12
A s the stand-off between India and China continues at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reviewed the situation here with the top security brass, including National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and the three Services Chiefs. The high-level meetings took place against the backdrop of the Chinese Army adopting an aggressive attitude at the LAC and bolstering substan- tially its troop strength besides intruding more than three kms into the Hot Springs area of Eastern Ladakh. It has also brought forward heavy vehicles like armoured personnel carri- ers while the Chinese heli- copters have increased aerial surveillance along the LAC. With the LAC now “hot” for nearly a month after the Chinese transgressions and four ongoing stand-offs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too took stock of the ongoing tension at the LAC earlier in the day with the defence top brass. The month- long flashpoints will also be on the top of the agenda of the two-day Army Commanders conference beginning here on Wednesday. With China coming into the Hot Springs area and its sol- diers pitching tents there besides deploying more than 5,000 troops at the four face-off sites spread over a frontage of 20 to 30 km, the Prime Minister was also briefed about the steps taken by India to meet any challenge arising out of the sensitive situation at the border. The meeting between the Defence Minister and the CDS along with the three Chiefs last- ed for more than an hour, sources said. The issue of Indian and Chinese Armies coming to blows in two face-offs at Naku La, Sikkim and Pangong Tso, Ladakh as well as increased troops strength of China and the Army’s operational readi- ness to face the situation will figure prominently during the Army Commanders meet. It comes at a time when at least six rounds of talks between the Brigadier-rank officers of Indian and Chinese Armies to resolve the confrontation have not yielded any positive results. Diplomatic efforts are also on to defuse the situation. The Commanders’ Conference is held twice a year and was postponed from its earlier scheduled dates in April due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. The second leg of the conclave will be held in the last week of June, officials said here on Tuesday. The apex level leadership of Indian Army will brainstorm on current emerging security and administrative challenges and chart the future course for Indian Army. To ensure due diligence, decisions are taken through collegiate system com- prising Army commanders and senior officers. During the first phase, which will be organised at South Block, various aspects pertaining to operational and administrative issues, including studies pertaining to logistics and human resources, will be discussed, they said. As regards the LAC, even though the focus is on Eastern Ladakh due to ongoing face- offs, the Indian forces have also started reinforcing its posi- tions in borders of Uttarakhand which face China besides some parts of Himachal Pradesh too as a precautionary measure, sources said. On Ladakh, they said the Indian defence forces are fully geared to increase the troops strength besides heavy weapon- ry in case of any emergency. All the advanced landing grounds like Daulat Beg OIdie and oth- ers in Ladakh region are ready to accommodate extra work- load of landings and take offs of heavy transport planes car- rying soldiers and weapons, they added. Moreover, the Indian Army has enhanced vigil on the 250- km long strategic road in the Galwan valley where one of the stand-offs is now on. The Chinese Army is protesting against the construction of a bridge on this road running parallel to the LAC. The road provides vastly improved con- nectivity to the Indian forces for mobilisation, sources said, adding the road is well within the Indian region. The two armies had fought a battle in the Galwan valley during the 1962 war. Meanwhile, the Defence Minister also reviewed the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Shekatkar Committee report. The Lt General DB Shekatkar (Retired) committee had made a series of recommendations to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces. Singh also held a telephon- ic conversation with his Australian counterpart Linda Reynolds during which they discussed areas of mutual coop- eration in the global fight against the Covid pandemic. Singh also informed Reynolds on India’s contribution to inter- national efforts against the coronavirus pandemic. “They also agreed that India-Australia Strategic Partnership provides a good basis for both countries to work together along with other countries in this regard to deal with the post Covid-19 related challenges,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. A day after the WHO sus- pended clinical trial of Hydroxycholoroquine (HCQ) on Covid-19 patients citing safety concerns, India on Tuesday said it will continue using the drug as preventive care for its healthcare and frontline workers under strict medical supervision. Dr Balram Bhargava, the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said the drug was rec- ommended initially in March based on in-vitro studies which showed it had antiviral proper- ties. “There have been observa- tional studies and case control studies that have not shown many side-effects due to the use of HCQ. “We thought it might be useful drug for prevention of Covid-19 and taking the bio- logical plausibility, the in-vitro data, and taking the availabil- ity and safety of this drug, we recommended it as empiric use under strict medical super- vision,” Bhargava said at a presser here. “During the weeks since it was recommended, we got some data (on HCQ) which showed there is no harm, but benefit may be there,” he said. “They were mainly obser- vational studies in different cohorts done at AIIMS and case control study at ICMR and studies were also done at three Delhi public hospitals. We found that it may be working and there were no major side effects, except nausea, vomiting and some palpitations occa- sionally. We have clearly said it should be continued for pro- phylaxis,” he said. The ICMR DG said the Government’s latest advisory regarding expanding the use of HCQ to frontline workers such as paramilitary and police per- sonnel is based on “risk-bene- fit analysis”. “We should not deny this to our healthcare workers and frontline workers who are deal- ing with virus-hit patients. At the same time, we have also said they should follow medical recommendations like not eat- ing it on empty stomach and that PPE use must be contin- ued. Our study on HCQ will be published soon,” Bhargava said. Continued on Page 2 T he migrant issue took a political turn on Tuesday with Congress, Left, Samajwadi Party as well several trade unions and labour front organ- isations criticising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for decreeing that States will have to take his Government’s permission before employing workers from Uttar Pradesh. Calling this is an “absurd” and unconstitutional “move which encroaches on the right to individual to earn his liveli- hood wherever he wants with- in the country, they said the CM’s move was an attempt to divert attention from the plight of the migrant workers. Except for the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), top labour union such as the INTUC, AITUC, CITU and other outfits are coordinating to launch a countrywide protest and move the court against the proposed decision. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed Yogi’s remark as “unfortunate.” “I think it’s unfortunate. I think people are first Indian and then they belong to their States. The decision on whether somebody goes to work from Uttar Pradesh to the rest of the country is not the Chief Minister’s. It is of the people of India and the people of Uttar Pradesh,” Rahul said at a video Press conference. “If a citizen of Uttar Pradesh wants to go and fulfil his dreams in Maharashtra or in Delhi or in Karnataka or anywhere else, he should have the right to do so,” he said. “It is very unfortunate that the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh views India in such a way. These people are not his personal property. They are not the personal property of Uttar Pradesh. These people are Indian citizens and they have the right to decide what they want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka Congress pres- ident DK Shivakumar in a series of tweets also attacked Yogi Adityanath saying UP was not the private property of his Government. Continued on Page 2 A fter it allowed millions of migrant workers to cross the borders to reach their native villages, Union Health Ministry has now woken up to the Covid-19 shadow looming over their home States — par- ticularly big five — UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Anticipating huge surge in these regions, the Centre has asked the State Governments to mobilise all resources like set- ting set up temporary health sub centres in the existing buildings, rope in volunteers from various streams and enhance incentives to ASHA and ANM workers to identify the symptomatic cases to check the spread of infections. To keep up with the increasing demand, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) too has ramped up its testing facilities and capacities. From a few thousands in the beginning, India is now testing up to 1.1 lakh samples in a day, according to Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR Continued on Page 2 M aharashtra on Tuesday reported 2,091 fresh cases, nearly 1,000 less than two days ago and third day of back-to-back decline in the number, giving some respite to the highly strung health work- ers and officials as the total number of cases in India climbed to 1,50,762 and 4,344 deaths on Tuesday. The day saw as many 170 deaths and the number of fresh cases stood at 5,812, far less than 7,000-plus spike in cases the country two days ago. At this rate of increase, India is likely to overtake Turkey too, in a day or two if the current pace remains. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Gujarat have report- ed the highest number of cases in the last 24 hours on Tuesday. Maharashtra reported 2,091 fresh cases and 97 deaths in the last 24 hours. The State continued to be on top in the list of coronavirus cases in the country, taking the total num- ber of cases in the State to 54,758 and deaths to 1,792. Mumbai city alone accounted for 39 deaths. The worst-hit Thane division, which includes Mumbai and surrounding satellite towns, has reported 41,886 cases and 1,226 deaths. Mumbai has reported 1,002 new cases taking the total number of cases in the city to 32,791 and 1,065 deaths. Continued on Page 2 C ongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the Modi Government’s decision to con- tinue with the nationwide lock- down and the strategy of han- dling the coronavirus crisis. Rahul said the nationwide lock- down in India has failed as the coronavirus cases have spiked in this period. “The lockdown in India has failed. Four stages of lock- down have not given the result that the Prime Minister expect- ed,” Rahul said at a live press conference through his Twitter account. He also slammed the Modi Government’s strategies of relaxing the lockdown and said, “India is the only country in world which is removing lockdown when the virus is exponentially rising.” “PM and his entire adviso- ry staff claimed coronavirus cases will come down, but this has not happened,” said Rahul Gandhi. “I want to ask PM Modi, what is the strategy of the Government,” Rahul said, adding, “They are thinking about curbing the disease, sup- porting migrants and support- ing MSMEs.” “Now that the lockdown has failed, we need to know the Government’s strategy on the next step. The Centre must divulge its Plan B,” Rahul Gandhi said. “Congress is running some States. We are giving direct cash to the poor to help them sur- vive in this crisis. We are not getting the Central Government’s support,” he said. Continued on Page 2 D enouncing Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for “double-faced politics” and “telling lies” over coronavirus situation, BJP on Tuesday claimed success in containing the pandemic in the country saying the Modi-Government has brought down the doubling rate of the Covid-19 positive cases and brought it to 12-13 days after March 25 lockdown when the two-fold rise was tak- ing place in two to three days. The BJP said its Government has provided much more economic package than the former Congress President is demanding from the Government. Senior BJP leader and information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar accused Rahul of telling “lies” and not knowing “facts” on economic package granted by the Centre to the poor follow- ing the country-wide lock- down on March 25. He said 80 crore people were receiving 25 kg wheat and five kg ‘dal’ for five months and 10 crore labourers receiving 10 kg grain and two kg ‘dal’ for free for five months. He also maintained that 20 crore women have received 500 per month and already 500 deposited in the accounts. Continued on Page 2 W ith the Ghaziabad district administration sealing its border with the national Capital again on May 26 amid coronavirus spread, commuters were stuck in heavy traffic at the Ghaziabad border. Hundreds of people were stuck in the traffic jam at the border even as the police deployed at the check-post stopped vehicles to check e- passes before allowing anyone to pass, which slowed down the vehicular movement. Both sides of the district near Ghazipur mandi that con- nects Delhi with Ghaziabad on National Highway 24 witness- es long traffic jam. “In Ghaziabad district, there is an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the last few days. A large chunk of these cases are linked to those who travel between Delhi and Ghaziabad,” the district administration in an order on Monday had said. “The district administra- tion has decided to seal the Delhi-Ghaziabad border until further orders on the recom- mendations of the Chief Medical Officer,” the order read. The administration said the people employed in essen- tial services will be allowed. Doctors, paramedical staff, police, media personnel and bank employees will not need passes. T aking cognizance of the “unfortunate and miser- able” plight of the migrant labourers stranded across the country due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the Supreme Court Tuesday said they need “suc- cour and help by the con- cerned governments” with regard to free food and shelter. “The adequate transport arrangement, food and shelters are immediately to be provid- ed by the Centre and State Governments free of costs,” the top court said. Referring to various media reports showing the “unfortu- nate and miserable conditions” of migrant labourers walking on foot and riding cycles from long distances, the top court issued notices to the Centre, States and Union Territories and sought their replies by May 28. Continued on Page 2 C hinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday ordered the military to scale up the battle preparedness, visualising the worst-case scenarios and asked them to resolutely defend the country’s sovereignty. Xi made the remarks while attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and People's Armed Police Force during the current parliament session being held here. Xi ordered the military to think about worst-case sce- narios, scale up training and battle preparedness, promptly and effectively deal with all sorts of complex situations and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and devel- opment interests, state-run Xinhua news agency reported, without mentioning any specif- ic issues that posed a threat to the country. His comments came in the backdrop of the continuing standoff between the militaries of India and China at the LAC. The US-China military fric- tions were also on the rise with the US navy stepping its patrols in the disputed South China Sea as well as the Taiwan Straits. Continued on Page 2

ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    1

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

����� ��������

As the stand-off betweenIndia and China continues

at the Line of Actual Control(LAC) in Ladakh, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi onTuesday reviewed the situationhere with the top securitybrass, including NationalSecurity Adviser (NSA) AjitDoval, Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) General Bipin Rawatand the three Services Chiefs.

The high-level meetingstook place against the backdropof the Chinese Army adoptingan aggressive attitude at theLAC and bolstering substan-tially its troop strength besidesintruding more than three kmsinto the Hot Springs area ofEastern Ladakh. It has alsobrought forward heavy vehicleslike armoured personnel carri-ers while the Chinese heli-copters have increased aerialsurveillance along the LAC.

With the LAC now “hot”for nearly a month after theChinese transgressions andfour ongoing stand-offs,Defence Minister RajnathSingh too took stock of theongoing tension at the LACearlier in the day with thedefence top brass. The month-long flashpoints will also be onthe top of the agenda of thetwo-day Army Commandersconference beginning here onWednesday.

With China coming intothe Hot Springs area and its sol-diers pitching tents therebesides deploying more than5,000 troops at the four face-off

sites spread over a frontage of20 to 30 km, the PrimeMinister was also briefed aboutthe steps taken by India to meetany challenge arising out of thesensitive situation at the border.The meeting between theDefence Minister and the CDSalong with the three Chiefs last-ed for more than an hour,sources said.

The issue of Indian andChinese Armies coming toblows in two face-offs at NakuLa, Sikkim and Pangong Tso,Ladakh as well as increasedtroops strength of China andthe Army’s operational readi-ness to face the situation willfigure prominently during theArmy Commanders meet. Itcomes at a time when at leastsix rounds of talks between theBrigadier-rank officers ofIndian and Chinese Armies toresolve the confrontation havenot yielded any positive results.Diplomatic efforts are also onto defuse the situation.

The Commanders’Conference is held twice ayear and was postponed fromits earlier scheduled dates inApril due to the coronaviruspandemic and lockdown. Thesecond leg of the conclave willbe held in the last week of June,officials said here on Tuesday.

The apex level leadership ofIndian Army will brainstormon current emerging securityand administrative challengesand chart the future course forIndian Army. To ensure duediligence, decisions are takenthrough collegiate system com-prising Army commanders and

senior officers.During the first phase,

which will be organised atSouth Block, various aspectspertaining to operational andadministrative issues, includingstudies pertaining to logisticsand human resources, will bediscussed, they said.

As regards the LAC, eventhough the focus is on EasternLadakh due to ongoing face-offs, the Indian forces have alsostarted reinforcing its posi-tions in borders of Uttarakhandwhich face China besides someparts of Himachal Pradesh tooas a precautionary measure,sources said.

On Ladakh, they said theIndian defence forces are fullygeared to increase the troopsstrength besides heavy weapon-ry in case of any emergency. Allthe advanced landing groundslike Daulat Beg OIdie and oth-ers in Ladakh region are readyto accommodate extra work-load of landings and take offsof heavy transport planes car-rying soldiers and weapons,

they added.Moreover, the Indian Army

has enhanced vigil on the 250-km long strategic road in theGalwan valley where one of thestand-offs is now on. TheChinese Army is protestingagainst the construction of abridge on this road runningparallel to the LAC. The roadprovides vastly improved con-nectivity to the Indian forcesfor mobilisation, sources said,adding the road is well withinthe Indian region. The twoarmies had fought a battle inthe Galwan valley during the1962 war.

Meanwhile, the DefenceMinister also reviewed theongoing implementation of therecommendations of theShekatkar Committee report.The Lt General DB Shekatkar(Retired) committee had madea series of recommendations toenhance combat capability andrebalance defence expenditureof the armed forces.

Singh also held a telephon-ic conversation with his

Australian counterpart LindaReynolds during which theydiscussed areas of mutual coop-eration in the global fightagainst the Covid pandemic.Singh also informed Reynoldson India’s contribution to inter-national efforts against thecoronavirus pandemic.

“They also agreed thatIndia-Australia StrategicPartnership provides a goodbasis for both countries towork together along with othercountries in this regard to dealwith the post Covid-19 relatedchallenges,” the DefenceMinistry said in a statement.

����� ��������

Aday after the WHO sus-pended clinical trial of

Hydroxycholoroquine (HCQ)on Covid-19 patients citingsafety concerns, India onTuesday said it will continueusing the drug as preventivecare for its healthcare andfrontline workers under strictmedical supervision.

Dr Balram Bhargava, theDirector General of IndianCouncil of Medical Research(ICMR), said the drug was rec-ommended initially in Marchbased on in-vitro studies whichshowed it had antiviral proper-ties. “There have been observa-tional studies and case controlstudies that have not shownmany side-effects due to the useof HCQ.

“We thought it might beuseful drug for prevention ofCovid-19 and taking the bio-logical plausibility, the in-vitrodata, and taking the availabil-ity and safety of this drug, werecommended it as empiricuse under strict medical super-vision,” Bhargava said at apresser here.

“During the weeks since itwas recommended, we gotsome data (on HCQ) whichshowed there is no harm, but

benefit may be there,” he said.“They were mainly obser-

vational studies in differentcohorts done at AIIMS andcase control study at ICMR andstudies were also done at threeDelhi public hospitals. Wefound that it may be workingand there were no major sideeffects, except nausea, vomitingand some palpitations occa-sionally. We have clearly said itshould be continued for pro-phylaxis,” he said.

The ICMR DG said theGovernment’s latest advisoryregarding expanding the use ofHCQ to frontline workers suchas paramilitary and police per-sonnel is based on “risk-bene-fit analysis”.

“We should not deny thisto our healthcare workers andfrontline workers who are deal-ing with virus-hit patients. Atthe same time, we have alsosaid they should follow medicalrecommendations like not eat-ing it on empty stomach andthat PPE use must be contin-ued. Our study on HCQ will bepublished soon,” Bhargava said.

Continued on Page 2

���������� ���� ��������

The migrant issue took apolitical turn on Tuesday

with Congress, Left, SamajwadiParty as well several tradeunions and labour front organ-isations criticising UttarPradesh Chief Minister YogiAdityanath for decreeing thatStates will have to take hisGovernment’s permissionbefore employing workers fromUttar Pradesh.

Calling this is an “absurd”and unconstitutional “movewhich encroaches on the rightto individual to earn his liveli-hood wherever he wants with-in the country, they said theCM’s move was an attempt todivert attention from the plightof the migrant workers.

Except for the BharatiyaMazdoor Sangh (BMS), toplabour union such as theINTUC, AITUC, CITU andother outfits are coordinatingto launch a countrywide protestand move the court against theproposed decision.

Congress leader RahulGandhi termed Yogi’s remarkas “unfortunate.”

“I think it’s unfortunate. Ithink people are first Indianand then they belong to theirStates. The decision on whethersomebody goes to work fromUttar Pradesh to the rest of the

country is not the ChiefMinister’s. It is of the people ofIndia and the people of UttarPradesh,” Rahul said at a videoPress conference.

“If a citizen of UttarPradesh wants to go and fulfilhis dreams in Maharashtra orin Delhi or in Karnataka oranywhere else, he should havethe right to do so,” he said.

“It is very unfortunate thatthe Chief Minister of UttarPradesh views India in such away. These people are not hispersonal property. They are notthe personal property of UttarPradesh. These people areIndian citizens and they havethe right to decide what theywant to do and they have theright to live the life they wantto live,” he added.

Karnataka Congress pres-ident DK Shivakumar in aseries of tweets also attackedYogi Adityanath saying UPwas not the private property ofhis Government.

Continued on Page 2

�������� ������ ��������

After it allowed millions ofmigrant workers to cross

the borders to reach theirnative villages, Union HealthMinistry has now woken up tothe Covid-19 shadow loomingover their home States — par-ticularly big five — UP, Bihar,Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh andMadhya Pradesh.

Anticipating huge surge inthese regions, the Centre hasasked the State Governments tomobilise all resources like set-ting set up temporary healthsub centres in the existingbuildings, rope in volunteersfrom various streams andenhance incentives to ASHAand ANM workers to identifythe symptomatic cases to checkthe spread of infections.

To keep up with theincreasing demand, the IndianCouncil of Medical Research

(ICMR) too has ramped up itstesting facilities and capacities.

From a few thousands inthe beginning, India is nowtesting up to 1.1 lakh samplesin a day, according to DrBalram Bhargava, DirectorGeneral, ICMR

Continued on Page 2

����� ��������

Maharashtra on Tuesdayreported 2,091 fresh

cases, nearly 1,000 less than twodays ago and third day ofback-to-back decline in thenumber, giving some respite tothe highly strung health work-ers and officials as the totalnumber of cases in Indiaclimbed to 1,50,762 and 4,344deaths on Tuesday. The day sawas many 170 deaths and thenumber of fresh

cases stood at 5,812, far lessthan 7,000-plus spike in casesthe country two days ago.

At this rate of increase,India is likely to overtakeTurkey too, in a day or two ifthe current pace remains.Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,Delhi and Gujarat have report-ed the highest number of casesin the last 24 hours on Tuesday.

Maharashtra reported2,091 fresh cases and 97 deathsin the last 24 hours. The Statecontinued to be on top in the

list of coronavirus cases in thecountry, taking the total num-ber of cases in the State to54,758 and deaths to 1,792.Mumbai city alone accountedfor 39 deaths. The worst-hitThane division, which includesMumbai and surroundingsatellite towns, has reported41,886 cases and 1,226 deaths.Mumbai has reported 1,002new cases taking the totalnumber of cases in the city to32,791 and 1,065 deaths.

Continued on Page 2

����� ��������

Congress leader RahulGandhi on Tuesday

slammed the ModiGovernment’s decision to con-tinue with the nationwide lock-down and the strategy of han-dling the coronavirus crisis.Rahul said the nationwide lock-down in India has failed as thecoronavirus cases have spikedin this period.

“The lockdown in Indiahas failed. Four stages of lock-down have not given the resultthat the Prime Minister expect-ed,” Rahul said at a live pressconference through his Twitteraccount.

He also slammed the ModiGovernment’s strategies ofrelaxing the lockdown andsaid, “India is the only countryin world which is removinglockdown when the virus isexponentially rising.”

“PM and his entire adviso-ry staff claimed coronaviruscases will come down, but this

has not happened,” said RahulGandhi. “I want to ask PMModi, what is the strategy ofthe Government,” Rahul said,adding, “They are thinkingabout curbing the disease, sup-porting migrants and support-ing MSMEs.”

“Now that the lockdownhas failed, we need to know theGovernment’s strategy on thenext step. The Centre mustdivulge its Plan B,” RahulGandhi said.

“Congress is running someStates. We are giving direct cashto the poor to help them sur-vive in this crisis. We are notgetting the CentralGovernment’s support,” he said.

Continued on Page 2

����� ��������

Denouncing Congress andits leader Rahul Gandhi for

“double-faced politics” and“telling lies” over coronavirussituation, BJP on Tuesdayclaimed success in containingthe pandemic in the countrysaying the Modi-Governmenthas brought down the doublingrate of the Covid-19 positivecases and brought it to 12-13days after March 25 lockdownwhen the two-fold rise was tak-ing place in two to three days.

The BJP said itsGovernment has providedmuch more economic packagethan the former CongressPresident is demanding fromthe Government.

