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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Delhigovernment was not planning any lockdown in thewake of the ‘fourth wave’ of

COVID19 in the Capital.The city recorded 3,594

fresh COVID19 cases on Friday, the highest daily countsince December 4 last year,taking the tally to 6.68 lakh.

Terming the latest surge

“less serious” than the previous ones, Mr. Kejriwal saidany decision on lockdownwill be taken “after due consultation with the public”.

‘4th wave in Delhi; no lockdown plans’Special Correspondent

New Delhi

DETAILS ON A PAGE 3

sence of terrorists in the residential house of NawazAhmad Dar in Dhobi Mohalla of Kakapora. They weregiven an opportunity to surrender. However, they started fi��ring indiscriminately.Later, all the three trappedterrorists were killed,” Inspector General of Police(IGP) Vijay Kumar said.

The police said it tactfullyrescued fi��ve civilians takenhostage by the trapped terrorists. “During the encounter, a stray bullet hit a woman in her leg. Hercondition is stable,” the pol

Three militants, includingthe two persons who attacked the house of a BJPleader on Thursday, werekilled in an operation of thesecurity forces in southKashmir's Pulwama on Friday. Around 10 civilians, including a woman, were injured in clashes near theencounter site.

“Just after the attack onthe BJP leader in Srinagar’sNowgam, the police actedon a lead regarding the pre

ice said.The police identifi��ed the

slain militants as Junaid Ahmad Nengroo from Prichooin Pulwama, Suhail NisarLone and Yawar Ahmad Wani, both residents of Khrewin Pampore.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the terrorattack on a BJP leader’shouse was jointly carriedout by Srinagar and Pulwamabased terrorists of theLashkareTaiba and AlBadr,” Mr. Kumar said.

Two attackers of BJP leader killed in Pulwama 10 civilians injuredin clashes afterthe encounter

Special Correspondent

Srinagar

A jawan walking past theencounter site. * NISSAR AHMAD

CONTINUED ON A PAGE 8

saturday, april 3, 2021 Delhi

City Edition

16 pages O ₹��10.00

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India recorded the highestsingleday rise in coronavirus cases in six months with89,019 new infections in aspan of 24 hours, taking theCOVID19 tally of cases to1,23,91,129, according to theState Health Departmentsand Ministries on Friday.

The singleday rise in cases is the highest recordedsince September 8, 2020,while the death toll increased to 1,64,141 with 713new fatalities, the highestsince December 3, data updated at 11.45 p.m. showed.

As many as 89,855 new infections were recorded in aspan of 24 hours on September 8, while 541 daily deathswere registered on Decem

ber 3. The number of peoplewho have recuperated fromthe disease surged to1,15,67,060. The case fatalityrate stood at 1.33%, the datastated.

India’s COVID19 tally had

crossed the 20lakh mark onAugust 7, 30 lakh on August23, 40 lakh on September 5and 50 lakh on September16. It went past 60 lakh onSeptember 28, 70 lakh onOctober 11, 80 lakh on Oc

tober 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed theone croremark on December 19.

India records 89,019 freshcases, highest in 6 months713 more deathsas surge continuesfor 23rd day Special Correspondent

Chennai

The Election Commissionhas suspended four pollingpersonnel, including a presiding offi��cer and an armedescort offi��cer, besides ordering a repoll at a booth insouthern Assam’s RatabariAssembly constituency, after electronic voting machines (EVMs) were found ina vehicle linked to a BJP candidate contesting the adjoining Patharkandi seat.

Both constituencies are inKarimganj district.

Offi��cials said the pollingpersonnel were unawarethey had — after their carbroke down near Nilambazar, 20 km short of districtheadquarters Karimganj —taken a lift in a vehicle registered in the name of Madhumita Paul, the wife ofPatharkandi BJP candidateKrishnendu Paul. The team

was returning from 149Indira MV School under the Ratabari constituency, about70 km away.

EVM seals intact

The seals of the EVMs werefound intact, but the EC decided to conduct a repoll atthe polling station concerned. The panel alsosought a report from thespecial general observer,

who found armed escort offi��cer Luhit Gohain guilty ofleaving the stranded pollingparty behind and not ensuring its safe arrival at thedestination.

Mr. Paul did not take calls.But his party members saidthe Opposition had blown a“minor” incident out of proportion.

4 poll personnel suspended inAssam for ‘lift’ in BJP vehicle Repolling ordered at a booth in Ratabari constituency

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI


The Income Tax (IT) Department on Friday knocked onthe doors of V. Sabareesan,the soninlaw of DMK president M.K. Stalin, a few of hisassociates and former Transport Minister Senthil Balaji.Searches were conducted atover fi��ve places in Chennai,including Mr. Sabareesan’s residence in Neelankarai onEast Coast Road.

Late in the evening, the De

partment said the searches onthree diff��erent groups and afew individuals by its ChennaiDirectorate were continuing.

“These groups and individuals are involved in businesses ranging from runningdistilleries and breweries, realestate, local fi��nancing, solarpower EPC to handling cashof politically exposed personsfor the ongoing election. Partof these groups and individuals are alleged to have beenactively assisting in politicalcash distribution. Searcheshave been conducted to verifyand unearth such activitiestoo,” the agency said.

The premises searched

were in Chennai, Coimbatore,Karur and Thanjavur. A totalof 28 premises were coveredunder Section 132 of the ITAct. CBDT offi��cials said several incriminating materials ontax evasion had been found.

Sources said the premisesof two of Mr. Sabareesan’sclose aides, Bala of G SquareRealtors Private Limited, andKarthik Mohan, son of DMK’sAnna Nagar MLA M.K. Mohan,were also searched.

Amid charges of cash for polls, offi��ces of former Minister, aides raided across T.N.

Sangeetha Kandavel

R.Sivaraman

CHENNAI/ TIRUCHI

I-T searches on premises of Stalin’s kin

IT offi��cials searching V.Sabareesan’s house inChennai. * KARUNAKARAN M.


Elections in Assam haveoften been associated withthe doling out of ‘BMWs’, acoded contraction forblanket, money and wine.

Going by the seizures byvarious enforcementagencies, the ‘BMWs’appear to have lostout to narcoticdrugs duringthe ongoingpoll.

BetweenFebruary26, whenthe modelcode ofconduct cameinto force, andMarch 31, theenforcement andregulatory agenciesseized cash, illegallytransported liquor andother items worth a record₹��110.83 crore.

Offi��cials said there wasnothing unusual aboutseizing cash, liquor andother valuables during thecampaign phase. Whatstumped them was theseizure of narcoticsubstances worth morethan ₹��34.29 crore.

Freebies of theintoxicating kind, such asIndian and foreign brandcigarettes and tobaccoproducts, also touched arecord value of ₹��14.91 crore.

The drugs seizedincluded 6,892.82 kg ofcannabis, 10.27 kg of

crystallinemethamphetamine, 4.22 kgof heroin, 1 kg of morphineand 252.85 gm of brownsugar. The surveillanceteams also recovered3,02,188 methamphetaminecapsules and pills of othernarcotic substances.

“The seizure of drugswas highest in eastern

Assam,” StateNodal Offi��cer

Rahul Dassaid.

Most of theteaplantations

are in easternAssam. For Excise and

Revenue Intelligenceoffi��cials, this couldbe a disturbingtrend, as other partsof Assam have been

notorious for drugtraffi��cking. These includethe Barak Valley, used bydealers on the MyanmarMizoramBangladesh axisto illegally transportheroin, methamphetamineand highcodeine coughsyrups.

Western Assam’s Dhubridistrict is also a conduit.

“The seizure of cannabisin eastern Assam is notunusual since it is grown inparts of southernArunachal Pradesh andNagaland. It is the othersubstances confi��scated inthe area that we are moreworried about,” an Exciseoffi��cial said.

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Drugs beat BMWs thispoll season in Assam

RAHUL KARMAKAR

GUWAHATI

Narcotics worth ₹��34 crore seized

More than 36.7 lakhCOVID19 vaccine doseswere administered in thelast 24 hours, the highestsingle day coverage till now,the Union Health Ministrysaid on Friday. Of the36,71,242 vaccine doses,33,65,597 benefi��ciaries werevaccinated for the fi��rst doseand 3,05,645 benefi��ciariesreceived the second dose ofthe vaccine. A 0

Highest singleday vaccinecoverage


MORE REPORTS A PAGE 10

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Printed at . Chennai . Coimbatore . Bengaluru . Hyderabad . Madurai . Noida . Visakhapatnam . Thiruvananthapuram . Kochi . Vijayawada . Mangaluru . Tiruchirapalli . Kolkata . Hubballi . Mohali . Malappuram . Mumbai . Tirupati . lucknow . cuttack . patna

Rakesh Tikait’s convoyattacked in RajasthanJAIPUR/GHAZIABAD

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader

Rakesh Tikait’s convoy was

allegedly attacked in

Rajasthan’s Alwar district on

Friday. He was on his way to

address a farmers’ rally in

Bansur. A group of people

allegedly pelted stones at

the cavalcade, damaging the

rear windscreen of his car.

Mr. Tikait, who escaped

unhurt, blamed ‘BJP goons’

for the attack.

NORTH & EAST A PAGE 4DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

NEARBY

illustration:SreejithRavikumar

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DELHI THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 20212EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

CITY

With protesting farmers continuing to install semipermanent structures at theSinghu border, mostly for accommodation purposes,several protesters have started sowing a varied range ofvegetables, some along theperimeters of the structures.

A park, which was recently made by the protesters, isalso set to turn into a kitchengarden for the farmers. Volunteers said that more suchgardens will be made depending on space.

Charanjit Singh, a farmerfrom Punjab’s Ludhiana district, said: “The park wasopened a few days ago. Nowseveral women and childrenvisit the park in the mornings. We have also decidedto plant saplings and sow sothat we can grow vegetablesourselves for consumptionlater.”

Mr. Singh, who is also avolunteer looking after the

park, added: “As of now wehave coriander and bottlegourd among other vegetables. We are also growingmint and have started usingit. These days most peopleare busy constructing theirhouses over here. Once it isdone, we will see if there isenough space availablewhere we can make other similar gardens.”

“We also have to decideon where the water from the

existing langars will getdrained to ensure that theroads are not fl��ooded,” hesaid.

Beyond beautifying Several others said thatapart from beautifi��cationpurposes, they have alsostarted sowing in limitedquantities. Joginder Singh, afarmer from Punjab’s Roopnagar, district said: “Peopleoften come here to sell sa

plings. So we have kept a fewalong the boundary. Apartfrom beautifi��cation purposes, we have also sowed a fewvegetables so that over thenext few months we canconsume it right from here.”

Stating that the preparations and modifi��cations aretowards a longer haul, Mr.Singh said: “We still do notknow how long the movement will continue. For thelast few months we have

been selfsuffi��cient throughout and we intend to continue doing the same. Wehave survived harsh conditions over all these monthsand we are not moving fromhere.”

Thousands of farmershave been camping at Delhi’s borders demanding aminimum support price andrepeal of the three farm lawsbrought in by the Centre lastyear.

In bloom, a vegetable garden at Singhu Many protesters camping at the border have started sowing seeds and planting vegetable saplings

Shinjini Ghosh

NEW DELHI

(From left) Saplings planted by farmers at the Singu border; a farmer building a temporary shelter at the protest site on Friday.* SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

The legislation on recoveryof damages to property, recently enacted by the Haryana Assembly, came underfi��re from activists associatedwith several mass movements at a Statelevel convention held in Rohtak onFriday.

‘The Haryana Recovery ofDamages to Property DuringDisturbance of Public OrderBill, 2021’ was passed by theState Assembly on March 18,giving powers to the policeand executive towards recovery of damages to property from protesters of anagitation.

The Speakers at the convention, organised by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), attacked the Bill calling it a“draconian” measure to stifl��e the right to protest.

AllIndia Kisan Sabha Haryana vicepresident Inderjit

Singh put forth a resolutioncritical of the Act and calledupon all sections of the people to raise their voice for repealing the pernicious Actwhose implications were very serious for the future ofdemocracy.

The decisions taken in theconvention included sending emails to the Chief Minister against the law, holdingprotest demonstrations andsitins on April 8 to mark thehurling of bombs in CentralAssembly by Bhagat Singh

and Batukeshwar Dutt in1929 against similar legislations brought by Britishersand protest before the RajBhawan.

AllIndia Lawyers Unionpresident Gurmej Singh andadvocates Rajender Singhand Pradeep Raparia placeda pointtopoint rebuttal ofthe law questioning the intentions of the governmentbehind the move as therewere ample laws for damages to property under the Indian Penal Code.

Mass movements held at Statelevel convention in Rohtak

Ashok Kumar

GURUGRAM

The Statelevel convention was organised by Samyukt KisanMorcha in Rohtak on Friday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Haryana property damage recoveryBill comes under fi��re from activists

A 25yearold event managerwas arrested for allegedlycreating a fake profi��le of aClass VIII student on Instagram and threatening herwith obscene messages, thepolice said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner ofPolice (South) Atul KumarThakur said that the accusedhas been identifi��ed as BharatKhatar, who allegedly posteda 14yearold girl’s morphednude pictures on the socialmedia. He wanted to take revenge on her as she hadwarned him against harassing her friend.

The police said that a complaint was received from thevictim’s mother who statedthat a fake Instagram profi��leof her daughter was created

and the accused has beensending obscene messagesfrom the same and stalkingher daughter.

Based on the complaint, acase under Sections 354D(stalking), 509 (word, gestureor act intended to insult themodesty of a woman), 354A(sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) and other relevant section of the POCSO Act was

registered at Kotla Mubarakpur police station.

During probe, letters weresent to Facebook to seek details about the Instagram account and with the help oftechnical intelligence, the accused was identifi��ed.

After due verifi��cation, theaccused was apprehendedfrom his residence in Faridabad on Thursday, Mr. Thakursaid.

It was revealed that the accused fi��rst targeted the victim’s friend and contactedher through social media. Hestarted harassing her andthey had an argument onWhatsapp after which sheshared the incident with thevictim.

The police said that the accused then decided to takerevenge from the victim and

created three fake accountsin her name on Instagramand posted morphed pictures of hers. When the victim confronted him, he askedher for sexual favours, thepolice said.

They said that the accuseddoesn’t have genuine profi��leson Instagram or Facebookand uses social media platforms –WhatsApp, Facebook,Instagram – for talking to girlsfrom fake profi��les. The policesaid that he is also involved ina case fi��led at Faridabad Cyber police station related toanother fake profi��le of a girl.

The police said that the accused is a B.Com. graduateand has been working withan event management company for the last two years.He has targeted six women,the police said.

Accused posted morphed pictures of the girl; he has targeted six women: police

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI

Accused Bharat

Man held for creating girl’s fake profi��le

Delhi Police has arrested fi��vecriminals of Lawrence BishnoiKala Jathedi gang fromthe national capital, offi��cialssaid on Friday.

The accused have beenidentifi��ed as Kapil Nehra(23), Yashpal alias Sarpanch(28), Rajeev alias Raju Basai(25), Rahul Mehalawat (23),all residents of Haryana, andGagandeep alias Guni (35),who is from Punjab, theysaid.

“The police received aspecifi��c input regarding themovement of the accused inthe national capital. Later, apolice team laid a trap nearChandgi Ram Akhara redlight at Ring Road on the intervening night of Thursdayand Friday and apprehended them,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell)Manishi Chandra said.

Case under Arms ActLoaded fi��rearms and over 70live cartridges were recovered from the possession ofthe accused, police said, adding that a case under ArmsAct has been registered andall the accused have beenarrested.

The accused were wantedin several cases, includingbroad daylight triple and

double murders, attempts tomurder, extortion, encounter with police and Arms Actin Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttarakhand, police said.

They had committed a series of crimes in the recentpast, acting as a bridge between Lawrence BishnoiKala Jathedi and another wanted gangster of GurugramSube Gurjar, who is carryinga reward of ₹��7 lakh on his arrest, police said.

Network expansionAfter escaping from the custody of Haryana Police in February 2020, gangster Sandeep alias Kala Jathedi hasbeen working to expand hisnetwork in Delhi and adjoining States, police said.

After the arrests of all major criminals of Delhi in thelast one year, gangsters fromPunjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are trying to enter thenational capital. LawrenceBishnoi and Sube Gurjar areamongst the most dangerous once operating in areassurrounding Delhi, the DCPsaid.

Bishnoi has been trying tomake inroads into Delhi forlast eight to ten months.While Bishnoi himself is injail, his close associate Sandeep is working to expandthe syndicate’s footprints inDelhi. Sandeep is closely assisted by one Kala Rana ofLawrence Bishnoi gang, suspected to be hiding in asoutheast Asian country,the police said.

Loaded fi��rearms and over 70 live cartridges recovered: police

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI

Accused were wanted in several cases, including murders,extortion and under Arms Act. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Five members of LawrenceBishnoi-Kala Jathedi gang held

A 25yearold woman was allegedly killed by her liveinpartner in outer Delhi’sMangolpuri. Her minor children were found near herbody when it was discovered, the police said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner ofPolice (Outer) ParvinderSingh said that the womanhas been identifi��ed as Jyotialias Soni, a resident ofShahbad Dairy.

The police said thataround 10.50 a.m., theywere informed about a woman’s body, which was lyingon the fourth fl��oor of ahouse in JBlock, Mangolpuri. When the police reachedthe spot, they found the body and there were visible injury marks on the head andthe right side of the face.“During inquiry, it wasfound that she had come tothe area to live on rent a fewdays ago. She and her husband had separated a fewyears ago. She was living inthe area with her partnerShiva Sharma, who works asa carpenter,” Mr. Singh said.

The police said that shehad a fi��ght with her partneron Thursday night duringwhich he hit her on the headand face. She was injuredand bled profusely. The accused locked the main doorand fl��ed.

Man kills live-in partnerin Mangolpuri

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI

Firefi��ghters dousing burning leaves and garbage near Gole Dak Khana in New Delhi onFriday. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

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Solution to pollution

The body of a 36yearoldman was found inside a vacant fl��at in north Delhi’s Narela, the police said on Friday. The face of the deceasedwas burnt, they said.

The deceased has beenidentifi��ed as Karan Kumar, aresident of Mahavir Vihar colony in Kanagawa, they said.

After receiving information about the body onThursday, the police

reached DSIIDC fl��ats in Bhorgarh. There were injurymarks on Kumar’s neck andhands and his face was burntto hide his identity, the offi��cer said.

Kumar’s relatives had informed the police after fi��nding the body. A missing report had earlier been lodgedat Kanjhawal police station,the police said.

“Statement of the deceased’s nephew, Vicky (21), wasrecorded. He stated that his

uncle had left the house onWednesday to meet hisbrotherinlaw, Panna Ram,who resides in Narela,” Deputy Commissioner of Police(Outer North) Rajeev RanjanSingh said.

When Kumar did not return home, his familymembrs asked Mr. Pannawhether he had met him,but he refused, the policesaid.

Mr. Panna had sustainedan injury on the leg and

when his relatives persisted,he told them to search forKumar at the DSIIDC fl��ats,the police said. On Friday,the relatives found the body,the offi��cer said.

A case has been registeredat Narela Industrial Area police station. Mr. Panna is absconding, the DCP said. Preliminary investigationrevealed that there wassome dispute between Kumar and Mr. Panna over money.

Man found dead in vacant fl��at in NarelaThere were injury marks on his neck, hands and his face was burnt to hide identity

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI

The Delhi High Court hasgranted bail to a doctor, accused of raping a woman afterpromising her marriage, noting that it was “not a case offorceful sexual assault” andhe would not be in a positionto terrorise the victim or tamper with evidence.

Justice Subramonium Prasad said there was nothing onrecord to indicate that theman had promised marriage

to the woman.The court noted that there

are contradictions betweenthe initial version and the present version of the woman.

“The prosecutrix is amakeup artist and is a resident of Delhi. It cannot besaid that she is naive. This isnot a case of forceful sexualassault...,” the High Courtsaid, adding that whether thewoman’s physical relationship was based on her freeconsent or not will be decidedonly in trial.

The court noted that theevidence has been collectedand the mobile phone of theman, who is a doctor working

at Safdarjung Hospital here,was with the police.

“In view of the above, thiscourt fi��nds it just and expedient to grant bail to the petitioner [doctor] in the event ofarrest [in the case] registeredat Hauz Khas police stationfor off��ences punishable under Sections 376 [punishmentfor rape] and 328 [causinghurt by means of poison withand intent to commit an offence] IPC...,” the High Courtsaid.

According to the woman,her father had suff��ered aheart attack in January 2019and she took her to Safdarjung Hospital where the ac

cused was the doctor on duty.During the course of treat

ment, he visited the woman’sresidence and gave his profi��lefor the purpose of marriageand asked for her profi��le aswell, she said.

The woman alleged that helater called her to meet him to“know each other more”.Once, she said, he called herat his friend’s house whereshe was given a soft drink after which she lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, she said, sherealised she has been raped.

When she confronted theman, he told her that he hadrecorded a video and threa

tened to make it viral, the woman alleged, adding that shewas later called to some hotels and raped again.

Seeking bail, the doctor’scounsel submitted that theFIR was registered January 28this year based on the allegation that the petitioner tookthe woman to his friend’s fl��aton June 9, 2019, and rapedher. However, this story hasbeen completely given a go byand now the allegation is thatthe man promised marriageand established physical relationship with her, he argued,adding that no useful purposewould be served by arrestingthe doctor.

HC grants bail to doctor accused of rape on pretext of marriage

‘Victim’s initial andpresent versionsare contradictory’

Staff Reporter

New Delhi

A police constable’s wife allegedly ended her life ather house in southwestDelhi’s Ghitorni village, offi��cers said on Friday.

According to the police,a caller informed them onThursday evening that hiswife and two sons were athome but no one was answering the door.

“Police reached the spotand the door of the housewas found latched from inside. They broke open thedoor and found the womanhanging,” DCP (SouthWest) Ingit Pratap Singhsaid.

The couple’s two sonswere found unconsciousand were rushed to the hospital where they are undergoing treatment. The elderson is stable but the condition of the younger one iscritical, the police added.

Suicide prevention hel-pline: Sanjivini, Society forMental Health, 011-40769002, Monday-Saturday(10 a.m.-7.30 p.m.)

Constable’swife ends life at home

Press Trust of India

New Delhi

CMYK

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THE HINDU DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 3EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

CITY

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).

Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 ● RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 ● ISSN 0971 - 751X ● Vol. 11 ● No. 79

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Timings

DELHI

SATURDAY, APR. 03

RISE 06:09 SET 18:40

RISE 00:00 SET 10:27

SUNDAY, APR. 04

RISE 06:08 SET 18:41

RISE 01:02 SET 11:25

MONDAY, APR. 05

RISE 06:07 SET 18:42

RISE 01:59 SET 12:26

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Delhigovernment is not planningto impose any lockdown inthe Capital. He said the“fourth wave” of COVID19was “less serious” than others before it.

If needed, Mr. Kejriwalsaid, the government wouldconsider a lockdown only “after due consultation with thepublic” even as he sought tourge the Central governmentto open up the vaccinationprocess for everyone insteadof keeping it restricted tospecifi��c age groups due to therising number of cases.

“India is witnessing a risein cases. Delhi, too, is witnessing a surge. As I have always said Delhi has encountered the worst COVIDsituation, this is the fourthwave for the city. For the

country, this might be the second wave but Delhi is encountering the fourth peak,”he told at a digital briefi��ng after an emergency meeting athis residence to assess thesituation.

‘Govt. keeping an eye’“At this peak, we have seenthat the cases have been rapidly increasing regularlyand this is a matter of graveconcern but one must notworry. The government iskeeping an eye on the situa

tion and all mandatory stepsthat need to be taken, are being looked into,” he added.

On March 16, he said, thecity witnessed 425 cases,which has now surgedbeyond 3,500. According todata, he said, the fourth waveis “less serious than the previous ones” as mortality ratesare relatively low and so wasthe number of people beingadmitted to hospitals andICUs.

In October, he said, 3,000to 4,000 new cases came updaily with around 1,700 patients in ICU. On Friday, thenumber was around 800 registering a drop of 50%. Themortality rate then was 40deaths per day but on Fridayit was around 1012. “We havelooked into the provision foradditional requirements forhospitals in case people fallsick and need to get admittedto the hospital. The provision

of ambulance, hospital, ventilator, oxygen, and ICU wereall discussed. For this, a planhas been laid down as to inwhat stages the number ofICU beds in the private andgovernment hospitals wouldbe increased,” he added. Thegovernment has three broadconcerns, including preventing the spread of infection,hospital management andthe ongoing vaccinationdrive.

Mr. Kejriwal said he washappy that the Centre allowed the vaccination to people above the age of 45. “Ifthe Centre permits us to domass vaccination, then hundreds and thousands of facilities can be created in community centres, schools anda mass vaccination drivecould be initiated. If this isdone, it would be a great aidto control the spread of thevirus,” he said.

Not planning to impose lockdown,says Kejriwal amid surge in casesCM says ‘fourth wave is less serious’, exhorts Centre to allow mass vaccination


New Delhi

Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal.

The city on Friday recorded3,594 new COVID19 casesand 14 deaths, stated a healthbulletin released by thegovernment.

The bulletin added that87,505 tests had been conducted in 24 hours with apositivity rate of 4.11%. Out ofthe total tests, 54,898 wereRTPCR and 32,607 were rapid antigen.

At present, there are11,994 active cases in the cityout of which 6,106 were under home isolation.

There are 2,338 containment zones in the city. Sincethe pandemic began over ayear ago, the total number ofpositive cases has reached6,68,814 cases with 11,050deaths.

The last time the numberof new cases was over the3,500 mark was on Decem

ber 4 when 4,067 caseswere recorded. Over thepast few weeks, the Capitalhas seen a surge in the number of cases reporting 2,790cases on Thursday, 1,819COVID19 cases on Wednesday, 992 cases on Tuesday,1,904 cases on Monday and1,881 cases on Sunday.

Over 80,000 tests conducted in 24 hours, says govt.


NEW DELHI

A health worker administering vaccine to a man in the Capitalon Friday. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Daily new COVID19 casescross 3,500 mark in Capital

In the wake of a surge inCOVID19 cases, the DelhiPrison decided to suspendfamily mulaqat (meeting)of inmates from Monday tillfurther orders, jail authorities said on Friday.

Meetings had resumedIn its step towards normalising the routine of inmates, Delhi Prisons Department on March 21 hadresumed the process of internal mulaqat of inmatesinside the jail premises.

The meeting of inmateswith their legal counsels,however, will continuewith proper COVID19 precautions. Also, the facilityof telephone and emulaqatwill continue as per rules,the jail authorities said.

“In view of rising trendof COVID19 cases, it hasbeen decided to suspendphysical mulaqat of DelhiPrison inmates with familyand friends with eff��ectfrom Monday till further or

ders and the situation willbe reviewed in 15 days,"said Director General (Delhi Prisons) Sandeep Goel.

According to the latestdata shared by Delhi Prisons as on April 2, out ofthe 130 inmates detectedpositive for COVID, 118 haverecovered, two died andthere are presently 10 active cases. All the 293 prison staff�� who were foundpositive have also recovered, it stated.

Move comes in wake of rising cases: Goel

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI

Delhi Prisons discontinuefamily ‘mulaqat’ of inmates

Meeting of inmates withtheir legal counsels willcontinue, said jailauthorities.

A health worker collects swab samples of a passenger at the New Delhi railway station on Friday. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

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Testing at station

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will represent the Capitaland India at the World CitiesCultural Forum, the Delhi government said here onFriday.

