� Regd. No.

Indore MP/ICD 216/2018-2020

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� INDORE � BHOPAL � UJJAIN � MUMBAI � PUNE

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INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021 www.freepressjournal.in

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� Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023
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� INDORE � BHOPAL � UJJAIN � MUMBAI � PUNE
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Anti-Conversion
Bill introduced in
state Assembly
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Q-Hour in state
House sees online
experiment
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Nikita moves court
for anticipatory bail
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ICSE, ISC exams
from April 8
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Dear Readers,
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93 tiger deaths in 3 yrs in state: Minister
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Madhya Pradesh, known as 'tiger
state' of India, has lost 93 big cats due
to poaching and other causes in the
past 3 years, forest minister Vijay
Shah told the Assembly on Monday.
In a written reply to a query by Con-
gress MLA Satish Sikarwar, the min-
ister said the 93 deaths occurred from
January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2021,
with 25 of them taking place due to
poaching, for which 77 people had
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State Finance Minister
Jagdish Devda is going to
present the state annual
Budget on Tuesday.
According to sources, in
the budget which is worth
Rs 2.30 lakh crore, most of
the departments have been
given higher grants than
they were allotted last year.
The Budget, being pre-
sented after the corona
pandemic, would not bring
relief for people, who were
expecting help in the Budg-
et in the form of cut in
petrol and diesel prices.
The government is, howev-
er, in no mood to cut the oil
prices. But, people may get
some relief in oil prices be-
fore the announcement of
dates for the civic polls.
There is, however, no hope
for any kind of relief in the
present Budget.
The citizens, who are al-
ready in dire financial con-
dition are not going to get
any relaxation in the form
of tax relief.
The budget is focusing on
the farmers and the poor.
The government employees
and the pensioners may get
some relief in the form of
hike in Dearness Al-
lowances.
The government cannot
reduce tax on certain prod-
China hackers Warrant out over
ambush Indian Kangana no-show
vaccine makers
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The Chinese disruptive at-
tempts are not restricted to
inflicting power outages but
also hacking IT systems of
Indian vaccine makers.
Two such companies which
the Chinese have ambushed
in recent times are the Hy-
derabad-based Bharat
Biotech and the Pune-based
Serum Institute of India
(SII), the world's largest vac-
cine maker. The coronavirus
shots being rolled out by
these two firms are the cen-
trepiece of the country's im-
munisation campaign.
Goldman Sachs-backed cy-
ber intelligence firm Cyfir-
ma told Reuters that the
Chinese hacking group
APT10, also known as Stone
Panda, had identified gaps
and vulnerabilities in the
IT infrastructure and sup-
ply chain software of the
two vaccine makers.
"The real motivation here
is actually exfiltrating intel-
lectual property and getting
competitive advantage over
Indian pharmaceutical com-
panies," said Cyfirma Chief
Executive Kumar Ritesh,
formerly a top cyber official
with British foreign intelli-
gence agency MI6.
He said APT10 was ac-
tively targeting SII, which
is making the AstraZeneca
vaccine for many coun-
tries and will soon start
bulk-manufacturing No-
vavax shots. In the case of
Serum, the hackers have
been held, and the rest due to natural
causes, diseases, mutual conflict, old
age etc.
As per the 2018 tiger population es-
timation, MP has 526 tigers, the high-
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Minister, retd
bureaucrats
get Covid vax
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tired
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The Health minister, re-
bureaucrats,
Lokayukta, sadhus, doctors
and other senior citizens
received jabs shots of vac-
cines on the first day of
Phase-2 inoculation pro-
gramme which commenced
on Monday in the state at
186 session sites. �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Dr Prabhuram Chaud- ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
hary received vaccine at JP ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Hospital. Retired bureau-
Lokayukta sleuths enter jail,
crats like former chief sec-
retary Parasuram, AV
Singh, BP Singh, Nirmla
Buch, SK Mishra and Prab-
catch two for taking bribe
hanshu Kamal also got jabs.
�����������������������������������������������������������
Besides them, Lokayukta
Justice NK Gupta also got
����������������� ������������������ the vaccination. ������������������ Family members in- palms of the corrupt jail
� ����������������������������������������������������������
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Medical Education minis-
ter Vishwash Sarang took Dr
NP Mishra, former Dean
������������
Indore Lokayukta police on
formed Chaukse's friend Ji-
tendra Solanki about the
jail guard's demand and
guard.Lokayukta police
laid a trap and sent Solanki
to Rathore who was present
����������������������������������������������������������� Gandhi Medical College, for Monday entered Mhow jail Solanki approached at the jail with Rs 25,000.
���������������������������������������������������������������� vaccination. Similarly, for- and caught a Lokayukta police. He in- DSP Baghel took special
������������������������������������������������������������ mer GMC Dean Dr Mahon guard and a formed Lokayukta police permission from SDM
���������������������������������������������������������� Tankwal, Anguri Jain, Dr sweeper red- that Rathore in the name of (Mhow) and IAS officer Ab-
������������������������������������������������������������� Sardar Kulwant Singh got handed jailer Brajesh Makwana hilash Mishra to enter the
��������������������������������������������������������������� vaccines.On March 1, vacci- while accept- was demanding Rs 25,000 jail premises.
������������������������������������������������������������� nation for senior citizens and ing Rs 25,000 from family members of Rathore sent Solanki to
����������������������������������������������������������� people having comorbities as bribe from prisoner Chaukse for pro- sweeper Manish Bali stat-
���������������������������������������������������������������� launched at 186 sites in MP. a person in viding better facilities to ing that the bribe amount
���������������������������������������������������������������� Many sants also came out lieu of providing better fa- him inside the jail and en- be handed over to him with
���������������������������������������������������������������� for the jab. Swami cilities to a prisoner friend. suring that he would not be Rs 200 extra for him.
�������������������������������������������������������������� Akhileshwarand Giri got Lokayukta DSP Praveen beaten up by other prison- Meanwhile, sleuths in civ-
��������������������������������������������������������������� shot in Jabalpur. Similarly, Singh Baghel said that jail ers and policemen. il dress entered the jail
���������������������������������������� Gwalior MP Vivek Narayan guard Ajendra Singh Solanki also told sleuths premises on the excuse of
Shejwalkar got vaccination. Rathore had demanded that previously also de- meeting some prisoner. As
ucts for which traders pay items. The government may It was rush for beneficiaries money from family mem- mand of money was made Bali accepted the bribe
GST. The government is also announce certain projects at the sites in comparison to bers of liquor smuggler by the guard which was ful- amount, he was nabbed
not going to reduce VAT be- keeping in mind the upcom- vaccination of Phase-1. Dilip Chaukse who is filled but this time Chaukse red-handed by Lokayukta
ing charged for certain ing civic polls. ������������ presently lodged in jail. did not want to grease the sleuths. ������������
MUMBAI: An Andheri
magistrate court on Monday
issued a bailable warrant
against Kangana Ranaut af-
ter she failed to appear be-
fore it despite having been
summoned last month, in
connection with a criminal
defamation complaint filed
against her by lyricist Javed
Akhtar, saying that her ab-
sence “shows her conduct”.
Magistrate RR Khan or-
'Also targeted dered issuance of bailable
India's power warrant of Rs 1,000 against
Kangana for “wilful ab-
through malware' sence without any justified
������������������� reasons despite service of
��������������������������� summons”. The court also
�������������������������� noted that no exemption
������������������������� plea had been filed by her
������������������������� for her absence.
���������������������������
134 test
�������������������������
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���������������������������
���������������������� +ve in city
�������������������������� ������������������
��������������������������� ������
��������������������� As many as 134 patients
������������������������� tested positive out of 1,219
������������������������ sample reports received on
���������������������������� Monday. Rate of positive
�������������������� patients was recorded at
��������������������������� 10.99%. Total number of
��������������������� positive patients reached
����������������������������
��������������������������
59,892. No death was re-
ported today. According to
������������������������ the bulletin, total sample
��������������������������
reports received till Mon-
������������������������� day was 8,34,531. As many
������������������������������� as 1054 samples were tested
negative on Monday.
taken advantage of the Department took 1489
weak public servers. samples for testing includ-
SII and Bharat Biotech de- ing1359 for RTPCR tests.
clined to comment, reports As many as 1069 patients
Reuters. The Chinese for- are under treatment in
eign ministry did not im- various hospitals. Total
mediately reply either. 57890 patients have been
������������ discharged so far.
est in the country, with Bandhavgarh
having 104 big cats.
According to the forest department,
88 tigers were found in Kanha Re-
serve, 61 in Pench Reserve, 25 in Pan-
na Reserve, 40 in Satpura Reserve and
five each in Sanjay Reserve and Nau-
radehi sanctuary.
Besides, 45 tigers are found in Rata-
pani, Singhori and Khivani sanctuar-
ies, which are part of one landscape.
In the same reply, the minister said
lions are notfound naturally in the
state and the Kuno National Park
has been developed for reintroduc-
tion of the Asiatic lion.
2 INDORE CITY
FREE PRESS
TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021 | INDORE
Bhaiyyu Maharaj case
INDORE: In the ongoing hearing into the Bhaiyyu
Maharaj case, his second wife Ayushi recorded her
statement before count on Monday.

A step towards 'Atmanirbhar MP'

Suggestions for making the state Budget robust and revitalizing

The Challenge Raising Revenue instance, the Jeevan Amrit Yoj- pecially in the Health, Educa- tional procedures formed to im-

T
he upcoming budget
is being viewed as a
sort of declaration
of intent and stance of the
state administration to-
wards their commitment,
orientation, and approach
for the upcoming finan-
cial year, for supporting
the economy and provid-
ing a foundational frame-
work for realizing the vi-
sion of 'Atmanirbhar
evam Samriddh Pradesh'.
The budget is not just a
financial plan but an op-
portunity to boost the
morale of the markets.
Moreover, the state budget
for the upcoming finan-
cial term is more signifi-
cant than ever, being the
first budget to be passed
normally after the lock-
down (the previous budg-
et was approved by the
Hon'ble Governor
through an Adhyadesh in
the second half of 2020). It
needs to strike a chord
with the sentiments of the
citizens and businesses of
the state.
The lockdown has impacted
the economy deeply. Since
many sectors have underper-
formed, the revenue of the
state through the taxes has re-
duced considerably. Moreover,
small businesses and daily wa-
gers need financial assistance,
and provision for salaries and
re-hiring of workers who lost
their jobs need to be made.
The state is expected to pro-
vide further tax exemptions
and fiscal stimulus to moti-
vate consumer spending be-
havior and create demand to
replenish the flow of money in
the markets. The state has
compelling tradeoffs and
unique constraints to deal
with this time. They need to
invest and spend more, with
limited expansion of revenue
sources and that too without
depending too much on exter-
nal borrowings to avoid long
term heavy debts.
Some suggestions that could
contribute to the required re-
silience and agility to the
budget for sammridhh MP are
discussed below:
and Liquidity
While stimulating demands
and creating an ecosystem that
nurtures growth for small and
local businesses is essential for
long term sustainable value
gains, while for the short term,
generation of revenues could be
done through immediate in-
crease on cess and other taxes
only on non-essential luxury
items and items like tobacco, al-
cohol, etc.
Revenues from non-tax
sources (like fines and penalties
on tax evasions and other viola-
tions) can be increased by dou-
bling penalties.
For ensuring immediate cash
inflows for investment in priori-
ty areas, the state can propose to
issue municipal bonds (as being
done by some municipalities).
Divestiture in unutilized assets
or giving unused property on
lease could also be done.
Incentive and strategic bene-
fits to local businesses can be
provided to stimulate demands.
Support and policy guidelines
could be provided to state-run
companies to come up with in-
novative solutions and schemes
to increase revenue while also
delivering superior value, like
the 'Nishtha Vidyut Mitra
Scheme' by Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Compa-
ny Ltd.
Boosting Healthcare
Healthcare needs to be made
more robust through the devel-
opment of Healthcare Infra-
structure. The present schemes
could be extended and broad-
ened in terms of the coverage of
health services and benefits. For
na can be revitalized and recon-
stituted to provide for vital diag-
nostic tools to ensure that peo-
ple in highly vulnerable areas
are able to keep a check on vital
health parameters.
Allocation of fresh funds to
schemes like Deen Dayal Mobile
Health Clinics for their up-gra-
dation and expansion would be a
positive move. The Deen Dayal
Antyodaya Upchar Yojana can
be expanded in terms of the
monetary value of treatments
covered and should also be made
accessible to migrant laborers.
Improving Infrastructure
Investment in infrastructure
projects and expenditure on the
building of roads, electricity,
and availability of Internet
ought to be the priorities in this
area.
Policy Framework and Guid-
ance in setting up projects for
sustainable energy generation
like the successful Rewa Ultra
Mega Solar Project should be
promoted.
ublic-Private Partnership proj-
ects could be boosted through
the provision of incentives, es-
tion, and Agricultural Sector.
Empowering
Education Sector
State Government-run
schools, especially in remote ar-
eas, should be provided with the
necessary physical and digital
infrastructure to conduct class-
es with proper social distancing
and cleanliness standards (with
proper toilets and sanitization
facilities).
The 'Digi Lap - Aapki Padhai
Aapke Ghar' Abhiyan with its
digital learning app ' Top Parent'
should be updated and made
user friendly and interactive.
Policy reforms for teachers'
compensation and training are
absolutely essential.
Elevating Employment
Opportunities
The existing employment
schemes like the Rozgar Setu Yo-
jana, Sabko Rozgar Milega Yo-
jana,Yuva Swabhiman Yojana,
and Mukhya Mantri Swarozgar
Yojana should be revitalized as
follows:
� Expand scope and services
� Proper roadmap and opera-
prove effectiveness.
� Provide Financial Support
� Upgrade with Digital Infra-
structure like portals, apps, etc.
� Improve existing digital job
portals.
Strengthening
Small Businesses
MP has a unique treasure of
local handicrafts and hand-
looms like Chanderi and Ma-
heshwari cloth, and these
should be promoted with re-
newed vigor.
The state-owned crafts and
handloom emporiums like
Mrignayani and Vindhya
Herbals should be rebranded
and marketed effectively.
HealthTech and EdTech start-
ups should be provided with tax
benefits and incentives and
more opportunities to collabo-
rate in state-funded innovative
projects.
Microfinance institutions
should be provided with subsi-
dies and other benefits to pro-
vide low-interest loans to
Women SHGs and MSMEs.
Prof. HIMANSHU RAI,
Director, IIM Indore

MDMA case: Kingpin

says related to top
Bollywood singer
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Indore
The 70 kg MDMA drugs
case kingpin Samrat Yag-
nik on Monday said he is
related to a Bollywood
playback singer. Corrobo-
rating the same, Vijay Na-
gar police station in-
charge Tehjeeb Kaji con-
firmed this and said Yag-
nik said this during inter-
rogation. Court sent
Sarthak on police remand.
Police are questioning
Sarthak about his "other"
Bollywood "connections"
if any.
Earlier, On Sunday, po-
lice a team raided a place
in Mumbai and arrested
Sarthak Yagnik in the
70kg MDMA drug case. Po-
lice said Sarthak was ar-
rested from Mumbai. Po-
lice had received a tipoff
that Samrat was travelling
to Mumbai from
Dehradun. Police team
reached Mumbai and ar-
rested him. He is a resi-
dent of South Tukoganj
area in Indore. ASP Ra-
jesh Raghuwanshi said in
Dehradun, Sarthak lived
at his friend's house Shiv
and from there he smug-
gled drugs.
Earlier, when police
raided Sarthak's flat in
Varsha Apartment, he
was not found. Police also
raided Hotel South Av-
enue from where Sarthak
fled after seeing police
and left his mobile phone
and a car at the place. Dur-
ing police questioning,
Sarthak's servant Aman
told police that Sarthak
used to call models from
Delhi, Mumbai and other
cities and used to hold
drug parties with them.
Aman also "told" police
that Sarthak has contacts
with drug suppliers who
supply the same in Bolly-
wood. He also reportedly
told police that Sarthak
used to spend lakhs of ru-
pees in parties.
The background
On 5 January, the police
crime branch had seized
70 kg of MDMA drugs
worth Rs 70 crore from
five persons along with
cash of 13 lakh. The ac-
cused were from Telan-
gana and Madhya
Pradesh. The accused had
gathered to deliver the
consignment of drugs and
to take token money. Re-
portedly, they used to
bring drugs through
trains, planes, buses,
trucks and private cars. So
far, 15 accused have been
arrested in this case.
Affiliation row at St Mary's School
Parents'
complaint to DEO
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Indore
Aghast by the revelation
that St Mary's Champion
School, which they were
told was affiliated to Cen-
tral Board of Secondary
Education was affiliated to
Madhya Pradesh Board of
Secondary Education
(MPBSE), parents and stu-
dents reached the district
education office to report
the same.
It was a bolt out of the
blue for hundreds of par-
ents who enrolled their
students in the two branch-
es of St Mary's Champion
School accepting the
school's advertisement as
'CBSE affiliated' school.
Reaching the office, par-
ents demanded to meet dis-
trict education officer
(DEO) Ravi Singh and
sought his help in the case.
As per the complaint
filed by parents to DEO, St.
Mary's Champion School
has two branches, one in
Suryadev Nagar which is
affiliated to the MP Board
and the other is in the
Nawada Panth which is af-
filiated to the CBSE Board.
"Further, as an additional
branch Suryadev Nagar
school is shown as recog-
nised by the CBSE board,
and the fees are many
Parents reach district education office with a complaint letter against St Mary's Champion School on Monday.
times more than the
schools affiliated to MPB-
SE, whereas it is affiliated
to MPBSE and not CBSE!"
parent representative
Anand Chouhan said.
In their complaint, par-
ents said that the ID cards,
markings, etc. given to the
students also have the ad-
dress of both schools writ-
ten misleading that both
schools are affiliated to
CBSE.
"Parents are cheated by
writing CBSE Affiliated on
ID cards and other mark-
ings for both the school
students," Chouhan said.
Recently parents came to
know that the school at
Suryadev Nagar is recog-
nised by MPBSE and not
CBSE.
"When we discussed the
same with the school oper-
ator, the school gave an ar-
gument quoting 'we teach
on the CBSE pattern and if
you need the mark-sheet of
the CBSE board, then
transfer to our Navada
Panth branch or take your
children out of school',"
complaint said.
Parents expressed their
helplessness they do not
want to send their children
to Nawada Panth branch,
because of distance.
"Further if children
studying in MPBSE want
to take admission in other
CBSE schools then CBSE
affiliated schools do not
consider such students,"
complaint said.
Parents raised their com-
plaint about the 'fraud',
which was signed by more
than 50 parents. Parents
demanded punitive action
against the school operator
and fixing the appropriate
fees as per the recognition
of the MPBSE.
DEO Singh assured par-
ents of possible actions
and said, "We will set up a
committee and investigate
the case, as we have just re-
ceived the complaint. Fur-
ther, after investigation,
requisite actions will be
taken."
School says… parent
just want concession
This is absolutely a
wrong allegation. We
are running the schools
for 29 years. We have a
branch in Suryadev
Nagar affiliated to
MPBSE, as shown in
the website. The num-
ber is registered in
MPBSE. It is upto class
V. Some parents want a
fee concession that is
why they (parents) are
doing this. Every
record is absolutely
fine."
SL SWAMY, Director
St Mary Champion School
Honour killing
Enraged killers planned
murder meticulously
OUR STAFF REPORTER wasted no time and com-
Indore mitted the crime the same
day.
Enraged with their sister They asked Sameer (bro-
Alma's marriage, which ap- in-law) out for a walk and
parently deflated their male stabbed him 22 times at
ego, the two brothers Moti Tabela Square in Rao-
planned the murder of ji Bazar police station area
their brother-in-law meticu- on Sunday noon.
lously for about two After the heinous crime,
months. the cops arrested Alma's
In an emotional "aty- brothers Abdul Ayaz and
achar" of sorts, they told Abdul Waqar from Ratlam
the newly wed that the girl's on Monday and they have
father was ailing and he confessed to the crime, Rao-
wanted to meet the damad ji Bazar police station in-
and his daughter. charge inspector Savita
Innocence prevailed over Choudhary said.
suspicion and the couple ar- Two months back, Sameer
rived here from Dewas. had eloped with Alma from
They reached here on Indore and married her.
Sunday and they brothers They had settled in Dewas.
Checkmate by BRAUSS V-C
Mhow (FPNS): In what is being viewed as a decisive step,
akin to a checkmate in the ongoing battle between
BRAUSS vice-chancellor Dr Asha Shukla and former reg-
istrar Dr D K Sharma, the former has got Dr Nita Sharma
terminated from the post of project associate in the UGC
Project. Dr Nita is related to Dr Sharma.
As per sources, the present registrar Ajay Verma has cit-
ed a report by the director of research extension Dr D K
Verma in which the latter said that Dr Nita was not doing
her project as per norms and hence she was being termi-
nated.
However, sources said Dr Nita was working very effi-
ciently in the project but was axed due to enmity between
V-C Dr Asha Shukla and former registrar Dr DK Sharma.
When Dr Asha Shukla was contacted in this regard she
said that she had nothing to do with this and action had
been taken on the basis of project director's report.

FATE OF NAYAPURA LEOPARD

Union forest minister wants
report within 7 days
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Indore
Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate
Change, Government of In-
dia has sought a report in
the case of the leopard res-
cued from Nayapura, that
had 42 shrapnel wounds on
its head. The minister sent
a letter to Deputy Inspector
General of
(Wildlife) Rakesh Kumar
Forest
Jagenia in this regard on
Monday and sought a re-
port within 7 days.
The letter said, "The Min-
istry is in receipt of a letter
alleging negligence by In-
dore STF, Madhya Pradesh
in handling complaints re-
garding leopard's death. A
copy of the letter is en-
closed at Annexure for ref-
erence."
Further it added, "In this
regard, it is requested to
kindly examine the matter
and submit a factual report
to this Ministry within 7
working days."
The state Tiger Strike
Force (STSF) of Madhya
Pradesh with leopard state
status still hasn't been able
to find the hunter who mer-
cilessly shot the leopard
with 42 shrapnels. While
STSF blames the local au-
thorities for negligence in
the matter prior to their in-
vestigation. Questions
about their investigation
team and progress have
also been raised in the de-
partment. Complainants
alleged that team has been
protecting the accused.
Complaint regarding the
same was raised by legal
activist Abhijeet Pandey
with the Ministry of For-
est and Environment and
the Wildlife Crime Control
Bureau (WCCB) in the
case. On July 10, 2020, the
leopard was found severe-
ly injured in the Nayapura
range.
CRIME ROUND-UP Up to 40% subsidy on rooftop
Four lakh looted from petrol pump manager solar net metering systems
INDORE: Around Rs 4 lakh was looted from a petrol
pump manager in an area under Gautampura police OUR STAFF REPORTER
station. Police said that in the CCTV footage the ac- Indore
cused were seen stalking the manager and when he
reached near Padliya village the accused snatched the Madhya Pradesh Western
bag from him and fled away. Region Power Distribu-
tion Company is aggres-
Police recover two minor girls within 24 hours sively promoting solar en-
Indore: A team of Kishanganj police station on Monday
ergy as government has
announced a subsidy of
rescued two girls abducted from Indore district and tak- up to 40 per cent subsidy
en to Gujarat. Similarly, police claimed to have rescued on rooftop solar net me-
as many as 26 minor girls from several places which in- tering connections.
cludes few districts from West Bengal, Gujarat and oth- Chief Engineer West
er states. Discom SL Karwadia said
State Cyber Cell helps fraud victim net metering solar energy
is being continuously pro-
INDORE: The State Cyber Cell on Monday helped a moted in jurisdiction of
woman get a refund of Rs 2.99 lakh that she had been the company.
duped in an online fraud. Police said that an unidenti- As per the order of the
fied person has withdrawn the amount from the government, the West Dis-
woman's bank account. com is setting up 15 MW
capacity plants in the sec-
ond phase of the Net Me-
tering Incentive Scheme.
According to the order of
the Department of New
and Renewable Energy, do-
mestic consumers of
10KW capacity system will
get 40 per cent subsidy.
"We are making resi-
dents of all 15 districts
under West Discom aware
of subsidy on installation
of rooftop solar net meter-
ing system as it is benefi-
cially for them," Karwa-
dia said.
The group housing soci-
ety's 500 kW capacity
plant will receive 20 per-
cent subsidy. Interested
consumers can avail the
benefits of the scheme by
applying online through
WWW.MPWZ.CO.IN or
can go to nearby power
distribution center, zone
or divisional office.
Many consumers are
taking advantage
At present, electricity is
being generated from net
metering solar power con-
nections at 850 locations
in Indore. A total of 1750
consumers in the corpo-
rate sector are preparing
electricity by putting so-
lar panels on their
rooftops. Net metering
plant in the company area
has a total capacity of
over 36 MW.

First sighting of Red-Headed Vulture in Mhow
TINA KHATRI
Indore
A hope for not just good
vulture population, but
also revival of species
started this week on a
pleasant note, as the first
sighting of Red-Headed
Vulture in Mhow, Indore
was recorded by bird
watchers.
The Red-Headed Vulture
was spotted in the Malendi
Patalpani area by
Brigadier Arvind Yadav,
Dev Kumar Vasudevan and
Shantanu Thada.
The trio shared that it is
the first recorded sighting
in Mhow tehsil and Indore
pher and lover.
He said, "Red-Headed
Vulture is one of the worst
victims of diclofenac.
From millions in 90s, it
came to thousands in 2000
and few hundred in 2007
when it was listed to Criti-
cally Endangered in IUCN
Red List."
He explained that di-
clofenac medicine is used
to treat pain and inflam-
Red-headed vulture clicked by Brigadier Arvind Yadav in Mhow mation in cows and other
district. "So far only Egypt- rare species of vulture. animals. "Once ingested,
ian Vultures have been Yadav has previously traces remain permanent-
seen in Mhow tehsil and spotted and recorded 14 ly in the animal, when car-
Indore district," they said. new species for Indore dis- casses are eaten by vul-
The trio had ventured on trict since June 2020. Other tures. The drug traces af-
an unplanned birding trip, than being an army officer, fect the kidney and liver of
where they sighted the he is a wildlife photogra- vultures. In 20 years, six
species reduced from 4
crore to 4000. Biggest un-
natural catastrophe," Ya-
dav said.
He added that though the
drug is banned by govern-
ment of India, but the ban
is not implemented in let-
ter and spirit. "It's avail-
able openly without pre-
scription and vet doctors
are prescribing regularly,"
Yadav said.
There are alternative
drugs available that are
not dangerous but lack of
awareness and control is
causing this
They also saw Indian Par-
adise Flycatchers (male
and females).
Rs 80cr collected for Ram Temple
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Indore
A sum of over Rs 80 crore,
collected for the Ram Tem-
ple in Ayodhya in Indore
was handed over to the au-
thorities on Sunday.
Former member of Nar-
mada Control Authority
Government of India and
former Chairman Ecosys-
tem (Mission Ecology) Indi-
an Council of Science and Representatives handing over funds for construction of Ram Temple, Ayodhya on Sunday
Technology Communica- ry Committee, Ministry of little girls broke their piggy
tion Dr Afroz Ahmad pre- Labour and former mem- banks and contributed
sented the collected funds. ber of Indore Union Driver their savings. About Rs
The funds were presented Shailendra Mahajan and 1.11cr was contributed by
to Pt. Bhupendra Dharwa, Co-ordination Forum. various corporate groups
Union Ministry of Envi- Funds were received from as well. LGBT community
ronment and Forests, Na- Kinnar (LGBT) community has donated about Rs
tional Child Labor Adviso- and children as well. Some 11,000.
 INDORE CITY 3 FREE PRESS
TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021 | INDORE

60+ SHOW ZEAL FOR THE JAB

OUR STAFF REPORTER
Come accompanied
by spouse, children
Indore

The most awaited phase for vac-

cination against COVID-19 for
those above 60-years of age and
people between 45 and 60 years of
age with comorbidities started
with excitement among elderly
people in the city on Monday.
Most of the beneficiaries who
reached the hospitals to get vac-
cinated seemed to be self-moti-
vated and reached the hospital
with their spouses or with other
family members. Along with mo-
tivating others to get vaccinated,
they also showed the care for
their family members and
brought them to the centres.
Those who were not able to get (ALL PICS BY ANAND SHIVRE)
themselves registered, reached
the centres with their children,
and got inoculated to end the dis- PC Sethi Hospital sees highest TITBITS TECHNICAL GLITCHES IRK BENEFICIARIES
Technical glitches and confusion over online and offline registration irked
ease.
Amid technical glitches and number of beneficiaries 1 Manasi Akolekar
beneficiaries as they had to wait for hours to get vaccinated while many of
them couldn't get vaccinated as they didn't get verification of their
confusion for online and offline brought her registration. Many people didn't get OTP for verification while many
Hospital Vaccination grandmother-in-law couldn't get themselves registered. Due to technical errors, vaccination
PC Sethi Hospital 250 Vimala Saraf (91) and couldn't get started at 9 am in the city and the first dose was administered
mother-in-law Vasanti to patients after 10 am in every center. Many beneficiaries were seen
MY Hospital 171 Akolekar (67) to confused at the centers as they got the registration messages but their
Government PC Sethi names were not showing on the portal at the vaccination centers.
Civil Hospital, Mhow 71 Hospital to get CONFUSION OVER OFFLINE AND ONLINE REGISTRATION
Bhandari Hospital 112 vaccinated
Many elderly people had reached the centers without online registration
SAIMS 81 2 Mohan Agrawal, but with the ID proofs to get registered and vaccinated on the spot.
Index Medical College 71 sweetmeat trader, Initially, the health department had decided to vaccinate only with online
registration but they had to change the plan as a large number of people
reached to get
Medicare Hospital 166 vaccinated with 10 of his
reached the centers without any pre-registration. "We learnt that there
would be on the spot registration due to which we didn't get registered
Choithram Hospital 142 family members to get online. We were refused by the officials to get vaccinated in MY Hospital,"
vaccinated at MY an elderly man said. The same issues were faced by beneficiaries in PC
St Francis Hospital 72 Hospital on Monday. Sethi Hospital and Bhandari Hospital after which doctors sought directions
registration, as many as 1357 Varma Union Hospital 220 from officials in Bhopal and started offline registration.
people above 60 years were vac-
cinated on the first day. As many
as 93 people, who have comorbid TESTIMONIES 'I WILL GO TO WORK AGAIN' 'NO FEAR OF VACCINE' 'MY CHILDREN DID
MY REGISTRATION'
conditions, also got the jab after
'WE WERE WAITING FOR OUR TURN 65 -year-old

showing their certificate from
the doctor.
According to Chief Medical
and Health Officer Dr Pravin Ja-
dia, "We received a good re-
sponse as a large number of peo-
ple were seen excited to get vac-
cinated. We face some issues ini-
tially but with time, things will
improve."
He said that they appealed to
the people to get themselves reg-
istered online as they temporar-
ily provided the-on-spot registra-
tion facility.
65
Ravi Jain was -year-old
SINCE ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACCINE' the first beneficiary Bhagyawanti
to get vaccinated at
70 -year-old Satish Kumar Jain and his wife Sharma, vaccinated
MY Hospital. "I don't
Vibha Jain became the first beneficiaries at MY Hospital, said,
have any fear of "My children did my
of the new phase of vaccination in the city as
vaccines. It is
they got vaccinated at Government PC Sethi registration after
important to get the
Hospital. They couldn't get registered online reading news about
after which officials permitted them for offline
registration. "We waited for our turn since the
89 -year-old Kanhaiyyalal Gupta became the first
beneficiary who got online registration and
inoculated in Government PC Sethi Hospital. "I am a
jab to eliminate the
deadly disease. I
read in newspapers
vaccination. I
reached the hospital
announcement of the vaccine. We believe in our and did not feel any
practicing lawyer and had stopped going to court after about vaccination
changes after being
scientists and have faith in science. I was excited COVID spread. Now, I am vaccinated and will return to work and reached MY
for vaccination and everyone must come after getting the second dose as well. I am feeling good to Hospital for the vaccinated except a
forward to take the jab," Jain said. get vaccinated," Gupta said. same," Jain said. feeling of safety."