Senior BJP leader andinformation and BroadcastingMinister Prakash Javadekaraccused Rahul of telling “lies”and not knowing “facts” oneconomic package granted by

the Centre to the poor follow-ing the country-wide lock-down on March 25. He said 80crore people were receiving25 kg wheat and five kg ‘dal’ forfive months and 10 crorelabourers receiving 10 kg grainand two kg ‘dal’ for free for fivemonths.

He also maintained that 20crore women have received�500 per month and already���500 deposited in theaccounts.

Continued on Page 2

���������������� ��������

With the Ghaziabad districtadministration sealing its

border with the nationalCapital again on May 26 amidcoronavirus spread, commuterswere stuck in heavy traffic atthe Ghaziabad border.

Hundreds of people werestuck in the traffic jam at theborder even as the policedeployed at the check-poststopped vehicles to check e-passes before allowing anyoneto pass, which slowed down thevehicular movement.

Both sides of the districtnear Ghazipur mandi that con-nects Delhi with Ghaziabad onNational Highway 24 witness-es long traffic jam.

“In Ghaziabad district,there is an increase in thenumber of coronavirus cases inthe last few days. A large chunkof these cases are linked tothose who travel between Delhiand Ghaziabad,” the district

administration in an order onMonday had said.

“The district administra-tion has decided to seal theDelhi-Ghaziabad border untilfurther orders on the recom-mendations of the ChiefMedical Officer,” the order

read.The administration said

the people employed in essen-tial services will be allowed.Doctors, paramedical staff,police, media personnel andbank employees will not needpasses.

����� ��������

Taking cognizance of the“unfortunate and miser-

able” plight of the migrantlabourers stranded across thecountry due to the Covid-19lockdown, the Supreme CourtTuesday said they need “suc-cour and help by the con-cerned governments” withregard to free food and shelter.

“The adequate transportarrangement, food and sheltersare immediately to be provid-ed by the Centre and StateGovernments free of costs,”the top court said.

Referring to various mediareports showing the “unfortu-nate and miserable conditions”of migrant labourers walkingon foot and riding cycles fromlong distances, the top courtissued notices to the Centre,States and Union Territoriesand sought their replies byMay 28.

Continued on Page 2

�������������� ������������������������ ������������������ ��������������������������������������������

�������������� �!������������������������������������������������������������

"����������������������������������������#�$���������������������� �������!�������"��������#� ��

��$�� �������� !��!����%&����"����������

%&'���� ��(�������)�������������������������������������

*�����������������������+,$�������$������

��'�����������"$� ������(������!����" )����������"�)����

���!����� ������� ����� �*�+�$�

��� ��� ������������������ ��������� �������������������� ���� ��������

���������������� ��������������������!� ��"� �������#���� "������� �������� ������� ������ ����$���������� ��������������

�����#� ��%�� �� ������� ���������������� ���������� ������� ���� ��������%��"�&�#"�##� ������� ��� ������ � �������� ���� ����"

���� ��

������������ �������������� ���� ���������������������������������� ������ ���

��� ����� ��������� ���� �������� ��� ������ ������������� ������� ������ ���

����� '�(�)

Chinese President Xi Jinpingon Tuesday ordered the

military to scale up the battlepreparedness, visualising theworst-case scenarios and askedthem to resolutely defend thecountry’s sovereignty.

Xi made the remarks whileattending a plenary meeting ofthe delegation of the People'sLiberation Army (PLA) andPeople's Armed Police Forceduring the current parliamentsession being held here.

Xi ordered the military tothink about worst-case sce-narios, scale up training andbattle preparedness, promptly

and effectively deal with allsorts of complex situations andresolutely safeguard nationalsovereignty, security and devel-opment interests, state-runXinhua news agency reported,without mentioning any specif-ic issues that posed a threat tothe country.

His comments came in thebackdrop of the continuingstandoff between the militariesof India and China at the LAC.The US-China military fric-tions were also on the rise withthe US navy stepping its patrolsin the disputed South ChinaSea as well as the TaiwanStraits.

Continued on Page 2

,����� �* )�� �������� �������������

���� ������������������ !��"� ������#��$����� ����������������� ���

�'���%-

������ ��������������� ���������������������

����

������ ���� ��������������������������������������������������� *+,-*. /,-01 /2,0*+��#������� /-,-1. /1.�����������������0,3+1)�4����� /+,.10 0/*�����������������2,2-.������ /+,+2* �!! 2,0*+5�4����� -,*32 /-6�����������������+,1-2����"��������� -,61+ 36*�����������������3,2.07������������� 2,-1+ /--�����������������3,.1+�����'� ��� +,660 1.3�����������������/,+.2& ����������� 1,0.3 *-�������������������1,6/-'������ 1,02. /+�������������������.66

8�������"��� ��� ������!9��#:����"��� ���. !����*

������������� ���

� ������#9��#:����"��� ���:

;�������" �"#$�36��%%&' /+2;&��������������<����� �&���������

����������=��#���������7>�?� '�?�&���'�7'&����&5

5&���5&�75 �&��)&5�����5&�7� �@��5&'&��A(&@�&�&

�%()*#+%,'-��!�������������� ��������������� ���������� ���������������� ����!"���#$%���

��.��� ����.���������������������/���0��������

���/0/�0�15���������B��?5��&5�C

��023�-5��D���&E��)����>��@��?�?��5&��*F���=@1/

�������������� ������ ������� ������������� �

�420#2)�%5�&>��&�&5��5��A����)���5�)

Page 2: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

��������������������� ����� ����� � ��������

����������� ������ ����������������� ������������������������������������� �� �� �����!��"����#��� $����%&&'''(� ����������)#����*�������$(&'�(&&!�����%�+�����,-���.�/�����0����������123!-3�413�/����(�''/��0������������0���5���0��6 �71�6�� �!����0��#����7�������������0��8�����$���� 9���������0/�1�:%;'<=;&''�(+<==(<&%<;�>?<&(+;(<&����*�� @�����0;��A�����!��!������#�������A�B �3������*�� %((�'&��9���������0'=((%(+;�;;+�(+;�;;;�(+;�;;=�

���������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ��������������� �� ���������������������������������������������������������� ������������ ����� ��������������� ��������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������� �!����������������"���������� ���������������������������� �������������������� ���� ��������������������������������� �����������������������������#��������������������������� ���� ����$����%����&�������������������������� ��������������� �����������������������'����������������������������������� ���������������"��������������������(�����������������������������

����� ��������

The Supreme Court onTuesday refused to enter-

tain a plea challenging a DelhiHigh Court order in which ithad declined to direct linkingof social media accounts withAadhaar, PAN or voter IDcard for weeding out fakeaccounts.

A Bench headed by JusticeL Nageswara Rao, howevergranted liberty to lawyer andBJP leader Ashwini Upadhyayto implead himself as a party inthe transfer petition moved bythe Centre in the apex court.

The lawyer, who argued thecase through video-conferenc-ing, said that the Centre hadearlier sought transfer of sim-ilar cases from some HighCourts to the apex court.

“We see no reason to inter-fere with the impugned orderof the High Court. The Special

Leave Petition is, according-ly,dismissed. However, libertyis granted to the petitioner(Upadhyay) to file implead-ment application in TransferCase …,” said the bench whichalso comprised Justices KrishnaMurari and S Ravindra Bhat.

The Delhi High Court hadearlier declined to order link-ing of social media accountswith Aadhaar, PAN or voter IDcard for weeding out fakeaccounts, saying it would leadto data of genuine accountholders, who are much more innumber, going "unnecessarily"to foreign countries.

It had said that linking ofaccounts with social mediaplatforms like Twitter,Facebook and WhatsApp, withAadhaar, PAN or any otheridentity document requiresframing of policies or amend-ment in existing laws by theCentral Government and thisexercise cannot be done by thecourt.

Upadhyay, in the plea, hassaid that 20 per cent of thesocial media accounts were"fake, ghost or duplicate".

The plea said somethinghas to be done as anyone cancreate a fake account on socialmedia of any person, includingthe judges, and through thatmedium wrong or controver-sial information can be spread.

He had also alleged in hispetition that fake social mediaaccounts are used to propagate"fake and paid news" duringelections.

)��������� ��� ���������$������� �(������6�

�,'��'#,+��+1,��"&2(,)-�')2#+'2�-'3#+4'-�(""2-'2�#+45+41�"6�%"3+)#7'-+)�)33"&4(%�8+(,�)-,))2������"2�9"('2���3)2-�6"2�8''-+41�"&(

6)5'�)33"&4(%

����� �7�'&

Majority of Indians sur-veyed are skeptical about

travelling in the next 30 daysdespite the government open-ing flight services as the num-ber of coronavirus cases nowaveraging at around 7,000 perday in the country.

The Government on May25 permitted the resumption oflimited flight services by imple-menting a model in which theairport and the operating air-lines will follow a set of pre-cautions and observe socialdistancing norms.

However, only 21 per centrespondents said one or moremembers of their householdwill likely be taking a flightwithin the next 30 days, accord-ing to a survey by communitysocial media platformLocalCircles.

The survey revealed thatonly 10 per cent said theyhave booked tickets and willtravel soon while 11 per cent

said they have not made thebookings yet but will make itsoon.

A maximum 76 per centsaid they do not have anyplans to travel currently, itadded.

LocalCircles conducted thesurvey with over 16,000respondents from over 212districts across India, in which71 per cent were men while 29per cent were women, 49 percent respondents were from tierI, 34 per cent from tier II and17 per cent respondents werefrom tier III, IV and rural dis-tricts.

Meanwhile, the govern-ment had also announcedrecently on running 200 specialtrains from June 1, which willbe in addition to 30 air-condi-tioned trains that are alreadyrunning since mid-May.

About 88 per cent saidthey have no plans to travelwhile only 4 per cent said theyhave already booked ticketsand will travel soon.

A small 6 per cent also saidthat they will be booking theirtickets soon indicating thatone or more members of only10 per cent households \willlikely be taking a train in June,the survey pointed out.

Most of those who aretravelling by flights are pri-marily the ones who werestranded due to sudden lock-down on March 25 or individ-uals on temporary assignmentor studies in different cities andgoing back home or thosewanting to visit aged or unwellfamily members or be withthem, it added.

����� �&��)&5�

Asevere heatwave sweptHaryana, Punjab and their

joint capital, Chandigarh, onTuesday, with Hisar being thehottest place in the region at 48degrees Celsius.

Hisar in Haryana recordedits hottest day of the currentsummer so far, with the max-imum temperature settling fivenotches above normal limits,the Meteorological Departmenthere said.

Blistering heat also sweptNarnaul at 46 degrees Celsius,five notches above normal lim-its. Among other places inHaryana, Ambala sizzled at44.2 degrees Celsius, up fivenotches, while Karnal swelteredunder intense heat at 44degrees Celsius, five notchesabove normal limits.

Sweltering heat also sweptPatiala in Punjab which record-

ed a high of 44.7 degreesCelsius, up four notches.

Amritsar and Ludhianaalso recorded above normalmaximums of 43.7 degreesCelsius and 44.1 degreesCelsius, respectively.

Chandigarh, the commoncapital of the two states, alsoexperienced a hot day at 43.1degrees Celsius, four notchesabove normal limits.

According to the MeTdepartment forecast, the heatwave conditions will continueto prevail for the next two daysin Punjab and Haryana.

-�#��������������������������$�����������������.�/0�����1�������

�,'�0"9'247'4(�"4��):���;'27+(('-�(,'�2'%&7;(+"4�"6#+7+('-�6#+1,(�%'29+3'%�*:+7;#'7'4(+41�)�7"-'#�+48,+3,�(,'�)+2;"2(�)4-�(,'

";'2)(+41�)+2#+4'%�8+##�6"##"8)�%'(�"6�;2'3)&(+"4%�)4-"*%'29'�%"3+)#�-+%()43+41

4"27%

��������������� �! "�#����$%� ��������&�'��� �� ��(���

�33"2-+41�("�(,'��'�-';)2(7'4(�6"2'3)%(��(,',')(�8)9'�3"4-+(+"4%8+##�3"4(+4&'�("�;2'9)+#6"2�(,'�4'<(�(8"�-):%�+4�&4=)*�)4-��)2:)4)$

From Page 1“UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s

move to restrict hiring peopleof UP is unconstitutional &goes against the right to free-dom of movement. Mr Yogi,please note that UP is not theprivate property of your Govt.The people of UP don’t needyour Govt’s permission to workanywhere in India,”Shivakumar tweeted.

Samajwadi Partyspokesman RajendraChaudhary also slammed theYogi Government for propos-ing such measures to tie thehands of the migrant workers.“This proposed move is“absurd” and “unconstitution-al”. The workers are not goingabroad that they need toinform the State Government.Within the country they can goanywhere and seek employ-ment anywhere. What theChief Minister is proposing is“absurd and “unconstitutional,”he said.

A senior functionary atINTUC said a proposed

protest against Yogi has beendeferred due to the death ofsenior trade unionist leaderRajendra Singh last week inJharkhand.

RSS-backed BhartiyaMazdoor Sangh (BMS) has,however, declined to be part ofthe protest.

“We are taking legal opin-ions to counter this. It will notbe in the interest of labourwork force who migrate forbread and butter,” INTUCnational secretary Rajiv Arorasaid. National secretary of CPI,D Raja termed the Yogi’s state-ment as highly deplorable andsought his apology.

“As already Covid scare isprevailing in the country andworldwide, the new system ofdomestic visa for employmentwill create more chaos andharm the social fabric of thenation. We will protest toothand nail until he withdraws hiscomment and apologises,” Rajatold The Pioneer.

The Patna-based TataInstitute of Social Science(TISS) chairpersonPushpendra said that the Yogi’sstatement shows that he wantscontrol labour.

From Page 1 Out of 97, 35 deaths took

place in the last two days whileremaining 62 had taken placebetween April 17 and May 23.

The second worst-hit areais Pune city where casesincreased to 5,602 and deathtoll to 268. The number of casesand deaths in Pune divisionwas 7,320 and 336, respective-ly. The Nashik division has1,684 cases and reported 106deaths.

Tamil Nadu recorded 646new cases, taking the totalnumber of positive cases in theState to 17,728. Nine deathshave been reported in the Stateon Tuesday. With 510 newcases, Chennai continued totop list in the State, taking thetotal number of cases to 11,641.Of the 9 deaths, 7 occurred inChennai. After Chennai,Thiruvallur and Chengalpattuare the other hotspots, report-ed 25 and 23 new cases respec-tively.

As per the data of theMinistry of Health and familywelfare, India’s recovery rate issteadily improving from 7.1 percent in March to 41.6 per centso far. The fatality rate hasreduced from 3.3 per cent to2.87 per cent so far.

Delhi reported 412 newcases in the last 24 hours, tak-ing the city’s total tally to14,465. New cases in thenational Capital were under500 after one week, with thehighest number of 660 record-ed on May 22. It has reported12 more deaths, taking the tolldue to the viral infection in thecity to 288. The average posi-tivity rate over the past weekhas been 11.5 per cent, with thehighest of 13.8 per cent record-ed on Monday.

In the last 24 hours, 361new cases have been reportedin Gujarat; taking the totalnumber cases to 14,829. Deathtoll rises to 915 after 27 deathswere reported in last 24 hours.Ahmedabad reported 251 newcases and 23 deaths, taking thetotal number of cases 10,841and fatalities 745.

Uttar Pradesh has report-ed 229 new cases in the last 24

hours, taking the total numberof cases to 6,724. The totaldeaths toll stands at 177.

With 193 new cases, thenumber of Covid-19 cases inWest Bengal crossed the 4,000-mark on Tuesday. Kolkata hasreported 58 cases in the last 24hours while 24 cases reportedfrom North 24 Paraganas.Howrah has reported 21 freshcases. As many as 176 newcases were reported inRajasthan, taking the totalnumber of cases to 7,476. Onedeath was reported in the past24 hours taking the death tollto 168. Sirohi reported 27 newcases while Udaipur 24. Jaipurhas reported 21 new cases inthe last 24 hours.

With 165 fresh cases in thelast 24 hours, Madhya Pradesh’scoronavirus tally has crossed7,024. Indore has reported 39cases, Bhopal 32, Ujjain 26,Burhapur 15 and Gwalior 10.

With detection of 133 freshcases, the total number of peo-ple infected from coronavirushave increased to 2,870 inBihar so far. In Khagaria, 23sample tested positive followedby Kishangarh with 17, Banka15, Bhagalpur 14, Darbhanga

and Saharsa 12 each, Supaul 8 andSheikhpura 7.

A total of 101 new caseshave been reported inKarnataka, taking the totalnumber of infections in theState to 2,283. With 44 deathsand 722 discharges, there are1,514 active coronavirus cases.Out of the 101 new cases, 47 arereturnees from neighbouringMaharashtra, 21 from TamilNadu, 13 from Jharkhand andone from Gujarat, while four have travelled fromQatar.

Andhra Pradesh has wit-nessed one more death and 97fresh cases of coronavirus in asingle day. More than half ofthe fresh cases are of returneesfrom the Gulf countries. While44 cases are of persons whoreturned from Kuwait, three areof Abu Dhabi, UAE and two areof Qatar.

The State tally has gone upto 2, 983 and there are 97 activecases. Kerala reported 67 newcovid-19 cases, its biggest spikein a day, taking the total num-ber of cases to 963. Sevendeaths occurred so far.

"���������222 ��$� ���777

From Page 1Washington and Beijing

are also engaged in a war ofwords over the origin of thecoronavirus pandemic.

In his meeting with a PLAdelegation on Tuesday, hestressed on achieving the tar-gets and missions of strength-ening the national defence and

armed forces for 2020, whilemaintaining effective epidem-ic control on a regular basis. Helistened to speeches by themilitary deputies on fulfillingepidemic control tasks,strengthening training amidthe epidemic, and acceleratingcapacity building on biosecu-rity defence, among others.

Xi has been stressing onthe troops battle preparednessever since he came to power in2012 insisting on real timeexercises to win wars

,����� �* )�� �������� ������������ �2"7��)1'��

�����5����� ���������##� �������� ������ ��%#�������������� ������� ���<�� �������������������!9�&������������$���� �������"����������� ������� ����� ����� ���� ���<��� �� � ���� ����������������������������$�������# ���� �����"���"��

� ������ �����!�� �������������������9���?����������)� �����������&��� �#�)�����"��������� ��� ��"�����7�����"C��<�����$�������������#���#� �������#�����"�������� ������G���#����� �����H���������"I��������������������������� ����$�������"��������%�� ��"�#� ����� �9

������������222From Page 1

“Now it’s becoming diffi-cult to run the Governmentwithout support. CongressGovernments are supportingfarmers, migrants, we are giv-ing cash, but our States are notgetting support from theCentre,” he said. He sought todistance himself from reportssuggesting a rift within the rul-ing coalition in Maharashtraamid the BJP frequent attacksfor its “poor handling” of pan-demic in the state.

“I would like to make a dif-ferentiation here. We are sup-porting the Government inMaharashtra, but we are not thekey decision maker inMaharashtra,” he said inresponse to a question on thecoronavirus crisis in the State.Congress is a partner in theShiv Sena-led Maha VikasAghadi (MVA) coalition inthe state with NCP being theother constituent of the

Government. “We are decisionmakers in Punjab,Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan andPuducherry. There is a differ-ence between running theGovernment and supportingit,” he added.

“I said very categoricallythat Maharashtra is an impor-tant State, Mumbai is the finan-cial capital and there is a lot ofattention, they have a difficultsituation and lots of attentionneeds to be given to the state bythe Centre,” the formerCongress chief said.

���!����� ��777

�2"7��)1'�������� �������������� �#��� �������� ������������������"�������������%)�$�� #� ��������$�����#� "���#���#������ �#������������������� �-,*66�#� ���"���������"����� ��������������������������� ��� ������� ��������"9������ ����'(���� ������������ ����������"����H �����$��� ����������"�������� � ��#������������� ��������� ��������"I9�������� ����������� �������������� ��#����������� ���� ���������������!� ��� �� �$����9�����'(�����������������)�$�� #� ��������� �������� ��� ��� ��� � �������� ��#���� ������� ��"�����������#� "%��#������������� ����������� �������� �� ��#���������9�(�$���!������������ �����������5������������� �������!��� ������ �� �������

������ �������$������������H������ ������� ���������������"�I����� ���������������� � ��H� �/1����/3���"��H,������������� �H�"��,������!���� �������� I9(�$���!�������#��������7�&,'��J��,����",�'����� ,�=�� ���� ��$� ��� ���� �����#������#������ � ��������� ������ ��� ������ ��#��9�H����� ���� ��� ���!��� �������H�������I�� �������� �������"�����������������$������������,��������9����������������������������� ���������!� ��"�����)�$�� #� �,� ���������H���������"������� ����#I�� ��������� ������H������%��� �����I�� ������ �����,�������9�5� ���� �����5����C���##� ��,�����7 �� ��� �������!�����"�� ���������������� �����!� �������������������#�� ����� �����%������������9

%&'���� ��(���2222

From Page 1A Bench of Justices Ashok

Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kauland MR Shah said, “This Courthas also received several lettersand representations from dif-ferent sections of society high-lighting the problem of migrantlabourers. The crises of migrantlabourers are even continuingtoday with large sections stillstranded on roads, highways,railway stations and State bor-ders.”

It said, “We take suo motucognizance of problems andmiseries of migrant labourerswho had been stranded in dif-ferent parts of the country. Thenewspaper reports and themedia reports have been con-tinuously showing the unfor-

tunate and miserable condi-tions of migrant labourerswalking on-foot and cyclesfrom long distances.”

The top court added that“in the present situation oflockdown in the entire country,this section of the society(migrant labourers) needs suc-cour and help by the con-cerned Governments especial-ly steps need to be taken by theGovernment of India, StateGovernments/ UnionTerritories in this difficult sit-uation to extend helping handto these migrant labourers”.

It said the migrant labour-ers have also been complainingof not being provided food andwater by the administration atplaces where they were strand-ed or in the way that is high-ways from which they preced-ed on-foot, cycles or othermodes of transport.

��'�����������"$� ������(�������777

�2"7��)1'��������� ��"����������"������� ������#�� �� �� �#����� ��$��%/0��������� ����������� ��#��� ������ ������������!�������$��� ��#���,��� �,�������� �&�#������,�� ����#��!���� �� ���� ���#�������,�� �������� ������9�����$��,� ��������<������ ����!���� ��#�����������������������#��������,����� ���� �����#�4���������� ��$��%/0������� ��#������������ �9�=��� ��� ��,���������������3,666������ ��,�#������� ���� �� ������������� ������$������ �4���������� ����!,�'�������� ������$����� ��� ������ �<����������������9�����"���������� ��7���������������$�������"����������$���2,666�#��!9?������������� ���#�4�������������#� ��������������������� �� ��#/+3�� ���"�/����/,*/-����������9������ ����"������������$�������������������������� ���������������7 ����K��7�L���M���� �� ���� ����9� �����$���#���� ������������� ����� ������

��#�������������,�7 �� ���������������"������������ ,�������#�����"����%��������� ������� ����������� ��<���� �������� ���� �������� ��� �� ��� �����!�����������5������"��'���������"�>��"�!��#�K5'�>L����#���� �����������9������� ����"�����������$���������������� !�����&"���#� �'������N �������� ����� ����� �����N �������������������������������##�����������������!%������ �������� ���� ������%#����� �����$������� �������������� ��#��������� ����9H���#��������������������#� �� ��#� ��#���� �����!���,�&��&�� ��&������ ������$� �������� ��� �� ��$��9���"������������� ��� ���$�� ������������������������� � ����#� ,�� ���%*%"���������� ,�������",��������������%#�������"�� �������#�����������& �� ��������! ������ �������������9����� ������� � �������$�����������!����#� ��������� � ������������� � �$�,I���������� 9������������������������##������#�������� ������������!� ����� �� ������� �����������������##��� ����',�������"�� � � %��##� ������������������������"����� ��� �� ����������9

���� ������������������ !��%%%

Page 3: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

�������� ��������������������� ����� ����� �

����������������)757)5&�

The District Magistrate onMonday issued an order

stating that if any private hos-pital denies treatment to aCovid-19 patients then they willhave to pay penalty as per theEpidemic Act (1897) withoutany prior notice.

