First India-Ahmedabad Edition-13 June 2021

AHMEDABAD l SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021 l Pages 12 l 3.00

TWO COPS, CIVILIANS DIE IN J&K

Srinagar: Two policemen and as many civilians were killed and at least three others were injured on Saturday when militants opened fire targeting security forces in Sopore town of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir.

‘MAINSTREAM MEDIA NOT EXEMPTED’

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 197

New Delhi: The government has refused to exempt the digital news content of mainstream television channels and print media from the ambit of the the IT Rules, 2021 and asked them to take “urgent steps” to comply with the provisions of new rules.

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD & LUCKNOW

WITHDRAW MY CENTRAL SECURITY: ROY

Kolkata: A day after rejoining TMC, Mukul Roy wrote to the Union Home Ministry seeking the withdrawal of his central security cover. The Ministry is yet to respond to the request.

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Tax-free Black Fungus medicine,

NEW FRENCH DIVA

Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova kisses the trophy after defeating Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova by 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in the final of French Open at Roland Garros on Saturday. This is first Grand Slam title for unseeded Krejcikova.

Tsitsipas

New Delhi: Tax on medicines, some hospital equipment and other items needed in the fight against COVID-19 has been reduced by the Goods and Services Tax Council. The tax cut is based on recommendations by a Group of Ministers amid the pandemic, whose crippling effects on the economy has also hurt household finance, the constitutional body that decides rates for the GST has said.

No tax will be charged for medicines like the monoclonal antibody Tocilizumab and Amphotericin B, used for treating Black Fungus, an opportunistic fungal disease that affects people infected with Covid.

The tax cuts are valid till September 30, and may be extended nearer the deadline.

Covid vaccines continue to be charged a GST of 5 per cent.

Turn to P6

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the first Outreach Session of the G7 Summit on Saturday.

During the session, Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the support ex-

V/S

Djokovic TODAY

 The charismatic 22-year-old, one of the widely-touted ‘NextGen’ of the sport looks to land the first significant bodyblow on the old

1

GST COUNCIL APPROVES RATE REDUCTION FOR REMDESIVIR FROM 12% TO 5%; NIL TAX ON TOCILIZUMAB, AMPHOTERICIN

guard when he tackles world number one for the French Open title.  After dethroning ‘king of clay’ Rafa Nadal, Djokovic will bid to become first man in open era to win all four majors at least twice.  No one has achieved the feat since 1968, when the sport allowed professional players to compete at the majors.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a press conference after chairing the 44th GST Council meeting via video conferencing in New Delhi on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

CORONA CATASTROPHE

KEY DECISIONS  The GST Council has agreed to stick to 5 per cent tax rate on vaccines.  The Council has slashed the tax rate on Covid-19 medicines such as Remdesivir and equipment like oxygen concentrators and medical grade oxygen.  Tax on oxygen concentrators, ventilators, BiPAP machines and high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) devices has been cut to 5 per cent from 12 per cent.  Tax on Covid testing kits has been brought down to 5 per cent from 12 per cent.  Pulse oximeters, hand sanitisers, temperature check equipment and ambulances too will attract lower 5 per cent tax.

tended by the G7 and other guest countries during the recent wave of COVID infections in India.

He highlighted India’s ‘whole of society’ approach to fight the pandemic, synergising the efforts of Turn to P6

BJP resignations galore in Lakshadweep over sedition Lakshadweep: After Lakshadweep filmmaker Aisha Sultana was named in a case of sedition and hate speech for her comments criticising Administrator Praful Khoda Patel’s Covid handling, 15 leaders and

2

TAX RATE CUT FROM 12% TO 5% ON MEDICAL GRADE OXYGEN

Central govt to provide 10 lakh+ vaccine in next 3 days

PM MODI ADDRESSES G7 SUMMIT ON PANDEMIC

IT’S

 Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas was once described by Novak Djokovic as having “the traits of a champion” and on Sunday he will hope to prove the Serb’s glowing reference was not misjudgement.

5% GST on vaccines to stay

party workers of the BJP have submitted their resignations to mark their protest.

The FIR was filed on the complaint of the BJP’s chief in the union territory. In a letter signed by 12 leaders and workers Turn to P6

INDIA

84,332 new cases

4,002

new fatalities GUJARAT

490

new cases COVID VACCINE

06

new fatalities

New Delhi: The central government will provide more than 10 lakh vaccine doses to states and Union territories in the next three days, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.

“10,81,300 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the states and UTs within the next three days,” the ministry said.

The health ministry said 25,87,41,810 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union territories so far, through the Centre (free of cost channel) and direct state procurement.

1,12,41,187 COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states.

Digvijaya says Cong will have ‘relook’ at Art 370 New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is in the eye of the storm today over his comment to a Pakistani journalist that his party will relook into the scrapping of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, if they come to power at the centre.

Several BJP leaders have attacked Mr Singh on Twitter.

“It is precisely this mindset of the Congress party which has sown the seeds of separatism in Kashmir and facilitated Pak designs in the Valley (sic),” Union Minister Jitendra Singh wrote on Twitter and shared a clip of the

OMAR ABDULLAH

WELCOMES SINGH’S

J&K STATEMENT

Digvijaya Singh

chat posted by the BJP’s social media chief Amit Malviya.

In the clip, the Congress leader is apparently referring to former prime minister and BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s approach of “Insaaniyat (humanity), Kashmiriyat, jamhooriyat (democracy)” for Kashmir.

Srinagar: Farooq Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, thanked Digvijaya Singh for speaking against abrogation of Article 370. “We thank him for speaking on abrogation of Article 370. BJP should consider it. Atal Bihari Vajpayee promised insaniyat, jhamuriyat (democracy). What happened in 2019 was not jhamuriyat,” he said.

HIGH PRAISE

CRUCIAL READ

Guj govt calls MGNREGA scheme ‘lifesaver’ for labourers

FARMERS TO GHERAO RAJ BHAWANS ON JUN 26

Centre’s scheme benefited hundreds of migrants forced to return home during lockdown Gandhinagar: The BJP government in Gujarat has hailed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme as a “lifesaver” for the migrant workers, who returned to their native villages in the state due to the lock-

down last year.

The state government praised the scheme in its report Implications of COVID-19 on Gujarat on Energy, Emissions, Climate and Development Perspectives, which was released by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani last Saturday on the occa-

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

sion of World Environment Day. MGNREGA is the

—FILE PHOTO

Centre’s work guarantee scheme for rural people with predeter-

mined minimum wage. It was launched by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2006.

“The MGNREGA scheme of guaranteed employment has been a lifesaver for labourers, compelled to return to their homes following the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report said.

While wages under MGNREGA are much lower than what these migrants were earning

in cities, they still consider it to be sufficient to sustain their families during such a crisis situation, it said.

“Under the MGNREGA, the minimum wage paid is Rs224 per day, which has been increased from the earlier wage of Rs198 per day.

On a brighter note, living in their own village made them save more money, which otherwise was spent in travelling and rents,” Turn to P6

New Delhi: Samyukta Kisan Morcha will stage stir outside Raj Bhawans across the country on June 26 and observe “Kheti Bachao, Loktantra Bachao Diwas”. However, BKU’s Rakesh Tikait has denied any such activity.

RAINS KEEP MUMBAI UNDER LOCKDOWN Mumbai: BMC has announced that Mumbai will continue to remain under level three of the coronavirus-necessitated lockdown in view of the heavy rainfall and transport issues.

NCP WANTS UNITED FRONT AT CENTRE

Mumbai: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who wants to form a united front against the ruling BJP at the Centre, said Nawab Malik.

J-K GOVT DEFERS ‘DARBAR MOVE’ FOR E-OFFICE

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to defer the traditional biannual ‘darbar move’ to Srinagar and has instead implemented the e-office project of digitalising the UT’s civil secretariat.

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02

SAYS COMMUNITY ‘100%’ WANTS PATIDAR MEMBER TO BECOME CM

Naresh Patel of Khodaldham praises

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Patidar leaders on Saturday came together at Kagwad Khodaldham in Rajkot, where Khodaldham chairman Naresh Patel made it clear that the community wants one of their own to lead the state come next year’s Assembly elections.

“We absolutely want a Patidar to be the next chief minister,” he said, adding that the community plans to make a representation to Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the rights of the Patidar community. He also expressed an interest in leading the state.

Patel also highlighted the emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party as a third front in the state, and said that it is likely to benefit in the Assembly elections. However, he added that the third front has traditionally not fared well in Gujarat.

Patel’s statements, made after the meeting of Patidar leaders, hints at new political and social equations in the community, whose two main branches are

Naresh Patel

AAP for ‘Mahamanthan’

Patidar leaders met in Rajkot on Saturday.

the Leuva and Kadva.

“A few months ago, I went to see the leaders of the community to take Mataji Umiya to Dham at Unjha. We have gath-

ered today in pursuit of what we discussed there.

The debate could not continue because of the second wave of COVID-19,” he said.

Citing the example of Keshubhai Patel, he added, “It is natural that everyone wants the chief minister to be from their community.

So do we. We 100% want the next CM to be from the Patidar community.”

Praising the Aam Aadmi Party, AAP’s Karyanresh Patel said

that given the way the Aam Aadmi Party is working in Gujarat, it could well break the jinx of the third front.

“The third front in Gu-

jarat has not been successful so far but AAP can succeed,” he said.

It is worth mentioning that while the Aam Aadmi Party has obvi-

ously emerged as an alternative in Gujarat, it remains to be seen whether it can earn and hold on to the Patidars’ favour in the future.”

Kejriwal to inaugurate AAP state IS GOVT LIKELY TO SEE unit office in A’bad on Monday CABINET EXPANSION? First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will visit Ahmedabad on Monday. He will be inaugurating the party’s state unit office in the city.

AAP’s media coordinator Tuli Banerjee told First India that his official schedule calls for him to inaugurate the party’s state unit office.