15-yr-old gang-raped for 6 days by 2 youths

MHOW (FPNS)
A 15-year-old girl was gang-raped for
six days by two youths in Sherkund
village, who also threatened to kill
her if she told anyone about the inci-
dent. Manpur police have registered a
case POCSO Act and IPC sections
against the two accused, who are ab-
sconding.
Manpur police said one of the ac-
cused Ajay Baria of the same village
used to harass her saying that he
wanted to befriend her. Initially, she
had refused but later she agreed after
Ajay threatened to come to her house.
He struck up a friendship with her
and one day when his parents had
gone out of the village, he brought the
girl to his house and raped her for
three days. Ajay told his friend Vikas
Girwal of Malipur village about the
incident and Vikas threatened that if
the victim did not allow him to rape
her, he would tell everyone about the
incident. Frightened, she agreed to
Vikas' demands and both friends took
turns to rape her for the next three
days.
Meanwhile, the girl's parents grew
suspicious by her activities and she
revealed the truth to them. They took
her to Manpur police station where a
case was registered against Ajay and
Vikas.

Man reaches DIG office 'with Relief for IAS officer

bomb'… hoax unearthed
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Indore
A usual Monday morning
was stirred for a while at
the DIG office after the son
of a paramilitary officer,
who claimed to be with IAF
(technical staff) was
brought in by the Palasia
police station staff to get his
bags checked by the Bomb
Squad after he alleged that
his bags were reportedly
laden with explosives. The
alert cops, swooped down to
unearth the suspicion and
fortunately found nothing.
Additional Superintendent
of Police, Manisha Pathak
Soni said as soon as they re-
ceived information, police
cleared the area and called
Bomb Squad on-the-spot.
Police said that the man
hired an auto and told the
driver to take him to a po-
lice station. They reached
Palasia PS from where they
were rushed to the DIG of-
fice when he "told" the cops
about the inflammable stuff
in his bags.
The bomb squad checked
the bags and found only
clothes and other things.
According to police, the
man is the son of a paramil-
itary officer who is de-
ployed in Indore.
The man's father told po-
lice that his son is undergo-
ing mental treatment. His
father went on to say that he
was in Air-Force (technical
staff) but after an accident,
he left the IAF and has been
mentally unstable. He was
at his friend's house and
was coming home. He un-
knowingly suspected his
friend and claimed that his
friend had kept some explo-
sives in his bags. Police
handed over the luggage.
Rickshaw driver's version
The man sat in the auto
and told him to go to the
nearest police station and
scared him that there was a
'bomb' in his bag and he
needed the auto-driver's
help.
The driver immediately
took him to Palasia police
station from where he was
sent to the DIG office.
The Rickshaw driver said
the man told him to step on
gas to reach the DIG office
fast or else the bomb would
explode. He said on their
way to the DIG office, the
man got down from the auto
and told the driver to reach
the DIG office with the "con-
signment" while he said he
would be coming in an e-
rickshaw and would be fol-
lowing it.
Dahima till March 8
Indore: The hearing into the interim
bail application of additional secretary
(urban development) Lalit Dahima, an
accused in the Rs 8 crore fraud case,
challenging his arrest warrant, could
not be held in Indore bench of Madhya
Pradesh High Court on Monday.
The next hearing will now be held
March 8.
A local court had issued an arrest
warrant against Dahima on February
13 for not appearing before the court
since 2016 citing one or other reason.
Against the order, Dahima had
moved HC which had granted him
interim bail.
The case against Dahima is about 18
years old. It was alleged that when he
was secretary of mandi in Indore he
had colluded with some agencies and
siphoned off Rs 8 crore. On the
complaint of the then collector, the
case was taken for investigation in
2004. After seven years, an FIR was
registered against one LDC and
different office bearers of 23 agencies.
After two years, some officials of the
mandi were charge-sheeted but not
Dahima. However, three years later he
was named in the case.

Youth caught for impersonation in ITI exam

OUR STAFF REPORTER Tushar pretended to be
Indore Vishnu and argued that
earlier he was fat and was
A youth was caught imper- looking different as he had
sonating another person at lost weight. However, the
an ITI exam by an alert in- invigilator was not con-
vigilator on Monday, and vinced and took him to the
handed over to the Hira Na- principal's office where he
gar police station who have confessed the duplicity. The
registered a case. police were called in and
According to police Tushar was made to call
Tushar appeared in the en- Vishnu and he told police
gineering drawing subject that he is pursuing a fitter's
exam in place of Vishnu. At course at an ITI institute
the exam centre, the invigi- and had paid Rs 1,500 to a
lator who was checking the coaching class owner who
I-Cards grew suspicious had deputed Tushar to sit
when he saw that the photo for the exam in his (Vish-
in the Aadhar card did not nu's) place. Police have
match the candidate's face. booked both the youths.
�������������
FREE PRESS
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UJJAIN WEATHER
MAXIMUM: 34.0°C, MINIMUM: 13.8° C
HUMIDITY
MORNING: 81 per cent, EVENING: 24 per cent
SUNRISE: 6.49 am , SUNSET: 6.30 pm

��������������������
Show-cause notice issued
���������������������������������������
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to Tata Projects Limited
���������������
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to get vaccine under the
The second phase of vacci- latest phase. As per the Ujjain Municipal Corpora-
nation against Covid start- health officials vaccina- tion served a show cause
ed in the city from Monday tion will be conducted at notice to Tata Projects
in which people of age 3 government hospitals limited for making unlev-
group of 45 to 60 year will and 3 private hospitals of elled sewerage chambers
be vaccinated. the city. across the city and due
which an innocent lawyer
lost his life as his bike
������������������� skidded at Indore Gate
�������������� area of the city.
On Sunday late night a 23

D istrict vaccination officer KC Parmar said that vac-

cination centres are setup in Government Madhav
Nagar Hospital, Jiwajiganj Primary Health Centre and
year old lawyer Akshat
Sharma lost the balance
on motorbike at Indore
Cancer unit located in front of civil hospital. The bene- Gate area due to the unlev-
ficiaries can also get vaccinated in private hospitals be- elled sewerage chamber. �������������������������
tween 9am to 5pm, Parmar added. For vaccination He was seriously injured
copies of any of identity proof like PAN Card, Voter ID, in the accident and suc- �����������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������
Driving License with Aadhaar Card are necessary. One
can also apply online to get registered for vaccination.
Online registration is necessary for vaccination at pri- ‘Take doctors’ advice before vaccination’
cumbed to his injuries
during the treatment. The
municipal corporation
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vate hospital which will charge a fee of Rs 250. ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� warned the company for ���������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������� taking one sided action �������������������������������������������������������
against the company if ����������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������� the company fails to reply ����������������������������
6 women to the notice within 7 days.

among Admin makes online booking ���������������������������� �����������

��������������������
14 test T
mandatory for devotees
aking action against illegal cattle
sheds across the city. The municipal
M unicipal Corporation’s team seized

positive
Tally 5,285, toll 103
���������������
������
Fourteen 14 persons test-
ed positive taking the
number of corona pa-
tients to 5,285 mark in the
district on Sunday. The
toll is 103.
As per the medical bul-
letin issued at 11 pm, out
of 121
sample re- COVID-19
ports re- DISTRICT
ceived on UPDATE
the day, 14
persons including 11
from Ujjain City and 3
from Nadga including 6
women tested corona-
positive. Overall, 79 pa-
tients, 33 of them sympto-
matic, have been getting
treatment.
Samples of 1, 72, 568
persons have been taken
across the district so far
and no report is awaited.
With 2 more discharged
on the day, the total num-
ber of corona winners
has gobe up to 5,103.
���������������
�������
The administration has
started preparations for
Maha Shivratri. On Mon-
day divisional commis-
sioner Sandeep Yadav, IG
Yogesh Deshmukh, col-
lector Asheesh Singh, SP
Satyendra Kumar Shuk-
la, ADM Narendra Surya-
vanshi and other con-
cerned officials paid
their visit to famous Ma-
hakaleshwar Temple and
its periphery areas.
The officials told that
all devotees have to get
registered online for
making entry in the tem-
ple on the occasion of Ma-
hashivratri festival. Spot
registration can only be
made if the slot is not
filled.
One-way entry
Divisional commissioner
instructed to make
arrangement to follow the
one-way system for entry
and exit of devotees with
maintaining social dis-
��������������������������������������
tancing. IG Deshmukh told
that adequate police
arrangements will be
made to ensure safety and
security of devotees.
Parking
arrangements
Collector Asheesh Singh
informed that adequate
arrangements are being
made for providing con-
venient parking facilities
to devotees coming from
different parts of the coun-
try and state.
Devotees can easily ap-
proach till Jaisinghpura
ground by any vehicle
and vehicles shall be
parked at Chaardham
Road Parking located at
Triveni Museum.
Mobile toilets
The administration
will also made arrange-
ments to install mobile
toilets around the tem-
ple premises. Officials
also inspected different
exit and entry points of
the temple.
Covid directives to
be followed strictly
Briefing the arrange-
ments collector Asheesh
Singh informed
arrangements are being
that,
made according to Covid di-
rectives to provide easy en-
try and exit to every devo-
tee. Online booking
arrangements have suffi-
cient slots and every devo-
tee should be updated to
slots current status. Collec-
tor urged devotees to use on-
line booking services to con-
firm their entry and slot.
Make preparations
for crowd
management: IG
���������������������
���������������������������
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���������������������������
�����������������������
����� �� ��� ���������
corporation’s team removed such shed of
Satyanaryan in Goutam Marg and in Pi-
plinaka area where Shahid Khan was run-
ning illegal cattle shed.
Youth dies in
bike collision
Ujjain: A youth resident of
Kesarbag colony was
killed in a bike collision on
Sunday night. The acci-
dent took place in Nayapu-
ra area in Barnagar.
The family members told
that Asheesh
(26) son of
Bhanwarlal
Mali had gone
to Barnagar to
recover loan amount from
a businessman meanwhile
at 11pm his bike collided
with another bike and he
got injured badly. He was
rushed to a private hospi-
tal in Ujjain where he died
during treatment. His kin
added that Asheesh has
sold his 26 bigha agricul-
ture land for Rs 1 crore and
he had loaned out a part of
that sum to a businessman.
He had gone to Barnagar
to recover the same.
substandard polythene bags from a
shopkeeper in Freeganj area. The team
also slapped a penalty of Rs 3450 on the
shopkeeper.
Travel agent gets 4-yr RI
for cheating passengers
���������������
������
Second ADJ Prempal Singh
Thakur on Monday convict-
ed a Bhopal-based travelling
agent for duping some lo-
cals in the name of sending
him to Spain. The accused
has been awarded rigorous
imprisonment of 4 years.
The court also slapped a
fine of Rs 5,000 on him.
According to deputy-di-
rector, prosecution, Saket
Vyas, complainant Anurag
Gour had on September 9,
2017 filed an FIR in the
Madhav Nagar police sta-
tion that he had booked a
ticket of flight for Spain
tour for him and his family
members. For the to-and-
fro travelling, they had
provided passports to Am-
bel Tour & Packages’ agent
Ashutosh son of Om-
prakash Shrivastava, resi-
dent of Yaman Sahara Es-
tate, village Bangrasia,
tehsil Hujoor, district
Bhopal.
Shrivastava sought Rs
8,79,500 for the trip from
the complainant and oth-
ers. They transferred the
same from their accounts.
Despite receiving pay-
ment, the accused did not
provide them the air tick-
ets and also did not return
back their passports. He
even continuously avoided
attending his mobile
phone following which the
victims came to conclusion
that they had been cheated
and they finally ap-
proached the police. AGP
Kishore Kumar Sharma
pleaded the case on behalf
of prosecution.

Fake currency racket 27 participants identify

busted five arrested
���������������
������
Acting on a tip-off the STF
on Monday nabbed five ac-
cused who cheated the peo-
ple with fake currency
notes. One of the arrested
accused is a resident of
Susner. A car and fake cur-
rency notes worth Rs 13.35
thousand have been recov-
ered from him.
STF SP Anjana Tiwari
told media persons that
acting on a tip-off the
sleuths stooped a car (RJ 35
CA 0591).
Four people were out in
the car to utilise their
fake currency notes. On
questioning, they said
that they used coloured
photocopy of the real cur-
rency notes to cheat peo-
ple. The accused from
Susner used to photocopy
the notes.
Inspector Deepika
Shinde said, the accused
�������������������������������
life partners at Agrawal
Guna’s NS Bhargava is chief of Shri
Samaj’s Parichay Sammelan Bhragu Bhargava Brahmin Samaj
���������������
������������������� ������
������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������� Social worker Narmada
������������������������������������������������������������ Shankar Bhargava (Guna)
����������������������������� was unanimously elected
����������������������������� as the new State president
���������������������������� of Shri Bhragu Bhargava
�������������������������� ����������������������������������� Brahmin Samaj, at the tri-
������������������������������ ennial elections to which
�������������������������������� ��������������� ty.• • It was chaired by were held at Lord Parshu-
����������������������������� ������ Pawan Mittal while Om ram’s birth place at Jana-
�������������������������������� Prakash Agarwal and pav, Mhow (district Indore).
������������������� ������������������������������� A Parichay Sammelan was Bhagwandas Airen were Ujjain district president
������������������������� organised by the Agarwal special guests.• • The pro- of Shri Bhragu Bhargava ����������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������ Social Group in memory of gramme was launched by Brahmin Samaj, Pt Yesh-
��������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������
Rameshchandra Mittal. lighting a lamp in front of want Bhargava stated that
�������������������������������������������������������� A total of 105 young men the portrait of Maharaja representatives and office- ��������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������� and 114 young women from Agrasen. Convenor of this bearers from across Mad- Hoshangabad were the of Lord Parshuram.
states of Madhya Pradesh, Parichay Sammelan, Vijay hya Pradesh in large num- election officers. The new- The outgoing president
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Hyder- Mittal gave a welcome ad- ber attended the conven- ly-elected State president Pt Pt Ramesh Sharma
namely Mahmood son of Ware House. They were abad and Odisha partici- dress and the guests were tion. They also tied a tur- Narmada Shankar Bharga- (Bhopal) thanked the
Chand Khan resident of out to find their latest vic- pated in the event.• • welcomed by Nimesh Ag- ban on the forehead of va said that he would soon members of the commu-
Agar, Sangram son of tim. The accused hail More than 27 partici- garwal, Rakesh Bajaj, Ra- Narmada Shankar Bhar- start state-wide tour to con- nity for extending their
Santram resident of Prat- Pratapgarh in Rajasthan. pants identified their life jesh Garg and Anil Goyal. gava and welcomed him by stitute the new body. cooperation and trust.
apgarh, Naiem son of They had been cheating partner at this event. On this occasion AgarSe- garlanding him. Prior to it, Karpatri The outgoing secretary Pt
Kallu, Santosh and the people for a long time. The event was inaugu- va.com convenor Govind Senior lawyer from Ujjain Kalyan Ashram Dharm Sanjeev Sharma (Bhopal)
Goverdhan Malviya resi- A photocopy machine was rated by Jagdish Agarwal, Mittal provided complete Pt Jiyalal Sharma and Sangh president Dr Kalyani presented a report based
dents of Naikhedi were also recovered from their former chairman of the Uj- information about the con- President’s Awardee Pt JP Chaitanya inaugurated the on his tenure. Pt Ashok
arrested from Hariom possession. jain Development Authori- ference on the website. Khadder from event by garlanding the idol Chaturvedi (Indore) con-
ducted the proceedings
while Pt Manoj Tiwari

��������
������������������������������
Government Model (Indore) proposed a vote
of thanks.

Trade union leaders flay govt

School holds contests
PANCHANG 2.3.2021

for not executing SC’s order ������������ (UTTARAYAN)

���������������
������
At a meeting held at the Maj-
door Sangh’s office at Shram
Shivir, Koyla Phatak the atten-
dees expressed annoyance over
��������� �����������
����� ������������������������������������
�� ���� ������� ence behind every incident, ��������� ������������������������������
pate in it wholeheartedly. Tex- ������� from getting up in the morn- ���� ���������������������������������������
tile Industry Labour Union ing to sleeping at night. ����� ���������������������������
head Harishankar Sharma To mark National Science Day There is a scientific reason ���� ���������������������������
praised the solidarity of the the Government Model behind all events which we all �� ��������������
labourers. He said that the School, Ghattiya, held science should know about, so we ��
���
� ��
struggle of the workers would lectures, essay writing and should adopt scientific ap- ����������
�
���
only be successful with their presentations contests.• proach. By doing so, we will ���

non-disbursement of dues of
retrenched labourers of Binod
Mills for which the Supreme
Court had passed an order
some two years ago.
Addressing the meeting advo-
cate Dheeraj Singh Panwar
gave a background of legal bat-
tles for workers.
Labour Union president Om-
prakash Singh Bhadoria elabo-
rated upon the role of labour
union in the struggle of work-
ers and asked them to partici-
full cooperation with the union
and one another. The meeting
was also addressed by many
other officials who were pres-
ent at the venue, to render their
encouragement to the workers.• •
They also appealed to the
labourers to assemble in large
numbers in the meeting every
Sunday at 3 pm and requested
to beware and not get misled by
propaganda.
������������������������
Students participated in the
essay writing on the topic
“Our Indian Scientists are
our Pride” and presented it.
The participants of the con-
tests explained the impor-
tance of Sir CV Raman’s life
and work.•
A teacher Ishwar Mehta
gave a talk about the scientif-
ic basis of ancient glorious
traditions, how sage and muni
and the best of ancient times
lived life in scientific way.
������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������
Teacher in-charge of Sci-
ence Club Rajesh Rathore said
that today life is incomplete
without science. There is sci-
be able to do new innovations
� �
in the future and make the ���� ����
����
country and society proud, he
added.• � �
�
The programme was chaired
� �
by the principal in-charge ����
Ramesh Kurup. He said that
today is the age of science so � � � � �� � � � � �� � � � � � � � � �
we all should contribute to- RUNNING CLASSIFIED
wards making the country DISPLAY CLASSIFIED 7 DAY 500/-
and society better by using 50/- SQ.CM. B/W.
15 DAY 1000/-
30 DAY 1500/-
science and technology. Stu- 75/- SQ.CM.
(MINIMUM SIZE 1X3) DISPLAY CLASSIFIED
dent Lakhan Bairagi ex-
pressed the vote of thanks.
FREE PRESS CALL- 9425082195
BJP state-in-charge Rao on two-day trip
������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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State Economic Survey Congress stages

�������������������������������� walk-out over
Sidhi bus accident
��������������������������������
In pandemic year 2020, employment
������������������
������

The State Economic Survey 2020-

registration fell sharply to 21.95%

21 paints a dismal picture of
industries and related sectors in
Madhya Pradesh. The figures
demonstrate a downfall in the in-
dustries, investments and employ-
ment created by them.
A fall in the numbers of regis-
tered MSME (Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises) was ob-
served. The year 2019-20 saw a fall
of 3.35% in the registered numbers
of MSME units in comparison with
2018-19. The number of MSME
units fell from 2.98 lakh in 2018-19
to 2.88 lakh in 2019-20.
According to the survey report, a
shortfall of 0.22% in investment
was recorded. Investment made in
2019-20 stood at Rs 19,242 crore.
As far as creation of employ-
ment is concerned, here, too, the
reports are negative. In the year
2018-19, employment generation
stood at 10.3 lakh that was re-
duced by 3.52% and fell to only
9.94 lakh. Financial assistance to
the MSMEs also reduced from Rs
129.12 crore in 2019-20 to Rs
59.08 crore in the corresponding
year till December.
The government did not speak in
terms of developing infrastructure
for the industries in the report. It
simply said that financial ap-
proval of Rs 5,536 lakh had been
given to related industries but re-
mained quiet on the amount spent.
THE SURVEY SHARES THE ��������������
ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES �����������������
�
OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ���������������������������
��������������������������������
������������������ ������������������������������������
������ �����������������������������
������������������������������
In the Covid-19 pandemic year 2020, the employment ����������������������������������
registration had dropped to 21.95 per cent. �����������������������������������
The Economic Survey of the financial year 2019-2020 ����������������������������������
was presented in the Assembly on Monday. The survey ������������������������������
shares the achievements and failures of the state gov- ����������������������������������
ernment. It also shows the areas of improvement where ���������������������������������
the state government can work on it. Employment reg- �������������������������������������
istration had dropped to 21.95 per cent in the year 2020. �����������������
In the year 2019, 8.47 lakh unemployed had got them-
selves registered and, in the current year, the number ���������������������
dropped to 6.11 lakh. On the other hand, the number of ���������������������������������
literate unemployed youths had dropped in the state. In ������������������������������
the year 2019, the number was 29.33 per cent. In the cur- ��������������������������������
rent year, the number dropped to 23.08 lakh. ����������������������������������
������������������������������������
������������� ������������������������������������
The year 2020 was the year of the Covid-19 pandemic ���������������������������������
and economic activities had been affected badly in the �����������������������������������
state. But some of the indicators came up with bright ������������������������������
lights and helped the people of the state in pandemic �����������������������������������
times. In FY-2019-20, more vehicles were sold and the �������������������������������������
growth rate was around 9.52 per cent. In the previous �����������������������������������
year 2018-19, 16,361 vehicles were sold, which in- �������������������������������
creased to 17,918 in the current year.
����������������������������������
�������������������������������������
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������������������
�������
The Congress MLAs staged
walk out from the assembly
on the Sidhi bus accident
issue on Monday. The road
transport minister, Govind
Singh Rajput, said that the
bus was running on valid
papers, it had an NOC and
also life insurance cover.
Congress MLA Kamlesh-
war Patel brought a call-at-
tention motion on the acci-
dent. On February 16, the
bus, heading towards Satna
from Sidhi, fell into the
Bansagar canal. In the ac-
cident, 54 people, including
23 women and three chil-
dren, died.
Congress MLA Patel de-
manded an ex gratia
amount of Rs 1 crore and
government job for one of
the family members of the
deceased. Patel blamed
the traffic jam at Chuhiya
Ghat and overloading of
the vehicle for the acci-
dent. He raised the issue
of the roads of the area
being in a state of disre-
pair and carelessness of
the police and local ad-
ministration.
The former Speaker, NP
the buses running in his ju-
risdiction.
The former minister, PC
Sharma, stated that, if Vya-
pam had established the
exam centre in Sidhi, most
of the lives would have
been saved because many
of them were going to ap-
pear in the ANM exam. He
demanded a judicial in-
quiry into the matter.
Former minister Dr
Govind Singh stated that
the police were busy in va-
cating the houses, securing
mines and helping officers
to run their ‘organisation’.
BJP MLA Yashpal Sisodia
suggested that the govern-
ment help the families to
take the insurance claim
from the company. He
added that the families
were not capable of filing a
case in the court and the in-
surance companies did not
pay the amount to the vic-
tims’ families.
Road transport minister
Govind Singh Rajput said
that an inquiry was under
process and after the report
the government was going
to take strict action against
the people who had been
careless.
Dr Govind Singh and oth-

Wrap up inquiry of Shri Grih Spurious catechu unit busted, owner held
Prajapati, asked to register er Congress MLAs staged a
a case against the police sta- walk-out from the Assem-

Nirman Samiti in 2 days:

tion in-charge of the area bly protesting that their de-
because he had failed to mands had not been accept-
������������������ and others. check the overloading in ed by the government.
Collector to officials ������ The factory is owned by
Mohan Mandora, resident
Ujjain: Collector Asheesh Singh on Monday for disposal of A joint-team of Crime of Jalgaon in Maharash-
long pending complaints convened a T-L meeting. Collec- Branch and food safety offi- tra, who was arrested by
tor instructs to conduct enquiry in the matter of Shri Grih cers busted a spurious cat- the team. The accused was
Nirman Samiti and asked the officials to prepare report echu (kattha) manufactur- supplying the spurious
within 2 days and for other pending complaints he gave ing unit in Lasudia police kattha to Gujarat, Maha-
necessary instructions to officials. Collector also instruct- station area on Monday rashtra, Rajasthan, Ja-
ed SDM to take up frequent inspection to curb overloading and arrested the owner. balpur, Katni, and other
problem in buses and penalise the defaulters. Collector in- The accused was prepar- districts of MP.
structed him to cancel the license of adamant bus opera- ing kattha by adding harm- The team has seized
tors. Collector also instructed to resolve complaints on ful chemicals and was also goods worth Rs 10 lakh
priority which are registered with CM Helpline portal. selling illegal country- from the scene and the ac-
During the meeting ADM Narendra Suryavanshi, addi- made liquor from there. cused informed that he has
tional collector Avi Prasad, Zila Panchayat CEO Ankit Under the guidance of been working for the last
Asthana, Smart City Project CEO Jitendrasingh Chouhan ASP (Crime) Guruprasad tries in Panal Compound by using chemicals like five years. Police and food
and other concerned officials were present Parashar, crime branch in Lasudia Mori where potassium metabisul- safety officers taking fur-
team raided Balaji Indus- spurious kattha was made phate, tritanium dioxide ther actions in the matter.
�������������
AAP to field candidates in all 54 wards
��������������������������������������������������������������
St Arnold students want Guest scholars remind CM,
���������������������������������������������������������������
���������������� online exam option Scindia of their promises,
�����������������
��������������
����������
������������������
������
reached the school premises
and sought an option of online
demand employment
��������������� examination. As per the ������������������
���������� After St Paul’s School and St school’s schedule, examina- �������
���������������� Raphael’s School, which were tions are set to begin from
����������������� hell-bent on conducting exams Tuesday. The Guest Scholars’ Association has reminded
������������������������������������������������������������ in offline mode despite rise in However, school representa- Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP
��������������������������������� Covid-19 cases, softened their tive Father Pious said, “We Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia of their
stand after intervention of col- have not scheduled online ex- promises they made when they were protesting in
Executive panel of Jain lector Manish Singh, students aminations from tomorrow, but Shahjehani Park last year.
social group take oath of St Arnold’s School staged a
protest in front of the school
we will consider that as an op-
tion after offline examinations
Addressing the media, state convener of the as-
sociation Surjit Singh Bhadauria said that, when
���������������������������������������������������������
seeking an option for online ex- are complete. Out of 250 stu- Shivraj was in the Opposition, he had come to the
����������������������������������������������������������
amination. dents, barely 10 students are protest venue and had said that these guest schol-
���������������������������������������������������������������
On Sunday, the collector had against offline exams, the re- ars are not common people picked up randomly
��������������
warned St Paul’s School and St maining have given their con- but they are selected through due process.
������������
Raphael’s School against con- sent and will be attending the “We’ll fight tooth and nail till all guest scholars are
������������
ducting exams in offline mode examination in offline mode, as taken back in jobs,” Shivraj had said at the venue. The
���������������
because Covid-19 cases are on scheduled.” Guest Scholars’ Association also took out the tweets
������������
the rise again, and had also Previously, parents along of Chouhan and demonstrated before the media.
������������
warned the principals of the with public representatives “Why is there now a change in the attitude of
�����������
two schools that FIRs would be had complained to the collector Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had vowed to take
�����������������������������������������������������������
lodged against them if Covid-19 that St Paul’s and St Raphael’s us back in the system?” asked convener Bhadau-
���������������������������������������������������������������
cases rise in the school due to schools are conducting exams ria. There are around 600 guest scholars who are
�����������������������������������������������������������
the offline exam. in offline mode even when the still out of a job for the past more than 13
����������������������������������������������������������
In view of this development, coronavirus cases are against months. Not only the scholars, but their fami-
�������������������������������������������������������������
students along with some par- increasing. lies, too, are suffering and are on the verge of
ent They had stated that chances breaking down, he said.
of children getting infected The higher education department has more

NEED felicitates corona warriors will increase if school man-

agements stuck to their deci-
sion of holding exams in of-
than 450 vacancies and arrangements for only 150
scholars had to be made. The association had giv-
en a workable formula for adjustment of these 150
��������������� fline mode. people, said Bhadauria.
������

A felicitation ceremony for

the Covid-19 warriors, food
officers and social organi-
sations of the city were
held at Vikram Kirti
Mandir. This event was or-
ganized by the Need-A
Blood Donation Group Uj-
jain on the sixth death an-
niversary of late Anil
Choubey.
The sanitation workers,
health department doctors,
nurses and social groups
were honoured for their
service towards the needy
during the pandemic. The
group president Ankit
Choubey said that the cere-
mony was inaugurated by
lighting of a lamp by the
chief guest of the pro-
gramme, senior organiser
of the VHP Braj Kishore
Bhargava and special guest
MP Pharmacy Council
president Om Jain.
It was presided over by
���������������������������������������������������������������
Ujjain North MLA Paras
Jain. Ex-president of the
Ujjain Municipal Corpo-
ration, Sonu Gehlot, BJP
city president Vivek
Joshi, VHP president
Ashok Jain Chaiwala and
Bajrang Dal convener Ma-
hesh Anjana were present
on stage.
Those who were feted in-
clude ex-ADM GS Davar,
senior physician Dr HP So-
nania, senior social worker
Prakash Chittora, Seva
Dham Ashram chief Sud-
hir Bhai Goyal, Jathedar
Surendra Singh Arora of
Sikh society, VHP, ISKCON
Temple, Radhaswami Sat-
sang, Rail Diet Committee,
Madhya Pradesh and as
many as 122 organisations
and social workers were ho-
noured.• Disabled Assis-
tance Committee, Chamun-
da Mata Mandir Committee
were also felicitated.
The event was conducted
by Sudarshan Aayachit and
Ankit Choubey delivered
the vote of thanks.•
6 EDIT
INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021
FREE PRESS
FOR FREE FLOW OF TRUTH
Nationwide vaccination
key to economic growth
T T
he economy may now be ready to return to the
normal growth path with the latest quarter fig-
ures coming in just when the nation-wide vac-
cination drive to immunise the people against the
Covid-19 virus got underway. A lot is also riding on
the success of the vaccination drive for the economy
to build on further from the 0.4 per cent growth in
the third quarter of the current financial year, after
two quarters of big contraction. Gross value added
(GVA) grew by one per cent in the last quarter. Sim-
ply put, all things considered, the worst seems to be
behind us. After 15.9 per cent contraction in the first
half of 2020-21, growth is expected to flatten out in
the second half, as per the advanced estimates. With-
out doubt, the main driver is stepped up government
expenditure, not only on pandemic-related activity
but in boosting demand and employment in key sec-
tors such as construction, roads, highways, etc. Even
the private real estate sector is returning to the
growth path, thanks to benign interest rates, incen-
tives offered by developers to offload pending inven-
tory and sops by banks to boost credit in the rela-
tively secure middle-and-upper-income segments. A
number of state governments have helped by lower-
ing the circle rates for land, as also the stamp duty on
property registration. Farm sector is another bea-
con of hope, growing about four per cent in the last
quarter and set to record three per cent growth in the
full year. A good monsoon, high crop yields and food
inflation boosted rural incomes. Maybe one reason
for the sluggish response elsewhere in the country to
the protest by Punjab farmers over the farm legisla-
tions has been the good crop this year. Still, it will
help if the government on its own made the gesture,
suspended the implementation of reforms till after
the Supreme Court-appointed panel of experts sub-
mitted its report. Sullen and angry farmers in a key
state do not help anyone. Back to the growth num-
bers. Manufacturing too was back on track, record-
ing 1.6 per cent in the third quarter, suppressed de-
mand due to prolonged lockdowns finding a release
after the graded opening. The sector is set to regain
normalcy, though new pressure points in creeping
protectionism and high fuel prices could prove a
drag. The case for reducing taxes on fuel both by the
Centre and the states remains strong, especially
when relatively moderate prices of energy can boost
growth and arrest inflationary pressures in the econ-
omy. As it is, fears of inflation are beginning to
spook share markets. Rising bond yields too are a
negative pointer. High energy and food prices would
inevitably cause the Central bank to step in to hon-
our the commitment to hold the consumer inflation
within the 4-6 per cent band. In turn, a higher bank
rate would have a negative impact on growth. Given
that the informal sector was still reeling under the
devastating effect of the pandemic, small businesses,
which employ an inordinately large number of peo-
ple, will suffer further if steps are not taken to revive
them. Of course, a lot depends on the success of the
vaccination program which got underway on March
1.
Despite several hitches reported in the working of
the online registration for taking the jabs, it is hoped
that the countrywide operation will succeed in re-
moving the fear of the virus. At a minimum, a third
of the population needs to be vaccinated before we
can attain herd immunity. States like Kerala and Ma-
harashtra, which are in the grip of a resurgence, can
avoid lockdowns only if the immunisation pro-
gramme is implemented smoothly. Happily, the price
of the vaccine is unlikely to prove a dampener,
though state governments ought to give it completely
free to the poorer sections, on a priority basis. Poor
people everywhere have suffered the most in the pan-
demic, having lost their livelihoods and accounting
for a high percentage of the Covid-19 infections. It is
important that growth regains momentum at the ear-
liest. Government spending will need to drive
growth not only in the current financial year but the
next as well. Fortunately, the government faucet re-
mains wide open, set to release Rs 6 lakh crores in
subsidies alone in the current financial year. Under
the circumstances, reluctance to cut fuel levies may
be better appreciated.
FPJ ARCHIVES
FEBRUARY 5, 1963
CHINESE SET UP INFORMATION
SQUADS IN TIBET
The FPJ News Service
GANGTOK, Feb. 4: The Chinese Communist Party unit in Tibet
has recently set up "peoples information squads" to "enlighten
people about the progress achieved under the people's regime
and to expose the designs of the imperialists".
A number of the Chinese-trained Tibet an youths have been taken
in these squads which will likely ve in the towns and villages in
Tibet and address people's rallies. Every Tibet an has to attend
compulsorily such rallies which are generally addressed by the
local bosses of the Communist Party.
The necessity to from such squads is understood to be the
eagerness of the Chinese to enlist real cooperation from the
Tibetans in their war preparations against India.
Letters should be limited to 150 words and must be sent via e-mail. Letters may be edited for clarity or space.
The ‘idea of India’ seems to be in peril
State of the Union
ASHUTOSH
he results of the forthcoming elec-
tions to four state assemblies and
one Union Territory will have a
momentous impact on the political his-
tory of the country, particularly if the
BJP manages to retain Assam and wins
West Bengal. The BJP has very low
stakes or a marginal presence in Tamil
Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. In Tamil
Nadu, the BJP is riding piggyback on the
AIADMK and even if the AIADMK al-
liance wins, not much credit will be giv-
en to the BJP. In Kerala, the BJP has no
chance of turning the tables and emerg-
ing victorious.
Similarly, it has a negligible presence
in Puducherry. But in Assam, the BJP
has its government. And retaining that
government will be a huge challenge.
In West Bengal, the BJP was a margin-
al player in the 2014 parliamentary
elections and in the 2016 assembly elec-
tions as well. In fact, in the 2014 elec-
tions, the BJP had got only 16 per cent
votes, despite riding on the huge Modi
wave and afterwards, slipped to 10 per
cent of the vote share in the assembly
elections in 2016.
Since 2014, the political landscape in
the country has changed. A new para-
digm has engulfed the nation and a lot of
water has flown under the bridge. Fun-
damental changes have taken root in the
body politic of the country. Now, the
hegemony of the Congress system has
collapsed and is being replaced by the
BJP’s overpowering presence. Its domi-
nance is robust, and the Congress is ly-
ing in the pits. On the one hand, while
the Congress is struggling to retain its
presence as a serious national party in
Parliament and the state legislatures, the
BJP on the other, has improved its tally
in the Lok Sabha and pocketed new fron-
tiers for itself.
The Congress has, in the past, lost elec-
tions many times but the basic ethos of
politics remained more or less the same.
Today, the political consensus which was
arrived at during the freedom struggle
and continued afterwards, has been bro-
ken. The broader framework of that con-
sensus encompassed adherence to secu-
ONE FLEW OVER THE NEST
"If a couple is living together as man and wife, the husband may be a brutal man, but can you call the act of sexual intercourse a rape?"
asked Chief Justice of India SA Bobde on Monday while hearing a case of alleged rapeRadhika Roy
@royradhika7
Marriage does not entail blanket consent to sexual intercourse. You do not become the property of your husband, to be treated as he
pleases. How is this still be up for discussion ?
@royradhika7
"If a couple is living together as man and wife, the husband may be a brutal man, but can you call the act of sexual intercourse a rape?"
asked Chief Justice of India SA Bobde on Monday while hearing a case of alleged rapeRadhika Roy
VJ@VJ290481
No, it is not up for discussion. What gives men the idea that marriage entails unlimited access to sexual intercourse as they desire?
Avijit Saxena@avijitsaxena87
While sexual intercourse in a marriage without the consent of wife should be labelled as marital rape, the real question is - how will you
establish consent, or the lack of it, within s bedroom where there is no other witness?
Former Bhakt@bhakt_former
Going ahead, some economists see the continuation of a K-shaped recovery, as against the govt’s claim of a V-shaped one
Economy’s out of recession,
but not out of the woods
Comment
A L I CHOUGULE
A
fter contracting as much as 15.8 per cent in
the April to September period of FY ’21 – a
24.4 per cent fall in the first quarter and a
7.3 per cent slide in the July to September quarter
(revised data) – due to the Covid-19 pandemic and
national and regional lockdowns, economists had
predicted that the GDP growth would see a mar-
ginal expansion in the October-to-December
quarter. Therefore, after two consecutive quar-
ters of a waterfall-like slide, the data for the third
quarter released by the National Statistical Or-
ganisation (NSO) on February 27 did not come as
a surprise, as gross domestic product for Q3 re-
turned to year-on-year growth, although of a
small magnitude and on a low base, thus putting
an end to India’s technical recession.
While the GDP was expected to return to positive
territory, there was uncertainty about the extent of
steady recovery, which had begun in the last quar-
ter. According to average estimates of 10 econo-
mists polled by Bloomberg, the GDP was expected
to grow 0.5 per cent in the third quarter. State Bank
of India’s chief economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh
had projected the GDP growth to be around 0.3 per
cent, based on the bank’s ‘SBI Nowcasting Model’.
The rating agency ICRA had estimated a rise of 0.7
per cent, while DBS Bank predicted the third quar-
terly growth to be at 1.7 per cent. The NSO data
shows India’s Q3 GDP growth rate was in line with
expectations: a marginal rise at 0.4 per cent, reaf-
firming that the economy has managed to exit the
pandemic-led slump by 2020-end.
However, the GDP for the current financial year
is expected to contract by a slightly bigger margin
of 8 per cent, according to the government’s offi-
cial updated forecast. The first advanced esti-
mates had forecast a 7.7 per cent contraction. This
means a deeper decline in full-year GDP, implying
a 1.1 per cent contraction in the January-to-
March quarter. The note of caution is that all pro-
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful
lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.
lar values, respect for the democratic
ethos, autonomy of the constitutional in-
stitutions, a culture of debate and dis-
cussion, the tradition of inclusion of all
and exclusion of none, the inculcation of
a scientific temper and a promise to
build a modern nation-state, where the
rule of law was to be supreme. Some peo-
ple call it the ‘Nehruvian consensus’ and
others name it the ‘idea of India’.
Today that ‘idea of India’ seems to be in For the old
profound danger, waiting to be replaced consensus,
by an ‘alternative idea’.
history was a
This ‘alternative idea’ has its contours
drawn but is yet to be examined by the fu- guiding force, a
torchbearer for
ture, to ascertain if it is deep enough to
build a new consensus and survive as the future, but
many years as the old one. If the old con- the new
sensus was rooted in a grand old civilisa- consensus seeks
tion, based on compassion and diversity,
the new one, in its DNA has disregard for
revenge on the
the pluralism and its edifice is built on past. In its
proclamation to
hate. It believes in the superiority of one
tradition and within that tradition, the discover the old
paramountcy of the select few. Exclu- and ancient, it
sion, not inclusion is the rule. has heaped
For the old consensus, history was a
guiding force, a torchbearer for the future
disdain on its
glorious
but the new consensus seeks revenge on
tradition; the
the past. In its proclamation to discover
the old and ancient, it has heaped disdain multi-
on its glorious tradition; the multi-di- dimensional
mensional approach to address multi-lay- approach to
ered history has been reduced to simple
formulae, facts have been fictionalised to address
multi-layered
suit its narrative and it has succeeded in
history has been
brainwashing a larger audience for the
construction of a utopia. reduced to
This idea seems to be winning as of simple formulae,
now. Democratic institutions have been
crumbling, the pillars of the Constitu-
facts have been
tion have surrendered to the executive fictionalised to
suit its narrative
and the majoritarian view prevails over
the rest. Parliament has been reduced to and it has
one party and the party has submerged succeeded in
into one entity; that entity is the law and brainwashing a
the government; his views are unwritten
Constitution. In the majoritarian view,
larger audience
the rule of the majority is sovereign, and for the
construction
the minority should not complain about
its numerical inadequacy. of a utopia.
Within this framework the BJP takes
great pride that it has successfully neu-
#ConsentInMaritalSex
jections are conditional on the pace of virus in-
fections remaining in check. The latest figures for
the third quarter also show that the manufactur-
ing sector, which had registered a 1.5 per cent de-
cline in the second quarter, grew by 1.6 per cent in
Q3. As expected, the agriculture sector, which
stood out in the previous two quarters, continued
its growth run, to register a 3.9 per cent expan-
sion. Agriculture was the rare bright spot that
had expanded 3 per cent each in the previous two
quarters as well.
However, private consumption expenditure,
which is a measure of the crucial consumer de-
mand, continued to contract, falling by 2.3 per
cent in Q3, though the extent of contraction re-
duced from the second quarter when it had
shrunk 11 per cent. Government spending, on the
other hand, also fell in the latest quarter. While
the economy has managed to snap out of reces-
sion and the government feels the positive growth
rate was a sign of revival to pre-pandemic times,
the economy, the government admitted, is still not
out of the woods. This calls for, according to ex-
perts, continued fiscal and monetary measures to
support the fragile economy. So, what are the key
takeaways from the latest GDP data?
The NSO data is a mix of many positives and
some negatives. Festival-led consumption and
pent-up demand should have helped the economy
expand higher than 0.4 per cent. But this has not
happened and consumer confidence continues to
be low. The revised growth estimates for the full
fiscal at minus 8 per cent, against the RBI’s esti-
mates of minus 7.5 per cent, also suggests slower-
than-expected growth in manufacturing and
services sectors. While the manufacturing sector
has revived and expanded by 1.6 per cent from the
same period a year ago, after contracting 1.5 per
cent in the earlier quarter and agriculture con-
tinues on its growth trajectory, financial and real
estate sectors have also seen a growth of 6.6 per
cent; in the last quarter. This category had seen a
dismal performance, contracting 9.5 per cent.
Consumer spending, a key indicator of domes-
tic demand in a consumption-driven economy,
continued to fall, although the pace of decline has
slowed. A 2.4 decline in consumer spending in a
crucial festive quarter suggests that a rebound in
E-mail: fpindore@gmail.com
― DR SEUSS
ter Kashmir, Assam is their next target.
They have been successfully flooding As-
sam, Tripura and the rest of Bengal
since long.”
Golwalkar indicates that the presence
of Muslims in large numbers in Kash-
mir, Assam and West Bengal is a direct
threat to the nation. If Jammu and Kash-
mir is a Muslim-majority Union Territo-
ry, then Assam has more than 30 per cent
Muslims and in West Bengal, their num-
ber is 27 per cent of the population. In
Kashmir, remedial steps have been taken,
tralised the minorities, mainly Muslims. Art 370 has been abrogated, the state has
It brags that the politics of Hindutva been split into two and has been reduced
have changed the electoral bargaining to a Union Territory.
power of the Muslims. For the party, the In Assam, the BJP succeeded in form-
concern for the minority by the earlier ing the government in 2016 and the
governments is equal to appeasement of process of identification of the
Muslims and is reverse communalism, Bangladeshi migrants, who, in their
which poses inherent dangers to natural opinion, are mostly Muslims, began in
security. the name of the NRC but the task is still
There is no denying the fact that the incomplete. Assam was the first state
Prime Minister has propounded a new slo- where the anti-CAA and NRC protest
gan after 2019 – Sabka saath, sabka vikaas, erupted majorly, followed by the other
sabka vishwaas (Every one’s support, states. So, despite the massive resent-
everyone’s development, everyone’s ment, if the BJP wins Assam again, then
trust). Everyone’s trust was added to it will be an indicator of the fact that the
counter the mounting criticism that the victory of the Hindutva forces was not a
government does not trust minorities. But fluke earlier and that it has a deeper res-
the same did not reflect on the ground. onance in the society.
The abrogation of Article 370, passing Ideologically, like Assam, West Bengal
of the citizenship law, the brutal crack- has to be a very high priority state for the
down on the Shaheen Bagh protest, the followers of Hindutva. But till 2019, it
demonisation of the Tablighi Jamaat failed to make inroads into the state.
during the pandemic, the random mis- Now, after winning 18 parliamentary
use of sedition laws against Muslims seats and attaining 40 per cent of the vote
and the promulgation of the Love Jihad share, it has tasted blood. The unprece-
Act in different BJP-ruled states belies dented aggression displayed by the BJP
the claim of the government. The Mus- and its leaders vis a vis the Mamata
lim minority today virtually lives in fear. Banerjee government, is propelled by
The Hindutva ideology sees them as the the rigour of the conviction, soaked in
enemies of the state, and they are re- Hindutva. A victory in West Bengal will
ferred to as ‘cockroaches’ and ‘termites’ provide an ‘ideological opportunity’ to
by the top leaders. ‘stop the spread of the menace’, ‘deci-
This thought flows from the writings of mate enemies of the nation’ and correct
the second chief of the RSS, M S Gol- the wrongs of history.
walkar, who identified them as one of the And if the BJP could win both Assam
enemies of India. In his book, ‘Bunch of and West Bengal, then it could easily be
Thoughts’ he writes, “It would be suici- said that Hindutva has far greater trac-
dal to delude ourselves into believing tion than is normally assumed, that it has
that they have turned patriots overnight perfected the art of majoritarian politics
after the creation of the Pakistan. On the and governance and that their unfin-
contrary, the Muslim menace has in- ished civilisational project is on the
creased a hundred-fold by the creation ‘right’ track, in which Muslims will have
which has become a springboard for all no other option than to forfeit their polit-
their future aggressive designs on our ical space and live like a second-grade cit-
country.” izens for a long time to come.
He further writes, “The second front of
their aggression is increasing their num- The writer is an author and Editor,
bers in strategic areas of our country. Af- SatyaHindi.com
LETTERS
TUESDAY'S SWIPE TO THE
EDITOR
Catch-22
Ref.: ‘Auto-rickshaw,
taxi drivers
apprehensive about fare
hike’ (March 1). A couple
of months ago, when the
auto and taxi unions
approached the
government for
assistance, they were
offered a fare hike. In
view of the pandemic,
however, the unions had
protested and refused
the offer. They were
aware of the loss of jobs
which had led to
lessened demand. What
they wanted was some
sort of waiver on vehicle
loans. Almost a year
later, the economic
situation is no better, so
where do they stand
today? Their arguments
make sense. If there is
no demand, they are
looking at financial ruin.
The question is, who
benefits from this fare
private demand is still some time away and may hike? It’s not the autos or
impact the overall economic scenario in the near-
to-medium term. Similarly, government spending
continued to decline at 1.1 per cent, although the
taxi drivers or the public.
Apparently, this fare hike
is being forced on the
pace of decline has slowed. Gross fixed capital unions. It’s a ‘Catch-22’
formation, a measure of investment demand, ex- situation for them.
panded 2.6 per cent, which is a sharp recovery af- Melville X D'Souza
ter a 6.7 per cent and 46 per cent contraction in the
second and first quarters of the current fiscal, re-
spectively.
Although a bit lower than expectations, the fact
Pink-ball outings
that the economy did move into the green in Q3, While T-20s and ODIs
indicates that the measures taken by the govern- make life hell for the
ment to contain the spread of the virus have had bowlers, Test matches of
a positive impact on growth. Going ahead, some late, especially the pink-
economists see the continuation of a K-shaped re- ball, D/N Test matches
covery, as against the government’s claim of a V- come like a whiff of
shaped recovery, with some sectors growing fresh air for them. How
faster than others. But there is also a cause for many times have we seen
concern in view of the virus raising its ugly head bowlers toil on flat
once again in some states, causing a spike in dai- batting pitches and
ly cases over the past two weeks. While some ex- batsmen making merry
perts see the economy reaching the pre-pandem- on these surfaces, with
ic output levels by the end of 2021, others are not no result after five days.
so optimistic and see a full recovery not before Most batsmen’s
mid-2022. This is because while big businesses techniques are found
have almost returned to their normal potential, wanting on pink ball Test
the real pain is in the informal sector – the SMEs match surfaces, like a
– where millions of jobs have been lost and pro- deer in the headlights. To
duction levels are yet to pick up. prevail on this surface,
So, does GDP growth in Q3 call for celebration? batsmen must use
Not really, but one should be happy about the techniques like taking
many positives. The Indian economy is a large off-stump guard, try to
and complex economy, with a sizable unorgan-
ised sector. Therefore, the revision of GDP num-
play off-breaks outside
the line of off-stump in
bers is not a rare occurrence. Q1 and Q2 GDP order to take LBW out of
numbers of the current fiscal have been revised – the equation against
one up, the other down – and it is possible that the spinning balls and must
Q3 numbers could also see an upward or down- use their feet to smother
ward revision because, as the NSO has said, the spinning ball and also
“Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the eco- use their backfoot game,
nomic activities as well as data collection mecha- allowing a bit of extra
nism…Estimates are, therefore, likely to undergo time to adjust to the
sharp revisions for the aforesaid cause in due turn and bounce.
course, as per the release calendar.” So, the pic- Twilight is the crucial
ture is far from unambiguous. period for the batsmen in
such matches.
The author is an independent senior journalist. V Nagendra Kumar
ED quizzes Maha Min Kadam's wife
MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is questioning Swapnali Bhosale, wife of Maharashtra Minister Vishwajeet Kadam in
connection with its probe in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case, officials said. According to senior ED officials,
Swapnali joined the financial probe agency investigation on Monday afternoon at its office here. The ED had summoned Bhosale in
the last week of January. The ED had earlier questioned her mother Gauri Bhosale and brother Amit Bhosale in February this year.
NATION 7 FREE PRESS
TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021 | INDORE

News from South NATION BEGINS SECOND PHASE OF COVID-19 VACCINE COVERAGE

PM, VP AMONG BIG NAMES TO GET FIRST JABS

A large number of people stage a protest against the

alleged murder of a 17-year-old Dalit girl, who was found
dead at a field at Akrabad, in Aligarh, on Monday PTI

Rly scam: CBI books ex-SWR

senior divisional engineer
BENGALURU: The CBI on Monday registered a
case against former senior divisional engineer of
Hubballi of South Western Railway and others in
connection with alleged fake payments to a
contractor. The work was relating to providing
additional height gauge in Road under Bridge, the
CBI said in a statement. According to the agency,
an old dismantled structural steel of unmanned
level cross height gauges were allegedly used for
the work and no structural steel was purchased,
though the contractor received payments.
‘Sanitiser booths’ set up
in Kerala schools
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid increasing
COVID-19 cases in Kerala, over 300 government
and aided schools across the state have got
'sanitiserbooths' to ensure the hygiene and safety
of students. The booths, installed at the entrance
of each school, are equipped with sensor-
AGENCIES
New Delhi
India expanded its Covid-19 vac-
cine coverage on Monday by in-
cluding everyone over 60 and those
aged between 45-59 who have co-
morbidities in the net with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi setting
the pace by being the first person to
take a jab.
Thousands of people queued up
at government and private medical
facilities across the country as the
country further opened its vacci-
nation programme that started on
January 16 for healthcare and san-
itary workers.
Amid reports of glitches and
some people saying they were find-
ing it difficult to navigate the Co-
WIN 2.0 app to register and book an
appointment, the Union Health
ministry clarified to say the app on
Play Store is meant for use only by
administrators. Registration and
booking for appointments has to be
done through the portal, it said.
More than one million citizens
were registered on the Co-WIN por-
tal till 1 pm, the ministry said.
Though registration opened at 9
am, the prime minister was the
first off the block. He visited the
All India Institute of Medical Sci-
ences (AIIMS) early in the morning
to take his first dose and appeal to
everyone eligible to get themselves
inoculated.
"Took my first dose of the Covid-
19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable
how our doctors and scientists
have worked in quick time to
strengthen the global fight against
Covid-19," Modi tweeted at 7.06 am.
"I appeal to all those who are eli-
gible to take the vaccine. Together,
let us make India Covid-19 free!" he
said.
He received the indigenously de-
veloped Covaxin vaccine from
Bharat Biotech. The other vaccine
being administered in the country
is Covishield from the Oxford-As-
traZeneca stable.
Modi's move to take the first dose
of Covid-19 vaccine on the very
first day of India opening up the in-
oculation drive should eliminate
any hesitancy from the minds of
people about the vaccine, AIIMS
chief Dr Randeep Guleria said He
said AIIMS was informed about the
prime minister's visit to the hospi-
tal to take the vaccine only late
Sunday night.
"As it was a week day, he chose to
come early in the morning so as
not to cause any inconvenience to
patients at the hospital," Guleria
told PTI. The AIIMS director said
Modi took the shot around 6.30 am
and was kept under observation for
half-and-hour as per protocol and
left after that. His second dose is
due after 28 days "He is fine after
taking the vaccine," Guleria said.
Sister P Niveda, from Puducher-
ry, administered the shot and was
informed only in in the morning.
She told reporters that the prime
minister, after being administered
the vaccine shot, remarked, "Laga
bhi diya, pata bhi nahin chala (Al-
ready done? I didn't even feel it)."
The other nurse, Rosamma Anil, is
from Kerala and said it was the
happiest day of her life.
"Because our Prime Minister
Modiji came to our AIIMS hospital
for taking vaccine," she said.
As the vaccination programme
got underway in other places
across the country with hopes that
it would help control the the uptick
in cases in several states, Vice Pres-
ident M Venkaiah Naidu, Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and
his Odisha counterpart Naveen
Patnaik also received their shots.
In keeping with the electoral prom-
ise by the BJP-led NDA ahead of
the recent elections in the state,
Kumar said vaccines will be pro-
vided free to everybody.