The decision was takenafter the district administrationreceived complaints that someprivate facilities are refusing totreat patients with symptoms ofcoronavirus and other criticalservices which are grave neg-ligence in times of such an epi-demic," the order said.

All non-governmental hos-pitals and medical facilitiessituated in Gurugram receivedan order issued to this effect bythe district magistrate ofGurugram on Monday.

The order was issued bythe District Magistrate AmitKhatri and the order clearlystates that "Private hospitals/nursing homes in the districtGurugram shall not refuse anypatient approaching them fortreatment of coronavirus infec-tion and other critical ser-vices.

If any privatehospital/nursing home refusestreatment to any such patient,

action will be initiated againstthem under the Epidemic Act(1897) without any priornotice" reads the order issuedby district magistrate AmitKhatri.

The health officials saidthat in the absence of a writtenorder for private hospitals,clinics and nursing homes, pri-vate hospitals and clinics weredenying treatment to sympto-matic patients.

"The order will hold themresponsible in case they denyadmission to any symptomatica patient requiring Covid-19 orany other critical healthcaretreatment," an official said.

Meanwhile, the districtadministration has decided toupload the test results of thepatients on Map Gurugramportal and GurugramMetropolitan DevelopmentAuthority (GMDA) website sothat those who have submittedtheir samples for Covid-19testing can access their reportsonline.

"All test reports will beuploaded on the portal andwebsite, which can be accessedby entering the registeredmobile number. It will be OTP-based restricting people fromaccessing any other patientsreport," a GMDA official said.

Apart from this, the district

administration has changedrules again on allowing entry ofpeople into the city, this timesaying that those travelling toGurugram from the airport orrailway stations will not requiremovement passes.

The deputy commissionerissued an order stating pas-sengers with a confirmed air ortrain e-ticket in their nameswill be allowed to travel fromthe airport or railway station totheir home without a move-ment pass.

Besides this, As per latestreports, Gurugram has report-

ed 317 COVID-19 casesincluding 33 new coronavirus

cases which includes 12 copson Tuesday.

���������������� ���������

Lieutenant Governor AnilBaijal directed officials of

the health department to reviewthe capacity building of medicalinfrastructure and remove bot-tlenecks immediately.

Baijal advised for moni-toring of containment zones ondynamic basis for focusedaction. He instructed con-cerned authorities to strictlyfollow guidelines of Ministry ofHealth and Family Welfare(MoHFW) regarding homequarantine and discharge pol-icy etc.

L-G also advised to informpeople regularly through IECactivities for confidence build-ing. He also stressed on IECand surveillance measures tocontain the spread of Covid-19.

Lieutenant Governor thattrend of last 10-15 days shouldbe analysed for future man-agement.

Baijal held a meeting toreview situation of Covid-19 inDelhi with Delhi ChiefMinister Arvind Kejriwal,Deputy Chief Minister ManishSisodia, Health Minister,Commissioner of Police andother senior officers.

At the outset, Secretary(Health) presented situationalanalysis of Covid-19 in Delhi,where it was informed that upto 25th May there are total14,053 confirmed cases inDelhi out of which 6771patients were recovered/ dis-charged/migrated. It was fur-ther informed that Case FatalityRate in Delhi is 1.96per cent incomparison to the nationalaverage of 2.57per cent.

Baijal was also informedabout status of lab reporting(As per ICMR portal). It wasapprised that as on 25th May

total 34 Labs are functional forCovid-19 test, total cumulativetest done till dates are 174469and positivity rate as on 25thMay is 8.06 per cent

About Covid-19 logistics itwas informed that adequatesupply of medical essentials hasbeen ensured and more venti-lators are being procured. Baijalwas also informed about thestatus of dedicated Covid-19hospitals and availability ofbeds in Delhi.

At present 4462 beds, 429ICU, 343 ventilators and 2632oxygen supported beds areavailable in the Covid-19 hos-pitals, 19 covid care centres(CCC) are functional in Delhiwith capacity of 5716.

Health department hadordered 30,000 PPE kits(50,000 PPE in stock), 3.5 lakhN95 masks, 28 ventilators and435 oxygen concentrator.

Secretary (Health)informed about the recent stepstaken by Health Department tocontain Covid-19 whichincludes augmenting bedcapacity by 25% in privatehospitals with more than 50beds, 20% bed capacity ear-marked for Covid in these pri-vate hospitals, purchase of oxy-gen concentrators, contactingthe Covid Positive patients onthe same day of the result, dailyhealth monitoring of the HomeIsolated Covid Positive patientsand augmenting the isolationbeds in Covid Care Centre.

During the meeting it wasdecided to provide real timeinformation about availabilityof Covid-19 beds in hospital inpublic domain.

Baijal also urged people touse Arogya Setu Mobile Appfor prevention and contacttracing and keep themselvessafe from Covid-19.

���������������� ���������

Delhi Prison authorities onTuesday said that one staff

member and ten inmates ofRohini jail have recovered andtested negative for Covid-19.

Earlier, Head Wardern ofcentral jail number 10 inRohini had tested positive forcoronavirus on May 15.

"He was asymptomatic andhad been kept in governmentquarantine facility in Sonipat.He has recovered and his testwas conducted again in Sonipatwhich has come negative onFriday," said Sandeep Goel,the Director General, Prisons.

"Doctors have recom-mended him seven day restafter which he will join hisduties," he said.

"Kuldeep Singh Yadav wasthe first inmate to be detectedpositive on May 13. Nineteeninmates, who shared barrackwith him, were also tested and

the results of 15 inmates camepositive on May 15," said anofficial.

"One of those 15 inmateswas shifted to LNJP hospital onMay 19 due to some swelling inhis feet. The rest 14 remainedtotally asymptomatic," the offi-cial said.

"The coronavirus test of the14 inmates was again con-ducted on Monday Out of 14,10 inmates recovered and havetested negative," said the offi-cial.

"Earlier, there were 16inmates and four staff memberstested positive. Out of them, 10inmates and one staff memberhave been recovered," headded.

���������������� ���������

As heatwaves continued topersist, the national Capital

on Tuesday recorded the maxi-mum temperature at 46 degreeCelsius, the highest for themonth of May in 18 years. Delhitouched 46 degrees in May wasin 2002.

According to Dr RajenderJenamani, MeT scientist, Delhi(Palam) reported Country's, sec-ond highest Maximum tempwith 47.6°C while Churu(Rajasthan) with 50°C, remainsas the highest in the country.

“Heat wave at most placeswith severe heat wave prevailedover West Rajasthan, WestMadhya Pradesh, SouthHaryana, Delhi, south UtterPradesh, North Madhya Pradeshand Vidarbha,” said Dr Jenamani.“These conditions likely to con-tinue till Wednesday , the 27 Mayand start receding from 28 Maywith major respite from 29 May.”

The India MeteorologicalDepartment (IMD) has predict-ed that the heatwave conditionwill be at its peak on Tuesdayover the plains of northwestIndia.

���������������� ���������

The Delhi Police has arrest-ed a 37-year-old salesman

in national Capital for alleged-ly killing his wife. Police saidthat the accused killed his wifeafter he got frustrated with hismarital life.

The accused has been iden-tified as Sudhir, a resident ofAnand Parbat. Police said thatthe accused has also lodged thefalse missing report of his wife.

According to Sanjay Bhatia,the Deputy Commissioner ofPolice (DCP), Central district,on Saturday around 10 pm,Sudhir, his children and his rel-atives lodged the missing report

of his 33-year-old wife atAnand Parbat police station.

"During investigation,police got suspicious afteranalysing the call detail recordsof the complainant and hiswife. He got interrogated wherehe confessed his crime. He saidthat he strangled his wife todeath and dumped her body inNarela IFC jungle area," saidthe DCP.

"Thereafter, the body of thewoman was recovered fromNarela area in decomposedstate. Interrogation revealedthat the relation between thehusband wife was not good andthey used fight often over pettyissues," said the DCP.

���������������� ���������

The Delhi Government sent2,71,169 migrant workers

to their hometowns in SpecialSharmik trains. Interacting dig-itally, Deputy Chief MinisterManish Sisodia saidGovernment is taking up allnecessary steps to sendmigrants workers back to theirhometowns.

“ Delhi Government is alsobearing the travel costs of themigrant workers,” ManishSisodia said.

According to Delhi gov-ernment, 196 Special Shramiktrains have carried 2,41,169people (migrant workers) backto their hometowns till May 25.

“Out of these, 93 trains carried1.25 lakh migrant workers tovarious districts of Bihar and 84trains carried 96,000 migrantworkers to Uttar Pradesh,”Sisodia said.

On Tuesday, another 18trains carried 30,000 migrants,for states (primarily Bihar andUP) across the country.

Talking about the strictprocedure being followed byAam Aadmi Party ( AAP )inpreparing lists of people fitenough to travel, Sisodia said,“People are being screened attheir nearby schools. Theirbody temperature is beingchecked and lists are preparedof those people not showingany symptoms of COVID 19.Food and snacks are beingprovided to those who aretravelling.”

He also appealed to thepeople to have faith in theefforts of the Delhi

Government and highlightedhow Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal is keeping a keen eye

on the migrants’ data andrequesting other states to allowtrains to carry those who want

to return to their hometowns. “As I have already said,

everyone in Delhi will be treat-

ed as a citizen of Delhi. And wewould take care of their foodand shelter requirements. 2500camps have been set up inschools all over Delhi to pro-vide meals to 10 lakh peoplealmost everyday (lunch anddinner). Almost 70 lakh peopleunder PDS category have beenprovided ration. And 38 lakhunder non PDS have beenprovided ration via e - tokens,”he added.

Taking stock of the lastnight’s fire that broke out at aJJ colony in Tughlakabad, Delhiwhich affected almost 500 fam-ilies, the Deputy Chief Ministerof Delhi informed that DelhiGovernment will provide amonetary compensation of Rs25,000 to each family affectedby the incident. “We are mak-ing arrangements to providemonetary relief of Rs 25,000 tothe affected families as soon aspossible,” he said.

���������������� ���������

The Delhi Police on Tuesdaysent two constables to district

lines after a video of themthrashing a woman with a lathisurfaced online. Police said thatConstables Sanjeev and Jaichandwere posted at the Shastri ParkPolice Station in northeast dis-trict.

A video of the incident alsowent viral on social media. In thevideo a woman identified asMunni Devi is being beaten upwith stick by the policemenwhile her daughter Soni tried toshield her.

According to police, theincident which took place at at9 pm on Monday. "The consta-bles were patrolling the areawhen they received informationabout some people raising unau-thorised shanties on govern-ment land near Bihari buildingin northeast Delhi," said police.

���������������� ���������

In last 24 hours, two incidentsof fire were reported in the

National Capital. In first inci-dent, over 1,000 shanties weregutted in fire, leaving hundredsof people homeless, after a mas-sive fire broke out in the slumsof South-East Delhi'sTughlakabad area late onMonday night.

According to Atul Garg,the Director, Delhi Fire Service(DFS), a total of 28 fire enginesreached the spot as soon as a callregarding fire was received ataround 12.50 am.

"All the occupants were res-cued in time even as they werefast asleep.The fire was dousedat around 3:40 am," said Garg.

Meanwhilw, RajendraPrasad Meena, the DeputyCommissioner of Police (DCP),South-East said that police

received information about a fireat around 1 am at slums inTughlakabad.

"Police teams reached thespot immediately. It is being saidthat around 1,000-1,200 shantieshad caught fire. Locals are say-ing most people came out oftheir shanties after a firebroke.The cooling process isunderway and no casualty hasbeen reported yet," said theDCP.

In another fire broke out ina shoe factory in northwestDelhi's Keshavpuram onTuesday morning. Fire officialssaid that no casualty has beenreported in the incident, the offi-cial said, adding that the causebehind the blaze is yet to beascertained.

"A call about the fire wasreceived at 8.34 am after which23 fire tenders were rushed tothe spot, said Garg.

���������������� ���������

The Delhi Police on Tuesdaysubmitted a status report

and chargesheet before a citycourt about the investigation ithas conducted so far into theevent organised by the TablighiJamaat at its markaz (centre) inDelhi’s Nizamuddin area inMarch.

In its chargsheet, the DelhiPolice stated that 82 foreignnationals from 20 countries,who had attended Markaz atNizamuddin had violated visaconditions by indulging inmissionary activities illegallyand violating Governmentguidelines, issued in the wakeof Covid-19 outbreak in thecountry.

Police said that the pass-ports and the copies of the visa

application forms of these for-eign participants at the con-gregation show they hadobtained tourist visas or e-visasto come to India. The policehave filed 20 chargesheetsagainst the foreigners belong-ing to 20 different countriesand Metropolitan MagistrateSaema Jamil has put up thematter for consideration of thecharge sheet on June 12.

According to thechargesheet, four of the accusedwere from Afghanistan, seveneach from Brazil and China,five from US, two fromAustralia, Kajahstan, Morocco,UK, one each from Ukraine,Egypt, Russia, Jordan, France,Tunisia, Belgium, eight fromAlgeria, 10 from Saudi Arabia,14 from Fiji and six each fromSudan and Philippines.

Police said that the foreignnationals violated governmentguidelines issued in the wake ofCovid-19 pandemic and regu-lations regarding Epidemic dis-eases Act, DisasterManagement Act and pro-hibitory orders under section144 of Code of CriminalProcedure.

After being exposed to alarge gathering in March amidthe Covid-19 or coronaviruslockdown many members ofTablighi Jamaat from MarkazHazrat Nizamuddin were takenout by the authorities andlodged in different quarantinecentres in Delhi. Some of themwere sent to the centres a fewdays later after being detainedfrom various mosques.

The other members weredirectly taken to quarantine

centres to contain the spread ofCovid-19. At least 9,000 people,including the foreign nationalsparticipated in the religiouscongregation in Nizamuddin.Later, many of the attendeestravelled to various parts of thecountry.

According to police, theseforeign nationals had enteredIndia on tourist visa and hadparticipated in the gathering atMarkaz illegally.

Besides, violating the pro-visions of visa, these foreignnationals also led to a situationwhere a highly infectious dis-ease Covid-19 infection spreadand threatened the lives of theinmates and the general pub-lic at large.

The police also said thatmore than 900 foreign nation-als who are accused in the case

belong to 34 different countriesand charge sheets are beingprepared country-wise, undersections of Foreigners Act, TheEpidemic Diseases Act,Disaster Management Act andsection 188 (Disobedience toorder duly promulgated bypublic servant), 269 (Negligentact likely to spread infection ofdisease dangerous to life), 270(Malignant act likely to spreadinfection of disease dangerousto life) and 271 (Disobedienceto quarantine rule) of theIndian Penal Code.

The punishment for variousoffences under penal provisionsranges from six months to eightyears of imprisonment.

On March 31, DelhiPolice's Crime Branch lodgedan FIR against seven people,including Tablighi Jamaat

leader Maulana SaadKandhalvi, on a complaint byStation House OfficerNizamuddin for holding a reli-gious congregation hereallegedly in violation of thelockdown orders and not main-taining social distancing tocontain the spread of coron-

avirus. "After several attendees of

the Tablighi Jamaat event suc-cumbed to coronavirus, policeadded section 304 (culpablehomicide not amounting tomurder) of the Indian PenalCode (IPC) in the FIR againstthe leader," said a police official.

879� �(�����������$(�����%-1������*�)���� 3������������������� ����$��������1�4+��� ��������

& ��������� ������������ ����������������� � !�����������������������������������

Indian Railways has opera-tionlised 3,274 “Shramik

Special” trains till May 25across the country and ferriedmore than 44 lakh passengersto their home states through“Shramik Special” trains in 25days.

The railways have dis-tributed more than 74 lakhfree meals and more than oneCrore water bottles to travel-ling migrants.

Subsequent to theMinistry of Home Affairsorder regarding movementof migrant workers, pilgrims,tourists, students and otherpersons stranded at differentplaces by special trains, IndianRailways had decided to oper-ate “Shramik Special” trainsform 1st May.

It may be noted that trainsrunning today are not facingany congestion. In addition toShramik specials, Railwaysare running 15 pairs of trainsconnecting New Delhi andplans to start 200 more timetabled trains on 1st June.

3,1-+�����#�!���� ���� �������"�1*D�5�"

������������������������������ �!� �"�#��! "# � $�������� �$��!����%�&� ' ��

���������0��� ���������

As eleven Covid -19 con-tainment zones have

turned green in Delhi, thenational Capital still has 90‘active’ containment zonesaccording to the DelhiGovernment. While 11 zoneshave been excluded of totalRed Zones but corona caseshave yet to start reducingNew cases are being reported

from new locations as onTuesday 412 corona positivepatients were identified duringpast 24 hours.

Delhi has lost 288 lives tilldate, due to corona virus how-ever as per state health bul-letin, 48 percent of total coro-na patients have recovered.With the addition of newCovid -19 patients, Delhi iscloser to 15000 mark. Highpercentage of recovery rate haswarmed the cockles with ChiefMinister Arvind Kejriwalexpressing satisfaction ..

The active cases reportedin Delhi are 7223, only 2,092cases are being treated at gov-ernment and private hospitals.

591 cases are treated in LokNayak Hospital and 121 inRajiv Gandhi Super SpecialityHospital , 522 in AIIMS (Delhi and Jhajjar)hospitalwhile 23 patients are on theventilator and 185 in ICU.

Around 3770 patients arein home isolation having mildsymptoms. Delhi governmenthas conducted 178579 cumu-lative testing of novel coronavirus.

May 31 is approachingwhile cases and containmentzones have increased in Delhihence the Capital is in tightgrip of the coronavirus spread.

Interestingly, with theefforts at community level and

by the health officials, civicagencies and state adminis-tration, densely populatedregions have managed to con-trol corona spread.

According to DelhiGovernment, Sangam Viharand Deoli Extension in Saket,Khirki extension and ChiragDelhi’s Jain Mohalla and thepolice colony in north district’sModel Town police colony arefew locations where people fol-lowed strict guidelines to cur-tail the spread. Health workersand government officials wereconstantly counseling patientsand the people to adhere to theguidelines to stave off thedeadly virus.

���)� ��� *� ��+� ����!� ��,��� ������ ��� �$��-5���$�����'�������(����:��

�������������������� �������������567��

1� ���������,� ���������"O/,666�4�������������

����� �����������������������

1��� ���������� ��������������� ��� ������� ����#�

$�����"�'(�������� ��) �������� ���� !���� ��� � ��

Page 4: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

��������(��������������������� ����� ����� �

�����>�?��������@���

����������0��� ��������

The medical wing of theCRPF, with a sanctioned

strength of 3,083 personnel, hasa vacancy of 43 per cent. Thisis when the sanctioned strengthis already a little below just oneper cent of the 3.25-lakh-strongCRPF.

The figure of one per centmedical/paramedical staff in theCRPF is already on the lower sidein a Force which is continuous-ly deployed across various the-atres and there is a vacancy of 43per cent of the medical and para-medical staff, officials said.

The details relating to thevacancy position in the medicalranks was shared by the Director(Medical) during a review meet-ing held by paramilitary DirectorGeneral AP Maheshwari earlierthis month.

The wing has been asked tohire doctors on contract basis forthe next three months as theForce has recorded 369 Covid-19 positive cases which includetwo deaths and 226 recoveries.

The Director (Medical) DrHL Raskaran refused to visitquarantine centres and CovidCare Centres of the CRPF citinghealth conditions, senior officialssaid.

During the meeting, theDirector (Medical) presentedthe detailed status/pathogen andthe increasing number of casesof Covid-19in CRPF and statusof Covid Care Centre, CovidCare Health Centre available inand outside Delhi. Availability ofPPEs, trained doctors, para-medical staff in these centres andarrangements made and avail-able in the CRPF were also pre-

sented by him during the meet-ing.

While the DG directed toRaskaran to ensure periodicalvisits to quarantine centre whereCovid-19 patients kept but theDirector (Medical) expressedhis inability to do so due to hisage factor and other health con-ditionsbeing in high risk cate-gory. However, Raskaran saidduring the meeting that all basicfacilities have been made avail-able to Covid-19 patients and allinstructions issued to MedicalOfficers on ground, officialssaid quoting from the minutes ofthe meeting.

Raskaran also told the topCRPF brass during the meetingthat necessity to converse withpatients on telephone was not feltby him but he, Director(Medical), was always availablefor advice and guidance. He fur-ther said that speaking topatients, visiting them and mak-ing arrangements for food are inthe purview of administrativeauthorities.

The CRPF DG directed theDirector (Medical) to take thepandemic seriously and keep aclose watch on Covid-19 casesand patients. The also directedthat if there is need toacquire/hire additional land,

building or hotel, the same maybe worked out by InspectorGeneral (Northern Sector).

Maheshwari also expresseddispleasure with Raskaran’s con-tentions on the Covid infra-structure in the paramilitary ashe had not even visited 31Battalion campus here which hadreported 139 positive cases outof which one Sub Inspector hadsuccumbed to the coronavirusinfection. Now, 134 from the 31Battalion have recovered fromthe disease.

Last month, as many as 200CRPF personnel including theDG himself had to be quaran-tined after a medical officer ofthe paramilitary facility herehad tested positive for Covid-19.

There is a sanctionedstrength of about 650 doctorsincluding the veterinary doctors,Group A paramedics/matronare required to be four in num-ber followed by about 45 GroupA non-gazetted paramedics, over60 Group B paramedics, 450other Group B paramedics likepharmacists and physiotherapistsand veterinary personnel.

In the Group C paramedicscategory in the rank of AssistantSub Inspector, about 640 per-sonnel are required but there isvacancy in all the ranks.

����� ��������

Churu in Rajasthan onTuesday recorded 50

degrees Celsius, second high-est in the last 10 years, followedby Palam in Delhi with 47.6degree Celsius. The northwestand central parts of the coun-try are reeling under severeheat wave conditions sinceMay 23 this year while theIndia MeteorologicalDepartment (IMD) on Tuesdayissued red warning for Assam,Tripura and Meghalaya fromMay 26 to 28 predicting veryheavy rainfall in these twonortheastern States.

According to the IMD,Churu had recorded 50.2degree Celsius in 2016. Heatwave conditions will persistover Haryana, Chandigarh,Delhi, Rajasthan, UttarPradesh, east Madhya Pradesh,and Vidarbha till May 28. Hotweather conditions will alsoprevail in isolated pockets overPunjab, Chhattisgarh, interiorOdisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra,interior Andhra Pradesh,Telangana, Bihar, andJharkhand for the next two tothree days.

“Due to prevailing drynorthwesterly winds overplains, northwest, central andadjoining parts of the easternIndia are reeling under thesevere heat wave conditions,”the IMD said. Akola inMaharashtra recorded maxi-mum temperature of 47.4degree Celsius.

IMD director generalMrurunjay Mohapatra saidthat red-colour coded warninghas been issued to Assam andMeghalaya for the next threedays.

