The Hindu | 13 Dec 2020 - The Hindu

Please enable JavaScript to view the full PDF

follow us: december 13, 2020 Delhi City Edition thehindu.com 22 pages O ₹15.00 facebook.com/thehindu twitter.com/the_hindu We are not in favour National Family Health Trump administration Vihari and Pant's of imposing family Survey records jump in did not close trade centuries highlight day planning, govt. tells SC childhood vaccination deal, says Jaishankar two of warm­up game page 8 page 8 page 8 page 14 P r i n t e d at . Ch e n n a i . Co i m b ato r e . Be n g a lu ru . Hy d e r a b a d . M a d u r a i . No i da . V i s a k h a pat n a m . Th i ru va n a n t h a p u r a m . Ko c h i . V i j ayawa da . M a n g a lu ru . Ti ru c h i r a pa l l i . Ko l k ata . Hu b b a l l i . M o h a l i . M a l a p p u r a m . M u m b a i . Ti ru pat i . lu c k n ow . c u t tac k . pat n a NEARBY Farmers picket 165 toll plazas nationwide India set to exceed Commuters allowed to travel free; blockade of Delhi­Jaipur NH begins as protesters step up agitation climate targets: Modi Special Correspondent Committed Emissions intensity cut by 21%, says PM NEW DELHI Farmers’ groups picketed toll plazas at 165 locations to welfare of Special Correspondent New Delhi Delhi records 1,935 new across the country, allowing toll­free movement of vehi­ farmers: PM India was not only on track to fulfilling its climate com­ COVID cases, 47 deaths cles on major national high­ mitments but would go NEW DELHI ways on Saturday, as part of Special Correspondent further, Prime Minister Na­ The Capital reported 1,935 the ongoing protests de­ NEW DELHI rendra Modi said at the Cli­ new COVID-19 cases in the manding the repeal of the Prime Minister Narendra mate Action Summit on Sa­ last 24 hours, taking the total to 6,05,470 on Saturday. three contentious farm laws. Modi on Saturday said the turday. However, he The death toll has reached By evening, a small group government is committed refrained from announcing 9,981 after 47 more fatalities of farmers from Rajasthan to the welfare of farmers enhanced ambitions or were recorded in a single day. had moved to block the Del­ through “niti aur niyat” targets. The test positivity of hi­Jaipur highway at Rewari (policy and intention), ad­ The online event was or­ COVID-19 cases was 2.64% in Haryana, while thousands ding that the aim of the re­ ganised to mark five years on Saturday. more gathered on the Rajas­ forms is to help them in­ since the signing of the Paris CITY A PAGE 2 than side of the border to be­ No let up: Farmers heading to join the protest at the Singhu border on Saturday. * V.V. KRISHNAN crease their income. Agreement, in which 190 “In 2047, India will cele­ DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD gin a march to Delhi on Sun­ Speaking at the 93rd an­ countries committed to tak­ brate 100 years as an inde­ day morning. This is the 17th day of prot­ est on the highways sur­ Farmers are sacrificing their lives: Rahul nual general meeting of the industry body FICCI, Mr. Modi said the reforms will ing action to limit global temperature from rising beyond 2 degrees Celsius. pendent modern nation. Centennial India will not on­ ly meet its own targets but rounding the national capi­ “How many more sacrifices reportedly died in the past 17 Congress general open up new markets for also exceed expectations,” tal, with tens of thousands of would it take from our days of the farmers’ stir. secretary Randeep Surjewala farmers. ‘Rise in renewables’ Mr. Modi said. farmers, under the joint ban­ farmer brothers to repeal The party also accused alleged that the Modi Mr. Modi said in a vi­ In his five­minute address, He was among the several ner of the Samyukt Kisan the farm laws,” asked former Cabinet Ministers of government was refusing to brant economy, when one Mr. Modi said India had re­ heads of state — including Morcha, already blocking Congress chief Rahul Gandhi branding every opponent of listen to the farmers despite sector grows, it has a direct duced its emissions intensi­ Chinese President Xi Jinping four major crossing points on Twitter, and shared the government as Maoists so many of them dying impact on other sectors as ty by 21% since 2005. In­ and Pakistan Prime Minister on Delhi’s borders with Ha­ photos of 11 farmers who and traitors. during the agitation. A page 7 well. However, unneces­ stalled solar capacity had Imran Khan — to address the Gujjars demand ryana and Uttar Pradesh. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD sary walls between indus­ grown to 36 gigawatt in meeting. Parliament session Since the talks broke down tries were hampering 2020. The country’s renew­ India has announced its JAIPUR earlier this week, with farm­ harsh committee, at a press In Punjab, all toll plazas Haryana. Group of farmers growth, and reforms being able energy capacity was Nationally Determined Con­ Gujjars in Rajasthan, ers rejecting the Centre’s conference at the Singhu have been free since October gathered at toll­plazas since undertaken will remove the fourth largest in the tribution of reducing emis­ demanding reservation in proposal to amend some border point. after the new laws were morning on the Ambala­Hi­ these walls. world and would reach sions intensity of GDP by 33­ jobs and education, have provisions in the laws, the passed. In Haryana, farmers sar highway. Besides, we “The agriculture re­ 175GW before 2022. 35% by 2030 along with its sought the Centre’s Morcha has vowed to step up Hunger strike staged sit­ins, shouting anti­ were picketing at toll plazas forms are part of this pro­ “We have an even more renewable energy and for­ intervention for Ninth the agitation. He added that farm union BJP slogans, at toll plazas in in Hisar district, situated on cess. We have seen such ambitious target, 450GW of est cover targets. India, ho­ Schedule protection to a “We will go for talks if the leaders would also sit on a 20 locations. They also pick­ the roads leading to Delhi, walls between agriculture energy capacity by 2030. wever, didn't announce new 2019 State law which accords government calls us, but the day­long hunger strike on eted petrol pumps and malls Rajgarh, Sirsa and Chandi­ and allied sectors such as We have also succeeded in goals on Saturday. Most Backward Class focus is on these three laws. Monday. run by the Reliance group, garh,” Rattan Mann, presi­ agriculture infrastructure, increasing forest cover,” he Mr. Modi and President category for the community. food processing, and cold Until these laws are re­ Across States, protests which farmers see as an ex­ dent of the Haryana Bharati­ added. Ramnath Kovind earlier an­ NEWS A PAGE 7 DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD pealed, we will not begin dis­ were held at about 165 out of ample of large corporates set ya Kisan Union (Tikait), told chains. We are now remov­ India had pioneered the nounced that India was cussing other issues,” said the 450 toll booths, accord­ to benefit from these laws. The Hindu. ing these walls,” he said. International Solar Alliance planning to increase its re­ CLASSIFIEDS A PAGE 4 Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, ing to estimates provided by “Farmers staged dharna as well as the Coalition for newable energy capacity to MAGAZINE A 8 PAGES president of the Kisan Sang­ the All India Kisan Sabha. at almost all the toll plazas in CONTINUED ON A PAGE 6 CONTINUED ON A PAGE 6 Disaster Relief, he said. 450 GW by 2030. Army veterans to lay down 25,000 medals for farmers’ cause Delhi officials to inspect transplant site ‘The govt. has let down soldiers and farmers, we are willing to sacrifice these medals for repeal of the laws’ Tree shifting for new Parliament violated terms of approval Staff Reporter The CPWD has also re­ On November 25, The Jatin Anand the border. I was proud of air­conditioned rooms.” New Delhi quested for a one­year exten­ Hindu had reported how New Delhi that fact, but because of Retired Subedar S.P. Delhi government officials sion for compensatory plan­ trees from a plot next to the Army veterans camping at what the government is do­ Singh from Gurdaspur said will be inspecting the NTPC tation of 4,040 trees. current Parliament are being the Singhu border, the ing to us now, it has begun some six farmers were de­ Eco Park where 274 trees, “It is not feasible to com­ transplanted at the Eco Park, heart of the farmers’ agita­ feeling like this country is tained when they had at­ uprooted to make way for plete compensatory affores­ about 22 km away, in viola­ tion, have collected 5,000 no longer worth living in, tempted to meet President the new Parliament building, tation by January 2021 as the tion of the approval given by gallantry medals since No­ leave alone to die for,” said Ram Nath Kovind to return have been transplanted by land needs to be deve­ the Delhi government. vember 26 to return to the retired Havaldar Balwant a small batch of medals last the Central Public Works De­ loped... Completion by re­ Citing the news article, Union government “in lieu” Singh, 80, from Jhajjar in week. Retired Havaldar Bar­ partment (CPWD). vised date of 31.01.2022,” the Delhi government had of a decision to repeal the Haryana. tar Singh from Patiala al­ The transplantation was read a letter by the CPWD sent a show­cause notice to three new farm laws. Stripping the epaulettes: A few veterans who have decided to “We have been here leged that the group of vete­ done in violation of the ap­ dated December 3. the CPWD. “Violation of the Predominantly hailing return their medals, at the Singhu border. V.V. KRISHNAN * since the 26th [of Novem­ rans was detained for two proval given by the Delhi go­ It further sought for the conditions of the approval from Punjab and Haryana ber] and the government, whole days and their vernment, according to plantation to be done at the can attract a fine of up to and with farming as a collect 25,000 medals over “I come from a family of instead of listening to us phones and belongings which the trees were to be Eco Park, instead of near the ₹10,000. But the fine will in­ source of sustenance now, the next two days. Lakhs jawans (soldiers) and kisans cry, is busy finding ways to were confiscated. transplanted near the exist­ existing Parliament and In­ crease if any tree has died the veterans said on Satur­ more are on their way to (farmers), which have eight force upon us these black ing Parliament, close to the dia Gate as per the Delhi go­ due to this violation,” a Delhi day that they planned to the protest site, they added. martyrs either in war or at laws created by people in CONTINUED ON A PAGE 6 India Gate area. vernment approval. government official said. Odisha’s brides go missing in ration cards Inordinate delay in name inclusion Satyasundar Barik BHUBANESWAR Mamita Pujari, 22, may have made Poharighat, a remote village in Odisha’s Kalahandi district, her marital home for the past three years, but in government records, she does not exist. Nor is she the only ‘invis­ ible’ woman in the village. Suchitra Majhi and Rita Majhi Soon after Ms. Pujari got from Khutruguda village are married in 2017, her name awaiting inclusion of names. was struck off the ration * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT card in her parental home at Khairbhadi village. Her as­ card has continued for more sumption that her name than seven years. would be added to her hus­ Neither Ms. Dharua nor band’s card soon has been her two children figure in rudely challenged. the ration card, which de­ prives them of subsidised SPECIAL foodgrains in one of the country’s poorest districts. Around the same time, After marriage, Anita Maj­ Mangala Naik, 25, also came hi, 21, shifted to Talapipli, to Poharighat, under the but her name continues to Chancher gram panchayat, remain in her parents’ ra­ as a bride. tion card. Both women have since “I badly need the subsi­ made several attempts in dised rice as my husband, vain to get their names in­ who works as daily wager, cluded in the ration cards cannot meet all needs. I too belonging to their hus­ cannot go to my parents’ bands’ families. house to collect my share of In Nagjhari village, under rice,” a desperate Ms. Majhi the Sagada panchayat, Jaso­ says. da Dharua’s struggle to add her name to her husband’s CONTINUED ON A PAGE 6 CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 2 CITY DELHI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 THE HINDU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Open book exam for UG, Delhi will see over 1.5 lakh healthcare Construction work in full swing for the COVID­19 vaccine storage unit at PG students at DU begins the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality workers being Hospital in Tahirpur in New Delhi on inoculated in Saturday. R.V. MOORTHY * the first phase, This is the second time OBE is being conducted due to COVID­19 followed by people Staff Reporter above 50 years of NEW DELHI age and with Open book examinations for second and third­year un­ co­morbidities dergraduate students and fi­ nal­year postgraduate stu­ Nikhil M Babu dents of Delhi University New Delhi F (DU) began on Saturday. riday was a busy day This is the second time at the utility block of that DU is undertaking the the Rajiv Gandhi Sup­ OBE due to the ongoing CO­ er Speciality Hospital. VID­19 pandemic. Sound of hammer hitting City hospital readies to Approximately 1.3 lakh DU officials said that students will only be able to upload the chisel, breaking parts of with the vaccine, then all students are expected to ap­ their answer scripts on the OBE portal. FILE PHOTO * the walls echoed in the the frontline warriors will pear for the exams this time building. In some areas, the be down and the healthcare with around 5,700 opting for given students the option of tary evidence, including floor was being redone, system will be crippled. physical examinations, to be emailing their answer snapshots, to prove that doors were being made big­ Shoukat Ali, vice­presi­ conducted in respective colleges. Earlier, university officials had said that students will scripts to the nodal officers. D.S. Rawat, Dean of Ex­ aminations, said, “We have given students an alternative they had tried to upload the scripts on the portal, but were unable to. Without evi­ dence their requests will not ger, and workers constantly moved in and out of the building. Two floors of the building store COVID­19 vaccines dent of Nurses’ Union of LokNayak Hospital, the lar­ gest Delhi government hos­ pital for COVID­19, also had only be able to upload their of emailing their answer be accepted.” are being converted into a Health Minister Satyendar The actual vaccinators ry about the vaccine. a similar opinion. answer scripts on the OBE scripts to respective nodal On the first day of OBE, storage facility for any CO­ Jain had said that Delhi can will be ANMs and nurses, “We did not get enough “Many healthcare work­ portal and unlike last time, officers. However, it has examination of around 190 VID­19 vaccine, which is ex­ vaccinate the whole popula­ and training will also be im­ time to check if there are ers are concerned about the options of emailing would been specified that this papers were conducted in pected to be approved the tion in three to four weeks parted to ASHA workers any long­term side effects to vaccine. There has been not be available. mode can be used only in the morning and around 180 government. once the vaccine is availa­ and anganwadi workers to this vaccine. Many nurses multiple controversial news However, as an “emergent cases of emergency. They in the evening session, offi­ With the possibility of a ble. spread the message about are apprehensive about the about the vaccine. For in­ measure”, the university has have to provide documen­ cials said. vaccine brighter than ever, “The priority is health­ the vaccine in the commun­ vaccine, but this has not stance, I saw a news today the Delhi government has care and frontline workers. ity, according to officials. turned into a strong discus­ about a person developing started its preparation to After which the focus will be There will be more clarity sion as the government is antibodies against HIV after Odd semester exams have been vaccinate the residents. Apart from the storage facil­ ity, the government has col­ on senior citizens, and sub­ sequently moving to the en­ tire population of Delhi. The once the Central govern­ ment approves a vaccine, officials said. yet to approve a vaccine,” said Fameer C.K., general secretary of AIIMS Nurses’ taking the vaccine for CO­ VID­19. There has been news also about people be­ put on hold, announces Jamia lected a list of more than 1.5 lakh healthcare workers to be inoculated and is also Delhi government is fully capable of rolling out the vaccine to the entire popu­ A few are wary But even as the government Union. He said that ideally the vaccine should not be given ing paralysed. In a way the vaccine is a trial attempt,” Mr. Ali said. looking at data of people lation of the city. We are is moving ahead, many to healthcare workers first He said that they have Students had raised concerns over online proctored exam above 50 years of age and prepared with the storage healthcare workers are wa­ as if there are any problems raised the issue with doc­ with co­morbidities to be in­ facilities too. We are just tors. Staff Reporter Earlier, the varsity had oculated next. waiting for it to be made Suresh Kumar, medical NEW DELHI announced that the odd available to us,” the Minister director of Lok Nayak Hos­ Jamia Millia Islamia ( JMI) on semester examination Different temperatures had said. pital said that a few doctors Saturday announced that would commence from De­ “Right now, civil and electrical have spoken to him about the odd semester examina­ cember 21. works are happening at the Training doctors the safety of the vaccine, tions have been put on hold The university had said utility block. Some doors are The government has also but there no “major con­ in view of students raising that only desktops and lap­ being made bigger to accom­ asked 47 hospitals to pro­ cerns”. “Most of the health­ concerns over the “online tops would be permitted to modate large equipment for vide two doctors each to be care workers are happy that proctored examination” as be used during the exami­ refrigeration. We will prepare trained for the vaccination there will soon be a vaccine. announced by the varsity nation, along with a func­ for different temperatures as a process. These doctors will We have sent a list of 3,900 earlier. tioning webcam. The direc­ vaccine is not yet decided,” then conduct training pro­ healthcare workers from In a notice, the JMI admi­ tive had led to several said Chhavi Gupta, spokesper­ grammes for others and our hospital to the Delhi go­ nistration said, “The univer­ ty regarding the mode of students raising concerns son of Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. help to make the whole vernment for vaccination,” sity has received several re­ conduct of examinations. over the lack of access to Earlier this month, training process faster. Dr. Kumar said. presentations from the The directions or guidelines devices and internet students regarding their from the UGC on the matter facilities. problems or issues with on­ are sought and awaited.” The notice issued on Sa­ line proctored examination. The university has apprised the University Grants Com­ The administration said that the university will take a decision regarding the turday added, “Meanwhile, students are advised to re­ lax and continue with their 1,935 new virus cases take Delhi’s tally to 6,05,470 mission [UGC] of the con­ mode of conduct of the ex­ ongoing online classes and cerns of the students and amination based on the di­ their preparation for exami­ There are 6,451 containment zones and 17,373 active cases in the Capital at present: govt. bulletin the decision of the universi­ rectives issued by the UGC. nation.” Staff Reporter in the city at present. ment zones in the city as on all precautions [sic.],” Mr. New Delhi The positivity of CO­ Saturday. Jain said in a tweet. He also IN BRIEF The Capital witnessed 1,935 VID­19 cases was 2.64% on Health Minister Satyen­ said that the number of new COVID­19 cases in the Saturday, lesser than the av­ dar Jain said that positivity deaths in Delhi are on a de­ last 24 hours, taking the to­ erage daily positivity in No­ was less than 5% for the past cline and lowest since No­ G.B. Nagar’s COVID-19 tally crosses 24,000 mark tal number of cases to vember, which was 11.65%. 11 days. “Today overall posi­ vember 2. NOIDA 6,05,470, according to a The overall positivity till tivity is 2.46% this is less In another tweet, he said, U.P.’s Gautam Buddha Nagar health bulletin released by now was 8.47%, as per the than 5% for last 11 days. To­ “7 days average per day cas­ recorded 96 new COVID­19 the Delhi government on Sa­ bulletin. Out of the total day RTPCR positivity is es now are 2275 one month cases on Saturday that pushed turday. 18,814 beds available for CO­ 5.14%, RTPCR positivity was ago this was 7196. Cases are the district’s infection tally to Also, 47 more deaths have VID­19 treatment in the city, 30 % on 7 Nov. Today 1935 continually on a decline for 24,038, official data stated. been reported in the past 24 Of the total cases, 5,78,116 14,183 were vacant, as per positive cases, less than a month in Delhi. Wear Active cases in the district hours, taking the total num­ people have recovered and the bulletin. 3500 cases for last 8 days. mask and beat the virus came down to 893 from 899. ber of deaths to 9,981. there are 17,373 active cases There were 6,451 contain­ Please continue to observe [sic].” AAP to hold protest outside ‘Be less rigid towards Amit Shah’s residence today Mayors’ It demands CBI inquiry into ‘loss’ of ₹2,500 crore Special Correspondent New Delhi Staff Reporter Leader of the Opposition New Delhi in the Delhi Assembly, The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, on demanded a CBI inquiry into “loss Saturday appealed to of ₹2,500 crore” by the BJP­ruled Chief Minister Arvind Kej­ North Delhi Municipal Corporation riwal to be less rigid to­ and said that they will protest out­ wards the Mayors of the side the residence of Union Home three municipal corpora­ Minister Amit Shah at 11 a.m. on tions sitting outside his re­ Sunday. sidence on a dharna for On Friday, Urban Development the last six days. Minister Satyendar Jain had said that he has ordered an inquiry into ‘Clear dues’ “misappropriation” of more than AAP leader Atishi Mr. Kejriwal, he also said, ₹2,400 crore by the North Corpo­ should also ensure the ration. Earlier this week, AAP al­ into the matter of loss of ₹2,500 payment of dues amount­ leged that the civic body had crore, due to which we are going to ing to ₹13,000 crore to the waived ₹2,457 crore owed by the the Home Minister’s and L­G’s resi­ municipal corporations so South Delhi Municipal Corporation dences tomorrow, is correct, fac­ that payment of the salar­ (SDMC). tual, and has a basis. We hope that ies of Corona warriors, Meanwhile, Mayors and senior the L­G and Home Minister Amit such as health workers, leaders of the three BJP­led munici­ Shah will allow a CBI inquiry into teachers, sanitation work­ pal corporations of Delhi beat the scam at the earliest and, at the ers and other employees “thaali” outside Chief Minister Ar­ same time, we sincerely expect the of the civic bodies can be vind Kejriwal’s residence on Satur­ Delhi Police to allow us to sit out­ done. day to demand release of funds side the L­G’s and Home Minister’s “The three Mayors and “due to the civic bodies”. residences, just like they allowed senior Councillors of the The dharna by the municipal BJP Mayors and Councillors to sit municipal corporations leaders seeking release of funds en­ outside Delhi CM’s residence,” she have been sitting outside tered its sixth day as they refused said. the residence of the Chief to budge. The AAP leader said that there Minister in this winter sea­ must be stringent action against son for the last six days, “Baseless protest’ culprits because with the said fund but he did not consider it “The sit­in protest by the BJP of ₹2,500 crore, doctors, staff, necessary to meet these Mayor and its councillors for the nurses, and teachers, could have leaders,” he said. last few days, demanding an out­ been paid salaries, which are pend­ “On the contrary, AAP standing amount of ₹13,000 crore, ing. party leader Durgesh everyone knows, is baseless. The Ms. Atishi, AAP MLA and nation­ Pathak is threatening to Delhi government does not owe al spokesperson Raghav Chadha kill the Mayors in the pre­ anything to the civic body,” AAP and other MLAs will be part of the sence of Deputy Chief Mi­ leader Atishi said while addressing protest and the party has written nister Manish Sisodia...it is a press conference. to the Delhi Police for permission condemnable,” he also al­ Our demand of the CBI inquiry for the protest. leged. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE HINDU SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 DELHI EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE CITY 3 Timings DELHI SUNDAY, DEC. 13 RISE 07:05 SET 17:26 RISE 05:20 SET 16:18 MONDAY, DEC. 14 RISE 07:06 SET 17:27 RISE 06:30 SET 17:11 TUESDAY, DEC. 15 RISE 07:07 SET 17:27 RISE 07:39 SET 18:08 A langar being served at the protest site; security enhanced at the Singhu border in New Delhi on Saturday. * V. V. KRISHNAN AND PTI 0 ‘Govt. is trying to dilute farmers’ protest’ Out of work since DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested to verify and make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of an advertisement before responding to any published in this newspaper. THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., the Publisher & Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch for the authenticity of any advertisement or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s products and/or services. In no event can the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Dir­ ector/s, Employees of this newspaper/ Farmer leaders and demonstrators take umbrage at Union Minister’s ‘Leftists and Maoists’ remark lockdown, 4 get hired company be held responsible/liable in any manner whatsoever for any claims Hemani Bhandari They work at a protest site langar < > They’re [Central and/or damages for advertisements in this newspaper. NEW DELHI government] not The government wants to di­ Hemani Bhandari able to get what NEW DELHI vide us and put an end to the they want. With Muslim leaders protest at any cost, said farmer leaders and protes­ the protest only Sudhir Das, Anoop Kumar, Sunny and Adit Kumar were strengthening, come out ters at the Singhu border af­ ter Union Minister Piyush they are finding out of work for the entire lockdown period and the­ ways to crack us in support Goyal said that ‘Leftists and Maoists have infiltrated the up. Now, they’ve reafter, till a few days ago. However, at the protest site farmers protest’. changed our tag at the Singhu border, they’ve Press Trust of India Avtar Singh Mehma, State from Khalistani been employed. New Delhi press secretary of Krantikari to Maoists The four labourers, from The Jamaat­e­Islami Hind Kisan Union Punjab, said Baldev Singh Zeera Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, The four labourers at the ( JIH) on Saturday extended that demand for public intel­ State general secretary of Bharat who reside in a rented ac­ protest site at the Singhu Kisan Union Krantikari its support to the ongoing lectuals, students, and acti­ commodation in Narela have border. HEMANI BHANDARI * farmers’ protest against vists who have been impri­ found work, at ₹3,000 a day, the three newly elected soned for speaking ‘for the self as Harinder Singh Mann at one of the many langar The langar service where agriculture­related legisla­ greater good of the nation’ Singh from Ludhiana dis­ services at the protest site. the labourers have been tions, and alleged the has been on the list of de­ tanced himself from the de­ They come in around noon, fired is being run by Baba country’s farming laws are mands since the very begin­ Farmers protest against Centre’s anti­farm laws at the Singhu border. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR mand for the release of im­ set up a tandoor for rotis and Amreek Singh (from Patiala) being changed to favour ning of the protest, months prisoned activists and said, leave around 8 p.m. It was and serves hundreds of peo­ multinationals and ago. According to Mr. Avtar, Khalistani and now as we are they are finding ways to “We are here only for the roll their second day on Satur­ ple multiple meals through corporates. calling protesters Leftists or proceeding and farmers crack us up. Now, they’ve back of farm laws. There are day. “We were out of work the day. The JIH supports the on­ ‘Nothing new’ Maoists is the government’s from Haryana has also joined changed our tag from Khalis­ so many people here and because we operate tan­ “We need the tandoor be­ going protest by farmers “This is nothing new we are way of dividing them. “They us, their theory fell flat. Now, tani to Maoists,” he said. one can’t control what peo­ doors and weddings were cause we haven’t brought it against the new farm laws demanding in the posters call Punjabis as Khalistanis, they’ve begun using words Harjeet Ravi, State secre­ ple say,” he said. not happening. Thankfully, with us from Punjab and we enacted by the Centre, the that show a few imprisoned students as Urban Naxals like Maoists for us”. tary of Kisan Sangharsh Another protester who we got this opportunity,” want to give people hot rotis. Islamic body’s vice­ presi­ activists. They [government] and Maoists. The govern­ Committee, said that they’re identified himself as Devi said Sudhir. The four of At night, the number of peo­ dent Mohammad Saleem are bringing it up now be­ ment is basically rattled right Activists’ release all farmers and talking about Singh (26) from Uttar Pra­ them get ₹3,000 a day out of ple who eat increases and Engineer said. cause their tagging us as now. Instead or listening to He said that the demand of farming only. “We are not desh’s Shamli said that which they pay ₹1,000 as tandoori rotis make less The three laws concern­ Khalistanis didn’t work,” he us, they are indulging in activists’ release has been asking for separate farming, name­calling and tagging is rent for tandoor and divide time to make,” said Kuldeep ing contract farming and said, adding that the jailed mudslinging,” he said. there since the beginning, separate State or separate an old trick of the govern­ ₹500 each amongst Singh alias Baba Kala who is essential items were intellectuals and activists Baldev Singh Zeera, State but at that time, no one language. All we want is for ment. themselves. one of the managers at the passed “hastily” without have only spoken for their general secretary of Bharat called them Leftists or the laws to be repealed,” he “If Hindus protest, they’re service. The four labourers consultation, and by “by­ rights and didn’t indulge in Kisan Union Krantikari, said Maoists. “They’re not able to said. called Communists, if Mus­ Money for commute also eat the meals here at the passing” the parliamentary any violence. Hence, their that the farmers started the get what they want. With the However, a protesting lims protest, they’re called “We also get money for com­ service and take food home, norm, he charged. imprisonment is wrong. agitation. “They called us protest only strengthening, farmer who identified him­ Pakistanis,” he said. mute,” he said. they said. Rain brings down maximum temperature Air quality likely to remain IN BRIEF Maintain vigil against Cloud cover leads to a rise in minimum temperature that settled at 14.4° Celsius Press Trust of India in ‘very poor’ category today plastic burning: NGT NEW DELHI Following a plea seeking New Delhi action against industrial units Light to moderate rains in Effect of stubble burning in neighbouring States negligible operating in violation of norms laid down in the MPD­2021, parts of Delhi brought the the NGT has directed maximum temperature Staff Reporter Air Quality of Delhi-NCR search (SAFAR). authorities to maintain a vigil down by a notch on Satur­ New Delhi Delhi 356 Gurugram 296 The AQI of Delhi was 356 against plastic burning and day, according to the India The air quality of Delhi and Ghaziabad 415 Faridabad 348 on Saturday, up from 295 on utilise the funds recovered Meteorological Department Noida deteriorated to the Noida 393 Greater Noida 404 Friday, as per CPCB’s 4 p.m. from violators for legitimate (IMD). higher end of the ‘very poor’ ■ Good ■ Satisfactory ■ Moderate bulletin, which is an average purposes. However, the cloud cover category on Saturday and 0-50 51-100 101-200 .................................................................................................................. of the past 24 hours. The va­ led to an increase in the mini­ Gurugram’s was close to ‘ve­ ■ Poor ■ Very Poor ■ Severe lues for Gurugram and Noi­ 201-300 301-400 >400 mum temperature that set­ ry poor’ category, according .................................................................................................................. da were 296 and 393 respec­ Air Quality Index at 4 p.m. yesterday tled at 14.4 degrees Celsius, to the Central Pollution Con­ (Average of past 24 hours) | Source: CPCB tively. six notches above normal. trol Board (Central Pollution The effect of stubble The Safdarjung Observato­ Control Board). reactions to form secondary burning on the city’s air ry, which provides represen­ Air quality of the national aerosols, which can lead to quality was negligible on Sa­ tative data for the city, re­ capital is expected to dete­ deterioration of AQI. turday. However, the local corded a maximum Women keep themselves warm around a small bonfire on a foggy and chilly Saturday morning. riorate and remain in ‘very The AQI is likely to dete­ surface­level winds were temperature of 21.8 degrees * SANDEEP SAXENA poor’ category on Sunday. riorate to the higher end of calm, which does not help in Celsius and 1.6 mm rainfall, “As an aftermath of west­ ‘very poor’ category by late the dispersion of pollutants. the IMD said. Thunderstorms Dwarka, IGI Airport, Narela, official said, adding that the malayas towards the plains. ern disturbance, high mois­ Sunday. ‘Very poor’ catego­ Also, the mixing height, and light to moderate­inten­ North Delhi and neighbour­ mercury is expected to drop An increase in the mois­ ture availability with higher ry is forecast for Monday which is the height from the sity rains occurred over ing areas also witnessed light by Monday with the wind di­ ture content in the air due to air­holding capacity, dense and Tuesday,” said a state­ ground level up to which South Delhi, New Delhi, Lod­ rainfall, the IMD said. rection changing to the rain is likely to result in fog formation is expected ment by the government­ pollutants can be dispersed, hi Road, Central Delhi, The rains are a result of a northwesterly. moderate to dense fog over [mainly during early morn­ run monitoring agency Sys­ was low at night. This also North­East Delhi and East western disturbance passing These winds blow from the next two­three days, the ing hours]. This can trigger tem of Air Quality and prevents pollutants from Delhi. Southwest Delhi, over the Himalayas, an IMD the snow­laden western Hi­ official said. heterogeneous aqueous Weather Forecasting and Re­ getting dispersed easily. College student arrested for kidnapping minor girl 18­year­old had befriended her on Facebook and subsequently lured her to marry him, say police Staff Reporter arrested from Badarpur bor­ ger and WhatsApp were rested from near Badarpur. to the victim, which she ac­ NEW DELHI der on December 9 and the scrutinised. The police said that cepted last year on July 5 . An 18­year­old college stu­ kidnapped girl was also res­ It was then revealed that Shoyab — after kidnapping Later on, they both became dent was arrested for alleg­ cued, he said. the victim received several the girl from Delhi — took good friends and started edly kidnapping a minor girl The police said that a messages from a particular her to various States, includ­ chatting frequently. Khan from Delhi after befriending probe was initiated into the Facebook account of a per­ ing Azamgarh in Uttar Pra­ started forcing her to get her on Facebook, and subse­ matter after the girl’s father son named Shoyab Khan desh and Muzaffarpur in Bi­ married to him, he added. quently luring her to marry approached the police at Ra­ and the location of the al­ har but later he left her On October 22 this year, him, the police said on Sa­ jouri Garden station on Oc­ leged account was found to alone in an autorickshaw at Khan came to Delhi and turday. tober 23 stating that his 15­ be active in Mewat region. Badarpur border and fled forced victim to get married DCP (West) Deepak Puro­ year­old daughter was kid­ away. with him. hit said that the accused has napped by an unknown Raids conducted During probe, theaccused He took her to Muzaffar­ been identified as Shoyab person. Raids were conducted at Me­ allegedly revelaed that he pur in Bihar where they Khan, who’s pursuing Ba­ During investigation, call wat and a police officer also created a Facebook account stayed for one day at his chelors in pharmacy from a detail records and the girl’s disguised himself as a local and had 4,845 friends on his friend’s place and next day, college at his hometown in social media accounts, in­ to gather whereabouts. The list. Khan further disclosed they moved to Azamgarh, , Rajasthan’s Alwar. He was cluding Facebook, Messen­ accused, however, was ar­ that he sent a friend request the DCP said. Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 RNI No. UPENG/1986/49939 ISSN 0971 - 751X Vol. 10 No. 48 ● ● ● ● CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 4 DELHI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 THE HINDU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE TAMIL TAMIL TAMIL TAMIL TELUGU Mukkulathor‘s Rajakula Agamudayar LOOKING FOR CA/CS girl for a hand- NAIDU BOY 30/6ft B.E, M. Smart Girl 24yrs Practising Chartered some practising Company Secretary sc(Multimedia), Own business frm Accountant at Chennai seeks a Raja- bridegroom with family auditing CH, Seeks suitable educated,busi- kula Agamudayar/Agamudayar com- COSMOPOLITAN TAMIL firm; Udayar or any similar caste ness or working girl. munity only suitable Professional & acceptable. Contact: 94437 69966 Con:98403040089884312237 well placed Govt/Pvt below 30yrs. BLIND/ KAMMA 34/ 175 PhD Asst Prof HINDU NADAR 38/178 BE MBA Divorced 6385847437, [email protected] Eng Govt service need well educat- Well to do Family Fair Clean TELUGU CHETTIAR IT Professional,39 WANTED A Suitable Bride for Telugu (Divorcee,No children) Seeks Bride ed FCaste girl, 7032524308 Habits,seeks suitable Bride. Yadav Divorce Aged 40 Bridegroom IAS / ALLIED SERVICES VANIYA CHETTIAR, M.Sc, 40/157, Ct:9789096180 Earning Rs. 30,000/−. PM and Own- Divorcee with No Children or Never Married from Telugu Chettiar,Naidu, Kaikala Girl BDS 25 Years, 5'2" Re- Karthigai, Govt.Officer, Chennai seeks COIMBATORE 300CRORE Caste No Bar ing an House at Saidapet Chennai. Reddy preferred. Contact:9445164797 quired Dr./ Govt Emp. Contact : equal Qlfn employed Boy 9486507399. Brahmin 36/ B.E., MS Industrial Managemnt (U.S.A) Own Steel Indus- MUDALIAR UNMARRIED 1972 Anusham / There is No Child, Caste No Bar. 9440234675. Bride can also be Divorce. Ct WELL-Est, 24M Telugu Chettiyar, 30/ Tirunelveli Saiva Pillai 26/162 fair, tries etc Fair Handsome seeks BBM, MLM/Sr.Officer− PSU, Chennai 9940408118 168, Barani, BE MBA-Financial Ana- slim BE MS Engg working at Den- Bride Any Caste Veg/ Non−Veg OK Rs.70,000 PM, seeks Educated suit- MALAYALAM Ct: 9884300680 able alliance. Issueless widow/Di- lyst, B’lore. Seeks Edu girl. Ph mark / MNC seeking grooms Europe vorcee also acceptable, Caste No- 9952797940. MUSLIM GIRL 30/158, BTech, works / USA / overseas. CT. 98427 24231. 400 CRORES ELITE Caste No Bar 35/ Bar. Ct 9443307660 / B.E., Mfrs. Power & Electricals at MNC, unlikely to conceive due DIVORCEE [email protected] supplies to Indian Railways & TNEB TELUGU BRAHMIN 39/163cm fair Chief to medical condition. Inviting al- HINDU PILLAI, Asst.Prof, ME, 29/ Marine Engineer pooram simmam liance from educated and profes- 155 Uthiram seeks Er/Dr Groom. Con- KAMMA NAIDU Divorcee Groom 36/180 Monthly Rental Income 25Lakhs Athreya Seeks bride with or with- sionally qualified gentlemen with tact :74182 11136 / 79049 83159. Lead IT Pvt Ltd CBE Seeks Telugu ENGINEER AGE:61, Hindu, Na- etc., seeks Bride Caste NoBar Ct: out job.99407 99295/ 94444 53350 similar circumstances. Bride of any Naidu Subcaste garathar, Maham, Simmam Well Set- 7305491610 Ph:9846368503 HINDU BRIDE 37 B.Sc Smart Upper 8098167776 tled. Separated Seeks Life Partner TELUGU BALIJA 27/175, MBA, Moolam, Age:55 − 60 Educated, Professional MUDALIAR PHD Research Scientist UK Thanusu, Fair, Business, well set- NAIR GIRLS MBBS, MD 33 Makay- Middle class AnnaNgr Chennai 1st Well Settled Widow, Divorce Pre- 29/183 Seeks Well Educated Bride TELUGU DEVANGA−CHETTY, 12−Nov− tled. Seeks Educated, Fair, well iram & MBBS 28 Makam working in marriage needs suitble groom.73581 Decent Family Ct: 9176620067/68 1984, B.Arch, Own Business, Thiru- settled bride, having Raghu or Delhi proposals invited from well quali- 64190 DOCTOR ferred Caste No Bar Ct : Email: vathirai, No Own House, Seeks Qual- Kethu in 7th or 8th place. [email protected] fied grooms employed in Delhi/other Sunny Muslim boy 28 years M.D (Ge- Hindu DKV Pallan, M.E., Branch Ma- ified Employee Bride, CNB. Ct : 9840814337 / 9941012116 parts. Contact: 9434289192 HINDU NADAR 30/154 BE,MBA, Sr. Consultant/ SWE/ Bengalore, neral Medicine) Seeks MBBS or PG nager, Nationalised Bank, 38 / 167cm / 9176766335 / 9962135928 KAMMA BE MS employed USA 28/171 Nair Girl Fair 27 Yrs, Makairom, Pooram, 16L/PA Seeks Suitable studying tamil speaking Sunny Muslim VELLALA, NON−VEG Madurai 29/167, Salary 65K pm. Seeks Banks, Govt, AGE 47, Kammavar Naidu, Unmarried, Magam affluent family seeks bride girl 22 to 26 years. Contact: BE (CS) Poosam / Fair Seeks Suit- Servants, Teaching Staff. Ct No. BT Asst Middle School Govt Job, Height 165 cms, Completing MBA this Groom. 9442126376 able Bride. Cell: 9894624392 / USA. Caste No bar 9444061611/ month from a Reputed University at [email protected] 80563 71995 Earning 75000/− Per Month, B.sc., 9962777950 94445 62345. Mail: kannansd@ B.Ed, M.A. Balija, Gavara Also Ap- Melbourne, Seeks Suitable Groom HINDU NADAR, MSC, 33, Rasi:Simmam gmail.com Preferably from Australia or New Zea- / Star:Magam, Working in Bank, MD GENERAL Physician Chennai Remar- KURUMBA GOUNDER, 29, 6.2",Slim, ply. Send Bio − Data By Ordinary WELL PLACED Naidu Boy, Veg, 38 Yrs land - Contact 9995301609 Seeking Suitable Groom. riage 52 Widower With Doctor Son HINDU NADAR 26/ 176cm BE/MS Work- Wheatish, B.E,M.S working at USA. Post G. Senthil Kuamr, No. 576, from Upper middle class family in Ct:8190900067 seeks MBBS/MD/MS Doctor Hindu CNB ing in US/Income 4Lakhs PerMmonth Prefers kurumba & allied community Velmurugan Street, Cheyyar Thiru- Chennai, seeking homely Girl from ASST. PROFESSOR, Ezhava girl, Pa- B.E/M.S working at USA. CT: vannamalai Dist − 604407 decent Naidu family. Call: lakkad, Kerala, 152/20-10-1987, 6 pm, HINDU NADAR 26/164cm MBBS/MD Chen- Above 40yrs. Caring personality Bride Wanted K.Raman Nadar w− 9176294390 with willingness to manage home & 9380791999 9486640593 Lingayat 37Years Veg M.Sc, IT Job, Uthram, Tamilnadu Govt Service, per- nai Income 60,000/Month Bridegroom Seeks Lingayat/ Brahmin Girl b/w 30- manent in Coimbatore. Seeking allian- Wanted K. Raman Nadar W− 9380791999 workplace. Contact : 9840194855 URDU ce from well educated employed/busi- KARUNEEGAR / PILLAI age 40, VAO 35 Years Contact : 9886049096 ness boys.Nair, Ezhuthassan caste al- NAIDU 1972 BA 165CMs Fair, Poosam BRAHMIN INTERCASTE (Caste No bar) / govt side needs well educated girl BALIJA NAIDU Punarpoosam,Midhunam, SMU PARENTS seek suitable bride so considered. Contact: 9447363644, 1st Marriage 55K PM, CNB Seeks Tamil & Malayalam /Coonoor Native/ in same caste. first marriage 32/183cm,BE,1.10L/Pm seeks suit- for Son 27/172 B.Sc., Self Em- 9447533624. Well Settled Boy working in USA/36 cell: 9655694146. able Bride same Community ployed, Well settled family in Suitable Alliance. Ct: 044− 26200465, 7395916003, yrs /157CM/Rohini/fair & good look- Ct:9841241261 Chennai. Contact [email protected] ✔ NAIR GIRL Alliance invited from [email protected] ing/ BE, $100K+/year, Ph:94434− MUDALIAR 28 / 180 / 1cr /annum professionally qualified boys (IAS/ 33046, [email protected] Handsome, well settled, Investment A VERY Well established Kongu Vella- IPS/IFS , Govt Jobs, Lecturer , YADAVA GIRL−BE,MS (USA) Seeking lar Gounder family in Tirupur seeking a Director @ Maj Invest Danish Compa- Banking , Gulf ) for fair 27/165 Groom From a well Settled yadava Groom in the same Community for TAMIL YADAVA 27/166 cms, Thiruvon- ny. Seeks Tall, beautiful home lov- Pooram financially sound Girl MA fmly Ag:32 Ht: 5ft 6 Inches. their only Daughter aged 26 yrs am, MBA Enterpreneur well settled ing broad minded girl Caste No BEd (English) Phd (doing @ Chen- 9840023659 working at a Top Tier Investment Bank in Ooty seeking bride from a Busi- Bar. Ct: 9360028300 sen.alliance21@ nai) from Mavelikara , Kerala set- ness Family. Contact: 98430 90434. gmail.com based in the UK, We are looking for a tled in T.Nagar Chennai. CASTE NO Bar. Seeking Well Quali- Groom based in US/UK aged below 9444734238 , 9496273432 (Not Bu- fied Teetotaller Professional 30. Contact Mob : 98430 21111, Mail 93 BORN, MBBS, Barani.Well quali- reau) Bride Groom For IIT Associate Pro- CHENNAI WIDOWER 42, Own House Wid- fied bride wanted,Parents Inspec- Id: [email protected]. ow/ Divorce 1Child also ok CNB tor, fessor Aged 45 Unmarried Girl Who Caste No Bar.Contact: Is Having Reputed Social Status. HINDU NADAR, 33, Poosam, M.E, fair Good Family Background 7L PA. 9791033470 HINDI 7200072510 Interested Profiles Contact & beautiful, affluent family, Divorcee TECHNICAL 9443553063 (unconsummated) without issue seeks SUITABLE GIRL for Punjabi Khatri MUDALIAR, 27/172, B.Tech, MS, SWE, suitable Groom. Ct: 98426 81707. IYER, GARGAYA, Brahacharanam, Avit- Tesla, USA, 150000$.PA, Affluent Boy, 30 yrs, 6’1" slim, working in HINDU NADAR, 30/152cm, ME, tam, 41/156 Media executive in Ad- Family, CNB. 7299576644, 7299576666 MBA(USA) Divorcee Working in USA, Thuluva Vellala Mudaliar 25/154 uthi- Bengaluru, earns 70 lakh p.a, has vt. Agency, Widower with 1 Child CNB, Separated within a month, ram Sevvai-2 fair BEworking mnc chen Vitiligo, Caste No Bar, No Dowry, (9 yrs) Suitable Bride Ct: HINDU NADAR Boy 37 years Divorcee seeks suitable Groom. 9791160625 9878208717 Seeks suitable well settled Groom 9940469993 / Mail: sstyagarajan@ Business family Rich Looking for in USA. Contact: 9443135307. gmail.com educated girl from same community TELUGU KSHATRIYA. 35/175. Software. 25 Age up to 33years Contact 98401 HINDU VANNIAR 1978/160 kiruthigai Lakh pa. Chennai. Father Doctor. MCA Asst. Manager Govt. Bank Seeks BALIJA NAIDU, SADHAYAM, kumbam, 30/ Seeks well educated bride. Caste HINDU FAIR attractive girl for IIM 61700. well placed Groom CT: 9489042676 174cm, DYMS Doctor, seeks Suitable no bar. WhatsApp: 9629012248 MBA boy.30/178/rich. Caste no bar Groom,Same Community Ct:9841241261 9344739527. DKV 32/176 BE Working in Nethar- HINDU NADAR 23 BE 162 V Fair VVIP land, Parents Hindu/CSI. Seeks Family Chennai Seeks Equal Facili- Bride preferrably working in IT. ty Family 7550113468 9884188849 8056143638 NRI HINDU NADAR 24 MBBS MD 165 CM Rich HANDSOME BOY Hastham BC (caste no Match for beautiful slim girl, US bar) 29/185 cm MS in Texas and Citizen, 27 yrs/ 5’, UC Berkeley V Fair Seeks IPS IAS PG Doctor 7550113468 nanjil.v.selvam@ worked in USA 4 years. Currently graduate, currently doing Master’s in working in Dubai and well settled Public Health at Harvard. Girl is gmail.com family. Seeking Good Looking/Tall outgoing, intelligent and a feminist. Bride preferably working in UAE. Both parents doctors, well settled in HINDU TAMIL yadava girl 26 ME work- ing Non− IT Bangalore. Contact Ct 9500061041/9840041041 the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Looking for smart, 9444625824 well-settled, professionally educated SMARTHA BRAHMIN Telugu Bachelor 43/ boy 28- 32 yrs old with Indian roots & HINDU 32/152, B.E. Upper Middle 175 Koundinya Chithirai, B.Tech values, currently working & Class. Divorce Seeks Suitable Groom. M.E, DGM, Seeks Brahmin Bride. Ct. residing in the US WhatsApp No. +001 Caste No Bar. Contact 94896 95984 [email protected], 9445006191 6503059860, [email protected] YADAVA : 25/V.Fair, MBBS,MS,SRMC, WANTED FOR an Iyengar Widower Chennai,Elite Family,Seeks Groom − Pious, Interest in Music Carnatic, TAMIL P.G.Doctor/Business − 9443622400, Travelling and Cooking aged 69 8925019776 healthy, living alone near Chennai. CHRISTIAN AD 27/165 slim fair BE Broad minded any Brahmin Women MBA employed seeks Chennai based IYENGAR/ MUDALIYAAR, 1993, Re- between 50-60 with house manage- groom below 32 years. Ct: vathi, B.Tech MBA, Fair, Working ment skill. Contact: Whatsapp no: 8248214765 in leading MNC, Chennai. Seeks 8925074054 suitable groom from well educated TAMIL MUSLIM, 35/164, MBBS, Father with respectable family. Ct. Rtd. Army Officer, Mother House- 8939637701 PURATTADHI KUMBAM SRIVATSA B.Com wife. Seeks Suitable groom. Asst.Mgr Marketing, Seshasayee Pa- 9940166120 TAMIL VISWAKARMA Girl 27/ 165 fair pers, Erode, 8.5lakhs p.a, March ’79 born seeks a Brahmin girl. RC CHRISTIAN 36yrs/167cms Software MBA seeks unmarried groom below 31 7010026179, 9840891449 WANTED BE/DIP(EEE) Fresher/Exp For Good looking Unmarried. Seeks suit- yrs/ Same Caste/ ph: 6381708717 T&C Field,CTC:15K+/M,Accom&Travel able unmarried groom. Caste Reli- Provided,[email protected] /044−43626250 gion No Bar. 9943084508 joseph154@ NAIDU 24 yr old, B.Tech bride (hav- IYER VADAMA Srivatsa 42 Miru- gmail ing Rahu−Ketu Dosham, Star−Rohini) gasirisham Fair, Clean Habit, Only , working in MNC seeking 26−31 yr son Subsect No bar. 9791453205 / CSI TAMIL Christian Pillai Vellalar Girl old, well−educated Tamil/Telugu 9962106256 M.Arch, fair 160 Cms 32 yrs affluent groom, middle/upper middle class similar profiles welcomed. Language family from Tamilnadu, working in WANTED ALLIANCE upto 37 years for no bar. Ph: 98948 36842. Govt/Public/MNC sector based in highly cultured & qualified, well BUSINESS Chennai/Blore. Contact: 9841402261/ settled Iyer boy, Bangalore, COSMOPOLITAN RC MDS 31/165 Asst professor Col- 7401234999 Haritham, Punarvasu. 9916353313, KIND, ATTRACTIVE teacher, 43, lege Chennai seeks PG Dr/Engr/Civ- il service. Caste No Bar. Ct. YADAVA/ JAN 1972/ fair/ MCA/ govt 9620288845 174cm, divorced (no kids), veg, TELUGU KANNADA TAMIL loving family, seeks educated, com- 9444157888 job/ seeks suitable alliance, 59/170 BRAHMIN having own agricul- HINDU SC AD, 42Years/168 BE, Team TAMIL IYER Athreya 1970/175cms,B. patible partner. [email protected] CSI CHRISTIAN Nadar Girl Fair, caste no bar, cont: 9787210340. NAIDU DIVORCEE no issues born 1977 tural land and estate in Bangalore Leader in MNC, Salary Rs.19 Lakhs Com,MBA,IT Consultant, Pvt Company 9345634365 Good Looking, 03−04−1986 born / Slim job MNC caste No Bar, Wanted Rural seeks Brahmin bride aged 35 to Chennai 40000Pm.First Marriage per annum, Teetotaler, Seeks suit- 152cm / M.Sc M.Phil , working as SC− AD− 41 Widow issueless, Teach- employed Bridegroom. Ph: 94433 50 with minimum SSLC qualification able bride from a Good Family. Young looking, Clean Habits. Seeks Assistant Professor in a Reputed er Pvt Chennai , suitable Widower/ 44936 for 2nd marriage. Ct. 7337671854 Caste no bar. Email: tpremnath27@ Girl from pure Vegetarian Family. Women’s College, Mount Road, Chen- Divorcee with Child/Children only − gmail.com Issueless Legally divorcee also nai. Both Parents Doctors (Private) 8825553678 AFFLUENT KANNADA Brahmin 30/ 186 can apply. Ct: 7358462812/ rsuma35@ , Suitable Alliance, Employed / GAVARA NAIDU 26/155, Mirugaseeri- in B’lore Qlfd in Tourism, gym RAJESH AGE 36 Ht :5.4 Yadava, Gran- gmail.com Settled in Chennai / With Clean HINDU CHETTIAR 28/170/ MDS (Den- dam (3) Midunam M.Com and doing trainer seeks home loving bride 23− Habits from Same Community. Con- tist) Pooram Simham Chennai based ules N Beans Pvt Ltd, Chennai GM Ph.D Seeks Suitable Groom. Aswini, 28 yrs Veg/ Non−veg Caste no bar. (South) Sal:1.20L pm CNB− BRAHMIN, ASSOCIATE Project Manager tact: 9841182514 seeks suitable Chennai groom. Thirvathurai, Uthiram, Swathi only. 9445795084 Whatsapp 9740111442. 8610014920. HCL Technologies Madurai, seeks ISLAAM 23/165 MSc B.Ed Father Sid- Contact : 9443106922 any brahmin girl, 9487851429 dha Doctor Mother H.Wife Suitable HINDU NADAR 28 Years Doctor M.S. MALAYALAM NADAR 41/179 B.E Carleton U SRF Groom.9840547018/9080176379/9840420129 Studying 160 Cms Seeks suitable IISc vimalkrishna@tamilfilmmakerspr Vadakalai Bharadwaja Iyengar Par- Doctor Groom.Contact;9150762929 NAIDU (CNB): 26 /Slim, V. CSI NADAR BOY, 28/170, BTECH, Lec- o.com 9360991547 ents Seek Bride for Son. 23.09. ISLAAM 22/165 BE Father Working Fair,MBBS, Business Family, Chen- turer, Govt. Polytechnic College. 1983 / 172cm, Revathi, Computer En- Wanted groom below 33 years, prefe- Abu Dhabi Mother MSc.B.Ed Seek NAIDU ISSUELESS, Divorcee 45/ nai, Seeks Elite Groom − Business/ 8281186014, 0471 2436014 rably from teaching/research professi- Suitable Groom. 9894753817/ Doctor − 8939012419 TAMIL YADAV, unmarried, Chennai, gineer with Post Graduate Manage- on for Hindu girl, 27 years, doing PhD. 9840420129 151Cms, ACS, MBA, Emply in PSU, LAWYER, NOTARY Public, 47/175, Di- MBE, 39 years, 5’6" fair, slim. ment qualification. Founder Direc- INVEST IN our Trading business & Belongs to liberal, middle class family Seeks bridegroom,Chennai. CNB− vorcee (No issue), Clean habits, Seeks suitable girl from FC/ BC. tor and CEO of upcoming Software BUSINESS FOR SALE Get attractive Dividends per with diverse cultures of Bengali- SUNNI MUSLIM Tamil bride Chn slim 8778873501 8939040585; WhatsApp: 8939042966 Company. Family Financially Well− fair 24/165/ME seeks profsnly qlfd RISHIBAM KARTHIGAI, 37/160 − seeks Nair & Subcaste. Mob: off. Tamil Brahmin Either Kalai or month. Contact: 8667706030 Malayali parentage. Caste and M.com, Seeks Educated, Employed 9444347243 Iyer. Ct:8754270299/ Mail : horoscope unimportant. Email: boy from respected fmly. 9597557582 91 BORN, PHd, visagam. well quali- CASTE NO Bar/Chennai,Ayira Vaisia [email protected] fied groom wanted.Parents Inspec- Veg groom. Caste No Bar. Ct. [email protected] HINDU VANNIYAR B.E.28/165.Software tor, 8056012713 NAIR DOCTOR (M.D.S) 44 Years. Di- Kasukara Chettiar,39 (25−12−80) Caste No Bar.Contact: vorced. Well Setteled in Chennai 174cm. Pvt.Firm 32K PM. INVITED FRM suitable edu emplyd Chennai.Parents Govt Service. 9791033470. boy frm Blore for Chr girl 86/160 fair Suitable match same Caste− Seeks Suitable Bride. Ct: Ayilyam,Kadagam.Suitable Hindu IYER 37 Sankruthi Kettai BE LLB 9677207214 Bride. Ct:6385150299 Sr.Manager Chennai 13L/PA Own bful PG Tech wrkng in reputd CBSE 9444257712. HINDU NADAR, affluent family, 26/ TELUGU BRAHMIN GIRL, 21, Only For- House All Veg OK. Ct:6369157055/ SELLING school B‘lore. CNB. 7975630613 eign Alliance, No.66/44, Murthy st NAIR BOY 32 pooyam nakshatram work- HINDU PILLAIMAR, 26, B.Tech, M.S., 160cm, Kumbam / Avittam, MBA, HINDU NADAR, 27Yrs 10M / 5.6 B.E., 7397341979 153 cm, studying Ph.D (Neuroscience) fair, good looking, seeking educat- Extn, West Mambalam,CH−33 ing in MNC Chennai seeks alliance DIVORCEE MS(USA), Working in USA (H1B), in Australia seeks Groom from Pillai- ed, affluent family from same com- from employed nair girls from Chen- CNB, Seeks suitable girl Working / SEEKS SUITABLE bride for Iyer Vad- RESIDENTIAL HOUSE BANGALORE HINDU Tamil issueless di- mar (sub caste no bar) with PG or munity. 9444327064 / aadhyvan1911@ nai− 9895930761 Studying in USA (or) Good looking rich ama Bharathwajam, swathi, simma vorcee 35 yrs convent educated BE equal qualification, age up to 31 years, gmail.com girl Working in Software Profession lagnam, Raghu 7th house, Sevvai 8th Software seeks qlfd. divorcee 35− willing to work in abroad, from good MARATHI in India / any country and willing to house, 32/174 medium complexion, 45 yrs w/o encumbrances. Email: family background. Ct: 73391 79318 / HINDU NADAR 30/165 Pooratadhi relocate USA. Contact: 9442636307. clean habits, M.Sc Media and Commu- [email protected] 97919 65595. MBBS, MEM, Asst.Commandent CRPF. WANTED SMARTHA/MADHWA Desistha nication working in media, upper midd- Seeks Dr or Any Officer/CRPF pre- KONGU VELLALAR affluent 28 / 5.8 le class, subsect no bar. contact. Marathi bride 23−25 for groom 27 SC− AD, Widow issueless, Teacher ADI DRAVIDAR, 33/172, B.E., MBA, ferred .Caste No Bar. 6379567918 / MBA Midhunam Mesham seeks pretty [email protected] 5’7" MS working USA ct 9840324105 Pvt Chennai seeks suitable Widow- Rs.20 Lac PA, Divorcee (with in a 9176151360 er/ Divorcee− 8825553678 month) parents retired Govt.Officers edu bride from Kongu region 93440 whatsappnos.8838269180, TAMIL 87122 6381982283 seeks suitable Groom. Caste & Religi- MUDALIAR, 27/152, B.E, MS, SWE, DOCTOR on no bar. Ph:63800 99184. MNC, Chennai, 6LAC.PA, Well Set- WANTED CSI Bride, Well Educated, tled Family, CNB. 7299576644, Tamil Iyer Vadama Bharatwaj Ayilyam KARKATHAR VELLALA avittam/kumbam HINDU SC PR Kongu 1984 MBBS 7299576666 Pref, Employed. For IT Employed MUDALIAR 28 CNB BE MS Germany 31/180. B.Tech, MBA working in Saint 26/167 fair MBBS rich affluent fam- DCH Doctor, working in Govt Hospital 50K, 31yrs. Contact: P.O.Box:57, Poosam seeks Egr willing to work Gobain Chennai seeks Graduate Em- ily in chennai seeksDoctor from mu- seeks suitable groom.Ct: 94436-80973 HINDU SC AD 33, BE SWE TCS 95000/ Kotagiri. Email:vidhyasug0588@hotma in Europe. Geetham 6383394272 ployed Bride. Mobile - 9442502695. FINANCE daliar & vellalar 6382191240/ il.com 9381028591 VELLALA, NON−VEG Madurai 23/157, pm, seeks suitable grooms working MUDALIAR 29, BE, MBA 178cm, 16 ALL KINDS of Loan Available @ 4% BE (Civil) Visagam / Fair Seeks in Chennai/Bangalore Ct 9952147216 URDU T.NATRAJ, SENGUNTHA Mudaliar, Lacs P.A Smart Looking Seeks Suit- IYENGAR, 44, ( M.Sc , M.phil) P.A From 5Cr to 500Cr.Ct: 89251 SAIVA PILLAI - Doctor, doing PG in Suitable Groom Cell: 9894624392 / Fair, 33,Anusham, Viruchigam, 6L/ able Bride CNB, Ct.7200866346/ 165cm, Coimbatore Meenam/Revathi − 40796,Email: alwinresources.co@ Psychiatry at Chennai,Star Uthiratathi, 9444562345. Mail: kannansd@ 25, 153,V.FAIR,M.S (U.S) Working PA, Manager− Chinnanandhi Mines. 8778514465 Seeks any Brahmin Girl. gmail.com GENERAL 26/158, Father Doctor having reputed gmail.com in Bangalore seeks handsome, well SMU 24/162 BE ECE Working Flexible Mudaliar/ Subsect Ok. 7299920161, Mob:7904519558 Hospital, only daughter seeks Doctor settled groom. 9489935653 to discontinue Job Medium Fair Af- 9566022447 MUDALIYAR, 38/178, MCA, Karthigai, FDI−LOAN 6CR.&ABOVE@ 3−6% PA For Groom from Saiva Pillai / subsect with MUDALIAR EDUCATED parents seek fluent Parents seek High Educated Rishaba, Mars in 4th house, MNC SW IYENGAR BRIDE for MCA groom, 31/ Business,Turnkey Project, Proper- good family background. Contact: groom for their only daughter Uthi- TAMIL IYER Vadama Koushikam 43 well Settled Groom 9791004303 HINDU SC AD affluent 33/165 Sa- Chennai 9L PA. Whatsapp9790875623. 178, S/W developer, IT product Co, ty, Sick Units& Takeover 9443301151. ratadhi 31/155 BE & journalism years/158 cms/V. Fair MBA, Chennai dayam NIT−Premier MBA 30L/Pa. Guduvanchery, fair, Uthradam, Sri- 8270757045, 8270756858, BUYING job@Chennai 9841281331, thanga1960@ girl seeks, 43 − 46 years never 9444128898 vatsam, Vadakalai, No Dosham. [email protected] SLIM BEAUTIFUL homely girl 31/165 married professionally qualified ISAIVELLALAR PILLAI 32/172cm gmail.com SUM 38 Yrs, MA., M.Phil, Divorcee, 9841853362 RESIDENTIAL LAND final Yr MD, Anesthesia Chennai. teetotaller well placed grooms in No issue. Seeks suitable Groom. SAIVA PILLAI, 34/ 174 cm, BE, Busi- B.E.Mech Automobile Co. Chennai. Father Kerala Nair, Mother Tamil. HINDU ADIDRAVIDAR Kongu Parayar 29 India/Abroad from the same caste. Contact: 80983 97877, 94420 05370. nessman/ Fair, clean habits/ Inno- Seeks Good Looking Graduate Girl WANTED 1−5 Grd j.v or out rate in Doctors family. Looking for smart BE, M.Tech, Ph.D seeks Educated Send BHP to AllianceBR2020@ cent Divorcee, no issues/ well set- 9444803180 Wanted Brahmin Girl below 53 Di- vorced or Widow Palakkad Contact: chennai 9884154605 only Owners call MD MS DM MCh boys from good fami- Profnl Groom. CT:7558146647/ gmail.com Divorcees and Widowers tled family, seeks unmarried veg lies in Kerala & Tamil Nadu. Ct: 8973345370 excuse. bride aged below 32, Contact ALLIANCE INVITED for my Son Hindu 8075428396. 9840050381 SMU GIRL: 25 Yrs, BE (CSE) Working 9698635206, [email protected] Age 33 Mudaliar , Saliyari . Cine- SELLING HINDU MUDALIAR Divorcee 41/ 168 @ B'lore seeks suitable groom. Ct: matographer in Film Industry Chen- WANTED BRIDE for a well placed Telugu Devanga, MD Paed, 28y, Working as University Professor in IYER BRAHMIN Groom wanted for an 9886597804, 9501673934 / RESIDENTIAL FLAT - USA CNB Seeks Suitable Well set- Architect Bride currently pursuing WANTED PURELY Hindu Nadar Bride nai Kanni/Uthiram Suitable Bride brahmin groom (first marriage) seeks Chennai, Alliance from MD / MS Doc- [email protected] without issue, below 35 for Groom 43/ Caste No Bar 9176448706 alliance from any brahmin community, tors. Phone : 9176830007 tled Groom in USA or Eligible to her masters in USA. Grooms Family RESALE Settle USA Now Bride in Chennai should be affluent & cultured. 