c m y k c m y k

COUNTER POINT

Max: 34.8OCMin: 23.6OC RH: 41%Rainfall: Nil

Forecast: Cloudy sky.May rain in evening.

Max/Min temp. 36/24ºC

WEATHER

ASTROGUIDESarvari; Uttarayana

Tithi: Phalguna BahulaAmavasya till 8.01 am

Star: Revati till 11.30 amVarjyam: Nil

Durmuhurtam: 12.42 pm to 1.31 pm; 3.10 pm to 4 pm

Rahukalam: 7.30 am to 9 amHIJRI CALENDAR

Sha'ban 29,1442 AHPRAYERS

Fajar: 5.01 amZohar: 12.27 pm

Asar: 4.37 pmMaghrib: 6.37 pm

Isha: 7.46 pmSUNSET TODAY 6.31 PM

SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.01 AMMOONRISE TODAY 6.14 AMMOONSET TODAY 6.49 PM

PLA: India mustcherish +ve trendBeijing: With no forward

movement at the latestround of Sino-India mili-tary talks on disengage-

ment from the remainingareas in eastern Ladakh,the Chinese military has

said that India shouldcherish the “current posi-tive trend” of de-escala-

tion and cooling down oftensions in the border

area. There was noprogress at the latest

round of military talksbetween the two coun-

tries as the Chinese cameto the talks with a “pre-

meditated mindset”,people familiar with the

negotiations said.

IMD WEATHERWARNING NOWCOVERS ALL TS

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

It would be rainy daysahead for Telangana. Thestate would experiencethunderstorms coupledwith gusty winds till April15.

Under the influence of atrough travelling over thestate which goes fromMadhya Pradesh to CapeComorin, there would bethunderstorms accompa-nied by lightning andgusty winds of 30-40kmphrange at isolated places inthe state, a warning issuedby the weather office saidon Sunday.

■ Page 2: Hailstorms arelikely, says IMD

Vol. 84 No. 101 Established 1938 | 20 PAGES | `6.00deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle

TABLOIDSPORTS|12Walk through your fear

Dhoni is my go-to man: Pant

Suspicious blackoutin Iran’s plant

WORLD|10

N’sagar saboteurs giveparties sleepless nightsPoliticians suspect disgruntled leaders may help OppnL. VENKAT RAM REDDY | DCHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

Political parties are deeplyworried about “saboteurs”ahead of polling in theNagarjunasagar Assemblybyelection on April 17.

All parties are keeping aclose watch on movementsof disgruntled leaders, sus-pecting them of resorting tocovert activities and sabo-taging their party’sprospects in the bypoll.

Earlier, the respectiveparty leaderships hadmade all efforts to convincethese disgruntled leadersinto withdrawing fromrace in favour of the party’sofficial candidates by offer-ing them different posts.Still, there are fears thatthey may resort to covertactivities and help rivalparties.

While the ruling partyhas engaged the services ofthe intelligence depart-ment sleuths to keep a tabon such leaders, theOpposition parties are rely-ing on their close aides totrack the saboteurs andsubmit daily reports ontheir activities.

There had been multipleserious contenders forparty tickets to contest the

bypoll, especially from theruling TRS and the BJP.

Though there were nocontenders in Congressother than K. Jana Reddy,the Congress too is wary ofsaboteurs, as the rulingparty has lured severalprominent Congress lead-ers from village to districtlevel into its fold over thepast three months in pres-ence of ministers, TRS

MLAs, MLCs and so on.The Congress is worried

that several of such lead-ers, though continuing toremain in the party, havebeen in touch with TRSleaders and sabotagingparty's prospects by “leak-ing” the party’s strategy.

Congress suspects thatseizure of liquor worthnearly `40 lakh on Fridayfrom the residence of a

local party leader known tobe the close aide of JanaReddy in Nagarjunasagaris handiwork of “coverts”.Congress leaders arguethat though all parties aredistributing cash andliquor in the bypoll, a fewcoverts had leaked infor-mation to ruling party lead-ers, who ordered policeraids and seized stocks.

The Congress has nowdemanded that police raidresidences of key leadersbelonging to all parties ifthey are really sincere incurbing distribution ofcash and liquor.

TRS leadership is worriedthat a few leaders from theReddy community in theconstituency are angrywith the party for givingticket to Yadava communi-ty. Thus, they are silentlyworking for Jana Reddy on“caste grounds”, besideskeeping away from cam-paigning for the party toregister their dissent.

In the BJP, too, there hadbeen many aspirants fromthe Reddy and BC commu-nities. The party gave tick-et to an ST candidate, lead-ing to resentment amongother communities. Theparty too is thus trackingmovements of its disgrun-tled leaders.

Mamata provoked TMCviolence on CISF: Shah

Tika Utsav second big waragainst Covid-19, says PMNew Delhi, April 11:Asserting that ‘tikautsav’, a vaccinationdrive between April 11and 14, marks the begin-ning of the another majorwar on Covid-19, PrimeMinister Narendra Modion Sunday made severalsuggestions on curbingthe virus and urged themto focus on personal andsocial hygiene.

In a blog, he urged themto remember four things,including “each one, vac-cinate one”— helpingthose getting vaccinatedwho are less educatedand elderly and who can-not go for the jab them-selves, and “each one,treat one”— helpingthose who do not have themeans or do not knowabout the facilities avail-able for vaccination.

He also spoke of “eachone, save one”, sayingemphasis should onwearing mask so as tosave oneself and otherstoo. He asked familiesand members of societyto take lead in setting upmicro containment zonesif anyone gets the dis-ease, saying it is animportant way to fightCovid in a densely popu-lated country like India.

“Our success will bedetermined by our aware-ness of the micro contain-ment zone and by notleaving house when thereis no need. Our successwill also depend onwhether we wear masksand follow other rules,”he said, adding that itwill also depend on get-ting those eligible for vac-cine inoculated. — PTI

Leaders of several parties joined to pay tribute to Mahatma Jyotirao Phule andrecalled his services to reform Indian society of its evils, including his peerless con-tribution to fight to eradicate untouchability and against caste oppression, on theoccasion of his 195th birth anniversary. TRS leader and health minister EtalaRajendar, senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao, BJP’s OBC Morcha presidentK. Laxman were among those who paid tribute and spoke on the occasion. — DC

DC CORRESPONDENTKOLKATA, APRIL 11

Union home ministerAmit Shah on Sundaysquarely held WestBengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee’s rec-ent “provocative speech”responsible for the vio-lent mob attack on theCentral paramilitaryforces which, in turn,shot dead four villagersat a polling booth inShitalkuchi of CoochBehar during the fourthphase of the election aday earlier.

Asking the TrinamulCongress supremo toapologise for her instiga-tion, he questioned hersilence on the killing of afirst-time voter, AnandaBurman of the Rajbanshicommunity, after linkinghim to the saffron party.

Rejecting Ms Banerjee’sdemand for his resigna-

tion over the firing, MrShah said: “Didi has beenconstantly claiming:Amit Shah must resign.Didi, I will resign whenthe people ask me to. But

you should get readysince you will have toresign on May 2.”

■ Page 2: Forces acted inself-defence: Shah

Model code is BJPcode, alleges DidiRAJIB CHOWDHURI | DCKOLKATA, APRIL 11

West Bengal Chief Mini-ster Mamata Banerjee onSunday described theElection Commission’sModel Code of Conduct(MCC) as the “BJP Codeof Conduct … or BCC”after she failed to visitthe aggrieved family ofthe four villagers whowere shot dead by theCentral paramilitary

forces at a polling boothat Shitalkuchi in CoochBehar due to the 72-hourban imposed by the EC onthe visit of any politicalleader to the district.

The TMC chief alsocalled the killings a“mass murder” in a viru-lent attack on the EC andthe BJP after speaking tothe victims’ relatives.

■ Page 2: Didi vows relieffor each family

BALU PULIPAKA I DCHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

The state recorded its high-est-ever Covid-19 tally of3,187 cases on Saturday,according to data releasedby the state health depart-ment on Sunday. The previ-ous high was 3,018 cases onAugust 26, 2020. The firstcase was discovered in thestate on March 2 last year.

The highest daily tally ofthe pandemic came even asthe number of people dyingfrom the disease is seeingan uptick with each monththis year . Seven more peo-ple died of Covid-19, taking

to 1,759 the fatalities fromthe disease so far. The over-all Covid-19 cases havereached 3,27,278, as onSaturday evening, thedepartment said.

While the rapid increasein the number of cases hasbecome a daily affair in this

second wave of Covid-19,the number of deaths isincreasing rapidly.Compared to 67 deathsreported by the state gov-ernment as Covid-19 relatedin March, the first 10 daysof April have seen 58 peopledie of the disease. This fig-

ure representing almost 87per cent of deaths duringthe 31 days of March.

“There are more and morepeople going to the hospi-tals late and neglecting theneed to get proper medicalattention because theybelieve that this disease nolonger poses any dangerand will go away,” a seniorgovernment doctor said. Itis feared that even wellbefore the second wave ofCovid-19 peaks, TS may seemany more people losingtheir lives.

■ Page 3: Over 500 cases inHyderabad, GHMC areas

TS sees highest Covid tallyState may see 3 times more deaths from MarchGLOOMY | SCENARIO

CENTRE BANSEXPORT OF REMDESIVIR New Delhi, April 11: Inview of increaseddemand for remdesivirdue to a surge in Covid-19cases, the Centre onSunday said the export ofthe antiviral injectionand its Active Pharm-aceutical Ingredients hasbeen banned till the situ-ation improves.

In addition, to ensureeasy access, all domesticmanufacturers of remde-sivir were advised to dis-play on their site detailsof their stockists and dis-tributors, the health min-istry said. — PTI

SHORT TAKES

THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIAHYDERABAD I MONDAY I 12 APRIL 2021

Remembering Jyotiba Phule

Congress leader K. Jana Reddy goes on a roadshow for theNagarjunasagar bypoll accompanied by TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and other party leaders on Sunday.

DEATHSTALKS

The number of Covid-19 deaths isrising rapidly in the second wave

55January

67March

58April* *Till April 10

33February

CITY pg 2DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

Police going hi-tech toarrest cyber criminals

Hailstorms are likely: IMD

It was self-defence: Shah

DIDI VOWS RELIEF

FOR EACH FAMILY

OF VICTIMSFrom page 1

She also assured them ofgovernment compensationfor each family.

At Siliguri in NorthBengal, the CM allegedSunday morning: “We weresupposed to visitShitalkuchi. I wanted tostand by the victims’ fami-lies. But you can see what ishappening. They did notallow us anyway to meet thefamily members of thosewho were killed. Such aforcible decision is unprec-edented. I respect the EC.But everything cannot bechanged in the interest of aparticular party. A systemcannot be changed. It has tobe maintained. The institu-tion can continue forever.Yes, they can do anything.But there must be some-thing which is essential fordemocracy and a free andfair election.”

She claimed: “Since theban is for 72 hours, I waitbecause of the MCC. I willvisit the families on April14, though I think the MCChas become the BJP Code ofConduct now. It will dowhatever they will ask it todo. Why will campaigns notbe allowed for 24 hours?Just because the BJP’s lastdate of campaign is April13. I cannot be restricted inthis way.”

Wearing a black robe toprotest against the killingsof the four at a rally in Ja-lpaiguri later, the TMC ch-ief said: “On Saturday theBJP government, using itspolice, took the lives of fourpeople by shooting them.All the bullets hit the upperparts of the victims. Therehas been no bigger mass m-urder and murder of de-mocracy than this. I conde-mn this. I condemn Unionhome minister Shah, theGovernment of India andthose who carried it out.”

Banerjee said the stategovernment’s compensa-tion for the victims’ fami-lies will be announced bychief secretary AlapanBandyopadhyay. “Permis-sion has been sought (fromthe EC). Now permission isrequired for everything,even helping the family ofsomeone killed!” she quipped.k

From page 1

Shah said: “In the fourthphase of polls, a very sadincident took place. Someunidentified peopleattacked a polling boothand tried to snatch theweapons of the Centralarmed police forces(CAPF) personnel. Whenthe CAPF jawans openedfire in self-defence and toprotect their weapons,four people were killed.What is more sad is theway the entire incident isbeing politicised.” He wasspeaking to the media atShantipur in Nadia dis-trict.

He added: “I sawMamatadi’s statement. Afew days ago, at the sameShitalkuchi seat,Mamatadi gave a brazenspeech asking the peopleto gherao and attack the

CAPF. I want to ask her:‘Isn’t her speech responsi-ble for the death of thefour? Would the four havedared to attack theCentral forces had she notmade the speech?’Provoking them, youmade a cause for firing.”

Mr Shah later claimed ata BJP rally at BasirhatSouth in North 24Parganas: “Didi, you, sit-ting in a wheelchair, leftanyway but it was becauseof you that the fouryouths died.” He said: “Ifeel Mamatadi still hastime to offer her respect tothe fifth slain youth, talk about him and apolo-gise to the people for her provocative speech.”

Complaining about MsBanerjee’s sympathy onlywith the four victims, whowere Muslims, the homeminister said: “At the

same booth, some goons ofthe TMC killed our work-er in the morning so thatpolling could not takeplace. Later, the attack onthe CISF followed. ButMamatadi mourned theloss of four lives only. Sheis not bothered by thedeath of Burman. This isa clear example to whatlevel she brought downthe politics of Bengalthrough her appeasementand vote bank politicseven in death.”

He added: “We are equal-ly saddened by the deathof the four like that ofBurman. The death ofwhosoever should beabove politics. But she didnot mourn the death ofBurman, or shed tears…This type of politics isneither the culture nor the tradition ofBengal.”

From page 1

As a part of the pre-mon-soon activity, light to mod-erate rain is likely overthe next four days in thedistricts of Hyderabad,Ranga Reddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Adilabad,Komaram Bheem-Asifabad, Mancherial,Nirmal, Jagtial, Pedapalli,Karimnagar, Rajanna-Sirisilla, Nizamabad,

Kamareddy, Sangareddy,Medak, Vikarabad, Narayanpet, Maha-bubnagar, Jogulamba-Gadwal and Wanaparthy,it said.

Even hailstorms arelikely, the IMD said. Inview of the squally windsaffecting the state, theNational DisasterManagement Agency(NDMA) has also saidthere would be thunder-

storms in the state.“Whenever there is

thunderstorm activity,there would be squallywinds. These squallywinds can disrupt thepower supply system.That is why we are keep-ing track of the hi-tensionwires and the transform-ers,” said an official of theTelangana State SouthernPower DistributionCompany Limited.

A boy and his pet sheep cool themselves in a pond at Osmania University campusdue to high humidity in city on Sunday. — DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Nab frauds from hotspots in Jharkhand, Delhi, BengaluruDURGA PRASAD SUNKU I DCHYDERABAD APRIL 11

The police, in the forefrontin using technology, arebusy equipping themselveswith state-of-the-art tech-nology in investigatingcrimes. Their expertise isalready helping them nabcyber fraudsters fromhotspots like Jharkhand,Bengaluru and New Delhi.Decoding the digital evi-dence has always been achallenge before cops onthe ground and they gener-ally take the help of foren-sic experts. However, theTelangana Police areequipping the personnelwith basic knowledge indigital analysis of evi-dence. Recently, K.Nagendar Rao Koppula,inspector in charge of thecybercrime vertical of thestate police, published aresearch paper in the‘International Journal ofComputer Science and

Technology’.When digital devices are

seized in any crime investi-gation, police send them tothe forensic science lab andwait till its report isarrived. This evidenceplays a crucial role incracking a case.

Styling 2021 as the ‘CyberSafety Year’, DirectorGeneral of Police M.Mahendar Reddy is person-ally training cyberwar-riors. The state police aimsto train at least two orthree constables fromevery police station. Theywill learn how to examinemobile phone hard discs,how to break passwordcode, how to have a calldata record (CDR) analysisetc. Some 200 police consta-

bles from different policestations have already beentrained in cyber security.

“Where to search what ina computer seized from anaccused? How to analyse adigital evidence — theseare some of the challengesbeing faced by investiga-tion officials,” saidNagendar Rao.

In his research paper,‘Role of MicrosoftWindows Key Artifacts inExploring Digital Evidencefor Investigation Purp-oses’, Nagendar Rao dis-cussed the analysis of arti-facts created due to user’sinteraction with differentapplications.

“The process of creatinga reference document asstandard operating proce-dure (SOP) to examine thedigital evidence is in thepipeline,” said Nagendar.

Speaking to DeccanChronicle, Nagendar said,“A majority of computershave the MicrosoftWindows operating sys-

tems. Data created by theuser like browsing, creat-ing files and folders andothers is called artifacts.”

“Microsoft Windows pro-vides a wealth of informa-tion that can help investi-gators understand the vari-ous actions performed byits users, resulting in thecreation of a variety ofartifacts. Storage andmemory provide vitalinformation and henceinvestigators shouldunderstand how data isinternally organised,”explained Rao in hisresearch paper.

According to the paper,digital forensics applica-tions are meant to exploredetails of the applicationsinstalled on the system andinformation stored by theoperating system of theuser and application activi-ty. The state of the operat-ing system can also be eval-uated, which may result incops finding some impor-tant clues.

NAVEEN KUMAR I DCHYDERABAD APRIL 11

With the traffic policeenforcing helmet rules forboth rider and pillion, chil-dren are left vulnerable toaccidents. On Monday, ateenage student who rodepillion on his father’sscooter died in an accident.He was not wearing a hel-met.

Helmet dealers in the citysay there is no demand forkid helmets and hence theydo not stock it.

Traffic cops say parentsshould ensure the kids aresafe in pillion seat andhave something to hold onto in case of suddenbreaks. Road safety expertsnote the pillion rider is atgreater risk of suffering

serious head injuries. While the traffic police

here is forcing helmet ruleon riders, they ignore pil-lion riders, specially kids,even as they are at agreater risk, says VinodKanumula, chief func-tionary of the IndianFederation of Road Safety.“Helmets are mandatory inall the states but the safetyof children is neglected.”

“Helmets for children are

not much in demand, but afew stores stock them.Even if physical stores faila parent, he could alwayscount on online shoppingfor kid’s helmet. The pointis: there is no room forexcuses,” arguesKanumula.

“The life of the pillionrider is as vulnerable asthe rider. In my experience,there is no fear in the pub-lic mind. The fear of get-

ting caught should be thereamong them,” said a mem-ber of National RoadSafety Council, Dr. KamalSoi. “The rules are verystrict on paper, but theauthorities should workmore on the ground level,”added Soi.

Mohd Salim, a helmetbusinessman from Abids,said, “We do not see muchdemand for helmets. We donot keep one for displayand usually don’t keep thestock at the store.”

There are a few who fol-low the rule, simply out ofa concern for safety. DebuSinha, resident of Abids,said, “I make sure my chil-dren wear the helmetwhenever they are ridingpillion. Helmets save lives,it's as simple as that.”

Helmets must for kid pillion ridersExperts say pillion rider at greater risk of injuries ROAD | SAFETY

● ● STYLING 2021 as the‘Cyber Safety Year’,Director General of PoliceM. Mahendar Reddy ispersonally training cyberwarriors.

YEAR CYBERABAD HYDERABAD

2019 2,150 4,6102020 665 1,412

Minors driving motorbikes isa common sight in India.

CASES BOOKED ONMINOR DRIVERS

BALU PULIPAKA I DCHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

The government’s attitude,both of the Centre and thestate, that Covid-19 is justanother disease and not asdangerous as one feared,and their dismissive atti-tude towards deaths fromthe disease urgently needsto change, senior doctorshave said. The messagethat is being propagated,which for all practical pur-poses means ‘you are goodeven if you have/hadCovid as long as you arenot dead’, is wrong and thegovernment must recastits messaging to peopleand impress upon them theurgency to protect them-selves by laying out plainlyhow the disease is playingout among the people, theysaid.

“It looks like we arealready losing control. Thenext two weeks will pose ahuge challenge. We eithergain control over Covid-19now, or we will be at themercy of God,” a top doc-tor in the city told DeccanChronicle. Every deathfrom Covid-19 has devas-tated some family or theother and hiding behindnumbers such as the“death rate is just 1 percent, or .56 per cent,” is notright, the doctor said.

“We are just about a yearinto the pandemic and weknow very little about howthe disease is playing out.Anywhere between 20 and30 per cent of patients whohave recovered are report-ing health problems thatthey never experiencedbefore, including breath-ing problems or onset ofdiabetes. In some cases,there are neurologicalissues,” a senior doctor,seeking anonymity, said.

“What we have learnt isthat it is a disease thatimpacts multiple organs.And we have no idea whatit is doing if someone getsinfected the second time.But what we know is it islike the ‘dengue syn-drome’. If someone catch-es dengue the second time,the body’s defences go hay-wire and the defence thebody mounts can be some-thing like the cytokinestorm we have seen amongCovid-19 patients whichdoes more harm than good.Such being the case, it isfor the government to cre-ate awareness about theconsequences of Covid-19and not dismiss the dis-ease as something simple,”the doctor said.

Asked what could bedone to control the currentrapid spread of Covid-19,Dr M. Srinivas, Dean ofESI Medical College, toldDeccan Chronicle that“people have to be con-scious not just for them-selves, but for thosearound them. Everyonemust feel responsible forreducing transmission. Wewill not likely see anotherpandemic like this in ourlifetimes and it is foreveryone to pitch in as wetry to put an end to it.

“The state needs to speakeffectively and explain tothe people what Covid-19does to individuals and totheir health. It is not justenough to reduce the pan-demic into a series of ev-ents,” he suggested, givingthe example of the ‘TikaUtsav’, promoted by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi.“When cast as an ‘Utsav’ orfestival, the seriousness ofthe vaccination exercise islost. It is being promotedas some kind of a festivitywhich is not the case.Where is the need for a‘celebration’ or a ‘festival’when it comes to control-ling Covid-19?” he asked.

