First India-Ahmedabad Edition-05 June 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

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ALERT AHMEDABAD l FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 190

INDIA

WORLD

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GUJARAT

3,89,816 66,38,912 6,362 2,26,588 1,155 18,609 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

W RLD ENVIRONMENT

DAY

World Environment Day, which is observed today, celebrates biodiversity, at a time, when the world is plagued by global Coronavirus pandemic and locust infestations that demonstrate the interdependence of humans and nature. This mesmerising photograph by German photographer Dieter Klein depicts transformative power of nature that has staked claim on this row of once gleaming 1941 Ford Trucks in Florida!

INDIA, OZ INK DEAL TO USE MILITARY BASES

It is seen as part of security cooperation to balance China’s growing economic and military weight in the region New Delhi: In a major development, India and Australia on Thursday inked a landmark deal on allowing access to military bases for logistics support. The Ministry of External Affairs said this deal was part of the total seven agreements that have been signed between the two countries following the first-ever virtual summit between the leaders of the two countries.

Both elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and signed seven agreements including on defence and mining during a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Aussie counterpart

PM Narendra Modi during ‘India-Australia Virtual Summit’ with Australia PM Scott Morrison via a video conference in New Delhi on Thursday.

—ANI PHOTO

Scott Morrison.

Referring to the virtual summit, Modi termed it “a new model of India-Australia partnership, a new model of conducting business”.

It was the first time that Modi held a “bilateral”

virtual summit with a foreign leader.

PM described his talks with PM Morrison as “an outstanding discussion”, covering the entire expanse of ties between the two strategic partners. Turn on P6

SC to Centre: Call meeting to ease UNLOCK 1.0 FRESH RULES No touching of idols inter-state movement in NCR New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday asked the Centre to convene a meeting of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for easing interstate movement at all borders in the National Capital Region (NCR) amid certain restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, hearing a plea on

restriction for permissible activities in the NCR, said the states should have a common programme and a common portal for inter-

DELAYED: MALLYA’S EXTRADITION New Delhi: Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya is unlikely to be extradited anytime soon with the UK government saying that there is a legal issue that needs to be resolved before his extradition can be arranged.

Last month, Mallya lost his appeals in UK SC against his extradition to India. P6

state movement.

“We are of the view that in the facts of the present case, the Government of India shall convene a meeting of concerned State officials/UTs and endeavour to find out a common programme, common portal for easing the inter-state movement on all state borders in the National Capital Region,” Turn on P6

2K TABLIGHI FOREIGN NATIONALS BANNED FROM ENTERING INDIA New Delhi: The Government of India has ‘banned’ over 2,200 blacklisted foreign nationals for 10 years from travelling to India for their involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities, said the government sources on Thursday. It means that none of them would be allowed in any circumstances to travel to India as a visa will not be issued to them. In April this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had blacklisted 960 foreigners for violating visa rules after they were found involved in Tablighi activities.

in temples; no ‘dine in’ in restaurants

New Delhi: The government on Thursday announced new rules for allowing shopping malls, restaurants and places of worship to open gradually following the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. The guidelines, which will come into effect from June 8, include measures like staggering visitors to malls and no touching of idols at religious places. All establishments that come

under containment zones, however, will remain closed as announced earlier.

In fresh guidelines for restaurants, takeaways to be encouraged, instead of Dine-In. Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at customer’s door and not handover the food packet directly to the customer, only asymptomatic staff and patrons shall be allowed.

Turn on P6

Two Cong MLAs resign fortnight before Rajya Sabha election JITU CHAUDHARY (KAPRADA) AND AKSHAY PATEL (KARJAN) HAVE LEFT THE CONGRESS AND RESIGNED AS MLAS Gargi Raval Gandhinagar: In yet another major setback for the Gujarat Congress, two of its MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) tendered their resignation to Speaker Rajendra Trivedi

on Wednesday night, a mere fortnight before the Rajya Sabha election scheduled to be held on June 19.

Lawmakers Jitu Chaudhary (Kaprada) and Akshay Patel (Karjan) have left the Congress and resigned as MLAs,

Karjan MLA Akshay Patel submitting his resignation to Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi.

Speaker Trivedi confirmed on Thursday.

Together, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have fielded five candidates for the four available seats in the Upper House of Parliament. While the former nominated Shaktisinh Gohil and Baratsinh Solanki, the latter put forth Abhay Bhardwaj, Ramila Bara, and Congress turncoat Narhari Amin.

The Congress is already in a disarray

with five MLAs having quit in March. This had brought the party’s presence in the Assembly to 68 seats.

With the latest resignations, the Congress has just 66 seats in the Assembly, and will now have to depend on non-Congress MLAs including Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani to garner the votes required to have both of its candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Neither Chaudhary

nor Patel have been in contact with party members since Wednesday. Sources say another Congress MLA is also likely to abandon ship in the near future.

“The party leadership should have focused more on its MLAs during the lockdown. Everyone is aware of the BJP’s intentions, and that it commonly practises horse-trading in order to win more seats,” said a senior Congress leader.

Turn on P6, More on P2

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AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

02

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS A senior officer at the CMO is the brain behind the horse-trading.

We have enough evidence to prove our allegations and at appropriate time will make it public.

It seems that the money made from Dhaman-1 is now being used to bribe and lure Congress MLAs. —Paresh Dhanani, LoP

Congress has not learnt from its part mistakes. Only a few leaders in the party hold the reins and those with grassroots networks are being ignored. The result is visible now.

CONGRESS LIKELY TO LOSE FACE BJP already a step closer to victory for its three candidates; three more Congress resignations before D-Day will cement opposition party’s loss First India Bureau Gandhinagar: With two more Congress party MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) resigning on Thursday, the upcoming election to the four Rajya Sabha seats is more or less a formality.

The maths now favours the Bharatiya Janata Party’s three candidates, who might all get elected in the first round of voting. On the other hand, this is politics, where anything can happen, including cross-voting and BJP MLAs being absent or abstaining from voting.

There are five candidates in the fray for the four available Rajya Sabha seats: three from the BJP and two from the Congress. To win the election in the first round, each candidate will require 35 votes.

The state Assembly has a total of 182 seats,

of which 173 are occupied since six seats are vacant and one election has been cancelled. Breaking this down along party lines, BJP has 103 MLAs, Congress has 66, the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) has two, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has one and there is one independent MLA. Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel will have to chip in again, like he did last time, to convince BTP leader Chhotubhai Vasava to vote for his party’s candidates. It is almost certain that the NCP’s sole MLA, gangster Kandhal Jadeja, will vote for a BJP candidate. Similarly, independent MLA Jignesh Mevani will almost certainly vote for a Congress candidate.

Meanwhile, the BTP is keeping its cards close to its chest, but knows its two votes will be very crucial

ASSEMBLY MLA STRENGTH BJP 103

Cong 66

NCP 01

BTP 02 IND 01

CONGRESS MLAS WHO HAVE RESIGNED IN THE RUN-UP TO THE RS ELECTION Somabhai Patel

(Limbdi)

Pravin Maru

(Gadhda)

Pradyumansinh Jadeja

(Abdasa)

JV Kakadia

(Dhari)

Mangal Gavit

(Dang)

Jitubhai Chaudhary

(Kaprada)

Akshaykumar Patel

(Karjan)

for both the BJP as well as the Congress.

The incumbent BJP will not be happy with the resignation of just

two Congress MLAs, since it will take another three Congress resignations for the BJP’s three candidates

Ahmedabad: In wake of the resignation of two MLAs, senior Congress leaders and MLAs convened for a meeting at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday. The meet was also attended by Patidar leader Hardik Patel and took place after Assembly speaker Rajendra Trivedi con-

firmed the resignations of Jitu Chaudhary (Kaprada) and Akshay Patel (Karjan). After losing two MLas, it is likely that Congress will safeguard the remaining MLAs from horse-trading by taking them to other states, most probably Rajasthan. Also, it could also mean that senior leaders of the party will be roped in to mentor

109,620 32,688 5,384 27,128 39,904 33,689 8,705 4,630 8,071 29,021 1,356 11,729 7,636 611 1,770

IN GUJARAT DISTRICT

—Narhari Amin,

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

13354 938 1179 42 SURAT 1875 80 RAJKOT 119 3 BHAVNAGAR 132 9 ANAND 104 10 BHARUCH 46 3 GANDHINAGAR 360 14 PATAN 86 7 PANCHMAHAL 95 10 BANASKANTHA 131 5 NARMADA 23 0 CHOTA UDEPUR 33 0 KUTCH 83 4 MEHSANA 138 6 BOTAD 60 2 DAHOD 45 0 PORBANDAR 12 2 JAMNAGAR 55 3 MORBI 4 0 SABARKANTHA 111 3 ARAVALLI 117 7 MAHISAGAR 116 2 KHEDA 81 4 GIR SOMNATH 45 0 VALSAD 41 2 TAPI 6 0 NAVSARI 28 1 DANG 2 0 SURENDRANAGAR 41 1 DWARKA 14 0 JUNAGADH 30 2 AMRELI 10 1 OTHER STATES 24 0 TOTAL 18609 1155 AHMEDABAD

State leaders of the Congress are egotistical and have little respect for their team members. So, MLAs feel ill-treated or ignored and so they resign. But the attitude of the Congress party’s leadership remains the same.

VADODARA

—Alpesh Thakor, BJP leader

MLAs have got fed up with the groupism in the Congress. Even Karjan MLA Akshay Patel told me so when he spoke to me before resigning.

—JV Kakadia,

former Congress MLA

I am a Congressman and will remain a Congressman. All speculation about me resigning from the party are baseless.

—Lalit Kagathara, Congress MLA Tankara

Chavda alleged that officers in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) were threatening lawmakers and pressuring them to resign from Congress.

“Rather than focusing on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a few officers are busy wasting the taxpayers’ money to buy people. On the other hand, the state claims that it does not have

+478 +141 +169 — +176 +88 +6 +21 +59 — +81 +1,092 +138 +32 +82

LAST UPDATED: JUNE 4, 2020, 11:30 PM

BJP Rajya Sabha candidate

to sail to a smooth victory.

If three more Congress MLAs resign, the party’s strength falls to 63, while the Assembly strength drops to 170, meaning each candidate in the fray will have to get a minimum of 34 votes to win. Given that the BJP has 103 seats in the House, this development would mean the party can elect all three of its candidates to the Rajya Sabha even without votes from the BTP and NCP MLAs. On the other hand, in this scenario, the Congress will need 68 votes, with only 63 seats. So, even if all four non-BJP MLAs-BTP (2), NCP (1) and Independent (1)--vote for Congress candidates, the party will still be short of ne vote in the first round of the election that is scheduled for June 19.

state MLAs. Around 68 MLAs stayed at Jaipur’s Shiv Villa resort in March but, returned to the state due to the COVID-19 outbreak. After an announcement regarding the two MLAs’ resignation was made by Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit

1,911,717 BRAZIL 590,485 RUSSIA 441,108 SPAIN 287,406 UK 281,661 ITALY 234,013 GERMANY 184,597 TURKEY 167,410 IRAN 164,270 FRANCE 151,677 CHILE 118,292 MEXICO 101,238 CANADA 93,700 S ARABIA 93,157 PAKISTAN 85,264

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO

Cong may move to safeguard MLAs from horse-trading First India Bureau

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

USA

—Amit Chavda, President, GPCC

RAJYA SABHA ELECTION

COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

money to buy ventilators for COVID-19 patients,” he stated.

Further, LoP Paresh Dhanani said, “The ruling party has earned money from the ‘fake’ Dhaman-1 ventilators. That is the money they are using to buy MLAs. There are a few officers in the CMO who are playing this dirty game.”

SAMPLE RECEIVED SAMPLE NEGATIVE

28 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33

2,33,921 2,15,312

UNDER EXAMINATION

0

More Cong MLAs will quit, leadership has failed them: Vaghani BJP State President feels the seven MLAs resigned from the party due to internal conflict First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The state unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jitu Vaghani has hinted that more MLAs may quit Congress in the near future.

He also claimed that MLAs were leaving the opposition party because they were unhappy with the leadership and that the party had

failed to win the trust of its own MLAs. Talking to the media, Vaghani stated that Congress MLAs were abandoning a sinking ship because they were disappointed with the state leadership and the internal fights and groupism which existed in the party.

He has also alleged that Congress interim

If all seven MLAs of the Congress party, who have resigned their posts as members of the legislative assembly, want to join BJP, they are welcome to do so.

But, there has been no such move made by any of them up till now.

—Jitu Vaghani,

State unit president, BJP

president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi had all failed as leaders. He attributed poor leadership on their part to the exit of party workers and MLAs. Refuting all allegations of horse trading made by Congress, Vaghani termed them ‘baseless and a sign of Congress losing the election’. He added, “Congress talks big about democracy, then their party MLAs have the right to join whomever they wish to. Why is it that there is so much brouhaha over it?”

He attributed the opposition party’s past political manoeuvers as ‘dirty politics’ and cited the revolt of 1996, when Congress supported Shankersinh Vaghela to overthrow a democratically elected BJP government.

“If all seven MLAs of the Congress party, who have resigned their posts as members of the legislative assembly, want to join BJP, they are welcome to do so. But, there has been no such move made by any of them up till now,” he clarified.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | FIRDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

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03

20 Guj dists report 484 new cases overnight 24 hours: 492 cases, 33 deaths Total: 18,609 cases, 1,155 deaths First India Bureau Gandhinagar: More cases of COVID-19 are emerging from rural areas, even as Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat continue to remain hotspots of Sars-CoV-2 infection in the state.

Vadodara reported 39 new cases, Surat reported 81, and Ahmedabad topped the list with 291 new cases. However, dis-

tricts in the tribal belt also witnessed a spate of new cases with Dahod, Narmada, Sabarkantha and Aravalli each reporting four cases in the past 24 hours, while Panchmahal reported three.

In the past 24 hours, the state has tested 6,023 samples.

Gujarat now has a total of 4,779 active cases, of which 68 are critical and on ventilators.

Surprisingly, there

The COVID-19 ward at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital in Ahmedabad.

—FILE PHOTO

is still a mismatch between the data from the state health department and the local bodies. For example, the Surat civic body stated 83 cases, but the state health bulletin shows only 81.

Of the 83, Surat city accounted for 76, while seven came from rural areas. On Wednesday, 14 jail inmates tested positive in Surat city.

On Thursday, Katargam zone was the worst hit with 25 cases, while the Central zone had 11, Udhna zone had 18

and Limbayat, 11.

Three front-line warriors from the New Civil Hospital and SMIMER Hospital have been infected, as has an SRP jawan.

In Ahmedabad, a nurse and doctor have tested positive at the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute. With this, 108 medical and other staff of the institute have been infected.

Vejalpur’s BJP MLA Kishore Chauhan tested positive on Thursday. Since he is

asymptomatic, he has been asked to self-isolate. He is the third BJP MLA to get infected.

Twenty-nine fresh cases have emerged from Ahmedabad’s rural area, of which 22 were from Bavla taluka, four from Viramgam and three from Sanand. The rural areas have reported 19 fatalities so far, with a total tally of 273.

Meanwhile, in Vadodara, 148 samples were tested, of which 39 came back positive. The rest were negative.

1.5 lakh people quarantined at home in Surat with COVID-19

Cops arrest mobile-phone CM Rupani extends validity of thieves in Gandhigram Disturbed Area Act to June 2023

First India Bureau

Rajkot: A trio of robbers involved in stealing at least 39 mobile phone devices was arrested by Gandhigram police on Wednesday. The gang, comprising two male and one female member, used to target men in crowded public places.

The accused have been identified as Dharmendra Muknath (32), Paresh alias Pario Goswami (26) and Laxmiben Bharat Makwana (36). Dharmendra and Paresh are residents of Gondal while, Laxmiben is a resident of Babra.

Speaking to First India about the trio, Gandhigram police inspector AK Vala said, “All phones were

Surat: After a spike in COVID-19 cases in the last 28 hours, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Thursday ordered more than 1.5 lakh people living in 43,000 houses to remain under home quarantine.

As many as 85 Sars CoV-2 positive cases were reported in Surat in the last 28 hours, which prompted the local civic body to take the decision to direct the residents to stay home quarantined. The five zones of Limbayat, Katargam, Central, Udhna and Varachha, that have reported the city’s major chunk of cases, have been under constant surveillance of the municipal corporation. The municipal commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani has appealed to citizens to wear masks at all times when venturing outside and practice social distancing. He also urged people to report to a COVID hospital or care centre immediately if they show any visible COVID-19 symptoms and avoid delay in receiving suitable medical assistance.

Meanwhile, 96 cases were reported in a single day for the first time in the city district on Wednesday. Of these, 85 were from the city while 11 were from other places in the district. The district death toll is 76.

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Police personnel and the arrested gang of thieves.

flee in the autorickshaw of the third accused, Dharmendra.”

The three thieves were caught after the location of a phone was traced when they tried to sell one of the phones by changing the phone’s SIM card. The police seized 39 mobile phones worth Rs2,40,000 along with the autorickshaw from the three accused.

stolen from the shirt pockets of their victims by Laxmiben.

She used to place a handkerchief or a bag near the pocket and in the fraction of a second push out the phone from the pocket. Then she used to pass it on to her partner Paresh who would be on guard nearby.

The trio would then

LIFE IN A METRO

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has taken a call to extend the enforcement of the Disturbed Area Act in Narol and Vatva police station area to June 2023.

The decision has been taken to ensure the safety of people living in these areas.

In a press release, the government has stated that in order to prevent anti-social elements from compelling or forcing people to sell their property falling under the jurisdiction of the Narol and Vatva police stations, the Act will be effective for three more years, until June 30, 2023.

It means that if any person wishes to sell

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to mark World Environment Day by planting tulsi (holy basil) and distributing them free in Naranpura area on Thursday.

However, the area in which the occasion will be celebrated was declared a micro-containment zone by the civic body on May 31.

The programme,

Cong cousins falter ahead of RS polls Ahmedabad: The Congress party had not even recovered after the resignation of five MLAs back in March, and now, it has lost two more MLAs, just a few days ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. Interestingly, this is not the first time Congress MLAs have resigned from the party. A similar thing had happened during elections in 2017 too. Coincidently, both times, the party was under the charge of two cousins—Bharatsinh Solanki and current Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee pres-

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Gargi Raval

FAMILY BUSINESS

Amit Chavda, Paresh Dhanani, Bharatsinh Solanki and Arjun Modhwadia at a party meeting on Thursday.

ident Amit Chavda.

According to party insiders, the cousins have failed to resolve internal conflicts in the party and created many enemies within various groups.

Back in 2017, six Congress MLAs had resigned just before the Rajya Sabha elections.

They attributed dissatisfaction with the party as their reason for quitting. Similarly, a total of seven MLAs have resigned just before the election this time and stated that they were not satisfied with party leaders.

According to sources, conflict within

groups is the main reason why Congress couldn’t keep its flock together. “There is infighting in the party with as many as five different groups in existence.

Moreover, there is no direct monitoring from New Delhi which has turned a few into opportunists in

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani.

or buy property in these two areas, they will need prior permission from the district collector’s office.

Meanwhile, looking out for the interest of farmers, the state government has decided to release water from the Narmada main canal to help with the irrigation of the summer crop.

Water will be released

AMC to plant tulsi on World Environment Day First India Bureau

With Unlock 1.0 in effect, construction work in the city has begun. This includes work on the metro line, which had ground to a halt when the lockdown came into effect in March.

WHAT THIS MEANS

this time of crisis.

They are aware that the rival party will always be ready to offer them what they want,” said a senior Congress leader.

City-based political observer Dilip Kshatriya said, “The party couldn’t keep a watch on the disgruntled MLAs. In March, both the names—Jitu Chaudhary and Akshay Patel—were rumoured to be planning to ditch the party. And, within two days of the announcement of RS election dates, they tendered their resignations.

This means that party leaders were not in contact with them for two months.”

which is to be inaugurated via video conference by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, will also be graced by mayor Bijal Patel.

The area has 590 houses and over 3,000 people under containment. Area residents say, another COVID-19 patient was taken to hospital on Thursday.

“VIPs must be immune to the Sars-CoV-2 virus,” said a local, who witnessed the preparations in progress.

—FILE PHOTO

from the Narmada canal from June 7, and will benefit an estimated 14 lakh hectares of agricultural land in the state. As of Thursday, the water level at the Sardar Sarovar Dam was 123.61m and total amount of water conserved was 1.51 million acre feet. This is likely to be enough to meet the state’s drinking water

and irrigation requirements this summer.

The state government has also decided to hand over the Sola village lake to local civic body Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for beautification and further use. Other lakes which have been passed on to AMC include Vatva Lake, Chharodi Lake and Gota Lake.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

A PACHYDERM’S MURDER EVOKES GRIEF, DISBELIEF

BLACK LIVES MATTER MAHENDRA SINGH

DG Income Tax Investigation, Rajasthan

I

n a devastating incident, a pregnant cow elephant died after it fed on a pineapple stuffed with explosives kept by poachers. The explosion in the animal’s mouth left her in excruciating pain and she could not eat for about a week after feeding on the explosive. She died on May 27. The heart-wrenching image of the pachyderm lying in water after long-suffering moved hearts. The savage murder, which Kerala forest officials said was unintentional, caused an outrage in the country with a strong outpouring of grief, disbelief, and shock.

Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar said that the Centre has taken the incident seriously and promised a proper investigation.

K. Sunil Kumar, district forest officer of Mannarkad, reportedly said, “The animal had sustained injuries because of explosives in its mouth. This was an act done by some people living in forest fringes to keep the animals away from his or her cultivated land. But this was not done intentionally to kill the pregnant elephant.” Elephants are venerated and worshipped by Hindus.

An FIR has been lodged against unknown persons under different sections of the Wildlife Protection Act. Two persons are said to have been arrested.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Maneka Gandhi, who is a known animal rights activist slammed the Kerala government and also the Centre for the pregnant cow elephant’s tragic death in Palakkam and not taking cruelty against animals seriously. Taking to microblogging site the former Union minister wrote, “It’s murder. Mallapuram is famous for such incidents, it’s India’s most violent districts. For instance, they throw poison on roads so that 300-400 birds and dogs die at one time.” As the incident did not happen in Mallapuram, a predominantly Muslim district, as claimed by Maneka Gandhi Kerala said she was “unleashing hate” foiling her attempt to give the tragedy a communal colour.

The BJP MP said that the government takes no action against poachers or wildlife killers so that they keep doing it. She dismissed the claim that pineapple bombs were used to kill wild boars arguing that no wild boar goes anywhere near it as they are capable of sniffing the explosive.

In 1918 the Supreme Court delivered a historic judgment directing the Tamil Nadu government to seal or close down 39 hotels and resorts constructed on an elephant corridor in the Nilgiri Hills in violation of the law. A Bench of Justice Madan Lokur, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, and Justice Deepak Gupta said that elephants were the country’s “national heritage”. They play an important role as “a Keystone Species in the forest ecosystem”.

Even the Union forest ministry describes the pachyderm as the “National Heritage Animal of India”. But the plight of elephants whether in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, or Uttarakhand is best exemplified by the despicable bombing of the 15-year-old animal in Kerala.

I

Globally, the worst sufferer of the outbreak of this pandemic has been, by far, the USA. Figures of Covid-19 deaths across that country, for example, show that thirty-four percent of the deaths were those of African Americans or blacks, whereas they constitute barely 13 percent of the total national population. In the worst affected New York City, the black community had 92.3 cases of hospitalisation for every one lakh population, while those of Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity was close behind with 74.3 cases

n popular perception, Covid-19 is a universal threat irrespective of economic, social, or ethnic background.

However, if we analyse the hard facts, a definite pattern emerges. The first cases of infection outside China were upper-class white-collar executives and globetrotting businessmen. They alone had the need and the means to travel overseas. Once the stage of community transmission of infections started (let us not fool ourselves that it hasn’t), there has been a clear trend of the less privileged sections of the population being more prone to getting infected and, unfortunately, also dying.

Globally, the worst sufferer of the outbreak of this pandemic has been, by far, the USA. Figures of Covid-19 deaths across that country, for example, show that thirty-four percent of the deaths were those of African Americans or blacks, whereas they constitute barely 13 percent of the total national population. In the worst affected New York City, the black community had 92.3 cases of hospitalisation for every one lakh population, while those of Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity was close behind with 74.3 cases. White Americans saw far fewer cases at 45.2 per lakh. The primary explanation for the over-representation of blacks and Hispanics, among those getting infected, lies in their poverty. Their cramped houses typically have a greater number of persons sharing it, enabling infections to spread quickly. Most are multi-generation households wherein protecting the vulnerable elderly from disease becomes a challenge. Economic and ethnic segregation of residential areas forces these minorities to live in congested neighbourhoods with hygienically poor surroundings.

Professionally, as the underprivileged ethnic groups generally lack a college education, they are engaged mainly in low paying bluecollar jobs and often use

public transport to commute. As security staff, bus drivers, and nursing attendants, they tend to be more exposed to potential infections. Frequently engaged in essential services, their typical jobs are less amenable to the work from home option. A part of the unorganised sector usually, many of them may not be entitled to paid sick leave and face the financial compulsion to continue working even while sick, increasing the likelihood of transmission of infection to their co-workers.

Most are not covered under medical insurance schemes, making access to adequate health care financially challenging. Lack of proper nutrition and the mental stress of poverty and racial discrimination results in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma among them. The usual cause of death through a Covid-19 infection are complications caused by co-morbidities and they are common amongst the disadvantaged ethnic minorities.

Coronavirus is an invisible enemy, difficult to protest against. America has chosen to blame the closest identifiable proxy for the virus – China.

American blacks have been patiently enduring the onslaught of this deadly virus. Then, their suffering, mainly on account of economic inequality,

Coronavirus is an invisible enemy, difficult to protest against. America has chosen to blame the closest identifiable proxy for the virus – China. American blacks have been patiently enduring the onslaught of this deadly virus

found a parallel faultline in the unacceptable high handedness of the mostly white police officers against their community.

Police brutality resulting in the death of George Floyd has led to a spontaneous uprising against racial discrimination.

The police, wearing camouflage uniforms, moving in armoured vehicles, carrying lethal weapons, and operating in a culture of endemic racial profiling tends to behave like soldiers and see the black Americans as their enemy. Soldiers engage with an enemy in a zero-sum game. Either they kill, or the

Brands backing Black Lives Matter I

f you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

This quote, or part of it, has been circulating on social media this week.

It is attributed to South African Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu in the 1984 book Unexpected News: Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes. So it dates from Tutu’s time as a leading opponent of the apartheid system in South Africa, in which only white people were afforded the full rights of citizens.

But in recent days Tutu’s quote has encapsulated

04

many people’s feelings about what’s going on in the United States today.

The killing by Minnesota police of George Floyd, arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill, has become the latest ignition point for grievances about the systemic overpolicing and extrajudicial killing of African Americans.

But the protests involving millions of people across the US and outside of it are fuelled by more than that. These protests are also about the systemic inequities that have recently seen America’s poorest communities take the brunt of both health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So given the Black Lives Matter protests are in part about the failings of American capitalism,

how the corporate world is responding is worth talking about.

BRANDS SUPPORTING BLACK LIVES MATTER A bevy of the world’s bestknown brands have used their marketing channels to offer support.

“To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter,” said Netflix on Twitter. “We have a platform, and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators and

A BEVY OF THE WORLD’S BESTKNOWN BRANDS HAVE USED THEIR MARKETING CHANNELS TO OFFER SUPPORT talent to speak up.”

Similar tweets have come from Disney-owned Fox and Hulu. Apple Music joined the “Black Out Tues-

day” campaign to raise awareness about issues of systemic ethnic inequity.

Nike has repurposed its famous slogan with its “For once, Don’t Do It” advert: Corporations taking a stand on social issues is a relatively new phenomenon.

As Australian academic-turned-popular TV presenter Waleed Aly noted on his program The Project: Normally when there’s something this divisive and controversial, you know, if you are running a big company, you stay out of it. You don’t want to be involved.

What I’m interested in here is, is this just an evolution in marketing and the way that companies do this, or does it signal – is it a kind of leadership?

Even if these companies

are just protecting their commercial base (as his cohost Steve Price suggested), Aly said: “That’s still significant.”

As a researcher in the field of corporate social responsibility, I agree.

It’s easy to dismiss these statements as low-cost tokenism or politically correct wokism. It may be there’s a hard-headed business decision behind each message, weighing the costs and benefits to the bottom line.

But my research (and that of others) suggests there’s a growing need for what business academics call “political corporate social responsibility” (or PCSR).

The challenge for those embracing it is both talk the talk and walk the walk.

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enemy kills them. The primary role of a police force, in contrast, is to assist the people.

As the generally peaceful demonstrations, marred by a few incidents of looting, violence, and arson, sweep across America, the need of the hour was to listen and respond to the legitimate grievances of the protestors.

Instead, President cynically tweeted ‘November 3’, the date for his presumed reelection. Trump berated the local authorities for failing to dominate the streets, ominously predicted that ‘when the looting starts, the shooting starts’ and threatened to call in the army to control the crowds. In response to the peaceful protest gathering outside the White House, the law enforcement officers used tear gas to clear the passage for Trump to walk to the church. The white backlash against the election of Obama as the first black President had brought Trump to power. His obsession with his electoral campaign for re-election makes him focus solely on his support base by whipping up polarisation and his offer of violence as the solution. An apparent flaw in the working of the electoral system is that playing partisan politics can give the authority to rule an entire nation.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Harnessing the full potential of #biofuels, including GOIs initiative of seting up 5000 CBG plants across India in a phased manner, will kick start a circular economy in the biofuel sector, create jobs, promote development and further the goal of #AatmaNirbharBharat.

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal PM @NarendraModi ji’s dynamic leadership has created #Opportunities4Youth in line with aspirational New India. By creating a sustainable and thriving startup ecosystem, our Govt has empowered youth & propelled India towards rapid economic growth.

Spiritual SPEAK

The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.

—Buddha

Vol 1 Issue No. 190 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: Jagdeesh Chandra, responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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RAGA SLAMS CENTRE OVER COVID-19 CRISIS

‘THERE WAS NO LOCKDOWN EVEN DURING WORLD WAR’ New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, in a dialogue with industrialist Rajiv Bajaj on the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, criticised the Central government for its handling of the disease and said that “there was no lockdown even during the world war”.

“It is quite surreal. I do not think anyone imagined that the world would be locked down in this way. I do not think even during the world war, the world was locked down. Even then, things were open. It is a unique and devastating sort of phenomenon,” Gandhi said. “The economy slowed down before COVID-19. Unemployment was becoming a serious problem before this virus. Now COVID-19 pushed it over the edge,” he said.

Responding to the Congress leader, Bajaj criticised the Central government for imposing the ‘draconian’ lockdown and claimed

Kyunki it’s good: Smriti praises new Agri reform

New Delhi: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday expressed happiness over the Central government’s decision to approve an amendment to the Essential Commodities Act, paving way for ‘One Nation, One Agri Market.’

Speaking to ANI, Smriti said, “First time in history, farmers can sell their produce in any state, at a price they deem fit. This realises the dream of ‘One Market’ for our farmers. I congratulate all farmers, especially from Punjab.”

The Union Cabinet’s decision on Thursday , following up on Centre’s ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ economic stimulus measures. —ANI

MANEKA QUESTIONS RAHUL’S SILENCE ON JUMBO’S DEATH

It is quite surreal. I do not think anyone imagined that the world would be locked down in this way.

I do not think even during the world war, the world was locked down. Even then, things were open. It is a unique and devastating sort of phenomenon.

—Rahul Gandhi, Cong Leader

that it was only in India that people were not allowed to move outdoors.

“The way India has been locked down is a draconian lockdown. I am not hearing about this kind of lockdown from anywhere else.

All my friends and family from across the world have always

posed suddenly. The bitter-sweet thing you said is shocking to me. See, rich people can deal with it as they have a home, a comfortable atmosphere, but it is completely devastating for the poor people and migrants.”

“A lot of people said that they have lost confidence and I think this

Ex-Prez doc’s welcomes remdesivir use

‘WHO decision to stop HCQ trial was hasty’

New Delhi: Former physician to the President of India and senior physician at Ganga Ram hospital Dr Mohsin Wali has welcomed the move of the Drug Controller General of India to give permission for emergency use of Remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients.

“Remdesivir medicine can be used to protect lung cells. It is very fortunate that it has been allowed in India. Those patients who were taking 11 days in ICU to recover they are now taking 5 days to recover.

This is a big difference,” Wali said. —ANI

New Delhi: CSIR Director-General Shekhar Mande said that the WHO’s decision to halt hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) drug trial was taken in haste and the global body should have actually analysed the data before deciding.

“I believe that WHO decision was taken in haste it was a kind of knee jerk reaction they should have actually analyse the data on their own before temporarily suspend the trials that is my personal opinion,” Mande said.India’s nodal government agency ICMR (Indian Council of

Medical Research) wrote to the WHO citing differences in dosage standards between Indian and international trials that could explain the efficacy issues of HCQ in treating COVID-19 patients.

In addition, Dr Sheela Godbole, National Coordinator of the WHO-India Solidarity Trial and Head of the Division of Epidemiology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute also wrote a letter via an email to Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at World Health Organisation. —ANI

‘Sr officers deputed to Lawyer gets SC nod to help migrants probe killing of elephant’ IN THE COURTYARD

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed a Mumbai-based practicing lawyer to deposit Rs 25 lakh in the Apex Court registry to ensure that those migrants from Mumbai can travel to their respective states, including Uttar Pradesh, during the COVID-19 crisis.

A bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, and also comprising

Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M R Shah allowed the petition filed by Mumbaibased lawyer Sagheer Ahmed Khan.

He submitted to the Apex Court and pleaded for donating Rs 25 lakh as train fare to enable the Mumbai migrant workers, to

go back to their home towns in Uttar Pradesh. The Apex Court fixed the matter for further hearing till June 12.

Khanhad sought a direction from the Apex Court to the Union of India (UOI) and other concerned authorities to ensure that the migrant workers, particularly those from from Sant Kabir Nagar, UP return home safely. —ANI

Plea in Delhi HC to bring PM-CARES under RTI

No action against employers, says SC

New Delhi: A PIL moved in Delhi HC has sought directions that PM CARES Fund be brought under the ambit RTI. The petition said that PM CARES is a ‘public authority’ within the ambit of Section 2(h) of RTI & prayed for a direction to the trust to display details of the fund collected & the purpose it is being utilised for, on its website.

New Delhi: The SC, while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the MHA notification on payment of wages, observed that some negotiations have to happen between employers and workers to iron out what has to be done for the salary for these 54 days.

The Centre told Apex Court that the payment of wages to workers during this

2 RSS MEMBERS, OTHER STAFF TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 New Delhi: It appears that Corona has entered the RSS office in New Delhi as Sangh’s Sahpracharak Parmukh, Dr Sunil Aambekar and Dr Yogendra have been tested Corona positive. Apart from them, two cooks have also been tested positive for the deadly virus. Dr Aambekar has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital &

been free to step out,” Bajaj said.

On tacking the hardships of economy, Bajaj was of the view that India can tackle it by adopting “specialisation” as a strategy.

Agreeing with the industrialist’s opinion, the Gandhi scion said, “It (lockdown) was also im-

is a very sad thing, and dangerous for the country,” the Congress leader added.

Rajiv Bajaj further targeted the Centre and said, “Don’t understand how despite being an Asian country, we ought not to look East, we looked at Italy, France, Spain, the UK and the US. Not right benchmarks in any sense be it in terms of inherent immunity, temperature, demography etc.”

“Instead of looking to the west or to the east, why didn’t we say that we are actually a confident country, let’s look at ourselves and let’s come out with an Indian solution. Why was that not the natural impulse?” Gandhi said.

Rahul has been holding a series of dialogues on the status of India’s economy and the impact of lockdown. On April 30, he first held a conversation with former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. —ANI

after the matter came to light, the Delhi office of Sangh has been sanitized.

India’s tally of coronavirus cases has crossed two lakh after a record number of 9,304 people tested positive for the deadly virus infection in last 24 hrs. Total cases in country stood at 2,16,919 including 6,075 deaths, according to government data.

The PIL referred to media reports that the PM’s Citizen Assistance Fund has refused to divulge information under the RTI Act, 2005 by claiming that fund is not a “public authority” within ambit of Act. —ANI

GANGAQUEST-2020 ONLINE QUIZ CROSSES A MN MARK New Delhi: While the country has been struggling to battle COVID-19, the National Mission for Clean Ganga has been busy for more than a month in raising another awakening among people especially among children about Ganga, Rivers and Environment-- Gangaquest-2020- an innovative online quiz that has been live now for more than a month. The quiz has received unprecedented response and crossed a million mark, with more than 11L participants registering well before its scheduled end on May 30, 2020.

lockdown period is a matter between employers and employees. It further said that it would not interfere.

A bench of the Apex Court, headed

by Justice Ashok Bhushan, along with other justices “On one hand you (Centre) are trying to put money in the pocket of worker. So now some negotiation is required for a solution.” —ANI

New Delhi: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said on Thursday that senior officers have been deputed to probe the killing of an elephant in Kerala’s Palakkad district.

“If someone stuffed firecrackers in pineapple to feed an animal, and if those firecrackers burst in its mouth, and if the animal dies because of that, it is not our Indian culture. This is absolutely unacceptable. The Centre is taking this case very seriously.

Senior officers have been deputed to take the investigation further, and nab the culprits,” said the Minister.

“To solve the animalhuman conflict, we are focussing on fodder and water augmentation in forest areas,” added Javadekar.

The elephant had died on May 27 after she ate the pineapple stuffed with crackers and forest officials said that it died standing in river Velliyar after it

NO RINGING OF BELLS IN TEMPLES OF UTTAR PRADESH NOW Lucknow: When temples across the state reopen on June 8, devotees will not be allowed to ring bells when they enter the temples and there will be no community feasts either. People, can bring their own bells and ring them in temples. Entry into religious places will be permitted only for those who wear masks.

Priests will wear gloves and the norm of social distancing will have to be maintained.Mahant Diya Giri of the famous Mankameshwar temple said, “The ‘Jalabhishek’ will now be held through a pipe so that devotees can perform the ritualwithout entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple which is small.

INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY: KERALA CM

R

suffered an injury in its lower jaw. The preliminary post-mortem report of a female wild elephant at Mannarkkad Forest Division

says that the immediate cause of death of the animal was drowning followed by inhalation of water leading to lung failure. —ANI

SOP’s TO CONTAIN SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS IN OFFICES New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Thursday, issued a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) on preventive measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in offices.Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, and pregnant women have been advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes. The office management would facilitate the process, said the Ministry. It said that offices in containment zones will remain closed except for medical and essential services.

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PC bail: SC dismisses CBI’s review plea

CBI had requested Apex Court to review its decision to grant bail to the Congress leader in October New Delhi: A review petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against former union minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s bail in the INX Media case was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Thursday.

“Application for oral hearing the review petition in open court is rejected. We have perused the Review Petition and the connected papers carefully and are convinced that the order, of which review has been sought, does not suffer from any error apparent warrant-

INX MEDIA CASE : THE RULING

“A

ing its reconsideration.

The Review Petition is, accordingly, dismissed,” the judges said in their ruling.

Granting him bail in the CBI case on Octo-

TACKLING COVID-19

Affidavit filed in SC to increase makeshift hospitals

New Delhi: The Union of India (UOI) today told the Supreme Court, during a hearing of a petition by Dr Arushi Jain, that the number of COVID-19 cases is constantly increasing and a large number of make-shift hospitals will have to be set up to deal with the pandemic.

The Apex Court was hearing a petition filed

by Dr Jain, seeking appropriate directions to the concerned authorities, to provide immediate temporary accommodation to all the frontline medical healthcare and other related professionals like emergency ambulance operators.

The petitioner, Dr Jain, also prayed that there should be immediate directions to the concerned authorities to ensure prevention of eviction of medical healthcare professional living in rented accommodations till the

3804 COVID-19 PATIENTS CURED

ber 22, the Supreme Court had dismissed the investigating agency’s contention that Chidambaram, 74, was a flight risk.

Later in December,

the top court had granted him bail in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him in the same INX Media case.

The Supreme Court

Soon, online appointments to visit Mansa Devi shrine

Pradhan calls for responsible steps to revive economy, lauds OPEC

Panchkula: Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board will soon be introducing online registration for 15-second “darshan” at the historical temple in Panchkula, whose doors have remained closed for devotees since the nationwide lockdown was imposed in March to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Now, the board has prepared SOPs for reopening the shrine. “While we are awaiting the government guidelines on reopening temples, we have prepared the SOPs,” said MS Yadav, CEO of the board.

New Delhi: With the revival of global economy being the most sought after goal of governments the world over, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has congratulated OPEC for production cuts that helped pull up global oil rates from a twodecade low and pitched for the oil cartel taking responsible steps in the coming days to enable the revival of the fragile economic situation globally.

“I also commend you for the better understanding within OPEC and OPEC+ at a time

Vaishali

Economics not over health: SC

pandemic is controlled, or provide alternative accommodation at no costs to the medical staff who are being evicted.

She further sought from court directions be made to concerned authorities to ensure about safety of healthcare workers. —ANI

observed that Chidambaram had participated in the investigation, and ordered him to continue to do so and not to talk to the press about the case while on bail.

He was also prohibited from travelling overseas and tampering with evidence or contacting witnesses. CBI had charged Chidambaram and others with allegedly receiving around Rs 10 lakh as bribe for clearing foreign investment for a private company INX Media.

In 2007, during his tenure as finance minister in UPA govt, Chidambaram had facilitated a huge transfusion of foreign funds to the firm, then owned by former media baron Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani Mukerjea. —Agencies

when global energy market is facing serious challenges, the Minister said.

In a statement released by the Petroleum ministry, Pradhan, “highlighted the need for producing and consuming countries to take responsible steps

in the coming days to enable the revival of the fragile economic situation globally.”

He noted that gradual economic recovery is expected which will revive oil growth, and thus care should be taken not to upset the fragile balance between supply and demand achieved so far.

“Pradhan stressed on OPEC’’s role in stabilising oil markets, and agreed to work in close collaboration with OPEC countries for India’s energy security and also for global energy stability in the current challenging environment,” the statement added.

06

POWER Gallery LT GEN MANOJ PANDE ASSUMES CHARGE OF A&N COMMAND

Lt Gen Manoj Pande has assumed charge of Andaman and Nicobar Command on Thursday.

RAVI KOTA APPOINTED AS MINISTER (ECO), EMBASSY OF INDIA, WASHINGTON

Ravi Kota has been appointed as Minister (Economic) Joint Secretary level, Embassy of India, Washington DC, USA under the Department of Economic Affairs. He is a 1993 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

LEKHAN THAKKAR APPOINTED AS COUNSELLOR (ECON), EMBASSY OF INDIA, BEIJING

Lekhan Thakkar has been appointed as Counsellor (Economic) at Director level, Embassy of India, Beijing, China. He is a CSS officer.

H ATHELI APPOINTED AS ADVISOR, ADB, MANILA

H Atheli has been appointed as Advisor at Director level to ED, Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines, under the Department of Economic Affairs. He is a 2000 batch ICAS officer.

BRAJENDRA NAVNIT APPOINTED AS AMBASSADOR & PRI, WTO, PMI, GENEVA

Brajendra Navnit has been appointed as Ambassador & PRI at Joint Secretary level to the WTO, PMI to WTO, Geneva, Switzerland under the Department of Commerce. He is a 1999 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

ANWAR HUSSAIN SHAIK APPOINTED AS COUNSELLOR, PMI TO WTO, GENEVA

Anwar Hussain Shaik has been appointed as Counsellor at Director level, PMI to WTO, Geneva, Switzerland. He is a 2000 batch IRTS officer.

N ASHOK KUMAR APPOINTED AS ADVISOR (IE), EMBASSY OF INDIA, BRUSSELS

N Ashok Kumar has been appointed as Advisor (Industry and Engineering) at Director level, Embassy of India, Brussels, Belgium. He is a 2004 batch IAS officer of Manipur cadre.

DOP GETS NEW ESTABLISHMENT OFFICER IN SRINIVAS R KATIKITHALA

Srinivas R Katikithala has assumed the charge as Establishment Officer in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). He is a 1989 batch IAS officer o Gujarat cadre.

Resolve legal issue before repatriation: UK Govt

PC MODY UNLIKELY TO GET ANOTHER EXTENSION

ONE DOZEN 1988 BATCH IAS OFFICERS STILL WAITING IN GOI?

and was refused leave to appeal further to the UK SC. However, there is a further legal issue that needs resolving before Mallya’s extradition can be arranged.”

“Under UK law, extradition cannot take place until it is resolved. We are seeking to deal with it as soon as possible,” the official added.

management.

In his opening remark, Prime Minister Modi focused on the importance of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, especially during the COVID-19 period. He also called for a coordinated and collaborative approach to overcome the economic and social side effects of the pandemic.

“The role of our comprehensive strategic partnership will be more important in this period of the global epidemic.

The world needs a coordinated and collaborative

New Delhi: Economic aspect is not higher than the health of the people, SC told RBI on interest waiver during loan moratorium.

The top court on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the way the RBI is treating people who had taken loans and wanted a waive off of their rate of interest during this moratorium period in this pandemic times. The RBI had in its affidavit recently said that lenders may likely lose around Rs 2 lakh crore if the interest on their loans is waived off during the loan mora-

torium, which has been extended till August 31.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and others, said: “The economic aspect is not higher than the health of people. The RBI is trying to sensationalise the issue by leaking to the media.” —ANI

New Delhi: Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya is unlikely to be extradited anytime soon with the UK government saying that there is a legal issue that needs to be resolved before his extradition can be arranged.

Last month, Mallya lost his appeals in UK SC against his extradition to India to face money laundering & fraud charges. A spokesperson in UK High Commission said the issue is ‘confidential’ & added: we cannot estimate how long this issue will take to resolve.”

“Vijay Mallya last month lost his appeal against extradition,

Modi for his “constructive and very positive” role including at the G-20 role in pushing for a concerted global approach in dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

“The CSP is based on mutual understanding, trust, common interests and the shared values of democracy and rule of law. It reflects India and Australia’s strong commitment to the practical global cooperation to address major challenges like COVID-19,” added the statement.

The two countries also announced a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the

Indo-Pacific to harness opportunities and meet challenges together as Comprehensive Strategic Partners.

The two countries signed seven agreements including the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA). They agreed to continue to deepen and broaden defence cooperation by enhancing the scope and complexity of their military exercises and engagement activities to develop new ways to address shared security challenges.

New Delhi and Canberra also signed framework Arrangement on

Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation and an MOU on cooperation in the field of mining and processing of Critical and Strategic Minerals.

Implementing Arrangement concerning cooperation in Defence Science and Technology to the MoU on Defence Cooperation was also signed during the first virtual summit.

The two sides also signed three MoUs on cooperation in public administration and governance reforms, cooperation in vocational education and training and water resources

Chairman of the CBDT, PC Mody, is now unlikely to get second extension in service in August. He is 1982 batch IRS (IT) officer.

About one dozen 1988 batch IAS officers are still waiting in the wings to get posting as Secretary in the Government of India.

TAMIL NADU CHIEF SECRETARY, SHANMUGAM GETS THREE MONTHS’ EXTENSION

In view of Covid K Shanmugam, Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, has been given extension for a further period of three months beginning Aug 1, informed a few reliable sources. He is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

S K SINGHAL APPOINTED HIGH COMMISSIONER TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Sushil Kumar Singhal, presently posted as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

FROM PG 1 Two Cong...

All-India Congress Committee’s state incharge Rajiv Satav tweeted: “India is in the midst of its biggest health economic and humanitarian crisis in its independent history. BJP, though, cannot think beyond putting all its energies in poaching legislators for RS polls, people be damned.”

The BJP has 103 members in the House and can win two seats handsdown, but has fielded three candidates.

No touching...

In hotels buffet service

should also follow social distancing norms among patrons, large gatherings continue to remain prohibited and hotels should ensure adequate social distancing between patrons as far as feasible.

All shopping mall entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene and thermal screening provisions, only asymptomatic customers/visitors shall be allowedand all workers/ customers/visitors to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks.

India, oz...

In his remarks, Morrison complemented PM

approach to overcome the economic and social side effects of this epidemic,” added he. —ANI

SC to... the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and M R Shah, said in its order.

The bench, which heard the matter through video-conferencing, noted the submissions advanced by the petitioner’s counsel who said that in the NCR there should be “one policy, one portal and one pass which shall be recognized by all the governments”.

The bench further

noted the submissions of counsel that due to difference in the decision taken by different governments, lot of confusion and difficulty are being caused to the common man.

“Needful be done within a week,” the bench said and posted the matter for hearing on June 12.

During the hearing, the bench observed that there should be a consistent policy in this regard for the NCR. The counsel appearing for the Centre referred to the May 30 order of the Ministry of Home Affairs. —ANI

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AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

07

In the times on the ongoing Corona crisis where uncertainty and fear is leading to a lot of stress, meditation is one of the best ways to calm down and cope on a daily and also long-term basis.

From afar a sunrise may look like a sunset, it is only as we go closer and a little time passes we understand the difference.

In the same manner, an opportunity might look like an obstruction, so keep faith at all times.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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Cash-strapped Guj mulling hike in petrol, diesel prices

08

Duty cuts, interest waivers form Guj’s `14k cr package

No final decision yet, DyCM says govt may have to hike VAT on petroleum products First India Bureau Gandhinagar: With the economy in the doldrums and revenues affected after four phases of corona-enforced lockdown, the Gujarat Government is considering a hike in prices of petrol and diesel by “bringing it on par with the other States.”

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the Finance and Health portfolios, told reporters here that, “Suggestions have been received that the government should increase its revenue through various ways. One of the inputs is about petrol and diesel prices.”

Patel also clarified, however, that no final decision had been taken about this so far. He pointed out that petrol and diesel are available at the “cheapest price in Gujarat compared to other states of India.”

He went on, “This is

NEED OF THE HOUR!

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, on his right Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, on CM’s left Energy Minister Saurabh Patel and in second row Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Principal Secretary (Industries) and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister M K Das.

First India Bureau

ment. There is a similar subsidy of Rs 450 crore to the textile industry for capital and interest payment, while this amount is Rs 150 crore for mega industries.

The package, interestingly, has included announcements made earlier. This includes Rs 1,000 financial aid to poor families, blind, senior citizens and widows, which will cost the State Government Rs 4,375.68 crore. Even the payment against the loss of the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation of Rs 120 crore has been considered a part of the relief package for the people.

used for drinking water supply and also for regional water schemes like Sujalam Sufalam Yojana and SAUNI. Now, from June 7, irrigation water for the entire Kharif season would be released.

Patel said Kutch will also get water for the entire season after some ongoing works at Santalpur are completed in a fortnight.

Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Thursday made a big bang announcement of a Rs 14,000-crore relief package for every one, which is more about slashing of duties and interest waivers than giving out anything.

A key announcement in the package is a 20 per cent rebate in annual property tax to shops and establishments, restaurants, offices, hospitals, nursing homes, which translates into a relief of Rs 600 crore.

The government has announced a 10 per cent relief in residential property tax to the tune of Rs 144 crore. Residential electricity consumers, whose two-month consumption is less than 200 units, will not have to pay charges of first 100 units and the government will suffer income loss of Rs 650 crore.

Commercial electricity consumers having LT connections would be exempted from fixed tariff for the month of May 2020 at a burden of Rs 200 crore to the exchequer. The State Government will also be giving Rs 768 crore subsidy to industries for capital and interest pay-

BJP to hold rallies to Purchase of rough diamonds mark Modi Govt 1st yr put on hold for a month

Mob ties three Siddis to bench, thrashes them

Modi’s PS Topno is Sr Advisor to WB ED

Gujarat Government is mulling hike in petrol and diesel prices.

because we are levying minimum VAT on petrol and diesel. Suggestions have been received that there should be a hike, in order to level the prices with other States to keep revenue flows intact for the government.”

Patel said this was also necessary in the State’s fight against Covid-1 and to ensure that the State could

—FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Gujarat BJP will organise virtual public rallies this month to highlight the works carried out by the Narendra Modi Government during the first year of its second term in office.

State BJP president Jitu Vaghani on Thursday said the virtual rallies will be addressed by national party President JP Nadda and other central leaders.

“Four virtual rallies will be held in four different zones between June 8 and June 17. We will use different digital and social media tools

as well as cable TV to reach out to at least one lakh people in each rally,” he told reporters.

Prior to these virtual rallies, party leaders like Mansukh Mandaviya, I K Jadeja and Ganpat Vasava will address press conferences across the state.

Between June 15 and 28, party workers will visit booths to distribute a copy of PM Modi’s letter to the countrymen, Vaghani said, adding that booth-wise WhatsApp groups will be created to connect around 47 lakh new workers of the party.

continue its development work and implement the relief schemes, including Atmanirbhar Gujarat scheme, pay salaries, bear the cost of subsidy such as agriculture power subsidy worth Rs 4,000 crore and execute the budget plans.

Besides this, the government is in process to announce one more re-

lief package, he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister announced that Narmada waters for Kharif season irrigation will be released from June 7.

Patel said Sardar Sarovar dam has huge water storage compared to past five years at 1.51 million acre feet and the water level is at 123.61 metres.

This storage is being

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Surat: Leading diamond-trade organizations from Surat and Mumbai called on members to stop importing rough diamonds for at least a month so the industry can survive in this painful situation arise duwwe to Corona pandemic.Currently the traders have ready stock, and if the demanad for it increase than they don’t have to suffer much loss.

Surat diamond industry has just started operations after almost two months of lockdown. The traders have enough stocks but there is no demand on the gloabl level as well. Jewellery industry is also facing the same situation as there is no buying since long. As the markets are being

Rajkot: A group of more than dozen people in Veraval of Gir Somnath district on Wednesday evening thrashed three persons from the Scheduled Tribe Siddi community over an old enmity. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

Sources said the accused mob included a member of Veraval Boats Association. Police said the attack was the result of an old enmity between the accused persons and Samir Majgul (21) and Mustaq Bhalaya (20).

The video shows Majgul and Bhalaya tied to a bench along with a third person and the mob raining punches and kicks on them. The victims were admitted to the Rajkot Civil Hospital with severe injuries.

—FILE PHOTO

opened now, to maintain the balance between polished and rough diamond, leaders of the diamond industry organised a meeting in which all the leading stakeholders including Surat Diamond Association, Surat Heera Burse and GJEPC made an appeal to the members to not to purchase rough diamonds for one month.

It means there will be no purchase from 1st june to 30th June. After the lockdown, work has been resumed in diamond industry. Small and big diamond factories have also been

started in Surat. It is claimed that more than 1 lakh diamond workers have got the job.

According to an estimate diamond industry already has stock of 2.6 billion dollar’s rough diamond. As there will be no purchase in June, the imports of rough will be at aroung 1 billion dollar. According to the sources the market due to this decision there will be no unnecessary hike in rough diamond price. On the other hand the production of polished is lesser than before so the production will remain under control.

First India Bureau New Delhi: 1996 batch IAS officer and Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014, Rajeev Topno has been appointed as senior advisor to the World Bank Executive Director.

Topno’s assignment was cleared by Narendra Modi-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Thursday. The committee also cleared names of five other officers for

foreign assignments.

Topno, a Gujarat cadre Indian Administrative Service officer, had joined the Prime Minister’s Office as a deputy secretary in 2009 when Manmohan Singh had just started his second term. He handled key portfolios such as telecom and ports at the PMO in the UPA-2 government.

Modi appointed Topno on his personal staff when he became the Prime Minister in 2014.

MILKING TRAGEDY?

People misrepresent facts to divide the society: Ahmed bhai Dr Anita New Delhi: After two persons were taken into custody for the death of an elephant in Kerala, Congress treasurer Ahmed Patel h as lashed out to people who want to take advantage of the situation and misrepresent facts to divide the society. Patel tweeted, “It is sad that the climate in our country has become so bitter that

even in the tragic death of an elephant, some are trying to misrepresent the facts to twist into an issue of one community Vs the other?”

Meanwhile, Kerala forest department team probing the killing of the pregnant elephant is leant to have taken two persons into custody.

The local Manarakadu police station on Wednesday registered a case in the gruesome incident.

“Forest department and the police are probing the incident and we are confident of finding the villains behind this crime,” said Sub Inspector TK Ramachandran.

According to veterinarians who treated the 15-year-old pregnant elephant, some miscreants while chasing away the elephants who occasionally stray into the agricultural land had kept fire crackers in-

@ahmedpatel Isn’t Gujarat government the only one in the world where: Government has abandoned people in the middle of a global pandemic?

Refused to fund train fare for poor migrants?

But leaves no stone unturned to fund horse-trading activities for a Rajya Sabha election ?

side a pineapple.

When the elephant started eating it, the crackers burst, seriously injuring its upper and lower jaw and tongue.

The injured elephant, according to forest officials, was first spotted by locals near a water source on May 23. Two days later an elephant expert after a medical assessment said things were bad for the animal.

On May 25, the elephant was found dead in slushy water.

“Despite our best efforts to get the elephant out of water, it did not come out and died,” said a local villager.

A post-mortem conducted on the elephant two days later reveled that the elephant was two-month pregnant.

Experts pointed out that this was the elephant’’s first pregnancy.

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09

AHMEDABAD, FRIDAY JUNE 5, 2020

The lesson that I will keep with myself post lockdown is to avoid eating outside food because this lockdown has drawn a good cook out of me.

The lockdown has helped me get into a much more positive headspace. Another major lesson that I have learnt during this time is that I need to stop chasing after a materialistic life. I want to spend the time I have with the special people in my life.

—NIKITA RAMCHANDANI

—PRIYANKA BELTANGADI

LOCKDOWN

TAKE-AWAYS! The past weeks have been seriously challenging, City First digs into some surprising benefits that have come out of lockdown, that we can turn into long-term habits!

KARISHMA GWALANI karishma.gwalani@firstindia.co.in

T

he coronavirus hit the world by surprise and has had a lot of negative implications, but while we endure the discomfort and pray that things get better quickly, there are valuable life lessons that have been drawn from this period.

The first and foremost thing that we have learnt is that doing nothing is possible. When was the last time you’ve truly done nothing without feeling an iota of guilt? We do not need to feel guilty for being unproductive during a literal pandemic.

Secondly, lockdown brought us plenty of time on our hands, it’s a nice way to spend time in a garden, on your balcony, or even gardening indoors.

Thanks to lockdown being in place, people are switching off alarms and letting the body wake naturally, and gently at the right time. This lockdown need not spell the end of your fitness journey, in fact, fitness enthusiasts have found their workout places at terrace, balconies and even inside the living room, proof that enthusiasm needs no boundaries.

Last but not the least, COVID-19 has left us all in a state of despair, anger, worry, and uncertainty; however, it has also allowed us to pause, to breathe, and to reflect.

The most essential of all, it has taught us gratitude, for all the simple things that we took for granted.

Sitting together to eat as a family was one of the most important things that some of us stopped doing. However, with the lockdown and all the family members at home, the tradition of eating together is back, that’s the fair share of advantage from lockdown, isn’t it?

City First got in touch with a few of its readers from Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ahmedabad, to know about the life lessons that they have learnt during the lockdown.

Nikita Ramchandani from Jaipur said, “The lesson that I will keep with myself post lockdown is to avoid eating outside food because this lockdown has drawn a good cook out of me,” while Swimi Mathur kansara from Jodhpur shared, “ Apart from giving time to family, career, and children there is one more important aspect of our life, which is ‘our own body.’ During this lockdown, the only thing that helped me fight corona is my own immune system; hence, staying fit and healthy was the important life lesson for me,” and Priyanka Beltangadi from Ahemadabad stated,

“The lockdown has helped me get into a much more positive headspace. Another major lesson that I have learnt during this time is that I need to stop chasing after a materialistic life. I want to spend the time I have with the special people in my life.”

But the shock is, it took one invisible being, a virus, just a lockdown to make us realise all these truths of life!

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AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

10

COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN A POST-COVID WORLD!

KARTIK BAJORIA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

I

f Tomorrow Never Comes, an old pop song by Ronan Keating, might, to many people today, seem like a legitimate question.

With the Coronavirus Pandemic, peppered with smatterings of other natural disasters, earthquakes to super-cyclones, one could be fooled into thinking, it is indeed, the end of days!

The truth however, in all likelihood anyway, is that the world will heal and bounce back. What is unde-

when we physically met people and convinced them.

niable however, is that it will be a different world, a changed world, a NEW world. As we inch towards this unbeknownst ‘novel’ society & times, my contention is that Communication Skills, will serve an even higher, more important purpose, both professionally, as well as, personally!

EDUCATION IMPERATIVE

LIBERTY & SANITY IN WRITING

As the world becomes more insular, with less ‘physical’ and ‘human’ interaction, statues that go against every natural fiber of the humaninstinct; we will need to find ways of staying ‘sane’. Of maintaining a healthy psychological equilibrium. For that, writing will serve as an extremely effective tool.

Writing, not necessarily in a

way where each of us tires to belt out that Pulitzer-winning novel or essay. Writing, simply by way of Journaling, that for about ten minutes each day, we pen-down our thoughts, hopes, dreams, fears, desires, worries, down to the most mundane and seemingly inconsequential, banal details of our day. