First India-Ahmedabad Edition-04 October 2020

CENTRE TO WAIVE INTEREST ON LOAN

BIHAR POLLS SEAT SHARING FORMULA

Centre has told the Supreme Court that it is ready to waive interest on the repayment of loans of up to 2 crore, frozen by RBI in a six-month moratorium granted because of the corona pandemic. P5

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will be CM candidate for the opposition coalition in Bihar polls. RJD will fight on 144 seats while Congress gets 70. Left 29 and JMM will get seats from the RJD quota P6

AHMEDABAD l SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD 25°C - 35°C

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 309

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JUSTICE TRAILS IN POLITICAL DRIVE Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra played the role of protector during a brief clash between her partymen and Uttar Pradesh cops at toll plaza on the Delhi-Noida Flyover. Clad in dark blue kurta, she hopped barricade as policemen with raised lathis surrounded her. But amidst all the slugfest, nyaay for victim still remains aloof

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses supporters at Delhi-Noida flyway on Saturday.

‘CAN’T STOP US’ Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi struggles with policemen at Delhi-Noida border as she attempts to move forward. Later, Five-member Congress delegation was permitted to go to Hathras via Noida.

—PHOTOS BY PTI

No force can silence your voice: Rahul to Hathras victim’s family Victim’s family speaks to media, demand justice

Mohd Fahad New Delhi/Hathras: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday met the family of the 20-year-old Dalit woman who was allegedly gangraped and murdered last month in Hathras - in a savage crime that has shocked the nation.

“No force can silence us,” Rahul said.

Priyanka echoed the sentiment, “Wherever something wrong happens, we will be there to ensure justice is served.

No one can stop us.”

The visit, involving a dramatic standoff with cops at the Delhi-UP border, was the Congress leaders’ second attempt - the first, on Thursday, ended in a tussle with cops who refused to let Gandhi pass, citing orders banning large gatherings amid coronavirus concerns, and shoved him to the ground in the chaos that followed.

Turn on P6

We want to know whose body was burnt on that day.

And if it was our sister’s body then why did they burn her (the body) in this manner? All of us requested the police and the district administration to allow us to see her one last time —Victim’s brother

while speaking to the media, which was allowed in village

NO NARCO TEST FOR US: MOTHER Hathras: The victim’s family has refused to conduct their narco test.

The victim’s mother said that they want justice not just tests.

Since death, DM is constantly trying to change the statement of the family. The narco test should be done of those accused who did wrong with our daughter.

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi speaking to the family members of victim at Bulgadi village in Hathras, on Saturday.

UP CM YOGI ADITYANATH RECOMMENDS CBI PROBE Lucknow: The alleged rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras will be investigated by the CBI, the Yogi Adityanath government said this evening. “Chief Minister @myogiadityanath Ji has ordered the CBI to conduct a probe into the entire Hathras case,” the UP Chief Minister’s office tweeted. The ruling BJP, which is under pressure over its apparent inability to prevent horrific crimes against women - at least two more assaults and rapes have been reported from the state since the Hathras case had earlier dismissed protests by the opposition as a “political stunt”.

New Delhi: Seeking justice for the 19-year-old girl, the family members of the Hathras victim spoke to reporters after two days when the media was allowed to enter their village.

“We want to know whose body was burnt on that day. And if it was our sister’s body then why did they burn her (the body) in this manner? All of us requested the police and the administration to allow us to see her one last time,” said the victim’s brother after the media was allowed in the village and to speak with the victim’s family. Turn on P6

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra behind the wheels with Rahul Gandhi on their way to meet the family of the alleged gangrape victim in Hathras, on Saturday.

Day after HC summons officials, UP DGP, ACS (Home) visit village Hathras: The Director-General of Uttar Pradesh Police, HC Awasthy, reached Hathras on Saturday amid controversy over the local administration’s handling of the alleged gang rape and murder of a Dalit woman, by four men from the socalled upper caste.

HC Awasthy, the UP DGP, accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi, visited the victim’s family this afternoon.

UP officials ACS (Home) Avnish Awasthi and DGP HC Awasthy speaking with the victim’s family in Hathras on Saturday.

The visit - the first by such high-ranking officials - comes as a wave of criticism is directed at the Yogi Adi-

tyanath government over both the Hathras tragedy and similarly horrific crimes against women.

Turn on P6

MAMATA JOINS OUTRAGE: TMC Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee participates in a rally to protest Hathras incident, in Kolkata on Saturday.

TALL CLAIMS

nCoV update: All is well in Gujarat, if only on paper State says the situation is under control, but activists and experts disagree Gargi Raval Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has been accused of concealing data regarding the COVID-19 pandemic ever since the first cases were reported in the state--especially after the case fatality rate (CFR), the ratio of

deaths to positive cases, drastically fell from 8 to 2.4. As it turned out the significant fall was the result of the state’s decision to stop counting deaths due to comorbidities as COVID-19 fatalities.

As on Saturday, the state has recorded

Experts say the state does not count positive results from antigen tests, even though all these patients are being treated for COVID-19.

—FILE PHOTO

1,41,398 cases and 3,490 deaths. The number of daily cases and fatalities seems to have more or less plateaued. However, experts and activists are rejecting what they call the government’s rose-tinted view of the situation.

Dr Chandresh Jardosh, president of the Gujarat chapter of the India Medical Association, points out that the state does not even count all the positive results that emerge in

a day.

“At present, the state only considers positive results from RT-PCR tests. It does not consider positive results from antigen and antibody tests, even though all these positive patients are being treated for COVID-19. This is being done just so that the government can adjust the data on paper, so that a lower number of sero-positive patients is recorded. This attitude is worrisome,”

Dr Jardosh told First India.

He said that this has added a burden on the people also. “The government thinks that the lockdown was the solution to the pandemic. However, this is wrong. Due to the state’s policy, many people have become careless and do not follow the COVID-19 protocols as closely as they should. Also, with government hospitals at capacity, Turn on P6

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Haresh Jhala Gandhinagar: On Saturday morning, Banaskantha played host to a massive procession led by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Shashikant Pandya, which was in complete violation of COVID-19 protocols. However, not a single policeman was present there.

More interestingly, the authorities--Banaskantha District Collector Anand Patel, Superintendent of Police Tarun Kumar Duggal and Chief Secretary of the state Anil Mukim-all refused to First India’s questions on the incident.

First India posed these officials two questions: “Does the administration have two sets of rules: one for the common man and another for members of the ruling party?” and “If your administration can’t take action against members of the ruling party, will it stop fining common citizens?”

The officers’ silence speaks volumes. It shows that officers-who are meant to be answerable and accountable to the people of the state--will ignore offences, just to keep their political bosses happy.

When questioned by the media, rather than show any regret about having violated the guidelines set

AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020

BK ADMINISTRATION TURNS MUTE SPECTATOR AS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE JOIN DEESA MLA’S PROCESSION

COPS MISSING, BJP RALLIES SANS NCOV PROTOCOLS

Hundreds of people participated in the procession with no regard for social distancing.

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out by his own political party, MLA Pandya said that people had turned up in large numbers since they were excited about a road being constructed in Dedol village after 70 long years.

Gujarati singer Kinjal Dave--who is the state’s brand ambassador in the fight against COVID-19--was part of this procession, surrounded by a large number of people without masks.

The opposition party has come down heavily on Pandya’s actions.

Manish Doshi, the Congress party’s chief spokesperson, alleged that the police and district administration take action against common citizens, and fine them for not wearing masks, but the same administration turns a blind eye when it comes to members of the ruling party.

“Just the previous day, Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani was protesting against the Farm Bills and demanding a reduction in school fees in Amreli.

He was sitting alone, and yet he was detained by the police. Yet, the authorities took no action at a procession attended by hundreds of people, most of whom were not wearing masks. Forget taking action, the police weren’t even visible,” said Tharad MLA Gulabsinh Rajput.

HIGH COURT TO MAKE SELECTED 10 Guj IAS officers on ORDERS AVAILABLE IN GUJARATI election duty in Bihar First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: Gujaratis will soon be able to read judgements from the state High Court in their mother tongue, with the court deciding to upload one order per working day in the Gujarati language.

The High Court’s Registrar General in a press statement has stated that Chief Justice Vikram Nath and judges on the artificial intelligence committee had come to the conclusion that court orders should be made availa-

HC TAKES COGNIZANCE OF REMDIVISIR INJECTION BLACK MARKETEERING

ble in Gujarati as well.

Chief Justice Nath has decided that, initially, judgements on social issues will be uploaded in Gujarati to better serve the larger public interest. According to an official statement, this new ruling is more for information and official use, but judgements and orders in English will be considered to be authentic in citations or judicial purpose.

This new change has been put in practice since Gandhi Jayanti, October 2.

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The state government has deputed 10 IAS officers on election duty for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. These officers will be discharging duty as election observers and camping in Bihar during the election period.

IAS officers KL Bachani, Dilip Rana, Harshadkumar R Patel, Lochan Sehra, P Bharathi, Sandeep

Kumar, Vijay Nehra, Roopwant Singh, DD Kapadia and Anupam Anand have been assigned election duty.

These officers will be keeping a close eye on

the general assembly elections. Once they report to the state Chief Electoral Officer, they will be given detailed deputation and work.

ATMA NIRBHAR

No more hiring, even engrs to be enrolled as fire safety officers  Move aims to make youth self-reliant while also increasing fire NOC renewals to 100% First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Any unemployed engineers hoping to be employed by the state government as fire safety officers will have to rethink their plans. The government has clarified that it will simply register them--and not employ them--as fire safety officers, in the same way as it enrols company secretaries, chartered ac-

countants and as medical council doctors. The state has taken this decision only to increase renewal of fire NOCs (no-objection certificates) from the current 20% to 100%.

