up between the two. Duringthe Assembly election, Bajpai support-ed Santosh Shukla of the BJP whileDubey supported Bahujan SamajParty (BSP) candidate Hari KishanSrivastava. Shukla lost that election.This widened the gap further. In 2001,Dubey tried to acquire land near theShivli Inter College where he wantedto develop a market. When the man-ager (Sidheshwar Pandey) opposed,Dubey killed him. Then Dubeyattacked Bajpai, killing three of hismen, though the latter survived.

The same year, on October 12,

Dubey killed Saroj Shukla insidea police station where the lattertook shelter following a brawl . Inreality Dubey had stage-managedthis episode with his contacts inthe forces to corner and eliminatehim. Despite the grisly crimebeing committed in the after-noon and that, too, in the pres-ence several cops, Dubey’s terrorwas such that the police witness-es turned hostile during the trial.The irony was that even theinvestigating officer turned hos-tile — this has probably neverhappened in the annals of anycriminal investigation.

Little wonder then that thestrongman’s criminal prowesssoon attracted political attention.Dubey was happy to oblige anddabbled in village and panchay-at-level politics. He was firstelected as the pradhan of a villageand later became the member ofdistrict panchayat with the back-ing of two regional parties.After he decided to distancehimself from politics, his wifetook over the mantle and waselected as the district panchayatmember. She, too, was electedwith support from a regionalpolitical party. Gradually, Dubeyensured that his relatives gotelected in local-level elections.

Chaubeypur in Kanpur citybeing a Brahmin-dominatedarea, Dubey’s caste added morestrength to his muscle power. Hepreferred being called panditji —as Brahmins are addressed inrural Uttar Pradesh. He was a bigcatalytic factor in Mayawati’sfamous Dalit-Brahmin socialexperiment. With a change ofGovernment, Dubey switchedloyalty to the Samajwadi Party

(SP) and then to the BJP. At onetime, Dubey even claimed thatBehenji (as Mayawati is knownamong her supporters) had calledhim by his first name in a crowdof 500 people. His influence wasso entrenched in the region thathe would hold kangaroo courtswhere his word would be the onlylaw. Those who did not abide bywhat he said were beaten up byhis cohorts. Even when the policedemolished his mansion andstarted an investigation againsthim with vigour, people of almosteight villages were afraid to talkto the police.

The police officials are quitecandid to admit that had Dubeynot been eliminated, he wouldhave become a lawmaker — maybe in 2022 (Assembly election)or 2024 (Lok Sabha). His polit-ical clout would have gone up.He would have engaged thesharpest of legal brains in Indiaand would have proved in thecourt that he was not present inBikaru village on July 3. Dubeywould have also got a reprievelike he got in the 2001 murdercase. In 2003, the then MulayamSingh Government did not evenchallenge the lower court’s orderin the High Court.

All of this is not a new storyin Uttar Pradesh. Dubey has onlybrought a new dimension to thepolitical-crime nexus whereshort-term criminals, who holdsway in 10-12 villages and caninfluence a few thousand votes,hold the key to any election.Earlier, criminals preferred tostick to one party. But Dubey wasdifferent. Instead of clinging toone party, he preferred to changethe party flag on his car mast as

the Government changed inUttar Pradesh. He never joinedany political party.

There are people like HariShankar Tiwari, Virendra PratapShahi, Mokhtar Ansari, AtiqAhmad, Brij Bhushan SaranSingh, Rama Kant Yadav, UmaKant Yadav and Raghuraj PratapSingh — the list is endless —who, despite having criminalantecedents, continued to win theelections, both Lok Sabha andRajya Sabha. In the mid-1980s,Hari Shankar Tiwari andVirendra Pratap Shahi createdwaves when they won the elec-tions from the jail premises. Butthis was just the beginning.Tiwari even became a Ministerwhile Shahi was gunned down inthe 1990s.

All these tainted names carrya Robin Hood image as they helpthe local people financially in get-ting their daughters/sisters mar-ried. In turn, they live in safemansions surrounded by body-guards belonging to the same ornearby villages or their owncaste/religion. For them, it’s easyto earn money as they run alucrative contract business andalso have shares in Governmentcontracts for the construction ofroads, dams and bridges in theirrespective areas. In Governmentparlance, it is called the “mafiashare.” It’s an open secret as towho the main beneficiary is inthe corridors of power. Later, thedons graduate to running bigcriminal operations, includingextortions and kidnappings andif required, murder.

This criminal-politicalnexus finds its reflection in the2017 Assembly elections, too. In

its report, the Association ofDemocratic Reforms (ADR)had said that 143 legislators —36 per cent of the total strengthof 402 — have criminal recordsagainst them. Of this, 107 — 26per cent of the total strength —are facing murder charges. Whogave these criminals politicalpatronage? Why do voters electthese tainted leaders despite theADR educating them aboutsuch criminals?

The time has come for someserious introspection. Is it onlythe political system that’s respon-sible for this rot? If the nexusbetween the criminals and politi-cians is deepening, this is the timefor the judiciary to stand up anddeliver. Government records sug-gest that till 2018, 10.27 lakh caseswere pending in various lowercourts in Uttar Pradesh alone.Delayed justice means the crim-inals can walk away. This wasvery much evident in the case ofDubey, who, despite facing 60criminal charges, including thatof the murder of a Minister-rankleader, was roaming free, build-ing his empire.

The common perception isthat the police arrests only theaam aadmi and spares the pow-erful. Ditto is the case with thejudiciary. The so-called steelframe of our bureaucracy hasdeveloped jelly in its spine, whichis out to please its political mas-ters than the people. We need aholistic change in all sectorswhere crime is crushed at thevery beginning so that we do notbirth more Dubeys.

(The writer is ExecutiveEditor, News, The Pioneer,Lucknow)

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Sir — In these troubling times,we need a laugh and Noah Lyles,a fast runner but not as fast as ini-tially thought, provided it.Because of COVID restrictions,a number of sporting eventshave been postponed or can-celled, including the Olympics.The spirit of this sporting eventis to inspire us to be the best wecan, faster, higher and stronger.It does truly inspire us althoughnot this year. An alternative wasfound with the athletes compet-ing in a ZOOM-like approach atdifferent locations around theworld.

Lyles competed in the 200min an apparent time of 18.90 sec-onds, a new world record thateven he could not believe and hewas right. As it turned out, hehad mistakenly started in thewrong lane and, thus, ran 15 mless than others. He would haveknown that something waswrong as athletes at this levelknow what they are doing everysecond of the race. Obviously,this was his worst best day.

We need to enjoy theseoccasional, small, 15 m errors aseverything is too serious at themoment. If we need further

inspiration, watch the film,Eddie the Eagle, a story of abrave or perhaps stupid skijumper, who although hopeless,inspired everyone.

Dennis FitzgeraldMelbourne

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Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “Encounter the truth” (July11). The dastardly attack on ateam of Uttar Pradesh police in

Kanpur by history-sheeter VikasDubey and his assailants hasexposed the anarchy in theState. As per the report of theNational Crime Records Bureau,in UP, as many as 555 personnelwere killed and 2,048 cops got

injured during police operationsin 2018. This shows how the Statehas become dangerous due to thelack of law enforcement.

Tushar AnandPatna

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Sir — This refers to the editori-al, “Encounter the truth” (July11). The killing of Vikas Dubeyhas once again raised severalquestions about “encounters”being used as a tool by thepolice to deliver “justice.” Ideally,Dubey should have been broughtto the court for his allegedcrimes. Being a citizen of thecountry, he had the right to bepresumed innocent until provenguilty. But looks like the policehas little time for the due processof law. No matter how grave theaccusations, it’s not for the policeor our political leaders to decideon matters related to life anddeath. The country has an effi-cient judiciary. The police woulddo well to abide by principles.

ShivanshVia email

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In the badlands of Uttar Pradesh (UP),things only change to remain the same. In thaticonic film, Omkara, made by Vishal

Bhardwaj and located in the diabolical landscapeof western UP where bahubalis (strongmen) callthe shots, every character, with the caste prefixattached most often with their surnames and ontheir foreheads, fits into this eternally-predictablejigsaw puzzle. There is a revealing scene in thisincredible gangster film of bitter realism. LangraTyagi, obviously a Brahmin, played superbly bySaif Ali Khan with a pronounced limp, goes toa jail as a “visitor” to meet a buddy. The police-man at the “reception” is making a loudannouncement. Among other instructions he isclearly stating that no arms, ammunition and soon will be allowed to be taken inside the prison.So Langra Tyagi walks up to him nonchalantlyand declares for all to hear that he has arms andammunition. The policeman looks up and jok-ingly dismisses him, saying: “Chal jhutte (Ohcome on, you are a liar).”

In recent weeks, indeed quite apparentlysince July 3 this year, almost a similar scriptplayed out for the world to see. And it was morevolatile than the pandemic, the lockdown, thequarantine, mass migration of workers especial-ly in UP and Bihar, joblessness and the econo-my that’s awaiting some sort of resurrection. Ithad such a typically inevitable ending that evena C-Grade Bollywood script writer would blushin astonishment and embarrassment.

By now, the macabre story of the murder ofeight policemen, including a DeputySuperintendent of Police, in UP and the“encounter” of the man who led the attacks onthe cops has unfolded, with all its gory detailsin the media and social platforms. More than thedetailing, which is unfolding and which is stillwrapped in many hidden sleaze tales of theunderground and the overground, mixing in asinister synthesis with such lucidity, there are toomany questions. All of these surround the hith-erto not so popular figure of the protagonist:Vikas Dubey of village Bikaru in Kanpur Dehat,Chaubepur block.

A history-sheeter, gangster and criminal,with over 60 cases against him, including mul-tiple cases of land-grabbing and murders,Dubey was known to be a typical bahubali.Pandering to the upper caste politicians at thelocal level with big ambitions, he not only wield-ed the gun as an insignia of his prowess but alsoconvinced them about his invincibility in theirgrand design. It is slowly emerging that he hadbeen used by politicians across the spectrum. Itis also being openly said that he was bumped offbrazenly and with a total lack of finesse in thedarkness of the night so that he would not revealall the shady stories of politicians and policemenup his sleeve.

However, uncanny questions remain, abouthis life and especially the manner in which hedied. It is common knowledge that officers of theUP Police have a reasonably murky record interms of the numerous “encounters” under thecurrent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime,despite observations against the same by thehighest court in the land. Vikas Dubey, shot deadat the age of 43 in a striped white T-shirt witha pronounced and happy potbelly, started hiscriminal life when he was young. His early gangwas conceived in his youth, with muscle-flexing,land-grabbing, extortion and murder as his

unique selling points. Not really a RobinHood, or a do-gooder bandit, he wassoon branded as one of the mostwanted criminals in the countryside.

He liked to be called “Pandit”,proudly flaunting his Brahmin legacy.The first murder case apparently hap-pened in 1990. Nothing happened tohim in terms of the justice system as isthe undeclared norm in UP in manycases. He thereby chose to become alackey of a politician who shifted fromthe BJP to the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP). Dubey, too, joined the BSP in1995-96. Both he and his wife won localelections by hook or by crook.

Significantly, he was the mainaccused in the murder of BJP leaderSantosh Shukla, who was then aMinister of State, no less, at the Shivlipolice station, again in Kanpur Dehat,in 2001. In a daredevil act, sending asignal to all across the police force andthe political spectrum, he apparentlychased the Minister inside the policestation and shot him dead as a publicspectacle. Two policemen also died inthat incident. However, Dubey was notarrested.

He surrendered after some months,reportedly accompanied by politicians,even while the entire bureaucracy andpolice administration tacitly refused toproceed against him, according to thebrother and relatives of the BJP politi-cian he had murdered. Predictably,again, he was acquitted. Dubey wasfinally arrested in 2017, booked underthe Gangsters Act and Anti-SocialActivities (Prevention) Act. Two yearslater he was chargesheeted. However,his activities continued unabated.

