c m y k c m y k

SHORT TAKES

Mumbai: Former Unionminister and industrialistKamal Morarka on Fridaydied of a heart attack at

his home in SouthMumbai. He was

74. A closefriend and senior

journalistSantosh Bhar-

atiya said,“Morarka died

after he suffereda heart attack at

7.50 pm onFriday. He complained ofa cough on Thursday. He

did not come to officeyesterday as he was ill.”

■ Report on Page 7

Kamal Morarkadies at 74

PILLALAMARRI SRINIVAS I DCKANDI BHEEMANNA TEMPLE(KOMARAM BHEEMASIFABAD), JAN.15

These are hard times forthe team of forest staffengaged in trapping thetiger that killed two per-sons in the forests on theoutskirts of Papannapet vil-lage in Bejjur mandal latelast year.

Forest officials say thetiger migrated from theChandrapur area inMaharashtra and has

spread panic in the state forthe past few weeks. Theyhave identified eight loca-tions where the tiger move-ment was noticed. The tigerhas also killed several ani-mals.

A total of 62 animal track-ers are on the job. Amongthem, 22 animal trackersare at the base camp inaddition to the 15 other staffplaced there.

Tigers are known to sensethe normal scent of ahuman body from a dis-tance and keep away. Thecaked up dirt and sweat of

the unbathed forest person-nel, it is believed, camou-flages the scent of humansand will not warn the tigeraway. Tigers can also senseperfumes, aftershaves and

other cosmetics. So, the for-est staff on the rescue oper-ation are avoiding shaving,they say.

Forest officials are alsokeeping packs of cow dungin the area and sprinkingwater on these at intervalsto spread the smell so as toattract the tiger to the man-chan set up on a watchtow-er. There, a trap has beenset up for the tiger. Oncethe tiger reaches the spot,the shooter and the veteri-nary doctors would tran-quilise the tiger.

The forest team compris-

ing veterinary doctors anda shooter, among others, isplaced in such a way that itwill reach a location withinhalf an hour, along withtrap cages, after noticing atiger movement. Their planis to trap the tiger aftertranquilising it via firingshots from a distance. Thetranquilisation shot wouldbe done as and when thetiger remains in the sameposition for at least 10 min-utes.

■ Page 2: Forest staff cordon off area

Forest officials get ‘dirty’ to trap tigerTigers sense normal scent of a human body from afar, keep awaySCENT | HUNT

Vol. 84 No. 15 Established 1938 | 24 PAGES | `6.00deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle

TABLOIDSPORTS|12Fusion of fashionand technology

Natarajan makes animpressive debut

Joe Biden announces$1.9 tn Covid stimulus

WORLD|9

ASTROGUIDESarvari; Uttarayana

Tithi: Pushya Shuddha Tadiya till7.47 am

Star: Satabhisham till 6.09 am(Sunday)

Varjyam: 12.44 pm to 2.23 pmDurmuhurtam: 6.53 am to 8.22 am

Rahukalam: 9 am to 10.30 amHIJRI CALENDAR

Jamadi- ul- Akhir 2,1442 AHPRAYERS

Fajar: 5.46 amZohar: 12.36 pm

Asar: 4.26 pmMaghrib: 6.08 pm

Isha: 7.19 pmSUNSET TODAY 6.02 PM

SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.49 AMMOONRISE TOMORROW 9.19 AM

MOONSET TODAY 9.05 PM

COUNTER POINT

Max: 29.07OCMin: 17.06OC RH: 49%Rainfall: Nil

Forecast: Partially cloudy.Misty morning. Max/Min

temp. 30/17 ºC

WEATHER

9,38,61,080CASES AROUND THE WORLD

STATE GOVERNMENT BULLETINS

CASES

(+39,212)1,05,41,760

(+202)

(+94)TS: 2,91,118

DEATHS

(+415)1,52,086

AP: 8,85,710

1,574

7,139

20,09,441

219

DEATHS

COUNTRIES,AREAS WITH

CASES

COVID-19 C UNT

worldometers.info/coronavirus

(+1)

(+2)

THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIAHYDERABAD I SATURDAY I 16 JANUARY 2021

DC CORRESPONDENTNEW DELHI, JAN. 15

India is all set to roll outthe world’s biggest vacci-nation drive against Covid-19 from Saturday.

Prime Minister NarendraModi will inaugurate thefirst phase of the inocula-tion drive during whichonly healthcare workers,both in government andprivate sectors includingICDS (Integrated Child De-velopment Services) work-ers, will get the first life-saving shot. A total of 3,006sites which will be connect-ed virtually throughout theexercise. Around 100 bene-ficiaries will be vaccinatedon Saturday at each of thesession sites.

Union health minister DrHarsh Vardhan on Fridayreviewed the preparednessand visited the dedicatedCovid control room at theministry. He also reviewedthe Beneficiary Registr-ation Page for all non-pri-oritised groups on CoWIN.He suggested pre-populat-ing the software with bene-ficiaries by seeding it withthe electoral database, inaddition to other docu-ments that are authorisedfor registration. He alsoreviewed the working ofthe ‘Communications Cont-rol Room’ which has beenclosely monitoring the dis-information campaignsand rumour mongering inrelation to administeringthe Covid-19 vaccines. TheUnion minister reiteratedthat both the indigenouslymanufactured vaccines,Covishield and Covaxin,have proven safety andimmunogenicity recordsand are the most importanttools to contain the pan-demic. The health ministryhas also issued guidelines

to states giving directionson how to deal with certainsituations. The vaccineshave to be administered topeople above 18 years ofage. It cannot be given topregnant and lactatingwomen and to persons witha history of allergic reac-tions to a previous dose ofCovid vaccine.

Interchangeability of vac-cines is not allowed, hencethe second dose of the vac-cine should be of the samefirm of which the first dosehas been given. The vac-cine has to be deferredamong people with activesymptoms, those who gotconvalescent plasma or areacutely unwell or hospi-talised due to any illness.

PM to start biggestbattle on Covid-19100 to get jab at each of 3,006 sites on Day 1 today

Army’s drone attack prowess

Soldiers display ‘drone swarm’ capability for the first time during the 73rd Army Day parade in New Delhi onFriday. The demonstration involved 75 indigenously developed drones which, working autonomously, located anddestroyed ”targets” like tanks, terror camps, fuel dumps and a “suddenly” found helipad. During the mock attack,the baby kamikaze drones detached themselves from mother drones and directly hit these targets in a suicide mis-sion. The drones, which can travel 50 km, also delivered first-aid during the demo. Militaries are looking at dronesafter Azerbaijan used armed drone swarms to defeat Armenia in a recent conflict. — PTI

SANJAY KAW | DCNEW DELHI, JAN. 15

The ninth round of talkson Friday between theCentral government andthe protesting farmers’unions over the threeagricultural reform lawsagain failed to break thedeadlock as the two sideswere unable to reach com-mon ground on the issuesof repeal of the laws andthe Minimum SupportPrice (MSP) Act.

The next round of talkshas been scheduled onTuesday, January 19, theday when the SupremeCourt-appointed commit-tee was due to start itsconsultations with stake-holders to end theimpasse. Friday’s was thefirst meeting after the

court stayed the imple-mentation of the farmlaws till further ordersand announced formationof a four-member panel tohear the grievances of thefarmers and the govern-ment’s views.

Just two days after thecommittee was named bythe court, BhupinderSingh Mann, president ofBKU (Mann) and chair-man of All India KisanCoordination Committee,recused himself from thepanel, saying: “I willalways stand with myfarmers and Punjab”.

One of the major chal-lenges before the govern-ment is to ensure that thefarmers call off their pro-posed tractor march toDelhi on Republic Day.On Monday, the Supreme

Court will have to decideon a petition by theCentre, moved throughthe Delhi police, to stopprotesters from holdingany rally that could dis-rupt R-Day parade.

While the Centre insiststhe laws introduced inSeptember will unshacklefarmers from having tosell their produce only atregulated wholesale mar-kets, the protesting farm-ers say the bills are meantto benefit private buyers.

After meeting 41 repre-sentatives of farmers’unions, agriculture min-ister Narendra SinghTomar said: “Today’stalks with the farmersunions were inconclu-sive. We will hold talksagain on January 19. Weare positive (about) reach-

ing a solution throughtalks.” During the negoti-ations, he urged the unionleaders to be “flexible” intheir approach. BesidesMr Tomar, Union minis-ters Piyush Goyal andSom Parkash, who is anMP from Punjab, werealso present at the meet-ing which lasted foraround five hours.

Mr Tomar said the gov-ernment was concernedabout the health of thefarmers who have beencamping on Delhi’s out-skirts for almost twomonths. The farmers’round-the-clock sit-ins incold weather have also ledto some deaths amongthem.

■ Page 2: SC panel will doits work: Tomar

Farm talks stuck after 9 roundsNext round of talks on Jan. 19, Centre worried about R-Day

DC CORRESPONDENTVIJAYAWADA. JAN. 15

In a major breakthrough,the Andhra Pradeshpolice arrested 15 per-sons with political affilia-tion to Telugu Desam andBharatiya Janata Party(BJP) in connection withthe recent offences at var-ious temples across theState.

The police, after thor-ough investigation intonine cases, identified 21persons directly involvedin desecration of idolsand statues or spreadingfalse news of attacks ontemples.

Of them, 17 belonged tothe principal Oppositionwhile the remaining fourwere affiliated to BJP.Six accused are abscond-ing.

The development gives

credence to the govern-ment's contention thatthe series of attacks ontemples or desecration ofidols were part of a largergame-plan to disturbcommunal harmony inthe State and reap politi-cal benefits.

Briefing media persons,Director General ofPolice Gautam Sawangsaid a deliberate attemptwas made by vestedinterests belonging to thepolitical parties to createunrest in the State.

He appealed to people tocooperate with theSpecial InvestigationTeam constituted toprobe into the attacksand provide furtherinformation about theincidents on mobile No:93929-03400.

The DGP appealed tothe political parties to

refrain their cadre fromindulging in such wrong-ful acts and warned ofstern action against peo-ple behind the conspira-cy, irrespective of howinfluential they were.

As the opposition par-ties may dismiss thearrests as part of politicalvendetta and show themin poor light, the policeclaimed that they carriedout the investigation in ascientific manner andgathered incriminatingevidence against theaccused.

The DGP, who has beenpersonally monitoringthe investigation, direct-ed the officials to take thecases to their logical con-clusion and as early aspossible.

■ Page 5: Material put onidol not impure: Forensics

TD, BJP activists behindtemple attacks: AP DGP

Brisbane, Jan. 15: Fastbowler Mohammed Sirajwas targeted for abuse bya section of the crowd onthe opening day of thefourth Test againstAustralia, a newspaperhere reported, claiminghe was called a “grub”.The incident happened afew days after Siraj wasracially abused at theSydney Cricket Groundduring the third Test.