Sathi Devi, head of theIMD's national weather fore-casting centre, said there is astrong flow of south-westerlywinds from the Bay of Bengal,bringing a lot of moisture tothese two States. This is aidedby the orographic factors ofthese two states that will bringin very heavy rainfall, sheadded. Parts of Assam andneighbouring Meghalaya havebeen receiving extremely heavyrains since May 20 after supercyclone Amphan weakened.Cherrapunji has received 1,105millimetres of rain in the lastfour days.

The IMD said rainfall islikely at most places, withheavy to very heavy rainfall isexpected at isolated places. Afew isolated will also receiveextremely heavy falls, it added.Meanwhile, advancement of

the monsoon which was hin-dered by super cyclonic stormAmphan will start fromWednesday, Devi said.

She added that the mon-soon will start moving aheadin other parts of the Andamanand Nicobar archipelago andBay of Bengal fromWednesday.

The water level of theBrahmaputra river is risinggradually due to continuousrainfall in the state. As per StateDisaster ManagementAuthority, five districts havebeen affected till now-Lakhimpur, Dhemaji,Dibrugarh, Darrang andGoalpara.

According to the IMD, themonsoon is likely to hit Keralaon June 5, four days after itsnormal onset date.

A low pressure area is alsobuilding up in the Arabian Seafrom May 30, Mohapatra said.A low pressure area is the firststage of any cyclone. However,it is not necessary that everylow pressure area intensifiesinto a cyclone.

The IMD has also cau-tioned fishermen along thecoasts of Kerala, Karnataka notto venture out for deep seafishing from May 30-June 4.

����� ��������

The Supreme Court Tuesdayasked the Centre to "treat

with urgency" the issue raisedin the pleas challenging homeministry's March 29 notifica-tion asking private establish-ments to pay full wages toworkers during the COVID-19lockdown, saying lot of peopleare affected by it.

A bench headed by JusticeAshok Bhushan, conductinghearing through video-con-ferencing, asked theGovernment to file its responseon the petitions and posted thematter for hearing next week.Attorney General K KVenugopal told the bench, alsocomprising Justices S K Kauland M R Shah, that the Centrehas issued a new notificationon May 17 which supersedesthe March 29 Ministry ofHome Affairs (MHA) order.

"Treat this with urgency.Lot of people are affected," thebench told Solicitor GeneralTushar Mehta, who was alsoappearing in the matter.

The apex court had onMay 15 observed that theMarch 29 notification, direct-ing companies to make pay-ment of full wages to workerseven while not being in oper-ation during the lockdownperiod, was an omnibus orderand there was a larger questioninvolved which needs to beanswered.

It said there may be smallindustries which are affecteddue to the lockdown and ifthey cannot earn, how arethey going to pay wages totheir workers. It had alsoobserved that if Governmentdoes not help these small com-panies, then they might not beable to pay their workers.

The counsel appearing forone of the petitioners hadargued that firms are going outof work as they do not haveorders for production of goodsand they are being prosecuteddue to the government circu-lar.

An association of Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) has said in its pleabefore the apex court that theMHA order was passed with-out due care and deliberationon the financial implicationsfor employers.

The small industrial unitshave said that making fullpayments would lead to theirclosure, which, in turn, wouldcause permanent unemploy-ment and adversely affect theeconomy.

The association has furthercontended that during thisunprecedented situation, var-ious Governments across theglobe have taken measures forthe benefit of workers/ employ-ees, but the Centre withouttaking any such step has putthe entire burden on theemployers/ owners to pay fullwages.

����� ��������

The Supreme Court Tuesdayasked the Centre and the

RBI to respond to a plea chal-lenging levy of interest onloans during the moratoriumperiod, which has now beenextended by another threemonths till August 31 due tothe coronavirus pandemic.

A bench headed by JusticeAshok Bhushan, hearing thematter through video-confer-encing, issued notices to theCentre and the Reserve Bank ofIndia asking them to file theirreplies within a week.

The counsel appearing forthe petitioner informed thebench, also comprising JusticesS K Kaul and M R Shah, thatearlier the moratorium periodwas for three months till May31 but now it has been extend-ed by another three months.

The counsel argued thatborrowers should not bepenalised like this and banksshould not add interest on theloan amount during the mora-torium period.

"Counsel for the ReserveBank of India prays for and isgranted a week's time to filecounter affidavit. TusharMehta, Solicitor General, alsoobtain instructions in themeantime," the bench said in itsorder and posted the matter forhearing next week.

On March 27, RBI hadissued a slew of measures tocheck financial impact of thenationwide lockdown due toCOVID-19. It issued a circulargiving liberty to all banks and

financial institution to allow amoratorium of three monthson payment of installments inrespect of all term loans out-standing as on March 1, subjectto the borrower making such arequest.

�+�.�(����� �!���$��;<=�'������

��������������*( "�� ��������� ���"������������������������

���#��� '�)�# �$�����# ���*"����������+ ��# ���� �"���!� ��� )�"��$�# � ��"���"����!����+���"�,�#-+ "� ��.�+��$"���/��# ���.����� �!��)

0���!��!���������/��"�,� �����# " ��+�

���� "

����� ��������

While the country is strug-gling to get back on its

feet amid the coronavirus lock-down, a locust infestation couldcause further devastation to theagri-economy. After wreakinghavoc in Madhya Pradesh,Gujarat, Rajasthan and UttarPradesh, swarms of locustshave been spotted the easternpart of Maharashtra, in theVidarbha region.

There are also reports thatswarms of locusts have invad-ed Madhya Pradesh and cov-ered areas of the Panna TigerReserve. Reports of crop dam-ages have been pouring infrom these States as farmers tryand get rid of locusts by smok-ing them out, scaring themaway by making loud noises,beating drums and thalis orspraying chemicals.

There are apprehensionsthat locusts may move towardsthe national Capital region(NCR) in the next few days ifwind speeds and directionsare favourable. Earlier in 1944,the northern sky in Delhibecame completely black in thelate afternoon due huge locustswarms. The locusts initiallyentered Rajasthan fromPakistan. From Rajasthan,locust swarms also enteredMadhya Pradesh over the pastfew days.

IFS officer Parveen Kaswanon Tuesday tweeted pictures ofthese desert locusts that hadinvaded the Panna TigerReserve in Madhya Pradesh."The swarms has the potentialof eating everything & destroythe crops," he said in his tweet.The images posted by Kaswancan make anyone cringe as theswarm of desert locusts can beseen engulfing everything intheir path, covering trees andfields.

Officials of the ministry ofagriculture said that the swarmof desert locusts entered inMaharashtra from Amravatidistrict. It then went to Wardhaand now it is in Nagpur's Katoltehsil. The authorities haveadvised people to beat drums,thalis and use crackers to keepthem away. Besides, the processof spraying chemicals on cropsis underway.

BR Kadwa, DeputyDirector of AgricultureDepartment, Rajasthan saidthat swarms of locusts areentering Rajasthan fromadjoining areas in Pakistanevery two-three days since amonth. “As rabi crops has beenharvested and kharif sowing

season is yet to be started in thestate, that’s why the reason oftheir fast movement,” he said.

According to officials,locusts have spotted in 17 dis-tricts of Uttar Pradesh that isclose to the national capitalregion and there is possibilityof invading in Delhi and NCRareas during the onset of mon-soon. Farmers have been puthigh alert and deployed insec-ticide spraying devices throughdrones, SUVs and tractors.

A huge Locusts was spot-ted in Karauli in Rajasthan, fol-lowing which an alert wasissued for Jhansi, Lalitpur,Jalaun and Auraiya and theiradjoining districts likeHamirpur, Kannauj ,Etawahand Kanpur Dehat.

Deputy DirectorAgriculture Kamal Katiyar said,“The swarm of locusts is mov-ing and is small in size. Wehave got news that nearly 2.5km to 3 km long swarm oflocusts has entered the country.A team has come from Kota(Rajasthan) to tackle thelocusts.” The Mathura districtadministration has started earlypreparations in view of thegrowing locust threat andformed a task force. MathuraDistrict Magistrate SarvagyaRam Mishra said 200 litres ofchloropyriphos has been keptas reserve and its sellers in thearea have been advised not tosupply the chemical outside thedistrict. The Jhansi adminis-tration has also directed the firedepartment to keep its vehicleready with chemicals to tacklea sudden movement by locustswarms. Jaipur’s residentialarea on Sunday also witnesseda huge swarms of locusts.

The locust warning systemfalling under the AgricultureMinistry has blamed Pakistanfor this year’s attack, saying itfailed to conduct control oper-ations successfully. “Ecologicalconditions are not favourablefor locust breeding in summer.However, the incursion locustsacross the border is still con-tinuing. If Pakistan had takenproper control measures, thebreeding of locusts could havebeen stopped, it said.

The Ministry of ExternalAffairs has taken up the issueswith its counterparts inPakistan and offered pesticidesand other chemicals to get ridof swarms of locusts.

+ ����������������������� �� ���� �� � ��,����������

$ �������� ����� � ���")-�� �������������������� ��� ������������ ��� ����

����� ��������

Glenmark Pharmaceuticalson Tuesday announced a

new randomised, open-labelstudy to test the combinedefficacy of two antiviral drugsFavipiravir and Umifenovir asa potential Covid-19 treatmentstrategy.

The two antiviral drugshave a different mechanism ofaction, and their combinationmay demonstrate improvedtreatment efficacy by effec-tively tackling high viral loadsin patients during an earlystage of the disease, said thepharma major in a statement.

Monika Tandon, VicePresident and Head forClinical Development GlobalSpecialty and BrandedPortfolio, said combiningantiviral agents that have agood safety profile and act ondifferent stages of viral life-cycle is an effective treatmentapproach to rapidly suppressinitial high viral load and leadto an overall improvement inclinical parameters.

“We consider Glenmark’sstudy will be pivotal in leadingto the identification of highly

effective and safe treatmentsagainst COVID-19 in India,”she said.

“Beyond its many potentialpatient treatment benefits, wealso hope the combinationtherapy will reduce infectionrisk among medical profes-sionals and healthcare workersby reducing the duration ofvirus shedding from treatedpatients.”

A total of 158 hospitalisedpatients of moderate Covid-19infection will be enrolled in thecombination study and ran-domised in two groups.

Simultaneously, Glenmarkis also conducting phase 3clinical trials of Favipiravir asa COVID-19 monotherapyoption with 150 patients,enrolled from nine leadinggovernment and private hos-pitals across the country.

So far, 30 patients havebeen randomised, according tothe global research-led com-pany which has presenceacross generics, speciality andOTC business with operationsin over 50 countries. Its keytherapy focus areas globally arerespiratory, dermatology andoncology.

����� ��������

The IIIM, Jammu based lab-oratory of the CSIR has

joined hands with RelianceIndustries (RIL) to develop andscale-up a new ReverseTranscriptase-Loop MediatedIsothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) based Covid-19 diag-nostic kit.

A memorandum of under-standing has been signedbetween CSIR-IIIM, Jammu andRIL on Tuesday.

Covid-19 RT-LAMP test isa nucleic acid based test carriedout from nasal/throat swab sam-ple from patients.

“The test recipe has beendeveloped and successfullydemonstrated using synthetictemplates. It is rapid (45-60min), cost effective and accuratetest.

It has been tested with asmall number of patients sam-ples and validating the kit onmore number of patient samples

is planned and will be donetogether with RIL,” said a state-ment here from the CSIR, aresearch agency under the UnionScience and TechnologyMinistry.

The advantage of this test isthat the RT-LAMP based Covid-19 kit components are easilyavailable and these can be com-pletely manufactured in India, itadded.

While the, the currentCovid-19 testing is done byreal-time PCR, their components

are mostly imported. Furtherthese tests are expensive; requirehighly trained manpower, cost-ly instruments and a relativelyhigh-end lab and cannot bedeployed at remote locations inquarantine centers, airports andrailway stations, etc, said theCSIR.

On the other hand, the RT-LAMP test can be done in a sin-gle tube with minimal expertisein a very basic lab setup likemobile units / kiosks for testingat airports, railway stations, bus

stands and other public places.The end detection of the test isa simple colored reaction, whichis easily visible in UV light, andnow is being modified such thatit can be detected in regular light,the statement added.

After testing the accuracy ofthe kit, on a much larger num-ber of patients, CSIR-IIIM andRIL will jointly approach theICMR for approval.

With the formal launch ofthe RT-LAMP based diagnostictest, the Covid-19 testing will notonly be more rapid, cheap, easyand accessible but also would goa long way quickly isolating theinfected individuals and miti-gating the spread of virus, saidthe statement.

Dr. Ram Vishwakarma,Director and Dr. Sumit Gandhi,Principal Scientist from CSIR-IIIM and Dr. Santanu Dasgupta,Senior Vice President, R&D andDr. Manish Shukla, GeneralManager R&D from RIL side aremonitoring this project, as perthe statement.

������#��������� ����� ������������� �.�!�����!��"�/���� !��

01��,'2��)3��435�

�)/+�///�"�+/ �����'� ����!���4/��������������

B��������������� �"C���������� �����"#� ��� � ������������� �����!��� D������)�$�

Page 5: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

��������1��������������������� ����� ����� � �����>�?��������@���

������� ������� >?�

The total number of personstested positive for coron-

avirus in Tamil Nadu is inch-ing towards the 18,000 markwhile reports came at the timeof going to Press on Tuesdayevening. The medical bulletinissued by the Government ofTamil Nadu on Tuesday saidthat 17, 728 persons have test-ed positive for coronavirus tillTuesday.

A total of 9,342 personshave been discharged fromvarious hospitals followingtreatment and this has put thenumber of active coronaviruspatients in the State at 8,256. Itis almost sure that the Statewould see the number of pos-itive cases crossing the 20,000mark by this weekend itself.

On Tuesday, a total of 646persons were tested positive forcovid-19 in the State. Out ofthis, 509 were tested positive inChennai. A total of 54 personswho reached the State fromother places in the country andforeign countries are alsoincluded in this 646 positive

cases.Nine persons were report-

ed dead on Tuesday and thistook the total number of fatal-ities in the State to 127. TillTuesday, 4,12, 357 personshave been tested for the pan-demic while 9,677 accountedfor Tuesday alone.

Chennai topped the tableof districts with maximumnumber of coronavirus positivecases, 11,640. As there was norespite in the number of per-sons testing positive for thepandemic, Chief MinisterEdappadi Palaniswamy heldan urgent video conferencewith his Cabinet colleaguesand senior bureaucrats andmedical professionals to takestock of the situation.

������� ������� >?�

Kerala is all set to furthertighten the lockdown laws

to check the spread of coron-avirus in the State in the back-drop of the increase in thenumber of persons testing pos-itive, according to ChiefMinister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Speaking to reporters onTuesday, the Chief Ministerlambasted the Union RailwayMinister Piyush Goyal for hisefforts to derail the arrange-ments and upset the rhythm ofthe safety measures being fol-lowed by Kerala to fight thecoronavirus pandemic.

“The Railways tried tosend two trains from Mumbaito Kerala without getting theconcurrence of the StateGovernment. We in Keralahave devised strategies toreceive people reaching theState by air, train and roads.That’s why we insist that theState Government should be

kept in the loop before sendingtrains or aircraft or other meansof transport. What the UnionRailway Minister has done isnot befitting the stature of aperson occupying that position.He should not have tried tointerfere with the administra-tion of Kerala,” said Vijayan inhis first press briefing after his75th birthday on May 23.

Vijayan said he hasinformed the Railway Ministerand the Prime Minister aboutthe faux pas committed by theRailways in sending the trainsto Kerala without seeking theState’s permission.

The Chief Minister, who sevillage is one of the hotspots ofcoronavirus warned the peoplein the State from taking tea orsoft drinks from shops whichhave reopened after the lock-out. “The shops selling tea andsoft drinks in the State are notcleaning the glassware proper-ly after it is used by con-sumers. This is a sure recipe to

the spread of the covid-19pandemic and this is being dis-closed as a warning to the peo-ple,” said Vijayan.

Vijayan said as on Tuesday415 patients were under treat-ment in various hospitals forcovid-19. “Today 67 personswere tested positive in theState.

Out of this 27 were fromforeign countries while 33 werefrom other States in the coun-try. Till date 963 persons havebeen tested positive for coron-avirus in Kerala. We have put1,04, 336 persons under obser-vation out of which 1, 03, 528were under home/institution-al quarantine.

On Tuesday, 186 personshave been admitted to varioushospitals for coronavirus,” saidthe Chief Minister.

He also disclosed that56,000 samples have been test-ed in the State till date. Thereare 68 hotspots in the State ason Tuesday.

4�>����� �(�?�� ���@����� �����&��� ��������

��0������0����� >?�>&�&

Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee is miffed

at the Centre’s decision to send41 Shramik Special trains fer-rying migrant workers fromMaharashtra which being themost affected State in Indiaaccounts for about one third ofthe total corona cases in thecountry.

With the local infrastruc-ture already bursting at itsseams following large-scaledevastation left behind bysuper cyclone Amphan, analarmed State administrationhas expressed its displeasure atthe Indian Railways indifferentapproach towards the plight ofthe State, Government sourcessaid.

The Government’s dis-pleasure was apparent from the

language of State HomeSecretary AlapanBandopadhyay who onTuesday said that “several lakhsof migrant workers returningfrom severely infected Stateswill be a big issue and a bigproblem… it will be a big con-cern for the public health.”

The State Government hasheld the Railways andMaharastra Government joint-ly responsible for pushing backsuch large number of migrantworkers from Maharashtra par-ticularly the Dharavi region ofMumbai which accounts forabout 1,500 cases.

Banerjee had earlier askedthe Railways not send Bengalbound trains “as the districtadministrations are involved inrelief and rehabilitation works,it will not be possible to receive

special trains for the next fewdays. It is therefore requestedthat no train should be sent toWest Bengal till May 26.”

State Chief Secretary RajivaSinha too had written toChairman of Railway board VK Yadav asking him not to sendin the shramik specials as thestate had been severely impact-ed by the super cyclone caus-ing extensive damage to theinfrastructure.

Already Bengal hasreceived 6 trains fromMaharashtra. “Given the cur-rent infrastructural situationthe State is not in a position toreceive more workers… It willlead to large-scale proliferationonce the trains start rolling in,”a senior official said adding “allthe good effects of the twomonths lockdown will simplygo down the drain.”

Kolkata: With growing inci-dents of angry citizens spillingover to the streets — demand-ing restoration of basic infra-structure like power and water— six days after the severecyclone Amphan hit and paral-ysed large parts of southernBengal, Congress leader in LokSabha Adhir Chowdhury haswritten to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi requesting fordeployment of more Army per-sonnel as the State Governmenthad failed to rise up to the occa-sion. Claiming that there was no“tangible” improvement of sit-uation post Amphan devasta-

tion and that the distribution offood and other measures were“awfully inadequate” theBehrampore MP requested thePrime Minister to deploy moreArmy personnel to deal with thesituation.

He wrote “…there is no tan-gible improvement… of postAmphan devastation which hasassumed catastrophic dimen-sion. Distribution of food andrelief to those affected areas areawfully inadequate.”

State Opposition leader andveteran Congress man AbdulMannan who too sat on dhar-na at places in Hooghly said thatthe “aids sent in by the StateGovernment are too little andtoo inadequate… let alone therelief the Government has notbeen able to bring back powerand clear the roads by remov-ing trees.” PNS

��#��������������� ��� ���������/.,666�#��!

������������� � (&��7

Ahead of the Army commanders conference onWednesday, the Line of Control in Poonch sec-

tor witnessed intense exchange of mortar shellingbetween the Armies of India and Pakistan in whichat least three houses suffered extensive damages whilelivestock perished in Sandote village of Balakote sec-tor in Poonch on Tuesday.

According to ground reports, the firing in theforward villages continued for over four hours in thearea forcing the local residents to remain closetedinside their homes.

Several residential structures bore the brunt ofheavy shelling in Sandote village, falling in the directline of fire. According to local villagers in the area,three houses suffered maximum damages and threeanimals perished while over half a dozen animals sus-tained injuries in heavy exchange of cross LoC fir-ing. Jammu based Defence PRO, Lt Col DevenderAnand said, “ Pakistan initiated ' unprovoked' cease-fire violation by firing with small arms and intenseshelling with mortars along LoC in Balakote sectorof Poonch on Tuesday morning. He said, the IndianArmy retaliated befittingly.

����� (&��7

The total number of active cases in theUnion Territory of Jammu & Kashmir

touched 902 as 91 fresh cases of coronaviruswere detected on Tuesday while one moredeath was reported from Kashmir valley,taking the total death toll due to Covid-19to 24.

Out of 91 fresh cases, 54 cases werereported from Jammu division while 37cases were detected from Kashmir division.

Meanwhile, 24 patients were dischargedfrom different hospitals taking the total tallyof recovered cases to 833.

In Jammu division, Ramban districtreported highest number of 29 cases whileJammu district reported 10 fresh cases.According to official sources, majority ofcases had a travel history to different loca-tions and were camping in quarantine cen-tres. Four cases each were detected fromKathua and Poonch districts whileUdhampur and Samba reported two freshcases each on Tuesday. Only Doda andKishtwar districts reported zero case onTuesday.

�67 �� ����2'���������"�� �������2(8

����������� ������ � ��������������8��3%

�-.�/������0!��� ,�#�)1�� (�)��2&��1����� �$������ ���� ,�- ��'�

��," "�$�/�! $�"�2�%�'����� " �" ��� ����2���#

�����0�������� �7�'&

NCP chief Sharad Pawarmade it clear on Tuesday

that there was no threat to theShiv Sena-led MVAGovernment in Maharashtrathus ending speculationsparked by his meetings withChief Minister UddhavThackeray and GovernorGovernor Bhagat SinghKoshyari on Monday, even ashis party came to the defenceof Congress leader RahulGandhi over the latter’s state-ment that his party was not akey decision maker in theState.

On a day when formerChief Minister DevendraFadnavis charged that Rahulwas shirking responsibility bydistancing himself from thedecision-making process of theUddhav ThackerayGovernment, Shiv Senaspokesperson Sanjay Raut thatthe MVA dispensation was“stable” and the efforts by theOpposition to “destabilise” the

State Government had“boomeranged”.

“Sharad Pawar and chiefminister Uddhav Thackeraymet on Monday night. Themeeting lasted for half an hour.Some people are spreadingrumours about the stability ofour Government. Theserumours are just sour grapes.Our Government is stableThere’s no need to worry,” Rauttweeted.

In another tweet, Raut saidthat the Opposition BJP wasdesperately trying to topple theMVA Government in the state.He said it was better that theOpposition remained in “quar-antine” because its efforts tobring down the UddhavThackeray had boomeranged.

Pawar, who is consideredthe architect of the three-partygovernment in the state, cate-gorically stated that there wasno threat to the MVAGovernment, that he was “com-mitted to the alliance with theShiv Sena and Congress and

that not much should be readinto his meetings withGovernor Koshyari andUddhav Thackeray on Monday.

Pawar said in his interac-tion with NDTV that his meet-ing with the Governor was a“courtesy call” and that they“did not discuss politics orCovid”, while his meeting withUddhav was “routine” innature. He also took a potshotat Fadnavis by saying that theformer Chief Minister was“getting impatient”.

On his part, Fadnavis – ata news conference that headdressed through social mediaearlier in the day – charged thatRahul Gandhi through hisstatement that his party was nota decision maker inMaharashtra, was “shirking” hisresponsibility. “Given that theCoronavirus crisis is going outof control in Maharashtra,Rahul Gandhi shifting theblame on the Shiv Sena. TheCongress cannot disown itsresponsibility and run awayfrom the situation”.

