Vol. 13 No. 223 | Pages 24 | `̀ 5.00NEW DELHI, Friday, June 26, 2020 www.mailtoday.in / www.mailonline.in

https://twitter.com/mail_today https://facebook.com/mailtoday

�Having topped Mumbaiin ‘viral load’, city buildingfacilities on a war footing

� Forces to run big Covid-19fighting arenas as Centre &Delhi govt bicker over credit

CAPITAL’S QUARANTINE RULES CHANGED AGAIN

3,390 NEWCASES IN DELHI,

TOTAL 73,780

64 MORE DEATHS,TOLL MOUNTS TO

2,429

1,365 NEW CASESIN MUMBAI,

TOTAL 70,990

98 MORE DEATHS,TOLL MOUNTS TO

4,062

RISING CURVE INDELHI & MUMBAI

FULL COVERAGE ONPAGES 4-7

L-G Anil Baijal again modified homequarantine rules in Delhi after meetingCM Arvind Kejriwal. Now, only thosepatients who don't have adequatefacilities at home and don't have othermedical conditions would be shiftedto govt centres. Medical teams willvisit patients for clinical assessment.

The institution will go digital nextsemester so that there is no compromiseon the safety and well being of students.

CBSE cancelled pending Boardexams for Classes 10 & 12scheduled between July 1-15.ICSE also told SC that it hascancelled its Class 10 & 12Board exams with no option ofre-examinations.

CBSE AND ICSE CANCELPENDING BOARD EXAMS

IIT-BOMBAY TO GO ONLINE

All regular mail/express, passenger andsuburban services cancelled till Aug 12.Tickets booked for journey between July1 and Aug 12 cancelled. Trains foressential workers on, the Railways said.

CHAIN PULLED ON TRAINS

A 10,000-bed Covid Care Centre being readied in South Delhi’s Chhatarpur onWednesday. Personnel of Indo-Tibetan Border Police will operate the facility.

DELHI NOW INDIA’S

PANDEMIC

EPICENTREPANKAJ NANGIA

�On the night of June 15,after the Ladakh clash, the Indian and Chinese soldiers ended up walkinginto each other’s claimedterritory to look for thedead and those wounded.

�Indian soldiers handedover about a dozen Chinese the next morning.

However, the Chinese keptdelaying and took about 24 hours to send back over 50 wounded Indians.

�But the rest 10 Indian soldiers released only onJune 18 after negotiations.

�The Delhi Hotelsand Restaurants Owners Association saidChinese nationalswon’t be allowedin all 3,000 properties ownedby its members.Confederation ofIndian Traderswelcomed move.

INDIA-CHINA STANDOFF

INDIA TODAY TVEXCLUSIVE

ON PAGES 2-3

NEW DELHI SLAMS

‘CHINESE CONDUCT’

‘China amassing troops

along LAC since May.

While there have been

occasional departures in

the past, the conduct of

Chinese forces this year

has been in complete

disregard of all mutually

agreed norms.’

— MEA statement

‘We shouldnot bring politics here.There aremany areaswhere wecan attack the govt over its failure. This is asecurity issue… it is anissue of the morale of ourdefence forces.’

— NCP CHIEF SHARAD PAWARTO INDIA TODAY TV

HOW CHINA DELAYED THE HANDOVER OF10 INDIAN SOLDIERS

ON LATE Wednesdayevening, the AAP gov-ernment’s health bul-letin underscored agrim milestone: thetotal coronavirus casesin Delhi had breachedthe 70,000-mark. Thecity overtook Mumbaiand became India’s newpandemic epicentre.

On Tuesday, Delhi hadreported 3,947 cases — thesteepest single-day spike forany city or state in the country.

For that one day, the city faredworse than even some of theglobal hotspots like Brazil’s SaoPaulo (2,483), Chile’s Santiago(2,469) and Peru’s Lima (1,906).

Mumbai’s positivity rate (con-firmed cases among tests con-ducted) was, however, 23.2%,

Turn to Page 4

By Gulam Jeelani in New Delhi

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Friday, June 26, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 SPECIAL REPORT2

INDIA TODAY TV� EXCLUSIVE �

By Abhishek Bhalla in New Delhi

IN THE DEAD of the night on June 15,after a fierce clash to hold on to terri-tory in Ladakh, soldiers from theIndian and Chinese armies foundthemselves freely walking into eachother’s claimed land to look for their

wounded colleagues.Both sides desperately tried to identify their sol-

diers in the darkness. By the next morning, Indianshad handed over close to a dozen Chinese troops toChina. According to some accounts, an injuredColonel, who was in Indian custody, was amongthose returned by India to theChinese without any delay.

The Chinese, however, keptdelaying sending back Indiansoldiers.

It took the Chinese close to 24hours to send back over 50Indian soldiers who were on theother side of the LAC after theywere wounded in violent clashesin Galwan Valley.

“Some had minorinjuries...some were seriouslywounded,” an Army source toldIndia Today TV. However, not allthe men were handed over toIndia by the Chinese army.

Ten Army soldiers, includingfour officers, were not returnedto India by the Chinese, sourcesprivy to the details said.

Over the next three days, hec-tic negotiations were heldbetween Indian and China toensure that the 10 Indian Armypersonnel return safely.

“The Chinese army neverdenied having them. Theyaccepted that they have ourmen, always assuring they aresafe but kept delaying handingthem over,” said a source.

Sources said there was neverany resistance to release the 10men from the Chinese side butthey found a way out to keep theIndians waiting.

“They cited procedures, askedfor some more time to keepthings hanging on one or theother pretext,” said a source.

Some in the security establish-ment believe this was nothingbut “mind games” that the Chi-nese were playing.

There were Major General-leveltalks between the two armies onJune 16, 17 and 18 where thefocus was to get back the Indiansoldiers.

HOMECOMINGFinally, the 10 Indian Army sol-diers were set free on June 18.

Notably, neither India norChina officially clarified if the 10Indian Army soldiers were keptin PLA’s custody.

On June 18, the day the 10 sol-diers were released, the IndianArmy said none of the soldierswere missing in action and allhad been “accounted for”.

With the release of 10 IndianArmy personnel who were incaptivity of the Chinese army forthree days, the dialogue betweenthe two countries got back ontrack to discuss further disen-gagement at the Line of ActualControl in Ladakh.

CLASH IN GALWANThe bloody clash at Patrol Point(PP 14) in the Galwan Valley inLadakh was triggered after theIndian Army objected to anobservation post set up by the

Over 50 wounded Indian troops were in Chinese custody. They returned after 24 hrs.However, 10 were notreleased for 3 days

HOW CHINA DELAYEDHANDOVER OF 10INDIAN SOLDIERS

Chinese. What followed washours of brutal clashes.

The Chinese, armed with ironstudded rods, clubs and stones,unleashed a wild melee attack.Indian troops of the 16 BiharRegiment resisted the ferociousassault but lost their command-ing officer Col B Santosh Babu.

In all, 20 Indians were killed inaction. Some accounts from theground say there were severaldeaths on the Chinese side, butChina is yet to give an officialnumber.

There was pressure on troopson both sides with hostilities ris-ing since May 5. It exploded onJune 15, said an official.

As the 16 Bihar troops came

under attack, reinforcementswere rushed in. This includedartillery troops and also infantrymen from the 3rd battalion ofthe Punjab Regiment.

The artillery men, handlingsophisticated big guns, wouldnever have imagined that theywould end up being involved in amedieval like hand-to-handclash with the Chinese.

Not only did the gunners, usu-ally needed for firing the bigbooming guns to hit the enemydeep inside, fought bravely withtheir hands but were also instru-mental in picking up a Chinesecolonel as they rushed as rein-forcements with their infantrybrethren from Punjab Regiment.

By Manjeet Singh Negiin New Delhi

THE People’s Liberation Armyof China used the lull afterthe Galwan Valley clash onJune 15 to increase militarybuild-up along the easternLadakh sector.

The increased Chinesetroop build-up was, however,closely monitored by theIndian side which alsobrought in more reinforce-ments and has now almostmatched the PLA build-up onits side of the LAC.

“Even as we were talkingpeace and de-escalationafter the clash in which bothsides suffered several casu-alties, the Chinese immedi-ately used the time to bringin more troops and fortifyits positions in the fourmajor points of contention,”the governmentsources told IndiaToday TV. TheIndian side hasalso used theopportunity tobuild its troopstrength aswell as to bring

weaponry to front positions,the sources said.

The four major points ofconfrontation on both sidesinclude the Galwan Valleyarea, Patrolling Point 15, Fin-ger area and Patrolling Point17 Hot Springs area wherethey have done a massivetroops build-up using theirroad infrastructure, thesources added.

Chinese have beenincreasing activity in theadjoining DBO area as well.The DBO area, also referredas the Sub Sector North,meets the Siachen glacierarea on its left.

“In the DBO sector, the Chi-nese want to create troublefor us and have been block-ing our patrols from goingup to our patrolling points 10to 13 in that area. These areadjoining the caravan river

valley and are close to theIndian battalions in the

DBO sector,” thesources said.

Sources addedthat the Chinesehave also usedtheir road infra-structure in the

Chinahas been

increasing itsactivity in the

adjoining DBO areaas well

The location in Galwan Valley where Indian and Chinese troopsclashed on June 15.

Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravaneinteracts with the troops during hisvisit in Eastern Ladakh on Wednesday.

Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 3SPECIAL REPORT

‘China hasto respectagreementsfor peace’By Poulomi Saha in New Delhi

ON Thursday, India reit-erated that China willhave to respect previouslysigned agreementsbetween the two nationsif peace and tranquilityare to be maintained,after the latter unilater-ally tried to change thestatus quo in easternLadakh along the Line ofActual Control that led toviolent clashes betweenborder forces on the nightof June 15.

Addressing a press con-ference, spokesperson forthe Ministry of ExternalAffairs Anurag Srivastavasaid, “A continuation of thecurrent situation wouldonly vitiate the atmos-phere for the developmentof the relationship.”

Srivastava stated thatafter the violence of June15 in the Galwan Valley,both sides remaindeployed in large num-bers in the region, whilemilitary and diplomaticcontacts are continuing.

On Wednesday, a meet-ing of the Working Mecha-nism for Consultation &Coordination on India-China Border Affairs(WMCC) was held, twodays after Corps Comman-ders of the two armiesreached a “mutual consen-sus to disengage” troops.

Naveen Srivastava,Joint Secretary (EastAsia) in the Ministry ofExternal Affairs, andHong Liang, DirectorGeneral in Depart-ment of Bound-ary andOceanicAffairs, Chi-nese Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, ledtheir respective delega-tions at the meeting.Both sides agreed to “sin-cerely implement theunderstanding on disen-gagement and de-escala-tion” along the LAC.

But this engagementwas disrupted by a state-ment from the ChineseMinistry of Defence thatagain laid claim to theGalwan Valley. A state-ment from the Ministryread, “China has sover-eignty over Galwan Valley

region and Chineseborder troops

have beenpatrolling inthis regionfor manyyears.”

A continuationof the currentsituation wouldonly vitiate theatmosphere fordevelopment ofthe relationship.

‘

‘

— Anurag Srivastava, MEA spokesperson

Indiahas dismissedall ‘unjustified

claims’ by China

China uses post-clashlull to increase troops

rear positions to swiftly moveheavy vehicles and artillerycloser to the LAC near PP 15, PP17 and PP 17 A.

Partial disengagement inthese areas has not yetstopped the Chinese from further strengthening theirtroop movement and con-struction activities.

In the Finger area too, theChinese have continued tobuild-up their strength andfortified their positions on theFinger 4 and adjoining parts.The Chinese have alsodeployed their Sukhoi-30 air-craft in the rear positions andhave been carrying out regu-lar sorties close to the Indianterritory.

Presence of air defence gunbatteries of long-range hasalso been detected. Satellite image shows the LAC border in the Galwan Valley.

By Ankit Yadav in New Delhi

DELHI’S HOTEL and Guest HouseOwners Association (Dhurva), agroup of budget hotels in Delhi,announced that no Chinese guestswill be allowed accommodation inhotels and guest houses in thenational capital.

Dhruva’s decision comes after theConfederation of All India Traders(CAIT) urged traders and serviceproviders to boycott China. Thereare around 3,000 budget hotels andguest houses in Delhi.

Citing the way China is dealing withIndia and the manner in which it hasmassacred soldiers, the group’sgeneral secretary said all the hotels

in Delhi are expected to follow thedirective.

“There is a lot of anger amongbusinessmen and at a time whenCAIT has campaigned for a boycottof Chinese goods across the country,the hotel and guest house business-men of Delhi have decided that fromnow on Chinese people will not beaccommodated in any budget hotelor guest house in Delhi,” Dhruva’sgeneral secretary said.

CAIT’s national general secretaryPraveen Khandelwal welcomed thedecision, saying that it is clear thatpeople from different sections ofthe country are joining in the callfor a boycott of Chinese goods initi-ated by CAT.

Hotels bar entry ofChinese nationals

‘Time to protecteach & every inchof our territory’

People participate in a‘Boycott China’ protest

in Ahmedabad.

FORMER Defence Minister andNationalist Congress Party (NCP)chief Sharad Pawar said that thewhole nation should supportdefence forces and there shouldbe no politics around it.

In an exclusive interview toIndia Today TV’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Pawarsaid this is the time to back theforces and demanded that Parlia-ment should meet.

“As a former Defence Minister andknowing China’s capability and itsstrength, I think diplomatic chan-nels and pressure from the global

community on China becauseshould be put. If diplomatic effortsdon’t succeed, then the last resortis military option. It is a veryimportant issue. I don’t think any-one should bring any politics here.This is a time to protect nationalinterest and keep the morale ofIndian soldiers,” Pawar said.

NCP chief added that the wholenation should support ourdefence forces and their actions.“This has to be handled diplomat-ically and whatever efforts thedefence forces make, the countryshould stand behind them like a

solid rock,” he said.Speaking about whether Modi

government is handling the situa-tion well, Pawar said, “I don’tthink one should discuss thisquestion at this juncture.Whether there are some mistakes,some shortcomings, some intelli-gence failure…this is not the time.This is time to protect each andevery inch of our territory.”

