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U’khand disaster: 3 more bodies recovered; toll mounts to 61

Puducherry L-G asks CM to prove majority

on Feb 22

MPOST BUREAU

TAPOVAN: Two more bodies were recovered on Thursday from a tunnel of the NTPC’s flood-ravaged Tapovan-Vish-nugad hydel project and one from Raini as rescue operations continued for the 12th day to reach workers feared trapped inside after a flash flood in Uttarkhand’s Chamoli district.

The confirmed death toll in the Chamoli disaster that took place on February 7 has now mounted to 61 while 143 are still missing, police said.

Thirteen workers have so far been pulled out of the sludge-choked tunnel at Tapo-van where a large number of people were at work when the tragedy occurred following a flash flood in Rishiganga.

One human limb was also recovered from the tunnel on Thursday, taking the total num-ber of human body parts recov-ered from different parts of the affected areas to 27.

PUDUCHERRY: Puduch-erry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararjan on Thursday ordered a floor test for the Congress government in the union territory on February 22, to ascertain whether it has a majority in the wake of a spate of resignations by the ruling party MLAs that has reduced its strength to 14.

The strength of both the ruling and opposition camps stands at 14 in the 33-mem-ber house, including three nominated legislators of the BJP. The Assembly has five vacancies.

Congress’ strength is ten, including the Speaker, while its ally DMK has three mem-bers. An independent also supports the government.

Earlier on Thursday, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who was given additional charge of Puduch-erry, was sworn in as Lt Gov-ernor of the Union Territory. Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Sanjib Banerjee administered the oath of office to her at a simple function at the Raj Nivas. MPOST

MPOST BUREAU

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday closed the proceedings ini-tiated to probe a larger conspiracy behind sexual harassment allegations against ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi and “fix-ing” of benches at the top court.

A bench headed by Justice San-jay Kishan Kaul said that nearly two years have passed and the possibil-ity of retrieving electronic records is very little.

The top court, while closing the suo motu proceedings in the case, said the in-house probe has been completed and the three-member panel headed by Justice S A Bobde, the current CJI, has already given the report exonerat-ing the former CJI.

The bench, also comprising jus-tices AS Bopanna and V Ramasub-ramanian, said the Justice (retd) A K Patnaik panel was not able to get elec-tronic records like WhatsApp messages to probe the conspiracy and hence no purpose would be served by continu-ing with the suo motu case.

The top court referred to the letter of the Director of Intelligence Bureau that some conspiracy might have ensued due to certain tough decisions taken by former Chief Justice Gogoi like verdict on preparation of the National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

We are of the view that the suo motu proceedings in the present case is accordingly closed and the report be sealed again, it said, adding that the veracity of the allegations levelled by lawyer Utsav Singh Bains could not be verified completely due to the limited access of records and other collabora-tive material.

A former Supreme Court woman employee had accused former CJI Gogoi of sexual harassment. In 2018, the woman was posted as a Junior Court Assistant at Justice Gogoi’s resi-dence. The woman had claimed that she was later laid off. The woman had sent a copy of her affidavit to 22 judges. On this basis, four web portals had published news about the Chief Justice. The hearing was started in the Supreme Court on the matter in April 2019.

SC disposes of sexual harassment case against former CJI Gogoi

Says can’t rule out conspiracy

PM Modi calls for cooperation on medical emergencies

Suggests special visa scheme for South Asian countries for deployment of doctors, nurses

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Prime Minis-ter Narendra Modi on Thurs-day addressed a workshop on Covid Management with 10 neighboring countries includ-ing those in the extended neighbourhood. Prime Minis-ter said that this epidemic has taught us the important lesson of cooperation and solidarity. He called for further strength-ening cooperation between South Asian and Indian Ocean island states, saying that the regional solidarity shown dur-ing the Covid epidemic has proved that such cooperation is possible.

“If the 21st century is to be the Asian century, it can not be so without greater integration among the countries of South Asia and the Indian Ocean islands,” he said at a workshop on “COVID-19 Management: Experience, Good Practices and Way Forward”.

Prime Minister Modi called for introducing some special schemes for mutual help in times of Covid crisis. He sug-

gested a special visa scheme for the deployment of doctors and nurses during emergency health conditions in the Asian region. He also said that if we focus on what unites us, our region can not only overcome the corona epidemic but also other challenges.

He also wondered if civil aviation ministries of these countries coordinate a regional air ambulance agreement for

medical contingencies.“Can we create a regional

platform for collating, compil-ing and studying data about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among our popu-lations? Can we similarly create a regional network for promot-ing technology-assisted epide-miology, for preventing future pandemics?” Modi said.

Modi asked if these coun-tries can share their success-ful public health policies and schemes beyond COVID-19 and offered Ayushman Bharat, a health insurance cover for the poor, and Jan Arogya scheme, under which medicines are sold at affordable rates, as case studies from India for its friends in the region.

“Such collaboration can become the pathway for greater regional cooperation among us in other areas too. After all, we share so many common chal-lenges -climate change, natural disasters, poverty, illiteracy, and social and gender imbalances. But we also share the power of centuries’ old cultural and peo-ple-to-people linkages,” he said.

Have not leaked any info, say cops on Disha’s plea against ‘media trial’

HC issues notice to news channels, NBSAARNABJIT SUR

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that it has not leaked any personal infor-mation or WhatsApp chats of 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi to media houses and that it is willing to file an affidavit before the court in this regard.

The submission on behalf of the Delhi Police was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, in response to a petition filed by Ravi seek-ing directions to police to restrain leakage of investiga-tion material in connection with the “Toolkit” FIR lodged against her, to television news channels, claiming that it is “grossly violative of her right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence”.

A single-bench of Justice Pratibha M Singh, said that the issue needs consideration and served notice to news channels Times Now, CNN News18 and the News Broad-casting Standards Authority (NBSA) and asked the Delhi Police to file a counter-affida-

vit, further listing the matter for hearing on Friday.

Ravi, represented by Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, has raised concerns in her petition regarding the “media trial” surrounding her arrest and the ongoing investigation, “where she is being viscerally attacked by several media houses...on the basis of leaked investigative matter and prej-udicial press briefings, which is grossly violative of her right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence”.

The petition further states

that the “illegal actions and omissions” on part of the news channels has “irrevo-cably violated the petitioner’s fundamental right to privacy, her right to reputation, her dignity, and the consequent effect of the administration of justice and right to fair trial…”.

During the hearing, Advo-cate Sibal argued that the media “in its desperation to grab TRPs....is trampling on the fundamental rights of a person”.

“Police appears to be the driving force and engine of this infraction. It is not a barren area any more...the courts have taken note,” Sibal submitted.

Meanwhile, Solicitor Gen-eral Mehta told the court that there is no leakage of infor-mation from police. “We may even put it on an affidavit,” he told the court.

“This (petition) is made for media attention…”, Mehta told the court.

Sibal further argued that “a young girl” has been made the subject of a “media feed-ing frenzy”. Continued on P6

India 3rd on list of countries with highest cumulative vaccination numbers: GovtMaha govt imposes lockdown in Yavatmal, Amravati district

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: India is registering a sig-nificant reduction in fresh Covid-19 cases as after recording below 10,000 fresh cases of Coronavirus for the four times in February, the country on Thurs-day recorded 12,881 new infections tak-ing the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,09,50,201, which includes 1,06,56,845 recoveries and 1,56,014 deaths.

On the vaccination front, India has become the third country in the world to vaccinate over 98.5 lakh healthcare work-ers in 34 days of the inoculation drive.

Meanwhile, concerned by growing number of Coronavirus cases, the admin-istration in eastern Maharashtra’s Yavat-mal district ordered a ten-day lockdown from Thursday night. Earlier in the day, a weekend lockdown was also announced in Amravati district of the same Vidarbha

region from 8 pm on Saturday to 7 am on Monday.

With 101 new fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, the case fatality has dropped to 1.42 per cent, while the recov-ery rate has improved to 97.32 per cent. The Covid-19 active caseload remained below 1.5 lakh as the there are 1,37,342 active cases of Coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 1.25 per cent of the total caseload. Continued on P6

In today’s paper

...CITY

‘BJP HAS FAILED TO RUN MCDS’ 3

NATION

PETROL PRICES: CPM SLAMS GOVT 5

EDIT

SENSITIVE ISSUE 7

INTERNATIONAL

FB BLOCKS NEWS ACCESS IN OZ 8

BUSINESS

DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL FALLS 40% 10

SPORT

OSAKA BEATS SERENA 11

CHENNAI: All-rounders and foreign fast bowlers fetched the big bucks at this year’s IPL players’ auction where South Africa’s Chris Morris clinched a record-breaking Rs 16.25 crore deal with Raj-asthan Royals and uncapped Karnataka player Krishnappa Gowtham also invited a bank-breaking bid.

Morris became the most expensive buy in the IPL auc-tion history with Rajasthan Royals shelling out big money for the all-rounder even as uncapped players such as Gowtham also hogged the limelight here on Thursday.

Spin bowling all-rounder Gowtham was bought for a record Rs 9.25 crore by the Chennai Super Kings. The 32-year-old is currently with the Indian team as a net

bowler for the ongoing Test series against England.

Tamil Nadu’s Shahrukh Khan, named after the Bol-lywood superstar, expectedly got a handsome Rs 5.25 crore deal from Punjab Kings, more than 51 times his base price of Rs 20 lakh. Shahrukh has been in the limelight with his exploits in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Gowtham, an IPL regu-lar who was released by Pun-jab Kings, was the second off-spinner CSK bought after England’s Moeen Ali. With the hefty price tag, Gowtham became the most expensive uncapped buy in IPL history. His base price was also Rs 20 lakh.

Morris’ big pay day came after another all-rounder and perennial under-performer,

Australian Glenn Maxwell, once again managed to attract a winning Rs 14.25 crore bid from Royal Challengers Bangalore.

New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson, who is known more for his performances in Test cricket, secured a massive Rs 15 crore deal from the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Punjab Kings, who went into the auction with the max-imum purse among eight teams, paid Rs 14 crore to rope in Australian pacer Jhye Richardson hoping he will plug the gap in their leaking bowling department.

The 24-year-old, who has played two Tests, 13 ODIs and nine T20Is for Australia, was the leading wicket-taker in the recent Big Bash League.

Continued on P6

IPL auction: Record-breaking ̀ 16.25 crore deal for Morris; Gowtham goes for ̀ 9.25 cr

ALL-ROUNDERS AND FOREIGN FAST BOWLERS FETCH BIG BUCKSBJP will come to

power in Puducherry, Telangana, NDA in TN

KISHAN REDDY

POLICE SAY NO APPARENT INJURY MARKS ON GIRLS, SUSPECT POISONING

Unnao: Two girls found dead, third critical; police register murder case

OUR CORRESPONDENT

UNNAO (UP): Police on Thursday reg-istered a case of murder into the deaths of two teenage girls whose bodies were found in a field here even as a post-mor-tem revealed no injury marks. A third girl, who is on ventilator support at a Kanpur hospital, is being treated for sus-pected poisoning. Civil societies have demanded that the third minor be air-lifted to Delhi’s All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The Uttar Pradesh human rights body has taken note of the incident at Babu-

hara village in Asoha — around 36 km south of Lucknow — in Unnao district on Wednesday evening and political par-

ties slammed the Yogi Adityanath gov-ernment over it. Police force have been deployed in the village as many people are sitting on dharna. Family members of the victims and villagers are demand-ing a CBI probe into the matter.

Although the cause of death could not be immediately ascertained in the post-mortem, samples from the girls’ viscera have been preserved for further exami-nation, police said.

Police ruled out the suggestion that the victims’ hands were tied, citing the absence of any injury marks.

Continued on P6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses at the Workshop on ‘Covid-19 Management in New Delhi, on Thursday PTI

TOOLKIT CASE

Activists stage a protest demanding release of young climate activist Disha Ravi, on Thursday PTI

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Farmers’ groups, opposing the three new agricultural laws of the Centre, organised a ‘’rail roko’’ movement across the country for four hours on Thursday. At the same time, the railways said that this movement had a negligible impact on train ser-vices, although the authorities stopped many trains at stations as a precaution.

A railway spokesperson said the agitation passed off without any untoward inci-dent. Trains began running normally across the country within an hour after the agi-tation ended at 4 pm, he said.

In Punjab and Haryana, farmers sat on railway tracks in many places, affecting the normal movement of trains on some routes. Protests were also staged at some places in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. However, in many states, it was a low-key affair.

The All India Kisan Sabha claimed the agitation received “massive response across the country”. It fur-ther claimed that some activ-ists were arrested in Madhya

Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana.

“The massive success of the rail roko struggle is a warn-ing to the Modi government. The farmers across the country have expressed their determi-nation to continue the struggle till the demands are met with,” the Sabha said in a statement.

In Delhi, entry and exit at four metro stations, includ-ing at the Tikri border, one of the epicentres of the farm-ers’ agitation, were shut by the DMRC authorities for nearly four hours. The Delhi Police had tightened security in several parts of the national

Capital, especially near the railway tracks.

Earlier, around 25 trains were regulated by the Railways on account of the agitation called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest against the three farm laws.

“Majority of the zones have reported not a single case of any stoppage of train by the agitators. Few trains were stopped in some areas of some Railway zones but now train operation is normal and trains are being operated smoothly. While dealing with

the Rail roko agitation, utmost patience was exercised by all concerned,” he said.

The railways deployed 20 additional companies of the RPSF across the country, especially in Punjab, Hary-ana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Farmer groups con-gregated in Haryana’s Ambala, Kurukshetra and Charkhi Dadri railway stations, accord-ing to officials.

In Kurukshetra, some pro-testers climbed atop the Gita Jayanti Express train, which was stationary at that time, resulting in some delay. Continued on P6

Farmers stage nationwide ‘rail roko’, say govt will have to repeal agri lawsRailways says negligible impact, no untoward incident reported

Highlights » Trains began running nor-mally across the country within an hour after the agitation ended at 4 pm

» Farmer Unions said agitation received “massive response across the country

» They claimed some activists were arrested in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana

Members of various farmer organisations block a railway track during a four-hour ‘rail roko’ demonstration, in Sonipat district, on Thursday PTI

NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021|millenniumpost

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Printed and Published by Jaiyendra Kumar Sharma on behalf of Front Row Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at The Indian Express Pvt. Ltd., A-8, Sector-7, Noida-201 301 (U.P.) and published from First Floor, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002. Editor: Durbar Ganguly. Email: durbarganguly@gmail.com, Tel. No. 011-47777500

mp city2 TRAINS HALTED IN GHAZIABAD, SONEPAT'RAIL ROKO' PROTEST

GENDER SENSITISATION

Gender sensitisation workshops being held for the benefit of school children by senior officers of Delhi Police

BEAT THE HEAT

A monkey drinks water from a tap on Thursday PIC/PTI

Security tightened; Narela station trainless for 4 hrs

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The Narela rail-way station in Delhi was witness to an unusual sight on Thursday — hundred-odd police person-nel and about 20 people dot-ted its platforms but none were expecting a train anytime soon.

With farmers blocking tracks in different parts of Punjab and Haryana as part of their "rail roko" agitation against the Cen-tre's three farm laws, no train arrived at the Narela station post noon.

According to a senior police officer, the trains scheduled to arrive at Narela were stopped by the protesting farmers in Hary-ana's Sonepat.

"Jhelum Express passed the station in the morning, and no train arrived after that," the police officer said.

He added that approximately 100 personnel drawn from the local police and the Indo-Tibetan

Border Police (ITBP) have been deployed at the railway station to respond to any eventuality during the agitation.

Station Superintendent H S Tyagi said, "One train coming from Bathinda (in Punjab) that was scheduled to arrive here at 11:30 hours has been stopped somewhere before Sonepat, and other trains coming from Kuruk-shetra, Panipat and Ambala, will be affected. Things are expected to go back to normal after 4 pm when the farmers call off their rail roko event."

He, however, said the "rail roko" has not affected passen-ger movement at Narela and the number of people arriving and departing the station was more or less similar.

The Delhi Police on Thurs-day tightened security in sev-eral parts of the national capital, especially near railway tracks, in view of the "rail roko" (rail blockade) protest.

According to a senior police officer, additional staff has been deployed at several points near railway tracks and patrolling has also been increased.

Though there is no informa-tion on whether rail blockades will take place inside the national capital, police have made ade-quate security arrangements, another officer said.

The railways have deployed 20 additional companies of the Railway Protection Special Force across the country, with a focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, in the wake of the "rail roko" call.

And the entry and exits at four metro stations, including at the Tikri border, one of the epicentres of the farmers' agita-tion, were shut by the DMRC authorities for nearly four hours on Thursday in view of the secu-rity situation due to the rail roko.

The Delhi Metro Rail Cor-poration (DMRC) tweeted to inform the commuters about the closure of entry and exit at these four stations.

After about four hours, the DMRC tweeted again to inform the commuters that the four sta-tions were reopened.

The Samyukt Kisan Mor-cha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions spearheading the protest, had announced the rail blockade last week to press for its demand for a repeal of the laws. The SKM had said the blockade will be held across the country from 12 noon to 4 pm.

NIKITA JAIN, PIYUSH OHRIE AND RAHUL SINGH

SONEPAT/GHAZIABAD/GURUGRAM/NOIDA: Areas in and around the National Capital Region saw a peace-ful four-hour-long rail roko movement by farmers protest-ing against the Centre's three agri laws. Most regions saw peaceful railway track block-ades, with even Railways offi-cials saying the movement did not result in any untoward incidents.

The Samyukt Kisan Mor-cha, under whose banner farm unions are leading the agita-tion against the three laws, was heading the protest at Sonepat, where farmers from nearby vil-lages also joined in and blocked railway tracks.

“Everything we do is going to be peaceful. We will just sit here peacefully and any train comes, we will block them,” a farmer from Sonepat said.

On being asked whether that will create issues for the passengers, another farmer said that no sort of disturbance or nuisance will be tolerated and that everything will be eased down for the passengers. “We have brought sweets and eat-

ables for anyone who wants to eat. The passengers need not worry. Whatever we are doing, we are doing it for our rights,” Virendra Singh, another farmer from Sonepat said.

Meanwhile, locals in the area also came out in support of the protest. “Our farmers have been sitting peacefully on the tracks for quite some time and the least we can do is come in solidarity,” Honey, a resident said. The farmers sat and raised slogans, blocking the tracks.

The rail roko protest had largely taken over railway

tracks in the states of Pun-jab and Haryana, in addition to isolated protests across the country in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and many other states.

In Haryana's Palwal, the rail roko protest was a suc-cess with a large number of volunteers participating. Tak-ing note of the violence that was reported on January 26, the agitators were careful. The protests started at 12:00 pm and ended at 4:00 pm as discussed. Not only in Palwal but agitators were able to make an impact in

other cities of Bahadurgarh, Rohtak and Kurukshetra.

In Gurugram, farmers protested at the Patli railway station 18 kilometres from Gurugram city. Being a small railway station where not many trains pass by, there were fewer agitators that came for the pro-test and the crowds ultimately thinned out before 4:00 pm.

“I want to say that it is not the crowd that matters but the intent. We knew that we had come to protest at a small sta-tion where no trains pass by but we wanted to make a point and

register our protest in support of farmers and workers of our country,“ said Mahender, one of the protesters.

In Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar also the protest was peaceful on Thursday; except for in certain areas of Modinagar and Dankaur sta-tions. Otherwise, the effect of the stir was negligible in both the districts. As per an official at Ghaziabad station, the Harid-war bound Utkal express was halted at the station as farmers in Modinagar had blocked the rail line. In the Dankaur railway station of Greater Noida, pro-testing farmers halted the Bihar bound Darbhanga Express for nearly half an hour around 2 pm. Fruits and lassi were dis-tributed to passengers boarded in the trains that had been blocked by the farmers.

However, trains scheduled to reach Narela were stopped at the Sonepat blockade. Accord-ing to a senior police officer, the trains scheduled to arrive at Narela were stopped by the protesting farmers in Haryana's Sonepat.

“One train was stopped from crossing here, while there has been no other movement,” a local at the protest said.

NCR sees a peaceful 'rail roko' protest

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has directed the concerned authority to register an FIR under the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Sched-uled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in a case related to a caste-based question being allegedly asked in the primary teachers' recruitment exam by the Delhi Subordi-nate Services Selection Board (DSSSB).

Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Bedi said prima facie the alleged words in questions papers of 2018 and 2019 dis-closed commission of vari-ous cognizable offences by the DSSSB. The court directed the officer empowered under the Act to conduct an investigation in the case and file a monthly report before the court.

"I observe that the question with caste abusive words was set up in paper by paper setter not only once i.e. on October 13, 2018, but again the very next year i.e. in paper dated August 18, 2019.

"Prima facie the alleged words in questions papers of 2018 & 2019 as pointed out by complainant disclose com-mission of various cogniza-ble offences committed by the respondent/DSSSB and an investigation is required into these," the judge said in his order passed on February 17.

The court's directions came while allowing an application filed by advocate Satya Prakash Gautam, seeking action against the DSSSB chairman and the erring officials of the examina-tion committee under the Act.

The judge said that his attention has been drawn to the detailed report by the investi-gating officer filed in Septem-ber 2019 and the attempts of the Board in concealing infor-mation as to the question paper setters despite repeated orders of the court.

"The response of DSSSB as filed during hearing was that DSSSB did not have an in-house facility for paper set-ting or vetting; the same being a highly secretive process, where contents of paper are not shared with anyone," the court said in its order.

It had earlier pulled up the police for not making any efforts to identify the two paper setters, who had alleg-edly put a caste-based ques-tion in the exam, and said it was dismayed by their "callous approach" in the matter.

Following this, DSSSB Chairman Santosh Vaidya had appeared before the court through video conferencing and submitted the details of the paper setters in two sealed envelopes.

The police had told the court in its status report that the person who had allegedly put a caste-based question in the exam has been removed from the board's paper setters panel. They, however, had said the board did not disclose the name or identity of the paper setter who had included the caste-based question.

The board had issued a notice after media reports of the alleged casteist ques-tion came out in 2018, saying the question having casteist undertones appeared due to an "inadvertent error".

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Taking a strong note of non-filing of charge sheets by investigating officers (IOs) despite being forwarded by a senior officer, a Delhi court has sought the filing sta-tus of charge sheets forwarded in the last three years and said it would definitely "unearth many hidden ghosts" (files) and "wake many souls (IOs) from slumber".

Non-filing of charge sheets despite being forwarded by a senior officer amounted to undermining the hierarchy and discipline of service, the court said.

