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P resident Donald Trump vowed on Thursday not to participate in next week’s debate with Democratic nom- inee Joe Biden after organisers announced that it will take place virtually because of the President’s diagnosis of Covid. “I’m not going to do a vir- tual debate” with Biden, Trump told Fox News, moments after the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the changes due to Trump’s diagnosis. That cast serious doubts on whether the event will go for- ward, even as Biden’s cam- paign vowed that its candidate will participate. “Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people,” deputy Biden campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a state- ment. It is more evidence that the race remains defined by the virus, even as Trump has attempted to underplay it. Continued on Page 2 T he Supreme Court on Thursday said freedom of speech and expression is the “most abused right” in recent times. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, which was hearing pleas of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and others alleging that a section of media was spreading communal hatred over Tablighi Jamaat congregation during the onset of Covid pandemic, pulled up the Centre for its “evasive” and “brazen” affidavit on the issue. “Freedom of speech and expression is the most abused right in recent times,” the apex court said. The bench observed this when senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Jamaat, said the Centre in its affidavit has stated that petitioners are trying to muzzle freedom of speech and expression. To this, the bench said, “They are free to make any averment in their affidavit, like you are free to make any argu- ment you want”. The bench was irked over the fact that instead of secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, an addi- tional secretary filed the affi- davit which contained “unnec- essary” and “nonsensical” aver- ments with regard to media reporting in Tablighi issue. “You cannot treat this court the way you are doing in this case,” said the bench, also com- prising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. The apex court sought an affidavit from the I&B secretary with details of steps taken in the past to stop motivated media reporting in such cases. A head of forthcoming Assembly elections in Bengal, BJP leaders on Thursday engaged in a pitched battle with State police that led to over hundred injuries and multiple arrests, including those of senior saffron leaders. In what the critics termed a well thought out tactic to pro- voke and trigger Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee into frontal street fights, the Yuva Morcha — the youth arm of the Bengal BJP — led a four-pronged march to Nabanna, the State Secretariat, from four points of Kolkata and Howrah. Though State BJP president Dilip Ghosh and Yuva Morcha national president Tejaswi Surya claimed, the “police launched an unprovoked lathcharge on democratically peaceful protesters leading to more than 100 injuries,” the clashes evidently erupted when the crowds tried to force their way to Nabanna after being blockaded away by the admin- istration at various junctions. Subsequently, the police said 113 people were arrested during the march. The BJP, however, said about 500 people, including senior leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, were arrested. Among the arrested per- sons was one Balwinder Singh, a BJP worker who was carrying a gun, police said. Dilip Ghosh, however, said Singh was a per- sonal security guard of a BJP State committee member who had a licensed gun. The Assembly polls are likely to be held in April-May explaining the gradual hotting up of the political situation. The Thursday’s commo- tion started when stones were pelted at the police at Hastings area in southern Kolkata and Santragachi and Howrah Maidan where bombs were exploded leading the police to fire tear gas shells and lath- icharge the crowds, sources said. Water cannons spraying coloured water — subsequent- ly interpreted by State Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay as “water mixed with holi colours to identify the protesters for further action post dispersal” — were too used on the crowd. Continued on Page 2 U nion Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said Airlines may be permitted to operate maximum 75 per cent of their pre-Covid scheduled domestic flights if the passengers remained healthy during the next 7-10 days. The Minister also said the future of international flights will depend on the availability of a vaccine. “Our internal thinking is that we will watch it for anoth- er week or 10 days....If the fig- ures (of passengers travelling) continue to be healthy, we would open domestic civil avi- ation to 75 per cent of the pre- Covid levels,” Puri said at a Press conference on Thursday. The Minister said accord- ing to his assessment, the num- ber of daily air passengers is set to rise up to 200,000 by October-end, while pre-Covid figures of 300,000 passengers per day will be reached between Diwali and New Year. The Government on September 2 had said Indian airlines can operate up to 60 per cent of their pre-Covid ser- vices within the country. On June 26, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had allowed the air- lines to operate a maximum of 45 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic flights. Projecting a positive fore- cast for India’s civil aviation sec- tor, Puri said with more than 1.5 lakh passengers travelling by air today and 1.2 crore domestic passengers since May 25, Indian skies can expect air travel numbers to reach pre- Covid numbers by January 1, 2021. Puri also said the Indian Government has formalised air bubble arrangements with 16 countries - USA, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Maldives, UAE, Qatar, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Japan, Nigeria, Kenya, Iraq, Bhutan and Oman - while it is in dis- cussions with Italy, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and oth- ers for similar arrangements. Air bubbles or travel cor- ridors allow designated air- lines of two nations to fly pas- sengers either way without any restriction. On whether travel bubble arrangements will continue till March-April, the Minister said, “It is difficult to say as there is no country which has com- pletely opened its borders for all. It depends on the avail- ability of a vaccine as countries will feel more confident once a vaccine is there.” Regular inter- national passenger flight ser- vices have been suspended till October 31. The Minister hinted that this suspension is likely to be in place till March-April. “There are basically three issues to consider before resuming regular internation- al flights. One, resuming domestic connectivity con- necting bigger cities to small- er town, which we have already done. Second, the nature of the virus on which I can’t comment and the third is international restrictions. Every country wants their people to return, but for others there are plenty of restrictions,” Puri said. Continued on Page 2 O utside the grimy world of politics, anyone who ever came across Ram Vilas Paswan will find it difficult to control his emotion on hearing of his passing away at a Delhi hospi- tal on Thursday evening. His demise is truly the end of an era both in Bihar and nation- al politics. Seventy-four-year-old Paswan had undergone heart surgery on Saturday. His son Chirag posted this emotive tweet to announce the passing away of his father. “Papa... Now you are not in this world but I know you are always with me wherever you are. Miss you Papa,” read his post. He will be missed not only by his family but by thousands of those who would be forev- er indebted to his kindness and helpful outreach. His journey from a small village in Khagaria to the Lutyens’ Delhi and from a near destitute struggler to a powerful voice of the Dalits in Indian politics can make a cap- tivating story. Paswan achieved more than many in the Indian politics — an eight-time MP and Union Minister for decades — but his true legacy will be the memory he leaves behind of being a thorough gentleman, a caring guardian, and someone who respected and nurtured a personal rela- tionship like a few did in today’s cut throat world of politics. Paswan trusted people so much that he discussed with them even the biggest decision of his life. I remember him vis- iting my house in Patna when he was the Union Telecom Minister and expressing his dilemma about continuing in the Cabinet in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots. It was on that day, then and there, he took the call to walk out of the Government. Which other politician would have discussed such massive political decisions with a State-level correspondent? Paswan may have all the guts to pursue a political career, but when it came to personal relationships he would always be there for you. Unlike the new breed of politi- cians, who stop taking your calls the day they become “something”, he would always be available for any profes- sional help or social calls. Paswan was known for reading the political climate more than anyone else. A few weeks before the 2014 gener- al elections, I met him at a lunch hosted by late member of Parliament DP Tripathi. There Paswan hinted to me about his big step and asked me to see him the next day. Till then no one suspected that Paswan could go back to the BJP fold once again. Somehow the news leaked out and he left his home and became traceless to avoid being approached by the Congress leaders. Once he made up his mind he will not let anyone change it. The rest is history. “Always remember that only a dog that hesitates while crossing the road is run over. The one who is decisive always escapes,” was one of his favourite quotes. Paswan loved his food. I forget the name of loads of fried river fish he would carry with him in the chopper when he went campaigning. It would be a regular feature of his lunch. Pakoda was one of his favourite snacks which I savoured with him last time I visited his residence a few months ago. As Telecom Minister he appointed hundreds of his party men as members of the telephone advisory committee. Those were the days when peo- ple didn’t have mobile and the landline was such a privilege for a small-time party worker. It was in Patna’s Chanakya hotel that one day I told him that he should curtail the num- ber of beneficiaries lest a scan- dal broke out. He smiled and said, “These are the people who carry my flags and toil for me. I’ve no existence without them. Why should I not reward them in whatever way possible?” It was this quality — his ability to care for his workers, his cadres, his family, his friends, his near and dear ones — that made him such a rare personality in Indian politics. The last few times I met Paswan I could sense he was aware of the approaching end. I could see that in his eyes, in his voice, in his gesture. In his decision making, he saw it coming and that’s why he passed on his party’s mantle to Chirag. I last talked to Paswan on August 1 when he called me in the evening to tell me about his decision to link UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Uttarakhand to one nation one ration card scheme. He was so upbeat about the programme. Where can one find such a humble soul who would open up even on phone with a journalist? The discussion veered to Bihar politics, too. He was clear in his mind that Chirag should carry on the way he wants. He told me that some senior BJP leaders had visited him to discuss the upcoming State Assembly elections, but he had asked them to now do business with his son. The man who was described as “mausam vaigyanik” for his astute political sense, was sure- ly aware that time was running out for him. There have not been any elections in Bihar in more than four decades when Paswan was not a player on the ground. Will his death also impact the outcome of the Bihar Assembly polls? The answer to this the million-dol- lar question would decide who will be the king and who will be the kingmaker of Bihar on November 10.

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Page 1: New ˘ˇ ˆ€¦ · 22 hours ago  · ˘ ˇˆ ˙˝˘ ˛˚˜˛ ˆ !" #$#$ ˚ pushing the total death toll to&˙ The National Capital record- ed 37 Covid-19 fatalities and 2,726 cases

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President Donald Trumpvowed on Thursday not to

participate in next week’sdebate with Democratic nom-inee Joe Biden after organisersannounced that it will takeplace virtually because of thePresident’s diagnosis of Covid.

“I’m not going to do a vir-tual debate” with Biden, Trumptold Fox News, moments afterthe Commission onPresidential Debatesannounced the changes due to

Trump’s diagnosis.That cast serious doubts on

whether the event will go for-ward, even as Biden’s cam-paign vowed that its candidatewill participate.

“Biden looks forward tospeaking directly to theAmerican people,” deputyBiden campaign manager KateBedingfield said in a state-ment. It is more evidence thatthe race remains defined by thevirus, even as Trump hasattempted to underplay it.

Continued on Page 2

����� -%�(20

The Supreme Court onThursday said freedom of

speech and expression is the“most abused right” in recenttimes. A bench headed byChief Justice SA Bobde, whichwas hearing pleas of JamiatUlama-e-Hind and othersalleging that a section of mediawas spreading communalhatred over Tablighi Jamaatcongregation during the onsetof Covid pandemic, pulled upthe Centre for its “evasive” and“brazen” affidavit on the issue.

“Freedom of speech andexpression is the most abusedright in recent times,” the apexcourt said.

The bench observed thiswhen senior advocate Dushyant

Dave, appearing for Jamaat,said the Centre in its affidavithas stated that petitioners are

trying to muzzle freedom ofspeech and expression.

To this, the bench said,

“They are free to make anyaverment in their affidavit, likeyou are free to make any argu-ment you want”.

The bench was irked overthe fact that instead of secretaryof the Information andBroadcasting Ministry, an addi-tional secretary filed the affi-davit which contained “unnec-essary” and “nonsensical” aver-ments with regard to mediareporting in Tablighi issue.

“You cannot treat this courtthe way you are doing in thiscase,” said the bench, also com-prising Justices A S Bopannaand V Ramasubramanian.

The apex court sought anaffidavit from the I&B secretarywith details of steps taken in thepast to stop motivated mediareporting in such cases.

�-�������-���� 3123.�.

Ahead of forthcomingAssembly elections in

Bengal, BJP leaders onThursday engaged in a pitchedbattle with State police that ledto over hundred injuries andmultiple arrests, includingthose of senior saffron leaders.

In what the critics termeda well thought out tactic to pro-voke and trigger Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee into frontalstreet fights, the Yuva Morcha— the youth arm of the BengalBJP — led a four-prongedmarch to Nabanna, the StateSecretariat, from four points ofKolkata and Howrah.

Though State BJP presidentDilip Ghosh and Yuva Morchanational president TejaswiSurya claimed, the “police

launched an unprovoked lathcharge on democraticallypeaceful protesters leading tomore than 100 injuries,” theclashes evidently erupted whenthe crowds tried to force theirway to Nabanna after beingblockaded away by the admin-istration at various junctions.

Subsequently, the policesaid 113 people were arrestedduring the march. The BJP,however, said about 500 people,including senior leader KailashVijayvargiya, were arrested.

Among the arrested per-sons was one Balwinder Singh,a BJP worker who was carryinga gun, police said. Dilip Ghosh,however, said Singh was a per-sonal security guard of a BJPState committee member whohad a licensed gun.

The Assembly polls arelikely to be held in April-Mayexplaining the gradual hottingup of the political situation.

The Thursday’s commo-tion started when stones werepelted at the police at Hastingsarea in southern Kolkata andSantragachi and Howrah

Maidan where bombs wereexploded leading the police tofire tear gas shells and lath-icharge the crowds, sourcessaid.

Water cannons sprayingcoloured water — subsequent-ly interpreted by State ChiefSecretary AlapanBandopadhyay as “water mixed

with holi colours to identify theprotesters for further actionpost dispersal” — were tooused on the crowd.

Continued on Page 2

����� -%�(20

Union Minister for CivilAviation Hardeep Singh

Puri on Thursday said Airlinesmay be permitted to operatemaximum 75 per cent of theirpre-Covid scheduled domesticflights if the passengersremained healthy during thenext 7-10 days.

The Minister also said thefuture of international flightswill depend on the availabilityof a vaccine.

“Our internal thinking isthat we will watch it for anoth-er week or 10 days....If the fig-ures (of passengers travelling)continue to be healthy, wewould open domestic civil avi-ation to 75 per cent of the pre-Covid levels,” Puri said at aPress conference on Thursday.

The Minister said accord-ing to his assessment, the num-ber of daily air passengers is setto rise up to 200,000 byOctober-end, while pre-Covidfigures of 300,000 passengersper day will be reachedbetween Diwali and New Year.

The Government onSeptember 2 had said Indianairlines can operate up to 60per cent of their pre-Covid ser-vices within the country. OnJune 26, the Ministry of CivilAviation had allowed the air-lines to operate a maximum of45 per cent of their pre-Coviddomestic flights.

Projecting a positive fore-cast for India’s civil aviation sec-tor, Puri said with more than1.5 lakh passengers travellingby air today and 1.2 croredomestic passengers since May25, Indian skies can expect airtravel numbers to reach pre-Covid numbers by January 1,2021.

Puri also said the IndianGovernment has formalisedair bubble arrangements with16 countries - USA, Canada,France, Germany, UK,Maldives, UAE, Qatar,Afghanistan, Bahrain, Japan,Nigeria, Kenya, Iraq, Bhutanand Oman - while it is in dis-

cussions with Italy, Bangladesh,Kazakhstan, Ukraine and oth-ers for similar arrangements.

Air bubbles or travel cor-ridors allow designated air-lines of two nations to fly pas-sengers either way without anyrestriction.

On whether travel bubblearrangements will continue tillMarch-April, the Minister said,“It is difficult to say as there isno country which has com-pletely opened its borders forall. It depends on the avail-ability of a vaccine as countrieswill feel more confident once avaccine is there.” Regular inter-national passenger flight ser-vices have been suspended tillOctober 31.

The Minister hinted thatthis suspension is likely to bein place till March-April.

“There are basically threeissues to consider beforeresuming regular internation-al flights. One, resumingdomestic connectivity con-necting bigger cities to small-er town, which we have alreadydone. Second, the nature of thevirus on which I can’t commentand the third is internationalrestrictions. Every countrywants their people to return,but for others there are plentyof restrictions,” Puri said.

Continued on Page 2

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Outside the grimy world ofpolitics, anyone who ever

came across Ram Vilas Paswanwill find it difficult to controlhis emotion on hearing of hispassing away at a Delhi hospi-tal on Thursday evening. Hisdemise is truly the end of anera both in Bihar and nation-al politics.

Seventy-four-year-oldPaswan had undergone heartsurgery on Saturday. His sonChirag posted this emotivetweet to announce the passingaway of his father.

“Papa... Now you are not inthis world but I know you arealways with me wherever youare. Miss you Papa,” read hispost.

He will be missed not onlyby his family but by thousandsof those who would be forev-er indebted to his kindness andhelpful outreach.

His journey from a smallvillage in Khagaria to theLutyens’ Delhi and from a

near destitute struggler to apowerful voice of the Dalits inIndian politics can make a cap-tivating story. Paswan achievedmore than many in the Indianpolitics — an eight-time MPand Union Minister fordecades — but his true legacywill be the memory he leavesbehind of being a thoroughgentleman, a caring guardian,and someone who respectedand nurtured a personal rela-tionship like a few did intoday’s cut throat world ofpolitics.

Paswan trusted people somuch that he discussed withthem even the biggest decisionof his life. I remember him vis-iting my house in Patna whenhe was the Union TelecomMinister and expressing hisdilemma about continuing inthe Cabinet in the aftermath ofthe Gujarat riots. It was on thatday, then and there, he took thecall to walk out of theGovernment.

Which other politicianwould have discussed such

massive political decisions with a State-level correspondent?

Paswan may have all theguts to pursue a politicalcareer, but when it came topersonal relationships hewould always be there for you.Unlike the new breed of politi-cians, who stop taking yourcalls the day they become“something”, he would alwaysbe available for any profes-sional help or social calls.

Paswan was known forreading the political climatemore than anyone else. A fewweeks before the 2014 gener-al elections, I met him at alunch hosted by late memberof Parliament DP Tripathi.There Paswan hinted to meabout his big step and askedme to see him the next day.Till then no one suspected thatPaswan could go back to theBJP fold once again.

Somehow the news leakedout and he left his home andbecame traceless to avoid beingapproached by the Congress

leaders. Once he made up hismind he will not let anyonechange it. The rest is history.

“Always remember thatonly a dog that hesitates whilecrossing the road is run over.The one who is decisive alwaysescapes,” was one of hisfavourite quotes.

Paswan loved his food. Iforget the name of loads offried river fish he would carrywith him in the chopper whenhe went campaigning. It wouldbe a regular feature of hislunch. Pakoda was one of hisfavourite snacks which Isavoured with him last time Ivisited his residence a fewmonths ago.

As Telecom Minister heappointed hundreds of hisparty men as members of thetelephone advisory committee.Those were the days when peo-ple didn’t have mobile and thelandline was such a privilegefor a small-time party worker.It was in Patna’s Chanakyahotel that one day I told himthat he should curtail the num-

ber of beneficiaries lest a scan-dal broke out. He smiled andsaid, “These are the peoplewho carry my flags and toil forme. I’ve no existence withoutthem. Why should I notreward them in whatever waypossible?”

It was this quality — hisability to care for his workers,his cadres, his family, hisfriends, his near and dear ones— that made him such a rarepersonality in Indian politics.

The last few times I metPaswan I could sense he wasaware of the approaching end.I could see that in his eyes, inhis voice, in his gesture. In hisdecision making, he saw itcoming and that’s why hepassed on his party’s mantle toChirag.

I last talked to Paswan onAugust 1 when he called me inthe evening to tell me about hisdecision to link UT of Jammu& Kashmir, Manipur,Nagaland and Uttarakhand toone nation one ration cardscheme. He was so upbeat

about the programme. Wherecan one find such a humblesoul who would open up evenon phone with a journalist?

The discussion veered toBihar politics, too. He wasclear in his mind that Chiragshould carry on the way hewants. He told me that somesenior BJP leaders had visitedhim to discuss the upcomingState Assembly elections, buthe had asked them to now dobusiness with his son. Theman who was described as“mausam vaigyanik” for hisastute political sense, was sure-ly aware that time was runningout for him.

There have not been anyelections in Bihar in morethan four decades whenPaswan was not a player on theground. Will his death alsoimpact the outcome of theBihar Assembly polls? Theanswer to this the million-dol-lar question would decide whowill be the king and who willbe the kingmaker of Bihar onNovember 10.

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After virtually inauguratingthe biggest oxygen pro-

duction plant in UttarPradesh, Chief Minister YogiAdityanath said that the plantwas a testimony to the gov-ernment’s commitment tobringing industries in thestate and the plant wouldease the oxygen crisis in thehealth sector in UP.

“The state’s struggle foroxygen will now be a thing ofthe past. After the installationof HFNC (high-flow nasalcannula), the demand foroxygen has shot up in Covidhospitals in UP. The newfacility will bridge the gapbetween demand and supply.It is heartening that such afacility is ready during thetrying times of pandemic,when it is needed the most,”the chief minister said inLucknow on Thursday.

Yogi expressed happinessthat the company would nowset up another plant in thecentral parts of the state andmore such plants would comeup to eliminate oxygen short-age. Asking off icia ls toencourage such investmentsin the state, the chief minis-ter said that UP had the prideof becoming second in thecountry in Ease of DoingBusiness.

He said that investorsshould be approached tocome to set up their industriesin UP as it would create moreemployment and contributeto the state’s development.New Delhi: The Election

Commission on Thursdayannounced reduction in thenotice period for registration ofnew political parties in Biharfrom 30 days to 7 days, keep-ing in view difficulties causedby the restrictions in place dueto the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the existing guidelines,a party seeking registrationhas to submit an application tothe Commission within 30days following the date of itsformation. The appli-cant is asked to publish theparty's proposed name in twonational dailies and two localdailies on two days. Objections,if any, with regard to the pro-posed registration of the partyhave to be submitted within 30days from publication of the

notice. "It has been broughtto the notice of theCommission that in view ofprevailing restrictions onaccount of Covid-19, there wasdislocation and delay in mov-ing applications for registration,which in turn led to delay inregistration as a political party,"the EC said in a statement. After considering all aspects,the Commission has given arelaxation and has reducedthe notice period from 30 daysto 7 days for the parties thathave published their publicnotice on or before October 7,the statement said. The relax-ation will remain in force tillOctober 20, the last date ofnomination for Phase 3 of theassembly polls in Bihar, it said.

PTI

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Former Congress chief RahulGandhi on Thursday took a

jibe at Prime Minister NarendraModi saying he’s “only con-cerned about his image and notsoldiers.” Taking a dig on the

acquisition of VVIP plane byModi priced at Rs 8400 crore,Rahul stated the governmentmay have instead purchasedmany much more shoes fortroopers deployed at Siachen-Ladakh border with that cash.

“PM bought a plane worth

Rs 8400 crore for himself. Somuch could have been pur-chased for our soldiers posted onthe Siachen-Ladakh border.Warm clothes: Rs 30,00,000jacket, gloves: Rs 60,00,000,shoes: Rs 67,20,000, Oxygencylinder: Rs 16,80,000,” Rahul

Gandhi stated on Twitter. Earlierthis week, throughout his mar-keting campaign in Punjab inopposition to the farm reformlegal guidelines, the Congresschief accused the prime minis-ter of “wasting” 1000’s of croresof rupees on the plane.

In response to the Gandhi'sscion remarks, the Centre stat-ed the method for procuring two VVIP plane hadbegun in UPA regime and thepresent dispensation has onlyintroduced it to a logical con-clusion.

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New Delhi: Home MinisterAmit Shah on Thursdayexpressed grief over the demiseof Union Minister Ram VilasPaswan and said it has createda void in Indian politics.

Paswan, 74, passed away ata hospital here on Thursday.In a series of tweets in Hindi,

Shah said the Modi govern-ment is committed to fulfil hiscommitments towards welfareof the poor and development ofBihar.

"I am extremely sad overthe demise of Ram VilasPaswan ji, who had alwaysfought for the welfare and

rights of the poor and thedeprived. In his political life, healways kept national interestand public welfare paramount.His death has created a void inIndian politics,” he said.

The home minister saidwhether it was to fight againstthe Emergency of 1975 or to

make the Modi government'swelfare programmes for poormeaningful during the coron-avirus epidemic, Paswan hadplayed a unique role in allthese.

"While working in manyimportant positions, Paswanwas beloved by everyone with

his simple and gentle person-ality,” he said.

Shah said Paswan's absencein Indian politics and theUnion Cabinet will alwaysremain and the Modi govern-ment is committed to fulfillinghis commitments for welfare ofpoor and development of Bihar.

“My condolences tohis family and supporters andI pray for the peace of thedeparted soul. Om Shanti,” hesaid.

In Lucknow, Uttar PradeshChief Minister Yogi Adityanathsaid Paswan was a senior andexperienced leader who suc-

cessfully discharged his dutiesas a Union minister.He had always been active forthe welfare of weaker sectionsand served for a long time asMP.

"It would not be easy to fillthe void created by his death,"Adityanath said. Uttar

Pradesh Governor AnandibenPatel and Jammu and KashmirLieutenant Governor ManojSinha also condoled the demiseof Paswan. BahujanSamaj Party presidentMayawati also condoled hisdemise.

PTI

Kolkata: West Bengal ChiefMinister Mamata Banerjeeon Thursday expressed deepgrief over the passing away ofunion minister Ram VilasPaswan. She extended hercondolences to his familymembers, colleagues andadmirers.

"Deeply saddened to hearthe news of the passing away ofRam Vilas Paswan Ji. He was aveteran politician, leader and along-time Parliamentarian. Mycondolences to his family, col-leagues and his many admir-

ers," Banerjee tweeted.Paswan (74) died on Thursday,his son Chirag Paswan tweet-ed.

Paswan, who was the LokJanshakti Party patron, hadundergone a heart surgery at ahospital in Delhi a few daysago.He had been in active politicsfor more than five decadesand was one of the country''smost noted Dalit leaders.He was the Minister forConsumer Affairs, Food andPublic Distribution. PTI

New Delhi: A host of Congressleaders condoled the demise ofUnion minister Ram VilasPaswan on Thursday withRahul Gandhi saying that withhis passing away, the poor andDalits have lost a strong polit-ical voice.

"The news of untimelydemise of Ram Vilas Paswan jiis tragic. The poor and Dalithave lost a strong politicalvoice today. My condolences tohis family," Gandhi said in atweet in Hindi. S e n i o rCongress leader Ahmed Pateldescribed Paswan as a cham-pion of the downtrodden, who

had immense faith in India'spluralism and diversity.

"Chirag, shocked to hearabout the demise of your father.Ram Vilas Paswan ji was achampion of the downtroddenand had immense faith inIndia's pluralism and diversity.

It's a big loss for the nation. Mycondolences to you, your fam-ily and all his supporters," hesaid on Twitter.

Leader of the Oppositionin Rajya Sabha Ghulam NabiAzad said he was shocked tohear the sad news of the deathof Union Minister Ram VilasPaswan. "He was deeplycommitted to the upliftment ofthe downtrodden. His demisehas left a vacuum which will bedifficult to fill. My heartfeltcondolences to his family. Maythe departed soul rest in peace,"he said.

Congress general secretary

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said,"Ram Vilas Paswan ji has beena neighbour of my mother foryears and we had a personalrelationship with his family.Deeply saddened over the newsof his demise. My deepest con-dolences to Chirag ji and all thefamily members. We are withyou in this sad hour."Congress chief spokespersonRandeep Surjewala said he wasdeeply hurt by the demise ofPaswan.

"Shri Paswan left an indeli-ble mark in the country's pol-itics and raised the voice of theunderprivileged. He played an

active role in the eradication ofpoverty in the UPA govern-ment along with Mrs SoniaGandhi and Dr ManmohanSingh. Emotional tribute," hesaid on Twitter. U n i o nminister for Consumer Affairs,Food and Public DistributionRam Vilas Paswan died onThursday.Paswan (74), whowas the Lok Janshakti Partypatron, had undergone a heartsurgery at a hospital here a fewdays ago. He had been inactive politics for more thanfive decades and was one of thecountry's most noted Dalitleaders. PTI

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From Page 1In the melee, a number of BJP

leaders including Arvind Menon andRaju Banerjee were injured. The duoincluding many others had to be hos-pitalised. Surya condemned “MamataBanerjee’s police” for uniting with theTMC goons to attack the protesterswho were marching for legitimatecauses.

The “Nabanna Chalo” march wascalled to protest against the alleged“corruption and syndicate raj of theMamata Banerjee Government whichhas triggered massive unemploymentin the State.”

In a subsequent briefing, Suryasaid, “We are fighting against themost corrupt and criminalisedGovernment of the country,” adding“the way the police suppressed ademocratically hosted rally onThursday it would go do down in thehistory as a black day.”

Explaining why only about 20-oddthousand people had turned up in the

march, Dilip Ghosh complained howthe buses carrying the BJP workerswere stopped at various toll plazas out-side Kolkata.

He demanded investigation intohow dark blue-coloured water wassprayed on the people that gave burn-ing sensation on the skins.” The StateGovernment, however, came out witha different explanation saying holicolour was used to identify the pro-testers for future action.

With Nabanna closed for twodays for reported sanitisation work andthe Chief Minister out on an officialtrip to Jangalmahal, the BJP workersstaged a sit-in near her Kalighat resi-dence from where they were prompt-ly evicted by the police, sources said.

Meanwhile, even as the Left dis-missed the Thursday’s skirmish as afight for power between two corrupt,“communal, blood thirsty, capitalistoutfits,” State Minister Firhad Hakimsaid, “BJP is not taken seriously inBengal as it is a party of extremists.”

The Minister also said thetime has come to send a clearmessage that foreign airlines’flights will not be allowed at theexpense of Indian airlines.

On September 28,Lufthansa had to cancel itsflights between India andGermany from September 30to October 20 as the DGCAwithdrew permission for themsaying there are restrictions onIndians who want to travel to

Germany and this puts “Indiancarriers at a significant disad-vantage resulting in inequitabledistribution of traffic in favourof Lufthansa”.

Puri said, “The issue is notabout allowing foreign carriersin or not. We are all for foreigncarriers operating here. Makeno mistake. But I think the timehas come for the message to goout loud and clear that it willnot be done at the expense ofthe Indian carriers.”

From Page 1The announcement from the non-

partisan Commission on PresidentialDebates cited a need “to protect thehealth and safety of all involved with thesecond presidential debate.” The can-didates will “participate from separateremote locations” while the participantsand moderator remain in Miami, it said.

The announcement came a weekbefore Biden and Trump were scheduledto face off in Miami.

Trump was diagnosed with thecoronavirus a week ago and but in aTuesday tweet said he looked forwardto debating Biden on stage in Miami, “Itwill be great!” he tweeted.

Biden, for his part, said he andTrump “shouldn’t have a debate” as longas the president remains COVID pos-itive. Biden told reporters inPennsylvania that he was “looking for-ward to being able to debate him” butsaid “we’re going to have to follow verystrict guidelines.” Trump fell ill with the

virus last Thursday, just 48 hours afterdebating Biden in person for the firsttime in Cleveland. While the two can-didates remained a dozen feet apart dur-ing the debate, Trump’s infectionsparked health concerns for Biden andsent him to undergo multiple COVID-19 tests before returning to the cam-paign trail.

Trump was still contagious with thevirus when he was discharged fromWalter Reed National Military MedicalCenter on Monday but his doctors havenot provided any detailed update on hisstatus. According to the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, thosewith mild to moderate symptoms ofCOVID-19 can be contagious for asmany as - and should isolate for at least- 10 days. It’s not the first debate inwhich the candidates are not in the sameroom. In 1960, the third presidentialdebate between Richard Nixon and JohnF. Kennedy was broadcast with the twocandidates on opposite coasts.

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Page 3: New ˘ˇ ˆ€¦ · 22 hours ago  · ˘ ˇˆ ˙˝˘ ˛˚˜˛ ˆ !" #$#$ ˚ pushing the total death toll to&˙ The National Capital record- ed 37 Covid-19 fatalities and 2,726 cases

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The National Capital record-ed 37 Covid-19 fatalities

and 2,726 cases on Thursday,

pushing the total death toll to5653. The active cases tallystood at 22232.

According to a bulletinissued by the Delhi health

department, the fresh casescame out of the 53322 tests.The number of Rapid-AntigenTests conducted on Fridaystood at 43197, while 10125

RT-PCR, CBNAAT and TrueNAAT tests were conducted.

The number of tests doneper million, as on Thursday,was over 182936 lakh. OnSeptember 29, 48 deaths werereported, the highest numberof fatalities recorded in a daysince July 16, when the city saw58 fatalities.

The bulletin said the totalnumber of cases has climbed to300833. The number of con-tainment zones in Delhijumped to 2,734. The positiv-ity rate stood at 8.66 per cent,the bulletin said, adding thecase fatality rate stood at 1.88per cent.

Delhi government has sig-nificantly ramped up testing inthe past few days.

The bulletin said out of thetotal number of 15833 beds inCOVID hospitals 10563 isvacant. It said 979 beds inCOVID care centres are occu-pied by persons under quar-antine, including travellers whohave returned by Vande BharatMission and bubble flights.

��������������� -%�(20

The North Delhi MunicipalCorporation (NMC) on

Thursday started the process ofde-sealing of 1356 propertiesunder its jurisdiction.

North Corporation MayorJai Prakash informed that thereare a total of 1356 properties inthe jurisdiction of the civicbody which would be de-sealedwrongly by the SC- appointedMonitoring Committee.

"The corporation officialsare following the entire processbefore de-sealing the residen-tial property. It will providemajor relief to those whoseproperties were sealed earlier,"he said.

Addressing the media,Delhi BJP president AdeshGupta said that the de-sealingprocess started from Todapur.

"The MunicipalCorporations have been direct-ed to de-seal all sealed proper-ties before Diwali. To reducethe bureaucratic hurdle, a sin-gle file will be made for all theproperties sealed in everyzone," he said.

Delhi BJP has been con-tinuously fighting for the inter-ests of the traders and residents,Gupta said, adding that theAAP government was not evenbothered that sealing will causehuge loss to the traders, shopowners and business owners.

��������������� -%�(20

Delhi DevelopmentAuthority (DDA) on

Thursday organised a series ofdiscussions and consultationswith various stakeholders andcivil society groups to seek theirinputs towards driving theagenda of the Master Plan.

Delhi DevelopmentAuthority (DDA) in associationwith the National Institute ofUrban Affairs (NIUA) ispreparing the next Master Plan

of Delhi 2041. As part of theplanning process,

A senior DelhiDevelopment Authority (DDA)official said that a series ofmeetings have been held withresidents and RWAs from var-ious housing typologies ofDelhi such as plotted, grouphousing, unauthorised coloniesand urban or rural villages.

The official said that thenext meeting is scheduled onFriday with RWAs and MarketTrader Associations from the

special area of Delhi includingwalled city. "The objective ofthis meeting is to understandthe issues faced by them anddiscuss possible planning solu-tions and suggestions for MPD-2041," he said.

Vice Chairman of DDAsought active participation byall residents and market trad-er associations.

He also urged residents touse the forum for providingconstructive feedback and dis-cuss critical issues.

��������������� -%�(20

The Special Cell of DelhiPolice has arrested four

wanted criminals following anexchange of fire in north westDelhi's Rohini on Thursday.Police said that they belong toKala Jhatri Lawrence Bishnoigang and were wanted in sev-eral cases of murder, attempt tomurder and extortion.

The accused has been iden-tified as Sonu Mitraun (23),Amit (26), Rohit (23) andRavinder Yadav (31) who wereinjured during the exchange of

fire.According to Sanjeev

Kumar Yadav, the DeputyCommissioner of Police(DCP), Special Cell, policeteam received an informationthat criminals of a gang want-ed in many cases of murder,attempt to murder, firing,extortion and robbery in Delhiand NCR area would be com-ing to Rohini from Haryana toeliminate their rivals. A trapwas laid on Khera Gaon toSector 26 Rohini.

"At around 3:30 am, thegang members were spotted

coming in a car from KeraGaon side. They were signalledto stop, but they tried to escape.The police team, however,managed to block their way,"said the DCP.

"Later, they whipped outfirearms and started firing onthe police party. They firedthree bullet rounds. However,none of the policemen wereinjured. A total of 22 rounds ofbullets were fired by the crim-inals, while the police partyfired 28 rounds of bullets fromtheir weapons," said the DCP.

"All the four accused sus-

tained bullet injuries. Theywere overpowered by the policeand taken to BSA hospital,Rohini, the DCP said.

Four automatic pistols with50 live cartridges, two coun-trymade pistols with 10 livecartridges, three high qualitybulletproof jackets and threehigh quality head bullet proofwere seized from the posses-sion of the accused, policesaid.

Their vehicle has also beenseized and legal proceeding hasbeen initiated in the matter,they added.

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To track pollution due tostubble burning, Delhi

Environment Minister GopalRai on Thursday launchedhigh-end technology ‘WarRoom’ to monitor real-timepollution data, hotspot con-ditions and NASA images ofstubble burning. The “greenwar room” at the DelhiSecretariat will monitor pol-lution levels in the city thiswinter.

This War room will beoperated by a 10 memberexpert team under scientists-Dr Mohan George and Dr B LChawla.Rai said that the Delhigovernment has set up the warroom following Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal's launch of

"Yuddh Pradushan Ke VirudhThe minister said that it

will be equipped with high-endtechnology to monitor real-time pollution data, hotspotconditions and NASA-ISROimages of stubble burning.

"The war room will beoperated by a 10-memberexpert team under senior sci-entists Dr Mohan George andDr B L Chawla," he said.

Rai said that the fight toreduce pollution will not bepossible without the support ofevery agency in Delhi andtherefore a centralized warroom launched.

"Three large LCD screensare installed in the room. Real-time pollution data whichincludes air quality and data ofPM 2.5 and PM 10, Sulfur

Oxide, Nitrogen Oxide, Ozone,and wind speed will be dis-played will be shared in one ofthe screens," he said.

The minister further saidthat through another screen,

the situation of 13 hotspots willbe monitored and throughthird screen, NASA and ISROpictures on the stubble burningat the neighboring states will bemonitored.

"We will also monitor thecomplaints filed by the peoplethrough the Green Delhi appwhich the chief minister willlaunch in the coming days. Wewill monitor the complaintsand implement strict actions.On the other hand, we will alsomonitor the road sweepingand water sprinkling workdone by the MCD throughGPS. Daily reports will be sentto the CM and EnvironmentSecretary," he said.

Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal on Mondayannounced a mega anti-pollu-tion campaign "YuddhPradushan Ke Virudh" toreduce air pollution levels inDelhi which is considered to bea breather for Delhiites in theupcoming winter season.

��������������� -%�(20

Aman who would pose as acrime branch official, offer

to drop people in his car, robmoney from them and evenwithdraw cash using their ATMcards by threatening them at agun point, has been arrested inTrilokpuri.

Police said that the accusedidentified as Mukesh, would attimes carry wireless sets toappear convincing as a CBI orcrime branch official to intim-idate his targets. He wouldthen befriend the target, usu-ally at a bus stop, by pretend-ing to travel in the same direc-tion as the person's destination.

An associate of Mukeshwould then arrive in a car andoffer them a lift. When the tar-get would get into the vehicle,

another man already seated inthe vehicle would play mes-sages on the wireless set to mis-lead the victim into believingthat he is a CBI or crimebranch official.

According to BhishamSingh, the DeputyCommissioner of Police(DCP), Crime Branch, at anisolated place, the accuse wouldrob the person at gun point andthey would also withdrawmoney from their victims' bankaccounts using their ATMcards.

"They would drop the vic-tim at a "safe place" and escapein the vehicle. The e mattercame to light after several suchincidents were reported tothem. On June 30, a man com-plained to police that he wasrobbed by the gang of Rs

1,70,000 when he was going toBurari in North Delhi," said theDCP.

"On Wednesday, police gota tip about Mukesh, the leaderof the gang. He was evadingarrest in several cases of rob-bery, kidnapping, theft andcheating and was at his housein Trilokpuri. Our team laid atrap and arrested him," said theDCP.

"During interrogation,Mukesh disclosed that he andhis two associates, both resi-dents of Trilokpuri, were rob-bing people by posing as policeofficials. Mukesh was wanted ineight cases of robbery, kidnap-ping and cheating in South andTrans Yamuna area in Delhi,"said the DCP adding thatpolice teams are now trying tonab his associates.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi JalBoard (DJB) approved the con-struction of a lab which will beequipped with all the advancemachines to perform advancetesting, including virus detec-tion tests like Covid-19 etc.

Other pollutants like pes-ticides, heavy metals, antibi-otics, trace elements etc willalso be tested in the lab toensure safe drinking water sup-ply alongwith proper treat-ment of wastewater before out-falling in River Yamuna.

The 154th Board Meetingheld on Thursday chaired byDJB Chairman Satyendar Jainalso accorded approval forapproved enlistment of con-tractors in all the categories ofproject ranging from 10 to500 Crores to bring trans-parency and widen participa-tion of contractors in the DJB

projects."The enlisting of contrac-

tors in different classes will bebased on tendering limit andtypes of works on the patternof CPWD. The objective of theenlistment of contractors is tohave a ready list of suitable andcompetent firms for DJB worksso as to minimize the require-ment of verification of theircredentials at the time of eachtender," it said.

The Board also accordedapproval to the work of pro-viding and laying 250mm to1600mm nominal dia internaland peripheral sewer line inkirari group of colonies underRohini catchment area in Delhiand construction of wastepumping station at Prem NagarBhagya Vihar and Pratap Viharincluding rising mains.

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Awoman attempted self-immolation inside the

office complex of theCommissioner of Police (CP)in Gurugram at around 2 pmon Thursday. However, in con-nection with the incident thepolice have filed an FIR againstthe woman of attempting sui-cide and other relevant sectionof the IPC at the Civil linespolice station Gurugram.

The incident took place onthe second floor of the build-ing, where the office of the CPis also located. TheCommissioner was out onlunch break when the incidenttook place.

The woman claimed thatshe took the step in protestagainst police inaction on arape complaint filed by her onSunday at the women's policestation in Sector 51.

Sources said that the 28-year-old woman had submittedan application to the police stat-ing that a man named Yogesh,a resident of Agra, had sexual-ly assaulted her on the pretextof marriage but the police didnot act on her complaint orarrest the accused.

According to the police, thewoman poured petrol on her-self but before she could lightthe fire, the police overpoweredher and took her to thewomen's washroom in order tochange her clothes.

"When I enquired aboutthe matter, I came to know thatshe has registered a rape caseagainst a man who has beenidentified and will be arrestedsoon," said ACP .As news of theincident spread, senior policeofficers reached the spot to takestock of the situation.

“The woman had alsoattempted suicide bid at DLFPhase 3 area on February 2020in Gurugram,” Kundu said.

��������������� -%�(20

Deputy Chief Minister andEducation Minister of

Delhi, Manish Sisodia launchedthe CODE-A-THON cam-paign in collaboration at SKVVeer Sawarkar, Kalkaji.

While launching the cam-paign, Sisodia said, “If yourintention is at the right placethen the entire universe comestogether to support you. Thisis what has happened with uswhen different organizationscame together on one platformto teach coding to our children.After providing training forcoding and STEM Education,run by SheCodes and Ernst &Young last year respectively, wedecided to launch the CODE-A-THON program for 12,000

students of the DelhiGovernment School with HT”

“We started coding projectin January this year in collab-oration with SheCodes foun-dation where 870 girl students

have been given training tillnow. Due to the outbreak of theCOVID-19 pandemic, wedecided to make it online.Now, with the HT Media com-ing onboard, we envision thisprogram to become even big-ger.”

These students have madethe videos from the scratch ontheir smartphones using theirthinking ability, voice-overs,and many other tools. Studentsmade videos on various topicssuch as Good Touch-BadTouch, Saving theEnvironment, Beti Padhao BetiBachao, Public Awarenessabout Corona Virus amongmany others.

While sharing their expe-riences, many students saidthey did not know anything

about coding when they start-ed but now have developedinterest in this. Few of themwant to use this opportunityand are aiming to become soft-ware engineer.

Pleasantly surprised to seethe learning abilities of chil-dren, Shri Manish Sisodia con-gratulated all the students andinteracted with each one ofthem to know about their jour-ney and the obstacles theyfaced.

He said, “Steve Jobs oncesaid coding is the new genera-tions’ liberal art. It is not aboutprogramming, designing, orcreating some videos, it isabout creating art. Codinghelps you to think, that is whyit is important to learn to code.Today, I could see how it is

enabling our school children tostart thinking. There was a girlwho made a video on earlychildhood marriage where shementioned that the girl washelpless. While watching thevideo a thought crossed mymind that now she will not behelpless, she will be able tocode.” He added.“Today we dream of sendingour children abroad for quali-ty education. Imagine a day,when a parent sitting in theUSA or Japan starts thinkingabout sending their child toIndia for getting a quality edu-cation. That will be the daywhen we will finally succeed.The entire education depart-ment should come together towork on this dream", Sisodiasaid.

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Senior AAP leader andnational spokesperson

Raghav Chadha on Thursdaysaid the BJP at the Centre hasnot purchased the crop pro-duce at 'Minimum SupportPrice' (MSP) from the farmersof Delhi in the last five yearsdue to which farmers in thenational capital have to selltheir produce to private play-ers at prices lesser than MSP.

Chadha said the BJP hasused 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' as onlya political medium to gainvotes but adopted the policy of'Mar Jawaan Mar Kisaan' inreality.

"The BJP and central agen-cies have not purchased thecrop produce of the farmersworth a single rupee despite itwas one of its poll promises," hesaid. Raghav also said that thecabinet ministers and the offi-cials and mandi presidentshave written letters to the agri-cultural ministers in this regardbut no action has been taken bythe centre. " The Centre andPM Narendra Modi govern-ment has left the farmers ofDelhi on the verge of death.From the past few weeks, farmbills are being discussed in thecountry that were passed in theparliament secretly by keepingconstitutional values at stakeand were implemented acrossthe nation," he said.

Presenting supportive doc-uments, he claimed that theBJP wanted to abolish MSP.

"The central governmenthas not purchased even a sin-gle crop from the farmers ofDelhi after 2015. The farmersof Delhi were left to get plun-dered by the private players.

"The MSP of one quintal ofwheat this year is Rs 1925 butbecause the central governmentis not purchasing the wheatproduce from the farmers atthis MSP, the farmers have tosell their produce at Rs 1700,which means that the farmersare suffering a loss of Rs 225.As per their poll promises ofevery year, if the BJP wanted,they could have purchased theproduce from the farmers at Rs.1925, and our farmers werecompelled to sell the produceto private players at Rs 1700,suffering a loss of around Rs200," he added.

Chadha further said, "TheMSP on mustard this year is Rs4450 but because the centre isnot purchasing mustard fromthe farmers at this rate, ourfarmers are forced to sell themto private players at Rs 3450 perquintal."

"The central governmentcould have purchased Bajra atRs 2150 but because it failed,the farmers are selling it at Rs1350, which means a loss of Rs800 per quintal for the farmers.The MSP on Jwar is Rs 2620per quintal but because thecentre did not keep its promise,the farmers are selling it to pri-vate players at Rs 1800, whichmeans a loss of Rs 820 perquintal," he said.

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)has accused CPCB of

being in cahoots with BJP-ruled States and ignoring pol-lution being caused by thesestates. AAP's chief spokesper-son and MLA SaurabhBhardwaj said the CPCB is nota Central Pollution ControlBoard but a "Central PoliticalControlled Board" as it issilent over the rampant viola-tion of pollution norms by thethermal power plants ofHaryana, Punjab and UttarPradesh.

Bhardwaj said that despitethe Supreme Court order andCentral government's direc-tion, the 13 coal-based ther-mal power plants have not yetadopted anti-pollution tech-nology and over 2.15 thou-sand brick kilns are runningand they have not followed theSC order with the help of cor-rupt nexus between the statepollution control boards andreagarding officials.

The AAP leader said thatthe Delhi government is theonly government which hasclosed down all the thermalpower plants in the state."This is the month of Octoberand news reports are showingthat massive stubble burninghas started in the states ofPunjab and Haryana. It isexpected that in some days thetoxic air will enter the nation-al capital and Delhi‘s air qual-ity will deteriorate drastically.

The NASA satellite imagesare showing that the stubbleburning has already started,"he said.

Bhardwaj further said,"CPCB is the Central PollutionControl Board but it acts likea central politics controlboard. In the NCR there arenearly 13 coal-based thermalpower plants."

"The Centre for Scienceand Environment (CSE) hasnoted that every day theseplants emit 57 tonnes of par-ticulate matter, 686 tonnes ofsulphur dioxide, 304 tonnes ofNitrogen Oxide," he said,adding that for many years, itis being demanded that thesethermal power plants shouldbe shut down or convertedinto the FGD system (fuel gasdesulfurization).

Bhardwaj said, "The AAPwant to know why the CPCBis so silent over the inaction of

these states."Moreover the National

Green Tribunal had orderedthat the coal which is beingused in these thermal powerplants should be taken in cov-ered transport but these statesdo not even follow this order.The Central Governmentagency NTPC has challengedthis order in the SupremeCourt," he said.

The AAP leader said thatone of the biggest source ofpollution is the brick kilns andonly in the NCR, there arearound 2300 brick kilns."These were supposed to getconverted into newer tech-nology but none of these brickkilns has adopted any suchnew technology. And due tothe corruption of the state pol-lution control boards and offi-cials, these brick kilns arerunning as usual and causingmassive pollution," he said.

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As the drug companies raceto develop the vaccine for

the deadly coronavirus, theGovernment has startedexploring the possibility ofengaging even food deliverystart-ups such as Swiggy andZomato that can stock and dis-tribute the medicine quicklyacross the country. At the sametime it is also exploring possi-ble cold storage facilities withpublic and private sector enti-ties in the pharma, food pro-cessing and agro business.

A draft scheme for thevaccine distribution is likely tobe released next week, sourcesin the Union Health Ministrysaid adding the online fooddelivery companies can play abig role in vaccine distribution.

Earlier this week, UnionHealth Minister Harsh Vardhanhad said the Governmentexpects to receive and utilise400-500 million vaccine dosesfor Covid-19, and cover approx-imately 20-25 crore people byJuly 2021 while Dr RandeepGuleria, Director of the AIIMShad said that the vaccine mightbe available from January end.

At least one domestic andthree foreign vaccines are like-ly to be available to India in thecoming months. Most of thevaccine candidates will requirea cold supply chain, with tem-peratures that can go well below

zero degree celsius, thoughmost need to be kept at between2 and 8 degrees celsius.

According to the Ministry,there are more than 27,000 func-tional cold chain points of which750 (3 per cent) are located at thedistrict level and above. The restare located below the districtlevel. This includes 76,000 coldchain ‘equipment’, 2.5 millionhealth workers, and 55,000 coldchain staff.

Majority of vaccine candi-dates are in liquid form excepta few freeze-dried products.They are to be administeredthrough intramuscular injec-tion/ route and requirementwill be a two-dose regimen.

The majority of vaccinecandidates would be availablein multi-dose vials (2.5, 10, 20,and 50 doses per vial). An esti-mation of cold chain spaceneeded for vaccines has beenmade considering 18 per centof the population would needto be covered within six

months, they said, adding thatboth the current temperatureranges (+2 to +8 degrees celsiusand -15 to -20 degrees celsius)have been considered for thescenario to account for ade-quate storage in either condi-tion, as per sources.

They said there will be atemporary requirement (2-3months) of surge capacity forlarge cold storage at thestate/regional level to store anddistribute large incoming quan-tities of the vaccine.

Cold chain capacity needsto be augmented most in UttarPradesh, Maharashtra, WestBengal, Rajasthan, AndhraPradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat,Kerala, Telangana, Delhi,Assam, Jharkhand, Punjab andOdisha. Most of the SouthernStates are doing well in coldstorage facilities.

States have also been askedto make a robust plan for vac-cine storage and distribution byOctober 15.

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Against the backdrop ofongoing tension at the Line

of Actual Control (LAC) inLadakh, IAF chief RKSBhadauria said on Thursday hisforce is ready for any challengeand has “clearly” demonstrat-ed its operational capability inprompt deployment when thestand-offs started.

Making these observationsin his address to the IAF on theoccasion of the 88th anniver-sary at the Hindon airbase,Ghaziabad, he said the actionsduring the last few months alsoshowed the IAF’s resolve andwill to engage with the adver-sary whenever the need arises.

Incidentally, addressing theannual conference ahead of theAir Force Day two days back,the IAF chief had also assert-ed saying “there is no questionthat China can get better of us”when asked about the Chineseair power.

Addressing the force onThursday, Bhadauria alsoassured the nation that theforce will evolve and be everready to safeguard the nation’ssovereignty and interests in allcircumstances.

Talking about securitychallenges in eastern Ladakh,the Chief, who inspected theAir Force Day parade, said: “I

would like to commend allwarriors for the quick response,in the recent stand-off on ournorthern frontiers, when wedeployed our combat assets atshort notice to handle anyeventuality, and providedproactive support to all the requirements of deploy-ment and sustenance for theIndian Army.”

The IAF chief said theevolving threat matrix in theregion is becoming complexand it mandates a greater needto have a strong air force tofight across domains and theentire spectrum of warfare.Bhadauria said disruptive tech-nologies and easy access to lowcost options like drones areincreasingly demanding greaterattention to the sub-conven-tional domain.

The recent induction ofstate-of-the-art Rafale,Chinook and Apache aircrafthave added significantly to ourcombat capability over our

adversaries on the battlefield,Bhadauria said. “Our offensivestrike capability has beenhoned further, with upgrada-tion of our aircraft withweapons and sensors, ably sup-ported by a networked decisionmaking matrix,” he added.

Defence Minister RajnathSingh greeted the IAF on itsfoundation day and said thegovernment is committed toenhance its combat capability.

“The nation is proud of itsmen and women in blue andsalutes the prowess of the IAFas it stands ready to face chal-lenges and deter adversaries.We remain committed toenhancement of IAF’s combat capability throughmodernisation and indigeni-sation,” he said.

To mark the day, the IAFcarried out a spectacular airdisplay at the event showcasingits vintage aircraft and modernfleet including the newlyinducted Rafale jets.

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The Congress on Thursdayalleged that the Narendra

Modi Government changedthe policy for the export of ironore to facilitate “theft” of Rs12,000 crore in export dutysince 2014. The Oppositionparty further claimed that theactual penalty for violation ofthe iron ore export rules on theprivate players would amountto nearly Rs 2 lakh crore.

Congress spokespersonPawan Khera alleged that thispolicy for the export of iron orewas altered in a hurry rightafter Prime Minister Moditook charge.

“In 2014, the Steel Ministryof India removed the 64% Feconcentration cap on iron oreand along with that gaveKudremukh Iron Ore CompanyLimited (KIOCL) the permis-sion to export iron ore to coun-tries like China, Taiwan, SouthKorea, Japan,” he said.

Congress has demandedthat the Modi governmentmake the names of the privateplayers, who violated the rulesand indulged in export of ironore pellets, public. It has alsoquestioned as to whether anyaction was initiated againstthe Steel Ministry officials

“who allowed illegal export totake place”.

Notably, the KIOCL is anenterprise which comes underthe Ministry of Steel and wasformed in 1976 for the miningand processing of low gradeiron ore.

Before 2014, only theMetals and Minerals TradingCorporation of India (MMTC)was allowed to export iron ore,and an export duty of 30% wasimposed on such trading.Notably, the MMTC — inwhich the Indian governmenthas an 89% share — wasallowed to export only iron orewith 64% concentration of iron.

Congress further allegedthat a new policy on the exportof iron ore was drawn underwhich “it was decided thatiron ore exports will continueto have a 30% duty on them;however if the same iron ore ismade into pellets and export-ed as pellets then there wouldbe no duty on these exports.”

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New Delhi: President RamNath Kovind on Thursday saidthe nation has lost a visionaryleader in the demise of UnionMinister Ram Vilas Paswan.

Paswan was the voice of theoppressed, and championedthe cause of the marginalised,Kovind said condoling hisdemise. “In the demise ofUnion Minister Ram VilasPaswan, the nation has lost avisionary leader. He was amongthe most active and longest-serving members of parlia-ment. He was the voice of theoppressed, and championedthe cause of the marginalized,”the President tweeted.

“A firebrand socialist inyouth, mentored by the likes ofJayaprakash Narayan duringanti-Emergency movement,Paswan ji had enviable rapportwith masses and he ardentlystrove for their welfare.Condolences to his family andsupporters,” Kovind said inanother tweet. PTI

Patna: Bihar Chief MinisterNitish Kumar, his deputy SushilKumar Modi and RJD presidentLalu Prasad on Thursday con-doled the death of Union Minister Ram VilasPaswan in Delhi. Paswan (74),who was the Lok Janshakti Partypatron, had undergone a heartsurgery at a hospital in thenational Capital a few days ago.

His son Chirag Paswaninformed about his demise. Aveteran dalit leader, Paswanwas the Minister for ConsumerAffairs, Food and PublicDistribution. He was born onJuly 5, 1946 in Khagaria districtof Bihar. The Bihar ChiefMinister in his condolencemessage said “Paswan was a bigsignature in the Indian politics.”

He highlighted Paswan’s

start of political innings with awin in the Bihar legislativeassembly election in 1969.Paswan hit the national head-lines after a thumping victoryfrom Hajipur Parliamentaryconstituency for the first timein 1977, he said.

Fondly remembering hisold ties with the veteran leader,Kumar said “I am personallypained by his death.” JailedRJD supremo Lalu Prasad,who has known Paswan sincethe 1970s when the former wasa student leader and the lattera young member of the Biharassembly, offered his condo-lences on his twitter handle.