CITY pg 3DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

SHORT TAKESMAN KILLS WIFE,MOTHER-IN-LAW,

SURRENDERS

BOY TOUCHESTRANSFORMER,

SUFFERS BURNS

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD APRIL 11

A man killed his wife andmother-in-law while they weresleeping, and surrendered tothe IDA Bolarum police onSunday. Police said the acc-used, Nune Narasimha, usedto suspect his wife Swaroopa,32, and physically abuse her.

A few days back, Swaroopareturned to the house of hermother Teki Yellamma, 50,after a quarrel with her hus-band. On Sunday, at about 4.30am, Narasimha went to thehouse when they were sleep-ing and stabbed them.

“Subsequently, he went to theIDA Bolarum police stationand surrendered himself,” apolice statement said. Foll-owing this, the police booked acase of murder and startedinvestigations. Narasimha isin judicial custody.

Traffic police personnel counsel youths on the importance of wearing the mask and following Covid-19 protocols among a surge in Coronaviruscases, in Hyderabad on Sunday. The overall cases have crossed the 3.25 lakh mark, with the state recording its highest-ever 3,187 cases onSaturday. — S. SURENDER REDDY

Cops book 6,500 in state in aweek for not wearing mask

Over 500 cases in Hyd, GHMC areasFrom page 1

“If this current rate con-tinues, we may well seethree times the deathscompared to last month,”the doctor said.

Meanwhile, Hyderabadcity and the rest of theGHMC areas have shotpast the 500 mark in dailyCovid-19 cases with thehealth department in itsbulletin, reporting 551

cases in the GHMC limitson Saturday, compared to487 on Friday. With 333new cases, Medchal-Malkajgiri district was insecond spot, while 271cases were reported inRanga Reddy, and 251 fromNizamabad districts.

The number of activeCovid-19 cases rose pastthe 20,000 mark onSaturday to stand at 20,184while the number of peo-

ple in isolation increasedto 13,366. On Friday, thesefigures stood at 17,791, and11,495 respectively.

The department said itconducted 1,15,311 tests inthe state on Saturday, butof these, results werepending for 3,753 tests.

NAVEEN KUMAR I DCHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

The police has booked6,478 persons in the statefor not wearing the mask,the first guard againstCovid-19, between April 5and 11. This informationcame from the state policeIT Cell. Stricter enforce-ment of the mask rule hasbeen in effect for a week inview of the rising Covid-19cases.

The three police commis-sionerates in the city havebooked 3,214 cases of vio-lations. These included2,030 in Hyderabad, 670 inRachakonda and 514 inCyberabad, the datarevealed.

While this is so, therehas been much debateabout the large crowdsgathering at election cam-paign rallies, and how peo-ple who do not wear masksthere get away lightly.

Speaking about the useof masks during electioncampaigns, BJPspokesperson KrishnaSagar Rao said the partywould want everyone to dothis. “During the electioncampaigns, the candidateswould want the voters tosee his face and hencemost of the contestants do

not use the mask at publicevents. This should not bethe case. I strongly believeself-regulation is aboveany punitive measure andI welcome the regula-

tions,” he said. In Nalgonda district, 39

people were booked for notwearing the mask, includ-ing those involved in cam-paigning for the bypolls.Meanwhile, Wanaparthyzilla parishad chairman R.Lok Nath Reddy paid a`1,000 as fine for not wear-ing the mask at a functionin which agriculture min-ister S. Niranjan Reddywas present.

“This was a good enoughtime for the ElectionCommission to introducerestrictions and it shouldhave recommended a

reformative campaign bynot allowing more thanfive persons with a candi-date,” said Dasoju Shr-avan, chief spokespersonfrom the Congress.

“Section 144 does notallow a gathering of morethan five people in thepublic. Public meetingsshould be banned and theEC should be careful whiledrafting campaigningrules. Now we have socialmedia platforms that areaccessible and most peoplehave smartphones. Thereis no need for mass cam-paigning,” he said.

Next 2 weeks pose big challenge: DocUrges govt to stop propagating ‘you’re good with or without having Covid unless you’re dead’

State fixes `1K penalty fornot wearing mask in publicDC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD APRIL 11

To prevent the spread ofCovid-19, the Telanganastate government onSunday issued orders fix-ing the penalty of `1,000for violation of face maskregulations. Not wearingthe mask in public places

would attract a penalty of`1,000. The governmenthas directed the districtcollectors and commis-sioners and superintend-ents of police to strictlyimplement the relatedinstructions.

The GO issued by ChiefSecretary Somesh Kumarsaid: “To prevent the

spread of Covid-19 virus,wearing of face mask ismade mandatory in allpublic places, work spacesand means of transport.Any deviation would attr-act prosecution under sec-tion 51 to 60 of the DisasterManagement Act, 2005 andsection 188 of IPC as wellas other applicable laws.”

STATE TO CLOSEVACCINATIONCENTRES DUE TO SHORTAGE

MISCONCEPTIONSAMONG YOUTHSABOUT VIRUS

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

The government’s currentstand on Covid-19 vaccina-tion eligibility is resultingin a misunderstandingamong youth that theyhave nothing to worry orfear about the disease, theIndian Medical Assoc-iation has said,

IMA national presidentDr J.A. Jayalal said thatwith the government focu-sing on 45 years and plusage group to be the vac-cine recipients in the cou-ntry, the youth and thoseunder 45, were increasingunder the misapprehen-sion that they are not vul-nerable to Covid-19.

Indicating that nothingcould be farther from thetruth, Dr Jayalal toldDeccan Chronicle that thesecond wave of Covid-19 isseeing more and moreyouths, aged 18 years andmore, succumbing to thedisease. “Fatalities in theyouth group were lessthan one per cent of alldeaths during the firstwave,” he said

He said that the All IndiaInstitute of Medical Scie-nces in New Delhi just acouple of days ago had po-inted out that of the 140 cr-itical cases of Covid-19 inthe 18-to-40 age group, 36had lost their lives. “Thisis more than 30 per cent ofthe cases and is wor-risome,” Dr Jaylal said.

Overall, during the cur-rent resurgence of Covid-19 that India is witness-ing, 20 to 35 per cent of allCovid-19 victims are chil-dren and youth. “This issomething we are seeingacross the country,” hesaid.

It may be recalled thatthere have been repeatedcalls from Telangana,Delhi and some otherstates to open up vaccina-tion for all age groups butthe Centre has so far notagreed to these requests.

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

The state government,now left with Covid-19 vac-cines enough to last maybe two days at best, is fac-ing the prospect of closingsome of its vaccinationcentres in the next fewdays, even as the ‘TikaUtsav’ — the vaccinationfestival ordered by PrimeMinister Narendra Modibegan on Sunday.

The state was waiting tohear from the Centre on itsSaturday’s request for sup-ply of 30 lakh doses of thevaccine.

It may be recalled thatChief Secretary SomeshKumar wrote to the Centreon Saturday seekingurgent additional vaccinesupply with the state plan-ning to ramp up vaccina-tions to 2 lakh doses a day.

On Saturday, accordingto Somesh Kumar, thestate had 5.66 lakh doses ofvaccines — Covishield andCovaxin — left with it. Thestate is vaccinating at therate of 1.5 lakh peopleevery day, leading to fearsthat the stocks will run outin three to four days.

The state, according toofficials, has more doses ofCovishield than Covaxin,which has left the officialsworried. As a conse-quence, they have stoppeddispensing first doses ofCovaxin, of which there isa shortage, and saving theavailable stocks of thisvaccine for those lining upto take their second dose ofthis particular vaccine.

According to the healthdepartment, on Saturday,the state administered atotal of 1,62,385 doses ofvaccine, of which 1,53,295were to people gettingtheir first shot, with 9,090people receiving their sec-ond dose. So far, the statehas administered 20,61,395first and second doses.

SCARY SCENE

GHMC (Hyderabad) : 551

Medchal-Malkajgiri : 333

Ranga Reddy : 271

Nizamabad : 251

Nirmal : 154Jagtial : 134Kamareddy : 113Karimnagar : 104Sangareddy : 104

NINE DISTRICTS REPORTED CASES IN THREE-FIGURES ON SATURDAY

The state had 5.66 lakhdoses of vaccines —

Covishield and Covaxin — leftwith it. The state is vaccinat-ing at the rate of 1.5 lakhpeople every day, leading tofears that the stocks will runout in three to four days.

— SOMESH KUMARChief Secretary

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

An eight-year-old boy sufferedburns when he accidentallycame in contact with a trans-former on Friday under theMalkajgiri police station lim-its. On learning of the inci-dent, IT minister K.T. RamaRao on Sunday assured that hewould take care of the child’smedical treatment.

The boy’s mother Janakiappealed to the governmentand public to help. Janaki in avideo message explained thatshe was a single mother andher husband died two yearsago. “On Friday afternoonwhile I was taking care of mysecond child at home, Nishantwent out to play and acciden-tally touched the transformerand suffered burns,” she saidin a video clip.

With the clip being widelyshared, Rama Rao on his offi-cial social media handle said,“Will take care of Nishanth,”and directed his team to con-tact the family and assistthem. MynampallyHanumanth Rao, TRSMalkajgiri MLA, visitedNishant in hospital and spoketo the family and directed thehospital to treat the child well.

The Malkajgiri police havebooked a case and startedinvestigation.

MAN BEATEN FORQUESTIONING

SPITTING AT GATE DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

A 64-year-old man was alleged-ly assaulted by three menwhom he questioned for spit-ting at the gate of an UrbanHealthcare Centre (UHC) atMalakpet on Sunday morning.Police said the victim, aGHMC staffer, had visited thehospital for getting the Covid-19 vaccine when the assaulttook place.

According to a complaintreceived from one R. Devender,26, he and his father R.Sudharshan had gone to theUHC at Shalivahananagar toget the vaccine and were wait-ing outside the place whenthree men — a man aged about70 and his two sons — spat atthe place where they werestanding.

“Upon asking them how theycan spit during such a pan-demic, they got hostile andallegedly assaulted the victimand abused them using filthylanguage, leaving them withbleeding injuries," said theMalakpet police, who booked acase and started an investiga-tion.

● ● IN NALGONDA district,39 people were booked fornot wearing the mask,including those involved incampaigning for thebypolls. Meanwhile, Wan-aparthy zilla parishadchairman R. Lok NathReddy paid a `1,000 asfine for not wearing themask at a function.

● ● THE DEPARTMENT saidit conducted 1,15,311 testson Saturday, results werepending for 3,753 tests.

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

There appears to be no con-nection between the num-ber of ICU beds in demandfor Covid-19 patients need-ing intensive care, and thenumber of such beds actu-ally available in hospitals,whether government orprivately run.

The problem, accordingto doctors is that while the‘number’ of ICU bedsreported faithfully every-day by the state healthdepartment in its Covid-19bulletin — particularly forpatients requiring ventila-tion or assisted breathing— may be correct, the rublies in the fact that not

every one of these beds,though classified as‘Ventilator/CPAP’ is actu-ally equipped with either aventilator or a CPAP(Continuous PositiveAirway Pressure) machine.

While using a ventilatorinvolves what doctorscalled ‘intubation’, insert-ing a tube into the throat tohelp the patient breathe inthe hope of helping inrecovery, or at best, extendthe life by a few days at bestor a few hours at worst, aCPAP machine does notinvolve intubation but atight-fitting mask over theface that forcibly pushesair into a patient’s lungsthereby helping in keepingthe patient alive.

Anecdotal evidence overthe past few days fromattendants of Covid-19patients running aroundthe city trying to find an‘ICU bed’ points to the factthat beds equipped withsuch machines are few andhard to come by.

On paper, however, atleast in the daily Covid-19

bulletins issued by thestate government, it isclaimed that there are 1,711ICU beds(Ventilator/CPAP) in gov-ernment hospitals acrossthe state, the number ofsuch beds is put at 3,331 inprivate hospitals which aretreating Covid-19 patients.

As on Saturday, according

to the bulletin, of the 1,711such beds in the govern-ment sector, only 328 wereoccupied leaving 1,383ready to receive patients. Inthe private sector, of the3,331 such beds, the bulletinsays 1,493 are occupiedleaving 1,838 available forpatients who might needeither ventilation, orassisted breathing with aCPAP machine.

A senior doctor involvedin Covid-19 care, said it is afact that patients are onceagain getting the runaround for ICU beds. “Whatis needed is a live bed avail-ability information, some-thing people can check andgo to a particular hospitalthat actually has a ventila-

tor or a CPAP machineavailable along with an ICUbed. This will prevent des-perate running around byCovid-19 patients and theirfamilies,” the doctor said.

“Of course, then there isalways the issue of privatehospitals saying there areno such beds available andthen relenting to say theremay be one available butcan be given to a patientonly on making an upfronthefty payment and the like. This is the govern-ment’s responsibility toensure people have accessto live ICU bed data thathave the necessary equip-ment to revive a failing patient,” the doctorsaid.

Shortage of beds a big worry in hospitalsSenior doctor appeals for live bed availability information for patients to checkCOVID | CARE

● ● ANECDOTAL EVIDENCEover the past few daysfrom attendants of Covid-19 patients running aroundthe city trying to find an‘ICU bed’ points to the factthat beds equipped withsuch machines are few andhard to come by.

CITY pg 4DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

HIKE AGE LIMITFOR JOBS BY 10YEARS: DASOJU

KCR CLAIMS OFGRAFT-FREE RULE A

FARCE: CONG

MAN DROWNSAFTER SAVINGHIS CHILDREN

Minister of state for home G. Kishan Reddy talks to the voters of Nagarjunasagar on Sunday. —DC

Dump TRS, urges BJPKishan asks voters to remind govt of 2BHK homes, jobsDC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

Union minister of statefor home G. KishanReddy slammed the rul-ing TRS and OppositionCongress for their fail-ure to developNagarjunasagar con-stituency.

The minister onSunday participated inseveral road shows atAnumula, Mannepally,Thripuraram and Haliain the constituency.

He said that althoughelected seven timesfrom the seat, Congresscandidate K. JanaReddy had done pre-cious little forNagarjunasagar. Even

Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Raofailed to honour hispromises for the area,Reddy said.

Kishan Reddy askedthe voters to give achance to the BJP can-didate Dr P. RaviKumar, who was a prac-ticing doctor and whocan forcefully raise peo-ple’s issues in theAssembly. He saidCongress has beenreduced to a non-entityand the TRS was cor-rupt from top to bottomand they should not fallprey to the money andmuscle power of TRS.

He urged the people ofNagarjunasagar toquestion the Chief

Minister about doublebedroom houses,employment notifica-tion, women empower-ment groups loanissues and three acrespromised for Dalits, andthe tribal land issues.

In another road showat Halia, Union minis-

ter Arjun RamMeghaval alleged thatTRS was lootingTelangana andChandrasekhar Raoand his family were“fully into corruption.”

He stated thatNagarjunasagar con-stituency was riddenwith bumpy roads andwater problems despairthe Sagar project. Hesaid that KCR Kit wasactually a Union gov-ernment scheme, whichRao hijacked and gaveit a new name.

BJP state presidentBandi Sanjay Kumarand former MPVijayashanti are likelyto address road showson Monday.

Uttam: Jana’s win isthe need of the state DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

The Congress intensi-fied its campaign inthe NagarjunasagarAssembly constituen-cy by fielding a host ofprominent leaders foran intensive cam-paign in the past twodays.

TPCC chief N.Uttam Kumar Reddy,working president A.Revanth Reddy andBhongir MPKomatireddy VenkatReddy were amongthe party leaders whoare campaigning forcandidate K. JanaReddy. The leadersrecalled the roleplayed by Jana Reddyin the formation ofTelangana state andsharply attacked theTRS.

They said JanaReddy had beenoffered the post ofChief Minister inundivided AndhraPradesh but he hadnot only rejected theoffer but persuadedthe Congress-led UPAgovernment to imme-diately grant state-hood.

Uttam Kumar Reddysaid Jana Reddy’s winis a historic need forthe state to keep the“wayward” acts of theTRS leadership incheck. A vote for JanaReddy, a seven-timelegislator, would alsobe an acknowledge-ment of the contribu-tions he made to theconstituency and thestate. “The Congressin the state wouldregain its past glorysoon with the victoryof Jana Reddy in this

by-election,” Uttamsaid.

He said that the peo-ple of Telangana, par-ticularly voters in thepoll-bound con-stituency, should havea close look and seehow the TRS govern-ment was indulgingin misrule with anugly display of arro-gance of power andmoney. He urged thetribes ofNagarjunasagar todefeat the TRS candi-date.

Revanth Reddy said,"Had the ‘BangaruTelangana’ dreambeen attained, SunilNaik and Ravi wouldnot have died by sui-cide.

“Why did Ravi dieby suicide? Isn’t it dueto KCR? Isn’t the CMdriving the unem-ployed youths to sui-cide by not issuing anotification for fillingthe 1.91 lakh govern-ment jobs?"

He said the govern-ment has failed to ful-fill all the poll promis-es the TRS madeincluding making aDalit the CM, distri-bution of three acresof land to the Dalitcommunity, providingemployment to theunemployed youth,distribution of double

bedroom houses forthe poor, and a 12 percent reservations forthe Muslims andScheduled Tribes(ST).

"Only one solutionto solving all the prob-lems inNagarjunasagar is ofelecting Jana Reddyas the MLA again,"Revanth Reddy said.

He appealed to thepeople to raise the slo-gan, “Let’s questionKCR on his unfulfilledpromises, defeat theTRS candidate andensure developmentof the constituencyand the state.”

Bhongir MP VenkatReddy alleged thatChief Minister K.Chandrashekar Raowas habituated tobetrayal of the people.

He said TRS leadersare behind the sandmafia as also severalacts of corruption ininfrastructure proj-ects, and “they areeven behind the drugmafia as is recentlyexposed via the realestate deals.”

He said the TRSleaders are playingwith the lives of theyouth in Telanganathrough their supportto the the drug mafia.The MP said duringthe campaign thatJana Reddy in his 40years of politicalcareer remained“stainless” andindulged in no act ofcorruption.

“The TRS leadershave no right to paintthe tall leader as cor-rupt. TRS leadersindulging in corruptpractices will soon bejailed,” he said.

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

AICC spokesperson Dr SravanDasoju on Sunday demandedthat Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao increasethe age limit by 10 years toenable unemployed persons toapply for all job recruitmentnotifications. The age limitshould be 44 years, as wasdone in the past, he said.

He explained the TS PublicService Commission hadreduced the candidates’ upperage limit to 34 years, therebyeliminating lakhs of unem-ployed persons who haveactively participated inTelangana movement since2009.

The Congress leader madethe demand that he wrote tothe Chief Minister. In the let-ter, Dr Dasoju asked the CM toconsider the rising unemploy-ment as a social emergencyand constitute a special taskforce to address the issue onpriority.

Dr Dasoju requested the CMto organise an all-party meet-ing to discuss the unemploy-ment issue and find a way out.He said a majority of unem-ployed youth were in deep dis-tress, unable to face their fam-ily and friends, unable to getmarried and settle in life.

He pointed out that the gov-ernment of Telangana hadrelaxed the upper age ceilingby 10 years between 2015 and2017 with which the candi-dates' eligibility has gone up to44 years.

While that had helped, thelack of big-ticket recruitmentsin the last seven years had leftunemployed persons frustrat-ed.

The AICC spokesperson reit-erated that providing employ-ment was not only the agendaof the Telangana statehoodmovement, but also the consti-tutional responsibility of theChief Minister.

“We must seriously recollectand remember the ferocioussacrifices made by our youthand emphatically respond tothem and their problems. It ishigh time that we keep all ourpolitics aside and let us collec-tively figure out a way and away forward to protect ouryouth … our own youth whostruggled and sacrificed theirlives for Telangana,” DrDasoju said.

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

The alleged involvement ofSrinivas Reddy, son-in-law offormer minister late NainiNarasimha Reddy, in IMSscam regarding purchase ofunnecessary medicines atexorbitant prices for ESI hos-pitals, proves that the claim ofChief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao that hisgovernment is corruption-freegovernment is a farce, saidTPCC spokesperson G.Niranjan

Srinivas Reddy andNarasimha Reddy’s personalassistant had been raided bythe Enforcement Directorateon Saturday.

“The IMS scam, ministerMalla Reddy's threats askingfor commissions, the involve-ment of TRS legislators in theKarnataka drugs case and thecase booked against an associ-ate of a TRS corporator for anillegitimate affair with awoman and extracting Rs 10lakh from her for a double bed-room house shows the level ofcorruption in the TRS govern-ment", he alleged.

RAVINDRA SESHU I DCKHAMMAM, APRIL 11

Ten to 15 TRS corporatorsmay not get the partyticket for the upcomingelections to theKhammam MunicipalCorporation.

Transport ministerPuvvada Ajay Kumar isciting various reasonsincluding land-grab alle-gations against them orallocation of their divi-sions to the reserved cate-gories, or local disinterestfor grant of another termto some corporators aswas reflected in a recentopinion survey.

Four corporators closeto former MP PonguletiSrinivasa Reddy and for-mer minister Tummala

Nageswara Rao, are alsolikely to be kept out of theelectoral race.

TRS corporators likeJaswanth, J Bhaskar, C.N.Rao, Swetha and P.N. Rajumight not get re-nomina-tion. Deputy mayor B.Murali and TRS corpora-tor K. Krishna are notkeen on having anotherterm for various reasonslike the sharp rise in

money requirement forvote-fetching.

Reliable sources in thePuvvada camp said, “Theminister is angry withsome of the corporatorswho fleeced him duringthe last assembly elec-tions. They took moneyfrom him for electioncampaign and did notspend it.” These corpora-tors too might not get theparty ticket.

The minister plansthings in a way as to com-plete the KMC electionprocess by April 30, bygetting the election notifi-cation issued immediate-ly after theNagarjunasagar election.