It added that late filing of charge sheets despite timely completion of the investiga-tion shook the confidence of an ordinary citizen in the jus-tice delivery system.

A time period be fixed for filing forwarded charge sheets and IOs should be asked to strictly comply with it, the court said, adding that such time should not be more than

30 days from the date of for-warding of charge sheet by the concerned ACP.

Additional Chief Metro-politan Magistrate Arvind Bansal directed the concerned Additional Commissioners of Police (ACPs) to prepare a list of the charge sheets for-warded in the last three years (2018-2020) and sought a sta-tus report of filing from the concerned IOs.

It further directed the con-cerned ACPs to devise a mech-anism under the guidance of DCP (South-East) to check and ensure that all the charge sheets signed/ forwarded by them were duly submitted with the court.

It further said that the IOs need to understand and know that investigation of all 'sum-mons cases' generally needed to be concluded within six months from the date on which the accused was arrested, and failure might result in an order by the concerned Magistrate stopping further investigation into the offence.

ABHAY SINGH

NEW DELHI: The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police will now probe case of financial irregularities in two child care homes in South Delhi. The law enforcement agency has regis-tered the case on the complaint of the National Commission For Protection of Child Rights.

NCPCR told police they observed that Umeed Aman Ghar and Khushi Rainbow chil-dren care homes in South Delhi, linked to Harsh Mander, had been receiving funds from mul-tiple sources, including the state govt and private NGOs. NCPCR asked these two homes and their parent NGO, Centre for Equity Studies to submit documents related to the financial grants being received by them.

"After perusing the docu-ments submitted by these homes and Centre for Equity Studies with the documents received from the State government, Rain-bow Foundation of India, ARUN, Jaipur Nagar Nigam and DUSIB, several discrepancies have been

observed by the Commission," NCPCR told police.

As per NCPCR, the NGO had informed that these two homes had been receiving grants from various govt departments. After the NCPCR had inquired from these departments about the details of funds, discrepan-cies had been found. "The NGO had informed that Umeed Aman Ghar had received Rs 20,86,676 in 2018-19 and Rs 14,15,848 in 2019-20 under Samgra Shik-sha Abhiyan. The Department of Education has informed the NCPCR that Umeed Aman Ghar had been provided 43.43 (lacs) in 2018-19 and 35.25 (lacs) in 2019-20," the complainant told police.

The Department of Educa-tion did not provide details of funds given to Khushi Rain-bow Homes. This discrepancy between the grants given by the State government and the funds disclosed by the NGO indicates misappropriation of funds and there is no clar-ity as to the utilisation of the funds given to these homes

either. Earlier, South district police

had registered a case under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Pro-tection of Children) Act on the complaint of the regis-trar of NCPCR against alleged violations in Umeed Aman Ghar and Khushi Rainbow Home. The NGO linked to Man-der that oversees the work in these CCIs has previously denied these charges and in a statement had said it had not received a copy of the inspection report from inspecting agencies. It said it was willing to comply with the child rights body's rec-ommendations and that it was already complying with monthly inspections.

“It is important to note that NCPCR has not waited to weigh and evaluate the feedback and suggestions of the government agencies mainly CWC and SSA who visited the homes after NCPCR’s visit,” the statement said. “The SSA visit done on 24th December 2020 has not found any violations of child rights or sexual abuse in the home.”

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Six people including an employee of a gun house, MBA graduates were arrested for illegal ammunition supply. Around 4,500 cartridges have been recovered from their possession.

Police identified the accused as Ramesh Kumar (46), Deep-anshu Mishra (35), Amit Rao (33), Ikram (40), Akram (42) and Manoj Kumar Chauhan (39). "On February 14, Ramesh and Deepanshu were arrested near Outer Ring road. Four thousand illegal cartridges were recovered from both accused. Further, Amit was arrested in Rajasthan. Later during probe, other accused were also nabbed.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said Ramesh is working in Ambala gun house since 2018 and earning Rs 10,000 per month as salary. Earlier, he worked in another gun house in Ambala. "Due to low income, he

lured Amit (owner of Ambala gun house) to sell cartridges ille-gally in the grey market so that they could earn quick money," police said. Amit used to pur-chase cartridges from ammuni-tion company but did not make a proper entry in the record book.

"Amit did MBA, hotel man-agement and had worked with few reputed hotels," the offi-cial said.

Both used to sell these car-tridges after illegally siphoning off from ammunition stock at Ambala gun house, at higher rates — Rs 125 per cartridge

— to various people including Deepanshu Mishra and other three arrested accused.

Another accused Mishra did his MBA degree in mar-keting and used to work in a software company in Noida. His father had a gun house in Etawah, UP which was closed after the death of his father in 2015. Deepanshu Mishra used to visit Karnal with his father and there he met Ramesh Kumar. Due to lockdown, he was sacked from the job. He contacted RKu-mar and asked him to supply cartridges illegally to him for quick money.

Accused Ikram and Akram are real brothers. "As they hail from Western UP where illegal arms and ammunition are status symbols and illegal cartridges are always in good demand, they started procuring car-tridges from Ramesh," police said. Chauhan disclosed that he is part of illegal cartridges supply syndicate for the last couple of years.

RAHUL SINGH

NOIDA: A man allegedly strangulated his wife and then hanged himself from a ceiling fan at their rented house in Wajidpur village near Sector 135 of Noida on late Wednes-day night. Police have sus-pected domestic dispute to be reason behind the incident.

According to police, the deceased have been identified as Sanjay, a native of Lakh-impur Khiri district and his wife Nisha alias Naina. San-jay was found hanging by the ceiling fan while Nisha’s body was found lying on floor of the room with strangulation marks around her neck.

“A police control room call was received and the caller informed police about the inci-dent. A police team rushed to

the spot and took the bod-ies into custody which were later sent for post-mortem,” said Kumar Ran Vijay Singh, Additional Deputy Commis-sioner of Police, Noida.

“Preliminary investigations showed that the deceased cou-ple had a son who was married but they had differences with each other. We have not recov-ered any suicide note from the spot and we suspect that the incident was fallout of family dispute,” the officer added.

NEW DELHI: Three members of the Neeraj Bawania gang were arrested for allegedly demanding Rs 1 crore from a businessman as protection money, police said on Thursday. The accused have been identified as Vivek Dabas alias Rahul (23), a resident of Sultan-pur Dabas village and Himan-shu (20) and Ravi Dalala (25), both residents of Hiran Kudna village, they said.

On February 2, Jafapur Kalan police station received informa-tion that some unidentified men had fired outside a shop, police said. Tarun, who was the com-plainant and runs a spare parts shop, said two men came to his shop and assaulted him. They also demanded protection money.

He alleged that a few days back, he had also got a slip asking him to pay Rs 1 crore, a senior police officer said.

On December 4 last year, Begumpur police station also received information that a per-son had got gunshot injury in Rohini's Sector-24, they said. On reaching the spot, they found two people with gunshot inju-ries. One of them, Yovin, was taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, while the other man named Sachin received treatment, the officer said. MPOST

NEW DELHI: The maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 27.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, on Thursday, the India Meteorological Depart-ment said. Parts of the national Capital witnessed mist and shal-low fog in the morning but the sky was clear during the day, it said. The city recorded a mini-mum temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius, a notch below the sea-son's average. The humidity lev-els oscillated between 52 and 100 per cent, a MeT official said.

The weatherman has pre-dicted mainly clear sky and shal-low to moderate fog on Friday morning in the city.

"The maximum and mini-mum temperatures are expected to be around 28 and 10 degrees Celsius," the official said. MPOST

Man hangs himself after killing his wife in Noida

Delhi court orders FIR for repeated caste-based Qs in 2018 & 2019 DSSB exam

Court summons filing status of chargesheet

forwarded in last 3 yrs

Harsh Mander-linked CCIs now face EOW FIR

4,500 live cartridges seized; 6 arrested

Three members of Neeraj Bawana gang arrested for demanding Rs 1 cr from businessman

Delhi records max temp of 27.8 degrees Celsius

EXTORTION ATTEMPT: 3, INCLUDING STATE-LEVEL KABADDI PLAYER, HELDNEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday said they have arrested three criminals including a state-level Kabbadi player for demanding Rs 1 crore protec-tion money in Dwarka area. They were nabbed near Nangli Dairy Nala Road Najafgarh. Accused Vivek (Kabbadi player) has confessed that he along with his two other associates had fired at a businessman's home in Kajipur village on the instance of one Sunny Issapur and one Naveen Bali to demand Rs 1 crore as protection money, police said.

AT A GLANCE

Passengers stranded at Anand Vihar Railway Station due to the 'rail roko' demonstration on Thursday PTI

mp city 3

CM KEJRIWAL GIVES RS 1 CRORE EACH TO KIN OF TWO CORONA WARRIORS

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday provided financial assistance of Rs 1 crore each to the family members of two corona warriors who passed away after getting infected with the virus while on duty. The pain these families have faced is irreplaceable but I am hopeful that with this financial assistance, they will get some relief, Kejriwal said after meeting the family members of Om Pal Singh and Raj Kumar, both Delhi government employees.

MIN LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF LEGAL METROLOGY DEPARTMENTNEW DELHI: Delhi’s Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Imran Hussain on Thursday laid the foundation stone of the Delhi government’s office of Legal Metrology Department in the Institutional Area of Vishwas Nagar. The building will have laboratories duly equipped with the necessary instruments. The Minister said that the project on completion will bring relief to the people living in East and North East Delhi as the applicants will save time and effort in getting the necessary verification, stamping done for calibration of the weights and measuring instruments or devices. Hus-sain also said that it will also save time and money of over one lakh auto and taxi drivers as the existing Taxi Meter Unit from Wazirpur Industrial Area will be shifted to the new building at Vishwas Nagar which is more centrally located and easily accessible.

PM2.5 AIR POLLUTION CLAIMED 54,000 LIVES IN DELHI LAST YEAR: STUDYNEW DELHI: Air pollution caused by hazardous PM2.5 fine particulate matter led to the death of 54,000 people in Delhi last year where pollution levels re-mained almost six times above the prescribed WHO limits, according to a new study.

NEWS AT A GLANCE

millenniumpost|NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021

GET COVID-19 JABS AT THE EARLIEST: DELHI POLICE CHIEF TO PERSONNEL

TOTAL CASES6,37,445HOME ISOLATION

434ACTIVE CASES

1,053

DELHI COUNT

COVID-19

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

Students wearing facemasks wait outside their school, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in New Delhi, on Thursday PTI

South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Thursday inaugurated Delhi's first shoe bank in West Zone's Subhash Nagar area. SDMC urged residents to donate old/new toys, shoes for children and elders, school bags for needy persons

ROUSHAN ALI

NEW DELHI: Coronavirus vaccine shots were adminis-tered to over 24,000 benefi-ciaries in Delhi on Thursday, including 3,537 people who got their second dose, as the inoc-ulation drive picked up pace with a marked improved turn-out of 80 per cent, according to data shared by officials.

On Wednesday, 15,337 people were vaccinated, out of whom 1,072 were those who had got their second dose.

On Thursday, the number of total beneficiaries who got vaccinated rose to 24,417, with an overall turnout of about 80 per cent spread across 302 vac-cination centres, according to official data.

Out of these, 3,537 were those who got their second dose on Thursday, officials said.

The vaccination drive, that started on January 16, has picked up pace in the last one week, and on Monday, 2,191 healthcare workers who had received their first shots four weeks ago, had got their sec-ond dose.

"Thirteen minor cases of AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) were reported," the official said.

Under the nationwide mega vaccination drive launched on January 16, a total of 4,319 (53 per cent) health work-ers against a target of 8,117, were administered the shots at 81 centres across the city on

day one.As per doctors, the second

dose is to be given to a benefi-ciary after a gap of 28 days.

On Saturday, a total of 13,768 beneficiaries received vaccine shots and adminis-tering of the second dose to healthcare workers who had received the first jab 28 days ago also began.

On the second scheduled day after the roll-out of the exercise on January 16, the figures had stood at 3,598 (44 per cent of the target). The sharp fall had come after one severe and 50 minor adverse effect cases were reported on the opening day of the vacci-nation drive.

The count on the third

scheduled day was much higher at 4,936 (48 per cent).

Meanwhile, with 130 fresh cases, Delhi's COVID-19 tally climbed to 6,37,445 on Thurs-day, even as the positivity rate stood at 0.22 per cent, accord-ing to authorities.

Two fatalities were reg-istered on Thursday, taking the death toll due to the viral

disease to 10,896 in the city, according to the latest health bulletin issued by the Delhi government.

No death due to COVID-19 was recorded in the national Capital on Wednes-day, the third time the single-day fatality count was nil in February, while 134 cases were registered.

On February 9, no fatal-ity from COVID-19 was reg-istered in Delhi, the first time this month and after a gap of nearly nine months.

No COVID-19 death was recorded on Saturday as well, the second time in February when the single-day fatality count was nil.

The city recorded 94 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the lowest in over nine months, when the positivity rate slipped to 0.17 per cent.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivas-tava on Thursday asked the personnel of the force to get COVID-19 vaccine jabs at the earliest, saying there has been no instance of any side effects so far.

Over 24K receive shots; turnout 80%

AAISHA SABIR

NEW DELHI: The Transport Department of the Delhi gov-ernment has issued the Letter of Award for the procurement of 1,300 more buses in the Capital, which is expected to take the total tally of buses in the city to over 5,300 by the end of October this year, senior government officials have said.

“The procurement of the buses have started and the full delivery is expected to be completed by October this (2021) year,” one senior official aware of the development told Millennium Post. The Letter of Award has been given for 1,000 Delhi Transport Cor-poration (DTC) buses and for 300 electric buses, another official confirmed.

“The buses will start arriving from June onwards in batches and the full deliv-ery should be completed by October end,” the senior offi-cial said.

The DTC Board had ear-lier approved the tender to procure 1,250 BS-VI com-pliant air conditioner CNG-

propelled low floor buses after almost a wait of ten years. The aim is to have 700 new electric buses in total by 2021 travel-ling the roads of the city, the official said.

"In May, the slot of buses will start delivering in batches of 160 buses every 45 days. The entire batch of 1,250 buses will be delivered by October 2021," the senior official said.

In addition to being BS-VI compliant and air condi-tioned, all the buses will have panic buttons with speakers for women's safety and will also be disabled-friendly with fitted lifts. As of now, the DTC fleet comprises 3,762 low-floor CNG buses and with the addition of 1,250 new buses along with the 300 electric ones, the fleet will increase to 5,312 buses. Similarly, there are currently 2,839 Cluster buses here and with 575 elec-tric buses being added, this will increase to 3,414. Out of the 575 electric Cluster buses, 190 will be delivered at the Burari depot, 110 at the Mundela Kalan depot and 275 will be delivered at the Rohini depot.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The Delhi gov-ernment on Thursday disbursed Rs 3.18 crore to 488 construc-tion workers under various wel-fare schemes.

Deputy Chief Minister and Labour minister Manish Sisodia handed over the cheques to the beneficiaries at an event held at the Delhi Secretariat here.

"It is the duty of a govern-ment to provide support to those in need. Delhi govern-ment is committed to stream-line claim disbursal for the workers," Sisodia said.

The Deputy CM reviewed and eased the grant-giving pro-cess for construction workers registered under the Delhi Building and Other Construc-tion Workers Welfare Board, said a government statement.

The beneficiaries included 181 construction workers who received claims under the maternity scheme, 131 under the education scheme, 53 under the death and funeral scheme and 51 under the pension scheme, it said.

"Every construction worker

of Delhi should have the con-fidence that my government stands with them in the times of need. People of Delhi should have that level of trust in the government," said Sisodia.

Applicants to the schemes need to call the number 1076. Afterwards, an official from the department pays a home visit to complete documentation pro-cess for registration.

Once registered, applicants can receive approximately Rs 35,000-Rs 51,000 for mar-riage of daughter or son; Rs 1,00,000 for disabilities; Rs 500- Rs 10,000 for education; Rs 3,000 monthly for pension; Rs 2,00,000 for death due to acci-dent; Rs 1,00,000 for death due to natural causes; Rs 10,000 for final rites; Rs 2000- Rs 10,000 for healthcare and Rs 30,000 for maternal healthcare.

Urging workers to dis-seminate information about the schemes, Sisodia said,"It is the key focus of Chief Minis-ter Arvind Kejriwal to extend help and hope to those who are not privileged. The politics of Delhi government is the poli-tics of work."

North MCD's 'smart attendance' drive exposes digital divide among teachersCHHAVIANSHIKA SINGH

NEW DELHI: The Educa-tion Department of North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Narela Zone issued a fresh set of orders for its school teachers and principals on Wednesday. North MCD’s Director of Edu-cation held a meeting on Feb-ruary 16 where it was decided that all principals, teachers and class-four employees will start marking their attendance on the MCD Smart App compulsorily within a week. “Employees who fail to mark/register their atten-dance on the Smart App should be ready for Inter-Zonal/Inter-MCD transfer”, the order fur-ther reads.

However, several class four

employees do not have and can-not afford new smartphones. Moreover, most of them do not know how to operate a smart-phone. North MCD will not provide any monetary or tech-nical assistance in this regard even though the new rule will most likely affect its employees' livelihoods quite adversely. Fur-ther, several MCD teachers have reported issues with download-ing and using the app on their phones, apart from increased internet/data charges incurred.

This is especially prob-lematic because North MCD teachers have not received their salaries for about 5 months now. To complicate matters even more, this MCD Smart App is not available on the Google

Play Store and has several pri-vacy glitches. One North MCD teacher said that despite sev-eral efforts, the app was not registering on her smartphone so she continued to mark her attendance physically in her school’s attendance register. Another North MCD teacher from Narela Zone said that he received a link for the app from a colleague. Both said that the app asks for access to their loca-tion history, pictures, contacts and more. After a week, when this order comes into effect, employees will only be able to apply for any kind of leave solely via this app.

The order also directs “teach-ers to try and shift students from offline to online mode (of teach-

ing)”. A North MCD teacher in a school in Narela Zone said” “Most students who come to our schools don’t belong to the kind of social or economic background where every fam-ily member has a smartphone. Often there is no smartphone, only a normal button-type phone. If there is a smartphone, it is shared between the whole family and the father or mother probably take it to work with them in the morning. So, the children can only use it at night that too not for long because they cannot afford the internet data charges. How can we expect them to afford it when our own class four employees get a Rs.10-15 top up done to make missed calls at most?”

Delhi govt disburses Rs 3.18 crore to 488 construction workers

PIYUSH OHRIE

GURUGRAM: Instructed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in August to act against farmhouses that had come up at forest areas of Aravallis spe-cifically around Raisina forests in Sohna, Gurugram public agencies have now begun to demolish certain farmhouses.

According to officials, around 18 farmhouses have been demolished as of now. It is however expected to be an onerous task for officials as it is estimated that there are over 430 such farmhouses that have come up only in the Raisina Aravallis. Moreover, it took over seven months for officials to conduct a survey in the Rai-sina forest and identify farm-houses that were built illegally in forest areas.

Large-scale exploitation of the forest areas of Aravallis had led to a lot of citizens and environmentalists in Guru-gram filing petitions not only in the NGT but even in the Supreme Court. Taking cog-

nisance of one of these peti-tions, the NGT in August last year ordered Gurugram pub-lic agencies to identify these farmhouses that had come up in Aravallis and demolish such illegal structures.

“As per orders of the court we have begun demolishing those farmhouses that had come up in forest areas of Ara-vallis. There was a survey that was conducted following which the notices were sent to the owners following which pro-cess of demolition began from our side," an official from the South Haryana Forest Depart-ment said.

The process of develop-ing farmhouses in the forest areas of Aravallis has been an ongoing process since 1992. Besides Raisina, large numbers of illegal farmhouses and illegal structures have also come up in the areas of Gairatpur, Mangar and Bandhwari.

It is estimated that from 1990, more than 700 farm-houses have come up in Ara-vallis of Gurugram.

NEW DELHI: Coal-fired brick kilns cannot be allowed to operate in the NCR even if zig-zag technology is used and improved procedures are fol-lowed during 'severe' pollution, the National Green Tribunal has said.

Unless there is a change to a cleaner fuel (PNG), brick kilns beyond the number specified cannot be allowed in the NCR, the green panel said.

It said that the Central Pol-lution Control Board (CPCB) has found that there is no assimilative capacity during the period air quality is 'severe' and only during months of March to June, there is a limited capacity.

"Those brick kilns which switch over to PNG will be entitled to operate even beyond months of March to June and even beyond limited number mentioned, subject to compli-ance with the law," said a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel.

The tribunal said that a dis-

tance of at least 500 meters is required to be maintained in the location of brick kilns.

"When brick kilns start, they should not be allowed to start simultaneously but their firing should be staggered to avoid adverse impact on the envi-ronment. Other safeguards of fugitive dust emission manage-ment need to be adopted," the bench said.

The NGT said since there is the variance of figures given during March to June, only such number can be allowed which can be sustained throughout the period i.e. the minimum figure of a particular month out of the four months which comes to 444 in Haryana (in May) and 200 in UP (in June).

Such shortlisting may be done applying suitable siting cri-teria taking into account interse distance and distance from sen-sitive locations and compliance of consent conditions for which the CPCB, State PCB may work out an appropriate mechanism.

Further, the location of brick

kilns be scattered on pro-rata basis, in different directions of the concerned area, having regard to background and car-rying capacity parameters.

The tribunal had earlier rejected a plea to allow brick kilns running on 'Zig-Zag' tech-nology in NCR saying their operation will have a disastrous effect on the air quality.

It had directed the CPCB to constitute a committee of five experts to suggest ways and means, if any, by which suste-nance of brick kilns activities may be viable.

The NGT had said it con-scious that brick kilns may be necessary and the object of this order is not to stop any legiti-mate business activity but to enforce the right to breathe fresh air which is right to file.

The tribunal was hearing a plea by brick kiln owners seek-ing permission to operate those units which are running on 'Zig-Zag' technology in NCR till level of air pollution becomes normal. AGENCIES

Acting on NGT orders, Gurugram authorities demolish 'illegal' farmhouses in Raisina Aravallis

'Coal-fired brick kilns can't be allowed to operate in NCR during severe pollution'

Letter of Award issued, DTC fleet to swell to over

5,300 by October end

NEW DELHI: The BJP has failed miserably to run the municipal corporations and the public now wants to see the Aam Aadmi Party there, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed on Thursday.

Sisodia marched in Shali-mar Bagh Ward during the day in support of candidate Sunita Mishra, who will be contest-ing the municipal corporation by-elections.

"We all appealed to the local people to vote in support of the Aam Aadmi Party. In view of the by-elections, Aam Aadmi Party workers are interacting with the citizens every day," he said.

"The people are very happy and they have made up their mind to elect the AAP in the upcoming MCD by-election. The people of Delhi now want to bring the Aam Aadmi Party to MCD. The BJP is in the power at the MCDs for the past 15 years and has failed miserably", Siso-dia said. MPOST

BJP has failed to run MCDs, public wants to see AAP

there: Sisodia

NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021|millenniumpostmp nation4

Maharashtra: Curbs in Yavatmal, weekend lockdown in Amravati

Schools (for students from Classes 5 to 9), colleges, coaching classes in Yavatmal to remain closed till Feb 28

MUMBAI: Maharashtra water resources minister and state NCP chief Jayant Patil on Thursday said he has tested positive for coronavirus.

In a post on Twitter, the minister also said he is doing fine and taking appropriate medical advice.

Patil, who earlier this month visited parts of the state during the 'Rashtravadi Pari-var Samvad Yatra' (an initia-tive to reach out to NCP leaders and workers), also asked those who came in contact with him recently to be observant and self-isolate.

"I have tested COVID pos-itive. Whilst I am doing fine, I am taking appropriate medi-cal advice and hope to recover soon. I shall be undertaking my duties via video-conference," he tweeted. MPOST

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The disengage-ment process between India and China in eastern Ladakh is in final stages and on the brink of completion, top officials of the country's defence estab-lishment on Thursday told a parliamentary panel during a meeting, which sources said turned "stormy" amid several questions asked by opposition members including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, top officials from the three armed forces and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar on Thursday deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence chaired by BJP leader Jual Oram.

The meeting witnessed an argument between Oram and Gandhi when the Congress leader asked some specific questions to the officials depos-ing before the panel, which the chairman felt was not on the agenda of the meeting, sources said. The agenda of the meeting was to examine demands for grants of the defence ministry in this year's budget.

In the presentation before the panel, officials informed that Indian Air Force (IAF) for the year is planning to acquire Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Avro transport aircraft replacement, upgrade of UAV

systems, Harop (P-IV), Avi-onics upgrade of IL-76, IL-78 among others, according to sources. The committee was also informed that the 83 Tejas aircraft, acquisition of which was approved by Union Cabi-net last month, will be inducted in four squadrons. Induction of these aircraft would aug-ment the present overall fighter squadron strength of IAF and would partially offset the phas-ing out of MiG-21 and MiG-27 squadrons, sources said.

Responding to members' question, top officers from armed forces also informed the panel that the disengagement between armed forces of India and China in eastern Ladakh is in final stages and on the brink of completion, sources in the panel said.

Earlier in a statement given to both Houses of Parliament during the first part of the Bud-get Session, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in the north and south banks of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh to "cease" forward deployment of troops in a "phased, coordi-nated and verifiable" manner.

Singh had also assured that India has not conceded any-thing in the sustained talks with China and it will not allow even an inch of its territory to be taken away by anyone.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The much awaited ‘Pariksha Pe Char-cha’, which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s annual inter-action with students, will be held online this year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The interaction with students from classes 9 to 12 ahead of their exams will be held in March.

“As our brave #ExamWar-riors start padding up for their exams, 'Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021' returns, this time fully online and open to students all over the world. Come, let us appear for the exams with a smile and without stress! #PPC2021," the Prime Minis-ter tweeted.

“On popular demand,

‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021’ will also include parents and teach-ers. It’ll be a fun filled discus-sion on an otherwise serious subject. I call upon my student friends, their amazing parents and hardworking teachers to take part in #PPC2021 in large numbers,” he said.

Later Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that the regis-tration process of the fourth edition of the interaction has started.

Questions related to dealing with examination stress from school students of classes 9 to 12 will be invited through the 'MyGov' platform and selected questions will feature in the programme, he said.

“I feel happy to share that

the interaction every stu-dent was waiting for is back! Get ready to smile your way through exams with PM Nar-endra Modi in Pariksha Pe Charcha2021,” Nishank said in a tweet.

“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year the interac-tion will be conducted online,” he said in another tweet.

The registration for the pro-gramme began on Thursday and it will conclude on March 14. Students who will get to ask questions will be selected through a competition.

The first edition of the PM’s interaction programme with school and college students ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 1.0’ was held at the Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018.

PM Modi’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ to be held online

CHANDIGARH: A 34-year-old youth Congress leader was allegedly shot dead in Punjab's Faridkot on Thursday evening, said police.

Two unidentified men fired around 12 shots at youth Congress leader Gurlal Singh Bhullar when he was stand-ing near his car near Jubilee Chowk in Faridkot district, a police official said over the phone.

Bullar was rushed to the hospital where he died during the treatment, he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed shock over the incident and directed the state police chief to nab those who were behind this incident.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

AMRAVATI/YAVATMAL/MUMBAI: Authorities in two eastern Maharashtra districts of Amravati and Yavatmal on Thursday announced strict implementation of restrictions, including a weekend lockdown in Amravati, to stem the rising cases of COVID-19.

The administration in Yavatmal district ordered curbs on gatherings and also closure of schools (which had reopened for select classes) for ten days, measures coming on a day when the state reported 5,427 new cases, a daily tally not seen in more than two months.

A weekend lockdown was announced in Amravati dis-trict, from 8 pm on Saturday to 7 am on Monday, a period dur-ing which markets and other establishments will remain shut, but essential services will remain unaffected.

Schools (for students from Classes 5 to 9), colleges, and coaching classes in Yavatmal district will remain closed till February 28, while only 50 per-sons will be permitted at wed-dings, Yavatmal collector D M Singh said.

Religious places will remain open but COVID-19 protocols will be strictly implemented, he said.

Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to operate between 8 am to 9.30 pm, while markets and shops will remain open till 8 pm, Singh said.

Amravati Collector Shailesh Naval said on week-days, all establishments in the

district, including hotels and restaurants, would stay open only till 8 pm (from earlier 10 pm).

Yavatmal collector Singh told PTI that they have not stopped anything in the district.

"However, strict enforce-ment of restrictions as per the guidelines of the Government of India and Government of Maharashtra is being imple-mented in the district," Singh said.

Both Amravati and Yavat-mal fall in Vidarbha, a region which has been reporting a steady rise in COVID-19 cases since the start of February.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government ordered collec-tors of Amravati, Akola and Yavatmal districts in Vidarbha to take necessary steps to curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases, state Minister Anil

Parab said in Mumbai.Chief Secretary Sanjay

Kumar also wrote to collectors of the three districts to declare areas having high prevalence of COVID-19 as containment zones to check further trans-mission of the disease.

Yavatmal collector Singh said the number of COVID-19 cases in the district had been increasing since February 1.

Almost 80 to 90 percent of new cases were being reported from Yavatmal, Pandharkawda and Pusad cities, he said.

"We have decided to con-duct around 500 tests per day in Yavatmal, Pandharkawda and Pusad municipal corporations.

Today we are ordering lock-down in Yavatmal district till February 28," Singh said.

"In view of a spurt in COVID-19 cases, I have decided to impose a weekend

lockdown in Amravati district. To avoid any stricter lockdown in the future, I appeal to people to follow COVID-19 appro-priate behaviour," Collector Shailesh Naval said.

Naval said during the weekend lockdown all mar-kets and other establishments will remain shut. "Swimming pools and indoor games, too, will remain closed, while only five people will be allowed at religious ceremonies," Naval said.

According to the govern-ment, Amravati and Akola cities reported 542 and 152 COVID-19 fresh cases, respec-tively, on Thursday. Yavatmal district recorded 131 cases dur-ing the day.

The Akola circle, which covers the three districts besides Buldhana and Washim, reported 1,258 cases -- second

only to the Mumbai Metropoli-tan Region, which saw a rise of 1,432 patients during the day.

According to an official statement, the daily COVID-19 positivity rate of Akola is 32 per cent, while the same for the week is 24 per cent.

The daily and weekly posi-tivity rate of Amravati district is 48 per cent and 35 per cent respectively, the statement said.

Yavatmals daily and weekly positivity rate is 15 per cent, the statement said.

Maharashtras daily and weekly positivity rate is 8.8 per cent and 7.76 per cent, respec-tively, it said.

There is a need to take care given the way the number of cases is going up (of late).

"District collectors have been ordered to take necessary steps to contain the spread of the disease or control the num-ber of patients there, Transport Minister Parab told reporters.

In his letter to the three col-lectors, Chief Secretary Kumar noted that an upsurge is being seen in COVID-19 posi-tive cases in Achalpur taluka and Amravati city (Amra-vati district) and areas under Yavatmal, Pusad and Pand-harkawada municipal councils in the Yavatmal district.

Similarly, the Akot and Murtizapur talukas and Akola city in Akola district too have seen upsurge in COVID-19 cases, Kumar observed.

In the light of above, you are directed to declare the above mentioned affected areas as Containment Zones in order to check further transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

BMC health workers conduct thermal screening of outstation passengers at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, in Mumbai, on Thursday

Maha minister Jayant Patil

tests positive for Coronavirus

Disengagement process in eastern Ladakh in final

phase: Parl panel told

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court-appointed panel on the new farm laws on Thursday said it held consultations with top officials of the ministries of agriculture, food processing industries and consumer affairs on the legislations against which farmers have been pro-testing at Delhi's borders for nearly three months now.

This is the ninth meeting the panel has held so far. The three-member committee is holding consultations with stakeholders both online and in person.

In a statement, the com-mittee said it held in-person interaction with the Agricul-ture Secretary, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) Chairman, Additional

Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Consumer Affairs Depart-ment as well as cooperative NABARD Director.

The NABARD Chairman and Deputy Managing Director, Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) Managing Director, Food Corporation of India (FCI) Advisor, Food Pro-cessing Industries Secretary and National Horticultural Board Managing Director attended the meeting through video confer-ence, it said.

The committee members requested the participating offi-cers to give their views on the three farm laws. "All the par-ticipating officers gave their detailed views and sugges-tions...," the statement said.

The Supreme Court had on January 12 stayed the imple-mentation of the three conten-

tious farm laws for two months and asked the committee to submit a report within two months after consulting the stakeholders.

Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab, Hary-ana and parts of Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Del-hi's borders for nearly three months now seeking repeal of the new legislations, intro-duced by the Centre last year, saying they are pro-corporate and could weaken the mandi system.

Eleven rounds of the talks between the Centre and 41 protesting farmer unions have so far remained deadlocked. The government has offered concessions including suspen-sion of the legislations for 18 months, which the unions have rejected.

SC panel on farm laws holds consultations with top officials of agri-related ministries

OUR CORRESPONDENT

PUDUCHERRY: The Con-gress government in the Union Territory will have to prove its majority in the assembly on February 22 with Lt Gov-ernor Tamilisai Soundarara-jan on Thursday ordering the floor test, hours after assum-ing charge vowing to func-tion in accordance with the Constitution.

The development came days after a ruling party MLA resigned, becoming the fourth to quit the assembly since last month, bringing down the numbers of the Congress-DMK alliance to 14 in the 33-member House with an effective strength of 28.

Soundararajan, the Telan-gana Governor given addi-tional charge of the UT on Tuesday following the removal of Kiran Bedi, issued the direc-tion to Chief Minister V Nara-yanasamy after the opposition, which also has 14 MLAs, peti-tioned her, saying the gov-ernment has been reduced to minority and it should prove its strength on the floor of the assembly. Narayanasamy earlier in the day attended Soundararajan's swearing-in and also called on her later.

The present party posi-tion in the assembly: Congress (ten, including Speaker), DMK three, All-India NR Congress

seven, AIADMK four, BJP three (all nominated with vot-ing rights) and one indepen-dent who has supported the government all along. Four Congress MLAs have resigned and one member had been dis-qualified. The simple major-ity in the assembly with the reduced strength is 15.

The opposition has been demanding the resignation of Narayansamy since Tues-day, when his confidante John Kumar quit as MLA.

Narayansamy has rejected the demand, saying he enjoyed majority even as the Congress, eyeing to retain power in the assembly elections, has been jolted by the spate of resigna-tions, including by two min-isters. Polls are likely in April

and the House's term ends on June 8.

Soundararajan's direction to Narayansamy for a trust vote came after the opposition, led by the Leader of the Opposi-tion in the assembly and All India NR Congress (AINRC) chief N Rangasamy, 'reiterated' its stand that the government has to prove its majority on the floor of the House, a release from the Lt.Governor's Secre-tariat here said.

"They averred that the present government has been reduced to a minority and lost its legitimacy to continue," the release said, adding Ran-gasamy, AIADMK Legislature Party Leader A Anbalagan and BJP' state president V Sami-nathan, MLA, met her in this

connection.Issuing directions to Naray-

ansamy in "exercise of the pow-ers conferred under Art 239 of the Constitution read with the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, in particular section 6," the Lt Governor said the assembly shall be summoned on Feb-ruary 22.

She said the meeting shall be confined to a "single" agenda, "namely whether the government of the incum-bent Chief Minister continues to enjoy the confidence of the House." Voting shall take place by show of hands and the entire proceedings be videographed, the release said.

"The floor test in pursu-ance of the above directions shall be concluded by 5 pm on 22.02.2021 and the proceedings shall not be adjourned/delayed or suspended at any cost," it said. All authorities should ensure there was no breach of law and order and that the floor test was peaceful.

Earlier in the day, Chief Jus-tice of the Madras High Court Sanjib Banerjee administered the oath of office to Soundara-rajan, who hails from nearby Tamil Nadu and became the fifth woman to hold the Lt Governor post here, at a sim-ple function at the Raj Nivas, where she took the oath in Tamil.

GUWAHATI: Union Agricul-ture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said the Centre is still willing to talk to the farmers protesting against the three farm laws.

Addressing a press confer-ence here, he said Prime Min-ister Narendra Modi has said in Parliament that the govern-ment is willing to discuss the three acts clause-by- clause.

"We are regularly in touch with the protesting farmers. The Government of India is ready to discuss the acts clause- by-clause," Tomar said.

When asked specifically if the centre is still willing to talk to the agitating farmers, who have been on borders of Delhi for nearly three months, the minister replied in affirmative.

He, however, did not com-ment on when the talks are

likely to resume between the two sides. Tomar also informed the media that the budget for the next fiscal has proposed a number of schemes for the wel-fare of the farming community of the country.

After the 10th round of talks in January end in which the Centre proposed to keep the new agri laws in abeyance for 1.5 years, which was not accepted by the agitating farm-ers, no further talks have taken place between the two sides.

Farmers leaders are insist-ing on repeal of the three farm laws. As Assam is expected to go to polls in March-April this year in which the opposition parties are all set to make farm-ers agitation a poll issue, Tomar was in the state to count virtues of the new agri legislations to the cultivators. AGENCIES

Tomar says Centre is still willing to talk to farmers

Puducherry Lt Governor directs CM Narayanasamy to prove majority on Feb 22

Youth Congress leader shot

dead in Punjab's Faridkot

KOZHIKODE (KER): 'Metro-man' E Sreedharan, a much-admired technocrat who is credited with changing the face of public transport system in the country, will join the BJP giving a boost to the saffron party ahead of the Assembly polls in Kerala

The entry of Sreedharan into politics through the BJP was announced by state party chief K Surendran at a press conference here on Thursday.

Surendran said the offi-cial function of his joining the party will be held during its two-week long Vijaya Yatra commencing on February 21 from Kasargod to Thiruva-nanthapuram to "expose the misrule" of the present LDF government and previous dis-pensation led by UDF and pre-pare the party's ground for the Assembly elections likely to be held in the month of April.

Sreedharan said he was

joining the BJP to ensure jus-tice for the people of Kerala who were being deprived of the fruits of development due to the self-centric attitude of the present CPI(M)-led LDF government.

The 88-year old Sreed-haran, who played a major role in executing Kerala's ambi-tious Kochi metro rail project, also said he would contest the Assembly polls if the party decides so.

The constituency will be decided by the BJP, he added.

Hitting out at the present LDF government, Sreedharan said that they could not pro-vide better administration to the people of the state. The much-admired engineer who had won accolades for finishing the Delhi Metro project within budget and on time said the interest of the party (CPI-M) prevails over people's interest in the state. AGENCIES

NEW DELHI: The Income Tax Department has detected an alleged cash-for-seat scam run-ning in some Karnataka-based medical colleges, as the CBDT said over Rs 400 crore black-money has been generated in the name of capitation fee by these institutions. A statement issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes said these alleged irregularities were found after nine major trusts, registered in Bengaluru and Mangaluru, running educational institutes, including medical colleges were raided on Wednesday.

"Searches were conducted at 56 different locations across Karnataka and Kerala," the CBDT, which frames policy for the tax department, said.

"So far, the evidence gath-ered indicates that Rs 402.78 crore has been accepted as ille-gal capitation fee by manipu-lating the online admission process and the same has not been disclosed to the Income Tax Department," it said. It said cash amount of Rs 15.09 crore has been seized and gold jewel-lery worth Rs 30 crore (weigh-ing 81 kg), 50 carat diamonds and 40 kg of silver articles have been found from the residential premises of the trustees and are prime facie, unexplained.

"Evidence of undisclosed foreign assets of Rs 2.39 crore in Ghana has also been found apart from evidence of huge investments in 35 luxury cars in benami names," the CBDT said. Describing the alleged modus operandi, the CBDT said it was found that the transparent selection process to medical colleges through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has been "subverted" by trustees and key persons running these institutions in collusion with agents/brokers and some stu-dents who got high ranks in the NEET examination.

"The first stage of malprac-tice is that some high-ranking students in the NEET examina-tion take admission to MBBS courses through state coun-selling (who have no inten-tion to join the said colleges as they have secured admis-sions or likely to get admission elsewhere). Thereby blocking seats in the medical stream in a medical college during the Kar-nataka Examinations Authority (KEA) counselling process, in connivance with agents, mid-dlemen, converters (who pro-vide service of converting the regular seats to management seats)." it said. AGENCIES

Cash-for-seat scam detected in K’taka medical colleges

‘Metroman E Sreedharan to join BJP’

Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy greets Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan after being sworn in as Lt Governor of Puducherry, an additional charge, during a brief ceremony at Raj Nivas in Puducherry

PATNA: The stage is set for an over-a-month-long session of the state legislature in Bihar, commencing on Friday dur-ing which CM Nitish Kumar's new deputy Tarkishore Prasad will present his maiden budget.

Prasad, who has replaced Sushil Kumar Modi and, simi-larly, holds the finance port-folio, will be keenly watched when he tables the state eco-nomic survey immediately after the governor's custom-ary address to the joint session.

The budget will be tabled on Monday. The treasury benches shall be bracing for a stormy session with the opposition having issues ranging from law & order to rising oil prices and farmers' agitation in its arsenal to attack government. AGENCIES

Budget session of Bihar legislature

to start today

millenniumpost|NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021mp nation 5

Rahul, Priyanka target UP govt over Unnao incident

Correcting historical mistake of neglecting Assam: Modi

PM virtually launched the Rs 3,231-crore ‘Mahabahu Brahmaputra’ project

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party gen-eral secretary Priyanka Gan-dhi Vadra on Thursday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh govern-ment over the issue of women safety, after two teenage girls were found dead in a field in Unnao.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government is not only suppressing the Dalit society but is also crush-ing the honour and human rights of women in the state, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the Unnao incident is heart-wrenching.

Priyanka Gandhi demanded that the third girl should be shifted to Delhi for better medical treatment and asked why her family has been detained.

“The UP government is not only crushing Dalit society, but also the honour and human rights of women. But they should remember that I and the entire Congress party will stand as the voice of victims and will endeavour to get them justice,” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. He also used the hashtag “Save_Unnao_Ki_Beti” with his tweet.

In a Facebook post in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said, “The Unnao incident is heart-

wrenching. Hearing out the family and providing imme-diate medical help to the third victim is very important for investigation and justice.”

“After all, what will the gov-ernment gain by detaining the family. I urge the UP govern-ment to hear out the family and the third girl should be shifted to Delhi with immediate effect for her treatment,” she said.

At a separate press con-ference, Congress leader Alka Lamba questioned the UP state government whether the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ slo-gan of the BJP was a warning

to protect girls from crimes in the state.

“After the Hathras incident, now Unnao. The Yogi govern-ment has failed. Seems like the ‘Beti Bachao’ slogan was a warning. Yogi government of UP has become a curse for women and girls,” Lamba said.

Reportedly, three girls, aged 15, 14 and 16, left their homes to collect fodder on Wednesday evening. As they did not return, their family members went out to search and found them tied in a field in Babuhara village in Asoha, around 36 km south of Lucknow.

LUCKNOW: The Budget ses-sion of the Uttar Pradesh legis-lature began on a stormy note on Thursday with Opposition raising slogans and then stag-ing a walkout, protesting over the Centre's farm laws. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anan-diben Patel continued with her speech, praising the state gov-ernment over law and order and coronavirus management.

The Governor's custom-ary address to both Houses of the state legislature started five minutes late, prompting the Opposition to later allege that she did not want to address due to the "atrocities" committed against the women in the state.

Addressing the joint sit-ting of the state legislature, the Governor said besides effec-tively controlling the spread of coronavirus, the govern-ment brought back migrants stranded in other states during the lockdown.

"The work done by my gov-ernment in the health sector

and coronavirus management by enhancing the capacity of COVID testing from zero to 2 lakh per day, arranging more than 1.5 lakh beds for COVID patients and ICU in each dis-trict has been appreciated at the national and international level," she said.

The Governor went on to say that in 2020, there has been a decline of 7.96 per cent

in dowry deaths; 18.93 per cent in rapes; 20.02 per cent in molestation; 26.47 per cent in kidnapping and 13.41 per cent in domestic violence against women.

"There has been a steady decline in the incidents of mur-der in the state and as com-pared to the year 2016, there has been a decline of 25.88 per cent in such cases," she said.

“The notorious mafia crim-inals of the state have been identified. Their arms licences were cancelled and so far, prop-erties worth more than Rs 1,000 crore have been seized and demolished, and also freed from unlawful possession. So far, 1,019 from among differ-ent kinds of criminal have been arrested and many gangsters have surrendered in the courts under immense pressure of police," she added.

She said during the COVID-19 pandemic, not a single sugar mill was closed.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties raised slogans and staged a walkout during the Governor's address, opposing the Centre's three agriculture laws.

Commenting over the late arrival of the Governor for the address, Leader of Oppo-sition in the state Assembly, Ram Gobind Chaudhary, later alleged that she did not want to address the House due to the

atrocities committed against the women in the state.

"Seeing the atrocities com-mitted against the women in the state, the Governor did not want to read her address. The chief minister and the speaker convinced her. Then after seven-eight minutes, she com-pleted her quorum," Chaud-hary told reporters outside the Assembly without substantiat-ing his claim.

Parliamentary Affairs Min-ister Suresh Khanna said the Opposition's behaviour dur-ing the Governor's address was "irresponsible".

BSP leader Lalji Verma told reporters that he has seen it for the first time that the Governor arrived late for the address.

Leader of Congress Legis-lature Party Aradhana Misra said, "The government should have expressed sympathy towards more than 200 farm-ers who have died during the protest. Most of the farmers who died are from UP." MPOST

OUR CORRESPONDENT

GUWAHATI: Prime Minis-ter Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that his govern-ment is correcting the "his-torical mistake" of neglecting Assam, and the state's develop-ment is its priority. Modi also said BJP's double engine gov-ernments at the Centre and in Assam reduced geographical and cultural distances between the state and rest of the country.

"Prior to Independence, Assam enjoyed a high per- capita income but since 1947, its development was neglected.

Correcting the historical mistake of neglecting Assam had begun with former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and now it has gained strength with the BJP government tak-ing its development as a prior-ity," he said.

The PM virtually launched the Rs 3,231-crore 'Maha-bahu Brahmaputra' project on Thursday, which includes the construction of inland water terminal at Jogighopa and tour-ist jetties at Pandu, Jogighopa, Neamati and Biswanat ghat.

Modi said developing

waterway connectivity as part of the project will provide an alternative route to connect the northeast with other parts of India and neighbouring countries.

"The Brahmaputra is not just a river, it is the manifes-tation of the great saga of the north east's ethnic diversity and the region's harmonious co-existence.

"Along the banks of this mighty river, grew the culture and civilisation of Assam... over the years, many things have changed but what has not is the Brahmaputra's countless blessings in the form of diverse religious, societal and cultural influences on different ethnic communities living on both banks of this river," Modi said.

This river is, in fact, the nerve-centre of the state's pos-sibility, potentiality and pros-perity, he said. However, Modi said the irony is that instead of considering the Brahmaputra as 'Assam's Pride', since Inde-pendence, the river was treated as 'Assam's Sorrow' due to floods and erosion caused by it.

"Our government since coming to power made sincere

attempts to realise Brahmapu-tras innumerable blessings," the PM said. He also laid the foun-dation of the country's longest river bridge of 19 km from Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari in Meghalaya at an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore, and the 8-km Jorhat-Majuli bridge.

The prime minister laid the foundation of the Rs 350- crore North East Data Centre at Guwahati, too, along with the e-portals PANI and CAR-D for ease of doing business.

Developing connectivity through roadways, railways, airways and inland waterways

will help realise the aspirations of the people of Assam and make the region the growth centre of the country, he said.

Efforts are underway to make the state and the north-east the hub of cultural and business relations with other East Asian countries, Modi said. He said it is painful to note that Assam, which was among the highest revenue-paying states during the British era and the fifth most prosper-ous state at the time of Inde-pendence, had to depend so heavily on grants and subsidies of the central government dur-

ing the subsequent years.The traditional trade routes

got disrupted after Indepen-dence and this adversely affected the economy, along with poor governance and mis-management, the prime min-ister said. "Our government is committed to change the dis-mal scenario and transform this neglected region of the past...," he asserted.

Modi also highlighted the government's focussed atten-tion for the development of Majuli, the country's largest river island, and said the gov-ernment was committed to pre-serve Majuli's unique culture, iecology and protect it from erosion and connect it with the mainland.

The PM said he was happy to say that there is a remarkable change in Majuli –be it road infrastructure, healthcare facil-ities, academic opportunities or governance, "change is vis-ible everywhere in the island".

He added that work on the India-Bangladesh proto-col route across the Hooghly River to connect the Brahma-putra and the Barak River has been initiated.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Stressing on the importance of accurate data for policymaking, Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar on Thursday launched software applications for five pan-India surveys, including on migrant and domestic workers.

The minister also released instruction manuals with ques-tionnaires for the five pan-India surveys being conducted by the Labour Bureau.

On the occasion, Gangwar said, “Accurate data plays an important role in policymak-ing. In the absence of accurate data, you cannot analyse the present situation and its impact in the future. It is important, so that the benefits of policies percolate down to grass-route level.”

He informed that with the use of information technology, 30 to 40 per cent time would be

saved while conducting these five surveys and an IT partner would also be roped in for the purpose.

These five surveys being undertaken by the Labour Bureau are –All-India Survey on Migrant workers, All-India Survey on Domestic Workers, All-India Survey on Employ-ment Generated by Profes-sionals, All-India Survey on Employment Generated in Transport Sector, and All-India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey.

On this occasion, Labour Secretary Apurva Chandra said that timely release of data is important as it enables to eval-uate the efficacy of the govern-ment policies on the ground.

The minister further said, “A couple of months back, Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) with an outlay of Rs 25,000 crore for two-year was launched. This is aimed

at providing employment to 54 lakh new workers in fold of EPFO. The efficacy of these schemes would be known through these surveys.”

Under ABRY, the govern-ment of India will pay both 12 per cent employees’ contribu-tion and 12 per cent employers’ contribution i.e. 24 per cent of wages towards EPF (employ-ees provident fund scheme) in respect of new employees for two years.

The objective of the All-India Survey on Domes-tic Workers (DW) would be to estimate the proportion of DW in the workforce by major states and across India, while the survey on migrant work-ers is aimed at finding the estimated number of migrant workers in India and also col-lecting information on their living conditions, working con-ditions and other socio-eco-nomic conditions.

Gangwar launches software for five pan-India surveys

People cross the Brahmaputra river on a Ro-Pax vessel, after being inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, in Guwahati, on Thursday

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Slamming the government over the hike in petrol prices, CPI(M) on Thursday demanded an imme-diate rollback of the price hike on petrol and claimed that over the last six years the Modi government has hiked excise duties on petroleum products by “217 per cent”.

For the first time ever, the price of petrol crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Rajast-han on Wednesday after fuel rates were hiked for the ninth day in a row.

Petrol and diesel prices were increased by 25 paise per litre each, according to a price notification of state-owned

fuel retailers. In Sriganganagar town of Rajasthan, petrol price soared to Rs 100.13 a litre on Wednesday.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in a state-ment said that what is worse is that the hikes have come at a time when international oil prices have fallen with the base price for petrol being Rs 47.12 in 2014 to Rs 29.34 in 2021, which is nearly 50 per cent,

“The main reason for these escalating prices is the unbri-dled hike in the excise duties by the central government, which is 38 per cent of the cost of petrol. The tax levied by the Centre increased by a whop-ping 217 per cent since this Modi government assumed

office in 2014,” it said.“These hikes in excise

duties are clearly meant to offset the losses to the gov-ernment revenues due to the tax concessions provided to the corporates and income tax payees. There is a significant reduction in the corporate and income tax revenues from 6.81 lakh crore and 6.38 lakh crore respectively last year a reduc-tion to 5.47 lakh crore and 5.61 lakh crore respectively, as shown in the 2020-21 bud-get,” the party alleged.

The government’s “bonanza to the rich and its cronies” is sought to be made up by these excise duty hikes, the CPI(M) said in the statement.

CPM slams government over hike in petrol prices

SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the assembly polls in West Ben-gal, the situation turned grim-mer and nastier with the bomb blast at a railway station in the state. After the Chief Minis-ter and ruling Trinamool Con-gress supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged it was a ‘part of a con-spiracy’, as one of her cabinet ministers Jakir Hossain got injured, now the Centre has called the incident ‘a result of an internal feud among the cad-res of the ruling TMC and Left’.

The ministry officials said, "This incident is prima facie a result of political rivalry between the TMC and the CPI, and may have some links to the internal feud among the TMC cadres."

The officials further avouched that CPI had organ-ised protests near the state sec-retariat Nabanna last week,

where police had to resort to Lathi charge to control the crowd. One CPI member had succumbed to injuries sus-tained in this lathi-charge, due to which there was an environ-ment of tension in the area. Hence, CPI had further called for Rail Roko on Thursday morning as a mark of protest.

Also, Hossain had defeated CPI-M candidate Somnath Singh Rai in the last assembly election, the ministry officials mentioned.

When contacted, CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty said, "It is very unfortunate to know that the Centre is unclear about the 'real' facts behind the inci-dent. They must go with the investigation instead of getting into political blame-game."

Indian Railways con-demned the incident, issu-ing an official statement. It also accused the state law and order system and mentioned

in its statement that "Law and order is a state subject and state police is fully responsible for the same. Law and order on Railway platforms is also under the purview of GRP of state government."

West Bengal Minister Jakir Hossain and 25 others were injured after some unidentified attackers hurled crude bombs at them at Nimtita railway sta-tion, in Murshidabad district, on Wednesday night. The inci-dent occurred around 10.20 pm. Hossain, the minister of state for labour, was waiting on Platform No. 2 to catch a train to Kolkata when he was attacked.

Meanwhile, the state gov-ernment handed over the investigation to the Crimi-nal Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday. The GRP have also registered a case no. 05/2021 dated 17.02.2021 u/s- 307,326 and 120b of IPC.

State, Centre blame each other over bomb blast at WB station

CHANDIGARH: The ruling Congress in Punjab won the Mohali municipal corporation polls on Thursday while the SAD and the BJP failed to open their accounts. After the final counting of votes, the Congress won 37 wards while indepen-dents bagged the remaining 13, officials said. With this, the rul-ing party registered victory in seven municipal corporations and emerged as the leading party in the Moga municipal corporation, where no party got a clear majority.

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu's brother Amarjeet Singh Sidhu, who is the Congress' mayoral candi-date, won from ward number 10 of the Mohali municipal corporation. AGENCIES

Congress wins Mohali municipal

corporation

JAMMU: People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Thursday won the posts of District Development Coun-cil (DDC) chairpersons in Ramban and Kishtwar dis-tricts of the Jammu division, officials said. Both the districts were reserved for women and the PAGD, an alliance of vari-ous mainstream parties includ-ing the National Conference, the PDP and the CPI(M), easily secured the two posts.

The NC, which had emerged as the single largest party in the DDC elections in Ramban district by winning six of the total 14 seats, received a shot in the arm ahead of the rescheduled election when three independent candidates joined the party on Wednesday.

The election, which was earlier deferred due to lack of quorum on February 13, was held in a conducive atmo-sphere in the district during which NC's Shamshad Shan and Rabia Rashid Beig were elected to the posts of chair-person and vice-chairperson, respectively, the officials said.

In Kishtwar district, NC's Pooja Thakur won the DDC chairperson post after secur-ing eight votes against six by her rival Shariefa Begum who joined the J-K Apni Party on the day of the elections in the district on February 13.

Begum had won the DDC seat on the NC ticket but later shifted her loyalty to the Apni Party. The NC had also won six DDC seats in the district and enjoyed the support of three Congress DDC members.

The BJP has three DDC members while two are independents.

PAGD wins DDC chairperson

posts in 2 dists of Jammu

UP Budget session starts on stormy note

SNOW FESTIVAL

Tribal women dressed in their traditional attire perform folk dances during the Snow Festival at Spiti Valley in Lahaul- Spiti district, on Thursday PTI

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SHIMLA: Terming the BJP as the world's biggest cadre -based party with 18 crore member-ship, the BJP national president J P Nadda said no other politi-cal party can match the BJP in its strength and capacity to lead the nation and states. He pre-dicted BJP’s return to power in West Bengal with 200-plus seats and also set out a goal for the party‘s state leadership in Himachal Pradesh to form the next government in 2022.

He endorsed the new slo-gan “Gram Sabha se Vidhan Sabha” for Himachal Pradesh.

The BJP has recently won panchayat elections in the state for which he complimented Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, party cadres and newly elected representatives.

Nadda, who addressed

the party’s state executive at Dharamshala, said most polit-ical parties in the country from Kashmir to rest of India are family based parties.

He quoted the example of PDP and National Conference and also stated that whether J&K or Haryana, one can eas-ily draw a comparison as how all parties function under one family but the BJP is different –it’s like a family.

He said the workers and elected office-bearers of the panchayats should feel lucky being in the “right party”–where any simple worker, if works with dedication and takes everyone along, can rise to the top post.

Here also talked about PM Narendra Modi, who has gained acceptability as global leader as how he led the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic

when most powerful nations were unable to find any way out to deal with the crisis.

He claimed that when-ever there was a NDA govern-ment at the Centre, Himachal Pradesh got liberal help.Whether it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee –who treated Him-achal Pradesh as his second home or now Prime Minister Modi, the state was getting spe-cial patronage and help.

Nadda asked the party workers to highlight how Modi paved the way for com-pletion of Rohtang Tunnel –a project of strategic importance of the country abandoned by the regime that succeeded the Vajpayee era.

Earlier Nadda was given a warm welcome on reach-ing Dharamshala. He was also accompanied by MoS (Finance) Anurag Singh Thakur .

‘BJP cadre-based party, rest are ‘family-based’

Locals stage a protest after bodies of two minor Dalit girls were found in a field and another in critical condition on Wednesday evening, near Baburaha village in Unnao district, on Thursday

Opposition members protest during Governor Anandiben Patel’s addresses on first day of Budget Session of UP Assembly in Lucknow

mp nation6 NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021|millenniumpost

UP ADVOCATE SUICIDE CASE: 7 BOOKED UNDER GANGSTERS ACT MAHOBA (UP): The stringent Gangsters Act has been invoked against seven people for abetting the suicide of an advocate who shot himself after they tried to extort Rs 60 lakh from him, police said on Thursday. Senior advocate Mukesh Kumar Pathak (50), a resi-dent of Samadnagar locality, had killed himself late on Saturday night and a suicide note was recovered, police had said.

LABOURER KILLED IN ROPEWAY TROLLEY ACCIDENT IN CHH’GARH RAJNANDGAON: A 32-year-old labourer hasbeen killed after a ropeway trolley crashed into a tower and fell from a height of about 60 feet in Chhattis-garh’s Rajnandgaon district, police said on Thursday. The accident took place around 7 pm on Wednesday when the goods trolley carrying the labourer was descending to the base of a hill, where Bamleshwari Devi temple is located, in Dongargarh town after dropping iron rods for construction work, they said.

BRIEFSNATION

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SRINAGAR: Heightened vigil along the Line of Control has pushed terror groups and Pak-istani establishments to send militants into India using tun-nels dug under seasonal river beds along the International Border in the Jammu region, the army on Thursday told a group of 24 foreign envoys visit-ing Jammu and Kashmir.

The envoys, including those from member states of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of Islamic Coop-eration (OIC), arrived in the union territory on a two-day visit on Wednesday to assess the development work and the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the erstwhile state's special status was abrogated in 2019.

They were given a detailed presentation by senior Indian army officers on the role of the Pakistani army in helping cross-border infiltration and sup-plying arms, and instances of unprovoked ceasefire violation by the neighbouring nation.

The envoys were briefed by the officers at the strategi-cally-located headquarters of the army's XV Corps, which overlooks the Kashmir Valley.

The officials said that after the army made certain changes to the Counter Infiltration Grid along the Line of Control (LoC), the Pakistani establishment has been using a network of natural caves and sometimes digging tunnels under seasonal rivers along the International Border in Jammu region's Samba sec-tor to push terrorists into India.

Highlighting the techniques used by Pakistan-based terror groups for infiltration, they said the establishment across the border is engaged in provid-ing all support to militants in

spreading violence in the union territory.

It was mentioned that the terrorists, who masterminded a dastardly attack on CRPF per-sonnel in Pulwama in 2019 that left 40 personnel dead, had also infiltrated into India through a tunnel in the Jammu region.

The officials told the envoys that despite foiling several attempts of infiltration along the LoC, the Pakistan army contin-ues to run terror camps across the border and violate ceasefire to help terrorists to enter into the Kashmir Valley.

In order to reduce loss of life, the Pakistani establishment is airdropping weapons from across the border using drones. These drones can carry pay-loads of around 12 kilograms, the army officials told the for-eign delegation, which includes four envoys from member countries of the OIC.

The envoys were shown seized weapons from terrorists having markings of the Pakistan ordinance factory, they said.

On the situation in the Kashmir Valley, the army offi-cials highlighted Wednesday

evening's incident in which a son of a prominent eatery owner was shot and critically wounded by terrorists at his shop in a high-security area of the city.

This was a part of the terror-ists' game plan to silence either moderate voices in Kashmir or those who refused to follow their diktat, they said.

The army also gave a detailed briefing on how internet-warfare was used by Pakistani establishments to brainwash youngsters through social media platforms.

Coming to the situation post the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into union terri-tories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the army officials said there has been no loss of life due to the action of security forces.

There has been a marked decrease in law and order prob-lems and incidents of stone pelt-ing have seen a sharp decline, the army officials told the visit-ing envoys, and also shared their experience during the recent District Development Council (DDC) elections, which were conducted successfully.

Besides terrorism and the

situation along the LoC, the officials informed the envoys about the assistance being pro-vided to people living in far-flung areas. They were also informed about the tourism sector in the Kashmir Valley and the achievements of the Kashmiri people in various fields.

The envoys from the EU, France, Malaysia, Brazil, Italy, Finland, Bangladesh, Cuba, Chile, Portugal, the Nether-lands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Senegal, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz-stan, Ireland, Ghana, Estonia, Bolivia, Malawi, Eritrea and Ivory Coast arrived here on Wednesday amid heightened security arrangements in the city and elsewhere in the Valley.

Earlier, Superintendent of Police (Srinagar East) Shee-maNabi gave a presentation to the envoys about how the police dealt with challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was all about maintaining a balance between addressing people's problems and enforc-ing COVID-19 restrictions, she said.

Nabi said that humane touch and outreach helped the Jammu and Kashmir Police deal with the unprecedented chal-lenges posed by the pandemic.

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has formed a committee headed by a former high court judge and directed it to submit a report in relation to a firecracker factory blast in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district in which 19 workers were killed.

The explosion occurred on February 12 when some chemi-cals were being mixed to pro-duce fireworks at the unit in Acchankulam village.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government, Central Pol-lution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Virudhunagar District Magistrate and SreeMariyam-mal Fireworks factory. MPOST

NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane on Thursday flagged off the 100th K-9 Vajra tracked self-pro-pelled howitzer from a pro-duction facility of its maker Larsen and Toubro at Hazira near Surat.

The Indian Army said Larsen and Toubro (L&T) has supplied 100 units of indige-nously made K-9 Vajra-T 155 mm/ 52 calibre self-propelled guns to it so far.

In a statement, L&T said with the flagging-off of the 100th howitzer, the company has successfully completed delivery of all guns under the existing contract awarded to it by the Ministry of Defence in May 2017.

The company said it has maintained its track record of

"ahead of time deliveries" of complex platforms.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had flagged off the 51st K9 VAJRA in January last year from Hazira.

As a part of its 'Make-in-India' initiative, the company established a green-field man-ufacturing-cum-integration and testing facility at its Hazira manufacturing complex near Surat to produce the guns.

The 'Armoured Systems Complex' at Hazira was dedi-cated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2018.

L&T Defence produced the 'K9 VAJRA' under a con-tract awarded to it through global competitive bidding. L&T was the prime bidder for the programme with South

Korean defence major Hanwha Defence, the original equip-ment maker of the world's top rated howitzer the 'K9 Thun-der', as its technology partner.

"The production of complex platforms like the K9 VAJRA contributes to the Indian econ-omy with a large multiplier effect, creates new job oppor-tunities and plays a signifi-cant role in enhancing India's industrial ecosystem," said J D Patil, Whole-Time Direc-tor and Senior Executive Vice President (Defence and Smart Technologies) of L&T.

"With the experience, track-record, skills, capabilities and infrastructure that L&T has built, we are ready to indig-enously develop, and build India's future capabilities," he said. AGENCIES

Heightened vigil at LoC pushed terror groups to dig tunnels to infiltrate, Army tells envoys

100th K-9 Vajra howitzer delivered to Indian Army

NGT forms panel to probe firecracker factory blast in TN

Envoys arrived on a 2-day visit to assess the development work and the security situation in J&K

A delegation of 24 ambassadors from the EU visit Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar on Wednesday PIC/PTI

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: Union Home minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that he was confident that BJP will come to power in Bengal and when it does, Sagar Island will become a centre for international tourism and the Ganga Sagar Mela will be made part of the international tourist circuit.

Shah also assured that if voted to power in Bengal he would ensure 30 per cent reservation for women in the garment sector.

He visited the Kapil Muni Ashram at Sagar and offered puja. He also spent some time on the beach. "We will ensure that the Uttarayan Mela (Gangasagar Mela) becomes part of the international tourist circuit...this place becomes a big tourist spot, and its fame spreads across the world," he said after offering obeisance at the Kapil Muni temple.

Alleging that the Trinamool Congress government has introduced a "cut-money" culture and “syndicate raj” in Bengal, Shah the BJP's fight is to end it and take the state to the path of development if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly polls.

He added that the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a Chief Minister, an MLA or a minister but ending infiltration and transforming Bengal into a developed state.

"This 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a CM, or a minister. It is for ending infiltration and also for the transformation of Bengal. You vote for the BJP. Leave alone illegal immigrants, not even a bird from across the border will be allowed to enter the state," Shah said addressing a rally.

The veteran BJP leader also slammed the TMC

dispensation in the state for alleged corruption in disbursing 'Amphan' relief funds.

"The central government had sent relief funds after 'Amphan' cyclone, the money was siphoned off by the TMC leaders. If voted to power, we will probe into this corruption. We will form a task force for saving lives from cyclones and environmental disasters," Shah said. He also reached out to the state government employees and said that the 7th Pay Commission will be implemented in the state if the saffron party is voted to power.

"The financial condition of Bengal is so bad that the state government employees don't get the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission. If voted to power we would implement it in the state," he said.

Shah visited the headquarters of Bharat Sevasram Sangha (BSS) at Rashbehari and spent some time with the monks. In the evening he visited Aurobindo Bhavan on Shakespeare Sarani.

Shah said the BSS will hopefully continue to move forward on the path it has travelled so far and pave the way for a new 'Hindustan'.

Paying obeisance to Bharat Sevashram Sangha founder Swami Pranavananda on his 125th birth anniversary, Shah told the monks that the organisation was formed at a time when it was most needed.

