First India-Ahmedabad Edition-01 June 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

29°C - 40°C

ALERT AHMEDABAD l MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

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RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 186

INDIA

WORLD

GUJARAT

3,72,252 62,12,682 5,406 1,90,536 1,038 16,795 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

Border rumbling: India-China line up arsenal along LAC New Delhi: Indian and Chinese armies were moving in heavy equipment and weaponry including artillery guns and combat vehicles to their rear bases close to the disputed areas in eastern Ladakh as the two militaries remained engaged in a bitter standoff along the troubled border for over 25 days, military sources said Sunday.

The enhancement of combat capability by the two armies in the region came even as both the countries continued their efforts to resolve the dispute through talks at mili-

tary and diplomatic levels.

The Chinese Army has been gradually ramping up its strategic reserves in its rear bases near the the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh by rushing in artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment, the sources said.

The Indian Army has also been moving in additional troops as well equipment and weapons like artillery guns to aggressively match up to the Chinese buildup, they said, adding that India will not relent till status quo is re-

FACE-OFF

MAY 5 India, China came to blows on the

banks of Pangong Lake, where Ladakh meets Tibet, and where the two sides have registered multiple confrontations in recent years.

MAY 9 Dozens of soldiers from both sides

tussled along the Sikkim-Tibet border, resulting in injuries on both sides. In both cases, tensions were quickly defused, forces disengaged, and local commanders opened lines of communication.

2,167-MILE China-India border, by some estimates the longest disputed border in the world, has witnessed ongoing friction since long.

stored in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and a number of other areas.

The Indian Air Force

has been keeping a strict aerial surveillance in the disputed region. A sizeable num-

MODI DIPLOMACY SEES BOTH AUSTRALIA, USA WOOING INDIA

Modi-Morrison connect on Twitter over samosa Ahead of Indo-Oz virtual summit, PM Morrison engages in Twitter banter with PM Modi; While US Prez Trump calls G7 format outdated, invites India Aditi Nagar New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen rejuvenating bilateral ties with Scott Morrison on Sunday shortly after his Australian counterpart shared images of ‘ScoMosas’-samosas made by him-and tagged the former on the social media post expressing his desire to share with him the popular Indian snack as well as a mango chutney made to go with it.

“Connected by the Indian Ocean, united by the Indian Samosa!

Looks delicious, PM @ ScottMorrisonMP! Once we achieve a decisive victory against COVID-19, we will enjoy the Samosas together.

Looking forward to our video meet on the 4th,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet. The two leaders are scheduled for a virtual meet on June 4.

Morrison rued that he won’t be able to share ScoMosas with Modi as they will be meeting via a video link. Turn on P6

Scott Morrison@ScottMorrisonMP Sunday ScoMosas with mango chutney, all made from scratch - including the chutney! A pity my meeting with @ narendramodi this week is by videolink.

They’re vegetarian, I would have liked to share them with him.

TRUMP POSTPONES G7; WANTS INDIA IN Washington: US President Donald Trump has postponed an inperson G7 summit from the end of June until at least September, while saying that he would like to invite India, Russia, South Korea and Australia. Trump said current G7 format is “outdated”.

“I am postponing it because I do not feel as a G7 it properly represents what is going on in the world”, said Trump. The summit was scheduled to take place on June 10-12, but was shifted to end of June due to the coronavirus. Trump wants to bring other traditional US allies as well as those impacted by coronavirus and to talk about the future of China. —ANI

ber of Chinese Army personnel entered into the Indian side of the de-facto border earlier

this month and have been camping in Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley since then. The

Indian Army fiercely objected to the transgressions by the Chinese troops and de-

PM: Ayushman Bharat scheme a boon for poor New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that if the Ayushman Bharat scheme was not in place, the poor would have had to pay an estimated Rs 14,000 crore from their own pocket for medical treatment.

“In our country, for decades, crores of impoverished citizens have been living their lives engulfed by the constant concern- what will happen if they fall ill? To seek medical treatment or worry about earning bread for the family? Realising this distress, the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme was launched about one and a half years ago to

200 special trains to run from today New Delhi: Ministry of Railways after consultation with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced that train services shall be further partially restored with effect from June 1. Over 1.45 lakh passengers will travel on 200 trains from Tuesday.

P6

People watching PM Narendra Modi’s Mann ki Baat on mobile during Lockdown in Mathura on Sunday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

ameliorate this constant worry. A few days ago, the number of beneficiaries of the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme crossed over one crore.

More than one crore patients imply that more than one crore families

of our country have been served. Do you know what more than one crore patients means? It means the cumulative population of two Norways and two Singapores has been provided Turn on P6

manded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquility in the area.

The Chinese Army has ramped up their presence in Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie too -- the two sensitive areas with a history of skirmishes involving the two sides.

The Chinese army is learnt to have deployed around 2,500 troops in Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley besides gradually enhancing temporary infrastructure and weaponry.

However, there is no official figure about the numbers.

Turn on P6

India’s Covid positives surge to 1,90,536 New Delhi: India recorded the highest ever spike in COVID-19 cases as 8,380 more cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s corona count to 1,90,536, said Union Health Ministry on Sunday. Total number of cases in the country—1,90,536—includes 93,498 active cases, 91,621 cured/discharged/migrated and 5,406 deaths.

The recovery rate has increased to 47.76% in the country.

“In the last 24 hours, 4,614 patients were cured. A cumulative total of 86,983 people have been cured. This takes the total recovery rate to 47.76 per cent,” reads an official statement of the Health Ministry.

HISTORIC NASA MISSION: SPACEX DRAGON REACHES INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Florida: SpaceX Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, hours after it took off from Florida, completing the first part of a historic NASA mission. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the orbiting laboratory at 10:16 am (local time), a few minutes earlier than planned. The Crew Dragon capsule carrying astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, now named “Endeavour,” made significant progress over Saturday night toward the International Space Station, reported The Washington Post.

—ANI

As Unlock-1 kicks off, 20L people to remain under containment  24 HOURS: 438 CASES, 31

ONLY PATIENTS’ DEAD BODIES COME OUT OF COVID-19 HOSPITAL: VAGHELA

DEATHS, 689 DISCHARGED  TOTAL: 16,794 CASES, 1,038 DEATHS, 9,919 DISCHARGED First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The state health department’s list of containment zones covers 4,27,878 households across 33 districts, meaning Unlock-1 will be Lockdown 5.0 for as many as 20,11,360 in-

habitants of Gujarat.

The rest of the state, however, will experience considerably more freedom than it has in the past 60 days.

According to a press release issued by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the city has 46 containment

President of the Nationalist Congress Party’s Gujarat unit Shankersinh Vaghela has alleged that, during his visit to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, many people complained that persons who come in alive leave as corpses. They even complained that testing was not being carried out. He has requested the state to allow private pathology laboratories to conduct COVID-19 testing.

A team of medics take swab samples in Ahmedabad.

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

zones, covering 14,160 houses and a population of 69,624, where there will be no relaxation in lockdown norms.

In the past 24 hours,

the state has tested 6,150 samples, which have revealed 438 fresh cases. Thirty-one patients died and 689 were discharged in the

same time frame.

With this, the state now has 16,794 cases and a death toll of 1,038, with 9,919 being discharged so far.

The head office clerk Vadodara’s MS University has been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 late on Saturday evening. As a result, the university administration has decided to close examination and administration wing for three days while the office is disinfected.

Turn on P6

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

Leaders express concern over rise in unemployed youngsters in the state due to the lockdown, want govt jobs for them

CONG DEMANDS RESUMPTION OF GOVT RECRUITMENT

Late last year, more than 1,000 aspirants had protested against the alleged leak of the question paper of a recruitment examination conducted by the Gujarat Subordinate Services Selection Board. —FILE PHOTO

Gargi Raval Ahmedabad: With the Centre announcing Unlock-1, the state is likely to get partial relief from the lockdown rules from June 8. Keeping with the relaxations announced by the state government, the Congress party has asked the state to resume recruitment in various departments. Many leaders from the party have posted several messages on social media and raised concerns about unemployed youth of the state.

According to Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda, the youth of Gujarat have been exploited by the corrupt policies adopted by the state government. “The

government does not have a concrete policy or any vision to provide employment to the youth. As a result, lakhs of youngsters in the state are unemployed.

There are no contract or outsourcing systems for recruitment in place and no permanent jobs for them,” said said.

He added that even if recruitment exams do take place, there will be no guarantee when the results will be declared or exams would even be conducted.

Another senior leader Arjun Modhwadia said that the state had the highest number of educated unemployed. “After the economic slowdown and the novel coronavirus pandemic, there

The govt does not have a concrete policy to provide employment to the youth. As a result, lakhs of youngsters in the state are unemployed.

There are no contract for recruitment in place and no permanent jobs for them.”

Amit Chavda, GPCC President

After the economic slowdown & pandemic, there has been a rise in unemployment. The govt must start recruitment and declare the results of exams already conducted.

There are thousands of govt posts that are lying vacant.

has been a rise in unemployment. The government must start recruitment and declare the results of exams already conducted. There are thousands of government posts that are lying vacant and must be filled immediately.”

Notably, last week the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) postponed all competitive exams till June 30.

One of the aspirants

of the GPSC, Jay Patel said that the process of recruitment by the state government is very prolonged. “I don’t remember any exam conducted by the state government being completed in due time.

There are always hurdles like paper leaks or irregularities in the results. Most of our time is wasted fighting for our rights,” Patel told First India.

Arjun Modhwadia,

Veteran Congress leader

Amit Chavda accompanied by fellow party members and farmers.

NSUI declares BJP MLAs ‘missing’ on social media Gargi Raval Ahmedabad: The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has posted several posters of BJP MLAs on social media terming them ‘missing’.

According to the organization, leaders from the ruling party have been missing in action amid the COVId-19 outbreak in the state.