Announcing the decision, Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Mukesh Puri said, “All engineers, who are additionally qualified in disaster management or fire safety services will be

—FILE PHOTO

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

enrolled as fire safety officers.

Engineers from any other branches who are willing to be fire safety officers will

have to attend online and practical training sessions, which will be organized by the urban local bodies. Later, they

will have to clear exams, after which they will be enrolled as fire safety officers.”

This enrolment list

will be made public and, later, owners of high-rise buildings, residential societies, hospitals and industrial units can hire these engineers as fire safety officers.

They will conduct fire safety checks, and issue fire NOCs. Their remuneration and perks will depend on the contract signed between them and those hiring them.

The state will not fix any fees. The market and the fire safety officers will decide the charges, the urban secretary explained.

He added that additional fire safety offic-

ers are the need of the hour since fire NOC renewal is currently as low as 20-23% and urban local bodies do not have enough staff to conduct studies and get the renewals. Random surveys are conducted whenever a major fire accident occurs but, if there are enough fire safety officers to provide services and grant NOCs, the enrolment will serve a dual purpose, the officer said.

After making a statement in the high court, the urban secretary reiterated that the state government has, in principle, agreed to implement

the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act 2013 in municipal corporation areas as well.

He also admitted that all municipal corporations are facing a shortfall of 15-20% firemen and the shortage is high in nagarpalikas as well. Hence, under the Fire Safety Act, the state has decided to select one nagarpalika in each district which will be fully equipped and given enough manpower. Recently, the state even approved the appointment of 600 professional firemen under the Act to meet the demand.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020

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PASA to be avoided if other remedies available: Guj HC

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Oxygen leak at private nCov hosp, no casualties

Highlights importance of individual liberty while quashing detention of Kutch Collector First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The High Court while quashing and setting aside the detention of Kutch District Collector Haidarsha Abdulsha has opined that individual liberty is a most cherished right that is recognized not only by the Constitution but also by international covenants.

The principal bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala, while quashing and setting aside the order detaining Abdulsha under the Prevention of Anti Social Activities Act, concluded, “The rhetorical incantation of the words ‘dangerous person’ or ‘prejudicial to maintenance of public order’ cannot be sufficient justification to invoke

3 NEW JUDGES

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

The site of the oxygen leak.

First India Bureau

—FILE PHOTO

High Court of Gujarat.

the draconian powers of preventive detention. To classify the detenu as a dangerous person, affecting public order because of registration of two cases, referred to above, is a gross abuse of the constitutional power of preventive detention. The grounds of detention in the

case on hand are exfacie extraneous to the Act.” If there is a case against a person under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, as well as other sections of Indian Penal Code, it has to be done under the said laws. Taking recourse to preventive

detention laws would be unwarranted, the bench said.

“The courts should always lean in favour of upholding personal liberty, for it is one of the most cherished values of mankind. Without it life would not be worth living,” it said, adding, “We have no hesitation in holding

that the learned Single Judge committed a serious error in declining to entertain the writ application on the ground that the detenu has an alternative remedy of filing a representation, and if already filed, must wait till his representation is decided by the Advisory Board.”

Ahmedabad: A leakage in an oxygen pipe occurred at the Hriday Se Hospital , a designated COVID-19 facility, on Saturday when a cylinder was being changed. Luckily, no injuries were reported.

However, some chaos ensued.

The incident was reported to the fire brigade team which reached the spot. The gas leak was stopped

immediately.

According to fire brigade officials, the incident took place while changing oxygen on the ground floor in which the patients did not have any problem. Patients were undergoing treatment. “A big tragedy has been averted.

But if there was a blaster, then the situation would have been unimaginable. The hospital need to be extra careful,” said additional chief fire of-

ficer Rajesh Bhatt.

Sources said that more than 21 patients were being treated at the private COVID-19 facility.

The hospital put the oxygen cylinder in the parking lot and there was an incident of leakage. There were about 10 bikes and three cars parked in the parking lot.

More than 50 cylinders were lying together at the place where the cylinders are placed.

V’dara city has seen 200 PARENTS DEMAND 50% WAIVER IN SCHOOL FEES fatalities, but state puts district toll at just 190 First India Bureau

Gandhinagar: The Congress party and various parents’ associations are seeking a complete fee waiver of school and college students. The state government had recently announced a 25% cut in fees for schools.

Parents and the Congress say that since schools and colleges are not operational, students must not be charged fees.

The

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: According to the state health bulletin, Vadodara city and rural areas have each recorded one death in the past 24 hours, meaning the district has seen a total of 190 fatalities.

However, the COVID-19 dashboard of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation says the city alone has seen 200 deaths. This puts Vadodara city the thirdworst hit in terms of fatalities after Ahmedabad’s 1,823 and Surat’s 780 deaths.

On Saturday, the state tested 57,065 tests, 1,343 of which came back positive. There are now 16,789 active cases in the state with 89 patients on ventilator support. Of the 12 patients died, four were from Ahmedabad, while Vadodara and Banaskantha accounted for two each, and Narmada district saw one death.

With 128 new cases,

People line up to be tested for COVID-19.

1,343 cases, 12 deaths take state tally to 1,41,398 cases and death toll to 3,490 Vadodara district now has 1,633 active cases, with 73 patients on ventilators and BiPAP machines and 179 on oxygen support.

Still, Surat topped the number of singleday jumps, with 277 cases—173 were from the city and 104 from rural areas. There are now 2,493 active cases in the district, 189 of which are being treated at the New Civil

The government recently announced a 25% waiver of school fees.

Board of Trustees, who held a meeting with the education minister last week ahead of the 25%

DAY OF PROTESTS AGAINST RAPE

Hospital and SMIMER Hospital.

State data says 107 cases emerged in Rajkot city and 56 in the district’s rural areas.

Yet, the administration has decided to send 243 doctors who were on deputation in the city to their home districts.

The local administration says that 1,393 of 2,693 beds are available for COVID-19 patients.

Other cases emerged in Ahmedabad (194), Jamnagar (90), Mehsana (55), Gandhinagar (35), Patan (31), Junagadh (30), Kutch (29), Surendranagar (26) and Banaskantha (24).

First India Bureau

Devjibhai Fatepara.

MP fail to pay the fine, he will have to spend an additional three months in jail.

tors have to make representations to the government on the issue and put forward some

—FILE PHOTO

Saturday saw two separate protests against the Uttar Pradesh government over the Hathras gang rape, in Ahmedabad city. While the members of the Bhim Sena took out a rally outside the Collector office, members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were detained by the police while trying to burn an effigy of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath outside the party office in Ashram Road.

—PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI

Former BJP MP Devjibhai Fatepara gets two years imprisonment in cheque bounce case Mehsana: A Kalol civil judge has found Devjibhai Fatepara, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s former MP from Surendranagar, guilty in a cheque bounce case and sentenced him to two years in prison. He has also been fined Rs2,97,10,000—more than twice as much the worth of the bounced cheque.

Should the former

reduction decision, are now demanding a 50% percent fee be waived.

The school administra-

—FILE PHOTO

—FILE PHOTO

According to a press statement from Bhanu Patel, the advocate for complainant Prabhat-

demands. The want the tuition fees approved by the Fee Regulatory Committee for 2019-20 and 2020-21 of all schools to be declared by the committee. This way, parents can pay the remaining tuition fees after deducting the fees announced by the government. They also say schools should be clearly instructed to not fill any form in relation to the recent fee waiver announced by the state.

sinh Thakor, said the judge found Fatepara guilty based on the merits of the case.

“The court has awarded him two years imprisonment, and slapped a fine of Rs2,97,10,00—of which Rs2,97,00,000 is to be paid to the complainant,” he said.

Thakor and Fatepara had once been good friends. Back in 2016, Thakor had expressed interest in purchasing land belonging to

Fatepara, and had handed him a cheque for Rs1,48,500 in the presence of witnesses.

However, since there was an issue with registering the revenue documents, he was supposed to return the amount to the complainant. Not only did the cheque bounce, Fatepara also ignored the legal notice issued

by Thakor. Hence, the complainant then filed a complaint against the accused.

Eight cops caught gambling in police quarters in Ahmedabad First India Bureau Ahmedabad: As many as eight police officers were arrested under sections of Gujarat Prevention of Gambling act in Madhupura. According to police officials, the accused were caught gambling at a police service quarter in Madhupura on Saturday.

After receiving a tip-off, Shahibaug

Officials detained all eight and also recovered cash worth Rs86,020 and mobile phones police raided the police quarter and found eight police officers persons gambling.

Police have detained all of them and have recovered cash worth Rs86,020

and mobile phones.

During the primary question, Shahibaug police found that the service quarter is allotted to head constable Nitin Sinde, who is presently posted with the Satellite police station. Nitin Sinde says that his quarter was under renovation and he had given the keys to his brother Rajesh, who is also one of the accused.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020

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ODE GUIDE

IN-DEPTH

CONGRESS SCORES OVER YOGI GOVT

T

he ham-handed manner in which district officials of Hathras handled the alleged suicide and murder of a teenaged Dalit girl has left the Yogi Adityanath government has been left with egg on its face. The embarrassment is more than when infants died in the BRD Medical College due to lack of oxygen supply in 2017 or when a Hindu outfit’s workers led by Yogesh Raj and others shot dead Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh in Bulandshahr in 2018. Yogi was then concerned more about the cows, which were rumoured to have been slaughtered, than the killing of a senior police officer. In Gorakhpur Yogi made a scapegoat out of a Good Samaritan and in the case of Bulandshahr the police officer’s widow couldn’t protest beyond a point. Hathras’ case, however, is different.

Yogi may have been adjudged the best chief minister in the country by a magazine but incidents like Hathras show him as insensitive towards cultural, religious, and emotional sensibilities. Had this not been the case he would have suspended the DM and SP of Hathras when they forcibly cremated the girl’s body at night and treated the hapless family as terrorists.