He also inaugurated a “paribartan rath” at Kakdwip on Thursday afternoon. The rath will visit all the constituencies of South Bengal. Shah visited the house of Subrata Biswas, a fish vendor and had lunch at his house. He was accompanied by BJP state president Dilip Ghosh and Rahul Sinha. In the evening he took part at a conclave at a star hotel in central Kolkata.

If voted to power, will put Ganga Sagar on int’l tourist

circuit, promises Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah at Gangasagar on Thursday MPOST

From Page 1The petition alleges that the

Special Cell has leaked inves-tigative material by way of petitioner’s alleged WhatsApp chats, the details of which were available only with the investi-gation agency. “The petitioner’s mobile phone and laptop were seized by the police at around 11 AM on February 13, and has not been accessed by the peti-tioner since then,” the plea read.

It has also claimed that pub-lication and dissemination of Ravi’s private alleged What-sApp chats by media houses is a clear violation of the pro-visions of the sections of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 among other laws. Attaching a news report regarding Ravi’s alleged disclosure statements, the peti-

tion stated that media houses have published one-sided defamatory, suggestive innu-endos and half-truths about the petitioner…”. Noting the argu-ments, Justice Singh said that the matter “requires consider-ation” and listed it for hearing as the first item on Friday.

Ravi, a member of the Fri-days for Future group, was arrested from Bengaluru on February 13 for allegedly being one of the editors of the “Toolkit” Google doc and “a key conspirator in the docu-ment’s formulation and dissem-ination”, which was shared by global climate rights activist Greta Thunberg on Twitter in support of the farmers’ protest. She was sent to 5-day-police custody by a Delhi court on February 14.

Have not leaked any info, say cops on Disha Ravi’s plea...

HYDERABAD: The Telan-gana High Court on Thursday on its own took cognisance of the killing of a lawyer couple in Peddapalli district of the state and directed the government to properly and expeditiously conduct investigation into the matter. GattuVaman Rao and his wife P V Nagamani, both practicing lawyers in the High Court, were killed when they were travelling in a car on Wednesday. Two assailants intercepted and attacked them using knives and other weap-ons near a village in Ramagiri Mandal.

The Court, while posting the matter to March 1, issued notices to the state government asking it to file a status report on the investigation. MPOST

Lawyer couple's murder: State

govt notice

From Page 1“The distribution of new

cases in the last 24 hours depicts a positive picture as only two states have registered more than 1,000 new cases in the last 24 hours,” the ministry said in a statement.

In a related development, there are 16 states/UTs that have not reported any Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. The states where no Covid-19 deaths have been reported include Delhi, Odisha, J&K (UT), Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Mani-pur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Ladakh (UT), Nagaland, Mizoram, A&N Islands, Tripura, D&D & D&N, Arunachal Pradesh.

However, Maharashtra is the only state that has recorded more than 20 deaths in the last 24 hours.

“The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses admin-istered to healthcare and front-line workers has reached nearly 98.5 lakh on Thursday. A total 98,46,523 vaccine doses were given through 2,10,809 sessions till 6 pm,” the Health Minis-try said.

Of the total vaccinated ben-eficiaries, 62,34,635 healthcare workers (HCWs) have taken the first dose, while 4,64,932 HCWs have taken the second dose and 31,46,956 frontline workers (FLWs) have been administered first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Notably, total 3,17,190 vac-cine doses were given in a single day on Thursday through 10,159

India 3rd on list of countries

with highest cumulative...

From Page 1Punjab paid a big amount

— Rs 8 crore — for another Australian pacer, the uncapped Riley Meredith, making him the costliest uncapped foreign player in the IPL history.

The 24-year-old has 43 wickets in 34 T20s that he has played. The last player to be sold at the auction was the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun, a fast bowler find-ing his feet at the domestic level for now. The 21-year-old was picked up by his father’s erstwhile franchise Mumbai Indians.

While the pacers raked in the moolah, Chennai Super Kings were applauded by other teams in the room for buying India’s Test specialist Chetesh-war Pujara for his base price of Rs 50 lakh, paving the way for his IPL return for the first time since 2014. Morris, who

came with a base price of Rs 75 lakh, generated bids from four teams before it became a battle between Royals and Punjab Kings.

Royals eventually sealed it with a record bid which made Morris the costliest buy at the auction ever, surpass-ing Yuvraj Singh, who was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 16 crore in 2015. The cost-liest player in the IPL remains Virat Kohli, retained for Rs 17 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In 70 IPL games, Morris has scored 551 runs at 23.95 and taken 80 wickets at 23.98.

Earlier, KKR made the opening bid for Maxwell but it eventually became a two-way war between Chennai Super Kings and RCB before the Virat Kohli-led team won him with a bid which came to $1.96 mil-lion. Punjab Kings, who had

paid Rs 10.75 crore for Max-well in the previous auction, had released the 32-year-old following the 2020 edition in which he made 108 runs in 13 games at 15.42.

In 82 IPL games, Maxwell has made 1505 runs at a modest average of 22.13. England all-rounder Moeen Ali also went for a high price of Rs 7 crore to Chennai Super Kings. Both Maxwell and Moeen had base prices of Rs 2 crore.

Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan was lapped up by KKR for Rs 3.2 crore. He missed the IPL last year as he was serving a ban for failing to report a cor-rupt approach.

Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile also ended up with a good deal, fetching a Rs 5 crore bid from Mumbai Indians. He had a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.

Australian Steve Smith, who

was released by Rajasthan Roy-als, was bought by Delhi Capi-tals for Rs 2.20 crore, only Rs 20 lakh more than his base price. At his base price of Rs 1.5 crore, England batsman Dawid Malan was a bargain buy for Punjab Kings, who went into the auc-tion with the maximum purse among eight teams.

Australia’s 37-year-old all-rounder Dan Christian trig-gered an inexplicable bidding war before going to Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 4.8 crore, way above his base price of Rs 75 lakh. Seasoned Indians Harbhajan Singh (Rs 2 crore) and Karun Nair (Rs 50 lakh) found a buyer in Kolkata Knight Riders in the final round after going unsold initially.

Among the players who remained unsold were Hanuma Vihari, Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Adil Rashid, and Aaron Finch.

IPL auction: Record-breaking ̀ 16.25 crore...

From Page 1In Kurukshetra, some

protesters climbed atop the Gita Jayanti Express train, which was stationary at that time, resulting in some delay.

In Punjab, protesters sat on tracks at many places on the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar railway route, officials said.

Farmers also blocked the Jalandhar Cantt-Jammu railway track in Jalandhar and besides a rail track in Mohali district, they said.

The Ferozepur division of the Northern Railways decided to halt trains at stations so that passengers face less inconvenience during the ‘rail roko’ protest.

In Rajasthan, officials said that the Rewari-Sri Ganganagar special train was the only train cancelled due to the agitation, while few others were delayed.

In West Bengal too, stray incidents were reported across the state with little or no effect on rail services.

In Maharashtra, members of several organisations and workers of political parties, including Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, Janata Dal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also took part in the rail roko agitation at the Pune railway station, labour welfare activist Nitin Pawar said.

The protesters blocked the Koyna Express and shouted

slogans by standing in front of trains, he said.

At least 12 people were detained at Lasur station, around 40 km from Aurangabad, an official said.

“The Jalna-Mumbai Janshatabdi train was stopped at the station for around 30 minutes. We have detained around 12 agitators and further probe is underway,” the official from the railway police said.

In Bengaluru, the protest was low-key but there was a good turnout of protesters in Raichur, Belagavi and Davangere.

In Raichur, Belagavi and Davangere, some protesters were arrested, sources said.

Farmers stage nationwide ‘rail roko’, say govt will have to repeal...

From Page 1Apart from Section 302

(murder), the FIR also lists Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code, related to causing disappearance of evidence.

The FIR mentioning the two sections was lodged on the basis of the family’s complaint.

The three girls, aged 15, 14 and 16, were found in a field by the villagers when they did not return after leaving their house to take fodder for cattle, police had said.

The villagers rushed the teenagers, who are related, to a hospital, where two of them were declared brought dead. The other girl was

rushed to a district hospital and later referred to a Kanpur healthcare facility, according to police.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a serious note of the incident and sought a detailed report from the director general of police (DGP). He has directed officials to ensure proper treatment of the teenager, according to a spokesperson.

DGP Hitesh Chandra Awasthi said six police teams had been constituted and senior officials were supervising the probe.

A medical bulletin by the Kanpur hospital treating the third girl has noted that it was a suspected case of poisoning,

the officer said.Earlier, Unnao

Superintendent of Police Anand Kulkarni said there was a contradiction in the statements of the mother and brother of the girls. He added that the brother had said the girls were tied with a stole, while her mother said on Thursday that it was around her neck.

“Our investigation has found that bodies had no marks on them either in the hands or legs, suggesting that they were not tied, the

SP said.Kulkarni said the family

members who were the first ones to reach the spot were being questioned.

Asked if an FIR had

been lodged, the SP said the matter was being investigated and action would be taken on the basis of the post mortem report, which was conducted by a panel of three doctors and being recorded.

On speculation about it being a case of honour killing, the officer said all aspects would be included in the probe, adding that it would not be right to say anything on it at the moment.

Taking suo-motu cognisance, the Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission sought a report from the SP within two weeks, commission member K P Singh said.

Unnao: 2 girls found dead, third critical; police register murder case

There is a mass upsurge in Myanmar (Burma) against the mili-tary takeover. Peo-

ple from all walks of life have been out on the streets in the past fortnight protesting against the brutal suppression of democracy.

The Tatmadaw (Myan-mar armed forces) affected the coup on February 1, the day the new parliament was to open after the general election in November 2020. The elec-tion had resulted in a landslide victory for the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy (NLD). The army declared the results to be ille-gal and deposed President Win Myint and State Counsellor Suu Kyi. They and other NLD leaders have been arrested and detained.

The armed forces had ruled Myanmar for decades since the Gen. Ne Win coup of 1962. The movement for democracy achieved a break-through in 1981 but it was bru-tally crushed by the army. Suu Kyi was put under house arrest for 16 long years.

After an arduous strug-gle, the army conceded some powers and a hybrid demo-cratic system was put in place based on the 2008 Constitution adopted by the army. Under this system, the army still held key powers; 25 per cent of the seats in the two houses of par-liament were reserved for mil-itary nominees. The defence and interior ministries were with the army as well as con-trol over other critical sectors of the State.

In 2015, for the first time, the NLD contested the elec-tions to the House of Repre-sentatives and the House of Nationalities which comprise the Assembly of the Union. The NLD went on to win over 80 per cent of the seats in the two houses. Since Suu Kyi could not assume the post of Head of the Government as she was barred

by the constitutional provision that disallowed any person hav-ing a foreign spouse from hold-ing that office, she was made a State Counsellor and was the de facto prime minister.

In the November 8, 2020, general election, the NLD improved its position by win-ning 258 out of the 310 seats in the House of Representa-tives and 138 of the 168 seats in the House of Nationalities. The military-backed Union Soli-darity and Development Party (USDP) could only garner 26 seats and 5.9 per cent of the vote in the lower house.

Frustrated by this result, the army declared that there were serious irregularities in the election and the coup followed. The armed forces declared an emergency under a constitutional provision and said it would last for one year after which fresh elections would be held. Till then the

commander-in-chief of the army, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, would be the de facto ruler.

What is the motivation for this drastic military action? The higher echelons of the armed forces have built up a powerful network of patron-age and business interests in the country. Some of the lucra-tive sectors like precious gems, timber and mineral resources are controlled and plundered by enterprises run by generals and former members of the officer corps.

The armed forces have thought that the USDP would gain enough strength to check-mate the NLD and Aung Suu Kyi. Even the provision of a 67 per cent supermajority required to get one’s candi-date elected as president and second vice president was not a sufficient barrier to thwart the NLD. In both the 2015 and 2020 election, the NLD scored

over 80 per cent of the seats in the non-military sector.

The vested interests exer-cising political and economic power by the armed forces elite were getting threatened by the growing electoral legitimacy of the NLD and its leader.

That the armed forces are completely isolated from the people has become evident in the last fortnight. Signifi-cantly, the bulk of civil ser-vants, health workers, power sector employees and railway workers have joined the mass protests and gone on strike. The army will find it difficult to run the Government with-out the cooperation of these sections.

Faced with the growing protests, the police and the army are now resorting to repressive tactics including firing on peaceful protestors. Hundreds have already been arrested and put in jail. There

are apprehensions that there will be a bloodbath.

However, the people in an impressive show of solidarity and collective will are bravely facing the might of the mili-tary. The Myanmarese people require the full support and solidarity of the Indian people. Both the countries are united by their past colonial histories. The British imperialist power exiled Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon while King Thibaw of Burma was exiled to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. For decades, the people of Myanmar were under the brutal heel of a mil-itary dictatorship. They have now resolved not to allow this to happen again.

The Indian Government should not go by geopolitical calculations and must stand firmly with the people and their democratic aspirations in Myanmar. IPA

Views expressed are personal

mp editorial 7

PRAKASH KARAT

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Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002

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JUSTICE UNREQUITED

DearEditor

In yet another act of disgrace, two minor girls were found dead in Baburaha village of Unnao district in their fields while another girl is in critical condition in a hospital in Kanpur. A lot of things are unknown about the crime but there is a streak of familiarity from earlier such cases in the same district or elsewhere in the country. There seems to be a pattern evolving in such acts of crime. Similar procedures take place, the same amount of sentiments arouse and gradually settle down, and more often, outcomes come along expected lines with laggard pace. The case will take shape completely only after autopsy reports and further investigation. Some initial contradictions have arisen so far. Differing accounts of whether the girls were tied or not has come out. Much will depend on the statement of the third girl who was eldest among the three girls. Police officials said that this prima facie looked like an act of poisoning as the girls were foaming from the mouth and as per police officials, there were no signs of struggle on primary inspection. The family said it did not have any enmity with anyone, thereby ruling out the possibility of naming suspects. It is a point to ponder what grave enmity these minor girls could have with anyone. Rural girls from agricultural families have a routine task of collecting fodder for their domesticated animals. They do it daily. There seems nothing unusual besides their death. If we consider similar crimes in the past, we will find that these types of crimes are a category in themselves. They spur out occasionally. The poor rural families are increasingly falling vulnerable to crimes which are not completely abrupt but systemic. To make things worse, they are not powerful enough to combat opposing forces. While the revelations around the crime will come out after proper investigation, certain things are worrying at this point. The locals have come out to protest for several things. They are firstly demanding a CBI probe into the matter, which of course, should be considered. They are protesting against the cremation of the two girls. One possible reason is that it is against the local tradition that forbids cremation of minor girls. Another reason could be their anger against the administration. Most importantly, they are demanding to undo the detention of family members of the victims who are already under traumatic conditions. They need counselling and pacification and not detention. It is unclear what purpose is the administration trying to serve through their detention. This incident and other recent crimes in Unnao and Hathras shook the soul of the nation. These blatant crimes stand contradictory to the perception of super strict UP administration. Despite a heavy crackdown on criminals and stringent laws for crime against minors, if the administration fails to prevent such crimes, it is a matter of contemplation where the loophole exists. The worst-case scenario is the outgrowth of controversies around the core important issue, which gradually overshadow the thrust on the issue, be it religious, regional or caste-based. We must hope that the crime is dealt with the way it should and the usual delay in justice is avoided.

Education forms the foundation of any society and is responsible for the

economic, social and politi-cal growth and development of the society. But our educa-tion system has measurably failed to awaken the desire of the students for lifelong learning because the level of positive interaction between teachers and students is low. Many students are reported to feel bored or even hate school and abandon their studies. The possible reason is that our education system is unable to make the learn-ing process fun.

Against a background of tests and targets, unscripted queries go mainly unanswered and learning opportunities are lost. Children are born curi-ous. The number of ques-tions a toddler can ask can seem infinite – it is one of the critical methods that humans adopt to learn. According to the researchers, children ask an average of 107 questions in an hour. One child generally asks three questions a min-ute at his peak. Unfortunately, during teaching, teachers do not encourage them to ask questions in the classroom. As a result, children’s creativ-ity and conversational skills do not increase. Promoting curiosity is a foundation for early learning that we should be emphasising more when we look at academic achieve-ments. When teachers teach young children not to ask questions during their lecture, high-performing students are found to be less curious, because they see curiosity as a risk to their results. Whereas curious students who ask lots of questions get better results by understanding topics more deeply.

But unfortunately, ques-tioning drops like a stone once children start school. The youngest children hardly ask two or three questions in two hours. Even worse, as they get older, the children give up asking altogether. As

soon as they are at primary school, they have to shut up and learn. Children have an inherent curiosity to ask ques-tions at any time on any topic that interests them. Inciden-tally, it is our education sys-tem that kills the curiosity to ask questions. It is rare to see children full of activity and intellect because no one is talking about their inner mental lives. Many people in the educational communities emphasise on the behaviour of the children while their learning and performance in the examination. Often, edu-cational bureaucracies have shunted curiosity to the side.

Many of us as guardians, educators, students or poli-ticians forget that education does more than just to impart literacy, it empowers students to take risks and face the world with confidence. One silver lining is that NEP 2020 is expected to inspire a shift from rote learning to in-depth understanding. The curricu-lum content will be reduced to core essentials and create

more space for critical think-ing, discussions and analysis. Teaching and learning will be more interactive, exploratory, collaborative, and experien-tial. The age group of 3-6 years under the school curriculum has been recognised globally as the crucial stage for the development of mental facul-ties of a child.

Education is not just about learning how to be a problem solver, but a blazer of trails, a setter of bars, and a raiser of stakes. The researchers gauged levels of curiosity when the children were babies, tod-dlers and preschoolers, by visiting parents and circulat-ing questionnaires. Reading, maths and behaviour were then checked in kindergarten (the first year of school). It was found that the most curious children performed best. In a finding, critical to tackling the stubborn achievement gap between poorer and richer children, disadvantaged chil-dren had the strongest con-nection between curiosity and performance.

Keeping in view, I (DP Mukherjee) opened a “Rural Science Centre” in my village named Moutorh, Purulia dis-trict, West Bengal in a per-sonal capacity to convince the children that learning is fun. In this centre, when I started to teach a group of students, I realised that It would become increasingly difficult to hold their attention through the full day of learning. So, the best possible option is to present the required curric-ulum to my students in an interesting and relatable way because there was one thing in common among all the chil-dren — they did not like read-ing textbooks. Students were most receptive when I could make analogies that they can relate to their enjoyment. This applies to all subjects. Now every alternate day, one experiment is being carried out to make them under-stand that science is fun and exciting.

While teaching maths at the elementary level, I made the examples that helped stu-

dents to understand it bet-ter. Instead of asking them to divide 20 imaginary apples, I asked them to put their 20 friends in teams and they visualised the problem and understood what operation to use. Most students enjoy listening to stories to which they can relate, and tend to remember the lessons asso-ciated with an experience. In biology, mutualism is an equal relationship while parasitism is like that friend who keeps eating your food but never brings any to share. This is why we need to make the process of learning fun and as easy to absorb as possible. Nothing motivates learners as much as fun does because it comes from genuine interest from within instead of pres-sure from others. Students are much more likely to invest extra time in the learning pro-cess if they enjoy it.

Initially, I found it difficult to hold their attention dur-ing a lecture, so I started to watch a clip from a popular movie and then analyse it sci-entifically. For instance, the film “Three Idiots” is a great example to encourage stu-dents to be always creative in their answers and the work and things they do. It helps them to become more capa-ble. The film pointed out that the students should not run behind good scores in exam-inations. Students should achieve excellence first and then the success will automat-ically come to them.

Let our children create their own structure or time-table for the day by combining their ideas and home learning. It is high time to encourage our children to do research in something that is of interest to them and show their learn-ing through creative projects. Also, positive and construc-tive praise that targets effort, behaviour and specific aspects of a child’s work is much more powerful than just say-ing “well done for completing your monotonous home task”.

Views expressed are personal

The number of questions a toddler can ask can seem infinite – it is one of the critical methods that humans adopt to learn. According to the researchers, children ask an average of 107 questions in an hour. One child generally asks three questions a minute at his peak

Responding to children’s curiosity and making ‘learning’ a fun process will bring the best out of them; write Debapriya Mukherjee & Arnab Chatterjee

Learning with delight

Mass upsurgeFaced with the growing protests, the Myanmar army has resorted to repressive tactics

The Myanmarese people require the full support and solidarity of the Indian people. Both the countries are united by their past colonial histories. The British imperialist power exiled Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon while King Thibaw of Burma was exiled to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra

EDITORIAL

Sensitive issueThis week, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki stated

that President Biden supports a study on whether the descendants of former slaves in the United States should receive reparations. The specific bill in ques-

tion that calls for such a study has been awaiting a full vote by Congress for the last 30 years and has only recently been rein-troduced for possible voting.

The idea behind the whole thing is as simple as it unpalat-able to some. The nations of the west, at some point in their history, developed and enriched themselves off the wealth and free labour of those they enslaved. Even after slavery officially ended, the systemic disadvantages left behind in these coun-tries and among these communities have continued to linger on to the present day. Thus, while the present-day descendants of those who were so-subjected to the inhumane practice of slav-ery in one form or another, while not being slaves themselves, do deserve compensation for the disadvantages so caused.

Major colonial powers have always had an uncomfortable stance regarding slavery and colonial reparations. As embod-ied by the UK, the general idea is to express regret but not apologise or such acts in the past. The reason is simple. Such colonial powers do not wish for such cases to become tangible with airtight legal terms of reparation. There is a general fear that any talk of reparations could come at a heavy cost to the former-colonial powers. This is one of the reasons why colonial revisionism caught on in the 19th and 20th century. Plenty of scholarly works produced with this purpose rejected the nar-rative of colonial powers stealing from their colonies and com-mitting crimes against its people for generations. These colonial powers, as these thinkers stated, were a force of civilising good that brought the light of civilisation to the darker corners of the world. They contend that regardless of what costs the colonised country ultimately bore, what it received in return was priceless.

India, too, has had an experience of such revisionism where the so-called ‘benefits’ of the British Raj — the systems of bureaucracy, education, transport, the English language, etc., are supposed to be fair compensation for the drain of wealth and abject cruelty that India and its people were subjected to by our colonial masters. Depending on what you believe, this colonial past will continue coming in the way of India and UK building closer bilateral relations over time.

In the modern-day, even as nations have kept their silence, it became fashionable for certain private companies to confront their colonial past. These companies too set up some kind of fact-finding commission that makes promises but ultimately collapses before talks can get to the point of discussing com-pensations. That is not to say there has not been some success in holding companies responsible for their unsavoury past but it is true that such examples are rare and often requires the vic-tims and evidence to still be relatively fresh.

