JOURNALISM OF COURAGE

SINCE 1932

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020, NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES
THE EDITORIAL PAGE
HOWSCHOOL
REOPENS
BY RUKMINI BANERJI
PAGE 10
WORLD
TRUMP AND BIDEN
SPAR FROM AFAR
AT TOWN HALLS
TIME TO PREPARE
FOR NO-TRADE DEAL
BREXIT: UK PM
PAGE 14
Lockdown hardship, job loss:
cracks in Nitish home citadel
KalyanBighahasgained,buteconomicdistressaworry
DIPANKAR GHOSE
HARNAUT(NALANDA),
OCTOBER 16
THE ROAD is smooth, black-
topped, white markers in the
middlethatspeakof arecentcoat
of paint. The fields are green on
eitherside.Attheentrancetothe
village, there is an ITI, and then a
referral hospital. One signpost
even boasts of a shooting range.
KalyanBigha,inthedistrictof
Nalanda, bears the signs of ad-
ministrative attention, of being
ChiefMinisterNitishKumar’svil-
lage. Its residents say that until
now, with the village seeing so
much work, there has been una-
nimity among residents, cutting
across caste, throwing their
weight behind Kumar in polls.
But this time, cracks are appear-
ing in that edifice.
The larger Harnaut assembly
constituencyisasclosetoaNitish
Kumar bastion as they come. It
was from here that he won his
first assembly election in 1985,
on his third attempt, and then
again in 1995. For the past three
terms,therehasbeenaJDUMLA,
Harinarayan Singh, who is con-
testing the elections again, in a
Malegaon blast accused
joins JD(U) in UP, says
‘wish to work for society’
CHANDAN HAYGUNDE
PUNE, OCTOBER 16
RAMESHUPADHYAY,anaccused
in the 2008 Malegaon bomb
blast case, has joined the Janata
Dal(United)inUttarPradeshand
has been appointed state con-
venor of its ex-servicemen cell.
His appointment letter was
issued by UP JD(U) chief Anoop
Singh Patel on October 12.
Upadhyay, a retired army ma-
jor, had been arrested along with
Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lt Col
Prasad Shrikant Purohit by the
Maharashtra ATS for his alleged
roleinthe2008Malegaoncase.He
was, however, released on bail in
2017.Trialinthecaseisonbeforea
specialNIAcourtinMumbai.
In Covid cloud, a silver lining for Indian
football: Aussie league stars line up to play
PAGE 1
ANCHOR
MIHIR VASAVDA
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
LASTOCTOBER,Britishfootballer
Gary Hooper became the "best-
ever signing" of Wellington
Phoenix, a club from New
Zealand that plays in Australia’s
A-League. With nearly 200 goals
in the premier leagues of
England and Scotland as well as
LAC NEGOTIATIONS ON SIMULTANEOUS WITHDRAWAL
China insists Indians vacate Chushul
heights, India says clear Pangong north
Indian troops
crossed LAC at 7
places to occupy
dominating
positions: sources
RAVISH TIWARI
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
CHINA’S INSISTENCE on India
vacating its advanced positions
on the south bank of Pangong
Tso as a precursor to discussions
onDelhi’sdemandforstatusquo
ante of April has emerged as the
A group of villagers talk politics in Kalyan Bigha, in Harnaut
Assembly constituency of Bihar. Dipankar Ghose
seat that goes to the polls in the
second phase on November 3.
On Thursday morning, right
next to the blacktopped road,
and close to a temple, a group of
six elders of the village sit and
discuss politics. They are all
Kurmi, but believe “only a fool
would vote for anyone else” but
Nitish Kumar. “What has he not
done for this village? There is a
road, a big government school,
an ITI, a hospital. We remember
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
GIRIRAJ CALLS CONG
CANDIDATE ‘JINNAH
SYMPATHISER’
PAGE 6
Ramesh
Upadhyay
Upadhyay, a resident of Pune
and a native of Ballia in UP, had
contested the 2019 Lok Sabha
elections from his native con-
stituency as an Independent
candidate. Earlier, in 2012, he
had contested the UP Assembly
elections from Bairia in Ballia
district on a Hindu Mahasabha
ticket, after seeking permission
from the court.
Speaking to The Indian
Express, Upadhyay said,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
the Champions League, Hooper
was the highest-paid player on
the club's roster.
Then, the pandemic struck.
Today, the 32-year-old centre
forwardispartoftheIndianSuper
League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters
FC,whichwillpayhimRs1.5crore
for eight months’ service.
Hooper isn’t the only player
fromDownUnderwhohasbeen
lured to the ISL, which will be
held in a bio-secure environ-
ment in Goa starting next
month. As A-League clubs deal
with pandemic-induced finan-
DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA
Leh
No
PANGONGTSO
rth
Ba
So
nk
ut
Chushul
SPANGGURGAP
RezangLa
RechinLa
new sticking point in efforts to
resolve the military standoff
along the Line of Actual Control
in Ladakh, highlyplaced govern-
ment sources said Friday.
SourcessaidDelhiisinsisting
DECISION:
2020 BIHAR
POVERTY IS ONLY
CASTE... I THINK OF ALL
OF BIHAR’S 12 CR: CHIRAG
CHIRAG ONLY A VOTE
KATUA: BJP
PAGE 5
FULL COVERAGE, VISIT
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
EXPRESS NETWORK
SC PICKS JUSTICE
LOKUR FOR PANEL
ON CROP BURNING
PAGE 7
US-CBI op blows lid off call centre
fraud targeting elderly Americans
AASHISH ARYAN
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
INDIAN AND US investigators
workingtogetherhavebustedan
alleged call centre racket that
had targeted elderly Americans
for nine years, the backend op-
erations of which were handled
by at least six private companies
in Delhi, the NCR cities of Noida,
Gurgaon, and Faridabad, Jaipur,
and Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh.
Hyderabad FC’s Joel
Chianese in Goa. Hyderabad FC
JOURNALISM OF COURAGE
SINCE 1932
INDIA
CHINA
Ladakh
hB
an
k
Jammuand
Kashmir
on simultaneous withdrawal of
forces from the Pangong north
bank — where Chinese troops
have crossed the point which
India says marks the LAC — and
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
MIGRANT GODDESS
The idol of Durga at Barisha Club in Behala, south Kolkata,
depicts her as a migrant mother in an ordinary sari and
without jewellery, carrying her child in her arms, with her
other children by her side. Artist Rintu Das said he was
inspired by the suffering of migrant labourers who were
forced to walk to their villages after the lockdown. Partha Paul
Victims in the US would see
false messages about a malware
infection pop up on their com-
puters, which would nudge
them to a toll-free number. The
userswouldbe connected tocall
centresinIndia,whereoperators
would request remote access to
the computer to “fix the prob-
lem”. After a false diagnosis of a
non-existent problem, the vic-
tims would be asked for “hun-
dreds of dollars for unnecessary
services and software”.
cial distress, the ISL teams have
been able to sign players who, in
pre-Covid times, would be be-
yond their budgets.
“There is a lot of financial un-
certaintythere(A-League)atthe
moment and players want to
know when they will be getting
paidandthattheywillbereceiv-
ing their full salary,” striker Joel
Chianese, who has joined
Hyderabad FC from Perth Glory,
tells The Indian Express.
Chianese and Hooper are
part of an impressive ensemble,
which will be headlined by
Jaishankar: Galwan clash
profoundly disturbed ties..
had deep public impact
SHUBHAJIT ROY
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
DELIVERING HIS sharpest com-
ments yet on China since the
Moscow meeting last month
with Chinese State Councillor
and Foreign Minister Wang Yi,
External Affairs Minister S
JaishankarFridaysaidtheborder
stand-off in eastern Ladakh is a
In a coordinated move in-
volving the US Department of
Justice (DoJ), the Central Bureau
Of Investigation (CBI) on Friday
raidedseverallocationsinthesix
towns and cities where the call
centresattheheartof thealleged
“technical support fraud” were
based. A federal court in the US
had earlier issued a temporary
restraining order against an
American individual and five in-
ternational entities that are
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Englishman Adam Le Fondre.
Regarded as a club legend at
Sydney FC, with a wealth of
Premier League experience, Le
Fondre is set to join City Football
Group-owned Mumbai City on
loanbecauseof aproposedwage
cut at Sydney.
Earlier this month, Liverpool
legend Robbie Fowler was
named the manager of SC East
Bengal following his Covid-
forced exit from Brisbane Roar.
Newcastle Jets defender James
Donachie has joined Asian
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
`6.00 (`8 BIHAR & RAIPUR, `12 SRINAGAR) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
‘(Troops at
border)
critical
security
challenge’
“very sharp departure” with a
“very deep public” and “very
major political” impact.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
BUSINESS AS USUAL
BY UNNY
6 months after security withdrawn,
Shaurya Chakra awardee shot dead
KAMALDEEP SINGH BRAR
AMRITSAR, OCTOBER 16
A SHAURYA Chakra awardee,
who had taken on militants at
the height of insurgency in
Punjab in the 1990s, was shot
dead at his house in Bhikhiwind,
in Tarn Taran district, on Friday
morning,sixmonthsafterhisse-
curity cover was withdrawn.
Police said 'Comrade'
Balwinder Singh, 62, a former
CPI(M) member, was on the
ground floor of his house when
New Delhi
Solidarity findings
‘unpromising’, trial
shows remdesivir,
HCQ do not help
WHO-led research in 30 countries
pours cold water on Covid therapy
KAUNAIN SHERIFF M
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THE LARGE, multi-nation
'Solidarity' clinical trial coordi-
nated by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) to find an
effective treatment for the novel
coronavirus infection has con-
cludedthatfourcommonlyused
re-purposed drugs have little or
no effect onpatients admitted in
hospital with Covid-19.
The trial, carried out in 405
hospitals in 30 countries includ-
ing India, looked at four drugs or
their combinations — remde-
sivir, developed originally to
treat Ebola; anti-malaria drug
HCQ; ritonavir/lopinavir, li-
censed for treatment of HIV; and
interferon beta 1a, used to treat
multiple sclerosis.
“No study drug definitely re-
ducedmortality(inunventilated
patients or any other subgroup
of entry characteristics), initia-
tion of ventilation or hospitali-
sation duration,” the research
paper, which is yet to be peer-
reviewed, said.
OnJuly6,WHOhadaccepted
Balwinder Singh
two men arrived on a bike and
shot Singh six times at point-
blankrange.Policesaidtheattack-
A cause for
concern
REMDESIVIR AND hy-
droxychloroquine are
part of the standard
treatment regimen in
India. The conclusion of
the WHO-led trial –
which has been con-
tested by the developers
of remdesivir – that no
drug or combination re-
duces mortality or need
for ventilation presents a
new cause for concern in
the search for effective
therapeutic interven-
tions before a vaccine
can become available.
the recommendation of the
Solidarity Trial’s International
Steering Committee to
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
ers fled on their bike while Singh
collapsed and died on the spot.
ThefamilyallegedSingh'sse-
curity was withdrawn despite
their complaints to police about
threats that they had been re-
ceiving.
When asked why Singh's se-
curity was withdrawn and not
reinstateddespitecomplaintsby
the family, Tarn Taran SSP
Dhruman H Nimbale said, “We
are looking into the matter.”
Police sources admitted no
FIR was registered on the basis
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
 2 THE SECOND PAGE
FROM PAGE ONE
Awardee killed
of the family's complaints.
"We have formed four teams
to arrest the accused. We are
working on all angles. We have
CCTVfootageandwillsoonarrest
theculprits.Acaseof murderhas
been registered," the SSP added.
Punjab Chief Minister
AmarinderSinghhasorderedthe
constitution of a Special
Investigation Team (SIT) headed
by Ferozepur DIG Hardial Mann
to probe the attack.
Singh,aformerCPI(M)mem-
berwhojoinedtheRevolutionary
MarxistPartyofIndiain2009,and
hisfamilyhadfacednumerousat-
tacksduringPunjab'sdaysofmil-
itancy. The 42 FIRs registered for
attacks on Singh and his family
are a testimony to the constant
threats they faced.
One of the deadliest attacks
was on September 30, 1990,
whenaround200terroristsledby
Parmjit Singh Panjwar, head of
Khalistan Commando Force, had
laid siege to the family's house in
Bhikhiwind village and attacked
themcontinuouslyforfivehours,
including with rocket launchers.
ThecitationwiththeShaurya
Chakra, the gallantry award con-
ferred in April 1993 by the Union
government on Singh and three
othermembersofhisfamily,had,
whilereferringtothisattack,said:
"In this well-planned attack by
terrorists, the approach road of
thehousewasblockedbyspread-
ingundergroundminessothatno
help from police could reach
them."
Along with Singh, his wife
JagdishKaur,alsoaCPMmember,
elderbrotherRanjitSinghandsis-
ter-in-law Balraj Kaur, received
ShauryaChakrasfromthenpres-
ident Shankar Dyal Sharma.
The citation also read,
“BalwinderSinghSandhuandhis
brother Ranjit Singh Sandhu are
opposedtotheactivitiesofterror-
ists. They were on the hit lists of
terrorists. Terrorists so far have
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made16attemptstowipeoutthe
Sandhu family within about 11
months.”
After peace returned to the
state,SinghshiftedtoBhikhiwind
town, while his elder brother
stayed behind in the village.
In Bhikhiwind, Singh set up a
school on the ground floor of his
house while the family lived up-
stairs.Hewasinthisschoolwhen
the attack happened.
"Itisaterroristattack,wedon't
have any enmity with anyone,”
saidJagdishKaur,sayingthefam-
ily has been worried ever since
policewithdrewSingh'ssecurity.
"We had eight security per-
sonnel at one point. But police
withdrew them one by one on
one pretext or the other. Every
time a new SSP joined, the secu-
ritydetailwouldchange...Were-
peatedlyrequestedofficerstore-
store his security but no action
was taken," she said.
The family said they would
notcrematethebodyuntilaction
was taken against the officers re-
sponsible for removing his secu-
rity. “Our family should be pro-
vided security and the accused
shouldbearrestedassoonaspos-
sible," demanded Jagdish Kaur.
Balwinder is survived by his
wife and three children,
Gagandeep Singh, Arshdeep
Singh and Prandeep Kaur.
Solidarity trial
discontinue the HCQ and
lopinavir/
ritonavir arms of the trial.
Theaimof thetrialwastode-
terminewhetherthefourre-pur-
poseddrugscould moderatelyaf-
fect in-hospital mortality and
whether any effects differed be-
tweenmoderateandseverecases
of the disease.
Of the more than 11,000 par-
ticipants in the trial, 2,750 were
givenremdesivir;954HCQ;1,411
only lopinavir-ritonavir; and
2,063 interferon. A total 4,088
were not given any drug.
Eightpercentofstudypartic-
EXCLUSIVE
WEB
EXPLAINED
ipantswerealreadyventilated,25
percenthaddiabetes,and81per
cent were below the age of 70
years.“Nostudydrughadanydef-
inite effect on mortality, either
overallorinanysubgroupdefined
by age or ventilation at entry (or
otherentrycharacteristics,orge-
ographicregion,orcorticosteroid
use),” the study said.
Also, it said, “...no study drug
appreciably reduced initiation of
ventilation in those not already
ventilated”.
The researchers said the trial
is still recruiting about 2,000 pa-
tientspermonth,whowillbeas-
sessedforfurthertreatments,in-
cludingimmune-modulatorsand
specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 mono-
clonal antibodies.
The study said that narrower
confidence intervals would be
helpful, particularly for remde-
sivir,whichispartof thenational
clinical management protocol in
India.
“Foreachofthesefourre-pur-
posednon-specificantivirals,sev-
eral thousand patients have now
been randomised in various tri-
als.Theunpromisingoverallfind-
ingsfromtheregimenstestedsuf-
fice to refute early hopes, based
on smaller or non-randomized
studies,thatanywillsubstantially
reduce inpatient mortality, initi-
ation of ventilation, or hospitali-
sation duration,” the study said.
The death rate ratio (active vs
controlgroup)forremdesivirwas
0.95 – 301 deaths in the active
group of 2,743 against 303 in the
control group of 2,708. In the hy-
droxychloroquinearm,thedeath
rate ratio was 1.19 (104 deaths
werereportedintheactivegroup
of947patientsasagainst84inthe
control group of 906); in the
lopinavir arm, the death rate ra-
tiowas1(148deathsintheactive
group of 1,399, as against 146 in
thecontrolgroupof1,372);andin
theinterferonarm,thedeathrate
ratio was 1.16 (243 deaths in the
active group of 2,050; 216 in the
control group of 2,050).
Nitish citadel
the days before he became Chief
Minister when we had to carry
ourailingoncharpaisthroughthe
fieldsbecausetherewasnoroad.
Snakeswouldbiteus,and even4
kmawayinHarnaut,therewasno
guaranteethepatientwouldlive.
This development, is it not for
everyone? The whole village of
Kalyan Bigha always votes for
Nitish Kumar,” Umesh Kumar
said.
And yet, this preference for
NitishKumardoesn’tquitemean
there’s happiness over govern-
ment policies in the last six
months. In Kalyan Bigha, Umesh
Kumar says, there has not been a
singlecaseofCovid-19D,andthat
has led to disenchantment with
the lockdown and other meas-
ures to prevent its spread. Not a
single person in the village is
wearing a mask, nor is there any
social distancing.
“Agar gaon mein, jaan pe-
hchan mein kisi ko hua hi nahi,
toh kaise maan le Corona hai? (If
no one in the village has tested
positive, how do we believe
there’sCorona?).Andthisgovern-
ment locked down the country.
Our children in the cities had to
return because there was no
money, and the condition is still
bad,” Kumar said.
There is another reason for
angerbubblingatthesurface.The
coming days will bring both
Durga Puja and Chhath, and the
decisionnottoallow“melas”dur-
ing this period is not being re-
ceived well. “If we are going
throughacrisis,peopleshouldbe
allowedtocongregateandprayto
God. These are our biggest festi-
vals. The mela would mean this
templebehindyouwouldbefull.
There would be lights in the vil-
lage and food stalls, and other
small shops. Everything is now
gone,” said another elder
Asked if they hold anyone re-
sponsible, there is silence.
“Everyone here will vote Nitish
Kumar. He has changed our vil-
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
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TheSmithophisarunachalensisissorarethatsinceitsfirstcollectionin1935,onlyfiveotherspecimenshave
beenregisteredandmultiplesurveysintheLowerDibangValleyregioninArunachalPradeshyieldedonlyone
sighting
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China insists Indians vacate Chushul
heights, India says clear Pangong north
advanced Indian positions on
the south bank to mutually
agreed locations.
Asourceintherulingestab-
lishment, familiar with devel-
opments on the Ladakh fron-
tier, said India crossed the LAC
at“sevenplaces”tocounterthe
Chinese transgressions.
“We have crossed over at
seven places. Why do you
think China is still at the nego-
tiating table?” the source said.
The Chinese demand
comes in the backdrop of
Indian troops occupying ad-
vanced positions, beyond its
patrolling points, in the
Chushul sub-sector towards
the end of August.
These positions on the
southern bank of Pangong Tso
allow Indians to dominate the
region because they not only
overlook the Spanggur Gap,
but also the Chinese garrison
at Moldo.
Jaishankar: Ties disturbed after Galwan
Stressing that the Galwan
incident on June 15, when 20
Indian soldiers and an unspec-
ified number of Chinese sol-
diers were killed in violent
clashes, has left the bilateral
relationship “profoundly dis-
turbed”, Jaishankar said the
massing of troops at the bor-
der has created a “very critical
security challenge”.
The Union Minister under-
lined that he has not got any
“reasonable explanation” from
his Chinese counterpart on
China's behaviour along the
Line of Actual Control (LAC) in
eastern Ladakh.
Jaishankar also pointed to
divergences with Beijing on
“political issues” and “the re-
lationship with Pakistan”. He
said China has been “unsym-
pathetic” to India on major
trade issues like market access
and “negative” on a “lot of in-
ternational issues like the
Nuclear Suppliers Group”.
Jaishankar, who is usually
very calibrated in his remarks,
made these comments in an
hour-long discussion on his
book, "The India Way:
Strategies for an Uncertain
World", with former
Australian Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd, under the aegis of
Asia Society.
Rudd is the President of
Asia Society Policy Institute, a
lageandtheconstituency.Thatis
youranswer,”UmeshKumarsaid.
Not everyone. Two hundred
metres away, Pawan Paswan is
filling water at the handpump.
Until a few months ago, he was a
daily wage labourer at Mithapur
inPatna,60kmaway.Whenwork
stopped, he came home.
“Ithasneverbeenthisbadfor
the poor. Even in the village,
there’s work in their parts,” he
points to the elders, who are all
Kurmi. “We always voted for
Nitish Kumar in the village, but
thistime,thePaswansaretalking
about voting for the LJP. Even the
Dalits may not vote for Nitish
Kumar. He might win this seat,
but he does not have our vote,”
Paswan said.
About 10 km away, another
group of elders, mostly from the
Scheduled Castes, sit by a road in
Telmarvillage.IfKalyanBighahas
pucca homes, the houses in the
bastiof Telmararecheekbyjowl,
their thatched roofs in urgent
need of repair, open drains flow-
ing to one side. Here too, Naresh
Ravidassaysthatsomemightstill
vote for Nitish Kumar because it
ishisseat,butinthelastfiveyears,
RESEARCH
“In their latest talks, they
(the Chinese) wanted India to
vacatesouthernbankpositions
first.Indiademandedthatboth
banks should be vacated by
both sides simultaneously to
mutually agreed positions,”
the source said.
This assessment of the
Indianestablishment,after the
seventh round of talks be-
tween Indian and Chinese
Corps Commanders last
Monday, underlines the mili-
tary standoff which began
early May.
The Indian political estab-
lishment, however, remains
wary of Beijing’s commitment
despite the dialogues that
Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh and External Affairs
Minister S Jaishankar had with
their Chinese counterparts in
Moscow.
“The talks between
Defence Ministers and Foreign
think tank with offices in the
US, Hong Kong and Australia
among other places.
The Minister’s comments
reflect the sense of frustration
in New Delhi over the lack of
progresswithChinaafterseven
rounds of military talks, six
roundsof diplomatictalks,and
at least three separate bilateral
meetingsatthelevelofNSAAjit
Doval, Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh and Jaishankar
with their Chinese counter-
parts over the last five months.
In response to questions by
Rudd, Jaishankar was candid.
“What happened this year, of
course,wasaverysharpdepar-
ture. Now it's not just a sharp
departure from the conversa-
tion,it'sasharpdepartureover
a course of the relationship
over30years...andthemassing
of a large amount of Chinese
forces on the border was, you
know, clearly contrary to all of
this [agreements since 1993],”
he said.
“Andwhenyouhadfriction
points,whichwasalargenum-
berof troopsatdifferentpoints,
very close to each other... then
something tragic, like what
happened on the 15th of June,
happened. And to underline
the enormity of that, it was the
first military casualty we had
after 1975. So, it has obviously
had a very deep public impact,
“Kumarhadstoppedworkingfor
the poor.” “Road banaya, lekin
road pe toh gaadi chalti hai na?
Humein kya mila? (He has built
roads,butcarsrunonroads.What
did we get?),” he said.
The economic distress from
thelockdownisaprevalentfactor
everywhere in Bihar, and in
Telmar, there is much conversa-
tion around it.
“Everything has stopped,
pricesofvegetableshavegoneup.
Potatoes are at Rs 80 a kilo. Can a
poormanbuythat?Theysaythey
gave five kilos of ration and 1 kilo
ofdal.Ihave9peopleinmyhouse,
but only 5 people got it. Tell me,
how long will it last then? Nitish
Kumar has given textbooks, but
the teacher in our school doesn’t
come.Icanpromiseyou,aClass9
student cannot write her own
name,” Ravidas said.
There are also allegations of
how caste has entered adminis-
trative decisions in Telmar, and
that has angered the Scheduled
Castes.
“If the upper castes or the
Kurmis want a community hall,
theygetit.Foryears,wehavebeen
asking for one. We need it the
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
WHY INDIA IS SPECIAL
TO ARMENIANS
It is here that the
community acquired
significant prosperity
Ministersof bothsideswereon
similar lines. Beijing only says
that it wants peace and tran-
quillity at the border between
the two countries. But this is
what India also wants. They
(the Chinese) don’t, however,
explain the reason for their
troop build-up,” the source
said.
“Kuchh bhi ho sakta hai.
Vishwas nahin hota hai China
par. We are prepared for any
eventuality,” the source said,
pointing out that enough sup-
plies for the winter have been
madeavailabletoIndianforces
to mirror the Chinese build-up
at the Ladakh frontier.
A joint statement after the
seventh round of talks last
Monday stated: “Both sides
agreed to maintain dialogue
and communication through
military and diplomatic chan-
nels, and arrive at a mutually
acceptable solution for disen-
very major political impact.
And it has left the relationship
profoundlydisturbed,”hesaid.
Askedaboutthereasonbe-
hind the massing of troops,
Jaishankar said: “I haven’t
frankly got any reasonable ex-
planation from them on this
matter. So, there are today [a]
very large number of troops
withweaponsconcentratedon
that segment, the border, and
that is obviously a very critical
security challenge that we
face.”
RuddsaidChina'sactivities-
- from the LAC to the South
ChinaSeatoSino-Australianre-
lationships -- suggest that it is
partof a“simultaneouspattern
ofChinesepolicyassertiveness”.
“It seems to make a central po-
litical point, Covid has weak-
ened us and no one should as-
sume that we've been
weakened,”hesaid,referringto
China's viewpoint.
To this, Jaishankar said: “I
am,ifnotagnostic,atleastsilent
on this issue. But what I would
sayis,look,maybewhatyousay
is true, maybe it's not true, I
mean let's leave that aside.”
He said the two neighbour-
ing countries built a relation-
shippainstakingly,andhave“is-
sues of difference”. “I'm not
suggesting to you that every-
thing was wonderful. There
were,youknow,therewerepo-
most. Our homes are small and
ramshackle, there is no room for
anything.Buttheydon’t.Ifsome-
thing is built in the village, it is on
theirside,neveronours.Thegov-
ernment promised 3 decimals of
land to the landless. Not many
people have got it. These last five
years have not been good,”
Ravidas said.
This is still Nitish Kumar’s
fortress and despite anti-incum-
bency against local MLA
Harinarayan Singh, for “not visit-
ingus”,theprevalentassessment
is that the JDU will win the seat.
Buttherearemurmursindicative
of a larger anti-incumbency,
amongstthepoor,thathasreper-
cussions for the rest of the state.
Blast accused
“Membersof theJD(U)inUPhad
approachedme.Afterdiscussions,
I decided to work for the party... I
donotplantocontestelectionsas
of now.I am currently residing in
Pune, but will travel to UP for
party work.” Upadhyay said he
believes in the JD(U) leadership
and its idea of “samajik nyay ke
sath vikas (development along
withsocialjustice)”.Askedabout
New Delhi
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
The signals in Apple’s
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NEWEPISODEEVERYDAY
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gagementasearly aspossible.”
Itdidnotmentionthepointsof
negotiation by either side.
Given the complex and
tricky nature of the negotia-
tions,thetwosideshavemain-
tained confidentiality on de-
tails and positions during the
talks.
“Discussions are on; what
is going on is something confi-
dential between us and the
Chinese,” External Affairs
Minister Jaishankar said in re-
sponse to a question on the
Sino-Indian talks at a gather-
ing of the Bloomberg India
Economic Forum Thursday.
“There is not very much that I
am in a position to say in pub-
lic. I certainly do not want to
prejudge it,” he said.
Withtemperaturesdipping
in Ladakh,troopsonbothsides
are bracing for extended de-
ployment during the harsh
winter months.
liticalissuesofdifference...there
are issues on their relationship
with Pakistan. There were ma-
jor trade issues, the market ac-
cess issues, they [are] unsym-
pathetictous,if notnegativeon
a lot of international issues like
Nuclear Suppliers Group, etc,”
he said.
“So there are a whole set of
issues. We've been engaging
and talking to them over many
years, including at the summit
meetings...opendiscussionson
each other's interests,”
Jaishankar said.
Early September,
Jaishankar and Wang adopted
a five-point approach to re-
solve the crisis along the LAC
and agreed that their troops
“should continue their dia-
logue, quickly disengage,
maintain proper distance and
ease tensions”.
After the joint statement,
the Corps Commanders met
twice but there has been no
progress towards disengage-
ment, de-escalation and
restoring status quo ante.
In the meantime, India has
engaged with the Quad group-
ing at the Foreign Ministers’
level after which US Deputy
Secretary of State Stephen E
Biegun visited India and set
the stage for the Indo-US 2+2
ministerial meeting likely on
October 26 and 27.
the terror charges against him,
Upadhyay said, “I am innocent. I
am a nationalist, and a patriotic
and secular person. I was falsely
implicatedintheMalegaonbomb
blastcase...Iamwaitingformyac-
quittal. I wish to work for society.
JD(U)issincerelyworkingforthe
development of poor.”
Hari Shankar Patel, General
Secretary of the JD(U) in UP, said,
“Major Upadhyay has contested
elections from UP twice in the
past.OurdistrictchieffromBallia
knew Upadhyay and asked him
to join the party. We respect the
courtsandlaw.Upadhyayhasnot
been held guilty by the court."
SadhviPragyaThakur,alsoan
accused in the 2008 Malegaon
case, had contested and won the
2019 Lok Sabha election on a BJP
ticket from Bhopal.
Call centre fraud
believedtobelinkedtothefraud.
CBI officers said the compa-
nies under investigation include
New Delhi-based Softwill
Infotech Pvt Ltd; Noida-based
Benovellient Technologies Pvt
Ltd;Gurgaon-basedSaburiGlobal
ServicesPvtLtd;andJaipur-based
Innovana Thinklabs and
Systweak Software.
The raids led to the recovery
of digital evidence of fraud, in-
criminating documents, details
of several bank accounts and
fixed deposits worth Rs 190
crore, other than Rs 25 lakh in
cash and gold worth Rs 55 lakh,
CBI said in a statement.
According to the complaint
filed by the DoJ’s Consumer
Protection Branch and the US
Attorney’sOfficefortheSouthern
District of Florida, a 59-year-old
California resident named
MichaelBrianCotter“knowingly
provided US support for India-
based accomplices” who used to
defraud elderly US citizens by
making them believe that their
computers had been infected by
viruses or malware.
Thefivecompaniesnamedby
the DoJ include Singapore regis-
tered Global Digital Concierge,
formerly known as Tech Live
Connect; Nevada-registered
Sensei Ventures Inc. and NE Labs
Inc;NewYork-registeredKevisoft
LLC, and United Kingdom-regis-
tered Kevisoft UK. Cotter, the DoJ
said,usedthesecompaniestofa-
cilitate the fraud being perpe-
trated by call centres in India.
In 2018, 21 members of an
India-based fraud and money
laundering ring, who had posed
asofficersoftheUStaxtaskforce,
theInternalRevenueService,and
the US Citizenship and
Immigration Services, were ar-
rested and sent to jail.
The alleged kingpin, Illinois-
based Mitesh Kumar Patel, was
sentenced to 240 months in
prison,followedbythreeyearsof
“supervisedrelease”;anotherac-
cusedinthefraudwassentenced
to 188 months in prison. These
men were the managers of a
company that oversaw the day-
to-day operations of a crew of
“runners” that liquidated and
laundered the fraud proceeds
generatedbycallcentresinIndia.
In 2016, the DoJ had uncov-
ered another scam, in which as
manyas15,000victimswerede-
frauded of sums between
$12,000 to $136,000.
Indian football
Champions League-bound FC
GoaonloanwhilemidfielderBrad
InmanhasmovedfromBrisbane
RoartoATKMohunBagan,where
he will join Roy Krishna, named
thebestplayeroftheA-Leaguefor
the 2018-19 season.
Addtothemixthecontinuing
influxofplayerswhohavetheex-
perienceof playinginthesecond
and third tier of Spanish football,
andtheISLcanboastofhavingar-
guablythemoststellarline-upof
foreigners ina yearwhen several
leaguesacrosstheworldarereel-
ingbecauseofthefinancialslump.
“In terms of quality of foreign
players, this is the best seen in
Indian football,” says Mandar
Tamhane, chief executive of for-
merISLchampionsBengaluruFC.
“When we are interacting with
prospectiveplayers,theywantto
come to India maybe because
they know and are aware of how
goodtheleagueisgettingandob-
viously there is good money too.
These are all good players who
have played at a very good level
and done exceedingly well.”
On the other hand, the teams
in the ISL -- it was started in 2014
and took over from the I-League
as India's top division last year --
haven’treliedonTVrevenuesince
thebroadcaster,StarSports,isthe
co-owner of the league along
with Reliance Sports. Instead,
most of the teams are funded by
corporates, who dole out any-
thing between Rs 50 lakh and Rs
3.5croreayeartoaforeignplayer.
In Asian football, India is still
behindChina,Japan,SouthKorea,
Thailand and the Gulf states in
terms of player wages, but
Chianesesaystheplayers"under-
standthereisalsoafinancialgain
movingtotheISLcomparedtothe
gameinAustraliaatthismoment".
FULLREPORTSON
www.indianexpress.com

3 THE CITY
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD SAYS FARM FIRES STARTED EARLY
Some hope: Peak stubble burning may not
overlap with adverse weather in capital
SHIVAM PATEL
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THE PEAK contribution of stub-
ble burning in northwest India
to air pollution in Delhi may not
coincide with adverse meteoro-
logical conditions this year,
Central Pollution Control Board
member secretary Prashant
Gargava said on Friday.
This means that peak emis-
sions from crop residue burning
in Punjab and Haryana, which in
thepasthavehadmorethan40%
to 50% share in Delhi’s air pollu-
tion levels, may happen earlier
than the usual time frame of
around the second week of
November, when weather con-
ditions hinder dispersion of pol-
lutants.
Speaking at a press briefing,
Gargava said the reasons behind
this include a slight shift in the
harvest season, higher fire
counts so far as compared to the
previous year, and compara-
tively less area under cultivation
of non-basmati variety of rice, or
paddy, which leaves stubble in
fields after harvest.
“With the efforts of agencies
and governments, and the
slightlyearlystarttotheburning,
it looks like this time the peak
BRIEFLY
3,428new
Covidcases
reported
NewDelhi:Delhirecorded
3,428newcasesofCovid-
19 and 22 more fatalities,
taking the total infection
tally to 3,24,459 and the
death toll to 5,946 in the
capital. A total of 58,145
Covid tests were con-
ducted on Thursday. The
cumulativepositivityrate
has been recorded at
8.35%. The tally of active
cases on Friday slightly
rose to 22,814 from
22,605 the previous day.
Meanwhile, the fourth
round of serological sur-
veillance kicked off in
Delhi on Thursday, said
Health Minister
SatyendarJain.According
to officials, the exercise
will be carried ward wise
andcontinueforatleasta
week.
Riotscases:
Courtgrants
bailto2
New Delhi: A Delhi court
has granted bail to two
persons in two cases re-
lated to the Northeast
Delhi riots, saying the
complainants in the
cases were not eyewit-
nesses to the incidents.
AdditionalSessionsJudge
Amitabh Rawat granted
bail to Mohd Sagir and
Mehtab on furnishing a
bail bond of Rs 25,000
with one surety of like
amount in each of the
two cases related to van-
dalism and torching of
vehicles during the riots
in Jafrabad area.
4arrestedfor
‘killing’man
New Delhi: Delhi Police
has arrested four men for
allegedly killing their 23-
year-old friend after a
fightinNorthwestDelhi’s
Jahangirpuri. The de-
ceased, Faizan Md, ran a
shop near his house and
was found dead on
Thursday. Locals alleged
they saw one of the ac-
cused attacking Faizan
with a knife. Police ar-
rested siblings Sajan (20)
and Rajan (28), and their
friends Sachin (20) and
Akash (18) on Thursday.
Oneoftheaccusedhasal-
leged that the fight broke
out after Faizan tried to
harass his sister. Police
said they are looking into
the allegations. ENS
A tanker sprinkles water to control air pollution at Anand Vihar on Friday. Praveen Khanna
contribution of stubble burning
may not coincide with peak ad-
versemeteorologyinDelhi…We
might see less contribution this
year,butallof thisdependsupon
meteorological factors at that
time,” Gargava said.
DatapresentedbyGargavaat
the briefing showed land under
cultivationof paddyhasreduced
as compared to last year. In
Punjab, the area has fallen to
20.76 lakh hectares this year as
As patients arrive at AIIMS OPD, task cut out: Prevent crowding
ASHNA BUTANI
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
WITHANinfluxof patientsatthe
OPD of the All India Institute of
MedicalSciences(AIIMS),author-
itieshaveimplementedanumber
ofmeasurestocontainthespread
of Covid, including staggered pa-
tient visitation — only those who
book appointments online or via
call can meet doctors. On Friday
morning, there was a rush of pa-
tientswhohadqueueduptoseea
doctor, buy medicines or follow-
up on existing conditions.
Thenewmeasuremeantthat
when Monu, 30, came from
RohtakinSeptemberregardinga
macularscarinhereye,shecould
not meet the doctor. It was only
after calling and booking an ap-
pointment that she finally got to
NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA
(An autonomous Institution under
Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India)
VACANCY NOTICE
The National School of Drama, an autonomous institution under Ministry of
Culture, Government of India invites applications for various vacant posts. The
details of vacant posts are indicated below:-
Librarian
Level- 10 (Rs. 56100 - 177500)
Assistant Director (Official Language)
Composite Method - By Deputation (Including
short-term contract)/ Promotion Level-10 (Rs.
56100 - 177500)
P.S. to Director
Level- 7 (Rs. 44900 - 142400)
Sound Technician
Level-7 (Rs. 44900 - 142400)
Upper Division Clerk
Level - 4 (Rs. 25500 - 81100)
Reception Incharge
Level - 4 (Rs. 25500 - 81100)
Assistant Photographer
Level - 4 (Rs. 25500 - 81100)
Percussionist Gr. III
Level - 4 (Rs. 25500 - 81100)
Carpenter Gr. II
Level - 4 (Rs. 25500 - 81100)
Electrician (Grade I)
Level - 4 (Rs. 25500 - 81100)
Master Tailor
Level - 4 (Rs. 25500 - 81100)
Lower Division Clerk
Level - 2 (Rs. 19900 - 63200)
Multi Tasking Staff
Level - 1 (Rs. 18000 - 56900)
Candidates are required to apply online only by using the Website-
http://recruitment.nsd.gov.in or http://nsd.gov.in. Please visit NSD Website:
www.nsd.gov.in for details.
Last date for receipt of applications is 06.11.2020.
davp 09130/11/0011/2021
comparedto22.91lakhhectares
last year. In Haryana, it has fallen
to 4.27 lakh hectares this year as
compared to 6.48 lakh hectares
last year.
The Punjab government had
advanced transplantation of
paddythisyearby10days,onJune
10asopposedtoJune20,heeding
concernsoffarmersaboutlabour
shortagesduetoCovid-19.Thisre-
sultedinearlyharvest,Punjabof-
ficials said. Similarly in Haryana,
meetthedoctoronFridaymorn-
ing. “We did not know about the
new system last month, but the
guards informed us. The new
protocolisbetterasfewerpeople
will wait in line,” she said.
However, queues were in-
evitableaspatientsandtheirfam-
ilieswaitedtobuymedicinesfol-
lowing their appointments. The
OPD resumed around a month
ago,beforewhichpatientswould
opt for teleconsultations.
Boards displaying signs to
maintain distance were placed
at various points in the hospital
and barricades were put up, be-
yond which only patients with
booking IDs could enter. D K
Sharma,themedicalsuperinten-
dent at AIIMS, said, “Our OPD is
functional only for patients who
have taken prior appointments
either online or via calls. So nat-
NEW DELHI
13 Posts [UR-5, SC-2,
ST-1, OBC-4, EWS-1]
0-50 Good
officials said paddy was sown
about a week earlier than usual.
Contributionof stubbleburn-
inginPunjabandHaryanatopar-
ticulatematterof2.5micrometres
(PM2.5) in Delhi — fine particles
suspended in the air — peaked at
56%onNovember5,2018,andlast
year to 44% on October 31, as per
data from the Central govern-
ment’s System of Air Quality and
Weather Forecasting and
Research (SAFAR).
urally, people do not line up out-
side the OPD like before.”
He said sanitisers are avail-
able at entry points and those
whodonothavemasksaregiven
it for free.
Satya Narayan came to Delhi
from Madhubani in Bihar with
his wife for a consultation for his
one-year-old son’s condition —
aholeinhisheart.“Wegotanap-
pointmentfortodayviaa callwe
made a few days ago. Since it is
dangerous to operate on our son
because of his age, doctors sug-
gested we wait for some time.
We will returnin a few months.”
Munni Devi, 27, on the other
hand, has to visit the hospital
every month for breast cancer
treatment. Her husband, Ram
Sabha Rai, 33, said he is accus-
tomedtothenewsystemofbook-
ing appointments. However, he
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
2 Posts (SC-1, ST-1)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (UR)
1 Post (OBC)
Registrar
ANAND VIHAR SIRIFORT
Poor Moderate
249 199
AQI AQI
PM: 2.5 PM: 2.5
0 500 0 500
51-100 Satisfactory 101-200 Moderate
Last year, between October 8
andNovember 15,stubbleburn-
Rs 1 cr fine on ing’s contribution to PM2.5 in
NDMC after Delhi was higher than 10% on 19
days and higher than 20% on six
Rai inspection days, as per SAFAR data.
Thepeakcontributionsinthe
last two years have also been
New Delhi: The Delhi around the festival of Diwali,
Pollution Control when there is burning of fire-
Committee(DPCC)hasbeen crackers and higher economic
directed to impose a fine of activity in the city and its mar-
Rs1croreontheNorthDelhi kets. The peak also coincides
Municipal Corporation with the time when tempera-
(NDMC) after Environment tures are low and wind speed is
Minister Gopal Rai found calm in Delhi, characteristic of
garbage burning in Kirari winter, which traps pollutants
areaduringaninspectionon closer to the surface rather than
Friday. Rai said negligence dispersing them.
was found on part of the On Friday, as per SAFAR, the
NDMCasnoofficialfromthe contribution of farm fires to
corporationtookanyaction PM2.5 in Delhi was estimated to
against it. Following the in- be18%,highestsofarsincecount
spection,Raisaid,“Airqual- began October 10 onwards. The
ity of Delhi is gradually de- city’s average air quality index
teriorating. There are (AQI) improved to the ‘poor’ cat-
many agencies which are egory, with a reading of 239, as
notatallseriousaboutthis." compared to Thursday when it
North MCD mayor Jai was 312, in the ‘very poor’ range.
Prakashallegedthegarbage As per a forecast from SAFAR,
wassetonfirebyAAPwork- the improvement happened as
ers. “Delhi government is windspeedpickedupmarginally,
trying to defame MCD helpingindispersionofpollutants
through this because they that had accumulated. On
donothaveanyworktodo,” Saturday,theAQIisforecasttostay
he claimed. ENS in the higher end of ‘poor' cate-
gory or lower end of ‘very poor’.
said, “Her treatment was halted (PRC)andbookanappointment.”
formonthsduringthelockdown.
She was in a lot of pain then.”
He said there is no single
method to contain crowds and
As police made rounds of the
hospitaloften,patientskepttheir
social distance markings have
also been made inside lifts urg-
masks on to avoid getting fined. ing people to maintain distance.
However, many did not wear the “A number of measures are in
masksproperly.FarhanNaqvi,as- place,” he said.
signment manager posted in the A security guard stationed at
Security Control Room, said only agatesaid,“Wetrytoensurethat
a few new patients are taken in peoplewearmasks.Butitgetsso
every day. “New patients have to crowded sometimes that it be-
visitthePatientReceptionCentre comes a task.”
OBITUARY
Maj Gen DN Chibber, AVSM (Retd)
(22-07-1927 to 14-10-2020)
Fraternity of Army Educational Corps
expresses profound grief and sorrow on
the sad demise of Maj Gen DN Chibber,
AVSM (Retd) on 14 oct 20.
He will always be remembered as the first
Maj Gen to head Army Educational Corps.
His selfless and dedicated service to the
Corps has been a hallmark. We pray to the
Almighty to bless eternal peace to the departed soul and give
strength to the bereaved family.
Maj Gen Devesh Gaur
Addl DG AE & Col Comdt
and All Ranks of Army Educational Corps
New Delhi
SHADIPUR
Poor
253
AQI
PM: 10
0 500
201-300 Poor 301-400 Very Poor
Unfavourable Met
factors meant worse
September, October
SHIVAM PATEL
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
METEOROLOGICAL CONDI-
TIONS in Delhi have been “ex-
tremely unfavourable” in
September and so far in October
as compared to last year, which
has helped in the rise of pollu-
tion levels, Central Pollution
ControlBoardmembersecretary
Prashant Gargava said on Friday.
Data shared by Gargava dur-
ing a press briefing showed that
the main meteorological factors
that help in dispersion of pollu-
tantshavebeenweakerbetween
September1and October14this
year as compared to the same
period in 2019.
“Concentrationof PM2.5and
PM10inOctoberandSeptember
was much higher than the same
period in 2019,” Gargava said.
The meteorological factors
that determine accumulation
and dispersion of pollutants in-
clude the number of rainy days,
ventilation index, wind speed
and mixing height. The total
amount of rainfall in the period
between September 1 and
October14was121mmlastyear
inseven rainydays,whereasthis
year it was just 21 mm in three
rainy days.
Rain helps in settling down
dust and other pollutants sus-
pended in the air. Ventilation in-
Patients waiting at AIIMS on Friday. Express
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
DWARKA- SECTOR 8
Poor
233
AQI
PM: 10 500
0
401-500 Severe
dex — the sum of mixing depth
and wind speed, which is used
to forecast the atmosphere’s po-
tential to disperse pollutants —
also remained low this year.
A ventilation index below
6,000 sqm/second with average
wind speed less than 10 kmph is
consideredunfavourablefordis-
persion of pollutants. In
September this year, the average
ventilation index was 1,334
sqm/second as compared to
1,850 sqm/second last year.
Between October 1 and 14,
theaverageventilationindexwas
1,389 sqm/second as compared
to 1,626 sqm/second last year.
Mixing depth is the vertical
height in which pollutants are
suspended in the air. On cold
days with calm wind speed, this
height reduces and leaves pollu-
tants suspended closer to
ground.
“If we have more mixing
height and more winds, that’s
good. If one of them reduces,
then that creates an impact… In
a landlocked area like Delhi, in
winter, you have absolutely no
winds, and the mixing depth
also, which normally is much
higher, upto 3,000 metres, gets
reduced to 100-300 metres. So
the (atmospheric) volume in
which dispersion happens gets
suppressed. In winter, these two
things have an extremely ad-
verse impact, ” Gargava said.