8-PHASE POLLS IN BENGAL Expect sultry, Saradha chit fund: ED summons

integrated automatic machines that will dispense
sanitiser to the students and others, official sources
here said. It is an initiative of the vocational higher
secondary education (VHSE) unit of the National
sweltering Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh
Service Scheme (NSS), under the state General
Education Department (GED), they added.
CHALLENGED IN SC summer: IMD NEW DELHI/KOLKATA According to ED sources,
DMK to release election AGENCIES come up for hearing in few AGENCIES Ghosh, a former Tri-
New Delhi days, also seeks a direction New Delhi Ahead of the high-octane namool Congress MP, had
manifesto on March 7 to the CBI to register an assembly elections in West allegedly received funds
CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) A plea challenging the FIR into the alleged chanti- Day temperatures are likely to be Bengal, the Enforcement from the Saradha group to
president MK Stalin on Monday expressed Election Commission's de- ng of religious slogans above normal in north, northeast, Directorate (ED) has sum- head its media unit.
confidence of forming the next government and cision to conduct assembly during electioneering in parts of east and west India, the In- moned Trinamool Con- Ghosh was earlier inter-
announced that the party will be releasing its elections over eight phases West Bengal. dia Meteorological Department gress leader and spokesper- rogated by the agency in
manifesto for the upcoming state elections and in West Bengal was filed in The chanting of "Jai Shri (IMD) said Monday in its summer son Kunal Ghosh for ques- connection with the case in
party's vision for Tamil Nadu. The state is set to the Supreme Court on Ram, other religious slo- forecast for March to May. tioning in connection with July 2019 and in October
go to polls on April 6 and results will be Monday. assembly elections to be gans are creating dishar- However, it has forecast a likeli- its probe into the Saradha 2013.
announced on May 2. "Within 2 months there's The plea, filed by lawyer held in West Bengal, As- mony" and is an offence hood of below normal tempera- Chit Fund money launder- An ED source said that
going to be a change in the government and M L Sharma, seeks the sam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu under the IPC and the Rep- tures in south and adjoining central ing case, officials said. the agency is probing the
people are eagerly waiting for. We have planned apex court's direction to and in Puducherry. resentation of the People India. An ED official related to flow of funds which Ghosh
to make Tamil Nadu become advanced in the next the poll panel to stop it While the Trinamool Act, 1951, the plea said. "During the upcoming hot weather the probe told IANS, had allegedly received
10 years," said Stalin. from conducting eight- Congress Party-led West "Whether using a season (March to May), above nor- "Ghosh has been asked to from the Saradha group
phase elections in the state Bengal will have elections provocative religious slo- mal seasonal maximum (day) tem- join the investigation at its and also the money laun-
435 IIM-B'lore students as it violates Article 14 over eight rounds from gan 'Jai Shri Ram' is for peratures are likely over most of the Kolkata office on March 2 dering angle.
(right to life) and Article 21 March 27-April 29, polling electoral benefits as well as subdivisions of north, northwest at 11 am." The Saradha scam came
get placement offers (right to life) of the Consti- in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and others is not violated and northeast India, few subdivi- He said that Ghosh's to light in April 2013 and is
BENGALURU: All the graduating students of the tution. Puducherry will be held in S.123(3) & 125 of the Repre- sions from eastern and western parts statement will be recorded estimated at over Rs 10,000
state-run Indian Institute of Management (IIM-B) On February 26, the Elec- one phase on April 6 and in sentation of the People Act, of central India and few coastal sub- under the Prevention of crore. The ED has filed a
got placement offers from global reputed firms, an tion Commission an- Assam over three phases. 1951," reads the legal ques- divisions of north peninsular India," Money Laundering Act case on the basis of the
official said on Monday. "All the 435 students of the nounced the schedule for The plea, which may tion raised in the plea. the forecast said. (PMLA). CBI's FIR.
2019-21 PGP class in our institute got 481 offers
and have been placed after campus interviews in

Govt's silence hints at plan TN should show the way to

which they have done well despite Covid-induced
disruptions," said IIM-B career development
services chairman U Dinesh Kumar in a statement

India in keeping out BJP: RG

here. The 2-year Post-Graduate Programme in

against farmers’ stir: Tikait

Management (PGP) is a master's level course for
Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

RSP declares first list of KANYAKUMARI

AGENCIES against the agitation." Howev-
candidates for Kerala polls Bijnor er, Tikait said farmers will not Tamil Nadu should show the way to India
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The step back till a solution is in keeping away forces that are inimical to
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), an ally of the BKU leader Rakesh Tikait has found. language and culture and those projecting
Congress-led opposition in Kerala, on Monday claimed that the Centre's "si- "The farmer is also ready. He "one culture, one nation and one history"
became the first political outfit to come out with lence" for the past few days in- will look after his crop as well concept, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
the first list of three candidates for the Assembly dicates that it is planning as the agitation. Let the gov- said on Monday.
elections in the state scheduled to be held on some steps against the farm- ernment hold talks when it The Lok Sabha MP participated in multi-
April 6. The first list includes some heavyweights ers' agitation over newly en- has the time," he said. ple engagements in this district as part of
in two former state ministers -- Babu Divakaran acted agriculture laws. Tikait also said farmers' his three-day tour of Tamil Nadu, ahead of
(2001-06) who will contest from Eravipuram, and He also stressed that it is the "mahapanchayats" will be the April 6 Assembly polls in the state
Shibhu Baby John (2011-16) who will contest the government that will have to Kisan Union (BKU) leader told held at several places in the which his party is facing in alliance with Rahul Gandhi does push-ups with a school student
Chavara seat. The party's losing candidate in the come forward with a proposal reporters in Bijnor's Afzal- country till March 24. When the M K Stalin-led DMK. obliging her challenge, at Mulagumoodu, Tamil Nadu PTI
2016 polls, Ullas Kovoor, will contest from for talks to resume with the garh, "The government's si- asked about the violence dur- If he were to interview Prime Minister
Kunnathur, all in Kollam district. protesting farmers. lence for the past 15-20 days is ing a tractor parade on the Re- Narendra Modi, Gandhi said he would ask Narayanasamy threatens
Before leaving for Uttarak- indicating that something is public Day in New Delhi, he al- "why are you convinced that all answers
AIMIM to contest TN hand's Udham Singh Nagar on going to happen. The govern- leged that the government cre- should come from you".
Shah with defamation suit
Sunday night, the Bharatiya ment is planning some steps ated the trouble. He also said the National Eligibility cum PUDUCHERRY: Former Puducherry Chief
Assembly elections Entrance Test (NEET), strongly opposed to Minister V Narayanasamy on Monday
HYDERABAD: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul by Tamil Nadu political parties, was a "big threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against

Chandrababu detained at airport, stages sit-in protest

Muslimeen (AIMIM) will contest Assembly elections issue" and "not beneficial" for students. Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the
in Tamil Nadu, informed party chief Asaduddin The Wayanad MP displayed his fitness latter accused him of misappropriating Rs
Owaisi on Monday. "We will contest Assembly when he effortlessly did multiple pushups, 15,000 crore sent by Prime Minister Narendra
elections in Tamil Nadu. Some of our candidates TIRUPATI: Leader of Opposi- demanded to know why he Police had denied permis- including one-handed, while he shook a Modi for the union territory. "Home Minister
won in Gujarat local body polls. I'll be going to tion in the Andhra Pradesh was being prevented from go- sion for the protest by citing leg with the students he interacted with, Amit Shah said that PM Modi sent Rs 15,000
Rajasthan today to review and speak with party Assembly N Chandrababu ing to Tirupati and Chittoor, the model code of conduct for as accompanying Congress leaders Dinesh crores to Puducherry and I took a cut and
members. Our party workers are also working Naidu staged a sit-in protest in 70 kms away. (urban local body) elections Gundu Rao and K S Alagiri joined him. gave part of the money to the Gandhi family.
hard in UP," Owaisi said. The TN assembly polls the arrival lounge of the air- Naidu arrived at the airport and also the prevalence of At a public address in Nagercoil in the This is a very serious allegation against me. If
will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the port at Renigunta, near here, from Hyderabad to take part coronavirus. district, Gandhi said history has shown he doesn't prove it, I will file a criminal
counting of votes will be done on May 2. on Monday as police sought to in a protest in Tirupati On Sunday, the Tirupati Mu- nobody can rule Tamil Nadu other than defamation suit against him for giving a false
detain him and prevent his en- against the alleged high-hand- nicipal Corporation officials the Tamil people.
statement to damage my image and that of the
Gandhi family," the Congress leader said. He
Kerala Fisheries Minister try into the temple town. edness of the local civic au- allegedly ransacked a tea stall "This election will show the same thing
further demanded an apology to him and the
The Telugu Desam Party thorities, and flew from here belonging to a TDP leader that only a person who truly represents
is a liar: Chennithala chief picked up an argument back to Hyderabad late in the whose wife was contesting the the Tamil people can be a Chief Minister
people of the UT if Shah did not substantiate
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Continuing his the allegations.
with the police officials and evening. March 10 election. of Tamil Nadu," he said.
tirade against Kerala Fisheries Minister J
Mercykutty, Leader of Opposition Ramesh
Chennithala on Monday alleged that she has been
consistently telling lies about the now cancelled
deep sea fishing project. "Both Mercykutty and
Before Bengal dhamaka ends, poll strategist PK joins Amarinder
CM Pinarayi Vijayan have been telling lies about ROBIN ROY
this project, which I exposed as a corrupt deal
the party's fortunes especial-
ly after BJP won 18 Lok Sab-
Covid may have wiped off several jobs and dried up the even as the CPM MP Mohd
Salim was in a hurry to al-
resources of several people but for the wise men, the sun
W
with the US headquartered -- EMCC -- that has ith just a month to ha seats in 2019 and Didi's low him to take the mike
an Indian subsidiary. All along she has been saying
she has no clue about it and if anything has
go for the crucial
Bengal polls, this is
party managed to get 22.
Asked how much he would
always shines. Even in such times of crisis, poll wary hasn't gone well with Cong
veteran Adhir Choudhury,
happened it's because of the officials who have news! Election strategist be charging, Mamata Baner- politicians are making a beeline to spend a fortune (not the Congress leader later
taken this project forward," said Chennithala. Prashant Kishor, who has jee had then told a TV chan- said that he was in no mood
helped boost the prospects of nel that Kishor may not
to forget that he is opting for Re 1 as salary per month!) to share the Malda and Mur-
KTR, BJP leader engaged several politicians and charge any money for his to hire experts and especially poll pundits who can be a shidabad seats with ISF can-
helped "convert" several poll services. didate.
in Twitter war over jobs "defeats" into victories, has Kishor may extend his game changer when time comes Meanwhile, Kishor told
HYDERABAD: The political war of words taken up the assignment of services to TMC as a part of NDTV that the Punjab offer
between the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi Principal Advisor to Punjab 'Corporate Social Responsi- livered Bihar in 2015 assem- Mohan Reddy-led YSR Con- will be a Kaante ki Takkar… had been on the table for the
(TRS) and the opposition BJP and Congress Chief Minister Captain bility' (CSR), she had said. bly elections to Nitish Ku- gress in Andhra Pradesh. and with the Mahajot brew- past year and that
continued over the former's claim that the state Amarinder Singh. On Mon- TMC had sought Kishore's mar-led Mahagathbandhan, YSR Congress won 22 out of ing between CPI(M), Con- Amarinder Singh is "like
government had created 1.32 lakh jobs in the last day, Singh took to Twitter to assistance to augment its even as the alliance went 25 Lok Sabha seats and 151 gress and Indian Secular family". "I can't say 'no' to
six years. Two days after Congress leader Sravan announce this nearly 12 strategy to counter BJP against the BJP. Nitish out of 175 assembly seats, in Front may change the whole him...," Kishor said.
Dasoju challenged the Telangana Industry Minister months before the northern ahead of 2021 state polls. broke his alliance with RJD simultaneous polls this year. paradigm of minority voting The Chief Minister's Office
KT Rama Rao for a debate at the Gun Park while state goes to polls. Among other projects, later and forged ties with However, the West Bengal pattern. tweeted shortly saying that
BJP leader N Ramchander Rao reached the In June 2019, it may be not- Prashant Kishor is credited BJP again to stay in power. poll scenario looks like it It may be noted that at the Kishor would get cabinet
Osmania University and dared the TRS minister to ed that an "agreement" was for handling Prime Minister Later, Kishor stunned the will be a photo-finish be- Brigade Parade ground on minister-rank (with associ-
come there for an open debate. signed between Prashant Narendra Modi's 2014 Lok nation by managing a suc- tween the TMC and the BJP Sunday, Abbas of ISF ated perks) and a "token hon-
Kishor and the TMC to uplift Sabha campaign. He also de- cessful campaign for Jagan and as they say in Hindi… it mocked the Congress and orarium of Re 1 only".
8 NATION
FREE PRESS
TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021 | INDORE
Arunachal reports zero Covid cases for 10 days
ITANAGAR/AGARTALA: Arunachal Pradesh has reported zero Covid cases during the last ten days, even as
the state's recovery rate stands at 99.67 per cent, the second highest in the country after the Union Territory of
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu having a recovery rate at 99.82 per cent, health officials said on Monday.
According to the data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday, the total Covid-19
positive cases in Arunachal Pradesh were 16,836, while the number of recoveries stood at 16,780.

Farmers should get more Priyanka begins

Continued from page 1
Minister, retd bureaucrats...

2-day Assam visit

avenues to sell crops: PM
Former CS Nirmla Buch said, "People should get vac-
cine as soon as possible as it boosts the immunity of
beneficiary to fight corona. It was nice management by
the doctors for the vaccination. Today, I got it. People
should not have any misconception about its side effect." AGENCIES / Guwahati Shakti, the Congress leader
Swami Akhileshwaranad Giri said, "Indian scien- said that she wanted to visit
tists did a really good job by making vaccine for entire NEW DELHI: PM Modi on Monday benefits reach to maximum people. Congress leader Priyanka the temple for long and "her
world. India faced the brunt of Covid socially, economi- emphasised on farmers getting more "There is a need for post harvest revo- Gandhi Vadra began her two- wish has come true". "I sought
cally, religiously as all activities had come to standstill avenues to sell crops and said a food lution or food processing revolution day visit to poll-bound Assam blessings for myself, my fami-
due to corona last year. Today, PM Modi got vaccine set- processing revolution was needed in and value addition in the country in the on Monday by offering ly and above all for the people
ting example for entire nation. We sants (nearly two the country for value addition to farm 21st century, amidst ever-increasing prayers at the famed Ka- of Assam," she told reporters.
dozen) got vaccines today and we have faced no adverse produce and to realise better prices. agricultural production," he said. makhya Temple in Guwahati. Asked about the forthcom-
impact after the vaccination. We tried to set examples in Addressing a webinar on effective im- It would have been very good for the The AICC general secretary, ing elections in the state, she
Jabalpur known as "Sanskardhani" for entire country plementation of Budget provisions re- country if this work was done two- accompanied by the party's said she will talk later about
that people should not have any kind misconception garding the Agriculture Ministry, he three decades ago, Modi said. Assam in-charge Jitendra politics. "I come to temples to
about the vaccine. Sadhu-Sants should lead by example underlined the need for increased par- For food processing revolution, the Singh, was received at the seek blessings and offer
in country and we did it for welfare of society today." ticipation of private players in the farm public-private partnerships and coop- Lokpriyo Gopinath Bordoloi thanks to the God who has giv-
sector, including in research and devel- he said. Restrictions had a negative im- erative sectors will have to come for- Airport here by state unit en me a lot," she added.
China hackers ambush... opment (R&D) work. pact on the sector, he added. Highlight- ward with full strength along with the chief Ripun Bora and other Earlier, the Congress leader
The US Department of Justice had revealed in 2018 Without making any direct reference ing various provisions for agriculture farming community, Modi said. party leaders. posted on her Facebook page,
that APT10 had acted in tandem with the Chinese Min- to the new farm laws or to the farmers’ in the Union Budget, the PM said agri- He said there is a need for crop diver- She halted at Jalukbari area, "Today I will start my two-day
istry of State Security. Incidentally, Microsoft said in agitation, Modi said there is a need for culture credit target has been hiked to sification. "We now have to give such where Congress supporters fe- Assam tour by visiting Maa
November that it had detected cyberattacks emanating expanding options for the country's Rs16.5 lakh crore with priority to ani- options to farmers in which they are licitated her, before proceed- Kamakhya Devi. I will take
from Russia and North Korea targeting COVID-19 vac- farming community to sell agri pro- mal husbandry, dairy and fisheries sec- not limited to growing wheat and rice. ing to the Shakti Peeth atop part in the dialogue with the
cine companies in India, Canada, France, South Korea duce. "Today the need of the hour is tor. The prime minister laid emphasis We can try from organic food to salad- Nilachal Hills. sisters-brothers and party
and the United States. that farmers of the country get more on the effective and timely implemen- related vegetables, there are several Clad in a red outfit, the workers of Assam on many
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN shot, de- and more options to sell their produce," tation of the budget provisions so that crops," he said. prevalent colour symbolising important issues."
veloped with the State-run Indian Council of Medical
Research, will be exported to many countries, including
Brazil.
Lokayukta sleuths enter... UP tiny-tots welcomed with ‘tilak’ as pri- CM presents budget
of Rs97k-crore with NCB busts cannabis
They asked him to go and give the amount to the per-
son he was supposed to else he will be booked as a main
accused.
mary schools reopen a year later focus on rural C’garh
AVDHESH MALLICK / Raipur
trafficking network, arrests 8
Bali went and gave amount to Rathore who was un- SRAWAN SHUKLA BENGALURU: The Narcotics Control Bureau on Monday
aware of the Lokayukta sleuths presence in the jail Lucknow To create a new Chhattisgarh said it busted a cannabis trafficking network by arresting
premises. As he took the amount from Bali, sleuths (Gadhbo Naya Chhattisgarh), eight people and seizing 681.8 kg of contraband. According to
nabbed him also. Rathore claimed that he had sought Closed for nearly a year due to the Covid-19 Chief Minister Bhupesh the NCB, acting on specific intelligence inputs by NCB Ben-
bribe on behalf of Makwana. pandemic, primary schools in Uttar Baghel on Monday presented a galuru, the Hyderabad sub-zonal unit intercepted three cars
Lokayukta police took Makwana, Rathore and Bali to Pradesh up to Class V finally reopened on budget of Rs97,106 crore for near Pedda Amberpet Toll Plaza, Rangareddy District in
Kishanganj police station for quizzing. Case was regis- Monday under strict Covid-19 protocol. 2021-22 in the state Assembly. Telangana and seized the contraband. The NCB said the con-
tered against Rathore and Bali. No evidence of Mak- All primary schools were declared closed “Budget defines concept of signment was concealed in compressed form, kept in 335
wana's involvement was found in the case. in March 2020 after the outbreak in the state. development through the brick like packets and wrapped with brown colour adhesive
Sources claimed that Mhow jail personnel take bribe The decision to reopen them was taken after acronym HEIGHT - H for ho- tapes. A syndicate of eight people used to source cannabis in
from prisoners and provide them with facilities like ac- seeking consent from parents and making listic development, E for edu- huge quantities from Visakhapatnam and distribute it in var-
cess to mobile phone, cigarettes, liquor etc. Recently, all arrangements, particularly in rural ar- cation, I for infrastructure, G ious parts of Pune and Osmanabad in Maharashtra.
two guards of Mhow jail were arrested for trafficking of eas. The state government reopened col- to welcome students after a year. for governance, H for health
brown sugar and other prohibited items. Also, notori- leges and schools in a phased manner. Col- Children were only allowed inside schools and T for transformation,”
ous criminal Jeetu Thakur was murdered inside the jail leges for Classes 9 to 12 were opened in No- after sanitising hands, wearing masks and he said. It is public-centric,
about a decade back. vember 2020 in view of their Board exams thermal scanning. Some schools distributed child-friendly, development-
while online classes continued. Schools for kits containing masks, small sanitiser bot- oriented budget with 38 %
Classes 6 to 8 were reopened on February 10 tles with instructions to follow guidelines. provision for social sector, 39

Will you marry her? while primary classes up to V were re-

opened from Monday.
The state education department made all
Only 50% attendance and twice a week
classes were allowed in every primary
school.
% for economic sector and
23 % for the general service
sector. “The estimated gross

SC asks government the arrangements to reopen primary

schools under strict Covid-19 protocol of
wearing masks, maintaining social distanc-
Days for classes were fixed on odd and
even basis. Classes I and V on Mondays and
Thursdays, Classes 2 and IV on Tuesdays
expenditure for 2021-22 is Rs
1,05,213 crore. The net ex-
penditure is around Rs

worker in rape case ing and sanitised classrooms.

Some schools in Lucknow welcomed tiny-
tots by putting ‘tilak’ on their foreheads, oth-
and Fridays and Class 3 on Wednesdays and
Saturdays. UP CM Yogi Adityanath himself
visited a school in Lucknow to check the
97,106 crore,” Baghel said.

He has been accused
of raping a schoolgirl
and faces charges un-
der the severe POCSO
NEW DELHI
can help you. If not, you ers showered rose petals, made rangolis and arrangements and spend some time with
lose your job and go to jail. decorated classrooms with colorful balloons children.
You seduced the girl, raped
Cong leader Anand Sharma slams party’s
her," Chief Justice of India
SA Bobde told the petition-
er's lawyer, who argued

tie-up with ISF in West Bengal

The Supreme Court today
asked a government em-
ployee seeking protection
from arrest whether he
would marry a woman
who has accused him of
rape.
The top court was hear-
ing the bail request of Mo-
hit Subhash Chavan, a
technician with the Maha-
rashtra State Electric Pro-
duction Company. He has
been accused of raping a
schoolgirl and faces
charges under the severe
POCSO (Protection of
Children from Sexual Of-
fences) law.
"If you want to marry we
that his client could lose
his job.
The petitioner told the
court his mother had of-
fered marriage when the
girl went to the police. But
she had reportedly re-
fused. Then a document
was drawn up to say a mar-
riage would take place
once the girl turned 18.
When she did, however, the
man refused to marry her.
That is when a rape com-
plaint was filed against
him, according to a peti-
tion filed by Chavan. In a
question that has been
commented upon on social
media, the Chief Justice
asked the accused man:
"Will you marry her?"
NEW DELHI
Senior Congress leader
Anand Sharma on Monday
slammed the party’s tie-up
with Indian Secular Front
(ISF) led by Muslim cleric
Abbas Siddiqui in West Ben-
gal, saying it was against the
“Gandhian and Nehruvian
secularism” and the party
cannot be selective in fight-
ing the “communalists”.
Sharma, a former union
minister and a leader of the
group of 23 which had writ-
ten to Congress president
Sonia Gandhi demanding
organisational overhaul,
said the issue of “alliance”
with a radical party like the
ISF should have been dis-
cussed and approved by the
Congress Working Commit-
tee (CWC).
“Congress’ alliance with
parties like ISF and other
such forces militates against
the core ideology of the par-
ty and Gandhian and Nehru-
vian secularism, which
forms the soul of the party.
These issues need to be ap-
proved by the CWC,” he said
on Twitter.
He also sought clarifica-
tion from West Bengal Con-
gress chief Adhir Ranjan
Chowdhury for attending
the joint rally in Kolkata
where ISF leaders were pres-
ent, alleging that his pres-
ence and endorsement was
“painful and shameful”.
“Congress cannot be selec-
tive in fighting communal-
ists but must do so in all its
manifestations, irrespective
of religion and colour. The
presence and endorsement
by West Bengal PCC Presi-
dent is painful and shame-
ful, he must clarify,” the sen-
ior party leader said.

One jab of Pfizer or Oxford-AstraZeneca

offers 90% protection: Report
NEW DELHI: Just one vaccine shot reduces the risk of being hospi-
talised by Covid-19 by more than 90%, according to new findings, Daily
Mail reported. Public health officials have told Ministers in the UK the
remarkable results apply for both the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca
vaccine, with the British jab proving slightly more effective, it said.
The new one-dose vaccination figures were calculated by comparing
Covid hospitalisation rates in those who have received their first dose
with those of a similar age who haven't. The report said it helps to ex-
plain why the numbers being hospitalised are falling so rapidly in the
oldest age groups.

Row over CPM, RSS links

forces a denial from Left
K RAVEENDRAN / Thiruvananthapuram
A claim by Jemaat-e-Islami about
CPM, RSS interactions has
caused embarrassment to the
communists to the extent of issu-
ing a denial even as the person
mediating between the two has
admitted the contacts.
Adding to the CPM discomfort is
a land allocation to the Satsang
Foundation, a saffron outfit head-
ed by Shri M, who was the media-
tor between the two sides. The
land was meant for the establish-
ment of a yoga centre in the state
capital.
CPM central committee member
M V Govindan has denied any in-
teractions between RSS and CPM
and claimed that the association
with Shri Em was only in connec-
tion with yoga classes. The CPM
leader described Shri Em as a sec-
ular person and asserted there
was no political significance to
the interactions.
The Satsang Founder leader,
meanwhile, claimed in a newspa-
per interview that he had medi-
ated between CPM and RSS fol-
lowing the clashes between the
two sides in Kannur. He said that
there were two meetings, first in
Kannur and the second in Thiru-
vananthapuram and chief minis-
ter Pinarayi Vijayan had attend-
ed both.
He claimed that the meetings
were organised in the interest of
peace and for the good of the Ker-
ala society and there was no other
political significance to the par-
leys. Opposition Congress and
UDF have been alleging tacit un-
derstanding between CPM and
RSS in certain issues. There have
also been allegations of political
adjustments between the two
sides to defeat UDF candidates in
elections.
Referring to the controversy
about the land allotment, the Sat-
sang Foundation chief disclosed
that his organisation had sent a
letter to the chief minister re-
questing for a plot of land to set
up the yoga centre.

Printed and Published by PRAVIN NAGAR, for the Proprietors, Compac Printers Pvt. Ltd. at Free Press House, 3/54, Press Complex, Agra-Mumbai Road, Indore-452 008. � Editor : Arshit Gautam Phones:- 2555111-2, FAX: 2558555. Email: editor.indore@fpj.co.in, Offices: Bhopal Bureau: F-134/2 Professor’s Colony,
Opp. Ravindra Bhawan, Bhopal, Phone : 0755-2660570/71/ 79 Fax: 0755-4271345 E-Mail news.freepress@gmail.com Ujjain:- 2550385. Ratlam:- 234567. Dewas:- 221373. Mumbai, Ph:- 69028000. Advt Dept.: 69028026. New Delhi, Ph:- 23718853. Calcutta Ph:- 22875645. Chennai - Ph:- 28217766. RNI No. 38281/83
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India, US reaffirm strategic partnership at meeting of UN envoys
UN: India and the US have reaffirmed their strategic partnership and agreed
to work together to strengthen multilateralism during a meeting between the
top UN diplomats of the two countries here. Newly appointed US
Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield met India's Permanent
Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti as part of a series of
bilateral meetings with her UN Security Council counterparts. "Pleasure to
meet new @USAmbUN Permanent Representative @LindaT_G and discuss
priorities of US Presidency of @UN #SecurityCouncil," Tirumurti tweeted.
WORLD 9
INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021

Sarkozy convicted of Trump hints at 2024 run

graft, gets 1 yr in jail
Former US Prez attacked Biden, who has been in office for just 39 days, asserting
that in just one short month, we have gone from ‘America First’ to ‘America Last’
AGENCIES ruption," based on "consis- him move up ... I'll help
AGENCIES
New York
Republican Party, it's going
to unite and be stronger than
... says India,
Paris tent and serious evidence".
The court said the facts
him." In another, Her-
zog reminded Sarkozy to Former US President Don-
ever before," he said, annou-
ncing an enemy's list of sev-
China, Russia
A Paris court on
Monday found
were "particularly se-
rious" given that
"say a word" for Azibert
during a trip to Monaco.
ald Trump has roared back
into the political arena with
eral members of his party
who voted for this impeach-
not clean
T
French former they were commit- Legal proceedings against a hint that he may run for of- ment or to convict him. rump raised the climate
President Nico- ted by a former Sarkozy have been dropped fice in 2024 and a jet of vitri- He flexed his political mus- issue, criticising his
las Sarkozy president who in the Bettencourt case. Az- ol against members of his cle at the annual conference successor Biden for
guilty of cor- used his status to ibert never got the Monaco Republican Party not loyal of the Conservative Political rejoining the "very unfair"
ruption and help a magistrate job. to him, as well as Democrats. Action Committee (CPAC) Paris Agreement, saying what
influence ped- who had served his Prosecutors have conclud- Speaking in public on Sun- where an informal poll good does it do when
dling and personal interest. In ed, however, that the "clear- day for the first time since showed that 68 per cent of America is "clean" but China,
sen- addition, as a lawyer by ly stated promise" consti- leaving office, Trump did not the participants wanted him Russia and India are not.
training, he was "per- tutes in itself a corruption admit defeat in the Novem- to run again and 95 per cent “We have the cleanest air
fectly informed" offense under French law, ber 3 2020 election and in- supported his policies. and cleanest water. and what
about commit- even if the promise wasn't stead said, "I may even de- The group represents the ents a dilemma for the party. of Washington, DC estab- good does it do when we're
ting an illegal fulfilled. cide to defeat them a third more conservative wing of He is a divisive figure who lishment political hacks and clean, but China is not and
action, the Sarkozy vigorously de- time." the Republican Party reflect- caused many unaffiliated everybody else all over the Russia is not and India is not,
court said. nied any malicious inten- He tamped down specula- ing his base and the crowd, voters and those in the mid- country." He named the Re- so they are pouring fumes...
Sarkozy had tion. tions that he may start a many of them unmasked dle to vote against him. publicans like Senator Mitt you know the world is a small
firmly denied He told the court that his third party calling it fake and not socially distanced, Yet the party cannot win Romney and Representative piece of the universe and
all the allega- political life was all about news seeking to divide the repeatedly chanted, "We love without his supporters. Liz Cheney, who have criti- we're trying to protect
tions against "giving (people) a little help. Republican vote "so that you you". Trump's hold on a Trump said, "The only di- cised him and voted against everything," Trump said amidst
him during the That all it is, a little help," can never win". "We have the broad base of the party pres- vision is between a handful him during impeachment. applause from his supporters.
tenced him to one year in 10-day trial that took place he said during the trial.

Khashoggi’s fiancee seeks

prison and a two-year sus-
pended sentence.
The 66-year-old politician,
who was president from
2007 to 2012, was convicted
for having tried to illegally
obtain information from a
senior magistrate in 2014
about a legal action in
which he was involved.
The court said Sarkozy is
entitled to request to be de-
tained at home with an elec-
tronic bracelet.
This is the first time in
France's modern history
that a former president has
been convicted of corrup-
tion.
Sarkozy's co-defendants -
his lawyer and longtime
friend Thierry Herzog, 65,
and now-retired magistrate
Gilbert Azibert, 74 - were
also found guilty and given
the same sentence as the
politician.
The court found that
Sarkozy and his co-defen-
dants sealed a "pact of cor-
at the end of last year.
The corruption trial fo-
cused on phone conversa-
tions that took place in Feb-
ruary 2014.
At the time, investigative
judges had launched an in-
quiry into the financing of
the 2007 presidential cam-
paign. During the investi-
gation they incidentally
discovered that Sarkozy
and Herzog were communi-
cating via secret mobile
phones registered to the
alias "Paul Bismuth."
Conversations wiretapped
on these phones led prose-
cutors to suspect Sarkozy
and Herzog of promising
Azibert a job in Monaco in
exchange for leaking infor-
mation about another legal
case, known by the name of
France's richest woman,
L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bet-
tencourt.
In one of these phone
calls with Herzog, Sarkozy
said of Azibert : "I'll make
The confidentiality of
communications between a
lawyer and his client was a
major point of contention
in the trial.
"You have in front of you a
man of whom more that
3,700 private conversations
have been wiretapped...
What did I do to deserve
that?" Sarkozy said during
the trial.
Sarkozy's defense lawyer,
Jacqueline Laffont, argued
the whole case was based
on "small talk" between a
lawyer and his client.
The court concluded that
the use of wiretapped con-
versations was legal as long
as they helped show evi-
dence of corruption-related
offenses.
Sarkozy withdrew from
active politics after failing
to be chosen as his conser-
vative party's presidential
candidate for France's 2017
election, won by Emmanuel
Macron.
Imran Khan dreams of
Gwadar as ‘next Dubai’
punishment for Saudi Prince
AGENCIES ing Zones Authority) ex-
Rome port processing zone. It in-
AGENCIES stead restricts the local
Istanbul While Prime Minister Im- population, whose liveli-
ran Khan-led government hood depends on fishing,
The Turkish fiancee ofslain journalist Jamal "plans" to make Gwadar the from accessing the sea.
Khashoggi yesterday demanded that Saudi "next Dubai" under the Chi- "The real purpose of the
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin na-Pakistan Economic Cor- barbed wire and the 15,000
Abdulaziz Al Saud be "punished without de- ridor (CPEC) initiative, he Chinese soldiers deployed
lay" over the murder. is restricting Baloch locals at the port, on which the
"It is essential that the Crown Prince, who from accessing basic neces- Chinese and Pakistani flags
ordered the brutal murder of a blameless sities by fortifying the city fly, is not to ensure the safe-
and innocent person, should be punished "Starting with the (US President Joe) Biden at the behest of China. ty of commercial installa-
without delay," the BBC quoted Khashoggi's Administration, it is vital for all world lead- According to journalist tions but to defend Beijing's
fiancee Hatice Cengiz in a statement. ers to ask themselves if they are prepared to Francesca Marino, the interests and keep the
"This will not only bring the justice we have shake hands... I urge everyone to put their barbed wire being put up Baloch out," said Marino.
been seeking.... but it could also prevent sim- hands on their hearts and campaign to pun- by the Pakistan govern- Meanwhile, Islamabad
ilar acts recurring. ish the Crown Prince." ment does not surround has stepped up up its secu-
In the statement, Cengiz, a Turkish aca- Cengiz's statement comes three days after a Gwadar port free zone, rity in Balochistan to pro-
demic researcher, made an appeal to world de-classified US intelligence report released GIEDA (Gwadar Industrial tect its facilities as there is a
leaders to distance themselves from the on February 26 assessed that the Crown Estate Development Au- rise in attacks on CPEC
Crown Prince and impose sanctions on the Prince approved an operation to "capture or thority) industrial zone projects, the Pakistan mili-
Kingdom. kill" Saudi Khashoggi in 2018. and EPZA (Export Process- tary said earlier.