—www.indiatoday.in

NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Friday, March 27, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 4

— ARVIND KEJRIWAL, DELHI CM

We have installed tablets in coronawards and at a counter outside LNJPHospital to be used by patients andtheir relatives for video calling.

‘

’

Coronavirusessentials like masks,

gloves, sanitisers, bedrollkits will now be sold at themulti-purpose stalls at

railway platforms. Thestalls carry most items thattravellers could require, liketoiletries, books, medicinesand packed eatables.

C VID-19

PANDEMIC

Continued from page 1

which is higher than Delhi’s 16.7 %. Delhi hasseen fewer deaths (2,429) than Mumbai(4,060).

Delhi has seen 3,000 plus daily cases on alldays, except one (2,909 on June 22), sinceJune 19.

With 3,390 new cases and 64 deaths onThursday, total infections in Delhi reached73,780 including 2,429 deaths.

Delhi’s share in the country’s cases hasincreased from 10% on May 25 to 15.6 %Thursday.

During the same one-month period, theCapital’s deaths in total fatalities of the coun-try increased from 7% on May 25 to 16.3%.

By the AAP government’s own admission,at the present doubling rate (about 13 days),Delhi will have 1,00,000 cases by June-endand 5,50,000 by July-end.

BRACING FOR IMPACTWith the surging case overload,the focus of the Centre and theDelhi government has nowshifted to building big Covidcare centres. Make-shift hospi-tals in hotels, banquet halls andrailway coaches are also beingset up.

During his visit to ShehnaiBanquet Hall, now a 100-bedCovid care facility for moder-ately-ill patients, CM ArvindKejriwal said, “People who aregetting infected are majorlyrecovering at their homes. Thenumbers of new cases andrecoveries are the same. We have13,500 beds. Many more banquethalls will be readied,” he said.

Of the 73,780 people infectedso far, 44,765 have recovered.And of the 26,586 activepatients, 15,159 are under homeisolation.

As per information on theDelhi government’s mobileapplication, of the 13,239 hospi-tal beds available on Thursday,6,285 were occupied and 6,954vacant.

On June 10, Kejriwal had saidthat, Delhi would need 1,50,000beds by July 31 for Covid-19patients. The statement came aday after his deputy, ManishSisodia, projected 5,50,000 lakhcases by July 31 requiring 80,000beds. Kejriwal had doubled thenumber of beds considering halfthe patients in Delhi hospitalswould be from outside.

Shehnai Banquet Hall is thefirst to operate among 77 thatthe Delhi government hasselected to be converted intomakeshift hospitals. In all, thegovernment plans to augmentthe number of beds by 15,800 byusing 40 hotels, apart from 77banquet halls.

“In the last week, we hadinstalled around 3,000 beds inhotels, which were thenattached to private hospitals,”the CM said on Wednesday.

In the past two weeks, thenumber of hospital beds hasincreased from 8,800 on June 10to over 13,200 on Friday. Thisincludes 22 private hospitalsthat have been asked to reserveat least 20% beds.

Also, the Delhi government’supcoming hospital in Burari willhave 450 beds for Covid-19patients. The government isexpected to add 500 more ICUbeds at its Lok Nayak Jai

Delhi’s NewCorona

Fighting‘Arenas’

Prakash (LNJP) Hospital byJuly 10. The 2000-bed Covid-19hospital has 80 ICU beds.

ITBP AND ARMY TO RESCUEUnion Home Minister AmitShah said that the Indo-TibetanBorder Police (ITBP) has beengiven the responsibility to oper-

ate the 10,000-bed Covid-19 cen-tre at Radha Soami SatsangBeas campus in South Delhi’sChhatarpur. Roughly of the sizeof 22 football fields, the facility isbeing billed as the biggest in thecountry so far. At least 2,000beds are expected to be opera-tional today, while the rest willbecome operational early next

month.The facility has led to a credit

war of sorts between the Centreand the Delhi government aswell.

“Dear Kejriwal ji, It has alreadybeen decided in our meeting 3days back and MHA hasassigned the work of operatingthe 10,000 bed Covid Care Cen-tre at Radha Swami Beas inDelhi to ITBP. The work is in fullswing and a large part of thefacility will be operational by26th Jun (SIC),” Shah said in atweet.

His counter came after theDelhi CM wrote to him fordeployment of doctors andnurses from ITBP and Army.

The Home Minister has latelytaken charge to prep Delhi forthe expected spike in Covid-19cases. He has also announcedthat a new 1,000-bed full-fledgedhospital with 250 ICU beds to bemanned by Armed forces per-sonnel will be ready in the Capi-tal in the next few days.

“DRDO and Tata Trust arebuilding the facility. Armedforces personnel will man it.This Covid Care centre will beready in next 10 days,” he said.

Also, of the 503 isolationcoaches at nine railway stations

of the Capital, the ones kept atShakurbasti started operatingon Wednesday. These facilitiesby the Railways will provide atleast 8,000 beds for Covidpatients with mild symptoms,said officials. The operation ofthese coaches is a joint effort ofthree agencies — Railway forbasic infrastructure, Army fordoctors, nurses and ambulancesand coordination with hospitalsfor medicine and equipment bythe Delhi government.

CIVIC BODY HOSPITALSThe BJP-run civic bodies ofDelhi said that seven hospitals,with more than 2,800 beds col-lectively, can be used by theDelhi government. The North,East and South civic bodiestogether run eight hospitals.

Two hospitals — Hindu Raowith 980 beds and Tilak NagarSuper Speciality Hospital with70 beds — have been convertedinto Covid-19 facilities. WhileTilak Nagar Hospital in SouthDelhi has been taken over by theDelhi government, Hindu Rao inNorth Delhi is expected to betaken over soon.

“Preparation is taking sometime. We will soon be ready toadmit Covid-19 patients,” DrAnu Kapur, the hospital’s med-ical superintendent.

STAFF CRUNCH?The government has decidedthat it would hire final-year stu-dents of post-graduate medicalcourses, as well as final yearundergraduate and postgradu-ate nursing students, for deploy-ment in hospitals. The Capitalhas 17,996, doctors, 43,800nurses, 27,000 pharmacists, 2,500MBBS students, according to agovernment portal on Covid-19.

Experts said governmentshould come up with a long-term plan, “Home Ministry fix-ing the prices of tests and hos-pitals, fixing the quarantineduration, it only leads to confu-sion. The current state is aresult of poor investment inhealthcare infrastructure. Rail-way coaches can't be used totreat Covid patients. Invest inlong-term solutions," said DrSrinivas Rajkumar T, GeneralSecretary, Resident DoctorsAssociation, AIIMS told MailToday recently.

—(With inputs from RukminiS and Chayyanika Nigam)

A health worker sanitises an isolationcoach of a train in Delhi on Thursday.

A Covid facility at the Radha Soami Satsang Beas complex inChhatarpur area of Delhi.

PHOTOS: K ASIF & PANKAJ NANGIA

PM f lays Congfor ‘excesses’ of Emergency

By Anand Kumar Patelin New Delhi

UNDER fire from Congressover China standoff, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi brokehis silence to slam the GrandOld Party for excesses duringEmergency. On the 45th year ofthe imposition of Emergencyin India by the erstwhile IndiraGandhi government, the PrimeMinister paid tributes to thosewho fought against it.

He was joined by theUnion Home Ministerwho accused theGandhi family ofharbouring emer-gency mindset. TheCongress party hitback at BJP andalleged that the rul-ing party was resort-ing to diversionarytactics to hide its fum-ble on standoff with China.

In his tweet in Hindi, thePrime Minister said, “45 yearsago on this day, India was putunder Emergency rule. Thosewho fought and struggled forthe democracy in India, facedtorture, I pay my deepestrespects to them. India willnever forget their sacrifices.”

Former Prime Minister IndiraGandhi had imposed Emer-gency on June 25, 1975, and itcontinued till March 21, 1977.

Union Home Minister Amit

Shah also chose the occasionto attack the Gandhi family.He tweeted, “During therecent CWC meet, senior mem-bers and younger membersraised a few issues. But, theywere shouted down. A partyspokesperson was unceremo-niously sacked. The sad truthis leaders are feeling suffocatedin Congress.”

In another tweet, he said, “Asone of India’s opposition par-ties, Congress needs to ask

itself: Why does the Emer-gency mindset remain?

Why are leaders whodon’t belong to 1dynasty unable tospeak up? Why areleaders gettingfrustrated in Con-gress? Else, theirdisconnect with

people will keepwidening.”

The Congress hit backalleging that the BJP was

trying to divert people’s atten-tion from its failure over Chinastandoff. Party’s nationalmedia incharge Randeep Sur-jewala said, “As India’s rulingparty, BJP needs to answer:Why is its majoritarian ruledescribed as Govt of 2 peopleonly & all others as mere side-kicks? Why is horse trading,mass defections & institutioncapture its only legacy? Why isit obsessed in its vile hatred ofNehru-Gandhi’s?”

‘Indiaremembers

those who madesacrifices for

democracy 45 yearsago when the

Emergency wasimposed in

nation’

By Sujeet Jha in Patna andShivendra Srivastavain Lucknow

MORE than 80 people werekilled today due to lightningin various places in Bihar.According to the Bihar gov-ernment, 83 people werekilled in various districtstoday due to lightning.Another 24 people werekilled due to lightning inUttar Pradesh.

On Thursday evening, theBihar government revisedthe death toll in the state dueto lightning to 83. The gov-ernment also released a dis-trict-wise breakup of thedeath toll. The most numberof deaths were reportedfrom the Gopalganj district.Bihar chief minister NitishKumar has announced a Rs 4lakh ex gratia each for thefamilies of those killed.

Later at night, the UttarPradesh governmentreported that 24 peoplewere killed in the state dueto lightning. The most num-

ber of deaths in the statewere reported from Deoria.Uttar Pradesh chief ministerYogi Adityanath hasannounced Rs 4 lakh ex gratiaeach for the next of kin.

Reacting to the deaths,Prime Minister NarendraModi expressed his condo-lences and said that the stategovernments of Bihar andUttar Pradesh are promptedresponding to the situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

—MANISH SISODIA, DELHI DEPUTY CM

Corona-positive persons will not berequired to visit Covid care centres for aclinical assessment for home isolationor hospitalisation.

‘

’13,012

Covid-19 patients have beencured during the last 24 hours,

says Ministry of Health

5NEWS

Lightning kills 83 inBihar and 24 in UP

By Pankaj Jainin New Delhi

RAJ NIWAS, the office ofDelhi Lieutenant GovernorAnil Baijal issued a pressrelease on Thursday as a clar-ification of the Delhi DisasterManagement Authority's(DDMA) order regardinghome isolation for novel coro-navirus patients.

As per the press release, nopatient will be required tovisit Covid centres. Instead, ateam of medics will visit eachpatient and decide onwhether the individual is to beplaced under institutionalquarantine or allowed toremain in home isolation.

This decision comes daysafter the Delhi governmentand LG's difference of opinionabout the home isolationscheme.

On Thursday, LG Anil Baijalchaired a meet of the DDMAto review the handling of theCovid-19 outbreak. This meetwas attended by top officials,including the CM, ministers inthe Delhi government andsenior bureaucrats.

It was decided during themeet that only Covid-19patients who have therequired space to isolatethemselves while separatedfrom their families will beallowed to remain in homeisolation. This will be donewith the help of physical veri-fication by surveillance teams.Similarly, officials also dis-cussed that trained profes-sionals will be tasked withsurveillance and daily follow-up with patients to containthe local spread.

Officials also reached theconclusion that anyone who

tests positive by Rapid testwill be examined by the Med-ical Officer on duty at thetesting site to assess theseverity of the illness. For RT-PCR tests, district-wisedetails of COVID-positivepatients will be shared by anodal officer.

Therefore, a patient who ismild/pre-symptomatic/asymptomaticand has a residence of tworooms or a separate room andtoilet will be allowed toremain in home isolation.

However, if the patient hasmoderate or severe symptomswith co-morbidities, authori-ties will arrange for thepatient to be transferred tothe COVID care centre,COVID healthcare centre orhospital as per the severity ofthe illness.

Covid positive persons willnot be required to visit Covidcare centres for a clinical

assessment for home isolationor hospitalisation, DelhiDeputy Chief Minister ManishSisodia said after an SDMAmeeting on Thursday.

The Deputy CM, who is alsohandling the additional port-folio of the health minister,said that home isolation hasbeen highly successful inDelhi and around 30,000 coro-navirus patients had beencured under the system.

“The medical team willassess the health condition ofthe patients and the severityof his symptoms. The teamwill also note if there is anarrangement for home quar-antine for the patient con-cerned. Only after noting thatthe patient is asymptomaticor have very mild symptoms,that the team would approvehome isolation for him. And ifthe patient’s symptoms areserious, the team would takehim to a hospital,” he said.

L-G, CM AGREE ON S.O.P.FOR HOME ISOLATION

By Sushant Mehra in New Delhi

AFTER remaining closed forthree months, the All IndiaInstitute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) here has resumed itsOPD services from Thursday.

AIIMS medical superinten-dent Dr DK Sharma said theOPD is open for only follow-uppatients and each departmentwill initially cater to not more15 cases a day. If any depart-ment wants, then some limitednumber of new patients can

also be called.No appointments will be

given for evening specialtyclinics in the first phase of OPDreopening. Patients can begiven appointment for OPDconsultation directly by thedepartment or through thecomputer facility as decided bythe department concerned.However, if an appointment isgiven from the department,the departmental appoint-ment list will have to be inti-mated to the computer facilityand faculty in-charge of the

OPD 48 hours in advance.All heads of clinical depart-

ments in AIIMS have beenrequested to provide informa-tion on the date of resumptionof physical OPD for patients ofthe departmentment con-cerned and daily list of patientsalong with their telephonenumbers who have been givenappointment for physical con-sultation.

AIIMS senior doctor VijayKumar said utmost care will betaken to avoid corona infec-tion during treatment. Patientswill be screened for influenza-like illness symptoms beforethey are being allowed toenter the OPD.

AIIMS OPD reopens forfollow-up patients only

AIIMS Delhi

A banquet hallturned into a Covid

care facility in Delhi.