4 THE CITY
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
PUSH TO CHANGE DELHI UNIVERSITY ACT
Not enough seats for students from capital,
Kejriwal asks Centre to change ‘colonial’ law
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
LAMENTING THE skyrocketing
cut-offs, including 100% for cer-
tain courses, Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal Friday said he
has written to Union Education
Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to
make changes in the DU Act to
enable opening of more colleges
and universities in the capital.
The CM said many colleges
and universities need to be
startedinDelhitoaccommodate
students clearing Class XII in the
capital, but added that there
were legal hurdles.
Delhi University's Lady Shri
Ram College had announced
100% cut-off for Psychology,
Economics and Political Science.
The cut-off was 99% and higher
At Hindu College,
900 of 956 seats full
ARANYA SHANKAR
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
HINDUCOLLEGEhasemergedas
the most popular in DU with al-
most 900 of its total 956 seats
filled during the first round of
admissions which ended Friday.
Around 50% seats have been
filled overall in DU colleges.
Friday was the last date for
paying fees for the first round of
admissions.Thenextcut-off will
likely be out Saturday, and the
second round will start Monday.
Of the total 59,730 applica-
tions received by DU, 34,814 ap-
plicants paid the fees while
6,394 are still pending approval.
DU has around 70,000 seats on
offer for undergraduate courses.
After Lady Shri Ram College,
whichhad100%cut-off forthree
courses, Hindu had the highest
cut-offs with 99% and above for
six subjects. In the second cut-
off, several courses will close
seatsintheunreservedcategory.
“We have filled close to 900
MCD asked Centre to take over Woman working with
2 DU colleges tell court:
Delhi govt hasn’t released hospitals in 2018, says AAP
funds, can’t pay staff
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
TWODELHIUniversity-affiliated
collegeshavetoldtheDelhiHigh
Court that they have been un-
abletopaythesalariesandother
dues of their employees since
June as the Delhi government
has not released funds to them
despite several reminders.
Thereplieshavebeenfiledby
the Principals of Shaheed
Sukhdev College of Business
StudiesandAditiMahavidyalaya
Women’s College in a petition
filed by the teachers working
there for release of their salaries.
The court had on September 29
issued notices to the Delhi gov-
ernment,DU andfourcolleges—
Aditi Mahavidyalaya Women's
College, Bhagini Nivedita
College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar
College and Shaheed Sukhdev
College of Business Studies. The
court asked them to provide sta-
tus of unpaid salaries and listed
it for hearing on November 4.
Shaheed Sukhdev College of
Business Studies, in its reply
AT HOSPITAL, COUPLE HOPE TO ADOPT THE CHILD
In upscale Noida complex, day-old baby boy found abandoned
AMIL BHATNAGAR
NOIDA, OCTOBER 16
AROUND 8.45 pm Thursday,
Noida Police received an urgent
call from residents of an upscale
apartment complex in Sector
104 about an abandoned baby,
curled up inside a packet at the
stairwayexitof tower number8.
By the time police arrived, word
had spread in ATS One Hamlet
apartment complex about the
in 30 other courses across col-
leges.
"Class XII students who wish
to take admission in colleges are
facing many problems. If the cut
off is 100%, where will the other
students go? They also have a
right to higher education. Why
are there such skyrocketing cut-
offs? It's not the students' fault,
but ours. All the governments
are responsible; all the govern-
ments that have come to power
in Delhi, including us, as well as
the Central government,"
Kejriwal said.
"This is happening because
there is a severe dearth of col-
leges and universities in Delhi.
Seats are falling short and the
number of students is going on
increasing. Growth of colleges
and universities should have
kept pace with the rising num-
seats. Physics, Chemistry,
History,PoliticalScience,English,
Hindi and Sanskrit should be
closed in the second list. There
will be marginal changes in the
secondcut-off dependingonde-
mand,” said Hindu College prin-
cipal Anju Shrivastava.
Hansraj College has filled
1,294 of 1,714 seats filled so far.
In Ramjas, over 63% seats
have been filled in the first list.
“We have approved 1,060 appli-
cations out of which 910 have
paid fees. We will be closing ad-
missions in many combinations
of BA Programme, Political
Science and Zoology,” said prin-
cipal Manoj Khanna.
LSR, Miranda House and IP
College for Women have filled
over 50% seats. While LSR will
close admissions to Maths and
some BA Programme combina-
tions, Miranda House will close
admissions for Political Science
andGeography.AtIPCollege,ad-
missions are likely to close for
History, Psychology and some
BA Programme combinations.
Delhi govt injured in
bag snatching bid
dated October 12, said that it re-
quires a total of Rs 4.99 crore for
payment of salaries, and pay-
ment of pension, security,
housekeeping, retirement ben-
efits, medical expenses, tuition
fee,7thCPC arrearsandproperty
tax upto September, 2020.
Aditi Mahavidyalaya
Women’s College told the court
that Rs 8.86 crore is required by
it for payment of salaries and
other expenses upto September.
Eight Assistant Professors,
who work at different DU col-
leges, through their counsel ad-
vocate Ashok Aggarwal, have
submitted the petition.
Meanwhile, the Delhi gov-
ernment Friday said DU should
utilisethe StudentsSocietyFund
(SSF) to pay salaries for teachers.
"Outstanding salaries to
teaching and non-teaching staff
be released immediately from
Students Society Fund as has
beendoneinthepast,tillprocess
ofSpecialAuditiscompleted/fur-
ther installments of GIA (under
Salary Head) are released,"
Deputy Director of Directorate
HigherEducationsaidinanorder.
baby boy, who doctors say was
barely a day-old when found.
"As soon as we got the call,
we rushed with a team.
Authorities were informed and
the infant is currently admitted
at the Child Super Speciality
Hospital in sector 30. We are
scanning CCTV footage to trace
who droppedoff thebaby.Sofar,
no complaint has been re-
ceived," said Azad Singh Tomar,
SHO of sector 39 police station.
On Friday, doctors at the hos-
Kejriwal addresses the webcast on Friday
ber of students," he said.
Kejriwal said that in Delhi,
around 2.5 lakh students pass
Class XII every year, of which
TOUCHDOWN
A decommissioned Boeing 737-200 in the parking lot of Gardenia Galleria in Noida Sector 38. The aircraft will be converted
into a food and beverages outlet, along with a flight simulator for kids, by mid-December, officials said. Abhinav Saha
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
AMID PROTESTS by healthcare
workers of Hindu Rao Hospital
over pending salaries, the AAP
Friday released an internal com-
munication of the BJP-led North
MCD, showing that the corpora-
tion hadmulledhanding over its
hospitalstothe Centre in2018to
reduce "annual financial bur-
den" of up to Rs 600 crore.
AAP leader Durgesh Pathak
Friday released a document,
dated July 28, 2018, prepared by
the North corporation's health
department, which had sug-
gested that the proposal be
placed before the standing com-
mittee of the MCD for approval.
WhileanMCDspokesperson
said that the proposal being re-
ferredtowasturneddownbythe
standingcommittee,Pathaksaid
thatif thecorporationwasready
tohandoverthemanagementof
the hospitals to the Centre ear-
lier, it should not resist the pro-
posalof theDelhigovernmentto
take over the facilities now.
The document said that
keeping the financial crunch
faced by the civic body in mind,
"it is not possible for the health
pital told The Indian Express that
the boy is underweight at 1.8 kg.
A True Nat test was also carried
out which returned negative for
Covid. The boy's platelets range
around 91,000 and a course of
antibiotics have been started.
"Theinfanthasnotdisplacedany
signs of fever or pneumonia but
will remain admitted and under
observation for a few days," said
a doctor.
Inthehospitalcorridor,acou-
ple patiently waited. "We came
around 1.25 lakh are able to get
admission in Delhi colleges.
"Where will the other 1.25
lakhstudentsgo?Thismeansfor
Doctors from Hindu Rao protest at Jantar Mantar Friday
department to continue to run
these institutions as per public
expectations”.
"Therefore, it is suggested
that all hospitals including the
medical college may be handed
over to the Central government
so that adequate amounts of re-
sources can be infused in for
upgradation and smooth func-
tioningof theseinstitutions.This
willbeinpublicinterest...,"itsaid.
The note, addressed to the
then commissioner of the cor-
poration, added that MCD insti-
tutions have been handed over
to the Delhi government in the
CORONAVIRUS
IN THE CAPITAL
Delhi students, there is only 50%
capacity; two people are fight-
ing for each seat. There is a need
to open many universities and
colleges in Delhi. We (Delhi gov-
ernment) are ready to make the
investment, open colleges but
there is a big legal hurdlein front
of us," he said.
Kejriwal said DU has 91 affil-
iated colleges and institutions
and IP University has 127 affili-
ated institutions and colleges.
"The DU Act was made by
Britishers in 1927. In the Act, it is
written that if any new college is
openedinDelhi,itcanonlybeaf-
filiated to DU and no other uni-
versity... In the last 30 years, DU
has opened no new college. It's
not possible also as their capac-
ity is full,” he said.
"In 1998, there was a slight
amendment where it was said
past as well and went on to
name the Fire Brigade, Delhi
Vidyut Board, Delhi Jal Board,
among others.
"Thehandingoverof thehos-
pitals and medical college will
reduce the annual financial bur-
den of North DMC by about Rs
500-600 crore, which can be
utilised for augmentation and
improvementof remainingpub-
lic services," it said.
"The AAP believes that it's a
criminal act on the BJP's end to
not hand over these hospitals to
theDelhigovernmentdespitean
open invitation," Pathak said.
toknowthroughourfriendinthe
apartment complex that an in-
fant has been found. We know
it'salongprocessbutwewantto
try adopting him,” the couple
told The Indian Express.
Before police arrived at the
apartment complex Thursday
night,acrowdhadgatherednear
The baby was taken to the
Child Super Speciality
hospital in Sector 30
that along with DU, colleges can
alsobeaffiliatedtoIPUniversity...
Herealsothecapacityisfull.Soit
is necessary to change this law
madebythe British.Thecountry
has moved miles ahead. Our
children need higher education.
We have improved school infra-
structure but we now want to
open many more colleges and
universities," he said.
In his letter to Pokhriyal on
Friday,Kejriwalsaidhehasasked
for deletion of section 5(2) “so
that new colleges and universi-
ties can open in Delhi".
"Students from all over the
country come to Delhi to study,
we need to open colleges and
universities for them too. I hope
thattheCentralgovernmentwill
deliberate on this issue, and do
away with this colonial law," he
said.
EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
A 47-YEAR-OLD woman fell off a
moving autorickshaw and was
dragged on the road for a few
metres while resisting a snatch-
ing attempt by two bike-borne
men in South Delhi's Sarai Kale
Khan.Theincident tookplace on
Tuesdayandthewoman,Varsha,
who works as a Child
Development officer for the
Delhi government, was injured,
police said.
The woman told police that
she was on her way home after
leaving from her office in Sunder
Nagar around 4 pm.
“The accused came from be-
hind and attempted to snatch
her bag while she was seated in
the auto. She held onto the bag
even after falling from the vehi-
cle and being dragged on the
road for a few metres. The ac-
cused then left the bag and fled
the spot,” said an officer.
The woman, who sustained
injuries on her head, was rushed
to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.
Police said the woman is stable
tower 8 after his muffled cries
were heard by a resident. At the
hospital on Friday afternoon, a
doctor said a request to Child
helpline officials has been sent
regarding the baby. Childline, a
nodal agency of the Ministry of
Women and Child
Development, has been notified
with regards to the transfer of
the infant to a different facility.
Satya Prakash, Programme
Manager,FXB IndiaSuraksha,an
NGO coordinating Childline ac-
New Delhi
TOTAL CASES HOSPITAL BEDS
3,24,459 VENTILATORS
Daily cases Recoveries
Oct 15
Oct 16
3,483
3,428
2,755
3,197
Total 22,814* 2,95,699
Festive season
approaching, govt
firm on stand to
reserve Covid ICUs
Tells HC 50% of beds across city will still
remain available to non-Covid patients
SOFIAHSAN
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THEDELHIgovernmentonFriday
told the Delhi High Court that
morethan50percentofICUbeds
in 168 major private hospitals of
the capital will remain available
for non-Covid patients even
when 80 per cent of the beds are
reserved for Covid patients in 33
of those health institutions.
TheHClastmonthhadstayed
the government order in which
the state directed 33 major hos-
pitalstoreserve80percentofICU
beds for Covid patients, in a peti-
tion filed by Association of
HealthcareProviders(India).The
government, in its September 12
order, had also permitted the 33
hospitals to increase their total
bed capacity by 30 per cent.
During the resumed hearing,
Additional Solicitor General
Sanjay Jain sought modification
of thestayorder,ashesubmitted
that cases are likely to go up in
wake up of the upcoming festive
season. However, Justice Navin
Chawla adjourned the matter to
November 18 to allow the peti-
tioner to respond to the govern-
ment reply. Advocate Sanyam
Khetarpal for the Association of
Healthcare Providers sought a
week’s time to file the reply.
The government in a reply
told the court that there are
1,263 registered hospitals and
nursing homes — 88 govern-
ment and 1,175 private — in the
state. There are 168 registered
private hospitals, including the
33 in question, which have a ca-
pacity of 25 or more beds. The
total capacity of ICU beds comes
to 3,239 in these 168 hospitals.
The order is not applicable to
more than 1,100 health institu-
tions, leaving them specifically
to cater to the needs of non-
Covid patients, as per the reply.
“Ifallthe168privatehospitals
nowandtheinvestigatingofficer
has taken her statement.
Varsha’s husband, R B Sagar,
said he works for the Ministry of
Defence as a section officer. “On
Tuesday, I was home when I re-
ceived a call about the accident.
WewenttoAIIMSandfoundthat
Varsha sustained injuries on her
headandwasunconscious.There
was a blood clot inside her head,
whichisbeingtreatednow.Sheis
feelingbetterandalsospoketothe
police.Wewantpolicetocatchthe
culprits soon. Such incidents
should not happen,” said Sagar.
The auto driver, who takes
Varsha to her office every day,
rushed her to the hospital and
also informed the family.
DCP (Southeast) R P Meena
said,“Wereceivedacallfromthe
spot on the day of the incident.
When the IO reached, he found
that an auto driver took the in-
jured woman to the hospital.
Initially, a road traffic accident
casewasregistered.Afterwetook
theautodriver’sstatement,acase
was registered under IPC section
394 (voluntarily causing hurt in
committingrobbery)againstun-
known persons”.
tivities, told The Indian Express,
"In all these years of rescuing
abandoned children, this is the
first time I have come across the
case of a child being abandoned
andfoundinahigh-rise."Hesaid
"there is a good chance that the
parents might be found”.
"We are looking to shift the
child to the government district
hospital adjacent to the Child
Speciality Hospital.. He is too
young to be kept in a shelter
home,” he said.
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
Total Vacant
15,704 10,673
1,352 619
*Total active cases
Deaths Tests
26
22
55,891
58,145
5,946 38,85,309
areconsideredtogether,thetotal
ICU beds available for non-Covid
patientswouldcometo1,712out
of3,239,whichismorethan50%,”
the reply filed through the state
Director General of Health
ServicesDrNutanMundejareads,
addingthatinformationonavail-
ability of ICU beds for non-Covid
patients in all these 168 private
hospitals will be shown on the
Delhi Corona App in real-time.
It also said that the Covid-19
ICU bed capacity has increased
by 556 beds — from 875 on
September 9 to 1,431 on
September 22 — in the 33 hos-
pitals as a result of the
September 12 order, and almost
500 patients have been able to
secure admission in the beds
there on the strength of that
state order. The situation would
have been “alarming” had these
hospitals not been directed to
increase the number of ICU
beds in the hospital at appropri-
ate time, the government said
in the reply.
Explaining its decision, the
government said some of the
top 33 private institutions had
an occupancy of Covid-19 ICU
beds ranging from 0-35% on
September 1 and the same
jumped to as high as 96-100%
on September 11. After the gov-
ernment order on September
12, as per the reply, the occu-
pancy of Covid-19 patients
grew rapidly in the 33 hospitals
— from 715 out of 875 to 1,098
out of 1,431 total Covid ICU beds
in the 33 hospitals.
Thestatealsosaidthatnopa-
tient suffering from a critical ill-
nessotherthanCovid-19hasob-
jected to the government order
or complained of having been
harassed or deprived of neces-
sary medical treatment. It also
said that out of the total Covid
hospitalisation cases of 5,676 on
October 7, 1,173 cases pertain to
those from outside Delhi.
Journalist, 2
others allege
assault by
policeman
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
AROUND 40 people, including
student activists and the family
of a girl found dead at her em-
ployer'sresidenceearlyOctober,
protested outside Model Town
police station Friday. While the
familyof thegirl,adomestichelp,
alleges she was raped and mur-
deredbyheremployer,policesay
she committed suicide and have
initiated inquest proceedings.
AhanJoshuaPenkar(24),are-
porter with The Caravan maga-
zine who was covering the
protest, alleged that around 3.15
pm, he was detained and later
beaten up by ACP Ajay Kumar. A
22-year-oldDelhiUniversitystu-
dent,RavinderSingh,alsoalleged
he was kicked and slapped by
Kumar, and his turban came off.
AnotherDUstudent,RajveerKaur
(25), alleged police "detained 10
people, including the reporter...
They beat him up even when we
said he is a mediaperson."
In a late-night complaint to
Commissioner of Police S N
Shrivastava, Penkar alleged,
"...ACPKumarkicked(me)onthe
facefirstand I felltotheground...
The ACP kicked me on my back
and my shoulders... Also
stamped my ankle."
He further alleged, "I saw the
ACP slap one person twice, then
made him lie on the ground and
punched him in the liver repeat-
edly, and then put his foot on the
man's neck." Penkar said he has
injury marks on his nose, neck
and back, and that an FIR be reg-
istered.
ACP Kumar refused to com-
ment on the allegations. DCP
(Northwest) Vijayanta Arya de-
nied the allegations: "No one
was beaten up, some people
were detained. We have not re-
ceived a complaint yet and if we
receive one, we will conduct an
inquiry."
 5 DECISION
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

2020
BIHAR
‘I ALWAYS THINK IN TERMS OF 12 CR PEOPLE OF BIHAR’ FOR MORE LOG ON TO
INDIANEXPRESS.COM/ELECTIONS

‘Poverty is the only caste... Need ● KEY PLAYERS

to focus on overall development’

WHY TEJASHWI DIDN’T
CONCEDE SEATS TO ALLIES?

● WHO’S WHERE TODAY

CHIRAG PASWAN speaks to SANTOSH SINGH about his father’s advice to be a “sher ka bachcha” and PAPPUYADAV TEJASHWI YADAV IN BANKA, JAMUI;
THE ‘PATHIK’ MANOJ TIWARI IN BHOJPUR
focusing on state politics, calls Modi his ideal, and says differences with JD(U) have been growing for long
Youwillhitthepoliticalarenaforthefirst
timewithoutyourfather...
My father had put everything in place for
Chirag only a vote katua, HASHTAG POLITICS
mebeforeheleft. Hewouldoftentellme,‘Sher
kabachchajunglecheerkarapnaraastabanata
haiaurgidadmaarajatahai(Alion’scubmakes
should stop confusing: BJP ● Tejashwi Yadav releases new song Apna
hiswaythroughthejunglewhileatimidjackal with NDTV that he had discussed his plans Adhikaar
gets killed)’. I would prefer to be a lion’s son. LIZ MATHEW to put up candidates against the JD(U) with
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16 both Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP The RJD leader @yadavtejashwi
Yourfatherwasmoreinvolvedinnational president J P Nadda. He said when he spoke released a new video Hum to lekar
politics.Doyouplantofocusonstate? AS LOK JANSHAKTI PARTY chief Chirag to Shah about it, the latter was “silent”. rahenge apna adhikaar to attack
Definitely...Therehasbeentoomuchfocus Paswan continues reiterating hisadmiration Paswan had also challenged Kumar to con- Nitish Kumar government's
oncastepolitics(inBihar).Whatisthispolitics for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his test the Assembly elections, asking why he
“kushashan”, which gave “(police)
ofrechristeningDalittoMahadalit?Povertyis ties with the National Democratic Alliance had not participated in one since 2005
the only caste... It is good to work on ways to at the Centre, even while attacking the JD(U) (Kumar is an MLC). beatings for job demands,
improvepercapitaincomeofScheduledCaste and Nitish Kumar, the BJP Friday stepped up It has been suggested that the LJP has punishment instead of protection,
communities but there has to be more focus its efforts to distance itself from him. been attacking the JD(U) at the behest of the destitution instead of welfare”.
on overall development index. “ChiragPawanwantstocreateconfusion. BJP, as the latter tries to emerge as the sen-
In Bihar, the BJP, ior partner. A section 48KVIEWS,7.6KLIKES,1.5KRETWEETS,32KLIKES&3.8KSHARESONFBIN10HOURS
ButevenleaderssuchasJagjivanRamand JD(U), VIP of the BJP had
yourfathercouldnotshedcastetags?
Ialwaysthinkintermsofthe12crorepeo-
(Vikassheel Insaan
Party) and HAM
RALLY WATCH: PM MODI wanted the LJP as a
partner, given its 5 Praising the political entry of son @LuvSinha as Congress’ Bankipur (Patna) nominee,
ple of Bihar. I have taken inspiration from PM (Hindustani Awam TO ADDRESS 12 RALLIES per cent support actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) tweeted, “Bihari Babu's son” is
Narendra Modi. He addressed all 125 crore Morcha) are in the base, especially the “most deserving actor, filmmaker” who's “courageous, positive and energetic”.
Indiansduringthe2014LokSabhacampaign. NDA.Wedonothave among the Dalits in 794 LIKES, 135 RETWEETS IN 7 HOURS
I am proud to use Bihari before my name. My any alliance with the the state.
friends told me to say ‘Biharwasi (resident of LJP nor is it a part of 10 Speaking to The
Bihar)’, but I protested... ‘Bihari’ being used as the NDA. Chirag 8 Indian Express, BJP

Cong worry: Hasn’t won

a derogatory term, there has been enough of Paswan should not 5 4 12 state president
that. There is a need to take the entire state ‘I can’t be separate from BJP and PM. be confused nor Sanjay Jaiswal de-
along and focus on development. Want BJP-led LJP govt in Bihar.’ Express spread confusion,” 7 9 11 nied any truck with
BJPgeneral secretary 6 the LJP, saying the

45 of 70 seats in 20 years
What went wrong between the JD (U) in-charge of Bihar 3 BJP and JD(U) “enjoy
and LJP? WhatabouttalksthattheLJPhastheBJP’s Bhupender Yadav 1 2 warm ties” and have
The LJP and JD(U) have not been together supportinBihar? tweeted. a “deep understand-
since2005…TheJD(U)triedtodefeatusonall IhaveblindfaithinthePM.Icannotbesep- Yadav called ing”.Jaiswalalsosaid
our six seats (in 2019; the LJP won all)... I had arate from the BJP, PM. I have often told Amit Paswan’sremarkson OCTOBER23: NOVEMBER1: the BJP would ap-
seen my father calling the CM to Shahji to let me contest alone in Nitish Kumar — who 1.Sasaram 7.Chapra proach the Election MANOJCG
complain about it. We had taken Bihar... I want a double-engine, heads the NDA coali- 2.Gaya 8.EastChamparan Commission if the NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
it up with the BJP’s top central BJP-led government in Bihar. tion in Bihar — “un- 3.Bhagalpur 9.Samastipur LJP used Modi’s
leadership too... Nitish Kumar fortunate.” “Chirag OCTOBER28: NOVEMBER3: name in the polls. ON PAPER, the apprehension among a sec-
does not trust anyone. He does THE EXPRESS Thereisalsospeculation has contested Lok 4.Darbhanga 10.WestChamparan However, party tion of the Congress of the RJD giving it a bad

INTERVIEW
nottrusteventheBJP.Itisthelack aboutyoubecomingaUnion Sabhaelectioninthis 5.Muzaffarpur 11.Saharsa sources admitted bargain in the 70 seats allotted to it as part of
oftrustthatmadetheBJPsaythat ministeraftertheBiharpolls. coalition... In 6.Patna 12.Forbesganj there is confusion theMahagathbandhan,seemstobejustified.
Nitish would be CM irrespective WITH My focus is Assembly polls. February, he was among BJP workers The constituencies the party is contesting
of which party wins more seats. CHIRAG praising the Nitish overtheexactnature from finally became evident Friday evening
He knows he is winning lesser PASWAN HowdoyouseetheBJPversus Kumargovernment... of the ties with the when it released its list at the end of some
number of seats than the BJP. LJP PRESIDENT LJPcontestonsomeseats? Now he is indulging in politics of lies for his LJP. Said a party leader: “His remarks will not hard-nosed negotiations with the RJD.
It is a friendly fight. We will personal interests.” only create confusion but also hurt our Of the 70 seats, the Congress has not won Bankipur candidate Luv Sinha with
Whatisthestorybehind contest only on five (such) seats. The BJP also fielded Union minister prospects.” 45 in the last two decades, with 12 won by ei- mother before filing nomination. ANI
NitishKumar’sclaimthattheJD(U)helped I had given a list of 38 seats to J P Naddaji and I Prakash Javadekar to take on Paswan. “We The JD(U) has made its displeasure evi- thertheBJPoritsallyJD(U).In18ofthe70,even
RamVilasPaswangettheRajyaSabha am happy most of those are with the JD(U)… want to make it clear that we have no rela- dentandhas been stressingthat the BJP clar- CongresspartnerRJDhasnotwonin20years.
seat? IwanttoseeaBJP-ledLJPgovernmentinBihar. tions with the LJP and we do not like this ify the matter unambiguously. Twenty-threeoftheseatsintheCongress’s faces include Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani, for-
I remember the Lok Sabha seat-sharing politics of spreading confusion,” he told the The BJP had earlier expelled nine of its sharearethoseithadwonlasttime.Ithashad merpresidentoftheAligarhMuslimUniversity
was announced inthe presence of the CM by HowdoyouseeTejashwiYadav? media in Delhi. Saying the NDA would win leaderswhoarecontestingagainstNDAcan- to cede four seats it won in 2015 to allies and Student’s Union, who had been a prominent
Amit Shah. On the day of my father's Rajya HeistheLeaderof theOppositionanddo- three-fourth majority in the state, Javadekar didates, some on the LJP ticket. The LJP re- hasgottwoseatsfromwheretheRJDhadwon. face in the anti-CAA-NRC protests early this
Sabha nomination, we got a call from the ing my job. My entire focus is on the CM and said, “The LJP is nothing but a vote katua leased its second list of 53 candidates on Congress sources accepted that some of year. Usmani has been fielded from the Jale
CM’s House saying he had no knowledge to ensure that he does not return to the post. (vote eater), and is not going to make Friday. On five seats, the LJP and BJP will fight theseseatswouldbeverydifficultforthemto seat in Dharbhanga district.
about thenomination. Myfather wenttothe any impact.” eachother,andChiragPaswanhassaidthese win,butaretakingheartfromthefactthatthe While nearly half of the Congress candi-
CM's House. The CM was trying to assert his WilltheLJPallywiththeBJPinBihar? The BJP leaders’ attack against Paswan would be “friendly contests” between the partyhassomegoodcandidatesthere.Forin- dates are from the general category — 11
supremacy. It was an insult to my father. Of course, yes. The JD(U) is on its way out. came a day after he claimed in an interview two parties. stance, it has fielded former JD(U) veteran Bhumihars, nine Brahmins and Rajputs each,
SharadYadav’sdaughterSubhashinifromthe and four Kayasths (33 in all) — the party has
JD(U) stronghold of Bihariganj seat in fieldedninecandidateswhoareOBCs,14who
I Hereby Declare COVID SHIELD IN BIHAR POLLS
Madhepura, while ex-LJP leader Kali Prasad
Pandey has been fielded from Kuchaikote
are Scheduled Castes and two who belong to
Extremely Backward Classes.
Assembly seat in Gopalganj. It is also banking The constituencies with sitting Congress
on former Bollywood star and ex-BJP leader MLAs where the party is not contesting this
ShatrughanSinha’ssonLuvtogetittractionin time are Bhorey, Bachhwara, Manjhi and
Bankipur,whichhasbeenwiththeBJPforlong. Gobindpur, which have gone to allies RJD and
The Congress had contested 41 Assembly thethreeLeftparties.TheRJDhasgivenittwo
TOTAL HANDSANITISER THREEPLY FACE HAND PPEKIT HANDHELDIR seatsin2015,whentheMahagathbandhanin- of its sitting seats, Raja Pakar and Sakra.
(100ML) MASK SHIELD GLOVES THERMOMETER cluded the JD(U), and won 27. In the 2019 Lok Of32ofthe38seatsintheCongress’sshare
StatePoliceforce 67,830 67,830 135,660 67,830 135,660 NA NA Sabhapollsthough,theCongresshadwonjust fromwhereithadnotcontestedlasttime,the
(perphase) (pairs) one seat, the Muslim-dominated Kishanganj, partyhasonlywonVaishali(2000)andHisua
CentralPolice NA 563,310 1,126,620 563,310 1,126,620 NA NA inBihar,withtherest39goingtotheBJP-JD(U)- (2005) in the last 20 years. Six of the 38 seats
force(tentative) (units) (pairs) LJPNDAcombine.ManyintheRJDhadargued cameintoexistenceafterdelimitationin2008,
JITANRAMMANJHI at the time that the party might have erred in andhavebeenwonbyeitherJD(U)orBJPsince.
Hindustani Awam Morcha, Imamganj Polling 766,994 766,994 4,601,964 766,994 2,300,982 639,162 106,527 giving too many seats (9) to the Congress. Nineteenamongthese38seatswerewon
MLA (re-contesting) Personnel (6unitseach, (3pairs (1perpollstation, ThosefromtheCongressengagedintalks by the JD(U) in 2015, when it contested in al-
3days) each) tobetransferred withtheRJDarguethatithasmanagedtoget liance with the RJD and Congress. Some of
phasetophase) a fair bargain. them, like Supaul, Maharajganj, Nalanda,
TOTAL ASSETS
(CANDIDATE & SPOUSE)
Voters 72,100,000 NA NA NA 72,100,000 NA NA The Congress list is also marked by a pref- Harnaut and Sultanganj, have been JD(U)
(singleuse) erence for young candidates — with the aver- strongholds for two decades.
` 44.38 LAKH PollingStations 106,527 ageage,sourcessaid,47.5.Asmanyas39ofthe Also,ofthe70seatswiththeCongress,the
70 candidates are below 50 years of age. BJP has not lost seven — Chanpatia, Raxaul,
ASSETSIN2015(26%DECREASE)
Source: Election Commission of India Thepartyhasfieldedsevenwomencandi- PatnaSahib,Lakhisarai,Purnia,Gayatownand
` 60 LAKH dates, and 12 Muslim nominees. Its Muslim Ramnagar — in 20 years.
MOVABLE ASSETS
` 32.38 LAKH
Assets 2015 2020
BIHAR OUTSIDE BIHAR MUMBAI

‘No help ahead of polls, what hope is there for next 5 yrs?’
Cashinhand 85,000 88,500
Bankbalance 33.52lakh 18.34lakh
Stocks&bonds NIL NIL
Otherinvestment NIL NIL
Jewellery 3.5lakh 4.6lakh idents of Mumbai, and over 29 lakh in being offered any help, how do we expect
Vehicle 7.2lakh 6.6lakh SADAFMODAK MaharashtrawereborninBihar.Thisdoesnot them to remember us for five years?”
Other 3lakh 1.95lakh MUMBAI,OCTOBER16 include the seasonal migrant workers who ForDas,42,hisstruggleintheearlydaysof
Total 48.07 lakh 32.38 lakh traveltothestateeveryyear.Sincetheun-lock- thelockdown,whenhewasstuckinMumbai
IMMOVABLEASSETS FOR THE past few months Gudiya Saha has down, 17 trains have been running between fortwomonths,cameasabigdisappointment.
been following the news on actor Sushant Bihar and Mumbai, including three daily. “We made so many calls to state helplines, to
` 12 LAKH SinghRajput’sdeath.“Butthatwillnotdecide Whilethereisnodataonmigrantworkersre- localleaderspleadingthattheymakearrange-
Assets 2015 2020 whom I vote for in the elections,” says the 36- turningfromBihar,officialssaidtheoccupancy ments for us to return home. No one helped
Agriland NIL NIL year-old who lives in Mumbai’s Versova area of the trains has been a 100 per cent. us.Wetookloanstoreachhome.Butthereisno
Non-agriland NIL NIL with her husband and three children. Evenasmigrantworkersarefindingithard work here either,” he says.
Commercial NIL NIL During the lockdown, says Saha, her elec- to make ends meet in Mumbai, those who “The situation that these workers found
Residential. 12lakh 12lakh trician husband, like many from the state in have returned to Bihar echo similar struggles. themselvesinduringthelockdownisboundto
Other NIL NIL the western suburbs of the city, found it very “Thereisnotevenasmallsui-dhaaga(nee- haveanimpactonthepolls.Manyworkersare
Total 12 lakh 12lakh difficulttoearnaliving.“Wehadtodependon dle-thread) factory set up by the government nowreturningtoMumbai,”saysCongressMLA
the ration being distributed. We have no sav- inBihartogiveusemployment.Tenofuswho from Bandra East Zeeshan Siddiqui whose
LIABILITIES ings left. For me that is a bigger concern than worked as daily wage labourers in Kherwadi family hails from Gopalganj in Bihar.
` 21,317 whom to vote for,” says Saha, sitting in her area of Mumbai have finally got tickets from SaysJD(U)leaderDeveshThakurwhoshut-
small home in a chawl that has migrant fami- an NGO to return to the city in November. We tlesbetweenMumbaiandBiharandhasbeen
(Govt dues) lies from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other dis- Migrant workers return to Mumbai after the lockdown was lifted. File havenooption.Whatwehavebeenthroughin organising Bihar Day celebrations in the city,
CRIMINAL CASES trictsofMaharashtra.Manyintheneighbour- Bihar will decide whom we vote for,” says “It was not possible to please everyone then.
6 pending, including 3 dealing hood work in the film industry. Gopal Das over the phone from Bhagalpur. NooneintheworldwaspreparedforCovid-19,
with violation of Model Code of But, she says, “I will go back to Patna to production unit, says he has managed to find linked to our reality,” says Brijkishore whose Adds his colleague, Manoj Kumar, “Even billions were affected.”
Conduct during elections in 2014 votesoon,”sheadds.Thefamilyhasbeenliv- workonlytwicesincethelockdown.“Wehave family of four is surviving on 20 kg ration in the quarantine centre (in Bihar) where we The JD(U) leader also insists that the
and 2015 ing in Mumbai for 10 years. beendependingonhelpfromsomeof theac- (wheat or rice) and financial assistance pro- were kept for two weeks, the treatment SushantSinghRajputcasewillnotbeanelec-
Herneighbour,BrijkishoreSaha,anativeof tors.Nopoliticianhasvisitedus.Whatisshown vided by a production firm to film workers. meted out to us was bad. It shows how little tionissue.“Itwasanunfortunateincident.The
Bihar’sVaishalidistrict,whoworkswithafilm onthenewsabout(aboutRajput’sdeath)isnot As per the 2011 Census, over two lakh res- we are cared for. If ahead of polls we are not police will decide what is true,” he added.