As is well-known, for reasons bestknown to him, Dubey’s gang ambusheda police party looking for him on thenight of July 3 in his village and killedthem in cold blood. Eight cops werekilled and several injured. Dubey was

reportedly tipped off by his contacts inthe police force that a raid was aboutto be conducted on him. The gangsterand his men not only took the guns ofthe policemen but also reportedlyinflicted severe wounds with an axe ontheir bodies. Why he participated inthis elaborate bloodbath, only he knew;something, perhaps, the nation willnever come to know now.

Since then, he was known to havetravelled across four State borders,undetected, and ended up, as if goingfor a morning walk, at theMahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple inUjjain in Madhya Pradesh (MP), onJuly 9. Unarmed, he surrendered, with-out an inch of anxiety written on hisface, to the unarmed and untrainedguards at the temple. He was reported-ly identified when he repeatedly shout-ed his name for all to hear, and his iden-tity was established through the use ofthe Truecaller app on the phone.

The MP Police handed him over tothe UP Police, which then took him ina convoy to some unknown destination,probably Kanpur, followed by intrepidreporters in their vehicles. He wasapparently made to sit with policemen,unarmed obviously, and handcuffed, ina Tata Safari. He showed no desire toescape and had willfully surrendered,obviously working on a bigger plot.There were speculations in the mediaand amid UP-watchers that he wouldbe bumped off just like the rest of hisclose aides had been.

On July 10, as the night unfoldedinto another macabre drama, the SUVwith Dubey inside, surrounded bypolicemen, allegedly turned turtle, ona road which did not seem to have anybumps or potholes. According toreports, the SUV, which had skid on asmooth tarmac, did not leave any tyremarks or wasn’t damaged. Besides, itsdoors were jammed. There are reports

that it was not the same one which wascarrying him initially. Reportedly, thevehicle which overturned was aMahindra SUV while he had been trav-elling in a Tata Safari earlier.

Thereafter, the cops came out witha predictable version: The SUV over-turned, Dubey tried to snatch a gunfrom a policeman and run. Like LangraTyagi, Dubey walked with a limp; hesimply could not run. Even then, theUP Police was forced to shoot himdead. One wonders why? Was he shotin the chest? If he was running, with alimp, how come he was not shot in theback? Why did he surrender in the firstplace if he really wanted to run? Whydid he not hide and get holed up, withenough political patronage, till thingscooled down? Why did he not surren-der in a court with lawyers, in full pub-lic view, and instead chose to send asymbolic message by surrendering ina Hindu temple? What were the sleazy,sinister and shady secrets Dubey washiding in his several decades of crim-inal life, so lucidly tangled within theweb of UP politics?

Indeed, if Dubey was bumped off,which seems to be so at this moment,what was the hurry to enact this pub-lic spectacle so soon after his arrest andso shoddily at that? And why were thereporters following the convoy stoppedagain and again, and then finally bar-ricaded?

In the badlands of UP, these ques-tions make little sense. Indeed, thosereporters who would be brave enoughto ask these questions are clearly not fol-lowing their beats. Law keepers havealways been walking a tightrope in thispart of the Hindi heartland. With thekilling of gangster Vikas Dubey, thecriminalisation of politics has againcome a full circle. Or, should we say,that it has turned turtle?

(The writer is a senior journalist)

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The concept of sectarianism islargely associated with fac-tions and divisions within a

religion. However, there is also nowan increasingly used expressioncalled “secular sectarianism.” This isabout factionalism within a secularideology, especially one which direct-ly or indirectly sees itself as being asgrand an idea as the idea of faith. Infact, in some cases, it wants to actu-ally replace it as a new kind of faith.Most secular ideas, however, retaina democratic respect for religion, aslong as it remains relegated to deal-ing with the people’s personal spir-itual matters and does not interfere

in the worldly workings of theGovernment. But there have beenepisodes where some followers of asecular ideology broke away to re-mould this ideology into a newfaith that was to replace the old reli-gions. In the late 18th century, whena violent revolution in France over-threw the French monarchy andCatholic clergy, the intellectual lead-ership of the revolution looked tocreate a secular democratic republic.

However, within this group werealso those who believed that the rev-olution had only been able to weak-en the political role of Catholicismand that a new religion was neededto completely expunge it fromFrench society. US academic KeithBaker writes that a faith called “Cultof Reason” was founded completewith temples of reason. This did notgo down very well by most of theircompatriots who saw it as a contra-dictory act. How could secularism,which insists on separating Churchand State, become the source of a

new State religion? Second, thedetractors also pointed out that theidea of reason, in the political con-text at least, rationalised this sepa-ration instead of becoming a theo-logical doctrine itself.

The “Cult of Reason” was, there-fore, a short-lived idea and sidelined.However, soon it was replaced by the“Cult of the Supreme Being.” Thiswas mainly conceived by the radicalFrench republican, MaximilienRobespierre.

When his faction of French rev-olutionaries overwhelmed the “mod-erates”, Robespierre declared thenew faith as the State religion.Historian Emmet Kennedy writesthat Robespierre insisted that abelief in a godhead was important forsocial order but it needed to be donethrough reason. This, however, didnot stop him from organising festi-vals to honour the “god of reason.”This again was problematic.

The “moderates” in the Frenchassembly, that had come into being

after the revolution, had agreedwith the revolution’s pursuit of com-pletely abolishing the monarchy andneutralising the political power thatthe clergy and the Church once exer-cised. However, many of them werealso of the view that religion’s socialutility need not be attacked.Ironically, Robespierre, who detest-ed his moderate colleagues, agreed.But he suspected that remnants ofthe Church might be used to usurphis faction’s power in the assembly.So, he decided to create a whole newfaith to fill the void left behind thereceding avenues of Catholicism.

The contemporary Slovenianphilosopher, Slavoj �i�ek, explainsRobespierre as a highly contradicto-ry character who placed the “neces-sity” of violence and terror in thecontext of ideas that were actuallyopposed to those that he was prop-agating. In fact, in an early exhibi-tion of secular sectarianism, heopposed the idea of separating faithfrom politics, by quoting the 18th

century French philosopher Voltaireas follows: “If God did not exist, itwould be necessary to invent him.”

Secondly, Robespierre fullyunderstood how, for centuries, theCatholic Church in Europe hadmanaged to gather tremendousdegrees of political and economicpower. But since the French revolu-tion was directly aimed at abolish-ing this power along with the monar-chy, Robespierre decided to replaceCatholicism with an alternative faith.

To Robespierre, the “SupremeBeing” was a deity called Liberty.This, to him, was a “living deity”which was to be worshipped throughdemocracy and reason. This thenwould lead to a life of virtue and theimmortality of the human soul. Themoderates were left horrified whenRobespierre started to hold festivalswhich looked quite like the ones heldby the fallen clergy of yore. Eventhough he was already ordering thebeheading of critics, he also made itunacceptable to reject the new faith.

When his faction’s acts became tooradical, the moderates managed toremove him through an internalcoup. His faith, too, was abolished.Robespierre’s faction, believing itselfto be purer republicans and revolu-tionaries (compared to the moder-ates), could not help but fall into a“god complex,” with the right tojudge what was politically correctand what wasn’t.

In the 1960s, the Red Book thatcarried quotes of the founder of com-munist China, Mao Tse Tung,became a sacred tome in China andMao became a living deity of sorts.Of course, in theory, communism isatheistic, but when Mao whipped upa “Cultural Revolution” in 1966,“Maoism” almost became a reli-gion. Those in the ChineseCommunist Party, who exhibiteddistaste or concern towards whatMao had triggered, were cut downby fanatical mobs, waving the RedBook and claiming to be on the rightside of the revolution. International

communism split into various fac-tions.

JNU professor Ajay Gudavarthywrites that, over the years, because ofintensifying economic and politicaltensions and polarisation, the natureof internal conflicts in societies ischanging. According to him, old classand ethnic conflicts remain but theyare being increasingly added to byconflicts within marginalised groupswho were once most likely to remainunited. He gave the examples of racialequality and women’s rights groupswho, after finding the need to expandtheir identities beyond the usual“binary” ways that race and genderare perceived and debated, haveended up spending more effort bat-tling other such groups who maythink otherwise. It’s like standing infront of a mirror and shouting at yourown reflection, believing the reflec-tion to be the enemy. In a way then,sectarianism is not unique to reli-gions alone.

(Courtesy: Dawn)

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London: Only five years ago,then-British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron was celebrat-ing a “golden era” in UK-China relations, bonding withPresident Xi Jinping over a pintof beer at the pub and signingoff on trade deals worth bil-lions.

Those friendly scenes nowseem like a distant memory.

Hostile rhetoric has ratch-eted up in recent days overBeijing’s new national securitylaw for Hong Kong. Britain’sdecision to offer refuge to mil-lions in the former colony wasmet with a stern telling-off byChina.

And Chinese officials havethreatened “consequences” ifBritain treats it as a “hostilecountry” and decides to cutChinese technology giantHuawei out of its critical tele-coms infrastructure amidgrowing unease over securityrisks.

All that is pointing to amuch tougher stance againstChina, with a growing numberin Prime Minister BorisJohnson’s Conservative Partytaking a long, hard look atBritain’s Chinese ties. Many aresaying Britain has been far toocomplacent and naive in think-ing it could reap economic ben-efits from the relationship with-out political consequences.

“It’s not about wanting tocut ties with China. It’s thatChina is itself becoming a veryunreliable and rather danger-ous partner,” said lawmakerand former Conservative leaderIain Duncan Smith.

He cited Beijing’s “trash-ing” of the Sino-British JointDeclaration — the treaty sup-posed to guarantee Hong Konga high degree of autonomywhen it reverted from Britishto Chinese rule — and aggres-sive posturing in the SouthChina Sea as areas of concern.

“This is not a country thatis in any way managing itself tobe a good and decent partnerin anything at the moment.That’s why we need to reviewour relationship with them,” headded. “Those who think thisis a case of separating tradefrom government...You can’t dothat, that’s naïve.”

Duncan Smith has lobbiedother Tory lawmakers to cutHuawei out from Britain’ssuperfast 5G network. Notonly that: He says all existingHuawei technology in the UKtelecoms infrastructure alsoneeds to be eliminated as soonas possible.

Johnson decided inJanuary that Huawei can bedeployed in future 5G networksas long as its share of the mar-ket is limited, but officials have

since hinted that that decisioncould be reversed in light of theUS sanctions. A new policy isexpected within weeks.

Huawei says it is merelycaught in the middle of a US-China battle over trade andtechnology. It has consistentlydenied allegations it couldcarry out cyber espionage orelectronic sabotage at thebehest of the ChineseCommunist Party.

Nigel Inkster, senior advis-er to the International Institutefor Strategic Studies and formerdirector of operations and intel-ligence at Britain’s MI6 intelli-gence service, said the issuewith Huawei was not so muchabout immediate securitythreats.

Rather, he said, the deep-er worry lies in the geopoliti-cal implications of Chinabecoming the world’s dominantplayer in 5G technology.

“It’s less about cyber espi-onage than generally con-ceived because, after all, that’shappening in any place,” hesaid. “This was never some-thing of which the U.K. Waslacking awareness.” Still,Inkster said he’s been cau-tioning for years that Britainneeded a more coherent strat-egy toward China that bal-ances the economic and secu-rity factors. AP

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Hong Kong: Hundreds of thou-sands of Hong Kongers turnedup over the weekend to vote inan unofficial two-day primaryelection held by the city’s pro-democracy camp as it gears upto field candidates for anupcoming legislative poll.

The exercise is being heldtwo weeks after Beijingimposed a sweeping nationalsecurity law on the semi-autonomous territory in amove widely seen as chippingaway at the “one country, twosystems” framework underwhich Britain handed HongKong over to China in 1997.

It was passed in response tolast year’s massive protests call-ing for greater democracy andmore police accountability.

Throngs of people lined upat polling booths in the summerheat to cast their vote despite awarning by Hong Kong’s con-stitutional affairs minister, EricTsang last week that the pri-maries could be in breach of thenew national security law,

because it outlaws interferenceand disruption of duties by thelocal government.

