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THE ASIAN AGE

NATION| 4
NEW DELHI WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2022

WORLD| 6 DELHI AGE| 9

Doval: ISIS-inspired terrorism University students in Shraddha Kapoor to play
still a threat; ulemas have China sent home as Kashmiri girl, who killed a
vital role in de-radicalisation Covid protests grow terrorist, in her next movie
www.asianage.com RNI No. 57290/94, Regd No: DL-SW-05/4189/15-17 Vol. 29 No. 282 | 16 PAGES | `5.00

WINDOWS ■ Huge row erupts after Iffi’s Israeli jury chair calls film ‘vulgar’, ‘propaganda’

Israeli envoy, filmmakers join

netas in Kashmir Files storm
SRIDHAR
KUMARASWAMI
with agency inputs
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI/
JAMMU, NOV. 29
Reacting to Israeli film-
maker and International
Film Festival of India
(IFFI) jury head Nadav
Lapid calling The
Kashmir Files, a film cen-
tred around the 1990s exo-
dus of Kashmiri
Julianne Moore attends the Hindus from the Valley,
Gotham Independent Film “propaganda” and “vul-
Awards at Cipriani Wall Street gar”, Israeli ambassador
in New York on Monday. — AP Naor Gilon said, “The
friendship between the
Security beefed up people and the states of
India and Israel is very
at FSL Rohini after
strong and will survive
the damage you (Mr
Lapid should be
‘ashamed’ as he
had ‘abused in the
worst way’ the Indian
invitation to him to
chair the panel of
judges
Naor Gilon
Israel’s ambassador
The film was politi-
cised. The maximum
number of killings
Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal greets supporters during
Kashmiri Pandits protest against Israeli filmmaker
occurred after this
film. door-to-door election campaigning for the upcoming MCD polls in New Delhi on
Nadav Lapid’s (inset) remarks on the movie The Tuesday. ■ Report on Page 2 — PTI
Kashmir Files outside the relief commissioner’s office in Sanjay Raut
Jammu on Tuesday. — PTI Shiv Sena MP
◗ ISRAEL’S CONSUL events before deeply For the longest time,
people even denied
Kejriwal: RWAs Kharge targets PM
general to Midwest
to become ‘mini
studying them and which
India Kobbi Shoshani are an open wound in the Holocaust and

attack on Aaftab
New Delhi: Security was
beefed up outside the
Forensic Science Laboratory
in Rohini where Aaftab Amin
Poonawala, accused of killing
his live-in partner, was
allegedly attacked by some
weapon-wielding people,
officials said on Tuesday.
Poonawala was attacked on
Monday by some people out-
side the laboratory where he
was taken for a polygraph
test. A senior police officer
said that security was
increased in view of
Monday's incident. The para-
Lapid) have inflicted.
In an open letter, the
Israeli ambassador lashed
out at Mr Lapid. He said:
“I feel ashamed and want
to apologise to our hosts
for the bad manner in
which we repaid them for
their generosity and
friendship.”
The Israeli ambassador
said, “You (Mr Lapid)
should be ashamed. In
Indian culture they say
that a guest is like God.
You have abused in the
worst way the Indian
invitation to chair the
panel of judges
said the debate over
The Kashmir Files will
strengthen relations
between India and
Israel, while distancing
himself and the state
from Mr Lapid’s
remarks on the film.
at @IFFIGoa as well as
the trust, respect and
warm hospitality they
have bestowed on you.”
Mr Gilon further said,
“I’m no film expert, but I
do know that it’s insensi-
tive and presumptuous to
speak about historic
India because many of the
involved are still around
and still paying a price.
As a son of a Holocaust
survivor, I was extremely
hurt to see reactions in
India to you that are
doubting Schindler’s List,
the Holocaust and worse.
I unequivocally condemn
such statements. There is
no justification. It does
show the sensitivity of the
Kashmir issue here.”
Meanwhile in Mumbai,
Israel’s consul general to
Midwest India Kobbi
Shoshani said the debate
■ Turn to Page 4
called Schindler’s List
a propaganda, just
like some are doing to
this film.
Amit Malviya
BJP leader
Hate gets called out,
eventually. PM Modi,
his govt, BJP, the RW
ecosystem feverishly
promoted The
Kashmir Files. A movie
rejected by Iffi.
Supriya
Shrinate
Congress leader
councillors’ if
AAP wins MCD
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Delhi CM Arvind
Kejriwal on Tuesday
said if the Aam
Aadmi Party comes
to power in the MCD,
it will launch the
“Janta Chalalegi
MCD” scheme and
grant “mini-council-
lor” status to the
Resident Welfare
Associations.
as ‘Ravan’, triggers
BJP-Congress row
Gujarat 1st phase vote tomorrow
AGE CORRESPONDENTS
with agency inputs
NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD,
NOV. 29
A comment by Congress
president Mallikarjun
Kharge comparing Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
with the mythological

military force has also been
deployed outside the labora-
tory. Poonawala also had a
polygraph session on
Tuesday.
Full report on Page 2
First hearing by
“Under this scheme, demon king “Ravan” dur-
EC on Dec. 12 Meghalaya nod to 7 police people need not go to
a councillor to file
their complaints. If
you have complaints
ing an election rally in
Gujarat drew sharp criti-
cism from the BJP as the
campaigning for the first
Mallikarjun Kharge

2 advocates elevated
as Bombay HC judges
New Delhi: Two advocates
were on Tuesday appointed
as additional judges of the
Bombay HC. Law minister
Kiren Rijiju tweeted about
the appointment of Santosh
Govindrao Chapalgaonkar
and Milind Manohar Sathaye.
Additional judges are usually
appointed for two years
before being elevated as per-
manent judges. — PTI
RBI to launch retail
digital rupee tomorrow
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank
on Tuesday said it will
launch the first pilot for
retail digital rupee on
December 1, 2022, in which
four banks including State
Bank of India and ICICI
Bank will initially par-
ticipate.
Full report on Page 7
COUNTERPOINT
over Sena rivals’
row on symbol
AGE CORRESPONDENT
with agency inputs
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
The Election
Commission will hold
the first hearing on the
symbol dispute between
the Shiv Sena factions
led by Uddhav
Thackeray and Eknath
Shinde on December 12.
The poll panel has
directed both the groups
to submit any further
statement or documents
by December 9.
In an interim order in
October, the commis-
sion had barred the two
factions from using the
party name or its “bow
and arrow” symbol.
Both factions were tem-
porarily given poll sym-
bols to contest the
Assembly bypolls in
Mumbai. The EC had
said the interim order
will continue “till the
final determination of
the dispute”.
However, with both
staking claim to the
main party symbol now
for subsequent elec-
tions, including the state
Assembly polls in 2024,
the EC officials said the
symbol dispute of the
party has reached the
stage of “substantive
hearing”.
Earlier this month, the
■ Turn to Page 4
posts along Assam border
MANOJ ANAND
GUWAHATI, NOV. 29
The Meghalaya govern-
ment on Tuesday
announced that the state
Cabinet has decided and
approved the setting up of
at least seven police out-
posts, including one at
violence-hit Mukroh vil-
lage, along the inter-state
boundary with Assam.
Announcing that the
Cabinet took this decision
after an all-party meet,
chief minister Conrad K.
Sangma told reporters:
“The Cabinet approved
Vistara, Air India to merge by March 2024
VINEETA PANDEY
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Singapore Airlines and
the Tata Group on
Tuesday announced the
merger of Vistara and Air
India. Officials said
Vistara shall be merged
with Air India after
receipt of the requisite
government regulatory
approvals by March 2024.
As part of the merger
deal, SIA will also invest
`2,058.5 crores in Air
India.
Vistara, a joint venture
between Tata Sons and
Singapore Airlines (SIA),
Border row: NHRC
takes cognisance
Guwahati: The NHRC
has taken congnisance
of the violence in the
disputed area on the
Assam-Meghalaya bor-
der that claimed six
lives earlier this month,
the rights body said on
Tuesday.
■ More on Page 4
the proposal for setting
up seven BoPs across the
Khasi Jaintia Hills
was established in 2013.
As of now, the Tata group
has a 51 per cent stake in
Vistara, and the remain-
ing 49 per cent sharehold-
ing is with SIA. After the
merger, SIA will have 25.1
per cent shareholding in
Air India.
SIA and Tata have also
agreed to participate in
additional capital injec-
tions, if required, to fund
the growth and opera-
tions of the enlarged Air
India in FY 2022-23 and
2023-24. SIA said it
intends to fund this
investment with its inter-
nal cash resources.
region. Of these outposts,
two will be erected at
Mukroh and Tihwieh vil-
lages along the inter-state
border in West Jaintia
Hills district.”
He said that the
Meghalaya Democratic
Alliance (MDA) govern-
ment was taking all nec-
essary steps to ensure the
safety and security of res-
idents in the border areas
of the state. He said the
government had also con-
stituted
inquiry,
a
headed
judicial
by
Justice T. Vaiphei, to
■ Turn to Page 4
◗ VISTARA, A joint ven-
ture between Tata Sons
and Singapore Airlines
(SIA), was established
in 2013. As of now, the
Tata group has a 51%
stake in Vistara, and the
remaining 49% share-
holding is with SIA.
After the merger, SIA
will have 25.1% share-
holding in Air India.
“Based on SIA’s 25.1 per
cent stake post-comple-
tion, its share of any addi-
tional capital injection
could be up to `50,200 mil-
on sewer, garbage,
cleanliness, etc, you
can go to the RWA’s
‘mini-parshad’. He
phase of the Gujarat
Assembly elections on
December 1 came to an
end on Tuesday.
◗ THE BJP alleged that
the remark was an
insult to every Gujarati
will be your ‘neta’
and will solve the
The BJP alleged that the
remark was an insult to
and said because the
new Congress president
problem,”
Kejriwal
Mr
said,
every Gujarati and said
because the new
is not from the ‘Gandhi-
Nehru-family’, he was
addressing a press Congress president is not making such remarks to
conference just a few from the “Gandhi-Nehru-
days ahead of the family”, he was making ‘remain in the limelight’
civic polls on such remarks to “remain Urging the Gujarat vot-
December 4. in the limelight”. ers to cast 100 per cent of
Mr Kejriwal, AAP’s Recalling the earlier their votes for the son of
national convenor, “maut ka saudagar” the soil to take “revenge”
said the idea behind (merchant of death) in a democratic manner
this vision is to remarks made by the for- for the “insult” of Mr
“make people the mer party president Modi, BJP national
owners of Delhi” Sonia Gandhi against Mr spokesperson Sambit
(janta ko Dilli ka
malik banana hai).”
Modi, the BJP claimed
that the Congress “con-
Patra said, “What Mr
Kharge said is con-
■ More on Page 2 tinues to insult Gujarat
and its son”.
demnable and shows the
■ Turn to Page 4
Check facts, be
responsible in
covering terror
lion ($615 million), national carrier under
attacks: Mantri
payable only after the the Government of India
completion of the merger. for 69 years, is now fully
The actual amount will owned by Tata Sons after
AGE CORRESPONDENT
depend on factors includ-
ing the progress of the
it acquired a 100 per cent
stake on January 27, 2022. NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
enlarged Air India’s busi- “With this consolida-
ness plan, and its access tion, Air India shall be Information and broad-
to other funding options,” India’s leading domestic casting minister Anurag
the SIA statement said. and international carrier Thakur on Tuesday
It further said through with a combined fleet of urged the media to
this transaction, the SIA 218 aircraft, making it ensure “responsible
will reinforce its partner- India’s largest interna- reporting” while cover-
ship with Tata and imme- tional carrier and second ing terror attacks. He
diately acquire a strategic largest domestic carrier,” said presenting authen-
stake in an entity that is the Tata group said in a tic information is the
four to five times larger in statement. prime responsibility of
scale compared to “The merger of Vistara the media and that facts
Vistara. and Air India is an should be properly
Air India, earlier the ■ Turn to Page 4 checked before they are
put in the public domain.
Speaking at the open-

