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JOURNALISM OF COURAGESINCE 1932

DA ILY FROM: AHMEDABAD , CHAND IGARH , DELH I , JA IPUR , KOLKATA , LUCKNOW, MUMBAI , NAGPUR , PUNE , VADODARA

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2020, NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 22 PAGES `6.00 (`8 PATNA & RAIPUR, `12 SRINAGAR) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMJOURNALISM OF COURAGE

SINCE 1932

THEEDITORIAL PAGE

THEDIGITALSWAYBYRSSHARMAPAGE12

CRISIS INRAJASTHANRULINGPARTY

HAMZAKHAN&MANOJCGJAIPUR,NEWDELHI, JULY24

KEEN TO keep his flock intactand snuff out at the earliest aparty rebellion led by formerDeputy Chief Minister SachinPilot, Rajasthan Chief MinisterAshokGehlotmountedanoffen-sive Friday against GovernorKalraj Mishra, claiming that hewas not calling a session of thestateAssemblybecauseof“pres-sure fromabove”.Gehlot did not say who or

what he meant by “pressurefromabove”,buthehasbeenac-cusing the BJP of plottingwithPilot to topple his government.ThePilotcamphas19MLAsandGehlot claims he still has ama-jorityinthe200-memberHouse.TheCMtookhis partyMLAs

in four buses to the Raj Bhavanwhere they sat on a protest onthelawnsanddemandedthatanAssembly session be calledMonday. Governor Mishrasteppedout tomeet them.Earlier, Gehlot warned that

"itwon't beour responsibility iftheentirepopulationofthestategherao theRajBhavan".This prompted BJP leader

GulabChandKataria tourgetheCentre not to leave law and or-der in the hands of RajasthanPoliceanddeployCRPFattheRajBhavan "so that sanctity of thisConstitutionalpost isupheld”.TheMLAslefttheRajBhavan

followinganassurancefromtheCONTINUEDONPAGE2

Woman accusesABVP presidentof harassmentover parkingslot in Chennai

Wife of formerADG, SOG is adirector in firmraided by I-T

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICEJAIPUR, JULY24

SARIKA ANIL PALIWAL, wife ofAnilPaliwal,AdditionalDirectorGeneral of Police (Personnel) isa Director in Mayank SharmaEnterprises Private Ltd, one ofthecompanieswheresearchandsurvey operationswere under-takenbytheIncomeTaxdepart-menton July14.AnilPaliwalwasADG(ATS&

SOG) foralmostayear till July3,before he was shifted as ADG(Personnel). It was during histenureasADG(ATS&SOG) thatCongress Chief Whip MaheshJoshihadsubmittedacomplainttotheSpecialOperationsGroupof the Rajasthan Police in June,alleging attempts of horse trad-ing of MLAs to destabilise theAshokGehlotgovernment.ADG Paliwal couldn't be

reachedforhisresponsedespiterepeatedcallsandtextmessagesto his mobile phone as well asthe number of his residence

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

ARUNJANARDHANAN&LIZMATHEWCHENNAI,NEWDELHI, JULY24

A 62-YEAR-OLD widow livingalone in her apartment inChennai city suburbshas filed apolice complaint against ABVPnational president Dr SubbiahShanmugam, accusing him ofharassment, includingurinatingand throwing used surgicalmasksatherdoorstep.The incident reportedly fol-

lowedadisagreementoverpark-ing slots at the housing society.Thewoman,whodoesnotwanttobeidentified,demandedpay-mentforhisuseofaparkingslotownedbyher. Inhercomplaint,filedat theAdambakkamPoliceStation on July 11, the womanhas attached CCTV footage andphotos that purportedly showtheABVPleaderurinatingatherdoorstep.Theissuecametolightwhen

the woman's nephew, BalajiVijayaraghavan, a stand-upcomicandthefounderof aplat-form that facilitates Carnaticmusic events, posted about theallegedincidentandsaidthepo-licewerenothelpinghisaunt.Sourcesinthepoliceadmitted

thatnoFIRhasbeenregisteredonCONTINUEDONPAGE2

MANISHSAHULUCKNOW,JULY24

JUST OVER a fortnight after theVikas Dubey shootout and en-counter, theKanpurpolice findsitself in thedockover anabduc-tion, with the personwhowaskidnapped dead and the familyaccusing police of facilitating aransomexchange.

OnFriday,ASP(KanpurSouth)AparnaGupta,DeputySPManojKumar Gupta, plus eight otherpersonnelofBarraPoliceStation,weresuspended.Lastweek,SHORanjitRaihadbeensuspendedasthefamilyallegedinactiononthematter despite Sanjit Yadav (27)having gone missing nearly amonth ago, and despite havingpaidRs30lakhasransom.

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

Gehlot seeks floor test, targetsGovernor: Notcalling Assembly session, pressure fromabove

BUSINESS AS USUAL

BYUNNY

HAMZAKHAN&MANOJCGJAIPUR,NEWDELHI, JULY24

IN FURTHER relief to the rebelCongress camp of formerRajasthanDeputyChiefMinisterSachinPilot, theRajasthanHighCourtdirectedFridaythatstatus

quo as of July 14 bemaintainedon notices sent by AssemblySpeakerCP Joshi to the19MLAsledbyPilot.The direction effectively

means that rebelMLAswill notberequiredtosubmittheirreplytotheSpeakerandnoactioncanbe taken against them till thehearingresumesintheSupreme

Courton July27.“It means that the respon-

dentsneednotfiletheirreplybe-fore the Speaker, and possibly,the Speaker can’t proceed fur-ther. So, the position on (July)14thismaintainedtillanyorderispassedbytheSupremeCourt,”said lawyer Prateek Kasliwal,

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

HC relief for Pilot camp, Congress citesSupreme Court ruling to raise questions

RajasthanGovernorKalrajMishrawithChiefMinisterAshokGehlotandCongressMLAsatRajBhavanin JaipuronFriday.PTI MOREREPORTS,PAGE8

India: Agreementwith China onearly, completedisengagementDiplomatsset stage formoremilitarytalks,Pangong&Gogra likely focus

SHUBHAJITROYNEWDELHI, JULY24

WITH CHINESE reluctance tostepback further fromPangongTso and Patrolling Point 17A atGogra stalling the disengage-mentof troopsalong theLineofActualControl inLadakh, Indianand Chinese diplomats heldtalksFriday, andNewDelhi saidboth sides agreed on “early andcompletedisengagement”.In Beijing, the Chinese

ForeignMinistry, commentingon the virtual meeting of theWorking Mechanism forConsultation&CoordinationonIndia-China Border Affairs, saidbothsides“affirmedthepositiveprogress made in disengagingthefrontlinebordertroopsofthetwocountries”andwouldmain-tain dialogue “throughmilitaryand diplomatic channels” to“promotefurtherde-escalation”.TheWMCCmeetingsets the

stageforanotherroundofCorpsCommander talks — they havemet fourtimessince June6—toresume the disengagementprocess, stalled due to Chinesereluctance to vacate areas in

PangongTso andPP17A, twooffour friction points on theLadakh frontier. At PP 14(Galwan Valley) and PP 15 (HotSprings),disengagementhasal-ready takenplace.In Pangong Tso, Chinese

troops had come up to Finger 4on the north bank of the lake, 8kmwestof Finger8which IndiasaysmarkstheLAC.Aspartofthedisengagement process, theChinesevacatedtheFinger4baseareaandheadedtowardsFinger5.But theystill occupypositionsontheridgelineatFinger4.Theunderliningof“earlyand

completedisengagement”attheWMCCmeeting is significantgiven that the Indian Army hasbeenpreparingforthelonghaul,looking to keep its troops de-ployed in Ladakh through thewintermonths. India has beenseekingrestorationofstatusquoante—oftroopsonbothsidesre-turning to locations before themilitarystandoff began inMay.Followingthemeetingof the

WMCC,theMinistryofExternalAffairs, inastatement,said:“Thetwosidesreviewedthesituationin the India-China border areas

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

GEORGEMATHEWMUMBAI, JULY24

FORMERRESERVEBankof IndiaGovernorUrjit Patel hasheavilycriticisedthegovernmentfordi-luting the Insolvency andBankruptcy Code (IBC) and thepowersof thecentralbank, say-ing this undermined effortsmadesince2014tocleanupthebad loanmess.In his new book Overdraft:

SavingtheIndianSaver,Patelhas

said that the Supreme Court'sApril2019verdicthadnotfoundtheRBI’sFebruary2018one-daydefault regulation on the insol-vency process “problematic” –however, the subsequent (June

7, 2019) circular issued by thecentralbankhaddilutedthisas-pect, making the insolvencyregime“vulnerableandbrittle”.It had also delayed the

process, helpingmany default-ersescapethebankruptcycourt.The February 2018 circular, is-suedwhen PatelwasGovernor,hadforcedbankstoclassifybor-rowers as defaulters immedi-ately, and had brought severallarge defaulters to the NationalCompanyLawTribunal (NCLT).

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

KAUNAINSHERIFFMNEWDELHI, JULY24

RIGOROUSIMPLEMENTATIONofpandemiclessons,systematiccon-tainment, and proper planningandprocurementtoplugthegapsinhealthinfrastructurearekey,theCentrehastoldninestatesthatarecurrently facing a surge innovelcoronavirusinfections.Atahigh-level reviewmeet-

ingthatwentonfor threehoursover a video link on Friday, theCentre emphasised sixmain is-sues to the governments ofAndhra Pradesh, Bihar,Telangana,Odisha,WestBengal,Assam, Karnataka, Jharkhand,and Uttar Pradesh, top sourcestoldThe IndianExpress.The meeting, chaired by

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba,wasattendedby thechief secre-taries of these states, senior offi-cialsoftheUnionHealthMinistry,and experts from the national

taskforceagainstCovid-19.■ The cabinet secretary is

learnt to have said that sixCONTINUEDONPAGE2

GOVT&POLITICS

SONIA FINALLYPUTSRAOONCONGRESSPEDESTAL, PRAISESBOLD LEADERSHIPPAGE9

144DAYSSINCEPANDEMICBEGAN

KEYSTATESTOWATCH■Maharashtra■TamilNadu■Delhi■Karnataka■Andhra

7 DAYS EARLIER:

2.55NOW:

2.38

7 DAYS EARLIER:

7.68NOW:

8.35

DETECTED TODAY

49,310RECOVERED TODAY:

34,602

TOTALCASES3,47,5021,92,9641,27,36480,86372,711

DOUBLINGRATE**24.7423.6170.7110.787.43

SURGEIN24HOURS9,8956,4721,0415,0307,998

7-DAYAVGGROWTH*2.91%3.05%1.02%6.68%9.70%

TRACKING INDIA’SCOVIDCURVE

CASES:12,87,944TESTS: 1,54,28,170| DOUBLING RATE: 19.86**

RECOVERED:8,17,208DEATHS:30,601

*CompoundedDailyGrowthRateover last7days **Calculatedover7-daygrowth

DataasonJuly23, releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealth, ICMRandstates.Oftendailynumbers includedatafrompreviousdays.Assuch, trendsbasedondailynumbersare indicative,notdefinitive

CASE FATALITY RATIO

Deaths as a ratio ofpositive cases (in %);indicator of progressin averting deaths

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Becoming sick vsrecovering; more

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ESHAROYNEWDELHI, JULY24

THEWILDLIFE Institute of India(WII), along with the IndianInstituteofRemoteSensing(IIRS)and the Government of India'sDepartment of Biotechnology,has begun a study of themigra-tion of the pied cuckoo fromAfrica to India and back, by tag-ging twoof thebirdswith satel-

lite transmitters.This is the first study in the

country that seeks to trace andobserve themigratory routes ofthepiedcuckoo.Equally impor-tantly, it will help gather dataand information on climatechange,scientistsinvolvedinthestudysay.Dehradun-basedWII, under

the Union Ministry ofEnvironment,ForestandClimateChange, is India's apex institutefor the studyofwildlife science.IIRS, also in Dehradun, is a con-stituentunitof theIndianSpaceResearchOrganisation (ISRO).

The arrival of the pied cuck-oos (Clamator jacobinus, alsocalled pied crested cuckoo andJacobin Cuckoo) in theHimalayan foothills has tradi-tionally been seen as heraldingthe onset of themonsoon. Lastweek,researcherstaggedtwoofthebirdswithtransmitterchipsmade byMicrowave Telemetry,an American company special-isinginwildlifesatellitetrackingtechnology.“Thesebirdshavehighsitefi-

delity, that is, theycomebacktothesamelocationyearafteryear.

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

PAGE1ANCHOR

Pied cuckoo, harbinger of monsoon, to betracked in migration, climate change study

Birdshavebeentaggedwithsatellite transmitters

Urjit: Govt diluted IBC, its stepshurt RBI’s move on bad loans

FormerRBIGovernorUrjitPatel

ABVPleaderSubbiahShanmugam

UP-RERA

10 suspended, probe into role of UPpolice as abduction ends in death

SanjitYadav

INDIA’SDAILYcasecountsurgedcloseto50,000onThursday.Severalofthestates thatareseeingaspikearealsothosewithapoortestingrecordandinadequatehealth infrastructure. It iscritical for thesestates toemploy important les-sonstoquicklygetagripontheirsituation.

Implementationholdsthekey

Use pandemic lessonswell: Centre gives 6-ptmantra to surge states

Warnsof gheraoashisMLAsprotestatRajBhavan;Governor raisessixqueries—fromfreedomofMLAstowhysession if youhavemajority

New Delhi

THESECONDPAGE2 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

Whatthe2020TokyoOlympicswouldhavemeant for IndiaNEWEPISODEEVERYDAY

ThisweekontheExpressSportspodcast,wetalkaboutwhat thecancellationof theTokyoOlympics thisyearmeansof Indianathleteswhoweregoingtotakepart in it.

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FROMPAGEONEFloor testGovernor.Congresscommunica-tions in-charge Randeep SinghSurjewala said, "The Governortoldallof us,withanopenheart,that he will follow theConstitutionwithout any pres-sure. He has noted some com-ments and sent an order to theCM. As soon as the Cabinet ad-dressesthosecomments,then,asperArticle174oftheConstitutionof India, the Governor is duty-bound.”“TheGovernorgaveusthisas-

surance that he is boundunderArticle174tofollowtheCabinet'srecommendation,webelievehimasanelderandheadoffamily.TheCabinet, led by the CM,will sitagainandif thereareanydoubts,then they will be addressed,"Surjewalasaid.ACabinetmeetingwascalled

after10pm.AftertheMLAslefttheRajBhavan, theGovernor’sofficesaid, “no one is above samvaid-hanikmaryada (Constitutionalpropriety)” and that “thereshouldn’tbeanypressurepolitics”.TheGovernorhas essentially

raisedsixpoints:■TheCabinetnotedoesnot

mentionthedatefromwhichthesessionhastobecalled,anddoesnotindicateCabinetapprovalforit.

■No reason has been pro-

vided for calling the session onshort notice andnoagendapro-posed.Asperprocedure,a21-daynoticeisnecessarytocallasession.

■The state government hasbeenaskedbytheGovernortoen-sure the freedomof allMLAs, in-cludingfreedomtomovearound.

■ TheGovernor’s office saiddisqualificationofsomeMLAsarepending in theHigh Court andSupremeCourt. “This should beconsideredby the government;additionally, the Governor hasaskedthatdetailsbeprovidedonhowanAssemblysessioncanbeconducted, considering thespreadofcoronavirus.

■ The Raj Bhavan has given“clear directions” that every ac-tion will be done as perConstitutionalproprietyandpro-visionsofsetrules.

■TheGovernorhasaskedthegovernment if it hasmajority,whycallanAssemblysessionjusttoprovemajority.Earlier, speaking to reporters

outsideFairmonthotelwherehisMLAsarelodged,Gehlotsaid"af-teraCabinetdecision(Thursday),we wrote to Governor KalrajMishra, saying anAssembly ses-sionbe called…Wewerehope-fulhewould issueorders, call anAssemblysession..Wewaitedallnight, but haven't heard fromhim,"hesaid,addingitis"beyond

ourunderstanding”.“Asimpleprocessisemployed,

andtheGovernorhastoissueor-ders.There isnoreasontostopit.Webelieve that due topressurefromabove,heishelplessandnotgiving directions to call anAssembly(session),”hesaid.“Wewanttogotothefloor(of

the House)… there was a de-mand, including byOppositionparties,andtherewasdiscussionin the judiciary aswell onwhyyoudon’tcall theAssembly(ses-sion) and hold a floor test. AndnowwhenwearereadytocallanAssembly(session)…Everyoneisdistressed and sad becauseRajasthandoesn’thaveatraditionoftopplingagovernmentthroughtodphod(sabotage),"theCMsaid."We want to start an

Assembly session fromMonday.Wahandoodh kadoodhpaani kapaani ho jayega (Thingswill beclearthere),”hesaid.InNewDelhi,theCongresshit

outatGovernorMishrafornotac-ceptingtheGehlotCabinet’s rec-ommendation to convene anAssemblysession.CongressleaderRahulGandhi

said:“Thecountryisgovernedbythe rule of lawandConstitution.Governmentsareformedandrunbymajoritymandate. The BJP'sconspiracy to topple the Rajas-thangovernment is clear. It is an

insultof theeightcrorepeopleofRajasthan. TheGovernor shouldconvene a session of theAssembly,sothatthetruthcomesoutbeforethecountry.”Referring to the five-judge

ConstitutionBench judgment inthe Nabam Rebia (ArunachalPradesh) case, Congress leaderKapil Sibal said theGovernor isbound by the advice of theCabinet,andhehasnooptionbutto convene the Assembly if theCabinethasmadesucharecom-mendationtohim.

Relief for PilotwhoisrepresentingSpeakerJoshi.The Speaker had earlier

moved the Supreme Courtagainst the High Court order,whichhadaskedhimtogive therebelMLAstimetill July24tore-plytothenotices.Theinterimorderwaspassed

by a division bench comprisingChiefJusticeIndrajitMahantyandJusticePrakashGupta.Thebenchalso accepted the request by the19rebelMLAstomaketheCentreapartytothecase.InNewDelhi,Congressleader

Kapil Sibal,who isa senioradvo-cate, questioned the RajasthanHighCourt’sordersayingithas“nojurisdictiontopasssuchanorder.”Hetoldreporters: “Averysad

situation thathasarisen... is that

ConstitutionBenchjudgmentsarenotbeingfollowedbyHighCourts.Weknowfora fact that there isafive-judgedecisionoftheSupremeCourtof Indiawhichsays that if adisqualificationpetitionisfiled,theSpeakerwilldecidethatdisqualifi-cationpetitionandhisdecisioncanbechallengedinacourtoflawbutprior tohisdecision,proceedingsby the Speaker areproceedingswithintheHouseunderArticle212of theConstitution…and thoseproceedingscannotbe interferedwith.”“That is the decision in the

KihotoHollohancaseasfarbackas1992.And in thisparticular case,inRajasthan, there isa statusquoorderpassedthismorningsayingthatthoseproceedingswillnotgoonintheteethofKihotoHollohan,”hesaid.

Urjit PatelPatel quit inDecember 2018

followingaclashwiththegovern-ment.“Lawyerswhohadagreed to

representtheRBIintheSupremeCourt (SC) dropped out at theeleventhhour, literally thenightbefore the hearing,” Patel haswritten. “Striking down theFebruary2018circularhasmadetheinsolvencyregimevulnerable,possiblybrittle.”On his rift with the govern-

ment, Patel haswritten that itsdispositiontowardstheIBC“per-ceptiblychanged” inmid-2018–insteadofbuttressingandfuture-proofing thegains thathadbeenmade, an atmosphere of goingeasyonthepedalensued.“Until then, forthemostpart,

thefinanceministerandIwereonthesamepage,withfrequentcon-versationsonenhancingtheland-marklegislation’soperationalef-ficiency,” says the book. “TherewererequestsforrollingbacktheFebruary circular. A canardwasspreadthatMSMEswouldespe-ciallysuffer,when,infact,thepre-viousdispensations for thisclassof borrowershadbeenexplicitlyprotectedinthenewregulations.”The regulator’sde factopow-

ershavebeendilutedon severalsubjects related topreserving fi-nancial stability, Patel has said.“CircularswerereversedandthePCA framework essentiallyditchedasthesecameinthewayof stimulating the economythroughhighercreditgrowth.”AccordingtoPatel,thegovern-

ment uses “ownership of banksasameansforday-to-daymacro-economicmanagement ratherthanprimarily forefficient inter-mediation between savers andborrowers”. Even after threedecades of banking sector re-forms, includingtheentryofpri-vate banks, “state-sponsoredcreditcreation”retainsamajorityshare,hehassaid.The book does notmention

thedemonetisationofRs500andRs 1000 notes that happenedsoon after he took over as RBIGovernor in September 2016.Patelwaschosentoleadthecen-tral bank after his predecessor,Rajan,wasdeniedasecondterm.

ABVP presidentthe woman's complaint. “Wehaveissuedareceiptof thecom-plaint,”saidanofficer.Shanmugam,aprofessorand

Head of the Department ofSurgical Oncology at KilpaukMedicalCollegeandGovernmentRoyapettah Hospital, said thecomplaintwasfalseandtheCCTVfootagedoctored.Alleging “ulte-riormotives”behindthecharges,hetoldTheIndianExpress tocon-tact theABVP leadership for anyfurthercomments.Inastatement,ABVPnational

general secretaryNidhi Tripathiadmittedtherewasanissueoverparking slots between thewomanandShanmugam's fam-ily. "The two families have dis-cussedthis...and(thehousingso-cietyhas)alreadyconcludedthattheharassmentallegationswerecauseddue to amisunderstand-ingandareuntrue.”TheABVPthreatenedlegalac-

tiononthe"libelous"claimsofthewoman'sfamily.Inhercomplaint, thewoman

hassaidthatShanmugamhadap-proached her for permission touseoneof her twoparking slots.When she demanded a "nomi-nal" rent, she said, he got angryandfirstbrokeasignboardattheslot.Shesaidhethenkeptcallingher,includingaskingherwhethershe needed chicken despiteknowingthat shewasavegetar-ian.Shesaidhehadgoneontosoiltheentrancetoherhouse,includ-ing with used surgical masks,garbageandmuck.Vijayaraghavan said hewas

shockedwhenhis aunt toldhimabout the incident. "If Shanmu-gamhad admitted hismistakeand apologised,wewouldhaveacceptedit.Wedecidedtofilethecomplaintashewasreluctant totakeanycorrectivesteps.Wehadseriousconcernsaboutmyaunt'ssafetyaswell."ABVPmedia in-chargeRahul

ChoudharysaidtheCCTVfootagewasdoctored,andaccusedABVPrivalsoftryingtodo"characteras-sassination" of Shanmugam."Despite several attemptsby theCongress, thelocalmediadidnotpaythewoman'scomplaintsanyattention. So they fabricated avideo.Wehave the original clipandwillhanditovertothepolice,”ChoudharytoldTheIndianExpress.

UP abductionThestategovernmentordered

the suspensions on Friday, afterfivearrestsweremadeinthecase,and theaccused reportedly con-fessed tokillingYadavsoonaftertheabduction.Thepolicesaidthefive, including twowhoused toworkwithYadav,haddeniedre-ceiving any ransom. "Investi-gationintothefamily'sclaimthatthey paid ransom is still on,"InspectorGeneral,KanpurRange,MohitAgarwaltoldreporters.Apathologistwhoworkedas

a lab technician at a hospital,Yadavhadgonemissingon June22. The sameevening, his fatherChamanSingh lodgedamissingcomplaintwith theBarra PoliceStation,andpolicechangedittoacaseofkidnappingonJune26.OnJuly13,thefamilyclaimed

to have paid Rs 30 lakh, as de-mandedbytheabductors,"onthedirectionof thepolice", and saidwhile officers had assured theywouldarrestthemen,Yadavhadnotbeenreleased.Twodayslater,they denied paying themoney,only to go back to their originalstand,sayingthepolicehadforcedthemtosayotherwise.Agarwal saidat the time that

the police had tried to trace thekidnappers after theymade theransomcall,buttheoperationhadfailed, followingwhich the SHO,Barra,wassuspended.TheIGhadalso said that the investigationhadshownnoransomwaspaid.OnFriday, thepolice said the

abductorshadtoldthemtheykid-napped Yadav hoping to extortmoney fromhis family andhadhired ahouse inKanpur to keephim. One of them, KuldeepGoswami,whoknewYadavfrombefore,allegedlymetupwithhimandas theyhaddrinks together,gavehimsomethingtomakehimunconscious,thepolicesaid.Theabductorsreportedlytold

thepolice thaton June26,Yadavtried to flee, and that the nextmorning they killed him andthrewhis body into the PanduRiver in Kanpur. They allegedlymadetheransomcallonJune29.Policehaveengageddiversto

tryandfindYadav'sbody.

Pied cuckooWebelievethatthepiedcuck-

oos that come to theHimalayanfoothills are fromAfrica, but thishas never been ascertainedthrough collecteddata. Also,westill don’t knowwhich part ofAfricatheycomefrom,”DrSureshKumar, a scientistwithWII's de-partmentofEndangeredSpeciesManagementwho is involved inthestudy,toldTheIndianExpress.“Thereisacommunityofpied

cuckoosinsouthernIndiaaswell,but those are resident birds andnotmigratory,DrKumarsaid.Thepied cuckoo is one of the fewspecies that come to India in thesummer,hesaid.“Mostothermi-gratory species come inwinterfromcolderplaceslikeMongolia,Siberia, northeastern China,Kazakhstan,etc.”Gatheringinformationabout

themigratory route of the piedcuckoo canbe invaluable for re-search on “climatic variations”taking place in the world, DrKumarsaid–especiallysincethespecies has sucha close associa-tionwiththemonsoon.“Farmershavetraditionallyreliedonthear-rivalofthepiedcuckooasasignalto sowseeds, as they know thatthemonsoonwill beuponthemsoon. This signal is neverwrong,because thepied cuckoo arrivesin India riding the monsoonwind,”hesaid.Researchersaroundtheworld

havebeendocumentinghowvar-iousbird species are adapting toclimate change and variations,and studying the pied cuckoo“will give us informationon themonsoon, changes in themon-soonandmonsoonwinds,erraticrainfall,seasonalfluctuations,wa-ter vapour pressure, etc.,” DrKumar said. “What happens tothese birds, for instance, if themonsoonispoororerratic?”Dr GautamTalukdar ofWII,

another scientist involved in thepiedcuckoomigrationstudy,said:“Theextentoftheeffectofecolo-gies changing canbe seen in themovement of species froma re-gionthathasbecomelessfavour-ableduetoclimaticvariations,toa more favourable region. Wewanttolookatthisrangeshift.”

India- Chinaand theongoingdisengagementprocess…TheyagreedthatearlyandcompletedisengagementofthetroopsalongtheLineofActualControl (LAC) andde-escalationfromIndia-Chinaborderareasinaccordancewithbilateral agree-ment and protocols and fullrestorationofpeaceandtranquil-litywasessentialforsmoothover-alldevelopmentofbilateral rela-tions.”“Thetwosidesnotedthatthis

wasinaccordancewiththeagree-ment reachedbetween the twoSpecialRepresentatives(SRs)dur-ingtheirtelephonicconversationon5July2020.Theyagreedinthisregard that itwas necessary forbothsidestosincerelyimplementtheunderstandings reachedbe-tween Senior Commanders intheirmeetingstilldate,” itsaid.“Thetwosidesagreedthatan-

other meeting of the SeniorCommandersmaybeheld soonsoastoworkout furtherstepstoensure expeditiously completedisengagementandde-escalationandrestorationofpeaceandtran-quillityintheborderareas,”itsaid.The two sides, theMEAsaid,

alsoagreedtomaintaintheiron-going engagements both at thediplomaticandmilitarylevel, in-cluding through themeetingsofWMCC.

6-pt mantramonths into thehandlingof thepandemic,thestrategiesoncon-tainment, surveillanceof the in-fection, breaking the chain oftransmission,andbringingdownmortalityrateswere“wellunder-stood”.“Nowit isnotanissueof lack

of understanding of basic con-cepts. The issue now is of effec-tive implementation or the lackthereof,” the cabinet secretarytoldthestates,sourcessaid.ChiefSecretariesmust“proactivelyad-dress the issue of implementa-tion glitches” thatmay result invery rapid deterioration, theCentre is learnt tohavecommu-nicatedtothestates.

■ These nine states, whichhave implemented “sporadiclockdowns or localised lock-downs”, must also implement“systematiccontainmentandef-fectivesurveillance”,followedby

“strengtheningthehospitalinfra-structure and clinicalmanage-ment”, the Centre said. “We arenotjudgingthosedecisionsbutatwo-threedaylockdownaloneisnotthesolution,”thestatesweretold,accordingtothesources.

■Thesurge incaseswill leadto fatigue among healthcareworkers, the Centre is learnt tohavetoldthestates–andstressedthat they “must have in place awell thought-outpolicyof rotat-ing theworkforce and utilisingpeoplewho are available”. TheCentrehasalsoaskedthestatestocall inalternativeresources--re-tireddoctors,finalyearMBBSstu-dents,andnursinggraduates–totacklehighcaseloads,thesourcessaid.

■Giventhegapsinhealthin-frastructure that some stateshavehistoricallyhad, theCentreaskedthemtoimplement“rigor-ousplanning”withregardtocon-sumables such as oxygen cylin-ders, testingkits,andmedicines.“Delayinprocurementdecisionscan have grave consequencesfrom the point of viewofman-agementof thepandemic. Chiefsecretariesmust ensure that asfar as essentialmedical suppliesareconcernedthereisnodelayinprocurement decisions,” theCentre is learnt to have told thestates.

■While lessons from stateslikeKerala,Goa, andDelhi showthe “situation can be turnedaround”, the experience inKarnataka has shown that the“situationcanrapidlyslidedown-wards”,sourcessaid.“Therefore,whatisneededisasteadfastandresolute approach by all stategovernments,” the Centre toldthestates, thesourcessaid.

■ The states were also toldthat they “must have a regularmechanismof ensuringpromptand effective communicationwiththepublic,”thesourcessaid.

DirectormentionedontheDepartmentofPersonnel, Rajasthan. Followinginformationabout smugglingofillegalexplosivesubstances,SOGhad taken into surveillance onJune13twophonenumbers,ac-cordingtoanFIRfiledonJuly10.It arrested twopersons–BharatMalaniandAshokSingh–inrela-tion to this FIR. But PaliwalwasnotpostedinSOGthen.Two other FIRswere regis-

teredaweek lateron July17 fol-lowing complaints filed byMahesh Joshi based on audiotapes which the Congressclaimedwere conversationsbe-tweenSanjayBardia,abusiness-man and BJP leader, and rebelCongress MLA BhanwarlalSharma and Union Jal ShaktiMinister Gajendra SinghShekhawat.According to Ministry of

Corporate Affairs data, SarikaPaliwal is a Director inMayankSharma Enterprises PrivateLimited along with MayankShivshankarSharma.Shewasap-pointed a Director in the com-pany on March 24, 2001. HernamefiguresasaDirector in thecompany’sbalancesheet for thefinancialyear2017-2018aswell.Sarika Paliwal was also a

Director in Triton Hotels andResortsPrivateLtdforalittleovera year fromMarch 16, 2007, tillJuly 1, 2008, a company pro-moted by Ratan Kant Sharma.The father’s nameof bothRatanKant Sharmaand Sarika Paliwalis Shiv Shankar Sharma, as seeninseparateMCAdocuments.TritonHotelsandResortsalso

ownstheFairmontluxuryhotel,inwhichCongressMLAsbackingCMAshokGehlotwerehousedduringthecurrentpoliticalcrisis.RatanKantSharmaisknown

tobeacloseassociateofVaibhavGehlot,sonofAshokGehlot,hav-ingpickedupa50percentstakeinMarch 2011 in Sunlight CarRentals Private Ltd, a companyfloatedbyVaibhav.HeremainedashareholdertillMarch31,2016.

FULLREPORTSONwww.indianexpress.com

New Delhi

ASTHASAXENANEWDELHI, JULY24

THE ALL India Institute ofMedical Sciences administeredthefirstdoseofBharatBiotech’sCovaxintoa30-year-oldmanonFriday, days after it receivedap-proval from the ethics commit-teetostarthumantrials.Hewillbemonitoredfortwoweeksandthengiventheseconddose.Thecountry’s topmedical instituteisamong12sitesselectedbytheICMR to conduct Phase I and IIrandomised, double-blind andplacebo-controlledclinicaltrialsof Covaxin.“Thefirstdoseof0.5mlofthe

intramuscular vaccinewas ad-ministered tohimonFriday.Hewas kept under observation fortwo hours. A diary has beenhandedovertohimforcontinu-ous monitoring of the condi-tions. Wewill also coordinatewithhimdailyforatleastaweektounderstand if he is facinganymedical issues,” Dr Sanjay Rai,principal investigator of theCovid-19 vaccine trial at AIIMS,toldThe IndianExpress.Covaxin, beingdevelopedby

Hyderabad-basedBharatBiotechin collaborationwith ICMRandNational Institute of Virology(NIV),recentlygotthenodforhu-manclinicaltrialsfromtheDrugsControllerGeneralofIndia(DCGI).AIIMS director Dr Randeep

Guleria had recently said thatoncethevaccineisdeveloped,theprioritywillbehighriskgroups—theelderly,thosewithcomorbidi-

ties,frontlineworkers,etc.“Avac-cine sometimes takes even 10yearstodevelopbecauseit’sdonein different steps. It is an invest-ment inwhich one stepmay ormaynotleadtothenextstep.Butbecause we need to compresseverything in a safe time,wearetaking the risk that thingswillhappenandweassumethatitwillhappen.Ifeverythingworks,thenmaybewecansaythatbytheendof the year,wemay startmanu-

facturing,”hesaid.Hehadsaidthattheduration

forwhichavaccinemayremaineffectivewilldependonhowthevirus mutates: “Influenza re-quiresmultiplevaccinationsbe-cause thevirus keepsmutating.We have not seen suchmuta-tionswithCovid-19.”In Phase I, the vaccinewould

be tested on 375 volunteers, in-cluding100atAIIMS.Thesecondphasewouldincludearound750

volunteersacrossthe12sites.Themedical institute has so far re-ceivedover3,500applicationsforparticipationinthehumantrials.The institute conducts

around50tests, includingfordi-abetes,hypertension,kidneyandliverdiseases,onparticipants toensurethattheyfitfortrial.Onlythose aged between 18 and 55areeligible.“Wehaveshortlisted20 volunteerswhohaveunder-gone several tests to participatein the trial. The results areawaited.Around60%of thevol-unteersare female,” saidDrRai.

Jain holdsmeet onsero survey strategyAsmanyas1,025 freshcases

of Covid-19werereported fromthe capital on Friday, taking thetally in the city to 1,28,389. Thedeath toll rose to 3,777,with 32more fatalities reported.On Friday, Delhi Health

Minister Satyendar Jain con-vened a meeting with seniorhealth officials to discuss thestrategy on serological surveil-lance,whichwill be carried outin the first five days of everymonthstartingfromAugust.Thecomprehensiveserosurveillancecarried out in Delhi betweenJune27andJuly10suggestedtheprevalence of Covid antibodiesin22.86%of thepopulationThe minister also took a

meetingwiththestatenodalof-ficersandheadsof thehospitalstodiscussthestepstoreducethemortalityrate.Atpresent,Delhi'sfatality rate is 2.94%while thenational average is2.37%.

COVAXINHUMANTRIALSBEGINATAIIMS

3THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

THECITYWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

SHO now faces heat for journalistmurder, probe finds action lacking

PRITAMPALSINGHNEWDELHI, JULY24

THEDELHIHighCourtonFridayexpressedirritationovertheap-pearanceofanewcounselfortheDelhiPoliceinapetitionseekingcancellationofbailgiventoFaisalFarooq,ownerofRajdhaniPublicSchool, in connection with aNortheastDelhi riotscase.“Why are you unnecessarily

wastingtime?Whydon’tyousittogether?Boththegovernments(CentreandDelhigovernment).This issueneedstoberesolved,”said JusticeSureshKumarKait.Thecourt’sobservationcame

after it was informed throughCentre’s StandingCounselAmitMahajan that Special PublicProsecutor (SPP) Amit Prasadhas been appointed by thePresident of India to representDelhiPolice in thematter.Highlighting that it doesnot

want the prosecution to suffer,Mahajanapprisedthecourtthatthings will be sorted out in 10daysor so.Delhigovernment’sStanding

Counsel(Criminal)RahulMehrasaid, “I fail to understand howmanypeoplewill appear in thismatter.”The Delhi Police’s appeal

againstthetrialcourt’sJune20or-der granting bail to FarooqwasfiledthroughMahajanandadvo-cateRajatNair.Farooqiscurrentlyin jail, as hewas arrested in an-othercaserelatedtotheriots.When the Delhi Police’s ap-

pealcameupforhearingonJune22beforeJusticeKait,Mehraop-

poseditsayingtheCentrehasnopower to file this petition. Sincethen, the lawofficershavebeeninvolved in a verbal spat beforethe HC on the question of whowouldrepresenttheDelhiPolicein the hearing of the petitionagainst Farooq.Additional Solicitor General

(ASG) Aman Lekhi had con-tended that hehas a letter fromtheDelhiL-Gauthorisinghimtoappearinthematter,andplacedthe communication before thecourt. Mehra had opposed theASG’scontention,sayingthattheJuly 1 letterwas issued illegallyas the L-G took the decisionwithouttheaidandadviceoftheCouncil ofMinisters.OnFriday,afreshapplication

was filedbySPPPrasadsubmit-ting that the President of Indiahasappointed11SPPs,includinghim,inrelationto752casesper-taining to riots in NortheastDelhi and he would be repre-senting theState.

AMILBHATNAGARGHAZIABAD, JULY24

THREEDAYSafter themurderofGhaziabad journalist VikramJoshi,theStationHouseOfficerofthelocalpolicestationwasFridaysuspendedforalleged inaction.On July 16, Joshi had filed a

complaint at Vijay Nagar policestation alleging that his relativehadbeenmolested.OnMonday,hewas shot in the head in frontof his twominor daughters andsuccumbed to injuries onWednesday morning atGhaziabad’s Yashoda Hospital.Police have so far arrested ninepeopleforhismurder,andclaim

the accused are the samemenagainstwhomJoshihadfiledthemolestationcomplaint.Hisfamilyallegedthatpolice

sat on the complaint, which al-lowedtheaccusedtoattackJoshi.

AnFIRonthecomplaintwasfiledonlyadayafterhewasattacked.“Itwas found thatduring the

periodbetweenJuly16and20,theSHOdidnot carry out his dutiesproperly. Thepolicemandidnotundertaketherequisiteinvestiga-tionandtakestepstopreventfur-ther crime from taking place. Inlightoftheabovefacts,hewassus-pended.Asub-inspectorhadbeensuspended earlier,” said SSPGhaziabadKalanidhiNaithani.SHO Rajiv Kumar was sus-

pendedafter the enquiry set upunderCircleOfficerfirstsubmit-ted its findings.The Indian Express had

Thursdayreportedthatallegedin-actionbytheSHOwasunderlens.

Joshi’s familyhadallegedthattwohoursbeforehewasshot,hemade a call to sub-inspectorRaghvendra—whohasnowbeensuspended—sayinghewasunderthreat from the accused men-tioned in the July 16 complaint.“The accused had come to myhouseadayafterweapproachedpolice with the complaint. OnMonday,theywerespottedagain.Vikramcalled thepoliceandsaidtheywereuptosomething,buthedismissedit,sayinghewasunwell.Couldhenothave sent someoneelse?”Joshi’ssisterhadsaidTo ensure swift probe,

GhaziabadPolicehas transferredthe case from Vijay Nagar toKotwalipolicestation.

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI,JULY24

A29-YEAR-OLD software engi-neerwho lost his jobduring theCovidpandemicallegedlyhackedintothedatabaseofhisemployer’scompanyanddestroyed lakhsofbillsandpatiententriesofhospi-tals in abid to seek revenge, saidpoliceonFriday.Policesaidtheaccused,Vikesh

Sharma,workedasa senior soft-ware engineer for Easy SolutionPvtLtdinDelhi.Thecompanypro-videsdatamanagementservicesandotherwebservicestoseveralhospitalsandschoolsinthecity.DCP (Northwest) Vijayanta

Arya said Sharmahad access tothecompany’swebsiteanddata-

basemanagement systems. Shesaid,“Afterhewaslaidoff,hede-cided to cause financial losses tothe company and settle scoreswithhisemployer.Wefoundthathehadhackedintothesystemsoffour hospitals, some of whichwereCovidhospitals.Hedeleted18,000patientrecords,tamperedwithbilling informationofmorethan3 lakhpatients and createdfalseentriesof22,000patients.”The company CEO filed a

complaint after they began los-ing important data of Covid andnon-Covidhospitals. Arya saidacasewasregisteredunder the ITAct atAdarshNagar. Police haveseizedSharma’s laptopandsus-pecthemayhavehackedintothedatabasesofatleastsixhospitals.Furtherprobe ison,policesaid.

RiotvictimsatShivVihar.Archive

Counsel dramain February riotscases irks HC

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY 24

ADELHI court has grantedbailto a man accused of gettingintoa scufflewithapolicemanand rioting inBhajanpuradur-ing the Northeast Delhi riots,observing that “identificationby the investigatingofficer (IO)has little significance in thematter”.It was also brought to the

court's attention that accused

Suhel’sbailapplicationwaspre-viously cancelled by a court onJuly 2 on the basis of a “wrongreport” filedbefore the judge.“The applicant (Suhel) was

thesoleaccusedchargesheetedin thematter. He is not seen inanyCCTVfootageorviralvideo.The investigating agency hasrecordedstatementsof variouspersons regarding the damagecaused to their vehicles andproperties, but no person hasnamed or identified the appli-cant,” thecourt said in itsorder.

Man accused of riotingin Bhajanpura gets bail

Sacked, man tamperswith hospital bills

VikramJoshi

*Total active cases

CORONAVIRUS IN THECAPITAL

TOTAL CASES

1,28,389Total Vacant

HOSPITAL BEDS 15,431 12,304VENTILATORS 1,182 742

Dailycases Recoveries Deaths TestsJuly 23 1,041 1,415 26 18,226July 24 1,025 1,866 32 19,138Total 13,681* 1,10,931 3,777 9,08,735

Swabsamplesbeingcollectedfor testing.GajendraYadav

0-50 Good

ANANDVIHARSatisfactory

0 500

97AQIPM:2.5

SIRIFORTModerate

0 500

SHADIPURModerate

0 500 500

51-100 Satisfactory 101-200 Moderate 201-300 Poor 301-400 VeryPoor 401-500 Severe

DWARKA- SECTOR8Satisfactory

0

95AQIPM:10

120AQIPM:10

114AQIPM:10

thThis is to inform that in view of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the 113 Annual General Meeting ('AGM'/'Meeting') of the Members

of Tata Steel Limited ('the Company') will be convened through two-way Video Conference ('VC')/Other Audio-Visual Means

('OAVM'), in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and the rules made thereunder, read with General

Circulars No. 14/2020 dated April 8, 2020, No. 17/2020 dated April 13, 2020, No. 20/2020 dated May 5, 2020 issued by the Ministry of

Corporate Affairs ('MCA') (collectively referred to as 'MCA Circulars') and Circular No. SEBI/HO/CFD/CMD/1/CIR/P/2020/79

dated May 12, 2020 issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India ('SEBI Circular').

thThe 113 Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) of the Members of Tata Steel Limited will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.

(IST) through VC/OAVM facility provided by National Securities and Depositories Limited ('NSDL') to transact the businesses as set out

in the Notice convening theAGM.

The e-copy of the Notice of the AGM along with the Integrated Report & Annual Accounts for the Financial Year 2019-20

(the 'Integrated Report') of the Company will be available on the website of the Company at www.tatasteel.com and on the website of

NSDL at www.evoting.nsdl.com. Additionally, the Notice of AGM will also be available and may be accessed from the relevant section of

the websites of the stock exchanges i.e. BSE Limited ('BSE') and National Stock Exchange of India Limited ('NSE') at www.bseindia.com

and www.nseindia.com respectively.