Suu Kyi in court 1st time since military coup
AGENCIES
Yangon
Myanmar's tallest leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
denied a second tenure in power by a mili-
tary takeover on February 1, faced court on
Monday through a video link, her lawyer
Khin Maung Zaw said.
Zaw told this writer he had seen his client
for the first time since a military coup ex-
actly one month ago, after which the coun-
try has plunged into huge and ceaseless
protests.
Suu Kyi's court appearance, in a minor
case over alleged possession of foreign-
made walky-talkies , came on a day when
protestors again hit the streets, despite a
bloody Sunday, when at least 19 people died
in firing by security forces across Myanmar.
At least 30 were injured and 10 missing
during the mayhem unleashed by the forces
in Yangon, Mandalay, Dawei, Myitkina and
several other cities.
The UN Human Rights office confirmed 18
deaths but the Democratic Voice of Burma
provided details of 19 people who died in the
firings.
3rd Covid wave feared in Pak
ISLAMABAD: Due to the easing
of most of the coronavirus
restrictions across Pakistan,
health experts have sounded
alarm over a third wave of
the pandemic if there was a
resurgence of fresh cases, a
media report said on Mon-
day.
On Sunday, the country
registered 1,176 new Covid-
19 cases, which increased the
overall tally to 581,365. The
death toll currently stood at
12,896.
On February 24, the Na-
Protesters back on streets tional Command and Opera-
tion Centre (NCOC) on
Covid relaxed most of the re-
YANGON: Police in Myanmar's biggest city on Monday fired tear strictions on commercial ac-
gas at defiant crowds who returned to the streets to protest the tivities, schools, offices and
military's seizure of power a month ago, despite reports that other workplaces, allowing
security forces had killed at least 18 people around the country a them to function at full
day earlier. strength.
The protesters in Yangon were chased as they tried to gather at Speaking to Dawn news on
their usual meeting spot at the Hledan Center intersection. Sunday, Secretary General of
Demonstrators scattered and sought to rinse their faces with water the Pakistan Medical Associ-
in vain attempts to ease the irritating effects of the gas.
DASHBOARD
Less than 10% of the
world’s population have
Covid antibodies
Global Covid-19 cases
top 114 million: Johns
Hopkins
Nepal's Army Chief
receives first dose of
Made-in-India vaccine
NY Covid-19
hospitalisations drop to
lowest level
Race on in UK to track Brazil variant
LONDON: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said that a
"massive effort" was underway to track the spread of a new
Brazilian variant of COVID-19 detected in the country, as health
officials issued an appeal for an unidentified person who had tested
positive for it to come forward. The missing person infected with
the highly-transmissible variant is understood to have used a home
testing kit, but did not complete the registration form properly.
It has prompted an appeal for anyone without a result from a
coronavirus test on February 12 or 13 to come forward immediately
by calling on helpline: 119.

Prince Harry: Split from royal life 'unbelievably tough'
AGENCIES
Los Angeles
Prince Harry says the
process of separating from
royal life has been very diffi-
cult for him and his wife,
Meghan.
In an interview with Oprah
Winfrey, Harry invoked the
memory of his late mother,
Princess Diana, who had to
find her way alone after she
and Prince Charles divorced.
"I'm just really relieved and
happy to be sitting here talk-
ing to you with my wife by
my side, because I can't be-
gin to imagine what it must
have been like for her going
through this process by her-
self all those years ago," Har-
ry said, adding, "because it's
been unbelievably tough for
the two of us."
"But at least we have each
other," Harry said, in a clip
from the interview special,
which is scheduled to air
March 7 on CBS and the fol-
lowing day in Britain. Diana
was shown in a photo hold-
ing toddler Harry as he
made the comments. His
mother died in 1997 of in-
juries suffered in a car
crash.
Harry and Meghan sat op-
posite Winfrey and side-by-
side, holding hands during
the interview that was con-
ducted in a lush garden set-
ting. Meghan, who recently
announced she is pregnant
with the couple's second
child, wore an empire-style
black dress with embroidery.
Harry wore a light gray suit
and white dress shirt, minus
a tie.
As Meghan Markle, the ac-
tor starred in the TV legal
drama "Suits." She married
Queen Elizabeth II's grand-
son at Windsor Castle in
May 2018, and their son,
Archie, was born a year lat-
er.
The brief promotional clip
was one of two of that aired
Sunday during CBS' news
magazine "60 Minutes."
Prince Philip
shifted to
second hosp
LONDON: Britain's Prince Philip,
the Duke of Edinburgh, has
been transferred to a second
hospital in London to continue
treatment for an infection,
Buckingham Palace said on
Monday. The 99-year-old
husband of Queen Elizabeth II,
who spent 13 nights at the King
Edward VII's Hospital in central
London after being admitted
last month, has now been
transferred to St Bartholomew's
Hospital for further tests and
observation for a pre-existing
heart condition.
"The Duke remains comfortable
and is responding to treatment
but is expected to remain in
hospital until at least the end of
the week," a statement said.
In 1st day on job, new WTO
chief pushes for fisheries deal
AGENCIES / Geneva
The new head of the World Trade Organization
threw her support behind long-fruitless efforts
among member countries to agree on fisheries
subsidies that could reduce overfishing, calling
the efforts a top priority as she took office on
Monday.
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a
Nigerian economist and former government
minister, donned a mask and doled out elbow
bumps - COVID-19 oblige - as she took up the job
at WTO headquarters on the banks of Lake
Geneva.
"I am coming into one of the most important
institutions in the world and we have a lot of
work to do," said Okonjo-Iweala, 66, who is both
the first woman and the first African to hold the
job. "I feel ready to go."
Negotiators have been tasked with striking an
agreement that could help eliminate subsidies

Girl dies after being caned during ‘exorcism’ in Sri Lanka

AGENCIES
Colombo
Police in Sri Lanka said on Monday they
have arrested two people in the death of a
9-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten
during a ritual they believed would drive
away an evil spirit.
The two suspects -- the woman performing
the exorcism and the girl's mother -- were to
appear in court on Monday to hear charges
over the girl’s death, which occurred over
the weekend in Delgoda, a small town about
40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of the
capital Colombo.
According to police spokesperson Ajith
Rohana, the mother believed her daughter
had been possessed by a demon and took
her to the home of the exorcist so a ritual
could be performed to drive the spirit away.
Rohana said the exorcist first put oil on
the girl and then began to repeatedly hit
her with a cane. When the girl lost con-
sciousness, she was taken to a hospital,
where she died. An autopsy was scheduled
for Monday.
The woman who performed the ritual on
the girl was known in the area for offering
such services in recent months and police
were investigating whether anyone else had
been abused, Rohana said.
Rohana urged the public to be careful
about such services as the girl was not the
first to die during such a ritual.
for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,
and prohibit some fisheries subsidies that con-
tribute to overcapacity and overfishing.
Member states of the WTO, which works to
craft accords that can ensure smooth interna-
tional trade, have struggled to reach an agree-
ment on fisheries after roughly two decades of
work. Okonjo-Iweala called for finalizing the ne-
gotiations "as soon as possible," and credited
Colombian ambassador Santiago Wills, who
chairs the talks on fisheries subsidies, for his
"really hard" work.
"My presence is to try and support him proac-
tively to try and unblock the situation so he can
complete the fantastic work he has been doing,"
she said alongside Wills as they met with vari-
ous advocacy groups outside the WTO gates. "It
has been 20 years - and 20 years is enough."
"Things are not easy when members are nego-
tiating and there are still a lot of critical issues
that need to be sorted out," she said. "But we are
hopeful."
New Director-General of WTO Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala arrives at the WTO headquarters to take
office on Monday in Geneva.
Wills said it was "music to my ears to see on
the first day the (director general) comes here
and makes a statement on the fisheries negoti-
ations."
Okonjo-Iweala's first day also consisted of
meeting staffers and attending her first meet-
ing of the General Council, made up of top en-
voys from the trade body's 164 member states.
The closed-door council meeting was largely
held by videoconference because of measures
aimed to fight the pandemic.

BIZ BUZZ
IREDA likely to be listed on exchanges in
the next fiscal, says government official
As part of its efforts to list more public sector companies on
MONEY10
Europeans get 'right to repair' for some electrical goods for up to 10 years
Companies that sell refrigerators, washers, nent. The "right to repair," as it is sometimes
hairdryers or TVs in the European Union will need called, comes into force across the 27-nation bloc
to ensure those appliances can be repaired for up to Monday. It is part of a broader effort to cut the en-
10 years, to help reduce the vast mountain of elec- vironmental footprint of manufactured goods by
trical waste that piles up each year on the conti- making them more durable and energy efficient. INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021

GST collections cross Rs 1.1 L cr

bourses, the government is likely to conduct an initial public
offering of the Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency in the next financial year starting April, a senior
finance ministry official said. “We are short-listing candidates
that can be listed in the next 12-24 months, one such
BPCL to sell entire 62%
stake in Numaligarh
for third straight month in Feb
company is IREDA," the official told Informist. In June 2017,
the Cabinet had approved the initial public offering of IREDA.
�----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shyam Metalics files draft papers for
Rs 1,107 crore public offering Refinery for Rs 9,880 cr
Shyam Metalics and Energy Ltd has refiled the draft red
herring prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of
AGENCIES
Mumbai Feb manufacturing NEW DELHI: The board of Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd has approved

PMI growth flat

India for its 11.07-bln-rupees initial public offering of shares. the sale of its entire 61.65% stake in Numaligarh Refinery Ltd to a
The company had initially tried to tap the capital markets in GST collections crossed the Rs 1 lakh consortium of Oil India Ltd and Engineers India Ltd, and to the state
August 2018 and had even got the regulator's approval for a crore-mark for the fifth month in a row government of Assam for 98.8 bln rupees, the company said.
9.1-bln-rupee offering in early 2019. The company that in February, rising 7% annually to over The total consideration will be from the consortium in case of non
specialises in production of long steel products and ferro Rs 1.13 lakh crore, indicating economic NEW DELHI: India's manufacturing participation by the state government, it said.
alloys plans to utilise the net proceeds towards repayment of recovery, the finance ministry said. activity remained firm in February, The expected date of completion of the stake sale will be within a
its debt and for its subsidiary Shyam SEL and Power Ltd. Goods and Services Tax (GST) collec- with the Purchasing Managers' Index month from obtaining all requisite approvals, it said. Oil India,
�---------------------------------------------------------------------------- tions had risen for two straight months coming in at 57.5 due to better demand which already owns 26% stake in Numaligarh Refinery, is the lead
Reliance Jio's new offers not to affect to touch record Rs 1,19,875 crore in Jan- conditions. member of the consortium.
BPCL's exit from Numaligarh Refinery is a precursor to the former's
uary and Rs 1.15 lakh crore in December. While the index fell from its three-
Bharti Airtel's 2G subscriber base The gross GST revenue collected Feb-
THE MOP-UP
month high of 57.7 in January, it re- privatisation, which the government expects to complete in the first
New offers by Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, for its fourth
generation feature phones, may not dent the 2G subscriber
ruary 2021 is Rs 1,13,143 crore, of which
Central GST is Rs 21,092 crore, State Rs 21,092 cr central GST mained above the long-run average of
53.6, according to IHS Markit.
half of 2021-22 (Apr-Mar).
BPCL Director (Finance) N. Vijayagopal had said last month that
base of Bharti Airtel Ltd, but could cause stress for Vodafone
Idea Ltd, analysts said. The company on Friday had launched
'NEW JIOPHONE 2021 OFFER'. Customers who buy a new
GST is Rs 27,273 crore, Integrated GST
is Rs 55,253 crore (including Rs 24,382
crore collected on import of goods) and
Rs 27,273 cr state GST A Purchasing Managers’ Index read-
ing above 50 shows expansion in ac-
tivity, while one below 50 indicates
the consortium of Oil India and Engineers India would acquire 48%
stake in Numaligarh Refinery, while the Assam government would
pick up 13.65%, taking its stake in the refiner to 26%.
JioPhone can avail of unlimited voice calls and unlimited data
of 2 GB per month without having to recharge at 1,499
Cess is Rs 9,525 crore (including Rs 660
crore collected on import of goods).
Rs 55.253 cr Integrated GST contraction.
This is the seventh consecutive
As Numaligarh Refinery is part of the Assam Accord, the
government did not include it in BPCL's privatisation plan and
rupees for one year and 1,999 rupees for two years. GST revenue in February last year month in which manufacturing activ- decided that its controlling stake in the Assam-based refinery would
The figure is, however,
�----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Power consumption grows marginally
by 0.88% in February
was Rs 1.05 lakh crore.
"In line with the trend of recovery in
the GST revenues over past five months,
the revenues for the month of February
� lower than the record
Rs 1,19,875 crore collected
ity has risen, after having contracted
earlier due to COVID-19 and conse-
quent lockdowns.
"Indian goods producers reported a
be sold to another public sector oil and gas company or a
consortium of such companies. Both Oil India and Engineers India
are under the administrative control of the petroleum ministry.
Oil India will become the largest shareholder in the refiner once
India's power consumption grew 0.88% in February at 104.73 2021 are 7% higher than the GST rev- in the previous month healthy inflow of new orders in Feb- the transaction is completed. Numaligarh Refinery is the biggest
billion units (BU) due to a slight rise in temperature in the enues in the same month last year. ruary, a situation that underpinned a consumer of crude oil produced by Oil India from its fields in the
month, official data showed. Power consumption in February "During the month, revenues from further upturn in output and quantity region. Numaligarh Refinery is currently in the process of expanding
2020 was 103.81 BU, according to the power ministry data. import of goods were 15% higher and are 5% higher than the revenues from of purchases," said Pollyanna De its refining capacity to 9 mtpa from 3 mtpa.
However, the peak power demand met, which is the highest the revenues from the domestic trans- these sources during the same month Lima, economics associate director at The cost of this project is pegged at around 226 bln rupees, and it
supply in a day, recorded a growth of 6.7% at 188.15 GW in action (including import of services) last year," the ministry said. IHS Markit. is likely to be completed in 2024.
February 2021 compared to 176.38 GW in February 2020.

Automakers report double-digit SBI reduces home loan

�---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LENDER TO WAIVE OFF PROCESSING FEES TILL MARCH 31
‘Strive for seamless digital payments,
lessons to be learnt from NSE's tech glitch’

sales growth on robust demand interest rates to 6.7%

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday asked civil
accounts officers to have a clear roadmap for seamless digital
payments, saying there are lessons to be learnt from the
"technology-driven glitch" that happened at National Stock
Exchange. Addressing the 45th Civil Accounts Day she said
the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), who is the MARUTI SUZUKI SALES RISE 12%, HYUNDAI SPURTS 29% ON COVID-LED DEMAND AGENCIES home finance, takes ownership in
bookkeeper of government accounts, has adopted great New Delhi bolstering consumer sentiments.
systemic reforms. She said to keep government accounts NEW DELHI: Leading car mak- to pre-Covid level sales," HMIL Di- The affordability for the con-
transparent, the CGA will have to adapt and keep pace with ers Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and rector (Sales, Marketing & Serv- State Bank of India (SBI) has sumer increases immensely with
changing technology to keep government account transparent. Tata Motors reported robust sales ice) Tarun Garg said. sweetened its offers on home loans the present offerings as equal
�---------------------------------------------------------------------------- growth in the domestic market in Both domestic and export de- by reducing interest concession of monthly installments will be re-
Air passenger traffic still down, cargo February as the demand for person- mand have recorded healthy dou- up to 70 basis points with interest duced."
al mobility amid COVID-19 pandem- ble digit growth last month, re- rates starting from 6.7%. Customers can also apply from
operations continue to climb: AAPA ic continues to drive the market. flecting an all-round improvement The country's largest lender said the ease of their home via the
Preliminary January air passenger traffic figures released by Others, including Toyota Kir- in buyer sentiment, he added. it is also giving 100% waiver on YONO app to get additional inter-
the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) on Monday loskar Motor (TKM), Mahindra & Tata Motors saw its passenger processing fees till March 31. est concession of 5 basis points. On
showed that airline operations are still depressed as the Mahindra, and Honda Cars India, vehicle sales surging over two- The interest concession are based the eve of International Women's
spread of Covid-19 variants resulted in tighter border also reported strong wholesale folds to 27,225 units in the domes- on the loan amount and CIBIL day, a special 5 basis points conces-
restrictions in international as well as domestic markets. dispatches to dealers last month. tic market last month. score of the borrower. sion is being made available to
Meanwhile, air cargo demand keeps improving as world The country's largest carmaker rose 18.9% to 26,884 units, as com- Similarly, Mahindra & Mahindra SBI said it is important to extend women borrowers.
trade starts to gain renewed momentum. Asia Pacific airlines Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said its pared to 22,604 units in the year- reported a 41% increase in its pas- better rates to customers who SBI is the largest commercial
carried a combined total of 1.3 million international domestic sales increased 11.8% to ago month. senger vehicle dispatches to deal- maintain good repayment history. bank in terms of assets, deposits,
passengers in January, just 3.9% of the same month last year 1,52,983 units last month, as against Sales of mini cars, comprising ers last month. The company sold Its home loan interest rates start branches, customers, and employ-
when 33.5 million passengers flew on the region's carriers. 1,36,849 units in February 2020. Alto and S-Presso, however de- 15,391 units last month, as com- from 6.7% for loans up to Rs 75 lakh ees. It is also the largest mortgage
�---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The company's sales during the clined by 12.9% to 23,959 units, as pared with 10,938 units in the year- and 6.75% for loans above Rs 75 lender in the country. Its home loan
Goyal: Cut quality testing charges for month were driven by compact compared to 27,499 in the same ago period. lakh. portfolio recently crossed the mile-
and utility vehicle segments. month last year. "Demand continues to remain "SBI, being the market leader in stone of Rs 5 lakh crore.
MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs Last month, sales company's Rival Hyundai Motor India re- buoyant for our range of SUVs

LPG cylinder price

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday compact segment models, includ- ported a 29% increase in its domes- and Pick-ups and we have a robust
said the charges for testing quality of products should be ing Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno tic sales at 51,600 units as against order pipeline. However, supply of
reduced for MSMEs and initial phase of startups and women and Dzire, increased by 15.3% to 40,010 units in February 2020. semiconductors, as we all know, is
entrepreneurs to encourage them to get their products 80,517 units, as against 69,828 cars "The company has been consis- a global issue and it is likely to

up Rs 25, ATF 6.5%

certified and meet standard norms. Goyal, who is also in February last year. tently striving to drive a resur- continue for another 3 to 4
railways and commerce minister, virtually presided the 3rd Similarly, utility vehicle dis- gence in sales, thereby contribut- months," M&M Chief Executive
Governing Council meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards patches to dealers, including Vi- ing towards economic recovery Officer Automotive Division Vee-
(BIS), an official statement said. tara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, and bringing the industry closer jay Nakra said.

JLR to write off 1.5 bn pounds in Jan-Mar

�----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBI, other banks seek bids to sell AGENCIES costs Rs 819 as against Rs 794 at
Mumbai which they were supplied on Sun-
stressed loans of Soma Enterprise day.
On behalf of a consortium of lenders, State Bank of India has Cooking gas LPG price was on The increase is applicable across
sought bids from asset reconstruction companies, banks, non- MUMBAI: Tata Motors Ltd- about 2.5 bln pound sterling per Monday hiked by Rs 25 per cylin- all categories, including sub-
banking finance companies and other financial institutions to owned Jaguar Land Rover Ltd annum, the company told in- der across all categories, includ- sidised and non-subsidised users.
sell stressed loans of Soma Enterprise Ltd. As on Mar 2020, will write off 1.5 bln pound ster- vestors. ing subsidised fuel and those LPG is available only at one rate,
the consortium's fund-based debt exposure stood at 20.99 ling (approximately 153.8 bln ru- JLR plans to phase out its in- availed by Ujjwala scheme benefi- market price, across the country.
bln rupees, and investment in Soma Enterprise was at 13.45 pees) in Jan-Mar, as part of its ternal combustion engine vari- ciaries - the fourth increase in The government, however, gives a
bln rupees. The assets are being offered on a 100% cash restructuring, the company said ants by 2025-26 (Apr-Mar) and rates in a month's time. small subsidy to select customers.
basis. The reserve price for the assets is 8.10 bln rupees. in its investor presentation. have battery-powered electric ve- LPG prices have gone up by Rs However, this subsidy has been
�---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This would include 1.0 bln hicles make up for more than 125 per 14.2-kg cylinder since the eliminated in metros and major
SBI General forges bancassurance pound sterling of non-cash 60% of its volumes by 2029-30. beginning of February, price data cities through successive price in-
write-down and 0.5 bln pound It will also rationalise its plat- from state-owned oil marketing creases over the past couple of
tie-up with Indian Overseas Bank sterling in cash. cash net-of-debt by 2025. forms with three new electric- companies showed. years. So, in places like Delhi,
SBI General Insurance on Monday said it has tied-up with JLR had recently announced Under its 'Reimagine' strategy, first plans including modular Also, jet fuel prices were hiked there is no subsidy paid to cus-
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) for a bancassurance partnership its plan to become an all-electric the company plans to have a longitudinal, electrified modu- by a steep 6.5% on the back of a tomers since May 2020 and all LPG
for selling its non-life products. Through the alliance, SBI luxury brand, improve prof- more focused product portfolio lar and oure battery electric ehi- rally in international oil prices. users pay the market price, which
General will offer a range of general insurance solutions and itability and achieve positive and reduce annual spending to cle. A 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi now currently is Rs 819.
innovative products to IOB customers, SBI General said.

HDFC Bank net banking HDFC Securities hit by glitch Q3 economy lifts
Chennai-headquartered IOB has over 3,200 branches across
the country and also has overseas presence.
�----------------------------------------------------------------------------

in cash segment orders in NSE Sensex 750 points

Bank of India recruits 23 sportspersons
for clerical and officer posts
State-owned Bank of India (BOI) on Monday said it has
recruited 23 sportspersons for clerical and officer grade posts
at the bank. The lender had invited job applications from
faces issues yet again NEW DELHI: Leading stock ex-
changes NSE and BSE on Monday
ed that there was no issue on fresh
orders or square-offs at the ex-
MUMBAI: Equity benchmark in-
dices traded firm on Monday due
various sports disciplines such as archery, athletics, boxing, INFORMIST/ Mumbai said all their operations are func- change. "... all segments working to upbeat sentiment in global mar-
gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, weight lifting and table tioning in a normal manner after fine statement was given in re- kets and India getting technically
tennis. The candidates were chosen from categories, including Some customers of HDFC Bank HDFC Securities sponse to brokers out of recession with Q3 GDP data
Olympics, World Championships, World Cups, Asian have been unable to conduct on- flagged that confir- and investors report- showing 0.4% growth.
Championships, Youth Olympic championships and police, line transactions as the lender's mations were not re- ing the problem on Aiding the sentiment was the
among others, a bank release said. internet banking services were ceived for orders twitter on a compet- country kicking off an expansion
�---------------------------------------------------------------------------- down since early Monday. placed in the NSE ing exchange today of its Covid-19 vaccine campaign
OAKS Asset Management launches While customers were able to lo-
gin into their internet banking ac-
cash segment due to
a "technical glitch".
morning. No one has
reported any prob-
with PM Narendra Modi getting in-
culcated.
Rs 500 crore consumer fund count, they could transfer funds. ment. You can complete this After mentioning lems in trading at At the closing bell, the BSE S&P
Leading private equity fund OAKS Asset Management has The transfer of 2,000 rupees at transaction by using a different about the technical glitch in a @bseindia today or last week any Sensex was up by 750 points or
launched its second fund, OAKS India Consumer Fund, around 1030 IST was not complet- payment option'." tweet at 10.01 am, HDFC Securities, day," BSE CEO Ashish Chauhan 1.53% at 49,850 while the Nifty 50
according to a press release. The category-II alternative ed because the one-time password According to a bank official, the at around 11.53 am, issued a state- tweeted. ticked higher by 232 points or 1.6%
investment fund, registered with Securities and Exchange came after 30 minutes, a user, who problem is not widespread and ment saying the issue "got resolved HDFC Securities said there was a to 14,762.
Board of India, has a fund size of 5 bln rupees along with a wished not to be named, told In- only some customers could be fac- at 9.50 am" and that investigation is technical glitch due to which con- Except for Nifty PSU bank which
green-shoe option of 2.5 bln rupees. The fund will aim to formist. "In another instance, the ing intermittent issues. going on to find out the root cause. firmations for orders placed in the slipped marginally, all other sec-
invest in a set of 10-12 entrepreneur-led consumer businesses credit card bill payment could not "The bank is looking into the is- An NSE spokesperson said that NSE cash segment were not re- toral indices at the National Stock
in India with an investment size ranging between 250 mln take place," he added. sue to ensure that customers are all the operations on its platforms ceived and that the issue has been Exchange were in the green with
rupees and 1 bln rupees per investee company. The fund has "There was message from able to use the services smoothly," were "functioning smooth and nor- resolved. It also added that the mat- Nifty auto up by 2.4%, metal by
received an initial commitment of 4 bln rupees. BillDesk stating that 'HDFC Bank the official said, while apologising mal". ter is being investigated to find out 1.9%, financial service by 1.8%, pri-
�---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Limited is unavailable at the mo- for the inconvenience caused. At little past 10.10 am, BSE tweet- the root cause. vate bank by 1.3% and IT by 1%.

Govt may retain inflation target Rentals beat luxe properties prices hands down
MONTHLY RENTALS FOR LUXURY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES UP 17-26% IN LAST 6 YEARS WHILE CAPITAL VALUE ROSE 15%

NEW DELHI: India is like-
ly to retain the current in-
flation target of 4%, within
a band of 2% to 6%, for the
next five years starting
April, a senior finance min-
istry official said.
"I think everyone is in
agreement that the existing
target should remain," the
official told Informist. The
inflation target for the Re-
serve Bank of India's Mone-
tary Policy Committee is
likely to be notified around
mid-March after approval of
the finance minister and
from the Prime Minister's
Office, the official said.
The current medium-term
inflation target, which was
notified in August 2016, ends
on March 31.
According to the RBI Act,
the government has to set
the inflation target once
every five years in consulta-
tion with the central bank. NEW DELHI: The growth rate of compared to the preceding year. Citing Anarock data, Puri said
The decision to retain the rentals in the top seven luxury Anuj Puri, Chairman of also reveals that from 2014 to 2020,
current inflation target for housing markets of the country Anarock Property Consultants rental prices in the top luxury
the next five years is "very rose by 17-26% in the past seven said: "The average rentals for a markets saw consistent year-on-
much" in consultation years, surpassing the rise in luxu- house of minimum 2,000 square year growth, averaging between 3-
with the central bank, the ry property prices in the same lo- feet size in the top seven cities' key 6% annually.
official said. calities during the same period, luxury hotspots rose anywhere be- "In contrast, capital appreciation
The RBI has for some with average capital prices in- tween 17% to 26% in 2020, as com- either remained range-bound or
time been arguing for re- creasing by 15%, according to an pared to 2014. In the same period, varied each year. Some years saw a
taining the current infla- Anarock report. average capital prices in these mi- decent yearly rise, even as high as
tion target of 4% within a It noted that 2020 was an outlier cro-markets saw a maximum rise 7%, while prices dropped by
band of 2-6%. year for all rental markets with al- of 15%, and some even saw a mar- around 5% in other years, particu-
most no change in monthly rentals ginal dip." larly in 2017,” he said.
 INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021
MONEY 11

Spectrum bids cross Rs 77K cr

BIZ BUZZ
Kotak Securities sees muted returns Multiple suitors line
up for Shipping Corp
from equities for most of 2021

on Day 1, all telcos participate

Kotak Securities is of the view that the Indian equity market
could witness consolidation in the coming months and that
further gains are likely only by the end of 2021, when there is NEW DELHI: London-
clarity about earnings estimates for 2022-23 (Apr-Mar). The based private equity firm
brokerage firm expects muted returns from the market over Foresight Group is among
the next few months because expensive valuations and the the multiple bidders who
likelihood of higher bond yields might overshadow potential AGENCIES/ New Delhi "Total value of spectrum put to auc- have put in preliminary
earnings upgrades. tion was about Rs 4 lakh crore. In this, bids for buying the govern-
India's first auction of spectrum in 700 MHz band was a costly band, and ment's entire stake in Ship-
Godrej buys 1.5 acre land parcels worth five years attracted Rs 77,146 crore of
bids on the opening day with Reliance
that cost itself is Rs 1.97 lakh crore,"
the minister said adding that the gov-
ping Corporation of India,
sources said.
Rs 166 cr for residential proj in Mumbai Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea ernment will take a call on 700 MHz The government is selling
Realty firm Godrej Properties Ltd has bought around 1.5 acre participating in the bidding process - a band, used for 5G, in case it remains its entire stake of 63.75 per Dubai-based GMS.
land parcels for Rs 166 crore in Mumbai to develop a response that the government said was unsold in the ongoing auctions. cent in Shipping Corpora- Essar Group as well as
residential project. In a regulatory filing, Godrej Properties Ltd better than expected. Excluding 700 MHz and 2500 Mhz tion of India, along with the Adani Group have not bid
(GPL) announced the addition of a new residential project in There were, however, no takers for bands, the bidding accounted for 60 per transfer of management for Shipping Corp privati-
Sanpada, Navi Mumbai. Spread over around 1.5 acres, this spectrum in 700 MHz and 2500 MHz "The winning bids that have come till cent of the spectrum that was put to control. The last date for sation, the sources added.
project will offer about 4 lakh square feet of development bands on the first day, and the auctions 6 PM today is Rs 77,146 crore. We auction. submitting the expression In November last year, the
potential comprising primarily of premium residential will continue and conclude on Tues- thought since there are only three The 700 MHz band went unsold dur- of interest was February Cabinet had given an in-
apartments with a small amount of high street retail. The day. players, and spectrum replacement is ing the 2016 auctions, too. During 2016, 13, which was later extend- principle approval for
Mumbai-based developer posted a 69 per cent decline in its About 2,308.80 MHz of spectrum, that happening...our estimation was that when there were seven bidders, the ed to March 1. strategic divestment of
consolidated net profit at Rs 14.35 crore for the quarter ended carry telecom signals, in seven bands the bids will touch about Rs 45,000 spectrum sold was 41 per cent by quan- Department of Invest- Shipping Corp and Contain-
December. Total income of the company fell to Rs 311.12 worth nearly Rs 4 lakh crore at the re- crore, but it is a matter of assurance tity and 12 per cent by value of the to- ment and Public Asset Man- er Corp of India Ltd. How-
crore in the third quarter of this fiscal year, from Rs 517.47 serve or start price, was offered for that it has gone as high as Rs 77,146 tal spectrum put to auction. The corre- agement (DIPAM) Secre- ever, the plans were delayed
crore in the corresponding period a year ago bidding in the auction that began on crore," Prasad said. sponding figures in the 2021 spectrum tary Tuhin Kanta Pandey due to the pandemic.
Monday. The bidder-wise details were not auction so far are 37 per cent and 19 on Monday tweeted "multi- In her Budget Speech 2021-
SP Group's litigation stalls resolution Communications Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad said Rs 77,146 crore
available immediately. A total of
2,308.80 MHz spectrum is being put to
per cent respectively, with three par-
ticipants.
ple expressions of interest
have been received for pri-
22, Finance Minister Nir-
mala Sitharaman had said,
process for Reliance Home Finance worth of spectrum was bid on the first auction, out of which there have been Spectrum will be offered for a validi- vatisation of Shipping Cor- "a number of transactions
The debt resolution process of Reliance Home Finance Ltd day but there were no takers for the bids for 849.20 MHz so far, an official ty period of 20 years. Successful bid- poration of India Limited. namely Bharat Petroleum
(RHFL), which is at the final stages, has been hit by the airwaves in the premium 700 MHz as release said. ders can pay entire bid amount in one The transaction will now Corp Ltd, Air India, Ship-
Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group's litigation against the home also 2500 MHz bands. The response Bids were received in 800 MHz, 900 go, or exercise an option to pay a cer- move to the second stage". ping Corp of India, Con-
finance company. The lenders of RHFL are unable to proceed from players and the bids received sur- MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300 tain amount (25 per cent for spectrum The sources said Fore- tainer Corp of India, IDBI
with the resolution process due to a coercive stay obtained by passed government's internal esti- MHz bands, as players gave the prized won in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz sight Group has bid in con- Bank, BEML Ltdamong oth-
the SP Group from the Delhi High Court in November 2019. mates, that had anticipated bids worth 700 MHz band a miss on the first day of bands or 50 per cent for spectrum won sortium with Belgium- ers, would be completed in
As per the stay order, RHFL is prohibited from disposing, Rs 45,000 crore. auctions. in 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz bands. based Exmar NV and 2021-22."
alienating, encumbering either directly or indirectly or
otherwise part with the possession of any of its assets, thus
directly impacting the ongoing debt resolution process.