WEATHER Less than 50% of UK population ing ceremony of the Asia

Pacific
Union
Broadcasting
General

is Christian, reveals new census

Max: 26OC
Min: 11OC
RH: 49%
Rain: 10%
Forecast: Mostly cloudy
ASTROGUIDE
Shubhakrut: Dakshinayana
Tithi: Margasira Shuddha
Saptami till 9 am
Star: Dhanishta till 7.11 am
Varjyam: 2.05 pm to 3.37 pm
Durmuhurtam: 11.42 am to
12.27 pm
Rahukalam:12 pm to 1.30 pm
SUNSET TODAY 5.24 PM
SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.56 AM
MOONRISE TOMORROW 1.23 PM
MOONSET TODAY 12.06 AM
London, Nov. 29: For the
first time, less than half of
the population in England
and Wales identifies as
Christian, according to
census data.
The 10-yearly census
carried out in 2021
showed rapid growth for
the Muslim population,
but “no religion” was the
second most common
response after Christian,
the Office for National
Statistics (ONS) said.
In an increasingly secu-
lar age, Archbishop of
York Stephen Cottrell
said it was no “great sur-
Indian Army soldiers participate in an unarmed combat terrain exercise during the prise” that the Christian
India-US joint exercise “Yudh Abhyas” at Auli in Uttarakhand on Tuesday. — PTI proportion was declining
over time. But he said
that, facing a cost-of-liv-
ing crisis and war in
Europe, people still need-
ed spiritual sustenance.
“We will be there for
them, in many cases, pro-
viding food and warmth.
And at Christmas mil-
lions of people will still
come to our services,”
said the archbishop.
“At the same time, we
will be looking beyond
our immediate surround-
ings, remembering we are
part of a global faith, the
largest movement on
earth and its greatest
hope for a peaceful, sus-
tainable future.” The reli-
gion question was added
to the UK census in 2001.
Some 27.5 million people
or 46.2 per cent in
England and Wales
described themselves as
Christian, down 13.1 per-
centage points from 2011.
“No religion” rose by 12
points to 37.2 per cent or
22.2 million, while
Muslims stood at 3.9 mil-
lion or 6.5 per cent of the
population, up from 4.9
per cent before. The next
most common responses
were Hindu (1.0 million)
and Sikh 524,000), while
Buddhists overtook
Jewish people (273,000 to
271,000). — AFP
Assembly 2022, Mr
Thakur cautioned the
media on live reporting
terror attacks. He said:
“The media needs to
report with responsibili-
ty in the case of earth-
quakes, fire and, more
importantly, terrorist
attacks. The media must
ensure that any live
reporting in case of ter-
rorist attacks should not
provide clues to the
attackers and their ill
motives.”
“While speed with
which the information is
transmitted is impor-
tant, accuracy is even
more important and
should be primary in the
minds of communica-
tors,” he said.
■ More on Page 3
 CITY
THE ASIAN AGE | WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | NEW DELHI
IN BRIEF
Police asks Uber to
verify drivers
New Delhi: The Delhi police on
Tuesday asked ride hailing
firm Uber to verify past
records of drivers before
onboarding them and sug-
gested that the company put
a mechanism in the cab to
check their alcohol consump-
tion levels. While speaking at
the safety feature launch
event of Uber, the Delhi police
additional commissioner
Mahesh Chandra Bharadwaj
said that drunken driving has
been a major factor in case of
rule violations. “If a driver is
drunk then you should have
some kind of mechanism to
know that your driver is drunk.
We test drunk and drive
through the alcohol meter.
Can Uber fix something closer
to steering so that if a driver is
drunk you get the notification.
Please find a mechanism to
test drunk drivers,” Bhar-
adwaj said. “Uber should try
to put a system in place to get
notified about traffic rule vio-
lations by their driver partner,
which in turn can be shared
with Delhi traffic police,”
Bhardwaj said. — PTI
Man held for staging
robbery at workplace
New Delhi: A 43-year-old man
working at a cosmetic shop in
north Delhi’s Sadar Bazar was
arrested for allegedly cheat-
ing his employer by staging
an armed robbery of `10 lakh,
police said on Tuesday. The
accused, identified as Sarvan,
a resident of Burari, was
working at the shop for the
last four years and had won
the trust of his employer over
these years, they said. He was
often sent to collect pay-
ments and deliver the prod-
ucts and when he got to
know that the amount to be
collected was `10 lakh, he got
greedy and staged the entire
episode of robbery, police
said. With his arrest, police
claimed to have recovered
the stolen amount of `9.93
lakh from the victim. The
matter was reported to police
on November 25 by a resi-
dent of Narayana Vihar who
runs the cosmetic shop in the
Sadar Bazar area, police said.
Blue Line hit for
over an hour
New Delhi: Services on the
Blue Line section of the
Delhi Metro were affected
for over an hour on Tuesday
due to some technical issues
in communication, sources
said. Blue Line connects
Dwarka Sector 21 in Delhi
and Electronic City in Noida
with a branch line at Yamuna
Bank to Vaishali. “Services
are currently affected on the
entire Blue Line due to some
technical issues in communi-
cation. We are working on
rectifying it,” a source said.
Many people had started
tweeting pictures when the
delay was reported around
11.30 am on a section of the
Blue Line. The DMRC also
tweeted to alert commuters.
“Blue Line Update Delayed in
services between Dwarka
Sector 21 and Noida
Electronic City/Vaishali.
Normal service on all other
lines,” it wrote on Twitter.
Later around 12.50 pm, it
again tweeted that normal
services had been
restored.
DU ASKS COLLEGES
TO IMMEDIATELY
FILL VACANT POSTS
New Delhi: The Delhi
University has asked its col-
leges to take “immediate”
steps to fill vacant posts of
assistant professors. In a letter
to principals on Monday, the
university said the college
should ensure that all the
sanctioned posts are filled up
in line with the reservation
roster approved by the varsity.
The colleges are requested to
“take immediate necessary
steps in filling up the vacant
posts of Assistant Professors
in various subjects/disciplines
in your college/Institution
against the sanctioned stren-
gth.” The varsity has request-
ed to fill the posts following
due procedures envisaged
under the ordinances of the
university. It has also asked
for a compliance report to be
sent to it immediately. “It is to
be ensured that all the sanc-
tioned posts be filled up on
substantive basis as per the
Reservation Roster approved
by the University, irrespective
of variation, if any, in the class
size, tutorials, practicals etc
and under no circumstances
the teaching post in any sub-
ject/discipline shall remain
unfilled to be filled up subse-
quently for any reason what-
soever in this behalf,” the var-
sity said in the letter.
■ Aaftab’s narco test on Dec. 1, Dec. 5, court gives permission
Heightened security at FSL Rohini
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Security was beefed up
outside the Forensic
Science Laboratory in
Rohini where Aaftab
Amin Poonawala, accused
of killing his live-in part-
ner, was allegedly attacked
by some weapon-wielding
people.
Meanwhile a Delhi court
on Tuesday allowed Delhi
police to conduct a narco
test on Aaftab Amin
Poonawala, Poonawala’s
counsel said.
Abinash Kumar,
Poonawala’s counsel, said
that the police had filed an
application for taking
Poonawala to Forensic
Science Lab, Rohini, on
December 1 and December
5, which was allowed by
the court.
Police had earlier said
that the narco analysis
would be conducted at
Baba Saheb Ambedkar
Hospital in Rohini by a
team of experts from the
FSL.
Narco analysis, also
known as truth serum,
involves intravenous
administration of a drug
(such as sodium pentothal,
scopolamine, and sodium
amytal) that causes the
person undergoing it to
enter into various stages
of anaesthesia.
The investigating agen-
cies use this test after the
other evidence do not pro-
vide a clear picture of the
case.
Poonawala was attacked
on Monday by some people
outside the laboratory
where he was taken for a
polygraph test.
A senior police officer
said that security has been
increased in view of
Monday’s incident. The
paramilitary force has
also been deployed outside
the laboratory.
On Tuesday, Poonawala
If BJP did good work, they wouldn’t
need top leaders to campaign: CM
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Delhi chief minister
Arvind Kejriwal on
Tuesday took a dig at the
BJP, saying if the saffron
party had “worked” dur-
ing its rule in the city’s
civic body, then it would-
n’t have required so
many CMs and Union
ministers to campaign
for it for the MCD elec-
tion.
He said this while inter-
acting with the local resi-
dents during a door-to-
door campaign in the
Chirag Delhi area to seek
support for the AAP
ahead of the December 4
polls. Both the AAP and
BJP have exuded confi-
dence that they will
emerge victorious.
“There’s garbage every-
where in the city. I’ll
clean the city if voted to
power. The BJP abuses
me day and night. We
have made arrangements
for water and we will take
responsibility for
garbage disposal too.
Give one chance to AAP
and we will clean the city
like never before,” Mr
Kejriwal claimed.
“We will make Delhi
shine,” the AAP supremo
told the residents.
Several media persons
also accompanied the
3 ex-AAP MLAs join BJP,
slam Kejriwal over graft
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Three former AAP MLAs
joined the BJP on Tuesday
criticising their former
party and its leader
Arvind Kejriwal over
issues of corruption and
neglect of volunteers.
Joining the BJP at the
party’s national headquar-
ters on DDU Marg, two
time former MLA from
Delhi Cantt Commando
(ex) Surender Singh
alleged that AAP distrib-
uted all MCD polls tickets
in exchange of money.
Singh had quit the AAP
after he was denied ticket
by the party in 2020
Assembly polls from the
Delhi Cantt seat.
The two other former
AAP MLAs who joined
the BJP were Raju
Dhingan and Chaudhary
Fateh Singh.
Aaftab Amin Poonawala
again reached the labora-
tory for the remaining
session of the polygraph
test.
A car stopped the police
van on Monday after
overtaking it. A few peo-
ple came out of the car
and started attacking the
vehicle carrying
Poonawala.
The van was driven out
of the spot while two
attackers were detained,
the police said, adding the
incident took place around
6.45 pm.
Deputy Commissioner of
Police (Rohini) G S Sidhu
said, “Two persons have
been detained for ques-
tioning.”
The two detained have
been identified as
Kuldeep
police said.
and Nigam,
A case has been regis-
tered at the Prashant
Vihar Police Station in
connection with the inci-
dent, police said, adding
that the two detained have
been sent to judicial cus-
tody.
Poonawala allegedly
strangled Shraddha
Walkar and cut her body
into 35 pieces which he
kept in a 300-litre fridge
for almost three weeks at
his residence in Mehrauli
in south Delhi, before
dumping them across the
city over several days.
He was arrested on
November 12 and sent to
five-day police custody,
which was further extend-
ed by five days on
November 17.
Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal interacts with people during
an election campaign for the upcoming MCD election at Chirag Delhi in New Delhi
on Tuesday.
chief minister during his
campaign.
Exuding confidence
about winning the
December 4 MCD polls,
Mr Kejriwal said that the
AAP will win more than
230 seats and that the BJP
will get less than 20 seats.
“I can see the excite-
ment in the citizens and
I’m certain that AAP
Union minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur speaks
during a public meeting in support of party candi-
date Ramesh Garg at Preet Vihar in New Delhi on
Tuesday.
The three ex MLAs
defected to BJP in pres-
ence of former Union
minister Vijay Goel, BJP’s
Delhi unit president
Adesh Gupta, and party’s
national spokesperson
Sambit Patra.
“The Aam Aadmi Party
Border Security Force personnel deployed outside Forensic Science Laboratory after
an attack on a police van carrying Aaftab Amin Poonawalla.
Pandav Nagar murder: Police
yet to recover murder weapons
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
The Delhi police is yet to
recover the weapons used
by a woman and her son
for killing and chopping
the body of her husband
in East Delhi’s Pandav
Nagar area, officials said
on Tuesday.
Anjan Das (45) was
killed on May 30 by his
wife Poonam (48) and
stepson Deepak (25), resi-
dents of Kalyanpuri, who
were arrested from
Pandav Nagar area on
Monday.
A senior police officer on
Tuesday said that the
weapons of murder are
yet to be recovered and
further investigation is
underway. The duo is cur-
rently in police custody.
The trigger for the grisly
crime was the fact that
— PRITAM BANDYOPADHYAY
will get more than 230 videos and CCTV footage
seats. The BJP will not of
get more than 20 seats in Satyendar Jain released
the MCD. We talk about by the BJP, Mr Kejriwal
the work that we have
done in the Delhi gov-
said, “BJP has started a
video company now.
ernment but the BJP Once a week they come
doesn’t have the audaci- up with these videos.
ty to tell what work they Their morning show
have done in the MCD,”
he said.
begins at 9.00 am and by
12.00 pm it turns into a
Reacting to the ‘sting’ flop show.”
— PTI
is mired in corruption
and its own leaders and
workers are not support-
ing them. The proof of
Aam Aadmi Party’s cor-
ruption is that three of
their former leaders are
joining the BJP family
today,” said Patra.
— PTI
Das had alleged ill inten- into 10 pieces and kept
tions towards her step- those in the fridge.
daughter and Deepak’s
wife as well. He was also
The accused dumped his
body parts over the next
sending Poonam’s earn- three to four days, the
ings to his other wife and police said.
eight children in Bihar. So far, the police has
Poonam worked as a found six body parts. The
domestic help in the area. torso and forearms of the
In April, Poonam deceased are yet to be
hatched a conspiracy to recovered.
eliminate Das with the The case bears eerie sim-
help of her son Deepak, ilarities with the murder
the police said, adding of 26-year-old Shraddha
that the duo on May 30 Walkar in the national
served alcohol laced with capital.
sleeping pills to him. Walkar was allegedly
Subsequently, the moth- killed by her 28-year-old
er-son duo stabbed Das live-in partner Aaftab
with a dagger and a knife Poonawala after a con-
on the neck, chest, and frontation who had then
abdomen, the police said, sawed her body into 35
adding that after the mur- pieces and kept it in a 300-
der the body was kept in a litre fridge for almost
room. three weeks at his resi-
The blood drained from dence in South Delhi’s
the body by the next morn- Mehrauli before dumping
ing and they then cut it it across the city.
Cong promises
to regularise all
temporary staff
New Delhi, Nov. 29: Delhi
Congress will regularise
all temporary employees
in the MCD including
daily wagers, if voted to
power in the civic body,
party president Anil
Chuadhary said on
Tuesday. Releasing
another ‘vision docu-
ment’ of the party for
MCD polls, Chaudhary
asserted that the party
will regularise all the
temporary staff within
six months, if they get to
govern the MCD.
Mr Chaudhary also
alleged that the BJP did
not spend the funds
meant for the welfare of
Dalits, nearly `2,500
crore of which remains
unused.
“A Congress govern-
ment in the MCD would
ensure social, financial,
religious and cultural
justice to Dalits,” he
said.
He blamed Arvind
Kejriwal for the garbage
menace across Delhi.
“We will ensure no
AAP minister Dalit families are unem-
ployed. We will also
ensure maintenance-free
RO water purifiers to
them, creating the Dalit
wards as ‘model wards’
in all the 42 reserved
wards. Their colonies
will also be garbage
free,” Chaudhary
claimed. — PTI
Law dept refuses to
clear lawyers’ bills
of crores of rupees
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
The Delhi government’s
law department has
refused to clear lawyers’
bills running into several
crores due to “non-com-
pliance of financial
rules” and violation of
terms of their engage-
ments allegedly by minis-
ter Kailash Gahlot.
Chief minister Arvind
Kejriwal said that stop-
ping the payment of
lawyers engaged by the
government was “wrong”
and charged the lieu-
tenant-government (L-G)
and the BJP of obstruct-
ing the AAP govern-
ment’s works in Delhi.
“They just keep creat-
ing roadblocks. First,
they stopped yoga classes
and now they have
stopped payments to
lawyers. The L-G has
stopped so many projects
in the last six months but
they will see the result of
the obstruction soon in
the MCD polls,” he said,
adding that people favour
those who work and not
those who create obstruc-
tions.
Noting that the BJP has
eight MLAs in Delhi, Mr
Kejriwal said if the party
kept on obstructing the
work of the Delhi govern-
ment, AAP will win back
these seats in the next
election.
The bills refused by the
department include the
fees of two senior
lawyers—`15.5 lakh and
`9.8 lakh—over “blatant
departure from rules” for-
mulated by the AAP gov-
ernment itself for engage-
ment of experienced
advocates on record.
It is learnt that the prin-
cipal secretary (Law) has
submitted a report to the
law minister, the Delhi L-
Jain moves HC against
court order denying bail
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Jailed AAP minister
Satyendar Jain has
approached the Delhi high
court challenging a trial
court order denying him
bail in a money laundering
case lodged by the
Enforcement Directorate.
Mr Jain said he is not in a
position to influence wit-
nesses or tamper with evi-
dence and is not a flight risk
if granted the relief in the
case of ED’s ECIR (the equiv-
alent of FIR) registered on
September 30, 2017 under the
Prevention of Money
Laundering Act (PMLA),
The petition may come up
pg 2
G, and the chief minister
under Rule 57 of the
Transaction of Business
of GNCT of Delhi Rules,
communicating “inability
of the department to
process the bills due to
violation of rules.”
The department has also
disagreed on the appoint-
ment of several senior
advocates in various mat-
ters, directly by Mr
Gahlot, without following
“due process.”
According to the laid
down process for engage-
ment and payment of bills
of senior lawyers engaged
by the government in the
high court and the
Supreme Court, the fee
payable to them is to be
fixed prior to hiring them
and seeking its approval
from the finance depart-
ment. After this, the
approval of the law minis-
ter and then a final
approval by the lieu-
tenant-governor are
required for engaging any
advocate for government
cases.
Sources said that the law
minister “directly
engaged” a senior lawyer
through an “unofficial
note” dated May 28, 2021,
in a case related to the
AAP government’s
scheme for providing
insurance benefits to
advocates with voter iden-
tity cards in the high
court.
The Delhi government
lost the case.
An amount of `15.5 lakh
was owed to another sen-
ior lawyer of the Supreme
Court who was hired in a
writ petition in the high
court, concerning suo
motu cognisance taken by
the court over non-
appointment of presiding
officers in various family
courts in the city despite
its directions.
for hearing later this week.
Mr Jain has challenged the
November 17 order of the
trial court which dismissed
his bail petition on the
ground that he was prima
facie involved in concealing
the proceeds of crime. In his
petition, the AAP leader
claimed that since he was
not in possession of any pro-
ceeds, the offence under the
PMLA was not made out.
The petition claimed that
the special judge and ED have
gravely misread and misap-
plied the PMLA by identify-
ing proceeds of crime solely
on the basis of accommoda-
tions entries which cannot
itself lead to a punishable
offence under the Act.
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | NEW DELHI
SHORT TAKES
2 get death for rape,
murder of a minor
Bhubaneswar: A POCSO
court in Odisha’s
Jagatsinghpur district on
Tuesday awarded death
penalty to two rapists in the
sensational rape and murder
case of a minor in Tirtol in
2014. The two rapists who
got the death sentence were
identified as Sheikh Asif and
Seikh Akil. As per reports,
the convicts had kidnapped
a minor girl who was return-
ing home after buying
chocolates from a nearby
shop. They took her to a
secluded place and raped
her. After committing the
heinous crime, they killed
her in order to prevent her
from speaking out. Speaking
on the judgement, public
prosecutor, Dolagobinda Das
said, “Four men were arrest-
ed in connection with the
rape and murder of a minor
girl in 2014. While two were
acquitted, other two were
held guilty.” A total of 27
eye witnesses have recorded
their statements in this case.
Anti-conversion bill
tabled in U’khand
Dehradun: The winter ses-
sion of the Uttarakhand
Assembly began on Tuesday
with a more stringent anti-
conversion bill among ten
legislations tabled in the
House. To be called
Uttarakhand Freedom of
Religion (Amendment) Act,
2022, the bill seeks to make
unlawful conversion a cog-
nisable and non-bailable
offence punishable with
imprisonment for a term of at
least six months to a maxi-
mum of five years. The
offender will also be imposed
with a fine of `10,000 to
`25,000. “No person shall
convert, either directly or
otherwise, any other person
from one religion to another
by use or practice of misrep-
resentation, force, undue
influence, coercion, allure-
ment or by any fraudulent
means. No person shall abet,
convince or conspire such
conversion,” the draft of the
bill said. — PTI
AAP appoints 62
Guj office-bearers
Ahmedabad: The AAP
appointed 62 office-bearers
at various levels in Gujarat.
The AAP named former
Patidar quota leader Reshma
Patel, who recently quit NCP,
as its Gujarat spokesperson.
Other office-bearers are
Pravin Ram, who will be the
vice-president of the party
in the state, Rajiben, who
will be joint secretary, Brij
Solanki who has been named
as the youth wing president,
and Javed Kadari as vice
president of the minority
wing of AAP, a release said.
The party also appointed
sangathan (organisation)
and sah-sangathan mantris
for the Assembly seats of
Pardi, Umbergaon, Dangs,
Vansda, Dharampur, and
Dangs in south Gujarat, vice
presidents for the districts of
Gir Somnath and Dangs, and
joint secretaries for Valsad,
Navsari and Jamnagar. — PTI
DHARMENDRA
HITS OUT AT
ODISHA CM
AKSHAYA KUMAR SAHOO
BHUBANESWAR, NOV. 29
Union education minister
Dharmendra Pradhan on
Tuesday launched a no-
holds-barred attack on
Odisha chief minister Naveen
Patnaik saying the latter
always told people blatant
lies on the state’s
development and
hoodwinked vot-
ers during every
election by mak-
ing false promis-
es and assur-
ances.
Addressing a
rally at Mandosil
village in the bypoll-bound
Padampur constituency, Mr
Pradhan said the CM had
promised the Odisha farmers
to double their income and
increase the irrigation
potential of the state.
However, nothing has hap-
pened in his 22 years of rule.
Rather, the conditions of the
farmer have deteriorated.
“We want a permanent solu-
tion to the paddy procure-
ment issue in Odisha. At
times, the leaders are alleg-
ing in the Assembly that the
Centre has not been provid-
ing the promised money. You
have been to Delhi on sever-
al occasions and met Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. I
have never read in any news-
paper about you complain-
ing to the PM regarding the
paddy procurement problem
in Odisha,” he said.
‘Accuracy more 2 hexacopters carrying around 10 kg of heroin recovered along India-Pak border
important than 2 Pak drones shot down in Punjab
speed in media’
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Information and broad-
casting minister Anurag
Thakur on Tuesday urged
the media to ensure
“responsible reporting”
while covering terror
attacks. He said present-
ing authentic informa-
tion is the prime respon-
sibility of the media and
that facts should be prop-
erly checked before they
are put in the public
domain.
Speaking at the opening
ceremony of the Asia
Pacific Broadcasting
Union General Assembly
2022, Mr Thakur said, Mr
Thakur cautioned the
media on live reporting
terror attacks. He said:
“The media needs to
report with responsibility
in the case of earthquakes,
fire and, more important-
ly, terrorist attacks. The
media must ensure that
any live reporting in case
of terrorist attacks should
not provide clues to the
attackers and their ill
motives.”
“While speed with
which the information is
transmitted is important,
accuracy is even more
important and should be
primary in the minds of
communicators,” he said.
The minister noted that
Campaigning ends for
Gujarat elections Phase 1
Ahmedabad, Nov. 29:
Campaigning for the first
phase of the Gujarat
Assembly elections to be
held on December 1 ended
at 5 pm on Tuesday.
As many as 788 candi-
dates are in the fray for 89
seats across 19 districts of
south Gujarat and Kutch-
Saurashtra regions
where voting will be held
on Thursday.
Among notable candi-
dates in the first phase is
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offers prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain
on Tuesday.
Moily slams
Rijiju’s remark
on collegium
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Former Union law min-
ister M. Veerappa Moily
hit out at law minister
Kiren Rijiju over his
utterances on the
appointment of judges.
He said that the com-
ments of Mr Rijiju were
in “total defiance” of the
law of the land and it
was “unbecoming” of
the minister to “throw a
challenge” to the
Supreme Court.
Mr Moily said the col-
legium system is “time-
tested” and in view of
the law minister’s
“obstructionist and defi-
ant” policy, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
would have no option
but to sack him.
In a statement, Mr
Moily said the concern
expressed by the
Supreme Court on the
comments made by the
law minister is an “eye-
opener” to every law-
abiding citizen of the
country on the inde-
pendence of the judici-
ary. “The collegium sys-
tem is time-tested and
every citizen or even the
government has no
other option but to abide
by the law laid down by
the Supreme Court,” the
Congress leader said.
Anurag Thakur
with the spread of social
media, fake news has also
proliferated.
The minister noted that
with the spread of social
media, fake news has also
proliferated. Mr Thakur
told the audience that the
government promptly
established the “fact
check unit” in the Press
Information Bureau (PIB)
of Government of India
to counter unverified
claims and present truth
to the people.
He credited public
b r o a d c a s t e r s
Doordarshan and All-
India Radio for having
always stood by the truth
and having won people’s
trust for their truthful
reporting.
Mr Thakur also credited
the media for coming to
the aid of those stuck at
home during the Covid-19
pandemic, saying it con-
nected people with the
outside world.
AAP’s chief ministerial
face Isudan Gadhvi, who
is contesting from
Khambhalia in Devbh-
umi Dwarka district.
Former Gujarat minis-
ter Parshottam Solanki,
six-time MLA Kunwarji
Bavaliya, Morbi “hero”
Kantilal Amrutiya, crick-
eter Ravindra Jadeja’s
wife Rivaba and Gujarat
AAP president Gopal
Italia are also in the fray.
— PTI
Terrorists-gangsters
nexus: NIA raids 13
locations in N. India
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
The National
Investigation Agency
(NIA) on Tuesday con-
ducted searches at 13 loca-
tions in three states and
two Union Territories as
part of its crackdown on
the nexus between terror-
ists and gangsters. The
third round of raids and
searches were conducted
in Punjab, Haryana,
Rajasthan and the Union
territories of Chandigarh
and Delhi, a spokesperson
of the NIA said.
Searches were conduct-
ed at the houses/premises
of Kaushal Chaudhary of
Gurgaon/Rajasthan,
Vishal Maan of
Prahalpur-Delhi, Binny
Gurjar of Sangroor-
Punjab, Ravi Rajgarh of
Ludhiana-Punjab and
their associates, officials
said.
The districts involved
were Fazilka, Taran
Taran, Ludhiana, Sangrur,
Mohali in Punjab, Yamuna
Nagar district of Haryana,
Sikar district of Rajasthan
and outer north district of
Delhi/ NCR to dismantle
and disrupt the emerging
nexus between terrorists,
■
Chandigarh, Nov. 29:
Two Pakistani drones
were gunned down by the
Border Security Force
(BSF) along the India-
Pakistan border in
Punjab, thus foiling the
cross-border drugs smug-
gling bids in Amritsar and
Tarn Taran districts, offi-
cials said on Tuesday.
Two hexacopters were
carrying around 10 kg of
heroin which were recov-
ered by the BSF troops.
In the first incident in
Amritsar, a women squad
of the BSF shot down a
hexacopter, an unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) with
six rotors, which was
entering India from
Pakistan with 3.11 kg of
J’khand cops call Gehlot, Pilot put up show of
BJP’s C’garh bypoll unity ahead of Rahul’s yatra
choice in rape case
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY
RAIPUR, NOV. 29
The BJP candidate con-
testing byelection to
Bhanupratappur
Assembly constituency
in Chhattisgarh was on
Tuesday issued summon
by the Jharkhand police
in connection with the
2019 rape case in which
he was one of the
accused.
The Jharkhand police
pasted the summon in
the house of the BJP
candidate Brahmanand
Netam in Charama in
Kanker district seeking
his personal appearance
before the police by ten
in the morning on
Tuesday, sources said.
Soon after the develop-
ment, the BJP candidate
made his campaign
schedule for the day
public and later started
campaigning in his con-
stituency as per the
schedule without paying
heed to the summon.
— PTI
◗ DURING THE search-
es, incriminating materi-
als, including various
types of contraband,
have been seized, along
with ammunition
gangsters and drug smug-
glers/traffickers based in
India and abroad in two
cases registered in August
2022.
During the searches,
incriminating materials,
including various types of
contraband, have been
seized, along with ammu-
nition.
This was part of the
NIA crackdown against
organised criminal syndi-
cates and networks, top
gangsters, their criminal
and business associates
based in Punjab, Haryana
and Rajasthan and arms
suppliers based in
Rajasthan and Delhi.
“Preliminary investiga-
tions have revealed that
these gangs were carry-
ing out targeted killings
and were also raising
funds to carry out such
criminal activities
through smuggling of
drugs and weapons,” the
NIA said in a statement
on Tuesday.
narcotics. The troops
noticed that the drone was
entering the Indian terri-
tory near Chaharpur vil-
lage, around 40 km north
of Amritsar city, on
Monday night, according
to officials.
Two female constables of
the 73 battalion fired 25
rounds at the drone and
brought it down at 11.05
pm. During a search oper-
ation, the BSF recovered a
partially-damaged hexa-
copter.
The drone, weighing 18
kg, was carrying 3.11 kg of
narcotics, which was
wrapped in a white poly-
thene that was attached
underneath it, the BSF
said.
“Our candidate is cam-
paigning in his con-
stituency as usual. He is
receiving a huge
response from the peo-
ple. The rape charge lev-
elled against him is
nothing but a conspira-
cy against him to
defame him in public”,
senior BJP leader and
former minister Brij
Mohan Agrawal who is
in-charge of electioneer-
ing of the party said.
A team of Jharkhand
police has been camping
in Charama for the last
two days to arrest three
accused, including
Netam.
The other two accused
in the case were not
available in their houses
when the police team
reached there, sources
said. A case was regis-
tered in a police station
in Jamsedpur in
Jharkhand in May 2019
against five people in
connection with the
alleged gang rape of a
minor girl.
India has emerged as a net security
provider in Indo-Pacific: Rajnath
Agra (UP), Nov. 29:
Defence minister Rajnath
Singh on Tuesday said
India has emerged as a
regional power and net
security provider in the
Indo-Pacific with the
country’s capacity to pro-
vide humanitarian assis-
tance and disaster relief
to its citizens as well as
partners growing in
recent years.
Mr Singh attended the
multi-agency humanitari-
an assistance and disaster
relief (HADR) exercise
“Samanvay 2022” being
conducted at Air Force
Station here during
November 28-30.
The defence minister
noted that under SAGAR
(Security and Growth for
All in the Region) envi-
sioned by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, India is
cooperating with multiple
Make in Odisha
Conclave 2022
begins today
AGE CORRESPONDENT
BHUBANESWAR, NOV. 29
The Odisha government
hopes mop up invest-
ment proposals worth
over `6 lakh crore from
the the four-day “Make
in Odisha Conclave
2022”, commencing
Wednesday.
This is going to the
third edition of the con-
clave.
In the first edition held
in 2016, the state had
received 124 investment
proposals worth more
than `2 lakh crore, and
employment opportuni-
ties for over one lakh
people.
In the second edition
held in 2018, the state
bagged investment pro-
posals worth Rs 4.19
lakh crore for projects
across 15 sectors that
can create around 5.91
lakh potential jobs.
This time, at least nine
countries have con-
firmed their participa-
tion in the state’s flag-
ship biennial investors’
meet.
BSF personnel show drones that were gunned down
along the India-Pakistan border near Amritsar. — PTI
Another hexacopter, car-
rying 6.6 kg heroin, was
shot down near Kalash
Havelian village in Tarn
Taran district by the BSF
troops, the officials said.
The second drone was
Jaipur, Nov. 29: In a show
of unity days after
Rajasthan Chief Minister
Ashok Gehlot called his
former deputy Sachin
Pilot a “traitor”, the two
leaders seemed to put
their power tussle on hold
as they appeared together
before the cameras.
“This is the Rajasthan
Congress,” All-India
Congress Committee
(AICC) general secretary
said at a press conference
where he held the hands
of both leaders.
The Congress leaders
were talking to reporters
after participating in a
meeting on preparations
for the party’s Bharat
Jodo Yatra, scheduled to
enter Congress-run
Rajasthan on December 4.
Mr Venugopal recalled
former party president
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks
in Indore Monday, when
he said both Gehlot and
Pilot are assets to the
party. Mr Gandhi had
been asked about Gehlot’s
“traitor” remark that had
seemed to queer the pitch
for the Rajasthan phase of
the yatra led by him.
“Ashok Gehlot and
Sachin Pilot have assured
Defence minister Rajnath Singh during the annual joint
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise
“Samanvay 2022” at Agra Air Force Station.
partners to ensure eco-
nomic growth and securi-
ty in the region while
tackling threats such as
natural disasters.
“We have strengthened
multilateral partnerships
through engagement via
regional mechanisms.
This has improved inter-
■ Gadget awaits utility patent, trial to begin soon
MP teachers develop device
to detect suicidal tendencies
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY
RAIPUR, NOV. 29
A group of computer engi-
neers has developed a
device to detect suicide
tendencies in people from
their facial expressions
and social media posts.
The pen-shaped device
driven by artificial intelli-
gence has been granted a
patent by the Centre and
awaits a utility patent
from the Union govern-
ment for its trial.
“The patent office of the
Government of India
issued a patent certificate
to the device in December
last year. We have applied
for a utility patent of the
device to the Centre a cou-
ple of days ago to begin its
trial,” Dr Shazya Islam,
associate professor of
computer science and
engineering department
of Rungta Engineering
College in Bhilai in Durg
district in Chhattisgarh,
told this newspaper on
spotted on Monday night,
prompting the BSF per-
sonnel to open fire at the
UAV.
During the search opera-
tion, the hexacopter
weighing 20 kg was found
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal with
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and party leader
Sachin Pilot in Jaipur on Tuesday.
that the yatra (Rajasthan
phase) will be the one of
the most successful in the
country. I am also sure
that Rajasthan will also be
the number 1 state,” Mr
Venugopal told reporters
in Jaipur.
Earlier, while going into
the meeting, Mr Gehlot
too had recalled Mr
Gandhi’s remarks.
“When Rahul Gandhi
has said that our leaders
are assets, then we are
assets... where is the dis-
pute then,” the CM said.
“This is the beauty of
our party that after our
top leader says anything,
— PTI
operability enabling
faster response in crisis
situations,” he said.
He pointed out that Asia,
particularly the Indo-
Pacific region, is vulnera-
ble to the impact of cli-
mate change, and
expressed confidence that
the participation of
◗ THE DEVICE, by using
artificial intelligence
and machine learning,
analyses depression lev-
els, facial expressions,
speech patterns and
gestures of a person
to detect suicidal
tendencies
Tuesday. She headed a
team of faculty of the
department in the college
to design the device.
“The device will detect
suicide tendency in people
suffering from depression
in advance and help save
their lives,” she said.
According to her, the
device by using artificial
intelligence and machine
learning analyses depres-
sion levels, facial expres-
sions, speech patterns and
gestures of a person to
detect suicidal tendencies.
Programs are fed into
this device through spe-
cial coding of artificial
intelligence and machine
learning with millions of
pg 3
in a partially-damaged
condition near village
Kalash Havelian, the BSF
officials said.
“Alert troops of the BSF
once again were able to
capture a drone and foil a
smuggling attempt,” an
official of the border
guarding force said.
Another drone was spot-
ted near the Vadai Cheema
border outpost at 10.57 pm
on Monday, an official
said.
After the BSF troops
opened fire at the UAV, it
went back to Pakistan.
Last Friday, the BSF
troops had also shot down
a Pakistani drone near the
international border in
Amritsar. — PTI
— PTI
there is no scope (for fur-
ther argument),” he said.
Last week, Mr Gehlot
told NDTV that Pilot is a
‘ghaddar’ (traitor) who
cannot replace him as CM
as he had revolted against
the Congress in 2020, and
tried to topple the state
government. In response,
Pilot said such “mud-
slinging” would not help.
On leaders making state-
ments against each other
despite a party advisory,
Mr Venugopal said he has
asked for a report on this
from the state party chief.
“We will take this up sepa-
rately,” he added. — PTI
friendly nations in the
‘Samanvay 2022’ will fur-
ther enhance disaster
management capabilities.
Mr Singh highlighted
that prediction of natural
disasters has to be accom-
panied by the dissemina-
tion of information to a
larger population and
shifting people to safer
locations, which requires
an empowered machinery.
As nations have different
capacities, collaborative
preparation to deal with
disasters is required, he
stressed.
He called upon the
nations to come together
in dealing with natural
disasters by sharing
resources, equipment and
training. “In HADR, there
is a need to share informa-
tion for regional coopera-
tion and best practices,”
he added. — PTI
expressions and behav-
iour feeds which are
matched by the scanners.
The ‘super camera’
installed in the device
scans the face while
detecting behavioural
changes during conversa-
tions.
The device then pro-
duces a graph of suicidal
tendencies in the person
from which it can be
known if the person needs
therapy.
“The device can also
accurately detect a per-
son’s emotional status by
reading social media posts
or handwriting”, she said.
After getting its utility
patent, the trial of the
device will be done in hos-
pitals, schools, colleges
and corporate and govern-
ment offices.
“We hope to complete
trials of the device by the
end of 2022-23 and launch
the product in the market
at the beginning of 2024 if
everything goes as
planned,” she said.
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 4