Each department willhave 15 cases per day

Team of medics willvisit each patient

Medical professionals interact with visitors outside theCovid-19 ward at LNJP hospital.

PANKAJ NANGIA

Board examsoptional forCBSE studentsof Class 12, ICSEfully cancelstests for 10 & 12

By Aneesha Mathurin New Delhi

AFTER weeks ofworry, students ofclasses 10 and 12can rejoice as theCBSE and the ICSEhave decided to

cancel the pending examina-tions. The CBSE and theICSE informed the SupremeCourt on Thursday that thedecision to cancel the pend-ing exams has been takendue to the prevailing coron-avirus pandemic.

The students’ marks will be basedon the internal assessment pre-board exams that were conductedearlier in the year. The decision wascommunicated to the apex courtwhile hearing o a set of petitionsfiled by parents associations whohad sought court orders to shift thedates of exams or cancel the examsdates which had been scheduled tobe held between July 1 and 15.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta,appearing for the CBSE, informedthe bench of Justices AM Khan-wilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari andSanjiv Khanna that there were“logistical issues” due to which thepending exams could not be con-ducted, since many school premiseswere now acting as Covid-19 quar-antine centres, while many parentsorganisations had raised concernsregarding the safety of students.

He also informed the court thatthe governments of Maharashtra,Delhi and Tamil Nadu, which havethe maximum number of Covid-19patients, had also told the Centre

that they would not be able to holdexams in their states. Mehta alsoinformed the court that an officialnotification cancelling exams willbe issued “in the next couple ofdays”. The CBSE, which is thelargest board of examinations forsecondary education in India, hasalso said it would create a schemeby which students of Class 12 can“opt” to take the pending exams.

In particular, Mehta said that

since the pre-board exams couldnot be conducted for students inNorth East Delhi in February thisyear due to the riots, the CBSEwould create a scheme to allow anyClass 12 student to take the pend-ing exams “later in the year”instead of going by the internalassessment marks.

The bench has for now asked theCBSE to draft a notification clarify-ing the “opt out scheme” as well asa timeline by when the classes 10and 12 results would likely bedeclared. During the hearing, theSolicitor General had informedcourt that the pending exams couldbe conducted “when the situationwas conducive”. The bench, how-ever, asked the Centre to clarifyhow it would assess the Covid-19situation — whether it would con-sider on a state by state basis or atthe central government level.

The bench has also asked theCBSE and the MHRD to clarifywhat steps would be taken regard-ing the state board exams, severalof which are also ending. The hear-ing in the case is now scheduled forFriday morning, when the CBSE isalso expected to give a detailedresponse to the court regarding thetimeline of exams and the possibletimeline by which results of theexams would be declared. TheCBSE also postponed the 14th edi-tion of Central Teacher EligibilityTest scheduled on July 5, which willnow be conducted when the situa-tion is conducive, HRD MinisterRamesh Pokhriyal Nishank said.

—With agency inputs

PHOTOS: AGENCIES

File photo of studentsappearing for Boardexaminations, in Chennai.

Covid cases in India

16,922

total tally

4,73,105

more deaths

418

overall toll

14,894

Pending CBSE exams

CANCELLED

CBSE also delays CentralTeacher Eligibility Test

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Friday, March 27, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 6

— SHASHI THAROOR, CONGRESS LEADER (TOKERALA CM PINARAYI VIJAYAN)

Conducting exams is a risk that wemust not force our students to face.Exams should be postponed till thecurrent situation subsides.

‘

’

Amid the controversyover Baba Ramdev’s

firm — Patanjali Ayurveda —introducing a ‘cure’ for Covidinfection, Maharashtra Home

Minister Anil Deshmukhwarned the yoga guru onThursday that the stategovernment would not allowsale of ‘spurious’ medicines.

C VID-19

PANDEMIC

ICSE: Results will be on past performance

THE ICSE, however, informed the SupremeCourt on Thursday that it will not be giving re-examination option to students of classes 10and 12, and the results would be declared onthe basis of past performances. The ICSEBoard had postponed its classes 10 and 12exams due to the coronavirus outbreak, andthey were to end on March 31.

By Pankaj Upadhyay in Mumbai

THERE will be no face toface lectures at IIT Bom-bay from the comingsemester. This means thatIndian Institute of Tech-nology, Bombay, will gocompletely online. Thismajor decision has beentaken keeping in mind therisks that have arisen outof the Covid-19 pandemic.

The IIT Director haspointed out that the deci-sion has been taken keep-ing the safety of students.At the same time anappeal has also beenmade for donations tohelp those students whomay not be in a positionto afford laptops andequipment that would aidthe online learning.

A post by the IIT Directorsays, “General informa-tion and a special requestto all: For IIT Bombay, stu-dents are the first prior-ity. We took the first stepin India in concretelydeciding how we mustbring a closure to the cur-rent semester to help ourstudents. We havedecided that the nextsemester will be runpurely in the online modeso that there is no com-promise on the safety andwell being of students.”

IIT BOMBAY TO ABANDONFACE-TO-FACELECTURES

As India unlocks, public mobilityhighest in Bihar, lowest in DelhiBy Nikhil Rampalin New Delhi

DESPITE relaxations in lock-down, people, by and large, arewary of stepping out of theirhomes unless absolutely neces-sary. Crowds seen on the streets,at markets or parks are far lessthan what it used to be in thepre-Covid period.

Bihar, however, is an aberra-tion. Using Google’s Commu-nity Mobility Report, IndiaToday Data Intelligence Unit(DIU) analysed movement ofpeople towards groceries, phar-macies, workplaces, transitstations, recreational centres,etc. and found public mobility isnot only returning to normalcy,but in some cases even exceed-ing, in Bihar.

India relaxed its lockdown onJune 1, and since then, only con-tainment zones have restric-tions in movement. DIU com-pared public movement indifferent states during this timewith the five-week normalperiod between January 3 andFebruary 6 this year. The data isbased on the location shared byusers on their devices.

GROCERIES ANDPHARMACIES

After lockdown ended, therewas an upward mobility towardsgrocery shops and medicalstores across the country. On anaverage, the movement indexfor the first two weeks of Junewas -2.7. This means in the firsttwo weeks of Unlock 1.0, Indiawitnessed 2.7 per cent lessfootfall in these areas than whatit usually does in the normalperiod.

But Bihar’s case was different.This state saw the highestmobility in this period towardsgrocery and pharmacy outlets.Average mobility in these areaswas 37 per cent higher thanwhat it was in the normalperiod. This means not onlyhave markets returned to nor-malcy, but movement in theseareas is higher than evenpre-Covid days.

The city-state of Delhi, whichis witnessing the fastest rise incoronavirus cases in India, sawthe lowest movement in the firsttwo weeks of Unlock 1.0. Theaverage mobility in Delhitowards these areas was 29 percent less than normal days.

FOOTFALL IN PARKSThe average footfall in parks

was 52 per cent less than nor-mal. However, this was not thecase in Bihar as it had the high-est mobility towards parks thanany other big state. Data showsaverage footfall in Bihar’s parksfor the first two weeks of Junewas 8 per cent higher thannormal. People in Delhi were

least mobile towards parks. Thefootfall in Delhi’s parks was 88.5per cent less than normal.

WORKPLACES’ SCENARIOAs the lockdown came to an

end, offices were allowed toopen with safety protocols, lead-ing to a rise in public movementtowards workplaces on an aver-age. However, it still remainsless than 30 per cent of what itwas during normal days. InBihar, the change was minimal.Footfall to workstations washardly 10 per cent less than nor-mal days. In Maharashtra, thismovement was quite under con-trol — 49 per cent less than nor-mal times.

RETAIL AND RECREATIONThis includes restaurants,

cafés, shopping centres, themeparks, museums, libraries andcinema halls. On an average,India saw 62 per cent less foot-fall in these areas in Unlock 1.0.This shows that even if mallsand shopping centres haveopened up, they are not witness-ing the number of customersthey usually cater to in normaldays. Bihar, however, witnesseda higher footfall than thenational average. The drop inpublic mobility here comparedto normal days was 48 per cent.The highest drop was witnessedin Maharashtra — 71 per cent.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTThis includes public transporthubs, such as Metro, bus andtrain stations. Since publictransportation hasn’t been fullyrestored in the country andonly limited options are avail-able, movement towards theseareas was less than normal.

On an average, India saw a 38per cent reduction in people’smovement towards these areas.In Bihar, however, this reductionwas only 24 per cent thanaverage. One of the reasonscould be workers returning fromdifferent states via ShramikSpecial trains.

Delhi had witnessed thelargest drop in footfall towardsthese areas — 58 per cent. Thiscould be because Metro serviceshaven’t resumed and buses arerunning with limited capacity.

REPRODUCTIVITY RATEDespite the fact that Bihar has

unlocked itself in a more liberalway than any other big state,Covid-19 figures show it in goodlight. As of June 1, Bihar had3,800 cases, which rose to 6,300two weeks later.

According to calculations bythe India Covid-19 ApexResearch Team (iCART),Bihar’s basic reproductive ratefor coronavirus (R0) hoveredclose to one in this time period.R0 is the number of non-infected persons that can beinfected by one confirmed case.

By Manogya Loiwalin Kolkata

SOME Bengal Police officialshave found new ways ofbattling coronavirus all bythemselves. In an officialcommunique that is doingthe rounds in the force, ithas been claimed that usingmustard oil, drinking hotlemon water and othersuch home remedies willheal and also treat Covid-19.

It is being claimed that asuccessful experiment bysenior police officials inSiliguri Police Commission-erate in North Bengal hasbenefited many. In an offi-cial letter being circulatedby the police authorities, ithas been stated that thefollowing measures willcure coronavirus: Use ofmustard oil; eat boiledmashed potatoes/puffedrice/salad lavishly dipped inraw mustard oil; apply mus-tard oil in nostrils thricedaily among others.

Bengal policefights Covid withhome remedies

Maha CM requests PM to have medicalexams postponed

By Pankaj Upadhyayin Mumbai

HERE'S something that theChief Minister of MaharashtraUddhav Thackeray has donethat will bring smiles on thefaces of many medical stu-dents who had been com-plaining that they were tornbetween serving Covid-19patients and preparing fortheir future exams.

Taking serious note of theconcerns of the Covid-19 war-riors, the Maharashtra ChiefMinister in a letter to PrimeMinister Narendra Modi, hasasked for the intervention forthe postponement of thepost-graduation examinationfor medical students enrolledin MD and MS courses in thestate at the end of 2020.

Uddhav Thackeray has alsorequested the Prime Ministerto direct the Medical Councilof India to postpone theabove tests which are organ-ised by MaharashtraUniversity of Health Sciences,Nashik.

The letter dated June 18says, “The final year (seniorresident 3) resident doctorswho are required to takethese examinations arepresently working on the frontline in all government ofMaharashtra and municipalmedical colleges assisting theclinical management ofCovid-19 patients.”

“In the event of these exams

are held as per schedule therewould be a serious shortage oftrained doctors during thevery crucial period,” it says.

“I would thus request yourintervention to direct themedical council of India to

postpone the MD/MS exami-nation till December 2020. Soalso, I would request the post-ponement of the Entranceexamination of the super spe-ciality (DM/MCh) to a datesubsequent to December 2020ie. after the conclusion of thefinal year MD/MS exams,” theletter adds.

On June 9, India Today TVhad done a story on how theserving doctors were tensedabout the exams — Do weserve Covid patients or writeexams: Maharashtra residentdoctors demand cancellationof final papers.

Many medical studentsreadying to appear for theexams had asserted that thedilemma was causing them alot of mental stress andrequested the postponementof the said exams.

Serving docs aretensed about exams

File photo of MaharashtraCM Uddhav Thackeray.

Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 7NEWS

— BS YEDIYURAPPA, KARNATAKA CM

Please cooperate by following themeasures put in place for the control ofCovid-19 if you don’t want anotherlockdown or sealing in Bengaluru.

‘

’

A smart machinewith artificial

intelligence-basedsensors was installed atDevi Ahilya Bai Holkar

Airport, Indore, to ensuresocial distancing. It givesmessages in both Hindiand English like: ‘KeepDistance, Stay Safe’.30

personnel at Naval AirStation INS Parundutest positive in Tamil

Nadu, but the forwardoperating base was

operational.

8 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

Being able to take him to Iceland, he’ll never remember, but that might stick tohis soul and his personality a littlebit, so it was greatto get to travel.

COMMENT

NEWSMAKER OF THE DAY

“HUMOUR

DAILY If you don’t know where you aregoing, you might wind upsomeplace else.

— Yogi Berra

“A smile is an inexpensive wayto change your looks.

— Charles GordyI’m not lazy. Its justthat I’m on my energysaving mode.

SO FUNNY

IF PM Johnson has a USP in politics,it is an ability to dismiss his critics.It is our “patriotic duty” to visit thenation’s reopened pubs in a weekand a half, he chirrups. Our rulershope we will shuffle into sociallydistanced pubs, and let thousands offellow citizens who died needlessdeaths rest in peace.

If lockdown had been introducedeven a week earlier, declared ProfNeil Ferguson, our pre-eminentepidemiologist, our death toll couldhave been halved. The delay was an

“economy first” approach. This hasleft Britain possibly facing the worsteconomic hit of developed nations.The public rating of the government’shandling of the crisis is ‘among theworst on earth’.

Perhaps the government believes asummer of beer will make us allforget this. Johnson’s bluster will aimto nurture this collective amnesia.But if a government can get awaywith the avoidable deaths ofthousands of its own citizens, it canget away with anything.

We cannot forgetthe dead by goingto the pubs now

Our country has cometogether in the fight againstcoronavirus. Now we need torebuild the economy with afocus on jobs, jobs jobs.

DAY IN WORDS

DAY IN NUMBERS

AROUND THE WORLDTHE GUARDIAN

ON LOCKDOWN RELAXATIONS

If Wilder ain’t going to useMark Breland then I’ll bringhim in. Because he’s very goodat what he does and he’s gotthe best interest of the fighter.I respect him.