Organisers have dismissedthe comments, saying they justwant to hold the governmentaccountable by gaining amajority in the legislature.

The legislation prohibitswhat Beijing views as seces-sionist, subversive or terroristactivities or as foreign inter-vention in Hong Kong affairs.

Under the law, police nowhave sweeping powers to con-duct searches without war-rants and order internet serviceproviders and platforms toremove messages deemed to bein violation of the legislation.

On Friday, police raidedthe office of the Public OpinionResearch Institute, a co-organ-iser of the primary elections.The computer system was sus-pected of being hacked, caus-ing a data leak, police said in astatement, and an investigationis ongoing.

Hong Kong’s pro-democ-

racy camp, which includesmultiple parties, is attemptingto join forces and use the pri-maries as a guide to field thebest candidates in the officiallegislative election inSeptember.

Its goal is to win a major-ity in the legislature, which istypically skewed toward thepro-Beijing camp.

To hold the primary elec-tions, pro-democracy activistshad raised money via crowdfunding. They pledged to vetothe government’s budget if theyclinch a majority in the legis-lature.

Under the Basic Law,under which Hong Kong isgoverned, city leader CarrieLam must resign if an impor-tant bill such as the budget isvetoed twice.

On Saturday alone, nearly230,000 people voted at pollingbooths set up across the city,exceeding organizers’ estimatesof a 170,000 turnout over theweekend. AP

Sydney: The Australian gov-ernment says it will offeraround 10,000 Hong Kongpassport holders currently liv-ing in Australia a chance toapply for permanent residenceonce their current visas expire.

Prime Minister ScottMorrison’s government believesChina’s imposition of a newtough national security law onthe semi-autonomous territo-ry means pro-democracy sup-porters may face political per-secution.

“That means that manyHong Kong passport holdersmay be looking for other desti-nations to go to and hence whywe have put forward our addi-tional visa options for them,”Acting Immigration MinisterAlan Tudge told AustralianBroadcasting Corporation tele-vision on Sunday.

In order to obtain perma-nent residency, applicantswould still have to pass “thecharacter test, the nationalsecurity test and the like,”

Tudge said.“So it’s not automatic. But

it’s certainly an easier pathwayto permanent residency and ofcourse once you’re a permanentresident, there’s then a pathwayto citizenship there,” he said.

“If people are genuinelypersecuted and they can provethat case, then they can applyfor one of our humanitarianvisas in any case.”

Morrison announced lastweek Australia suspended itsextradition treaty with HongKong and extended visas forHong Kong residents from twoto five years.

The move comes afterChina bypassed Hong Kong’sLegislative Council to imposethe sweeping security legislationwithout public consultation.Critics view it as a furtherdeterioration of freedomspromised to the former Britishcolony, in response to last year’smassive protests calling forgreater democracy and morepolice accountability. AP

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Washington: China has fastbecome a top election issue asPresident Donald Trump andDemocrat Joe Biden engage ina verbal brawl over who’s bet-ter at playing the tough guyagainst Beijing.

The Trump campaign putout ads showing Biden toastingChina’s Xi Jinping, even thoughTrump did just that with Xi inAsia and hosted the Chineseleader at his Florida club. Spotsfrom the Biden campaign fea-ture Trump playing down thecoronavirus and praising Xi forbeing transparent about thepandemic, even though it’sclear China hid details of theoutbreak from the world.

“I think it’s going to beabsolutely critical, but I don’tknow who is going to have theadvantage,” said Republicanpollster Frank Luntz. He hasbeen reviewing the ads andthinks China is one of the threeleading issues along with theeconomy and the handling ofthe coronavirus.

China is not just a foreignpolicy issue in the Novemberelection. It’s an issue that runsdeeply through the troubleswith the virus, which tankedthe U.S. Economy.

Voters also will be askingthemselves whether Trump orBiden can best defend the U.S.Against China’s unfair trade

practices, theft of intellectualproperty rights, rising aggres-sion across the globe andhuman rights abuses.

“Which person looks moresubservient to the Chineseleaders is the person who’s inmore jeopardy,” Luntz said.

As the coronavirus spreadthroughout the U.S., a PewResearch Center poll in Marchfound Americans with increas-ingly negative views of China,with 66 per cent saying theyhad an unfavorable opinion.That was the most negative rat-ing since the question was firstasked in 2005. The same pollfound 62 per cent of Americanscalling China’s power and influ-

ence a major threat to the US,compared with 48 per cent twoyears ago.

A NBC News/Wall StreetJournal poll in late May andearly June found registeredvoters about evenly dividedover which of the candidateswould be better at dealing withChina, with 43 per cent sayingTrump compared with 40 percent for Biden. In the poll, 5percent viewed Trump andBiden equally, while 10 per centsaid neither would be good.

Trump’s advisers see Chinaas an opportunity to portrayBiden as deferential to Beijingwhen he was President BarackObama’s vice president and

point person on Asia, accord-ing to three campaign officialsand Republicans close to theWhite House. The campaignmade a push in May to linkBiden with China, completewith an advertising blitz, but theeffort did little to raise Trump’spoll numbers. The Trump cam-paign credits the president withsigning the first phase of a tradedeal with China in January,which boosted stock marketsand seemingly ended a bruisingtrade war. Republicans want totether Biden to past multina-tional agreements and tradedeals blamed for an exodus ofmanufacturing jobs across theMidwest. AP

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Kingsville (US): The US Navyhas welcomed its first Blackfemale Tactical Aircraft pilot.

“MAKING HISTORY!” theUS Navy tweeted on Thursdayin response to a post that Lt. J.G.Madeline Swegle had complet-ed naval flight school and wouldlater this month receive theflight officer insignia known asthe “Wings of Gold”.

The Naval Air TrainingCommand tweeted that Swegleis the Navy’s “first known Black

female TACAIR pilot”.According to Stars and

Stripes, Swegle is from Burke,Virginia, and graduated fromthe US Naval Academy in 2017.

Officials said she is assignedto the Redhawks of TrainingSquadron 21 in Kingsville,Texas. Swegle’s milestone comesmore than 45 years afterRosemary Mariner in 1974became the first woman to flya tactical fighter jet, accordingto news outlets. AP

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Brussels: The leaders of Serbiaand Kosovo resumed talksSunday aimed at normalizingtheir long-strained relations,more than 20 years afterBelgrade sent troops into itsformer territory to crush anuprising by ethnic Albanianseparatists.

Serbian PresidentAleksandar Vucic and KosovoPrime Minister Avdullah Hotiwere holding video talks medi-ated by the European Union’sforeign policy chief, JosepBorrell, aimed at setting up aface-to-face meeting betweenthe leaders, possibly in Brusselson Thursday. The process,known as the Belgrade-Pristinadialogue, has been frozen sinceNovember 2018.

Borrell said in a videostatement that clinching anagreement on normalizingtheir ties “is crucial for a bet-ter future for the people ofKosovo and Serbia. It is crucialfor their European perspective,and for the security and sta-bility of the region.

“These talks will requirepolitical courage from bothsides. It will require commit-ment and engagement, in thespirit of compromise and prag-matism,” he said. AP

-��'����%����� ��������������� *���������(�� �������� Vatican City: Pope Francis said

on Sunday that he is “deeplypained” over the decision byTurkey to change the status ofHagia Sophia — which wasoriginally built in Istanbul as aChristian cathedral — from amuseum to a mosque.

In a very brief, improvisedremark, Francis, speaking fromhis studio window overlookingSt. Peter’s Square, noted that theCatholic Church markedSunday as International Day ofthe Sea.

“And the sea brings me a lit-tle far away with my thought: to

Istanbul,” the pontiff said. “I amthinking of St. Sophia and I amdeeply pained.” Francis said nomore but was clearly referring tothe move by Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan to for-mally convert the monumentalbuilding back into a mosque.

The colossal Santa Sophiacathedral was turned into amosque after the Ottomansconquered the city in 1453. TheTurkish secular government in1934 decided to make it a muse-um.

The pope, who heads theRoman Catholic church, is

adding his voice to strong objec-tions a day earlier by the head ofthe Geneva-based WorldCouncil of Churches. That orga-nization described its “grief anddismay” in noting that HagiaSophia has been “a place ofopenness, encounter and inspi-ration for people from allnations.”

The council’s membershipcomprises Protestant, Orthodoxand Anglican churches. Erdogandeclared the monument openfor Muslim worship after a highcourt annulled the 1934Government decision. AP

��� ���������F� �������� �.��� �(�) �.����� ����<����������� London: A 27-year-old student

from London who fled Britainto join the Islamic State (ISIS)terrorist group in Syria in 2014has become the first knownISIS recruit from the UK to diein the custody of the SyrianDemocratic Forces (SDF).

Ishak Mostefaoui, anAlgerian origin student at theUniversity of Westminster, waskilled while attempting toescape SDF custody recently,according to a BBC report.

It is believed the deathoccurred during serious dis-order in a jail in Hassakeh,which houses ISIS prisoners

from various countries. TheBBC said that the death andsurrounding circumstanceshave not been officially con-firmed.

After being captured lastyear, Mostefaoui was held in aprison in north-east Syria - aformer school converted intoa prison - controlled by theKurdish-led, US-backed SyrianDemocratic Forces.

Sources told the Britishbroadcaster that he was one ofaround 10 British men and 30British women being held bythe militia, but he was the firstto die in SDF custody. PTI

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Kathmandu: Amid the politi-cal turmoil in Nepal, the rulingcommunist party executivechairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal‘Prachanda’ said on Sunday thathe will not allow the party tosplit and any attempt from any-where to weaken its unity wouldhurt the fight against the coro-navirus pandemic and naturaldisasters.

Addressing the NepalCommunist Party (NCP)members in his hometownChitwan, Prachanda said that hewas determined to keep the

party unity intact.“It is natural to have differ-

ences of opinion, dispute anddebate in a big party, but I willnot allow the party to split,” hesaid. “If there is a dispute in theparty, there are proper proce-dures to resolve it.”

His remarks came amidspeculation that the NCP couldsplit after top party leaders,including ‘Prachanda’, demand-ed Prime Minister K P SharmaOli’s resignation, saying hisrecent anti-India remarks were“neither politically correct nor

diplomatically appropriate.”Prachanda also advised the

party cadres to abide by theparty principles and not to runfrom one camp to another at thetime of the crisis.

“Don’t describe some lead-ers within the ruling party asanti-national and others asnationalist,” he said, in an appar-ent reference to Prime MinisterOli’s recent statement that someof the ruling party leaders arealigning with the southernneighbour to remove him frompower after his government

issued a new political mapincorporating three Indian ter-ritories.

The party and the govern-ment worked together to issuethe new map, he pointed out.

Earlier in the day, address-ing a meeting of the DistrictDisaster ManagementCommittee in Chitwan,Prachanda said that the politi-cal activities should not affectthe government’s response tothe coronavirus crisis and nat-ural disasters.

“Any attempt from any-

where else to weaken the partyunity would not be in favour ofthe people,” Prachanda wasquoted as saying by The RisingNepal.

He urged the entire polit-ical parties, civil society, mediaand one and all to engage in acombined battle against theCOVID-19 crisis and naturaldisasters. Oli and Prachandahave held over half a dozenone-on-one meetings in recentdays, but the two leaders arenowhere close to a power-sharing deal. PTI

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Kathmandu: At least ten peo-ple were killed on Sunday inlandslides caused by inces-sant rains across Nepal, takingthe total number of fatalitiesdue to landslips to 54 in lastthree days.

Landslides and floods trig-gered by continuous heavyrains for the past three dayshave hit 19 districts acrossNepal.

Seven persons were killedin Myagdi, two in Jajarkotand one in Sindhupalchowkdistrict on Sunday, accordingto Home Ministry sources.

In total, fifty-four people

have been killed and 39 aremissing due to landslides indifferent parts of the countryin the past 72 hours, an offi-cial at the Home Ministrysaid.

About 40 people have sus-tained injuries.