Ajay Kumar organisedAthmeeya Samavesamwith key TRS leaders in

wards 17 and 18. TRSleaders PunukulaNeeraja and Golla Venkatparticipated in the meet-ing. “The KMC electionswill be important for usand the TRS flag shouldbe unfurled in each andevery division. TRS lead-ers should do only onething, just highlight theKCR governmentschemes to the voters,”the minister stated at themeeting.

About 50 persons fromvarious parties joinedTRS in the presence ofthe minister. Later, he for-mally launched the black-topping of the road worksfrom the 11th to the 48thward. Engineers wereasked to complete theworks within a week.

10 corporators to miss ticketMinister plans to compelete election processKHAMMAM | POLLS

● ● ABOUT 50 personsfrom various partiesjoined TRS in the pres-ence of the minister.Later, he formallylaunched the black-top-ping of the road worksfrom the 11th to the 48thward. works. Engineerswere asked to compeletethe work in a week.

● ● BHONGIR MPVenkat Reddy allegedthat Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Raowas habituated tobetrayal of the peo-ple. He said TRS lead-ers are behind thesand mafia as alsoseveral acts of cor-ruption.

● ● KISHAN REDDYasked people of N’sagarto question the ChiefMinister about doublebedroom houses,employment notifica-tion, women empower-ment groups loanissues and three acrespromised for Dalits, andthe tribal land issues.

3rd ANNIVERSARYAlways loved,

Never forgottenForever missed

Shri NARI .P. RUPANIIn Remembrance

Deepak & Varsha RupaniAman Rupani

Kanchan & Suresh Asnani(S/2021/D00029)

3rd DAY CEREMONY

Sri. L. EASHWAR LAL YADAVS/o Late Sri. Lakhan Lal Yadav

DOD: 10-04-2021Ceremony will be held today at 12:00noon at Flat no G-4, Prakhyat Residency,Dayanand Nagar, Malkajgiri.

You will always be rememberedwith deep affection

Inserted by: E. Laxmi Rani (Wife)E. Eashan Krishna Yadav (Son)

E. Siddarth Lal Yadav (Son)& Family Members.Ph. No: 9848004934.

(CA: 3572)

OBITUARY

Mr. S. JAIRAM PILLAYS/o Late Sri T.S. Pillay

Passed away on 11th April 2021Date of Birth : 5th of May 1946 “Your memories remain in our

hearts forever.”Inserted by :

VASANTHA PILLAY : 9989652978

71st BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE

MOOLA LAXMAIAH Advocate

We miss you DadHappy Birthday to you Dad

(S/2122/D00036)

4th DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Smt. NUNE LAXMAMMAD.O.D: 12-04-2017

Your Love and kindness willNever be forgetten.

You will remain in ourHearts forever. We love you and

Miss you in our life.Inserted by:

Son: N.B. SRIKUMAR &Family Members. Ph: 8329809587.

(S/2122/D00034)

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Late Sri. D. Saanthmoorthy MudaliarRtd. Stn.Master, SC Rly.

DOB: 17-08-1932 DOD: 12-04-2020Your Ethics, Values, Memories willRemain always in our Thoughts.Inserted by: Brothers, Sisters,

Sons & Daughters-in-lawDaughter & Son-in-law, Grand Children.

(S/2122/D00033)

OBITUARY

PULI VENKATESHULUDOB: 03.10.1933 DOD: 11.04.2021

Place: 6-2-333, 4th lane, New Bhioguda,Near Mother Dairy, Secunderabad.

Funeral: BansilalpetFuneral Timing’s: 12 Noon

Inserted by: Family Members(CA 3573)

IN BRIEFKhammam: An man drownedin the Nagarjunasagar LeftCanal at Medepalli in Modi-gonda mandal of Khammamdistrict after saving his chil-dren on Sunday. Police said K.Suresh Kumar, 45, had gone for

his morning walk along thecanal with his children. Thekids entered the water but werewashed away by the flow ofwater. Suresh jumped into thewater and saved them butdrowned in the process.

CITY/AP pg 5DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

IN BRIEF

TTD stops issue oftokens at Tirupati

Nellore: In view of theincreasing Covid cases, the

TTD has decided to stop theissue of slotted Sarva

Darshanam (SSD) tokens inTirupati from April 12. The

Shridi Samsthan has alreadyclosed for darshan in

Maharashtra. As Tirupati is also witness-

ing an increase in caseseveryday, the TTD has

decided to temporarily dis-pense with the issuance of

SSD tokens in the Bhu DeviComplex and VishnuNivasam in Tirupati.

10 held for theftof Nandi idol

Nellore: The Chittoor policeapprehended 10 persons

reportedly involved in steal-ing of a Nandi idol from the

Malleswara Swamy temple inJagamarla village atPalamaner Mandal in

Chittoor district. “One themdied in a road accident three

days ago,” police said onSunday. Police said the

accused confessed to havetaken away the idol from theancient temple premises onMarch 26. The accused had

broken the idol to see if itcontained treasure.

3 WOMEN COPSPENALISED IN

KHAMMAMDC CORRESPONDENTKHAMMAM, APRIL 11

Shaik Nafeez, a woman con-stable of the Armed ReservedWing, was penalised `3,335 onvarious charges including rid-ing a two-wheeler without hel-met, dangerous driving, cell-phone driving and triple rid-ing.

The fine was imposed afterKhammam police commis-sioner Vishnu Warriornoticed the cop violating traf-fic rules at 2.30 pm on April 9at Anand Vihar on CCTV cam-era footage.

Nafeez and two other womenconstables, who were on dutyat the Y.S. Sharmila publicmeeting on Friday inKhammam, were riding on thetwo-wheeler (TSO4 FD 0822) atthat time along with Nafeez.

The commissioner has alsoordered disciplinary actionagainst the three constables.He said that they had behavedin an irresponsible manner.

The break-up for the penaltywas `1,200 for triple riding,`1,000 each for cellphone driv-ing and dangerous driving,`100 for not wearing helmetand `35 as user charges.

119 BC STUDYCENTRES

BY JUNE 2DC CORRESPONDENTKARIMNAGAR, APRIL 11

The state government is striv-ing to ensure that studentsfrom Backward Class (BC)will become highly qualifiedpersons, said minister Gan-gula Kamalakar on Sunday.

After paying floral tribute tothe portrait of MahatmaJyothibha Phule on his deathanniversary in Hyderabad,Kamalakar announced thatthe state government is toestablish 119 BC study centresacross every constituency.They will be formally inaugu-rated on June 2, the TelanganaFormation Day.

Top-grade coaching will beprovided to BC studentsthrough these study centresand help them to crack vari-ous state and national levelcompetitive examinations.Focus will also be on improv-ing spoken English and per-sonality development.

Kamalakar said that duringthe pandemic, students cannotattend classes. Study centreswill be established in eitherjunior and degree colleges orin polytechnic colleges ofrespective constituencies,with modern technology andadvanced computer labs.

Since the formation of thestate, BC study centres havebeen established in Siddipetand Gadwal. As many as 15,214students have undergonecoaching in the two study cen-tres and around 1,302 studentsgot jobs in various depart-ments. Very soon one morestudy centre will come up inSircilla, he said.

The minister after inaugu-rating an exclusive digital stu-dio said that all lessons thathave been taught in the studycentres will be uploaded onYouTube for live streaming.

To fulfill the dreams ofMahatma Phule, the youth ofpresent generation mustutilise the opportunity provid-ed by BC study circles andland with plum jobs.

DC CORRESPONDENTNELLORE, APRIL 11

With just six days left forthe byelection to theTirupati Lok Sabha seat,political parties havestarted challenging eachother on one issue oranother to keep up the polltempo. The latest is pan-chayat raj ministerPeddireddy RamachandraReddy’s offer to oppositionTelugu Desam to treat thebyelection as a referen-dum.

“Our 21 members ofParliament will put intheir papers if the YSRCloses the Tirupati bypoll.Are your MPs ready toresign if we win the elec-tion,” the minister askedthe Telugu Desam

Reacting to oppositionleader Nara ChandrababuNaidu’s remark on theYSR Congress failing toget Special CategoryStatus for AndhraPradesh from the Centre,Ramachandra Reddyasked whether that TDMPs had succeeded whentheir party was in powerin the state.

Speaking to mediaper-sons in Tirupati onSunday, the minister saidChief Minister Y.S. JaganMohan Reddy has put offhis election campaign inTirupati in view of asharp increase in numberof Coronavirus positivecases in Chittoor district.

He expressed confidencethat the YSR Congress willwin the byelection on thebasis of welfare pro-grammes introduced byChief Minister Y.S. JaganMohan Reddy for thedowntrodden sections inthe state.

“Benefits of these pro-grammes have evenreached doorsteps of ben-eficiaries in the state,”Ramachandra Reddypointed out. He under-lined that thousands ofcrores have been ear-marked for completion ofirrigation projects inRayalaseema on a warfooting. The minister hasbeen leading the chargeagainst the Telugu Desamin the campaign.

L. VENKAT RAM REDDY IDCHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

TRS working presidentand IT minister K.T. RamaRao said that, to hisknowledge, the state gov-ernment had not receivedany communication fromthe Centre on its requestfor supply of more Covidvaccines.

Referring to the short-age of the vaccine in thestate, Rao said, “There is ashortage all over Indiafrom what I hear.” Onwhether he has taken thevaccine, he replied, “Notyet.”

During a 90-minute#AskKTR session onSunday, Rama Raoanswered a volley of ques-tions from Twitteratti andshared his thoughts onnational politics, political,entertainment and alsospoke about the futureplans for the developmentof the state.

Replying to a query onthe upcoming Nagarjuna-sagar byelection, hesaid,“TRS will win it withthe blessings of the peopleof Nagarjunasagar. Thecontest is between aleader who represents thepast (Jana Reddy) and ayoung man who symbolis-es future hope, NomulaBhagat.”

He said government jobrecruitment notificationswill be released after the

byelection.When some asked about

the possibility of postpon-ing SSC and Inter examsthis year, he said, “Youhave to ask educationminister Sabitha IndraReddy.”

On the possibility of acomplete lockdown inTelangana, he said, “Idon’t think it’s a goodidea.”

When asked about thelikely winners in WestBengal and Kerala, RamaRao said, “at the end ofthe day, democracy shouldwin.”

On holding town hallmeetings, he said, “Wehad done it in Hyderabada couple of years back.

Will certainly considerdoing it in other towns toopost-Covid.”

On reopening of schoolsand colleges, he stated,“Let’s hope the pandemicslows down.”

Talking about Uppal ele-vated corridor, he said itwas a six-km long skywayand should be completedin 10-12 months.

Referring to the status ofHyderabad Pharma City,he said that land acquisi-tion was almost complete.“We should start allot-ment of lands to investorssoon.”

On the completion of theHyderabad Metro Railphase-1 from MGBS(Mahatma Gandhi BusStation) to Falaknumaand the second phase, hesaid the works have beenaffected because of thepandemic and “we will tryto bring it back on track.”

He said the long-delayedBalanagar flyover will becompleted before the endof May.

On the second phase ofT-Hub at Rayadurgam hesaid that it would be inau-gurated in a couple ofmonths.

On the implementationof Niti Aayog recommen-dations, he said “I don'tthink there's much we cando as it's just an advisorybody. Hope prudence willprevail and states are sup-ported on merit and notpolitical considerations.”

Chief Justice of India-designate Justice N.V. Ramana of the Supreme Court visits the hill shrine of LordVenkateswara on Sunday morning along with his family members to offer prayers after his appointment. He wasaccorded full temple honours. Justice Ramana will be taking charge of office on April 24. — DC

Centre silent onvax supply: KTRMinister says lockdown not a good idea

MPs will quit if YSRC doesnot win Tirupati bypoll: MinParty calls it referendum, dares TD to respond to challenge

Former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu addresses a gathering at Rapur inNellore district on Sunday while campaigning for the party candidate PanabakaLakshmi for the Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency byelection. — DC

BJP-JS promises to freeTTD from govt controlDC CORRESPONDENTNELLORE, APRIL 11

The joint election mani-festo of BJP-Jana Senaalliance for Tirupati LokSabha by-poll focuses onskill development, health,education, infrastructure,agriculture and fisheriessector, and employment toyouth.

The manifesto gives pri-ority to develop Tirupatias Hindu DharmaKshethra, paying specialattention to culture andarts. In addition, it propos-es to appoint a‘Dharmacharya Mandali’to protect the sanctity ofTTD assets. The scope ofthis mandali can bewidened to cover religiousinstitutions across thestate, the manifesto says.

Importantly, it proposesto free the devasthanams’board from clutches of thegovernment. The boardwill instead functionunder the supervision ofempowered seers.

The manifesto wasreleased by BJP state pres-ident Somu Veerrajualong with Jana Sena’spolitical affairs committeechairman NadendlaManohar. Rajya Sabhamembers G.V.L.Narasimha Rao, T.G.Venkatesh, BJP nomineefor Tirupati Lok Sabhaseat K. Ratna Prabha andgeneral secretaryVishnuvardhan Reddywere among those present.

Speaking to media onfiner points of the mani-festo, BJP leaders under-lined the need to developTirupati as spiritual capi-tal of the world, wherethere will be no scope forproliferation of other reli-gions. They further saidBJP is committed to devel-oping Tirupati as a smartcity by mobilising suffi-cient funds.

Narasimha Rao under-lined that the Centre hasalready established IIT,IISER, and IndianCulinary Institute, apart

from developing allnational highways con-necting the holy city, aswell as Tirupati railwaystation and internationalairport. He said theywould give priority to pro-tect traditional arts, suchas Kalamkari and handi-crafts that are widespreadin the constituency. Aspart of this initiative,training will be offered toupgrade inherent skills ofartisans. In addition, trau-ma care centres will beestablished in TirupatiLok Sabha constituency.

The manifesto spokeabout BJP-Jana Senaplans to improve marketyards, storage points,including cold storages,providing irrigation facili-ties and financial assis-tance at low interest ratesto farmers, in addition tofrom Kisan credit cards.

Development of PulicatLake in Sullurpeta seg-ment and fishing har-bours in Nellore regionhas also been included.

TRS will win it with theblessings of the people

of Nagarjunasagar. The con-test is between a leader whorepresents the past (JanaReddy) and a young manwho symbolises future hope,Nomula Bhagat

— K.T. RAMA RAOIT Minister

Thanksgiving tour

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

Biodegradable wastewrapped in plastic bagshas been the prime causefor nalas and stormwaterdrains across the city get-ting choked. This came tolight when GreaterHyderabad MunicipalCorporation (GHMC) wasdesilting the drains.

The corporation, afterconducting a comprehen-sive study, found that morethan 60 per cent ofbiodegradable waste iswrapped in plastic bags.To add to the woes, sincethe outbreak of Covid-19pandemic, masks andsanitiser bottles are

adding to the plasticwaste.

GHMC officials havetaken up desilting worksat 356 locations over anoverall 951-kilometrestretch. The corporationso far has found 30 percent of plastic waste,including masks and sani-tizer bottles. It has exca-vated one tonne of wastethis year and the materialcomposition has beenascertained.

It was found that morethan 30 per cent of materi-al nala comprised plastics,plastic covers, paperplates, water hyacinth,and clothes. There was 40per cent silt (earthenmaterial) and 30 per cent

of water (sewage andstormwater).

When the corporationagain conducted a compre-

hensive study, citizens liv-ing alongside open nalashave been dumping 60 percent of biodegradable

waste like vegetable wasteand animal waste. Apartfrom this, the citizens havebeen wrapping non-bio-

degradable products likesanitary napkins, whichwould turn into a hardsubstance and choke thefree flow of water duringrainy days and inundatelow-lying areas.

A senior GHMC officialsaid that the corporationhas taken up desilting ofnalas in two layers. Thefirst layer hardly had anysilt with more than 30 percent comprising plasticwaste and 20 per cent com-prising paper plates, waterhyacinth and clothes.

“The second layer hasseen 60 per cent of silt.This has been the situa-tion in the major nalasspanning 951 km,” he said.

The official said the float-

ing plastic waste, includ-ing face masks, whichhave been blocking thefree flow of water. When itrains heavily, the water ispushed back into residen-tial areas. Apart fromspreading foul smell in thelocality, the choked nalasturn into mosquito-breed-ing centres, he added.

“Despite the ban on plas-tics, several establish-ments have been sellingmaterial below 50 micronswhich was clearly evidentduring desilting. This situ-ation will end only if man-ufacturing units areclosed,” he said, adding,“The situation cannot beimproved as people lackcivic sense."

Trash-filled plastic bags choking up city drainsCity’s 951-km of drains contain 40% silt; blocked nalas cause flooding during rainsDIRTY | DRAINS

EAST GODAVARIRUNS OUT OFVACCINE STOCK

School shut, ownerturns food vendorPULI SHARATH KUMAR |DCKARIMNAGAR, APRIL 11

A tiffin centre, ‘Nirudyogi@ M. Sc., B. Ed., B. Li. Sc’being run from a push-cart at the Huzurabadmandal headquarters ofKarimnagar district hasbeen attracting attentionof people and has alsogone viral on socialmedia.

It is being run byMaddela Sampath, anative of Huzurabadmandal. Sampath wasearlier correspondent ofa private school – LilyFlowers – in Shankara-patnam mandal whichprovided employmentopportunities to educatedrural youth. The schoolfunctioned well till theCoronavirus pandemicstruck last year. Sincethen, he has run intodebts of around `15 lakh.

Sampath says unable topay rent. With no signthat the school willreopen in the near future,he had decided to end hislife along with his family.But his friends stood byhim. With their help, he

started a to run a tiffincentre in Huzurabad,naming it ‘Nirudyogi’with a tagline of his edu-cational qualifications —MSc, BEd, BLiSc.

The one-time schoolowner says pandemic hasshattered lives of privateteachers and lecturers.He feels the government’sannouncement of `2,000and 25 kg of rice permonth is too little.

“How can even a smallfamily with two childrensurvive with such a littleamount? The governmentmust help all privateteachers revive them-selves economically. Or itmust provide employ-ment opportunities alongwith job security,”Sampath said.

Mathematics teacherPrakash feels the tiffincentre depicts the pitiablestate of private educa-tion. The teacher pointedout that those who oncetaught children to livewith self respect are nowdoing menial jobs as farmlabour, whereas somehave even ended theirlives by committing sui-cide.

DC CORRESPONDENTKAKINADA, APRIL 11

Stocks of Covid-19 vac-cine were exhausted onSunday, on the very firstday of ‘Tika Mahostav’in East Godavari dis-trict.

Many people whothronged the vaccina-tion centre went homedisappointed as therewas no stock. Officialscomforted them sayingthat some quantity ofthe vaccine may arriveon Monday.

District medical officerK.V.S. Gowreeswara Raosaid that on Sunday3,5000 doses of vaccinewere given in two wardseach at Kakinada andRajamahendravaram.

According to sources,in the first phase, asmany as 40,510 medicaland health care workershave been vaccinatedout of 50,453. The seconddose has been given to21,732 medical andhealthcare workers. Inthe second phase, 40,447employees of police, rev-enue, panchayat raj andmunicipalities havebeen given vaccines. Ofthem, 18,734 were giventhe second dose.

Dr Rao said that nearly30,730 employees fromrevenue, panchayat,police, municipal andsanitation workerswould be given vaccine.

In the third phase forthose above 60 years age,2,11,935 have been givenvaccines; 1,14,296 whoare above 60 years of ageand 97,639 persons in theage group of 45-59.

In the second dose forthese groups, only 8,879people were given thevaccine.

The push cart being operated by pandemic-hit formerschool correspondent Maddela Sampath

Plastic waste that was removed from storm waterdrains by GHMC staff, who were cleaning them in prepa-ration for the monsoon. — DC

EDIT pg 6DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

The death of four persons in firing by the personnel of CentralIndustrial Security Force in a booth in Sitalkuchi Assembly con-stituency in West Bengal, and the death of a fifth person in vio-lence in another booth in the same constituency, give out far too

many disquieting signals. A clear picture of the two events is yet to emergebut a preliminary assessment leaves one in no doubt that the centralarmed police forces that were entrusted with the task of facilitating freeand fair elections failed to meet the challenge.

The claim of the security forces that they fired at the people in self-defence prima facie defies logic. There have been no reports of widespreadviolence or of security personnel suffering injuries. It is natural thatminor issues could crop up during elections but there will mechanisms todeal with them. It looks like there was no effort to take the local politicalleadership into confidence and calm the mob which the security forcesallege gheraoed them. They forgot the fact that they were called in to helpthe polling process, and not to quell a local mutiny. It is deeply disturbing

that the protectors, who have been trained to doa professional job, became responsible for thedeath of those they are to protect. A thoroughinvestigation must be conducted to unearth thefacts that led to the loss of so many lives in anotherwise eventless and protracted electionprocess.

Politicians joined issue no sooner had thenews of the mishap reached them. West Bengalchief minister Mamata Banerjee has been inim-ical to the central forces from the very begin-ning, and the latest incidents will fuel hercharge against them. Her series of statementsagainst the central forces would have made thelocal population suspicious of their intentions.It is an irony that Ms Banerjee had betted on thepresence of the same central forces to ensure a

fair election in the state 10 years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whowas campaigning in West Bengal at the time when the unfortunate inci-dents happened, lost no time in blaming the chief minister for the vio-lence. This is unfortunate. The Prime Minister should have counselledpeace and calm instead of targeting his political opponent. The very factthat it was the forces under the Union government that shot the peopledown should have tempered the Prime Minister’s response but it did notwork that way.