One of the posters includes that of state Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja and reads, “Missing. Vatva MLA Pradipsinh Jadeja is missing. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the MLA has left the citizens of Vatva to the

“Missing” posters of MLAs being circulated on social media.

grace of God and is reported missing.”

Several such posters have been posted and are currently doing the

rounds on social media.

“No BJP MLAs are being seen in public. Where are they? People want to see them. Ahmedabad has

reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases, and BJP elected leaders have abandoned the people in the middle

of the sea,” said Nikhil Savani, general secretary of NSUI. On the other hand, the Congress party has launched a campaign to shed light on the grievances of the citizens. Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda also raised the problems being faced by farmers in the state.

In a video shot on his farm, Chavda said, “The farmers are already in despair due to unseasonal rains. They are constantly dealing with delayed rains, insufficient rainfall or excess rainfall but, somehow they manage to cultivate crops.

Despite all the hardships they face, farmers are not getting even the minimum selling price for their produce. They want 100% crop insurance so we request the government to waive off the loans taken by farmers and also provide 24 hours electricity to them.”

He added, “In order to enforce the lockdown and social distancing, the party does not plan to organize any protest, rally, or meetings in person but, the party will raise the issue digitally. JagatTat_Digital_ Andolan is the hashtag we have launched to support the farmers.”

02

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

1,826,090 BRAZIL 501,985 RUSSIA 405,843 SPAIN 286,509 UK 274,762 ITALY 233,019 FRANCE 188,625 GERMANY 183,426 TURKEY 163,103 IRAN 151,466 CHILE 99,688 CANADA 90,516 MEXICO 87,512 S ARABIA 85,261 BELGIUM 58,381

105,873 28,872 4,693 27,127 38,489 33,415 28,771 8,602 4,540 7,797 1,054 7,092 9,779 503 9,467

USA

+316 +38 +138 +2 +113 +75 +57 +2 +25 +63 +57 +19 +364 +23 +14

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO LAST UPDATED: MAY 31, 2020, 11:30 PM

IN GUJARAT DISTRICT

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

12180 842 1043 39 SURAT 1620 69 RAJKOT 112 3 BHAVNAGAR 121 8 ANAND 99 10 BHARUCH 38 3 GANDHINAGAR 274 14 PATAN 79 6 PANCHMANHAL 88 10 BANASKANTHA 111 5 NARMADA 18 0 CHOTA UDEPUR 33 0 KUTCH 80 2 MAHESANA 114 5 BOTAD 59 1 DAHOD 36 0 PORBANDAR 10 2 JAMNAGAR 54 3 MORBI 4 0 SABARKANTHA 103 3 ARAVALLI 110 4 MAHISAGAR 115 2 KHEDA 68 4 GIR SOMNATH 45 0 VALSAD 39 1 TAPI 6 0 NAVSARI 25 0 DANG 2 0 SURENDRANAGAR 38 1 DWARKA 13 0 JUNAGADH 29 0 AMRELI 10 1 OTHER STATES 15 0 TOTAL 16795 1038 AHMEDABAD

VADODARA

SAMPLE RECEIVED SAMPLE NEGATIVE

20 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 31

2,05,780 1,89,424

UNDER EXAMINATION

0

Is the Rajya Sabha election date to be announced soon?

The race for four seats in the upper house of Parliament was to have taken place in March First India Bureau Gandhinagar: A communiqué from the state health department to the Chief Electoral Officer hints that the date for the Rajya Sabha election is likely to be announced sooner rather than later. The election to the upper house of Parliament was scheduled to be held in March but got postponed due to the

COVID-19 outbreak.

There are five candidates in the race for four seats.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded three candidates--Abhay Bhardwaj, Ramilaben Bara, and Narhari Amin--despite not having a sufficient number of MLAs to get three candidates elected.

On the other hand, the Congress has fielded prominent party lead-

ers Bharatsinh Solanki and Shaktisinh Gohil.

According to communication between the state health department and the chief electoral officer, additional director (epidemic) Dr Dinkar Rawal has been appointed as the nodal officer, to guide in what steps need to be taken to while conducting the Rajya Sabha election amid the COVID-19 pan-

The election for the Rajya Sabha seats was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

demic.

The BJP needs its numbers in Parliament before the next Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions begin in the monsoon season. So, with the state now relaxing lockdown norms and opening other businesses, the Election Commission of India could now announce the date for elections. If it comes early, it could catch the Congress party snoozing, making it a challenge for the opposition party to keep its folks gathered.

Meanwhile, follow-

ing the chief minister’s announcement to reopen the state secretariat from Monday, the state transport department has decided to run pointto-point bus services from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar.

These buses will run at 50% capacity from non-containment zones to Gandhinagar, carrying government employees from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar and back. Each bus will be sanitized after every trip.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

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03

budget gets nod in HC to keep an eye on A’bad Dist 1st ever ‘away’ meeting Civil Hosp’s modus operandi First India Bureau

Directs state to ensure labour, protective gear and proper COVID-19 treatment First India News Ahmedabad: In response to the corona petition being heard by a division bench in Gujarat High Court, the state government has stated that all measures are being taken to provide medical treatment to COVID-19 patients at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.

Despite the statement, the high court observed, “We would still like to keep a close watch on the functioning of the Civil Hospital and if we are not satisfied with the same, then we may have to take further steps in accordance with the law.”

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala passed an interim order in the suo moto and related petitions related to corona crisis on Friday.

OTHER REMARKS

—FILE PHOTO

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

In this order the bench directed the state government to concentrate on various issues.

“There should be no shortage of manpower for all categories of patients. There are unconfirmed reports both in the print and digital media that COVID-19 patients have lost their lives on account of proper care and atten-

tion not being provided.

Medical, paramedical and health staff working at the Civil Hospital have not been provided with protective gear, they cannot be put at risk,” the court stated.

As the state was not ready to change the Sars-CoV-2 testing guidelines, after impleading the Indian Council of Medical Re-

search (ICMR), the questioned the organization and the state, “Are any pathology test or diagnosis a fundamental right of the citizens of this country?

Can the state government evolve a policy of its own based on the ICMR guidelines?”

The division bench also appreciated the work done so far by

the state government.

“If the state government would not have been doing anything, as alleged, then probably, by now, we all would have died,” it observed.

Ahmedabad: For the first time in the history of the Ahmedabad district panchayat, a general meeting was held outside its headquarters at Mandal on Saturday. The meet was held to approve the budget for fiscal 2020-21.

According to District Development Officer Arun Mahesh, it was mandatory to conduct the meeting otherwise the body would have been superseded. “Under a special provision due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an extension was made till May 31.

We had to pass the budget in due time and that is the reason why the meeting was called,” said the officer.

“The district panchayat building is located in the walled city area which falls under the red zone. Therefore, it was not possible for us to gather as many as 30 people there. Hence, the meeting took place at Mandal taluka near Vi-

The office of the District Panchayat.

The district panchayat building is located in the walled city area which falls under the red zone. Therefore, it was not possible for us to gather as many as 30 people there. Hence, the meeting took place at Mandal taluka near Viramgam which is in the green zone. And, the place is very spacious. It helped us comply with social distancing norms.

—Arun Mahesh, District Development Officer

ramgam which is in the green zone. Another reason why the meeting was held in this place was that it is very spacious. It helped us comply with social distancing norms and stay protected,” he added.

Mahesh said that owing to the novel coronavirus pandem-

Jamnagar sees three Three men burnt to death in tractor accident COVID-19 deaths, all children under 10 yrs First India Bureau

Masuma Bharmal Jariwala Jamnagar: The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the state hard, leaving many infected with it and more than 1,000 deaths so far.

Tragically, in the district of Jamnagar, the death toll includes three children between the ages of 11 months to 10 years.

A 10-year-old boy, who had tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 died at the Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital in the city on Saturday night. “The boy had undergone cancer surgery at GCRI, Ahmedabad two weeks ago and then came directly from Ahmedabad to Jamnagar’s GG Hospital where he tested positive for COVID-19.It was because of his condition that chemotherapy could not be administered. The child died of cancer rather than COVID-19,” a highly placed hospital source said.

As of May 31, the dis-

COINCIDENCE?

Bhavnagar: Three people died after the tractor they were travelling on turned turtle and caught fire near the Madhia village late Saturday evening.

While Bharat Mackwana, Tejabhai Vaghela and Jignesh Barai-

ya died, the fourth of their group, Mahesh Vaghela escaped with his life.

It is unclear what caused the accident.

The fire brigade reached the spot to put out the blaze but could not save the three men, who had been stuck under the tractor when it

Driver may have lost control while trying to avoid falling into a deep open drain

flipped over.

Mahesh Mackwana, who was thrown from the vehicle at the time of

impact called for help.

While villagers came to help, the blaze was too high for them to reach the trapped men.

Rescuers said that Mahesh could not narrate the sequence of events that led to the accident, since he was in shock.

However, they surmised that the driver had lost

control of the vehicle while trying to avoid the deep open drain on the left side of the road.

They say the tractor fell into the drain and caught fire. Bystanders said that been returning from nearby Bhadbhid village, where they had gone to hand over the trolley.

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE & HANIF SINDHI

1

trict had 54 cases and three deaths--all three male children.

Jamnagar registered its first case of COVID-19 on April 5, which was a 14-month-old child from Dared region.

The infant breathed his last two days later on April 7.

An 11-month-old child from Kharva village was admitted on May 9 after testing positive. The tiny tot lost the battle to the virus on the same day.

2

SAFE TRAVEL

3

4

AMTS (1) and BRTS (4) buses and the railway station (2, 3) in Ahmedabad get final touches a day before transport services resume on Monday, when Lockdown 5.0 or Unlock-1 comes into effect.