SHORT TAKES
5 boys held for sexual
assault of classmate
Hyderabad: Five children in
conflict with law (CCLs) were
apprehended by police here
for allegedly sexually assault-
ing a 17-year-old girl, police
said on Tuesday. The five CCL
boys, all 10th and 9th stan-
dard students, sexually
assaulted one of their class-
mates (victim girl) and also
recorded the act, they said.
The boys and the victim are
all friends. The boys used to
roam on the outskirts of their
locality after school timings
and used to watch porn
videos in their mobile phones,
on that they craved for sexual
desires, a release from
Rachakonda police commis-
sionerate said. To overcome
their lust, they had an eye on
one of their classmates, police
said adding as the girl also
■ ISIS-inspired terrorism still a major security threat for us, says NSA
Ulemas can help de-radicalise: Doval
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
National security advisor
(NSA) Ajit Doval on
Tuesday said that cross-
border and IS-inspired
terrorism remains a shared his views on the
major security threat and
the ulemas have a “vital
role” to play in counter-
ing radicalisation and
extremism by propagat-
ing progressive ideas and
thoughts.
Speaking at a dialogue
between the Indonesian
and Indian delegation of
ulemas and leaders of
other faiths here, he said
that India and Indonesia
had been the victim of
terrorism and separatism
extremism, terrorism and
even though the chal- ◗ SPEAKING AT a dia-
lenges have been over- logue between the radicalisation.
come to a great extent. Urging the need to
Expressing condolences Indonesian and Indian develop a common narra-
to the victims of the delegation of ulemas and tive on deradicalisation,
recent earthquake in leaders of other faiths the NSA said in a democ-
Indonesia, Mr Doval here, NSA Ajit Doval said racy there is no place for
that India and Indonesia hate speech, prejudice,
role of ulemas in promot- had been the victim of propaganda, demonisa-
ing a culture of mutual tion, violence, conflict
peace and social harmony
terrorism and separatism and misuse of religion for West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee talks to a
in both the countries. even though the chal- narrow ends. priest during her visit to Bonobibi Temple in North 24
Noting that the coopera- lenges have been over- The NSA said state Parganas district on Tuesday. — PTI
tion of the civil society is Ajit Doval come to a great extent institutions also need to
essential in countering
the threat from ISIS-
inspired individual ter-
ror cells and returnees
separatism. While we
have overcome the chal-
lenges to a considerable
mas and scholars of the
Islamic society of both
the countries need to
come together to detect
and identify potential
negative influencers and
share information to
Didi loses cool as
from theatres like Syria
and Afghanistan, the
NSA said: “Both our
countries have been vic-
extent, the phenomenon
of cross-border and ISIS-
inspired terrorism con-
tinues to pose a threat.”
come together to promote
tolerance, harmony and
peaceful co-existence
which will bolster the
counter their activities.
“In this, ulemas, due to
their deep connection
with civil society, can
relief items don’t

Hybrid terror
tims of terrorism and Describing that the ule- fight against violent play a vital role,” he said.