New Delhi
 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

6 GOVT & POLITICS

THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

17 BIOFORTIFIED CROP VARIETIES DEDICATED TO NATION Giriraj Singh calls

PM:Willsoondecideonrevising Congress candidate
minageofmarriageforwomen
DELHI CONFIDENTIAL
‘Jinnah sympathiser’

E
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
61.1% to 75.04%. It's also during PATNA, OCTOBER 16

HARIKISHAN SHARMA
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
PRIMEMINISTERNarendraModi
said Friday that the government
will take a decision soon on re-
vising the minimum age of mar-
riage for women once it receives
a report from the committee
constituted for this purpose.
NECESSARY STEPS Addressingavideoconference
afterreleasingacommemorative
UNION HEALTH Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan is a worried man. coinofRs75denominationonthe
Over the coming months, the minister has said, the spread of 75th anniversary of the Food and
theCovid-19pandemicislikelytoworsen,primarilyduetotwo Agriculture Organisation (FAO),
reasons:thewintermonths,whenexpertsexpectthevirustobe thePrimeMinisteralsoreiterated
morevirulent,andthecomingfestivalseason.OnFriday,Vardhan thatgovernmentprocurementon
met heads of the Department of Science and Technology and the minimum support price will
the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to discuss how continue.
physical distancing norms can be maintained during the “next On the age of marriage, Modi
fewcrucialmonths”,andwhetheritispossibletodevelopa“jan said: “Necessary discussion is
andolan” – or mass movement – to impose these. going on to decide what should
be the ideal age of marriage for
daughters. I also get letters from
NO POSITIVE, THIS suchconsciousdaughtersacross
the country who ask to decide it
SENIOR CONGRESS leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya quickly, and ask why the com-
Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad may not be able to campaign in mittee'sreporthasnotcomeyet.
Bihar, at least during the first phase of the Assembly elections. I assure all those daughters that
He tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. Azad had cam- the government will take action
paigned extensively intheSeemanchalregionlasttime. Three on the report very soon.”
other senior Congress leaders -- Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora On June 2 this year, the Union
and R P N Singh -- are recovering after having tested positive Ministry for Women and Child
forcoronavirus.FormerpartypresidentRahulGandhiislearnt Developmentsetupataskforceto
to have spoken with Azad and inquired about his health. examinethepossibilityofincreas-
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi at the video
conference on Friday. ANI
ingtheageofmarriageforwomen
from18to21asameasuretolower
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
and improve nutritional levels,
apartfromotherinitiatives.
In his speech, the PM also
listedgovernmentinitiativeslike
Jal Jeevan Mission, Mission
Indradhanush, Swachh Bharat
Mission and National Nutrition
Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan) for
the “nutrition and care” and
health of children and women.
“We have adopted an inte-
gratedandholisticapproach.We
started working on a multi-di-
mensional strategy by abolish-
ing the silos,” he said.
“Today, sanitation pads are
being provided to the poor sis-
ters and daughters of the coun-
tryforRe1.Oneeffectof allthese
E X P L A I NE D
this period that the enrolment
gap between girls and boys nar-
What the law rowed significantly and eventu-
● says on age allyledtogirlsovertakingboysin
secondaryeducation.Theenrol-
SECTION 5(III) of Hindu mentnumbersforgirls,however,
Marriage Act, 1955, sets 18 have plateaued ever since, hov-
years as the minimum age ering between 74% and 75%. For
for the bride and 21 for the 2019,theenrolmentratioforgirls
groom. Child marriages in secondary education stood at
can be declared void at the
request of the minor. In
74.52% and for boys at 73.14%.
Allaying concerns of farmers
Islam, marriage of a minor about the new farm laws, the
who has attained puberty Prime Minister reiterated that
is considered valid. The thegovernmentwouldcontinue
Special Marriage Act, to procure on the MSP.
1954, and Prohibition of “MSP and government pro-
Child Marriage Act, 2006, curement are an important part
also prescribe 18 and 21 of the country's food security.
years as minimum age of Therefore, it is very important
consent for marriage that it should be well-managed
for women and men, scientifically and with good
respectively. management, it should con-
tinue, and we are committed to
efforts is that for the first time in
this,” he said.
The Prime Minister also ded-
thecountry,thegrossenrolment icated to the nation 17 recently
ratio of daughters for education developedbiofortifiedvarietiesof
has been much higher than crops. He said common varieties
sons,” Modi said. of some crops lacked some mi-
According to UNESCO, the cronutrients and, therefore, bio-
Gross Enrolment Ratio of (GER) fortifiedvarietiesweredeveloped
girls in secondary education in toovercometheseshortcomings.
India registered an increase be-
tween 2010 and 2014 — from www.indianexpress.com
BJP BEGUSARAI MP and Union
minister of state Giriraj Singh on
Friday accused the Congress of
fielding a "sympathiser" of
Mohammad Ali Jinnah from the
Jale seat in Darbhanga district, Giriraj Singh
and asked whether the
Mahagathbandhansupportsthe
ideology of the Pakistan leader. controversy had arisen during
Singh also supported recent re- Usmani'stermasheadof thestu-
marks of another Union minis- dents'unionwhenalocalBJPMP
terof statefromBihar,Nityanand had demanded removal of
Rai, a few days ago that Bihar Jinnah'sphotofromtheunionof-
wouldbecome"a shel- fice. The AMU had de-
ter for terrorists" if the fended the photo, point-
RJD was voted to ing out that Jinnah was
power. the founder member of
Talking toreporters theUniversityCourtand
at the BJP office here, grantedlifemembership
Singh said the Grand
Allianceshouldexplain
DECISION of itsThe students' union.
Congress re-
its position on the can- 2020 sponded saying "it
didature of Maskoor
BIHAR would not allow the BJP
Usmani. "Let us know to digress from the core
if the Congress's Jale candidate, issue of development" and chal-
Usmani, supports Jinnah? Will lenged the Centre to take action
SharjeelImam(of Jehanabadori- against Usmani if he was guilty.
gin, who is in jail under the BiharCongressspokesperson
UAPA), will be the Grand Rajesh Rathore said, "We do not
Alliance's star campaigner?" attach importance to someone
FormerAMUStudents'Union who is foul-mouthed... Giriraj
president, Usmani, who belongs Singhhasbeen keepingquiet for
FULLREPORTON to Darbhanga, had been booked the last six months during the
under sedition charges in 2019 pandemic... Our candidate is not

GOING CYBER
by the Civil Lines Police Station, a convict and sedition charges
Aligarh,forallegedlyraisinganti- against him were dropped. The

CYBERSECURITY BEING on South Block’s list of priorities, the

ForeignServiceInstitute,whichtrainsIndiandiplomats,hasin-
Cong back to Divide India dirty tricks: national slogans. The police had BJP is in government at the
later said it was considering Centre. It can expedite the case
dropping the charges. In 2018, a against our candidate (if it can)."
troduced a course in 'Cyber Security', being conducted by the
GujaratForensicSciencesUniversity.Asyoungdiplomatsheaded Nadda on Chidambaram’s J&K remark
to their postings, they have been asked to be extremely careful
about cyberattacks being the new challenge in diplomacy.
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
stitutional battle to restore the
rights of the people of Jammu,
UnionTerritories—discussedthe
issue and slammed the govern-
Chidambaram'sstatement,asen-
iorCongressfunctionarytoldThe
Army draft policy for
Phone tapping case: HC stays any
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16 Kashmir and Ladakh”,
Chidambaram tweeted, “The
ment, but was silent on restora-
tion of the special status.
Indian Express, “Only the CWC is
authorised to take a decision on rehab of local militants
pending with govt, says
HOURS AFTER former home Congressalsoresolutelystandsfor “Article 370 was conceived such matters and not individual
coercive action against Pilot aide minister P Chidambaram said
the Congress resolutely stands
restorationofthestatusandrights
ofthepeopleofJ&K.Thearbitrary
and crafted by Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
leaders. Yes we are a democratic
country and leaders can have

senior Army officer

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court phones of MLAs were being for restoration of the status and andunconstitutionaldecisionsof and B R Ambedkar, assisted by N their opinion. But the party’s
Fridaystayedanycoerciveaction tapped during the political crisis rights of the people of Jammu the Modi government of August Gopalaswamy Ayyangar and V P stance is decided by the CWC.”
by the state police against in the state. and Kashmir, BJP president J P 5, 2019 must be rescinded.” Menon. Article 370 is the Slamming the Congress,
Congress leader Sachin Pilot's Singh had approached the Nadda on Friday lashed out at Thestatementassumessignif- Constitutionalrecognitionof the Naddasaid,“SinceCongresshasno
mediamanager Lokendra Singh, courtlastweekseekingquashing the Opposition party, accusing it icance as the Congress Working terms of the Instrument of good governance agenda to talk approvedbytheHomeMinistry”
who was booked along with a of the FIR lodged against him on of deploying “Divide India dirty Committee had in its meeting on Accession between the State of about,theyarebacktotheir‘Divide KRISHN KAUSHIK and“isbetweentheDefenceand
journalist over reports that October 1. HAMZAKHAN tricks” ahead of Bihar elections. August 6 last year -- a day after Jammu & Kashmir and India. It India’dirtytricksbeforeBiharelec- SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 16 Home ministries” now.
While welcoming the “com- Parliamentratifiedthemovetore- deserved to be honoured until it tions. Shri Rahul Gandhi praises “People who have already
ing together of mainstream re- voke Jammu and Kashmir’s spe- wasamended,afterconsultation Pakistan and Shri Chidambaram THE ARMY has prepared a pol- joined, we are saying you can
GUJARAT MEDICAL SERVICES CORPORATION LIMITED gionalpartiesofJ&Ktofightacon- cialstatusandbifurcateitintotwo with all sections of the people, saysCongresswantsArticle370to icy for rehabilitationof Kashmiri come back. Mainly because you
(A Government of Gujarat Undertaking) and strictly in accordance with return!Shameful!” youth who had joined militancy heldagunandtookaphotodoes
Regd. Office: Block No. 14/1, Dr. Jivraj Mehta Bhavan, the Constitution of India,” the HisattackonRahulwasinre- but are willing to surrender. It is not mean you have to die. So,
Sector-10, Gandhinagar, CWChadsaid,withoutdemand- sponse to a tweet in which the part of the Army’s focus on sur- people who have got the
Ph. 079-23250767, 23250766, 23257698 ing restorationof thespecial sta- Congress leader said “even render of local militants, but it is weapon have also come back.
tus or revocation of the decision. Pakistan and Afghanistan han- yet to receive the final word on And that is bigger success to us.”
TENDER NOTICE : D-06/2020-2021 Asked to comment on dled Covid better than India”. the draft policy, which has been The XV Corps Commander
Tenders are invited online from reputed Manufacturers/formulators/direct submitted to the Ministry of said the Army “will be doing
Importers for purchase of Alphacypermethrin 5% wp on rate Home Affairs. more work on this issue of sur-
Speakingtosomejournalists, renders, because for us, getting
contract basis and details of specification, quantity is available on
XVCorpsCommanderLtGeneral a man back is more important
https://gmscl.gujarat.gov.in and www.statetenders.com. All B S Raju Friday said “the policy than neutralising him…”.
tender documents can be downloaded free on the website has been made, it has been sent, “We hope to, through our ac-
https://gmscl.nprocure.com & Tender Notice. Interested bidders it has gone up the chain” but “it tions, our reachout in a manner
are requested to submit the tender through e-tender process. has not yet come back”. where there should be little rea-
“The message I have given to son for people to take up arms…
Duration of downloading of tender document (online) :- the population is irrespective of Therearealargenumberof com-
17/10/2020 to 07/11/2020 upto 18.00 Hrs. the policy existing or not exist- ponents that play a part in it, so
Last date for submission (online): 07/11/2020 upto 18.00 HRS. ing, we are ready to go on board we are a very small part. This is
Last date for submission of physical document: and we will do what is appropri- somethingIhavesharedwiththe
09/11/2020 upto 18.00 HRS. ate. If the policy comes in, it will authorities here,” he said.
Opening of Technical Bid Date (online) 11/11/2020 at 15.00 HRS. give us more strength in offering Speaking about the number
INF/1116/2020 MANAGING DIRECTOR that as a viable option,” he said. of militants, both domestic and
Rajusaid“thereisalreadyone Pakistani, he said, north and
policy in place” for people “who south Kashmir “put together
hadgoneacrosstoPakistan”and have around 200” at the mo-
were allowed to come back. But ment “which was like 260 in the
the proposed policy, he said, “is beginningof theyear”.Heattrib-
for people who have taken up uted the reduced numbers to
armswithinthevalley”.Rajusaid “close synergy” between all se-
hewashopefulthat“itwillmake curity agencies.
some difference”. FULLREPORTON
He said “it (policy) has to be www.indianexpress.com

DIRECTORATE OF
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING, HARYANA
Gupkar alliance agenda
Nagar Yojana Bhavan, Plot No. 3, Block-A,
Sector 18-A, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh.
Tele. Fax: 0172-2548475; 0172-2549851
against India: J&K BJP
E-mail: tcpharyana7@gmail.com , Website www.tcpharyan.gov.in Raina on Friday accused the NC
Memo No. RCP-29-Vol-III/SD(DK)/2020 Dated
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE andPDPoffollowingdirectionsof
PUBLIC NOTICE JAMMU, OCTOBER 16 Pakistan and China to demand
restoration of Article 370, which
The sectoral plans of Sector- 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 63-A, 64,
65, 66, 67 & 67-A, Gurugram-Manesar Urban Complex- bearing CALLING THE Gupkar alliance an he said is next to impossible.
Drawing No. DTP(G)/2196/2014 dated 20.05.2014/09.10.2014 “agenda of anti-national forces He warned these parties of
was approved, which inter-alia includes Sector-64, Gurugram thatwanttodestabilisethesitua- “seriousramifications”if theytry
designated for Institutional/Open Space Zone. The approved sec- tion” in the Valley, Jammu and topushtheir“anti-Indiaagenda”.
toral plan have various Institutional sites including Medical Kashmir BJP president Ravinder A day after formation of a
College having area of 15 acres as per prevailing rules at the time
of approval of Sectoral Plan. joint alliance by NC, PDP and
The Government has revlsed area norms of Internal and other mainstream Kashmir-
External Community Buildings/Sites and policy Instruction in this IYf¹ffÊ»f¹f ³f¦fSX ´ffd»fIY d³f¦f¸f, ·fû´ff»f based politicians – formally
regard was issued vide Memo No. Misc- 1A/SD(BS)/2018/29016- ¹ffadÂfIY d½f·ff¦f (¸fb£¹ff»f¹f) ¦fûd½faQ´fbSXf (¶fe.E¨f.BÊX.E»f.) named ‘People’s Alliance for
18 dated 09.10.2018 in which the area for College site has also d³fd½fQf Af¸faÂf¯f §fû¿f¯ff-´fÂf Gupkar Declaration’ – the BJP
been reduced from 15.0 acres to 5.0 acres. Therefore,
Government has decided in-principle amend the sectoral plan
IiY. /¹ffa d½f/2020 ·fû´ff»f dQ³ffaIY 15/10/2020 convened a meeting of various
d³f¸³fd»fd£f°f d³f¸ffʯf I f¹fÊ WZ °fb Qû d»fR fR f ´fðdØf IZ A³fbÀffS ¸f.´fi. »fûI d³f¸ffʯf d½f·ff¦f ¸fZÔ IZ ³QieIÈ °f ½¹f½fÀ±ff IZ Aa°f¦fÊ°f ´faªfeIÈ °f NZ IZ QfS ´fSÀfZ³MZ ªf ¸fûWS ¶faQ d³fd½fQf¹fZÔ d³f²ffÊdS°f ´fi´fÂf ´fS Af³f»ffBÊ ³f
accordingly. A copy of earlier approved sectoral plan of Sector-64, Af¸fadÂf°f I e ªff°fe W` Ü social and religious organisa-
GMUC (Institutional/Open Space Zone) as well as proposed IiY. Afg³f»ffBÊX³f d³fd½fQf IiY. IYf¹fÊ IYf ³ff¸f A³fb¸ffd³f°f SXfdVf ²fSXûWXSX SXfdVf ´fi´fÂf IYf¹fÊ WZX°fb d³f²ffÊdSX°f EÀf.Aû.AfSX. IYf¹fÊ IYe
tions to focus on political devel-
revised sectoral plan having College site area of 5.0 acres has SXfdVf A½fd²f opments in Kashmir and forma-
been hosted on the Departmental website namely www.tcphar- tion of the alliance. At the
vana.gov.in.
1 2020_UAD_111194_1 CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL, 13751560/- 1,37,516/- 12500/- MPUADD BUILDING WORK 09 meeting, the participants called
Any person having objection to the proposed revision of sec-
toral plan of Sector-64, GMUC may file his/her objection alongwith
COMPLEX G+2 INFRONT OF T.T. ISSR 2012 AND MPUADD ROADS Month foraunitedfightagainstthe“ne-
NAGAR POLICE STATION (NEAR WORKS ISSR 2012
reasons in writing in the Office of Senior Town Planner, Gurugram MASJID) NEW MARKET WARD NO 32 farious designs” of the NC-PDP-
situated at HSVP Complex, Sector-14, Gurugram within a period ZONE NO 07 (2020200405) led alliance.
of 30 days from this notice. The objections received after lapse of All former BJP MLAs, MLCs
stipulated time period of 30 days will not be entertained. 1. d³fd½fQf ´fi´fÂf I e d³f²ffÊdS°f SfdVf E½fa ²fSûWS SfdVf E½fa A³¹f Af½fV¹fI QÀ°ff½fZªf Af³f»ffBÊ ³f ´fiÀ°fb°f I S³fZ WûÔ¦fZ E½fa A³¹f Àf¸fÀ°f d½fÀ°fÈ°f ªff³fI fSe www.mptenders.gov.in ´fS
QZ£fe ªff ÀfI °fe W` Ü and other senior leaders, includ-
Sd/-
(K. Makrand Pandurag, IAS)
2. dI Àfe ·fe d³fd½fQf I û À½feI fS A±f½ff AÀ½feI fS I S³fZ I f Ad²fI fS d½f·ff¦f IZ ´ffÀf ÀfbS dÃf°f Wû¦ffÜ ing J&K unit office-bearers par-
Dated: 16.10.2020 WXÀ°ff./-
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www.indianexpress.com

New Delhi

7 EXPRESS NETWORK
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
BRIEFLY
Shashi Tharoor
DELHI
Defamation
case:HCstays
proceedings
againstTharoor
NewDelhi:TheDelhiHigh
Court on Friday stayed
proceedings against
Congress MP Shashi
Tharoor in a defamation
case filed against him by
a Delhi BJP leader for the
former’s statement on
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi. The case relates to
Tharoor’s claim in
October 2018 that an un-
named RSS leader had al-
legedly told a journalist
that Modi was like a
“scorpion sitting on a
Shivling”. Delhi BJP vice-
president Rajiv Babbar, in
hiscomplaint saidhewas
aggrieved of the state-
ment made by Tharoor.
The single bench of
JusticeSureshKumarKait
also issued notice to the
complainant, and fixed
the case for next hearing
on December 9. ENS
CHHATTISGARH
2sportscentres
getSAInodfor
expansion
Raipur: Chhattisgarh has
received the go-ahead to
increase the existing facil-
ities at two state-based
sports training institutes
from the Sports Authority
of India (SAI) under the
Khelo India Scheme gov-
ernment officials said. A
hockeyacademyinRaipur
andan"excellencecenter"
in Bilaspur have been ap-
proved by the SAIand will
soon come into existence,
thestategovernmentsaid.
“We are already in the
process of finalising train-
ers and adding on better
facilities in the two cen-
ters,” a state government
official said. ENS
MADHYA PRADESH
Man’shead
recoveredin
Bengaluru
Betul: The head of a man
whose torso was recov-
ered from the railway
tracks near Betul in
Madhya Pradesh around
twoweeksback,waslater
found nearly 1,300 km
away in Bengaluru, as it
had got entangled in the
engine of Rajdhani ex-
presstrain,apoliceofficial
said on Friday. The man's
body, whose head and
some other parts were
missing, was found on
October 3 on the Machna
bridge near Betul by the
Government Railway
Police (GRP), he said. PTI
NGOs move SC
against CM-led
board overseeing
char dhams
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
TWONGOshaveapproachedthe
SupremeCourtagainstadecision
to entrust the administration of
the four ‘dhams’ in Uttarakhand
—Kedarnath,Badrinath,Gangotri
and Yamunotri — to a board
headed by the Chief Minister.
The groups, People For
Dharma and Indic Collective
Trust, challenged an
Uttarakhand High Court judge-
ment upholding the law made
by the BJP government in the
state in that regard.
TheHCjudgementhadcome
on a petition by BJP leader
Subramanian Swamy.
Journalist, 3 CFI men held on way to meet
victim kin named in another sedition case
MANISH SAHU
LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 16
DAYS AFTER Mathura police ar-
restedajournalistfromKeralaand
three members of the Campus
Front of India (CFI) on charges of
Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act, among others, while they
wereonwaytomeettheHathras
victim's family, Hathras police
have now named them in a case
lodged a day earlier on sedition
and other serious charges.
The case registered at
ChandpapolicestationofHathras
onOctober4relateswithalleged
conspiracytoinstigateriotsalong
caste lines and defame the state
government over the alleged
rape,andmurder,of the19-year-
old Dalit woman.
According to Hathras police,
theirinvestigationfoundthatthe
four arrested from Mathura –
journalist Siddique Kappan (41),
and CFI members Atiq-ur-
Rahman (25), Masood Ahmed
(26) and Alam (26) – were al-
legedly involved in the earlier
case. The four are at present
lodged in Mathura jail.
The CFI is the students' wing
of the radical Popular Front of
India.
Hathras SP Vineet Jaiswal
saidalocalcourthasissuedwar-
rant B (warrant for production)
against all four, asking them to
appear before the court.
The court issued the order on
thebasisofareportfiledbyinves-
tigatingofficerof thecaselodged
by Chandpa police. “We have
served production warrant of all
four persons to Mathura jail au-
thorities. The case is related to
conspiracy to instigate riots,”
Chandpa SHO Laxman Singh, in-
vestigatingofficerinthecase,said.
Meanwhile, Muzaffarnagar
police have booked Atiq-ur-
Rahmaninacaseofviolencethat
occurred during the anti-CAA
protestsinKotwaliareaofthedis-
CPM tries to use KC(M) faction’s
UDF exit to turn tables on Oppn
SHAJU PHILIP
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
OCTOBER 16
AT A time when the Opposition
has stepped up its attack on the
LDF government in Kerala over a
slew of controversies, the ruling
CPM is trying to turn the tables
by projecting that the Kerala
Congress (M) faction’s decision
toleavetheUDFhasexposedthe
cracks in the Opposition.
The KC(M) faction led by
Rajya Sabha member Jose K
Mani recently announced the
decision to sever ties with the
Congress-led UDF and cooper-
ate with the LDF.
The development came at a
time when the CPM-led govern-
ment is facing grave allegations
with regard to the gold smug-
glingcaseandkickbacksinvolved
in a housing project funded by
Emirates Red Crescent.
The Opposition has de-
manded Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan’s resignation after his
principal secretary M sort. Congress in Kerala is work-
Sivasankar’snamecroppedupin
VARSITY COULD LOSE 69% RESERVATION, MAY LEAD TO RISE IN FEES, SAYS GOVERNMENT
TN govt to reject eminence status offered for Anna University
ARUN JANARDHANAN
CHENNAI, OCTOBER 16
THE TAMIL Nadu government
on Friday said it will not accept
the Institute of Eminence (IoE)
statusofferedtoAnnaUniversity,
asitwouldaffectthe69-percent
reservation in the state-run var-
sity, brought in by former chief
minister late J Jayalalithaa “after
a long battle”.
StateHigherEducationMinis-
ter K P Anbalagan said if Anna
University,thestate'sTamilNadu's
largest technical university, gets
theIoErecognition,itwillhaveto
stop the reservation system, and
the process could also lead to in-
crease in the fee structure.
The IoE is a recognition for
the country's higher education
institutions from the University
Grants Commission.
HATHRAS WOMAN’S DEATH
trict in December 2019. Rahman
is resident of Muzaffarnagar.
Both developments took
place over Thursday and Friday.
OnOctober5,Mathurapolice
detained the four men at Maant
toll plaza. A day later, they were
bookedforallegedlybeingpartof
largeconspiracybehindtheirvisit
toHathras.Theywerebookedun-
der charges including UAPA, and
IPC 124-A (sedition), 153-A (pro-
motingenmitybetweendifferent
groupsongroundofreligion,race,
etc) and 295-A (deliberate and
malicious acts intended to out-
rage religious feelings).
A case was lodged against
them at Maant police station in
Mathura.
Inthemeantime,Hathraspo-
lice, while probing into a case
lodged against unidentified per-
sons at Chandpa police station,
found alleged role of Kappan,
Atiq-ur-Rahman,
Ahmed and Alam in the case.
Masood
The FIR in Hathras has invoked
charges under IPC Sections 153-
A,124-A,153-B(imputations,as-
sertions prejudicial to national
integration) and 420 (cheating).
At the same time,
Muzaffarnagar police also
moved court and obtained pro-
ductionwarrantagainstRehman
in the case of violence during
anti-CAA protests last year.
Inspector Vijay Kumar Singh,
who is part of the SIT probing
cases filed during anti-CAA
protests in Muzaffarnagar, said:
“Whileprobingintotheviolence
on December 20 (last year) in
Kotwali area, we found Atiq-ur-
Rehman was present at the spot
andhadarrangedfundingforthe
violence. The case is lodged on
various charges, including at-
tempt to murder. We were look-
ing for Rahman in the case and
then learnt about his arrest (by
Mathura police).”
A jail official said, “We have
received production warrant of
both cases against the accused.”
the investigation into the gold
smuggling case and the housing
projectkickbacks.Sivasankarhas
since been suspended.
OnFriday,JosemetCPMstate
secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan,
seeking an entry into the LDF
aheadof thelocalbodyelections,
likely to be held in December.
After the meeting, Balakrishnan
told the media the Jose-led fac-
tion’sdecisiontoquitUDFcomes
at a time when the front is
protestingagainsttherulingfront.
“It is from that political front,
a prominent party has come for-
ward to cooperate with the LDF.
The decision of KC(M) is a set-
backforUDFagitationsdemand-
ing resignation of CM... They
can’t even keep an ally within
the fold,’’ he said.
Balakrishnan said the
Congress high command had
failed to resolve the crisis in the
UDF. “In the past, the Congress
high command intervened to
settle issues in UDF. But now the
high command has lost the ca-
pability to solve a crisis of this
ing as a B team of BJP...,’’ said
Asked about the reservation
issue, Anna University V-C M K
Surappa told The Indian Express
that the Union Education min-
istry has already clarified that
the existing structure of the uni-
versity, including reservations,
will not be changed or affected if
the IoE recognition is accepted.
Giving an indication of the
tension between the two sides,
state Law Minister C Ve
Shanmugam had on Thursday
said, while reacting to Surappa
writing to the Centre directly on
the IoE status issue, that the V-C
lacks discipline.
The minister also questioned
the propriety in a V-C of a state
varsity sending a letter directly
to the Centre explaining the ca-
pacity of a state institution to
raise funds.
Reminding Surappa that he
cannot override other authori-
The protest march on September 29 had culminated at
Statue Circle in Jaipur. Ritansh Pandey
Bhim Army, Azad Samaj
Party members booked
by Jaipur Police
DEEP MUKHERJEE
JAIPUR, OCTOBER 16
THEJAIPURpolicehaveregistered
anFIRagainstofficebearersofthe
Bhim Army and the Azad Samaj
Party,amongotheroutfits,fortak-
ing out a march in violation of
Covid-19 norms and prohibitory
ordersunderSection144 CrPCon
September29,officialssaidFriday.
Themarchwastodemandjustice
for the Hathras victim.
The FIR, registered on
September 29, says that the ac-
cused, along with 60-70 others,
assembled at Statue Circle on
September29,startedsloganeer-
ing and took out a candle march.
“WehaveregisteredtheFIRaf-
ter they violated the section 144
and carried out with the march.
They didn't have permission to
carry out the march at Statue
Circle,” said station house officer,
AshokNagarPoliceStation,Shree
Mohan Meena.
“Wehavealsoidentifiedmore
Balakrishnan.
The CPM leader said the LDF
would soon take a decision on
Jose faction entry into the front.
“Jose is cooperating with LDF
without conditions. Discussions
about seats to be allocated are
unwarrantedanduntimely,’’said
Balakrishnan on the issue of
seat-sharing for the 2021 state
polls.
Behind the CPM’s reluctance
to talk about seat-sharing is the
Pala constituency, a KC(M) bas-
tion currently held by the NCP,
anLDFconstituent.ThePalacon-
stituency is special to Jose K
Mani as his father and KC(M)
founder, the late K M Mani, rep-
resented the seat from the time
it was formed till his death, win-
ning 13 elections on the trot.
The NCP state leadership,
which met in Kochi on Friday,
has, however, made it clear that
it would not surrender Pala.
NCP state president T P
Peethambaran told the media
that his party would contest in
all four seats, including Pala. “No
other party can raise a claim on
these seats,” he said.
The IoE is a recognition for the country’s higher education
institutions from the UGC. File
tiesabovehim,Shanmugamsaid
theV-Cshouldn’thavecontacted
the Centre bypassing state au-
thorities. He said the state gov-
ernment has already sought an
explanation from Surappa for
writing the letter.
people who were part of the
march on the basis of photo and
videoordinance,”saidsubinspec-
torMukesh,theinvestigatingoffi-
cer in the case.
The office-bearers named in
the FIR hit out against the
Congress-ledgovernmentaccus-
ing it of “double standards”.
“The fact that an FIR has been
registeredagainstusforaskingfor
justice for the Hathras victim
showsthedoublestandardof the
Congress government. This ex-
poses the Congress' pretense of
standing up for Dalits,” said Anil
Dhenwal, state president, Azad
Samaj Party. “Top leaders of the
CongresstoohavevisitedHathras
to meet the victim's family and
also protested over the issue. But
at the same time, they are regis-
teringFIRsagainstusforcarrying
out a peaceful march... Even the
BJPgovernmentinUPhaveregis-
tered cases against the Azad
Samaj Party. It shows that the
Congress and the BJP are the
same,” Dhenwal said.
Mathura court
admits plea to
remove mosque
‘near Krishna
birthplace’
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 16
AMATHURAcourtFridayadmit-
ted an appeal filed against an or-
derdismissingasuittoremovea
mosque situated adjacent to the
Lord Krishna temple complex.
The appeal was filed after
Additional District Judge,
Mathura, Chhaya Sharma dis-
missedthesuitonSeptember30.
Thecivilsuitwasfiledseeking
direction to remove Idgah
mosque as that “every inch of
land” measuring 13.37 acres, “of
Katra Keshav Dev (as the place is
known historically) is sacred for
devotees of Lord Shree Krishna
and (the Hindu community)”,
said advocate for the petitioner.
The court fixed next date as
November 18.
The petitioner also claimed
the mosque was built after a part
ofaHindushrinewasrazedonor-
ders of Mughal emperor
Aurangzeb in the 17th century.
Shanmugam also expressed
the concern that 69-per cent
reservation in the varsity will be
disrupted if IoE recognition is
accepted.
Senior officers of the state
higher education department,
SC picks Lokur for panel
on crop burning, S-G
says ‘some reservations’
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
AMID RISING instances of stub-
ble burning in neighbouring
states adding to pollution in the
national capital, the Supreme
Court Friday appointed Justice
(retired) Madan B Lokur to act as
a one-man monitoring commit-
tee to check the menace.
While appointing Lokur to
head the committee, the bench
headed by Chief Justice of India S
A Bobde, and with Justices A S
Bopanna and V Rama subrama-
ian,clarifiedthatitsordersandthe
setting up of the committee “are
notintendedtodilutethepowers,
functionsandtheauthorityofany
authorities such as EPCA
(EnvironmentalPollutionControl
Authority), already created”.
The idea behind appointing
acommitteewastofacilitateand
coordinate the activities of dif-
ferentauthorities, thecourtsaid.
“We are only concerned that
citizens of Delhi NCR are able to
breathe fresh clean air... while
the court is shut (for Dussehra
holidays). We don’t want any-
thing to happen during these
ED seizes DMK MP assets
over FEMA ‘violations’
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THEENFORCEMENTDirectorate
(ED) on Friday issued orders to
seize financial assets belonging
to DMK MP Gautham Sigamani
tothetuneof Rs8.6crore.Theor-
ders were issued under Section
37A of the Foreign Exchange
Management Act (FEMA) for al-
legedly acquiring foreign securi-
ties illegally and not repatriating
foreignexchangeearnedabroad.
AccordingtoED,Sigamanial-
legedlyacquiredforeignsecurity
withoutRBIapproval.Duringthe
course of investigation, ED has
claimedthatitwas revealedthat
in March 2008, Sigamani made
overseas investment of
$100,000 (Rs 41.57 lakh then) in
acquiring2.45lakhsharesof M/s
PT Excel Megindo, Jakarta and
$55,000 (Rs 22.86 lakh then) in
M/sUniversalBusinessVentures,
ED attaches assets of wife
of NSCN (K) military chief
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THE ED has provisionally at-
tached assets to the tune of Rs
4.23 crore of the wife of NSCN
(K)’s military leader Nikki Sumi.
The assets are in the name of
Shelly N Sumi who had been ar-
restedbytheAssamRiflesin2017.
TheEDcaseisbasedonanNIA
FIR against Shelly Sumi. The NIA
probe had found that at the time
of her arrest Shelly had planned
to travel to GHQ Taga, (HQ of
NSCN-K) Myanmar, to handover
E
E X P L A I NE D
Genesis of
● the tussle
THE DISAGREEMENT
over the IoE status
started after Anna
University V-C M K
Surappa wrote to the
Centre in August last year
to get the IoE tag for the
university without con-
sulting the minister or
the higher education de-
partment. Other con-
cerns such as an IoE sta-
tus would take away 69
per cent reservation in
the university, as also the
state government’s con-
trol over it, further led to
the present crisis.
New Delhi
Justice Madan B Lokur
nine days,” the CJI said.
The order came on a petition
filed by two students, Aditya
Dubey and Aman Banka, who
had sought directions from the
court to put an end to stubble
burning.
The court went ahead with
Lokur'sappointmentevenasthe
Centre expressed “some reser-
vations” on this.
“Therearesomereservations
with which we do not want to
trouble My Lords. I will have to
file an application...”, said
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta,
who appeared before the bench,
just as it was about to rise.
CJI Bobde, however, re-
marked that the court had not
UAE without RBI approval. This,
ED has said, was in contraven-
tion of Section 4 of FEMA.
Sigamani,EDhassaid,failedto
repatriateprofitsamountingtoRs
7.05 crore earned by him from
UniversalBusinessVenturesinthe
periodof2008-09to2012-13and
continued to hold the same
abroad till date. He also failed to
repatriate the 6.04 lakh Dirhams
lying in the bank account of
UniversalBusinessVenturesason
December31,2012andcontinues
to hold the same abroad till date.
“As per the provisions of sec-
tion 37A of FEMA, if any foreign
exchange,foreignsecurityorany
immovable property situated
outside India is suspected to
have been held in contravention
of Section 4 of FEMA, ED is em-
powered to seize value equiva-
lentsituatedwithinIndiaof such
foreign exchange, foreign secu-
rity or immovable property,” ED
said in a statement.
anamountofRs.18.47lakhtoher
husband Nikki Sumi. An amount
of Rs. 27.90 lakh was also seized
by NIA during the course of
searchconductedatthepremises
ofShellySumiandherassociates.
“InvestigationunderPMLAre-
vealedthatNSCN-K,aproscribed
terroristorganizationindulgedin
collectingfundsfromgovernment
employees, businessmen etc. by
extortion and illegal means and
Shelly Sumi and her associates
wereinvolvedincriminalconspir-
acy to transfer funds to NSCN(K)
via Indo-Myanmar border,”ED
said in a statement.
however,saidpolitically,thegov-
ernmentworriesthatcertainpro-
visions related to the IoE status
may impact not only reservation
in the university but also affect
powers of the state government,
as the Centre's financial stake in
thestate-rununiversitywouldgo
up with this recognition.
Sources close to V-C Surappa
said this “apprehension” seems
to have made the state govern-
ment put up objections. “There
were no procedural issues in the
V-C writing directly to the
Centre. The university would
have got an annual funding of Rs
200 crore if the recognition was
accepted,” a source said.
Aformerdirectorof IIT-Ropar
and an honorary professor at
IISc, Bangalore, Surappa, who
comes from Karnataka, was ap-
pointed Anna University V-C af-
ter three shortlisted candidates,
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
given Justice Lokur any extrodi-
nary power or jurisdiction.
Urging the court to post the
matter for Monday and not pass
orders now, the SG said, "we are
only requesting to be heard."
But the CJI said the court had
already passed the order.
The court also said different
authorities created by the
states/Centre shall :also be free,
to carry on their own activities,
withoutfeelingmutedbytheap-
pointment of the Committee”.
The court asked the Chief
Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana,
Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to assist
Justice Lokur “and enable phys-
ical surveillance of fields where
stubble is likely to be burnt and
devise additional means and
methods for preventing the
burning of stubble”.
The SC-appointed EPCA shall
also report to the committee,
which will submit a fortnightly
report or as and when required,
the court said, adding that “it
would be fitting, if services of
National Cadet Corps, NSS and
BharatScoutsandGuides,wher-
ever available, are deployed for
assisting in the monitoring of
stubble burning...”
Editors Guild
criticises Prasar
Bharati cancelling
PTI subscription,
journalist arrest
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THE EDITORS Guild of India
Friday said it was dismayed and
concerned over the “vindictive
manner” in which governments
and their agencies have acted
against the media recently.
The guild’s statement comes
in the wake of the national pub-
lic broadcaster, Prasar Bharati,
ending subscriptions with news
agenciesPressTrustof India(PTI)
and United News of India (UNI)
this week.
The Guild also referred to a
television journalist’s recent ar-
rest in Odisha on charges of cir-
culating an obscene video,
which OTV, his employer, has al-
leged is a ploy to target the jour-
nalist for his work exposing the
BJD government.
“The Guildbelieves thatsuch
actions threaten as well as un-
dermine the independent func-
tioning of the media organisa-
tions. These should be
withdrawn forthwith,” says a
statement.
The national broadcaster has
justified its decision to end its
subscriptionwithUNIandPTIon
the grounds of commercial con-
siderations. However, the devel-
opment comes months after
PrasarBhartithreatenedtoscrap
its subscription over PTI inter-
viewingtheChineseambassador
to India on the border face-off.
A senior government official
had told The Indian Express that
Prasar Bharati’s contracts with
the two new agencies ended in
2006.
including him, were personally
interviewed by Governor
Banwarilal Purohit in 2018. His
appointment sparked a contro-
versy in the state for multiple
reasons, including the fact that
he is a non-Tamil to head a state
university. But many academics
were also hopeful and cited that
appointment of V-Cs have been
political decisions in Tamil Nadu
for nearly two decades, and sev-
eral V-Cs who headed state uni-
versities in the recent past were
accused of corruption and irreg-
ularities.
Surappa told The Indian
Express that Anna University
would have become the first
stateuniversityinIndiatogetthe
IoE status had it been accepted
bythestategovernment.Hesaid
most of other institutions in the
country with the same recogni-
tion are central universities.