IDBI Bank to set off Rs 45K cr losses

Top marketers to decode I-T dept searches premises of MSN Labs
against balance in premium account
LIC-controlled IDBI Bank will set off its accumulated losses
‘Brands and Consumers: NEW DELHI: The Income
Tax Department has de-
of which the assessee
group has admitted an ad-
and non-existent entities,
artificial inflation of cer-

2021 and Beyond’

tected "unaccounted" in- ditional income of Rs 350 tain heads of expenditure,
worth Rs 45,586 crore against the balance in the securities come of about Rs 400 crore crore," the CBDT claimed alongwith suppression of
premium account, according to the bank's draft scheme. after raids on a major in a statement. receipts relating to by-
Its accumulated losses (or debit balance of profit or loss pharmaceutical group It added that Rs 1.66 crore product sale were detected.
account) at the end of March 31, 2020, stood at Rs 45,586 STAFF REPORTER/ Mumbai based MSN Labs in Hyder- cash was also seized dur- "Evidence of on-money
crore. And, they were at Rs 44,739 crore as on December 31, abad, the Central Board of ing the operation. payment for purchase of
2020. The accumulated losses as at March 31, 2021, shall be In order to understand the Direct Taxes (CBDT) said "Incriminating evidence lands was also found," it al-
ascertained after the audited financial statements are strategies devised by top on Monday. in the form of digital me- leged.
approved by the bank's board, said the lender, as per the brands to tackle the chal- The searches were car- cal ingredients (APIs) and dia, pen drives, documents, Multiple other legal is-
draft scheme addressed to its shareholders for setting off the lenges of the global pandem- ried out on February 24 at formulations, and majori- etc. have been found and sues were also identified
accumulated losses. ic and to look beyond it, the around 20 locations spread ty of its products are ex- seized," the CBDT said. such as personal expenses
Indian Society of Advertis- across five states. ported to European coun- The statement said digi- being booked in the compa-
Rail min directs IRCTC to terminate ers (ISA), in association with
the Free Press Journal and
The CBDT said the phar-
maceutical group is en-
tries and the USA.
"The search has led to un-
tal evidences were gath-
ered from SAP-ERP soft-
ny's books and land pur-
chased by related concerns
all contracts of mobile catering ABP Network, organised a gaged in the business of earthing of evidence relat- ware. or individuals below gov-
The railway ministry has directed Indian Railway Catering and webinar ‘Brands and Con- manufacturing of interme- ing to unaccounted income "Issues relating to pur- ernment value, the CBDT
Tourism Corp Ltd to cancel all existing mobile catering sumers: 2021 and Beyond’. Brands and Services? What diates, active pharmaceuti- of around Rs 400 crore, out chases made from bogus said.
contracts that involve providing food prepared at base While the first part of are the lessons learnt in

Sebi for dual nod to appoint ind directors

kitchens as per existing terms and conditions, the company this series was a huge suc- overcoming the challenges
said in a regulatory filing. The government's directive follows
the issue of mobile catering being raised by the petition
cess, the second part that
will be held on March 3 will
posed by lockdown, WFH
and fears caused by Covid
Mobility biz
members of Indian Railways' Mobile Caterers Association, or
IRMCA, on Jan 19, in which the Madras High Court had
be no less. In the second
session, the best Marketing
cases? To answer these
questions, we have four recovery in NEW DELHI: Seeking to profit-linked commission for
directed the railway department to consider representation by
the association to restore its services.
minds from across the
service sector will share
prominent leaders from
four different services, India strong, further strengthen the reg-
ulatory framework for inde-
independent directors as
part of reviewing their re-

US manufacturing activity jumps

their best practices during
the pandemic and the way
to look beyond.
to three-year high in February Commenting on the two-
US manufacturing expanded in February at the fastest pace part webinar initiative,
three years with the arrival of a surge in new orders. The Sunil Kataria, ISA Chair-
Institute for Supply Management reported Monday that its man, said, “Over the years,
gauge of manufacturing activity rose to a reading of 60.8 per ISA has been organising
cent last month, 2.1 percentage-points above the January knowledge seminars/webi-
level of 58.7 per cent. It was the strongest performance since nars for the benefit of the
February 2018. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion in ecosystem of advertisers
the manufacturing sector. and marketers. Continuing
the same, our two-part we-
US spending on construction projects binar series focuses on the
issue most of us are facing:
sharing their thoughts in
the second session of
‘Brands and Consumers:
2021 and Beyond’ hosted by
ISA and Free Press Journal
on March 3, 2021. All are
welcome to join.”
This session will have
names like President and
Group Head-Marketing,
Service Quality, Financial
Services & Innovation,
Thomas Cook (India) Lim-
ited; Ajay Kakar, Chief
Marketing Officer, Aditya
says Uber
NEW DELHI: Ride hailing
major Uber on Monday
announced that its
mobility business in India
is showing strong signs of
recovery fuelled by rising
rider demand for low cost
products Auto and Moto.
Low-cost products like
Auto have already
surpassed pre-Covid
levels, the company said
pendent directors, Sebi pro-
posed putting in place a
dual approval system for
their appointment as well
as removal, and disclosure
of entire resignation letters
of such directors.
In a significant move, the
regulator has suggested
that independent directors'
appointments should be
cleared by the "majority of
the minority" shareholders
under the dual approval
system. Minority share-
holders would mean those
other than the promoter
and promoter group.
Besides, the watchdog has
mooted whether ESOPs with
a vesting period of five years
should be allowed instead of
muneration structure.
Sebi on Monday issued a
consultation paper for re-
viewing the regulatory pro-
visions related to independ-
ent directors, giving minor-
ity shareholders a greater
say in their appointment,
re-appointment and re-
moval.
Other proposals include
broadening eligibility crite-
ria for independent direc-
tors.

rises 1.7% in January in a statement.

Govt eyes Rs 3.4 L cr investment

Brands & Consumers-2021 Birla Capital; Mohit
Spending on US construction projects rose 1.7 per cent in and Beyond. We bring you Kapoor, Group Vice Presi- Kolkata, Hyderabad and
January as new home building continues to lift the sector. leadership views and dent -Advertising & Inno- Mumbai are among Uber's
Last month's increase followed small revised gains in fastest recovering metro

at Maritime India Summit 2021

strategies from across the
December and November. Spending on residential Manufacturing and the
construction rose 2.5 per cent in January, with single family Services sectors."
home projects up 3 per cent, the Commerce Department The upcoming session on
reported Monday. ‘Services’ will be moderat-
ed by Narendra Ambwani,
Developers must be cautious about ISA Executive Council
Member and former MD,
hiking property prices, say experts Johnson & Johnson. Com-
With the property market in the country witnessing menting on the session,
momentum on account of lower interest rates and various Ambwani said, “All aspects
government incentives, developers should ensure that real of our lives were impacted
estate prices do not appreciate much which could hit demand, by the pandemic during
feel experts. Over the past few months, home sales have 2020. Brands and Con-
surged in few regions, including in Mumbai, driven by lower sumers expectation as well
interest rates and cut in stamp duty. as behaviours faced many
challenges. Of course,
True North to pick up minority stake everyone discovered vari-
ous ways to handle the sit-
in Anthem Biosciences uation. Many new opportu-
Private equity fund True North on Monday announced that it nities also emerged. Which
will be acquiring a minority stake in Bengaluru-based pharma changes will become future
player Anthem Biosciences by investing an undisclosed sum in expectations from the
the company. True North has signed definitive documents to
vations, Jio Platforms Lim-
ited; and Ravi Desai, Direc-
tor, Mass & Brand Market-
ing International, Amazon
India. All speakers are ISA
members.
Abhishek Karnani,
Director, The Free Press
Journal, said, “This initia-
tive will be significant to
all advertisers and mar-
keters who want to strate-
gise the future course of
actions for their brands.”
The knowledge partner
for the webinar is Mogae
Media and Laqshya is the
outdoor partner.
Catch the upcoming webi-
nar live from 5 pm onwards
on March 3 on the YouTube
channel of the Free Press
Journal and ABP Live.
markets, it added.
Uber Auto's recovery
across India, in terms of
gross bookings, has now
exceeded pre-Covid levels
with Mumbai, Delhi,
Hyderabad, Mysore,
Bhubaneswar, Jaipur,
Nagpur, Indore, Nashik
and Kochi showcasing the
strongest growth.
"As tens of millions of
Indians start travelling in
the new normal, the
strong recovery in smaller
towns underscores
success for the company's
'India to Bharat' strategy,
which offers new
products in regional
markets," the statement
said.
AGENCIES
New Delhi
The government is aiming
to attract investment worth
Rs 3.39 lakh crore during
Maritime India Summit
2021 in various projects.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is scheduled to inau-
gurate Maritime India Sum-
mit 2021 (MIS 2021) on Tues-
day, which will be held vir-
tually and is likely to be
participated by many na-
tions, including Russia,
Uzbekistan, Qatar, Den-
mark, Iran, Afghanistan,
and Armenia.
"The Ministry of Ports,
Shipping, and Waterways
(MoPSW) is in process of fi-
nalising more than 487
MoUs for investments
worth approx Rs 3.39 lakh
Crore," the government
said in a statement on Mon-
day.
These are likely to be
signed during the second
edition of the Maritime In-
dia Summit to be held from
March 2 to 4.
These MoUs will be signed
with different coastal states
and stakeholders of the sec-
tor. These agreements are
focused on attracting in-
vestment, skilling, and gen-
erating employment in the
sector, the statement said.
The signing of these
MoUs will help in stream-
lining the process of ship
manoeuvring, resulting in
more business to the ports
and economic stability to
the sector and its stakehold-
ers, it said.

What's holding FMCGs down? Credit to services rises,

acquire the stake and looks to partner with founders Ajay
Bhardwaj, Ganesh Sambasivan and KC Ravindra as Anthem
invests growth capital towards expanding capacity and
NSE, MCX, INX sign
capability for its rapid growth phase. pact to set up bullion
PGCIL board okays interim dividend
of Rs four per share for 2020-21
TEJI MANDI

FMCG sector has come under pressure

despite the strong demand outlook due to
State-run Power Grid Corporation (PGCIL) on Monday said its the rising raw material prices.
board has approved an interim dividend of Rs 4 per share for Home and Personal care (HPC) companies
2020-21. The interim dividend shall be paid to the members are particularly impacted as the impact is
on March 30, 2021, the company said in a BSE filing. "Board highest among these segments.
of Directors in its Meeting held today i.e. on 1st March, 2021 Home and Personal Care companies to see
have approved the payment of Interim Dividend of Rs. 4 per margin erosion in March quarter. Palm Fatty
equity share of Rs. 10/- each (@40% of the paid up equity Acid Distillate (PFAD) is witnessing steep
share capital) for the Financial Year 2020-21," the filing said. inflation during the quarter due to 36% YoY
increase in palm oil prices.
Bank credit to grow 400-500 bps PFAD is the key raw material for soap
manufacturers, HUL and Godrej Consumers.
higher at 9-10% next fiscal: Crisil High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) has also
Bank credit is seen growing 400-500 basis points (bps) higher witnessed a surge in prices, up 28% YoY,
at 9-10 per cent next fiscal as the Indian economy recovers, during the current quarter as Crude prices
supported by budgetary stimulants and measures announced have increased 16% YoY. HDPE is a
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Crisil said on Monday. he packaging raw material.
ratings agency has already raised India's GDP growth forecast The surge in Crude and HPDE will impact
for next fiscal to 11 per cent, or 100 bps higher than what all FMCG companies.
was presaged in December 2020. In the current fiscal, bank Copra prices have continued to remain in
credit is seen rising 4-5 per cent despite the sharpest an uptrend.
contraction the Indian economy has seen since Independence. It has increased by about 24% YoY and 5%
QoQ. During the quarter, other important
Paytm claims to cross 1.2 billion raw materials like
Liquid paraffin oil (LLP) is up 28% YoY and
monthly digital payment transactions 16%. It is a key ingredient for hair oil. It will
Digital payments firm Paytm on Monday said that it has put pressure on the margins of Marico along
crossed 1.2 billion monthly transactions driven by high with inflation in HDPE.
growth in offline payments and financial services. Marico has already increased the prices of
The company said that it maintains the highest market share Parachute coconut oil to mitigate the impact
in offline merchant payments with 15 per cent month-on- of the rising cost of copra. It is likely to take
month growth. Paytm, which has over 150 million monthly a price hike in its value-added hair oil
active users has witnessed that the majority of its account category as well during the quarter.
holders embrace and adopt banking, lending, insurance, Paint companies have also started to
wealth and other financial services on the platform. witness the impact of inflation in key raw
materials like Crude, TiO2, and HDPE.
Inflation in Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), key raw
material for paints, has gone up by 9% YoY
and 3% QoQ. Crude prices have also gone
up 16% YoY.
Among the Agri commodities, wheat prices
have dropped by 5% QoQ benefiting food-
based FMCGs like Nestle and Britannia.
However, that impact is nullified by the
hike in milk prices which has gone up from
Rs 24 to Rs 31 in last six months. Prices of
Palm Oil and Coffee also continue to remain
on a higher side.
Teji Mandi (TM Investment Technologies Pvt.
Ltd.) is a SEBI registered investment advisor.
No information in this article should not be
construed as investment advice. Please visit
www.tejimandi.com to know more.
exchange at GIFT City
AGENCIES
New Delhi
The National Stock Exchange of In-
dia Ltd, Multi Commodity Exchange
of India Ltd, India INX Internation-
al Exchange Ltd, National Securi-
ties Depository Ltd and Central De-
pository Services (India) Ltd have
signed a memorandum of under-
standing to set up market infra-
structure institutions.
This will comprise an internation-
al bullion exchange, clearing corpo-
ration and depository at Gujarat In-
ternational Finance Tec-City, NSE
said in a press release.
It will be in line with the Centre's
objective to make India a price-set-
ter in bullion through GIFT Interna-
tional Finance Service Centre in ac-
cordance with the International Fi-
nancial Services Centres Authority
(Bullion Exchange) Regulations,
2020 and other applicable laws.
The Centre had notified the bullion
spot delivery contract and bullion
depository receipt as financial prod-
ucts and related services under the
International Financial Services
Centres Authority Act, 2019. The In-
ternational Financial Services Cen-
tres Authority will run the opera-
tions of the bullion exchange.
ebbs for large industries
AGENCIES/ New Delhi
As credit flow from banks
improve with the accelera-
tion in economic activities
post the gradual lifting of
the lockdown restrictions,
credit growth has not been
on the same lines across
sectors.
As per the the Reserve
Bank of India's data, loans
towards large industries de-
clined on the back of
stressed assets in the seg-
ment, while that in the serv-
ices sector increased.
Industrial credit includes
credit to micro, small, medi-
um and large industries, de-
pending upon the firms' in-
vestment in plant and
machinery
turnover.
and their
Large industries consti-
tuted around 82 per cent of
the credit offtake to the in-
dustrial sector, while the
micro, small and medium
industries together consti-
tuted the rest in November
2020.
Credit to the industrial
sector has generally re-
mained weak in the recent
years. A peak of 6.9 per cent
was achieved in April 2019
but there has been a contin-
uous decline in credit off-
take since then, with credit
growth turning negative in
October 2020, it noted.
The recent decline in cred-
it growth was mainly due to
the large industries.
"Owing to the stressed as-
sets in large industries,
there was a general reluc-
tance on the part of
bankers to lend to these in-
dustries, with the problem
getting compounded by the
pandemic," it said.
The silver lining has been
the robust growth of credit
to the medium industries.
The services sector, on the
other hand, witnessed a ro-
bust credit growth.
12 SPORTS
FREE PRESS
TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021 | INDORE
Indian team trains for final Test
'Big guns go full
throttle at nets'…
AHMEDABAD
Big guns Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma
and Ajinkya Rahane went full throttle
at the nets as the Indian cricket on
Monday trained in earnest for the
upcoming fourth and final Test
against England.Captain Kohli, his
deputy Rahane and senior opener
Rohit were seen batting at the nets in
a video posted by the BCCI on Twitter.
Man U's title
bid drifts away
FP NEWS SERVICE
London
Former champions' Man-
chester United's bid to hit
the top met with yet another
set back as they were held to
goalless encounter against
Chelsea at the Stamford
Bridge, here on Sunday.
It was the fifth time United
has been held in the nine
Premier League matches
since Ole Gunnar Solsk-
jaer's side went top 47 days
earlier.
No wonder Solskjaer
downplayed the elevated
status, even after the Jan. 12
victory over Burnley gave
United a glimmer of hope of
ending an eight-year title
drought. With only three
wins since then, United has
allowed Manchester City to
take control - with City
showing the attacking
strength completely lacking
in United's display at Stam-
ford Bridge. "We were both
quite sort of safe," United
defender Luke Shaw said.
Sindhu, Saina may
face off in semis
BASEL (SWITZERLAND)
Reigning world champion
P V Sindhu will be eager
to return to the podium
as former winner Saina
Nehwal looks to regain
her touch in the season-
opening Swiss Open tour-
nament beginning here
on Tuesday.
Indian men's singles
players, too, have tasted
success in this tourna-
ment with Sameer Ver-
ma, HS Prannoy and Ki-
dambi Srikanth emerg-
ing victorious in 2018,
2016 and 2015 respectively
and B Sai Praneeth fin-
ishing runners-up in the
last edition.
All four will be looking
to relive the moments and
extend India's good run at
the USD 140,000 event
which will also resume
The three senior players drove,
pulled and flicked against the fast
bowlers and spinners at the
Narendra Modi Stadium here.Head
coach Ravi Shastri was seen inter-
acting with Rohit and Kohli before
the two star batsmen sat together for
a discussion.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel was
seen rolling his arms over at the
nets against some of the world's best
All eyes on Chirag-Satwik
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Basel (Switzerland)
Reigning world champion P
V Sindhu will be eager to re-
turn to the podium as for-
mer winner Saina Nehwal
looks to regain her touch in
the season-opening Swiss
Open tournament beginning
here on Tuesday.
Indian men's singles play-
ers, too, have tasted success
in this tournament with
Sameer Verma, HS Prannoy
and Kidambi Srikanth
emerging victorious in 2018,
2016 and 2015 respectively
and B Sai Praneeth finishing
runners-up in the last edi-
tion.
All four will be looking to
relive the moments and ex-
tend India's good run at the
USD 140,000 event which will
also resume the extended
Olympic qualifying period.
It was here at St. Jakob-
shalle venue that Olympic
silver medallist Sindhu had
claimed the world champi-
onship gold in 2019, her last
SWISS OPEN
the extended Olympic
qualifying period.It was
here at St. Jakobshalle
venue that Olympic silver
medallist Sindhu had
claimed the world cham-
pionship gold in 2019, her
last title before the
COVID-19 pandemic dis-
ruption.
The 25-year-old from
Hyderabad, seeded sec-
ond, will look to go the
distance again as she
opens her campaign
against Turkey's Nesli-
han Yigit.
Sindhu didn't have a
good outing in the three
events in Thailand re-
cently but the road to the
quarterfinal here looks
smooth for the Indian
where she is likely to con-
front fifth seed Thai Bu-
sanan Ongbamrungphan,
an opponent she had beat-
batsmen.They were also seen field-
ing with Rahane, standing next to
Rohit in the second slip position,
taking a one-handed diving catch to
his right.The Indian team had a full-
fledged practice session here on
Sunday as well.Leading 2-1 in the
series, India will be without top
pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the final
Test as he has been released from
the squad.
title before the COVID-19
pandemic disruption.
The 25-year-old from Hy-
derabad, seeded second, will
look to go the distance again
as she opens her campaign
against Turkey's Neslihan
Yigit. Sindhu didn't have a
good outing in the three
events in Thailand recently
but the road to the quarterfi-
nal here looks smooth for the
Indian where she is likely to
confront fifth seed Thai Bu-
sanan Ongbamrungphan,
an opponent she had beaten
at the Toyota Thailand Open
in January.
Two-time former winner
Saina, too, is in the same
half but the senior pro will
have to overcome players
like Korea's sixth seed Sung
Ji Hyun and fourth seeded
Danish Mia Blichfeldt --
en at the Toyota Thailand
Open in January.Two-
time former winner
Saina, too, is in the same
half but the senior pro
will have to overcome
players like Korea's sixth
seed Sung Ji Hyun and
fourth seeded Danish Mia
Blichfeldt -- whom she is
likely to meet -- to set up a
semifinal face-off with
Sindhu.
All eyes will also be on
world number 10 men's
doubles pair of Satwik-
sairaj Rankireddy and
Chirag Shetty after their
semifinal finish at Toyota
Thailand Open.The Indi-
an pair, seeded second,
would look to stretch its
good run, especially after
a month-long training
session under new dou-
bles coach Mathias Boe of
Denmark.
whom she is likely to meet --
to set up a semifinal face-off
with Sindhu.
Former world number one
Saina, who turns 31 this
month, is at the fag end of
an illustrious career, having
slipped to 19 in the BWF
rankings but she still has
the hunger to make it to an-
other Olympics.
The London bronze medal-
list will hope to make a posi-
tive start when she opens
against Thailand's Phittaya-
porn Chaiwan, a former
world junior championships
bronze medallist.
All eyes will also be on
world number 10 men's dou-
bles pair of Satwiksairaj
Rankireddy and Chirag
Shetty after their semifinal
finish at Toyota Thailand
Open.
The Indian pair, seeded
second, would look to
stretch its good run, espe-
cially after a month-long
training session under new
doubles coach Mathias Boe
of Denmark.
Deactivating my
social media handles
till Olympics: Bajrang
NEW DELHI: Olympic-
bound star Indian grap-
pler Bajrang Punia on
Monday announced he
will be deactivating all his
social media accounts un-
til the Games in Tokyo
this July-August.One of
India's biggest medal
hopes at the Olympics, Ba-
jrang took to Twitter to
announce the decision.
"I will be shutting all my
social media handles start-
ing from today. Now I will
meet all of you after the
Olympics.... I hope you
will continue to shower
me with your love..... Jai
Hind," he tweeted in hin-
di.Bajrang, who had quali-
fied for the Olympics after
earning a quota at the 2019
World Championships, re-
cently returned from USA
after attending a one-
month training camp at
Cliff Keen Wrestling Club
in Michigan. The 27-year-
old will be seen in action
in the UWW ranking se-
ries event -- Matteo Pelli-
cone in Italy from Thurs-
day.
Get Ashwin back to ODI squad: Hogg
SYDNEY: Former Australia all-rounder Brad Hogg has called for Ashwin's
inclusion in India's ODI squad, saying the senior off-spinner is a wicket-taker
who also adds depth to batting.Replying to a tweet by a fan, Hogg said Ashwin
would be a great addition to Indian side in the 50-over format.
Kohli is like modern day hero: Waugh
MUMBAI
Australian great Steve
Waugh feels that Virat
Kohli is like a "modern-
day hero" who represents
the "new attitude of India"
of taking everything head
on with a mind set of
nothing is impossible.In a
60-minute documentary ti-
tled, "Capturing Cricket:
Steve Waugh in India", the
former Australia captain
said that Kohli is loved by
the fans for his attitude of
not being intimidated by
an opposition.
"What they love about
Kohli is that it's like the
new attitude of India, get
stuck in, don't be intimi-
dated. Take everything on
and anything is achiev-
able and possible. But he's
like the modern-day hero,"
Waugh was quoted as say-
ing in a media release is-
sued here after the launch
of the documentary.
'Paul Juda performs on the rings during the Winter Cup gymnastics competition, in Indianapolis. AP/PTI
Lukaku scores after 32 seconds
as Inter beats Genoa 3-0
MILAN
Romelu Lukaku scored after
just 32 seconds and helped to
set up two goals as league
leader Inter Milan beat
Genoa 3-0 in Serie A.Inter
dominated but took until the
69th minute to double its
lead, through Matteo Darmi-
an. Substitute Alexis
Sánchez sealed the win to
ensure Antonio Conte's side
remained four points above
second-place AC Milan,
which won 2-1 at Roma.
It was Genoa's first league
defeat since early January
and left it 13th, eight points
above the drop zone.
Inter was bidding for a
fifth straight league win and
it got off to the perfect start
when Nicolò Barella sent a
ball through to Lukaku, who
played a quick one-two with
Lautaro Martínez before
drilling into the bottom left
corner.
The Nerazzurri wasted a
number of chances and
Barella also hit a long-range
stunner off the crossbar in
the 17th.Inter finally dou-
bled its lead when Lukaku
I'd rather miss Olympics than take vaccine: Blake
KINGSTON: Jamaica's
two-time Olympic gold
medallist sprinter Yohan
Blake said that he would
rather not participate in the
Tokyo Olympics than take a
vaccine for Covid-19. The In-
ternational Olympic Com-
mittee (IOC) has "encour-
aged" all athletes travelling
for the Games to take a vac-
cine but it is not compulso-
ry."My mind still stays
strong, I don't want any vac-
cine, I'd rather miss the
Olympics than take the vac-
cine, I am not taking it,"
Vijender's next bout in Goa on Mar 19
NEW DELHI
Olympic bronze medallist boxer
Vijender Singh's next bout will
take place on the rooftop of a casi-
no ship docked in the Mandovi riv-
er in Goa on March 19. His oppo-
nent is, however, yet to be re-
vealed.The 2008 Olympic mid-
dleweight bronze medal winner
will fight on the rooftop of the Ma-
jestic Pride Casino Ship docked in
the Mandovi river, his promoters
said in a statement on Monday.
However, the 35-year-old boxer's op-
ponent will be announced later.
"Undefeated professional boxing
star Vijender Singh is set to make
fascinated by how the lo-
cals celebrated the sport
of cricket." According to
Waugh, his recent trip to
places like the stadium in
Dharamshala and Oval
Maidan in Mumbai gave
him Memories of a life-
time.
"My recent journey visit-
ing Taj Mahal, Chin-
naswamy Stadium, the
Maharajah Lakshmi Vilas
Palace, HPCA Stadium,
Oval Maidan, as well as lo-
cations around Delhi and
MAXWELL CALLS VIRAT 'PINNACLE OF THE GAME' Kolkata, gave me stories
A ustralian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is chuffed
about playing alongside and learning from Virat
Kohli in the upcoming IPL, calling the Indian captain
and lifetime memories,"
he said.
"I am positive that when
"the pinnacle of the game" for his dominance across for- the fans in India watch the
mats."He's (Kohli) been the pinnacle of the game for a documentary, they will be
while as a multi-format player from Tests all the way to able to feel the very emo-
T20s."He's been able to adapt his game, dominate for a tion of the journey." The
long period of time and deal with the Indian pressure of documentary captures the
being their captain and their best player," Maxwell added. very essence and undying
love for the game in India
Waugh said he was al- brated cricket. through the lens of
ways fascinated by how "Since, my first visit to Waugh and is brought by
the people in India cele- India in 1986, I was always discovery.
Batsmen, bowlers
should earn on any
type of pitch: Parsana
AHMEDABAD
Former India left-arm spin-
ner Dhiraj Parsana, who
served as
curator in
Ahmed-
abad for 36
years
(1982-2018)
says that
an ideal
pitch is
one where
you don't give anything to
anyone for free and ensure
that both batsmen and
MILAN WINS bowlers earn their runs
M ilan kept up the pressure on city rival Inter despite
having goals ruled out and hitting the wood-
and wickets, respectively.
"You don't give anything
work.Fikayo Tomori and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both had to anyone. They should
goals ruled out for offside for Milan and Simon Kjær hit earn -- runs as batsmen,
the crossbar before the visitors broke the deadlock wickets as bowlers. I used
three minutes from halftime when Franck Kessié con-
verted a penalty after Federico Fazio had fouled Davide
to think on these lines and
would not listen. I don't
Calabria. Henrikh Mkhitaryan had a goal ruled out for want to compare with what
Roma, which leveled five minutes after the break is going on at present. But
thanks to Jordan Veretout's curled effort. that is how I would try and
prepare the pitch," said
drew defenders toward him ward immediately scored Parsana. The pitches for
before setting up an un- as he turned in the rebound the second and third Tests
marked Darmian. after Genoa goalkeeper have come under limelight
Sánchez was brought on Mattia Perin parried for giving spinners too
in the 76th and the Inter for- Lukaku's effort. much help.
Blake, 31, was quoted as say-
ing in Jamaican newspaper
The Gleaner.
"I don't really want to get
into it now, but I have my
reasons," he said.The Tokyo
Olympics is expected to be
Blake's final Games. A se-
ries of eight athletics meets
were organised in Jamaica
on Saturday, marking the re-
turn of sports events in the
Caribbean island nation af-
ter they were paused due to
the pandemic. Blake himself
was speaking after partici-
pating in one of the meets.
his return to the ring on March 19
and this time he will be exchanging
fists in Vegas-style boxing on the
Majestic Pride Casino Ship in Goa.
The first-of-its-kind fight will be held
on the rooftop deck of the Majestic
Pride Casino Ship, which has been
roped in as the venue partner," said
IoS Boxing Promotions in the state-
ment. Vijender said he is looking for-
ward to the bout. His previous pro
bout was in November 2019."I am re-
ally excited to return to the ring. It
excites me more to have my fight set-
up on a ship. It is something that has
never happened before in India and I
am glad to be part of this unique
professional match.
13 (V)INGLISH CHALLENGE INDORE TUESDAY| MARCH 2, 2021

Mumbai humble
VIV IS AT
FP NEWS SERVICE have now been taken out of

Himachal
Mumbai their comfort zone at pres-
ent and they have got to find
There is nothing new about ways and means to cope
the past and the present with what they are going to
English cricketers moaning encounter. "Spin is also a

SEA WITH
and groaning about the part of the game, this is
spin-friendly wickets. what a Test match brings.
They are not prepared to The Indian pacers have
meet the challenge, says the been brilliant over the past
legends in the nutshell few years in terms of sub-

PITCH
about the recent cry over stance, the wicket-taking
the Motera wickets on ability and stuff like that."
which the third Test match The legend urged the Eng-
between India and England lish team to work harder
was over in less than two and face the challenge res-
days.