moved and talked with them
freely, they took it as an
advantage. In August this
year they fulfilled their sexual
desire withthe girl by putting
her under threat at her home
in the absence of her family
members, police said. — PTI
MP: 17 rifles looted
from forest armoury
Bhopal: Unidentified miscre-
ants looted 17 rifles from a
post of forest department in
Burhanpur district in Madhya
Pradesh, police said on
Tuesday. The incident took
place in Bakdi forest post at
around 9.30 pm on Monday,
Burhanpur district superin-
tendent of police Rahul
Kumar Lodha said. According
to him, 15-20 people raided
the post and looted the 17
rifles kept in the post after
assaulting the guard,
deployed on a daily wage
basis. Two police teams have
been constituted to arrest
the miscreants and recover
the looted weapons, he said.
Police along with the forest
department officials have
launched a drive against
encroachments in the forest
in the area since last one
week, inviting protests from
the encroachers.
India records 215
Covid cases, 1 death
New Delhi: India logged 215
new coronavirus infections,
the lowest since April 2020,
taking the total tally of
Covid-19 cases to
4,46,72,068. The active
cases further declined to
4,982, while the death toll
increased climbed to
5,30,615 with one fatality
being reported from Delhi in
the last 24 hours. The active
cases comprise 0.01 per cent
of the total infections, while
the national Covid-19 recov-
ery rate increased to 98.80
per cent. There has been a
decrease of 141 cases
recorded in the active Covid-
19 caseload in a span of 24
hours. The number of people
who have recuperated from
the disease surged to
4,41,36,471, while the case
fatality rate was recorded at
1.19 per cent.
challenge
for security
forces in J&K
AMRESH SRIVASTAVA
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI,
NOV. 29
The hybrid terror model
emerged in the Jammu
and Kashmir has been
posing a new challenge
for security forces as the
terrorists involved in
any terror acts are not
known to each other and
assignments are distrib-
uted among many of
them via encrypted mes-
sages on the social media
such as Telegram ect.
In a “hybrid module”,
the militants are not list-
ed as terrorists but the
persons are radicalised
to an extent to carry out
a terror strike and then
slip back into the nor-
mal life. These terrorists
involved in attacks are
not known to each other
and tasks are assigned
among many unconnect-
ed ultras over social
media platforms like
Telegram. Such a modu-
lar mechanism also adds
to the woes of investiga-
tive agencies like the
NIA and the security
forces in the valley.
Recent trends in the
valley suggest terror
groups are resorting to
operations through mod-
ules comprising hybrid
terrorists who are diffi-
cult to trace in the face
of invisibility and
involvement of multiple
players. Such modules
also recruit part-time
terrorists to execute a
certain task, the individ-
ual then carries on with
his normal chores, a top
Jammu and Kashmir
police official said to the
visiting journalists in
Srinagar recently.
The terror groups have
also been hitting soft tar-
gets like labourers from
other states and minori-
ties especially Kashmiri
Pandits.
L-G launches key initiatives
of New Edu Policy in J&K
YUSUF JAMEEL
SRINAGAR, NOV. 29
Jammu and Kashmir lieu-
tenant governor Manoj
Sinha, while launching
the key initiatives of the
National Education Policy
(NEP) in the Union
Territory on Tuesday,
asserted that these would
train future innovators
and leaders.
The initiatives were
launched during an event
held at a government-run
women’s college in winter
capital Jammu to supple-
ment the successful imple-
mentation of NEP-2020 in
a paperless mode which
include e-Samarth portal,
Feedback portal,
Biometric attendance por-
tal, Sparrow portal, and
Annual Transfer Portal.
“These initiatives will
also bring transparency
and accountability in the
education department of
the UT,” Mr Sinha said,
adding the inter-discipli-
nary curriculum and mul-
Youth in UP’s Budaun
booked for drowning rat
Budaun (UP), Nov. 29: A
youth here has been
booked for throwing a
rat in a drain after tying
a stone to its tail, police
said on Tuesday. Manoj
Kumar was booked on
Monday under the
Section 429 (slaughter-
ing an animal) of the
Indian Penal Code and
also under Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Act,
police said.
Though he was let out
on bail the same day, the
forensic report on the
incident is awaited,
which will lay the
ground for further
action, police said. The
Manoj Sinha
tidisciplinary education
are at the heart of NEP to
train future innovators
and leaders. He said that
the environmental, scien-
tific, technological trans-
formation and globalisa-
tion has increased the
pace of socio-economic
changes and that problem-
based learning will make
the students familiar with
real-world situations and
develop thinking and cre-
ativity skills.
He asserted that the NEP
would play a significant
role in making India a
matter was reported to
police on Friday by ani-
mal activist Vikendra
Sharma, who entered
the ditch to save the
rodent, which died after
some time.
Deputy SP (City) Alok
Mishra had earlier said
that on the basis of the
complaint, the dead rat
was sent to a veterinary
hospital in Budaun for a
forensic exam. However,
after the staff there
refused to conduct the
examination, the rat
was sent to the Indian
Veterinary Research
Institute (IVRI) in
Bareilly, he said. — PTI
◗ THE INITIATIVES were
launched during an
event held at a govern-
ment-run women’s col-
lege in winter capital
Jammu to supplement
the successful imple-
mentation of NEP-2020
in a paperless mode
“knowledge super power”.
“Since, the government
educational institutions
are equipped with requi-
site tools and resources at
par with private institu-
tions, we need to assess
our national and global
ranking and take correc-
tive measures,” he said.
The L-G said that the
recommendations imple-
mented in the University
Grants Programme of all
the colleges from the 2022-
23 session will bridge the
gap between theoretical
knowledge and practical
skills, provide resources
and choice for research
and flexibility in complet-
ing degree programmes.
Act to prevent border firing: NHRC
Meghalaya CM moves NHRC after 6 people killed in firing on Assam border
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Days after six people were
killed in firing along the
Assam-Meghalaya border,
the National Human
Rights Commission
(NHRC) has taken cogni-
sance of it and asked the
Central and Assam govern-
ments to examine and
evolve mechanisms to pre-
vent such incidents.
Meghalaya chief minis-
ter Conrad K. Sangma had
moved the NHRC on Friday
over the loss of lives in fir-
ing, calling it a “clear viola-
tion of human rights”. Mr
Sangma and deputy chief
minister Prestone Tynsong
Shah likely in
Bengal Dec. 17
for eastern
zonal meet
AGE CORRESPONDENT
KOLKATA, NOV. 29
Union home minister
Amit Shah is likely to
visit West Bengal on
December 17 to chair the
eastern zonal council
meeting with the chief
ministers of five states
which was earlier sched-
uled to be held on
November 5 in Kolkata
but was postponed due
to his unavailability.
The CMs of West
Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar,
Jharkhand and Odisha
are the participants of
the meeting. Security
and infrastructural
issues are expected to be
discussed in the meet-
ing. The venue is howev-
er yet to be decided.
Last time the state sec-
retariat, Nabanna, was
scheduled to host the
meeting as Rajnath
Singh, the predecessor
of Mr Shah, chaired the
occasion there earlier.
had called on NHRC chair-
person Justice Arun
Kumar Mishra (retired)
and its other members in
New Delhi, the chief minis-
ter’s office (CMO) had said.
The NHRC, in a state-
ment on Tuesday, said it
has “taken cognisance of a
memorandum by the chief
minister of Meghalaya
that six persons, including
one Assam forest official,
had died in firing by the
Assam Police and Assam
Forest Guards at Mukroh
village in West Jaintia
Hills District of Meghalaya
on November 22”.
In its observation, the
commission said: “It seems
this incident has taken
reach venue
RAJIB CHOWDHURI
KOLKATA, NOV. 29
West Bengal chief minis-
ter Mamata Banerjee lost
her cool and halted her
official event midway at
Hingalganj in North 24
Parganas on Tuesday
after learning that 15,000
winter garments she had
bought for distribution
among the local people
did not reach the venue
adjacent to the
Sundarbans.
Stopping her speech, an
angry Trinamul
Congress supremo
rapped district magis-
trate (North 24 Parganas)
Sharad Dwivedi on the
dais as she came to know
her gifts lying at the
local block development
office. The CM also
warned her government
officials including the
bureaucrats of actions
for their failure of duty
and went back to her
seat, waiting for the
warm clothes’ arrival at
the venue.
She earlier told the
rally: “I have bought
15,000 winter garments
— 5,000 sweaters, 5,000
blankets and 5,000
sheets. People should get
place due to the border dis-
pute between the two states
— Assam and Meghalaya
— which is a larger issue
pending for long. Prima
facie, it appears that had
this dispute been settled,
such types of incident
would have been averted.
Whatsoever may be the dis-
pute between the states,
police has to use restrain in
such situations.”
Therefore, it wanted to
examine the SOP in opera-
tion, if any, about firing by
armed forces or police in
areas of a border dispute
between neighbouring
states, the rights panel
said. Accordingly, the com-
mission has transmitted
them properly. I will keep
an eye if you do not get
them.”
Turning to the officials
suddenly, Ms Banerjee
asked them: “Who has
been given these items?
Where are they kept?
Why would they be left at
the block development
office? Ask the BDO to
bring them here.”
She then pulled up Mr
Dwivedi saying: “I did
not expect this from you,
Sharad. What meeting
will I do now? I came
here to distribute these
items. It’s winter now. If
you cannot do this mini-
mum programme, I do
not need to be here. If the
BDOs and the DMs don’t
discharge their responsi-
bilities, I am sorry I have
to take action.”
The CM added:
“Assuming difficulty in
distributing 15,000 items
simultaneously among
so many people here, I
had talked about setting
up camps for the pur-
pose. If there was any
shortage, I would have
taken care of that.”
Once the items reached
the venue, Ms Banerjee
handed over them to the
locals.
the memorandum to the
Union home secretary and
the chief secretary of
Assam, it added.
“They are to examine and
evolve mechanisms/sug-
gest measures to prevent
such types of incidents,
particularly in areas in
which there is a border dis-
pute between neighbour-
ing states. The response is
expected in two weeks,” the
statement said.
The six people, including
an Assam forest guard,
were killed in the firing
along the inter-state border
after a truck transporting
illegally-felled timber was
intercepted by forest per-
sonnel of Assam.

Vistara and Air First hearing

Israeli envoy, filmmakers join India to merge
Kharge targets PM as ‘Ravan’, by EC on Dec.
netas in Kashmir Files storm ■ Continued From Page 1
important milestone in
triggers BJP-Congress row 12 over Sena
our journey to make Air
India a truly world-class ■ Continued From Page 1 Congress, Mr Patra hate for Gujaratis. The
rivals’ row
■ Continued From Page 1 over The Kashmir their religion, have suffered because of ter- airline… We are excited mindset of the Congress. alleged that Mr Kharge people of Gujarat will ■ Continued From Page 1
Files will strengthen relations between India rorism,” Mr Raina told the media. with the opportunity of This is not merely an was voicing the views of reject them this time too commission had asked
and Israel, while distancing himself and the Mr Pandit called on the Union I&B minister creating a strong Air insult of Mr Modi but of former Congress presi- for such behaviour,” said the Shiv Sena factions to
state from Mr Lapid’s remarks on the film. to seek “serious action” against Mr Lapid and India which would offer every Gujarati.” dents Mrs Gandhi and the Gujarat chief minis- submit fresh documents
Mr Shoshani, who shared the dais with said choosing him as international jury head both full-service and low- Mr Patra added that the Rahul Gandhi. ter. to back their claim to the
actor Anupam Kher at a press conference in was a lapse on the part of the festival organis- cost service across Congress has denigrated “Personal attacks on Mr Claiming that the party’s name and its
Mumbai, said The Kashmir Files is not propa- ers. “He (Mr Lapid) has added salt to our domestic and interna- the post of Prime Modi started with Mrs Congress was “unable to symbol by November 23.
ganda but a “strong movie” that gives place to wounds & hence should be made to tender a tional routes,” said Mr N Minister despite the fact Gandhi’s “maut ka take the heat of the The poll panel had also
the sufferings of the people of Kashmir. apology. #KashmirFiles (sic),” he wrote. Chandrasekaran, chair- Mr Modi is now recog- saudagar” remarks dur- Gujarat election and is asked them to exchange
Hitting out at the Israeli filmmaker’s com- BJP’s IT department head Amit Malviya on man of Tata Sons. nised as a global leader ing the 2007 Gujarat pushed to the fringe”, the documents, submit-
ments against his film, Mr Kher, part of the Tuesday said, “For the longest time, people Mr Goh Choon Phong, by countries around the Assembly polls... What BJP IT cell head Amit ted to the poll panel, with
ensemble cast of The Kashmir Files, called even denied the holocaust and CEO of Singapore world. Kharge said is con- Malviya said, “Congress each other.
Mr Lapid a “person who himself is vulgar and called Schindler’s List propaganda, just like Airlines, said: “With this Taking a swipe at the demnable and shows the president loses control Meanwhile, the person-
an opportunist”. some are doing to The Kashmir Files. Truth merger, we have an PM during an election mindset of the Congress. over his words, calls al hearing fixed for
“If you are a jury member, you cannot use eventually triumphs, no matter what.” opportunity to deepen rally in Ahmedabad’s This is not merely an Prime Minister Ravan. Tuesday by the Election
words like ‘vulgar’, ‘propaganda’. The world The Congress attacked the government, call- our relationship with Behrampur late on insult of Mr Modi but of From maut ka saudagar Commission to settle the
has identified with the film, the pain and ing it an “embarrassment” and saying that Tata and participate Monday evening, Mr every Gujarati,” he said. to Ravan, the Congress Lok Janshakti Party
problems of Kashmiri Pandits, which have hate eventually gets called out. directly in an exciting Kharge said that Mr Gujarat chief minister continues to insult symbol dispute has been
been going on for the last 32 years,” the actor “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his govt, new growth phase in Modi asks people to vote Bhupendra Patel claimed Gujarat and its son.” postponed as Chirag
added. the BJP, the RW ecosystem feverishly promot- India’s aviation market. for the BJP, be it munici- that as the Opposition Goa chief minister and Paswan sought an
“All these people belong to the ‘toolkit gang’. ed The Kashmir Files — a movie rejected by We will work together to pal, Assembly or Congress is “bereft of Bharatiya Janata Party adjournment due to his
He gave a 30-second speech and it went viral,” IFFI. Jury head called it ‘propaganda, vulgar support Air India’s trans- Parliament elections, any development agenda leader Pramod Sawant preoccupation with the
Mr Kher said, adding it was a planned move. movie — inappropriate for the film festival’,” formation programme, “looking at his face”. and support from the peo- claimed that as Mr Gujarat Assembly polls.
A day after Mr Lapid’s comments, The Congress spokesperson and head of the unlock its significant “Are you 100-headed like ple,” it is “out to abuse Kharge is a “non-Gandhi- The poll panel had
Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri said party’s social media department Supriya potential, and restore it Ravan?” the Congress Gujarat and Gujaratis.” Nehru-family” chief of called the factions led by
he will quit filmmaking if intellectuals, Srinate said. to its position as a lead- president had asked the “The statement made by Congress, he made the Chirag Paswan and
including Israeli filmmaker, are able to prove Joining in the political debate, senior Shiv ing airline on the global PM. Mr Kharge against the remarks to remain in Pashupati Kumar Paras
that events depicted in his film are false. Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut backed the stage.” Hitting out at the PM is testimony to their the limelight. for a personal hearing
“I challenge the world’s intellectuals and Israeli filmmaker. He said that the film was Tuesday at the EC head-
‘urban Naxals’ as well as the great filmmaker politicised and more attacks on Kashmiri quarters. Sources said
who came from Israel if they can prove that
any shot, dialogue or event of The Kashmir
Files is not absolute truth, I’ll stop making
Pandits started after its release.
“It’s true about The Kashmir Files. There
was propaganda by one party against another.
Meghalaya nod to 7 police posts along Assam border Mr Paswan recently
sought an adjournment
claiming his preoccupa-
films,” Mr Agnihotri said in a video statement A party and the government were busy with ■ Continued From Page 1 The existing border report. Earlier, vehicles and Opposition chief whip tion with the Gujarat
shared on Twitter. publicity. But the maximum number of probe the firing incident police outpost at bearing Assam number in the Assembly George B. Assembly polls, for
The controversy over Mr Lapid’s criticism killings in Kashmir occurred after this film. that claimed at least six Patharkhmah and Kyrshai plates were not allowed to Lyngdoh said: “The gov- which voting will be held
of The Kashmir Files drew political reactions The Kashmir Pandits and the security per- lives on November 22. will be upgraded to police enter Meghalaya, fearing a ernment has failed to act on December 1 and 5. A
from across the aisle. sonnel were killed,” Mr Raut said while com- Mr Sangma said that stations, the chief minister backlash. Meanwhile, the on the Mukroh incident, fresh date is yet to be
Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder menting on Mr Lapid’s remarks. restrictions on mobile said, adding that the cost of Opposition Trinamul despite being alerted by decided by the poll panel.
Raina said Mr Lapid’s remarks reflected his The Kashmiri Pandits lashed out at Mr Internet and data services, operating each border Congress said that the the people about the high- In its interim order in
lack of knowledge about the ground situation, Lapid for his unwarranted comments and imposed after last week’s police outpost will be state government has lost handedness of Assam.” October 2021, the com-
while filmmaker Ashoke Pandit demanded a demanded that he be immediately deported violence in which five peo- about `2 crores annually. its moral authority and One minute’s silence was mission had barred the
probe into his appointment. from the country. ple from Meghalaya were Mr Sangma said his gov- either a new government also observed at the meet- two rival groups from
“He (Mr Lapid) should first visit the camps Calling The Kashmiri Files the Schindler’s killed, will also be lifted. ernment also directed the should be formed or ing as a mark of respect using the name of Lok
of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and List of India, they sought to know from Mr “The movement of vehi- director-general of police President’s Rule imposed towards all those killed in Janshakti Party or its
Kashmir. Such remarks are only expected Lapid whether he, as a Jew, thought the same cles has been allowed to pay a visit to certain vil- in Meghalaya. Speaking to the Assam police firing in symbol “bungalow” till
from a person who does not know the ground about the American movie based on the geno- under police patrol,” the lages in the disputed bor- reporters after the all- Meghalaya’s Mukroh vil- the dispute between
situation and how people, irrespective of cide of Jews. chief minister added. der areas and submit a party meeting, TMC leader lage on November 22. them was settled by it.
 EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 5