5'7", Fair, Widower with running Good Divorcee or widow without encumbran- ENGINEER for 2 months. Ph: 73584 28843. Preference for Boys currently in business at Changanacherry, having 2 MUDALIAR : 26 /B.E,MBA(UK),Own ces is also acceptable. Groom Sree- ANNANAGAR WEST TNHB 860 sft flat the US. Age not above 29 years. SMU Parents Seek Groom for their children growing up at Grandparents Transport, Steel Export & Import, valsam, Makham 21-01-1973, working on Prime Land opposite Metrozone SM 25/ 5’2"/ Guruda/ B Tech work- KULALA, 26/165, Revathy, BE, Seeks Please contact shankarraman@ Daughter 25 Yrs 5'4 Fair B.A, B.Ed. in home. Contact: Mr.K. Vairamani, 33, Resorts, Real estate, Chennai, in an MNC in Kochi. Contact 7th Avenue UDL 552 sft. Rs 60L ing private sector in Jaipur pref- Suitable Groom, Contact: yahoo.com with family / grooms de- and around Dindigul. Madurai & Trichy Kathalampatti St, Virudhunagar Seeks Bride − Any Degree − 9495591554 (Uncle) or 8547853756 Nego. No Brokers Ct 28151990; erence IIT/ IIM. 9414055008 9496258389, 7373669696 tails & recent photographs. Contact: 9443369786 626001. Call: 99654 23232. 7305810258 (sister) 9677028529 CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE HINDU SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 DELHI REGION 5 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Weather Watch Rainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday Political workers should remain ‘Bal Thackeray’s memorial will promote nationalism’ firm on ideology: Sharad Pawar Uddhav performs ground­breaking memorial will also tell the coming generations about his work. It is a coincidence On NCP chief ’s 80th birthday, Chief Minister calls him pillar of MVA government ceremony of that I am remotely perform­ ing the ground­breaking ce­ Press Trust of India ₹1,680.50­crore remony of the memorial of Mumbai pipeline project that leader who was known Nationalist Congress Party for having the remote con­ (NCP) president Sharad Pa­ Press Trust of India trol of power.” Aurangabad war on Saturday said politi­ The Chief Minister said cal workers should never Chief Minister Uddhav he might visit the city with­ compromise on their ideolo­ Thackeray on Saturday said out intimation to review the gy, at a party function organ­ the memorial to Shiv Sena work of the water pipeline ised to mark his 80th birth­ supremo Bal Thackeray, scheme. He said when land day in Mumbai. proposed to be set up in Au­ acquisition for the Sam­ The veteran politician rangabad, would promote ruddhi Expressway project said creating a new genera­ the feeling of nationalism was on, the Sena had Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs) tion of political workers and and Hindutva in future reached out to farmers. “We Forecast for Sunday: Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning leaders will help strengthen generations. met the farmers and re­ likely at isolated places over Madhya Pradesh, central Maha- the State and the country in He was speaking at the solved their problems. We rashtra, Kerala and Mahe. Dense/very dense fog likely in isolated future. “It is important for ground­breaking ceremony did not keep their issues pockets over Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Pun- political workers to be firm of a water pipeline project hanging,” he said. jab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha on their ideology. The pro­ worth ₹1,680.50 crore. He On changing the name of city rain max min city rain max min gressive ideology of Mahat­ also virtually performed the Aurangabad airport, he Agartala................ —....23.7....16.9 Kozhikode.................. 10....33.0....24.6 Ahmedabad ........... —....27.4....17.8 Kurnool ....................... —....31.1....17.2 ma Jyotiba Phule, Dr. B.R. ground­breaking ceremony said, “The proposal to name Aizawl................... —....21.3....10.7 Lucknow...................... —....24.2....15.5 Ambedkar and Chhatrapati of three other projects: ur­ the airport after Chhatrapati Allahabad.............. —....24.8....16.7 Madurai ....................... —....31.4....20.7 Bengaluru ............. —....28.0....15.4 Mangaluru ................... —....33.2....23.5 Shahu Maharaj needs to be ban roads project worth Sambhaji has been sanc­ Bhopal ............... 6.7....21.7....15.8 Mumbai .................... 0.7....30.6....23.8 inculcated among the new ₹152 crore, Safari Park tioned by the government Bhubaneswar......... —....31.6....17.8 Mysuru ........................ —....29.9....20.5 breed of political workers,” worth ₹174 crore, and the and it has been forwarded Chandigarh ........... —....27.5....11.3 New Delhi ................ 1.6....21.8....14.4 Chennai ................ —....30.0....22.3 Patna .......................... —....24.6....16.0 the NCP chief said. Man of the moment: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar arrives to attend his 80th memorial of Bal Thackeray. to the Centre. I’m confident Coimbatore ........... —....29.7....21.0 Port Blair..................... —....29.1....22.2 Observing that ideology is birthday celebrations at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai on Saturday. VIVEK BENDRE * Mr. Thackeray said, “The that it will be approved.” Dehradun ........... 0.5....22.6....12.4 Puducherry .................. —....29.4....20.6 the philosophy of life, he un­ Gangtok ............. 0.6....14.7......8.7 Pune............................ —....31.4....18.7 Goa.................. 22.6....32.5....23.8 Raipur ......................... —....31.4....18.0 derlined the need to be alert war on his birthday and de­ was cut out for the Prime Mi­ wiped out, and noted that Guwahati .............. —....26.2....16.6 Hubballi ................ —....29.0....18.0 Hyderabad ............ —....29.4....17.0 Ranchi ......................... —....26.1....12.8 Shillong....................... —....17.0......8.4 Shimla...................... 9.6....10.8......3.6 and aware while doing social work. “When you take care of needs of the last person in scribed him as the pillar of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. “We nister’s post, but the “Dur­ bar [court] culture” in Delhi undermined him, Mr. Raut the BJP at one time had only two MPs. On speculation that Mr. Pawar may take over State plans to offer jobs to Imphal .................. —....22.4......6.6 Srinagar....................... —......8.0......0.1 Jaipur ................... —....24.4....16.2 Kochi ................. 0.4....31.4....24.4 Kohima ................. —....17.5......6.0 Thiruvananthapuram.... 26.8....31.2....24.0 Tiruchi......................... —....31.0....20.2 Vijayawada .................. —....29.6....19.5 society, you learn a lot with clarity about the direction of hope that he continues to have the same energy and said, “Less meritorious peo­ ple feared him and ensured as UPA chairman, he said if a leader from Maharashtra be­ kin of martyred soldiers Kolkata ................. —....24.6....14.5 Visakhapatnam ............. —....29.6....18.0 the road ahead. People have enthusiasm. We wish Sharad he did not rise to the top.” came the head of the Con­ (Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius) given me an opportunity to Pawar saheb, who is the pil­ gress­led alliance, “we Collectors asked to allot land to them Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday work for them for the last lar of the MVA, a senior lead­ ‘Can still become PM’ would be happy”. CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE five decades,” he said. er and guide, good health If there had been elections in Mr. Raut also said MVA Press Trust of India trict collectors have been Ahmedabad..... 18 .55 27 ....85 .....— ....* Mr. Pawar said social re­ and long life,” he said. the Congress, then 80% of leaders favoured contesting Mumbai asked to allot land to the kin Bengaluru ....... 15 .28 44 ....83 .118 ....* In observation made at 4.00 Chennai .......... 30 .26 25 ..110 .....— ....* p.m., Ghaziabad, Uttar formers like Mahatma Phule Mr. Pawar was instrumen­ votes would have gone to elections to municipal cor­ Maharashtra Minister of of ex­servicemen and a re­ Pradesh recorded an overall Delhi .............. 24 .50 83 ..444 .341 ....* air quality index (AQI) score and Dr. Ambedkar used tal in the formation of the him, Mr. Raut told reporters porations and other civic bo­ State for Ex­Servicemen port on this should be sub­ Hyderabad ...... ..5 103 13 ..124 .125 ....* of 415 indicating an scientific temper while work­ NCP­Congress combine’s un­ in Nashik. “Mr. Pawar should dies together, as their unity Welfare Satej Patil on Satur­ mitted in three months. Kolkata ........... 19 .25 51 ..340 .221 ....* unhealthy level of pollution. Lucknow ......... ..6 .76 31 ..358 .332 ....* In contrast, Aizawl, Mizoram ing for social upliftment of likely tie­up with the Shiv Se­ have got the opportunity to paid dividends in the recent­ day said the State govern­ In Maharashtra, there is recorded a healthy AQI score Mumbai .......... 14 .44 56 ..313 .....— ....* of 27 people. “It is not enough to na last year, after the Sena become Prime Minister long ly held Legislative Council ment was thinking of pro­ 5% reservation for ex­servi­ Pune............... ..— .84 36 ..234 .135 ....* just remember Phule, Shahu fell out with its ally BJP fol­ back. Today he is 80. But he elections. On farmers’ prot­ viding direct employment to cemen and 2% for the kin of Visakhapatnam 18 .41 47 ..257 .238 ....* Maharaj and Dr.Ambedkar, lowing the Assembly polls. is someone for whom age is ests against the new agricul­ widows and children of sol­ martyrs in MHADA housing Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI) but following their path for Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut no barrier,” Mr. Raut said. ture laws on Delhi’s borders, diers who lay down their complexes, while a Govern­ SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system, making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air the welfare of the people is said Mr. Pawar’s capabilities On Mr. Pawar’s chances of Mr. Raut said if the Union go­ lives for the country. The ment Order on October 20 particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues important.” Remembering and merit became a road­ becoming the Prime Minis­ vernment were to “move move will be on the lines of earmarked 5% for children and monuments. his parents, Mr. Pawar said block in his political journey. ter, Mr. Patel had said, “Now, two steps backwards”, it employment provided to of ex­servicemen in degree NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters. they had taught him not to He was a former Congress­ if entire Maharashtra stands would not affect its prestige. the kin of police personnel and post­graduation degree CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to neglect family responsibili­ man who rebelled against by him, our unfinished “Bring the laws back to the killed in Naxal attacks. colleges. Other decisions ta­ critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause ties while doing social and the party leadership and dream can be fulfilled.” discussion table in Parlia­ Mr. Patel, speaking at a ken at the meeting include dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death. PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes, political work. formed the NCP in 1999. Asked about the Con­ ment. Understand why the meeting to discuss perks starting a website of the ex­ nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced Chief Minister Uddhav On NCP leader Praful Pa­ gress’s future, Mr. Raut said farmers are asking that the and other facilities to kin of servicemen department to lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature Thackeray greeted Mr. Pa­ tel’s claim that Mr. Pawar political parties cannot be laws be repealed,” he said. martyred soldiers, said dis­ resolve their issues, he said. death in people with heart or lung disease Revoke Pathalgadi Stage peaceful demonstration on Ghanshyam Tiwari returns to BJP cases, urge activists Delhi­Jaipur highway, says Gehlot He had left the party over differences with Vasundhara Raje Special Correspondent that he had not joined Con­ ‘Many Adivasis still in jail in Jharkhand’ JAIPUR gress or become its primary RLP chief Hanuman Beniwal also joins agitating farmers Veteran leader and former member. “I simply shared Staff reporter ubar Das government had BHUBANESWAR indiscriminately registered Mohammed Iqbal at the border between the tion on the Jaipur­Delhi high­ Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari the stage in a programme of Rights groups in Jharkhand criminal cases to suppress JAIPUR two States. Mr. Beniwal ear­ way and maintain peace. The rejoined the Bharatiya Janata the Congress before the 2019 urged the Hemant Soren go­ the movement. With hundreds of farmers lier addressed a meeting of farmers’ groups have an­ Party here on Saturday, two­ Lok Sabha election,” he said. vernment to withdraw cri­ The police had then filed gathering at the Rajasthan­ farmers at Kotputli, situated nounced that a ‘Dilli Chalo’ and­a­half years after he left Mr. Tiwari said he was minal cases slapped against several cases against 200 Haryana border with plans 110 km from Jaipur on the march with a tractor rally the party over differences “completely committed” to persons associated with the named accused and more for intensifying their agita­ highway. would start from Rajasthan’s with the then Chief Minister the BJP’s ideology and his Pathalgadi movement. than 10,000 unnamed peo­ tion, Chief Minister Ashok Mr. Gehlot said the Centre Shahjahanpur after blocking Vasundhara Raje and the “heart and soul” were with The movement was start­ ple under various charges Gehlot on Saturday called should accept the farmers’ the highway on Sunday. party’s central leadership. the Bharatiya Jan Sangh and upon the protesters to stage demand of repealing the The RLP, which is a consti­ Mr. Tiwari had floated a new Ghanshyam Tiwari. RSS. “I did not take part in ed by the indigenous people that include abetment, ob­ in the tribal heartland for struction to public servants a peaceful demonstration on agriculture sector laws tuent of National Democratic outfit, Bharat Vahini Party, * FILE PHOTO the protests organised by the their right for self­govern­ discharging their duty, crea­ the Delhi­Jaipur highway and “without delay”. “I am Alliance from Rajasthan, has ahead of the 2018 Rajasthan Congress against the Citizen­ ment. The entry of outsid­ tion of public nuisance, cri­ raise their demands in a “de­ pleased [to note] that the threatened to snap its al­ Assembly election. function in Jaipur and said it ship Amendment Act and ers was restricted. minal intimidation and even mocratic manner”. farmers’ movement has been liance with the Bharatiya Ja­ A six­time BJP MLA and was important to support abrogation of Article 370.” The Jharkhand Janadhi­ sedition, the JJM activists Rashtriya Loktantrik Party very peaceful so far. Violence nata Party if the new farm considered a hardliner, Mr. the party “for [the] protec­ BJP State president Satish kar Mahasabha ( JJM), a say. According to the JJM, (RLP) chief and Nagaur MP has no place in democracy,” laws are not withdrawn. Mr. Tiwari had extended support tion of democratic values”. Poonia said Mr. Tiwari’s re­ group of rights activists response to a RTI plea says Hanuman Beniwal, along he tweeted. Beniwal said his party’s to the Congress after his par­ On Saturday, the 72­year­ turn to the party fold was not which organised a State­le­ there were 30 FIRs, spread with his supporters, as well The Chief Minister asked strength lay with the farm­ ty lost all the 63 Assembly old leader, one of the foun­ an exception. “Leaders like vel seminar at Ranchi on Fri­ across Khunti (23), Saraike­ as Kisan Mahapanchayat na­ the farmers to put their de­ ers, who were agitating in the seats it contested. He had ders of the BJP in the State in Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh day, alleged that people la­Kharsawan (5) and West tional president Rampal Jat mands democratically before extreme cold amid the CO­ shared dais with Congress 1980, told reporters at the and Babulal Marandi joined were suffering as then Ragh­ Singhbhum (2) districts. joined the agitating farmers the Centre during their agita­ VID­19 pandemic. leader Rahul Gandhi at a BJP State headquarters here back after the leaving BJP.” Meghalaya group writes to PM, seeks OBITUARY & REMEMBRANCE entry restrictions, repeal of CAA REMEMBRANCE Northeast — barring Megha­ State as well as Central go­ Khasi Students’ laya, Assam and Tripura — vernment in this regard Union says State maintain their indigenous have not yielded any posi­ is slowly demographic structure. tive results so far. One of The ILP, based on the these petitions was submit­ becoming like Bengal Eastern Frontier ted to Union Home Minister Tripura, Assam Regulation of 1873, is ap­ plicable in Arunachal Pra­ Amit Shah in November 2019, it said. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT desh, Manipur, Mizoram “The Meghalaya Assemb­ GUWAHATI and Nagaland. ly on December 19, 2019, A pressure group in Megha­ passed a resolution seeking laya has petitioned Prime ‘Long­pending issue’ the immediate implementa­ Minister Narendra Modi de­ “The demand for the imple­ tion of the ILP in the entire manding the implementa­ mentation of ILP in Megha­ State,” KSU reminded Mr tion of inner­line permit laya is a long­pending issue Modi. (ILP), a British­era entry which the KSU started high­ DEATH restriction, in the State and lighting since 1985. Due to Immigration issue the scrapping of the Citizen­ excessive migration from On the CAA that seeks to ship (Amendment) Act outside the country and fast­track Indian citizenship (CAA). certain other States since to non­Muslims from Af­ The memorandum by 1971, there developed se­ ghanistan, Bangladesh and the Khasi Students’ Union rious ramifications within Pakistan, the KSU said (KSU) preceded the re­ the State whereby there is a Meghalaya had been bear­ launch of the anti­CAA contestation in all aspects ing the brunt of massive il­ movement in the region on between the indigenous tri­ legal immigration since the December 11. bal communities and the onset of the Bangladesh outsiders/migrant com­ Liberation War in 1971. Effective mechanism munities. Meghalaya is “Taking a cue from the The KSU said the ILP would slowly becoming like Tripu­ State of Tripura, the citi­ be an effective mechanism ra and Assam where indige­ zens of Meghalaya are wary to regulate the entry of out­ nous communities are be­ of being overwhelmed by siders into the State that has ing overwhelmed by the larger migrant com­ a microscopic indigenous migrant communities,” KSU munities coming from Ban­ population. wrote. gladesh,” the students’ or­ It pointed out that ILP The students’ body said ganisation told the Prime has helped the States in petitions submitted to the Minister. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 6 NEWS DELHI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 THE HINDU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE FROM PAGE ONE Farmers picket 165 toll Bringing life back to Western Ghats grasslands Researchers find sites for restoration in the Nilgiris, Palani Hills and Anamalai, where exotic trees are erasing biodiversity plazas nationwide K.C. Deepika Milind Bunyan from the In­ seeds widely, removing ma­ km) and national parks,” the Bengaluru dian Institute of Science Edu­ ture trees is often ineffective. study says. “At most of the toll plazas on at toll plazas in Madhya Pra­ Tropical montane grasslands cation and Research (IISER), An approach that targets the The Palani Hills and Ana­ the Chandigarh­Delhi high­ desh, Rajasthan, Maharash­ (TMG) in the Shola Sky Is­ Tirupati, and Ashoka Trust removal of young exotic malai lost grasslands due to way, Milk­Majra toll plaza on tra, Gujarat, Jharkhand and lands of the Western Ghats for Research in Ecology and trees would be more effec­ invasive species, Mr. Bunyan Panchkula­Saharanpur Bihar, according to the have suffered big reductions the Environment (ATREE), tive. Similarly, restoring told The Hindu. Most of highway and Gullarpur toll AIKS. Farmer leaders point­ due to invasions by exotic Bengaluru lay out the possi­ grasslands where isolated these species were planted, plaza on Assandh­Karnal ed to the widespread parti­ trees such as acacias, pines bilities. but mature trees exist in but that programme was highway, we ensured that cipation in the toll plaza and eucalyptus, shrinking They focus on identifying grassland patches could be stopped around the 1990s, no charges were collected protests to refute Food Mi­ the range sizes of endemic grassland restoration sites an easy way to restrict furth­ and since then, they were from commuters,” he nister Piyush Goyal’s state­ species, including plants, using satellite images with a er dispersal,” the researchers purely invasive, he ex­ added. ment that the agitation no birds, amphibians and mam­ high spatial resolution (Rapi­ say. plained. The species have a Green move: Field photographs and CNES/Airbus imagery of Farmers in western Uttar longer remains a farmers’ mals. Some populations are dEye), and have recom­ “Our study identified an very high seed bank, about potential grassland restoration sites. (A) Lightly invaded Pradesh picketed toll plazas movement. being driven to local extinc­ mended careful removal of grasslands and (B) sparse mature exotic tree with grass cover. area of 254 sq km for grass­ which nothing can be done, for intermittently through Speaking at the annual tion. young and isolated exotic land restoration, 362 sq km but cutting them will require the day. In Gautam Buddh meeting of industry body But researchers have now trees at the invasion front ration efforts afforded to exotic tree plantations. In of intact montane grasslands multiple cycles, he added. Nagar, the Bhartiya Kisan FICCI, Mr. Goyal said, the identified areas suitable for and restoring grasslands, in­ tropical montane forests, the Western Ghats, 23% of for conservation, and 606 sq The study also throws Sangathan picketed the Lu­ movement has been “infil­ grassland restoration and stead of removing dense possibly due to limited infor­ montane grasslands were re­ km of mature exotic tree light on policies for grass­ harli Toll Plaza and Eastern trated by Leftist and Maoist conservation to reverse the stands of mature exotic mation. “In India, TMG have portedly converted into inva­ stands in the Nilgiris, Palani lands, which are seen as hav­ Peripheral Expressway and elements” demanding the decline. trees. even been classified as was­ sive exotic tree cover over a Hills and Anamalai. Most of ing no productive use, as is made them free for some release of those put behind Reporting on their study TMG are high elevation telands in forest manage­ period of 44 years. the areas suitable for mon­ often alleged in the case of time. bars for “anti­national activ­ titled ‘Opportunities and grasslands forming only 2% ment plans since they are un­ Attempts to manage inva­ tane grassland restoration the Hesaraghatta grasslands In Odisha, farmers pre­ ities”. Late on Saturday challenges in using remote of all grasslands in the world. likely to generate revenue, sive exotic trees in montane were located in the Nilgiris in Bengaluru. “Grasslands vented collection of toll at evening, around 50 farmers sensing for invasive tree spe­ Among their functions is reg­ contrary to the timber (even grasslands incorporated ap­ (126 sq km), followed by the are not wastelands. Though multiple points on the How­ led by Nagaur Lok Sabha MP cies management, and in the ulating the global carbon cy­ if exotic) found in forests,” proaches that include pre­ Palani Hills (73 sq km), and they are not being put to use, rah­Chennai and Bhubanes­ Hanuman Beniwal and identification of restoration cle and serving as a source of the study says. vention and mechanical, the Anamalai (55 sq km). The we are benefiting in other war­Puri national highways, farmers’ leader Rampal Jat sites in tropical montane water to downstream com­ Loss of grasslands due to chemical and biological con­ largest areas for grassland ways ­ such as serving as pas­ including at Bhubaneswar, staged a sit­in on the Delhi­ grasslands’ earlier this munities. Researchers say invasive exotic trees is a “no­ trol. “For invasive species restoration were in reserve ture. In the Sholas, they are Ganjam and Cuttack. Jaipur Highway at Rewari, month in Science Direct, M. grasslands do not benefit vel threat” through the esta­ such as Acacia mearnsii that forests (87 sq km), followed responsible for hydrological There were protests at 31 blocking the road. The Re­ Arasumani, V.V. Robin and from conservation and resto­ blishment and expansion of grow rapidly and disperse by wildlife sanctuaries (60 sq recharge,” he said. locations in Andhra Pra­ wari police said efforts were desh; while 25 toll booths being made to lift the block­ were opened, police pre­ ade and restore traffic. vented opening in six loca­ tions, arresting protestors. Farmers stopped toll collec­ (With inputs from Ashok Kumar in Gurugram, Vikas Vasudeva in Chandigarh, Violence at Wistron’s ‘Check legality of IN BRIEF tion in 18 centres in Telanga­ na. Protests were also held Priscilla Jebaraj and Anuj Kumar in New Delhi) Bengaluru iPhone factory Amaravati creation’ Committed to welfare Employees ransack premises over unpaid dues Andhra A­G says HC should examine of farmers, says PM Special Correspondent Bengaluru Staff Reporter VIJAYAWADA Advocate­General (A­G) S. honest and non­bona fide decision­making process. He told the court that it Eminent Malayalam After these reforms are dia Inc to take interest in the Thousands of workers at Sriram insisted in the And­ was not empowered to res­ writer U.A. Khader dead done, Mr. Modi said, farmers agriculture sector and invest Wistron Infocomm Manufac­ hra Pradesh High Court on tore an illegality which vi­ KOZHIKODE will get access to new mar­ in it. Stating that the Indian turing (India), which is part Friday that it should be sa­ tiated the original decision Eminent writer U.A. Khader, kets and benefits of technol­ economy is recovering at a of the Taipei­based Wistron tisfied with the legality, bo­ of locating the capital in who enriched Malayalam ogy, the country’s cold stor­ swift pace and economic in­ Corporation manufacturing na fides and constitutionali­ Amaravati city. language and literature with age infrastructure will be dicators are encouraging, iPhones at its Narasapura ty of the process that led to The A­G further said Am­ his unique style, died at a modern and with this more Mr. Modi told all entrepre­ factory on the outskirts of the notification of Amarava­ aravati did not have the cha­ private hospital here on investments will come in the neurs not to miss out on the Bengaluru, went on a ram­ ti as capital city before ad­ racteristics of an inclusive Saturday. An active agricultural sector. “And if opportunity to invest in vil­ page and ransacked the judicating on the writ peti­ city that reflects a sense of participant in literary and company premises over de­ tions that which belonging to all the social gatherings here for anyone will reap its benefits, lages and small towns as “it lays in the payment of salar­ challenged the valid­ people of the State. A decades, the 85-year old was it will be the country’s farm­ is certain that villages and under treatment for cancer ers who earn their living small cities are going to sup­ ies and overtime wages. ity of the A.P. Decen­ “right to a city” at A source said the protest Workers’ rage: The ransacked iPhone manufacturing unit of tralisation and Inclu­ State expense is not for sometime, family sources from small pieces of land. It port the growth of 21st cen­ said. A recipient of various will benefit them,” he tury India”. began shortly after the work­ Wistron Corporation in Bengaluru. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT * sive Development of fundamental to the ers’ shift ended, but took a All Regions, and petitioners and it honours, including the stressed. He added that the number Sahitya Akademi award, he He said a lot of work has of active Internet users in ru­ violent turn by 6 a.m. on Sa­ premises. A contingent of 15,000 employees, but only CRDA Repeal, Acts. ought to be available had authored hundreds of been done by the govern­ ral India is more than in ci­ turday. police personnel was de­ 1,400 are actually on the Summing up his to people across the books, including novels and ment over the past few years ties and more than half of In­ The workers alleged that ployed on the premises. An rolls. The rest are contract arguments on the matter, State. short stories. PTI to strengthen the agricultu­ dia's start­ups are in tier­2 they had not been paid sal­ additional force was called workers. “The situation was Mr. Sriram maintained that “Amaravati is posited to ral sector. He also asked In­ and tier­3 cities. ary or overtime wages for to contain the situation. tense, but it has been none of the pleas of good go­ be a city that is exclusive for Telangana forms 4 panels three or four months. Things About 100 people have brought under control. Ten vernance, promissory es­ the benefit of a few people,” for COVID-19 vaccination came to a head as violence been detained said See­ special teams have been toppel and legitimate expec­ he asserted. He contended Odisha’s brides go erupted and company pro­ perty, including furniture, manth Kumar Singh, Inspec­ tor General of Police (Cen­ formed to investigate the in­ cident. We are screening tation would be fatal for the constitutionality of the Act that a few families sought to control land and other re­ HYDERABAD Four committees for planning, execution, missing in ration cards fans, lights and television sets, was ransacked. The workers set fire to a tral Range), who is supervising the law and or­ der situation. CCTV footage and video clips to identify the instiga­ tors,” said a senior police and urged the court to not restore the state of affairs in Amaravati, as transpired in sources in the capital city, which was inconsistent with the constitutional ideal of supervision and monitoring of COVID-19 vaccination programme in Telangana was Ms. Majhi and the brides of are struck off from their na­ car parked on the factory The company has around officer. 