“Shocked by the news ofthe death of Ram Vilas bhai(brother). Memories of anunbroken friendship that last-

ed for 45 years, during whichwe waged various social andpolitical battles, are floatingbefore my eyes. Ram Vilasbhai, you left us too soon.

“I am unable to say muchmore. Om Shanti!”, tweetedPrasad who was also Paswanscabinet colleague in the UPA-1 government. Deputy ChiefMinister Sushil Kumar Modi, asenior BJP leader who waslike Prasad a dynamic studentleader in the 1970s, alsorecalled his decades old rela-tionship with Ram VilasPaswan. “He left an indelibleimprint as a minister who heldnumerous portfolios in hiscareer. The people of Bihar cannever forget his contributions.

“He was a Dalit leader whotook all sections of the society

along, a reason why he enjoyedthe support of the OBCs and theupper castes as well”, Modi saidin his condolence message.Former CM Rabri Devi and herson Tejashwi Yadav also con-doled the death of Paswan andrecalled his close ties with theirfamily. PTI

New Delhi: Prime MinisterNarendra Modi on Thursdaycondoled the passing away ofUnion Minister Ram VilasPaswan, saying there is a voidin the nation that will perhapsnever be filled.

Paswan died on Thursdayat the age of 74. Reacting toPaswan’s demise, the Prime

Minister said, “I am saddenedbeyond words. There is a voidin our nation that will perhapsnever be filled.” “Shri RamVilas Paswan Ji’s demise is apersonal loss. I have lost afriend, valued colleague andsomeone who was extremelypassionate to ensure every poorperson leads a life of dignity,”

he said.Hailing the Lok Janshakti

Party patron for his rise in pol-itics through hardwork anddetermination, Modi said as ayoung leader, Paswan resisted“tyranny and the assault on ourdemocracy during theEmergency”.

PTI

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New Delhi: A helicopter of the Indian Air Force made a pre-cautionary landing in an open field in Saharanpur, UttarPradesh’s on Thursday. The precautionary landing was madeafter the Dhruv Advance light helicopter(ALH) developed atechnical snag in-flight during a routine training mission, theAir Force said.

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KOCHI: A widely respectedintellectual in Kerala who in2019 wrote a book eulogisingPrime Minister Narendra Modihas alleged that the Covid-19pandemic has led to the throt-tling of democratic vales inIndia. “Political leadership ofthe country has lost its sense ofimagination and democraticvalues have been violated allover India,” writes RBalashankar, author of thewidely acclaimed bookNarendra Modi-CreativeDisruptor.

Balashankar, who washeading the intellectual cell ofthe BJP does not mince wordswhile describing the presentscenario in India. “The wordwhich we hear regularly is thatof social distancing. The strictenforcement of social distanc-ing has led to the creation ofmore than 130 crore jail cells,each cell inhabited by eachIndian. “The official declara-

tion that coming together of individuals andclose contacts between personsare not desirable has done lotof irreparable damage to ourculture,” Balashankar wrote inthe recent issue of“Kalakaumudi”, a Malayalamweekly known for its Left-of-the-Centre stance.

Balashankar, the formerchief editor of RSS mouthpieceOrganiser reminds the readersthat Amit Shah during histenure as party president haddiligently followed the MassContact Campaigns all overIndia to enlist maximum num-ber of persons in the BJP andalso Maha Sadasyatha Abhiyan, through which he held per-sonal interaction with grassrootlevel workers of the party.

“But everything has goneawry and the BJP has becomean inaccessible entity. The firstlesson taught in the war againstCovid-19 was the necessity to

observe social distancing evenbetween close family relations.This is unheard of,”Balashankar wrote.

He reminds readers thatbefore the announcement oftotal lockdown in the last weekof March, there were just 2000patients and a causality of 200in the country. Now after theseries of lockdowns, whichhurt all sections of the society,India has more than 6.5 millionCovid-19 cases and more than1.1 lakh fatalities. “What we seeis the sight of gate keepers,policemen, bureaucrats andofficials spread across housingcolonies to banks to govern-ment offices turning them-selves into dictators,” writesBalashankar.

It is a known fact thatthere are four pillars of democ-racy. “Ours is a society whichhas always held creative expres-sion and freedom of expressionas sacred. But now it has

become a cardinal sin to speakanything against the war onCovid-19. All those in powerspeak the language of war.What kind of war is this?Whom are you waging waragainst? Those who speak thelanguage of war should under-stand that in all wars therewould be winners.

But this war would nothave winners or losers.Humanity itself is the loser,”signs of the author.

Balashankar reminds thepowers that be about the beau-ty of Gita Govinda, a poeticwork by the 12th century poetJyadeva in which he delin-eates the love of Lord Krishnafor Radha. Gita Govinda is awork exhorting love as a cele-bration and that too boundlesslove and celebration. The melo-dious lyrics gave rise to a seriesof choreographic works inmany classical dance forms inthe sub continent.

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In this Corona period, dengueis also spreading its legs

along with other seasonal dis-eases like cold cough etc.Patients get restless after gettingfever thinking that they mayhave infected with corona ordengue because the seasonaldiseases have many commonsymptoms of dengue and coro-na.

Doctors suggested thatthere is no need to fear orpanic. In current times, allneed to be more cautious thanever before. 1650 new patientsarrived at the district hospital,while the number of denguepatients has reached 63.

There is some relief fromthe heat as the weather changes,though the afternoon is stillhot. In such a situation, thepatients of cold cough and

fever have increased. Districthospital and private hospitalsare receiving an increasednumber of viral fever patients.

According to the officialdata, the number of denguepatients has reached 63, where-as the reality is much morethan this. 1650 new patientsarrived at the OPD, Emergencyand Fever Clinic of DistrictHospital today. It has a largenumber of viral fever patients.So far, 126 tests of dengue havebeen conducted in the lab ofthe district hospital, in which44 found positive.

Pediatrician Dr. VikasMehrotra said that the pan-demic period is still going on.Dengue patients are alsoincreased. People’s worry andfear about cold cough fever arenatural at this time but there isno need to panic.

Aligarh: A gang-rape case of awoman has come to light in the vil-lage of Kwarsi area while going for thetoilet by the four people. The videowas also made for the incident. Thevillagers created a ruckus on policearrival, but the police managed thesituation. The accused are abscond-ing. Police Force has been deployedin the area as a precaution.

A laborer living in a village of theKwarsi area reported that he had goneto work. His 35-year-old wife wasworking in the paddy field of anoth-er man of the village. At around 11am she went to defecation when fourpeople from the village caught herwho were already present in the field.The woman was then molested, and

gang raped. An accused also made avideo of it and raped her by threat-ening her to make the video viral.Hearing the screaming, villagersrushed but by then accused escaped.The woman's brother-in-lawinformed the police and the force ofKwarsi police station reached the spoton the information of the gang rape.Here, people created a ruckus whenthey stopped by the police on goingto the farm, but the police explainedand pacified everyone. KwarsiInspector Chhotelal said that a casehas been registered against theaccused Uttam, Pradeep, Rakha andAnil for molestation, gang rape andSC-ST Act and the medical exami-nation done for the woman. PNS

KOCHI: Claims by SmithaMenon, the controversial Kochiwoman who had accompaniedUnion Minister of State forExternal Affairs to the IndianOcean Rim Association Councilof Ministers held at Abu Dhabiin November 2019 has createdmore questions.

“Menon claims that she hasa masters degree in mass com-munications and has beenworking as media professionalsince 2007. If she had gone toAbu Dhabi to report to themedia back home about theIORA meeting, why should shetake the approval of the minis-ter for the press release whichshe prepared?” asked SalimMadavoor, the RTI activist whois pursuing the case.

The contention of Salim isthat Muraleedharan has violat-ed diplomatic protocol byincluding a public relations

executive in the Indian teamthat took part in the IORAmeeting. But the Indianembassy in UAE had informedSalim that Smitha Menon wasnot a member of the officialIndian delegation.

It is also revealed that nomedia in Kerala had carried thereport or release sent by Menon,who has been appointed as thegeneral secretary of MahilaMorach’s Kerala wing sincethen. K Surendran, Kerala BJPchief, said in a statement on

Thursday that she wasappointed as Mahila Morchaofficial at his instance and theminister does not have any rolein it.

Surendran also said thatthere were some forces in Keralawho want to divert the attentionof the people from the goldsmuggling scam by tarnishingMuraleedharan’s name. PNS

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There were 90,579 Covid-19 patientsacross Kerala on Thursday, accord-

ing to the Department of Health,Government of Kerala. The State onThursday diagnosed 5,445 new patientswhile 24 deaths were confirmed due tothe pandemic.

The death tally in the State till dateon account of Covid-19 reached 930.The only report that offered comfort tothe population was the number of per-

sons who recovered from the pandem-ic on a single day-7003. This is the high-est number of recoveries made in a sin-gle day till date.

Neighbouring Tamil Nadu diag-nosed 5,088 new Covid-19 patients onThursday. There were 44,437 activepatients across Tamil Nadu as onThursday while the State recorded 68deaths. Death toll reached 10,052 onThursday. Chennai recorded 1,295 newpatients while the other districtsremained static as far as number of newpatients are concerned.

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Srinagar: A further 696 peopleon Thursday tested Covid-19positive in Jammu andKashmir, taking the total num-ber of coronavirus cases in theUnion Territory to 81,793.

A statement issued by theInformation and PublicRelations Department said of696 people tested positive onThursday, 276 are from Jammudivision while 420 are fromKashmir division.

So far, 69,020 have recov-ered completely. A total of1,291 patients have been killedby the dreaded virus including9 on Thursday. IANS

Hathras (Uttar Pradesh): ShyorajJivan, who was caught on cameratrying to incite public sentiment inBulgarhi village over the fatal assaulton a 19-year-old allegedly by fourupper caste men, was taken intopolice custody on Thursday after-noon when the Dalit Congressleader arrived at the Hathras policestation in response to summonissued to him.

The Congress leader was seenin the purported videos, admittingthat Congress used the Hathras inci-dent for furthering its politics as ithad been devoid of issues for a longtime. He was seen using provocativelanguage while speaking to the vic-tim's family and the entire Valmikicommunity apparently with theintent to inflame caste violence inthe district.

Jivan is a former Minister of

state in the union cabinet andnational secretary in the party.

The Hathras police had bookedJivan for sedition charges and sum-moned him for interrogation with-in 24 hours. The case was lodged onWednesday night. The DalitCongress leader, however, denied allthe allegations. “I thank the mediafor turning me into the biggest anti-national in the country. I willexplain whatever I have to, to thepolice,” he said sarcastically andrefused to comment further on the matter. IANS

Agra: Fifty six fresh coronavirus cases were reported inAgra in the last 24 hours taking the total number to6,110, the state authorities said on Thursday.

District Magistrate P.N. Singh said so far 5,436 hadrecovered, while the number of active cases now was 545.The number of samples in the district has gone up to2,07,022.

Though the daily Covid-19 sample tests continueto remain around 2,500, there has been some respite inthe numbers of new cases which in September had goneup abnormally high.

With the rising graph of seasonal viral fever,dengue, and flu, doctors in Agra have advised patientsnot to rush for Covid tests, but consult family doctorsor go to government clinics first.

Doctors said, “Patients with fever should first getthe opinion of their family doctors before rushing forCovid-19 tests. Patients can get a fever from a whole lotof health issues including flu, viral fever that is seasonal,dengue, or even urine infection.” IANS

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The Hathras incident seems tobe getting murkier by the day

with families of the victim andthe accused trading chargesagainst each other, escalatingthe caste tension in the regionwhile the Special InvestigationTeam (SIT) has further steppedup its investigation.

Sources said that the SIT hasasked whosoever present on thespot at the funeral of the victimhas been called for questioning.“SIT has summoned a total of 40people from the village for ques-tioning,” a source said.

The pyre-burning place hasalready been inspected by the SITwho recorded the statement ofthe victim's brother. They alsoinspected the victim's house and

roof.After a report of caste tension

in the region, the UP governmenthas rushed two officers of anADG and a DIG level onWednesday night to control thesituation. The two senior IPS offi-cers-- Rajiv Krishna and SalabhMathur would be camping inAligarh and Hathras for next oneweek to diffuse the tension pre-vailing in the area. The two offi-cials will report to the DGPafter meeting the people andpanchayats. The security of thevictim family has been enhanced.

Meanwhile allegations andcounter allegations by the vic-tim's family and accused had fur-ther escalated the caste tension inthe region. While the victimbelongs to the Dalit community,the accused are from upper caste.

The controversy took anoth-

er twist on Thursday after theaccused have written a letter tothe Superintendent of Police(SP) of Hathras from the Aligarhjail, where they are lodged abouttheir innocence.

The letter written by theprime accused Sandeep in whichall the four accused have thumbimpression claims that they arein jail in connection with a FIRregistered against them undersection 307,354 and 3(2)5 of theSC Act on September 20 last. Theother three accused are Luvkush,Ravi and Ramu, all relatives ofSandeep.

They said that they are inno-cent and all have been implicat-ed by the girl's family. Sandeepin the letter claims that he isfriends with the girl and used tomeet her frequently and talkover the phone regularly. He

said on the fateful day, he hadcalled the girl in the field butthere she came along with hermother and brother. Sandeepsaid immediately he went awayand joined his father in feedingthe cows. Later, he learnt that thegirl's brother thrashed her badlywhich led to her hospitalizationand later her death.

According to police investi-gation, the phone used by the vic-tim's family had chat recordwith Sandeep for at least 104times in 143 days betweenOctober 2019 to March. But thegirl's brother refuted the policeclaim saying that there was justone mobile phone in the houseand it was with his father. Heclaimed that the phone was alsolost so they arranged a new SIM.He also said that it was a con-spiracy by police to protect the

accused. The girl family evenwent to the High Court to seekits intervention against the man-ner in which they were detainedin the name of security cover.Upset with the recent attack onthe family both by the police andupper caste members, they evenappealed to give them `poison'.

It may be mentioned that theState government has alreadyalleged that against the backdropof the Hathras incident, someanti-national forces were tryingto create caste clashes and evendetected trials of around Rs 100crores, including Rs 50 crore,from Mauritius and other coun-tries. Cops also arrested four peo-ple of PFI, including one fromKerala, in the conspiracy so farwhile the EnforcementDirectorate (ED) was investigat-ing the matter.

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Reaching out to the familiesof three labourers, killed in

the Amshipora area of Shopianon July 18, Lt- Governor ManojSinha on Thursday visitedTarkassi village in Rajouri toconvey the message of PrimeMinister Narendra Modi thatthe government stands withthem in this hour of grief.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinhatrekked through the dustyapproach road using a walkingstick.

He was accompanied byone of his senior advisors,Farooq Khan, DivisionalCommissioner, Jammu

Sanjeev Verma and InspectorGeneral of Police, Jammurange, Mukesh Singh.

Lt-Governor was seatedinside the unconstruction

home of one of the labourers inthe remote village where closerelatives of all three labourerswere present.

Expressing condolences

with the families, the LtGovernor said that the UTGovernment will extend fullsupport to them and assuredthat justice would be ensured

in the case.He also conveyed the mes-

sage of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi that the gov-ernment stands with theaggrieved families in the hourof grief, and they will be takencare of with all support fromthe government.

Earlier, the Lt Governorwhile addressing local popula-tion at Peeri on the sidelines ofthe ongoing Back to Villageprogram observed that mainobjective of his visit to theremote village was to assure thepeople that Constitution ofIndia is supreme; Governmentis with the people, and justiceand equality shall be ensured bythe government.

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The India MeteorologicalDepartment (IMD) will

release a dynamic, impact-based cyclone warning system,aimed at minimising econom-ic losses and damage to prop-erty due to the cyclones that hitIndian coasts every year.

There were 21 depressions,eight cyclonic storms, six severecyclonic storms, six very severecyclonic storms, four extreme-ly severe cyclonic storms in2019.Presently, a low pressureis predicted to form over northAndaman Sea and adjoiningBay of Bengal around October9 and 11.

With improved technolo-

gy and increased use of satellite-guided data in recent years,IMD has managed to betterforecast cyclones and issuewarnings.The post-monsoonmonths of October andNovember offer favourable seaconditions for the occurrence ofcyclonic storms, which mainlyaffect the livelihoods of peopleof coastal Andhra Pradesh,Odisha and West Bengal.IMDorganized an on-line pre-cyclone exercise meeting onOctober 6 to review the pre-paredness, take stock of require-ments, plan for the cyclone sea-son October-December, 2020and share new initiatives withstakeholders.Speaking on'Chasing the Cyclones' at an

event, IMD Director GeneralMrutunjay Mohapatra saidthe new system will give specificwarnings. For instance, if a dis-trict is to be hit by winds up to160 kmph, it will warn aboutthe kind of infrastructure thatis likely to be damaged andthese can be mapped.

Under the system, locationor district-specific tailoredwarnings, which factor in thelocal population, infrastruc-ture, settlements, land use andother elements, will be preparedand disseminated. All disastermanagement agencies willmake extensive use of carto-graphic, geological and hydro-logical data available for the dis-trict concerned.

He also informed thestakeholders about variousmobile apps launched by IMDincluding Damini for lightningforecast, Mausam & Umang forweather forecast includingcyclone warning and Meghdootfor agrometeorological advi-sories.

Until now, the IMD gavewarnings about the kind ofdamage expected during acyclone. Climatologically, Bayof Bengal and Arabian Seanormally experience fivecyclones annually - one overArabian Sea and four over theBay of Bengal. Out of fivecyclones, one develops duringpre-monsoon season and fourpost monsoon.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA)has arrested a business analyst with a

bank in Chennai and a rich merchant inconnection with the Bengaluru ISIS mod-ule case.On Wednesday, the NIA arrestedbusiness analyst Ahamed Abdul Cader, 40,of Ramanathpuram, Tamil Nadu and themerchant Irfan Nasir, 33, of Frazer Townin Bengaluru.

The case was registered suo-moto byNIA on September 19, 2020 after certainincriminating facts emerged about aBengaluru-based ISIS module during theinvestigation of Islamic State KhorasanProvince (ISKP) case.One Dr AbdurRahman alias Dr Brave of Bengaluru wasarrested in the ISKP case. During his exam-ination, names of his associates surfacedwho had travelled to Syria in 2013-2014 tojoin ISIS, the NIA said in a statement hereon Thursday.

“Further investigation resulted in bust-ing of a module wherein it was revealed thataccused Cader, Nasir and their associateswere members of Hizb-ut-Tehrir, andthey had formed a group called ‘QuranCircle’ which radicalized gullible Muslimyouth in Bengaluru and funded their visitto conflict zone in Syria to aid and assistthe ISIS terrorists,” it said.

“Based on this, the NIA registered RC-

33/2020/NIA/DLI dated September 19,2020 under sections 120-B (criminal con-spiracy) and 125 (waging war against anyAsiatic Power in alliance with theGovernment of India) of the Indian PenalCode and relevant provisions of theUnlawful Activities (Prevention) Actagainst the accused persons for having affil-iation with the banned terrorist organiza-tion ISIS/ISIL/Daesh and for entering intoa conspiracy to radicalize and motivateMuslim youth of Bengaluru to join ISIS,and for raising funds to facilitate their trav-el to Syria,” it further said.Cader, Nasir andtheir associates played a “very significant”role in radicalization of the members of theGroup and arranged funds through dona-tions and own sources for visit of accusedAbdur Rahman (accused in ISKP case) andother Muslim youth of Bengaluru to Syriato join ISIS. Two of such youth got killedin Syria, the agency claimed.