$�������������� �������� ��� ��������� �/����!,���41��� !��

�����0�������� �7�'&

In a development that causedanxious moments for the

health and police officials in themetropolis, hundreds oflabourers gather at Mumbai’sDharavi locality to take specialbuses to reach three railway ter-minuses to board “SharmikSpecial” trains leaving for theirnative states, even Asia’s largestslum recorded 38 new cases.

The police were in for asurprise as huge crowds ofmigrants gathering at Dharavislum since morning to takebuses heading for theChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(CST), Dadar railway station,Mumbai Central andLokmanya Tilak Terminus toboard board “Sharmik Special”trains leaving for their native

states,Given that Dharavi is a

major Covid-19 hotspot inMumbai, the presence of hun-dreds of migrant workers onroads sent the police and healthofficials into a tizzy.

Before long, huge posse ofpolice personnel rushed toDharavi and requested thecrowds to form queues toboard the buses heading to var-ious railway terminuses in themetropolis. They had a tryingtime in managing the crowdsthat had gathered defying thesocial distancing norms.

Meanwhile, Dharavirecorded 38 more infectedcases, taking the total numberof positive cases in this dense-ly populated slum to 1621.There have been 59 deaths inthis slum so far.

4���9�4��������������� ���#������ ������������������ ��

>E��!���$�������"����!�������#���������$��������������������������� ���� � '��)&�757

Returnees from domestic travel to threeIndian States led to a spike in Covid-19 cases

in Karnataka with 101 new infections, raisingthe State's tally to 2,283, an official said onTuesday.

"New cases reported from Monday 5 p.m.to Tuesday noon, 101," said a health official.

In the past 19 hours, 81 people whoreturned from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu andJharkhand tested positive for the virus.

On Tuesday, 46 per cent or 47 cases had aninter-state travel history to Maharashtra, India'sCOVID hotspot.

Similarly, 21 per cent or 21 cases had inter-state travel history to southern state Tamil Nadu,a bigger COVID sufferer than Karnataka.

Likewise, 13 returnees from Jharkhand havealso tested positive.

Incidentally, four new cases also had inter-national travel history to Qatar.

Eighty four per cent of the new cases hadtravel history, dwarfing the number of peoplecontracting the disease through contacts.

Unlike before, most positive cases in thestate nowadays are people with a travel histo-ry to Maharashtra, India's COVID hotspot.

In the past 24 hours, only 12 contracted thevirus from earlier positive cases, constituting just12 per cent of the new cases.

Page 6: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

Reassurances of trust,confidence and powerare naturally vested inthe “sword arm” of thenation ie, the armed

forces as part of a societal con-sciousness. This is especially truein a participative democracy likeIndia, where the mandated“restraint” and “dignity” of the“uniform” is underpinned by itsapolitical, external-facing, non-interfering and patriotic service,which is Constitutionally subor-dinate to the will of the people asmanifested in a civilianGovernment. Odd aberrationsand derelictions that are attribut-able to individuals or at worst agroup of individuals aside, the“institution” retains its sheen as ashining and working example ofthe “idea of India.”

The inherent composition ofthe armed forces seamlesslyweaves soldiers and regimentaldenominations of India’s myriadethnicities and diversities. Theycould theoretically have anInfantry Brigade in the swelteringdeserts of western India, which isrepresented by a Naga battalion(from the North-east), Madrasbattalion (“Thambis” from South)and a Jammu and Kashmir LightInfantry battalion (soldiers almostequally divided from the KashmirValley and Jammu plains).

They operationally combineand defend India’s sovereigntyfrom any hostile intent fromacross the border. The culture,training and ethos of this institu-tion are such that societal“divides,” that sweep just across theiron-clad cantonments, usuallyhave no echo, tolerance or accep-tance within the barracks.Therefore, in every opinion pollafter poll, the “Indian soldier”emerges as the most “revered” inthe imagination of the citizenry.

But this idyll comes underthreat whenever the fundamentalcoordinates of the armed forcesstray from the course. Whenincreasingly internally committed,it is being accused of politicalleanings. It even gets involved inmatters beyond its traditionalroles, rectitude and traditions.Such optics and the accompany-ing murmurs weaken its institu-tional steel, which has survivedvarious dissonances and uprisingslike the Dravidian movement,North-eastern insurgencies oreven the Jammu and Kashmirimbroglio.

Metaphorically defying theworst instincts of our societalregressions, distortions andperceptions, a 26-year-old sol-dier, Sepoy Aurangzeb from theKashmir Valley, was abductedand killed by Pakistan-sup-ported terrorists. Poignantly,his father ensured that hisbrothers, too, would don the“uniform” of the Indian Army.Inadvertently, he slapped thewasted, misplaced and ignobleenergies of conversations out-side garrison towns.

Like all Government insti-tutions, the armed forces, too,have their own concerns thatprimarily involve two realms.First, the annual budgetaryallocation and second, the non-financial and incalculablerealm of izzat (honour) thatencapsulates the soul of soldier-ing. Despite the uber-muscularpolitical posturing of the dis-pensation that naturally positsthe “Indian soldier” in an emo-tive context, cold statistics ofthe annual budgetary allocationtowards the defence forces tella different story and lay barepower preferences.

It is true that salaries andpensions consume a sizeablecomponent of the Budget.However, this is a matter ofrequirement in terms of boots-on-ground, given the fracturedrelationships across the border.Importantly, neither are the

salaries, pensions, work-lifebalance or other materialwherewithal for the soldiersbetter than those of otherGovernmental colleagues (thedishonoured spirit of incom-plete OROP as promisedhaunts till date). The point onmodernisation need not bebelaboured as it routinely facesdelays or downsizing (take theexample of Rafael) with brazenimpunity.

Much was made of thestructural changes like theatrecommands, two-front capabil-ity and jointmanship amongothers. But so far, the onlynotional change has been theappointment of the Chief ofDefence Staff (CDS). This ispotentially a game-changer asit can bring the much-neededsecurity gravitas to the policytables, raise institutional con-cerns and address the recklessinvocation and requisitioningof the armed forces in internalstrife. In parallel, it could alsosensitise the armed forces togovernmental constraints andrequirements.

So far, only the flow of uni-lateral governmental con-straints and requirements (tothe discomfiture of traditionalmoorings) is visible. The morecritical flow of the reverse, ieaddressing defence concerns, iseither invisible or inaudible.The so-called “reforms” also

pertain to the domain of cost-cutting by way of experimentslike a three-year short-commis-sion or lateral intake fromCentral Armed Police Forces(CAPF) for a seven-year tenure.

While this may statistical-ly fill the shortages in the staffand even expose many in thecivil and CAPF to the “militaryexperience,” it does not addspecialisation, quality or seri-ousness in the officer as thisintake comes with limitedtenure. To use the armed forcesas a “training school” may be amatter of pride for theirunmatched standards to thosewho gain “limited” exposurebut it adds limitedly to theinstitution itself.

The calling of soldiering inthe Indian armed forces hashad its own élan, righteousnessand flavour. It survived theNehruvian neglect and thesubsequent political penchantfor postured frugality, region-al passions and social unrest asthe cantonments brook noaffliction.

Today, literally, the canton-ment gates have been openedand the risk of societal andpolitical passions infecting theable-bodied is a grim reality.Indeed, the slide in the institu-tional narrative ensued imme-diately after independence butthe bare-all societal virus todaythreatens to infect the psycho-

logical character of this institu-tion. Its “voiceless” nature isnecessary but ironically, itsundoing as the silent ramrodposture, irrespective of thechallenges faced by it, is beingtaken for granted.

It clearly seems to be par-taking and venturing into a lotof unmandated and undesir-able directions that seek to milkits historical equity and profes-sionalism. This without a senseof reciprocal duty to addressthe institution’s own concerns.Any political appropriation orleaning of the “uniform” willnail its fate akin to the policingforces. The national and insti-tutional leadership needs to vis-ibly maintain its preferred “dis-tance” and “concern” in thesame enthusiasm as it invokesrequisitions and explains gov-ernmental constraints.

The proverbial “glint inthe bayonet” has been retainedfor decades as the necessary“spit and polish.” Decorumand motivation have beenensured with no unnecessarydrama or distractions. If thecritically-required modernisa-tion, parities and promisedguarantees are not possible,then condescending politicalshenanigans or creative misuseare even worse substitutes.

(The writer, a military vet-eran, is a former Lt Governor ofAndaman & Nicobar Islands)

#������������)�����������������������(������� ��������������������������(������������������*������������

��+���� ������������������,�������������������������������������������������(��������������������������� �#������������������������������������� ����������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������"�������������������������������������*�������� �������������������������������������������������������������������� �(����� ��������������������������������

���������-���%�����������������������������������������������������������������������������)���������&���������������������� �������������������������������� �����.����������*������������������(������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������� ����������"��������������������������� ����������������������� �#������������� �������������������������(���������������� �����������������������������������/���� ������������(���������������������������(������ ����������������(�������������-���%����������������������������)������������������������������������������������������ �������������������(��������������*������������������������������������� ����� ���������������������� ���

#�%�������&����� ���������������������� &���0��������������������������������������������������������(���� ����������-���%�������������� ��������������������������������������� ������������������������������� ��)����������������� �����������������-��� �����������������������������������������"������������������*���������������#�-����/������������������������ ��������������� �������������������������������������(������������������(��������������������%������������������������������������������ ������������#�������������������12�342����������������������������������� �����������������������������$���������������� �������(��(���������������������������������������������������������(����������������������������� ��������������������*�����&�����������������������������������������

/����������������������������5-����(��������� ������������������������������������������������������ ������������

������������������������)���������������������������������������������/��������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������-������(�� ���(�������� )��������/���� ��������6������������������������������������������� ���&��������������������������������(����&������������ ����������0������)���������(���� �������������������������������(����� ��������������������������������� �����

����������������������������)������������������� ����� ����������������7��������������������������������/����$������8�9���������$���+������ ������+����������������������/���� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������#����������/����&�����������������������������������:�����������������������)��������������������������������������*�����!���)���������������������������� ������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������� ������*������������������ �.�������������������������������������������������3;<������������������9�������=�����������������6����������5����#������ ������/�����������������6������������� ���������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� �����������,����� �����������/���������������������������������������������������������������/�����������)����&��������������� ��������������(���� ��������(-�� ��(������*�:���>�-�*:?!���������������������������(�������� �������������������=��������������������������� �������������������������������������������6����������������������(�������������������������������������������������������������(��������������������������/����������-�������������������5-()��������������������������������������(������/����&���������������-����/����-��������������������5-�����������������������/��������(��������)����������������� ������������������������������ ����������������������#�������/������������"�������������������������������/:@)�(��������������������)������������� ��������������������������(���>.�)?������������%����������������������������������A�����B����(����������������������������������)�������������������/��������������� ������� ����������-����=������������������������������������������������������������7��������������������������������� �������������������������������#���/�������������������������������������������(����������������������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������/:@)�(4C������������������������������/�����������������������������������

#�/������������������������ ��������������������������"���� ���������������������������������������������������)�������������*���������������������������������6��������� �����$�����-����������������(���������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������*����/�����������������������������������(��� ���������7��������������������� ��������������������������������� ������6����������/������>6�/?���������������������%������������� ���D.����&������$������#�������������6�������� �����$����)����������������������������%�������������4CEF����������������/�������������������������������������������������������������������������/���� ��� ������ ��������������������������������������������)������������������� ��������������������� ������������������������&������������/������������3�G22��������� ��������������#��������������������;3�� ���������������������������������,����� ��������)����������/������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������)�����#�7�������������������������������� �������� ����������������������������������(����������� �

�����������

Sir — It is with great sadnessthat we heard the news aboutthe demise of one of India’s leg-endary hockey players, BalbirSingh Sr. A three-time gold win-ner and the country’s mostaccomplished sportsman, hisachievements, especially duringthe post-independent era, havebeen well documented.

He was part of the teamwhich brought great glory toIndia. He played a key role inclinching gold medals at the1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics,which led to his massive popu-larity. Singh was the firstsportsperson to be awarded thePadma Shree in 1957. Even as heexcelled in his craft when Indiaruled the world of hockey, henever complained about thestate of affairs of this sporttoday. He never questioned play-ers’ efforts even though it’s been40 years since India last won theOlympic gold. The best tributeto him would be for the hockeyplayers to bring back the gloryof the game by winning gold atthe Tokyo Olympics.

Ramesh G Jethwani Bengaluru

����� ������� ��� �

Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “RBI move means little”(May 25). Undoubtedly, reporate cuts by the Reserve Bank ofIndia (RBI) provide enough

buffer to the banks to startlending but they choose to bemore aggressive in the market.We need to understand that evenwithout these flurry of rate cuts,banks were already flush withfunds as they were hardly lend-ing during pre-COVID days.

Recent rate cuts have creat-ed space for the banks. Coupledwith this, the �20 lakh crorepackage announced by theGovernment focusses mainlyon providing easy credit toMSMEs. Among all these devel-opments what is really missing

is the need to create demand foreconomic revival.

With companies undertak-ing lay-offs and salary cuts, it isa general tendency for the peo-ple to become over-conserva-tive. The ball is now in thelender’s court to revive theeconomy. With credit risk beingcovered under Governmentguarantee, banks cannot affordto be conservative any more.

Bal GovindNoida

������ ������� �����

Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “RBI move means little”(May 25). Unless the banks startlending, the stimulus package orrepo cuts mean little. The RBImust consider putting a cap onthe funds placed by banks withtraders and retailers underreverse repo. The Governmentmust come up with a one-timeimmunity for bank employeesfrom accountability for all loanssanctioned under guarantee.

Ritesh AgrawalVia email

� � � 2 + � � / � � � � � ) ) / � 0

&&&32��-.0�� ���3)�* ������!9��#:����"��� �����P 8�������"��� �����P � ������#9��#:����"��� ���:

����������������������������� ����� ����� �

�3

(��������)�������� �

����4�� �����

�������#�������"���������������#��� �������� ��������!�� ���$� ��� �������������� ����������������� ���������� �� ���� ����������������������"����������������� �������� C���� ��� ��� �

������#����� ������ ����������$����������� ��������� ������ �� ������ ����9����)�$�� #� ���������#�!������������������������������������ � ��� �����������9

�"412'%%�#')-'2N5�����)� ���

���� !������� C����$����� ��������������������������������� ���� ����#�$�������� �����K�����!�L������ C����$����� ������9����������$����� �����9�

�3("2N5� $������ ��

��� ������#�����������������"� ����� �9�������M�������������������� ���������������� ���#��������&���,���������������� ������7���������� ����� �������������9�

�A%�(";�-+;#"7)(�N(�����'������

� 4 � � � � � � �

� � � � � 5 � � 4 � �� � � � � � � � 4 5

����� ���������

������� ��������������������,�H5'�#�$��#�� ��������IK��"�1*L9�����5����$��'� !�� � ����K5'L��������%��� �������������� �#��� �������� �������� ���� %

��#��9����#�$��������������������������"�+6���������� ��� ������������ �� ���$������������������393*������� ���������������M�����"9�'����� �������� ������� !%����%����� ����"������"��##������K��L������� ��������������)����������� � ����� �1616%1/��������#�� � ����� �����$����������",�#��������������� ������ ��#���� )�$�� #� �9� &� ����� ���#����� ���!���� ���������"�� �� ����� �� ��,��������������$����� ����9'������ ������#�������� �� �,������C������$����� ������������C��������"��������"���� �9�'���������H������I�����%� ����� �������� ��� ������"�����)�$�� #� ��� ����������#��������!�������������������$������������ ��� �����=� � ����� ��������������� !������������M����#�������������������!� �������������� ������##��%������������ ����!� ��"����#�N�������������#�����#�"�������#�� �#����������� � ��������� ���� ������ ��9

���� 5&� ���� ����#����� ����� �� !� �������������#�"���������������29*%-������� ��� ��������%�� �� � � ����� "���,� ��#������ ��� /393� ���� �� �� � 16/.%/09�������������������������� �*.�"����,�#�� %

�"�� ������ ��� ����������!� ������������M����#� ���"� ��#�� ���� � �� ���!� �$����� � �#� �� �� ����9���#���",��������������,����,����������#����� ������� ����� ����������������������� ���$� ������������������ ������ ������ ���������������� ���"����� ��9�&������"���$���� ���$� ���������� � ��� ��"����$� ������ ��#��� � ����/006�9�'��� ����",������������"� � �� �� ��$���� ���$� �����$������������������ �#"9����5'� ���������� ��"���������� ���������������� 9

���)2):)4)4���������

$��� ���������#��� 9#'(('2%(";+"4''2B17)+#$3"7�

#������$����

�$���������"������

&������ ������������� �������������� � �� ��� ������������9����� !��<����� �"������������������������������ ����#��!� ��� �������������� 9

�"27'2�32+35'('2N�������##� �

9���������������������4������������������������ ��������������$�������$�������� �������������������8����� ��������

*���������������� ��������������������������������������� �������������������������������� �

Page 7: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

(�������������7'�

���������.����������C����������D���������������@������������������>������������������

.�����������0������������������$�E���������������������������

��0������������

�����.����������������������0�������������������0������������0���0�����.����������F����.�������������.�������@���0����������F�E���0�����0����� ��������������������0�����������

�����4����5�����

Every once in a while we have a Black Swanevent that changes our world forever. InDecember 2019, we all witnessed something

of a similar magnitude, which at that time seemedto be just another disease outbreak. Since then, wehave spent upwards of five months with the diseaseglobally, experienced thousands of deaths and wit-nessed the collapse of economies due to extendedlockdowns.

Now, governments around the world are keenon firing up the economic engines but they alsounderstand the need to do that while respecting thelimitations imposed by COVID-19. The rules of thegame have to be rewritten, factoring in social dis-tancing, hand hygiene, meeting and greeting eti-quette and all other measures under the Reich, whilewe are still finding a cure.

While a lot of these changes will happen overthe medium to long-term, some sectors need to rein-vent their operations immediately and the one indus-try which is in the eye of the storm is the health-care industry. Hospitals are both, a complex multi-stakeholder system catering to a plethora of differ-ent health conditions and the centerpiece of epidem-ic disease clinical response.

However, when all who need care rush to hos-pitals for treatment, the infection density in thesebuildings can alternatively amplify disease transmis-sion if not managed properly. Currently, the focusof all healthcare activities has been Corona-man-agement, not just because there is a spike in casesbut also because patients suffering from other dis-eases are not visiting hospitals either due to the lock-down or due to the fear of contracting the virus.

Consequently, many clinicians are also report-ing that patients who have missed follow-ups forchronic lifestyle diseases are coming with advancedsymptoms due to discontinuity of care. But with thelockdown measures slowly being tapered down, wehave to work towards thinking of managing allpatients in all healthcare set-ups. Let us imagine aworld where Corona and non-Corona patients aretreated in the same hospital. We will use the processflow of a patient’s journey within the hospital sys-tem to see how each element needs to be adaptedto the virus. A patient enters the hospital systemeither through the Emergency Room (ER) or out-patient department (OPD). Going forward it willbecome extremely important to redesign ER oper-ations. In the light of hospital-acquired infections(HAIs), the presence of a highly-contagious viruscan severely expose all other patients coming withnon-Corona emergencies. So, to prevent the ERfrom becoming a seeding point for the virus, it willbe essential to separate ERs for Corona and non-Corona cases and triage and preferably establish aperson’s non-COVID status before allocating an ER.

Not only does this seem a daunting task, alsoconsider the fact that all ER doctors will have to treatany symptomatic patient as a potential Coronapatient and pre-emptively wear PPEs at all times.In the absence of extra room for separate ERs, fre-quent disinfection would be required for theshared set-up to prevent disease transmission.

Once the patient is stabilised, transport to thedesignated wards needs to be segregated as well.Separate lobbies, elevators and preferably separatewings of the hospital would require to be earmarkedfor COVID patients. Within the wards, to maintainadequate distancing between patients, the generalwards that we now have, would see a reduction inthe number of beds.

If the severity of symptoms increases, the patientwould be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU), which is the most sensitive unit and needsutmost infection-control care. ICUs need to be sep-arately allocated for COVID patients. Like in ERs,

other patients in the ICU already havemultiple severe conditions they are strug-gling with and almost always have a cock-tail of lifestyle diseases, all of whichincrease the chances of fatality if infect-ed with the virus. Thus, not only will ICUsneed to be separate, equipment like ven-tilators, in an ideal situation should not betransferable between COVID and non-COVID ICUs, given the high chances ofinfection portability.

For all these locations, OPDs, ERs,wards, elevators, ICUs, Operating Rooms(ORs) and so on, all the staff serving theCOVID patients would require PPEs at alltimes. Additionally, all such environ-ment that has come in contact withCOVID workflows will have to be sani-tised frequently. All such operationswould have an impact on the cost of care.

Hospital visits will also get impacted.Visiting hours might be reduced or com-pletely done away with and a movetowards virtual visits might be encouraged.The role of the family member as an infor-mal caregiver to help the patient with taskslike feeding, going to the washroom,brushing, walking and so on, will be com-pletely lost and such tasks might requiresupport from the nursing staff. This addsto the workload of the already thinstaffing line due to the rostering of staffdedicated to COVID care.

The second entry point for patientsinto hospitals is the OPD. This is the trick-iest part since confirmation of Corona sta-tus is post-testing. Thus, any patientwith symptoms of influenza-like illnesscan be COVID or non-COVID.Additionally, many Corona-positivepatients are asymptomatic at the time oftesting and thus if they are attending theOPD for a separate health event, theymight still be in a position to spread thedisease.

Then there are hospital activitiesthat are not patient-facing, yet needfocus, like training of staff on Corona-spe-cific management and ramping up super-vision of adherence to protocol, since thefallout of non-compliance under these cir-cumstances, is fatal. While there is nodenying the importance of all these mea-

sures, the main concern for any manag-er at this point is how much these mea-sures will affect the bottomline and whatproportion of the same will be passed onto the patient?

Add to this the current drying up ofrevenues since the lockdown began onMarch 25. The OPD footfall has beenreduced to a trickle. Consequently, bare-ly any admissions have happened and hos-pitals, especially the smaller ones, arestruggling to keep their doors open. OneErnst & Young-FICCI study reports a 70-80 per cent drop in footfall and about 50-70 per cent drop in revenue in lateMarch.

Additionally, a large number of bighospital chains also relied on internation-al patient traffic for their profits as med-ical tourists accounted for anywherebetween 10-25 per cent of their total rev-enue. In a situation of complete uncertain-ty of when international travel will beginagain, that revenue stream will remain inlimbo.

There is an indubitable increase incosts anticipated for hospitals to simply beable to open shop under regulatory con-ditions for Corona and manage bothCOVID and non-COVID patients in thesame facility. There is also an undeniableneed to move to a higher commitment tothe standards of infection prevention andcontrol for the virus in the industry andthe nation as a whole. This is a much-needed transition for the industry, whichhas been plagued by HAIs, anti-microbialresistance and other issues arising frompoor infection control in hospital settings.While the global HAI is pegged at sevenper cent for developed and 10 per cent fordeveloping countries, for India differentstudies under different settings of ICUs,ERs, OPDs and so on have seen numberstouch anywhere between 20-30 per cent.These are completely avoidable hospitalstays and potential causes for death,which can be mitigated by proper disin-fection and sanitisation practices of facil-ities and devices.