Members can attend and participate in the AGM ONLY through the VC/OAVM facility, the details of which will be provided by the

Company in the Notice of the AGM. Accordingly, please note that no provision has been made to attend and participate in theth

113 AGM of the Company in person, to ensure compliance with the directives issued by the government authorities with respect to

COVID-19 pandemic. Members attending the meeting through VC/OAVM shall be counted for the purpose of reckoning the quorum under

Section 103 of the Companies Act, 2013.

The Notice of the AGM along with the Integrated Report will be sent electronically to those Members whose e-mail addresses are

registered with the Company / Registrars & Transfer Agent ('Registrar/RTA') / Depository Participants ('DPs'). As per the SEBI Circular,th

no physical copies of the 113 AGM Notice and Integrated Report will be sent to any Shareholder. Members who have not yet registered

their e-mail addresses are requested to follow the process mentioned below, before 5:00 p.m. (IST) on Thursday, August 13, 2020, for

registering their e-mail addresses to receive the Notice ofAGM and Integrated Report electronically and to receive login ID and password

for e-voting:

The Members who are unable to receive the dividend directly in their bank account through Electronic Clearing Service or any othermeans, due to non-registration of the Electronic Bank Mandate, the Company shall dispatch the dividend warrant/Bankers'cheque/demand draft to such Members, upon normalization of postal services and other activities.

Pursuant to the Finance Act, 2020, dividend income is taxable in the hands of the Members w.e.f. April 1, 2020 and the Company isrequired to deduct tax at source ('TDS') from dividend paid to the Members at prescribed rates in the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the IT Act').In general, to enable compliance with TDS requirements, Members are requested to complete and / or update their Residential Status,PAN, Category as per the ITAct with their DPs or in case shares are held in physical form with the Company / RTA by sending documentsthrough e-mail on or before July 31, 2020. The detailed process of the same is available on the website of the Company athttps://www.tatasteel.com/media/12252/nsebse.pdf.

Tata Steel LimitedSd/-

Parvatheesam KanchinadhamCompany Secretary &

Chief Legal Officer (Corporate & Compliance)(ACS: A15921)

Registered Office: Bombay House, 24, Homi Mody Street,Fort, Mumbai - 400 001, India

Tel.: +91 22 6665 8282E-mail: cosec@tatasteel.com Website: www.tatasteel.com

CIN: L27100MH1907PLC000260

thPUBLIC NOTICE – 113 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

I. For Members who hold shares in Electronic form:

a) Visit the link: https://green.tsrdarashaw.com/green/events/login/ti

b) Enter the DP ID & Client ID, PAN details and captcha code

c) System will verify the Client ID and PAN details

d) On successful verification, system will allow you to enter your e-mail address and mobile number

e) Enter your e-mail address and mobile number

f) The system will then confirm the e-mail address for the limited purpose of service of this AGM Notice & Integrated Report

II. For Members who hold shares in Physical form:

a) Visit the link: https://green.tsrdarashaw.com/green/events/login/ti

b) Enter the physical Folio Number, PAN details and captcha code

c) In the event the PAN details are not available on record, Member to enter one of the share certificate's number

d) System will verify the Folio Number and PAN details or the share certificate number

e) On successful verification, system will allow you to enter your e-mail address and mobile number

f) Enter your e-mail address and mobile number

g) If PAN details are not available, the system will prompt the Member to upload a self-attested copy of the PAN card

h) The system will then confirm the e-mail address for the purpose of service of this AGM Notice & Integrated Report

For permanent registration of the e-mail address, Members holding shares in demat form, are requested to update the same with their

DPs and in case the Members are holding shares in physical form, are requested to update the same with the RTA by writing to them at

csg-unit@tsrdarashaw.com.

The Company is pleased to provide remote e-voting facility ('remote e-voting') of NSDL to all its Members to cast their votes on all

resolutions set out in the Notice of the AGM. Additionally, the Company shall also provide the facility of voting through remote e-voting

system during the Meeting. Detailed procedure for remote e-voting before the AGM / during the AGM will be provided in the Notice of the

A .

Members who have not updated their bank account details for receiving the dividend directly in their bank accounts through

Electronic Clearing Service or any other means may follow the below instructions to do so:

GM

Send hard copies of the following details/documents to the Company's RTA, viz. TSR Darashaw ConsultantsPrivate Limited (‘TSR’), (formerly TSR Darashaw Limited) at 6-10, Haji Moosa Patrawala Industrial Estate(Near Famous Studio), 20, Dr. E. Moses Road, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 011, latest by Friday, July 31, 2020.

a. a signed request letter mentioning your name, folio number(s), complete address and following detailsrelating to BankAccount in which the dividend is to be received:i) Name and Branch of Bank and BankAccount type;ii) BankAccount Number & Type allotted by your Bank after implementation of Core Banking Solutions;iii) 11 digit IFSC Code;

b. Cancelled cheque in original bearing the name of the Member or first holder, in case shares are heldjointly;

c. self-attested copy of the PAN Card; andd. self-attested copy of any document (such asAadhaar Card, Driving Licence, Election Identity Card,

Passport) in support of the address of the Member as registered with the Company

Demat Holding

Physical Holding

July 24, 2020Mumbai

Members holding shares in demat form are requested to update their Electronic Bank Mandate with theirrespective DPs.

30-year-old is first to getdose of Covid trial drug

New Delhi

4 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

What are some of the landmarkachievements of UP RERA in the past 3years?

In the past three years,we’ve achieved twobroad objectives of RERA. First, we’ve beenable to infuse confidence among buyers.Nowadays, buyers are very confident thatwhatever amount they’re investing in anyhousing or commercial project that money willnot be wasted because RERA is there to ad-dress their concern, if any.They’re assured thatthe money will be productively utilised by thepromoter. So, the confidence of buyers hasbeen restored which was earlier missing whenRERA was not constituted.

Second, the promoters and developershave also become disciplined, as they’vestarted to maintain an ESCROW Account. So,70% of the total amount invested by buyersis currently going to the ESCROW Account.And from this particular ESCROWAccount,de-velopers and promoters are spending for thedevelopment of projects.This means that pro-moters and developers are now sticking to thefinancial discipline as mandated by RERA.So,these are the two broad objectives that theauthority has achieved.

Third, in Uttar Pradesh (UP),merely 26,170complaints have been filed so far before UPRERA, out of which 19,240 complaints havealready been disposed of. Moreover, a largenumber of buyers have got possession of their

units or they’ve got their entire money backalong with the interest due on the amount.Not all buyers, but certainly many distressedbuyers have benefited from this rule. Fourth,we’ve registered 2,827 projects during thepast three years, out of which 2,043 are ‘on-going’ projects, meaning these were the pro-jects started before the promulgation of RERA.The remaining 784 projects are new and areregistered under RERA. Furthermore, buyershave also become aware as they look forRERA-registered projects before investing.So,these are some of the landmark achievementsof RERA in the past few years.

How has COVID-19 affected your or-ganisation’s work?

UP RERA has two offices in the state, oneat Lucknow and the other at Greater Noida.Both our offices were closed from March 20onwards due to COVID-19.From May end on-wards, we started virtual hearings throughvideo conferencing. Currently, we’re hearingabout 100 cases on a daily basis through fourdifferent benches.For buyers,we’re trying to re-solve their cases expeditiously. Second,we’realso convening meetings with the promotersand also organising authority’s meetingsthrough video conferencing. So, we’veadapted ourselves very well to the new workculture in times of this pandemic.

What help are you extending topromoters during this time?

To help promoters,UP RERA has decided toextend the deadline for completion of real es-tate projects by six months in the face of thecoronavirus outbreak.Also, the fee for the ex-tension has been exempted. We have giventhis 6-month timeframe, believing that mostof the promoters will be in a position to re-sume their projects just as they were doing in

pre-COVID-19 time.Currently,we’re also not is-suing refund orders for developers or promot-ers who are seriously attempting to completetheir projects.We’re also asking buyers to waitfor these projects to complete.We’re trying tomitigate buyers’ concerns through best pos-sible means and measures.

How do you differentiate a good

promoter from a bad one?There are a large number of promoters

who are doing a great work,evinced from thenegligible number of complaints againstthem.So, this is how we know that a particularpromoter must be good in his dealings as hehas either no complaints or minimal com-plaints against him.Similarly, there are a largenumber of promoters that have numerouscomplaints against them,especially the largebuilders. So, this is a way to identify bothtypes of promoters.

How do you safeguard the interestsof buyers in case the promoter has runaway with their investments?

There are two types of promoters in thiscategory. First, there are some of these pro-jects which are RERA registered so they comeunder our purview, for which we’re doingwhatever there is to be done to safeguard theinterests of buyers.We’re passing orders andissuing recovery orders against such promot-ers. Second, there are also projects which arenot registered under RERA, so they are notunder our purview. In such a scenario, we ex-amine such cases and try to ascertainwhether these projects can be brought underthe purview of RERA or not,meaning whetherthese projects are RERA registrable or not.Toascertain whether the project is registrable ornot,we’ve to see whether the project was un-der the ‘ongoing’ category when the RERA

Act came into force.‘Ongoing’ category means the land was in

the name of the promoter and there was a va-lidity of map sanction.So, if we find this is thecase,we ask the promoter to register the pro-ject with RERA. However, we’ve found thatmany projects are not registrable with RERA.So, in such cases,buyers are approaching bothstate and national level consumer courts toseek a remedy for this situation.Under RERA,we entertain only those cases in which theprojects are registered with us.

What measures does RERA takewhen a promoter registers his projectlate, in order to inordinately delay hisproject beyond the agreement signedwith the buyer?

In that case, we take the cognisance ofbuilder-buyer agreement (BBA).Whenever theBBA was signed with the buyer and whateverdate or duration for completion of that projectis written in that BBA is what we go by. Westrictly go by the timeline mentioned in theBBA,and not the timeline which he had givenat the time of registration of his project underRERA.Second,whenever there’s a delay in de-livery beyond the timeline mentioned in theBBA,there we are awarding MCLR plus 1% asdelay penalty. It comes about 8.5 to 9% ofinterest. So, the delay penalties are beingawarded on the basis of dates which the pro-moter has committed under the BBA.

* ( READ. ENGAGE. DELIVER.) IS THE MARKETING SOLUTIONS TEAM OF THE INDIAN EXPRESS GROUP

Committed to the cause of revival of real estate sector

A few years back, when the real estate industry began to receive flak from consumers because of bogus anddefaulting projects, it became clear that the glory days of the industry were over. The government passed theRERA Act in 2016 in each state to regulate the sector. It also acts as an adjudicating body for speedy dispute

resolution. In the past three years, UP-RERA has initiated several measures to restore the confidence of buyersand bring order and discipline among promoters

In an insightful takeon the journey ofUP-RERA, BalvinderKumar, Member, UPReal Estate RegulatoryAuthority (UP-RERA),says, “We’re keepinga keen eye on thedevelopments arising outof the pandemic and

have, consequently, started virtual hearings of allthe pending cases through video conferencing,extended the deadline for completion of real estateprojects by six months in the face of the outbreak,and assured our full support to buyers andpromoters come what may in this situation.”

An initiative by *ADVERTORIAL

UP-RERATHREEYEARSOFTRANSPARENCY

UP-RERATHREEYEARSOFTRANSPARENCY

New Delhi

5WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

An initiative by *ADVERTORIAL

UP-RERATHREEYEARSOFTRANSPARENCY

* ( READ. ENGAGE. DELIVER.) IS THE MARKETING SOLUTIONS TEAM OF THE INDIAN EXPRESS GROUP

What are your views on the per-formance of RERA in the pastthree years?

Rera has done a commendable job instreamlining the real estate sector as awhole. It has instilled confidence in the in-vestors, lenders and consumers. Sincethe RERA Act became effective, itchanged the total scenario of real estatein India. On completion of the first year,several states failed to understand whatis RERAAct actually saying and got con-fused regarding the ‘ongoing project’,and kept it outside the ambit of RERA. Inthe second year of RERA, the SupremeCourt, as well as the regulatory authori-ties,started compelling the states for set-ting up the RERA official website. Thisyear, among the states, left being theforerunner in the implementation ofRERA India, geared up for it.Very usefulchanges has come in the way of adver-tising a product, clear definition of car-pet area, restriction of advance moneyfrom the buyer, setting up of escrow ac-count etc. RERA has disposed almost50,000 complaints in past three yearswhich is remarkable.

What is that one thing that youwould want RERA to correct forthe benefit of developers?

All developer-related complaints/is-sues should only go to RERA. Currentlythere are multiple channels available forbuyers to go to,which can be avoided.

What will be your expectationsfrom RERA in the coming two-three years?

As a one stop solution for all the realestate matters,be it the government au-

thorities, developers, customers, con-tractors,property agents & it should cre-ate a win-win situation for everyone.

How do you see the industryevolve in the coming few years?

The Securities and Exchange Board ofIndia (SEBI) has given its approval for theReal Estate InvestmentTrust (REIT) plat-form, which will allow all kind of in-vestors to invest in the Indian real estatemarket. It would create an opportunityworth Rs 1.25 trillion (US$ 19.65 billion)in the Indian market in the coming years.Responding to an increasingly well-in-formed consumer base and bearing inmind the aspect of globalisation, Indianreal estate developers have shifted gearsand accepted fresh challenges.The mostmarked change has been the shift fromfamily owned businesses to that of pro-fessionally managed ones.

THE UP-RERA HAS been doing an exceptional work in the last three years inushering transparency and boosting homebuyers’ confidence in the real estatesector. More importantly, it has played an enabling role in the industry becomingmore organised, accountable and disciplined with strict project delivery timelines,

better enforcement, reducing litigations and through other safeguards that have cumulativelyhelped in empowering homebuyers. In fact, I must congratulate UP-RERA for having disposed ofmaximum number of consumer complaints during the last three years.

RERA has been a revolutionary policy change for the industry and with few updations in therules after considering the ground situations, it will contribute to faster completion of projects,which will stimulate the economy and create more jobs.

Rohtas Goel,Chairman & Managing Director, Omaxe Ltd

RERA: A win-winsituation for all

RERA HAS provided a well-needed refresh to the real estate sector and hassucceeded in providing both customers and developers much-needed facilities topromote transparency and accountability in the sector. UP-RERA, under the able guid-ance of Rajive Kumar ji and Balvinder Kumar ji, has succeeded to solve over 15,000

complaints in just a short span of three years.The push and motivation that it has provided to devel-opers to complete their projects on time and provide quality work have increased the benchmark ofquality and provided an immense economic boost to the sector.

The Customer Reconciliation Platform provided by RERA gives customers a much-needed forumto talk about their problems and for developers to address it. UP-RERA has been successful due tothe commendable implementation of the RERAAct done by the Uttar Pradesh government.

At SKA, we have always supported and commended all decisions of the UP-RERA and havealways tried our best to abide by it.We have zero RERA complaints against any of our projects tilldate. I take pride in being a part of such an innovative and forward-looking sector and will alwaysbe a supporter of the RERAAct.

Sanjay Sharma,Director, SKA Group

SINCE RERA’S formation, things have become more transparent and healthy forboth buyers and the developers.As a mandatory process now, the money takenfor the project is being utilised for its development purpose only. RERA has beenvery beneficial for those builders who were doing fair practice in the industry. It

has also played an important role in eliminating the wrongdoers of the industry while buildinga promising and a trustworthy relationship between a builder and its buyers. I think buyershave this confidence now that someone is there to listen to their plea and they don't have totake the legal route straight away for the issues. On the other hand builders have also becomemore agile and transparent to their work. So, as a regulatory body, RERA has proven to be bene-ficial to the real estate industry.We also like to thank the NoidaAuthority and all its memberswho are involved in making the process smooth and easy for us.There is no doubt that RERAhas given a needed boost to the real estate industry and we hope the industry keeps on flour-ishing with such support.

Ajay Kumar,CMD, ACE Group

UP-RERATHREEYEARSOFTRANSPARENCY

FULFILLING ACEPIRATIONS

Ace has always been a rm believerof leading from the front by setting upexamples. The group has been deliveringexcellence to the home buyers since itsinception.

And RERA has further strengthened the trustbetween the customers and the real estate.

WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE UP RERAFOR ITS CO-OPERATION AND PROMPTNESS.

FULFILLING ACEPIRATIONS

Rajiv Gupta, MD, Waveinfratech

New Delhi

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

A DAY after the Ministry ofHomeAffairs issuedanorder totransfer Delhi's Director ofEducation to Andaman andNicobar Islands, Deputy ChiefMinisterandEducationMinisterManish Sisodiawrote to HomeMinisterAmitShahquestioningthe intent of the transfer andasking that itbe reconsidered.OnFriday evening, theMHA

had issued an order for the im-mediatetransferofsevenIASof-ficers from Delhi, which in-cluded Director of EducationBinayBhushan.Bhushanhasbeeneducation

director for around a year, buthasbeenapartof theeducationdepartment fora long time.Sisodia pointed to the CBSE

Class XII board results which

were declared last week inwhich98%ofDelhigovernmentstudentshadpassed, andwrotethat thetransferorderhadbeenissued--withoutconsultingthestate government -- just as theeducationdepartmenthadbeendiscussing how to help the re-maining 2% students pass andunderstanding what wentwrong in their case."Iamnotunderstandingwhy

youhavedonethis.Wereyounothappy that Delhi governmentschools producedgood results?Didn'tyouthinkthattheteamof

officialswhomadethispossibleshould be congratulated andtheirwork should bepresentedbefore the whole country as amodel so that governmentschools across the country canregain their lost dignity? ChiefMinister Arvind Kejriwal be-lieves that without education,we cannot make the countrystrong and developed…Don'tyou think that you should takesuch a Chief Minister alongsideyoutodiscussreformingthelay-out of education in the countryrather than sending his educa-tion director away from Delhiwithout consulting him?" hewrote.Sisodia went on to request

thatBhushan'stransferorderbereconsidered and that he be al-lowed to retain his position aseducation director till March2021--theendofthecurrentac-ademicyear.

DeputyCMManishSisodia

Sisodia writes to Shah on officertransfer: Why not consult us?

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

DESPITE SETBACKS, the ShastriPark flyover will be ready byAugust, said Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal as he assessedtheprogressof theflyover’scon-struction on Friday evening.Public Works Development(PWD)Minister Satyendar Jainandotherofficialsalsoaccompa-niedhim.The six-lane Shastri Park

junctionflyoverwillbe700-me-tres long. Each carriagewaywillbearound10.5metreswide.The flyover will have two

loops — one for commutersgoing from Khajuri Chowk toKashmere Gate and the otherfor those travelling towardsShahdara fromGandhiNagar.The flyover is set to reduce

traveltimefromKashmereGateInter-State Bus Terminal to

Shahdara to5-7minutes.Addressing the media,

Kejriwal said: “Construction ofShastri Park and Seelampur fly-overs is nearly complete. Thestraight portionwill be inaugu-rated in August and the loops

willtakearoundone-and-a-halfmonthsmoretobecompleted."“The sanctioned cost of the

projects was Rs 303 crore, butwill hopefully be completedwithinRs250crore.Theprojectwould have been complete by

now,had itnotbeen forCovid.”The flyover being built at

Seelampur is parallel to an al-ready existing one-way flyover.Thenewone-way, two-lanefly-overwill be1,200metres long.APWDofficialsaid90%ofthe

work on the flyovers is done:“The project was nearing com-pletionbeforethelockdown,andit didnotpushusbackbymanymonths. Tenderswere given tillAugust and thework should bedoneby then.”

Inspectingthesix-laneShastriPark flyoveronFriday, theCMsaidtheprojectwasstalledbythepandemic.AmitMehra

THECITY6 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

* ( READ. ENGAGE. DELIVER.) IS THE MARKETING SOLUTIONS TEAM OF THE INDIAN EXPRESS GROUP

An initiative by *ADVERTORIAL

UP-RERATHREEYEARSOFTRANSPARENCY

UP-RERATHREEYEARSOFTRANSPARENCY

UP-RERA:A boon to home buyersONE OF the greatest things that happened in the real estate sector is the formation of a Regulatory Authority having judicial powerslistening to the grievances of home-buyers and providing redressal.The formation of RERA happened as a result of persistent complaints about“fly by night” operators in the real estate sector, who have been taking the gullible home buyers for a ride by deceiving them and usurping their

hard earned money.While looking back, the track record of UP-RERA under the able leadership of Shri Rajive Kumar, IAS, Chairman, and Shri Abrar Ahmed, IAS, Secretary, dur-

ing the last three years since its formation, in monitoring the real estate projects in Uttar Pradesh, is commendable. On one hand the home buyers get theirgrievances redressed, the developers are also get rid of unnecessary disputes and agitations from various quarters.As the statutory authority having judicialpowers in place, the confidence of home buyers is also high as there is a feeling of being secured while doing transactions in real estate properties.

Supertech Group, as a Developer having large number of projects in the state, places on record the great satisfaction and the cooperation from the side ofUP-RERA.

R K Arora,Chairman, Supertech Group

Unfortunately, some fly by nightoperators entered the real estatearena and the entire industry

earned a bad for the misdeeds of ahandful of companies.In the wake of it,birth of an sectoral regulator was in-evitable and it was just a matter oftime.

The wait was over three years agoand over these years - RERA - the regu-lator - has played a pivotal role inrestoring that trust to a large extent,and have managed successful in resur-rection of the sector. A clear indicationof it is the higher FDI as well as PrivateEquity investment that the sector hasattracted over the last three years.

Most of our projects are located inthe state of Uttar Pradesh and we con-sider ourselves extremely fortunate towork under the guidance and monitor-ing of authorities like UP RERA. Theyhave earned a name for themselvesand rightly so, for being one of the mostproactive regulators in the country ad-dressing grievances of both buyers andbuilders on utmost priority.While closeto 49,000 cases have been resolvedacross the country over the last threeyears, a whopping 19,000 cases havebeen successfully resolved by UP RERAalone. All the stakeholders includingourselves are well and truly grateful toUP RERA for its speedy disposition.

But a lot still needs to be done.As theobjective of the regulator is to protectboth the interest of buyers and devel-opers alike, the regulator needs to find abalance between buyers and developersinterest.

It ought to ensure that the buyers getpossession of their homes as per thepromised timeline, and are duly com-pensated for any delay in project com-pletion. But equally important is that itmust address some of the challengesfaced by the industry. For instance, thegovernment authorities are a stakeholder in development ofa project, hence they also should be brought under thepurview of Rera. This will surely increase efficiency of thewhole ecosystem.

Notwithstanding the fact that the sector has managed toregain some trust, yet, getting finances from financial in-stitutions including bank and NBFCs it nothing short of a

battle. In the larger interest of the industry, which is one ofthe most vital claw in the entire ecosystem, RERA must playan active role in addressing the issue.

Similarly, kickstarting stalled projects also assumes im-portance as this will greatly boost the confidence of buyersin the sector, which is extremely crucial, both the economyas a whole and employment generation.

THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IS BASICALLYFIDUCIARY IN NATURE. ITS SUCCESS AND FAILUREIS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE TRUST AND COMFORT

THAT BUYERS HAVE IN THE INDUSTRY.

Manoj Gaur, MD, Gaurs Group; Chairman, Affordable HousingCommittee, CREDAI (National) & Chairman, PHDCCI - UP Chapter

ADVERTORIAL

Shastri Park flyover ready byAug: CM

New Delhi

MAHENDERSINGHMANRALNEWDELHI, JULY24

ATOTALof 162policemenhavebeenidentifiedfrom15districtsfor not adequately contributingtowork. This comes after DelhiPolice Commissioner S NShrivastava asked all DCPs toidentify personnelwhoneed tobemotivatedandcounselled.In a recent crime review

meeting held via video confer-encing, Shrivastava also askedallDCPstoensurethatadequatedeployment bemade after co-ordinating with PCR units tocover not just vulnerable areasand stretches, but also spotswhere there is high visibility toraise the sense of securityamong thepublic.“HealsotoldallDCPsthatitis

theresponsibilityofeveryseniorofficertoidentifypolicemenwhoare not contributing satisfacto-

rily in work. Such policemenshouldbemotivated,counselledandbroughtbackto fieldduties.Policemenposted in theirhomedistrictformanyyearsshouldbetransferred to other districts,” aseniorpoliceofficersaid.Delhi Police Spokesperson

MandeepSinghRandhawa saidthe initiativewas started by thepolice chief as they want toutilisetheexpertiseofallpolice-menanddon’twantanyone leftbehind.According to Delhi Police

datauntil July11, themaximumnumberofpersonnelhavebeenidentified in Outer district (31),followedbyWest(25)andSouth

(21). North East and Central aretheonlydistrictswherenoper-sonnelwere identified.Said DCP (West district)

DeepakPurohit:“Wehaveiden-tifiedpersonnelwhohaveprob-lemswithalcoholismorpsycho-logicalormedical issues.Weareproviding them counselling,whilethosewithmedical issueswill bedeployed inoffice.”In somedistricts, senior offi-

cersarealsoapproachingfamilymembersofthepersonneltoad-dress their issues. DCP (SouthWest) Devender Arya said: “Weare also assigning tasks to themaspertheirpotentialandhavere-ceivedapositiveresponsesofar.”Thepolicechiefalsoaskedall

DCPs that the issue of missingchildrenbetackledwithutmostseriousness. “DCPs have beentold tomonitor each and everycasepersonally.Thefunctioningof the anti-human traffickingunit needs to be infused withvigour,” anofficer said.

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

A29-YEAR-OLDmandiedof se-vere head injuries after hisscooter skidded on a road inVasantKunj, a portionofwhichhad caved in following heavyrain lastweekend.Police said the incident took

place at Rajokri village road onJuly20.The victim, Kapil Dev, was

riding his scooter when it skidduetothegapintheroad.Hefelloff the two-wheeler and sus-tained injuries tohishead.Police said they received in-

formation about the accidentaround9pmonMonday.Devwas found lying on the

roadnearhisscooter,withbloodgushing fromhishead.He rushed to Safdarjung

Hospitalbutwasdeclareddeadon arrival by doctors. SachinKumar,whocalled thePCRvan,said, “I was driving back homewhen I saw aman lying on theroad. I thought he slipped be-causetherewasalotofwateron

the road, but then I saw that asmallpartof theroadhadcavedin. I rushed to help theman;hewas lying unconscious. I calledpoliceandtheambulanceimme-diately.”Sincepolicecouldn’t findan

eyewitness to the incident, acase was registered at VasantKunjSouthpolicestationagainstunknown persons under IPCsections 279 (rash driving) and304A (culpablehomicide).In the FIR registered on July

21, police said, “TheASI tried tolook for an eyewitness at thehospitalandthespotbutcould-n’t find one. On the basis of theprobe, theman died in an acci-dent.” Following investigation,police found that theman did-n’t hit anyothervehicle and felldue to the gap in the road.Further investigation is under-way.Police said Devworked at a

shopinUdyogViharandwasonhis way home when the inci-dent took place. He is survivedby his wife and their two chil-dren, who live in an apartmentinRajokri.

7THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

THECITYWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

SUKRITABARUAHNEWDELHI,JULY24

THEREPEATEDpostponementofDelhi University's online OpenBookExamination(OBE)andtheuncertaintyaroundithascreatedproblems for students offeredplacements,withmanyunabletojoin their jobs andhaving to ne-gotiatewithrecruiters.A B.Com (Honours) 3rd year

student of Shri Ram College ofCommercewassupposedtojoinamajorconsultancyfirminJune."Whenthelockdownstarted

andtheOBEwasfirstscheduled,we told our recruiters that wewould join after the exams andtheyagreedtopushbackourdateof joining. Nowonce again, theexamshave beenpostponed foranothermonth...," said the stu-dent.The OBEs for final-year stu-

dentswerescheduledtostartonJuly 1, andwere subsequentlypostponed to July 10. Now, theyhave been postponed toAugust10. Normally, DU students aredonewithfinalexamsinMay.Formanystudents, however,

the postponement hasmeant

that they cannot joinwork evenif theyarewilling."Agoodpartof recruitersare

stringentandhavesaidthatonlygraduatescanwork—sostudentsneed to have their final mark-sheetbeforetheycanjoin.Wetooare only being able to give themanestimatedtime-lineforthere-sults, so fornowwe'vesaidmid-September,"saidarepresentativeofHinduCollege'splacementcell.A representative from

MirandaHouse's placement cellsaid some recruiters have re-drawn their joining timelines."Oneofourrecruitershiresgrad-

uates for teaching and they aretakentoGujarat.Sincethatisnotfeasible, they have nowpushedjoiningtoDecember/Januaryandhave signedMoUswith the re-cruitsstatingthattheymayworkwithotherorganisations till thattime,"shesaid.Sheaddedthatwhilethejoin-

ing process has been pushedback, recruitment has not cometoa stop. "Paypackageshave re-duced—fromanaverageofRs8-Rs10lakhperannumtoRs6-Rs8lakh per annum.Wedon't havehigh-end companies and high-profile positions approachingus

rightnowbutrecruitment isstillon through the lockdownwithsmallercompanies,"shesaid.TheHinduCollege represen-

tative, however, said the delaysareimpactingthenextplacementcycle."Thankfully,mostofourre-cruitersarefromfinanceandcon-sulting,sotheyhaven'tbeenhardhit enough to revoke offers.However,oneissuethatisemerg-ing is thatwe are not being abletostartanewcycleofrecruitmentwith firmswhichhave not beenable to honour their existing of-fers.Thiswill impactthebatchof2021,"hesaid.

SLATED FOR AUGUST 10

Exams delayed, DU students say placement hit, can’t join work

TheOBEexamwaspostponedtwice.Archive

ASHNABUTANINEWDELHI,JULY24

DAYSAFTER a 56-year-oldmandrowned underMinto Bridge,due to heavywaterlogging, thePublicWorks Department hasannounced 24x7monitoring oftheareaandregularpumpingofwatertoensurethereisnorepeatof theincident.In a circular issued Friday,

PWDsaidanexecutiveengineerwillmonitorthearea24x7. Ithasalso decided to barricade roadsleadingtothebridgeifwaterlevel

risesabove45cm. If anyindivid-ual or vehicle attempts to enterdespitethebarricading,PWDof-ficials will file an FIR with theDelhi Police. Officials said trafficonroadsleadingtothebridgewillbedivertedbyDelhiTrafficPolice.“Ourfirstpriorityistoensure

there is no waterlogging. Forthat, there is a permanentpumphouse and a number ofpumpsdeployedatthespot.Butif, for any reason, the area doesget waterlogged, we want toshuttrafficsothatthereisnolossof life or damage to property,”saidaseniorPWDofficial.

AAPMLAsTHREATENPROTEST IN3DAYS

ABHINAVRAJPUTNEWDELHI, JULY24

FROMWATERLOGGING in thecapital to non-payment ofsalariestohospitalstaff, theBJP-ledmunicipalcorporationsandthe Aam Aadmi Party engagedinabitter faceoff onahostof is-sues Friday.Mayorsof the threeMCDs—

North,SouthandEast—blamedtheAAP government forwater-logging anddemanded that thefunds allegedly owed to civicbodies be released soon. AAPleaders hit back at a press con-ference, accusing the civic bod-ies of rampant corruption andnotpayinghealthcareworkers.At a joint press conference,

North DelhiMayor Jai Prakash,SouthDelhiMayorAnamikaandEastDelhiMayorNirmalJainalsoalleged that the Delhi govern-mentwas“notcooperating”withthecorporationsinfightingCovidoraddressingkeycivic issues.“DelhiissufferingfromCovid

and the city governmentwokeup only after the Union HomeMinisterswungintoaction.And

nowpeoplearefacingwaterlog-ging.Wearesaying,let’sworkto-gether,buttheAAPgovernmentdoesn’twish to,”Prakashsaid.“Therearefiveagenciesasso-

ciatedwithwaterlogging issues— PWD (Public WorksDepartment), DJB (Delhi JalBoard), DSIIDC (Delhi StateIndustrial and InfrastructureDevelopmentCorporation),FloodDepartment, andMCDs. Four oftheagencies areunder theDelhigovernment;weonlytakecareofdrains which are up to 4-feetdeep. The government shouldhavepreparedwell for themon-

soon.We seewhat happens atMintoBridgeeveryyear,”hesaid.A 56-year-oldmandriving a

mini-truckhaddrownedSundayafterhewasstuckunderthewa-terloggedMintoBridge.“We are unable to pay

salaries toourhealthcarework-ers as our source of income hasdried up during the pandemic.We urge the Delhi governmentto release fundsworth Rs 1,108croreduetotheNorthMCD,andsimilarlytotheothertwocorpo-rations,”Prakashsaid.At a press conference, AAP

MLA and DJB vice-chairman

RaghavChadhasaidthathealth-careworkersinMCD-runhospi-talshadnotbeengivensalaryforthepast threemonths.Healleged that thiswas “be-

causeofthecorruptionplaguingthe corporations”: “Delhi’smu-nicipal corporations are one ofthebiggestcorruptionmachiner-ies of India. Thewhole of BJP ispart of this corruption and theybenefit from it. AAP demandsthat BJP should not violate therightsofdoctors,andshouldim-mediatelypaysalariestodoctorswhoareworkingtirelessly.”TheMCD’s claim that pay-

mentofwageshavebeenirregu-lar due to non-implementationof the 5th Delhi FinanceCommission recommendationsbytheDelhigovernmentwasalsorejectedbyAAP.AAPMLAAtishialleged: “MCDs getmoney fromtaxes, property taxes, advertise-ments,etc,butBJPleadersputitintheir pockets. They do the samewith the money given to theMCDsbytheDelhigovernment.”Chadha saidAAPwill hit the

streets if dues owed to healthworkers are not cleared in thenext threedays.

Govt-MCD spar over unpaidhospital staff, waterlogging

Gurgaonrelies on fishto tacklemosquitoes

SAFE & SOUNDPersonnelof thePresident’sBodyguardsduringamarchingdrill atRashtrapatiBhawanonFriday.PraveenKhanna

PWD to keep eye onMinto Bridge 24x7

Soon, one portal to register property

Ammonia level up inYamuna, treatment hit

Over 150 police personnel tobe motivated to work harder

AtMintoBridgeover theweekend. PremNathPandey

Thestretchof theYamunaaroundtheOkhlabarrage inthecitywasseencoveredwitha layerof frothonFriday.PTI

53-year-oldpolicemandies of Covid

162policemenhavebeenidentifiedfrom15districts fornotcontributingtoworksufficiently

SOURAVROYBARMANNEWDELHI, JULY24

AMAJORinitiativeisintheworksto simplify the process of prop-erty registration inDelhi, underwhichawebportal is being cre-atedwhere digitised copies ofeverydocumentneededtocarryoutatransactionwillbeavailableat thetouchof abutton.Considering themultiplicity

of agencies in Delhi, the sametaskcurrently requires apersontobrowsethroughmultiplepor-talsormaketripstogovernmentoffices, before registering thepropertyatoneofthemanysub-

registraroffices in thecity.The initiative taken by the

UrbanDevelopmentdepartment,under its ‘easeof doingbusinessproject’, comesmonthsafter theCentre made a renewed pushahead of the assembly polls tohand over ownership rights toownersofpropertiesinthecity’sover1,700unauthorisedcolonies.The department recently

floated a Request for Proposal(RFP)fortheproposedintegratedportal. An official of the depart-ment explained that in order toregisteraproperty,apersonmayneed access to details includingchain of ownership, loan takenusing theproperty asmortgage,

arrear of dues of property tax,water tax, status of litigation incourts:“Gettingtherequisitepa-pers is a cumbersome processnow.Oneneedstorunaroundof-fices of theMCDs, revenue de-partment,landanddevelopmentoffice,or logontotheirportals...”This is where the proposed

webportalpromisestobeuseful.Itwill alsohaveoptions forpeo-ple to view and download landrecords, includingcertifieddigi-tally signedmaps in possessionof land record agencies of Delhi,andallotherpropertyrelatedhis-torical and current informationrequiredfor its registration.Similar plans floated in the

past, including by the SheilaDikshit government, didnot seemuchprogress.Theconferringofownership rights to residents ofunauthorisedcolonieshasalsore-mainedapoliticallycontestedis-sueovertheyears,gainingsteamaheadofeverystateelection.The latestRFP rekindles that

promise. The objectives of theproject, itsays, istoputtogethera system where a citizen canview, request, apply or engagewith various government au-thoritiesrelatedtopropertyreg-istrationinDelhi,andalsoobtaincertifiedcopyofdocumentson-line by making requisite pay-ments.

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

HIGHLEVELSof ammoniaweredetected in Yamuna at theWazirabadbarrage, fromwherewater is supplied to the city,promptingtheDelhiJalBoardtoreducewater treatment capac-ityby25%at threeplantsFriday.The situation was brought

under control by afternoon andthe plantswere expected to re-sume normal operations byevening,saidaseniorDJBofficial."Theproblemoccurredafter

heavyrainfall causedofficials inHaryana to open the gates ofdrains that had stagnantwater

with high concentration of pol-lutants...," the official said. TheHaryana irrigation and floodcontrol officials could not bereached foracommentFriday.TheDJBofficialaddedthatef-

fluentsfromindustrialunitsup-streamoftheWazirabadbarragewouldhavealsocausedthespikeinpollutantlevels.Thesituationwasbroughtundercontrolbydi-luting thewater through freshsupply fromMunakcanal.Meanwhile,thestretchofthe

Yamuna around the Okhla bar-rageinthecitywasseencoveredwitha layerof frothonFriday.ADPCCofficialsaidthiswasa

natural phenomenon that oc-curs this timeeveryyear.

SAKSHIDAYALGURGAON, JULY24

IN AN effort to tackle vector-bornediseasesduringmonsoon,the district health departmenthas released Gambusia fish,whichfeedonlarvaeofmosqui-toes, into 72 water bodies inGurgaon. Thedistrict has a totalof 153 ponds and johads, ofwhich117arepermanentand36are areas where water fills uponlyduringmonsoon.“During themonsoon, there

is a riskofmosquitoesbreedingin stagnantwater bodies and ofdiseasesrelatedtothem,suchasmalaria and dengue, spreading.To protect against this, we haverecently introduced Gambusiafish in ponds in several villages,including Wazirabad, Ghata,Ullahwas, and Palra,” said ChiefMedical Officer (CMO) DrVirenderYadav.Officials said Gambusia fish

caneat the larvaeof at least100to300mosquitoeseachdayandcaneasily live in shallowponds.Apartfromthis,officialsfrom

thehealthdepartmentsaidthatothermeasures have also beentaken in anticipation of vector-borne diseases, including ar-rangingfor“adequateamounts”ofTamiflu,whichisusedintreat-mentof swineflu,andlarvicide,whichisaninsecticidemeanttokillmosquito larvaebefore theybecome full grown adults.Chemicals for foggingaswell asblack oil that can be sprayed onwater bodies to prevent larvaegrowthhavealsobeenprocured.“Breeding checkers... will be

deployed for the next threemonths. Around 35 breedingcheckers have been sanctionedby thestate,” said theCMO.According to the health

department data, 22 cases ofdengueand15casesofmalariawere reported in Gurgaonlast year.

NorthMCDMayorJaiPrakashsaidAAPgovtisn’tcooperating;AAP’sRaghavChadhasaidtheywillhitthestreetsif theduesowedtohealthworkersarenotclearedinthreedays

SOMYALAKHANINEWDELHI, JULY24

A53-YEAR-OLDDelhiPoliceheadconstable,deployedatEastDelhi’sMadhuViharpolice station,diedof Covid-19 on Friday evening.AftertestingpositiveforthevirusonJuly13,HCSatyaNarayanwasadmittedtoaCovidcarecentreinAkshardhamand then shifted toLokNayakHospital.DCP (East) Jasmeet Singh

said,“SatyaNarayanunderwentplasma therapy on Thursday.Sadly, he didn’t survive, andpassedawayFriday.”Singh said the head consta-

ble suffered from various co-morbidities, including diabetesandalsohadaheart stent.Apoliceofficer saidNarayan

was on leave since June 26 dueto high blood pressure andheart-related issues.Narayan is survived by his

wifeandtheirtwosons,wholiveinBhajanpura.HislastriteswereconductedunderCovidprotocolon Friday. So far, 14Delhi PolicepersonnelhavediedofCovid-19.AsperDelhiPolicedata,over

2,500 personnel contracted thevirus, of which over 2,200 haveresumedtheirduties.

Scooter skids oncaved-in road, mandies of head injuries

Minorrapedby2menNoida:A13-year-oldmi-nor was allegedly gangraped in Greater NoidaThursday. Police saidthey have received acomplaint from the vic-tim’s father against twopersons, including onewhoallegedlyhadanoldrivalry with the family.Theaccusedareyettobearrested,policesaid.ENS

53foreignersallowedtogoNewDelhi:ADelhi courtFridayallowed53foreignnationalsfromIndonesia,Kyrgyzstan and SouthAfrica,who attended theTablighiJamaatgatheringinNizamuddinMarkaz,towalk free onpayment ofvarying fines, after theyaccepted mild chargesunder a plea bargainprocess.

DDA launchesnewportalNew Delhi: DDA haslaunched a new interac-tive microsite, 'PublicEngagement Portal forMPD-2041', to share in-formation on the prepa-ration of Master PlanDelhi-2041 as well as anumberofvisioningandperception surveys forcitizens’ feedback.

JatleaderarrestedGurgaon: A 73-year-oldJat leader, Hawa SinghSangwan, was arrestedbyGurgaonPolice for al-legedly using abusivewords against a particu-larcommunity,criticisingfreedom fighter RaoTularam, and making“wrong comments”against the Yadav regi-ment inaFacebookpost,which has since beentakendown.ENS

BRIEFLY

PraveenKhanna

New Delhi

8THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

GOVT&POLITICSWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

DELHICONFIDENTIAL

POST PUZZLENEWLYELECTEDRajyaSabhaMPswerenominated tostand-ingcommitteesThursday.ButthenominationofformerdeputychairmanHarivanshtoapanelgeneratedcuriosity.Thepostofdeputy chairmanbecamevacantwhenhis Rajya Sabha termended.Nowhehasbeen re-electedas amember. Thedeputychairmanisnotamemberof anystandingcommittee.SowillHarivanshnot bemadedeputy chairman again?Rajya SabhasourcessaychairmanMVenkaiahNaiduhasbegunlookingintotheproceduresforelectiontothepost.TheysayHarivanshcanbe re-elected as deputy chairman, but that it is a political calltherulingNDAwillmake.Harivanshwill resignasmemberofthepanelwhenheisre-electeddeputychairman,theyadd.

BALANCING ACTTHEGROWINGdiscontentamongpartycadreoverlateralen-tries in the BJP and Shivraj Singh Chouhan government ap-peared to be a key issue in the discussions between the RSSleadership and BJP leaders inMadhya Pradesh this week.SarsanghchalakMohan Bhagwat, whowas in Bhopal thisweek,metoldassociatesandtopministers.Hewasinthecityfor ameeting of the RSS top leadership.Whilemany of theseniorministers inducted into theChouhangovernment re-cently are having a rendezvouswithBhagwat, he is unlikelytogive timefor thosewhohavemigrated fromtheCongress.

NEW POSITIONSINAbureaucratic rejig, theAppointmentsCommitteeof theCabinetonFridayapprovedtheappointmentofRamMohanMishraasSecretaryofMinistryofWomenandChildDevelo-pment. A 1987-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS officer,Mishra will replace Ajay Tirkey, who has been appointedSecretaryofDepartmentofLandResources.BiharcadreIASof-ficer Rajesh Bhushan, presently OSD in the Department ofHealthandFamilyWelfare,willtakeoverasHealthSecretary.SecretaryMines Sushil Kumar has been transferred to theNationalCommission forScheduledCastesasSecretary. ThepostofSecretary,MinistryofMineshasbeenassignedtoCoalSecretaryAnil Jain.

MANOJCGNEWDELHI, JULY24

THE RAJASTHAN High Court’sverdict that thepetition filedbySachin Pilot and 18 rebelCongressMLAs against the dis-qualification noticeswasmain-tainable and that status quoshould be maintained untilMondayhascomeasamajorre-lief toPilot.The Congress admitted the

orderwasasetbackandsaidthebattle will now shift to theSupreme Court. It also askedPilot to spell outhisdemands.ButsourcesclosetoPilotsaid

themaincontentionof therebelMLAswasthattheSpeaker’sno-ticewas“biased”andthathewas“acting inhaste.”“The court

hasstayedthatnotice…soitisa relief but thebattle is notover,” thesource said.The Pilot campreiterated thatthere was no anti-partyactivity from their side whichcalled for their disqualification.“Werespecttheverdictofthe

HighCourt. Andour contentionhas been that wewere electedon a Congress ticket, we haveworked hard for the party andwehavesaidnothingagainsttheleadership of the party. Thegrievances were against theChief Minister and his way ofworking…wewerewellwithinour rights to raise those issues,”a leader close toPilot said.Moreover, the extra time,

leaders in the Pilot camp said,givesrebelsmoreelbowroomasthey reach out to otherswithintheparty.