FORM & FUNCTION

Surat firm puts the ‘fun’ in ‘funky’ for children’s masks Covid Nari Kavach is the first ever PPE kit that can be worn over a sari making it a boon for many women 

First India Bureau Surat: With protective gear becoming a way of life thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Surat is taking the lead to take these new necessities to the next level.

Fashion design development centre Fa-

sion Nova has designed the world’s first PPE kit that can be worn over a sari.

The kit, called ‘Covid Nari Kavach’ has also received approval from CITRA. Ankita Goyal, Fashion Nova manager said, “Currently, the PPE kit given to Corona Warri-

ors cannot be worn on a sari. Recently, the Kerala government made it mandatory for covid care staff to wear PPE kits, but Women covid staff who wear saris were uncomfortable.

We then decided to try and overcome this obstacle. Fashion designer Saurav Mandal, who is affiliated with the center, designed the Corona PPE kit that can be worn on a sari.”

She further said that 5,000 of these kits are

Children’s masks featuring cartoon characters.

being produced daily.

The children haven’t been forgotten either, with several digital

printers in the city jumping onto the cartoon mask bangwagon.

Kids can now sport

their favourite cartoon characters such as Doraemon, Pogo, Chhota Bhim, and Ben10 on their face, and parents can breathe easier.

Created by a studio owner in Surat’s Katargam, these snazzy masks are washable in addition to being fun to wear. Moreover, they also come in a variety of fragrances.

City mom Hina Joshi told First India that she is very pleased with these cartoon masks.

—FILE PHOTO

“My children have been wearing masks without any complaints since they got them.

They love cartoons, so this is really good. I don’t have to nag them or chase them to wear their masks. They don’t seem to want to take them off now, whereas previously, they were always complaining.”

She adds that the kids are so happy that they want to go to school wearing these masks as well.

ic, the meeting had not been held in the last two months. “It was mandatory for us to pass the budget for the current fiscal. On Saturday, the revised budget of 2019-20 and the budget for the current year 2020-21 were approved,” said Mahesh.

SMC earns `58L in fines from violators First India Bureau Surat: Coming down hard on violators of lockdown guidelines, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has so far collected more than Rs58 lakh from citizens and organizations.

A large number of people have been caught roaming around the city without masks on and failing to practice social distancing. It seems that the severity of COVID-19 health crisis has not dawned on Surtis yet, which may be the reason why the number of cases reported in the city has been rising every day.

According to records, fines to the tune of more than Rs20 lakh have been levied on more than 3,744 people for violating social distancing protocol. And, 4,700 people have been caught without masks covering their faces. However, the municipal corporation has also slapped penalties totaling Rs17.75 lakh on those who are found commuting within the city without masks.

More than 550 organizations have been fined a total of Rs2.5 lakh for not using sanitizers in shops, malls, vegetable shops, lorries, medical stores, dairy parlours, mong others. About 1,000 people have been fined Rs5.25 lakh for spitting in public.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

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MIGRANT CRISIS MISHANDLED

IN-DEPTH

WITH FREEDOM IN UNLOCK 1 COME RISKS

The Supreme Court directed that migrant workers walking should be immediately provided transport to their destination. Food and water must be provided to those on the road K NATWAR SINGH

K

eep the mask on, maintain a distance but breathe easy. Gradual unlocking of the country will begin in a phased manner from June 1, as per the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday. Lockdown will continue in containment zones till June-end with varying curbs by states. Unlock 1 as the MHA calls it, has pruned the negative list of earlier lockdowns. The first important step towards unlocking comes in the form of relaxation in curfew hours which have now been extended from 7 am to 9 pm, a huge relief for shopkeepers, mainly retailers, who wanted their businesses to open for longer hours to attract customer footfalls. The thrust of Unlock 1 is to boost economic activities.

In the first phase, religious places and places of worship for public, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and other hospitality services will be allowed to open from June 8. The Union Health Ministry will issue the standard operating procedures for these activities in consultation with other ministries and stakeholders for ensuring social distancing.

Activities that will have to wait include international air travel, Metro Rail, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls, and similar places. The dates to restart these activities will be decided after assessing the situation.

Other activities falling in this category include social/political/sports/ entertainment/academic/cultural/religious functions and other congregations. Those on the waitlist are covered under Phase 3 of Unlock 1.

Phase 2 concerns the reopening of schools, colleges, and other institutions. The decision on opening educational institutions will be taken in July. With much of the academic year lost due to the pandemic, this phase will depend on the way Covid-19 pans out in the coming months.

In the end Unlock, 1 will depend largely on the decisions of various states. Point number 5 given in bold in the guidelines says, “States/ UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain activities outside the Containment zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.”

Subsequently, there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods. Then follows a rider: For reasons of public health, a State/ UT can do so with advance publicity. Both Haryana and UP have refused to open their borders with Delhi taking refuge behind Covid-19 cases.

A day after the announcement of guidelines, 8,380 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in 24 hours. It’s a Catch-22 situation for Jaan and Jahaan as some opposition-ruled states claim that Centre is starving them of funds.

The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

N

On Thursday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the government.

The Supreme Court directed that no fare would be charged from migrants for their journey home.

Arrangements must be made to provide them with food

othing exposes the mishandling of the migrant crisis than the two paragraphs that made it to the front page of most newspapers and the deplorable indifference of the Central and state governments. Both occurred this week.

Earlier in the week, India Today showed a toddler trying to remove a piece of cloth covering his mother’s body. He/she did not know that the mother was dead.

The mother was lying on her back at the Muzaffarnagar railway station. People could be seen on the platform. None came near the dead woman or the toddler.

This devastating scene of a little kid attempting to wake up the mother will stay etched in my mind for the rest of my life.

Who will take care of the little fellow? Where was the mother cremated? Who cremated her?

On May 29, the Hindustan Times put a photo of a migrant woman place two bundles on her husband’s head at Bandra railway station, in Mumbai.

The child, no more than 2 years of age, is looking up at his parents incomprehensibly. Inside the two bundles are all their belongings.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the government. The Supreme Court directed that no fare would be charged from migrants for their journey home. Arrangements must be made to provide them with food.

During the hearing Justice Kaul asked the Solicitor General, “What is the estimated time required to shift migrants? What arrangements are being made? What is the mechanism in place? Do they know if they will be shifted on the fifth day, seventh day or tenth day?”

The Court directed that migrant workers walking

should be immediately provided transport to their destination. Food and water must be provided to those on the road.

The Court passed a sevenpoint order. It will to a considerable extent reduce the misery of the migrants.

Train or buses fare cannot be charged from migrant workers.

2. States/Union Territories will give free food to migrant workers at places notified to them during their wait for transport.

3. Originating states will provide food and water, similar arrangements to be made for those in buses. 4. Originating states to simplify and expedite the process of registration of migrants, set up help desk. 5.

Workers will be asked to board a train or bus after registration: information on mode of transport should reach all those concerned. 6. Migrants walking on roads should be taken care of by local authorities, workers should be transported to their destinations and get all facilities. 7. Receiving states should provide transport, health screening and other facilities free of cost.

Why could this not have been done weeks before by the Central Government and State Governments? Which agency will monitor the implementation of the seven-

point order of the Supreme Court? Will it be Central or State governments or governments of Union Territories? This should be clarified.

Let’s now look at Sanjay Colony in Delhi. The Times of India, dated May 29 has used three-fourth of page 2 to highlight the plight of workers and their families in the colony.

“For the last three weeks, Asha Devi has been lighting her stove once every day, preparing roti for her six-member family and eating these with salt. The self-imposed restriction on the diet became necessary after the 39-year-old woman and her husband lost their jobs as domestic workers when the lockdown began on March 24.

“Our employers did not pay our dues and government has not done anything for us so far.

We gave to ration our food and so barely have enough to eat every day. All our savings are gone.” As the TOI writes, “This is the burden of being poor.”

Sino-Indian relations have to be addressed with caution, patience, diplomatic wisdom and maturity. The Ministry of External Affairs has a large number of China hands. Each one reads, writes and speaks Chinese.

The External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar knows

Trump’s presidency is sinking deeper into crisis

V

iolence has erupted across several US cities after the death of a black man, George Floyd, who was shown on video gasping for breath as a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck. The unrest poses serious challenges for President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden as each man readies his campaign for the November 3 election.

If the coronavirus had not already posed a threat to civil discourse in the US, the latest flashpoint in American racial politics makes this presidential campaign potentially one of the most incendiary in history.

COVID-19 and Minneapolis may very well form the nexus within which the 2020 campaign will unfold.

04

Trump’s critics have assailed his handling of both and questioned whether he can effectively lead the country in a moment of crisis.

And yet, he may not be any more vulnerable heading into the election.

A presidency in crisis?

As the incumbent, Trump certainly faces the most immediate challenges. Not since Franklin Roosevelt in the second world war has a US president presided over the deaths of so many Americans from a single cause.

The Axis powers and COVID-19 are not analogous, but any presidency is judged by its capacity to respond to enemies like these. With pandemic deaths now surpassing 100,000, Trump’s fortunes will be inexorably tied to this staggering (and still

The Minneapolis protests are showing how an already precarious social fabric has been frayed by the COVID-19 lockdowns

rising) figure.

Worse, the Minneapolis protests are showing how an already precarious social fabric has been frayed by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Americans have not come together to fight the virus. Rather, they have allowed a public health disaster to deepen divisions along racial, economic,

sectional and ideological lines.

Trump has, of course, often sought to gain from such divisions. But the magnitude and severity of the twin crises he is now facing will make this very difficult. By numerous measures, his is a presidency in crisis. And yet.

Trump, a ferocious campaigner, will try to find

ways to use both tragedies to his advantage and, importantly, makes things worse for his challenger.

For starters, Trump did not cause coronavirus.

And he will continue to insist that his great geo-strategic adversary, the Chinese Communist Party, did.

And his is not the first presidency to be marked by the conflagration of several US cities.