8 EXPRESS NETWORK
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
KERALA ACTOR SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE
‘Won’t get fair trial
here’: Prosecution
seeks court change
SHAJU PHILIP
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
OCTOBER 16
THE PROSECUTION arguing the
casepertainingtoabductionand
sexual assault of a Malayalam
woman actor has demanded a
change of the trial court.
Special prosecutor A Suresan
on Friday informed the court of
CBI Special Judge Honey M
Varghese that the prosecution
wantstoapproachthehighcourt
to seek transfer of the trial to an-
other court. In a written submis-
sion, the prosecution said it did
not want to conduct the trial in
the present court to protect the
interest of justice.
“The prosecution as well as
the victim will not get fair trial
and justice from this court,’’ said
the submission made in the trial
court as per Section 309 of CrPC.
The high court had earlier
SC reminder: Stay
by any court will
expire in six months
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THE SUPREME Court Thursday
sent out a stern reminder that a
stay granted by any court in the
countryautomaticallyexpiresin
six months unless extended for
good reason. The top court cited
one of its earlier orders to but-
tress the point.
A bench of Justices R F
Nariman, Navin Sinha and and K
MJosephwashearingamatterin
which the Additional Chief
JudicialMagistrateofPune—inan
order dated December 4, 2019—
asked a complainant to move a
HighCourtforresumptionoftrial
as it had been stayed by the HC.
But the top court pointed to
its 2013 judgement (Asian
Resurfacing of Road Agency Pvt.
Ltd. & Anr. vs. Central Bureau of
Investigation) where it had said:
“...In cases where stay is granted
in future, the same will end on
expiry of six months from the
date of such order unless similar
extension is granted by a speak-
ing order. The speaking order
must show that the case was of
such exceptional nature that
SC notice to AG on MP
HC’s ‘rakhi-tying’ order
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THE SUPREME Court Friday is-
sued notice to the Attorney
General on a plea seeking stay on
aMadhyaPradeshHighCourtor-
der that asked a molestation-ac-
cused to get a “rakhi” tied on his
hand by the alleged victim.
The High Court ruling was
one of the conditions for bail for
the accused man.
A bench of Justices A M
KhanwilkarandBRGavaisought
the A-G’s assistance on an appeal
filedbyninewomenlawyerswho
Mumbai Police will probe Oberoi
drug link if NCB doesn’t: Minister
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
MUMBAI, OCTOBER 16
STATE HOME Minister Anil
Deshmukh on Friday said if
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
did not investigate actor Vivek
Oberoi in connection with a nar-
cotics case being investigated in
Bangalore, the Mumbai Police
would conduct the probe.
Deshmukh's comment came
a day after Bengaluru Police
searched the actor's residence to
look for Aditya Alva, Oberoi's
brother-in-law named as an ac-
cused in the alleged "sandal-
wood"drugcaseunderinvestiga-
tion in the Karnataka capital.
Alvaisthesonof lateminister
Jeevaraj Alva and is among 12 ac-
cused in the sandalwood drug
transferredthe trial into the case
to a woman judge as per a plea
by the woman actor.
FilmactorDileepisoneof the
accused in the case. The prose-
cution, in its charge sheet, had
stated thatDileep had conspired
to abduct and assault the
woman actor and assigned the
task to a gang. The incident took
place in 2017. During the trial, a
few prosecution witnesses from
the film industry turned hostile.
The prosecution said the vic-
tim in this case represents the
Indian society at large, and any
kindof damagetotheimageand
trust of the system in the minds
of the public at large will do con-
siderableharmtotheentirejudi-
cial system.
It said the court’s remarks on
the prosecution,whichthepros-
ecutorfeltas“tarnishinghishon-
est and sincere professional ca-
reer’’, had prompted it to seek
transfer of the trial.
continuing the stay was more
important than having the trial
finalized. The trial Court where
order of stay of civil or criminal
proceedingsisproduced,mayfix
a date not beyond six months of
the order of stay so that on ex-
piry of period of stay, proceed-
ingscancommenceunlessorder
of extensionof stayisproduced”.
Expressing its displeasure,
the SC bench said: “We must re-
mindtheMagistratesalloverthe
country that in our pyramidical
structureundertheConstitution
of India, the Supreme Court is at
the Apex, and the High Courts,
though not subordinate admin-
istratively, are certainly subordi-
nate judicially. This kind of or-
ders fly in the face of para 35 of
our judgment.”
“Whatever stay has been
granted by any court including
theHighCourtautomaticallyex-
pires within a period of six
months, and unless extension is
granted for good reason, as per
our judgment, within the next
six months, the trial Court is, on
the expiry of the first period of
six months, to set a date for the
trial and go ahead with the
same,” it said.
said“itreflectsthetrivializationof
a heinous crime through a sim-
plistic stereotypical solution”.
TheHC,initsJuly30order,had
askedtheaccusedandhiswifeto
visit the home of the alleged vic-
tim “with Rakhi thread / band on
03rd August, 2020 at 11:00 am
withaboxofsweetsandrequest”
her“totietheRakhibandtohim”.
The court had also directed
him to give Rs 11,000 to her “as a
customary ritual usually offered
by the brothers to sisters”.
Theaccusedhadallegedlyen-
tered the house of the victim and
caughtholdofherhand“attempt-
ing to outrage her modesty”.
scandal. Addressing reporters on
Friday,Deshmukhsaid,"Congress
leader Sachin Sawant had ap-
proached me in August with an
application to check the links of
Vivek Oberoi, BJP's star cam-
paigner,andSandeepSsingh,who
is close to former CM Devendra
Fadnavis in connection with a
drug case. The information was
passed onto NCB but no action
was taken."
Headded,"NowtheBangalore
Policealsosearchedtheresidence
of Oberoi in connection with a
drugcase.IftheNCBdoesnottake
any action in the next four to five
days, we will ask the Mumbai
Police to investigate the matter."
AseniorNCBofficialsaid,"Ido
notrememberanysuchinforma-
tion being sent to NCB and will
have to check our records. The
OPENING DAY
Kerala’s Sabarimala shrine opened on Friday for the first time since March. It has instituted
curbs like a cap on devotee (250 a day) and first-come-first-serve-online booking. ANI
REPORT OVER ‘VIOLENCE’ AT TANISHQ SHOWROOM IN GANDHIDHAM
FIR on NDTV on complaint
of man who ‘entered’ store
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, OCTOBER 16
THE KUTCH DISTRICT police has
registered an FIR against news
channel NDTV following a com-
plaintbyoneofthemenwhohad
allegedly entered a Tanishq
showroom in Gandhidham on
Mondayeveninganddemanded
anapologyfortheadvertisement
thatdepictedaninterfaithfamily.
The FIR was lodged on
Thursday, a day after Gujarat
Minister of State for Home
PradeepsinhJadejatweetedthat
a case be lodged against those
spreading "fake news", with ref-
erence to an NDTV report about
an “attack on the Tanishq show-
room in Gandhidham”.
Thechannelhasbeenbooked
under IPC Sections 153A (pro-
moting enmity between differ-
MUMBAI POLICE SHOW CAUSE NOTICE
Arnab gives ACP
hearing a miss, sends
lawyer with response
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
MUMBAI, OCTOBER 16
MANAGING DIRECTOR and edi-
tor-in-chief of RepublicTVArnab
Goswami, who was asked to
present himself before the
MumbaiPoliceat4pmonFriday
afteritinitiatedchapterproceed-
ings against him, skipped the
hearing and submitted his say
through his lawyer Abad Ponda
who refuted the allegations.
Assistant Commissioner of
Police Sudhir Jambavdekar con-
firmed the development and
said, “We exempted him from
appearing before us on Friday,
and they are expected to file a
plea for exemption in future on
which we will take a call.”
Police said it will go through
the response and, accordingly,
take a decision. On October 10,
police had issued a show-cause
notice to Goswami asking him
why he should not be made to
sign a bond of "good behaviour"
with Mumbai Police.
The notice was in reference
to two FIRs registered against
himearlierthisyearforallegedly
state has enough agencies who
could be asked to investigate the
matter and does not have to de-
pend on NCB."
Earlier in the day, Sawant, in a
seriesoftweets,attackedtheNCB
for not initiating a probe against
Oberoi and Ssingh. "I had de-
manded with NCB to investigate
the BJP Drug connection in bolly-
wood. In my questions to NCB I
had specifically mentioned the
name of Aditya Alva found in
Sandalwood drug racket who is
brother in law of Vivek Oberoi
whoispartnerofSandeepSsingh.
But NCB didn't pay heed."
Inanothertweet,hesaid,"But
nowBengaluruPolicehaveraided
house of Vivek Oberoi who is not
only co-producer of Narendra
Modi biopic but also played role
of Modi ji."
entgroups)and505(statements
conducing to public mischief).
The channel had stated in a
report on Wednesday that the
store had received “threats”.
Police patrolling and surveil-
lance was intensified at the
Tanishqshowroomafteragroup
of men entered it on Monday
evening, protesting the adver-
tisement by Tanishq. The com-
pany later withdrew the ad.
The complainant in the FIR,
registeredatAdivisionpolicesta-
tionof GandhidhamonThursday
night, is Ramesh Maitra, a local
businessman who was part of a
group that entered the show-
room on Monday evening.
A senior police officer in
Gandhidham told The Indian
Express, “The complainant had
approached us with a complaint
stating that the news channel
had reported fake news with in-
showing content on his channel
that could cause enmity be-
tween different communities,
police said.
The notice states that a show
airedonRepublicchannelonApril
14 regarding migrants crowding
outside Bandra railway station
had content that could cause en-
mity between two groups. This
led to an FIR against Goswami at
Pydhonie police station.
It said that apart from this, in
ashowonRepublicBharattitled,
'Poochta Hai Bharat', telecast on
April 24 there was a debate on
thePalgharlynchings.According
to the notice, during the debate,
comments were made that
could cause animosity between
communities. Accordingly, an
FIR was registered against
Goswami at NM Joshi Marg po-
lice station. The notice also said
there was a high probability that
Goswami would continueto put
out such content that could lead
to law and order problems.
Accordingly, he was asked to ap-
pear before the ACP on Friday
along with a surety.
Ponda did not respond to
calls or messages.
Rajput death: NCB arrests 1
more accused in drugs case
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
MUMBAI, OCTOBER 16
THE NARCOTICS Control Bureau
(NCB) on Friday arrested one
more person, Jay Madhok, in the
drug case the agency is probing
inconnectionwithactorSushant
Singh Rajput’s death.
The NCB has so far arrested
23 people, including actor Rhea
Chakraborty, in the case.
Chakrabortywasgrantedbailon
October 7.
Madhok, a management
graduate who works in the
banking sector, has been ar-
rested for allegedly consuming
and selling narcotics, police said.
“Madhok procured narcotics
forconsumptionaswellastosell
it to his friends. He was in touch
with some of the accused al-
tent to spread anarchy in the so-
ciety. Taking cognizance, we
have lodged an FIR with the ac-
cusedas'NDTVchannel'.Further
investigation is going on."
Thepolicehavenotmadethe
FIR public, citing “sensitivity”,
butsourcessaidthecomplainant
stated that only two persons, in-
cluding himself, had gone to the
showroom on Monday evening
to have a “polite conversation”,
and that no violence unfolded.
On Wednesday, Prakash
Gupta, manager of the Tanishq
showroom in Gandhidham, had
told The Indian Express that a
group of six or seven people had
“barged into the showroom” on
Monday evening and demanded
apology. The group then wrote a
letter stating that the showroom
wasapologisingtotheHinducom-
munityandpasteditontheshow-
room'sglassdoorbeforeleaving.
ED attaches
Rs 122 crore of
assets of Deccan
Chronicle, its
ex-promoters Researchers use smell to flag Centre sends
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
THE ENFORCEMENT Directorate
has provisionally attached im-
movable assets belonging to
Deccan Chronical Holdings Ltd
(DCHL) and its former promot-
ers in connection with a case of
money laundering. These assets
are worth Rs 122.15 crore, the
agency said in a statement.
Thecase,inwhichDCHL’sfor-
mer promoters T Venkatram
Reddy and T Vinayakravi Reddy
have been accused, relates to an
bank loan fraud of Rs 8,180 crore
allegedlycommittedbythegroup.
AccordingtoED,attachedas-
sets include 14 properties lo-
cated in New Delhi, Hyderabad,
Gurgaon, Chennai, and
Bengaluru, among other loca-
tions. ED said none of the assets
are covered under the National
Company Law Tribunal process.
This is the second attach-
ment in this case—the value of
the total attachments are now
close to Rs 264.56 crore.
Investigations under PMLA
wereinitiatedbyEDagainstDCHL
and its management in 2015.
ready arrested in the case, like
Kshitij Prasad. They were all part
of the same group. We aretrying
to find out who else was in-
volved,” a senior official said.
On Thursday, NCB had ar-
rested two more persons in con-
nection with the FIR.
Mumbai cops arrest
Delhi man for posts
Mumbai police has arrested
Delhi resident Vibhor Anand for
allegedly posting false allega-
tionsintheSushantSinghRajput
case on social media. An FIR was
registered against Anand for al-
legedly defaming several people
and casting aspersions on the
Mumbai police probe, and its of-
ficers.
A crime branch officer said,
“We arrested Anand from Delhi
last night.” ENS
India may get Covid
vaccine by March,
says Serum official
ANURADHA
MASCARENHAS
PUNE, OTOBER 16
INDIAMAYgetaCovid-19vaccine
by March 2021, provided regula-
tors give signals fast, “as multiple
manufacturersareworkingonit”,
accordingtoDrSureshJadhav,ex-
ecutive director of the Serum
Institute of India, which is testing
the Oxford -AstraZeneca vaccine
candidate in the country.
HetoldTheIndianExpressthat
Indiaisheadingfasttowardsvac-
cine development, as two manu-
facturers are already in phase-3
trial and one in the phase-2 trial,
and more players are joining the
race.
Statingthatthereare“upsand
downs in any vaccine clinical
trial”, Dr Soumya Swaminathan,
chiefscientistattheWorldHealth
Organization, also said a vaccine
againstCovid-19shouldbeready
bythesecondquarterofnextyear.
She told The Indian Express, “By
January 2021 we should be able
to see results, and by the second
quarter of 2021 the vaccine
against SARS-CoV-2 should be
ready.”
DrSwaminathan,however,re-
iteratedtheWHO’sstanceagainst
allowing the virus to spread
unchecked to reach herd immu-
nity,emphasisingthattheconcept
should be discussed only within
the context of a vaccine. She told
TheIndianExpressthatoncethere
is a vaccine one can aim to have
herd immunity – as there will be
aneedtovaccinateatleast70per
cent people and have them pro-
tected to break the transmission.
Addressing the India Vaccine
Accessibilitye-Summit,DrJadhav
said, “We can produce 700-800
million vaccine doses every year
once things are streamlined.
Although 55 per cent of the pop-
ulationisbelow50yearsofage,as
peravailabilityofvaccineshealth-
care workers should get the vac-
asymptomatic Covid cases
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
PUNE, OCTOBER 16
RESEARCHERSFROMBJMedical
College and Indian Institute of
Science Education and Research
inPunehavereportedthatbyac-
curatelymeasuring the ability to
smell, one could detect an
asymptomatic Covid-19 infec-
tion. The findings were pub-
lished on Friday in a paper in
EClinicalMedicine, published by
The Lancet.
Identifying and isolating
asymptomaticpatientshasbeen
an important strategy to slow
the spread of Covid-19.
As new information about
thediseasebegan toemerge,the
loss of sense of smell (referredto
as anosmia) began to be re-
ported among some patients.
Dr Nixon Abraham, whose
Hyderabad sees slow return to
normalcy; 4 of family still missing
SREENIVAS JANYALA
HYDERABAD, OCTOBER 16
TWO DAYS after eight members
of a family in Hyderabad were
swept away in a flash flood, four
still remain untraceable, even
though police anddisaster man-
agement agencies widened
search operations.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad
slowly returned to normalcy as
flood waters receded. A few ar-
eas, however, still remain inun-
dated and power supply was
patchy.
Eight members of
Mohammed Abdul Taher
Qureshi’s family were swept
awaybyfloodwatersthatsurged
through the city after incessant
rain that began on Tuesday
evening. A funeral was held for
four members whose bodies
were recovered Thursday. One
body,whichresembledQureshi’s
brother Saddam Quddus, was
found by police in a water body
New Delhi
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE
228 CASES: RECOVERED: 64,53,779
73,70,468 DEATHS: 1,12,161
DAYS SINCE
PANDEMIC
BEGAN TESTS: 9,22,54,927| DOUBLING RATE: 77.10**
KEYSTATES TOTAL SURGEIN 7-DAYAVG DOUBLING
TOWATCH CASES 24HOURS GROWTH* TIME**
■ Maharashtra 15,64,615 10,226 0.66% 108.59
■ Karnataka 7,43,848 8,477 1.30% 55.21
■ Andhra 7,71,503 4,038 0.60% 119.44
■ Tamil Nadu 6,74,802 4,410 0.74% 97.54
7,789 2.98%
■ Kerala 3,17,929 24.16
* Compounded Daily Growth Rate over last 7 days ** Calculated over 7-day growth
CASE FATALITY RATIO POSITIVITY RATE DAILY IN, DAILY OUT
7 DAYS EARLIER: 7 DAYS EARLIER: DETECTED TODAY
1.54 8.16 63,371
NOW: NOW: RECOVERED TODAY:
1.52 7.99 70,338
Deaths as a ratio of
positive cases (in %);
indicator of progress
in averting deaths
Positives against
number tested
(in %); indicator of
the spread of disease
Becoming sick vs
recovering; more
recoveries for 14 days
may signal the peak
DataasonOctober15,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealth,ICMRandstates.Oftendailynumbers
includedatafrompreviousdays.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareindicative,notdefinitive
cines first, then people over 60 professional, consultant vaccine
years with comorbidities, fol- and public affairs consultant,
lowedbytherestofthepopulace.” SoutheastAsia,said,“Provensuc-
As far as Serum is concerned, cess factors of H1N1 and Ebola
he said, “We will be ready with have turned out guiding princi-
60-70milliondosagesofvaccines ples in vaccine development.”
by December 2020, but that will On herd immunity, Dr
come in the market in 2021 after Swaminathan said: “It is not a
the clearance of licencing. good idea to try to achieve herd
Thereafter,wewillproducemore immunitybylettingtheinfection
and more dosages, with the gov- run wild in the population. We
ernment's permission.” needtotalkintermsof avaccine;
At the same event, Prof Bejon
Kumar Misra, international con-
weneedtovaccinateenoughpeo-
ple – with a vaccine one can
sumer policy expert, said it is im-
portant that the vaccine is thor-
oughly tested before rollout.
achieve immunity and herd im-
munitysafely.Throughnaturalin-
fection it can be achieved, but it
Samir Deb, pharmaceutical will be at a great human cost.”
teams to states
with case surge
work at IISER is centered on un-
derstanding neural circuits me-
diating olfactory-driven—the EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
sense of smell—behaviours, NEW DELHI. OCTOBER 16
problems associated with
smellingabilitiesof Covid-19pa- THE CENTRE Friday deputed
tients presented an urgent as- teams to Kerala, Karnataka,
pect to explore. Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and
With PhD student Anindya
Bhattacharjee and collaborators
West Bengal— the states report-
ing a surge in Covid-19 cases.
from BJ Medical College and
Sassoon General Hospitals in
Pune, the team set out to test if
“The teams will support the
State efforts towards strength-
eningcontainment,surveillance,
anosmia (total loss of sense of testing,infectionpreventionand
smell) / hyposmia (reduction in control measures, and efficient
the ability to smell) could be an clinical management of the pos-
indicatorof Covid-19infectionin itive cases. The Central teams
individuals who tested positive shall also guide in effectively
forthevirusbutshowednoother managingthechallengesrelated
typicalsymptomsof thedisease. totimelydiagnosis...,”theHealth
The team says it can analyse Ministry said in a statement.
both sensory and cognitive as- Kerala and Karnataka cur-
pects of olfaction. rently account for for 11.8 per
FULLREPORTON cent and 14.1 per cent of the to-
www.indianexpress.com tal active cases in the country.
A family wades through a Hyderabad street on Friday. PTI
near Nagole on the outskirts of Meanwhile, Municipal
Hyderabad, but officials refused Administration and Urban
to confirm the identity. DevelopmentMinisterKTRama
Police in Hyderabad, Rao visited rain-affected areas.
Cyberabad and Rachakonda Greater Hyderabad Municipal
Police Commissionerates said Corporationofficialsalsodistrib-
they were searching for 24 miss- uted ration kits.
ingpeople. Officialestimatessay GHMC mayor B Ram Mohan
50 people died in flash floods. they are evacuating those
Telangana Chief Minister K stranded in areas where the rain
Chandrasekhar Rao has an- waterhasstagnated.CMRaohas
nounced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh sought Rs 1,350 crore from the
tothekinof thosewhoperished. Centre as immediate aid.
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
NEET RESULTS OUT, TWO CANDIDATES GET 720/720
Topper from Odisha says studied 15 hrs daily, balanced with gaming
AISHWARYA MOHANTY
BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 16
TWO CANDIDATES attained full
marks in medical entrance exam
NEET, results of which were de-
clared on Friday night, according
to National Testing Agency (NTA)
officials.
Odisha’s Soyeb Aftab and
Delhi’s Akansha Singh have
scored 720 out of 720 marks but
Aftab has been ranked first and
SinghsecondaspertheNTA’stie-
breaking policy, the officials said.
According to officials, the tie-
breakingpolicytakesintoaccount
factors such as age, subject-wise
marks and number of incorrect
UP CM hands appointment letters
to 31,277 assistant school teachers
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 16
CHIEFMINISTERYogiAdityanath
on Friday handed over appoint-
ment letters to 31,277 assistant
teachers selected by the Uttar
Pradesh Basic Education Board
(UPBEB),whichhadlisted69,000
vacancies in 2019.
Addressing the teachers on-
line, the Chief Minister claimed
thatwithin100daysdrinkingwa-
ter supply would be ensured at
everyprimaryschoolinthestate.
Heencouragedtheteacherstouse
modern technologies in classes,
andpromisedthathisadministra-
tion was committed to appoint-
ingteachersinprimaryschoolsas
per the norms.
Adityanath told the teachers
BALLIA SHOOTING
BJP MLA backs main accused, murder: Police
says he fired in self-defence
theadministration.Theadminis- relative held
AVANEESH MISHRA
LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 16
A DAY after a 45-year-old farmer
was shot dead in the presence of
senior government officials and
police during the allotment of a
ration shop at Durjanpur village
in Ballia district, local BJP MLA
Surendra Singh on Friday came
out in support of the main ac-
cused,sayingthathis"closeasso-
ciate" Dhirendra Singh “opened
fireinself-defenceasitwasakillor
get killed situation for him".
Police have arrested five per-
sons, including two brothers of
DhirendraSingh—Devendraand
Narendra. “The main accused,
Dhirendra Singh, is absconding.
We have formed 10 police teams
tonabhim,”ADG(VaranasiZone)
BrajBhushansaid.Thecontrover-
sial BJP MLA, known for making
outrageousremarks,accusedthe
districtadministrationofactingin
a partisan manner and asked
Chief MinisterYogiAdityanathto
order a CB-CID investigation into
the case.
“The incident at Durjanpur is
unfortunate and sad. But I also
condemntheone-sidedactionof
16-year-old Dalit girl raped, minor among 2 held
AVANEESH MISHRA
LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 16
A 16-YEAR-OLD Dalit girl was
allegedly raped by two boys, in-
cluding a minor, while she was
returning from Jalaun district
hospital, where her mother
was admitted, in the early
hours of Thursday. Both the ac-
cused have been caught.
“According to the girl’s fam-
ily, her father took her mother
Four minor
siblings killed
in Maharashtra
Mumbai: Fourminorsiblingsof a
tribal family were allegedly
hacked to death with an axe at a
villageinJalgaondistrictonFriday,
police said.
The children — Sangita (12),
Rahul(11),Anil(8)andSuman(3)
— lived with their parents,
Mehtab and Rumali Bai Bhilala
andelderbrotherSanjay(16),on
afarmatBorkhedaShivarvillage
in Raver taluka. Police said
Mehtab, Rumali and Sanjay had
travelled to MP on Thursday for
a funeral and had left the chil-
dren in the care of their landlord
Mushtaq Shaikh.
“On Friday, Shaikh went to
check on the children and found
the door closed... When he
steppedinside,hesawallthefour
children lying in a pool of blood
and an axe on the floor,” a police
official said. ENS
Soyeb Aftab (second from right) with his family. Express
answers.
Aftab hails from Odisha’s
Rourkeladistrictandhisfatherhas
a construction company. Born in
thatitwastimetoconcentrateon
teaching after their agitation for
the appointment letters. He said
there was no shortcut to success
and no alternative to hard work.
“You have participated in
enough protest programmes,
now devote yourself to teaching
children,” said the Chief Minister,
adding, “You also play an impor-
tant role building the nation and
its future.”
Adityanath claimed that a lot
had changed in the fundamental
structureandqualityofeducation
in the state during the tenure of
hisgovernment. Hesaidthenum-
ber of students in basic schools
hadincreasedmorethan50lakh.
The Chief Minister told the
newlyappointedteachersthathis
administration had initiated the
process of filling the 69,000 va-
Barabanki rape,
say victim’s
tration is killing justice. Six
women were injured and admit-
ted to hospital, and another per-
sonhasbeenreferredtoVaranasi
but no one is seeing their pain. It
istruethattheshootingincidentis
wrong,butifDhirendraSinghhad
not fired a shot, no less than a
dozen members of his family
would have died,” said the BJP
MLA.
According to him, there was a
clash between two groups over
the allotment of the ration shop.
While one group backed village
pradhan Krishna Yadav, a
Samajwadi Party member, the
othersupportedDhirendraSingh,
the MLA said. “The supporters of
Yadav were the ones who at-
tackedfirstwithcanesandsticks.
When Jai Prakash attacked
Dhirendra,heshothiminself-de-
fence,” the MLA added.
Meanwhile,thebrotherofthe
victim has alleged that the police
let off Dhirendra.
“Dhirendra Singh shot my
brother and started running. He
was caught by a sub-inspector
and a few constables, but later
they let him go,” the victim’s
brother Tej Bihari Pal said.
to the district hospital for treat-
ment around 11 pm on
Wednesday. He had asked his
three children to stay in the
house. An hour and a half later,
when they did not return, the
girl decided to go to the hospi-
tal which is nearly a km from
her house. As she walked to the
hospital, she got scared of dark-
ness and started returning
home. On the way back, there
is a Forest Department guest-
house where the two accused
a business family, he said his in-
spirationtobecomeadoctoristhe
factthattherearenodoctorsinthe
family.“IknewIcouldstudyhard
cancies but met some hurdles.
The appointments were being
made as per the directions of the
court, and the remaining vacan-
cieswouldbefilledassoonasthe
Government gets further direc-
tions from the court, he added.
Adityanath told the teachers
thattheywereexpectedtoutilise
students’fullcapacityandhelpes-
tablish a model school wherever
they have been appointed.
While handing over the ap-
pointmentletterstofiveteachers
from Lucknow, Adityanath said
the state government was deter-
minedtoprovideemploymentto
the youth. To ensure this, vacan-
cies in the departments such as
education were being filled on a
meritbasis,maintainingfulltrans-
parencywiththehelpoftechnol-
ogy, the Chief Minister added.
AVANEESH MISHRA
LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 16
A DAY after a Dalit girl was al-
legedly raped and strangled to
death in a village in Barabanki,
the police on Friday arrested a
19-year-old man, who is a dis-
tantrelativeof thevictim,incon-
nection with the case saying he
confessed during interrogation.
Clearing the confusion over
the age of the victim, the police
confirmedthatshewasbelow18
and booked the accused under
the Protection of Children from
Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,
along with relevant IPC sections.
Police had initially filed a mur-
der case against an unidentified
person. Later, after the post-
mortem report confirmed sex-
ual assault, the charge of rape
underIPCsection376wasadded
to the FIR.
“On the basis of digital evi-
dence and ground information,
we arrested the accused. He has
confessed to the crime and has
given us other details of the inci-
dent,” said police.
were squatting on the deserted
road. They forced the girl, who
resisted and tried to hit them
with a brick. However, they
beat her up with their belts and
overpowered her. They sexu-
ally assaulted her and around 3
am they let her go. The next
day, she narrated the incident
to her mother and then a com-
plaint was filed at the local po-
lice station,” Jalaun SP Yash
Veer Singh told The Indian
Express.
and become a doctor. I want to
pursue cardiology,” Soyeb said.
The 18-year-old said he spent
15 hours a day studying, includ-
ing four hours of self-study apart
fromschoolandcoaching.“Imade
sure that I spent some time
watchingvideosonYouTubeand
playing games. That helps main-
tainabalance.Iensuredthatdur-
ingstudyhours,myconcentration
wasonstudiesandnothingelse,”
he said.
Aftabscored96percentinhis
Class XII board examinations.
He said he did not expect to
top the medical entrance exami-
nation with a perfect score.
Aftab had moved to Kota in
Rajasthanforatwo-yearcoaching
ALTERNATE TRANSPORT
Commuters board a ferry to
cross Ulhas creek in
Mumbai on Friday. With
suburban train services
restricted and buses
frequently stranded on
potholed and congested
roads, officegoers from
EXPRESS NETWORK 9
programme. His mother and 10-
year-old sister had also moved
withhim. Soyebwantstopursue
his MBBS degree from AIIMS
Delhi. A total of 7,71,500 candi-
dates have qualified the exam for
whichover13.66lakhcandidates
had appeared.
The highest number of quali-
fyingcandidatesarefromTripura
(88,889)followedbyMaharashtra
(79,974).“Theresulthasbeende-
clared. I congratulate all candi-
dateswhohaveclearedtheexam
and wish them good luck for fu-
ture.IthankNTAforgivinganew
cohortofdoctorsthisyear.Exams
were conducted during ‘testing’
timesandthespiritofcooperative
federalism was also visible. I also
Kalyan and Dombivali areas
in Mumbai have resorted to
a decade-old ferry service,
which operates between
Dombivali and Bhiwandi, to
cut down on travel time. As
businesses reopened after
the lockdown restrictions
thank all the Chief Ministers for
the same,” Union Education
Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal
‘Nishank’ tweeted.
The NEET was conducted on
September13amidstrictprecau-
tions in view of the pandemic.
The exam was earlier post-
ponedtwiceduetothepandemic
andthegovernmentdecidedtogo
ahead with it, despite opposition
by a section, to mitigate any fur-
ther academic loss.
The National Testing Agency
hadsetinplacestrictstandardop-
erating procedures in view of the
pandemic, including measures
like reducing the number of can-
didatesperroomfromtheearlier
24 to 12.
were gradually rolled back,
many who stay far away
from business districts have
seen their daily commute
time double as they are not
yet allowed to access the
suburban trains.
Deepak Joshi
New Delhi
ED files charges
in 2012 Bihar
hooch tragedy
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
The Enforcement Directorate
(ED) has filed a prosecution
complaint, which is the equiva-
lent to a chargesheet, against the
accused in the 2012 Bihar hooch
tragedy case, in which 21 peo-
ple had died. It has also filed a
prayer with a special court in
Patna that the accused’s assets
to the tune of Rs 1.32 crore be
confiscated.
Theagencyhadearlierprovi-
sionally attached these proper-
tiesinconnectionwithitsmoney
laundering probe against ac-
cused Sanjay Pratap Singh, his
wifeKiranDeviandhisassociate,
Srikumar Singh in a hooch
tragedy which caused death of
21 people in Ara, Nawada of
Bhojpur district in the state.
The attached properties li-
able for confiscation include 15
landed plots along with con-
struction on two plots held in
the name of accused Singh, his
associates and balances in bank
accounts held in the name of
Singh and his unregistered firm,
Maa Construction.
The ED case is based on an
FIR registered by Bihar police
against Singh in 2012. “State
Police investigation revealed
that deceased persons had con-
sumed country liquor which
was doubted to be spurious and
manufactured/sold by Sanjay
Pratap Singh and his associates.
The agency had earlier
provisionally attached
these properties in
connection with its
money laundering
probe against accused
The Hon’ble 1st ASJ, Bhojpur, Ara
vide judgement dated
24.07.2018 held 14 accused per-
sons including Sanjay Pratap
Singh guilty of the offences un-
der IPC, Excise Act and SC/ST Act
and awarded sentence of life im-
prisonment with fine of
Rs.25,000/- to each accused per-
son,” the ED said in a statement.
It said its probe has re-
vealed that Singh has invested
the “Proceeds of Crime” gener-
ated through illegal trade of
country liquor for acquiring
immovable properties in his
and his wife’s name.
“In the year 2011, with in-
tention to legalize his tainted
income from country liquor,
Sanjay Pratap Singh formed an
unregistered firm namely
Bhojpur Wine Traders to laun-
der Proceeds of Crime.
Investigation also revealed that
the accused used the Proceeds
of Crime into the construction
business namely
Construction where ill-gotten
Maa
money was used for acquisi-
tion of immovable property,”
ED said.
 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

10
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
WORDLY WISE

THE EDITORIAL PAGE Unless you are willing to compromise,

society cannot live together.
— ALAN GREENSPAN

FOUNDED BY
How school reopens
§

§
RAMNATH GOENKA
That is our test and opportunity — to define new
BECAUSE THE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL
normal, rebuild foundational skills

A HALF STEP Rukmini Banerji

Centre’s decision to borrow to compensate states is welcome. THE GOVERNMENT HAD stipulated October home. Parents, especially those who do not Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, call this
15asthedateafterwhichreopeningofschools have much education, have often not been phenomenon“teachingtothetopoftheclass”.
More clarity is needed on modalities, remaining GST shortfall

A
couldbeconsideredinagradedmanner.Ade-
tailed set of recommendations and points to
FTER MONTHS OF uncertainty, and a near breakdown of the consen- consider in the reopening decision has been
sual nature of decision-making in the GST Council, the Centre, on provided, which places safety and security of
Thursday, acceded to the states’ request, announcing that it will borrow children and teachers as the highest priority.
Rs 1.1 lakh crore to lend to states to compensate them for the shortfall in Unlike our usual academic documents, con-
their GST revenues. This is indeed a welcome development, as not lis- cern with children’s social and emotional
well-being features prominently.
tening to states’ concerns, and not honouring its commitment to protect their revenues,
All of India, not only children, teachers
wouldhavesetabadprecedentandfurtherstrainedCentre-staterelations.Operationally, or parents, but family members and com-
this mechanism is preferable and arguably more convenient as compared to all the states munities, everyone wants “every child in
rushing to the bond market. Further, the Centre’s borrowing attracts a lower interest rate school” eventually. Everyone wants this to
as compared to that of states, and as a result, the loans to the states will be at a uniform happen safely. Once children start going to
rate, avoiding interest rate differentials across states. school regularly, it will herald a return of
Yet, several questions remain unanswered. First, the modalities of the transaction are “normalcy” in a way that no other event can.
But designing the process of school-reopen-
yet to be clearly enunciated. Presumably, the transaction will be routed through the pub-
ing well could provide new opportunities
lic account of India. The accounting treatment could also be along the lines of states’ loans that can be tested in the next few months to
from multilateral agencies which are routed through the Centre. However, whichever see if they have the potential to become en-
way it is treated, it will lead to a rise in general government debt. Second, while the Centre during features of our school system.
has agreed to borrow Rs 1.1 lakh crore, what happens to the remaining shortfall — as- First,schoolsystemsareoftencentralised
and hierarchical. Many key decisions related
suming that the total GST revenue shortfall remains at Rs 3 lakh crore and that collec-
to the functioning of the school are taken at
tions through the compensation cess stand at Rs 65,000 crore? Will the state govern-
a level that is far from ground realities. Yet,
ments settle for being compensated only for losses arising on account of implementation in today’s context, local conditions and com-
issues and forgo the loss in GST revenues arising out of an “act of god”? Third, if as the munity perceptions are going to play a deci-
Centre has said, this mechanism will not impact its fiscal deficit, then why not borrow sive role in when and how schools can open.
the entire expected shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore? If the repayment of the loan is not an Thecurrentsituationprovidesavaluableop-
obligation of the Centre, and will be met from proceeds from future compensation cess portunity for local inputs to be absorbed. If
done well, the process of school reopening
collections, then why the reluctance to borrow the full amount?
can bring the community closer together.
ConsideringthatthegrandbargainstruckbetweentheCentreandthestatesforpushing Localsupportcangoa long way,well beyond
throughGSTwaspremisedontheCentreassuringstatesofa14percentgrowthintheirGST the crisis, in bringing in new resources and
revenues,thecontroversyoverthelastfewmonthsshouldhavebeenavoided.TheCentre’s investment into schools.
approach,ineffectplacingtheentireburdenof thelossinGSTrevenuesonstates,wasnotin Second, in a normalyear, schoolsopenall
thespiritofcooperativefederalismthattheNDAgovernmentprofessescommitmentto.This at once. On a given day, gates are unlocked,
doors open and children and teachers arrive
half-step now taken by the Centre must be built upon to bridge the mistrust between the
all at once. But this year is different. In many
two. But it is also imcumbent upon the states to show some flexibility, in the spirit of coop-
states, villages and cities, teachers have been
eration, given the sweeping distress in the economy. The GST Council should thus now ap- going to school already. As we think about a
proachtheissueof compensatingstatesfortheirremaininglossesinaconciliatorymanner.
gradual phased plan to bring children back,
it is possible to visualise a “warming up” pe-
riod, to enable children and families to get
Teachers can set up individual
meetings with parents in
rotation, to find out how the
family has been coping and to
suggest ‘school readiness’
activities that can be done at
home. Parents, especially
those who do not have much
education, have often not
been involved in their child’s
school life. During this period
of school closure, parents
have had to take the
responsibility of children’s
learning through whatever
was possible at home. Their
efforts and initiatives need to
be recognised and celebrated
by schools and teachers.
involvedintheirchild’sschoollife.Duringthis
period of school closure, parents have had to
take the responsibility of children’s learning
through whatever was possible at home.
Theireffortsandinitiativesneedtoberecog-
nised and celebrated by schools and teach-
ers.Gradualschoolre-openingcanbeagood
time for parents and teachers to interact and
form a closer relationship.
Third, once teachers agree and parents
consent,childrencanbegintoreturntoschool
byrotation.Activitiescanbeplannedinaway
thatteacherscanreconnectmeaningfully,one
by one, with children. If children come in ro-
tation, whether by grade or within the same
class, there will be fewer children at any one
time in school. This means that teachers can
give more individual attention to each child.
Finding out how the child has been, how the
child’sfamilyhascopedinthiscrisis,isasim-
portant as finding out whether the child has
had any “learning loss”.
Available data from years of the ASER
(Annual Status of Education Report) indicate
that at least in rural areas, for many children,
basicskillsofreadingandarithmeticarewor-
ryingly low. The ASER figures, which are
widelyquoted,statethatevenafterfiveyears
of schooling, of the children in Standard V, al-
most50percentcouldnotreadasimpleshort
story(atClassIIlevelof difficulty)ordoasim-
pletwo-digitnumericalsubtractionproblem
withborrowing(askillexpectedfromClassII
level children). After six months or more of
school closure, children who were just learn-
ing to read or getting the hang of arithmetic
operations may have forgotten how to do so.
Teachers need to quickly understand the
child’slevelandsuggestactivities.If activities
are simple and explained clearly, parents can
do similar activities with children at home.
Starting as early as Standard I, curriculum
expectationsmoveatafastpace.Teachersare
The ASER data clearlyshows thatin Standard
V, only 20-30 per cent children gain from
teaching at the class level. Clearly, something
needs to be done to help all other children
“catch up”. This “catch up” was needed even
before COVID. But now may be the best time
to get this done.
Reading and basic arithmetic are key
building blocks for the foundation of any
child’s educational journey. Pratham’s ASER
reports for the last 15 years have pointed to
the need across India to build these foun-
dational skills. The National Education
Policy 2020 also underlines the importance
of foundational skills that must be built in
primary school.
For over two decades, Pratham has
evolvedanapproachcalled“Teaching-at-the-
Right-Level”.Inthismodel,childrenwhohave
reached Standard III or higher but have not
learned to read or do arithmetic operations
arehelpedtoacquiretheseskillsinashortpe-
riodof timewithoutusingtoomanyextrare-
sources. The approach has been tried and
testedbycommunitiesandgovernmentsand
found to be effective.
Onceschoolsareproperlyopenandatten-
dance has stabilised, the government must
takeonafocussed100-dayprogrammewhen
atleastinprimaryschools,weputasidegrade-
wise curriculum and focus entirely on re-
buildingfoundationalskills.Thegoalmustbe
to ensure that all children, in Standard III and
higher, are able to read fluently and do basic
arithmeticwithconfidence.Positiveenergyis
unleashed by children’s progress; it is vital in
rebuilding. Learning to read is very visible.
Childrenenjoytheirownprogress.Children’s
progress gives teachers and parents the con-
fidenceof beingabletotogethertakethenext
steps in the educational journey of the child.
Instead of being a crisis, COVID can turn
out to be a boon, if we do the right things