Mr. Kejriwal, the government said, had recently accepted an invitation by theMayor of London to represent Delhi at the forum,which comprises 40 world cities including London, Tokyoand New York.

All the cities ‘recognise theimpact and importance ofculture and creativity andseek to inculcate these valuesin public policy and city planning’, the government said.

The annual Summit, attended by Deputy Mayors forCulture and Heads of Culturefrom the member cities, is atthe heart of the forum’s activity, the government said, adding that Delhi will also bepart of the World Cities Culture Report, the most comprehensive global dataset onculture in cities.

This year’s theme — TheFuture of Culture — will play acrucial role in reimaginingthe culture of Delhi, especially in the wake of several devastating challenges and COVID crisis faced by the peoplein the last one year, the government said.

In his response to the invitation received from the

Mayor of London, SadiqKhan, Mr. Kejriwal said: “’Future of Culture’ is certainly atopic of relevance at this challenging juncture. As peoplearound the world struggledin isolation — it has been artand music that helped us stayconnected and cope with thecrisis at hand. Creativity andsharing provided hope andstrength to respond to theCOVID19 with resilience.

The unfortunate circumstances of the pandemic haveposed new challenges andpossibilities to reimagine themodes of cultural practice.As we move towards recovery, the arts and culture willplay a vital role in rebuildinglives and society.”

Kejriwal will represent Delhiat World Cities Cultural Forum‘This year’s theme will play crucial role in reimagining culture’


New Delhi

Senior AAP leader and MLAAtishi on Friday alleged thatthe BJP was critical of theDelhi government’s new excise policy as it would nolonger earn money from theliquor mafi��a now.

She hit out at them for opposing the lowering of thedrinking age from 25 to 21years, asking when BJPruled Goa, Karnataka andHimachal Pradesh have a legal drinking age of 18 years,then why was it opposingthe same in Delhi.

“Delhi government hasbrought in a new excise policy to end the activities of liquor mafi��a in the city. TheAam Aadmi Party had previously endeavoured to endthe private school mafi��a,tanker mafi��a, hospital mafi��a— in the same manner, the

Kejriwal government willnow attempt to break thehold of the liquor mafi��a,”she said.

She added that till nowthere were many areas inDelhi that did not have legaloutlets for the sale of alcohol due to which there wasan uneven distribution ofshops. As a result, liquorwas sold illegally and therefore the Delhi governmenthad brought in the policy toensure that alcohol was notsold illegally.

BJP won’t be able to earnfrom liquor mafi��a: Atishi‘New policy brought in to stop illegal sale’


NEW DELHI

Senior AAP leader Atishi.

Leader of Opposition in theDelhi Assembly Ramvir SinghBidhuri on Friday demandedthe immediate resignation ofDeputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for conceding thata big “liquor mafi��a” had illegally operated in the Capitalfor the past six years of AAPgovernment rule and hadcaused nearly ₹��12,000 croreworth of losses to the exchequer.

The LoP alleged that theinaction of the Delhi government against the alleged mafi��a is an indication that it washand in glove with the mafi��a.

“The AAP government wasruling Delhi for the past sixyears and if they knew thatsuch an illegal thing was taking place, why did they notact? It is very clear that theAAP government was hand in

glove with the mafi��a and patronising them,” Mr. Bidhurialleged.

“Now, they have suddenlywoken up to this illegal practice and loss of revenue. Whywere they sleeping over it?This is a clear case of collaboration in corruption and therefore Mr. Sisodia should immediately step down owningresponsibility for this scam,”he also said.

How many people fromthe liquor mafi��a were prosecuted and sent to jail and howmany cases under the ExciseAct were registered in relation to their activitie? Mr. Bidhuri asked. Similarly, heasked, what action had beentaken against errant shopsand how many criminal caseshad the Delhi government gotregistered against those allegedly indulging in irregularities related to liquor.

LoP says AAP govt. innexus with liquor mafi��aBidhuri demands Sisodia’s resignation


New Delhi

The Capital recorded amaximum temperature of34.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, two notches above thenormal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD)said.

The city’s minimum temperature settled at 16.2 degrees Celsius. The weatherman said mercury is likelyto rise to 38 degrees Celsius

by Monday. The Capital had record

ed a mean maximum temperature of 33.1 degreesCelsius last month, makingit the “hottest” March inthe last 11 years, accordingto the IMD.

Worst since 2010It was the highest meanmaximum temperature inMarch since 2010, when itwas 34.1 degrees Celsius.

Normally, the mean maximum temperature for themonth of March in Delhi is29.6 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD.

Heat wave conditionOn Monday, Delhi reeledunder a “severe” heatwave, as the maximumtemperature shot up to 40.1degrees Celsius, making itthe hottest day in March in76 years, the IMD had said.


New Delhi

Temperature in Capital likely to riseto 38°C by Monday, forecasts IMD

The Delhi Congress on Friday criticised the government for allegedly failing toprovide students with thenecessary infrastructure toattend online classes during the pandemic.

“Instead of providing thenecessary facilities for online class to the studentsand teachers, the Kejriwalgovernment is showing thedream of a virtual school so

that one school can be usedto promote it, while it is acommon opinion that students during the pandemic

period did not get the benefi��t of education,” Delhi Congress chief Ch. Anil Kumarsaid.

Digital inequalityHe added that for the second year in a row, students will be forced to study through online classes,and due to the digital inequality, many will be deprived of education andwill lag. “If there is no timely and thoughtful action on

this inequality, then poorstudents will get backwardin the future not only interms of education but alsoemployment,” Mr. Kumarsaid.

Mr. Kumar said that thebudget presented for theyear 202122 also did notmake any allocation toovercome the problem. Noincentive, like laptops, tablets or data for mobilephones and Internet, wasannounced for them either.

Cong. criticises AAP for letting students down‘Instead of bridging digital divide gap, govt. is launching virtual school project’


NEW DELHI <> If there is no timely

action on this

inequality, then

poor students will

get backward not

only in terms of

education but also

employment

Ch. Anil Kumar

Delhi Congress chief

The Delhi High Court hasdeclined to stay the Lokayukta order for registering anFIR against a councillor ofthe North Delhi MunicipalCorporation for alleged pecuniary loss caused to exchequer over disbursal ofoldage stipends under a2018 scheme.

Justice Prathiba M. Singhalso did not put on hold anyinvestigation or trial in connection with the FIR whichwas ordered to be lodged bythe Lokayukta in Januarylast year.

Recovery of loss“The interim prayer for stayof the FIR and the trial andinvestigation is rejectedconsidering the nature ofthe allegations. However, ifany steps are taken for recovery of the pecuniary[loss], at that stage, the petitioner [councillor] is permitted to approach thecourt,” the Judge said in theorder of March 24.

It further said that if anysuch application is fi��led bythe petitioner, the courtshall consider whether anyinterim protection is to begranted and on what termsand conditions.

Notice issuedThe court also issued noticeto the offi��ce of the Lt.Governor and the Delhi government seeking theirstand on the plea by thecouncillor – Bhoomi ChatterSingh Rachhoya – and listedthe matter for hearing onAugust 31.

The order came on thecouncillor’s plea challenging the Lokayukta’s orderon the ground that it wasnot the sanctioning authority for oldage stipends asper the rules and guidelinesgoverning the scheme of2018.

Apart from lodging of anFIR, the Lokayukta had alsodirected the Commissionerof the North body to recover from the councillor thealleged pecuniary loss.

HC refuses to stay orderfor FIR against councillorHe allegedly caused loss to exchequer


New Delhi

CMYK

A ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


NORTH & EAST

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)leader Rakesh Tikait’s convoywas allegedly attacked in Rajasthan’s Alwar district onFriday, when he was going toaddress a farmers’ rally inBansur town. A group of people pelted stones at the cavalcade, damaging the rearwindscreen of his car.

Mr. Tikait was safe and didnot get any injury. The farmer leader, who has been leading the agitation against theCentre’s agriculture sectorlaws for over four months,held the “goons of BharatiyaJanata Party” responsible forthe attack.

“The goons of BJP indulged in a lethal attack [onour convoy] at Tatarpur intersection on Bansur road.This is the murder of democracy,” Mr. Tikait remarkedwhile posting a video clip ofhis car with the smashed window glass on twitter.

Mr. Tikait addressed tworallies in Alwar district on Friday. He was travelling fromHarsauli to Bansur when theattack, allegedly with stonesand iron rods, took place.Police have detained fourpersons, including a studentleader, in connection withthe incident.

The BKU leader’s supporters and a large number offarmers from the regionblocked the Bansur road afterthe attack. A huge police

force was deployed in thearea late in the evening.

BKU fl��ays attackMeanwhile, the BKU and theSamyukt Kisan Morcha havecriticised the alleged attackon Mr. Tikait. BKU media incharge Dharmendra Maliksaid the assailants came in anSUV and were close to the local BJP MLA.

He said the BKU membersblocked the road in protestand an FIR was registered

against unidentifi��ed assailants. “The SUV that the attackers left is said to have belonged to Kuldeep Yadav,student union president ofMatsya University. Kuldeepcould be seen in photos withRajasthan BJP chief Satish Punia and is said to be close tohim,” Mr. Malik said.

In response to the attack,the BKU workers blocked theDelhiMeerut Expressway atGhazipur border for twohours.

Rakesh Tikait’s convoy attacked Incident took place in Rajasthan’s Alwar when he was going to address a rally


JAIPUR/Ghaziabad

Farmers blocking traffi��c at the Ghazipur border in protestagainst the alleged attack on Rakesh Tikait on Friday. * PTI

Bharatiya Kisan Unionleader Rakesh Tikait

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab, due earlynext year, the principal Opposition party — the AamAadmi Party — has decidedto raise the electricity rate issue. The party plans tolaunch a Statewide agitationfrom April 7.

In the fi��rst phase of themonthlong agitation, AAPwould be staging protests inover 16,000 villages andwards across the State.

‘Give free power’“We will launch a massive agitation from April 7 againstthe rising power prices andask the Punjab governmentto provide free power in theState,” AAP MLA HarpalSingh Cheema, who is theLeader of the Opposition inthe Assembly, told The Hin-

du on Friday. Mr. Cheema said on ac

count of the antipeople policies adopted by the Congress during its four years ofrule, the people are suff��eringimmensely.

“We had been raising thehigh power tariff��s and otherpubliccentric issues in theAssembly. The government,

however, is paying no needto the problems being facedby the people. Now, we willlaunch a mass agitation topressurise the governmentto resolve these issues,” hesaid.

Hitting out at the Congress, Mr. Cheema said theState government has failedto keep its promises madeduring the 2017 Assemblypolls and the people havelost all faith in thegovernment.

“The Congress had promised to reduce power tariff��s before the 2017 elections, but after assumingpower, the government hadraised power prices multipletimes. The Congress hadpromised that power agreements made by the previousSADBJP government withthe private companieswould be reviewed and can

celled. But it had been fouryears since the Congresscame to power, the government has not taken any step.Chief Minister AmarinderSingh had said that WhitePaper on power priceswould be brought but so farnothing has come,” he said.

“The people of Punjab arebuying expensive electricityand in times of infl��ation, thegovernment is imposing aburden on them. The government had given freehand to the companies torob the people and fi��ll theircoff��ers,” added Mr. Cheema.

“Our party volunteers andworkers will go door to dooracross the State to make people aware about higher power tariff��s in Punjab in comparison to Delhi, which is ruledby AAP. We will burn copiesof electricity bills as a markof protest,” said Mr. Cheema.

AAP plans stir against high power tariff��sPunjab people are suff��ering due to Cong. govt.’s policies: Harpal Singh Cheema

Harpal Singh Cheema.* FILE PHOTO

VIKAS VASUDEVA

CHANDIGARH

Three persons have beenarrested after a video ofthem allegedly beating upan unmarried couple sittingin a shop in a village heresurfaced on social media,police said on Friday.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Raj KumarAgarwal said that the incident took place in Rithauravillage on Wednesday.

After the video surfacedon social media, the woman’s brother registered acomplaint, following whichthree men, identifi��ed as Manoj, Pankaj and Ajay, all residents of Rithaura area,were arrested.

An FIR was registered inHafi��zganj police station under the IPC Sections 323(voluntarily causing hurt)and 504 (intentional insult).

Three arrestedfor assault oncouple in U.P.

Press trust of India

Bareilly

The fi��rst farmbased solarpower plant under thePrime Minister’s Kisan UrjaSuraksha Evum Utthan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) schemehas come up in Jaipur district’s Kotputli tehsil with aprovision for production of17 lakh units of electricity every year.

The 1 MW project hasbeen established on 3.50acres of farmland in Kotputli’s Bhaloji village.

The new plant is also thefi��rst of the 623 farmbasedsolar power projects selected by the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) for

generating 722 MW capacityin the State under thescheme’s fi��rst phase.

The project has beencommissioned following a25year contract signed between the RRECL and farmland owner Devkaran Yadavin September 2020. Developed at a cost of ₹��3.70crore, the plant is expectedto generate an annual income of ₹��50 lakh for Mr. Yadav, as the discom will bepurchasing electricity at therate of ₹��3.40 per unit.

RRECL chairman SubodhAgarwal said here on Fridaythat the KUSUM schemewould ensure energy security for farmers, as they couldgenerate revenue from their

less productive or barrenland. It would also help increase the clean green energy and generate employment in the rural areas, hesaid.

Renewable energy targetThe Congress government inthe State had adopted thesolar energy and the windand hybrid energy policiesin December 2019 with theplans to develop a capacityof 38,000 MW renewableenergy. The capacity to bedeveloped under the KUSUM scheme will be of theorder of 2,600 MW, forwhich the letters of awardhave been issued to 623 applicants.

First farmbased solar powerplant comes up in RajasthanIt has capacity to produce 17 lakh units of electricity per year


JAIPUR

The Special Task Force of Odisha Crime Branch arrestedtwo persons and seized a leopard skin on Thursday night.

The skin was seized whenthe STF team conducted araid at Bolagarh underKhordha district after a tipoff��.

Two accused — SudhirBehera and Subash Behera —who hail from Nayagarh district were arrested.

“The accused personscould not produce any validauthority in support of possession of the leopard skin,for which they have been arrested. The seized leopardskin will be sent to WildlifeInstitute of India, Dehradun,for chemical examination,”

said the STF Deputy Inspector General Jai Narayan Pankaj.

Mr. Pankaj said during lastone year, the STF has seizedas many as 12 leopard skins,six elephant tusk, two deerskin, two live pangolin andfi��ve kg of pangolin scales andarrested 24 persona.

Hub of smugglingThe STF, which has launcheda campaign to curb wildlifecrimes, has issued a telephone number for people tointimate about such incidents. Nayagarh district appears to be the hub of leopard skin smuggling in theState. An elected representative was caught red handedwhile he was stripping theskin from a dead leopard.

12 skins recovered in last one year Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR

Leopard skin seized, two arrested in Odisha

Two persons died, one losthis vision while several others were hospitalised afterallegedly consuming spurious liquor distributed bypanchayat election candidates in Tigalpur villagehere, police said on Friday.

Three persons, including prospective candidatesfor village head, have beenarrested, the police said.

Two dead afterconsumingspurious liquor

Press trust of india

Budaun (U.P.)

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb is confi��dent that the BJPIPFT alliance will get absolutemajority in elections to theTripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council(TTAADC) slated for April6. At a media briefi��ng onFriday, he said people willvote for the ruling coalitionto support allround development activities in theState.

“Congress or CPI(M) isnowhere, but BJP is everywhere. People who arestill in diff��erent politicalcamps should join BJP forsake of development andprogress,” the Chief Minister appealed while speaking at his offi��cial residence.

‘BJPIPFTalliance willwin tribal polls’

Syed Sajjad Ali

Agartala

A Class 10 student died bysuicide after she was allegedly abducted and gangraped while on her wayback from a tuition class,the police said on Friday.

Meerut’s Rural Superintendent of Police KeshavKumar said four youths

were involved in abductingand raping the girl, and thepolice, on the basis of anote left by the girl, havearrested two of theaccused.

Suicide prevention hel-pline: Sanjivini Society forMental Health, Telephone:011-4076 9002, Monday-Sa-turday, 10 a.m. -7.30 p.m.

Girl returning from tuition

gangraped, dies by suicide2 accused arrested, hunt on for others


Meerut

EDUCATIONAL

MRS SUBHALAKSHMI Ram Mohan, W/oCapt C Ram Mohan,of DefenceColony, Madras, expired on 1 April2021. Deeply mourned by Family andFriends. Contact 9840094349/9500015058

OBITUARY &

REMEMBRANCE

DEATH

The police in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district registered an FIR against a woman BJP leader on Friday oncharges of cheating and forgery after it surfaced that anambulance with a numberplate from the district wasused to ferry jailed MLAMukhtar Ansari from Roparjail to a court in Mohali bythe Punjab Police. The Supreme Court had last weekdirected the Punjab government to hand over the custody of the controversialMLA.

The case was lodgedagainst Alka Rai, whoclaimed in front of the media that she was the regionalgeneral secretary of theBJP’s women unit in Gorakhpur.

The controversy eruptedafter the U.P. government alleged that the Punjab go

vernment had allowed Mr.Ansari to be escorted tocourt in a luxury, bulletproof ambulance that had anumber plate of Barabankidistrict.

A probe by the U.P. Transport Department foundthat the address and documents provided for the registration of the ambulancein 2013 were “prima faciefraud” and forged, said Yamuna Prasad, Superintendent of Police, Barabanki.The address stated duringregistration was not foundto be in Rafi�� Nagar area ofBarabanki, he said.

A case was lodged underSections 419, 420, 467, 468and 471 of the IPC against Alka Rai, who is the owner ofthe Shyam Sanjeevni Hospital in Mau district, fromwhere Mr. Ansari is an MLA.The ambulance was allegedly registered to an addresslinked to her hospital.

FIR fi��led against BJP leaderin Ansari ambulance rowAlka Rai charged with cheating, forgery

Omar Rashid

LUCKNOW

Weather WatchRainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday

Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs)

Forecast for Saturday: Thunderstorm with lightning likely atisolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya,coastal Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Heat wave conditions likelyin some/isolated pockets over Rajasthan, Saurashtra & Kutch,Vidarbha, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

city rain max min city rain max min

Agartala................—....35.0....26.5 Kozhikode....................—....33.6....26.1

Ahmedabad...........—....39.9....20.3 Kurnool .......................—....40.6....26.7

Aizawl...................—....28.1....13.1 Lucknow......................—....36.6....16.8

Allahabad..............—....39.2....16.8 Madurai .................... 0.5....42.3....24.5

Bengaluru .............—....36.8....21.4 Mangaluru ...................—....35.5....24.5

Bhopal ..................—....39.1....17.4 Mumbai .......................—....32.4....23.8

Bhubaneswar.........—....38.2....25.5 Mysuru ........................—....35.0....20.0

Chandigarh ...........—....32.4....13.3 New Delhi ...................—....34.4....16.2

Chennai ................—....41.8....28.5 Patna ..........................—....38.0....17.0

Coimbatore ...........—....36.7....24.2 Port Blair................ 10.2....28.8....22.1

Dehradun ..............—....31.5....12.5 Puducherry ..................—....37.8....25.6

Gangtok................—....19.3....10.5 Pune............................—....37.7....17.8

Goa.......................—....34.3....25.3 Raipur .........................—....41.7....21.0

Guwahati ..............—....32.2....20.1 Ranchi .........................—........ —....19.8

Hubballi ................—....36.0....19.0 Shillong.................... 0.8....25.1....13.5

Hyderabad ............—....39.3....23.1 Shimla.........................—....19.2......8.1

Imphal ............... 1.5....28.8....13.7 Srinagar.......................—....19.6......4.8

Jaipur ...................—....36.0....18.6 Thiruvananthapuram.........—....34.0....24.7

Kochi ....................—....32.4....24.4 Tiruchi.........................—....42.3....26.6

Kohima .................—....22.6........ — Vijayawada ..................—....42.8....27.2

Kolkata .................—....35.6....26.6 Visakhapatnam .............—....33.0....28.8

(Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius)

Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday

CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE

In observation made at 4.00p.m., Muzaffarnagar, UttarPradesh recorded an overallair quality index (AQI) scoreof 322 indicating anunhealthy level of pollution.In contrast, Bagalkot,Karnataka recorded ahealthy AQI score of 50

Ahmedabad..... 83 .85 24 ..188 .172 ....*

Bengaluru ....... ..4 118 39 ....70 .106 ....*

Chennai .......... ..8 .25 52 ....64 ...73 ....*

Delhi .............. 22 .40 34 ..252 .192 ....*

Hyderabad ...... ..6 .91 25 ..113 .150 ....*

Kolkata........... ..8 .19 50 ..155 .159 ....*

Lucknow ......... ..6 .39 60 ..199 .164 ....*

Mumbai .......... ..2 .18 .5 ..323 .148 ....*

Pune............... ..6 .39 36 ..135 .108 ....*

Visakhapatnam ..— ...— .— ..... — .....— ....—

Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI)

SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system,

making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air

particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues

and monuments.

NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by

reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters.

CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to

critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause

dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death.

PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes,

nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced

lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature

death in people with heart or lung disease

The reorganisation of Dr.Babasaheb AmbedkarSource Material PublicationCommittee by the Maharashtra government hassparked a controversy afterveteran Ambedkarite andauthor J.V. Pawar refused towork under a relatively unknown membersecretary ofthe committee, questioninghis eligibility andcredentials.

The State Higher andTechnical Education Department on March 30 issued a list of new members,including Mr. Pawar, in anattempt to reorganise thedormant committee whichis tasked with editing, translating, and republishingthe works of Dr. BabasahebAmbedkar. Apart from ministers, MLA and offi��cials, ithas 16 private members, including activists, authorsand researchers of the Ambedkarite movement.

On April 1, Mr. Pawar

wrote to Higher and Technical Education Minister UdaySamant, who is the president of the committee, questioning the credentials of Dr.Krishna Kamble appointedas the membersecretary.

“I have been active in theAmbedkarite movement forover 50 years. It was mewho ensured the legal battleover this literature ended in70s and material was madeavailable for publication. Ihave authored numerousbooks, articles on Dr. Ambedkar, and even at the ageof 78, I am active in themovement. I have neverheard the name of Dr. Krishna Kamble nor am I aware ofhis contribution to themovement. Why should Iwork under him?” Mr. Pawar asked.

In his letter, Mr. Pawarsaid that he was willing towork for the committee butwould not work under someone who hardly had any contribution to the movement.“I had expressed my desire

to work for the committeebut not like this,” he said.

Mr. Pawar has long beenassociated with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar who contested against the MahaVikas Aghadi partners (Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena) inthe 2019 Assembly polls.

According to sources inthe government, the committee is an attempt to gobeyond politics and try towork towards the larger aimof bringing out literature ofDr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Interestingly, one of themembers of the committee,senior journalist Nikhil Wagle, has already declaredthat he is not part of it. “As ajournalist, it has been mypolicy to not work with anygovernment committee.Here I was not even consulted before selecting me. I also believe that researcherson Dr. Ambedkar and hiswork should be part of thiscommittee instead of me,”he told The Hindu.

Author refuses to work under Ambedkar publication committee membersecretaryJ.V. Pawar questions his eligibility, contribution to movement

Alok Deshpande

Mumbai

Solemn occasion: Members of the Christian community receive the Holy Communion on the premises of Mount Carmel Churchat Bandra on Good Friday. Due to COVID-19, many churches in Mumbai kept the Mass service online. * EMMANUAL YOGINI



Remembering Christ

The Bombay High Court recently granted relief to a 45yearold man by quashingthe FIR and chargesheetagainst him for being accused of stealing 17 currencynotes in ₹��2,000 denomination and said that “allowingthe proceedings would notbe in the interest of justice”.

A Division Bench of Justices S.S. Shinde and Manish Pitale was hearing a criminalpetition fi��led by Taleb Rafi��qBeg, a businessman at Beed.

On February 3, 2017, Mr.Beg went to one DamyantiPardeshi’s offi��ce and requested to get one ₹��2,000currency note in exchangeof four ₹��500 currency notesrequired for a pooja.

Ms. Pardeshi alleged thathe snatched a bundle of₹��2,000 notes from her andtook out 17 notes instead ofone. A day after, she lodgeda complaint against Mr. Beg

accusing him of cheatingand criminal breach of trustat Pimpri police station.

Advocate Hassnain KaaziSayyed, representing Mr.Beg, argued that he was falsely implicated and therewas no material to link himto the case.

The Bench said, “A bareperusal of the FIR does notshow any off��ence withwhich Mr. Beg can be linkedto the present case. The police apprehended him on August 6, 2017 and sought hisremand on August 7 for anincident that occurred on

February 4, 2017, withoutthere being even an iota ofmaterial to link him with theincident in question. Therefore, we are of the opinionthat Mr. Beg has successfullymade out the case for quashing of the FIR.”

While allowing the petition, the HC said, “Mr. Beghas been able to make outhis case for exercise of extraordinary and inherentpower of this court to quashthe criminal proceedings initiated against him. We fi��ndthat the nature of materialbrought on record in pursuance of investigation andfi��ling of chargesheet doesnot even prima facie indicate his involvement in thealleged off��ence. Therefore,allowing the proceedings tocontinue in pursuance ofsuch an FIR and chargesheetwould not be in the interestof justice and would amountto abuse of the process oflaw.”

HC quashes FIR against businessmanaccused of stealing 17 currency notes Special Correspondent

Mumbai

Nearly two months after a19yearold woman wasgangraped by two peopleinside a stationary bus inKharghar, the police arrested the main accused inChembur on Wednesday.

The arrested accused,identifi��ed as Abhishek Kharat (31), was the driver of thebus in which he committedthe crime along with his accomplice, Tejash Dewlekar(19), a collegegoing student.Mr. Dewlekar was arrestedon February 4 after an FIRwas registered at Khargharpolice station.

According to the police,the victim and the duo livedin the same locality andwere known to each other.On the night of February 3,the victim had gone for aprewedding programmewith her parents. In between, the victim was thirstyand the duo who were alsopresent at the programmetook her to a nearby minibusand gave her a spiked drink.

After she became unconscious, the two sexually assaulted her in the bus. Theduo then took her to a secluded spot in Taloja in thedark and abandoned her.She reached home with the

help of some citizens and informed her family about theincident.

The next day, based on acomplaint, the Khargharpolice registered a case ofgangrape against the twoand immediately arrestedMr. Dewlekar. However, Mr.Kharat, had absconded. OnWednesday, he was traced toLal Dongar in Chemburwhere he was hiding at hissister’s house and was arrested by assistant police inspector Shridhar Pawar.While Mr. Dewlekar is in judicial custody, Mr. Kharat hasbeen remanded in policecustody till April 5.

Two months after Kharghar gang rape,police arrest main accused in Chembur Raina Assainar

Navi Mumbai

Congress ministers in theMaha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)government on Friday discussed the allegations of corruption against MaharashtraHome Minister Anil Deshmukh in a meeting with AllIndia Congress Committee(AICC) incharge for theState H.K. Patil, sources said.

Shiv Sena leader SanjayRaut’s repeated remarks thatNCP chief Sharad Pawarshould take over as UPAchairperson also came upduring the discussion, sources added.

The meeting in Mumbaiwith Mr. Patil, an AICC secretary, was held for discussingthe political situation in theState, sources said.

“They talked about howthe State government’s image is being tarnished due tothe allegations of corruptionagainst NCP leader Mr. Deshmukh and how our party isgetting maligned unnecessarily,” a Congress leader said.