Searches were conducted at the premis-es of Cader and Nasir in Gurappana Palyaand Frazer Town in Bengaluru onWednesday. During the searches, incrim-inating materials and electronic deviceshave been seized, it said.Both the accusedwere produced before Special NIA Court,Bengaluru and 10 days’ NIA Custody hasbeen granted for interrogation. Furtherinvestigation in the case is continuing tounearth the larger conspiracy, it added.

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Senior BJP leader and UnionLaw Minister Ravishankar

Prasad on Thursday accusedthe TMC-led-government inWest Bengal of “throttling” thevoice of dissent in the state andresorting to suppression oflegitimate political opposition“even by killing”.

He claimed that inthe last two-three years, 115

BJP workers have been killedwithout inviting “any authen-tic action” from the state police.

Prasad condemned the“barbaric police attack” on theBJP march to the state secre-tariat in which, he said around1500 workers and many seniorparty office bearers wereinjured and hospitalised whenthey were undertaking a“peaceful protest” .

He even alleged: 'I havebeen told that the water (watercannons) had some chemical init which is why people havebeen vomiting.'' Prasad saidoutside West Bengal ChiefMinister Mamta Banerjeespeaks about preservingdemocracy and freedom butback home she was not allow-ing any space to the oppositionvoice.

“Besides the BJP evenCPM members are also beingbeaten ..”, he said and quotedpast incidents when even thenBJP president Amit Shah’s heli-copter was “not allowed toland” and last minute“changes” were made in thePrime Minister’s meetingvenue.Prasad said despite thestate violence, BJP has won 18 Lok Sabha seats andwould form the next

government in the state as “people are yearning for achange”

.He took to task the ‘lib-erals’ who he said keep theirmouth shut on the ‘anti-demo-cratic actions’ in West Bengal,Kerala or Rajasthan but speakaloud when incidents tookplace in the BJP-ruled UttarPradesh where the state gov-ernment “not only allowedopposition to visit the village inHathras but on its own alsosought a “Supreme Court mon-itored probe” into the allegedmurder of a girl .

Not keen to field querieson Lok Janshakti Party’s rela-tionship with the BJP, Prasad said BJP leaders inBihar have made it amply clearthat BJP-JDU-VIP alone arepartners in the NDA alliance.

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Ihave previously written onhow policing developedaround the world. It isoften believed, thoughincorrectly, that the police

and investigating agencies havebeen around forever and thatthey were always set up with theaim of maintaining law andorder. History, however, is rarelythis linear and the history ofpolicing even more so. In theUnited States, for example, polic-ing in the 17th and early 18thcenturies was different for theNorth and the South. In its earlyform, policing was mostly a for-profit venture, where peoplewere hired to protect businessinterests, including ventures ofgambling and prostitution.Ironically enough, these police-men were typically criminals orthugs. In the South, these“police” forces were typicallyemployed as “slave patrols”, whotook strict and swift actionagainst slaves who tried toprotest against their owners.These private police forces even-tually took the form of a public-funded police force, but even thisstep was prompted by merchantsand people in power to subsidisethe cost of protection. The policeforces, in effect, were funded bymany but became agents of thefew.

As time passed and democra-cies flourished, with more peo-ple participating in the law-making process, the police wasreined in through an electedGovernment that passed laws toregulate its conduct. The judicia-ry ensured such laws wereadhered to and the Press high-lighted the abuse of power. Atleast, that is how a functionaldemocracy is meant to work.However, as the horrific Hathrasrape-murder case shows, a differ-ent standard seems to apply toUttar Pradesh.

In Hathras, a small village inUP, a 19-year-old girl from theDalit community was reported-ly gang-raped with her bodyleft broken into pieces. Instead ofstanding with the victim of thisheinous crime, allegedly commit-ted by members of the “uppercaste” society, the pain caused tothe poor girl’s family has onlybeen compounded by the mis-handling of processes by the UPGovernment. Even a cursoryglance at the events that have fol-

lowed since this horrific inci-dent shows that while one maybe aware of the pathetic stateof affairs in India’s largestState, one didn’t realise justhow lawless and perhaps moresignificantly apathetic YogiAdityanath’s Government is.

Let us first deal with thecomplete absence of law andorder. There has been no clearexplanation or rationale pro-vided by the StateGovernment on why exactlythe police and the authorities,who were present there,ensured that the body of thedeceased was cremated beforedawn. The victim of thistragedy was not only the poorgirl, whose body was charred,but also the parents who werenot even allowed to crematetheir daughter in peace. Whywas this done? The explana-tion given by the State is thatthis move was imperative toensure that “law and order”was preserved in the State.This would mean that thepolice can tomorrow stop youfrom cremating your lovedones as per your traditionbecause it believes it’s good forlaw and order. The actions ofthe State are far beyond law-lessness and are firmly sacri-legious.

This act, in and of itself, isworthy of strict judicial action.One would think that thepain and horror inflicted onthe poor family would stophere. However, the StateGovernment once againshowed us that when it comesto abuse of due process andblatant disregard of the law, its

imagination is not inhibitedby the boundaries that meremortals like you and me areconstrained by. Only underthe present UP Governmentcan the victim’s family beasked to undergo a narco-analysis test. A practice thatinvolves drugging a subject toreveal certain facts while he orshe is in a semi-consciousstate. A practice that has beendeclared to have no legalvalidity even when adminis-tered on an accused of acrime, forget the fact that theGovernment wants to conductthis test on the victim’s ownfamily.

Now, let’s examine the spell-binding television interviewgiven by UP AdditionalDirector General of Police(Law and Order), PrashantKumar, where the officer ofthe law told us that the foren-sic report showed that the vic-tim was not raped as the sam-ples had no semen. Someoneneeds to inform the woefullyunaware or blissfully compli-ant ADG that the law on rapedoes not actually require anysemen to be found and sincethe Nirbhaya rape case, thelaw has been explicit lychanged to include circum-stances where any form ofnon-consensual penetrationof a woman can be classifiedas rape. Last I checked, theIndian Penal Code applies toall of India, including UP,though with each passing dayI am proved wrong. The ADGis also possibly unaware thatthe samples from the victimon which he sought to rely

were received by the forensicauthority 11 days after she washospitalised and that as perthe Centre’s own guidelines,the likelihood of finding suchdirect evidence is greatlyreduced after 72 hours.

The problem with state-ments like this from the policeor the conduct of the admin-istration, like the HathrasDistrict Magistrate, is thatpeople actually rely on decla-rations made by individualswho hold such authority.When a police officer or abureaucrat says that some-thing is legal or illegal onnational television, yourdefault instinct is to believehim. Unlike people’s trust inpoliticians, which tends tovacillate, their trust in theadministration, which they(perhaps naively) believe actsin accordance with the law, isstill strong. This places agreater responsibility on thebureaucracy to act in accor-dance with the law and theConstitution. A responsibili-ty that has been unashamed-ly abdicated in this case.

But how much can weblame the administration if itis made to fit the mould thatthe party in power sets? Thecues given by the BJP throughits conduct are embarrassing.Like the head of the IT cell ofthe BJP, who shares videos ofa rape victim without blurringher face even though this isclearly against the law andwho talks (without provoca-tion) on national televisionabout phone-tapping by theState of reporters as if it is agiven.

It is increasingly apparentthat the BJP thinks that the cit-izens of this country are stupidand are like sheep who will fol-low where they are led by themost incompetent of shep-herds. This is why its leadersthrow the most ridiculous con-spiracy theories at us, expect-ing us to believe that a report-ed incident of caste violenceand rape in Hathras is actual-ly a foreign conspiracy. Thereare almost 10 cases of rape inUP every day, so as per the UPGovernment, is only this one aforeign conspiracy or are all ofthese rapes conspiracies too?

Enough is enough. The timeis now to tell the shepherd thatwe are not sheep who will sitidly by as the rule of law is sac-rificed to protect the BJP’simage. We need to say it loudand clear that the same lawsthat govern the rest of Indiaapply to UP and to each citizen,irrespective of caste. Sooner orlater, they will get the memo.

(The writer is a former IPSofficer, a former MP and cur-rently a member of AAP)

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������������� �Sir — The Supreme Court onOctober 7 said that protesterscannot occupy public placesindefinitely as they cause incon-venience for others. This verdictwas made on a batch of petitionsagainst the protests at Delhi’sShaheen Bagh, which hadbecome the epicentre of a civilmovement against the con-tentious CitizenshipAmendment Act (CAA). It wason December 15 that at least 300women, some of whom wereeven in their 80s, started the sit-in protest at Shaheen Bagh andbirthed a crusade. However, theprotesters had to vacate the sitein March when cases of COVID-19 began rising. “Dissent anddemocracy go hand in hand,” theapex court observed, stressingthat protests must be allowed atdesignated areas. It is true thatsomeone’s right to protest shouldnot interfere with the right to freemovement of others. However,with an authoritarianGovernment that does not allowdissent, taking to the streetsseems the only way to get themto listen to the public it suppos-edly represents.

Bhagwan ThadaniMumbai

���������Sir — Atal Tunnel, the longesthighway tunnel at an altitude ofmore than 10,000 ft, was inaugu-rated by the Prime Minister onOctober 3 and within days, it haswitnessed three accidents.According to the Border RoadsOrganisation’s chief engineer,the accidents occurred due toreckless driving. And many

tourists are said to have been tak-ing selfies inside the tunnel.Under these circumstances, theDistrict Magistrate of Kullu hasissued new guidelines, com-pletely banning any unnecessarymovement in the tunnel’s emer-gency exits. They have alsobanned photography andvideography from 200 metresbefore the south portal up to theend of the tunnel. It is crucial that

people follow the new guidelinesand not endanger themselves orothers.

M PradyuKannur

�������������������Sir — There’s no denying that itis China’s recent aggressivebehaviour in the Indo-Pacificregion that has brought the

Quad or the QuadrilateralSecurity Dialogue, a multi-later-al grouping comprising India,US, Japan and Australia, togeth-er. For long, it was believed thatChina’s rise would strengtheninternational rules and com-merce in East Asia. However, onthe contrary, the Chinese leader-ship clearly believes that it canuse the power differential it hascome to acquire to browbeat itsneighbours and make strategicgains. This is precisely what weare witnessing with China ram-ming and sinking fishing boatsbelonging to other nations in theSouth China Sea and PLA troopstrying to nibble away Indian ter-ritory along the Himalayas.What’s needed is an effectiveregional counterbalance to Chinaand this must be anchored by acredible security partnership. Itassumes strategic significancethat all the Quad members nowhave agreements among them-selves that allow their militariesto access each other’s bases andcoordinate closely. This needs tobe expanded to other East Asiannations to resist China’s bullying.

Sadhasiva ReddyBengaluru

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Three new farm Acts were recently introducedin the country. The most important ofthese, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and

Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act,2020 is aimed at putting an end to the monopolyof the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee(APMC) mandis. Earlier, under the 1964 APMCAct, all the farmers were required to sell their pro-duce at the Government-regulated mandis. Thearhatiya (middlemen) in such cases helped thefarmers in selling their crops to private companiesor Government agencies. While APMCs will con-tinue to function, farmers will now have a widerchoice. But one of the powerful ways that growerscan serve as their own middlemen is through alivelihood and development strategy that collectivis-es the smaller primary producers into locally-man-aged Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)which are then integrated into an inclusive valuechain. This is a sustainable, market-based approachin which resources of member farmers (for exam-ple, expertise and capital) are pooled to achievemore together than they can individually. Itenables members see their work through anentrepreneurial lens and confers economies of scale,better marketing and distribution, more investablefunds and skills, greater bargaining power, accessto credit and insurance, sharing of assets and costs,opportunities to upgrade skills and technology anda safety net in times of distress. The best-knownexample of an FPO is that of Amul (GujaratCooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd),which is a dairy cooperative with over three mil-lion producer members.

In this model, thousands of scattered smallfarms are systematically aggregated and providedcentralised services around production, post-har-vest and marketing. This helps reduce transactioncosts of the farms for approaching value chains andmakes it easier for small farmers to access inputs,technology and the market. It also opens oppor-tunities to bring primary processing facilities clos-er to the farm gates and helps producers gather mar-ket intelligence and manage the value chain bet-ter with digital agriculture tools. An FPO is a hybridbetween a private limited company and a cooper-ative society. Hence one can see it enjoy the ben-efits of professional management of a private lim-ited company as well as reap the benefits of a coop-erative society.

Small-holder farmer producer groups are a keymedium to build scale on account of the confidence,support and buyer/seller power they provide. Theyare able to achieve economies of scale through post-harvest infrastructure (collection, sorting, gradingfacilities), establishment of integrated processingunits, refrigerated transportation, pre-cooling orcold stores chambers, branding, labelling and pack-aging, aggregation and transportation, assaying,preconditioning, grading, standardising and otherinterventions. The key benefit is the marketing sup-port that links producers to mainstream marketsthrough aggregation of subsistence-level produceinto economic lots that can significantly raise theshare that peasants get from the money people payfor their food.

The FPOs are owned and governed by share-holder farmers and administered by professionalmanagers. They adopt all the good principles ofcooperatives, the efficient business practices of com-

panies and seek to address the inadequa-cies of the cooperative structure. The bestway for these organisations is to leveragetheir collective strength through a fullvalue chain from the farm to the fork. Theunderlying principle is similar to that ofthe full stack approach. This approachmakes the sponsor, catalyst or promot-er responsible for every part of the expe-rience. In short, it is a whole-farm sys-tems approach. It creates a complemen-tary support ecosystem that boosts farmyields, reduces negative environmentalimpacts and increases market access andsmall-holder farmer incomes. It also pro-vides sustainability interventions, includ-ing sustainable irrigation products andpractices. Moreover, the value chainuses a business approach in order to makeit viable.

Apart from the collective strengththat group synergy generates, the supportstructures help in building the capacitiesof producers to deal with input suppli-ers, buyers, bankers, technical serviceproviders, development-promoting agen-cies and the Government (for their enti-tlements), among others. One of theFPO’s important roles is linking farmersto reliable and affordable sources offinancing in the funding ecosystem tomeet their working capital, infrastructure,development and other needs. The col-lective works to reorient the enablingenvironment by influencing policies inthis direction. The extension servicesavailable through the collectives includeaugmenting farmer capacity throughagricultural best practices, agronomicadvice, training on use of bio-fertiliser,pest management, modern harvestingtechniques and access to optimal envi-ronmental practices. The success of a col-

lective hinges on many factors: The tech-nical support it receives, its institution-al base, social and professional compo-sition, land access and cropping patternsof members and adaptation of the modelto the local context.

Sadly, rich farmers are significantlymore likely to participate than the lessprivileged. They often become adminis-trative members and use services sub-stantially more for themselves than forrank-and-file members. It is, thus, nec-essary to strengthen democratic process-es in these institutions.

Most promoters of the value chainare now successfully using the sub-sec-tor approach, which allows for a focus onspecific sub-sectors and helps in strength-ening the ecosystem within which theyare able to transition from a comparativeto a competitive advantage. The valuechain also facilitates capacity buildingsupport and use of modern tools includ-ing technology that can help to improveweather forecasting, agricultural process-ing, soil health monitoring crop identi-fication as well as damage control, andmapping of available water resources.Some of these collectives are using dig-ital tools to make farming climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive and inclusive.The farmers are also able to achieveincrease in the quantity, quality and con-sistency of production of crops. Forachieving better scale, the value chainneeds to steward limited resources andbuild production systems that natural sys-tems can support over time. This logicembraces the use of soil managementregimes that incorporate modest, target-ed use of synthetic fertilisers to boostfarmer incomes and production withoutaffecting the quality of soil. The techni-

cal support is complemented by betterwater management through rain waterharvesting and recharging of the groundwater table; introduction of multi-crop-ping and diverse agro-based activities; useof low-cost and small plot irrigation tech-nologies, which are commercially viableand environment-friendly. There is alsoa need for a policy to pool land orincrease the size of holdings through col-lective farming or some other way.Consolidation of small-holders’ landholdings through cooperatives can alsocreate synergies, especially for the leas-ing of large equipment or bulk inputorders. It helps in creating cold storagefor controlling post-harvest losses.Financing for setting up micro-irrigationfacilities and rainwater harvesting mod-ules would help create an infrastructurefor sustainable water supply and henceaid farm productivity.

FPOs should also be encouraged toparticipate in Minimum Support Price-based procurement operations. TheeNAM platform can connect farmerswith distant buyers. However, the biggestlimitation of eNAM and other similarprogrammes seems to be that the vastmajority of farmers are not tech-savvy.This is further compounded by low inter-net penetration and erratic electric sup-ply. We need robust farmer-producerinstitutions which will have capital andthe risk-taking ability to set up process-ing zones which are critical for prevent-ing losses on account of rotting food-grains. Together with FPOs, farmers canbe their own middlemen and India canfinally see the dream of farmers’ incomesbeing doubled being realised.

(The writer is a well known develop-ment professional)

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The 16th century King of England,Henry VIII, usurped the powerof the Catholic Church when it

refused to approve his desire to annulhis marriage, so he could wed anoth-er woman “more worthy of thethrone.” According to the Americanprofessor of law, G Marcus Cole, thisis when the State took over the rolesthat were once the exclusive domainsof the Church, i.e. defining morality.Cole says that since the king’s author-ity did not extend to marital issues,Henry simply assumed by force theChurch’s duties and powers.

Despite the fact that in Europe,politically, the Church and the Statebegan to be separated from the 18thcentury, there was always a distancebetween the two, regarding social and

religious matters. For example, issuessuch as homosexuality, divorce, adul-tery and so on were hardly ever putbefore a monarch because these werematters of morality and thus thedomain of the Church. But when thepolitical divorce of the Church and theState was complete, citizens expectedthe State to define morality and legis-late laws to punish immorality.

This was easier said than done,because this meant assuming a role thatwas once the domain of the Church,which had been sidelined because itwas thought to be against the princi-ples of enlightenment, such as reason,science and modernity. Nevertheless,according to Cole, ever since Henry’smove, the State has increasingly occu-pied and further assumed the tradition-al functions of the Church.

The same was the case in Muslimempires, where the monarchs initial-ly let Islamic scholars and judgesdefine, resolve and judge matters ofmorality and piety. But increasingly,because of issues of morality overlap-ping political matters, Muslim mon-archs began to trespass the domains ofthe Ulema (a body of Muslim scholars)often leaving them fuming. The Ulema

believed that the monarchs were inter-preting and defining religious lawsbecause of pragmatic reasons, morethan their desire to create a morally cor-rect society. It is this approach that stilldrives the dynamics of the modernState and its legislative relationship withmorality. Whereas legislating or enact-ing laws against crimes such as theft,murder or rape have a tangible neces-sity to maintain a moral order in soci-ety, the problem arises when a Statetries to formulate laws against what itbelieve causes such crimes.