At least 11 people aremissing after a massive land-slide triggered by incessantrainfall swept away eight hous-es in Nepal’s easternSankhuwasabha district.

The Nepal governmenthas mobilised the Army andthe police to carry out rescueoperations. PTI

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Colombo: All election rallies ofSri Lankan President GotabayaRajapaksa and Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa have beencancelled temporarily, the SLPPannounced on Sunday, follow-ing a spike in coronavirus casesin the country.

The parliamentary electionsin the island nation are sched-uled for August 5. The countryhas so far reported 2,511COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths.

All election rallies ofPresident Gotabaya and PrimeMinister Mahinda scheduledfor July 12, 13 and 14 have beencancelled, the Sri Lanka People’sParty (SLPP) said in a pressrelease.

The announcement came asthe country recorded a jump in

COVID-19 cases since the mid-dle of this week. Sri Lanka onFriday recorded its highest sin-gle-day spike of 300 coron-avirus cases in a rehabilitationcentre for drug addicts in thenorth central region. Fifty-sevenmore cases were reported onSaturday.

Sri Lanka’s top election offi-cial had also expressed concernover the delay in enforcing theCOVID-19 health guidelinesfor the August 5 parliamentaryelections, warning that candi-dates and supporters were defy-ing measures to contain thespread of the disease whichcould endanger public safety.

Mahinda Deshapriya,Chairman of the NationalElection Commission, said the

health guidelines for conductingthe elections were announced onJune 2 but they have not beenlegalised through a gazette noti-fication.

The health guidelinesrequire wearing face masks, fre-quent hand washing and main-taining one-metre distance. Thenumber of people at poll cam-paign gatherings has also beenreduced to a bare minimum.

President Gotabaya onMarch 2 dissolved theParliament, six months ahead ofschedule, and called for snappolls on April 25. However, theelection commission in mid-April postponed the elections bynearly two months to June 20due to the coronavirus out-break in the island nation. PTI

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Over 4.4 million Spaniardsin two northern regions

are voting in regional electionsSunday amid tight securitymeasures to avoid more out-breaks of the coronavirus.

Regional authorities inboth the Basque Country andGalicia have prohibited over400 people who have testedpositive for the virus thatcauses COVID-19 from goingto polling stations to vote.They would have to vote bymail or delegate their vote toanother person. Mail-in vot-ing has increased in bothregions.

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Large number of business-men in the MSME sector

have approached banks forcollateral-free loans to tideover the crisis following coro-navirus outbreak, a CareRatings survey said.

According to the survey,nearly 70 per cent of therespondents have approachedbanks for collateral free andGovernment guaranteed loans,and the majority of themintend to borrow less than � 1crore.It further revealed thatbanks have so far sanctionedloans to around one-third ofthe applicants and the cost ofborrowings is 8-9 per cent formost of the borrowers.

The rating agency said thesurvey was conducted over 2weeks - between June 23 – July7 - and saw the participation of345 respondents from a cross-section of sectors.

The size of the business ofthe respondents in terms ofturnover ranged from less than�25 crore to �100 crore.

“The majority of respon-dents (over half) have availedmoratorium from banks whilefewer (27 per cent of those it isapplicable) have been able to doso from NBFCs,” the surveysaid, adding that the lockdownhas severely impacted the bulk of the respondents (over60 per cent).

It also revealed that fall indemand, contraction in cash

flows, finance, labour shortage,logistical constraints andincreasing receivables areamongst the main challengesfaced by the segment due to thelockdown.

A third of the respondentshave faced revenue losses ofover 50 per cent in the last threemonths.

Also, over 60 per cent ofthem have been unable to payfull salaries to their staff.However, only a quarter ofthose surveyed have retrenchedtheir staff, it added.

Further, nearly half therespondents feel that they standto benefit from the change indefinition of MSMEs and amajor part plan to increasetheir size.

The study further said theprevailing anti-China senti-ments has not brought aboutnoteworthy changes in terms offresh business. In termsof assistance, the survey saidMSME’s are seeking interestwaivers, extension in morato-rium, loan restructuring, taxcuts, financial support frombanks and government, directcash transfers, relief in elec-tricity and water charges,among others.

As per the study, about 65per cent the participants expectthat it would take 12 monthsand more for their business toget to normal, and nearly halfthose surveyed expect theirbusiness situation to improve inthe next 6 months.

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With economic activitiescoming to a halt amid the

Covid-19 pandemic and thelockdown, the Indian economyis expected to record a negative4.5 per cent growth rate in thecurrent financial year, accord-ing to the FICCI’s EconomicOutlook Survey.

The minimum and maxi-mum growth estimate stood at(-) 6.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent,respectively, for FY21, it said.The quarterly median fore-casts indicated 14.2 per centcontraction in the gross domes-tic product (GDP) in the firstquarter of FY21, it added.

The signs of an impendingslowdown have been sharplyaccentuated by the Covid-19pandemic-induced lockdown.

The Covid-19 pandemic hasseverely hit global as well asdomestic growth.

The current round of sur-vey, conducted in June, drewresponses from leading econ-omists representing industry,banking and financial servicessectors.

Economic activity-wiseannual forecast indicated amedian growth of 2.7 per centfor agriculture and allied activ-ities for FY21. Agricultureseems to be the only sector witha silver lining.

There’s an apparent upsideas far as performance of mon-soon was concerned this yearwith enough water in reser-voirs, it said.

The rural sector, support-ed by a steady agriculture per-formance and hopefully a lim-

ited number of Covid-19 cases,will be a key demand genera-tor this year, as per the survey.

Further, the direct incomesupport through the PM-KISAN and increased alloca-tion to MGNREGA were help-ing the returnee migrants, lend-ing support to the rural econ-omy, it showed.

The industry and servicessectors are expected to contractby 11.4 per cent and 2.8 percent, respectively. “Weakdemand and subdued capaci-ty utilisation were manifestinginto a drag on investment, andthe pandemic has furtherextended the timeline forrecovery,” it said.

Even though activity insome sectors, like consumerdurables and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), is

gaining traction, most compa-nies are still operating at lowcapacity utilisation rates.Labour availability and feebledemand remain major issues.

Therefore, fresh invest-ments would be difficult tocome by in the near-to-medi-um term, the survey predicted.

Absence of demand stim-ulus, a second wave of the pan-demic and continuation ofsocial distancing and quaran-tine measures would weigh heavily on growthprospects, it said.

“With demand and invest-ment outlook muted, robustgovernment expenditure hasbeen the only saviour.Nonetheless, growth is likely tobottom out after the secondquarter of FY21,” FICCI surveysaid.

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The US remained India’s toptrading partner for the sec-

ond consecutive fiscal in 2019-20, which shows increasingeconomic ties between the twocountries.

According to the data ofthe Commerce Ministry, in2019-20, the bilateral tradebetween the US and Indiastood at USD 88.75 billion asagainst USD 87.96 billion in2018-19. The US is one of thefew countries with which Indiahas a trade surplus. The tradegap between the countries hasincreased to USD 17.42 billionin 2019-20 from USD 16.86 bil-lion in 2018-19, the datashowed.

In 2018-19, the US firstsurpassed China to becomeIndia’s top trading partner.

The bilateral trade betweenIndia and China has dipped toUSD 81.87 billion in 2019-20from USD 87.08 billion in2018-19. Trade deficit betweenthe two neighbours havedeclined to USD 48.66 billionin 2019-20 from USD 53.57 bil-

lion in the previous fiscal.The data also showed that

China was India’s top tradingpartner since 2013-14 till 2017-18. Before China, UAE was thecountry’s largest trading nation.

India is also consideringcertain steps like framing tech-nical regulations and qualitycontrol orders for host of itemswith a view to cut importdependence on China andboost domestic manufacturing.

Trade experts believe thatthe trend of widening trade tiesbetween New Delhi andWashington will continue in

the coming years also as boththe sides are engaged in furtherdeepening the economic ties.

Presence of Indian diaspo-ra in the US is one of the mainreasons for increasing bilater-al trade, Biswajit Dhar, profes-sor of economics at JawaharlalNehru University, said.

“Presence of Indian dias-pora is creating demand forIndian goods such as con-sumer items and we are sup-plying that. A balanced tradedeal will further boost the eco-nomic ties,” Dhar said.

India and the US are nego-

tiating a limited trade pactwith a view to iron out differ-ences at trade front and boostcommercial ties.

Professor at IndianInstitute of Foreign Trade(IIFT) Rakesh Mohan Joshisaid that although the tradepact will be mutually benefi-cial for both the countries,India should be a bit cautiouswhile negotiating the pact with the US in areassuch as agriculture, dairy andissues related intellectual prop-erty rights.

Ludhiana-based HandTools Association PresidentSubhash Chander Ralhan saidthere is huge potential to boostbilateral trade between thecountries on account ofincreasing anti-China senti-ment in both the nations.

“Because of the anti-Chinasentiment, several US compa-nies are exploring news sup-pliers in countries like India to cut dependence onChina and if it will happen,then it will greatly help India toboost exports to the US,”Ralhan said.

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Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’sReliance Industries on

Sunday said it has secured �730 crore from wireless tech-nology leader Qualcomm byselling a small stake in its tech-nology venture, adding to aslew of investments since April that has crossed �1.18 lakh crore.

“Qualcomm Ventures’investment will translate into0.15 per cent equity stake in JioPlatforms on a fully dilutedbasis,” the company said in astatement. The investment, thecompany said, will deepen theties with Qualcomm that willhelp Jio rollout of advanced 5G infrastructure and servicesin India.

With this deal, Reliance hassold 25.24 per cent stake in JioPlatforms Ltd - the unit thathouses India’s youngest butlargest telecom firm JioInfocomm and apps. In total,Jio has raised �1,18,318.45croresQualcomm, which is the12th marquee firm to have seta sight on

India’s hottest digital play

in as many weeks, values JioPlatforms at � 4.91 lakh crore,the statement said.

Proceeds from the stakesales in Jio Platforms along withthe �53,124 crore raised in arights issue in June and fromsale of a 49 per cent stake in itsfuel retail network to BP lastsummer for �7,000 crore, willhelp the company become netdebt-free, Reliance announcedlast month, once the promisedfunds come in (75 per cent ofthe funds from the rights issuewill come in next year).

As of March, Reliance hada net-debt of over � 1.6 lakhcrore. Qualcomm is the world’sleading wireless technologyinnovator and the driving forcebehind the development,launch and expansion of 5G.

Mukesh Ambani,Chairman and ManagingDirector of Reliance Industries,said, “Qualcomm has been avalued partner for several yearsand we have a shared vision ofconnecting everything bybuilding a robust and securewireless and digital networkand extending the benefits ofdigital connectivity to every-

one in India”.“As a world leader in wire-

less technologies, Qualcommoffers deep technologyknowhow and insights thatwill help us deliver on our 5Gvision and the digital transfor-mation of India for both peo-ple and enterprises,” he said.

Steve Mollenkopf, CEO ofQualcomm Incorporated, said,“With unmatched speeds andemerging use cases, 5G isexpected to transform everyindustry in the coming years”.

“Jio Platforms has led thedigital revolution in Indiathrough its extensive digitaland technological capabili-ties. As an enabler andinvestor with a longstandingpresence in India, we look for-ward to playing a role in Jio’svision to further revolutioniseIndia’s digital economy,” he said.

The transaction is subject to customary condi-tions precedent.

Morgan Stanley acted asfinancial advisor to RelianceIndustries and AZB & Partnersand Davis Polk & Wardwellacted as legal counsels.

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The Finance Ministry onSunday said financing

requests of close to �10,000crore have been received underthe special liquidity schemeworth �30,000 crore forstressed NBFCs and HFCswhose financials further dete-riorated due to the COVID-19crisis.

The scheme was launchedon July 1. The Reserve Bank ofIndia (RBI) has provided fundsfor the scheme by subscribingto Government-guaranteedspecial securities issued by atrust set up by SBI CapitalMarkets Limited (SBICAP).