What is needed, thus, is a more formalised, likely global answer to this problem. A global summit or specialised body may be organised to consider the specific practical aspects of how an effective system of compensation may be created. It is obviously not just about the money but the money is important too. A study done by Harvard during the pandemic claimed that adequate and timely slavery compensations made to the African American community could have reduced the dispro-portionate impact of the pandemic on the community.

Ultimately, this is a problem that must be confronted by all parties, those that are guilty and those that were the victims. While the colonial powers can ignore or procrastinate on such issues with the hope that no legal base for such issues can be formed, this is not a long-term solution. There is an elephant in the room and looking away does not make it disappear. What is needed is a serious global conversation.

The people, in an impressive show of solidarity and collective will, are bravely facing the might of the military

....SATYAM DUBEY, DELHI via email

millenniumpost|NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021

Children tend to grasp topics better when taught in an interesting and relatable way

NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021|millenniumpostmp world8

Police rampage targets striking railway workers in Myanmar

YANGON (MYANMAR): Demonstrators against Myan-mar's military takeover returned to the streets Thursday after a night of armed intimidation by security forces in the country's second biggest city.

The police rampage in a Mandalay neighbourhood where state railway workers are housed showed the conflict between protesters and the new military government is increas-ingly focused on the businesses and government institutions that sustain the economy.

State railway workers on Sunday had called a strike, join-ing a loosely organised Civil Disobedience Movement that was initiated by medical work-ers and is the backbone of the resistance to the Feb 1 coup that ousted the elected civilian gov-ernment. Many workers and cit-izens of Myanmar believe that CDM is very effective for mak-ing the junta fail," said a labor activist who spoke on condition of anonymity for his own safety.

That's why health, educa-tion, transportation, different government departments and banks' employees are partici-pating in CDM together.

The railway strike has received support from ordi-nary citizens who have placed themselves on railroad tracks to stop trains the military has commandeered.

The efforts by Mandalay res-idents to block a rail line on Wednesday apparently triggered the retaliation that night.

Less than an hour after the 8 pm start of the nightly curfew, gunshots were heard as more than two dozen men in police uniforms, shields and helmets, marched in tight formation by

the railway workers' housing.Numerous videos posted

on social media showed muz-zle flashes as shots were heard, and some were shown shooting slingshots and throwing rocks at buildings. Cadence calls of left, right, left, right can be heard along with shouts of shoot, shoot. Several reports included photos of people with small wounds, which were claimed to have been caused by rubber bul-lets. Some unconfirmed reports said several railway workers were arrested.

The junta has said it took over preventing Parliament from convening and detain-ing the nation's elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others because the November election was tainted by voting irregu-larities. It replaced the election

commission that affirmed Suu Kyi's party won by a landslide and says it will hold a new elec-tion in a year's time.

The Biden government has imposed new US sanctions on Myanmar because of the coup, and the United Nations and other nation's governments have called for Suu Kyi's elected gov-ernment to be restored.

Opponents of the coup are also urging foreign businesses to cut their ties to Myanmar operations they believe benefit the military. About 200 peo-ple demonstrated Thursday near Kanbauk, in the south of the country, outside premises involved in a major pipeline operation that pumps gas from offshore fields for export. The demonstrators moved between the premises of Total of France,

PTTEP of Thailand and Petro-nas of Malaysia and later joined with a larger anti-coup demon-stration in Kanbauk. Extracting industries, such as gas and oil drilling and jade mining, are key sources of foreign revenue for Myanmar. Rights campaigners have appealed to foreign com-panies involved in those indus-tries to stop paying revenue to the new military government.

The Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountabil-ity said any payments would undermine "the Myanmar peo-ple's efforts to return the country to democracy and instead would give the military the resources to violate human rights. The alli-ance urged companies to release revenue payments only to the democratically elected govern-ment. Street protests continued

in other cities. In Yangon, some tried to hinder security forces by abandoning cars in streets. But small groups of men, includ-ing several dressed in Buddhist monks' robes, attacked sev-eral drivers and their vehicles, smashing windshields in some cases. The courts are becoming another battleground.

State television announced charges Wednesday against sev-eral prominent entertainers, including actors and directors, who have all been publicly sup-portive of the protests. They were charged under a law that penalizes those who act in a manner intended to hinder or prevent members of the mili-tary and government employees from carrying out their duties.

On Wednesday night, the military for a fourth day in a row ordered an internet blackout almost entirely blocking online access from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m.

While the military did not say why the internet was being blocked, there is widespread speculation that the government is installing a firewall system to allow it to monitor or block online activity.

Earlier, the UN indepen-dent investigator on Myanmar said Wednesday that hardened troops are being deployed from a number of border areas in northern Rakhine state to some cities, raising the possibility of bloodshed and a tragic loss of life. Special rapporteur Tom Andrews said in an interview with The Associated Press that the initial restraint of police dealing with robust citizen opposition to the coup has moved on in some instances to use of rubber bullets, real ammunition being fired and use of water cannons.

He said he can now confirm from a few sources that some troops are moving to some populated cities from Rakhine, where the government is still fighting a Rohingya insurgency after a 2017 military crack-down that led 700,000 mem-bers of the Muslim minority to flee to Bangladesh. AGENCIES

COVID-19 infections 'fallen significantly' in England: Study

LONDON: The interim find-ings of a new UK government-backed study released on Thursday shows that COVID-19 infections in England have "fallen significantly" since Janu-ary, reflecting the impact of the strict lockdown measures.

The Imperial College Lon-don led Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT-1) research swab tested over 85,400 volunteers in England between February 4 and 13 to examine the levels of infection in the general popula-tion and found infections have dropped by two-thirds since lockdown began, with London showing an 80 per cent fall.

"The findings show infec-tions in England have fallen significantly since the last report in January," the latest report noted.

But the findings indicated Coronavirus levels are still high, with one in 200 test-ing positive during that same period. "These findings show encouraging signs infections are now heading in the right direction across the coun-try, but we must not drop our guard," said UK Health Secre-tary Matt Hancock.

"Cases and hospital admis-sions remain high over 20,000 COVID-19 patients are in hos-pital so it is vital we all remain vigilant and follow the rules as

our vaccination rollout contin-ues at pace," he said, reiterating the current lockdown message of staying at home and main-taining social distance.

The figures offer some hope for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is preparing to present a roadmap on Monday for gradually lifting stringent lockdown restrictions in place early last month.

He has repeatedly warned that any unlocking will be "cau-tious" and has refrained from setting any firm dates for when specific sectors of the economy can reopen. The main findings from the REACT study, ninth since the pandemic began last year alongside Ipsos MORI, show infection prevalence fell from 1.57 per cent to 0.51 per cent, or 51 per 10,000 infected.

The R number, or the rate at which the infection spreads, remains below one at around 0.72 and regional prevalence fell in all areas and across almost all age groups compared to the last report.

These encouraging results show that lockdown measures are effectively bringing infec-tions down. It's reassuring that the reduction in numbers of infections occurred in all ages and in most regions across the country, Professor Paul Elliott, director of the programme at Imperial College London.

While the trends we've observed are good news, we need to all work to keep infec-tions down by sticking to the measures which are designed to protect us and our health system, he said. AGENCIES

Earlier, UN independent investigator on Myanmar said that hardened troops are being deployed from a number of border areas in northern Rakhine state to some cities

Demonstrators of different ethnic groups gather during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar Thursday PTI

In shock move, Facebook blocks news access in Australia

CANBERRA: In a shocking act of retaliation Thursday, Face-book blocked Australians from sharing news, a milestone in the increasingly frantic jockeying between governments, media and powerful tech companies that one Australian minister called an assault on a sovereign nation and abuse of power.

Australia's government con-demned the decision, which also prevented some government communications, including messages about emergency ser-vices, as well as some commer-cial pages. The digital platforms fear that what's happening in Australia will become an expen-sive precedent that larger coun-tries will follow.

Facebook took the drastic

action because the House of Representatives passed legisla-tion that would make Facebook and Google pay for Australian journalism, said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who added that he was given no warning before Facebook acted. The legislation needs to be passed by the Senate before it becomes law.

Facebook's actions were unnecessary, they were heavy-handed and they will damage its reputation here in Australia, Frydenberg said.

Facebook said the proposed Australian law fundamentally misunderstands the relation-ship between our platform and publishers who use it.

This is an assault on a sov-ereign nation, Health Minster

Greg Hunt told Parliament. It is an assault on people's free-dom and, in particular, it's an utter abuse of big technologies' market power and control over technology. Both Google and Facebook have threatened retal-iation if Australia created the law, which the government con-tends will ensure media busi-nesses receive fair payment for their journalism being linked on those platforms.

Australia's proposal requires a negotiation safety net through an arbitration panel. The digi-tal giants would not be able to abuse their dominant negotiat-ing positions by making take-it-or-leave-it payment offers to news businesses for their journalism. AGENCIES

WHO says more than 11,000

Ebola vaccines will go to GuineaDAKAR (Senegal): The World Health Organization says it will be sending more than 11,000 Ebola vaccinations to the West African nation of Guinea in the coming days to combat the recent epidemic of the deadly hemorrhagic fever that has been declared in the country's southern N'Zerekore region.

WHO regional director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said Thursday that 11,000 Ebola vaccines are being pre-pared in Geneva and are expected to arrive in Guinea over the weekend.

An additional 8,600 doses will be shipped from the United States, she said. The vaccination campaign could start as early as Monday.

Thirty vaccination experts have already been mobilized locally and are ready to deploy as soon as Ebola vaccines arrive in the country, she said. The WHO has called on six African countries to be on high alert for Ebola infections after both Guinea and Congo recorded cases in recent weeks. AGENCIES

COURT NOTICE(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC)(SUCCESSION CASE)

IN THE COURT OF Sh ASHISH KUMAR SHARMA

Civil Judge(Senior Division),Ram Phal S/o Dalip Singh

Vs.General Public

CNR No. HRRH02-001572-2020Next Date:-10-03-2021

It is, therefore, prayed that the succession certificat may kindly be issued in favour of petitioner.Notice to:General PublicIn above titled case, the defendant (s)/ respondent(s) could not be served. It is ordered that defendant(s)/ respondent(s) should appear in person or through counsel on 10.03.2021 at 10:00 am.For details logon to https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs = district notice & district = Rohtak

Sd/- Sh Ashish Kumar SharmaAdditional Civil Judge(Senior Division)Dated 16-02-2021 Rohtak

DELHI JAL BOARD: Govt. of NCT of DELHIOFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (C) DR-III

Kanhaiya Nagar Mew Delhi-110035

"WEAR MASKS, FOLLOW PHYSICAL DISTANCING, MAINTAIN HAND HYGIENE" PRESS NIT NO-6 (2020-21))

Further details, in this regard, can be seen at https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in Issuded By PRO (Water) Sd/- K.K. HaritAdvt. No. J.S.V./2020-21/421 Executive Engineer (C)DR-III

The Executive Engineer HPPWD Division Hamirpur Distt. Hamirpur H.P on behalf of Governor of H.P invites the item rate bids, in electronic tendering system from the eligible class for the works as detailed in the table.Sr. No.

Name of work Estimated cost (Rs.)

Starting Date for downloding Bid

EMD (Rs.) Deadline for Sub-mission of Bid

1 Renovation of Bachat Bhawan at Hamirpur. (SH:- Exten-sion of balcony providing proofing, flooring and ornamental screen). (Deposit work)

1079605.00 04.03.2021 21600.00 12.03.2021

2 Repair and maintenance of PHC Nalti, Distt. Hamirpur (H.P.). (SH:-Providing painting, distemper, construction of retaining wall, breast wall, boundary wall, barbed wire fencing and other minor repair work). (Deposit work).

790261.00 04.03.2021 15900.00 12.03.2021

The bidders are advised to note other details of tenders from the department website www.hptenders.gov.in Executive Engineer

Hamirpur Division,HPPWD, Hamirpur. Pin Code 177001

Telephone No. 01972-222510 e-mail: ee-ham-hp@nic.in On behalf of Governor of Himachal PradeshNo 5898/2020-2021 HIM SUCHANA AVAM JAN SAMPARK

HIMACHAL PRADESH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTINVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)

millenniumpost|NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021mp business 9

NEW DELHI: After Rajast-han, petrol price on Thursday crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Madhya Pradesh after fuel rates were increased for the tenth day in a row.

Petrol price was hiked by 34 paise per litre and diesel by 32 paise, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

While branded or additive-laced petrol, which attracts higher taxes, had crossed the Rs 100-mark in some places in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajast-han, regular petrol crossed the physiological mark in Srigan-ganagar town of Rajasthan on Wednesday, and on Thursday it went past that mark in Mad-hya Pradesh.

In Anuppur of Madhya Pradesh, petrol is priced at Rs 100.25 per litre and diesel at Rs 90.35.

Fuel prices differ from state to state depending on the inci-dence of local taxes such as VAT and freight charges. Raj-asthan levies the highest value-added tax (VAT) on petrol in the country, followed by Mad-hya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh levies 33 per cent plus Rs 4.5 a litre and 1 per cent cess on petrol. On diesel, it charges 23 per cent plus Rs 3 per litre and 1 per cent cess.

After Thursday’s price increase, petrol in Delhi costs Rs 89.88 per litre and diesel Rs 80.27.

In Mumbai, petrol price rose to Rs 96.32 a litre and die-sel was priced at Rs 87.32.

Oil Minister Dharmendra

Pradhan had on Wednesday blamed output cut by oil-pro-ducing nations for the rally in international oil prices that have translated into higher retail rates in India.

He urged Saudi Arabia and other global oil producers to ease production cuts, saying rising international oil prices are hurting economic recovery and demand.

Demand recovery should take “primacy” over oil prices at least for the next few months, he had said.

International oil prices have been on the boil since Saudi Arabia pledged additional vol-untary output cuts of 1 million barrels per day in February and March under a deal between the Organization of the Petro-leum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies includ-ing Russia, a group known as OPEC+.

This has resulted in oil prices rising to $63 per bar-rel, the highest level in more than a year. “The rising crude oil prices during the last few weeks is hurting the fragile global economic recovery due to significant demand contrac-tion, which might even mir-ror the impact of COVID-19 in its initial stages,” Pradhan had said at the 11th IEA IEF OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks. PTI

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Asserting that reforms in the regulatory and process framework have sig-nificantly “improved” the out-look towards the power sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Centre is working to remove problems in the distribution sector and a policy and regulatory frame-work for DISCOMs is in the offing.

Consumers should be able to choose their supplier according to performance like any other retail commodity, he said at a webinar for consulta-tion towards effective imple-mentation of the Union Budget provisions in the power and renewable energy sector, the Prime Minister’s Office (PM) said in a statement.

Modi said the government treats power as a separate sector and not as part of the industry sector, while adding that the Centre’s approach towards it has been holistic and guided by the four mantras of “reach, reinforce, reform and renew-able energy”.

He noted that the renewable energy capacity of the country has been enhanced by two-and-a-half times in the last six years and the solar energy capacity

by 15 times.“This year’s budget has

shown unprecedented com-mitment towards investment in infrastructure. This is evident in mission hydrogen, domes-tic manufacturing of solar cells and massive capital infusion in the renewable energy sector,” Modi said.

Referring to the PLI (per-formance-linked incentive) scheme, he said high-effi-ciency solar PV modules are now part of it and the govern-ment is committed to invest-ing Rs 4,500 crore in this. Modi hoped for a massive response to the scheme.

Under the PLI scheme, inte-

grated solar PV manufacturing plants with a capacity of 10,000 MW will be operationalised with an estimated investment of Rs 14,000 crore.

This is likely to increase demand for locally produced materials such as EVA, solar glass, backsheet and junction box.

“We want to see our com-panies to become global manu-facturing champions, not just to fulfil local demands,” the prime minister said.

The government has indi-cated its commitment of addi-tional capital infusion worth Rs 1,000 crore in the Solar Energy Corporation of India to pro-

mote investments in the renew-able energy sector. Similarly, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) will get additional investments worth Rs 1,500 crore. This will enable the Solar Energy Cor-poration of India to invest in innovative projects worth Rs 17,000 crore, Modi said.

The investment in the IREDA will lead to additional loans of Rs 12,000 crore by the agency. This will be over and above the IREDA’s current loan-giving capacity of Rs 27,000 crore, the statement noted.

Stakeholders and experts of the power sector, represen-tatives of industries and asso-ciations, MDs of DISCOMs, CEOs of state nodal agencies for renewable energy and con-sumer groups attended the webinar.

Modi noted that the energy sector plays a big role in the country’s progress and said the webinar is an indication of trust between the government and the private sector and an attempt to find ways for a quick implementation of the budget announcements for the sector.

The government is focussed on reaching every village and every household, and India has become a power-surplus coun-try from a power-deficit coun-

try, he said.In recent years, the country

has added 139 gigawatts capac-ity and reached the goal of one nation-one grid-one frequency, the prime minister pointed out.

Reforms like the UDAY scheme with the issuance of bonds worth Rs 2.32 lakh crore were undertaken to improve financial and operational effi-ciencies, he said, adding, “For monetising the assets of the Powergrid, Infrastructure Investment Trust -- InvIT was established, which will soon be open for investors.”

Modi said work is on to make the distribution sector free of entry barriers and licens-ing for distribution and sup-ply. Efforts are underway for prepaid smart metres, feeder separation and system upgra-dation, he added.

Under the PM KUSUM scheme, farmers are becoming energy entrepreneurs and the goal is to create 30-GW solar capacity through small plants in their fields, the prime min-ister said.

Already, 4-GW solar capac-ity is installed through rooftop solar projects and 2.5 GW will be added soon. In the next one-and-a-half years, 40-GW solar power is aimed through rooftop solar projects, he added.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) on Thursday said oil marketing companies (OMCs) in some states do not seem to be fully geared up to take more quantity of ethanol, and sugar mills expect early solution to this problem.

On exports, the industry body quoting market reports said the country has exported 4 lakh tonnes of sugar till Jan-uary of the 2020-21 marketing season (October-September).

So far, a total of 25 lakh tonnes of sugar has been con-tracted for overseas shipment in the current season with the highest orders contracted for Indonesia, it added.

“This is an encouraging trend, considering that only 45 days have passed since the export quota was announced on December 31 2020 for the current season,” ISMA said in a statement.

India will see more export contracts happening quickly once the clarification sought from the commerce ministry for exports to Iran is received. The ministry will issue clarifi-cation soon on exports to Iran, it added.

On ethanol, Indian Sugar Mills Association said sugar mills are “facing difficul-ties in lifting of ethanol by OMCs”, even though they have allocated about 325 crore litres of ethanol supplies in 2020-21.

“It seems that OMCs and their depots are not fully geared up, especially in newer depots and states, to take more quan-tities of ethanol. PTI

Policy, regulatory framework for DISCOMs is in offing: PM

Consumers should be able to choose their supplier according to performance, he said at a webinar for consultation towards effective implementation of Union Budget provisions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a webinar on Budget announcement, in New Delhi on Thursday PTI

KOLKATA: The implications of COVID-19 on the Industry issignificant but the impact on some sectors are worst. We have heard from manufacturing sec-tors from across the globe, on how the pandemic has created new challenges. Every sector has been affected.

Finally, technology has helped us to navigate through the current situation and itwill play a stronger role than ever before as we plan a comeback and shape the new normal. Keeping the present scenario in mind, the topic of Industry Conclave in the 33rd Indus-trial India Trade Fair held at Rajarhat on Thursday was “Vision of the Industry in New Normal.”

The Conclave had galaxy speakers from various indus-tries. Ashim Prasad, Chief General Manager and OIC of Kolkata Zonal Office (Gail) India Limited, Rupak Barua, CEO, AMRI Hospital, Avishek Dalmiya, President, The Cricket Association of Bengal, Upaneeta Sen, Director, Altair Services Pvt. Ltd., Anindya Chatterjee,

Stella Budiriganya, Ambassa-dor, Republic of Burundi has spoken on the given topic in the Industry Conclave.

The Conclave was moder-ated by Eminent Journalist Gau-tam Bhattacharya. The President of the Chamber Dr. Arpan Mitra and Vice President Debashis Dutta was also present at the Industry Conclave.

The unprecedented inci-dent has come as a shock to all the Industries. From Health-care, Tourism, Sports to Film and Entertainment, everyone had to find their own way to combat the pandemic and get accustomed to the New Normal. Despite the pandemic, Ashim Prasad of GAIL has injected some positivity in the forum. During the interactive session of the Conclave he has mentioned, hopefully West Bengal and 14 Districts will be connected by the natural gas pipeline in next couple of years and things will start looking better.

Rupak Barua, CEO of AMRI has claimed that, despite being one of the worst victims of Covid and the Healthcare sys-

tem being exposed, India is one of the best progressing country. The country has been the larg-est manufacturers of PPE Kit and India has started supply-ing kits to other neighbouring

countries as well. Rupak Barua said, “The

Healthcare system was chal-lenged by the pandemic and our infrastructure was exposed. There was no sufficient ventila-

tors at some point of time. For Healthcare the expenditure was 1.28 per cent of GDP, whereas we have asked for minimum 2.5 to 3 per cent of the GDP. So there had been a major shortfall in the system. But finally things are looking better now.”

Kolkata, being known as a sports loving city can also get pumped up by knowing that Eden Gardens might get to host an International match during September-October as claimed by The CAB President. Avishek Dalmiya said, “We are expecting to host an International Match in September-October. Hope-fully the IPL will also take place. Domestic matches have already

started in shorter formats. We were hoping to get a match of India-England series, but keep-ing the logistical thing in mind unfortunately it did not happen.”

Upaneeta Sen, with almost a50-year background in Tour-ism Industry has spoken about how the whole focus is shifting to digital tourism. ‘Sustainability in travel’ is now the new man-tra of the travellers. There is nothing called touch and feel at present- everything is a myth. Upaneeta Sen said, “Know-ing Tourism being a hard hit

industry, and now with situation getting back to normal gradu-ally, the travel agents need to upgrade their knowledge and help travellers choose meaning-ful destinations keeping in mind the new restrictions.”