Before Minneapolis, Detroit (1967), Los Angeles (1992) and Ferguson, Missouri (2014) were all the scenes of angry protests and riots over racial tensions that still haven’t healed.

Trump may not have healed racial tensions in the US during his presidency. But, like coronavirus, he did not cause them.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.THECONVERSATION.COM

China well. He is familiar with the functioning of Wai Chiau Pu—foreign office.

The foreign and defence policies of India are framed in South Block and not on TV channels. Each day I see and listen to the immature, ill informed and inane discussions on TV channels. I am appalled and distressed to see matters of utmost gravity and importance being trivialised. No, there will be no second SinoIndian war. Skirmishes and intrusions will continue but not a shot is likely to be fired.

Keep your powder dry and keep your mouths over shut.

I first met Ajit Jogi in 1986 when he was collector of Indore. I had gone to Indore to speak at Daly College, one of the five educational institutions meant exclusively for princely India. The other four were Mayo College Ajmer, Aitcheson College Lahore, Rajkumar College Raipur and Rajkumar College Rajkot. After 1947, this exclusivity disappeared.

In 1988, Ajit took premature retirement from the IAS to join politics. We got on well as politicians and were often on the same wavelength. I am deeply distressed by his passing away.

My heartfelt condolences to the family.

Top

TWEET Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Interacted with stakeholders from the Pharmaceutical industry & addressed the issues faced by them in the wake of COVID-19. Discussed the structural changes to mitigate the impact of pandemic and emerge as a major global exporter making India “Pharmacy of the world”.

Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp A few days later we will be celebrating ‘World Environment Day’. The theme of this time on World Environment Day on June 5 is - Biodiversity. This theme is particularly important in the current situation. #MannKiBaat

Spiritual SPEAK

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not —Buddha starting.

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‘Be vigilant as major part of economy opens’ PM was addressing the 65th edition of Mann Ki Baat radio programme New Delhi: Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that people should stay vigilant and it is important to be even more careful now as a major part of our economy has opened up.

Addressing the nation through the 65th edition of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said: “When I spoke to you last time then passenger trains, air services, buses were not operational but this time curbs have been lifted.

Shramik special trains are running, other special trains have also resumed.” “With all due precautions, passenger flights have resumed.

Gradually industrial activities are rebooting.

It means a large chunk

PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation on Mann ki Baat to during lockdown in New Delhi on Sunday.

of the economy has now opened up. Now, we need to be even more vigilant. Be it maintaining a distance of six feet, wearing of masks, staying home as far as possible. We must follow all these precautions without slightest laxity,” he said.

“In the country, the

battle against corona is being fought strongly with collective efforts.

Looking at the world we realise how big is the achievements of Indians,” the Prime Minister added.

On Saturday, the MHA issued new guidelines for phased reopening of “all activi-

ties outside containment zones for the next one month beginning June 1”.

The PM had on March 24 announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The lockdown was later extended, in phases, till May 31. —ANI

CIC rebukes official for denying RTI data on migrants New Delhi: The Central Information Commission has pulled up an official for “callous and casual” response in denying data on stranded migrant labourers under the RTI Act, and asked the Labour Ministry to upload on its website as much data as possible on them.

Information Commissioner Vanaja N Sarna came down heavily on CPIO of office of Chief Labour Commissioner who has told RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak that it has no data on stranded migrant labourers. Nearly a fortnight after the CLC circular, Nayak had filed an RTI application seeking to know statewise names of districts from which data about stranded migrants were received. But he was told the officer did not have any data. Nayak then filed a complaint under RTI Act. —PTI

India’s recovery rate increases to 47.76%

Health workers wearing a PPE kits sanitize the street of Sarusajai Quarantine centre in Guwahati.

New Delhi: The recovery rate of coronavirus patients has increased to 47.76 per cent, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.

“In the last 24 hours, 4,614 patients were cured. A cumulative total of 86,983 people have been cured. This takes the total recovery rate to 47.76 per cent,” reads an official statement issued by the Ministry. The Ministry said the number of cases under active

medical supervision as of now is 89,995.

“Through a graded, pre-emptive and pro-active approach, Government of India is taking several steps along with the States/UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19.

These are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level,” adds the statement.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 1,82,143. —ANI

05

BSF inspector of North Bengal Frontier tests positive Siliguri: A BSF inspector of North Bengal Frontier tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, said Rajib Ranjan Sharma, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), BSF, North Bengal Frontier, Kadamtala.

He is the in-charge of the accumodetion, logistics for the BSF personnel who were returning from leave.

He is undergoing treatment at a 100-neded health facility of the BSF at Kadamtala, North Bengal Frontier Headquarter.

Other 40 BSF jawans ,who came in contact have been quarantined at their own facility.

A total of 317 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported on Saturday in West Bengal, taking the total number of cases to 5,130 in the state, the officers of the West Bengal health department informed. —ANI

Lockdown in UP 10-digit numbering to continue:TRAI ‘Delhi has asked till June 30: Govt Rs 5,000 crore from Centre’

Lucknow: The coronavirus-induced lockdown will remain in force till June 30 in Uttar Pradesh with some relaxations outside the containment zones, said Awanish Awasthi, state’s ACS, Home. Addressing a press conference, Awasthi said that religious places, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls will reopen from June 8. According to him, all government offices will operate with 100 per cent workforce.

“Staggered timings will be followed -- 9 am to 5 pm, 10 am to 6 pm and 11 am to 7 pm,” he said.

Awasthi further said that all markets will remain open from 9 am to 9 pm. “Supermarkets are allowed to open with conditions of social distancing and other precautionary measures. Weekly markets

GUIDELINES

MAKING A CALL

issued on 29th May 2020.” “TRAI released its recommendations on Ensuring Adequate Numbering Resources for Fixed Line and Mo-

bile Services’ on May 29. A press release was also issued on the same day. In this regard, it is observed that some media houses have report-

ed that TRAI has recommended 11-digit numbering scheme for mobile services. It is complete misinterpretation of the aforesaid recommendations. TRAI has not recommended 11-digit numbering scheme for mobile services,” it said.

In fact, as per the TRAI recommendation, the country will continue to follow a 10-digit numbering for mobile services. We have categorically rejected shifting to an 11-digit mobile numbering plan. —ANI

ALL DECKED UP...

will be allowed in rural areas,” he said.

Awasthi said the State buses will be allowed to operate on the condition that only passengers as per the seating capacity of the buses travel. “There are 2,901 active cases in the State. —ANI

RIL JIO CONVENTION CENTRE TO DEVELOP AS CORONA CARE CENTRE Mumbai: The Reliance Jio Convention Centre at Bandra-Kurla Complex will be converted into a Corona Care Centre. Mumbai City Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh and Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Aditya Thackrey gave this information on Saturday. Aslam Shaikh and Aditya Thackrey visited Jio Convention Centre

New Delhi: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said that as per its recommendations the country will continue with 10-digit numbering for mobile telephone services and it has categorically rejected shifting to 11-digit mobile numbering plan.

A statement by TRAI with subject line states, “Clarification regarding TRAI recommendations on ‘Ensuring Adequate Numbering Resources for Fixed Line and Mobile Services’

on Sunday. They were accompanied by senior officials of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

A few days ago, Aslam Shaikh called on the Collector of Mumbai Suburban, Milind Borikar, DCP Manjunath Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Municipal Corporation and other high-ranking officials had an inspection tour.

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib being decorated ahead of the opening of religious places on June 8 in New Delhi. —PHOTO BY ANI

PIYUSH GOYAL ADDRESSES PHARMA INDUSTRY ISSUES New Delhi: Industry and Commerce, and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday interacted with stakeholders from the pharmaceutical industry and addressed the issues faced by them in the wake of COVID-19. “Interacted with stakeholders from the Pharmaceutical industry & addressed the issues faced by them in the wake of COVID-19. Discussed the structural changes to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and emerge as a major global exporter making India “Pharmacy of the world,” tweeted Goyal.

PB CM CLEARS APPOINTMENTS OF 8 NEXT OF KIN OF MARTYRS Chandigarh: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has cleared the appointments of eight next of kin of martyrs in recognition of their gallantry actions. A spokesperson of the CMO said that the appointments were recommended by a high powered committee headed by CS Karan Avtar Singh. The state government has

appointed Amritbir Singh as Tehsildar in the Revenue Department for the supreme sacrifice made by his father, Inspector Raghbir Singh, who belonged to village Sathiala in Amritsar district and had joined CRPF in 1991.

He was an outstanding sportsperson and had won medals in athletics at the national level.

New Delhi: The Delhi government has sought an immediate assistance of Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre to pay salaries to its employees and meet its expenses as revenues have dried up during the lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, Dy CM Manish Sisodia said.

Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said he has written to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for help and added that the Delhi government has not received the fund sanctioned to states under the Disaster Relief Fund.

“We reviewed the Delhi government’s revenue and its minimum expenses. We need around Rs 3,500 crore every month just to pay salaries and bear office expenses. In last two months, GST collection was Rs 500 crore each and combining that with other sources, the government has Rs 1,735 crore,” Sisodia said. The AAP said he has asked for assistance from the Centre so that the Delhi government

DELHI @19k MARK

can pay salaries to its employees and everyone who is fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

“Due to corona and lockdown, the tax collection of Delhi government is running low at about 85%. Delhi has not received any funds from the Disaster Relief Fund released by the Centre to the remaining states,” he also tweeted.

7 INJURED AS BUS OVERTURNS IN CHHATTISGARH Rajnandgaon: Seven persons were injured after the bus they were travelling in overturned in Rajnandgaon on Saturday night. The bus that was carrying around 37 passengers including migrant workers enroute to Kolkata from Mumbai. Speaking to ANI, one passenger said, “The incident occurred at around 12:00 am, everyone is fine. We were coming from Mumbai and heading towards Kolkata.” “I was sitting behind the driver’s seat, I think he felt asleep and bus overturned,” said another passenger.