CITY AND THE DELUGE

“ready” for school.
Teachers can set up individual meetings
with parents in rotation, to find out how the
familyhasbeencopingandtosuggest“school
Untimely, excessive rainfall, as in Hyderabad and Pune, is here readiness” activities that can be done at
Gradual school re-opening
can be a good time for parents
and teachers to interact and
form a closer relationship.
expected to teach from textbooks prescribed for children and with families, as we re-
fortheclass.Andso,if achildisnotatthelevel open schools.
of the class textbook, instruction, however
good,goesoverherheadandthechildgetsleft The writer is CEO Pratham
behind. Nobel prize winning professors, Education Foundation

to stay. It’s time to plan for vagaries of weather, build resilience

A
T LEAST 80 people have lost their lives in floods in Telangana,
Maharashtra and Karnataka in the past 72 hours. The maximum casu-
alties were caused by overflowing nallahs, incidents of wall or building
collapse and electrocution in Hyderabad and Pune. This grim story has
been repeating itself with worrying frequency in urban India for at least
10years.Puneisfacingthefuryof torrentialrainsforthesecondconsecutiveyear.Chennai
RETREAT OF FREEDOM
faced a crippling flood five years ago, Guwahati gets submerged almost every year. Patna, The women of Afghanistan stand to lose the most if the Taliban return to power
Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai have their monsoon travails and Hyderabad received its
heaviestSeptemberrainfallinmorethan100yearslastyear.OnWednesday,asTelangana’s
capital recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall for October in more than a century, its nearly Khaled Ahmed
100-year-old drainage system was caught unprepared. As in most flooding incidents in
the country, the only semblance of resilience shown by Hyderabad’s authorities was in AS THE AMERICANS leave Afghanistan after 2003,fewerthan10percentof girlswereen- women suffered most of what was coming:
two decades of non-victory, the Taliban have rolledinprimaryschools;by2017,thatnum- “More than 4,00,000 Afghans fled the vio-
relief and rescue. But it’s time that Indian cities plan for the vagaries of weather, develop
madeclearthattheywillnotaccepttheinterim ber had grown to 33 per cent. Female enrol- lence of the Communist-led Tarakai and
systems that help them deal with hazards such as floods or excessive heat. truce of “talks” with the Afghan government. ment in secondary education grew from six Amin government, crossing over into
AsIndiancitieshaveexpanded,theyhavewrestedareasthatwereoncemajordrainage Why should they talk to a government that is per cent in 2003 to 39 per cent in 2017. Thus, Pakistan.Thenumbersprogressivelyswelled
points.Atthesametime,stormwaterdrainsinmostIndiancitiesremainlockedindecades- doomed?Theendgameisobvioustoallthose 3.5 million Afghan girls were in school with after the Soviet invasion on Christmas Eve in
old networks and are most often clogged. This means excessive rainfall gets trapped sitting on the fence in Kabul, like Gulbuddin 1,00,000 studying in universities. 1979. By the end of 1980, there were more
within city boundaries. Climate vagaries of the last two decades have exacerbated the Hekmatyar, who has recently announced his Male sadism directed at women is ex- than four million Afghan refugees in
decisiontoleavehis“agreed”coexistencewith emplified in the Afghan Pakhtun male. It is Pakistan.”
problem. This year, Mumbai received 80 per cent of its August rainfall in the first five days
the government of two clashing leaders — being imitated these days in Pakistan. What Pakistan may be preparing itself for the
of the month, parts of the city that have rarely been flooded were under water. More than Pakhtun President Ashraf Ghani and Tajik ex- chance is there that women will be spared next Afghan deluge by “Islamising” itself
one IPCC report has pointed to the climate vulnerability of coastal areas such as Mumbai Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah — and be punishment for having accepted “freedom” through an anti-Shia orgy. This is more likely
and Chennai. It’s unfortunate that recent technology-enabled initiatives — the Smart readytotalkpower-sharingwiththeemerging under the “slavery” imposed by the thantheAfghanrefugees,mostlywomenand
Cities Project, for example — have very little by way of bolstering climate adaptability. In alternative of the Taliban. Americans? Seventy-five per cent of them children, going to Europe through Turkey.
fact,accordingtoa2018reportbytheCentreforResearchontheEpidemiologyof Disasters The Taliban ruled Afghanistan with reli- live in villages where the war has not ceased Europehasalreadyalerteditsbordersagainst
at the University of Louvain School of Public Health, Brussels and the NGO SEEDS, more gious hubris that only an illiterate society can Taliban ruled Afghanistan even as the Taliban negotiate with the an Afghan deluge when the Americans leave
than 55 per cent of India’s smart cities are prone to floods.
stomach. After the Soviets left, they imposed with religious hubris that Americans in Doha. andtheAshraf Ghanigovernmentiskickedin
Islam on Afghanistan and brutalised the pop- only an illiterate society can Next door, Pakistan is going to revamp its thebuttbytheTaliban—tosaynothingabout
According to estimates, more people will live in urban centres in India compared to the ulation,especiallywomen,andbalefullyinflu- education and create something the Taliban Islamic State (normal) and Islamic State
ruralonesby2050.It’simperativethatwhileplanningforhouses,roads,hospitalsandother encedthe Islamicstate-in-chrysalis,Pakistan, stomach. After the Soviets will love, and banish the evil of English- (Khorasan)andnumerousothermilitiasfrom
infrastructure,policymakersrespectanarea’shydrology.Thesolutionscouldvaryaccording into an imitative misdemeanour. Under the left, they imposed Islam on medium schools “run for the rich”. What is Central Asia dreaming of Afghanistan as a
tolocalconditionsandclimateadaptabilitycouldbeanadroitmixofnaturalandtechnolog- Taliban,womencouldnotcomeoutunlessac- Afghanistan and brutalised more,Pakistanhassignalledtheendofthefalse utopiainwhichwomenhavetobetamedfur-
companiedbyamaleguardianandtherewas truce against the Shia, with Pakistan Tehreek- ther according to sharia.
ical means — sensors in drains that warn of floods, tried in Buenos Aires and some US cities the population, especially
no question of getting any kind of education. e-Insaf’s (PTI) Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Pakistanisputtingupawire-fenceonthe
forexample.ThefloodsinHyderabadandPuneareawarningthatthereisnotimetowaste. women, and balefully
The Taliban prohibited women from holding Parvez Elahi introducing a bill in the Punjab Durand Line while the Taliban — Afghan and
jobs. Except, of course, when they helped in influenced the Islamic state- Assembly mandating reverence of the Sunni Pakistani — take potshots at the soldiers as-
poppy cultivation and opium harvesting. in-chrysalis, Pakistan, into saintlypersonalitiestraditionallytraducedby signed to erect the fence. Yet, when the del-

ARTIST OF DESIGN
The post-Taliban constitution in 2004
gave Afghan women all kinds of rights that
significantlyimprovedtheirsocio-economic
condition. The regime constructed 3,135
Bhanu Athaiya’s work helped highlight the functional health facilities by 2018, giving 87
percentof Afghanpeopleaccesstoamedical
role costume design plays in cinema
an imitative misdemeanour.
Under the Taliban, women
simply could not come out
unless accompanied by a
male guardian and there
theShia.InKarachi,thecampaignforthe“cor-
rection” of the Shias has actually started. This
will inspire the Taliban when they rule in
Afghanistanonceagain,withaneyecockedat
the Shia community of Central Afghanistan,
the Hazara.
ugeof refugeescomes,fleeingtheexemplary
bravery of the Islamic soldiers, it will be the
children and women who will suffer most.
The women of Pakistan are already suffering
assaults in the cities where the muezzin du-
tifully calls out from the minarets.

B
facility within two hours distance — at least AmnestyInternationalhadoncecounted
in theory. The Taliban attacked the facilities, was no question of getting the number of Afghans who had to leave The writer is consulting editor,
Y 1983, WHEN Bhanu Athaiya — who passed away on Thursday at 91 — making road travel increasingly unsafe. In any kind of education. Afghanistan during 40 years of war — and Newsweek Pakistan
won the Oscar for best costume design for Gandhi, she already had a body
of work behind her that included some of the classics of Indian cinema —
Guru Dutt’s Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam and Pyaasa and Guide, to name a few.

OCTOBER 17, 1980, FORTY YEARS AGO

But it was her rise to international prominence that brought into the spot-
light the role of a costume designer in creating a world on-screen that is authentic, or
subtle and grand, deploying research and detail, as much as the imagination.
Athaiya was the first woman to be invited to be part of the Bombay Progressive ASSAM TALKS FAIL. Guwahati or any other city in Assam. But IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS
Artists Group and was part of their seminal exhibition in 1953. She turned to costume THE CURRENT ROUND of talks between Union Home Minister Giani Zail Singh said A DEAL WAS said to be in the works to se-
design and fashion to make a living, but her approach to her craft continued to bear AASU and AAGSP and the government that the next round will be held after pujas, cure the release of US hostages in Iran in re-
the impression of her training in art. The costumes in Gandhi and Lagaan, for example, failed and both sides were not sure when “and naturally in Delhi”. turn for US spare parts for its American
they would be resumed. The bone of con- made arsenal. Five US aircrafts were report-
were remarkable for their attention to detail, the play of consonance and contrast, to
ensure that the period in which the film is set is paid homage to, while still reflecting
tention remains the cut-off date for the en- SIRIMAVO EXPELLED edly ready to leave for Tehran according to
try of foreigners. While the Assam leaders SIRIMAVO BANDARANAIKE, SRI Lanka’s a TV channel. The US state department has,
the character of those who wore them. said the talks had flopped because of the first woman Prime Minister, one time a however, denied these reports.
It is difficult to imagine in 2020 that costume designers were once unknown entities: government’s failure to see reason, a gov- leader of the non-aligned movement and
The biggest names in fashion are now also found in films. But for a long time, the process ernment spokesperson said that the pres- leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, was NO PRAYERS AT IDGAH
of film-making was thought to be centred around stars, or, at best, seen as the realisation ent round had remained inconclusive stripped of her civic rights by Parliament ULEMAS OF MORADABAD have decided not
of the director’s vision. Athaiya’s work and the recognition it eventually received were though both sides had understood each and expelled from the assembly where she to congregate at the locaI Idgah for Id-ul-
other better and narrowed down the differ- had sat for 20 continuous years, 12 of them Zuha prayers. Instead, they would pray in
instrumental in changing that perception. Cinema is not made by a set of technicians
ences. Assam leaders who came to the con- as Prime Minister. A resolution passed by the local mosques according to a leaflet cir-
bringingtofruitionanauteur’svision;itisacollaborationof artistsworkingtowardsacom- ference hall rather agitated said that the Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa was culated by them on the eve of the Prime
mon goal. With every fabric she chose and shaped, Bhanu Athaiya proved that point. next round, if any, will have to be held in passed by a two-thirds majority. Minister’s visit to the city.

New Delhi

11
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
THE IDEAS PAGE
The real population worry
Theskewedsexratiocouldupsetthegainsfromafallingfertilityrate.Thereisanurgentneedtoreachyoung
peoplebothforreproductivehealtheducation andservicesaswellastocultivategender equitynorms
C Rangarajan and
J K Satia
RECENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN discussion in
the media on India’s population future
prompted by release of the Sample
Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report
(2018) and global population projections
made by the Institute of Health Metrics and
Evaluation (IHME), US.
Fertility has been declining in India for
some time now. SRS report estimated the
Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the number of chil-
drenamotherwouldhaveatthecurrentpat-
tern of fertility during her lifetime, as 2.2 in
the year 2018. Fertility is likely to continue to
decline and it is estimated that replacement
TFR of 2.1 would soon be, if not already,
reached for India as a whole. As fertility de-
clines, so does the population growth rate.
This report estimated the natural annual
population growth rate to be 1.38 per cent in
2018. With India’s estimated population of
137 crore, this means that net 1.9 crore per-
sons would have been added that year.
A comparison of 2011 and 2018 SRS sta-
tistical reportsshows that TFRdeclined from
2.4to2.2duringthisperiod.Fertilitydeclined
inallmajorstates.In2011,10states hada fer-
tility rate below the replacement rate. This
increased to 14 states (including two new
newly carved states — Telangana and
Uttarakhand). The annual natural popula-
tion growth rate also declined from 1.47 to
1.38 per cent during this period.
Many people believe that the population
would stabilise or begin to reduce in a few
years once replacement fertility is reached.
This is not so because of the population mo-
mentum effect, a result of more people en-
tering the reproductive age group of 15-49
years due to the past high-level of fertility.
For instance, the replacement fertility level
was reached in Kerala around 1990, but its
annual population growth rate was 0.7 per
cent in 2018, nearly 30 years later. The UN
Population Division has estimated that
India’s population would possibly peak at
161 crore around 2061 at the medium-fer-
tility variant, and will be lower by about 10
per cent at the low fertility variant. Recently,
IHME estimated that it will peak at 160 crore
in 2048. Needless to add that estimates so
faroutintimehaveconsiderableuncertainty.
Some of this momentum effect can be miti-
gatedif youngpeopledelaychildbearingand
space their children.
The six states with higher than national
fertility rate (and their TFR) in 2018 are Bihar
(3.2), Uttar Pradesh (2.9) Madhya Pradesh
(2.7), Rajasthan (2.5), Jharkhand (2.5) and
Chhattisgarh (2.4) (Table 1). Fertility largely
dependsuponsocialsettingandprogramme
strength. Female education is a key indica-
tor for social setting. Broadly, higher the fe-
male education level, lower the fertility. For
instance, illiterate women in the reproduc-
tiveagegroupof 15-49yearshavehigherfer-
tilitythanliteratewomeninalmostallstates.
Kalraj Mishra
THE NATIONAL EDUCATION Policy (NEP) is
basedonwide-rangingconsultations,includ-
ingreportsoftheTSRSubramanian(2016)and
K Kasturirangan (2019) committees, deliber-
ations in 676 districts, 6,600 blocks, 2.5 lakh
grampanchayatsanddiscussionwithteachers
and the common man. It is thus important in
morewaysthanone.Itisonlythethirdeduca-
tion policy promulgated by the Centre — the
other two being the policies enunciated by
Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi in 1968 and
RajivGandhiin1986.Butatamorefundamen-
tallevel,theNEPisimportantforseveralquan-
titative, and more importantly, qualitative
changes across the development spectrum.
Theserangefrompre-schooltohighereduca-
tionwiththrustonpracticalityandskilldevel-
opment; breaking the stereotypical divide of
arts, commerce and science streams in high
school;reorganisingschoolingyears;making
theeducationsystemmoreinclusive;permis-
sion to foreign universities to establish
branches in India; and thrust on Indian and
ancientlanguages.Thereisarefreshingmove
fromperiodic“inspections”toself-assessment
andvoluntarydeclarationwithtransparency,
quality standards and positive public percep-
tion being the keywords. A single, lean struc-
ture with four verticals for standards-setting,
funding,accreditationandregulationwillpro-
vide “light but tight” oversight.
Othertransformativechangesrelatetoed-
ucation in the local language or mother
tongueatleastuptothefifthgradeandif pos-
sible,eighthandbeyond;universalaccessand
earlychildhoodeducation;curriculumchange
leadingtolearningoutcomes(LOs)andcom-
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
WHAT THE OTHERS SAY
“That the government is diligently laying the foundation for the large-scale
digital surveillance of citizens is deeply unsettling. What is more disturbing is
the secrecy with which all of this is being done, with even the tech companies
complaining that they have been left in the dark.” — DAWN
Finding common
ground
Coronavirus has shown us that there are new
ways of improving our ties. India and Spain
must build a stronger relationship
In the educational field, the launching
of the Delhi-based Instituto Cervantes in
2007markedaturningpointforIndiansin-
terestedinlearningSpanish.Thisofficialin-
stitution, dedicated to promoting our lan-
TABLE 1: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE guage and culture has allowed thousands
of Indians to learn Spanish every year, be-
■ Illiteratewomeninagegroup15-49years,2018,(%) ■ NFHS Unmetneed2015-16(%) ■ TFR2018 coming one of the most important centres
in the world. In addition to that, several
■ NFHSContraceptiveprevalence2015-16(%) ■ NFHSTotaldemandforFP2015-16(%) José Ramón MoUs signed between Indian Universities
100 3.5 Barañano and the Spanish Agency for International
Cooperation and Development (AECID),
80 3.0 have helped introduce the learning of
60 2.5 THEREISNOgreaterhonourforadiplomat Spanish into the Indian academic system,
than to celebrate his National Day in the thus strengthening the educational coop-
40 2.0 country he is serving, especially when you eration between our countries. In this re-
20 1.5 have been given the privilege of represent- spect,theseexchangeprogrammesshould
ingyournationinIndia.Foranambassador, continuetoexpandinordertoimproveour
0 1.25 theNationalDayisaperfectoccasiontoun- mutual understanding and our citizens´
derline the state of relations between the professional possibilities. The Spanish lan-
Uttarakhand
India
AndhraPradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Delhi
Gujarat
Haryana
HimachalPradesh
Jammu&Kashmir
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Kerala
MadhyaPradesh
Maharashtra
Odisha
Punjab
Rajasthan
TamilNadu
Telangana
UttarPradesh
WestBengal
countries,andtothinkaboutwhathasbeen guage gives access to a market that spans
done so far and what can be improved in 20 million square kilometres and reaches
the future. more than 500 million people.
This year, our National Day, October 12, Allowmetogobackto2016,asthatyear
took place in trying circumstances caused markedaturningpointinourculturalrela-
by the pandemic. The whole world is fac- tions, when Madrid held the IIFA awards.
Source: Data on TFR and Illiterate women is from SSR Statistical Report 2018. Data on unmet need and contraceptive prevalence is from NFHS 2015-16.
ing a great political, economic, social and Theeyesof millionsof Indiancitizenswere
humanitarianchallenge.Iwouldliketopay staring at the capital of Spain, proving the
C R Sasikumar
tributetothevictimsof thecoronavirusand great potential of cultural cooperation be-
acknowledge the bravery and strength tween the two countries. This event took
The percentage of illiterate women in the re- strengthened in these states. shown by all the sanitary professionals place five years after the production of
productive age group declined from 31.5 in Themosttroublingstatisticsinthereport around the world, who have worked day blockbuster Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara — a
2011 to 13.0 per cent in 2018 as the cohort of are for sex ratio at birth. Biologically normal and night to protect us. filmthatintroducedSpainintoeveryIndian
older women with high illiteracy exited and sex ratio at birth is 1,050 males to 1,000 fe- October 12 reminds us that Spain be- home. These are only two examples of the
younger women with a high proportion of malesor950femalesto1,000males.TheSRS longs to a great community comprising great impact that Spain and India can have
themliterateenteredthisagegroup.Theper- reports show that sex ratio at birth in India, more than 500 million people who share a in each other’s countries.
centage of illiterate women in this age group measured as the number of females per commonlanguageandhistory,strongeco- In the economic field, before the pan-
was higher than 15 per cent in all the high- 1,000 males, declined marginally from 906 nomic ties and even family linkage. These demic, exchanges between India and Spain
fertilitystates, which comprise nearly 40 per in 2011 to 899 in 2018. There is considerable common features between Spain and the were improving, but still have not reached
cent of India’s population. As the literacy of The most troubling statistics son preference in all states, except possibly Ibero-American countries led to the cre- their real potential. Economic flows signifi-
women in the reproductive age group is im- in the report is for sex ratio in Kerala and Chhattisgarh. The UNFPA State ation of the Ibero-American Summit in cantlyincreasedatthebeginningofthecen-
proving rapidly, we can be sanguine about of World Population 2020 estimated the sex 1991.Todaythisbodyincludes22European tury and will continue to do so if we man-
continued fertility reduction.
at birth. Biologically normal ratio at birth in India as 910, lower than all and American Spanish-and-Portuguese- agetodealefficientlyinthepost-pandemic
Programme strength is indicated by the sex ratio at birth is 1,050 the countries in the world except China. This speaking countries, whose leaders meet scenario.Spanishcompaniescanoffergreat
unmet need for contraception, which has males to 1,000 females or is a cause for concern because this adverse every two years to discuss issues of inter- expertise acquired throughout the world
several components. The most important 950 females to 1,000 males. ratioresultsinagrossimbalanceinthenum- national agenda, focusing on social cohe- over the last decades. To give only two ex-
of them is the proportion of married berof menandwomenanditsinevitableim- sion, education and culture. amples — in the infrastructure field, Spain
women who are neither pregnant nor
The SRS reports show that pact on marriage systems as well as other Our diplomatic relations with India has many renowned companies that have
amenorrhoeic and do not desire a child in sex ratio at birth in India, harms to women. started in 1956, but we have developed a contributed to developing ports, airports,
the next two years or ever but are not prac- measured as the number of Thus, much more attention is needed on deeper relationship more recently. Both roadsandotherfacilitiesallovertheplanet,
tising contraception. The National Family females per 1,000 males, this issue. Increasing female education and countrieshavestrengthenedtheirfriendship and in the field of alternative energy, Spain
Health Survey (2015-16) provides us esti- economic prosperity help to improve the ra- with an intense institutional agenda at the has built strong capabilities that represent
mates for the unmet need at 12.9 per cent declined marginally from tio. It is hoped that a balanced sex ratio at highestlevel.Justafewdaysaftermyarrival anotherkeysectorwithcleareconomicand
and contraceptive prevalence of 53.5 per 906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018. birth could be realised over time, although in India in 2017, His Majesty King Felipe VI commercial potential.
cent for India. Together, this puts the total There is considerable son this does not seem to be happening during andtheformerPresidentoftheGovernment Next year, India and Spain will celebrate
demand for contraception at 66.4 per cent. preference in all states, the period 2011-18. In view of the complex- of Spain Mariano Rajoy received Prime 65yearsof diplomaticrelations.Iwillnotbe
Bihar, with the highest fertility rate, also ity of son preference resulting in gender-bi- Minister Narendra Modi during his official heretocelebrateitwithmyIndianfriendsas
has the highest unmet need at 21.1 per cent except possibly in Kerala and asedsex selection, government actions need visit.PrimeMinisterModiandthePresident my tenure in India is coming to an end. I am
and the lowest contraceptive prevalence Chhattisgarh. UNFPA State to be supplemented by improving women’s of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez sure that India and Spain will fully recover
rate of 24.1 per cent among all the major of World Population 2020 status in the society. also held talks on the sidelines of the G20 from this pandemic and resume all neces-
states. Although female education levels In conclusion, there is an urgent need to SummitinArgentinainDecember2018,and sary contacts to maintain and reinforce our
estimated sex ratio at birth in
are improving in Bihar, fertility for women reach young people both for reproductive both leaders discussed the situation caused partnership. The coronavirus has shown us
with any education level is higher in 2018 India as 910, lower than all health education and services as well as to bythecurrentpandemicduringatelephone thattherearenewwaysofimprovingourpo-
compared to 2011. The programme is the countries in the world cultivategender equity norms.This could re- conversation in April. More recently, during litical, economic and cultural ties that we
somewhat stronger in UP as unmet need is except China. It is a cause of duce the effect of population momentum the sixth round of the India-Spain have to take advantage of in order to build a
18 per cent and contraceptive prevalence and accelerate progress towards reaching a Consultation Mechanism in July, the stronger relationship.
is 45.5 per cent. Strangely, fertility among
concern because this adverse more normal sex-ratio at birth. India’s pop- Secretary-West of the Indian Ministry of Duringthelastthreeyears,Ihaveworked
women with Class 10 or higher education ratio results in a gross ulation future depends on it. ExternalAffairsandtheSpanishSecretaryof closely with my colleagues from India and
in UP is greater in 2018 compared to 2011. imbalance in the number of State for Foreign Affairs met virtually to dis- other embassies. I am very thankful to all of
Programmes in these two states need to re- men and women and its Rangarajan is former Chairman, Prime cusstherelationsbetweenourcountriesand you.Ithasbeenagreathonourtoserveasthe
spond to this. Programme’s ability to reach Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and thedifferentareaswherecooperationcould Ambassador of Spain in India and end my
younger people and provide them with
inevitable impact on former Governor, Reserve Bank of India. Satia be enhanced. Spain is committed to diplomaticcareerinthisincrediblecountry.
good quality reproductive health educa- marriage systems as well as is Professor Emeritus, Indian Institute of strengtheningIndo-Spanishrelationsatthe
tion and services needs to be urgently other harms to women. Public Health, Gandhinagar highest levels and in different areas. The writer is ambassador of Spain to India
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
An eye on the future DOUBLE STANDARDS
THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘I’m the IDEAS
Withitsfocusonequityandcriticallearning,NEPaddressespresent,futurechallenges
ONLINE
Unborn Baby’ (IE, October 15). I am
someone approaching my seventies
and lived a life with no religion, caste
and language barriers. My elder sister ONLY IN THE EXPRESS
was a Muslim, my best friends include
petencies; stress on equity, gender, special ecosystem include high-quality universities asteacherabsenteeism.Theshiftfromprinted a Christian and a Sikh. The lady who ● ALL WOMEN ARE
needs and promotion of multilingualism. and colleges, multidisciplinary education, content-oriented teaching to experimental cooked for us and looked after my fa- WORKING WOMEN:
Also welcome is the focus on early child learningoptimisation,extensionof thegrad- learning and concept-oriented teaching re- ther till his last day was a Dalit, whom DIYA DUTTA
development, the endeavour to reduce the uate course from three to four years, multi- quires the implementation of NITI Aayog’s we called “Aatya”. But now I find the
dropout rate, putting in place different forms ple entry and exit points, college teachers’ SchoolEducationQualityIndex(SEQI’s)vision things are changing, and the change ● A CASEFOR
of assessment, the emphasis on essential education, replacement of the UGC, AICTE for teacher adequacy. It also requires trans- is not being brought in by Hindus, PEACEJOURNALISM:
learningandcriticalthinkingandthecentral- and NAAC, dispensing with the MPhil pro- parentsystemsformerit-basedselectionand who are always at the receiving end.
ity of the teacher and teacher education. The gramme and the proposed National deployment of teachers and online systems I have a question: Could this ad be
VIJAYDARDA
NEP will bring two crore out-of-school chil- Research Foundation. The key principles of forteachertransfers.Atthesametime,ittalks made with a Muslim girl coming to a
dren back into the mainstream. The policy the NEP relate to accessibility, equality, ac- of an enabling milieu for teachers — good Hindu family after marriage? The an- www.indianexpress.com
aims at a 100 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio countability, affordability, and quality of ed- salaries, and the ready availability of peda- swer us no. Because the purpose is al-
(GER)inschooleducationby2030and50GER ucation. The “fragmented” ecosystem of gogic tools. They are free to design curricula ways to show that Muslims are
in higher education by 2025 – it’s currently higher education will be integrated once and evolve assessment methods and imple- friendly and open minded. What hurts porting those very Hindutva forces
about 25 per cent. NEP’s vision of combining different institu- ment innovative pedagogies. me is that the way Hindu gods are they are supposed to be engaged in a
Universal access to education at all levels tions into multidisciplinary universities and The proof of the pudding is, however, in made a joke of in movies, in stand-up fight to the finish. Donning a Dalit card
canbeachievedbymultiplelearningpathways “higher education institution clusters” or the eating. The philosophy of access, equity, comedy, in advertisements, in car- by leaders will not deter the oppres-
involvingbothformalandnon-formaleduca- “knowledge hubs” is realised. By upgrading infrastructure, governance and learning has toons, everywhere. Hindus tolerate it, sors from saffronising the whole so-
tion modes, through a focus on achieving de- the digital infrastructure, emphasising on ultimately to be grounded in action to drive some even laugh with crowd. And I ciety. Their divided approach will only
sired learning outcomes across levels, recall- learning at your own pace and underlining India’sgrowth,modernisationandstructural have not seen anyone writing about denude the Dalit movement.
ing dropouts back to school, alternative and the importance of online courses, the NEP transformation.Thepolicyjustifiablyaimsto impropriety of such acts. Why call the Tarsem Singh, Mahilpur
innovative education centres. While “educa- attempts to bridge the digital divide. increase the spending on education from the reaction to this ad anti-women? What
tion is a public good”, NEP also suggests phil-
anthropic private participation.
India is gradually acquiring its place in
theworldof knowledge.NEP,ajudiciousmix
current3.2percentofGDPto6percentofthe
GDP.However,mobilisingfundscouldbedif-
is anti-women in opposing such an
ad? And it is not trolling as the article
LEARNING FOR JOBS
Some elements of the overarching of need-based policy, cutting-edge research ficultbecauseoftheresourcecrunch,lowtax- tries to portray it. THIS REFERS TO the article 'World of
UniversalAccesstoEarlyChildhoodCareand and best practices, constitutes an important to-GDPratio,kick-startingtheeconomy,strife Anil Patil, Pune exam warriors' (IE, October 16). The
Education (ECCE) framework relate to the elementof thecountry'sdevelopmentstrat- with neighbours and competing develop- role and pattern of any education sys-
NCERT’sNationalCurricularandPedagogical
Framework for Early Childhood Education
egy and facilitates the way for “one nation,
one curriculum” policy.
ment requirements. The policy’s success will
alsohingeonitsintegrationwiththegovern-
POOR ALLIES tem largely depends on the socio-eco-
nomic status of the society. In poorer
(NCPFECE). It also involves aligning NCPFECE The policy talks of solving mathematics ment’s other polices — the New Industrial THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘A broader societies, it is natural that education
withthelatestresearchonECCEandnational problems through a variety of innovative Policy, Digital India, Skill India, Atmanirbhar imagination’ (IE, October 16). Without that enables a student to grab a high-
and international best practices. The integra- methods,includingtheregularuseof puzzles Bharat and the “vocal for local” programme. exception, all Dalit parties are piggy- paying job is preferred over education
tionofvocationaleducationwithbasiceduca- and games. There is a provision to teach cod- It's crucial that such challenges are ad- backing on Ambedkar’s legacy for that may broaden his horizons.
tion in all institutions by identifying focus ar- ingatthemiddle-schoollevelandanempha- dressed.For,addressingtheimperativesofthe their so-called fight for equal treat- Science, therefore, gains over arts.In
eas based on skills gap analysis and mapping sis on mainstreaming Sanskrit to increase presentandexpectationsofthefuturewillde- ment for the downtrodden in the India, this dilemma is further compli-
of local opportunities will develop entrepre- “knowledgeof ancientIndiaanditscontribu- pend on the policy’s success. country. Unfortunately, when it cated by the weight of sheer numbers.
neurial competencies. tionstomodernIndia”.Ittalksofcappingfees comes to the crunch, they end up sup- H N Bhagwat, Chiplun
Innovations in the higher education andtriestoaddresspersistentproblemssuch The writer is Governor of Rajasthan
New Delhi
Rajasthan State Road Development And Construction Corporation Ltd., JAIPUR
No. NIT/2020-21/12546-55
A»´fIYf»fe³f BÊ-d³fd½fQf Àfc¨f³ff Àfa£¹ff 236/2020-21
Date: 16.10.2020

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12 Delhi Transport Infrastructure
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
Delhi Transport Infrastructure
Request for Proposal (RFP) for Procurement of Comprehensive Architectral 375.00
Development Corporation Ltd.
Planing and Engineering Cosultancy Services for Construction in Medical College
Campus at Sri Ganganagar, Chittorgarh and Sirohi. (03 No works) UBN No. (1)
Lakh
Development Corporation Ltd. An Enterprises of Govt. of NCT of Delhi.
RRC2021SLOB00349 (2) RRC2021SLOB00345 (3) RRC2021SLOB00344 An Enterprises of Govt. of NCT of Delhi. ISBT Kashmere Gate Delhi-110006
Afg³f»ffBʳf d³fd½fQf ´fi´fÂf OfC³f»fûO I S³fZ I e A½fd²f dQ³ffaI 15.10.2020 ÀfZ 26.10.2020 Àff¹fa 6.00 ¶fªfZ °fI
ISBT Anand Vihar Delhi-110092 NOTICE INVITING TENDER
d³fd½fQf ÀfZ Àfa¶fad²f°f Àf¸fÀ°f d½f½fS¯f ½fZ¶fÀffBÊM http://eproc.rajasthan.gov.in, http://sppp.rajasthan.nic.in °f±ff
http://roads.rajasthan.gov.in ´fS QZJf ªff ÀfI °ff W` Ü B¨Lb I Àfa½fZQI ûÔ I û A´f³fZ dOdªfM»f WÀ°ffÃfS IZ ¸ff²¹f¸f ÀfZ ½fZ¶fÀffBÊM NOTICE INVITING TENDER The Superintendent Engineer, DTIDC invite tenders on behalf of MD,
http://eproc.rajasthan.gov.in ´fS SdªfÀMOÊ I S½ff³ff Af½fV¹fI W` Ü The Superintending Engineer, DTIDC invite tenders on behalf of MD, DTIDC DTIDC Ltd for the following works through e procurement solution only.
¸fWXf´fi¶fa²fIY
Ltd for the following works through e procurement solution only. 1. NIT No. : 34 /2020-21
1. Tender ID No. : 2020_DTIDC_195572_1
NIT No. : 35/2020-21 Name of work : Comprehensive maintenance of Maharana Pratap
Tender ID No. : 2020_DTIDC_195608_1 ISBT/KG i.e. mechanized housekeeping, security
Name of work : M/o ISBT at Anand Vihar services, maintenance of electromechanical services,
AC Plant, Sewage Treatment Plant, Building
SH : Supply & sprinkling of water tanker on
Management System, Water Treatment Plant, Roof Top
kucha portion and sides of roads at ISBT Solar Power Plant, Electrical Sub-Station etc.
Anand Vihar. Estimated Cost : Rs. 53,68,35,361/-
Estimated Cost : Rs. 7,08,000/- Earnest Money : Rs. 1,07,36,707/-
Earnest Money : Rs. 14,160/- Time Allowed : 03 Years
Time Allowed : 150 Days Last date of receipt : 05/11/2020
Last date of receipt of Tenders : 26/10/2020 of Tenders
The Tender forms and other details can be obtained from website
The Tender forms and other details can be obtained from the website:
https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in/
https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in/
Sd/- Sd/-
Executive Engineer Executive Engineer
DTIDC Ltd. ISBT DTIDC Ltd. ISBT
DIP/Shabdarth/0373/20-21 Anand Vihar, Delhi DIP/Shabdarth/0372/20-21 Kashmere Gate, Delhi

POOMPUHAR SHIPPING CORPORATION LIMITED

(A Government of Tamilnadu Enterprise)
692, (Old No. 473), Anna Salai, IV Floor, Nandanam, Chennai - 600 035.
Ph: 2433 0505, 2433 0807; Fax: 2434 4593, 2433 5706
E-mail : pscship@gmail.com / pscship@dataone.in
CIN : U63090TN1974PLC006596
GLOBAL TENDER
No.PSC/OPNS/PMS/001/2020-21
Notice inviting tender for Ship Performance Monitoring
Service for one year.
Last date for Receipt : 15.00 hrs. on 16.11.2020
Tender opening : 15.30 hrs. on 16.11.2020
EMD : Rs.1,00,000 (for Indian Agencies)
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Value of Tender : Rs.68,99,000/-
Prospective bidders are advised to refer our website
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transparent details. The condition / requirement mentioned
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DIPR/3863/Tender/2020 GENERAL MANAGER (OPNS)