■ Full report on Page 12

SIRAJ TARGETEDAGAIN BY CROWDON OPENING DAY

Mohammed Siraj

Vaccination startsat 10.30 am in TSBALU PULIPAKA I DCHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

It was back in Februarylast that Gandhi Hospitalhere began checking peo-ple for Covid-19 infection.On March 2, the hospitalhad its first Covid-19patient.

On Saturday, the hospitalwill be the place where thelaunch of the Covid-19 vac-cination drive inTelangana state will begin.

Health minister EtalaRajendar, who, because ofCovid-19, had the toughestjob in the state Cabinet,will be among those whowill receive the vaccine onday one of the drive.

“There are some appre-hensions about the safety

of the vaccines. I will takeit to demonstrate that theyare safe and I have faith inthem,” Rajendar toldreporters on the eve of thevaccination drive launch.

Rajendar’s decision to getthe vaccine jab followsreports of dissatisfaction ofpossible safety of the vac-cine among some doctors,nurses and other staff working at variousgovernment hospitals inthe state.

The first vaccine will beadministered at 10.30 am,at Gandhi Hospital, andthen the rest of the statewill see the drive launchedin all the districts.

■ Page 2: Governor to bepresent at Nims

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN 15

Vaccines approved by theCentre to combat Covid-19are safe and there was noneed for any fear, tophealth department officialssaid here on Friday.

Health minister EtalaRajendar, said, “It was onlyafter extensive trials thatthe DCGI approved theiruse.”

■ Full report on Page 5

VACCINES SAFE, NONEED TO WORRY:MINISTER, OFFICIALS

● A TOTAL of 62 animaltrackers are on the job.Among them, 22 animaltrackers are at the basecamp in addition to the15 others placed there.

● THE DIRT, sweat ofunbathed staff camou-flages human scent

KamalMorarka

From Page 1

At the Nizam's Institute ofMedical Sciences in thecity where a Covid-19 carecentre was set up a fewmonths into the pandem-ic last year, Governor DrTamilisai Soundarajanwill be present for thelaunch. According to Raj

Bhavan sources, theGovernor will not beamong those receivingthe vaccine as the firstround is meant for health-care staff who are activein hospitals. On day one,only 30 persons willreceive the vaccines ateach of the 139 sessioncentres in the state.

CITY pg 2DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | 16 JANUARY 2021

SC panel will doits work: TomarFrom Page 1

Mr Tomar said he has noproblem with the fact thatthe unions want to con-tinue their talks onlywith the government, butalso said the court-appointed panel will alsocontinue its work. On the Congress’ protestled by Rahul Gandhi insupport of the agitatingfarmers, he said:“Congress leaders laughat the statements andactions of Rahul Gandhi,(they) mock him. I wouldlike to tell him that intheir 2019 election mani-festo, the Congress hadpromised that they willbring this reform. If hedoes not remember, heshould read the manifestoagain.”

Bharatiya Kisan Unionspokesman RakeshTikait, who has been atthe forefront of the agita-tion for over seven weeksat Delhi’s borders, said:“Our demands of repeal-

ing of the three farm laws& MSP guarantee remain.We will not go to the com-mittee constituted by theSupreme Court. We’ll talkto the Central govern-ment only.” All IndiaKisan SangharshCoordination Committeemember KavitaKuruganti said: “Both thegovernment and thefarmers’ unions havereaffirmed their commit-ment to continue with thedirect dialogue process.”

Farmers’ leaderJoginder Singh Ugrahansaid the unions haveurged the government torepeal the three laws, butthe Centre was unwillingto do so. “We decided tomeet again on January 19at 12 noon.”

He said the union lead-ers also raised the issue ofthe NIA raids on trans-porters in Punjab who aresupporting the farmers’protests and providinglogistics support for theagitation.

Elderly womandies in bonfireDC CORRESPONDENTADILABAD, JAN. 15

An elderly woman KanakaRenuka Bai, 75, died aftergetting accidentallycaught in a bonfire at heragricultural field. She hadremained in her fields onoutskirts of Gopalpur vil-lage in Indravelli mandal.

She had remained at thefield on Thursday night toprotect cotton that herfamily had piled into aheap. Incidentally, thewoman was reduced toashes. The issue came tolight when her son andfamily members reachedthe field on Friday morn-

ing. It is said KanakaRenuka Bai’s son went totheir house to celebrateSankranti festival, askinghis mother to take care ofcotton produce stockedafter picking. Otherwise,both mother and son stayat the field. It is suspectedthat cotton produce thatwas piled up near the shedmight have caught firewith sparks emanatingfrom the bonfire KanakaRenuka Bai had lit to keepherself warm. SarpanchGodam Nagorao, Utnoorcircle inspector Nareshand Indravelli sub-inspec-tor Nagnath visited thespot.

Tiger movingclose to humanhabitations

Governor to bepresent at Nims

DC CORRESPONDENTKOMARAM BHEEM ASIFABAD, JAN.15

Telangana State forestofficials state that theintruding tiger that killedtwo persons in Bejjur andPenchikalpet mandalweighs around 170kg andis aged four-and-a-halfyears.

The tiger was born in anon-forest area near theChandrapur SuperThermal Power Station(CSTPS) in Maharashtra,according to informationpassed on by forest offi-cials from there to theircounterparts in Adilabad.This apparently made itused to human presence.Unlike others of thebreed, this tiger does notshy away from humanpresence.

CP Vinod Kumar, con-servator of forests ofAdilabad circle, said,“The tiger has a history ofmoving close to humanhabitations. It was earlierspotted in the Khairigudamines in Tiryani, whichis similar to the minearea of CSTPS,Mancherial andBellampalli, and Rebbenain erstwhile Adilabad dis-trict.”

The tiger had returnedto the Maharashtra side10 days ago, killed a cowthere and then found its way back to the Kagazangar divisionforests.

Tigers are known tomigrate to the area ofCSTPS through the corri-

dor of coal mines fromTadoba Andhari tigerreserve and settle downthere. This happened dueto the shrinking of forestarea and increase in num-ber of tigers, say forestofficials.

FOREST STAFFCORDON OFFAFFECTED AREAFrom Page 1

Forest officials cordonedoff the area and are notallowing anyone includ-ing the media there. Therescue operations areplanned as per the guide-lines of the NationalTiger ConservationAuthority (NTCA).

C.P. Vinod Kumar, con-servator of forests ofAdilabad circle andKawal tiger reserve fielddirector, who is personal-ly monitoring the rescueoperations, said the tigeris likely to return to thesite within three to fourdays after killing an ani-mal.

He said the tiger trap-ping operations would bedone only after sunriseand conclude before sun-set.

“Trapping the tiger willtake time. It depends onthe movement of thetiger.” If the present tigerrescue operations do notsucceed, it will beresumed after 15 days.

CITY pg 3DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | 16 JANUARY 2021

IN BRIEF

TOSS extends lastdate for academic yr

Hyderabad: The TelanganaOpen School Society

announced extension of thedeadline for 2020-21 up to

January 25. Candidatesinterested to continue stud-

ies through open and dis-tance learning mode can

enroll in SSC andIntermediate courses by

uploading their applicationform with the prescribed fee

and late fee through TSOnline, MeeSeva or APOnline

portals. For details, candi-dates can contact districteducation officers of theirrespective district or visit

Telangana Open School website telanganaopen-

school.org.

IIIT-H ANNOUNCESLAUNCH OF ‘INDIC

WIKI’ WEBSITEDC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The International Institute ofInformation Technology,Hyderabad (IIITH), launchedits project website ‘ProjectIndic Wiki’ to increase contentavailability in Indian lan-guages and enhance theTelugu and Hindi Wikipedias,on Friday.

Articles on their websiteindicwiki.iiit.ac.in/ are freelyavailable to read, share, andenhance. The website will beavailable in both mobile anddesktop modes and isequipped with a plethora oftraining content, Telugu andHindi Wikipedia sandboxes,and a way to contact and jointhe team as a writer, subject orlanguage expert.

The Indic Wiki Project alsoannounced its online intern-ship programme, ideal for stu-dents and freshers. Details areavailable athttp://indicwiki.iiit.ac.in

HUNGER STRIKEON JAN. 23 FORSTAFF PAY HIKE

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The United State SteeringCommittee announced a one-day hunger strike at DharnaChowk as well as demonstra-tions at the offices of collec-tors, mandal centres and edu-cation institutions on January23, demanding speedy imple-mentation of the Pay RevisionCommission (PRC) recommendations.

The committee also demand-ed release of the PRC report inthe public domain, implemen-tation of new wages from July2018, with acceptable fitmentby the end of this month.

It sought equal pay for equalwork for contract and outsourced employees andrestoration of the old pensionscheme to those recruited inthe selection process beforeSeptember 2004.

MVF OFFERS‘EAR TO HEAR’

SERVICESDC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The Meenakshi VenkatramanFoundation (MVF), a charita-ble trust founded by G.V.Sethuraman and G.V.Krishnan in 2013, and RotaryInternational have been pro-viding ‘Ear to Hear’ serviceswith free diagnostic hearingevaluation, speech therapyand rehabilitation for needyand underprivileged, andoffers services for babiesyounger than one month aspart of its screening process. The trust offers services at theGandhi and Niloufer hospitalsand maternity hospitals atSultan Bazaar and Petla Burj.According to a release, MVFcan be reached at 8500776327 oradmin@eartohear.org.

AFA TO CELEBRATEITS GOLDEN

JUBILEE TODAYDC CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The Air Force Academy (AFA)at Dundigal, Hyderabad, willcelebrate its golden jubilee onSaturday. All officers of theIndian Air Force pass throughthe portals of the AFA.

The AFA has planned a gold-en jubilee marathon, AcademyUtsav, blood donation camp,activities by Air Force WivesWelfare Association. The cele-brations will culminate onJanuary 19 with a trainingworkshop and the release of aspecial postal department byAir Chief Marshal R.K.S.Bhadauria, Chief of Air Staff.

HARLEEN MINOCHA | DCHYDERABAD, JAN 15

Even as the TelanganaState Teachers UnitedFederation (TSTUF), agovernment teachersbody, has welcomed thedecision to reopenschools for in-personclasses from Class 9, ithas raised major concerns.

There is a major dearthof teaching staff in gov-ernment schools, espe-cially with the blendedform of learning — thatincludes online and in-school classes — to be putin place from February 1.

There could be a crisisin school premises where,in order to follow physicaldistancing guidelines,students from one classwill have to be split upinto different sections,said Chava Ravi, generalsecretary, TSTUF.

