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CITY EDITION
18 Pages ₹ 12.00

Vol.13 앫 No.105

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CM J ND-NDE
YK
 THE HINDU Thursday, May 4, 2023
J2 Delhi

CM J ND-NDE
YK
 THURSDAY
May 4, 2023
DELHI
CITY EDITION
18 Pages ₹ 12.00
Printed at » Chennai » Coimbatore
TWO­DAY CONCLAVE
SCO Foreign Ministers
to meet in Goa today
NEWS » PAGE 11
Citing report,
SC declines
Rajoana’s
mercy plea
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court on
Wednesday found it inap­
propriate to direct the go­
vernment to commute the
death penalty of Balwant
Singh Rajoana — who is on
death row for the 1995 as­
sassination of former Pun­
jab Chief Minister Beant
Singh — in view of the
Home Ministry’s conclu­
sion that a decision on the
mercy petition now would
impact national security.
Justice Vikram Nath,
who authored the verdict,
said it was not up to the
court to “delve” on the Mi­
nistry’s decision to defer a
decision on the clemency
plea. “It is within the do­
main of the executive to
take a call on such sensitive
issues,” the court said. It
said the Ministry’s call to
postpone its decision on
the mercy petition actually
amounted to declining the
plea for the time being.
Go First lands in NCLT
with ₹11,463­cr. dues
Jagriti Chandra
NEW DELHI
Go First approached the
National Company Law
Tribunal (NCLT) on Wed­
nesday and sought the ad­
mission of its insolvency
plea. It owes creditors
₹11,463 crore, the airline
said in its insolvency filing.
The NCLT, Delhi has list­
ed the matter for Thursday.
According to Reuters,
the airline, in its petition,
said its total liabilities to all
creditors stood at ₹11,463
crore, which includes dues
to banks, financial institu­
tions, vendors and aircraft
lessors.
“Currently, the assets of
the company are not suffi­
cient to meet its liabilities,”
the airline said in the filing
April PMI signals services sector
had best expansion in 13 years
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
India’s services sector re­
corded its highest uptick in
new business and output
levels since June 2010 this
April, led by a strong up­
turn in the finance and in­
surance segment, as per
the seasonally adjusted
S&P Global India Services
PMI Business Activity In­
dex, which rebounded
from a decline to 57.8 in
March to 62 in April.
A reading of 50 on the
index indicates no change
in business activity levels.
New export orders ex­
panded for the third
month in succession and at
the fastest pace over this
period. However, job crea­
tion remained negligible in
April and input cost infla­
CM
YK
» Bengaluru » Hyderabad
SC sets aside HC
stay on inquiry into
Amaravati land scam
Krishnadas Rajagopal
NEW DELHI
In a legal victory for the Ja­
gan Mohan Reddy govern­
ment, the Supreme Court
on Wednesday set aside an
Andhra Pradesh High
Court order issuing a
“blanket stay” on an inqui­
ry into the Amaravati land
scam and the alleged role
of the previous Telugu De­
sam Party (TDP) regime.
The events in this case
unfolded in June 2019
when the Reddy govern­
ment issued a notification
constituting a Cabinet sub­
committee to review major
policies, projects, pro­
grammes, institutions and
the key administrative ac­
tions taken by the TDP go­
vernment following the bi­
furcation of the erstwhile
State of Andhra Pradesh.
Fraudulent transactions
The first report of the sub­
committee on December
27, 2019 pointed out “sev­
as per Reuters.
On Tuesday, the airline
suspended flights for three
days and announced its de­
cision to seek insolvency
proceedings before the
NCLT. It blamed grounding
of 25 aircraft due to delays
in delivery of engines by
Pratt & Whitney for its fai­
lure to meet its financial
obligations.
Responding to Go First’s
claims that its cash crunch
was precipitated by Pratt &
Whitney’s failure to deliver
engines, the engine maker
said it was complying with
the March 2023 arbitration
ruling. The Singapore In­
ternational Arbitration
Centre had ordered P&W
to provide Go First 10 en­
gines by April 27 and
another 10 by December.
tion, which had hit a two­
and­a­half­year low in
March, surged to a three­
month high, with firms re­
porting a rise in costs on
food, fuel, medicine, tran­
sportation and wages.
Consumer services
firms recorded the fastest
upturn in average expens­
es, as per the survey­based
» Madurai » Noida » Visakhapatnam
IMHANS SERVICE
Helpline to
the rescue
of Kashmiris
NEWS » PAGE 12
Cabinet committee
set up by A.P. govt.
found irregularities
in various projects
during TDP regime
eral procedural, legal and
financial irregularities and
fraudulent transactions
concerning various pro­
jects..., including in the
Capital Region Develop­
ment Authority region”.
On February 21, 2020,
the State government is­
sued another notification
setting up a Special Investi­
gating Team (SIT) to “in­
quire, register, investigate
and conclude the investiga­
tion” into the findings of
the report.
Both notifications were
stayed by the High Court
indefinitely, prompting the
State to approach the top
court for relief.
CONTINUED ON
» PAGE 10
G­20 stop
Tight sieve: CRPF personnel patrolling the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar on Wednesday. Jammu and Kashmir is on high alert ahead of the
G­20 working group meeting scheduled to be held in Srinagar from May 22. NISSAR AHMAD
monthly indicator, but all
services sectors raised sell­
ing prices at the fastest
pace in 2023, with the
most acute price hikes un­
dertaken by transport, in­
formation and communi­
cation businesses.
CONTINUED ON
» PAGE 10
www.thehindu.com
» Thiruvananthapuram » Kochi » Vijayawada
DOWN 11 PLACES
India’s rank falls to 161
in press freedom index
NEWS » PAGE 10
No union, but Centre ready
to ease living of gay couples
Govt. proposes panel to look into ‘genuine, human concerns’; Supreme Court says it is a ‘step
forward’ and a ‘big, big positive’ towards social acceptance of right of same­sex couples to cohabit
Krishnadas Rajagopal
NEW DELHI
he Union govern­
T ment informed the
Supreme Court on
Wednesday that it was will­
ing to form a committee
headed by the Cabinet Se­
cretary to consider admi­
nistrative measures for ad­
dressing “genuine, human
concerns” faced by same­
sex couples in their daily
lives in areas such as bank­
ing and insurance, without
delving into their petitions
for legal recognition of
same­sex marriage.
“The government is pos­
itive. Something can be
done administratively re­
garding genuine concerns
of same­sex couples. This
would require coordina­
tion among different Minis­
tries. Therefore, we have
decided, subject to the
Vote for a stable government, says PM
at massive election rally in Karnataka
The Hindu Bureau
MANGALURU
Continuing to stress on the
need to vote for a stable go­
vernment, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi told the pe­
ople of coastal Karnataka
that the BJP wants to make
Karnataka a superpower by
creating modern infras­
tructure and giving a face­
lift to the manufacturing
sector. “It is our road map,”
he told a mammoth gather­
ing at Mulky, near Mangalu­
ru, in Dakshina Kannada
district, on Wednesday.
Mr. Modi said India is
the fifth largest economy in
the world now and the Un­
ion government, led by the
BJP, wants to push it furth­
er to the third position.
The vikas (development) of
Karnataka matters most
» Mangaluru » Tiruchirapalli
court’s approval, to form a
committee headed by
none less than the Cabinet
Secretary. My friends [the
petitioners] can give their
suggestions about the pro­
blems they are facing. The
committee will go into
them and see, as far as pos­
sible and legally permissi­
Reaching out: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting people at a
huge rally in Mulky near Mangaluru on Wednesday. H.S. MANJUNATH
for India to emerge as the
third largest economy.
Development goals
“Will you help in achieving
it [the third position]?
Without the growth of Kar­
nataka, it cannot be
achieved,” he told the gath­
ering. “The BJP can give a
stable government.”
» Kolkata » Hubballi » Mohali
CHANGING NARRATIVE
Karnataka poll
and ideological
contestations
Parties are redrawing
their political contours
EDITORIAL » PAGE 6
ble, how they can be ad­
dressed,” Solicitor­General
Tushar Mehta, for the
Centre, submitted before a
Constitution Bench led by
Chief Justice of India D.Y.
Chandrachud.
The Bench termed the
government’s stand a “step
forward” and even a “big,
Highlighting the “pace
of development” through­
out his speech, Mr. Modi
asked the audience wheth­
er Karnataka requires vikas
and the top position in
farming, fisheries, health,
education and industrial
sectors. “If the top position
is to be achieved, the BJP
will have to be given a clear
» Malappuram » Mumbai » Tirupati
BIG CHASE
Kishan, Suryakumar
deliver for Mumbai
SPORT » PAGE 15
big positive” towards
achieving wider social ac­
ceptance of the right of
same­sex couples to
cohabit.
Next step
The Chief Justice said the
court could now go into
whether same­sex couples
have a “right to cohabit to­
gether in a normal, peacea­
ble environment in our
country without facing any
form of discrimination, so­
cietal or otherwise”.
The court said the sug­
gestion from the govern­
ment to form a committee
headed by the Cabinet Se­
cretary indicates its readi­
ness to recognise the inci­
dence of cohabitory
relationships among same­
sex couples.
CONTINUED ON
» PAGE 10
Ukraine sent drones
to target Putin: Russia
Associated Press
MOSCOW
Russian authorities ac­
cused Ukraine on Wednes­
day of attempting to attack
the Kremlin with two
drones overnight in an ef­
fort to assassinate Presi­
dent Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin decried the
alleged attack attempt as a
“terrorist act”, and said
Russian military and secur­
ity forces “disabled” the
drones before they could
strike. It did not elaborate.
A video published on a
local Moscow news Tele­
gram channel showed
what looked like smoke ris­
ing over the Kremlin.
Kyiv categorically de­
nied involvement in the at­
tack. “We do not attack the
mandate,” he said.
The Prime Minister said
the BJP has created an eco­
system for the promotion
of start­ups. The country is
now highly respected in
the United States, Austra­
lia, Japan, the United King­
dom and other corners of
the world because voters
strengthened the BJP by
giving it a majority in Par­
liament. “That is the power
of voting,” he said.
Continuing his tirade
against the Congress, Mr.
Modi said, “It [the Con­
gress] is shanti ka dush-
man, vikas ka dushman
(enemy of peace and deve­
lopment).” He reiterated
that the “Delhi parivar” in
the Congress wants to use
Karnataka as its ATM, and
the party has continued its
appeasement policy.
FOLLOW US
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Vol.13 앫 No.105
» Lucknow » Cuttack » Patna
IN BRIEF
쑽
Day after Pawar’s
move, allies say
MVA not in peril
PUNE
A day after Sharad Pawar
decided to step down as NCP
president, the party’s partners
in the Maha Vikas Aghadi —
the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the
Congress — said there was no
reason to believe the alliance
was in any danger. » Page 4
ED names AAP MP
in chargesheet ‘by
mistake’, stirs row
NEW DELHI
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
on Wednesday criticised
the ED over the purported
inclusion of AAP MP Sanjay
Singh’s name in a chargesheet
related to the alleged liquor
scam “by mistake”. » Page 2
A still image from a video
shows a flying object exploding
near the dome of the Kremlin.
Kremlin because, first of
all, it does not solve any
military problems. Abso­
lutely. And this is extreme­
ly disadvantageous from
the point of view of prepar­
ing our offensive mea­
sures,” Ukraine’s presiden­
tial adviser, Mykhailo
Podolyak, said.
Scuffle breaks
out between
wrestlers and
Delhi Police
Mehul Malpani
NEW DELHI
A scuffle broke out at Jantar
Mantar between the wres­
tlers staging a protest
against the WFI chief and
Delhi Police personnel late
on Wednesday. One protes­
ter sustained injuries.
While the protesters ac­
cused the police of attack­
ing them with batons, the
police said a quarrel broke
out after AAP MLA Som­
nath Bharti came to the site
with foldable beds without
permission. Mr. Bharti and
two others have been de­
tained following the inci­
dent, the police said.
DETAILS
» PAGE 3
M ND-NDE
 THE HINDU
2 Thursday, May 4, 2023

City Delhi

INBRIEF
쑽 AAP lashes out at ED for AAP calls protest over
CM house renovation
naming Sanjay Singh in a ‘farce’; BJP hits back
chargesheet ‘by mistake’
Party says the probe agency has admitted to inadvertently adding the MP’s name in an excise
Heavy rain leads to traffic policy­related chargesheet; Singh’s name being used erroneously doesn’t mean he’s acquitted: BJP
snarls, waterlogging in city
The Hindu Bureau
Heavy rain lashed the Capital on Wednesday NEW DELHI
which led to waterlogging and disruption of

T
vehicular movement on key city roads. The aking on the Enfor­
police received a number of calls related to traffic cement Directorate
congestion and waterlogging. The Safdarjung (ED) over the pur­
Observatory recorded 20.9 mm of rainfall ported inclusion of AAP
between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., and a Rajya Sabha member San­
maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius, jay Singh’s name in a char­
nine notches below normal. gesheet related to the al­
leged liquor scam “by
mistake”, Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal on Wed­
HC seeks CBI response to nesday took to Twitter, say­
ing, “Can somebody’s
Sisodia’s interim bail plea name be added to a char­
gesheet by mistake? It’s
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday told the clear that the entire case is
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to respond fake.”
to a plea by former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia He charged Prime Minis­
seeking interim bail on the grounds of his wife’s ter Narendra Modi with do­
illness. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma asked the ing “dirty politics” to de­
CBI to submit its response by Thursday, when the fame the country’s “most
court is scheduled to hear Mr. Sisodia’s plea honest party” and stop its
seeking regular bail. The CBI had arrested Mr. expansion. He added that
Sisodia on February 26 for alleged corruption in such behaviour does not
the formulation and implementation of the behove the PM.
now­scrapped Delhi excise policy. On April 22, Mr. Singh
sent a legal notice to ED
asking it to issue a public
apology for including his
22 children fall unconscious name in the chargesheet
filed in connection with
at birthday party in school the now­scrapped excise
policy “without any evi­
As many as 22 children fell unconscious during dence”.
the birthday celebration of a teacher in a south The senior AAP leader
Delhi school on Wednesday, the police said. The had a week earlier, on April
students of the government school in Mehrauli 13, told the media that he
were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital where they would file a defamation
have been kept under observation, they added. suit against the probe agen­
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the cy officials.
incident happened after a pepper spray, which On Wednesday, AAP
was mistaken for a deodorant, went off. Further shared the ED’s purported
probe is under way, said a senior officer. PTI response to Mr. Singh’s
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the probe agency in a
press conference in the Capital on Wednesday. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
notice, in which the agen­
cy attributed the mention
of “Sanjay Singh” instead
of “Rahul Singh” in one in­
stance to an “inadvertent
typographical/clerical
error”.
As per the letter shared
by AAP, ED moved an ap­
plication before the court
concerned as a “correc­
tional measure” on April
20 as soon as the error was
noticed.
The fact that the agency
had moved the application
“much prior” to Mr.
Singh’s legal notice “de­
monstrates the bona fide
of the agency”, the letter
stated, adding that “the im­
putations and aspersions”
cast on the agency “are ill­
advised, baseless and de­
void of merits”.
‘Political pawn’
Senior AAP leader and Del­
hi Minister Saurabh Bha­
radwaj on Wednesday
lashed out at the probe
agency for functioning like
a “political pawn”. He ac­
cused the agency of receiv­
ing instructions from the
PMO to falsely implicate
AAP leaders in various
cases.
“The Central govern­
ment and its agencies have
been exposed. The man­
ner in which the Prime Mi­
nister is trying to target Ar­
vind Kejriwal and other
Can somebody’s name
be added to a
chargesheet by mistake?
It’s clear that the entire
case is fake. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
is doing dirty politics to
defame the country’s
most honest party and
stop its expansion. Such
behaviour does not
behove the PM
ARVIND KEJRIWAL
Chief Minister
AAP leaders is out in the
open today,” he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP
chief Virendra Sachdeva
said ED, in its response to
Mr. Singh’s notice, had on­
ly admitted to naming the
AAP leader erroneously in
one instance in the char­
gesheet.
“For that mistake, ED
undertook corrective steps
much before Sanjay
Singh’s notice,” Mr. Sach­
deva said. He added that
Mr. Singh’s name is still
part of the ED chargesheet.
“Had Mr. Singh and oth­
er AAP leaders read the ED
response carefully, they
would have realised that
the probe agency has not
acquitted him,” the BJP
leader said.
BJP members during the sit­in protest against the renovation of the
CM’s official residence, at Civil Lines on Wednesday. ANI
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
The Aam Aadmi Party on
Wednesday called the BJP’s
indefinite “hunger” strike
against the renovation of
the Chief Minister’s official
residence a “farce”, claim­
ing that its leaders had
abandoned the protest site
by 5.30 p.m. on
Wednesday.
However, the BJP said it
hadn’t called for a hunger
strike and that its protest
near the CM house begins
at 10.30 a.m. and ends at 5
p.m. daily.
Delhi BJP president Vi­
rendra Sachdeva had last
week given the call for an
indefinite sit­in over the al­
leged ₹45 crore­renovation
of CM Arvind Kejriwal’s re­
sidence at 6, Flagstaff
Road, Civil Lines.
While AAP on Twitter
shared photos of the de­
serted protest site, its MLA
Durgesh Pathak said the
BJP is not serious about
solving the problems of the
people.
Calling the BJP “Bharati­
ya Nautanki Party”, he
said, “It should release the
list and medical reports of
leaders fasting unto death
by evening. Otherwise it
will become clear that the
BJP’s protest was just
theatrics.”
In response, Delhi BJP
spokesperson Praveen
Shankar Kapoor said the
protest is giving AAP
“sleepless nights”.
Mr. Pathak also shared
photos of the protest site
on Twitter, saying that no
one could be seen there till
10.30 a.m.
‘CM flouted norms’
Later in the day, BJP MP
and Union Minister Mee­
nakshi Lekhi said Mr. Kejri­
wal had “openly indulged
in corruption” to renovate
his residence, adding that
works worth “₹45 crore”
were executed “without a
tender”.
“According to the Mas­
ter Plan­2021, no construc­
tion of any kind can be
done in Civil Lines, but the
CM did not adhere to it. Mr.
Kejriwal, who talks about
the environment, cut trees
but did not take permis­
sion for the same,” she
said.

Tillu Tajpuriya murder: police to Six arrested for the Amit Shah lauds PM for showing
move court to question accused murder of BJP leader the way on urban development
Mehul Malpani
NEW DELHI
The police have recovered
the knives used to murder
jailed gangster Tillu Tajpu­
riya as well as the bed­
sheets used by the assai­
lants to climb down to his
cell, a senior police officer
said on Wednesday. The of­
ficer added that the police
will soon file a plea seeking
permission to question the
four men who allegedly
murdered Tajpuriya.
Sunil Balyan alias Tillu
Tajpuriya, 33, was alleged­
ly stabbed in Tihar prison’s
high­security ward over 90
The police have
recovered the
improvised knives
and bedsheets used
in the murder
times by four members of
the rival Gogi gang on
Tuesday morning to
avenge the murder of their
leader Jitender Mann alias
Gogi who was shot dead in
a court here in 2021.
The officer said the
blood­stained clothes of
the four accused — Yogesh,
30, Deepak, 31, Rajesh, 42,
and Riyaz Khan, 39 — have
also been recovered. “We
have also analysed the
CCTV footage from the
ward to get details of what
transpired on Tuesday
morning,” the officer also
said. According to prison
officials, the four accused,
lodged on the first floor of
the high­security ward, cut
a grille and climbed down
to attack Tajpuriya around
6.10 a.m. on Tuesday.
As per the estimates of
the Delhi Police Special
Cell, the rivalry between
Gogi and Tillu gangs has
claimed more than 40 lives
in Delhi and Haryana in the
last 10 years.
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
At least six people were ar­
rested and 20 detained on
Wednesday as the police
conducted raids in Delhi
and Haryana in connection
with the murder of a Delhi
BJP leader in Bindapur
area of Dwarka earlier this
month.
The police said as many
as 21 teams, comprising ov­
er 300 personnel, raided
15 locations in Delhi and
six in Haryana to nab
members of Kapil Sang­
wan’s gang.
On April 14, Delhi BJP Ki­
san morcha leader Suren­
der Matiala was shot dead
at his office in Bindapur.
A senior police officer
said that during inquiry,
Sangwan’s involvement
had come to the fore.
He added that eight peo­
ple had already been ar­
rested in this connection.
Deputy Commissioner
of Police (Dwarka) M. Har­
sha Vardhan said one bul­
letproof SUV, ₹20 lakh in
cash, three illegal pistols, a
narcotic substance, among
other items, were reco­
vered from the house of
the alleged extortionist
during the raids.
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
Before Narendra Modi be­
came the Prime Minister in
2014, the country hardly
had an urban development
policy, Union Home Minis­
ter Amit Shah said on
Wednesday.
“This is because it was
believed that the Centre
had no role to play in the
urban development sector
and all the infrastructure
was to be created by the
State governments. Howev­
er, the Prime Minister took
upon the responsibility of
ensuring development in
every sector, even if it
wasn’t his responsibility,”
Mr. Shah said.
Regularisation letters
He was speaking at an
event at Talkatora stadium
where 4,400 muster roll
employees of the New Del­
hi Municipal Council
(NDMC) were handed over
appointment letters on
regularisation.
The Home Minister said
the reason for the lack of
regularisation was that
there were no recruitment
rules.
He noted that every
Central ministry is taking
decisive steps to rationalise
the recruitment rules for
the benefit of employees.
Mr. Shah also inaugurat­
ed three NDMC projects at
the event, including the
upgradation of the Ranjeet
Singh and Safdarjung flyov­
ers and the 120 newly con­
structed flats for em­
ployees at Pushp Vihar.
The apartments, built at
a cost of ₹43.53 crore, will
be allotted to the entitled
employees.
Mr. Shah said the NDMC
needed to be strengthened
in the coming days, where
the employees will have a
crucial role to play.

Struck by SUV, man

on scooter dies after
landing on car’s roof
Press Trust of India
NEW DELHI

The police said a man has been arrested

for allegedly ramming his SUV into a
scooter, and killing one of its riders who
fell on the car’s roof and was driven for
nearly half a kilometre. A senior officer
said the accused driver was arrested on
Sunday and the SUV has been seized.
The accident took place on Saturday
at Kasturba Gandhi Marg when the SUV
crashed into the scooter that Deepanshu
and his cousin Mukul were riding. While
Mukul fell on the road, Deepanshu land­
ed on top of the car. The driver later
dropped the victim on the road and
drove off, the police said.

CM M ND-NDE
YK
 THE HINDU
Thursday, May 4, 2023 3
Delhi
States

Village representatives Scuffle breaks out

between protesters,
INBRIEF
쑽
NIA response sought on plea
join protest by wrestlers, police at stir site
by Kashmiri separatist leader
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the

to hold mahapanchayat
National Investigation Agency to respond to a
plea by Kashmiri separatist leader Nayeem Khan
challenging the framing of charges against him in
an alleged terror funding case. A Bench of Justice
Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh
posted the case filed by the Hurriyat Conference
Protesters have been demanding resignation and arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij leader for further hearing on August 3. Mr. Khan
Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faces sexual harassment accusations from several women wrestlers was arrested on July 24, 2017 and is currently in
judicial custody.

The Hindu Bureau

NEW DELHI

epresentatives
Women wrestlers seek SC nod to
R from 360 villages
of Delhi, accompa­
nied by Ministers Gopal Rai
file documents in sealed cover The scene at Jantar Mantar where a scuffle broke out late on
Wednesday night between policemen and wrestlers. ANI
and Saurabh Bharadwaj,
on Wednesday reached The Hindu Bureau an oral mentioning be­ the case was coming for Mehul Malpani the rain, when a few poli­
Jantar Mantar to support NEW DELHI fore Chief Justice of India hearing on May 4, and it NEW DELHI cemen “attacked them”
the wrestlers protesting D.Y. Chandrachud. would consider the with batons.
against Wrestling Federa­ Counsel for women Solicitor­General request. A scuffle broke out at Jan­ Star wrestler Vinesh
tion of India (WFI) chief wrestlers alleging sexual Tushar Mehta, for Delhi On April 28, the police tar Mantar here late on Phogat was seen crying
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Mr. Rai said a mahapan-
harassment against
Wrestling Federation of
Police, said the petition­
ers ought to approach
informed the court that it
would register an FIR on
Wednesday night between
the police and those prot­
and said “no women police
personnel” were present at
‘Interim relief to Kochhar
chayat will be held at the India chief Brij Bhushan the investigating officer the basis of the wrestlers’ esting against WFI chief the spot. She asked repor­ would cause damage to ICICI’
protest site on Sunday. Sharan Singh on Wed­ with the documents. allegations. The court Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, ters, “Why were they [poli­
“Panchayats will be held in nesday sought permis­ Counsel said he was rea­ tasked the Delhi Police who is accused of sexually cemen] pushing us?” In Grant of any interim relief to former ICICI
all Delhi villages on May 4, sion to file documents in dy to share the docu­ chief to evaluate security harassing several women another viral video, Ms. Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar
5, and 6 to raise awareness a sealed cover. ments with the Solicitor­ situation and provide grapplers. Phogat said one wrestler would cause irreparable damage and prejudice to
about the plight of the The request came in General. The court said protection to grapplers. Several videos of the in­ “suffered head injuries” the bank, the Bombay High Court said on
wrestlers. These pan- cident went viral on social and the police also “misbe­ Wednesday while dismissing her interim
chayats will culminate in media, one of which haved and pushed” wo­ application seeking post­retirement benefits. A
a mahapanchayat, to seek showed some protesters men protesters. Division Bench of Justices K.R. Shriram and R.S.
justice for the wrestlers rains. declare the movement’s ests in Delhi University’s accusing one policeman of Patil upheld a November 2022 order passed by a
and their supporters.” Mr. Rai also hit out at next plan of action.” North Campus. The Stu­ being drunk. ‘Threatened by police’ single Bench of Justice R.I. Chagla of the High
The protesters have BJP MP from West Delhi Mr. Bharadwaj said that dents’ Federation of India DCP (New Delhi) Pranav Gopal Tiwari, an organiser Court dismissing Ms. Kochhar’s application. PTI
been demanding the resig­ Parvesh Sahib Singh, who the WFI is supposed to (SFI) said in a statement, Tayal said, “Mr. Somnath of the protests, said one
nation and arrest of Mr. alleged that AAP wanted to protect the wrestlers, and “We are here today to an­ Bharti (AAP MLA) came to policeman had been
Singh, accused of sexually hijack the wrestlers’ strug­ no family will accept it if nounce to the country that the protest site along with caught drinking in a toilet
harassing several women gle. He said the protest be­ the people running it in­ people stand in solidarity folding beds without per­
mission. Upon interven­
before the scuffle and peo­
ple demanded his medical
Delhi HC dismisses NSCN­IM
wrestlers. The police have longs to the country, not to stead start harming them. with our wrestlers and we
registered two FIRs in the any party or organisation. “Our daughters have been will fight with them till tion, his supporters be­ test be done. “But the pol­ woman leader’s bail petition
matter, but no arrests have “I would like to challenge forced by the BJP MP to they get justice.” came aggressive while ice threatened us and took
yet been made. [the BJP] and ask them to take shelter in tents for trying to get the beds out of him away.” The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail plea
The AAP Minister added join me here on May 7 and their rights. We will stay Protest site vacated the truck. A minor alterca­ Geeta Phogat, Olympian of a woman member of the banned National
that Prime Minister Naren­ support our players if they here till Brij Bhushan Sha­ However, Delhi Police tion took place after which and a cousin of Ms. Vinesh, Socialist Council of Nagaland — Isak­Muivah
dra Modi could not even are at all concerned about ran Singh is arrested,” he forced the students to va­ Mr. Bharti was detained tweeted, “Attack on wres­ (NSCN­IM), who was arrested at the domestic
find time to talk to the the dignity of their sisters added. cate the protest site out­ along with two others.” tlers by police at Jantar terminal of the IGI Airport with ₹72 lakh in cash.
wrestlers, who had won and daughters. If the go­ Support for the wres­ side the DU Arts Faculty Bajrang Punia, who is Mantar, in which my broth­ A Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Justice
the country medals in vernment does not discuss tlers galvanised in other and detained around 30 among those leading the er Dushyant Phogat’s head Talwant Singh said there was “no illegality or
Olympics and have been the demands of the players parts of the city as well, protesters. It added that agitation, told reporters was bashed and another infirmity in the orders passed [by the special NIA
on protest for 10 days re­ in a responsible manner, with several students’ or­ they had not sought per­ that some wrestlers were wrestler was also injured. court] from time to time regarding the detention”
gardless of the heat or the the mahapanchayat will ganisations holding prot­ mission for the agitation. sleeping on wooden cots in It is very shameful.” of Ms. Aemla Jamir.