The Election Commission has a lot to learn from the Cooch Behar inci-dents. It practically takes over local governance once the election processis set in motion. We do not know what instructions it had passed on to thesecurity forces when it despatched them to the states; clearly they used theforce not to the optimum but to the maximum. It is also evident that thereis no local command and control system to address issues even though theWest Bengal elections are conducted in eight phases with only two or threedistricts going to the polls at a time. The EC must ensure that it uses itspowers to act in an efficient and non-partisan manner; grand statementsalone are not enough.

12 APRIL 2021

Disquieting signals inforces firing on voters

The claim of thesecurity forces

that they fired at the people in

self-defence primafacie defies logic.There have been

no reports of widespread

violence or of security personnelsuffering injuries.

An eight-phaseAssembly el-ection, evenfor West Ben-gal where vi-

olence is intrinsic to theprocess and every gov-ernment has been ac-cused of rigging the out-come, seemed excessivewhen the Election Com-mission announced thedates. On secondthoughts, it is just whatthe BJP needed to buildup a wave in its favour,however hard that may be.

After four phases and135 constituencies thathave already made theirchoices, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, homeminister Amit Shah andBJP president J.P.Nadda are still hard atit, because another fourphases and 159 con-stituencies have yet todecide. The BJP’s topbrass is doing someheavy lifting with MrModi in the lead to getthat wave going. Theprocess seems as fraughtand dependent on a forceof nature, meaning thewave, as were the tensedays before the megacontainer ship blockingthe Suez Canal, EverGiven, finally budged.The difference is thewave was not the onlypush that the containerneeded; there weredredgers and tugspulling at the hulk to getit to move.

The staggered pollingdates give the BJP thetime it needs to cam-paign for its conquest ofWest Bengal. If it needsso much time to cam-paign when the electionsare underway to buildvoter support, the ques-tion that must be askedis, what was the partydoing between 2019when it zoomed to win-ning 18 Lok Sabha seatsand 40.64 per cent of thevotes from a mere 10.16per cent votes in 2016?One conclusion wouldbe that as the WestBengal election grewcloser, the BJP realisedit needed time to deployits mightiest weapon,

Mr Modi, in multiplelocations to drum up thesupport and swing unde-cided voters to the saf-fron side.

The need for a satura-tion campaign by MrModi is one way ofacknowledging thatMamata Banerjee is afar stronger opponentthan the BJP anticipat-ed. It also means that theTrinamul Congress isnot on its deathbed as aparty and organisation,despite 30-odd recentdefections, including theBJP’s star acquisitionSuvendu Adhikari, whoseems toh a v edroppedout ofsight af-ter theNandigram voting.

A list of what makesthe TMC and MsBanerjee a far tougherchallenge for the chal-lenger, meaning BJP, isperhaps necessary toassess why the party isdeploying Mr Modi inkey constituencies todrum up the momentumit needs to get to thepoint where it canunseat the incumbent.In other words, the BJPhas not as yet reachedthe tipping point.

Quite apart from usualcomparisons, MsBanerjee’s popularityvis-a-vis Mr Modi’s pop-ularity, anti-incumben-cy at the state level, theattraction of the BJP asa new untested party inWest Bengal, what willmatter most is whichparty is best at holdingthe middle ground,meaning which party ismost appealing to themedian voter, the aver-age woman/man inrural, urban and peri-urban West Bengal.

The BJP has shifted sofar to the right, especial-ly in terms of itsHindutva politics, andeconomic and divisivesocial engineering poli-cies, that it is entirelydependent on the Hindumajority to give it thepercentage of votes itneeds to win an election,

especially in WestBengal. It boils down tobeing confident of getting at least 60 percent of the total 70 per cent Hindu votes in the state, given thatthe overwhelmingmajority of 27 per centMuslim voters areunlikely to choose thelotus symbol on EVMmachines. Its leadersare quite candid that theparty has no expecta-tions of attractingMuslim votes; stateparty chief Dilip Ghoshas well as Amit Shah areon record about this.

Is it realistic that theBJP will get 60 per centof the 70 per cent Hinduvotes in West Bengal? Itwould appear, as yet, dif-ficult. Bengalis are splitbetween conservatives,who uphold religiousand social orthodoxy,and Bengalis who rejectit and embrace socially

p r o g r e s -sive val-ues. Tillthis el-ection iso v e r ,

there is no knowing howthe Bengali voter willreact to state-sponsoredreligious orthodoxy thatis divisive in its intentand destabilising of theuneasy equilibriumbetween the Hindu andMuslim communities.

It is instructive to notethat in 2019, the BJP’ssurge to 40.64 per cent ofvotes was a switch thathitherto Left votersmade, sending its vote-share plummeting to6.34 per cent in 2019 from19.75 per cent in 2016.Congress votes declinedby over 50 per cent in2019 to 5.6 per cent; theTrinamul Congress suf-fered a marginal erosionof votes in 2019 com-pared to 2016, eventhough it lost in 12 seats

to the BJP.The Trinamul

Congress, with over 43per cent votes in 2019,obviously enjoys thesupport of a substantialsection of Hindu voters.It is only if significantnumbers of these votersshift away from MsBanerjee that the BJPcan muster the numbersit needs to oust India’sonly woman chief minister.

While the BJP cam-paign has focusedalmost exclusively onthe evils of the MamataBanerjee government,focusing on polarisingthe vote on religiousidentity lines by puttingMuslim appeasement atthe cost of the Hindumajority at the top of the list, it has ignored the quieterrevival of the Left, led bythe CPI(M), and theSamyukta Morcha as anew political combina-tion that was created forthis election. TheSamyukta Morcha iscontesting in all 294seats; the Left is contest-ing in 177 seats, theCongress in 91 and theIndian Secular Front in26 seats. The Left isfighting for its very sur-vival, and in this elec-tion it is working toachieve a revival. Itspitch as the alternativeis politically necessarybut unrealistic. Anyincrease in the Left andCongress voteshare willtake off votes that theBJP has been countingon to reach the tippingpoint. This can be offsetif the Trinamul Cong-ress loses its voters andloses the elections.

Whichever partymakes it across the fin-ishing line needs tooccupy the middleground in West Bengalin social and religiousidentity terms.

The BJP’s promise todeliver better develop-ment and integrate WestBengal with the main-stream, which itbelieves it controls,comes with a promise topolarise the state oncommunal lines. Willthat appeal to the run-of-the-mill Bengali, who aspoet ShaktiChattopadhyay famous-ly said, are into religionand into giraffes?

Shikha Mukerjee is asenior journalist in

Kolkata

The BJP’s promiseto deliver better

development andintegrate West

Bengal with themainstream,

which it believesit controls, comeswith a promise topolarise the state

on communallines. Will thatappeal to the

run-of-the-millBengali?

Despite Modi’s push, BJPyet to reach tipping point

Considering the circumstances the world finds itself in now, only 30members of the British royal family will attend the service forPrince Philip on Saturday. If not for Covid-protocol restrictions, half

of Britain would have liked to turn up at the royal consort’s funeral whenhe will be wheeled in a Land Rover hearse. So beloved a royal was he forhis nation that an outpouring of grief over his passing, when just short ofa century, is understandable. His ceremonial presence was a feature ofover 22,000 public events besides any number of occasions on which hewillingly walked two steps behind his wife, the long reigning monarchQueen Elizabeth II. He symbolised selfless public service while also mak-ing 5,496 speeches and undertaking 637 solo trips abroad.

To paraphrase his enormous contribution to a largely dysfunctional fam-ily that was beset with more than a fair share of scandals, induced mostlyby extramarital love and marriage trouble, Prince Philip modernised theBritish royal family while shepherding it into the modern age. And then,in the face of the latest public outrage over charges of racism made by oneof their own — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan in an interview withOprah Winfrey in the United States — the Prince Philip was busy trying tohelp keep together the anachronism that is royalty. A royal consort whoknelt and swore to be his wife Queen Elizabeth’s “liege man of life andlimb” at her coronation in 1952, was more than true to his word in holdingsteadfast to his own marriage for a good 73 years.

The time of his passing lends itself easily to hagiographical references.The unsentimental would, however, also see him as the gadfly that he waswho often shocked the world as the prince of gaffes with his often slander-ous, extempore remarks. To Indians Prince Philip seemed racist for theextent to which he could be dismissive of them — “Some Indian must haveput it there” was his snooty reference to a shoddily patched-up electricalconnection. Just as Britain needed in war time a Winston Churchill, withall his faults, its royalty sorely needed Prince Philip to deal with peacetime turbulence.

A modernising royalist

IS there any country in the freeworld that compels its politiciansin the Opposition to sign a bondfor “good behaviour” before a

magistrate with sureties and a namedamount, and guarantees of goodbehaviour — threatening them withprison if they don’t comply?

Developing countries have turnedthe imitation of repressive laws oftheir colonial masters into somethingof an art. Inevitably, on their indepen-dence, the old laws continued to be inforce; subject to new fundamentalrights. Our new rulers grabbed the oldlaws and began (mis)using themagainst their new “masters” — thepeople who voted them to power. Thejudiciary was not very assertive.Preventive detention laws are a goodinstance. But the last instance is theCriminal Procedure Code. Severalcodes were enacted. The Code of 1898was in force till independence andbeyond. India amended it in 1973 butensured that the repressive elementsendured — the sanction of the govern-

ment to prosecute its own minister orofficial in authority sitting as judge inits own case.

The code enables banning of books.There is Chapter VIII. It provides for“Security for Keeping the Peace andGood Behaviour”. Even in olden timesthe language clearly pertained to per-sons of ill repute or “history sheeters”as they are called; in short, goondas.The chapter extends from Section 106to Section 124.

Consider the scheme as a whole andyou will find it has no application topolitical opponents. The Britishabused it for political ends sparingly.Restraint does not come easily to NewDelhi.

The only change after Independencewas the separation of the executivefrom the judiciary. The magistracywas divided into executive magis-trates and judicial magistrates. Properunderstanding is vital. To begin with,Section 106 provides for “security forkeeping the peace” on conviction of anoffence like criminal intimidation and

assault, in sum, plain goondagiri.Judicial magistrates make such anorder. But Section 107 empowers exec-utive magistrates to order execution ofa bond if he “receives information thatany person is likely to commit abreach of the peace or disturb the pub-lic tranquillity or do any wrongful act”that may be disruptive. The suspect ismade to sign a bond for good behav-iour. This, the courts have held, is ajudicial proceeding. The sectionapplies to persons distributing materi-al which is likely to disturb the peacebecause it is seditious or communal.Section 109 applies to suspects who gointo hiding. Section 110 applies tohabitual offenders. The entire schemeof the chapter reveals that its object isnot to control the politicians.

However, a complaint was filed inPune against Bal Gangadhar Tilakunder Section 108 of the CriminalProcedure Code for disseminating“seditious matter”. Tilak was defend-ed throughout from the magistrate’scourt in Poona (August 1916) to the

high court (November 1916), by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Hewon in the high court and did anunusual thing for him after judgmentwas pronounced. He turned aroundand shook hands with his close friend,Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The full text ofhis entire proceedings verbatim arereproduced in this writer’s book,Jinnah and Tilak.

In 2019, the Government of Indiainvoked these archaic, repressive pro-visions of a colonial law and put anentire people in bondage by forcingtheir leaders to sign bonds. Not con-tent with the massive presence of itsarmy and paramilitary in Kashmirsince 1989, in 2019, New Delhi made abonanza of bondage. It knew that thepeople would revolt if it scrappedArticle 370 of the Constitution andwhat little was left of Kashmir’s auton-omy. Knowing full well that the peoplewould protest, New Delhi got the lead-ers to sign bonds under Section 108 ofthe Criminal Procedure Code as ifthey were criminals. The leaders were

imprisoned. By Sept 19, 2019, 36 politi-cians were confined.

On November 5, 2020, the People’sDemocratic Party president,Mehbooba Mufti, said that 19 partyleaders were asked to sign an affidavitafter being detained and released laterfor taking out a protest rally. “India isthe world’s largest democracy only onpaper now,” she said.

A PDP spokesman said the affidavitwas “unacceptable in a democracy”.He said the 19 leaders “refused to signsurety bonds which asked them torefrain from taking part in unlawful,anti-national activities”.

The surety bond stated: “That we arepermanent residents of the J&K U.T.That a case under section 107/151stands against us…. That we will notindulge… in any unlawful, anti-national activities...”

There is no law in the statute bookswhich defines what is “anti-national”.This is sheer barbarism.

By arrangement with Dawn

A.G. Noorani

Vestige of colonialrepression, J&K

surety bonds blowagainst democracy

Subhani

WEST BENGALELECTIONS 2021

Shikha Mukerjee

DECCAN CHRONICLE

KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAREditor Printer & Publisher

DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at:

Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866-2555284/2555287; Telefax: 0866-2555234Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony,Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883-2417208Anantapur: Thapovan colony, Bangalore By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax:08554-276904Karimnagar: Survey No.1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar - 505 001, Ph: 0878-2228908; Telefax: 0878-2220433Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore,Ph: 0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580Chennai: SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ 48/50/51;Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325Coimbatore: 77, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore - 641 009, Ph : 0422 2231255Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08

Curfew in Ceylon asclashes continue

COLOMBO, April. 11

As pitched battles betweeninsurgents and governmentforces continued throughoutCeylon, the Government identi-fied areas with heavy fightingby reimposing a 24-hour curfewon eight administrative districtsin the Southern, North Centraland Central provinces. Colomboitself remained a heavily guard-ed city. Troops fired at curfewbreakers, injuring many.

TIKA UTSAVI am against naming thevaccination programme asan utsav (Tika Utsav). Anutsav is an occasion tocelebrate. However, Covidhas caused so manydeaths and is still raging.There is gloom all aroundin several homes wherefamily members have diedor someone is being treat-ed due to Covid. Why aremany states complainingabout vaccine shortagewhen India is exporting it?India's needs must be metfirst.

Baru Rajendra PrasadHyderabad

STINKY STREETSThe Padmaraonagar road behindthe Gandhi Hospital is in a pathet-ic state (Stinky streets, DC, April11). It needs to be urgentlyaddressed by the GHMC. Due to theabsence of garbage bins, the litteris strewn across the road. TheGHMC must remove the dumpimmediately and collect thegarbage from the residents ofPadmaraonagar, door-to-door andput up a signboard against litter-ing and impose a penalty of `500. Ina smart and metropolitan city likeours, it is the responsibility of theGHMC to collect garbage.

Zubair KhanHyderabad

UNFORTUNATE DEATHSWhenever elections are held inWest Bengal in recent times, peo-ple have lost lives in violence (4Trinamul men killed in CISF firingduring clash, DC, April 11). In thelast panchayat election also manypeople were killed. The economiccondition of rural people in WestBengal is awful but many areinvolved in politics at the cost oftheir lives.

Dr Shankar ChatterjeeHyderabad

50 YEARS AGO IN

LETTERS

SONU SHRIVASTAVA | DCMUMBAI, APRIL 11

Maha Vikas Aghadi(MVA) government is like-ly to impose a stricterlockdown from April 14 fortwo weeks as most of themembers of the task forceopined are in favour of it.However, MaharashtraChief Minister UddhavThackeray is yet to take afinal call.

The Chief Minister helda meeting with the taskforce and senior bureau-crats of the state adminis-tration on Sunday to seektheir views on form oflockdown and took stockof the present Covid situa-tion in district-wise.

According to a seniorofficial, the meeting lastedfor about two hours. Mostof the task force membershave suggested imposingstricter lockdown for twoweeks. The details of thelockdown are expected tobe finalised within next 24hours.

An official statementissued by the chief minis-ter office (CMO), ChiefMinister UddhavThackeray said that dur-ing the stricter curbs, theywould establish an Oxygengeneration plant, makearrangements of beds,other medical facilitiesand Remdesivir injection.

Thackeray also said thatSOPs (standard operatingprocedures) would be pre-pared after holding a dis-cussion with the seniorofficials.

The task force also sug-gested in the meeting that95 per cent patients can betreated at home. Only seri-ous patients need hospital-isation.

Dr. Pradeep Vyas, princi-pal secretary of publichealth departmentinformed in the meetingthat four lakh newpatients have been testedpositive from April 4 toApril 10. 1,982 deaths havebeen reported and themortality rate is at 0.5 per-cent.

Speaking with thereporters on Sunday,Maharashtra public

health minister RajeshTope said that the lock-down is necessary becauseof the current situation.

Few of the task forcemembers have opposedthat lockdown stating thatit would not be a solution.

The Chief Minister mig-ht hold a cabinet meetingon Wednesday and an app-ropriate decision pertain-ing to lockdown would bedeclared after the meeting.

Maharashtra reportedthe highest single day

jump in Covid cases,breaching the 60,000 markon Sunday. The statereported 63,294 cases, tak-ing the total tally to34,07,245. With 349 moredeaths, the death toll hasrisen to 57,987.

A deserted view outside Bandra east railway station during weekend lockdown imposed by the state government in the wake of risingCoronavirus cases, at Bandra in Mumbai on Sunday. — PTI

NATION pg 7DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

SHORT TAKESCONG. CANDIDATE

IN TN POLL DIESOF COVID-19

900 JAB CENTRESSHUT IN ODISHA

DUE TO SHORTAGE

LOCKDOWN NOT A SOLUTION TO

COVID: CHOUHANBhopal, April 11: There is nolockdown in Madhya Pradeshnor will it be imposed statew-ide, Chief Minister ShivrajSingh Chouhan on Sunday sa-id, adding that “corona curf-ew” has been enforced in someparts with people’s support.

Talking to reporters here,Chouhan said lockdown is nota solution to the Covid-19 cri-sis and economic activitiesshould continue to allow peo-ple to sustain their livelihood.

“There is no lockdown inMadhya Pradesh. Nor will itbe imposed state-wide. The(district) crisis managementgroups in some places, aftertalking to people, to break thechain of the virus, imposedself-restrictions like remain-ing indoors,” Chouhan said.

The “corona curfew” hasbeen imposed in some places,not the lockdown, the ChiefMinister said, adding thatthere are a number of relax-ations for many activities.

“This is a ‘corona curfew’ tostop crowded activities. Theeconomic activities shouldcontinue so that people canearn their livelihood.

Bhubaneswar, April 11: OnSunday when ‘Tika Utsav’, aspecial inoculation driveagainst Coronavirus waslaunched across the country,at least 900 session sites inOdisha remained shut owingto shortage of Covid-19 vac-cines, triggering a blame gamebetween the ruling BJD andthe BJP.

Director of family welfareBijay Panigrahi said, whilevaccination is underway inonly 579 out of over 1,400 cen-tres in the state, the inocula-tion programme may have tobe stopped in many places onMonday, if fresh vaccine stockdoes not arrive.

While state labour ministerSushant Singh accused theCentre of not performing‘Rajdharma’ and discriminat-ing against Odisha in the dis-tribution of the vaccines, BJPMLA Mukesh Mahaling said,Eastern India, including thecoastal state, is on the prioritylist of the central government.

DC CORRESPONDENTwith agency inputsCHENNAI, APRIL 11

The Congress party’sSrivilliputhur constituencycandidate in the April 6 TamilNadu Assembly polls, P.S.W.Madhava Rao died on Sundaydue to Covid-19 complications,his family said.

Rao was 63-years-old and issurvived by his only daughter.He died at a private hospital inMadurai this morning wherehe was admitted on March 20for treatment, Rao’s son-in-lawK. Rajiv said.

TN’s CEO clarified that thecounting will go on for the seatand that a re-poll would beordered only if the deceasedcandidate wins the poll. Thatclears the air on any doubtsover what is to be done with aseat when a candidate diesbefore the votes are counted asin Madhava Rao’s case.

Congress party secretaryand Tamil Nadu inchargeSanjay Dutt tweeted saying hewas deeply pained to learnabout the demise of Rao due toCovid-19 complications. “Ourheartfelt condolences to hisfamily. We stand with them inthis hour of grief & pray mayhis soul rest in peace,” Duttsaid. Uddhav to take final decision

on lockdown on WednesdayDetails of lockdown are expected to be finalised within next 24 hours

India hits another recorddaily surge in Covid cases

R. MOHAN | DCCHENNAI, APRIL 11

Chief Minister EdappadiPalaniswami has calledfor a high-power meetingon the rampagingCoronavirus crisis in thestate. The meeting, to beheld at the Secretariat atnoon on Monday, may con-sider such curbs as nightcurfews in order to bringdown the spiralling newCovid-19 cases and case-load.

For instance, the num-ber of persons testing pos-itive in the state onSunday was 6,618 takingthe number of activecases in Tamil Nadu closeto 42,000. There were 22fatalities on Sunday. Thecount and caseload is alsoincreasing in the city withas many as 2,124 newcases being from Chennaibesides rising numbers insurrounding districts.

Besides the ChiefMinister and health min-ister a number of minis-ters will be in attendanceat the meeting. A numberof top ranking bureau-crats, including the healthsecretary, the corporationcommissioner and the DGP will also beattending. The meetingmay consider drastic pro-posals to bring down thenumbers as the secondCoronavirus wave isthreatening to pose morechallenges to the healthcare system that seemedto contain the first wavewith decisive steps of test-ing, tracking, treating andcontainment.

Steps were taken lastweek to try and rein in thespreading infections withthe beaches shut, reli-gious gatherings prohibit-ed and a prohibitory orderto stop people gatheringand regulatingKoyambedu and othermarkets.

TN CM CALLS FORMEETING TO REININ RAGING COVID

SANJAY KAW | DCNEW DELHI, APRIL 11

Hitting another recorddaily high of 1,57,028 newCoronavirus infections,India’s Covid-19 tally ofcases on Sunday climbedto 1,35,12,493, while theactive cases breached the11-lakh mark for the firsttime since the pandemicbroke out last year. Thecountry has been clockingin over one lakh cases forfive days. The death tollalso rose to 1,70,066, with761 new fatalities in thelast 24 hours, the highestsince October 18, 2020.