“There are at least 7,000

vacancies in 5,000 highschools for subject teach-ers. We have tried reach-ing out to the governmentto fill the vacancies, with-out which it will be a

Herculean task to holdclasses, especially inschools where only one ortwo teachers are present.However, there has beenno response to our

demands,” he said. Another issue is that of

regular sanitisation ofschools. Even as the gov-ernment has directedlocal bodies and gram

panchayats in each dis-trict to undertake saniti-sation of schools, theTSTUF is demanding thatservice persons beappointed to each schoolto examine the cleanli-ness and hygiene, as hasbeen the case in the pastfour years.

Meanwhile, district edu-cation officers as well asheadmasters have beenasked to provide adetailed set of standardoperating procedures tothe government, withlogistical, seating andmedical plans by January18.

Staff crisis hits govt schoolsTeachers say without filling vacancies it will be difficult to hold classes

Morning bliss

Joggers enjoy a cool morning, even as the days are warming up, as fog covers the Parade Ground inSecunderabad on Friday. — DEEPAK DESHPANDE

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD JAN. 15

The Jubilee Hills police onFriday arrested a construc-tion worker for stealing abonsai tree from the houseof former director-generalof police V. Appa Rao. Theaccused was identified asGollapudi Prasannanjane-yulu, 21, who had “frequent-ed the road before decidingto steal and sell the tree.”

The 15-year-old bonsai wasstolen on Sunday, followingwhich the Jubilee Hillspolice booked a case. Theplant belonged to the Sarucasuarina chettee categoryand its estimated worth is`1.5 lakh. It was placed out-side the main gate at the res-idence of Appa Rao on Road18, Jubilee Hills.

“The accused is a residentof Omnagar in Yousufgudaand frequents the area. Hecommitted the theft alongwith his accomplice,Abhishek, who is abscond-ing,” the DCP of West ZoneA.R. Srinivas said.

“Prasannanjaneyulu con-fessed to the cops that hehad often seen the treewhile passing by the road

and knew it was valuable.He took out the tree, askedAbhishek to ride his bikewhile he sat pillion and leftthe spot. He did not have abuyer ready and was wait-ing for someone to purchaseit when we caught him,”said the police.

The case was cracked withthe help of CCTV camerason the road and the menwere identified with thehelp of informants. "Wenabbed him from his resi-dence in Yousufguda andrecovered the plant intactfrom his possession," addedthe police.

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Air India’s first weeklyC h i c a g o - H yd e r ab a dflight landed at theShamshabad airportjust past midnight onFriday, in what couldturn out to be aSankranti gift for thepeople of the state.

Flight AI108 leftChicago on its inaugu-ral flight at 9.30 pmlocal time on January13 and landed at 12.40am IST on Friday. Thisflight will operate onWednesdays. AI-107 willleave on Friday at 12.50pm IST and reachChicago at 6.05 pm

The flight will operatewith a Boeing 777-200LRaircraft with a seatingcapacity of 238, It has ei-ght first class, 35 busi-ness class and 195 econo-my class seats and car-ries four cockpit and 12cabin crew. The total fli-ght time will be approxi-mately 16 hours 45 min-utes from Hyderabad toChicago and 15 hoursand 40 minutes in the re-turn direction, the diff-erence caused by winds.

Passengers on the firstflight were greeted witha cake cutting ceremony,cultural events and pho-gtographs. Those whotook the first Hyde-rabad-Chicago flightwere similarly feted.Officials at the airportsaid the flight wouldserve the largest unser-ved market between In-dia and the US, withover 7,.4 lakh passengersannually. Hyderabad is agateway to south andcentral India, and thepreferred transit hub.

Telugu diaspora is oneof the fastest-growingcommunities in the US.

FIRST DIRECTFLIGHT FROMCHICAGO LANDS

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

On Army Day on Friday,Nyroah Patra, a seven-and-a-half year old, hadoccasion to spend timewith uniformed soldiersof the Indian Army.

Her parents Samir Patraand Varsha spent yearsabroad and came backhome to raise Nyorah inIndia. They have extremeadmiration for the armedforces.

It all happened after herparents wrote a letter toPrime Minister Narendra

Modi, seeking a specialvisit for their daughter toany army establishmentor help in extending an in-

vitation to attend eitherthe Independent Day or Republic Day celebrations.

To their surprise, theywere contacted by thePMO to say that a specialarrangement will bemade in Hyderabad forNyorah to visit the Armyestablishment. She wasoverly joyous.

Soon, she received a let-ter from the Artillery establishment at Golcon-da, extending an invita-tion to Nyorah for a visit.It was later revealed thatshe might be one of theguests attending the Ar-my Day and Army Vet-eran's Day celebrations,and the joy was doubled.

Parents’ appeal to PMO works,girl spends time with soldiers

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The anti-evasion unit ofthe Secunderabad com-missionerate, Commis-sioner of Central Tax,Central Excise & Serv-ice Tax, on Friday boo-ked cases against twopersons for generatingfake invoices and evad-ing GST of crores ofrupees.

According to the offi-cials, the accused, Ku-tbuddin Junaghadwalaand Aliasger Junaghad-wala, created non-exis-tent firms and issuedinvoices without sup-plying goods or servic-es, facilitated lent avail-ment of input tax credit(ITC) and evaded GSTon the transactions ofcertain firms.

“They have floatedmany firms eitherdirectly by them or withthe help of known per-sons. These firmspassed on input taxcredit based onfake/bogus invoices,”officials said.

“Our investigationshave revealed thatNational HardwareTrading Company,Platinum TradingSyndicate, MarvelIndustrial Corporation,

Jupiter TradingCompany, B.IEnterprises have issuedfake GST Invoices/e-waybills and facilitatedin passing of ineligibleITC to the tune of `14.20crore and evaded pay-ment of GST in respectof transactions made inthe name of FrontlineEnterprises and Unive-rsal Enterprises to thetune of `3.15 crore,”said the officials.

Investigations reve-aled that the two had apre-planned conspiracyaimed to dupe theexchequer by creating acomplex web of inter-connected firms enga-ged in fraudulent issua-nce of tax invoices wit-hout supply of goods orservices to enable therecipient companies toavail and utilise fakeITC, leading to loss ofgovernment revenue.

Kutbuddin andAliasger Junaghadwalahave accepted their inv-olvement and their sta-tements were taken upbefore placing them un-der arrest on Tuesday.They were produced be-fore the economic offen-ces court on Wednesdayand were remanded tojudicial custody up toJanuary 25.

Two arrested for fake GST invoices

HARLEEN MINOCHA | DCHYDERABAD, JAN 15

The University ofHyderabad is likely toreview its decision to callfor the phased return of148 final semester post-graduate students of theScience and SN Schools,after the state government’s decision toreopen high schools,Intermediate and degree colleges, and pro-fessional courses from

February 1.The UoH, a Central uni-

versity, follows the UGC’sguidelines. The task forceat the university, however,will also take into consid-eration the state government’s guidelinesin reviewing its decision,said Vinod Pavarala, headof the task force.

“We have some reviewmeetings scheduled in thenext few days in which wemay decide on increasingthe number of returning

students in the next phas-es in February, includingthe 150 already planned.We will be focusing onpriority students sched-uled to graduate in June,”he added.

This comes at a timewhen PG and researchstudents from non-sci-ence backgrounds areraising complaints overthe university's allegednegligence towardshumanities and social sci-ence students.

UoH likely to review phasedschools reopening policy

The bonsai tree recoveredfrom an alleged thief.

Ex-DGP spends 3 hrstending to his plantsNAVEEN KUMAR I DCHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Retired DGP Appa Rao saidhe spends about three hoursevery morning to nurse hisplants as “they need to betaken care of like a smallchild.” He was distraughtupon learning about thetheft of his casuarina bon-sai tree.

Speaking to DeccanChronicle, Rao said he andhis wife learned about bon-sai from Japan in the 1980s.

“My wife is president ofthe Friends Bonsai Societyfounded in 1982. We took afancy to these plants whenwe visited Japan. The TaskForce office inSecunderabad was my resi-dence for 16 years. We hadnumerous such plantsthere,” Appa Rao recalled.“We shifted home to JubileeHills and we have had about200 bonsais under our care. Ispend three hours everymorning, spraying water,trimming and taking care ofthese trees as they requirecare as a small child does,”he said.

The society has given outbonsais to Ramoji Film City

and Raj Bhavan amongother places and they arealso taken care of by itsmembers. Appa Rao said hehad faith that the city policewould recover the lost bon-sai. He got back the plantwithout damage.

“I have worked with sever-al of the police officials hereand seen how efficient theyare. The police teamschecked CC cameras and detected the case withina few days. I appreciatetheir efforts,” Appa Raosaid.

“When I was police com-missioner of the city, DGPM. Mahendar Reddy was theDCP of East Zone, DGPAnurag Sharma was theSouth Zone DCP, and DGPGautam Sawang (of AP)was the traffic DCP. I hadrecruited a batch of sub-inspectors back then whoare working as stationhouse officers.

Nyorah Patra with soldiers during the Army Day cele-brations on Friday.

● ● THERE IS a majordearth of teaching staff ingovernment schools,especially with the blend-ed form of learning —that includes online andin-school classes — to beput in place fromFebruary 1.

● ● FORMER TOP cop AppaRao has about 200 bonsaitrees under his care at hishouse in Jubilee Hills.“They require care like asmall child does,” he says.

21-yr-old held forstealing bonsaitree from ex-DGP

CITY pg 4DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | 16 JANUARY 2021

IN BRIEF

IREDDY SRINIVASREDDY | DCHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The state government isleast bothered aboutsending proposals eventhough the Union gov-ernment is ready to givethe minimum supportprice (MSP) for turmer-ic under the marketintervention scheme,said Nizamabad LokSabha memberDharmapuri Arvind,here on Friday.

He met ChiefSecretary SomeshKumar and handed over

a letter that detailed thehelplessness of farm-ers. The letter also men-tions about the illegalmining by the My HomeGroup.

Later, talking to themedia, the MP said thatthe Centre is ready torelease all funds neededby farmers but the stategovernment is not at allsending proposals.Instead they are blam-ing the Centre for theirown negligence.

On the My HomeGroup, Arvind allegedthat it is into illegalmining and in

Nalgonda. The groupwas attempting a simi-lar operation in thereserved forests, whichhave a total area of 600

acres. The group isbeing supported by thestate government,Arvind said. The stategovernment has notresponded to the threeletters written by theCentre, the MP said.This highlights thecarelessness of the stategovernment that isencouraging the MyHome group to go aboutits illegal mining opera-tions. This is the MP’ssecond letter to theChief Secretary on theissue of alleged illegalmining by the My HomeGroup.