The Congress has exploited the issue to its advantage while the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party were conspicuous by their absence.

Even if it is short-lived, Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi won a big political victory as they forced the UP government to allow them to proceed to Hathras and meet the bereaved family which insists that they were being forced to toe the official line.

TO

Zig Zag Road, 42 Pali Hill, Bandra West, Mumbai Dec3rd 2002

K NATWAR SINGH The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

IN COVID-19 VACCINE LIES PEOPLE’S HOPE

I

W

ith POTUS Donald Trump in the hospital with fever and breathing trouble after testing positive for Covid, efforts for an early vaccine against the virus have been intensified. President Trump had repeatedly said that a vaccine will be ready for approval before the November 3 US elections. It seems that the American pharma company Pfizer could be in the final stages of data analysis, although an apprehensive group of 60 American scientists and health experts have urged Pfizer to first meet safety standards before applying for regulatory clearance.

Of the six vaccine candidates, including Pfizer’s, Oxford University’s vaccine is also among the front-runners. Its trial was briefly put on hold after a participant in the trial fell ill. Having overcome the hurdle the vaccine, it was reported, could be ready in the next three months with regulators approving it by early next year. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has already started a real-time review of data of the Oxford vaccine trial. The vaccine is being co-produced by AstraZeneca. The EMA real-time monitoring of data means that the Oxford vaccine could be the first to enter the European market.

After the setback in Britain Oxford vaccine trials were halted in India as well, although they had been running smoothly. Trials are now being done for the vaccine’s safety and efficacy on about 30,000 participants from the UK, South Africa, Brazil, and India.

With Covid cases being reported from several countries of the world and the fear of a second phase of the virus, people’s hopes rest on the availability of a vaccine.

We now come to 1969. I was then working in Indira Gandhi’s Secretariat. It was late summer. My office telephone rang, “Natwarji, this is Dev speaking. I am in Delhi, I want to meet Indiraji. I need your help.”

He and I had met only once. “she is extremely busy”. “I only will take a few minutes. I want to invite her to see my new film “Prem Pujari” I will arrange a special hall for her”. “Devji this is a tall order, but I will try

first met the matinee idol, Dev Anand, in 1962 in the United Nations Delegates Lounge. I recognized him. I was having coffee with some of my friends. I was the only Indian in the group.

Dev Anand came up to me, “I am Dev Anand, I am looking for Mr Natwar Singh”. “You are talking to him. How did you trace me”, I asked. “ I called our Consulate. They said I would be at the UN” “What can I do for you Mr Anand”. He said he wanted a favour from you. I was naturally surprised. “Go ahead”, I said. “I would be most obliged if you could give me a letter of introduction to R.K Narayan. I was told he is a friend of

Dear K. Natwar Singh, The music of My latest film, “LOVE AT TIME SQUARE”, shot extensively in America, will be released by Shrimati Sushma Swaraj, Minister for Information and Broadcasting at 7 P.M on Wednesday, 11 December 2002 at Hotel Ashoka, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Do join us on this special occasion, and for dinner thereafter.

I shall be absolutely delighted and honoured by your presence.

Kind regards.

Sincerely Dev Anand P.S The letter was written by hand. yours.” I confessed that RK Narayan and I were close friends. “I will certainly do so.

Why do you wish to meet him.” “ I want to get his permission to make a film of his novel “The Guide”. They met in Bangalore. A deal was struck. The film was a big hit. Waheeda Rehman was the heroine. Dev

 On October 2 was Mahatma Gandhi’s one hundredth and fiftyfirst birth anniversary. He wrote thousands of words in Gujarati, Hindi, and English every day. His selected works run into over one hundred volumes. More books about him have been written than any other human being  I quote one of his most famous quotations  “Ido not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to blow about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”

the hero.

We now come to 1969. I was then working in Indira Gandhi’s Secretariat. It was late summer. My office telephone rang, “Natwarji, this is Dev speaking. I am in Delhi, I want to meet Indiraji. I need your help.” He and I had met only once. “she is extremely busy”.

“I only will take a few minutes.

I want to invite her to see my new film “Prem Pujari” I will arrange a special hall for her”.

“Devji this is a tall order, but I will try.”

I spoke to Prime Minister.

She had met him during her father’s time. “I will see him on Saturday before lunch here in South block. Not more than ten minutes.” On the appointed time on Saturday, I received Dev Anand at gate number one

Herd immunity will not defeat COVID-19 D

uring a September 15 ABC News “town hall”-style event, US President Donald Trump told host George Stephanopoulos that without a vaccine, COVID-19 would still “go away.” Over time, Trump said, “You’ll develop herd – like a herd mentality. It’s going to be – it’s going to be herd-developed, and that’s going to happen.”

What Trump was referring to, and misnamed, is herd immunity, which a population develops when so many of its members are infected by or vaccinated against a given contagion that a bulwark of resistance counters the contagion’s spread. But to base a pandemic-response strategy on the assumption that herd immunity is inevitable – vaccine or no vaccine

04

– is to afford a virus a path of least resistance. That was the case in Sweden, where policymakers decided to forego lockdowns and business closures in favor of more lenient advisories on mask-wearing and social distancing.

Unsurprisingly, Sweden’s subsequent COVID-19 infection and fatality rates were among the world’s highest. Moreover, the Swedish economy contracted by 8.6% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the previous three months – an important outcome to note given the emphasis that many proponents of herd immunity place on reviving economic growth. One such supporter is Scott Atlas, a recently appointed pandemic adviser to Trump who has advocated for the so-called Swedish model on Fox News.

“We like the fact that there’s a lot of cases,” Atlas said in one interview.

“That’s exactly how we’re going to get herd immunity, population immunity.”

Although Atlas has no epidemiological credentials or experience, he does seem to have the ear of the president – as evidenced by

the latter’s remarks on “herd mentality.” On August 31, Trump made similarly pointed – yet evasive – comments to Fox News’s Laura Ingraham. “Once you get to a certain number, we use the word herd, right?” he said. “Once you get to a certain number, it’s going to go away.”

With SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the culprits of the last two lethal coronavirus epidemics, long-term research was too sparse and underfunded to verify their capacity for reinfection. But two scientific case studies – one on a patient in Hong Kong, and another (still undergoing

peer review) on a patient in Nevada – have already confirmed that the SARSCoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 can reinfect an individual.

These studies show that our immunity to coronaviruses is alarmingly shortlived and quick to fade – a disappearing act that makes building protection to SARS-CoV-2 difficult enough for an individual, much less an entire population.

“The White House is no longer even recommending that states do things to stop the spread of this virus – things that just weeks ago they were telling the states they needed to do,” Maddow said. “When it’s not just what [Trump] is saying, but what he’s doing, we have to recognize this as a huge deal.”

of South Block. I do vaguely remember his attire. It was non-filmy. The Prime Minister was her charming self. About watching the film, she said she would think about it. Natwar will let you know” When the Prime Minister and Dev Anand came out of her office the corridors were full with the staff and officers to watch the Prime Minister walking with Dev Anand. Obviously, word had got round about the meeting.

As she was entering her car she said to me, “Natwar you see the film and let me know what you think of it.”

Dev was naturally disappointed when the Prime Minister’s schedule prevented her to watch “Prem Pujari”. I told the Prime Minister I liked the film “but you will not”.

In 1975 London, Dev met me at a well-known restaurant and let me have it. He was in a foul mood, “How can Jawaharlal Nehru’s daughter do this to our country. How can you defend the Emergency? When I get back to Bombay I shall start an agitation against Indira Gandhi. “Have you finished”, I asked. He kept quiet. “I am not enjoying what is happening. I wrote to the Prime Minister. I know what to say to our critics.

I do not know what to say to our friends. It was impossible to sell the emergency in England.

I got no reply.” The meeting ended on a sour note.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp PM Shri @narendramodi has always worked for empowering farmers right from sowing to selling. Be it taking policy initiatives to address issues of farm credit, providing higher MSPs, or providing record budgetary allocations, PM Modi’s pro-farmer polices have helped our farmers.

KC Venugopal @kcvenugopalmp INC leaders & MPs led by Shri @RahulGandhi & Smt. @ priyankagandhi are on our way to Hathras. @INCIndiawill not stop until the Hathras victims family gets the justice they deserve. #SatyagrahaForOurDaughters.

Spiritual SPEAK

It is ridiculous to think that somebody else can make you happy or —Buddha unhappy.

SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE

Vol 1 Issue No. 309 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra. Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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05

HATHRAS CASE

MAYAWATI PLAYING POLITICS OVER INCIDENT: ATHAWALE “She has no right to demand the resignation of Adityanath,” the Union Minister added Lucknow: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday accused Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati of playing politics over the Hathras incident saying she has no right to demand Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s resignation.

Calling the Hathras incident a “blot on humanity”, Athawale demanded death sentence for all four accused to provide justice to the victim’s family. “The Hathras incident is a blot on humanity. The accused should be hanged to death and the family should be given justice,” the Union Minister told ANI here in Lucknow.

“Mayawati is playing politics over the issue. She has no right to demand the resignation of Adityanath,” he added.

Mayawati had earlier demanded removal of Adityanath as the UP Chief Minister after Hathras incident as she slammed him for the “failure of law and order”.

—ANI

Top UP officials meet Hathras family

Congress workers were stopped at Delhi-Noida flyway on Saturday. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with other leaders were en route to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh to meet the family of the alleged gangrape victim.

—PHOTO BY ANI

The Hathras incident is a blot on humanity. The accused should be hanged to death and the family should be given justice.

If govt has not done anything wrong then media should be allowed to go there to bring out facts & atmosphere of suspicion will be removed.