— TYSON FURY, heavyweight champion, on offering Mark

Breland a job if boxer DeontayWilder sacks him

A summer of beer can’t make usforget the govt’s blunders

— KEIR STARMER,UK leader of opposition, on the economy

” ”

`2.1 crworth of narcotics

coming from AndhraPradesh seized

by Pune Customsofficials

`75 cr sanctioned by the

Health departmentfor oxygen pipelines

and other supplies forthe pandemic

lakhs. We must bear in mind there areother such boards and certifying bodiesacross our land. These include the IndianSchool Certificate Examinations and var-ious examining bodies run by agencies ofgovernments across all states. They alsoface the same challenges that confront aboard like the CBSE. The Uttar PradeshIntermediate Board has approximately30 lakh students who sit for its examina-tions each year. The Bihar State Boardhas almost 20 lakh students appearingeach year for its examinations. It isalmost impossible to ensure that each ofthese examining and certifying bodies hasa standard and quality that is compara-ble to the other certifying boards.

The end result is that there is enormousunevenness in the processes. Forinstance, it is well known that for a verylong time the Uttar Pradesh Intermedi-ate Board had a strict regimen when itcame to grading students who used toappear for its school-leaving examina-tions. Thus, the students of the UP Boardwould be at a disadvantage in compari-son to students from other states. Thiswas evident when students of the UPBoard would come seek admission toDelhi University. This is because theadmissions at DU happen largely on thebasis of scores secured in a school-leav-ing examination. However, it appears thatthe UP Board has consciously or other-wise made policy changes that ensure abetter chance for their students to gainentrance into institutions such as a cen-tral university.

Hope for the futureI do see a glimmer of hope through the

setting up of the government sponsoredNational Testing Agency. Ostensibly, ithas been established to look into suchmatters. By all accounts, it has definitelybrought a semblance of order and rationalthought into the process of testing. I canonly wish it more luck and hope that theymake a difference in breaking the cultureof examinations that are proving so coun-terproductive to good education.

The writer is former Vice-Chancellor,Delhi University and currently AdjunctProfessor of Mathematics, University ofHouston, USA. TThhee vviieewwss eexxpprreesssseedd aarree

ppeerrssoonnaall..

This brings me to the many deeperissues that our systems of examinationsgenerate across the land. I assert that thequality of the CBSE examinations is asource of serious concern. These school-leaving examinations are beginning tolose their value and relevance. There ishardly any correlation between the scoresstudents secure at the school leavingexamination and their actual knowledgeof and insights into their school subjects.

Many serious issuesNot many of us educators and thinkers

have ever bothered to really ask the per-tinent question of the purpose of exami-nations? I have not come across any seri-ous debate and discussion on therelevance and need of such examinations.At the same time, the country seems tobe moving more and more into an exam-ination based education system wherethe testing impedes genuine learning. Ihave not come across any meaningfulplatform where Indian institutions-readschools and even colleges-have asked ifthe CBSE examinations really lead togood learning. I notice that generally theeffort of a typical school is to ensure thatits students perform well in the CBSEexaminations. Most such schools do notmake any effort to ask or provide feed-back on the issue of whether the CBSEexaminations encourage and engendertrue learning.

On the other hand one cannot blame acertifying body like the CBSE too much.It faces many challenges and issues. Onemajor challenge that besets the examina-tion process is the diversity of the studentbody that appears its examinations. TheCBSE has to be consistently alerttowards ensuring fairness and qualityover a very large as well as a n extremelydiverse body of students in social, eco-nomic and cultural terms.

I am told that on an average the numberof students who sit for the CBSE school-leaving examinations is more than 10

THE last few days havewitnessed a great dealof discussion anddebate around theconduct of the tail endof the Central Board of

Secondary Education (CBSE)examinations process, which wasinterrupted at the fag end due tothe Corona crisis. I find the issueworrisome since it has causedstress for students. The CBSE has just announced that the

affected students must be content withan assessment method for the unexam-ined subjects through a process that shalltake into account their performances inthese subjects in the last three schoolexaminations. This is not the best way toassess the students. For one, often stu-dents do not pay much attention toschool examinations as during that timethey are far more focused on preparingfor various entrance examinations. Also,examination standards vary immenselyfrom school to school.

More cons than pros Another concern is that those students

who were able to appear in each andevery required examination have a majoradvantage since they had appeared inthese examinations after an opportunityfor proper preparation.

I wonder why the CBSE did not explorea third possibility? To my mind this par-ticular issue is not as vexed as it appears.Perhaps a solution could have beendevised along the lines of giving the stu-dents a choice.

They could either appear in the residualexamination at an appropriate stage-attheir own risk-or take as a score for theunexamined subject the average of thebest two scores from amongst the sub-jects for which they have managed totake examinations.

I am aware that there shall be criti-cisms of this suggestion as well, sinceon the face of the matter at hand themethod bears little resemblance to thestudent’s ability and understanding ofthe subject in question.

— RACHEL MCADAMS,actor, on taking hernearly-two-year-old

son for a shoot in Iceland

by DineshSingh

A test of nerves in virus season

ANIL BAIJALThe LieutenantGovernor of Delhihas reversed hisearlier order, inwhich he hadmandated thatCovid patients withsymptoms had tovisit a governmentfacility for clinicalassessment. TheAam Aadmi Party,headed by ChiefMinister ArvindKejriwal hadopposed this. Aftera lot of debate andcontroversy, the L-G has decidedthat Covid-19patients in homequarantine neednot necessarilyvisit thegovernmentfacilities.

SPOTLIGHT 9Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Friday, June 26, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

BOMBAY TALKIESSUHANI SINGH

IN Netflix film Bulbbul, writer-director Anvita Dutt gives audi-ences a chudail (witch) theyaren’t accustomed to seeing.Dutt’s creation is not an eye-sore, not too scary and has a

back story which explains heractions. Dutt, who was writtenlyrics, dialogues and done additionalscreenplay work over 15 years, callsherself ‘a fan of fantasy’ genre. “Ihave always been attracted to theother, the shadow people who aremisunderstood,” she said. “Some-thing that you don’t understand youare afraid of, and if you get to knowthem a little better you realise thereis pain.”

Produced by brother-sister duo AnushkaSharma and Karnesh Sharma, the mysteryis set in 20th century Bengal and stars RahulBose, Tripti Dimri, Avinash Tiwary,Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Paoli Dam.Damri plays Bulbbul, a woman who is moreemotionally connected to her brother-in-law(Tiwary) than her much elder zamindar-husband (Bose). When her husband departsthe mansion, the body count in the villagerises. “Fairy tales are usually set in an unbe-lievable world or place that doesn’t exist,”said Dutt. “Period Bengal had an other-worldly fairy tale-quality to it; the aestheticsof the time, the literature.”

While the story is set in pre-Independenceera, the issues that Dutt raises especially per-taining to a woman’s place in society and thehurdles she faces still feel pertinent day.“Tragedy is that so many years have passedand the issues are the same,” says Dutt, “onlythe breaking point has changed.”

The writer is senior associate editor,India Today

A NEW WOMEN’S

THERE will be adouble dose ofAmit Sadh on

Amazon Prime. First upthe actor will be seen inseason two of Breathe.Thereafter he will beseen in Shakuntala Devi,the biopic on the acemathematician starringVidya Balan. In Breathecreator Mayank Sharma,Sadh has a bestie who hecan call “at 2am”. “I amhappy that I have theopportunity where I canwork hard and push theboundaries and enter-tain audience,” he said.

AS businesses in India unlock, multiplexowners still wait for the green signal from thestate governments to resume operations.PVR Cinemas meanwhile has used the overthree month-long lockdown to be preparedfor cinema watching in a Covid-19 world.India’s biggest multiplex chain has alreadyunveiled nine Hollywood titles which it willrelease in its quest to bring audiences backto theatres. To assure them that it’s safe toreturn, hygiene protocols are being imple-mented, said Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, jointmanaging director of PVR Group.

Among the new additions in cine-mas will be sanitiser dispensers,floor stickers at box office, anti-bacterial films on door handlesand lift buttons, UV machines to

disinfect cash, ultraviolet germicidal irradia-tion in auditoriums to destroy harmful air-borne contaminants such as bacteria andviruses. Patrons can avail PPE kits at `75.

“We have worked on each and every touchpoint of customer so as to ensure that it’ssafe and secure,” said Bijli about theexhaustive measures which also factor insocial distancing.

To begin with PVR will open at 25% occu-pancy. “Norms will be relaxed over a period

of time,” said Bijli. “It will take four to sixweeks for customers to come back

and be comfortable.” Wearingmasks will be mandatory. “Masksdo cut transmission is a univer-sal truth that cannot be neg-lected or ignored,” he added.

AS his latest film, Manoj Baj-payee was on double duty. Hewas both the titular hero, Bhon-sle, as well as a co-producer ofthe drama directed byDevashish Makhija. After a filmfestival run, the drama will beavailable to stream on SonyLIVfrom June 26. “We tried findingproducers everywhere andevery time we thought we hadfound one, they ran after takingthe narration,” said Bajpayee.“They thought it was a trouble-some script.”The wariness on producers’part perhaps lies in thatMakhija’s Mumbai-set debutfeature looks at the hostility afew rogue local elements directagainst those who come fromoutside Maharashtra to make aliving in its capital. Bajpayee wasconvinced that “the film is not

instigating any controversy”and in Makhija’s intent. The filmfocuses on the solitary Bhonsle,a just retired police constable,who stays away from the preju-diced lot until pushed to stepup. Bajpayee won the best actorat Asia Pacific Screen Award lastyear at a ceremony in Brisbane.Initially plans were to put in

more money and have Bhonslerelease in theatres. But the pan-demic forced the producers toreassess their release strategy.The actor is glad that the film isheaded straight to streaming.“The whole system [theatricalrelease] was so warped thatgetting a democratic platformis quite a relief,” he said. “Thetrade and critics would haveripped it apart just on the basisof collection. Now the film willbe judged on quality.” With itsshelf life no longer determinedby just weekend numbers,Bhonsle will hope that word ofmouth carries it through.

MULTIPLEXES PREPARE FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, joint managingdirector, PVR Group.

Avinash Tiwary plays a pivotal role inthe mystery set in 20th century Bengal.

Amongthe additions

in cinemas will beanti-bacterial films

on door handles

When athespianplays the‘insider’

Manoj Bajpayee’s acting inBhonsle has charmed critics.

Bulbbul writer-director Anvita Dutt

says she is a fan of thefantasy genre.

FAIRY TALENETFLIX

10 Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Friday, June 26, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

Russians began castingballots on Thursday in a

vote that could clear the wayfor President VVllaaddiimmiirr PPuuttiinnto stay in the Kremlin until2036, a process that criticssay is a constitutional coup.W RLDLY

ISE

Without extending the armsembargo, Iran will become anarms dealer of choice forterrorists all throughout theworld. This is unacceptable.

‘

‘

— MIKE POMPEO, US SECRETARY OF STATE

THE WORLD faces ashortage of oxygenconcentrators asthe number ofworldwide cases ofcoronavirus infec-

tion nears the 10 millionmark, the World HealthOrganization head said onWednesday.

“Many countries are now expe-riencing difficulties obtainingoxygen concentrators,” WHODirector General TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus told anews conference. “Demand iscurrently outstripping supply.”

The new coronavirus has hit 9.3million people and killed morethan 480,000 so far and is risingby about 1 million cases perweek. This has pushed oxygendemand to 88,000 large cylindersper day, or 620,000 cubic metresof oxygen, Tedros said.

C VID-19

PANDEMIC

With number of corona cases nearing the 10 million mark,oxygen demand is close to 88,000 large cylinders per day

TOURISTS and Parisianspanted their way up the stairs ofthe Eiffel Tower Thursday as theiron monument reopened afterits longest closure since WorldWar II due to the coronavirus,with the lifts still closed as ahealth precaution.

The initial crowds of dozens ofpeople braving blazing earlysummer heat were a far cry fromthe usual queues at the tower’sbase in the centre of the Frenchcapital.

But the moment of the reopeningof the great edifice was asymbolic one the country emergesfrom the virus lockdown. The first visitors had to tackle thesteep climb to the first or secondlevel by the stairs, with elevatorsas well as the top observationdeck off-limits because of socialdistancing concerns.

“I’m tearing up, but they’re tearsof joy. It’s an emotional momentafter these difficult months,” saidTherese, visiting from thesouthern French city ofPerpignan.

“I’m going to climb, but slowly,said the 60-year-old, wearing theobligatory face mask. And if Idon’t make it, it’s no big deal!”

—AFP

Eiffel Tower reopensafter 3-month closure

BIGGEST ONE-DAYRISE IN CASES IN 2 MONTHS IN OZ

AUSTRALIA’S second mostpopulous state deployedambulances and mobiletest centres in a coronavirus testing blitz asthe country recorded thebiggest daily rise in casesin two months.

Victoria state said 33 people tested positive forcoronavirus in the past 24hours, marking nine daysof double digit new casesin the state. It has around200 current cases out of acountry total of 270.

Desperate to contain theoutbreak, Victoria statePremier Daniel Andrewssaid authorities are begin-ning a testing blitz across

the 10 most effected suburbs. “We have ambu-lances and other vans thatwill literally be at the endof people’s streets,”Andrews told reporters inMelbourne.

“We will see these (case)numbers go up in comingdays.” Andrews said about100,000 tests will be conducted over the next 10 days.

Victoria’s efforts to contain the virus will besupplemented by 1,000 Australian military person-nel who are expected toarrive on Friday, Ministerfor Defence Linda Reynoldssaid. —Reuters

A womantakes samplesat a Covid-19drive-throughtesting facility inMelbourne on Thursday.

A health workertakes care of a

patient in Santiago,Chile, on Thursday.

The Eiffel Tower inParis was reopenedfor the public onThursday.

Tedros Adhanom, DirectorGeneral, W.H.O

The sudden rise has created adearth of oxygen concentratorsneeded to support breathing ofCovid-19 patients suffering fromrespiratory distress. The healthagency has purchased 14,000oxygen concentrators from man-ufacturers and plans to send

them to 120 countries in comingweeks, Tedros said.

A further 170,000 concentra-tors — valued at some $100 mil-lion — will be potentially avail-able over the next six months.