Govt supports illegalMy Home mining: BJPNizamabad MP says TS not sending MSP plan for turmeric

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Telangana BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP)chief Bandi Sanjay issetting “deadlines” tothe state governmentonly to stay in theheadlines, allegedBodakunti Venkatesh-warlu, the TelanganaRashtra Samiti (TRS)Chief Whip in theLegislative Council.

Talking at the mediapoint at the Councilhere on Friday,Venkateshwarlu saidSanjay wanted to mag-nify every issue. InJangaon, Sanjay wassetting separatedeadines in every vil-lage, he said.

He complained thatSanjay was speakingin a “vulgar” mannerabout Chief MinisterK. ChandrashekarRao, a person who hadfought for Telangana

statehood. Withoutany reason, Sanjay isattacking TRS work-ing president K.T.Rama Rao, the MLCsaid.

“Sanjay must main-tain decorum as he isa member ofParliament and presi-dent of a state partyunit. Senior BJP lead-ers must teach Sanjayhow to behave,”Venkateswarlu said.

Referring to the

police lathicharge onBJP activists lastweek, the MLC saidthe issue was “a verysmall” one but the BJPwas making it appearthat it was a statewideissue.

He said BJP leadersdo not bring fundsfrom the Centre butthey blame the stategovernment, the MLCsaid.

TRS: Bandi makes hateremarks for publicity DC CORRESPONDENTKAMAREDDY, JAN. 15

A five-year-old boy wasfound dead in a drainage atDevunipally in Kamareddytown on Friday. The victimwas identified as Nishanthof Devunipally. It isbelieved that while playingNishanth might have fallenin the drain and drowned.Kamareddy police regis-tered a case and are investi-gating.

BOY FALLS INTODRAINAGE, DIES

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Nowhera Shaikh of the Heera Group hastold the Supreme Court that she willrepay dues to complainants within sixmonths in case she is released.

Mohammed Saleem, deputed byNowhera Shaikh to handle some of herlegal matters, in an affidavit datedJanuary 13 in Writ Petition (Criminal)No. 31 of 2020, submitted the proposedschedule of payment to investors.

Shahbaz Ahmed Khan, president, HeeraGroup Victim Association, alleged thatthough lakhs of people including NRIsand emigrant nationals of other coun-tries in the Gulf had invested in the com-panies owned by Nowhera Shaikh and thesum touched `50,000 crore, the police hadstated that they could find about 1.72 lakhinvestors and the amount was `5,640crore. He said about 10,000 investors havesubmitted their withdrawals.

Khan alleged that thousands ofinvestors have not come forward to lodgecomplaints as the henchmen of NowheraShaikh had given an impression that who-ever does so would not get their amountuntil the cases are settled while there arechances of disbursement of the amountto those who refrained from going to thepolice. Nowhera Shaikh was arrested onOctober 16, 2018 and faces cases inTelangana state, Maharashtra, Keralaand Karnataka.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) andthe Serious Fraud Investigation Office(SFIO) are also investigating the companies.

Will repay duesto investors, iffreed: Nowhera

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The AIMIM is all set to field candidates inthe ensuing elections to the BidarMunicipal Council, which are likely to beheld next month.

Party president Asaduddin Owaisi hasappointed senior party leaderMohammed Ghouse and Shalibanda cor-porator Mohammed Mustafa Ali as in-charge representatives. They left forBidar on Friday and will hold meetingsalong with party leaders and functionar-ies.

Of the 35 wards of the Bidar municipal-ity, AIMIM had won three in the 2013 elec-tions from the eight it had contested. Thistime, the party may field more candi-dates. The ward delimitation work hasbeen completed and the government hassought claims and objections on it.

MIM to fightBidar civic poll

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

A 30-year-old man was founddead under suspicious cir-cumstances in the balcony ofhis house at Rajnagar

Maktha of Khairatabad onFriday. According to thepolice, the victim, LaxmanJha, 30, had ligature marksaround his neck, confirmingstrangulation. Police saidJha used to work as a securi-

ty guard. His body was foundon the floor of the balcony at8 am by his wife, whoinformed his brother BihariJha. He rushed to the houseand noticed the marks onLaxman’s neck.

30-YEAR-OLD SECURITY GUARD FOUND DEAD

● ● ON THE My HomeGroup, Arvind allegedthat it is into illegalmining and in Nalgonda.The group was attempt-ing a similar operationin the reserved forests,which have a total areaof 600 acres. The groupis being supported bythe state government,Arvind said.

● ● HE COMPLAINEDthat Sanjay wasspeaking in a “vulgar”manner about ChiefMinister K.Chandrashekar Rao, aperson who hadfought for Telanganastatehood. Withoutany reason, Sanjay isattacking TRS work-ing president K.T.Rama Rao, MLCBodakunti Venkatesh-warlu, said.

IN MEMORY OF

Mrs. SARASWATHI MANICKAVELUW/o Late Dr. C.S. ManickaveluYou left us on this day in 2020

Mom, you left us beautifultreasure of memories.

Ajit Kumar, Shashi Ajit KumarVasanthi Ramaswamy

Usha Balakrishna

(A/2021/D00033)

Shri BOORUGU MURLIDHAR RAODOB: 23.10.1948 DOD: 05.01.2021

May his soul rest in peaceInserted by:

Molugu Veeresham & Family(S/2021/D01078)

Shri BOORUGU MURLIDHAR RAODOB: 23.10.1948 DOD: 05.01.2021

May his soul rest in peaceInserted by:

Boorugu Ramesh Babu & Family(S/2021/D01077)

Absent in body but present in spirit. 1.cor:5:3

FIRST DEATH CEREMONYIn ever loving memory of

Mr. R. GLADY JOSEPHDOB: 18-04-1977 DOD: 16-01-2020Holy Mass on Saturday, 16th Jan.2021 @ 6.00 am, St. Mary’s Basilica,Sec-bad.12 noon. Prayer at our residence,H.No. 9-2-303, Rezimental Bazar, Sec-bad.

Inserted by: Beloved Sisters

(S/2021/D01075)

FIRST ANNIVERSARY

AKSHANTHALA HANUMANTH RAODOB: 05-03-1957 DOD: 15-01-2020

Snehamera jeevithamSnehamera shashvatham.

We miss your dearly alwayscherish your memories.

Inserted by:-TEAM OF 4TEEN

(S/2021/D01050)

9th ANNIVERSARYREMEMBRANCE

VINU. S.V.You left us on 14 Feb. 2012.But your memories still alivewith us today & forever.

Inserted by:-Mom, Dad, Veena, Raghu,

Anju Ashwin, All our relatives& your loving friends

(L/2021/D00025)

When doubts filled my mind your comfort gaveme renewed hope and cheer. Psalms-94:19

1st ANNIVERSARY

Late. YEDDANAPUDI JANET JAMESW/o B. Ramchandriah

(Retd. Principal Govt. School of Nursing)DOB: 25.03.1943. Enter into Glory - 16.01.2020.Memorial service at 6:30 pm at ourresidence today (16.01.2021).Inserted by:- Husband, Children,

Grand Children & Family.Ph. No. 6305336242, 9849300149

(S/2021/D01074)

ZIYARAT

Mr. SYED ISHAQ IQBALD.O.D: 13.01.2021

“Time may pass & fade away butmemories of you always stay with us.”We love you always and miss you.”Ziyarat held on 16th Jan. 2021, besideBoats Club Masjid-E-Sonabe Abdulla.Timing are 4:15 pm (Asar).Inserted by:- FAMILY MEMBERS

(S/2021/D01080)

K. SANTOSH KUMARDoB: 25-04-1968 DoD: 15-01-2018

WE MISS YOU.Inserted by: All Family

members. Phone: 9177524081

3RD ANNIVERSARY

Smt. T.D. MALATHI W/o Late Sri T.D. DATTATREYAN

Correspondent BALAJI HIGH SCHOOL (Malkajgiri)

Expired on 14-Jan-2021 Cremation on16-Jan-2021 (Sat) At PatelNagar Crematorium Malkajgiri @11 AM.

Inserted by: T.D.Srinivasan (Son)Mob: 8897926235

OBITUARY

IDENTIFY STAFFFOR PROMOTION:

ERRABELLI DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Minister Errabelli DayakarRao directed officials to pre-pare lists of promotions ofofficers and employees at vari-ous divisions and categories inthe panchayat raj and ruraldevelopment departments,including engineering, as perthe directions of ChiefMinister K. ChandrashekarRao.

It was suggested that the sen-iority list of all employees intheir respective departments,from the date of appointmentshould also be prepared and aseparate list comprising thoseeligible for promotions.

He had a special meetingwith panchayati raj and ruraldevelopment secretarySandeep Kumar Sultania, com-missioner Raghunandan Raoand Sanjeeva Rao of the engi-neering department on Friday.

The minister wanted the pro-motion list to be orderly andtransparent to avoid futureproblems. He urged the offi-cials to directly oversee theprocess of promotion andpreparation of its list.

DR REDDY’SLAB GETS NODFOR P-3 TRIAL

New Delhi, Jan. 15: DrReddy’s Laboratories onFriday said it has receivedapproval from the DrugsControl General of India toconduct Phase 3 clinical trialfor the Sputnik V vaccine forCovid-19.

It V will be conducted on1,500 subjects as part of therandomised, double-blind, par-allel-group, placebo-controlledstudy in the country, theHyderabad-based firm said.

Earlier this week, the Dataand Safety Monitoring Board(DSMB) reviewed the safetydata from the Phase 2 clinicaltrial. The DSMB had conclud-ed that no safety concernswere identified and the studymet the primary endpoints ofsafety.

“This is an important mile-stone... We expect to com-mence the phase III studywithin this month,” DRL’s co-chairman and managing direc-tor G.V. Prasad said.

In September 2020, the drugmajor had partnered with theRussian Direct InvestmentFund to conduct the clinicaltrials of the Sputnik V vaccineand for its distribution rightsin India.

Sputnik V, developed by theGamaleya National ResearchInstitute of Epidemiology andMicrobiology, was registeredby the ministry of health ofRussia and became the world’sfirst registered vaccineagainst Covid-19 based on theestablished human adenoviralvector platform. The vaccine'sefficacy is confirmed at 91.4per cent. — PTI

MEA’SSWACHHATAEVENT ENDS

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The Swachhata Pakhwada pro-gramme concluded on Fridayat Clock Tower Park inSecunderabad with a ‘swach-hata walk’. The programmestarted on January 1 involvingfour offices of the ministry ofexternal affairs in Hyderabad– Regional Passport Office,ministry of external affairs,protector of emigrants office,and Migrant Resource Centre,apart from regional office ofthe Indian Council forCultural Relations.