—Ramdas Athawale,

—Sanjay Raut,

Union Minister

Shiv Sena MP

Lucnkow: The DGP of UP Police, HC Awasthy, reached Hathras amid controversy over the local administration’s handling of the alleged gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman, by four men from the so-called upper caste, last month.

HC Awasthy, the UP DGP, accompanied by ACS (Home) Awanish Awasthi, visited the victim’s family on Saturday.

The visit - the first by such high-ranking officials - comes as a wave of criticism is directed at the Yogi Adityanath government over both the Hathras tragedy and similarly horrific crimes against women.

Visuals showed the top officials squatting on the ground as Home Secretary Awanish Awasthi repeatedly folded his hands before the victim’s family with a large number of reporters around them.

RAGA’S HATHRAS VISIT, A POLITICAL MOVE: IRANI New Delhi: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Hathras today is a political gimmick with no intention of seeking justice for the victim’s family. While speaking to media Irani said, “People are aware of Congress’s tactics and that is why they ensured a historic win for BJP in 2019 polls. People understand that their (Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi) visit to Hathras is for their politics and not for justice to the victim.” —ANI

CONG, SP WORKERS’ PROTEST

PM MODI’s DIRECTIVE TO UP CM

Lucknow/Varanasi: Congress & SP workers protested against the alleged gang-rape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras, raising anti-government slogans before Union Minister Smriti Irani in Varanasi on Saturday.

Congress workers raised slogans and tried to block Irani’s cavalcade demanding justice for woman’s family.

New Delhi: Sources in Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, said that direction from PM Narendra Modi has been sent to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure that justice must be done.For this, Ministry is following up on steps taken by UP government to ensure that victim’s family be protected.

THIS IS NOT NEW FOR UP: CONGRESS LEADER AZAD New Delhi: Hitting out at UP government over the Hathras incident senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said “Is there a system in UP? Since this government came to power there have been many cases. Earlier, there were cases of lynching, killing of opposition leaders and filing cases against them. This is not new, but routine in UP,” Congress leader Azad told media. “The police is just a part, and the mentality of the leader is responsible for this,” he said.

—PTI

LAUREATE KAILASH SATYARTHI URGES PM MODI TO END ‘CRISIS OF ‘Ready to waive interest ‘on ‘No question of rolling MSP NOBEL JUSTICE’ FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN back till PM Modi is in power’ ‘OUR DAUGHTERS interest’ during moratorium’

NEED YOU’

Vaishali Bhubaneswar: Addressing the concerns around new agriculture sector reform laws, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said till the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in power, there is no question about the removal of minimum support price (MSP). Addressing a press conference, Pradhan said people who cheated farmers in the past are crying fake tears now.

“Till the time PM Narendra Modi is in power, there is no question of removing MSP. To make farmers self-reliant, the government is spending Rs 1 lakh crore on agriculture infrastructure fund. People who cheated

farmers in the past are crying fake tears now.

They will not be successful in misleading people,” he said. He further said even after 70 years of independence, the farmers were not getting a proper price for their crop, but under the new Acts, they will become independent and get a fair price for their produce. “The agricultural sector had not changed

ARMY’S MEMORIAL IN LADAKH FOR SOLDIERS KILLED IN GALWAN New Delhi: The Indian Army has built a memorial for its 20 personnel who were killed while fighting Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on June 15.The memorial, located at Post 120 in eastern Ladakh and inaugurated earlier this week, mentions the heroics of the “Gallants of Galwan” under operation

“Snow Leopard” and the way they evicted the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops from the area while inflicting “heavy casualties” on them in “hand-to-hand combat”. China is yet to disclose the number of its soldiers killed and injured in the clash though it officially admitted to have suffered casualties.

for the past 70 years. The free-market policy is being introduced to change that. Now farmers will get a fair price for their crops,” Pradhan said.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce Act, 2020, The Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities Act, 2020 are 3 laws which are being opposed.—ANI

New Delhi: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end the crisis of justice for women and children, saying what is happening to “our daughters” across India is a matter of national shame.

Reacting to the Hathras incident and other cases of sexual assaults on women in the country, Mr Satyarthi said he implores the Prime Minister to lead the war on rape.

“What is happening to our daughters across India is a matter of national shame. It is my humble appeal to our Hon’ble Prime Minister - the nation looks to you - to end this crisis of justice for our women and

B’LURU: ISKCON TEMPLE TO REOPEN FROM MONDAY Bengaluru: The ISKCON temple in Bengaluru will reopen for visitors from October 5, nearly six months after the imposition of the COVID-19 lockdown, the temple association said in a statement. “We heartily welcome you to visit us and re-experience the spiritual ambience of the ISKCON Sri Krishna Temple. In these times of gloom and despair, open your heart to the divine blessings of Lord Sri Krishna in the ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple,” said Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of ISKCON-Bangalore temple.

children. I implore you to lead the war on rape.

Our daughters need you, and we are all with you,” he told news agency Press Trust of India.

Calling for a people’s movement to break “this mindset” of violence, Satyarthi said we need both compassionate political will and people’s action to bring an end to the culture of rape. —PTI

New Delhi: Compound interest accrued during the six-month moratorium on repayment of loans up to Rs two crore taken by individuals and MSME will be waived, the Centre told the Supreme Court in an affidavit on Friday.

The moratorium was announced as part of measures to mitigate economic hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed to check its spread in March.

The government made the announcement in the affidavit as a bunch of petitions seeking a waiver of accrual of interest for the moratorium period are pending before the court.

The affidavit, however, said the waiver on contractual interest on loans cannot be waived as it will lead to a huge

‘UP GIRL KILLS SISTER WITH BOYFRIEND’S HELP, INFORM COPS Mirzapur: One minor was found dead near the railway track in suspicious circumstances in Bharuhiya village of Mirzapur, two days after two minor sisters were reported missing, police said on Saturday.”On 1 October 2020, Dileep Singh’s two daughters Anjali, 15, and Nandni, 10, went missing from the house at 4 in

the evening. A complaint was filed in Padri station after which police began a search operation to find the missing sisters.

Later the elder sister was spotted with her lover on a motorbike, the younger sister was found dead near the railway tracks,” said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjay Verma.

financial burden on banks estimated to be more than Rs 6 lakh crore. “Union of India has decided to continue the tradition of handholding the small borrowers. The Government has decided that the relief on waiver of compound interest during the six-month moratorium period (March 1-August 31) shall be limited to the most vulnerable category of bor-

rowers.”

The waiver will apply to MSME/entity or individuals, who have taken below Rs 2 crore education loans, housing loans, consumer durable loans, auto loans, personal loans, professional, etc.

The Centre said the decision was taken in the interest of borrowers and the banks, which would unable to sustain this load. —Agencies

‘CENTRE SET TO SPEND RS 10 CRORES ON MODEL ITI INSTITUTES’ Hyderabad: Inaugurating a Model ITI institute at Mallepally in Hyderabad, G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Home Affairs for State, said that BJP government is focused on developing skills in youth and is set to spend Rs 10 crores on the construction of model ITI institutes.“As a part of the initiative, Rs 10 crore have been sanctioned out of which Centre pays Rs 7 crore and the state government has to put in Rs 3 crore. Nearly about 15,000 Model ITIs is to be developed across the nation under this initiative,” he said.

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Tejashwi to lead grand alliance for Bihar polls Patna: The opposition Mahagathbandhan on Saturday announced its seat-sharing for Bihar elections with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its leader but differences cropped up as Vikassheel Insaan Party leader Mukesh Sahani expressed dissatisfaction with the seat allocation and walked out of the joint press conference.

Congress leader Avinash Pandey made the announcement about Tejashwi Yadav being the face of the alliance which is seeking to oust the ruling NDA from power in the state. “The alliance is led by RJD and its leader Tejashwi Yadav will lead us. We want Bihar to prosper under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav,” he said.

Apart from Pandey and Tejashwi Yadav, the press conference was attended by RJD leaders Tejpal Yadav and Manoj Jha and leaders

Bihar unit chief of BSP joins RJD

Tejashwi Yadav

from other parties in the alliance.

Yadav announced the seat allocation and said Congress will contest 70 seats, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) 19, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) four and Communist Party of India (CPI) six seats.

“Out of the 144 seats left with RJD, we are in talks with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM) and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), and whatever is finalised, we will let you know in two to

three days,” Yadav said.

Sahani expressed disappointment with the arrangement and said injustice has been done to the most backward classes in the state.

“This is like stabbing us in the back,” he said and walked out of the press conference.

Tejashwi Yadav said Congress will also contest the lone Lok Sabha by-poll in the state from Balmiki Nagar.

Bihar will go to the polls on October 28, November 3 and 7 for 243 member assembly.

Global CFR stands at 2.97 per cent as on date, the comparative figure for India is 1.56 per cent, it said

India tops globally with highest Covid recoveries New Delhi: India continues to occupy the top global position with the maximum number of COVID-19 recoveries and accounts for 21 per cent of the recovered cases worldwide, while its share in the total cases stands at 18.6 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said today.

India has also maintained its global position with one of the lowest COVID-19 case fatality rates (CFR) when compared to several other countries.

While the global CFR stands at 2.97 per cent as on date, the comparative figure for India is 1.56 per cent, it said.