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06

‘Monsoon expected to hit Kerala by June 1’ ‘However, we will be releasing the second stage of monsoon forecast today,’ said Director IMD, Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

A view of Gurugram with dark clouds hovering over the sky on Sunday. The IMD has predicted that the southwest monsoon will hit the southern part of the country on June 1. —PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: Monsoon has not yet set over Kerala, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Sunday.

“We are expecting favourable conditions to develop from tomorrow onwards (June 1) after which we will be able to find out when we can declare the arrival of monsoon in Kerala,” he added. “As per our first stage of monsoon forecast, which was issued on April 15, we are expecting normal monsoon condition with 100 per cent rainfall over the country during September. However, we will be releasing the second stage of monsoon forecast today,”

‘Several areas of UP likely to receive rainfall’

A man walks with an umbrella during rainfall in New Delhi on Sunday.

said Dr Mohapatra.

Earlier, the MeT Department had predicted that the southwest monsoon will hit Kerala on June 1.

Dr Mohpatra also warned that a lowpressure area, which is building on the western coast in the Arabian Sea, will de-

velop into a ‘cyclonic storm’ and will move towards Maharashtra and Gujarat, causing rainfall in these States on June 3 and 4.

—PHOTO BY ANI

IMD D-G Dr Mahpatra has also advised the fishermen not to venture into the Arabian sea for the next couple of days. —ANI

2 Pak Embassy 200 special trains to run staff caught spying across country from June 1 in New Delhi

New Delhi: Two persons attached to the Pakistan High Commission here were apprehended by security agencies for indulging in espionage activities in the country, the external affairs ministry said, adding that the two have been asked to leave the country within 24 hours.

India has declared both persona-non grata “for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission”, the MEA said in a statement today. A persona-non grata is a foreign individual whose entry or stay in a particular country is prohibited by that country’s government.

“Two officials of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi were apprehended today

by Indian law enforce-

PAK WARNED

New Delhi: Ministry of Railways after consultation with Ministry of Health & MHA has announced that train services shall be further partially restored with effect from June 1.

Over 1.45 lakh passengers will travel on 200 trains from Tuesday.

As an important step in the graded restoration of passenger train services, Indian Railways will start 200 trains today in addition to the existing Shramik Special trains being run with effect from May 1 & Special AC trains (30) being run

since May 12. “These trains are on the pattern of regular trains.

These are fully reserved trains having both AC &

Non-AC classes. General coaches have reserved seats for sitting accommodation. There will be no unreserved coach,” said Rlys. “Normal class-wise fare will be charged. 2S fare for General seating shall be charged and seat will be provided to all the passengers,” Rlys added.

At 9 am Sunday, total bookings of passengers were 25,82,671 for Advance Reservation Period June 1-30.

Online Booking of tickets is being done through the IRCTC website or through Mobile App. —ANI

Lucknow: The IMD, on Sunday predicted that a few places in Uttar Pradesh are likely to be battered by rains in the next 3 hours.

“Thunderstorm, lightning, rain very likely during next 3 hrs (valid up to 12:30 pm) at few places over Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Budaun, Sambhal, Amroha, Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Etah, Kasganj, Farrukhabad, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri dist and adjoining areas,” the advisory from the IMD, Lucknow read. —ANI

Himachal relaxes curfew from 6 am to 8 pm Shimla: Himachal Pradesh allowed intra-state movement of roadways and private transport buses from June 1 for the first time since the COVID-induced lockdown and has extended curfew in the state till June 30 with relaxations in timing. CM Jai Ram Thakur announced that the curfew timings have been relaxed from 6 am to 8 pm daily via vc. —ANI

Strong winds and rain lash Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Rains accompanied with gusty winds lashed the Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon, giving muchneeded relief for the citizens in the middle of the summer season.

For the past week, Hyderabad and other districts in the state were witnessing severe heatwave conditions.

However, on Sunday, there were sudden rains as predicted by the Indian Metrological Department (IMD).

Several citizens took to Twitter to share pictures and videos of the rain from their homes.

In some parts of the city like Jeedimetla, hailstorms were also reported.There were moderate rains in Hyderabad and in Hayatnagar, Abdullapurmet, Saroornagar, Serlingampally, Qutubullapur and other areas around the city. The highest rainfall in the

SIGH OF RELIEF

state on Sunday was recorded at Hayatnagar with 61mm.

With the sudden rains, some of the lowlying areas were inundated and the DRF has been deployed to clear the water.IMD officials have attributed the sudden rains to the low-pressure area developing over the Arabian Sea. —Agencies

FROM PG 1

ment authorities for indulging in espionage activities,” the MEA said. “Govt declared both persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission and asked them to leave within 24-hours,” it said.

As Unlock-1...

Fifteen employees three officers of these departments have been home-quarantined for three days.

Two SRP jawans from Bharuch district too have tested positive. They were recently on duty in Ahmedabad city and had were tested on their return to headquarters. Both are admitted in the dedicated COVID-19 hospital.

A patient from Gajerapara village with a travel history to Ahmedabad succumbed to the Sars-Cov-2 virus on Sunday morning, a day after

she tested positive.

A BJP councillor from Ahmedabad in a letter to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has complained that the municipal corporation team has distributed ORS and medicines that were past their expiry date. A youth from Jamalpur who had recovered from COVID-19, but was under home-quarantine, hanged himself on Sunday. A primary police investigation says he might have committed suicide because of depression.

PM: Ayushman... free treatment in such a

short time,” Prime Minister Modi said in the 65th edition of his monthly radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

“If the poor had to pay for the treatment post-hospitalisation, had they not received free treatment, according to a rough estimate, more than Rs 14,000 Crore would have been required to be paid out of their own pockets.

The ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme has saved spending this huge amount of money belonging to the poor. I congratulate not only the beneficiaries of ‘Ayushman Bharat’ but

also all the doctors, nurses and medical staff who treated patients under this scheme,” he added.—ANI

Border rumbling...

Sources said satellite images have captured significant ramping up of defence infrastructure by China on its side of the de-facto border including construction activities at a military airbase around 180 kms from the Pangong Tso area.

The assessment by the Indian Army is that the build up is aimed at putting pressure on India.

“We are well aware of

the Chinese ploy. The Indian Army is firm on its stand that we are not going to accept anything less than restoration of status quo in the area,” said a senior military official. —ANI

Modi-Morrison...

Morrison said, “They’re vegetarian, I would have liked to share them with him.”

India and Australia are looking forward to deepening their strategic relationship, with a range of pacts from defence to trade in strategic sectors expected to be signed during the upcoming summit.

The virtual summit follows the cancellation of Morrison’s planned state visit to India in January due to the bushfires.

Morrison said last year, ahead of his planned visit, that India was “a natural partner for Australia”, referring to the countries’ “shared values” -- a point of differentiation with China. Australia wants to support India to develop a domestic critical minerals processing industry, which would provide Western nations with an alternative to sourcing the materials from China.—With Inputs from ANI

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DG Income Tax Investigation, Rajasthan

THE CRANES MIGRATE FROM AS FAR AS MONGOLIA TO THIS WELCOME HOME IN KHICHAN, RAJASTHAN

07

THE CRANE VILLAGE

B

efore the current Covid-19 outbreak hit us, Rajasthan had gained a reputation for being an excellent host to foreign visitors.

The residents of Khichan, a small town in western Rajasthan, also appear to follow the saying ‘Athithi Devo Bhavah’, or Guests are like our Gods, though with a twist. The place had gained recognition over the last few decades as the preferred destination of foreign visitors of the feathered kind - demoiselle cranes. These cranes

start arriving by September every year to disperse in smaller flocks all over Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Not being media savvy, they should be making their appearance again with the onset of the coming winter, unmindful of the coronavirus pandemic that may well continue to terrorise the global human population.

These cranes breed and raise their chicks from April to August along a vast stretch of steppe grasslands from eastern Europe to north-eastern China.

Then, to escape the bitterly cold local winter, they migrate to the warmer plains of India. The eastern populations, for instance, those from Mongolia take a physically challenging route crossing over the Himalayas of central Nepal. They do so by rising to 26,000 feet using the intermittent warm thermal air currents. Evading the predatory golden eagles of the Himalayas, they descend into the semi-arid north-west India, close to manmade or natural water bodies.

Khichan experiTthatheence reminds us all is not lost

in the battle for the conservation of wildlife and that wild birds can flourish in our human-dominated landscapes. The crucial question is, can it last? The sad fate of T-51, a crane tagged in its birthplace Mongolia, is a reminder of the

THREATS TO THE CRANES threats looming over this glorious example of human-animal peaceful coexistence.

T-51 managed the 2,766-kilometre arduous journey to reach Khichan in November 2019. On the last day of that year, he fell ill and died on the 9th of January along with 14 other cranes. The post-mortem report indicated pesticide poisoning. Unfortunately, there is still

no prior testing of the grains used in the Chuggaghar for the presence of pesticides.

The demoiselle cranes are a longliving species that pair for life. That characteristic has found a sympathetic resonance with us, humans. Western Rajasthan has had a tradition of men going away to far off places for business, leaving their wives behind.

Rajasthani folk songs

speak of lovesick maidens trusting the seasonally departing cranes to carry their message to their beloved far away.

In the middle of the ongoing pandemic, we can only hope that, as a civilisation, we continue to make space in our midst for these lovely long-distance travellers. Hopefully, the excellent work at Khichan can continue so that it lives up to its recognition by the International Crane Foundation as a World Heritage Site.

PROTECTION OF THE CRANES

ituated on the edge S of the Thar Desert, Khichan is about 150 kilo-

metres from Jodhpur near the town of Phalodi, and almost equidistant from Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Nagaur. As was the case with many other locations in western India, it used to play host to migratory demoiselle cranes numbering 100 to 150 birds as far back in time as the locals can recall.