HARIKISHANSHARMANEWDELHI, JULY24

IN THE first such exercise, theMinistryofPanchayatiRajhasde-cided to conduct anonlineauditof20percentoftheestimated2.5lakh gram panchayats (GPs)acrossthecountryforthecurrentfinancialyear.Theexercise,tobeconducted

throughAuditOnline,anapplica-tiondevelopedbytheMinistry,isa bid to ensure accountability inthe utilisation of funds at thegroundlevel.

Theauditwillbescaleduptocover all Panchayats across thecountryinthenextfinancialyear2020-21, theMinistry said in acommunication to states sentThursday.About50,000panchayatscan

betakenupforonlineauditduringthecurrentyear.Theirbooksofac-countsfor2019-20willbeauditedwith a focus on how they usedFinance Commission(FC)grants.TheFifteenthFinanceComm-

ission recommended an alloca-tionofRs60,750croreforrurallo-calbodiesduring2020-21,almostthe same as last year under the

FourteenthFinanceCommission.Onlineaudit,with theoption

of physical verification, officialssaid, assumes greater relevancegiventhepandemicandthelock-down.Forone, intheofflinesystem,

timelyavailabilityofrecordswasamajor issue. “However, in thenewprocess,theauditorswillbeable to see online all documentsrelatedtoworkapprovalandpay-ments,”saidanofficialcloselyin-volvedwiththeimplementationof theaudit.“They can even ask for addi-

tionaldocumentssuchasphoto-

graphsas aproof ofworkdone,”hesaid.As some works are geo-

tagged,auditorscandoasamplecheck by visiting the site.Moreover,anonlineauditcanbemonitored at all level: district-state-Centre.“In the lockdown, an offline

auditwouldn’thavebeenveryef-fective. This process, however,helpsuspushthroughsignificantprocesses,”saidtheofficial.Still,therearehurdles.Forone,

more than 15 per cent ofPanchayatsinseveralstateshavenotclosedtheirbooksofaccounts

fortheyear2019-20.Completingandclosingtheaccountsisapre-requisitefortheonlineaudit.In fact,while 100per cent of

Panchayats inMaharashtra andHaryanahaveclosed their2019-20 accounts, no Panchayat hasdone this in Arunachal PradeshandBihar. States likePunjabandHimachal Pradesh are also lowperformers.AuditOnline is an open-

source applicationdeveloped aspartofPanchayatEnterpriseSuite(PES)undere-panchayatMissionModeProject(MMP)initiatedbytheMinistryofPanchayatiRaj.

ONLINEAUDIT,officialssaid,willeaseaccesstorecords, canbemonitoredatdistrict, stateandCentrelevel.Uploadingphotosofworkdoneandgeo-tag-gingprojectswillalsoallowforphysicalinspection.

UsingtechtocutredtapeE●EX

PLAINED

First time, Panchayat funds to be audited online

CMAshokGehlotwalksoutofRajBhavanwithhissupporters in JaipurFriday.Rohit JainParas

DEEPMUKHERJEEJAIPUR, JULY24

THE RAJASTHANBJP on FridayslammedChiefMinister AshokGehlot over the sit-in protest byCongressandIndependentMLAssupportinghisgovernmentinsidetheGovernor’shouseandalsoontheCM’s statement that itwon’tbe his responsibility if people‘gherao’theRajBhavan.On Fridaymorning, Gehlot’s

stable of supporting legislatorsstagedasit-inprotest at the resi-denceofGovernorKalrajMishra,demanding that he convene anAssemblysessionimmediately.“Adramaof sit-in is goingon

inside the Raj Bhavan. Can he(Gehlot) force the Governor?UndertheConstitution,undertheleadershipof a leader of apoliti-calparty, itsMLAs,cantheyforcetheHonourableGovernor,whoisthehighestConstitutionalbodyofany state?” RajasthanBJP presi-dentSatishPoonia toldreportersinJaipuronFriday.Poonia also criticisedGehlot

forsayingthepubliccouldgheraothe Raj Bhavan. “After such lan-guage,theHomeMinisterandtheChiefMinister himself,whohasthe responsibility of managinglaw and order in the state, isprovedtobeacriminalbyviolat-ing several provisions of the IPCanddisastermanagementrules,”saidPoonia.The Leader of Opposition

GulabChandKataria said thatby

demonstrating inside theGovernor’s house, all “limits ofmorality”havebeencrossed.“I had said the very first day

thatwhether the government isinminority ormajority, it canbedecided only on the floor of theHouse (State Assembly). If thiswouldhavebeenclearbackthen,thingswouldhavereachedadeci-sive level now. But at that time,they took judicial avenues be-causetheydidn’thaveamajority.Theywantedtimetobringpeopleto thehotel. Andnow,whenbe-causeofthecourttheyaren’tsee-inganywayout,theyhavecrossedalllimitsofmorality,”saidKataria.Condemning the slogans

raisedbythelegislatorsinsidetheGovernor’s residence, “Theway,based on your numbers, youwent inside the Raj Bhavan andstaged adharna, I feel that therecouldn’tbeanyworsedeedthanthisthataChiefMinistercando,”addedKataria,Speaking onGehlot’s state-

ment about gherao, Kataria ap-pealedtotheCentralgovernmenttodeploytheCRPFto“protectthesanctity of the Constitutionalpost” and not to depend on theRajasthanpolice.Hecalledfortheouster of the protesting MLAsfromtheGovernor’sHouse.“Thereisaconstitutionalway.

TheCabinethasconveyeditsmes-sagebutnowthedecisionhas tobe takenbyhim (Governor). Butthis ideaof enablingthedecisionbysittingonhischestisextremelycondemnable,”saidKataria.

BJP slams Gehlot’sstatement on gheraoof Governor’s house

SachinPilot

BJP MLA moves HC for disqualificationof 6 BSP legislators who shifted to CongDEEPMUKHERJEEJAIPUR, JULY24

BJP MLA Madan Dilawar hasfiled a petition in the RajasthanHigh Court, challenging themerger of six Bahujan SamajParty (BSP) legislators into theCongress last year, which tooktheparty’sstrengthto107inthe200-memberAssembly.Inthepetition,thehearingof

whichisscheduledtotakeplaceonMonday,oneof theprayersisthe disqualification of theseMLAs frommembership of theAssembly with effect fromSeptember2019.“InMarchthisyear,Ihadsub-

mitted awritten appeal to theSpeaker of the Rajasthan

Assembly,sayingthatthemergerof BSPMLAs in the Congress isunconstitutional. But even afterfourmonthshavepassed,hedid-n’thearmypetition.Asaresult, Ihad tomove theHigh Court be-cause I hadno choice left. (I am)requesting the court to declarethismergerwrong and ineffec-tive,” said Dilawar, MLA fromRamganjmandi inKotadistrict.InSeptemberlastyear,sixBSP

MLAs Deepchand, SandeepKumar, Joginder Singh Awana,WajibAli,RajendraSinghGudhaandLakhanSingh—metSpeakerCPJoshiandsubmittedanappli-cation for theirmerger into theCongress. Thereafter, they be-cameapartof theCongress.Among the grounds cited in

Dilawar’spetitionisthattheBSP

is still a national party and hasnotmergedwiththeCongressattheCentreor the state level andthat theMLAs had “voluntarilygiven up the membership” ofBSPby joiningCongress.Hehasalso raised the Speaker’s “inac-tion” in thematter.It has also been cited that

while the Speaker didn’t issuenotices to the former BSPMLAsin connectionwith the petitionfiledbyDilawar inMarch, he is-sued notices to otherMLAs onJuly 14 this year on a disqualifi-cationpetitionfiledbyCongresschiefwhipMahesh Joshi.Speaker Joshi has issuedno-

ticestoformerdeputychiefmin-ister Sachin Pilot and 18MLAsloyal to him, following whichtheymovedcourt.

MANOJCGNEWDELHI, JULY24

WHEN SACHIN Pilot revoltedagainst Chief Minister AshokGehlotinRajasthan,parallelsweredrawnbetweenhisrebellionandthe onewaged by JyotiradityaScindia against Kamal Nath inMadhyaPradeshfourmonthsago.A fortnight of resort politics

later,thefightisnowoverconven-ingof theAssembly session for atrial of strength. Gehlotwants asession, but Governor KalrajMishra is yet to give his nod. InMadhyaPradesh,thecasewasjusttheopposite.When Scindia revolted and

shiftedMLAssupportinghimtoaresortinKarnataka,theBJP--theninoppositioninMadhyaPradesh—demanded anAssembly ses-siontoputKamalNaththroughatrust vote. The thenGovernor—thelateLaljiTandon—directedtheCMmultiple times toseekavoteof confidence, but Kamal Nathfoundvarious reasons, includingCovid-19,tokeepputtingitoff.Theunderlyingreasonforthis

difference, of course, is simple:while theCongress hadplungedinto aminority inMadhyaPrad-eshaftertheScindia-ledrebellion,it still claims to have amajority,howeverwafer-thin,inRajasthan.In both cases, oneof thepar-

tiesmoved the SupremeCourt.When the BJP moved the topcourt overMadhya Pradesh, its

pleawastakenupandafloortestordered within three days. InRajasthan,theSupremeCourthasallowedtherebelMLAstimetore-ply to the Speaker’s disqualifica-tionnotices.

MADHYAPRADESH:March 14-March 20

The first direction to call anAssembly sessionwasmadebyGovernorTandon toKamalNathonMarch14.InalettersenttotheCM, the Governor said he hadcome to know that 22CongressMLAs (out of theparty’s 114 in aHouseof 230)hadsent their res-ignationstotheSpeakerandhebe-lieved the state governmenthadlosttheconfidenceoftheHouse.Invoking Articles 174 and

175(2)oftheConstitution,TandonsaidthattheBudgetSessionoftheAssemblywouldbeginonMarch16withhis address, afterwhich“theonlywork tobedone is vot-ingontrustvote”.While the House met on

March16,afterTandon’saddress,the then Speaker (from theCongress) adjourned the sessiontillMarch26inviewofthecoron-avirusthreat.OnMarch 17, the Governor

wrote to the CMagain to face afloortest.KamalNathmetTandonthe samedaybut ruled this out,claiminghisgovernmentenjoyedamajority.Hours later, the BJP’s Shivraj

Singh Chouhan and nine other

MLAsmovedtheSupremeCourtseekingdirection for a trust votein MP. Two days later, the topcourtordered that a floor testbeconductedbyshowof hands, onMarch20.Thatday,before the floor test,

KamalNathresigned.

RAJASTHAN:July12to ...

On July 12, then deputy CMSachin Pilot made his rift withGehlot public, movingwith 18MLAs to a resort in Manesar,Haryana. In a series of quick de-velopments, Gehlot movedagainst his deputy, the Speakersentthe19MLAsdisqualificationnotices, Pilot and his followersmoved the high court and gottime to reply, and the SupremeCourtrefusedtheSpeaker’spleatostaythehighcourtorder.Claiming the support of 102

MLAs in aHouse of 200, Gehlotis now demanding that anAssembly session be called, ex-pressing confidence thathewillwin a floor test. But neither hasthe BJP sought a no-confidencevote, nor has GovernorMishraagreedsofar.If in Madhya Pradesh, the

Congress government used thecoronavirus threat to end theAssembly session, theRajasthanGovernorisreportedlystallingtheGehlot Cabinet’s recommenda-tion for anAssembly session cit-ingthesame.

RAJASTHANPOWERPLAY

Relief inPilot campafterHC ruling; partyonbackfoot, askshimtospell out demand

Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthancrises: Such a long journey

In agreeing to hear Pilot camppetition, HC reopens debateAPURVAVISHWANATHNEWDELHI, JULY24

THERAJASTHANHighCourt’sde-cisiononFridayagreeing tohearindetailthechallengeagainstanti-disqualification lawsmadeby19rebelCongressMLAshasopenedupthedebateonalawconsideredsettledon theTenthSchedule ofConstitution,whichwasupheldbytheSupremeCourtin1992.The HC has agreed to test

whether disqualification of anMLAfordissentagainstthepartyviolates the Constitution’s basicstructure and fundamental righttofreespeech,amongotherissuesraisedbyrebelMLAs.In 1992, a five-judgeConstit-

utionBenchofSCledbyJusticeMNVenkatachalliah— in KihotoHollohanvZachillhuandOtherscase—hadupheldconstitutionalvalidityof the52ndamendmentto the Constitution, throughwhich anti-defection lawswereintroduced.SachinPilotand18rebelMLAs

wereservedadisqualificationno-ticebyAssemblyspeakerCPJoshionJuly15,askingthemwhytheycannot be disqualified underSection 2 of Tenth Schedule for“voluntarily givingupmember-shipof theparty”.Although theMLAshavenot

officiallyresignedfromtheCong-ress, actions perceived as “anti-partyactivities”areofteninferredasvoluntarily resigning fromthe

party. The Pilot camp’s rebellionagainst CM Ashok Gehlot andskipping two Legislative Partymeetings have been cited asgroundstoinitiatedisqualificationproceedingsinthenotices.The dissenting MLAs have

challengedconstitutionalvalidityof Section2(1) of the anti-defec-tion laws, which allow theSpeaker todisqualify anMLA forso-calledanti-partyactivities.Thischallengeisthefirstof13

questions framed by the HighCourtthatwillbeheardindetail:“Whetherthejudgmentofthe

Hon’bleSupremeCourt inKihotoHollohanVs. Zachillhu&OrshastestedtheconstitutionalityofPa-ragraph2(1) (a)of theTenthSch-edule...onlywiththetouchstoneof‘crossingover’ or ‘defection’ andtheCourtwasnever calledupontoanswer,muchlessthequestionof intra-partydissent?”In its last questionof law,HC

hassaidthatitwillalsoexamineifthetopcourt'sdecisioninKihotoHollohancase“canbeunderstoodas tobar thehigh court fromex-amining” theconstitutionalityofanti-defectionlaws.While therehavebeenmany

instancesofcasesundertheTenthSchedule reaching the courts onpowers of the Speaker vis-à-visrights of legislators, a constitu-tional challenge has not beenmadesince1992.Ifthecourtfindsthat any law interfereswith fun-damentalrightsorthebasicstruc-tureof theConstitution, it canbestruckdownasnullandvoid.SenioradvocatesHarishSalve

andMukulRohatgi,whoappearedonbehalfoftherebelMLAs,arguedthat although theSChadupheldconstitutionalvalidityofTenthSch-edule, thecourtdidnotexaminethelawsongroundsoffreespeech.

FULLREPORTONwww.indianexpress.com

Rajnath, Israel minister talkabout enhancing defence ties

OutsidetheRajBhavanin JaipuronFriday.Rohit JainParas

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

DEFENCE MINISTER RajnathSingh spoke to his Israeli coun-terpartonFridayaboutenhanc-ing defence engagement be-tweenbothcountries.The government said in a

statement that during Singh’stelephonic conversation withIsrael’s Defence MinisterBenjaminGantz,both“expressedsatisfaction at the progress ofstrategic cooperation betweenthetwocountriesanddiscussedpossibilities of further strength-eningthedefenceengagements”.The twoministers also ex-

pressed“satisfactionattheongo-ingcollaborationinresearchanddevelopment in fighting pan-demic COVID-19whichwill not

onlybenefitthetwocountriesbutalso aid the larger humanitariancause”, thestatementread.Singh also invited “greater

participation of Israeli defencecompanies under new liber-alised foreigndirect investment(FDI) regime in defencemanu-facturing” and the two “ex-changed views on regional de-velopments”.

RajnathSingh

KANCHANVASDEVCHANDIGARH, JULY24

PUNJAB CHIEF MinisterAmarinder Singhhas refused toaccepttheresignationofhisChiefParliamentary Secretary (CPS)SureshKumar, days after hehadputinhispapers.InacommunicationtoKumar,

Chief Secretary Vini MahajanFridaywrote that theCMhas re-jectedhisresignationlettersdatedJuly 15, 2020, September, 2019andAugust, 2017. The letter alsoadviseshimtoresumeworkwithimmediateeffect.Amarinder had incidentally

denied that hehad received anyresignation byKumar althoughthe latterhadrefusedtoperformofficialduties.Hehadreturnedhisofficial vehicles and relievedhispersonal staff. Amarinder hadheldameetingwithhimWedne-sday.Later,Mahajanvisitedhim.Kumar resigned for the third

time, on July 15,when the case,challenginghis appointment asCPStoCMhadcomeupforhear-

ingintheHC.Hehadmadeanotein the resignation that nobodyfrom the government had ap-peared incourt and thecasewasadjourned to September 14. Fri-day’s communication tohimbytheCS, also says thegovernmentis, in themeantime,writing toAdvocateGeneraltoworktowardsgettingthecasedecidedfast.Kumar,aretiredIASofficer,was

handpicked by the CMand ap-pointedCPStoCMwhentheCon-gress tookover reinsof the state.InJanuary2018,hisappointmentwassetasidebyasinglebenchofHC. Thegovernment challengedtherulingbeforeabiggerbench.

Amarinder rejectsChief ParliamentarySecretary’s resignation

AmarinderSingh

New Delhi

MANOJCGNEWDELHI, JULY24

CALLINGPVNARASIMHARao“adedicated Congressman” who“served the party devotedly invarious capacities”, Congresschief Sonia Gandhi Friday saidthe party takes pride in the“many accomplishments andcontributions” of the formerPrimeMinister.She said Rao became Prime

Ministerata timeof “graveeco-nomic crisis” and the countrywasable toovercome themanychallengessuccessfullythroughhis “bold leadership”.Her statement is significant

given the strained relations shehadwithRaoduringandafterhistenureasPrimeMinister,andtillhis death in 2004. TheCongressreleased written speeches ofGandhi, her son and formerCongresspresidentRahulGandhiand former Prime MinisterManmohan Singhwhichwerereadoutduringavirtualfunction,organised by the TelanganaCongress,tolaunchyear-longcel-ebrations to mark Rao's birthcentenary.Singh called Rao “the father

of EconomicReforms in India.”In the past, Gandhi rarely

spokeaboutRao’s contribution.Shemade a raremention in herpresidential speech at theCongress plenary session in2010.“RajivGandhiwaswithusfor a brief while but in thateventful time, he set out our-countryfirmlyonthepathtoen-tering the 21st century from a

position of strength. PVNarasimhaRaogavefreshimpe-tus to the process of economicreforms,” shehadthensaid.In2018,theCongressremem-

bered Rao at the AICC plenarysessionwiththepolitical resolu-tionpayingtributetohimforush-eringineconomicreforms.And Friday, Gandhi remem-

bered him as a “most scholarlyanderuditepersonality”.“Afteralongcareerinstateand

national politics, he became thePrimeMinister of India at a timeofgraveeconomiccrisis.Throughhis bold leadership, our countrywasabletoovercomemanychal-lengessuccessfully,”shesaid.TheUnionBudget of July24,

1991,shesaid,pavedthewayforeconomic transformation ofIndia.“Rao’s tenure was also

markedbyanumberofpolitical,socialandforeignpolicyachieve-mentsthathaveendured.Aboveall, he was a dedicatedCongressman who served theparty devotedly in various ca-pacities…Raowas a respectednationalandinternationalfigure.The Congress party takes pride

in his many accomplishmentsandcontributions,” shesaid.In his speech, Rahul ap-

plaudedtheTelanganaCongressfor the initiative. Incidentally,Telangana Chief Minister KChandrasekhar Raohas alreadymadeaseriesofannouncementsto commemorate Rao’s birthcentenary. He has also de-mandedaBharatRatna forRao.RahulsaidRao’scontribution

continuestoshapemodernIndia.“FromjoiningtheCongresspartyinhisteenageyearstobecomingthePMofthelargestdemocracy,his remarkablepolitical journeyreflectedhisgritanddetermina-tion,”hesaid.Rahulsaiditwasonthis day in 1991 that India em-barked on a bold new path ofeconomictransformation.“Rao and Dr Manmohan

Singh played a pivotal role inushering in theeraof liberalisa-tion,”hesaid.

Inhisinauguralspeech,Singhcalled Rao “a great son of thesoil”andtalkedabouttheBudgetwhichhehadpresentedon July24, 1991. “It was a Budget thatchanged India inmanyways. Itushered in economic reformsand liberalisation. It was a hardchoice and a bold decision, andit was possible because PrimeMinister Narasimha Rao gaveme the freedom to roll outthings,afterhefullyunderstoodwhatwasailingIndia’seconomyat that time,”Singhsaid.He said “real tough deci-

sions”ontheeconomicfronthadto be urgently taken in 1991 asthecountrywasfacedwithafor-eignexchangecrisis.“But then politically itwas a

big question if one could takeharddecisions tomeet thechal-lengingsituation.Itwasaprecar-iously placedminority govern-ment,whichwas dependent on

outside support for stability. YetNarasimhaRaowasabletocarryeveryonealong,convincingthemwithhisconviction.Enjoyinghisconfidence, Iwentaboutmy jobto carry forward his vision…Looking back, Rao can truly becalled the father of EconomicReformsin India,”hesaid.“Economic Reforms and

Liberalisation were indeed hisbiggestcontributionbuthiscon-tributions to the country in dif-ferent fieldscannotbeunderes-timated. On the Foreign Affairsfront,hemadeeffortstoimprovetherelationshipwithourneigh-bours including China. Indiasigned the South AsianPreferential Trade AgreementalongwiththeSAARCcountries.Then the ‘Look East Policy’ wasalso his brainchild to link Indiawith East and South-East Asiancountries,” Singhsaid.Singh pointed out that Rao,

“endowedwith a cool tempera-mentanddeeppoliticalprowess”,wasopen todebates anddiscus-sion andalways tried to take theOppositionintoconfidence.“He had deputed Atal Bihari

Vajpayee as the leader of theIndian delegation to the UNHuman Rights Commission inGeneva to discuss Pakistan-sponsoredresolutiontocensureIndia on its record of humanrights in Jammu & Kashmir,which was successfullythwarted. He had also nomi-nated Subramaniam Swamy asChairmanoftheCommissiononLabour Standards andInternational Trade, with aCabinet-rank,” Singhrecalled.

SoniaGandhi,PVNarasimhaRao.Expressarchive

SoniaGandhisaid theCongress takespride inNarasimhaRao’s ‘manyaccomplishmentsandcontributions’. Express

Sonia finally putsNarasimhaonCongpedestal, praises his bold leadership

GOVT& POLITICS 9WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

SANDEEPASHARMUMBAI, JULY24

MAHARASHTRACHIEFElectoralOfficer (CEO) Baldev Singh onFriday denied allegations of ap-pointing an agency associatedwith the BJP for publicity workbeforetheAssemblyelectionlastyear,evenastheCongressaskedtheElectionCommission(EC)toprobe thecharge.Singh told the EC on Friday

that his office neither has any“direct or indirect connection”withDevangDave,nationalcon-venor of IT and social media ofBJP’syouthwing,norhasDave’sagencybeenawardedanyworkby the CEO or the DirectorateGeneral of Information andPublicRelations (DGIPR).RTI activist Saket Gokhale

had alleged on Twitter onThursday that theMaharashtraCEO “hired the BJP IT Cell forhandlingtheirsocialmedia”be-fore the election. Gokhale hadsaid that the government-em-panelled agency Signpost Indiaemployedby theCEOshared itsregisteredaddresswithanotheragencythatwasownedbyDave.RegardingSignpostIndia,the

CEO informed the EC that theagency was “appointed byDGIPR following due process”only for voter awareness andsensitisation.Singhsaidthathisoffice approached DGIPR forfinding an agency since a 2017resolution by theMaharashtragovernment had tasked DGIPRto engage all advertising agen-ciesonbehalfofthegovernmentand itsdepartments.AskedwhytheCEOfollowed

a state government resolutionmeantforitsdepartments,anECofficerclarified,“Sincethejobathandisonlyofpublicity,it’sstan-dard practice for a state CEO toapproachthestate’sinformationandpublicrelationsdepartmentsince theyalreadyhaveempan-elled agencies for this purpose.It’s faster thisway.”OnFriday, theCongress took

off fromwhereGokhaleleft,andalleged that Dave’s agencywasworking for the MaharashtraCEO.Seniorpartyleaderandfor-merMaharashtraChiefMinisterPrithviraj Chavan said that the“voter databases and demo-

graphicswasmade available totheBJPthroughthesocialmediaagency”.Singhdeniedthechargeand

reiterated thatneitherhisofficenor DGIPR had hired Dave’sSocial CentralMedia Solutions,and even Signpost India’s jobwas limited to voter outreachand that therewasnoexchangeof voterdata.Chavan said Dave’s social

media firm had shown theMaharashtraCEOasa“client”onits website,www.socialcentral.in. TheagencyalsoservicestheBJP’sso-cialmediacampaigninthestate.“This is clear evidence to es-

tablish that the CEOMaharashtra’s social media ac-count was being run by a BJPsponsored firm owned by BJP’soffice-bearerDevangDave.Davealsooperatessocialmediapageslike Fearless Indian, I supportNarendraModi,whichareprop-aganda pages on behalf of theBJP.ThewebsitealsoclaimsthatDaveisamemberoftheITboardofMaharashtragovernment.Itisnotclearwhenandhowthegov-ernment of Maharashtra ap-pointed Devang on the post,”saidChavan,whowrotetotheECdemanding an inquiry. The EChas sought further commentsfromtheCEOonChavan's letter.Onrecords,theDGIPR,which

functions under the state’sGeneral AdministrationDepartment (GAD), had

awardedtheCEO’s socialmediapublicity contract to SignpostIndia in 2018 after a tenderingprocess in which advertisingagencies empanelled with thestate governmentwerepermit-ted to participate. In 2018, theGAD was headed by the thenChief Minister DevendraFadnavis.On records, Dave and his

Social Central are not directlylinkedtoSignpostIndia.Noneofthe four directors of the adver-tising agency has any role inSocial Central. However, Daveappeared to concede a link onFriday.“We do not earn out bread

and butter by doing any kind of‘dalali’ but by hard work. Thework assigned by the EC toSignpost Indiawasafter follow-ingdueprocess. There isno ille-gality. Is it forbiddenforpoliticalactivists tomake an honest liv-ing?”heasked,denyingChavan’sallegations. “TheECI and the in-dustryalsoappreciatedtheworkdone. Am I not allowed profes-sionalengagementsjustbecauseI supportan ideology that somepeople do not agree with?” hesaid.“I comefromalowermiddle

classbackgroundandwhateverposition I’m in today is becauseof my hard work and merit,withoutanypoliticalorfinancialbacking.Myadvicetosuchpeo-ple:don’twasteourtime,”Davesaid.

SuratBJPworkersholdupa1000-metreparty flagtowelcomenewly-appointedstatepartypresidentCRPaatil.HanifMalek

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICESURAT, JULY24

NEWLYAPPOINTEDGujaratBJPchief C R Paatil cancelled a carrallyscheduledinSuratonFridayafter he saw pictures of a hugecrowdgathering.The Surat city BJP unit had

made elaborate preparations towelcome Paatil. A truck wasdecked up with flowers andposters of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, Union HomeMinisterAmitShah,BJPnationalpresident J P Nadda, GujaratChiefMinisterVijaybhaiRupani,

hisdeputyNitinPatel andotherBJP leaders were put vehicleswithsloganswelcomingPaatil.TheSuratBJPunithadorgan-

ised a vehicle rally towelcomePaatilatValakPatia,wherework-ers stood holding a 1000-metreparty flag stretched along theroad,asthelocalBJPunitwasin-formedthatPaatilwouldbeland-ing at the Vadodara airport andthencometoSuratbyroad.Paatil,however landedat theSurat air-port,30kmfromtheValakPatia.On Friday afternoon, after

landinginSuratcity,whenPaatilfoundoutaboutthecrowdwait-ing forhimatValakPatia, he re-

portedlycalledupSuratcityBJPpresidentNitinBhajiyawalaandotherBJP leaders and told themtocancel the rally.Paatil told The Indian Express,

“WhenIsawthosepictures,Iwasapprehensive. Though the sup-portersandmembersweremain-tainingsocialdistancing,butIdid-n’twanttotakeachanceamidthepandemic.So, Idecidedtocanceltherally.Withsomanypeopleto-gether at aplace, chances of vio-lationof social distancingnormswouldhavebeenmore.“It is natural that people are

enthusiasticbecause I amarriv-ing here for the first time after

beingappointedasthestateunitpresident. Our party leaders,workersandmanyofmyfriendswould want to meet me, butgiventhesituationnow,itwillbebetter if we avoid any kind ofpersonalmeeting,beit inmyof-fice or atmy home.” I am plan-ningtotourallthewardsinSuratcity where I will meet partyworkersand leaderspersonally.I have told Navsari BJP unit tocancel Navsari rally as wellscheduledonSaturday.”SuratcityBJPpresidentNitin

Bhajiyawalasaid,“ItwasPaatil’sdecisiontocanceltherally,keep-ing inmindthepandemic.”

ENS&PTILUCKNOW,JULY24

FORMERDEPUTYprimeminis-ter and BJP leader Lal KrishnaAdvanionFridaydeposedbeforeaspecialCBIcourtviavideocon-ferenceinthe1992Babridemo-litioncaseanddeniedhisrole inthe incident.Advani’s lawyer KKMishra

said the 92-year-old leaderwasfalselyimplicatedduetoapolit-ical conspiracy and termed theevidenceagainsthimfalse.Advani denied his involve-

ment in the alleged conspiracyalongwith‘karsevaks’todemol-ish themosque in Ayodhya onDecember 6, 1992. In the courtofspecialJudgeSKYadav,theBJPleader pleaded that he is inno-cent and is unnecessarilydraggedinthecaseowingtopo-litical reasons.Hesaidhewouldfurnishhisdefenseat anappro-priate stageof theproceedings.The special judge put forth

1,050questionstoAdvaniandheansweredthemverycautiously,denyingeveryallegationofcon-spiracyandarguingtherewasnooccasion tomake him stand ontrial.Advani, whose statement

was recorded in thepresenceofhisadvocateMahipalAhluwalia,is the third accused in the casewho deposed through videoconference after BJP veteranMurli Manohar Joshi and RamChandraKhatri,whoislodgedinaSonipat jail inHaryana.

LIZMATHEWNEWDELHI, JULY24

ASPRESIDENTRamNathKovindcompleted three years in officeon Friday, likemost Indians, lifehas been anythingbut usual forthefirstcitizenoverthelastfourmonths.TheRashtrapatiBhavan,gen-

erally visited by thousands ofpeople,includingdignitariesandpoliticalleaders,wascloseddaysahead of the nationwide lock-downstartingMarch25. In fact,seeing thenumberof visitors atthe Mughal Gardens, thePresidenthimselfsuggestedthattheRashtrapatiBhavanbeclosedand the Change of GuardCeremony be discontinued forthe public as a precautionarymeasure against the spread ofCovid-19.

Gettingintoactioninthena-tion's battle against the virus,Kovindheldavideo-conferencealong with Vice President MVenkaiahNaidutowardstheendof March. In it, he urged allGovernors and LieutenantGovernors to extend their sup-porttotheirrespectivestategov-ernments“inwhicheverwaythegovernments want them to”, asourceintheRashtrapatiBhavansaid.He also urged them to hold

regular stock-takingmeetingswiththerespectivestategovern-ments.A similar video conference

wasdone inApril firstweek–inthat,KovindsaidheandtheVicePresident would “always beavailable for consultation” forthestateGovernorsandL-Gsonissues related to thepandemic.Kovind had fewer visitors

sinceMarch. Among themwasPrimeMinister NarendraModi,who visited him once; otherministers, including HomeMinister Amit Shah, had hadseveralmeetingswithhimdur-ing the lockdownperiod.In order to make more re-

sourcesavailableforCovid-19re-lief measures, Kovind con-tributed onemonth’s salary tothe PM-CARES fund in Marchanddecidedtoforgo30-percentsalary forayear.He has also instructed the

staff tocutdownexpensesattheRashtrapati Bhavan and askedthem staff tomake optimal us-ageof the resources.“Hehasdecidedthatnocap-

italworkswillbetakenupinthisfinancial year; repair andmain-tenanceworkwillbeminimisedtoonlyensureproperupkeepofassets,”asourcesaid.Thataside,

he gave instructions to reduceuse of office consumables, cutdown use of paper, bring downdomestictoursandprogrammesandadvocateduseoftechnologyto reach out to the people,among other measures, thesourcesaid.Kovind has also decided to

defer the purchase ofPresidential limousine and touse from the available pool, ifneeded, for any ceremonialoccasion.Fewerguestsatbanquets, in-

cluding the At Home function,lessuseofflowersandotherdec-orative items, andshrinking themenu for official functions areother suggestions he hasmade,the source said. “It is estimatedthatthesestepswillsaveatleast20 per cent of the RashtrapatiBhavan's budget this year,” thesourcesaid.

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

VICE-PRESIDENTM VenkaiahNaidu on Friday encouragedpeopleto“master”theirmothertongue and said that learning alanguage “amounts toassimila-tion of culture and values” andcanalsowidenaperson’soppor-tunities. He asked people to“learnmore languages to fosterunityofmankind”.Deliveringanonlineaddress

for theWorld Telugu CulturalFest being organised at SanFrancisco, Naidu, according to agovernment statement, “high-lighted the virtues of learningand mastering one’s mothertongueevenasheurgedthepeo-ple to learn other languages tothe extent possible for a widerunderstandingofculturaldiver-sitiesandvaluesystems”.Healsosaid “learning other languagesalsofosterswiderbondingofhu-

mankindbesidesenhancingop-portunitiesof variouskind”.Callinglanguage“morethan

a mere instrument of expres-sion”Naidu said that “languageismanifestationofcultureandasystemof valuesovera longpe-riodoftimeanditepitomisesthepersonality types typical to re-spective cultures”. Each lan-guage, the Vice-President said,“is an outcomeof an evolution-aryprocess drawing fromotherlanguagesduringthelongperiodof interactionwithothers”.A common language fosters

unity and community develop-ment,hesaid,andurgedpeopleto learn as many languages aspossible for a broader under-standingof thediversecultures.

Mumbai: The MaharashtraGovernment has decided toprovide security to activistSaket Gokhale after he com-plainedthatRSSworkershadgathered outside his houseandthreatenedhismother.Gokhale on Thursdayhad

questionedthe appointmentof an agency associatedwiththe BJP for the election com-mission’s publicity work be-forelastyear’sAssemblypollsinMaharashtra lastyear.On Friday evening,

Gokhale tweeted that RSSworkers were chanting ‘Jai

Shri Ram’ outside his resi-dence and that “they justthreatenedmymother”.HealsotaggedstateHome

MinisterAnilDeshmukh,whoresponded, stating that hewouldbeprovidedprotectionand the Thane (rural) policehadbeeninformed.“Themob seems to have

been irked by Saket's revela-tions that the MaharashtraElection Commission hadhiredacompanylinkedtotheBJP's IT Cell for its social me-dia promotion last year,” saidapersonclosetoGokhale.ENS

Activist Saket Gokhale gets securitycover after his mother ‘threatened’

Babri case:Advani deposesin court via videolink, denies rolein incident

Gujarat BJP chief cancels car rally in Surat

MVenkaiahNaidu

Learning other languagescan foster unity: Venkaiah

First citizen fights the Covid battle alongside people

PresidentKovindcontributedonemonth’s salarytothePM-CARESfundinMarchanddecidedtoforgo30%salaryforayear.Courtesy: RashtrapatiBhavan

No flights at Kolkata airport onJuly 25, 29 due to lockdown: AAIEXPRESSNEWSSERVICEKOLKATA, JULY24

THEAIRPORTSAuthorityof India(AAI) on Friday suspended allflights at Kolkata airport onSaturday and nextWednesdaybecause of the total statewidelockdownthatwillbeinplaceonthosedays.“In view of comprehensive

lockdown announced inWestBengal, flight operations atKolkataAirportwillremainsus-pended on July 25 and 29. Thetemporaryrestrictiononrequestof thestategovernment is tore-strict movement during lock-down to contain the spread ofCovid-19,” tweeted theAAI.The West Bengal govern-

menthaddecidedtoimposeto-tal lockdown across the stateearlier this week to check the

rapid increase inCovid-19casesinthepastfewweeks.Thisweek,thecomprehensivelockdown,aspartofthenewstrategy,wasim-posed for the first time onThursday.Though both Kolkata and

Bagdograairportsremainedop-erational on Thursday, the lackof transport services inconve-niencedmanypassengers.Followingthis,ChiefMinister

Mamata Banerjee asked seniorgovernment officials to requesttheCentretosuspendrailandairoperations to make lockdownsuccessful.ChiefSecretaryRajivaSinha thenwrote to the Centrewith therequest.Asked if the rule would be

extended to all days of the bi-weekly lockdown, an official oftheNetaji SubhasChandraBoseInternational Airport in Kolkatasaid it was a possibility, adding,

“Most probably, it will be ex-tendedtoall lockdowndays.Butthestategovernmentwillmakean announcement. As of now,these twodates have been con-firmed. No flights to operate onJuly25and29.”On July 19, the government

had extended a ban on flightsfromsixCovid-19hotspot cities— Delhi, Mumbai, Pune,Chennai, Nagpur andAhmedabad — to Kolkata wasextended till the end of themonth.Meanwhile,theRailwaysan-

nouncedthatthePatna-Howrah,Bhubaneswar-Howrah andBarbil-Howrah special trainswould be cancelled on July 25.The railwayswill issue anothernotification about train sched-ules ahead of the July 29 lock-down.

--WITHPTIINPUTS

ALLEGATIONSOVERHIRINGAGENCYFORPUBLICITY

Cong sees ‘evidence of BJPlink’ as Maharashtra pollpanel chief denies charges

RAM NATH KOVIND COMPLETES THREE YEARS AS PRESIDENT

New Delhi

SANTOSHSINGHPATNA,JULY24

WITHAlimitednumberofCovid-19testsbeingdone—aresultpri-marily of inadequate availabilityof antigentestingkits—at leastadozendistricts of Bihar arewit-nessing long queues of peoplewaiting to be tested even as thestategoesthroughasurgeincases.On an average, each of the

state's38districts,exceptPatna,isgiven1,000antigentestingkitsto beusedovermultiple days, aHealthDepartmentofficialsaid.According toHealth officials

andpatientswhohaveundergonetests,waiting time inBhagalpur,West Champaran, Siwan, Saran,Muzaffarpur, East Champaran,Begusarai,Gaya,Nalanda,NawadaandRohtasdistrictsisthreetofourdaysatpresentduetolackofanti-genkits.While Patnawas in thesameboattillnotlongago,thedis-tricthasgot25additional testingcentressincethelastfivedays.All12districtshavereported

between 1,000 and 2,000 cases.Asthestategovernmenthaspro-curedonly2.8lakhantigenkits,itshould be exhausted soon if thenumberof testsare increased to20,000testsperdayassuggestedbyChiefMinisterNitishKumar.StateHealthMinisterMangal

Pandey said, “We are now test-ingover10,000samplesperdayandwould increase it further.”A districtmagistrate (name

withheld on request) said the50,000antigentestkitshavetobedividedamongthestate's38dis-tricts,with a sizeable chunk setasideforstatecapitalPatnagivenitspopulationconcentrationandheavyconcentrationofpatients.Besidesantigen,RT-PCRtests

arealsobeingdone.Bhagalpur district, for in-

stance, received 2,000 antigenkitsfourdaysagoandthereisnonowordyetwhenthefreshsetsof kits would be sent. Around300 samples are being testedeachdayinBhagalpur.Biharhastested over 11 lakh samples inthelast10days—inall,4,29,664sampleshavebeentestedsofar.Asof Friday, thestatehas re-

ported 33,511 confirmed Covidcases, but the numbersmay be

deceptive,sayexperts,giventhelikelihoodof under-testing.Dr Ajay Kumar, senior vice-

president of the IndianMedicalAssociation'sBiharchapter, toldTheIndianExpress:“EventheCMhasacceptedthatweshouldtestatleast20,000casesperdaybutwearestillstuckat10,000aday.With antigen kits readily avail-able,thestateshouldaimattest-ing 50,000 samples daily toscreen outmaximumCovid-19suspects....Ourfocushastoshifttomass treatmentnow.”He said the Indira Gandhi

Institute of Medical Sciences,Patna, should also be convertedinto a dedicated Covid hospitalnow.IncontrasttoRT-PCR,anti-gen tests — a test on swabbednasal samples that detects anti-gens, or foreign substances thatinduce an immune response inthebody,foundonorwithinthecoronavirus—isperformedout-sidetheconventionallaboratorysetting,andisusedtoquicklyob-tainadiagnostic result.Explainingwhy antigen test

kits play a key role in the battleto combat the virus, Dr ArunShah, a leading consultant inBihar and former president ofIndian Academy of Paediatrics,said:“Antigentestgivesquickre-sultcomparedtothelongertimewithRT-PCRtest. For initial test,it is almost accurate and in sub-sequent tests, RT PCR is prefer-able toascertain (whetherapa-tient isCovid-negative).”Antigentestkitsarealsocost-

effective, officials said. A sourcein the state secretariat said, “Anantigen kit costs around Rs 500comparedtoRs3,000foranRT-PCRtestkit.”Districts like Banka, which

havesofarreportedaround500Covid-19cases,are,however,rel-ativelyproblem-free.Bankadis-trictmagistrateSuharshaBhagatsaid, “We have not faced anyconstraints so far.”DeputyChiefMinisterSushil

KumarModi said: “Our govern-menthasincreasedthenumberof reserve beds in hospitals andare creating beds at otherplaces....WehavespentRs8,538croreonCovid-19measures.”

FULLREPORTONwww.indianexpress.com

DIPANKARGHOSEBHAGALPUR, JULY24

MANY MORE people wearmasks now, but there aremanywho don’t, right in front of po-lice. Thepolice seemto stopve-hicles,mostlytwo-wheelers,onwhimsy. Big cars aremostly letoff. The police arewary, talkingof the coronavirus, and how toslap fines safely. Most com-muters carry a prescription intheir pocket, which doubles upasapass formovement.Bhagalpur, the focus of a se-

ries by The Indian Express to un-derstand Covid-19 and its im-pact, iswitnessingasteepCovidcurve. Till date it has recorded2,023 Covid cases, up from 245onJune8,and19deaths,secondonly to Patna in the state. Biharis in lockdown for twoweeks,fromJuly16to31,butBhagalpurhas been under lockdown fromJuly 9. On July 18, The IndianExpress spent time at fourmainintersections of Bhagalpur tolook at the effects of the lock-downand itsenforcement.

TilkaManjhi Chowk:11.40 amTenpolicepersonnel, includ-

ing two traffic policemen, arestanding on one side of thechowk, next to a police jeep, allwearingmasks. The stream oftraffic issteady,butnotasheavyasusual.Cyclerickshaw-pullersand e-rickshaws abound. Theyare exempt from the lockdown.Some policemen stand in themiddle of the road, looking tostop vehicles. Half an hourpasses,nocarispulledaside,ex-cept for a Maruti Omni schoolvan.Motorcyclesarestoppedof-ten,butmostlyonawhim.Manymotorcyclistswhipoutdoctors’prescriptions.K K Sharma, the inspector in

charge,argueswithone:“This isa prescription from January lastyear.Youaretryingtofoolus.Finehim.”HewavesthemotorcyclistovertoMahendraKumarMishra,whoishandingoutchallans,andfineshimfornotwearingamask.Mishra has a black bag, insidewhich isapairof gloves.All shops except essential

services are meant to be shut.Butteashopsandpaanstallsareopen, in full view of the police-men. The ratio of peoplewear-ing masks has increased, butmanywearitaroundtheirnecks,pulling it upwhen they see thepolice.Across the road fromthepo-

licevanisarowofcobblers.Threeof themare notwearingmasks,asarefourrickshawpullersnextto them. One police constablesays,“Wehavebeenaskednottobeharshonthepoor.”

Kachari Chowk:12.15 pmThere are eight policemen,

butthenervousness ispalpable.Behindthemisthedistrictmag-istrate’soffice,wheretherehavebeen several positive cases in-cluding the districtmagistrate,the ADM who took his place,and other senior officials. Theparking lot is empty, barringtwomotorcycles. A policemanis collecting fines. He has twobooklets, one saying CovidNiyantran Raseed (CovidControl Receipt) issued by theHealth Department, and theother for challans under theMotorVehiclesAct.Theformer,ironically for a lockdown, says

at the bottom “Mask pahaniye,kaampe chaliye”.OnlyoneRs50finehasbeen

issuedsincemorning.Thepoliceare more preoccupied withwheretheyarestanding,andtherisks involved. They seem re-lieved as a Bihar Fire Servicestruckarrivesandhosestheplacewithsanitiser.Alittlelater,TrafficSP R K Jha arrives on a round inhisGypsy.Hetellshispersonnel,“Don’t take fines directly likethis.Askthemtodepositit inthebag.Lockdownwon’tprotectus,wehave toprotectourselves.”

Ghantaghar Chowk:12.35 pm

One of the city’s landmarks,thechowkhasatemple, in frontofwhichfivepolicemenandonepolicewoman are sitting onchairs. There is traffic in front ofthem -- cars, bikes, pedestrianswithoutmasks,butnocheckingtakesplace.The chowk is known for its

row of fruit and coconutwaterstalls.Underthelockdownrules,they are allowed to functionfrom6amto10 am, and from4

pmto7pm.Soatthistimeintheafternoon, tarpaulin sheets aredrawnoverthem.Butthatdoes-n’tstopcustomersfromstoppingandbuyingproduce.Theownerofastall,unfortu-

natelyplacednexttoaseatedpo-licemen, complains that a selleronthefarendisdoingbriskbusi-ness. Thepolicemansnaps, “Tohmain kya karu?” Then he reluc-tantly goes andaskshimto stophis sales. As he returns to thechair, thesalesresume.There are 19 fruit sellers on

the roadsidewhere the police-mensit.Sixof themhavemasks.

Variety Chowk:1.15 pmVarietyChowk is in themid-

dleofausuallybusymarketplace,withtinylanes.Shopshuttersareall down, barring at medicinestores.Oneshopkeepersittinginfrontofhiselectronicappliancesstore says, “I knowCovid isdan-gerous,buthowmuchofthiscanwesurvive?”There are six rickshaw

pullers, threewithoutmasks,allwithout customers, two asleep.In front of the shuttered stores,there are a fewmango sellers.Moresellanassortmentof fruit.One woman, without a mask,sellsmakhana.Threepeoplehave strungup

maskstosell.AnkitKumarisone.He has been doing this for twomonths.Earlier,hesoldpaan.“Inthis lockdown, evenmasks arenotselling.EarlierIwouldsell50a day. Now only 15. This placeusedtobepackedeveryday,butnotanymore,”hesays.Less than two hundredme-

tres away, under Lohia bridge,thereisacrowdofpeoplebrush-ingpasteachother,buyingitemsoffthestreet.Therearevegetablesellers,stallssellingwoodenbas-kets, and slippers. One sellersays, “If they removeus,wewillgo. But till then,wewill have toearnourdailybread.”

BhagalpurhasbeenunderlockdownfromJuly9.Butatits fourmain intersections,trafficwassteady,manyshopsremainedopen,andpoliceseemedmoremindfulof therisks theyfacedrather thanenforcinglockdownrules.DipankarGhose

ANEXPRESS SERIES

GHANTAGHARCHOWK

KACHARICHOWK

VARIETYCHOWK

Lockdown at Bhagalpur’s crossings: Shopsstay open, masks few, police checks fewer

10THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

THEOUTBREAKWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

JOHNSONTABENGALURU,JULY24

AFTERCHECKINGontheconditionof Covid-19patients in an ICUatKIMSHospitalinDharwaddistrict,pulmonologistDrRaghavendra,who is sitting in ColumbiaAsiaHospitalinBengaluru,tellsdoctorsinDharwadaboutanewstudyonCovid-19 treatmentpublished inthe International Journal ofInfectiousDiseases.The interaction is happening

as part of the tele-ICU facilitystartedbythestatehealthdepart-ment inApril for effective treat-mentofcriticalCovid-19patientsin hospitals in the districts. Thissystemhasplayedakeyroleinre-ducingdeaths in thesehospitalsandinkeepingdoctorsinthedis-trictsabreastwithlatestdevelop-mentsinCovid-19treatment.Initially started in 28 district

hospitals,thetele-ICUfacilityhasnow expanded to 68 hospitalswithmedical experts from topprivate hospitals in Bengaluruchecking on ICU patients dailyand discussing treatment forevery critical patient.With thesystemplayingakeyroleinkeep-ingcasefatalityratesinsomedis-trictsas lowas0.54percent, thehealth department has nowmovedtouse it inBengaluru.“If we look at the statistics

acrossdistricts,wehaveprovided

tele-ICUfacilitiesfromourhospi-tal to 15 districts and the deathrateis1.33percent.InBengaluru,thedeathratewasashighas fiveper cent at onepoint. Byprovid-ingtele-ICUandeffectivebedco-ordination, thedeath rate canbereduced,” said Dr PradeepRangappa, an intensivecare spe-cialist at ColumbiaAsiaHospital,whoheads a teamof doctors in-volvedindailytele-roundsofICUs.“Weareabletoprovidestan-

dardised treatment for patientsacross hospitals and districts.Andwealsokeepdoctors in thedistricts abreast with the latestdevelopments in the treatmentof Covid-19 around theworld,”DrRangappasaid.Treatment protocols have

beendrawnupwithdoctorsfromthe state-run Rajiv GandhiInstituteofChestDiseaseandareconstantlyupdatedwith the lat-estresearchfindings,hesaid.The30districtsinthestatehavebeendividedintosmallerunitsandre-sponsibilityhasbeendistributedacross three private hospitals –ManipalHospital, ColumbiaAsiaandNarayanaHealth.“ColumbiaAsia andManipal

Hospitalhavebeenonboardsincethe Critical Care Support pro-grammebeganthreemonthsagoandNHhas comeonboardnowandwill workwith Bengaluruhospitals,''saidDrVasanthKumar,assistant directorwith the state

government’se-hospitalinitiative.According to theCritical Care

Support plan devised by thehealthdepartment, the externalexpertswillbeavailableeverydayfor an eight-hour shift that in-cludestwotele-roundsof ICUsinthedistricthospitalsforabouttwohours each. Theexpertswill alsobe available on call to resolve is-suesoraddressemergencies.As on July 21, the Covid-19

deathspermillionpopulation inBengaluruwas74.8ascomparedto23.8forthestate.Thecasefatal-ityratewasonparwiththatofthestate at 2.1per cent. Thegovern-ment-run Victoria Hospital inBengaluru has recorded 97 percentdeathsamongpatientswhowere Covid-19 positive and onventilatorsintheICU.MedicalEducationMinisterDr

K Sudhakar said the tele-ICUmodel used for district hospitals“hasbeenadoptedbysomestatesafter studying the Karnatakamodel”. During a recent inspec-tion of Bowring Hospital inBengaluru, theminister insistedonthehospitalsigningupfortele-ICU services after learning therewasahighincidenceofdeaths.“ThebattleagainstCovid-19is

not a battle of doctors in privatesectoraloneor...governmentsec-tor alone. In Karnataka, privatedoctorsandpublicsectordoctorsare collaborating to effectivelytreatpatients,”saidDrRangappa.

ABHISHEKSAHAGUWAHATI,JULY24

THE CENTRAL Jail in Guwahati,with over 1,000 inmates, hasturned into a Covid-19 hotspotwithat least435 inmates testingpositive so far. The authoritieshavenowsetupaCovidcarecen-trewithin the premises and areconsidering the release ofmoreinmatestodecongesttheprison.A senior governmentofficial

toldThe IndianExpress that10outof 31 jails inAssamhavebeenaf-fectedbytheoutbreakandabout535inmateshavetestedpositive.Theofficial saidtheGuwahati jail,whichhaspoliticalprisonersandformerinsurgentleadersamongitsinmates,istheworst-hit.InanorderonasuomotuPIL

Thursday,theGauhatiHighCourtordered that “the best of meas-ures availablewith the State ofAssambeemployedtogivequal-itative treatment to the jail in-matesacrosstheStatesothatnofurtherdamage iscaused”.IG, Prisons,DasarathDassaid

Fridaythattheauthoritieshaverec-ommendedtotheHigh-PoweredCommittee—formedonSupremeCourt’sdirectiontostatestodecon-gestprisons—that376morepris-onersfromeightprisons,including111fromCentralJail,bereleased.AjailofficialsaidthefirstCovid-

19caseintheGuwahatijailwasre-ported in the firstweekof Junewhen one person in a group of

sevennewinmatestestedpositive.Theothersixtestednegative.FromJune5toJune17,thejail

was a containment zone. FromJune 24, fresh prisoners werebrought in andone inmatewhocameon June 27 testedpositiveon July 1. After that, the jailwit-nessedaspike incases.Fourstaffmembersalsotestedpositive.Jail superintendent Ranjit

Baishya said symptomatic pa-tients have been admitted toGuwahatiMedical College andHospital(GMCH)andotherCovidfacilities,whiletheasymptomatic—overa100—arebeingtreatedatthecarecentreinthejail.Around182inmateswhohavebeencuredarebackinjail,hesaid.Amongthosewhotestedposi-

tiveareactivistandleaderofKrishak

Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)AkhilGogoiandhisassociatesBittuSonowalandDhairjyaKonwar,JNUstudent and anti-CAA activistSharjeelImamandformerBodoin-surgentleaderRanjanDaimary.KMSS general secretary

Konwar,nowrecoveredandoutonbail, said, “The jail is congested.Two-threepeoplesleepunderonemosquitonet. Socialdistancing isimpossible. The governmentshould have planned better totackle the spread in jails.”Whennew inmates started coming in,Konwarandothershadprotested.“Oneofourdemandswasthatsincetherewasnorapidtestingfacilitytotestnewcomers,authoritiesshouldmakea temporary jail andkeepthemthere,”Konwarsaid.TheSuperintendentsaidthey

are carrying out rapid-testing ofall inmatescominginnow.AtNagaonCentralJail,doctor-

in-charge Dr Purnananda Borahad testedpositive andhasnowrecovered. He said that tillWednesday, 53 inmates havetested positive. Senior officialstoldTheIndianExpressthatthesit-uationiscurrentlyundercontrol.Biswajit Pegu,DCof Kamrup

(Metro) district, under whichGuwahatifalls,saideveryinmateandstaffmemberhasbeentestedandhence, a largenumberof in-mates reportedpositive. “A largenumberofthosewhotestedpos-itive are asymptomatic ormildlysymptomatic.Almosthalfofthosewhotestedpositivearecured.Thestandinginstructioniswhosoeveris coming in needs to be rapid-tested—ifnegative,he/shewillbeinobservationfor48hourstillRT-PCRresultscome,”hesaid.“AtGMCH,25bedshavebeen

reserved for jail inmates and anambulanceisatthejailtoshiftanysymptomaticpatient,”headded.On July 18, CM Sarbananda

Sonowaldirectedtheconstitutionofathree-memberpanelineachdistrict tomonitorandadviseonCovid-19 spread in jails. TheAssam Human RightsCommission took cognizance ofa complaint by Leader of theOpposition in the Assembly,Debabrata Saikia, regarding thespreadinGuwahatijailandaskedtheChiefSecretaryandIGPrisonstosubmitareportbyAugust5.

TheGuwahatiprisonwasfirstmadeacontainmentzonefromJune5to June17. Express

Guwahati jail, a Covid hotspot,now on slow path to recovery

Fewer deaths in districtsprompt Karnataka to adopttele-ICU system in Bengaluru

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICEMUMBAI, JULY24

THE UNIVERSITY GrantsCommission (UGC) on FridaytoldtheBombayHighCourtthatthe Maharashtra governmentdid not havepower to cancel fi-nal year university exams andthatthepowerisvestedwiththeregulator. It furthersaidthatthestate government’s decision tocancel final year examswoulddirectly affect the standards ofhighereducation in India.The UGC filed an affidavit

through its Education OfficerNikhil Kumar, in response to aPIL filed by a retired professorand Pune resident DhananjayRaghunath Kulkarni, throughadvocate Uday Warunjikar,which stated that the UGCwasthe regulatingauthority in suchmatters, and the state was notempoweredtodecidethemodeofassessmentforfinal-yearstu-dents, and hence the June 19government resolution (GR)shouldbesetasideandquashed.On July 6, theUGC issued re-

visedguidelinesanddecidednottorecommendcancellationofthefinal semester (or final year) ex-aminationforgraduatingbatchesand has advised institutions toconduct these examsby theendof September. The regulator saidtheseexamscanbeconductedinonline,offline,orblendedmode.

NewDelhi:TheHRDMinistryhassetupacommitteetoformguide-linesandsuggestmeasurestoen-surethatmorestudentsstudyinIndia,andthereisasmoothtran-sitionforstudentsreturningfromabroaddue to theCovid-19pan-demic, HRDMinister RameshPokhriyalsaidonFriday.The committee, headed by

the chairman of the UniversityGrants Commission (UGC), isalso meant to recommend amechanismtoincreaseintakeinwell-performinguniversities.Officialssaidmechanismswill

beexploredforstartingmulti-dis-ciplinary and innovative pro-grammes,twinningandjointde-gree programs, cross-countrydesigning of centres, facilitatingonlinelecturesbyfacultyabroad,linkage between academia andindustry, facilitate joint degreeventures and lateral entry toIndianhigher education institu-tions.Thecommitteewillpresentitsreportwithin15days. PTI

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICELUCKNOW,JULY24

ADAY after over 120 prisonerstestedpositiveforcoronavirusinJhansidistrictjail,atestingcam-paign in Ballia district jail hasfoundat least 160 inmateshavethe infectionasof Friday.The state recorded its high-

estsingle-dayjumpof2,712newcasesinthepast24hours,takingthe total number of positivecases to 60,771 till date. Covid-relateddeathsalsosawthehigh-estsingle-dayjumpof50,takingthe toll to1,348 in thestate.Balliajailauthoritiessaid132

prisonerswerefoundCovidpos-itive after at least 532 sampleswere taken. The remaining 150were also being tested and theresultswereexpectedsoon,theysaid, adding all 160 are beingkeptinisolationinjailpremises.“Initially, whenwe tested a

few inmates, we found [Covid]positivity in 16 of them... OnThursday,ourteamtested532in-mates, ofwhom132were foundpositive. If we include all the in-mates foundpositive earlier, thenumberif around160.OnFriday,too,wearecontinuingthetestingprocess andare sampling the re-maining 150 inmates and theirtest reportwill come soon,” saidBallia Joint Magistrate VipinKumarJain.

160 inmatesof UP jailtest Covidpositive

Mostdistrictsbeinggiven1,000antigentestingkitsforuseovermultipledays

STATETESTING10,000ADAY

Bihar distswithhigh caseloadface stiff testas kits run low

HRD panel tostudy ways toincrease studentnumbers in India

Maharashtradoesn’t have thepower to cancelfinal-year exams,UGC tells HCASADISTRICT

UNLOCKSTILKAMANJHICHOWK

New Delhi

EXPRESSNETWORK 11WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH IN YOGA AND NATUROPATHY61-65, INSTITUTIONAL AREA, OPP. D BLOCK, JANAKPURIPh. No. 011-28520429, 30, 31, 32 Email: ccryn.org@gmail.com

Website: www.ccryn.gov.in

Walk-in-Interview (Online)One post of Yoga & Naturopathy Research Expert (Domain Expert) is to befilled up purely on contract basis on consolidated remuneration of Rs.75,000/- p.m. Interested candidates may appear for walk-in-interviewthrough online mode on 28.07.2020 at 10.00 A.M. in the Director’s office,Janakpuri, New Delhi. For details of Eligibility, Qualification & Jobrequirement etc. please visit Council’s website www.ccryn.gov.in.Interested candidate may send duly filled application form on Council’semail at ccryn.goi@gmail.com on or before 26th July, 2020 also.

Any addendum/ corrigendum shall be posted only on the Council’swebsite.davp 17205/11/0005/2021 Director, CCRYN

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

THE SUPREMECourtwill beginhearing arguments in a 2009contempt case against advocatePrashant Bhushan and formereditor-in-chief of Tehelkamaga-zine Tarun Tejpal on August 4.The case relates to Bhushan'sstatementsagainstsomeformerChief Justices of India and thenChiefJusticeSHKapadiainanin-terviewtothemagazinein2009.A bench headed by Justice

ArunMishrafixedthedateafterthe counsel appearing for themsoughtmoretimetostudytheirbriefs. Thebench, also compris-ingJusticesBRGavaiandKrishnaMurari,whichheard thematterthrough videoconferencing, didnotagreetoBhushan’sfatherandsenioradvocateShantiBhushan’srequesttotakeupthecaseonlyaf-ter physical hearings resume inthe court. “All sorts of matters(are)beingarguedthroughvideo-conferencing. EvenConstitutionBench is hearing cases,” JusticeMishraremarked.Bhushanseniorsaid:“I findit

very hard to address the courtthrough video procedure. Imayrequest to adjourn till court re-openssothatIcanassistproperly.(The)casehasbeenpendingsince2009. It canwait for a fewmoreweeks...what istheurgency.”ShantiBhushanalsosubmit-

tedthathehadfiledanimplead-ment application but the courtmade it clear that itwasnot go-ing to impleadhim.“You are too senior to be im-

pleaded in the case,” JusticeMishrasaid.

“Yourlordshipshavenotreadmyapplication,”ShantiBhushancontinued.“We have read.... You say in

casesomethinghappens,youareready togo to jail inplaceof him(Prashant Bhushan)... Bhushan-saabweknowourresponsibility;leaveittous,”JusticeMishrasaid.Appearing for Prashant

Bhushan, senioradvocateRajeevDhavansaidhewasearlierrepre-senting Tejpalwhile late senioradvocate Ram Jethmalani wasPrashantBhushan’scounsel.“Lasthearingwasin2012.Iwasappear-ing for Tejpal. Now I appear forBhushan,” he said. Dhavan saidthat “one question thatwas leftopen is whether the mattershould go toConstitutionBenchand the sealed cover that washandedoverbyShantiBhushan.”While the casewaspending,

ShantiBhushanhadhandedover,in a sealed cover, a list of namesof former Chief Justices, appar-ently tosubstantiate thechargesmadeintheTehelka interview.Senior advocate Kapil Sibal,

whoappeared forTejpal, said, “Igotbriefonlyyesterdayandhavenot been able to go through thepapers. It has waited for 9-10years. So let it wait till physicalappearancesresume.What’stheurgency,”he told thecourt.

SC to resume hearing2009 contempt caseagainst PrashantBhushan from Aug 4

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICECHANDIGARH, JULY24

THEPOLICEhave arrested a 38-year-oldmaninDidwaravillageof Jinddistrict inHaryana foral-legedlykillingall fiveofhischil-dren over the past four years —two of them in the last fewweeks.Policesourcessaidtheaccused,

Jummadin, first confessed to thevillage’s panchayat onThursday,afterwhichhewashandedovertotheauthorities.Amigrantlabourer,Jummadinalsotoldthepolicethathiswifeispregnantwiththecou-ple'ssixthchild.Thekillingscametolightafter

two of the accused's daughters,a seven-year-old and a 11-year-old,wentmissingundermysteri-ous circumstances on July 15.JummadinhadlodgedamissingreportonJuly16, inwhichheal-legedthatheandhiswifeReenawere sleepingwhenanuniden-tifiedman abducted his daugh-ters.When questioned further,he did not provide satisfactoryreplies, saidpolicesources.Subsequently, on July 20, a

groupoflocalresidentswereplay-

ingnear theHansi Butana canalwhen they spotted thebodyof achild. After the policewere in-formed, Jummadinwascalled tothespotandheidentifiedthebodyasthatofhisyoungerdaughter.Asearch operationwas launchedand a fewhours later, the olderdaughter'sbodywasalsofoundinthe canal, said police sources.Postmortemexaminationofbothbodies were conducted anddrowningwaspronouncedasthecauseofdeath,theyadded.The police said Jummadin's

brother-in-law,Ahsan,wholivesintheneighbouringBarotvillagealso raised suspicions over hisversionof events."Ahsan'ssister,Reena,ismar-

ried to Jummadin. Ahsan alsomentioned that despite re-peated questioning, Jummadincould not provide any crediblereply as to how both girls wentmissing. Thus, the village pan-chayatwasinvolvedandthevil-lagers told us that Jummadinconfessedtohavingkilledallfiveof his children under the influ-enceofaKaithal-basedoccultist.However,hehasnottoldthepo-lice anything about this oc-cultist," Jind's Assistant

Superintendent of Police AjitSinghShekhawatsaid.Duringthepreliminaryinter-

rogation, police sources said,Jummadin said he haddruggedboth his daughters and thrownthem into the canal. He also al-legedly told villagers that hekilledallhischildrenbecausehewas not financially capable ofraising them.The police said that they

werealsoconsultingapsychia-trist to shed more light onthe case."Duringtheprobe,itwasdis-

covered that Jummadin's threechildrentoohaddiedearlierun-dermysterious circumstances.Villagers told the police thatJummadinhad said that he firstkilledhisthree-yearold-sonandfour-year-old daughter in 2017,then killed his 18-month-olddaughterin2019...Yesterday,heapproached village sarpanchSanjeev's brother Pramod andconfessedtohavingkilledallhischildren. On the three earliermurders,hetoldvillagersthathestrangulated two of them andpoisonedthethird.Thesarpanchthen informed the police..." aseniorpoliceofficer said.

Haryana man ‘killed’ fiveof his children over thelast four years, arrested

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICEGUWAHATI, JULY24

THREE PERSONSwere arrestedinAssam’sKokrajhardistrict af-ter aman allegedly sold his 13-day-olddaughter,policeofficerssaidonFriday.Dipak Brahma, a labourer

and resident of Kachugaon inKokrajhardistrict,allegedlysoldhis daughter to a woman heknewonJuly8, theofficerssaid,adding that the woman prom-isedhimRs50,000 in return.Brahma earlierworked as a

daily wage labourer outsideAssam but had returned somemonths back. Police pointedout that he is not among thosewho returned amid the lock-down to curb the spread of thecoronavirus.After receiving a tip-off, po-

licerecoveredthebabyfromthewoman and arrested her,Brahma and another womanwhoallegedlyaided in theact.

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICEMUMBAI, JULY24

FAMILY MEMBERS of poetVaravaraRao,whoisbehindbarsasanaccusedintheElgarParishadcase,havewrittentotheNationalHuman Rights Commission(NHRC) on Friday, stating theyhavebeendeniedanyinformationabouthis conditionor treatmentattheprivatehospitaltowhichhewas shifted after the commis-sion'sorderslastweek.Rao, 80, had tested positive

for Covid-19 last week after hewas shifted from Mumbai’sTalojajailtostate-runJJHospital.The NHRC had recommendedthathebeshiftedtoasuper-spe-cialityhospital for further treat-ment, followingwhich hewasshifted toNanavatiHospital.“Completelydisregardingthe

NHRC directive, the familywasnot informed by either hospital

or jail authorities, about a headinjury discovered on him uponarrival at theNanavati Hospital.Consequently,wereceivenoof-ficial updates from the hospitalortheprisonauthoritiesandourconsent is not taken for any ofthe critical treatment thatmaybe required to administer him,”the letter states.It furtherstatesthatdenialof

regular health updates to thefamily of someone in judicialcustodyis“unconstitutionalanda cruel and inhuman act”. ThefamilyhasfurtheraskedthattheNHRC intervene and direct thehospital andprisonadministra-tiontoprovideupdatesonRao’shealtheverysixhours.

SEEKING SHELTERPeopleaffectedbyfloodtakeshelterontheEastWestcorridor inGopalganjonFriday.Movementofheavyvehiclesonthecorridor, linkingDelhi toGuwahati,hasbeenstoppedfromGopalganjonwardsamidstapprehensionof abreachduetowaterpressureonNH-28.About8 lakhpeople from46blocksof10districtshavebeenaffectedbyfloodingof theGandak,Kosiandotherrivers.Morethan40,000havebeenevacuatedsofar. GovindKumar

DARSHANDEVAIAHBPBENGALURU,JULY24

ONEOFfiveMLCsrecentlynomi-natedbyKarnataka’sBJPgovern-ment, ShantharamBudna Siddihasbecomethecountry'sfirstleg-islative representative hailingfromtheSiddicommunity,asmallgroupof peoplebelieved tohaverootsinSoutheastAfrica.Shantharam, 55, fromUttara

Kannadadistrict, is also also thefirstfromthecommunitytohaveadegree.“MytoppriorityasMLCwill remaintheupliftmentof thecommunityalongwiththeothertribesforwhichIhavebeenfight-ingforthepasttwodecades,”the

MLCtoldTheIndianExpress.AmemberofRSSfromhiscol-

legedays,ShantharamhasbeenaactivistforaNGOcalledVanavasiKalyanashramand also partici-pated in Appiko Chaluvali—thesouthern counterpart of theChipkomovement.Shantharam says hewas in-

spired to carry onhis studies byhis middle school teachers. “Iwent on to complete a BA inEconomicsattheArtsandScience

CollegeinKarwar,”hesays.TheSiddis, believed tobede-

scendedfromtheBantupeopleofAfrica, arespreadalongthecoastof Karnataka, Gujarat,Maharashtra, and AndhraPradesh. According to experts,theywerebroughttoIndia intheearly seventh century by thePortuguesetoworkforthem.Thecommunityisincludedin

thelistof theScheduledTribesinKarnataka. About 50,000 Siddipeople live in the country today.Their mother tongue is calledSiddi Basha andmanyare fluentinKannada.Shantharam said he also

wishedtofight for landrights forthecommunity.

Karnataka: African-origin Siddicommunity gets its first legislator

ShantharamBudnaSiddi

DEEPTIMANTIWARYNEWDELHI, JULY24

THIS INDEPENDENCEDay,whilecelebrationsarelikelytobemuted,states have been advisedby theCentretoinvitethosepeoplewhohave recovered fromCovid-19astheirguests,alongwithhealthandsanitationworkers, evenas localauthorities have been asked tohave“AtmanirbharBharat”asthethemeintheirfunctions.Thegovernmenthas also ad-

visedagainstlargegatherings,andhasaskedstatesand localbodiestouse technology to reachout topeople.AsreportedbyTheIndianExpressonFriday, notmore than250peopleareexpectedtoattendPrimeMinisterNarendraModi’saddressattheRedFort.TheMinistryofHomeAffairs

(MHA), in its advisory sent to allstates, said, “Every year,IndependenceDay is celebratedwithgrandeur,gaiety,fervourandenthusiasm. This year also,IndependenceDaywill be cele-brated in amannerbefitting theoccasion. However, in view ofspread of Covid-19 pandemic,while organising various pro-

grammes or activities forIndependenceDaycelebrations,itisimperativetofollowcertainpre-ventivemeasures suchasmain-tainingsocialdistancing,wearingof masks, proper sanitisation,avoidinglargecongregations,pro-tecting vulnerable persons, etc.;andfollowallguidelinesrelatedtoCovid-19issuedbytheMinistryofHome Affairs and Ministry ofHealth&FamilyWelfare.”The advisory added that “all

programmesshouldbeorganisedin away that large congregationofpeopleisavoidedandtechnol-ogyisusedinabestpossibleman-ner for celebration befitting theoccasion. The events organisedcould be web-cast in order toreachout topeopleat large,whoarenotabletoparticipate.”TheMHAsaid that the func-

tionatRedFortandthe‘AtHome’function at the RashtrapatiBhavanwouldtakeplacewiththenecessaryguardofhonour.The‘AtHome’functionattheRashtrapatiBhavanisalsolikelytohavehealthworkers,medical professionalsand other “Corona warriors”amongtheinvitees.“At Home of Governors and

LieutenantGovernorshavebeen

left at their discretion...” it said,suggestingthat“Coronawarriors”be invited by theRaj Bhavans inrecognitionof theirefforts.The advisory said that for

states,“itwouldalsobeappropri-ate that Covid-19warriors likedoctors, healthworkers, sanita-tionworkers,etc.,areinvitedintheceremonyasarecognitionoftheirnoble service in fight againstCovid-19 Pandemic. Someper-sons cured fromCovid-19 infec-tionmayalsobeinvited.”TheCentresaiditwouldbeap-

propriateforfunctionsatthestateand local level to haveAtmanirbharBharatasthetheme.Among other activities sug-

gestedareplantingof trees; interschool/inter-college debates ondigitalplatforms;onlinequizcon-tests/patriotic essaywriting andpoetry competitions; launchingofanyimportantscheme,singingpatriotic songs/delivering patri-otictalksbyselectedboys/girlsonsocial media; illumination ofGovernment Buildings/StateBhawans,etc;thematicwebinars;online campaign by N55 andNYKS centred around patrioticthemes;oranyotheractivitythatstatesdeemfitfortheoccasion.

NOLARGEGATHERINGS,SAYSADVISORY

Invite Covidwarriors,survivors for I-Dayevent,MHA tells states

VaravaraRao isbeingtreatedforCovid-19 inMumbai.

Varavara Rao’s familywrites to NHRC, says nohealth updates being given

Three held afterlabourer sellsdaughter: Police

TWOKILLED INLASTFEWWEEKS

BhushanandTejpal

New Delhi

12WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

A BIG FIGHTEvenas India-China tensionsonLACcontinue,Delhimustalsocalibrate responsetonewedgeofUS-Chinadynamic

BEIJINGHASRETALIATEDswiftlyagainstWashington’sdecisionearlierthisweektoclosedowntheChineseconsulateinHoustonbyorderingtheclo-sureof theUSconsulate inChengduinsouthwesternChina.Beijingcalledit a “legitimateandnecessary response to theunreasonablemeasuresbythe United States”. China had also rejected the TrumpAdministration’s

chargethatitsHoustonconsulatewasengagedinespionageandtheftof industrialsecrets.This is the first time since the US and China normalised relations in 1979 that the twosidesaredowngradingdiplomaticties.TheclosureofconsulatesinHoustonandChengdumarksasignificantescalationof tensionsbetweentheworld’stwomostimportantpow-ersand isboundtoaffectallmajoractors in the international system, including India.Although theUS-China tradewarhadbegun twoyearsago,withbothsides imposing

punitivetariffsonimportsfromeachother,WashingtonandBeijinghadcontinuingnego-tiations on resolving the dispute. The two sides had announced aphase one of the tradedealearlierthisyear.Butrecentmonthshaveseentherapidexpansionofthescopeandin-tensityoftheconflict.TheTrumpAdministrationchargedChinawithspreadingtheCOVID-19 virus that has infectedmore than fourmillionAmericans and killed nearly 1,50,000.BeijingretaliatedbyallegingthattheTrumpAdministrationwasblamingChinaforitsownfailures in dealingwith the pandemic. It also floated the theory that theUSArmymighthavebeentheoriginalsourceofthedeadlyvirus.Earlierthisweek,theTrumpAdministrationaccusedChinese hackers of trying to steal US research on anti-COVIDvaccines. In recentweeks, theUS steppedup its global campaign against China’s telecomgiantHuawei andpresseditsalliesandpartnerstorejectitstechnologyinrollingoutthe5Gmobilenetworks.Beyondthebilateralissuesofdiplomaticrepresentation,trade,technologyandthecoro-

navirus, theconflictbetweenthetwogreatpowershas inevitablybeguntoenvelopothercountries,especiallythoseinAsia.Lastweek,theUSSecretaryofState,MikePompeo,rejectedBeijing’sterritorialclaimsinthedisputedwatersof theSouthChinaSeaasunlawful.Ashesharpened theUS tone onChinese expansionismacross Asia, PompeoputWashingtonsquarelyonthe Indianside intheunfoldingmilitaryconflictbetweenDelhiandBeijing ineasternLadakh. Inhis address to theUS IndiaBusinessCouncil earlier thisweek,Pompeounderlined the importanceof Delhi andWashingtonworking together in countering theChinachallenge.ForsomeinIndia,theTrumpAdministration’smuscularapproachtoBeijinggenerates deep concerns about being drawn into the escalatingUS-China conflict.Manyothers,however,welcomeWashington’suninhibitedsupportagainstBeijingintheconflictthatChinahasimposedonIndia.OfficialDelhihasbeenmorethancareful initsresponsestothenewUS-Chinadynamic.TheNDAgovernmentunderstandsthegravityoftheconflicton India’s China frontier and the import of the current inflectionpoint inUS-China rela-tions.GettingtheIndia-USrelationshipright ismorecriticalnowthaneverbefore.

LOCKED INWomen’sneeds, like thoseof all vulnerablegroups,mustbeplacedatheartof emergencyresponsetoCovidcrisis

ASTUDYBYresearchersattheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles,bringsconfirmationthatthecoronaviruslockdownsaremakingIndianwomenmorevulnerabletoviolenceathome—afearthatactivistsandacadem-icshavevoiced fromthestart.Mapping thecomplaintsof domesticvi-olencereceivedbytheNationalCommissionforWomen(NCW)inApril-

Mayagainstdesignatedred,greenandorangezones, thestudyfoundthatcomplaintsofdomesticviolencerose131percentinredzones,wheretherewerestrictercurbsonmo-bility, relative to green zones. The study also found that cases of harassment, sexual as-sault,andrapedecreasedduringtheperiod,perhapscorrelatingtolessexposureto“pub-licspaces,publictransport,andworkplaces”. ItalsohighlightedaspikeinGooglesearchesfor “domesticviolencehelplines”.Earlyintothepandemic,theUnitedNationshadwarnedofa“shadowpandemic”of in-

timatepartnerviolenceaswomenacross theworldare locked inwith their abusers,un-able to seekhelp. In India, too, activistshave flaggedadip in calls tohelplines as a signofwomen’s inability to reach out for assistance. TheUCLA researchwarns against readingthedip in reported sexual violenceasa sign thatwomenare safer athome. It underlinesthatthepatriarchalviolencefacedbyIndianwomen, intheirhomesandoutside, isdeep-rootedandcapableof takingondifferent forms. Thepandemic isnot just apublichealthchallenge. It also threatens to disrupt the systems and institutions that provide a fragileimmunityagainsttoxicsocialinequalities.ForIndianwomen,thesnappingofaccesstomo-bility,income,andcirclesofsolidarityoutsidethefamilycanhaveterrifyingconsequences.TheUCLAresearchought toserveasanurgentSOSforgovernmentsandpolicymak-

ers.Unfortunately,theUnionministerforWomenandChildDevelopmenthasdebunkedthefearsofaspikeindomesticviolenceduringthelockdownas“scaremongering”.Insteadofdenial, localgovernments,policeandground-levelhealthworkersmustprioritisethesafetyofwomen,innovateonwaystocommunicatewiththem,andsetupshelterswherethey can be removed out of harm’s way.Women’s needs, like those of all vulnerablegroups,mustbeplacedattheheartoftheemergencyresponsetotheCOVID-19crisis.Theycannotwait till theendof thepandemic forhelp to reach them.

DREAMS LAID LOWIf not for thepandemic, thiswouldhavebeenthe

firstweekendof theTokyoGames

JAPAN'SOBSESSIONwithpunctualityhadmeant theydidn't leaveanything forthe lastminutewhileplanningfor the2020TokyoGames. In1964, the last timethey hosted the Games, it was about rebuilding the country's pride that hadtakenabeatingafterWorldWarII.This timetheyhadplanstoremindtheworldthataseriesofnaturaldisasters,a longeconomicslumpandChina'soverwhelm-

ing presence next door hadn't laid them low. But the COVID-19 outbreak changed itall. Among the coronavirus's less-talkedabout impact hasbeen its role indashing theaspirations of a proud nation, thousands of dreamy-eyed Olympians andmillions ofyearning sporting fans.If not for thepandemic, thiswouldhavebeenthe firstweekendof theTokyoGames.

Itwouldhavebeenthetimewhentheworldwouldsittogethertofirstsoakinthegrandeuroftheopeningceremonyandthenwatcheventhosesportstheywouldotherwisenotcareabout.Synchronisedswimmers,artisticgymnasts,burlyweight-lifters,sturdydecathletesor nifty boxerswould get global attention that wouldmake their long hours of toil intrainingarenasworth it.So should theworld come together and ensure that the Tokyo Games are saved?

ConsideringJapan’sefficiency,thetaskofreschedulingtheOlympicsisnotaninsurmount-ablehurdle.Butwiththepandemicstillnotincontrol,canJapanensurethesafetyof11,000athletes?WiththeCOVIDvaccinenotexpectedtobeready formassdistributionbynextsummer,itwillbedifficultforJapantoguaranteethesafetyoftheOlympians.Thedecision-makersarewalkingatight-rope.Whileacancellationisheart-breakingfortheathletes,asportingevent,howevergrand,can'tbeworthstaging if it isarisktohumanlife.

The digital sway

RS Sharma

Weneedtocreateopenprotocols,networks. Indiacanleadthewayinbreakingstrangleholdofplatforms

“BUILDPLATFORMS,NOTproducts”hasbeenthemantraforthelasttwodecades.Amazonstarted by selling books but became a prof-itablebehemothbycreatingthee-commerceplatform called AmazonMarketplace. Themostvaluablecompaniestodayareplatformsforsearch, social interaction,advertising, in-surance, travel, realestate,etc.Fundamentally,theseplatformsaretech-

nology layers that leverage the internet tobring togetherproducers, resellers andcon-sumers,reducingtransactioncostsbycuttingout intermediaries. Theremay bemultipleplatforms in thegame to startwith, but dueto network effects and the non-portability/lock-in,onlyafewcometodom-inate each space, concentrating marketpowerinthosehands.Eventually,thepartic-ipants face exploitation. Uber has been ac-cusedofexploitationbyitsdrivermembers;Amazon by sellers; Google, Facebook andApple by app developers. These neo-inter-mediaries so position themselves that theservice providers cannot reach their cus-tomers,except throughthem.That isnotall.Bigplatformshavetriedto

createwalled gardens inwhich to trap thecustomers, while fencing off the rest of theinternet. Suchamove in Indiawasthwartedbylayingdownunambiguousnetneutralityrules.Inappstoresande-commercemarket-places,platformshost theirownbrandsand“preferred” partners, which then competewith the advantage of a home ground andfriendlyumpires.Theymayweaponiseusers,likeFacebookdidwhenitprompteditsuserstosendemailstoTRAIinfavourofFreeBasics.Finally, the platforms amass data about

users,withoutthelatterbeingawareofitsex-tent or purpose. This helps them create in-sightswithwhich to influence user behav-iour, which is not limited to guiding thebuyingdecisions.Suchinfluencehasbeenex-erted for subvertingvoterbehaviour, aswasrevealedintheCambridgeAnalyticacase,ortoshapepublicdiscourse.Thepromiseof theinternetwasdisinter-

mediation, but the process has hit a speedbreakerwithmajor platforms taking on therole of mediation. All of them have facedpenalties for anti-competitive behaviour byregulatorybodiesorinvitedcensureforunde-sirableactivitiesatformalhearingsbyelectedrepresentatives.Theirobservedbehaviourisanaturaloutcomeofpursuitofgreaterprofit

anddominance. Levyingpenaltiesorbreak-inguplargecorporationsis likedealingwithsymptomsonly. It isnot thecure.Isthereasolutiontothisconundrum?The

answeris inthebasicprinciplesthatcreatedthe internet.In the beginning, people didn’t “get” in-

ternet. Theywould ask:Who operates it?Whoownsit?What’s theservicethat itpro-vides?What is its businessmodel? Someofus, even today, conflate Google search orFacebookorAmazonwiththeinternetitself.Inreality, the internet isanopen, inter-oper-able, scalable, and inclusive infrastructurebuiltthroughasetofprotocolsthatallowdis-similarcomputerstospeaktoeachotheroverincompatible networks owned by entitiesthatmayevenbecompetitors.Indiahasshown,inafewdomains,howto

createfrugalsolutionsontopofinternetwiththe same approach. For instance, UnifiedPayment Interface (UPI) is a set of protocolsthat standardises the language of moneytransfer.Itisaninterface(asimpleandstruc-tured protocol for instructions) and a clear-ing house that relayswell-formed requeststoconcernedparties forexecution.Once the language is there, a usermay

chooseanyappto link theirbankaccount toaUPIIDandmakeapayorcollectrequestin-volvinganyotherbankaccount.Inearly2016,welaunchedUPIandareferenceapplicationBHIMand,withit,arevolutiongotunderway.UPI handled 1.3 billion transactions in

June2020,overtakingtheaggregatenumberof transactionsof all legacy “platforms” thatalsomanagemoney transfers. It leveragesAadhaarandthemobilephonestoallowpeo-ple tomakesmallpayments—immediatelyand for free. UPI became the big daddy be-cause it treated all players, big or small,equally. This allowedthird-party innovatorsto drive adoption by creating solutions thataddressedtheneedof thepeople.Application Programming Interfaces (or

API)areprotocolsthatdefinethemeaningofdataexchangedbetweentwocomputers.TheAPIdefinitionsareprovidedbytheplatformoperators. Now, considerwhat happens if asetofAPIsisadoptedasauniversalstandard.Universally accepted API definitions

couldallowacabbietobediscoveredbyanycab aggregator app the rider may choose.Indeed,bookingacabcouldbecomeaseam-less extension of facilities offered by hotels

or offices. In healthcare, it could facilitatefindingadoctor,bookinganambulance,tak-ing out insurance, filing a claim, sharing amedical report or purchasing medicinesfrom a pharmacy — all with a phone andwithout knowledge about how to engagewithspecific serviceproviders.Openprotocolscreateecosystemsthatare

non-rivalrousandnon-excludablebydesign,unlikeplatformswhereparticipationisatthediscretionoftheplatformprovider.Bylettingthe smallest of application developers orstart-ups offer low-cost, locally relevant so-lutions,we can address the needs of the di-versebusinesscommunityandachievemuchgreaterpenetrationfore-commercethanthe10percentof today.Opensystemshavethepotentialtotrans-

formeducation,fooddelivery,orprofessionalservices delivered at home, by enablingentrepreneurs to compete on their qualityand reputation alone. Portability from oneapplication to another, privacy and dataempowerment will be some of the issuestakencareof.Howtostartandscaleupopensystemsas

alternativestoplatforms?Wouldthebigplay-ersbitethebullet?Cansuchsystemsachievecriticalmass?Well, bankswere once averseto joiningtheUPIbutarehappynow.GooglehasevenrecommendedadoptionofasimilarsystembytheFederalReserveintheUS.We need to create open protocols and

open networks. Further,with open consen-sus(usingdistributedledgersorblockchain)we could even eliminate the need for cen-trallymanagedclearinghouses.Thus,extend-ingtheapproachofUPI, eSign,andotherso-lutions, Indiacandemonstratehowtobreakthe stranglehold of platforms, whetherhomegrownoroperatedbyoverseasplayers.Millionsofflowerscanbloomagain.Iamtoldthat there are groupsworking on such de-signsandconcepts.Weshouldbringthemto-getherandtakethe leadasanation.We know how dependent we are on

some of the foreign platforms, despite theclaimofbeingasoftwarepowerhouseof theworld. This situation is the very antithesisof an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and a threat tothe country’s digital sovereignty. We canchange that.

Thewriter isChairman,TRAI.Viewsarepersonal

The promise of the internetwas disintermediation, butthe process has hit a speedbreaker with majorplatforms taking on the roleof mediation. All of themhave faced penalties for anti-competitive behaviour byregulatory bodies or invitedcensure for undesirableactivities at formal hearingsby elected representatives.Their observed behaviour isa natural outcome of pursuitof greater profit anddominance. Levyingpenalties or breaking uplarge corporations is likedealing with symptoms only.It is not the cure. Is there asolution to this conundrum?The answer is in the basicprinciples that created theinternet.

FOUNDED BY

RAMNATH GOENKA

B E C A U S E T H E T R U T H I N V O L V E S U S A L L

§ §

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020WORDLYWISE

Domesticviolence ismuchmore prevalentthanpeoplerealise.