The deaths per million population in India is one of the lowest in the world. While the global average is 130 deaths per million population, India is reporting 73 deaths per million population, the ministry said. The number of people who

Corona vaccine could be rolled-out within 6 months London: There is growing hope that a vaccine against coronavirus may be given the green light by health regulators by the end of this year to be rolled out for a vaccination programme in six

months’ time or even less, according to a UK media report. “We are looking at closer to six months and it is likely to be far shorter than that,” a government source said.

have recuperated from the disease surged to 54,27,706, with 75,628 recovering in a span of 24 hours, pushing the national recovery rate to

83.84 per cent. “India continues to occupy the top global position as the country with the maximum number of recoveries,” the ministry said.

principal health secretary is manipulating data to show that the department is working efficiently. However, we all know that there is no transparency and that data is being fudged everywhere,” Pandya stated, adding, “Rather than focusing its efforts on research and investigation, the government is making more efforts to hide the real number of tests, cases, death, etc. Due to this, more and more people are getting infected.”

set off from Delhi at around 2.30 pm in a silver Toyota Innova that Priyanka was driving. Their convoy consisted of around 30 Congress MPs, including Shashi Tharoor. Hathras is around 200 km from Delhi.

Patna: Ahead of state Assembly polls here, Mayawati-led BSP Bihar unit chief Bharat Bind joined RJD on Saturday. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav inducted Bind into the party. Earlier, BSP supremo Mayawati had announced that her party will fight the upcoming Bihar polls in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha will be the chief ministerial candidate. RJD is fighting upcoming state elections in coalition with the Congress Party and the Left.

AIIMS report rules cause of Sushant ’s death as suicide New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ (AIIMS) Forensic Medical Board, which was formed to look into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case has ruled out the murder of the late actor in its report. “We have concluded our conclusive report. It is a case of hanging and death by suicide,” Dr Sudhir Gupta, AIIMS Forensic Head told ANI on Saturday. “There were no injuries over the body other than hanging.

There were no marks of struggle/ scuffle in the body and clothes of the deceased,” said Dr Gupta who is chairman of the AIIMS Forensic Medical Board comprising seven doctors.

The board has discussed its findings with the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is investing the late actor’s death case.

“The presence of any seductive material was not detected by Bom-

Trump’s condition ‘concerning’, next 48 hours critical

No force...

A similarly dramatic face-off seemed in store on Saturday as Gandhi

Victim’s family...

“Moreover, when we requested for the post mortem report, they said you will not understand it as you cannot read English,” the brother told ANI. As per a source from the family, though the SIT investigation was going on the team did not visit their house or talk to them yesterday. They

Day after...

Visuals showed the top officials squatting on the ground as Home Secretary Awanish Awasthi repeatedly folded his hands before the victim’s family with a large number of reporters around them; media persons were allowed to enter the village this morning, 48 hours after borders were sealed.

Additional Chief Secretary of UP Awanish Kumar Awasthi said, “We have spoken to the family members and as-

One IAS officer, out of total four, of 1993 batch from Orissa cadre has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government of India.

NO INJURIES

The Government of Haryana has sought the services of Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) officers to fill up four posts of Director Finance in Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited.

RAI APPOINTED US, CABINET SECRETARIAT

Nilesh Kumar Rai has been appointed as Under Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. He is a 2012 batch IRS(C&CE) officer. Bhanuprakash Yetu gets additional charge in AP Bhanuprakash Yetu, Secretary, IT, E & C Department, has been handed over full additional charge for the post of Principal Secretary, Department of Real Time Governance, Andhra Pradesh.

bay FSL and AIIMS toxicology lab. The complete examination of ligature mark over the neck was consistent with hanging,” he added.

However, the medical board has refused to provide the details as the case it is still subjudice. —ANI

MOHFW SEEKS SERVICES OF RETIRED OFFICER AS CONSULTANT IN DGHS

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) wishes to engage deputy secretary of the Central government and higher level retired officers as Consultant on contract basis in the Medical Stores Organization of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under MoHFW. THREE ADG LEVEL OFFICERS GET NEW ASSIGNMENTS IN MP

G Akheto Sema has been assigned an additional charge of ADG, Disaster Management, while D C Sagar was posted as ADG, PTRI, PHQ, Bhopal and A Sai Manohar gets additional charge of Cyber Crime, PHQ, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

BIHAR GETS TWO ADDITIONAL CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICERS

ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR NARESH KUMAR BADHAN IN HP

Dharmendra Pradhan donates plasma at SCB Medical College.

he urged people to donate their plasma for the well-being for the people infected with Covid-19.

Notably, those infected and recovered from Covid - 19 their plasma contains COVID-19 antibodies.

Naresh Kumar Badhan, Additional Director, Agriculture, Shimla, will hold the additional charge of the post of Director, Agriculture, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

By arrangement with: http:// whispersinthecorridors.com

DOWN-TO-EARTH PERSONA OF THE CM

Washington: US President Trump’s condition has been “very concerning” over the last 24 hours, a source familiar with his health said Saturday, adding that the coming 48 hours would be critical. “The president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery,” the source said.

had talked to them earlier. The SIT team spoke with other people of the village yesterday.

ONE IPS OFFICER FROM ORISSA EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY

Balamurugan D and Sanjay Kumar Singh have been appointed as Additional Chief Electoral Officers (ACEO) in Bihar. Both are IAS officers of 2005 and 2007 batches respectively.

When Prem Singh Tamang, Chief Minister of Sikkim saw Pawan Chamling Ex-Chief Minister of Sikkim attending the session of Sikkim Legislative Assembly, he went to greet and wish him. This reflects the mannerism, culture, humility, egoless, and down-toearth persona of the CM.

FROM PG 1 nCoV update... private hospitals are admitting more and more patients. India is soon likely to top the global list of Sars-CoV-2 infections,” he asserted.

Activist Mahesh Pandya said that the government wants to portray the state as a model one and, so, officers are in a race to paint a rosy picture.

“Take the example of Ahmedabad. Ever since Rajiv Gupta was appointed as the nodal officer, he has tried to convince people that he has single-handedly brought the COVID-19 situation under control.

On the other hand, the

POWER Gallery HARYANA GOVT SEEKS SERVICES OF IDAS OFFICERS

Dharmendra Pradhan donates blood plasma at Cuttack hospital Cuttack: After recovering from Covid-19, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan donated his plasma today. He donated his plasma at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack at 3.30pm. He is the first Union Minister to donate his plasma after fighting the infection for nearly three weeks.

After donating Plasma,

06

sured them that we will investigate the case properly. The Chief Minister has already formed a special investigation team and a woman officer is also a part of the team. The first report will be out on Sunday at 4 pm.”

The visit also comes a day after an angry Allahabad High Court summoned top officials, although only on October 12. The court said the matter was of “immense public importance... involves allegation of high-handedness by authorities resulting in violation of basic human and fundamental rights”.

‘ Atal Tunnel to become new lifeline for Ladakh’ Lahaul: The Atal Tunnel is part of the central government’s commitment to make development reach every corner and every citizen of the country, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday.

“Atal Tunnel is part of the Centre’s commitment to make development reach every corner of the country. Earlier, there were many regions of the country, which were left to fend for themselves, it was

PM Modi during the inauguration of Atal tunnel in Manali.

because of the simple reason that these regions did not fulfill the political ambitions of some people,” Modi said speaking at a pub-

lic rally in Sissu, Lahaul Valley. The Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the Atal Tunnel, earlier today, in Rohtang.

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07

IN THE ABSENCE OF A VACCINE, VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE REMAINS OUR BEST DEFENCE AGAINST THE PANDEMIC

BUT WILL IT WORK? WHY WE COMPLY

n economics, there has been a sustained Ibehaviour interest in the effects of sanctions on since at least the late 1960s. In

particular, the literature on compliance in paying taxes, which has interesting parallels with the domain of health.

Three parallels between paying tax and complying with coronavirus measures are noteworthy: n The action taken (paying taxes, staying indoors, wearing a mask, washing hands) is costly for the individual. n Compliance benefits society as a whole. n Both individual and societal benefits are hard to observe.

This last point is particularly important.

When benefits are hard to observe, our perception of them becomes critically important for the question of whether we comply. For some, the perceived benefits are high, perhaps higher than the actual benefits accrued to society and the individual. For others, the perceived benefits are low, perhaps lower than the costs they must pay to comply.

From here, it is relatively straightforward to see that for some, the perceived benefits are high enough to outweigh the costs of compliance, and hence these people choose to comply. For others, the perceived benefits of compliance are lower than the costs, and hence they do not. So to increase compliance, the perceived benefits of doing so need to increase.

The problem is that perceptions are hard to shift, and require high degrees of trust and consistent communication from those asking you to change your behaviour. Instead, policymakers have traditionally focused on enforcement and deterrence, effectively raising the costs of non-compliance.

ARE FINES AN

EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO FORCE PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS?

COMPLIANCE AND CORONAVIRUS

n the absence of a vaccine, voluntary Iagainst compliance remains our best defence Covid-19. Yet recent protests in

the UK against the regulations show that there is a lot more that needs to be done to get people on board.

Research carried out over the course of the current pandemic has shown that people are more likely to voluntarily follow the rules when their perceived risk of catching the virus is high and when they believe that compliance is effective in avoiding Covid-19.

So beyond the new coronavirus fines, the government should focus on getting people to do the right thing because they want to, wherever they are. The way to do this is to focus on communicating guidelines clearly and taking steps to gain and retain citizen trust.

Communication of the dangers of non-compliance needs to be clear and consistent, something that has not always been the case so far. The Dominic Cummings scandal – in which the senior government adviser was revealed to have broken the rules by driving to Durham from London during lockdown – badly damaged trust in the government. Confusion over whether the government and its scientific advisers actually supported the idea of herd immunity at the start of the pandemic has also muddied the waters significantly.

Fines for failing to follow the rules may bring some people into line for fear of being found out. But to really get everyone involved in preventing coronavirus by washing hands, physically distancing and wearing masks, the government needs to communicate better and try to restore trust.

T

he United Kingdom is under a new coronavirus regime – one in which pubs close at 10 pm and businesses not deemed “Covid-secure” can be forced to close. That also means there is a new set of fines for those who break the rules, for example, by not wearing a mask in the back of a taxi.