Tender Ref no.:-kha.up.Ni.01 (ChiniVitranYojna)-13/2020 -1526

Dated- 16/10/2020
Government of Jharkhand ÀFa¨FFÕX³FFÕX¹F À½FFÀ±F ÀFZ½FF¹FZÔ, LXØFeÀF¦FPX
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Directorate of Food & Consumer ³FF¸F ¸FdWXÕXFAûÔ IZY dÕXE AFSXdÃF°F ´FQ d³F:¾FöYªF³F (OA, OL) IbYÕX
Affairs, Govt. ofJharkhand,Ground IZY dÕXE ½F¦FʽFFSX AFSXdÃF°F ´FQ ¹Fû¦F
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Last Date of HIMACHAL PRADESH
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7 Date of Reverse Auction 10.11.2020
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1. Construction of Govt. Primary and Senior Rs. Rs. Rs. Class-A One
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Secondary School Boileauganj Shimla H.P (SH: 3,11,71,940/- 3,49,250/- 5,000/- Year
Director
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1 26202172A Set of Primary Springs for WAG-7 locos 22-OCT-2020 already possessing the digital signature issued from authorized CAs can use the same in this tender
2 44205007 Kit for constant contact polyurethane 23-OCT-2020 3. KEY DATES:
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23 90205901B Vacuum Circuit breaker (Single bottle) 06-NOV-2020
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26 06200057 LP Sheet Star dust grey 11-NOV-2020 any delays due to system failure beyond its control. Even though the system will attempt to notify the bid-
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New Delhi
 E EXPLAINED
13
CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD
Delhi overtakes Pune as city
with highest count, again
WITH ITS daily case count starting to
rise again, Delhi is back at the num-
ber one position among cities with
the highest number of coronavirus
cases in the country. On Thursday,
Delhi recorded almost 3,500 new
cases to take its count to 3.21 lakh. In
the process, it overtook Pune, which
hadbeencarryingthehighestburden
of infected people for the last one-
and-a-half months.
After reporting
more than 5,000 cases
adayonafewoccasions
in late August and early
September, Pune has
seen its daily numbers
decline in the last one
month. On the other
hand,Delhihadslowed CORONAVIRUS
down considerably in COUNT
June and July, then saw
its numbers rise sharply once again in
September, before entering another
phaseof decline.Butitsnumbershave
startedgoingupagaininthelastthree
days, when the daily new infections
have been more than 3,000.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru has been
growing at a very fast rate in the last
two weeks. On three occasions dur-
ingthisperiod,thecityreportedmore
than 5,000 cases in a day. Delhi has
never crossed the 4,500 mark.
Bengaluruhasbeendrivingtherisein
Karnataka,whichisthesecondfastest
INDIA ACTIVE CASES
950,000
907,883
850,000
LAST 10 DAYS
Oct 6
750,000
Note: The Oct 15 figure in this graph is based on the government update on Oct 16
INDIA TOTAL CASES
7,370,468
Source:MinistryofHealth&Family
Welfare,updatedat11pmonOct16
Anti-ulcer drug shows promise
in suppressing coronavirus
RESEARCHERS FROM
Hong Kong have re-
ported a novel antiviral
strategy for treatment of
Covid-19. They have
found that a class of ex-
isting drugs, which are PAPER
currently used in the
treatmentof other infec-
tious diseases, can sup-
CLIP
press replication of NEW RESEARCH
SARS-CoV-2 and relieve
Covid-19 symptoms in an animal for SARS-CoV-2 to replicate.
model. Their findings are published
in Nature Microbiology. reduces viral loads by over 1,000-fold
These are metallodrugs, which in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. In a
consist of metal compounds. golden Syrian hamster, RBC was
Generally,metalcompoundsareused found to suppress SARS-CoV-2 repli-
asanti-microbialagents,buttheiran- cation and reduce viral loads by 100-
tiviral activities have rarely been ex- fold in both the upper and lower res-
plored,theresearcherssaid.Theirfind- piratory tracts, and to mitigate
ings now provide a new therapeutic virus-associated pneumonia.
option for treatment of Covid-19. SOURCE:HONGKONGUNIVERSITY
Tracking the weather system that gave Hyderabad its rainiest day ever
ANJALI MARAR
PUNE, OCTOBER 16
EARLIERTHISweek,threedaysof extremely
heavyrainfallledtomassivefloodsthatkilled
over70peopleinTelangana,AndhraPradesh
and Maharashtra. Hyderabad recorded its
rainiestdayin117years,floodingover20,000
houses. In Pune, Sangli and Solapur, nearly
20,000 people were evacuated.
This was caused by a weather that
formed in the Bay of Bengal, hit the east
coast and moved westward, weakening on
the way. On Friday, it re-emerged in the
Arabian Sea and is set to intensify further as
it moves farther into the sea.
The journey
OnOctober9,alowpressuresystemde-
veloped in the North Andaman Sea. During
itslandwardjourney,itintensifiedmultiple
times — first to form a well-marked low
pressurearea,thenadepression,andlatera
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
growing state in the country right
now, after Kerala. On several occa-
sions in the last three weeks,
Karnataka has reported more than
10,000 cases a day.
With more than 2.97 lakh cases,
Bengaluru is set to hit the three-lakh
figure on Friday. On Thursday, it re-
portedalmost3,800cases.Atthisrate,
Bengaluru has the potential to even
overtake Pune and
Delhi in a couple of
weeks. It has been
steadily closing the gap
with these two cities in
thelastcoupleofweeks.
Both Kerala and
Karnataka are showing
signs of a slowdown in
cases after three weeks
of very rapid growth.
Althoughthetwostates
arestillthelargestcontributorsofcases
tothecountryafterMaharashtra,they
are both off their peaks that was
achievedafewdaysago.Theirgrowth
rates have also declined significantly,
though, again, they continue to be the
fastest growing states right now.
Karnataka hasso far recorded7.44
lakhinfections,whileKerala,with3.18
lakh infections as on Thursday, looks
set to overtake Delhi on Friday, and
become the state with the sixth high-
est caseload in the country.
AMITABH SINHA
804,528
804,528
Oct 15
WORLD TOTAL CASES
39,081,143
Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity,
updatedat11pmonOct16
The researchers
screened metallodrugs
and related compounds
including ranitidine bis-
muthcitrate(RBC),acom-
monly used anti-ulcer
drug which contains the
metalbismuth.Theyiden-
tifiedRBCasapotentanti-
SARS-CoV-2 agent. RBC
targets a protein called
Nsp13, which is essential
TheexperimentsshowedthatRBC
deep depression while at sea. Low pressure
area, depression and deep depression are
partof aclassificationbasedonwindspeed.
On October 13, the system crossed over
land near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, as a
deep depression. As the system moved
west-north-westward, it brought ex-
tremely heavy rainfall all along Telangana
and some parts of Andhra Pradesh on
October 13 and 14. In the last 48 hours, the
system weakened into a well-marked low
pressure area, and moved along south
Madhya Maharashtra, causing widespread
heavyrainoverseveralareasofMaharashtra.
EarlyonFriday,thesystemleftthewestcoast.
Record rainfall
Hoursafterthedeepdepressionhitland,
both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana expe-
rienced extremely heavy rainfall. The 24-
hour rainfall ending 8.30 am on October 14
recorded at Hyderabad city was 191.8 mm.
This is the heaviest spell Hyderabad has
ever experienced in October. The previous
The Solidarity Trial dampener
Interim results of WHO’s Solidarity Trial show that none of the treatments studied could prove benefits
across parameters. What does it mean for the drugs that hopes were pinned on, especially remdesivir?
PRABHA RAGHAVAN &
ANURADHA MASCARENHAS
NEW DELHI, PUNE, OCTOBER 16
THEWORLDHealthOrganization(WHO)on
Thursdaymadeavailableinterimresultsfrom
the Solidarity Therapeutics Trial — a large-
scaleglobaltrialstudyingtheeffectivenessof
various repurposed therapies in Covid-19
treatment. The findings put a dampener on
expectations from these therapies — includ-
ing remdesivir, once seen as promising.
What is the Solidarity Trial?
The world’s “largest” multinational hu-
man trials on Covid-19 therapeutics, it was
initiated by WHO and its partners in March
to help find an effective treatment for Covid-
19. It covers four repurposed drugs or drug
combinations — remdesivir, hydroxychloro-
quine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon (in
combination with rotinavir and lopinavir).
The study spans over 400 hospitals in
more than 30 countries and looks into the
effectsof thesetreatmentsonvariousindica-
tors, includingtheir ability to prevent deaths
and shorten hospital stays. The trial involved
more than 11,300 participants.
The main aim was to help determine
whether any of these repurposed therapies
could at least moderately affect in-hospital
mortality,andwhetheranyeffectsdifferedbe-
tween moderate and severe disease, said Dr
Shobha Godbole, national coordinator of the
SolidarityTrialinIndia.Theinitiativeincluded
26trialsinpartsofIndiawithahighburdenof
cases.AsofOctober15,937hospitalisedCovid
patients were participating, Dr Godbole said.
What have the trials found?
None of the drugs was able to prove ben-
efits across the parameters studied, espe-
cially in reducing mortality among hospi-
talised patients. The interim results, made
available on a pre-print server, said these
drugs had “little or no effect” on hospitalised
Covid-19 patients “as indicated by overall
mortality, initiation of ventilation and dura-
tion of hospital stay.”
Drugs like hyrdoxychloroquine and
lopinavir, in fact, had already been dropped
over the course of the last six months for not
showing much promise.
What are the findings on remdesivir?
“The mortality findings contain most of
therandomizedevidenceonRemdesivirand
QAnon: a conspiracy theory feeding violence
MEHRGILL
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
ON THURSDAY, YouTube announced that it
wouldtakeadditionalmeasurestoblockcon-
tent that promotes QAnon, a pro-Donald
Trump conspiracy theory or movement.
QAnonhasbeenunderthespotlightinre-
centtimes.InJuly,TwitterandTikTokblocked
some hashtags and removed some accounts
relatedtoit.InAugust,Facebookannounceda
ban on QAnon groups. Last year, the FBI said
fringe political conspiracy theories including
QAnonareadomesticthreatandlikelyto“mo-
tivatesomedomesticextremists,whollyorin
part, to engage in criminal or violent activity”.
So, what is QAnon?
Ittookshapearound2017whenananony-
mous user called “Q” or “Q Clearance Patriot”
startedpostingconspiracytheories.“Q”refers
to a security clearance given by the US
DepartmentofEnergyforaccesstotop-secret
information.Q,whoclaimstobeahigh-rank-
ing intelligence officer with access to sensi-
tiveinformationoftheTrumpadministration,
COAST TO COAST, THE JOURNEY
MUMBAI OCT 13,
Pune 11.30 pm; 20 knots (depression)
OCT 16, HYDERABAD
Solapur
8.30 am; Gulbarga
15 knots
(low
pressure
OCT 14,
area)
5:30 pm;
OCT 15, 15 knots
8.30 am; 15 knots (low pressure
(low pressure area) area)
record was 117.1 mm on October 6, 1903.
Many districts along the central and
western regions of Telangana received sur-
plusrain—150%to400%abovenormaldur-
ingthefirstfortnightthismonth.Hyderabad
SIMPLY PUT QUESTION &ANSWER
Among the treatments in the trial, remdesivir is the most widely sought after. AP
Interferon, and are consistent with meta-
analyses of mortality in all major trials,” the
paperstated.Interferonwasdroppedfromthe
trial on Friday.
ThefindingsstruckanervewithAmerican
biopharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences,
whichdevelopedandpatentedremdesivir.In
astatement,itsaidtheemergingdata“appear
inconsistent”withthe“morerobust”evidence
from“multiple”otherstudiesonremdesivir’s
clinical benefits that have been published in
peer-reviewed journals. It said at least three
randomised, controlled clinical trials have
demonstrated remdesivir’s “benefits”.
Other experts have questioned the find-
ings of the trials cited by Gilead Sciences. Dr
SrinathReddy,presidentof thePublicHealth
Foundationof Indiaandamemberof theex-
ecutive group of the Solidarity Trial’s steer-
ing committee, referred to a trial on over
1,000 patients in the US. “The numbers were
relatively small for a clinical trial — and it
turnedoutthattheremdesivirgrouphadbet-
terprognosticindicatorsthanthecontrolarm.
So, in a sense, we can't say time to recovery
wasbecauseof remdesivirandnotduetothe
other factors.”
“Personal experiences are valuable.
However, that does not help to compare in
the clinical setting. The Solidarity Trial has
commented on the value of remdesivir in
hospitalised patients,” said Dr Soumya
Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist.
startedpostingontheplatform4chanin2017,
and now posts on 8kun, a website run by the
founders of 8chan (which was shut down af-
terthemassshootinginElPaso,Texasin2019
— the killers had posted hate content on
8chan). It is not clear if Q is a single user.
What is the conspiracy theory?
QAnon followers believe that the world is
beingrunbyacabalof paedophileswhowor-
shipSatanandthatoneof Trump’saimsasUS
President is to unmask the cabal and punish
them. According to the conspiracy theorists,
Trumpissecretlypreparingforadayofreckon-
ing,“TheStorm”,whenmembersofthe“deep
state” will be executed. This theory has been
gaining traction among some far-right voters
aheadoftheNovember3presidentialelection.
The conspiracy theorists believe that
DemocratssuchasHillaryClintonandBarack
Obama, and Hollywood actors Tom Hanks
and Oprah Winfrey, are part of a global child
sex-trafficking ring. This takes off from the
“Pizzagate”theory,longdebunked,whichcir-
culatedduringthe2016presidentialelection.
Far-right activists had claimed that Clinton,
whocontestedagainstTrump,wasrunninga
Warangal
Visakhapatnam OCT 11,
5:30 am;
20 knots
(depression)
Vijayawada
OCT 13,
8:30 am;
30 knots
(deep
depression)
district recorded 411% above normal.
Met officials noted that the rainfall was
not very high when compared to the rain-
fall that is received during the southwest
monsoon. However, when such spells are
@ieExplained
#ExpressExplained
If there are questions of current or contemporary relevance that you would like
explained, please write to explained@indianexpress.com
To what extent have these drugs been
used in India?
WhileIndiastoppeduseof combinations
like lopinavir/ritonavir early into the pan-
demic, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine and
interferoncombinationsarestill usedaspart
of the Covid-19 treatment regimenbased on
the severity of illness.
Remdesivir, especially, has been heavily
sought after. The size of India’s remdesivir
marketwaspeggedataroundRs121.29crore
in the 12 months ended September, in esti-
mates by pharmaceutical market research
firmAIOCDAwacsPharmaTrac.Thesecalcu-
lations were based on data available for only
four of the several remdesivir brands —
Desrem (Mylan), Remdac (Zydus Cadila),
Cipremi(Cipla)andCovifor(Hetero)—which
means the market may be even larger.
Withseveralnewbrandshittingthemar-
ket, sales have risen. PharmaTrac’s data
shows sales increasing nearly 96% between
July and September for these four brands.
How much of a blow are these findings
to those prescribing these drugs?
It depends on various governments, who
will take a call on whether the evidence is
convincing enough to remove these thera-
pies from their clinical management proto-
cols. Doctors who feel the drugs should be
partof treatmentmayalsotakeacallonhow
they will be used on a case-by-case basis.
childtraffickingracket fromthebasementof
a pizza parlour in Washington, DC.
Has Trump reacted to such ideas?
“I just don’t know about QAnon,” Trump
said at the NBC News Town Hall in Miami on
Thursday. Trump has, however, been known
to retweet posts from accounts that have
posted QAnon-related content. Critics have
also noted Trump’s failure to denounce the
movement and that he has said it is “very
strongly against paedophilia”.
What kind of people believe in QAnon?
SomeQAnonsupportersholdanti-Semitic
views. They include people who believe that
Covid-19 is a hoax and that vaccines are con-
trolled by Jewish people; deny the safety of
vaccines;questionthetruthaboutthe9/11at-
tacks; and believe in alien landings.
SomeQAnonsupportershavebeenimpli-
cated in crimes that they claimed were in-
spiredbytheirbeliefsinthemovement.These
include:amanarrestedin2018forplottingto
plantabombintheIllinoisCapitolRotundato
makeAmericansawareof “Pizzagate”;aman
arrestedthesameyearforusinganarmoured
recorded in so short a duration in October,
these are largely associated with low pres-
sure systems and result in urban flooding.
Why it was so severe
Normally, cyclones lose steam upon
makingtheirlandfall.Thisparticularsystem,
however,clockedalongeast-westtrackcut-
ting across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
north-interiorKarnatakaandMaharashtra.
“All these states experienced above-
normal rain during the recent monsoon
season. As a result, the soil in these regions
hasretainedsignificantmoisturecontent…
The high moisture availability even on land
propagated this large embedded system all
along its path so far,” said Mrutyunjay
Mohapatra, Director General, India
Meteorological Department (IMD).
Inaddition,verticalwindshear—there-
sultof asignificantdifferenceinwindspeed
betweenhigherandloweratmosphericlev-
els — helped the system maintain its inten-
sity as a deep depression or a well-marked
New Delhi
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
“WhattheSolidarityTrialresultstellmeis
that hydroxychloroquine in toxic doses is
more or less out in hospitalised patients. As
far as lopinavir and ritonavir are concerned,
they’re already out. Interferon’s verdict is still
notoutandwewillhavetowaitformoredata,
because the body responds to any viral infec-
tion by making interferon,” said Dr Shashank
Joshi,DeanoftheIndianCollegeofPhysicians.
What about remdesivir?
“While the data on remdesivir is disap-
pointing, we don’t know if this will be its
death knell,” Dr Joshi said. “Remdesivir will
definitely be under pressure to perform, and
its indiscriminate use will stop, but it still
might have a place in individualised care.”
In any case, there appears to be less ex-
citementoverremdesivirthanearlier.“Idon’t
use remdesivir as much on my patients be-
cause, when there were issues of shortages
with the drug earlier on, I had been prescrib-
ing medication like favipiravir and
tocilizumab that also performedreallywell,”
said a Delhi-based doctor.
“Now,thereappearstobemorestringent
protocols,proceduresandalittlebitlessanx-
iety (about how to manage Covid-19) in the
lastabouttwomonthsorthreemonths,”said
Dr Om Srivastava, who practises in Mumbai.
“What the trial has concluded is that
there may not be any survival benefit by giv-
ingremdesivirandthatisaconclusionbased
on this interim data. I think we will still need
to wait and see,” said Dr Srivastava.
“I think that remdesivir works in a way
that, if you were able to give it at the right
time, then it will shorten the total amount of
virus shedding by about two days, some-
times,threedays.Ithinkthat’sahugeadvan-
tage when you’ve got someone on an ICU
who is likely to go on a ventilator. So I don’t
think that remdesivir is redundant,” he said.
What now for Covid-19 therapeutics,
pending a vaccine?
The findings don’t necessarily impact the
use of other drugs and assisted therapies
that have been proven to help reduce deaths
and improve clinical outcomes, including
oxygen and steroids like dexamethasone,
according to experts. Newer therapies like
antibody cocktails may also be in focus as
part of the Solidarity Trial going forward.
“WearecontinuingwiththeSolidarityTrial
andlookingatimmunomodulatorslikerepur-
posed anti-cancer drugs and monoclonal an-
tibodies,” said Dr Swaminathan.
car to block traffic on a bridge in Nevada; a
woman arrested in Colorado for plotting an
armedraidtokidnapherchildwhosecustody
she had lost; and a man charged with mur-
deringamafiafigureinNewYorkin2019.The
man arrested in the New York case, who be-
lievedthemurdervictimwaspartofthe“deep
state”, displayed QAnon symbols during his
court hearing.
How widespread is it?
In a survey by the Pew Research Center in
February-March this year, 76% of US adult re-
spondents reported not knowing anything
about the conspiracy, 20% reported knowing
alittle,and3%reportedknowingalot(therest
had no answer).
Recentmediareportshavesaidthemove-
ment is gaining new followers globally, par-
ticularly in Germany, possibly due to anti-
Semitic beliefs among far-right Germans.
AreportinTheNewYorkTimessaidQAnon
has “already evolved from a fringe internet
subculture into a mass movement” in the US
andsomeof itstheoriesarenow“metastasiz-
ing”inEurope,includingtheNetherlands,the
Balkans and Britain.
low pressure area even on land, he said.
There are two seasons — March-May
and October-December — when cyclones
or depressions form in the North Indian
Ocean (the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal). The latter season witnesses four of
the five cyclones that form over this region
every year. Thus, the formation of the pres-
ent depression or low pressure system is
common, Mohapatra said.
In fact, stronger systems — Cyclones
Phailin(2013)andHudhud(2014)—formed
in the Bay of Bengal had made their landfall
in October, when the withdrawal of the
southwest monsoon was still in progress.
On its last legs
OnFriday,thewell-markedlowpressure
area lay over the east-central Arabian Sea,
off the Maharashtra coast. By Sunday, IMD
officials said, the system would strengthen
into a depression while continuing to head
westward.Fishermenhavebeenadvisedto
stay away from the Sea until October 19.

14 THE WORLD
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
TOPOFTHE
WORLD
General Salvador
Cienfuegos
USA
Mexico’sformer
defenceminister
arrestedinUS
U.S.AUTHORITIESdetained
the defence minister for
Mexican ex-president
Enrique Pena Nieto at Los
AngelesairportThursdayon
a US Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) war-
rant, a DEA spokeswoman
said. As defence minister,
General Salvador
Cienfuegos was a powerful
figure in Mexico’s drug war
in which the Army battled
cartels across the country.
Several of Mexico’s former
top-ranking ‘drug war’ offi-
cials have been implicated
in narcotics. The high-level
arrestcomeslessthanthree
weeks before the US presi-
dential election. President
Trump has made clamping
down on cartel activity a
major policy objective, but
withlittleprogresssincehe
tookoffice. REUTERS
JAPAN
‘Govttorelease
Fukushima’s
contaminated
waterintosea’
NEARLYAdecadeafterthe
Fukushimanucleardisas-
ter, Japan’s government
hasdecidedtoreleaseover
onemilliontonnesofcon-
taminated water into the
sea,mediareportssaidon
Friday, with a formal an-
nouncement expected to
be made later this month.
Thedecisionisexpectedto
rankle neighbouring
countrieslikeSouthKorea,
which has already
steppedupradiationtests
of food from Japan, and
further devastate the
fishing industry in
Fukushima that has bat-
tled against such a move
for years. REUTERS
KYRGYZSTAN
Parliament
endsstateof
emergency
KYRGYZSTAN’SParliament
voted on Friday to end a
state of emergency im-
posed by its ousted presi-
dent, as interim PM Sadyr
Japarov,aKyrgyznational-
ist,tooktemporarycontrol
of thepresidencyof oneof
Russia’scloseallies.Former
President Sooronbai
Jeenbekov, who resigned
Thursday, ordered troops
to be deployed in Bishkek
last week after days of un-
rest triggered by an elec-
tioninwhichhisallieswere
accused of vote-buying.
Japarov, freed from prison
by supporters and quickly
elected PM by parliament,
also took over the interim
presidency. REUTERS
EUROPE
EUleadersaim
fordealinDecon
climatetarget
EUROPEANUNIONcoun-
tries edged closer to
agreement on a new cli-
mate target at a summit
onThursday,butdeferred
a deal on the emissions-
cutting goal to a meeting
inDecember.Theleaders’
discussion in Brussels
was their first on upgrad-
ing the existing EU target
of a 40% cut in green-
house gas emissions by
2030. The European
Commission has said the
blocneedsacutof atleast
55%by2030,against1990
levels, to achieve the goal
of net zero emissions by
2050. REUTERS
SEPARATE EVENTS DISPLAY CANDIDATES’ POSITIONS IN SHARP CONTRAST
A combative Trump, a deliberate
Biden spar from afar at town halls
RACE FOR
THE WHITE
HOUSE
THE NEW YORK TIMES
OCTOBER 16
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump
spokepositivelyaboutanextrem-
ist conspiracy-theory group, ex-
pressed scepticism about mask-
wearing, rebuked his own FBI
director and attacked the legiti-
macyofthe2020electioninatel-
evisedtownhallforumThursday,
veeringawayfromafocusedcam-
paign appeal. Instead, he further
stoked the country’s rifts as his
Democratic opponent, Joe Biden,
pushed a deliberate message an-
chored in concerns over public
health and political norms.
Trump’s defensive and com-
bative performance came on a
night that was supposed to fea-
ture a debate between him and
Biden, but that morphed into a
long-distance study in contrasts
on different television networks
after the President declined to
participate in a virtual debate.
On the issue of the pandemic,
Biden has made the full embrace
of strict public health guidelines
the centrepiece of his candidacy,
while Trump has continued to
defy even the recommendations
of hisowngovernment.
“When a President doesn’t
wearamaskormakesfunoffolks
like me when I was wearing a
mask for a long time, then, you
know,peoplesay,‘Well,itmustn’t
bethatimportant,’”Bidensaid.
In his most incendiary re-
marks,Trumprepeatedlydeclined
to disavow QAnon, a pro-Trump
internetcommunitythathasbeen
describedbylawenforcementasa
potential terrorism threat. The
President professed to have no
knowledge of the group, and as a
result could not disavow it, but
thendemonstratedknowledgeof
oneofitscoreconspiracytheories
involving paedophilia that is en-
tirelyfalse.“Iknownothingabout
it,”Trumpsaid.“Idoknowtheyare
very much against paedophilia.
Theyfightitveryhard.”
Will seek nod
for vaccine
in Nov third
week: Pfizer
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 16
PHARMA GIANTPfizeronFriday
said that it would apply for
emergencyuseauthorisationfor
its vaccine candidate after the
“safety milestone” is achieved in
the third week of November.
Inanopenletter,Pfizerchair-
man Amber Bourla said the firm
is likely to submit the two-
month safety data on half of the
trial participants of its vaccine
candidate against Covid-19, that
is being co-developed by
German biotech firm BioNTech,
by the third week of November.
The Pfizer vaccine candidate
—BNT162b2 — is currently in
phase 3 human trials in the US. It
is made of a short segment of ge-
neticmaterial,whichprovidesin-
structionstohumancellstomake
harmlessversionsof atargetpro-
tein — in this case, the spike pro-
tein of SARS-CoV-2 — to activate
an immune response. Earlier, re-
leasingthephase1datainAugust,
the company had said that they
are “on track” to seek regulatory
reviewasearlyasinOctober2020.
“...The second requirement is
to prove that the vaccine is safe...
In the instance of Emergency Use
Authorization in the US for a po-
tential COVID-19 vaccine, FDA is
requiringthatcompaniesprovide
two monthsof safety data on half
of the trial participants following
thefinaldoseofthevaccine.Based
onourcurrenttrialenrollmentand
dosing pace, we estimate we will
reach this milestone in the third
weekofNovember,”Bourlawrote.
TrumpandBidenatseparatetownhallforumshostedbyNBCNewsinMiamiandABCNewsinPhiladelphiarespectively. Reuters, AP
‘YOU’RE THE PRESIDENT... NOT SOMEONE’S CRAZY UNCLE’: KEY MOMENTS
TRUMP PUSHED ON
CONSPIRACY THEORIES
■ Asked if he would disavow
QAnon conspiracy theories,
Trump said, “I just don’t
know about QAnon,” despite
having amplified claims by
its proponents just days ago.
■SavannahGuthrie,the
moderatorof theTrump
‘We most likely won’t have results on election night’
This year, the US saw an unprece-
dentednumberoflegislativebattles
about voting access — almost 200.
WithPresidentDonaldTrumphav-
ing already labelled the election
“rigged”andfilledwith“fraud”,there
has been a lot of debate around the
technicalities of the system and the
legitimacy of the process. A left-of-
centre elections advocacy group,
Campaign Legal Center (CLC), has
been at the forefront of state-level
votingaccesslegalbattles,alongside
other organisations such as the
AmericanCivilLibertiesUnion.CLC’s
communications manager COREY
GOLDSTONE spoke to KARISHMA
MEHROTRA about what to expect
thiselectionseason.
Are you bracing for a
prolonged election week or
month?
Yes.Wemostlikelywon’thave
the election results on election
night — and may not have them
foruptoafewweeksafterward—
as procedures are being followed
Pakistan Opposition starts countrywide
protests to oust Imran Khan government
MUBASHER BUKHARI
LAHORE, OCTOBER 16
SUPPORTERS OF Pakistan oppo-
sition parties were converging
on a stadium in the city of
Gujranwala on Friday to begin a
countrywide protest campaign
to oust Prime Minister Imran
Khan, who they accuse of being
installed by the military in a
rigged 2018 election.
Nine major opposition par-
ties formed a joint platform
called the Pakistan Democratic
Movement (PDM) last month to
begin a nationwide agitation
against the government.
KENOSHA STREETS TURNED DEADLY SOON AFTER A CALL TO ARMS
When armed vigilantes are summoned with a few keystrokes
NEIL MACFARQUHAR
OCTOBER 16
TAPPINGONhiscellphonewitha
sense of purpose, Kevin
Mathewson, a former wedding
photographerandonetimecityal-
derman in Kenosha, Wisconsin,
didnotslowdowntofixhistypos
as he dashed off an online appeal
to his neighbours. It was time, he
wroteonFacebookinlateAugust,
to“takeuparmstodefendoutCity
tonight from the evil thugs.”
One day earlier, hundreds of
residents had poured onto the
streets of Kenosha to protest the
police shooting of 29-year-old
JacobBlake.Disturbedbythesight
event,askedhimabouthis
retweetof adiscredited
theorythatBidenhad
membersof oneof theUS’
elitemilitaryunitskilledto
coverupthesupposedlyfaked
deathof OsamabinLaden.“I’ll
putitoutthere,”Trumpsaid
withashrug. “Idon’tget
that,”Guthriereplied.“You’re
thePresident.You’renot,like,
someone’scrazyuncle.”
Corey Goldstone
to ensure that every eligible
voter’sballotcounts.Abigreason
is that it takes election officials
longer to verify and count absen-
teeballotsthanvotescastbyelec-
tronicvotingmachinesbeforean-
nouncing a result.
Anotherfactor thatcouldpo-
tentially slow down the count-
ing of ballots would be an on-
slaught of post-Election Day
litigation that prevents states
from finalising the vote count
until the disputes are settled.
What are the top concerns on
Supporters of Pakistan Democratic Movement, an alliance
of political opposition parties, on their way to attend a rally
in Gujranwala on Friday. Reuters
Khan, who came to power on
ananti-graftplatform,saidhewas-
n’tafraidof theopposition’scam-
of buildings in flames when he
drove downtown, Mathewson
decided it was time for people to
arm themselves to protect their
houses and businesses.
To his surprise, some 4,000
people responded on Facebook.
Within minutes, the Kenosha
Guard had sprung to life.
Hiscalltoarmspropelledcivil-
ians bearing military-style rifles
onto the streets, where late that
nightagunmanscufflingwithpro-
testersshotthreeof them,twofa-
tally. The Kenosha Guard then
evaporatedasquicklyasitarose.
Long a divisive figure in
Kenosha, Mathewson, 36, who
sprinkles his sentences with
“Jeez!” and describes himself as
BIDEN ADDRESSES
COURT PACKING
■Biden did make one bit of
news: After avoiding the
question recently, he
signalled he would announce
before election if he supports
expanding the number of
seats on the Supreme Court.
But he said he wanted to wait
until after the Senate had
your mind this election?
Rejected ballots? In-person
voting?
The CLC is concerned about
variousattemptstolimitaccessto
theballotaroundthecountry.We
are also concerned about at-
temptsmadebypoliticianstoun-
dermine the legitimacy of the
electionandconvincepeoplethat
their votes won’t matter.
Thesignaturematchlawsthat
a majority of states use to verify
mail-in ballots could prevent
many people’s votes from count-
ing.Theselawsrequirestateelec-
tion officials to compare a voter’s
ballotsignaturewithanothergov-
ernmentrecordoftheirsignature.
Voters with disabilities, the eld-
erly,non-nativeEnglishspeakers,
and racial minorities are more
likelytohavetheirballotsrejected
due to signature match issues.
Toomanystateandlocalelec-
tion officials have kept limited
voting options in place or re-
stricted them even further de-
paign,whichhesaidwasaimedat
blackmailinghimtodropcorrup-
tioncasesagainsttheirleaders.
PeoplecarryingriflesoutsidetheKenoshaCountyCourthouse
onAugust25,thenighttwopeoplewerekilled. NYT
“chunky,” does not fit the typical
profileof arifle-totingwatchdog,
althoughhesaidhesupportedUS
President Trump on Second
Amendment grounds. The rise
and fall of his Kenosha Guard re-
acted on the nomination of
Amy Coney Barrett to replace
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
■ManyDemocratshave
calledforexpandingthe
SupremeCourtafter
Republicanschargedforward
withfillingthevacancyso
closetotheelection.ButBiden
has,inthepast,saidhedidnot
support theidea. NYT
spite the pandemic.
Yet the most concerning as-
pect of this election is how
President Trump and others
have repeatedly claimed that if
more voters use mail-in ballots
or if the election results do not
go in their favour, then the sys-
tem cannot be trusted.
Withalmost200ongoinglegal
battlesontheseissues,howdo
youfeeltheUSisfaringwhen
itcomestovotersuppression
andaccesstovoting
Votingrightsadvocatesarefac-
inganuphillbattleinthecourts.A
largepartofthisiswhoisrulingon
thesecases.Infederalcourtsacross
thecountry,morejudgeswhoare
hostile to voting rights have been
appointedinthelastthree-to-four
years.Still,mostcourtsarecontin-
uingtorejectargumentsmadeby
parties like the Trump campaign
aboutvoterfraud.
FULLREPORTON
www.indianexpress.com
“We have come out for the
supremacy of the law,” said
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter
and political heir of former
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,
speaking from atop an SUV that
was showered with rose petals
as she left for Gujranwala from
nearby Lahore.
“Ourstruggleisagainstinjus-
tice, unemployment and all-
time price hikes.”
The protest campaign comes
at a time when Pakistan is expe-
riencing an economic crisis,
with inflation touching double
digits and negative growth. The
next general election is sched-
uled for 2023. REUTERS
flectsthecurrentspiritof vigilan-
tismsurfacingacrossthecountry.
Organisationsthatopenlydis-
play weapons have existed for
decades,withcertainhot-button
issueslikeimmigrationorSecond
New Delhi
Man slits teacher’s
throat, shot dead
by police near Paris
TANGI SALAÜN &
GEERT DE CLERCQ
PARIS, OCTOBER 16
FRENCH POLICE on Friday shot
dead a man who minutes earlier
hadkilledamiddleschoolteacher
byslittinghisthroatinthestreetin
asuburbofParis,policesaidFriday.
Theteacherhadshownpupils
inhisclasscartoonsoftheProphet
Mohammad, which are consid-
ered by Muslims to be blasphe-
mous,accordingtoapolicesource.
The suspected attacker was
spotted by a police patrol while
carrying a knife a short distance
from the scene of the attack,
which took place in Conflans
UK PM: Trade talks
over, time to prepare
for a no-deal Brexit
EU leaders say talks will continue
GUY FAULCONBRIDGE
& WILLIAM JAMES
LONDON, OCTOBER 16
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson
saidonFridayitwas nowtimeto
prepareforano-tradedealBrexit
unless the European Union fun-
damentally changed course,
bluntlytellingBrusselsthatthere
wasnopointintalkinganymore.
A tumultuous “no deal” fi-
nale to the United Kingdom’s
five-year Brexitcrisiswouldsow
chaos through the delicate sup-
ply chains that stretch across
Britain, the EU and beyond - just
as the economic hit from the
coronavirus pandemic worsens.
At what was supposed to be
the “Brexit summit” on
Thursday,theEUdeliveredanul-
timatum: it said it was con-
cerned by a lack of progress and
called on London to yield on key
sticking points or see a rupture
of ties with the bloc from Jan 1.
“I have concluded that we
should get ready for January 1
with arrangements that are
more like Australia’s based on
simple principles of global free
trade,” Johnson said.
“With high hearts and with
complete confidence, we will
prepare to embrace the alterna-
tive and we will prosper might-
ily as an independent free trad-
ing nation, controlling and
setting our own laws,” he added.
Johnson’s spokesman said
talks were now over and there
wasnopointintheEU’schief ne-
gotiator Michel Barnier coming
to London next week barring a
change in approach.
“The trade talks are over: the
Game of Brexit brinkmanship?
BORISJOHNSONhad
earliersetThursdayas
thedeadlinefortheUK
todecideonwhetherit
wouldcontinuetalks
foradealwiththeEU.Buton
thatday,theblocsaidtheUK
mustmakemoreconcessions,
anditappearsthatJohnsonis
stickingtohistimelineand
callingoff thetalks.However,it
hasbeenreportedthatEU
leadersanddiplomatsbelieve
adealisstillpossibleandthat
Amendmentrightsinspiringpeo-
plewhothinktheConstitutionis
under threat. Anti-immigrant
andIslamophobicsentimentsare
rife, and some militant groups,
liketheOathKeepersortheThree
Percenters, train together under
established hierarchies. Ever
since the 2017 white nationalist
marchinCharlottesville,Virginia,
armed groups have become fix-
tures at demonstrations around
the country, although member-
ship numbers remain opaque.
Withtheapproachingelection
ratcheting up tensions in recent
months, armed groups that as-
sembled via a few clicks on the
keyboardhavebecomebothmore
visible and more widespread.
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
Sainte-Honorine,asuburbnorth-
west of Paris. The police shot the
suspect dead, according to a po-
lice spokesman.
A police source said that wit-
nesses had heard the attacker
shout “Allahu Akbar”. The police
spokesmansaidthatinformation
was being checked. Another
sourcesaidthevictimwasdecap-
itated,butthiswasnotconfirmed.
Late last month, a man at-
tackedtwopeopleoutsideformer
offices of the magazine Charlie
Hebdo. That was the spot where
Islamist militants gunned down
employees of the magazine five
yearsagoinretaliationforthepub-
licationofcartoonsoftheProphet
Mohammad. REUTERS
I have concluded that we
should get ready for
January 1 with
arrangements that are
more like Australia’s
based on simple principles
of global free trade.”
BORIS JOHNSON
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
EU have effectively ended them
by saying that they do not want
to change their negotiating posi-
tion,” Johnson’s spokesman said.
EU heads of government,
concludinga summitin Brussels
onFriday,rushedtosaythatthey
wanted a trade deal and that
talks would continue, though
not at any price.
Asked if he was walking
away from talks, Johnson said:
“Unless there is a fundamental
change of approach, we’re going
to go for the Australia solution.
And we should do it with great
confidence.”
A so-called “Australia deal”
means that the United Kingdom
would trade on World Trade
Organisation terms: as a coun-
try without an EU trade agree-
ment, like Australia, tariffs
would be imposed under WTO
rules, likely causing significant
price rises. REUTERS
Johnson’sstatementson
Fridayareaploytoforce
moreconcessionsoutof
theEU.Itiswidelyheld
thatano-dealBrexit
wouldbedetrimentaltoall
parties,butitwouldbeanes-
peciallybigblowtotheUK’s
economy.Thisiswhy,despite
therhetoric,Johnsonhasnot
completelyshutthedooron
talks,sayingthatif theEU
changeditsapproach,thena
dealwasstillpossible.
Some especially violent groups
wererootedinlongstandinganti-
government extremism, like the
14 men charged with various
crimes in Michigan this month.
They included six accused by the
FBIofplottingtokidnapGovernor
Gretchen Whitmer, whom the
suspects had labelled a “tyrant”.
Starting in April, demonstra-
tions against coronavirus lock-
downs prompted makeshift vigi-
lante groups to move offline and
intotherealworld.Thattricklebe-
come a torrent amid the nation-
wide protests after the police
killing of George Floyd — with
some armed groups claiming to
protect the protesters while oth-
erssoughttocheckthem. NYT