The number of cranes visiting Khichan increased significantly in the early 1970s propelled by the deeds of one individual Ratanlal Maloo. Leaving his job in Odisha, he came back to Khichan to be with his elderly mother. His uncle suggested that he should feed the pigeons

– a responsibility that he enthusiastically adopted.

Soon, a dozen demoiselle cranes also started visiting his feeding ground. Then, much to his amazement, they disappeared in March. Next September, more than a hundred reappeared. Word of the good Samaritan there must have got around in the crane world!

With the number of migrant cranes steadily increasing from year to year, Ratanlal rallied the other residents through the local panchayat to set aside a more substantial area on the edge of the village to feed the growing number of these feathered visitors.

In 1983, the foundation of the current Pakshi Chuggaghar, or the Bird

by these remarkable stories, we decided Itontrigued experience this phe-

nomenon for ourselves.

The previous night their feed consisting of the millets, jowar and bajra, and watermelon seeds had been spread out in neat rows in the fenced 400-meter compound. At the break of dawn, looking down at the still empty Chuggaghar from the terrace of an adjoining house, the approaching cacophony of kurr kurr sounds behind us was unmistakable. Hordes of low flying cranes in neat formations were converg-

Feeding Home, was laid.

Khichan currently plays host to almost 20,000 cranes in some years. The feed provided at the Chuggaghar takes the pressure away from the loss of agricultural produce to the cranes and permits Khichan to host such large numbers. Either they are fed in an organised manner by those who can afford it, or else they will feed indiscriminately on the standing crops. Ratanlal helped us to realise the former option. The Salim Ali Nature Conservation Award was conferred on him in 2009 in recognition of his services.

A capable warrior for the protection of the cranes at Khichan in recent years has been Se-

ing on us from many sides. From their landing zone alongside, the cranes walked across en masse to where the grains had been spread out, to commence their frenzied feeding.

Almost 2,000 kilograms of feed is consumed every day, adding up to a cost of nearly a crore rupees per annum. The grains are always there - thanks to the donations in cash and kind by the resident Oswal Jains. The ties of the local diaspora with their homeland also remain. They often commit various quantities of grains to feed the

varam Mali whose primary endeavour has been to rescue and to rehabilitate the injured cranes. Concerned with the frequent injury and deaths to the cranes by the naked electricity wires, he petitioned the local administration and the High Court against them. His persistence paid off, and now the cables near the Chuggaghar have been shifted underground, and others in the vicinity provided with rubberised insulation. For his dedicated care of the cranes, he was given the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award in 2008. Migratory birds always have a choice of destination. Khichan seems to be ticking all the right boxes as an ideal winter resort for them.

THE KHICHAN EXPERIENCE

cranes at the time of death of an elder in the family and on other ritually significant occasions.

The Vijay Sagar and Raatdi Naadi ponds on the outskirts of the town are the favourite resting spots for the cranes after their morning feed. These ponds, dug in the more prosperous times to meet the requirements of a larger human population, continue to serve the locals and the cranes. These shy and timid birds are surprisingly tolerant of the movement of people in Khichan. While we were there, a raptor ap-

peared in the sky. The nervousness of the cranes was palpable as hundreds took to the air to fly around for a while, before settling down again. By evening, the trigger for the demoiselle cranes to depart from the ponds came from the disturbance created by a flock of sheep and goats that had come for a drink after their grazing. The salty depression of Malhar Rinn, 25 kilometres from Khichan, is one of their popular roosting sites. A similar routine is followed daily by the cranes throughout their stay at Khichan.

DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

A freshly planted seed might feel there is darkness all around but it is the beginning of a new life.

In the same way, these darkest times are a new birth, be positive and go forth.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

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FAMILY CREMATES BODY & THEN TOLD PATIENT ALIVE

Devrambhai Bhisikar is alive, but family performs last rites on sealed bag First India Bureau Ahmedabad: In an appalling case of negligence at the infamous Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, family members of a Covid-19 patient were wrongly informed that he had died, while his health was improving.

The story is that the patient’s family was handed over the corpse of a Covid-19 patient and told that it was the body of Devrambhai Bhisikar. Abiding by the guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the family did not unseal the body bag and cremated it without confirming the identity of the deceased.

It was only some time after that the family was informed by the Civil Hospital that he was responding to the treatment.

Devrambhai Bhisikar

SHOCKING

Yet another shocking incident at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Doctor Shashank J Pandya of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital said when the patient was brought his sugar was 500 and he had trouble breathing which is what led to Devrambhai’s demise. While the patient’s Covid-19 report was pending his family cremated the body while adhering to precautionary guidelines, Dr Pandya added.

08

Patel salvo corners BJP in Centre and Gujarat!

Dr Anita New Delhi: While the migrants are facing troubles of their own, it appears that tribals have also been facing the heat of the crisis and on Sunday came at loggerheads with the government machinery while protesting alleged land grabbing in Gujarat. Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel opened a front against the Central and Gujarat BJP government on Sunday claiming that the government has ‘unleashed a campaign to exploit the poor’.

Commenting on a tweet by Gujarat PCC Chief Amit Chavda, which carried a video of c o p s misbehav-

ing with tribals, Patel said, “What is going on? First Gujarat government ill treats migrant workers and now beats up our fellow Adivasis so they can snatch their land. The government has unleashed a campaign to exploit the poor, the vulnerable & the Adivasis.”

However, his verbal barbs did not end

here. In another tweet Patel, who tagged a newspaper article, said, “Truth is stranger than fiction. You can try and conceal it but it still shows up in various forms, sometimes as headlines. I agree, 60 years of hard work has been undone in 6 years,” and tweeted further, “Enough is Enough. In 73 years, I don’t think India has seen such a terrible management of Indian Railways. It is high time the Prime Minister fixes accountability: If PM cannot listen to concerns raised by Opposition let him at-least listen to those raised by train passengers.”

was admitted to the Covid-19 wing of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on May 28 after he displayed symptoms of the infection. Family members were informed of his demise on the afternoon of May 29 and rushed to the hospital.

At the time, the report for Devrambhai’s samples sent for Covid-19 test were yet to return. It was on May

30 that the family members who had cremated their loved one the previous day received a call informing them of improvement in Devrambhai’s health.

Devrambhai’s relative Nileshbhai said the family is still confused about whether he is alive or not. Nileshbhai said that when the family contacted the hospital on May 30

after receiving a phone call about Devrambhai’s improving health, they were told that the call was a mistake and that he had died on May 29.

In utter disbelief, the family called the hospital again for a second time and was told that Devrambhai’s samples have returned negative for Covid-19 and that his health is improving.

HC asks Gujarat to take care of farmers

Use of sanitiser on mobike causes fire at A’bad

Namaste Trump behind 83% Covid deaths at A’bad Civil due to comorbidities: Guj Covid spread in Gujarat, Maha: Shiv Sena

First India Bureau

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has directed the Gujarat Government look into the difficulties being faced by farmers and initiate measures to procure agricultural produce at Minimum Support Prices (MSP).

This follows a petition filed by an Ahmedabadbased businessman and agriculturalist.

Mahendrasinh Zala had filed a public interest litigation stressing that the supply chain of produce has been affected due to the lockdown that had initially led to complete shutdown of the Agriculture

Produce Market Committees (APMCs).

The petitioner, represented by Advocate Arjundev Zala, had pointed out that the State “conditionally procures a specified quantity of specified commodities at Minimum Support Price from the farmers, who have registered for the same.” Farmers, who sell the remaining produce to APMCs or other agents or entities, are now being “forced to sell the produce at undesirable rates.”

He pointed out that onions at Bhavnagar market yard were being procured at Rs. 20 per 20 kg, while the market cost ranged from Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 per 20 kg.

Ahmedabad: Even as Gujarat is set to unlock most of its business activities, a freak incident at an industrial unit in Ahmedabad’s Naroda area should come as an eye-opener.

There is extensive use of masks and alcoholbased sanitisers even in offices and industrial units as they open for their employees.

In an industrial unit in Naroda, a security guard sitting with a sanitiser spray used it on a motorcycle with its engine on and the employee sitting on it. Just as the staffer moved, the sanitiser spray towards the mobike’s rear sparked off a fire. A video of this went viral on social media. The rider jumped aside swiftly without any injuries and the fire on the motorcycle was quickly doused.

First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: Over 83 per cent of COVID-19 patients who died at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital suffered from “severe comorbidities,” the State Government told the Gujarat High Court on the basis of analysis of 351 deaths at the facility.

Ahmedabad hospitals have so far reported 789 COVID-19 deaths, of which the Civil Hospital alone accounts for 415.

The government cited an analysis by the Community Medicine Department of BJ Medical College here, which states that 83.24 per cent of 351

deceased patients had severe comorbidities.

These patients suffered from diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, thyroid disorders, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, CVA, pulmonary TB, liver disorder, psychiatric illness and cancer.

EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES!

After extensive research on issues relating to global climate change, he settled to work on alternatives to clean cooking energy. Dhaval Thakkar, an MCA, grew up in a lower-middleclass home in Deesa in North Gujarat’s Banaskantha. As a student, he would find joys in smaller things, he liked looking at how things worked and were built.

First India Bureau M u m b a i / Ahmedabad: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that the event held in Ahmedabad to welcome US President Donald Trump in February was responsible for the spread of coronavirus in Gujarat and later in Mumbai and Delhi.

Raut also hit out at the Centre saying that the lockdown was implemented without any planning, but now the responsibility of lifting the curbs was left to the states.

The Sena MP said despite the opposition BJP’s attempts to pull down the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, there was no threat to it as its survival is the ‘majboori’ (compulsion) of all the three ruling alliesSena, NCP and Congress.

“It can’t be denied

YOU READ IT FIRST IN FIRST INDIA APRIL 19, 2020

that the spread of coronavirus in Gujarat was because of the massive public gathering held to welcome US President Donald Trump.

Some of the delegates, who accompanied Trump, also visited Mumbai and Delhi, which led to the spread of the virus,” Raut said in his weekly column in Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

The February 24 Trump event was attended by more than a lakh people at Motera cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

Unshackling others: Jail inmates make masks, sanitisers First India Bureau

Prisoners at Vadodara Central Jail making masks.

Vadodara: As India battles against the COVID-19 pandemic, inmates of Vadodara Central Jail are doing their bit to equip the frontline warriors. The prison inmates are stitching face masks, manufacturing hand sanitisers and soaps, and other essentials to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

MN Rathwa, Senior Jailor, said the Va-

dodara Central Jail undertakes such engagement activities for prisoners’ welfare. Prisoners get to develop new skills so that they can get employment after their term in jail ends.

The prisoners of Vadodara Central Jail have made 20,000 masks and hundreds of litres of hand sanitisers and soap. These products are provided at affordable prices in government offices and hospi-

EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY

tals, and the earnings go back to the inmates.

“So far, the inmates have stitched 20,000 face masks that we supplied to jails and government offices in the state,” said MN

Rathwa.

Meanwhile, nearly 2,500 prisoners have been released from 28 jails across Gujarat so far in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, according to a

senior official. Prisoners were released on parole, interim bail, and furlough to decongest the overcrowded jails and contain the spread of coronavirus among the inmates, he said.

There were some 14,000 prisoners in various jails across the state, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) KLN Rao said.

“We have released nearly 2,500 prisoners

as per the Supreme Court’s guidelines and recommendations of the high- level committee,” he said. Of these prisoners, nearly 1,000 were released on interim bail, 800 on parole, and 700 on furlough, he said.

In March, the Supreme Court had directed all States and Union Territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing prisoners.

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EVEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VARIOUS RINGS ON THIS PAGE, WITHOUT SEEING THE WEARER YOU CAN FORM AN OPINION OF THE WEARER AND GET A HINT OF THE PERSONAL STORY!

IT AROUND

RINGS, WHICH STARTED AS AN ANCIENT TRADITION, MOVED TO BEING A SYMBOL OF POWER, ARE TODAY ALSO MORE THAN JUST A JEWELLED ACCESSORY!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

M

ost people are given to wearing some or the other type of rings in their fingers, some for beauty, liking, astrological belief, sentiment or even family tradition. Very few probably wear it for the ancient belief, that a rope tied around some part of the body would keep the soul from escaping.

From being a symbol of slavery to a symbol of prestige and authority when being used a seal and also marriage, with deeper connotations, the rings have definitely travelled a full circle as its shape! The origin of the ring is said to be Greek.

The first biblical refer-

ence to a ring is in Genesis 41.42, where an Egyptian pharaoh (probably Apepi II), in about 1800 BC, gave his signet ring to Joseph most possibly for business or government transactions.

By the way, the ring has definite connections to occult and magic and was also used as a murder weapon. Called the ‘Ring of Death’; the ring was filled with a deadly poison with a tiny, pricking point, which was powered by a spring, one deceitful handshake and death followed.

The use of a wedding band may be traced back to the use of the betrothal or engagement ring by the Romans. The positioning of the wedding band on the fourth finger, the left hand could be because the vein on the fourth finger, is commonly known as the ‘heart vein’.

The ring is a very compact form of the jewel, with its dimensions determined by the size of the finger and thus confining the maker to work on a miniature scale. Rings also signify allegiance to social groups and institutions.

Like everything else, humans tend to go overboard and we do see people of both genders with 8 to 10 rings on their hands, all of the different coloured stones to maintain the perfect balance of the stars and planets.

09

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

10

YOU ARE THE BEST WIFE

I

thought, how can a human being in love surrender himself ? I thought I will not surrender. I’ll fight and fight till the end.

For myself, my family, her family, for others and, most importantly, for Bhavna.”

As I always do, I read the foreword and the introduction first and realised that the book is based on the true story of the author and his wife. That touched me and also equally intrigued me.

The book tells us the story of Ajay and his wife Bhavna. Ajay sees Bhavna for the first time when he joins his engineering college and it is there that Ajay falls in love with her.

Hailing from the Northern part of India and coming from societies which still consider marriages outside of one’s cast as a big taboo, Bhavna and Ajay feel a lot of difficulties in facing and convincing their parents.

Finally, after a long period of courtship and an

of the two main characters.

The book is written with the prime motive of keeping Bhavna’s memories alive or to literally immortalise her soul in words.

The narratives are interspersed with some really beautiful quotes from Bhavna which will surely make your heart melt and make you brood over her intellect and wisdom at such a young age. One such quote is my favourite – “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

equally agonising period of family melodrama, the two get married. They had each other and that is all they wanted from their life.

But their blissful life is shattered when Bhavna falls fatally sick and her death tears the two of them apart “You are the Best Wife” is written in such a loving and passionate voice that it is really difficult not to fall in love with this story.

By the end, I was so much invested in the story of Bhavna and Ajay that I found myself crying to tears while reading the last few pages.

Their story is such an innocent one with a brutally cruel twist that it is impossible not to feel for the characters.

This, I believe, is the best thing about “You are the Best Wife” – the ability to make the readers feel the same pain which the characters do.

The storyline is quite simple, follows a single plot and focuses on the journey

 Tell us a bit about your work. What inspires you to write?

My first book, You are the Best Wife, was not a book but the true story of my own journey with my beloved wife. I was inspired to write it to share my experience of love, loss and everything I learnt

about life.

My second book Her Last Wish, however, was my attempt at writing fiction based on true events that happened in the life of someone I knew. The event inspired me personally in my life and I felt it needed to be shared with the world I find my stories in people. Every problem has an opportunity of becoming a unique story.

I see people struggling to handle their relationships and facing issues, they stop appreciating what life has given t h e m .

This triggers in me the

Ajay K Pandey

need to frame my stories around those issues and help them out by sharing my experiences.  Advice for aspiring writers who are trying to complete their first book or story.

My first advice would be to read good books and try to understand why did you like the story while delving more into the art of writing.

Once you have written your first book, ask yourself two basic questions – Why would someone read your book and how is your story different from others?

If you are satisfied with your own answers go ahead or else you need to rework.

My message for budding authors is simple – there is a lot of competition in the bookstores, but if you do not surrender, definitely one day you will find your own space in a bookstore and more importantly in the readers’ hearts too.

FA CE OF TH ED AY

Source: http://blog.juggernaut.in, https://www.goodreads.com/

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You will manage to save the firm you work for from a big loss and you shall be rewarded for the same.

Your saving habit is benefiting you each day in term of financial prospects. You will find that dream job for which you have been waiting for a long time.

You are a fit person and people get inspired from you because of which you may consider fitness as your career. All the businessmen who have been facing downfall will see the sun rising now as your business will pick up. You may be too busy today to attend a social affair.

Your team in office will be a big support to you in a very important official project. A family is where you feel heaven and you exactly have that one. You enjoy luxury no matter how. Your spiritual self will encourage to do something big for good.

You will spend the whole day feeling light and happy.

You are great in budgeting and this is one of your strengths which will help you both on professional and personal front. You will see a rise in sale if you are in buying-selling business. An elder in family will feel very emotional today.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Your achievements speak for you and you never fails to keep your promises. You will get plenty of time today to relax and take make others around you to chill a bit. You will taste the success today in your new venture and remember you kids are very lucky for you.

You like to be lonely sometimes but make sure its not a permanent feeling.

You will be appreciated for some deeds and criticised for others but don’t let that effect your spirit.

You spouse is always there for you mentally in the time of distress. Your kids adores you too much.

You will find some hidden treasure or some sudden benefits will come your way or you may also get a property inheritance, something that you never knew about. Overseas business is on cards for some. You have a female luck supporting you today as per your stars.

Your persuasive power will make your spouse agree on things that they have been rigid about. You are a very smart person and you have a great intuitive power when it comes to judging people. You will try to change yourself for someone you love.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You should not trouble yourself with the worries of tomorrow and you live for the day.You will have an awesome time in your educational institution as learning will finally become the fun for you. Today you will spend the day working very hard not by force but because of motivation.

Your dedication in your business will make you a successful business men/ women one day. Don’t be impulsive when it comes to the investments as you need to clearly see your options and study about them at first. You will sign a great deal today.

You will be whole day involved in doing preparation for some family party. You will get some kind of assistance from your sibling even when you didn’t ask for it. You must refrain from provoking you boss as he or she may in some understandable mood.

People may sometimes call you miser as you tend to hoard money but its alright to sometimes open your heart and spend a little on the happiness of those who matters. On professional front, a sudden change of job is on cards and for all the good reasons.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

SHRIYA JAIN, Influencer

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

11

YJHD

NEW AVATAR

clocks 7!

A

s ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ (YJHD) clocked seven years on Sunday, actress Deepika Padukone went down memory lane and shared a few unseen pictures of herself with Ranbir Kapoor from their first look test for the blockbuster movie.

In one of the images, Deepika is seen wearing a satin saree as she hugs Ranbir. The second one shows the two exchanging smiles and looking into each other eyes.

Quoting her dialogue from the film, Deepika wrote: “Our very first look test...’Yaadein mithai ke dibbe ki tarah hoti hain...Ek baar khula, toh sirf ek tukda nahi kha paoge’- Naina Talwar.”

Reacting to the post, several fans recalled how the actors’’ wooed them with their chemistry. A user commented: “Oh my god...Bunny and Naina.”

Another one wrote: “Please do one more film like this.” Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the hit movie also stars Aditya Roy Kapur and Kalki Koechlin in the lead roles. The friendship drama revolves around a nerdy student Naina Talwar, essayed by Deepika, who eventually falls for her former classmate Kabir aka Bunny, essayed by Ranbir, during their trip in Manali.