HC rejects
plea against
Wary of BTP’s growth in the tribal belt, Tamil actor, director, producer
JEE (Main) Gehlot inspects relief camps in Udaipur Manobala, 69, passes away
exam norm
The Hindu Bureau The Chief Minister also schemes had been distri­ The Hindu Bureau kant’s hit film En
The Hindu Bureau JAIPUR visited the house of a tribal buted so far. CHENNAI Purushanthaan Enakku
MUMBAI farmer, Dhara Ram Gara­ The Chief Minister an­ Mattumthaan; Mallu Vetti
Rajasthan Chief Minister sia, and shared meal with nounced upgradation of The multi­faceted film per­ Minor, starring Sathyaraj;
The Bombay High Court on Ashok Gehlot on Wednes­ the family. Devla village as panchayat sonality, Manobala, who and Pillai Nila, starring Mo­
May 3 rejected the plea day celebrated his 72nd Mr. Gehlot has been vis­ samiti and Okhra as sub­ had been moonlighting the han.
challenging the eligibility birthday with the tribal pe­ iting remote villages and tehsil. Tamil film industry as a In 1999, he directed the
criterion of 75% marks in ople in Udaipur district towns across the State The ruling Congress is journalist, director, produc­ telefilm Siragugal, featur­
Class XII for appearing in and inspected the ongoing since April 24, when the in­ especially concerned er and an actor over many ing Radikaa Sarathkumar,
JEE Mains Examinations inflation relief camps at flation relief camps were about the growing popu­ years, died in Chennai on which was widely appre­
2023. Ghata village in Kotda teh­ Tribal people welcoming Ashok launched at Jaipur dis­ larity of Bharatiya Tribal Wednesday after a brief ill­ ciated. In his later years, he
A Division Bench of act­ sil and at Jhadol tehsil Gehlot in Udaipur. SPECIAL trict’s Mahapura village Party (BTP) among the tri­ ness. He was 69, and is sur­ worked mainly as a sup­
ing Chief Justice S.V. Ganga­ headquarters. ARRANGEMENT panchayat to extend the bals after its victory in two vived by his wife and son. Manobala porting actor.
purwala and Justice San­ Mr. Gehlot flew straight benefits of 10 welfare seats in the region in the While today, he is known Following the announce­
deep V. Marne was hearing to the Mewar region after raised slogans congratulat­ schemes to the people. 2018 election. mostly for sharing screen kanth, Vijayakant, Prabhu, ment of his death, Mr. Sath­
a public interest litigation his three­day visit to Karna­ ing Mr. Gehlot on his birth­ The State government’s space with senior and Karthik and Ramki. yaraj, Mr. Vijayakant, actors
filed by activist Anubha Sa­ taka, where he joined the day. An overwhelmed Mr. PR exercise “Mission Kotda”, operative young stars in comic roles, . He made his debut in Vijay, Suhasini, Bhagyaraj,
hai and said “it cannot in­ Congress’ campaign for Gehlot said he had become As the camps are also pu­ in the most backward Manobala started his career 1982 with Aagaaya Gangai, Siddharth and Sivakumar,
tervene at this stage” and it the upcoming Assembly the Chief Minister for three blicising the Congress go­ blocks of Udaipur district, in cinema as a director. starring Karthik and Suhasi­ music composer Ilaiyaraa­
was for the government election. times with the people’s vernment’s achievements has addressed the issues He had directed 24 films ni. Some of his best­known ja, filmmaker Mani Ratnam,
authorities to take a Tribal men, women and blessings and assured that ahead of this year’s As­ such as dropout of stu­ and worked with some of films are Oor Kavalan cinematographer P.C. Sree­
decision. children carried placards, he would spend every mo­ sembly polls, Mr. Gehlot dents from schools and in­ the biggest stars of the 80s (1987), featuring Rajini­ ram and many others ex­
A total of 1,11,3325 can­ blew trumpets and played ment of his life for their pointed out that 1.96 crore adequate number of prim­ and the 90s, such as Sivaji kanth; Sivaji Ganesan­star­ pressed their condolences
didates took the JEE Main musical instruments and welfare. guarantee cards for the ary health centres. Ganesan, Sathyaraj, Rajini­ rer Paramparyam; Vijaya­ and paid their respects.
Examination 2023, out of
which 2,51,673 have quali­
fied for JEE (Advanced).
Antique T.N.
temple idol
U.P. civic polls: BJP bets on ‘better law and order’, SP on local issues
Timings
DELHI
traced to a Mayank Kumar scheme and sanitation. But Prime Minister Modiji two decades, but no cor­
LUCKNOW established a new India, rective measures were ta­
THURSDAY, MAY. 04
RISE 05:39 SET 18:58
museum in U.S. ‘Mafia­free U.P.’ which is now recognised ken,” Mr. Yadav said at an
RISE 17:45 SET 04:40
Addressing an election Mr. Adityanath has, in mul­ for its talent and which the election meeting.
FRIDAY, MAY. 05
meeting on the last day of tiple rallies, talked about world looks up to in times
N. Sai Charan campaigning for the first ridding the State of the me­ of crisis,” Mr. Adityanath BSP’s poll plank
RISE 05:38 SET 18:59
TIRUCHI
RISE 18:45 SET 05:12 phase of urban local body nace of mafia syndicates. said at a rally in Firozabad The Bahujan Samaj Party
SATURDAY, MAY. 06 polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief In a rally in Mathura, the on Thursday. (BSP) campaign has mostly
A security audit by a spe­ Minister Yogi Adityanath CM, in a veiled reference to Leading the SP’s poll been led by individual can­
RISE 05:38 SET 18:59
RISE 19:50 SET 05:48
cial team of the Idol Wing­ said, “Some people had the SP, said before 2017 campaign, party president didates and the local party
Criminal Investigation De­ turned Prayagraj into a (when the BJP came to Akhilesh Yadav has units.
partment (IW­CID) has land of injustice and atroc­ power in the State), acti­ claimed that the BJP has The party is hoping that
traced a missing antique ities. But nature doesn’t vists belonging to one pol­ long ruled over all major a Muslim­Dalit combina­
metal idol of Veenadhara commit or accept atrocity Polling officials check EVMs on the eve of voting for U.P. urban body itical party used to roam municipal corporations in tion would help it reap rich
Dakshinamurthy, belong­ on anyone. It settles scores polls in Lucknow on Wednesday. SANDEEP SAXENA around with guns to terror­ the State, such as Luck­ dividends in the urban
ing to Veeratteswarar tem­ for everyone.” He was ise businessmen and com­ now, Agra, Kanpur and Va­ centres, as it has given
ple at Korukkai in Mayila­ speaking in Allahabad we will not let any criminal body polls — improved law mon citizens. “Now, the ranasi. Still, the problems mayoral tickets to Muslim
duthurai district, to the West constituency on walk freely in the State.” and order, the promise of terror of mafia and antiso­ ailing these urban centres candidates in 11 out of the
Cleveland Museum in the Tuesday, where the now­ The CM also praised Prime development and Mr. Mo­ cial elements has left Uttar have only increased due to 17 municipal corporations.
United States. slain gangster Atiq Ahmed Minister Narendra Modi di’s charisma — and sought Pradesh; smart and safe ci­ malpractices and corrup­ The urban body elec­
Additional Superinten­ won five successive As­ for his “vision of develop­ a “triple­engine govern­ ties are developing here,” tion by the leaders of the tion across 760 urban local
dent of Police G. Balamuru­ sembly polls. ment” for Uttar Pradesh. ment” in U.P. said Mr. Adityanath. ruling party. bodies will be held for
gan said efforts were on to In another rally at Jhansi The two election On the other hand, the “Before 2014, India “The problems of the ci­ 14,684 posts, including for
retrieve the stolen idol un­ later in the day, Mr. Aditya­ speeches reflect the sub­ Samajwadi Party (SP) cam­ faced an identity crisis and ties have been gifted by the 17 mayoral seats and 1,420
der the Mutual Legal Assis­ nath said his government jects around which the BJP, paign has revolved around rampant corruption. The BJP, which has ruled urban councillors posts, in two
tance Treaty between In­ will keep cracking down led by Mr. Adityanath, has urban­centric issues such youth was hopeless. Our bodies for a long time. The phases — on May 4 and May
dia and the U.S. by sending on criminals, “We will not forged its election cam­ as corruption, urban em­ country’s respect was de­ population in urban pock­ 11. The counting of votes is
a letter of request. disturb the innocent, but paign for the urban local ployment guarantee clining across the world. ets has grown in the last on May 13.
Published by Nirmala Lakshman and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai­600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).
Regd. DL(ND)­11/6110/2006­07­08 RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 ISSN 0971 ­ 751X
● ●

CM M ND-NDE
YK
 THE HINDU
4 Thursday, May 4, 2023

States Delhi

No danger to alliance, say MVA partners INBRIEF

쑽

NCP welcome to join us, says Shinde camp; senior Congress leader and former CM warns that some NCP leaders are in touch with the BJP

Shoumojit Banerjee senior NCP leaders had was really because of his Mumbai, Mr. Patel, the
PUNE been in touch with the Bha­ advanced age or was he NCP’s national vice­presi­
ratiya Janata Party (BJP). frustrated with happenings dent, further said that
day after Sharad Pa­ Mr. Chavan — who is within his party [regarding news of Baramati MP Su­

A war’s decision to
step down as na­
tional president of the Na­
campaigning in Karnataka
for the forthcoming As­
sembly election — told a
some leaders moving to­
wards the BJP]” he said.
priya Sule — who is Mr. Pa­
war’s daughter — being ap­
pointed the next national
tionalist Congress Party
(NCP), the Maha Vikas Agh­
news channel in Belgaum
that the BJP would have to
‘End speculation’
Dismissing the apprehen­
president of the party was
“speculative”. The objec­
Odisha revises compensation
adi (MVA) partners — the break the MVA and weaken sions regarding his party, tive of the party right now for loss in man­animal conflict
Shiv Sena (UBT) and the it if they wanted to win the NCP chief spokesperson is to get Mr. Pawar to recon­
Congress — said there was 2024 Lok Sabha and As­ Mahesh Tapase said some­ sider his decision, he said. In a bid to assuage growing public anger for loss
no reason to believe the al­ sembly elections. one was trying to “mis­ of life and property in the attack by wild animals
liance was under any pres­ “It has been reported in lead” Mr. Chavan. ‘MVA in peril’ in Odisha, the State government on Wednesday
sure or threat. Sharad Pawar leaves Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai after newspapers that some se­ Senior NCP leader and Meanwhile, the Shinde increased the amount of compensation being
However, the Eknath meeting party workers on Wednesday. EMMANUAL YOGINI nior NCP leaders apparent­ former Union Minister Pra­ camp said MVA’s very exis­ paid to affected population. A proposal to
Shinde­led Shiv Sena camp ly met [Union Home Minis­ ful Pratel also scotched ru­ tence was “in peril” and increase compensation for people facing wild
claimed that the MVA’s ve­ hered to its ideology”. Prithviraj Chavan said ter] Amit Shah in mours of any “split” within there would be no joint ral­ animal attacks was approved by Chief Minister
ry existence was now “in However, striking a dis­ while the NCP workers Mumbai… So, there is spec­ the NCP or of any faction lies. “The MVA will not re­ Naveen Patnaik. As per the decision, the amount
peril”, and said the NCP cordant note, senior Con­ were requesting Mr. Pawar ulation as to whether Mr. planning to align with the main in existence any of compensation in case of human death caused
was “welcome” to join the gress leader and former to reconsider his decision, Pawar’s stepping down as BJP. Speaking at the Yash­ more,” Shinde camp MLA by wild animal attack has been increased from ₹4
ruling alliance “if they ad­ Maharashtra Chief Minister it was also true that some NCP national president wantrao Chavan Centre in Sanjay Shirsat asserted. lakh to ₹6 lakh. Similarly, the amount of
assistance in case of permanent injury has also
been raised.

Ahead of polls, Maharashtra BJP Denied meeting with

Couple beaten to death for
arrested ex­MLA, Bihar
unveils mega leadership team BJP chief slams Nitish
allegedly practising witchcraft
An elderly couple was beaten to death allegedly
for practising black magic in Jharkhand’s Latehar
The Hindu Bureau The new executive unit forcing the BJP’s key plans. Thakur, Dharmapal Mesh­ district, a senior police officer said on
MUMBAI includes 16 vice presi­ A coordinator has been ram, Ejaj Deshmukh, and Amit Bhelari Along with BJP workers, he Wednesday. The couple Sibal Ganju, 70, and his
dents, six general secretar­ appointed for each of the Rajendra Gavit. PATNA then rode a bicycle for 5 wife Bavni Devi, 65, were forcibly dragged away
The Maharashtra unit of ies, 16 secretaries, 64 288 Assembly seats. The new general secre­ km to the Rohtas District by some people to a panchayat in Hesla village
the Bharatiya Janata Party members, 236 special invi­ taries include Randir Sa­ Bihar BJP president Samrat Magistrate’s office and and beaten to death with lathis on Tuesday night,
(BJP) on Wednesday an­ tees and 512 invitees, said New appointees warkar, Madhavi Naik, San­ Choudhary on Wednesday staged a protest. police said. Latehar Superintendent of Police,
nounced its new leader­ State BJP chief Chandrash­ All Lok Sabha and Legisla­ jay Kenekar, Vikram Patil, slammed Chief Minister Without naming don­ Anjani Anjan said all the accused involved in the
ship team days after Union ekhar Bawankule. tive Assembly members and Murlidhar Mohol. Mi­ Nitish Kumar after being turned­politician Anand incident have been arrested. PTI
Home Minister Amit Shah’s He said it was necessary are invitees. The newly ap­ hir Kotecha and Ravindra denied permission to meet Mohan, whose premature
visit to Mumbai and ahead to form a mega team in or­ pointed vice presidents in­ Anaspure have been ap­ party leader Jawahar Pra­ release has created a row,
of the crucial local body, der to ensure the participa­ clude Madhav Bhandari, pointed the treasurer and sad in Sasaram jail. Mr. Choudhary said, “Nit­
and the 2024 Lok Sabha tion of a large number of Suresh Halvankar, Chain­ in­charge of the party’s
and Assembly elections. workers and leaders in en­ sukh Sancheti, Jaiprakash State office, respectively.
Mr. Prasad, a five­time
former MLA, was arrested
ish Kumar ji is releasing
goons and arresting
Eight killed, 30 injured in two
in a case related to the saints.” Jharkhand road accidents
communal violence in the Sasaram jail superinten­
town last month following dent Rakesh Kumar cited At least eight people were killed and 30 others
Ram Navami processions. prison manual rules to ex­ injured in two separate road accidents in
Mr. Choudhary reached plain the decision: “Rela­ Jharkhand, police said. Four members of a family
LEGAL NOTICE the Sasaram jail to meet tives or friends can meet a were killed after a speeding truck hit their vehicle
Mr. Prasad on Wednesday prisoner only once a week in Jamtara district. Earlier, four people were
but prison authorities de­ and a BJP MLC had already killed and 30 others injured after a vehicle
nied him permission. met Mr. Prasad this week.” overturned in Gumla district, police said. PTI

EDUCATIONAL
GENERAL At least 18 cows
slaughtered in U.P.

Press Trust of India

ETAH
Unidentified people broke
open a cow shelter in Lakh­
mipur village here twice in
24 hours, slaughtered 18
animals and took away
SITUATION VACANT their meat, police said on
Wednesday. Nine more
GENERAL
animals are missing.
D. P. Vipra Law College, Ashok Na-
gar, Seepat Road Bilaspur (C.G.)Ap-
plications are invited for the ap-
pointment to the following posts
under Section 28 Assistant Profes-
sor 5 Posts (Law) Qualification as
per UGC Rules and preference will
be given to the candidates having−
(a) Minimum 3 Years experience of
teaching. (b) At least 3 Research
Papers published in UGC approved
journals. Basic Pay under Pay
Scale 15600−39100 with allowance
as per the rule of the management
Committee. Reservation will be
available as per the C.G. Govern-
ment rules.Application will be ac-
cepted through by registered post/
mail/by hand within ten days from
the date of publication of the ad-
vertisement.Email dpvlawprincipal@
yahoo.comPrincipal, D. P. Vipra
Law College, Ashok Nagar, Seepat
Road, Bilaspur (C.G.)Mob.
9926165945, 9926138734

EDUCATIONAL
GENERAL

0
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manner whatsoever for any claims and/or damages for advertisements in this newspaper.