In Pakistan, for example, over theyears, governments have often enact-ed legislation and issued ordinances todeal with what they assume causescrimes such as rape and child abuse.During the Zia-ul-Haq dictatorship inthe 1980s, decrees and “advisories”were issued about how men andwomen (especially the latter) shoulddress on TV and in public. Zia’s“chaadar aur chaardewari” (veil andfour walls) motto encouraged womento stay indoors and only venture out ina veil, to avoid sexual harassment orrape. This line of thinking was vehe-mently opposed by various women’sorganisations. They saw it as an idea

emitting from the psyche of a male dic-tator who was putting the blame onwomen for being abused by men.

No serious discussion was everattempted by the Government tounderstand the causes behind rape andharassment, beyond that unidimen-sional rhetorical solution to keepwomen inside the four walls of thehouse and in a veil. Of course, the issueof young boys being raped, many ofthem in madrasas, was convenientlyignored, and so were incidents in whichwomen, who regularly covered them-selves in the veil, could not escapeharassment.

Second, on September 20, this year,the Pakistani lawmaker ShandanaGulzar Khan quoted figures by therights group War on Rape in which itwas disclosed that, on many occasions,rapists are known to the victims andinclude family members. So this meansa large number of rapes are taking placeinside the chaardewari.

Recently, the Imran KhanGovernment, echoing the famousIslamic evangelist, Tariq Jameel, hascome up with a similar rationalebehind the frightening increase in rapecases of women and of children, both

male and female. According to Jameel,co-education is one reason, whereas toKhan, the reasons range fromHollywood and Bollywood films andthe Chinese mobile phone app Tik-Tok! In Europe and the US, psychol-ogists and psychiatrists have, fordecades, been conducting studieswhether “obscenity” in cultural prod-ucts generates actual deviant behaviour.The results have been entirely incon-clusive. This is what courts in Europeand the US have been struggling with.Professor of law Daniel Piar says that,from the mid-20th century, courts inthe US began to discourage legislationon the basis of morality. Those whosupport this position give the exampleof the 1920 prohibition imposed onalcoholic beverages in the US.

It was a decision by theGovernment based on decades of lob-bying by puritanical Christian groups,who often provided “proof” of howalcohol was ravaging the moral fabricof American society. Yet, 13 years later,in 1933, the Government had to repealthe law. In a January 2020 article forThe Atlantic, Annika Neklason writesthat prohibition caused twice theamount of corruption and violence

than the prohibitionists claimed con-suming liquor did. Enacting laws tocurb an activity, because that activityis defined as being immoral, and thecause behind tangible disruption insociety make for a complicated exer-cise. For example, rape or child abuseare clearly tangible misdeeds. Theprocedure to determine their cause,however, is the domain of psychologistsand sociologists, who must weigh inbefore the Government can legislatelaws to address the causes. But thishardly ever happens in Pakistan, wheresuccessive governments and the Stateoften take unilateral action to deter-mine and then define causes in thiscontext and impose curbs againstthem. The most they do is confer withUlema. Therefore, the determinedcauses of rape and child abuse drawsome entirely knee-jerk rationale thatdoes not go beyond pleas to putwomen behind walls, wrap them in aveil or ban “obscene” cultural products.

There’s another reason why thishappens. According to the Americanscholar of law, Louis Henkin, since itis problematic to substantiate that anactivity defined as being “obscene”causes certain criminal offences, courts

and governments forbid them, notbecause there is proof that they lead tocrimes, but because they are deemedoffensive to large sections of society.This is common in polities that definethemselves as being morally correct.

When recently, PTV aired a seg-ment in which a woman was shownexercising with a male fitness coach, aconservative journalist tweeted, “Is this(the) Islamic Republic of Pakistan?” Ofcourse, he couldn’t claim that the seg-ment would lead to any heinous crime,it was just him being offended by itbecause, in his mind, an IslamicRepublic should behave in a particu-lar manner. Anything contradictingthis manner needs to be bannedbecause it is offensive.

The American legal philosopher,Lon Fuller, describes this as “moralityof aspiration” or a conception of moralprinciples to which humans ought toaspire. He discouraged legislationbased on morality of aspiration becauseit often ends up enshrining flawed andpopulist concepts of virtue that donothing to address the larger crimesthat these ideas of virtue are pretend-ing to combat.

(Courtesy: Dawn)

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Islamabad: Afghanistan’sTaliban on Thursday welcomeda tweet from President DonaldTrump in which he promised tohave the last of the US’s troopsout of Afghanistan byChristmas.

If that withdrawal happens,it would be months ahead ofschedule and the tweet made noreference to a Taliban promiseto fight terrorist groups — aprevious pre-requisite for anAmerican withdrawal.

America’s exit fromAfghanistan after 19 years waslaid out in an agreementWashington reached with theTaliban in February.

However, that agreementsaid U.S. Troops would be out

of Afghanistan in 18 monthsprovided the Taliban honoreda commitment to fight terror-ist groups, with most attentionseemingly focused on theIslamic State group affiliate inthe country.

Taliban spokesmanZabihullah Mujahed saidTrump’s statement was wel-come and he considered it apositive step for the imple-mentation of the peace agree-ment between the US and theTaliban.

The Taliban are “committedto the contents of the agreementand hopes for good and posi-tive relations with all countries,including the U.S, in the future,”he said. AP

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AEuropean Union commis-sioner on Thursday urged

the countries of the WesternBalkans to create a single eco-nomic area to better feel thebenefits of the bloc’s invest-ment plans.

Oliver Varhelyi, the EUcommissioner who overseesissues surrounding the bloc’senlargement, was in Kosovo aspart of a tour of the Balkans.He urged Kosovo to “speed upthe reforms because theseinvestments go hand in handwith the reform efforts.” TheEU this week approved a 9 bil-lion-euro (USD 10.58 billion)package of grants for the

Western Balkan countriesthrough 2027.

Varhelyi said they are “incoordination with our inter-national financial institutionpartners to create an additional20 billion euros (USD 23.5 bil-lion) in guarantees for theregion.” The sum wouldamount to a third of theregion’s GDP, and the EUexpects it to boost the econo-my by three to four percent.

“It is crucial to have a sin-gle economic area in theBalkans, because these invest-ments will only bring the ben-efits if these investments workregionally,” Varhelyi said at anews conference with KosovarPrime Minister Avdullah Hoti.

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Nepal on Thursday record-ed its highest number of

coronavirus cases in a singleday with 4,364 people testingpositive for COVID-19, takingthe nationwide tally to 98,617.

The country also reported12 new deaths on Thursday,pushing the number of fatali-ties to 590, the health ministrysaid.

Among the new cases,2,540 have been reported fromwithin Kathmandu valleyalone, according to a healthministry official.

Washington: The much-await-ed vice presidential debatebetween Kamala Harris andMike Pence saw the duo spar-ring on US President DonaldTrump’s handling of theCOVID-19 pandemic, jobs,China, racial tensions and cli-mate change, less than fourweek’s ahead of the election.

Harris, the DemocraticParty’s vice president nomineedescribed the Trump’s han-dling of the COVID-19 pan-demic as the “greatest failure ofany presidential administra-tion in the history” of Americaas she opened the vice debatewith a sharp attack on VicePresident Pence, who leads thepresident’s coronavirus taskforce.

Wednesday night’s livedebate at The University ofUtah in Salt Lake City was acivil one between the two lead-ers, separated by plexiglassbarriers, compared to lastweek’s showdown between

President Trump and hisDemocratic challenger andformer vice president JoeBiden, which degenerated intoinsults and name-calling.

Pence, did not interrupt asmuch as Trump last week dur-ing the first presidential debate,but when he did Harris inter-jected: “Mr Vice-President, I’mspeaking, I’m speaking.”

During the 90-minute one-off debate before the November

3 presidential election, Harris,55, and Pence, 61, stuck to theirknown campaign positions onmajor topics.

Pence, who entered thedebate as an underdog, wasseen vigorously defending theactions of the TrumpAdministration during the pastnearly four years.

Harris, who scripted yetanother history, by becomingthe first person of Indian

descent to be on the stage of avice presidential debate,charmed with her smiling facethroughout while respondingto answers to Pence with factsand figures with the sameassertiveness as she started hercareer as a district attorney inSan Francisco.

“This administration hasforfeited their right to re-elec-tion,” she asserted at the startof the debate moderated byjournalist Susan Page fromUSA Today newspaper.

“Biden wants to go back tothe economic surrender toChina that when we took office,half of our international tradedeficit was with China alone,”Pence fired back during thedebate, which moved from onesegment to the other every 10minutes.

Harris slammed the TrumpAdministration for its han-dling of the COVID-19 pan-demic as the country is now theworld’s worst-hit nation. PTI

Jakarta: Protests in manyIndonesian cities turned violenton Thursday as thousands ofenraged students and workerscriticized a new law they saywill cripple labour rights andharm the environment.

Clashes between rock-throwing demonstrators andriot police broke out nearJakarta’s presidential palace aspolice tried to disperse theprotesters, including workersand high school and universi-ty students.

President Joko Widodo isvisiting Central Kalimantan

province and was not in thepalace.

Police fired tear gas at theprotesters from several highschools and universities as theytried to approach the palacecompound, turning roads intoa smoke-filled battleground.The protesters fought back,hurling rocks and bottles.

An angry mob burned atraffic police post at an inter-section near the palace, whileother protesters set fires to tiresand fibreglass road barriers.

Similar clashes occurred inlarge cities all over the country,

including Yogyakarta, Medan,Makassar, Manado andBandung, the capital of WestJava province, where policearrested 209 people duringtwo days of violent protests.

Organisers have called fora three-day national strikestarting on Tuesday demandingthat the government revoke thelegislation.

The Job Creation Lawapproved by Parliament onMonday is expected to sub-stantially change Indonesia’slabour system and naturalresources management. AP

Bangkok: The de facto deten-tion of 130,000 ethnicRohingya in squalid camps inMyanmar amounts to a form ofapartheid, a human rightsgroup alleged on Thursday inurging the world to pressureAung San Suu Kyi’s govern-ment to free them.

The camps are a legacy oflong discrimination against theMuslim Rohingya minority inBuddhist-dominated Myanmarand were the immediate con-

sequence of communal vio-lence that began in 2012between the Rohingya and theBuddhist Rakhine ethnic group.

The fighting left people inboth groups homeless, butalmost all of the Rakhine havesince returned to their homesor been resettled, while theRohingya have not.

Human Rights Watch in itsnew report said inhuman con-ditions in 24 tightly restrictedcamps and closed-off commu-nities in the western state ofRakhine threaten the right tolife and other basic rights of theRohingya.

“Severe limitations onlivelihoods, movement, educa-tion, health care, and adequate

food and shelter have beencompounded by widening con-straints on humanitarian aid,which Rohingya depend on forsurvival,” the report said.

“Camp detainees face high-er rates of malnutrition, water-borne illnesses, and child andmaternal mortality than theirethnic Rakhine neighbours.”

“The government’s claimsthat it’s not committing thegravest international crimeswill ring hollow until it cuts thebarbed wire and allowsRohingya to return to theirhomes, with full legal protec-tions,” said Shayna Bauchner,Asia researcher at HumanRights Watch and author of thereport. AP

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US President DonaldTrump has warned that

China will have to “pay a bigprice” for the spread of coro-navirus globally.

Less than 50 hours after hereturned to the White Housefrom a military hospital wherehe was treated for the deadlyvirus, Trump in a video post-ed on Twitter from the RoseGarden outside the OvalOffice blamed China for theglobal spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The deadly coronavirusoriginated from the centralChinese city of Wuhan late lastyear and spread across theworld, killing 1,054,674 andinfecting 36,077,017. The USis the worst-hit nation with211,793 deaths and 7,549,429infections.

“It wasn’t your fault thatthis happened. It was China’sfault. And China’s going to pay

a big price for what they’vedone to this country. China isgoing to pay a big price forwhat they’ve done to theworld. This was China’s fault.Just remember that,” Trumpsaid in the video message.

Though the president didnot give the details of the mea-sures, in recent months theTrump administration has ini-tiated several actions againstChina, including imposingvisa restrictions on the rulingChinese Communist Party(CCP) officials. Trump andSecretary of State MikePompeo have also been reach-ing out to their counterpartsacross the world againstChina.

Trump, 74, and First LadyMelania Trump, 50, were test-ed positive for COVID-19 lastweek. The president was takento the Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Centre fortreatment, while the First Ladyremained at White House.

After four days, Trump wasdischarged from the hospitalon Monday.

On Wednesday, the HouseForeign Affairs Committeereleased its final report on theorigins of COVID-19.

“The big takeaway shouldcome as no surprise: Chinaactively lied to the WorldHealth Organisation and didtheir best to cover up thevirus,” Congressman BrianMast claimed.

“China’s total lack oftransparency and mishandlingof the coronavirus outbreakhas cost hundreds of thou-sands of lives, millions of jobsand left untold economicdestruction. Sadly, this isn’tnew behaviour for China. TheCCP has a long history ofmanipulation and it’s well-past time we hold themaccountable for their crimes.Together, we must ensure thatnothing like this ever happensagain!” he said.

Mexico City: Mario Molina,winner of the Nobel Prize inchemistry in 1995 and the onlyMexican scientist to be honoredwith a Nobel, died Wednesdayin his native Mexico City. Hewas 77 years old.

Molina’s family announcedhis death in a brief statementthrough the institute that car-ried his name. It did not give acause of death. He won theprize along with scientists FrankSherwood Rowland of theUnited States and Paul Crutzenof the Netherlands for theirresearch into climate change.

Molina and Rowland pub-lished a paper in 1974 that sawthe thinning of the ozone layeras a consequence of chloroflu-orocarbons, or CFCs, chemicalsused in a range of products.

Molina’s work contributedto the drafting of the firstinternational treaty on the sub-ject, the Montreal Protocol,which phased out the use of thechemicals. AP

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Washington: US PresidentDonald Trump on Thursdaycalled Kamala Harris, who ismaking US history as the firstBlack woman vice presidentialcandidate, a “monster.”

Trump, far behind in thecontest for the White House onNovember 3 and doing espe-cially badly in polling ofwomen voters, used the wordtwice, calling the Democrat“this monster.”

Speaking to Fox BusinessNews for almost an hour in hisfirst interview since falling sickwith the coronavirus, Trumpsaid Vice President Mike Pence“destroyed” Harris in theirdebate Wednesday in Utah.

“Everything she says is alie,” Trump said. AFP

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Stockholm: American poetLouise Glück won the NobelPrize in Literature on Thursdayfor her “candid and uncom-promising” work, which looksunflinchingly and with bitinghumour at the losses and trau-mas of family life.

She joins a handful ofAmerican poets who havereceived the prize, which hasbeen dominated by noveliststhroughout its 112-year histo-ry. The last American to winwas Bob Dylan in 2016.

She is also one of the fewwomen — the 16th femaleNobel Literature laureate.

The Nobel Committeepraised Glück “for her unmis-takable poetic voice that withaustere beauty makes individ-ual existence universal” in thecitation read during theannouncement in Stockholmby Mats Malm, the permanentsecretary of the SwedishAcademy. AP

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New Delhi:The telecom tariffhike is imminent as serviceproviders need to make sizeablepayouts on statutory dues, spec-trum buys, regular revenueshare obligations and auctioninstalments, making ARPUexpansion critical, Icra Ratingssaid on Thursday.

Pointing to the sector's debtlevels and the pressing need forcompanies to bring it down, Icrasaid that given the "precariousposition" of the balance sheet ofthe industry, "India is likely togive a miss to the 5G call forsome time".

Further, it said that despitesome easing of competitiveintensity, it is still some time togo before the tough competitionrecedes.This is because it isunclear whether the next roundof tariff hikes would be acrossthe industry or limited only totelcos facing adjusted gross rev-enue (AGR) payment.

"...ARPU improvement andfurther tariff hikes are on thecards, given the fact that telecomservice providers are required to

make sizeable payouts in termsof AGR liabilities, spectrumpurchase, regular revenue shareto the government and auctioninstalments (which start fromfiscal 2023)," Icra said in astatement.

Hence, a sustainable andsizeable average revenue peruser (ARPU) expansion is crit-ical.

"While the industry stillgrapples with elevated debt lev-els and weak debt coveragemetrics, the last fiscal has wit-nessed some respite in terms ofsteady ARPU improvement dri-ven mainly by the tariff hikesimplemented in December2019, the deleveraging measuresare undertaken by the telcos,and moderation of capex inten-sity," said Anupama Arora, VicePresident and Sector Head,Corporate Ratings, Icra.

And though clarity hasemerged around the AGRissues, the relatively short time-frame allowed by the SupremeCourt acts as a "dampener",Arora said. PTI

New Delhi:India's economyhas shown a remarkableresilience in the last fewmonths, braving the impact ofthe coronavirus pandemic withlead indicators such as manu-facturing PMI and exportsreturning to growth trajectory,Assocham said on Thursday.

The chamber's Assessmenton State of Economy (AASE)report pointed towards a fur-ther pick up in the comingmonths.

"Be it India's PurchasingManagers' Index (PMI -Manufacturing) or PMI forServices, robust recovery isvisible, AASE noted. PTI

New Delhi:Having missed mostof the first three industrial rev-olutions, India has its chance tolead the fourth industrial revo-lution through a convergence ofits IT prowess, ultra-high-speedinternet connectivity and afford-able smart devices, billionaireMukesh Ambani said onThursday.

The richest Indian man,who heads the nation's mostvaluable company RelianceIndustries Ltd, said his group'stelecom and digital unit Jio wasconceived to provide the keyingredients needed to lead thefourth industrial revolution.

India missed the first twoindustrial revolutions and the

changes brought about by them.During the third industrial rev-olution, where information tech-nology came to prominence,India joined the race but stillremained behind, trying to catchup with the leaders.

"As we step into the fourthindustrial revolution, India hasthe opportunity, not just to catchup with the leaders but to emergeas a global leader itself," he saidat TM Forum's DigitalTransformation World Series.

The fourth industrial revo-lution, he said, is driven by theconvergence of digital and phys-ical technologies such as digitalconnectivity, cloud and edge-computing. PTI

New Delhi: The governmenton Thursday said it has nearlydoubled fund allocation forSpecial Accelerated RoadDevelopment Programme inNorth Eastern Areas (SARDP-NE) in the current fiscal to Rs760 crore.

A sum of Rs 390 croreexpenditure was envisaged tobe incurred from NationalInvestment Fund for the regionduring 2020-21.

The Ministry of RoadTransport and Highways(MoRTH) in a statement saidit has enhanced the allocationof funds for expenditure underSARDP-NE related works dur-ing the current financial yearand under the revised alloca-tion, almost double the amountoriginally allocated has beenallowed.

"Against the earlier Rs 390crore expenditure envisagedto be incurred from theNational Investment Fund dur-ing 2020-21, a sum of Rs 760crore has been set aside for thesame period. PTI

Mumbai: The performance ofauto component makers isexpected to remain subdued inthe September quarter this fiscalover the year-ago period, butmay witness significant improve-ment on a sequential basis, rat-ing agency Icra said on Thursday.