Later, he will meet with state leaders and party officials to discuss party strategy.

By establishing this office, the AAP is indirectly launching its election campaign in the state and sending strong signals to opposition parties that the party is taking the next Lok Sabha elections very seriously.

The party’s recent performance in the municipal corporation elections, particularly in Surat, where it won 27 seats, has boosted party cadres and national leaders.

Patidar leader Naresh Patel praised the AAP’s work culture on

NEW OFFICE MARKS UNOFFICIAL LAUNCH OF PARTY’S 2022 ASSEMBLY ELECTION CAMPAIGN

State in-charge Bhupender Yadav has been in back-toback meetings for 3 days

BJP’s Gujarat in-charge Bhupender Yadav.

—FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

The Aam Aadmi Party's upcoming Gujarat office.

Saturday. According to sources, Patel’s backing is a boost for the party, which is looking for caste-based support to make inroads into state electoral politics.

According to sourc-

es, after appointing Gopal Italia as state unit president, they are now looking for a face to project in the upcoming elections.

There is a chance that some party members with large social media

followings will join the party in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal on Monday.

The big question for the party is whether social media influencers will be able to convert their followers

into votes.

Even after seven years, AAP still lacks caste leaders and regional balances, without which it cannot make a significant presence in state elections.

Gandhinagar: Officially, Bharatiya Janata Party state in-charge Bhupender Yadav’s visit is to strengthen coordination between the party and council of ministers for the party’s better prospects.

But those familiar with the situation say Yadav is simultaneously also assessing how many sitting MLAs, MPs and office bearers are unhappy with the government, and how to control the damage. To this end, he is said to be calculating whether expanding the cabinet or accommodating a few dissenters will help the situation.

Yadav spent Friday-Day 2 of his three-day visit--in one-on-one meetings with party

members. On Saturday, he had a breakfast meeting with state unit chief CR Patil, to discuss multiple issues.

In addition to internal party issues, sources said the two discussed the Congress party, in-fighting, AAP and AIMIM’s entry in state politics, and their benefits and disadvantages.

Later, Yadav met senior minister Kaushik Patel and party vice president Gordhan Zadafiya, with whom he discussed the Patidar community’s mood-and if they are still angry with the party as they were in 2017. With Kaushik Patel, Yadav discussed the performance of ministers, and took feedback on how many are happy

and unhappy with the functioning of the government.

Even as Yadav holds one-on-one meetings with these leaders, group meetings are also going on elsewhere. For instance, a close confidant of CR Patil was in a meeting with Ahmedabad MP Kirit Solanki and Vinod Chavda, vice-president Bharat Boghra at the Circuit House, and some ministers met Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at his bungalow. Sources said they were discussing a strategy to be presented to MLAs on June 15th, including which minister to drop and who else can be brought on board, depending on what the situation demands.

NEW APPOINTMENT

Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil likely to head GPCC Solanki and Vaghela may be out of the running for the top post in the Congress state unit First India Bureau Ahmedabad: After months of speculation over the appointment of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president post the resignation of Amit Chavda, the party high

command seems to have settled on Shaktisinh Gohil as his successor, said sources on Saturday. An official announcement will be soon made about the new appointment by party leaders.

Meanwhile, former

Union minister Bharatsinh Solanki, who had been camping in Delhi hoping to meet with senior leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC), has returned to the state after failing to secure a meeting. According to sources, he tried to get an appointment with national leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Sonia Gandhi but could not secure one. Solanki had travelled to Delhi

Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil

hoping to discuss changes in the Gujarat organization and pitch

himself as a potential candidate for state party president or some

other OBC leader.

Sources also confirmed that veteran leader Shankersinh Vaghela has been lobbying for a homecoming to the Congress party. His ‘lobbyists’ have indicated to the high command that he is open to rejoining the party as the GPCC president.

Meanwhile, Gujarat State Teachers’ Federation has opposed the state government’s decision to include grant-

aided colleges under private universities.

Teachers sent an application to the governor Devvrat Acharya to showcase their dissent.

Opposing the move, the Congress party accused the state government of “squandering the educational future of students. “Congress will fight to save the education system. The BJP government has made education a waste. Middle-class students are be-

ing forced to drop out of school due to the extremely high fees charged by private universities,” asserted Manish Doshi, chief spokesperson of the GPCC. “Once again, we will bring the fight to grantaided colleges and demonstrate against the decision to include them under the private universities category and save the education system of the state,” he added.

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03

Sealed schools to reopen temporarily

With state schools required to prepare Class 10 Board results online by June 17, AMC will allow sealed schools to operate 4-5 hrs a day First India Bureau Ahmedabad: As part of a sealing drive against buildings that did not have valid building use (BU) permission, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) sealed about 30 schools in the city. The sealed schools, on the other hand, raised concerns about the preparation of class 10 board results.

Because all schools in the state are required to prepare and upload board results online by June 17, the civic body has decided to keep the

8K BUILDINGS IN 8 CORPORATIONS DON’T HAVE FIRE NOC

Several schools have been sealed for operating without the appropriate building certification.

—FILE PHOTO

sealed schools open for four to five hours until the results are ready.

The decision follows a representation by school administrators to CM Vijay Rupani and Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama. As a result, the AMC decided to keep schools open

Vadodara man held for kidnapping, raping and sodomizing minor girl First India Bureau Vadodara: City police have nabbed a 23-yearold accused of kidnapping, raping and sodomizing a 15-yearold girl. The youth and the minor “eloped” on June 02, and survived on just chocolate and biscuits for eight days, officials said.

According to Kareli Baug Police Officer RP Jadeja, the girl’s mother informed the police about her daughter’s disappearance on June 03. The investigation led the police to one suspect, Mayuddin Pathan, who was also found to be missing.

Officer Jadeja told the media that, a few days before the “elopement”, Pathan had forcefully entered the house of the victim and physically assaulted her. The girl’s family did not file a complaint at the time fearing social stigma, he added.

Pathan and the girl returned to the city on Friday night, when the former was arrested under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and IPC sections for rape and unnatural offences.

During primary questioning, Pathan admit-

Woman harasses boyfriend to death

for a few hours until the class 10 board exam results were ready.

Dewang Dani, Chairman of AMC’s Town planning and estate committee, stated that the decision was made with the students’ best interests in mind. Schools can only be opened after the

results of the class 10 board exams are declared, he said.

All of the documents required to prepare the board result are kept locked away in school offices. Once they are collected to prepare the results, the schools will be re-sealed.

3 FIREMEN HURT IN INK FACTORY BLAZE IN A’BAD

4 including woman named in Surat rape First India Bureau

—FILE PHOTO

The deceased, Vipul Patel, in happier times.

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Police are looking for a woman in connection with her boyfriend’s suicide last week. When Vipul Patel committed suicide on Tuesday, his family and the police believed he had taken done so as he was in debt for about Rs18 lakh with no way to pay it back.

ted that he and the girl had fled to an isolation place near Pavagadh

However, his family members later discovered a suicide note in which he has alleged that harassment by his girlfriend Rinku Malani was the reason for his suicide. Vipul’s brother Navinkumar lodged a complaint with the Sector 7 police two days later.

The police complaint cites the suicide note as saying, “Rinku is responsible for my

temple, where he raped and sodomized her for the first time. Then, he

suicide. She has made my life hell. I had to pawn mother’s gold ornaments with Kanubhai of Sargasan as Rinku required money. Once Rinku makes repayment of the loan, collect ornaments from her.”

Rinku had come in contact with Vipul through a common friend Dipak Patel, and had borrowed money from him on

took her to Baska village in Halol taluka, where she was raped

numerous occasions.

“Whenever she needed money, she use to threaten to break up with me, so I used to borrow money to give Rinku,” the note added, officials said.

Navinkumar in the complaint said that Vipul had wanted to marry Rinku but she was not interested in marrying him.

Rinku is currently absconding.

again. As he was running out of money, he decided to return home

Surat: A 38-year-old woman has filed a police complaint against four persons, including a woman, for rape and blackmail.

According to the complaint, the accused persons, who have been identified as Manoj Vasoya, Pintu Vasoya, Sanjay Shekhada, allegedly raped the victim and took pictures of the incident. The accused persons, along with another woman, threatened to share the pictures on social media, police officials said. On Friday, the accused allegedly lured the woman to a house in Dumas, where she was raped.

The case is being investigated by the Dumas police. and on Friday night he had come to drop the victim at his residence.

It took fire teams five hours to put out the inferno.

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: A massive fire broke out at an ink manufacturing factory in the city’s Naroda area in the wee hours of Saturday, in which three firemen suffered minor injuries, an official said.

The fire brigade received a call about the blaze at Ink-Anon factory around 3.30 am, city's in-charge chief fire officer Rajesh Bhatt said.

More than 20 fire tenders were rushed to the factory, where highly inflammable chemicals were stored,

he said.

“It took nearly five hours for us to bring the massive fire under control and three firemen suffered minor burn injuries due to the blasts of solvents kept at the factory,” Bhatt said, adding that the injured firemen were taken to a hospital, where they were given primary treatment and sent home.

“We tried to ensure that the fire does not spread to the nearby residential area,” he said.

The cause of the fire is being ascertained by a forensic team, officials said.

MAKING PROGRESS

45L people fully vaccinated against nCoV in Gujarat so far With 3 lakh people inoculated every day, the state leads in per million vaccination ranking First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani congratulated the health department for having successfully administered doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to two crore people as of 4 pm on Saturday, including 45 lakh people who have received both doses making them fully inoculated against the novel cor-

onavirus.

“Gujarat has expanded the COVID-19 vaccination drive by inoculating 3 lakh people every day, with the state leading in per million vaccination ranking,” the Chief Minister’s office said in a release.