CM M ND-NDE
YK

Thursday, May 4, 2023
Delhi
Kharge’s son,
BJP leader
Yatnal get
EC notices
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
The Election Commission
of India (EC) on Wednes­
day issued show­cause not­
ices to Congress leader and
Mallikarjun Kharge’s son
Priyank Kharge and BJP
leader B.P. Yatnal for their
alleged personal attacks
against Prime Minister Na­
rendra Modi and former
Congress president Sonia
Gandhi, respectively, while
campaigning for the Karna­
taka Assembly election.
The EC said both re­
marks were in violation of
the Model Code of Con­
duct (MCC). While Mr. Pri­
yank Kharge had called the
Prime Minister “nalayak”
(inept), Mr. Yatnal had
asked if Ms. Gandhi was a
“vishkanya” (poisonous
woman).
In the notice issued to
Mr. Kharge, the commis­
sion said that prima facie,
he had violated provisions
of the MCC, and asked him
to respond by 5 p.m. on
Thursday.
“Take notice that in
event of no response from
your side within the stipu­
lated time, it will be pres­
umed that you have noth­
ing to say in the matter and
the EC will take appro­
priate action or decision in
the matter,” it said.
The notice issued to Mr.
Yatnal also said prima facie
he had violated MCC provi­
sions. He too was asked to
respond by Thursday.
The EC issued notices
just a day after asking polit­
ical parties, particularly
star campaigners, to exer­
cise restraint during
campaigning.
Warming up
Salvaging harvest: Farmers drying maize that got drenched in the continuous rain at Tadepalli near Vijayawada on Wednesday. K.V.S. GIRI
Kerala High Court to
form expert panel on
human­wildlife conflict
The Hindu Bureau
KOCHI
A Division Bench of the
Kerala High Court on Wed­
nesday decided to consti­
tute a committee of wildlife
experts to study and make
short­ and long­term sug­
gestions to prevent human­
wildlife conflicts and to res­
tore wildlife corridors.
The Bench comprising
Justice A.K. Jayasankaran
Nambiar and Justice Gopi­
nath P. made the observa­
tion when a case relating to
wild elephant Arikompan,
which had been translocat­
ed from Chinnakanal in
Idukki district to the Peri­
yar Tiger Reserve, came up
CM
YK
‘Number of candidates with criminal
cases up from last polls in Karnataka’
It has gone up from 83 to 96 among BJP candidates, 59 to 122 among Congress candidates, and 41 to 70 among Janata Dal
(Secular) candidates between 2018 and now, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms report
The Hindu Bureau
BENGALURU
T
he number of can­
didates with de­
clared criminal cas­
es in Karnataka has
increased in all three major
political parties between
the 2018 Assembly elec­
tions and now.
The number of cases
has gone up from 83 to 96
among BJP candidates, 59
to 122 among Congress
candidates, and 41 to 70
cases among JD(S) candi­
dates, revealed the report
‘Karnataka Assembly Elec­
‘Courts a bulwark against media suppression’
The Hindu Bureau
CHENNAI
Despite disappointing de­
lays, there can be no doubt
that the Supreme Court
and the High Courts have
remained a strong bulwark
against an executive which
is determined to cut the
media down to size, Su­
preme Court senior advo­
cate Chander Uday Singh
said here on Wednesday.
Mr. Singh was delivering
the Lawrence Dana Pink­
ham Memorial Lecture at
the convocation of the
Asian College of Journal­
ism (ACJ) class of 2022­23
and the presentation of the
ACJ Journalism Awards for
2022. The present National
Democratic Alliance go­
for hearing.
The court observed that
the committee could col­
late the information pro­
vided by the task forces
constituted to deal with
human­animal conflict and
suggest steps to mitigate at­
tacks. The committee also
needs to look into the res­
toration of wildlife corri­
dors. Creation of sanctuary
for the preservation of wild
animals could also be
thought of as suggested by
the Forest Department.
The court observed that
panchayats near forests
gave permission to resort
operators and later com­
plained about human­ani­
mal conflicts.
‘Red alert’ constituencies
The Hindu Bureau
BENGALURU
About 50% of the total con­
stituencies (111 out of 224)
have been declared as ‘red
alert’ constituencies in the
Association for Democratic
Reforms report, meaning
that three or more candi­
dates from these consti­
tuencies have declared cri­
tions 2023: Analysis of Cri­
minal Background, Finan­
cial, Education, Gender,
vernment, led by the BJP,
believed that a brute ma­
jority in Parliament was
justification enough to
tame and bend the media
to its bidding, Mr. Singh
said.
Media Development
Foundation (MDF) trustee
N. Ram, who is a Director
of The Hindu Publishing
Group, told the graduands
that though the freedom of
the press was under attack,
there were still many spac­
es and opportunities to do
quality journalism.
He said that ACJ’s curri­
culum design, first­rate fa­
culty, infrastructure,
placements, and values
were factors that have
made it the premier post­
graduate journalism insti­
North Andhra
will be the
destination
for jobs: Jagan
The Hindu Bureau
VIZIANAGARAM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Mi­
nister Y.S. Jagan Mohan
Reddy on Wednesday said
that the North Andhra re­
gion, which was known for
migration of people to oth­
er parts of the country,
would become the destina­
tion for jobs.
After laying the founda­
tion stone for the construc­
tion of international air­
port at Bhogapuram, he
said the area was equidis­
tant to Vizianagaram, Sri­
kakulam and Visakhapat­
nam cities and would spur
economic activity in all
directions.
THE HINDU
South
minal cases against
themselves. When com­
pared with the 2018 As­
sembly elections, the ‘red
alert’ constituencies have
gone up by 25 percentage
points (56 constituencies
in 2018). Byatarayanapura
constituency in Bengaluru
tops the list with seven
candidates having criminal
cases against them.
and other Details of Candi­
dates’ released by the As­
sociation for Democratic
Awardees along with Chander Uday Singh, senior advocate,
Supreme Court; N. Ram, Trustee, Media Development Foundation;
and Sashi Kumar, Chairman of MDF and ACJ, at the ACJ convocation
ceremony in Chennai on Wednesday. R. RAVINDRAN
tution in South Asia.
Sashi Kumar, chairman
of the MDF and ACJ, said
that the role of journalism
institutions was becoming
more critical as part of the
media has become compli­
cit, part of the media is em­
Arikompan is partially blind, says
Kerala Forest Department report
The Hindu Bureau
IDUKKI
A report by the Forest De­
partment has stated that
wild elephant Arikompan
is partially blind.
“It was found that the
right eye had only partial
vision. The elephant had a
two­day­old injury on the
lower front portion of the
trunk, which was treated.
It was fit to be released into
the wild,” said the report
by the Chief Conservator of
Forests, High Range Circle,
Arun R.S.
“Two days before the
capture, Arikompan
fought with another wild
elephant Chakkakompan,
which resulted in the inju­
ries. A health check­up was
Reforms
Wednesday.
(ADR) on
Eight candidates who
have declared murder­re­
lated cases, 35 candidates
who have declared attempt
to murder cases, and 49
candidates who have de­
clared cases of crime
against women are contest­
ing in this year’s Assembly
elections. Among the can­
didates who have declared
cases of crime against wo­
men, one is facing a rape
case.
Congress candidates
have a higher number of
criminal cases against
battled, and part of the me­
dia is fighting bravely to
keep the media
independent.
The Asian College of
Journalism (ACJ) Journal­
ism Awards for the year
2022 were presented in
UDF dares Kerala CM Pinarayi to deny
‘AI camera corruption’ accusations
The Hindu Bureau
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Kerala Leader of the Oppo­
sition V.D. Satheesan on
Wednesday dared Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
to deny the accusation that
his close relative had bene­
fited hugely from the al­
leged corruption in the Kel­
tron­sponsored automated
traffic offence detection
system installed across the
State at an “exaggerated”
cost of ₹232 crore.
However, at a keenly
watched public meeting
near here to celebrate the
second anniversary of the
Left Democratic Front
(LDF) government, Mr. Vi­
jayan broadly accused the
Congress and the Bharati­
ya Janata Party (BJP) of
blindly opposing develop­
ment projects by jointly
Tough tusker: Arikompan after it was darted at Chinnakkanal on
Saturday. JOMON PAMPAVALLEY
done and medicines, in­
cluding antibiotics, were
given,” said a Forest De­
partment official.
Meanwhile, the ele­
phant that was translocat­
ed from Chinnakkanal to
them, including serious
criminal cases. While 55%
of Congress candidates
have declared criminal cas­
es, 31% have serious crimi­
nal cases.
In the BJP, 30% of the
candidates have serious
criminal cases while in the
JD(S) 25% of the candidates
have declared serious cri­
minal cases. The ADR has
recommended that there
should be permanent dis­
qualification of candidates
convicted of heinous
crimes such as murder,
rape, smuggling, dacoity,
and kidnapping.
three categories. Arunabh
Saikia of Scroll.in won the
award for Investigation
Journalism for his story on
Adani Enterprises’ coal
mining in Chhattisgarh’s
biodiverse Hasdeo Arand
forest. The K.P. Narayana
Kumar Memorial Award
for Social Impact Journal­
ism went to Neel Madhav
and Alishan Jafri for their
story in The Caravan on
hatemongering Hindi You­
Tube Channels. The first
winner of the Ashish Ye­
chury Memorial Award for
Photojournalism was Tan­
moy Bhaduri of Context­
.news, awarded for his
work on the hardships
faced by children growing
up near the coalfields of
Jharia, Jharkhand.
V.D. Satheesan
promoting a misinforma­
tion campaign built on lies
and slander. He, however,
steered clear of answering
any specific accusations
raised by the Opposition.
Agitation threat
Mr. Satheesan warned that
the Congress­led United
Democratic Front (UDF)
the Periyar Tiger Reserve
(PTR) has been traced
again after its radio collar
remained out of range for
almost 24 hours. Accord­
ing to Forest Department
officials, the tusker is
Rat bite: cinema hall
owner in Assam told to
compensate customer
A cinema hall in Guwahati was asked to compensate a woman for
deficiency in service. Image for representation only.
Rahul Karmakar
GUWAHATI
The authorities of a cinema
hall in Guwahati have been
asked to compensate a wo­
man who had to undergo
treatment after being bit­
ten by a rat while watching
a movie five years ago.
The District Consumer
Disputes Redressal Com­
mission, Kamrup, on April
25 directed officials of Gal­
leria Cinema in Guwahati
to pay the woman a total of
₹67,282.48 as reimburse­
ment of her medical ex­
penses, compensation for
pain and mental agony,
and the cost of proceed­
ings in the case.
The woman, an aca­
demic, had approached
the consumer’s forum
against the cinema hall op­
erators for deficiency in
service.
Apart from the reimbur­
sement of medical expens­
es, she had sought a total
of ₹6,00,000 as compensa­
tion for mental agony, pain
and suffering.
In her complaint, the
woman said she had gone
with her family to watch
the 9 p.m. show at Guwa­
would unleash aggressive
anti­corruption protests if
the government desisted
from ordering a judicial in­
quiry into the “mammoth
fiscal fraud and criminali­
ty”. He said the “Keltron
traffic camera corruption”
knocked at Mr. Vijayan’s
door.
Later in Kannur, Kerala
Pradesh Congress Commit­
tee (KPCC) president K.
Sudhakaran alleged that
the government routinely
used a Communist Party of
India (Marxist)­controlled
labour cooperative as a
front to channelise public
works and government in­
frastructure development
contracts to “paper com­
panies” owned by close re­
latives of party leaders via
the subcontracting and
consortium formation
route.
roaming at Mavadi inside
the PTR.
“The animal was under
a thick canopy and the sig­
nals got cut off on Tuesday.
The last signal was re­
ceived from Mavadi at 1.30
p.m. on Wednesday,” said
the official. Department of­
ficials said three teams
consisting of four mem­
bers each had been consti­
tuted to trace the elephant
physically.
According to Forest De­
partment officials, within
three days, the tusker
roamed around 20 km
within the Kerala and Ta­
mil Nadu border forests.
On Monday, it moved to
Vannathippara in Tamil
Nadu and returned to the
Kerala forests.
5
hati’s Galleria Cinema on
October 20, 2018. She felt
something bite her foot af­
ter the interval. Imme­
diately, she exited the hall
and went to a private hos­
pital nearby after the cine­
ma hall authorities alleged­
ly declined to provide first
aid or any other form of
assistance.
The hospital kept her
under observation as it was
not ascertained as to what
had caused the bleeding.
The complainant said she
had to take strong doses of
medicines, which affected
her efficiency at work. In
her complaint, the woman
noted that the movie hall
was very unhygienic and
there were leftover boxes
of popcorn, empty bottles
and other waste accumu­
lated behind the seats.
“Galleria Cinema atten­
dants admitted that rats
are a menace in the hall.
The doctors later con­
firmed that the complai­
nant was bitten by a rat,
not a snake, and gave her
anti­rabies and other medi­
cines,” Anita Verma, the
complainant’s lawyer,
told The Hindu on
Wednesday.
Mr. Satheesan said the
Keltron project smacked of
bid rigging and cartel for­
mation. He alleged that
Keltron grossly exaggerat­
ed the acquisition and in­
stallation cost of the Artifi­
cial Intelligence­enabled
traffic enforcement system
and pegged it at a ludi­
crously high price of ₹232
crore.
The government could
execute the project at a
cost of not more than ₹80
crore.
Mr. Satheesan said Kel­
tron turned a blind eye to
contractual violations, in­
cluding sub­contracting
the work to hastily formed
companies with no do­
main expertise. It over­
looked the fact that none
of the bidders were origi­
nal equipment manufac­
turers.
Maoist couple
surrenders
before police
in Telangana
Press Trust of India
HYDERABAD
Two Maoists surrendered
before the police in Bha­
dradri Kothagudem dis­
trict of Telangana on Wed­
nesday, the police said.
M. Sona, 27, a native of
Sukma district of Chhattis­
garh, had joined the
banned CPI(Maoist) party
in 2015 and worked in the
9th platoon for three years.
Later, he worked as a body­
guard for Telangana State
Committee Secretary of
the CPI(Maoist), a release
said. Sona's wife worked as
a guard for the Telangana
State Committee Secretary
of the CPI(Maoist).
M ND-NDE

6 Thursday, May 4, 2023
Present imperfect
Irrespective of what the USCIRF says,
India must review its rights record
F
or the fourth consecutive year, the govern­
ment has expressed outrage and rejected
the recommendations of the U.S. Commis­
sion on International Religious Freedom’s (US­
CIRF) latest report, calling it “biased and motivat­
ed”. In its report released on Monday, the
independent congressional body has called for
India to be designated a “Country of Particular
Concern” (CPC) for its “worsening” record on re­
ligious freedoms. The report has targeted the In­
dian government for “promoting and enforcing
religiously discriminatory policies”, naming laws
that deal with conversion, interfaith relation­
ships, wearing the hijab and cow slaughter, as
well as the CAA and the NRC. All of these, it alleg­
es, have impacted minorities including Muslims,
Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, and Adivasis (indigenous
peoples and Scheduled Tribes) negatively. The
USCIRF has also catalogued acts of violence and
the vilification of minorities and criticised the
“suppression of critical voices” by intimidation
that includes surveillance, demolition of proper­
ty, detentions and the targeting of NGOs through
laws curtailing foreign donations. It has criticised
the U.S. State Department for not having desig­
nated India as a CPC, and has called for sanctions
on Indian government agencies and officials. In
the only such sanction imposed on India, the U.S.
had, in 2005, revoked Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s U.S. visa after a USCIRF recommendation
on the 2002 Gujarat riots. In its response, the Ex­
ternal Affairs Ministry has told the USCIRF to “de­
sist” from such reports and to “develop a better
understanding of India.... ”
The government’s stern reaction is understan­
dable, and is in line with its response to such re­
ports over the last two decades, since the USCIRF
began to publish its findings. The process the US­
CIRF follows is non­inclusive, and the fact that it
does not study the state of religious freedoms in­
side the U.S., suggests a double standard. More­
over, its recommendations hold no sway within
India, and are meant only for the U.S. govern­
ment to deliberate on, and accept or dismiss.
Either way, there is little need for or utility to New
Delhi’s public responses, which make it sound
defensive and do not actually repair the reputa­
tional damage to India as a secular, inclusive and
pluralistic democracy. Given the detailed and
pointed accusations, however, the Centre may
well consider an internal review of its conduct
and the direction it hopes to lead India in, on is­
sues such as religious freedoms and rights. Even­
tually, any government’s duty is not in achieving
a perfect score in a survey run abroad, but rather
in burnishing its record of delivering justice,
equality and security to its citizens back home.
Foregone conclusion
Mirziyoyev must now make good
on his promises after an emphatic win
U
zbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev
won overwhelming voter approval (90%)
in Sunday’s referendum to rewrite the
Constitution, which the 65­year­old leader claims
would not only improve governance and quality
of life in the former Soviet republic but could also
allow him to extend his rule beyond his current
term. Mr. Mirziyoyev, a former loyal Prime Minis­
ter of dictator Islam Karimov, has gradually
opened up the country for social and economic
reforms ever since becoming the President in
2016 after his boss’s death. He cracked down on
forced labour in cotton fields, released political
prisoners, relaxed media censorship and pro­
moted women’s rights, while his policies aimed
at encouraging entrepreneurship and attracting
foreign investments are transforming what was
once a closed economy to becoming the fastest
growing in Central Asia. The new charter, which
describes Uzbekistan as “ sovereign, democratic,
legal, social and secular”, promises a new media
code and criminalises domestic abuse. It promis­
es to ban the death penalty, guarantees prisoner
rights and offers better social protection, includ­
ing housing to lower income people.
But it would also reset the President’s terms to
zero, allowing him to contest in two more elec­
tions under the new Constitution, which has in­
creased the presidential term from five years to
seven. Mr. Mirziyoyev is currently serving his se­
cond five­year term, which would expire in 2026.
Two more seven­year terms would mean that he
could remain in power until 2040, the year he
would turn 82. The Election Commission had
made detailed arrangements to showcase the vot­
ing process as free and fair. International journal­
ists and monitors were invited, allowed to visit
polling stations and speak to voters and officials
on the day of voting. But still, everyone knew
what the results would be as there was no cam­
paign against the President’s proposals. While
the big media houses were largely aligned with
the government, social media activists and press
freedom advocates were under pressure not to
campaign against the reforms. The Organization
for Security and Co­operation in Europe, which
had sent election observers, stated the voting was
not truly representative. Yet, Mr. Mirziyoyev’s
reign is markedly different from that of his dicta­
torial predecessor. Mr. Mirziyoyev’s social and
economic reforms, while making sure that his
political powers are not threatened, are not
enough. If he is serious about his promise of
building a new Uzbekistan, he should also launch
political reforms, respecting the right to dissent
and allowing the opposition to operate free from
fear of government pressure and intimidation.
CM
YK
Editorial
The Karnataka election, the ideological contestations
T
he electoral arena in Karnataka in the
run­up to the State Assembly elections
2023, on May 10, has turned out to be a
battleground that is outpacing any
other in living memory. There are many reasons
being advanced for this: Karnataka has been the
stepping stone of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
to South India and needs to be retained at all
costs; the State is an economic powerhouse,
particularly in new technologies; there are
elections to important States as well as to
Parliament in the offing.
The Congress Party has a well­tested and
rooted leadership in the State apart from the fact
that Mallikarjun Kharge, the recently elected
all­India Congress President, hails from the State.
The Congress’s electoral prospects, elsewhere
and hereafter, may be crucially dependent on this
election. The Gandhi family in general, and Rahul
Gandhi in particular, enjoy great moral standing
in the State, with Mr. Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra
adding to this.
The Janata Dal (Secular) led by H.D. Deve
Gowda, the former Prime Minister of India, is a
local brew of a farming community, a dominant
caste and with embedded memories of pluralism
cohabiting a region. There is some truth in all
these narratives. But there are also ideological
contestations behind the escalating rhetorical
flourish, biting satire, lampooning of opponents,
and promises of freebies. These contestations are
redrawing the political contours of the political
parties in the fray, particularly the BJP and
Congress, and this shift would have an important
bearing on the future of electoral democracy in
India, including the idea of progress.
Ideological overdrive
While the BJP has scored much success in
Karnataka’s electoral politics in the last two
decades, its Hindutva project has not advanced at
the same pace. This is in spite of the sporadic
spectacles on love­jihad, Tipu Sultan, the hijab
issue, cow slaughter, and religious conversions.
As a strong avowal of common descent and
cultural belonging (in Savarkar’s words, pitrabhu
and punyabhu), Hindutva elicited some support
in certain pockets of present­day Karnataka from
early on. While a few in the Bombay­Karnataka
region (now called Kittur Karnataka) too were
attracted by it, most of the educated Lingayats of
the region came to define themselves vis-à-vis
Brahmins. A significant section of them were
influenced by Jotirao Phule’s Satyasodak Sangh.
With the collection and classification of the
Valour and prestige — the world of special operations
T
he evacuation of 121 Indians from Wadi
Seidna, north of Khartoum in Sudan, in
the dead of night, using an Indian Air
Force (IAF) C­130J Super Hercules, has been
lauded all round. The IAF’s press release is an
understatement of the stupendous task done on
the night of April 27­28, but is a subtle shabash to
the personnel involved. And let us not forget the
steed they flew, the C­130J, and the foresight of
the IAF and national leadership in the beginning
of the century which, considering the growing
stature and responsibilities of the nation, had
planned the purchase of this aircraft, an
outstanding capability enabler. One also needs to
acknowledge the acquisition of the other aircraft
for the IAF, the C­17 Globemaster heavy lift
aircraft.
The Wadi Seidna mission will soon be
forgotten and it is only right that the reader is
able to have some idea of how special operations
capability has progressed, and what should be
kept in mind as it is developed further.
The impact of Kandahar
During the ‘Kandahar’ incident of December 24,
1999, when an Indian Airlines flight IC­814 was
hijacked while on a flight from Kathmandu to
New Delhi — it ended on December 31, 1999 — I
happened to be with Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis
on December 24 in Israel when the chief’s mobile
phone rang; the Vice Chief was on line with the
news that IC­814 had been hijacked and had
landed at Amritsar, a civil airfield. We all know
how standard operating procedures did not work
thereafter and the plane eventually landed at
Kandahar in Afghanistan, leading to the release of
dreaded terrorists.
Could India have done a rescue like the famous
Israeli rescue at Entebbe, Uganda in July 1976?
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
‘Delaying tactics’ The premature release of
The extent to which the the convicts in the Bilkis
government of the day can Bano gang rape case in
go to provide freedom to Gujarat and the early
convicts who had release of the don Anand
committed heinous crimes Mohan, convicted for the
against women and lynching of the Scheduled
children is deplorable. The Caste IAS officer, Krishnaiah,
delaying tactics of the in Bihar have one thing in
convicts and “U­turn” by common — the denial of
the government will not go justice to members of the
unnoticed by the people minority and marginalised
(Page 1, “Bilkis Bano case communities for crimes
convicts playing for time: SC perpetrated against them. It
judge”, May 3). The is a chilling reminder to all
grievances of women , of us about the undue
which are getting renewed influence of certain forces
attention thanks to that still persist in our
wrestlers’ protests, are only country, towards which
going to increase empathy political leaders of all
for the survivors of crimes. parties vie with each other
A. Venkatasubramanian, to genuflect willingly in
Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu order to appease casteist
THE HINDU
Delhi
scattered Vachana literature in the 1920s and the They have argued that Hindutva and Hinduism
1930s and the maths as their institutional support are one and the same. There has been a
base, the Lingayats had already begun to mount
the demand of being a separate religious
vilification of Tipu Sultan while new Vokkaliga
heroes such as Nanje Gowda and Uri Gowda are
community in 1940s. brought to the fore. The Adichunchanagiri Math,
However, with the founding of Karnataka as a however, has been indisposed to such
Valerian separate State in 1956, they came to regard reconstruction without adequate evidence. The
Rodrigues themselves as being foundational to it. There JD(S) has stood its ground against the polarisation
was professor at were deep internal cleavages of belief and social of the Vokkaliga habitat, and Hindutva usurping
Mangalore University gradation within the community and being its cultural resources. It has also rallied in favour
and Jawaharlal Nehru Lingayat meant different things to different of a strong regional identity.
University, New Delhi groups within it. The relative political
marginalisation of this numerous community Moving in another direction
from the 1970s, and particularly from the late The Congress Party seems to be shifting gears in a
1980s, the rise of new political players, different ideological direction: There is little
contention with the Vokkaligas (a large farming stress in its rhetoric on secularism, socialism, and
community that rallied together under the nationalism that dominated much of its discourse
leadership of H.D. Deve Gowda), the inept for decades. These lofty goals are now presumed
handling of the local leadership by the all India as a given in the constitutional frame of India. All
Congress leadership, persuaded its significant the early assurances of the party, before the loud
sections to shift their allegiance to the BJP in the rhetoric of election frenzy set in, such as an
1990s. B.S. Yediyurappa and some other leaders unemployment dole to the educated
such as Jagdish Shettar (who is now with the unemployed, a quantity of food­grains to poor
Congress) who were associated with the Rashtriya households, certain units of free electricity to
Swayamsevak Sangh played the mediating role. every household in the State, and free travel for
This cooption of Lingayats into the Hindutva women in public transport, had no caste and
fold was not driven through an ideological region­tag built into them. The emphasis has
grooming from below, and invariably involved been on inclusiveness and equality. In fact,
drawing the Veerashaiva and Lingayat seers as Mallikarjun Kharge said in an interview to a
community representatives into the political media channel (India Today) that the ideological
arena. Paradoxically, the Hindutva project in the plank of his party is woven around democracy,
State encountered a major roadblock in this constitutionalism, and rights. It is important to
community, internal to the project but also proud reiterate that Rahul Gandhi has often held fort
of its autonomy. Given this impasse, the Hindutva highlighting these three issues, particularly
leadership chose to push to the margins those vis-à-vis the Hindutva project. The Left, still left
leaders who wielded clout and prestige within the over in Karnataka, seems to endorse this turn.
community and brought to the fore others docile The BJP is aware that the ideological plank
to it. through which it proposes to recraft public life in
Karnataka has led to much heartburn and has
A recrafting thrown up new fears and apprehensions. But it
In southern Karnataka, where the Vokkaligas thinks that the charisma of Prime Minister
have a dominant political presence, Hindutva Narendra Modi, the party’s organisational might
There is a
embraced a different strategy. In the last few and reach, and a rejuggling of the reservation
redrawing of decades, this region has witnessed a hastened code will enable it to wade through such
the political pace of recrafting ‘Hinduism’, shifting the opposition and covert resistance. It probably
contours of the emphasis from village and local deities to those believes that this is the only course open to it to
political parties with wider appeal, renaming and reconstructing commandeer the other States of South India. The
in the fray — a temples and ritual sites, reordering sacral Congress has desisted from embracing the path of
shift that will practices, and splitting apart syncretic spaces. At social polarisation to counter Hindutva, although
the same time, the prestige of the its local leadership has deep social moorings to
have bearing
Adichunchanagiri Math, and its presiding deity pursue such an endeavour. The Congress could
on the future of Kalabhairav, as the premier seat of the religiosity very well say that its ideological plank
electoral of this community has also grown enormously. encompasses that of JD(S) as well. But it is not so
democracy Proponents of Hindutva have attempted to shift much ideology, but a set of interests, that holds
in India this efflorescence to reinforce their ideology. the latter together.
Here, Israeli commandos flew all the way to In the case of the Sudan rescue, the crew faced
Uganda and stormed a hijacked Air France jet in many problems too. Intelligence was poor and
trying circumstances. The will is sure to have the runway was rough with no landing aids. All
been there but for two big impediments — the they had was top­class onboard aircraft
presence of Pakistan whose territory could not
have been overflown and no IAF aircraft that
instrumentation such as synthetic runway
generation on the head­up display, electro­optical
Air Vice Marshal could carry out a very risky mission avoiding night vision capability, night vision goggles, and
Manmohan
Pakistani airspace, entering Afghanistan from the of course, great confidence in their ability to pull
Bahadur VM south and returning without refuelling. it off.
(retired)
is former Additional The Afghanistan rescue missions The essence of special ops
Director General, Enter the C­130J in the IAF’s inventory, and we Special operations are much more than stick and
Centre for Air Power now have this capability if the political leadership throttle operations, night vision goggles and dark
Studies decides to intervene in such a critical situation nights. Every member of such a mission bears on
where national interests and reputation are at his shoulders the weight of a nation’s prestige.
stake. Before the Sudan rescue there have been They are India’s ‘strategic corporals’. This term,
two other such missions that are known in the coined by General Charles C. Krulak of the U.S.
open domain. The first was the evacuation of Marine Corps, denotes that in modern warfare,
Indian Embassy personnel from Herat, in the actions of even the enlisted man on the front
Afghanistan in April 2020. The aircraft flew from lines has a strategic effect on a nation’s policies;
India and had its engines running even after and that institutional training should cater for
landing; the IAF’s Garud commandos stood guard this. When it comes to failure, the bungled
while the diplomatic staff emplaned. hostage rescue attempt by the Americans from
Operation The second mission, on August 20, 2021 was Iran in 1980 or the picture of Gary Powers in
Kaveri, the an equally high risk one from Kabul; one had USSR custody when his U­2 was shot down in
evacuation videos by the United States and the 1960 are reminders of the loss of face for the U.S.
Sudan rescue
fiasco that unfolded going viral. The airspace was In terms of success, what brought laurels for the
mission, is an uncontrolled and the ground situation chaotic for U.S. was the elimination of Osama bin Laden in a
example of why want of a better word. There were a large number special forces raid. There is, thus, a non­military
the ethos and of aircraft in the air and the pilots had to avoid intangible element in every such operation that a
the training that them and use night vision goggles while landing; young officer or a corporal, far removed from his
goes into the the only call they received from the ground base, has to accomplish. It is only right that this
special controller was the line, “Land at your own risk” ethos and training in the IAF’s special operations
(a phrase that is etched on the shoulder patch crew not be diluted by the lure of sending the
operations of
that squadron crew wear on their flying overalls). versatile C­130s for routine tasks and VIP carriage.
the Indian Air While the crew on these missions were The IAF’s C­130J special ops squadrons (there
Force crew awarded for their professionalism and gallantry, are two) call themselves the ‘Veiled Vipers’ and
should not be what needs to be appreciated too is the aircrew the ‘Raiding Raptors.’ It is incumbent on the
diluted selection and their special training. leadership to ensure that their sting stays potent.
and communal elements. In Bano get a fair judgment? went on for more than a Sledging has always been a
politics there has always The Chief Justice of India year, and where the matter of concern in cricket.
been some needs to focus on this case government was obstinate. Being experienced and
“gerrymandering”, in jury of paramount importance N.G.R. Prasad, respected players of the
selection too such and pronounce a historic Chennai game, both men ought to
machinations exist. But this verdict. have shown restraint over
exercise in Mani Nataraajan, Ugly faceoff their emotions. Letting their
“justice­mandering” signals Chennai Virat Kohli and Gautam past differences get the
a clear erosion in our Gambhir have sullied their better of them did spoil the
criminal justice system. May Day reputations by getting into a show.
These incidents reinforce May Day, Teacher’s day and heated argument after an Kasulabad Ruthvik Goud,
the belief that it is almost Law day and the like are Indian Premier League Korukonda, Andhra Pradesh.
impossible for weaker great days that emphasise game. Kohli’s tiff with
sections in the community the democratic way of life. Naveen­Ul­Haq of LSG
to achieve justice. This year, May Day was a appears to have triggered
G. Parameswaran, day of some significance as the face­off with Gambhir.
Coimbatore the Tamil Nadu government This conflict is a significant
To read more letters
reversed its decision on breach of etiquette, and has online, scan the
It is clear as daylight that having a 12­hour working brought the BCCI and the QR code.Letters emailed to
this is a case of terrible day after realising the scale game of cricket into letters@thehindu.
crime where members of a of opposition to the disrepute. co.in must carry the full postal
family were murdered and proposal. Contrast this with N.J. Ravi Chander, address and the full name or
women raped. Will Bilkis the farmers’ agitation which Bengaluru the name with initials.
M ND-NDE
 THE HINDU
Thursday, May 4, 2023 7
Delhi
Opinion