For 2020-21, it expects therevenue of auto ancillaries, excepttyre segment, to drop by 16-20per cent following the double-digit decline during FY2020.

Tyre manufacturers, accord-ing to the release, are expectedto perform better, with revenuedecline likely to be in the highsingle-digit. PTI

New Delhi: Diesel and petrolprices remained unchanged onThursday closing on a weekwithout any revision in theretail price of the two petrole-um products.

Petrol and diesel pricessaw a lot of volatility in themonths of July, August andSeptember when prices movedup and down at frequent inter-vals with diesel prices witness-ing fall lately.

With no change in petroland fiscal prices on Thursday,the fuel prices have not beenrevised for sixth consecutiveday. In fact, Petrol prices haveremained steady for last 16days. IANS

New Delhi:The FinanceMinistry on Thursday saidbanks have sanctioned loans ofabout Rs 1,87,579 crore to 50.7lakh business units under theRs 3-lakh crore EmergencyCredit Line Guarantee Scheme(ECLGS) for the MSME sectorimpacted by slowdown causedby the coronavirus pandemic.

Of this, about 27 lakhMSME units received cumula-tive disbursement of Rs1,36,140 crore till October 5.

The scheme is the biggestfiscal component of the Rs 20-lakh crore AatmanirbharBharat Abhiyan packageannounced by FinanceMinister Nirmala Sitharamanin May to mitigate the distresscaused by lockdown due toCOVID-19 by providing cred-it to different sectors, especial-ly micro, small and mediumenterprises (MSMEs).

The latest numbers onECLGS, as released by thefinance ministry, comprise dis-bursements by all 12 public sec-tor banks (PSBs), 24 private sec-tor banks and 31 non-bankingfinancial companies (NBFCs).

"As of 5 Oct 2020, the totalamount sanctioned under the100% Emergency Credit LineGuarantee Scheme by #PSBs,private banks & NBFCs to#MSMEs & individuals stands atRs 1,87,579 cr, of which Rs1,36,140 cr has already been dis-bursed," the finance minister saidin a tweet.The loan amountssanctioned by PSBs increased toRs 81,648.82 crore, of which Rs68,814.43 crore has been dis-bursed as of October 5, she said. PTI

Washington: The World Bankon Thursday said that India'sGDP is expected to contract by9.6 per cent this fiscal which isreflective of the national lock-down and the income shockexperienced by households andfirms due to the COVID-19pandemic, noting that thecountry's economic situation is“much worse” than ever seenbefore.

The Washington-basedglobal lender, in its latest SouthAsia Economic Focus reportahead of the annual meeting ofthe World bank andInternational Monetary Fund,forecasts a sharper than expect-ed economic slump across theregion, with regional growthexpected to contract by 7.7 percent in 2020, after topping sixper cent annually in the pastfive years.

“India's GDP is expectedto contract by 9.6 per cent inthe fiscal year that started inMarch,” the World Bank said inthe report released here.

Regional growth is pro-

jected to rebound to 4.5 percent in 2021, it said.

Factoring in populationgrowth, however, income-per-capita in the region will remain6 per cent below 2019 esti-mates, indicating that theexpected rebound will not off-set the lasting economic dam-age caused by the pandemic, itsaid.

“The situation is muchworse in India than we haveever seen before,” HansTimmer, World Bank ChiefEconomist for South Asia toldreporters during a conferencecall. “It is an exceptional situ-ation in India. A very dire out-look,” he said.

There was a 25 per centdecline in GDP in the secondquarter of the year, which is thefirst quarter of the current fis-cal year in India.

In the report, the Worldbank said that the spread of thecoronavirus and containmentmeasures have severely dis-rupted supply and demandconditions in India. PTI

New Delhi: Shares of RIL onThursday came under sellingpressure and declined nearly 1per cent after Amazon.Com Incslapped a legal notice on FutureGroup over its Rs 24,713 croreasset sale to the MukeshAmbani-led conglomerate.

The stock dipped 0.81 percent to close at Rs 2,238.90 on theBSE. During the day, it declined1.53 per cent to Rs 2,222.40.

On the NSE, it closed at Rs2,239.25, lower by 0.80 per cent.Future Group stocks also wit-nessed selling pressure, whereFuture Lifestyle Fashions Ltdtumbled 6.20 per cent,FutureRetail Ltd tanked 5.44 per centand Future Enterprises Ltddeclined 4.94 per cent. PTI

For the benefit of the consumers of BSESRajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), espe-

cially those residing in West Delhi, a newPermanent Lok Adalat (PLA), Delhi’s third,was virtually inaugurated recently by theHon’ble Ms Justice Hima Kohli, Judge, DelhiHigh Court and Executive Chairperson,Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA)in Vikaspuri. Being established by theDSLSA, this is the first exclusive PLA for adiscom in Delhi. Earlier, the residents of WestDelhi had to travel some distance to file theircases at the PLA at ITO in Central Delhi. Theestablishment of the PLA at Vikaspuri willgreatly help the electricity consumers of WestDelhi. Apart from the traditional route, WestDelhi consumers will also be able to avail ser-vices of the virtual E-PLA at Vikaspuri. Forthe functioning of the E-PLA, Hon’bleJudges of the PLA court, Court Staff, accusedand BSES officials simultaneously participatefrom the safety of their homes and offices.

Plus Approach Foundation(PAF), a non-profit organi-

zation endeavouring to devel-op positive ecosystem, positivethinking & positive actions, hassuccessfully launched andworked on projects like PositiveVillage, Positive school, Positiveorganization etc. Speaking onthe occasion of sharing thethoughts of Mahatma Gandhiand Lal Bahadur Shastri visionof world of peaceful coexis-tence Ashutosh Karnatak,Chief Mentor and curatorenthused youth and profes-sionals all-around develop-ment and transformation ofsociety and organizationstowards Positivity.

The program started with

the discussion on the rele-vance of the subject topic in thecurrent context. All the speak-ers emphasized the impor-tance of Gandhiji’s thoughts inkeeping oneself positive in thedifficult circumstances that arebeing faced currently world-wide.

Further, Dr Karnatak tookthe narrative story telling con-cept to bring the essence ofGandhiji in life of individualsto maintain positivity all across.

Different anecdotes fromGandhiji’s life were narrated bythe eminent speakers to putacross the importance of keypositive attributes one needs toimbibe in current times.

In view of providing additional healthcare facilityto the people of Delhi NCR, Northern Railway on

demand of the State Govt is providing 503 isolationcoaches equivalent to 8048 beds as Covid CareCenters at 9 different stations of Delhi area i,e; atAnandVihar Terminal, Shakurbasti, Delhi SaraiRohilla ,Safdarjung, Delhi Shahdara, Adarsh Nagar,Delhi Cantt, Badli and Tughlakabad. All these sta-tions have good infrastructure for maintainingthese coaches and also proper approach roads formovement of ambulances etc. Sh. Rajiv Chaudhry,General Manager Northern & North Central Railwaysinformed that a total number of 667 patients havebeen admitted at Shakurbasti Covid Care Center tilldate out of which 634 have been discharged/ shift-ed and 33 patients are still under treatment there.Northern Railway is committed to do all kinds ofefforts/ help to fight the war against Corona.

Patient feedback on railway arrangements andcatering service is very positive and satisfactory.

Mumbai: Axis Mutual Fund,one of the country's fast evolv-ing mutual fund houses hasintroduced its new digital cam-paign called "ShuruaatSIPse"with the aim to educateinvestors about the importanceof SIPs to meet the intendedfinancial objective.

The current pandemic hastaught us about the importanceof disciplined investing. Risk-taking capacities have changeddrastically over the course ofthe last six months, and in sucha situation SIPs are an idealsolution to protect and growour hard earned money.

Due to multiple benefitssuch as flexibility, disciplinedapproach, rupee cost averaging,and compounding potential,SIPs hold a significant place inone's investment portfolio.

The new digital campaignby Axis Mutual Fund,"ShuruaatSIPse" aims to makeinvestors realise that at anygiven point in their lives, asecure investment portfoliowill be of paramount promi-nence.

The digital campaign aimsto bring home the point thatwhether we are aiming to startour career as a musician, orventuring into our own busi-nesses, or even starting on thejourney to create our ownwealth, a systematic and disci-plined form of investing is amust.

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India Inc needs to play agreater role in achieving the

climate goals as well as inremoving digital disparitiesbesides ensuring food andenergy security aiming to upliftthe poor, said Rajya Sabha MPSuresh Prabhu at a virtualmeet ‘B-20 Global Dialogue inIndia’ organised here by CII,think tank Research andInformation System (RIS) forDeveloping Countries and theIndian National ScienceAcademy.

Mumbai:The BSE Sensex ralliedfor the sixth straight day toreclaim the 40,000-mark onThursday, with IT shares hog-ging the limelight after robustresults from TCS indicated thatthe worst may be over for thesoftware services industry.

After soaring over 400points during the day, the 30-share benchmark ended 303.72points, or 0.76 per cent, higherat 40,182.67.

The Sensex has closed abovethe crucial 40,000-mark afterFebruary 25 this year.

The broader NSE Niftyclimbed 95.75 points, or 0.82 percent, to finish at 11,834.60.

UltraTech Cement toppedthe Sensex gainers' chart with ajump of 3.24 per cent, followedby TCS, HCL Tech, Infosys,HDFC Bank, Sun Pharma andTech Mahindra.

India's largest software ser-vices firm Tata ConsultancyServices (TCS) has reported a 4.9per cent rise in consolidated net

profit to Rs 8,433 crore for theSeptember 2020 quarter, and alsoannounced a share buyback planof up to Rs 16,000 crore.

On the other hand, ONGC,ITC, Reliance Industries, L&T,PowerGrid and Asian Paintswere among the major lag-gards, shedding up to 2.84 percent.

RIL came under sellingpressure after Amazon.ComInc slapped a legal notice onFuture Group over its Rs 24,713crore asset sale to the MukeshAmbani-led conglomerate.

"A good start to Q2 result ledby the IT and banking sector,along with positive announce-ments like buyback has lifted themarket. At the same time, expec-tation of a stimulus in India andthe US has improved.

"Initially, the thought wasthat the domestic stimulus willbe small due to weak fiscalposition, which changed posi-tively post few comments fromgovernment officials, and now

the expectation has becomebigger. "In the US, an inter-mediary aid has been provid-ed before the final stimuluswhich is expected post theelection. PTI

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Kolkata: Manoj Joshi, GeneralManager, Metro Railway today(08.10.2020) administered theCOVID-19 pledge to all theofficers and staff of MetroRailway at Metro Rail Bhavan.

Through the pledge,all Metromen promised to takenecessary precautions to pre-vent the spread of the deadlyCOVID-19 virus by wearingmasks/face covers at publicplaces, washing their handswith soap, using sanitizers toclean their hands and alsomaintaining social distancingto battle this pandemic.

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National Level Techno-Management Fest of SRMInstitute of Science andTechnology (SRMIST),Kattankulathur began today ona festive note. The 14th editionof this fest will be held onlinefrom 8 October to 12 October2020.The inaugural was presidedover by Chief Guest Dr. V.K.Aatre, the Former Director-General of the Defence Researchand Development Organisation(DRDO) along with the Guest ofHonour Dr. RamanGangakhedkar, the Former HeadScientist of Epidemiology andCommunicable Diseases at theIndian Council of MedicalResearch (ICMR).

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The young actor Tahir Raj Bhasin will be seenplaying the role of Sunil Gavaskar in the Kabir

Khan directorial ’83. It is about underdog India’sincredible World Cup winning feat in 1983. Tahiris glad that the government has given a green sig-nal for theatres to finally open.

“It is a huge relief that thousands of multiplexemployees and businesses that depend on theatresbeing open will finally get some respite. It is a sec-tor that has endured a very long lockdown. I’m wait-ing to hear about the film releasing in theatres afterthis development. It’s a film that will transform the-atres into cricket stadiums and is meant for a bigscreen experience!” says Tahir.

He is confident that theatres will do whateverit takes to make movie-watching a safe experience.He also urges people to be responsible citizens inreturn to fight the virus.

Says he, “Taking precedence over the jubilationof films in theatres are the safety norms that cine-ma halls and members of the public must adhereto as a combined effort. Wearing a mask, keepingour distance and avoiding stepping out if we exhib-it COVID-19 symptoms are a safety self-check wemust stick to. As we celebrate the return of the coun-try’s favourite form of entertainment, we also mustoperate very cautiously around the boundaries ofthe new normal.”

While dating in 2020 might be dif-ficult, it doesn’t mean it has tobe any less fun. There are var-

ious new things to be explored this sea-son. Gen Z is full of creative life hackersand there are a lot of firsts for dating in2020.

Here are some creative tips, tricks andhacks on how to date from some of theinfluencers and content creators —Mallika Dua, Dolly Singh, RadhikaBangia, Varun Thakur and Rahul Dua.They share some ingenious and safe waysto navigate dating in the new normal.

Everything Mallika as Sima Tapariataught us about dating this time

Mallika’s Scheme-a Aunty is theTinder and Indian Matchmakingcrossover 2020 needed. She has lots oftips and tricks for dating this time. Theyinvolve shared menus for virtual dates,sage advice on compromise and somuch more. Not surprisingly, like 77 percent of Tinder members said in a recentpoll, Mallika endorses just staying in yourPJs for a virtual date.

She says, “A good date is like COVID,available everywhere and possible any-time. It’s not a problem if you can’t meetanyone in person, you can set up a nicecandle light date with them virtually andtie your sibling to a chair so that theydon’t disturb you.”

With a hint of humour, she furthersays, “Compromise is very important inany relationship. If you want to watch arom-com and your date wants to watch

a thriller, then you must compromise andwatch a rom-com. If you are smart,funny, nice and lovely, you will meetmany matches, just make sure yourmatches know you have other matchestoo.”

If they can’t commit to a mask, how willthey commit to you? Dolly’s reasons todate

Virtual dating during social distanc-ing means longer conversations, casualclothing and an even sweeter date IRL.

In fact, the year has brought some newways that you can use on your first date.If you are meeting your date from a dis-tance, Dolly recommends a T-shirt thatreads: Sanitise if you like me.

She lists a few reasons to start dating:

�Use your phone wisely. Download adating app where you can meet theworld. �Sometimes virtual is better than real-ity. It gives you the time to ask all theimportant questions and reflect. �Now meeting will be 100 times morespecial as you will wait to test negativeto finally meet.

Radhika’s tips on dating in 2020:How soon is too soon to reply to atext?

Swipe through some memes, do adance routine and play with your petbefore replying to a text. She even hasa way to ensure you don’t accidentallylike your matches posts from 2013.

Radhika lists some tips for match-ing in 2020:

�Don’t give up easily. Keep swiping tillyou find the one.�Don’t reply immediately and don’t bedesperate. �How to prevent yourself from likingtheir old picture while doing yourresearch? Well, put a tape around yourthumb so in case you touch yourscreen accidentally, you know you aresafe.�Lastly, when you are done followingall these, whenever you plan to meetthem, put on a sexy mask, maintainsocial distancing and give them a handsanitiser.

“Haters gonna hate, daters gonnadate.” Varun on the dating hacks ofthis year

What’s the most important datinghack of 2020 according to Varun akaVicky Malhotra? Well, according to himyou need to reinvent yourself, replaceyour profile pictures with those of youdoing household chores since in 2020that is the most attractive quality. Says he,“Please don’t be the guy with cliche pic-tures in leather jackets with sunglassesand a guitar in your hand.”

His video on how to hack Tinder in2020 says, “Whether there’s a pandemicor endemic, dating cannot stop. As thefamous saying goes, “haters are going tohate and daters are going to date.”Another important thing about datingthis time is that one has to be responsi-ble. Unless it’s safe, please don’t go outand start dating without mask and otherprecautionary measures.”

He adds, “Online dating is the wayto go. And for that you need good inter-net speed because no matter how goodyour personality is, if your picture is pix-elated, running on 256 kbps infront of abeautiful girl, it’s pretty much pointless.”

He further advices that you should-n’t try to be something that you are not.Don’t have quotes for the heck of it. Don’tquote William Shakespeare or MarkTwain for no reason. Just chill out.

When sanitisers replace perfume:Dating this year as told by Rahul

We’re grateful for the scented sani-tisers and loving this 2020 dating hackof writing your name on your mask torecognise your match if you do decide tomeet IRL.

Trust your elders, especially if it’sRahul with a filter.

This lockdown has seen the endof automotive journalists like

myself jetting off to exotic locationsto drive a car, stay in a fancy hoteland return, all usually within 24hours. Since we are so focussed onthe vehicle that we are driving, wereally don’t get to experience the joysof either the location or the proper-ty. Well, those days are long gone, fornow at least, and while some read-ers (and editors) might not lamentthe end of travel, there was one slightbenefit — all automotive writers andpresenters got to drive cars at thesame time.

The fact is that the lockdown hasunfortunately meant that severalmanufacturers have had challengessending their fleet of media test-drive cars across the country, andwhile dealer cars are an option in apinch, dealers are rarely happy los-ing a vehicle for a day when theycould make actual potential cus-tomers drive the car. Because thetruth of the matter is that auto jour-nalists don’t really buy cars. Well, it’sbeen three years now that I sold mylast car.

So, it took a while for me to getmy hands on the new VolkswagenTiguan AllSpace. This car is differ-ent from the outgoing Tiguan in thesense that it has a 190PS two-litre

petrol engine, and crucially is longerby 215 mm overall, mainly the rearoverhang but there is also a 109 mmincrease in the wheelbase, some-thing clearly evident on the reardoors. As a result of these extra eightinches, Volkswagen manages to fitin an extra third row. Now, we haveseven seats in the Tiguan and ifyou’re wondering where you’ve seenthis story before, there was theSkoda Kodiaq which was the Group’sseven-seat competitor in the SUVspace, and the Allspace and theKodiaq are mechanically and struc-turally the same vehicle. It is just thatthe Kodiaq isn’t on sale right now asthere is no BS6 variant, whichreduces the possibility of brandcannibalisation inside the group.

So the Allspace is the Kodiaq,but this one should not evaluate iton that front but actually comparethis to the outgoing model. Well,truth be told, I liked the old, not-so-long Tiguan. While eight inches

might make a lot of men feel veryhappy about themselves, it reallydoesn’t do wonders for the Tiguan.Why do I say that? Well, I’m not a fanof extended wheelbase variants unlessyou’re talking of cars like the A8, 7-series and S-Class. That is simplybecause extended wheelbase vehicles,particularly vehicles not designed tofunction as limousines, compromiseon handling dynamics. Yes, engineerscan mitigate the impact of Newtonianphysics when it comes to such carsbut you keep asking yourself whetherit is worth it.

And like many other three-rowcars, the Allspace’s last row is onlyto be used in a pinch. Maybe on theschool run when you don’t have anyneed to store luggage. That said, withthe third row down, you can nowstore a lot of luggage and by push-ing the second row further back,travel in immense comfort. TheAllspace is perfect. If you own aLabrador, for example, and want to

take your dog with yourself on a hol-iday, because you can fit some lug-gage and a dog, and the dog will findthe Allspace a lovely place thanks tofeatures like the panoramic sun-roof.