Subhani

30 NOVEMBER 2022

Transparency needed in
appointment of judges
T
he stalemate over appointments of judges in the high courts and
the Supreme Court has of late triggered unsavoury exchanges
between the Union government and the Supreme Court of India.
The latest is the apex court pinpointing that its striking down the
amendment to the Constitution providing for a National Judicial
Appointments Commission was behind the Union government delaying
appointment of persons the collegium recommends as judges in the high-
er judiciary. It was preceded by a statement by law minister Kiren Rijiju
who virtually challenged the apex court to issue its own notifications of
appointments; the court responded also by saying that it was not unwill-
ing to take up the job.
As per Article 124 (2) of the Constitution, the President appoints all
judges except the Chief Justice of India after consulting him/her. The
Constitution-makers were clear that the process belonged to the execu-
tive’s domain. The Constitutional Assembly indeed discussed, and reject-
ed, the idea of giving the judiciary a major say in it after chairman of its
drafting committee Dr B.R. Ambedkar called it
The public has little a “dangerous proposition”. It amounts to trans-

Gujarat, Modi’s home base, LETTERS

fer to the Chief Justice the authority to veto the
knowledge about President or the government of the day, he
why a person is pointed out.
nominated. And The Supreme Court, however, in the Second NO SLOWDOWN PLEASE
when the govern- Judges case in 1993 expanded the interpretation
ment contributes its of the word ‘consultation’, set up a mechanism

remains a testing ground

of a collegium comprising the CJI and two This refers to the report
own layer of secrecy senior-most judges of the apex court to recom- “Slower growth good for
by holding back mend the names and made it mandatory for the India, say economists”
names without citing government to accept such nominations. The
reasons, the opacity court found that it must act in “protecting the (Nov. 29). One really
integrity and guarding the independence of the The myth of Modi won less seats and wonders how slower
becomes total. judiciary”. It ensured that the CJI has primacy the percentage of votes
Mr Modi’s Gujarat
in matters of appointment and transfers and
ruled that the executive cannot have an equal say in the matter.
Parsa model of develop-
fell, though it was nearly
10 per cent ahead of the
growth which means less
production of commodi-
The NJAC, introduced after amending the Constitution in 2014, broad-
based the selection procedure as the commission, headed by the Chief
Venkateshwar ment has been
insidiously nurtured
Congress. In 2002, the
BJP and Mr Modi won ties or real income can be
Justice of India, would have had two senior-most judges of the Supreme
Court, the Union law minister and two eminent persons. The court, how-
Rao Jr by pseudo-econo- 127 seats and 49.85 per
cent vote share. In 2007,
good for the nation. Also,
ever, struck it down, holding it violative of the basic structure of the mists in Delhi who the number of seats fell
it is very difficult to
Constitution. It also violated principles of independence of the judiciary have been reward- to 117, though still far accept the view put forth

T
and separation of powers, the court held. he relentless
The biggest criticism against the collegium system is that it goes against campaigning
the spirit of the Constitution and introduces an opaque process in the by Prime Min-
selection of judges. The public has little knowledge about why a person is ister Narendra
nominated or rejected. And when the government contributes its own Modi and
layer of secrecy by holding back names without citing reasons, the opaci- Union home minister
ty becomes total. Amit Shah for the com-
No one has a doubt that there must be a transparent system to appoint ing Gujarat Assembly
judges in the higher judiciary. The apex court has recently pointed out polls either reveals the
that the delays are stopping several people from even accepting an invita- seriousness with which
tion to join the bench. Neither the Supreme Court nor the government has these two leaders take
a mandate to continue with the present messy situation. It must be solved the challenge of every
in the spirit of democratic values; but impatience on either side will not election, or it shows
help the process. even after all these years
in power — over a quar-
ter-century — they are
still not confident about
the support of Gujarat’s
Much ado about Kashmir Files voters despite the self-
proclaimed good work
done in the state. This is
punished, with the
implication that the riot-
ers dare not raise their
head again. The irony is
that the rioters in 2002
were Hindu mobs who
killed Muslims and ran-
sacked their homes and
shops. If Mr Shah were
to admit Hindu rioters
were punished, he may
lose his Hindu vote. But
it’s evident that in the
BJP’s demonology, it is
the Muslims who are the
troublemakers, a view
expressed even by the
liberal among the Hindu
right-wingers,
Behari Vajpayee.
What appeals to the
Atal
ed by the Narendra
Modi government
after 2014
the BJP as a whole. So,
the Assembly elections
in these two states
assume national signifi-
cance for the political
soothsayers much
beyond the importance
of the two states. Local
issues get overshad-
owed. It does not matter
that UP remains a back-
ward state in more ways
than one despite the
loud claims of Mr Modi
and UP chief minister
Yogi Adityanath.
ahead of the Congress,
and the percentage of
votes showed a marginal
decrease to 49.12 per
cent. In 2012 the number
of seats fell to 115 and
the percentage of votes
to 47 per cent. In 2017,
Mr Modi was Prime
Minister of India, but
the BJP won 99 seats but
the percentage of votes
increased to 49.05 per
cent. The BJP victories
were indeed emphatic
but they did not sweep
the rivals out of the
ground. Fifty per cent of
Gujarat’s voters did not
vote for the BJP and Mr
Modi in the elections
by the economists that
lower growth rate can
help control inflation. It
must be remembered
that inflation is defined as
too much money chasing
too few goods. What we
need is an acceleration of
the growth rate. There
must be earnest efforts
to create more employ-
ment opportunities and,
thereby, enhance income
and output.
S. Ramakrishnasayee

A
n incendiary opinion about a film by a filmmaker who headed the but a mild paradox in
jury at India’s international film festival appears to have set off a the now discernible
diplomatic row. There is rum irony in the government-sponsored Modi-Shah political
event rebounding on it in this manner while the event rakes up the funda- style, taking nothing for
mental question of whether the right to state an opinion in public is granted and fighting
absolute. Of course, the head of the jury was clearly in breach of etiquette every inch of the way
when, as a guest, he went public about the film Kashmir Files, a divisive with earnestness. The
enough creative effort in the recount of events surrounding the fleeing of belligerence and ani-
Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. mosity that they seem to
The Israeli filmmaker, Nadav Lapid, has every right to his opinion about breathe into the air in
the film and there are free speech absolutists who would go to lengths to the course of their
justify his being so open in stating his view. His low opinion of the film stump speeches is par
does not, however, take away anything from the enormity of what hap- for the course. But there
pened in the Valley when a particular section of people, numbering in is another curious factor
thousands, were displaced in what ranks as one of the saddest episodes in about Gujarat Assembly
the history of independent India. elections, especially
The creativity of filmmakers may see them take liberties with sensitive from 2002, when Mr
historical subjects and those who see films in any capacity are entitled to Modi fought his first
praise them or pan them. The point is this head of the jury seems to have election as state chief
abandoned any sense of fairness or responsibility in his critique of a par- minister. Observers and
ticular film and its choice as an entry to the festival he was invited to critics see it as a referen-
judge. One wonders if he would have aired a similar opinion on any film dum on his polarised,
on the Holocaust if he were to consider them propagandist, or even vulgar. and communalised, poli-
What happened in the wake of Lapid airing his views threw more light tics, especially in the
on the ideological divide that has in its thrall every facet of modern life, 2002 contest, immediate-
more so in India where anything and everything gets political. The trolls ly after the Hindu-
were vicious in their criticism of Lapid and official India seemed stung by Muslim riots of
the criticism though critiquing a work of art is virtually standard proce- February-March that
dure in the creative world. In the end, it seemed there was too much ado year in the wake of
about nothing but then to take offence has also become such an art form in burning of the railway
today’s world. coach at Godhra and the
death of 57 VHP volun-
teers returning from
Ayodhya.
Mr Modi had also
sensed that victory in
Gujarat is the litmus test
THE ASIAN AGE of his politics. He saw
the election victory as
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR an endorsement of his
Editor Printer & Publisher
Hindutva politics. It’s
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: not surprising then that
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: in this campaign as well,
(011) 23211124. Mr Shah blamed the
Published and Printed on behalf of and for Congress for the series
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,
New Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301.
of Hindu-Muslim riots
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. in the state, and he said
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 the rioters of 2002 were
Hindu voter in Gujarat
and also elsewhere is
that the BJP under the
leadership of Mr Modi
deals with Muslim trou-
blemakers with a strong
hand. That is why, even
in the 2020 Delhi riots at
the end of February that
year, when then US
President Donald
Trump was on a visit to
Ahmedabad, Mr Shah
said that the rioters
came from Uttar
Pradesh, and the needle
pointed to Muslims. So,
Gujarat has a special
place for Mr Modi’s
political journey, and it
is one place he would not
want to lose ever. If
there were to be an elec-
toral setback in Gujarat,
it would be construed as
a defeat of the Modi
brand of politics.
The media narrative of
the Gujarat Assembly
elections has followed
that of Mr Modi. The
media felt that Mr
Modi’s victory in
Gujarat heralds his suc-
cess on the national
stage. That’s why the
Gujarat Assembly elec-
tions are as important as
the Uttar Pradesh polls.
The testing ground for
the BJP’s polarised poli-
tics behind the smoke-
screen of rapid moderni-
sation and development
turns out to be Gujarat
and Uttar Pradesh.
Gujarat is a ratification
for Mr Modi and UP for
Gujarat remains a mod-
erately prosperous state
because it is a small
state, and its economic
achievements under Mr
Modi from 2002 to 2013
was less than impres-
sive because Karnataka,
which is comparable to
Gujarat in population
size, has done as well as
Gujarat in growth rates.
Gujarat lags behind
Maharashtra and Tamil
Nadu in terms of indus-
trialisation and in GDP
size for obvious reasons.
Both Maharashtra and
Tamil Nadu are far big-
ger in size than Gujarat.
Gujarat is no Singapore,
which shows an explo-
sive economic growth.
The myth of Mr Modi’s
Gujarat model of devel-
opment has been insidi-
ously nurtured by pseu-
do-economists in Delhi
who have been reward-
ed by the Narendra
Modi government after
2014.
The voting pattern in
the Gujarat Assembly
polls in 2002, 2007, 2012
and 2017 has shown that
in a two-party battle, the
loser, the Congress, had
garnered nearly 40 per
cent of the vote and
more though the num-
ber of seats fluctuated.
The BJP did not ever
touch 50 per cent, and it
was not the sole elec-
toral monarch in the
state. From 2002 to 2012,
the BJP under Narendra
between 2002 and 2017.
The Congress’ perfor-
mance was not dismal
both in the number of
the seats won and in the
percentage of votes. The
Congress won 51 seats
and 39.28 per cent of
votes in 2002, 59 seats
and 38 per cent votes in
2007, 61 seats and 38 per
cent votes in 2012 and 77
seats and 41.44 per cent
votes in 2017. Of course,
there were only two
main contenders in the
state, so the split in
votes was fairly substan-
tial for both the winners
and losers.
Gujarat, therefore, is
not a cakewalk for
either the BJP or Mr
Modi, and the Prime
Minister is also keen to
prove that he remains
unbeaten on his home
ground, Gujarat, though
he has shifted his parlia-
mentary base to
Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh. It also shows
that India is not yet a
polarised polity as it
may appear to be. The
number of Hindus vot-
ing against the BJP and
Mr Modi is larger than
those voting for him.
The BJP and BJP-watch-
ers may have to revise
their view about the suc-
cess of Hindutva.
The writer is a
Delhi-based
commentator and
analyst
Chennai
DELAYING JUSTICE
THE CENTRE dragging its feet on the
collegium recommendations has
drawn the ire of the Supreme Court
(SC). Taking exception to law minis-
ter Kiren Rijiju’s remark about the
collegium system on the selection of
judges, the top court opposed the
cherry-picking of names from differ-
ent lists, which affects seniority and
hampers the quality of judicial
appointment. But, on the other hand,
the government returned a whopping
20 files of appointment of high court
judges, including that of advocate
Saurabh Kirpal, who has candidly
spoken about his gay status. The tus-
sle between the SC and the govern-
ment is disconcerting.
N.J. Ravi Chander
Bengaluru
J&K FILMING: TAKE CARE
IT IS GREAT that Bollywood is making
a beeline for shootings in Kashmir.
The soft power of Bollywood in uniting
the nation cannot be underestimated.
In the 1960s, it was almost mandatory
to have at least a song picturised in
Kashmir in every big movie. This
move will also benefit the economy of
Kashmir and give its residents some
gainful employment. At the same time,
the government must keep a watchful
eye on the activities of our neighbour
who is not going to be pleased at this
development. A single misstep would
undo all the good work being done to
help the valley return to normalcy.
Anthony Henriques
Mumbai

C
ivic polls are not necessarily local
affairs. It is certainly not if the election is
for the national capital. Delhi is known
as a “mini-India”. A vote here therefore
has much significance.
It shows the way that the wind is blowing.
When the Lok Sabha polls are just 16 months
Sunil Gatade away, the importance is bound to be much more.
The polls have become all the more intense as
they are being held almost simultaneously with
the Assembly elections in Gujarat, the home turf
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home
minister Amit Shah. The ruling BJP, the AAP
Civic polls in and the Congress are the principal rivals in both
these polls. Every vote counts.
The polls in Delhi, including those of the
month are being seen with more than curiosity
all over the country. The BJP is doing every-
thing to hold on to its territory amid a spirited
assault. The Congress had crumbled long ago.
Despite being a civic poll, it has virtually
turned into a tussle between Mr Modi and Mr
Kejriwal, whose emergence on the political
scene of the national capital a decade ago has
made things topsy-turvy for established players.
Some political observers put it succinctly: Delhi
will decide in the polls whether it would be
“AAP-nirbhar” or “atma nirbhar”, the PM’s pet
phrase to make the country self-reliant.
The Congress has become an also-ran after
being in power for 15 long years under the late
Sheila Dikshit.
party workers from other states to reach out to
Delhites from their regions, noting its pan-India
character.
Notwithstanding the BJP’s propaganda that
the AAP is resorting to “hollow claims”, Mr
Kejriwal has made a dent in the ruling side. He
is claiming that the MCD has been a laggard on
issues like education and waste disposal. “Why
are mountains of dirt in the national capital?”, is
a question that has no easy answers. The land-
fills are overflowing. The BJP’s counter is that
the Delhi government had starved the civic body
of funds.
The decision to scrap the three municipal cor-
porations and turn them back into a unified
body is a masterstroke by the BJP to set civic
to reduce the chief minister’s clout on key issues
concerning the national capital. That is why his
appeal to the voter is for a “double engine” effect:
“Kejriwal’s government, Kejriwal’s councillor”.
In a way, both Mr Modi and Mr Kejriwal are
challenging each other on their respective turfs
— in Delhi and Gujarat. Mr Kejriwal’s persis-
tence in continuing his aggressive campaign in
Gujarat despite the Delhi polls shows how high
the stakes are for the rival parties. The battle is
for 2024.
The BJP realises that given the diverse nature
of the Delhi electorate, the party's status in the
national capital is very relevant to its well-being
at the national level. It might be a small election,
but will have a big impact. The Prime Minister

Delhi almost Assembly, have a bearing on the elections for

New Delhi, the seat of power of the Central gov-
ernment. In the last two Lok Sabha polls, the BJP
has won all seven seats in Delhi. It had won the
The BJP could get some latitude in the battle if
the Congress resists and reclaims some ground.
The BJP has been bossing over MCD affairs for
the past 15 years and had a spectacular showing
things right. The move earlier this year
enthused local party workers. They feel it will be
a game-changer as it has sprung a surprise on
Mr Kejriwal, who sees the national capital as his
understands this: that’s why his posters are
replete in the national capital.
An upset for the BJP in Delhi will be ominous
for the party, especially if it’s coupled with a

like battle of last municipal polls massively. The national cap-

ital has been one of the strongholds of the BJP
since its Jan Sangh days.
in the 2017 polls, the first after the emergence of
the AAP. However, the BJP has now started feel-
ing the heat, and anti-incumbency is catching
fiefdom. Civic employees are also happy as they
feel they will get their salaries on time.
For rival parties, everything is fair in war and
good showing by the AAP in Gujarat. Mr
Kejriwal may be hoping for the moon in Gujarat,
but he’ll be content with the number two slot

a ‘mini-India’ But the national capital has been throwing

strange signals. The Assembly polls after the
2019 Parliament election saw Arvind Kejriwal’s
Aam Aadmi Party for the second time trouncing
the BJP without much effort.
Therefore, the municipal polls in Delhi, with
an electorate of 1.45 crore, scheduled early next
up. The AAP has won almost all civic byelec-
tions in the last five years. Mr Kejriwal is also
the new kid on the political block in Gujarat. He
is fighting his second civic polls in Delhi and has
managed to stir up things, forcing the ruling
party to go on the offensive. Reports claim that
despite it being a civic poll, the BJP has brought
politics. The BJP has left no stone unturned to
throw dirt on Mr Kejriwal and his colleagues.
The AAP has gone to the extent of alleging the
BJP wants to kill the CM.
after giving a fright to the BJP. Such an eventu-
ality will make him relegate the Congress to the
third spot, a tall order indeed. He will be ready to
declare that he is the chosen one to take on Mr
Mr Kejriwal fears the BJP IS playing a deep Modi in the next Lok Sabha polls.
game to marginalise him. If the BJP retains the
MCD, it could use the mayor of the unified MCD The writer is a journalist based in New Delhi
 WORLD
THE ASIAN AGE | WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | NEW DELHI
SHORT TAKES
SUITCASE MURDER
SUSPECT WOMAN
EXTRADITED TO NZ
Wellington, Nov. 29: A 42-year-
old woman has been extradited
from South Korea to New
Zealand, where she will appear
in court on Wednesday charged
with murdering two children
whose remains were found in
suitcases sold at auction.
New Zealand police said on
Tuesday that “three police offi-
cers travelled to South Korea to
transport the woman”, who
arrived at Aukland Airport in
the afternoon.
NO WRONGDOING:
PUTIN ALLY’S SON
WHO FLEW DRONE
Copenhagen, Nov. 29: The son
of a Russian businessman clo-
se to President Vladimir Putin
denied any wrongdoing on Tue-
sday at the start of his trial in
Norway where he is accused of
violating a law that bars Russi-
ans from flying drones.
Andrey Yakunin who holds
both a Russian and British
passport, was arrested in Ham-
merfest, in Artic Norway, on
October 17, after he had sailed
around the Arctic archipelago
of Svalbard and along the coast
of Norway. The archipelago
sits more than 800 kilometres
(500 miles) north of the Norw-
egian mainland.
BILL ON SAME-SEX
MARRIAGES: U.S.
SENATE TO VOTE
Washington, Nov. 29: The
Senate is set to vote on Tuesday
on legislation to protect same-
sex and interracial marriages,
putting Congress one step clos-
er to ensuring that such unions
are enshrined in federal law.
Senate Democrats are moving
quickly, while the party still
holds the majority in both cha-
mbers of Congress, to pass the
bill requiring that such unions
are legally recognised. The Ho-
use would still have to vote on
the legislation and send it to
President Joe Biden’s desk.
The bill has gained steady
momentum since the Supreme
Court’s June decision that
overturned the federal right to
an abortion.
FRANCE STOPS 50
MIGRANTS ON
WAY TO BRITAIN
Sangatte, Nov. 29: French police
stopped close to 50 migrants on
Tuesday from attempting to cr-
oss the English Channel to
Britain after mild weather and
calm waters led a growing
number of people to undertake
the dangerous journey.
Guy Allemand, the mayor of
the small village of Sangatte
near Calais, said some migra-
nts had been forced by police to
turn back, but that another 100
had made it to the high seas.
Trafficking networks have
recently changed their method,
he said. “They [traffickers]
now arrive with ‘taxi boats’
and the refugees are being
asked to run into the water to
catch them.”
BRUSSELS BLAST
ACCUSED TRIAL TO
BEGIN TODAY
Brussels, Nov. 29: Belgium
launches its largest ever trial
on Wednesday to determine
whether 10 accused men played
a part in the 2016 bombings of
Brussels airport and the city’s
metro that killed 32 people and
injured more than 300.
Among the 10 accused are six
men already convicted in Fran-
ce over the November 2015 Pa-
ris attacks, but unlike the Fre-
nch trial which concluded in
June with a decision by a panel
of judges, the Brussels bomb-
ings case will be settled by a
jury.
Nepali Congress sees
six aspirants for PM
Kathmandu, Nov. 29: About
half a dozen leaders of the
Nepali Congress, which has
emerged as the single largest
party in Nepal’s parliamentary
polls, have expressed their
desire to become the country’s
next Prime Minister, amidst
growing pressure on the party
to transfer the leadership to
the younger generation.
With the continuation of the
current coalition, it is likely
that 76-year-old Sher Bahadur
Deuba can become PM again.
However, NC’s Ram Chandra
Paudel (78), Prakash Man Sin-
gh (66), Shashank Koirala (64),
and 46-year-old general secre-
tary Gagan Kumar Thapa are
likely to challenge Deuba’s bid
People gather to protest the Chinese government’s continued zero-Covid policies at the University of California
Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California.
Chinese varsities start
sending students home
Major cities blanketed with heavy policing after protests
Beijing, Nov. 29: Chinese
universities are sending
students home as the rul-
ing Communist Party
tightens anti-virus con-
trols and tries to prevent
more protests after crowds
angered by its severe
“zero Covid” restrictions
called for President Xi
Jinping to resign in the
biggest show of public dis-
sent in decades.
With police out in force,
there was no word of pro-
tests on Tuesday in Beiji-
ng, Shanghai or other ma-
jor cities. Some anti-virus
restrictions were eased on
Monday in a possible eff-
ort to defuse public anger
following the weekend
protests in at least eight
cities. But the ruling party
affirmed its “zero Covid”
strategy, which has con-
fined millions of people to
their homes in an attempt
to isolate every infection.
Tsinghua University, Xi’s
alma mater, where stude-
nts protested on Sunday,
and other schools in Beij-
ing and the southern pro-
vince of Guangdong said
they were protecting stu-
dents from Covid-19. But
dispersing them to far-
flung hometowns also
Extremists desecrate
Ahmadi graves in Pak
Lahore, Nov. 29: Several
graves belonging to the
minority Ahmadi commu-
nity have been desecrated
allegedly by religious ext-
remists in Pakistan’s Pun-
jab province, an official
said on Tuesday, the sec-
ond such incident against
them in over three mon-
ths.
Jamaat Ahmadiya Paki-
stan official Amir Mah-
mood told PTI that the
tombstones of the graves
were desecrated at Prem
Kot graveyard in Hafiza-
bad district, some 100 kilo-
metres from Lahore. He
said that those who dam-
aged the graves also wrote
“Ahmadi dog” on them,
which is very distressing
for the families.
‘The Ahmadis living in
Pakistan are not at peace
even after their demise.
The Ahmadis are not safe
in their graves,” he said.
Mahmood demanded the
arrest of those involved in
the desecration of graves
of the minority communi-
ty. In the past also, such
IN THE FRAY
PM Sher Ram Chandra
Bahadur Deuba Paudel
● Prakash Man Singh
● Shashank Koirala
● Gagan Kumar Thapa
● Purna Bahadur Khadka
along with NC V-P Purna
Bahadur Khadka. — PTI
China may relax
zero-Covid norm
Beijing, Nov. 29: China on
Tuesday said it will take
steps to “minimise” the
impact of its draconian
coronavirus lockdowns,
amidst the unprecedented
public protests against
President Xi Jinping’s
stringent zero-Covid poli-
cy that evoked strong sup-
port from the UN, the US
and other nations.
The anti-zero Covid prot-
ests in the last few days in
several Chinese cities, in-
cluding Shanghai and Be-
ijing, which turned politi-
cal with calls for Xi to step
down showed signs of abe-
tment with no demonstra-
tions reported as police st-
reduces the likelihood of
more activism following
protests at campuses last
weekend. Some universit-
ies arranged buses to take
students to train stations.
They said classes and final
GEN. ASIM MUNIR, EX-SPY, TAKES
CHARGE AS PAKISTAN’S ARMY CHIEF
Islamabad, Nov. 29:
General Asim Munir, Pa-
kistan’s former spymas-
ter, on Tuesday assumed
charge as the country’s
new Army chief, replac-
ing General Qamar Javed
Bajwa who retired after
two consecutive three-
year terms.
Munir assumed charge
at an impressive ceremo-
ny at the General Headq-
uarters (GHQ), becoming
the 17th Chief of the
Army Staff. The ceremo-
ny was attended by senior
officers, diplomats and
politicians.
incidents have taken place
in other Ahmadi grave-
yards in Punjab but not a
single culprit was arrest-
ed or put on trial.
On August 24, 16 graves
of the Ahmadi communi-
ty in Pakistan’s Punjab
GASES | SPEWING
Largest active volcano erupts in Hawaii
Honolulu, Nov. 29: Lava is
shooting 100 feet to 200 feet
(30 to 60 metres) into the
air as Hawaii’s Mauna
Loa, the world’s largest ac-
tive volcano, erupts for the
first time in nearly 40
years.
For now, lava is not th-
reatening any homes or
communities and no evac-
uation orders have been
issued. Lava could eventu-
ally reach neighbourhoods
as it flows downhill thou-
gh it could take a week or
more for molten rock to
reach populated areas.
Mauna Loa is spewing
sulfur dioxide and other
volcanic gases. They form
epped up crackdown with
visits to homes of protest-
ers in different places.
Seeking to address inter-
national concerns, foreign
ministry spokesman Zhao
Lijian said China has
been adjusting the zero-
Covid policy based on the
changing circumstances.
“We will keep improving
science-based maximum
protection to people’s lives
and health and minimise
the Covid impact on social
economic development,”
he said at a press confer-
ence. China will effective-
ly control Covid and ens-
ure stable economic per-
formance, he said. — PTI
exams would be conducted
online. “We will arrange
for willing students to
return to their home-
towns,” Beijing Forestry
University said on its web-
site. — AP
Asim Munir
In his brief address on
the occasion, General
Bajwa said: “I am happy
that I am leaving the com-
mand of the Army in safe
hands.” — PTI
province were allegedly
desecrated by religious
extremists for using Isla-
mic symbols on gravesto-
nes at a cemetery in Chak
203 RB Manawala, Faisal-
abad district, 150 kilome-
tres from Lahore. — PTI
Lava not threatening any home; Mauna Loa last erupted 38 years ago
volcanic smog, or vog,
when they mix with vapo-
ur, oxygen and dust in sun-
light. As a result, state
health officials are urging
people to cut back on out-
door exercise and other
activities that cause heavy
breathing.
Mauna Loa last erupted
in 1984. Its smaller, more
active neighbour, Kilauea
volcano, has been erupting
continuously for more
than a year since Septem-
ber 2021.
Mauna Loa is one of five
volcanoes that together
make up the Big Island of
Hawaii, which is the sout-
hernmost island in the
— AFP
SCRIBE ISSUE: UK
SUMMONS CHINA
AMBASSADOR
London, Nov. 29: China’s
ambassador to Britain
has been summoned by
British government over
reports by the BBC which
said Chinese police had
assaulted one of its jour-
nalists covering a protest
in Shanghai, the Evening
Standard newspaper said
on Tuesday.
The British foreign offi-
ce did not immediately re-
spond to a request to con-
firm the Evening Stan-
dard report.
In recent days, protest-
ers in several cities across
China have demonstrate
against strict Covid-19
measures, a show of civil
disobedience that is unpr-
ecedented since leader Xi
Jinping assumed power a
decade ago.
The BBC said its jour-
nalist Ed Lawrence was
beaten, arrested and
handcuffed while cover-
ing the protests in
Shanghai. — Reuters
ISRAELIS SHOOT
4 PALESTINIANS
IN WEST BANK
Ramallah, Nov. 29: Isra-
eli troops shot dead
three Palestinians in the
occupied West Bank on
Tuesday, Palestinian off-
icials said, before a sus-
pected car-ramming att-
acker was killed after se-
riously wounding a wo-
man, Israeli medics and
the army said.
The army confirmed
its troops had fired on
“rioters” who attacked
soldiers in two separate
West Bank clashes ove-
rnight. The 20-year-old
woman was in “severe
condition” with a head
injury following the sus-
pected car-ramming no-
rth of Jerusalem, me-
dics said.
Jerusalem’s Shaare
Tzedek hospital confir-
med the alleged attacker
had been killed.
The West Bank has suf-
fered spiralling violence
this year, with near daily
Israeli army raids lead-
ing to deaths while Jew-
ish settlers have been in-
creasingly targeted by at
times deadly Palestinian
violence. — AFP
Hawaiian archipelago. It’s
not the tallest (that title
goes to Mauna Kea) but it’s
the largest and makes up
about half of the island’s
land mass.
Mauna Loa last erupted
38 years ago. The current
eruption is its 34th since
written history began in
1843. The eruption began
Sunday night at its sum-
mit after a series of large
earthquakes.
Molten rock could cover
houses, farms or neigh-
bourhoods, depending on
where it flows.
But lava from the north-
east rift zone will likely
take at least a week to
Sunak: ‘Golden era’ with
China over, India FTA on
London, Nov. 29: Prime
Minister Rishi Sunak has
made a clear break with
the past on UK-China rela-
tions as he declared that
the so-called “golden era”
of bilateral ties is over
due to the “systemic chal-
lenge” to British values
and interests posed by
increasing authoritarian-
ism in Beijing.
He also reiterated the
UK’s commitment to a
free trade agreement
(FTA) with India as part of
the country’s wider focus
on enhancing ties with the
Indo-Pacific region and
standing up to competi-
tors with “robust pragma-
tism”.
In his first major foreign
policy speech at the Lord
Mayor of London’s Ban-
quet on Monday night, the
British Indian leader said
he wants to evolve the
UK’s approach towards
China, one of Asia’s
largest economies, as he
criticised the country’s
human rights record.
However, he did ackn-
owledge that the UK “can-
not simply ignore China’s
significance in world
affairs” and therefore his
approach would be one of
Another building hit
Workers at a destroyed building following Russian attack in the Kherson area of
Ukraine on Tuesday.
Xi to Putin: China ready
for closer ties on energy
Beijing, Nov. 29: China is
ready to “forge closer
partnership” with Russia
in energy, a state news
agency quoted President
Xi Jinping as saying in a
letter on Tuesday, poten-
tially expanding ties that
irk Washington by help-
ing the Kremlin resist
sanctions over its war on
Ukraine.
The announcement gave
no details. It said Xi made
the comment in a letter to
the 4th China-Russia
Energy Business Forum.
China’s energy-hungry
economy is one of the
biggest customers for
Russian oil and gas.
Purchases more than dou-
bled over a year ago in
October to $10.2 billion as
Chinese importers took
advantage of discounts
offered by Moscow.
“China is ready to work
with Russia to forge closer
partnership in energy
cooperation,” the official
Xinhua News Agency
cited Xi’s letter as saying.
“Energy cooperation is
an important cornerstone
of practical cooperation
between China and Rus-
sia.” Washington, Europe
and Japan cut purchases
reach populated areas,
allowing people time to
evacuate.
Mauna Loa is releasing
volcanic gases, mostly sul-
fur dioxide. The gases are
present in their highest
concentrations in the im-
mediate area around the
summit crater or vents.
But they also combine
with other particles to
form vog, which can spr-
ead across the Big Island.
When hot lava erupts
from a fissure and rapidly
cools, it forms glass parti-
cles named Pele's hair and
Pele's tears after the
Hawaiian goddess of vol-
canoes. — AP
robust pragmatism taking
a longer-term view.
“Let’s be clear, the so-
called ‘golden era’ is over,
along with the naive idea
that trade would lead to
social and political refo-
rm,” said Sunak, with ref-
erence to the phrase coi-
ned during the David Ca-
meron-led Conservative
Party government around
seven years ago.
But nor should we rely
on simplistic Cold War rh-
etoric. We recognise Chi-
na poses a systemic cha-
llenge to our values and
interests, a challenge that
grows more acute as it
moves towards even grea-
ter authoritarianism, he
said. Sunak was critical of
China’s handling of the
ongoing anti-lockdown
protests in the country
and the arrest and beating
of a BBC journalist over
the weekend, saying inst-
ead of listening to peopl-
e’s concerns, the Chinese
government “has chosen
to crack down further”.
The media and our par-
liamentarians must high-
light these issues, includi-
ng abuses in Xinjiang and
the curtailment of free-
dom in Hong Kong. — PTI
BEIJING-MOSCOW BONHOMIE
● CHINA IS ready to pote- ● THE ANNOUNCEMENT
ntially expand ties that irk
Washington by
helping the
Kremlin
resist sanc-
tions over
its war on
Ukraine.
CHINA’S ENERGY-hungry economy is one of the
biggest customers for Russian oil and gas. Purchases
more than doubled over a year ago in October to
$10.2 billion as Chinese importers took advantage of
discounts offered by Moscow.
● THE TWO sides have
formed a political mar-
riage of convenience
since the 1990s.
of Russian energy and
expelled the country from
the global banking system
in retaliation for Pre-
sident Vladimir Putin’s
February 24 attack on
Ukraine.
Xi declared in a joint
statement with Putin
before the attack that they
had a “no limits” friend-
A river of lava flows down from Mauna Loa, near Hilo in
Hawaii. Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano
erupted Monday for the first time in 38 years.
pg 6
UK OUSTS CHINA
FROM NEW NUKE
PLAN SIZEWELL
London, Nov. 29: Britain
on Tuesday ousted Chi-
na’s nuclear firm CGN
from construction of its
new Sizewell C nuclear
power station, which will
now be built with remain-
ing French partner EDF.
The announcement
came one day after Prime
Minister Rishi Sunak wa-
rned that the “golden era”
of UK-China relations
was “over”, adding Beiji-
ng posed a “systemic chal-
lenge” to UK interests and
values. Sunak’s Conserv-
ative government is strip-
ping CGN of its contro-
versial 20-per cent stake.
The UK plans to invest
700 million ($843 million)
in the project, a figure
that was matched by EDF
in a 50:50 joint venture.
Sizewell C, which is un-
der development on the
Suffolk coast in eastern
England, will power the
equivalent of about six
million homes. — AFP
— AFP
gave no details. It said Xi
made the com-
ment in a letter
to the 4th
China-Russia
Energy
Business
Forum.
ship. The sanctions don’t
prohibit China, India or
other countries from buy-
ing Russian oil and gas.
But President Joe Biden
has warned Xi of unspeci-
fied consequences if Beiji-
ng helps Putin evade sanc-
tions. Beijing-Moscow
relations were chilly dur-
ing the Soviet era but the
two sides have formed a
political marriage of con-
venience since the 1990s,
united by shared frustra-
tion with US dominance
of global affairs. — AP
— AP
 WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | NEW DELHI
quick Russia seeks Indian
BITES parts for key sectors
INDICATORS %
Sensex 62,681.84 0.28
Nifty 50 18,618.00 0.30
S&P 500* 3,972.76 0.22
Dollar (`) 81.69 0.01
Pound Sterling (`) 96.71 0.75
Euro (`) 83.91 1.05
Gold (10gm)* (`) 52,837▼101 -0.19
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 84.61 1.71
IN 10-Yr bond yield 7.281 0.007
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 3.701 -0.001
* As of 8:30 PM IST
Govt lifts ban
on exports of
broken rice
The government lifted the ban
on exports of organic non-bas-
mati rice, including broken rice,
on easing domestic supplies
and prices. The government
had, in early September,
banned the export of broken
rice. In a notification, the
DGFT said the export of organ-
ic non-basmati rice, including
organic non-basmati broken
rice, will now be governed by
rules that prevailed before the
September ban.
Genesys appoints
Deepa Madhavan
as country head
Cloud customer experience
and contact centre solutions
provider Genesys appointed
Deepa Madhavan as the India-
country head. Madhavan, in her
new role, would continue the
development of Genesys cloud
technologies and engagement
of teams across all functions in
Genesys India, the firm said.
She would manage, support
and grow the firm’s R&D centre
in Chennai, its second largest
facility globally.
Procurement
from GeM portal
crosses `1 L cr
Procurement of goods and
services from government por-
tal GeM has crossed Rs 1 lakh
crore so far this fiscal on
account of an increase in buy-
ing activities by different min-
istries and departments, CEO P.
K. Singhan said. The Govern-
ment e-Market (GeM) portal
was launched on August 9,
2016. “Our target for this fiscal
was Rs 1.5 lakh crore but going