Guaranteed pension is not bad economics Time for the DMK to guard itself

W
ith multiple State
governments
announcing
reversion to the
old pension scheme (OPS) and
some more speculating to do the
same, the debate on pensions is
hotting up. Most economists have
frowned upon this arguing that
difference between the OPS and
the CGPS is that a large part of the
latter will be funded by the
employees themselves as against
no contribution in the former. And
the State pays an additional
Rohit Azad balance of the difference between
the 50% guaranteed pension and
teaches at Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New the market determined pension
corpus at the time of retirement,
which is 60% currently. Second,
under the OPS, apart from
pension, there was a component
of contributory provident fund
(CPF), which amounts to almost
60% of the pension corpus of the
NPS. In other words, the CPF of
the OPS cancels out the 60%
The BJP is taking advantage of the divided house of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu
ceeded in promoting the im­
STATE OF PLAY age of the Tamil Nadu govern­
ment by roping in
B. Kolappan world­renowned economists
kolappan.b@thehindu.co.in including Nobel laureates Ab­
hijit Banerjee and Esther Du­

this is bad economics on at least
two grounds. Firstly, since the
State has to bear full burden of
pensions, it will become fiscally
unsustainable in the medium to
long run. Second, such an
unsustainable rise in pension
allocation in the Budget can only
come at the cost of other more
pressing welfare expenditures
allocated to the poor and
marginalised sections. The OPS,
therefore they argue, is a case of
elite workers gaining at the cost of
their brethren lower on the
income ladder.
Both the arguments assume the
fiscal revenues to be fixed, which
need not be the case if the
government has its priorities right.
Instead of rationalising necessary
expenditure, the government
should rationalise taxes, say by
implementing inheritance and
wealth taxes, which are either
negligible or non­existent in India.
But let us leave this aside.
Public sector workers are
asking for a guaranteed pension in
place of the new pension scheme
(NPS), which fluctuates according
to the returns prevailing in the
market. They are not freeloaders
wanting the State to fund their
post­retirement lives. We believe
that they can deduct employees’
contributions towards pension
during the working life, but can
give them a guaranteed pension
after they retire. The workers
would readily accept such a
contributory guaranteed pension
scheme (CGPS), a blueprint of
which we present in this piece.
Let’s say the employees
continue contributing 10% of their
basic pay monthly as they do now
under the NPS but the State
promises to pay a pension of 50%
of the last drawn salary which is
adjusted for inflation, exactly as
the OPS would have. The critical
Delhi amount.
The upside is that if the market
return happens to be higher than
this, the State gets to pocket that.
It may well be that on balance
(with State gaining when returns
are higher as against it paying the
difference when they are lower),
Indranil the additional burden on the CGPS
Chowdhury (compared to the NPS) may be
marginal. After all, the economic
teaches at PGDAV argument of those defending the
College, New Delhi NPS is that the returns in the
market do not stay the same, so it
may actually turn out to be better
than the OPS. The point is, why
should this entire burden of
uncertainty fall on employees
alone and not be shared by their
employers?
The chart compares the three
schemes — the OPS, the CGPS, the
NPS — keeping the OPS as 100. We
take 40% as annuity of the NPS
corpus and project the amount a
worker would get depending on
Inflation­indexed two rates of return — 9% (the
CGPS of 50% of average rate of return currently
last salary prevailing) and a hypothetical 12%.
drawn addresses One could ask why are we
the issues calculating the pensions only on
40% of the corpus and not the
without adding entire corpus. There are two
to the fiscal reasons. Firstly, there is an upper
burden limit to how much you can
necessarily withdraw from your pension
withdrawal from the NPS corpus.
Apples should be compared with
apples, which is what this chart
does.
Two things stand out from this
chart. Firstly, when the market
return is 9%, the State ends up
paying the gap, i.e. 28, but when
the return is 12%, it gets to pocket
the extra 58. Second, under the
CGPS, the burden is only the
employer’s contribution part,
exactly as in the NPS. The CGPS
gives guaranteed pension to the
employees without putting the
exchequer under additional
burden necessarily.
A few riders are in order here.
With the setting up of the special
task force to rationalise pensions
by the Union government, there is
growing speculation that the
government may come up with a
guaranteed pension of 30% (not
50%) of the last salary drawn and
that too not adjusted to inflation.
This would be grossly unfair on
two counts. Firstly, 30% fixed
pension (60% in our case) would
give the employees even lesser
pension than what they would get
under the NPS. Second, the NPS is
inflation­covered because under
normal circumstances, the returns
are higher than the inflation. So,
even though they may not be
inflation­indexed, they cover for
rising prices. So, a 30% pension,
despite guaranteed, gives you both
a lower amount when you retire
and its real value keeps on falling
over the years, so it is a double
whammy for the employees.
Our proposal of
inflation­indexed CGPS of 50% of
last salary drawn addresses both
these issues without adding to the
fiscal burden necessarily. And by
inference, it does not cut into the
share of other social welfare
schemes. It’s a win­win for all the
stakeholders.
A
s the Dravida Munne­
tra Kazhagam (DMK)
government, led by
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, pre­
pares to step into its third year
in office in a few days, after a
rather smooth sailing since
May 2021, it suddenly finds it­
self under attack. Strangely,
the attacks have come not
from the All India Anna Dravi­
da Munnetra Kazhagam
(AIADMK), the main opposi­
tion party in Tamil Nadu
which has a substantial pre­
sence in the Assembly, but
from its minor ally, the Bhara­
tiya Janata Party (BJP), which
has just four legislators in the
Assembly.
BJP State president K. An­
namalai, by making one alle­
gation after another against
the DMK government, seems
to have compensated for his
party’s thin presence in the
Assembly from outside, at
least in the perception war.
First, he released what he
dubbed as the “DMK files”, ac­
cusing senior DMK leaders of
corruption and amassing
wealth beyond their means.
Such allegations are quite
common in politics and ex­
pectedly, the DMK leadership
brushed them aside and is­
sued legal notice to Mr. Anna­
malai, demanding crores of
rupees as damages. It is anoth­
er matter that, in the process,
Mr. Annamalai made certain
jaw­dropping claims about his
benevolent friends, footing his
monthly expenses running to
a whopping ₹7 lakh to ₹8 lakh.
But what embarrassed the
ruling party most were the
two audio clips, which Mr. An­
namalai claimed contained
the voice of State Finance Mi­
nister Palanivel Thiagarajan,
in which he “pointed an ac­
cusing finger at Youth Welfare
and Sports Minister Udhaya­
nidhi Stalin and Chief Minis­
ter’s son­in­law, V.
Sabareesan”.
Mr. Thiagarajan dismissed
the clips as fabricated by a
“blackmail gang” to achieve
their political ambitions and
to disrupt the good gover­
nance being delivered by the
ruling DMK.
Sharing some deep fake vi­
deos on Twitter, in a video
statement, Mr. Thiagarajan
said, “If such authentic­look­
ing videos can be machine­
generated, imagine all that
can be done with audio files.”
Amidst speculations that
Mr. Thiagarajan might be
dropped from the cabinet, or
he could volunteer to quit, the
Chief Minister broke his si­
lence on the issue saying he
was not ready to talk about the
audio clippings as the Finance
Minister had given an explana­
tion. But what remained un­
said is that the government
cannot afford to lose Mr.
Thiagarajan for it will amount
to admitting the allegations
purportedly attributed to
him.
It could be the same reason
that the BJP and Mr. Annama­
lai could have chosen to target
Mr. Thiagarajan instead of oth­
er cabinet members.
Projected as the right man
with perfect prescriptions for
all the ills afflicting Tamil Nadu
finances, Mr. Thiagarajan suc­
flo in the Chief Minister’s Eco­
nomic Advisory Committee.
He also suggested measures
for filling the coffers of the
State with proper manage­
ment of mines and commer­
cial taxes. He also minced no
words in taking on the right
wing.
Mr. Thiagarajan, who was
the cynosure of the Tamil Na­
du cabinet, gradually became
controversial, with his social
media postings hinting at “dis­
comfort” in continuing in the
cabinet. However, he quickly
denied them. His efforts at
tightening the belt and bring­
ing under the purview of the
Tamil Nadu Public Service
Commission departments
hitherto conducting their own
recruitment were not taken in
the right spirit by his own
partymen.
He has survived because of
Mr. Stalin, who has set his
house in order for now. But
the Chief Minister will ensure
that his family, cabinet col­
leagues, and partymen, even
inadvertently, do not play into
the hands of its political ene­
mies, including the BJP, which
too is facing accusation of re­
warding some functionaries
with criminal and dubious an­
tecedents in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP is seeking to pre­
sent itself as a political force
by taking advantage of “the di­
vided house of the AIADMK”
and by painting the DMK as a
corrupt regime.
The DMK needs to be
guarded. For vociferous
claims on Dravidian ideology,
the Dravidian model of go­
vernment and development,
and inclusive growth do not
mean that the DMK can rest
on its laurels.

Europe uses India, China to get Russian oil despite sanctions F RO M T H E A RC HI V E S

India’s crude imports from Russia post­war surged by 1,350%, became largest fuel exporter to Europe
FIFTY YEARS AGO MAY 4, 1973

DATA POINT
import volumes for these five na­ Golden jubilee of
tions saw a 140% rise (or an in­
crease of €48.2 billion in value ‘Mathrubhumi’
The Hindu Bureau terms) compared to the year be­
fore the invasion. Due to their lack Calicut, May 3: The ‘Mathrubhumi’, which

T
he Centre for Research on
Energy and Clean Air has
published a data­driven
study highlighting a loophole that
enables the European Union (EU),
majority of G7 nations, and Austra­
lia to indirectly obtain oil from
Russia through India and China,
despite having banned or restrict­
ed imports of Russian crude oil
and petroleum products.
The EU, as part of a broader
price cap coalition, has banned or
limited seaborne imports of Rus­
sian crude oil and established a
$60 price cap on it as of December
5, 2022. Despite this, the countries
enforcing these limitations have
increased their intake of processed
petroleum products from nations
that are primary importers of Rus­
sian crude oil post the Ukraine in­
vasion. This loophole can weaken
the sanctions imposed on Russia,
the report observed.
One year following Russia’s in­
vasion of Ukraine, countries im­
plementing price cap restrictions
have increased their imports of re­
fined oil products from China, In­
dia, Turkey, the UAE, and Singa­
pore. These five nations, known as
the “laundromat” countries, have
augmented their purchases of Rus­
sian oil, processed it, and export­
ed the products to countries en­
forcing sanctions on Russian oil.
The “laundromat” countries
imported more Russian crude oil,
compared to the year before the
war. Import of crude oil from Rus­
sia into China increased from 39.8
million tonnes in the one year be­
fore the invasion to 57.7 million
tonnes in the one year post the in­
vasion. Similar analysis for India
shows that the import figures
surged from just 3.85 million
tonnes before the invasion to 55.9
million tonnes post the invasion.
Figures for all the five countries
are presented in chart 1.
The growth in Russian crude oil
CM
YK
of sanctions on Russian crude oil, celebrates its golden jubilee on Friday was the
the “laundromat” countries are in­ first Malayalam daily newspaper to come out
creasing their imports of Russian from Malabar and it has become an institution
crude oil, which is available to by now. The jubilee celebrations are being
them at a reduced price. inaugurated in Cochin tomorrow by the Prime
These countries are refining the Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Mathrubhumi was
crude oil bought from Russia and launched by political leaders like K.P. Kesava
exporting it to price cap coalition Menon, K. Madhavan Nair, K.N. Nambudiripad,
countries. Between the start of the P. Ramunni Menon, P. Achuthan, T.V. Sundara
crude oil import ban and price cap Aiyar and A. Karunakara Menon, soon after the
policy on December 5, 2022 and Malabar rebellion of 1921, to champion the cause
February 24, 2023 (a year after the of freedom to inculcate a spirit of service to the
Russian invasion), price cap coali­ motherland and to forge communal amity. The
tion countries imported 12.9 mil­ beginning was very small, though the
lion tonnes or €9.5 billion worth of Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Company
oil products from the “laundro­ was registered as a public company with its
mat” countries. Monthly oil pro­ office at Calicut and with authorised capital of
ducts exported to price cap coali­ Rs. 1 lakh (20,000 shares of Rs. 5 each). When
tion countries from “laundromat” the paper was launched, the subscribed capital
countries reached a peak in De­ was a mere Rs. 11,390. On a worn­out printing
cember–January 2023, after which press, the paper made its debut on March 17,
it fell in February, heading towards 1923, as a tri­weekly with Mr. K.P. Kesava Menon
levels of export before the invasion as its first Editor (He is the Chief Editor now).
as shown in chart 2. The chart The condition improved and seven years later,
shows the monthly oil product ex­ on April 6, 1930, on the historic Dandi March
ports (in ‘000’ tonnes per day) day, the paper became a daily. It increased its
from the “laundromat” countries circulation and became a red rag to the British
to price cap coalition countries. bull. An annoyed Madras government once
According to the report, India banned the paper in March 1942.
(3.7 million tonnes) was the largest
exporter of oil products to price
cap coalition countries since the
implementation of the crude oil A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MAY 4, 1923
price cap up to the one­year anni­
versary, followed by China (3.0 Slave trade
million tonnes). In the one year
since the Russian invasion, the EU London, May 2: A White Paper has been issued
was the largest region importing containing the correspondence with regard to
from these “laundromat” coun­ slavery in Abyssinia and relating chiefly to the
tries, buying 20.1 million tonnes of capture of a Dhow off the Hedjaz Coast which
oil products. Australia, the largest had 26 slaves abroad. They had been purchased
country to import oil products in the interior of Abyssinia and shipped at Tajura
from these countries, purchased in French Somalia for the Arabian Coast. The
9.1 million tonnes (€8.0 billion), Abyssinian Regent, Ras Taffari, gave assurances
followed by the U.S. that imported that his government was very desirous of
8.5 million tonnes (€6.6 billion). catching and punishing slave traders. A report of
Chart 3 shows the amount of the British Legation at Adis Abira, dated March
crude oil (in million tonnes) im­ 26, 1922, says that the statement that the slave
ported by the “laundromat” coun­ trade in Abyssinia was increasing is inaccurate as
tries from Russia one year post in­ the districts which produce slaves are being
vasion and their exports of oil gradually depopulated and the frontiers of
products to price cap coalition Abyssinia now march everywhere with those of
countries. the civilised power.
M ND-NDE

Text&Context
NEWS IN NUMBERS
The shares of Adani
Wilmar tank after
quarter four results
5 3
In percentage. The company
reported a 60% decline in
consolidated net profit for the March
quarter. Adani Wilmar reported a
consolidated net profit of ₹93.61 crore on
lower revenue amid a fall in the prices of
cooking oils. PTI
The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act
What are the stipulations mentioned in the new draft document of the European Union’s AI Act? Why are AI tools often called black boxes? What are the four risk categories
of AI? How did the popularity of ChatGPT accelerate and change the process of bringing in regulation for artificial intelligence?
EXPLAINER
Diksha Munjal
The story so far:
A
fter intense last­minute
negotiations in the past few
weeks on how to bring
general­purpose artificial
intelligence systems (GPAIS) like OpenAI’s
ChatGPT under the ambit of regulation,
members of European Parliament
reached a preliminary deal this week on a
new draft of the European Union’s
ambitious Artificial Intelligence Act, first
drafted two years ago.
Why regulate artificial intelligence?
As artificial intelligence technologies
become omnipresent and their
algorithms more advanced — capable of
performing a wide variety of tasks
including voice assistance,
recommending music, driving cars,
detecting cancer, and even deciding
whether you get shortlisted for a job — the
risks and uncertainties associated with
them have also ballooned.
Many AI tools are essentially black
boxes, meaning even those who designed
them cannot explain what goes on inside
them to generate a particular output.
Complex and unexplainable AI tools have
already manifested in wrongful arrests
due to AI­enabled facial recognition;
discrimination and societal biases seeping
into AI outputs; and most recently, in how
chatbots based on large language models
(LLMs) like Generative Pretrained
Trasformer­3 (GPT­3) and 4 can generate
versatile, human­competitive and genuine
looking content, which may be inaccurate
or copyrighted material.
Recently, industry stakeholders
including Twitter CEO Elon Musk and
Apple co­founder Steve Wozniak signed
an open letter asking AI labs to stop the
training of AI models more powerful than
GPT­4 for six months, citing potential
risks to society and humanity. “Powerful
AI systems should be developed only
once we are confident that their effects
will be positive and their risks will be
manageable,” the letter said. It urged
global policymakers to “dramatically
accelerate” the development of “robust”
AI governance systems.
How was the AI Act formed?
The legislation was drafted in 2021 with
the aim of bringing transparency, trust,
and accountability to AI and creating a
framework to mitigate risks to the safety,
health, fundamental rights, and
democratic values of the EU. It also aims
to address ethical questions and
implementation challenges in various
sectors ranging from healthcare and
education to finance and energy. The
legislation seeks to strike a balance
between promoting “the uptake of AI
while mitigating or preventing harms
associated with certain uses of the
technology”.
Similar to how the EU’s 2018 General
Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) made
it an industry leader in the global data
protection regime, the AI law aims to
“strengthen Europe’s position as a global
hub of excellence in AI from the lab to the
market” and ensure that AI in Europe
respects the 27­country bloc’s values and
rules.
What does the draft document entail?
The draft of the AI Act broadly defines AI
as “software that is developed with one or
more of the techniques that can, for a
given set of human­defined objectives,
generate outputs such as content,
predictions, recommendations, or
decisions influencing the environments
CM
YK
Delhi www.thehindu.com Thursday, May 4, 2023
● ●
The average ticket size
of retail investors
declines in FY23
In percentage. The average ticket
size of retail investors in mutual
funds dropped in March this year to
₹68,321. The investors had an average
account size of ₹70,199 as of March 2022.
Institutional investors had the highest
ticket size at ₹10.11 crore per account. PTI
Follow us facebook.com/thehindu
they interact with”. It identifies AI tools
based on machine learning and deep
learning, knowledge as well as logic­based
and statistical approaches. The Act’s
central approach is the classification of AI
tech based on the level of risk they pose
to the “health and safety or fundamental
rights” of a person. There are four risk
categories in the Act — unacceptable,
high, limited and minimal.
The Act prohibits using technologies in
the unacceptable risk category with little
exception. These include the use of
real­time facial and biometric
identification systems in public spaces;
systems of social scoring of citizens by
governments leading to “unjustified and
disproportionate detrimental treatment”;
subliminal techniques to distort a
person’s behaviour; and technologies
which can exploit vulnerabilities of the
young or elderly, or persons with
disabilities.
The Act lays substantial focus on AI in
the high­risk category, prescribing a
number of pre­and post­market
requirements for developers and users of
such systems. Some systems falling under
this category include biometric
identification and categorisation of
natural persons, AI used in healthcare,
education, employment (recruitment),
law enforcement, justice delivery systems,
and tools that provide access to essential
private and public services (including
access to financial services such as loan
approval systems). The Act envisages
establishing an EU­wide database of
high­risk AI systems and setting
parameters so that future technologies or
those under development can be
included if they meet the high­risk
criteria. Before high­risk AI systems can
make it to the market, they will be subject
to strict reviews known in the Act as
‘conformity assessments’— algorithmic
impact assessments to analyse data sets
fed to AI tools, biases, how users interact
with the system, and the overall design
and monitoring of system outputs. It also
requires such systems to be transparent,
explainable, allow human oversight and
give clear and adequate information to
the user. Moreover, since AI algorithms
are specifically designed to evolve over
time, high­risk systems must also comply
with mandatory post­market monitoring
obligations such as logging performance
data and maintaining continuous
compliance, with special attention paid to
0
The number of The rise in India’s coal
prisoners pardoned by production in the last
Myanmar junta five years
2,153 22.6
Myanmar typically
grants amnesty to
thousands of
prisoners to mark national holidays or 893.08 million tonnes in FY23, according to
Buddhist festivals. The military has an official statement. The production of
arrested thousands of protesters since Coal India Limited has increased to 703.21
February 2021. AFP MT from 606.89 MT in FY19. PTI
twitter.com/the_hindu
how these programmes change through
their lifetime.
AI systems in the limited and minimal
risk category such as spam filters or video
games are allowed to be used with a few
requirements like transparency
obligations.
What is the recent proposal on
general purpose AI like ChatGPT?
As recently as February this year,
general­purpose AI such as the language
model­based ChatGPT, used for a plethora
of tasks from summarising concepts on
the internet to serving up poems, news
reports, and even a Colombian court
judgment, did not feature in EU
lawmakers’ plans for regulating AI
technologies. The bloc’s 108­page
proposal for the AI Act, published two
years earlier, included only one mention
of the word “chatbot.” By mid­April,
however, members of the European
Parliament were racing to update those
rules to catch up with an explosion of
interest in generative AI, which has
provoked awe and anxiety since OpenAI
unveiled ChatGPT six months ago.
Lawmakers now target the use of
copyrighted material by companies
deploying generative AI tools such as
OpenAI’s ChatGPT or image generator
Midjourney, as these tools train
themselves from large sets of text and
visual data on the internet. They will have
to disclose any copyrighted material used
to develop their systems. While the
current draft does not clarify what
obligations GPAIS manufacturers would
be subject to, lawmakers are also debating
whether all forms of GPAIS should be
designated as high­risk. The draft could
be amended multiple times before it
actually comes into force.
How has the AI industry reacted?
While some industry players have
welcomed the legislation, others have
warned that broad and strict rules could
stifle innovation. Companies have also
raised concerns about transparency
requirements, fearing that it could mean
divulging trade secrets. Explainability
requirements in the law have caused
unease as it is often not possible for even
developers to explain the functioning of
algorithms.
Lawmakers and consumer groups, on
the other hand, have criticised it for not
fully addressing risks from AI systems.
The troops Germany
will pull out from Mali
by May 2024
1,110
In percentage. India’s The German
coal production government will
registered a growth to pull out from the
UN mission MINUSMA in Mali over
problems with the ruling junta. MINUSMA
was created to stabilise the country. AFP
COMPILED BY THE HINDU DATA TEAM
instagram.com/the_hindu
THE GIST
쑽
Members of European
Parliament reached a
preliminary deal this week on a
new draft of the European
Union’s ambitious Artificial
Intelligence Act.
쑽
Many AI tools are essentially
black boxes, meaning even
those who designed them
cannot explain what goes on
inside them to generate a
particular output.
쑽
The new legislation seeks to
strike a balance between
promoting “the uptake of AI
while mitigating or preventing
harms associated with certain
uses of the technology”.
GETTY IMAGES
The Act also delegates the process of
standardisation for AI technologies to the
EU’s expert standard­setting bodies in
specific sectors. A Carnegie Endowment
paper points out, however, that the
standards process has historically been
driven by industry, and it will be a
challenge to ensure governments and the
public have a meaningful seat at the table.
Where does global AI governance
currently stand?
The rapidly evolving pace of AI
development has led to diverging global
views on how to regulate these
technologies. The U.S., currently does not
have comprehensive AI regulation and
has taken a fairly hands­off approach. The
Biden administration released a blueprint
for an AI Bill of Rights (AIBoR). Developed
by the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), the AIBoR
outlines the harms of AI to economic and
civil rights and lays down five principles
for mitigating these harms. The blueprint,
instead of a horizontal approach like the
EU, endorses a sector­specific approach to
AI governance, with policy interventions
for individual sectors such as health,
labour, and education, leaving it to
sectoral federal agencies to come out with
their plans. The AIBoR has been
described by the administration as a
guidance or a handbook rather than a
binding legislation.
On the other end of the spectrum,
China over the last year came out with
some of the world’s first nationally
binding regulations targeting specific
types of algorithms and AI. It enacted a
law to regulate recommendation
algorithms with a focus on how they
disseminate information. China’s
Cyberspace Administration of China
(CAC), which drafted the rules, told
companies to “promote positive energy”,
to not “endanger national security or the
social public interest” and to “give an
explanation” when they harm the
legitimate interests of users. Another
piece of legislation targets deep synthesis
technology used to generate deepfakes. In
order to have transparency and
understand how algorithms function,
China’s AI regulation authority has also
created a registry or database of
algorithms where developers have to
register their algorithms, information
about the data sets used by them and
potential security risks.
M ND-NDE
 THE HINDU
Thursday, May 4, 2023 9
Delhi
Text&Context
BIBLIOGRAPHY

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Know your
English
K. Subrahmanian
Unrest: Smoke billows during fighting in Khartoum on May 3. AFP
“Mr. Guhakripa of Trivandrum wants to
know whether ‘beautifully’ is correctly

Geography as character: writers trace used in the sentence ‘He responded to the
treatment beautifully’.”
“The sentence is correct. When used

Sudan’s contradictory, complex history

colloquially, ‘beautifully’ means
‘excellently’ ‘in a superb manner’.
He batted beautifully.
He spoke beautifully at the conference.
‘That will do beautifully’ is used in
Even before the latest flare­up, the third largest country in Africa has been pulled in different directions, with its capital Khartoum being both a place conversion to mean ‘That will be most
satisfactory’.”
of refuge and a site of violence. Writers try to find a voice through the chaos to make sense of a diverse nation “Mr. G. John Berchmans,
Sub­Postmaster, Yalal, wants to know the
difference between ‘friend’ and
Sudipta Datta diverse populations followed as well as a location: situated between the fertile Nile disappointment of a big city experience is ‘comrade’.”
long civil war. South Sudan finally broke valley and the desert, inhabited by brought out evocatively in Ali al­Makk’s “ ‘Friend’ is from Germanic frijojan
he United Nations is calling it a away in 2011, but peace has been elusive. peasants but a frequent stop for nomadic ‘In the City’, and Bawadir Bashir’s ‘Next