— CHIRLANE MCCRAYTHEEDITORIALPAGE

KhaledAhmed

THE KARACHI UNDERWORLDConfessionsofadreadeddonareareminderof crime-politicsnexus inPakistan

PAKISTAN’SMOSTWELL-KNOWN dacoit,Uzair Jan Baloch, is once again in the news,having confessed tomurdering 198 peopleduring his career as the “boss” of the LyariGang in Karachi. Hewas arrested from theUAE on December 28, 2015, and everyonethought hewould be summarily gotten ridof. But he is still around, presentinghimselfbeforethecourtstryinghimformurderandbillions in extractions (bhatta) sharedwiththepoliticiansinpower.Uzair isalsoallegedto have provided Iranian intelligence agen-cies information about the Pakistan Army,and orchestrated hundreds of targetedkillingsandpolitically-motivatedmurders.UzairishopefullythelastoftheBalochda-

coitsofLyari,Karachi’slargestdistrict.Ifhegetshiscomeuppance, itwillbetheendofaclas-sicSindhiinterfacewiththeBalochlegendthatlinkedKarachitoBalochistanonbothsidesoftheIran-Pakistanborder.Mostofthe“wadero”(feudal)aristocracyof Sindhtraces itsances-try to Balochwarriors. Uzair Baloch, scion ofafamilyhailingfromIranianBalochistan,wascaughttravellingonafakeIranianpassporttotheUAEandhastofacetrialforkillinganddis-memberinghisrivalArshadPappuinthestyleof theTalibankillers inthenorth.After his arrest, Lyari reacted by closing

shops, as if in anticipation of inter-gang

shootouts. A reluctant Pakistan People’sParty, that couldn’t counter the charges ofmaintaining anexuswithUzair’s gang, suf-fered themourning inPakistan’smostdan-geroustowninsilence.Asif inexpiation,thePPP government in Sindh had issuedwar-rants for his overseas arrest through theInterpol. The55 cases against him included16murders.UzairwasontherunafterfallingoutwiththePPP.Hisfirstcousin,thefamousRehmanDakait,wasearlierkilledinapoliceencounter — once the personal bodyguardof the PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, Rehmanhadbecomeherparty’sbiggestenemy.WhoownsLyari?TheKutchis(Gujaratis)

andtheBalochlaidclaimtoitbutthedacoitshad de facto ownership, riding atop an in-creasinglycorruptadministrationandpolit-icalparties.AbdullahHaroonrosefrombeinga hawker to becoming the “sugar king” ofPakistan.Hissons,YousafandMehmud,be-came chief minister of Sindh andmayor ofKarachi, respectively. According to a histo-rian of Karachi, Gul Hassan Kalmati, a largenumberofKutchishadcometoKarachidur-ing thedevelopmentprocessof theKarachiPortbetween1901and1905.TheSindhielitetodayitself traces itsori-

gintothewarliketribesofBalochistan.LyarialsogaverisetoBalochsub-nationalismpre-

dating similarmovements in other parts ofthe country. Asif Ali Zardari, thehusbandofassassinated ex-Prime Minister BenazirBhutto, isaBaloch.Aspecialrelationshipde-velopedbetweenLyariandthePPPover theyears, which later weakened in the face oftheascendanceof theUrdu-speakingMQM.In1987,theweddingreceptionofBhuttoandZardaritookplaceinLyari,whichbythenhadbecomethemostnotoriouslairofdacoits inthe country. The followingyear, Bhuttowaselected to theNationalAssemblywith abigLyari vote. Twoyears later, herhusband fol-lowedsuit fromaLyari seat.Karachihasbeenallowedtodescendinto

the Hades of lawlessness because the twoparties that rule it — the PPP andMQM—have sought street-power at the cost of thewrit of the state. Uzair rebelled rather thansubmit to the PPP’s need to clean up its act.According to rumours, he refused tomakewayfortheentryintopoliticsofachildhoodfriendofZardarithroughaLyarielection.Hewas protected by the ruling party till 2012;butafterhis refusal to standdownin favourof his “replacement” don, OwaisMuzaffar“Tappi”, theysay, all betswereoff.

Thewriter is consultingeditor,NewsweekPakistan

Karachi has been allowed todescend into the Hades oflawlessness because the twoparties that rule Karachi —the PPP and MQM — havesought street-power at thecost of the writ of the state.Uzair rebelled instead ofsubmitting to the PPP’s needto clean up its act. Accordingto rumours, he refused tomake way for the entry intopolitics of a childhood friendof the PPP leader Asif AliZardari through a Lyarielection.

STICK FOR TRADERSFINANCE MINISTER R VENKATARAMANthreatened to “use the stick” to compeltraders to bring down prices of consumeritems. Replying to the debate on theAppropriation Bill in the Lok Sabha,Venkataramanregrettedthattheexcisecon-cessions announced by him in the Budgethad not been passed on to consumers bytraders. Thishadbeliedhishopes. ln its car-rot and stickpolicy, thegovernmenthadal-readytriedthecarrotapproach. “If themar-ketdoesnotbehave,thestickwillhavetobeused,”hewarned.Venkataramansaidhewasconsidering asking retail shops to displaystockandpricelists.If thisdidnotbringdown

prices, then the governmentwould have tothink of other regulating measures.Venkataramandidsomeplainspeakingandhoped traders understood that the govern-mentwould not take things lying down. “Ifby their behaviour they invite regulatorymeasures, they have only themselves tothank,”hesaid.

KARNATAKA VIOLENCETHE ORGY OF violence triggered by thefarmers’ agitation in Dharwad district re-mained unabated for the fourth day withreports of looting andmob fury pouring infromseveral townsinnorthKarnataka.Thepolice opened fire at two places — Koppal

andMulgund—toquellmobfury.Oneper-sondied inthe firingandtwowere injured.All thesix towns includingHubli-Dharwar,which are under dusk-to-dawn curfew re-mainedrelativelycalm,buttroubleeruptedin several other towns in Dharwad districtandKoppal inRaichur district.

UTTAM KUMAR DEADUTTAM KUMAR, PERHAPS the greatestmatinee idolof theBengali screen,diedof aheartattacktonight.Hewas54.Hewasad-mittedtoanursinghomeearly inthemorn-ingonJuly24anddiedat9:35pm.Thebodywas later taken to his house in SouthCalcutta.

JULY 25, 1980, FORTYYEARSAGO

New Delhi

13THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

WHATTHEOTHERSSAY“Labour lost the last austerity wars by not arguing strongly against the cuts.The Opposition must not make the same mistake this time.”

—THEGUARDIANTHE IDEASPAGEWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

Our parliamentary systemhas created a unique breed oflegislator, largely unqualifiedto legislate, who has soughtelection only in order towield executive power. It hasproduced governmentsdependent on a ficklelegislative majority, who aretherefore obliged to focusmore on politics than onpolicy or performance. It hasdistorted the votingpreferences of an electoratethat knows whichindividuals it wants to votefor but not necessarily whichparties. It has spawnedparties that are shiftingalliances of selfish individualinterests rather the vehiclesof coherent sets of ideas. Ithas forced governments toconcentrate less ongoverning than on staying inoffice, and obliged them tocater to the lowest commondenominator of theircoalitions. Theparliamentary system hasfailed us.

New crisis,old exclusion

Womenarebearingadisproportionateburdenofthepandemic, itsconsequences.Thisneedstobe

acknowledgedandaddressed

SOCIETY, GRAPPLINGWITH the COVID-19virus, theassociatedhealthcrisis, andissues of economic revival, has missedouton the signals that reflect the impactof the pandemic on women. Today, thediscourse has moved towards facilitat-ing economic recovery and regrettably,there is no evidence that it includeswomen and their concerns. The state ofanonymity and curtailed contact withthe outside seems to have increased theapathy in society, and perhaps encour-aged the indifference and marginalisa-tion of women from the collective con-sciousness.Thetravailsofwomenhave increased

manifold. Both within their homes andoutside,womenstrugglewithgender vi-olence, health issues and face economicexclusion. This troika is likely to becomemore noticeable, taking women a fewstepsbackfromthecriticalandminimumlevelof socialandeconomicdevelopmenttheyhadwitnessed in the last fewyears.The present pandemic, with back-

breakingwork,has left themwithalmostno time to dream, and little hope of get-ting back soon to their jobs, hamperingtheir ability to strive, confinedas theyarewithinoppressivehomes.Regrettably, lit-tle public conversation has revolvedaroundtheseconcernsandthefewdiscus-sions have been unable to project any vi-able alternatives.Much of the conversation has been

around gender violence reported fromwithintheconfinesof respectabledomes-ticity,perceivedasahavenof safety.Aso-ciety alreadyashamedof its sexual pred-ators inpublicplaces isnowwitnessingasituationwherehomesarealsoanunsafeplace for women. Even during the lock-down, there isconcernaroundabduction,wrongful confinement, molestation andharassment, and that many cases do notsurface, more so in the existing circum-stances. A community-based cross-sec-tional study among women in parts ofTamilNadu(IndianJournalofCommunityMedicine,2019) is indicativeof threema-jor factors that encourage domestic vio-lence—alcoholconsumptionbyhusband,thecontrollingbehaviourof familymem-bers, and frustration as a consequence oflimited resources.The lockdown has curtailed employ-

ment opportunities and confined malemembers to their homes, a combinationthat is frustrating formenandpotentiallydangerous forwomen.There are insufficient reports of com-

munity support or social interventionseven while women are bereft of dignityand safety. In this time, the “sakhi” in ru-ral communities, who helped a womanhandle this abuse, andencouragedher toobtaincommunityandofficial support, isinvolved inother tasks.Non-governmentorganisations are alsounder lockdown.Otherpracticesreinforceunequalgen-

der equations at home. With the pan-demic, there is a reduction in earnings,and family members are constantly athome, with children being educated on-line. This has increased the number ofhours of unpaid work and enhanced theburdenonwomen.Equally evident are concerns around

the health of women, especially of thosewho rely oncommunity services and theofficialhealthmachinery. Itwasinevitablethat the available health resources, al-ready inadequate and stretched, are de-ployed for the pandemic. Women haveunique and multiple health needs, andover theyears,grassrootshealthworkerssuch as anganwadi and ASHA workershaveprovidedreproductiveandmaternalservices.Thesefunctionariesarepresentlyoverwhelmed. Consequently, womenhave littleaccess to familyplanningserv-ices, to institutional support for deliver-ies, natal and neonatal support or ade-quate and regular access to hygiene andsanitary items. Increase in unwantedpregnancies, maternal mortality andneonatal mortality are expected toemerge asmajor concern areas.The pandemic has aggravated the

trendofdeclining femaleparticipation inthe labour force. This period has wit-nessed a disproportionate economic ex-clusion of women, both in rural and ur-ban economies. With reversemigration,demand for work has increased in ruralareas. The shift of employment fromwomen tomen is inevitable in a societythatplacesapremiumonmen.Moreover,forwomen in the lower-income strata inrural areas, opportunities in non-farmemployment are few, and those in tradi-tional sectors like agriculture and handi-crafts havedwindled. In sectors like con-struction, jobs havebecome increasinglymasculinised. Inurbanconglomerations,women are largely engaged as informalworkers andhave little reserves. Today, amajority of the jobs in cities are unavail-able or inaccessible.Withunpaidworkincreasing,andliveli-

hood opportunities decreasing, manywomenare likely to find it difficult to sus-tainorrebuildtheirlivelihoods,consideringthatthereisnoclearvisibilityofworkbeingrestored soon. The current economic dis-course contains little that identifies viablemeasures to retain the share ofwomen insuch sectors. A few sporadic solutions likeensuringpaymenttowomenforhouseholdworkareechoesofearlierconversations,noteasilyorreadily implementable.A society impacted emotionally and

physicallybythedeadlyvirusandstrugglingtocometotermswith it,asociety inastateofinertiaandennui,ishardlyinclinedtoad-dressspecificconcernsofoneofitssections,howeverlargeorimportant.Pastexperiencehas demonstrated that it is futile to expectourcollectiveconsciousnesstoarriveatanyconsensustoaddresstheneedsof thiscon-stituency or formulate a viable strategy.Womenwould need to find their own re-sourcesandmechanisms.This is not the first time they have

been left to fend for themselves and it isnotthelasttimethattheywouldbeforcedtoidentifytheirmodeof survivalwhetherin “ghare" or “baire” —within or outsideher home.

Thewriter is a retired civil servant

THEDISGRACEFULPOLITICALshenanigansthenationhaswitnessed,most recently inKarnataka,MadhyaPradeshandRajasthan,andthehorse-tradingofMLAstoswitchal-legiancesforpowerandpelf,arenotmerelyanoccasionforbreast-beatingaboutmoral-ity in politics or the opportunism of thecash-rich ruling party. We never seem tolookbeyondtheheadlinestothebasicprob-lem: The system thatmakes this shamefulconduct possible. The parliamentary sys-temwe borrowed from the British has notworkedinIndianconditions. It is timetode-manda change.The facts are clear: Our parliamentary

systemhascreatedauniquebreedof legisla-tor, largelyunqualified to legislate,whohassought electiononly inorder towield exec-utive power. It has produced governmentsdependent on a fickle legislativemajority,whoare therefore obliged to focusmoreonpoliticsthanonpolicyorperformance.Ithasdistorted the voting preferences of an elec-toratethatknowswhichindividualsitwantstovoteforbutnotnecessarilywhichparties.It has spawned parties that are shifting al-liancesofselfishindividualinterests,notve-hiclesof coherent setsof ideas. It has forcedgovernmentstoconcentratelessongovern-ing than on staying in office, and obligedthemtocatertothelowestcommondenom-inatorof theircoalitions.Theparliamentarysystemhas failedus.Pluralist democracy is India’s greatest

strength,butitscurrentmannerofoperationis the source of ourmajor weaknesses. Tosuggest this is political sacrilege in India.Barelyanyof themanypoliticiansIhavedis-cussedthiswithareevenwillingtocontem-plate a change. Themain reason for this isthattheyknowhowtoworkthepresentsys-tem and do notwish to alter theways theyareused to.Yet the parliamentary systemdevised in

Britain—asmallislandnationwithelectoratesoflessthanalakhvotersperconstituency—isbasedontraditionswhichsimplydonotexistinIndia.Theseinvolveclearlydefinedpoliticalparties, eachwith a coherent set of policiesandpreferences that distinguish it from thenext,whereasinIndiaapartyisall-too-oftena label of convenience which a politicianadopts and discards as frequently as aBollywood film star changes costume.Hoppingfromonetothenext—whichwouldsend shockwaves through the political sys-teminotherparliamentarydemocracies—iscommonplace,evenbanal, inourcountry.Intheabsenceofarealpartysystem,the

voter chooses not between parties but be-tween individuals, usually on the basis oftheir caste, their public image or other per-sonal qualities. But since the individual iselected inorder tobepartof amajority thatwill formthegovernment, partyaffiliationsmatter. Sovoters are told that if theywantaNarendra Modi as prime minister, or aMamata Banerjee or Jagan Reddy as theirchief minister, theymust vote for someoneelse asMP orMLA in order to indirectly ac-complish that result. It is a perversity onlytheBritishcouldhavedevised—tovoteforalegislature not to legislate but in order toformtheexecutive.The fact that theprincipal reasonforen-

tering Parliament is to attain governmentalofficecreates fourspecificproblems.First, itlimitsexecutivepoststothosewhoareelec-table rather than to thosewhoareable. Theprimeminister cannot appoint a cabinet ofhis choice; he has to cater to thewishes of

the political leaders of several parties. (Yes,hecanbring somemembers in through theRajya Sabha, but our upper house too hasbeenlargelythepreserveof full-timepoliti-cians, so the talentpoolhasnotbeensignif-icantlywidened.)Second, itputsapremiumondefections

andhorse-trading.Theanti-defectionActof1985hasfailedtocuretheproblem,sincethebargaining has shifted to getting enoughMLAstoresigntotoppleagovernment,whilepromising themofficeswhen theywin thesubsequentby-elections.Third, legislation suffers.Most laws are

draftedbytheexecutive—inpracticebythebureaucracy—andparliamentaryinputintotheir formulation and passage isminimal,withverymanybillsbeingpassedafterbarelyafewminutesofdebate.Therulingpartyin-evitablyissuesawhiptoitsmembersinorderto ensure unimpeded passage of a bill, andsincedefianceofawhipitselfattractsdisqual-ification,MPs blindly vote as their party di-rects.Theparliamentarysystemdoesnotper-mittheexistenceofalegislaturedistinctfromthe executive, applying its collectivemindfreely to the nation’s laws. Accountability ofthegovernmenttothepeople, throughtheirelectedrepresentatives, isweakened.Fourth, for those partieswhodonot get

into government andwho realise that theoutcomeofmostvotesisaforegoneconclu-sion,ParliamentorAssemblyservesnotasasolemndeliberativebody,butasatheatreforthedemonstrationof theirpowertodisrupt.The well of the house — supposed to besacrosanct—becomesastage for themem-bers of the opposition to crowd and jostle,wavingplacards and chanting slogansuntilthe Speaker, after several futile attempts torestore order, adjourns in despair. In India’sParliament,manyoppositionmembers feelthat the best way to show the strength oftheirfeelingsistodisruptlaw-makingratherthandebate the law.Apologists for thepresent systemsay in

its defence that it has served to keep thecountry together and given every Indian astakeinthenation’spoliticaldestiny.Butthatiswhatdemocracyhasdone,not theparlia-mentary system.What our present systemhasnotdoneaswellasotherdemocraticsys-temsmight, is to ensure effective perform-ance. India’smanychallenges requirepolit-ical arrangements that permit decisiveaction,whereasours increasinglypromotesdriftandindecision.Wemusthaveasystemof democracywhose leaders can focus ongovernanceratherthanonstayinginpower.The disrepute into which the political

process has fallen in India, and the wide-spread cynicism about themotives of ourpoliticians, can be traced directly to theworkings of the parliamentary system.Holding the executive hostage to the agen-dasof amotleybunchof legislators is noth-

ingbutarecipeforgovernmentalinstability.And instability is preciselywhat India,withits critical economic and social challenges,cannotafford.Thecaseforapresidentialsystemhas, in

my view, never been clearer. A directlyelected chief executive inNewDelhi and ineachstate, insteadofbeingvulnerabletotheshifting sands of coalition support politics,wouldhavestabilityof tenurefreefromleg-islativewhim,beabletoappointacabinetoftalents, and above all, be able to devote hisor her energies to governance, and not justtogovernment.TheIndianvoterwillbeableto vote directly for the individual he or shewants tobe ruledby, and thepresidentwilltrulybeable toclaimtospeak foramajorityof Indians rather than amajority ofMPs. Atthe endof a fixed period of time, the publicwouldbeabletojudgetheindividualonper-formance in improving the lives of Indians,ratherthanonpoliticalskillatkeepingagov-ernment inoffice.The same logic would apply to the di-

rectly electedheads of our towns and cities—as I have proposed in a PrivateMember’sBill in theLokSabha—andvillagepanchay-ats,who todayare littlemore thanglorifiedcommittee chairmen,with littlepowerandminimal resources. To give effect tomean-ingful local self-government, we need di-rectly elected local officials, eachwith realauthority and financial resources to deliverresults in theirownareas.The only serious objection advanced by

liberaldemocratsisthatthepresidentialsys-tem carries with it the risk of dictatorship.They conjure up the image of an imperiouspresident, immunetoparliamentarydefeatandimpervioustopublicopinion,rulingthecountryby fiat. Inparticular theyarguethatitwillpavethewayforaModidictatorshipinIndia.ButaPresidentModicouldscarcelybemoreautocraticthantheprimeministerwehaveseeninoffice—onewhohas,thankstothe parliamentary system, a rubber-stampmajorityintheLokSabharatherthanthein-dependentlegislatureapresidentialsystemwould ensure. In addition, the powers of aPresidentModiwouldbeamplybalancedbythoseof thedirectlyelectedchiefexecutivesin the states,whowouldbe immune todis-missalbytheirpartyleader,ortotopplingbydefectingMLAs.Democracyisanendinitself,andweare

right to be proud of it. But few Indians areproudof thekindof politics ourdemocracyhas inflicted upon us.With the needs andchallenges of one-sixth of humanity beforeourleaders,wemusthaveademocracythatdeliversprogresstoourpeople.Changingtoa presidential system is the bestway of en-suringademocracy thatworks.

Thewriter isaLokSabhaMPfromtheCongress TASKS IN NAGALAND

THIS REFERS TO the article, 'Peace anditsdiscourse', (IE, July24).Theunautho-risedmonetary claims by Naga rebelgroupsonordinary individualsandpri-vateestablishmentstofinancetheirvio-lent political needs to stop urgently.GovernorRNRavihasa special respon-sibilityinthisrespect.Butasaninterlocu-tortotheNagapeacetalks,findingapo-litical solution to theNaga issue shouldtakeprecedenceoverhisotherresponsi-bilities.Agrandschemeforpolitical ac-commodationwillsubsumemajorrebelmovements and their splinter groupsintothepoliticalmainstream.

SudipKumarDey,Kolkata

THISREFERSTOtheeditorial, ‘Seizethedeal’ (IE, July 24). Conflict betweenChinaand Indiahasmade itnecessaryfor Washington to improve its eco-nomic ties with Delhi. Opening USmarkets to Indian-made goods evenwith no reciprocal move by Indiamakes geopolitical sense. Having theUS as a stable source of demand formanufactured products would helpIndiatobuildupitsmanufacturingsec-tor. It is not likely to increase the tradedeficit or put USworkers out of a job,instead, it would result in some com-panies shifting labour-intensiveman-ufacturingoutofChina into India,as is

nowhappeningwithVietnam.SanjayChopra,Mohali

EXTEND PDSTHISREFERSTOthearticle, 'Holesinthesafetynet'(IE,July23).Apartfromthemi-grantworkers,manylowermiddleclasspeople are also under economic stress.They do not have access to PDS shopsandothergovernmentschemes.It’shightimethatthegovernmentlooksatallthesectionsofsocietyandfocusesonmeas-urestomaintainequityamongthem.

AyushiSingh,Agra

LETTERS TO THEEDITOR

RECENTLY, RSS CHIEFMohanBhagwat saidthat “thewholeworld is strugglingwith thepandemic, yet life is going on. Volunteers(swayamsevaks)may think that the dailygatheringsofshakhasareclosedandthatreg-ular programmes are not being carried out.Thisisnotso.ShakhasarebeingorganisedandRSSworksaregoingon.Justtheirappearancehas changed”. Even during the coronavirus,theRSShasremaineddynamic.PeoplewonderhowtheRSSisconstantly

engaged in its work. Perhaps they do notknowthatallthevolunteersof theorganisa-tionwork for thenation.Duringthecurrentcrisisprecipitatedby

thepandemic,volunteersarerecitingrash-travandanaandorganisingshakhasintheirrespective offices or within their families.The service that the RSS volunteers haverendered in every state and district of the

countryduringthelockdown,withoutpub-licity, is commendable.When the lockdownwas implemented

across the country, daily-wage earners andotherworkersfoundthemselvesinalife-or-deathscenario.Swayamsevaksimmediatelyprovided themwith basic ration and food.When it became clear that the aforemen-tionedvulnerablepeoplewould face finan-cialdifficultiesforaconsiderableperioddueto the lack of earning opportunities,swayamsevaksmadethenecessaryarrange-ments and provided themwith ration kitsand essential items formore than amonth.Thisworkwas done in every district of thecountrywith the help of local administra-tionandnon-governmentorganisations.Organisationsaffiliated to theRSShave

been providing food and lodging, often bycollectingfooditemsfromthelargersociety

and making them available to those thatneedit.However, theorganisationkeeps it-self away frompublicity. Seminars, discus-sions and debates with RSS thinkers, havebeen organised through audio-video con-ferencing across the country. The ancillaryorganisations of the Sangh have startedwork in their respective fields.TheRSSismoreabouttherealworldthan

its virtual counterpart. In the initial days ofthe lockdown,more than two lakh volun-teersparticipatedinthecountry-widereliefexercise,providingaidandmaterialstomorethanonecrore families. This servicecontin-ued for nearly 40 days. More than 50 lakhfacecoversweredistributed.Swayamsevaks started towork in con-

tainmentareas inseveralcities inthecoun-try, especially in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune,to support healthcare workers. In this en-

deavour, theyexposedthemselvestomanyrisks.Themajor riskwasof contracting theCOVID-19 infection. Yet, this did not deterswayamsevaks and they cameout in serv-ice of humanity wearing PPE kits. The RSSeven ranhelplines for different purposes.ThroughSevaBharati, theRSShastaken

theresponsibilityof takingcareof theserv-icesettlements(SevaBastiyaan).Apart fromSevaBharati,otherRSSwingssuchasGramBharati, Ekal Vidyalaya and the VanvasiKalyan Ashram are playing amajor role increating public awareness about the pan-demicacross India.Swayamsevakswillnotstop their work until the current crisispasses.This is theircommitmenttothena-tion, society andhumanity.

Thewriter isBJPNationalVicePresidentandaformerMP

RSSvolunteershaveworkedtirelesslyduringthecurrentcrisis

Undeterred by virusPrabhat Jha

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EXPRESSNEWSSERVICELUCKNOW,JULY24

THE EIGHT-year-old son of abusinessmanwasallegedlykid-napped fromoutside their resi-dence inUttar Pradesh’s GondadistrictonFridaybytwopersonswho posed as health depart-mentemployees,police said.The kidnappers came to the

house on the pretext of distrib-uting sanitisers andmasks, po-lice said citing the familymem-bers’ statement.Theytooktheboyoutsidethe

house on the pretext of collect-ing additional masks and sani-tisers for the family. The familystartedlookingforhimbuttonoavail. Later in the day, theyclaimed to have received a ran-somcallbutdidnotdisclosethe

amount demanded by the cul-prits, addedpolice.UP DGP HC Awasthy said,

“Investigationhasbegunintothecase and all efforts are beingmadetotracethevictim.SpecialTask Force has also been en-gaged in thecase.”According to the boy’s fam-

ily,twoyoungmencametotheirhouse on Friday afternoonclaiming to be from the healthdepartment. They claimed thattheyweretaskedwithdistribut-ingmasksandsanitiserstopeo-pleamid thepandemic.The culprits told the family

that if they need more masksand sanitisers, they shouldsomeone to their vehicle thatwas parked near the house tocollectthesame.Thefamilysenttheboywiththem,theytoldthepolice.

TORAAGARWALAGUWAHATI, JULY24

ASSAM HAS opposed theCentre’srecentdecisiontotrans-portpigsfromNorthIndiatotheNortheast after the porcine in-dustry in the state sufferedma-jor losses due to the Covid-19lockdown,followedcloselybyanoutbreak of the African SwineFever (ASF) thathaskilledmorethan17,000pigs.OnWednesday, an order by

the Ministry of AnimalHusbandry, Dairying andFisheries had said that the gov-ernment had decided to “allowmovementofpigsfromstatesofHaryana and Punjab to thenorth-easternstates.”Assam Agriculture and

AnimalHusbandryministerAtulBora Thursday wrote to UnionMinister of Animal Husbandry,Dairying and Fisheries GirirajSingh, requesting him towith-draw the order, describing thedecisionas “poorlyconceived”.“PresentlyinAssam,wehave

taken steps to extensively edu-catethefarmersonthefocusforcontainment of African SwineFever and have taken harshmeasurestopreventsaleofpork,transportationof pigs to ensurethatthereisnofurtherspreadofthedisease,”hewrote.Bora said the recent order

was“arecipefordisastertoonlyallowforquickerdisseminationof thevirus”.Bora also stated that with

Assam currently facing floods,the culling operations of the in-fectedpigshasbeendelayed.ThefirstASFoutbreak—ase-

vere viral disease that affectswild and domestic pigs —wasreported in September 2019 inChina. The disease hit theNortheastthisyear,killing17,118pigsin422villagesinAssamand4,553pigsinArunachalPradesh.Theoutbreak ledbothstates

to ban the slaughter and sale ofpigs, and adopt biosecuritymeasures to contain the spreadof thevirus.ManojBasumatary,thepres-

ident of the North EastProgressive Pig Farmers’Association,said,“Whenthedis-ease broke out for the first timein our state, we extended fullsupporttothegovernmentevenif it meant huge losses for us.Now they have said they willtransportpigs fromNorthIndia.It isnota levelplaying field.”Meanwhile,whileArunachal

Pradesh isyet toputoutanoffi-cial statement on thematter, ittoo feels that it is “not the righttime to import pigs,” accordingto the JointDirector of the stateAnimal Husbandry andVeterinary Department, DrTachi Taku.

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

THE SUPREME Court on Fridayextended by six moremonthsthetimegrantedtothecommis-sion constituted to inquire intothe encounter of four men ac-cusedofrapingandkillingavet-erinarysurgeoninHyderabadonDecember6.The apex court had set up a

three-member commission,headed by former SupremeCourtjudgeJusticeVSSirpurkaronDecember12,followingape-titionwhichcontendedthattheencounterwasafakeone.TheSChad originally given theCommission— also comprisingformer Bombay High Courtjudge Justice Rekha S Baldotaand ex-CBI director D RKarthikeyan—sixmonths fromthe date onwhich it started theinquiry tosubmit its report.However, the work of the

commission could not proceeddue to the Covid-19 situationanditapproachedthetopcourt,seekingmore time to completeitsinvestigationandsubmitare-port.On Friday, the application

cameupbeforeabenchheadedby Chief Justice of India S ABobde, which allowed the sixmonths’ extension.A lawyerwho is also a peti-

tionerinthemattertoldtheapexcourtthatsuchincidentsof cus-todialdeathswerealsohappen-inginstateslikeTamilNaduandUttarPradeshandsoughtorderstocurb this.TheCJIaskedhim,“Howcan

any court in theworld grant re-lief likethisandsaythereshouldbenocrime?”“As a lawyer you have a

greater responsibility. Tell us,how can we ensure that therewill be no deaths in custody?Somebodymay die of naturalcauses...,” theCJI added.

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICEAHMEDABAD, JULY24

THE GUJARAT High Court onFridayclubbedthreepublicinter-est litigations filed byparents ofstudents from private schools,pertaining to the GujaratGovernmentResolution (GR) onschool fees, whichwill nowbeheardonJuly29.Meanwhile, self-financed

schools’ associations have alsomovedthehighcourtchallengingthestategovernment’sresolutionthat barred them fromchargingtuitionfeesaslongastheschoolsareclosed.Owing to absence of a trans-

lated copyof the state’s govern-ment resolution of July 16 andotherdocumentssuchasthecen-tral ministry’s guidelines, thecourtdecidedtopostitforfurtherhearing, said advocate BrijeshTrivedi,amicuscuriaeinthecase.Thehigh court, in anorder of

June19,hadrequestedthestatetoensurethattheprivateschoolsdonotcanceltheadmissionsofthosestudents,whoarenotable tode-posit the fees by30.06.2020andhad further requested that the

state governmentmayworkoutsomemodalitieswithall thepri-vateschoolsacrossthestate.Speakingonthepetitionfiled

in the high court on Thursday,Gujarat Self-financed SchoolManagementAssociationpresi-dent Bharat Gajipara said, “Ourcontention is against theGRdi-rectingusnottochargeanyfeetillschools are closed.Wewant thegovernmenttowithdrawthis.Thestatehasnolocusstandi.”According to the July 16 gov-

ernmentresolutionpassedbytheeducation department, privateschoolsinthestatecannotchargefeefortuitionorco-curricularac-tivities as long as the schools areclosedandcannothikefeeforac-ademicsessionof2020-2021.Accordingtoanaffidavit filed

onJuly22byVijaysinhMandora,Joint Secretary at education de-partment of Gujarat before thehighcourt,itwasemphasisedthat“in terms of the order dated19.06.2020 as well as,Government Resolution dated16.07.2020, the self-financedschoolswouldnotcancel thead-missions of those studentswhoareunable todeposit the fees by30.06.2020.”

SADAFMODAKMUMBAI, JULY24

THE RESOLVE of a village hassaveda400-year-oldbanyantreewhichwas to be chopped for astate highway road project inSanglidistrict.ResidentsofBhosevillageralliedaroundthetree—lit-erally and figuratively—over thepastweek,garneringattentiononsocialmediaandbringingittothenoticeofauthoritiestosaveitfrombeingbroughtdown.On July16, state Tourismand

EnvironmentMinister AadityaThackeray wrote to UnionMinister for RoadTransport andHighwaysNitinGadkarirequest-ing that the tree,whose canopyspreads over 400 sqm, be savedbymaking changes to the high-waypassing through thevillage.The letter said the 400-year-oldtreehadbeenapartofthehistoryof the area and is home tomanyspecies of birds and animals.Thackeray tweetedWednesdaythatGadkarihadrespondedpos-itivelytotherequestandthattheNational HighwayAuthority ofIndia (NHAI)hadbegunworkingon realigning of the Ratnagiri-Nagpurhighway.On Friday, a senior official of

theNHAIsaidthatwhilethemaintrunkofthetree,whichwascom-ing in theway of a service road,willbekeptintact,somebranches

willbe trimmed. “Arelookat theplanwasdonetosavethetree.Themain carriagewaywill requiretrimming some branches butchangeswillbemadetotheserv-iceroadbymakingitdiscontinu-ous for about 20-25metres tokeepthetrunkintact,”theofficialsaid.Residents of Bhose said they

learntearlier thismonththat theserviceroad,partof thehighway,would pass through the spotwhere the tree and its branchesare spreadout, requiring it to bechoppedentirely.“Duetothelock-down,wecouldnot assemble in

numbers to protest. Butwede-cided tomake all the effortswecouldtosaveit.Initially,around20ofusgatheredasaformofChipkomovementwhilekeepingsocial-distancinginmind.Then,wetookto socialmedia to talk about thetree,” saidBhoseresidentDineshKadam.Theresidentsindividuallyand

through a group called SahyadriSanghatana took to uploadingphotographs of the tree onFacebook.Theyalsoshotvideostoshow how wide its branchesspread.Othervideosfeaturedthemonkeys living on its branches,

with residents speakingof otherspecies which will lose theirhomesif thetreeweretobecut.Another group that the resi-

dentscreatedawarenessthroughis the warkaris who travel toPandharpurfromvariouspartsofthestateeveryyear.“Thetreewithits vast expanse has been givingthem shelter to rest for manyyears.Westoppedvehiclesofthepilgrimspassing throughthevil-lage and told themabout our ef-forts. Someof themthenpostedphotographs of their previousjourneyswheretheytookshelterunderthetree,”Kadamsaid.

SUANSHUKHURANANEWDELHI, JULY24

‘KALPANA’,DANCEpioneerUdayShankar’s 1948magnum opuswhichwasacritiqueofsocio-po-litical issues of the time and anexploration of how they can beovercome with the arts, is re-memberedforcomplexandcap-tivating dance pieces. Be it theBharatanatyam-inspired piecewithUdayandAmalaShankarasShiva andParvati, orKartikeya, adistinguished Kathakali-basednumber, or the folk and classicalopening,Udaywasaccompaniedby hiswife and dancer Amala inall of these.While Udaywas thetoweringfigureintheseperform-ances, one cannot miss Amala,who complemented himwithgusto. Her precision in move-ment and grace paired with asupreme sense of rhythm re-mains timeless.Amala,abrilliantdancerwho

tookonthehardworkofdissem-inatingUday’slegacy--ablendof

seven classical dance styles andfolkdanceforms--toanewgen-eration, died in her sleep onFriday. Shewas101.Shewasalso thematriarchof

theShankarfamily–shewasthesister-in-law of sitar legendPandit Ravi Shankar, mother ofactor and dancer MamataShankarandsitarplayerAnandaShankar, andmother-in-law ofdancerTanushreeShankar.IntheShiva-Parvatisequence,

Uday depicted the cosmic cycleof creation anddestructionwithvigorous, brisk movements,whileAmala,whoplayedShiva'sfemininecounterpart,respondedwith 'lasya', the eroticismshow-cased through delicate move-ments of the neck and eyes. Butin a dance ballet so overshad-owed byUday, Amala found herown, especially in ‘Jamuna keteere’,wheresheperformedsolo.Dressed in a simple cotton sari,she reflectedmelody andmoodinmovements thatwere suppleyet sharp. Itwasa lesson inmin-imalismindance.

BornAmalaNandy in1919 ina culturally inclined family inJessore (now in Bangladesh),Amala did not know anythingaboutdanceuntilshevisitedParisin 1930with her father -- a goldshop owner --- andwas invitedto represent India at theInternationalColonialExhibition

in France. Itwas in Paris that thetwomet the Shankar family --Uday and his four brothers, in-cluding the youngest, Ravi orRobu. Uday, 30 by then, was al-ready a feted name in globaldance circles. After studying at JJSchool of Art inMumbai, he hadmovedtoLondonwherehecho-reographed two ballads titledRadha and Krishna and AHinduWedding. During one of theseperformances,hewasspottedbyRussian ballerina Anna Pavlovaand performed with her inLondon and Paris. Thewest no-ticedandwas inawe.ItwasinParisthatUdayasked

Amala to try some basic steps.Shepinnedeverymovementandexpression. It was around thesame time that RabindranathTagore askedUday to establish aholistic dance academy. In 1938,Uday set up the Uday ShankarCentreforDanceinAlmora.NetajiSubhash Chandra Bose, a friendof the Nandy family, askedAmala’s father to send her theretotrain.Heagreed.Amala joined

theother senior students there -- Zohra Sehgal, her sister UzraButt,ateenageGuruDutt,amongothers.UdayandAmalamarriedin1942.ThecentreinAlmorahadtobe

shutinthesameyearduetolackoffunds. Uday then producedKalpana. The fantasy film anddance drama told the story of ayoungartistewhowantstosetupa cultural academy in theHimalayas. Itwaspartbiographi-calandpartcritiqueoftheflawsinsociety,andhowtheartsandacre-ative education system in a goodenvironment can help. The filmwas lost formanyyears, andwasscreened at Cannes in 2012 afterMartinScorceserestoreditafteramentionfromRaviShankar.A93-year-old Amalawalked the redcarpettowatchthefilm.After years of dancing to-

gether and a long association,AmalaandUdayseparatedafewyearsbeforeUday'sdeathin1977.Amala kept teaching his style ofdance, nurturing it, experiment-ingwith it andkeeping it alive.

RITIKACHOPRANEWDELHI, JULY24

THEGOVERNMENThasderecog-nised three postgraduate pro-grammes offered by MDI-Gurgaon, which was rankedamongthecountry’stop20man-agementinstitutesthisyear.On June 30, the All India

Council for Technical Education(AICTE)withdrew approval forthe postgraduate programme inenergymanagement, postgrad-uateprogrammeinpublicpolicymanagement and the postgrad-uate diploma inmanagement(Executive ManagementProgramme),bringingdowntheinstitute’smaximum intake to500 seats for the academic year2020-21. Last year, it had ap-proved770seatsacrosseightpro-grammesforMDI-Gurgaon.The programmes have been

derecognisedforviolatingAICTEnormsoncourseduration,statestheAICTEorder, a copyofwhichiswithTheIndianExpress.The development is signifi-

cantasitcomesaroundthesametime theHRDMinistry told theIIMsthattheirone-yearMaster’sdegree programme forworkingprofessionalsviolatesUGCnormson course duration. UGCman-datesthatallMaster’sdegreepro-grammesshouldbefortwoyears.MDI-Gurgaon, theAICTE or-

derstates,wasofferingthepost-graduate programmes in publicpolicymanagement and energymanagement as executiveman-agement programmes for 15monthswhen the approval hasalways been for 24 months.Similarly, thedurationof theon-campusclasses for theexecutivemanagement programme is 12months, whereas the AICTE-mandatedminimumdurationis

15or18months, theordersays.Whilethepublicpolicyman-

agement programme ismeantfor civil servants andpublic offi-cials fromcentral and state gov-ernments, the energymanage-ment programme aims to“preparevisionaryleadersfortheenergysector”,saystheinstitute’swebsite. The executivemanage-mentprogrammeis forworkingprofessionalsandentrepreneurs.TheCouncilhasalsopulledup

the institute’smanagement fornothaving fire safetycertificatesfor34outof36buildingsoncam-pusandproperbuildingplanap-provals.The order states that MDI-

Gurgaon has been allowed tocontinue its remaining pro-grammeswitha“strictwarning”to complywith all deficienciespointed out by the expert com-mittee of the Councilwithin sixmonths.Asforrestoringapproval

for the derecognised pro-grammes,AICTEhassaiditwouldbegrantedonlyafterverificationofallcompliances.MDI-GurgaondirectorPawan

Kumar Singh did not wish tocommentonthematter.AseniorAICTE officer told The IndianExpressthatESRao,chairmanoftheinstitute’sBoardofGovernors,hasgivenanundertakingthatalldeficiencieswill be corrected bythe year-end. Rao is the CEO ofIFCILimited.The institute has already

started the executivemanage-mentprogrammeinApril,and20students have been enrolled. It’snot clear what will happen tothese students in the wake ofAICTEwithdrawing approval forthisprogramme.MDI-Gurgaon was ranked

eleventh nationally this year inthe HRD Ministry’s NationalInstituteRankingFramework.

Management institute isplaced11thnationally inHRDrankings thisyear

AICTE derecognises three PGprogrammes byMDI-Gurgaon

Paradip:Fivepeople includ-ing twowomenandaself-styledtantricwerearrestedinthisporttownofOdisha'sJagatsinghpur district onFriday forallegedlykidnap-pingandattempting tosac-rifice a seven-year-old boy,apoliceofficer said.The childwas, however,

rescued by his father,Satyaranjan Mandal (32),whomanaged to locate themiscreantswhentheywereapparently performing“pre-sacrificerituals”,theof-ficer said.The arrests were made

after Mandal filed a com-plaintwithJatadhariMarinePolice Station onWednesday, Inspector In-ChargeBCBeherasaid. PTI

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICENEWDELHI, JULY24

THE AIR Force Commanders’Conference, the biannual meetof theAirForce leadership, con-cluded on Friday. During themeeting, the situation alongeasternLadakhwasdiscussedindetail, along with how to pre-pare the Indian Air Force (IAF)for the next decade.Duringthethree-dayconfer-

ence, IAF commanders andPrincipal StaffOfficersweread-

dressed by Defence MinisterRajnath Singh, Chief of DefenceStaff General Bipin Rawat, andArmy Chief General M MNaravane on matters of joint-ness and integrated war fight-ing, the IAF said in a statement.Chief of theAirStaffAirChief

Marshal R K S Bhadauria re-

viewedthestatusand issues re-lated to all the Air Commandsand the branches of the AirHeadquarters.Duringtheconference,a“se-

ries of discussions and reviewson operational preparednessandstrategies forcounteringse-curity threats envisaged acrosstheentirespectrum”weretakenup, and the IAF leadership “dis-cussedthecurrentsituationandthereafter carried out a thor-ough review of the IAF’s trans-formationroadmapfor thenextdecade”, the statement said.

In his concluding remarks,Bhadauria stated that “it wasimportant to recognise the na-ture of emerging threats in arapidly changing world” andemphasised on the “need forrapidcapacitybuilding, increaseinserviceabilityof all assetsanddedicated work towards effec-tive integration of new tech-nologies in the shortest time-frames”, according to thestatement.The IAF chief “reiterated”

that the “long-term goals forsustainable capabilitymandate

the acquisition and employ-mentof niche technologies anddevelopment of indigenousplatforms and weapons”. Healso stated that “since humanresourcewas themostvaluableasset of the IAF, recruitment,training andmotivation strate-gies should keep pace with thechanging times”, the statementmentioned.Bhadauria laid down the

Vision 2030 for the IAF, withmilestones for transformationof IAF in thecomingdecade, thestatement said.