With this, a total of 19,42,897 beneficiaries in the priority group of health workers have received their first dose of the vaccine and 11,01,568 have received

COVID-19 UPDATE

TOTAL CASES

8,20,866

DEATHS IN A DAY

RECOVERED

RECOVERED

7,99,012

1,278

TOTAL

the second dose so far.

In the priority group of the people in the age group of 45 years and above, a total of 99,41,234

people have received their first dose and 33,82,627 people got their second dose as well, the department said.

“Among people in the age group of 18 to 44 years, 36,02,832 received their first dose and 59,234 their second dose

490

TOTAL DEATHS

9,991

Even as he took his jab, Ahmedabad’s Arun Haryani used his body as a unique canvas to spread awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

CASES IN A DAY

(so far). As many as 2,09,171 out of the 2,94,583 people who received their vaccine dose on Saturday were

06

IN A DAY

from the 18-44 category,” it said.

Meanwhile, the state saw 490 new cases, and six more fatalities, tak-

ACTIVE CASES

10,863

100 V’DARA 77 A’BAD 64 RAJKOT 34 JUNAGADH 24 JAMNAGAR 18 GIR SOMNATH 18 SURAT

ing the total caseload to 8,19,866 and death toll to 9,991 in the 24 hours ended 5 pm on Saturday, officials said.

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Maharana Pratap,

HERO OF NATIONALISM

THE

04

IN-DEPTH

DIGVIJAY AND CONTROVERSY GO HAND IN HAND

C

KALRAJ MISHRA

Governor of Rajasthan

I

Maharana Pratap’s struggle for independence was not a minor one. It was the struggle of such a Rana in which he lived with tribals and forest dwellers Bhils, not only fought wars on every front with the Mughals but also defeated them repeatedly.

For 25 years, he fought with Akbar’s army sent in large numbers with very few of his brave soldiers.

His rare organizational power, Guerrilla tactics like Shivaji and his technique of discouraging the enemy instead of using force, kept him always in the forefront of the war

consider Maharana Pratap as the first freedom fighter warrior of our country. He was such a hero of the freedom struggle who, for the freedom of his motherland, renounced the glory of the royal palace and accepted to live in the valleys of Aravalli and inaccessible forests. He never bowed his head on the conditions of the independence of the nation.

Maharana Pratap’s struggle for independence was not a minor one. It was the struggle of such a Rana in which he lived with tribals and forest dwellers Bhils, not only fought wars on every front with the Mughals but also defeated them repeatedly.

For 25 years, he fought with Akbar’s army sent in large numbers with very few of his brave soldiers. His rare organizational power, Guerrilla tactics like Shivaji and his technique of discouraging the enemy instead of using force, kept him always in the forefront of the war.

In the days of freedom struggle, Lala Lala Lajpat Rai had once said that if the youth are to be prepared for the independence of India, then they have to take inspiration from the history maker like Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap.

In the light of this statement, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Maharana Pratap was an excellent example of intense nationalism. I also believe that his struggle for the independence of his motherland Mewar had the constitutional basis of imperialism and independence, in which patriotism, self-respect can be deeply felt.

If he wanted, he could live a life of luxury. Akbar himself was overwhelmed by his

valor. He wanted to allow him to remain the king of Mewar under him, but the Rana did not accept it. History is witness that he had clearly given this message to Akbar that why should he get the right of the land which does not belong to him. That is why on the pretext of Mewar, he raised the flag of self-respect for the nation while awakening enthusiasm among the people for the independence of the nation.

The great thing about Maharana Pratap’s freedom struggle was his moral and character strength. He gave more importance to the moral values of freedom among his people and troops. There was no difference between his words and deeds. That is why he gave this message, especially to the public, that this fight is not his own, but of all the people who love the motherland.

That is why he took a public pledge to renounce the princely luxury and not to eat food in gold and silver utensils until Mewar became completely independent. Accordingly, the people were informed about it. It was natural that due to this, the people joined him in the struggle for freedom with body and mind.

To fight Akbar’s heavy army, he organized the Bhils and tribals along with the common people on his own. He himself went and sought cooperation from the Bhils not

Maharana Pratap’s struggle was not with the Mughals but with the thinking of imperialism in which Akbar wanted to subjugate the entire nation. That is why Maharana Pratap, with his valor and courage, created strong nationalism throughout the country against Akbar, but for the struggle for the freedom of the motherland.

He also got this support a lot. In the mountains and secret caves, the people of the forest always supported Maharana Pratap in the form of spies, soldiers and guards.

He made friendly relations with Rajput Rao kings, fellow chieftains while forgetting mutual animosity, and made them aware of the impending crisis. It is in this context that his close relations with the Chauhans of Bundi, Dungarpur, Banswara, Ranthambore, Deoras of Idar and Sirohi and some other Rao Rawals can be seen in this perspective.

I think, if any national hero has given inspiration in our country to sacrifice his life while fighting for the nation, then it is Maharana Pratap. His lofty life character also always inspired fellow warlords. Everyone knows, Man Singh had become the general of Akbar. It was natural that he was the biggest enemy of Maharana.

Maharana Pratap had once caught Man Singh when he was on hunt with only a few soldiers. If he wanted, he could have attacked and killed Man Singh that time, but he did not do so and left him showing his generosi-

ty. Through this, he also gave a message to the Rajput Raokings that everyone should fight unitedly for the motherland while leaving behind mutual fighting.

Maharana Pratap was very strong in character. He had respect for women. This has been felt time and again by writing about him in history.

Once Kunwar Amar Singh broke the front of Sherpur and brought the women of Abdul Rahim Khankhana along with the soldiers while making them prisoner.

When Maharana Pratap got this information, he was very angry. He ordered that the captured women and children be released immediately and instructed them to send them respectfully to the camp of Abdul Rahim Khankhana.

Abdul Rahim Khankhana was so impressed by this benevolent character of the Rana that he gave up his enmity against Mewar and left the feeling of enmity with him. Maharana was like this, who made everyone his own with his lofty life values.

In fact, Akbar wanted to dominate the whole of Mewar due to his imperial ambitions. His influence was so great that all the kings of the princely states around Mewar had gone to the shelter of Akbar.

Jagmal, the brother of Maharana Pratap himself, had gone to the shelter of the Mughal Subedar of Ajmer.

Later another brother Shakti Singh also went to Akbar’s court. Maharana Pratap was also repeatedly given the message that he will have to do nothing, he would remain the ruler, but he should accept the supremacy of the Mughal subordination, but Rana never accepted it.

His struggle was not with the Mughals but with the thinking of imperialism in which Akbar wanted to subjugate the entire nation. That is why Maharana Pratap, with his valor and courage, created strong nationalism throughout the country. His fight for love of motherland is a unique example of ideals in Indian history even today.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

ongress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh will never miss a chance to put his foot in his mouth. The most recent instance being his interview to a Pakistani journalist in which he reportedly said that the Congress party “will have to relook” at the revocation of Article 370.

The BJP-led Central government changed the special status accorded to J&K by abrogating the Article. The interview drew an immediate response from the BJP which said that “this is what Pakistan wants”. While this may also be the official line of the Congress, Digvijay Singh’s statement will neither help him nor the party.

He earlier courted controversy for his comment alleging that the RSS trains its activists in bomb-making. He stirred up a row by making a below the belt comment against Raghavji, a former BJP minister from MP, who was arrested on charges of sodomy. Digvijay didn’t even spare his party colleague Meenakshi Natrajan, calling her “tunch maal”.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

—Proverbs 10:12

TOP TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp

In a #ClubHouse chat, Digvijay Singh is heard promising Pakistan that Congress will reinstate Article 370 if it comes to power. Some time earlier a top Congress leader sought the help of Pakistan to remove Modi Govt.

Congress literature depicts J&K as India Occupied Kashmir.

Ravi Shankar Prasad @rsprasad

In quest to preserve our national river, @narendramodi govt launched Namami Gange in 2014-15 for rejuvenation of Ganga and its tributaries with an assured funding of `20,000 Crores. #7YearsOfSeva

Vol 2 l Issue No. 197 l RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, ChangodarBavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist.

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05

MAHA’S RAIGAD RECEIVES 54 MM RAINFALL R

aigad district in Maharashtra received an average of 54 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

The district administration has issued a red alert in the region warning people of heavy rains, he said. Last year, the average rainfall recorded by the district till June 12 was 238mm. This year it has risen to 311mm, the official said.

—ANI —PHOTO BY ANI

MUKUL ASKS CENTRE TO WITHDRAW HIS SECURITY Kolkata: Mukul Roy who left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday to rejoin the Trinamool Congress has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) requesting to withdraw his ‘Z’ category Central security cover, sources told news agency ANI. MHA is yet to respond to Roy’s request.

Roy, who served as the BJP national vice-president before his departure, was provided with ‘Z’ category security cover just ahead of the assembly elections in

Y SECURITY

Mukul Roy

Bengal. As many as 22 CRPF personnel were deployed to guard him.

In addition to that, around 4-5 National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, who specialise in providing se-

SAD, BSP form alliance for 2022 Punjab polls

curities to high-profile individuals in India, were also deployed.

Roy’s security detail has garnered just as much attention as his political career. In 2017, he returned the ‘Z’ cat-

egory security provided to him by the TMC-led West Bengal state government. Roy, then a TMC parliamentarian, after being removed asked the state to take back the security cover.

Researchers find new batch of coronaviruses New Delhi: Chinese researchers claim to have discovered a new batch of coronaviruses in bats which includes one that maybe genetically the second-closest thing to COVID-19 virus. The new research surfaces even as the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

The research is being conducted by Weifeng Shi of the University of Shandong and his colleagues in a single, small region of Yunnan province, southwestern China, report.

As per a journal published in the Cell, the group assembled 24 novel coronavirus genomes from different

Chinese researchers

bat species, including four SARS-CoV-2 like coronaviruses. “Our study highlights the diversity of bat coronaviruses at the local scale, including close relatives of both SARSCoV-2 and SARS-CoV,” they wrote. The bat species they sampled are common across Southeast Asia.

FARMERS CALL FOR GHERAO OF RAJ BHAWANS ACROSS COUNTRY Tikait urge Prez’s intervention in farmers’ movement

Sukhbir Singh Badal/Mayawati

New Delhi: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) formed an alliance for the 2022 Punjab Assembly election on Saturday (June 12, 2021). While addressing a press conference, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the BSP will contest in 20 out of the 117 seats, whereas his party will contest the remaining 97 seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly election. Announcing the tie-up at the

press conference, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal described it as a “new day in politics of Punjab”.

“It’s a historic day as the alliance has been formed with Shiromani Akali Dal, which is Punjab’s biggest party.

In 1996, both BSP and SAD jointly fought Lok Sabha polls and emerged victorious on 11 of 13 seats. This time the alliance will not be broken,” said BSP MP Satish Mishra after the announcement.

—ANI

POLICY ON DECLASSIFICATION AND COMPILATION OF WAR New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday approved the policy on archiving, declassification and compilation of histories of wars and operations by the Ministry of Defence.

“Timely publication of war histories would give people accurate account of the events, provide authentic material for

academic research and counter the unfounded rumours,” the MoD’s statement noted.

According to the policy, each organisation under the MoD such as triservices, Integrated Defence Staff, Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard, transfer the records including war diaries.

Sonepat (Haryana): Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) will stage demonstrations outside Raj Bhawans across the country on June 26 and observe the day as “Kheti Bachao, Loktantra Bachao Diwas”.

“June 26, 1975 was a black day in India’s history as on this day the government had announced the Emergency. The present situation is not far from that. It is like an undeclared emergency. Our agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws completes seven months on June 26. We will observe the day as Kheti Bachao, Loktan-

NO TO RAJ BHAVAN GHERAO

Farmers protesting against the farm laws.

tra Bachao Diwas. We will protest outside Raj Bhawans across the country,” said Inderjit Singh, vice president, All India Kisan Sabha, Haryana.

According to SKM, memorandums addressed to the President of India will be

U’KHAND CONGRESS TO TAKE OUT A YATRA BEFORE POLLS New Delhi: Congress leader and in charge Devendra Yadav held a meeting with the state president Preetam Singh, Indira Hridayesh and HarishRawat for upcoming assembly elections in Uttarakhand. Congress is going to take out a Yatra across the state 6 months before the elections during which the failure of the BJP government willbe highlighted. The first of the three leg-yatra will be held from Khatima to Mussoorie, the places which have been the most important in the Uttarakhand movement. —Aditi Nagar

—FILE PHOTO

handed over to state governors.

Farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws have been agitating for over six months. Many have camped at the borders of the national capital despite several rounds of talks.

—ANI

Ghaziaba: Bhartiya Kishan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday clarified that the BKU will not gherao Raj Bhavan and will submit a memorandum to President Kovind through the governors in order to demand his intervention in the farmers’ movement. “We will not gherao the Raj Bhavan.”

NCP WANTS UNITED FRONT AGAINST BJP AT CENTRE Mumbai (Maharashtra): Poll strategist Prashant Kishor met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who wants to form a united front of opposition parties against the ruling BJP at the Centre, informed Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik on Saturday.

Speaking to ANI, Malik said, “Prashant Kishor

met NCP chief Sharad Pawar yesterday at his residence. The meeting lasted for three hours.

There was no discussion on appointing him as a strategist of NCP. He is a strategist. He analyzes things in a different way.

Efforts will be made towards forming a strong political front against BJP in coming days.”

IN THE COURTYARD

PIL in SC against human trafficking & smuggling New Delhi: A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Central and State governments for appropriate steps to seize 100 per cent benami properties and disproportionate assets and invoke the National Security Act against the criminals, directly or indirectly involved in hu-

man trafficking and smuggling.

The PIL also sought direction to the Centre to examine international laws.

—ANI

Poonawalla tells Bombay HC he seeks no Z-Plus

Karnataka HC dismisses Amazon & Flipkart plea

Mumbai: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has informed HC here that he “has not made requests for Z plus security and does not endorse any demands for Z plus security made on his behalf or for him by anyone.”

The statement was sent to the HC on via a written letter through his lawyers Parinam Law Associates.

Bengalurau: The Karnataka HC on Friday dismissed Amazon and Flipkart’s writ petitions challenging the probe ordered by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against their business practices. “It is expected that an order directing investigation be supported by ‘some reasoning’, which the commission has fulfilled,” ruled Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar.

BOMBAY HC ORDERS INQUIRY IN MALAD BUILDING COLLAPSE New Delhi: The Bombay High Court on Friday has ordered a judicial inquiry in the matter of the Malad building collapse that claimed the lives of 12 people. Taking suo motu cognizance of the Malad Building collapse, the Bombay High Court on Friday said politics

on the matter is not fair and courts cannot be blamed.

“Respondents to come down heavily on unauthorized buildings,” the court said.

SAUDI ARABIA SAYS HAJJ TO BE LIMITED TO 60,000 New Delhi: Saudi Arabia says this year’s hajj pilgrimage will be limited to no more than 60,000 people, all of them from within the kingdom, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The kingdom made the announcement Saturday on its state-run Saudi Press Agency. It cited the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for making the decision. Only people aged between 18 and 65 who have been vaccinated will be able to take part, the ministry that manages the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca said in a statement.

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COVID-19

PRIYANKA GANDHI LASHES OUT AT PM MODI OVER COVID CRISIS Priyanka has been asking questions over govt’s handling of pandemic New Delhi: In another direct attack on the PM, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister attempted to hide the truth and shirk responsibility.

As part of her “Zimmedaar Kaun (who is responsible)” campaign, in which she has been asking questions of the government over its handling of the pandemic, the Congress general secretary focused on the “crisis of leadership” and claimed that the whole world has witnessed the prime minister’s “incompetence at governance” during the pandemic.

“He (the prime minister) simply retreated and waited for the worst to pass. The Prime Minister of India has behaved like a coward. He has let our country down,” Ms Gandhi said in her statement posted on her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. The prime minister’s vast capacity for vanity has been exposed, she claimed. “Indians do not come first for him. Politics does.

Truth does not concern

‘NO CHANGES IN GAP BETWEEN COVISHIELD’

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

PM Narendra Modi

PRIYANKA GANDHI LAUNCHED A SCATHING ATTACK ON PM NARENDRA MODI OVER HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ALLEGING THAT INDIANS DO NOT COME FIRST FOR THE PM, POLITICS DOES AND THAT TRUTH DOES NOT CONCERN HIM, PROPAGANDA DOES. him, propaganda does,” Ms Gandhi alleged and asserted that the time has come for the people to ask the prime minister ‘’Zimmedaar Kaun’’.

Good governance in a crisis is about confronting the truth, seizing responsibility, and taking action, she said.

Priyanka Gandhi also listed a series of measures that the prime minister should have taken in the wake of Covid spread.

Colchicine gets DCGI approval New Delhi: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Laxai Life Sciences Private Limited have received the Drugs Controller General of India’s (DCGI’s) regulatory approval to conduct clinical trials of the drug Colchicine.

“The CSIR have been

Protest against assault of doctors on June 18 New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) will hold a protest on June 18 against assault on doctors, with the slogan of save the saviors’.

Apex medical body asked all its state and local branches across the country to observe the protest by wearing black badges, masks, ribbons, shirts & running awareness campaign against violence targeting healthcare professionals. It termed “extremely disturbing” a series of violence against doctors in last two weeks in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka & other places.

It demanded the implementation of central hospital & Health Care

 Probe ordered into

allegations of fake Covid reports In Uttarakhand during Kumbh dose interval of Covishield, says Centre

 No substantial

evidence to suggest children will be more affected in Covid third wave: Report

719 DOCTORS DIED IN SECOND WAVE

& augmentation of security in each hospital, & declaring hospitals as protected zones.

given the regulatory approval by DCGI to undertake a two-arm phase-II clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of the drug Colchicine in the improvement of clinical outcomes during the treatment of COVID patients,” CSIR said.

gar (77,659) and Narmada (59,208), the report said. A majority of the projects were under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and state’s Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Yojana.

Tax-free...

There is no change in the GST rate of some items being charged at 18 per cent, such as RT-PCR machines, RNA extraction machines and genome sequencing machines. Genome sequencing kits that are being charged at 12 per cent will continued to be charged at the same rate.

There is also no tax cut on raw material for Covid testing kits.

New Delhi: Though the number of COVID-19 cases is dropping sharply in the national capital, CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the government is worried about third wave now and it is working on a war footing to prepare for it.

Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of oxygen plants at nine hospitals in the national capital, Kejriwal said, “We are worried about the third wave now. The chances of the third wave of COVID-19 are real. Delhi government is working on a war footing to prepare for the third wave.”

“Delhi hospitals are well-equipped now, but we need to be more prepared for the third wave,” he added.

Delhi was worst hit by 2nd wave of COVID-19, wherein Delhi had registered the biggest spike of new 28,395 coronavirus cases on April 20 since the pandemic began last year.

Dr Randeep Guleria

Hospitals, states must audit covid deaths to ensure clarity: AIIMS New Delhi: A “misclassification” of Covid-related deaths by hospitals and state governments can be unhelpful in India’s efforts to form strategies to fight the pandemic, one of the country’s top doctors has said.

For a better picture of mortality in these circumstances, they must perform a death audit to reconfigure the numbers, according to Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

His comments come amid reports and allegations of various state government underplaying the number of deaths. In Madhya Pradesh, for instance, there seemed to be a mismatch between official figures & number of last

Arvind Kejriwal

UNSOUND ANALYSIS: CENTRE ON REPORT THAT COVID DEATHS 7 TIMES MORE New Delhi: India refuted a report which claimed that its Covid deaths could be “5-to-7 times” higher than the official number, saying the assessment is based on extrapolation of data without any epidemiological evidence. rites performed in April. “Let’s say a person dies of heart attack, and if he had Covid, then Covid may have caused the heart attack.

So, you may have mis-classified this as a non-Covid death... as a cardiac problem, rather than directly linking it to Covid,” Guleria said.

 Experts flag drastic

drop of immunisation of kids during Covid second wave

 At new ‘Corona

Mata’ temple in UP village, people flock to pray for relief from COVID-19

 ‘No, India not hiding

Covid-19 toll,’ Centre replies to criticism in 4 points

Centre issues advisory for equitable distribution of vax New Delhi: The Centre has asked the states and UTs to aggregate Covid-19 vaccine distribution for private hospitals on monthly basis & either facilitate procurement of doses or allow the Centre to do so for an equitable distribution of vaccines as barely 4% of the vacci-

nation centres in the country are in the private sector. To be sure, the Centre, states and Union territories can only facilitate procurement and does not mean they will buy directly for private hospitals.

This is to ensure doses for private hospitals as per their requirement.

FROM PG 1 Guj govt calls... said the report, which was prepared by the state’s climate change department together with IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Gandhinagar.

The report cited the “positive role of MGNREGA in helping people vulnerable to pandemic sustain livelihood” through examples of villages in tribal-dominated Dahod district, which offered the largest number of employment under the scheme during that time.

Dahod district (2.38 lakh - number of labourers engaged under MGNREGA) reported the highest labourer engagement under MGNREGA, followed by Bhavna-

Worried about third wave now, says Delhi CM Kejriwal

HIGHLIGHTS

 No need to panic over

Professionals Protection Act with IPC & Code of Criminal Procedure, standardisation

New Delhi: Amid calls to reduce the gap between 2 doses of Serum Institute of India’s vaccine Covishield based on the new findings by Public Health England, Central government will not take the decision to change the dosage interval immediately, said sources, adding that the authorities will review the scientific evidence for the same. “However, scientific evidence has been collected to review the decision in the coming meeting of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC),” government sources said.

06

PM Modi... all levels of the government, industry and civil society.

He also explained India’s successful use of open source digital tools for contact tracing and vaccine management, and conveyed India’s willingness to share its experience and expertise with other developing countries.

Prime Minister committed India’s support for collective endeavours to improve global health governance. He sought the G7’s support for the proposal moved at the WTO by India and South Africa, for a TRIPS waiver on COVID related technologies.

BJP resignations... to C Abdul Khader Haji, the party’s Lakshadweep chief, they said: “The BJP in Lakshadweep is fully aware of how the present Administrator Patel’s actions are anti-people, antidemocracy and causing extreme suffering among people.”

They reminded Haji of having met Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue and “submitting a complaint”. “You also know that several BJP leaders of Lakshadweep have already spoken on the various wrongdoings of the administrator and the district collector,” the letter read.

IMA conducts passing out parade for cadets in Dehradun Dehradun: The Indian Military Academy held a passing out parade of the 425 cadets at Chetwod Building Drill Square, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command of the Army.

Lieutenant General RP Singh, Western Army Commander, took the salute of the parade as reviewing officer.

Like last year due to the pandemic, this time also the parents of the cadets are not joining the passing out parade. The peeping and Oath Ceremony to be held after the

28 PARTICIPATED

parade. 425 Cadets of the passing out batch will become an integral part of the Indian and For-

eign Army as lieutenants, in which 341 young military officers will go to the Indian Army, while 84 young military officers will become an integral part of the forces of nine friendly countries Tajikistan, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tonga, Maldives and Kyrgyzstan.

After today’s parade, the Indian Military Academy will be giving 63381 military officers to the army of the country and abroad, including 2656 military officers received by friendly countries.

CHOKSI FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE,

CBI TELLS DOMINICAN COURT New Delhi: Mehul Choksi is a fugitive from justice, the chief conspirator and main beneficiary of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, and is yet to join investigations despite repeated summons, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has said in its affidavit filed in Dominica’s high court of justice.

The agency called Choksi’s “gratuitous offer” of being interviewed at the place of his choice outside India meaningless, citing large evidence, oral and documentary, with which he needs to be confronted.

The affidavit accuses

Mehul Choksi

Choksi of misleading courts in Dominica by claiming there are no proceedings against him in India.

He is fully aware of proceedings in India and has even appointed lawyers there, says the affidavit, a

copy of which HT has seen.

The affidavit, filed by deputy inspector general Sharda Raut, explains the procedures of investigations and criminal trials in India. It says Choksi, according to the Criminal Procedure Code, cannot be tried in absentia. It is only after an accused is produced in court or appears in court that charges can be framed for a trial to begin.

Raut flew to Dominica on May 28 along with other officers in a special jet with documents to back India attempts for Choksi’s deportation from Dominica.

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07

—HERITAGE IMAGES/HULTON FINE ART COLLECTION VIA GETTY IMAGES

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ASSUME— WITH NO BASIS IN TRUTH— THAT A WOMAN WHO HAS CASUAL SEX MUST HAVE LOW SELF-ESTEEM

JAIMIE ARONA KREMS Assistant Professor of Psychology, Oklahoma State University MICHAEL VARNUM Associate Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University

F.

Scott Fitzgerald famously called the Roaring Twenties—which happened on the heels of the 1918 flu pandemic—“the most expensive orgy in history.”

Now, as more and more Americans are vaccinated, some are saying all the sexual energy pent up over the past year will be unleashed, with Yale sociologist Nicholas Christakis predicting a summer marked by a surge in “sexual licentiousness.”

Women, however, might face backlash for exploring their post-vaccination sexuality. In a new study, we found that women—but not men—continue to be perceived negatively for having casual sex.

This stereotype persists even as casual sex has become increasingly normalized and gender equality has risen in the US and much of the Western world.

Specifically, both men and women assume that a woman who has casual sex must have low self-esteem.

But that perception isn’t based in reality. So what might be driving this unfounded stereotype?

JUDGEMENT CALL:

WOMEN & CASUAL SEX

There’s virtually no association between self-esteem and sexual behaviour.

A BELIEF HELD ACROSS DIVIDES Although the idea that women’s sexual behaviour is linked to their self-esteem is a common trope in film, television and even some relationship advice sites, we documented just how entrenched this stereotype is across six experiments published in Psychological Science.

In one experiment, we asked Americans to estimate the cor-

relation between people’s sexual behaviour and their self-esteem. We described those people as being a man, woman or simply as “a person,” without providing any information about their gender. We then described that man, woman or person as having a lot of casual sex, portrayed them as being a serial monogamist or provided no information about their sexual

behaviour.

We found that Americans tended to associate monogamy with high self-esteem, especially for women. More striking, they associated casual sex with low self-esteem—but only for women.

This belief was surprisingly widespread, and across our studies we found that both men and women hold it.

We wondered: Was this stereotype the product of sexist beliefs? Could it be due to participants’ political ideology or their religion?

But time and again, we saw that this stereotype transcended a number of markers, including the extent to which someone held sexist beliefs, their political views and their religiosity.

WHAT IF A WOMAN SAYS SHE WANTS CASUAL SEX?

People might assume that women have casual sex only because they’re trying and failing to attract a long-term relationship.

However, people might believe that women don’t want casual sex in the first place. For example, people might assume that women have casual sex only because they’re trying and failing to attract a long-term relationship. In fact, such beliefs do seem to influence the stereotype about women’s self-esteem.

Specifically, the more that Americans believed that women don’t actually want casual sex, the more these Americans tended to associate women’s casual sex with low self-worth.

This finding inspired another experiment. We wondered what would happen if we told participants that a woman was actually perfectly happy with her casual sexual lifestyle. Might that change their beliefs?

But even this factor didn’t seem to stop the stereotyping.

Participants still saw these women as having low self-esteem. And they even perceived a woman described as having monogamous sex—but who was deeply dissatisfied with her monogamous sex life—as having higher self-esteem.

Here’s the kicker: Among our participants—the same ones who showed this stereotyping— we found virtually no association between their self-esteem and their own sexual behaviour.

These findings are similar to those of psychologist David Schmitt, who conducted a survey of more than 16,000 participants drawn from all over the world, and also found little association between self-esteem and casual sex.

And in our study, it was actually the men who reported having more casual sex who also tended to have slightly lower self-esteem.

STONE AGE BRAINS? So why do people hold this negative assumption about women who have casual sex— especially if it doesn’t hold water? The short answer is that we currently do not know, and associations between sex and self-esteem in the real world are complex.

Some people might wonder if the media is to blame. It’s true that women who have casual sex are sometimes portrayed as being somehow deficient. But this doesn’t tell the whole story. Even if popular media perpetuates this stereotype, it still doesn’t explain why people would feel compelled to portray women this way in the first place.

Another possible explanation is that the stereotype extends from reproductive biology, in which men have historically had more to gain from casual sex than women, who— since they risk getting pregnant—often have to bear greater costs, on average, than men.

Yet today, newer technologies—like birth control and safe, legal abortion—allow women to have casual sex without being forced to bear some of those unwanted costs. Perhaps, then, our Stone Age brains have simply not yet caught up.

Whatever the origin of this stereotype, it’s likely to foster prejudice and discrimination today. For example, people perceived to have low self-esteem are less likely to be asked out on dates or elected to political office.

This stereotype might also have led to seemingly well-intentioned—but ultimately misguided—advice directed toward girls and women about their sexual behaviour. There is a cottage industry built around telling women what sort of sex not to have. (Searching for books on “friendship advice” on Amazon yields fewer than 40 results, but searching for “dating advice” returned over 2,000.)

In Western society, women are rarely disparaged for breaking glass ceilings to become leaders, professors, CEOs and astronauts. So why do they continue to be denigrated as they become increasingly open and willing to go to bed with others at their own whim, of their own accord?

SOURCE: THECONVERSATION.COM

It is critical to know with clarity what you want before taking first tiny step to achieve it.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, First India

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FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

found the way of the BJP to be easier.

The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal YOGI ON THE FOOTSTEPS OF PM MODI eliable sources claim that this time, Yogi has laid the foundation of a new agency to handle election management, especially social and digital media, in the upcoming 2022 UP Assembly elections. The ‘Association of Billion Minds’ (probably now known as ‘democracy’), the favourite agency of BJP’s number two - Amit Shah which handled the 2017 assembly elections, is not handling the UP elections this time. If sources are to be believed, this agency has taken over the management of Uttarakhand elections in a changed scenario. The story of the beginning of this agency is also very interesting.

When Prashant Kishor left his international job in 2013 and joined the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, he wanted a nationwide data of voters at the ‘micro lev-

R

el’. For this work, the of ‘Shavani Foundation’ was established in Ahmedabad, and the leading women of this team were related to a prominent member of PK’s team. It was declared that the work of this institution was to rehabilitate the girls, who acid attack victims.

When PK parted ways with Modi in 2014, this institution was put in cold storage. When the BJP lost Bihar in 2015, this organization was revived and renamed as ‘Association of Billion Minds’ and a Gujarati businessman, Deepak Patel and McKenzie’s consultant Himanshu Singh have been entrusted with the responsibility of running it smoothly. Himanshu also brought Sunil Kanugalu, who worked in ‘Mckenzie’ with him and hails from Bellary, Karnataka, with him in this project. Sunil formed his own separate company. Today more than 170 full time technocrats work in this

PM Narendra Modi

SONIA TO SET THINGS STRAIGHT IN CONGRESS mid dark clouds looming large on the Congress party, an uncertain future as regards its President, leaders raising questions at the High Command and party’s youth leaders leaving the fold to join the arch-rival BJP, party matriarch Sonia Gandhi has now taken on the responsibility to finally set things straight and end the ‘troubles,’ once and for all.

Therefore, Rajasthan is number one in Sonia’s agenda where former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has been towing the same line since 10 months, however, this time he has a ‘softer tone.’ Word in the party circle is that Sachin Pilot has been persuaded by Priyanka Gandhi, who has played an important role in the ‘second crisis’ and assured him that he will be heard.

Sachin has demanded that his 5-6 MLAs should be made ministers in the current Gehlot government and some of his other loyal MLAs should be adjusted in different boards of the state. While Pilot has not gone ‘overtly aggressive’ like before, the High Command has

A company which specializes in selecting eligible candidates before elections, apart from this it also operates and sharpens the social and digital media of BJP.

HOW DID YOGI CALM DOWN? ogi had come to Delhi with a little revenge, anyway, after the intervention of the Sangh, the BJP top brass had already written the script to protect him. So, in his meetings with PM Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda, the bitterness was replaced by a masked modesty. Yogi is understood to have happily agreed to include Arvind Kumar Sharma and Jitin Prasada in his cabinet. In return, he has a condition that ‘a new face should be sent to UP in place of Sunil B a n s a l , the organisa-

Y

Yogi Adityanath

tional in-charge of UP. If sources are to be believed, Yogi has handed over a huge file of corruption and irregularities against Bansal to the PM. It is said that the BJP and the Sangh are also in search of a face, who can balance the right synergy between Yogi and the central leadership. In this connection, the name of senior Sangh campaigner Nagendra has first come out, but his poor health is becoming a hurdle. It is being said that in the past, he was hit by Corona, which will take some time to recover. The second name is of Ratnakar, who is a resident of Deoria. Ratnakar has been the district and department campaigner of the Sangh and is currently holding the post of coOrganisational General Secretary in Bihar. Earlier, he has also held the post of Regional Organization Minister of Kashi and Gorakhpur region. In the recent Bengal Assembly polls, he was entrusted with the responsibility of North Bengal.

he can also be sent to JITIN WANTED TO the Rajya Sabha.’ Sourc‘RIDE THE es related to SP clarify BICYCLE’ BEFORE that in this conversaJOINING BJP efore indulging tion, Akhilesh wanted himself in the ‘lo- that ‘Jitin should not tus’s bloom’, Jitin Pras- only campaign in the ada also had a succinct 2022 assembly elections, meeting with SP supre- but also contest the Asmo Akhilesh Yadav last sembly elections from a week. Sources tell that Brahmin dominated this meeting of these seat. Akhilesh suggesttwo leaders took place ed to him that ‘he could in Lucknow. In this select any seat falling meeting, Jitin had pro- under Dhaurahara or posed to Akhilesh that Lakhimpur Kheri.’ But ‘he is ready to create Jitin, who has lost three light in the entire state consecutive elections, in favour of SP, espe- did not like this proposcially he can play an al, having lost the 2014 important role in con- and 2019 general elecnecting the SP with the tions and UP Assembly Brahmin voters of the polls in 2017. He asked state. He also demanded Akhilesh for some time that ‘If SP government to think, and during is formed in the state in this time he was also in 2022, then Akhilesh constant touch with should make him his BJP leader, Piyush Goynumber two cabinet col- al. BJP was also ready league.’ Jitin had also to make him a minister made it clear that he in the Yogi government immediately, so will work only with the that the Brahcabinet minister, and mins, who is not looking at the were angry post of deputy CM. with the Jitin also requested BJP in the the SP supremo that state, could ‘if he wants, Jitin can be persuadalso do politics in ed. ThereDelhi for SP, fore, Jitin and for this Jitin Prasada

B

08

heard him already without losing any time.

Moreover, in the midst of heavy upheaval in Punjab, the Mallikarjun Kharge Committee has submitted its report to the party’s working president Sonia Gandhi. Sources reveal that Captain Amarinder Singh has been bluntly told that he will have to make Siddhu his Deputy Chief Minister.

Along with this, the ‘Captain’ may get a Dalit face as his second Deputy CM. It is said that Rahul Gandhi also played an important role in persuading Captain, who clearly told him, “we have made a promise to Sidhu, you have to respect the dignity of the Gandhi family.”

Furthermore, at present, seven seats are vacant in the Rajya Sabha and preparations are being made to send G-23’s flag bearer Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mukul Wasnik to the Upper House. Both these leaders can be sent to the Upper House from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Sonia Gandhi

SSNNL BEGINS WORK ON PARKING LOT NEAR SoU Expecting trouble, SSNNL had sought police protection as ground-levelling started First India Bureau Kevadia: The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) on Saturday began work on the construction of a parking area in front of the Kevadia railway station, even as unhappy locals

continue to clash with SSNNL representatives.

Expecting trouble, SSNNL officials had sought police protection as they began groundlevelling work on plot survey numbers 447, 449, 472 and 473. As a result, police personnel were de-

ployed outside the homes of villagers in Kevadia village, to keep from coming out to protest.

Villagers maintain that the project, which began with the construction of the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Kevadiya, will displace at least 5,000 tribal people who live close to the statue.

In a recent incident, one woman disrobed partially in public--during an argument with

SSNNL officials--in an attempt to stop the land survey work initiated

recently opposite the railway station. Women police personnel had to

intervene before the protester agreed to wear her sari again. A complaint had been lodged against a group of 15-20 persons in this case.

One of the families that have been claiming ownership of the land where SSNNL is constructing the parking lot said they have lost their only source of income as “the government took away the land without compensating for it.”

Confirming the construction of a parking lot on the land, Narmada deputy collector Nikunj Parikh said, “I had held around 10 meetings with this family in the past. I had urged for the legal heirs to give consent to receiving compensation.

But till now, they have not done so. How can we then pay them the compensation amount? I had met residents of six villages, including Kevadia.”

COMPENSATION

Surat textile industry faces labour shortage

CRUISE CONTROL With Ahmedabad’s Kalupur station operating at full passenger capacity for the first time in months, railway police personnel were seen patrolling on Segways on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

First India Bureau

Surat: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the textile industry in Surat. Even though the textile markets have recently reopened, labour shortages are now adding to traders’ woes. According to sources, the city’s textile shops still require around 3 lakh workers. As the shops reopened, up to 60% of the city’s textile industry workers have not returned to work

About 50% of the workforce is yet to return after the lockdown.

Since the lockdown was announced in April of last year, there has been a mass exodus of migrant workers. According to Manoj Agarwal, president of the Fed-

eration of Surat Textile Traders Association, 50% of the workforce has yet to return to the textile market. Since last year, the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases and the

lockdown measures had instilled fear in the minds of artisans, he added.

He went on to say that the city has approximately 65,000 shops in 170 textile markets. According to sources, the industry has suffered a loss of around Rs10,000 crore as a result of lockdown measures implemented following the second COVID-19 wave. According to sources, it could take months for the migrant labour force to return to work.

NGT directs Birla firm to speed up work on waste-water recycling Tribunal bench accepted the report filed by committee of CPCB, GPCB officials and directed that its recommendations be implemented First India Bureau New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed Aditya Birla Group’s flagship Indian Rayon in Gir Somnath district to expedite to the

maximum extent the work related to recycling of waste water.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel accepted the report filed by a committee compris-

ing officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and others, and directed that its recommendations be implemented.

“We accept the report and direct that recommendations in the report be acted upon by the project proponent Indi-

National Green Tribunal.

—FILE PHOTO

an Rayon (A unit of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd), Junagadh Veraval, District Gir Somnath, Gujarat which may be overseen by the concerned statutory regulators. If any grievance survives, the aggrieved parties will be at liberty to take remedies, in accordance with law,” the bench also comprising Justices Sudhir

Agarwal and M Sathyanarayanan, said.

The committee recommended that analysis results of Sewage Treatment Plants sampling shows BOD (biological oxygen demand) marginally exceeds the standards and therefore industry should improve its sewage treatment plant operations to meet

the prescribed norms.

“It is advisable to improve/beautify surrounding area of natural drain including stone pitching along the natural drain in the premises of the industry in consultation with concerned authorities.