MOANING
The severe criticism came

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Jaipur
Domestic giants Mumbai
trounced Himachal
Pradesh by 200 runs in
their final Elite Group D
game here on Monday to re-
main unbeaten in the
league stage of the Vijay
Hazare Trophy.
Mumbai had won their
first four matches against
Delhi, Maharashtra,
Puducherry and Ra-
jasthan. Opting to bat at the
Sawai Mansingh Stadium,
Mumbai posted an impos-
ing 321 for nine, courtesy
Shardul Thakur's 92,
Suryakumar Yadav's 91 and
Aditya Tare's 83 after a top-
order failure. Himachal
were then bundled out for a
meagre 121, with leg-spin-
ner Prashant Solanki (4-31)
shining with the ball.
Mumbai were teetering at
wicket as Mumbai got off to
a horrendous start.
It soon became 49 for four,
after Sarfaraz Khan (11)
failed to convert his start.
Then began the rescue act
with the prolific Suryaku-
mar, who toyed with the Hi-
machal attack, striking 15
boundaries on his way to a
75-ball 91.
He found an able ally in
the experienced Tare (83 off
98 balls; 6x4; 1x6) who
played the perfect second
fiddle as the duo forged a 99-
run fifth wicket stand to
rally the innings.
After Suryakumar fell in
the 31st over, Tare and
Shardul added 112 runs for
the sixth wicket, as they
tackled the Himachal attack
with ease.
Shardul, one of the he-
roes of the Brisbane Test
against Australia, ham-
mered six boundaries and
from former England cap-
tains like Michael Vaughan
and a section of the British
media.
All the chatter has not
gone down well with
Richards, whose incredible
range of strokes and fear-
less approach to the game
terrorised the best of
bowlers in his prime in
every corner of the cricket-
ing world.
"I've been asked questions
recently about the Test
match that was played in In-
dia, the second and third
Test match against Eng-
land.
"And I am a little confused
about the question really
because there seems to be a
lot of moaning and groan-
ing about the wicket that
they were playing on,"
Richards said in a video
posted on his Facebook
page.
"I just felt that the ones
B
ut now you've
seen the other
side, and this is
why I think it was
given the name Test
The legend feels that India have match cricket,
pushed England out of their comfort because of the test
zone, weeks after the visitors started of the mind and will
the series with a big win and everything else
that goes with it
when you're
competing"
who are moaning, in my has mostly been about tack- Test match cricket, because "People seem to forget that olutely.
opinion, should realise that ling quality spinners and of the test of the mind and if you're going to India, you "...now that you're in In-
there are times that you're that England may not have will and everything else should expect that. You are dia, you are going to en-
going to get a seaming done their homework prop- that goes with it when going to spin land. You counter things and have got
track, a ball that is jumping erly ahead of the tour. you're competing. should prepare yourself to to find a way. You're going to
off a good length and every- Weighing in on the debate, "And the complaints have know what you're going to get dirty. There is nothing
one thinks that's a problem the batting great said, "... been that the wicket is spin- encounter." in the rule book that says
for batters," he reasoned. But now you've seen the ning too much and all that "Ever since that first Test I've got to score my runs in
The 68-year-old pointed other side, and this is why I sorts of stuff. This is anoth- match, England were in pretty, classical ways," he
out that playing in India think it was given the name er side of the coin guys. their comfort zone. They said.

Shaw to lead Mumbai in Hazare knockouts

eight for three after losing
openers Yashasvi Jaiswal
(2), Prithvi Shaw (2) and
Shreyas Iyer (2) cheaply.
While Jaiswal was caught
by Praveen Thakur off
Rishi Dhawan (4-84), Shaw
holed out to Mayank Dagar
off Vaibhav Arora. Dhawan
trapped Iyer in front of
as many sixes, as he can-
tered to 92 in just 57 balls.
Brief Scores
Mumbai 321-9 (Sl Thakur 92, S
Yadav 91, A Tare 83; R Dhawan
4/84, P Jaswal 3/65) beat
Himachal Pradesh 121 (M
Dagar 38 not out, P Solanki
4/31, S Mulani 3/42)
FP NEWS SERVICE / Mumbai
In absence of three main players, Prithivi
Shaw has been handed the skipper's baton of
the 22-member Mumbai squad for the knock-
out phase of the Vijay Hazare Trophy na-
tional 50-over championship. Mumbai will
not have the services of regular skipper
Shreyas Iyer, prolific Suryakumar Yadav and
pacer Shardul Thakur, who will be away on
national duty. Apart from Shaw, the Mumbai
batting line up has young opener Yashasvi
Jaiswal, crisis man Siddhesh Lad, experi-
enced wicket-keeper batsman Aditya Tare,
Akhil Herwadkar, Sarfaraz Khan and all-
rounder Shivam Dube. The bowling attack
will be led by experienced speedster Dhawal
Kulkarni and comprises pacers Tushar
Deshpande and Aakash Parkar, spinners
Prashant Solanki, Atharva Ankolekar and
Shams Mulani. The knock-outs, which will
be played in New Delhi from March 7.
The Squad: Prithvi Shaw (captain),
Yashaswi Jaiswal, Akhil Herwadkar, Sid-
dhesh Lad, Dhaval Kulkarni, Sarfaraz Khan,
Aditya Tare, Chinmay Sutar, Hardik Tamore,
Shivam Dube, Aakash Parkar, Atif Attar-
wala, Shams Mulani, Atharva Ankolekar,
Sairaj Patil, Sujit Nayak, Tanush Kotian,
Prashant Solanki, Aman Khan, Tushar Desh-
pande, Siddharth Raut and Mohit Awasthi.

INDORE SPORTS
Best Player Award in Balaji
Army Red, Pune win basketball tourney
ciary. One cannot blame the Maharashtra girl entirely
for her loss. Luck was also on the Haryana girl’s side at
crucial junctures, who raced into a comfortable lead. But
the story is not how she won in the end. It’s about how Ta-
cup badminton tourney
neesha found her rhythm in the fourth game and played In the first Balaji Cup
brilliantly from thereon. Indore district sub Jun-
She relied on the backhand, her strength. It worked ior ranking badminton
well, and when employed with the occasional topspin event organized under
forehand, she had a complete potent mixture. Suhana the joint aegis of Indore
was forced into errors and kept slipping away from her district badminton asso-
commanding position. The Haryana girl came into her- ciation and Balaji Bad-
self in the decisive game to sew it up nicely. minton Academy, players
In the second semifinal, Sayali Wani continued to sur- will be given trophy and
prise when she knocked out defending champion and prizes from semi-finals
statemate Pritha Vartikar 4-0. Equally surprising was stage. IDBA Secretary
the way Pritha went down without a fight. Pritha never RP Singh Nayyar and
went all out, making Sayali’s plans do the rest. Deepali Khamrola said

A rmy Red, Pune defeated Punjab

Police to bag the title of all-In-
dia Invitational Shanky Hardia Me-
Red. At the same time, the top scor-
er of the final was Gurandir Singh
of Punjab. He also collected 21
NBA Secretary Laxmikant Patel,
Prof. SK Bundy, Sunil Hardia, Vin-
od Nair, Jitendra Mishra, Sandeep
morial basketball championship points for his team. Bhandari, Kuldeep Hardia and
concluded at Basketbal Complex on Third place Indian Air Force de- Ajay Kher. Hardia accepted the vote
Monday. Indian Air Force secured feated Income Tax Delhi by 97- of thanks. Before startting the fi-
the third position. 80.The awards were distributed un- nal, a beautiful cultural pro-
The finals of this event played in der the hospitality of BSF Inspector gramme was also organized. The
a very exciting way. Punjab police General Ashok Kumar Yadav, MLA winning team was awarded a prize
were ahead till half time but Army Siddharth Kushwaha and Jai of 51 thousand rupees and an at-
Red won the match 79-72. Thanks to Hardia. To guests, emblem were tractive trophy. The runners-up
21 points from Gopal Ram and 16 present by M.P. Basketball Associa- were given a prize of Rs. 31 thou-
points from Mayur Bhatt. The top tion President Kulwinder Singh sand followed by third-placed team
scorer was Jitender Singh of Army Gill, Secretary Avinash Anand, Rs 21 thousand.
Sayali stands out in her
Sub-Junior title win
Fifteen-year-old Sayali Wani of Maharashtra had no bag-
gage of the past. Nor did she fear her opponent’s reputa-
tion in the sub-junior girls final. With excellent cross-
court topspin counters and loads of confidence, she out-
witted Haryana’s Suhana Saini to win the crown 4-3 in
the UTT 82nd Cadet & Sub-Junior National Table Tennis
Championships at the Abhay Prashal here on Monday.
Top-seeded Suhana led 3-2 but goofed it up in the crucial
A state level men and women kushti championship started at Patnipura sixth game, allowing her Nasik rival to inch her way up
situated Chandrapal Guru Vyayamsala on Monday PHOTO- ANAND SHIVRE the ladder. When Sayali won the game to level the score,
it was anybody’s match from thereon. The credit must go
Adivasi Academy in next round to the 10th standard girl, who courageously saved a
match point at 9-10. And when she made it 10-all, she
grabbed the first chance to go 11-10 up and finish the
game and match in style. Letting the unseeded Sayali
take three points on the trot cost Suhana, not just the ti-
tle but also Rs. 33,000 in prize money. Suhana had to sat-
isfy herself with the runner-up trophy and Rs. 16,500.
CONTRASTING WINS
From 1-5, 4-6, 8-10 down in the sixth game, and then claw
your way back to make a match of it needs extraordinary
courage. And Taneesha Kotecha showed it all on the
table, first when 0-3 down and then during the sixth
game. Eventually, she won 16-14 on the fourth game point
to go level to give her a fair bit of chance in the decider.
However, she failed to raise and lost her grip over the
Adivasi Academy defeated Sunrise Football Club 5-3 in game, falling into the trap of Suhana, the ultimate win-
penalty shootout and entered the next round of Maharishi ner who missed three match points. A few topspin fore-
Valmiki Gold Cup organized by Ajax Football Club being hands of Taneesha went flat, leaving Suhana the benefi-
played at Nehru Stadium on Monday. Both the teams were
unable to score until the scheduled time and in the penal-
ty shootout Adivasi Academy won the match 5–3. The sec-
ond match in the competition was played in the girls’ class
between Day Boarding Indore and Adivasi Club, in which
the Day Boarding Indore team won by 3 goals. Herer Pa-
tel scored 2, while Sanskriti Sharma scored 1 goal. Before
the inauguration, the portrait of Maharishi Valmiki was
garlanded. The tournament was inaugurated by Gajendra
Patel MP Khargone, B.K. Chauhan, SR Baghel, Mahesh
Virolia, K Sanani , Virendra Baghel, DK Chauhan SR
Baghel and Mahesh Birolia. The guests were welcomed
by Karan Bhagat, Dharmendra Khare, Ajay Mehra, Dr.
Pradeep Chauhan, Prashant Indurkar , Satish Rewal, Ra-
machandra Chauhan and Ramesh Jhirwar. Alankar
Raikwar conducted the programme .
HANSINI EMERGES WINNER
M. Hansini, who faltered in the semi-final at Dharam-
that in the competition
being held at Balaji Bad-
minton Academy in Ni-
sala, could not be denied her Cadet Girls title this time. pania from 4 to 7 March,
She beat her Tamil Nadu rival, Ananya Muralidharan, 4- 11, 13 and 15 years boys
2. What stood out on the day was Hansini’s better read- and girls will compete in
ing of the situation. On the other hand, Ananya relied singles and doubles. The
too much on her backhand blocks and drives. Rarely did best player will be also
she employ her forehand while Hansini was adept at do- awarded. A welcome
ing both. Her topspin forehand winners often fetched re- lunch has been kept for
wards, paving the way whenever in trouble..The chief players and their par-
guest of the prize distribution was Indore Collector Man- ents. Competition Secre-
ish Singh and Om Soni, TTFI , Vice President.On this oc- tary Subhash Khamrola
casion, Jayesh Acharya, Pramod Gangrade, Rinku said that along with the
Achara and Neelesh Viad were also present. The func- prize from the semi-fi-
tion was conducted by Gourav Patel.
RESULTS:
nals, an attractive run-
ning cup has also been
Cadet Girls: Final: M. Hansini (TNTTA) bt Ananya
placed, which will be giv-
en to those player who
Muralidharan (TTTA) 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9. has won three times in a row. National Badminton Ref-
Semi-finals: M. Hansini bt Sanchari Chakrabarty eree Dharmesh Yashleha will be the main judge of the
(Ben) 11-7, 12-10, 13-11, 11-4, Ananya Muralidharan bt Pr- event. Entries can be given to Prashant Upadhyay and
isha Goel (Del) 11-5, 8-11, 6-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-5. Dharmesh Yashlha by 2 March evening. Entry will be ac-
Sub-Junior Girls: Final: Sayali Wani (Mah) bt cepted with the name of the pair in the doubles. The
Suhana Saini (Har) 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10. matches will be played on 4 courts. This is the second sub
Semi-finals: Suhana Saini bt Taneesha Kotecha (Mah) junior ranking badminton event of the season.
11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 5-11, 14-16, 11-6, Sayali Wani bt Pritha
Vartikar (Mah) 11-7, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6.
Z Black MP Golf tournament
Mantra, Anuj, Gauri, Adityam Pyush, Ranbahadur,
Priyanka, Sonam win titles
are district champions
Ayush Yadav, Ranbahadur Sahi, Priyanka Palkar and
Sonam Keer won titles in their respective categories of
the Z Black open golf tournament played at Royal Garha
Golf Course.
In the two- day tournament, Ayush Yadav won the title
in best grass score followed by runners-up Lt Col JP
Singh. In the net score category, Ranbahadur Sahi get
winner trophy, followed by Brigadier Rohit Dutta run-
ners-up. . In women’s category, Priyanka Palkar won ti-
tle, while Sonam Keer clinched girls category trophy. Dr
Nirbhay Shrivastva won the close to pin trophy. Prizes
were given away by Ankit Agarwal, Director of Red
Black Agarbatti. On this occasion, Siddarthsingh Garha,
Indore district sub-junior and junior ranking badminton MD of Royal Garha Golf Course and Arjun Dhupar, Sec-
competition was concluded at Indore Badminton Club on retary of MP Golf Association along with distinguish
Monday. In the Under-15, 17 and 19 categories, the singles dignitaries were present.
and doubles matches of boys and girls were played in
which, Mantra Soneja, Anuj Kale, Adityam Joshi, Gauri
Chitte won the titles. The prize distribution ceremony
was held in the presence of Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Chief
Coach of Gopichand Academy Gwalior and Regional Of-
ficer of Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board RK
Gupta.
Retired Additional SP RK Upadhyay, Director of Indore
Badminton Club Mukesh Maheshwari, International
Badminton player Shreyanshi Pardeshi and secretary of
Indore district badminton association Kamal Kasturi
were also present. The programme was presided over by
academy director Malhari Kale. Badminton Chhindwara
secretary Javed Khan, Jeevan Kale, Amit Kulkarni, Amit
Saxena and Deepak Yadav were also present on the oc-
casion.
Google Chrome to increase browser security
SAN FRANCISCO: Google’s Chrome browser will soon try to use (URL) bar – Chrome will load the typed link, regardless of protocol.
HTTPS as default when users forget to type the HTTP or HTTPS prefix. But if users do not add the protocol, Chrome will add the prefix
The move is in line with Chrome engineers efforts to increase browser “http://” and attempt to load the domain via HTTP. According to

safety. These HTTPS-first changes will arrive in Chrome 90, scheduled
to be released in mid-April this year, ZDNet reported last week. At
present, when a user types a link in the Omnibox - Chrome address
14
Chrome security engineer Emily Stark, this will change in Chrome 90.
Starting with v90, Chrome will try to open the site via “https://” when
users leave out the prefix when typing a URL. –IANS
INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021

Eating 5 servings of Indians meditate in

pursuit of happiness,
fruits, veggies a day peace and growth: Survey
linked to longer life
AGENCIES
New Delhi

W
hat makes Indians
meditate? Accord-
ing to a recent sur-
According to a study, following the ‘5-a-day’ rule i.e., two fruits and three vegetables may protect you from vey by meditation and mind-
fulness app ThinkRight.me,
the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It lowers death risk by 13 per cent it is the pursuit of happi-
AGENCIES er risk of death from respiratory data from two studies including ship journal Circulation. ness, peace, and personal
New York disease, such as chronic obstruc- more than 100,000 adults who were Not all foods that one might con- growth that keeps most Indi-
tive pulmonary disease (COPD). followed for up to 30 years. For this sider to be fruits and vegetables of- ans going in the meditation

I
f you are scouting for a magic
potion to live a longer and
healthy life, try five daily serv-
ings of fruits and vegetables, in
which two are fruits and three are
vegetables, according to new re-
search that combed through stud-
ies representing nearly 2 million
adults globally.
Compared to those who con-
sumed two servings of fruit and
vegetables per day, participants
who consumed five servings a day
of fruits and vegetable had a 13 per
cent lower risk of death from all
causes; a 12 per cent lower risk of
death from cardiovascular disease,
including heart disease and stroke;
a 10 per cent lower risk of death
from cancer; and a 35 per cent low-
The study identifies an optimal
intake level of fruits and vegetables
and supports the evidence-based,
succinct public health message of
‘5-a-day,’ meaning people should
ideally consume five servings of
fruit and vegetable each day.
“While groups like the American
Heart Association recommend four
to five servings each of fruits and
vegetables daily, consumers likely
get inconsistent messages about
what defines optimal daily intake
of fruits and vegetables such as the
recommended amount, and which
foods to include and avoid,” said
lead study author Dong D Wang, a
member of the medical faculty at
Harvard Medical School.
Wang and colleagues analysed
analysis, researchers also pooled
data on fruit and vegetable intake
and death from 26 studies that in-
cluded about 1.9 million partici-
pants from 29 countries and terri-
tories in North and South Ameri-
ca, Europe, Asia, Africa and Aus-
tralia.
Analysis of all studies revealed
that intake of about five servings of
fruits and vegetables daily was as-
sociated with the lowest risk of
death. “Eating more than five serv-
ings was not associated with addi-
tional benefit. Eating about two
servings daily of fruits and three
servings daily of vegetables was as-
sociated with the greatest longevi-
ty,” said the study that appeared in
American Heart Association's flag-
fered the same benefits. For exam-
ple: Starchy vegetables, such as
peas and corn, fruit juices and po-
tatoes were not associated with re-
duced risk of death from all causes
or specific chronic diseases.
On the other hand, green leafy
vegetables, including spinach, let-
tuce and kale, and fruit and vegeta-
bles rich in beta carotene and vita-
min C, such as citrus fruits, berries
and carrots, showed benefits.
“Our analysis in the two cohorts
of US men and women yielded re-
sults similar to those from 26 co-
horts around the world, which sup-
ports the biological plausibility of
our findings and suggests these
findings can be applied to broader
populations,” Wang said. — IANS
sphere.
Spanning 1,000 individuals
between the age group of 18
to 60 years, across Mumbai,
Delhi, Bengaluru, and Pune,
the survey also cites stress
management and better
sleep as other key areas
where meditation has
helped individuals. From an
app data perspective, almost
40 per cent of the users of
ThinkRight.me meditated
daily in 2020, spending a to-
tal of 2.64 billion minutes on
the app in the entire year.
The survey also revealed
how meditation helps differ-
ent age groups differently.
The peace and happiness
tops the charts across all age
groups – and goes up as one
growth, while Punekars and
people in Bengaluru are in
search of peace and happi-
ness.
Delhiites turn to medita-
tion for better sleep and
stress management.
As per Rajan Navani, Vice-
Chairman and Managing Di-
rector of JetSynthesys, the
company which owns the
app, “India often tops the
charts when it comes to stud-
ies on stress and anxiety. We
proposition. With time, we
also hope more people take
to meditation and a more
mindful way of life so collec-
tively there's a positive
change in people's overall
mental and emotional
well-being.”
The onset of 2020 brought
with it Covid-19, a global
pandemic which has been
harsh on most individuals
and the app data is proof of
that reality.

New AI tool brings old photos to life

AGENCIES day. In its FAQ page, the com-
San Francisco pany said that the technolo-
gy for animating photos was
grows older, as one in two
people aged between 36-45
years meditate for peace and
happiness compared to 1 in 5
among the 18-25 age group.
The age bracket of 18-25
a short video that people can years and 46-55 years showed
share with your friends and similar patterns; the quest
family. for peace and happiness was
launched ThinkRight.me
two years back to make the
benefits of meditation acces-
sible to all. We are big believ-
ers of the power of thinking
right, therefore the name,
because our thoughts do
guide how our day and life
pan out. All the daily affir-
According to this platform
with over 2 million down-
loads, the maximum traffic
seen on the app was during
the months of April 2020 to
June 2020, during the Covid-
19 induced lockdown, with
daily active users increasing
by 50 per cent coupled with a

W
hat if you could
make your late
grandfather in an
old photo look up and smile
at you? This and numerous
other possibilities have in-
trigued social media users
after discovering an Artifi-
cial Intelligence (AI)-pow-
ered service called Deep
Nostalgia that animates the
faces in still photos.
Offered by online genealo-
gy company MyHeritage,
the Deep Nostalgia service
helps users create the effect
that a still photo is moving,
The Verge reported on Sun-
licensed by MyHeritage
from D-ID, a company spe-
cialising in video re-enact-
ment using deep learning.
MyHeritage integrated
this technology to animate
the faces in historical photos
and create high-quality, real-
istic video footage.
The company said that the
Deep Nostalgia feature uses
several drivers prepared by
MyHeritage. Each driver is a
video consisting of a fixed
sequence of movements and
gestures.
It applies the drivers to a
face in a still photo, creating
“The driver guides the followed by better sleep, per- mations and guided medita- significant increase in sub-
movements in the animation sonal growth, and stress tion sessions on scriptions too. The daily pos-
so you can see your ances- management, in that or- ThinkRight.me are born out itive affirmations followed
tors smile, blink, and turn der.When it comes to city- of this core belief, and we by guided meditation offer-
their heads. This really specific analysis, most hope to use these survey ings top the charts for what
brings your photos to life,” women in Mumbai meditate findings to make TRM an helped app users the most in
MyHeritage said. to seek peace and personal even more compelling 2020. –IANS
Twitterati is using the pro-
gramme to generate memes
of all kinds with some even
applying the tool to animate
ancient statues.
MyHeritage said that “pho-
NASA astronauts complete
7 hour-long spacewalk
tos uploaded without com-
pleting signup are automati-
cally deleted to protect your
privacy.”
—IANS AGENCIES / Washington

Gene editing useful in climate I

Amazing Ayurveda
Shaktivardhika Vati
Key property: It wards off
weakness. It is effective
against gonorrhea and
can help treat premature
n the third spacewalk
of the year outside the
International Space
Station, NASA astronauts
Skwith Malham
proofing global food supplies
Kate Rubins and Victor
Glover concluded their
Key property: This spacewalk after 7 hours
ayurvedic formulation is and 4 minutes.
effective against skin AGENCIES/ Washington this with unprecedented safe- too long for breeders to detect The two NASA astro-
problems like itching, ty, precision and speed,” Dr and make that genetic diver- nauts began work on Mon-

T
ejaculation. boils, warts etc. It he findings of a recent Massel said. sity available to farmers, with day to install modification
Ingredient: Shyam can also provide study by scientists “This type of gene editing a breeding cycle averaging kits required for the up-
musli, Shakakul relief against from The University of mimics the way cells repair about 15 years for cereal coming solar array up-
mishri (Trachy- constipa- Queensland suggests that in nature.” Her review rec- crops. “Plus CRISPR allows grades, the US space
dium lehman- tion. gene-editing technology is go- ommended integrating us to do things we can't do agency said in a blog post.
ni), traga- Ingredient: ing to play a vital role in cli- CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing through conventional breed- The duo worked near the configuration. port hardware and se-
canth gum, Vaseline, mate-proofing future crops in into modern breeding pro- ing in terms of generating farthest set of existing so- The bolt likely will need cured it to the space sta-
pellitory, borax, cop- order to protect global food grams for crop improvement novel diversity and improv- lar arrays on the station’s to be secured further be- tion’s exterior structure
Colchicum lu- per sul- supplies. in cereals. Energy-rich cereal ing breeding for desirable left side, known as P6. fore installing one of the until work can be complet-
teum, ashwa- phate and Biotechnologist Dr Karen crops such as wheat, rice, traits. Glover built a bracket new solar arrays that will ed on the next spacewalk
gandha, Pistacia tankan Massel from UQ’s Centre for maize and sorghum provide In proof-of-concept studies, structure and worked with be delivered to the space on March 5.
lentiscus, mandur bhasma. Crop Science has published a two-thirds of the world’s food Dr Massel and colleagues at Rubins to attach the station later this year During the spacewalk on
bhasm, agar, gooseber- Quantity: As per re- review of gene editing tech- energy intake. the Queensland Alliance for bracket and support struts aboard SpaceX’s 22nd March 5, Rubins and
ry and sangayashava. quirement or directed by nologies such as CRISPR- “Just 15 plant crops provide Agriculture and Food Inno- to the mast canister, the commercial resupply serv- Japan Aerospace Explo-
Quantity: 1 to 2 tablets. the physician. Cas9 to safeguard food securi- 90 per cent of the world’s food vation (QAAFI) applied gene- base, of one of the P6 solar ices mission, NASA said. ration Agency (JAXA) as-
Should be taken twice a ty in farming systems under calories,” Dr Massel said. “It’s editing technology to arrays, known as 2B. Rubins and Glover then tronaut Soichi Noguchi
day with milk. Or as di- (To know more about Shri Mohta stress from extreme and vari- a race between a changing cli- sorghum and barley pre- One of the bolts did not moved to begin identical will venture outside the
rected by the physician. Ayurvedic Rasayanshala,
able climate conditions. mate and plant breeders’ abil- breeding programs. “In fully engage on the first at- assembly work for the orbiting outpost to com-
call: 0151-2523227/ or reach at
mohtarasayanshala@gmail.com) “Farmers have been manip- ity to produce crops with ge- sorghum, we edited the tempt, so Rubins used a bracket for the second of plete the installation of
ulating the DNA of plants us- netic resilience that grow plant's genes to unlock the di- power drill to back it out the P6 solar array pair, the 4B array modification
Disclaimer: The description of the above-mentioned ing conventional breeding well in adverse conditions gestibility level of the avail- and reseat it, then used a known as 4B. kit and are expected to
products is an excerpt from a booklet, Sankshipt technologies for millennia, and have enriched able protein and to boost its ratchet wrench to tighten They completed the con- tackle additional work,
Aushad Parichay Patrak. Please consult your doctor/ or and now with new gene-edit- nutritional qualities. nutritional value for humans the bolt, reaching a safe struction of upper sup- NASA said. — IANS
contact the clinic before taking them. ing technologies, we can do The problem is that it takes and livestock,” she said. –ANI