2014, saying that it was a dis­ good governance. formed by the State government. The committees Poharighat and Nagjhari are tal village ration cards im­ are State Steering among the many women ex­ mediately after marriage, Committee, State Task Force, cluded from the food secur­ but are not added with the ity net after their marriage. Raising concerns over the “erasure” of these women, same swiftness at their mar­ ital homes,” says Sameet Panda, co­convenor of the Campaign ends for last phase of Kerala local body polls District Task Force and Mandal Task Force. Senior officials said the State government has begun activists argue that they Odisha Right To Food cam­ Voting to be held in Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts tomorrow preparations for possible should not be kept out of paign. introduction of COVID-19 the public distribution sys­ Marriage is the primary Special Correspondent tives in 6,869 wards/divi­ not categorised as sensitive. vaccine. tem (PDS) as it would adver­ factor for women migrating. Kozhikode sions in a total of 354 local As many as 2,175 booths have sely impact their health. However, the ration card Election campaigning in Kas­ bodies, including two corpo­ been identified as sensitive/ Seven injured in chemical management system, which aragod, Kannur, Kozhikode rations and 31 municipali­ problematic. There will be factory blast in Telangana Unclear process the State claims is complete­ and Malappuram districts ties. The electorate include webcasting in 1,343 booths. SANGAREDDY Kaikei Majhi, sarpanch of ly digitised and portable, drew to a close on Saturday, 46,65,510 women, 42,70,961 In Kannur, which ac­ Seven workers were seriously Talbelgaon in Kalahandi, has not been able to capture with political parties and men and 90 transgenders. counts for large number of injured when a reactor fronts in the electoral battle­ Malappuram has the highest sensitive/problematic exploded at unit one of says, “It is fact that women these movements and en­ ground sweating it out as the number of voters in the State booths, nearly 10,000 secur­ Vindhya Organics at IDA after their marriage find it sure food security. northern districts are going — 33,54,000. Election ma­ ity personnel have been de­ Bollaram in Sangareddy difficult to add their names “There is no mechanism to the polls on Monday in the chinery in the four districts ployed for ensuring law and district of Telangana on in ration card list. But in­ or standard operating pro­ Saturday. It took more than laws of newly married wo­ cedure to capture change of final phase of the local body has been fully geared up for order on the polling day. five fire engines over three men are partly responsible address of women from one elections in Kerala. the polling. There are 10,834 Voters testing positive for hours to bring the raging fire for the mess. They shy away fair price shop to another Despite the pandemic­re­ polling booths across the COVID­19 and those being under control. According to from interacting with offi­ within the PDS system. It is lated constraints on electio­ four districts. quarantined would be al­ sources, the explosion cials. Hence, there is delay done in a very informal way. neering, the poll campaign The High Court has direct­ lowed to cast their votes with occurred when chemicals in adding their names to Also rather than the system was at full tilt in the four dis­ ed that adequate police per­ a certificate from the desig­ were being mixed in the list.” helping the beneficiaries to tricts, where the electorate sonnel should be posted to nated health officer between reactor. . The factory roof was “Technically the PDS is facilitate the transition, they comprising 89,36,561 voters rule out any incidents of vio­ 3 p.m. on the day before the blown away and walls were required to be made dynam­ are left to fend themselves,” Wrap up: BJP workers taking out an election campaign rally at can cast their votes on Mon­ lence or election malprac­ polling (Sunday) and till the damaged. Exact reason for ic. Addition of names of wo­ Mr. Panda says. Talap in Kannur on Saturday. S.K. MOHAN * day to elect their representa­ tice, even in polling stations time the polling ends. the blast is not yet known. men in the ration card list A major hurdle is the lack [of their marital families] of procedural clarity on how has to be seamless. But we come across numerous cas­ es in which women’s names names can be “ported” from one ration card to another. Kerala is set to augment wildlife rehab Will give free COVID­19 Army veterans to lay Dedicated facility will treat and nurture injured and orphaned large carnivores vaccine to all: Pinarayi Sarath Babu George The move is spurred by sights on establishing the off­limits for visitors, the Special Correspondent peak of the epidemic in the down 25,000 medals THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Kerala is set to augment its frequent incursions by in­ jured wild animals into hu­ proposed facility adjacent to the zoological park at Puth­ proposed centre is likely to meet its expenditure using Thiruvananthapuram All citizens in Kerala will re­ last week of October, the ac­ tive cases had dropped by wildlife rehabilitation capa­ man habitations, particular­ ur, near Thrissur. Envisaged the revenue generated by ceive COVID­19 vaccination nearly 40% and was now “I was a fauji (soldier) earlier had been “hurt” by the bilities by establishing a ded­ ly in parts of Wayanad. Such to house 16 large carnivores the zoological park. A time free of cost as and when the fewer than 60,000. The test but even before that, I was a treatment being meted out icated facility to treat and situations have often at a time, the centre will frame is yet to be finalised Centre makes vaccines positivity rate has come labourer and a farmer. We by the government to the nurture injured and or­ prompted forest officials to treat animals until they can for realising the project. available to the States, Chief down below 10% and was are willing to sacrifice these protesters. The veterans had phaned big cats and other shift animals to far­off places be released back into the Taking cue from other Minister Pinarayi Vijayan now in the 8­9% range, medals in return for a repeal decided to forfeit medals large carnivores that are res­ for treatment. wild, and rehabilitate those States, the facility can also has said. which was a positive of the black laws. It was in symbolising the glory they cued from the wild. It was only a month ago that are permanently be utilised to rear orphaned The State is already indicator. that spirit that we went to had earned over decades. The Forest Department that a 10­year­old tigress was disabled. or abandoned cubs rescued giving free COVID­19 Whether the relaxa­ the Rashtrapati Bhavan on “These medals were given has accorded in­principle transferred to the Neyyar The location of from different places. treatment, and the tion in protocol and Thursday, but were de­ not for entertainment but approval to a proposal to es­ Lion Safari Park, the facility will Two three­week­old tiger policy will continue congregation of people tained,” he alleged. “They for valour, for coming face to tablish a rescue and rehabili­ where it is currently enable the de­ cubs that had been rescued when it comes to vac­ for the local body elec­ kept us in detention for two face with death, through tation centre in Thrissur on being treated. partment to enlist from the Mudumalai Tiger cination. The State tion campaign will lead whole days thinking we will sweat and blood and tears, the lines of the existing one The department the services of Reserve in Nilgiris were re­ will not intend to to a resurgence and a go back home, but the first but the jawan is ready to let in the Sri Chamarajendra Zo­ has currently set its veterinarians at­ cently shifted to the Arignar charge anyone for the vac­ spike in the epidemic curve thing we did after being re­ them go for a better future ological Gardens in Mysuru tached to the zo­ Anna Zoological Park in cine, he said at a media will become clear in a few leased this morning was to for the farmer,” he said. that treats tigers, leo­ ological park. Chennai for specialised neo­ briefing here on Saturday. days, Mr. Vijayan said. come back here to join the Retired Havaldar Suresh pards, sloth bears, While it will be natal care. He said it was a matter of With an average of 30 protest.” Kumar Dahiya from Jhajjar wild dogs and oth­ The State currently has a huge relief that the CO­ deaths a day, mortality has Retired Naik Kapil Dev alleged that the Union go­ er animals. rescue and rehabilitation VID­19 active case pool in shown a spike. However, from Haryana said farmers vernment had been letting centre for captive and the State has been declining this was expected as mortal­ and ex­servicemen and the farmers and sol­ wild elephants at Kottoor slowly but steadily. From ity is known to go up soon families of serving jawans diers down. in Thiruvananthapuram. 97,000­odd cases in the after the peak, he said. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE HINDU SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 DELHI NEWS 7 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ‘Impasse could end in Farmers are sacrificing ‘New laws will create new landlords’ two days’ SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Chandigarh their lives, says Rahul Activist Medha Patkar warns that food procurement will be affected Anuj Kumar Ghaziabad She said the protest had brought those fighting for Amid the ongoing farmers He shares photos of 11 who died during 17 days of protest At the Delhi­Ghaziabad bor­ the rights of farm labour on agitation, Haryana Deputy der, as the protesting farm­ the same page as the Chief Minister Dushyant Special Correspondent ers braved rain and bitter owner­cultivator. Chautala of the Jannayak New Delhi cold on Saturday, activist “This is how movements Janta Party ( JJP) on Satur­ “How many more sacrifices Medha Patkar and Bharati­ take shape. They [owner­ day said he was hopeful would it take from our farm­ ya Kisan Union leader Ra­ cultivators] are not as big as that the ongoing impasse er brothers to repeal the kesh Tikait shared a ma­ Ambanis and Adanis. In our could end in the next 24 to farm laws,” asked former keshift stage on the calculation of minimum 48 hours. Congress president Rahul Delhi­Meerut flyover to ad­ support price, everybody’s He was talking to jour­ Gandhi on Twitter. dress them. share has been taken into nalists in New Delhi after He shared photographs of Speaking to The Hindu, account but the govern­ meeting Union Ministers, 11 farmers who reportedly Ms. Patkar said the basic pa­ ment doesn’t want to bring including Defence Minister died in the past 17 days of the radigm behind the three the MSP into the legal fra­ Rajnath Singh, Agriculture farmers’ agitation. Acts was “corporatisation of mework,” she said. Minister Narendra Singh The party also accused agriculture”. Describing the protests Tomar and Minister of Con­ Cabinet Ministers of brand­ “They will create new as peaceful, Mr. Tikait, ho­ sumer Affairs, Food and ing every opponent of the landlords. The laws give Lending support: Activist Medha Patkar addressing the wever, underlined that it Public Distribution Piyush government as Maoists and In a huddle: Farmers in a tent battle the cold at the Ghazipur concessions to the agents of protesting farmers in Ghazipur. SANDEEP SAXENA * was important for farmers Goyal. In the meetings, he traitors. border on Saturday. SANDEEP SAXENA * corporates,” the veteran of to wield both jhanda and said he appealed to all Mi­ The Opposition party’s al­ tempting to cast unfounded ment of standing with its the Narmada Bachao Ando­ food procurement but also ceed,” she said. danda (flag and stick). nisters to take steps to end legation against Cabinet Mi­ aspersions on the motiva­ dhandaata (funder) instead lan said. food production. The me­ She said the government “We don’t want to make the deadlock at the nisters branding opponents tions of the protesters. In a of annadaata (farmer) des­ On the presence of chanisation of agriculture had reservations about talk­ it complicated. In 1966, earliest. as Maoists came after Rail­ tense environment, such pite so many deaths. agents in the existing sys­ will affect the employment ing to some groups. when the MSP regime was “I am hopeful that the way, Food and Consumer Af­ statements would harm any tem, Ms. Patkar said the of farm labourers.” “They might not be pre­ introduced, a farmer could ongoing impasse could end fairs Minister Piyush Goyal, efforts to build trust bet­ No to autocracy present system had its Lauding the unity of pur­ sent during the meeting buy 10 grams of gold on sell­ in the next 24 to 48 hours. in an interview, alleged that ween Indians and the go­ “Modi ji, autocracy has no checks and balances but the pose among the farmers with the Ministers but they ing three quintals of wheat. Both the sides are in favour certain Leftist and Maoist vernment. The farmers have place in democracy. The pol­ new laws would introduce across States, Ms. Patkar are very much part of the al­ Make it possible, and we of coming to an agreement elements seemed to have been peacefully protesting icy of you and your Ministers the agents of big corporates said different farmer groups liance,” she said. will go back home,” he said. and that’s is why there “taken control” of the agita­ since September and have is to declare every opponent as official agents. had come together for a big­ “For the bigger cause, we have been many rounds of tion and were pursuing their followed the highest ideals as Maoist and a traitor. Referring to the recent ger cause. Testing times are protesting under one talks till date. On some own agenda instead of dis­ of democratic dissent.” Please apologise and accept battle between PepsiCo and “There may be differenc­ On what might be playing flag,” said Meghraj Solanki points, both parties have cussing farmers’ issues. In a series of tweets, Con­ the demands of the anna- potato farmers in Gujarat, es on some issues but when on the government’s mind, of the Bulandshahr unit of agreed. In the 24­page pro­ gress general secretary Ran­ daata (farmer) who are sit­ Ms. Patkar said, “The free­ it comes to the common mi­ Ms. Patkar said they were the All India Kisan Sabha. posal sent by the Central ‘Casting aspersions’ deep Surjewala alleged that ting on dharna amidst biting dom to stock and hoard will nimum programme, we are testing the farmers. “But “At the Ghazipur border, government, written assu­ Former Punjab Congress the Modi government was cold and rain,” Mr. Surjewala mean farmers will not get all united. The government now farmers are testing the where farmers from diffe­ rance is promised on the head Partap Singh Bajwa refusing to listen to the farm­ said in another tweet, tag­ their due price. They will be and a section of media are government,” said the co­ rent districts of western Ut­ guarantee of Minimum said, “I am also extremely ers despite so many of dying ging Mr. Goyal’s interview. forced to move from food trying to divide by invoking founder of the National Al­ tar Pradesh are assembling, Support Price (MSP),” he disappointed with the fact during the agitation. crops to cash crops. So the China, Pakistan and Khalis­ liance of People’s we have given the com­ said. that Cabinet Ministers are at­ He accused the govern­ new laws will affect not only tan but they will not suc­ Movements. mand to Mr. Tikait,” he said. Mamata bets on schemes, BJP on her ‘mistakes’ Mothers in M.P. to help check malnutrition Events appear to be unfolding in a manner the national party would like them to State govt. has issued order for committees led by mothers to monitor anganwadis Bishwanath Ghosh [after the attack on Mr. Nad­ JAGRITI CHANDRA vices delivered at the children in the community, Kolkata da’s convoy] to prove that NEW DELHI As the campaign builds up in her administration is non­ centres, including supple­ ensuring they receive bene­ West Bengal for what is going partisan. The attack will also The Madhya Pradesh govern­ mentary nutrition, health fits from anganwadis, and to be one of the fiercest elec­ cause polarisation of voters ment has issued an order for services including vaccina­ make parents of such chil­ toral contests in its history, in the area,” said election the appointment of commit­ tion, early education, among dren aware about the bene­ events in the State appear to analyst Biswanath tees led by mothers to en­ others. fits available to them be unfolding in a manner the Chakraborty. sure better monitoring of The Committees will also through the government. Bharatiya Janata Party would The BJP appears to be just services delivered at angan­ include a woman panch, wo­ “With the help of moth­ like them to. one of her problems. Recent­ wadi or day care centres men active in the communi­ ers, we will be able to turn While the local BJP leaders ly, TMC heavyweight Suven­ across the State. These ty and eager to volunteer anganwadis into a communi­ have, all along, been accus­ Mamata Banerjee. * J.P. Nadda. * du Adhikari quit her govern­ mothers will keep a watch their support to the scheme, ty health system, a nutrition ing the ruling Trinamool ment; and while it is not on weekly ration distribu­ Nutritional powder for teachers from the local management centre, and Congress of unleashing vio­ her. She now heads a crum­ during the 2019 election, or uncommon for members of tion to beneficiaries as well children at an anganwadi school, and women heads of spread awareness against so­ lence on its political oppo­ bling government and a dis­ refusing permission to the her party to switch over to as suggest nutritious and tas­ centre. * self­help groups (SHG). cial evils. These will turn into nents, the attack on the con­ integrating party,” Jay Pra­ BJP to take out processions. the BJP, no popular face from teful recipes for meals The mothers will monitor a model for local governance voy of its national president kash Majumdar, All this is helping the BJP in the BJP has joined the Trina­ served to children at the ween six months to three the weekly distribution of as well as allow for greater J.P. Nadda in South 24 Parga­ vice­president of State BJP, an unprecedented way,” he mool. It would, however, be centres, in a move that is years, children between take­home ration as well as engagement between com­ nas on Thursday has trans­ told The Hindu. said. imprudent to underestimate aimed at strengthening com­ three years and six years, coordinate with SHGs en­ munities and the State go­ formed their long­standing “It escapes me how a sea­ Even those not aligned Ms. Banerjee. This month munity response to the pro­ adolescent girls and preg­ gaged in preparing hot vernment. Our commitment allegation into an election is­ soned and shrewd leader like with any political party agree she launched a two­month­ blem of hunger and malnu­ nant women and lactating cooked meals for daily distri­ to this also shows that we are sue and — according to polit­ her can make one mistake af­ that Ms. Banerjee, 65, is un­ long ‘Government at your trition in the State. mothers. bution to beneficiaries at an­ opening ourselves to public ical observers — stands to po­ ter another. Communal po­ der pressure this time. Un­ Doorstep’ outreach and also Called ‘Matru Sahyogini According to the order is­ ganwadis to ensure good scrutiny and improving ac­ larise the voters in this larisation is her gift to West like the fighter who frequent­ the Swasthya Sathi insurance Samiti’ or Mothers’ Coopera­ sued earlier this month, the quality. They will also sug­ countability,” Swati Meena TMC­controlled district. Bengal. Before she came to ly took to the streets to take scheme — so far the public tion Committees, these will committees will include gest ways to make such food Nayak, Director, Women and “[Chief Minister and Tri­ power, people here never on the government, she is response to both has been comprise 10 mothers at each mothers of beneficiary chil­ tasteful and nutritious; en­ Child Development Depart­ namool Congress chief ] Ma­ voted on the basis of reli­ herself in the government to­ encouraging. Of the other anganwadi representing the dren as well as be represent­ sure that all children as well ment of Madhya Pradesh, mata Banerjee has lost her gion,” Mr. Majumdar said. day, presiding over a cash­ outreaches launched over concerns of different sets of ed by pregnant women and as pregnant women and lac­ told The Hindu. magic with the people, her “Then other mistakes, like strapped State and facing an­ the last one year with great beneficiaries under the Inte­ lactating mothers who are tating mothers due for vac­ The move is being taken utterances are now met with trying to prevent national­le­ ti­incumbency. fanfare, Didi ke Bolo (Tell Di­ grated Child Development enrolled under the scheme. cines receive them; and stay as per the mandate of the Na­ ridicule. People wait for the vel BJP leaders from landing “There will certainly be di) has met with some Services, or National Nutri­ The anganwadi scheme in­ alert about malnourished tional Food Security Act, next funny statement from in Bengal to address rallies greater pressure on her now success. tion Mission — children bet­ cludes a package of six ser­ and severely malnourished 2013 (NFSA). Gujjars demand Centre­Bengal clash on IPS deputation BJP worker killed Parliament session Trinamool says Home Ministry pressuring police and officials of the State in West Bengal They seek protection for quota Special Correspondent Kolkata the State had the authority whether to release the offi­ Party blames Trinamool Congress Citing a Union Home Minis­ cials or not. “Provisions are posted on its official Twitter < > We will be forced to Special Correspondent Special correspondent JAIPUR launch agitation try letter asking the West quite clear: IAS/IPS officers Kolkata handle. Gujjars in Rajasthan, de­ against Centre Bengal government to send are governed by Article 312 A Bharatiya Janata Party Arjun Singh, BJP MP from manding reservation in jobs three IPS officers on Central of the Constitution. After worker was killed at Halisa­ Barrackpore, said that it was unless permanent and education, have sought deputation, the Trinamool they are selected, they are al­ har in North 24 Parganas of a planned attack on BJP sup­ solution is found Congress on Saturday al­ lotted States. They are made the Centre’s intervention for West Bengal on Saturday porters. He said that seven Shailendra Singh Ninth Schedule protection General secretary, Gujjar Aarakshan leged that the Centre was State cadre. They may go to evening, with the party al­ BJP workers had been in­ to a 2019 State law which ac­ Sangharsh Samiti pressuring the West Bengal the Centre on deputation leging political violence and jured in the attack and one cords Most Backward Class police and officials. but the Centre has to ask for blaming Trinamool Con­ remained in a critical condi­ (MBC) category for the com­ Sangharsh Samiti general The officers were de­ names from the State go­ gress workers for the mur­ tion. “Saikat Bhawal has munity. The quota agitation secretary Shailendra Singh, ployed during BJP president vernment and then the State der. been killed by @AITCOfficial has generated considerable who has written to Prime J.P. Nadda’s visit to the Dia­ Full throttle: Trinamool workers taking out a motorbike rally has to give them clarifica­ Saikat Bhawal, BJP booth goons in Bizpore [Bizpur] political heat and disrupted Minister Narendra Modi, mond Harbour when his mo­ against the Centre’s policies in Kolkata on Saturday. AFP * tion... unless the State re­ president of Ward 43 of the Assembly area but the @Ma­ public life several times in said here on Saturday that torcade came under attack. leases them, they cannot Halisahar municipality, was mataOfficial’s police is busy the State since 2007. Gujjars would be forced to On Friday, the Ministry letter dated 11 December said three police officers,” a go,” Trinamool Congress attacked during the Griha in conducting raid at my of­ The Gujjar Aarakshan launch an agitation against had summoned the Chief Se­ 2020, whereby you named letter written by Kalyan Ba­ leader Saugata Roy said. Samprak Abhiyaan (door­ fice­cum­residence Majdoor Sangharsh Samiti has de­ the NDA government at the cretary and the Director­ three IPS officers for Central nerjee, MP, to Union Home In his letter, Ms. Banerjee to­door outreach campaign) Bhawan. This is the politics manded that a special ses­ Centre unless a permanent General of Police for a meet­ deputation. All the three IPS Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Sa­ alleged political vindictive­ of the party. of Didi,” the BJP vice presi­ sion of Parliament be con­ resolution of the quota issue ing in Delhi on the law­and­ officers were deployed by turday reads. ness in the Union Home Mi­ “Another day, another dent tweeted, referring to a vened for inclusion of the was found. order situation in West Ben­ 10th December 2020 nearby Later in the day, the Trina­ nistry move. murder! Saikat Bhawal, BJP raid on his office. State Act in the Ninth Sche­ gal, but the former sought an at the place of occurrence. mool Congress held a press The BJP leadership said worker from Halisahar, was The Trinamool Congress dule of the Constitution, on No response exemption from participa­ Your motive is very clear that conference stating that the that Mr. Banerjee had no brutally murdered by TMC leadership, including MLA the lines of the protection Mr. Singh pointed out that tion. by taking them, you want to Centre could send a request authority to write to the Un­ goons while six others are Partha Bhowmick from given to a reservation law of the State government had “Now I come to another create pressure upon the for Central deputation but ion Home Secretary. critically injured and fight­ North 24 Parganas, said that Tamil Nadu, and a constitu­ written several times to the ing for their lives... Pishi the murder had nothing to tional amendment be Centre with the recommen­ [aunt, referring to Chief Mi­ do with politics. brought to enhance the 50% ceiling on reservation. The Assembly had passed dation that its legislation be included in the Ninth Sche­ dule to protect its from be­ NC, BJP spar ahead of phase 6 of DDC polls nister Mamata Banerjee] can’t retain power like this!” the BJP’s West Bengal unit The leaders said that the death was a result of perso­ nal vendetta. the Rajasthan Backward ing challenged in the courts. Classes (Reservation of “The Union government Special Correspondent ticipation “a victory for ship in J&K, “which was oth­ tion candidates. Seats in Educational Institu­ and the Parliament have not Srinagar democracy”. erwise taken up by a handful “The Centre’s experiment tions in the State and of Ap­ taken cognisance of the The National Conference “Our biggest achievement of dynasties”, he said. has failed, as the people pointments and Posts in Ser­ State Act despite several ses­ (NC) and the BJP were en­ has been a fair, fear­free elec­ Mr. Thakur said all those were not allowing any space vices under the State) sions having been convened gaged in a war of words on tion. In Jammu, there is a involved in the Roshni Scam, to divisive forces. The main Amendment Act, 2019, on since February 2019,” he Saturday, ahead of the sixth great support for the BJP. involving 3.48 lakh kanals agenda behind the election February 13 last year, creat­ said. phase of the District Deve­ There has been a positive (one kanal equals about 0.05 is diluting people’s aspira­ ing the MBC category. The Mr. Singh said Articles 15 lopment Council polling in response in Kashmir as hectare) of land, will face tions. The local government four other nomadic com­ and 16 of the Constitution the Union Territory. well,” Mr. Thakur said while action. cannot be a substitute to munities given the quota be­ were amended to provide Union Minister of State for campaigning in the Valley. The NC said the BJP was what was spitefully snatched nefit along with the Gujjars 10% reservation to the citi­ Finance Anurag Thakur, the The dilution of Articles 370 shocked and unnerved by on August 5, 2019 from us,” were Banjara, Gadia­Lohar, zens belonging to the Eco­ BJP’s in­charge of the elec­ and 35A had opened up op­ the support to Peoples Al­ NC general secretary Ali Mu­ Raika and Gadariya. nomically Weaker Section. tion, termed the voters’ par­ portunities to young leader­ liance for Gupkar Declara­ hammad Sagar said. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 8 NEWS EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE DELHI THE HINDU SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 IN BRIEF NFHS finds jump in vaccination Not in favour of imposing Partial data show improvement in supply of vaccine for childhood immunisation SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT family planning, govt. tells SC NEW DELHI Advocate files petition seeking population control law The Health Ministry on Sa­ Jagannath temple likely < > 2001­2011 turday released partial data Krishnadas Rajagopal was the ful India, Strong India, Se­ to open this month BHUBANESWAR from the fifth edition of the NEW DELHI first decade in 100 cured India, Sensitive India, The Shree Jagannath Temple National Family Health Sur­ The Centre told the Su­ years that added Clean India and Corruption Administration (SJTA) on vey (NFHS) claiming “consid­ preme Court on Saturday less population than and Crime­Free India cam­ Saturday said it had decided erable improvement” in the that it was against coercing the previous one paign won’t succeed,” Mr. to recommend to the Odisha supply of vaccine for child­ couples into having a “cer­ Upadhyay said. Health & Family Welfare ministry government to open the hood immunisation from the tain number of children” in But the government said 12th–century temple from fourth round in 2015­16. a bid to curb population and Development, 1994, India had been witnessing a the last week of December. A quick perusal of the da­ explosion. which was unequivocally “constant decline” in the to­ The temple has remained ta showed that in Andhra In fact, the government against coercion in family tal fertility rate (TFR). closed since March when Pradesh, the percentage of said the years from 2001 to planning. “In fact, interna­ According to the Census the pandemic broke out. fully vaccinated children (12­ 2011 witnessed the sharpest tional experience shows that statistics, “2001­2011 was the Once opened, devotees 23 months of age) jumped to decline in decadal growth any coercion to have a cer­ first decade in the last 100 coming from outside Puri 73% from 65%. However, rate of Indian population in tain number of children is years which had not only ad­ would have to produce children with diarrhoea in a 100 years. counterproductive and ded lesser population as a COVID­19 negative the two weeks preceding the on statistics gleaned from 6.1 under Phase I. vey. The fertility rate has “The Family Welfare Pro­ leads to demographic distor­ compared to the previous certificate for entry. survey jumped to 7.2% from lakh households. The results Phase II, covering the re­ further declined, and con­ gramme in India is voluntary tions,” the Ministry said. one, but also registered the 6.6%. In West Bengal, institu­ from 17 States and five Union maining 12 States and two traceptive use has increased in nature, which enables The government was res­ sharpest decline in the deca­ COVID officer to be tional births of children in­ Territories (Assam, Bihar, UTs, had their field work sus­ in most Phase I States. The couples to decide the size of ponding to the court’s direc­ dal growth rate from 21.54% deployed for Kumbh creased from 75% to 91% and Manipur, Meghalaya, Sik­ pended because of CO­ survey found considerable their family and adopt the tion to a petition filed by ad­ in 1991­2001 to 17.64% in DEHRADUN in Gujarat, the proportion of kim, Tripura, Andhra Pra­ VID­19. This was resumed in improvement in vaccination family planning methods vocate Ashwini Kumar 2001­2011”. Uttarakhand Chief Minister anaemic children sharply in­ desh, Andaman and Nicobar November and is expected coverage among children best suited to them, accord­ Upadhyay to introduce a “The wanted fertility in Trivendra Singh Rawat on creased from 62.6% to Islands, Gujarat, Himachal to be completed by May aged 12­23 months across all ing to their choice, without population control law. Mr. India as per National Family Saturday asked officials to 79.7%. Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, 2021. States/UTs. Women’s empo­ any compulsion,” the Union Upadhyay said population Health Survey IV is only 1.8 deploy a special COVID officer Ladakh, Karnataka, Goa, werment indicators (includ­ Health and Family Welfare explosion had been the bane as against the actual fertility for the 2021 Haridwar Kumbh 12 States to be covered Maharashtra, Telangana, Health indicators up ing women with bank ac­ Ministry said in an affidavit. of the country. Without im­ of 2.2 prevailing at that time, Mela. Reviewing preparations As other versions, the new West Bengal, Mizoram, Kera­ “Substantial improvement in count) also portray It said India was a signatory plementing effective popula­ indicating that couples on an for the event, Mr. Rawat edition has information on la, Lakshadweep, Dadra Na­ maternal and child health in­ considerable progress,” a to the Programme of Action tion control measures, average do not want more authorised Kumbh mela population, health and nu­ gar Haveli and Daman & Diu) dicators over NFHS­4 was re­ press statement from the (POA) of the International Healthy India, Literate India, than two children,” the Mi­ officials and the Garhwal commissioner to sanction trition for India, and is based were released on Saturday corded in the present sur­ Health Ministry noted. Conference on Population Prosperous India, Resource­ nistry said. works worth up to ₹2 crore and ₹5 crore, respectively. All shopkeepers in the mela area have been asked to keep masks and hand sanitisers, Trump regime blocked trade deal: Jaishankar Indigenous artillery Health Secretary Amit Negi said. He hopes Biden “There was a fairly serious and talks between trade de­ gun trials to end in 2021 negotiation between our go­ legations ahead of Mr. Two arrested for chasing lions on motorcycle team will address vernment and the Trump ad­ Trump’s visit to India in Fe­ Probe under way into barrel burst AHMEDABAD outstanding issues ministration on resolving the bruary this year, the two Two persons, one a minor, outstanding trade issues. sides were unable to agree Dinakar Peri trials. Winter trials should have been arrested a few Suhasini Haidar The general thinking on both on a “mini trade deal” which New Delhi happen sometime in Janu­ days after a video of the two NEW DELHI. sides was let us deal with the would include reversing the User trials of the indigenous ary. We will do the summer on motorbike chasing a pair India was “dead serious” differences before thinking GSP decision. The negotia­ Advanced Towed Artillery trials by mid next year,” the of lions in the Gir forest went about concluding a trade of something bigger. There tions included the U.S.’s de­ Gun System (ATAGS) deve­ official said. viral. The clip showed the deal with the U.S. but the was a lot of to­ing and fro­ mands for more market ac­ loped by the Defence Re­ The ATAGS is a 155­mm, lions being chased by the Trump administration de­ ing, lot of discussions, but Looking forward: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar cess for dairy and search and Development 52­calibre artillery gun joint­ duo, who scared them away cided not to, External Affairs for a variety of reasons they speaking at 93rd annual meeting of FICCI. TWITTER * agricultural products and Organisation (DRDO) jointly ly developed by the DRDO with the vehicle noise and Minister S. Jaishankar said [U.S. TR] didn’t close it out,” the IT industry, but despite with private industry are in partnership with Bharat honking. “It was shot near on Saturday. Mr. Jaishankar said at the trade ties must be seen in a In June 2019, just a day af­ speculation that the trade scheduled to be resumed la­ Forge of the Kalyani Group Gadhiya village in the In comments that indicate 93rd annual meeting of the “strategic way”. ter Mr. Modi was sworn in for teams were close to a deal on ter this month and proceed and the Tata Power SED. Tulsishyam range of the Gir. the Modi government holds Federation of Indian Cham­ Ties between India and a second time, the U.S. an­ several occasions, it never with winter and summer In August 2018, the De­ One of the riders was the Trump administration bers of Commerce and In­ the U.S. have been streng­ nounced a revocation of In­ materialised. trials to be completed by fence Acquisition Council identified as Yunis Pathan,” and his U.S. Trade Represen­ dustry. thened in a number of areas dia’s Generalized System of Mr. Jaishankar defended mid­2021, a defence official approved the purchase of a forest official said. tative (USTR) responsible for “I hope we will have very during the four­year tenure Preferences (GSP) status that the government’s decision to said. 150 ot these guns at an ap­ the failure of the negotia­ serious discussions once the of President Donald Trump, had given added benefits to levy the digital taxes, saying Trials which began in proximate ₹3,365 crore Manipur observes 81st tions over the past two years [Biden] administration but trade ties have been a Indian exports since the there was nothing wrong September were paused af­ which would be split bet­ year of ‘women’s war’ to achieve a breakthrough, comes in and our Minister source of tensions, after the 1970s. with India protecting its digi­ ter the gun suffered a barrel ween the two companies. IMPHAL the External Affairs Minister [Commerce Minister Piyush U.S. Trade Representative Despite Mr. Goyal’s trade tal resources and strengths, burst. An investigation is un­ After the user trials, the Ar­ Manipur observed the 81st said he hoped the Biden ad­ Goyal] is very focused on it; took a number of actions talks with the U.S. Trade Re­ or what is negatively termed der way to determine the my has to give the Request anniversary of the “women’s ministration would address this is something that is very against India for what it presentative Robert Light­ “techno­nationalism”. cause. “The guns will move For Proposal and the initial war” at an official function the outstanding trade issues important in his agenda,” claimed were unfair laws hizer during Mr. Modi’s visit (With inputs from some time next week to Ba­ lot can be supplied imme­ held at the “Women’s War now. the Minister added, and said and tariffs. to the U.S. last September, Sriram Lakshman) lasore for initial proof firing diately, the official said. Memorial Complex” in Imphal on Saturday. It was on December 12, 1939, that the CBI identifies minor 2 injured as CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC women fought against the British after some of its officials colluded with traders Paint it white grenade goes to export the nutritious Manipuri rice, pushing people victims of abuse in U.P. off in Sopore to the point of starvation. Following their protest, the ‘Junior engineer targeted 50 children’ Special Correspondent export order was revoked. special correspondent official said the district’s Srinagar Bar licencing rules eased NEW DELHI Child Welfare Committee Two civilians were injured in Uttar Pradesh The CBI has identified some had been contacted for ne­ when suspected militants LUCKNOW of the children who were cessary help. The agency is tossed a grenade on a de­ The Uttar Pradesh sexually abused by a junior yet to interview the victims. ployment of security forces government has delegated its engineer with the Irrigation Preliminary investiga­ at Sopore in Baramulla dis­ power to grant licences to run Department in Uttar Pra­ tions revealed that the ac­ trict of north Kashmir on liquor bars to Divisional desh over the past decade. cused had sexually abused Saturday. Commissioners, an official The alleged paedophile, a nearly 50 minors in the A police spokesperson statement said on Saturday. resident of Chitrakoot, took five­16 age group. said around 5.55 p.m., mil­ The new bar licencing rules photographs and filmed his The CBI examined his e­ itants hurled a grenade are aimed at simplifying the acts to share or sell them on mails and found that he was near the Sopore bus stand complex licencing process the dark web in India and in regular touch with several at the security personnel. and devolving power in line with the ease of doing overseas. He was arrested Indian and foreign nation­ business doctrine. The by the CBI last month. als, with whom he shared Investigation on licencing process has been Confirming that some vic­ the child sexual abuse mate­ “The grenade missed the made online too. tims had been identified, an rial. intended target and ex­ ploded on the road. Two ci­ vilians received minor inju­ DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Bodoland ries and were evacuated to a nearby hospital for treat­ SUDOKU People’s Front ment,” the police spokes­ person said. The police ahead in polls Charming as ever: Srinagar received the season’s first snowfall on Saturday. Continuing snowfall across Kashmir has said that an investigation was in progress “to esta­ resulted in the closure of roads linking the Valley to the rest of the country. NISSAR AHMAD * blish the full circumstances SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC of this terror crime”. GUWAHATI The elections to Assam’s Hunger continued even after lockdown: report autonomous Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) are set to throw up a frac­ tured verdict. Till the time of filing of Many people have Watch, recorded responses faced discrimination and this report, the Bodoland from marginalised and ex­ about 12% of Scheduled People’s Front (BPF) had no jobs, says Right cluded communities, such as Tribes felt discriminated won 11 of the 40 council to Food Campaign the Scheduled Castes, the against. Similarly, sex work­ seats followed by regional Scheduled Tribes and minor­ ers, domestic workers, as rival United People’s Party JAGRITI CHANDRA ity religious communities in­ well as single women faced Liberal (UPPL) with 10 and NEW DELHI cluding Muslims, 80% of additional difficulties as ma­ BJP with seven. All three Six or seven months after the whom earned less than ny of them had no PDS or parties were leading in oth­ lockdown, people continued ₹7,000 a month before the any documents without er seats proportionately. to go to bed hungry, skip lockdown in March. which they were dependent State Election Commis­ meals frequently, and are un­ entirely on charity from civil sion officials said counting able to afford nutritious diets Drastic drop in intake society organisations for the votes for the two­phase because of loss of income, Over half the people sur­ their food requirements. Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku elections, would continue shows a survey by the Right veyed said their consump­ This food insecurity is a Crucial support: Members of an NGO distributing dry rations past Saturday midnight. to Food Campaign of 4,000 tion of rice and wheat had free of cost in west Delhi in November. SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR * direct result of economic This is the first election people living on the margins decreased and 25% said this precariousness — 43% of in the BTC since the Centre across 11 States in September had “decreased a lot.” Simi­ said there was a drastic de­ said they were having less those surveyed had no in­ had signed the Bodoland and October, calling into larly, 64% reported a de­ crease in their use. About than the quantity they used come immediately after the Territorial Region (BTR) question the government’s crease in consumption of 71% of those who were non­ to eat. lockdown in April and May, peace accord with the All decision to withdraw free pulses, while nearly 30% vegetarians could not afford There was also discrimi­ and only 3% of them have re­ Bodo Students’ Union and foodgrains under the Prad­ said this had “decreased a eggs or meat. nation on the lines of caste turned to the pre­lockdown some factions of extremist han Mantri Garib Kalyan Yo­ lot”. On consumption of ve­ Asked about their percep­ and religion while accessing income levels. As many as National Democratic Front jana (PMGKY) after Novem­ getables, 73% reported a tion of drop in quantity of food during the lockdown. 56% without any income in of Boroland in January this ber. drop in consumption of ve­ food as compared to pre­CO­ One in four Dalits and one in the beginning of the lock­ year. The survey, called Hunger getables, while nearly 40% VID 19, nearly 66% of people four Muslims reported they down still had no income. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE HINDU SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 DELHI WORLD 9 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SC rejects Trump­backed poll lawsuit U.S. approves Pfizer vaccine as After another blow to Republican bid to overturn results, President says the court ‘really let us down’ millions of doses begin shipping Associated Press Mr. Trump had called the Mr. Biden — pending resolu­ First shot will be administered in less than 24 hours: Trump Washington lawsuit filed by Texas against tion of the lawsuit. The Supreme Court has re­ Georgia, Michigan, Pennsyl­ Mr. Trump complained Agence France-Presse some experts have said jected a lawsuit backed by vania and Wisconsin “the big that “within a flash,” the law­ Washington could undermine vaccine President Donald Trump to one” that would end with the suit was “thrown out and The U.S. green lighted the confidence. overturn Joe Biden’s election Supreme Court undoing Bi­ gone, without even looking Pfizer­BioNTech COVID­19 The U.S. is seeking to in­ victory, ending a desperate den’s substantial Electoral at the many reasons it was vaccine late on Friday, pav­ oculate 20 million people attempt to get legal issues re­ College majority and allow­ brought. A Rigged Election, ing the way for millions of this month alone, with long­ jected by State and federal ing Mr. Trump to serve fight on!” vulnerable people to receive term care facility residents judges before the nation’s another four years in the their shots in the world’s and health care workers at highest court and subvert White House. No dissent note hardest­hit country. the front of the line. the will of voters. In a brief order, the court Three Trump appointees sit President Donald Trump The government also said Mr. Trump bemoaned the said Texas does not have the on the High Court. In his immediately released a vi­ on Friday that it is buying decision late Friday, tweet­ legal right to sue those States push to get the most recent deo on Twitter, where he 100 million more doses of ing­ “The Supreme Court because it “has not demon­ of his nominees, Justice Amy hailed the news as a “medi­ A rehearsal is under way the Moderna vaccine candi­ really let us down. No Wis­ Setbacks in a row: Supporters of Donald Trump protesting in strated a judicially cognisa­ Coney Barrett, confirmed cal miracle” and said the before the administration of date, amid reports the go­ dom, No Courage!” front of Supreme Court in Washington. REUTERS * ble interest in the manner in quickly, Mr. Trump said she first immunizations would vaccine in Indiana. REUTERS * vernment passed on the op­ which another State con­ would be needed for any take place “in less than 24 portunity to secure more ‘No wisdom, no courage’ adopt his baseless position outcome and reject the vo­ ducts its elections.” post­election lawsuits. Ms. hours.” The move came earlier supply of the Pfizer jab. The high court’s order ear­ that the election was the pro­ ters’ choice, as expressed in Justices Samuel Alito and Barrett appears to have par­ It comes as infections than expected, and capped a Following Britain’s lead, lier Friday was a stark repu­ duct of widespread fraud an election regarded by both Clarence Thomas, who have ticipated in both cases this across America soar as nev­ day of drama after it was re­ the first vaccine shipments diation of a legal claim that and should be overturned. Republican and Democratic said previously the court week. None of the Trump ap­ er before, with the grim mil­ ported that the White House to 14 sites across Canada are was widely regarded as du­ But the nation’s highest officials as free and fair. The does not have the authority pointees noted a dissent in estone of 3,00,000 con­ had threatened to fire Food scheduled to arrive Monday bious, yet embraced by the court emphatically dis­ justices turned away an ap­ to turn away lawsuits bet­ either case. firmed deaths fast and Drug Administration with people receiving shots president, 19 Republican agreed. peal from Pennsylvania Re­ ween States, said they would The four States sued by approaching. chief Stephen Hahn if he did a day or two later. state attorneys general and Friday’s order marked the publicans on Tuesday. have heard Texas’ com­ Texas had urged the court to The U.S. is now the sixth not grant emergency appro­ Israel, which accepted its 126 House Republicans. second time this week that On Monday, the Electoral plaint. But they would not reject the case as meritless. country to approve the two­ val on Friday. first shipment of the Pfizer Mr. Trump had insisted the court had rebuffed Repu­ College meets to formally have done as Texas wanted — They were backed by anoth­ dose regimen, after Britain, Mr. Trump’s intervention vaccine on Wednesday, is the court would find the blican requests that it get in­ elect Mr. Biden as the next setting aside those four er 22 States and the District Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Ara­ reinserts politics into the targeting a rollout on De­ “wisdom” and “courage” to volved in the 2020 election President. States’ 62 electoral votes for of Columbia. bia and Mexico. scientific process, which cember 27. ELSEWHERE U.K. Navy to protect fishing if Brexit talks fail Iran executes Johnson has said it is ‘very, very likely’ the talks will fail, and Britain will revert to WTO terms dissident journalist Agence France-Presse EU trawlers in case the two son has said it is “very, very Deal or no deal, Britain should be deployed to pro­ Zam’s work inspired protesters in 2017 London sides decide to abandon ef­ likely” the talks will fail, and will leave the EU single mar­ tect British waters. IS group targets Afghan Britain on Saturday readied forts to secure a free­trade Britain will revert to World ket and customs union on The Ministry of Defence Associated Press capital, airport; 1 dead armed Royal Navy ships to agreement on Sunday. Trade Organization (WTO) the evening of December 31, confirmed it has conducted Dubai KABUL patrol its fishing waters if The development is part terms with its largest single more than four years after a “extensive planning and Iran on Saturday executed a The Islamic State group on tempers flare after a “no­ of increased contingency trading partner. landmark referendum on preparation” for a range of once­exiled journalist over Saturday attacked the Afghan deal” Brexit as a make­or­ planning on both sides of the European leaders have al­ membership of the bloc. post­Brexit scenarios from his online work that helped capital with a barrage of break deadline approached Channel, and evokes memo­ so been told the chances of a January 1, and has 14,000 inspire nationwide econom­ mortar shells, killing at least for talks with the European ries of the “Cod Wars” with deal are slim with both sides ‘Robust enforcement’ personnel on standby to ic protests in 2017, authori­ one civilian and wounding a Union. Iceland over fishing rights in at loggerheads over rules to Hardline Brexit­supporting help with the transition. ties said, just months after second, according to the Four 80­metre vessels the North Atlantic in the govern fair competition and Conservative MPs have The four boats would be he returned to Tehran un­ Interior Ministry. The group have been placed on standby 1960s and 70s. fishing rights in British terri­ sought assurances from Mr. part of a “robust enforce­ der mysterious circum­ claimed responsibility on to guard British waters from Prime Minister Boris John­ torial waters. Johnson that the Navy ment measures”. stances. Amaq News site, saying it Iranian state television fired 10 rockets toward and the state­run IRNA news Ruhollah Zam Hamid Karzai International Airport. A Kam Air aircraft Israel and Bhutan establish diplomatic ties Car hits BLM agency said that Ruhollah Zam, 47, was hanged early Those demonstrations, was slightly damaged. AP Special Correspondent blished ties with Germany, statement, adding that Notes ing a call between him and protesters in Saturday morning. The re­ ports did not elaborate. which began at the end of 2017, represented the big­ ‘Zodiac Killer’ message decoded after 50 years NEW DELHI Bhutan and Israel esta­ its first new formal relation­ ship since 2013. With the an­ Verbale were exchanged bet­ ween Bhutanese Ambassa­ Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji a week before. New York In June, a court sen­ tenced Zam to death, saying gest challenge to Iran’s rul­ ers since the 2009 Green LOS ANGELES blished formal ties on Satur­ nouncement, Bhutan, which dor Major General Vetsop The two sides will not be set­ Reuters he had been convicted of Movement protests and set A team of cryptography day, with a formal ceremony does not have ties with any Namgyel and Israeli Ambas­ ting up embassies in Thim­ New York “corruption on Earth,” a the stage for similar mass enthusiasts on Friday A vehicle plowed into a in New Delhi where the Am­ permanent UNSC member, sador Ron Malika. phu and Tel Aviv however, charge often used in cases unrest in November of last announced they had cracked bassadors of both countries has taken the restricted and will coordinate through crowd of about 50 people involving espionage or at­ year. one of the coded messages to India exchanged agree­ number of diplomatic rela­ ‘Secret contacts’ their missions in Delhi. at a Black Lives Matter tempts to overthrow Iran’s The initial spark for the sent over 50 years ago by the ments. The move follows a tions to 54 countries and the “The circle of those who re­ While Israel and Bhutan protest on Friday in Man­ government. 2017 protests was a sudden “Zodiac Killer,” who terrorised northern California in the late flurry of diplomatic activity European Union. cognise Israel is growing... have not had formal ties, the hattan, with multiple peo­ Zam’s website Amad­ jump in food prices. Many 1960s and remains in both countries in the past “The establishment of di­ This is a milestone in Israel’s two sides cooperate on deve­ ple injured, police said. News and a channel he believe that hard­line oppo­ unidentified. The message few weeks. In deals brokered plomatic relations would not deepening ties with Asia,” lopment activities and agri­ The driver, a woman, created on the popular mes­ nents of Iranian President was sent in November 1969 by the United States, Israel only build upon the existing tweeted Israeli Foreign Mi­ cultural training. Israel’s had stayed at the scene and saging app Telegram had Hassan Rouhani instigated to the San Francisco Chronicle has established full relations close ties but open the path nister Gabi Ashkenazi. Mr. Agency for International De­ was in custody, police spo­ spread the timings of the the first demonstrations in newspaper by the alleged with the United Arab Emi­ to greater cooperation and Ashkenazi said the decision velopment Cooperation kesman said, adding that it protests and embarrassing the conservative city of serial killer, its code rates(UAE), Bahrain, Sudan further strengthen relations to establish ties had been (MASHAV) has trained was “too early to tell” information about officials Mashhad in northeastern consisting of cryptic letters and Morocco in the last two between the two countries made after years of “secret hundred of Bhutanese youth whether it was intentional that directly challenged Iran, trying to direct public and symbols. AFP months, while Bhutan esta­ and peoples,” said a joint contacts” and finalised dur­ since 2013. or a traffic accident. Iran’s Shia theocracy. anger at the President. Western Sahara on edge after Israel­Morocco deal The U.S. recognition of Rabat’s sovereignty over the disputed territory could reignite an old conflict Stanly Johny “of any ties of territorial so­ flee the territory to neigh­ vereignty” between the bouring Algeria, where Poli­ M orocco has become the fourth Arab coun­ try to normalise ties with Israel in five months. Western Sahara and either Morocco or Mauritania, but stated that there were “indi­ cations” that some tribes in sario is running squalid refu­ gee camps. The SADR is operating largely from the eastern flank of Western Sah­ On December 10, U.S. Presi­ the territory were loyal to ara. Moroccan troops have dent Donald Trump an­ the Moroccan Sultan. In its built a huge sand wall called nounced the deal, claiming conclusion, the court en­ Berm, from the Atlantic that the series of normalisa­ dorsed the General Assemb­ coast to the mountains of tion agreements between ly Resolution 1541 that af­ Morocco, dividing the terri­ Arab countries (the UAE, firmed that to ensure tories they control from that Bahrain, Sudan and now Mo­ decolonisation, complete of Polisario. “It’s Africa’s last rocco) and the Jewish state compliance with the princi­ colony”, according to Polisa­ was bringing peace to West ple of self­determination is rio fighters. Asia. required. But King Hassan II In return for Morocco’s of Morocco hailed the court’s Impact of the deal decision to establish formal opinion as a vindication of The normalisation deal bet­ ties with Israel, the U.S. has Rabat’s claims and moved ween Morocco and Israel it­ recognised Rabat’s sove­ troops across the northern self will not have any direct reignty over Western Sahara, border to Western Sahara. bearing on Western Sahara. a disputed territory in north­ Western Sahara. The Popu­ claims. Polisario, backed by Mauritania joined in later. It But the concession the U.S. western Africa, which has lar Front for the Liberation Algeria, continued the gue­ set the stage for a three­way has given to Morocco — been under Moroccan con­ of Saguia el Hamra and Rio rilla resistance, demanding fight with the Polisario Front Washington’s recognition of trol for decades. Morocco de Oro, known as the Polisa­ their withdrawal. On Febru­ resisting both countries. Moroccan occupation of has long been campaigning rio Front, started guerilla ary 27, 1976, a day before Western Sahara — could flare internationally, using eco­ warfare against Spanish co­ Spain ended its presence, Current status up the conflict. The indepen­ nomic pressure and diplo­ lonialists. the Polisario Front declared The three­way conflict lasted dence referendum, pro­ macy, for recognition of its In 1975, as part of the Ma­ the Sahrawi Arab Democrat­ for almost four years. In Au­ mised in the 1991 ceasefire, is claims to Western Sahara. It drid Accords with Morocco ic Republic (SADR) in West­ gust 1979, Mauritania signed yet to take place. Last got what it wanted from the and Mauritania, Spain decid­ ern Sahara. The SADR has a peace treaty with Polisario, month, Morocco launched deal with Israel, a country ed to leave the territory, been recognised by several bringing the country’s mili­ an offensive into the UN­con­ with which it had developed which was then called Span­ African countries and is a tary involvement in Western trolled buffer zone between covert ties for decades. member of the African Sahara to an end. When the two sides, and in return, EXPLAINER Union. Mauritanian forces withdrew Polisario said it would res­ The dispute from the southern part of the ume armed conflict. After This large, arid and sparsely ish Sahara. According to the Morocco’s claim desert that they had occu­ the Trump administration’s populated region that shares accords, Spain would leave Morocco and Mauritania had pied, Morocco swiftly ad­ recognition of Morocco’s borders with Morocco, Alge­ before February 28, 1976 and laid claims to Western Saha­ vanced troops. claim, Polisario said it would ria and Mauritania and has a until then, the Spanish Go­ ra even when it was a Span­ The war continued bet­ keep fighting until Moroccan long Atlantic coast was a vernor General would admi­ ish colony. In 1974, the Inter­ ween Moroccan troops and troops are forced to with­ Spanish colony. The region is nister the territory, with help national Court of Justice was the Polisario Front. In 1991, draw. The U.S. move would home to the Sahrawi tribe. In from two Moroccan and asked by the UN General As­ when a ceasefire was finally upset Algeria, the biggest the 1970s, when internation­ Mauritanian Deputy Gover­ sembly to look into the legal achieved, upon the promise backer of Polisario. Among al and local pressure mount­ nors. The Polisario Front ties, if any, that existed bet­ of holding an independence the nations that condemned ed on Spain to vacate its co­ and Algeria opposed the ween Western Sahara and referendum in Western Sah­ the U.S. decision is Russia, lonies in Africa, Libya and agreements. Morocco and Mauritania at ara, Morocco had taken con­ which said the recognition of Algeria helped found a Sah­ Both Morocco and Mauri­ the time of its colonisation trol of about 80% of the terri­ Moroccan sovereignty over rawi insurgency group tania moved troops to West­ by Spain in the 19th century. tory. The war had forced Western Sahara “is a viola­ against the Spanish rule in ern Sahara to assert their The court found no evidence almost 200,000 Sahrawis to tion of international law”. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 10 BUSINESS DELHI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 THE HINDU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Subramanian, Ratho, Jain Centre working on framework SBI prefers co­origination lending to MSMEs: Khara ‘5% growth as nations turn made RBI EDs inward will be Special Correspondent MUMBAI for widening credit push: Kant ‘Partnering fintechs will help assess risks’ Press Trust of India big for India’ The Reserve Bank of India India’s private credit­to­GDP ratio lowest among global peers: Niti Aayog CEO New Delhi Press Trust of India has appointed three of its The State Bank of India (SBI) New Delhi senior officials R. Subrama­ Press Trust of India change the regulation as and will prefer the co­origina­ Morgan Stanley Chief Glo­ nian, R.S. Ratho and Rohit New Delhi when required.” tion model to cater to the fi­ bal Strategist Ruchir Shar­ Jain as executive directors Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh The entire process would nancing needs of MSMEs ma on Saturday said if the with effect from December Kant on Saturday said that require bringing all stakehol­ and collaboration with fin­ Indian economy grows at 11. India’s private credit­to­GDP ders such as banking and in­ techs is a good idea as it 5% in the era of deglobali­ Mr. Subramanian, who ratio was the lowest among dustry professionals, togeth­ helps in assessing the risk sation, then it will be a sig­ was Chief General Manag­ its global peers and that the er, he added. profile of the borrower in a nificant achievement. er­in­Charge, Enforcement government was in the pro­ better manner, chairman Di­ Addressing the FICCI an­ Department, will oversee cess of putting in place a fra­ MSME needs nesh Kumar Khara said on nual convention, Mr. Shar­ the key departments of Fo­ mework for a credit push to­ Mr. Kant said the MSME sec­ Saturday. Dinesh Kumar Khara ma further said India hasti­ reign Exchange, Financial wards untapped segments. tor would have more credit Pointing out that the Mi­ ly passed agriculture and Markets Regulation, Inter­ Addressing a virtual event needs going forward. So, cro, Small and Medium En­ form which is expected by labour reforms during the nal Debt Management and organised by the Global Al­ Funds crunch: MSMEs play a key role in providing jobs, but more innovative methods terprises (MSMEs) were con­ any banker,” he added. COVID­19 pandemic. International, the RBI said liance for Mass Entrepre­ their credit needs are unmet, Mr. Kant said. K.K. MUSTAFAH * would be key. He said the strained today in terms of Also, there was a broad Mr. Sharma said it was in a release. neurship (GAME), Mr. Kant sector’s credit gap was esti­ cash flows, time gap in rea­ spectrum of MSMEs in the no longer feasible in the Mr. Ratho, who was said that the credit scenario development has been par­ for credit to be pushed to mated to be ₹25 lakh crore. lising receivables, among country that worked in a world of deglobalisation to CGM Financial Markets Op­ in India in recent years, for a tially a result of growth in its segments that have largely Mr. Kant said the financial others, and also the level of host of areas and often the grow at 7% as exports erations, will look after the greater part, had been seen private debt,” he said. been untapped,” he said. sector was undergoing a lenders’ confidence in fund­ kind of financial informa­ could not grow at 20% or same department as well as a drag on the economy. Mr. Kant also said micro, massive change and there ing them, Mr. Khara said col­ tion coming from them was 30% in a year, which was as External Investments “India’s private credit­to­ small and medium enterpris­ ‘Flexible regulation’ had been a dramatic change laborating was a better mo­ not very organised, the good in an era of and Operations, Legal and GDP is the lowest among its es (MSMEs) play a crucial Noting that financial inclu­ in the credit scenario also. del than lending directly to chairman explained. globalisation. Secretary’s Department. global peers. Countries such role in providing employ­ sion depended on the regu­ “Over the past few years, MSMEs. “So, for an economy like Mr. Jain will oversee Su­ as China and South Korea ment but their credit needs latory environment, Mr. there has been a flood of fin­ “The fact of the matter is ‘Fully organised data’ India’s, growth rate of 5% pervision (Risk, Analytics have had tremendous are largely unmet by the for­ Kant said, “While a new busi­ tech (financial technology) that today not many NBFCs “So, to the extent where the will be pretty credible even and Vulnerability Assess­ growth, massive improve­ mal financial sector. ness model will be required players, which are bringing have come in this space,” data is fully organised, in this era where I think ment) after having been ment in their living standard “The government is in the to fill the current gap in transformational change in Mr. Khara said. which is more like any other emerging economies in CGM­in­charge, Supervi­ on the back of high leverage. process of putting frame­ achieving the necessary cre­ the way financial services are ‘“And of late, when it large corporate, it is the general will make some sion. “Even Vietnam’s recent works and protocols in place dit flow, there is a need to provided,” he added. comes to finding solutions, kind of spectrum which SBI sort of a comeback.” we feel that apart from lend­ is engaging with,” he said. Mr. Sharma pointed out ing directly to the MSMEs, “So, for different levels of that there were about 100 ‘Find Swadeshi ‘India needs data, taxation there is a way forward in maturity of MSMEs, the economies that were grow­ terms of collaborating with comfort level with the bank ing at 7% or more in 2007. these NBFCs along with the also differs,” he said. “That has never hap­ alternatives to imports’ biggest fintechs who have “If at all they are part of pened in the history of the Don’t compromise on quality: Gadkari norms to tap opportunities’ the ability to process the structured and unstruc­ tured [financial] data to the ecosystem for a large in­ dustry major, it becomes all the more easier for the global economy. In the last decade, only 10 economies ... have grown 7% or more have a better sense in terms banks to get the information in any year,” he said. Press Trust of India economic growth and boost Global trends present ‘limitless’ chances: Chandrasekaran of assessment of risk,” he structured vis­a­vis unstruc­ New Delhi the contribution of domes­ added. Based on that assess­ tured relating to the [finan­ Population growth link Asserting that India was im­ tic manufacturing to the Special Correspondent lar, we all recognise it is ment, Mr. Khara said, bank­ cial] dealings [of the Mr. Sharma also argued porting ‘a lot of things’ from GDP to up to 30%. NEW DELHI coming on the back of a real ers felt very comfortable in borrower]. that if the population China, Union Minister Nitin Citing the example of Tata Sons Chairman N. loss of output, which means lending to the MSMEs. “And those who are es­ growth of a country was Gadkari on Saturday urged magnets used in electric Chandrasekaran on Satur­ we will need to not only re­ Mr. Khara was speaking sentially in the nano catego­ slowing, then that country the domestic industry to vehicles, Mr. Gadkari asked day said he saw “limitless cover, but accelerate. And I at a webinar on ‘financing ry, may be say up to ₹2 crore could not grow at the same come up with Swadeshi al­ industry experts to study opportunities” for India, but believe, given the opportun­ the unfinanced’, organised or so [turnover], there we pace as it did in the past. ternatives to the imports which parts were being im­ added that the government ities and the trends that we by the Global Alliance for actually tend to leverage He also pointed out that from various nations with­ ported by India. needed to establish regula­ see, we can definitely Mass Entrepreneurship upon various fintechs who intra­regional trade was out compromising with “Now the magnet, there tory standards on data and achieve this and much high­ (GAME). are engaging with these the lowest in South Asia their quality and cost. are a lot of things we are im­ taxation, while the industry er levels of growth.” “There could also be MSMEs. So, we would rather compared to any sub­re­ Addressing the annual porting from China. I am had to think of projects on a Highlighting trends such another option of financing collaborate with such fin­ gion of the world. meeting of FICCI virtually, not a businessman or a busi­ bigger scale to capitalise on N. Chandrasekaran as digital and data, rush to­ based on the cash flow and techs and do the co­origina­ “The last decade was a the Minister for MSME and ness expert, but I am seeing the chances that would wards renewables and de­ not on the basis of balance tion model [of lending],” Mr. lost decade for emerging Road Transport highlighted a huge potential for electric come in a post­COVID world. would likely grow at 11% in coupling of the U.S. and Chi­ sheet because very often it is Khara said. He further said economies. The only eco­ the need to reduce imports cars, e­bikes, electric autor­ Addressing the FICCI fiscal 2022, after a significant na, Mr. Chandrasekaran said observed that the balance that SBI was looking at this nomy to have gained in the and increase exports. He ickshaws and even electric AGM, Mr. Chandrasekaran contraction this year. “While he saw limitless opportuni­ sheet and the financial state­ kind of a spectrum in financ­ global share in the last de­ said this could help enhance trucks,” the Minister said. noted that India’s GDP this rebound looks spectacu­ ties for India in these trends. ment are not available in a ing the small businesses. cade was China,” he noted. INTERVIEW | ALAIN SPOHR FinMin okays ₹9,879­crore Alstom’s India unit keeps metro capex plans trains across the globe rolling Press Trust of India New Delhi The Finance Ministry on ‘Firm investing heavily in delivery of engineering services’ Saturday said it had ap­ proved ₹9,879.61 crore N. Anand metro journey. It can build at What is the order book worth of capital expendi­ Alstom recently completed least four variants of metro position? ture proposals of 27 States. the manufacture of the train sets simultaneously. ■ Alstom has established a Of this, ₹4,939.81 crore 500th metro train car from With the growing demand, strong presence in India and has been released as the its facility in Sri City, Andhra we have doubled the capaci­ is proud to be part of Indian first instalment. Pradesh. To boost output, Al- ty of this factory to manufac­ Railway’s modernisation ef­ In a statement, the mi­ stom has doubled its produc- ture 40 cars per month or forts. This year, Alstom has nistry said that all States, tion plans in India to 480 480 cars per annum, making started deliveries of the except Tamil Nadu, had metro train cars per annum, it one of the largest in the 12,000 HP WAG­12 electric availed benefits of the new­ said Alain Spohr, manag- country for metro train locomotives to Indian Rail­ ly announced scheme for ing director, India & South manufacturing. ways. As per plan, we will de­ ‘Special Assistance to Asia. Edited excerpts: Additionally, our expan­ liver 75 units in FY 20/21. States for Capital Expendi­ sion plans are also progress­ Starting next fiscal, we will ture’. Tell us about your Indian ing as per schedule. For ex­ deliver 100 units annually. “So far, capital expendi­ journey? ample, we have commenced Other than the ambitious ture proposals of ₹9,879.61 ■ Our manufacturing jour­ work on building a new site electric locomotive project, crore of 27 states have been ney in India started with the for components manufactur­ we are also executing electri­ approved by the Ministry Chennai Metro order in ing in Coimbatore. The cur­ fication, signalling and tele­ of Finance,” the ministry 2010. This led to the setting rent site operations will be communications systems for said. “An amount of up of a state­of­the­art rolling moved into the new premis­ over 343 km along the East­ ₹4,939.81 crore has already stock manufacturing facility es which is expected to be ern phase of the ambitious been released to the states in Sri City in November 2013. operational in the first quar­ Dedicated Freight Corridor. as the first instalment un­ Since its inception, Alstom ter of next year. In line with the Centre’s der the scheme,” it added. has been catering not just to Make­in­India initiative, we the domestic [market], but Your export strategy? have been investing heavily also international projects such as metro rail for Sydney ■ India is a very credible market for engineering and in the country to produce rolling stock and compo­ ‘Pandemic and Montreal. As of 2019, Alstom had manufacturing. Alstom, in India, not only caters to nents and delivering engi­ neering services to various accelerated successfully delivered 420 metro train sets to some of domestic needs but also de­ livers engineering, compo­ global sites. The ongoing projects are: digitisation’ India’s major cities such as nents and fully built train rolling stocks for Mumbai Chennai, Lucknow and Ko­ sets for various countries Metro Line 3; infrastructure Press Trust of India chi. The company employs across the globe. projects for Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata 600 people at Sri City. Our Coimbatore facility Bengaluru and Jaipur; and The National Payments for rolling stock compo­ signalling projects for Mum­ Corporation of India Are you back to pre-COVID nents, which specialises in bai, Pune and Jaipur. (NPCI) said on Saturday levels in terms of designing, manufacturing that the pandemic had in­ production? and testing traction and elec­ What was the feedback from creased the momentum of ■ Yes, I’m happy to share trical components, also ex­ Sydney Metro about the digitisation in the country. that we are back to the pre­ ports to many countries in­ Indian-made cars? Chief Operating Officer COVID levels of production cluding France, Belgium, ■ Sydney Metro’s Northwest (COO) of NPCI Praveena across all our manufacturing Italy and Poland. line was our first export or­ Rai said that the pace of facilities. With Unlock 1.0, der for rolling stock manu­ digitisation had also in­ our teams persevered to res­ factured at Sri City and a fol­ creased due to the regula­ tart with an undeterred spi­ low­up order from Sydney tory framework and poli­ rit, following all necessary for their new lines is a testi­ cies of the government and permissions and keeping sa­ mony to the confidence that RBI. Digitisation has cut fety as a priority by adhering global customers have in Al­ across all sections of socie­ to government protocols. stom’s India manufacturing ty, Ms. Rai said at a seminar capabilities. organised by XLRI. Having reached the Having clocked more than “Digitisation has revolu­ pre-COVID levels, 5.7 million kilometres tionised every single as­ what are your until October 2020, pect of life and onboarding production plans ? Sydney Metro has has risen substantially. ■ Our Sri City fa­ been successfully There has been gradual mi­ cility is a ‘factory running without gration from cash to digital of the future’, any major break­ payments both offline and fuelling our downs. online,” she added. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE HINDU SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 DELHI SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 11 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SNAPSHOTS Can vaccines with EUA be used at the population level? The emergency use approval has been based on safety and efficacy data from limited follow­up R. Prasad neca too are likely to apply munisation. That is the logic India has plans for wides­ for full approval sometime for two months (US FDA) or pread vaccination based on Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine has next year once the trial is 70 days (Europe Medicines emergency use approval. Al­ been approved for emergen­ complete; vaccines from Agency) waiting before EUA so, the high­risk groups in In­ Corals on fire cy use by the UK, Bahrain, these two manufacturers are is granted,” Dr. Jameel says. dia earmarked for vaccina­ There is a form of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. yet to be approved for emer­ tion on a priority basis once inflammatory cell death ­ The company has also ap­ gency use by any country. In Evidence-based usage vaccines get emergency use pyroptosis. This is mediated by plied for emergency use ap­ all likelihood, vaccines in­ However, Dr. Giridhara Ba­ approval works out to 300 the protein family gasdermin proval in India. The emer­ cluding the Indian ones bu, epidemiologist with the million people. It might very that form pores. A study in gency use approval has been granted emergency use ap­ Public Health Foundation of well take a year to vaccinate Science documented a similar based on safety and efficacy proval in the next couple of India, Bengaluru does not the priority groups. gasdermin­mediated cell data from limited follow­up. months are likely to have sa­ agree with universal vaccina­ In mid­November, Serum death in reef­building corals. Vaccines tested and manu­ fety and efficacy data to seek tion based on emergency use had manufactured 40 mil­ This may be a result of factured in India would take full approval at least by the approval. “Full approval is lion doses and was to soon environmental stress. a little longer to reach the end of next year. needed before beginning un­ begin making Novavax vac­ stage where data are availa­ iversal vaccination. Mass vac­ cine. Clinical trials of other ble to support emergency Eligibility questions cination with any vaccine for vaccines are currently under use approval. With the focus on breaking which only partial data is way in India. Vaccines such Meanwhile, the Indian go­ the transmission chain by available is unethical,” Dr. as the ones tested by Pfizer vernment has spelt out four vaccinating a “critical mass Babu says in an email. “Evi­ and Moderna will be expen­ high­risk groups — health­ of people”, the question is dence­based implementa­ sive when available in India care workers, frontline work­ whether people who do not Home truths: Vaccines tested and manufactured in India would take some more time to reach tion is essential for mass vac­ and might not be used by the ers, those over 50 years of belong to the priority groups the stage where data are available to support emergency use approval. GETTY IMAGES * cination. Therefore, vaccines government to vaccinate Distant yet bound age and those aged below 50 will be eligible to get the vac­ that have only emergency high­risk groups. Astronomers from the years but with co­morbidi­ cine even before a full appro­ searcher in global health and proved for emergency use silly.” use approval cannot be con­ Pfizer had however told University of California, ties — would get the vaccine val is granted. “The special bioethics in an email. He should be available to all. sidered for mass the media that it would not Berkeley, U.S., have found a on priority. Most countries authorisation for use of vac­ feels that it is not important “My understanding is that Safety data vaccination.” make the vaccine available in binary star system, 336 light too identified the priority cines at the population level for COVID­19 vaccines usage EUA is given during public Dr. Jameel then goes on to Also, the DCGI has to clar­ the private market during years away, with a planet in a groups that would receive based on early/interim data permission to be restricted health emergencies. That stress that safety data from li­ ify under what rule will it the pandemic phase. The bound, highly eccentric orbit. the vaccine first. should be done with adeq­ only to high­risk populations emergency is the same for mited follow­up would be grant permissions for wides­ question really is whether Interactions with the star and Pfizer has already indicat­ uate oversight and by paying if there is close oversight. everyone,” he says in an sufficient even for universal pread usage since emergen­ such vaccines with emergen­ other planets can “kick” it ed that it plans to file for full adequate attention to the Virologist Dr. Shahid Ja­ email. “What is the point in vaccination. “When is safety cy use approval is not as such cy use approval should be outwards, and a passing star FDA approval in April next need for collecting data on meel, Director of the Trivedi developing vaccines while testing enough? Data for ma­ mentioned in Indian drugs/ available in the open market can stabilise its orbit. Such a year; it was granted an EUA safety, efficacy through good School of Biosciences at Ash­ the pandemic is on and then ny prior vaccines show that vaccines related laws and for anyone to purchase and scenario may explain the by the U.S. FDA on Decem­ quality pharmacovigilance,” oka University too shares the not deploying them to con­ most adverse events take rules, says Dr. Bhan. get vaccinated, says Dr. hypothetical “Planet nine.” ber 11. Moderna and AstraZe­ says Dr. Anant Bhan, a re­ same idea that vaccines ap­ trol the pandemic? Seems place within six weeks of im­ But no country including Jameel. How to use camera traps more A platform developed for diagnosing ethically in wildlife research tuberculosis from urine samples This can help in cases of extrapulmonary TB where there is no sputum sample What we do for biodiversity matters, but how we do it matters even more Shubashree Desikan TB. In the test conducted by of coloured nanoparticles. Aswathi Pacha portant we report illegal ac­ the group, the sample con­ “On the other hand, the co­ tivity. At the same time, the Diagnosing TB usually in­ taining Mtb­LAM is mixed lour detection and quantifi­ Imagine yourself as a wildlife local communities need to volves using a sputum sam­ with gold nanoparticles and cation in this method can be researcher. You set up came­ be empowered and well in­ ple or a biopsy in the detec­ incubated for five minutes. done ten thousand times ra traps in a forest to take formed of these practices. It tion tests. This is not just Then a U­shaped fibre­optic more efficiently with the pictures of your study ani­ is unwise and unethical to time­consuming or expen­ sensor device with an LED help of optical waveguides mal. But what do you do use a stealth mode,” says sive, there are also cases and a photodetector at­ such as an optical fibre. If the when the cameras uninten­ Charu Mishra, Executive Di­ where getting a sputum sam­ tached to its two ends is Diagnosis: The glycolipid plasmonic labels are on the tionally capture images of rector of the Snow Leopard ple is not easy or even possi­ dipped into the mixture. The LAM can be a biomarker of fibre core surface, much low­ people – local villagers or Trust and co­author. ble, such as with small chil­ results are generated in the TB. GETTY IMAGES * er concentrations of LAM even suspected poachers? A He adds in a release: “Our dren or in the case of next ten minutes, and the can be detected,” says Dr. new paper published by an article, which builds on extrapulmonary TB. Now, amount of Mtb­LAM present tor antibody with a plasmon­ Raghavendra Sai in international team of re­ years of hands­on expe­ IIT Madras researchers are in the mixture can be read ic label. clarification. searchers notes that the pri­ rience and knowledge of developing a point­of­care out. “Likewise a large number In the buffer solution, for vacy of people photo­ practising field researchers, platform for early­stage TB of immunocomplexes are every 10 femtogram/milli­ graphed needs to be Camera traps: Some cameras had recorded people with guns, social scientists, and legal screening and detection us­ Antibody sandwich formed on the sensor sur­ litre rise in LAM concentra­ respected and lays out seven and trespassers, says Koustubh Sharma. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT * minds, is a step towards an ing urine samples. The plat­ To describe the above pro­ face that are proportional to tion the change in absor­ basic principles, “a blend of ethical code of conduct for form is yet to be tested in cess in detail, the sample for the LAM concentration… bance could be 0.078 ethical and pragmatic good be used as an important tool cond thing, it also serves as a researchers and wildlife clinical trials. The research analysis is mixed with the Each of the plasmonic labels absorbance units. Similarly, practices,” to be followed. to detect illegal movement. deterrent because if you managers working with re­ has been published in the reagent containing detector absorb light passing through in synthetic urine, for every But have we informed the know someone’s watching, search cameras. What we do journal Biosensors and antibody (anti­MTB­LAM the fibre, leading to a drop in 10 femtogram/millilitre rise Studies of snow leopards people enough?” asks Kous­ you are less likely to do so­ for snow leopards and biodi­ Bioelectronics. IgG) conjugated with plas­ light intensity at the detec­ in concentration, the rise in The study team has been tubh Sharma, from the Inter­ mething wrong,” says Dr. versity matters, but how we The glycolipid lipoarabi­ monic gold nanoparticles. tor. The drop in the light in­ absorbance would be 0.043 conducting camera trap­ national Snow Leopard Sharma. do it matters even more.” nomannan (LAM), an inte­ The gold nanoparticle labels tensity is a measure of LAM absorbance units. based studies of snow leo­ Trust, and lead author of the The team writes that gral component of the cell capture the analyte (LAM) concentration,” says Vani Ja­ The team is in the process pards in several countries paper published in Ecologi- The ethics question there may be situations wall and cell membrane of molecules from the sample nakiraman, from the Depart­ of scaling up the sensor such as Mongolia, India, Chi­ cal Evidence and Solutions. He explains that it is not eth­ when these concepts may Mycobacterium tuberculosis solution through the detec­ ment of Biotechnology, IIT probe fabrication and func­ na and the Kyrgyz Republic. He adds that it is impor­ ically correct to quietly need to be modified and (Mtb), the disease­causing tor antibody. Then the pre­ Madras, in an email to The tionalisation strategies. “We “These cameras are like tant to put out a notice in the sneak out using these came­ adapted. They hope that this bacterium, has been ex­ mixed solution is given to Hindu. Along with V. V. would also like to cut down quiet observers. Some of surrounding local communi­ ras and catch the people by set of basic concepts can act plored as a biomarker for TB the sensor probes immobil­ Raghavendra Sai of Depart­ the volume of the reagent them had recorded people ties just like how inside an surprise; because ultimately as an initial checklist that diagnosis. Since it is known ized with capture antibody ment of Applied Mechanics, being used, which signifi­ with guns, trespassers, and ATM it says: This area is un­ it is the local people who are can be constantly updated to that LAM is released into the (anti­MTB­LAM IgM). she has formulated the pro­ cantly influences the cost of even a possible hunting par­ der CCTV Surveillance. the partners in the forefront improve the practice of ethi­ blood stream during active Thus on the sensor sur­ blem of urinary LAM based the test. On the other side, ty. This created ethical di­ “This does two things. One, of the battle to conserve the cal camera trap­based re­ infection and passed out in face, a sandwich­like immu­ diagnosis of TB. we are also working on deve­ lemmas, and that is when we it warns you that if you do habitats and the wildlife. search and also help re­ urine, it can be viewed as a nocomplex of the three is The pregnancy test kit, for loping a point of care device started to explore... yes, on something wrong you’re “Researchers also have searchers better navigate the potential biomarker for even formed. This comprises cap­ example, simply works on a unit for preliminary valida­ one hand, camera traps can likely to get caught. The se­ public responsibility. It is im­ ethical­legal tightrope. cases other than pulmonary ture antibody­analyte­detec­ naked eye–based detection tion,” he says. How epigenetics alters inherited genetics’ message Birmingham commented: "Understanding the influence of finger pad Epigenetics is the biochemical changes by regulatory proteins such maintain and regulate the friction will help us to as DNA methyl transferases stability and constancy to develop more realistic dictating expressivity of a gene in a cell (DNMTs), histone acetyl function properly. In addi­ Question Corner tactile sensors ­­ for transferases (HATs), histone tion, external factors such as example, applications in deacetylases (HDACs) and so family or hereditary history, robotics and prosthetics on. These regulatory pro­ diabetes (both type 1 and 2) Fingerprint grip and haptic feedback SPEAKING teins can add or remove such and others modify this ho­ systems for touch modifications and can result meostasis by inducing “epi­ What is the use of screens and virtual OF SCIENCE in turning ON/OFF a specific genetic” alterations as ex­ fingerprints for our reality environments." gene in a tissue or organ plained above. body? Using hi­tech laser­ D. BALASUBRAMANIAN specific manner. In the case I requested my colleagues based imaging of pancreatic beta cells, the at the Institute Indumathi Monkeys, apes and we technology, the scientists An exciting paper has ap­ treous humour gel) is tran­ insulin gene is maintained in Mariappan (a translational humans have evolved found that the moisture peared in Nature, authored sparent, colourless and helps Play of factors: Ageing leads to a progressive decline of cells in an open or active conforma­ researcher in cell biology) fingerprints or ridges on on the finger is regulated by Lu et al titled “Repro­ focus the incoming light into the retina. Epigenetics further modifies this. GETTY IMAGES * tion, thus allowing protein and G. Chandrasekhar (a hands and feet. This by a combination of gramming to recover youth­ the retina, helping us see co­ in altered protein produc­ proteins that bind the DNA expression, while it remains clinical expert with special region on our hands and sweat pore blocking and ful epigenetic information lour. It is the retina that tion, which in turn leads to and help to compactly wrap silent in other cells. This nor­ interest in glaucoma, as well feet also has a high accelerated evaporation and restore vision,” (Nature sends the message to the defective cellular functions. it inside the chromosomes mal epigenetic control on as analytical thinking) for density of sweat glands. of excessive moisture 588, pages 124­129). Lu and brain. Its main component, This forms the basis for ma­ can undergo chemical modi­ our genes can get altered their reaction. Dr. Mariappan A new study has now from external wetting. co­authors point that a pro­ called the retinal ganglion ny heritable genetic disor­ fications such as methyla­ during normal ageing, stress points out that it is risky to shown that these ridges These two functions posed cause of ageing is the cells (RGC) are the ones that ders affecting the mankind. tions and acetylations on dif­ and disease conditions. consider such an approach and the skin moisture together maintain the accumulation of “epigenetic help in this process of send­ Apart from DNA or protein ferent lysine amino acids in humans with so many un­ due to the sweat glands optimum amount of noise” that disrupts gene ex­ ing the message in the form sequence level alterations, within the protein. These Tumour suppressors knowns and stochastic ef­ helps give greater levels moisture in the pression patterns lending to of electrical signals, called there are other biochemical modifications both on the This is well known in many fects within each cell, it can of grip when holding on fingerprint ridges. changes in inherent DNA neurons or nerve cells. Thus, changes that influence and DNA and its associated pro­ cancers, where certain set of lead to totally unpredictable to objects. Fingerprint "This dual­mechanism function. If one can put them RGCs are the ones that con­ dictate if a gene should be ac­ teins alter the chromosomal genes called tumour sup­ events that cannot be re­ ridges help increase the for managing moisture back by restoring them using vert optics into electronics. tive or