Former Mumbai policecommissioner Param BirSingh alleged last monththat Mr. Deshmukh hadasked police offi��cials to collect ₹��100 crore a monthfrom bars and hotels, an allegations the latter denied.

“The view in the meetingwas that the NCP should havehandled the Deshmukh issuein a better way,” the leaderadded. Congress ministers also complained about Senaspokesperson Mr. Raut repeatedly stating that Mr. Pawar be made UPA chairperson by replacing Congresspresident Sonia Gandhi.

The issue of developmentfunds for constituencies ofCongress ministers not being disbursed in time alsocame up, sources said.

The Congress has 12 ministers in the Senaled coalition government.

Raut’s remarksthat Pawar shouldtake over as UPAchairperson alsodiscussedPress Trust of India

Mumbai

Anil Deshmukh

Congress ministers discuss Deshmukh controversy with AICC secretary

A woman and her threedaughters died and herhusband was injured aftertheir car fell into a roadsidewaterbody in the Panshetdam catchment area nearPune on Friday afternoon,police said.

After locals alerted authorities about the incident,the bodies were broughtout, said fi��re brigade offi��cials of PMRDA.

The deceased have beenidentifi��ed as Alpana Bhikule (45) and her daughtersPrajkta (21), Pranita (17)and Vaidahi (8), while theinjured person is VitthalBhikule, a rural police station offi��cial said.

“The family was returning to their home in Punefrom their native village inVelhe tehsil. It is suspectedthe man lost control of thevehicle and it fell into thewaterbody,” he added.

Car falls intowaterbody; 4of family dead


Pune

Elephants Do Remember, adocumentary on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, recentlyadjudged the Best Biographical Film at the 67th NationalFilm Awards 2019, marks thedirectorial debut of SwatiPandey, Postmaster General,India Post, Mumbai Region.

The fi��lm, which will bringto the fore unknown factsabout the great freedomfi��ghter, revolves around thelife of Rama Khandwala, 94,a resident of Opera House,Mumbai, who served in theIndian National Army andworked closely with Netaji.With a run time of 37 minutes, the fi��lm is codirected by Viplove Bhatia andManu Bist, and produced byFilms Division. The fi��lmmakers will receive the

award from the Presidenton May 3 in Delhi.

Ms. Khandwala is the oldest tourist guide in India,helping Japanese touristsduring their visits to Mumbai, and recipient of thePresidential Award. Thefi��lm records the thrilling experiences of Ms. Khandwala, who hails from Burma(now Myanmar). In the fi��lm,she leaves the viewers awestruck as she reminisces herassociation with Netaji.“Since my childhood, I wasinspired by Netaji. This fi��lmis my tribute to him, themost underrated and forgotten freedom fi��ghter of India,” Ms. Pandey said.

“This fi��lm is an ode to myBaba (father) who was a refugee from East Bengal andreminisced the infl��uence ofNetaji through his life. I saw

Netaji through my Baba’seyes and I got to know Netaji through his words,” shesaid. Through this documentary, I attempt to revivethe legacy of Netaji, his undying patriotism and altruistic love towards hismotherland, the way he stillinfl��uences our lives, she added. The fi��lm was also nominated under the Short Documentary category at the

IFFI, Goa, 2019.“This award is an ack

nowledgement for Rama di-di, who at the age of 16 wasnot only an integral part ofNetaji’s Rani Jhansi Regiment, that fought for India’sfreedom, but also led ateam of 30 women soldiers(known as Ranis) at the warfront. This was she! Fearless, Passionate Valiant!”said Ms. Pandey, who hasbecome the fi��rst offi��cer ofthe Indian Post to win a National Film Award.

Ms Pandey, an IndianPostal Service Offi��cer of the1997 batch, said she was always inspired by creativityand fi��lmmaking came naturally. Born in a Bengali family displaced by the Partition, she grew up in theDandakaranya region of Odisha. In the postal depart

ment, she has started innovative projects like SOFT(Supporting Offi��cials forTreatment), Smartest Postmen Campaign, DigitalIdentity of Postmen and aheritage walk of the Mumbai General Post offi��ce.

New projectMs. Pandey is now workingon a documentary on the160year history of IndiaPost along with Epic Channel. Recently, she also published the fi��rstever ebookon the Mumbai GeneralPost Offi��ce, coauthoredwith another governmentoffi��cer Orchida Mukherjee.The book showcases the archaeological beauty andsplendour of the heritagebuilding, constructed in IndoSaracenic style of architecture.

Directorial debut on freedom fi��ghter’s legacy adjudged Best Biographical Film at National Film Awards

Lalatendu Mishra

MUMBAI

Swati Pandey. * VIVEK BENDRE

Postmaster General’s tribute to Netaji wins laurels

Maharashtra Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray on Friday said that strict restrictions would be implemented in the State in thecoming days. He did notwant to impose a lockdown,but would be left with nooption if COVID19 casescontinued to rise in the present manner.

“I have been getting callsenquiring whether a lockdown would be imposed inthe State. I am only warningtoday; I am not announcinganything. I will be watchingfor the next two to threedays and discussing withvarious stakeholders. I willannounce strict restrictionsin the coming few days. Wehave to stop this wave andensure there is no thirdwave. It is not a onewayprocess; both sides have towork hard. I expect cooperation like last year,” said Mr.Thackeray, in his address tothe State.

Mr. Thackeray’s speechindicated that the State isset to come under a lockdown from the comingweek as he presented theexamples of foreign countries, including France, Brazil and the United Kingdom,where strict measures likelockdown were taken tocontrol the spread of novelcoronavirus.

“I don’t want a lockdown. But can all thosewho are advising me to notcall for a lockdown suggestme a way to control thenumber of patients? Lockdown will hamper the economy, employment. Butsaving lives is the utmostpriority for me. Employment is not going anywhere,” he said.

He said that the State

would increase the numberof people getting vaccinations. “A total of 65 lakh people have been vaccinatedand on Thursday, threelakh citizens received thejab. We look forward to increase this number to 67lakh and I am sure theCentre will grant our request,” he said.

Mr. Thackeray slammedthe political parties who areopposing the lockdown and

threatening to hit thestreets. “Of course, I welcome them to hit thestreets. But they shouldcome out to save lives, tohelp health professionalswith testing, and to createsocial awareness,” he said.

Taking a dig at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chiefRaj Thackeray, withoutnaming him, for his refusalto wear a mask, the CMasked what sort of braverywas this and what was being achieved through it?

Mr. Thackeray said people were getting infected irrespective of being vaccinated. “Vaccine is merelyan umbrella in a storm. Wehave to follow each and every health norm even aftergetting COVID19 jab. Thereis no eff��ective mode to stopthe spread of the virus,” hesaid.

About the additions tothe State’s health infrastructure, the CM said froma few thousand beds, thenumber had reached 3.75lakh beds in one month.“But if this trend continues,we may face shortage ofbeds in 1520 days,” he said.

The State is conducting1.82 lakh tests, of which70% are RTPCR, every day,and plans to increase thenumber to 2.50 lakh.

Strict restrictions incoming days: UddhavCM hits out at political parties opposing lockdown

Staff Reporter

Mumbai

Maharashtra on Friday recorded 47,827 new COVID19 cases, the highestdaily count since the novelcoronavirus pandemicbegan.

The new fi��gure took theState tally of positive casesto 29,04,076, a Health Department statement said. Asmany as 202 novel coronavirus patients died in the Stateon Friday, taking the deathtoll to 55,379, it said.

Maharashtra sees 47,827new cases, 202 fatalitiesPress Trust of India

Mumbai

<> I don’t want a

lockdown. But can

all those who are

advising me to not

call for a lockdown

suggest me a way

to control the

number of

patients?

Uddhav Thackeray

Chief Minister

CMYK

A ND-NDE


THE HINDU DELHI


WEST

CMYK

A ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


EDITORIAL

Reversing rate cutsThe fl��ipfl��op announcementover interest rate cut is amatter that the ElectionCommission of India mustlook into. Why was such acut announced andrepealed overnight aftercalling it an oversight, andat a time when a few Stateshave their Assemblyelections? First cause a joltand then induce relief — isthis some new technique toattract the middle class byplaying with theirsentiments? J. Eden Alexander,

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

■ Many of us have still torecover from the shock, even

if it has been rolled backnow. Why is the centralgovernment so hellbent oncrushing small savers? One iscertain that had it not beenfor the elections in thebackdrop, the governmentwould not have backtracked.It is small savers who give thegovernment its fi��nancialcushion.Katuru Durga Prasad Rao,

Hyderabad

■ Even otherwise, the centralgovernment has beensubjecting senior citizensand retirees to trauma byreducing bank deposit rates.Similarly, fuel prices havebeen rising sharply and evenwhen there were

opportunities to pass onrelief, these were notexplored. Whateverhappened to “Achhe dinaane waale hain”?B.G. Baliga,

Thrissur, Kerala

■ To stabilise the economy, agood amount of domesticsavings is one of theimportant and inevitablecomponents for any country.It is a factor which helpedChina in building itseconomy. Instead ofencouraging such savings ingovernment schemes,driving people into the armsof private players does notspeak well of thegovernment. However, many

have got a clue now. After thespell of elections, there aresure to be more shocks.A.G. Rajmohan,

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh

On the campiagn trailWhy are our political leadershumiliating each other inorder to serve us? It isabsolutely amazing, that on adaily basis over the past fewdays, they are embarrassingeach other by alleging justabout anything. Is this theleadership that we have tocontend with and guide thedestiny of our nation ? Or,are image makers and speechwriters creating this havoc? Hemachandra Basappa,

Bengaluru

disregarding establishednorms has to be criticised. Inits desperation to gain atoehold in Tamil Nadu, thepoliticisation of the awardsdemeans the award and theawardees.Anthony Henriques,

Mumbai

Award for actorIt is impossible to believethat the Dadasaheb Phalkeaward was not awarded tosuperstar Rajnikanth in thehope of reaping somepolitical harvest in TamilNadu. This is not to say thatthe superstar is unworthy ofthe award, but the sheereff��rontery of the BJP in

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.

To read more lettersonline, scan the QR code

Radhika Coomaraswamy

“Hey Geneva” lamentsAjith Kumarasiri (musician, songwriter, and

composer in Sri Lanka) in powerful Sinhala rhythm and blues. “Weno longer kill.” “We don’t shootanymore.” “Give us our islandback.” Geneva as an idea is fi��rmlyembedded in the Sri Lankan consciousness. For many Sri Lankans,especially the Sinhalese, it is an attack on national honour, a placewhere their vulnerability as asmall island is exploited. For manyTamils and now Muslims, it is aplace of hope. For human rightsactivists the world over, it is theirforum.

The settingThe Human Rights Council in Geneva is a place where Sinhala andTamil nationalisms meet, confronteach other and fi��ght countless shadow battles. In some of the sideevents of the Council, before thenovel coronavirus pandemic, people have fainted, come to fi��sticuff��sand been removed by UN security.It is the place where both communities have large demonstrations next to the legless chair thatreminds the Palais de Nations ofthe consequence of war. There areheated, bloodchilling speechesaimed at the supporters. For bystanders, much of this drama isquite unsettling.

The government playbook withregard to the Geneva process atthe UN Human Rights Council is topresent it as an enormous power

play full of double standards. It isseen as western countries gangingup on Sri Lanka for its closeness toChina. Imperialism and neocolonialism remain in the frame. Thereis no government recognition thatthere may be any grievance or avictim. This just compounds theinsensitivity.

The government’s aim this yearwas to have no resolution at all,while the major Tamil groupswanted the Human Rights Councilto begin a pathway to the International Criminal Court. In the end,the resolution decided to createcapacity at the Offi��ce of the UnitedNations High Commissioner forHuman Rights (OHCHR) to collect,preserve and consolidate evidencenot only on war crimes but also onother gross violations of humanrights and serious violations of humanitarian law. There is no date ortime period.

Geopolitics ‘plus’Though geopolitics is the framework for decision making at theHuman Rights Council, the actualprocess is more nuanced and maybe described as geopolitics “plus”.Unless one acknowledges this“plus” factor, one will never understand the actual workings ofthe Human Rights Council. The activism, agitation and the momentum around a resolution createdby this “plus” factor spills over andcreates the atmosphere in whichthe resolution is adopted.

The “plus” factors around theSri Lankan resolution were easy toidentify. First came the legal experts of the Offi��ce of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights,as well as the Special Rapporteursand procedures who took verystrong positions. The pivotal inputby the Offi��ce was the Report of theHigh Commissioner on “Promot

ing Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka”. Michelle Bachelet as a High Commissioner, atorture victim, President, and aMinister of Defence, put her fullweight behind the report. Morethan anything else, her report andwords made the resolution inevitable.

In addition to the work ofOHCHR, the Tamil groups nationally and globally were extremelyactive. But, it was Muslim civil society and the Muslim diaspora thatmade the diff��erence for this resolution. Their passion, energy andsense of injustice fi��lled the spaces.Despite heavy lobbying from Pakistan, (the Coordinator on Human rights and humanitarian issues in the Organisation of IslamicCooperation, at Geneva), and fromBangladesh, after Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa’s visit inMarch, despite pressure from China and after the Rajapaksas madepersonal calls to OIC members,the large majority of Muslim countries still decided to abstain.

Elements to a global causeThough the diasporas are alwaysactive, it is an international civilsociety made up of a whole arrayof disparate groups that dominatethe agitational space of the HumanRights Council. These groups areoften at odds with each other butact in solidarity when it comes toglobal causes. Sri Lanka has againbecome a global cause. Once you

get on the agenda of internationalcivil society, it is diffi��cult to get off��.As Christine SchöwebelPatel, theacademic in international law andpolitical economy, has recentlywritten, there is a kind of “branding” in a communications sensethat takes place and has severeconsequences for country andcommunity.

The events unfolding in Genevaare particularly disturbing because of their shortsightedness. In2014, Sri Lanka faced a hostileCouncil and was an outlier in theinternational system very muchlike today. Most people have conveniently forgotten this history.The Resolution of the HumanRights Council in 2015 (https://bit.ly/3md0P8x) that Sri Lankacosponsored after the governmentchanged was to pull Sri Lanka outof the rut that it had fallen into. Ifthat resolution were not passed,Sri Lanka would have had the evidence collection and preservingmechanism in some form by 2016.

The 2015 resolution acceptedinternational best practices, an offi��ce for missing persons, an offi��cefor reparations, a truth commission and a judicial process forthose guilty of serious crimes. Atthat time, the focus was on theneed for a system that gave confi��dence to the victims. Victimgroups were clear that a purelydomestic process had failed thembefore. As a result, it was agreed tohave a framework with an elementof foreign participation.

International, resolution 30/1became a great success though victim groups thought it was a failuredue to a lack of implementation.International hostility disappeared; Sri Lanka was droppedfrom international punitive agendas, became open to GSP plus (orthe European Union’s Generalised

Scheme of Preferences Plus) andother trade and fi��nancial benefi��tsand was welcomed back into UNpeacekeeping. Despite its international success, 30/1 was reviled nationally as a resolution that “soldout the soldiers” — blurring thelines between the few who havecommitted war crimes and thelarge majority who have not.

Fundamentally, there was also alack of understanding of what “cosponsorship” meant and the enlightened selfinterest that it entailed. Cosponsorship has alwaysmeant accepting internationalstandards while keeping control ofthe national process — the legislation to be enacted and the personnel to be appointed. By arbitrarilywithdrawing from the resolution,Sri Lanka created the space for theHuman Rights Council to create anew mechanism to collect andpreserve evidence. This process isnow independent of the Colombogovernment and will eventuallyhave a life of its own.

The two sidesWith this dedicated capacity at theOHCHR, the human rights issuesregarding Sri Lanka will not goaway. For many Sri Lankans, especially the Sinhalese, this is an outrage of double standards. There isreal fury at what they see as globalinequity. For many members ofthe minorities, opposition leaders,journalists, lawyers, victim groupsand civil society activists whoclaim they are being harassed,prosecuted and intimidated on adaily basis by a surveillance state,there is relief to know that someone will be watching.

Radhika Coomaraswamy is former Under

Secretary General and Special

Representative of the Secretary General on

Children and Armed Confl��ict

In Geneva faceoff��, outrage versus hopeThe Human Rights Council is where Sinhala and Tamil nationalisms meet and confront each other

AF

P

The optimism that India mighthave beaten the COVID19pandemic has given way to

pessimism from a sharp increasein new cases and deaths from thedisease. Maharashtra seems to beparticularly aff��ected, but nearly allStates are reporting increases. Theepidemiology of COVID19 is poorly understood, but some early understanding of the transmission ofthe virus can enable a more eff��ective sciencedriven response.

Spread of variantsFirst, the surge is probably drivenby variants from the original, asvariants worldwide comprisemuch of the current wave. A resumption of global travel meantthat spread of variants into Indiawas inevitable, with the only question being when. Evolutionary theory would expect SARSCoV2, thevirus that causes COVID19, to mutate to become more transmissible. After all, the only task of a virus is to reproduce. However, theexpected concomitant decrease inlethality has not yet been documented. Anecdotal reports thatthe current surge is occurringmore in younger adults and accompanied by unusual symptomsalso support the idea that variantsare responsible. Direct evidence isneeded from genetic sequencingof the virus.

Second, it was, and remains,wishful thinking that India hadachieved “herd immunity”. Thepatterns of infection in India clear

ly suggest multigenerationaltransmission, with younger adultsthe engine of transmission into theelderly. Various serosurveys haveconsistently found that half ormore of tested urban populationshave antibodies to the virus. However, this high level of infection isnot the same as a markedly reduced level of transmission, whichis what is required for herd immunity.

Notions of herd immunity donot fully capture the fact that forlargely unknown reasons, viraltransmission is cyclical. Delhi hadtwo major peaks, in 2020, of deathrates and case rates, one in Juneand another in November, andnow is entering a third majorwave. Within Mumbai, the currentwave appears to be aff��ecting moreaffl��uent areas and private hospitals, in contrast to last year wherethe highest infection levels were inthe slums and poorer areas. Ourforthcoming mortalitybased analyses (https://bit.ly/3sY0KYZ) suggest several subwaves exist withinmajor viral peaks, refl��ecting subtlechanges in community transmission. The ebbs and fl��ow of vaccinetransmission are far more variablethan we assume.

As well, much of infection in India might well be mild, with lessdurable immune protection thaninduced by vaccination. ‘Asymptomatic infection is more commonlyreported in Indian serosurveys, exceeding 90% in some, in contrastto highincome countries, whereabout onethird of infections report as asymptomatic’. Recentfi��ndings from Wuhan, China showmost seropositive infections wereasymptomatic and among these,the important protective antibodies were low during followup periods. Milder infection might wellalso correlate with lower severity

of clinical illness, helping to explain the Indian paradox of widespread transmission but with lowmortality rates.

Data must guide decisionsIndia needs to increase the quantity, quality and public availabilityof actual data to guide decisionmaking. Theories or mathematicalmodels are hugely uncertain, particularly early on in the epidemic.Better understanding of the unique patterns of Indian viral transmission has a few pillars, whichcan be achieved quickly. First, collection of anonymised demographic and risk details (age, sex,travel, contact with other COVID19 patients, existing chronicconditions, current smoking) onall positive cases on a central website in each State remains a priority.

Second, greatly expanded sequencing of the viral genome isneeded from many parts of India,which can be achieved by reprogramming sequencing capacity inIndian academic and commerciallaboratories. Third, far better reporting of COVID19 deaths isneeded. Daily or weekly reportingof the total death counts by ageand sex by each municipalitywould help track if there is a spikein presumed COVID19 deaths.The Registrar General of India’s

verbal autopsy studies are invaluable, but must be reactivated to review deaths occurring in 2020, given that the last available resultsare from 2013.

Third, the Indian Council ofMedical Research’s national serosurvey had design limitations suchthat it probably underestimatedthe true national prevalence. A farlarger and better set of serial surveys is required. Finally, we needto understand better why somepopulations are not aff��ected. Forexample, COVID19 infection anddeath levels in Thailand and Vietnam are remarkably low, and cannot be assigned to their strongertesting and tracing programmes.Widespread existing immunity,perhaps from direct exposure tobat coronaviruses might be one explanation. Rapidly assembledcomparative studies across partsof India and Asia are a priority.

Counter growing inequityThe science pillar of a response iscomplementary to action. Thecentral and State governmentshave already pushed for a rapid expansion of COVID19 vaccination.India can learn from Chile, whichhas successfully provided at leastone dose to over half of its population. Affl��uent and connected urban elites of India are vaccinatingquickly, but the poorer and lesseducated Indians are being left behind. Vaccination campaigns needto reach the poor adults over age45, without having to prove anything other than approximate age.Followup studies among the vaccinated can establish the durability of protection, and, ideally, reduction in transmission.

Similarly, India must captureand report data on who is vaccinated, including by education orwealth levels. The poor cannot be

left in the dark.

Adult vaccination planCOVID19 could well turn into aseasonal challenge and thus, thecentral government should actively consider launching a nationaladult vaccination programme thatmatches India’s commitment andsuccess in expanding universalchildhood vaccination. The Disease Control Priorities Project estimates an adult national programme would cost about ₹�250per Indian per year to cover routine annual fl��u vaccination, fi��veyearly pneumococcal vaccines,HPV vaccines for adolescent girlsand tetanus for expectant mothers. Per year, vaccines for one billion adults might save about200,000 lives from the targeteddiseases. Annual fl��u vaccinationreduces the risk of infl��uenza pandemics and perhaps even COVID19 infection. Indeed, we mightalready be in the era where majorzoonotic diseases are not onceacentury events, but once a decade.Thus, adult and child vaccinationprogrammes are essential to prepare for future pandemics.

More draconian steps, such asanother full national lockdownshould be considered carefully, asthey incur a huge toll on the poorand stunt education of Indian children. It also remains unclear if thepopulation would comply. The resurgence of COVID19 presents amajor challenge for governments,yet the best hope is to rapidly expand epidemiological evidence,share it with the public and buildconfi��dence that the vaccinationprogramme will benefi��t allIndians.

Prabhat Jha is a professor of epidemiology

and global health at the University of

Toronto, Canada

A missing science pillar in the COVID response India’s fi��ght against the resurgence of the coronavirus is a challenge requiring strengthened data and better science

Prabhat Jha

SH

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Rajinikanth, the reigning demigod of Tamil fi��lm

dom, richly deserves the Dadasaheb Phalke

award, Indian cinema’s highest recognition, bes

towed by the jury this year. The fi��lm world has few pa

rallels to his success story. His transition from Shivaji

Rao Gaekwad, a Marathiborn struggling bus conductor

in Bengaluru, to a worshipped superstar in the Dravi

dian heartland, was made possible only by his un

dimmed passion and sustained hard work. From early

on, he introduced novelty to his screen characters. He

has kept innovating on his unique styles of tossing a ci

garette or a mint, twirling his sunglasses and walking

with a swagger. While style remains his hallmark, it

would be an injustice to dismiss him as just a mass hero.

He had excelled as an actor with sensitive portrayals in

fi��lms such as Mullum Malarum and Aarilirindhu Aru

badhu Varai before getting trapped in superstardom

with Billa and donning larger than life roles. He is

among the rare heroes who handle comedy scenes with

ease, his dual roles in Thillu Mullu being an example.

His charisma has attracted three generations of fans,

with a following even in Japan where he is lovingly

called ‘Odori Maharaja’ (The Dancing Maharaja). He is

also the only Indian actor to have featured in black and

white, colour, 3D and motion capture fi��lms.

But despite Rajinikanth’s demonstrable body of

work, given his active inclination for a foray into “spir

itual politics” until last year, inevitable questions are

being raised if the award is a calculated choice to in

fl��uence pollbound Tamil Nadu. While Rajinikanth lent

support during elections to the DMKTMC (1996, 1998)

and AIADMKBJP (2004), in recent years he has made

no secret of his admiration for BJP leaders. Not only did

he hail Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minis

ter Amit Shah as ‘Lord Krishna and Arjuna’ — after the

scrapping of special status granted to Jammu and Kash

mir under Article 370 — he targeted Dravidian icon Peri

yar E.V. Ramasamy while recalling the alleged attacks

on Hindu deities during a 1971 antisuperstition rally. He

backed the Citizenship Amendment Act. To be fair,

since his ‘no show’ in politics, the actor has remained

politically withdrawn, though previously he indirectly

targeted the DMK and the AIADMK. He has not res

ponded to appeals from ‘neutral’ observers to lend his

support for “honest, dynastyfree politics”. Whether

the award’s timing would infl��uence the voting choice of

his legion of fans is diffi��cult to say as he remains an un

tested electoral force. However, had the jury put off�� the

announcement of the award by just a week till polling

was over, everyone would have unconditionally wel

comed the choice. The giver has done the recipient a

disservice through the timing of the announcement.

Better lateRajinikanth fully deserves the Phalke, but

the timing of the announcement is suspect

The Finance Ministry has put to rest all speculation

about the infl��ation targeting framework that will

guide the interest rate decisions of the RBI’s Mo

netary Policy Committee over the fi��veyear period start

ing on April 1. In a terse notifi��cation, the Department of

Economic Aff��airs announced that the infl��ation target

for the quinquennium ending on March 31, 2026, will

be 4%, with an upper tolerance level of 6% and a lower

tolerance level of 2%. Economic Aff��airs Secretary Tarun

Bajaj said that the framework’s parameters would re

main unchanged from what had prevailed in the fi��ve

years that ended on March 31. The government’s an

nouncement is a welcome step in reiterating that infl��a

tion targeting remains the centrepiece of the monetary

policy framework and signals that the fi��scal and mone

tary authorities are in lockstep in ensuring the primacy

of price stability as the bedrock for all macroeconomic

development. This is particularly apposite at a time

when infl��ation pressures are mounting in an economy

that is still struggling to regain its footing from the de

vastating contraction in the justended fi��scal year, when

the COVID19 pandemic and the drastic measures to

curb its spread resulted in widespread precarity. The

latest Consumer Price Index data show retail infl��ation

accelerated by almost 100 basis points to a threemonth

high of 5.03% in February, with food and fuel costs con

tinuing to remain volatile. Also, with the prices of mul

tiple raw materials on an upward trajectory, an IHS

Markit India Business Outlook survey last month

showed companies were planning to raise selling prices

over the coming 12 months to cope with rising costs.

The RBI’s offi��cials have in recent months maintained

an unwavering focus on emphasising the need to retain

the fl��exible infl��ation targeting framework. In a Decem

ber working paper titled ‘Measuring Trend Infl��ation in

India’, the Deputy Governor overseeing monetary pol

icy, Michael Debabrata Patra, and a colleague under

scored the importance of ensuring the appropriateness

of the infl��ation target. Observing that there had been a

steady decline in trend infl��ation to a 4.1%4.3% band

since 2014, they said a target far lower than the trend

ran the risk of imparting a ‘defl��ationary bias’ that would

dampen economic momentum, while a goal much

above the trend could engender expansionary mone

tary conditions that would likely lead to infl��ation

shocks. And in February, the RBI’s researchers author

ing its Report on Currency and Finance — themed ‘Re

viewing the Monetary Policy Framework’ — made clear

that the framework had served the economy well, at

tested by a decline in infl��ation volatility and more cred

ible anchoring of infl��ation expectations. That the go

vernment’s economic offi��cials have heeded these calls

will certainly reassure investors and savers that infl��a

tion remains a central concern for all policymakers.

Prudence prevailsThat infl��ation is a concern for policymakers

is reassuring for consumers and savers

corrections & clarifications:

In a Sports page story titled “IPL 2021: Hazlewood pulls out ‘forpersonal reasons’” (April 2, 2021), there was a reference to SouthAfrican paceman Lungi Ngidi having a series against South Africaat home. It should be a series against Pakistan.