For too long we have neglected theseissues with a false sense of security andpatchy actions and policies to cover small

breaches whenever they happened. Thepandemic brings with it an opportunityto reflect upon these choices and use thisas a time to rethink the way we managehospitals wherein infection control shouldbe a top priority for the ergonomics ofsuch institutions. While the industry is onthe brink of a shift in operations becauseof the pandemic, it needs time to readjustits bearings for the same.

As we wait for social mobility toresume after May 31, the clock is tickingfor hospital managers to figure out howto keep their doctors from getting infect-ed, treat their patients and ensure thatprofits are maintained. At the moment,patients have been denied services bysmaller nursing homes under suspicion ofCOVID. There is a trickling crowd visit-ing hospitals. But once we ease the lock-down, social mobility will come back tonear pre-COVID times. That is when thefear of hospitals bursting at the seamsbecomes real. Patients rushing to clinics,weighing their burden of other diseaseswith the chance of contractingCoronavirus. We do expect the virus toreach the ranks of other infectious diseaseswherein the treatment can be managed atthe ICUs at worst and prevented by vac-cinations at best. But that time is yet tocome and till then, hospitals would haveto work on a hybrid model to manageCOVID and other diseases at the sametime.

There will be more deliberationsand fine-tuning of industry practices.Some old practices will be jettisoned andnew ones adopted for a new world. Till wereach that time, the healthcare industrywill see some rapid, step ladder shifts inoperations. The Government will have tohand-hold this transition so that the indus-try does not crumble under pressure whilehealth access and equity is maintained andtechnology catalyses this change. How thishappens is yet to be seen but the windowof time available for planning is fast clos-ing.

(The writer is a health economist andengagement manager for health projects atthe International Innovation Corps, aUniversity of Chicago programme in Delhi)

7����������������������������������������������������$���� ������� �������7:������������������������� ��� �2�������� ��������������������������������

����."�" �67 � 5 � � � 4 � � � �

���)���)����-���� ��

���5������������588�

���� ���������������� ����������� ��������� ������������������� � ��#� ������ ����

� ���������������� ��� ���������������

���5����&���7'�&'��

�5�&�����?���&���&����=?5

�?���&����?����@�'��&'����??������?��7���5

5�)7�&�?5@?���?���=?5

?5?�&�&���&�&)��'?��

?A��&����?�%?A�

�&������������&���=&��@9

���5����&��?�&�7����&'�������

�?��?A���?�&�)��5

?���������?������&��&5���?=

�=��?��5�A���?��&��

?��5?��=?5����A57�������

��7��5@�&�������&�?��&��&

��?��9�������&�7�%������

�5&���?��=?5������7��5@,

�����&��'�����&)7���'@��&�,

&��%�5?'&�5����&���&��

?���5���7��&5��)�=5?�

�??5��=��?�?��5?���

�?���&�������)�

#��������������������������� ����$���������������(������#�����������������������������������(����������������������������������������

���������������������������)������������������������������������������������������������������������ ���������������-��������������������=����������������+� FFH��������������������H#��������������(�����������6����(=������$)�������23<3�

+�������������������/����-���������������F<<G���������(�3F<(F4G�����"����� $�������)������������������>$)�?��F<4G�7��������������(����������;;��������6����(=������������������� ������&��������������������������� �������4<<�������������������4G<�/����������������4�<1<������������������� ��C<��������(����� ������&����������������������������������������� ��������� �

���������������������� ����&�����������������������������������������=����������� �-�������� �����H +�� �� ������H 6�&� � �� ������ ����������������������������� ����������������������(�3F<(F4G������(��������� ������������A������������������(���������������������������������������� �������������������������������� ����B���������"��������� (� (���>.*7?�A#�� ������������������������������(������������������������������������������(����������������������� �����)������������������������ ��������&� ���������� ��� ���� ����� ����������� �� ������ ��������B

#������������ ��������������������������������������������������������������������� �����������(�3F<�� ������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������>.�!?����������������������>/@!?��������������(��������������������������������������������������(�������������������������I���������������������.�������������������������� �-�������������������������� �#��������������������(�������6����������������������(������������� �������.������������� �����>�����?��������������������� ������������#���������(���������������H

7� ���������������� �������+� �� >���������������������������������?��������������������������H7� ����&�����������������������������H7������������������������������������������������������ ����������� ������H7������� ��������������������������(������� �����H7�������� ������������5-(���-�������������(�������(��(���������������� ����������������#���������������������������� ���������������-��������������������5-���.���H

#������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������)���������������������������������������#������������������������������ ��������������������������#������/���������>�#/?�����������&���������������������������������������#/������������������������A���(��������������B6���������������������&��������������������������

#���������������������� ������������������#/&���������������������������H7���������������������������������� ���������H-���������������������(����������H)����������������������������(�������6�����������&�������������(������=�����������������������������������������������������)��������������������������,������������������������������C<(���������������������������������������������"�������7� ���H7� �������������������������������������������������������������������H

��������=��������������������������������������� �������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������*�������������� ��J�"��������������� ������������� ���(��������������������� ����������������������������(������������� �������4<<�������������������� �����(��������)�������������� ������������������������������������)���� ������������������������)������(��� ������������������������������������00�����:�� �����������������������������������������������H

,�����������������������������������������(������������������(���(����������������������������������������������������������������������)����������������������������������������)�����������������������������������������*���������������(���������������������H)��������������������������(���������������(�������������������������������H ������������������ �

>������������������������������������������?

Prime Minister Narendra Modiwill be completing the first yearof his second term in office on

May 30. While critics are discussingthe Modi Government’s report card,it makes one think about theOpposition’s performance in the lastone year. Has it played its role as thewatchdog of democracy effectively?The answer is a resounding “no.” Itsperformance has been lacklustre byand large, though to its credit somenon-BJP parties did form the

Government in Odisha, AndhraPradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra,Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh andJharkhand in the last one year.

Even the main Opposition party,the Congress, has been ineffective inchallenging the Modi Governmentbecause the grand old party itself isgoing through a leadership crisis. It isstill groping in the dark for an effec-tive political narrative and is facing anacute dearth of ideas. The Congressis in the process of rediscovering itsidentity and political relevance in thecountry.

There are various reasons for theOpposition’s ineffectiveness right now.The first is that the people gave Modia huge mandate in 2019, even biggerthan the one in 2014, when he cameto power, ending 30 years of coalitionpolitics in the country. But thatshould not be an excuse because theOpposition managed to bring down

the Rajiv Gandhi Government in1989 due to the Bofors imbroglio. Infact, Rajiv had come to power on amuch more massive mandate — awhopping 415 seats out of 542 in 1984while Modi’s BJP got only 303 seats in2019. But there were many Oppositionstalwarts like Indrajit Gupta, SomnathChatterjee, AB Vajpayee, LK Advaniand a few others who were able to holdthe House to ransom on the Boforsissue and brought down the RajivGovernment. So the number gamedoesn’t apply to the present crisis inthe Opposition. The issues and oppor-tunities to hit the Modi Governmentwere abundant in the last one year but

the attacks by the Opposition wereweak. For instance, many controver-sial laws like the CitizenshipAmendment Act and the repeal ofArticle 370 and so on were pushedthrough by the Government despiteOpposition protests inside Parliamentand out of it. To make things easier forthe Government, the Coronavirusoutbreak pushed all other importantissues, including the plight of theIndian economy, to the background.For the last five months nothingother than the pandemic is being dis-cussed in the nation. Unfortunately,without the Parliament, theOpposition has lost the opportunityto effectively highlight the plight ofstranded migrant labourers in thecountry, though each party had raisedthe issue individually.

However, the most importantfactor weakening the Opposition is thelack of unity among the various par-

ties. They failed to unite even onimportant issues like the CAA thoughsome parties took to the streets. Ashrewd politician like Modi was ableto use this division successfully to getthe controversial laws passed even inthe House of Elders where theGovernment is still in a minority.Despite all these setbacks, theOpposition is not able to sustain itsefforts at unity. Nearly 22 Oppositionparties attended the virtual meetingcalled by Congress president SoniaGandhi last week. There were manysuch meetings in the past, too, but allefforts to unite the divided Oppositionhave failed so far because regionalsatraps have big egos and they areunwilling to set them aside.

Hence, the Opposition is dividedand leaderless as the Congress, despitebeing the major national party, has notbeen able to take the lead. They are notable to agree on one leader with the

stature to lead the Opposition.Stalwarts like Deve Gowda, MulayamSingh Yadav and Lalu Prasad havetaken a back seat now and thoughmany senior regional leaders areamenable to attending meetings calledby Sonia, they are reluctant to acceptGandhi’s leadership. Most impor-tantly, the new generation ofOpposition leaders has little or noconnection with the people as thefamily fiefdom concept works only atthe regional level. Plus, the Oppositiondoes not have a single leader who canmatch the oratorical and persuasiveskills of Modi, who continues to bepopular because he has no opponent.

The bottomline is that while theBJP has chalked out its agenda, theOpposition is still stumbling about. Itis high time it develops an effectivestrategy to challenge the Government.This is good for democracy.

(The writer is a senior journalist)

��������7�������������������������&$��'����(#%)��%���$ ��*$%#���$��+,� $ ��-$ #.����/��%��� 0�)� ���$��122��%�%�)�%����%##���/('#%)0� '�/�

����������9�5

��������������������� ����� ����� �

&&&32��-.0�� ���3)�*

4����6�548

745� ��� � �8�

������ ��#���������� � #������� � ������������������ �����7>9��� ������#�����<���� ���������#���������� ������ ��"��� ����������#����� ���������������9��� �������#�������������������$�� ����������� ������������������������ ���<���� ���"����)�$�� #� �C������"������������#�� ������9�������K�� �������������������L

��&5��&���?7)��=?5��5�?��5�

Page 8: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

+���$������������������������ ����� ����� � �����>�?��������@���

� &��������/*,666�5��� �"��� ����������� ����M���� �� �� �'� �������C��$������#��,������� �#����� ��� ��#������ �$������ ����� ���������������109���������<��������$��� ����� ������������$�����������������������������#����������#� ��,������ ���#������#����� �5��� �"����� ����$���� ���� ��"� #��,�� �� ���������������������#�$�#� ��� ����������� �&����9

� �� �������������������������"#� ��� ��� ������� ������ ���� ��������� ��������� ���������� ������������ ����� �� ����#��!��� ���"����������� �� �,������������C�� �����%#������������ ���� ������������������ ������� �#"�� ���������� �$�������!��� 9�&�#��� ���������� &�����������������4��4� �������� �������"�������3+6,666� ��������������������"���� �������$� ����%�(�!����,�����(�$�,��������#������ �)��� �����%����� ����������� ��"C���� ����� ����� �������H ��� ��#��I9

� 7>����#���� ������'����(�� �� �������$������� �������������16���� ������N/������ ��� ��������� �����������!�������� �����,���#� ���##� ��� �����������"����!� ������ �$��������!��� �����,������������������ ������"9�

� &�7>��� ����������� ���� ������"��$������#���� �����'�����(�� �� C������ �����,��#� ����##� ��C������������!� ��� ����� �$�������!��� ������9�(� ������ �������������5��������� �����7 ������������"�� ������� �������� �,�����#� ������ ������$�� #� ��#� ���������M����$��������������������� ��� ����� � ����������$�������������$�������"�,������������������ ��������9

� &�7��������� ����"���#�� "���� �� 4���� �������� �$����$���� ���� �������� ���������� �&���������� �������"������������ �������� �������$� $���� �������"���9���$�$�<������ 4����/3/�$��� ������� ����� ����������� ���������������� ������� ��"�� �����$���� ��� ����!� �� ������ ��� ����� ����$� ���,�������#�� "C�������������� ���9�)�����")�� �����9�&���������J� �<����#� ����$���� ������� ���������� �$���������� �����"�������� ������ �������������������,�#����"�� ��� �,�����79�9� ��������9��C�� �������������� "���������$���� ��� �� ����$�9�'���#� "����!�� �� ��� ����"�,�� ������#���������� ��� ������ �������,� ������ �9

� ������� ������$�� #� ��������������/6���"��� �#��� � ������� ����� ����"� ������ ����"�1-,666��������������$��������������� �$������� �$����� ����� ,������� ������ �����#��� � ���������� ������� ��"C��+%������%�����#�����"9�=�������������������������� %��� �� �#������ �/+,666�������������� ������������� ���� �� ��� ��� ���� �$���$�������� ���(� ��*,�� ������������������ #����������"9

� ���� ������ ������ ������� � ��� ���#������� ���� �� ����"C���������� ��#���������� ���� ������� �$����9�&������ ������������� ����"� ������,��#����"������������/*0� ��������� �����1+%������������ �� ��������"��$� � �,������ �������� ������#� ������������.2������9������ �"����������� ������$��#������� *6�������� �������"%��%��"�����"�����������,������� ����� ����9

����������������

+��$�+��$�

�54������54�������4���

�� �������������> ��������������� ����"%3"8��&�5����� �#������"����������������%�� ����� �� ��� ������ ����� ��������� ������ � ���!��!�,�!���� �� ����������,����#������"�����9����������� $��$� ������%.������������#�"��$����� ���������"������� ����#�� � ���� ,������� � ���� ����"�����9�

�������������� �0� �������>��G�������0��)4� "%'� �����5�������<��������������#��������������� ��"���������������#�%��<#����������� ������� �� ��#���������#�������������� ���� ���� �� ��������� ��"C���� 9

�������� ��������������@�������������)4*'22)���#�!�� ��#&��������C����$������ ��16/0%16���� �����!���������������++*������,���������<��������$�����9=�"�(�� ��� ,�����������������<����� ��#������� J���� ������� �����������5��������������7 �$�����"�� ����#� ��,������������� ������"�����##����� �� ������"�������������#�����#���������++*������������9

���� �&���)�?�:'&�)>?>�

Worldwide, the virus hasinfected more than 5.6

million people, killing about3,50,000. Europe has had about1,70,000 deaths and the UShas crossed 1,00,000. Expertssaid the tally understates thetrue toll of the disaster.

Brazil and India strugglewith surging coronavirus cases,a top health expert is warningthat the world is still in the verymiddle of the outbreak, damp-ening hopes for a speedy glob-al economic rebound andrenewed international travel.

“Right now, we’re not in thesecond wave. We’re right in themiddle of the first wave glob-ally,” said Dr Mike Ryan, theWorld Health Organization’sexecutive director.

“We’re still very much in aphase where the disease isactually on the way up,” Ryansaid, pointing to SouthAmerica, South Asia and otherparts of the world.

The virus has taken hold insome of the country’s poorest,most densely populated areas,

underscoring the challengesauthorities face in trying tocontain a virus for which novaccine or cure has yet to bedeveloped.

In Brazil, where PresidentJair Bosonaro has raged againststate and local leaders enforc-ing stay-at-home measures,WHO warned that beforereopening the economy,authorities must have enoughtesting in place to control thespread of the virus.

Brazil has 3,75,000 coron-avirus infections — second onlyto the 1.6 million cases in the US— and has counted over 23,000deaths, but many fear Brazil’strue toll is much higher.

Ryan said Brazil’s “intense”

transmission rates means itshould keep some stay-at-homemeasures in place, regardless ofthe damage to the economy.

“You must continue to doeverything you can,” he said.

But Sao Paulo Gov. JoãoDoria has ruled out a full lock-down in Brazil’s largest stateeconomy and plans to startloosening restrictions on June 1.

In Europe, RussianPresident Vladimir Putinannounced that the postponedmilitary parade marking the75th anniversary of the alliedvictory in the World War II willtake place on June 24. VictoryDay has become the mostimportant holiday in Russia,marked every year on May 9

with a show of armed might inRed Square.

Putin said the countryhas passed the peak of theoutbreak.

Russia reported a recordone-day spike on Tuesday of174 deaths, bringing the coun-try’s confirmed death toll toover 3,800. Russia’s coronaviruscaseload surpassed 3,60,000— the third-highest in theworld — with almost 9,000 newinfections registered.

The country’s compara-tively low mortality rate hasraised questions amongexperts. Russian officials vehe-mently deny manipulating anyfigures and attribute the lownumbers to the effectiveness of

the country’s lockdowns.The question of who can

travel where and when remainsa dilemma in many places.

Spain’s Foreign Ministersaid that European Unionmembers should collectivelyagree to open borders anddetermine which non-EUcountries are safe for travel.

“We have to start workingwith our European partners toretake the freedom of move-ment in European territories,”Arancha González Laya toldCadena SER radio.

Spain is eager to welcometourists to shore up an indus-try that accounts for 12% of thecountry’s GDP.

Aiming to entice travelers,

Greek authorities will introducecheaper tickets for sea travelfrom the mainland to Greekislands on June 1.

The Czech Republic,Hungary and Slovakia strucka deal to open their borders for48 hours of travel withoutquarantines among their citi-zens starting Wednesday.

South Korea began requir-ing people to wear masks onpublic transit and in taxis. Thecountry is tracing dozens ofinfections linked to nightclubsand other venues as it preparesfor 2.4 million students toreturn to school on Wednesday.

South Korea’s HealthMinistry said beginning inJune, “high-risk” businessessuch as bars, nightclubs, gyms,karaoke rooms and concerthalls will be required to use QR

codes to register customers sothey can be found more easilywhen infections occur. Privacywatchdog group Jinbo Netcalled the move excessive.

“That’s exactly how we stepinto a surveillance state,” it said.

Meanwhile, seven publicmedia outlets from the USEurope, Canada, Japan andAustralia said they will work tobeat back “the proliferation,particularly on social networks,of fake news” about Covid-19.

The broadcasters includeFrance Médias Monde,Deutsche Welle, the BBCWorld Service, NHK World,CBC Radio-Canada, ABCAustralia and the US Agency for Global Media,whose networks include Voiceof America and Radio FreeAsia.

����� '�(�)

Aleading Chinese virologistwhose mysterious disap-

pearance sparked speculationabout the deadly novel coron-avirus emanating from a bio-lab in Wuhan, was for the firsttime interviewed on China’’sstate television where shewarned that such viruses arejust the “tip of the iceberg” andexpressed regret over sciencebeing “politicised”.

Shi Zhengli, known as the“Bat Woman” for her passion-ate research about bats and the

viruses associated with them,had early this month refuted“rumours” of her defection tothe West on her Chinese socialmedia WeChat account. Shealso posted nine photos of herrecent life.

On Tuesday, Shi was inter-viewed on state-run televisionCGTN in which she made adirect reference to US PresidentDonald Trump’s allegationsthat the COVID-19 originatedfrom the Wuhan Institute ofVirology (WIV) where she is alead researcher on bats.

Shi explained that she and

a group of researchers obtainedsamples of coronavirus onDecember 30 last year andperformed high-throughputsequencing of the samples andthe isolation of pathogens.

“And then in a very shorttime, we identified that this wasa new type of coronavirus inthese samples. We obtained itswhole genome sequence. Itshowed that the pathogen’’ssequence was not the same asthe already existing viruses. Sowe named it a novel coron-avirus,” she said, adding that itwas submitted to the World

Health Organisation (WHO)on January 12.

The researchers carriedout animal infection experi-ments for pathogen identifica-tion. “We completed an animalinfection experiment withtransgenic mice on February 6.Then we completed the animalinfection experiment with rhe-sus monkeys on February 9.Both the animal infectionexperiments showed that thecoronavirus isolated by us wasa cause of the unexplainedpneumonia,” she said.

In the English translation

of the text of her interview pub-lished by state-run channel,there was no reference to hermysterious absence and hertweets denying rumours of herdefection.

In an apparent reference toallegations that the virus hasemanated from the lab, shesaid, “I think that science hasbeen politicised. It’’s veryregrettable. I believe scientistsfrom around the world don’’twant to see this. As I men-tioned before, the researches oninfectious diseases must beopen and transparent.”

She said she will continuewith her research as there aremany types of bats and otherwild animals in nature (whichcould potentially be the carri-ers of many viruses).

“The viruses that we havediscovered are actually just thetip of the iceberg. If we want toprotect humans from the out-break of new infectious dis-eases, we must take the initia-tive to learn about theseunknown viruses carried bywild animals and give earlywarnings,” she said.

China is resisting mount-

ing pressure from the US andthe leaders of many countriesfor an inquiry into the origin ofthe virus, which was initiallystated to have emerged from awet market in Wuhan sellinglive animals located close toWIV. Besides Trump, whostepped up demand for aninvestigation into the origin ofthe virus and whether itescaped from Wuhan Instituteof Virology, Britain, Australiaand German ChancellorAngela Merkel called for moretransparency from Beijing onCovid-19 origins.

����� )���A&

The UN’s weather agencywarned Tuesday that

Covid-19 would amplify therisks of what was expected tobe a record-breaking hot summer in the northern hemi-sphere.

The World MeteorologicalOrganization urged govern-ments to make plans to keeppeople safe during heatwaveswithout spreading the novelcoronavirus.

This year is expected to be “another record-breakingheat season in the northernhemisphere”, WMO spokeswoman Clare NullisKapp told a virtual briefing inGeneva.

“We’re currently experi-encing one of the hottest yearson record.

“Covid-19 amplifies thehealth risks of hot weather for many people, andit complicates the task of managing it.”

The United Nations agencyteamed up Tuesday with non-governmental organisations tocall for stronger preparations tokeep people safe in hot weath-er while keeping a lid on the

pandemic.The information series,

which covers topics such asventilation, vulnerable popu-lations and personal protection equipment, is beingissued “to alert decision-mak-ers to try to help them managethe duel challenge of heat and Covid,” said Nullis Kapp.

In some places, what wouldtypically be good advice duringa heatwave — such as headingfor air-conditioned indoor pub-lic spaces — runs counter topublic health guidance due tothe coronavirus crisis.

India is currently experi-encing a widespread heatwave,with temperatures reaching47.5 degrees Celsius (117.5Fahrenheit) in the city ofChuru in Rajasthan.

“India is experiencing aheatwave, and this is at thesame time as it is relaxing thelockdown measures,” saidNullis Kapp.

“Heatwaves are becomingmore frequent and moreintense because of climatechange. This is putting anincreasing stress on humanhealth and human health sys-tems,” she added.

����� '�(�)

Chinese lawmakers haveproposed formulating a

foreign states immunities law,following litigations filedagainst the Asian powerhousein the US and other countriesseeking compensation over thecoronavirus outbreak.

The move will protect thelegitimate rights and interestsof Chinese citizens as well asforeign investors, said Ma Yide,a deputy to the NationalPeople’s Congress (NPC) and alaw researcher at the BeijingAcademy of Social Sciences.

It will also counteract mali-cious litigations raised in coun-tries like the US towards Chinaover the Covid-19 response,Ma told reporters on Tuesdayon the sidelines of the annualparliament session.

A lawsuit was filed byMissouri Attorney General EricSchmitt against the Chinesegovernment, the rulingCommunist Party of China(CPC), and other Chinese offi-cials and institutions in the USDistrict Court for the EasternDistrict of Missouri.

It alleges that during thecritical weeks of the initialoutbreak of the coronavirus,the Chinese authoritiesdeceived the public, suppressedcrucial information, arrested

whistle-blowers, deniedhuman-to-human transmis-sion in the face of mountingevidence, destroyed criticalmedical research, allowed mil-lions of people to be exposed tothe virus, and even hoardedpersonal protective equipment(PPE), causing a global pan-demic that was unnecessaryand preventable.

Observers say the Missourilawsuit could pose a problem toChina in view of the US courts’claim of universal jurisdiction.