inactive in a given cell conformations and regulate pressors that regulate cell di­ versed and the DNA changes friction when you hold has provided primates specific genes (gene therapy) type. For example, the gene gene expression. These vision get silenced either due are permanent. However, smooth surfaces and the with an evolutionary sight can be restored. Cellular regulators that encodes for the insulin changes can either unwind to mutations or due to epige­ she says that such experi­ sweat is also regulated to advantage in dry and wet The human (and mamma­ The functioning of cells and protein is present in exact the DNA and allow gene ex­ netic alterations and result in ments can be tried in mice, maximise friction. conditions ­­ giving them lian) eye is a remarkable or­ tissues in our body are con­ form, in every cell of the bo­ pression or can compact the uncontrolled proliferation of rat and zebrafish as animal The results were manipulative and gan in the course of evolu­ trolled by thousands of pro­ dy. However, it is allowed to DNA and render the genes in cells and tumour develop­ models, to study glaucoma. published in the locomotor abilities not tion which has allowed us to teins that regulate various express only in the insulin se­ the region inactive or silent. ment. Similarly many mes­ Dr. Chandrasekhar says that Proceedings of the available to other “see” the external world cellular functions. These creting beta cells of the pan­ Such biochemical changes sages or youthful genes are ultimately the test will be National Academy of animals, such as bears clearly and in colour. Earlier proteins are in turn encoded creas and is kept inactive in that dictate the expressivity also turned off by epigenetic whether other labs can re­ Sciences. and big cats," added forms, such as microbes and by the respective genes the rest of the cells of the bo­ of a gene in a particular cell changes during our normal produce this reprogramming Co­author Mike Professor Adams. plants, reacted to light in oth­ which are a part of our ge­ dy. This phenomenon is are collectively termed “epi­ ageing process. RGCs help us work in other organs affect­ Adams, Professor in er ways (for absorption and nome or the cellular DNA. tightly regulated by a combi­ genetics.” Unlike DNA muta­ the ability to see clearly and ed by ageing (for example, Product Engineering and Readers may send their use, such as photosynthesis). Any minor or major changes nation of regulatory proteins tions that are permanent, in colour. Ageing leads to a heart, lungs and kidneys). Manufacturing, at the questions / answers to The front part of the human to our inherited DNA (addi­ that changes the expressivity such epigenetic changes are slow and progressive decline University of [email protected] eye (cornea, lens and the vi­ tion or mutation) can result of the gene. Also, the histone reversible and are mediated in this ability of RGCs to [email protected] CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 12 FAQ DELHI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 THE HINDU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines What information has the Indian regulator sought from Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech? Jacob Koshy The story so far: The Pune­based Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech of Hyderabad, frontrunners among Indian vaccine makers, have been advised by India’s drugs regulator — the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) —to furnish more evidence that their vaccine candidates were safe and capable of preventing COVID­19. Neither company has finished testing its vaccines, but they chose to approach the drug regulator seeking ‘emergency use’ provisions. * AP What is emergency use authorisation (EUA) for drugs and vaccines? The Facebook feud The conventional process to approve new drugs or vaccines is to subject them to a clinical trial process. This Vials of Covishield before they are packaged at a lab at the Serum Institute of India in Pune on November 30. * AFP means that after a prospective drug has been determined safe in animals, it is progressively tested in larger groups Depending on the drugs that came into effect India. Because the SII’s vaccine, ‘Covishield’, is a version Why are the the recent accusations of people — healthy ones, if it is a vaccine — or patients, in severity of the disease, in 2019 — called the New of the Oxford­AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 vaccine candidate, against the social media giant case of a new drug. urgency, rarity or the Drugs and Clinical Trials whose early results from its phase 3 trials are being The trials in phase 1, 2 and 3 are designed to establish Rules, 2019 — mentions an scrutinised by the United Kingdom’s drugs regulators, the significant and what do they entail? the drug’s safety and efficacy, and promoters of the new lack of alternative ‘accelerated approval Indian committee also wanted to evaluate this data as drug or vaccine must furnish data from each phase to a treatments, the process’. Depending on well as wait for that country’s decision on the vaccine. In Sriram Srinivasan country’s drugs regulators to satisfy them that the results regulator has the right the severity of the disease, the case of Bharat Biotech, the regulator wanted to see are promising enough to move to the next stage. This to waive local clinical urgency, rarity or the lack data from the company’s ongoing trial on 28,500 The story so far: On Wednesday, social networking process and the logistics of execution and evaluation are of alternative treatments, volunteers across India. trials if a drug has been giant Facebook was sued by the Federal Trade long, and it often takes years for a new entity to be the regulator has the right The committee has not laid bare its reasoning, but the Commission (FTC), the U.S. agency which seeks to commercially approved. approved elsewhere to waive local clinical rules say it is free to ask for any data it terms necessary to protect consumers and promote competition, as well as However, there may be several situations when the trials if a drug has been evaluate the risk­benefit ratio of approving an untested by the attorneys general of 46 States, the territory of approval process must be hastened — for instance, a approved elsewhere. Also, vaccine candidate. Guam and the district of Columbia. Their complaint potential drug may be available to treat an extremely in the case of a new drug, the medical benefits of the against the Mark Zuckerberg­run company is that over debilitating and rare disease, but there are too few drug are evaluated based on the first two phases of the What lies ahead? the years, it has unlawfully maintained its monopoly in potential patients to devise appropriate clinical trials; or testing and the larger — usually more time­consuming Drugs regulators are not enjoined to approve a drug just the social networking space. Among other things, they there is an outbreak that is putting several lives at risk and expensive —phase 3 trial can be deferred. It is under because there is a pandemic. However, this is a rare have called for a break­up of Facebook. This comes in and no proven drugs or vaccines are at hand; or a drug or such provisions that first pharmaceutical companies, and historic moment when drugs and vaccines anywhere, the wake of several recent moves across the world vaccine has been properly tested in one country and then vaccine firms, were able to offer drugs such as even with the slightest promise, are being given targeting what’s called the ‘Big Tech’ on anti­trust known to save lives and will evidently be useful in hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and Favipiravir to unprecedented leeway and are nudged by the charges. In October, for instance, the U.S. Justice another country which has neither the resources nor COVID­19 patients, even though there was little evidence government to rapidly bring an effective vaccine to Department sued Google for alleged abuse of its expertise to subject it to a similar evaluation. It is under to show that they worked. market. Companies are allowed to furnish ‘interim’ data dominance in the search services market. such circumstances that health regulators allow Vaccine makers such as Serum Institute of India (SII), — they do not have to wait for trials to end before accelerated approvals under EUA. The latter is Bharat Biotech (BB), and Zydus Cadila, too, have been approaching the regulator. In the case of SII, the approval What are the core arguments made against terminology specific to the United States Food and Drug allowed to rely on the efficacy of data from other of the ChAdOx1 vaccine in the United Kingdom could Facebook in the lawsuits? Administration — it has just given emergency approval to countries, or limited human trials to accelerate their potentially mean almost immediate approval in India. The plaintiffs — the FTC and attorneys general of all U.S. a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, the first testing process. Another factor would be the frequency of adverse States except Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and vaccine to prevent COVID­19 approved in the U.S. — but events and reactions. While there have been reports of South Dakota — essentially say that Facebook has several countries have similar provisions under Why did India’s drugs regulator seek more data? volunteers in global trials — and in India too — engaged in anti­competitive conduct over the years in similar names. The DCGI has a Subject Expert Committee (SEC) which experiencing severe reactions, none has been definitely order to maintain its monopoly in the market for social evaluates technical data from trials. At its meeting on linked to the administration of the vaccine. Being networking services, and that this has been driven by a What is the process in India? Wednesday, the committee said that in the case of SII, it convinced that Indians, if not significantly benefit, would fear of falling behind emerging competitors. India does not have an explicit EUA provision. However, a would need “updated” safety data from the company’s not come to harm at least, will be a key factor influencing The lawsuits highlight two broad areas where such section in the rules governing the use and regulation of ongoing combined phase­2/3 trial on 1,600 volunteers in the committee’s decision. conduct has been evident. Facebook’s acquisition strategy is one of the areas. The FTC lawsuit says the acquisition of photo­sharing network Instagram and messaging platform WhatsApp reflects Mr. Zuckerberg’s view that “it is better to buy than compete”. The plaintiffs reckon that the only reason why Facebook paid A turnaround in J&K on Roshni Act a whopping $19 billion to buy WhatsApp, which in six years it has not monetised, Why does the government want the High Court, which had called the Act unconstitutional, to reconsider its ruling? In essence, the was that by doing so, it was NISSAR AHMAD complaint is that eliminating a serious Peerzada Ashiq Who approached the court against the Act and challenger to its top what did it observe? Facebook either position in the social The story so far: On December 4, the Jammu and A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by a Jammu­ gobbled up potential networking space. Kashmir ( J&K) government filed a petition in the High based activist S.K. Bhalla in 2011, alleging that politicians, competition or used The second area relates * Court, asking it to reconsider its October ruling on the bureaucrats and revenue officers were hand in glove in its platform’s power to “anti­competitive Roshni Act. The court had declared it “unconstitutional” committing fraud under the Act. In 2014, after the CAG to prevent them from platform conduct”. The and the State government deemed all actions taken under report, Jammu­based advocate Ankur Sharma filed lawsuit by the States says, the Act, originally called the J&K State Land (Vesting of another petition and demanded that the Act be declared scaling up “When Facebook opted not Ownership Rights to the Occupants) Act, 2001, “null and “unconstitutional”. In 2018, then governor Satya Pal to purchase a firm void”. Under the Act, all occupants of State land — lease, Malik, as head of the State Administrative Council presenting a competitive farm or non­lease land — could apply for regularisation if without any legislature, repealed the Act, saying it failed threat, or was rebuffed, Facebook cut off access to key it was with the occupant up to 1990. After the HC order, Minister of J&K in 2005, effected a number of to meet its objectives. components of its immensely valuable network.” This is the government said it would retrieve land from amendments to the Act. It extended the cut­off date from A Division Bench of J&K High Court, comprising Chief what happened to Twitter’s Vine, Path, Circle, and other occupants within six months. 1990 to 2004, which was later extended till 2007. Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal, declared the apps, according to the lawsuit. The complaint is that According to the fresh amendments, further relaxation Act “unconstitutional” in October 2020. Acting on the HC Facebook closed access to its platform by potential Why is a two decades­old law under the scanner? was granted to occupants on the market prices fixed observations, the J&K government on October 31 declared competitors after having opened it up to enlarge its base Enacted in 2001 during Farooq Abdullah’s regime, the earlier in 2001. all the actions taken under the Act “null and void”. and increase engagement with users. Roshni Act was an ambitious project to meet J&K’s — then Take the example of Vine, which allows users to create a State — chronic power crisis and raise funds to set up Why was the Comptroller and Auditor General Why has the J&K government filed a review and share short videos that go in a loop. Its users could hydroelectricity projects to generate extra power. There (CAG) unhappy with the Act? petition? find friends via Facebook. But on the day of Vine’s was a notional calculation on the part of the government The CAG tabled a report before the J&K assembly in 2014 The J&K government, which had initially decided against launch, Facebook made sure this feature was no longer that regularising 20 lakh kanals (equivalent of 2.5 lakh and pointed out irregularities. It said that land transfers filing any review in the case before the court, finally filed available. By cutting off Vine, says the FTC lawsuit, acres) of State land under occupation of locals would under the Act between 2007 and 2013 were able to raise a review petition on December 4, saying “a large number Facebook prevented it from accessing APIs (application help it raise ₹25,000 crore, to provide a stimulus to the only ₹76 crore against the value of the land pegged at ₹317 of common people would suffer”. Landless cultivators programming interfaces) that could have helped it grow. ailing and debt­ridden power sector. The condition for crore. The period saw ownership rights granted for and individuals have been clubbed along with rich and In essence, the complaint is that Facebook either regularisation made by the government was that the 33,000 kanals in the Kashmir valley and 3,14,000 kanals wealthy land grabbers, who have obtained a title over gobbled up potential competition or used its platform’s property owner had to pay according to market prices. in Jammu. The CAG reported that the beneficiaries in State land through the provisions of the Act, it said. power to prevent them from scaling up. Kashmir paid ₹54 crore against the targeted ₹123 crore, Many politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen were What were the subsequent amendments made to and in Jammu, they paid ₹22 crore against the targeted named prior to the District Development Council polls in What remedies do the lawsuits seek? the Roshni Act? ₹194 crore. The CAG described the Act as a “₹25,000 the Union Territory. However, it turned out that most of The lawsuits invoke the Sherman Act, 1890, and the Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was Chief crore fraud”. the beneficiaries were farmers and small landholders. Clayton Act, 1914. Section 2 of the Sherman Act makes it unlawful for a company to achieve monopoly power or Shifting the Rohingya to Bhashan Char keep such power via means that are anti­competition. Section 7 of the Clayton Act seeks to prevent mergers of companies that will lessen competition or lead to a monopoly. In effect, the lawsuits seek a court order that would force Facebook to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp and What are the concerns of human rights agencies about Bangladesh relocating refugees to a flood­prone islet? prevent it from imposing anti­competitive platform conditions. There is also a reference to the Hart­Scott­ Kallol Bhattacherjee large refugee camp near the forested borders with Rodino Act, which “requires companies to file pre­ Myanmar since 2017, when they were forced to traverse merger notifications with the Federal Trade Commission The story so far: On Thursday, agencies reported that a the forest and the rivers that constitute the border and the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department for United Nations (UN) human rights investigator had between Bangladesh and Myanmar’s Rakhine province. certain acquisitions”. The lawsuit invokes this to ask for requested Bangladesh to allow a safety assessment of the Ever since their arrival, the refugees, numbering 1.1 an order to make Facebook seek prior approval for its remote islet of Bhashan Char, where the government had million, have been living in Kutupalong under bamboo acquisitions in future. shipped 1,600­odd Rohingya refugees. Reuters reported and tarpaulin structures. The camp is located on a that the UN said it was not involved in the transfer of the hillock, which was a sanctuary for elephants and other How has Facebook reacted to this? refugees there. Thomas Andrews, the UN human rights wild animals. Kutupalong has also been in the news for its In its blog, Facebook has said that the acquisitions of investigator for Myanmar, told the news agency that the Rohingya refugees being transported to Bhashan Char rising crime rate. Bangladesh argues that the islet will Instagram and WhatsApp “were intended to provide assessment and verification process to ensure that the from Chittagong on December 4. AP * provide a safer place. better products for the people who use them, and they refugees were not forced to go were in the “best interest unquestionably did”. Also, it has said that these of all”. Other human rights agencies have also criticised tropical cyclones that visit the area every year. Why are human rights agencies upset? acquisitions were reviewed, and “correctly allowed”, by the move. Amnesty International said Bangladesh must “drop” its the relevant anti­trust regulators then. What is the arrangement for the Rohingya? plans to shift Rohingya refugees to Bhashan Char as the It also points to one of the big remedies sought — the Is the islet safe? Over the past few years, Bangladesh has constructed char­land had not yet been declared safe for habitation by break­up of Facebook — to say that “this lawsuit risks Bhashan Char is a char­land of around 13,000 acres, roads and brought modern telecommunication networks the United Nations. sowing doubt and uncertainty about the U.S. formed by the accumulation of silt where the river to Bhashan Char. The Bangladesh government has Omar Waraich of Amnesty International claimed that government’s own merger review process and whether Meghna meets the Bay of Bengal carrying rich alluvial earmarked around 1,350 acres for the Rohingya refugees, many Rohingya who were asked to relocate said they acquiring businesses can actually rely on the outcomes deposits. Char­lands are a common feature in Meghna of which 432 acres is dedicated to their rehabilitation and were coerced. “Any decisions relating to the relocation of of the legal process”. and Padma rivers and literally mean “shifting landmass”. the rest remains for future projects. The government has refugees must be transparent and involve the full Responding to the other big complaint that it unfairly As the name reveals, the char was not part of the constructed a large number of housing units in the participation of the Rohingya people. In the meantime, shut off promising services from accessing its platform, it permanent land feature of Bangladesh, but appeared section designated for the Rohingya. The country sent plans for any further relocation must be abandoned,” Mr. has said, “Facebook told these apps that they could not recently. Bhashan Char is surrounded by a mangrove 1,642 Rohingya refugees to the islet from their temporary Waraich said. use Facebook’s platform to essentially replicate forest that has given it geographical stability. Sensing a camps in Kutupalong, near Cox’s Bazar, on December 4. Facebook.” According to it, “This restriction is standard tourism opportunity, the Bangladesh government had They are being housed in red­roofed residential units and What happens next? in the industry. Where platforms give access to other declared Bhashan Char as a protected forest land in 2013. most houses are built four feet above the ground to help Diplomatic sources have confirmed that Dhaka does not developers — and many do not provide access at all — It is a two­and­a­half­hours boat ride away from Cox’s them withstand unexpected high tidal waves. plan to relocate the entire refugee settlement and only they usually prohibit duplication of core functions.” It Bazar in Chittagong. The main argument for the char­land aims at reducing the congestion in Kutupalong. The further said that LinkedIn, The New York Times, being unsafe is that these lands are known to be unstable Why is Bangladesh moving the refugees? country’s long­term plan for Rohingya refugees is to seek Pinterest, and Uber, among others, have similar policies. and flood­prone. The other fear factor includes the Rohingya refugees of Kutupalong have been living in a their repatriation to the Rakhine province of Myanmar. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE HINDU SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 DELHI PROFILES 13 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Illustration: R. Rajesh for the Parliament of India. construction for now, Hous­ Presently, Parliament is ac­ ing and Urban Affairs Secre­ commodated in a building tary Durga Shanker Mishra that was built as the council told The Hindu that all the le­ house for the Raj.” gal processes had been fol­ Spread over 64,500 sq. ft lowed. He said he was hope­ of built­up area, the new ful that the court would give building will have a Lok Sab­ its decisions soon. The pro­ ha chamber with the capaci­ ject, he said, was for all In­ ty to seat 1,272 and a Rajya dians, not any individual. Sabha chamber with 384 seats and a Central Constitu­ Preparatory works tional Gallery that will be While the CPWD waits for open to the public. Offices the court’s nod, preparatory for all MPs will be built after works have been on for demolishing the existing months. The iconic statue of Shram Shakti Bhawan and Mahatma Gandhi facing the connected to Parliament via entrance of Parliament is be­ an underground pathway. ing shifted to make way for In Focus The project was awarded sound­proofing walls. to Tata Projects for ₹971 The other components of BSpread over 64,500 sq. ft crore after a two­step bid the plan are at the planning of built­up process earlier this year. The stage, according to govern­ area, the new construction is expected to ment officials. Parliament take 22 months and is sche­ The CPWD has floated a building will duled to finish in time for the request for proposals for the have Lok Sabha and Winter Session of Parliament redevelopment of the Cen­ Rajya Sabha in 2022, when India marks 75 tral Vista Avenue, the last chambers and years of Independence. date for which is December a Central Critics of the project have 14. The design of the 10 new Constitutional questioned the timing, given Secretariat buildings is yet to Gallery that that the economy is still reel­ be finalised; however, it is will be open to the public ing under the impact of the likely that construction of B The COVID­19 pandemic. one of the buildings on the construction Congress president Sonia plot that the Indira Gandhi is expected to Gandhi was among those National Centre for the Arts take 22 who urged the government (IGNCA) occupies may start months and is to suspend the project and first. The IGNCA is being scheduled to shifted to the Janpath Hotel finish in time CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC for the Winter temporarily, before a new Session of CENTRAL VISTA PROJECT ish; demolishing the post­In­ which will be in 2031. While the bhoomi campus is developed. Parliament in dependence office buildings The Parliament House pujan marked the The fourth part of the 2022, when along the Central Vista and now would not be able to ac­ plan, which was not a part of The bid to remake India marks replacing them with 10 mod­ commodate additional MPs, beginning of the the CPWD’s requirements 75 years of ern multi­storey office com­ the government has project, construction when it asked for designs Independence plexes to house all Minis­ maintained. will start only after from prospective consultants B The plan tries; and revamping the Apart from the more prac­ but was included nonethe­ also includes the Supreme Court building new the face of the capital civic infrastructure and facil­ tical reasons given, Mr. Mo­ less by the winning bidder, ities for the Republic Day pa­ di’s speech at the ground­ takes a decision on HCP, is the construction of a Secretariat the challenges before buildings, a rade on Rajpath. breaking ceremony invoked new Prime Minister’s Office, Prime The need for the project, symbolism of a new Parlia­ it to the project PM’s Residence and Vice­ Minister’s according to the govern­ ment as a temple of democ­ President’s Enclave. Office, PM’s CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Residence and ment’s arguments in court racy, built by an Indepen­ These buildings are ex­ Vice­ The government has set in motion a plan to redevelop the and Mr. Puri’s public state­ dent and Atmanirbhar India. reallocate the funds to pected to be located near President’s ments in the past year, is that He asked Indians to to pledge healthcare needs. Mr. Puri South and North Blocks, on Enclave administrative centre, which can cost thousands of crores the existing Parliament to keep “India First”. has responded by saying the land that is currently housing House is almost 100 years The design of the new project will lead to employ­ defence offices in temporary old, structurally unsafe, and building will also reflect that, ment generation and an in­ structures called hutments. Damini Nath marked the beginning of the cember 7 allowed the go­ lacks adequate workspace with the national emblem crease in economic activity. The process of relocating the project, construction will on­ vernment to go ahead with for a modern legislature. Si­ crowning the structure; the Another concern raised by defence personnel is on, O n December 10, a little ly start after the Supreme the foundation stone cere­ milarly, the 10 new office national bird, peacock, and environmentalists has been with new buildings being over a year after the Court disposes of all chal­ mony, but only after the buildings proposed are re­ the national flower, lotus, the quick process of appro­ constructed outside the government an­ lenges to the project that are Centre gave an affidavit, say­ quired to bring all Central providing inspiration for the vals and cutting of trees, Vista. nounced its ambitious plan pending before it. Ever since ing there would be no con­ Ministries in one place, mak­ interiors of the Lok Sabha some of which are 80 to 90 The government is yet to to redevelop the 3­km­long Housing and Urban Affairs struction, demolition and ing the functioning of the go­ and Rajya Sabha chambers, years old. Recently, the Delhi publicly state the cost of the historical stretch from the Minister Hardeep Puri an­ cutting of trees till the court vernment more efficient, ac­ respectively; and arts and Forest Department issued a entire project. However, Rashtrapati Bhavan to India nounced the project in Sep­ gives its rulings in the cases. cording to the government. crafts from across the coun­ notice to the Central Public sources say, it could cost at Gate known as the Central tember 2019, activists, envi­ The plan, as drafted by try being represented. Works Department (CPWD), least ₹11,000 crore and take Vista, Prime Minister Naren­ ronmentalists, architects and Ahmedabad­based HCP De­ Space for more MPs In a written statement to which is carrying out the up to six years to complete. dra Modi kicked off the first Opposition leaders have sign, Planning and Manage­ Another reason touted by The Hindu, HCP Design, project, for violating the con­ While it may not be clear yet part of the project by laying questioned the need for the ment, involves constructing the government is the ex­ which is headed by Padma ditions of the approval to cut how much of a dent the pro­ the foundation stone for the project, the processes for ob­ a triangular shaped Parlia­ pected increase in number of Shri­awardee Bimal Patel, trees. ject will make on the exche­ new Parliament building. taining approvals for it and ment building adjacent to constituencies after delimita­ said: “The proposed Parlia­ In response to the ques­ quer, once it is completed, While the bhoomi pujan, the costs involved. the existing one that was tion, which is frozen till the ment building will be the first tions raised and the Supreme the skyline of Lutyens’ Delhi performed by Mr. Modi, The Supreme Court on De­ built in the 1920s by the Brit­ first Census after 2026, purpose­designed building Court’s decision not to allow will be changed forever. MOUNT EVEREST LLOYD AUSTIN Higher than the Himalayas From General to Secretary China and Nepal reach a consensus on the peak’s height, signalling closer ties Biden picks a retired high-ranking soldier to run the Pentagon, triggering criticism Illustration: J.A. Premkumar Ananth Krishnan on the border. The tweet Sriram Lakshman that he is not best placed to was then deleted. deal with the challenge of W L hen Nepal and Chi­ ast week, U.S. Presi­ China, which many on both na were discussing Tourism value dent­elect Joe Biden sides of aisle in Washington the fate of Mount While Nepal has been the nominated retired feel is the most important Everest in their border ne­ preferred route to the sum­ General Lloyd Austin for the national security issue fac­ gotiations in the early 1960s, mit for climbers, in part be­ crucial post of Secretary of ing the U.S. The bulk of Gen. then Prime Minister B.P. cause it is much easier to ac­ Defense. If confirmed, the Austin’s experience has Koirala told Mao Zedong the cess than Tibet that requires four­star General will be­ been in