It is the policy of The Hindu to correct signifi��cant errors as soon as possible. Please specify

the edition (place of publication), date and page. The Readers’ Editor’s office can be

contacted by Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to

Friday); Fax: +91-44-28552963; Email:[email protected]; Mail: Readers’

Editor, The Hindu, Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002, India.

All communication must carry the full postal address and telephone number. No personal

visits. The Terms of Reference for the Readers’ Editor are on www.thehindu.com

CMYK

A ND-NDE

2021 TAMIL NADU | KERALA | PUDUCHERRY | WEST BENGAL | ASSAM

ASSEMBLY POLLSDELHI THE HINDU | SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

P7

A combination of factorsseems to give the DravidaMunnetra Kazhagam (DMK)led coalition an edge over thefront headed by the ruling AllIndia Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) inthe southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Apart from antiincumbency and the discontent over the rise in prices of petrol,diesel and cooking gas, theruling front is also troubledby other disadvantages.

Quota questionsThe presence of the breakaway Amma Makkal MunnetraKazhagam (AMMK) led byT.T.V. Dhinakaran, nephew offormer AIADMK’s interimgeneral secretary V.K. Sasikala, and the strong pushbackfrom sections of Mukkulathors, a dominant communityin the region, to the State government’s decision providing 10.5% reservation to Vanniyars within the overallquota of 20% for Most Backward Classes and denotifi��edcommunities have thrownup serious challenges for theruling party.

A functionary of theAIADMK in charge of thesouthern zone feels that theparty should not have distanced itself from Ms. Sasikala, who belongs to a subsect

of Kallars, one of the threeconstituentcastes of theMukkulathors (the other twobeing Maravars and Agamudaiyars).

Key roleThough she hails from thecentral region of the State,she was said to have played akey role, according to thecommunity, in getting a golden armour presented byJayalalithaa in 2014 for thebust of U. MuthuramalingaThevar, an icon of the community.

He said Ms. Sasikala’s holdover sections of the community should have spurredthe party to revive its ties after her release from prisonearlier this year.

Across the divide, a youngDMK leader in Virudhunagardistrict said though his partyhas not played up the reservation issue, it is aware thetwo factors will enable Mr.Dhinakaran to cut into theAIADMK vote share.

Yet another challengelooming for the ruling front,given its ties with the BJP andits hardline Hindutva politics, is the considerable presence of religious minoritiesin the southern districts suchas Ramanathapuram,Thoothukudi, Tirunelveliand Kanniyakumari.

A veteran AIADMK leaderfrom Ramanathapuram

pointed out that “they [DMK]are banking on the overwhelming support from theminorities — Muslims andChristians. This is a hugeplus factor for them.”

Infrastructural projectsEconomic backwardness andstrong caste affi��liations in thesouthern districts have led toheightened communal sensitivities.

Lack of progress in highprofi��le infrastructure is alsolikely to aff��ect the fortunes ofthe ruling AIADMK. A case inpoint is the widespread impact of DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalinrecently holding up a brick tosymbolise the slow progressof the proposed AIIMS inMadurai.

Subhasan, a trader whohails from Watrap and fre

quently visits Madurai, saidthat regardless of political affi��liation, the general feelingamong people is that an expeditious execution of thehospital project would makea huge diff��erence to the region.

While the project itself hasmade very little headway,real estate in and around theproposed site is on the rise.

Politically speaking, the

south has favoured theAIADMK more in the last 40odd years. Like her mentorand the party founder M.G.Ramachandran, formerChief Minister Jayalalithaa represented the south thrice inthe Assembly. In 2016, whichwas the last Assembly election for her, the region returned 32 candidates of theAIADMK.

Several party heavy

group of castes of the Scheduled Castes will expand theparty’s votebase, they said.

Despite the ruling partygiving ticket to a substantialnumber of persons from theMukkalathor community inthe region, the talk in political and public discourseabout the chasm betweencertain sections of the Mukkulathors and the AIADMKwill yield support from othercommunities to the party.Besides, there is a “sense ofcomplacency” in the DMK,sources said.

Rough estimate“We in the party strongly believe that winning 60% of theseats — 35 out of 58 — is a doable, even though we areaware that it is not that easy,”a young AIADMK leader said.

Mr. Dhinakaran, who is asitting legislator of R.K. Nagar, a constituency in northern Chennai, has surprisedmany by choosing Kovilpatti,which comes under theThoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, as he had earliersaid he would contest fromone of the constituencies inTheni district.

Ms. Sasikala’s visits to many important temples in theregion during the past 10days and AMMK functionaries greeting her in a few places have added to the moraleof the workers of the party.

weights are contesting fromthe region. Deputy Chief Minister and party coordinatorO. Panneerselvam is contesting from Bodinayakkanur,Forests Minister C. Sreenivasan in Dindigul, Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumarfrom Thirumangalam, former Electricity Minister R. Viswanathan from Natham, andformer PWD Minister N. Thalavai Sundaram in Kanniyakumari.

The DMK has nominatedveterans including formerMinisters I. Periasami,K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandranand Thangam Thennarasufrom Athur, Tiruchuli andAruppukottai, respectively.

Conceding that the partyis facing an uphill task in repeating its 2016 performance, two senior leaders ofthe AIADMK said that the organisation should have retained the Desiya MurpokkuDravida Kazhagam and Puthiya Tamilagam within itsfold, as both can supplementthe AIADMK’s base to a certain extent.

StrengthsHowever, they also pointedout that the organisation’s inherent strengths cannot beunderestimated or brushedaside.

The recent measure ofproviding the generic nameof Devendrakula Velalars to a

Polls piquantly poised in southern Tamil NaduCaste equations, reservation for the Vanniyar community and the impact of T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s party will determine the outcome in the region

T. RAMAKRISHNAN

MADURAI

NEWS ANALYSIS

Robot woos voters in Wayanad

E.M. MANOJ

KALPETTA

“Vote Kunhappan,” a robot developed by thefaculty and students of the GovernmentEngineering college, Mananthavady, is now thestar campaigner in Wayanad district, especially inremote tribal settlements where voters canclarify their doubts regarding the voting process.The innovative awareness programme waslaunched by the Wayanad district administrationas part of the SVEEP campaign, Collector AdeelaAbdulla said. “It speaks in tribal languages too, towoo tribal voters in remote areas of the district,especially where the voting percentage is verylow,” said Wayanad District Assistant CollectorBalpreet Singh. Kunhappan has a chat box systemthat can clear queries on the voting process and aQR code that redirects queries to the SVEEPwebsite. It also sensitises voters on the cVIGILapp, which enables citizens to report on violationsof the model code of conduct.

POLL POURRI

BJP candidate injured in BengalShiv Sahay Singh

Kolkata

Dipak Halder, the BJPcandidate from DiamondHarbour, located in South 24Parganas district of WestBengal, was injured in anattack while campaigning onFriday. A delegation of the BJP

fi��led a complaint regarding the attack at the offi��ceof the Chief Electoral Offi��cer. The BJP blamed theTrinamool Congress for the attack. Mr. Halder, aTrinamool MLA (wearing Trinamool colours inphoto) who joined the BJP ahead of the election,was admitted to a hospital following the attack.Diamond Harbour constituency is going to thepolls in the third phase and is considered a strongTrinamool bastion. Earlier in December, theconvoy of BJP national president J.P. Nadda wasattacked in the same Assembly constituency.

On the move: Artists performing the Rabha folk dance'Hamja' during an election rally of BJP national president J.P. Nadda in Kamrup district, Assam. * PTI

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A dance for democracy

Even as several prepoll surveys indicate a continuity ofthe CPI(M)led LDF rule inKerala, a silent undercurrentof antiincumbency appearsto be prevailing among thevoters. Rarely has the electorate rewarded incumbentState governments, especiallyin Kerala, with consecutiveterms in recent times. Eitherthey vote for the CongressledUDF or the Left alliance. Thisseesaw voting pattern hasbeen seen in the State sincethe 1982 election. The predicted continuity of the LDFgovernment headed by veteran CPI(M) leader V.S.Achuthanandan in the 2011election also failed tomaterialise.

No clear waveThis time, the absence of aclear wave for or against either of the fronts has given theimpression that the Left is set

to retain power. One of thefactors for this assumption isthe LDF’s victory in the localbody polls in December2020. The victory came despite the government facingserious allegations of nepotism and backdoor appointments and investigations bythe Central agencies into multiple scams, including smuggling of gold through the diplomatic channel. But itremains to be seen whether

the same narrative will workin the Assembly poll.

“Yes, there is silent antiincumbency. But the Left’s aggressive publicity blitzkriegfocusing on social securityschemes and pensions overshadowed it. The electoralpicture is still hazy,” said Hameed Chennamangaloor,political analyst and socialcritic.

Mr. Chennamangaloor saidthat the Opposition has been

unable to mount a seriouschallenge in the runup to thepoll.

“It has been ineff��ective inprojecting a strong leader tosteer the campaign eventhough Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, RameshChennithala, levelled seriouscharges of corruption againstthe government. The CPI(M),with its wellequipped machinery, showcased Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as asuperhero who can handleany situation,” he said.

So far, the ruling party hascontrolled the optics of thepoll campaign. Many also believe that a continuation ofthe Left government will helpthe dispensation concentratemore on infrastructure projects with longer gestationperiods.

The Congress, which delayed fi��nalisation of the list ofcandidates, has been hamstrung by organisationalweakness.

Change or continuity? Kerala plays it closeThe State is known for voting out the government in every election since 1982

Biju Govind

Kozhikode

Priyanka cancels campaign toursSandeep Phukan

New Delhi

Congress general secretaryPriyanka Gandhi Vadra onFriday announced that she wascancelling her campaignschedule in Assam, Tamil Naduand Kerala for the next threedays as her husband Robert

Vadra had tested positive for COVID19. Posting avideo on her Twitter handle, Ms. Vadra said hertest report came negative on Thursday butdoctors had advised her selfisolation for the nextfew days. Mr. Vadra wrote on Facebook that hewas asymptomatic. Ms. Vadra was scheduled tocampaign in Assam on Friday, Tamil Nadu onSaturday and Kerala on Sunday, the last day of campaign before polling in these States on April 6.

₹��268.28 cr.total assets of Manaranjan

Brahma, the candidate with the

highest assets in Assam's third

phase. He is from the UPPL and

will be contesting from the

Kokrajhar West constituency

<>UDF and LDF aretwins of

misgovernance,corruption, cronyism,political violence...Narendra Modi

Prime Minister

₹��2.2 cr. average assets per

candidate contesting in

the third phase (40 seats)

of the Assam Assembly

election. 27% of the

candidates are crorepatis

A cutout of Pinarayi Vijayan at Kodungallur. * THULASI KAKKAT

Manoranjan Byapari learnt to read in prison when he was24 years old. A refugee from East Bengal, he had never been toschool. When he was released from prison, he returned to hiscycle rickshaw, but the dagger he kept hidden under the seatwas now replaced by a book. In his autobiography, ItibritteChandal Jibon (‘Interrogating my Chandal Life’), he says: “Ihave lived my life as the ill-fated Dalit son of an ill-fated Dalitfather, condemned to a life of bitterness.” Mr. Byapari haswritten 20-odd books, giving voice to the desperate, because“there are certain things I have to tell the people, and it is onlyI who can tell them of these things”. The urgent need to tell pe-ople “certain things” prompted him to enter the election frayon a Trinamool Congress ticket. Mr. Byapari is contestingfrom Balagarh in Hooghly district, which goes to the polls onApril 10. Excerpts from an interview:

You have written about the

poor and Dalits and the

discrimination they face. But

did caste play a big role in

earlier elections? Why has it

become a talking point this

time?

■ The BJP has set foot inWest Bengal and is dividingthe people further on religious and caste lines. Wehave lived in harmony formany years despite the harshlife we have had to endure. Itis criminal to polarise peoplewho are struggling with so

many other issues, from highprices of essential fooditems, the impact of the coronavirus, job fears and soforth. We have to protestagainst this naked show ofpower and divisiveness. Wehave to tell the people that ifthe BJP is allowed to come topower, they will not permitDalits to enter temples, theywill discriminate against us,the poor will become poorer,and no one will be able toread books any more.

Is this one of the reasons

why you decided to contest?

Did Mamata Banerjee

convince you to join the

fray?

■ Yes. I am a Dalit writer. Iunderstand the poor people’s world and I want to tellthem to beware of BJP propaganda. The party doesn’tstand for true emancipationof the poor and people mustbe made to understand that.The BJP is standing on ourturf and espousing bravado.This must stop. I write about

poor people and I can speakto them in their language. Iunderstand their pain anddiffi��culties because I live thatlife. As a writer, it is my moral duty to stand up to thesedivisive forces. When Mamata Banerjee asked me to contest, I decided to go ahead.

[Mr. Byapari was transferredto a library at Amtala inSouth 24 Parganas by theState government in August2020. He had appealed to thegovernment to relieve him ofhis duties as a cook in aschool, where he hadworked for 23 years, becausehe had found it diffi��cult to liftheavy pans after a knee operation.]

How has the Trinamool

reacted to the threat?

■ The Trinamool has fi��elded79 Scheduled Caste candidates though there are 68seats reserved for the SCs inthe State. Caste was not a factor in Bengal but the BJP hasintroduced identity politicsin the State. Truly, if peoplewere caste conscious, thenthe BJP would not have risenin Bengal.

What is it that upsets you

most about the BJP’s

campaign?

■ They are promoting a society based on Manu’s lawsand this leads to divisions,

working against equality andfreedom. Also, the BJP is aparty of outsiders (bahiraga-to) in Bengal and cannot dictate our lives. It doesn’t haveany idea about the State, andis particularly unaware aboutwhat the poor want. Banglarmanush unnayan aar shantichaye (the people of Bengalwant development andpeace), they want freedom topractise their religion. Butthe BJP wants to capture everything from language to ourculture and that isfrightening.

What will you do if elected?

■ I plan to set up a ‘nagarik(citizen’s) committee’, whereI will ask rickshaw pullers,vegetable vendors, fi��sh sellers and people from all levelsof society to join. Everyonefrom all castes and religionswill be welcome. We will listen to their problems andneeds, help them get benefi��tsof the various schemes thatare already in place. We mustensure that even one rupeeowed to the poor does not goelsewhere.

INTERVIEW | MANORANJAN BYAPARI

‘As a writer, I had to stand up to the BJP’s divisive politics’The Dalit Bengali writer and Trinamool candidate from Balagarh says the BJP doesn’t have any idea about West Bengal

Sudipta Datta

Shiv Sahay Singh

<>Caste was not afactor in Bengal

but the BJP hasintroduced identitypolitics in the State

CMYK

A ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


NEWS

FROM PAGE ONE

The health ministrystressed that more than 70%of the deaths occurred dueto comorbidities.

(With inputs from PTI)

According to the ICMR,24,59,12,587 samples havebeen tested up to April 1,and 11,13,966 samples weretested on Thursday.

India records 89,019 freshcases, highest in 6 months

10 p.m. on Thursday, fourhours after the secondphase of polling across 39 ofAssam’s 126 Assembly seatshad concluded.

District offi��cials said thepolling team had left boothNo. 149 for Karimganj, about70 km away, in a convoy ofarmed security personnelled by police sector offi��cerLuhit Gohain. Their vehiclebroke down at 9 p.m., but ithad by then got separatedfrom the convoy due to traffi��c congestion and rainfall.

“The party alighted fromthe vehicle and called sectoroffi��cer Ajoy Sutradhar onhis mobile phone and informed him. While the sector offi��cer was arranging analternative vehicle, the polling party decided to arrangea vehicle of its own so as toreach the Material ReceiptCentre faster” as they werecarrying the EVMs.

“We have suspended presiding offi��cer Sahab Uddin Talukdar and three others andasked them to explain whythey violated the transportprotocol. The team saidthey were unaware of whothe vehicle belonged to untilit was mobbed at Kanaishil,short of the district headquarters,” Karimganj’s Deputy Commissioner and District Election Offi��cer (DEO)Anbamuthan M.P. told TheHindu.

According to a statement,the mob had damaged thevehicle by the time Mr. Anbamuthan and the districtSuperintendent of Policereached the spot. The policehad to resort to “blank fi��ring” to disperse the stonepelting mob after the SP sustained minor injuries.

The EC has sought aground report on the incident that happened about

Four poll personnelsuspended in Assam

offi��cers of IT departmententered the house, accompanied by armed central paramilitary force personnel.While the offi��cers were conducting the search, thecadres blocked the road andstaged a dharna, besidesshouting slogans against theCentral and State governments for launching searches at DMK leaders’ houses.

The IT offi��cials alsosearched the residences offormer Transport Ministerand DMK MLA Senthil Balajiand his brother Ashok Kumar in Karur and at a coupleof other places. Mr. Balaji isthe DMK candidate for theKarur Assembly constituency. The operation continuedtill late in the evening.

In Thanjavur, the offi��cialssearched three places belonging to the ThanjavurNorth DMK union secretary,Murasoli. The searches wereconducted at the house ofMr. Murasoli at ArulanandaNagar in Malligaipuram,Thanjavur, and at his nativeplace in Thennankudi village.

After searching the threepremises for about sixhours, the IT sleuths issueda notice to Mr. Murasoli directing him to appear forfurther inquiry at the IT Offi��ce, Thanjavur, sourcessaid.

(With inputs from R. Raj-aram in Tiruchi and V. Ven-katasubramanian in Than-javur)

Sources in the Income TaxDepartment said the searches were based on inputs received. The offi��cers of IT Department also conducted asearch in a premises belonging to G Square, which hasaggregated land for somebig corporates and for setting up IT parks in the lastfew years.

Until 8 p.m., tax sleuthsremained tightlipped whenasked about seizures.

According to sources, thesearches began at all theplaces simultaneouslyaround 6.30 a.m. includingat the twostorey palatialhouse located near the coastin Casurina Drive, Kapaleeshwarar Nagar, Neelangarai. Around 12 offi��cers fromthe IT Department, accompanied by armed guardsfrom the central paramilitary forces, entered the bungalow when Mr. Sabareesanand his wife Senthamaraiwere present.

As soon as word spreadabout the searches, DMKworkers gathered in front ofthe house and expressed solidarity with their leader’sfamily. They also blamedthe BJPled central government for the action.

At Anna Nagar, DMKcadres protested in front ofMr. Karthik’s house. Thecadres assembled before thehouse to accompany hisfather, Mr. Mohan, for doortodoor canvassing in theearly hours. Suddenly, the

IT searches onpremises of Stalin’s kin

that broke out near the encounter site. Locals allegedthe police used pellet shotguns and fi��rearms to disperse the youth.

“During the withdrawalof the security forces fromthe encounter site, somemiscreants resorted to stonepelting and were dispersedby using nonlethal weapons, in which a few miscreants received minor injuries,” the police said.

Meanwhile, the J&K Police said it’s working on measures to improve the security cover of the protectedpersons in Kashmir, especially of the leaders associated with the BJP. “Policemenguarding politicians will getfresh training. New standard operating proceduresand advisories are beingworked out to foil the bids ofthe militants to target protected persons,” IGP Kumarsaid.

“It was Lone and Nengroo,who used an Alto800 vehicle to commute from Nowgam to Pulwama. The carbelonged to the owner ofthe house, where the encounter took place,” Mr. Kumar added. The police saidan SLR rifl��e, which wassnatched from a policemanin Srinagar on Thursday,had been recovered.

The police said the ownerof the house will be bookedunder the Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act (ULPA). “We managed to crackthe Srinagar attack within24 hours. Two out of thefour militants involved inthe attack have been killed,”IGP Kumar said.

The police said the lastrites of the slain militantswill be carried out in Baramulla and the nearest familymembers shall be allowed toparticipate. Around 10 civilians were injured in clashes

Two attackers of BJPleader killed in Pulwama

Accusing the Left Democratic Front (LDF) of making attempts to destabilise placesof worship through theiragents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activistswill stand in the way of anyattempts to tamper with Indian culture.

Addressing a rally organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at RajivGandhi Indoor Stadium atPramadam, near Konni, onFriday, Mr. Modi invoked theSabarimala episode as a casein point. “At fi��rst, they triedto portray the culture of Kerala as regressive and tried todestabilise places of worshipby sending their agents,” hesaid.

“The devotees of Lord Ay

yappa, who should havebeen welcomed warmly,were greeted with lathis. Theinnocent devotees are notcriminals,” he said.

PM invokes AyyappaEarlier, the Prime Ministerstarted his speech by chanting ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.’ He then paid tributesto various temples in Pathanamthitta, including the Thiruvalla Sreevallabha temple,Aranmula Parthasarathytemple and MalayalapuzhaDevi temple, besides Sabarimala. The services and sacrifi��ces made by Jesus Christtoo were remembered inview of the observance ofGood Friday.

He lashed out at the United Democratic Front (UDF)and the LDF of engaging in“competitive corruption”.

“The lust for power hasmade the UDF and LDF formalliances with all communal,criminal and regressive forces,” he said, pointing out theregressive social policiesadopted by the Indian UnionMuslim League (IUML), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the Popular

Front of India (PFI).The BJP, on the other

hand, brought in professionals and educated people topolitics as was evident in thecase of technocrat E. Sreedharan. He termed Mr. Sreedharan’s entry into politics as agame changer in Kerala'spath of progress.

He elaborated on the development projects allottedto Kerala in the Union Budgetand noted the potential thatthe State holds in the area oftourism development. Mr.Modi criticised the State government for its underachievement in the Jal JeevanMission programme and attributed the shortfall to anattempt to deny credit to thePrime Minister.

BJP State president K. Surendran, Union Minister ofState for External Aff��airs V.Muraleedharan, and BharatDharma Jana Sena Statepresident Thushar Vellappally were present.

Second rallyAddressing another rallyin Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Modi described thetwo fronts as twins of misgovernance, corruption andpolitical violence, amongothers.

“The UDF and the LDF aretwins. They are twins of misgovernance, corruption, political violence, communalism, casteism, cronyism,nepotism and more,” Mr.Modi said.

Citing the alliance between the Congress and Leftparties in West Bengal, hesaid, “the political picture inWest Bengal is clear to everyone. Election after election, Congress and Left aregetting closer. The logicalstep after such closeness is afull merger of Congress and

the Left. They can callthe new party CCPComrade CongressParty.”

“Because they aretwins, the UDF lacksthe ability and willing

ness to defeat the LDF. Nowonder there is a surge insupport in favour of theNDA,” Mr. Modi said.

(With inputs from PTI)

LDF is destabilising holy places in Kerala: Modi Prime Minister says his party won’t letanyone tamper with Indian cultureSTAFF REPORTER

PATHANAMTHITTA

Mission Kerala: Narendra Modi greeting supporters during anelection rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. * PTI

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Fridayslammed Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala for stating that nearly4.34 lakh voters in theState had obtained multiple voter identity cardsthrough deception.

In Kannur, Mr. Vijayansaid systemic anomalies,and not criminal deceit,had resulted in the mixup.

Mr. Vijayan pointed outthat Mr. Chennithala'sclose relatives had inadvertently fi��gured on diff��erentelectoral lists. It did notmean they were bogus voters.

He pointed out that theElection Commission of India had suffi��cient checksand balances to preventdouble voting.

Chennithaladenigratingvoters: CM


Thiruvananthapuram

Karnataka ordered a ban ongyms and swimming pools,rallies and protests, allowingcinemas with only 50% seating.

After suspending regularclasses for VI to IX grade students in Bengaluru, it extended the rule to all districts. But the governmentdecided against lockdown ornight curfew.

Karnataka reported 4,991cases, 3,509 from BengaluruUrban. There were sixdeaths.

Kerala reported 2,508new cases of COVID19 onFriday with a test positivityrate (TPR) of 4.84%. Publichealth experts said the Stateshould have a mitigationplan to counter a more sev

ere and fastpaced secondwave. “We do not have adequate knowledge about the virus and should be very careful about extrapolating its

behaviour during the lastwave. Unlike in the fi��rst, wefi��nd the virus is creatingmore immune mischief nowso that our margins for treat

ment are much narrowerand the time to respond,much less,” said Subramanian Swaminathan, an infectious diseases specialist at

Global Hospital, Chennai,and governing council member, Clinical Infectious Diseases Society.

The State added 14 morevirus deaths.

Andhra Pradesh witnessed fi��ve more deaths andadded 1,288 infections onFriday. The TPR of 31,116samples was 4.14%.

Telangana reported 965cases on Thursday and fi��vefatalities. The Hyderabad region recorded 254 cases.

After fi��ve months, freshCOVID19 cases in Tamil Nadu exceeded 3,000 on Friday. A total of 3,290 personstested positive for COVID19,taking the State’s overall tallyto 8,92,780. The last time theState had recorded 3,000plus cases (3,057 cases) wason October 23, 2020.

(With inputs from Vijaya-wada, Thiruvananthapu-ram, Hyderabad and Chen-nai bureaus)

Karnataka shuts gyms, cuts cinema seatsKerala asked to prepare for second wave eff��ects; cases rise in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh


Bengaluru

The Congress on Fridaycame up with a fresh corruption charge against theLeft Democratic Front (LDF)government over its purchase of power from theAdani group. However,Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected theallegation.

Leader of the OppositionRamesh Chennithala alleged that the lucrative purchase contract was awardedto the Gujaratbased Adanigroup to avert prosecutionby Central agencies investigating the UAE consulatelinked gold smuggling case.The Adani group shared a‘special relationship’ withthe BJP’s national leadership, he alleged.

Mr. Chennithala alleged

that the agreement was tobuy 300 MW of power. Thecorporate major could makea profi��t of over ₹��1,000 crore.At present, solar power wasavailable at ₹��2 a unit. Thenwhy a pact was signed tobuy power at ₹��2.82 a unit,he asked.

Rejecting the charges, Mr.Vijayan told reporters inKannur that Mr. Chennithala was ‘jealous’ of the fi��veyears of rule under the LDFgovernment when there hadbeen no loadshedding.“That’s why he is now tryingto tarnish the deals ofKSEB,” the Chief Ministersaid. Mr. Vijayan said allagreements made by theKSEB were published on theoffi��cial website. Mr. Chennithala imagined corruptionwhere it did not exist, he added.

Cong. questions Kerala’spower pact with Adani Pinarayi rejects corruption charge


Thiruvananthapuram

A group of Bajrang Dal activists allegedly assaulted a23yearold man andstabbed him after fi��ndinghim travelling with a womanfrom another community ina Bengalurubound bus hereon Thursday night.

Police have takeneight into custody inconnection with thecase.

Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumartold reporters that theincident occurred at Pumpwell Junction around 10p.m. The 23yearold woman, who was on her way toBengaluru to attend a job interview, had reportedly

asked her classmate to accompany her as she wasnew to the city.

Stopping the bus at thejunction, a group of menmade the couple get off�� thebus and allegedly assaultedthe man before stabbinghim. They also reportedlyassaulted the woman.

Quoting doctors, Mr.Kumar said the victimhad a lacerated injurycaused by a sharp weapon. He was out of danger and undergoingtreatment at a private

hospital.Kankanady Town Police

have registered a case of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC on a complaint from the woman.

Bajrang Dal activiststarget couple on bus23yearold man assaulted, stabbed


Mangaluru A playful act by an eightyearold ended up gettingtwo boys burnt alive asthey were caught in a fi��re atIppatoor village in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana on Thursday.