Compliance with coronavirus rules has been decreasing over time, which is expected – I predicted as much back in May. To combat this, the United Kingdom government has doubled the fine for first offences from £100 to £200 and introduced penalties of up to £10,000 for breaking isolation, in the hope that the new penalties will increase compliance with the rules.

o see why simply increasing fines Tbehaviour, may not be the best way to change let us follow the literature

and distinguish between two aspects of compliance: - Voluntary compliance: This is where we follow the rules even in the absence of enforcement mechanisms.

This represents a high degree of cooperation and is the level of compliance that governments typically aim for.

-Enforced compliance: This is when we comply with a rule solely to avoid fines. Enforced compliance typically increases adherence to only those rules that are observable and enforceable. This represents a low degree of cooperation.

To increase enforced compliance, the government has three options: increase monitoring, increase fines or

WHY DETERRENCE DOES NOT WORK

to increase both. Increasing monitoring is very expensive as it requires, for example, extra policing. Increasing fines is the cheaper policy option, and

can allow for additional monitoring over time if necessary.

But there are drawbacks to both these approaches. The first is that they

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI

generally apply to easily observable phenomenon such as wearing a mask at a store but not to washing hands at home. This means that the range of be-

DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

haviours you can target with enforced compliance strategies are limited. The second drawback is that these strategies can backfire and actually reduce compliance, particularly if the fines are perceived as unfair. Studies of taxpayers in Chile, Argentina and the United States state of Minnesota have all shown that increased auditing can have the unintended effect of decreasing the amount of tax paid.

In a recent paper, my coauthors and I used data from 44 countries to show that, when it comes to paying taxes if citizens believe authorities can detect and sanction behaviour easily, enforced compliance increases because of the fear of being found out. In the same vein, if people believe the authorities are working in the best interest of citizens, voluntary compliance increases.

We all face failure sometime or the other but if we learn and use that experience wisely then it is a small victory of sorts.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

GUJARAT

10,35,553 3,49,95,784 1,01,722 65,43,448 3,490 1,41,397 CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 37,758 DEATHS 14,30,861 CASES

TAMIL NADU 9,718 DEATHS 6,14,507 CASES

YOGI’S U.P IS BOILING BUT KESHAV IS COOL hat a bizarre country of ours is where settlements are burnt down for one cow, curfews are imposed, but when an innocent girl falls victim to a crime, no one speaks about it, not even your conscience. The ruling party is afraid that the fire from Hathras and Balrampur may spoil the saffron hopes in the Bihar polls, so BJP’s central leadership has begun to curb the unbridled desires of its siphalsar, ie Yogi. Before these uncomfortable incidents took place, a public opinion poll was conducted

by BJP in the state itself.

Results of this survey were shocking as the Brahmins and backward castes of the state were disenchanted w i t h power while Yogi’s popularity was also on a

W

INDIA

08

tremendous decline in. It has been claimed that this decline has been reduced to 29%, and now the party and government may have to face the resentment of Dalits too. It is said that resentment had started when only Yogi’s pictures were seen in the full page newspaper advertisements and even PM’s picture was missing.

BJP’s ‘number two’ had asked Yogi to make one of his trusted confidants the chairman of a commission, but when no decision was taken, Amit Shah directly summoned Sunil Bansal and sent him to meet Yogi.

Since the CM was busy with some important administrative tasks, Bansal had to wait for hours. Recently, when Yogi reshuffled his cabinet, many of Shah’s close men were either given less important portfolios or were shown the way out.

Shrikant Sharma, who is considered to be very close to Shah, would have also been given a new ministry but it was stalled at the last Keshav Prasad Maurya

GYM OWNER FOUND DEAD IN HIS CAR IN SURAT’S ADAJAN

DEATHS

KARNATAKA 9,219 DEATHS 6,30,516 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

DELHI 5,472 DEATHS 2,87,930 CASES

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

moment. The events of Hathras and Balrampur had also put tension lines on PM that the incidents do not make a social agitation like Rohit Vemula’s death, so the language and actions of all the news channels changed. It is heard that Keshav Prasad Maurya is preparing himself as the new CM of the state, the work of construction of Ram temple has started in Ayodhya, i.e., Yogi has already discharged one of his important responsibilities.

RAM MADHAV’S CHANGING ATTITUDE nce considered the most powerful general secretary in BJP organization, Ram Madhav’s departure from JP Nadda’s new team is surprising,

O

however Madhav supporters argue that the PM is going to include him in his cabinet.

There are people from the other stream, saying that these days PM is angry with Madhav, for many reasons. A Gulf country ambassador met PM and complained about Madhav.

When he was in Assam, he announced CM Sarbananda Sonowal as the CM face in the upcoming election, due to which Hemant Biswa Sarma got so annoyed that he refused to contest next election.

To c o nv i n c e him the PM

DEATHS

himself had to take initiative, and proposed to include him in his cabinet. The PM is also believed to have disliked the move by Madhav when he met a businessman close to Madhu Koda to topple Hemant Soren’s government in Jharkhand and there were talks of some transactions. Is this the only reason that Madhav is rebelling. In his article published in Indian Express newspaper on Gandhi Jayanti, he openly expressed his views, and wrote- ‘ Gandhi respected his critics while the dictator did not tolerate oppoRam Madhav

sition. They live in their cocoons, surrounded by men and henchmen, the same story was repeated from Hitler to Stalin.

These signs are bigger and Madhav’s intentions are even greater.

NADDA’S NEW TEAM he removal of four general secretaries i.e. Ram Madhav, Muralidhar Rao, Anil Jain and Saroj Pandey from new team of BJP president JP Nadda is not a normal occurrence.

Muralidhar Rao, it is being said, has been removed on the basis of his non performance in carrying out the responsibility of Tamil Nadu where BJP has no prospects. It was more or less the same in Rao’s home state of Andhra. Anil Jain used to be close to

T

+VE or -VE? 2 Covid

centres give 2 results

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 1,530 DEATHS 1,41,846 CASES

Ramlal, is said to have received the patronage of Krishna Gopal, a prominent Sangh leader, but is said that his complaint about some cases in Haryana had reached the PM, due to which he suffered. Saroj Pandey is said to have received the patronage of Saudan Singh, and ever since the demand of Saudan Singh has decreased in the Sangh, the stars of Saroj Pandey have also faded a bit. There was a discussion of appointments on four vacant seats in the party’s parliamentary board, which were vacant after death of Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Anant Kumar and Venkaiah Naidu’s vicepresidency. Nirmala Sitharaman may be brought to the seat of Swaraj on women’s quota. The party’s general secretary BL Santosh was instrumental in formation of new team who got CT Ravi, a state

minister in Karnataka govt, and made him national general secretary, and Bengaluru South MP Tejashwi Surya as president of BJP Yuva Morcha. But both of them are fierce Hinduist faces, which shows that BJP can contest the next elections in Karnataka only on the basis of Hindu-Muslim divide. BL Santosh is an engineer by profession, has been an old RSS pracharak and is popular in Mysore, Shimoga and Bengaluru. He has a good grasp on English.

He wanted to reward Ravi, who is also the tourism minister of the Yeddyurappa government, for the role in the ‘Rayat Sangh movement’. Anant Kumar had brought Tejasvi Surya to the party, but BL Santosh adopted him when he was not there.

The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal

JP Nadda

HC sets aside Hindu protests to allow Muslim to build house

A man and his son got 2 rapid antigen tests done at AMC’s corona testing booths, one said they are positive, another said negative Shishir Awasthi

Surat gym owner’s body found in his car.

First India Bureau Surat: A 34-year-old gym owner was found dead in his car near Sneh Sankul Wadi under Adajan police station area in the city late Friday night. He ran the gym in Udhna area and was said to have won the Statelevel bodybuilding competition.

Police sources said Mejal Keriwala, a resident of Krishna Kunj Society in Palanpur, was returning from his gym on Friday evening after which he was

—FILE PHOTO

found dead in his car.

Police reached the spot after some passersby informed them about the incident and sent the deceased’s body for post-mortem.

They have filed a case of accidental death.

The side window of the deceased’s car was broken and an injection and narcotic substance recovered from the car.

His car was found 500 metres away from a hospital. The investigation now depends on the post mortem report, said an investigating officer Sanjay Chaudhary.

Ahmedabad: Senior bureaucrat Rajiv Gupta, being credited for ushering in a semblance of control in Ahmedabad’s fight against Covid-19 after he began overseeing the work, has been repeatedly advising the people to get themselves tested at numerous centres created for the purpose.

He refers to the Amdavad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) centres for free Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RAT). Taking it seriously, Tapan Pal and his son Kaushik living in Narol got themselves tested at a nearby centre on Saturday. This was after Suchitra Ta-

Two AMC testing centres give contradictory corona test results.

pan Pal had recovered and remained homequarantined, along with her husband and son in other rooms.

Since RAT reports come in minutes, the father and son tested positive but the family wasn’t prepared to agree with it since they had all remained separately quarantined in

different rooms in their and had taken all precautions.

So, Tapan Pal and Kaushik went to another makeshift testing camp in Isanpur area.

Here, to their surprise and shock, their corona reports came back in the negative.

Both the tests were conducted and the re-

sults delivered in just over half an hour (See Picture). So, Tapan Pal and his son are in a quandary about which of the two reports to believe given that both the tests were conducted by the AMC’s staff.

Sources claimed that this was not the first time and the reliability of the rapid antigen tests has been in question. “The RAT is only the first indication whether a person should consider Covid-19 treatment, but has little meaning without the confirmatory follow-up RT-PCR tests,” an official said. However, this case is more startling since two RAT tests within just over 30 minutes had two different results.

Gujarat High Court.

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has granted relief to a Muslim buyer of a plot located in a Hindu-dominated residential society in Vadodara by permitting him to restart construction of the house.