“RBI has also issued a cir-cular to NBFCs and HFCs onJuly 1, 2020 itself on theScheme. SBICAP has received24 applications requestingabout �9,875 crore of financingas on July 7, 2020 which arebeing processed,” the financeministry said in a statement.

The first application hasbeen approved and the remain-ing are also under considera-tion, it said.

The InvestmentCommittee of Special LiquidityScheme (SLS) Trust hasapproved investment of up to�200 crore in commercialpaper issued by the applicant.

Non-banking financialcompanies (NBFCs) and hous-ing finance companies (HFCs)came under stress following aseries of defaults by IL&FSgroup firms in September 2018.

During the latest review ofthe Atmanirbhar Bharat pack-age by Finance MinisterNirmala Sitharaman, progressof various schemes was dis-cussed, including the �3 lakhcrore credit guarantee schemefor the MSME sector hit hardby the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banks have sanctioned loansof about �1,20,099 crore underthe �3 lakh crore EmergencyCredit Line Guarantee Schemefor the MSME sector, the state-ment said.

However, disbursementsagainst this stood at � 61,987.90crore till July 9 under the 100per cent ECLGS for micro,small and medium enterprises(MSMEs).

Besides, front-loaded spe-cial refinance facility of �30,000 crore has been sanc-tioned by NABARD duringCOVID-19 to Regional RuralBanks (RRBs) and cooperativebanks. This special facility willbenefit 3 crore farmers, con-sisting mostly small and mar-ginal farmers in meeting theircredit needs for post-harvestand kharif sowing require-ments, it said.

With kharif sowingalready on in full swing, �24,876.87 crore out of the �30,000 crore has been dis-bursed as on July 6, it added.With regard to the �45,000crore Partial Credit GuaranteeScheme 2.0 for NBFCs, it saidbanks have approved purchaseof portfolio of �14,000 croreand are in process ofapproval/negotiations for �6,000 crore as on July 3, 2020.

On the taxation front, �50,000 crore liquidity infusionhas been made throughTDS/TCS rate reduction by 25per cent for transactions madefrom May 14 to March 31,2021.

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Trading sentiment in the equi-ty markets this week will be

largely guided by quarterly earn-ings from major companies likeWipro and Infosys as well asmacroeconomic data announce-ments, analysts said.

Management commentaryfrom companies would be keen-ly watched for insights into howthe COVID-19 pandemic hasaffected various sectors, theyadded.

“This week, participants willfirst react to the macroeconom-ic data and then focus wouldagain shift to earnings announce-ments. Needless to say, globalcues and updates related toCOVID-19 will also remain ontheir radar,” said Ajit Mishra, VP- Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

Retail inflation data will beannounced on Monday, followedby WPI inflation numbers onTuesday.

“The June quarter earningsseason has started which holdskey significance as it faced the

maximum brunt of lockdown.Thus, management commen-tary would be keenly watched outfor and could keep the marketsvolatile in the near-term,” saidSiddhartha Khemka, Head -Retail Research, Motilal OswalFinancial Services Ltd.

Major companies sched-uled to announce their quarter-ly earnings this week includeWipro, Federal Bank, BandhanBank, Infosys and HCLTechnologies Limited.

“The outlook for the marketis volatile as the earningsannouncements have begun aftera washout quarter for mostindustries.

“This uncertainty combinedwith profit-booking happeningafter the recent rally, means that

volatility is expected to continuein the markets and investorswould do well to be cautious andstock-specific in this market,”said Vinod Nair, Head ofResearch at Geojit FinancialServices.

During the last week, the 30-share BSE Sensex advanced572.91 points or 1.59 per cent.

“In general, the bigger trendtriggers will emerge on the backof how developed countries andforeign funds behave andrespond to the post COVID-19dynamics. Domestic factors maynot have any major impact goingahead for the next few weeks,”said Jimeet Modi, Founder &CEO, SAMCO Securities &StockNote.

India added a record28,637 cases of coronavirus infec-tion on Sunday, pushing thecountry’s COVID-19 tally to8,49,553, while the death tollclimbed to 22,674, according tothe Union Health Ministry data.

Globally, COVID-19 caseshave topped 1.25 crore, withover 5,61,000 deaths.

New Delhi: As desired by theUnion Home Minister AmitShah, a mega tree plantationdrive is being organised in allCAPFs across the country.

Under this mega tree plan-tation drive, reiterating ourcommitment towardsEnvironmental Protection aspart of our “OrganizationalSocial Responsibility” for agreen & clean India, CISF haslaunched a pan India massiveplantation drive in which theForce personnel will plant morethan 7.23 lakh saplings in itsunits & formations located indifferent parts of the country.

Till June, 2020, more than1.66 lakh saplings have alreadybeen planted. During the megaplantation drive held on12.07.2020, more than 1.42lakh additional saplings havebeen planted in different loca-tions across the country.

On 12.07.2020 at about

1000 hrs, at a function orga-nized at CISF campus, SSG,Greater Noida, MAGanapathy, SDG (APS),Vikram Singh Mann, IG (APS-I), other senior officers andpersonnel planted more than3,000 fruit bearing and othertraditional Indian plants likeNeem, Sheesham, Peepal,Banyan, etc.

CISF has pledged to plant

and nurture more number ofsaplings into trees in the nextphase of this mega tree plan-tation drive. Planting morethan 1.42 lakh saplings in a sin-gle day is a humble contribu-tion of CISF for a green & cleancountry.

These saplings would beprotected and taken care of toensure that they grow intolarge trees.

Chittaranjan: A review meet-ing chaired by Shri PraveenKumar Mishra, GeneralManager on the functioning of11 Railway schools ofChittaranjan LocomotiveWorks(CLW) was conductedtoday in the admn office meet-ing room. SD Patidar, PCPO and Chief

Executive Officer of CLW RlySchools accompanied withPrincipals of Railway schools,taking the prevailing precau-tions for COVID-19 situations

with social distancing andmasks.General Manager has given

emphasis and advised forimproving the academic cur-riculums, improvements inquality of education and infra-structure development of the 5secondary and 6 primaryschools of railways. It is hoped with this synergy theperformance of Railwayschools will improve and stu-dents will bring more laurels inacademics for the CLW.

New Delhi: MedicalDepartment of Metro Railwayhas made elaborate arrange-ments to treat COVID- 19positive patients at Tapan SinhaMemorial Hospital. Dedicatedmedical team comprising ofdoctors, nurses, and other para-medical staff have so far treat-ed twenty two(22) COVID- 19positive patients at this hospi-tal. Twelve (12) other COVIDsuspected patients have alsobeen treated at this hospital sofar. All these patients are nowcured and have been dis-charged. They have expressedtheir satisfaction about thetreatment and other arrange-ments being provided toCOVID patients here. NoCovid patient has so far died inthis hospital.

For providing proper treat-ment to COVID- 19 patients,an Isolation Ward fitted with

hepa filters has been set up atTapan Sinha MemorialHospital. Adequate number ofbeds, ventilators (both invasiveand non-invasive), pulseoxymeters, oxygen cylindershave been provided at this

ward. Separate medical teamcomprising of specialized doc-tors, nurses and other staff hasbeen successfully treatingpatients maintaining all proto-cols round the clock at thisward.

New Delhi: Foreign portfolioinvestors have pulled out �2,867 crore from Indian mar-kets in July so far, mainly onaccount of profit booking aftersurge in Indian equities. Theoverseas investors pulled out anet �2,210 crore from equitiesand �657 crore from debt seg-ment, taking the total net out-flow to �2,867 crore betweenJuly 1-10, according to thedepositories data. The latestwithdrawal has come afterinvestment of � 24,053 crore byFPIs in domestic markets inJune. Besides, FPIs have beennet investors in the last quar-ter ended June as “valuationshave become extremely richafter the sharp rally and dis-appointing Q4 FY20 earningsseason,” Rusmik Oza, executivevice president, head of funda-mental research at KotakSecurites, said.After remainingnet buyers in June in the Indianequity markets, FPIs have goneslow with respect to theirinvestments in Indian equitiesin July so far, said HimanshuSrivastava, associate director -manager research atMorningstar India. PTI

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������Armed with mysterious powers and a legendary sword,

young rebel Nimue joins forces with charming mercenaryArthur on a mission to save her people. StarringKatherine Langford, Devon Terrell and Gustaf Skarsgård,season 1 releases on July 17 on Netflix.

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decisions looming, Ellejuggles her long-distanceromance with Noah,changing relationshipwith bestie Lee andfeelings for a newclassmate. Starring JoeyKing, Joel Courtney andJacob Elordi, season 2releases on July 24 onNetflix.

����������Married Alma spends a fateful weekend away from

home that ignites passion, ends in tragedy and leads herto question the truth about those close to her. StarringMaite Perroni, Erik Hayser and Alejandro Speitzer,season 1 releases on July 15 on Netflix.

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In our day to day lives, we toucha lot of surfaces which might beinfected by microbes and bacte-

ria. And there are certain contactpoints which are difficult to avoid.For instance, can you guess thenumber of fingers which wouldhave touched that doorbell you justrang? Can you guess how manypeople hold the doorknob you justturned? Or to be precise, was it usedby someone who was infected withthe novel Coronavirus? Well, acontaminated doorknob can infecta household or an entire office floor.Since a drastic change in the waydoors are designed is not possibleimmediately, many are finding newand easy ways such as using oursleeve, elbow or forearm to movethe handle. But the question is, forhow long can we adjust with suchtemporary solutions because youcan’t socially distance yourself froma door, can you?

The pandemic has sparkedcalls for the introduction of build-ing codes and design innovationsfor all future structures to complywith infection control measures.Fundamentally, we want to be cre-ating buildings that minimise theamount of sickness people have attheir workplace or commercialplaces. A combination of technol-ogy, smart accessories and function-al designs can influence how onehandles a door. So how are doorsgoing to be redesigned for the post-COVID times?

�5��������������9Every problem leads to innova-

tions and solutions, and so has thisone. Design thinkers say that it isimportant for them to look at newinclusive design solutions, which aremeant for the masses. The doordesigns could be many but automa-tion will play a big role now. PujaMathur, Interior Designer, ArcadiaDesign, says, “The doors should beeither controlled by an app on a cellphone or should be voice-activat-ed. The other option is automaticdoors controlled by a button thatcan be activated with just an elbow.”Or may be even a foot-tap. She addsthat the most low-tech design solu-tions like foot-operated kick pedalsat the bottom of the door will provemost effective in pandemic proof-ing.

Agreeing with her, MeenaMurthy Kakkar, Design Head andPartner, Envisage, says that foot-pedals have been prevalent in themarket and are the most cost-effec-tive solution. For areas such as pub-lic restrooms, this is the most aptsolution. Since there will be nochoice for a typical hand-knob, thepublic will have to use it. However,for other public areas such as malls,automatic, motion-detecting doors,which are already in use in somevenues, will be the way forward.With no contact, they will providethe best solution.

However, certain rooms such ascabins for the management and oth-ers, where there is restricted access,doorknobs or handles cannot bedone away with. Therefore, ratherthan a design change, Meena sug-gests a sanitisation kiosk or a handsanitiser. Since the number of peo-ple using the door is limited, this can

be an effective strategy.“Automated doors with no

door handles and voice controllocking systems eliminate contactand help prevent the spread of infec-tion. Doors integrated with technol-ogy will be the key change infuture,” says Anika Mittal Dhawan,Founder and Director, Mold Designstudio.

However, architect AparnaKaushik feels that a drastic changein the way doors are designed is notpossible immediately. She says,“First preference would be to useknob finishes that do not react tothe disinfectants. Knobs that can beeasily cleaned are the need of thehour. It is also important to useknobs made of materials such ascopper that do not harbour micro-bial activity for long.”

Pierluigi Lualdi, Partner anddirector R&D, Lualdi, also believesthat handles should be redesignedaccording to new materials that caninterrupt the contamination.

���+��+�������*�The world is changing and we

need to adapt to a new, moregerm-conscious way of living. Pujasays that for many in the designcommunity, the rapid spread ofCOVID-19 has caused them to re-evaluate their work. What it mightmean to design for a world that willnever be the same, especially whenit comes to how we gather in pub-lic spaces, offices, airports, hotels,gyms, hospitals and condominiums.

“The method to solve the prob-lem of door handles acting as atransmission route for viruses and

microorganisms is the door open-ing and closing mechanism that wasdeveloped without manual opera-tion. The device for opening thedoor with the help of a foot pedalwas built into the bottom of thedoor leaf. The function of the doorhandle and door lock is not affect-ed. The foot door opener makes thedoor handle superfluous in mostcases. This eliminates the risk ofcontamination. In addition, thetransport of items that must be car-ried with both hands, for example,a tray, is facilitated. Automateddoors, voice activated doors, eleva-tors, cell phone controlled roomentry are the future,” says she.

Puja adds that another meansof opening doors without using thehands is provided by door handlesdesigned to be operated with theforearm. When used correctly, theforearm operated door openerreduces the risk of cross-infection.The brass door opener helps todecrease the spreading of germswhile performing daily tasks. It iseconomical too. Another suchopener is Arm pull, a touchless andhygienic door handle. Pull withyour arm and elbow every time youuse the doorknobs.

Meena lists some new designsolutions which have emerged ascost-effective and easy to use. Oneis the Hygiene Hook, designed bySteve Brooks. It reminds one of thetoothpick strategy used to operatelifts. It is a portable hook, which anindividual can carry with him/herand use it to open doors and han-dles of the places s/he visits. Simpleand ingenious. Another such inno-vation is the hands-free door han-dle by Wyn Griffiths. He designeda door handle using a 3D printer,which can attach itself to a doorwith a crook to open it. He hopesthe hospitals and other publicspaces can make full-use of this tohelp reduce chances of infection.Once used, it can be sanitised andre-used as well.

RFID cards, touch-free accesscards, which are used in hotels, will

hopefully see an increase in usageas an entry permit through auto-mated doors. Biometric scanners forfingerprints or number pads willnow lose their feasibility. PallaviVijaydeep, lead interior architect,Housejoy, mentions some emergingdesign solutions — voice-con-trolled smart doors, simple acces-sories at the bottom of the door thatallow you to pull using your feet andpersonalised portable door acces-sories through which you can hookon to the handle to open it.

“There are multiple solutionsthat people are coming up with totemporarily attach to the existingdoors or door handles like keychains with hooks or attachmentsto open the door with your arm butthe most effective are the sensorbased systems like wave to openfunctions, touchless door bells andswitches,” says Anika.

Since home automation isbecoming big, a solution employ-ing motion sensors can be used toopen and close the doors. Foot-operated kick pedals can also beused if they can be designed in anon-invasive manner, keeping theaesthetic part in mind, suggestsAparna. However, contrary to whatother designers and architects sug-gest, Pierluigi says, “They are allabsolutely unfriendly and not nat-ural. The challenge for the future isnot to fall in the trap of technolo-gy (hardware or software) for everysimple action of daily life.”

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Since the ultimate aim of designis functionality and comfort, safe-ty always overpowers design,believes Aparna. For example, whenwe design large windows, there isalways a safety concern, but we gofor laminated, unbreakable windowpanes to allay this fear. Similarly, inthe design of the door too, safetyand practicality will have to bewoven with the aesthetics.

However, Pierluigi feels that ifthat happens we will live in ugly

spaces. This will generate a bounceback to design in the private spaceto outbalance the homologation ofpublic spaces. “Designers need toincorporate safety with design inour design plans. Some defensiveyet aesthetically beautiful designsneed to be employed. The currentsituation will segregate the timelinesas BC (Before Corona) and AC(After Corona), where all the ele-ments and spaces will be designedwith minimum human contact,”says Puja.

For Meena, aesthetics evolvewith time and as designers, they aresensitised to adapt to the changingrequirements. She says it is their jobto ensure that feasible design solu-tions are developed, wherein safe-ty and good design go hand inhand. “Safety is always a priority,however, design elements thatincorporate the new normal willrequire a balance between aesthet-ics and safety measures,” says Pallavi.

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“Motion sensors are where theseamless merging of technicaladvancement with decor takesplace as they are nearly invisible andcan be operated without any kindof touch,” says Aparna.

Possibilities are endless. Pallavifeels that people opting to limit con-tact with doors will prefer trendydesigns. Technology, smart designand accessories will make it func-tional.

“With time, we also see newinnovations in materials, which canadd to our design aesthetics. Forexample, we are seeing the 3Dprinters designing face-shields forour front-line workers,” says Meena.

“We need to rethink how weintroduce interfaces that replacetouch with gesture in the work-place. For instance, waving yourhand to trigger an automatic doorremoves the need to touch handles.As it says, Voice Does the Buddha’sWork, use your voice. Google, Siri,Alexa have transformed the way wethink about virtual assistance.These controls have normalised thevoice control with home devicesallowing people to speak directly totheir light fixtures, electronic gad-gets like geysers, air conditioners,doorbells, curtains etc. Same waycombine in the workplace settingby ‘unlock the office door’,” saysPuja.

She also lists how the intricate-ly-carved door or a glass doorwhich leads to your workplace orhome can be merged with technol-ogy by concealing the wires or themechanism. The integrated swingdoor has the drive system, controlunit, power supply and user inter-face — all designed into one. “Thetechnological advancements willmerge with design and decor with-out interrupting the overall look butevolve with the safety and effectivesolutions to prevent contaminationsfrom virus or germs that can befound on a doorknob,” adds she.

Well, even though there are athousand ways already in progressto ensure touchless movementbetween spaces, we are now lefthere to see how much they work tobecome the new normal.

� Tell us about the identity of‘Wade’ and ‘Parzival’?

Tye Sheridan: Wade andParzival are two very different peo-ple and Parzival is everything thatWade is not. When we meet Wade,he is kind of this kiddish guy whois an introvert and logs into Oasis,a game, where he expresses it all.

� What would like to say onMotion Capture?

Tye: We shot everything thattakes place in the Oasis first inMotion Capture studios. We werewearing these suits, headcams andthere were dots all over our face sothat they could record our facialexpressions, put those on ouravatars and create a new world

around us. There is a real time mon-itor so that every environment thatwe walk around in the Oasis, whatwe shoot around was virtually cre-ated. A mocked-up version wasthere on the monitor to actually geta sense of what it may feel like. Thatwas extremely helpful and at anypoint you were shooting, you couldlook in the monitor and you seeyourself, your avatar walkingaround tracking your movements atevery stage. So, you understandwhere you are in the space and whoyou are.

� Tell us about the Stacks?Tye: As it is based on a book,

there are certain environments andscenes that you take away and are

really excited to do that in the film.Stacks was everything that I expect-ed it would be and its just great thatthe production has done someincredible work on the film. It wascrazy to see expectations turninginto reality in this film.

� Who is Art3mis?Olivia Cooke: She is Artemis,

the Greek goddess of hunt. She isvery determined and has her eyeson winning and taking control ofthe Oasis for the greater good. Sheis a loner and doesn’t have manyfriends. She is so striven to achieveher goal.

� Tell us about the Gunters?Olivia: Gunters is a slang for

the egg hunters. They are kind ofruthless and rebellious. They real-ly want to find the egg for thegreater good. They are anti-estab-lishment and want to win for thegood of the Oasis and the World.

� How was it working withSteven Spielberg?

Tye: He was very engagingwith us. He loves actors and I thinkhe is a great director. He is open totry different things and go to differ-ent places but most of the times, heknows exactly what he wants. Thewhole experience has been quiteamazing. I’ve learnt maybe more onthis film than my entire career.

Olivia: I first met him in theauditions, and I was so nervous, buthe instantly knew that he has thiseffect on people within his workingtime. He is a genius and lovely, calmand soothing too. He works veryquickly, I found that in the audi-tions. He thinks on the spot andkeeps on telling things in betweenthe scenes, this actually works. Heis always on his toes to play thegame. It was fun working withhim.

� Tell us more about the attrac-tion between ‘Parzival’ and‘Art3mis’?

Tye: Quite early in the story Imeet this girl who Parzival orWade is actually obsessed with.She is a pretty famous Gunter inthe Oasis and a lot of people recog-nised her. He has a crush on her,and she pushes his buttons. Thereis something about her that helikes. And Olivia playing thischaracter, it was really smart.

Olivia: It’s fun to explore theattraction and romance betweenthem. It is not on Artemis’ radarat all. She has all these peoplearound all the time but her eyeswere on winning the competitionand the egg so she can make a bet-ter future for everyone and helppeople in the future. Speaking toParzival and the talking aboutthings just takes her by surprise.

(The film premiers on PIX onJuly 12 at 1 pm and 9 pm.)

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An unbiased review of the world, especiallywith regards to events happened in the recent

past, would say that despite bold steps taken fordevelopment, there has been a constant deteri-oration in the overall state of affairs of the world.Everyday, we wake up to read in the newspapersthat a new war has begun in some part of theworld, a previous conflict has escalated or thatpolice has fired on a mob. The world seems tobe in a state of utter confusion and great turmoil.Political, economic and communal structuresseem to be in a state of constant repair. There areefforts everywhere for mending and patching up,yet daily, we appear to be drifting away from ahealthy, normal and peaceful condition.

Arrogance, insatiable lust for name andfame and an unstoppable race for power and posi-tion seem to have gripped even the minds of reli-gious high-ups. The situation has become so badthat one can-not utter aword ofadvice ingood faitheven tofriends andy o u n g e rbrothers orjuniors today.Faith, loveand non-vio-lence are nownon-virtuesand are nowconsidered assigns ofweakness willor a submis-sive culture.One is asked to be smart, assertive, extrovert andeven exhibitionist to the point of being clever,manipulative, cunning, rude and boisterous.There is indiscipline rampant in many institutesof learning and education. There is flagrant vio-lation of law even by those who are supposed tobe the custodians or the protective arms of law.In short, there is tension almost everywhere.

The debate on disarmament has been goingon since decades but it seems that the leaders ofworld are in a different mood altogether. Hence,a solution to this problem seems to be too knot-ty to be resolved. The state of affairs of the worldis such that today, if a country sincerely makesa withdrawal and ceasefire offer to another, thelatter rejects it by saying that it is too late. Hence,one may question, “In such a scenario, who willprevent whom from aggression and nuclearweapons?” “Is there a single soul on the worldscene who has such a moral authority, anunblemished record and a universal popularitywho can exert his moral influence because of hisown stature and appeal to halt such aggressiveacts?” “To a world that has ignored the advice ofChrist or Buddha or Mahatma Gandhi to give upviolence, who can morally compel all to give uparms and work with love and compassion?”

By nature, man generally wants to avoidtough questions and hard realities of life. If any-one points out, in advance, the coming obnox-ious events, seeing the shadows cast by thembefore, the former does not take the latter kind-ly and think over his words of caution with calm-ness and the attention it deserves. Same mightbe the attitude of people in this case. But onewould be neglecting one’s sacred duty and con-straints of honesty and sincerity if one does notspeak the plain truth in such matters and say witha firm voice that man should be realistic in think-ing over such issues. He should ask himself withboldness whether he really thinks in the depthof his mind that disarmament will ultimately beachieved in fact? Or does he think that the seriesof events over the century is taking the worldrapidly to an end so as to begin building a newcivilisation which has no violence and wars?

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Ever experienced certain physicalchanges with no stimuli? Ever fall-en ill with no external factor to con-

tribute it to? Well, let’s dive a little deep-er on the reasons which could causeunexplained physiological and biologi-cal ailments or changes. According tomany psychological experts and doctors,the mind and body are proven to be inter-connected. What goes on in the mind cancause manifestations in the body.Similarly, physical aches and pains canalso disturb our mind resulting in anger,depression or other mood changes.More often than not, we tend to brushaway the stress and pressure our mindgoes through, especially in times as severeas these. There’s a constant overflow ofinformation, news, fake rumours, socialmedia toxicity and the daily struggles ofwork-life balance. With so much on ourplate, it becomes difficult to pay atten-tion to all aspects of life and unfortunate-ly, on our check list, mental health andpsychological stress is marked as the lastthing to address.

When the news of the pandemic firstbroke out, we stocked up on supplies andstarted brewing the age-old remedies athome. However, we left a major chunkof ‘health’ out of consideration — men-tal and emotional well-being. Humansare social beings, majority of our dayswere spent with people swarming aroundus — trains, buses, offices or the local cof-fee shop. The pandemic and the subse-quent lockdown restricted us in the con-fines of our homes, making normal socialinteraction a bleak possibility. Thisseemingly un-catastrophic change gaveus the time to go through our thought

journal and tap into our emotional self.Whereas in most cases, this might be agood thing, a lot of unaddressed feelingstend to pop up. Psychiatrics say that thenumber of calls related to anxiety andstress have increased significantly sincethe onset of the lockdown. The same isthe case in household violence due tosurge in anger and emotional outbreak.“Over the last few days, there has beena surge in the number of patients callingin to say that they are anxious about thestate of affairs. It was a trickle which hasnow become an avalanche,” says Dr KersiChavda, consultant psychiatry, PDHinduja Hospital and MRC. “Psychiatrywill play a major role now,” he adds,speaking of the psychological supportthat is essential during such times.

In tough times like these, the slight-

est trigger can cause stress and be moreimpactful than it was before. For instance,the daily updates on the news or over-burdening from work can cause a heav-ier impact on out mental health than itdid before. This adverse impact will soonbe exhibited by our body in ways suchas lowering of metabolic rate, headaches,mood-swings and appetite malfunc-tions. The part which should concern usthe most is the relation of stress to ourimmune system, especially in the currentscenario. Studies have shown significantrelation between mental stress and thedevelopment or depletion of the immunesystem.

Now, don’t be stressed about beingstressed! We can tackle things one day ata time and take simple measures torelease those dopamines and endorphins!

�����.���+��.�*9�>*9�������The first step to take down this

demon we call stress would be to knowits origin. We deal with situations dif-ferently and may have different reac-tions to the same stimulus. It is impor-tant that we sense and make note of ourtriggers to deal with the problem atlarge. This helps us pin point theunderlying issue which in turn will leadto a more wholesome resolution to theproblem. So take a magnifying glass andlook at the picture with more attentionto the details.

���9������While gyms and classes are shut, we

need to get creative with our workoutways. Don’t laze around only becauseyou are home! For fitness freaks, makeyour room, your fitness habitat. Ventureinto different ways of staying fit. Oneof the most excellent forms of exercisethat does not require much space isyoga. It’s a workout and stressbuster allin one. For the ones who want theirheartbeats to go higher, opt for in-housecardio and HIIT workouts to keep thosemuscles pumping. Avoid staying in oneplace for too long and keep the bodymoving.

��������Despite your daily routine, get in

touch with our inner self frequently. Tryto reflect and calm your mind so you cantackle challenges with a clearer head.Meditation is a great way of de-stressingand calming your nerves. There are manytutorials and videos to choose online.One can opt for guided meditation andease into the process gradually. It not onlyde-stresses but also increases focus, effi-ciency and concentration.

��������+�������������While social distancing might be the

new norm, adopt screen distancing aswell. It is understandable that most of ourwork from homes function straight outof our laptops, we need to minimise outscreen time in order to avoid the stressand strains that it causes our eyes andother sensory organs. Put a cap on thenumber of hours you would dedicate toyour screen and rest, spend it in the realworld.

+��*������*����In our daily schedules, to meet

deadlines and please clients, we have losttouch with our basics — our hobbies.Hobbies are an extension of an individ-ual’s personality and this lockdown hasgiven us the opportunity to re-developthem or maybe discover entirely newones. The list goes on from cooking, gar-dening to petting fish or just staring intothe sky. Indulge in something that makesyou connect back with yourself and watchthe stresses fade away.

��������+���We’ve all discussed how this quaran-

tine has messed up everyone’s sleepschedule. This is mostly because our bodyneeds time to adapt to the change in ourdaily cycle. Find the amount of sleep thatkeeps you active. Don’t over-sleep or sleepdeprive your body since it adverselyimpacts our immune system by causingphysical and mental fatigue. It is moreimportant to get a deeper sleep than alonger one.

����<���Keep your diet filled with vitamins

and minerals that hep contrast yourimmunity. Aim to have a well-balanceddiet and avoid the usual munchies thatonly strain your digestive system andmake it over-work. Having a clean andnutrition rich diet will not only helpexternally in terms of a good body, butalso show positive effects on the bodyinternally and accelerate your immuni-ty rate.

(The author is the wellness director atAtmantan Wellness Centre.)

It has been only six months sincethe novel Coronavirus started

making headlines and the decade-old ways in which the world oper-ated started getting altered. TillJuly 10, total number of casesreported from across the worldwere 12,495,228 while the num-ber of deaths reported were559,447. In India, total casesreported in the same time periodwere 8,00,000. Though, a strictlockdown was implementedacross the nation with the inten-tion of ‘controlling’ the virus butas soon as the lockdown was lift-ed, numbers proliferated andthere has been no turning back.

Due to inability to handlesuch unprecedented number ofpatients, the healthcare infra-structure of several states crum-pled including metropolitans likeDelhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.Several horrifying reports of howhospitals denied admission topatients, the ill-treatment ofadmitted persons, data forgeryand the high ‘rate list’ for treat-ment uncovered the false claimsof the administration — both stateand central. If such is the scenarioin places that featured ‘state of theart’ facilities in their hospitals, onecan only imagine the availabilityof medical facilities in theextremely remote, rural areas ofthe country — which are alsoexposed to more immediatethreats along with COVID-19.

� Walking kilometers for aparacetamol

In the interior hamlets of thehilly states, where there are noroads, villagers spend hours toreach the Government HealthCentres only to find them locked.

Or if it is their lucky day, they mayfind a nurse to attend them whowill give them regular medicinesbut finding a qualified doctor insuch areas is a distant dream. Toreceive medicine for commoncold and flu, people have to trekfor several kilometers to reach aPrimary Health Centre or a Sub-Centre.

� Falling sick in a border villageOne such region that has

been lagging years behind in thecontext of development is the bor-der region of Poonch, Jammu &Kashmir. The unavailability of astrong health infrastructure in thisconflict-affected district has sev-eral repercussions as it is not justthe diseases that communitieshave to fight but the bullets andshells that are fired from acrossthe border.

Poonch is often in news fortension at the border owing toyears of international conflict. Thenews about ceasefire violationsalong the Line of Control (LoC)is often accompanied by reportsof injuries and deaths of thelocals who become the victims ofcollateral damage.

In this frequent exchange offire, villagers who get severelyinjured are taken to the only hos-pital operating at the districtlevel called the Raja SukhdevSingh Hospital. This hospital

lacks sophisticated equipmentand expertise. The injured per-sons are often rushed to theGovernment Medical College inJammu city, which is approxi-mately 250 kms from Poonch.Most of the times, the injuredpatients succumb to their injurieson their way to the hospital.

“Innocent villagers whoreside in border villages liveunder the constant threat ofcross-firing. People are injuredalmost every day and face diffi-culties in getting the treatment atright time,” rued Abdul Rashid, asocial worker from Shahpura vil-lage. He told us about Shamima

Akhtar, a 24-year-old resident ofvillage Noonabandi, who wasinjured during cross-border firingin October 2019. Unfortunately,she could not be saved due to lackof timely treatment.

� No roads to the hospitalsExplaining the lack of basic

facilities in the border areas,Abdul said, “It is not possible torush the injured to the hospitalimmediately as there are no roadsin the villages tucked away in themountainous regions and this isone of the major reasons why somany lives have been lost due tofiring.”

Not just adults but childrenare also not spared by these bul-lets. On July 30, 2019, a 10-day-old baby was injured in Shahpuraborder area of Poonch districtalong with her mother, FatimaJan. The mother somehow sur-vived but the child died on arrivalat the hospital. As recent as onJuly 8, 2020, a civilian was killedwhile two others were injured inceasefire violation by Pakistan inBalakote sector in Poonch district.

It is not just the lack of roads,several regions of this district donot have any medical facility at all.Villagers have been left to fend forthemselves. Pregnant women,heart patients, elderly peoplehave to be carried on cot throughthe tricky trails of hilly area.Situation gets worse in winterswhen it becomes difficult to walkon snow carrying an ill persontied to a cot.

“The residents of Morbanvillage, which is about 15 km frommain market, have been neglect-ed by the administration for along time now. In the absence ofroad and medical centres in thevillage, patients at times have tobe carried on shoulders to thenearest medical facility located inMandi,” told a young journalistfrom Mandi Tehsil in Poonch.

� Increasing incidents of cease-fire violations

June 2020 has witnessed 411instances of ceasefire violation.While 382 occurred in May, 387incidents were reported in Apriland 411 in March. February wit-nessed 366 ceasefire violationsand in January, the count stood at367. Largely, the target of these fir-ings are the forward posts, villagesand civilians residing along theLine of Control (LoC) and theinternational border. In view ofthe increasing incidents of cease-fire violations, the health infra-structure must be strengthenednot just in Poonch but all the bor-der regions of Kashmir. An appealhas also been made by local rep-resentatives to the higher author-ities in which the plight of peo-ple of border areas has beenhighlighted.

� Virus versus conflictWhile the world is worried

about the spread of the virus, vil-lagers in Poonch have differentconcerns. The need of the hour isto redesign the health infrastruc-ture of Poonch district keeping inmind its geographical and strate-gical location. The ongoing con-flict will take its own time toresolve but increasing availabili-ty and accessibility of medicalfacilities can ensure timely treat-ment of the injured persons,decreasing the death rate.

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SINGLES

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Cristiano Ronaldoscored two penalties

as Juventus snatched a dra-matic 2-2 draw againstAtalanta on Saturday totake a massive step towardsa ninth straight Serie A title.

Lazio’s 2-1 loss toSassuolo earlier in the daygave Atalanta, on an 11-match winning streakheading into the game, thechance to move secondand cut the gap to Juve tosix points.

But despite trailingtwice and being outplayedfor long periods, MaurizioSarri’s Juventus movedeight points clear at the topwith six matches remainingas Ronaldo took his tally to28 league goals this season.

“We can’t make calcu-lations yet, we can’t take ourfoot off the gas until we aremathematically champi-ons,” said Juve captainLeonardo Bonucci.

It was an ultimatelyfrustrating outing forAtalanta who stay third,nine points off the pace,after conceding both spot-kicks for handball.

“What are we meant todo, cut our arms off? Youcan at most put your arms

in front of your body,”Atalanta coach Gian PieroGasperini told DAZN.

“The interpretation ofthe rule is not thesame here as else-where. Othercountries don’t givepenalties like that.

A t a l a n t agrabbed the leadin the 16th minute,scoring for the 25th consec-utive match in all compe-titions.

Papu Gomez was thecreator, wriggling free inmidfield before exchangingpasses with Duvan Zapatabefore sliding the ball backfor the Colombian to drill

home his 15th league goalof the campaign.

The goal madeAtalanta the first Serie A

club in almost 70 yearsto have three playersscore 15 times in aleague season, withZapata joining Ilicic andLuis Muriel.

The reigning cham-pions were gifted a route

back into the game nineminutes after half-time asMarten de Roon waspenalised for handlingDybala’s cross.

Ronaldo stepped up toscore his 27th Serie A goalthis term, drawing himwithin two of Lazio’s Ciro

Immobile at the top of thegoalscoring charts.

Ronaldo almost putJuve in front with 10 min-utes to play, but visitinggoalkeeper Pierluigi Gollinimade an excellent save tokeep out the Portuguesestar’s half-volley.

Malinovskiy did putAtalanta back into the leadin the 81st minute, asMuriel picked out his fellowsub to hammer a fierce shotpast Wojciech Szczesny.

But Atalanta shotthemselves in the foot againin the 90th minute, asRonaldo fired in his secondspot-kick after Muriel waspenalised for handball.