Afghanistan, Cen­ peak lay fully in Nepal. “But a permit for foreigners, Chi­ come the first black person tral and West Asia. The 2018 you do not even have a na has increasingly been in the role. Gen. Austin’s National Defense Strategy name for it in your lan­ pushing hard to capitalise name was chosen over sev­ explicitly listed ‘great power guage, and you call it Mount on the tourism value of the eral other possible candi­ competition’ with China Everest,” Mao told him (alth­ peak. dates, including senior Pen­ and Russia as a primary fo­ ough Nepal did, calling the The joint height may help tagon official Michèle cus — Gen. Austin does not, mountain Sagarmatha). Koi­ its cause, according to Ang Flournoy and Obama­era arguably, have adequate rala replied, “You do not Tsering Sherpa, former pre­ Homeland Security Secre­ background experience in have a name for the peak sident of the Nepal Mountai­ tary Jeh Johnson, who is also either region. either,” referring to the Ti­ na jointly announced the real need for a joint survey. neering Association, who African­American. the Army in six decades as his character,” Mr. Biden Post­retirement, Gen. betan name of Qomolong­ new height of Mount Everest Indeed, Nepal’s media had was quoted as saying by the Explaining his pick in the per Mr. Biden. wrote in the Atlantic. Austin joined the board of ma, used in China. Mao re­ as 8,848.86 meters in a high­ reported that Nepal had by Kathmandu Post that tou­ Atlantic, Mr. Biden said the However, as with any The President­elect said arms manufacturer Raythe­ torted, “Tibet is China”. profile virtual ceremony — 2019 almost completed its rism in Nepal “started to General had “met every high­profile candidate, Gen. the General would promote on — a position he is likely to While the fate of the peak 86 cm taller than the widely two­year­long survey, so swell from 2007 when China challenge with extraordin­ Austin’s record does not diversity and look after the be questioned on this dur­ was eventually settled by accepted previous height, much so that some of its offi­ started issuing Everest ary skill and profound per­ come free of criticism. This families of soldiers — an is­ ing his confirmation — a pro­ the two — the border, it was which was calculated by the cials were taken aback when climbing certificates stating sonal decency” in his more has included the expansion sue close to Mr. Biden’s cess that will also require a decided, would pass right Survey of India in 1954. the government decided, the height as 8,844.57 than 40 years in the U.S. Ar­ of the Islamic State (IS) in heart, whose late son, Beau, Congressional waiver as the through, and the summit “A peak of friendship”, during Mr. Xi’s October 2019 metres against 8,848 metres my. The two have a close Iraq and Syria on the Gener­ was deployed to Iraq (and law requires a seven­year can be accessed from both declared China’s Xi Jinping, visit, to announce a joint in certificates issued by Ne­ and tested relationship from al’s watch when he led the worked as staff lawyer on post­military cool­off pe­ Nepal and Tibet — the ex­ while Mahendra Bahadur survey, all aimed at showing pal for the same peak”. their Obama administration U.S. Central Command General Austin’s team). riod. Congress only recently change between Koirala and Pandey, Nepal’s Ambassa­ how both sides were, by “Now, there will be a com­ years — a factor that has (2013­16), overseeing West gave President Donald Mao, recounted in the Kath- dor to Beijing, told China’s coming to a consensus mon height which will end played into the selection Asia operations. The criti­ Instrument of last resort Trump’s former Defense Se­ mandu Post earlier this year, official media how the Ne­ about their past, taking a big all debates,” he said. process. Mr. Biden argued cism extended to Gen. Aus­ “Above all, I chose Lloyd cretary Jim Mattis a waiver serves a reminder of the pal­China relationship, stride into a future of closer Tuesday’s ceremony to that Gen. Austin is the per­ tin’s testimony during a Austin as my nominee for and it is by no means a given long and emotive history of which turned 65 this year, relations. announce the new height, son the country needed 2015 Senate hearing on the Secretary of Defense be­ that Gen. Austin will get one the world’s tallest moun­ was “harmonious and Sentiment about Everest where the two Presidents now because his experience training of a relatively small cause I know how he reacts too. Some commentators tain, a story that involves trustworthy”. remains strong in both exchanged congratulatory and intimate knowledge of number of Syrian soldiers to under pressure,” wrote Mr. and lawmakers are con­ the complicated 20th centu­ The joint height resolved countries. Earlier this year, letters and their Foreign Mi­ the Department of Defense fight the IS at a dispropor­ Biden. Gen. Austin under­ cerned that having a former ry dynamics between Brit­ a three­metre difference in China’s English­language nisters were in attendance, made him uniquely match tionately high cost of $500 stood that force was an in­ General (again) fill a crucial ish India, Nepal, Tibet and how Nepal and China calcu­ State broadcaster, China served a reminder that as far to the current challenges million. There were also al­ strument of the last resort, civilian position could be China. For China, the status lated the peak. A previous Global Television Network, as Everest is concerned, ge­ facing the country. legations that the IS threat Mr. Biden said. During his detrimental to the principle of Everest, as Mao declared, calculation by China in 2005 caused a stir among Nepal’s opolitics has always accom­ Immediately following was downplayed, but Gen. acceptance speech, Gen. of civilian control of the was also inextricably linked placed the peak at 8,844 media by describing the panied matters of his appointment, Gen. Aus­ Austin’s command was Austin said he understood military. to the sensitive issue of the metres, while Nepal said it peak as being “located in geography. tin will need to oversee an cleared of any wrongdoing. the importance of working Gen. Austin said he went status of Tibet. was closer to 8,847 metres. China’s Tibet Autonomous “Higher than the Hima­ effort to equitably distribute “He is a true and tested with allies. from being General Lloyd The difference was attribut­ Region”. layas” is the somewhat over­ COVID­19 vaccines across soldier and leader. I’ve Some, especially conser­ Austin to Lloyd Austin four ‘Peak of friendship’ ed to China calculating the Media suspected some the­top phrase used by Chi­ the country. In this context, spent countless hours with vatives and centrist Demo­ years ago. “It is an impor­ Six decades on after the “rock height” underneath new cartographic aggres­ na and Pakistan to describe Mr. Biden cited the Gener­ him, in the field and in the crats, have argued that tant distinction and one that boundary negotiations, the the snow and Nepal using sion, although it was, most their strategic relationship. al’s experience in withdraw­ White House Situation while there is much in fa­ I make with utmost serious­ story took another step to­ the “snow height” which in­ likely, a carelessly worded In the case of Everest, Nepal ing U.S. troops from Iraq (in Room. I’ve sought his ad­ vour of his candidacy, Gen. ness and sincerity,” he said. wards resolution on Decem­ cluded the snowcap. tweet that ignored the joint and China, it, at the very 2011), the largest logistical vice, seen his command, Austin is not quite the man He will need to convince ber 8, when Nepal and Chi­ In truth, there was little claim to a peak that sits right least, rings factually true. operation undertaken by and admired his calm and for the moment. Critics say Congress of this. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 14 SPORT DELHI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 THE HINDU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Vihari, Pant stake claim with hundreds Rohit’s fitness to be Pucovski out, Harris in The Indians in a strong position, reaching 386 for four in the second innings for an overall lead of 472 reassessed in Australia Press Trust of India Sydney Victoria’s Marcus Harris WARM-UP GAME Medical staff to take call on participation was on Saturday added to Press Trust of India an injury­plagued Australia Amol Karhadkar Sydney Mumbai squad for next week’s first Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Test against India after Will Vihari put themselves in the Confirming that Rohit Shar­ Pucovski was ruled out of reckoning for next week’s ma has obtained clearance the series opener along first Test with contrasting from the National Cricket with David Warner. hundreds as the Indians tho­ Academy to travel to Austra­ lia, the BCCI on Saturday roughly dominated Austra­ lia­A in the pink ball warm­ said Rohit’s availability for Pat for Siraj up match here on Saturday. the last two Tests in Austra­ Press Trust of India lia would be subject to reas­ Sydney Expensive over sessment by the Indian India fast bowler Mo­ Needing 19 runs to reach his team’s medical staff in hammed Siraj rushing up Rohit. * FILE PHOTO century when Jack Wilder­ Australia. and attending to Cameron muth commenced the se­ “Mr. Sharma’s physical participation in the Border­ Green after he was hit on cond evening’s final over, fitness has been satisfactory, Gavaskar Trophy will be ta­ the head during the open­ Pant clobbered him for 4, 4, however, he will be required ken accordingly,” the state­ ing day of the warm­up Study in contrast: While Hanuma Vihari was composure personified, Rishabh Pant was all aggression on Saturday. * TWITTER/BCCI 6, 4, 4, to remain unbeaten to continue work on his en­ ment said. game here has drawn on a blistering 103 off only 73 daries. In the final session of power­hitting, Pant swept durance,” BCCI secretary Rohit, who suffered a left praise from the Australian balls. Overall, he hit nine play, Pant’s aggressive ap­ one over the cow­corner for SCOREBOARD Jay Shah said in a statement hamstring injury on Octob­ media. fours and six sixes. proach paid dividends as he a six, leaving Nic Maddinson on Saturday. er 18 during Mumbai In­ “Indian cricketer Mohd Indians — Ist innings: 194. tras (lb­6, w­2, nb­4): 12; Total At the other end, Vihari smashed the Australia­A to search for the ball among “He has been given a de­ dians’ Indian Premier Siraj has been praised for Australia­A — 1st innings: 108. (for four wkts. in 90 overs): worked his way to a fine 104­ bowlers to all corners of the the rows of chairs at the SCG. 386. tailed programme to follow League match against Kings his sportsmanship in help­ run knock off 194 balls. Sydney Cricket Ground, the At the close of play, the In­ Indians — 2nd innings: Prithvi for the duration of the two XI Punjab, will be required ing young all­rounder Ca­ Shaw c Swepson b Steketee 3, Fall of wickets: 1­4, 2­108, 3­ southpaw making a strong dians were strongly placed at 161, 4­239. weeks he will be quaran­ to spend 14 days in his hotel meron Green after he suf­ Mayank Agarwal c Rowe b Wil­ Shubman impresses case to be considered for the 386 for four for an overall dermuth 61, Shubman Gill c Ab­ Australia­A bowling: Abbott 7­ tined for. He will be reas­ room as per COVID­19 pro­ fered a blow to the head Also staking a claim for selec­ wicketkeeper’s job in Ade­ lead by 472 runs, having bun­ bott b Swepson 65, Hanuma Vi­ 1­24­0, Steketee 16­1­54­2, sessed by the Team India tocols in Australia and will during the match,” tweet­ tion is young Shubman Gill, laide ahead of Test specialist dled out the hosts for a pal­ hari (batting) 104, Ajinkya Sutherland 16­5­33­0, Wilder­ medical team post his qua­ thus join the India squad on­ ed 9News Australia. with an elegant 65 off 78 balls Wriddhiman Saha. try 108 in their first innings Rahane c Carey b Steketee 38, muth 15­2­79­1, Swepson 29­1­ rantine to establish his fit­ ly after the Boxing Day Test and 10 sweetly­timed boun­ To cite an example of his on Friday. Rishabh Pant (batting) 103; Ex­ 148­1, Maddinson 7­1­42­0. ness status and a call on his in Melbourne. Himmat hits unbeaten ton TV PICKS ISL: Star Sports 2 & 3 (SD & Jamieson’s five­for has Windies on the ropes Angulo scores winner New Delhi: Himmat Singh’s unbeaten 60­ball 100 stood HD), 5 p.m. & 7.30 p.m. first half, Alexander Roma­ out in Sahgal Sports Club’s Premier League: SS Select 1 Blackwood puts up lone resistance SCOREBOARD ISL 2020-21 rio’s wonderful cross from four­run victory but not be­ (SD & HD), 5.30 p.m., 7.45 Sports Bureau the left found Angulo, who fore Poonish Mehta (94 not p.m., 10 p.m.; SS Select 1 & 2 (SD & HD), 12.45 a.m. WINDIES IN NZ New Zealand — 1st innings: T. Latham c da Silva b C. Holder 26­1­110­2, Chase 13­1­54­2. West Indies — 1st innings: K. pushed it forward before un­ out) and Robin Bisht (87) (Monday) Serie A: Sony Ten 2 (SD & Agence France-Presse Wellington 27, T. Blundell b Gabriel 14, W. Young c J. Holder b Gabriel 43, Brathwaite c Taylor b Southee 0, J. Campbell c Latham b Jam­ I gor Angulo scored his sixth goal of the season as FC Goa beat Odisha FC by a sol­ leashing a left­footer from close range. almost pulled it off for Col­ lage Sports Club in a thrill­ HD), 5 p.m., 7.30 p.m., 10.30 Kyle Jamieson bagged five R. Taylor c da Silva b Gabriel 9, ieson 14, D. Bravo c & b It was a day when Odisha ing quarterfinals of the p.m. & 1.15 a.m. (Monday) itary goal in the Indian Sup­ wickets in a masterclass of H. Nicholls c Brathwaite b Southee 7, S. Brooks b Jam­ was lucky to lose by a one­ 30th all­India Sperry Om Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: SS Chase 174, B­J. Watling b er League at the Bambolim ieson 14, R. Chase b Jamieson goal margin, thanks to its Nath Sood memorial crick­ Select 2 (SD & HD), 6.30 p.m. swing bowling as New Zea­ Stadium, Goa, on Saturday. Joseph 30, D. Mitchell lbw b C. 0, J. Blackwood c Latham b custodian Arshdeep Singh et tournament here on land had the West Indies on Holder 42, K. Jamieson c J. Southee 69, J. Holder c Boult b the ropes on day two of the who made a string of saves. Saturday. IN BRIEF second Test in Wellington on Holder b Joseph 20, T. Southee Jamieson 9, J. da Silva (bat­ Goa jumps to fourth The result: FC Goa 1 (Igor An­ Chasing 278 to win, Col­ b Joseph 11, N. Wagner (not ting) 2, A. Joseph c Watling b With its second successive gulo 45) bt Odisha FC 0. Verstappen claims his Saturday. lage ended up at 273 for six out) 66, T. Boult c Brooks b Jamieson 0, C. Holder (bat­ victory from five matches, first pole of season Kyle Jamieson. * AP wickets in the allotted 40 Chase 6; Extras (b­2, lb­7, ting) 5; Extras (lb­3, w­1): 4. Goa with eight points The tourists ended the overs. YAS MARINA w­9): 18. Total (in 114 overs): Total (for eight wkts. in 52 jumped to fourth position Red Bull’s Max Verstappen day on the brink of another 69 as Jamieson and Tim 460. Man­of­the­Match Him­ overs): 124. from seventh, while Odish­ clinched his maiden pole of follow­on as they struggled Southee wreaked havoc. Fall of wickets: 1­31, 2­63, 3­ Fall of wickets: 1­0, 2­22, 3­29, mat, a regular member of to 124 for eight, still 336 be­ Jamieson got five for 34 a’s winless streak continues the Delhi Ranji Trophy the campaign on Saturday for 78, 4­148, 5­203, 6­286, 7­ 4­29, 5­97, 6­111, 7­117, 8­117. hind New Zealand's 460. On­ for his second five­wicket 336, 8­359, 9­454. New Zealand bowling: Southee from as many encounters team, smashed his second the season­ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Dutch driver ly Jermaine Blackwood pro­ haul in only his fourth Test. West bowling: Gabriel 26­7­ 16­6­29­3, Boult 12­4­32­0, and it remains 10th with a 50 runs off just 15 deliver­ edged Valterri Bottas in vided any serious resistance Southee returned three for 93­3, J. Holder 27­6­85­0, Wagner 11­5­26­0, Jamieson solitary point. ies as 94 runs came off the second and the Finn’s but he fell late in the day for 29. Joseph 22­2­109­3, C. Holder 13­4­34­5. Towards the end of the final five overs of the Mercedes teammate Lewis innings. Hamilton, racing for the first The scores: Sahgal Club time since contracting COVID­19, in third. AFP Stuttgart hammers Dortmund Double delight for Datta and Sayed 277/6 in 40 overs (Himmat Singh 100 n.o., Anmol Shar­ ma 52, Ayush Badoni 47, Taylor dropped from Ekansh Dobal 45) bt Collage T20I squad Aston Villa snatches a late winner against Wolves Drama marks day’s Formula LGB4 races Sports Club 273/6 in 40 overs AUCKLAND (Poonish Mehta 94 n.o., Ro­ Veteran batsman Ross Taylor EURO LEAGUES NRC bin Bisht 87, Anchit Yadav was on Saturday dropped 59). Reuters Rayan Rozario from an 18­man New Zealand Dortmund Coimbatore squad named for the T20I Devender shines series against Pakistan. PTI Promoted VfB Stuttgart Ashwin Datta (Dark Don Rac­ ing) and Amir Sayed Services Ranji Trophy scored three times in 10 mi­ Shibuno shoots into lead (MSport) struck a double player Devender Lohchab nutes to crush host Borussia LOS ANGELES each on the penultimate day (89) and Kapil Rao (74) did Dortmund 5­1 in the Bundes­ Japan's Hinako Shibuno, the of the 23rd JK Tyre­FMSCI most of the scoring for Ha­ liga on Saturday and main­ 2019 Women's British Open National Racing Champion­ ryana Academy in its 96­ tain its unbeaten run on the champion, fired a four­under ship at the Kari Motor Speed­ run win over Golden road this season. Dortmund, 67 to seize a three­stroke way here. Hawks in the first Tripathi lead after Friday’s second which has now gone three Premier League tourna­ round of the US Women's league games without a win, After Vishnu Prasad of ment here. Open. She is now seven­ slips to fifth place on 19 Two­goal hero: Silas Wamangituka fires in Stuttgart’s second MSport had coasted to victo­ The scores: Haryana Academy under 135, ahead of Sweden’s points, while Stuttgart against Dortmund. REUTERS * ry in the Formula LGB4 Race Proud moment: Ashwin Datta, Vishnu Prasad and Sarosh 228/8 in 40 overs (Devender Linn Grant (69) and America’s moves up to sixth on 17. 1 on Friday, Datta roared Hataria on the podium after the FLGB4 class second race on Lohchab 89, Kapil Rao 74, Amy Olson, Megan Khang and Aston Villa snatched a 1­0 LaLiga: Valencia 2 (Carlos Soler with Hertha BSC 1 (Guendouzi back to clinch the double on Panday Raj 3/40) bt Golden Saturday. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT * Kaitlyn Papp another stroke win at Wolverhampton Wan­ 26­pen, Manu Vallejo 83) drew 47); Freiburg 2 (Grifo 79­pen, Saturday. It wasn’t easy, Hawks 132 in 33 overs (Adarsh adrift in third. AFP derers in the Premier with Athletic Club 2 (Villalibre Yeong 90+2) bt Arminia 0; though, for Datta as Vishnu (Dark Don). (DTS Racing). Srivastav 45, Vaibhav Sharma 55, Raul Garcia 79­pen). Mainz 0 lost to Cologne 1 Race 2: 1. Ashwin Datta 28, Harman Singh 4/36, Sonu Ankita bags doubles title League on Saturday after battled hard in both races. Race 2: 1. Amir Sayed Serie A: Crotone 4 (Messias 7, (Rexhbecaj 55). (20:52.423); 2. Raghul Ranga­ Chikara 3/23). substitute Anwar El Ghazi The safety car came on (16:23.787); 2. Dhruvin Gajjar; NEW DELHI 90+6, Reca 49, Eduardo Hen­ Friday: Premier League: Leeds samy (MSport); 3. Vishnu Ankita Raina, partnering drilled in a stoppage­time time and again, but Datta 3. Aman Chaudhary (DTS rique 56) bt Spezia 1 (Farias 18). 1 (Klich 6­pen) lost to West Prasad. It’s Lakshay vs Divijay Ekaterine Gorgodze of penalty as both sides fin­ kept his cool right through, Racing). Bundesliga: Borussia Dort­ Ham 2 (Soucek 25, Ogbonna Race 3: 1. Ashwin Datta GURUGRAM: Lakshay Gupta Georgia, clinched the doubles ished the game with 10 men. mund 1 (Reyna 39) lost to 80). winning under the yellow (22:13.962); 2. Vishnu Prasad; Race 3: 1. Amir Sayed defeated Chirag Duhan 2­6, title defeating Aliona Bolsova The result lifted Villa up Stuttgart 5 (Wamangituka 26­ LaLiga: Real Valladolid 3 flag as the safety car was in. 3. Sarosh Hataria (Ahura (11:58.316); 2. Aman Chaud­ 6­3, 6­2 to set up a title Zadoinov and Kaja Juvan 6­4, to eighth on 18 points from pen, 52, Foerster 60, Coulibaly (Weissman 7, 76, Orellana 56­ Racing). hary; 3. Dhruvin Gajjar. The results (Provisional): clash against Digvijay Pra­ 3­6, [10­6] in the final of the 10 games. 63, Gonzalez 90+1); RB Leipzig pen) bt Osasuna (Budimir 27, JKNRC FLGB4: Race 1 (on Fri­ JK Tyre Novice Cup: Race 1: 1. Race 4: 1. Amir Sayed tap Singh in the ₹100,000 $100,000 ITF women’s tennis The results: Premier League: 2 (Sabitzer 26­pen, Olmo 41) bt Roberto Torres 43). day): 1. Vishnu Prasad (MSport, Amir Sayed (MSport, (17:53.731); 2. Aman Chaudhary; AITA men's ranking tennis tournament in Dubai on Wolves 0 lost to Aston Villa 1 Werder Bremen 0; Borussia Serie A: Sassuolo 1 (Berardi 8­ 21:58.046); 2. Sandeep Kumar 15:56.927); 2. Neym Rizvi 3. Dhruv Tyagi (Momentum Mo­ tournament here on Satur­ Saturday. (El Ghazi 90­pen). M’gladbach 1 (Embolo 70) drew pen) bt Benevento 0. (Dark Don); 3. Ashwin Datta (MSport); 3. Dhruvin Gajjar torsports). day. The results (semifinals): Lakshay Gupta bt Chirag Du­ Pontius Pilate vs Prince Valiant Knight Templar wins feature event han 2­6, 6­3, 6­2; Digvijay Pratap Singh bt B.N. Kumaran 7­5, 7­5. BENGALURU: Mr. C. Aryama HYDERABAD: Pontius Pilate and Prince Valiant should fight out the finish of the Silver Dagger Plate 3 BRAVE DANCER PLATE (Div. I) (1200m) Maiden, 3­y­o & up­ ward, rated 20 to 45 (Cat.III) — 60, 2. Prince Valiant (8) P. Ajeeth Kumar 57.5, 3. Pontius Pilate (10) 7. Yours Forever (6) P. Trevor 53.5, 8. Shaquille (4) B.R. Kumar 52, 9. Sundaram owned Knight Tem­ plar (Trevor up), won the Racing 1m 15.04s. ₹24 (w), 16, 28 and 14 (p), SHP: 60, THP: 53, FP: 175, Q: 166, Trinella: 311 and 222, Exacta: 6 RACING PATRONS TROPHY (1,600m), rated 60 & above: KNIGHT TEMPLAR (Trevor) 1, An­ Antwi stars for Gaurav Singh 56, 4. Tootsie Roll N R I Symbol (7) Jitendra Singh (Div.I), the feature event of 2.15: 1. Mehrzad (16) Gaurav Singh (4) Arshad Alam 55, 5. Agni (6) 51.5 and 10. Sovet Pride (5) Akshay Patrons Trophy, the main event 22,903 and 14,723. Favourite: The gelino (Zervan) 2, Roma Victor (S. Sunday’s (Dec. 13) afternoon races. 60.5, 2. Belle Springs (4) Afroz Khan 57, 3. Just Incredible (1) Ir­ A.A. Vikrant 54.5, 6. Starlight (5) Kiran Naidu 54, 7. N R I Super Kumar 51.5. 1. PASO ROBLES, 2. YOURS of the races held here on Sat­ urday (December 12). The winner Response. Owner: Mr. Dinesh Kumar K. John) 3 and Commodus ( Jagadeesh) 4. 1­3/4, 1­1/4 and 3­ Gokulam FC van Singh 56.5, 4. Beautiful Luv King (Ex: Super Dart) (9) Antony is trained by S. Padmanabhan. Trainer: Sharat Kumar. 1/4. 1m 38.10s. ₹33 (w), 13, 50 and 1 BLUE BIRD PLATE (1,200m) (Terms) Maiden, 2­y­o only (14) Arshad Alam 55.5, 5. Battle Raj S 53, 8. Reno Star (11) Koushik FOREVER, 3. SOVET PRIDE THE RESULTS 21 (p), SHP: 92, THP: 27, FP: 993, Q: 478, Trinella: 2,077 and 381, Special Correspondent (Cat.II) — 1.15 p.m.: 1. Akido (8) Na­ khat Singh 56, 2. Ambitious Star Ready (5) A.A. Vikrant 55, 6. Dif­ ferent (8) Md. Ismail 55, 7. Lamha (17) Akshay Kumar 55, 8. Proud 53, 9. Southern Legacy (2) Ashad Asbar 52.5, 10. Warrior Supreme 8 BRAVE DANCER PLATE (Div. II) (1,200m), Maiden, 3­y­o & up­ ward, rated 20 to 45 (Cat.III) — 1 BELOVED PRINCE PLATE (1,200m), maiden 3­y­o only, 4 ADICHUNCHANAGIRI PLATE (1,400m), maiden 3­y­o only, (Terms): AMAZING BLAZE (Tre­ Exacta: 8,480 and 3,634. Favour­ ite: Tenno Sho. Kolkata Dennis Antwi struck four (9) B.R. Kumar 56, 3. Costello (3) (7) B.R. Kumar 51.5 and 11. Star­ (Terms): JOKSHAN (Irvan) 1, Legacy (18) Jitendra Singh 55, 9. idar (1) Akshay Kumar 50.5. 4.45: 1. Star Racer (14) Mukesh Ku­ Golden Vision (Arshad) 2, Watch­ vor) 1, Welcome Surprise (Ar­ Owner: Mr. C. Aryama Sundaram. for Gukulam Kerala FC, A.A. Vikrant 56, 4. Dream Jewel shad) 2, First Impression (M. Trainer: S. Padmanabhan. (10) Koushik 56, 5. Fire Power (5) Time Is Good (7) Jodha R.S. 54.5, 1. PONTIUS PILATE, 2. PRINCE mar 60, 2. Amyra (1) P. Trevor mystars (Trevor) 3 and Impec­ helping it thrash BSS Sport­ 10. Beauty On Parade (13) B.R. Ku­ VALIANT, 3. STARIDAR 59.5, 3. Unstoppable (4) Deepak cable (Zervan) 4. Hd, 1/2 and 4­ Naveen) 3 and Towering Presence P. Trevor 56, 6. Horse O’War (13) Mukesh Kumar 56, 7. Paladino (2) Arshad Alam 56, 8. Pedro Planet mar 54, 11. Sacred Lamp (9) Ajit Singh 54, 12. Downtown Gal (15) 6 WINDSCALE PLATE (Div. I) (1,800m), rated 20 to 45 (Cat. Singh 59.5, 4. Sea Wolf (6) G. Naresh 56.5, 5. Colachel Battle (11) 1/4. 1m 14.19s. ₹87 (w), 20, 42 and 13 (p), SHP: 136, THP: 73, FP: (P.P. Dhebe) 4. Not run: Morgan­ ite. 2­3/4, Nose and 3/4. 1m 26.48. 7 BECKET PLATE (1,600m), rated 30 to 50, 4­y­o & over: ALEXANDRE DUMAS (Rayan) 1, ing Club 7­2 in its conclud­ ing Group D league match Ashad Asbar 53.5, 13. Felix Flame Irvan Singh 56, 6. King Roger (7) 1,265, Q: 710, Trinella: 10,900 and ₹15 (w), 11, 51 and 12 (p), SHP: 93, (11) Afroz Khan 56, 9. Siyavash (6) III) — 3.45: 1. Spicy Star (6) Venus Bay (Ashhad Asbar) 2, of the 123rd IFA Shield foot­ (12) Kuldeep Singh 53.5, 14. Akshay Kumar 56, 7. That’s My 778, Exacta: 14,446 and 67,417 THP: 36, FP: 180, Q: 162, Trinella: Ashad Asbar 56, 10. Stunning Mukesh Kumar 62.5, 2. Francis Mighty Red (Darshan) 3 and Golden Lace (Ex: Vlatava) (11) P. Speed (15) Md. Ismail 56, 8. Win (carried over). Favourite: Watch­ 404 and 173, Exacta: 4,889 (car­ Amazing Angel (Chetan K) 4. 6­ ball here on Saturday. Force (1) Md. Ismail 56, 11. Unsung Bacon (9) Surya Prakash 61, 3. ried over). Favourite: Amazing Hero (12) Irvan Singh 56, 12. Geor­ Sai Kumar 53.5, 15. Queen Blos­ O’Brien (3) Md. Ismail 57, 4. Vision (8) Kuldeep Singh 56, 9. Art mystars. 3/4, 2­1/2 and 1­1/4. 1m 38.61s. ₹41 Gokulam will now take som (10) Gaddam 53.5, 16. Star In Motion (9) Arshad Alam 55, 10. Owner: Mr. Joseph Thomas. Blaze. gia Peach (4) Akshay Kumar 54.5 Stormy (8) Jitendra Singh 56, 5. (w), 18, 19 and 18 (p), SHP: 94, on Mohammedan Sporting and 13. Spectacular Cruise (7) Ant­ Dancer (6) Kiran Naidu 53.5, 17. Blickfang (16) Afroz Khan 55, 11. Trainer: Sriram Komandur. Owners: Poonawalla Racing & THP: 48, FP: 56, Q: 111, Trinella: Advance Guard (14) Irvan Singh in the quarterfinals ony Raj S 54.5. Ice Berry (3) Nakhat Singh 52.5 Sugar An Spice (17) A.A. Vikrant Breeding Pvt Ltd rep by. Mr. Zav­ 12,764 and 10,941, Exacta: 11,410 55.5, 6. Always Success (12) P. Tre­ 1. AKIDO, 2. FIRE POWER, 3. COSTELLO and 18. Hashtag (2) G. Naresh 52. 1. BELLE SPRINGS, 2. LAMHA, 3. vor 55, 7. Darshish (10) Gaurav Singh 55, 8. Prime Gardenia (13) 55, 12. Castlerock (18) Ashad Asbar 54.5, 13. Fantastic Show (Ex: 2 MURUDESHWAR PLATE (Div. II), (1,400m), rated 00 to 20, 4­y­o & over: DEFINITIVE (Ankit aray S. Poonawalla, Mrs. Behroze Z. Poonawalla & Mrs. Simone and 4,890. Favourite: Marco Polo. Owner: Mr S.N. Harish. Trainer: The results: Group A: Mo­ hammedan Sporting 1 (Firoz DOWNTOWN GAL Queen Of Love) (13) Gaddam 54.5, Poonawalla Pandole, Mr. Mukul Narayana Gowda. Koushik 55, 9. Sweet Melody (2) Yadav) 1, Song And Dance (Rayan) Ali 50) bt Kalighat MS 0 at Ka­ 2 WINDSCALE PLATE (Div.II) (1,800m), rated 20 to 45 (Cat.III) — 1.45: 1. Nova Scotia (10) 4 MOSSY BANK PLATE (1,400m), rated 40 to 65 (Cat.II) — 2.45: 1. B.R. Kumar 55, 10. Diesis Dream (5) G. Naresh 54.5, 11. Shanu 14. Mahavi (5) Jodha R.S. 54.5, 15. Millennia (12) Ajit Singh 54.5, 16. Star Of Fashion (10) Jitendra Singh 2, Glorious Days (A. Imran) 3 and Zala Princess (Arshad) 4. 1­3/4, 1 A. Sonawala & M/s. DT Racing & Breeding LLP rep by. Mr. D.R. Thacker. Trainer: S. 8 MURUDESHWAR PLATE (Div. I) (1,400m), rated 00 to 20, 4­ lyani Stadium. Group B: Peerless SC 1 (Uttam P. Trevor 61.5, 2. Barbosella (7) Havelock Cruise (8) Deepak Singh Shanu (4) A.A. Vikrant 54, 12. and 4­1/4. 1m 27.96s. ₹1,061 (w), y­o & over: LOVELY SEIRRA (Ash­ 60.5, 2. Top Link (7) Kuldeep 54.5, 17. Winning Player (3) Padmanabhan. Rai 92) drew with Aryan Club 1 Surya Prakash 59.5, 3. Lightning Cheltenham (11) Afroz Khan 53.5, 216, 30 and 14 (p), SHP: 56, THP: had Asbar) 1, Super Gladiator Singh 59, 3. Lightning Bolt (1) P. Gaurav Singh 54.5 and 18. Shel­ (Sumit Ghosh 94). 13. Forever Bond (1) P. Ajeeth Ku­ 50, FP: 1,744, Q: 1,829, Trinella: Power (5) Kuldeep Singh 56.5, 4. Super Act (1) Afroz Khan 56, 5. Alta Vita (11) A.A. Vikrant 55, 6. Trevor 58.5, 4. City Of Blossom (5) Ashad Asbar 58, 5. Esteva (6) Ak­ mar 53.5 and 14. Alexander­ thegreat (7) Ajit Singh 52.5. don (2) B.R. Kumar 51. 1. AMYRA, 2. UNSTOPPABLE, 3. SEA 2,551 and 5,954 (carried over), Ex­ acta: 80,844 (carried over). Fa­ 5 GARDEN CITY TROPHY (1,200m), rated 45 to 65: CUBAN PETE (Zervan) 1, Silver ( J.H. Arul) 2, Konichiwa (Mark) 3 and My Vision (Chethan G) 4. Not run: Indian Star. Nose, 3­3/4 and Group C: George Telegraph SC 2 (Krishanu Naskar 60, Tan­ shay Kumar 54, 6. Ashwa Arjun 1. SPICY STAR, 2. ALWAYS SUCCESS, WOLF vourite: Barog. Dew (Darshan) 2, Knotty Oak (R. Bravo (6) Irvan Singh 55, 7. Min­ Lnk. 1m 27.61s. ₹199 (w), 58, 21 moy Ghosh 63) bt Southern nelli (3) P. Ajeeth Kumar 55, 8. (4) Gaurav Singh 53, 7. Ulysses (3) 3. FRANCIS BACON Day’s Best: PASO ROBLES Owners: Mr. Clinton Miller, Mr. Marshall) 3 and Crack Of Dawn and 24 (p), SHP: 51, THP: 190, FP: Afroz Khan 53, 8. Blazer (9) Ar­ Double: LIGHTNING BOLT – Sujay Chandrahas, Mr. Dean (Trevor) 4. Nk, 1­3/4 and Lnk. 1m 670, Q: 734, Trinella: 30,698 (car­ Samity 1 (Yad Rudy Abbidde Royal Pal (4) Nakhat Singh 55, 9. Royal Style (13) Ajit Singh 55, 10. That’s My Star (2) Md. Ismail 54, shad Alam 52.5, 9. Flamboyant Lady (10) Nakhat Singh 52 and 10. 7 SILVER DAGGER PLATE (Div. II) (1,400m), rated 60 to 85 (Cat. II) — 4.15: 1. Trump Girl (9) Abhay AMYRA Jackpot: 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8. Stephens & Mr. Martin Alan Wheeler. Trainer: S. Inayathulla. 13.92s. ₹21 (w), 15, 18 and 20 (p), SHP: 43, THP: 49, FP: 68, Q: 55, ried over), Exacta: 9,683 (carried over). Favourite: My Vision. 83). Group D: Gokulam Kerala FC 7 11. Balma (8) Akshay Kumar 53.5, Gazebo (2) Jitendra Singh 51. Trinella: 332 and 284, Exacta: Owner: Mr. B.E. Vasanth Kumar. Singh 60, 2. Paso Robles (2) Afroz (Dennis Antwi 8, 12, 19, 47, 12. Bob Campbell (12) Jitendra Singh 53.5 and 13. A Hundred 1. LIGHTNING BOLT, 2. GAZEBO, 3. BLAZER Khan 58, 3. That’s My Class (10) A.A. Vikrant 57, 4. Mark My Word Mini Jackpot: (i) 2, 3, 4 & 5. (ii) 5, 6, 7 & 8. 3 BADAMI PLATE (1,200m), rated 15 to 35, 5­y­o & over: THE RESPONSE (M. Naveen) 1, Az­ 5,456 and 2,572. Favourite: Cuban Pete. Trainer: Azhar Ali. Jackpot: ₹74,480 (carried over); Muhammed Shibil 66, M.S. Echoes (9) B.R. Kumar 50. Treble: (i) 1, 2 & 3. (ii) 3, 4 & 5. (iii) Jithini 72, Sailou Guindo 85) bt 1. NOVA SCOTIA, 2. BALMA, 3. ROYAL PAL 5 SILVER DAGGER PLATE (Div. I) (1,400m) rated 60 to 85 (Cat.II) — 3.15: 1. Air Strike (3) Irvan Singh (8) C.P. Bopanna 56, 5. Long Range (3) Irvan Singh 55.5, 6. The Great Gatsby (1) Kuldeep Singh 55, 6, 7 & 8. Tanala: All races. eemki Princess (S. Shareef ) 2, San Bernardino (M. Prabhakaran) 3 and Nerva (R. Shelar) 4. 2, 1 and 1. Owners: Five Stars Shipping Co. Pvt Ltd & Mr. Chaduranga Kan­ thraj Urs. Trainer: S. Attaollahi. Runner up: 1,520 (21 tkts), Treble (i): 107 (25 tkts); (ii): 12,834 (car­ ried over). BSS Sporting Club 2 (Pritam Roy 67, Asif Ali Moula 74). CM A ND-NDE YK