The head of the WHO emer-gencies programme, Dr Mike

Ryan, meanwhile said the pan-demic in many Latin Americancountries was still intense asdeaths in the region surpassed100,000 this week. Many coun-tries had experienced 25-50%increases in cases in the pastweek, he said.

“I would characterise the situ-ation in the Americas as stillevolving, not having reached itspeak yet, and likely to result insustained numbers of cases andcontinued deaths,” he said.

The United States has criti-cized WHO’s handling of thepandemic, calling the agency“China-centric”.

President Donald Trumpdemanded an immediate reviewand reforms and has pledged toquit the Geneva-based body.European governments are alsoworking with the United Stateson an overhaul plan.

While Tedros has pledgedaccountability and a post-pan-demic review, Ryan said onWednesday the agency was hold-ing internal talks over its actionsincluding what it has learnedabout controlling the virus.

—Reuters

Covid-19 has hit9.3 mn people and

killed 4,80,000

WORLD FACING OXYGENSHORTAGE, SAYS W.H.O.

11Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Monday, June 8, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 W RLDLY WISE

German report says Pakistan’snuclear arsenal directed at India

PRIME MINISTER Imran Khan hascalled 9/11 mastermind Osamabin Laden a “shaheed” (martyr)while addressing the NationalAssembly.

Osama bin Laden was the headof the global terror group AlQaeda and the brain behind the9/11 terror attacks on the UnitedStates in 2001.

In his speech, Imran Khan said,“...we were veryembarassed...When Americanscame and killed Osama binLaden at Abottabad..martyredhim.”

Osama bin Laden waskilled in a militaryoperation by US NavySeals in 2011 at thegarrison townAbbottabad. Hewas accused of

engineering a number of terrorattacks worldwide.

This is, however, not the firsttime that Imran Khan hasshowed a soft corner for Osamabin Laden.

In a TV interview before hebecame the prime minis-

ter of Pakistan, ImranKhan had refused to

call Osama binLaden a terrorist.

—indiatoday.in

Imran Khancalls OsamaBin Laden ‘a martyr’

Pakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan.

Osamawas killed in a US military

operation in 2011.

China’sgrowingterritorial aggression

By Geeta Mohanin New Delhi

AFTER global terror watchdogFATF decided to keep Pakistanon the ‘grey list’ and a scathingUS State Department report onterrorism, now a German gov-ernment report on nuclear non-

proliferation has put Pakistan onthe dock for its dismal record inthe nuclear proliferation space.

The annual report of the Officefor the Protection of the Consti-tution for the German State ofBaden-Württemberg for the year2019 was released on June 16.

Explaining the term “prolifer-ation” of nuclear, biological andchemical weapons of massdestruction — or the productsand know-how necessary toproduce them — and of related

delivery systems, the reportstated, “Iran, Pakistan, NorthKorea and Syria are still pursu-ing such efforts. They aim tocomplete existing arsenals, per-fect the range, deployabilityand effectiveness of theirweapons and develop newweapons systems. They are try-ing to obtain the necessaryproducts and relevantknowhow, through illegal pro-curement efforts in Germany.”

“The production and prolifer-ation of such weapons are aserious threat to peace andinternational security”, the

report added.Adding weight to what India

has always been saying, thereport has said that Pakistan’s“extensive” “military” nuclearprogram is directed against“arch enemy” India.

“In addition to a civiliannuclear programme, Pakistanhas for many years been operat-ing an extensive military nuclearweapons and carrier pro-gramme. This is primarilydirected against the “archenemy” India, which also pos-sesses nuclear weapons”, theGerman report said.

A file photo ofPakistan’sShaheen IIImissile.

Report confirms whatIndia has always said

By Geeta Mohan in New Delhi

CHINA is trying to restart itseconomy amidst a second waveof the pandemic, but this hasnot dampened its territorialaggressions.

Making most of this crisis even asmost countries have been reelingwith the impact of the Covid-19virus, the dragon has been breath-ing fire on its neighbours.

The Psyops, the online warfare, theinfiltration into strategic communitiesin various countries aside, China hasbecome a belligerent force trying toopen up as many fronts as possible.

India and China have been fightingthe worst border conflict in fourdecades in Eastern Ladakh with theIndia-China border witnessing blood-shed for the first time since 1975.

However, China’s cartographic plansextend to the whole of Indo-Pacificregion. As ORF’s Distinguished Fellow,Rajeshwari Rajagopalan points outthat “for a decade since Xi Jingpingcame to power, the country has beenaggressive on both the East China seaand South China sea apart from theSino-Indian border.”

SOUTH CHINA SEABeijing’s presence in the South China

Sea, involves military maneuvers andlarge-scale deployment of militaryassets to the region. This move caughtthe international community, particu-larly the US completely off guard.

The Chinese territorial onslaughtacross the nine dash line that consistsof all the nations in the South ChinaSea stretching upto Taiwanhas increased in the pastmonths. With the countryincreasingly claiming themaritime space and evenputting on displays of airpower.

On March 16 Taiwan’snewest Coast Guard Admin-istration (CGA) patrol ves-sel was damaged after beingrammed by Chinese fishingboats near Kinmen County.

It was second such con-frontation in which shotswere fired to repel Chinesefishing boats.

On April 11, they con-ducted unwanted drills inthe Taiwan strait to opposeUS support for Taiwan’ssovereignty.

On April 2, the Chineseattacked sank a Vietnamesefishing boat near the Para-cel Islands, an archipelagoin the South China Sea thatChina claims as its own.

UNUSUAL MOVESThese are unprecedented

moves against countries thathave had good ties with China.

Retired Intelligence official,Jayadev Ranade calls out this

“Wolf Warrior diplomacy ofChina being pushed by theyounger lot of diplomats inChina. Under global pressuredue to Coronavirus, their strat-egy is to hit back hard.”

HONG KONG GAMBLEThe biggest gamble China is

playing is with Hongkong. Thenew national security bill thereensures the semi-autonomusstate is absorbed completely

within the Chinese jurisdiction. The Indo-Pacific powers have

been wary of the Chinese threatand Japan, Australia, India andthe US are partnering tocounter China aggresive movesin the region.

Australia has come under oneof the worst cyber attacks andintelligence points to Chineseinvolvement in the online war-fare as pointed out by the coun-try’s political leadership.

Despite the fear of sanctions,China has been taking on theUS in the South China Seawaters. If this is China’s idea ofsending a strong message to theworld to not join forces with theUS against Beijing then theyhave gone about it the wrongway. After mishandling the coro-navirus crisis, it seems likeChina is fumbling through keep-ing partnerships demonstratingabsolute strategic tone-deaf-ness through its aggression.

‘The Dragon’ has

been at war even

with nations that

it is known to be

in good terms

TAIWAN: MARCH 16: Patrol vessel dam-aged by Chinese fishing boatsAPRIL 11: Drills in the Taiwanstrait.JUNE: Chinese fighter planesenter Taiwanese air space.

JAPAN:March 30: Targeting a Japanese naval ship.APRIL 13: China deployed anaircraft carrier in the Miyako

strait.MAY: China sent aircraft carrier Liaoning through the Miyako Strait

VIETNAM:APRIL 2: Sank a Vietnamesefishing boat near Paracelislands.

INDONESIA:JJAANNUUAARRYY:: Encroachment offisheries.

MALAYSIA:APRIL 16: Deploying an explo-ration vessel near Malaysia.

AUSTRALIA: JUNE: Cyberattack originating from China.

US: JUNE: US vessel conduct-ing routine operations wasexpelled by the Chinese navy.

CANADA: Two Canadiannationals detained by China.

LIVING IN ATROUBLED NEIGHBOURHOOD

12 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 ENTERTAINMENT

Bajpayee’sacting can’tcompensate for a weaknarrative

BHONSLEbegins with ajuxtapositionof two jour-neys. On oneend a Ganesha

idol is being adorned forthe festival and on theother a police constable isdisrobing as he retiresfrom the force. Both areunwilling spectators to thechaos that unfolds. By theend their fates collide.

The battleground is a chawlwhere Vilas (Santosh Juverkar),a Maharashtrian taxi driver, isstoking hatred against the resi-dents from North India. Ten-sions flare up after the migrantsaren’t allowed to be a part of theGanesh festivities. Bhonsle(Manoj Bajpayee), one of thechawl’s senior residents, recog-nises the futility of men fightingto stake claim over God. Hestays away from the mess as hehas worries of his own — failinghealth, managing householdchores and an uncertain future.

But when a benevolentbrother-sister duo moves in nextto his dingy abode, Bhonslefinds that silence isn’t an option.Sita (Ipsita Chakraborty Singh)is a nurse; Lalu (Virat Vaibhav),her younger brother, is guilt-rid-den. Makhija uses the ‘us vs

them’ sentiment to demonstratehow identities are imposed onpeople when all they want is tosurvive. The film doesn’t elabo-rate on the discussion. It does-n’t help that Abhishek Baner-jee’s character who instigatesthe conflict vanishes.

Instead it provides a portrait ofVilas which is sketchy and does-n’t delve deep into what driveshis rage. Makhija also isn’t tooconcerned to go into the psycheof what ‘the outsider’ feels. Theentrance of Sita and Lalu shakesup the drama but there’s littleinsight to them even as theycome to Bhonsle’s aid. It’s a

regretful omission from a filmwhich centres on the marginali-sation of the outsider. Insteadfar much time is spent on build-ing Bhonsle’s crumbling world.

The masterstroke is to haveBajpayee, a Bihari by birth, playa Maharashtrian who rises up tofight the good fight. With Baj-payee at helm, Bhonsle’s dailyroutine has a leisurely rhythm toit and the words are used spar-ingly but effectively. It’s a per-formance which weighs in phys-ical frailties and a lonely, fraughtexistence and rarely misses abeat. But Bajpayee’s command-ing act cannot distract from theinadequacies of the narrative.

Collision

worldsbySuhani

Singh

Spine-chillingfantasy with a stellar castFairy tale and reality intersperse in a film wherepatriarchy hems in the independent woman

by Nairita Mukherjee

KASHPHOOL is a commonsight common sight in Bengal.It stands for peace, happinessthat's just around the cornerbut it only thrives in aban-doned stretches of land, wildand untameable. Netflix's Bulb-bul ends with such an image —a Thakur Bari that once stoodfor promises now has kash-phool growing in its courtyard.

Director Anvita Duttdescribed Bulbbul recently as"a fairy tale with teeth" andtruer words were never spoken.If you haven’t seen theAnushka Sharma production,we suggest you keep an undis-turbed two hours forthis.

Bulbbul boasts of astellar star cast —Rahul Bose in adouble role, ofBado Thakur andMejo Thakur, theeldest and thementally unstablesecond brother ofa rich Thakur fam-ily, Avinash Tiwary asSatya or ChhotoThakur, the youngestbrother, Paoli Dam as Binodini,the wife of the second brother,Parambrata Chattopadhyay asDr Sudip, and finally, the enig-matic Tripti Dimri as Bulbbul.Set in the late 19th centuryBengal, Bulbbul, on the surface,is a story of a witch, a productof folklore, but underneath itbleeds of revenge and justice.

The film starts off with Bulb-bul, who is barely five, beingwedded to Bado Thakur withher elders’ consent. Yet she

assumes she's marrying Satyabecause he’s her age.

Satya and Bulbbul tell eachother stories of witches andwitchcraft, losing themselves inthe undiscovered corners of thehaveli, and in each other.

The story moves 20 yearsahead, Bulbbul and Satya’srelationship is slightly mature,

yet without a definition. BadoThakur has waited to see

the same love for him-self in Bulbbul's eyesthat he's had for her,except something isamiss. So Satya issent off to London,she is punished forcrossing the Laksh-man Rekha and the

secrets remainburied within the

walls that witnesseverything.

Within five years thesesecrets befall the haveli like acurse and pull it down. Revengedramas often fall into a rut byvirtue of them being so farremoved from reality that theaudience fail to connect withthe story. In Bullbbul, even ifyou know what's unfoldingbefore you is a fantasy, it is justso fantastical that you cannothelp but be mesmerised.

The actors' performances, ofcourse, come in handy in thisfantastical offering.

BULBBULCast: Tripti Dimri,Parambrata Chattopadhyay,Avinash Tiwary, Rahul Boseand Paoli Dam Direction: Anvita Dutt.

BOLLYWOOD WILLresume film shoots butwith strict rules banningelaborate scenes. A banon actors over the ageof 65 on setsmight meanactors like77-year-oldAmitabhBachchanwould stayhome.—PTI

Will Big Bmiss outon shoots?

The first-class performances make the film a must-watch

BhonsleCast: Manoj Bajpayee, San-tosh Juvekar, IpshitaChakraborty Singh and ViratVaibhav.Direction: DevashishMakhija.

★★★

of two

SCRIPT MUSICACTINGDIRECTION IMPACT ON TARGET VIEWERS

Evenwhen

you knowwhat's unfolding

before you is a fantasy, you are still drawn

to it

By Munish Pandey in New Delhi

AN Indian cinematographer shot an entire90-minute film on iPhone during the pan-demic in the US, which has now set a newtrend for post COVID filmmaking. KalpakPathak, who has won many awards earlier,shot Amidst My Own in the US when thecountry was fighting with the novel virus.

“Due to the current scenario, where costcutting and budget films are preferred,shooting films on iPhone is gaining promi-nence. Filmmaking in Hollywood is chang-ing due to the pandemic and withtechnological advancements,shooting a film on an iphone canbe seen as the future of lowbudget filmmaking,” said Los

Angeles-based Pathak. This is important asexperts say that the revenue and earningsare bound to fall as people don’t haveenough money to watch films in theatres.

Amidst My Own, which Kalpak startedworking on since January 27, is based onan Indian chauffeur falling in love with hisAmerican employer’s girlfriend. The film isexpected to release early next year.

While shooting the team faced multiplechallenges due to the pandemic andbudget constraints. It used minimum crewmembers and logistics. “A film can be shot

through any visual capturing deviceas long as there is a good eye for

photography. Besides thephone, we need phone-rigs,filters, gimbal, portablemicrophone,” added Pathak.