With 10,774 fresh infec-tions, New Delhi alsobroke all records in thenumber of Covid-19 casesin a 24-hour span. DelhiChief Minister ArvindKejriwal requested theCentre to remove all agerestrictions on Covid-19vaccinations, even as hisgovernment flagged thevaccine shortage and saidthat stocks for just sevento 10 days were left now.

Kejriwal said the surgein Covid-19 cases this timewas “worse” than whatDelhi saw during the thirdpeak. This is the fourthwave in Delhi which is“much more dangerous”,he added.

A day after announcingseveral new restrictions tocheck the spread of thedeadly virus, the ChiefMinister also said a fulllockdown was not thesolution to tackle the pan-demic.

The Union government

has, meanwhile, writtento Maharashtra, Punjaband Chhattisgarh overreports by the Centralhealth teams on Covid-19testing and containmentoperations, hospital infra-structure and vaccina-tions to contain the virus’spread. Union health sec-retary Rajesh Bhushan, inthe letter, asked thestates/UTs to take suitablecorrective measures. Theletter said: “The Unionhealth ministry has beenactively engaging withstates in coordinating andcollaborating on prepared-ness and the response toCovid-19.”

Bhushan said the Centrehas also taken note ofissues related to the avail-ability of vaccines andrequired action to aug-ment supplies will betaken based on the avail-able stock. He said a briefsummary of the key per-formance indicators relat-ed to testing, hospitalinfrastructure and vacci-nation, as reported by theteams, was shared for suit-able corrective actions bythe state or district admin-istrations. He said 30Central teams have beendeployed for the most-affected districts inMaharashtra.

While the cumulativenumber of Covid-19 vac-cine doses administeredin the country has crossed10 crores, things are get-ting bad from worse inMaharashtra, Chh-attisgarh, Karnataka,Uttar Pradesh and Kerala,

which cumulatively have70.82 per cent of the totalcases. Maharashtra alonehas 48.57 per cent of thecountry’s total active case-load.

Maharashtra has report-ed the highest daily newcases, at 63,294. It is fol-lowed by Chhattisgarh,with 14,098, while UttarPradesh has reported15,276 new cases. Sixteenstates — Maharashtra,Chhattisgarh, UttarPradesh, Karnataka,Delhi, Tamil Nadu,Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat,Haryana, Rajasthan,Punjab and Kerala — aredisplaying an upward tra-jectory in daily new cases.

In Himachal Pradesh,the government made itmandatory for all peoplecoming from seven statesthat have seen a spike inCoronavirus cases to showa Covid-19 negative testreport on entering thestate.

Chief minister Jai RamThakur said people com-ing from Punjab, Delhi,Maharashtra, Gujarat,Karnataka, Rajasthan andUttar Pradesh need tocarry a negative RT-PCRreport not earlier than 72hours while visitingHimachal Pradesh fromApril 16.

The Uttar Pradesh gov-ernment has ordered theclosure of all schools tillApril 30 and directed theimposition of a night cur-few in all districts thatreport 100 new infectionsin a day or have 500 activecases.

Coimbatore, April 11:With the second wave ofCovid-19 sweeping acrossvarious parts of TamilNadu, some of the indus-trialists in the state areapprehensive of guestworkers leaving for theirhometowns consideringthe health conditions.

The industries recoveredfrom the jolt of the firstwave of Coronaviruswhen over one lakh guest workers from bothCoimbatore and Tirupurindustries rushed back totheir home towns inBihar, Uttar Pradesh andOdisha by special trains.

Even as the businessstarted picking up, the 30

per cent increase in theraw materials has affectedthe industries, sourcesfrom different industrialassociations said.

A few workers reported-ly left for their nativesearly last week as theyfeared the availability oftransport like trains toreach their towns.However, there was nomajor exodus from the

industries as the workersworking on a weekly pay-ment basis had taken theirwages Saturday last, thesources said.

Coimbatore and Tirupurreported increased infec-tion cases and a correctpicture of workers return-ing would emerge onlyafter another week, theysaid.

No worker left the citytill Saturday from nearbyTirupur, a major hub ofknitwear garments where80 per cent of over threelakh workers hailed fromthe North, said sources inthe Tirupur ExportersAssociation.

— PTI

Industrialists fear another exodus of workersFew workers left for their natives as they feared availability of transport FEAR | RETURNS

Guest workers from Maharashtra arrived at Patna railway station to go to their nativeplace, amid rise in Covid-19 cases across the country in Patna on Sunday. — PTI

BHAGWAN PARAB | DCMUMBAI, APRIL 11

Despite facing acuteshortage of vaccines,Maharashtra has addedyet another feather to itscap by becoming the firststate in the country toadminister more than onecrore doses of Covid-19vaccines.

“We have crossed onecrore doses today. Tilltoday noon, we haveadministered 1,00,38,421doses, highest in thecountry so far,” DrPradeep Vyas, the princi-pal secretary ofMaharashtra’s healthdepartment, said onSunday.

According to data fromthe Union ministry ofhealth and family wel-fare, Maharashtra has thehighest share in vaccina-tions done so far in India.India had administeredmore than 10 crore vac-cine doses till Sunday, ofwhich eight statesaccounted for 60 per centof the total doses. Ofthem, Maharashtra wasleading with more thanone crore doses, account-ing for nearly 10 per centof total doses. It was fol-lowed by Rajasthan andGujarat.

The Maharashtra gov-ernment has been at log-gerheads with the Centreover the supply of insuffi-cient supply of Covid-19vaccines. Maharashtra,the worst Coronavirus-affected in the country, isfacing acute shortage ofCovid-19 vaccines, due towhich the vaccinationdrive has come to a halt atseveral places in the state.Many vaccination centresacross the state have shutdown and people had to

be sent back.Maharashtra health

minister Rajesh Tope hasaccused the Centre of dis-criminating against thestate in the vaccine’s sup-ply. He has alleged thatmany states, which aresmaller than Maharas-htra in terms of popula-tion and the number ofpatients, have receivedmore doses of vaccine.

Despite shortage,Maha vaccinatesone crore people

Mumbai, April 11: TheMaharashtra govern-ment has decided to setup district-level controlrooms to ensure smoothsupply of Remdesivirinjections and preventhoarding and black-mar-keting of the drug, offi-cials said on Sunday.

Remdesivir is consid-ered a key medicine inthe fight against Covid-19, especially in adultpatients with severe com-plications.

The state is facing mul-tiple issues pertaining tothe drug, like demand-supply gap, its hoardingand black-marketing bystockists and pharmacyshops, unaffordableprices and irrational pre-scription by some doc-tors.

Maharashtra’s healthservices commissionerRamaswami N., in a letterdated April 9, has writtento all district collectors inthe state to set up controlrooms to streamline thesupply of the key anti-viral drug. — PTI

MAHA TO SET UPCONTROL ROOMSFOR REMDESIVIR

A beneficiary receives a dose of Covid-19 vaccine inJaipur on Sunday. — PTI

India needs vaccine,AAP leader to ModiDC CORRESPONDENTNEW DELHI, APRIL 11

Terming vaccine univer-salisation and vaccinenationalism need of thehour, AAP leader RaghavChadha wrote to PrimeMinister Narendra Modi,saying there must be astrict India-first rule ascitizens’ needs must begiven priority overexports to other coun-tries.

In a letter, the AAP MLAsaid the Centre has cho-sen to export over 64 mil-lion doses to 84 countrieswhile Indian citizens aredesperately looking for avaccination centre that isstill open.

“I wish to ask the gov-ernment of India as towhat its priority is — thepeople of Delhi or ofDominican Republic? Thepeople of Maharashtra orof Mauritius? The people

of Bengal or Bangladesh?Gujarat or Guyana?Odisha or Oman? UttarPradesh or the UnitedKingdom? Kerala orKenya,” Chadha asked.

He urged the govern-ment to prioritise vacci-nating the entire 135crore in India before“earning trivial interna-tional laurels.”

“I urge the governmentof India to adopt ‘vaccinenationalism’ and priori-tise vaccinating theentire 135 crore in Indiabefore earning trivialinternational laurels. Donot let vaccination cen-tres shut while doses arebeing flown out of thecountry.

“It is further alarmingto read reports that thegovernment of India willbe exporting nearly 45million doses to Pakistanin the coming days,” hesaid.

New device to controlairborne spread of virusKochi, April 11: An incubatorunder Kerala Startup Mission(KSUM) has developed a pio-neering electronic device thatcould contain airborneCoronavirus.

The new device of AllaboutInnovations Pvt Ltd — ‘WolfAirmask — performs real-timesterilisation rupturing theSARS-CoV-2, a press statementfrom the KSUM said here onSunday.

The device has proven itsefficiency at tests conducted byRajiv Gandhi Centre forBiotechnology (RGCB), anautonomous institute of theDepartment of Biotechnology.

RGCB, Trivandrum, is anICMR-recognised testing lab.

“The Wolf Airmask is the

first of its kind in the countryfor RGCB to give such an attes-tation,” the statement said.

The gadget can reduce 99 percent of the Coronavirus in just15 minutes, according to thetest held with support from theICMR (Indian Council ofMedical Research).

Allabout Innovationsfounder Shyam KrishnanKurup said the appliance whenswitched on would provide 360-degree protection and 24x7shield by sterilising the air.

This will also prevent in-house transmission of virusesinside any space. The negativeions also have proven toenhance health and vitality, hesaid.

— PTI

●● COIMBATORE ANDTirupur reportedincreased infection casesand a correct picture ofworkers returning wouldemerge only after anotherweek, they said.

MANOJ ANAND | DCGUWAHATI, APRIL 11

After the All-IndiaUnited DemocraticFront (AIUDF) shiftedprospective winningcandidates to Jaipur inRajasthan, fearingpoaching by the rulingBJP, the BodolandPeople’s Front (BPF), aconstituent party of theCongress-led grandalliance, has also shifted10 of its 11 candidates inthe recently heldAssembly polls inAssam to a foreign loca-tion. They are under-stood to be in Singapore.

It is significant thattwo days ago the 10-party Opposition grandalliance had flown out 20candidates — 18 fromthe AIUDF and two fromthe Congress — toRajasthan.

The only BPF candi-date left in Assam is for-mer minister PramilaRani Brahma, who her-self confirmed thisdevelopment. “Yes, theyhave left on Saturday butI have no idea whichcountry exactly they arevisiting. I could not con-tact them,” Brahma toldreporters.

Pointing out how oneBPF candidate was luredto retire from the contesta few days before polli-ng, a BPF party sourcesaid that their party chi-ef decided to send themto Singapore on a pleas-ure trip. Sources said 16members of the CouncilLegislative Assembly(MCLA) of the BodolandTerritorial Council alsoaccompanied them.

Brahma, however, clar-ified that the MCLAshad plans to go on a for-eign holiday after themonth-long hectic elec-tion campaign. She alsofeared that the possibili-ty of horse-tradingcould not be ruled out.

Asserting that the rul-ing BJP-led alliance wasnot going to get a major-ity in the Assemblypolls, she said that giventhe past record of someBJP leaders, theOpposition can’t be com-placent and be a silentspectator.

“We have to be cau-tious. We are trying toprotect our candidatesfrom the BJP’s anti-dem-ocratic activities,” Cong-ress MLA and Leader ofthe Opposition Debab-rata Saikia told reporters.

NATION pg 8DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

SHORT TAKESBJP WITHDRAWSSENGAR’S WIFE’S

CANDIDATURE

NIA ARRESTSRIYAZ KAZI, CLOSE

AIDE OF WAZE

PAWAR ADMITTEDFOR GALL

BLADDER SURGERYSONU SHRIVASTAVA | DCMUMBAI, APRIL 11

The NCP president SharadPawar on Sunday has beenadmitted to Breach CandyHospital in Mumbai for a sur-gery of his gallbladder. Hewould be undergoing surgeryon Monday morning for hisgallbladder ailment.

In a tweet, NCP chiefspokesperson andMaharashtra cabinet ministerNawab Malik said, “Pawar hasbeen admitted in BreachCandy Hospital and asinformed earlier, a surgerywill be performed tomorrow toaddress his Gall Bladder ail-ment.”

Last month, the veteranpolitician had undergone anemergency endoscopy for theremoval of a stone from hisbile duct in the same hospitalafter he complained aboutabdominal pain. After con-ducting all the diagnosis, themain reason was revealedbehind his abdominal painwas stone, which was devel-oped in Gallbladder. The stonewas removed throughendoscopy. Post this, he wasdischarged from the hospitalearlier in this month.

The doctors had theninformed that the NCP chiefwould undergo a surgery after15 days keeping in mind hisother health parameters.

The doctors took the decisionon surgery so that abdominalpain does not occur frequently.It was also decided then he would be re-admitted forthe same.

SHAHAB ANSARI | DCMUMBAI, APRIL 11

The National InvestigationAgency on Sunday arrestedAssistant Police InspectorRiyaz Kazi, a close aide ofarrested API Sachin Waze, inconnection with MukeshAmbani bomb scare case andMansukh Hiren murder case.Police has alleged Kazi is co-conspirator in Ambani case. Aholiday court remanded Kazito NIA custody till April 16.

According to sources, theprobe agency suspects thatKazi destroyed important evi-dence like fake number platesand digital video recorder(DVR) of the society whereSachin Waze resides.

Kazi was seen in severalgarages where he got fakenumber plates made and laterconfiscated the DVRs from allthe garages and destroyedthem.

Meanwhile, the CBI onSunday questioned two per-sonal staffers of formerMaharashtra home ministerAnil Deshmukh in connectionwith the allegations of corrup-tion levelled against him byformer Mumbai police com-missioner Param Bir Singh.

Those questioned by the CBIare Deshmukh’s personalassistant Kundan Shinde andpersonal secretary SanjeevPalande.

Lucknow, April 11: The BJPon Sunday withdrew the can-didature of former MLA andUnnao rape convict KuldeepSingh Sengar’s wife from theUttar Pradesh panchayat polls.

The BJP had made SangeetaSengar a candidate for the dis-trict panchayat member fromWard No. 22 of FatehpurChaurasi, according to a listreleased by it earlier.

“The candidature ofSangeeta Sengar, the wife offormer BJP MLA KuldeepSingh Sengar, who is a convictin the 2018 Unnao rape case,has been cancelled,” state BJPchief Swatantra Dev Singhsaid.

Singh said the Unnao partypresident has now been askedto submit three fresh namesfor finalising a candidate.

He, however, exuded confi-dence that the BJP will emergevictorious in the four-phasepanchayat elections, begin-ning April 15. Unnao will go tothe polls on April 26.

Kuldeep Sengar was awardedlife sentence by a Delhi courton December 20, 2019 for rap-ing a 17-year-old girl in Unnao.

After his conviction,Sengar’s membership as anMLA was cancelled. Sangeetahad earlier held the post of thedistrict panchayat chairper-son. Earlier, BJP spokespersonHarishchandra Shrivastavahad said names of all candi-dates were recommended bythe district unit and were for-warded to the party headquar-ters through the regional unit.

As India continues to record high Covid-19 cases, Union home minister Amit Shah holds a roadshow where a huge crowd gathered violatingCoronavirus norms imposed by the Centre to control the spread of the virus, ahead of the 5th phase of West Bengal Assembly polls in Santipur ofNadia district on Sunday. — PTI

RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DCKOLKATA, APRIL 11

A day after four peoplewere shot dead by theCentral paramilitaryforces during a violentmob attack on a pollingbooth at Shitalkuchi inCooch Behar during thefourth phase of theAssembly election in WestBengal, state BJP chiefDilip Ghosh called themdushtu chhele (bad boys).

Blatantly defyingappeals by Union homeminister Amit Shah andWest Bengal governorJagdeep Dhankhar toeveryone to maintainpeace in the remainingphases, the MidnaporeBJP MP also threatenedthe public of a “repeti-tion” of Shitalkuchi-stylekillings in the event of an“excess”.

On Sunday he told aparty rally at Baranagarin north Kolkata: “Wheredid so many dushtu chhelecome from? Those whowere hit by the bullets atShitalkuchi on Saturday

were dushtu chhele. Theywill not exist in Bengalanymore. It has just beg-un. Those who think theCentral forces carry guns

only for show have felt theheat of the bullets.”

Ghosh said: “This will berepeated across Bengal. Ifsomeone takes the law in

their hands, he will get abefitting reply. On April17, cast your votes stand-ing in a queue early in themorning. The Central

forces will be posted at thebooths. No one will be ableto show red eyes. Otherw-ise, we will be there. Ifanyone crosses the limit,you have seen what happe-ned in Shitalkuchi. Shital-kuchi will be repeated inplaces. So be careful.”

His warning came on theday Shah said atShantipur in Nadia: “Iappeal to the people tomaintain peace and casttheir votes for theirfavourite candidates in theremaining phases of thepolls. I also urge leaders ofall political parties for apeaceful conduct of thepolls according to the ECguidelines.”

Dhankhar tweeted: “Allmust unitedly condemnand abjure violence thathas no place in democracy.Pained and anguished atviolence in Cooch Beharleading to the loss of lives.People in authority mustshow statesmanship &ensure respect for consti-tutional institutions &CAPF engaged in publicduty.”

WB BJP chief warns of moreCooch Behar-style killingsSays those who think CAPF carry guns only for show have felt the heat

Darjeeling, April 11:Asserting that Saturday’sfiring by the CISF inCooch Behar, whichclaimed four lives, will bea “turning point” inBengal polls, BimalGurung, the chief of oneof the two GJM factions,claimed that the BJP is set to face the wrath ofvoters in the next fourphases of elections, espe-cially in the northern partof the state.

Gurung reaffirmed that“statehood is a dream nur-tured by every Gorkha”living in the hills, whilealso noting that the TMC’s

pitch for a “permanentpolitical solution” and theoverall development ofDarjeeling and its adjoin-ing areas sounds “veryencouraging”.

Lashing out at the BJPfor “deceiving the Gorkhajaati for 12 years with fakepromises”, Gurung, who deserted the NDA and joined hands with the TMC in October lastyear, said he will teach the saffron camp a “lessonfor life”, with MamataBanerjee by his side.

The BJP had won theDarjeeling seat thricesince 2009 — with Jaswant

Singh, S.S. Ahluwalia andincumbent Raju Bista rep-resenting the seat respec-tively over the past 12years.

Condemning the CoochBehar incident, Gurungsaid, “Killing of innocentpeople — be it by the statepolice or the central forces— is not acceptable. Whathappened on the pollingday is nothing short ofgenocide; the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) wouldfeel the heat in NorthBengal. The party wouldbe wiped out from theregion.”

— PTI

Gurung: Cooch Behar killingsturning point in Bengal polls

Dharamshala, April11: Tibetans living in 26countries includingIndia on Sunday votedfor the final phase of thegeneral election for theDharamshala-based par-liament-in-exile to electthe next Sikyong (presi-dent), an official said.

Forty-five members ofthe Central Tibetan Ad-ministration (CTA), alsocalled as Tibetan-parlia-ment-in-exile, will alsobe elected by the voters,Wangdu Tsering, thechief election commis-sioner of the Tibetan el-ection commission said.

There are around 1.3lakh Tibetans living inexile in India and acrossthe globe. The Tibetangovernment-in-exile willelect its head on May 14.

In the last phase of thepolls to the post of thepresident of the CTAonly two candidates —Pempa Tsering andAukatsang KelsangDorjee — are in the fray,Wangdu Tsering said.

However, Pempa Tser-ing, the former chairm-an of Tibetan parliame-nt, is the front runner.

During the first phaseof elections, there wereeight candidates contest-ing for the post ofSikyong. Pempa Tseringsecured the maximumvotes (24,488) followed byDorjee (14,544). Sikyongis the head of the Kash-ag or Cabinet, part ofthe executive branch ofthe CTA, and the postwas created by the Tibe-tan parliament in 2011 toprovide democratic gov-ernance to exiled Tib-etan community. — PTI

TIBETANS CASTVOTES TO ELECTNEXT SIKYONG

AFTER AIUDF,BPF SHIFTS ITSCANDIDATES TO SINGAPORE

Beijing, April 11: Chinais planning a mega dam inTibet able to producetriple the electricity gen-erated by the ThreeGorges — the world’s larg-est power station —stok-ing fears among environ-mentalists and in neigh-bouring India. The struc-ture will span the Brahma-putra River before the wat-erway leaves the Himalay-as and flows into India, st-raddling the world’s lon-gest and deepest canyon atan altitude of more than1,500 metres (4,900 feet).

The project in Tibet’s

Medog County is expectedto dwarf the record-break-ing Three Gorges Dam onthe Yangtze River in cen-tral China, and is billed asable to produce 300 billionkilowatts of electricityeach year.

It is mentioned inChina’s strategic 14thFive-Year Plan, unveiledin March at an annual rub-ber-stamp congress of thecountry’s top lawmakers.

But the plan was shorton details, a timeframe orbudget. The river, knownas the Yarlung Tsangpo inTibetan, is also home to

two other projects farupstream, while six othersare in the pipeline orunder construction.

The “super-dam” howev-er is in a league of its own.

Last October, the Tibetlocal government signed a“strategic cooperation ag-reement” with PowerCh-ina, a public constructioncompany specialising inhydroelectric projects.

A month later the head ofPowerChina, Yan Zhiyong,partially unveiled the proj-ect to the Communist You-th League, the youth wingof China’s ruling party.

Enthusiastic about “theworld’s richest region interms of hydroelectricresources”, Yan explainedthat the dam would drawits power from the hugedrop of the river at thisparticular section.

Beijing may justify themassive project as an envi-ronmentally-friendly alt-ernative to fossil fuels, butit risks provoking strongopposition from environ-mentalists in the same way as the Three GorgesDam, built between 1994and 2012. The ThreeGorges created a reservoir

and displaced 1.4 millioninhabitants upstream.

“Building a dam the sizeof the super-dam is likelya really bad idea for manyreasons,” said Brian Eyler,energy, water and sustain-ability programme direc-tor at the Stimson Center,a US think tank.