T
“turbulent transition” to
civilian rule. After an
agreement, facilitated by the
UN, the African Union and the
Intergovernmental Authority on
Development, was signed in December
2022 between the military and political
stakeholders in Sudan to put in place a
democratic government, peace was
shattered when fresh fighting broke out in
mid­April.
The violent clashes between the
Sudanese Armed Forces, led by
Lieutenant General Abdel­Fattah
Al­Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces,
led by Lieutenant General Mohamed
Hamdan Dagalo, have left hundreds dead
and thousands injured. Many have had to
flee Sudan’s borders — the Indian
government has launched Operation
Kaveri to rescue stranded citizens from
capital Khartoum and elsewhere.
A turbulent nation
The latest conflagration comes at the
worst time possible, with Sudan facing an
acute humanitarian crisis. The UN
estimates that 15.8 million people, which
is about a third of its total population of
48 million, requires assistance of food,
water and essential medicines. Things
have not run smoothly for the third
largest country in Africa. It shed its
colonial past in the 1950s after
independence, but conflicts between its
THE DAILY QUIZ
It’s a country pulled in different
directions, and its writers have tried to
make sense of the past, present and
prospects of a better future through their
fiction. A good place to start is Tayeb
Salih’s 1966 novel, Season of Migration to
the North, hailed as one of the finest
novels to be written in modern Arabic
literature. Edward Said thought Salih’s
book reversed the trajectory of Joseph
Conrad’s controversial novel of Empire,
Heart of Darkness, with the main
character, Mustafa Sa’eed, travelling north
to the heart of colonial power, London,
and witnessing first hand a British
nightmare. In Conrad’s novel, the white
protagonist travels south from Europe to
the Congo, with dreams of civilising the
people.
Translated by Denys Johnson­ Davies,
Season of Migration begins with the
narrator stating that he has returned to
his village, at the bend of the Nile, after
getting a doctorate in Britain. Back home,
he listens intently to the wind, “which in
our village possessed a merry whispering
— the sound of the wind passing through
palm trees is different from when it
passes through fields of corn.” Things
begin unravelling at home, and realisation
dawns on Mustafa Sa’eed about the
challenges facing his people. Introducing
the novel, Wail Hassan writes, “His
fictional village of Wad Hamid in northern
Sudan represents the complexities of that
tribes, it is a meeting place for several
cultures.”
A fragmented nation
In 2016, Raph Cormack and Max
Shmookler edited The Book of Khartoum
and put the city in perspective:
“Khartoum sits across the three banks of
the river, where the White Nile meets the
Blue. Its geography serves as an apt
metaphor for its complex, at times
contradictory, significance to many
generations of modern Sudanese
authors.” The city, they write, was
founded in 1821 by invading
Turco­Egyptian forces. From the Mahdist
rebellion that began in 1881, to the
independence of Sudan in 1956, the
secession of South Sudan in 2011,
Khartoum “has served as a centre stage
for the struggle over the identity of a
fragmented nation and a volatile state.”
Cormack and Shmookler picked ten short
stories in which the city “emerges as a
place of refuge, an object of nostalgia, a
site of violence, and a muse for the
literary imagination.”
Because of layers of migration,
language, social and cultural clashes,
Khartoum remains a site of “conflicted
cosmopolitanism”. The stories in The
Book of Khartoum pick up where Season
of Migration left off, bringing tales of “a
post­colonial world shaped by conflicting
aspirations and daunting obstacles.” The
Eid’, in which a young boy moves to
Khartoum to go to university and
becomes the envy of his village but only
he knows that his life is not what his
family imagines it to be.
The first story in the collection, Ahmed
al­Malik’s ‘The Tank’, translated by Adam
Talib, is a dark comedy about a father
who buys a tank from a middleman and
parks it under the neem tree outside his
home. He soon noticed that the quality of
services improving markedly — the
butcher sent home the best cuts; power
cuts stopped; water supply wasn’t shut
off. How he came to acquire the tank is
another story.
A Sudanese writer who has been
chronicling the inner lives of Muslim
women and exploring questions of
identity, migration and Islamic spirituality
is Leila Aboulela, the first­ever winner of
the Caine Prize for African Writing. She is
the author of six novels, and her latest,
River Spirit (2023), is the coming­of­age
story of a young woman, Akuany, for
whom “the river was her language”,
during the Mahdist war in 19th century
Sudan. In her new book, Aboulela
narrates the complicated history of her
country, particularly what happened in
pre­colonial times when Sudan began to
slip from the grasp of Ottoman rule and
everyone had to pick a side.
As people of Sudan know, they are still
having to choose sides.
Please send in your answers to
dailyquiz@thehindu.co.in
which means ‘to love’. This is related to
Sanskrit ‘priya’. A friend is one whom you
like immensely. ‘Comrade’ is from
Spanish ‘camarade’ which means
‘room­mate’. Camera means ‘room’.
Originally, a person who shared a
‘camara’ with you was called a comrade
and the word had the warmth of the word
‘friend’. Now it no longer has that
connotation. Now it means ‘a fellow in
work or play’, ‘fellow socialist,
communist’. These days ‘comrade’ is
mostly used to mean a fellow communist
or a socialist. It is used as a prefix to the
surname and Mr. is not used after it.
Comrade X and not Comrade Mr. X.”
“Mr. Ahmad Sayeed Khan,
Semi­Professional, Centre of West Asian
Studies, Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh, wants to know the meaning of
‘blooming Kaboodle’!”
“It isn’t ‘Kaboodle’ but ‘Caboodle’, the
‘c’ is pronounced ‘k’. ‘Caboodle’. It is
slang for ‘collection’, ‘lot’. It is generally
used with ‘whole’. ‘You must sell the
whole caboodle’ means ‘You must sell the
entire lot’. ‘She had more soul than the
whole caboodle of them put together’.
‘Blooming’ like ‘bloody’ is slang and is
used to express strong feelings.
He is a blooming idiot.
It was a blooming shame.”
“Miss PP Teja, 6A, H Siddiah Road,
Bangalore­2, wants to know the
pronunciation of the word ‘educate’.”
“ ‘e’ is pronounced like the ‘e’ in ‘bed’,
‘u’ is pronounced like the ‘u’ in ‘due’
‘hue’, ‘c’ is pronounced ‘k’. ‘cate’ rhymes
with ‘state’. Some pronounce the ‘d’ in
the word like the ‘j’ in ‘June’. This is also
acceptable, edyookeishn, ejyookeishn.
The stress is on the first syllable.”
Published in The Hindu on November

May 4 is observed as ‘Star Wars Day’ thanks to a pun on the franchise’s most famous 24, 1987

phrase ‘May the Force Be With You’. A quiz on the original trilogy of Episodes IV to VI
V. V. Ramanan screen by Peter Mayhew and Questions and Answers to the previous day’s
what was the character's mother daily quiz: 1. Margaret Thatcher was known by this
X tongue? nickname. This actor played the role of Thatcher in a
QUESTION 1 X 2011 biographical drama film. Ans: Iron Lady; Meryl
Which of the iconic characters QUESTION 5 Streep
was the first to speak in the According to the canon, how old 2. This horse is used in the Kentucky Derby race. The
first film of the franchise, is Yoda when he starts training race takes place at this time of the year. Ans:
released in 1977, with the line Luke on Dagobah? Thoroughbred; it is organised usually on the first
being "Did you hear that?" X Saturday in May
X QUESTION 6 3. This book by Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer
QUESTION 2 Fill in the blank to get the full Prize for Fiction on May 3, 1937. Ans: Gone with the
According to Han Solo, in how name of an eminent character in Wind
many parsecs did the the series: ______ Desilijic Tiure. 4. This actor won the Academy Award for Best Actor in
Millennium Falcon make the X 1944 and this person sung the song "Where Have All
Kessel Run? QUESTION 7 the Flowers Gone?". Ans: Bing Crosby, Pete Seeger
X Name the Akira Kurosawa flick 5. This Indian film is considered the first full­length
QUESTION 3 that was a major inspiration for Indian feature film. Ans: Raja Harishchandra by
What was the profession of the plot of Star Wars. Dadasaheb Phalke (the year was misprinted as
Luke's uncle Owen Lars on X 2013; the film was released on May 3, 1913) For feedback and suggestions for
Tatooine? QUESTION 8 Visual: Identify this actor and the show he is Text & Context, please write to
X Which film in the trilogy was X associated with. Ans: Larry Hagman in Dallas letters@thehindu.co.in
QUESTION 4 shot under the production title Visual question: Early Birds: Yogita Meena| Parikshit Chauhan| Indra with the subject ‘Text & Context’
Which character was played on 'Blue Harvest'? Identify him and his biggest contribution to the Star Wars legend. AP Sharma| K. N. Viswanathan
CM M ND-NDE
YK
 THE HINDU
10 Thursday, May 4, 2023

News Delhi

From Page One Two shot down, infiltration India slips in press
freedom index, ranks
Centre ready to ease bid foiled in J&K, says Army 161 out of 180 nations
living of gay couples The militants had crossed the Line of Control in the Machhal Sector in Kupwara, it says; two
AK series rifles, magazines and huge quantities of ammunition recovered from them The Hindu Bureau
The court said the Centre’s offer of a forum to ad­ NEW DELHI
dress the day­to­day human concerns of the same­
sex community would ensure that the petitioners’ The Hindu Bureau sary to disrupt peace and India’s ranking in the 2023
movement does not hit a wall, even if they may SRINAGAR harmony of the area,” the World Press Freedom In­
fail in their endeavour in court. Army said. dex has slipped to 161 out
Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, for the petition­ mid heightened se­ According to the Army, of 180 countries, according
ers, said the LGBTQIA+ community was happy to
accept the “low­hanging fruit” the government is
willing to offer by forming a committee, which
A curity ahead of the
G­20 meet in Kash­
mir, two infiltrators were
the operation was based
on a specific intelligence
input provided by the Se­
to the latest report re­
leased by the global media
watchdog Reporters With­
may do some “administrative tweaking” of office killed in an anti­militancy nior Superintendent of Pol­ out Borders (RSF). In com­
orders or circulars. “But you [Constitution Bench] operation at Kupwara in ice, Kupwara, about likely parison, Pakistan has fared
need to declare the real, symbolic and actual north Kashmir on infiltration from a terrorist better when it comes to World Press Freedom Index is
meaning of marriage for the same­sex communi­ Wednesday. launch pad across the LoC. media freedom as it was to compare the level of press
ty,” Mr. Singhvi said. “Around 8.30 a.m., ter­ “Troops were put on placed at 150, an improve­ freedom enjoyed by media.
“Ninety­nine per cent of same­sex couples rorists were sighted by the Sizeable stash: Arms and ammunition recovered from the dead high alert on May 1. A well­ ment from last year’s 157th
want to get married. Marriage will give their rela­ troops having infiltrated in­ militants in Kupwara district on Wednesday. ANI coordinated counter infil­ rank. In 2022, India was dom as “the ability of jour­
tionship meaning, purpose and identity,” senior to our side of the Line of tration grid was put in ranked at 150. nalists as individuals and
advocate Saurabh Kirpal, for a gay couple, Control in the Machhal Srinagar­based Army spo­ yet another example of place in this rugged and ex­ Sri Lanka also made sig­ collectives to select, pro­
submitted. Sector. Intense firefight en­ kesman Lt. Col. Emron Mu­ close synergy between In­ tremely difficult area. A nificant improvement on duce, and disseminate
Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy said sued resulting in elimina­ savi said. dian Army, J&K Police and number of additional am­ the index, ranking 135th news in the public interest
same­sex marriage was not an elitist concept. “I tion of two terrorists. The The identity of the ter­ all agencies. The security bushes, including those of this year as against 146th in independent of political,
speak in many small towns. Young people there bodies were recovered rorists and their affiliation forces stand steadfast to Indian Army and SOG Kup­ 2022. economic, legal, and social
want marriage. Do not let them experience what along with two AK series ri­ were being ascertained. defeat the nefarious de­ wara, was placed along the Norway, Ireland and interference and in the ab­
we did. We want a positive enactment of the right fles, magazines and huge “This successful intelli­ signs of inimical elements likely routes of infiltra­ Denmark occupied the top sence of threats to their
to marry,” she said. quantities of ammunition,” gence­based operation is supported by our adver­ tion,” the Army said. three positions in press physical and mental
“We do not go by either popular morality or freedom, while Vietnam, safety”.
segmental morality. We decide what the Constitu­ China and North Korea
tion says. If you say this is what young people feel, constituted the bottom Concerns arise
then there will be people on the other side who
will throw tons of materials at us, saying this is
what the country feels,” Chief Justice Chandra­
The Kerala Story: SC tells petitioners three.
Reporters Without Bor­
ders (RSF) comes out with
The Indian Women’s Press
Corps, the Press Club of In­
dia, and the Press Associa­
chud reacted.
Justice S. Ravindra Bhat asked the petitioners to
consider the government’s proposal as a “building
to approach High Court for disclaimer a global ranking of press
freedom every year. RSF is
an international NGO
tion released a joint state­
ment voicing their concern
over the country’s dip in
block” for future changes. whose self­proclaimed aim the index.
Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul reasoned that even if The Hindu Bureau the Jamiat and other peti­ the High Court. It request­ dy to carry such a disclaim­ is to defend and promote “The indices of press
the petitioners were to get a judicial declaration NEW DELHI tioners to instead move the ed the jurisdictional High er. The movie claims it is media freedom. Headquar­ freedom have worsened in
from the court legally recognising same­sex mar­ jurisdictional High Court, Court concerned to consid­ “inspired by true events”. tered in Paris, it has con­ several countries, includ­
riage, there would be “many, many changes re­ The Supreme Court on possibly under Article 226 er the case for early listing During the brief minutes of sultative status with the ing India, according to the
quired in administrative and legislative aspects”. Wednesday refused to en­ (writ petition) of the Con­ if a petition is filed. The pe­ the mentioning, the CJI United Nations. The objec­ latest RSF report,” the joint
Whether the court recognises same­sex marriage tertain a petition by the Ja­ stitution. “There are sea­ titioners sought a copy of noted this was a film and tive of the World Press statement said.
or not, these human concerns have to be miat Ulama­i­Hind to direct soned judges in High the top court order to be the petitioners were seek­ Freedom Index, which it “The constraints on
addressed. the makers of the movie Courts… Why don’t you go made available so that they ing to “excise” portions of releases every year, “is to press freedom due to hos­
“The government, though reluctant to give The Kerala Story to carry a there? Why should we be­ could approach the High it. compare the level of press tile working conditions like
same­sex relationships the status of marriage, is disclaimer that it is a work come a super 226 court?” Court by afternoon. The Ms. Grover said their re­ freedom enjoyed by jour­ contractorisation have to
not reluctant to sort out the human concerns aris­ of fiction. the CJI asked advocate film is scheduled to be re­ quest for a disclaimer was nalists and media in 180 also be challenged. Inse­
ing out of them,” Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said. Responding to an urgent Vrinda Grover, appearing leased on May 5. balanced. She noted that countries and territories” cure working conditions
Justice Hima Kohli said the petitioners should mention to list the case for the Jamiat. Senior advocate Harish the movie tended to “de­ in the previous calendar can never contribute to a
not go for an “all­or­none approach” and finally early, Chief Justice of India The Bench gave the peti­ Salve, for the movie mak­ monise” the entire Muslim year. free press,” it added.
reach a dead end. D.Y. Chandrachud asked tioners the liberty to move ers, said they were not rea­ community. RSF defines press free­ (With PTI inputs)

SC sets aside stay on SC questions govt. on SC Collegium rejects IB observation

Amaravati scam inquiry third extension given about candidate for HC judgeship
On Wednesday, a Supreme Court Bench headed
by Justice M.R. Shah agreed with the State’s sub­
mission that the High Court had “misinterpreted
to ED chief Mishra
Krishnadas Rajagopal lack of freedom of speech/ Collegium lists 11 the judgments of candi­
and misconstrued” the two notifications issued by The Hindu Bureau sassination of a Prime Mi­ NEW DELHI expression in the country dates in its zone of
points which provide
the government. The Bench observed that the NEW DELHI nister years ago. in the last five­six years”. recommendation.
High Court had, while granting the stay, not consi­ an insight into what
Solicitor­General Tush­ The Supreme Court Colle­ “The views which have The 11 factors include
dered the fact that the State government had al­ it looks for while
The Supreme Court on ar Mehta, for the govern­ gium has shown that the been expressed by a form­ judgments which are well
ready made a representation to the Centre to refer Wednesday quizzed the go­ ment, said Mr. Mishra’s ex­ published opinions of a er senior of Shri Pooniwal­ evaluating candidates articulated and structured
the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation. vernment about the third tension was vital for India’s former senior who is criti­ la have no bearing on his with proper recording of
The Centre, the court noted, was yet to take a extension given to Enforce­ evaluation by the Financial cal about the government own competence, ability facts, clear identification of
call on the letter and the consent given by the ment Directorate (ED) Action Task Force (FATF). will not affect the pros­ or credentials for appoint­ independent legal prac­ issues and reasoned answ­
State government. Justice Shah concluded that the chief Sanjay Kumar Mis­ The petitions filed by pects of a lawyer to be­ ment as a Judge of the High tice. Mr. Pooniwalla and ers to them, apt adver­
High Court ought not to have granted the stay on hra, asking whether “one Congress party spokesper­ come a High Court judge. Court of Bombay,” the Col­ two other advocates, Shai­ tence to the law, due con­
the entire probe at such a premature stage. person can be so indispen­ son Randeep Singh Surje­ The Collegium has re­ legium said, finding the ad­ lesh Pramod Brahme and sideration and application
Setting aside the High Court stay, the Bench sable”. wala, Trinamool Congress commended the name of vocate suitable for appoint­ Jitendra Shantilal Jain, of mind to the submissions
said it was not making any observations on the “Is there no other per­ leader Mahua Moitra, so­ Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwal­ ment as High Court judge. have been recommended made by lawyers in court,
merits of the case. son in the organisation cial activist and general se­ la, an advocate, for Bom­ Moreover, the Collegi­ for appointment as Bom­ adequate reference to the
It asked the High Court to examine the matter who can do his job? What cretary of Madhya Pradesh bay High Court judgeship. um reasoned that Mr. Poo­ bay High Court judges. material and relevant
on its merits without being influenced by any re­ will happen post 2023, Congress Mahila Commit­ Though the Intelligence niwalla and his former se­ Separately, in a resolu­ pleadings, appreciation of
marks in the top court judgment. The top court when he does retire?” a tee Jaya Thakur have ar­ Bureau (IB) found nothing nior did not share an tion proposing Justice Ro­ ‘circumstantial evidence’
said the Centre was “a proper and necessary par­ three­judge Bench headed gued that the “piecemeal” adverse about his image or employee­employer rela­ bin Phukan as a perma­ and appropriate com­
ty” to be arraigned in the High Court. by Justice B.R. Gavai asked extensions affect “institu­ integrity, it flagged an arti­ tionship as both practised nent judge of the Gauhati pliance with ‘sentencing’.
the Centre. tional independence”. cle written by Mr. Pooni­ on the Original side of the High Court, the Collegium The Collegium said Jus­
At one point, the court Mr. Mishra is expected walla’s former senior at the High Court which allowed lists 11 points which pro­ tice Phukan’s judgment
remarked that the country to continue till November Bar in 2020 “expressing juniors associated with a vide an insight into what it had clarity with precision
Services sector had best had gone on despite the as­ 18, 2023. concerns over the alleged chamber to have their own looks for while evaluating and lucidity.

expansion in 13 years
Business confidence which had plummeted to an
eight­month low in March, revived a bit in April.
Delhi court summons BBC, TRAI chairperson Vaghela
Close to 22% of surveyed companies forecast
growth of business activity over the course of the
coming 12 months, compared with 2% that antici­
pate a reduction, S&P Global said.
Wikipedia, Internet Archives eyes reduced compliance
“India’s service sector posted a remarkable
performance in April, with demand strength
backing the strongest increases in new business
in case filed by BJP leader burden for broadcasters
and output in just under 13 years,” noted Pollyan­ The Hindu Bureau Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Aroon Deep Cable opearators levies be dependent on
na De Lima, economics associate director at S&P NEW DELHI Hindu Parishad (VHP) are MUMBAI demand regulations technology used instead of
Global Market Intelligence. “One area of weakness motivated by a malicious product being delivered,”
on subscription
highlighted in the latest results was the labour A Delhi court on Wednes­ intent to defame the organ­ There should ideally be Mr. Nagpal asked, alluding
market. Despite the substantial pick­up in sales prices they are
day issued summons to the isations and its millions of “complete forbearance” in to a growing concern
growth and improved business sentiment towards BBC, Wikipedia and Inter­ members. Such unfound­ regulating broadcast ta­ charged by channels among the television distri­
the outlook, the increase in employment seen in net Archives on a defama­ ed allegations are not only riffs, Telecom Regulatory bution industry that cheap
April was negligible and failed to gain meaningful tion suit filed by Bharatiya baseless but also have the Authority of India (TRAI) broadband and free live­
traction,” she added. Janata Party (BJP) leader potential to damage the chairperson P.D. Vaghela tected,” Dr. Vaghela said, streamed channels at
Outstanding business volumes increased for Binay Kumar Singh in con­ statement within 30 days reputation and image of said on Wednesday. referring to cable opera­ home are undercutting
the sixteenth straight month, but rose “only mar­ nection with a two­part from the date of service of the RSS, VHP and its mil­ However, Mr. Vaghela tors losing subscribers. them without facing the
ginally” in April, reflecting the slowest growth in documentary on the 2002 the summons. lions of members/volun­ added that there were “di­ Mr. Vaghela was speak­ same regulatory scrutiny.
sixteen months. Gujarat riots and India un­ teers, who have committed verging interests” among ing at the Federation of In­ “Should we go for regu­
The services sectors’ performance lifted overall der Prime Minister Naren­ ‘Unfounded allegations’ themselves to upholding different players in the in­ dian Chambers of Com­ lation for the new players,”
output in India’s private sector to the highest level dra Modi. According to the defama­ the cultural, social and na­ dustry, with broadcasters merce & Industry (FICCI) Dr. Vaghela asked. “I
since July 2010, with aggregate sales also rising at The summons were is­ tion complaint of Mr. Ku­ tional values of India,” the and satellite TV operators Frames 2023 event in would scoff at the idea. I
the fastest pace in almost 13 years. The S&P Global sued by Additional District mar, who is the State exec­ complainant said. asking for forbearance, Mumbai, with Tata Play would not like to see that
India Composite PMI Output Index rose from 58.4 Judge Ruchika Singla. utive committee member It further added that the and local cable operators CEO Harit Nagpal. Tata new players are regulated.
in March to 61.6 in April. The S&P Global Manufac­ “Issue summons of the of the BJP in Jharkhand, assertion in the documen­ (LCOs) and multi­system Play last month com­ Present players can be gi­
turing PMI had risen to a four­month high of 57.2 suit for settlement of issues the BBC documentary In- tary that Mr. Modi was di­ operators (MSOs) demand­ plained in a letter to TRAI ven some sort of relief,” he
in April. to the defendant,” the dia: The Modi Question de­ rectly responsible for the ing regulations on sub­ about falling broadband suggested. Dr. Vaghela said
“Despite the substantial upturn in sales, job judge said, posting the famed organisations such alleged atrocities against a scription prices they are prices with free live­ that relaxations for broad­
creation across the private sector remained mild. matter for further hearing as the RSS, the VHP and particular community dur­ charged by channels. streamed channels affect­ casters was essential, and
Rates of expansion were broadly similar at manu­ on May 11. the BJP. “That the allega­ ing the riots in Gujarat in “Whether we like it or ing the satellite TV and ca­ that a consultation would
facturing firms and their services counterparts,” The defendant was di­ tions made against the 2002 was an unfounded not, LCOs have a problem, ble business. soon come out on the sub­
S&P Global underlined. rected to file a written Rashtriya Swayamsevak and defamatory statement. and they have to be pro­ “Should regulation and ject of concerns faced.
CM M ND-NDE
YK
 THE HINDU
Thursday, May 4, 2023 11
Delhi
News

Trinamool
leader to
return medal
in solidarity
with wrestlers
The Hindu Bureau
GUWAHATI
Expressing solidarity with
the grapplers protesting
against Wrestling Federa­
tion of India (WFI) presi­
dent and BJP MP Brij
Bhushan Sharan Singh, a
former Assam sportsper­
son has decided to return
his National Games medal.
Abhijit Majumdar, who
won a bronze medal for
lawn bowling at the 2011
National Games in Ranchi,
is the general secretary of
the Assam unit of the Tri­
namool Congress. Repre­
senting Meghalaya, he won
the medal in the fours cate­
gory. “Prime Minister Na­
rendra Modi talks about
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
but his BJP government is
ignoring the women wres­
tlers who have accused the
WFI president of sexual ha­
rassment,” he said.
He said it was deplora­
ble that the Prime Minister
has not found any time for
the very wrestlers who he
prides on whenever they
shine for the country at in­
ternational events.
Jaishankar to hold talks with
Chinese, Russian Ministers today
He will also host the Pakistan Foreign Minister but a one-on-one meet is unlikely; bilateral meetings, events ahead of SCO
Foreign Ministers’ meet could see some awkward moments given the strains between many of the member countries
Suhasini Haidar
BENAULIM (GOA)
E
xternal Affairs Mi­
nister S. Jaishankar
will hold talks with
the Foreign Ministers of
China, Russia and Uzbekis­
tan and the Secretary­Gen­
eral of the eight­nation
Shanghai Cooperation Or­
ganisation (SCO), Zhang
Ming, here on Thursday.
He will also come face­
to­face with Pakistan Fo­
reign Minister Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari for the first
time since they had a ver­
bal spat at the UN Security
Council in December.
The Ministers, including
the Foreign Ministers of
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan,
will all hold bilateral meet­
ings during the day and at­
tend a cultural perfor­
mance and dinner hosted
by Mr. Jaishankar at the Taj
Exotica resort in south Goa
in the evening, events that
could see some awkward
moments given strains bet­
ween many of the member
Vital meeting: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with Chinese
Foreign Minister Qin Gang in New Delhi. @MEAINDIA
countries. A meeting of
SCO Foreign Ministers will
be held on Friday.
This is the first time Mr.
Jaishankar will meet Mr.
Bhutto in India, and also
the first such meeting since
the Poonch terror attack,
which the Army has held
Pakistan responsible for.
India­Pakistan relations hit
their lowest point in 2019,
when High Commissioners
were recalled and trade
ties snapped. Mr. Bhutto’s
visit marks the first by a Pa­
kistani Foreign Minister to
India in 12 years.
Russian Foreign Minis­
ter Sergey Lavrov will ar­
rive just a day after Russian
forces shot down two UAVs
in what it called an alleged
assassination attempt on
President Vladimir Putin at
the Kremlin, and is expect­
ed to seek strong condem­
nation of the attack from
the SCO countries.
South Block will be keen
to see if Mr. Lavrov echoes
Russian Defence Minister
Sergei Shoigu’s speech at
the SCO Defence Ministers’
gathering last week, where
he criticised the ‘Quad’
grouping of the U.S., India,
Australia and Japan.
Diplomacy watch
Sources confirmed that Mr.
Jaishankar will meet Chi­
nese Foreign Minister Qin
Gang for a bilateral meet­
ing, which will also be
watched closely for any
handshakes.
At the meeting last
week, Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh was seen
pointedly greeting his Chi­
nese counterpart with a
Namaste, rather than the
handshake he shared with
all other counterparts. It
was seen as a mark of In­
dia’s displeasure over the
lack of movement in India­
China border talks.
Meanwhile, Mr. Qin will
also be meeting Central
Asian counterparts, days
after the Chinese Ambassa­
dor to France sparked an
uproar when he ques­
tioned the “sovereign sta­
tus” of nations that were
formerly part of the Soviet
Union.
While the Chinese Fo­
reign Ministry walked back
from the statement a day
later, it will be left to Mr.
Qin to smooth over the
controversy during his
time in Goa.
Among the first of the
guests to arrive will be Mr.
Lavrov, who is set to meet
Mr. Jaishankar, Mr. Qin and
Mr. Bhutto during the day.
Mr. Qin and Mr. Bhutto will
fly from Goa to Islamabad
later on Friday where Mr.
Qin is expected to hold a
number of talks on strateg­
ic issues, and also hold a
trilateral on Afghanistan,
attended by Taliban Fo­
reign Minister Amir Khan
Mottaqi.
To that end, SCO discus­
sions on Afghanistan at the
Goa meet will be signifi­
cant, especially on the sub­
ject of recognition for the
Taliban regime. As host,
Mr. Jaishankar is expected
to meet each of his guests,
although neither Indian
nor Pakistani officials held
out much hope of a bilater­
al meeting between him
and Mr. Bhutto.
Boosting ties: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Maldivian
counterpart Mariya Didi at the ceremony in Male on Wednesday. PTI
Rajnath lays foundation
stone for Coast Guard
Harbour in Maldives
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh and his Maldivian
counterpart, Mariya Didi,
on Wednesday laid the
foundation stone for the
Maldives National Defence
Forces Coast Guard
‘Ekatha Harbour’.
The development of the
Coast Guard Harbour and
repair facility at Sifavaru is
one of the biggest grant­in­
aid projects of India, a joint
press communique issued
at the end of Mr. Singh’s
three­day tour said. This is
the first visit of an Indian
Defence Minister to the is­
land nation in 11 years.
“Both Ministers reaf­
firmed the importance of
maintaining peace, stabili­
ty and security in the re­
gion and recognised the
need to work together to
address common security
challenges. They under­
scored the importance of
respecting international
law and rules­based inter­
national order and ex­
pressed their commitment
to upholding these princi­
ples,” it said.
The Ministers agreed to
explore additional avenues
for cooperation, including
in the areas of defence
trade, capacity building
and joint exercises, the
communique said.