Kalpak Pathak shot a 90-minute film, Amidst My Own,about Covid-19 in the United States, on his iPhone

Kalpak Pathak (left) overcamemany challenges during the shoot

FRAMING THE PANDEMIC

Itappears to

be the future oflow-budget films

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Wednesday, August 2, 2017 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 13COFFEE BREAK

TWO PAGES OF ASTROLOGY, PUZZLES AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

ARIES Apr 14-May 14

The going is good. Lots ofopportunity is there for ahassle free relationship and

you are going to make sure it remainsthat way. You will be pleased withyour beloved.

CANCER July 16-Aug 15

You are getting quite seriousabout your current partner.

This is the right time to make a go ofthings so the relationship can flourishin a positive and calm manner.

LEO Aus 16-Sep 15

You could get into a goodrelationship, one that willbring happiness. There will

be a lot of give and take. You willunderstand each other perfectly andcomplement one another.

SCORPIO Nov 16-Dec 15

Resolving an issue that hasbeen annoying you of late is

one of your priorities now. Yoursweetheart can also look to you foradvice on how to make life moremeaningful.

AQUARIUSFeb 12-March 13

There is so much positivityabout you that it radiates and

makes you very attractive to everyone.You will send good viobes and these aregoing to be reciprocated.

SAGITTARIUSDec 16-Jan 13

A nasty experience of the pastcan make you wary of getting

into another relationship even though theopportunity is there. Try to come out of your shell and enjoy yourself.

GEMINI June 16-July 15

Your magnetic personality willattract people to you and so

often you are going to be the centre ofattraction. Passion is going to enhanceyour current relationship.

TAURUS May 15-June 15

You are going to get stabilityin your emotional life.

Dealing with matters in a practicalway will keep you peaceful. You may have to go out on a long distance travel.

VIRGO Sep 16-Oct 15

You will be calmer and in ahappier state than before.Love will bloom and can

bring many changes into your life. Thereis going to be so much to look forwardto in this relationship.

LIBRA Oct 16-Nov 15

Pay attention to the currentstatus of how your love isfaring and let bygones be

bygones. Past mistakes can put youdown and keep you from making theprogress you want.

PISCES Mar 14-Apr 13

Avoid going into isolationotherwise you can miss

out on a lot of fun. A new romance is indicated where there will be happiness and lots to keep you going.

CAPRICORNJan 14-Feb 11It is not a lack of communica-

tion but less communication

that is likely to create obstacles for you.

You will not know what to expect and

thereby what to give and how to give.

By Dr Ajai Bhambi

Co

ffee

Bre

ak

Difficulty Rating

Cross out numbers to create blanks. No digit canappear in a row or column more than once. No twoadjacent squares can be blacked out. All the squaresleft unblacked must be connected — vertically or horizontally — to form a single shape.

SCRABBLE GRAMS

DAILY JUMBLE MINI SUDOKU SUDOKU X

CODEWORDSUDOKU

Difficulty Rating

Difficulty Rating

Difficulty Rating

Difficulty Rating

KAKURO SUDOKU CLASSIC HITORI

*Datesbased

on VedicSun Signs

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Wednesday, August 16, 2017 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 202014 COFFEE BREAK

by Manisha Koushik

FOCUSFOCUSASTROASTRO

ARIES Mar 21-Apr 20

On financial front you can save alot if you bargain well. At workplace be cautious towards your

behaviour with your seniors, as this mighthamper your career.

TAURUS Apr 21-May 20

The life relies on give and takeformula and same applies to

you too. If you want someone to helpyou, then you will asked to do a favour.

GEMINI May 21-June 21

If you are planning to go out forwindow shopping, then there

are chances that you might end uppurchasing something expensive, so think twice before buying something.

CANCER June 22-July 22

If you are planning someinvestment options thentoday there are chances that

you can get a break through. If youhave some project to finish then keepyour boss well informed in advance.

LEO July 23-Aug 23

At financial front today is a goodday for you, as you will benefited

with your investments. At office if you arenot able to complete some task then speak about it.

VIRGO Aug 24-Sep 23

Today at money front the day isyours as you will get good returnsfrom your savings. Be careful at

office while doing your work as you mightface difficulty in explaining your concerns.

LIBRA Sep 24-Oct 23

Today you will at the topfinancially. Lots of money will bepouring in. At office people willlike your innovative ideas. Today in

your family your prompt efforts will behighly appreciated.

SCORPIO Oct 24-Nov 22

Good investments will keep youfinancially strong. At work frontit’s better to delegate work

rather than doing it yourself to finish the given work.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23-Dec 21

Today is one of the great days for youboth at health and finance areas. Youwill be appreciated for your hard

work at work front. Good day for academicperformances which will boost your mood.

CAPRICORN Dec 22-Jan 21

Today you have to understand thatif you want financial success inyour life then you have to control

your expenditures. There are chances thatyour romantic plans might get backfired.

AQUARIUS Jan 22-Feb 19

Today you will successfullyinvest in some financial plan. If some of you are looking for

a job change then today is a good day to explore options.

PISCES Feb 20-Mar 20

Today is a day when you canexpect good financial profit from

your investments. At work front youramazing marketing skills will make youfavourite among your seniors.

KEN-KENEach row & column must contain numbers 1 to 4 (easy) or1 to 6 (difficult). The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes must combine to produce the numbers in the top-left corner.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS1 Shriek out “Cream’s

in it!” (6) 8 Read about the poet who

worked in a theatre? (8) 9 That’s a stretcher? Rubbish!

(6) 10 I’ll tell you a secret -I’m to separate! (6)

14 It’s said to be nutritive butit’s full of gas and nothingmore (4)

15 It changes Al taking a rest (6)

18 When it’s up, you’ve had it?That figures! (6)

19 Leo accepted the bid and wegot excited (6)

21 In this era, he’s a body carrier (6)

24 Authority needed for 6Romans to go to SouthAustralia (4)

25 How to gain control over awayward stream (6)

28 Quickly! Change that poster! (6)

29 It’s nice to plan a way toreach the highest point (8)

30 The sort of ready reply oneexpects in a laboratory (6)

DOWN2 Cheat me and I’ll cut you! (6)

3 On the whole, I enter this way (6)

4 Or get to Mass despite yourmuddy outlook (6)

5 It’s most favourable to be therebetween eight and ten, itseems (6)

6 A bit wet to give a Russian yesto a politician, isn’t it? (4)

7 Carry the Soviet circus star? (4)11 Some, you see, find it a pest in

the house (5) 12 The colour of bream when it’s

off (5)13 Better seen in a compact

way (5) 15 Book Al and that American

Vagrant! (5) 16 He stumbles on excursions! (5) 17 It concerns Eve and that

bailiff (5) 20 Point out how straightforward

it is (6) 21 Obstruct its use at picnics (6) 22 Even if I re-arrange

the table? (6) 23 To be put on or added to by a

would-be wooer (6)26 Becomes parched following a

raid (4) 27 There’s something fishy about

my aunt (4)

SUDOKUFill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3X3squares contains all the digits from 1 to 9. Solutions are below.

Difficulty Rating Difficulty Rating Difficulty Rating

TODAY’S SOLUTIONS

HITORI CRYPTIC CROSSWORDKAKURO

SUDOKU SUDOKU CLASSICMINI SUDOKU

CODEWORD

Scrabble and scrabble tiles are registered trademarks. Allrights in the game are owned in the USA by Hasbro Inc., inCanada by Hasbro Canada Inc., and elsewhere by J.W. Spear &Sons Limited., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc

SCRABBLE GRAMSSUDOKU X

KEN-KEN

15Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Thursday, June 25, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

There is nothingwrong in imports thatspur production &create jobs. But today,even Ganesha idols areimported from China.Why such a situation?

‘QUOTE OF THE DAY

32 mntonnes is projected sugar outputfor 2020-21, an increase of 17.69%.

NUMBER OF THE DAY

Japan’s SoftBank Groupfounder Masayoshi Son

said on Thursday he was leavingthe board of Alibaba as JackMa, the charismatic co-founderof the Chinese e-commercegiant, also leaves SoftBank’s board, effective June 25.

mybiz — NIRMALA SITHARAMAN, FINANCE MINISTER

‘

FUNDS parked by Indian indi-viduals and enterprises inSwiss banks, including throughIndia-based branches, fellnearly 6 per cent in 2019 to 899million Swiss francs (Rs 6,625crore), annual data fromSwitzerland's central bankshowed on Thursday.

This marks the second con-secutive year of decline inaggregate funds of Indianclients with all Swiss banks,taking the figure to the thirdlowest level in more thanthree decades since 1987 whenthe Swiss National Bank (SNB)began compiling the data.

The total amount of CHF899.46 million, described bythe SNB as aggregate 'liabili-ties' of Swiss banks or 'amountsdue to' their Indian clients atthe end of 2019. —PTI

Indian moneyin Swiss banksdeclines 6%

MAKING it easier for corpo-rates to raise funds amid thecoronavirus pandemic, Sebi onThursday decided to relax thepricing methodology for pref-erential issuance of shares,and approved certain changesin norms for acquisition ofshares through open offer. Theregulator's board, during itsmeeting on Thursday, alsocleared amendments toinsider trading regulations anddecided to streamline settle-ment regulations to make pro-cedures faster and more effec-tive. Sebi has decided to allowacquisition of shares throughstock exchange settlementprocess by way of bulk orblock deals during an openoffer subject to certain condi-tions. Providing a temporaryrelaxation, Sebi said therewould be an additional optionfor pricing methodology withrespect to preferential issues.In cases where the new optionis exercised, there would bethe requirement of three-yearlock-in period for such shares.

— MT Bureau

Sebi tweaksrules to easeissuing shares

By Mail Today Bureau In New Delhi

THE government is considering imposing acustoms duty of 20-25% on solar modules and15% on solar cells imports for a year beginningin August, Power Minister RK Singh said onThursday.

India imports most of its solar cells and mod-ules requirement from China, as part of thedrive to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi’starget of installing 100 gigawatts of solarenergy by 2022. The development comesamidst rising tensions on the Ladakh borderwith the neighbouring country which also

enjoys a huge trade surplus in bilateral trade. India does not currently levy a customs duty

on imports of solar cells and modules, but hasa safeguard duty to protect its local industrywhich scheduled to expire in July.

“In the second year, we are looking to imposea 40% tax on solar modules,” Singh said in avirtual news conference on Thursday, addingthat cells will be taxed at 25% in the secondyear. Electricity generation from non-fossil fuelsources has been steadily rising and isexpected to reach 40% by 2022, and over half oftotal output by 2030, Singh said.

Major Indian traders have called for a boy-

cott of Chinese goods, while some trade asso-ciations and stakeholders have argued that itmay not be feasible.

Singh also said that there was a “good case”to extend a deadline for emissions standards,which involve installing flue gas desulphuriza-tion (FGD) units that cut emissions of sulphurdioxide, a gas known to cause lung diseases.

India’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected arequest by power producers to extend a dead-line to install equipment to cut emissions bytwo years to 2024. Power producers had askedthe government to join them in asking the topcourt for an extension earlier this month.

Govt plans tariff of up to 25% on Chinese solar gear

By Mail Today Bureau In New Delhi

FMCG GIANTUnilever will dropthe word “fair”from its “Fair &Lovely” brand ofskin lightening

products which are popu-lar in India but have longbeen criticised for beingracist and promoting neg-ative impressions of peo-ple with darker skin.

The development comes asFMCG companies face a mount-ing backlash on social media inthe wake of the Black Lives Mat-ter movement.

The move also comes close onthe heels of Unilever’s arch rivalJohnson & Johnson announcingthis month that it would stopselling skin-whitening creamswhich are popular in Asia andthe Middle East.

Unilever announced on Thurs-day that the next step in theevolution of its skincare portfo-lio to a more inclusive vision ofbeauty - which includes theremoval of the words fair, white,and light from its products'packs and communication. Aspart of this decision, the Fair &Lovely brand name will bechanged in the next few months.

“We recognise that the use ofthe words ‘fair’, ‘white’ and‘light’ suggest a singular ideal ofbeauty that we don’t think isright, and we want to addressthis,” Sunny Jain, president ofUnilever’s beauty and personalcare division, said in a state-ment.

Unilever’s ‘Fair & Lovely’brand dominates the market inSouth Asia. Similar products arealso sold by L’Oréal) and Proc-ter & Gamble.

“We are making our skin careportfolio more inclusive ...a morediverse portrayal of beauty,”Hindustan Unilever ChairmanSanjiv Mehta said in a separatestatement.

Rival J&J has stoppedselling fairness creams

Unilever owns a 67% stake inHindustan Unilever, its Indiaunit. The companies also sell thepopular Dove and Knorr rangeof products.

In India, fairness productshave long been endorsed byleading Bollywood celebrities, aswell as other popular youthicons.

Advertisements have regularlyfeatured two faces showing skintone transformation, as well asshade guides to show“improvement”.

Hindustan Unileversaid it had movedfrom that line ofadvertising in 2019,

and “will continue to evolve itsadvertising to feature women ofdifferent skin tones, representa-tive of the variety of beautyacross India.”

The company said it will con-tinue to evolve its advertising, tofeature women of different skintones, representative of the vari-ety of beauty across India.

The brand name change is sub-ject to regulatory approvals, thecompany said in a filing to the

exchanges. It did not spec-ify what the new name

would be.A source in the par-

ent company toldReuters that alter-

natives like “Dare & Lovely,“Care & Lovely,” or “Fresh &Lovely” were being considered,but products with the old brandname will not be recalled.

“A recall is done when theproduct has a problem, pleasebear in mind the quality is notunder the scanner, the name is,”the source said.

“Words such as skin brighten-ing, whitening, lightening couldsoon become a thing of the paston all labels and product salespitches,” the source said.

French cosmetics companyL’Oréal is also reported to behaving discussions on the issuein view of the backlash.

This month activists startedpetitions on Change.Org, draw-ing thousands of signatures,including one by Nina Davuluri,who in 2014 became the firstIndian American to be crownedMiss America.

“I have goosebumps as I readthis! Kudos to you @Unilever,”Chandana Hiran, a Mumbai-based finance executive whostarted a Change.org petitioncalled #allshadesarelovely,tweeted on Thursday.

16

Unilever to drop‘fair’ from brands Move amid growing protests against racism

SUNNY JAIN, president of Unilever’s beauty division

We recognise that the useof the words ‘fair’, ‘white’and ‘light’ suggest a singularideal of beauty that we don’tthink is right.