Campaign by villagers saves 400-year-oldbanyan tree, highway plan to be changed

AMALA SHANKAR

1919-2020

Timeless dancer who took on hard workof disseminating Uday Shankar’s style

‘Recipe for disaster’, saysAssam on Centre’s nodto transport pigs to N-E

AMIDAFRICANSWINEFEVEROUTBREAK

Thecanopyof thetree, inMaharashtra’sSanglidistrict, is spreadover400sqmetres. Express

HYDERABADRAPE,MURDER

SC gives 6-monthextension to panelprobing encounter

Gujarat HC to hearthree pleas overschool fees on Jul 29

Air Force Commanders’ meet ends, IAF chief outlines Vision 2030AirChiefMarshalRKSBhadauria

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICEBHOPAL, JULY24

The administration of MadhyaPradesh’sGunadistricthasbegunaprobeintoawoman'sallegationthat her husband died in thepremises of the district hospitalonThursdayforlackoftreatmentbecauseshecouldnotarrangethemoney needed for admission.However, theadministrationhasrebutted the woman's claimaboutthedemandformoney.Aarti Rajak, a resident of

Ashoknagardistrict, claimed shehad arrived at the hospitalwithher husband, suffering fromTB,and three-year-old son onWednesdayevening.Sheallegedthat amanat the counter askedformoneywhichshedidnothave.Rajak added that that shewaskept waiting under a tree tillThursdaymorning,butstillfailedtogeta“parchi” (receipt)neededfor admission. Her husband,AshokDhakad,diedsoonafter.District Collector Kumar

Purushottam, however, said theallegationthatshehadbeenasked

topaymoneywasun-true. He said the“parchi”' systemhadbeendiscontinued.The collector said

footage showed thatthewomanhadcometo thehospital at4amon Thursday and didnotenterthebuilding.

Two posing as healthworkers kidnap UPbusinessman’s son

MP woman says husband diedin hospital premises for lackof money; Guna admin denies

Tender Date ExtensionThe date of submission & opening of e-tender no. EAV-12/2020-21 is hereby extended up to 04.08.2020 (15.00PM) & 05.08.2020 (15.00 PM) respectively. Furtherdetails can be seen at website www.etender.up.nic.in.Other terms and conditions shall remain same.

Sd/-(Rajesh Kumar)

Superintending Engineer (MM-I)SXf¿MÑXdWX°f ¸fZÔ d¶fªf»fe ¶f¨ff¹fZ

´fÂffaI : 2011/ ´fc.d½f.d½f.d³f.d»f.(½ff.) /Àff.´fi.-1/ AA- I / d½fÄff´f³f dQ³ffaI : 23.07.2020

Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran NigamLimited (PuVVNL)

(A subsidiary of UP Power Corporationlimited)

Purvanchal Vidyut Bhavan,Vidyut Nagar, P.O. - D.L.W.,

Varanasi - 221004Website: http://www.etender. up. nic.in

Odisha: 5 heldfor attemptingto sacrifice7-yr-old boy

New Delhi

15THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

THEWORLDWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

MEANWHILE

OBAMATOAPPEARONWIFE’SPODCASTDEBUTThefirstguestofMichelleObama’snewpodcastwillhaveafamiliarpresidentialvoice:BarackObama.TheformerUnitedStatespresident isexpectedtoappearon ‘TheMichelleObamaPodcast’onSpotify, thestreamingserviceannounced.ThepodcastwilldebutWednesday.

USA

Harry,Meghansuepaparazzitoprotectson’srighttoprivacyBRITAIN’S PRINCEHarryandhiswife,Meghan,fileda lawsuit in California onThursday against un-namedpaparazziphotog-raphers for allegedly tak-ing“illegal”photographsoftheirson,Archie.Thelaw-suit,filedinSuperiorCourtof the State of California,County of Los Angeles,cited“serial intrusions”ofprivacyof thecouple’s14-montholdchild,andcameas a measure to protecthim from the “manufac-turedfeedingfrenzy”.“TheDuke and Duchess ofSussex are filing this law-suittoprotecttheiryoungson’s right to privacy intheirhomewithoutintru-sion by photographers,”theirattorneysaid.

TheDukeandDuchessof Sussex

TOPOFTHEWORLD

1MDBSCANDAL

GoldmanSachs,Malaysiaagreeto$3.9-billionsettlementGOLDMAN SACHS hasagreed to a $3.9 billionsettlement withMalaysia toputbehinditone of the biggest scan-dals inthebank’shistorythat changed the courseofpolitics inthecountry.The deal stems fromcharges that Malaysianprosecutors filed in2018againstseveralGoldmanunits for their role inhelping to raise hun-dreds of millions of dol-lars for a sovereignwealthfundthatofficialswere later found to beusingasapersonalpiggybank. The scandal led tothe ouster of Malaysia’sformer prime minister,Najib Razak.

NEWZEALAND

Journalistheldfor6yearsgainsrefugeestatusA JOURNALISTwho fledIran and then exposedAustralia’sdegradingtreat-ment of asylum-seekerswhile being held againsthis will for six years hasbeengranted refugee sta-tus in New Zealand.ImmigrationNewZealandon Friday confirmed thatBehrouz Boochani hadbeen given the status,which allows him tolegally stay in thecountryandgiveshimapathtocit-izenship.Boochani,37,saiditwashugestepforwardtohave certainty about hisownfuture,but lamentedAustralia’spolicythatkepthimdetainedforyears.

YEWLUNTIAN&TONYMUNROEBEIJING, JULY24

CHINA ORDERED the UnitedStatestocloseitsconsulateinthecity of Chengdu on Friday, re-sponding to a US demand thisweek that China close itsHouston consulate, as relationsbetweentheworld’stwolargesteconomiesdeteriorate.The order to close the con-

sulate inChengdu, in southwest-ernChina’sSichuanprovince,wasseenasroughlyreciprocalintermsof scale and impact, continuingChina’srecentpracticeoflike-for-likeresponsestoUSactions.China hadwarned it would

retaliate after it was unexpect-edly given 72 hours — untilFriday — to vacate its Houstonconsulate, and had urged theUnitedStates to reconsider.“The US move seriously

breached international law, thebasicnormsof international re-lations, and the terms of theChina-USConsular Convention.It gravely harmed China-US re-lations,”China’sforeignministry

said inastatement.“TheMinistryofForeignAffairs

ofChinainformedtheUSEmbassyinChinaofitsdecisiontowithdrawits consent for theestablishmentandoperationoftheUSConsulateGeneralinChengdu,”itsaid.Foreignministry spokesman

Wang Wenbin said someChengdu consulate personnelwere“conductingactivitiesnotinlinewiththeiridentities”andhadinterfered in China’s affairs and

harmedChina’ssecurityinterests.The consulatewas given 72

hourstoclose.Relations between

WashingtonandBeijinghavede-terioratedsharply thisyear.US Secretary of State Mike

Pompeo said in a speech onThursday the United States anditsalliesmustuse“morecreativeandassertiveways” topress theChinese Communist Party tochange itsways.REUTERS

KATHYGANNONISLAMABAD, JULY24

THETALIBANsaytheyarereadyfor talkswith Afghanistan’s po-litical leadership after theMuslimholidayofEidulAdhaatthe end of July, offering to handover the last of the governmentprisoners in aweek’s time, pro-vidingthegovernmentfreesthelastof itsTalibanprisoners.The offermade by Taliban’s

political spokesman SuhailShaheeninatweetlateThursdayfollows one of themost signifi-cant shakeups in the Taliban inyears. The group appointed thesonofthemovement’sfearsomefoundertoheaditsmilitarywingandpowerfulleadershipcouncilmemberstoitsnegotiationteam.In Kabul on Friday, the High

Council for NationalReconciliation, whichwas cre-atedinMaytomanagepeaceef-fortswiththeTaliban,saiditwasstill working through theTaliban’sprisoner list.Javed Faisal, spokesman for

theAfghannationalsecurityad-viser’s office, previously saidnearly 600 Taliban prisonerswhose release is being soughthave been convicted of seriouscrimes.Thegovernmentisreluc-tant toset themfree,hesaid.It seemed unlikely the gov-

ernmentwouldfreetheremain-ingTalibanprisonersbefore theMuslimholiday.The release of 5,000 Taliban

prisonersheldbythegovernmentand1,000governmentpersonneland security officials in Taliban

custody is laid out in a US dealwiththeTalibanaimedatendingAfghanistan’srelentlesswars.Accordingtothedeal,thepris-

oner exchange is to take placeaheadoftalksbetweenKabulandthe Taliban, seen as perhaps themostcriticalpartof thedeal.Shaheen’stweetwasthefirst

offerata timeline for thenegoti-ations, however he demandedthe prisoner release be com-pleted first and refusedany sub-stitutes to the list of prisonerssubmittedbytheTaliban.AP

MERTOZKAN&ALIKUCUKGOCMENISTANBUL, JULY24

TURKEY’S PRESIDENT RecepTayyipErdoganjoinedthousandsof worshippers at Hagia Sophiaon Friday for the first prayerstheresincehedeclaredthemon-ument,reveredbyChristiansandMuslimsforalmost1,500years,amosqueonceagain.Erdogan and his topminis-

ters,wearingwhitefacemasksasa precaution against COVID-19,

kneltonbluecarpetsatthestartof a ceremonywhichmarks thereturnofMuslimworshiptotheancient structure.An imambegan the formal

prayer service at 1.45 pm, afterErdoganreadoutaKoranicrecita-tionandthecalltoprayerrangoutfromthemosque’sminarets.Earlier, crowds formed at

checkpoints around the historicheart of Istanbulwheremassedpolicemaintainedsecurity.Oncethroughthechecks,worshipperssat apart on prayermats in se-cured areas outside thebuilding

in Sultanahmet Square. “We areendingour86yearsoflongingto-day,”saidoneman,SaitColak,re-ferringtothenearlyninedecadessinceHagiaSophiawasdeclareda museum and ceased to be aplaceofworship. “Thanks toourpresidentandthecourtdecision,todaywe are going to have ourFridayprayers inHagiaSophia.”A Turkish court announced

thismonth ithadannulledHagiaSophia’s status as a museum.Erdoganimmediatelydecreedthebuildinghadbeenconvertedonceagaintoamosque.REUTERS

REUTERSJULY24

IRANON Friday dismissed a USexplanation that a US jet wasconducting a visual inspectionwhen it “harassed” an Iraniancivilianairliner,sayingtheplanewas forced to rapidlychangeal-titudetoavoidcollision, injuringandpanickingpassengers.StateTVvideo footageof the

inside of the airliner shows apassengerlyingimmobileof thefloor and another with awounded nose and forehead,presenting his bloodied facemask to thecamera.Severalpassengers,someseen

screamingandshouting,werein-juredintheincidentoverSyriaonThursday, according to Iranianmedia,buttheUSmilitarysaiditsF-15wasatasafedistance.“The explanations provided

sofarareunjustifiedanduncon-vincing,”LayaJoneydi,vicepres-identforlegalaffairs,wasquotedas sayingby Iranianmedia.“Theharassmentofapassen-

ger plane on the territory of athirdcountry isaclearviolationofaviationsecurityandfreedomof civilianaircraft.”The Iranianplane, belonging

toMahanAir,was heading fromTehran to Beirutwhen the pilotstaged the safety manoeuvre.

Iran’s ForeignMinistry said theencounterwouldbeinvestigated.Videofootageshowsoxygen

masks fallen fromtheoverheadroof panels. One jet can be seenthrough a seat window flyingsome distance away in a clearbluesky.“I saw a black plane ap-

proaching us, and thenwe lostour balance,” one injured pas-sengertoldstateTV.“Itwasajet.Almost sonearourplane.”Oneofthepassengerswasly-

ingonthefloorbythetoiletsandanotherpassengerputacushionunder his head as cabin crewtendedtoothers.The US military’s Central

Command, which overseesAmerican troops in the region,said an F-15 aircraft was con-ductingavisualinspectionoftheIranian plane when it passednear the Tanf garrison in Syria,hometoUS forces.

FRANCESDEMILIOROME,JULY24

NEWRULES onwearingmasksin England came into effectFriday with people enteringshops banks and supermarketsnow required towear face cov-erings,whileRomania reporteda record for daily infections andFrance announcedmandatorytestingforarrivalsfrom16coun-tries including the India.People in England can be

finedasmuchas£100bypoliceif theyrefuse.Places likerestau-rants, pubs, gyms and hair-dressersareexempt.French PrimeMinister Jean

CastexannouncedonFriday thatasof August1, travellersenteringFrance from16countrieswheretheviralcirculationisstrong—in-cludingIndiaandtheUnitedStates—mustundergocompulsorytestson arrival at French airports orports unless they can present anegativetestlessthan72hoursoldfromtheircountriesofdeparture.Those testingpositive on arrivalmustisolatefor14days.Overall Europehas seenover

201000deaths in thepandemic,according to a tally by JohnsHopkinsUniversity. Experts saythetruetoll fromthecoronavirusworldwideismuchhigherduetolimitedtestingandotherissues.AP

LUKEBROADWATER&CATIEEDMONDSONWASHINGTON, JULY24

EVER SINCE RepresentativeAlexandriaOcasio-Cortez cameto Congress as the youngestwomanelectedtotheHouse,shehasupendedtraditions,harness-ing the power of social mediaandchallengingleaders, includ-

ingPresidentTrump,whoare50yearsher senior.On Thursday, she had her

mostnorm-shatteringmomentyetwhen she took to theHousefloor to read into theCongressional Record a sexistvulgarity that RepresentativeTed Yoho, a Florida Republican,hadused to refer toher.“In front of reporters,

Representative Yoho calledme,

andIquote: ‘A f*****gb***h,’” shesaid,punchingeachsyllableinthevulgarity. “These are thewordsRepresentative Yoho leviedagainstacongresswoman.”ThenOcasio-Cortez,whoex-

cels at using her detractors toamplify her ownmessage, in-vited a group of Democraticwomen in the House to comeforward to express solidaritywith her. One by one, they

shared their own stories of ha-rassment andmistreatment bymen, including inCongress.“Ithappenseveryday in this

country,”Ocasio-Cortezsaid. “Ithappened here on the steps ofournation’sCapitol.”“It happenswhen individu-

als who hold the highest officein this land admit to hurtingwomenandusingthis languageagainstallofus,”sheadded.NYT

China orders US to shut Chengduconsulate in retaliation for HoustonConsulate’spersonnelconductingactivitiesnot in linewith identities:Beijing

AFedExemployeeremovesboxes fromtheChineseConsulate inHoustononThursdayafter theUSorderedChinatoclose itdownbyFriday.AP

Tycoon criticalof Xi sackedfrom party, facesprosecutionCHINA’SRULINGCommunistParty expelledan outspokenproperty tycoonwhodenouncedthe country’sleader, XiJinping, pavingthe way for hiscriminal prosecution and esca-latingitseffortstoquashdissentamongtheelite.The party announced the

expulsion of the tycoon, RenZhiqiang, late Thursday, andsaid that ithadseizedhisassetsfor “serious violations of disci-pline and law” that includedthe possession of golf clubmemberships.Ren, aveteranpartymember

andformerchairmanofHuayuanProperties, a real estatedevelop-ment company,wasdetained inMarchaftercriticisingXi’sresponsetothecoronavirusoutbreak.NYT

RenZhiqiang

LEADERSHIPSHAKE-UP AHEADOFNEGOTIATIONS■30-year-oldMullahMohammadYaqoob, thesonof theTaliban’sfounder,wasplaced inchargeof theirmilitarywingasthegroupconducted itsmostsignificantshake-upinyearsaheadof talkswiththeAfghangovt.

■Otherchanges includedtheadditionof fourmembersof theTaliban’sleadershipcouncil to thenegotiatingteam.

■TheshuffleismeanttotightenTalibanleaderMullahHibatullahAkhunzada’scontroloveritsmilitaryandpoliticalarms,officialssaid.

Taliban say ready fortalks with Afghangovt after Eid holiday

‘We’ll be past Covidcrisis by mid-2021’

China flights back to80% pre-virus levelsBeijing:Thenumberof dailypas-senger flights in China has re-bounded to 80% of pre-coron-avirus levels, China’s aviationregulator said, as theaviation in-dustryrecoversfromtheplungeintraveldemandcausedbythepan-demic.OnJuly23,Chineseairlinesoperated13,059passengerflights.TheaviationindustryiswatchingChinaasaharbingerofdemandre-coverytrends.REUTERS

London: British PrimeMinisterBoris Johnson said on Friday hethought the countrywould bethroughthecoronaviruscrisisbymid-2021butfearedtheremaybea second spike that could over-whelm the health service.“Whether it came from... a bat, apangolinorhowever itemerged,itwasavery,verynasty thing forthehumanrace.AndIthinkbythemiddle of next yearwewill bewellonthewaypastit,”hetoldre-porters.“We’vestillgotthethreatofasecondspike.”REUTERS

UKPMBoris Johnson

TurkeyPresidentRecepTayyipErdogantakespart inFridayprayers intheHagiaSophia.AP

Thousands pray at Hagia Sophia for1st time since it was declared mosque

Iran slams US afterjet fly-by scarespassengers on airliner

SeveralpassengerswereinjuredintheincidentoverSyriaasanIraniancivilianairlinerwasallegedlyforcedtorapidlychangealtitudetoavoidcollisionwithaUSfighter jet

RESPONDINGTOASLURDIRECTEDATHERBYAREPUBLICANCONGRESSMAN

AlexandriaOcasio-Cortez

AOC unleashes a viral condemnation of sexism in Congress

US PRESIDENT TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE HIS MENTAL FITNESS BY RECITING 5 WORDS OVER AND OVER IN AN INTERVIEW

Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV: Trump’s detour into politics of dementiaJONATHANLEMIRE,SETHBORENSTEIN&WILLWEISSERTWASHINGTON,JULY24

IT DOESN’T quite have the ringof “Morning in America” and “ILike Ike.”But the phrase “Person.

Woman.Man.Camera.TV.”isget-ting an unlikelymoment in thespotlight asUSPresidentDonaldTrumphastakenadetourintothepoliticsofdementiathreemonthsbeforetheelection.Trump, 74, attempted to

demonstrate hismental fitnessbyrecitingfivewords—inorder,importantly — over and over ina television interview. TheRepublican President said thatcollection of nouns, or ones likethem,waspartofacognitivetesthehadacedwhiledeclaringthathislikelyopponent,77-year-oldJoeBiden,couldnotdothesame.Inabattleofseptuagenarians,

the Trump campaign has longtriedtopaintBidenashavinglostsome of hismental sharpness.But the gambit has yet to provesuccessful indentingtheformervice president’s standing in the

race.ThatleavesTrumptryingtoescalate the attacks while de-fendinghisownabilitytohandlethemental rigorsof the job.“The first questions are very

easy,” Trump told Fox News.“The last questions are muchmore difficult. Like a memoryquestion. It’s, like, you’ll go:Person.Woman.Man. Camera.TV.Sotheysay, ‘Couldyourepeatthat?’SoIsaid, ‘Yeah.It’s:Person.Woman.Man.Camera. TV.’”He then recalled that, at the

endof the test, thedoctoraskedhimtorecite it again.“Andyougo:‘Person.Woman.

Man. Camera. TV.’ If youget it inorder, you get extra points,”Trump said. “They said nobodygetsitinorder.It’sactuallynotthateasy,butforme,itwaseasy.”

Trumpboasted that he daz-zledthedoctorsbecausehehas“agoodmemory,becauseI’mcogni-tivelythere”anddeliveredanun-subtleaccusationaboutBiden.

“Now,Joeshouldtakethattestbecause something’s going on,”Trumpsaid. “And, I say thiswithrespect.Imean—goingtoproba-blyhappentoallofus,right?Youknow?It’sgoingtohappen.”The subject of smarts — es-

pecially his own—has long fas-cinated thePresident.Trump has been known to

declare that he is “a very stablegenius”andthat“Ihavethebestwords”while noting that he at-tendedtheprestigiousWhartonSchool of the University ofPennsylvania.Andamonthago,hebegantellingaidesthatacog-

nitive test he took as part of hisphysical in2018couldbesome-thinghecoulduseagainstBiden.The President has been

known to recite five words toaidesintheWestWingoronAirForce One—he’d tweak the listto make it appropriate for thesetting —while claiming thatBidencouldnotdo thesame.ButsomeofTrump’sdescrip-

tions about the test andwhat itmeans don’t quite fitwithwhatexperts describe about themostcommonof cognitive tests giventoolderpeople.Thereisnobonus,and it’smeant tobeeasy, saidDr

James Galvin, a University ofMiami professor of neurologywhorunsadementiacentre.GalvinsaidwhatTrumpde-

scribedsoundsanawful lot likethe Montreal CognitiveAssessment,oftencalledMoCa.It takes about 10minutes, andthe top score is 30, said Galvin,who has administrated thou-sandsof thetests.Thelastques-tions are not the hardest formost people, and they are usu-allynamingthedayof theweek,date, month, year and wherethe person being tested is,Galvin said.AP

RACE FORTHEWHITE

HOUSE

THELOCATIONofChengdumakesitoneofthemostimportantcon-sulatesfortheUSinChina.It isthewestern-mostAmericanconsulateinmainlandChina,andital-lowstheUStocollectin-formationregardingTibetandXinjiang.Thetwore-gionshavefeaturedheav-ilyinrecentUS-Chinatit-for-tatsanctionsthathaveraisedtensions.ChengduwasalsoseenbytheUSasprovidingopportunitiesfortheexportofcarsandmachinery.WashingtonalsoseesChengduasahubforChina’scommer-cialexpansionacrossCentralAsia.

WhyChengduis important

Mandatory masks,new measures amidEurope’s virus uptickFrance:Travellersfrom16countries,includingIndia,mustundergotest

New Delhi

CORONAVIRUSDASHBOARD

1,288,108India

286,523Iran

370,712Mexico

299,499United Kingdom

338,759Chile

408,052South Africa

4,070,480US

2,287,475Brazil

371,096Peru

TOTAL CONFIRMED: 15,588,913 DEATHCOUNT:634,954

Source: JohnsHopkinsUniversity,updatedat11pmonJuly24 . JHU’sIndiatallyandHealthMinistry’stally(below)maynotmatchiftheseareaccountedatdifferenttimes.

THEWORLD799,499Russia

TOP 10STATES

INDIA COUNT: 12,87,945 (30,601 DEATHS)

3,47,502Maharashtra

1,92,964Tamil Nadu

33.220Rajasthan 58,104 UP

1,27,364Delhi

52,477Gujarat

51,757West Bengal

72,711Andhra Pradesh

50,826Telangana

Have a question on the COVID-19 outbreak andwhat you should/should not do?

Write to explained@indianexpress.com

80,863Karnataka

UnionHealthMinistryupdateasof11pm,July24.Somestatesmayhavereportedhighernumbers.Onlystates/UTswithatleastonecaselistedabove.8,17,209PATIENTSDISCHARGEDIN35STATESANDUNIONTERRITORIES

RESTOFINDIAAndamanandNicobarIslands240ArunachalPradesh 991Assam 28791Bihar 31980Chandigarh 800Chhattisgarh 6254DadraandNagarHaveli 770Goa 4350Haryana 28975HimachalPradesh 1834JammuandKashmir 16429Jharkhand 6975Kerala 16110Ladakh 1210MadhyaPradesh 25474Manipur 2115Meghalaya 534Mizoram 332Nagaland 1174Odisha 21099Puducherry 2420Punjab 11739Sikkim 460Tripura 3656Uttarakhand 5445

IN A study in mam-malian cells, an extractfrom edible seaweedswasfoundtooutperformremdesivir, in effective-ness against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causesCovid-19. Heparin, acommon blood thinner,and a heparin variantstripped of its anticoag-ulant properties, per-formed on par withremdesivir in inhibitingthevirus.The research, published online in

CellDiscovery,wasdonebyresearchersat the Center for Biotechnology andInterdisciplinaryStudiesatRensselearPolytechnic Institute,US.The spike protein on SARS-CoV-2

latchesontotheACE-2receptoronthesurfaceofhumancells.Butinthestudy,the virus could be persuaded to lockonto a decoymolecule that offers asimilar fit, the researchers said. Theneutralised viruswould be trappedand eventually degrade naturally.Previous researchhas shown this de-coytechniqueworksintrappingother

viruses,includingdengue.The new research

testedantiviralactivityinthreevariantsofheparin(heparin, trisulfated he-parin, and a non-antico-agulant lowmolecularweightheparin)andtwoextracts(RPI-27andRPI-28) from seaweed.Witheach compound, the re-searchers performed adose response study on

mammalian cells. They compared avalue called EC50 (a lower value sig-nalsamorepotentcompound).RPI-27 yielded an EC50 value of

about 83 nanomolar,while a similarprevious testofremdesivironthesamemammalian cells yielded an EC50 of770nanomolar (RPI-27was thereforemorepotent).HeparinyieldedanEC502.1micromolar, or about one-third asactiveasremdesivir,andanon-antico-agulantanalogueofheparinyieldedanEC50of5.0micromolar,aboutone-fifthasactiveasremdesivir.

Source:RensselearPolytechnicInstitute

PAPERCLIP

NEWRESEARCH

In cells, extracts from seaweedoutdo remdesivir against virus

AMITABHSINHAPUNE,JULY24

ARECENTserologicalsurveyinDelhifoundthepresenceofcoronavirus-specificantibodiesinabout23%ofthesamplestested.Theresultsofthat survey are being interpreted to suggestthatabout46lakhpeopleinDelhicouldsofarhavebeeninfectedwiththenovelcoronavirus,andthat“herdimmunity”couldbeapproach-ing.EvenChiefMinisterArvindKejriwalmadethesuggestiononFriday.Scientists, however, caution against

drawing such broad conclusions. The sero-logical surveyswerecarriedout toansweraveryspecificquestion.Anytalkof “herd im-munity” at this stage is not only prematurebutalsomisplaced.

Whatwastheserologicalsurveyabout?The serological surveywasmeant to de-

tectwhetherthepersonbeingtestedhadde-veloped antibodies against the coronavirus.Theantibodiesareproteinsproducedbytheimmunesystemto fightexternalorganismslike viruses that try to enter thebody. Theseareproducedonlyaftertheinfectionhashap-pened,andarespecifictotheattackingvirusor bacterium. The presence of antibodies,therefore,isanindicationthataninfectionbythatparticularvirusorbacteriumhasalreadyoccurred. Subsequent attempts to infect thebodycanbethwartedbytheseantibodies.Vaccineswork in a similarmanner. They

injectharmlessdosesofavirusorabacteriuminsidethehumanbodytotriggertheproduc-tion of antibodies by the immune system.These antibodies can then fight off an actualattackbythosevirusesorbacteria.In the context of current pandemic, the

serological surveywas carried out to assesshowwidespreadCovid-19couldhavebecome.Sinceitisnotpossibletotesteveryone,itisnotclearhowmanypeople inthepopulationareinfected,especiallysincemostof thepatientsdo not showany symptoms of the disease.Detectingantibodiesinrandomsetsofpeopleis an indirectwayof estimating theextent ofdiseasespreadinacommunity.

Whatweretheresults?The survey found coronavirus-specific

antibodiesinabout23%oftheroughly21,000

people whowere tested. This means thatthesemanypeoplehad,atsomepointortheother,hadbeeninfected.Sincerandompeo-plewere tested, it indicated that the spreadofthediseasewasmuchwiderthanwhatdi-agnostictestssuggest. InDelhi,about14% ofthose who have been tested for the virushave turnedoutpositive.Informationabout theextent of spread is

very important for authorities tomakedeci-sionsandplancontainmentmeasures.Scientists say this serological survey, and

similarones inotherpartsof thecountry, arequiteuseful forthis limitedpurpose.Buttheywarnagainst any interpretation further thanthis. Suggestions that all thosewith antibod-iesarenowprotectedagainstthedisease,andthat “herd immunity” stagewasnearby, areparticularlyproblematic, theyinsist.

DoantibodiesensureImmunity?Themerepresenceofantibodiesdoesnot

meanthatthepersonisprotectedagainstthedisease. These are two different things, sci-entists say. What is also important is theamountof antibodiespresent, andwhetheritalsoincludeswhatareknownas“neutral-isingantibodies”.Thesearetheonesthatac-tually fight the disease. Serological surveysare not designed to assess either the quan-tity of antibodies or detect the presence ofneutralisingantibodies.

“Theserologicaltestsaskaverybasicques-tionthathasaYes/Noanswer.Are thereanti-bodiespresent?That’sit.Now,thisisusefultoknowwhether thepersonhadbeen infectedwith thediseaseornot. Thepresenceof anti-bodiestellsusthat.Protectionagainstthedis-ease,however,isaverydifferentquestion.Theserologicaltestsdonotprovideusenoughin-formationonthat,”saidSatyajitRath,apathol-ogistandimmunologistnowassociatedwithIndian Institute of Science Education andResearch(IISER)inPune.While there isnodocumentedevidence

of re-infection in the current pandemic,Shahid Jameel, a virologist, said therewerestudies that indicated the “neutralising an-tibodies” could lose their effect after fourmonths. “It is verywell possible that a per-sonhasantibodiesagainstCovid-19diseasebut no protection. These two are not thesamething,andthereforeweneedtobecau-tiouswhenwe interpret scientific findingsin thismanner,” Jameel said.L S Shashidhara, a biologist, also at IISER

Pune, said the coronaviruswas still evolvingand could undergo severalmutations, andthereforeitwastooearlytotalkaboutperma-nentprotection,andcertainlynotfromthere-sultsfromanantibodytest.

What,thenisherdimmunity?Thesuggestionthatherdimmunitycould

beachievedinthenearfuturewasevenmoreproblematic, thescientistssaid.Herdimmunityisastageofanepidemicin

whichsomemembersof apopulationgroupremainprotectedfrominfectionbecauseama-jorityof thosearound themhavealreadyde-velopedimmunity,eitherthroughvaccinationorbecausetheyhavebeeninfectedearlier.So,everyone in the population group does notneedtogetinfectedbeforetheepidemicisover.Once a certainproportionof populationgetsinfected,andthusbuildsimmunityagainstthedisease,theepidemicbeginstoslowdownandeventuallystop.

Whatshouldthatproportionbe?Theproblemisnooneclearlyknowswhat

percentageof thepopulationneeds tobe in-fectedbeforeherdimmunitykicksin. It isdif-ferentfordifferentdiseases,anddifferentpop-ulation groups. In general, herd immunity isunlikelytohappenbeforeatleasthalfthepop-ulationisinfected.In the case ofmeasles, for example, herd

immunityisreachedonlywhen85%to90%ofthe population attains immunity. In someotherdiseases, the threshold couldbe lower.ForCovid-19,differentstudieshavesuggestedthatbetween55-70%ofthepopulationwouldneed to be infected before herd immunitywoulddevelop.“Herd immunity ismentioned in very

loosetermsthesedays.Anditisalsobadlymis-understood,”Jameelsaid.“Thisconceptcanbeappliedinveryspecificsituationsonly.Forex-ample, herd immunitywould apply only inclosedpopulation groups, those that are cutoff fromneighbouring societies. Thus, talk ofherd immunity inDelhi ispointless if there isa freemovement of people in andout of thecity.Also,thereisnouniforminfectionlevelinthe population overwhich herd immunitywouldcomein.EveninacitylikeDelhi,differ-entlocalitiesandneighbourhoodswouldreachherdimmunityatdifferentlevelsof infection,if theyisolatethemselvesfromothers.”Besides, it isextremelydifficult todeter-

mine the level of disease spread necessaryforherdimmunitywhentheepidemicisstillraging. “Everyparameter in this calculationisdynamicandevolving rightnow.Onlyaf-tertheepidemicisover,canwereliablyesti-mateatwhatpointdidherd immunity takeover,” Jameel said.

16WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

SHIVANINAIKMUMBAI, JULY24

WHILE SWIMMING in itself is seen as thesafest sport with its virus-killing chlorinecover, getting into the pool and back isfraughtwithrisks.Giventheinabilitytoen-forcestrictsocialdistancingonland,author-ities in India have been reluctant to openpoolsforamateurswimmers,whosenum-berswillneed tobeseverely restricted.

Is it safe toswiminthepool?Swimming on its ownmight be safe

given you will be immersed in chlorine.However,givenhowcrowdedpublicpoolsgetandtheabsenceofdisciplineduringpre-ferredbatchtimings, itwillbenear impos-sible toenforce social distancingandhandhygiene at all times. The virus doesn’t re-spectborders,saidDrChandrakantPandav,former head of community disease at AI-IMS. There is no evidence that the virusspreads in water, but given transmissionhappens through the nose andwater, andenforcing 100% protocol can’t be guaran-teed,weshouldn’tbe takingarisk.

Canchlorinesecurethepool?TheWorld Health Organization says,

Swimming in awell-maintained, properlychlorinatedpoolissafe.USASwimming,thegoverning body inAmerica, hasmandated2.0ppmchlorineinpools.Thatlevelofchlo-rinewill kill the virus, but hiking it even tothe permissible 3 ppmcan cause irritationon the skin and in the eyes, and harm thestomachlining ifwater isconsumed.DrPandavsaidchlorineisn’taone-stop

solution. You have to ask: howwell is thechlorinationdone?Well-chlorinatedmeansensuring the powder/gaseous chlorine isworking efficiently in the water and theconcentrationpercentage ismaintainedatalltimes,becauseitdeteriorates.Thedisin-fectingeffectwearsoff,andcanyouguaran-tee2% ismaintainedatall times?

Whatothermeasuresarerecommended?USguidelineslimitthecapacityto27ina

short-distance (25-yard) pool and60 in anOlympic-sized 50mpool for recreationalswimmers. Each lane — usually 6 in theshorterand10inthelongerpools—needtobe8feetwide.

WhentheUKopens itspools, it is look-ing at restricting swimming to the clock-wisedirectionandmerging two lanes intoone. It hasadvisedconstant supervision toexcludethosefeelingill,handwashing,andavoiding change rooms. Australian guide-lines specify only one swimmer per lane;theIndianrecommendationsincludetem-peraturechecks.

Whataretheproblemsinresuming

swimminginIndia?Although the Sports Authority of India

(SAI) has asked for recommendations toprepareSOPs,stategovernmentauthoritieshave the finalword onpools in their juris-diction. Elite swimmers expect pools toopen no sooner than the fourth Unlockphase(Unlock2.0thatextendsuntil July31mandates thatpools stayclosed).As uncertainty persists, coaches, clean-

ersandlifeguardsarestrugglingwithsalariesand leaseson the line. Thecatch:Safetyde-mands limiting thenumber of recreationalswimmers,andthatlimitednumberwillnotoffsetmaintenance expenses. Elite swim-mershavedemandedtheybeprioritised.

What is thesituationelsewhere?Before cases started climbing again last

week,AustraliaandSingaporehadlookedontrack to reopen their pools and increase thenumbers gradually. However, Australiawaiteduntiltherewerezeronewcases—andthe ratio of Australian to Indians in a recre-ational pool is 1:3. Sri Lanka, Thailand andVietnam,populartrainingbasesinAsia,havetaken tentative steps.While recreationalswimming looks highly unlikely,weneed

elite swimmers to start training, saidBengaluru-based coachNiharAmin.We’vespentourentire livesprotectingswimmers’healthminutely.Weknowthevalue of fol-lowing rules, he said, urging for resumptionforeliteswimmersin50mx25mpools,withamaximum10swimmerswhocanmaintain8feetdistance.Mostinternationalmeetshavebeenmovedbyayear.thoughtheAmericanseasonmaykickoffbyNovember.

Whataretheriskareas?Even 10-15 at a time in different lanes

areseenasarisk,asaretakingabreakalongthewalls, andusing theblocksandchangerooms.We don’t just swim and go home.We’ll drink water, there’ll be some placewherewe keep our bags, and it’s tough tomaintain 10 ft distance that I personallythinkmight be safe at all times, said inter-national swimmerSrihariNataraj.Gosolo.Don’tplaypolo,DrPandavsaid,

urgingforoneswimmerperdedicatedpoolfor elite Olympic-bound swimmers chas-ingAqualificationstandards.

Whyis Indiareluctanttoresume?NeitherSAInortheSportsMinistryhas

offered clarity. Some elite swimmers saythey are ginger about resuming trainingwithout failsafe guarantees and wouldrather trainabroad,where regulationsaredrawnupbyexperiencedplanners.SAIhasan agreementwith Australian Institute ofSport in Canberra and could explore thatoption for elite swimmers. However, noone is willing to risk reopening for recre-ationalswimmerswhomightthrongpub-licpools.Dr Ashok Ahuja, former department

head(SportsMedicine)atSAI,saidreopen-ingisabadidea. Idon’tthinkpoolsaresafe.It’s a newvirus and the entire nature of itsspreadthroughwaterwithbodysecretionslike saliva and sweat despite chlorine dis-infection is not proven. Fromsportsmedi-cinepoint of view,we shouldnot let poolsopen… Let’s wait till December for recre-ational swimmers.Forthecompetitivelot,DrAhujarecom-

mendsonlyoneswimmeratatime,atstag-geredtimes.Waterwillneedtoberecircu-lated and disinfected regularly. Andswimmerswillneedtobetestedoften,allofwhich is very expensive even if we have asmallbunch.

What exactly is herd immunitySIMPLYPUTQUESTION&ANSWER

Delhiserosurveyresultsarebeinginterpretedtoimplythat46lakhmayhavealreadybeeninfected;CMKejriwalsuggests thatherdimmunitycouldbeapproaching.Butscientists findsuchideasmisplaced

KABIRFIRAQUENEWDELHI,JULY24

SINCEHERdeathatage37in1958,theBritishscientist RosalindFranklinhasbeen remem-beredmostly as the “wronged heroine ofDNA”. Andas a victimofmaleprejudice, de-privedof theNobelPrizethatwentinsteadtothreemenwhohadreliedonherworktocon-structthedouble-helixstructureofDNA.Inrecentyears, though,sciencehistorians

andcommentatorshavestressedalltheotherachievements sheneeds to be rememberedfor. Especially in2020,whenherbirth cente-nary coincideswith theCovid-19pandemic.Franklinwasoneof the leadingvirologists ofhertime—andmore.Saturdayisher100thbirthanniversary.

DNAbreakthroughIn1952,RaymondGosling,agraduatestu-

dentatKing’sCollegeLondon,tookahistoricX-rayphotographunderFranklin’s supervision.Photo51,asitiscalled,demonstratesthenow-familiar,double-helixstructureofDNA.FouryearsafterFranklindiedofovariancan-

cer, the 1962 Nobel Prize forMedicinewenttoJamesWatson,Francis Crick and MauriceWilkins for theirwork on thestructure of DNA. TheNobel isnotawardedposthumously.Wilkinswas Franklin’s col-

leagueatKing’sCollege.HehadshownPhoto51toWatson,thenatCambridge,withoutFranklin’sknowledge.Her precisemeas-urements, too, had reachedWatson andCrick through “ir-regular routes”, Franklin’sbiog-rapherBrendaMaddox,nowdeceased,wroteinanarticleforNature in2003.Watson and Crick used the knowledge

gainedfromPhoto51,Franklin’sunpublishednotes,andtheirownintuitiontoconstructthedouble-helix structure of DNA.Wilkins im-provedontheirmodelovertheyears, leadingtothethreesharingtheNobel.

Herother achievements“Duringhershortlife,veryfewpeopleout-

side sciencehadheard of Rosalind Franklin.Butsinceherdeath,shehasbecomealegend.

Sheisparticularlyfamousforherworkonthedoublehelixstruc-tureofDNA,butshehasalsobe-comeapotent symbol ofmaleprejudice,” science historianPatricia Fara of Clare College,UniversityofCambridge,toldTheIndianExpressbyemail.“Surelyshedeservestobere-

membereddifferently?”Farare-ferred to the inscriptiononhergrave: ‘Scientist: herwork onviruseswasof lastingbenefit tomankind…’

“Theworld is currently gripped in apan-demic,andherpioneeringresearchinvirologyprovidedacrucial early step in the search forcures, vaccinationsandtests.Whenshedied,Franklinwasaworld leader in the field,” Farasaid. “DuringtheSecondWorldWar, shecar-ried out research into coal andgraphite thatproved important for gas-masks, the PPE ofthattime.”From1953 until her death, sheworked

withJohnDesmondBernalatBirkbeckCollege,headingateamthatanalysedthestructureofthetobaccomosaicvirus.Aftermappingthat

virus,shewentontoinvestigatepolio.“It is because of Franklin, her collabora-

torsandsuccessors,thattoday’sresearchersareabletousetoolssuchasDNAsequencingand X-ray crystallography to investigateviruses such as SARS-CoV-2,”Naturewroteinaneditorial thisweek.

Professional career scientistFranklin did not know that three men

wouldwintheNobelforconstructingaDNAmodel relying on her evidence. “Still morefortunately,shehadnowayofforeseeingthatshe would be publicly denigrated inWatson’s bestsellingbook, TheDoubleHelix(1968),” Fara said.Watsonwasdismissiveof Franklin inhis

book. For example: “Clearly Rosy had to goor be put in her place... UnfortunatelyMauricecouldnotseeanydecentwaytogiveRosy theboot.”Fara described Franklin as a professional

career scientist,whose aimwas to increaseknowledge, not score points off rivals.“RosalindFranklinrepeatedlyfoughttoestab-lishequalitywithmen,buthertopprioritywasacademicsuccess.”

@ieExplained#ExpressExplainedIf there are questions of current or contemporary relevance that youwould likeexplained, pleasewrite to explained@indianexpress.comE EXPLAINED

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

Howsafe is it to swim: Behind India’s reluctance to reopen pools

Chlorinecandisinfect thewater,buttheworry isabout thenumberofswimmers .KamleshwarSingh/Filephoto

RosalindFranklin

Abloodsample iscollectedduringtheserosurvey inDelhi. AbhinavSaha/Filephoto

Why Rosalind Franklin is relevant as ever

New Delhi

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with Disabilities5th floor, Antyodaya Bhawan CGO Complex,

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FORTHE EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,

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(ix) Chronic Neurological Conditions - (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease)

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(c) Applications received after the last date and/or without recommendation by the prescribedauthority/persons, or incomplete or unsigned will not be entertained.

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CLASSIFIEDS&TENDERS18 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

''IMPORTANT''Whilst care is taken prior toacceptance of advertisingcopy, it isnotpossible toverifyits contents. The IndianExpress (P) Limited cannot beheld responsible for suchcontents, nor for any loss ordamage incurredasaresultoftransactions with companies,associations or individualsadvertising in its newspapersor Publications. We thereforerecommend that readersmake necessary inquiriesbefore sending any monies orentering into any agreementswith advertisers or otherwiseacting on an advertisement inany manner whatsoever.

II Ajit NirwanaliasAjit Pal SinghS/o Late Sh.Ganpat Lal R/oHouseNo.118/3, Tulsi RamBhawan, ShivajiMarg, KaramPura, Delhi-110015havechangedmyname toAjitNirwan for all futurepurposes.

0040542705-3

II G.K.JayaganeshS/oG.R.KrishnamurthyR/o 2/4ReddyKuppamst., 16, PriyaFlats,Madras 600033. havechangedmyname toG.K.Jaiganesh 0040542711-1

II JatinKumarGahlot S/o-AshokkumarR/o.55,Munshi-RamColony, Dr.Mukharagee-Nagar,Delhi-110009.have changedmyname to Jatin KumarGehlot.

0040542777-6

II KiranW/oSh.DineshKumarAryaR/o F-1/123, Sector-11,Rohini,Delhi-110085havechangedmyname toKiranArya for all purposes.

0040542705-1

II,,VViikkaasshhBabu/VikashKumar,S/oSh.AwadhBihari Upadhyay,R/o-Q.No-3, Old-Compound,Mandi-House, New-Delhi-110001.have changedmynametoVikasKumar,Permanently

0040542777-4

II,,UUmmaannggHasija,S/oAshokKumarHasija R/o-C-526,Street.No.11,Majlis-Park,Delhi-110033,have changedmyname,fromMukund toUmanghasija,for all,futurepurposes.MukundandUmangHasija oneandsamePerson.

0040542777-10

II,,RRaannbbiirr SinghNandaR/o-12/22A,GroundFloor,TilakNagar, NewDelhi-18,HaveChanged theNameof,MyMinorDaughter,fromMeharNanda toMeharKaurNanda,for all,Purposes.

0040542796-4

II,, Swaraj Rosha,W/oGurpreetSinghChanni, R/oTNB-012,Trinity Towers, DLFPhase-5,Gurgaonhave changedmyname fromSwaraj Rosha toSwaraj Channi for all futurepurpose. 0040542728-1

II,, Shahnawaz,S/o-MohdSaifuddinMolla R/o-L-4/B,Batla-House,Jamia-Nagar, ND-25.inform that’nameofmymother,has-beenmention,inmypassport,as Suraiyainstead,of SuraiyaBegum.

0040542796-9

II,, Sadia Sultana,D/o-MohdSaifuddinMolla R/o-L-4/B,Batla-House,Jamia-Nagar, ND-25.inform that’nameofmymother,has-beenmention,inmypassport,as Suraiyainstead,of SuraiyaBegum.