Besides being known forseismic activity, the areaalso contains a unique bio-diversity. The dam wouldblock the migration of fishas well as sediment flowthat enriches the soil duri-ng seasonal floods downst-ream, said Eyler. — AFP

Activists fear China’s super dam planMega dam spanning Brahmaputra River to dwarf Three GorgesRISKY | MOVE

4 terrorists killed in encounters

NRI biz man safeafter copter crashKochi, April 11: A heli-copter carrying promi-nent NRI businessmanM.A. Yusuff Ali, his wifeand four others crash-landed at a marshy landnear here on Sundaymorning, police said.

All passengers includ-ing Yusuff Ali, who isChairman of internation-al retail group LuluGroup, his wife and twoother passengers alongwith two pilots on boardthe chopper owned by thecompany have beenadmitted to a private hos-pital here. “All of themare safe. They are cur-rently under observa-tion,” a top official of theLakeshore hospital wherethey are treated said.

The incident occurredat Panangad area ataround 9 am on Sunday,according to a statementissued by Lulu GroupInternational.

“Yusuff Ali, currentlyin Kerala, was on a shorttrip from his home inKochi to visit a relative atnearby hospital. Due to

the sudden deteriorationof weather conditionsand heavy rains, the expe-rienced pilots decided tomake precautionary land-ing at a safe place to pre-vent any risk to the life ofthe passengers or publicat large,” the statementsaid.

“All passengers andcrew underwent neces-sary medical checkup andare safe,” it said.

An eyewitness said amajor accident was avert-ed as the pilots managedto make safe landing in amarshy land near the NHBypass at Panangad.

Besides the busy high-way in the neighbour-hood, the small plot ofland with compoundwalls is surrounded byelectric lines and build-ings. The incident occu-rred as the helicopter wasslated to land on theground of the FisheriesCollege, Panangad.

The distance betweenthe ground and marshyland is about 200 metres,they said. — PTI

Srinagar, April 11: Fourmilitants from Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and al-Badroutfits, including thoseinvolved in the killing ofan off-duty TerritorialArmy soldier in Anantnagon Friday, were gunneddown on Sunday in twoencounters with securityforces in Jammu andKashmir, police said.

With this, the death tollin the encounters thatbegan on Saturday inAnantnag and Shopianhas climbed to five as onemilitant was killed in theinitial exchange of fire.

Towseef Ahmad Bhatand Aamir Hussain Ganie,both from Bijbehara andlinked to the LeT, werekilled at village Semthanin the Bijbehara area ofsouth Kashmir’s Anant-nag district after they ref-used to surrender andfired indiscriminately ona search party, the policesaid.

Both of them were want-ed in many terror crimesincluding the killing of an

off-duty Territorial Armysoldier Mohammad Sale-em Akhoon near his homein Goriwan Bijbehara onFriday. They were alsowanted in the case of anattack on a CRPF party inwhich a CRPF jawan waskilled, an official said.

The security forces res-cued all the civilianstrapped in the area andhalted the operation for

the night, he added.In the wee hours, the

operation was resumedand both the militantswere eliminated, the offi-cial said.

The ultras were alsoinvolved in threateningand intimidating the civil-ian population of the areaand enticing young boysto join terror ranks, hesaid. According to police

records, Bhat was activesince 2017 and Ganie hadjoined the militant ranksin the year 2018.

Terrorists responsiblefor the killing of Army ja-wan have been neutralisedwithin two days in Bijbeh-ara encounter, InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP),Kashmir, Vijay Kumarsaid. Arms and ammuni-tion, including two AKseries rifles, were recov-ered from the site. TheIGP said one of the slainmilitants in the Shopianencounter was newlyrecruited into the militantranks and security forcesmade sincere efforts topersuade him to surren-der, but the other mili-tants did not allow him.

“Parents also madeappeals, but other terror-ists didn’t let him surren-der,” Kumar said.

He identified the slainmilitants as Aasif AhmadGanai and Faisal GulzarGanai — both residents ofChitragam Kalan.

— PTI

SRIDHARKUMARASWAMI | DCNEW DELHI, APRIL 11

Bangladesh High Com-missioner MuhammadImran has said that hiscountry has become arole model in the worldin fighting poverty.

He was speaking at acultural event recentlyorganised by the IndianCouncil of CulturalRelations (ICCR) and theBangladesh HighCommission in theCapital to celebrate“Mujib Barsho” and 50years of establishmentof diplomatic relationsbetween India andBangladesh.

“Mujib Barsho” refersto the centenary birthanniversary celebra-tions of Sheikh MujiburR e h m a n - p o p u l a r l yknown as Bangabandhu-who successfully led theBangladesh freedomstruggle in 1971.

The Bangladesh HighCommissioner alsospoke about the closeties and connectivityprojects between hiscountry and India. Healso spoke about thelarge number of touristsfrom his country visit-ing India every year asties between the twoneighbours gets evenstronger, in what is seenas a “Shonali Adhyaya(golden chapter)” inbilateral ties. Thiscomes even as PrimeMinister Narendra Modivisited Bangladesh justlast month. The culturalevent comprised a danceperformance by thetroupe from therenowned SrishtiCultural Centre inBangladesh.

BANGLADESH, AROLE MODEL IN FIGHTINGPOVERTY: ENVOY

The helicopter in which UAE-based businesspersonM.A. Yusuff Ali and his wife were travelling made anemergency landing on a marshy land at Panangad inErnakulam of Kochi on Sunday. — PTI

Srinagar, April 11:Militants on Sunday shotdead a civilian in theBudgam district ofJammu and Kashmir,police said.

The ultras fired on NasirKhan near his residencein Buchipora in theMagam area of the cen-tral Kashmir district this

afternoon, a police officialsaid.

He said Khan wasrushed to a hospital,where he succumbed tothe injuries.

The area has been cor-doned off and a manhunthas been launched to nabthe attackers, the officialsaid. — PTI

Militants gun downcivilian in Budgam

pg 9WORLDDECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD |

MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

Boca Raton, April 11:A Florida woman whoclaimed she is HarryPotter fatally struck afederal judge visitingfrom New York and seri-ously injured a 6-year-old boy after swervingher car onto a sidewalk,officials said.

Nastasia Snape, 23, ischarged with vehicularhomicide and other fel-onies for Friday's crashthat killed District Jud-ge Sandra Feuerstein,75, who served in theEastern District of NewYork since 2003. The boy,Anthony Ovchinnikov,was taken to the hospit-al, but his condition Su-nday could not be deter-mined. According tocourt records, witnessestold Boca Raton policethe Snape was drivingerratically, going aroundstopped traffic, on abusy road when shedrove onto the sidewalkand struck Feuerstein.

Snape then drove backonto the roadway, strik-ing the boy in a cross-walk. Police say Snapethen fled into neighbour-ing Delray Beach, whereshe crashed. A Delraypolice officer said Snapeappeared to be havingconvulsions.

— AP

Palm Beach (US),April 11: Staking hisclaim to the RepublicanParty, former PresidentDonald Trump is cast-ing his populist policiesand attack-dog politicsas the key to future GOPsuccess.

In a closed-door speechSaturday night to don-ors at his Mar-a-Lagoresort, Trump also rein-forced his commitmentto the party, according toprepared remarks obta-ined by The AssociatedPress. His appearancecame as Republican offi-cials are trying to playdown an internal feudover Trump's role in theparty, his commitmentto GOP fundraising andhis plans for 2024.

While Trump's advis-ers report he will em-phasise party unity, herarely sticks to script.“The key to this tri-umphant future will beto build on the gains ouramazing movement hasmade over the past fouryears,” Trump told hun-dreds of leading Republ-ican donors, accordingto the prepared rema-rks. “Under our leader-ship, we welcomed milli-ons upon millions ofnew voters into the Re-publican coalition. Wetransformed the Repub-lican Party into a party

that truly fights for allAmericans.”

It was the final addressof the Republican Nati-onal Committee's week-end donor summit inPalm Beach. Most of theRNC's invitation-onlygathering was held at aluxury hotel a few milesaway; attendees werebused to Trump's clubfor his remarks. While asignificant faction of

the Republican Partyhopes to move past Tr-ump's divisive leader-ship, the location of theevent suggests that theGOP, at least for now, isnot ready to replaceTrump as its undisputedleader and chief fundr-aiser. Despite Saturday'sintended message, Tru-mp's commitment to theGOP is far from certain.

— AP

Lima, April 11:Ecuador and Peru werechoosing new presi-dents Sunday under

strict public healthmeasures prompted bythe Coronavirus pan-demic. — AP

Madrid, April 11: Spa-nish authorities saidSunday that they hadrecovered the bodies offour migrants from aboat along with 19 sur-vivors who had takenthe treacherous routefrom West Africa to theCanary Islands.

Spain's maritime res-cue service said that itscrews had responded toan alarm call by a fish-ing boat that had locatedthe migrants in a flimsycraft unfit for the highseas. Rescue helicoptersairlifted groups of themigrants to Tenerife,including six people whowere in poor health andsuffering from dehydra-tion. The Atlantic cross-ing from the Westerncoast of Africa to Spain'sCanary Islands hasbecome a major routefor migrants and asy-lum-seekers fleeing con-flict, violence and eco-nomic plight exacerbat-ed by the coronaviruspandemic. More than2,400 people havereached the Canaries inthe first three months ofthis year. — AP

ECUADOR, PERU HEAD TO POLLS Key to GOP success ismore Trumpism: DonFormer President casts populist policies

Washington, April 11:For more than a half-century, the voiceemerging from the U.S.Chamber ofCommerce's monolithic,Beaux Arts-styled build-ing near the WhiteHouse was predictable:It was the embodimentof American businessand, more specifically, ashared set of interestswith the RepublicanParty.

The party's bond withcorporate America,however, is fraying.

Fissures have burstopen over the GOP's

embrace of conspiracytheories and rejection ofmainstream climate sci-ence, as well as its dis-missal of the 2020 elec-tion outcome. The mostrecent flashpoint was inGeorgia, where a newRepublican-backed lawrestricting voting rightsdrew harsh criticismfrom Delta Air Linesand Coca Cola, whoseheadquarters are in thestate, and resulted inMajor League Baseballpulling the 2021 All-StarGame from Atlanta.

Republicans were furi-ous. — AP

Business faces a tricky path

RESCUERS FIND4 DEAD, SAVE 19 FROM VESSELIN ATLANTIC

HIT-AND-RUNCRASH INFLORIDA KILLSNY FED JUDGE

WORLD pg 10DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

● ● AUSTIN PROPOSEDto Lorenzana measuresto deepen defence co-operation, including by“enhancing situationalawareness of threats inthe SCS,” Kirby said.

IN BRIEF

Nasa delays Marscopter flight

Washington, April 11: Nasahas delayed by at least severaldays the first flight of its mini-helicopter on Mars after a pos-sible tech issue emerged whiletesting its rotors, the US spaceagency said Saturday.

Ingenuity's trip, which is tobe the first-ever powered, con-trolled flight on another plan-et, was set for Sunday but isnow on hold until at least April14. A high-speed test of thefour-pound (1.8 kilogram) heli-copter's rotors on Friday end-ed earlier than expected due toan alert of a potential issue.

No power, waterin Saint Vincent

St. John's, Antigua andBarbuda, April 11: Massivepower outages struck the Cari-bbean island of Saint Vincentbefore dawn on Sunday, as offi-cials recorded more explosiveactivity at a long-dormant vol-cano that launched into a seri-es of eruptions.

After remaining quiet fornearly 42 years, La Soufriererumbled back into life Friday,blanketing the island in ashand permeating the air withthe stench of sulphur.

The eruptions promptedthousands to flee for safety,with around 16,000 people liv-ing in areas under evacuationorders.

Flood traps 21Chinese miners

Beijing, April 11: Rescuers onSunday were trying to reach 21coal miners who were trappedby an underground flood inChina's northwest, a state newsagency reported.

The mine in Hutubi Countyin the Xinjiang region floodedat about 6:10 pm on Saturday,the Xinhua News Agency said.It said eight people were res-cued. China's coal mines areamong the world's deadliest,regularly suffering explosionsand gas leaks despite repeatedsafety crackdowns.

Berlin, April 11: Two Germ-an state governors on Sundaydeclared their willingness tobecome the centre-right candi-date for the country's Sep 26national election.

German Chancellor AngelaMerkel isn't seeking a fifthterm after 16 years in power.Her centre-right Union blochas yet to choose its candidatebetween two state governors,Armin Laschet and MarkusSoeder. “Markus Soeder and Ihad a long talk,” Laschet toldreporters after a meeting ofthe leaders of the parliamenta-ry party factions of the Unionbloc. “We both have declaredour willingness to run for thecandidacy for the chancellery.”

Armin Laschet, who is thegovernor of Germany's mostpopulous state North Rhine-Westphalia, won the leadersh-ip of Merkel's Christian Dem-ocratic Union, or CDU, in Jan.He hopes to succeed Merkel aschancellor as does Soeder, whois Bavaria's governor and thehead of the CDU's Bavaria-only sister party CSU.

The centre-right Union bloc,which is made up by the twoparties but dominated by theCDU, hasn't yet decided on itscandidate for the parliamenta-ry election. However, a decisi-on is expected in the comingdays. “There's a big expectati-on to come to a solution togeth-er, rather sooner than later,regarding the question of thecandidacy for chancellery,”Soeder said.

GERMAN POLL: 2 GOVs THROWHAT INTO RING

Clark, Saddamlawyer, dies

Washington, April 11: Rams-ey Clark, who promoted civilrights as America's top law en-forcement official in the 1960sbut later helped defend Sadd-am Hussein and Slobodan Mil-osevic in court, has died at 93.The often controversial liberalfigure and former attorney ge-neral died April 9 at his homein New York City, a niece,Sharon Welch, told US media.No cause of death was given.

His political arc was extraor-dinary. While serving underpresident Lyndon Johnson,Clark's Justice Departmentprosecuted popular author andpediatrician Benjamin Spockfor helping Vietnam War prot-esters evade the draft. But healso filed the first schooldesegregation and votingrights suits in the US North.

Within years of leaving gov-ernment in 1969, he hadbecome a stunningly directcritic of US foreign policy,which he called “genocidal,”and of military spending,which he termed “certifiablyinsane.”

London, April 11: The fu-neral of Queen ElizabethII's husband, Prince Phil-ip, will take place nextweek, Buckingham Palacesaid on Saturday, announ-cing a stripped-back cere-mony due to Coronavirusrestrictions, and a returnfor exiled royal Prince Ha-rry but not his wife, Meg-han. The announcementcame as the couple's eldestson, heir to the thronePrince Charles, 72, paid aheartfelt tribute to his“dear Papa”, and said heand the royal family mi-ssed him “enormously”.

“My dear Papa was avery special person who Ithink above all else wouldhave been amazed by thereaction and the touchingthings that have been saidabout him, and from thatpoint of view we are, myfamily, deeply grateful forall that,” he added.

“It will sustain us in thisparticular loss and at thisparticularly sad time.”The Duke of Edinburgh —the 94-year-old queen's hu-sband of 73 years — diedpeacefully on Friday justtwo months short of his100th birthday, triggering

eight days of national mo-urning. Royal officialssaid his funeral, whichwill be televised, will takeplace at 1400 GMT onSaturday, April 17 in StGeorge's Chapel, WindsorCastle, west of London.

It will be preceded by anational minute's silence.

Government guidelinesrestrict mourners to just30 people and close attenti-on has been paid to thepared-down guest list forthe funeral, particularlywhether the duke's grand-son Harry would attend.

Palace officials confirm-

ed he would but his Ame-rican wife, Meghan, whois pregnant with their sec-ond child, had been advi-sed against travellingfrom the United States onmedical grounds.

The couple, who quitfrontline royal duties lastyear, have launched a ser-ies of broadsides againstthe royals, including acc-using them of racism, andof failing to treat Megh-an's mental health.

British Prime MinisterBoris Johnson will alsonot be attending the funer-al because of Covid restri-

ctions, Downing Streetsaid. “The Prime Ministerhas throughout wanted toact in accordance withwhat is best for the Royalhousehold, and so to allowfor as many family mem-bers as possible will not beattending the funeral onSaturday,” a spokespersonsaid. Gun salutes earlierechoed around the UnitedKingdom on Saturday asthe armed forces paidsolemn tribute to the duke.

The coordinated 41-rou-nd volleys to the formerRoyal Navy commanderwere fired. — AFP

Prince Charles pays tribute to ‘Papa’, says family misses himROYAL | SNUB

No Meghan at funeral for Prince Philip

Dubai, April 11: Iran onSunday described a black-out at its underground Na-tanz atomic facility an actof “nuclear terrorism,”raising regional tensionsas world powers and Te-hran continue to negotiateover its tattered nucleardeal. Ali Akbar Salehi, thehead of the Atomic En-ergy Organisation of Iran,stopped short of directlyblaming anyone for theincident. Details remainedfew about what happenedearly Sunday morning atthe facility, which initiallywas described as a blacko-ut caused by the electricalgrid feeding the site.

Many Israeli media out-lets offered the same asse-ssment that a cyberattackdarkened Natanz and dam-aged a facility that is hometo sensitive centrifuges.

While the reports offeredno sourcing for the evalua-tion, Israeli media mainta-ins a close relationshipwith the country's milita-ry and intelligence agenci-es. If Israel caused the bl-ackout, it further heighte-ns tensions between thetwo nations, already enga-ged in a shadow conflictacross the wider MiddleEast. “To thwart the goals

of this terrorist moveme-nt, the Islamic Republic ofIran will continue to seri-ously improve nuclear te-chnology on the one handand to lift oppressive sanc-tions on the other hand,”Salehi said, accordingstate TV.

He added: “While cond-emning this desperatemove, the Islamic Repub-lic of Iran emphasizes theneed for a confrontationby the international bod-ies and the (InternationalAtomic Energy Agency)against this nuclear ter-rorism.” The IAEA, theUnited Nations' body thatmonitors Tehran's atomic

programme, earlier said itwas aware of media repo-rts about the incident atNatanz and had spokenwith Iranian officials abo-ut it. The agency did notelaborate. Sunday's devel-opments also complicateefforts by the US, Israel'smain security partner, tore-enter the atomic accordaimed at limiting Tehran'sprogramme so it can't pur-sue a nuclear weapon.

Power at Natanz was cutacross the facility, whichis comprised of above-ground workshops andunderground enrichmenthalls.

— AP

Blackout hits Natanz atomicsite, Iran calls it ‘N-terrorism’Raises regional tensions as world powers, Tehran negotiate tattered N-deal

Demonstrators take part in a march organised by the anti-restriction movement ‘Men In Black’ in Copenhagen onSaturday against mass testing and restrictive measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. — AFP

The Natanz atomic facility in Iran.

Tel Aviv, April 11: Israelwill work with Washingt-on to ensure any “new ag-reement” on Iran's nucle-ar programme will safegu-ard regional security, Def-ence Minister Benny Gan-tz told his US counterpartLloyd Austin on Sunday.The comments came asAustin made the firsthigh-level US trip to Israelsince talks resumed onreviving the 2015 Irannuclear accord, which theJewish state fiercelyopposed.

Gantz said “we will workclosely with our Ameri-can allies to ensure thatany new agreement withIran will secure the vitalinterests of the world andthe United States, preventa dangerous arms race inour region and protect theState of Israel”.

Austin, the highest-levelenvoy from President JoeBiden's administrationyet to visit ally Israel, saidWashington would work

with Israel “to advanceshared security interestand priorities”.

Stressing America's“iron-clad” bond with Isr-ael, Austin said the USwill “continue close cons-ultations to ensure Israel'squalitative military edgeand to strengthen Israel'ssecurity”. Austin's visitcame just days after theUS said it had offered“very serious” ideas on re-viving the hobbled nucle-ar agreement reached bet-ween Tehran and worldpowers, which was aband-oned by former presidentDonald Trump in 2018.Israel under hawkish Pri-me Minister BenjaminNetanyahu has been a fie-rce critic of the Iran nuc-lear deal, dating back towhen it was being negoti-ated during Barack Oba-ma's administration. Net-anyahu applauded whenTrump withdrew from thedeal and imposed sanc-tions on Tehran. — AFP

Israel: Will see Irandeal saves interests

China vax found less effectiveBeijing, April 11: In arare admission of theweakness of Chinese Cor-onavirus vaccines, the co-untry's top disease controlofficial says their effecti-veness is low and the gov-ernment is consideringmixing them to get a boo-st. Chinese vaccines “don'thave very high protectionrates,” said the director ofthe China Centers for Dis-ease Control, Gao Fu, at aconference Saturday inthe southwestern city ofChengdu. Beijing has distributedhundreds of millions ofdoses abroad while tryingto promote doubt aboutthe effectiveness of thePfizer-BioNTech vaccinemade using the previouslyexperimental messengerRNA, or mRNA, process.“It's now under formalconsideration whether weshould use different vacci-nes from different techni-cal lines for the immunisa-tion process,” Gao said.

Officials at a news confe-rence Sunday didn't respo-nd directly to questions

about Gao's comment orpossible changes in offi-cial plans. But anotherCDC official said develop-ers are working on mRNA-based vaccines.

Gao did not respond to aphone call requesting fur-ther comment. “ThemRNA vaccines developed

in our country have alsoentered the clinical trialstage,” said the official,Wang Huaqing.

He gave no timeline forpossible use. Experts saymixing vaccines, or seque-ntial immunization, mightboost effectiveness.

— AP

Paris, April 10: Parispolice said Saturday theyhad fined over 100 dinersat an underground restau-rant flouting Coronavirusrestrictions and arrestedits organiser, after a weekof allegations that minis-ters attended similar rule-breaking events.

Officers were “called outfor an excessive noise co-mplaint about a restaura-nt” late Friday and “put

an end to a gathering ofover 110 people,” theFrench capital's policeposted on Twitter.