The victims, Vaishnav, 8,and Prashanth, 9, alongwith their friend Shiva, 8,went to an agriculturalfi��eld. While playing, Shivafound a matchbox, lit thesticks, and accidentallythrew it on the haystack.The other two who wereplayingclose to the haywere caught in the fl��ames.

The boys, who wererushed to a nearby hospitalby villagers, later succumbed to their burns.

2 Telanganaboys caughtin fi��re, die

Staff Reporter

Hyderabad

A tonsuring ceremony for atwoyearold boy turned fatal for six of his family members, including three teenagers, who drowned in theriver Godavari downstreamof the Sriram Sagar projectat Pochampad, in Nizamabad district on Friday.

The victims have beenidentifi��ed as 40yearoldBobbili Srinivas from Yellamgutta, his two sons —Bobbili Siddhartha, 16, andSrikar,14, Suresh, 40, Yogesh, 16, from Bikampallyand Dodla Raju, 24, of Guthpa village in Nizamabad district. Another member ofthe family, 14yearold Ravikanth, was rescued by locals

Raju and Ravi. Speaking to The Hindu,

Nizamabad Deputy Commissioner of Police K.C.S.Raghuveer said the victimsand other relatives enteredthe water at the VIP Pushkarghat. Srikar went deepinside the water and startedstruggling. Upon hearing hiscries other members of thefamily attempted to rescuehim leading to the deaths ofsix of them.

Police rushed to the spot,retrieved the bodies, andsent them to a governmenthospital for autopsy. Mr.Raghuveer said he had directed the village committeeto set up public address systems to warn devotees fromentering deep waters.

Ritual at Godavariclaims six of familyThree teenagers among the victims

Staff Reporter

Hyderabad

TDP to boycott MPTC,ZPTC polls in A.P.VIJAYAWADA

The Telugu Desam Party has

decided not to contest the

ZPTC and the MPTC

elections. This is for the first

time that the TDP is

boycotting the elections in

the last 39 years. Disclosing

this at a press conference on

Friday, party president N.

Chandrababu Naidu said the

TDP has taken the tough

decision owing to lack of

trust in the State Election

Commission.

IN BRIEF

Woman trampled todeath in Wayanad KALPETTA

A 47-year-old woman was

trampled to death by a wild

elephant at Neykuppa under

the Chethalayath forest range

of the South Wayanad forest

division on Friday. The jumbo

attacked Gangadevi while she

was collecting firewood from

the nearby forest along with a

group of women in the area.

Unemployed youthsuccumbs to poisonHYDERABAD

A 26-year-old unemployed

graduate, Boda Sunil Naik,

who attempted to end his life

by consuming pesticide at

Hanamkonda in Telangana

last week, died while

undergoing treatment on

Friday. In a selfie video, Naik

blamed the State government

for not issuing government

job notifications. To overcome

suicidal thoughts, call Roshni

at 914066202000.

CD case: Jarkiholi skipsappearance before SITBENGALURU

Former Minister Ramesh

Jarkiholi, who had been

issued a summons by the

Special Investigation Team

(SIT) to appear before them

for questioning on Friday, in

connection with the CD

scandal case, did not report

to the police, citing ill health.

The SIT has now issued

another summons to him to

appear on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court has cautioned courts against mechanically granting bail inheinous off��ences, saying theseriousness of the charge is abasic consideration beforereleasing an accused on bail.

A recent judgment by aBench led by Justice IndiraBanerjee set aside a KeralaHigh Court order bailing outa man accused of stabbing todeath a 30yearold dentistin front of her father in September 2020. The accusedhad gone absconding forseveral days before hisarrest.

Though the trial court denied him bail, the HighCourt set him at liberty.

“The nature of the off��ence

is one of the basic considerations for the grant of bail —more heinous is the crime,the greater is the chance ofrejection of the bail, though,however, dependent on thefactual matrix of the matter,”Justice Banerjee, who authored the judgment, observed. The court agreedthat grant of bail was a judge’s discretion.

“However, calls for exercise of such a discretion in ajudicious manner and not asa matter of course. Order forbail bereft of any cogent reason cannot be sustained,”the judgment said.

The apex court said theaccused had reached theclinic of the victim with aknife. “He had attacked thedeceased and infl��icted very

serious stab injury andcaused damages to her internal vital organs... the HighCourt overlooked the materials on record, which primafacie indicate that the respondent (accused) had committed coldblooded murderof a young lady doctor, as afallout of a soured relationship... After committing thecrime, the petitioner had absconded and he could be apprehended only on October6, 2020 on receiving secretinformation by the investigation agency...” the courtnoted

Justice Banerjee said,“while granting bail thecourt has to keep in mindnot only the nature of the accusations, but the severity ofthe punishment”.

SC warns against mechanicallygranting bail in heinous off��ences‘The nature of the crime should be a basic consideration’

LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI

CMYK

A ND-NDE


THE HINDU DELHI


NEWS

The Congress on Fridayquestioned the electoral process in Assam after a polledelectronic voting machine(EVM) was being transportedin the vehicle of a BJP candidate’s wife, with party general secretary Priyanka Gandhiasking for a “serious reevaluation” of the use of EVMsby all national parties.

Violence broke out in Karimganj district on Thursdaynight after a crowd discovered that the vehicle of thewife of Krishnendu Paul, theBJP candidate from Patharkandi, was being used totransport the EVM to thestrong room.

While the police is said tohave fi��red in the air to bringthe situation under control,the Election Commission ofIndia (ECI) ordered a repollin the booth where the particular EVM was used and

suspended four polling offi��cials.

A Congress delegation, ledby former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, raised with theECI the Karimganj incidentsas well as the defection of anOpposition candidate to theBJP just days before polling.

“Every time there is anelection, videos of privatevehicles caught transportingEVMs show up. Unsurprisingly, they have the following

things in common: 1. Thevehicles usually belong toBJP candidates or their associates; 2. The videos are taken as oneoff�� incidents anddismissed as aberrations; 3.The BJP uses its media machinery to accuse those whoexposed the videos as sorelosers,” Ms. Vadra alleged.

The Congress leader’scomments could restart thedebate on the use of EVMs.

In August 2018, at an all

party meeting convened byEC, Opposition parties demanded a return to paperballots. “The fact is that toomany such incidents are being reported and nothing isbeing done about them. TheEC needs to start acting decisively on these complaintsand a serious reevaluationof the use of EVMs needs tobe carried out by all nationalparties,” Ms. Vadra said.

‘Minor incident’However, Karimganj DeputyCommissioner AnbamuthanM.P. said it was a minor incident involving a polling party from a polling station inthe adjoining Ratabari constituency.

“The vehicle from thepolling station to the districtheadquarters broke downabout 20 km away at Nilambazar. The polling party waswaiting for transport when aprivate vehicle was passing

by. The driver stopped andoff��ered a lift. While we wereorganising another vehicleto bring them, the presidingoffi��cer took the off��er to reachKarimganj. The vehicle wasmobbed by some peoplenear the headquarters and itwas only then that the offi��cerrealised his folly,” he toldThe Hindu on Friday, addingthat the vehicle was registered in the name of thePatharkandi MLA’s wife.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “EC’scar has broken down, theBJP’s intentions are bad andthe condition of democracyhas worsened.”

While Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the “EVM fraud” wasthere for all to see and askedwhether the ECI needed theBJP’s help to carry EVMs, MPManish Tewari demanded aprobe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Cong. raises doubts over Assam pollingCall for probe after car of BJP candidate’s wife was used to transport EVM in Karimganj district


NEW DELHI

The EVM found in a vehicle belonging to BJP MLAKrishnendu Paul in Karimganj on Thursday night. * ANI

Assam’s Finance MinisterHimanta Biswa Sarma hassaid the BJP had encouraged the creation of two regional parties — the AssamJatiya Parishad (AJP) andjailed activist Akhil Gogoi’sRaijor Dal (RD) — ahead ofthe State polls in order tosplit the antiCitizenship(Amendment) Act votesbetween them and theCongress and its allies.

In response to the BJPleader’s remark, AJP general secretary JagadishBhuyan said: “The Ministeris intelligent enough to remember that he had a fewmonths ago said we weresired by the Congress andthe AIUDF.”

BJP behindnew outfi��ts,says Himanta


Guwahati

Senior leaders of the BJP onFriday complained to theElection Commission (EC)against West Bengal ChiefMinister Mamata Banerjeefor what they termed pollviolations. They also complained against Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of DMK leaderM.K. Stalin, for “indecentremarks” against late BJPleaders Arun Jaitley andSushma Swaraj.

The BJP delegation included Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar, MukhtarAbbas Naqvi, BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadavand party’s national spokesperson Anil Baluni.

“For the fi��rst time in thecountry’s history, a ChiefMinister sat on dharna in apolling booth when pollingwas on. Before she [MamataBanejee] sat on dharna, 74%of the votes were polled inNandigram and the pollingwas by and large peaceful,”Mr. Javadekar said aftermeeting EC offi��cials.

“We have given all proofsincluding photographs of

her misconduct. A Chief Minister, who herself is in aconstitutional post and saton dharna while the pollingwas on, is against democracy and against the ElectionCommission’s norms forpolling. And therefore, wehave demanded urgent action against her from thepoll panel,” he added.

The BJP has also demanded action against Udhayanidhi Stalin. They accusedhim of raking up a controversy by saying that Mr. Jaitley and Ms. Swaraj passedaway due to political pressure.

BJP complains againstMamata, UdhayanidhiParty delegation meets EC offi��cials


NEW DELHI

Prakash Javadekar andMukhtar Abbas Naqvispeaking in New Delhi. * PTI

Union Home Minister AmitShah on Friday accusedWest Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee of doinginjustice to the people ofnorth Bengal. Mr. Shah,who promised ₹��2,000 crorefor the region’s development, said an All India Institute of Medical Scienceswould be set up in the area.

“Mamata didi has donenothing for the development of the region. Aftercoming to power, the BJPwill constitute a North Bengal Development Board andspend ₹��2,000 crore annually on the region’s development,” Mr. Shah said at a ral

ly at Sitalluchi in CoochBehar district. He held twopublic meetings in northBengal and participated intwo road shows in southBengal. In north Bengal, theHome Minister claimed thatinfi��ltration was the biggestproblem in the region andpromised to stop it.

Targeting the Trinamoolgovernment, Mr. Shah saidthe Mamata Banerjee governance model was based on3Ts of ‘Tolabaji’ (extortion),‘Tanashahi’ (dictatorship)and ‘Tushtikaran’ (appeasement). He promised the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act at thefi��rst Cabinet meeting if theBJP came to power.

‘Mamata has done injustice to region’

Hectic round: Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a road showin South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on Friday. * PTI

Will develop northBengal, says Shah

Special correspondent

Kolkata

West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee on Fridayresumed her campaign inthe districts, and assertedthat she would win the Assembly election at Nandigram. The Chief Ministerheld three rallies at Dinhata,Natabari and Falakata.

Reacting to a remark byPrime Minister NarendraModi that she could contestfrom a seat other than Nandigram, Ms. Banerjee said: “Iwant to tell the Prime Minister to control his Home Minister fi��rst and then try tocontrol us. We are not yourparty’s members.”

Addressing a rally at Dinahata in Cooch Behar district,she said: “I have contested

from Nandigram and willwin from there.”

She also added that shewent to a polling booth inNandigram on Thursday only because she received acomplaint that goons had

come from outside and gathered there with guns.

88% vote in NandigramThe Nandigram constituency remained at the centre ofpolitical discourse. Accord

ing to the updated votingpercentage provided by theElection Commission, theconstituency recorded 88%polling on Thursday .

Representatives of boththe Trinamool Congress andthe BJP met the Chief Electoral Offi��cer in Kolkata andraised allegations againsteach other.

The BJP delegation, led byparty leader Sishir Bajoria,questioned why the Chief Minister had stayed inside apolling booth for more thantwo hours and accused herof violating the model codeof conduct. The Trinamooldelegation, which was led byparty leader Yashwant Sinha, said the delegation toldthe Election Commissionthat the Central forces had

acted in a partisan mannerin many booths in the fi��rsttwo phases. “There havebeen incidents of violenceand attacks on our partysupporters by the BJP,” Mr.Sinha said.

Addressing a meeting atNatabari in Cooch Behar, theChief Minister accusedHome Minister Amit Shah ofusing Central agencies to target Opposition parties. Ms.Banerjee said that leadersfrom Tamil Nadu, where Assembly election is to be held,had contacted her over income tax raids on relatives ofDMK leader M.K. Stalin,claiming that these weredone at the behest of theHome Minister. She accusedMr. Shah of trying to scarehis political opponents.

I will win from Nandigram, says MamataTrinamool Congress and BJP teams knock on the doors of Chief Electoral Offi��cer

Brisk campaign:Trinamool supporters cheering as MamataBanerjee arrives in a helicopter in Cooch Behar on Friday. * PTI

Shiv Sahay Singh

Kolkata

The remaining points of tension along the Line of ActualControl (LAC) in eastern Ladakh should be resolved“quickly”, said an offi��cial ofthe Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday. Addressing the weekly pressbriefi��ng, offi��cial spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said“prolongation” of diff��erences in the remaining points offriction was not helpful forrestoration of peace andtranquillity along the LAC.

“There is a consensus thatthe two sides should nowquickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC ineastern Ladakh,” said Mr.

Bagchi, highlighting the positive outcome from the 10rounds of Senior Commanderslevel talks which helpedin achieving “disengagement” in the Pangong Tsoarea. The offi��cial indicatedthat despite negotiations, similar disengagement is yetto be achieved at the remaining friction points.

“At both the senior commanders’ meeting and the

WMCC (Working Mechanismfor Consultation and Coordination), the two sides haddetailed exchange of viewson the remaining issues. Thetwo sides continue to remainin touch through militaryand diplomatic channels,”said Mr. Bagchi, emphasisingthe need to resolve the issues.

Following months of tension on the LAC, Indian and

Chinese Senior Commanders had managed to disengage on the north and southbanks of the Pangong Tso.However, the Chinese forcesare yet to disengage from Gogra, Hot Springs, Depsangand Demchok. “We therefore hope that the Chineseside will work with us to ensure that disengagement inthe remaining areas is completed at the earliest. Thiswould allow both sides toconsider deescalation offorces in eastern Ladakh asthat alone will lead to therestoration of peace andtranquillity and provide conditions for progress of our bilateral relationship,” said theoffi��cial spokesperson.

India wants total disengagementChinese forces yet to disengage from Gogra, Hot Springs, Depsang & Demchok


NEW DELHI

India on Friday said it stoodfor revival of democracy inMyanmar, and added thatviolence would not solve theprevailing situation in thecountry.

“We condemn any use ofviolence. We believe that therule of law should prevail.We stand for the restorationof democracy in Myanmar.We have urged the release ofpolitical prisoners and supported any attempts at resolving the current situation, including through theeff��orts of ASEAN,” said Arindam Bagchi, External Aff��airsMinistry spokesperson said.

India was among the fi��rstcountries to express concern after the February 1 military takeover which deposed the democraticallyelected leadership of Myanmar. However, India’s subse

quent behaviour indicatedthat it preferred to maintaincommunication links withthe military junta.

On March 27, an Indian offi��cial attended the MyanmarArmed Forces Day parade atcapital Naypyitaw even asthe day turned out to be thebloodiest with the militarykilling around 100 protesters. Subsequently, on April1, Myanmar participated in a

foreign ministerial meetingof BIMSTEC, Bay of BengalInitiative for MultiSectoralTechnical and EconomicCooperation, which waschaired by Sri Lanka and attended by India along withother members like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, andThailand.

Concern for displacedMr. Bagchi, however, arguedthat India maintains routinediplomatic activities throughits mission in Myanmar.“Our Ambassador, DefenceAttache, and other diplomatic offi��cers continue todischarge their regular diplomatic responsibilities,”said Mr. Bagchi.

Mr. Bagchi further said India was treating the fl��ow ofdisplaced people fromMyanmar as per Indian lawsand “humanitarian considerations.”

‘India stands for revival of

democracy in Myanmar’It says violence will not solve the prevailing situation


NEW DELHI

A jawan manning the India-Myanmar border in Mizoram. * AP

The Election Commissionof India (EC) on Fridaybarred BJP leader HimantaBiswa Sarma from holdingpublic meetings, processions, rallies, road showsand interactions with themedia in connection withthe ongoing elections for48 hours.

The EC issued the orderwith respect to a complaintlodged by the Congress onMarch 30, alleging that Mr.Sarma had threatened Hagrama Mohilary, chairmanof the Bodoland People’sFront and the Congress alliance partner, of sendinghim to jail by misusing theNational InvestigationAgency.

“The Commission hereby strongly condemns theimpugned statementsmade by Himanta BiswaSarma, BJP leader and starcampaigner,” said the EC.

Himanta can’tcampaign for 48 hours


NEW DELHI

Asserting that India has notimposed any export ban onCOVID19 vaccines, the Ministry of External Aff��airs(MEA) on Friday said thecountry has taken the leadin sending vaccines abroadwith over 640 lakh dosessupplied to more than 80countries till now.

At an online media briefing, MEA spokespersonArindam Bagchi also saidthat the Ministry’s ‘VaccineMaitree’ initiative to supplyvaccines abroad had been“very successful and verywell liked” by our partnersacross the world.

No ban onvaccineexport: MEA


New Delhi On April 5, the BombayHigh Court will pronounceits order on the public interest litigation (PIL) petition fi��led by former PoliceCommissioner Param BirSingh seeking a probe bythe Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into his allegations against Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

On March 20, Mr. Singhwrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerayalleging that Mr. Deshmukh had directed suspended police offi��cer Sachin Vaze to collect ₹��100crore from bars and restaurants a month.

HC to decideon Param Bir’splea on April 5


Mumbai

CMYK

A ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


NEWS

The current COVID19 casegrowth rate of 6.8% in March2021 has surpassed the previous record of 5.5% ( June2020), noted a release issuedby the Central governmentfollowing a meeting chairedby Cabinet Secretary RajivGauba on Friday.

The government has identifi��ed 11 States and Union Territories as areas of grave concern — Maharashtra, Punjab,Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat,Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana. Theyhave been reporting a surgein daily cases and daily mortality in the past two weeks.The meeting was to reviewand discuss the COVID19management and responsestrategy.

“Another worrisome aspect pointed out at the meeting was that Tier 2 and Tier 3cities along with periurbanareas have recorded a surgein COVID19 cases. Thespread of infection to the rural areas with weak health infrastructure would overwhelm the localadministration,” it noted.

The Chief Secretaries, DirectorsGeneral of Police andHealth Secretaries of allStates and Union Territoriesand other senior offi��cialsparticipated in the meeting.

The Central governmentsaid that while the countrywas reporting 97,000 dailynew COVID19 cases at thepeak of the pandemic in September 2020, the country

had now reached the criticalfi��gure of 81,000 daily newcases.

Containment measures“The Cabinet Secretary hasreiterated the need for stringent enforcement of containment and surveillance measures, in conjunction withramping up vaccination andstrict enforcement of COVID

appropriate behaviour,” noted the release.

The States and the UnionTerritories have been askedto increase testing continuously to ensure that positivity comes down to 5% or lessthan 5%, focus on ensuringRTPCR tests (comprising70% of total tests), and reduce waiting time of test results while using the rapid

antigen test (RAT) as ascreening test in denselypopulated areas and wherefresh clusters wereemerging.

The Centre has added thatall symptomatic RAT negatives have to be mandatorilysubjected to RTPCR testswhile ensuring eff��ective andprompt isolation of those infected in institutional facilities (COVID19 care centres).

The release noted that theStates and the Union Territories had been told to ensurethat patients isolated athome are monitored dailyand that 25 to 30 close contacts be traced for each infected person.

“Tracing of close contactsand their isolation has to bedone in 72 hours. Subsequent testing and followupof all close contacts have tobe carried out,” the releasesaid.

The States have beenasked to examine the case fatality rate hospitalwise, devise appropriate strategy,and mitigate concerns regarding late admission inhospitals and nonadherence to National ClinicalManagement Protocol.

11 States, Union Territories show surgeTier 2 and 3 cities, along with peri-urban areas, account for a jump in the number of COVID-19 cases


New Delhi

Tight surveillance: Tourists waiting to get their rapid antigen test done at the Gateway of Indiain Mumbai on Friday. * VIVEK BENDRE

More than 36.7 lakh COVID19 vaccine doses wereadministered in 24 hours,the highest singleday coverage till now, the UnionHealth Ministry said onFriday.

Of the 36,71,242 vaccinedoses, 33,65,597 benefi��ciaries were vaccinated across51,215 sessions for the fi��rstdose and 3,05,645 benefi��ciaries received the seconddose of vaccine, the HealthMinistry said in a statement.

The Ministry said this isthe highest single day vaccine coverage till now.

Cumulatively, more than6.87 crore (6,87,89,138) vaccine doses have been administered through 11,37,456sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 a.m. onFriday.

These include 83,06,269healthcare workers (HCW;fi��rst dose) and 52,84,564HCWs (second dose);93,53,021 frontline workers(FLW; fi��rst dose) and40,97,634 FLWs (seconddose); 97,83,615 (fi��rst dose)

and 39,401 (second dose)benefi��ciaries aged morethan 45 years with specifi��ccomorbidities; and3,17,05,893 (fi��rst dose) and2,18,741 (second dose) benefi��ciaries aged more than60 years, it said.

Eight States account for59.58% of the cumulativedoses given so far. Theseeight States are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal,Karnataka, Madhya Pradeshand Kerala.

Steep riseThe Ministry further saidthat Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab,Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhiand Uttar Pradesh reporteda steep rise in daily new cases. Five States, namely, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Punjab,cumulatively account for77.91% of the total active cases in the country.

“Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly 60% percent (59.84%) of the total active caseload of the country,” it said.

Highest vaccinecoverage in a day36.7 lakh people get jabs on FridayPress Trust of India

New Delhi

The expert panel of India’sdrug regulator, Drugs Controller General of India(DCGI), has permitted Bharat Biotech to give a thirddose of Covaxin to a fewvolunteers in its clinicaltrials of the COVID19 vaccine, sources said.

Bharat Biotech presented amendments to the subject expert committee ofthe DCGI in the approvedphase 2 clinical trial protocol for administration ofbooster dose six months after second dose. “The fi��rmpresented amendments inthe approved Phase 2 clinical trial protocol for administration of booster doseafter six months after second dose. The committeerecommended that thefi��rm should conduct thebooster dose study only in6 mcg cohort and alsoshould follow up the subjects at least for six monthsafter the third dose,” theSEC said.

The fi��rm was asked topresent the details of assessments to be carried outin the subjects.

Clinical trialfor third doseof Covaxin


New Delhi

CGHS: no refund for jabtaken in private centresNEW DELHI

The Health Ministry on Friday

said beneficiaries of the

Central Government Health

Scheme, who get their

COVID-19 vaccination at

private empanelled hospitals,

will not be reimbursed. The

clarification has been issued

after various representations

and grievances regarding

administration of vaccine to

the CGHS beneficiaries was

put forward and the matter

was examined, the Ministry

added. As per government

policy, vaccination against

COVID-19 is being provided

free of cost to beneficiaries

at designated government

facilities.

IN BRIEF

The failure of the health system to cope with COVID19pandemic resulted in an increase in maternal deathsand stillbirths, according toa study published in TheLancet Global Healthjournal.

Overall, there was a 28%increase in the odds of stillbirth, and the risk of mothers dying during pregnancyor childbirth increased byabout onethird. There wasalso a rise in maternal depression. COVID19 impacton pregnancy outcomeswas disproportionately highon poorer countries, according to the study published on March 31.

The report is an analysisof 40 studies across 17 countries including Brazil, Mexico, the U.S., Canada, theU.K., Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, India, Chinaand Nepal. “The disruptioncaused by the COVID19pandemic has led to avoidable deaths of both mothersand babies. Policy makersand healthcare leaders musturgently investigate robuststrategies for preservingsafe and respectful maternity care, even during the ongoing global emergency. Immediate action is requiredto avoid rolling back decades of investment in reducing mother and infantmortality in lowresourcesettings,” the authors urge.

The study attributes theworsening trend to the fai

lure of the “ineffi��ciency ofthe healthcare system andtheir inability to cope withthe pandemic” instead ofstrict lockdown measures.This resulted in reduced access to care.

Indian contextIn the Indian context, ananalysis of HMIS data byPopulation Foundation ofIndia shows that during themonths of national lockdown last year betweenApril and June, compared tothe same period in 2019,there was a 27% drop inpregnant women receivingfour or more antenatalcheckups, a 28% decline ininstitutional deliveries and22% decline in prenatalservices.

The authors recommendthat personnel for maternity services not be redeployed for other critical andmedical care during thepandemic and in responseto future health systemshocks.

Maternal deaths roseduring pandemic: study‘Risk of stillbirths also increased’


NEW DELHI

Fewer women receivedante-natal checkups duringthe pandemic, data show.

A petition has been fi��led inthe Supreme Court to issuea direction to the Centreand States to control blackmagic, superstition and religious conversion by intimidating, threatening, deceivingly luring throughgifts and monetary benefi��ts.

“Religious conversionby ‘carrotandstick’ or ‘byhookorcrook’ not only offends Articles 14 [right toequality], 21[right to life]and 25 [right to religiousfreedom], but also againstthe principles of secularism, which is an integralpart of basic structure ofConstitution,” the petitionfi��led by advocate A.K.Upadhyay said.

The court is likely tohear the case on April 9.

Mr. Upadhyay registeredhis “dismay” that theCentre and the States failedto control the menace ofblack magic, superstitionand deceitful religious conversion, though it was theirduty under Article 51A ofthe Constitution.

“There is not even onedistrict in the countrywhich is free of black magic, superstition and religious conversion ... Incidents are reported everyweek throughout the country where conversion isdone by intimidating,threatening, luringthrough gifts and monetary benefi��ts,” the petitionalleged.

Plea seeksaction againstblack magic

Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI

The Union Home Ministryhas said in a communicationto the Punjab governmentthat labourers from UttarPradesh and Bihar who workin agricultural fi��elds in theState are drugged, exploitedand meted out inhumantreatment. The Ministryasked the State governmentto take appropriate measures to address the seriousproblem.

The Ministry said that 58mentally challenged peoplefrom Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were found working asbonded labourers in the border districts of the State bythe Border Security Force(BSF) in 2019 and 2020.

In a communication to the

Chief Secretary of Punjab,the Ministry said the BSFfound that the workers werebrought to Punjab on thepromise of a good salary butthey were exploited, givendrugs and forced to work ininhuman conditions. TheBSF has said that these labourers were rescued fromthe border areas of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepurand Abohar in Punjab.

“During the course ofquestioning, it emerged thatmost of them were eithermentally challenged or were

in a feeble state of mind andhave been working as bonded labourers with farmers inborder villages of Punjab.The persons apprehendedbelong to poor family background and hail from remoteareas of the states of Biharand Uttar Pradesh,” the letter dated March 17 said.

‘Human traffi��cking’The Ministry said it has beenfurther informed that “humantraffi��cking syndicateshire such labourers fromtheir native place to work inPunjab on the promise of agood salary, but after reaching there, they are exploited,paid poorly and meted outinhuman treatment. Tomake them work in the fi��eldsfor long hours, these labour

ers are often given drugs,which adversely aff��ect theirphysical and mental condition. The BSF has beenhanding over the rescuedpersons to the State policefor necessary action,” theletter said.

“Keeping in view the multidimensional and overwhelming enormity of theproblem, which involves humantraffi��cking, bonded labour and human rights violation, you are requested tolook into the matter and takeappropriate measures to address this serious problem,”the Ministry communicatedto the Punjab government.