‘

‘

Power minister RK Singh

L’Oreal alsoreported to be

discussing the issue

Fair & Lovely brandof skin lightening

product on displayat a local store

Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

By Lalit K Jha in Washington

CALLING Orange inFrance, Jio in India andTelstra in Australia as'clean telcos' for refus-ing to do business withfirms from China, US

Secretary of State Mike Pompeohas claimed that Chinese techgiant Huawei's deals withtelecommunicationsoperators around theworld are evaporating.

The world's leading telecomoperators including Spain'sTelefonica, as well as Orange,O2, Jio, Bell Canada, Telus, andRogers, and many more arebecoming clean telcos... (Theyare) disconnecting from theChinese Communist Partyinfrastructure, Pompeo toldreporters at a news conferencehere on Wednesday. They arerejecting doing business withtools of the CCP surveillancestate including companies likeHuawei, he said, adding thatthe tide is turning against theChinese tech company.

HUAWEI'S dealswith telecom-municationsoperatorsaround the

world are evaporating becausecountries are only allowingtrusted vendors in their 5G net-works. Examples include theCzech Republic, Poland, Swe-den, Estonia, Romania, Den-mark, and Latvia. Recently,Greece agreed to use Ericssonrather than Huawei to developits 5G infrastructure, he said.Some of the largest telecomcompanies around the globeare also becoming clean telcos.We've seen this with Orange inFrance, Jio in India, Telstra inAustralia, SK and KT in SouthKorea, NTT in Japan, and O2 inthe United Kingdom, he said.Pompeo said he met China'stop diplomat Yang Jiechi inHawaii last week and had a very

BANK of India on Thursdayreported a standalone net loss ofRs 3,571 crore for March quarter2019-20, as it made higher provi-sions for bad loans.

The state-owned lenderreported a profit after tax of Rs252 crore for the year-ago sameperiod. The loss was mainlybecause of the aggressive provi-sions we made over and abovethe required norms. For twomajor accounts one NBFC andanother housing finance com-pany- we decided to provide 100per cent, which amounted to Rs3,700 crore, MD and CEO A K Dassaid. The lender made a provisionof Rs 414 crore as against the min-imum requirement of 5 per cent.Das said of the 56 lakh eligibleaccounts, nearly 41 per cent ofcustomers opted for the morato-rium. For the full year, the bankreported a standalone net loss ofRs 2,957 crore as against a loss ofRs 5,547 crore in 2018-19.

Bank of Indiasinks into ̀ 3,571 crloss in Jan-March

DEVELOPING a COVID-19 vac-cine in record time will be tough.Producing enough to end the pan-demic will be the biggest medicalmanufacturing feat in history.

Any hitch in an untested supplychain - which could stretch fromPune in India to England’s Oxfordand Baltimore in the UnitedStates - could torpedo or delaythe complex process. Col. NelsonMichael, director of the U.S.Army’s Center for Infectious Dis-ease Research who is working onthe government’s “Warp Speed”project to deliver a vaccine atscale by January, said companiesusually have years to figure thisstuff out. “Now, they have weeks.”“This is the biggest logistical chal-lenge the world has ever faced,”said Toby Peters, an engineeringand technology expert at Britain’sBirmingham university.

Covid vaccinemakers face biglogistical feat

WIRECARD collapsed on Thursdayowing creditors almost $4 billionafter disclosing a gaping hole inits books that its auditor EY saidwas the result of a sophisticatedglobal fraud.

The pay-ments com-pany filed forinsolvency at aMunich courtsaying that,with 1.3 billioneuros ($1.5 bil-lion) of loansdue within aweek its sur-vival as agoing concernwas “not assured”.

Wirecard’s implosion came justseven days after EY, its auditor formore than a decade, refused tosign off on the 2019 accounts,forcing out CEO Markus Braun andleading it to admit that $2.1 billionof its cash probably didn’t exist.

$4 bn goes downdrain as Wirecardfiles for bankruptcy

— MT Bureau & Agencies

By Divyesh Singh in Mumbai

THE CBI on Thursday filed a charge sheetagainst Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, hisfamily members as well as DHFL co-founders Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan inan alleged scam involving the private sectorlender.

The charge sheet alleges that Kapoor'sfamily received kickbacks for Yes Bank'sinvestment in DHFL's debentures. Thecharge sheet, filed before a special court inMumbai, also named Rana Kapoor's daugh-ter Roshni, Dewan Housing Finance Lim-ited (DHFL), RKW Developers and DoITUrban Ventures (India).

The case was registered on March 7 by theapex investigation agency in connectionwith the suspicious loans granted by theYes Bank and alleged quid pro quo betweenthe banks founder Rana Kapoor andDHFL's Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan.

The transactions under probe by theagency are on the investment of Rs 3700crore made in short debentures of DHFLand a loan granted by DHFL of Rs 600 crore

to DOiT Urban Ventures Ltd (DUVPL),which is a company owned by Kapoor'sdaughters.

The Rs 600 crore loan by DHFL to DUVPLis suspected to be a kickback received byKapoor for the debenture investment madeby Yes Bank of Rs 3,700 crore in DHFL. Theloan awarded to DUVPL was on mortgageof properties which had market value ofaround Rs 40 crore but were inflated andshown to be worth around Rs 750 crore.Another suspicious loan of Rs 750 croregranted by Yes Bank to a company con-trolled by Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan isalso under probe by the agency.

CBI had taken the Wadhawan brothers incustody from Mahabaleshwar in Satara dis-trict of Maharashtra on April 26.

Wadhawans, who were remanded to CBIcustody, were sent to judicial custody insecond week of May. Rana Kapoor andWadhawan brothers are presently lodged inthe Taloja prison.

17MY BIZMY BIZ

CBI books Kapoors for kickbacks on bank loans

Chinese firmsuspected ofspying for its government

Europe, he noted. Within thepast week, Pompeo said that hespoke to EU foreign ministersand also to a democracy forumin Copenhagen. They clearlyrecognise the threat that Chinaposes to the free world and tothe rule of law, he said. Afterthe EU-China Summit this

week, President of Euro-pean Council Charles

Michel and Presidentof the EuropeanCommission Ursulavon der Leyen pub-

licly echoed many of the con-cerns that I've expressed previ-ously, Pompeo said. While Iwas meeting with Yang, the G7released a statement condemn-ing Beijing's crackdown in HongKong, Pompeo said. A fewweeks ago, the big threetelecommunications companiesin Canada decided to partnerwith Ericsson, Nokia, and Sam-sung, because public opinionwas overwhelmingly againstallowing Huawei to buildCanada's 5G networks, he noted.

frank discussion about theCCP's unprovoked aggressionon a number of fronts and thathe pressed him for more trans-parency on COVID for the goodof the world. We're concernedby Beijing's behaviour andwe're not the only ones. And heand I talked about that. Ourfriends and partners arefinding their voice andtaking action tocounter China'smalign activities,particularly in

Mike Pompeopraises Jio for hangingup on Huawei

—MIKE POMPEO, US SECRETARY OF STATE

Telefonica,Orange, O2, Jio,

Bell Canada,Telus, and

Rogers arebecoming cleantelcos...They arerejecting busi-ness with firms

like Huawei.‘‘

‘‘

Huaweifacing hurdles

in Canada, Spaintoo

LAW CATCHES UP: Yes Bank co-founderRana Kapoor in a file photo

Ousted CEOMark Braun

SENSEX34,868.98

THURSDAY’S CLOSE

34,842.10WEDNESDAY’S CLOSE

10,288.90WEDNESDAY’S CLOSE

H: 10,361.80L: 10,194.50

16.4010,305.30

THURSDAY’S CLOSE

NIFTY

-26.88H: 35,081.61L: 34,499.78

MA

RK

ET

S

BU

LL

ION

1 ITC 5.45 202.25

2 KOTAKM 2.75 1,382.45

3 HEROMTCRP 2.59 2,559.00

4 BAJAJFNNCE 2.35 3,004.45

5 HUL 2.04 2,174.05

% change Price (`̀)TOP GAINERS

% change Price (`̀)

TOP LOSERS

1 ASIAN PAINTS -3.30 1,688.85

2 INFOSYS -2.04 699.60

3 HCLTECH -1.71 549.80

4 ONGC -1.62 81.80

5 M&M -1.59 507.05 EX

CH

AN

GE

RA

TEThursday

(SILVER)

(GOLD)

Wednesday Thursday

Fri Mon Tue Wed Thu

100

90

80

70

60

Tue Wed Thu

$ YEN

DOLLAR,YEN

Tue Wed Thu

£

EURO,POUND

76

72

68

64

60

Dollar `̀75.62 `̀75.65

Euro `̀85.28 `̀84.75

Pound `̀94.45 `̀94.02

Yen (100) `̀70.85 `̀70.46

GOLD/10 gm `149 `47,985

SILVER/1 kg `139 ̀ 47,647

45,000

40,000

35,000

400

380

350

Fri Mon Tue Wed Thu

¤

18 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

19

Sports

MailJofra Archer tests negativefor COVID-19, to join team

EVEN the most ardent fans of Indiancricket would have laughed at formerAustralian captain Kim Hughes whenhe said India were ‘dark horses’ at the1983 World Cup.

It’s not easy to picture a team thathad just played 40 ODIs before the tour-nament and won only one match in theprevious 2 editions to lift the trophy atthe Lord’s balcony. India’s tally of 40ODIs was the 2nd least when it came tocountries that had Test status at thatpoint in time. In comparison, Australiahad played 89, England 81, and WestIndies 52 (of which they won 38).

The odds were stacked against KapilDev’s men — 66:1. Not until 1980 whenIndia toured Australia for a tri-nation

series in 1980 did India take the ODDIformat seriously, Sunil Gavaskar hadtold INDIA TODAY. India played as many as6 ODIs in a span of fewer than 3 monthsDown Under and managed to win 3matches, including one against Aus-tralia.

“Our turnaround in the whole formatstarted when we went to Australia in1980 where we played 10 one-daygames. That’s the first time we startedto take ODI cricket seriously.

“Earlier on, we just went in like a Sun-day game. This time there were prizesat the end. There was a trophy to bewon as well. Earlier on, there wasnothing to be won. Then we came tothe West Indies in 1983 and we beatthem in a match in Guyana,” Gavaskarhad said. Defedning a paltry total of184, the Indian bowlers ensured thatthey applied brakes on the West Indianrun chase as they lost their top-orderearly on.

—India Today

By Rohit Paniker in New Delhi

IN a major boost for India’selite set of swimmers, thesports ministry is chalkingout plans to open pools fortraining resumption. Duringonline meeting held with

sport minister Kiren Rijiju, Swim-ming Federation of India’s generalsecretary Monal Choksi spoke on awide range of topics and got a pos-itive response especially on mat-ters pertaining reopening of pools.

Rijiju held a conference of 15 NationalSports Federation heads to discuss wayforward for sport resumption in India.After which, a one-on-one interactionwith each representative also took place.

“It was a positive chat with the sportsminister. We have been quite vocal aboutthe need to reopen swimming pools forour elite swimmers as they prepare for theTokyo Olympics,” Choksi told Mail Today.

“Our focus has always been for elite swim-mers. It is safe to say their training is likelyto resume next month. Though,we don’t know or can’t say whenthat will happen during themonth. The minister (Rijiju)emphasized that sport needs toslowly start and focus is particu-larly on preparing athletes for theTokyo Games,” he added.

Till date, Kushagra Rawat, Sri-hari Nataraj, Advait Page, AryanMakhija, Sajan Prakash, Vird-hawal khade, Likith SP andAryan Nehra have achieved the‘B’ qualifying mark for the Tokyo

Olympics. It has been furtherlearnt that the idea of trainingresumption for swimmersincludes bringing the elites,aforementioned, under one roofrather than allowing individualtraining. The Sports Authorityof India will be deciding on thecentre that will reopen the poolsand Bengaluru seems to be theideal location as it offers one ofthe best swimming facilities inthe country and is geographi-

cally a safer city in terms ofCOVID-19 pandemic.

“It will be safer and easier tomonitor our swimmers if all ofthem are at one place. We willwait for an official communica-tion on when they will allowour swimmers to trainand which centre oracademy SAI choosesfor their training.Only then can wetalk about logistics

and training. Pools for recre-ational purposes are unlikely toopen anytime soon. And prefer-ably for the Olympic swimmers,it is important to adhere strictguidelines,” Choksi said.

The SFI general secretaryadded that the sports min-

ister has taken particu-lar interest in resumingdomestic competi-tion by October.Rijiju has urged fed-

erations to make provision andsafe environment for sport toreturn to action in the country.

“Yes, he was keen on restartingdomestic competition. He saidOctober should be ideal to holdtournaments but a lot of clarityneeds to be taken before that.Only after we know non-Olympicswimmers are allowed to train inpools can we decide on hosting acompetition. Otherwise, we can’tdo it,” he summed up.

C VID-19

PANDEMIC

During online meetingheld with sport minister

Kiren Rijiju, SwimmingFederation of India’s

general secretaryMonal Choksi spoke on a

wide range of topics.

Kapil Dev led India to World Cup glory onJune 25, 1983.

POSITIVERESPONSEPools likely to open for elite swimmers next month

The odds were stacked

against Kapil Dev’s

men — 66:1

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

The sportsministry is

chalking out plans

WHEN INDIA BEAT WEST INDIES IN 1983 WORLD CUP FINAL

REPRESENTATIONAL PHOTO

TWITTER

Mail Today, New Delhi / Chandigarh, Friday, June 26, 2020 Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 20 COVID-19 PANDEMIC

IOA and sports federations inlurch after de-recognitionBy S.Kannan in New Delhi

NATIONAL Sports Federations,which had got provisionalannual recognition from theMinistry of Youth Affairs andSports, find themselves caughtbetween the devil and the deep

sea. As a result of the Delhi High Courtorder on Wednesday, the Ministry wroteto 54 of them on Thursday, withdrawingthe provisional annual recognition givenearlier this month.