The court has also ordered that electricity connection that was snapped by the VMC and the power department be restored forthwith. Firoz Mohammed Patel is one of the many Muslims who have purchased properties at the Samarpan Society but

—FILE PHOTO

are unable to settle down because of angry protests by several Hindu residents.

Justice Bhargav D Karia pronounced the order last week on Patel’s petition seeking permission for construction and restoration of electricity supply. The society has been in controversy on similar issues for nearly a year.

Patel had bought a plot measuring 5,003 sq m for Rs 1.35 crore from Firoz Fali Contractor under the Disturbed Areas Act, 1991 as the locality falls under the area defined by this Act.

MISSING KID: Fire Dept unearths ‘half body’ from Pirana dump!

In its 7-day search, A’bad Fire Dept found a body from garbage but not sure if it’s the same girl First India Bureau Ahmedabad: “Death, Be Not Proud!”

When English poet John Donne penned this poignant poetry in 1609 and signed

off with “you shalt die”, there was no Pirana mountain of Ahmedabad’s staggering 4,000 tonne of garbage that stands menacingly tall at 70 metres to-

day.

Donne won’t have known that 2 children, a girl of 12 and a boy of 7, would get buried under a huge sliding mound of garbage on September 27, 2020.

The garbage dump in Ahmedabad’s Pirana area. —FILE PHOTO

The boy, Anil Marwadi, was immediately rescued by the locals but the girl, Neha Vasava, went missing.

As irony would have it, the Fire Brigade staff on Saturday, October 3, brought out a body “after working day and night but we

can’t say whether it is of the girl,” says Rajesh Bhatt, additional chief fire officer.

Why? “It is a half body!” He says, “Since the body is not full, it is difficult to recognise if it is the same girl.” Bhatt points out that a DNA test would

be conducted to conclude whose body is it.

Bhatt told First India, “If the recovered body belongs to the missing girl, the case and investigation work by the fire department concludes. If not, we continue the search.”

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F F O T I P E E K T

a few s n a f r e should ce, and how f f o e h t ives all ps/dress in pla g t s r i F City eir to h t p e e k style! o t n i s t i k f t c a u h y the o a l s n ZE: a c HE SI not they T E E S to

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09

ETC AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020

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ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20 This week is good since it makes your deepest desires come true. Professionally, you will enjoy the fruits of your labour so far, while paving the way towards your secret dreams. You will feel the same favour in your love life as well. Your innate charm becomes even more prominent and you become the centre of attention. Maybe the time has come for you to reveal your secret feelings to the person who interests you. If you are in a relationship, these days will be a breath of fresh air for your relationship.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20 These following days will be intense and with many developments. During the first days of the week, you will have to make some important decisions about your job, with crucial consequences. When you encounter new opportunities, think rationally and you will find the right answers. At the same time, you feel the need to go out and have fun with other people, but you also need to rest and spend some time with yourself. Don’t neglect yourself; take some time to replenish your energy. Be calm and prudent.

GEMINI

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

You are about to discover that some people have been plotting against you. They have been putting obstacles in your path, so you need to rethink you good behaviour towards them. They are not good for you, so think very well before you give them your help when they ask for it. Around the end of the week, some expenses you had not predicted will occur and they will stress you out. Don’t let other peoples’ needs impede your own. Your partner will be right there by your side.

The beginning of the week will bring a nostalgic feeling and a need to review your past. You will face similar situations in the future, so you have to think about the decisions you made back then and whether you want to repeat them. The same goes for your love life, where you must not compare your past to your present. At work, you need to stay focused on your goal. You might feel exhausted, but good planning and time management will bring you amazing results. You might find it hard to adjust, in the beginning.

VIRGO

LEO

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22 This week brings difficulties and demands in your professional life. The people around you will be there to help and support you, as you overcome the hardships. You need to distinguish the people who help you from those who are purposefully trying to harm you. Be patient and plan your time in order to deal with your many obligations. In your love life, you will begin a secret affair that you will not be able to reveal to the people around you. Secrecy will prevail, this week.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 22

This week will improve things in your life, as long as you make the right moves. Otherwise, nobody can guarantee you professional stability. Think with optimism and creativity and you will be able to regain the trust of your working environment. You can work hard and with focus, ignoring any interruptions. In your love life, trust your instincts and have a serious conversation with your partner. It is time for you to talk about the future of your relationship.

CANCER

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

AUG 24 - SEP 23

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23 Your need for communication will be evident at the beginning of this week. You will constantly want to share your thoughts and concerns with those around you, and this will have positive results, as you will find the solutions you seek and realize that there are people willing to support you. Your career is also favoured, as you see that many of your dreams can now come true. However, you need to be careful in the area of your finances. So do not reject the support of the people around you. Soon you will understand that it is important.

10

OCTOBER 04 TO OCTOBER 10

REKHA CELEBRATES HER BIRTHDAY ON 10TH OCTOBER AND AMITABH BACHCHAN ON 11TH OCTOBER. FOR REKHA, THE COMING YEAR WILL BRING STABILITY AND JOY BUT SHE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HER HEALTH. AMITABH BACHCHAN WILL FEEL HAPPINESS AND PEACE AT HOME AND THERE ARE CHANCES OF A HIKE IN INCOME FROM THE REGULAR SOURCES. OVERALL THE COMING YEAR IS GOOD FOR LIBRAS IN TERMS OF APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION.

CAPRICORN DEC 23 - JAN 20

This week demand careful handling on a professional and financial level, while your love life is clearly favoured. Be careful when it comes to investments, transactions and purchases. You also need to control your debts and your expenses. At work, certain people will be trying to harm you with secret plots. On the other hand, your instinct will help you deal with any problems in your love life.

If you are single, a friend of yours will reveal their feelings for you.

AQUARIUS

This week you will get the chance to settle business and personal issues. Discuss your plans with your colleagues and you will find the support you need. Don’t insist too much, because you might end up being pushy. You need to be careful about how much you trust the people you don’t know well. Observe before you jump in. In your love life, you can have meaningful discussions with your partner, as long as you learn to listen. Communication is favoured this week.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22 This week, make sure you remain calm. You need to be patient and persistent, in order to face the people who will try to challenge you. Don’t get into direct conflict with them. Be understanding and don’t mix up your well-wishers and critics. Moreover, don’t share your plans with people you don’t know well.

They might try to stop you. your partner will be there to support you. Keep your work problems out of the family environment, in order to protect your relationship.

PISCES

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

This week you will feel like the world belongs to you and you can achieve anything you set your mind on. You could end up making the wrong decisions, because of all this confidence. Be prudent and rational and take other peoples’ opinion into account. They love you, they care about you and they will help you keep your feet on the ground. You will have to be equally serious in your finances. Control your urge to spend money on unnecessary things, especially on things that seem like bargains.

Your infallible instinct and your perfect planning will save the day. At work, you are about to discover that people are plotting against you. Try to focus on your goals and stick to your plan, even though you cannot understand why they would like to harm you. Your instinct will help you remain prudent and understanding. Your love life will be rich and intense, making you feel like magic. Your wishes will be fulfilled, whether you are single or not. If you are single, your charm will bring you new experiences.

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AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020

CLIMATE WARRIOR

ALBUM

ANTI

I

A

the new album. RiRi disclosed that she’s already held “tons of writing camps” which is where songwriters are put into groups in order to create original tracks for artists. The Love on the Brain singer has been asking herself questions like what she feels as an artist personally about the music, what she wants to put out, does she want to play it with her art and how does she want to interpret that. There’s also the question of how she wants to reimagine her music because it’s been so structured before.

—Agency Rihanna

t was back in 2016 when Rihanna released her eighth album ‘ANTI’, which took over No. 1 on Billboard 200 while giving us hit singles like Work ft. Drake and Needed Me. While we’ve been blessed with many successful RiRi collaborations since then like Wild Thoughts with DJ Khaled and Loyalty with Kendrick Lamar, fans have been anxiously waiting for their idol to release her next album. In the past, the 32-year-old singer has teased about her new album but there hasn’t been a confirmation on the ‘when’ part.

Rihanna shared a tiny glimpse at the theme of her music for

Bhumi Pednekar

ctor Bhumi Pednekar, who has been vocal on climate conservation in the recent past beliefs in sustainability to be a vital step in climate protection. Her positive social messages through her movies along with her nature protection initiative ‘Climate Warrior’ has grabbed headlines for every good reason.

Now, the versatile actor wants to use her voice to bring positive changes and she is hoping to utilize her online and offline initiative ‘Climate Warrior’ to aware citizens of India to contribute towards protecting the environment. the talented actor said since she is now an established actor, she has the power to reach out to more people. That’s what she has tried to do through her film roles. Bhumi feels she has to use her voice and social media platforms to look for positive change educating people about the adverse effects of climate change.

—Agency

VISUAL TREAT FOR THE FANS

E

arlier this year, ‘No Time To Die’ dropped the audio of its theme song sung by Billie Eilish. Staying true to the franchise, Billie added her style to the song and presented a masterpiece. While we were already hooked to the song, the international singer dropped the music video of the James Bond movie OST and boy, it is as eerie as one could think! The music video starts with Billie taking the centre stage with a huge microphone in her hand and the spotlight on her, taking us back to t h e retr o era.

“Was I stupid to love you? Was I reckless to help? Was it obvious to everybody else? You were never on my side/ Fool me once, fool me twice/ Are you death or paradise?/ Now you’ll never see me cry/ There’s just no time to die,” Billie sings about betrayal as the video gives us a few new glimpses at the Bond 25 movie. The theme of the song not only perfectly blends with the tone of the movie but the music video is a visual treat for the fans of the franchise and the singer. —Agency

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello & Shawn Mendes

5 MONTHS & GOING STRONG

A

Kareena Kapoor Khan

ctress Kareena Kapoor Khan has reportedly resumed work on her film Laal Singh Chaddha with Aamir Khan and a few days back, she was seen heading out of Mumbai with Saif Ali Khan and son Taimur Ali Khan.

Amid this, the actress has been keeping her fans updated on social media, and speaking of this, Kareena shared a gorgeous selfie on Instagram on Saturday. The gorgeous star also shared an update regarding her pregnancy and left everyone excited about it.

The Laal Singh Chaddha took to Instagram and dropped a pretty selfie as she chilled by the side of the pool. In the gorgeous photo, Kareena is seen clad in a black and white Kaftan as she relaxed and soaked up the sun. The gorgeous star announced that she is 5 months pregnant and that ...her post she is going strong.

—Agency

POWERFUL GENES! I f there is one star in Bollywood who enjoys a massive fan following across the world, it is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The gorgeous star has managed to become a popular name across the world with her craft and at the same time, fans love how she manages to take care of her family too.

Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan together are considered a power couple and their adorable story is what always leaves fans in awe of the two.

The two got hitched back in 2007 and since then, every time when they step out together, it is a sight to behold.

Amid this, we found a throwback interview of Aish-

11

warya with Famously Filmfare where she candidly opened up about what makes her Abhishek argue. The gorgeous Jazbaa star was asked back then about the thing that she and Abhishek argue about the most. Without revealing much, at first, the actress said that no one would want to know. Later, she went on to explain that both she and Abhishek are strong personalities and that as a couple, they are still trying to understand the difference between arguing and discussing. The diva candidly laughed it off and mentioned that they both have been blessed with strong genes.

—Agency

WONDER!

S

hawn Mendes left his fans in crying mess of emotions as he released his new single Wonder accompanied by an aesthetic music video. We get to see the 22-year-old singer show his vulnerable side through the thought-provoking lyrics out of which Mendes’ personal favourite is: “I wonder when I cry into my hands I’m conditioned to feel like it makes me less of a man.” Shawn was asked if he feels pressure putting out songs like Wonder which shine the spotlight on his emotional, vulnerable side. Mendes agreed that there is definite pressure while confessing, “I thought that I was a pretty open, emotional guy until I started being in a relationship with someone that I really, truly love and, realising that ‘Oh no! I really have this big ego, and I don’t want to show her that I’m hurting and I don’t want to show her that offended me, and like I want to be the man, and I want to be strong in this relationship.’ It actually was hurting our relationship,” in reference to his relationship with Camila Cabello.

—Agency

HARD-HITTING POST

A

nushka Sharma never shies away from sharing her viewpoint in the public domain. The actress has been quite vocal about her opinions right from the beginning. Recently, she expressed her anger and condemned the horrific incidents of Hathras and Balrampur that shook the entire nation. Now, the PK actress has shared a powerful and hard-hitting post related to gender inequality and stereotypes on her Instagram handle that is sure to grab the attention of the conscious sections of the society.

The actress begins by stating that the privilege of having a male child has been viewed incorrectly and that it happens to be a myopic vision.

She then quotes, “The only

‘privilege’ is that one has the opportunity to raise a boy in a way that he respects a girl.” Anushka also mentions that it is one’s duty as a parent in society that should not be mistaken for the privilege. The Zero star adds that the gender of the child does not make one privileged.

—Agency

...her post Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Anushka Sharma

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AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020

12

JANAMDIN KI SHUBHKAAMNAYEIN!

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat with his daughters Suhasini and Surangama.

—FILE PHOTO

CITY FIRST, NEW DELHI

I

t was the birthday of Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday, 3 October. PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah greeted the Jodhpur MP with best wishes for long and healthy life. J P Nadda and Prakash Javadekar also tweeted best wishes.

Greetings poured in from his colleagues in the Union cabinet.

Devendra Fadnavis

ACHIEVE special

Shekhawat with wife Naunand Kanwar at the Srivari temple at Tirumala on Saturday

and Vasundhara Raje tweeted happy birthday greetings.

Om Mathur, Satish Poonia, Rajendra Rathore, Diya Kumari and many other leaders as well

as party workers sent across birthday wishes.

RCA President Vaibhav Gehlot called up Shekhawat on telephone to personally wish

‘Satyamev Jayate’

him all the best on his birthday.

On his birthday, Shekhawat visited Srivari temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati with his wife Naunand Kaur and prayed for making the country and the world free from corona pandemic.

The minister also held a dialogue with the party leaders and workers in Andhra Pradesh on-farm laws and told the workers how the legislations are in the interest of the farmers.

In Jodhpur, party workers and supporters organised several activities like distribution of essentials to the needy and plantation drives to celebrate his birthday. —Aishwarya Pradhan

Congratulations!

CITY FIRST

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A

ssociation of C u l t u r e Health Information Education Values and Environment (ACHIEVE) presented an auspicious program filled with music and poetry deemed as ‘Behti Nadi ke Saath’ on Friday.

The program was organised by Anupama Sharma and co-ordinated by Vyomkesh Shandilya. The participants were heartfully welcomed by A CHIEVE’s trustee, Dr Devvrat Sharma on the occasion where au-

diences witnessed the performance of various renowned artistsAmod Chaturvedi, Avinash Tripathi, Rehman, Anamika Jaiswal, Subrata Parashar, Shefali Saxena, Hritisha Rewadia, Rohit K. Nandan, Jaishri Tanwar, Diwakar Acharya, Sanjay Gaur, Nitin Sharma, Devvrat Sharma, Anupama Sharma, Vyomkesh Shandilya, and Sudhir Soni. This programme was backed by the special support of Arun Joshi, Sudhir Soni and Anoop Mor. —City First

he winners of the recently held ‘Poetry Writing and Reading’ competition organised on the occasion of Satyagraha Diwas, 11 September, was announced during ‘Open Mike Kavi Sammelan’ on the Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) Facebook page on Saturday.

The competition themed ‘Satyamev Jayate’ received a whopping 600 entries in multiple languages, from various districts of Rajasthan. It was organised under the joint aegis of the Department of Art, Culture and Archaeology, Government of Rajasthan, JKK and the Bhasha Academy (Sanskrit, Rajasthani, Braj Bhasha, Urdu and Sindhi Academy).

Minister of Art & Culture, Government of Rajasthan, B.D. Kalla shared that the competition was a great effort by Jawahar Kala Kendra connect the young generation to Mahatma

Mugdha Sinha during the ‘Kavi Sammelan’

Dr B.D. Kalla

Gandhi and his principles. To encourage a variety of languages, entries in Hindi, Rajasthani, Punjabi and English were accepted in the competition. Poetry is a

witness of the past and present and an inspiration for the future.

Announcing the 11 winners of the competition, Director General, JKK, Mugdha Sinha said, “The first prize was bagged by Deepak Agarwal from Sujangarh in Churu. The second prize winner was Dheeraj Kumar Dave from Jalore and third prize was won by Asha Sharma from Jaipur. The winners and participants of the competition will receive their winning certificates and participation certificate respectively via email.” cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

RAJASTHAN: Jagdeesh Chandra congratulated the authors as he accepted the copy of the book written on the political life and times of CM Ashok Gehlot ‘Jaadugar ki Raajniti’. The 368 pages book is authored

by Satya Pareek and Vimal Singh Tanwar and co-authored by Dr Pradeep Chaturvedi. Some excellent exclusive photographs are also part of the book, contributed by photographers Santosh Sharma, Padam Saini and Arvind Sharma. The book was released on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Friday and the authors presented a copy of the same to Jagdeesh Chandra at his residence on Saturday evening.

EVENTS!

BIRTHDAY IN PINK CITY!

RAJASTHAN: Mines Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya went to the Mandoli Jain mandir on Saturday on his way back from Sirohi where he initiated the ‘NO MASK NO ENTRY’ campaign. After the holy visit, he left for Jalore to spread the campaign and awareness.

FACESHIELD DISTRIBUTION CITY FIRST, KOTA

Y

outh leader and Educationist Amit Dhariwal distributed 10,000 Face shields to police administration and municipal corporation officials in Kota.

He shared that on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, 2 October, the state government’s decision to run a mass movement against Corona in the entire state has been greatly appreciated. This mass movement is not a political campaign but a nonpolitical campaign against Corona, in which cooperation of everyone is necessary.

Since the beginning of

the Corona transition, the state government has intended to carry everyone along. The government is committed to protecting the people from Corona infection, for the success of the government’s resolve and tireless efforts, cooperation and participation of all of us is very important.

Kota City Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Yadav and Kota Rural Superintendent of Police, Sharad Chaudhary also appreciated the program. Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Vasudev Malawat; Deputy Commissioner, Kirti Rathore and various Congress officials were present on the occasion. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

RAJASTHAN: J.P. Dutta the man behind blockbusters like ‘Border’, ‘Refugee’ and ‘LOC Kargil’ celebrated his birthday with a few close friends at Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur on Saturday, October 3. Seen here with his beautiful wife the actress, Bindiya Goswami at Rambagh.

RAJASTHAN: To spread the message of humanity, one of the prestigious biking club of Jaipur ‘Club Roaring Hawks’ gathered together for an awareness ride in Jaipur on Friday, where more than 15 rides shattered their silence on the recent rape cases.

WORLD ANIMAL WELFARE!

GUJARAT: In order to dedicate welfare, compassion, and love for the animal kingdom, every year 4 October is celebrated as World Animal Welfare Day. It is celebrated on the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals whose aim was to raise the status of animals to improve the welfare standards around the globe.

Sugar Rush Outdoors, an innovative nature and animal-based recreation facility celebrated this day by organising an amazing tour of their Petting Farm which comprises happy stories of —PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI several rescued animals in Ahmedabad on Saturday.