The 15 days’ programmeinvolved webinars on cleanli-ness and lectures on waterconservation, hygiene and san-itation. During the valedictoryfunction, masks, sanitisersand soaps were distributed toapplicants at RegionalPassport Office at Hyderabad.Officials who took active partin the 15-day programme werepresented steel water bottles.

Meanwhile, RegionalPassport Office, Hyderabad,has been declared “PlasticFree Zone” from January 8onwards.

Bandi Sanjay

`20L goldseized at RGIA

Hyderabad: Gold worth near-ly `20 lakh concealed in

paste form was seized from apassenger who arrived at the

airport here from Dubai onFriday. The 395.07 grams

gold was found concealed ina specially stitched pocket inthe jeans of the passenger, a

Customs release said.

CITY pg 5DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | 16 JANUARY 2021

SHORT TAKES

MATERIAL PUT ONIDOL NOT IMPURE:

FORENSICS

NIZAMABADJAWAN SUCCUMBS

TO INJURIESDC CORRESPONDENTNIZAMABAD, JAN. 15

An Indian Army jawan fromNizamabad district succumbedto injuries he received in a roadaccident near here, on Friday.The jawan, Degavath Mothilal,25, of Meghyanaik thanda inIndalwai mandal, had comehome on leave recently.

Mothilal was seriouslyinjured in the accident nearDaggi village inSadashivanagar mandal ofKamareddy district onNational Highway 44 onDecember 28. He was admittedto the Army Hospital inSecunderabad, where, whileundergoing treatment, he suc-cumbed on Friday.

Roads minister V. PrashanthReddy, MLC K. Kavitha,Nizamabad Rural MLA Bajir-eddy Govardhan expressed gr-ief over the death of the jawan.and assured all possible help tothe bereaved family members.

From Page 1

In the Rajamahendravaramcase in which idols were dese-crated and a propaganda wascarried out that some impurematerial was pasted on theGanesh idol, Bommuru policearrested four persons, two eachbelonging to TD and BJP. TheForensic Lab Report revealedthat the material pasted on theidol was not impure as propa-gated. The arrested includedVellapalli Prasad Babu andChitikena Sandeep (both TD)and Adapa Varaprasad andKasturi Srinivasa Rao fromBJP.

TD activist ChallaMadhusudhan Reddy wasinvolved in damaging the idolof Goddess Saraswathi inGuntur district, while TD’sBojjana Subba Reddy wasinvolved in garlanding slippersto Anjaneya statue inKondalaveedu of Kadapa dis-trict. Golla Peddaiah, GaddeRamanjaneyulu, BarmeJayaramudu and SyedFakruddin, all belonging to TD,were involved in desecrationand demolishing ofMaddamma temple in Kurnooldistrict for treasure hunting.

TD's Viswantha Reddy, who istemple committee chairman,was involved in the desecrationof Aanjayaneya Swamy idollegs and stealing of hundi inMarlamanda village inKurnool district. Six personsbelonging to TD were involvedin the alleged damage to theidol of gods inLakshminarasimha Swamytemple at Singarayakonda inPrakasam district.

Two TD activists spread falsenews about chopping of handsof a Vinayaka idol, a long timeago at Yetigyrampeta inVisakhapatnam.

One Konchada Ravikumar,who is Dompet BJP mandalsecretary, was involved inspreading false news about thedamage of Hanuman statue,which was earlier damagedwhen a tree fell on it. BJPactivist Dharmavarapu Acha-rya was involved is spreadingfalse propaganda about veenaof Saraswathi Devi being bro-ken by people from anotherreligion. It was actually brokena long time back due to wearand tear in Srikakulam district’s Etcherla.

Pre-vaccination check

East Zone DCP M. Ramesh Reddy inspects a centre where government employees would be vaccinated alongwith medical superintendent Dr S. Trilok Shyam at area hospital in Malakpet, Hyderabad on Friday.

— P. SURENDRA

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Sankranti celebrationsappear to have cut intoCovid-19 testing, with thestate conducting 19,898tests on Thursday, fur-ther down from 28,894tests on Wednesday. OnTuesday, the state hadconducted 38,192 tests.

Reflecting the lowernumber of tests, the newcases on Thursday fell to202, from 276 onWednesday and 331 onTuesday.

According to the statehealth department’s dailyCovid-19 bulletin, twopeople lost their lives tothe disease on Thursday,while one death was reg-istered on Wednesday.The cases found onThursday took the total to2,91,118 and the fatalitieshave reached 1,574.

As many as 4,442 per-sons were still consideredto be active Covid-19cases as on Thursday, ofwhom 2,541 were receiv-ing treatment while inisolation either at theirhomes or in designatedisolation centres.

On Thursday, the high-est number of cases, 48,were recorded from Hyd-erabad and GHMC area,followed by 15 in RangaReddy, 13 in WarangalUrban, 12 in Karimnagar,and 10 in MedchalMalkajgiri district.

WITH 202 NEWCOVID CASES,TESTING DROPSIN TELANGANA

2 students electrocuted,TRS man falls to deathDC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Two students were electro-cuted and TRS activist fellto his death in incidentsrelated to kite flying, policesaid on Friday.

“In the first incident,Bangaru Krishna, a TRSactivist from Chikkadpallydivision, was flying kitesfrom the terrace of a multi-storey building atAshoknagar when heslipped and fell on the irongrills fixed on the compound wall. Badlyinjured, he died while beingshifted to the hospital,”police said.

At Jeedimetla, M. CharithKumar, 12, a Class VII stu-dent, was flying a kite alongwith a group of friendswhen he got electrocuted.“In the process of balanc-ing himself, he touched thepipe of the water motor and

was electrocuted. It wasfound that the cables sup-plying electricity to themotor were broken, result-ing in the incident,” saidthe police.

The Yacharam police said that at Nallavelli vil-lage, Kunduru Rakesh, 13,was flying a kite which got stuck in the powercables in front of the house.

“He tried to free the kitewith an iron rod and waselectrocuted,” police said.His elder sister Soni, 19,tried to rescue him but sustained severe burns. Shehas been rushed to a hospi-tal for treatment.

Do not fear Covid-19vaccines: Health dept

SANJAY SAMUEL PAUL | DCHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

The celebration of Sankranti ismarked by colourful kites, gath-ering of family and friends onthe terrace, enjoying food andbeverages, and illumination byhalogen lights. It was no different in several parts of thecity this year. In fact, some fam-ilies partied right up to Fridaymorning, thanks to the longweekend.

Some of the areas that aregaining in popularity for nightflying of kites with lights atopbuildings are Ghansi Bazaar,Begum Bazaar, Gollakidki,Gowlipura, Dhoolpet, EsamiaBazaar and Doodhbowli. LED-day lights, power cans, sharp-lights, whose light beam stretch-es up to 1,000 metres were inuse.

Almost 200 houses had thesefacilities and the costs wereshared by the residents.

Kattam Prasanna Kumar ofGandhi Lane, Gollakidki, said,“We had a large gathering ofrelatives and friends, who

enjoyed specially prepared foodand sipping beverages while fly-ing kites, which continued tillthe early hours of Friday.Lighting up terraces hasbecome a tradition since 15years.”

Those without such facilitiesmove to their friends or

relative’s places where lightingis arranged.

Anoop Ala, a resident ofGoshamahal, said, “I was flyingkites the whole day on my ter-race. After sunset, we went toGowlipura to a relative’s place.Even girls enjoyed flying kitesand being part of the celebra-tions.”

Kallyam Ananthraj, a residentof Chappal Bazaar, explained,“Most of my friends visit ourplace because kite flying can beextended by several hours. Thewhole area is lit up as bright asday.” Sai Ram of Chatrinakasaid, “because of Covid-19prevalence, the festival wasrestricted only to immediatefamilies. We ensured that.”

Police constable PukkapuramSrikanth, posted on ‘Dial 100’duty, said “Kites soared in thesky even a day after Sankranti.When the sun was fading, the enthusiastic lot released hotair lanterns in the air. It was asight to behold.” A few of theexperts flew ‘light kites’, withsmall lamps stuck to theirthread.

Kites, food, illumination markscolourful Sankranti festivities

1 week tab on Covaxin recipients BALU PULIPAKA | DCHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Of the two vaccinesapproved for emergencyuse in India — Covishieldand Covaxin — thosereceiving the latter aspart of the anti-Covid-19vaccination drive, will beunder a close watch, defi-nitely for at least oneweek from the day theyreceive their first dose.

“We will check their sta-tus every day for a week.Anyone receivingCovaxin, as per govern-ment of India guidelines,will also have to sign aconsent form saying theyare taking it voluntarily.

While the recipients canself-report, we will alsohave daily checks. Wewill follow all protocols,whether Covaxin orCovishield,” Director ofHealth Services Dr G.Srinivasa Rao said.

When a reporter asked aquestion on the safety ofCovaxin, the senior offi-cial said it was time tostop questioningCovaxin. Instead of ques-tioning it, “We should beproud that it is developedin Hyderabad. It is a prod-uct of Telangana gadda(land). It is a totallyindigenous vaccine. Weshould take pride inthat,” the Director of

Health Services said.Of the 3.84 lakh doses of

the two vaccines receivedby Telangana state in thefirst instalment, Covaxin,developed and producedby the city-based BharatBiotech, accounts for20,000 doses.

Dr Srinivasa Rao orDirector of MedicalEducation Dr K RameshReddy who addressed thepress conference did notsay whether those receiv-ing Covidshield devel-oped by OxfordUniversity and AstraZe-neca and produced in thecountry by SerumInstitute of India will beunder similar scrutiny.

While Covishield hadcompleted the mandatorythree phases of trials,Covaxin is still complet-ing its Phase III trials inthe country and techni-cally is still in the processof meeting all the manda-tory requirements laiddown by the laws govern-ing approvals for newvaccines.

Both vaccines, however,have been approved foremergency use by thegovernment only after itwas satisfied with theirsafety, Dr Srinivasa Raoand Dr Ramesh Reddysaid, addressing con-cerns over their safety.

Meanwhile, according

to a fact sheet from Se-rum Institute on Covishi-eld, some of the side-effects reported very co-mmonly (one in 10 recipi-ents) include tenderness,redness or some pain atthe injection site, somechills or feverish feeling,headaches, or nausea orjoint or muscle pains.

Common side-effects in-cluded a lump at the inj-ection site, fever, somevomiting and flu likesymptoms and the unco-mmon ones were a feelingof dizziness, decreasedappetite, abdominal pain,enlarged lymph nodes,excessive sweating anditchy skin or rash.

● ● YACHARAM POLICEsaid that at Nallavelli village, Kunduru Rakesh,13, was flying a kitewhich got stuck in thepower cables in front ofthe house. “He tried tofree the kite with an ironrod and was electrocut-ed,” police said.

● ● SOME OF the areas that aregaining in popularity for nightflying of kites with lights atopbuildings are Ghansi Bazaar,Begum Bazaar, Gollakidki,Gowlipura, Dhoolpet, EsamiaBazaar and Doodhbowli. LED-day lights, power cans, sharp-lights, whose light beamstretches up to 1,000 metreswere in use.

● ● POLICE CONSTABLEPukkapuram Srikanth, postedon ‘Dial 100’ duty, said “Kitessoared in the sky even a dayafter Sankranti. When the sunwas fading, the enthusiastic lotreleased hot air lanterns in theair. It was a sight to behold.”

Minister says DCGI approved jabs after extensive trialsDC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Vaccines approved by theCentre for combatingCovid-19 were safe andthere was no need for anyfear, top health depart-ment officials said hereon Friday.

Health minister EtalaRajendar, who describedhimself as the “captain”of the healthcare workersin state, said, “It was onlyafter extensive trials thatthe Drug Controller Gen-eral of India approvedtheir use. Some people areworried over the side-effects. You shouldremember that penicillinwhich has saved tens ofcrores of lives is neveradministered even nowafter, all these decades,without a test shot.”

Director of MedicalEducation Dr K. RameshReddy and Director ofHealth Services Dr G.Srinivasa Rao, who earli-er in the day addressed apress conference, alsostressed on the safety ofthe vaccines.

Dr Rao pointed out thatthough lakhs of Covid-19vaccine doses had beenadministered in 26 coun-tries, there was not a sin-gle death on account ofany adverse reaction.“The economy is hurting.It is time to end the pan-demic. We urge the medianot to sensationalise anyreactions to the vaccines.

We should all give confi-dence to the people,” hesaid. There could be somevery common reactions,such as some swelling orpain at the injection site,some may develop somefever just as happens withmany other vaccines.Even commonly usedmedicines for headachescan have side-effects,

he said.Dr Ramesh Reddy said

as per the Centre’s Indiaguidelines, the vaccineswill not be given to any-one younger than 18 yea-rs, women who are preg-nant or lactating. This isnot because the vaccine isnot safe, but it is becausethese sections of the pop-ulation were not coveredin the trials.

Anyone with previoushistory of severe anapha-lactic reactions, will notbe given the vaccine, hesaid. Anyone with issuesrelating to blood clottingwill also not be given thevaccine.

Some reactions areinherent to any vaccineand are an indication thatthe body is reacting to thevaccine and is generatingantibodies. When the peo-ple take the second dose,the common reactionsmay be more marked.Some exaggerated reac-tions might be possiblebut adverse reactionsmay be possible at therate of one in a lakh ofpeople, he said.

READY FOR ANYTHING The government has created elaborate infrastructure to deal with possible adverseeffect after immunisation (AEFI) events

57 teaching, district andarea hospitals ready 10-bed AEFI ICUsin big hospitals● AEFI kits —drugs, etc —includingoxygentanks, readyat even PHCs

● Doctors,drugs to dealwith anyreaction

● AEFI mitigationmeasures to stayin place till every-one in state isvaccinated

● Adversereaction thatwarrantsincreasedmedical attention to betaken to a bigger hospital

AP pg 6DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | 16 JANUARY 2021

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CEO: TOTALELECTORS IN AP

IS 4,05,08,222DC CORRESPONDENTVIJAYAWADA, JAN. 15

Andhra Pradesh has4,05,08,222 voters, includingNRIs and service electors. Ofthese, 2,00,30,486 are men,2,04,73,601 women and 4,135belong to the third gender asper the final special summaryrevision with January 1 as thequalifying date. The data wascontained in the special sum-mary revision (SSR) of elec-toral rolls released here onFriday by Chief ElectoralOfficer K. Vijayanand.

The total number of overseaselectors are 7,070 including5,570 men, 1,498 women andtwo belonging to the third gen-der. Of the 66,844 service vot-ers, men constitute 64,749, wo-men 2,095. The total number ofvoters in the 18-19 age group is2,83,301 and new electors add-ed to the list were 4,25,860: 2,0-8,396 men, 2,17,378 women and86 belonging to the third gen-der. The elector to populationratio stands at 752 to 1,000 andthe gender ratio 1,025 to 1,000.

The draft electoral rolls pub-lished on November 16, 2020put the total number of votersat 4,00,79,025. Subsequently,the names of 4,25,860 (1.06 percent) voters were included and63,507 electors (0.16 per cent)deleted since the draft publica-tion of electoral rolls taken upunder SSR, 2021.

JAGAN TO LAUNCHCOVID VACCINATION

IN VIJAYAWADA DC CORRESPONDENTVIJAYAWADA, JAN. 15

Chief Minister Y.S. JaganMohan will formally launchCovid-19 vaccination from agovernment hospital inVijayawada 11.30 am onSaturday. Soon thereafter, vac-cination will commence at 143of the 332 sites identifiedthroughout the state owing tologistical reasons.

Healthcare workers will beadministering 100 vaccines persession per day from 9 am to 5pm up to January 20 duringPhase-I of the vaccination pro-gramme in AP.

Health director Dr. T. GeethaPrasadini said, “We have madeall requisite arrangements.Our teams of doctors are readyto attend to any side-effects.Beneficiaries to be adminis-tered vaccines will only bethose who have registered totake the vaccine of their ownvolition.”

Incidentally, Jagan will set offvaccination in AP an hourafter Prime Minister NarendraModi does so for the nation inthe virtual mode at 10.30 a.m.in Delhi on Saturday, Theentire vaccination programmein the country will be run asper software application Co-WIN, though monitored manu-ally by a team of doctors at con-trol rooms set up in each dis-trict of the country.

Soon after a beneficiaryarrives at the vaccination site,his or her identity will beauthenticated using the Co-WIN app. He/she will thenmove to the vaccination room,where an ANM will inject thevaccine. The person willremain under observation atthe vaccination centre for half-an-hour to check for anyadverse reaction. Those vacci-nated will be able to get backonly after doctors check theirvitals and they are found to benormal. The person will beinformed when he or she needsto return for the second dose.

DC CORRESPONDENTKAKINADA, JAN. 15

It was a free-for-all fororganisers of tradition-al cockfights and gam-bling games — playingcards, the Gundata-cut-ting cards game — intwo Godavari districtsduring the three-daySankranti festival. Thepolice warning thatthese traditional activi-ties would not beallowed in view ofcourt directives went unheeded.

In the run-up toSankranti, the policecreated a stir and filedbound-over casesagainst many; plough-ing the fields wherecockfights are organ-ised, and in general cre-ating an atmosphere offear. This did not help.

Cockfights wereorganised in remote vil-lages in the twoGodavari districts andcrores of rupeeschanged hands. Tomake things more excit-ing, record dances werealso held in someplaces.

Initially, many organ-isers were skeptical ofthe events this time dueto the Covid-19 scareand the vigorous policecampaign againstthese. But, the first dayof the Sankranti sea-son, on Bhogi Day, somebig organisers of cock-fights initiated theaction in places likeKesanakurrupalem inEast Godavari as alsoUndi andMahadevapatnam inWest Godavari district.This emboldened oth-ers too.

In general, the police used to startraids on the cockfightgrounds on the thirdday of Sankranti, onKanuma. On thisFriday, the KanumaDay, the cockfights wereorganised on a scalelarger than on theSankranti day. Evensmall teams also heldthe cockfight whereverthey got a vacant space.In some areas, women

also participated in thesport.

The state governmenthad decided not to allowcockfights this year.But, in the aftermath ofdestruction of Hinduidols in some temples,the ruling YSRC feltsuch a curb will have anegative impact.

The OppositionTelugu Desam waswaiting in the wings totake advantage of anyresentment against theJagan Mohan Reddy-ledgovernment and theruling party. Hence, thegovernment thought itwise to not enforcecurbs.

Crores spenton cockfightsDirectives by court, cops go unheeded

DC CORRESPONDENTTIRUPATI, JAN. 15

Despite a ban, Chittoordistrict witnessed thetraditional bull-tamingsport, a mild version ofTamil Nadu’sJallikattu, with thou-sands of people includ-ing politicos urging thebull-tamers on in manyvillages this time too,on Friday.

The ban enforced bylocal administrationsand the police earlierthis month in Chittoorand Tirupati urban dis-trict limits was on donethe ground that boththe bulls and tamersfaced risk to their lives.The organisers with their social andpolitical support madesure the cattle festivalstyled as ‘PasuvulaPanduga’ or ‘GoppaMylaru Panduga’ was conducted unhin-dered.

The cattle festival isin vogue in the Chittoordistrict for the past 150years. The sportinvolves chasing ofbulls and cows, makingthem run amokthrough a narrow pas-sage. Enthusiasts lin-ing up on both sidescompete with eachother and run after thecattle to snatch tro-phies tied to theirhorns.

The organisers arguethat this fete is notaimed at hurting thecattle but only to revere

them and give them achance to play around.Irrespective of age, peo-ple from all walks oflife run after the ani-mals and several ofthem sustain injuries.

This year, the sportwas held on a par withthe Jallikattu in TamilNadu, with main showsin several villages inChittoor district, likeChandragiri, Rama-chandrapuram, Kup-pam, Ramakuppam,Rangampeta and Pala-maner. Under politicalpressure, the police sto-od back as mere specta-tors.

The event was organ-ised also at KothaSanambatla inChandragiri mandal,Anuppalle inRamachandrapurammandal andRangampeta. This timetoo, several people wereinjured. YSRC MLA RKRoja took part in thebull-taming sport atPullaiahgaripalli vil-lage.The police saidthey booked casesagainst some of theorganisers. “Wereceived informationfrom locals about theconduction ofJallikattu and from thehospitals about theinjured participants.We are booking casesagainst the organisers.Stringent action wouldbe initiated againstthem,” Ramakrishna,SI, Chandragiri, toldDeccan Chronicle.

Chittoor bullsport unchecked

Saving the ox

AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy saves a bull from hitting his headagainst the iron barricade during a “Do Do Basavanna” performance at theGopuja Mahotsavam which was organised by the TTD in Narasaraopeta ofGuntur district on Friday. The video of the incident has gone viral on socialmedia. — TEJO ROY ELETI

DC CORRESPONDENTKURNOOL, JAN. 15

Members belonging toChenchu tribe of Nal-lamala forests have beengiven the rare honour ofofficiating during San-kranti celebrations at theSrisailam Temple. It wasChenchus who had firstfound the Maha ShivaLingam amid these denseforests a millennium ago.