Sleep apnea could be Coronavirus antibodies transferred

linked to memory issues from pregnant ladies to their infants
AGENCIES / Toronto

A
disorder called obstructive sleep apnea AGENCIES study’s senior author. the virus and all were COVID nega-
that occurs when breathing is repeat- Washington Dr Yang and her team analysed tive at the time of birth, further in-
edly interrupted during sleep is com- blood samples from 88 women who dicating that the antibodies had

mon in people with thinking and memory
problems, says a new study. The risk of cogni-
tive impairment increases as people age.
“Better sleep is beneficial to the brain and
can improve cognitive skills. Yet in our study,
we found that over half of the people with
cognitive impairment had obstructive sleep
apnea,” said study author Mark Boulos of
the University of Toronto in Canada.
“We also found that those with the sleep
disorder had lower scores on thinking and
memory tests. Fully understanding how ob-
structive sleep apnea affects this population
is important because with treatment, there
is potential to improve thinking and memo-
ry skills as well as overall quality of life.”
The study involved 67 people with an average
age of 73 who had cognitive impairment. Par-
ticipants completed questionnaires on sleep,
cognition and mood. They also took a 30-point
cognitive assessment to determine their level
of cognitive impairment. Researchers found
that 52 per cent of study participants had ob-
structive sleep apnea. People with the sleep
disorder were 60 per cent more likely to score
lower on the cognitive test than people who did
not have sleep apnea, according to the study to
be presented at the American Academy of
Neurology's annual meeting scheduled to be
held virtually from April 17 to 22.
In addition, researchers found that the
severity of obstructive sleep apnea corre-
sponded with the degree of cognitive impair-
ment as well as the quality of sleep for par-
ticipants, including sleep time, how quickly
they fell asleep, the efficiency of their sleep
and how often they awoke at night. “People
with cognitive impairment should be as-
sessed for obstructive sleep apnea because it
can be treated by using a continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP) machine that helps
keep the airway open at night,” said Boulos.
“However, not everyone who tries CPAP
chooses to regularly use the therapy, and this
may be a bigger challenge to people with
thinking and memory problems.” “Future
research should be directed toward deter-
mining ways to diagnose and manage the
disease that are efficient and easy to use in
people with cognitive impairment,” Boulos
said. — IANS
A
study drove by the ‘American
Journal of Obstetrics and Gy-
necology’ discovered that the
antibodies that help in guarding
against the COVID-19 infection are
transferred from mothers to their
babies while in the womb.
This discovery adds to growing ev-
idence that suggests that pregnant
women who generate protective an-
tibodies after contracting the coron-
avirus often convey some of that nat-
ural immunity to their fetuses.
The findings also lend support to
the idea that vaccinating mothers-to-
be may also have benefits for their
new-borns.
“Since we can now say that the an-
tibodies pregnant women make
against COVID-19 have been shown
to be passed down to their babies, we
suspect that there's a good chance
they could pass down the antibodies
the body makes after being vaccinat-
ed as well,” said Dr Yawei Jenny
Yang, an assistant professor of
pathology and laboratory medicine
at Weill Cornell Medicine and the
gave birth at New York-Presbyteri-
an/Weill Cornell Medical Center be-
tween March and May 2020, a time
when New York City was the global
epicentre of the pandemic.
All of the women had COVID-19 an-
tibodies in their blood, indicating
that they had contracted the virus at
some point even though 58 per cent
of those women had no symptoms.
Furthermore, while antibodies
were detected in both symptomatic
and asymptomatic women, the re-
searchers observed that the concen-
tration of antibodies was signifi-
cantly higher in symptomatic
women.
They also found that the general
pattern of antibody response was
similar to the response seen in other
patients, confirming that pregnant
women have the same kind of im-
mune response to the virus as the
larger patient population--some-
thing that hadn’t previously been
known for sure since a woman's im-
mune system changes throughout
pregnancy.
In addition, the vast majority of
the babies born to these women –78
per cent – had detectable antibodies
in their umbilical cord blood. There
was no evidence that any of the in-
fants had been directly infected with
crossed the placenta – the organ that
provides oxygen and nutrients to a
growing baby during pregnancy –
Into the foetal bloodstream.
Newborns with symptomatic
mothers also had higher antibody
levels than those whose mothers had
no COVID symptoms.
This data implies that pregnant
women could pass along vaccine-
generated antibodies in the same
way, potentially shielding both moth-
er and child from future infection.
However, it is not yet known exactly
how protective these antibodies
might be, or how long that protection
might last.
Dr Laura Riley, chair of the De-
partment of Obstetrics and Gynecol-
ogy at Weill Cornell Medicine, obste-
trician and gynaecologist-in-chief at
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cor-
nell, and one of the study's co-au-
thors, is still advising pregnant pa-
tients who decide to get vaccinated
to continue to follow current safety
guidelines to prevent the spread of
the disease. — ANI
 Kim, Kanye’s
ocialite Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West are going through a divorce and their papers

S have reportedly revealed why the two have ended their marriage. “Irreconcilable differences”
has been cited as the reason behind the reason in the divorce papers. The documents,
divorce papers obtained by thesun.co.uk, show that the divorce has been filed by Kim and Kanye is
mentioned as the respondent. The latter has been very cooperative with the divorce proceedings.

reveal details However, the date of separation has yet not been finalised by the court. Papers also revealed that Kim

15
has filed for the physical custody of their four children - North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, three and
one-year-old Psalm. The duo got married in 2014. –IANS

INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021

Bollywood Bytes

Nationalism is not all black Alia Bhatt launches

production house

and white: Sumeet Vyas B

ollywood
star Alia
Bhatt on
Monday
announced the
launch of her
production house
The actor reveals why love for one’s country is a universal ‘Eternal Sunshine
Productions.’ The
emotion and one need not be vocal about it always ‘Student Of The
Year’ actor hopped
on to Instagram
SHOWLI CHAKRABORTY this particular Indian regi- universal emotion and one family, it does not mean that I and unveiled the
ment in which around 126 will always connect to it! love them any less. It cannot logo of her production house. The logo of Bhatt’s

S
umeet Vyas, who men defended the border That is never going to be out be all black and white! company sees a bright yellow logo that comes with
played the role of while the war broke out. They of fashion. two cats. Elated to announce the launch of her
Rakesh in the ended up fighting thousands Why are Indian celebs not production house, the actor noted in the caption, “And I
comedy stoner of Chinese soldiers. The con- Don’t you think that we as vocal about social and am so happy to announce... PRODUCTION! Eternal
High Jack (2018) is ditions were very bad and have seen a lot of over-the- political issues as celebs in Sunshine Productions. Let us tell you tales. Happy tales.
back, now in the role they lacked proper facilities top ‘nationalism’ in films in the West? Warm and fuzzy tales. Real tales. Timeless tales.” –ANI
of Officer Ram Ku- to keep themselves warm dur- the last few years? We work for a storytelling
mar in the series ing the harsh pangs of winter. Yes, of course. It is a sort of medium. If we start meddling
1962: The War In All that kept them going just raging topic these days. The in politics, our houses are at- Dust has a global appeal,
The Hills. The for the sheer love for their nation is like one’s own home. tacked all of a sudden. Our
series, stream- country. It was a small victory The nation is like my home films are barred from releas- feels Vinay Pathak
ing on Hotstar in a big war! and l love it just like my house ing, the theatres are attacked he Vinay
is a war-drama
of dauntless
courage,
Do you think that this is an
apt time to come out with
and family. However, do I need
to reiterate this always? No,
that is unnecessary.
by mobs and criminal cases
are filed in courts.
It’s completely acceptable to
T Pathak-
starrer Dust
has
fought to the a series about conflicts One need not be screaming not watch our content if one dropped
last bullet with China? from the rooftops about it. cannot handle what we pro- digitally only now,
during the I feel that it is incidental and Also, if I point out what I duce. However, nobody can go but the actor
1962 India- not intentional. We had shot don’t like my nation or my about vandalizing our work! proudly recalls how
China this in 2019 and there was no the indie film,
war. real conflict in the borders Have you ever been trolled written and directed
Excerpts back then. It is not essentially “The nation is like my online? by Udita Bhargava,
from the a pro-war series. It is more Not really! That’s also made waves when it
inter- about the people who took part home and l love it because I don’t comment on was screened at the
view in it and what kind of lives just like my house political issues often. I am not prestigious Berlin
with they lead. The war is just the a very opinionated person International Film Festival in 2019.
the mere backdrop of the story. and family. However, and I respect other people’s “I remember our screening at the Berlinale where
actor. opinions. I don’t think my barring me, Udita and her parents, the rest of the
Tell us Don’t you think that por- do I need to reiterate comments on an issue will audience in the screening theatre, which was a full
about traying ‘nationalism’ in films this always? help the cause. In fact, some- house, was an entirely international audience. The way
1962: has been done to death? times it can have a negative the audience reacted to the story after the screening
The War No, I don’t think so! I agree No, that is unneces- impact instead. was overwhelming. Dust is an Indian film with a global
In The that there are a lot of films on Unless you can really do appeal and perhaps that is why we touched the right
Hills the lives of the army-men but sary. One need not be something productive about chords,” Vinay recalls, speaking to a news agency.
It is a series it is one sentiment that will screaming from the an issue that will help solve Dust, also featuring Morten Holst, Amrita Bagchi and
about the always work, as it has instant it, simply making a random Kalyanee Mulay, streams on Mubi app. –IANS
1962 Indo-Chi- connect with the audience. rooftops about it.” comment is not going to be
na War and Love for one’s country is a helpful!
Honey Singh drops
another dance number
‘I would avoid watching M
usic
composer
and singer

horror films earlier’

Yo Yo
Honey Singh
released his dance
track Shor
Machega, which is
LIPIKA VARMA Says Varun Sharma, whose next is What is your message to new also the first track
talents who are trying to make a of upcoming film
ctor Varun Sharma, who was last seen in a comedy-horror film, titled Roohi, mark in the industry? Mumbai Saga.

A Chhichhore (2019) is back on the big screen,

this time in a completely new genre, horror-
comedy. The actor who had earlier starred in
commercially successful films including Kis Kisko
Pyaar Karoon (2015), Dilwale (2015), and Fukrey
Returns (2017) will be sharing screen space with
Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor in Roohi. The movie
is set for a theatrical release on March 11. In an
interview with the Cinema Journal, Varun talks about
the movie, working with Rajkummar, Janhvi, and his
personal life. Excerpts from the interview:
Tell us about Roohi. Do you watch horror movies?
Roohi is almost like the crazy sister of Stree (2018)! It is
quirky yet unique. Its story is something that has never
been seen before. The film revolves around a boy who
falls in love with a female ghost (Chudail). The genre
being horror-comedy, the screenplay is driven with
ample turns and twists. I would avoid watching horror
films earlier but after watching Stree, I feel watching
them brings in loads of laughter and fun.
Do you think that Roohi’s distributors will benefit
because the theatres have re-opened?
It is a blessing that the theatres have finally reopened.
Many had held their films back and waited to release
them in theatres, Roohi being one of them. Roohi will
be the first proper release since the government’s
announcement of 100% seat occupancy at the
theatres.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, the entertainment
industry faced a major setback. However, people have
accepted this conundrum and learned to live with it.
They have resumed normalcy, to an extent, by
attending cricket matches and gradually stepping into
theatres. Similarly, I feel, that people have regained
their entertainment spirit and will definitely flock to
the theatres to watch Roohi, benefitting the
distributors.
that releases worldwide on 11th
March. The Fukrey (2013) actor
reveals that although he wasn’t
fond of the genre before, watching
it now brings joyand laughter
How was your experience working with Rajkummar
Rao and Janhvi Kapoor?
The experience was absolutely amazing! This was my
second outing with Rajkummar Rao, the first being Dolly
Ki Doli (2015). We always bounced of splendid
chemistry, both off and on camera. If we lacked have
chemistry off-screen, it would have surely reflected
on-screen! Working with Janhvi Kapoor was fabulous!
I did not know her personally, apart from meeting her
at events, occasionally. We had properly met at the
narration/reading of the film. Honestly, it isn’t easy to
play two characters simultaneously, (being Roohi &
Afzana ), which she has performed with ace and
exuberance.
My request to everyone reading this
would be to allow people to pursue their
future. I am a living example of someone
Yo Yo Honey
Singh shot for this
special number, composed, sung and written by the rap
who has made it in this industry through star with his protégé Hommie Dilliwala, for two days in
rigorous auditions. Mumbai last year with John and Emraan.
Finally, I paved my way up to banners Talking about the song, Honey Singh said, “This has
who has films Dil Chahta Hai (2001) been one of my best compositions and I’m excited to
and Rock On!! (2008) to their collaborate with Hommie for this song. We kept the
credit, one must do their bit and theme of the movie as the essence of our music and
try to be a part of this industry, wanted to give audiences a song that is catchy and
which is very welcoming and groovy. It was a pleasure sharing the screen with John
loving! and Emraan.” –IANS
Any director on your bucket list?
I want to work in different Prabhas’s Salaar
genres of films and not stick to a
specific kind. Thrillers are to be out in April
something I would really love to ctor
do. Talking about directors on my
bucket list, I want to work with Zoya
Akhtar and Rajkumar Hirani.
A Prabhas’s
much
awaited
film Salaar will
When will we see you doing an out- hit theatres on April
and-out romantic genre film? 14, 2022. The actor
I am keen on doing romantic films and I announced it on his
hope to get one soon. Instagram page on
Sunday.
Are you single? What kind of a partner The actor shared
are you looking for? the poster of the film
I admire someone who is cute and family- and captioned it as,
oriented. However, I’m not seeing anyone “Delighted to share
currently. My mother always advises, ‘Abhi toh the release date of #SALAAR. 14th April 2022 see you
girlfriend bana le’, (Get a girlfriend, now) (laughs)! in cinemas!” The film, which is set to present Prabhas
in a never-seen-before violent, dark shade, also stars
Do you intend to take up direction in the future? actress Shruti Haasan.
I feel that direction is a very tough job. It requires The film’s mahurat took place here in January this
multiple skill-sets. I am unsure of my capacity as a year. The film is directed by Prashanth Neel and
director. That being said, I would definitely like to learn produced by Vijay Kiragandur of Hombale Films. –IANS
the art of direction and direct a fun film someday.

Borat, Nomadland bag top

GOLDEN GLOBE 2021
Actress Nicole
A CAMARADERIE OF FUN, Kidman was
ENTERTAINMENT, AND GLITZ! accompanied by
awards, late Chadwick Boseman named best actor
T
he Golden Globe Awards were her husband and
presented on 28 February in their daughters.
orat Subsequent Moviefilm and 1983, reports bbc.com. The Sacha Baron at the age of 21 in 1969. The actor said prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

quite a pandemic-like fashion. It
was a fun-packed entertaining
show, brimming with smiles and hu-
mour. The award ceremony indeed saw
some incredible moments, from Meh:
Amy and Tina’s Opening
Jokes to Daniel Kaluuya
unable to unmute his
microphone and yelling,
“You’re doing me dirty!”,
we had it all! Here’s a look
at some of the most
remarkable moments
from the show.
Salma Hayek
looked
marvellous, ac-
ing herself in a
cherry-red,
one-sleeve
Nominees kept getting isolated into
romantic gown!
sub-zooms, suddenly adding new people
B
Nomadland were among the top
winners at the 78th Golden
Globe Awards. The Crown and
late star Chadwick Boseman were
among winners, too, while veteran Jane
Fonda was feted with the lifetime
achievement award.
The ceremony was held virtually and the
live audience consisted of frontline workers
and first responders of the Covid-19
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler kicking it pandemic. Actresses Tina Fey and Amy
off by seeking change while still Poehler returned to hosting duties this
delivering a witty, funny monologue. year, but they were in New York and Los
Angeles respectively, marking the first time
the Golden Globes have been bicoastal.
The best drama film went to
Nomadland starring Frances McDormand
as a homeless woman traveling through
the American West. Schitt’s Creek was
Actress named Best Comedy series. Actress
Amanda Catherine O’Hara, who plays the role of
Moira Rose in the show, was feted with
Seyfried best comedy actress honour.
dressed up in The best director award went to Chloe
Actor Daniel an amazing Zhao, who became the second
Kaluuya forgot to floral peach female winner of the
category in Globes history,
unmute his mic and gown. after Barbara Streisand in
started yelling.
Cohen-starrer Borat Subsequent
Moviefilm, the sequel to 2006’s hugely
successful Borat, was named best musical
or comedy film.
“Thank you to the all-white Hollywood
Foreign Press,” said Sacha Baron Cohen as
he accepted the prize, referring to the
recent revelation that the organisation
behind the Globes currently has no black
members. The actor joked about the
awards body as he was
named best actor in a
comedy or musical for the
same film.
Other winners included
Rosamund Pike, who was
named best actress in a
musical or comedy film for I
Care A Lot. The best
supporting actor went to
Daniel Kaluuya for his
performance in Judas And the
Black Messiah.
The film cast Kaluuya
essayed the role of US
activist Fred Hampton,
chairman of the Black Panther
Party who was assassinated
that he hopes generations after this
would see how Hampton fought.
The Crown won four honours including
the best drama series. Josh O’Connor and
Emma Corrin both won for their
performances as Prince Charles and
Princess Diana respectively. Actress Gillian
Anderson was named in the best
supporting category in the series for her
portrayal of former
Late star Chadwick Boseman was
posthumously named best actor in a
drama film for his performance in Ma
Rainy’s Black Bottom. His wife, Taylor
Simone Ledward, accepted the award on
his behalf. Boseman passed away last
summer after quietly battling colon
cancer for years.
Actress-singer Andra Day won in the
best actress in a motion picture
(drama) category for her
performance in the OTT film
The United States vs. Billie
Holiday. Day is only the
second Black woman to win
at the Globes after Whoopi
Goldberg, who won 35 years
ago for The Color Purple,
according to Variety.
The Queen’s Gambit was
named best-limited series
and its star Anya Taylor-Joy,
was named best actress in a
limited series. Other winners
included Mark Ruffalo for
best actor in a limited
series, and Pixar’s Soul,
which won best-animated film. –IANS
 REGD. NO. INDORE MP/ICD 216/2018-2020 RNI NO. 38281/83
INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021
www.freepressjournal.in

Motivation is what gets

you started. Habit is
❝ what keeps you going.

� JIM RYUN

PM takes first shot of C-vax

�������������������������������������
P
rime Minister Narendra our doctors and scientists have
Modi on Monday took his worked in quick time to strengthen
first dose of the Covid-19 vac- the global fight against COVID-19,"
cine at AIIMS in Delhi and appealed Modi tweeted after taking the vac-
to all those who are eligible to get in- cine shot. The prime minister also
oculated. The prime minister posted a picture of himself taking
reached the All India Institute of the first dose of the vaccine in
Medical Sciences early this morning which he is seen sporting an As-
and was administered Bharat samese 'gamocha' and getting inocu-
Biotech's COVAXIN by nurse P Nive- lated with a smile on his face. Nive-
da, who hails from Puducherry. An- da later told reporters that the
other nurse Rosamma Anil from prime minister, after being adminis-
Kerala also assisted in the process. tered the vaccine shot, remarked
"Took my first dose of the Covid-19 "Laga bhi diya, pata bhi nahin chala
vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how (Already done? I didn't even feel it)."

1.47L inoculated MLAs ask questions online Skiing to check

A total of 1,28,630 beneficiaries over 60 years of
age and 18,850 aged 45 and above with co-mor-
bidities took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Mon-
day as the cumulative
number of vaccine
doses administered in
the country crossed
1.47 crore. The coun-
trywide vaccination
drive was rolled out
on January 16. The
third phase of Covid-
19 vaccination commenced from Monday for those
over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above
with specified co-morbid conditions.
������������������
intrusion
T wo Madhya Pradesh MLAs were on Monday allowed to
participate in Question Hour in the online mode, a first
time occurrence in the state Assembly. Congress MLAs
T o counter expan-
sionist China's habit
of creeping forward by
Narayan Singh Pat- making small incremen-
ta (Bichhiya) and tal moves, the Indian
Ashok Marskole Army has planned
(Niwas) were con- mountaineering expedi-
nected online from tions and research stud-
Mandla and were
seen on a huge
screen installed re-
cently in the House,
with Speaker Girish Gautam saying the experiment of
members asking questions through online mode during
Question Hour was being done for the first time.
ies at high-altitude areas
in the northern borders
of the country. The
Army is also coming up

'5-a-day' rule for healthy life with a skiing expedition

-- ARMEX-21 -- covering
the distance from the

I f you are scouting for a magic potion to live a longer and

healthy life, try five daily servings of fruits and vegetables,
in which two are fruits and three are vegetables, according to
etable had a 13 per cent lower risk of death from all causes and
a 35 per cent lower risk of death from respiratory disease, such
as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lead study
Karakoram Pass to Lip-
ulekh Pass. It will cover
areas of Ladakh, Hi-
new research that combed through studies rep- author Dong D Wang, a member of the medical machal Pradesh,
resenting nearly 2 million adults globally. Com- faculty at Harvard Medical School and his col- Garhwal and Kumaon
pared to those who consumed two servings of leagues analysed data from two studies includ- sectors. Civilians will
fruit and vegetables per day, participants who ing more than 100,000 adults who were followed participate in the expe-
consumed five servings a day of fruits and veg- for up to 30 years. ditions.
� ������ FREE PRESS
INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021
'Provide free jabs to all'
ONE FOR INSPIRATION T he Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday re-
quested the Central government to provide Covid-
19 vaccination free of cost to healthcare workers

��������������������������
(HCWs) and people of
the country. In an offi-
cial release, the IMA

I
n a village lived some
mice. On the outskirts
of this village, there
was a lake, which a herd of
elephants visited regularly
to bathe and drink water.
On the way, the elephants
trampled the mice. So, the
king of mice decided to
meet the elephants. He told
them, "As you travel
through the village, many
mice are trampled. We will
be very grateful if you
could please consider
changing your route. We
will remember and return
the favour when you are in
need." The elephant king
laughed, "We are giant ele-
phants. What favour can
you mice return? Neverthe-
less, we honour your re-
quest and change our
route." After a few days, the
elephants got trapped in
nets that were set up by
hunters. The elephant king
remembered the promise
made by the king of mice
He sent a fellow elephant
who was not trapped, to ask
the mice king to come and
help them. Soon, all the
mice came and started nib-
bling the nets, and freed the
elephants.
said: "Vaccination is an
effective way of protect-
ing people against
harmful diseases. We
request to provide the
Covid-19 vaccination
free of cost to the people of the country." The IMA also
congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for tak-
ing the first jab of coronavirus vaccine today.
$6.6 bn for in-person classes
C alifornia's public schools could get USD 6.6 billion from
the state Legislature if they return to in-person instruc-
tion by the end of March, according to a new agreement an-
nounced Monday
between Gover-
nor Gavin New-
som and the
state's legislative
leaders. Califor-

Al Pacino's nap is viral nia can't order

schools to return

H ollywood actor and filmmaker Al Pacino who appeared to

be taking a nap during the 2021 Golden Globes ceremony is
trending on social media. Footage of the iconic 80-year-old ac-
to in-person in-
struction, but
state officials can
tor, who was nominated for 'Best Actor, Television Series Dra- offer a lot of mon-
ma', for his role in Amazon's 'Hunters', was all over the Internet. ey to those that do. Newsom, who could face a recall election
Prior to The Crown's Josh O'Connor's win, the camera showed later this year spurred by his handling of the coronavirus, has
the 5 nominees, and the 'Godfather' actor appeared to be have been at odds with legislative leaders on the best way to en-
closed his eyes until he suddenly looked front with a bit of a jolt. courage school districts to return students to the classroom.

����������������� AI-powered Deep Nostalgia

A round 100 farmers from Konkan on
Monday joined hands with Global
Kokan to launch an online platform
Make your late granny smile at you
W
'Myko' to promote Alphonso mangoes. hat if you could make your
The online platform late grandfather in an old
www.mykofoods.com is a flagship project photo look up and smile at
by Global Kokan, a socio-economic ven- you? This and numerous other possibil-
ture that seeks to make Konkan Alphon- ities have intrigued social media users
so or 'Hapus', a global brand and to make after discovering an Artificial Intelli-
lakhs of mango growers from Konkan gence (AI)-powered service called Deep
self-sufficient. Nostalgia that animates the faces in
still photos. Offered by online genealo-
����������������������� gy company MyHeritage, the Deep Nos-

T he International Yoga Festival began at Rishikesh on

Monday with nearly 400 yoga enthusiasts participating in
the event. Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural func-
tion, Uttarakhand Agri-
culture Minister Sub-
odh Uniyal said yoga
activates positive ener-
gies inside human body.
Yoga guru Ramdev's
aide Acharya Balkrish-
na said the real cure of
diseases lies in yoga,
not in medicines.
talgia service helps users create the ef-
fect that a still photo is moving. "The
driver guides the movements in the an-
imation so you can see your ancestors
smile, blink, and turn their heads. This
really brings your photos to life," My- upload a photo. From there the process
Heritage said. Twitterati is using the is automated. The site's FAQ says it does
programme to generate memes of all not provide the photos to any third par-
kinds with some even applying the tool ties, and on its main page a message
to animate ancient statues. The Verge reads "photos uploaded without com-
reported that users have to sign up for pleting signup are automatically delet-
a free account on MyHeritage and then ed to protect your privacy.
 Ex-French Prez FREE PRESS

sentenced INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 2, 2021 ������ �

Chinese malware in India's power grid
A Paris court on Monday found

�������������������
French former President Nico-
las Sarkozy guilty of corruption
and influence peddling and sen-
tenced him to one year in prison

��������������������
and a two-year suspended sentence.
The 66-year-old politician, who was
president from 2007 to 2012, was
convicted for having tried to ille-
gally obtain information from a
senior magistrate in 2014
'No glitch A midst the border ten-
sions, a Chinese gov-
about a legal action in in Co-Win' ernment-linked group of
which he was in-
volved. D ispelling the rumours of
a glitch in Co-WIN plat-
form, created to track delivery, utilisation
hackers targeted India's
critical power grid system
through malware, a US com-
and distribution of Covid-19 vaccine in real time, Em- pany has said in its latest
powered Group chairman, RS Sharma, on Monday study, raising suspicion
said the confusion was whether last year's massive
created by spreading power outage in Mumbai
misinformation that was a result of the online in-
vaccination registra- trusion. Recorded Future, a operations of Power System hitting the economic activi-
tion is being done Massachusetts-based com- Operation Corporation ty hard. The New York
through a mobile ap- pany, in its recent report de- (POSOCO) due to any mal- Times, in a report, said that
plication. He clarified tails the campaign conduct- ware attack. However, the the discovery raises the
that the registration is taking place only through 'Aar- ed by a China-linked threat ministry did not mention question about whether the
ogya Setu' app and Co-WIN's portal 'cowin.gov.in'. activity group RedEcho tar- about the Mumbai outage. Mumbai outage was meant
geting the Indian power sec- On October 12, a grid failure as a message from Beijing
tor. In New Delhi, the Min- in Mumbai resulted in mas- about what might happen if
istry of Power on Monday sive power outages, stop- India pushed its border
Man cycles 6K km in 13 days said there is no impact on ping trains on tracks and claims too vigorously.

O vercoming bad
road condi-
tions and a slew of
CISCE exams from April 8 QUICK NEWS

other challenges,
Nagpur resident
Amit Samarth has
successfully cycled
the 6,000-km Gold-
en Quadrilateral,
which touches all
the metro cities of In-
dia, in just over 13 days,
an effort what can earn
started from the out-
skirts of the financial
capital on February 15
T
he Council for the In-
dian School Certifi-
cate Examinations
(CISCE) will conduct board
exams for classes 10 and 12
from May 5 and April 8 re-
spectively, officials an-
nounced on Monday."The
Indian Certificate of Sec-
ondary Education (ICSE),
which is class 10 exam, will
be conducted from May 5 to
June 7. The Indian School
Certificate Examination
(ISC), which is class 12
exam, will be conducted
from April 8 to June 16,"
said Gerry Arathoon,
CISCE's Chief Executive
and Secretary.
'Soch' is about
pursuing dreams
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him an entry into the and completed the ride

record books. Samarth,
43, a qualified doctor,
Jumbos on the rampage
by reaching the same Rs 77K cr bids for
spot on Sunday. spectrum
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A herd of wild elephants destroyed standing

crops in several villages in Jharkhand's Koder-
ma district, Forest
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cials said. The
herd of wild ele-
phants destroyed
standing crops in
HTTPS to be default in Chrome
several villages in-
cluding Kharpoka
under Jayanagar block in the border area of Hazarib-
G oogle's Chrome browser will soon try to use HTTPS as default when users forget to type
the HTTP or HTTPS prefix. The move is in line with
Chrome engineers efforts to increase browser safety. These
agh and Koderma district in the last two days, the of- HTTPS-first changes will arrive in Chrome 90, scheduled to
ficials said. Police said the elephants have trampled be released in mid-April this year. At present, when a user
crops planted in about 50 acres of land. types a link in the Omnibox - Chrome address (URL) bar --
Chrome will load the typed link, regardless of protocol.
 FREE PRESS
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V eteran
Bollywood
actor Amitabh
this age are
delicate and
need preci-
Bachchan on sion han-
Monday re- dling...the
vealed that he best is being
recently under- one and one
went an eye hopes all
surgery. The shall be
actor also well... the
penned a note sight and the
of thanks to recovery is
his fans who slow and dif-
showed concern for his medical ficult so if there are typing er-
condition."Thank you for all rors they are to be excused,"
the concern ...eye surgeries at Bachchan wrote in his blog.

Team India 'The Queen's Gambit'

sweats it out
T he Indian cricket team is preparing in-
tensively for the fourth and final Test
P opular Netflix
series
Queen's
'The
Gambit'
Globe for her powerful
performance as an or-
phan-turned-chess
against England and leaving no stone un- took home two prodigy. Taylor-Joy
turned at the Narendra Modi Stadium. awards at this year's played the role of Beth
The Board of Control for Cricket in India Golden Globes. The Harmon in the seven-
(BCCI) on Monday shared a video on Twit- show was named the part series which fol-
ter to give a glimpse of players sweating it best television limit- lows her meteoric rise
out in the nets. In the video, India skipper ed series and its lead through the chess
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane can be actor Anya Taylor- world in the 1950s and
seen batting in the nets. Joy won a Golden '60s America.

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A I
ce Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on
Monday announced that he will stop us-
ing all social media handles till the Tokyo
ndian Premier League (IPL) champions
Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday an-
nounced its partnership with DHL Express.
J amaica's two-time Olympic gold medallist
sprinter Yohan Blake said that he would
rather not participate in the Tokyo Olympics
Olympics as he wishes to completely focus on The international express service provider than take a vaccine for Covid-19. The Interna-
his prepara- has joined MI tional
tions. He fur- as a principal Olympic Com-
ther said he will sponsor and mittee (IOC)
return to social official logis- has "encour-
media after the tics partner aged" all ath-
conclusion of ahead of the letes travel-
the quadrennial 2021 season of ling for the
event. "Mein the IPL. This Games to take
apne sabhi so- is DHL Express's first cricket sponsorship. It a vaccine but
cial media handles ko aaj se band kar raha hu. has previously been involved with Rugby Sev- it is not compulsory. "My mind still stays
Ab Olympic ke baad aap sabhi se mulaakaat ens Series, ESL One, MotoGP and Formula 1 strong, I don't want any vaccine, I'd rather
hogi ... ummeed karta hu aap apna pyaar ba- along with being involved with Premier miss the Olympics than take the vaccine, I am
naye rakhenge ..... jai Hind," he said. League giants Manchester United. not taking it," Blake, 31, said.

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