15 ECONOMY
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
SECTOR WATCH
ONLINE NEWS
Rules for 26% FDI in
digital media: Indian
CEO, security check
for foreign personnel
Govtsaysfocusisonfakenewsand
propaganda,policyputsnationfirst
KRISHNKAUSHIK
NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
MORE THAN a year after an-
nouncinga26percentforeign
directinvestment(FDI)capun-
der the government approval
route in digital news, the gov-
ernmenthassaidthattheCEO
ofthecompanywouldhaveto
be an Indian citizen, and that
allforeignemployeesworking
for more than 60 days would
needsecurityclearance.
TherewasnoFDIpolicyfor
“news digital media sector”
earlier. FDI in print media is
cappedat26percent,andthat
inTVnewsis49percent.
The Commerce Ministry
said the government had de-
cided in September 2019 “to
liberalisetheFDIregimeforen-
tities engaged in the News
Digital Media Sector”, and ac-
cordingly,theseentities“have
been permitted FDI upto 26%
through the government ap-
provalroute”.
Thedigitalnewsmediaen-
tities looking for FDI would
havetoadheretothreecondi-
tions, the Ministry said: the
majorityofthedirectorsonthe
company’sboard,andtheCEO
ofthecompanywillhavetobe
Indiancitizensand,“theentity
shall be required to obtain se-
curity clearance of all foreign
personnellikelytobedeployed
formorethan60daysinayear
by way of appointment, con-
tract or consultancy or in any
other capacity for functioning
of the entity prior to their de-
ployment”.Shouldthegovern-
mentdenyorwithdrawsecu-
rity clearance, “the investee
entitywillensurethatthecon-
cerned person resigns or
BRIEFLY
UnionBankof
IndiaMD&CEO
isnewIBAchief
Mumbai:IndianBanks’Ass-
ociation (IBA) said Friday
UnionBankofIndiaMDand
CEORajkiranRaiGhasbeen
elected as the association’s
chairmanfor2020-21.State
Bank of India Chairman
Dinesh Kumar Khara was
named deputy chairman.
FinMinbegins
Budgetmaking
exercise
New Delhi: The Finance
MinistryonFridaykickedoff
the exercise to prepare the
annual Budget for 2021-22
amid the urgency to push
economicgrowthhitbythe
Covid-19 pandemic. PTI
Thyssenkrupp
armgetsLiberty
Steeloffer
New Delhi: Liberty Steel,
founded by Sanjeev Gupta,
said Friday said it had made
a non-binding offer for
Thyssenkrupp’s steel unit,
aimingtomovetowardscar-
bon-neutral production.
‘JKTyre,other
cosface
antitrustprobe’
NewDelhi:TheCompetition
CommissionofIndiaisinve-
stigatingJKTyre&Industries
Ltd after the Haryana gov-
ernment accused the com-
pany of bid rigging, and the
probehasbeenexpandedto
otherfirmslikeApolloTyres,
CEAT,MRF,andIndianunits
ofMichelinandContinental
AG, sources said. REUTERS
SENSEX: 39,982.98 ▲ 254.57 NIFTY: 11,762.45 ▲ 82.10 NIKKEI: 23,410.63 ▼ 96.60 HANG SENG: 24,386.79 ▲ 228.25 FTSE: 5,911.96 ▲ 79.44 DAX: 12,837.26 ▲ 133.51
his/herservicesareterminated
forthwith after receiving such
directives from the govern-
ment”,theMinistrynotesaid.
A senior government offi-
cial said the “security condi-
tions for majority of directors
and the CEO to be Indian citi-
zens,andsecurityclearanceof
foreign personnel were appli-
cable to the broadcast content
services sector”, that is, TV
news,inFDIalready.However,
sourcessaidtherewerenosuch
conditionsforprintmedia.The
official said the “threat of fake
news,propagandavehicles,for-
eigninfluenceandinterference
in India’s domestic affairs is
more real than ever, particu-
larly from our hostile neigh-
bours”.Thegovernment’s“pol-
icy prescription puts India’s
nationalinterestfirstandcurbs
thesethreats”,theofficialsaid.
The decision will be appli-
cable to the following cate-
gories of entities registered or
located in India: digital media
entities“streaming/uploading
news and current affairs on
websites, apps or other plat-
forms”; “news agency which
gathers, writes and distrib-
utes/transmits news, directly
or indirectly, to digital media
entities and/or newsaggrega-
tors”; and “news aggregator,
being an entity which, using
software of web application,
aggregatesnewscontentfrom
various sources, such as news
websites, blogs, podcasts,
video blogs, user submitted
links, etc in one location”. The
government has given a year
to digital media news entities
to align their shareholding
withtheserequirements.
Full report on
www.indianexpress.com
PV sales jump 17% in Diesel sales recover to LabourMin to meet entities employing
Sept qtr on demand above pre-Covid levels gig workers to understand challenges
for private vehicles in first half of October
ENSECONOMICBUREAU
NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
HELPED BY demand for private
vehiclespost-lockdowninAugust
andSeptember,thepassengerve-
hicle and two-wheeler segment
eclipsedthedomesticsalesinJuly-
Septemberquarter,withPVsales
growing 17 per cent and two-
wheeler sales marginally up by
0.17percentoverthatinthesame
quarter last year.
On the other hand, in an indi-
cation of continued weakness in
industrial activity and its impact
onlogistics,thecommercialvehi-
cle and the three-wheeler seg-
mentreportedmuchweakersales
numberduringthequarter.While
themedium&heavycommercial
vehicles segment reported 48.8
percentdeclineinsalesduringthe
quarter, LCVs (-20 per cent) and
three-wheelers reported a 74.6
percentdeclineinsalesduringthe
Firm linked to Cox & Kings promoter under
lens, got loan against security by travel co’s arm intrusive powers of tax
KHUSHBOONARAYAN
MUMBAI,OCTOBER16
A$59.6million(Rs447crore)loan
extendedbyDeutscheBankAGto
a British Virgin Island (BVI) firm
linkedtoAjayAjitPeterKerkar,the
promoter of Cox & Kings Ltd, has
come under the scanner of
investigatingagenciesastheloan
was obtained in lieu of security
given by a Hong Kong arm of the
travel company, sources told The
Indian Express.
In 2016, Kerkar’s Castleman
ManagementLtdinBVIborrowed
$59.6millionfromDeutscheBank
AGagainstasecuritygivenbyCox
GST COMPENSATION ISSUE
Govtreachesouttostateson
borrowing;someseekclarity
ENSECONOMICBUREAU
NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
A DAY after two letters went out
from the Centre to the states de-
tailingthenewnormsforborrow-
ing to meet the compensation
deficit under Goods and Services
Tax(GST),someopposition-ruled
states — while appreciating the
move — have expressed reserva-
tionsovertheestimatedpayouts.
StateslikeKeralaaskedforthe
wholecompensationdeficitofRs
2.35 lakh crore to be borrowed
thisyear,whileChhattisgarhques-
tioneditsayingthatarrangingfor
a part of the deficit without ac-
counting for the entire compen-
sation shortfall is incorrect.
Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman had on Thursday
writtentoallstates,includingop-
position-ruled ones, explaining
theprovisions,benefitsandthera-
tionaleof theborrowingscheme.
AMID COVID-19
‘M&A activities up 6% in
Sept quarter at $21.6 billion’
Recovering from the lows of the pandemic-hit June quarter,
deal street saw transaction value grow 5.9% on-year to $21.6
billion in the September quarter, a Mergermarket report said
33% Decline in merger and
acquisition (M&A)
deals, in volume terms; from 114
deals in the September 2019
quarter to 76 in Q2FY21
$20.44billion: Value of 114
M&A deals recorded in
September 2019 quarter
$9.46billion:Value of 37
domestic M&A deals in the
September quarter
Largestdomestictransactions
inSeptemberquarter:
■ $3.38billion: Acquisition of
Future Group’s retail &
wholesale businesses along
PROVIDING SOCIAL
SAFETY BENEFITS
TWO-WHEELER SALES
18.49lakh
■ In case of two-wheelers,
the industry sold 18.49 lakh
units in September, which
was 11.6 per cent more than
that in September 2019.
quarteroverthatinthecorrespon-
ding period last year.
According to data released by
Society of Indian Automobile
Manufacturers,thedomesticsales
acrossallcategoriesof vehiclesin
the quarter ended September
2020 stood at 55.96 lakh units,
down 0.98 per cent from that of
56.51lakhunitsinthecorrespon-
ding quarter last year. In case of
two-wheelers, the industry sold
18.49 lakh units in September,
which was 11.6 per cent more
than that in September 2019.
Curbs on coercive,
officers for recovery
and Kings Asia Pacific Travel Ltd,
in Hong Kong, a subsidiary of the
listed firm Cox & Kings.
Subsequently, Castleman de-
faultedontheloanrepayment.As
aresult,inJuly2019,thebanktook
possessionofthesecuritydeposit
of around Rs 450 crore given by
Cox and Kings Asia Pacific Travel.
Now, the arrested CFO of Cox
and Kings, Anil Khandelwal — in
a statement to the Economic
Offence Wing (EOW) of Mumbai
Police — has alleged that Kerkar’s
Castlemanineffect“siphoned”Rs
450crorefromCoxandKingsAsia
PacificTravel.Further,documents
showthatanotherBVIfirmlinked
to Kerkar, Coad Investment Ltd,
‘Re-establish
trust between
Centre, states’
New Delhi: After the Centre
agreedtoborrowRs1.10lakh
crore on behalf of states to
meettheGSTshortfall,Cong-
ress leader P Chidambaram
said Friday the Centre has
taken the “correct first step”
andshouldworktore-estab-
lish trust with states. PTI
She is also learnt to have spoken
withchiefministersofsomeofthe
opposition-ruled states enlisting
thebenefitsandtherationalebe-
hindoptingforborrowingforthe
compensation deficit.
In her letter, the FM said the
GovernmentofIndiahasaccepted
the legal opinion that the entire
amount(whetherduetoGSTim-
with logistics & warehousing
businesses by Reliance Retail
Ventures
■ $3 billion:Motherson Sumi’s
acquisition of Samvardhana
Motherson International in a
reverse takeover transaction
Source: Mergermarket/PTI
ENSECONOMICBUREAU
NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
DIESEL SALES rose above pre-
Covidlevelsforthefirsttimesince
February in the first 15 days of
October, according to the sales
dataofstate-ownedoilmarketing
companies (OMCs).
Diesel sales by Indian Oil
Corporation, Bharat Petroleum
Corporation and Hindustan
PetroleumCorporationroseby8.8
percentto2,650ThousandMetric
Tonnes (TMT), while sales of
petrolgrewby1.6percentto982
TMTintheperiod.Dieselsalesor-
dinarily account for about 40 per
cent of total sales of petroleum
products in India. Petrol sales re-
coveredtoabovepre-Covidlevels
in September.
The sales of both diesel and
petrolcrashedbyover50percent
inAprilascoronavirus-relatedre-
strictions drastically reduced the
movement of people and goods.
too had applied for a loan from
Deutsche Bank against a security
given by Cox and Kings Asia
PacificTravel.
RecordsshowthatCastleman
Management is owned by The
Castle Cove Trust and Coad
Investment by The Welcome
Trust. Kerkar is the settlor of both
thesetrustsandhiswifeistheul-
timate beneficiary of the trusts.
“Intransactingwithitsclients,
DeutscheBankstrictlyadheresto
locallawsandregulations.Toyour
specificquery,youwillappreciate
that we are not in a position to
commentonindividualclientsor
specifictransactions,”saidaDeut-
scheBankspokesmaninanemail.
plementation or not) is payable
butthroughthecess,notConsoli-
dated Fund of India. She added
thattheCentrefacesseriousbud-
getary constraints and the fiscal
deficit will be “far in excess of
whatwasbudgeted”inthisfiscal.
Anotherletterwassentoutto
states from the state-public fi-
nancedivisionoftheExpenditure
Department, Finance Ministry,
asking for authorisation from the
state to permit interest and prin-
cipal repayment from the com-
pensation payable to the states.
The letter also detailed the
breakupoftheproposedborrow-
ing to meet the Rs 1.1 lakh crore
deficit under option 1, with
Karnataka and Maharashtra fac-
ing the highest shortfall of Rs
12,407 crore and Rs 11,977 crore,
respectively.
Punjab’sdeficitisestimatedto
be Rs 8,359 crore, Kerala faces a
shortfall of Rs 5,766 crore, while
that of Chhattisgarh stands at Rs
Govt notice to Flipkart,
Amazon over ‘country
of origin’ tag issues
ENSECONOMICBUREAU
NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
THEGOVERNMENThaspulledup
Amazon and Flipkart for not dis-
playing the country of origin of
someoftheproductssoldontheir
platforms, threatening action
against the two if they do not ex-
plainthemselveswithin15days.
“Ithascometothenoticeofthe
Department of Consumer Affairs
thatsomeof thee-commerceen-
tities are not displaying the
mandatory declarations as re-
quiredundertheLegalMetrology
Rules,2011,”statedtheMinistryof
Consumer Affairs in notices sent
tothee-commercefirmsonFriday.
The Ministry has asked the
platformstorespondtoitsnotices
withdetailslikethenatureofown-
ership of the firm and copies of
Petrol sales bounced
back to above pre-Covid
levels in September
The recovery of diesel sales has
been slower than that of petrol
with an increasing number of
peoplepreferringpersonalmobil-
ity over public transport.
Anofficialatanoilmarketing
company said the growth in
diesel sales was likely due to a
pick-up in industrial activity be-
fore the festive season and the
restorationof somepublictrans-
port services.
“There is a lot of pent-up de-
mand for travel which may have
helpedboosttheconsumptionof
diesel,” the official noted.
Executives at OMCs had previ-
ously said they expected that
diesel consumption would re-
cover to pre-Covid levels in
November-December.
Kerkar, in an email, said
Khandewalandhisteamhavefal-
sified the accounts of the foriegn
subsidiaries of Cox and Kings.
Cox and Kings Asia Pacific
Travel had net assets of Rs 1,354
crore as of March 2017, the last
available financial records, the
company made a loss of Rs 4.54
crore in that financial year.
InApril,TheIndianExpress,ina
series of stories, reported that a
forensic audit found the travel
company undertook related-
party transactions worth
Rs 21,000 crore over four years
(2015-2019) to siphon off funds.
Full report on
www.indianexpress.com
GOLD
`51,704
Note: Gold, silver rates at Delhi spot market; gold per 10 g, silver per 1 kg; Brent crude as of 2330 IST
3,109 crore.
Kerala is of the view that the
issue should be discussed and it
needs to be decided how much
compensationshouldbedeferred.
The state’s Chief Minister is also
learnttohaverepliedtotheUnion
Finance Minister’s letter with the
same query as to why the entire
GST compensation shortfall of Rs
2.3lakhcrorecannotbeborrowed
tobepaidtostatesthisyearitself.
Chhattisgarh Commercial
Taxes Minister TS Singh Deo told
The Indian Express, “They (the
Centre)havetakenafigureof7per
cent revenue growth
assumption. This revenue short-
fall could be anything between 4
per cent to 10 per cent or any
amount up to 14 per cent (the
legally guaranteed rate for rev-
enuegrowthtoprovidecompen-
sation).Soifyoudon’ttakethefull
deficit into account, then you are
arrangingonlyapartofitwhichis
completely incorrect.”
partnership deeds or the memo-
randumof theirarticlesof associ-
ation. The development comes at
atimewhenthetwoplatformsare
startingtheirannualsales.
AmazonandFlipkartcouldnot
immediately be reached for
comment.
The Confederation of All India
Traders (CAIT) has asked the gov-
ernment to investigate “immedi-
ately” these festive sales. The
body’s secretary general Praveen
Khandelwal demanded “an im-
mediate ban on the e-commerce
portals till the time they comply
withsuchmandatoryobligation”.
In the backdrop of border
clashes between India and China
in June, the government began
pushing e-commerce firms to
work out a mechanism to display
the country of origin of the prod-
uctsdisplayedontheirplatform.
ENSECONOMICBUREAU
NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
THE LABOUR Ministry will soon
hold a meeting with the entities
employinggigandplatformwork-
ers to understand the concerns
andchallengesfacedbythemasit
moves ahead with its rule-fram-
ing process for the new set of
labourcodes.
The government is discussing
waysinwhichitcanprovidesocial
security benefits to the gig and
platformworkers,whohavebeen
brought into the ambit of labour
laws for the first time, but lack a
uniformstandardofemployment,
officialssaid.
Labour Secretary Apurva
Chandrasaidtherecouldbesome
implementationissuesforprovid-
ing social security benefits for gig
and platform workers given that
theydonothavethetypicalfixed-
wagetermsof employment.
“I am calling a meeting with
entities of gig workers to under-
stand their challenges. There
would be some issues since their
ENSECONOMICBUREAU
NEWDELHI,OCTOBER16
THE CENTRAL Board of Direct
Taxes (CBDT), in an order under
Section119oftheIncome-taxAct,
hasrestrictedcoerciveorintrusive
powersofassessingofficersortax
recoveryofficers for tax recovery.
Thenewordernowallowsco-
ercive/intrusivemeasuresonlyaf-
ter exhaustion of other means of
recoveryandrestrictrecoverysur-
veys to the non-responsive/non-
traceable taxpayers.
New Delhi
RUPEE
`73.35
Centre borrowing
for states set to
flatten yield curve
RBI to conduct
first-ever OMO
purchase of SDLs
on October 22
GEORGEMATHEW
MUMBAI,OCTOBER16
WITH THE central government
agreeing to borrow Rs 1.1 lakh
crorefromthemarketandextend
itasloanstostategovernmentsin
lieuofGSTshortfall,thebondmar-
ket expects further flattening of
the yield curve and reduced un-
certaintiesatatimewhenthegov-
ernments and corporates are set
tomobilisearecordamountfrom
themarket.
The RBI has already assured
thattheborrowingprogrammeof
theCentreandstatesfortherestof
2020-21 will be completed in a
non-disruptive manner without
compromisingonpriceandfinan-
cial stability. A day later after the
governmentdecision,theReserve
BankonFridaysaiditwillconduct
OpenMarketOperations(OMOs)
in State Developments Loans for
thefirsttime.Theyieldonbench-
mark 10-year government bonds
closed at 5.93 per cent on Friday,
wellbelowthe6percentlevel.
The Rs 1.1 lakh crore borrow-
ingwouldnotincreasethecentral
government fiscal deficit and
wouldalsonotresultinanincrease
incombinedcentreandstategov-
ernmentissuanceforthisfiscal,ac-
cording to IFA Global Research.
The government was initially re-
luctanttoborrowfromthemarket
to meet the GST shortfall.
However, the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) favoured the central
government borrowing from the
marketastheinvestorsweremore
comfortablewiththeCentre’sbor-
rowing and interest rate on cen-
tre’ssecuritiesaremuchlower.
“Thisstepwillreducethesup-
ply of state bonds in H2 FY2021,
fromthelevelthatwasearlierbe-
inganticipated.Moreover,thecost
of such borrowings would go
down. In conjunction with the
plan to conduct OMO in SDL that
■Labour Secretary
Apurva Chandra said
there could be some
implementation
issues for providing
social security
benefits for gig and
platform workers,
given that they do
not have the typical
fixed-wage terms of
employment.
employment is not the typical
fixed-wageemployment.Thereis
a need to understand their con-
cerns,”hesaid.
Theprovisionsforgigandplat-
form workers need to be stream-
linedkeepinginmindthepossibil-
ity of simultaneous employment
oftheseworkersacrosstwoorgan-
isations,officialssaid.Forinstance,
some of these workers could be
workingfortwocabaggregatorsat
the same time, so social security
Surveys will now be allowed
only by Investigation and TDS
wingsof thetaxdepartment.The
orderalsoproposessettingupofa
two-member collegium of
Principal Chied Commissioner
andChief Commissionerrankof-
ficers for screening of survey for
cases other than TDS.
Shailesh Kumar, Partner,
Nangia & Co LLP said, “The de-
tailed guidelines issued by the
CBDT providing stringent condi-
tionsfortaxrecoveryproceedings
by Income Tax authorities are
much welcome.”
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
OIL SILVER
$42.92 `62,972
International market data till 1900 IST
E X P L A I NE D
Centralbank
assurance
● onborrowing
THE RBI has already as-
sured that the borrowing
programme of the Centre
and states for the rest of
2020-21 will be com-
pleted in a non-disrup-
tive manner without
compromising on price
and financial stability.
has been announced by the RBI,
such measures should help ease
SDL spreads,” said Jayanta Roy,
Senior Vice-President and Group
Head,ICRA.
SiddharthaSanyal,chiefecon-
omist and head–research,
Bandhan Bank, said, “Given the
persistingrevenueshortfallofcen-
tral and state governments, addi-
tional market borrowing is not a
major surprise. Thus, irrespective
of the market’s knee jerk reaction
on Friday, one feels that the cur-
rent set of announcements will
eventually help reducing uncer-
tainties and anchor market senti-
ment over the coming weeks, es-
pecially given the intelligent
selection of the maturity buckets
for the additional borrowing that
enjoystrongdemand.”
Sanyal said the current set of
announcements may also lead to
further flattening of the yield
curve, thereby inducing better
transmission of the RBI’s mone-
tary easing.” The RBI has decided
to conduct a purchase auction of
SDLsunderOMOforanaggregate
amount of Rs 10,000 crore on
October 22, keeping in view that
thisisthefirsteverOMOpurchase
ofSDLs.Dependingonmarketre-
sponse, the size of the auctions
may be enhanced in the subse-
quentauctions.
While unveiling the mone-
tarypolicyrecently,RBIGovernor
Shaktikanta Das said the RBI
stands ready to undertake fur-
thermeasuresasnecessarytoas-
sure market participants of ac-
cess to liquidity and easy
financing conditions.
benefitsneedtobedefinedtaking
noteofsuchtypesofemployment.
The government is aiming to
implement the four labour codes
fromApril1nextyear.TheLabour
Ministryhasbegunworktoframe
rules for the three codes, with an
aim to finalise the rules by
November and then put them in
public domain for consultations,
Chandrasaid.TheCentreisalsogo-
ingtoreachouttostatestohasten
theprocessforsettingrulesattheir
level in order to meet the April 1
deadline. Parliament last month
cleared new versions of three
labourcodes—IndustrialRelations
Code,CodeonSocialSecurityand
Occupational Safety, Health and
Working Conditions Code. The
government has proposed to in-
creasetheambitof socialsecurity
by including gig workers and in-
ter-statemigrant workers.
The Social Security Code pro-
poses a National Social Security
Board,whichshallrecommendto
theCentreforformulatingsuitable
schemes for different sections of
unorganisedworkers,gigworkers
andplatformworkers.
Hong Kong
bars Air India,
Vistara flights
till October 30
NewDelhi:HongKonghasbanned
Air India and Vistara flights from
October 17 to 30 after a few pas-
sengersontheirflightstestedpos-
itive for Covid-19 post arrival, a
seniorgovernmentofficialsaidon
Friday.
This is the third time that Air
IndiaflightsfromIndiahavebeen
bannedbytheHongKonggovern-
ment for bringing passengers
who tested positive for the infec-
tion after arrival.Vistara’s flights
arebeingbannedforthefirsttime
by the Hong Kong government
during the pandemic. PTI
 16 CLASSIFIEDS & TENDERS
Classifieds
PERSONAL
I, Abhishek Sharma S/o
Satender Sharma, R/o B-300,
Gali No-28, Mahavir Enclave
Part-2, New Delhi-110059 have
changed my name to Lucky
Sharma. 0070717231-1
I Neera Gupta D/o Late Sh. Lal
Chand Gupta W/o Sh. Raj Pal
Gupta R/o B-1/21, Manu
Apartments, Mayur Vihar
Phase-I, Delhi-110091 have
changed my name to Raj Gupta
for all purposes.
0040551557-1
I Rinka Jain D/o Shri Kishan
Swarup Jain R/o C-426, Nirman
Vihar, Delhi 110092, have
changed my name from Rinka
Jain to Manisha Jain for all
future purposes.
0040551674-1
It is for general information that
I,Koduri Srinivas,S/o Koduri
Koteswara Rao,presently-
Residing at-158,Ground
Floor,Saini-Enclave,Delhi-
110092,declare that name of
mine has been wrongly-written
as K.Srinivas in my minor
daughter Koduri Purna Sri Sai
Amrita(Aged-14Years) School-
Record.The actual-name of
mine is Koduri Srinivas which
may be amended accordingly.
0040551633-6
I,hitherto known as Rajesh
Kumar,S/O N S. Sharma R/O
Flat no.A-102 RBCA Apartment
Plot,no.3,Sector-10 Dwarka
South,West Delhi-110075 have
changed my name and shall
hereafter be known as Rajesh
Kumar Gautam 0040551633-3
I,Vidyawati Devi W/o Jagan
Mahato R/o Puraina Pathra
Gopal Ganj Manjha Bihar-
841427,have changed my name
to Vidhavati Devi.
0040551651-10
I,VIJENDER KUMAR S/o-Mahabir
Singh R/o.H.No.190,
Pochanpur, Sector-
23,Dwarka,New Delhi-
110077,have changed my name
to VIJENDER SINGH.
0040551651-5
I,Sween W/o Parvinder Pal Singh
Hora,R/o-15A/39, WEA,Karol
Bagh,New Delhi-100005,have
changed my name to Sween
Hora. 0040551651-8
I,Suresh Kumar Sachdeva,S/o
Sh.Jai Dayal R/o-47C, Block-AJ,
Shalimar-Bagh,Delhi-
110088,declare that name of
mine has been wrongly-written
as Suresh Kumar in my service-
record.The actual-name of
mine is Suresh Kumar
Sachdeva,which may be
amended accordingly.
0040551633-5
I,Rozy Gera W/o-Raj Kumar Gera
R/o-WZ-83.Janak Park,
Gali.No.7,Hari Nagar,New
Delhi-110064,have changed my
Name.from Rozy to Rozy Gera
for all future.purposes.
0040551651-3
I,Raj Kumar Gera S/o-Shri
Ishwar Dass Gera,R/o-WZ-
83,Janak Park,Gali.No.7,Hari
Nagar,New Delhi 110064,have
changed my Name.from Raj
Kumar to Raj Kumar Gera for all
future.purpose.
0040551651-2
I,Mukesh Yadav, S/o Sh Resho
yadav, R/o H.no. L-42,Gali no-4,
Gautam Vihar,Delhi = 53 .Have
changed my Name Bhushan
Yadav To Mukesh Yadav For All
Future Purpose.
0040551625-1
I,Menaxi Kanwar,W/o Kulvinder
Kanwar, R/o-5/431,
Dr.Ambedkar Nagar,New
Delhi.My name is wrongly-
written Minakshi Kumar
instead of Menaxi Kanwar in
my daughter’s Shreya Kanwar
birth-certificate.
0040551651-6
I,Mamta Devi,W/o No.14813537P
Rank-HAV/MT Brajesh
Kumar,R/o-Village-Nagla Naini
Po-Husainpur,Teh-
Bhongaon,Distt-Mainpuri,UP-
206301,have changed my
name,from Mamta Devi to
Mamta Sharma.For all
Purposes. 0040551651-4
I, Naval Kishor R/o P-153/304
Sekhon Vihar Palam Delhi
Cantt-110010 have changed my
minor daughter’s name from
Rishita Kishor to Rishita
Kishore for all purposes.
0040551676-1
I,Mahesh Kumar S/o Late
Sh.Suraj R/o-A-3/49,Sector-
17,Rohini,Delhi-110089,inform
that Mahesh Kumar S/o Late
Sh.Suraj and Mahesh Kumar
Mathur S/o Late Sh.Suraj Singh
Mathur is the one and same
person. 0040551633-2
I,Govind alias Govind
Kumar,S/O Sadan Kumar R/O-
1578/31,Chotu Ram
Colony,Gohana Road Sonipat
have changed my name to
Lokesh. 0040551651-7
I,Ashok Kumar,S/o Harbhajan
Lal Sharma,R/o-H.No.699, Near
Water Works, Sector-47,
Gurgaon( Haryana)-122001,
have changed my name to
Ashok Kumar Sharma.
0040551651-1
I,AZMAL KHAN, S/O.MOHD
YASIN ADD-E-02, STREET.NO.01,
SHRI.RAM COLONY NORTH
EAST DELHI-110094, changed
my name to AJMAL KHAN,
permanently. 0040551633-4
I, Surinder Kumar Jindal S/o of
Moti Ram, R/o NS-28 2nd Floor
Mianwali Nagar New Delhi -
110087 have changed my name
to Surinder Kumar
0070717226-1
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
NESCO UTILITY
Head Office: Januganj, Balasore-756019
PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE
Be it known to all that my clients SITUATION VACANT Be it known to all concerned that my client
Email-purchase@nescoodisha.com
Shri Brijesh Kumar s/o Shri
Jagan Nath and Smt. Reena
SHRI GULSHAN BATRA SON OF LATE
SHRI NARAYAN DASS BATRA R/O E-
NOTICE INVITING TENDER
Devi w/o Brijesh Kumar R/o 57, 170/3, VIJAY VIHAR PH-II, DELHI-110085,
hereby disowned his son and debarred him
Tender Notice No. NESCO Utility/ O & M of S/S / 14 /20-21/ 8116 Dt: 16.10.2020
GF, KH. No. 43/2, Dass Garden,
Baprola Vihar, BLK-B-1, DELHI-
from his movable and immovable For and on behalf of NESCO Utility, sealed tenders are invited in duplicate in two
43, do hereby debar and disown
properties/assets, due to his misconduct
part bidding system from eligible bidders, who comply with the terms & conditions and
their daughter Pooja, Aadhar No.
and alleged threat to life of my client, and
he shall not participate in any of last rites in specification laid down in the tender documents for the work “Operation & Maintenance
264141294520 from all their the event of demise of my client, If any
person, organization, institution does any
(O & M) Contract of 33/11KV Primary Sub-stations” of distribution divisions SED Soro
I, Sukhvinder Singh Shagufa S/O movable/ immovable properties transaction with Mr. Aniket Batra does so at of Balasore Circle; BNED Bhadrak, BSED Bhadrak of Bhadrak Circle.
Gurdit Singh R/O JB-17E, Hari forever. Anybody dealing with their own risk, for that my client shall not be
her would be at their own risk. responsible in any manner whatsoever.
Last date of submission of Tender: Dt 06.11.20 up to 3.00 PM, Date of opening of
Enclave, Hari Nagar, New Delhi- Sd/- Tender: Dt.06.11.20 at 3.30 PM.
Sd/- BISHAN DASS
110064, inform that Sukhvinder Advocate SACHIN KUMAR
For details please visit our website-www. nescoodisha.com. Corrigendum /
(Advocate)
Singh and Sukhvinder Singh Rohini Court Enrol. No. D/2092/08 Ch. No. K-131, Addendum / Information if any will be published in the website only.
Shagufa both are same person. Mob.: 9350172912 Tis Hazari, Delhi-54
Sd/- General Manager (C&MM)
0040551611-1
PUBLIC NOTICE
I, Sukhbinder Singh S/o. KNOW ALL MEN that my client Sh.
Darshan Lal S/o Late Sh. Brij Lal PUBLIC NOTICE
Kulwant Singh R/o. Parasram resident of House No.: B-352 (Ground AS PER INSTRUCTIONS OF MY
Enclave Gali. No-3 Block-A and 1st Floor), Prashant Vihar, Sector- CLIENT, SHEELA DEVI WIFE OF
Khasra. No-54/1/2, Village
14, Rohini, Delhi-110085 has severed SHRI RAJIV KUMAR RESIDENT OF
all his relations with his son Sh. Rahul RZ-20/252, GALI NO. 5, MASJID
Burari, Delhi-110084,my name Kathuria and his wife Ms. Parul D/o ROAD, WEST SAGAR PUR, DELHI-
has been wrongly written as
Sh. Sanjay Katyal due to unwarranted 46, hereby wishing to publish a
behavior of Ms. Parul and has
PUBLIC NOTICE regarding
Sukhwinder Singh in my debarred them both from all of his
disconnection all rights, titles, interests in
movable and immovable properties.
Passport-bearing.No-T- Anyone dealing with either of them in his movable and immovable properties
from his sons SANDEEP KUMAR and his
1531300, the actual name of any manner whatsoever shall be
doing solely on his risks and wife SHRIMATI SAJIDA DAUGHTER OF
mine is Sukhbinder Singh consequences and for which, my SHRI AMAN ULLALLA. and SHRI
client shall not be held responsible. PRADEEP KUMAR.
0040551664-1 Sd/- J.S. KALRA (Advocate) In future there is no connection with the
Ch. No. 296, Western Wing, said property and SANDEEP KUMAR
I, Soniya D/o Ram Chander and Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi-54 and his wife Sumaiya Rani D/o
W/o Nitin R/o 103/2, First Floor, SHRIMATI SAJIDA DAUGHTER OF
SHRI AMAN ULLAHA and SHRI
Gali No.-12, Near Gali No.-10 PUBLIC NOTICE PRADEEP KUMAR.
Sangam Vihar, Wazirabad This is to inform to the public at large,
Sd/-
DEEPAK BHARGAVA
Extn., Delhi-110084, have that our client Smt. Vilash Mati W/o Late
Sh. Vijay Jain is the owner of Property
(ADVOCATE)
changed my name to Sonia E. No. D.446/17
bearing No U-2, Green Park, New Delhi-
0070717236-1 110016 and she has Disowned and
Disinherited her daughter namely Mrs.
I, Shashi Bala Jindal W/o Babita Jain W/o Ajay Aggarwal for her
Surinder Kumar, R/o NS-28 2nd
misconduct and alleged threat to her life.
This is further clarified that Mrs. Babita
Floor Mianwali Nagar New Jain W/o Ajay Aggarwal will not
Delhi - 110087 have changed my participate in her funeral rites in the
name to Shashi Bala
event of her demise and also shall not
inherit any of her Properties, whatsoever.
Sd/-
0070717223-1 SACHIN KAUSHIK (ADVOCATE)
I, Pooja W/o Shri Rahul Singh Raj
M-52A, Basement, Malviya Nagar,
New Delhi-110017.
R/o H.No.- 411-A, Sant Nagar,
East of Kailash, New Delhi-
110065, have changed my name PUBLIC NOTICE
to Pooja Singh for all future Be it known to all through this Public
Notice that my Clients Sh. Mahender
purposes . 0040551668-1 Singh S/o Sh. Jagroop and Smt.
Neelam W/o Sh. Mahender Singh
I, Nitin S/o Kewal Krishan R/o both R/o. H.No. B-224, Laxmi Park,
103/2, First Floor, Gali No.-12, Nangloi, Delhi-110041 have severed
Near Gali No.-10 Sangam Vihar, all kind of their relationship and
disowned & disinherited their son
Wazirabad Extn., Delhi-110084, Rahul and his wife Ashu Verma from
have changed my minor son’s their hard and earned movable and
name from Ruder Bhalla aged immovable properties. Anybody
14 years to Rudra forever
dealing with them in any manner, shall
do the same on their own risk and my
clients shall not be responsible for any
0070717234-1
act, deed and omission of their son
I, Miraan Sahota S/o Rajmeet Rahul and his wife Ashu Verma who
are residing separately at B-246,
Singh R/o-321, Arun Vihar, Laxmi Park, Nangloi, Delhi-110041.
Sector-28, Noida (U.P.), have Sd/- G . S . AHUJA (ADVOCATE )
changed my name to Miraan Ch. No.151A, Western Wing,
Singh Sahota for all future
Tis Hazari Court, Delhi-110054
purposes. 0040551671-1
PUBLIC NOTICE
I, Koshalya Gupta W/o Naveen Notice to hereby inform to general
kumar Gupta R/o 235 1st-floor, public that my clients Shri Ramaitar H/o
Nekasi Devi, both are residing in R/o H.
Residental-AGCR Enclave, No. Nagla Harisingh, Urawar Hastarf,
Delhi-110092, Have Changed Firozabad Uttar Pradesh- 205142 have
severed all his relation with his two son
my name to Kaushal Gupta, Shri Ram Raj Singh, R/o Mohalla Khera
permanently. 0040551611-3 Thana, Shikohabad, Distt Firozabad,
Uttar Pradesh, Pin code-283135, and
I, Komal W/O Manoj Kumar Neelam Kumar Yadav R/O Flat No 212,
Block-J,DDA LIG Flat, Pocket C,
Aggarwal R/O 53, Ist-floor,
Badarpur, New Delhi 110044 due to bad
pocket-7, sector-22, Rohini, behavior, both my clients debars/
New Delhi-110086, have disowns them from his all movable and
immovable properties with immediate
changed my name to Komal effects. If any person deals with Shri
Aggarwal, for all purposes. Ram Raj Singh and Neelam Kumar
Yadav in any manner whatsoever, then
0040551611-2 they will be doing that at their own risk
responsibility.
I, Kaleem Yahiya S/o Abdul AKHIL REXWAL (ADVOCATE)
Enrl. No: - D/5021/2017
Yahiya R/o-C-290,Shaheen Contact - 9540737777
Bagh, Jamia Nagar,Okhla, New
Delhi-110025 have changed my
name to Kalim Yahiya.
0040551633-1
I, HARVINDER KAUR W/o PUBLIC NOTICE
Sh.RANBIR SINGH R/o H.No.53, This is for information of general public that
First-Floor, New Layalpur Sh.Tarun Kumar Kainit & Sh. Darshan Kumar
are absolute owners and in possession of
Colony, Krishna-Nagar, Delhi- Entire Second Floor of Property No. G-4/15,
Malviya Nagar, New Delhi alongwith
110051, have changed my name proportionate rights in land underneath by
to HARVINDER NARULA. virtue of sale deed executed by erstwhile
owner Sh. Kamal Kaher duly registered as
0040551611-5 Document No. 6685 on 13.12.2016 and said
property is also duly mutated in favour of
I, Anju Bala W/o Manny Singh
Sh.Tarun Kumar Kainit & Sh. Darshan Kumar
by SDMC. The said property is mortgaged
with HDFC Bank by Sh.Tarun Kumar Kainit &
R/o GD-13, first-floor, G-Block, Sh. Darshan Kumar. The original title
Street No-14, Hari+Nagar, New documents qua the plot No. G-4/15, Malviya
Nagar, New Delhi are in custody of builder
Delhi-58, have changed my and/or different Floor owners in portions. If
any person/s has any claim whatsoever with
name to Anju Kaur Dhillon. respect to the abovestated property, he/she is
0040551611-4
required to give notice of the same to the
undersigned within 15 days from the date of
publication hereof, together with copies of
I, Amit Kumar S/o Sh. documents forming basis of such claim, failing
PUBLIC NOTICE which it shall be concluded that there is no
Chaturbhuj Prasad Bhardwaj, This is for the information of general public claim whatsoever against the abovesaid
Address-B-128, Sector-26, that my client SH. VASDEV S/o SH. TEJ RAM property and Sh.Tarun Kumar Kainit & Sh.
R/o H.NO. 30, ROAD NO. 1, EAST PUNJABI Darshan Kumar can proceed with their
Noida, Distt.-GautamBuddh BAGH, NEW DELHI-110026 has disowned intended object pertaining to the abovestated
and debarred his son namely KUSH ANAND property.
Nagar U.P.-201301, have and his wife namely SHWETA ANAND and Sd/- MOHIT BHARDWAJ (Advocate)
changed my name to Amit their daughter/my grand daughter MANYA Chamber No. 56, Lawyers Chamber,
ANAND from all his movable and immovable Patiala House Courts, New Delhi- 110001
Kumar Bhardwaj for all future properties with immediate effect because of
their constant fighting at home and outside
purposes. 0040551671-2 and loss of my client mental peace,
harassment,torture,cruelty,atrocities
I, Amarendra Kumar committed by them against my client.
Anybody dealing with them shall do so at
Singh/Amrendra Singh, S/o his/her/their own risk, cost and
Suryanaryanan Singh, R/o D- responsibilities thereto. My client shall not be
responsible in any manner for the same.
263, Tripathi Enclave , Prem Sd/- H. K. BABBAR , ADVOCATE
Nagar-2, Delhi-110086 have D G - 3 / 4 0 9 , V I K A S P U RI, N.D.18
M O B I L E - 9 8 116 74 5 6 4
changed my name to
Amrendra Kumar Singh
0070717229-1
I Najam ul Hassan s/o Ali
Mohmad Rather R/o Pazwal
pora Shalimar Srinagar born on
03.02.1998 changed my name to
Najam ul Hassan Rather vide
Affidavit dated 13.10.2020 at
Srinagar. 0050170347-1
LOST & FOUND
My Original Qualifying
Certificate of Secondary
PUBLIC NOTICE
PROPERTY No. A-303,
Examination of Year 2012 Roll Ground floor, Double Storey,
No.8183204 and Certificate and Kalkaji, New Delhi-110019
Marksheet of Senior Be it known to the general
Secondary Examination of Year Public at large that Mrs
Krishna w/o Baldev Raj r/o E-
2015 Roll No.5863927 issued by
127, Kalkaji, New Delhi-
CBSE has been actually lost.
110019, had represented
Swati Yadav #9810423988 herself to be the absolute
owner of Property/Flat No. A-
0040551587-1
303, GF, Double Storey,
Lost my property Document as Kalkaji, New Delhi-110019,
an Agreement to sale & Reciept by virtue of Conveyance
st
Deed dated 21 July 1998
belongs to Mr.Mahipal singh,
R/o D-2/340, Nehru-Vihar, duly Registered as Doc No.
3346 Book No. I Volume No.
Delhi-94. FIR- 8271 pages 63 to 64 dated
LR.No.662086/2020 dated 19.05.1994 in the office of
16/10/20.#-9136110817. Sub-Registrar, New Delhi.
0040551611-10
The said Original GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA
Conveyance Deed is
It is notified for the information misplaced from her records OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER
and is not traceable despite
that my original-MarkSheet
of her efforts. Any other O-475
RURAL WORKS CIRCLE: SUNDARGARH
and Pass-Certificate of Class-X E-Procurement Notice, Online - RWSESNG - 07 of 2020-21 Letter No. 2029 /Dtd. 15-10-2020
person(s) having any claim
Examination of Year-2018 and against into or upon the said E-mail address- serw_sundargarh@yahoo.com
1. Type of the Work : Road with Bridge Work (DMF)
Roll.No.8246608, issued by property by virtue of Sale, 2. Total No. of works : 01 No. of Work (Percentage Rate Tender)
CBSE has been actually inheritance, Agreement (of 3. Estimated cost : Rs.835.57 Lakh
lost.Kavya Singh#,Phone- any kind), Contract, 4. Class of contractor : ‘Special’ Class & 'Super' Class
Mortgage, Liens, Charges or 5. Period of completion : Twenty-four Calendar Months
9871805199#,Add-504,Kamal- 6. Cost of tender paper : The Bidder shall transfer online the cost of bid document for Rs.10,000/- towards cost of Bid through a process as mentioned under DTCN.
otherwise is hereby required
Vihar,Appt, Sect-7,Plot- to notify the same in writing 7. EMD Required : The Bidder shall transfer online the Earnest Money Deposit / Bid Security at the rate of 1% of the estimated cost put to tender as mentioned under DTCN. Exemption from EMD is
5,Dwarka,New Delhi-110075. permissible as per codal provisions of Govt. of Odisha.
alongwith supporting
documentary evidence to the 8. APS : Additional Performance Security shall be obtained from the Bidder when the bid amount is less than estimated cost put to tender. In such an event, only the successful bidder who has
0040551651-9 quoted less bid price/rates than the estimated cost put to tender shall have to furnish the exact amount of differential cost i.e. estimated cost put to tender minus the quoted amount as
undersigned within 15 Additional Performance Security (APS) in shape of Term Deposit Receipt pledged in favour of the Divisional Officer / Bank Guarantee in favour of the Divisional Officer from any Nationalized
PUBLIC NOTICE (fifteen) days from the date of
PUBLIC NOTICE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED publication of this notice
/ Scheduled Bank in India counter guaranteed by its local branch at Bhubaneswar within seven days of issue of Letter of Acceptance (LoA) by the Divisional Officer (by e-mail) to the
successful bidder, otherwise the bid of the successful bidder shall be cancelled and the Earnest Money Deposit / Bid Security shall be forfeited. Further, proceeding for blacklisting shall
I hereby request your gracious self for and on THAT MY CLIENT SHRI ASHWANI KUMAR MALIK failing which it will be be initiated against the bidder".
behalf of my client Sh. Dayal Chand Garg S/O
LT. Purshotam Dass Garg R/o H.NO-3, Road
SON OF LATE SHRI AMAR ANTH MALIK AND
SMT. LEENA MALIK WIFE OF SHRI ASHWANI presumed that no valid claim 9. GST : Rate quoted by the Contractor shall be excluding GST. The GST as applicable for the work contract shall be payable to the contractor on each bill amount on production of tax invoice.
No-29, East Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi-110026. MALIK BOTH RESIDENT OF WZ-1981. SECOND
FLOOR, RANI BAGH, SHAKUR BASTI DELHI- or objections subsists therein The prevailing rate of GST on the gross amount of bill will be deducted from the contractor’s bill as tax deduction at source (TDS) as per rule.
My client Sh. Dayal Chand Garg have severed 10. Other details:
all relationships with his son namely Sh. Yash 110034 HAD DISOWNED SHRI SAGAR MALIK and my client shall Conclude
SON OF SHRI ASHWANI MALIK RESIDENT OF
Pal Garg and daughter in law namely Ms. Reva
Garg, who are residing on the same address,
WZ-1981, SECOND FLOOR, RANI BAGH, the aforementioned property Procurement Bid Identification Availability of Tender On-line for bidding Last Date & Time of Seeking Technical Bid Financial Bid
Officer No. Tender Clarification Opening Opening
and have disowned/ debarred and disinherited
SHAKUR BASTI, DELHI-110034 THEIR ALL
ASSETS & LIBALITIES FROM NOW ONWARD
and any claim or any From To
them from all my movable and immovable DUE TO HE HAS OUT OF CONTROL. MY CLIENT objection of any nature if any 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
properties due to their anti family/ anti social HAVE NO RELATION WITH THEIR SON SHRI
activities and cruelty committed upon my client SAGAR MALIK FROM LOCKDOWN ONWARD. shall not be binding upon my Superintending Engineer, Rural RWSESNG-07 of 2020-21 21.10.2020 11.11.2020 10.11.2020 17.11.2020 Will be intimated
and other family members. Ms,' client is not INCASE ANY PERSON DEALS WITH SHRI SAGAR
MALIK WILL BE AT THEIR OWN RISKS AND MY
client for future. Works Circle, Sundargarh 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 11:00 AM separately
even on talking terms with their above noted
son, daughter-in-law, and my client has no CLIENT SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY
CLAIM AGAINST SAGAR MALIK WITH IMMIDATE
RAJIV KAPUR (ADVOCATE) Further details can be seen from the website www.tendersodisha.gov.in
control over them.
Sd/-
EFFECT IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Enrl. No. D/1917/09 N.B: Corrigendum if any may be seen in this website. www.tendersodisha.gov.in
Sd/-
(SUDHIR VATS) G-1314, Chittaranjan Park, Authority reserves the right to reject any or all the tenders without assigning any reasons thereof.
Jagdish Chachra @ Arora (Advocate)
(D/1594/2007) DELHI HIGH COURT Enl. No. D-2290/14, ND-19 (Ph: 98104-25377 & Superintending Engineer
1227, LAWYERS CHAMBER, Res/Off: Plot No. 11, Second Floor,
ROHINI COURT, DELHI. MB NO- 9811053663 Anand Vihar, Pitampura, Delhi-110034 78272-44045) Rural Works Circle, Sundargarh
OIPR-25133/11/0007/2021
New Delhi
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
CROSSWORD 4252
ACROSS
1 A motion that takes the House
aback (6,4)
6 Record is within a couple of
figures (4)
10 Back rents suitably adjusted
(5)
11 Start badly but get a jewel;
that’s the plan (9)
12 Tubes of paste (8)
13 Inert form of chemical (5)
15 Tends to get upset about a
doctor in an extreme (7)
17 They’re fearfully ugly (7)
19 Withdraw with a slight injury
(7)
21 Show age in a symptom of
exhaustion (7)
22 Man-made fabric found in
many London stores (5)
24 Light baskets (8)
27 A table leg gets broken, but it’s
of no importance (9)
28 Island it would be hard to
con? (5)
29 Around midday set out the
food (4)
30 No charge against one who
kicks a robber (10)
SolutionsCrossword4251:Across:1Meeting,5Caleb,8Nightwear,9Nod,10Slip,
12Antelope,14Bridle,15Peanut,17Freehand,18Crop,21Ada,22Bonechina,24
Octet,25Sinuate.Down:1Mends,2Egg,3Iota,4Greens,5Cornered,6Landowner,
7Baddebt,11Itinerant,13Alphabet,14Buffalo,16Ananas,19Plane,20Icon,23Ida.
JUMBLED WORDS
DOWN
1 Point to a quiet word which is
binding (4)
2 Greek leader relaxed an order
(9)
3 Girl gets lad in trouble (5)
4 Complete the course and get
dead drunk (4,3)
5 Vehicle with some difference
in Wales (7)
7 Mint bar? (5)
8 Remunerate ace postmen
perhaps (10)
9 Do these orders refer to the
national anthem? (8)
14 Handsome individual and
competent (10)
16 Crushed oats into portion
served up repeatedly (8)
18 Breathe irregularly at what
should be regular (9)
20 He breaks into a politician’s
address (7)
21 Lead about a hundred into
deep trouble (7)
23 Faint illumination (5)
25 Painting is dry and firm
(5)
26 Lord, look at him (4)
CALENDAR 17
OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry & T Lewis
DAY TODAY BY PETER VIDAL
ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 20) LIBRA (Sep 24 - Oct 23)
The Sun is now There is an awful lot
highlighting to say for pressing
everything in your ahead with travel
life that is plans, although it’s
expensive, not to say not clear that you’ll be going on
downright extravagant. You’ll a physical journey. It might be
probably be much more a spiritual adventure which
concerned to save than spend, calls you. Also, you may make
though, and extracting your contact now with family
money could be like getting members who are overseas or
blood out of a stone. Happily, far away.
you have a sense that the
world is generally a rather SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 23)
more friendly place. Business
opportunities flow
TAURUS (Apr 21 - May 21) thick and fast, but
As it happens, this is may be difficult to
CALVIN & HOBBES by Bill Watterson a moment for spot, let alone grasp. This
traditional pursuits, could be a better day for
if only because leaving certain fantasies as
Saturn, symbol of all old- just that - dreams to be
fashioned things, is lurking in treasured but not
the background. There is a implemented. Plus, perhaps
shortage of profound a friend can provide
planetary influences at the he missing piece in an
moment, so you may happily emotional jigsaw.
enjoy being superficial.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 24 - Dec 22)
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) The Sun is
This is one of those inaugurating a new
rare periods when period of potential
partners or close and possible
companions achievement. This doesn’t
actually pay attention. You mean, by the way, that
may have to use a small everything will be easy, but
amount of emotional that even apparently trivial
blackmail, or make a tiny scene events will have a significance
but, one way or another, others which will not be immediately
MARVIN by Tom Armstrong should recognise that you
must now be noticed.
clear. To an extent, you have to
trust in the future.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) CAPRICORN (Dec 23 - Jan 20)
Things are generally Focus on everything
looking quite slack, in your life that is
which doesn’t going well. After all,
necessarily mean every cloud has a
that you’re not busy, only that silver lining. Cultivate patience
there is an increasing sense of and realise that now is the time
woolliness and uncertainty. If to be compassionate, caring,
you’re in a gambling mood and almost saintly. The
then you may take an more love you put out, the
emotional risk, but don’t play more you can expect back. It’s
with someone else’s feelings. simple, really.
LEO (July 24 - Aug 23) AQUARIUS (Jan 21- Feb 19)
Pleasantly social You may be
influences include a perfectly tuned in
slight chance of a to virtuous
difference of activities, perhaps
opinion, but no other signs of doing whatever you can to
DifficultyLevel3s
strain. It’s not the best day for
practical chores, although it’s a
help others out of a tricky
situation. When relaxing, you
Instructions great time to be irresponsible. might take your pleasures
SOLUTION SUDOKU 4264

Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, You must be prepared for the with a dash of decadence.
therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget everydigitfrom1to9 consequences, though. Most of all, you love a good
SUDOKU 4265

theanswerforthegivenquip. mustappearineachofthe story, and you may be

Becalminarguing;forfiercenessmakes___afault,and___discourtesy.-GeorgeHerbert VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sep 23) spinning someone a yarn.
nineverticalcolumns,in Special indications
(5,..,5))
eachoftheninehorizontal in parts of your PISCES (Feb 20 - Mar 20)
NUERR EINYTT rowsandineachofthe chart concerned When you’re in a
nineboxes. with money offer a tight spot you
strict warning against usually believe that
financial risks. You should something will turn
SYORR BELMHU DifficultyLevel
only proceed if you are happy up and save the day. This is
not to receive any return other actually one of your most
1s=Veryeasy;2s=Easy; than pure satisfaction or delightful characteristics and,
3s=Medium;4s=Hard; romantic contentment. In believe it or not, it is at times
discourtesy. - George Herbert 5s=VeryHard;6s= other words, don’t hope for like these that your faith pays
Answer: Answer: Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth Genius cash prizes. off in some curious style.
SOLUTION: RERUN, SORRY, ENTITY, HUMBLE

SALUTE THE SOLDIER ICAR - CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF FISHERIES EDUCATION

(Deemed University), (A University Established Under Sec. 3 of UGC Act 1956)
LATE LNK KAMAL KUMAR LIMBU
Panch Marg, Off Yari Road, Versova, Andheri (West),
ON 17 OCT 2000 NO 9420331 LATE LNK KAMAL Mumbai-400061. Tel. No. 022-26361446/7/8,
KUMAR LIMBU OF 2/11 GR HAD MADE Fax No. 022-26361573 Web Site : www.cife.edu.in
SUPREME SACRIFICE DURING OP RAKSHAK
(J&K) IN OCT 2000. F.No.49(44)/NAHEP/CONFOCALMICROSCOPE/2020-21 Dated 16.10.2020
COLONEL 11 GR & SIKKIM SCOUTS AND NOTICE INVITING TENDER
ALL RANKS
The Project Investigator, National Agricultural Higher Education Project
Hav Sohan Singh, SM (21 Sep 1964-17 Oct 2004) (NAHEP), Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai invites online
On this day we salute and pay homage to a gal- tender at CPP Portal from the reputed vendors/firms for Supply of Confocal
lant soldier who laid down his life for the Nation
while protecting the Territorial Integrity of India,
Laser Scanning Microscope under NAHEP at ICAR-CIFE Mumbai. Tender
in Jammu & Kashmir in the finest traditions of documents is available on CPP Portal can be download from 16.10.2020 to
the Indian Army. 15.11.2020 at CPP Portal. The detailed information is available on our website
May your Soul attain Moksha
Commanding Officer and All Ranks 3 www.cife.edu.in Sd/-
GRENADIERS SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

NOTICE BOARD CORPORATE ASSOCIATE DIARY A P P O I N T M E N T S, M OV E M E N T S, C E L E B R AT I O N S, H O N O U R S

DIVIDEND-HUDCO
The Union Minister of Rural Development, NS Tomar was pre-
sented the final dividend cheque of Rs.97.52 crore for the year
2019-20, by M. Nagaraj, Dir. (Corp. Planning) HUDCO, in pres-
ence of other senior officials.
CSR- CANARA BANK
Canara Bank has extended financial support of Rs.
25,97,500/- to SJICR, Bengaluru for treatment of 250
Heart Patients belonging to poorest of the poor and 5
Wheel Chairs under CSR initiatives.
SAIL has registered an impressive 31.3% growth in sales
during the second quarter (Q2) of FY2020-21 over Q2
FY2019-20 (July-Sept.). Post the COVID-19 related lockdown,
the Company has been witnessing an impressive sales
performance which started in June’20. This has led to the
Company’s H1 sales of FY 2020-21 bounce back to the levels
achieved during CPLY. During the Q2 of FY2020-21, the
saleable steel production also registered a growth of 5.2%
over CPLY. The Company’s strategic marketing efforts and
customer-centric initiatives coupled with teamwork across
the Company has contributed to this improvement in sales
and production.
ITPO In response to the clarion call of PM Modi, to fight
against the spread of COVID-19, the officials of ITPO took
pledge at Pragati Maidan, ND, recently. It was administered by
R. Agrawal, IAS, ED, ITPO through video conferencing.
AWARD-POWERGRID
BN De Bhowmick, ED (TD) POWERGRID and Expert of
IEC Technical Committee 122, UHVAC Transmission
Systems has been awarded the prestigious IEC 1906
Award by the IEC.
AWARD-NCL
NCL has been conferred with 3 prestigious ICC PSE
Awards during the 10th India Public Sector Agenda 2020 on-
line meet. On behalf of NCL, CMD PK Sinha received the
award in an online event.
AAI Considering the importance of air connectivity to
the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh, AAI has
undertaken the work of constructing a Greenfield
Airport at Hollongi, 15 Km from Itanagar. With estimated
cost of Rs.650 cr, the project includes the development
work i.e., construction of airport pavements, air side
work, terminal Building and city side works. With an
area of 4100 sqm, the new domestic terminal building
of the Hollongi Airport will be able to handle 200
passengers during peak hours.
At present, Soil testing and field survey works are
completed, and site clearing work is in progress.
Substructure works have already been completed and
superstructure fabrication is under progress. The
tentative date for completion of the project is November,
2022.
INAUGURATION-BOM
BoM has installed a new ATM at Anand Vihar Railway
Station. The ATM was jointly inaugurated by RK Singh
(Dir., IRSDC) and Chitra Datar (GM & ZM) in presence of
other senior officials.
DONATION-CANARA BANK
Canara Bank Securities Limited has announced a donation
of state-of-the-art mobile ambulance to VMH located in
Saragur near HD Kote, Mysore District. The mobile ambu-
lance donated will be used in the fight against COVID-19.
LIC has shown sterling performance amid Covid-19
lockdown in half-year ended 30.09.2020. LIC has declared
Policyholders Bonus of more than Rs 51,000 Crores for 2019-
20. In the just concluded half year 2020-21, LIC has achieved
more than Rs 25000 crore in first year premium income in
Individual New Business performance as at 30th Sept 2020 as
compared to Rs 24867.70 crore as on 30th Sept.2019. Under
its Jeevan Shanti plan, LIC collected Rs 11456.41 Crore as
first year premium as at 30th Sept 2020.
BRPL For the benefit of the consumers of BSES Rajdhani
Power Limited (BRPL), especially those residing in West Delhi,
a new Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA), Delhi’s third, was virtually
inaugurated recently by the Hon’ble Justice Hima Kohli, Judge,
Delhi High Court and Executive Chairperson, Delhi State Legal
Services Authority (DSLSA) in Vikaspuri. This is the first
exclusive PLA for a discom in Delhi.
AAI In order to reduce congestion at Tiruchirappalli Airport,
AAI has undertaken the expansion work which includes
Construction of a New Integrated Passenger Terminal
Building, a new Apron, Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, and
upgradation of Air side facilities. The new terminal building
being constructed at the cost of Rs.951.28 Crores has been
designed to process 2900 passengers during peak hours.
More than 40% of the construction work for terminal building
is completed and the project will be ready by March, 2022.
REC was conferred the runner-up award for Corporate
Governance (Maharatna & Navratna Category) at the 10th
PSE Excellence Awards organized by ICC. The award
nominations witnessed more than 60 entries across various
categories. The award was given by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee,
Former Secretary of Department of Public Enterprises (DPE)
and Chief of the Jury Committee. The award ceremony was
organized virtually and was attended by senior dignitaries
from various CPSEs and the esteemed jury members.
INDIANOIL Inspired by the vision of the Prime Minister for an
Atmanirbhar Bharat, a reliable and scalable portal has been
envisaged for all Oil Companies. Based on the theme
"Delivering excellence through people", this initiative, taken
under the guidance of Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas
and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan, aims to highlight the Capital
goods requirement of Oil & Gas majors besides the items
related to Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. As a Make in
India initiative, this web-based portal will provide opportunities
to new entrepreneurs and existing manufacturers to invest
and expand their manufacturing base in India. This portal shall
also provide real-time data, along with visual indicators in the
form of graphs and charts, to facilitate decision making for
the apex management and other stakeholders.
POWERGRID Seema Gupta, Director (Operations),
POWERGRID has been named the winner of GOLD Stevie®
Award in the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT- BUSINESS
category in the 17th annual Stevie Awards for Women in
Business. The jury, while recommending Seema Gupta’s
name for the Award, was all praise for her outstanding
lifetime achievements in a key industry usually dominated
by men, for demonstrating her leadership calibre by
sustained excellence in her area of work and her role in the
Company's success. The Award would be presented to
Seema Gupta during a virtual awards ceremony scheduled
on December 9, 2020.
DELHI POLICE In an endeavour to prevent crime and
apprehend criminals, PS Connaught Place is continuously
putting efforts by means of mounting traps at vulnerable
place and time. Recently, one desperate snatcher/robber
was arrested by the staff of PS Connaught Place, New
Delhi. He was previously involved in more than 100 cases
and is active BC of PS Gulabi Bagh, North District, Delhi.
A case of gold chain snatching worth Rs. 1.5 lakh has
been worked out.
IRCTC To facilitate passengers of Ahmedabad-Mumbai
IRCTC Tejas Express, additional halt at Andheri has been
considered in addition to the halts at Nadiad, Vadodara,
Bharuch, Surat, Vapi and Borivali. IRCTC has already
announced earlier the operation of its fleet of Tejas
Express trains (Lucknow-New Delhi & Ahmedabad-
Mumbai) again. Both the trains are expected to restart
operations from 17th October, 2020. Online bookings of
both the IRCTC Tejas Express trains (Lucknow-New Delhi
& Ahmedabad-Mumbai) have already been opened.
NTPC has started to collaborate with cement
manufacturers across the country to supply fly ash as
part of its endeavour to achieve 100% utilisation of the
by-product produced during power generation. The power
producer is leveraging Indian Railways’ sprawling
network to transport fly ash in an economical and
environment friendly manner. NTPC Rihand is the first
power plant in the State of Uttar Pradesh to send
conditioned fly ash to cement manufacturers. The plant
recently transported 3,834 Metric tonnes (MT) of
conditioned fly ash in 59 BOXN wagons to Dalmia Cement
(Bharat) Ltd.’s plant at Nagaon, Assam. Earlier, the rail
rakes of conditioned fly ash were dispatched to ACC
plants in Tikaria (U.P), Kymore (M.P) and Ropar (Punjab).
TRIFED The team of TRIFED Warriors led by the dynamic
Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, has been working
diligently towards the transformation of lives of the tribal
population across the country. Their unstinted efforts and
initiatives got worthy recognition at the Virtual Edition of
National Awards for Excellence – PSU held on October
14, 2020. Combined, the team won three Awards: two
individual awards for the exemplary and inspirational
leadership of Pravir Krishna in the CEO of the Year and
Visionary Leadership Award categories and a collective
award in the Investment in Start-Ups Category.

E V E N T S , A N N O U N C E M E N T S , L A U N C H E S , C S R I N I T I AT I V E S , A P P O I N T M E N T S , M O V E M E N T S , C E L E B R AT I O N S
New Delhi

18 SPORT
THE INDIAN EXPRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
BRIEFLY
Japantotestanti-virus
measuresatnear-full
baseballstadium
Tokyo: Yokohama Stadium will hold
three baseball games at around 80% ca-
pacitylaterthismonthasJapanlooksto
testitsCOVID-19countermeasuresatbig
events ahead of the rearranged Tokyo
Olympicsnextyear.Economicrevitaliza-
tionministerYasutoshiNishimura,who
heads Japan’s COVID-19 fight, told re-
porters late on Thursday that if the “ex-
periment”wasasuccessallprofessional
stadiumswouldbeallowedtoboostca-
pacity.TheYokohamaBaystars,whoplay
at the 34,000-capacity Yokohama
Stadium,whichwillalsobeusedduring
theOlympics,confirmedinastatement
thatthreegameswouldbeplayedatthe
venue with capacity set at around 80%.
As well as having their temperature
checkedanddisinfectantbeingavailable
throughoutthevenue,allfanshadtogive
their contact details to staff. Giants fans
haveevenchangedtheirpopularchants
to involve less yelling and movement
thatmayspreadthevirus. REUTERS
Raipurtohave
hockeyacademy
NewDelhi: Raipur,oneof thehostcities
fornextyear'sjuniorhockeyWorldCup,
willsoonhavearesidentialacademyfor
thesport.Besides,CentresofExcellence
centres for athletics, wrestling and
swimmingtoowillbesetupinBilaspur.
Announcing these developments, the
Chhattisgarh government on Friday
said that Raipur will also have a centre
forarcheryundertheSportsMinistry's
'One State One Game' initiative. This
comes at the back of Chief Minister
Bhupesh Baghel constituting
Chhattisgarh Sports Development
Authorityforthemaintenanceofsports
infrastructureandoperationofresiden-
tialsportsacademies.Thesecentreswill
receive aid from the state and central
governments. ENS
Md.Sporting backin
I-Leagueafter7years
Kalyani: Mohammedan Sporting on
Friday clinched an I-League berth after
sevenyearswitha2-0winovercityrivals
Bhawanipore FC in the qualifiers.
VanlalbiaaChhangte(28thminute)and
Gani Ahmmed Nigam (67th) struck on
eithersideofhalf-time.Withthreewins
onthetrot,theBlackPanthersnowhave
an unassailable lead of nine points over
their nearest rivals to seal the lone I-
League spot with a round to spare. On
October19,MohammedanSportingwill
face FC Bengaluru United, followed by
the match between ARA FC and
BhawaniporeFC. PTI
3Hoffenheimplayers
outofDortmundtie
Berlin: Hoffenheim on Friday said two
playershadtestedpositiveforCOVID-19
upontheirreturnfrominternationalduty
andathirdplayeralsowentintoquaran-
tine ahead of Saturday’s clash against
Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
The two unnamed players had just re-
turned from international duty and had
no contact with any Hoffenheim team-
mates or staff, the club said. “A further
Hoffenheim player is also in quarantine
duetoaCOVID-19caseinhisimmediate
family,” the club said in a statement.
HoffenheimarelevelwithDortmundon
sixpointsfromthreegames. REUTERS
BRAZIL’S TOP GOALSCORERS
Why Neymar isn’t considered a Brazilian great like Pele, Ronaldo yet
SANDIPG
OCTOBER16
WITH HIS hat-trick against Peru in the World
CupqualifieronWednesday,Neymartookhis
nationalteamgoaltallyto64.Hesurpassedhis
country's celebrated striker Ronaldo (62) and
isnowjust13goalsbehindthelegendaryPele.
Consideringthathe’sonly28,itwouldbesur-
prising if he doesn’t eclipse Pele in the immi-
nentfuture.However,forallhisskills,trickery
and numbers, he is not counted among the
greatest of all time, a rarefied space Pele and
Ronaldo inhabit.
Why is Neymar not counted among the
greats yet?
The nimble-footed Brazilian combines
European technicality and Brazilian flair in
his play. He is exceptional with both feet, has
a terrific header, scores from free-kicks and
can conjure a moment of magic from noth-
ing. Lionel Messi considers him his spiritual
successor and the future talisman at
Barcelona. But he has his flaws. The Brazilian
star has a tendency to squander straightfor-
ward chances. He is also prone to tumble
Vol LXXXVIII No. 293 Regd.No. DL-21046/03-05 R.N.I. No.506/57. Printed and Published by R.C. Malhotra on behalf of The Indian Express (P) Limited and Printed at The Indian Express (P) Limited Press, A-8, Sector-7, Noida - 201301 and Published at The Indian Express (P) Limited, Mezzanine Floor, Express Building, 9 &
10, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002. Editorial office: The Indian Express (P) Limited, Mezzanine Floor, Express Building, 9 & 10, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: 0120-6651500. Advertising office: The Indian Express (P) Limited, B1/B, Sector - 10, Noida - 201301. Phone: 0120-6651291.
Chairman of the Board: Viveck Goenka, Chief Editor: Raj Kamal Jha, Editor: Unni Rajen Shanker, Editor (Delhi): Rakesh Sinha ** **Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright: The Indian Express (P) Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part,
Morgan’s reign off to disastrous start as Rohit & Co showcase their might
SYNOPSIS
KKR have a sluggish day with the
bat, Mumbai continue to boss
around in style
SRIRAM VEERA
OCTOBER 16
NOTHING WENT right for Kolkata Knight
Riders in Eoin Morgan’s first game as captain.
Thebattinglackedintentandtheusualsuspects
continuedtofail;DineshKarthik,whostepped
downfromcaptaincy,continuedhishorrorrun
withthebatandsodidAndreRussell.Mumbai
Indiansreachedthe149-runtargetfortheloss
of twowicketswithmorethanthreeoversre-
maining.
Sluggish KKR
Kolkata Knight Riders played like a team
whosecaptainhadsteppeddownmidseason,
on the morning of a game against the defend-
ingchampions.Thatchaosshowedinthebat-
ting until Pat Cummins stirred up some sem-
blanceofarevival,helpingthemtake49runsin
thelastfourovers.Beforehisarrival,theinnings
hadlackedintentandrevealedself-doubtsand
flaws. It started with a sensational catch from
SuryakumarYadavwhenhedivedtohisleftat
backward point to grab a slash from Rahul
Tripathi. Nitish Rana then gloved a bouncer,
ShubmanGilltamelyhittolong-on,andRussel
toowastakenoutbyabumper.Everyteamnow
targetsRusselwithashortoneathisbodyand
he hasn’t come up with an answer yet. His
propensity to stay legside of the ball, irrespec-
tiveof theline,hasalsoledtotrouble.
Karthik is the ninth captain to be changed
midseason in IPL but the first to go despite the
teambeinginthetopfourofthepointstable.In
thefirstsevengames,hehadscored108atjust
15.42 and that pressure showed. He tried to
nurdleandprodbeforegoingforapaddleshot
off leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and saw the ball
dribbleofftheedgeontohisstumps.Watching
himfromtheotherendwasthemanwhohas
replaced him. Morgan dropped anchor to try
andpreventtheteamfrombeingbowledout.
The game was meandering along when
Cumminsintervened.Hehasalreadyshowna
liking for Mumbai Indians – in their previous
meeting this season, he had slammed Jasprit
In tight quarterfinal loss, Srikanth shows game, glimpse of future
SHIVANI NAIK
OCTOBER 16
THE DENMARK Open is beautifully lacking
in any context whatsoever — just the way
Kidambi Srikanth would've wanted this re-
turn to be. Neither an Olympic spot at stake
for the future here, nor the painful piling on
of early exits from one week to next, to scar
his most recent past. Twice in their quarter-
final, Chou Tien Chen roared a guttural cry
right after a stiff rally where he was run
ragged, validating the strong challenge he
was posed by the Indian in imperious form
when on song.
Srikanth lost 22-20, 13-21, 16-21 in 62
minutesof thebestbadmintonhehasplayed
in recent times. Well rested, with not a hint
of pressure, moving well and confidently
backinghisattack,Srikanthofferedaglimpse
of what he could potentially play in the fu-
ture, rather than turning back some elusive
clock to go looking to mimic his dream sea-
son of 2017. So while this will still count as a
sub-par exit for the former World No 1
against the current World No 2, there was
On Wednesday,Neymartookhisinternationalgoaltallyto64,overtakingRonaldo’s 62.Pele’sstillintheleadwith77.
down at the slightest of touches, forget a
tackle. So far he has failed to make an impact
on big games, like the quarterfinal against
Belgium in the World Cup or the UEFA
Champions League final against Bayern
Munich. Thisis thebiggest holein hisCVand
also the reason he hasn't been as popular as
Ronaldo or Pele on terraces in Brazil.
Historically, Brazil judges its footballers not
by their club stature but with the number of
World Cups they have won.
Knights in the dark
Quinton de Kock scored an unbeaten 78 off 44 balls. BCCI
POINTS TABLE
Team Matches Won Lost NR Points
MI 8 6 2 0 12
DC 8 6 2 0 12
RCB 8 5 3 0 10
KKR 8 4 4 0 8 pulleditdown.RohitSharmawasseenlaugh-
SRH 8 3 5 0 6 ing, a mood that stayed through the chase. De
CSK 8 3 5 0 6 Kockunfurledalltheshotsthatwehavecome
RR 8 3 5 0 6 to associate with him: the heaves over mid-
KXIP 8 2 6 0 4 wicket, the feisty pulls, and the blasts through
Bumrahforfoursixesinanover.Hecustomised
his movements to the bowlers – shuffling to-
wardsoffagainstTrentBoulttogolegside,stay-
ing beside the line to Bumrah, and hitting
throughthelineagainstNathanCoulter-Nile.
In the last over, bowled by Coulter-Nile,
Morgantoojoinedin,hittingtwosixesasthey
scored 21 runs to take the total to 148/5 but it
wasn’tenoughtoeventestMumbai’smight.
enough in his game to get spectators to tune
in when he plays him next time.
The loss was down to a bunch of un-
forced errors that compounded the Guntur
man's inability to come back after trailing in
the middle set and the decider. But in all the
five sets (2 each in first two rounds & the
opener here) he won over the last three days,
the 27-year-old displayed a champion's ca-
pability to quickly switch gears at midgame,
and summon his class in the crucial finish
points.
The net is considered Srikanth's stomp-
ing ground — a litmus to check on how con-
fident he's feeling on the day. But it will al-
ways be Srikanth's attack from the midcourt
orbackthatcarriesthevenomenoughtofin-
ish the kill.
On Friday, he was gliding around mov-
ing well for added measure. At 7-6 in the
first, he hopped to the forecourt sending off
a forehand at the net, which Chou slapped to
the back. Running backwards and forced to
leave his patch, Srikanth would flick the
shuttle far back like a passing shot, unset-
tling Chou.
The Taipese 30-year-old's trap was to
How does he compare with Pele and
Ronaldo?
ApartfrombeingatrebleWorldCupwin-
ner,Pelehasabettergame-to-goalratio than
Neymar. Pele’s scoring rate is 0.89 per game,
whileNeymar’sis0.62andRonaldo0.63.But
therearecaveats.WhatsetsRonaldoandPele
apart is their scoring sprees in World Cups.
Ronaldo has belted 15 in 19 games, Pele 12
in14andNeymarjustsixin10games.Inboth
World Cups, Neymar was relatively un-in-
without prior written permission is prohibited. The Indian Express ®
Mumbai boss around in style
The only thing in the chase that was out of
order for Mumbai Indians was Quinton de
Kock’s pants. Half-way to the middle, he re-
alisedhehadwornthetrainingpantsinsteadof
thematchtrousers.Heturnedtowalkbackbut
decidedagainstit;justuntuckedhisjerseyand
theline.Sharmatoohadhismomentswiththe
bat,triggeringpurrsfromBrettLeeonair:“the
bestpullerinworldcricketrightnow”.
Mumbai even promoted Hardik Pandya
who has been playing as a specialist batsman,
andhesmackedafewtohastentheend.
BRIEF SCORES: Mumbai Indians 149/2 (Q
de Kock 78* off 44, R Sharma 35 off 36) beat
Kolkata Knight Riders 148/5 (P Cummins
53* off 36, E Morgan 39* off 28; R Chahar
2/18) by 8 wickets.
draw errors from Srikanth's backhand at the
net — messing with his territorial domi-
nance,drillingholesinhisstrength.Butthere
was little for Chou to do when Srikanth let
his stick smashes do the talking. Or when he
attacked the body to pin Chou back and then
with no perceptible change sent a smash
along the other flank moving from 19-20 to
winning next three points to claim the set,
22-20.
Chou held the upper hand in the longer
Reuters
E
fluential.Oneof the enduringimages
of the 2018 World Cup was the tat-
EXPLAINED
tered socks of Neymar, with deep
stud marks, after the quarterfinal
against Belgium. Then to his fault, he
hasatendencytofalldown,ordive,at
the slightest of touches while both
Ronaldo and Pele had robust runs and could
barge through defence lines. Neymar needs
to burn his crybaby image somehow to gain
the stature that Pele or Ronaldo enjoy.
ON THE TUBE
INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 3.30pm
Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings 7:30pm, Star Sports Network
Why did Karthik step down
in the middle of the season
SHAMIK CHAKRABARTY
OCTOBER 16
HOURS BEFORE their match against Mumbai
Indians, Dinesh Karthik stepped down as
Kolkata Knight Riders captain, handing over
thereinstoEoinMorgan.Asystemwithafoot-
ball-style strong manager and relatively low-
profile captain apparently hasn’t worked for
the franchise.
Why did Karthik step down?
AccordingtotheKKRpressrelease,Karthik
did it “with a view to focus on his batting and
contributing more to the team’s cause”. The
’keeper-batsmanhadscored108runsinseven
matches, with one half-century this season
(112 from eight after Friday’s knock).
E
WhyMorgan?
MorganledEnglandtotheirfirst-
EXPLAINED
everWorldCuptriumphlastyear.He
was a natural successor and the
team’s vice-captain. He is also the
team’ssecond-highestrun-getteraf-
terShubmanGill.Inaninterviewwith
the host broadcaster before Friday’s match,
Morganspokeaboutthe“shock”theteamhad,
as Karthik took the team into confidence the
night before.
WhydidKKRcontinuewithKarthikas
theircaptainafterfinishingfifthlast
term?
KKR rather brought in a change in their
coaching staff. Brendon McCullum replaced
JacquesKallisasheadcoach.“Thistimearound
we wanted a different profile, someone who
bringsfreshideasandnewenergy.Wearethe
youngestsideintheIPL.Wewantedsomeone
whohasprovenleadershipskills,abletowork
with young players and manage diversity,”
KnightRidersCEOVenkyMysoretoldthispa-
peraftertheappointmentwasmadelastyear.
Clearly,thefranchisewantedtoputMcCullum
right on top of their leadership pyramid.
Isaset-upfeaturingahigh-profilehead
coachandalow-profilecaptainthe
I thought, even when (Srikanth)
had the winning shot, he was
maybe a bit predictable. The
finishes at the net especially were
predictable. That's something he
could probably work on. He
could've put pressure (in the
second set). Physically, Srikanth
needs to be a bit better off to beat
the No 1, 2, 3 guys. But overall
happy with his progress.”
P GOPICHAND, NATIONAL COACH
rallies though, and physio Kiran
Challangundla had said earlier that Srikanth
was operating only at 80 per cent physically.
But rattled by how he had let slip the opener
from20-19,hewouldsprayhisreturnswide.
What really riled him up was 7-8 in the sec-
ond set — where Srikanth braking the pace
played a series of slow - soft - slow - soft
strokes and then suddenly snapped out of
the lullaby speed for a blitz kill.
After that every long rally that Chou eked
Didthethreestrikersplaythesamerole?
No.Pelehasdonnedvariousroles.Anout-
and-out striker, he also featured in the role of
the more creative No 10. At times he was also
the attacking tip of a diamond midfield.
Ronaldo was chiefly deployed as a no-non-
sense centre-forward, the near-extinct fox in
theboxtypes.Intelligent,instinctiveandintu-
itive, he was a product of the time when
Brazilianfootballwasbusyditchingtheideaof
romanticfootballandembracingpragmatism.
Inthatsense,Neymarisathrowback,hisgame
closer to Pele than Ronaldo.
Neymarisessentiallyaleft-winger,whose
primary duty is to feed the centre forward or
the striker, a role he accomplished efficiently
withBarcelona.Soheisn'tjustagoal-scorerbut
alsoagoal-creator.It’swhereheout-
shinesPeleandRonaldo.Neymarhas
made43assists,whichismarginally
betterthanPele(unofficially35)and
streets ahead of Ronaldo (12).
● Neymar plies his trade at a time
whenforwardsareexpectedtotrack
backanddefendorpress.Aforwardisexpected
tonotjustscoregoals,butcreatespaceandlay
onchancesforothers.Ronaldoneverhadtodo
it,whilePeledidsointermittently.
New Delhi
WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
flavourof theseason?
To some extent, yes. Kings XI Punjab have
Anil Kumble as head coach and a relatively
low-profileKLRahulascaptain.DelhiCapitals
have Ricky Ponting as head coach, mentoring
a relatively young and low-profile captain in
ShreyasIyer.Results,though,havebeendiffer-
ent.WhileDCaresittingprettywith12points
fromeightmatches,KXIPareatthefootof the
table;fourpointsfromeightmatches.
KKR have had a mixed season; eight
points from as many games.
WasKarthikunderpressure?
● Some external voices had called
for Karthik’s removal as captain.
“Genuinely feel @Eoin16 should lead the
side,(surly not*dk kolaimandaaaiii) World
Cup-winningcaptainshouldsurlyleadiplside.
I hope #kkr looks at this issue.nd win. they
need a leader who will lead from front like
Rohit, Dhoni or Virat..what a player,” fast
bowlerSreesanthhadtweetedafterKKR’sloss
to DC. KKR’s batting order – Karthik coming
aheadofMorgan,AndreRussellbattingtoolate
etc.–hasbeenquestionedbyfansandpundits
alike.
WasKarthikapopularcaptain?
Last year, Andre Russell, the team’s x-fac-
tor, publicly criticised on-field decision-mak-
ing.“Wehaveagoodteambutifyoumakebad
decisions,thenyouwillalwayslosegamesand
that’s what we have been doing,” Russell had
said. He wasn’t happy with his batting posi-
tion. Things barely changed in the first seven
matches this term. Only twice was the
Jamaican promoted up the order – at No. 4
against Rajasthan Royals and DC.
out, he would pump his fist, gnash his teeth
and roar his anger out. Srikanth erring in a
bunch of returns would allow Chou to level
back.
WhileChoubrokeawayat14-8inthede-
cider, after being made to work hard, he
could never shake off the fear that Srikanth
had it in him to pierce his best game with his
own attack. What saved him was Srikanth's
excessive reliance on the same stroke at the
net which Chou read rapidly and could
counter with his furious taps.
Coach Gopichand, while happy with
Srikanth's speed, movement and attack,
said, the shot selection could improve. "I
thought, even when he had the winning
shot, he was maybe a bit predictable. The
finishes at the net especially were pre-
dictable. That's something he could proba-
bly work on," he said.
The second set where Srikanth took his
foot off the pedal was the turning point. "He
could've put pressure then. A series of errors
took the pressure off Chou in the second
game. Physically, Srikanth needs to be a bit
betteroff to beat the No1, 2,3 guys. But over-
all happy with his progress," he said.
But doesn't goal scoring depend on your
teammates?
Yes, it could also be argued that Neymar
doesn’t have the creative company that Pele
and Ronaldo enjoyed. The likes of Roberto
Firmino,PhilippeCoutinhoand GabrielJesus
are excellent accomplices but their quality
pales when you compare them to Ronaldo’s
peers like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Juninho or
Kaka. Or Pele’s sidekicks, like Garrincha, Vava
or Jairzinho.
What does Neymar need to do to achieve
the stature of Pele and Ronaldo?
Nothing but win the World Cup and score
goals in the knockouts. He can take solace as
well as inspiration from Ronaldo’s book.
Condemned for his middling performance in
the1998final,hebouncedbacksuperblytoplot
Brazil’sfifth,andtodate,thelastWorldCupin
2002.
He was the sole goal-scorer in the edgy
semifinal against Turkey as well as the cagey
final against Germany. If Neymar could repli-
cate the Ronaldo of 2002, he could well be
stamped with footballing immortality by his
countrymen.Onlythenshallglossdwellonhis
magnificent numbers.