Eminent singer and film per-sonality Anindya Chatterjee has also discussed about the prob-lems faced and the measures taken to combat. “The music artistes livelihood depends on the live concerts, which has completely stopped since the inception of the pandemic. We

don’t know when we can do shows abroad as well. The cloud of uncertainty is still revolv-ing around the whole indus-try. Now in the new normal, the content will remain the same but the pattern of busi-ness will change.” The singer has termed the lockdown days as “Panic Pain” The diversified conclave ended with few melo-dious lines from Anindya. The conclave was followed by Abu Saleh troupe’s performance and finally a grand performance by Jojo. MPOST

33rd Industrial India Trade Fair focuses on ‘Vision of Industry in New Normal’ on 2nd day

NEW DELHI: Oil India Lim-ited (OIL) in consortium with Engineers India Limited (EIL) has decided to bid for acquir-ing 61.65 per cent stake of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL). The bid is to be submitted through a formal process. The exact per-centage of the stake of OIL and

EIL will depend on the extent of Right of First Offer (ROFO) to be exercised by Government of Assam which already holds 12.35% stakes in NRL. NRL is the largest customer of OIL’s crude produced from its North Eastern fields.

The acquisition is expected to improve the synergy in OIL’s portfolio. MPOST

OIL led consortium to bid for acquiring BPCL’s stake in NRL

NEW DELHI: Realty major DLF’s rental arm DCCDL has completed the acquisition of the entire 52 per cent stake of US-based Hines in a premium commercial project in Guru-gram for Rs 780 crore.

In December, DLF had informed that its joint venture firm DLF Cyber City Develop-ers Ltd (DCCDL) entered into a securities purchase agreement with funds managed by Hines for acquisition of their stake in Fairleaf Real Estate, which owns and operates ‘One Hori-zon Center’.

“DCCDL has completed the acquisition of this 51.8 per cent stake at a consideration of Rs 779.40 crore and consequently Fairleaf has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of DCCDL with effect from today i.e. Feb-ruary 18, 2021”, DLF said in a regulatory filing. Hines had

nearly 52 per cent stake in the One Horizon Centre while the rest was with the DCCDL.

The DCCDL exercised the first right of refusal to acquire Hines’ stake. The DCCDL is a joint venture firm of DLF and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC. DLF holds 66.66 per cent stake in the DCCDL while GIC has the rest.

The commercial tower ‘One Horizon Center’ has a leasable area of about 8,13,000 square feet, mainly high-end Grade A office spaces along with comple-mentary retail space.

The acquisition is subject to customary conditions to closure and is expected to be consum-mated in the next quarter.

DLF’s MD-Rental Busi-ness Sriram Khattar had said the company acquired com-plete ownership of this asset at a right price. MPOST

DCCDL acquires One Horizon Centre’s Gurugram office building for ̀ 780 crore

After Rajasthan Petrol crosses ̀ 100 mark in MP

OMCs in some states not lifting ethanol: ISMA

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL e-Tender

N.I.T. no- i) WBMAD/e-Tender /20 of EE (N24)-2020-21, Date –15/02/2021. The Executive Engineer, M.E.Dte (Authorized Signatory) invites e-Tender/ Offline Tender for Annual Maintenance Contract for Different canals within Different Municipal areas are from the eligible Contractors, having all relevant documents for TENDER (As per Govt. Norms) required [Collection (downloading) & Submission (uploading)] of Tender can be made online through https://wbtenders.gov.inBid submission end date:- 08.03.2021.at 12:00 .

Sd/- Executive Engineer North 24 Pgs. Divn. M.E.Dte.

ICA- T4213(3)/2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL PWD TENDER NOTICE

EE,PWD, Cob. Divn. invitesDate Corrigendum for online e-tender (e-NIT 28 & 29) for 1. Repairing Work of Gosaiganj VR & 2. Surfacing work of New Pilkhana road _COB_SubDivn II& I respectively. Tender Id: 2021_WBPWD_319260_1 &2021_WBPWD_319277_1Bid submission closing date: 02.03.2021.Downloaded from: http://wbtenders.gov.in

Sd/- EE,PWD,ICA- T4292(4)/2021 COB. DIVN

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL TENDER NOTICE

Online PERCENTAGE rate tender is invited vide NIT no. 20 of 2020-2021 of SE/NHC for the work of Tajpur - Goagaon road from 0.00 kmp to 5.50 km, Improvement work under Uttar Dinajpur Highway Division in the District of Uttar Dinajpur. Rs. 2,82,94,120.00. (Tender lD: 2021_SH_326911_1). Last date of bid submission of NIT are 17.03.2021 up to 3.00 P.M. Intending bidders are requested to visit the website: https://wbtenders.gov.in and this office notice board0 .

Sd/- ( PARTHA SIKDAR )Superintending EngineerNorthern Highway Circle P.W. (Roads) Directorate

ICA- T4279(4)/2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

Tenzing Norgey Road, Pradhan Nagar, Siliguri – 734 003

NOTICE INVITING e – TENDERThe Chief Executive Officer, Siliguri Jal-paiguri Development Authority, Siliguri invites electronic notice inviting e-bid (Online) under 2 (Two) bid system from eligible resourceful bonafide and expe-rienced firms / companies / individual contractors for the following works: Ten-der No. – NIT 130 / Engg /Elect/ 2020 – 2021 of SJDA of SJDA . Name of Work – Drawing of ACSR Conductor, Timer Switch in Dabgram – II Gram Pan-chayat Area for fixing of Street Lights from existing Transformer. Amount put to Tender– Rs. 42,08,998.00. Earnest Money- Rs. 84,180.00 Cost of Tender- Rs. 1,000.00/- for each. Time of Com-pletion – 60 Days. Tender Documents Sale / Download Start Date & Time 18.02.2021 at 4:00 PM and Bid Sub-mission End Date & Time– 05.03.2021 up to 4.00 P.M. Date of opening of Technical Proposals – 08.03.2021 Date of open-ing of Financial Proposals – to be notified after technical evaluation All details can be obtained from the website - www.sjda.org/ www.westbengal.gov.in or Log in http://wbtenders.gov.in or contact Engineering Section of SJDA at (0353) 2512922, 2515647. S/d

Chief Executive OfficerICA- T4219(4)/2021

Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

Government of West Bengal

OFFFICE OF THE PINGLA PANCHAYAT SAMITI PINGLA :: PASCHIM MEDINIPUR E-mail:-pinglablock@gmail.com, Ph & Fax No.:- 03222-238542 Pingla, Paschim Medinipur

Tender Notice Invites Application for e-Tender notice for the work of Installation of Solar Light at Jamna Gram Panchayat (GP no-2) area within Pingla Panchayat samiti under 15th Finance Commission for the year 2020-2021 (17 nos) .Tender Reference :- WB/PMZP/PINGLA /NIET- 061/ 2020-21 . Bid submission End date.:- 26.02.2021 upto 5.30 P.M Details of the Tender notice is available in https://wbtenders.gov.in. Sd/- Executive Officer, Pingla Panchayat Samiti

Memo No. 517(3) /I&CA /Pas.Mid

Dtd. 18.02.2021

ICA- T4265(3)/2021

ICA- T4270(4)/2021

ICA- T4204(3)/2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

Re-e-TENDER NOTICE

Re-e-Tenders are invited by Commissioner of Police, Kolkata from Bonafide Dealers / OEM/ Traders having experience in Supply & Maintenance of Water Rescue Equipment to be used by Disaster Management Group (DMG), Kolkata Police. Last date of online submission of tender is on 05.03.2021 up to 3.00 PM. The Details are available in the website wbtenders.gov.in & www.kolkatapolice.gov.in.

Sd/- for CP, Kolkata

ICA- T4207(3)/2021

ICA- T4275(2)/2021

ICA- T4210(3)/2021

ICA- T4216(3)/2021

eNIQ No.-06 of 2020-21 of EE/KNIID

EE/KNIID Invites e-quotation for Cleaning & Sweeping and Guarding & Caretaker work at different Housing Estate under his jurisdiction, Tender Id 2021_HSD_326798 _1 to 16, Bid Submission Closing Dt. 15/03/2021 upto 3:00 P.M. For details visit web site http://wbtenders.gov.in. Sd/- Executive Engineer , Kolkata North II Division/HD

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

ICA- T4227(3)/2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad TenderAdditional Executive Officer, North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad invites onlinetender as follows – NIT NO. N.-82/20-21(Eng) dt: 17/02/2021. Details may be obtained from the website : https://wbtenders.gov.in .

Sd/- Additional Executive Officer,North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad.

513(4)/DICO/N24Pgs, dt. 18.02.2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad TenderAdditional Executive Officer, North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad invites onlinetender as follows – NIT NO. – NPG/ N.-42/20-21(Eng) (3rd Call) (Online) dt: 17/02/2021. Details may be obtained from the website : https://wbtenders.gov.in .

Sd/- Additional Executive Officer,North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad.

514(4)/DICO/N24Pgs, dt. 18.02.2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad TenderAdditional Executive Officer, North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad invites Offline tenderas follows – NIT NO.:-NPG / N.-83/20-21(Eng) (offline) (Sl. No. – 1, 2 & 3) dt: 18/02/2021. Details may be obtained from the office of District Engineer, North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad.

Sd/- Additional Executive Officer,North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad.

516(4)/DICO/N24Pgs, dt. 18.02.2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad TenderAdditional Executive Officer, North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad invites Offline tenderas follows – NIT NO.:-NPG / N.-39/20-21(Eng) (2nd Call) (offline) (Sl. No. – 1) dt: 18/02/2021. Details may be obtained from the office of District Engineer, North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad.

Sd/- Additional Executive Officer,North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad.

517(4)/DICO/N24Pgs, dt. 18.02.2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad TenderAdditional Executive Officer, North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad invites onlinetender as follows – NIT NO. N.-86/20-21(Eng) dt: 18/02/2021. Details may be obtained from the website : https://wbtenders.gov.in .

Sd/- Additional Executive Officer,North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad.

518(4)/DICO/N24Pgs, dt. 18.02.2021

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

ICA- T4232(3)/2021

ICA- T4234(3)/2021

ICA- T4237(3)/2021

ICA- T4238(3)/2021

ICA- T4240(3)/2021

ICA- T4246(2)/2021

ICA- T4252(2)/2021

ICA- T4258(3)/2021

TRIFED BAGS FOUR AWARDS

Team TRIFED, led by the dynamic Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, has won 4 awards in the 19 th Global edition and the 4 th India Edition of World Leadership Congress and Awards which took place in Mumbai on Wednesday. Recognised for its diligent efforts towards the transformation of lives of the tribal population across the country, TRIFED won a collective award Excellence in PSU. Pravir Krishna, Managing Director won three awards in the Individual Category for his exemplary & inspirational leadership – CEO of the year; Brand Builder of the year & Entrepreneur of the Year. MPOST

mp business10 NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021|millenniumpost

COMMERCIAL MARKETS ACROSS INDIA TO REMAIN SHUT ON FEB 26: CAITNEW DELHI: Traders’ body CAIT on Thursday said all commercial markets across the country will remain closed on February 26 in view of its ‘Bharat Bandh’ call demanding a review of the provisions of the goods and services tax (GST) regime. The Confedera-tion of All India Traders (CAIT) said dharnas (protests) will be held nationwide in 1,500 places demanding the Centre, state governments and the GST Council to keep in abeyance the “draconian” provisions of GST. It also called for a review of the GST system and its tax slabs to simplify and rationalise it for easier compli-ance by traders. Addressing a press conference, CAIT Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said it is also talking to the government on this issue.

VISTARA COMMENCES FLIGHT OPERA-TIONS FROM INDIA TO GERMANYMUMBAI: Full service carrier Vistara on Thursday commenced its flight operations to Germany from India with the launch of a non-stop flight to Frankfurt from Delhi under the air bubble agreement between the two countries. The inaugural flight, operated by a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, departed Delhi at 3.30 am (IST) on Thursday and landed in Frankfurt at 7.55 am (CET), Vistara said in a release. The Tata-Singapore Airlines jointly-owned carrier will fly between the two cities twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays, it said. “The launch of our services to Frankfurt is another important step ahead in our commitment towards growing our global network and strengthening our presence in Europe, said Vistara’s Chief Executive Officer, Leslie Thng.

RailTel CORP IPO SUBSCRIBED 42.39 TIMES ON LAST DAY NEW DELHI: The initial public offer of telecom infrastructure provider RailTel Corporation of India Limited was subscribed 42.39 times on the final day of subscription on Thursday. The Rs 819.24-crore of-fer received bids for 2,59,42,43,370 shares against 6,11,95,923 shares on offer, as per data available with the NSE. The qualified institutional buyers catego-ry was subscribed 65.14 times, non institutional inves-tors 73.25 times and retail individual investors 16.78 times. The public issue was of 8,71,53,369 equity shares and had a price range of Rs 93-94 per share.

BRIEFSBUSINESS

OUR CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI: Domestic stock indices nursed losses for the third consecutive session on Thursday as a lacklustre trend in global equities and con-cerns over stretched valua-tions sparked a retreat from risky assets.

Banking and finance stocks bore the brunt of heavy selling, with HDFC twins being the top drags on the Sensex for the sec-ond day.

The 30-share BSE bench-mark ended 379.14 points or 0.73 per cent lower at 51,324.69. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty dropped 89.95 points or 0.59 per cent to finish at 15,118.95.

Bajaj Finance was the top laggard among the Sensex constituents, declining 2.43 per cent, followed by Kotak Bank, M&M, Nestle India, HDFC, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank.

On the other hand, ONGC was the biggest gainer, rally-ing 8.32 per cent. NTPC, Asian Paints, Tech Mahindra, Power-

Grid and IndusInd Bank were among the other winners.

Global markets struggled

amid rising crude oil prices, with inflation concerns weigh-ing on risk sentiment.

Sector-wise, BSE auto, bankex, finance, healthcare and telecom indices fell up to 1.35 per cent, while oil and gas, utili-ties, power and metal ended with gains.

Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices outperformed benchmarks, rising as much as 0.69 per cent.

Elsewhere in Asia, Shanghai ended on a positive note, while bourses in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul were in the red.

Stock exchanges in Europe were largely trading in the neg-ative terrain in mid-session deals.

Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude rose 0.48 per cent to $64.65 per barrel.

The rupee pared its ini-tial losses to settle higher by 9 paise at 72.65 against the US dollar.

Foreign institutional inves-tors remained net buyers in the domestic capital markets, purchasing shares worth Rs 1,008.20 crore on Wednes-day, according to exchange data.

MUMBAI: The National Com-pany Law Tribunal (NCLT) has given approval to the settlement of Rs 707.70 crore claim made by Fagne Sonagarh Express-way (FSEL), a special purpose vehicle of IL&FS for the express-way project, from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The tribunal, chaired by members Mohammed Ajmal and V Nallasenapathy, allowed FSEL to receive the settlement amount of Rs 707.709 crore (subject to any deduction of tax as applicable and any fur-ther withholding of an amount of Rs 16.93 crores towards roy-alty payment).

NHAI will pay the set-tlement amount under the approved guidelines for reso-lution of road projects that have been stuck for various reasons.

As per the Road Transport and Highways Ministry’s guide-lines formulated in March 2019, incomplete or stalled projects for various reasons, authori-ties would be able to foreclose the project’s concession agree-ment and pay a compensation based on value of work done or 90 per cent of debt due, which-ever is lower.

The settlement amount, which is to be paid by NHAI directly to the FSEL sub-con-tractors, “shall be deposited into an Escrow Account in any nationalised bank and shall be maintained as fixed deposits”.

“.. (The settlement amount) should not be adjusted or set off against any other dues per-taining to any bank or financial institution,” the Mumbai bench of NCLT said in the order.

NHAI Conciliation Com-mittee approved this claim for FSEL last year and was pending for NCLT approval.

The Rs 2,000 crore 140 km project was to be delivered in May 2019.

Last month, the debt-laden IL&FS board said it has addressed Rs 32,000 crore of the group’s overall debt so far.

“The aggregate debt of Rs 32,000 crore addressed com-prises about Rs 21,600 crore of debt addressed basis cash balances,” IL&FS had said in statement adding that nearly Rs 10,300 crore of additional net recovery is expected from reso-lution and restructuring applica-tions filed with NCLT (Mumbai) and NCLAT, the approvals for which are awaited. PTI

MOSCOW: India and Russia should diversify their trade bas-ket and economic exchanges by going beyond the traditional sectors and cooperating in new areas like railways, transport and logistics, pharmaceuticals, minerals and steel that will add momentum to the bilateral ties, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vard-han Shringla has said.

Addressing a meeting hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednes-day, Shringla said India-Rus-sia trade, amounting to $10.11 billion in FY 2019-2020, is far below the potential.

“Last year there was a slump but we are finding ways of reviv-ing it. Both countries have set the bilateral trade target at $30 billion by 2025,” he said.

One of the steps taken to enhance trade is the com-mencement of negotiations in August 2020 for the India- Eur-

asian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement, he said.

The operationalisation of a “Green Corridor and a Bilateral Investment Protec-tion Arrangement are likely to encourage bilateral trade and investment, respectively, Shringla underlined.

Use of national currencies in bilateral trade settlements will also reduce cost and time as well as risk of held-up pay-ments, he said.

Pointing that the oil and gas sector has been a flagship sec-tor of commercial cooperation, he said the two countries have been looking out for ways to diversify economic exchanges going beyond the traditional areas.

He said India is looking at investment in new areas such as coking coal, timber, LNG as there is a huge potential there.

“We have already started a shipping line between Vladi-

vostok and Chennai. We are looking at a significant trade route which was never there, a new route between our two countries.”

Stressing that Indian compa-nies have significantly invested in Russia, he said India’s invest-ment in the Sakhalin-1 project was one of India’s earliest pub-lic sector investments abroad.

Till date, Indian oil and gas companies have acquired stakes in five Russian companies/proj-ects at a value of about $15 bil-lion. Rosneft was the leader of a consortium of investors that, in 2017, acquired a 98 per cent stake in India’s Essar Oil at a cost of $12.9 billion.

He said India is seriously into the process of privatising many of its oil majors and some are having very serious discus-sions with Russian companies to see if some of these stakes can be acquired by Russian companies. PTI

OUR CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI: India’s domestic air passenger traffic declined around 40 per cent to 77.34 lakh in January 2021 over the year-ago period as the pan-demic continues to hit air travel demand, as per the monthly traffic data released by the aviation regulator, DGCA on Thursday.

The total number of pas-sengers flown by the Indian carriers on domestic routes in January 2020 was 1.27 crore.

The passenger load factor, a measure to assess how much of an airline’s passenger carry-ing capacity has been utilised, during the previous month has shown a declining trend com-pared to December primarily due to the tourist season, the DGCA said.

The load factor of six major domestic airlines—IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, GoAir,

Vistara and AirAsia India — stood between 70 per cent and 64.9 per cent in January, as per data.

“Passengers carried by domestic airlines during Jan-uary 2021 were 77.34 lakh against 127.83 lakh during the corresponding period of pre-vious year, thereby registering

annual growth of -39.60 per cent,” it said.

Budget carrier IndiGo flew the most number of passen-gers at 42.03 lakh with a mar-ket share of 54.30 per cent followed by rival carrier Vis-tara which carried 9.92 lakh passengers during the month, cornering 12.8 per cent share of

the total domestic traffic in the month.

IndiGo also recorded the highest on-time performance during the month with on an average 93.7 per cent of its flights from four metro airports --Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad --departing/arriving on time.

Domestic air travel falls 40% to 77.34L in January

The total number of passengers flown by the Indian carriers on domestic routes in January 2020 was 1.27 crore

Closer look » Load factor of six domestic airlines—IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, GoAir, Vistara and AirAsia India — stood between 70% and 64.9% in January » IndiGo flew the most number of passengers at 42.03 lakh with a market share of 54.30 per cent

Markets tank for third straight day as Sensex falls 379 pts, Nifty below 15.2K

Intra-day on February 18-379.14

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NEW DELHI: The NHAI on Thursday said it has transitioned to 100 per cent cashless tolling at national highways with the government making FASTags mandatory.

“Following the guidelines for mandatory payment of user fee through FASTag at the toll plazas from the midnight of 15/16 February 2021, NHAI has successfully transitioned to 100 per cent cashless tolling at National Highways fee plazas across the country,” NHAI said in a statement.

The rollout of 100 per cent cashless tolling has been posi-tively received by highway users with a record sale of over 2.5 lakh tags in the last two days, it said. With nearly 60 lakh trans-actions, the per day toll collec-tion through FASTag crossed the highest ever mark of Rs 95 crore on February 17, 2021, the statement said.

“Currently, the total pene-tration of FASTag has reached around 87 per cent, an increase of 7 per cent penetration in just two days, with over 100 toll plazas achieving around 90 per cent penetration,” the statement said. PTI

NEW DELHI: Apple Inc is angling to participate in a new scheme to boost India’s exports of computer products, part of what government and industry sources say are plans to bring iPad tablet manufacturing to the South Asian country.

India launched a $6.7 bil-lion plan to boost smartphone exports last year, as Prime Min-ister Narendra Modi stepped up efforts to promote electron-ics manufacturing and create jobs.

Apple, which has steadily raised production of iPhones in India to lessen its dependence on Chinese manufacturing, took part in that scheme via its contract manufacturers.

Now the government is preparing to unveil another incentive to drive local man-ufacturing of IT products including tablets, laptops and servers, three sources closely involved in the drafting of the plan told Reuters.

The new performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme,

which offers cash-back to man-ufacturers for exports, will have a budget of up to 70 billion rupees ($964.5 million) over five years, the sources said. It’s expected to be launched by the end of February.

Apple, along with others, is lobbying for a bigger budget-ary outlay of 200 billion rupees before that plan is finalised, as India doesn’t yet have the scale or the supply chain for making IT products and competes with duty-free imports of tech prod-ucts, two of the sources said.

Apple’s push comes at a time its iPhone supplier Wis-tron is just restarting opera-tions at a southern Indian plant after angry workers went on a rampage last year. Apple is yet

to take the Taiwan manufac-turer off of probation.

Apple declined to comment for this story.

New Delhi is also planning another PLI, at a budget of roughly 50 billion rupees over five years, to boost domestic manufacturing of wearable devices such as smartwatches, the sources said, adding the plan could be announced within two months.

All the sources declined to be named as the plans are not public.

Apple assembles a bulk of its iPads in China, but is fast diversifying production to markets such as India and Viet-nam to minimise the impact of the U.S.-China trade war and the coronavirus crisis.

Its top supplier Foxconn is building assembly lines for iPads and MacBook laptops in Vietnam, Reuters reported late last year. Other iPad assemblers include Taiwan’s Compal Elec-tronics and China’s BYD Elec-tronic International. PTI

NHAI transitions to 100%

cashless tolling

NCLT okays ̀ 707.70 cr claim of IL&FS’s FSEL from NHAIApple lobbies for incentives

as it plans iPad assembly NEW DELHI: Two new iron ore blocks in Odisha have started production on Thurs-day, according to a statement by the Union mines ministry.

Both the mines Jiling-Lan-glota iron ore block and Guali iron ore block have a production capacity of 15 lakh tonnes per month. They possess about 275 million tonnes of consolidated iron ore reserves, the mines ministry said in the statement.

“Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi and Chief Minister of Odi-sha Naveen Patnaik on Thurs-day jointly inaugurated the production in two new iron ore mines of Odisha, namely Jiling-Langlota iron ore block and Guali iron ore block,” the statement said.

These blocks were recently reserved for state-owned Odi-sha Mining Corporation (OMC) within a short time of 25 days, after a request was made by the state government to the Centre, to ease the shortage of iron ore in Odisha.

“These mines will help in stabilising the supplies for small industries and will generate huge employment opportuni-ties in the state,” Joshi said. PTI

MUMBAI: Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have pumped in a whopping $33.8 billion into domestic equities and debt till February 15 this fiscal year — the highest since FY15 when it was nearly $46 billion —taking their net outstanding invest-ments to a record $592.5 bil-lion, as per a report.

Of the total FPI assets of $592.5 billion, $537.4 billion were in equities and $51.38 bil-lion in debt, according to the data collated by Care Ratings.

The maximum holding is in financial services sector at $191.3 billion, followed by soft-ware ($76.1 billion), oil & gas ($50 billion), automobiles & auto components ($26.9 bil-lion, pharmaceuticals & bio-technology ($22.8 billion), sovereign ($21.7 billion--debt), household & personal products ($20.2 billion), capital goods ($19.8 billion), food, beverages & tobacco ($15.7 billion) and insurance (USD13.4 billion).

These 10 sectors account for around 78 per cent of total assets under FPI custody.

Of the close to $34 bil-lion inflows this fiscal so far, as much as $8.4 billion came in December alone, the report said.

According to Care data, net FPI inflows were negative in both FY19 as well as in FY20. In FY20 the net inflows were at (-) USD3 billion after the blood-bath in the markets following the announcement of the coro-navirus as a global pandemic in March last year, leading to a 35 per cent plunge in the markets in that month alone.

After hitting an all-time high of $45.7 billion in FY15, net FPI investments have been fluctuating between positive and negative territories, with FY16 seeing a net pullout to the tune of $2.5 billion, and another major pullout of $5.5 billion in FY20, according to the data col-lated by Care Ratings.

Significantly, debt outflows have outnumbered inflows since FY16, registering nega-tive net investments. However, the net debt flows were $18.5 billion in FY18. PTI

Production starts in 2 new iron ore blocks in OdishaPumping in

$33.8 bn so far FY21, FPIs’ holding at record $592.5 bn

India, Russia should diversify trade basket by going beyond traditional sectors: Shringla

NEW DELHI: Nearly two months after it won an international arbi-tration tribunal ruling against the Indian government levy-ing taxes retrospectively, Brit-ain’s Cairn Energy Plc Chief Executive Simon Thomson on Thursday met top finance min-istry officials in hope of quickly resolving the issue.

“We had a constructive dia-logue and the dialogue is ongo-ing,” Thomson told reporters after meeting Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CBDT Chairman P C Mody and other tax officials.

He refused to comment on what transpired at the meeting. “I can’t comment more on the meeting.” While government officials have hinted at filing an appeal against the December 21 ruling, Cairn shareholders have been pressing the company man-agement to get the $1.4 billion the tribunal had ordered India to return.

Thomson had been seek-

ing at a meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and had even posted a video last week outlining his desire to meet her towards finding a quick resolution.

Cairn has threatened to seize Indian government assets overseas if New Delhi fails to return the value of the shares sold, dividend seized and tax refund withheld by the income tax department to recover part of the tax demand.

The firm has started identi-fying assets it could seize if the Indian government does not comply with the tribunal order.

Sources have said that these could include airplanes and ships. PTI

Cairn CEO meets finance secy over arbitration ruling

NEW DELHI: Piramal Group on Thursday said the Reserve Bank is understood to have cleared the resolution plan for debt-ridden DHFL as approved by the Committee of Creditors (CoC).

The CoC had approved a resolution plan submitted by a Piramal Group company, Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited, last month.

“We understand that the RBI has approved the DHFL resolu-tion plan from Piramal Capital and Housing Finance, submit-ted by the CoC,” Piramal Group said in a statement.

The resolution plan was approved by the CoC in its 18th meeting concluded on January 15, 2021.

Last week, DHFL posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 13,095.38 crore for the third quarter ended December 2020 against a net profit of Rs 934.31 crore in the year-ago quarter. Sequentially, the company wit-nessed widening of net loss from Rs 2,122.65 crore in the second quarter ended September 2020.

In November 2019, the Reserve Bank referred Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL), the third-largest pure-play mortgage lender, to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for insolvency proceedings.

DHFL was the first finance company to be referred to NCLT by the RBI using spe-cial powers under Section 227 of the IBC. PTI

Piramal group gets RBI nod for DHFL acquisition

PARIS: European plane maker Airbus lost 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) amid an unprec-edented global slump in air travel because of the pandemic, but expects to deliver hundreds of planes and make a profit this year.

CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged Thursday that the company’s performance last year was far from expec-tations and had to constantly adapt as airlines grounded planes or folded altogether -- because of travel restrictions. Airbus announced in June that it would cut 15,000 jobs, mostly in France and Germany.

The crisis is not over. It is likely to continue to be our

reality throughout the year, he said. Airbus doesn’t expect the industry to recover to pre-pan-demic levels until 2023-2025.

Airbus sales were down to 49.9 billion euros from 70 bil-lion euros the year before. The company also reported a loss in 2019 because of a major multi-national corruption settlement.

Airbus delivered 566 air-craft last year and expects to deliver about the same number this year, the company said. It took in 268 commercial plane orders, down from 768 the year before.

Both figures were well down from normal recent years, but above those from struggling US rival Boeing. AGENCIES

Airbus lost $1.3 billion amid pandemic; expects better 2021

Sl. No.

Name of work (in lakhs) Amount put to tender (in Lakhs)

Earnest Money (in

Lakhs)

Tender Fee (in

Rs.)

Date of Release of tender in E-Procurement Solution

Last date /time of receipt of tender E-Procurement Solution

1. Construction of 8.0 MGD Batla house Ph-II WWPS including civil Work, E&M Work, Rising main and other related associated/ allied appurtenant works on DBO basis at Batla house New Delhi (i) Civil, E&M Work & Rising Main for WWPS and Rising main on DBO basis (ii)0 & M

DBO basis Nil 1500/- 17.02.2021 10.03.2021 upto 3.05 pm

DELHI JAL BOARD: Govt. of NCT of DELHIOFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (C) DR-II

DELHI GATE STP PHASE-II ,OPPOSITE DELHI SECRETARIAT IP ESTATE, NEW DELHI-110002 E-mail - eecdr2@gmail.com

"WEAR MASKS, FOLLOW PHYSICAL DISTANCING, MAINTAIN HAND HYGIENE" NIT No. 5 (2020-21) EE(C)Dr II(Re - invited) (Tender ID:- 2021_DJB_200240_1)

Issuded By PRO (Water) Sd/- K.U. KhanAdvt. No. J.S.V./2020-21/422 Executive Engineer (C)DR-II

mp sports 11millenniumpost|NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021

Serena stopped: Osaka beats Williams in Australian Open SFMELBOURNE: As Serena Williams walked off the court after her latest so-close-yet-so-far bid for a 24th Grand Slam title ended with a loss to Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open, the 39-year-old Ameri-can paused and put her hand on her chest while thousands of spectators rose to applaud.

Was this, Williams was asked at a news conference after the 6-3, 6-4 semifinal defeat, her way of saying good-bye? "If I ever say farewell," she replied with a smile, I wouldn't tell anyone."

When the next question returned the conversation to the subject of Williams' many mistakes Thursday (Wednes-day night EST) twice as many unforced errors, 24, as winners, 12 she shook her head, teared up, said, I'm done, and abruptly walked out of the session with reporters.

On Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EST), Osaka will meet first-time Grand Slam finalist Jennifer Brady of the United States for the championship. The 22nd-seeded Brady, who is from Pennsylvania and played col-lege tennis at UCLA, prevailed in an epic, 18-point last game to edge No. 25 Karolina Muchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the semifinals.

Brady dropped to her back at the baseline after saving a trio of break points, then con-

verting her fifth match point when Muchova sent a forehand long.

"My legs are shaking, Brady said. "My heart is racing."

She lost to Osaka in a three-set thriller in the U.S. Open semifinals last September.

"Everyone's just really excited whenever they play their first final," Osaka noted about what awaits Brady, "but they're also really nervous.

Williams was hoping to get to her 34th Grand Slam final

but, once again, couldn't quite get the job done in order to add one more Grand Slam trophy to her collection of 23 and equal Margaret Court for the most in tennis history.

Osaka, who also beat Wil-liams in the chaotic 2018 U.S. Open final that concluded with the crowd booing and both women in tears, reached her fourth major title match and stretched her winning streak to 20 matches by claiming the last eight points.

"I don't know if there's any little kids out here today, but I was a little kid watching her play," Osaka, 23, said about Williams, "and just to be on the court playing against her, for me, is a dream.

"I could have won. I could have been up 5-Love, said Wil-liams, who instead took a 2-0 lead at the outset before drop-ping the next five games. I just made so many errors.

Her forehand, in particular, went awry, with no fewer than

10 unforced errors off that side in the first set alone.

"Too many mistakes there, she said.

Novak Djokovic had a per-fect record in Australian Open semifinals, and he was play-ing almost flawless tennis to protect it.

It didn’t matter that across the net was Aslan Karatsev, a 114th-ranked, 27-year-old Rus-sian who had come through qualifying to make his debut in a Grand Slam tournament after nine failed attempts.

Djokovic made only one unforced error in more than 50 minutes.

It was tight for the first seven games before Djokovic reeled off eight straight points to win the first set and again when Karatsev went on an all-or-nothing roll late in the sec-ond set.

Sensing a shift in support for the underdog there was a loud, vocal crowd at Rod Laver Arena after a five-day span when fans were barred during a local COVID-19 outbreak Djokovic moved up a gear and finished off his opponent 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

He’s now 9-0 in semifinals at the season-opening major, and one win from a ninth Aus-tralian title.

The more I win, the better I feel coming back,” the top-ranked Djokovic said. AGENCIES

Novak Djokovic keeps perfect record in Australian Open semi-finals

Melbourne : Japan's Naomi Osaka hits a forehand return to United States' Serena Williams during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday PTI

Arjun Tendulkar gets maiden IPL deal; Mumbai Indians pick him for base priceMUMBAI: The iconic Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Ten-dulkar's nascent cricketing career got a major fillip on Thursday when he was picked by Mumbai Indians at the IPL players' auction, the last name to go under the hammer in Chennai.

The franchise for which his father didn't just play but also took up mentorship of youngsters, bought Arjun for Rs 20 lakh, which was his base price.

It was hardly a surprise given that he has been a net bowler for the franchise for the past two-three seasons.

The 21-year-old recently made his senior Mumbai team debut when he played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the national T20 championship, against Haryana.

So far, the left-handed batsman and left-arm pacer has played two matches for Mumbai in the T20 format, in which he has scored three

runs and taken two wickets.He came up through the

ranks after playing age-group cricket tournaments and has also featured in the T20 Mum-bai League. AGENCIES

NorthEast United score late to hold

Chennaiyin FC 3-3BAMBOLIM: The race for the Indian Super League play-off berths took another twist as NorthEast United FC were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by Chennaiyin FC at the GMC Stadium here on Thursday.

Three teams -- Hyderabad FC, FC Goa and NorthEast -- are now tied on 27 points from 18 matches, intensifying the race for the last two play-off spots. ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC have already qualified for the play-offs.

When it looked like Chen-naiyin would inflict a first defeat on NorthEast United this season, Luis Machado scored a stoppage-time equal-iser to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Chennaiyin were in the lead through goals from Lal-lianzuala Chhangte (8th, 52nd) and Manuel Lanzarote (50th) while Imran Khan (14th) and Deshorn Brown (43rd) had replied for NorthEast.

Csaba Laszlo had made his intent to attack clear dur-ing the pre-match press con-ference and his side delivered early in the game with an eighth-minute lead.

After a miserable season

in front of the goal, Chhangte finally found his scoring boots as he put Chennaiyin ahead. Jakub Sylvestr picked up Chhangte with an accurate pass from the left and the latter took a touch before firing past Subhasish Roy.

However, it took the High-landers just six minutes to get back into the game. Luis Mach-ado played a low cross which took a deflection and fell to Imran Khan, who headed in.

Chennaiyin were rescued by Kaith's brilliance when he came up with a double save to deny Machado and Brown from close in quick succession.

At the other end, North-East United had the frame-work to thank. Roy fumbled Manuel Lanzarote's freekick from outside the box, but the ball deflected off his back and hit the post, before being cleared away. AGENCIES

Dutee wins 100m sprint as Olympic hopefuls return to competition

PATIALA: Dutee Chand breezed to 100m victory in the Indian Grand Prix I athlet-ics meet at the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports here on Thursday.

Dutee, representing Odisha, won in 11.51 seconds, ahead of Karnataka's T Daneshwari (11.86) and Maharashtra's Dian-dra Dudley Valladares (11.97).

The 25-year-old Dutee, the national record holder in the event with 11.22, is yet to qual-ify for the Tokyo Olympics. The qualification time for Tokyo Games is 11.15 seconds. It was the first national-level track and field event for seniors meet since the National Open Athletics Championships in Ranchi in October 2019. With the cream of Indian athletics gearing up for the AFI Federation Cup to be held here next month, the Grand Prix I showed that the athletes were in good fettle. Some personal best efforts from the athletes were evidence of the good shape they are in ahead of tougher competitions coming up in their bids to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. AGENCIES

England player Curran out of frame for 4th Test against IndiaAHMEDABAD: All-rounder Sam Curran will not be avail-able for selection during Eng-land's fourth Test against India beginning here on March 4 due to COVID-19 pandemic related travel restrictions, it was announced on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Curran will now arrive in India along with the limited overs squad.

"Sam Curran will rejoin the England squad via the charter flight carrying other members of the limited-overs line-up to India, on 26 February," the Eng-land team management said in a statement.

"Originally it was planned the Surrey all-rounder would fly to Ahmedabad in time to be available for the fourth Test in the city, starting on 4 March," it added. "However, in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, mak-ing secure arrangements for such a journey proved too great a logistical challenge."

The third Test begins here on February 24, followed by the fourth and final match of the series at the same venue from March 4. The limited overs leg of the England tour begins with a T20 International here on March 12. AGENCIES

mp entertainment12 NEW DELHI|FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY, 2021|millenniumpost

MUMBAI: Dance is a spiritual experi-ence for Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit, who says it is impossible to separate the art from her as it has shaped her personality.

Dixit, who ruled the ‘90s as the danc-ing superstar in the Hindi film industry, has never been egoistic about her skills.

“Dance has taught me discipline, focus, and honesty. When you’re passion-ate about something, it’s no longer work, it’s fun. If I have to do a step twenty thou-sand times, I’ll do it. I have no ego because I enjoy every moment of it.

“Dance is a spiritual experience for me, where I feel close to art, nature. When I do Kathak, folk, a semi-classical dance form, or even hip-hop, I feel I’m part of a cul-ture. It’s an enriching, learning feeling,” the 53-year-old actor told in an interview.

Dixit first shot to fame as a dancer-star with the song ‘Ek Do Teen’ in the 1988 film ‘Tezaab’ and over the years, the actor has been a part of memorable dance num-bers such as ‘Tamma Tamma Loge’ from ‘Thanedar’, ‘Dhak Dhak Karne Laga’ from ‘Beta’, ‘Mera Piya Ghar Aaya’ from 1995 ‘Yaraana’, ‘Dola Re Dola’ from ‘Devdas’ and ‘Ghagra’ from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’.

Dixit, who started learning dance from the age of three, however, said her fond-est memory related to dance is when as an eight-year-old, she performed at Hindu-stani classical singer Anjanibai Lolekar’s house in the presence of other classical

musicians.“In retrospect, it was a great moment.

I did not realise it at the time. I was just thrilled that I got an opportunity to dance again. When my name appeared in a newspaper the next day, I was extremely happy.”

Dixit continues her passion for dance with the upcoming third sea-son of the reality show ‘Dance Deewane’. The Colors show fea-tures the actor as a judge along with choreographers Tushar Kalia and Dharmesh Yelande.

“You can’t separate dance from me, because dance is in nature. You can’t separate it from any-thing. It’s in the way people walk, talk. I see dance in everything... Kathak came from Katha Kathan where stories used to be told. “People would get bored so the story narration became more visual, with dance being integral. Dance is a part of who we are,” she added. PTI

OUR CORRESPONDENT

For the past three decades, Delhi Tourism and Trans-portation Development Corporation Ltd. in asso-

ciation with the Government of Delhi has been organising ‘Garden Tourism Festival’ in the city with the objective to create awareness about the environment and show-case the rich floriculture of Delhi. Celebrating the hues of mother nature and the fervour of Spring season, this three-week extrav-aganza is themed ‘#Colours of Nature’ this year.

Unlike a three-day format that was being followed previously, Delhi Tourism has extended the festival to three weeks, to give a safe, socially distanced and mem-orable experience to its visitors. The festival aims to make for a vibrant and refreshing experience for its visitors. Garden Tourism Festival, besides being a delight to visit with one’s friends and fam-ily, will proffer its annual Garden Bazaar and horticulture work-shops for gardening enthusiasts.

The 34th Garden Tourism Fes-

tival will be inaugurated on Febru-ary 19, 2021 by Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister and Min-ister of Tourism, Govt. of Delhi.

The festival over the years has become the biggest flower show in the capital as participants include leading nurseries, horticulture and floriculture societies and suppli-ers of the horticulture equipment, seeds, fertilizers etc. Along with the flower show, special themed gardens are developed by various government civic agencies as well as private organizations and busi-ness houses. Special cultural pro-grammes have been organized to entertain the visitors and create a

festive atmosphere. There will be variety of food stalls and languish-ing artists engaging the visitors in activities. Delhi Tourism’s Garden of Five Senses will host all this and

a lot more, with the flower displays as its crowning jewel.

The Garden Tourism Festival is a great platform for garden lov-ers to meet, interact and showcase

their fruit of labour. The major participants during the festival are the horticulture departments of MCD (East, North), NDMC, CPWD, DJB, DDA, SDMC, Noida Authority, Northern Railways, DLF Mall of India, and others. There will be showcasing variet-ies in varies plants such as potted plants, Dahlia, Hanging Baskets, Foliage Plants, Cactus and Suc-culents, Bonsai Plants of different specifications, Bougainvillea, Flo-

ral Animal, Tray Garden, Theme Garden, Annual cut flowers in earthen vases, Vegetables Flower Decoration, Flower arrangements and roses etc.

The festival shall remain open for the public from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays and from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm on weekends. Delhi Tourism will also provide free shuttle service from Saket Metro Station to the venue and back.

MUMBAI: Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh has turned producer with his upcoming ‘Honsla Rakh’, which features him along-side actors Sonam Bajwa and former ‘Bigg Boss’ contestant Shehnaaz Gill.

Directed by Amarjit Singh Saron, the Punjabi romantic-comedy will release on October 15 on Dussehra holiday.

‘Honsla Rakh’ is backed by the 37-year-old actor’s company Story Time Productions.

Dosanjh took to Instagram to share the film’s animated poster, featuring him carrying a baby on his back.

The film, to be shot in Vancouver, Can-ada, also stars actor Shinda Grewal, son of leading Punjabi actor Gippy Grewal.

‘Honsla Rakh’ is co-produced by Thind Motion Films along with Story Time Productions.

Dosanjh was last seen in the 2020 com-edy ‘Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari’, co-starring Manoj Bajpayee and Fatima Sana Shaikh.

It was one of the first Hindi films to release in theatres post the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown. PTI

LOS ANGELES: Actor Jennifer Gar-ner is once again heading to Netflix, this time for a family comedy inspired by New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s book ‘Bedtime For Mommy’.

Garner, popular for films like ‘13 Going on 30’ and ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, will both star in and produce ‘Family Leave’.

According to Deadline, the story fol-lows the Brenners, who wake up to a full family body switch and quickly realise the same thing has happened to a family on the other side of the world.

They must unite with this group of strangers and determine how to undo

the switch, all while hilariously navigat-ing daily life in a different body before it is too late. Victoria Strouse is adapting the screenplay.

Nicole King of Linden Entertain-ment, and Lawrence Grey and Ben Everard of Grey Matter Productions will produce the pic with Garner. Jason Brian Rosenthal will serve as executive producer.

Garner is gearing up for the release of “Yes Day”, another Netflix com-edy based on a novel by Rosenthal, on March 12. The Golden Globe winner is currently shooting for the sci-fi film ‘The Adam Project’, also set up at the streamer. PTI

Diljit turns producer with ‘Honsla Rakh’

‘Making tourism an experience’

I see dance in everything: Madhuri Dixit

»Monday to Friday Rs 40/- » Saturday to Sunday Rs 50/- » Children upto 12 years Free » Senior Citizens (all days) Rs 40/-

THE COST OF TICKETS IS AS FOLLOWS

Paris Hilton received a spe-cial gift for her 40th birth-day: an engagement.

Hilton announced her engagement to entrepreneur Carter Reum in her social media post on Wednesday — the same day as her birthday. She said on her website that the proposal was everything she had “dreamed of.”

Hilton said she and Reum took a pre-dinner walk on the beach before he dropped to one knee at a cabana with flowers. She said the proposal was fol-lowed by a celebration with fam-ily and close friends.

“There’s no one I’d rather spend forever with,” she said in the post.

Hilton shared a series of photos with her wearing a white dress and crown, while 40-year-old Reum sported an all-white suit.

The couple have been dating since 2019. AGENCIES

Actor Paris Hilton announces engagement with Carter Reum

Jennifer Garner to reunite with Netflix for ‘Family Leave’

Dixit, who ruled the ‘90s as the dancing superstar, says dance has taught her discipline, focus, and honesty

Directed by Amarjit Singh Saron, the Punjabi romantic-comedy will release on October 15 on Dussehra holiday

The popular actor first shot to fame as a dancer-star with the song ‘Ek Do Teen’ in the 1988 film ‘Tezaab’

Garner, popular for films like ‘13 Going on 30’ and ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, will both star in and produce ‘Family Leave’