Deciphering the ‘Pawar game’ and family power play ‘SEBI should get clarity on
NEWS ANALYSIS
Abhinay Deshpande
MUMBAI
Senior politician Sharad Pa­
war’s decision to step down as
president of the Nationalist
Congress Party and not con­
test any future elections has
sent shockwaves through the
political landscape — not just
in Maharashtra, but across
the country.
The development should
not be seen as a spur­of­the­
moment move by the 82­year­
old, as is reflected by his craf­
ty and calculated approach to
politics. It is likely part of a
larger plan to assert his auth­
ority within the NCP.
A similar move was pulled
off by Shiv Sena founder Bal
Thackeray almost three de­
cades ago. However, after
Shiv Sainiks begged their
Wagh (tiger) to reconsider his
decision, Mr. Thackeray
agreed to their request and fo­
rever stamped his authority
on his party.
However, close confidants
of the NCP patriarch said that
he would not step back, but
would continue to run the
show from outside. Mr. Pa­
war’s nephew and senior NCP
leader Ajit Pawar gained trac­
tion after he told party work­
ers that there was no need to
get emotional. “Pawar saheb
will continue to guide the par­
ty even after resigning, like
Sonia Gandhi who remains
the supreme authority [in the
Congress] in spite of relin­
quishing the top post,” he
said.
Political analyst and senior
journalist Nikhil Wagle, who
has been observing the rise of
the NCP for decades, says that
the senior Mr. Pawar’s an­
nouncement of his intent to
quit as party president can al­
so be seen as a move to put
pressure on his nephew and
show him that he was the
‘boss’, especially given the
speculation that Mr. Ajit Pa­
war is in talks with the BJP.
“It was indeed a shock to
everyone, not just in Maha­
rashtra, but across the coun­
Sharad Pawar
try. Mr. [Sharad] Pawar is the
tallest leader Maharashtra has
ever seen after Mr. Thackeray,
and we can say he is playing
the ‘Pawar Game’ in his own
style,” he told The Hindu.
Mr. Wagle claimed that the
NCP supremo was playing
pressure politics with his ne­
phew, who was trying to join
hands with the BJP along with
a chunk of the NCP, with the
hope of becoming Chief Mi­
nister in case Eknath Shinde
and his 15 rebel Shiv Sena
MLAs get disqualified in the
Sena vs Sena case pending
with the Supreme Court.
“It is a perfect example of
pressure politics, which Mr.
[Sharad] Pawar had played
emotionally to tackle the is­
sue. In a way, the senior has
left no room for Mr. Ajit Pawar
to think of joining hands with
BJP, which will be political sui­
cide for him,” he said.
Mr. Pawar also addressed
the deeper internal power
struggle within his family in a
suave and sophisticated style
by paving the way for his ne­
phew to take over the leader­
ship at the State level, as a
means of maintaining unity
within the NCP.
However, one of the big­
gest concerns following Mr.
Pawar’s announcement is the
impact it will have on the tri­
partite Maha Vikas Aghadi, an
unlikely coalition of the NCP,
the Congress and their ideo­
logical opposite, the Shiv Se­
na led by Uddhav Thackeray.
With the senior statesman
Mr. Pawar no longer party
chief, there is no one person
to keep the already crumbling
MVA glued together ahead of
the 2024 Lok Sabha and As­
sembly polls.
foreign funds in Adani Group’
“He might not be the presi­
dent of NCP on paper, but he The Hindu Bureau must not be undermined using the
will continue to be their lead­ NEW DELHI excuse of confidentiality and priva­
er and lead MVA. Until 2019, cy. The statement came after a
no one would have ever ima­ The Securities and Exchange news report claimed some foreign
gined Shiv Sena joining hands Board of India (SEBI) should use all funds invested in Adani Group
with Congress and NCP, but means at its disposal to get clarity have declined to identify their be­
he had made it possible, and about the ultimate beneficial ow­ neficial owners, citing client confi­
there is no doubt that he will nership of foreign funds invested dentiality and foreign privacy laws.
continue to hold us together,” in the Adani Group, the Congress The Congress leader said that all
a senior NCP leader said. said on Wednesday. these developments make a joint
Even if the party break In a statement, Congress gener­ parliamentary committee ( JPC)
ranks with the MVA and joins al secretary (communications) Jai­ probe into the charges even more
forces with the BJP despite ram Ramesh said public interest important.
Mr. Pawar’s attempts to keep
the NCP family intact, the oc­
togenarian leader does not
want this to happen during
his tenure and wants to avoid
any association with such a
move.
Moreover, Mr. Pawar’s
daughter Supriya Sule, a
member of the Lok Sabha
from Baramati, will continue
to play a major role in the par­
ty’s leadership at the national
level. A senior NCP leader also
suggested that she should be­
come the national president,
while her cousin heads the
State unit.

CM M ND-NDE
YK
 THE HINDU
12 Thursday, May 4, 2023

News Delhi

INBRIEF
쑽 Tele Manas counsels Kashmir’s distressed souls
Peerzada Ashiq
SRINAGAR
On April 26, it took Areeba
(name changed to protect
privacy), a counsellor at
the Tele Manas helpline in
Srinagar, over 40 minutes
to talk a caller out of self­
Braille version of bilingual harm. “The 26­year­old la­
bourer from Baramulla in
dictionary sets a record north Kashmir had a blade
in his pocket. The person
A 21­volume Braille version of an he worked for had not paid
Assamese­English dictionary that in total weighs him, and he faced acute fi­
more than 80 kg has become the world’s largest nancial stress. His sister
lexicon. The authorities of the Guinness World helped to take the blade
Records on May 1 handed over a certificate to away. We made him pause
Jayanta Baruah, the publisher of the Braille and introspect — we
version of Hemkosh, acknowledging its inclusion helped him see the light at
in the records register as the world’s largest the end of a dark tunnel,”
bilingual Braille dictionary. The 123­year­old Areeba said.
Hemkosh is the first etymological dictionary of Over the past six
the Assamese language based on Sanskrit months, the Institute of
spellings, compiled by Mr. Baruah’s grandfather,
Hemchandra Baruah. A copy of the dictionary,
released in September 2022, was presented to
Govt. to bring
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Mental Health and Neuros­
ciences (IMHANS) in Srina­
gar has received 10,500
calls on the helpline from
people in distress across
Jammu and Kashmir. The
24x7 toll­free numbers are
14416 and 1800­891­4416.
The service was started
in Srinagar as a mental
health care service by the
Union Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare in
2022. It now has six psy­
chologists. The extent of
Kashmir’s mental health
crisis can be gauged from
the fact that on the second
day of Id­ul­Fitr, an occa­
sion of festivity in the Mus­
lim­majority Union Terri­
tory, the centre got 119
distress calls, most of them
between 4 p.m. and 11 a.m.
IMD forecasts a cyclone in
Help at hand: The phone service has been able to serve many who
cannot travel to Srinagar for mental health facilities. NISSAR AHMAD
Of the 10,500 calls at­
tended to since last No­
vember, nearly 3,000 re­
ported acute stress, and
contemplated self­harm or
violence. Most of these
callers were aged between
20 and 30. Up to 65% were
women, who expressed
feelings of loneliness and
spoke about marriage con­
flict, post­partum stress,
relationship trouble, and
parental disagreements.
For men, unemployment
and financial distress trig­
gered the calls.
Exam stress
“Last month, we received a
number of calls related to
examination stress,” Hina
Hajini, a psychiatrist work­
ing with IMHANS, said.
The centre arranged 2,500
follow­up calls in serious
cases.
“It would take people
living in far­off areas two
days to reach mental
health care in Srinagar.
Now, basic issues are han­
dled on a call,” she said.
Besides mental health
issues, the centre also talks
about taboo subjects in
conservative Kashmir. “We
are able to destigmatise
topics such as dating, sex­
uality and sexual orienta­
tion. Women talk about
their issues freely now,”
Manaal Andrabi, a psychol­
ogist from IMHANS, said.
In the wake of the grow­
ing response, the facility is
being expanded to other
regions too.
“One more Tele Manas
centre is under process in
Jammu. Tele Manas is be­
ing linked to the district
mental health programme
across all J&K,” Qazi Ha­
roon, State Programme
Manager, Mental Health,
J&K, said.
An online chatbot will
be rolled out to address the
needs of the people, which
will be available on the ex­
isting numbers.
Curfew in

SC/ST Act invoked against out manual eight districts

Inspector in torture case
The CB­CID, probing the allegations of custodial
for organ
donation
torture in the Ambasamudram Police
Sub­Division in Tamil Nadu, has registered cases
The Hindu Bureau
against the Ambasamudram Inspector and a few NEW DELHI
other police personnel by invoking the
provisions of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled The National Organ and
Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Tissue Transplant Organi­
cases were registered on May 2 on complaints sation (NOTTO) is working
filed by a 19­year­old man from Papanasam and on a transplant manual as a
an auto rickshaw driver, Vedhanarayanan, of step­by­step guide for the
Vickramasingapuram. “Since the two victims are
Dalits, the CB­CID has also invoked the provisions
of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
against the former Inspector of Police and a few
implementation of organ
donation and transplanta­
tion programmes in hospi­
tals and a standard course
personnel attached to the Ambasamudram police for training of transplant
station,” sources in the CB­CID said. coordinators. Both these
documents will be com­
pleted and released soon,
Ex­CMD of Water and Power the Union Health Ministry
said in a statement on
Consultancy Services held Wednesday.
The statement said ver­
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has
ticals for coordination,
arrested former Water and Power Consultancy
training and HR/accounts
Services (India) Limited chairman­cum­managing
had been created in the
director Rajinder Kumar Gupta and his son for
NOTTO for better imple­
allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to
mentation of the
known sources of income. The agency has so far
programme.
seized about ₹38.38 crore in cash, fixed­deposit
Additionally, the go­
receipts, keys of bank lockers and details of
vernment granted special
accounts in various banks. On Tuesday, the
casual leave of up to 42
agency initiated the searches at multiple
days to Union Government
locations in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh,
employees who donate an
Sonipat and Ghaziabad, after registering the case
organ as a special welfare
against Mr. Gupta and his family members.
measure in public interest.
The Ministry said the to­
tal number of organ tran­
Guidelines on allotting space
to feed strays dogs welcomed
splants in the country had
substantially increased
from fewer than 5,000 in
Housing societies and animal feeders in Mumbai 2013 to more than 15,000
welcome the Centre’s guidelines to allot in 2022.
dedicated places and time to feed stray animals. “Now, more organs per
On March 10 this year, the Ministry of Fisheries, deceased donor are being
Animal Husbandry and Dairying notified the utilised due to better coor­
Animal Birth Control Rules, which put the onus dination through the net­
on the Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) and work of Organ & Tissues
Apartment Owners’ Associations (AOA) to ensure Transplant Organisations
a feeding spot and time for residents to give food at national, State and re­
to animals. The rules read, “The feeding spots gional level. In the year
shall be far from children’s play areas, entry and 2016, 2,265 organs were
exit points, staircases, and should be in an area utilised from 930 deceased
which is the least frequented by children and donors, while 2,765 could
senior citizens. RWAs or AOAs should designate be utilised from 904 de­
feeding times depending on the movement of ceased donors in the year
children and senior citizens.” 2022,” the Ministry said.
the Bay of Bengal next week
First cyclone to form this year will be called Mocha; weather agency says various models
suggest that the cyclone could form by May 9 and grow to a severe cyclonic storm the next day
Jacob Koshy
NEW DELHI
he India Meteoro­
T logical Department
(IMD) on Wednes­
day said that a cyclone was
likely to form in the Bay of
Bengal by early next week,
but its strength, direction
and impact were yet to be
gauged.
“A cyclonic circulation is
likely to develop over
southeast Bay of Bengal
around May 6…there is a
possibility of the circula­
tion to move northwards
towards central Bay of Ben­
gal,” the IMD said in a state­
ment. “Further details will
be given after the low­pres­
sure is formed.”
A low­pressure area is
usually a precursor to the
development of a cyclone,
and according to the IMD’s
calculations, it is expected
Highly pathogenic bird flu virus puts Centre on alert
Bindu Shajan Perappadan
A.M. Jigeesh
NEW DELHI
Housing one of the largest
livestock reserves across
the world, India is at “risk
and vulnerable” to the on­
going outbreaks of avian
influenza (H5N1) world­
wide, a worry compound­
ed by the threat of mam­
malian transmission,
officials have said.
“Across the world, the
At risk: Fishing boats should avoid the waters of southeast Bay of
Bengal after May 7, the IMD has warned. FILE PHOTO
to take shape on May 7.
A preliminary analysis
available on the IMD web­
site based on its weather
models suggests that the
cyclone could form by May
9 and grow to a “severe cy­
clonic storm” by May 10.
The IMD has a five­step
classification for cyclones
with the relatively weakest
virus is being detected
among wild birds and oth­
er species, which makes
the chance of it mutating
and becoming harmful
greater,” warns the World
Economic Forum (WEF) in
its latest paper on pandem­
ic and preparedness.
“We are concerned
about it. The COVID­19
pandemic taught us that
we need to be prepared all
the time. If we are caught
off guard, anything can
classified as a “cyclonic
storm” (65­68 kmph) and
the strongest a “super cy­
clonic storm” (>222 kmph).
A “severe cyclonic storm”
(89­117 kmph) is just one
step above a “cyclonic
storm”.
Depending on the loca­
tion of the storm and exist­
ing weather conditions, it
happen,” said Abhijit Mi­
tra, Animal Husbandry
Commissioner, speaking to
The Hindu. The Central go­
vernment is now reviewing
the H5N1 situation daily.
H5N1, a highly patho­
genic subtype of avian in­
fluenza, was detected by
the ICAR­National Institute
of High Security Animal
Disease, Bhopal in the
samples received from the
Government Poultry Farm
at Bokaro, Jharkhand on
is possible for the storm to
gain or reduce in strength.
Cyclones are more fre­
quent in India’s neighbour­
hood around May, October
and November — or coinci­
dent with the advent and
departure of the monsoon.
This will be the first cy­
clone to form this year and
it will be called Cyclone
Mocha. The name was pro­
posed by Yemen, after the
Red Sea port city, following
an international conven­
tion on naming cyclones.
M. Mohapatra, Director­
General, IMD, said that
while greater clarity on the
cyclone would only
emerge later, the current
warnings were for fisher­
men. “Seafaring vessels
and the fishing community
should avoid the waters of
southeast Bay of Bengal af­
ter May 7 because it will be
turbulent.”
February 17, 2023. India
has now initiated the ani­
mal pandemic prepared­
ness programme.
“This year has been the
worst in numbers and con­
sequent spillover to mam­
mals,” said biologist Vinod
Scaria.
Dr. Mitra also added that
the speed of the spread
and the expansion in the
range of species affected
were causes for worry.
“India has been dealing
of Manipur
over tribal stir
Press Trust of India
IMPHAL
A curfew was imposed in
eight districts of Manipur
and mobile Internet servic­
es were suspended in the
entire northeastern State
over the violence during a
tribal agitation on Wednes­
day, officials said.
Violence broke out dur­
ing a “tribal solidarity
march” called by the All
Tribal Student Union Mani­
pur (ATSUM) in Torbung
area of Churachandpur
district to protest against
the demand of non­tribal
Meiteis, who dominate the
Imphal Valley, for Sche­
duled Tribe (ST) status.
Thousands of agitators
took part in the rally, dur­
ing which violence bet­
ween tribals and non­tri­
bals was reported in
Torbung area, a senior pol­
ice officer said. Police fired
several rounds of tear gas
shells to control the mob,
the officer said.
with influenza since 2006­
07 and there is no vaccine
for high­pathogenic avian
influenza. Currently we
have checked 1,500 sam­
ples from hotspots such as
waterbodies and poultry
farms. Out of this only one
case was found positive
from Alappuzha in Kerala.
There is nothing to panic
about, but we need to be
vigilant. We must streng­
then our bio­security mea­
sures,” added Dr. Mitra.

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8 Station, after short period showing sign of decline (8)
14 European cure ­ there is no free lunch! (5,5)
16 Constriction as this is parted by lips (8)
Across
17 Daily fish, left for another day (8)
9 Articles by weight, are they? Yet hear there is a scramble
18 Group test could be according to the territory (8)
(7)
22 Conrad is having a bit of the salad (6)
10 Finish the game without pain by not using a weapon (7)
11 Old and retired, by shedding anger could become very 23 Very famous and active, in charge before and after (6)
young (7) 24 Calling me on deck (6)
12 Cat straddling a horse, that's the name of the place (7) 27 Writing in a newspaper giving figures (4)
CM
YK
SUDOKU FAITH
쑽 쑽
Inner beauty of Nrisimha
There are many ways in which our saints and preceptors
have celebrated the Supreme Being. One such margam is
to treat Him like a fellow human being, as a friend, philo­
sopher and guide. Many of the Azhwars excelled in this
form of worship. One cannot help but recall Tirumazhisai
Azhwar’s beauty pageant for all the ten avatars, said Thi­
rukkudanthai Dr. Venkatesh in a discourse.
In keeping with Azhwar’s call, all ten avatars — Matsya,
Kurma, Varaha, Nrisimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama,
Balarama, Krishna, and Kalki — duly responded. The pro­
cess of elimination begins. Gazing upon Kurma, Varaha
and Matsya, he says, “You are all non­human manifesta­
tions, hence you are ineligible.” Nrisimha is half man, half
beast, so he is allowed to stay. Next, he tells Vamana, “You
asked for three feet of land, used one small step to step on
the head, took a giant step with your next, encompassing
the universe: where is the guarantee that you will not try
something similar in this pageant?” Walking up to Parasu­
Solution to previous puzzle Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku ram, he admonishes him for arriving at what was a beauty
contest armed with a hammer. The Azhwar states that it
was unseemly for two from a family to enter a contest, and
Balaram being Krishna’s older brother, is asked to leave.
Kalki is sent packing as he is yet to take avatar.
Only Rama, Krishna and Nrisimha are left. Rama says,
“Am I not Azhagiya Ramam?” Krishna laughs and says, “I
am Mohana Krishnan.” However, Azhwar says, “Azhagi­
yan thane, ari urivan thane” in Nanmugan Tiruvandati —
the one who came promptly to the rescue of a faithful soul
in the guise of a half­man, half­lion is the most beautiful.
Praying to Nrisimha protects our inner and outer selves.
M ND-NDE
 THE HINDU
Thursday, May 4, 2023 13
Delhi
World
YANGON BRASILIA NEW YORK WASHINGTON
Myanmar junta pardons more Brazil police raid former President U.S. Federal Reserve raises rates by U.S. pick Ajay Banga confirmed
than 2,000 political prisoners Jair Bolsonaro’s home, seize phone another 25 bp, hints it may be last as next president of World Bank

AFP AP AFP REUTERS

X X X X
Myanmar's junta pardoned more than 2,000 political prisoners to The police in Brazil searched ex­President Jair Bolsonaro’s home The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by a The World Bank confirmed Ajay Banga was selected as its next
mark a Buddhist holiday on Wednesday, triggering tearful reunions and seized his cellphone in an investigation into allegations of quarter of a percentage point and signalled it may pause further president on Wednesday, taking charge at a pivotal time for the
outside jails but also demands that the many others behind bars be falsifying COVID­19 vaccination records. Mr. Bolsonaro denied faking increases, giving officials time to assess bank failures, how the development lender as it looks to better address climate change.
released. Protesters and journalists were among the 2,153 people a COVID­19 vaccination certificate for himself, accusing the Washington standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling plays out, the course The Bank’s board voted to approve his leadership for a five­year
freed, a fraction of those targeted in the crackdown on dissent. AFP authorities of trying to "fabricate" a case against him. AFP of inflation. REUTERS term. He will take over the role from David Malpass on June 2. AFP

13­year­old opens fire in classroom Raisi praises Syria’s victory

in Serbia killing 8 students, guard in civil war despite sanctions
Agence France-Presse
The accused, who was arrested after the incident, had drawn sketches of classrooms, made a list of people to be targeted; DAMASCUS
he had carried two guns belonging to his father and four Molotov cocktails, say officials; six children, teacher hospitalised
Visiting Iranian President
Ebrahim Raisi hailed Sy­
Associated Press A father of a student country after the wars of ria’s Bashar al­Assad on
BELGRADE said the shooter entered the 1990s. They also note Wednesday for overcom­
his daughter’s classroom, that decades of instability ing sanctions and achiev­
ing “victory” in the coun­

A
13­year­old who
opened fire on
Wednesday at his
school in Serbia’s capital
drew sketches of class­
rooms and wrote a list of
people he intended to tar­
get in a meticulously
planned attack, the police
said. He killed eight fellow
students and a school
guard before being arrest­
ed. In addition to the nine
killed, six children and a
teacher were also
hospitalised.
The shooter first killed a
guard at the school in cen­
tral Belgrade and then
three students in a hallway,
according to senior police
official Veselin Milic. He
firing at her teacher and
then her classmates as they
ducked under their desks.
Authorities declared
three days of nationwide
mourning, starting on
Friday.
Sparse incidents
Mass shootings are ex­
tremely rare in Serbia and
in the wider Balkan region;
none were reported at
Grieving together: Following the shooting, authorities in Serbia schools in recent years. In
have declared three days of nationwide mourning starting Friday. AP the last mass shooting, a
Balkan war veteran in 2013
then entered a history The assailant called the killed 13 persons in a cen­
classroom — apparently police himself when the at­ tral Serbian village.
choosing it simply because tack was over, though auth­ Experts, however, have
it was close to the entrance orities received a call re­ repeatedly warned of the
— and opened fire again, porting the shooting two danger posed by the large
Mr. Milic said. minutes earlier. number of weapons in the
stemming from the con­
flicts as well as the ongoing
economic hardship could
trigger such outbursts.
The police identified the
shooter as Kosta Kecma­
novic, who attended the
Vladislav Ribnikar school,
where students typically
range in age from 6 to 15.
Kecmanovic carried two
guns belonging to his fath­
er — at least one a handgun
—and four Molotov cock­
tails, officials said. The In­
terior Minister said the
weapons were licensed
and kept in a safe but the
teen, who had been to
shooting ranges, apparent­
ly knew the code. The fath­
er was also arrested.
try’s 12­year­long civil war,
in which Tehran has been a
major ally.
The Syria conflict has
killed more than 5,00,000
people, displaced millions
and battered the country’s
infrastructure and indus­
try. While the front lines
have mostly quietened in
recent years, large parts of
the country’s north remain
outside government
control.
“Syria’s government
and people have gone
through great difficulties,
and today we can say that
you have overcome all
these problems and
achieved victory despite
Timely ties: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, and Syrian
President Bashar al­Assad in Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday AP
the threats and sanctions under heavy Western
imposed on you,” Mr. Raisi sanctions.
told Mr. Assad, according Mr. Assad told Mr. Raisi
to a statement from the that Syria­Iran ties “were
Syrian presidency and stable and steady during
Iran’s IRNA news agency. difficult times despite hea­
vy political and security
Helping hand storms that struck the Mid­
Tehran has provided eco­ dle East”, according to the
nomic, political and mili­ statement.
tary support to Syria, help­ Iran “did not hesitate to
ing Damascus claw back provide political and eco­
most of the territory it lost nomic support (to Syria),
at the start of the conflict. and even offered blood,”
Both countries remain Mr. Assad added.