Authorities of SriBhramaramba Mallik-arjuna Swamy temple ofSrisailam celebrated theKalyanotsavam of LordMallikarjuna Swamy andGoddess Parvati Devi onThursday, inviting peopleof Chenchu tribes as spe-cial guests. The tribals per-formed Bhramotsava Kaly-anam wearing their tradi-tional dresses. At least 200tribal families from vari-ous Chunchu Gudems ofKurnool, Guntur, andPrakasam districts atte-nded this holy programme,said temple executive offi-cer K. S. Rama Rao.

Conventionally, GoddessBhramaramba is treated asdaughter of Chenchuswhile Lord Shiva(Srisailam Mallanna) isseen as their son-in-law, theEO pointed out. It is forthis reason that they invit-ed Chenchu families asspecial guests on the occa-sion, he underlined.

DC CORRESPONDENTVIJAYAWADA, JAN. 15

The three-day Sankrantifestival has turned into aseason of protests for thepast two years in AP.Various farmers’ organi-sations burned copies ofthe new agriculture lawsin Bhogi Mantalu (bon-fire) this year, while urbancitizen forums burnedgovernment orders (GOs)on an increase in propertytax in a similar fashion.

“This used to be the timewhen people burned oldand abandoned items andforgot hatred of the past tostart a new life fromSankranti. Earlier, politi-cal parties used to honourreligious sentiments andavoid politicising the tra-ditions. Nowadays, thetrend has changed andreligion has turned into apolitical subject. Hence,

the burning of GOs inbonfire started,” said G.Venkateswarlu, a priest,

“Any group can expressits anguish to the govern-ment any time, butprotests during festivalswould draw added atten-tion. Hence, resort to suchactions is seeing a riseyear after year," he added.

Social activist, R Vinodsaid farmers who facing“difficulties” due to thenew agriculture laws werenot sleeping for manydays. “They are not in aposition to celebrate thefestival. There is nothingwrong in burning thecopies of GOs, as Bhogi ismeant to burn the old andthe unacceptable. Aside ofthe burning protests byseveral groups and politi-cal parties, the people ingeneral organised Bhogibonfire in a traditionalmanner.”

Sankranti turns tobe protest season

CHENCHU TRIBESLEAD SANKRANTIFETE IN SRISAILAM

AP govt opposes Centre’s move totake control of even minor portsN. VAMSI SRINIVAS I DCHYDERABAD, JAN. 15

Andhra Pradesh hasstrongly opposed theCentre’s move to snatchcontrol of even minorports from the statesthrough the proposedIndian Ports Bill, 2020.

Describing the Bill — thatcan decide which minorport should remain opera-tional and which has to beshut down — as blot on thefederal spirit, the state gov-ernment has dashed off aletter to the Centre askingthe latter to convene ameeting with all the mar-itime states before proceed-ing further on the proposedlegislation.

AP's objections comeclose on the heels of theGujarat Martime Board(GMB), the oldestautonomous authority thatrevolutionised the mar-

itime sector in PrimeMinister Narendra Modi'snative state, also opposingseveral provisions of theBill. While GMB soft-ped-dled on the Bill apparentlydue to political compul-sions, the AP MaritimeBoard explained in detailhow the Bill is ultra viresthe Constitution.

“The Centre under theguise of the new Bill can-not step into the shoes ofstates and take away alltheir powers,” said N.P.Ramakrishna Reddy,APMB chief executive offi-cer, in his latest letter tothe Union ministry of ship-ping. Earlier, too, the stateauthorities had expressedconcern over the provi-sions of the Bill and insist-ed that minor ports shouldremain with the states.

Ramakrishna Reddyexplained that sub clause 5specifies that all ports

operating prior to theappointed date shall notfunction after two years,unless permitted by theCentre. "This cannot beaccepted as it is against thelong-term concessionagreements signed withprivate developers,” hepointed out. While the statedeveloped or proposed todevelop a few minor portson its own, it alloted a fewothers to private players todevelop under the publicprivate partnership mode.

The Centre proposed asingle entity, the MaritimePort Regulatory Authority,which will have controlover the 130-odd minorports nationwide. Thoughthe states will have theirboards, the Centre willappoint the constituentsand will play big brother toevery decision of the stateboards.

Ramakrishna Reddy drew

the Centre’s attention toprevious enactments onsubjects included in theconcurrent list and empow-ering the states to regulatethem as in the case oflabour, industrial and ener-gy laws. Another feature ofthe Bill that may threatento lead to biased develop-ment of the maritime sec-tor is the Centre’s power todecide and publish a planfor development of ports.

“Waterfront and land inthe sea up to the baselinebelong to the state and weshould decide developmentof our 974-km long coast-line, not the Centre,” theAPMB chief said. The Billis likely to hamper thestates’ growth if the Centreignores development ofminor ports in a particularstate due to reasons otherthan technical and com-mercial, which, in otherwords, mean political.

NATION pg 7DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | 16 JANUARY 2021

IN BRIEF

INDIA, NEPALTALK BORDERMANAGEMENT

SRIDHAR KUMARASWAMI |DC NEW DELHI, JAN. 15

Crucial “political and securityissues” as well as “bordermanagement” were among thesubjects discussed at the sixthIndia-Nepal Joint CommissionMeeting in New Delhi onFriday that was co-chaired byExternal Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar and his visitingNepalese counterpart PradeepKumar Gyawali but it isunclear whether theLimpiyadhura, Kalapani andLipu Lekh border issues - thataffected bilateral ties last year - were even briefly dis-cussed or raised by theNepalese side.

India had already made itclear earlier on Thursday thatthe JCM and boundary talksare “separate mechanisms”,thereby hinting clearly that itwas not on the agenda.

But connectivity and devel-opment projects were verymuch discussed, with the twosides discussing the establish-ment of a new petroleum prod-ucts pipeline on the easternside connecting Siliguri inIndia to Jhapa in Nepal and apossible broad gauge railwayline connecting Raxaul (Bihar)in India and the Nepalese capi-tal Kathmandu.

Nepal also requested forearly provision of Covid vac-cines from India at the meet-ing.

RABINDRA NATHCHOUDHURY | DC BHOPAL, JAN. 15

A twitter post byMadhya Pradesh ChiefMinister Shivraj SinghChouhan saying thatthe state was proud ofthe Padma Shri honourconferred on socialactivist late AbdulJabbar for 2020, onFriday sparked confu-sion.

The Chief Minister, inhis Twitter post, saidMadhya Pradesh feltproud of late Jabbarbeing honoured withPadma Shri for 2020,posthumously. Late MrJabbar would be remem-bered for raising hisvoice for the cause ofvictims of Bhopal gastragedy, the post said.

Mr Chouhan’s postcaused confusion in theofficial and media cir-cles here since late MrJabbar was conferredthe award posthumouslyin 2020. Mediapersonswere seen contacting thestate public relationsdepartment franticallytrying to ascertain thereason for posting ayear-old event onTwitter by the chiefminister.

When contacted by thisnewspaper, state publicrelations departmentdirector AshutoshPratap Singh said, “Letme check”. Althoughofficials in the chiefminister’s office weretight lipped on the issue,sources said the faux pasmay have been commit-ted by the CM’s Twitterhandlers.

Four persons fromMadhya Pradesh wereconferred with PadmaShri in 2020.

SHIVRAJ HAILSLAST YEAR’SPADMA SHRIAWARDEE

DC CORRESPONDENTNEW DELHI, JAN. 15

President Ram NathKovind on Friday donated`5,00,100 as a contributionin his personal capacitytowards the constructionof the Ram Temple inAyodhya as the nation-wide campaign -Samarpan NidhiSangraha Abhiyan - to col-lect contributions for thetemple by the VHP andShri Ram JanambhoomiTeerth Kshetra Trust com-menced.

The trust, set up by thegovernment afterSupreme Court’s direc-tion, is the authority tooversee the constructionof the temple.

At various locationsthroughout the country,contributions were madeincluding in Gujarat,

Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Uttarkhandamong other states.

Prime MinisterNarendra Modi had onAugust 5 performed thebhoomi poojan at the RamJanmbhoomi in Ayodhya,paving the way for con-struction of the temple.

A delegation includingVHP’s international work-ing president Alok Kumar,RSS leader KulbhushanAhuja, treasurer of thetrust Govind Dev Giri andtrust’s head NripendraMishra called on thePresident at theRashtrapati Bhavan onFriday morning.

RSS chief MohanBhagwat also participatedin the campaign atMahrishi Valmiki Templein the national capital.

Juna peeth’s head SwamiAvdeheshanand Giri par-

ticipated in the campaignat the Seva Basti inNagpur, while MadhraPradesh chief ministerShivraj Singh Chouhandonated `1 lakh as a con-tribution to the construc-tion of the temple inAyodhya. “One brick frommy family shall also beplaced in the constructionLord Ram’s Temple. Thisis not a Ram Temple really,is a national temple,” hetweeted.

Uttarakhand governorBaby Rani Maurya andchief minister TrivendraSingh Rawat also con-tributed.

The highest contributionon Friday came from for-mer UP MLA SurendraBahadur Singh, whodonated contributed morethan one crore (`1,11,11,111) for the templeand handed over the

cheque to VHP’s ChampatRai in Rae Bareli, UttarPradesh

In Patna, BJP’s SushilKumar Modi while partici-pating in the campaignsaid, “I hope every Hindufamily in Bihar con-tributes towards the build-ing of the beautiful tem-ple. I’m sure that whateverfund is required for thetemple, we will get it out ofpeople’s cooperation.”

Former Union ministerand senior BJP leaderUma Bharti also made acontribution of Rs 1 lakhfor construction of theAyodhya temple.

The Kinnar society ofMadhya Pradesh has pre-sented a cheque of `5.51lakh for the cause.

It may be noted that theVHP’s fundraising cam-paign will end on January27.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi during their protest against Centre’s farm reform laws, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi onFriday. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not respect farmers and wants to tire out those protesting against the new agri laws. Healso said that the talks that are being held with the protesting farmer leaders are part of the government’s delaying tactics. - PTI

BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur with office-bearersof Vishwa Hindu Parishad addresses a gathering afterdonating a cheque of `1,11,111 lakh for the proposedconstruction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya under a nation-wide donation drive in Bhopal on Friday. - PTI

President, CMs contribute for Ram Temple fundKovind donates `5 lakh; Shivraj Singh Chouhan gives `1 lakh for constructionMONEY | DRIVE

PM doesn’t respect farmers, says Rahul

PAWAN BALI | DCNEW DELHI, JAN. 15

Amidst the ongoingstandoff with China ineastern Ladakh, IndianArmy Chief Gen. ManojMukund Naravane onFriday said that whileIndia was committed toresolving the ongoing rowthrough talks and diplo-macy, “no one shouldcommit the mistake oftesting our patience”.