On Wednesday, the Ministry’s counsel felt com-pelled to withdraw its two most recent affidavits,informing the Court of its decision to grant 57 NSFsrecognition till September 30. And the Court gavethe Ministry two days in which to write to 54 NSFsthat their provisional renewal would stand can-celled. The Ministry has complied within 24 hours.

In addition, three more federations which werehoping to get their annual recognitions restored,also now hang fire. At a time when elite athletesare slowly resuming activity in the country afterthe lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak,news of de-recognition of all NSFs is a huge blowto the sports community.

It appears the ministry’s lawyer was unable to

present its case well in the Courton Wednesday. He did notimpress upon the Court that inkeeping with its order of Febru-ary 7, the Ministry had taken theright steps in informing theCourt on May 2 that it wouldgrant provisional recognition to54 NSFs before making its deci-sion public a month later.

The February 7 order of theDelhi HC said: “The Court fur-ther directs that both the IOAand the MYAS will, hereafterwhile seeking to take decision inrelation to the NSFs inform thecourt in advance.”

It is now being felt by NSFsthat the Ministry’s counselshould have pointed out that ithad complied with the orderrather than over-reached.

It is believed the counsel rep-resenting the sports ministrywas defensive and did not havethe right answers when the hear-ing took place online. In fact, he

offered to withdraw the two affi-davits – one with reference to 54NSFs and a second with focuson three NSFs – and the deci-sion made to renew the recogni-tion of 57 NSFs.

Not long ago, in of its counter-affidavits, the ministry hadclaimed that task of grantingrecognition to any NSF was thatof the executive. It had said thatthe February 7 order of the Courttook away the entire authority ofGovernment to deal withNational Sports Federations(NSFs). It said judicial scrutinyof every action relating to NSFsseems to be in contravention ofthe Constitutional scheme ofdivision of powers between theExecutive and the Judiciary.

The unanimous view gatheredin conversations that MAIL TODAY

had with officials of several NSFsand Indian Olympic Associationlegal advisors is the decision willaffect the day-to-day functioning

of the federations.Indeed, the worry for federa-

tions is if their training campscan now go on as it seems ateach step permission will beneeded from the court to pro-ceed further. With the TokyoOlympics postponed, federa-tions and athletes are slowlytrying to get back to normalcy,with exceptions like swimming,where no activity is taking place.

However, the court order andits consequent letter from theministry has jolted NSFs andthe Indian Olympic Association.It has to ensure that athletes donot suffer in this unprecedentedsituation where no NSF is recog-nised by the ministry. To clearthe air, the ministry will have toreach out to the NSFs and IOAand reassure them that it wouldtake necessary steps to ensurethe hiatus is resolved.

MYAS has tried tooverreach the order of

this Court whileproceeding to take the

decision even if it isprovisional in nature,

without firstapproaching the court.

(Ministry) issue afresh notice within

two days intimatingall the 54 NSFs

concerned that itsorder giving

provisional renewaltill 30.09.2020,stands recalled.

‘‘

‘‘

— DELHI HIGH COURT

It has to ensure

that athletes do

not suffer

BREAK POINTRohit returns to outdoor training

after three months

TEAM India opener RohitSharma has finally returnedto training after a long gapof three and a half months.Incidentally, all cricketingactions have been shut witha prevailing lockdown in thecountry since March 23 dueto COVID-19 outbreak.

Since a very long time, BCCIhas been planning a campfor the centrally contractedplayers at the NationalCricket Academy in Banga-lore. But it looks veryunlikely that the playersbased in Mumbai like RohitSharma, Ajinkya Rahane andVirat Kohli will be permittedto join due to sobriety situa-tion in the state’s capital.

In his latest Instagram post,Rohit said, “Good to be back

on the park getting somework done felt like myselfafter a long time.

This comes right afterIndia’s Test specialistCheteshwar Pujara returnedto training two days back.Rohit Sharma, who stays inMaharashtra’s capital Mum-bai had to remain in hisapartment for close to threemonths.

During a video chat withformer Australian fastbowler Brett Lee, Rohitmentioned that he deeplymisses playing those bigshots as he was restrictedfrom training due to thenationwide lockdowncaused by the coronaviruspandemic.

—Mail Today

Rohit Sharma took to Instagram to reveal that he had hisfirst day of outdoor training post lockdown restrictions.

It will be interesting to watchthe next move from Sportsminister Kiren Rijiju.

The court has also asked the ministry to maintain status quoon granting recognition to three suspended federationsincluding Rowing.

REPRESENTATIONAL PHOTO

Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020 21COVID-19 PANDEMIC

F1 HAS only confirmed 8 racesfor the 2020 calendar. After therace in Monza on the 6th of Sep-tember, no one knows what thefuture holds.

However, F1 officials remainhopeful that they can get in atleast 18 races for this season.However, if 18 races may not bepossible for one or the other rea-son, Renault F1 driver, DanielRicciardo feels 10 races is morethan enough to determine alegitimate winner.

Current Renault driver (andfuture McLaren one) had theprivilege to be the first guest to

appear on the new In the FastLane podcast. He opined that 10races are enough for a championto have no asterisk against hisname. Ricciardo said, “Rightnow I’d say it is legit. If we onlydid four or five races, yeahmaybe (not) so. But if we getanything from kind of 10 andabove, there’s enough racesthere to figure out who thechampion is, in my mind.”

By S.Kannan in New Delhi

AT A time when the IndianOlympic Association and thesports ministry are strugglingwith annual recognition processto national sports federationsafter a recent court order, theEquestrian Federation of Indiacontinues with its whimsicalways.

With all federations now stand-ing derecognised, the EFI coulddo with some soul searching aswell. It has disrespected theNational Sports DevelopmentCode (NSDC) 2011 all along, anddoes not hold elections as pre-scribed.

The latest in the list of floutingrules is that the EFI will appointLt Gen SS Mishra as president— without any election. There isnothing new in this.

As outgoing EFI president Lt

Gen Gopal R has retired, therewill be a change at the helm.

It may sound bizarre, but infive years, this will be the EFI’sfourth president. Lt Gen AshokAmbre and Lt Gen Kanitkarwere Gopal’s predecessors aspresident.

The Rajasthan unit ofthe EFI had draggedthe apex body tocourt in New Delhilast year but thesports ministry “con-tinued to support”them for reasonsunknown. Thedescription of the EFIas a “peculiar sport” hasbecome a laughing stock insporting circles.

Now, the joke is how the sportsministry is showing a peculiarbehaviour in dealing with theEFI, wearing kid gloves. The

term for elected office bearers inan NSF is four years, where thepresident, secretary and treas-urer can seek a second term.

But in the case of the EFI, thechange at the helm takes placeso regularly, it mocks the system

which has been put inplace for good gover-

nance. Sports minister

Kiren Rijiju shouldask his babus whythe EFI gets specialtreatment as it sets abad example for

other federations.Within the EFI, where

members are admittedarbitrarily, change of presi-

dents is not seen as an aberra-tion. That is perhaps the reasonwhy even the IOA has demotedthem to associate member sta-tus since 2018.

Moreover, Ricciardo doesn’tthink he would feel any differentwhen he races this season ascompared to previous ones. Hesaid, “Obviously the atmosphereis going to be different aroundthe paddock without the fans, atlast for the first part of the sea-son, but the reality is we’re allracing. The same drivers, the

same cars. For me, the competi-tion isn’t going to change.”

This will be Ricciardo’s lastseason in a Renault. The Aus-tralian will depart for McLarenonce the season ends. He’ll belooking forward to competing inthe mid-field battle to deter-mine ‘the best of the rest.’ Ric-ciardo would want to get more

than the 54 points he managedlast season.

He would also want to leavethe French outfit with a podiumto his name, provided the teamcan give him a good car. Renaultthemselves will be hoping toclose the 54 point gap that theytrailed McLaren by.

—Mail Today

Ricciardo fears

the season is

tainted forever

10 races enough for 2020: Daniel

ANOTHER NEW PRESIDENT FOR EFI

Equestrianfederation to

flout another ruleby appointing Lt Gen

SS Mishra as chief without

holding election

THE InternationalCricket Council isexpected to

finalise the nominationprocess to elect outgo-ing chairman ShashankManohar’s replacementnext week as it was stilltrying to reach a con-sensus on some keyissues.

The ICC Board met viavideo-conference onThursday with key pointin the agenda waswhether to adopt aprocess that selects orelects the new Chair-man.

“It was a good discus-sion on Chair processbetween the members.At least I am confidentthat by next week, wewill have the entireprocess finalised,” anICC Board member toldPTI on conditions ofanonymity.

Asked why the date ofnomination processcouldn’t be zeroed in,the member said,“There are still a fewpoints that needs to beclarified. Hopefully, wewill reach a consensusby next week.”

—PTI

THE WrestlingFederation ofIndia (WFI) is set

to terminate the serv-ices of women’s coachAndrew Cook for hisrefusal to participate inSAI’s online sessions fornon-payment of salary,a claim refuted by theAmerican. Cook had leftfor Seattle after thenational camp forwomen wrestlers in Luc-know was suspended inMarch owing to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

According to WFI, Cookwas recently contacted

by Sports Authority ofIndia (SAI) officials forattending sessions suchas E-Pathshala, but theAmerican allegedly toldthem that unless hereceives his pendingsalary, he won’t attendthem. When he left forthe US on march 17, hesaid that SAI had heldback half of his salary.

“This behaviour is notacceptable. The SAI offi-cials showed us thescreenshots of hisrefusal messages,” WFIassistant secretaryVinod Tomar said. —PTI

Sports ministry’s decision toprovisionally recognise 54 NSFs

till September 30 standscancelled by Delhi HC.

Renault driver DanielRicciardo, who will join

McLaren next season,aims a podium finish

this year.

REPRESENTATIONAL PHOTO

REPRESENTATIONAL PHOTO

C VID-19

PANDEMIC

Mail Today, New Delhi, Friday, June 26, 2020

Published & Printed by Amit Gupta on behalf of G.H. Prints Pvt. Ltd, A-256, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase -1, New Delhi - 110 020. Published at F – 26, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110 001. Editor: Dwaipayan Bose

RNI No.: DELENG / 2007 / 21922

T.V. Today Network Limited. Printed at The Indian Express (P) Limited Press, A-8, Sector-7, Noida - 201301 andFirst Floor,

Reds thrashPalace asfans wait forCity to slip up

Sports

MailRamos’s free kick helps RealMadrid go back atop La Liga

JURGEN Klopphailed Liverpool’schampions-electand branded thefootball that carriedthem to the brink of

the title as ‘exceptional’.Liverpool demolished Crystal

Palace 4-0 at Anfield and their30-year wait to win the leaguewill be over if Manchester City –who, according to Pep Guardi-ola, will field a much-changedteam – drop any points againstChelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Klopp is rarely so buoyantafter a victory but he was effu-sive here following a successthat carried his team 23 pointsclear. Remarkably, they stoppedPalace from having a touchinside their area – the first timethat has happened

to a Premier League side sinceOpta stats were introduced in2008.

This was a statement-makingperformance, a display whichPalace manager Roy Hodgsonadmitted his side were power-less to stop. Klopp’s only grum-ble was the fact it happenedinside an empty stadium but hebelieves his players filled theirsupporters with delight.

“You should not underestimatehow much this team wants it,”said Klopp. “This team reallywants it. They want to fulfil thewishes of the people at home,really. We all have a commondream but we have to work for it.We have to work our way for it.

“We can’t play like other teamsbut we can play pretty good stuff.That is what the boys did. Whenwe spoke after the game, wespoke about the clean sheet.Usually when that happens, Alis-son is massively involved. On thisoccasion, that was not the case.

“The game was exceptional.From talking about football, itwas exceptional from so manypoints of view. It is so difficultagainst a 4-5-1 but how we pushedthem back! The free-kick of

Wimbledon boss hopes lessons come from Djokovic sagaWIMBLEDON’S hierarchy is hoping that goodmay come from Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tourfiasco because it should make tournamentseasier to manage in the ‘new normality’.

Richard Lewis, the All England Club chiefexecutive, described the recent scenes fromSerbia and Croatia as ‘disappointing’ butbelieves they may prove a blessing in disguisefor The Championships and other GrandSlams.

“What needs to come out of it is everybodyto understand that the protocols andregulations around COVID-19 are inplace for a reason,” he said onWednesday, prior to a fortnightthat will now be filled with nos-talgic TV memories.

“I would hope from an organisers’ point ofview — let’s say the US Open and Roland Gar-ros, but also the other international tourna-ments — that protocols will be easier to enforce and observed than they otherwisemight have been. It was an unfortunate situation.”

Lewis, a former player himself, did not wishto criticise the reigning men’s champion butpointed out that high-profile modern ath-letes all have a part to play in setting a good

example.“I think it’s a fact in this day and agethat all sportsmen and sports-

women have a leadership rolethat goes with the territory,” saidLewis. —Daily Mail

Liverpool move

Trent? Exceptional. The secondgoal? Wonderful pass fromFabinho, sensational finish by Mo.

“The third goal was thenFabinho… yes! He scoredalready against Man City likethat, he showed he can do it.But then we score thefourth goal. What a passfrom Mo! Sadio fin-ishes the move off,exceptional. Therewere so, so many

good things about it even whenwe did not score. When the kids(substitutes Neco Williams andHarvey Elliott) came on, theywere involved immediately andthey could have scored. This

game will last in my mind for awhile. This is where we

want to be. This is whatwe have to showagainst each andeverybody,” Kloppsaid. —Daily Mail

PANDEMICC VID-19

— JURGEN KLOPP, LIVERPOOL MANAGER

This team really wants it. They want tofulfil the wishes of the people at home,really. We all have a common dream but wehave to work for it. We have to work ourway for it.

‘

closer to title

‘

Richardfeels protocolswill be easier to

enforce now

Trent,Salah, Fabinho

& Mane find netfor EPL leaders

— RICHARD LEWIS,WIMBLEDON CHIEF

What needs tocome out of it iseverybody tounderstand thatthe protocolsand regulationsaround Covid-19are in place for areason.

‘

‘

Novak Djokovic (centre) hosted several tennisstars at a charity tournament in Belgrade.

Mo Salah (in red)scores Liverpool’ssecond goal at the

Anfield.

Fabinho (far right) celebrates with team-mates after scoringa goal.