by the trend we may reach Rs
1.80 lakh crore," Singh said.
TVS Motor rolls
out 2023 Apache
RTR 160 4V
TVS Motor Company rolled out
its 2023 Special Edition of its
popular motorcycle 160 4V
Apache RTR equipped with a
host of features. The 2023 TVS
Apache RTR 160 4V Special
Edition in pearl white is priced
at Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom
Delhi). The Special Edition
comprises new pearl white
colour, dual tone seat,
adjustable clutch and brake
levers, rear radial tyre among
many others, the firm said.
Printed & Published by
K. Sudhakar on behalf of
Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited.
Printed at BFL Infotech Ltd, C-9 Sector
3, Noida-201301. Published at 219, N D
Tiwari Bhawan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay
Marg, New Delhi-110002.
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI
Registration number 30074/09,
Air surcharge Re 1. © All rights
reserved. Reproduction in whole or
in part without written permission of
The Editor,
Financial Chronicle ® is prohibited.
„List of over 500 products sent to govt ADANI WINS RACE
ADITI SHAH,
AFTAB AHMED &
GLEB STOLYAROV
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29
Moscow has sent India a
list of more than 500 prod-
ucts for potential delivery,
including parts for cars,
aircraft and trains, four
sources familiar with the
matter said, as sanctions
squeeze Russia's ability to
keep vital industries run-
ning.
The list, a version of
which has been seen by
Reuters in New Delhi, is
provisional and it is
unclear how many of the
items will eventually be
exported and in what
quantity, but an Indian
government source said
the request was unusual in
its scope.
India is keen to boost
trade in this way, said the
source, as it tries to nar-
row a ballooning trade
deficit with Russia. Some
companies have expressed
concern, however, about
potentially falling foul of
Western sanctions.
An industry source in
Moscow, who declined to
be named because of the
sensitivity of the issue,
said Russia's Ministry of
Industry and Trade asked
large companies to provide
lists of raw materials and
equipment they needed.
The source added that
further discussion would
be needed to agree specifi-
cations and volumes and
that the outreach was not
limited to India.
Russia's Ministry of
Industry and Trade and
the Indian foreign and
SENSEX CLOCKS
FRESH HIGH ON
FPI INFLOWS
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, NOV. 29
The market's upward
momentum continued
with Sensex and Nifty-50
closing at fresh all time
highs for the second con-
secutive session with nar-
row gains ahead of some
key events lined up later
this week and next week.
The Sensex closed at
new all time high of
62681.84 gaining 177 points
or 0.28 per cent after rising
higher intraday to 62887
while the Nifty-50 closed at
18618.05 up 55.30 points or
0.30 per cent. Nifty-50 also
made a new all time high
of 18678.10.
Foreign portfolio inves-
tors continue to invest in
Indian equities and were
net buyers by Rs 1,241.57
crore on Tuesday which
seem to have taken market
higher even though
domestic institutions
booked profit worth Rs
744.42 crore.
Going ahead the market
will be reacting to second
quarter GDP number, GST
collection for this month,
November auto sales data,
RBI monetary policy and
outcome of Gujarat
assembly elections on
December 8.
SELLOFF NOT ONLY
SOLUTION TO DISCOM
WOES: NTPC CHIEF
New Delhi, Nov. 29:
Privatisation is not the
only solution to problems
being faced by many
power distribution utili-
ties or discoms as many
state-owned entities are
running efficiently and
making profit, NTPC
chairman and managing
director Gurdeep Singh
said on Tuesday.
The Union government
has been taking initia-
tives to privatise the dis-
coms.
Participating in a panel
discussion, Singh said, "I
don't know whether pri-
vatisation is the only solu-
tion. But yes, it is one of
the solutions."
He said there are private
discoms and state-owned
discoms which are run-
ning efficiently and also
making profits. — PTI
TO REDEVELOP
DHARAVI SLUM
commerce ministries and
the Prime Minister's Office
did not immediately
respond to requests for
comment.
Russia's requests were
made weeks ahead of for-
eign minister Subrah-
manyam Jaishankar's
visit to Moscow starting
Novem-ber 7, two of the
Indian sources said. It is
not clear what was con-
veyed by New Delhi to
Russia during the visit.
During the Moscow visit,
Jaishankar said India
needed to boost exports to
Russia to balance bilateral
trade that is now tilted
towards Russia.
He was accompanied on
the visit by senior officials
in charge of agriculture,
petroleum and natural gas,
ports and shipping,
finance, chemicals and fer-
tiliser, and trade—which
he said showed the impor-
tance of ties with Russia.
Western sanctions have
crippled supplies of some
crucial products in Russia.
Airlines are experiencing
an acute shortage of parts
because almost all planes
are foreign-made. Car
parts are also in demand,
with global automakers
MF exposure to a firm’s Global yield curve signals recession brewing
debt capped at 10-12%
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, NOV. 29
A mutual fund scheme
cannot invest more than
10 to 12 per cent of its net
asset value (NAV) in
investment grade or above
rated debt instruments
issued by a single issuer,
as per a circular issued by
the Securities and
Exchange Board of India
on Tuesday.
"A mutual fund scheme
shall not invest more than
10 per cent of its NAV in
debt instruments, issued
by a single issuer, com-
prising money market
securities and non-money
market securities rated
investment grade or above
by a credit rating
Agency (CRA). This
overall investment limit
may be extended to 12 per
cent of the NAV of the
scheme with the prior
approval of the board of
trustees and board of
directors of the asset
management company
(AMC)," the Sebi said
while extending the limits
to actively managed mutu-
al funds after it was earli-
er introduced in May for
debt ETFs/ index funds in
order to effectively man-
age the risk associated
MORE | POWER
Amazon’s in-house chip a computing giant
IAN KING & MATT DAY
NOV. 29
Amazon.com Inc's cloud-comput-
ing unit is rolling out new chips
designed to power the highest-end
of computing, supporting tasks
such as weather forecasting and
gene sequencing.
Amazon Web Services, the
largest provider of over-the-inter-
net computing, on Monday said it
would let customers rent comput-
ing power that relies on a new
version of its Graviton chips.
Peter DeSantis, a senior vice
president who oversees most of
AWS's engineering teams, said in
an interview that the product is a
springboard for making what the
industry calls high-performance
computing more readily avail-
able.
The chip is the latest piece of
Amazon's effort to build more of
the hardware that fills the mas-
sive data centres that power
having left the market.
A source in Russia's car
sales industry said the
trade ministry had sent a
list of car parts needed to
corresponding ministries
and state agencies in other
countries, including India.
The list of items from
Russia, which runs to
nearly 14 pages, includes
car engine parts like pis-
tons, oil pumps and igni-
tion coils. There is also
demand for bumpers, seat-
belts and infotainment sys-
tems.
For aircraft and helicop-
ters, Russia requested 41
items including landing
gear components, fuel sys-
tems, communication sys-
tems and fire extinguish-
ing systems, life jackets
and aviation tyres.
Also on the list were raw
materials to produce paper
bags and consumer pack-
aging and materials and
equipment to produce tex-
tiles. The list also includes
nearly 200 metallurgy
items. India is hoping to
boost its exports to nearly
$10 billion over coming
months with Russia's list
of requests, the govern-
ment source said.
— Reuters
GLOBAL
DOWNTURN
SEBI TO REVIEW
TAKEOVER RULES
New Delhi, Nov. 29: The
Sebi has set up a high-
level panel to review the
takeover norms in a
move to simplify and
strengthen the current
rules. Also, the regulator
will assess the current
rules in the light of past
judicial pronounce-
ments and informal
guidelines issued by it.
The 20-member com-
mittee will be chaired by
former chief justice of
Punjab and Haryana
High Court, Shiavax Jal
Vazifdar. — PTI
with such investments,
the circular said.
A mutual fund scheme
shall not invest more than
10 per cent of its NAV in
debt and money market
securities rated AAA; 8
per cent of its NAV in debt
and money market securi-
ties rated AA; or 6 per cent
of its NAV in debt and
money market securities
rated A and below issued
by a single issuer, the reg-
ulator said.
Product moves AWS into high-performance computing league
Computers that
predict weather patterns
and model race car
aerodynamics are among
the most powerful sys-
tems run by semiconduc-
tors. Those components
have typically been
provided by Intel,
Nvidia and AMD
AWS. Amazon says making its
own chips will give customers
more cost-effective computing
power than they could get by
renting time on processors built
by the likes of Intel Corp, Nvidia
Corp or Advanced Micro Devices
Inc. The move has put AWS in
direct competition with those
companies, which are also among
its biggest suppliers. DeSantis
China’s Fosun weighing
sale of Gland Pharma
Mumbai, Nov. 29: Adani
Group has emerged as the
highest bidder for the 259-
hectare Dharavi Redev-
DONG CAO &
MANUEL BAIGORRI
NOV. 29
elopment Project to remod-
el the world's largest slum. Billionaire Guo Guang-
Adani bid Rs 5,069 crore chang's Shanghai Fosun
while closest rival DLF Ltd Pharmaceutical Group Co
quoted Rs Rs 2,025 crore, is considering a sale of
S.V.R. Srinivas, metropoli- Indian drugmaker Gland
tan commissioner at the Pharma Ltd after receiv-
Mumbai Metropolitan ing interest from potential
Region Development buyers, people familiar
Authority, said. with the matter said.
"We will now be sending Fosun Pharma, a listed
the details to the govern- arm of Chinese conglom-
ment, which will consider erate Fosun International
and give final approval," Ltd, has been working
he said, adding that the with an adviser as it infor-
state government would mally gauges interest in
approve it in a fortnight. its controlling stake in
The bid is for the entire Gland, the people said.
Rs 20,000-crore project, and Companies in the indus-
the timeline for the project try and buyout firms are
is seven years to rehabili- in the early stages of
tate the 6.5 lakh slum studying the business, the
dwellers who are spread people said, asking not to
over 2.5 sq km area right
now, he said.
be identified because the
matter is private.
The project, which will
help the winning bidder to
book high revenues by sell-
Shares of Gland climbed
7.7 per cent in Mumbai on
ing lakhs of square foot of
residential and commer-
cial space in central
Mumbai, has been in
limbo for many years now
because of its complexi-
ties.
‘Retail’ digital rupee trial from tomorrow
FALAKNAAZ SYED
"This is one of the MUMBAI, NOV. 29
world's biggest urban
renewal projects, brownest The Reserve Bank of India
of the brownfield proj- on Tuesday announced
ects," Srinivas said. "There that the much-awaited
are many complexities ‘retail’ digital rupee would
involved, from class to reli- be launched on Thursday
gion to ethnicity; it's a December 1, on a pilot
maze we have to look basis. The pilot would ini-
through." tially cover Mumbai, New
Eight bidders, including
entities from South Korea
Delhi, Bengaluru and
Bhubaneswar in closed
and the UAE, had attended
a pre-bid meet held in
user groups comprising
customers and merchants.
October and three of them “The pilot will test the
actually bid for the project. robustness of the entire
Naman Group, a Mumbai- process of digital rupee
based developer, was the creation, distribution and
third whose bid did not retail usage in real time.
qualify. Different features and
—Agencies applications of the e`-R
GARFIELD REYNOLDS
NOV. 29
Global bonds joined US
World yield curve
inverts for first time
since at least 2000
■ Bloomberg global agg 10+ year yield spread to 1-3 yield
peers in signalling a reces-
sion, with a gauge measur-
ing the worldwide yield
curve inverting for the first
time in at least two
decades. 2001
The average yield on sov-
ereign debt maturing in 10
years or more has fallen investors switch money to
below that of securities longer-term bonds due to
due in one-to-three years, pessimism over the eco-
according to Bloomberg nomic outlook. Those fears
Global Aggregate bond are growing as policymak-
sub-indexes. That has ers around the world
never happened before pledge further monetary
based on data going back to tightening to tame rising
the beginning of the mil-
lennium.
consumer prices.
"Central bankers paral-
The inversion of the yield
curve is typically seen to
ysed by inflation fears will
keep cash rates anchored
herald a recession, as in the restrictive zone for
Hotel occupancies drop in Oct.
SANGEETHA G. Anarock data, a drop in
CHENNAI, NOV. 29 business travel because of
the festival season had led
Despite the growth in air to the decline in hotel occu-
traffic and onset of the fes- pancy. However, domestic
tive season, hotel occupan- air traffic had increased by
cies dropped sequentially 10 per cent in October com-
in October. pared to the previous
Nationwide hotel occu- month. This growth in fes-
pancy declined to 56-58 per tive season travel has not
cent in October 2022, 5 to 7 reflected in hotel occupan-
per cent lower than the cies.
occupancy in September. The occupancy in
According to HVS- October was also lower by
said the chipmakers remain
"great partners," and that AWS
plans to continue to offer high-
performance computing services
based on chips made by other
companies.
AWS acquired chipmaker
Annapurna Labs in 2015 to jump-
start its homegrown chip designs,
which at first were focused on
simpler computing tasks, such as
providing the backbone for web-
sites. The high-performance com-
puting push announced at the
kickoff of the AWS re:Invent
trade show on Monday is an effort
to demonstrate that Amazon's in-
house technology can compete
head-to-head with chips from
industry leaders.
Computers that predict weather
patterns and model race car aero-
dynamics are among the most
powerful systems run by state-of-
the-art semiconductors. Those
components have typically been
provided by Intel, Nvidia and
GLAND TO ACQUIRE
EUROPE’S CENEXI
New Delhi, Nov. 29:
Gland Pharma on
Tuesday said it has
entered into a put option
agreement to acquire
Europe-based Cenexi
Group for up to 120 mil-
lion euros (around Rs
1,015 crore). Under the
put option, an entity gets
the right not obligation
to sell a stock at a prede-
termined price. —PTI
Tuesday, their largest
increase in more than a
year. The stock has fallen
about 51 per cent this year,
giving the company a mar-
ket value of $3.8 billion.
Fosun Pharma shares in
Hong Kong rose 4.9 per
cent.
Hyderabad-based Gland
specialises in injectable
token and architecture will
be tested in future pilots,
based on the learnings
from this pilot,” said the
central bank in a release.
The e`-R would be issued
in the same denominations
that paper currency and
coins are currently issued.
"As in the case of cash, it
will not earn any interest
and can be converted to
other forms of money, like
deposits with banks," the
central bank said.
The e`-R can be used in
contactless transactions as
are done via UPI apps.
The retail digital curren-
cy would be distributed
through banks. Users will
be able to transact with e?-
longer," said Prashant
Newnaha, a rates strategist
at TD Securities Inc in
Singapore. "This will be a
300 key catalyst for ongoing
200
100
curve flattening."
European Central Bank
president Christine
2022
0 Lagarde on Monday sig-
nalled more rate hikes are
Source: — Bloomberg likely, saying she'd be sur-
prised if euro-zone infla-
tion has peaked.
Comments from four
Federal Reserve officials
on the same day flagged the
probability that rates need
to go higher.
Germany may already be
in recession, while the US
is likely to enter one by the
middle of next year,
according to Deutsche
Bank AG strategists.
—Bloomberg
2-4 per cent from pre-Covid
October 2019, but was 4-6
per cent better than pan-
demic-hit October 2021.
Average room rates con-
tinued their upward trend,
helping revenue per avail-
able room to remain above
the pre-pandemic levels for
the month. Average daily
rates across the country
stood at Rs 6,600-Rs 68,00,
up 10-12 per cent from
October 2019.
AMD in expensive computer sys-
tems that companies, government
departments and academic insti-
tutions have built in their own
data centres.
The latest version of AWS's line
of Graviton processors, the
Graviton3E, will have twice the
ability of current versions in one
type of calculations needed by
high-performance computers,
DeSantis said. When combined
with other AWS technology, the
new offering will be 20 per cent
better than the previous one.
Amazon didn't say when services
based on the new chip would be
available.
"The reason that high-perform-
ance computing isn't big is it's
hard," DeSantis said. "It's hard to
get capacity, it's hard to get time
on that supercomputer. What
we're excited about is bringing
the capabilities of high-perform-
ance computing to more work-
loads." — Bloomberg
pg 7
drugs such as antibiotics,
oncology and cardiology
treatments and has a pres-
ence in about 60 countries,
its website says.
A sale would help
Gland's Chinese owner
raise cash as the once-
acquisitive group seeks to
shore up its balance sheet.
Representatives for
Fosun Pharma didn't
immediately respond to
requests for comment.
Gland Pharma said in an
exchange filing on
Tuesday it hasn't received
any information from its
controlling shareholder
on a potential sale, and is
unable to comment.
Fosun Pharma acquired
a 74 per cent stake in
Gland for about $1.1 bil-
lion in 2017 from an
investor group including
KKR & Co. It listed the
business three years later
in a $873 million IPO.
— Bloomberg
R through a digital wallet
offered by the participating
banks and stored on
mobile phones/ devices.
Transactions can be car-
ried out between person to
person (P2P) and person to
merchant (P2M). Payments
to merchants can be made
using QR codes.
Eight banks have been
identified for phase-wise
participation in this pilot.
The first phase will begin
with four banks, viz., State
Bank of India, ICICI Bank,
Yes Bank and IDFC First
Bank in four cities.
The first pilot for the dig-
ital currency in the whole-
sale segment was started
on November 1.
BHARAT FORGE-TATA
BACKED TORK MOTORS
TO SET UP E-BIKE UNIT
MICHAEL GONSALVES
PUNE, NOV. 29
Bharat Forge and Ratan
Tata-funded Pune-based
start-up Tork Motors is all
set to scale up the produc-
tion of its electric motor-
cycles through a green
field mini-factory at
Chakan, near Pune that
will go onstream in
January.
“The new factory will
have an installed capacity
to produce 40,000 units
annually,” Tork Motors
founder and CEO Kapil
Shelke told FC.
He said from 300-400
units a month, the compa-
ny is producing 4,000-5,000
units a month at the exist-
ing production facility in
the city.
“Our investors, Bharat
Forge, have invested in a
new factory located at
Chakan, near Pune and
they will contract manu-
facture for us. The new
facility will go onstream in
January,” Shelke, who has
invested Rs 30 crore out of
the total Rs 100 crore
invested till date, said.
While the majority stake
of 60 per cent holder is
Bharat Forge, the balance
10 per cent stake is held by
Rata Tata and others.
HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 TO
BE UNVEILED IN JAN.
MICHAEL GONSALVES
PUNE, NOV. 29
Hyundai, India’s second
biggest carmaker, will
launch the Ioniq 5 in
India at the Auto Expo in
January 2023.
On Tuesday, the carmak-
er announced that book-
ings for the Hyundai
Ioniq 5 electric crossover
will open on December 20.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is
a sister model to the Kia
EV6 that is already on
sale in India. However,
while the Kia EV6 (Rs
59.96 lakh) comes as a full
import, Hyundai will
locally assemble the
Ioniq 5.
The company is target-
ing a sub-Rs 50 lakh price
for its flagship EV Ioniq 5.
In addition to the Kia
EV6, it will take on the
Volvo XC40 Recharge and
will also compete with
similarly priced EVs.
 ArabianN ghts ● ARGENTINA ● AUSTRALIA ● BELGIUM ● BRAZIL ● CAMEROON ● CANADA ● COSTA RICA ● CROATIA ● DENMARK ● ECUADOR ● ENGLAND
●FRANCE ● GERMANY ● GHANA ● IRAN ● JAPAN ● KOREA REPUBLIC ● MEXICO ● MOROCCO ● NETHERLANDS ● POLAND ● PORTUGAL