Asked for his reaction to thelawsuits whether Beijing is con-cerned that China’s assets over-seas could be seized, ChineseForeign Minister Wang Yi onSunday said, “Some people areclamouring for so-calledaccountability and compensa-tion from a victim of Covid-19.

They are fabricating so-called evidence for frivolouslawsuits. These people aretramping on international ruleof law and betraying humanconscience”

Ma said the lack of such alaw has emerged as a promi-nent issue in the current epi-demic as some countries, led bythe United States, tried to shiftthe blame for their own gov-ernments’ incompetence onCovid-19 response.

Some groups and individ-uals in some countries even

cited the Foreign SovereignImmunities Act of the UnitedStates to bring litigations to theChinese Government and rel-evant departments, he added.

“This has trampled on theinternationally recognisedprinciple of sovereign immu-nity, and is also a show of hege-mony and power politics,” Masaid, stressing the necessityand urgency for China to for-mulate a foreign states immu-nities law.

China follows the principleof absolute immunity of foreignstates and their property, thusChinese litigants are unable tosue foreign Governments fromdomestic courts, while ChineseGovernments have often beensued in foreign courts, he added.

Ma suggested adopting alimited immunities principle,which is more commonlyfound in the United States,Canada, the United Kingdomand the European Union coun-tries. From a long-term per-spective, adopting a limitedimmunities principle will showa responsible manner of theChinese Government to for-eign investors, ensure stableexpectations for the protectionof their investments, and facil-itate China’s new round ofopening-up and the develop-ment of the Belt and RoadInitiative, he said.

���� >&'7�

The Afghan Governmentreleased hundreds of

Taliban prisoners on Tuesday,its single largest prisonerrelease since the US and theTaliban signed a peace deal ear-lier this year that spells out anexchange of detainees betweenthe warring sides.

The Governmentannounced it would release900 Taliban prisoners as athree-day cease-fire with theinsurgents draws to an end.The Taliban had called for thetruce during the Muslim holi-day of Eid al-Fitr that marks theend of the Islamic holy monthof Ramadan.

There were expectationsthat the prisoner release couldlead to new reductions in vio-lence, and Taliban officialswere considering an extensionof the cease-fire, a seniorTaliban figure confirmed toThe Associated Press.

����� '�(�)

The Chinese military hasdefended its increased bud-

get of USD 179 billion for thisyear, saying it is in line with thechallenges faced by the coun-try. China’s defence budget thisyear will be around 1.27 trillionyuan (USD 179 billion) againstlast year’s 177.61 billion, up by6.6 per cent, according to adraft submitted to the annualsession of the National People’sCongress (NPC) on Friday.

China has been facing newrisks and challenges in itsnational defence in recenttimes, Defence Spokesman WuQian told the meeting, mainlyreferring to Taiwan where thegovernment headed byPresident Tsai Ing-wen hadlast week challenged Beijing’sassertions that it is a part ofChina. By scale and allocation,

the defence expenditure isbased on China’s economic development situa-tion and national defencerequirements, he told dele-gates at the Parliament sessionhere, state-run Global Timesreported.

From a domestic point ofview, there have been multi-dimensional and complicatedsecurity risks, as there aremore serious anti-secessionmissions, with the rulingDemocratic Progressive Partyauthorities in Taiwan relying on foreign forces, hesaid China’s homeland securi-ty and overseas interests arealso facing some real threats,Wu said.

China must have a clearmind when it comes to nation-al defence and be prepared for danger in peace-time, he said.

����� '�(�)

The Chinese capital Beijingwill launch campaigns to

address the issue of “problem-atic” maps that don’t portrayChina’s territory “correctly”,including its claims overTaiwan and the South ChinaSea, and rectify the mistakes,the state media reported onTuesday.

Thirteen Beijing municipaldepartments, including theBeijing cyberspace adminis-tration, will launch the 2020annual campaigns inspectingproblematic maps, demanding that map compila-tion companies, map publish-ers and map users as well asonline map service providers self-examine andrectify, the Beijing MunicipalCommission of Planning andNatural Resources said onTuesday.

Relevant departments will

investigate maps that incor-rectly portray China’s territory,endanger national unity, sov-ereignty and territorial integri-ty, or harm the nation’s securi-ty and interests. If the circum-stances are serious, relevantpeople will face criminal pun-ishment, state-run Global Timesreport.

“Problematic” maps referto those that do not portrayChina’s territory correctly, cov-ering the inclusion of the islandof Taiwan, the national bound-ary lines on Taiwan Island, cleardelineation of the DiaoyuIsland and islands in the SouthChina Sea and nine-dash line.

China views Taiwan as arebel province that must bereunified with the mainland,even by force.

China claims nearly all ofthe South China Sea, thoughTaiwan, the Philippines,Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnamclaim parts of it.

Sheikhupura (Pakistan):Younus, the brother-in-law ofAsia Bibi, a Pakistani Christianwoman who spent years in jailbefore her acquittal, was killedin Sheikhupura city of Punjabprovince in Pakistan on Monday.

According to the FIR,Younus had gone to his farmson May 24 and did not returnhome at night. His body withthroat slit was traced in thefarm the following morning.

In 2011, Salman Taseer,influential governor of Punjabwas assassinated after he madeheadlines by appealing for thepardon of Asia Bibi, who hadbeen sentenced to death forallegedly insulting ProphetMuhammad. A month afterTaseer was killed, ReligiousMinorities Minister ShahbazBhatti, a Christian who spokeout against the laws, was shotdead in Islamabad, underliningthreat faced by critics of the law.

���� &5?

The US military on Tuesdayaccused Russia of deploy-

ing fighter planes to conflict-stricken Libya to supportRussian mercenaries aidingeast-based forces in their offen-sive on the capital, Tripoli.

In a strongly worded state-ment, the US Africa Commandsaid the Russian military aircraftarrived in Libya recently from anairbase in Russia via Syria, wherethey were repainted to hidetheir Russian origin. AFRICOMdid not say how many aircraftwere transferred or when exact-ly they arrived in Libya.

There was no immediatecomment from Moscow. “Fortoo long, Russia has denied thefull extent of its involvement inthe ongoing Libyan conflict.Well, there is no denying it now.We watched as Russia flewfourth generation jet fighters toLibya — every step of the way,”said US Army Gen. StephenTownsend, commander,US Africa Command.

9�� �����������(��������������������#�����4�$��

A��>������������!����(�������� ���������!��"������������������������$���

/��������(� ����������������� ����!��$�$� ����*��$���

���+���������������������*���$������������

A���������A��������$������ �!�����!��$��$��� ������$�����(

������ ���� ����������������� ���������� ��������� ��������'��J�� 3,--,-// 13,2625������ 3,21,3+1 3,.6-���� � 1,.3,330 1-,//-7>� 1,2*,11- 3-,6+.���"� 1,36,*** 31,0**=�� ��� /,.1,0+1 1.,+31)��#� " /,./,60+ .,++0

�'���%-��+��&2+

������ ������!��������� ���?��������������

������!�!

����

#)��2������ ����%� �&� 3 7������������������������� ������������� ���������

����������#����� � ��� ������������������������� �� ����� !��������������/$

� ��������������������#� ���� ��,���#����� ����������� �������������9�/5

�,+4)A%�7+%%+41�H@)(�."7)4A�);;')2%�"4�%()('���/�%):%��"9+-�H(+;�"6�+3'*'21A�

$ ����7 ��

��������

$ ����������

����������.�� ������������

Page 9: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

/�� .��:��������������������� ����� ����� �

New Delhi: Promoter firmBharti Telecom has sold 2.75per cent stake in Airtel toinstitutional investors in thesecondary market, raising over�8,433 crore, the company saidon Tuesday.

The sale proceeds will befully utilised to repay debt atBharti Telecom and will makethe promoter holding firm a‘debt free company’, it said.

Bharti Group and Singtelwill continue to hold a major-ity stake in Bharti Airtel at56.23 per cent after the trans-action, the company added.

The shares were sold at�558 apiece and bankingsources said the list of institu-tional buyers includedBlackrock, Norges Bank, Axis MF, HDFC MF, Birla MF,SBI MF, Segantii, and Marshall Wace.

The shares of Bharti Airtelclosed at �559.15 apiece on theBSE on Tuesday, about 5.7 per cent lower than the pre-vious close.

Announcing the closureof secondary block placementof Airtel shares, Bharti Telecomsaid the issue was over-sub-scribed multiple times withhealthy mix of all categories ofinvestors, long only and hedgefund investors across geogra-phies in India, Asia, Europeand the US.

PTI

Mumbai: The de-materialisedtrading of Reliance IndustriesLtd — Rights Entitlement (RIL-RE) continued to draw strongdemand on day four onTuesday with an average pre-mium of more than 7 per centover the intrinsic value.

While oil-to-telecom behe-moth RIL’s �53,125 crore megarights issue opened for sub-scription by shareholders lastweek, it became the first issuewhere eligible shareholders gotthe rights entitlements (REs) indemat, which could be tradedon stock exchanges.

RIL-REs on an average

commanded a premium of�12.07 on Tuesday, over 7 percent premium over the intrin-sic value, according to stockexchange data.

At a time when marqueecompanies like Bharti Airteland Kotak Mahindra Bank areselling their equity stakes at 5-6 per cent discount to theirmarket price, RIL’s RE contin-ues to command a premiumover its intrinsic value.

The volume-weightedaverage price (VWAP) of RIL-REs stood at �183.75 onTuesday.

PTI

Tokyo: Global shares rose onTuesday as hopes for econom-ic recovery overshadowed wor-ries over the coronavirus pan-demic. Investors are shiftingtheir focus to how variousnations are adapting to gettingback to business, while striving to keep new Covid-19cases in check.

France’s CAC 40 was up 1%to 4,585 as the government wasdue to unveil support measuresfor the auto industry.Germany’s DAX gained 0.6% to11,458 and the FTSE 100 inBritain, which was closed for

trading on Monday, rose 1.2%to 6,063.

US shares were set forgains after a long weekend,with the future for the Dowindustrials adding 1.9% and thefuture for the S&P 500 rising 1.8%.

Traders are awaiting USconsumer confidence data forMay and home sales for April,indicators that might give fur-ther clues into the severity ofthe downturn brought on bythe pandemic.

“As is the financial market’swont these days... Even the

slimmest of positive news onthe Covid-19 front triggers a bullish immuneresponse and another wave ofthe peak-virus trade,” said ana-lyst Jeffrey Halley of tradingplatform Oanda.

Comments from China’scentral bank governor on sup-port for its slowing economyalso lifted sentiment.

Yi Gang, in an interview onthe bank’s website, promised topush down borrowing costs for entrepreneurs and“support development of thereal economy.” AP

����� �7�'&

Benchmark indices Sensexand Nifty failed to cling on

to day’s highs and settled in thered on Tuesday as investorsremained unsure about eco-nomic recovery amid mountingCovid-19 cases in the country.

Shedding over 574 pointsfrom the day’s high, the BSESensex settled 63.29 points or0.21 per cent lower at30,609.30.

Similarly, NSE Nifty ended10.20 points or 0.11 per centdown at 9,029.05.

Bharti Airtel was the toploser in the Sensex pack, plung-ing around 6 per cent, followedby TCS, Bajaj Finance, SunPharma, Tech Mhindra, Infosys

and Hero MotoCorp.On the other hand, Titan,

Ultratech Cement, IndusIndBank, Nestle India and ITCwere among the gainers.

Sectorally, BSE telecom,teck, IT, healthcare and energyindices fell up to 4.64 per cent,while metals, consumerdurables, utilities, power andauto index ended with gains.

Broader BSE midcap andsmallcap outperformed bench-marks, rallying up to 1.21 percent. Sentiment in the Indianmarket remained volatiledespite global markets tradingpositive.

“After opening up by morethan 1 per cent, benchmarkindices pared gains to close flat,with a negative bias. However,

global market cues were posi-tive, on the back of additionalstimulus measures and slowreopening of economies glob-ally,” Vinod Nair, Head ofResearch at Geojit Financial

Services, said.The unabated rise of infec-

tions continues in India, whichthrows up further uncertaintieswith regards to extension oflockdown measures, he added.

Mumbai: The rupee appreciat-ed by 29 paise to close at 75.66against the US dollar onTuesday tracking weakness inthe American currency as eas-ing of Covid-19 lockdown mea-sures fuelled growth optimism.

Forex traders said weak-ness in the US dollar againstmajor world currencies over-seas and easing of lockdownrestrictions across the worldboosted investor sentiment andsupported the local unit.

At the interbank foreignexchange, the rupee openedhigher at 75.69 and moved ina range of 75.62 to 75.74 in daytrade. The rupee finally endedat 75.66, registering a rise of 29paise over its previous close. OnFriday, rupee had settled at75.95 against the US dollar.

The dollar index, whichgauges the greenback’s strengthagainst a basket of six curren-cies, was trading 0.44 per centdown at 99.42. PTI

����� ��������

Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman has called the

meeting of the FinancialStability and DevelopmentCouncil (FSDC) on Thursday,which among other things willdiscuss the impact of COVID-19 on the financial sector andthe economy.

This will be the first meet-ing of the FSDC, which com-prises RBI Governor and otherfinancial sector regulators, afterthe outbreak of the coron-avirus. The FSDC meeting, tobe chaired by the finance min-ister, will held via video con-ferencing, sources said.

The meeting will take placein the backdrop of India star-ing at the risk of contraction ingrowth during the fiscal due tothe Covid-19 crisis.

Besides the RBI Governor,the members of the FSDCinclude chairmen of theSecurities and Exchange Boardof India, Insurance Regulatoryand Development Authorityof India and Pension FundRegulatory and DevelopmentAuthority.

���� � ��������

India is likely to suffer from itsfourth recession in the last 69

years, as the country’s GDP islikely to contract by 5 per centin FY21, credit rating agencyCrisil said in a report on Tuesday. The report comesdays after the Reserve Bank ofIndia (RBI) predicted that India’sGDP growth for the financialyear 2020-21 may remain in thenegative territory.

Earlier, on April 28, it hadslashed growth prediction to1.8 per cent from 3.5 per cent.“Things have only gone down-hill since,” a Crisil Researchreport said. “While we expectnon-agricultural GDP to con-tract 6 per cent, agriculturecould cushion the blow bygrowing at 2.5 per cent.”

The rating agency pointedout that in the past 69 years,India has seen a recession onlythrice. As per available data,these recessions occurred in fis-cals 1958, 1966 and 1980.

“The reason was the sameeach time - a monsoon shockthat hit agriculture, then asizeable part of the economy,”the report said .

“The recession staring at ustoday is different. For one,agriculture could soften theblow this time by growing nearits trend rate, assuming a nor-mal monsoon. Two, the pan-demic-induced lockdowns

have affected most non-agri-culture sectors. And three, theglobal disruption has upendedwhatever opportunities Indiahad on the exports front.”

Besides, the report pre-dicted that first quarter will suf-fer a staggering 25 per centcontraction.

“About 10 per cent of grossdomestic product (GDP) inreal terms could be perma-nently lost,” the report said.

“So going back to thegrowth rates seen before thepandemic is unlikely in thenext three fiscals.”

Laying down the factors forthe downward revision GDPoutlook, Crisil said that lateststudies by the Public HealthFoundation of India and theWorld Health Organisationsuggest the pandemic spreadcould peak by mid-July, imply-ing that even if the nationwidelockdown is lifted after May 31,states with high and risingCOVID-19 cases could con-tinue with restrictions, whichwill be a drag on the economy.

It, however, said that on thepositive side the IndiaMeteorological Departmentexpects the southwest mon-soon this year to be 96-104 percent of the long-period average,which augurs well for agricul-ture and crude oil prices areexpected to average $30 perbarrel in fiscal 2021, cushion-ing the economy.

Talking of the economicpackage recently announced bythe Centre, it said that thepackage has some short-termmeasures to cushion the econ-omy, but sets its sights major-ly on reforms, most of whichwill have payoffs only over themedium term.

“We estimate the fiscal costof this package at 1.2 per centof GDP, which is lower thanwhat we had assumed in ourearlier estimate (when we fore-saw a growth in GDP),” it said.

It said that successive lock-downs have a non-linear andmultiplicative effect on theeconomy and a two-monthlockdown will be more thantwice as debilitating as a one-month imposition, as bufferskeep eroding. Partial relax-ations continue to be a hin-drance to supply chains, trans-portation and logistics, it said,adding that unless the entiresupply chain is unlocked, theimpact of improved economicactivity will be subdued.

“Therefore, despite thestringency of lockdown easinga tad in the third and the fourthphases, their negative impact onGDP is expected to massivelyoutweigh the benefits frommild fiscal support and lowcrude oil prices, especially in theApril-June quarter.Consequently, we expect thecurrent quarter’s GDP to shrink25 per cent year-on-year,” it said.

���������������

���� *�/������?��� ��� �����������B=����.38%

.$� ����� � �� �"� ���������������� � !��� ��� � �

-��������� ������8%:*;����#���������� ���<"=>>��� ��� ��������� ������!�� ���

�����������������������������������������������

� ���'���8-���9B711�����!�$���(�("�!����C

+��$���������������������������������������������������

�(����������������"�+/ �+2�((����9=����(��(�������;

� �,'--+41�"9'2�����;"+4(%�62"7�(,'�-):A%�,+1,��(,'�@���'4%'<�%'((#'-���$�?�;"+4(%�"2��$���;'2�3'4(�#"8'2�)(������?$��

� �+7+#)2#:�������+6(:�'4-'-���$���;"+4(%�"2��$���;'2�3'4(-"84�)(�?���?$��

Page 10: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

��������������������� ����� ����� � �' �, "�;�76�����8�����4���

��� $,���������0 ������, �$'����! ����.�,�!�+�/ �0,���#���+#�#������"��# /�,����#,/0� ���$,"��.)����!� �������� ""������'��!)���� <��/�$ "�.����$� ""=>�?�����/���+

4�0-�*��� �*�2�)�-�)��*���-�,.����� ��������

The Institute of Laser andAesthetic Medicine

(ILAMED) is offering a uniqueonline international Diplomaprogramme in MedicalCosmetology through live ses-sions on Zoom from May 27-May 31, 2020 to their physiciantrainees.

The courses will cover awide range of subjects likechemical peels, microneedling,botulinum toxin, fillers, bodycontouring, PRP, mesotherapy,laser & light Rx . There will alsobe live demonstration by

experts during the session. The programmes are ideal

for those looking for a freshstart in their career as well asfor physicians or cosmetolo-gists looking to expand theirpractices.

“We are extremely happy toannounce our internationalonline diploma in medical cos-metology programme on mul-tiple requests from colleaguesin the medical fraternity. Thiscourse will offer great oppor-tunities for expanding a med-ical practice, and stands aloneas a highly sought technicalspecialty by clinics and hospi-

tals alike. With the increasingdemand for trained practi-tioners, we are proud to be oneof the pioneering institutes inproviding the required knowl-edge & practical training in thisarea by conducting thesecourse all across the country,”says Dr Ajay Rana, Founderand Director of ILAMED.

Anyone who wants to reg-ister for the course can booktheir place by making a call orWhatsApp at +917838606869/9650500965 oremail: [email protected]. Formore information, please visitwww.ilamed.org.

����� ��������

The Shiv NadarUniversity on May 20,

2020 announced modifi-cations to its admissionprocess for the under-graduate programmes, inthe wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The uni-versity is among the firstfew educational institu-tions in the country toconduct remotely proc-tored admission test(SNU-SAT & APT) usingan AI mechanism that issecure and ensures anti-

cheating surveillance.The university is

also accepting existingSAT scores for admissionpurpose. Students with ascore of 80 per cent andabove in their JEE Mains2020, will be exemptfrom taking SNU-SAT &APT and can applydirectly for admission inprogrammes under engi-neering or natural sci-ences. All changes madeto the policy, are availableat http://snuadmis-sions.com/admission_info_2020.php#alerts.

The outbreak of the coronaviruspandemic has created imme-

diate and unprecedented chal-lenges in the field of education. Asof March 31, 185 countries aroundthe globe have implemented theclosure of preschools, schools anduniversities. Nearly 1.5 billion chil-dren and youth have been impact-ed by the crisis. In India, schoolswere among the first of manyorganisations which started shut-ting down as a precautionary mea-sure to prevent the spread of thevirus.

The young minds i.e. kidsunder five years of age have beenalso part of this new world whichwe are living in of uncertainty withthis coronavirus. The concept ofeducation changed even forpreschools overnight and in thesetimes of crisis, digital learning hasemerged as an indispensableresource for education even for thekids of this tender age.

Digital technology has madethe teachers go beyond their cre-ativity for remote learning oppor-tunities for kids to create intrigu-ing (virtual) experiences. Virtualclasses have made kids meet andinteract with their teachers and

friends which adds lot of enthusi-asm in them. Curriculum shift hasnew goals and anticipation behind.However, there are lot of motordevelopment and skill developmentactivities which can no more be theway how it use to be earlier in class-rooms. Teachers are no longerphysically available there to guidethem hands teaching scissor skills.Parents are also sailing in the sameboat and working from home withchildren at the same time. Hence,

the progress of every student willlook different.

Where we see the world chang-ing for kids and parents; the majordrift is for teachers. Long workinghours everyday, keeping the stu-dents active, focused, motivated,engaged, and connected in whathas been the major focus to achievethe curriculum goals set across.None of this is achievable withoutthe hardworking parents who areworking along with their kids to

ensure that even in this crisis, thekids development should not suf-fer.

School are not only dealingwith the academics but they are alsosupporting the students in otherimportant aspects as well. suc asyoga, arts & craft and drawinglessons are being imparted to them.

Virtual Curriculum shift hasmade the teachers work at digitalpace with keep up of all the latesttrends in virtual teaching skillsacross platforms to ensure the bestpractices are in place even if its vir-tual.

At last, virtual learning is goingto reset the concept of educationentirely, based on preparing forexams only. Now the schools haveadopted the new culture and inenabling personalised lesson chartswhich makes learning more inter-active, fun and engaging. Schoolshave started focusing on co-cur-ricular activities precisely. It makesthe students more self-motivated tofinish their work and stick to theirroutines. Undoubtedly, there is adiscipline in student’s work with-out any peer distraction.

������������. �������������� �"������������?������� �� ���

Civil engineering is one of theoldest disciplines in the field ofengineering and has extended

itself across many technical speciali-ties over the years. It is a well-knownand professional engineering disci-pline that ventures with sectors likeplanning, designing, constructing,developing and maintaining the phys-ical and natural environment. Withthe ever-changing evolution ofhumankind, the development of infra-structure also keeps progressing.Subsequently, the civil engineeringcourse also involves training stu-dents in improving the existing infra-structure and protecting the publicand environmental health. Accordingto a research report by Global MarketInsights, Inc, the Civil EngineeringMarket size is expected to grow up to$11.72 trillion by 2025.

Over the course of years, the studyof civil engineering has undergone amajor transition. The advancing tech-niques for large scale constructionhave led to the production of spec-tacular skyscrapers, dams and bridgesall over the globe. Conventionalmethods of building in bricks andmasonry had reached the limits of fea-sibility in the 18th century itself. Thismakes it essential for educationalinstitutions to keep upgrading theirsyllabus in order to train their studentsto keep up with the changes and makethemselves ready for the progressionthat the future holds.

The four-year degree course ofCivil Engineering equips studentswith tackling problems that the soci-ety faces and provides efficient engi-neering solutions in the various sub-disciplines.