However, I am also a bit disap-pointed that Volkswagen doesn’toffer a diesel option on the Allspacebecause as nice as the petrol engineis, you wish that it was a bit torquier.It is perfect for urban conditions buton twisty hill roads, you would wishthat you had a diesel motor (or a big-ger petrol) instead.

So does this car make sense?Well, as compared to other cars in itsclass, the Allspace which features‘4Motion’ all-wheel drive is priced at�33.24 lakh. It is cheaper than thetop-end variants of the FordEndeavor, Toyota Fortuner and thenew MG Gloster, but not quite aslarge and while it is fabulously wellput-together, I am not sure if it hasthe road presence of the competition.

’83 meant for big screenexperience: Tahir

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Chickpeas, which ideally belong to thelegume family, have been a part ofthe middle-eastern, Indian and the

Mediterranean cuisine since thousands ofyears. The two kinds of chickpeas — Desiand Kabuli — are small and dark, and largeand beige-coloured with a thin skin,respectively. Nutrition experts believethat looking around at the market today,we certainly have found a new player inchickpeas. But why? What for? How didthey get so popular?

Well, they are known to be a greatsource of plant-based proteins. They’rehigh in minerals, vitamins and dietaryfibre. They can help control the bloodsugar levels, in weight management andimprove digestive health.

According to a study published in theNCBI, 100 gm cooked chickpea has 164kcalories, 2.59 g fat, 8.86 g protein, 7.6 gfibre, 27.42 g carbohydrates, 48 mg mag-nesium, 49 mg calcium, 172 mcg foliateand 168 mg phosphorous.

It is a low and high-protein superfoodand a great alternative to refined flourwhich has zero nutrients. Hence, variousnutrition companies have developed nutri-tious gluten made of chickpea. So that evenwhen you are enjoying a delicious bowl ofpasta, you do not have to compromise onthe health factor.

���� �&��������������Being rich in dietary fibre and high

proteins, chickpea keeps you full for alonger period of time. This results inreduced appetite and lower calorie intakewhich essentially helps in weight manage-ment.

������-���������Chickpea have a low glycemic index

of 28. It slows the carbohydrate absorptionand prevents sudden a spike in blood sugar,making it a good choice for diabetics. Thehigh fibre also helps to prevent inflamma-tion in individuals suffering from Type-1diabetes.

Aids in digestion, chickpeas includeboth soluble as well as insoluble fibre,which promotes the growth of good gutbacteria, thereby supporting healthy diges-tion. The insoluble fibre in regular bowelmovements and thus prevents constipa-tion.

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Chickpea is a good source of calcium,magnesium and potassium — all of whichare highly essential for strong bones. It alsohas the lowest level of phytates among allbeans and lentils. Phytates can interferewith the body’s ability to absorb calcium.Since chickpeas are soaked before cook-ing, this step further reduces the phytatelevels in it.

�����1��-������The magnesium and potassium con-

tent in chickpea helps to maintain healthyblood pressure levels in the body. The sol-uble fibre helps to reduce LDL or blood

cholesterol levels. Both these are knownrisk factors of heart diseases.

���1����������Chickpea has a number of cancer-

fighting agents such as saponins, selenium,folate and beta carotenes. All these havebeen known to reduce the risk of devel-oping cancer in breast, lung and colon.Consumption of chickpea also promotesthe production of butyrate, which is

known to reduce cell proliferation andinduce apoptosis, which in turn mayreduce the risk of colon cancer.

���� ������������Nutrients like Manganese V Zincins A

and B in chickpeas help to reduce wrinklesand age spots. They also help to reduce hairfall and fight dandruff.

Apply a mask made using chickpea flour(besan), turmeric powder and water on your

face for 15 minutes, wash it off to see thedesired glow.

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Rich in folate, iron, and vitamin C, all

of which are essential for the synthesis ofhaemoglobin, chickpeas makes sure thatadequate levels of vitamin C are present inthe body to absorb iron. Hence, chickpeasmake a valuable addition in the diet, espe-cially for pregnant women or menopausal

women, who are at higher risk of beinganaemic.

Since they are a rich source of folate,they act as an essential for pregnantwomen. It helps in the baby’s developmentand prevents neural tube defects. The rec-ommended daily intake of folate forpregnant women is 400 mcg.

The fluctuation of hormones, partic-ularly the decline in estrogen, is the causeof many menopausal complaints or symp-toms. Chickpeas are a good source of phy-toestrogen, which basically are plantcompound that is incapable of binding toestrogen receptors and can replace someof the effects of estrogen that is no longerbeing made. Regular consumption ofchickpea thus helps in reducingmenopausal symptoms like hot flashes andvaginal dryness.

Tips to use: Apart from the all-timefavourite masala, chickpeas can be usedin salads, hummus and also as a roastedsnack. It can be grounded into flour andused as a thickener in gravies or to makecrunchy pakodas.

(The writer is Nutrition Coach and Co-Founder of Naturally Yours.)

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Struggling to figure out their besteleven, Rajasthan Royals will need

to come up with some quick-fix mea-sures to snap their three-match los-ing streak when they take on a formi-dable Delhi Capitals unit here onFriday.

The Royals were off to a flyingstart, winning both their games atSharjah but they have struggled toadjust to the bigger grounds of Dubaiand Abu Dhabi, slipping to three suc-cessive defeats.

Now back to the Sharjah CricketStadium, Rajasthan will take inspira-tion from their two big wins here toturn things aroundagainst a dominant Delhi.

Led by Shreyas Iyer,Delhi have looked solidin all three departments,winning four out of theirfive matches.

For Rajasthan, time is runningout as they still have not been able tofind their best playing XI. While thereturn of Ben Stokes will give themhope but the England allrounder iscurrently in quarantine and will beavailable only after October 11.

The sudden loss of form ofskipper Steve Smith and SanjuSamson — who did bulk of thescoring in the first two match-es, is as much a reason fortheir failure as the lack ofruns from the Indianbatsmen in theteam.

RR did try torejig their line-upagainst MumbaiIndians by includingyoung batsmanYashasvi Jaiswal and

pacer Kartik Tyagi and Ankit Rajpootin the playing XI but it didn’t changetheir fortunes. While Jaiswal was outfor a second-ball duck at the top,Rajpoot went for 42 in his three oversbut young Tyagi showed promise withhis one for 36 on IPL debut.

The good news for RR is thereturn to form of opener Jos Buttler,who scored a fine 44-ball 70 in theirlast game.

In bowling, Jofra Archer and TomCurran have been left to do the heavylifting, while spinner Rahul Tewatiahas not been to produce the break-throughs consistently.

Delhi, on the other hand, havebeen a well-oiled machine, boosting

of a solid bowling unit whichis well supported by the bats-men.

While skipper Iyer hasbeen in good form, openerPrithvi Shaw and RishabhPant have done their job

well. Marcus Stonis too have pro-duced two smashing fifties so far.

On the bowling front, KagisoRabada has looked ominous with 12wickets to emerge as the best bowler

in the IPL so far. South Africanpacer Anrich Nortje too has deliv-ered when the team needed himto.

Harshal Patel, as IshantSharma’s replacement, did well

against Kolkata KnightRiders with 2 for 34 but heconceded 43 in their lastmatch.

A fit-againRavichandran Ashwin,who replaced injuredAmit Mishra, alsoreturned with one wick-et for 26 in his come-

back game.

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Chennai Super Kings headcoach Stephen Fleming

said Kedar Jadhav was sentahead of Ravindra Jadega andDJ Bravo in a tense run chaseagainst Kolkata Knight Ridersbecause of his ability to playspin well.

However, Jadhav labouredto seven off 12 balls as KKRwon the game by 10 runs.

“At the time, we thoughtthat Kedar could play thespinner well and dominate,while Jadeja was there to comeand finish. But in the endthere was too much work todo and we fell short,” Flemingsaid at the press-match confer-ence.

Jadhav was trolled heavi-ly on social media followingthe defeat.

The New Zealander ruedthat their batsmen let it “slip”despite having so muchresources. The team addedjust 14 runs from 11-14 overs,a period when they lost both

Shane Watson and an in-formAmbati Rayudu.

“If we could have got oneof those players to 75-plus andcontinued that partnershipfor another maybe four or fiveovers, the game might have

been a lot different.“Kolkata hung in there

long enough to put pressureon us and we just couldn’t

accelerate. We feel disappoint-ed that we let it slip.”

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MATCHES 20RAJASTHAN ROYALS 11DELHI CAPITALS 09

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Dubai: Former Indian pacer AshishNehra is mighty impressed with the per-formance of youngsters Devdutt Padikkaland Ravi Bishnoi in the ongoing editionof IPL.

Padikkal, who is playing for theRCB, has been in great form so far, amass-ing 178 runs in the five innings he hasplayed. Bishnoi, on the other hand, is ply-ing his trade with Kings XI Punjab andhe has been able to scalp seven wicketsin six innings he has bowled.

“Ravi Bishnoi and Devdutt Padikkal,both have shown great character. As I saidearlier, I would’ve liked Parthiv Patel toopen, but that is out of the picture now.Looking at the future, I am impressed byDevdutt Padikkal and Ravi Bishnoi’sperformance,” said Nehra while speakingon Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

Meanwhile, former India battingcoach Sanjay Bangar heaped praised onSunRisers Hyderabad pacer T Natarajan.Bangar, in particular, has been impressedwith Natarajan’s ability to bowl yorkerswhich in turn has sorted out the deathbowling issue for SunRisers. IANS

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The legendary SunilGavaskar believes that T20

cricket doesn’t need much tin-kering as it is in “pink ofhealth” but custodians of thegame can consider allowingtwo bouncers per over, mov-ing ahead.

The shortest format, overthe years, has witnessed dom-inance of batsmen across theglobe with bowlers having lit-tle to play for on flat deckswith short boundaries.

Does he foresee see a rulechange to ease the pressure offbowlers?

“The T20 game is doingvery well and there’s no needto tinker with it,” Gavaskartold PTI from the UAE where

he is working as a broadcast-er for the Indian PremierLeague.

But the iconic figure didput forth a few suggestionswhich could be seriously con-sidered by the lawmakers ofthe game.

“It is loaded heavily infavour of the batsmen forsure. So, give a fast bowler twobouncers per over and yes theboundaries can be easilylonger, if the ground authori-ties want it,” he said.

“Also look at giving anextra over to the bowler whotakes a wicket in his first threeovers. But seriously there’s noneed to bring any changes atall,” the 71-year-old openinggreat added.

Talking about rules,Gavaskar suggested that theTV umpire should be empow-ered to check whether a non-striker is backing up too fareven before a bowler has deliv-ered the ball.

He feels that if TV umpirefinds that the non-striker isbacking up too far, even ifthere is a boundary, it shouldbe ruled “one short” as apenalty.

Melbourne: Former Australiacaptain Allan Border says hiscountry’s cricket board must notbow down to the BCCI on thescheduling changes — theSydney Test in particular —regarding the upcoming mar-quee tour by India.

The Sydney Test, usuallyknown as the New Year’s Test,begins in the first week ofJanuary but has been pushedback to January 7 in the plannedschedule.

As per the schedule, yet tobe ratified by the BCCI andCricket Australia, the ODIs willbe followed by three T20Is inAdelaide between December 4-8 and then the four-match Testseries with the opener inAdelaide from December 17instead of the traditionalBrisbane.

Border is not amused by thechange in schedule.

“I don’t think it should be anegotiated scenario,” Bordertold Fox Sports News.

“If it’s necessary because ofwhat is happening globally withthe virus then fair enough, butif it’s just because they want a bitof a spell off between BoxingDay and the New Year’s Testmatch then that’s rubbish.

“We’ve been doing this forhow many years now, back-to-back Test matches? It works atreat through that Christmas-New Year period and I would-n’t be comfortable with it mov-ing just because India want acouple more days off.”

Even broadcasters SevenWest Media, the owner ofChannel 7, are crying foul overthe schedule that CricketAustralia has prepared.

Border added, “I thinkthey’re just playing mind games.”

“They consider themselvesthe strength of world cricket, andfinancially that is the case so theydo have a fair say in things. Butif the roles were reversed, wewouldn’t have much say in theitinerary, it would just be put infront of us and these are thedates that we’re going to play.

“You can negotiate as muchas you like but these are tradi-tional dates that everyone knowshave been in the calendar forev-er, so to start negotiating now…it’s a tough one. I wouldn’t bebowing down to it — we’ve gottraditional dates, let’s stick withthem.”

Border also criticised theshifting of the Brisbane Test tothe back-end. PTI

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Teenager Iga Swiatek becamethe first Polish woman in 81

years to reach the French Openfinal on Thursday as she demol-ished Argentine qualifier NadiaPodoroska 6-2, 6-1.

The 19-year-old is yet todrop a set in the tournament andwill play Australian Open win-ner Sofia Kenin for the title onSaturday. The fourth seed con-tinued her breakthrough seasonwith a gritty 6-4, 7-5 win overKvitova.

The American falteredwhen serving for the match at 5-4 but broke Kvitova in the fol-lowing game before closing outthe victory over the Czech sev-enth seed.

Kenin, 21, will try tobecome the first woman to wintwo Slams in the same seasonsince Angelique Kerber claimedthe Australian and US Opentitles in 2016.

Kenin has won a tour-lead-ing 16 matches at majors thisyear. She started it by winning atMelbourne Park and thenreached the fourth round at theUS Open last month.

It is the third straight year anAmerican player has reachedtwo Grand Slam finals afterSerena Williams in 2018 and 19.

Swiatek, ranked 54, hasmatched the run of compatriotJadwiga Jedrzejowska who fin-ished runner-up at RolandGarros in 1939. She is only the

second Polish woman to reacha Grand Slam final in the Openera after Agnieszka Radwanskaat Wimbledon in 2012.

Swiatek becomes the sev-enth unseeded women’s finalistat Roland Garros. Of the previ-ous six, only Jelena Ostapenkoin 2017 went on to lift the tro-phy.

“It seems unreal,”said Swiatek. “I neverthought at the start Iwould play so goodhere but I always knewthat if I was going to bein the final of a GrandSlam it would be at the FrenchOpen.

“It’s amazing for me,” sheadded. “It’s a dream come true.”

“Basically I wanted to playthis match as if it was the firstround. I didn’t want to think Iwas in the semi-finals because itwould stress me,” said Swiatek,who has conceded only 23games en route to the final.

The last woman to capturethe French Open title without

losing a set was Justine Henin in2007.

“I will need to be on a dif-ferent level, the higher level,even though I’m winning easi-ly right now,” added Swiatek,who has never faced Kvitova orKenin.

“I know they’re both greatplayers, so really I have noexpectations. I don’t care if I’mgoing to lose or win. I’m goingto just play my best tennis.”

World No 131Podoroska was the low-est-ranked semi-finalistin Paris in the modernera, and the firstwomen’s qualifier to

reach the last four of theFrench Open.She will rise to a career

best ranking of 48 after the tour-nament, having arrived withouta single Grand Slam main drawwin to her name.

“Of course my ranking isgoing to change, and the tour-naments that I’m going to play.But not my life,” said Podoroska.

“I’m going to be the sameperson. I’m going to try toimprove my game, like I’vebeen doing the past few years.”

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Jonny Bairstow shone withthe bat with a 97-run knockbefore star leg-spinner

Rashid Khan snared three wick-ets in an impressive bowlingdisplay to guide SunrisersHyderabad to a comfortable 69-run win over Kings XI Punjabon Thursday.

Bairstow and captain DavidWarner (52) took the opposi-tion bowlers to the cleanerswith a 160-run opening standas SRH scored an imposing 201for six after opting to bat, eventhough KXIP made a brilliantcomeback by taking six wicketsin the final five overs.

The England wicketkeeperbatsman hit seven fours and sixsixes during his 55-ball knock,while Warner consumed 40balls for his 52 to set up SRH’sthird win from six matches.

KXIP made amends oftheir woeful death overs bowl-ing by conceding just 41 runsin the last five overs and takingsix wickets in the process withleg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (3/29)triggering the collapse but thatcould not stop SRH from cross-ing the 200-run mark.

Chasing a stiff target of 202,KXIP were all out for 132 in16.5 overs to slump to their fifthdefeat — and fourth on the trot— in six matches to remain atthe bottom of the points table.

Rashid Khan was the mostimpressive SRH bowler as hereturned with figures of 3/12from his four overs.

Only Nicholas Pooran (77off 37 balls; 5 fours and 7sixes) gave a fight for KXIP withhis maiden half century and theseason’s fastest fifty — off just17 balls. He hit six fours —three of them on the trot — totake 28 runs off a hapless AbdulSamad.

KXIP made a disastrousstart to their run chase as theylost two wickets inside fiveovers. In-form MayankAgarwal (9) was run out in ahorrible mix-up with his cap-tain KL Rahul (11) in the sec-ond over itself, whilePrabhsimran Singh looked

promising for a while but gotout for 11.

Rahul played second fiddleto his partners, looking toanchor the innings but he failedin doing that as he was out inthe eighth over, hitting straightto the safe hands of KaneWilliamson in the deep.

Glenn Maxwell’s strugglecontinued as he was run out forseven, courtesy a brilliant directthrow from Priyam Garg.

Earlier, KXIP bowlers didnot have a clue how to break thepartnership of Bairstow andWarner till the 15th over.

At that stage, SRH were 160for no loss.

Bishnoi then removed bothBairstow and Warner in thespace of three balls in the 16thover before Arshdeep Singh(2/33) dismissed ManishPandey for 1 in the next over totrigger a brilliant turnaround.

Williamson remained notout on 20 off 10 balls.

Bairstow was dropped on19 in the fifth over by KXIPskipper Rahul off the bowlingof Mohammed Shami and hemade them pay for the mistake.

He was clearly the domi-nant partner of the openingduo, reaching his third fifty ofthe season in 28 balls in the10th over at the end of whichSRH were 100 for no loss.

Warner reached his thirdfifty of the tournament in the14th over but got out in the firstball of the 16th over when hemiscued a slog sweep to GlennMaxwell at long-on off Bishnoi.

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If playing against him was notenough, Varun Chakravarthy

ended up bowling MahendraSingh Dhoni out and describedthe moment as “surreal”, threeyears after watching him fromthe stands at Chepauk with bigdreams in his eyes.

Chakravarthy, a mysteryspinner, capped off what was amemorable day for him in theIPL by getting photographedwith the World Cup-winningskipper.

Representing KKR,Chakravarthy dismissed Dhoniat a crucial stage in their IPLmatch against Chennai SuperKings on Wednesday.

“Three years back, I used

to come to the Chepauk standand sit with the audience,crowd,” he told Rahul Tripathiin a video posted byiplt20.Com.

“I used to come just to seeDhoni batting. Now I bowledagainst him. It was a surrealmoment for me.”

Chasing a tricky target of168 on a slow pitch, the veter-an was just bracing up to cutloose when the 29-year-oldspinner from Tamil Naduspoiled his plans.

“Today’s wicket was veryflat. My thought was, it was a180-run wicket. So it was notturning a great deal. Mahi bhaiwas going well. I just thoughtthat if I can land the ball ingood length I might have a

chance to take his wicket. “Thankfully I was able to

execute it well. After the matchI took a picture with Dhoni sir.I just want to say one thing inTamil — Thala, thala dhaan.”

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