The Punjab governmenthas also been asked to inform it on priority about theaction taken in the matter.

Centre says labourers in Punjab druggedHome Ministry says 58 migrant workers were exploited in the border districts


New Delhi <> During the course of

questioning, it

emerged that most

of them were

mentally challenged

home ministry letter

Caregivers to patients with‘rare diseases’ and affi��liatedorganisations are dissatisfi��edwith the National Policy forRare Diseases, 2021 announced on Wednesday.Though the document specifi��es increasing the government support for treating patients with a ‘rare disease’—from ₹��15 lakh to ₹��20 lakh —

caregivers say this doesn’trefl��ect actual costs oftreatment.

“The new policy off��ers nosupport to patients awaitingtreatment since the earlierNational Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases 2017was kept in abeyance. In theabsence of any funding support, close to 130 patientsare left with no option but towait for the inevitable. Several patientshave already losttheir lives in the interim period. Unlike conditions under Group 1 and Group 2, patients with Group 3disorders require sustaina

ble treatment support,” saidManjit Singh, National President, Lysosomal Storage Disorders Support Society.

“Looking at the number ofrare disease patients diagnosed and considered eligible for treatment by the respective State technicalcommittees, the immediaterequirement of funds to support the immediate treatment needs of the diagnosedpatients shouldn’t have exceeded ₹��80 crore to ₹��100crore annually. The Centre’scontribution would work outto ₹��40 to ₹��50 crore — if it isable to convince the State(s)

for a loadsharing model, asa few States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnatakahave already indicated,” saidhealth economist Prof. Viswanath Pingali.

“It is alarming that the Union government has left patients with Group 3 rare diseases to fend for themselves.The new policy has absolutely no consideration forGroup 3 patients, who require lifelong treatment support,” said Prasanna Shirol,cofounder and executive director, Organisation for RareDiseases India, an umbrellaorganisation.

Disquiet over policy for rare diseases ‘Those who needlifelong carerequire more help’

Jacob Koshy

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI

The administration in Durgdistrict of Chattisgarh onFriday announced acomplete lockdown fromApril 6 to 14 in the light ofspike in COVID19 cases.

Lockdown inDurg district inChattisgarh


Durg

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

Former Congress presidentRahul Gandhi on Fridayquestioned the silence of theUnited States establishmentover what is happening inIndia.

Mr. Gandhi made theseremarks in an interactive virtual conversation with former U.S. diplomat NicholasBurns of the Harvard Kennedy School.

In the hourlong interaction that had questions fromstudents, the Congress leader spoke on a range of issuessuch as the economy, foreign policy as well as domestic politics, includingfarmers’ protests and theongoing elections.

Talking about the role ofbeing an Opposition leader,he said there had been a

“wholesale capture of institutions” in India.

“I don’t hear anythingfrom the U.S. establishmentabout what’s happening inIndia. If you are saying partnership of democracies, Imean what is your view onwhat is going on here,” Mr.Gandhi said.

“I fundamentally believethat America is a profoundidea. The idea of freedomthe way it is encapsulated inyour Constitution is a very

powerful idea but you havegot to defend that idea,” headded.

Mentioning the incidentof an electronic voting machine being transported inthe car of a BJP candidate inthe Assam elections, Mr.Gandhi claimed that nothingabout it was being talkedabout in the national media.“There is a wholesale capture of the institutional framework of this country,” hesaid.

Rahul questions U.S.silence on events in India‘There is a wholesale capture of the institutional framework’


New Delhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a virtual conversation withNicholas Burns from Harvard Kennedy School. * ANI

Dalit youth held captive,tortured by four in U.P.LAKHIMPUR KHERI

A 22-year-old Dalit man was

allegedly held captive and

tortured by four persons here

on the suspicion that he was

having an affair with a girl of

their family, police said on

Friday. The man’s family

members had claimed that an

iron rod was also inserted in

his rectum, but Circle Officer

Pradeep Kumar Verma, who is

investigating the case, denied

the charge, saying the

medical examination and

probe so far indicate this is

not true. The accused have

been arrested and the victim

is under treatment at the

district hospital. His condition

has been stated to be serious,

police said. PTI

Two persons were arrestedin Jhansi of Uttar Pradeshin connection with the harassment of two nuns andtheir two postulants, whowere forced to deboardfrom a train after ABVPmembers accused them ofillegal conversion. However, the police and the administration did not make itclear if the arrests were directly linked to the incident on March 19 as the action appeared to be apreventive measureagainst future protestsplanned by the arrestedpersons.

Jhansi DM Andra Vamsion Friday said the arrestedpersons belonged to afringe group called Rashtrabhakt Sangh formed byone of the accused. Mr.Vamsi said they had nopresent connection withany mainstream outfi��t.

Two arrestedin Jhansi forharassing nuns

Omar Rashid

Lucknow

Eateries, bars and restaurants in Pune district of Maharashtra will remain shut forseven days starting April 3 inview of the spike in coronavirus cases of late, a senior offi��cial said on Friday.

A curfew will be in placeacross the district from 6p.m. to 6 a.m., and malls, cinema halls and places of religious worship will also beshut during this seven dayperiod, he said.

The administration introduced these “stricter restrictions” in the district, whichhas reported more than8,000 COVID19 cases in thepast two consecutive days.

The decision to imposethe curbs was taken during areview meeting chaired byDeputy Chief Minister AjitPawar here on Friday.

“Eateries, bars and res

taurants will remain closed,but home delivery of thefood will continue,” Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao said.

“Malls, cinema halls willremain shut for seven daysfrom Saturday. All religiousplaces will also be closed fora week,” he said.

Except weddings and rituals pertaining to last rites,all other public gatheringshave been banned in the district.

Only 50 people will be al

lowed to attend a weddingand only 20 people can remain present for last rites,he added.

Essential servicesHe said that essential services had been exempted fromthe curfew.

Buses of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), the city’s public transport system,will remain off�� the roads forseven days, Mr. Rao said, adding that schools and colleg

es will remain closed tillApril 30. “Only the studentsof Classes X and XII, and thecandidates preparing forMPSC exam will be allowedto carry out their regularacademic activities,” headded.

“All these decisions weretaken in view of the surge inCOVID19 cases in the lastfew days. The situation is becoming critical. In the lastone week, the positivity rateof the district has crossed32%,” Mr. Rao said.

Pune goes into week-long shutdownRestaurants, barsand religiouscentres to close

Shutters down: Malls, too, will not be allowed to function inPune for a week. * FILE PHOTO


Pune

On Korean culture

As a reminder that there is

more to Korean culture than

Kdramas, The Korean Cultural

Centre UK presents A Viewing

Room. The artist film

programme features new and

recent video works by eight

contemporary Korean artists.

Themes include psychological

wellbeing and the transition

from offline to online. The

works include Sound Garden by

Jeamin Cha and After Life by

Cha Ji Ryang. April 6 to May 31.

kccuk.org.uk. Meanwhile,

Minari, nominated for six

Oscars, is set to be released in

India on April 16.

Ruby-loaded eggs

Smash Fabelle Chocolates’

Signature Easter Egg to reveal

nut clusters enrobed in milk and

ruby chocolate. Buy the egg at

₹��2,475 or mini eggs (box of 10)

for ₹��495 at ITC hotels or order

online. Kikobā�� a restaurant in

Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, takes

heirloom recipes from homes in

Eastern Asia, and gives them a

modern twist. Try the shisho

butter that takes three days to

make, combining ingredients

like shisho leaves, Ponzo, aged

rice vinegar, and French butter.

Or order the Grilled Lobster

(Robatta) or the Black Cod

Gyoza to savour its flavour.

XXL beer paradise

Bengaluru, home to over 60

microbreweries, can add

‘world’s largest microbrewery’

to the list with the opening of

Ironhill India that can

accomodate 1,500 people.

Eight varieties of beer are on

offer, including Sinnerman

Stout, at the 1.3 lakh sq ft space

in the IT hub of Marathahalli.

♣9606044623/24. In Delhi’s

Saket, Altogether Experimental

has a popup today, in

collaboration with Amrita Kaur.

‘Vasant’ welcomes spring

through a sevencourse home

style meal using Ayurvedic

principles. ♣99992 88073

InstapickDelhi Art Week: As Art Dubai, held as an inperson event,

comes to a close today, a new initiative, Delhi Art Week,

gets underway. The city has been divided into four ‘art

zones’ with exhibitions, workshops and walkthroughs from

about 37 galleries. Details: delhiartweek.com. Till April 10.

If pop art is more your speed, Super Nintendo World is

finally a reality at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.

Talking pointExcelsior Pass: What’s the latest on digital vaccine

passports? You know, the health certificate that will see you

enjoying a concert with hundreds of people and the tourism

industry sighing with relief. New York, with IBM, has rolled

out the pass, which shows a person’s Covid19 status

(whether vaccinated and results of a recent test). And then

follow the questions about privacy and data protection.

Pickof theweekConcerts, stand-up and

other events you just

can't miss.

Return of the watches

Watchmaking worldwide is set

to be in the spotlight as the

annual trade show, where

leading names reveal their

latest products, will soon get

underway. Set to be a hybrid

show this year, Watches and

Wonders Geneva’s digital event

is a private affair. As many as 38

prestigious brands will gather

on watchesandwonders.com.

April 7 to 13. This will be

followed by an inperson event

in Shanghai, which will host 19

brands, including firsttime

exhibitors Chopard, Montblanc,

Rolex, Tudor and Ulysse Nardin.

April 14 to 18.

Vali Vadhe online

Vali Vadhe is part of

Staged@RS — Bengaluru

based Ranga Shankara’s

digital programme. Based on

celebrated writer Kuvempu’s

Sri Ramayana Darshana, the

play blends elements of

Yakshagana, Kalaripayattu

and the Manipuri art form.

₹��150 at insider.in. What is the

purpose of art? Find out with

The Right Way by Thespo.

The play has been created by

Daniele Bartolini, and is

“audiencespecific art”

(meant for one person at a

time). April 3, 4. 4 pm

onwards. ₹��300 at insider.in.

Kate’s photo project

Even as the UK takes steps to

unlock, Kate Middleton’s

project, Hold Still, which invited

photo submissions that

captured life in lockdown, has

been turned into a book, Hold

Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in

2020. The book features 100

images selected by a panel of

judges, including the Duchess

of Cambridge and National

Portrait Gallery Director

Nicholas Cullinan.

Meanwhile, kids can learn about

alphabets, numbers and

Pokemon, of course, via Pikachu

Press’ new series of interactive

books for children.

Sufi and some ghazals

Ruhaniyat, the Sufi and mystic

music festival, will be held

digitally across seven cities,

including Delhi. The shows

curated for each city will be a

combination of newly shot and

archival performances. April 3.

₹��350. 6 pm.

in.bookmyshow.com.

Kommune presents Mulaqat: An

Introductory Workshop on Urdu

Ghazal. Learn the history of

ghazals and more from writer

and lyricist Swapnil Tiwari.

Some participants may even get

the chance to perform at an

online event. April 3, 4. ₹��499.

insider.in.

Remember, before starting this game, youmust pledge to not play fair. Now, let’s begin.

Roll the dice. Whatever you get — protest!Loudly. Arrange for a stage and the loudestloud speakers that (tax payer) money canbuy. Say that the other party has rigged yourdice. Whatever the results, you’re beingcheated. 10 points.

Oops, the fi��rst round of results show you’rein the lead. Instantly do a UTurn. Go back onto the stage. Give interviews. Tell people howhonest the elections are, how you believe inthe system, and that anyone who protests isantinational. 15 points for this turnaround.

Proceed. You are now entering a newphase. Rallies. One rule. Make sure you organise more than your opponent. Bring outthe biggest face of your party, give awaymasks of the face, splash the face on every

hoarding. Promise free everything — money,rice, places of worship, free air (fabricate statistics about howmuch pollution there is inthe states you do not run yet). 25points.

This annoying popular candidate from theother party keeps edging ahead. Resort toyour Rescue Card. Horsetrading. Threaten,publish fake stories about this dirty scoundrel. If all else fails, bribe the dirty scoundrelto join your party. Throw him a party to welcome him in. Kill any media story that saysyou said he was dirty. Wear matching halos.45 points.

Your ally, the media channel, has to keepat 24x7 stories about how you are winning(especially if you’re not, no one really wants

the truth anyway). Fire the journalists whoexpose the truth. Are we a nation of peoplewho expose? Hack their accounts, get themarrested. Replace them with lipsync dollswho will shout and spout whatever you tellthem to. Brilliant! You’re almost there. 65points.

Diversion needed. Quick! Some idiot partymember said something sick. Start storiesabout Covid19 (thank God for such a timelydiversion), border problems, fi��lm stars,drugs. Blame the foreign hand for trying toroll the dice. Not working? Talk history, even

better, make up history. The voting masseslap it up. 80 points.

There are still some stubborn hurdles inthe game. Activists, students, writers. Get ridof them. Any way you can. Now, the fl��ag atthe end is in sight. Make sure it is yours. Givea tearjerker speech about honesty and democracy. 90 points. If you can squeeze out atear too, you make it to 100 points. Congratulations!

Where Jane De Suza, author of Flyaway Boy, pokes hernose into our perfect lives.

The election

GAMEWho said it’s about the best candidateor the best party?

*SR

EE

JIT

H R

KU

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yarn it!

Jane De Suza

As you read this, Godzilla vs.Kong is already the biggest hitacross the planet, including inIndia, China, the US, wherevercinemas are open, really. Peopleare fl��ocking by the millions towatch the beloved monsters goup against each other in an epicspectacle. By the same token,mediumlevel fi��lms, budget andspectaclewise, are not exactlyfalling by the wayside, but aren’tdoing humongous box offi��cenumbers either. The debate thathas been raging on for the lastyear, ever since Covid19 beganravaging the world, and producers started giving their babies toOTT platforms for direct to digital premières, is about the deathof small cinema.

Small, intimate fi��lms are goingnowhere soon and will continueto be made and consumed, butthe question is whether theirplatforms will be restricted. The

year that has passed has had adevastating eff��ect on cinemas.The latest FICCI report revealsthat in India alone, some 1,500cinemas were forced to close over the last 12 months, leaving just8,000 screens for a populationof 1.3 billion. Though there arededicated repertory single cinemas and chains for independent

fi��lms around the world, won’tproducers be tempted to recovercosts in one fell swoop? Ormaybe even turn a profi��t by selling rights to a giant globalstreamer, with the justifi��cationthat their product is reachingsome 200 countries at the sametime and potentially hundreds ofmillions of eyeballs.

From an audience point ofview, in a postCovid, vaccinatedworld (and that world can’t comesoon enough), will they be willing to take a risk (vaccinations

aren’t 100% guarantees of notgetting the virus, it only makes itmuch milder) and go to a cinemaand sit cheekbyjowl with a potentially infected stranger todrink in an independent fi��lm, asopposed to a James Bond or aMarvel spectacle? Will the onlyevent remaining be ‘event’ cinema? If such a scenario transpires,it’ll be a crying shame. For, however small the fi��lm, the bigscreen in a darkened cinemacreates a powerful bond between the subject matter and theviewer. Unless you are wealthyor fortunate enough to have ahome theatre, the athome viewing experience is just not thesame.

I leave you with a personal experience. Along with a prominent Indian independent fi��lmmaker I watched Cate Blanchett’sOscarwinning performance inBlue Jasmine in a giant multiplexin Leicester Square. We werestunned by the agony Blanchettconveyed in the fi��lm. As westumbled out into daylight, rendered speechless, the momentwas somewhat ruined by a selfi��eseeker (for a picture with him,not me), but the eff��ect was indelible enough for both of us to remember today, eight years downthe line. I somehow doubt asmall screen will provide that level of engagement.

With cinemas shutting across the world,will there be room only for ‘event’ cinemalike Godzilla vs. Kong?

Lured by a

spectacle

Now Showing

Naman Ramachandran

A wind of change is blowingthrough the historic coir factories of Alappuzha, past 100yearold doors, halls and vaulted ceilings. The spaces thatonce resonated with thesounds of yarn being spun,toiling workers and politicaluprisings are now gearing upfor a major makeover.

“These were once busyspaces but with changing businesses, many sections of thefactories are unused and someare in a dilapidated condition,”explains Benny Kuriakose,conservation architect. Heheads the Alappuzha HeritageProject, under which factoriesat Coirfed, Kerala State CoirCorporation (KSCC), and NewModel Cooperative Society

Building (NMCSB) will be repurposed and turned into tourist spots.

“Architecturally, as thesespaces were fullfl��edged factories, they were well ventilated.By a twist of fate, when business dropped, they becameplaces to store things,” he says,adding that while they will“conserve and design for adaptive reuse, very little new construction will take place”.

A remarkable turnaroundIt is interesting to note that in1975, when Aspinwall fi��rst imported power looms from Germany, the industry rejectedmechanisation as it would leadto loss of jobs. Now, stateoftheart machines are being installed in the factories to compete with cheaper Chinesemade tufted coir mats. Yetthere is room for art and culture alongside coir processingand production. Factory timings and gallery hours, labourunions and tourist groups,canteen meals and cafe menusare to soon coexist withinthese centuryold coir processing factories.

The repurposing, explains

Kuriakose, is part of an integrated plan (estimated to costaround ₹��260 crore) that includes conserving the heritageof Alappuzha, also called theVenice of the East, and will include rejuvenation of its canalsand construction of walkways.Unlike the gentrifi��cation ofMumbai’s textile mills that became shopping malls, this project, he says, is in sync with thehistory of the town.

Yarn history and a cafeNaushad PM, MD of the Muziris Heritage Project, says thecollaboration by diff��erent government departments — Tourism, Coir, Port — will see 21museums take shape, of whichthree will be exclusively dedicated to coir. “A yarn museumwill come up at the Coirfedbuilding [formerly DarraghSmail]. The KSCC will house acoir history museum, and theNMCSB will have a Living Coirmuseum,” he explains. Whilepreparations for an immersivecoir experience are underway,two spaces in KSCC andNMCSB are already experimenting with art — LokameTharavadu, an upcoming mega show of contemporary art,will exhibit works, installationsand paintings of 268 artists ofKerala.

At Port Museum on thebeach, the cafe will be partiallyalfresco to remain accessible tothe public even after galleryhours. Citing the example ofAdmiral Hotel in Copenhagen,which was a granary before itturned to off��er a new role, veteran conservation architectRamesh Tharakan says, “Oldwarehouses can be retrofi��ttedinto interesting and dynamichospitality as well as retailspaces. European cities are replete with examples of suchtransformation”.

TransformingAlappuzha’s warehousesHow the town’s historic coir factories are being restoredto accommodate art spaces and museums

(Clockwise from left) TheCoirfed building, a new steelstaircase and other work at theNew Model Society Building

* SURESH ALLEPPEY

Priyadershini S

CMYK

A ND-NDE


THE HINDU DELHI


SHOWCASE

CMYK

A ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


SHOWCASE

We recently watched The Queen’s Gambit with the kids. (This was after my sister breezily replied ‘Sure!’, when I askedif it was appropriate for children. I guessshe forgot about the volley of expletives20 minutes into episode one.) Later inthe show, there’s a moment of attractionbetween the characters Beth Harmonand DL Townes. But soon after this, audiences are left wondering if Townes

might be gay.“Wait! I thought he liked Beth!” my

husband exclaimed.“Appa,” our nineyearold replied

matteroffactly, “He could be bi.”When I was nine, I had no clue what

bisexuality was. I’d just fi��gured out whatbeing gay meant. But today, children arefar more aware of sexuality from a younger age thanks to a slowly growing presence of LGBTQI+ characters and families in books and on screen.

Writer and queer feminist activistShals Mahajan says that talking aboutgender and sexuality in books for youngreaders is important. “All children mustknow that there are diff��erent ways of being and functioning,” they said. This opportunity to explore diff��erences is crucial as “by the time children are fi��veyears old, they already can form rigidstereotypes and the pictures and texts intheir literature aid in this process[Schlossberg and Goodman 1972]”.

The lived experienceBut are there enough books for youngreaders that help prevent these ‘rigidstereotypes’ from forming? Surprisingly,data around this was hard to come by,both for India and globally. The onlynumbers I could fi��nd were from the USbased Cooperative Children's Book Center who noted that in 2017, only 4% ofbooks received could be categorised asLGBTQI+.

In Friends Under theSummer Sun by AshutoshPathak and Kanak Shashi(Pratham Books), Nimmyvisits her neighbour ShriAkka to bake a cake. She’sfascinated by Akka’scollection of sequinedsandals and beautifullypainted nails, before fi��nallyasking ‘Are you a boy or agirl?’

Raina Telgemeier’s Drama(Scholastic) is a comingofage graphic novelabout seventh grader andtheatre lover Callie whoseclose friends, twinbrothers Jesse and Justin,come out as gay.

Where do you begin?

Book covers of GuthliHas Wings and I Wantto Ride a Motorbike,(right) MaulikPancholy, and (below)Shals Mahajan

* SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

her identity, Guthli goes into a shell.LGBTQI+ characters in children’s

books often struggle to fi��nd acceptance.But a lack of support isn’t a problem forRahul Kapoor, the protagonist of TheBest At It (HarperCollins, 2020) writtenby Indian American actor and activistMaulik Pancholy. The new middle gradenovel traces 12yearold Rahul’s searchfor something that he’s the best at, whiletrying to grapple with OCD, racism andmaking sense of his feelings for hisneighbour, Justin. What really stood outfor me in the book is how Rahul’s bestfriend, parents and grandfather accepthim fully for who he is.

“In middle grade books, there’s thisidea of aspiration or, what I like to call,realistic possibility. I wanted to showthat an Indian family could be supportive of a kid who is LGBTQI+. Rahul’s parents and grandfather are more concerned about how they can support himand when he’ll be ready to talk aboutthis,” Pancholy told me over a Zoom call.Pancholy says that representation helps,and that we need more of it to validateLGBTQI+ kids’ own experiences.

Writer and fi��lmmaker Aarthi Parthasarathy recalls the “lack of diversity ofhow girls could be” in the books she readas a child. In her book I Want to Ride aMotorbike (Pratham Books), 14yearoldDia desperately wants to learn how toride a motorbike but keeps hearing thatit’s not something that girls do. Helpcomes from her Anitha Chithi who liveswith Farah Aunty in Bombay. While notovertly stated, one can tell from the illustrations that the women are a couple,subtly reinforcing the normalcy of samesex relationships.

The recent Delhi High Court ruling rejecting three applications for the legalisation of samesex marriage in India showsthat we have a long way to go in respecting the LGBTQI+ community’s right tochoose. Over the years, I’ve had so manyconversations about parenting with ‘liberal’ parents who say things like, ‘I’mokay with whatever my child wants inlife... as long as they’re not gay, youknow?’

On the other hand, the children I’vespoken to are far more open. Until theirparents pass their prejudices on to them.The books here are for children, butreally, it’s the grownups who shouldprobably read them fi��rst.

Menaka Raman is a children’s bookauthor (Loki Takes Guard) andcolumnist.

Early reader recommendations thatcould teach children and remindparents about the importance of

acceptance

Julián Is a Mermaid(Penguin Random House)by Jessica Love tells thestory of a boy who wantsto become a mermaidand participate in theConey Island MermaidParade.

Mahajan feels that while English language children’s books in India are moving towards more representation, theworld that these books are set in remainlargely normative. “They are usually hetero, upper class and caste familieswhere men and women play fairly gendered roles. In that world we have thisone person or character who doesn’t fi��tin or is diff��erent. And that is a problem.Because this is a false kind of inclusivity,”they said, adding that access to books —in terms of language and reach — is also aproblem. “More often than not it is urban, middle class children who have theopportunity to read many of thesebooks.”

Publishers like Pratham Books arecognizant of this gap and are trying tobridge it. By digitising their content, andopenly licensing it on their StoryWeaverplatform, they off��er thousands of freestorybooks in hundreds of languageswhich can be read across devices. “Translation tools also help customise thebooks for localised requirements, pioneering a new publishing model thattransfers agency to the user,” adds PurviShah, director, StoryWeaver.

Stop the prejudiceThe numbers may still be small, but thebooks are there if you’re looking forthem.

In Guthli Has Wings by Kanak Shashi(Tulika Books, 2019), Guthli is a happychild who loves fairies, cycling anddrawing. But when she wears her sister’sfrock for Diwali, Guthli’s mother tellsher, ‘Boys are not fairies, they are princes,’ and forces her to change her clothes.Denied

Gender

fl��uidityand

children’sbooks

Menaka Raman

After a year of online classes and kids glued to screens of variouskinds, give digital fatigue the boot this summer holidays. Introduceyour children to podcasts.

Parents who are dipping their toes into this auditory world for thefi��rst time, don’t worry. As Kitty Felde, awardwinning journalist andhost of Book Club for Kids, suggests, try a ‘podcast tasting’. “Listen toone episode every night from a diff��erent podcast [and] see which oneyour child likes. Which one do you like? Make a date to listen together:in the car, at bedtime, while walking the dog together. That podcastcan be a jumping off�� place for a longer discussion between you andyour child about topics you never even imagined.”

Here is a list to get you started:

For 10 to 13 years

1) Veergatha

Baalgatha, a mix of contemporarytales and stories from thePanchatantra, Jataka andHitopadesha may be the most wellknown from Gaathastory’s bouquetof podcasts, but its selection forpreteens is picking up too.“Veergatha honours the NationalBravery Award winners and otherswho have done courageous deeds”,says Bengalurubased AmarDeshpande, who started the platformwith his wife Mrunal. What iscommon to all the content is theirintention that “every story shouldhave a moral” and an India connect.“We have a library of about 4,000curated stories that we rewrite andedit, and correlate to topical events,”he says, adding that the aim is toeducate while bringing in diff��erentelements.New seasons of all their podcasts outthis month.

2) Newsy Jacuzzi

How do you tell yourchild what’s going on inthe world? Should youeven? Well, it is not toobad when a kid explainsthings. New DelhibasedLeela SivasankarPrickitt, 8, with a littlehelp from her mother,Lyndee, discusseseverything from planespowered by ‘water’ toless kidfriendly topicssuch as Black LivesMatter. What makes itfun are the sound eff��ects(honking cars andplanes taking off�� )accompanying eachbulletin. Listening toother young newscorrespondents fromacross the world is anadded perk.

3) Radiolab for Kids

A curated collectionfrom the archives ofRadiolab, a Peabodywinning show createdin 2002 by LebaneseAmerican radio hostand producer JadAbumrad, Radiolab forKids comprises familyfriendly content. If yourchild has ever askedyou, ‘What do dogs seewhen they look at therainbow?’, this is whereyou will fi��nd theanswer.

13 to 16 years

1) Mission ISRO

How did India’s space programme start?Who were the people who were dreaming

of missions to space and even an Indian onthe Moon, in a country that was barely 10

years into Independence? Narrated by theinimitable Harsha Bhogle (who jumped at

the chance to work on something to dowith his other love: science), the 12episode

Mission ISRO is equal parts history lessonand thrill ride and has already won much

acclaim on Twitter, including by comedianDanish Sait. Created by All Things Small,

cofounder and COO Gaurav Vaz, says: “Werealised India's foray into space hasn't really

been chronicled. There is no single placeyou can go and fi��nd all of this data. It's only

in various people's minds from their livedexperience. We saw the opportunity that

Mission ISRO could be the comprehensivestory of Indians [in] space.” While saying

the English may be a little harder for reallyyoung children, Vaz adds, “But the minuteyou are being taught science and history inschool, I think you can consume a podcast

like this. Right from middle schoolonwards. You're taught about India's

freedom fi��ght, about the British rule, aboutthe sun and moon and solar system and

astronomy. This intersects the two. There'sno real reason why it's only for older kids.”A second season is currently in the works.

2) Geek Fruit

Is your mind palace full of pop culturetrivia? Then this is probably the podcast

for you. Join Jishnu, Dinkar and Tejas,three fans from Mumbai started Geek

Fruit in 2015 with the idea of building acommunity of geeks. While the very fi��rst

topic was Star War, over the course of340 episodes, everything from the boy

reporter Tintin, British panel shows likeWould I Lie To You? and dystopian scifi��series Black Mirror to Harry Potter and

the Cursed Child, Hayao Miyazaki’s fi��lms,The Avengers: Infi��nity War, and Jim

Carrey’s movies in the 90s have beentalked about.

3) Dear Hank and John

Listen in as the Green brothers authors and YouTubers John (of The Fault inOur Stars fame) and Hank banter [the vibe is high energy and fun], and

off��er humorous, dubious and even heartfelt advice in response to questionsfrom listeners such as ‘’Why do things burn when not coming into the

atmosphere but not when leaving?’ and ‘Does milk expire when it’s inside acow? Episodes end with the news from planet Mars and AFC Wimbledon, the

English football club John sponsors.

Hooked at

fi��rst listen

A summer playlist that includes folk tales,India’s space programme, and the story ofthe tadum sound that introduces Netfl��ix

Podcasts for kids

Aparna Narrain

I was a wee lad when I had my fi��rstChinese meal in Delhi. It was at Ginzain Connaught Place. Your childhoodfood memories mould your tastes, nomatter how many cuisines and fl��avours you try out as you grow older.That explains why Chinjabi — a mix ofChinese and Punjabi — continues toenthral me.

I was in a nostalgic mood last week,as it was Holi and we were cooped upinside. I thought back to the old Chinese restaurants we used to frequenton festive occasions. The yearning forsome oldfashioned Delhistyle Chinese food — doused with a generousdollop of soya sauce — grew. I wentlooking for a suitable Chinese eaterythat I had not tried out before.

The result was a place called Noodle Bowl, a popular chain withbranches everywhere. I looked upSwiggy, and found that the menu included pork, which many restaurantssadly do not serve any more.

After a brief discussion at home,we decided on Chong do chicken(₹��359), fi��ve spice lamb (₹��479), crispypork pepper salt (₹��379), vegetablespring roll (₹��109), chicken momos(₹��109 for four), vegetable fried rice(₹��189) and half a plate of vegetablenoodles (₹��119).

First the bad news: The dishesmore or less looked the same. Nowthe good news: They, however, hadtheir own characteristic fl��avours, and

quite a nice taste. The pork was crunchy, had an aftertaste of pepper, andwas a good appetiser. Both the lamband the chicken dishes did come in asoya dressing, but I enjoyed them.The lamb was tender and the sauce,cooked with onion, ginger and capsicum, nicely tangy.

What was really nice was the chicken: pieces of chicken breast withspring onions, red and yellow pepper,black mushroom, Chinese cabbageand lemon juice. The sauce was mildly sweet, possibly because of the peppers, and I really enjoyed that. Thecrunchy veggies added to the tasteand texture. The chicken pieces weredeliciously squashy and went wellwith the fried rice.

The rice was longgrained, andcame with bits of veggies, and a nicearoma. The noodles, however, werenothing much to write home about,quite like the spring rolls, which weretoo hard. The dim sums got a B fromus — neither very good, nor too bad.

Noodle Bowl is value for money,and the portions are generous. Fourof us had this meal, and there wasenough left over for lunch and half adinner the next day,

I am not all that fond of Chinesedessert, so I ended with two kinds ofgujiyas (it was around Holi, after all).One was from Hira Sweets, with a fi��lling of thickened milk and khoya. Thesecond from Pitara was a soft gujiya,with a fi��lling of stewed apples, walnutand jaggery. It was delicious, andhealthy to boot.

Holi turned out to be quite nice after all. It wasn’t the festival of colours,but certainly one of fl��avours.

The writer is a seasoned food critic

Festival ofFLAVOURS

Rahul Verma

Chong do chicken * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

FOOD SPOT

Since it wasn’t safe tostep out and mingle,

ordering in someChinjabi from Noodle

Bowl seemed the only option

“In middle grade books, there’s this idea of

aspiration or, what I like to call, realistic

possibility. I wanted to show that an Indian

family could be supportive of a kid who is

LGBTQI+“ - MAULIK PANCHOLY

CMYK

A ND-NDE

WORLDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI


The U.S. and Iran said on Friday that they would beginnegotiations through intermediaries next week to try toget both countries back intoan accord limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, nearlythree years after PresidentDonald Trump pulled theU.S. out of the deal.

The announcementmarked the fi��rst major progress in eff��orts to return bothcountries to the 2015 accord,which bound Iran to restrictions on its nuclear programmes in return for relieffrom U.S. and internationalsanctions. President Joe Biden came into offi��ce sayingthat getting back into the accord was a priority. But Iranand the U.S. have disagreedover Iran's demands thatsanctions be lifted fi��rst, andthe stalemate threatened tobecome an early foreign policy setback for the Bidenadministration.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price called theresumption of negotiations,

scheduled for Tuesday inVienna, “a healthy step forward”. But Mr. Price added:“These remain early days,and we don’t anticipate animmediate breakthrough asthere will be diffi��cult discussions ahead.”

Mr. Trump pulled the U.S.out of the accord in 2018,opting for a “maximum pressure” campaign of steppedup U.S. sanctions and othertough actions. Iran responded by intensifying its enrichment of uranium and building of centrifuges, while

maintaining its insistencethat its nuclear developmentwas for civilian and not military purposes. Iran’s movesincreased pressure on majorworld powers over theTrump administration'ssanctions and raised tensions among U.S. allies andstrategic partners in WestAsia. Agreement on the startof indirect talks came afterthe EU helped broker a virtual meeting of offi��cials fromBritain, China, France, Germany, Russia and Iran,which have remained in the

accord, known as the JointComprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA).

Mr. Price said next week'stalks will be structuredaround working groups thatthe EU was forming with theremaining participants in theaccord, including Iran.

Primary issue “The primary issues that willbe discussed are the nuclearsteps that Iran would need totake in order to return tocompliance with the termsof the JCPOA, and the sanctions relief steps that the U.S.would need to take in orderto return to compliance aswell,” Mr. Price said.

The U.S., like Iran, said itdid not anticipate directtalks between the U.S. andIran now. Mr. Price said theU.S. remains open to thatidea, however.

In a tweet, Iranian ForeignMinister Javad Zarif said theaim of the Vienna sessionwould be to “rapidly fi��nalizesanctionlifting & nuclearmeasures for choreographedremoval of all sanctions, fol

lowed by Iran ceasing remedial measures.”

Iranian state television quoted Abbas Araghchi, Iran’snuclear negotiator at the virtual meeting, as saying during Friday’s discussions thatany “return by the U.S. to thenuclear deal does not require any negotiation andthe path is quite clear”.

“The U.S. can return tothe deal and stop breachingthe law in the same way itwithdrew from the deal andimposed illegal sanctions onIran,” Mr. Araghchi was quoted as as saying.

Russia's Ambassador to international organisations inVienna, Mikhail Ulyanov,said “the impression is thatwe are on the right track, butthe way ahead will not be easy and will require intensiveeff��orts. The stakeholdersseem to be ready for that”.

Any return of the UnitedStates would involve complications. Iran has said beforeit resumes compliance withthe deal, the U.S. needs to return to its own obligations bydropping the sanctions.

U.S., Iran agree to indirect nuclear talksAnnouncement marks the fi��rst major progress in eff��orts to return both countries to the 2015 accord

Associated Press

Brussels

Talks resume: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi,centre, during a virtual meeting of the JCPOA in Tehran. * AFP

At least 50 people werekilled in Taiwan on Fridaywhen a packed train collidedwith a vehicle on the tracksand then derailed inside atunnel, in the island’s worstrailway accident in decades.

Offi��cials said the devastating collision was caused by arailway maintenance vehiclewhich slipped down an embankment above the tracksnear the eastern coastal cityof Hualien.

“(The driver) was suspected of not pulling the parkingbrake tight enough so thevehicle slid 20 meters... ontothe train line,” Feng Huisheng, deputy director ofTaiwan Railways Authority,told reporters.

Local media images fromthe scene showed the backof a yellow fl��atbed truck onits side next to the train justa few metres from the tunnelentrance.

The eightcarriage train

was packed with some 480people heading down theeast coast for the annualTomb Sweeping Festival, afourday public holiday.

The Taiwan RailwaysAgency said 146 passengerswere sent to hospital in addition to the 50 confi��rmeddead.

A French national wasamong those killed whiletwo Japanese and one Macau resident were injured.

One unnamed female sur

vivor told TVBS news channel of trapped passengers —some crying out for help,others unconscious.

President Tsai Ingwen visited an emergency response centre in the capitalTaipei, and said investigators would get to the bottomof how such a deadly crashcould have occurred.

“We will defi��nitely clarifythe cause of the incident thathas caused major casualties,” she told reporters.

It collided with a vehicle on tracks; 146 hospitalised

Agence France-Presse

Hualien

Fatal crash: Rescue personnel helping stranded passengersdown the roof of the train in Hualien, Taiwan. * VIA REUTERS

At least 50 dead after trainderails in Taiwan tunnel

U.S. President Joe Biden affi��rmed his “unwavering support” for Ukraine in a call toPresident Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday after Kiev accused Moscow of building upmilitary forces on its border.

The call, which was Mr. Biden’s fi��rst conversation withMr. Zelensky since the USleader’s inauguration in January, came after Russiawarned the West earlier Friday against sending troops toUkraine to buttress its ally.

It also came as tensions

between the U.S. and Russiahave hit rock bottom afterMr. Biden last month infuriated Moscow by agreeingwith a description of his Russian counterpart VladimirPutin as a “killer”.

The White House said in astatement that Mr. Biden “affi��rmed the U.S.’ unwaveringsupport for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’songoing aggression”.

Mr. Zelensky, who thisweek accused Russia ofamassing troops on Ukraine’s border, said in a vi

deo released by his offi��cethat “President Biden assured me that Ukraine willnever be left alone againstRussian aggression.”

Tensions raisedWeeks of renewed frontlineclashes have shredded a ceasefi��re and raised fears of anescalation of the simmeringconfl��ict in eastern Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters onFriday, Kremlin spokesmanDmitry Peskov said Russiawould be forced to respondif the U.S. sent troops.

“There is no doubt such a

scenario would lead to afurther increase in tensionsclose to Russia’s borders. Ofcourse, this would call foradditional measures fromthe Russian side to ensure itssecurity,” Mr. Peskov said.

He declined to specifywhich measures would beadopted, while insisting thatRussia was not makingmoves to threaten Ukraine.“Russia is not threateninganyone, it has never threatened anyone,” he said.

On Friday, Russia said itsarmed forces would holdmilitary exercises close to

Ukraine’s border to practisedefence against attackdrones.

More than 50 battalioncombat teams comprising15,000 people will take partin those , the military toldreporters.

Kiev has been battlingproRussian separatists inthe eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions since 2014, following Moscow’s annexationof the Crimean peninsula after an uprising that oustedUkraine’s Kremlinfriendlypresident ViktorYanukovych.

Biden vows support to Kiev after Russian buildupHis call to President Zelensky came after Kremlin warned the West against sending troops to Ukraine Agence France-Presse

Moscow

Tunisian authorities said afemale suicide bomberkilled herself and her babyduring counterterrorismoperations in mountains ofcentral Tunisia.

Two other Islamic extremists were killed in the security operations, according to an Interior Ministrystatement on Thursdaynight.

In one operation, Tunisian forces were tracking anextremist group in theMount Salloum area of Kas

serine province. They killedone suspected jihadist,whose wife then killed herself by activating an explosive belt, the statement said.The explosion killed her baby in her arms, while an older daughter also at thescene survived, according tothe Ministry.

In a second operation, inthe Mount Mghila area, security forces killed a suspected leader of Jund Al Khilafa brigade, the statementsaid. The brigade haspledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

‘Extremist’ kills self, babyin Tunisia suicide attackAssociated Press

Tunis

Japanese PM to holdtalks with Biden in U.S.TOKYO

Japanese Prime Minister

Yoshihide Suga will visit

Washington for talks with

President Joe Biden on April

16, the government said on

Friday. Chief Cabinet

Secretary Katsunobu Kato

told reporters that Mr. Suga

will be the first foreign leader

to meet Mr. Biden in person

since he took office in

January. AP

ELSEWHERE

Opponents of military rulein Myanmar marched andlaid bouquets of fl��owers onFriday while trying to fi��ndalternative ways to organisetheir campaign of dissent after the authorities cut off��most users from theInternet.

Protests have taken placealmost daily since the military overthrew the electedgovernment of Aung SanSuu Kyi on February 1. Hundreds of civilians have beenkilled in a crackdown by security forces that has drawninternationalcondemnation.

On Friday, security forcesopened fi��re at a rally nearMyanmar’s second city Mandalay, wounding four people, two critically, accordingto three domestic mediaorganisations.

The authorities, who had

already shut down mobiledata in a bid to stifl��e the opposition to the ruling junta,ordered Internet providersfrom Friday to cut wirelessbroadband, depriving mostcustomers of access.

In response, prodemocracy groups shared radiofrequencies, offl��ine appsthat work without a dataconnection, and tips for using SMS messages as an alternative to data services.

“In the following days,there are street protests. Doas many guerrilla strikes asyou can. Please join,” KhinSadar, a protest leader, saidon Facebook in anticipationof the Internet blackout, referring to quick protests inunexpected places thatbreak up when the securityforces appear. “Let’s listento the radio again. Let’smake phone calls to eachother too.”

Myanmar junta shuts down InternetProdemocracy groups vow to use radio, SMS messages to keep up the protests

Buddhist novices giving the threefi��nger salute to protestersmarching in Dooplaya, Myanmar, on Friday. * AFP/KNU DOO PLA

Reuters

Yangon

Pakistan deployed paramilitary troops early on Fridayto a shrine closed due tocoronavirus restrictions,after hundreds of pilgrimstrying to get in clashedwith the police.

Police said the pilgrimsbroke open the main gateof the the shrine of LalShahbaz Qalandar, a 13thcentury mystic Sufi�� saint,located in the town of Sehwan in the southern Sindhprovince.

The crowds attackedpolice and threw stones onThursday night, policesaid. Several policemensuff��ered minor injuries andinvestigations are ongoing.

Shrines in Pakistan wereclosed recently as part ofmeasures to help stem thespread of coronavirus.

Pilgrims clashwith police atPak. shrine

Associated Press

Karachi

Myanmar’s junta facedfresh criticism on Fridayover the deaths of morethan 40 children and the“forced disappearance” ofhundreds of people in itscrackdown on prodemocracy protests.

Violence has ramped upin recent weeks, with Savethe Children saying thedeath toll of youngstershad more than doubled inthe past 12 days. “We areshocked that children continue to be among the targets of these fatal attacks,despite repeated calls toprotect children,” the charity said in a statement.

Militaryslammed forchild deaths


Yangon

A car rammed into two police offi��cers at a barricadeoutside the U.S. Capitol onFriday, and the driver gotout of the vehicle while appearing to brandish a knifebefore being shot by authorities, two law enforcementoffi��cials said.

The U.S. Capitol complexwas placed on lockdown after the shooting.

The driver has died afterbeing shot by authorities,sources told AP.

The crash and shootinghappened at a securitycheckpoint near the Capitolas Congress is on recess. Itcomes as the Washington region remains on edge nearlythree months after a mob of

armed insurrectionistsstormed the Capitol as Congress was voting to certifyJoe Biden’s presidential win.

Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of U.S. Capitol Police, said the suspectrammed a barricade near

the U.S. Capitol, and thenexited the vehicle with aknife and lunged at the offi��cers. The suspect was shotand died at the hospital.“One of our offi��cers has succumbed to his injuries,” shetold a news conference.

U.S. Capitol under lockdownafter car rams into 2 offi��cialsDriver shot dead; police offi��cer succumbs to injuries

ASSociated Press

Washington

Security threat: Police offi��cers near the car that crashed intotwo offi��cers, near a barrier on Capitol Hill in Washington. * AP

CMYK

A ND-NDE

BUSINESSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU


Amid tensions with SaudiArabia over oil productioncuts, India has asked its staterefi��ners to review contractsfor buying crude oil from theWest Asian nation and negotiate more favourable terms,a top offi��cial said.

Keen to break the producers’ cartel dictating pricingand contractual terms, thegovernment has told IndianOil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation(BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) tolook for supplies from outside the region and use collective bargaining power toget favourable terms.

India imports 85% of its oilneeds and is often vulnerable to global supply andprice shocks. When oil prices started to rise in February,

it wanted Saudi Arabia to relax output controls but theKindgom ignored its calls.This has led to the government now pressing for diversifi��cation of the supply base.

“Traditionally, Saudi Arabia and other OPEC producers have been our mainstaysuppliers of crude oil,” theoffi��cial with direct knowledge of the discussions said.“But their terms have oftenbeen loaded against thebuyer,” the offi��cial added.

Indian fi��rms buy twothirds of their purchases onterm or fi��xed annual contracts. These contracts provide assured supplies of thecontracted quantity but thepricing and other terms favour the supplier, he said.

“While buyers have anobligation to lift all of thecontracted quantity, Saudiand other producers have

the option to reduce suppliesin case OPEC decides to keepproduction artifi��cially lowerto boost prices. Why shouldthe consumer have to pay fordecisions of OPEC? If wecommit to off��take, they

should also supply no matterwhat,” he said.

More importantly, thebuyer has to indicate at leastsix weeks in advance of theirintention to lift quantity outof the annual term contract

in any month and has to payan average offi��cial price announced by the producer.

“In an ideal market, thepricing should be of the daywhen the loading is takingplace. That way we can getthe advantage of any drop ininternational oil rates. Butthat is not the case. They(Saudi and other OPEC suppliers) insist on selling attheir offi��cial selling price only,” the offi��cial said.

Shift to spot marketTo begin with, Indian refi��ners will look to reduce thequantity they buy throughterm contracts and insteadbuy more from the spot orcurrent market.

Buying from the spot market would ensure that Indiacan take advantage of any fallin prices on any day andbook quantities.

“It’s like the stock market.You would want to buyshares on a day or time whenthe prices are low. So is thecase with crude oil — wewould want to buy when wesee there is a drop,” he said.

Indian refi��ners haveraised spot purchases from20% a decade back to 3035%of the total oil bought now.

“We want pricing fl��exibility as well as the certainty ofsupply even during timeswhen production falls due toany reason,” the offi��cial said,adding that the stateownedrefi��neries have been asked tocoordinate buying and alsoexplore joint strategy withprivate refi��ners such as Reliance Industries and NayaraEnergy.

West Asia accounts for60% of oil bought by India.Latin America and Africa arethe other big supplier blocks.

Govt. asks PSU refi��ners to review Saudi oil deals Move comes in the wake of the West Asian nation ignoring India’s calls to relax output curbs when prices started climbing


New Delhi

Uneven ride: Term contracts provide assured supplies butpricing terms favour the supplier, says an offi��cial. * REUTERS

Steel Authority of India Ltd.(SAIL) clocked its besteverquarterly sales at 4.27 million tonnes (MT) during theMarch quarter of the last fi��scal year, up 14% from theyearearlier period.

The domestic steel giant’scrude steel production, too,increased by 6% during thequarter to 4.55 MT.

“(SAIL), the MaharatnaPSU, has recorded its bestever quarterly performancein both production andsales during Q4 FY’21,” thecompany said. About annual fi��gures, the companysaid despite the volatility inthe market during the year,determined eff��orts by the

company to improve its volumes saw it clock its bestever annual sales at 14.87 MT, agrowth of 4.4% over 14.23MT during FY20,” it said.

SAIL chief Soma Mondalsaid, “[a] multiprongedstrategy has helped us topthe performances duringthe month, quarter as wellas the year.”

SAIL clocks ‘bestever’quarterly sales of 4.27 MTFirm’s crude steel output rises 6%

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI Eicher Motors Ltd., themakers of Royal Enfi��eldmotorbikes, has reported asales volume of 60,173 units in March this year.

In a statement, the company said this was not comparable with March 2020fi��gures on account of COVID19 and associated lockdown. Exports stood at5,885 units.

The company, meanwhile, reported a 12% dipin its FY21 sales to 6.12 lakhunits. Exports contracted2% to 38,622 units.

During March, sales volume for bikes with an engine capacity of up to350cc contracted 10% to5.58 lakh units.

Royal Enfi��eldsells 60,173bikes in March


CHENNAI

Franklin Templeton MutualFund on Friday said its commitment to India remains‘steadfast’ and the fundhouse has no plans to exit itsoperations in the country.

This comes following media reports suggesting intervention by the fund house’sU.S.headquartered parentseeking the diplomatic routefor a “just and fair” hearingby market regulator SEBI inthe investigation pertainingto six woundup debtschemes. According to thereports, Franklin Templetonhad threatened to exit Indiaif it was not given a fair hear

ing. In a letter to investors,Franklin Templeton AssetManagement (India) Pvt.Ltd. president Sanjay Sapresaid, “We have no plans toexit our India business. Anyspeculation suggesting otherwise, or any rumours

around sale of business inIndia are incorrect andsimply that — rumours”. Hesaid Franklin Templeton wasan early entrant in the Indian mutual fund industryand stayed put even whilemany other global assetmanagers decided to leave.

He, however, did not deny reports of engaging withgovernment authorities.

“Our engagement with government authorities, in India and globally, is also something we... do, as a matterof course.” The intention inreaching out remains bringing current matters to an appropriate and satisfactoryconclusion, he said.

No plans to exit India, saysFranklin Templeton’s Sapre‘Parent fi��rm sought diplomatic route for fair hearing’


NEW DELHI

Sanjay Sapre

Reliance Retail Ventures,the retail arm of Reliance Industries, has extended thetimeline by six months tocomplete its ₹��24,713 croredeal with Kishore BiyaniledFuture group to buy its retailand wholesale business.

Reliance Retail VenturesLtd. (RRVL) has extendedthe ‘Long Stop Date’ fromMarch 31 to September 30,of this year, Future Retailsaid a regulatory fi��ling.

“RRVL has... extendedthe timeline for ‘Long StopDate’ from March 31, 2021 toSeptember 30, 2021 whichhas been duly acknowledged by Reliance Retailand Fashion Lifestyle Limited, whollyowned subsidiary of RRVL,” it said.

The deal, contested by

Amazon, is facing legal hurdles and a decision from theSupreme Court is pendingover the petition fi��led by theecommerce major.

The FutureReliancedeal, announced on August29, 2020, has already received clearance from theCCI, SEBI and the bourses,and the scheme of arrangement is now awaiting a nodfrom the NCLT andshareholders.

Reliance Retail extendsdeadline for Future dealRIL sets Sept. target to complete buy


NEW DELHI

The United Nations has de-clared 2023 as the Interna-tional Year of Millets. Indiais fast catching up with thewestern world in millet con-sumption, said N. Muru-gan, CEO, Southern HealthFoods, makers of the Mannabrand of foods. Excerpts:

Milletbased products are

fast gaining acceptance in

the West. How is the scenario

in India?

■ India, Nigeria and Chinaare the largest producers ofmillets in the world, accounting for more than 55%of the global production. Formany years, India was a major producer of millets.

However, in recent years,millet production has increased dramatically in Africa. In India, pearl millet isthe fourthmost widely cultivated food crop after rice,wheat and maize. It occupies an area of 6.93 millionhectare with an average production of 8.61 milliontonnes and productivity of1,243 kg/ha during 201819.

Why is India slow in

adopting milletbased

products?

■ Millets are available almost across India. Theyneed very little water forgrowing.

The awareness of the benefi��ts of millets is still lowand this is the reason forlesser number of playersworking on valueadded millet products in India.

However, we see this increasing in the coming yearsas many States will start supporting millet cultivationboth on account of the benefi��ts and the fact that theyneed less water.

So, we see a slow expansion of milletbased products inthe next few yearsand a big explosion

in these products after that.

Why are many fi��rms not

keen on entering this sector?

■ There are only a handfulof players in the brandedand/or in the organised sector at the moment. However,it is going to change in thenext 12 to 24 months.

How does Southern Health

Foods fi��t into this?

■ We want to make manyfoods and beverages morenutritious for consumersthrough millets and multigrains. Most of our productshave a high percentage ofmillets in them.

In a country such as Indiawhere there is a high incidence of diabetes, millets,being complex carbohydrates with low GI [glycemicindex], are indeed wondergrains and [hence] we see ahuge relevance in shiftingconsumers to millets andmilletbased products.

We will communicate thesame to consumers throughthe media.

We want to be one of thepioneers in leading thecountry’s millet revolutionthat, we are

sure, will happen soon.

Your growth strategy?

■ Ours is a food and beverage company that wants tomake consumers healthierby increasing the nutritioncontent in food intake.

Apart from having healthproducts, the company islooking to expand its portfolio through relevant innovations in the healthfoodspace. Products under Manna, our MadeinIndiabrand, are also exported tocountries around the world.

We will keep researchingand formulating new milletbased food products thatwill help in improving thenutrition quotient of whatconsumers eat everyday.

So, innovation, consumerawareness and engagementare the cornerstones of thestrategy. Our aim is to introduce at least one new product every quarter.

What is your target for the

next two years?

■ Our goal is to improve theshare of millet and milletbased valueadded productsin our portfolio from thepresent 60% to 80%, doublethe number of products anddistribution channels andincrease distributors by30%. The share of ecommerce is about 8% and this isset to increase.

On the pandemic’s impact

on your operations...?

■ Our sales did not drop as8090% of our volume camethrough sales of healthmixproducts. Currently, we operate our units at 70% to80% of capacity in a singleshift and this will increasewith an increase in demand.

The lower demand alsomeans limited supply andhigher prices. This will

change as more consumers start trying out millets and valueadd millet products.

INTERVIEW | N. MURUGAN

‘Milletbased products set togain increasing acceptance’Our goal is to boost nutrition: Southern Health Foods CEO

N. Anand

<> Given the high

incidence of

diabetes, millets are

wonder grains with

their low GI

ABT Ltd., one of south India’s larger corporate houses with a revenue of $1.4billion, has forayed intoMumbai and Pune with‘Mirakle’ — a vitamin Cdrink that it claimed canboost the immunity levelsof consumers.

The health drink is approved by the Food Safetyand Standards Authority ofIndia, said the company.

“The drink is infusedwith 1,000 mg of vitamin Cwhich is known for enhancing resistance to various diseases,” said Manickam Mahalingam, CMD.

“Given the viral infections, Mumbai is a verypromising market and wehope to gradually strengthen our footprint acrossthe country,” he added.

ABT steps intoMumbai withhealth drink

Lalatendu Mishra

MUMBAI

Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund on Friday said itssix shut schemes have received ₹��15,776 crore frommaturities, prepaymentsand coupon paymentssince closing down inApril, 2020.

The fund house shut sixdebt mutual fund schemeson April 23, citing redemption pressures and lack ofliquidity in the bond market. The schemes togetherhad an estimated ₹��25,000crore as assets under management (AUM).

It said that the net assetvalue of all the six schemeswere higher as on March31, visavis their respectiveNAVs on April 23, 2020.

Franklin Templeton MFsaid its primary focus hasbeen, and remains on returning money to unit holders as quickly as possible.

FT MF’s 6 shutschemes get₹��15,776 crore


NEW DELHI

The government has pushedback deadlines for coalfi��redpower plants to adopt newemission norms by up tothree years, and allowedutilities that miss the newtarget to continue operatingafter paying a penalty, according to a notice.

India had initially set a2017 deadline for thermalpower plants to install FlueGas Desulphurization (FGD)units that cut emissions ofsulphur dioxides. But thatwas postponed to varyingdeadlines for diff��erent regions, ending in 2022.

The new order datedApril 1 from the environment Ministry said plants

near populous regions andthe capital New Delhi willhave to comply by 2022,while utilities in less polluting areas have up to 2025 tocomply or retire units.

Operators of coalfi��redutilities have long been lobbying for dilution of the pollution standards, citing highcompliance costs.

A task force will be constituted by the Central Pollution Control Board to categorise plants in threecategories “on the basis oftheir location to complywith the emission norms”,the Ministry said in its order.In case of noncompliance,a penalty of up to ₹��0.20 willbe levied for every unit ofelectricity produced.

Emission rules: coalfi��redunits get 3 more yearsPlants missing goal can pay fi��ne to run

Reuters

Chennai

CMYK

A ND-NDE

SPORTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI


SUDOKU

Solution to puzzle 13211 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Srutis and the sastras exist to aid the entire world and thebeings in it. They teach us to attain the highest goal, that is,release from samsara. Spiritual tradition holds the Vedas asthe greatest sastra and their supremacy and authority reston the fact that they are ‘apaurusheya,’ meaning they arenot created by any being and are hence faultless. They arealso looked upon as the only valid means of arriving at thehighest truth and this truth is knowledge of God.

Sastra study thus leads all beings towards the ultimategoal of liberation by showing them the path which is meditating on God who is shown to be the sole cause of this entireuniverse, pointed out Sri Padmanabhachariar in a discourse. In this regard, the practice of the acharyas in theVaishnava tradition since the time of Nathamuni, Alavandar,Ramanuja, Vedanta Desika and others in the lineage is to explain the sutras on Jagat srishti by drawing from the Srutiswhich deal with this idea. They also derive the rich hiddenmeanings in the Srutis by referring to the hymns of Azhwars.Azhwars are held to be incarnations of the Nityasuris andhence endowed with divine knowledge.

The Divya Prabandha hymns are hailed as the Tamil Vedas and are known as ‘Dravida Veda Sara.’ Nammazhwar’sTiruvaimozhi hymns, especially the fi��rst 21 hymns, convincingly establish the Paratva of Narayana without any trace ofdoubt. In the very fi��rst verse, obeisance is off��ered to theHighest Eternal Truth who is higher than the highest. Healone can grant jnana and bhakti that can remove the ignorance. He is by nature the satchitananda swaroopa. He isthe Lord of the Nityasuris and other celestial beings andAzhwar exhorts his mind to seek His feet that are sure toconfer eternal freedom from sorrow.

FAITH

The cause of Srishti + 13212(set by Afterdark)

Never go off�� the grid.

We are digital now. Come solve online!

@ https://qrgo.page.link/jjpTn

■ ACROSS

1 Like to keep track of escalations (7)

5 Escaped emptiness after a meeting with journalist (7)

9 Auditor’s treat at open air restaurant (9)

10 Operated front door with electronic key (5)

11 In Delhi & Kerala, it’s enough rice (7)

12 Toilets are shabby? It's an understatement (7)

13 Managed company diversity (5)

15 Illiterate crowd in an university in India on Sunday (9)

17 Teammate in company joins liberal association (9)

19 Thin membranes leading to anemia without drug administration (5)

21 Maintenance of any limo could be difficult (7)

23 Eager or wary? Source of joy is absent, sleep instead (7)

25 Exhausted mate, not new (5)

26 Leaders like Hitler are too drastic, leave nothing and destroy (9)

27 Bird embarrassed dog (7)

28 Repeats last scene at censor in a loop (7)

■ DOWN

1 Mysterious obstacle in making a construction implement on chimney

(4,3)

2 Copper grabs two fellows at school and clobbers (5)

3 Unusual stance taken by university on madman (7)

4 Struggling with drizzling being on road (9)

5 Free, but not fi��t for use (5)

6 An elderly person, wounded soldier crossing island taking time (7)

7 Designer found dead on fl��oat, small chap (9)

8 Dislikes having stranger in Delaware streets (7)

14 Cancelled national university leagues? Provided that’s disinfected

primarily (9)

16 Uncontrollable zest in calling a philosopher (9)

17 Having tea with two fellows, about to turn teaser (7)

18 Introductory parts aired in a haste, taking wrong order (7)

19 Old language, best used by God (catholic) (7)

20 First to board ship after a son helps (7)

22 Yell from the sides? Appropriate song and sing (5)

24 Hard to follow old scent (5)

SCAN TO PLAY

The clues 31 Across and 32 Across of The Hindu Crossword 13211 by Incognito regrettably had errors. Visit crossword.thehindu.com to play the updated puzzle!

After narrowly missingout on a playoff�� berth in

two successive seasons,Kolkata Knight Riders hasstrengthened itself in twokey areas ahead of the Indian Premier League’s 14thedition.

The twotime championhas added experience andalso enhanced its options inevery department.

The side has fortifi��ed itself with multidimensionalplayers, hiring four allrounders — Shakib Al Hasan, its ‘lucky charm’ in twotitle wins, Australian BenCutting, old hand PawanNegi and newcomer Venkatesh Iyer — and two wicketkeeperbatsmen — New Zealander Tim Seifert anddomestic stalwart SheldonJackson.

Last season, KKR’s progress was dented to someextent because of the underperformance of SunilNarine and Andre Russell,two vital components in theteam’s makeup.

Shakib and Cutting areseen as alternatives to theCaribbean duo, but someexperimentation cannot beruled out.

Seifert and Jackson areconsidered backups forvicecaptain Dinesh Kar

thik. The recruitment ofHarbhajan Singh — who willplay the dual role of being alead spinner and a mentorto younger colleagues — andexperienced batsman Karun Nair off��ers fl��exibilityand provides cover in caseof injuries and healthissues.

Eoin Morgan, who missed the fi��nal two ODIs

against India after splittinghis webbing, is optimistic ofbeing fi��t to lead KKR fromthe beginning.

Suitable opening partner

Finding a suitable openingpartner for Shubman Gilland additional fi��nishers willbe high on the captain’sagenda.

Gill and Nitish Rana are

important members ofKKR’s batting unit while Rahul Tripathi and RinkuSingh can chip in if required.

KKR will also need to devise ways to improve its PowerPlay scores.

Australian Pat Cumminswill lead the pacers. KiwiLockie Ferguson and abunch of promising Indians

— new international PrasidhKrishna, Shivam Mavi,Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Sandeep Warrier — will be additional sources of fi��repower.

With the diversity of itsspin department — leftarmwrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and mystery spinnerVarun Chakravarthy complement Harbhajan’s off��spin — KKR has the poten

tial to keep the best of batters in check.

The thinktank will bekeen to see Harbhajan, whotrained at his hometown Jalandhar, perform well in thepurple and gold.

England whiteball analyst Nathan Leamon willgive the side an edge, but itmust play positively in order to win its third crown.

Knight Riders bolster armoury, mount campaign for third title The Kolkata side has recruited multidimensional players, added experience and improved its options in all departments in a bid to return to its glory days

IPL COUNTDOWN

Y.B. Sarangi

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

X-factor

B Varun Chakaravarthy: VarunChakaravarthy, whoimpressed last season with abag of 17 wickets (includinga fi��vefor), is a vital memberof the attack. The spinner,known for his variations,will have gained inconfi��dence after beingnamed in the Indian squadfollowing his success. Heshould, however, beprepared for newerchallenges

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Jadeja says meetingDhoni is always exciting

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)allrounder Ravindra Jadejaon Friday shared hispicture with skipper Dhonisaying that whenever hemeets the former Indiacaptain, the level ofexcitement is always thesame. “Whenever I meethim it feels like i m meetinghim for the fi��rst time!StillSame excitement when Imet him in 2009. #bonding#respectforever,” Jadejatweeted.

Warner, Williamson

and Haddin arrive

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)skipper David Warner, KaneWilliamson (in pic) andassistant coach BradHaddin have landed inChennai and will be inquarantine, according tothe protocol. “Just landed,looking forward to gettingout of the seven daysquarantine,” Williamsonsaid on SRH’s Twitter.

No international gamesduring ‘biggest show intown’: Pietersen

The cricket Boards shouldrealise that IPL is the “thebiggest show in town” andno international gameshould be scheduled duringthe course of the T20 event,former England captainKevin Pietersen opined onFriday. “Cricket boardsneed to realise that the@IPL is the biggest show intown. DO NOT scheduleANY international gameswhilst it’s on. V v v simple!,”Pietersen tweeted.

MI’s New Zealand trioreaches Chennai

New Zealand cricketersTrent Boult (in pic), AdamMilne, and Jimmy Neeshamarrived in Chennai onFriday to link up with theMumbai Indians squad.

“National duties to IPLduties. The trio has landedin Chennai! Welcome Trent,Adam, and Jimmy,” MItweeted.

QUICK SINGLES

Sachin Tendulkar was onFriday admitted tohospital as aprecautionary measure sixdays after announcing thathe had coronavirus.

“As a matter ofabundant precautionunder medical advice, Ihave been hospitalised,”Tendulkar said on Twitter.“I hope to be back homein a few days. Take careand stay safe everyone.”

Pakistan legend WasimAkram sent his specialwishes. “Even when youwere 16, you battled theworld’s best bowlers withguts and aplomb... so I am

sure you will hit COVID19for a six!” said Akram.“Recover soon, master!Would be great if youcelebrate India’s WorldCup 2011 anniversary withdoctors and hospitalstaff��... do send me a pic!”

Tendulkar in hospital asprecautionary measureAgence France-Presse

Mumbai

Tendulkar. * FILE PHOTO

Sri Lanka skipper DimuthKarunaratne (75) and hisopening partner Lahiru Thirimanne (39) added 101 asthe visitors, chasing a targetof 377, were 146 for two attea on the last day of the second and fi��nal Test againstthe West Indies on Friday.

Earlier, West Indies haddeclared its second inningsat 280 for four, with KraiggBrathwaite missing out onthe rare feat of centuries inboth innings of a Test whenhe was dismissed for 85.The scores: West Indies 354 &

280/4 decl. (Kraigg Brathwaite85, Kyle Mayers 55, Jason Holder 71 n.o.) vs Sri Lanka 258 &146/2 (Dimuth Karunaratne 75),at tea.

Karunaratne andThirimanne bat wellChasing 377, Sri Lanka 146 for two

SL IN WEST INDIES


North Sound (Antigua & Barbuda)

Karunaratne. * AFP

A century by Babar Azam setup a threewicket lastballwin for Pakistan in the fi��rstODI against South Africa atSuperSport Park on Friday.

Chasing a target of 274,Babar and ImamulHaq (70)put on 177 for the secondwicket, taking the visitors towithin 88 runs of victorywith 18.2 overs left when theformer was caught behindoff�� speedster Anrich Nortje.Babar hit a strokefi��lled 103off�� 104 balls, but his dismissal triggered a collapse asNortje took four wickets infour overs.

Mohammad Rizwan andShadab Khan steadied the

innings with a sixthwicketstand of 53 before both fell.However, Faheem Ashraf hitthe winning run off�� the fi��nalball.

Earlier, Rassie van der

Dussen’s unbeaten 123, hismaiden International century, lifted the hosts to 273 forsix.

South Africa was struggling at 55 for four beforevan der Dussen and DavidMiller (50) revived the innings with a fourthwicketstand of 116.

Van der Dussen, 32, hadbeen dismissed three timesin the 90s — twice in ODIsand once in a Test — sincemaking his debut two seasons ago. However, his eff��ortwas overshadowed by Babarand Pakistan on this day.The scores: South Africa 273/6in 50 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 123 n.o., David Miller 50)lost to Pakistan 274/7 in 50 overs (Babar Azam 103, ImamulHaq 70, Mohammad Rizwan40, Anrich Nortje 4/51).

Babar stars, Pakistan wins off�� fi��nal ball

PAK IN SA

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

CENTURION

Babar Azam... leading the way. * AFP

Skipper’s 103 trumps van der Dussen’s 123 for hosts

Eight groundsmen of theWankhede Stadium wereCOVID19 positive duringthe tests conducted aheadof IPL 2021.

Mumbai is scheduled tohost 10 league games fromApril 10 to 25.

The Hindu understandsthat all the groundstaff�� — 19— underwent RTPCR testsover the last week.

While three returnedpositive during the testsconducted on March 26,fi��ve more positive caseswere reported on Fridayfrom the tests held onApril 1.

EightWankhedegroundsmentest positive

Amol Karhadkar

MUMBAI

CMYK

A ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


SPORT

Serie A: Sony Ten 2 (SD &HD), 4 p.m. onwards; SonySix (SD & HD), 6.30 p.m.Premier League: SS Select 1(SD & HD), 5 p.m. onwards

TV PICKS

Sedate start by Aditi at ANA InspirationRANCHO MIRAGE (USA)

Aditi Ashok made a quiet

start at this year's first Major,

the ANA Inspiration, carding

a oneover 73 to be tied

70th. Aditi is playing an

Indian recordequalling 16th

Major. Thailand's Patty

Tavatanakit was in the lead

with a sixunder 66. PTI

IN BRIEF

Nets Hammer HornetsLOS ANGELES

Jeff Green scored a team

high 21 points as Brooklyn

Nets became the first Eastern

Conference team to win 20

home games this season with

a 11189 rout of Charlotte

Hornets on Thursday. The results: Heat 116 btWarriors 109; Spurs 129 lostto Hawks 134 (OT); Nets 111bt Hornets 89; Clippers 94lost to Nuggets 101; Pelicans110 lost to Magic 115 (OT);Pistons 120 bt Wizards 91;Cavaliers 94 lost to 76ers 114.

CAS to hold Sun Yang’sretrial in MayGENEVA

The retrial of Olympic

swimming champion Sun

Yang will be held by the Court

of Arbitration for Sport during

the week of May 2428 by

video link from Lausanne.

Sun’s initial eightyear ban for

alleged doping violations was

overturned last year. AP

Mexican football coach David Fernandez believes theuntapped talent in Indianeeds to be spotted andtrained in a systematicmanner.

Fernandez, who is hereas part of the World SportsWeek Football Scouts Campthat began on Friday, said,“There is talent in plenty inIndia and it is only a matterof giving them the right kindof training. With nearly 30academies likely to open inthe next three years, andwith UEFA Prolicensedcoaches to show the way, Ihave no doubt India’s performance graph will go up.”

Indo Europe Sports aimsto promote relations between India and Europe besides North America,through football by trainingthe youth.

Football scouts

camp begins Special Correspondent

New Delhi

Karman Kaurin semifinalsMONASTIR (TUNISIA)

Karman Kaur Thandi beat

third seed Mallaurie Noel of

France 61, 26, 61 to reach

the semifinals of the $15,000

ITF women’s tennis

tournament on Friday. In the

semifinals, Karman will play

Anna Kubareva of Belarus.The results (quarterfinals):Karman Kaur Thandi btMallaurie Noel (Fra) 61, 26,61.

G.R. Viswanath was conferred the ‘Lifetime

Achievement Award’ whileSachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni and Mithali Raj were alsohonoured in the 2021 Sport-star Aces Awards on Friday.

“To receive a recognitionof this nature at this stage ofmy life is an unexpected andvery pleasant surprise,” Viswanath said.

Tendulkar shared his ambitions for the sport in thecountry in the years to come.“I hope India moves from being a sportloving nation to asportplaying one. We willhave a younger, healthierand fi��tter India,” said the 47yearold, who was honouredwith the ‘Inspirational Giantof Indian Sport’ award.

India ODI captain Mithalicredited her support staff��and coaches on winning the‘Sportswoman of the Decade’ (Cricket). “ I would liketo acknowledge the contribution of various coaches whohave worked tirelessly towards the growth of mygame and my physios andtrainers who worked veryhard on my fi��tness and injurymanagement,” she said.

The 2011 World Cupwinning Indian team was alsohonoured with the ‘NationalTeam of the Decade’ award,coincidentally on the 10thanniversary of the triumph.

Anantapur Sports Academy won the inaugural Sport-star Aces ‘Sports for SocialGood’ award for its work in

rural Andhra Pradesh usinggrassroot programmes as atool. “We decided to institutethis award to recognise dedicated organisations who areusing sport as a medium ofsocial change to benefi��t ruralyouth. We hope this motivates others to follow their example,” said Malini Parthasarathy, Chairperson, TheHindu Publishing Group.

Top recognition for Viswanath, Tendulkar, Dhoni and Mithali Anantapur Sports Academy wins ‘Sports for Social Good’ award for its work in rural Andhra Pradesh

ACES AWARDS

Sports Bureau

Wristy: G.R. Viswanath playing his trademark squarecut.

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

The second list ofSportstar Aces award winners

B Sportsman of the Decade(Cricket): M.S. Dhoni

B Sportswoman of the Decade(Cricket): Mithali Raj

B National Team of theDecade: 2011 WCwinningIndian men’s cricket team

B Sports for Social Good:Anantapur Sports Academy

B Inspirational Giant of IndianSport: Sachin Tendulkar

B Lifetime AchievementAward: G.R. Viswanath

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Viswanath with the trophy. Mithali Raj.

M.S. Dhoni. Moncho Ferrer.

Sachin Tendulkar... Inspirational Giant of Indian Sport.

SS Sports advances

in Sood cricket

An allround performanceby captain Deepanshu Phoreand three wickets apiece byPrince Mehra and AbhishekSakuja saw SS Sports beatYoungster CC by six wicketsto enter the prequarterfi��nals of the 31st AllIndia Om Nath SoodMemorial tournament.

The scores: Youngster CC 174

in 39.2 overs (Gagan Vats 52,

Jitesh Yadav 48, Prince Mehra

3/28, Abhishek Sakuja 3/35) lost

to SS Sports 175/4 in 23.5 overs

(Deepanshu Phore 46, Deepak

Khatri 43 n.o., Manan Bhardwaj

3/37).

M10 Academy in title clash

Delhi Under19 player AyushDoseja made an unbeaten66 and Mridul Surrochcontributed 54 as M10Academy beat PushAcademy by six wickets toenter the fi��nal of the ShashiSharma memorial under19tournament.

The scores: Push Academy 237

in 44.4 overs (Mrigank Pathak

71, Rishabh Manchanda 3/57)

lost to M10 Academy 238/4 in

42.1 overs (Ayush Doseja 66

n.o., Mridul Surroch 54, Rijul

Singh 48, Sahil Tada 39,

Eshaan Anand 3/32).

Wonders Club in fi��nalManofthematch SanskarRawat made 83 not out asWonders Club Noida beatAjmal Khan Club by 97 runsto enter the fi��nal of theHarcourt Butler Under15tournament.The scores: Wonders Noida

223 in 40 overs (Sanskar Rawat

83 n.o., Bharti Rawal 3/40) bt

AKC 126 in 30.2 overs (Sarthak

Pal 47).

Halfcenturies for Saksham, ParikshitSaksham Negi’s 72 andParikshit Sehrawat’s 53helped Telefunken Club beatDelhi Cricket Hub by 21 runsin the D. Fours Under13tournament.The scores: Telefunken Club

184 in 36.4 overs (Saksham

Negi 72, Parikshit Sehrawat 53,

Saiansh Vohra 3/46) bt DCH

163 in 33 overs (Swarnim

Bansal 73).

Big win for Signature FC

Suju Hangma and SanjaliKermprai scored three goalseach as Signature FCthrashed Goodwill FC 111 ina Football Delhi Women’sLeague match.

In another game, Radhika’stwo goals led Friends UnitedFC’s 50 win against AhbabFC while Hans Women FCwon 40 against Eves SC.

The results: Signature FC 11

(Suju Hangma 3, Sainjali

Kemprai 3, Karishma Rai, Sibani

Sharma, Bhawna Yadav,

Ibashisha Khongwet, Sonia

Marak) bt Goodwill FC 1

(Shibani Negi); Ahbab FC 0 lost

to FUFC 5 (Radhika 2, Charvi

Diesh, Harshita, Yashodhara);

Hindustan FC 1 (Ankush) bt

Frontier FC 0; HWFC 4 (Aveka

Singh 2, Anushka Samuel 2) bt

Eves SC 0.

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\ DELHI ROUND-UP \

“We are delighted to sharewith you that our Sports forDevelopment Programme,Anantapur Sports Academy(ASA), has won the prestigious Sportstar Aces Award2021, in the ‘Sports for SocialGood’ category,” MonchoFerrer, Programme Director,said in a statement onFriday.

“The Sportstar AcesAwards by Sportstar Magazine and The Hindu Grouprecognise sporting achievements and eff��orts to contribute to the country’s sporting fabric in equal measure,and ASA is being honouredfor its role in tying sports together with attention to social indicators” he said..

Ferrer, who received theaward through a virtual ceremony (because of COVID19 restriction) held onFriday, said their sports programme is all about sportsfor good.

“I appreciate our team atAnantapur Sports Academyfor their work over the years

and thank the children fortheir participation,” he said.

“This award reminds usthat we are on the righttrack, and encourages us towork towards realising ourvision to leverage the powerof sports for the benefi��t ofunderprivileged and marginalised children and youthin Anantapur district,” headded.

P. Sai Krishna, Director ofAnantapur Sports Academysaid, he would like to thank

the Sportstar Aces Awardsteam for including a Sportsfor Good category for thefi��rst time to acknowledge theeff��orts of sports for development organisations acrossIndia.

“On this note, we alsothank the support from ourlocal community includingparents, schools as well asour numerous partners wehave been fortunate to collaborate over the years,” hesaid.

‘Delighted with the Sportstar Aces award for ASA’I appreciate our team for their work over the years, says Programme Director Ferrer

V.V. Subrahmanyam

Hyderabad

Special moment: Anantapur Sports Academy, winner of the ‘Sports for Social Good’ award.* SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

What a feeling! Anantapur Sports Academy boys areoverjoyed on receiving the trophy. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Todd Harrity of the USAblunted the power and willof Mahesh Mangaonkar 119,116, 711, 211, 110 to win themen’s title — his fourth overall — in the PSA ChallengerTour squash tournament atthe ISA courts here on Friday.

Egypt’s Hana Moatazbagged the women’s crownwith a clinical 113, 119, 115victory over compatriot Malak Kamal. Hana's fi��rst, andlast PSA title came way backin 2016.

Domination

The American dominatedthe fi��rst two games, pushingthe topseeded Mangaonkarall over the court.

The American actuallygave the top seed neither thetime nor the space to settleinto any sort of rhythm.

Mangaonkar turned the

tide in his favour in the thirdand fourth games with theright mix of power and fi��nesse. So much so that in thefourth Harrity could pocketjust two points.

However, all that changedin the decider. Harrity racedto a 70 lead and kept the

points short for the rest ofthe game.

“I have played Maheshquite a few times before, it’salways tough. After losingthe third and fourth games, Istayed mentally strong,” saidHarrity.

Hana was relieved at win

ning a title after fi��ve years. "Ihope the next title does nottake this long," she said.

The results (fi��nals): Men: ToddHarrity (USA) bt Mahesh Mangaonkar 119, 116, 711, 211,110. Women: Hana Moataz(Egy) bt Malak Kamal (Egy)113,119, 115.

Harrity beats Mangaonkar to the titleHana Moataz wins allEgyptian women’s fi��nal against Malak Kamal

SQUASH

K. Keerthivasan

CHENNAI

Champions: Hana Moataz and Todd Harrity with SRFI secretary Cyrus Poncha, right, andSaikrishnan Purushothaman of HCL. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Niki Poonacha can fi��ghthard, and still stay quiet oncourt, sporting the best behaviour.

It was a glaring sight whenthe 25yearold Niki retainedhis composure, and tamedthe boisterous Lorenzo Bocchi of Italy, who was throwing tantrums right throughthe threehour duel, for a63, 67(4), 63 victory, in the$15,000 ITF men’s tennistournament at the DLTAComplex on Friday.

Serving well, strokingwith varying pace and intensity, Niki did control the contest most of the time. A slightdip in concentration sawhim deliver doublefaultswhile serving for the matchin the 12th game. That opening was grabbed by the Italian who played sharp inclinching the subsequent tiebreak to get himself a freshlease of life on court.

In the decider, Niki was ina spot of trouble as he trailed02, but found the grip onhis game to cruise to a 52lead, even as the Italianmade it a noisy aff��air withhis ramblings. Niki servedout the match at love in the

ninth game to set up a semifi��nal against Dalibor Svrcinaof the Czech Republic.

The Czech beat the thirdseed Aidan Mchugh of Britain 46, 60, 62. The Britonwas perhaps exhausted aftera fourhour clash againstluckyloser Nitin Kumar Sinha on Thursday.

Second seed Simon Carrwas energetic in a baselinebattle against ZsomborVvelcz of Hungary andpulled through in three sets.He will play fourth seed Oliver Crawford of US in thesemifi��nals.

In doubles, top seeds Ar

jun Kadhe and Saketh Myneni set up a title clash againstDalibor Svrcina and Zsombor Velcz.

The results: Singles (quarterfi��nals): Niki Poonacha bt LorenzoBocchi (Ita) 63, 67(4), 63;Dalibor Svrcina (Cze) bt AidanMchugh (GBR) 46, 60, 62;Oliver Crawford (US) bt Alexander Kotzen (US) 64, 75; Simon Carr (Irl) bt Zsombor Velcz(Cze) 63 26, 63.

Doubles (semifi��nals): ArjunKadhe & Saketh Myneni bt Anirudh Chandrasekar & Niki Poonacha 64, 76(0); DaliborSvrcina (Cze) & Zsombor Velcz(Hun) bt Manish Sureshkumar& V.M. Ranjeet 61, 62.

Calm Niki Poonacha trumpstempestuous Lorenzo BocchiSets up a semifi��nal clash against Dalibor Svrcina

ITF MEN

KAMESH SRINIVASAN

NEW DELHI

It’s all over! Italian Bocchi congratulates Poonacha afterlosing in the quarterfi��nals. * KAMESH SRINIVASAN

Manas Dhamne fought hisway past Rushil Khosla 76(2), 16, 75 in the semifi��nalsof the National junior championships at the Indore Tennis Club on Friday.

The 13yearold Manas,who is waiting to get his visato train with the renownedcoach Riccardo Piatti in Italyas part of support from IMG,

capitalised on the availabletime to make his mark.

The 14yearold Rushil, atalented player who hasbeen slowly stepping upwith good results, had defeated second seed KaranSingh in the earlier round.

In the fi��nal, Manas willplay Sandesh Kurale whoknocked out top seed Krishan Hooda in three sets.

In the girls section, Suhitha Maruri will play second seed Sanjana Sirimallain the fi��nal.

The results: U18:

Boys: Semifi��nals: Sandesh Kurale bt Krishan Hooda 16, 62,64; Manas Dhamne bt RushilKhosla 76(2), 16, 75.

Doubles (fi��nal): Aayush Bhat &Denim Yadav bt Anup Bangargi& Torus Rawat 75, 64.

Girls: Semifi��nals: Suhitha Maruri bt Anjali Rathi 64, 75;Sanjana Sirimalla bt LakshmiPrabha 75, 61.

Doubles (fi��nal): Reshma Maruri& Suhitha Maruri bt SudiptaSenthilkumar & Riya Uboveja63, 75.

Manas fi��ghts his way past RushilSuhitha to lock horns with Sanjana

NAT. JR. TENNIS

Sports Bureau

INDORE

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