The industry should expedite the work related to recycling of waste water to the maximum extent.

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09

AHMEDABAD, SUNDAY JUNE 13, 2021

REEL & REAL LIFE

KASHMIR BECKONS!

AS TEMPERATURES RISE AND CORONA CASES FALL (TOUCH WOOD!), IT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO HEAD OFF TO ‘REEL’&‘REAL’ LIFE HEAVENKASHMIR- CITY FIRST MOTIVATES YOU WITH THESE MEMORABLE SONGS!

ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews.com

I

visited Kashmir in the 1980s when my father was posted at Pathankot and I was a mere kid in pigtails, so as to speak and fell headlong in love with the picturesque beauty of the state.

The natural beauty was so rich that one could barely hold it in the eyes and heart and it also spilt across the people, culture, language, food and heritage. The stereotyped picture of me in Kashmiri dress and jewellery is still treasured. Kashmir has wooed each one through the movies shot there too. I bring you some of my favourites.

Highway is one of my favourite movies and nothing could be a better setting for

the haunting, torn love story of two scarred star crossed lovers than the haunting lilting beauty of Kashmir. Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda merge as closely as the snow-capped mountains merge with the laden sky.

Roja comes a close second, how I loved the movie, the songs and love blossoming in that ohso-typical arranged marriage. Roja jaaneman …and Bharat humko jaan se pyara hai are still hot favourites!

Rockstar with Ran-

bir and Nargis is beautifully shot among the winding roads and the soulful songs.

So many of the old classics shot in Kashmir remain favourites even today.

Ye Chand sa roshan Chehra – this one song has brought Dal Lake alive for movie lovers for decades as Shammi Kapoor gyrates on a Shikara with a Sharmili Sharmila bedecked in Kashmiri attire. Yahoo- another iconic number by Shammi in Junglee is closely followed by Shashi Kapoor soulfully singing Pardesiyon se naa ankhiyan milana – in Jab Jab phool Khile.

Silsila and Kabhi Kabhi both movies celebrated the charm of Kashmir beautifully capturing the heartbreak and drama of its characters amid the beauty of Tulips.

Amitabh and Rekha amid the tulips- ye kahaan aa gaye hum yu hin … this is still one of the most romantic numbers to date. My favourite love song Kabhie Kab-

hie mere dil mein khayal aata hai set amid the snowcapped peaks with a fire burning is beautiful but somehow the lack of chemistry between Amitabh and Raakhee make the audio of the song far more beautiful than the visuals.

Anoushka is as lovely as a Tupil herself in Jiya re from Jab tak hai Jaan. Lakshya, Dil se, Student of the Year and Mission Kashmir remain on my list of ‘Kashmir movies’…

Yes… Kashmir beckons… it’s time to visit!

AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021

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ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20

This week is likely to bring mixed results for you. You may face some financial issues this week, hence try to save money and do not spend on unnecessary things.

Additionally, there are chances of expenses due to health issues. Moreover, expenditure on repairing, electricity, or plumbing is on cards. This week, the married couple should be aware of what they are going to tell their partner. Chances of aggression and clashes of ego may spoil their mood. You are likely to get good results in terms of small projects in the workplace.

This week you may have to work hard in order to get the desired success.You are likely to maintain peace and harmony in your marital life. You may also spend quality time with your spouse. However, there are chances of some ego clashes or different thoughts which may create some relationship issues. This week, you may need to have a prior plan for your financial expenditure. Moreover, the return on your investment will not come easily. Meditation and yoga may help you to maintain your health.

This week, you are likely to get rewards for your hard work. Your efforts that were hardly recognized in the past may now get appreciated.

Gemini, it’s your time to shine this week!

Children may make parents very proud this week.

Also, this may be a favorable week to travel to religious places. Besides, business trips may also prove to be productive. You may also receive some important calls that you have been waiting for long.

ETC

10

CANCER

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20 This week, you may witness positive developments in your life amid some complications, but do not worry as you can always hold on to the good ones, and learn something from the bad ones. You are likely to be very sensible and analytical in your approach towards most of the things in life, which may help you to overcome a lot of challenges and be successful. It may bring encouraging results about some pending financial issues.

VIRGO

LEO

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20

The week may remain progressive for you but you should focus on organizing things and setting right priorities. You may remain anxious about your overall progress. However, some struggles may occur in your career. But, this happens due to a reason too. Look and review, tweak old methods, and revive forgotten connections. Also, apply time-tested, old strategies to achieve desired results. This week may keep you active and busy, on the work front. Keep on doing your best.

At the beginning of this week, the impact of planets may encourage you to build harmony and good family relations. The cosmic connections are highly supportive of marital bliss. Go for a short trip, if you can, around the middle of this week.

The planetary impact may bring some amazing romantic experiences. However, there are chances of some urgent career matters this week. Planets during the ending part of this week may keep you in high spirits. You are likely to be happy to help others now.

LIBRA

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20 This week may prove to be very productive and may bring many positive developments in your life. You may get some exciting opportunities to invest in some new projects during the week. Some undertakings which have been on hold for a long duration of time may get restarted this week, due to which economic obligations will get lessened to some extent.

Moreover, new sources of earning money may also be obtained. Other than this, harmony will be seen between family members.

SAGITTARIUS JUNE 13 - JUNE 20

This week may be a wonderful phase for you. The complementing transit of Venus and Mars may make you aggressive but is likely to help you to make all the situations in your favor. You may spend good time with your family this week. You may plan for a family get together, this is likely to make your bond stronger with your family. Also, this may be a time to reunite with your cousins or elderly family relatives.

There is a high possibility that you may plan to go for a trip.

JUNE 13 TO JUNE 20

DISHA PATANI CELEBRATES HER BIRTHDAY ON 13 JUNE. THIS WEEK SHE IS LIKELY TO GET REWARDS FOR HER HARD WORK. THE PAST EFFORTS WHICH HAVE GONE UNNOTICED WILL BE RECOGNIZED. THIS WEEK IS IMPORTANT AS NEW OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT KNOCK ON THE DOOR. JUST LIKE HER, ALL THOSE WHO SHARE THEIR BIRTHDAYS WITH HER HAVE SOME AMAZING SURPRISES AWAITING THEM THIS WEEK. AS THIS WEEK BRINGS NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES AND APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION FOR YOUR WORK!

CAPRICORN

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20 Your peculiarities, which were a source for others to make fun of you, may bring some advantages for you this week. You may find yourself a central figure in some parties or public gatherings. Dear and near ones will act in such a way that may frustrate you. Better stay calm, as you are the one who is expected for the time being to react normally. Bring restrictions on yourself and stop overindulging in food and alcohol.

AQUARIUS

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20 This week is likely to be favorable for you.

Short distance traveling is foreseen. A family meeting and get-together are likely to make your week exciting. Stay away from an argument at workplace. Relationships with children may get challenging. They may incline your attention because of some health issues or because of their careless behavior in education. This week may play an important role to strengthen your relationship with your children.

SCORPIO

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20 You possess an irresistible sense of humor and the spontaneous enthusiasm of an innocent child that makes you popular among those you mingle with during this week. You may get easily agitated this week and may find yourself inactive and less energetic to present yourself as the kind of charismatic man you used to be. Your correct assessment of any situation often puts you far ahead of those who deal with you in day-to-day life. Your family members may not understand your approaches towards them.

PISCES

JUNE 13 - JUNE 20 This week you are likely to remain busy with work and may get new responsibility at your workplace.

Expenditure is likely to be more than the saving, try to have your plan based on priority for the shopping. A small celebration at home and a party may bring happiness to you this week. Students may get success in an interview and your talents may get recognition based on the performance you had given in the past. You may learn a new subject.

ETC AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021

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Standing in

EXPRESSING HER

EXCITEMENT

E

ver since the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter Lilibet, the royal family has moved past the tensions between them and wished the couple well. Now, during a recent public appearance, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton also expressed her excitement to meet her new niece! “I can’t wait to meet her because haven’t yet met her. So hopefully that will be soon,” Kate said. After the announcement of baby Lilibet’s birth, Kate and William congratulated the couple through Instagram.

—Agency

A

Kate Middleton

KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS

K

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

#BOYCOTT KareenaKhan

I

solidarity

eeping Up with the Kardashians has come to a glorious end after 20 seasons and as expected, the highly-awaited series finale was an emotional, nostalgic roller coaster ride of feelings for the famous Kardashian-Jenner family. In a moment of brutal honesty, towards the end of the episode, Kim Kardashian spoke passionately to her mother Kris Jenner on why estranged husband Kanye West isn’t right for her.For the unversed, after months of troubled marriage, Kim filed for divorce from Kayne in February.

—Agency

PLANNING FOR A

ngelina Jolie is standing in “grief ” and “solidarity” with India! In a recent interview, she said, “Well, I would certainly say to everyone, I mean, to the people of India, we’ve been-we’re all with a very heavy heart, and just, there is really no words to express the grief, solidarity for all that the people of India are suffering,” Jolie added, “It’s beyond heartbreaking. I’m justwe’re all watching and praying that it improves and our hearts go out to all the families who have lost so many family members and are suffering at this moment.

And yes, this film, playing a frontline worker, thinking of all the frontl i n e workers, for

all the people that have decided to take jobs of service and dedicate their lives and risk their lives for others; is there a more noble profession? That’s it!

That’s what a beautiful thing to be.” Angie joins Hollywood celebrities like Nick, Reese, Shawn and Camila amongst several others in expressing their heartfelt thoughts .

—Agency

Kareena Kapoor Khan

A

ctress Katrina Kaif successfully defeated COVID 19 in the month of April after staying home quarantined all the while. Having battled COVID 19, the star has now resumed her fitness regimen and has shared a photo on her social media handle to express how one can be ‘back at it’ in their own sweet time. In her special note, Katrina also urged everyone to listen to their body and to go at their own pace after beating COVID 19. She also said that one should take their fitness journey step by step.