����� L5665�D6-�

Lionel Messi made it 20assists for the season in

Barcelona’s stodgy 1-0 winover Real Valladolid onSaturday, even as his team’s LaLiga challenge appears almostover.

Messi teed up ArturoVidal’s winner at Jose Zorilla tobecome the first player to pro-vide 20 assists in Spain’s topflight since Xavi Hernandez in2009.

Victory for Barca meansReal Madrid cannot clinch thetitle on Monday by beatingGranada but only an incredi-ble collapse will prevent themfrom putting their name on thetrophy later in the week.

If they beat Granada,Madrid will win La Liga byprevailing at home to Villarrealon Thursday, regardless ofBarcelona’s results.

Overall, Madridneed only five pointsfrom their remainingthree matches to securetheir third La Liga titlein eight years.

Yet even as Barca’s turbu-lent domestic campaign drawsto a close, Messi continues toshine.

His delightful pass forVidal in the 15th minute, ascoop between two Valladolid

defenders, triggered moreremarkable milestones.

As well as matchingthe best La Liga total forassists by one player in thelast 11 years, Messiextends his own career-best number of assists in a

single league season.He also becomes only the

second player in the 21st cen-tury from the five majorEuropean leagues to hit 20goals and 20 assists in the samecampaign, after Thierry Henry

in 2002-03.Later, third-placed Atletico

Madrid made sure of theirplace in the Champions Leaguenext season with a 1-0 win overReal Betis despite playing morethan half an hour with 10 men.

Diego Costa grabbed theonly goal from a YannickCarrasco free-kick in the 73rdminute after VAR had earlierruled out two goals.

���� '(-:0!D@

In-form RaheemSterling scored a hat

trick as Manchester Citybegan a potentially turbu-lent few days by blowingaway Brighton 5-0 tosecure second place in theEnglish Premier League.

Gabriel Jesus andBernardo Silva also wereon target to help Cityemphatically end a run ofthree straight away losses.

Sterling took his goaltally in all competitions to27, making it the mostprolific campaign of hiscareer to date.

City was at its mes-merising best and, onanother day, would havewon by an even greatermargin as Jesus andKevin De Bruyne each hitthe goal frame.

Sterling made thebreakthrough, expertly

bending a finish intothe bottom right cor-ner from 20 yards(meters) after he wasallowed too muchspace when Jesus noddedRiyad Mahrez's searchingpass into his path.

City doubled itsadvantage two minutesbefore the break when DeBruyne's outswinging

corner from the rightwas helped on byRodri, allowing Jesusa simple tap-in at theback post.De Bruyne curled a

free kick against the postjust after the restart, withBrighton goalkeeperMathew Ryan grateful toclutch Sterling’s follow-upeffort.

Sterling quicklyatoned for squanderingthat chance by heading inMahrez’s delightful crossfrom the right to put theresult beyond doubt with37 minutes still to go.

City’s play was verg-ing on exhibition stuff attimes and, just three min-utes later, Silva addedanother by finishing off arebound after Ryan failedto hold his initial effort.

Sterling had time tosecure his treble — and itarrived nine minutesfrom the end, in bizarrefashion.

After falling to theground inside the box,the England internation-al somehow managed tohead the ball goalwardand make it seven goalsin as many games sincethe restart to claim thematch ball as Dan Burnfailed to clear on the line.

����� @GC��G60-�

BCCI President SouravGanguly wants a shorter

than mandated quarantineperiod for the Indian teamwhen it travels to Australia fora Test series this year as “wedon’t want the players to go thatfar and sit in hotel rooms fortwo weeks”.

The Covid-19 pandemichas changed the rules of thegame, players have to be inquarantine for two weeks andbe tested for the virus beforethey can take the field in emptystadiums for now.

But Ganguly is hoping thatthe Indian team will get somerelaxation during its tour ofAustralia, comprising fourTests, including a day-nighter,later in the year.

“...We have confirmed thattour. In December we will becoming. We just hope the num-ber of quarantine days getreduced a bit,” Ganguly toldIndia Today show TheInspiration.

“Because we don’t wantthe players to go all that far andsit in hotel rooms for twoweeks. It is very, very depress-ing and disappointing. We arelooking at that, the quarantinething,” he said.

“And, as I said Australiaand New Zealand have been ingood position exceptMelbourne. So from that pointof view we will be going there

and hopefully the quarantinedays will be less and we can getback to cricket.”

Australia has over 9,000confirmed cases and more than7500 of them have recovered.

Ganguly felt that India willbe facing a different Australianside but believes that they stillstand a chance because of howgood they have been over thepast few years.

“It is going to be a toughseries. It is not going to be whatit was two years back. It is goingto be a strong Australia but ourteam is as good,” he said.

“We have the batting, wehave the bowling. We just needto bat better. The best teamsoverseas bat well.

“When we were so success-ful in England, in Australia, inPakistan we were getting 400-500-600 in Test matches. I saidthat to Virat as well.”

Ganguly said that the serieswill be more important toKohli’s tenure as captain of theside than the World Cup.

“Because you are ViratKohli your standards are high.When you walk out to play,when you walk out with yourteam, I, watching on TV, don’texpect you to just play wellagainst Australia. I expect youto win. So you have to live upto the standards. For his cap-taincy tenure this will be amilestone series — more thanthe World Cup,” said the formerIndia captain.

����� �DB!054*!D@

Jermaine Blackwood falls short of hissecond Test hundred by five runs buthis 95 off 154 balls made sure that

Jason Holder’s Windies spoil BenStokes maiden Test as England’s captainand win the first Test of three-match#raisethebat Test series by 4 wickets onthe final day at Ageas Bowl inSouthampton on Sunday evening.

Chasing the target of 200 runs togo 1-0 up in the series, Caribbean’s werestruggling at 27 for three at one pointbut 28-year old Jamaican Blackwoodbatted with responsibility to not justcancel the hosts initial advantage butalso put his side on the cusp of famouswin as cricket returns after almost fourmonths shutdown but to coronavirushitaus.

At the time of tea, West Indies camethrough an early wobble to move to 143for 4 at tea and 57 runs from victory.

Jermaine Blackwood was 65 notout and had revived the tourists witha 73-run partnership with RostonChase before Chase was out for 37.

Before they came together, WestIndies was 27-3 and struggling in pur-suit of a target of 200 to take the serieslead at the Rose Bowl.

Jofra Archer's two early wicketsgave West Indies problems in a seem-ingly straightforward chase. Archerremoved Kraigg Brathwaite (4) andShamarh Brooks (0), and Mark Woodbowled Shai Hope for 9.

West Indies had the added problemof opener John Campbell retiring hurtafter being hit on the toe with a york-er from Archer. The West Indies teamsaid Campbell would come out to batagain if needed.

The indications were that he mightbe needed after pace pair Archer andJames Anderson pinned the WestIndies batsmen down and made ittough going for them at the start of theirsecond innings.

Archer, the fast bowler who wasborn in Barbados, made the break-through in the sixth over whenBrathwaite played on. Archer hadBrooks lbw in his next over and the vic-tory target didn't seem so easy anymore.

Hope played two cover drives forfour to ease the early pressure but Wood

came into the attack and knocked outHope's off stump as he tried to hitanother and England had the upperhand.

Blackwood's half-century settledthe West Indies in the second session.He hit eight fours and was aided byChase.

Chase was caught behind off amean bouncer to give Archer 3-35 inthe second innings but the West Indiesfightback was in full flow and that wasthe only wicket to fall in the second ses-sion.

Shane Dowrich (15 not out) joined

Blackwood to put on an unbrokenstrand of 43 for the sixth wicket. WestIndies had a minimum of 42 overs leftin the last session of the match to makethe 57 runs it needed.

Archer earlier made 23 with the batas England was bowled out for 313 inits second innings.

Pace bowler Shannon Gabriel fin-ished with 5-75 for the West Indies aftercollecting the two wickets on Sundaymorning that wrapped up the Englandinnings.

England scored 204 in its firstinnings and West Indies replied with318.

�����*�+� A dominant LewisHamilton secured his first win ofthe season and the 85th of hiscareer with a perfectly-judged vic-tory from pole position asMercedes reeled off a one-twofinish in Styrian Grand Prix.

The six-time championbounced back from a disap-pointing display in the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix onthe same Red Bull Ring circuit aweek earlier with a consummatedisplay.

Team-mate Valtteri Bottas,who won the curtain-raisingrace, finished 13.7 seconds adriftin second to deliver first Mercedesone-two in Austria since 2015with Max Verstappen in third.

The paddock seemed to besplit again pre-race as some dri-vers were absent as Hamilton ledthe protests in support of theBlack Lives Matter movement bytaking a knee.

“It’s great to be back up hereand thanks to the team,” saidHamilton. “This feels like it has

been a long time coming after adifficult weekend last time.”

Bottas said he had enjoyedhis battle with Max Verstappen.

“Starting fourth, this wasdamage limitation for me,” hesaid. “I tried, but we are just a bittoo slow,” admitted Verstappen.

Bottas leads the embryonicchampionship ahead of Hamiltonwith Lando Norris third.

Verstappen was slowed byslight car damage in the finalstages, ahead of his team-mateAlex Albon, who defended stout-ly to finish fourth.

Norris came home a remark-able fifth for McLaren after pass-ing both of Racing Point’s pinkMercedes cars during a thrillingfinal lap, Sergio Perez takingsixth after starting from 17th onthe grid, and Lance Stroll seventh.

Daniel Ricciardo was eighthfor Renault, Carlos Sainz clockedfastest lap and finished ninth inthe second McLaren and DaniilKvyat 10th for Alpha Tauri.

Both Ferraris were eliminat-ed after crashing together atTurn Three on the opening lap,Charles Leclerc apologising toSebastian Vettel, who is in his lastseason with the team, for his ill-judged dive down the inside thatresulted in a disaster for theItalian team. AFP

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��5��������� Former Englandcaptain Michael Vaughan feels theout of form Joe Denly should bethe one making way for skipperJoe Root in the second Testagainst the West Indies instead ofyoung Zak Crawley.

In the second Test, scheduledto begin on Thursday inManchester, either Denly orCrawley is expected to be replacedby Root, who missed the series-opener to be with his wife for thedelivery of their second child.

“England have a decision tomake on Denly. Crawley surelyhas to stay in the side,” Vaughantold BBC Sport.

“Joe Denly played the way hehas played in all of his 15 Tests.It’s been the same story. He didthe hard yards then made a mis-take,” Vaughan added.

Denly, who plays at No 3,struggled with the bat in theopener, scoring 18 and 29 in thefirst and second innings respec-tively. The 34-year-old has failedto breach the 40-run mark ineight innings.

Denly, who made his debutlast year, averages 29.53 in 15Tests and has failed to capitaliseon good starts. His highest scoreof 94 came against Australia in2019.

On the other hand, 22-year-old Crawley scored his secondhalf-century in five Tests with asuperb 76-run knock in the sec-

ond innings at the Ageas Bowl onSaturday.

“It’s not even a conversation.You could argue that Denly wasvery lucky to have played 15 Testmatches. There are a lot of play-ers who have played only eightTests and got hundreds,” saidVaughan, who led England in 51of his 82 Tests.

“He has missed his chanceand they have to stick withCrawley. I’m sorry for Denly —he’s just not good enough,” headded. PTI

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Ganguly seeks shortenedquarantine for team India in Oz

9���������������������������'���������� Man City secure top 4 ahead of CL verdict

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Barcelona: Barcelona for-ward Antoine Griezmannis set to miss his side’s finaltwo La Liga games aftersustaining a thigh injuryduring Saturday’s win overReal Valladolid.

Griezmann came offat halftime and a state-ment from Barca onSunday said he hadinjured his right thigh.

The club did not sayhow long the France strik-er would be out foralthough newspaper Sportsaid he would be sidelinedfor three weeks, rulinghim out of Thursday’shome game againstOsasuna and their finalmatch, away to Alaves,next Sunday. AFP

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