—IANS

Manushi Chillar

F

ormer beauty queen and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar says Wonder Woman has been a favourite of hers because she feels the superhero is not just a character but also a state of mind. Manushi took to Instagram and posted an artwork shared by the artist Swapnil Pawar, where she is seen in the ‘Wonder Woman’ avatar.

Alongside the image, she wrote: “’I am the man who can’. ‘Wonder Woman’ has always been a favourite because for me, she isn’t just a character but a state of mind. @ swapnilmpawar, this is the best surprise!

Thank you for the love!

“P.S. - Maybe this picture is from a parallel universe?” Manushi is all set to make her Bollywood debut opposite superstar Akshay Kumar in the upcoming film ‘Prithviraj’.

Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, ‘Prithviraj’ is based on the life of king Prithviraj Chauhan. It stars Akshay as Prithviraj, while Manushi will play the role of the Sanyogita, the love of his life.

—ANI

Deepika Padukone; (inset) Her post

SPREADING AWARENESS A ctress and former beauty queen Urvashi Rautela requests everyone to follow the guidelines of lockdown and assist Prime Minister Narendra Modi in combating the novel coronavirus. The blue-

Good news all the way

Hardik Pandya with Natasa Stankovic

I

ndian Cricketer Hardik Pandya dropped a surprise for his fans on Sunday, where he announced that he and Natasa Stankovic are all set to welcome their first child. But this is not it; the couple also tied a knot, amid the national lockdown. “Natasa and I have had a great journey together and it is just about to get better.

Together we are excited to welcome a new life into our lives very soon.

We’re thrilled for this new phase of our life and seek your blessings and wishes,” he wrote.

print for lockdown 5.0 was laid out on Saturday evening.

The online sensation says she herself has been spending time at home, adding that she has steadfastly avoided stepping out or meeting people.

“I have been spending time with family. I am doing household chores. I am reading books. I am actually enjoying my time. I am at home, not stepping out and not even meeting anyone. I want to request everyone to follow the guidelines given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Let’s not go out and stay home because that is the only way we can fight this pandemic,” said Urvashi.

—IANS

Game-zoned!

D

akota Johnson was forced to pick between her Fifty Shades co-star Jamie Dornan and his character Christian Grey and she picked Jamie. The 30-year-old actress recently played a round of Would You Rather? on Comedy Central. During the fun game, she was asked who she would she rather be in an erotic book club with Dornan or Grey.

She said she would join the club with the 38-yearold actor because he is a lot funnier than Christian. “Probably Jamie. He’s a lot funnier than Christian Grey,” she said. Reflecting on fan favourite Christian Grey, the actress made a cringe face and stated that he is “a little oneone with Christian, sadly.” Dakota and Jamie shared the screen space in erotic romantic drama film series Fifty Shades of Grey. While they shared flawless on-screen chemistry in the movies, there were speculations that the actors did not get along off-screen.

—IANS

Unpleasant

NEWS K

Urvashi Rautela

ylie Jenner woke up to an unpleasant piece of news and she is furious. The 22-year-old makeup mogul slammed Forbes after it published a report accusing her of forging tax documents to fake her billionaire status. According to the magazine, the Jenner family inflated figures and forged tax returns for Kylie’s cosmetics company. The accusations did not go down well with ‘The Keeping up with the Kardashian’, who stated that she never asked for the title in the first place.

The television personality hogged headlines after Forbes named her the world’s youngest self-made billionaire in 2019 and again in 2020. Expressing her surprise over the magazine’s latest report, Kylie tweeted, “What am I even waking up to. I thought this was a reputable site. All I see are a number of inaccurate statements and unproven assumptions lol. i’ve never asked for any title or tried to lie my way there EVER. Period.” She then asked Forbes to prove it’s accusations about fake documents.

—IANS

Kylie Jenner

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HUM TUM

AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

12

SPREADING AWARENESS THROUGH FB!

Members of the Jaipur Citizen Forum, Rajiv Arora and Akanksha Arora were in conversation with Govinda and Tina Ahuja on Sunday

NEHAL NAYAR

A meditative

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

A

s a part of the ‘Hum Tum’ series by Jaipur Citizen Forum, Rajiv Arora and Akanksha Arora of Amrapali Jewels were in conversation with the Bollywood superstar Govinda, and his daughter Tina Ahuja on Sunday evening. The conversation was about various topics like fitness, insights on Tina’s childhood, Govinda’s connection with Jaipur, an advice Govinda was like to give to the upcoming heroes, and various other things.

During a conversation with City First, Rajiv Arora shared, “I have known Govinda for a really long time, and it was fun catching up with him, and eventually entertaining the audience with this session.

He was really open during the LIVE session, as he put forward his views about the youth in the film industry, and also spoke about the current situations due to the out-

ART FOR ALL KIRTI CHAUHAN

Govinda

Tina Ahuja

kirti.chauhan@firstindia.co.in

‘C Rajiv Arora

break of the novel Coronavirus.”

He added, “Govinda has an old connection with Jaipur, as

Akanksha Arora

his Guru is also said to be from this city. Govinda mentioned during the session that, ‘Jaipur is not just a place

of royalty but is also a place of my spirituality’, and it felt really good knowing how down to earth he still is.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

Rajasthan: During the concluding ceremony of online musical series ‘Sumiran’, initiated by Rajasthan Forum, in association with Shree Cement and Raghu Sinha Mala Mathur Charity Trust amid the nationwide lockdown, Padma Shri Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Actor/Singer Ila Arun, Dhruvapad singer Dr Madhu Bhatt Telang, Jaipur Gharana Kathak dancer Manjari Kiran Mahajani and Singer Manisha Agarwal among other artists gave mesmerising performances and stunned the audience with their dance and music-based performances on Sunday.

Rajasthan: Councillor Kusum Yadav took the initiative to install Parindas at Shiv Shakti temple for birds in the Pink City and also urged people to put Parindas filled with water and grains outside their homes for the birds to protect them dying of hunger and thirst during the summer season. On the occasion, Akshay Yadav, Vishnu Yadav, Ramavatar Sharma, Om Prakash Sharma, Hemlata Yadav, Sunita Yadav and Laxmi Sharma were also present.

Rajasthan: A marathon event for kids dedicated to Corona Warriors, ‘Kids Global Run’, was organised on Sunday, in which more than 500 kids participated from various cities and ran in their homes or nearby locations.

The organiser of the event, Mukesh Mishra informed that there were five different categories divided as per the age group of kids, starting from one to five kilometres.

To keep a track, parents were asked to record and send the data for further proceedings.

Rajasthan: In an online series organised by Rajasthan Progressive Writers Association, a live storytelling and poetry recitation session was held on Sunday, in which Ajmer-based Poet/ Writer Shruti Gautam recited her awardwinning story ‘Bisleri’.

During the session, storyteller Shruti also interacted with the audience and other renowned literary lovers from India and abroad.

City First got in touch with the multi-talented personality from Jaipur, Melven Castelino, who recently launched his book ‘Calligraphy for all’

alligraphy is a deep meditative form’, says Melven Castelino, who is a renowned music producer, performer, sketcher and the English Teacher with St. Xavier’s C- Scheme, Jaipur. Melven, who is a part of Cool Boyz band, is a professional calligrapher since 1994 and has recently launched a hand lettering practice book ‘Calligraphy for all’. The book has been designed in a direct and simplified way for a beginner and teaches three popular fonts, namely, Roman Gothic, Chancery Italics and Brush Script. It took him nearly five months to create, design and publish the book, which is available at various stores in the Pink City.

On being asked about his source of inspiration behind writing the book, he shared, “To reach out to many more inquisitive learners who can’t take lessons from me, to give the learner the flexibility to hone a writing skill sitting at home and to share the art and experience, I have gathered over the past nearly three decades. I felt the best platform to reach out is to write a book, which teaches a skill as professional as calligraphy.”

Melven has described the process of learning calligraphy as relaxing and meditative. While suggesting how this art can make one feel relaxed, he said, “This highly gratifying art form also builds up concentration. Before you commence your writing exercise, put on some ambient soft music in the background, which will help you find inner peace.”

Not many people are aware of the fact that he has learnt the Roman Gothic font from one of his students in the mid-nineties when no calligraphic pens were heard of in Jaipur markets. Melven, who started practising with cheap ink pens by cutting

Calligraphy by Melven

Melven Castelino

off their pointed nibs, is now a fountain pen enthusiast.

The art practitioner believes that Calligraphy is a part is of his daily lifestyle and while Sharing how he keeps himself connected to calligraphy every day, he added, “I practise Calligraphy even today and enjoy writing quotations, thoughts and people’s names on certificates, diplomas and wedding invitations.”

Apart from this, Melven is also taking an online annual calligraphy workshop and conducting hobby classes for art enthusiasts, amid the lockdown.

Gujarat: Workers make repairs to the wheels of chariots used to carry idols of Lord Jagannath, Balrama and Subhadra, ahead of the Annual Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

-PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Gujarat: Banas Dairy dispatched more than 1.28 crore litres of Amul milk via the Indian Railways in May. This is the highest ever figure since the dairy’s establishment, said Banas Dairy chairman Shankar Chaudhary.

Rajasthan: Jairangam Theatre Lab organized a musical event on Sunday which was broadcast live on Jairangam’s Facebook and YouTube page. During the event, renowned actor Piyush Mishra talked about the importance of music and songs in his life, wherein Music Composer Udbhav Ojha entertained the audience with his soulful tracks. In this series, Theatre maestro Sanjay Upadhyay, Poet and Writer Devendra Ahirwar and Musical Theatre founder in Pune Ajay Kumar also mesmerized the audience with their splendid performances and experiences. The event was moderated by Poet and Anchor Hemant Acharya.