Considering the constantadvancements in the field, let usdelve into the understanding of whatare the steps that students should fol-low in order to be a successful Civilengineer and its scope:

@������0������� ���0�������Civil engineering is a branch of

engineering that can be pursued post-secondary school and students whohave a science background are eligi-ble for the same. It also requires astrong base of physics and mathe-matics for the same. The degree cov-ers a wide range of scientific topics likemechanics, hydraulics, materials sci-ence, the statistical analysis whichenables students to be updated withthe latest developments. Continuous

advancement in the field can open upeven more lucrative opportunities.After earning their professionallicense, students have the option ofreturning to school for a master'sdegree in engineering management ora master of business administration.A graduate degree qualifies engi-neers to serve as architectural or engi-neering managers.

�����0�������� ��� ���In today’s highly competitive,

global world, civil engineering stu-dents who possess the proper train-ing, education, and experience oftenfind multiple career opportunitiesand options for themselves. However,there are a few essential skills that stu-dents need to have a solid grasp of,apart from the theoretical knowledgethat the college imparts.

These skills include mathematicaltraining, technical knowledge, lead-ership skills, problem-solving, organ-isational skills and decision making.Honing these skills not just helps oneace at engineering studies but alsogains the upper hand in building apromising career.

�@������������Qualified civil engineers can

find jobs in various sectors, partic-ularly in the construction sector, onbuildings and large structures of allkinds, transport and communica-tions infrastructure. Traditionally,civil engineering was looked upon asa field that was approached only bystudents wanting to get a job in thepublic sector or the ones having afamily background relevant to thefield of construction. However, withthe broadened scope of opportuni-ties and progress that the industryhas made, students can now tap theprivate sector as well as the interna-tional market. A few job positionsthat can be tapped by civil engi-neering students after the studies areConstruction Manager, Geotechnicalengineer, Environmental engineer,public health engineer and urbanplanning engineer.

������ �������� ���Students wanting to study fur-

ther after their graduation can optfor specialisation as well. The vari-ous specialisations that the students

can choose from after a BE or Btechdegree in civil engineering could beeither a Master’s programme or a cer-tified diploma course in the below-mentioned fields:� Civil Structural design� Building Technology &

Construction Management�Materials Science and Engineering� Coastal Engineering� Construction Engineering� Earthquake Engineering� Environmental Engineering� Geotechnical Engineering� Water Resources Engineering

Considering the above-men-tioned prospects and career scope,one thing that can be concluded isthat the civil engineering sector isadvancing at a phenomenal rateand is no longer traditional.

With the progressive innova-tions in technology and infrastruc-ture, colleges need to upgrade theircourse as we enter this new transi-tion of development through the faceof civil engineering.

���������������������"��%� ������������ ����� � �"�-����� �

Ever since the lockdown wasannounced on account of COVID-

19 pandemic, it took a toll on studentsas educational institutions had to shutdown. But the disappointment wasshort lived as institutions migrated toonline teaching. Students were back tolearning mode but in a virtual class-room. Online teaching has severalflavours but the two major ones areLive classes & Recorded classes. Whichof the two is more effective for learn-ing? Not just that there are several otherquestions like ‘does it depend a learn-er’s profile’; ‘does it depend on the sub-jects that are being taught’. So firstly,let us try and figure out the funda-mental difference between the twomodes of teaching.

Live online classes: It is anInstructor Led Learning Model where-in a teacher has the control of a class;they drive the learning objective andthey even set the pace of learning. Thislearning model allows two-way com-munication wherein the learning issynchronous, in other words a studentcan watch/listen to a teacher, interactwith them and even ask questions.

The learning environment consistsof teacher & peer group. Since it’s a liveclass, teacher can see the students andcan assess them at every moment whilethey are teaching. Depending upon astudent’s goal, progress and level,teachers can adjust/modify their lec-

ture and the difficulty level of samplequestions or numerical problems.While teaching, � a teacher can give questions to stu-dents�a teacher can ask students if they arefacing difficulty in understanding�a student can ask doubts in real time,like they do in an offline class, this isthe most critical aspect of learning.Students learn the most when theirclassmate asks a question or a doubt.

Pre-recorded classes: It is a SelfPaced Learning Model wherein thelearner has the control viz ‘when tostudy’; ‘how much to study’; ‘pace ofstudy’. This learning model allows one-way communication wherein learningis asynchronous. A student can onlywatch/listen to a teacher in a record-

ed video session, so it is passive.There is no difference in lecture con-tent or level of teaching as per learn-er’s ability or appetite. All types of stu-dents are served the same content i.ecommon for all. Hence learning as perstudent’s ability gets suppressed. Thereis no provision for students to ask ques-tions in real time. So the essence of reallearning is lost.

It is ideal for adult learners who arematured & self driven. But in the K-12 segment, students are of lower agegroup, especially those preparing forcompetitive exams, they need a lot ofintervention by teacher. So, a two-waysynchronous communication is theway forward.

������������ ����&�������&0��@ �������������������.����33����A����-���

;�������������.��������� ,�,� ,�.�! ,�*� 2��'���!�--.3����������������������������������������������������$���� �����������������������������$���������������8���������������������������������������������������'(<<*��=3�*(�

/������������� ���� ���7���������������������8���������������� ��������

The JD Institute ofFashion Technology

has been hosting ‘JDTalks’, a series of onlineinteractive sessions, in anationwide campaign toaddress the challengesthrown up by theCOVID-19 pandemic.The series of talks wereaddressed by variousindustry experts likeAnju Modi, RitaGangwani, Rina Dhaka,Farah Khan Ali, Jamal

Shaikh, Nandini Bhalla,and Ronjoy Gogoi,among others.

A recent session wasorganised to discuss self-isolation and social dis-tancing and their impacton mental health.Experts talked about thedifferent aspects of quar-antine and the impor-tance of embracinguncertainty and focusingon things that enhancestudents’ abilities.Followed the session,experts helped the stu-

dents to create a routinethat prioritises mentalwellbeing. They alsoadvised students on howto deal with the quaran-tine period and bringstability, comfort, andhappiness in their lives.

Commenting on theinitiative, Akshra Dalal,Director, JD Institute ofFashion Technology,said: “I am extremelyhappy that our initiativebrings a sense of togeth-erness and self-intro-spection in our students

and audiences. In thisadverse situation, welook at the brighter sideand accept this as anopportunity to exploreour creative talents. As adesign institution, wealways believed inexploring the creativeand meaningful side ofour lives. JD Talks wasone-of-a-kind campaignto help people deal withmental stress andstrengthen their abilitiesunder the guidance ofexperts.”

The whole world, includingIndia, is passing through

unprecedented difficult timesdue to the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic. As all universi-ties, colleges and schools areclosed due to national lockdown, the teaching — learningprocesses and research activi-ties have been badly disrupted.

Recently, the DelhiGovernment announced that itwould conduct online classesfor Class XII students, butschool teachers say that it isimpractical since most of thestudents do not have access tothe required digital facilities.

Teachers working in eliteschools in cities and big townsmay proudly state that theyconduct classes online andhelp the students make use ofthe lock down period in a use-ful manner.

What about teachers work-ing in Government Schools,ZP High Schools, PanchayatSchools in rural areas? Neitherteachers nor students haveaccess to the required digitalfacilities.

However, in the educationdomain, now, we have threemain opportunities:�Our students belong to Gen Z �Numerous web resources and�Enthusiastic teachers.

Gen Z learners are truedigital natives. They are bornin digital era and are familiarwith computers, multimediacontent and internet basedactivities from an early age. Asthey live in online environmentand speak the language oftechnology; they need to betaught differently.

Now, it is the right time tointroduce elearning and devel-op learner autonomy.

The COVID-19 lockdownhas enabled teachers to becomecreative. They can now createe-material such as YouTubevideos and PPTs and share thelinks with the students andengage them during the lock-down period.

In a country where accessto the internet and high speedconnectivity is still a problemand the digital divide is anissue, it is important to addressthese challenges. Those whoare involved in education plan-ning and administration shouldgive a serious thought to reduc-ing the digital divide in thecountry.

The need is to establishdigital and online educationwing in higher education. Weneed to create a mechanism,engaging the students duringthe lockdown period, in aneffective, educative and con-structive way so that they donot lose the focus.

The students going toAmerican Universities for pur-suing higher education and inaddition they prefer AmericanEducation because of the jobopportunities available in theUS. Due to COVID-19 pan-demic, several MNCs arepulling out their operationsfrom China and they may pre-fer India.

Simultaneously, theGovernment is planning thedevelopment of necessaryinfrastructure and creatingconducive environment for theease of doing business.

Post COVID-19 could be agame changer for educationsector in the country, if we usethe technology effectively andmake use of the opportunities.

3������ ��������� 01��,'2

�$���� �� ���� ��� ���������#��� ��������9��5�&57��A>&����)��������"������������ ���� �#�!��������������$������� ,��� ������ �������� ��� ����$� ��#� ���� ����� ����

? �� ������ � ��������$����� ��$�������������#�4�������������$��� ������������������9�&5��&��&���5�������"�����"���������������$���������#������ � ������ �������� ��

%���������������

@,����� $��'�� �!�� �"������$�A�0"���

'����,"�" ���")�����,����.���

�# ���"��,����" ���)���

0,��$��!"���$����! "��,�,� "�������%��$")�����"����

��$�//,�������"�����"��,�,� =

�# .������+�����# ����'�� �" ���"

��$��# ��� ���������/��% ���"�+ ��

�� �����55�������))� �� �1��� ������ �"$)4�/��!�����@���

Page 11: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka

"�����;;��������������������� ����� ����� �

����� ��������

India’s highly successful pacequartet will be on top of itsgame in Tests for “at least two

more years” even as coaches andselectors collectively zero in on thenext batch of potent match-win-ners, feels national bowling coachBharat Arun.

Ishant Sharma (297 wicketsfrom 97 Tests), Mohammed Shami(180 wickets from 49 Tests),Umesh Yadav (144 wickets from 46Tests) and Jasprit Bumrah (68wickets from 14 Tests) were excep-tional in home and away Testmatches during 2018 and 2019 sea-sons.

The next nine Tests (four vsAustralia Down Under and fiveagainst England) could well be thelast hurrah for this quartet as apace unit in red-ball cricket withonly Bumrah (26 years) being inthe early days of his career,

“The present attack has doneexceptionally well and I don’t seeany problem in them continuingas a group for at least two moreyears. If they remain fit and strong,they can well continue after that asa group but yes certainly twoyears at least,” Arun said.

Arun, who has overseen thegolden era of Indian fast bowling,believes that a lot of exciting fastbowlers are coming through theranks and coaches, along withselectors, should be identifying thenext batch in earnest.

“Yes, an exciting crop of fastbowlers is coming through and itwill require a joint effort of the

selectors and coaches to identifythe next batch so that there is ahealthy bench strength,” Arun,himself a former India mediumpacer, said.

The need to identify the benchstrength is necessary to have a solidrotational policy which increases

longevity of speed merchants.“...Also we can use fast bowlers

as per rotation policy dependingon their respective workloads.This is required as you want yourprime fast bowlers to be ready forthe best occasions.”

That is precisely the reason

why Arun wants that when thecamp is held after the lockdown,even the domestic and India A per-formers should get a chance totrain with all the contracted fastbowlers.

“I would like all the contract-ed fast bowlers to be in the camp,

also some of the promising bowlers(fast and spin) who have done wellin domestic cricket as well as forIndia A to be included in thecamp,” he said.

The camp will also be anopportunity for the players to tryand inculcate the habit of not usingsaliva on the cricket ball, whichwould require some conditioning.

“Use of saliva is a very difficulthabit to get over. We will make aconscious effort to get over thishabit during our practice sessions,”he said.

As given in ICC guidelines,Arun also feels that for white ballcricket, a minimum six to eightweeks will be required for fastbowlers and more time for Testmatch fitness.

“Getting ready for Test match-es means more number of oversunder their belt, whereas it will bea little quicker for T20 games. Youneed to go through a process andit will take 6 to 8 weeks,” he said.

Coming back from a forcedlay-off without a chance to do fullfledged skill-based training forthree months could lead to injuriesbut Arun feels that work ethic ofthis current group is such that itwon’t be a cause of concern.

“Honestly, I won’t say I amworried about anything as bowlershave worked really hard to getstronger and that augurs extreme-ly well for our boys.

“Skillwise we just need tosharpen ourselves, the biggestchallenge is how quickly you canget the bowlers match ready,” heconcluded.

����� ���'?75��

Cricket runs the risk of becoming“pretty boring” if balance is not struck

between bat and ball in the wake of thecoronavirus-linked ban on using salivato shine the ball, Australia’s premier pacerMitchell Starc warned on Tuesday.

This will also discourage aspiringyoungsters to take up fast bowling infuture, he reckoned.

“We don’t want to lose that or makeit less even, so there needs to be some-thing in place to keep that ball swinging,”Starc told reporters during an online pressconference.

“Otherwise people aren’t going to bewatching it and kids aren’t goingto want to bebowlers. InAustralia inthe last cou-ple of yearswe’ve had somepretty flat wickets, and ifthat ball’s going straight it’sa pretty boring contest,” headded.

Starc feels bowlersshould be allowed to shinethe ball in other ways forthe time being.

“It’s anunusual timefor the worldand if they’regoing toremove sali-va shiningfor a por-tion of

time they need to think of something elsefor that portion of time as well,” he said.

One of the leading wicket takers withthe pink ball, Starc said he is looking for-ward to playing a day-night Test in thehome series against India.

“I think absolutely a pink-ball Test inthe series against India is a great thing.The fans love it, I think it creates a dif-ferent aspect to the contest, bat and ballare closer together in that contest,” Starcsaid.

While Australia featured in the firstever day-night Test against New Zealandback in 2015 and have played sevengames since then, India played their onlypink ball match last November againstBangladesh.

“India played a pink-ball game inIndia so they’re not completely for-

eign to it. In terms of an advan-tage, if you like, we do have a goodrecord at home with the pink ball,”Starc said.

But the 30-year-old playeddown the “advantage”, saying,

“That might come into a home-ground advantage and it’s no differ-

ent to us going to India and they’vegot the advantage there.

“It’d be great tohave a pink-ball

contest in thatseries and fromthe little bits I’veseen and heard,India are verymuch open tothat as well sothat’s fantastic,”he added.

�� @����� Former fast-bowling star BrettLee has picked Steve Smith over Virat Kohlias the world’s best batsman at the momentbecause of the Australian’s incredible turn-around after the ball-tampering scandal.

Since his return after infamous ball-tam-pering scandal in the Cape Town Test in 2018,Smith amassed runs and regained his statusas one of the modern greats of the game.

“At the moment, I would pick Smith overKohli because of what he has been throughand what he has to overcome,” Lee said dur-ing an Instagram Live session with formerZimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa.

“Steve Smith has been through a lot inthe last couple of years, he has seen a rise withthe way he played in the last 12 months, heis so fidgety, sometimes you are like just relaxmate,” he added.

“I might go with Kohli tomorrow as itdepends on the mood. They are two greatplayers and hard to split.”

Considering the former captain’s num-bers, Lee compared Smith with the legendaryDon Bradman. “I think Smith can be as goodas Don Bradman, there have been talks of himbecoming just like Bradman looking at thenumber.”

Lee reasoned that he chose Smith overKohli as he has come back strongly.

“Look, it is so hard to pick, there are somany qualities in both that I enjoy, from thebowling of point I am trying to look are thereany flaws in both batsmen, both of these bats-men are genuine,” he said.

“Kohli is technically sound, he hitsthrough the V, he used to nick off earlier inhis career, but it is hard to do that now, he isa great leader of his side, I think he would loveto win the IPL.” PTI

����� ��������

The Sports Authority of India(SAI) on Tuesday started

activities in two out of its five sta-diums in the national capitalafter the central Governmentgreen lighted resumption ofoutdoor sports in a phasedmanner.

According to a SAI state-ment, sporting activities haveresumed at the Jawaharlal NehruStadium, Major Dhyan ChandNational Stadium from Tuesdayafternoon in slots of one hourwhich needs to be pre-bookedonline.

However, activities in IndiraGandhi Stadium and KarniSingh Shooting Range areexpected to start in a week’s timeas logistics are being worked out.

Shyama Prasad MukherjeeSwimming Complex will remainshut as use of swimming poolscontinue to remain barred in the

fourth edition of the coron-avirus-forced nationwide lock-down which ends on May 31.

While archery, table tennis,badminton and lawn tennishave started in Jawaharlal NehruStadium initially, activities at theMajor Dhyan Chand NationalStadium will depend on avail-able facilities.

“Initially, sporting activi-ties are being started in those

disciplines where no contact isrequired among players andminimal sharing of equipmentis needed,” the SAI said.

"In keeping with the guide-lines of the government onsocial distancing and hygiene, ithas been decided a maximum ofonly 50 per cent of sports facil-ities in various stadia will bemade operational to ensuresocial distancing.

����� >�)��?�

Gearing up for a pro-posed tour of England in

July, some members of theWest Indies Test team, led byskipper Jason Holder, havereturned to training in smallgroups following a coron-avirus-forced hiatus.

Away from nets for along period due to the lock-down, the players includingKraigg Brathwaite, ShaiHope, Kemar Roach, ShaneDowrich, Shamarh Brooksand Raymon Reifer trainedat the Kensington Ovalbehind closed doors onMonday.

“The initiative to getback to training has beengiven local Governmentapproval, with strict proto-cols of social distancing,observing the guidelines asset out by the authorities andCWI’s Medical AdvisoryCommittee and was con-ducted behind closed doors,”

the country’s cricket boardsaid in a release.

The players trainedunder the watchful eyes ofWest Indies assistant coachRoddy Estwick, as well asother coaches from theBarbados Cricket Association.

“It’s great news that theplayers are now able to begintheir cricket training, havingbeen restricted to fitness andconditioning work at homefor the past few weeks, as we

begin to prepare for defend-ing the Wisden Trophy,” saidJohnny Grave, CEO ofCricket West Indies.

CWI is holding regulardiscussions with the England

and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) regarding the tourcomprising three Tests andremains “increasingly confi-dent” about it going ahead asplanned.

����� ��������

ICC Cricket Committee chairmanAnil Kumble says the inexperience

of local umpires, who are expected toofficiate in Test matches once actionresumes post the Covid-19 pan-demic, is the reason behind recom-mending an extra review, whichaccording to him will give a levelplaying field to both the teams.

Reasoning the ICC CricketCommittee’s recommendations, theformer India captain said the sugges-tion to use of local umpires was madebecause of travel restrictions aroundthe world in the wake of the pandem-ic.

“I think the need of hour was tostart cricket. We also felt that becauseof travel restrictions, there could be

quarantine measures. You don’t havetoo many elite umpires in the panel.So, we felt that for cricket to kickstart,its best to use local umpires,” Kumblesaid on Star Sports show CricketConnected.

“Most countries don’t have theexperience, the local umpires don’thave the experience of a Test Matchor being part of a Test match. The rea-son that we started neutral umpiring20 years ago was because there wasthe perception of a bias.

“The recommendation for anextra review for both teams is not toroot that out but we felt that therecould be potential inexperience beingin a Test match situation, which iswhy the advantage of the additionalreview would probably benefit boththe teams,” he added.

�� ��� Zlatan Ibrahimovic haspicked up a calf injury and notruptured his Achilles tendon asfeared, AC Milan confirmed onTuesday.

“Ibrahimovic has sustainedan injury to his right soleusmuscle during yesterday’s(Monday) training session,” theSerie A team said in a statement.

“The Achilles tendon isperfectly intact. The player willundergo a scan in 10 daystime.”

Milan did not say for howlong the 38-year-old would beout of action, although Italianmedia reports say he could befacing four weeks on the side-lines, as Serie A eyes a potentialrestart next month.

OUT FOR ‘FORESEEABLE FUTURE’ ���I�0�� RB Leipzig forwardYussuf Poulsen could be out forthe rest of the season after theBundesliga club said on Tuesdayhe had damaged ligaments inhis right ankle.

Leipzig said an MRI scanon Monday showed the

Denmark international “suf-fered ligament damage to hisright ankle in yesterday’s(Sunday) win at Mainz and willbe out for the foreseeablefuture”.

In his absence, CzechRepublic striker Patrik Schick,on loan from Roma, is set topartner Timo Werner up frontagainst Hertha Berlin onWednesday. AFP

Test pace quartet will shine for ‘at least two more years’ �������$��� ��� ����������)$������1�����

+��((�������D������'��!��������� �� ��(��������D��������*�&�(� �

3���������������������� �"��� �������������������������"�����A ������������#� ��������#������%������ ��� ������!�� � �������� ���������� �����������������������������������������!�������������������0�������� ��%B�C!����������������D�$� ������������ ����������������A ������������#"E������ ���� ��

+����#��$���� !��1������ ��� �

3�������*����������������� ���������

��0����� Starved of Livesporting action for weeksowing to the Covid-19pandemic, fans will havehigh expectations whensport resumes behindclosed doors, feels WestIndies head coach PhilSimmons. “I think a lot ofsport, for a while, is goingto go ahead in front closeddoors, and I think theexpectancy here is highbecause I think peoplewant some kind of sport togo on,” England-basedSimmons said.

“Sport is a part of life

in England and even in thePremiership, there’s a lot oftalk about if it’s going tostart back soon or not. Butpeople are looking for-ward to sport coming backbecause the one thing thatyou’re missing here on theTV everyday is (Livesport). “There’s a lot of oldgames being shown andpeople are enjoying that,but they’re looking for-ward to Live sport; sothere’s a lot of hope ithappens, but that dependson how things are puttogether.” PTI

� ����������!������F������ �������� ��������9�$��� ��

4������ ����������?���������A�� �0������)��'���������!*�� �5��9����� �-����2�!*

G������������� !������������������ � � ���������� ������������������������������������� �����5��� ����$������� ���

�������� ������� ����-��������������������������-�����"��������$����������4 ������$������ ������������������ �� - �H���������

����� �?��?�

Bournemouth goal-keeper Aaron

Ramsdale describedfinding out he hadtested positive forcoronavirus as “scaryand worrying”, despitedisplaying no symp-toms.

The Englandunder-21 internation-al was one of two pos-itive cases from thesecond round of test-ing carried out byPremier League clubs

as they gear up for areturn to action nextmonth.

“It’s definitely ashock — I’ve not beenin contact with any-body and I’ve now gotit,” Ramsdale told TheSun.

“I’m showing nosymptoms so the factthat a healthy youngperson could poten-tially have it is defi-nitely scary and wor-rying.”

Ramsdale testednegative in the first

round of testing andbelieves he must havecontracted the viruswhile shopping.

“This last week,I’ve done the usualthings like going tothe supermarket andgoing to the petrolstation to fill my car.

“Once you’ve con-tracted the virus, itshows in your blood.

“That was obvi-ously not the case(after the first test)and it’s been the threedays between the two

tests when I’ve con-tracted the virus.

“I’ve been just ascareful as before onlockdown and itseems to be a shop-ping trip where I’vecaught it.”

A total of eightcases of coronavirusamong players andstaff have been detect-ed from 1,744 tests inthe Premier League.

Results from athird round of testingwill be revealed onWednesday.

��������:���*�2�-��������'��!��;'�

Page 12: ˇ ˘ = # 5 ˝˙˙ 5 D &E )˝ >@ ˛&>&&55 7>? ’?˝& ’7’& &5 B …...2020/05/27  · want to do and they have the right to live the life they want to live,” he added. Karnataka