—Agency

K Khloe Kardashian, Tristan Thompson and True

Kriti Sanon

COINCIDENCE

A

C

head of the Sex and the City revival series, Sarah Jessica Parker is already getting back into character as Carrie Bradshaw. The 56-yearold actress recently shared photos of her beloved character’s ionic apartment building in New York, and explained that she landed in front of the famous stoop while on a late-night stroll. The actress called the moment a “pure coincidence,” noting that she’s set to begin production of the popular series’ revival on Friday. —Agency

omedian-actor Mallika Dua on Saturday shared that her mother, Padmavati Dua has passed away. Padmavati Dua aka Chinna Dua breathed her last on Friday night after fighting a long battle against Covid-19.

“She left us last night. My whole heart. My whole life.

The only god I know. My Amma I am sorry. I couldn’t save you.

You fought so hard my mama.

My precious. My heart. You are my whole life,” Among the YouTube stars, Bhuvan Bam also lost his parents, who were fighting Corona and lost their battle.

—ANI

FAR FROM

J

riti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi are again going to share the screen space in an interesting movie. The movie is named ‘Mimi’ which was supposed to have a theatrical release in 2020; however, the release has been shelved temporarily. Kriti Sanon did an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on her Instagram where one of her fans asked, “When is Mimi going to release?” To which Kriti answered, “I’m not allowed to tell you, but I know it so basically it is very soon, that’s all I can say.”

—Agency

MY PRECIOUS MY HEART

PURE

Late Padmavati Dua and Mallika Dua

SOAKING UP THE SUN

FUTURE

ason Momoa starrer series ‘See’ recently announced some exciting news! The Apple TV series has been renewed for a third season, before the second season even premieres! The second and third season were shot back-to-back and production is currently underway on the upcoming episodes. This means the renewal was made months ago. In season two, Baba Voss (Momoa) is fighting to reunite his torn-apart family and get away from the war and politics.

—Agency

...Katrina Kaif’s post

ASK ME ANYTHING

A

Sarah Jessica Parker

t is being reported that Kareena Kapoor Khan might be seen in the role of Sita in Alaukik Desai’s upcoming film, which is said to be a Bollywood recreation of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. Reports of the actress asking a whopping amount are also doing the rounds. It is said that she has allegedly hiked her fees for this role and has asked for Rs 12 crore. Netizens are miffed with her for demanding such a huge amount as they took to Twitter to express it. #BoycottKareenaKhan is trending on Twitter with users slamming the actress.

—Agency

GETTING BACK IN SHAPE

WEDDING?

s the Keeping Up With the Kardashians finale inches closer, things are getting more and more interesting! In a new KUWTK clip, Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson can be seen chatting about their next steps.

The conversation started when Khloe expressed she wants to plan her future, and even suggested that she would want to be married again. After Khloe tells Tristan that she’ll think it over, he teases that he’s waiting for her, as she is trying to navigate her feelings.

—Agency

11

A A still from ‘See’

Angelina Jolie

...Parineeti Chopra’s post

fter three releases, The Girl on the Train, Sandeep Aur Pinky Farar and Saina, Parineeti Chopra is on a welldeserved break. She’s taken off for Turkey to soak in the sun and tuck into local delights. Pari posted a photograph and wrote, “I was doing pranayama before this photo. Ok, that’s a lie.” Mimi didi (cousin Priyanka Chopra Jonas) was jealous that Pari could holiday while she could not.

—ANI

CITY

STAY MASKED

GET VACCINATED

BUZZ AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021

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12

LOVE 30 CAMPAIGN CITY FIRST

D Diya Kumari with Neha Kullar, Mridul Bhasin and others launching the ‘Love 30 Campaign’

iya Kumari launched the poster of the ‘Love 30 Campaign’ on Friday.

The campaign aims to limit the speed of vehicles to 30 km per hour in the cities of the world to reduce accidents and create liveable streets for all sections of road users. The campaign has gained immense international momentum and is being supported by WHO, the United

Nations and the Global Alliance of NGOs. As a part of the initiative for the same, the ‘Muskaan Foundation for Road Safety is working with the schools in Jaipur to create awareness for this drive. Principal, The Palace School, Urvashi Warman was also present on the occasion.

On the occasion, Diya Kumari said: “Traffic accidents are the leading cause of unnatural deaths across the world. Reducing the speed

RELIEF OR PLAGUED?

limit will help save many lives in the cities. As such, there is a significant need to push for lowering the speed limits in areas where people live, walk and play.”

Trustee, Muskaan, Mridul Bhasin said: “To implement the requirement for lower speeds. We will be approaching Collector Jaipur and Commissioner Jaipur Development Authority to get a notification issued and signs installed at such sites.” cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

City First talks about the impact of exam cancellation on the students and the uncertainties associated to it!

CITY FIRST

R

ajasthan’s Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra announced the cancellation of the RBSE board exams to keep students safe in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also announced a mass promotion without exams for classes 1 to 6 and 8, 9, and 11. The reactions to this decision have predictably been mixed. While many educators and students expressed relief that their concerns about health and safety

Representational image

were addressed, others are apprehensive about whether the move can address uncertainties

PLEDGE TO SUPPORT

that have plagued the education system since the onset of the pandemic.

Divya Santhanam, Senior State Programme Manager, Population Foundation of

India says, “When we talk about students being impacted by the cancellation of the exams, we only think of urban students. We have forgotten that millions of rural students have already been impacted by the pandemic.

Many have dropped out because of digital incapacity and for many even studying till Class 12 is an impossibility. Young people are tomorrow’s leaders who will shape the narrative of society, hence, they must be given the tools to deal with their anxieties.”

Mental health expert Dr Akhilesh Jain (HOD

Psychiatry, ESI Model Hospital, Jaipur) says, “Ever since 24 March 2020, schools have remained closed and online classes have replaced classroom teaching in the country. Daily routines have been disrupted and home confinement is likely to impact mental health. According to WHO, 50 per cent of all mental health conditions can surface as early as 14 years of age.” This figure is even more troubling when you consider that, at over 253 million, India has the largest adolescent population in the world.

The birthday of Minister of Agriculture Lalchand Kataria was on Saturday, June 12. We wish him all the best!

The birthday of IAS Rukmani Riar and IAS Meghraj Singh was on Saturday, June 12. We wish them all the best!

—PHOTO BY ANAND SHARMA

MOTHER’S LOVE

In the Pink City!

During the vaccination drive CITY FIRST

F

ICCI Ladies Organisation, Jaipur chapter pledged to strongly support the National FICCI FLO Vaccination Drive on Saturday. The event was headed by Monica Kothari Jain, Chairperson FLO Jaipur Chapter 20212022, and Minal Jain Past Chairperson FLO Jaipur Chapter 2017-18, Governing Body Member FICCI FLO 2021-2022.

The objective was to support and provide an effective, exclusive opportunity for the members and their families along with their staff to get vaccinated and move towards overall wellbeing.

Around 300 people have been inoculated at the vaccination drive at Govt. Sr. Sec. School Bajaj Nagar, Jaipur. The drive was organised for the age group 18-44 years following the Covid protocol. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

VACCINATION CAMP!

A Covid vaccination camp was organised by Medicos Social and Welfare Society on Friday, June 11 where people between the age group of 18-45 were vaccinated free of cost. Dr Anil Yadav shared that this vaccination camp was organised by social worker Harjesh Naraniyan, Vinesh Maheshwari and Amy Buckner and more than 300 people were vaccinated free of cost. The organisers made arrangements for drinking water keeping in view the Covid protocols.

Caricature by Arvind Jodha

The peak of summer is on us and the Sun seems unrelenting as temperatures rise! A child in Ajmer is out with his mother protected by the direct rays of the harsh sun by his mother’s love and a flimsy piece of cloth.

ART OF LIVING LIFE

J

aipur’s art and culture hub, Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) is all set to begin a series of ‘Online Learning Sessions’ from June 15 to July 30. Over 20 sessions related to writing, storytelling, art and craft will be held as a part of this series. The programme will be held via Zoom. All sessions will be taught by field experts and talented artists.

The sessions are aimed to influence the youth and showcase how different artists and craftsmen continue to influence our heritage with diversified art and crafts.

—CITY FIRST

EMPOWERING THE NEW BLOOD!

CITY FIRST

B

ikaner Technical University is going to implement the ‘Art of Living life’ for students. Giving detailed information about the scheme, Assistant Public Relations Officer of the University, Vikram Rathore said that as per the instructions of AICTE, New Delhi, free of cost online workshops of Art of Living will be organised in all colleges

by Bikaner Technical University in which skilled experts of Art of Living organization will conduct the sessions like

Bikaner Technical University

meditation, yoga san, exercise, pranayama, spiritual science and other physical activities. Under the direction of the nodal officer appointed in each college, this program will be effectively implemented. Pro Ambrish Sharan Vidyarthi, ViceChancellor, BTU said that due to the new chal-

lenges arising in the epidemics like corona, students are struggling with their mental health, in such a situation this workshop will be beneficial for them. Dr Yadunath Singh, Director Academics, BTU said that this program sponsored by the Art of Living Foundation is based on better quality of life.

On International Child Labor Prohibition Day, a unique campaign by Labor Department, UNICEF for child labour, ‘Read-write, and learn at home’ was launched by Government Secretary Labor Department Neeraj K Pawan, labour commissioner Prateek Jhanjharia and UNICEF child protection expert Sanjay Kumar Nirala. Proposals for opening ten residential schools in the Jaipur district for the children of the needy class will be sent to the state government. On this occasion, UNICEF Child Protection Officer Manna Biswas, Advisor Dharmendra Yadav, Dharambir Yadav, CEO of the organization Ajay Kumar Tiwari and a dozen workers of Caravan were present.