THE ASIAN AGE | WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | NEW DELHI

● QATAR ● SAUDI ARABIA ● SENEGAL ● SERBIA ● SPAIN ● SWITZERLAND ● TUNISIA ● UNITED STATES ● URUGUAY ● WALES
pg 8

HOLLAND HIGH
Short passes GROUP A STANDINGS
TEAM P W D L GF GA GD Pts
● Netherlands 3 2 1 0 5 1 4 7
● Senegal 3 2 0 1 5 4 1 6
● Ecuador 3 1 1 1 4 3 1 4
● Qatar 3 0 0 3 1 7 -6 0
GROUP B

Netherlands see off sorry Qatar to reach Last 16 TEAM

● England
● Iran
● USA
P
2
2
2
W
1
1
0
D
1
0
2
L
0
1
0
GF GA GD Pts
6
4
1
2
6
1
4 4
-2 3
0 2
Netherlands 2 ● Wales 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2 1

(Gakpo 26, De Jong 49) GROUP C

TEAM P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Qatar 0 ● Poland 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 4
A protester runs across the ● Argentina 2 1 0 1 3 2 1 3
field with ‘Respect for Iranian Al Khor, Nov. 29: Cody ● Saudi Arabia 2 1 0 1 2 3 -1 3
Woman’ printed on his T-shirt Gakpo scored again as ● Mexico 2 0 1 1 0 2 -2 1
during the Portugal-Uruguay in the Netherlands booked
their place in the World GROUP D
Lusail on Monday. — AP
Cup Last 16 as group win- TEAM P W D L GF GA GD Pts
ners with a straightfor- ● France 2 2 0 0 6 2 4 6
ward 2-0 victory over
Man with rainbow hosts Qatar on Tuesday.
● Australia
● Denmark
2
2
1
0
0
1
1
1
2
1
4
2
-2 3
-1 1
flag invades pitch The Netherlands, need-
ing just a point to be sure ● Tunisia 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 1

T he Italian who ran onto

the World Cup pitch
wearing a T-shirt in support
of progressing, put one
foot in the next round
inside the first half-hour
TEAM
GROUP E
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
● Spain 2 1 1 0 8 1 7 4
of Ukraine and Iranian as Gakpo scored for a
● Japan 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
women defended his protest third straight group
Tuesday, despite being game. Frenkie de Jong ● Costa Rica 2 1 0 1 1 7 -6 3
served a tournament ban. added another in the 49th ● Germany 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 1
Mario Ferri, 35, a football minute. GROUP F
player with a history of sim- Qatar, already eliminat-
TEAM P W D L GF GA GD Pts
ilar stunts, interrupted the ed before kick-off, suf-
fered the ignominy of ● Croatia 2 1 1 0 4 1 3 4
Portugal-Uruguay game on
Monday when he sprinted becoming the first home ● Morocco 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 4
onto the pitch wearing a team in World Cup histo- ● Belgium 2 1 0 1 1 2 -1 3
blue Superman T-shirt with ry to finish the group ● Canada 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0
“Save Ukraine” on the front stage without a point.
and “Respect for Iranian Louis van Gaal’s Dutch GROUP G
Woman” on the back. side ended with seven TEAM P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Ferri, who calls himself points at the top of ● Brazil 2 2 0 0 3 0 3 6
“The Falcon”, also carried a Group ‘A’, while Senegal ● Switzerland 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
rainbow-coloured flag joined them in the knock- ● Cameroon 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1 1
adorned with the words out phase as runners-up
● Serbia 2 0 1 1 3 5 -2 1
PACE, meaning peace in after beating Ecuador 2-
Italian. “I’m BACK,” wrote 1.
Ferri on his Instagram page The Oranje will next
GROUP H
Tuesday, where he describes take on the second- TEAM P W D L GF GA GD Pts
himself as a “modern placed team from Group ● Portugal 2 2 0 0 5 2 3 6
pirate”. FIFA said Ferri’s ‘B’ for a quarterfinal spot ● Ghana 2 1 0 1 5 5 0 3
official card to access the at the Khalifa ● South Korea 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 1
Qatar stadiums was can- International Stadium ● Uruguay 2 0 1 1 0 2 -2 1
celled and that he had been on Saturday.
banned from future World England currently top (Tabulated as Played, Won, Drawn, Lost, Goals For, Goals Against, Goal Difference, Points)
● UPDATED AFTER NETHERLANDS-QATAR, SENEGAL-ECUADOR MATCHES ON TUESDAY
Cup matches. that section and face
Wales later on Tuesday,
while the United States
Neymar to miss
Cameroon game
play Iran. All four teams
are still in the hunt for
qualification.
The Dutch have made a
Fernandes takes
N Portugal to KOs
eymar will play no part solid start as they look to
in Brazil’s final World put the disappointment
Cup group game against of failing to qualify for Frankie de Jong of the Netherlands scores against Qatar during their World Cup Group ‘A’ match at the Al Bayt
Cameroon on Friday as he the 2018 World Cup in Stadium in Al Khor on Tuesday. — AP
continues his recovery from Russia firmly behind Doha, Nov. 29: Bruno
an ankle injury, the national them. Fernandes scored twice to Portugal 2
team’s doctor has con-
firmed.
The PSG superstar missed
Monday’s 1-0 win over
Qatar signed off from
their long-awaited home
World Cup with a whim-
per, securing their place
Senegal edge Ecuador, MESSI AND CO.
PLAY POLAND
give Portugal a 2-0 victory
over Uruguay on Monday
and send them into the
knockout stages of the
(Fernandes 84, 90+3-pen)

Uruguay 0

reach knockout stage

Switzerland after coming off in the record books as
with a sprained ankle in his the worst ever hosts on
side’s opening 2-0 win in
Qatar against Serbia.
Coach Tite has expressed
the pitch.
Van Gaal was able to
give Memphis Depay his
his confidence that the 30- first start of the tourna-
year-old will return to play a ment as the Barcelona
part in the Selecao’s bid to star continued his return
win a record-extending sixth to full fitness after a ham-
World Cup, but he will not string injury.
feature against Cameroon It did not take the
with Brazil’s place in the Dutch long to slice
last 16 having already been through the Qatar
secured. “Neymar has had a defence, although Daley
bit of a fever which is under Blind could only scuff a
control and has not got in fourth-minute attempt
the way of his recovery from straight at goalkeeper
his ankle injury,” said Brazil Meshaal Barsham.
team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar The opening goal
in a video released by the arrived in the 26th
Brazilian Football minute as Davy Klaassen
Confederation. played in Gakpo after a
neat move also involving
Depay.
Live on TV The PSV Eindhoven
winger drove forward
Tunisia vs France and drilled a low strike
from 8.30 pm into the bottom corner
from the edge of the box
Australia vs Denmark to score his third goal of
from 8.30 pm the tournament.
Poland vs Argentina The three-time World
from 12.30 am (Thursday) Cup runners-up took
advantage of shoddy
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico Qatar defending to dou-
from 12.30 am (Thursday) ble their advantage four
on Sports 18 minutes after the break.
— AFP
Doha, Nov. 29: Kalidou
Koulibaly sent Senegal
into the World Cup knock-
outs for just the second
time in their history with
the winner in Tuesday’s
dramatic 2-1 win over
Ecuador.
The Netherlands’ domi-
nant victory over Qatar
meant only a win would
see Senegal through to the
knockouts from Group ‘A’,
while Ecuador would have
progressed with a draw.
Senegal opened the scor-
ing through Ismaila Sarr’s
penalty late in the first
half, but despite managing
to keep Ecuador captain
Enner Valencia quiet
throughout, Moises
Caicedo levelled in the
67th minute before
Koulibaly sent his team
through and Ecuador
home.
Senegal manager Aliou
Cisse promised before the
game his experienced side
“would not overthink” the
occasion and it was the
Africans who opened the
Senegal 2 began to settle and the
(Ismaila 44-penalty,
Koulibaly 70)
Ecuador 1 referee Clement Turpin no
(Caicedo 67)
game furiously, with
Everton’s Idrissa Gana
Gueye lashing the ball just
wide of an open goal after
only three minutes.
Less than a minute later,
Ecuador goalkeeper
Hernan Galindez needed
to bail out his side’s high
backline, sliding in to sti-
fle a counter well outside
his box.
Seemingly sparked into
life by Senegal’s fierce
opening, Ecuador pushed
forward and won a free-
kick 30 metres from goal,
with the South Americans
taking the opportunity for
a rare breather before
Valencia slammed the ball
into the wall.
After the furious opening
exchanges, both sides
first half looked set to end
goalless before Ecuador
defender Piero Hincapie
clattered into Sarr, giving
choice but to point to the
spot. Sarr stepped up and
coolly dispatched a fine
spot-kick past Galindez,
maintaining eye contact
with the keeper as the ball
went in.
From a free-kick,
Ecuador defender Felix
Torres rose high to head
the ball on to Caicedo, who
was waiting at the far post
and slammed the ball
home.
Senegal struck back
immediately and in almost
identical fashion, with
Koulibaly lurking
unmarked at the far post
following a free-kick
which was deflected into
his path by Hincapie.
Coming into the match
on a yellow card, Gueye
picked up a second-half
booking. — AFP
FOR SURVIVAL
Doha, Nov. 29: Lionel
Messi has already come
to Argentina’s rescue at
the World Cup. He might
just have to do it all over
again.
Another emotionally
charged evening awaits
Messi and the football-
mad South American
nation that worships him
when Argentina meet
Poland on Wednesday for
a match with so much on
the line.
For Messi, who is play-
ing in likely his last
World Cup. For Poland
striker Robert
Lewandowski,
might also be too old
who
when soccer’s biggest
tournament rolls up next
in 2026.
And for the World Cup
as a whole. Because who,
really, doesn’t want to see
Messi — one of the
game’s greatest ever
players — in the late
stages of a tournament
that is heating up so nice-
ly. — AP
World Cup alongside
France and Brazil. made three changes from
The Manchester United
midfielder scored a cross-
cum-shot nine minutes
their opening matches,
with Portugal bringing in
veteran Pepe for the
into the second half and injured Danilo Pereira,
then added an injury-time who suffered cracked ribs
penalty following a hand- in training.
ball by Jose Maria Pepe became the third-
Gimenez. oldest outfield player in
The match at 89,000- World Cup history and it
capacity Lusail Stadium was his first full 90 min-
also featured the first utes in more than a month
pitch invader of the Qatar and a half.
tournament — the man “I worked a lot with my
carried messages of sup- club (Porto), which gave
port for Ukraine and me the possibility of
Iranian women and had a being 100 per cent for the
rainbow flag. national team,” said Pepe
“It was a well-deserved of his surprise start.
victory,” Portugal coach Portugal dominated the
Fernando Santos said. first half, hogging the ball
“The first part is over, we and creating several
are in a hurry. Now I will chances, but without ever
continue to work to
improve what needs to
testing Uruguay goalkeep-
er Sergio Rochet.
improve. The team The main drama came
deserved it, they were after the break.
solid and very strong both Moments after a pitch
in the quality of the game invader ran onto the pitch
and the bond between carrying an LGBTQ rain-
them.” bow flag and with a mes-
With Portugal already sage supporting Ukraine
through, Uruguay must and Iranian women on his
now beat Ghana in their T-shirt, only to be spectac-
final Group ‘H’ match to ularly tackled by security,
stand any chance of also Portugal went in front.
progressing. Both sides — AFP

FOOT INJURY FORCES WOODS SEN REGAINS

OUT OF WORLD CHALLENGE
India hope for full game in final ODI
Christchurch, Nov. 29: men would aim to put up the roost in the past few
CAREER-BEST
Nassau (Bahamas), Nov. 29:
Tournament host Tiger
bone to the toes, in his right
foot, while preparing for the
Frustrated by the fickle
weather, a desperate
Indian team would pray for
an impactful performance
at the picturesque Hagley
Oval ground, which has
ODI games. And for that,
not just the openers or
Surya but the likes of
SIXTH SPOT
Woods was forced to pull out annual charity event. a rain-free final ODI traditionally helped the Rishabh Pant also needs to New Delhi, Nov. 29 Star
of this week’s Hero World “In preparation and prac- against New Zealand in its seam bowlers and has an step up and be counted. Indian shuttler Lakshya
Challenge due to a foot injury tice for this week’s Hero bid to finish on an even average score in the 230 Rishabh’s ODI record is Sen on Tuesday jumped
that is “making it difficult to World Challenge, I’ve devel- keel in a series that neither range in the past few years. pretty impressive but cur- two spots to regain his
walk.” oped plantar fasciitis in my had context nor any major The Indian batting in rently, the runs have dried career-best sixth posi-
The 46-year-old golfer last right foot, which is making it takeaways. There is fore- first Powerplay (first 10 up since the tour of tion in the latest BWF
played at the British Open in difficult to walk,” Woods said cast of scattered showers overs) has been much England (primarily in 20 World Rankings.The 21-
St. Andrews in July. He was in a statement posted on his in Christchurch and noth- talked about and even over cricket) and he is one year-old from Almora,
set to return to action after a Twitter handle on Monday. ing can be more irritating though skipper Dhawan player, who needs to fire in who had a stellar run
short hiatus with the PGA World number 29 Sepp than playing a series has been a prolific ODI order to ensure that Indian this season, has 75,024
Tour-sanctioned event start- Straka has been named as where the Gen-Next of opener over the years, even middle-order looks compet- points from 23 tourna-
ing at the Albany Golf Woods’ replacement. Indian cricket hardly got he understands that to itive against a quality ments.
Course on Thursday. Woods, however, intends to any game time to show secure his place for the Black Caps attack. Kidambi Srikanth and
The 15-time major champi- still compete in two tourna- their prowess. next World Cup, his Rishabh’s presence and H.S. Prannoy remained
on said he developed plantar ments next month — a made- Out of five white-ball approach needs a sea lack of bowling options static at world number 11
fasciitis, which is an inflam- for-TV exhibition event and games that also includes change. among the specialist bat- and 12 respectively.
mation of a thick band of tis- the PNC Championship three-match T20I series, His young opening part- India coach VVS Laxman (left) interacts with Suryakumar ters also effectively mean Women’s doubles pair
sue that connects the heel alongside his son Charlie. two matches (one T20I and ner Shubman Gill, howev- Yadav at a training session in Christchurch on Tuesday, that Sanju Samson has to of Treesa Jolly and
one ODI) didn’t yield any er, has shown more intent once again sit out, like the Gayatri Gopichand
the eve of their final ODI against New Zealand. — BCCI
Published by K. Sudhakar for and on behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited at result and one game (T20I) in shot selection with last game where Deepak broke into the top 20 by
Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New was curtailed significantly scores of 50 and 45 not out three sixes in a short 12.5 for Indian batting line-up Hooda, because of his all- jumping two places to
Delhi 110 002. and Printed by him at BFL Infotech Limited, and ended in a tie due to in the two games. overs of play at the Seddon will be to put up an above round skills, was preferred world number 19.
C – 9, Sector – III, Noida – 201301. Duckworth-Lewis method. So has Indian cricket’s Park, did send the Indian par score against New over the immensely popu- The pair has 46,020
Editor – Kaushik Mitter, With the series in line, current blue-eyed boy supporters into raptures. Zealand on a ground where lar cricketer from Kerala. points from 17 tourna-
RNI Registration number 57290/94, Price in Nepal - Nep.Rs. 20.00 per copy.
Shikhar Dhawan and his Suryakumar Yadav, whose But the bigger challenge swing bowlers have ruled — PTI ments. — PTI