0040542796-7

II,, SATENDERKUMAR/SATINDERKUMARSHARMAS/O JAINARAINR/OA-30/31,MAJLISPARK,ADARSHNAGAR,DELHI-110033.CHANGEDMYNAMETOSATENDERKUMARSHARMA.

0040542800-3

II,, S.VaideshS/oB.ShankarR/oFlat. No.498, GH-14, PaschimVihar, NewDelhi-87, HaveChangedMyName toVaideshShankar. 0040542730-1

II,, RamMehar Sharma,S/o LateSohanLal Sharma, presentlyR/o-8/137,850Mehram-NagarDelhi-Cantt DomesticAirportNear-Metro Station,NewDelhi-110037,andR/o.H.NO.045,939,GangaToli-RoadPoothkhurd,NorthDelhi-110039,havechangedmyname toBrahmaRahmaAngeera(DOB-15/04/1973)For all,futurepurposes. 0040542777-8

II,, RAMESHCHANDER, S/OSHAMBHUDYAL, R/o.F-275/7,AALI-VIHAR,NEARSARITA-VIHAR, DELHI-110076, changedmyname toRAMESHCHANDRA, permanently.

0040542796-6

II,, RAMnath sahu,s/o sh.prabhusahu r/o-plot.no.37,block-g-3,sai-enclave,Gali no.10,Mohan-garden,new-Delhi-110059,I have changedmynameas ramnath sahuinplaceofmyproviousname ramnath,for all purposes.

0040542777-9

II,, R. K. AshokS/oRamPrasadR/o-902, Ground-Floor, Sector-1, Vasundhara,Ghaziabad.have changedmyname toRakeshKumarAshok.

0040542800-2

II,, PiyushS/OPawanKumarbornon 09/01/1999 residingat190,RamNagar Extn.,KrishnaNagar,Delhi-110051, havechangedmyname toPiyushSethia vide affidavit dated23/07/2020 atDelhi.

0050166875-1

II,,MohdShahryar,S/o-MohdSaifuddinMolla R/o-L-4/B,Batla-House,Jamia-Nagar, ND-25.inform that’nameofmymother,has-beenmention,inmypassport,as Suraiyainstead,of SuraiyaBegum.

0040542796-8

II,, Lovepreet Kaur,W/oBeantSinghGill R/o-G-95,Block-G,Nand-RamPark, Dwarka,Delhi-110059.have changedmynameto Lovepreet KaurGill.

0040542777-1

II DIDARSINGH S/o LATESH.Mohinder SinghR/o Flat no.432,3rd Floor Four Story TagoreGarden, NewDelhi-110027. Ihave changedmyNameDEEDARSINGH toDIDARSINGH,for all FuturePurpose, both arethe sameandoneperson.

0040542597-1

II,, KmRavinW/oRakeshKumarAshokR/o 902, GroundFloor,Sector-1, Vasundhara,Ghaziabad.have changedmyname toRajni. 0040542800-1

II,, Kirti D/oNariender SinghMannR/o.H.No-87, Sector-14,UrbanEstate, Karnal,Haryana-132001have changedmynametoKirtiMann,Permanently,

0040542777-3

II,, KAPILDEVS/O-SATYAPRAKASHR/-O- KHASRA.NO.584NEHRU-ENCLAVENEAR-MINI STADIUM-ALIPURDELHI-36.HAVECHANGEDMYNAMEKAPILDEVARYA.

0040542777-5

II,, HarswaroopSinghS/o-JagdishSinghR/o-503 SU,Air-Force-Station-Arjangarh.havechangemyname’fromHarswaroop toHarswaroopSinghVide-Affidavit-date-18/07/2020. 0040542796-10

II,, DEVINDERKUMARCHADHAS/ORAMPARKASHR/OHNO.104-110, D-15,SECTOR-3,ROHINI, DELHI-110085.CHANGEDMYNAMETODAVENDERKUMAR.

0040542796-1

II,, BHAGWATSINGHS/OPADAMSINGHR/o-232, HANS-NAGARCOLONY-PANDWALANKALAN-NAJAFGARHDELHI-110043.HAVEchangedmyname toBHAGWATSINGHRAWAT 0040542796-3

II,, AleyammaPuthuparampilUlahannanw/o-MathewJosephR/o-Flat-No.128-B,Pocket-C-2,Mayur-Vihar,Phase-3, Delhi-110096, havechangedmyname toAnuMathew, Permanently.

0040542777-2

II,, ANUCHADHAW/ODAVENDERKUMARR/O.HNO.104-110,D-15,SECTOR-3, ROHINI, DELHI-110085. HAVECHANGEDMYNAMETOANNU.

0040542796-2

II,, PRADEEPKUMARGUPTA, S/ORAGHUBIRPRASADGUPTA,R/o-D-143A,GROUND-FLOOREAST-OF-KAILASHNEWDELHI-110065,haveChangedmynametoPRADEEPGUPTA.

0040542796-5

II Supreet Bhatia S/O,MahenderPal SinghBhatia R/o 58cC2DBlock Janakpuri, NewDelhihave changedmyname toSupreet SinghBhatia for allpurposes. 0040542714-1

II SeemaRaniD/O, Chiranji LalR/o E 1203BptpResort Sector75 FaridabadHaryana- 121004have changedmyname toSimaPremkumarGupta for allpurposes. 0040542634-1

II RuchikaGroverD/o Lt.Sh.PremGroverW/oSh.ArunDurejaR/o11/10, 1st Floor, AshokNagar,TilakNagar, NewDelhi-110018have changedmynameaftermarriage toNidhi Dureja for allpurposes. 0040542705-4

II Ritu PalW/O,Mr. Kapil KumarR/oD - 406, AlaknandaApartment, Rampuri,Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh -201011. I have changedmyname fromRituKumari Pal toRituPal for all purposes

0040542708-1

IIMohal Lal S/oRamPrasadR/o-JB-1/94WelcomeSeelampurDelhi-110053.have changedmyname toMohanLal.

0040542777-7

II ParteekShokeenalias PrateekShokeenS/oSh.DharambirSinghR/oHouseNo.688, B-Block , Saraswati Vihar,Pitampura, Delhi-110034 havechangedmyname toParteekShokeen for all purposes.

0040542705-2

PPEERRSSOONNAALL

LLOOSSTT&&FFOOUUNNDD

Classifieds

PUBLIC NOTICEMY CLIENT SMT. SANTOSH VERMAW/O LATE SH. RAJBEER VERMAR/O H. NO. 891, BADA HALWAIHATTA, SONIPAT, HARYANA 131001,SEVERE ALL RELATIONS ANDDEBAR THEIR SON DEEWANSHUVERMA AND HIS WIFE KOMALVERMA FROM THEIR ENTIREMOVABLE / IMMOVABLEPROPERTY DUE TO THEIRHOSTILE BEHAVIOUR. MY CLIENTSSHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FORTHEIR ACTS / DEEDS.

Sd/- AJIT KUMAR (Advocate)CH. NO. 513, ROHINI COURT,

DELHIMOB. 9891649849

PUBLIC NOTICEBe it known that my client SH. RAMMEHAR SHARMA S/O LATE SH.SOHAN LAL SHARMA R/o H.NO.045, 939, Ganga Toli RoadPoothkhurd Delhi-110039, hasdisowned and severed all theirrelations with their Wife LAXMI andboth son MOHIL and LAVIT anddebarred them from his movable andimmovable properties/ assets andtheir personal life. Anybody dealingwith them in civil and criminal mattershall be doing at his/her/their own risk,cost and responsibility.

Sd/- KAMAL SINGHAdvocate

Regn. No. D-748/14Chamber No. 512, Fifth Floor,

Distt. Court, Rohini, Delhi-85

PUBLIC NOTICEMy Client Anil Kumar @ Anil Kumar Arora S/o Sh.Murli Dhar Arora @ M.D. Arora, R/o 1342-D,Second Floor, Rani Bagh, Saraswati Vihar, Delhi -34, it is informed to the General Public that originalSale Deed dated 05.01.1954 registered documentNo. 551, Book No. I, Volume 2825 Pages No. 389to 392 and Regd. GPA dated 09.05.1973,document No. 1350 Book no. IV, Volume No. 226,Pages 139 to 142 of property No. WZ-1342-D,area measuring 58 sq. yds. part of plot No. 7 out ofKhasra No. 612/321 & 321 situated in the area ofvillage Seelampur Mazra, Madipur, abadi PratapGarh, Delhi, presently known as Rani Bagh,Shakurbasti, Delhi, were lost in market of RaniBagh my client lodged a report LR No.435413/2020 dated 23.07.2020 through online.

Sd/-APRAJITAdvocate

En. No. D-115312000 Ch. No. 198-A,Western Wing Tis Hazari Court, Delhi-110054

(M) : 8860497436, 9013445883

PUBLIC NOTICEThis is for information of Public ingeneral that my clients Sh. MalkhanSingh S/o Late Sh. Kalu Ram andSmt. Santosh W/o Sh. MalkhanSingh, R/o D-5/241, Sultan Puri,Delhi–86, do hereby serve all rela-tions with their daughters namelyKumari Vnadana and Pratibhaabsolutely and completely, withimmediate effect and both are alsodisowned by my clients and shallhave no right in all moveable andimmoveable property owned by myclients. My clients shall not beresponsible in any manner whatso-ever for the acts of their above men-tioned daughters. Any person deal-ing with them shall do so on his ownrisk and responsibility.

TEJPAL SHOKEN (ADVOCATE)1422, Lawyer’s Chambers, Rohini

Courts Complex, Delhi – 110085

PUBLIC NOTICEBe it known to all that my client Sh.Rajender Kumar s/o sh. Girdhari lalr/o 414, Kashmiri bagh, kishan ganj,delhi-7 have severed all theirrelationships with their son RahulTomar from all their movable andimmovable properties whatsoeverand wheresoever situated and alsosevered all their relations, social andeconomical with him for hismisbehavior and adamant attitude.Any body dealing with him shall beat his/ her/their own risks and myshall not be responsible for same.

Basant Kumar Gupta(Advocate)

Ch. No. 774, western wingTis hazari Court, Delhi 54

LLoosstt Sale-DeedNo.1271,Book.No.31/14Page-58-63Registered. on.26/11/1959executed in favour of KaramChand in respect of Plotbearing.No.E-1, 166.2/3Sq.Yds.in theareaof village-Khureji Khas,Chander-Nagar,Delhi-51,foundermayinformTarunTyagi,S/oYashvirSinghTyagi,H.No.E-1,Gali.No.3,East Chander-Nagar,Delhi-51.

0040542777-11

II,, VikramYadavSonof Shri TejSinghYadav, declare anoaththatmyQualifying certificateof havingpassed the 10 th inCBSEDelhi in theyear 1989MarkSheet hasbeenactuallylost/ destroyedand that it ismy true statement.MyRoll No.was 053533, ResidentialAddress :847, Sector 15, Part-2,Gurgaon,Haryana

0040542707-1

II,, ARCHANAGautam,D/o-Dalchandkardam,R/o-87-cpocket-D-1,D.D.A Janta-flats,kondlimayur-vihar,phase-3,Delhi-96 havelostmyoriginal-certificateclass-10th(2000) Rollno-6304020 class-12th (2002)Rollno-6605855,CBSE-Delhi

0040542800-4

II DhirenderKumar S/o LateBirbal SinghR/oH.No.D-342,StreetNo.3, Burari Road,SwaroopNagar, Delhi havelostmyOriginal propertydocumentAgreement to Sellof property bearingNo.B-68/4,Wazirpur Industrial Area,Delhi-52 in thenameofmineandmywifePushpa. Findersmaycontact at aboveaddress.

0040542724-1

Himachal PradeshJal Shakti Vibhag e-Tendering

The Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Vibhag Division Nalagarh invites tenders on behalf of Governor of Himachal Pradesh fromapproved eligible contractors for the following work (s) through e-tendering process:-

1 1 Last date of filing / uploading the tender through e-tendering: - 05-08-2020 upto 11:00 AM. The tender forms and otherdetailed conditions can be obtained from the website www.hpiph.org.

Executive Engineer,IPH Divn. Nalagarh, Distt. Solan (HP)

1837/HP

S/ Description of work Estimated Earnest Cost of StipulatedNo. cost Money tender Time period

forms

1 2,35,26,130/- 2,67,800/- 2500/- Two yearConstruction of 8 Nos. (7Nos.) Tubewells PHASE 1 in Tehsil Nalagarh of SolanDistrict HP (Sub Head Providing and laying Rising main of various dia with MSflanges Providing and laying HDPE pipe in distribution system supply and erec-tion of pumping machinery and construction of MDT out lets construction ofpump house cum attendant quarter construction of boundary wall around thepump house electrification of pump house for Tubewell 1 Nangal Dhakka 2Nangal 3 Rampur Harizan Basti 4 Kulari 5 Dhana I and II )

HIM SUCHNA AVAM JAN SAMPARK

Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department“OFFICE ORDER’’

(Corrigendum)The e-Procurement notice tender vide this office Tender Notice No.PW-SRDD-CB-CTR-2020-21-3973 dated 03-07-2020 which is scheduled to be openedon 31-07-2020 is being amended due to technical reason.

Key Dates:-

Executive EngineerShimla Rural Division, HPPWD Dhami.HIM SUCHNA AVAM JAN SAMPARK1788/HP

Before amendments

Name of Work Estimated EMD Cost of JobCost Tender No.

Rs. Rs. Rs. 12,14,08,389/- 2,46,600/- 5,000/-

Construction of Parking atSanket Mochan Temple Block-A (SH:- C/o building portion,providing water supply andsanitary installation, C/o septictank and site development etc)(Under Smart City Shimla)

After amendment may be read as under

Name of Work Estimated EMD Cost ofCost Tender

Rs. Rs. Rs.

1,72,83,088/- 2,10,350/- 5,000/-Construction of Parking at Sanket MochanTemple Block-A (SH:- C/o building portion,providing water supply and sanitary installa-tion, C/o septic tank and site developmentetc)(Under Smart City Shimla)

F. No. AN/V/5018/OTI & Panchvati

Controller General of Defence AccountsUlan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt - 110010

Dated: 22.07.2020

Notice for Inviting Open TenderOn behalf of the Controller General of Defence Accounts, Delhi Cantt, open tendersare invited from well experienced and licensed reputed parties/ firms/ companies/agencies, for Miscellaneous services i.e. internal and external conservancy, Cateringservices and pest & rodent control services etc. in the office premises of the DPDO& OTI office Building at Sector-44, Gurugram (Haryana) & Panchvati Guest House,Palam, Delhi Cantt. Total area of office building of DPDO & OTI office Building atSector-44, Gurugram (Haryana) & Panchvati Guest House, Palam, Delhi Cantt-10are approx. 25,137 sq. ft. and approx. 8,610 sq.ft. respectively.

Tender documents shall be accompanied by a Demand Draft/Banker's Cheque forRs.1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand only) drawn on any Nationalized Bank in favourof the CGDA, Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt, towards cost of the tender form.Tender is invited in two parts, i.e. (1) Technical bid and (2) Financial bid. The tenderform for technical bid in the pro-forma prescribed in enclosure-IV and the tender formfor the financial bid in the pro-forma prescribed in enclosure-V, complete in allrespects, sealed separately, and kept in a sealed cover together, superscribed with(i) Tender Notice No. (ii) subject : Quotation for Miscellaneous Services at the DPDO& OTI office Building at Sector-44, Gurugram (Haryana) & Panchvati Guest House,Palam, Delhi Cantt. an (iii) due date and should be submitted to the AN-V Section,O/o the CGDA, Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt-110010 or may be dropped inTender Box provided for this purpose at Reception of CGDA offce, Ulan Batar Road,Palam, Delhi Cantt-110010.

The Tender documents alongwith instructions, scope of work and terms &conditions can be downloaded from the web site www.cgda.nic.in or can becollected from Sh. Mahesh Kumar, SAO(AN), O/o the CGDA, Ulan Batar Road,Palam, Delhi Cantt - 110010.

1. Date & Time for submission of quotations up to 21.08.2020 till 2.00 P.M.

2. Date & Time of Opening of Quotations (Technical Bid) 21.08.2020 at 3.00 P.M.

Place of Opening of Tender Bids - Aditya Conference Hall, Ground floor, CGDAoffice, Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt-10.

Incomplete tender/tender received beyond date/time notified above shall beout rightly rejected.

Sd/-(Dr. Amit Gupta)

Sr. Dy. CGDA (Admin)davp 10501/11/0003/2021 Phone No. 011-20893005

80017(I)NNoorrtthh central railwayscentral railways www.ncr.indianrailways.gov.inwww.ncr.indianrailways.gov.in @ CPRONCR@ CPRONCR

809/20(D)809/20(D)

Sr. Name of Name of Work/ Opening Date Amount/EMD Website of the NodalNo. Deptt./Board/ Notice/Tender Closing Date (Approx.) Department/ Board/ Officer/Contact

Corp./Auth. (Time) in Rupees Corp/Auth Details/E-mail

1. CIVIL OPEN BIDDING 29.07.2020 5000/- -- SENIORHOSPITAL FOR CANTEEN TIME 11.00 AM MEDICALPALWAL, TENDER IN (TENDER PERIOD OFFICER

CIVIL 01.08.2020 TO smoghpwl5@gmail.comHOSPITAL, 31.07.2021)

PALWAL

SD/- SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICERCIVIL HOSPITAL, PALWAL81920/HRY

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER,PHED CIRCLE CHITTORGARH (RAJ.)

Tel. 01472-240918, e-mail-sephedchittorgarh@gmail.comNo 1256-69 Date 22.07.2020

NOTICE INVITING TENDERS FOR WORKSOnline tenders are hereby invited on behalf of the Hon'ble Governor of Rajasthanfor the following works from eligible enlisted Contractor/ Firm as per Rules. Detailsof this tender notification and pre-qualification criteria can also be seen in NITexhibited on website www.dipr.rajasthan.gov.in, http://sppp.rajasthan.gov.in,and http://eproc.rajasthan.gov.in. Tenders are to be submitted online electronicformat on web site http://eproc.rajasthan.gov.in. Date & time for onlinesubmission of Tender on Web Site Up to 11.08.2020 (18:00 hrs) RISL Charges,tender fee and bid security shall be submitted through e-GRAS only in respectivebudget head.

SAVE WATER - SAVE LIFE

NIT No. Work Description EstimatedCost

Rate Contract of P/L/J and commissioning of Internal Villagedistribution network and providing Functional House waterconnection from already laid) New distribution pipe line toproperty line, including all material and all labour with 12months defect liability period for implementation of Jal JeevanMission under jurisdiction of PHED (NIB CODEPHE2021A2169).

SECOR/09/ 2020-21

Division Chittorgarh, District Chittorgarn. UBN No.PHE2021WSOB03862

Rs. 250.00Lacs

SECOR/10/ 2020-21

Division Nimbahera. District Chittorgarn. UBN No.PHE2021WSOB03863

Rs. 250.00Lacs

Sd/(D.R. SONI)

Superintending Engineer,PHED, Circle ChittorgarhDIPR/C/5650/2020

indianexpress.com

The Indian Express.For the Indian Intelligent.

I arrive at a conclusionnot an assumption.Inform your opinionwith

detailed analysis.

OFFICE OF THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF ENGINEER (PPP) P.W.D.,RAJASTHAN, JAIPUR

No. 215 Date: 29.06.2020NIT No. 05/2020-21

On behalf of Hon’ble Governor of Rajasthan, Public Works Department, Rajasthan (India) invitesRFP/Financial Bids for Consultancy Services for NGO/Agency to assist PIUs in Resettlement PlanImplementation for ADB RSHIP Tranche-2 in the state of Rajasthan in specified format.The RFP/Financial Bid document can be viewed or/ and downloaded from website:http://sppp.rajasthan.gov.in, http://www.pwd.rajasthan.gov.in andhttp://eproc.rajasthan.gov.in from 01.07.2020. Any further amendments to the RFP/Financial Biddocument shall only be made available on above websites as such prospective Bidders are expect-ed to visit the above websites for the same.The Bid due date for receiving proposals is 30.07.2020 upto 11:30 Hrs. The applications will beopened on 30.07.2020 at 15:00 Hrs. Other relevant details are available in the RFP document.

Sd/-(V.K. Singh)

Additional Chief Engineer (PPP)PPP Division, Public Works DepartmentNirman Bhawan, Jacob road Civil Lines

UBN No. PWD2021SSOB02723 Jaipur-302006Email: aceppp.pwd@rajasthan.gov.in

DIPR/C/5677/2020 Tel: +91-141-2223547

Corrigendum No.2To

04/SE (R)/ NHP/ e-Tender/ 2020-21 Dated 07.07.2020e-Tender Notice no. 04/SE (R)/ NHP/ e-Tender/ 2020-21 Dated 07.07.2020 wasfloated for the "Drilling & Installation of 66 nos. Groundwater Monitoring Wells andConstruction of 66 nos. Protection Works for DWLR Telemetry System to MonitorGroundwater Level and Quality under National Hydrology Project (NHP)" inUttarakhand State". Due to some unavoidable circumstances, the Bid SubmissionStart Date in respect of aforesaid e-Tender dated 07.07.2020 is being extendedfrom 26.07.2020, 3:30 PM to 06.08.2020, 3:30 PM.

Sd/-Date: 24.07.2020 (Shankar Kumar Saha)

Superintending Engineer

´fÂffaIY:X 1799/Vfû.¸f./E³f.E¨f.´fe. dQ³ffaIY: 24.07.2020

Office of the Superintending EngineerResearch Circle

Irrigation Research Institute, Roorkee

Name of work Hiring of 01 No. Pick up van Non AC Multi UtilityVehicle for two years for the work Rosa-Sitapur sectionunder Dy. Chief Signal & Telecom Engineer (Construction)/CW, Northern Railway, DRM office, New Delhi

Approximate costof the work

Rs. 12.12 Lakhs

Earenest Money Rs. 24,200/- (Rupees Twenty Four Thousand Two hundredonly)

Completion period 24 (Twenty Four) months

Date, Time &Place for submis-sion and openingof tender

Tender will be available on www.ireps.gov.in website from28.07.2020 to 11.30 Hrs. on 21.08.2020 and will be openedon 21.08.2020 after 11.30 hrs. Tender can be uploaded from07.08.2020 to 11.30 hrs. on 21.08.2020 and will be openedon 21.08.2020 after 11.30 hrs.

Address fromwhere tender formcan be purchased

E-Tender document cost - NilThe detailed e-tender notice and document will be availa-ble on Northern Railway web site i.e. on www.ireps.gov.infrom 28.07.2020 to 11.30 hrs. dt. 21.08.2020, bidders areadvised to electronically register themselves on the abovewebsite for which, they would require to, obtain class III dig-ital certifcate (if already not obtained) issued by CCA underIT Act-2000. All other terms and conditions in respect ofabove tenders are given in tender document.

II Arpit DwivediH. No. 40mainshyampark sahibabadghaziabad201005, I have lostmyclass 10thmarksheet year2016 roll no. 5397148CBSEBoard. 0040542609-1

It isnotified for the informationthatmyoriginalexaminationcertificateofMain, Secondaryexaminationofyear2010andRollno6169505 issuedbyCBSEhasbeenactuallydestroyed.Nameofthecandidate : ShabnamKapur.Full address/Tel : 5 JaipurEstate,NizamuddinEast,NewDelhi110013/9717222792.

0040542848-1

It isnotified for the informationthatmyoriginalexaminationcertificateofMain, SeniorSecondaryexaminationofyear2012andRoll no9160632 issuedbyCBSEhasbeenactuallydestroyed.Nameof thecandidate: ShabnamKapur. Full address/Tel : 5 JaipurEstate,NizamuddinEastNewDelhi 110013/9717222792. 0040542852-1

New Delhi

Anpara Thermal Power Project, Anpara, E-Tender Notice. 1. E-Tender No: 399/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, MMC-I, ATPS, Anpara.Supply:Supply of integrated LDB. Earnest Money:Rs.7,000.00 (Rs. Seven Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Last date of sub-mission of e-bid (Technical & Financial) ate-procurement website http://etender.up.nic.in.: 17.08.2020, date of opening e-bid Part-I: 19.08.2020, For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 2. E-Tender No:16/AHD/BTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-I, BTPS,Anpara. Work: Overhauling of ash slurrypumps, GSW pumps, sump pumps & otherassociated equipments of unit no. 4 of2x500MW, BTPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.15,000.00 (Rs. Fifteen Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bid submissionend date: 21.08.2020 , date of opening e-bid Part-I: 24.08.2020, Part-II: Shall be inti-mated later. Period: 1 Year. For participationand detailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 3. E-Tender No:254/PD-III/ATPS//2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of H.T. fasteners(Make: LPS, TVS and unbrako (DFL) only) of3x210 MW ATPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.22,000.00 (Rs. Twenty Two ThousandOnly) (Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs.500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara.Extended Last date for submission of e-bid (Technical & Financial) at e-procure-ment website http://etender.up.nic.in,06.08.2020, Extended date of opening e-bid Part-I: 07.08.2020, For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 4. E-Tender No:04/FF&SD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, [HQ], ATPS,Anpara. Work: Painting and nomenclature offire fighting system pipeline, equipment andtanks of 3x210MW, ATPS, Anpara. EarnestMoney: Rs.15,000.00 (Rs. Fifteen ThousandOnly) (Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs.500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 07.08.2020, date ofopening e-bid Part-I: 10.08.2020, Part-II:Shall be intimated later. Period: One Year.For participation and detailed information login to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 5.Short Term E-Tender No: 02/CMD-2/ATPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, CMC-I, ATPS, Anpara. Work:Annual maintenance contract for drinkingwater distribution network in temporarycolony, CISF colony, Rehabilitation area,office shed & power house area of AnpataThermal power project, Anpara, Sonebhadra.Earnest Money: Rs.20,000.00 (Rs. TwentyThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 10.08.2020 , date ofopening e-bid Part-I: 13.08.2020, Part-II:Shall be intimated later. For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 6. E-Tender No:04/MMC-II/SD/BTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-II, ATPS,Anpara. Work: Execution of the computerrelated work such as Hindi & English typingpreparation of statement in respect ofsalaries, arrears etc of employees/officers &payment of contractors for forwarding in tobank D.D. Prepapration of reports/formatsand various statement along with urgentinformation to be sent to lucknow from time totime as per requirement of the office and allother computer related works assigned bythe officers of CFA& BO, ATPS, & BTPS fromtime to time with experience and profession-ally qualified computer operator on depart-mental computer/laptop and printer etc.Earnest Money: Rs.5,200.00 (Rs. FiveThousand Two Hundred Only) (Refundable),Tender Cost: Rs. 1000.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 18.08.2020, date ofopening e-bid Part-I: 19.08.2020, Part-II:Shall be intimated later. Period: 1 year. Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 7. E-Tender No: 03/MMC-II/SD/BTPS/2020-21,Office: Superintending Engineer, MMC-II,ATPS, Anpara. Work: Accounts relatedworks, GST and TDS on computer along withproviding computer, printer, UPS and theirconsumable for offices of CFA & BO,3X210MW, ATPS, Anpara & 2x500MW,BTPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. Ten Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 1000.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bid submissionend date: 18.08.2020 , date of opening e-bid Part-I: 19.08.2020, Part-II: Shall be inti-

mated later. Period: 1 year. For participationand detailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 8. E-Tender No:46/C&IMD-III/BTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-III,2X500MW, BTPS, Anpara. Work: Upkeepingof control room, control equipment room,DAS room, PPTS, Boiler and turbine sidefield equipments Including CPP, mix bedWTP, regeneration room of CPP of unit 4&5,BTPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.14,000.00 (Rs. Fourteen Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. Last date for sub-mission of e-bid Technical & Financial ate-procurement website http://etender.up.nic.in: 11.08.2020, date of opening e-bid Part-I: 18.08.2020, Part-II: Shall be inti-mated later. Period: 1 Year. For participationand detailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 9. E-Tender No:06/PD-I/BTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-II, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of bleaching powder.Earnest Money: Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. TenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 1000.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid (Technical &Financial) at e-procurement website:17.08.2020, Last date for submission ofrequired tender documents: 19.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 19.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. For participa-tion and detailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 10. E-Tender No:401/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of control and powercable.. Earnest Money: Rs.9,000.00 (Rs.Nine Thousand Only) (Refundable), TenderCost: Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:17.08.2020 , date of opening e-bid Part-I:19.08.2020, For participation and detailedinformation log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 11. E-Tender No:398/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of miscellaneousconsumables. Earnest Money:Rs.11,000.00 (Rs. Eleven Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Last date for sub-mission of e-bid Technical & Financial ate-procurement website: 17.08.2020 , dateof opening e-bid Part-I: 19.08.2020, Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 12. E-Tender No: 400/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of Welding carrier,fuses & switches etc. Earnest Money:Rs.11,000.00 (Rs. Eleven Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Last date for sub-mission of e-bid Technical & Financial ate-procurement website: 17.08.2020 , dateof opening e-bid Part-I: 19.08.2020, Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 13. E-Tender No: 03/C&IMD-II/BTPS/T-3/2020-21,Office: Superintending Engineer, O&MC-III,2X500MW, BTPS, Anpara. Work:Maintenance support services work on con-trol panel equipments and modules of vari-ous C&I systems (APC, BMS, BSQ, MFT)installed for boiler side system, ash handlingcontrol system and ash water pump housecontrol system of 2x500MW, Anpara, BTPS.Earnest Money: Rs.15,000.00 (Rs. FifteenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 1000.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 31.08.2020, date ofopening e-bid Part-I: 31.08.2020, Part-II:Shall be intimated later. Period: 1 Year. Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 14. E-Tender No: 03/CMD-II/ATPS/2020-21,Office: Superintending Engineer, CMC-I,ATPS, Anpara. Work: Annual maintenanceof lawn and horticulture of administrativebuilding, simulator building, BTPS servicehouse building, permanent filtration plant,canteen , BTPS AC/DG house etc. underCMD-II, ATPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs..22,000.00 (Rs. Twenty Two ThousandOnly) (Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs.500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 18.08.2020, date ofopening e-bid Part-I: 20.08.2020, Part-II:Shall be intimated later. Period: 1 Year. Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 15. E-Tender No: 404/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of lighting materials..Earnest Money: Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. TenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:

Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:24.08.2020 , date of opening e-bid Part-I:26.08.2020, For participation and detailedinformation log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 16. E-Tender No:405/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of MiscellaneousElectrical items.. Earnest Money:Rs.11,000.00 (Rs. Eleven Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Last date for sub-mission of e-bid Technical & Financial ate-procurement website: 24.08.2020 , dateof opening e-bid Part-I: 26.08.2020, Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 17. E-Tender No: 403/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of main switchesand Din rail.. Earnest Money: Rs.9,000.00(Rs. Nine Thousand Only) (Refundable),Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:24.08.2020 , date of opening e-bid Part-I:26.08.2020, For participation and detailedinformation log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 18. E-Tender No: 402/PD-I/ATPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, MMC-I, ATPS, Anpara.Supply:Supply of Industrial main switches.. EarnestMoney: Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. Ten ThousandOnly) (Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs.500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:24.08.2020 , date of opening e-bid Part-I:26.08.2020, For participation and detailedinformation log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 19. E-Tender No: 131/CF-480/PD-I/DTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-III, DTPS,Anpara.Supply: Procurement of greaseomega 73. Earnest Money: Rs.1,000.00(Rs. One Thousand Only) (Refundable),Tender Cost: Rs. 200.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, DTPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:10.08.2020, Hard copy of requisite docu-ments: 10.08.2020, date of opening e-bidPart-I: 13.08.2020, For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 20. E-Tender No:132/CF-586/PD-I/DTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-III, DTPS,Anpara.Supply: Procurement of weldingelectrode. Earnest Money: Rs.3,000.00 (Rs.Three Thousand Only) (Refundable), TenderCost: Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:10.08.2020, Hard copy of requisite docu-ments: 10.08.2020,date of opening e-bidPart-I: 13.08.2020, For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 21. E-Tender No:13/BMD-II/BTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-II,2X500MW, BTPS, Anpara. Work: Work ofcleaning of and sweeping of mill area of unitno. 4&5 of 2x500MW, BTPS, Anpara.Earnest Money: Rs.18,000.00 (Rs. EighteenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 20.08.2020, Hardcopy of requisite documents: 22.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 22.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1Year. For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 22. E-Tender No: 14/BMD-II/BTPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, O&MC-II, 2X500MW, BTPS,Anpara. Work: Overhauling work of removalof old eroded worn out bypass air pipe andexpansion bellow of hot air duct and fabrica-tion, erection, installation of new bypass airpipe & expansion bellow of hot air duct of theball mill, 2x500MW, BTPS, Anpara. EarnestMoney: Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. Ten ThousandOnly) (Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs.500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 20.08.2020 , Hardcopy of requisite documents: 22.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 22.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1Year. For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 23. E-Tender No: 15/BMD-II/BTPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, O&MC-II, 2X500MW, BTPS,Anpara. Work: Fabrication/Erection/Replacement/Repairing of various spares of

ball mills of 2x500MW, BTPS, Anpara.Earnest Money: Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. TenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 20.08.2020 , Hardcopy of requisite documents: 22.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 22.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1Year. For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 24. E-Tender No: 16/BMD-II/BTPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, O&MC-II, 2X500MW, BTPS,Anpara. Work: Reclamation of old an usedPF outlet and purge air pipe connection boxof ball mill of unit No. 4&5 of 2x500MW,BTPS, Anpara & cutting & removal of old &damaged gland housing and installation ofnew/repair gland housing of hot air box ofmilling system of 2x500MW, BTPS, Anpara.Earnest Money: Rs.8,000.00 (Rs. EightThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 20.08.2020 , Hardcopy of requisite documents: 22.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 22.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1Year. For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 25. E-Tender No: 17/BMD-II/BTPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, O&MC-II, 2X500MW, BTPS,Anpara. Work: Fabrication & installation oflining of SS plate inside the mixing box downcomer pipe of ball mills of 2x500MW, BTPS,Anpara. Earnest Money: Rs.4,000.00 (Rs.Four Thousand Only) (Refundable), TenderCost: Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 20.08.2020 , Hardcopy of requisite documents: 22.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 22.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1Year. For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in26. E-Tender No: 251/PD-II/ATPS/2020-21,Office: Superintending Engineer, MMC-I,ATPS, Anpara.Supply: Corrugated asbestoscement sheet & corrugated GS sheet ofATPS, Anpara. Earnest Money: Rs.9000.00(Rs. Nine Thousand Only) (Refundable),Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara.Extended Last date for submission of e-bid(Technical & Financial) at e-procurementwebsite http://etender.up.nic.in.:10.08.2020, Extended date of opening e-bid Part-I: 12.08.2020, For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 27. E-Tender No:01/CHD-I/DTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-V,2X500MW, DTPS, Anpara. Work: Work ofrepairing and reconditioning of worn-out gearbox housing of premium make, model B3-560 for CHP, 2X500 MW, DTPS, Anpara.Earnest Money: Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. TenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, DTPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid (Technical &Financial) at e-procurement websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in: 05.08.2020, dateof opening e-bid Part-I: 08.08.2020, Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 28. E-Tender No: 77/CF-771/PD-III/DTPS/2020-21, Office: Superintending Engineer, MMC-III, DTPS, Anpara.Supply: Supply of floorGrill for 2x500MW, DTPS, Anpara. EarnestMoney: Rs.14,000.00 (Rs. FourteenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 1500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 20.08.2020, Hardcopy of requisite documents: 20.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 24.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: . Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 29. E-Tender No: 71/CF-807/PD-III/DTPS/2020-21, Office: Superintending Engineer, MMC-III, DTPS, Anpara.Supply: Supply of 36”Gravimetric raw coal feeder belt for2x500MW, DTPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.5,000.00 (Rs. Five Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, DTPS, Anpara. E-bid submissionend date: 20.08.2020, Hard copy of requi-site documents: 20.08.2020, date of open-ing e-bid Part-I: 24.08.2020, For participa-tion and detailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 30. E-Tender No:78/CF-665/PD-III/DTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-III, DTPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of spares for BHELmake XRP 1003 Bowl mill for 2x500MW,DTPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. Ten Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 1000.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,

CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bid submissionend date: 20.08.2020, Hard copy of requi-site documents: 20.08.2020, date of open-ing e-bid Part-I: 24.08.2020, Part-II: Shallbe intimated later. Period: . For participationand detailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 31. E-Tender No:246/EPD-III/ATPS/2019-20, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, DTPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of Hydrant post,valves, tyton rubber ec for ATPP, Anpara.Earnest Money: Rs.20,000.00 (Rs. TwentyThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara.Extended last date for submission of e-bidTechnical & Financial at e-procurement web-site: 17.08.2020, Extended date of openingPart-I: 18.08.2020, For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 32. E-Tender No:249/EPD-III/ATPS/2019-20, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, ATPS,Anpara.Supply: Supply of Riot drill equip-ments of CISF unit, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.7,000.00 (Rs. Seven Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Extended last datefor submission of e-bid Technical & Financialat e-procurement website: 17.08.2020,Extended date of opening Part-I: 18.08.2020,For participation and detailed information login to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 33. E-Tender No: 18/AHD/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-I, ATPS,Anpara. Work: Breakdown maintenance/overhauling of ash slurry pumps, seal waterpumps, valves associated accessories of ashslurry dsdiposal system, water jetting systemof main sump and EOT crane in ASPH of3x210MW, ATPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.30,000.00 (Rs. Thirty Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. E-bid submissionend date: 03.09.2020, Hard copy of requi-site documents: 03.09.2020, date of open-ing e-bid Part-I: 04.09.2020, Part-II: Shallbe intimated later. Period: One Year. For par-ticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 34. E-Tender No: 12/CHD-II/ATPS/2020-21,Office: Superintending Engineer, O&MC-V,ATPS, Anpara. Work: Manufacturing&machining of rider rings and their shrink fit-ting on old spiders and drilling new holes &shifting the stiffener on feed & reject end dpi-der of primary crusher of CHP, ATPS,Anpara. Earnest Money: Rs.60,000.00 (Rs.Sixty Thousand Only) (Refundable), TenderCost: Rs. 1000.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission of e-bid (Technical & Financial) ate-procurement: 18.08.2020 , Hard copy ofrequisite documents: 19.08.2020, date ofopening e-bid Part-I: 20.08.2020, Part-II:Shall be intimated later. Period: One Year.For participation and detailed information login to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 35. E-Tender No: 09/OGD/BTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-I,2X500MW, BTPS, Anpara. Work: Cleaning,sweeping, removal of jallas, dust etc fromWTP, T-G area, labs & removal of algae, siltetc from waste pits, clarifiers, channer &gravity filters of WTP of 2x500MW, BTPS,Anpara. Earnest Money: Rs.17,000.00 (Rs.Seventeen Thousand Only) (Refundable),Tender Cost: Rs. 1000.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 02.09.2020 , Hardcopy of requisiter documents: 02.09.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 04.09.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1Year . For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 36. E-Tender No: 04/ECMD-IV/ATPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, CMC-II, ATPS, Anpara. Work: Spl.M&R of stair case towers (Mumti) of Type-IV/V quarters at ATPS,Colony, Anpara.Earnest Money: Rs.14,500.00 (Rs.Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 1000.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara. Extended lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:10.08.2020 , Exteneded date of opening e-bid Part-I: 12.08.2020, For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 37. E-Tender No:251/EPD-III/ATPS /2019-20, Office:Superintending Engineer, MMC-I, 3X210MW,ATPS, Anpara. Work: Design, Engineering,manufacture/supply, erection, commissioningof plant & equipment of fire protection systemfor Anpara “A” (3X210MW) and B”(2X500MW,) Thermal power plant. EarnestMoney: Rs.27,00,000.00 (Rs. Twenty SevenLac Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs.5000.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara.Extended last date for submission of e-bid Technical & Financial at e-procure-

ment website: 05.08.2020 , Extended dateof opening e-bid Part-I: 07.08.2020, Forparticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 38. E-Tender No: 295/PD-III/BTPS/2020-21,Office: Superintending Engineer, MMC-II,ATPS, Anpara.Supply: Supply of tubular pro-tectors & ‘U’ clamps for the boiler of2x500MW BTPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.30,000.00 (Rs. Thirty Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 1000.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. Last date fur sub-mission of e-bid Technical & Financial:24.08.2020, date of opening e-bid Part-I:25.08.2020, For participation and detailedinformation log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 39. E-Tender No:26/CHD-II/ATPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-V, ATPS,Anpara. Work: Repairing hot vulcanizing andcold jointing of conveyor belts installed inCHP, 3X210MW, ATPS, Anpara. EarnestMoney: Rs.27,000.00 (Rs. Twenty SevenThousand Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 1000.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, ATPS, Anpara.Extended E-bid submission end date:27.07.2020, Extended Hard copy of requi-site documents: 28.07.2020, Extenededdate of opening e-bid Part-I: 29.07.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1Year. For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 40. E-Tender No: 55/CF-457/PD-III/DTPS/2019-20, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, MMC-III, DTPS, Anpara. Work:Supply of miscellaneous materials for2x500MW, DTPS, Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.7,000.00 (Rs. Seven Thousand Only)(Refundable), Tender Cost: Rs. 1000.00+18% GST, (Non Refundable) Earnest moneydeposit & tender cost to be depositedthrough NEFT/RTGS of DY.C.A.O.,CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bid submissionend date: 20.08.2020, Hard copy of requi-site documents: 20.08.2020, date of open-ing e-bid Part-I: 24.08.2020, For participa-tion and detailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in. 41. E-Tender No:04/C&IMD-II/BTPS/2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-III, BTPS,Anpara. Work: Rewinding of electricalmotors installed in boiler side C&I systems of2x500MW, Anpara BTPS. Earnest Money:Rs.4,900.00 (Rs. Four Thousand NineHundred Only) (Refundable), Tender Cost:Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (Non Refundable)Earnest money deposit & tender cost to bedeposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. E-bidsubmission end date: 17.08.2020, Lastdate of submission of the original copy ofbid document fee, EMD, validity commit-ment/offer etc: 17.08.2020, date of open-ing e-bid Part-I: 17.08.2020, Part-II: Shallbe intimated later. Period: One Year. For par-ticipation and detailed information log in towebsite http://etender.up.nic.in. 42. E-Tender No:13/OGD/ATPS /2020-21, Office:Superintending Engineer, O&MC-I, ATPS,Anpara. Work: Major repair works for layingof acid/Alkali resistenace bricks/tiles includ-ing pointing with edge preparation, mastic lin-ing etc and other related works in neutralizingpit channer ‘A’ & Alkali unloading/storeagearea and measuring tank area of DM plantATPS Anpara. Earnest Money:Rs.34,700.00 (Rs. Thirty Four ThousandSeven Hundred Only) (Refundable), TenderCost: Rs. 1000.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid: 27.08.2020,date of opening e-bid Part-I: 29.08.2020,Part-II: Shall be intimated later. Period: 1year. For participation and detailed informa-tion log in to website http://etender.up.nic.in. 43. E-Tender No: 07/CHD-II/BTPS/2020-21, Office: SuperintendingEngineer, O&MC-V, 2X500MW, BTPS,Anpara. Work: Routine and breakdownmaintenance of 6.6KV & 0.4KV motors andtheir local panels, overhauling of 6.6KV/0.4KV motors and rewinding of 0.4KV motors ofCHP-2X500MW, BTPS, Anpara. EarnestMoney: Rs.31,200.00 (Rs. Thirty OneThousand Two Hundred Only) (Refundable),Tender Cost: Rs. 500.00+ 18% GST, (NonRefundable) Earnest money deposit & tendercost to be deposited through NEFT/RTGS ofDY.C.A.O., CFA&BO, BTPS, Anpara. Lastdate for submission of e-bid Technical &Financial at e-procurement website:18.08.2020, Last date for submission ofrequired tender documents hard copy:18.08.2020, date of opening e-bid Part-I:20.08.2020 , Part-II: Shall be intimated later.Period: One Year. For participation anddetailed information log in to websitehttp://etender.up.nic.in.kkSfáÑdW°f ¸fZÔ d¶fªf»fe ¶f¨ff¹fZÔll´fÂffaI : 744/¸fb.Ad²f./I f¹fÊ/A°ff´f/1¶fe-8, dQ³ffaI : 22.0.2020

Regd. Office.: PSEB Head Office, The Mall, Patiala-147001CIN: U40109PB2010SGC033813; Website: www.pspcl.in

E-Tender Enquiry No. 278/P-3/EMP-W 11633 dated. 17.07.2020 & ID:2020_POWER_50905_1Scope of Work: Supply and Application of Insulation and AlliedMaterial on Boiler & It’s Auxilliaries, Turbine Piping And Equipmentsat GGSSTP 4x210mw Units.Time period: One YearEMD: Rs. 80,000/-.Date & time upto which tender shall be received 28.08.2020 & 11.00 AM.Date & time of opening of Tender 02.09.2020 & 11.30 AMTender specification can only be downloaded from PSPCL web-site https://eproc.punjab.gov.in & no hard copy of the same willbe issued by this office.Note:1) In case any difficulty regarding uploading of the tender theprospective bidders are requested to get clarification from thisoffice and or eprocurement system Government of Punjab.Contact No.+91-(172)-2970263/284. It is also requested to gettheir digital signature well in time so as to submit tendersthrough e-tendering only.2) It is informed that in case tender process is not completed dueto any reason, no corrigendum will be published in newspapers.Details regarding corrigendum may be seen on websiteeproc.punjab.gov.in

Sd/- Dy. CE/Monitoring,GGSSTP, Rupnagar

RTP-31/2020

54273/Pb

No. AIIMS/RBL/ADMIN/Non-Faculty/DEP/2019-20/ Dated: 24.07.2020

APPOINTMENTS ON DEPUTATIONApplications are invited from eligible candidates for thefollowing Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ posts in All India Institute ofMedical Sciences, Raebareli on deputation basis (i)Financial Advisor (Level-13); (ii) Executive Engineer (Civil)(Level-11); (iii) Executive Engineer (Electrical) (Level-11),(iv) Assistant Controller of Examination (Level-11); (v)Administrative Officer (Level-10), (vi) NursingSuperintendent (Level-11) (vii) Assistant AdministrativeOfficer (Level-7)For detailed advertisement, application form and otherterms & conditions, applicants may visit AIIMS, Raebareliwebsite www.aiimsrbl.edu.in. Last date of submission ofapplication form is 18.09.2020. All furthercommunication/updates regarding this advertisement shallbe published only in our Institute website. Applicants areadvised to regularly visit AIIMS, Raebareli website forupdate/clarifications.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli(An Autonomous Institute under

the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India)Munshiganj, Raebareli - 229405, Uttar Pradesh, India

www.aiimsrbl.edu.in

19WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

New Delhi

CALENDAR20 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COMTHEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

CROSSWORD4179

ACROSS1 Shetends toworkafterdark(5,5)

6 Timbercontract (4)10 Yet it couldbetart (5)11 Partsof feminineattire (9)12 What’smore it’s asincereconversion(8)

13 Companiessupplywoodandpaper forpublication(5)

15 It’s clear I’vebeensetbackbydepression (7)

17 BuildingAnnleaves indefianceperhaps (7)

19 Opensone’seyes (7)21 Onewhodanceswithuncertainsteps? (7)

22 Somesayahooligan isabeastlyperson(5)

24 Arapidly replacedstoneworker (8)

27 Pluckyactiontakenbysomeof theplayers (9)

28 Positionaldefence (5)29 Suchstoriesareeminentlyuntrue(4)

30 Ruleuniformlyapplied(7,3)

Down1 Gethomein finestyle (4)2 Timeandplace (9)3 Apaid informer in theprivatesector? (5)

4 Avulgarpersonputsanewconstructiononart (7)

5 Wronglypresumeit’s thehighest (7)

7 Appear toact? (5)8 Becomesdiscouragedwhenshort lease isarranged(5,5)

9 Thewritingonthewall (8)14 Peoplemaygotoseesomethingcheekilydisplayedby ladies (6,4)

16 Indistributionof incomethecompany isprofitable (8)

18 Justnot takingsides (9)20 Fruitandnut, alas, allmixeduptogether (7)

21 Does it supplyaplantwithplentyofwater? (3,4)

23 Girl leftunderacloud(5)25 Doctor joinsamother inplay(5)

26 Wefourarecominguptohavea look(4)

ARIES(Mar21-Apr20)Youcouldsoonbereadytomakeyourmove-at last.Yourstarsareadoptinga

positionwhich is franklymore favourable thanforsomeweeks,andthebestthingyoucando is tobeyoung-at-heart, spontaneousandreadyto takeoff atamoment'snotice.