“Guests fined for failingto respect applicablehealth measures.Organiser and managerarrested,” they added.

The prosecutor's officesaid the two were releasedSaturday as the investiga-tion continues.

— AFP

Cops fine 100 atParis restaurant

UP TO 80% INSICILY REFUSE AZ VACCINERome, April 11: Up to 80percent of people offeredthe AstraZeneca Covid-19vaccine In Sicily refuse itout of fears over its safety,according to the southernItalian region's presidentNello Musumeci.

Public confidence in theAnglo-Swedish jab hasbeen badly shaken byreports linking it to rare,but potentially fatal, bloodclots, and by conflictingrecommendations on itsuse. “In Sicily, there is an80-percent refusal rate ofthe AstraZeneca vaccine.Every 100 people, 80 sayno. It is natural” for peo-ple to be particularly con-cerned, “but we have aduty to believe scientistswhen they say it is moredangerous not to get vac-cinated than to get vacci-nated,” he said. — AFP

Undergroundnewsletters aidMyanmar youthYangon, April 11: Mya-nmar youth are fightingthe junta's internet shut-down and information su-ppression with an explo-sive underground printednewsletter they are secre-tly distributing acrosscommunities.

For 56 days straightthere have been internetoutages in coup-hit Myan-mar, according to moni-toring group NetBlocks.

The country has been inturmoil since democrati-cally-elected leader AungSan Suu Kyi was oustedin a February 1 coup, trig-gering a mass uprisingthat has resulted in a bru-tal security crackdownand more than 700 civil-ian deaths.

Thirty-year-old LynnThant, not his real name,started the undergroundnewsletter and gave it theedgy name Molotov toappeal to young people.

“This is our response tothose who slow down theflow of information —and that's a threat to us,”he said.

Thousands of readersacross the country aredownloading the PDF ver-sion of the publicationand printing out and dis-tributing physical copies

across neighbourhoods inYangon and Mandalayand other areas.

Lynn Thant is consciousof the risks involved.

Police and soldiers havearrested more than 3,000people since the coup,according to local moni-toring group AssistanceAssociation for PoliticalPrisoners. Two hundredhigh profile celebrities,including actors, singersand social media influen-cers are on an arrest war-rant list and could facethree years' jail if convict-ed of spreading dissentagainst the military.

“If we write revolution-ary literature and distrib-ute it like this, we couldend up in prison for manyyears,” he said, his faceconcealed by one of theGuy Fawkes masks popu-larised by the dystopianmovie “V for Vendetta”.

“Even if one of us isarrested, there are youngpeople who will carry onproducing the Molotovnewsletter. Even if one ofus is killed, someone elsewill come up when some-one falls. This Molotovnewsletter will continueto exist until the revolu-tion is successful.”

— AFP

Jordan king,prince put upunited frontAmman, April 11: Jord-an's King Abdullah appea-red in public Sunday alo-ngside his half-brotherPrince Hamzah, state TVshowed, their first jointappearance since a palacecrisis involving the prin-ce rocked the kingdom.

The images showed agroup of Hashemite roy-als at a mausoleum wheretheir ancestors are bur-ied, on the 100th anniver-sary of the founding ofthe desert kingdom.

The palace Twitteraccount published a pic-ture of the group at acemetery with the cap-tion “HM King AbdullahII, HRH Crown Prince AlHussein... (and) Hamzahbin Al Hussein... visittomb of HM the late KingAbdullah I”.

All were dressed in civil-ian clothes, apart fromHussein, the heir to thethrone, who wore milita-ry dress. Jordan was ma-rking 100 years of nation-al survival Sunday as aresource-poor country ina war-ravaged neighbour-hood, but the palace crisisand the coronavirus pan-demic have overshad-owed celebrations.

The government hadaccused Hamzah — a for-mer crown prince whowas sidelined as heir tothe throne in favour ofAbdullah's son Hussein in2004 — of involvement ina conspiracy to “destabil-ise the kingdom's securi-ty”. At least 16 people

were arrested.But Abdullah said Wed-

nesday that Hamzah, whohas signed a letter pledg-ing his loyalty to the kingfollowing mediation by anuncle, was safe in hispalace under his “care”.In an address read out inhis name on state televi-sion, the king added that“sedition has been nippedin the bud”.

Jordanian political ana-lyst Labib Kamhawi saidthe appearance of theking and Prince Hamzahtogether “sends a clearmessage that the crisisfile within the royal fami-ly has been closed”.

“It shows the Royal fam-ily is united.” But, headded, the fact that Prin-ce Hamzah stood behindthe king and his uncleprince Hassan and CrownPrince Hussein... and notbeside the king means heis now a normal prince,not on the level of a kingor his crown prince”.

Hamzah had been appoi-nted crown prince andheir to the throne in 1999in line with his father'swishes, but Abdullah stri-pped him of the title in2004 and named his owneldest son Hussein inHamzah's place.

Hamzah in a video mes-sage published by theBBC on April 3 claimedhe had been placed underhouse arrest and accusedJordan's rulers of corrup-tion and ineptitude.

— AFP

Yemen’s Maribfighting: 70 deadDubai, April 11: Fiercefighting for Yemen's strat-egic Marib city has killed70 pro-government andHouthi rebel fighters overthe past 24 hours, withbattles raging on threefronts, loyalist militaryofficials said Sunday.

The Houthis have beentrying to seize Marib, thecapital of an oil-rich reg-ion and the government'slast significant pocket ofterritory in the north,since February.

Two officials from pro-government forces saidthat the rebels were mou-nting a concerted pushthat had left 26 loyalistsoldiers dead as well as 44from Houthi ranks. Therebels rarely disclose the-ir losses.

The new toll adds to 53killed on both sides in theprevious 24 hours, accord-ing to loyalist militaryofficials.

One of the officials saidSunday that the rebels“are launching simultan-eous attacks” in the areas

of Kassara and Al-Mash-jah, northwest of the city,and Jabal Murad in thesouth. “They have madeprogress on the Kassaraand Al-Mashjah fronts,but they have been thw-arted on the Jabal Muradfront,” he said.

The other official saidthat warplanes from theSaudi-led military coali-tion, which entered theYemen conflict to supportthe government in 2015,launched airstrikes that“destroyed 12 Houthi mil-itary vehicles, includingfour tanks and a cannon.”However, the Saudi fire-power does not seem tohave halted the rebeloffensive.

The Iran-backed Houth-is in late 2014 overran thecapital Sanaa, 120 kilome-tres (75 miles) to the westof Marib, along withmuch of northern Yemen.

The loss of Marib wouldbe a heavy blow for theYemeni government, cur-rently based in the south-ern city of Aden. — AFP

CHINESE SHIPSIN SCS: U.S.,PHILIPPINESSHOW CONCERNAboard a US MilitaryAircraft, April 11:Defence Secretary LloydAustin on Saturday dis-cussed with his Philipp-ine counterpart China'srecent positioning of“militia vessels” nearthe Philippines in theSouth China Sea.

Austin spoke by phonewith Philippine Secret-ary of National DefenceDelfin Lorenzana whileAustin was flying fromWashington to Israel tobegin an internationaltrip. Pentagon press sec-retary John Kirby saidAustin and Lorenzanadiscussed the situationin the South China Seaand the recent massingof Chinese vessels atWhitsun Reef, which hasdrawn criticism fromManila. China has saidits vessels are there forfishing. Austin proposedto Lorenzana measuresto deepen defence coop-eration, including by“enhancing situationalawareness of threats inthe South China Sea,”Kirby said.

Kirby said earlier thisweek that the aircraftcarrier USS TheodoreRoosevelt and its strikegroup, as well as theamphibious ship USSMakin Island, are oper-ating in the South ChinaSea. The US has no mili-tary forces based perma-nently in the Philippinesbut sometimes rotatesforces to the countryunder the US-Philippi-nes Visiting Forces Agr-eement. The recent gath-ering of Chinese vesselsnear the Philippines isamong moves the US hascriticised as efforts byBeijing to intimidatesmaller nations. — AP

pg 11HYDERABAD | MONDAY | 12 APRIL 2021

Packaging units face input shortage

FALAKNAAZ SYEDMUMBAI, APRIL 11

Absence of high valuecompanies led to a poorrecovery rate for lendersfrom cases under theInsolvency andBankruptcy Code (IBC)during the Decemberquarter of this fiscal. Therecovery rate for Q3FY21dipped to a low of 12.6 percent, a steep fall from ahigh of 64.1 per centreported in the March2020 quarter.

In the past, the recoveryrate in India used to beabout 26 per cent. Post-IBC implementation, theoverall recovery rate tilldate has improved to 39.8per cent.

Of the total claims

which were settled via liq-uidation in Q3FY21, therealisable value was onlyRs 20.3 crore, or around 21per cent, of the totaladmitted claim amount ofRs 97.3 crore.

According to SanjayAgarwal, senior directorof Care Ratings, "The ear-lier quarters of the previ-ous year saw resolution ata very high value for largesteel accounts such asEssar Steel, BhushanSteel, JP Infratech.Similarly, there was a highvalue cement account(Binani Cement) gettingresolved last year. Therecovery rate was high forthese steel and cementcompanies. This year,some of the companiesthat have been admitted

are weaker of the caseswith legacy bad debt andso the recovery rate forlenders have fallensteeply."

Suspension of freshbankruptcy proceedingsdue to the pandemicdefaults also led to a aslowdown in the numberof cases getting admittedfor Corporate InsolvencyResolution Processes(CIRPs).

For instance, the num-ber of cases admittedslowed down in nine-month FY21 (283 cases)compared with 1,517 casesadmitted in 9MFY20. TheDecember-end quarterwitnessed a drop ofaround 83 per cent com-pared with the previousyear.

IBC: Recovery rate plungesafter settlement of big cases

SANGEETHA GCHENNAI, APRIL 11

The government's insis-tence on BIS certificationon certain imported tinand steel products has ledto a shortage in metal pack-aging materials.

The Steel and SteelProducts Quality ControlOrder, issued on July 17,2020 by the Ministry ofSteel, has made BIS certifi-cation mandatory forimports of tinplate and tin-free steel. Further, restric-tions have been imposed onthe import of various steelproducts like easy openends and peel off ends usedby the metal packagingindustry, which has 10 percent share of the $50 bil-lion packaging industry.

The restrictions haveaffected a large number ofmicro, small and mediumenterprises involved inmaking products using tin-plate steel-sheets of steel

coated with a thin layer oftin that have specialiseduse in consumer productslike cans, hairclips, pens.

"It is virtually impossibleto force the internationalsuppliers to go for BIS cer-tifications as the procedureof BIS registration is high-ly cumbersome. Further,for the international sup-pliers of tin plates, India isa small market and hencethey are not quite keen toget into lengthy bureau-cratic and cost-intensiveBIS certification proce-dures," says the MetalContainer Manufacturers'Association (MCMA).

Since the order came intoeffect, foreign suppliershave stopped shipping tinplates to India and this hasled to a shortage in thedomestic market.

"There is a huge demand-supply gap for tinplate andtin-free steel in India to theextent of 2.5 lakh tonnesper annum which is metthrough imports. More-over, tin-free steel is pro-duced only by one mill, TinPlate Company, and thattoo once a quarter," saidSanjay Bhatia, president,MCMA.

The shortage has also ledto rise in prices.

MADHUSUDAN SAHOONEW DELHI, APRIL 11

Life insurers, includingLife InsuranceCorporation, couldincrease the premiumon term life insurancepolicies by up to 10 percent this fiscal. Theyare confident that ahigher premium wouldnot affect the demandfor this product for var-ious reasons.

"We expect up to 10per cent hike in termlife insurance in thenear future. Even in theincreased premiumregime, women, whocomprise half of thecountry's population,will continue to get it atcheaper rates, thanks totheir better longevityrate than their malecounterparts. Besides,the home loan borrow-ers, who often preferthe cost-effective termlife in place of homeinsurance, will alsocontinue to buy theproduct," said an offi-cial of a public sectorinsurer.

A significant rise indemand for term insur-ance has been observedof late, regardless ofthe cost.

"The increase inonline term market islargely attributed toincreasing awarenessabout insurance due toincreased economicuncertainty during thecoronavirus-led reces-sion as well as mortali-ty risk, "said GopalKumar, an economistand actuary.

Term lifepolicies could

becomecostlier

New Delhi, April 11:Several banks, includingState Bank of India (SBI),have been imposing exces-sive charges on certainservices provided on thezero-balance or BasicSavings Bank DepositAccounts (BSBDA), a studyby the IIT-Bombay hasrevealed.

The study observed thatthe SBI's decision to levy acharge of Rs 17.70 for everydebit transaction beyond

four by the BSBDA accountholders cannot be consid-ered as "reasonable."

It highlighted that theimposition of servicecharges resulted in unduecollections to the tune ofover Rs 300 crore fromamong nearly 12 croreBasic Savings BankDeposit Account (BSBDA)holders of SBI during theperiod 2015-20.

The second-largest publicsector lender Punjab

National Bank, which has3.9 crore BSBD accounts,collected Rs 9.9 crore dur-ing the same period.

"There had been system-atic breach in the RBI reg-ulations on BSBDAs by fewbanks, most notably by theSBI that hosts the maxi-mum number of BSBDAs,when it charged @ Rs 17.70for every debit transaction(even via digital means)beyond four a month.-

— PTI

New Delhi, April11: UK's CairnEnergy Plc hasoffered to forego$500 million andinvest that amountin any energy proj-ect identified by thegovernment if New

Delhi agrees to honour an internationalarbitration award and returns the valueof loss it incurred from being taxed ret-rospectively, sources said. The Scottishfirm invested in the oil and gas sector in1994 and made a huge oil discovery inRajasthan. In 2006-07, it listed its Indianassets on the BSE. Five years later thegovernment passed a retroactive tax lawand billed Cairn Rs 10,247 crore plusinterest and penalty for the reorganisa-tion tied to the flotation. The state thenexpropriated and liquidated Cairn'sremaining shares. — PTI

New Delhi, April 11: Infosys said itsboard will consider a buyback proposalat its meeting on April 14. "The board ofthe company will consider a proposal forbuyback of fully paid-up equity shares ofthe company at its meeting to be held onApril 14, 2021.” The company’s board isslated to meet on April 13 and 14, toapprove and take on record the auditedconsolidated financial results for thequarter and year ended March 31, 2021.In August 2019, Infosys had bought back11.05 crore of its shares. — PTISBI makes `300 cr from zero balance a/cs

New Delhi, April 11: SBI FundsManage-ment (SBI MF) will distributethe next tranche of Rs 2,962 crore tounitholders of Franklin TempletonMutual Fund's six shuttered schemes thisweek. SBI MF has already distributed Rs9,122 crore to investors as directed by theSupreme Court earlier. "SBI MF would bedistributing the next tranche of Rs 2,962crore to unitholders,” a FranklinTempleton spokesperson said. — PTI

quickBITES

INDICATORS %Sensex 49591.32 -0.31Nifty 50 14834.90 -0.26S&P 500* 4,128.80 0.77Dollar (`) 74.75 0.27Pound Sterling (`) 102.40 0.11Euro (`) 88.89 -0.41Gold (10gm)* (`) 46,257▲97 0.20Brent crude ($/bbl)* 63.18 -0.03IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.017 0.00US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.673 0.041

* As of Friday/Saturday

China approvesthird Sinopharmvaccine for trialChina has approved the thirdCovid-19 vaccine fromSinopharm Group Company tostart clinical trials, the companysaid. The green light to begintesting comes after two inacti-vated vaccines from Sinopharmwere approved and widely usedboth at home and in developingcountries. The latest one is arecombinant vaccine thatincludes parts of the coron-avirus’s spike protein to stimu-late immune response.

Printed & Published by K. Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan

Chronicle Holdings Limited, Printed atDeccan Chronicle Press at Deccan

Chronicle Holdings Ltd. #563/9/D&9/E,Behind Andhra Bank Pet Basheerbagh,

Kompally, Ranga Reddy Dist. Editor:T.Venkatram Reddy, RNI Reg

No.APENG/2008/24282. © All rightsreserved. Reproduction in whole or in

part without written permission of TheEditor, Financial Chronicle ® is

prohibited.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

FRANKLIN 2ND TRANCHE SOON

◗ Steel ministry has made BIS certification man-datory for imports of tinplate and tin-free steel◗ Restrictions have also been imposed on vari-ous steel products like easy open ends◗ But foreign suppliers have stopped shippingtin plates to India, leading to shortage

NOT BIG ENOUGH MARKET

CAIRN TO FOREGO $500 MNIF INDIA PAYS PRINCIPAL

INFOSYS PLANS SHARE BUYBACK

Global producersignore BIS mark

SHORT TAKESIndia pip Argentina

in Pro League tie Buenos Aires: The Indian men’s

hockey team snatched a dramat-ic penalty shoot-out win over

Olympic champions Argentinaafter Harmanpreet Singh kept

the side afloat in regulation timewith his two goals in the action-

packed first game of their FIHPro League tie here.

The draw guaranteed a point foreach team, but it was the touristswho walked away with the bonus

point, thanks largely to somebrilliant goalkeeping by P.R.Sreejesh. As per the event’srules, the team winning the

shoot-out also walks away withthe bonus point. — PTI

Almaty, Kazakhstan: Nationalchampion Sandeep Singh Mann(74kg) failed to qualify for the

Olympic Games at the AsianQualifiers here on Sunday, keep-ing veteran Sushil Kumar’s Tokyohopes alive in the weight catego-ry. Also missing out on qualifica-

tion was Satywart Kadiyan(97kg) and Sumit Malik (125kg)

in the three-day competition thatconcluded here on Sunday.

All those who missed out haveone last chance to make the cut

for the Tokyo Games at theWorld Olympic Qualifiers, sched-uled to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria

from May 6-9.Sonam Malik and Anshu Malik

were the only ones to qualify forthe Games in Almaty. — PTI

New Delhi: Two Indian fencersparticipating in the World Junior

and Cadet Championships inCairo have tested positive for

Covid-19, leading to them beingquarantined there.

Fencing Association of India(FAI) president Rajiv Mehta said

that the infected fencers weredoing fine and being looked

after by the team doctor.“Yes, two fencers have tested

positive and they are undergoingquarantine in Cairo,” Mehta said.“Both the fencers are doing fineand they are being looked afterby the doctor there,” he added.

India had fielded 24 fencers in allthe three disciplines — sabre, foil

and epee — in the tournamentwhich ends on Sunday. — PTI

GAMES

Two Indian fencerstest +ve in Cairo

Augusta (United States),April 11: HidekiMatsuyama unleashed anincredible back-nine shot-making display to seize afour-stroke lead afterSaturday’s third round ofthe Masters, putting theJapanese star on thebrink of a historic tri-umph at AugustaNational.

Matsuyama, trying tobecome the first Japaneseman to win a major title,fired a seven-under par 65,his career-low 18-holeMasters total and the firstbogey-free round of theweek, to stand on 11-under205 after 54 holes.

“It will be a new experi-ence for me being a leadergoing into the final roundof a major,” Matsuyamasaid. “I guess I’ll relax asbest I can and do my besttomorrow.”

England’s Justin Rose,Australian Marc

Leishman and AmericansXander Schauffele andWill Zalatoris shared sec-ond on 209.

Rose, the 2013 US Openchampion and a two-timeMasters runner-up wholed by one when the daybegan, needed a long parputt at 18 to salvage a sec-ond consecutive level par72.

“I didn’t play wellenough today, simple asthat,” Rose said.

Matsuyama adapted aslightning-fast AugustaNational was softened byrain, taking full advan-tage by going six-under ina seven-hole stretch of theback nine.

After a 78-minute stormdelay, swirling winds van-ished and the wet coursewas receptive. However,slowed greens becametricky to read — except byMatsuyama.

— AFP

DC CORRESPONDENTHYDERABAD, APRIL 11

Former Indian captainMohammad Azharuddin has dis-covered that cricket administra-tion is a different ball game. He’sbatting on regardless, and playingsome powerful strokes too. OnSunday, the Hyderabad CricketAssociation president was upagainst his own team at theAnnual General Meeting, whichsaw many a drive, pull and punch.

Chairing the meet, Azhar took afirm guard and stuck to his stanceas he went through with theappointment of Justice (Retd)Deepak Verma as HCA’sOmbudsman and Ethics Officeras mandated by the Constitutionand one which the TelanganaHigh Court had upheld in itsorder recently.

On March 28, the HCA’s AGMwas stalled and deferred by twoweeks as there was no unanimityover the appointment ofOmbdusman and Ethics Officer. Itwas decided to put the matter tovote at the next meet. “The pastconventions of HCA and practicefollowed in other State associa-tions, the Apex Council considersnames, obtains consent of thehonourable judges as required bythe rules and recommends thenames for appointment by theGeneral Body. In this case, theApex Council has made just onerecommendation - Justice DeepakVerma,” Azhar said on Sundayand pointed to the High Courtjudgement which outlines thesequence of events with dates ofobtaining consent.

He then put the matter to vote byshow of hands and announced theformer Supreme Court judge’sappointment. As the oppositioncamp demanded voting by secretballot that led to fracas, Azhardeclared the AGM closed, walkedout of the hall along with the clubsecretaries supporting him, and

addressed the press. The rivalcamp (vice-president John Manoj,secretary R. Vijayanand, joint sec-retary Naresh Sharma, treasurerSurender Agarwal and councillorP. Anuradha and their support-ers) stayed back and continuedwith the meeting, making differ-ent appointments — SeniorTournament Committee, CricketAdvisory Committee, JuniorSelection Committee (Men),Cricket Talent Committee,Grounds Committee, CEO andCFO among others.

They also readied appointmentorders for Justice (Retd) NisarAhmed Kukru (Ombudsman) andJustice (Retd) T. Meena Kumari,(Ethics Officer).