On Pakistan, the Armychief said that 300-400 ter-rorists are waiting in var-ious terror camps acrossthe Line of Control inP a k i s t a n - o c c u p i e dKashmir to infiltrate intoJ&K.

He said last year hadseen a 44 per centincrease in ceasefire vio-lations at the LoC byPakistan.

“You are aware of theongoing tensions withChina on northern bor-ders. Regarding the con-spiracy to unilaterallychange the status quo onour borders, a befittingreply was given. I want toassure the country thatthe sacrifice of Galwan’sbravehearts will not go invain,” Gen. Naravanesaid while addressing theArmy Day parade.

He said to resolve theissue there had been eightrounds of talks betweenthe senior commanders ofIndia and China. Headded that efforts willcontinue to be made toresolve the issue on theprinciple of “mutual andequal security”.

For the first time at the

annual Army Day parade,the Army on Fridaydemonstrated its offen-sive swarm drone capabil-ity by taking down a slewof “targets” like tanks,terror camps, fuel dumpsand a “suddenly” foundhelipad.

The demonstrationinvolved 75 indigenouslydeveloped drones thatworking autonomouslylocated and destroyed thetargets. The babykamikaze dronesdetached from motherdrones and directly hittargets in suicide mis-sions. They can travel upto 50 km to destroy enemytargets and can also beused to drop emergencysupplies to soldiers.

Militaries around theworld are looking atdrones after Azerbaijanused them to defeatArmenia in the recentconflict. Azerbaijan usedthe armed drones itbought from Israel andTurkey to hit Armenianmilitary assets to devas-tating effect, that crippledits air defence systems,tanks, artillery guns andother units. India is alsotaking a relook at itsdrone strategy, an area inwhich China has formida-ble strength.

Army Day is celebratedon January 15 to com-memorate the day whenGen. (later Field Marshal)K.M. Cariappa becamethe first Indian to be com-mander-in-chief of theIndian Army, taking overfrom Gen. Sir F.R.R.Bucher, the last Briton tohold the post, in 1949.

Naravane:Don’t testpatience

New Delhi, Jan. 15: TheElection Commission willextend “full assistance” tothe government in identi-fying targeted beneficiar-ies at the polling stationlevel for the Covid-19 vac-cination drive, but wantshealth authorities todelete the data once theinoculation exercise isover, sources privy to thedevelopment said onFriday.

On December 31 lastyear, Union HomeSecretary Ajay Bhallawrote to Chief ElectionCommissioner SunilArora requesting the com-mission’s help in identify-ing people above 50 yearsof age at the polling sta-tion level, the sourcessaid.

On the issue of datasecurity, the home secre-tary wrote that the gov-ernment is complyingwith the current best prac-tices for ensuring cybersecurity.

He has assured the pollpanel that the data will beused only for the purposeof vaccination, thesources said.

The ElectionCommission (EC), afterdetailed deliberations,wrote back to the homesecretary on January 4,saying it has decided torender “full assistance” inthe vaccination drive. Butasked the government toensure that the data isstrictly used for the limit-ed purpose for which ithas been sought, thesources said.

The commission alsosaid that the data shouldbe deleted by healthauthorities once the vacci-nation exercise concludes,they said.

Some senior EC officialswill be in touch with nodalofficers of the Union

home ministry and theUnion health ministry tosettle day-to-day issues,the sources said.

Last month, officials ofthe Union health ministryand the Niti Aayog hadmet the EC top brass seek-ing their help in the distri-bution of Covid-19 vaccinegiven the poll panel’srobust network at thebooth level. According toguidelines for the vaccina-tion drive, the latest elec-toral roll for Lok Sabhaand assembly electionswill be used to identify thepriority population overthe age of 50 years.

- PTI

EC wants govt to delete data onceCovid vaccination exercise is over

PRANMOY BRAHMACHARI | DCBERHAMPORE, JAN. 15

A day before the Covid-19vaccination gets under-way in West Bengal, thecontractual civil defenceworkers of the state havethreatened to boycott thedrive in protest of theirshort-term employmentannually.

On Friday, West BengalCivil Defence AssociationMurshidabad unit secre-tary Biswajit Das said,“Throughout the state ourtwo lakh civil defence per-sonnel will boycott theCovid vaccination pro-gramme which will startfrom Saturday. Theyinclude 2,200 membersfrom this district also. Wehave decided it becausewe are in distress.”

He added, “We workedhard during the disaster

period risking our lives.But we got only a few dayswork. We demand 30 daysfull work for entire yeartill the age of 60. ChiefMinister MamataBanerjee felt our necessi-ty. So she decided to pro-vide the vaccine to us. Butour life is at stake not forwork. It is because ourfamily is at stake, If ourdemand is not met, we willboycott the vaccinationdrive.”

Mr Das argued thoughthe vaccine would protectthe civil defence workers,their family memberswould remain unsafe dueto lack of earningthroughout the year.

West Bengal is all set forthe much-awaited inocula-tion drive and ChiefMinister MamataBanerjee will supervisethe exercise virtuallyfrom the state secretariat.

GILVESTER ASSARY | DC THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN.15

Free Covid vaccine for all, lap-top in every household, highspeed internet connection for20 lakh economically back-ward families, 1. 5 lakh housesfor landless-homeless poor,hike in all social welfare pen-sion thus goes the list of socialwelfare measures announcedby Kerala’s CPM led LeftDemocratic Front (LDF) gov-ernment in its budget onFriday.

With just three months leftfor the crucial Assembly elec-tions in the state, the 3.18 hourrecord breaking budget speechof finance minister Dr. T.M.Thomas Isaac in Kerala assem-bly sounded more like an elec-tion manifesto.

He announced a slew ofsocial welfare measuresincluding 10 kg rice for 50 lakhfamilies and hike in all socialwelfare pensions from `1,500to `1,600.

The LDF had tasted spectacu-lar victory in the recently con-cluded local body polls. Thevictory was mainly attributedto the relief measures imple-mented during covid pandem-ic including distribution offree ration kits to the peopleand uninterrupted pension forsocially and economicallyweaker sections.

The LDF hopes to retainpower in assembly elections tobe held in April-May withrelief programmes that have adirect connect with people.

KERALAANNOUNCES

SLEW OF SOPS

MANOJ ANAND | DCGUWAHATI, JAN. 15

Assam health ministerHimanta Biswa Sarmahere on Friday said thatthe state is all set to rollout vaccination pro-gramme for which 1,56,000people have registered onthe website in Assam.

Umesh Chandra Sarma,former vice-chancellor ofSankardev Universitywould be the first recipi-

ent among 12 invitees forthe inaugural vaccinationprogramme on Saturday,Mr Sarma said.

“We have received2,20,000 vaccine vials. Atotal of 1,56,000 people inAssam have registered forthe vaccine and we arecapable of inoculating1,19,000 people. There willbe two doses of the vac-cine which will be given atseparate intervals,” hesaid.

SONU SHRIVASTAVA | DCMUMBAI, JAN. 15

Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) chief Sharad Pawar onFriday said that a woman ofACP rank should probe allega-tions of rape against socialjustice minister DhananjayMunde. Mr. Pawar said thathis party will decide on proba-ble action against Munde afterthe police investigation is con-cluded.

Mr. Munde has been facingserious allegations of sexualharassment charges.

Mr. Pawar said that thoughhe had termed the allegationagainst Munde of seriousnature, action will be takenafter the police investigation iscomplete.

A 38-year-old woman hadalleged that she had beenraped by Munde and claimedthat her complaint wasignored by Mumbai Police.Following this, she had written a letter to MumbaiPolice Commissioner onJanuary 10, stating that theNCP leader, who hails fromBeed district of Marathwadaregion, had raped her repeat-edly in 2006.

Mr Munde had denied therape charges stating that hewas in relationship with thecomplaintant’s sister.

Asked about some BJP lead-ers targeting the NCP over theepisode involving Munde,Pawar said it is the right of theopposition to criticise.

‘ACTION AGAINSTMUNDE ONLY

AFTER PROBE’

Former ministerMorarka dies

SATABDI ROYCANCELS MEETWITH SHAH RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DCKOLKATA, JAN. 15

Ending speculation ofher defection to the BJPahead of the polls, three-time Trinamul CongressMP of Birbhum SatabdiRoy cancelled her NewDelhi visit on Saturdayafter a meeting with herparty leadership onFriday evening.

She was supposed tomeet union home minis-ter Amit Shah in the cap-ital on Saturday as shequit as a member ofTarapeeth DevelopmentCouncil under the statemunicipal affairs andurban developmentdepartment of theMamata Banerjee gov-ernment, complaining ofher inability to workindependently in theruling party.

2 lakh civil defenceworkers to boycott

FORMER VC OF SANKARDEV VARSITYTO BE THE FIRST RECIPIENT IN ASSAM

DC CORRESPONDENTMUMBAI, JAN. 15

Former Union ministerand industrialist KamalMorarka on Fridaypassed away at his homein South Mumbai. He was74. He died of a heartattack.

A close friend and sen-ior journalist SantoshBharatiya told DeccanChronicle, “Mr. Morarkadied after he suffered aheart attack at 7.50 pm.He complained of a coughon Thursday. He did notcome to office onThursday as he wasunwell.”

Morarka, who hailsfrom Rajasthan, was sur-vived by two daughtersand wife. He was a UnionMinister in the ChandraShekhar government in1990-91 and a formerRajya Sabha MP fromRajasthan from JD(S)between 1988 and 1994.

In 2012, he became thehead of SamajwadiJanata Party (Rashtriya)which was started byChandra Shekhar andDevi Lal after they brokeaway from the Janata Dalin 1990.

Morarka, who was bornin a well-known businessfamily, donned many hats— a successful business-man, a cricket adminis-trator who was the vice-

president of the BCCIduring JagmohanDalmia’s time, a ministerin the Union cabinet, awildlife photographerand an organic farmerwho has done some greatwork in Rajasthan to pro-mote agriculture and sup-port farmers. He and hisMR Morarka foundationhave been also at the fore-front to promote art,Sanskrit literature andculture. Morarka was alsoassociated with Indiancricket as an administra-tor.

He has served as vicepresident of the Board ofControl for Cricket inIndia. In 2000, he was amember of the BCCI dis-ciplinary committee thattook the decision to banMohammed Azharuddin.However, years later hecriticised the decision asa sham.

Kamal Morarka

DC CORRESPONDENTBHOPAL, JAN. 15

Madhya Pradesh is set tokick off the first phase ofvaccination againstCovid-19 on Saturday.

Security guard of thegove