TAURUS(Apr21-May21)TheSunandtheMoonhavebothrecentlycometoyouraid, andyou

shouldbesetup foraverypositive future.Today’s starsput theaccentondomesticaffairs, so family relationshipsshouldcomefirst, andpeopleyou livewithwillbehoggingthe limelight.

GEMINI (May22- June21)Short journeysbeckon, so youmayaccept anyinvitations that take

you away fromhome.Mindyou, they’re as likely to be forbusiness as for pleasure. If youarewaiting for someone to getin touch,wait no longer.Take the initiative,makethe firstmove andneverdoubt yourself.

CANCER(June22- July23)Youmayfeel theneedtobea littlemoresecretive thanusual, yetwithout

beingdeceptiveormanipulative.Yourromanticstarsareataheight, andeventheslightest changewill findyoufeelingmuchmoresensitive thanusual. Still, it’sgoodtobe intouchwithyouremotions.

LEO(July24-Aug23)This is certain tobe a time ofemotional ups anddowns,with an

emphasis on the ups.However, only determinedactionwill shift a log-jam todowithwork, or resolvedeep-rooted irritations athome. First of all, though, youneed towork outwhatpartners reallywant.

VIRGO(Aug24-Sep23)Dreamon. Yourimagination shouldbe at its peak,whichmeans that

there could be extraworries,but that you should alsoemphasise all the positiveangles in your life at themoment. Concentrate on theethical issues, and raisemoralstandards all round.

LIBRA(Sep24-Oct23)Somesortoffinancial crisis islooming, so fancyfootworkwillbe

necessary if youwant toavoidbadfeelingandsaveyourself someof yourhard-earnedcash. If you’re in thehousingmarket,orotherwisecontemplating largedomesticpurchases, followahunch.

SCORPIO(Oct24-Nov23)Watchout foremotional squalls,andbeawareof theextent towhichyou

mayberesponsible foranyructions.Thisdoesn’tmeanthatyou’vedoneanythingwrong,but theremaybethingswhichyouhaveleftundone,which intheir turnhave left someoneelsehighanddry.

SAGITTARIUS(Nov24-Dec22)Your imaginationmay leadyouamerryolddance,andfeelings like

resentment, jealousy,angerandthedesire for revengearelurking.However, firstyoushouldmakea fairandreasonableassessmentof thesituation. Let the facts speakfor themselves.

CAPRICORN(Dec23- Jan20)Seldomhave yourstars lookedmorepassionate - at leastnot for amonth or

so! Such feelingswill ofcourse have intenserepercussions for yourromantic affairs, butwill alsoinfluence other areas of yourlife. Adopt a bold andcolourful approach.

AQUARIUS(Jan21-Feb19)You aremuchstronger than youthink, and evenapparently

disastrous developmentswill turn out in your favour.Youmust pay specialattention to partnerswho areswept by feelings theycan’t understand -anddon’t tanglewithauthority, either!

PISCES(Feb20-Mar20)Youare likely togetveryconcernedaboutethical issues,butyou’realso liable

to jumptoconclusionsandmisunderstandwhat is reallygoingon.Sayyourpiece,butbeagood listener. If partnersknowthatyou’regiving themdueattention, they’ll respondinkind.

SUDOKU418

0

DifficultyLevel3sInstructionsTosolveaSudokupuzzle,everydigitfrom1to9mustappear ineachofthenineverticalcolumns, ineachoftheninehorizontalrowsandineachofthenineboxes.

DifficultyLevel1s=Veryeasy;2s=Easy;3s=Medium;4s=Hard;5s=VeryHard;6s=Genius

SOLU

TIONSUDOKU4179

Givenbelowarefour jumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemtotherespectivesquaresbelow.Selecttheletters intheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtogettheanswerforthegivenquip.Nomanisanisland,entireofitself;everymanisa___ofthe____.-JohnDonne(5,.,9)

SOLUTION:TEPEE,IDIOT,TANNIN,OCCUPYAnswer:Nomanisanisland,entireofitself;everymanisapieceofthecontinent.-JohnDonne

PTEEE AINNNT

DIIOT OUYCCP

SolutionsCrossword4178:Across:1Retorts,5Excel,8Enamoured,9Pea,10Sect,12Neonsign,14Caused,15Beyond,17Overtime,18Enid,21Ski,22Landscape,24Dusty,25Stoical.Down:1Reefs,2Tea,3Rood,4Surfer,5Endanger,6Capricorn,7Learned,11Crudeoils,13Mentally,14Crossed,16Amends,19Dwell,20Oslo,23Arc.

JUMBLEDWORDS

OVERTHEHEDGE byMichael Fry&TLewis

CALVIN&HOBBES byBillWatterson

MARVIN byTomArmstrong

DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

Regional Office, Gurugram (N)

HARYANA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARDVikas Sadan, Opposite- New Court, Gurugram

Tel: 0124-2332775, 2220523Website: www.hspcb.gov.in, E-mail:

hspcbrogrn@gmail.com

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''IMPORTANT''Whilst care is taken prior toacceptance of advertisingcopy, it isnotpossible toverifyits contents. The IndianExpress (P) Limited cannot beheld responsible for suchcontents, nor for any loss ordamage incurredasaresultoftransactions with companies,associations or individualsadvertising in its newspapersor Publications. We thereforerecommend that readersmake necessary inquiriesbefore sending any monies orentering into any agreementswith advertisers or otherwiseacting on an advertisement inany manner whatsoever.

New Delhi

21SENSEX: 38,128.90 ▼ 11.57 NIFTY: 11,194.15 ▼ 21.30 NIKKEI: 22,751.61 ▼ 132.61 HANG SENG: 24,705.33 ▼ 557.67 FTSE: 6,139.10 ▼ 72.34 DAX: 12,902.35 ▼ 201.04

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

ECONOMYWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

GOLD`51,946

RUPEE`74.83

OIL$42.97

SILVER`62,262

Note:Gold, silverratesatspotmarket inDelhi;goldper10g, silverper1kg;Brentcrudeasof2300IST

Internationalmarketdatatill1900IST

ENSECONOMICBUREAUNEWDELHI,JULY24

THE INCOME Tax Departmentwill sign anMoUwith counter-terrorism platform NationalIntelligenceGrid(NATGRID)tofa-cilitateautomaticexchangeofin-formation linked to bank ac-counts, PAN, tax returns andanyother“mutuallyagreed”informa-tionwith 10 agencies—CentralBureau of Investigation,Directorate of Revenue Intellige-nce, Enforcement Directorate,Central Boardof Indirect Taxes&Customs,CabinetSecretariat,Inte-lligence Bureau (IB), DirectorateGeneralofGSTIntelligence,Narc-oticsControlBureau(NCB),Finan-cialIntelligenceUnit(FIU),andNa-tionalInvestigationAgency(NIA).Inaseparateorder,theCentral

BoardofDirectTaxes(CBDT)alsonotified four agencies—CabinetSecretariat, IB,NCBandNIA—fordisclosureof any informationre-garding tax assesses underSection138(1)oftheIncome-taxAct. At present, the Income TaxDepartmentalreadysharesinfor-mationontaxassesseeswithover50 notified agencies, includingRegistrar of Companies,Directorof FIU,officersof therankof JointDirector andabovedealingwithForeign ExchangeManagementAct and Prevention of MoneyLaundering Act in the Enfor-cementDirectorate,andSecuritiesandExchangeBoardof India.The furnishing and receiving

of informationtoandfromthese

central agencieswithNATGRIDwillincludePANdetails,TaxDed-uctionAccountNumber(TAN)de-tails,bankaccountdetails, returnsummary, TDS summary (as perMoU) and any other mutuallyagreed information. “While fur-nishingtheinformation,thespec-ified income-tax authority shallformanopinion that sharing ofsuchinformationisnecessaryforthe purposes of enabling theseagencies/bodies to perform itsfunctionsunder their respectivelaws,”theCBDTordersaid.Theothernotificationof four

agencieswill permit the tax de-partment to share any informa-tion of a taxpayer on automaticbasis. “Inclusionof enforcementagenciesmight help track thosewhocouldbehavingillicitincomeorincomefromterror-relatedac-tivitiesbutmaybegenerallyskip-pingtheradarofagencies,”Nave-

enWadhwa,DGM,Taxmannsaid.Other officials such as Class I

Officers,ReserveBankofIndia(re-gionaloffice,Ahmedabad);Karn-atakaStateVigilanceCommission(Bangalore); officers of or abovetherankofsuperintendentofpol-iceintheDepartmentofVigilance,Government of Bihar; Direc-tor/IGP, Anti-CorruptionBureau,Government of Maharashtra;Uttar PradeshVigilanceCommi-ssioner;Director,Anti-CorruptionBureau, Gujarat; Joint Secretary(Marketing),Ministry of Petro-leumandNaturalGas; InspectorGeneral of Police, EconomicOffencesWing,Kerala;officersofthe rank of secretary in variousstates/unionterritoriesresponsi-ble for implementation of theNational FoodSecurityAct, 2013have also been among the list ofagenciesnotifiedearlierunderthissectionof theI-TAct.Earlier,theI-TActprovidedfor

sharingofinformationonincometaxassesseeswithothernotifiedagencies, but then itmeant thatinformationcouldonlybepassedtoapersonwhowasanassesseewiththeDepartmentandthattoowhen theassessment relating toinformation tobe furnishedhadbeen completed. This anomaly,which restricted automatic ex-change of information for as-sesseesthatmightbeshowingin-comebelowexemptionlimit,wascorrected in 1990, when theDepartmentamendedthelawtoallowexchangeof “any informa-tionreceivedorobtainedbyanin-come-taxauthority”.

I-T Dept to share taxpayer info with10 central intelligence, probe agencies

PRANAVMUKULNEWDELHI,JULY24

THECENTREhasextendedrestric-tions on domestic flights tillNovember24fromAugust24ear-lier.InanotificationlateFriday,theDirectorateGeneralof CivilAvia-tion(DGCA)saidthatflightcapac-ity curbs—asperwhich airlinesareonlyallowedtodeploy45percentofthepre-COVIDcapacityondomesticroutes—andfarebrack-etshavebeenextended for threemoremonthswithamonthlefttogofortheearlierdeadline.“Thecurrentsituationwithre-

specttocoronavirusspreadinthecountrywarrantsthis(decision),”a senior governmentofficial toldThe Indian Express. The govern-menthadputinplacethesecurbsonMay21,aheadofrestartingdo-mestic flight operationsMay25onwards, twomonths after theywere fully prohibited. However,therestrictionsnotwithstanding,the Indiandomestic aviation in-dustry has not been able to getback on its feet completely intermsofdemandforairtravel.In June, the first full month

since domestic flightswere al-lowed to resumed flying, only19.84 lakh passengers travelledwithin the country, as perDGCAdata. In June 2019, the numberwas1.21 crore.Notably, formostpart of lastmonth, airlineswereallowedtooperatewith30-35percentofthetotalnumberofflightstheyoperatedpriortotheCOVID-19-relatedlockdown.Airlines have attributed the

poorairtraveldemandtopassen-

gers’ fearof contracting thevirusonboardanaircraftandaflurryofquarantine rules and restrictionsimposedbystategovernments.Upon request from theWest

Bengalgovernment,theCivilAvia-tionMinistryhadearlieraskedair-linestosuspendflightsfromDelhi,Mumbai, Pune, Chennai,Nagpurand Ahmedabad due to high-prevalenceof COVID-19 in thesecitiesfromJuly6-19.However,thiswasfurtherextendedindefinitely.Additionally,theAirportsAut-

horityofIndia-runKolkataAirportFriday tweeted, “Inviewof com-prehensivelockdownannouncedinWestBengal, flight operationsatKolkataAirportwillremainsus-pendedon25th&29thJuly2020.The temporary restrictionon re-quest of StateGovt, is to restrictmovement during lockdown tocontainspreadofCOVID-19”.

NewDelhi: Inamessageonthe160th IncomeTaxDay,Finance Minister NirmalaSitharamanFridaysaid thegovernment’s endeavourhas been to further sim-plifyDirect Tax lawsand ithas brought in amajor re-form by giving taxpayerstheoptiontochooseanewsimpler tax regime. PTI

‘Endeavour hasbeen to simplifyDirect Tax laws’

BRIEFLYGreenshootsvisible:NITIVCNew Delhi: Economy willstartrecoveringcompletelybythefourthquarterof thisfiscal and could growby 6percentinthenextfinancialyearasgreenshootsarevis-ible inmany sectors, NITIAayogViceChairmanRajivKumarsaidFriday.

NFRAbansanotherauditorNewDelhi:TheNationalFin-ancial ReportingAuthority(NFRA) slapped a five-yearbanandfineofRs5 lakhonauditor RukshadDaruvalafor alleged irregularities inthe audit of IL&FS FinancialServicesLtd(IFIN).

SunPharmaarmresolvesUScasesNew Delhi: Sun PharmaFriday said itsUS armTaroPharma has resolved allcases involvingmulti-yearinvestigations by the USDepartmentofJustice.Ithasagreedtopay$213.3million(approxRs1,599crore)tore-solveallclaims.

‘iPhone11beingmadeinIndia’NewDelhi:ApplehasstartedmanufacturingiPhone11atFoxconn’s facility in TamilNadu, official sources said.“2020 - iPhone 11, 2019 -iPhone7&XR,2018-iPhone6S,2017-iPhoneSE,”Telec-omandITministerRaviSha-nkarPrasadtweeted.

RIL2ndmostvaluedenergycoNew Delhi: RelianceIndustries (RIL) has over-taken ExxonMobil to be-come the world’s secondmostvaluableenergycom-pany, data fromstockmar-ketshowed. PTI

June crude oilprocessing picksup on easing oftravel restrictions

ENSECONOMICBUREAUNEWDELHI,JULY24

TOTAL CRUDE oil processed bydomestic refiners in June was17.54 million metric tonnes(MMT), rising 7.3 per cent fromMay and up 18.9 per cent fromApril,indicatinganincreaseinde-mandforpetroleumproductsaf-tertheeasingoftravelrestrictionsdue to COVID-19, according todatareleasedbythegovernment.Crude oil processing in June,

however,wasstill down13.6percentcomparedtotheyear-agope-riod.Themainreasonforthiswaslowerdemandduetolockdown,agovernment release said. Totalcrude oil processing in India forthe Junequarterwasdown22.3per cent at 48.6MMT, as against62.8MMTintheyear-agoperiod,and20.2percentbelowthepro-cessingtargetforthequarter.

■InJune,thefirstfullmonthsincedomesticflightswereallowedtoresumedflying,only19.84lakhpassengerstravelledwithinIndia,asperDGCAdata

■Formostpartof June,airlineswereallowedtooperatewith30-35percentofthetotalnumberofflightstheyoperatedpriortotheCOVID-19-relatedlockdown

ONLY19.84LAKHPASSENGERSINJUNE

DGCA extends domesticflight restrictions, farebrackets to November 24

ENSECONOMICBUREAUNEWDELHI,JULY24

THETRENDof decline in urbantelephonesubscribers continuedforthethirdmonthinAprilasthetotalnumberofsubscribersinur-banareas camedownby90 lakhto64.7crore,accordingtothelat-est data released by TelecomRegulatory Authority of India(TRAI). During the month ofMarch,thenumberofurbantele-phonesubscribershaddeclinedby50lakhto65.6crore.Ontheotherhand,rural India

continued toadd telephonesub-scribers. During April, the totalnumber of users reached 52.2crore,upfrom52.1croreattheendofMarch31.InFebruary,theurbantelephone subscriptionhadde-clined to 66.1 crore,while ruraltelephone subscriber base had

risen1percentonmonth to51.9croreusers.RelianceJioInfocommcontin-

uedtoaddusersattheexpenseofVodafone Idea andBharti AirtelevenduringApril. Jio,whichnowhas nearly 34 per cent marketshare of the totalwireless sub-scribers, added 15.7 lakh users.Vodafone Idea lost45.1 lakhsub-scribers,while Bharti Airtel lost52.7lakhusers.VodafoneIdeahasseen a steadydecline in its userbase, while Bharti Airtel’s sub-scriberbasehasalso cededmar-ketsharetoRelianceJio,TRAIdatashowed. InFebruary,Reliance Jiohadadded62.5 lakh subscribersandBharti Airtel had added 9.2lakhusers,whileVodafone Idealost 34.6 lakhusers.However, inMarch,onlyRelianceJiohadman-aged to add users, while bothBharti Airtel andVodafone Idealostsubstantialuserbase.

Urban telephone userbase continues to fallfor 3rd straight month

Govt makes ‘country oforigin’ tag compulsory,action against truantsENSECONOMICBUREAUNEWDELHI,JULY24

CONSUMERSWILLbeable togetclarityon thecountryof originoftheproductstheyarebuyingone-commercemarketplaces, aswellas guaranteesof their authentic-ity,withthegovernmentnotifyingnewconsumerprotectione-com-mercerules.Any seller offering goods or

servicesviaamarketplacee-com-merce entity has to provide theplatformwithdetailsofthecoun-tryoforiginoftheproduct,statedtheConsumerProtection(E-com-merce)Rules,2020.Thesellerswillalsohavetoprovidethenameanddetails of the importer aswell asguaranteesrelatedtotheauthen-ticity or genuineness of the im-portedproduct,accordingtoit.Suchdetailsaretobedisplayed

onthee-commerceplatform,and

violationswillbedealtwithbype-nal provisions of the ConsumerProtectionAct,2019.Thenewrulesalsostatethate-

commerce firmswillhave todis-play the total price of the goodsandservicestheyaresellingalongwithabreak-upofothercharges.Theyare required tomention

details likethe‘expirydate’of thegoodsanddetailsaboutthereturn,refund, exchange,warranty andguarantee,andanyotherinforma-tionthatmayberequiredtomakeinformeddecisions.“No inventory e-commerce

entity shall refuse to take backgoods,orwithdrawordiscontinueservicespurchased...ifsuchgoodsorservicesaredefective,deficient,spurious,orifthegoodsorservicesarenotofthecharacteristicsorfea-tures as advertised,” stated therules. The norms, notifiedThursday,willbeapplicable toalle-commerceretailers.

After US FAA order,DGCA directsSpiceJet, Vistara, AIExpress to inspectBoeing 737 planes

ENSECONOMICBUREAUNEWDELHI,JULY24

FOLLOWINGANairworthinessdi-rectivebytheUSFederalAviationAdministration (FAA) askingop-erators toconductan immediateinspection of theworld’smostcommonnarrow-bodiedairlinerBoeing737,domesticaviationreg-ulator, theDirectorateGeneralofCivil Aviation (DGCA), directedcarriers SpiceJet, Vistara andAirIndia Express to inspect theseplanesintheirfleet.The US FAA ordered the in-

spectiononaccountof theseair-lines being at the risk of losingpowerinbothenginesafterbeingput in storage as a result of flightbansinstitutedacrosstheworld.While a SpiceJet spokesper-

son said the directive applies toonlya smallpartof its fleetof 82Boeing 737s, Vistara said it hascompleted the inspection on allsix of its Boeing 737 planes. AirIndia Express could not bereachedforacomment.“Thema-jority of our planes have com-pletedtencyclesalreadyandarenot affected by this AD (airwor-thiness directive),” the SpiceJetspokespersonsaid.In India, most aircraft were

groundedfornearlytwomonthsbecauseof thenationwide shut-down imposed to contain theCovid19 pandemic. Domesticpassenger flight operations re-sumedonMay25,evenasairlinesoperatedsomeoftheirpassengerplanesforcargoflightsduringthelockdown.

Coffee Day probe reveals`3,535 crore fund diversion,gives clean chit to I-T DeptPRESSTRUSTOFINDIANEWDELHI, JULY24

ANINVESTIGATIONintothecir-cumstances that led to the al-leged suicide of VG Siddhartha,the owner of the Coffee Daygroup,hasrevealedthatRs3,535crore siphoned off from thecompanyby the entrepreneur’spersonal firms.Theprobegaveacleanchitto

thetaxdepartmentthatwasbe-ing alleged to have harassedSiddhartha.The investigation, led by the

formerdeputyinspectorgeneralof CBI, Ashok KumarMalhotra,statedthatSiddhartha’s“MysoreAmalgamated Coffee EstatesLimited (MACEL)owesasumofRs3,535croretothesubsidiariesof CoffeeDayEnterpriseLtd”.Siddhartha was confirmed

dead on July 31, 2019 after hisbodywasfoundintheNetravati

river in Dakshina Kannada dis-trictof Karnataka, adayafterhewentmissing.Ofthis,“asumofRs842crore

wasduetothesesubsidiariesbyMACEL as onMarch31, 2019, asper the consolidated audited fi-nancial statements.Therefore,asum of Rs 2,693 crore is the in-cremental outstanding thatneeds tobeaddressed,” it said.“Steps are being taken by

subsidiariesofCDELforrecoveryof dues fromMACEL,” the com-pany said in a regulatory filingthatdisclosedthefindingsoftheinvestigation. The companyboardauthoriseditschairmantoappoint an ex-judge of theSupremeCourtorHighCourt to“suggestandoverseeactionsforrecovery of the dues fromMA-CEL”, itsaid,addingpersonalas-sets/shares of Siddharthawerehypothecated/pledgedforbusi-ness loans of the company andits subsidiaries.

Govt focussed on ‘majoritarianobjectives rather than repairingimpaired economy’, says Rajan

ENSECONOMICBUREAUNEWDELHI,JULY24

THEGOVERNMENT shouldpro-vide fiscal relief that helps to re-pairandprotecttheproductiveca-pacity of the economy from theeffectsoftheCOVID-19pandemic,former Reserve Bank of IndiaGovernor RaghuramRajan saidSaturday.Speakingatawebinarorgan-

isedby thePrincetonUniversity’sBendheimCentre forFinance,hesaidIndiaenteredthepandemic-ledhealth crisiswith adeclininggrowth, poor fiscal situation andlegacy NPAs in PrimeMinisterNarendraModi’s first term, evenas thegovernment in thesecondtermfocussedon“BJP’smajoritar-ianobjectivesrather thanrepair-

inganimpairedeconomy.”He argued that providing re-

sourcesforreliefandrepair isgo-ingtobeveryimportantandwhatIndia has done so far in termsoffiscal support is not adequatewhencomparedwithmanyothereconomies.Itisgoingtobeaslowprocess of recovery as emergingmarkets like Indiahavenotbeenable toprovide relief theway in-dustrialcountrieshave.“Indiadidn’tfixthehouseand

entered the crisis with a fiscaldeficit of 9per cent or soof GDPandslowinggrowth.Furtherwithpandemic-relatedrevenueshort-falls and thedecline inGDP, thiscould rise to13-15%ofGDPevenwithoutadditionalspending.Also,the government is focussed oncredit rating for fear of down-grades,”hesaid.

PRANAVMUKULNEWDELHI,JULY24

ASFLIGHTS fromIndia to theUS,FranceandGermany—underthetemporary reciprocal arrange-ment—begin,passengers,includ-ing Indian citizens have beenscrambling toget a seaton these outboundflights.However,evenasairlines— both Indianandforeign—havebeenaccorded the permis-sionstoflypassengersofany citizenship on either of theflight legs, thepassengerswill besubjected to the restrictions im-posedby the respective govern-mentofthedestinationcountry.

Whoallcanflyonthesespecialflights?As per theMinistry of Civil

Aviation, flights to the US cancarry Indian nationalswho are

permittedtotravelabroadasperthehomeministryguidelinesandthosewhoholdvalidUSvisas, inadditiontoUScitizens, legalper-manentresidents,andforeignna-tionals holding valid US visas.Similarly, for France andGermany, stranded EuropeanUnion nationals/residents, for-

eignnationalsdestinedfor EU and transitingthrough France orGermanycantravel.

Whatisthecatch?The Civil Aviation

Ministry in its framework for“transport bubbles” has men-tioned: “Beforemaking reserva-tions, passengersmust confirmthattheywouldbeallowedentryinto the destination country”.Here, passengersmight face cer-tainroadblocksintheirtravelplanswith jurisdictions like theEUnothaving allowed inbound travelfromIndia.

Whenarenormalforeignflightsexpectedtoresume?Civil Aviation Minister

HardeepSinghPurihasrepeatedlysaidresumptionwillbegradualinnatureandwillproceed inaccor-dancewithhowthevirusbehaves.NewZealand,whichhadfullygot-tenridof thevirus, startedseeinga recurrence once internationalflightswere allowed forcing thecountrytocloseitsbordersagain.

Areairlinesgearingupforresumptionofforeigntravel?WhileAirIndiahasbeenoper-

ating flights across theworldun-dertheVandeBharatMission,pri-vateairlines,too,arenowmovingindirectionof starting long-haulflights.Expertspointoutthatthisismainlyonaccountofapotentialfallindemandforone-stopflightswithpassengersnowpreferringtoflynon-stoptocurtailtraveltimes.

Full report onwww.indianexpress.com

Special international flightsstart: Who can fly on them?

AMIDCOVID, BORDER STANDOFF

‘Chinese smartphonebrands’ market share slips’Chinese smartphone brands saw their market share inIndia fall to 72 per cent in June quarter from 81 per cent inthe preceding threemonths, Counterpoint Research said

Why this is important: The fall was mainly due to the mixture ofstuttering supply for some major Chinese brands caused by thepandemic and growing anti-China sentiment

Source:CounterpointResearch/PTI

18million: India’s smartphoneshipments in June quarter,falling51 per centyear-on-year due to thenationwide lockdown

37.7million:Smartphonesshipped in the June2019quarter

68%:Fall in sales of featurephonemarket in June quarter

>31million:Smartphonesshipped in theMarch2020quarter

FEATUREPHONEMARKETSHARESINJUNEQUARTER:Itel: 24%Lava: 23%Samsung: 22%Nokia: 9%Karbonn: 5%

SMARTPHONEMARKETSHARES

2930

1317

14

12

14

2617

11

9

8

MarchQuarter

JuneQuarter

■ Xiaomi ■ Samsung■ Vivo ■ Realme■ Oppo ■ Others

All figures in%

ENSECONOMICBUREAUMUMBAI,JULY24

WHILETHE financial system“re-mainssound”,grossnon-perform-ing asset (NPA) ratio of all com-mercialbanksis likelytoincreasefrom8.5percentinMarch2020to12.5per centbyMarch2021un-der the baseline scenario in thewakeof thedisruptioncausedbythe COVID-19 pandemic, theReserveBankofIndia(RBI)said.“If themacroeconomic envi-

ronmentworsensfurther,theNPAratiomayescalateto14.7percentunder thevery severely stressedscenario,” the Financial StabilityReportoftheRBIsaidonFriday.AccordingtotheRBI,nearly50

per cent of the customers, ac-counting for aroundhalf of out-standingbankloans,optedtoavailthebenefitof thereliefmeasures

—loanmoratorium—totacklethelockdown impact. Themorato-riumwillendonAugust31.RBIGovernorShaktikantaDas

said“thefinancialsysteminIndiaremains sound”.Nonetheless, inthecurrentenvironment,theneedfor financial intermediaries toproactively augment capital andimprove their resilience has ac-quired toppriority. “In theevolv-ingmilieu,while riskmanage-

menthas tobeprudent, extremeriskaversionwouldhaveadverseoutcomesforall,”Dassaid.Amongthebankgroups,GNPA

ratioofpublicsectorbanksmayin-creasefrom11.3percentinMarch2020 to 15.2 per cent byMarch2021underthebaselinescenario.“Bank-level stress test results

showthat of 23banks, 16withashare of64.5percentinbanks’to-talassetsmightfailtomaintaintherequiredCRARunderthescenarioof 3SDshock to theGNPAratio,”theRBI’s FSR said. In suchanex-tremeshockscenario,theCRARofallthe18PSBsislikelytogodownto9percent,itsaid.“Given the fact that impactof

moratoriumis still uncertainandevolving, theexactnatureofhowthesamewillplayoutonthequal-ityof bankingassets isdifficult toascertainaccurately,”the RBIsaidonthecomingquarters.

Sectorally, thequalityof bankloanstoservicessectorworsenedinMarch2020.TheGNPAratiooftheretailloansectoralsoedgedup.Amongmajorsub-sectorswithinindustry,NPAratios in respectofconstructionandgemsand jew-ellerysectorsswelledupinMarch2020.Ontheotherhand,theinfra-structure(withashareof36.2percentinbankcredittotheindustrialsector),basicmetals(11.3percent)andelectricity(17.5percent)sec-tors have shown a perceptibledeclineinNPAratios.Thishasim-plicationsforaggregateassetqual-ity of thebanking sector, theRBIsaid. “Thepandemichas thepo-tentialtoamplifyfinancialvulner-abilities, includingcorporateandhousehold debt burdens in thecaseof severeeconomiccontrac-tion,”itsaid.TheRBI said central govern-

ment finances are likely to suffer

somedeterioration in 2020-21,with fiscal revenuesbadlyhit byCOVID-19-related disruptionsevenasexpenditurescomeunderstrainonaccountofthefiscalstim-ulus. For State finances, theaddi-tional burden of lower federaltransfersmayaccentuatedown-sideriskstotheoutlook,itsaid.Bankcredit,whichhadconsid-

erablyweakenedduring the firsthalfof2019-20,sliddownfurtherinthesubsequentperiodwiththemoderation becoming broad-basedacrossbankgroups.Thecapitaltorisk-weightedas-

sets ratio of commercial banksedged down to 14.8 per cent inMarch2020 from15per cent inSeptember2019,whiletheirGNPAratiodeclinedto8.5percentfrom9.3percentandtheprovisioncov-erageratio(PCR)improvedto65.4per cent from61.6per cent overthisperiod.

FINANCIALSTABILITYREPORT:NEARLY50%OFLOANOUTSTANDINGUNDERMORATORIUM

NPAssettorisesharplyonCOVID impact,financialsystemremainssound,saysRBI

RBIGovernorShaktikantaDas.

ITAT ruling: Tatatrust gets `223 crendowment spendexempt from tax

ENSECONOMICBUREAUNEWDELHI,JULY24

INA relief to Tata EducationandDevelopment Trust, the IncomeTaxAppellate Tribunal (ITAT) inMumbaiorderedthatoverRs223croreof theTrust’s incomebeex-emptedfromtaxinacaserelatedto assessment year 2011-12and2012-13.The fundswereusedbythe trust to create endowmentfunds at Cornell and HarvardUniversitiesintheUnitedstates.Theassessee, apubliccharita-

ble trust, spentRs197.8croreandRs25.4crore, respectively, in twoconsecutiveassessmentyears to-wards endowment funds forIndianstudentsandforforeigncol-laborationprojectbetweenIndianandCornellscientists,andgrantoffinancial assistance toHarvardBusinessSchoolforconstructionofanexecutivebuilding,TataHall.FE

New Delhi

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY, JULY25,2020

SPORTWWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

VolLXXXVIIINo.221Regd.No.DL-21046/03-05

R.N.I.No.506/57. PrintedandPublishedbyR.C.Malhotraonbehalf of The IndianExpress (P) LimitedandPrintedatThe IndianExpress (P) LimitedPress,A-8, Sector-7,Noida -201301andPublishedatThe IndianExpress (P) Limited,MezzanineFloor, ExpressBuilding, 9&10,BahadurShahZafarMarg, NewDelhi-110002. Editorial office:The IndianExpress (P) Limited,MezzanineFloor, ExpressBuilding, 9&10,BahadurShahZafarMarg, NewDelhi-110002. Phone:0120-6651500.Advertisingoffice: The IndianExpress (P) Limited,B1/B, Sector -10,Noida -201301. Phone:0120-6651291.Chairmanof theBoard:ViveckGoenka,Chief Editor:RajKamal Jha, Editor:Unni

RajenShanker, Editor (Delhi):RakeshSinha ** **Responsible for selectionofNewsunder thePRBAct. Copyright: The IndianExpress (P) Limited.All rights reserved.Reproduction inanymanner, electronicorotherwise, inwholeor inpart,withoutpriorwrittenpermission isprohibited. The IndianExpress®

22Anandcrashes to third straight defeatViswanathan Anand struggled for the third consecutive round,losing to Russia's Vladimir Kramnik to languish at the bottom ofthe points table in the USD 150,000 Legends of Chess onlinetournament. Anand went down 0.5-2.5 to Kramnik late onThursday. He next meets Anish Giri of the Netherlands. PTI

Pope answers England’s prayersSANDIPGJULY24

ABRILLIANTunbeaten91byOlliePopedugEngland out of danger on the first day of acompelling Test, unfolding at Old Trafford.Asthingsstand,Englandwere258/4,still farfrom taking absolute control of thematch,butitwascrucialthatthehostsdidn’tfallbe-hind. Pope’s knockwent a longway, as thescalesgradually tilted inEngland’s favour.The22-year-oldshowedqualitiesthatat-

tested his potential to become one of hiscountry’s finest. He is self-assuredwithoutbeingbrash.Helookscompact,yetforcefulatthe crease. Those lyrical drives have thestampof IanBell. Popeclaims it’s not a con-scious imitation. Rather, his favourites areAdamGilchristandAlecStewart;likethelat-ter he twiddles his bat too. He conforms totime-honouredmethods: side-on set-up,lightonhisfeetandblessedwithgoodhands.He batted supremelywell, welding dis-

cipline to technique and temperament,which he showed to get through severaltrickyperiodsintheday. Heenjoyedslicesofluck; edges eluded the fielders, catches fellshort of the fielders, marginal lbws wereturneddown...Buthedidn’t lettheclosecallclutterhim.Neither did those close calls make him

over-consciousnordidthoseinhibithim.Heplayedwitha freedomthatnoneof his sen-iorbattingcollegescouldmatch.Right from his debut against India two

years ago at Lord’s, he had looked the partandsettledrightdownintothehardestformof the game. He had then seen out a testyspell fromMohammed Shami before tear-ing into Kuldeep Yadav. Friday’s knock fur-nished yet another proof of his blossomingpotential.His positivity rubbed off on Jos Buttler,

whosespotisunderscrutiny.Hebeganflak-ily, before striking two sixes off RahkeemCornwall in an over and composed his firsthalf-century in 16 innings. Together, they

breathed life into a sluggish first day andmadeWestIndieslookrabbleintheend.Andimportantly,tookthemfrom122/4to258/4.Until then, ascendancy kept swinging

handsseveraltimes.AfterDomSibley’sfirst-over departure – a bizarre series this hasbeen for him, picking up ducks aswell as a

50 and 120 — Joe Root and Rory BurnsseemedtobesteeringEnglandtosafetywithcautiousbatting.But just before lunch, the England skip-

per ran himself out, calling for a non-exis-tent single. On another day, youwould ex-pectWestIndiesfielderstoerr,butonFridaytheyweresharpandindustrious.SoRostonChase’s throwfrombackwardpoint, after asmoothpick-up,trimmedthebail. Itwasjustaround the time Root seemed to have ac-quittedwellwithhis least favouritebattingspot, No. 3, after anunusually cagey begin-ning.Rootwasoutfor17from59balls, leav-ingEnglandteeteringat47fortwoonasur-face bereft of demons and bowling devoidof inspiration.ItwasoutofnecessitythatRootstrodein

atNo.3.WithBenStokes,hinderedbyaquadinjury, unlikely to bowl till the back-end ofthe match, England had to sacrifice Zak

Crawley for the fifth bowler. Moreover, therich vein of Stokes’s form and the promisePope has exuded, offered enough encour-agement forEnglandtodropabatsman.Stokes seemed to have configured the

language of making big hundreds in Testcricket.Gonearethedayswhenhesetoffanaggressivenote.Thesedays,he’s sedateandwatchful,unlessthesituationdemandsacar-nage as it was in the second innings in thesecond Test. But with England on repairmode, Stokeswasrestrained.ThenRoach came fromnowhere like an

unannounced storm. After pegging Sibleyplumbinfrontoff thelastballofhisfirstover,he hadbeen largely benign.Heoften strug-gledforlineandthelengthwasafractiontooshort,thuswastingthenewballthatwasex-tracting sidewaysmoment. But in thepost-lunch session, hebowledwithpurpose andprecision, and finally rewarded with thewicketof Stokes.The execution was as thrilling as the

build-up. He pushed Stokes backwith con-secutive bouncers—the first hit him on thehead, the second was swivelled for four.Then,laterintheover,heproducedagloriousnip-backerfromaroundthewicketthatburstthrough his defence. Stokes was a bit sur-prised,asmostofhispreviousdeliverieshadseamedaway fromhim.Re-energised, West Indies put on the

squeeze and frustrated Burns. The Englandopenerhadsofarbattedinscrutablywell,de-fendingwell andpunishing the loosedeliv-eries. Holder wasted no time to introduceRoston Chase, who is turning out to be hisbête noire, having consumed Burns thrice.He added a fourth (off just 40 balls) whenBurns attempted a late cut that flewoff theouter edge but stuck into the palm ofCornwall at first slip. The latter showed su-perb reflexes to cling on to the offering. Butthereafter, the match slipped away fromWest Indies’ grasp.BRIEFSCORES:England258/4in85.4overs(OPope91*,RBurns57,JButtler56*;KRoach2/56,RChase1/24)vsWest Indies

OlliePope’sknockwenta longwayinassuringEnglanddidnot fallbehindonDay1of thethirdTestagainst theWest IndiesatOldTraffordonFriday.Reuters

22-year-oldsteersthehostsoutof troublewithanunbeaten91afterWindiesmakeearly inroadsonDay1

NewPremierLeagueseasontobeginonSeptember12The2020-21EPLseasonwillbeginonSept.12andthefinalroundofmatcheswillbeheldonMay23, the leagueannouncedonFriday.Thenewseason, originally scheduled tobeginonAug. 8, has beendelayed this year after thePremier League suspended the2019-20sea-sonforthreemonthsduetothepandemic.Thecurrent seasonwill end on Sunday, givingteamsabout sevenweeks toprepare for thenextcampaign.However,teamsstillcompetingin theChampionsLeagueandEuropaLeaguewillhavelesstimetoprepareshouldtheyad-vance,withthefinalsof thetwocompetitionstobeheldonAug.23andAug.21. REUTERS

Indian boxers will resume formal camptraining fromMondayfollowingtheendoftheir isolationperiodthisweekendevenastheSportsAuthorityof India(SAI)pardonedthepugilistswhostirredupastormby"un-intentionally"breakingtheCOVID-19quar-antine protocol. The boxers and coacheshave been in isolation at the NationalInstitute of Sports (NIS) Patiala campus af-ter testingnegative forCOVID-19followinga third round of testing. The third coron-avirus test was necessitated after theOlympic-bound duo of Vikas Krishan and

SatishKumarviolatedquarantineprotocola fewweeksback.Theywereaskedto leavethe camp after complaint was lodgedagainst thembyfellowathletesatNIS.SAI'senquiry committee concluded that the in-discretionwasnot intentional. "During theenquiry, theboxersadmittedthattheyhavebreached the quarantine protocol," read aSAI statement. "Enquiry has found that itwas not an intentional breach, but lack ofawareness on the part of the boxers aboutthe quarantine rules that they were re-quired to follow," it added. PTI

F1 cancels 4more races thisseason, adds 3 to the calendarFormulaOneracesinBrazil,Canada,Mexicoand the United States have all been can-celled for this year amid the coronaviruspandemic, with three others added to thecalendar. F1 said in a statement Friday thatthe Eifel Grand Prix will host a race at theiconic Nurburgring in Germany on Oct. 11,followedbythePortugueseGP inPortimeotwoweeks later and the Emilia-RomagnaGPinItalyonNov.1.TheU.S.GPwasinitiallyscheduled for late October,with Brazil andMexico then hosting races in November.Canada was already postponed from itsmid-Junedate. AP

VikasKrishanhadtoleaveNational InstituteofSportbecauseof theruleviolation.

Boxerswhoviolated quarantinenorms let off, training to resume

HispositivityrubbedoffonJosButtler,whosespotisunderscrutiny.Buttlerbeganflakily,beforestrikingtwosixesoffRahkeemCornwallinanoverandcomposedhisfirsthalf-centuryin16innings.Together,theybreathedlifeintoasluggishfirstday...

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