“They can do whatever theywant, it’s not valid after the presi-dent has closed it,” Azhar toldreporters.

“As a president it was my call todecide whether the vote to

appoint would be by raise ofhands or ballot. The Associationcannot run on anybody’s whimsand fancies. There are rules andregulations that we will have tofollow,” he said even as claims ofdemocracy and accusations ofdictatorship flew about.

Azhar also sought to alleviateapprehensions of multiple clubowners, who fear their votingpowers would be sliced since acomplaint in that regard isalready pending. “They need notworry. He (Justice Verma) is a for-mer justice of the highest court inthe country and will go by therules. It is good for the game ofcricket,” he said.

“Some people are spreadingrumours that I want to take awaythe clubs. I have no such inten-tion. As an international player, Ialready have voting rights andcan fight the elections, in HCA orthe BCCI. I don’t need a club. I

have no ill feelings against any-body and don’t want to step onanyone’s toes. I want everybody towork in tandem,” he added.

Azhar was visibly upset by theuproar at the meet. “I will write tothe BCCI, which has been embar-rassed by the unruly behaviour ofmembers of its affiliate andmight consider taking action. It isbringing disrepute to the parentbody, which provides us the fundsto run cricketing affairs. Lasttime too some of the memberslevelled charges against JusticeVerma, which tantamount toContempt of Court if I may cau-tion,” he said.

His opponents too threatened towrite to the Board. “The policewere set upon us. We were askedto leave the premises saying themeeting was deemed closed,”John Manoj said.

Others alleged Azhar left thefight midway through and felt heshould’ve gone for the ballot if hecommanded majority. “As manyas 125 of the 160 members whoattended the AGM have signed onthe appointments we have made,”Surender claimed, showing abunch of printouts.

Nevertheless, Azhar decided tobat on. “We have to make otherappointments like the CEO andCFO now,” he said and also prom-ised “20 per cent of the fundwhich the HCA receives from theBCCI (which approximatelyamounts to Rs 14 crore) to the dis-trict associations affiliated to theHCA.”

Even as he appears to be playinga lone hand in the Apex Council,Azhar assured: “I will do my best.I am here for the betterment ofcricket and will make sure thatnothing will go wrong in theAssociation. People can cast anyamount of aspersions on me but Iam hell bent on clearing this,because nobody has fought this inso many years, over which all thedirt has accumulated.”

‘Stunning’ Hidekitakes 4-stroke lead

Hyderabad Cricket Association president Mohammad Azharuddin ges-tures as he speaks to the press after HCA’s Annual General Meeting atRajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Wrestlers returnempty-handed

Azhar bats on sticky HCA wicket

Real edge past Barca in ClasicoMadrid, April 11: RealMadrid climbed to the topof La Liga on Saturdayafter Karim Benzema’sflicked finish helped themclaim a thrilling 2-1 victo-ry over Barcelona in awild Clasico atValdebebas.Benzema’s superb piece ofskill and a deflected ToniKroos free-kick putMadrid in charge andwhile Oscar Minguezapulled one back for Barca,they fell to defeat in whatcould be Lionel Messi’s

final appearance in thisfixture. Victory meansReal Madrid go level onpoints with Atletico, withthe top three now separat-ed by a single point.

Atletico, without theinjured Luis Suarez, faceReal Betis on Sunday.

But Real Madrid nowown the better head-to-head against both of theirrivals while Barcelona andAtletico still have to playeach other at Camp Nou inthe run-in. With Atleticostumbling and both Barca

and Real Madrid hittingtheir stride, this gamelooked set to define, if notthe title, then who wouldbecome favourites to becrowned champions inMay. The result was a riv-eting contest at a rain-soaked Alfredo di Stefanostadium — certainly one ofthe most exciting Clasicosin years — that saw bothteams squander numerouschances, several effortscome back off the wood-work and Casemiro sentoff in extra time. — AFP

BLUES CLIMB TO 4TH SPOTLondon, April 11: Chelsea boosted their bid to finishin the Premier League’s top four as Kai Havertz andChristian Pulisic starred in a 4-1 win at Crystal Palaceon Saturday.

Thomas Tuchel’s side blew Palace away with a swag-gering first half display inspired by Germany forwardHavertz.

Chelsea are up to fourth place and sit two points clearof fifth placed Liverpool.

West Ham, also two points behind the Blues, wouldreclaim fourth if they beat Leicester on Sunday.

Havertz has endured a difficult time since his close-season move from Bayer Leverkusen, but he gave a rareglimpse of his quality with the opening goal in southLondon. The 21-year-old turned provider to set upPulisic for the second goal before Kurt Zouma putChelsea three up after 30 minutes. — AFP

Hishanth ton in Gajwel big win

Hishanth Prem Charan hoggedSunday’s limelight in the

Telangana Cricket Association U-16Inter Districts State Championship(Group-II).

Hishanth of Gajwel (SiddipetRural) clobbered a phenomenal 131which was followed by an impres-sive spell of 3 for 29 to lift his side toa massive 99-run victory againstNizamabad while Nirmal gun downSiddipet for three wicket win.Brief scores: Gajwel (SiddipetRural) 238/3 in 20 overs (Hishanth Prem Charan 131,P. Lohith Reddy 29) bt Nizamabad 139 in 19.3 overs (R.Vishal 38, Hishanth Prem Charan 3/29); Siddipet133/7 in 20 overs (Akhil 23, Sandeep L 2/17) lost toNirmal 134/7 in 17.2 overs (R. Sripadhav 41, ShivaCharan 2/16).

Ranga Reddy & Indur in semis at hockey

Ranga Reddy and Indur Hockey Club marched intothe semifinals of the Dhyan Chand Cup 5-a-side

Hockey Tournament being organised by GymkhanaHockey Club at the Gymkhana Ground inSecunderabad.

Ranga Reddy edged past Gymkhana-2 with a 5-0scoreline as E. Jyothi Reddy and Aparna scored abrace each while Malkvika scored one goal.

In another match, Indur Hockey Club mauledMedchal 6-1 in which Nivetha scored the most sixgoals for her side. Meanwhile, Gymkhana-1 toppledRoyal Club ‘A’ 9-1 as Bhavani contributed with sixgoals and Kusuma with three.

SNAP SHOTS

Hishanth Prem

Dhoni fined `12Lfor slow over rate

Chennai Super Kings skip-per Mahendra Singh

Dhoni has been fined `12 lakhfor maintaining a slow overrate during his side’s defeatagainst Delhi Capitals. “As itwas his team’s first offence ofthe season under the IPL'sCode of Conduct relating tominimum over-rate offences,Mr Dhoni was fined `12 lakh,”a statement from IPL added.

CSK still waiting forBehrendorff arrival

Losing Josh Hazlewood wasa big blow as it left the

team bereft of overseas pacebowling options with JasonBehrendorff and SouthAfrica’s Lungi Ngidi also notavailable for the next game,said Chennai Super Kingshead coach Stephen Fleming.Australia pacer Hazlewoodhad withdrawn at the lastmoment to keep himself fitfor upcoming internationalassignments. Behrendorffwas named his replacementlast Friday and is yet toarrive, while Ngidi is servinghis quarantine after return-ing midway from SouthAfrica’s ODI series againstPakistan. “It’s (bowling) anarea that we are probablyshort on,” said Fleming.

Yellow is a matterof pride for Raina

Suresh Raina is back with abang in IPL but rued the

fact that CSK failed to scorean additional 20 runs againstDelhi Capitals in their open-ing game which led to a sevenwicket defeat. CSK put onboard a competitive 188 withRaina scoring a brisk 54 butlast-year's finalists DelhiCapitals overhauled the targetwithout any fuss.

“It feels amazing to be backwith MS Dhoni and theChennai Super Kings. It isalways good to contribute to aside that has done so much forthe players, who have done somuch for every person.

“It is always good to be backand wear this yellow colour.It’s a pride that I have cher-ished all my life,” Raina said.

“It could have been better ifwe would have scored 15-20runs more but I think webowled better in the middleovers, in the next few days wewill have a few good practicesessions where can we learnwhat to do better,” he added.

Rain had missed the last edi-tion of the IPL held in theUAE.

Off the field

David Warner’s daughter sportsSunrisers jersey to cheer on herfather. — Twitter

● CHENNAI SUPER KINGS ● DELHI CAPITALS ● KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS ● MUMBAI INDIANS ● PUNJAB KINGS ● RAJASTHAN ROYALS ● ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE ● SUNRISERS HYDERABAD pg 12

SUMMERSLAM

DECCAN CHRONICLE, HYDERABAD, MONDAY, 12 APRIL 2021

IPL14

RANA-WAY VICTORYDC CCORRESPONDENTCHENNAI, APRIL 11

Riding on Nitish Rana’sbrilliant 80, KolkataKnight Riders galloped totheir 100th IPL win here atthe M.A. ChidambaramStadium on Sunday.Kolkata got the better ofSunrisers by 10 runs.

Chasing 188, Sunrisershad a disastrous start asthey lost both their open-ers, David Warner andWridhiman Saha, early.When they were wobblingat 10 for two, ManishPandey and an in-formJonny Bairstow put on avital stand.

While the EnglishmanBairstow counter-attacked, Manish provid-ed the solidity from theother end.

KKR pacer Pat Cumminssnapped the partnershipat 92 by dismissingBairstow (55 off 40).Kolkata had the upper-hand when Sunrisersneeded 69 off last fiveovers. But Manish’s stayin the middle gaveHyderabad a glimmer ofhope. The equation wasreduced from 44 off 18 to38 off 12. Then came afearless teenager AbdulSamad who clubbedKKR’s premier pacer PatCummins for two sixes inthe penultimate over tomake it 22 off 6. However,Andrew Russell’s brilliantfinal over ensured Kolkatahad the last laugh. Manishremained unbeaten on 61.

Earlier, openersShubman Gill and Ranagot KKR off to a decentstart, putting on 53 runs.T. Natarajan and SandeepSharma found it difficultto Rana-Gill at bay as theduo made 50 runs in pow-erplay.

Afghan leg-spinnerRashid Khan who wasintroduced in the seventhover gave Sunrisers’ themuch-needed break-through by removing Gill.Rashid’s wrong'uncrashed into Gill’s off-stump. Rana raced to his12th IPL fifty in 37 balls,reaching the landmark bypulling a short ball offVijay Shankar for a sixover deep backwardsquare-leg boundary.

Barring Rashid,Sunrisers bowlers lookedbelow par.

Rahul Tripathi scoredhis fifty in 28 balls andadded 93 off 50 balls withRana to set up a perfectplatform for his team’s bighitters. However, theycouldn’t make full use of

it as Eoin Morgan andAndre Russel fell for sin-gle digit scores. It wasanother Afghan spinnerMohammad Nabi whoremoved Rana andMorgan off consecutiveballs before Rashid dis-missed the dangerousRussell.

As KKR slumped to 160for five from a commend-able position of 146 forone, their hopes of touch-ing the 200-run mark suf-fered a big blow. If not forDinesh Karthik’s unbeat-en 22 off 9 balls, KKRwouldn’t have made acompetitive total.

Rana, who was adjudgedthe man of the match,said: “I thought the ballwas in my slot (first ball,off Bhuvneshwar) andluckily I got a four. Mygame-plan is always that ifthe ball is in my slot I’lltry to hit it. I was backingmyself and looking to hitballs. I’ve been playingspin since childhood, so ina way, it’s in my blood.”

Nitish slams 56-ball 80 as Knights gallop to their 100th IPL win

Mumbai, April 11:Another battle of big-hit-ters is on the cards whenKL Rahul’s Punjab Kingstake on the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals, twoline-ups dotted with expan-sive stroke-makers and inpursuit of a winning startto their IPL campaignshere on Monday. Rajasthanwill be banking heavily ontheir swashbuckling all-rounder Ben Stokes. Stokeswill be keen to get someruns under his belt and sowill be the likes ofEnglishman Jos Buttlerand newly-appointed skip-per Samson, who is a mine-field of talent.

The Royals could opt toopen with the highly-ratedYashasvi Jaiswal andButtler. While Samson,who would be itching toprove a point, and Stokeswould then form strongmiddle-order.

If the four fire on allcylinders, they can pum-mel any attack into sub-mission and Punjab wouldbe no exception on theWankhede track, which isusually batting-friendly.

Royals also have an sever-al other options at theirdisposal, including all-rounders Shivam Dube,Shreyas Gopal, RahulTewatia, Riyan Parag andLiam Livingstone.

Gopal, Tewatia andParag, all bowl leg-spin, soit would be interesting tosee whether the Royals optto go in with two leg-spin-ners.

Tewatia and Dube havethe ability to whack theball outside the park andlook to be certainties in theplaying XI.

With star pacer Jofra

Archer missing due toinjury, the pace attack willhave to be led byRajasthan’s newest recruit— South African all-round-er Chris Morris, who willbe eager to justify his hugeprice tag of `16.25 crore.

RR will have to get theircombination right as onlyfour foreigners can makethe playing XI.

So, it will be interestingto see whether Royals optfor left-arm pacerMustafizur Rahman or goin with either JaydevUnadkat, Kartik Tyagi orChetan Sakariya.

Unadkat, with his experi-ence, might get the nod.

On the other hand,Punjab boast of some hard-hitters like Rahul (670 runsin 2020 season), MayankAgarwal (424 runs) andChris Gayle. Rahul andAgarwal formed a lethalopening combination in2020. — PTI

A battle of bighitters on cards

Mumbai, April 11: Delhi Capitals’new skipper Rishabh Pant saidwalking out with Mahendra SinghDhoni for the toss in their IPLopener here was a special momentfor him as the Chennai SuperKings talisman has been his “go-toman.”

Chasing 189 for victory, DCromped to a seven-wicket victorywith eight balls to spare afterShikhar Dhawan (85) and PrithviShaw (72) struck blistering half-centuries. “Actually, it was specialfor me captaining in IPL and walk-ing out for toss with MS. I havelearnt from him and he’s my go-toman,” Pant said.

The likes of Chris Woakes andAvesh Khan ensured DC did notmiss their first-choice pace duo ofKagiso Rabada and Andre Nortjewho are serving their quarantine.

“It was good, once you win thematch everything is good. In themiddle phase, I was under pres-sure, but good job from Avesh andthe bowlers.

“We were thinking as to what wewill do without Nortje and Rabada

and I thought we had to do with theoptions we have.

“We thought whatever we have wehave to work around this and putthe best playing XI. We just wantedto finish the match before one over,

we didn’t think about the run-rate.”Pant also lauded the opening duo

of Dhawan and Shaw. “Prithvi andShikhar did a good job for us in thepowerplay. They kept it simple andlooked for boundaries.” — PTI

MSD is my go-to man, says Pant

Suresh Raina spends his day offcooking in the team hotel.

KKR opener Nitish Rana en route to his half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad inan IPL match in Chennai on Sunday. — IPL

Punjab Kings’ Chris Gayle is brimming with energy duringa training session in Mumbai. — Twitter

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant is the centre of attraction as playerswalk back to the pavilion. — IPL

SCORECARDKKoollkkaattaa KKnniigghhtt RRiiddeerrss::Nitish Rana c Shankar bMohammad Nabi 80,Shubman Gill b RashidKhan 15, Rahul Tripathic Saha b Natarajan 53,Andre Russell c Pandeyb Rashid Khan 5, EoinMorgan c Abdul Samadb Mohammad Nabi 2,Dinesh Karthik (notout) 22, Shakib AlHasan c Abdul Samad bKumar 3. Extras (W-7)7. TToottaall ((ffoorr ssiixx wwiicckkeettssiinn 2200 oovveerrss)) 118877..FFooWW:: 1-53, 2-146, 3-157,4-160, 5-160, 6-187.BBoowwlliinngg:: BhuvneshwarKumar 4-0-45-1,Sandeep Sharma 3-0-35-0, T Natarajan 4-0-37-1, Mohammad Nabi4-0-32-2, Rashid Khan4-0-24-2, Vijay Shankar1-0-14-0.SSuunnrriisseerrss HHyyddeerraabbaadd::Wriddhiman Saha bShakib Al Hasan 7,David Warner c Karthikb Prasidh Krishna 3,Manish Pandey (notout) 61, Jonny Bairstowc Rana b Cummins 55,Mohammad Nabi cMorgan b PrasidhKrishna 14, VijayShankar c Morgan bRussell 11, Abdul Samad(not out) 19. Extras (B-1,LB-1, W-5) 7. TToottaall ((ffoorrffiivvee wwiicckkeettss iinn 2200oovveerrss)) 117777..FFooWW:: 1-10, 2-10, 3-102,4-131, 5-150.BBoowwlliinngg:: HarbhajanSingh 1-0-8-0, PrasidhKrishna 4-0-35-2,Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-34-1, Pat Cummins 4-0-30-1, Andre Russell 3-0-32-1, VarunChakravarthy 4-0-36-0.

MMooMM:: Nitish Rana

Matches 21RR 12 PK 9

LAST YEAR’S MATCHES●● Rajasthan beat Punjab by fourwickets at Sharjah●● Rajasthan beat Punjab by sevenwickets at Abu Dhabi

SSTTAATTSS:: S. PERVEZ QAISER

●● KL Rahul who has scored 1,922runs at an average of 54.91 in 42innings needs 78 more to becomeonly the second batsman afterShaun Marsh (2,477 runs) to score2,000+ runs for Punjab.

FOR THE RECORD

HEAD to HEAD

Small changes in technique worked wonders for ShawMumbai, April 11: Aminor change in techniquecoupled with focus on cut-ting down on silly mis-takes has been PrithviShaw’s recipe for successafter a poor run of formthat found him out ofnational team during theEngland series.

The 21-year-old onSaturday blasted his wayto a 38-ball 72-run inningsas Delhi Capitals chaseddown a winning target of189 against CSK with morethan an over to spare.

“I made some smallchanges in my battingbefore the IPL. I just want-ed to minimize all the mis-takes I was making, and Iworked hard,” said Shaw

in a release on Sunday.The change that he

referred to was positioningof his back-lift. Earlier, hisbat would come down at anangle from the gullyregion, causing problemswith the incoming deliver-ies but after working withAmre, the back-lift is morestraightened reducing thegap between bat and pad.

Last year, Shaw wasdropped from DC’s playingXI after a string of lowscores in UAE and alsoomitted from India’s Testsquad after scoring 0 and 4in the first Test inAdelaide.

After working on histechnique, Shaw returnedto amass a whopping 827

runs in 8 matches in theVijay Hazare Trophy.

“I practised for twoweeks with Strength &

Conditioning CoachRajinikanth Sivagnanamsir and Pravin Amre sirbefore the Vijay Hazare

Trophy. Then I just playedmy natural game with afew changes in the VijayHazare Trophy,” he said.

Shaw shared a 138-runopening stand withShikhar Dhawan (85)before being dismissed byDwayne Bravo in the 14thover.

“Very happy with theway I batted ... the openingstand which we got wasvery crucial for us.Chasing 190 odd is not easy

without a good start,” hesaid.

“It was a great win for us;however, I should’ve stayedin the middle until the end.So, if I have to rate myinnings out of 10, I willgive an 8 to myself.”

Talking about DC headcoach Ricky Ponting, Shawsaid: “With Ricky, I gener-ally speak to him abouttactics and strategies as abatsman.

“He has played so much

of cricket and he has gotthe experience which hecan share with us and hedoes especially with theyoungsters. I am reallyenjoying working withhim.”

Asked about skipperRishabh Pant, whoreplaced an injuredShreyas Iyer ahead of thisseason, Shaw said: “Wereally miss Shreyas Iyer,and he led the team verywell.

“However, Rishabh Pantis very smart. He is fear-less and enjoys the game.He’s very entertaining onthe field and is very cooland calm as a captain. He’sdoing a fantastic job forthe team.” — PTI

Prithvi Shaw

I made some small changes in my batting beforethe IPL. I just wanted to minimize all the mistakes Iwas making, and I worked hard

— PRITHVI SHAWDelhi Capitals opener

Live on TVPPuunnjjaabb KKiinnggss vvss RRaajjaasstthhaann

RRooyyaallss from 7.30 pm on Star Sports 1, HD1

DHONI WANTSHIS BOWLERS TOPULL UP SOCKSMumbai, April 11: CSKcaptain Mahendra SinghDhoni said his bowlerswill have to pull up theirsocks after a “poor” out-ing. “We could havebowled slightly better,and if batters are hittingyou over the fields, that’sfair enough.

“The execution of thebowlers was poor andthere were boundaryballs that they bowled,but the bowlers will havelearned and they willapply that in the futuregames,” Dhoni said.

“A lot depended on dew,and that factor played onour mind from the startand that’s why we wantedto get as many runs aspossible. The batters did agood job to reach 188,because it was tricky,”Dhoni said. — PTI

Mumbai, April 11: Star pacer Jofra Archer’s absencebecause of injury is a “big blow” to Rajasthan Royalsbut their new Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkarais confident that the team’s young Indian fast bowlerswill rise to the challenge in this year’s IPL.

Archer, who played with a hand injury during theIndia series, is currently recuperating from a surgeryand the duration of his availability during the laterpart is still not clear.

“Sanju and I will both agree that it’s a big blow for us.Jofra is a very vital part of our make-up and not tohave him is unfortunately the reality of it. We have towork around it and plan contingencies,” Sangakkarasaid ahead of the clash against Punjab Kings. — PTI

MISSING JOFRA IS A BIGBLOW, SAYS SANGAKKARA

Regd. No. HQ/SD/509/2021-23Printed and Published by

K. Sudhakar on behalf of DeccanChronicle Holdings Limited. Printed atDeccan Chronicle Press situated at

Plot No. 9 Alwal Village, Vallabh NagarTaluk, Medchal Malkajgiri Dist.

Telangana and Published at 36, S.D.Road, Secunderabad-3.

RNI Registration No. 3081/1957.Editor: Kaushik Mitter