UN denounces Taliban’s intimidation, Belarusian activist who was plucked

attacks on journalists in Afghanistan
Associated Press
ISLAMABAD
The Taliban’s intimidation,
threats and attacks on Af­
ghan journalists are unac­
ceptable, the UN said on
Wednesday, as it expressed
concern for the future of
the country’s media.
Many journalists lost
their jobs after the Taliban
takeover in August 2021,
with media outlets closing
over a lack of funds or be­
cause staff left the country.
Women journalists face ad­
ditional hardships because
of work bans and travel
restrictions.
During their previous
rule in the late 1990s, the
Taliban barred most televi­
sion, radio and newspap­
ers in the country.
The UN mission in Af­
ghanistan said that alth­
ough journalists continue
to work, they are forced to
navigate “unclear and of­
ten arbitrary boundaries of
reporting against an ever­
present threat of repres­
sion and closure.”
Call for solidarity
Its comments coincide
with World Press Freedom
Day, which is observed
May 3.
The UN Secretary Gen­
eral’s special representa­
tive for Afghanistan, Roza
Otunbayeva, said the day
was a moment to show so­
lidarity with the Afghan
journalists trying to main­
tain independent
reporting.
Deputy Broadcasting
Minister Mahajar Farahi
denied that journalists face
obstacles in Afghanistan,
saying the media is carry­
ing out its activities in a
normal way.
off flight in 2021 jailed for eight years
Agence France-Presse
MOSCOW
A Belarusian activist who
was arrested in 2021 after
his Ryanair flight to Lithua­
nia was forced to land in
Belarus has been sen­
tenced to eight years in pri­
son, state media reported
on Wednesday.
“The Minsk regional
court has sentenced Ro­
man Protasevich to eight
Roman Protasevich
has been accused of
coordinating protests
against Alexander
Lukashenko’s regime
years in a prison colony,”
Belarusian news agency
Belta said.
Prosecutors had asked
for a 10­year sentence for
Mr. Protasevich, the form­
er editor of an opposition
Telegram account.
He has been accused of
helping coordinate mass
protests against President
Alexander Lukashenko’s
regime in 2020.
The Moscow­allied
country, ruled by Mr. Lu­
kashenko since 1994, has
cracked down on anyone
linked to the protests.
Mr. Protasevich was ar­
rested after his Ryanair
flight from Greece to Lith­
uania was intercepted by a
Belarusian fighter jet and
forced to land in Minsk.
“He’s been the regime’s
hostage since the Ryanair
hijacking,” Opposition fi­
gure Svetlana Tikhanov­
skaya said. “The Belarus
regime again shows its dis­
regard for justice by sen­
tencing three journalists in
a fake trial on PressFree­
domDay,” she said.

The anatomy of a coronation: A guide to the crowning of King Charles III

EXPLAINER
Sriram Lakshman
LONDON
The coronation of Britain’s
King Charles III and Camil­
la, the Queen Consort, will
take place at noon (Lon­
don time) on Saturday,
May 6, at Westminster Ab­
bey, where coronations
have taken place for
around 900 years.
Prior to this, the King
and Queen Consort will
undertake a procession
from Buckingham Palace
to the Abbey for the cere­
monies, which are sche­
duled to begin at 11:00 a.m.
and will be officiated by
the Archbishop of Canter­
bury. The event is expect­
ed to conclude at 1 p.m.,
following which the royal
family will watch a fly past
from the balcony of Buck­
ingham Palace.
There will be a concert
at Windsor Castle on Sun­
day evening featuring Katie
Perry, ‘Take That’, Andre
Bocelli, Lionel Richie and
others.
The weekend’s events
include community lunch­
es on Sunday and volun­
CM
YK
teer mobilisation activities
on Monday — to reflect the
King’s long running asso­
ciation with community
and volunteering activities.
How does this British
coronation compare to
previous ones?
Apart from the corona­
tion reflecting the indivi­
dual preferences of the
monarch, this year’s
events “will reflect the Mo­
narch’s role today and look
towards the future, while
being rooted in longstand­
ing traditions and pagean­
try”, according to Bucking­
ham Palace.
For instance, at least
one of the six coronation
‘vestments’ will be recy­
cled from George VI’s coro­
nation “in the interests of
sustainability and efficien­
cy”, Buckingham Palace
said. Several of the chairs
used during the ceremo­
nies will also be restored
and reused — such as the
Chairs of Estate, which
were made in 1953 and
used during Queen Eliza­
beth’s coronation.
There will also be tradi­
tions dating back hundreds
of years. The throne that
will be used for the cere­
mony was built over 700
years ago and used first by
Edward the Confessor
(whose reign ended in
1066). It sits over a 152 kg
stone — the Stone of Scone
or the Stone of Destiny,
which has been used by
Scottish rulers for centu­
ries and was seized by Ed­
ward I of England in 1296
(the English and Scottish
crowns were unified in
1603). Former U.K. Prime
Minister John Major re­
turned the stone to Scot­
land 700 years later, in
1996, and it was brought
back to Westminster Abby
last week for the May 6
ceremonies.
In a departure from tra­
dition, Camilla will not
wear the Platinum Crown,
which has the Koh­i­Noor
diamond embedded in it.
The crown was set aside,
reportedly following con­
cerns that wearing the dia­
mond could cause offence,
especially in India, from
where the East India Com­
pany took it.
The religious landscape
of Britain is vastly different
today than it was when
Charles’s mother ascended
the throne in 1953. To re­
flect this, Jewish, Hindu,
Long time coming: A man looks inside a souvenir shop decorated
with a flag commemorating the coronation of King Charles III. AP
Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist
leaders will present the
King with coronation rega­
lia and also greet him fol­
lowing the coronation.
The British monarch is
styled ‘Defender of the
Faith’ — i.e., the Protestant
faith espoused by the
Church of England. In the
1990s, the King, then
Prince Charles, had said,
controversially, that he
would be a ‘Defender of
Faith’ rather than ‘Defen­
der of the Faith’ to reflect
the changed religious land­
scape of the country. The
preamble to his oath on Sa­
turday will have a refe­
rence to the King fostering
“an environment in which
people of all faiths and be­
liefs may live freely”.
During the coronation,
the public will be invited to
swear allegiance to the
King and “his heirs and
successors”. This is also a
new element to the coro­
nation. While some (such
as Members of the U.K.
Parliament) have come out
in support of this, others
have objected.
“In a democracy, it is
the head of state who
should be swearing alle­
giance to the people, not
the other way around. This
kind of nonsense should
have died with Elizabeth I,
not outlived Elizabeth II,”
said Graham Smith, CEO of
Republic, a group that is
campaigning to make the
U.K. a Republic.
Who is attending the
coronation?
India will be represent­
ed by Vice President Jag­
deep Dhankhar. The funer­
al of Queen Elizabeth II
was attended by President
Droupadi Murmu and the
last coronation, six years
after India’s independen­
ce, was attended by then
Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru.
The U.S. will be repre­
sented by First Lady Jill Bi­
den — President Joe Biden
will not attend, sticking to
the tradition of American
Presidents skipping the
crowning of a British mo­
narch. French President
Emmanuel Macron is also
on the list as are the heads
of government of the com­
monwealth ‘realms’ — such
as Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese of Australia.
European and world
royalty will also be in atten­
dance — including the King
and Queen of Bhutan, the
Crown Prince and Princess
of Japan and the Maori
King and Queen.
The King’s daughter­in­
law, Meghan Markle, will
be conspicuous by her ab­
sence. The Duchess of Sus­
sex will remain in Califor­
nia while her husband,
Prince Harry, will attend
his father’s coronation,
months after publishing a
revealing memoir, Spare,
which further strained his
and Ms. Markle’s relation­
ship with the King and the
heir to the throne, Prince
William.
Who pays for the
coronation?
The U.K. Government,
i.e., U.K. taxpayers, will
foot the bill for the corona­
tion which is estimated to
be £100 million ($125 mil­
lion). In 1953, the British
Government spent £1.57
million or £46 million in to­
day’s terms on the late
Queen Elizabeth II’s coro­
nation in 1953, according
to an analysis in The Times.
Is the monarchy
popular?
A significant majority of
Britons think that the U.K.
should continue to have a
monarchy. An April 26­27
YouGov poll showed that
60% of adults were in sup­
port of the institution con­
tinuing, while 26% said the
country should have an
elected head of state (15%
were in the “don’t know”
category).
Support for the monar­
chy was the highest in En­
gland and then Wales. Only
42% of Scottish people sur­
veyed thought the monar­
chy should continue, with
46% preferring an elected
head of state.
Support for the monar­
chy was the lowest in the
18­24 age group (32% sup­
port it while 44% want an
elected head of state) and
higher in older groups. It
was also higher among
those who voted to leave
the European Union and
those who voted for the
Conservative Party in the
2019 general election, and
slightly higher among
women.
Approval ratings for
members of the royal fami­
ly have dropped since the
publication of Prince Har­
ry’s memoir. These ratings
had risen around the death
of Queen Elizabeth in Sep­
tember last year. At least
51% of adults think that
King Charles will do a good
job as monarch, according
to March data from Ipsos.
M ND-NDE
 THE HINDU
14 Thursday, May 4, 2023

Business Delhi

INBRIEF
쑽 ‘Adapting to climate change to cost MARKETS
쑽
MARKET WATCH

India ₹85.6 lakh crore by 2030’ WEDNESDAY

Sensex ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 61,193 ddddddddddddddddddd ­0.26
US Dollar dddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 81.80 dddddddddddddddddddd 0.08
Gold dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 60,750 dddddddddddddddddddd 1.12
% CHANGE

Brent oil dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 71.81 ddddddddddddddddddd ­5.37

RBI’s Department of Economic and Policy Research sees need to cut energy intensity of GDP by 5% annually to achieve net
zero target by 2070; green financing requirement estimated to be at least 2.5% of GDP a year to address infrastructure gap
NIFTY 50
The Hindu Bureau a Greener Cleaner India’. than private sector banks.. PRICE CHANGE
Adani Enter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1839.00. . . . . . . . ­80.85
MUMBAI India’s green financing Globally, however, mea­ Adani Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 669.65. . . . . . . . ­11.85
requirement is estimated surement of climate­relat­ Apollo Hosp. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 4515.45. . . . . . . . . . 24.65

Facilitated payout of ₹31 cr. to

T
he cumulative total
expenditure for
delivery partners, says Swiggy adapting to climate
change in India is estimat­
Swiggy on Wednesday said it had facilitated the ed to reach ₹85.6 lakh
payout of a total of ₹31 crore in claim amounts to crore (at 2011­12 prices) by
delivery partners in fiscal 2022­2023. “There is a 2030, the Reserve Bank of
common misconception that since delivery India’s (RBI) Department
partners are not employees, they do not have of Economic and Policy Re­
access to healthcare support from Swiggy,” said search (DEPR) said in its
Mihir Shah, head of operations at Swiggy. “For Report on Currency & Fi­
several years now, we have provided carefully nance 2022­23.
considered insurance and other benefits to our India’s goal of achieving
delivery partners and their families,” he added. the net zero target by 2070
would require an accelerat­
to be at least 2.5% of GDP
annually till 2030 to ad­
dress the infrastructure
gap caused by climate
events, and the financial
system may have to mobil­
ise adequate resources and
also reallocate current re­
Green push: India needs a big improvement in its energy­mix in sources to contribute effec­
favour of renewables to about 80% by 2070­71, says RBI’s DEPR. AP tively to the country’s net­
zero target., it added.
ed reduction in the energy energy­mix in favour of re­ Results of a climate
intensity of GDP by about newables to about 80% by stress­test reveal that pu­
5% annually and a signifi­ 2070­71, the DEPR said in blic sector banks (PSBs)
cant improvement in its its report themed ‘Towards may be more vulnerable
ed financial risks remains a
work in progress.
“A pilot survey of key
stakeholders in the finan­
cial system in India sug­
gests that notwithstanding
rising awareness about cli­
mate risks and their poten­
tial impact on the financial
health of entities, risk miti­
gation plans are largely at
the discussion stage and
yet to be widely imple­
mented,” the RBI’s policy
researchers added.
Asian Paints. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 2929.70. . . . . . . . . . 30.15
Axis Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 859.85. . . . . . . . ­10.80
Bajaj Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 4447.85. . . . . . . . ­50.15
Bajaj Finserv . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1347.00. . . . . . . . . . ­2.05
Bajaj Finance . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 6180.25. . . . . . . . ­68.90
Bharti Airtel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 779.30. . . . . . . . ­10.90
BPCL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 360.80. . . . . . . . . . ­0.30
Britannia Ind . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 4527.10. . . . . . . . . . 16.05
Cipla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 920.65. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.95
Coal India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 236.90. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.80
Divis Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 3268.75. . . . . . . . . . 15.05
Dr Reddys Lab . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 4952.25. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.85
Eicher Motors . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 3348.35. . . . . . . . . . ­7.80
Grasim Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1735.90. . . . . . . . . . ­3.65
HCL Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1058.95. . . . . . . . . . ­8.60
HDFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 2787.75. . . . . . . . . . ­2.25
HDFC Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1693.15. . . . . . . . . . . . 5.90
HDFC Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 538.70. . . . . . . . . . ­5.80
Hero MotoCorp . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 2502.65. . . . . . . . . . . . 6.75
Hindalco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 442.30. . . . . . . . . . ­3.85
Hind Unilever . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 2486.00. . . . . . . . . . 34.30
ICICI Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 922.85. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75
IndusInd Bank. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1146.15. . . . . . . . . . ­4.75
Infosys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1269.15. . . . . . . . . . ­8.30

TVS Supply Chain Solutions ITC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 427.15. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.70

JSW Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 732.45. . . . . . . . . . ­5.45

downsizes IPO to ₹750 crore
TVS Supply Chain Solutions Ltd. (TVS SCS) has
filed a fresh draft red herring prospectus after
downsizing its IPO from ₹2,000 crore to ₹750
Quality control not aimed at WTO needs to look Kotak Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1930.95. . . . . . . . . . . . 9.80
L&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 2356.30. . . . . . . . ­28.15
M&M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1235.45. . . . . . . . . . ­1.85
Maruti Suzuki . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 8797.30. . . . . . . . . . 20.45
stopping imports: Goyal at farm subsidy issue NestleIndia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 21875.70. . . . . . . . 129.85
NTPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 176.35. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75
ONGC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 161.15. . . . . . . . . . ­3.10

with open mind: FM

PowerGrid Corp . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 239.70. . . . . . . . . . ­0.40
crore. The firm has already raised primary Reliance Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 2420.10. . . . . . . . ­20.95
SBI Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1136.90. . . . . . . . ­14.00
capital of ₹418 crore. Another commitment of The Hindu Bureau ter consultations with in­ State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 570.50. . . . . . . . . . ­4.80
₹100 crore had been received from a prominent NEW DELHI dustries. If in 2.5 years so­ Sun Pharma . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 963.60. . . . . . . . . . ­9.45
TataConsumerPro­
family office in Mumbai, market sources hinted. mebody has not yet Press Trust of India the better it would be for duct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 781.40. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.80
With about ₹520 crore raised and another ₹750 Union Minister for Com­ become compliant, then INCHEON the world. Tata Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 483.70. . . . . . . . . . . . 3.45
crore likely from the IPO, TVS SCS sees itself well merce, Consumer Affairs there is vested interest, “Since WTO was found­ Tata Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 109.70. . . . . . . . . . ­0.60
TCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 3179.90. . . . . . . . ­39.50
positioned to capitalise on growth opportunities. and Food Piyush Goyal which we cannot fulfill,” he The World Trade Organisa­ ed, there has been a grie­ Tech Mahindra . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1039.60. . . . . . . . ­13.85
said on Wednesday that said, and added that QCOs tion (WTO) should look at vance with respect to the Titan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 2654.05. . . . . . . . . . ­9.80
UltraTech Cement . . . .. . . . . . . 7507.20. . . . . . . . . . 50.60
the Centre was implement­ would help reduce wastage the issue of farm subsidies export of agricultural pro­ UPL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 739.80. . . . . . . . ­12.70
ing Quality Control Orders and bring down prices. with an open mind as it im­ ducts and generally in Wipro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 385.10. . . . . . . . . . ­3.25

Rane Brake Lining standalone (QCOs) on several products

and services in alignment
Q4 net contracts 8% to ₹12 cr. with world standards. He
said the QCOs would help
Rane Brake Lining Ltd.’s (RBL) standalone net India have the same quali­
profit for the quarter ended March contracted 8% ty products used world­
“No one has the right to
play with the lives of peo­
ple. No one has the right to
Piyush Goyal dump low­quality pro­
ducts in India,” he said.
demanding good quality Mr. Goyal said a percep­
pacts the food security
needs of emerging econo­
mies in the backdrop of
COVID­19 and the Russia­
Ukraine war, Finance Mi­
nister Nirmala Sitharaman
trade, the voice of the Glo­
bal South and emerging
markets has not been
heard at par with that of EXCHANGE RATES
the developed countries,” Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit except yen at 4
she said. The ‘Global p.m. on May 03

from the year­earlier period to ₹12 crore. wide, and hence importers products. tion was being spread that said on Wednesday. South’ largely refers to CURRENCY TT BUY TT SELL
Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 89.61. . . . . . . . . . 89.97
Revenue from operations grew 7% to ₹165 crore, abroad would have confi­ The Minister said no QCOs were being imple­ Speaking at the Asian countries in Asia, Africa British Pound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 101.92. . . . . . . . 102.32
while cost of materials increased 2% to ₹86 crore, dence in Indian goods. new QCOs were intro­ mented to stop imports. Development Bank (ADB) and South America. Japanese Yen (100) . . . . . . .. . . . . 59.48. . . . . . . . . . 59.72
Chinese Yuan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 11.82. . . . . . . . . . 11.87
the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales to Mr. Goyal noted that the duced without adequate “It is not true. Our at­ Governor’s seminar on “We will all have to talk Swiss Franc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 91.04. . . . . . . . . . 91.40
original equipment customers grew 3%. Sales to National Quality Mission industry consultations. “In tempt is to change the ‘Policies to support Asia’s again [about food and fer­ Singapore Dollar . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 61.15. . . . . . . . . . 61.40
aftermarket customers grew 14%. The board included sensitising citi­ the leather and footwear mindset of the consumers rebound’, Ms. Sitharaman tiliser security] at the WTO Canadian Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 60.17. . . . . . . . . . 60.41
Malaysian Ringitt . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 18.29. . . . . . . . . . 18.38
recommended a dividend of ₹25 per share, which zens as part of its agenda sector, we issued three towards quality products,” said the sooner a solution with an open mind,” the Australian Dollar . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 54.68. . . . . . . . . . 54.90
will be paid by August 3. so that consumers started QCOs in October 2020 af­ the Minister added. is found out by the WTO, Minister said. Source:Indian Bank

MRF Q4 JSW Steel arm to Nexus Select

standalone announces
net jumps invest $145 million in ₹3,200 crore
to ₹411 crore new U.S. projects public offer
The Hindu Bureau The Hindu Bureau The Hindu Bureau
CHENNAI MUMBAI MUMBAI

Tyre manufacturer MRF
Ltd.’s standalone net profit
for the quarter ended
March more than doubled
from the year­earlier pe­
riod to ₹411 crore on in­
creased sales volume.
Revenue from opera­
tions increased 10% to
₹5,725 crore, while cost of
materials rose 12% to
₹3,620 crore, the company
said in a regulatory filing.
The results included an
exceptional gain of ₹80
crore received from subsi­
diary MRF SG Pte Ltd.
Revenue from opera­
tions included subsidiary/
incentives of ₹4.56 crore
against ₹87 crore in the
year­earlier period.
The tyre maker’s board
declared a final dividend of
₹169 per share.
JSW Steel USA Ohio, Inc., a
subsidiary of JSW Steel Ltd.
has announced its plans to
invest $145 million in new
projects to upgrade its ma­
nufacturing operations in
Mingo Junction, Ohio.
“JSW Steel USA aims to
meet the demand for qual­
ity steel products that are
“melted & manufactured
in the US”. This is in align­
ment with President Biden
Administration’s Buy
America policies,” the
company said in a
statement.
Parth Jindal, Director,
JSW Steel USA said, “These
new investments reiterate
JSW’s commitment to a
sustainable & green futu­
re.The operational up­
grades being made at JSW
Steel USA are a step to­
Parth Jindal
wards achieving our long­
term ESG goals.”
“These investments and
projects will help us in pro­
ducing high­quality ‘melt­
ed and manufactured in
USA’ steel products re­
quired by our customers in
the infrastructure and re­
newable energy sectors,”
he added.
These new projects are
expected to be completed
and commissioned in
FY26.
Nexus Select Trust, the
owner of 17 Grade­A malls,
has announced an initial
public offering for a price
of up to ₹100 per unit ag­
gregating up to ₹3,200
crore. The IPO will open
on May 9, 2013 and will
close on May 11, 2023.
The price band has been
fixed from ₹95 per unit to
₹100 per unit. The pro­
ceeds from the issue will go
towards the partial repay­
ment of loans.
BIP 2023

Media industry grows, but TV CIFCL Q4 net

revenues remain flat, says EY
The Hindu Bureau
MUMBAI
The Indian media and en­
tertainment industry will
grow to be collectively
worth ₹2.8 lakh crore by
2025, Ernst & Young (EY)
and the Federation of In­
dian Chambers of Com­
merce and Industry (FIC­
CI) estimated in a report.
Live events, and animation
and visual effects indus­
tries would lead the expan­
sion, with compound an­
nual growth rates of 22.2%
and 21.1%, respectively.
Digital media’s share of
the industry increased to
27% in 2022, from 16% in
CM
YK
2019, EY estimated.
“If one were to include
data charges associated
with digital consumption...
its share would stand at
50%,” it said. Subscription
revenue from digital media
now stood at 45% of the
equivalent revenue from
TV, EY added. This came
even as the share of digital
advertising grew to 48% of
the overall advertising
market, with advertising
growth outpacing the ex­
pansion in India’s GDP.
Television struggles
TV advertising struggled to
grow even as other indus­
tries bounced back after
the pandemic. D2C start­
ups that advertised when
flush with initial funds
tightened spending after
investments eased; curbs
on ads for betting and
cryptocurrencies shut off
another key group of ad
buyers; supply shortages
in the auto industry led to
marketing cuts; and tech
firms pared ad spends in
India amid global austerity.
Increasing digitisation
also hit TV distribution.
“Periods of temporarily
suspended connections in­
creased marginally as alter­
nate… options were availa­
ble on mobile phones,” the
consulting firm noted.
rises 24%
on strong
disbursals
The Hindu Bureau
CHENNAI
Cholamandalam Invest­
ment and Finance Co. Ltd.
(CIFCL) has posted a 24%
jump in its standalone net
profit for the quarter end­
ed March 31 at ₹853 crore,
aided by strong disbursals
and collections.
Disbursements grew
65% to ₹21,020 crore, while
the net income margin
climbed 32% to ₹2,060
crore. Total assets under
management (AUM) was
higher by 36% at ₹1,12,782
crore.
M ND-NDE
 THE HINDU
Thursday, May 4, 2023 15
Delhi
Sport
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT BIG WORRY WELCOME NEWS GAME-CHANGER
Training to bowl wide yorkers paid Super Giants skipper Rahul RCB’s Rajat Patidar undergoes He’s a fantastic bowler, happy that
off: Ishant after match­winning over likely to be ruled out of IPL successful surgery he’s back: du Plessis on Hazlewood

X X X X
Ishant Sharma revealed that practising wide yorkers paid off during LSG skipper K.L. Rahul, in all likelihood, will take no further part in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Rajat Patidar underwent a successful Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis said the team
Delhi Capitals’ win over Gujarat Giants at Ahmedabad on Tuesday. the IPL after sustaining a thigh injury in the team’s last game surgery to repair an injured Achilles heel that had been troubling had missed the services of Josh Hazlewood. “He is a fantastic
“We bowl with the new ball, but at the same time we do practice against RCB. Meanwhile, Jaydev Unadkat, too, is ruled out of the him for a while and had ruled him out of the IPL. The 29­year­old bowler and we are very happy to have him back,” du Plessis said in
bowling wide yorkers. When we train, we plan for certain batters league. It is understood that it will be a race against time for the from Madhya Pradesh had suffered the injury prior to joining the a video posted by IPL. “It was nice to get out there as I was sick of
and it is all about executing it and backing yourself,” said Ishant. BCCI team to get Rahul ready for the WTC final from June 7 to 11. RCB training camp ahead of the IPL season. bowling in the nets,” said Hazlewood.

Super Giants­Super Kings Kishan, Suryakumar deliver for

battle: rain has the final say Mumbai Indians in exciting chase
Ayan Acharya
The Chennai bowlers, particularly the spinners, dictate terms as the Lucknow outfit crawls to MOHALI

125 for seven in 19.2 overs; Badoni plays a lone hand, revives team from a precarious 44 for five If this were a competition
to see which team bowled
less poorly on a good bat­
IPL­16 ting surface, then the
Mumbai Indians edged
M.R. Praveen Chandran past the Punjab Kings by
LUCKNOW the barest of margins in a
six­wicket win at the I.S.
downpour came as Bindra Stadium here on

A a respite for Luck­

now Super Giants
as it managed to end its se­
quence of losses at home
in the IPL match against
Chennai Super Kings at the
Ekana Cricket Stadium on
Wednesday.
Steady rain, which
stopped play with four de­
liveries remaining in the
Super Giants innings,
didn’t relent, forcing the
umpires to call off the
match at 7 p.m. The teams
got a point each.
At the time of interrup­
tion, Super Giants had
limped to 125 for seven in
19.2 overs.
The Chennai Super
Kings spinners tied the
Super Giants batters in
knots and it needed a brisk
knock from Ayush Badoni,
who hit four sixes and two
fours in his unbeaten 59 off
33 balls, to resurrect the
innings.
Scripting a revival
Badoni figured in a 59­run
sixth­wicket stand off 48
balls with the uncharacte­
ristically subdued Nicholas
Pooran (20) as Super
Giants recovered from a
precarious position (44 for
five) to reach a par total on
a sluggish pitch.
Badoni provided the fi­
nal flourish, smashing 20
off Deepak Chahar’s final
over — the penultimate one
of the Super Giants in­
nings.
Badoni, after top­edging
Silver lining: Badoni’s knock provided some runs and hope to Super Giants. AP
a four, imperiously pulled
Chahar over mid­wicket for
a six and struck a maxi­
mum over extra­cover.
After the start was de­
layed by rain, the Super
Kings bowlers, especially
the tweakers, justified
Dhoni’s decision to bowl
first by rocking the Super
Giants line­up.
The rut started when
Kyle Mayers’ attempt to hit
Moeen Ali over long­off
ended in the hands of Rut­
uraj Gaikwad.
Maheesh Theekshana’s
two in two — he cleaned up
Manan Vohra and forced
Krunal Pandya to edge to
Ajinkya Rahane at slip off
the next delivery — pushed
Lucknow deeper into trou­
ble. Ravindra Jadeja cas­
tled Marcus Stoinis with a
ball that spun across and
beat the bat, leaving the
Australian stunned.
SCOREBOARD
쑽 Deshpande 1­0­1­0, Moeen
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
Manan Vohra b Theekshana 10
(11b, 1x4), Kyle Mayers c Ruturaj
b Moeen 14 (17b, 2x4), Karan
Sharma c & b Moeen 9 (16b),
Krunal Pandya c Rahane b
Theekshana 0 (1b), Marcus
Stoinis b Jadeja 6 (4b, 1x4),
Nicholas Pooran c Moeen b
Pathirana 20 (31b), Ayush Badoni
(not out) 59 (33b, 2x4, 4x6), K.
Gowtham c Rahane b Pathirana 1
(3b); Extras (w­6): 6; Total (for
seven wkts. in 19.2 overs): 125.
FALL OF WICKETS
1­18 (Mayers, 3.4 overs), 2­27
(Vohra, 5.4), 3­27 (Krunal, 5.5),
4­34 (Stoinis, 6.5), 5­44 (Karan,
9.4), 6­103 (Pooran, 17.4), 7­125
(Gowtham, 19.2).
SUPER KINGS BOWLING
Karan Sharma danced
down the track but hit the
ball straight back to bowler
Moeen. But Badoni rose to
the occasion to rescue Sup­
er Giants before the hea­
vens opened.
Deepak Chahar 4­0­41­0,
4­0­13­2, Theekshana 4­0­37­2,
Jadeja 2­0­11­1, Pathirana
3.2­0­22­2.
Toss: Super Kings.
No result.
Wednesday.
After becoming the first
team in IPL history to regis­
ter four 200­plus totals in a
row, Punjab was blown to
smithereens by Mumbai’s
Ishan Kishan (75, 41b, 7x4,
4x6) and Impact Player Su­
ryakumar Yadav (66, 31b,
8x4, 2x6) in the pursuit of
215.
Scanning Suryakumar’s
pre­game routine of visual­
isation alongside the ma­
jority of boundaries he hit,
especially the cut, the
slice, and the wristy pick­
up shot over short­fine
which took him to a 23­ball
50, you’ll see why he is one
of the most feared T20 bat­
ters in world cricket.
Batting as if endowed
with foresight, Suryaku­
mar’s shots behind square
reduced the PBKS bowlers
to mere spectators.
Perfect foil
He was well supported by
Kishan, who slammed a
29­ball 50 and ensured the
early dismissals of Rohit
Sharma and Cameron
Green did not hurt.
Suryakumar and Ishan
fell after adding 116 (55b)
for the third wicket but
Tim David and Tilak Var­
ma, who hit a hat­trick of
boundaries off Arshdeep
Singh in the 17th over, en­
sured the team got home
with seven balls to spare.
Earlier, Kings rode on an
unbroken 53­ball 119­run
fourth­wicket partnership
Double trouble: For Kings, Kishan and Suryakumar proved a thorn in their flesh. R.V. MOORTHY
between Liam Livingstone
and Jitesh Sharma. After 10
overs, PBKS was 95 for
three when Livingstone
and Jitesh pressed the ac­
celerator.
Livingstone reached his
fifty off 32 balls and then
hit a hat­trick of sixes off Jo­
fra Archer (none for 56).
SCOREBOARD
쑽 Kartikeya 3­0­24­0, Madhwal
PUNJAB KINGS
Prabhsimran Singh c Kishan b
Arshad 9 (7b, 1x4), Shikhar
Dhawan st. Kishan b Chawla 30
(20b, 5x4), Matthew Short b
Chawla 27 (26b, 2x4, 1x6), Liam
Livingstone (not out) 82 (42b, 7x4,
4x6), Jitesh Sharma (not out) 49
(27b, 5x4, 2x6); Extras (lb­5, w­10,
nb­2): 17; Total (for three wkts. in
20 overs): 214.
FALL OF WICKETS
1­13 (Prabhsimran, 1.3 overs),
2­62 (Dhawan, 7.2), 3­95 (Short,
11.2).
MUMBAI INDIANS BOWLING
Green 2­0­15­0, Arshad 4­0­48­1,
The Mumbai Indians
quicks bowled a combina­
tion of slower and shorter
balls up front to force the
batters to hit to the big
square boundaries.
Rohit had catching men
behind square on either
side for Dhawan, but none
of his pacers tested him
Archer 4­0­56­0, Chawla 4­0­29­2,
3­0­37­0.
MUMBAI INDIANS
Rohit Sharma c Short b Rishi 0
(3b), Ishan Kishan c Rishi b
Arshdeep 75 (41b, 7x4, 4x6),
Cameron Green c Rahul Chahar b
Ellis 23 (18b, 4x4), Suryakumar
Yadav (Impact Player in place
of Madhwal) c Arshdeep b Ellis
66 (31b, 8x4, 2x6), Tim David (not
out) 19 (10b, 3x4), Tilak Varma
(not out) 26 (10b, 1x4, 3x6); Extras
(b­4, w­3): 7; Total (for four wkts.
in 18.5 overs): 216.
FALL OF WICKETS
1­0 (Rohit, 0.3), 2­54 (Green, 5.6),
3­170 (Suryakumar, 15.1), 4­178
(Kishan, 16.1).
with well­directed short
deliveries. Dhawan was
eventually stumped off leg­
gie Piyush Chawla, who al­
so removed Matt Short.
This was the solitary
high point in MI’s bowling,
but the batters ultimately
saved the team the blush­
es.
PUNJAB KINGS BOWLING
Rishi 3­0­20­1, Arshdeep
3.5­0­66­1, Curran 3­0­41­0, Ellis
(Impact Player in place of
Prabhsimran) 4­0­34­2, Rahul
Chahar 3­0­30­0, Brar 2­0­21­0.
Toss: MI; PoM: Kishan.
MI won by six wickets with seven
balls remaining.

Aman delighted with valuable knock Teams seek consistency as SRH

Amol Karhadkar
AHMEDABAD
In a prolonged session of
range­hitting that lasted al­
most an hour on the side
pitch at the Narendra Modi
Stadium, Delhi Capitals’
Aman Khan was finding
the seats located deep in
the stands with striking
regularity.
Still, he was told that he
would have to sit out the
game on Tuesday as he
had been unable to tran­
slate his immense potential
in a match scenario during
his five opportunities with
the willow (just 34 runs)
before the Capitals tra­
velled to Ahmedabad.
Stroke­filled
Had Mitchell Marsh not fal­
len sick overnight, Aman
would have been serving
drinks on match night.
But once he was drafted
in, Aman made optimum
use of the given chance
with a sensible­yet­stroke­
ful 44­ball 51 that helped
CM
YK
the Capitals touch the 130­
run mark.
Walking in to bat with
the Capitals tottering at 23
for five in the PowerPlay,
Aman combined caution
with aggression during his
two partnerships with Ax­
ar Patel and Ripal Patel.
“I was always ready to
play. I got to know in the
morning that Marsh was
unwell. I had to fill in those
shoes.
“He played really well in
the last game. Therefore, I
was satisfied with what I
was able to do,” said Aman.
meets KKR in a contest of equals
V.V. Subrahmanyam
HYDERABAD
When Sunrisers Hydera­
bad and Kolkata Knight
Riders clash here on Thurs­
day, they will have the
same objective: find con­
Stepping up: Aman came to the Capitals’ rescue. AFP sistency in all departments
of the game.
It will be interesting to
see if Sunrisers’ think­tank
sticks to southpaw Abhish­
ek Sharma, after his breezy
half­century against Delhi, Time to deliver: A good knock from Tripathi would help Sunrisers’
as opener. cause against Knight Riders. PTI
Apparently, dangerman
Harry Brook is struggling stroking wicketkeeper bat­ tain Nitish Rana should Varun Chakravarthy has
after a quick­fire century ter Heinrich Klaasen to go lead from the front if Kol­ been the lead performer
earlier in the tournament all out in the death overs. kata were to look for the with the ball for Knight
and moved to No. 5 in the Even the once formida­ badly­needed win and Riders but the inconsisten­
last game. He has to regain ble bowling attack of Sun­ opener Rahmanullah Gur­ cy of the other bowlers is
his wonted touch. risers seems to be strug­ baz who was brilliant definitely a concern.
It is imperative for Sun­ gling to get the act together against Gujarat, Venkatesh When Knight Riders,
risers to see the likes of Ra­ under pressure. Leggie Iyer, Rinku Singh and the with six points from nine
hul Tripathi, even captain Mayank Markande has big­hitting Andre Russel games, and Sunrisers with
Aiden Markram to score been impressive but needs have to up the ante to let six from eight, meet it
big at the top and give the the pacers to strike early. the bowlers have a chance might be a contest of the
kind of liberty for the free­ On the other hand, cap­ to dictate terms. Spinner equals.
M ND-NDE
 THE HINDU
16 Thursday, May 4, 2023

Sport Delhi

INBRIEF
쑽 Usha assures support Ding Liren completes
to wrestlers in China’s Big Dragon Project
surprise visit CHESS

Vinesh Phogat admits the IOA chief was non­committal about the
committee formed to look into their complaints
Olympic silver medallist Uthra Ganesan
Amos banned for three years NEW DELHI
Nijel Amos, a 2012 Olympic silver medallist in the ays after saying the
men's 800 meters, has been banned for three
years for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said
in a ruling published on Wednesday. The runner
D protesting wres­
tlers were being in­
disciplined and a day after
from Botswana tested positive for the banned being heavily criticised by
substance GW1516 last year in the run­up to the them, IOA president P.T.
track world championships. Usha made a surprise visit
to Jantar Mantar to meet
them on Wednesday and
reportedly assured them
support.
While Usha refused to
talk to the assembled me­
dia, she spent time with
the three protesting wres­
tlers who later expressed
thanks for her visit.
“For us, anyone who
comes here to support us is
welcome and we respect
them all. Better late than
Former World 100m never. She claimed her
statements have been
champion Bowie passes away twisted and that she was
an athlete first and fore­
Tori Bowie, the 100m silver medallist at the 2016 most, assuring us of her
Rio Olympics and the 2017 World champion, has support,” Bajrang Punia
died at the age of 32, USATF and her said.
management company said on Wednesday. “Even though she did
Bowie also won an Olympic 200m bronze and not directly say anything
gold in the 4x100m relay at the Rio Games. Bowie about ending the protest,
remains the lone American woman to win an she did say ‘I want to see
Olympic or world 100m title since Carmelita Jeter you at training, see you
in 2011. practice and win more me­
dals for the country’,”
Sakshi Malik added.
Asked about the IOA
Global Chess League in
Dubai from June 21 to July 2
The inaugural edition of the Global Chess
League, a joint venture between FIDE and Tech
ATK MB prevails over HFC
Mahindra, will be held in Dubai from June 21 to
July 2. The franchise­based league will have six
teams featuring both male and female players. AFC CUP QUALIFIER
P.K. Ajith Kumar
KOZHIKODE
Bhowneesh and Prithviraj In the final act of the sea­
stay in the race in men’s trap son for Indian football,
there was plenty of drama.
Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Prithviraj Tondaman At the end of it all, ATK
kept themselves in the race for the semifinals as Mohun Bagan got the bet­
they scored 94 out of 100 in four rounds of men’s ter of Hyderabad FC via pe­
trap in the shotgun World Cup in Cairo on nalty shootout and quali­
Wednesday. Zoravar Singh Sandhu had fied for the preliminary
fluctuating fortunes as he found himself in the stage of the AFC Cup. The
43rd spot with 91. In women’s trap, Rajeshwari playoff finished in a 1­1
Kumari shot 88, the sixth best score. draw here on Wednesday.
Both goals came in nor­
mal time. Before the extra
LIVE TELECAST time got underway, Hyde­
쑽 rabad’s coach Manalo Mar­
NBA: MTV, Sports 18­1 (SD & HD) & Jio Cinema App, 5.30 a.m. quez was given a red card.
ATP Madrid Open: Sony LIV, 4.30 p.m. onwards And his players failed to
IPL: Star Sports 1 (SD & HD) & Jio Cinema App, 7.30 p.m. give a perfect parting gift to
him, as they made a mess
Serie A: Sports 18­1 (SD & HD) & Jio Cinema App, 11 p.m. &
12.15 a.m. (Friday) of the penalty kicks. They
Premier League: SS Select 2 (SD & HD) & Hotstar, 12.30 a.m. missed three and could
(Friday) convert only one.
LaLiga: Sports 18­1 (SD & HD) & Jio Cinema App, 1.30 a.m. As for ATK MB, it was
(Friday) the team’s third win of the
Solidarity: IOA president P.T. Usha meets the protesting wrestlers
on Wednesday. ANI
committee formed to look
into their complaints, Vi­
nesh Phogat admitted
Usha was non­committal.
“She did not give any ti­
mespan for the committee
to complete its investiga­
tion, saying these things
take time and that the IOA
has now formed a commit­
tee to run the WFI also.
“We told her that now
the WFI is under IOA, it
should focus on holding
competitions and ensuring
things are normal and safe
for youngsters and that as a
Rajya Sabha MP, raising
our issues there will be a
sign of support,” she said.
Dimitrios Petratos of ATK MB runs with the ball against Hyderabad.
K. RAGESH
season in a shootout.
It was Hyderabad that
looked more likely to
score, as it pressed for­
ward, created chances and
shot towards the ATK MB
goal at regular intervals.
But, it was the Kolkatan
side that scored first, much
against the run of play.
From the right flank,
Hugo Boumous cut into the
box and gave a fine pass to
Dimitrios Petratos, who
The wrestlers also
slammed the Delhi Police
for spreading disinforma­
tion to discredit them.
“They are saying the
wrestlers are not recording
statements or co­operat­
ing, they tell people com­
ing to meet us that we
hardly stay here — do they
have anything in writing
from any wrestler?
“This morning some
kids from an NGO came
and were told no one stays
here, the wrestlers come
only by 11 or 12. They are
constantly blaming us and
giving excuses,” Vinesh
claimed.
slammed the ball into the
back of the net.
But, shortly before the
interval, Hyderabad equal­
ised through Joel Chianese,
who pushed the assist
from Borja Gonzalez, from
inside the box, gently into
the bottom corner of the
post.
The result: ATK Mohun Bagan 1
(Dimitrios Petratos 20) drew with
Hyderabad FC 1 (Joel Chianese
44). ATK MB won 3­1 on penalties.
P.K. Ajith Kumar
Tell me, Grandmaster, how
can a Western European
GM lose to a Chinaman?
Dutch GM and author
Jan Hein Donner thus
asked Gudmundur Sigur­
jonsson, an Icelandic
player, during the Chess
Olympiad at Buenos Aires
in 1978 after the latter lost
to Qi Jingxuan. Donner was
actually trying to console
Sigurjonsson, but those
weren’t probably the aptest
of words to do it.
China defeated Iceland
3­1 in that match, in the
opening round. That was
quite a shock at that time.
Today, Iceland is ranked
44th in the world, while
China is third. And China
holds both the men’s and
women’s World titles (Ding
Liren and Ju Wenjun).
Culminating point
Ding winning the World
chess championship at As­
tana on Sunday is perhaps
the culminating point for
the Big Dragon Project.
The project was pro­
posed in 1974 by top chess
officials of some Asian
countries to take the game
in the continent to the
highest level globally. Chi­
na was chosen as the first
country as it was felt the
potential was the most
Sonal
overcomes
Rachita
Sports Bureau
Third seed Sonal Patil, the
champion of the last tour­
nament, was stretched to
three sets by fifth seed
Rachita Talwar in the quar­
terfinals of the ₹100,000
AITA women’s tennis tour­
nament in Jhajjar on Wed­
nesday. Sonal won 6­3, 4­6,
6­2.
In the semifinals, Sonal
will challenge top seed Sa­
hira Singh, who eased past
Shefali Arora for the loss of
five games. The other last­
four clash will be between
Divya Bhardwaj and se­
cond seed Kashish Bhatia.
The results (quarterfinals):
Sahira Singh bt Shefali Arora 6­3,
6­2; Sonal Patil bt Rachita Talwar
6­3, 4­6, 6­2; Divya Bhardwaj bt
Chandana Potugari 6­3, 6­3;
Kashish Bhatia bt Medhavi Singh
6­1, 6­1.
Ding Liren. AP
there. The main man be­
hind the project was Dato
Tan Chin Nam, the presi­
dent of the Malaysian Chess
Federation, a wealthy busi­
nessman and philanthro­
pist. The aim was to make
Chinese chess world­class
by the end of the century.
If the project had been
thought of earlier, China
wouldn’t have been a can­
didate at all.
The ban
The sport had been banned
in China during the Cultu­
ral Revolution (1966­1976),
a socio­political movement
that acted against the bour­
geoisie elements. It was on­
ly in 1974 that the ban was
lifted.
China, it seemed, was
determined to make up for
lost time. Backed by the
Chinese government and
Tan, chess grew rapidly in
the country.
In 1990, China won the
women’s bronze medal at
the Chess Olympiad. The
Nishant takes out
Sarkhan in first round
BOXING WORLDS
Sports Bureau
Nishant Dev upset eighth­
seeded Sarkhan Aliyev 5­0
in a 71kg first round bout at
the World boxing cham­
pionships in Tashkent on
Wednesday.
A two­time National
champion and a quarterfi­
nalist of the previous
World championships, 22­
year­old Nishant gave an
impactful performance
against Sarkhan, a 2021
Worlds bronze medallist,
to set up a round of 32
clash with Korean Sangmin
Lee.
Powerful punches
A tall southpaw, Nishant
boxed from a long range
and dominated by using
Ju Wenjun. COURTESY FIDE
following year, Xie Jun be­
came the women’s World
champion, ending a 64­
year reign of European
countries.
Five other Chinese wo­
men have gone on to win
the World championships.
At the Chess Olympiad,
China has been a dominant
force, winning the team
gold in the open and wo­
men’s sections multiple
times.
To go back to Donner’s
question about a Grand­
master losing to a China­
man — he found out how in
that very Olympiad. He lost
to China’s Liu Wenzhe.
After losing the game
which is known as the Chi­
nese Immortal, Dooner
said, “Now 800 million
Chinese people will know
my name.”
He could not have ima­
gined that a few decades la­
ter both the male and fe­
male World chess
champions would be
speaking Chinese.
his powerful left punches,
including fine uppercuts,
and accurate rights.
As Sarkhan moved in to
attack, Nishant blunted his
rival’s attempts with some
solid shots.
A low blow brought the
Azerbaijani down on the
canvas and fetched the In­
dian a warning in the se­
cond round.
Having won the first two
periods 4­1 and 5­0, Nish­
ant maintained a safe dis­
tance, moved around and
counter­attacked to take
the final three minutes 5­0
and emerge as the winner.
Four Indians — Asian
championships medalists
Govind Sahani (48kg), Dee­
pak Bhoria (51kg), Shiva
Thapa (63.5kg) and Naren­
der Berwal (+92kg) —
would be seen in action on
Thursday.

Kudermetova bests
Pegula, in last four
Great going: Kudermetova beat Pegula in three sets to reach a WTA
1000 event semifinal for the first time. AFP
MADRID OPEN
Agencies
MADRID
Russian Veronika Kuder­
metova ousted world No. 3
Jessica Pegula 6­4, 0­6, 6­4
in a topsy­turvy clash on
Wednesday to reach the
Madrid Open semifinals.
“To beat Jessica it feels
very nice, I’m so proud of
myself because every
CM
YK
match I played almost
three hours,” said Kuder­
metova. In the men’s sec­
tion, Carlos Alcaraz en­
tered the quarterfinals
beating Alexander Zverev.
Other results: Men, fourth
round: Struff bt Cachin 7­6(7),
6­7(7), 6­3; Tsitsipas bt Miralles
6­3, 6­1; Alcaraz bt Zverev 6­1, 6­2;
Coric bt Davidovich 6­7(5), 6­3,
7­6(5); Zhizhen bt Fritz 3­6, 7­6(5),
7­6(8).
Women, quarterfinals: Sakkari
bt Begu 6­7(3), 6­4, 6­2.
Indian girls to
play Vietnam
for minor
placings
Sports Bureau
India outplayed Mongolia
in the last league match,
dropping only three games
in all, but it was no conso­
lation as the team had mis­
sed the chance to qualify
for the quarterfinals in the
Asia­Oceania Junior Billie
Jean King Cup under­16
girls’ tennis tournament in
Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on
Wednesday.
In the match for the mi­
nor placings, India, which
had earlier lost to Chinese
Taipei and Thailand, will
play Vietnam on Thursday.
Chinese Taipei topped
the group by beating Thai­
land in the last league
match.
The results (league): India bt
Mongolia 3­0 (Sejal Bhutada bt
Oyungerel Khasbaatar 6­0, 6­0;
Asmi Adkar bt Ninjin Sanchir 6­0,
6­0; Asmi & Aakruti Sonkusare bt
Namuunkhuslen Erdembileg &
Ninjin 6­0, 6­3).
Bopanna and Ebden
cruise past top seeds
TENNIS
Sports Bureau
Seventh seeds Rohan Bo­
panna and Matthew Ebden
outplayed the top seeds
Wesley Koolhof and Neal
Skupski 6­3, 6­2 in the dou­
bles quarterfinals of the
€8,796,536 ATP tennis
tournament in Madrid,
Spain, on Wednesday.
The results: €8,796,536 ATP,
Madrid: Doubles:
Quarterfinals: Rohan Bopanna
& Matthew Ebden (Aus) bt Wesley
Koolhof (Ned) & Neal Skupski
(GBR) 6­3, 6­2.
$80,000 Challenger, Gwangju,
Korea: Doubles:
Pre­quarterfinals: Arjun Kadhe
& JiSung Nam (Kor) bt Jaesung
Choe & Uisung Park (Kor) 6­4, 6­2;
Anirudh Chandrasekar & Vijay
Sundar Prashanth bt Altug
Celikbilek & Cem Ilkel (Tur) 7­5,
6­4.
$15,000 ITF, Monastir: Men:
First round: Gage Brymer (USA)
bt Drona Walia 6­2, 6­2.
Women: First round: Vaishnavi
Adkar bt Xu Jiayu (Chn) 6­0, 6­1;
Camilla Gennaro (Ita) bt Saumya
Vig 6­1, 6­1.
Doubles: Pre­quarterfinals:
Nina Rudiukova & Elizaveta
Shebekina bt Jennifer Luikham &
Teja Tirunelveli (USA) 6­4, 4­6,
[10­8].
$15,000 ITF men, Osijek,
Croatia: First round: Duje Kekez
(Cro) bt Dev Javia 6­1, 6­2.
$100,000 ITF women, Bonita
Springs, USA: Doubles:
Pre­quarterfinals: Yuriko
Miyazaki (GBR) & Prarthana
Thombare bt Rohin Anderson &
Maria Mateas (USA) 6­3, 6­1.
$60,000 ITF women, Prague:
Pre­quarterfinals: Jessica
Bouzas (Esp) bt Karman Kaur
Thandi 6­4, 6­3.
$40,000 ITF women, Tbilisi,
Georgia: Doubles: Semifinals:
Ekaterine Gorgodze (Geo) &
Ankita Raina bt Stacey Fung (Can)
& Maria Kozyreva 6­4, 3­6, [10­5];
Quarterfinals: Stacey & Maria bt
Aysegul Mert (Tur) & Sahaja
Yamalapalli 7­5, 6­1; Ekaterine &
Ankita bt Georgia Kalamaris (Fra)
& Victoria Lazarova (Bul) 6­0, 6­0.
$25,000 ITF women,
Nottingham: First round:
Rutuja Bhosale bt Elina Popescu
(Rou) 6­0, 6­0.
Arsenal gets back to winning ways;
Barca has one hand on LaLiga title
EURO LEAGUES
Associated Press
LONDON
Arsenal ended a four­game
winless run by dismantling
a listless Chelsea 3­1 on
Tuesday to temporarily re­
turn to the top of the Pre­
mier League standings.
Arsenal was 3­0 up in­
side 34 minutes of a one­
sided first half, with Martin
Odegaard scoring two
nearly identical goals and
Gabriel Jesus adding the
third as Chelsea slumped
to a sixth straight loss in all
competitions under care­
taker manager Frank
Lampard.
The visitors offered little
in response until Chukwu­
nonso Madueke pulled one
back in the 65th but never
came close to staging a co­
meback as the hosts saw
out the game.
Jordi Alba struck a late
winner for Barcelona in a
1­0 win over 10­man Osasu­
Off the mark: Odegaard, second right, bends in Arsenal’s first
against Chelsea. AFP
na on Tuesday to move the
Catalans a step closer to
their first LaLiga title since
2019.
Xavi Hernandez’s side
climbed 14 points clear of
second place Real Madrid,
which lost 2­0 at Real
Sociedad.
The visitors had debu­
tant Jorge Herrando sent
off in the first half for a pro­
fessional foul on Pedri, as
they sat deep and tried to
frustrate hosts Barcelona.
Visiting goalkeeper Ai­
tor Fernandez kept the
leaders at bay in the se­
cond half but eventually
substitute Alba, who has
had reduced minutes this
season, sliced home a vol­
ley to snatch a late victory.
If Barcelona earns two
more points from its last
five games, it will be
champion.
The results: Premier League:
Arsenal 3 (Odegaard 18, 31, Jesus
34) bt Chelsea 1 (Madueke 65).
LaLiga: Barcelona 1 (Alba 85) bt
Osasuna 0; Real Sociedad 2
(Kubo 47, Barrenetxea 85) bt Real
Madrid 0.
M ND-NDE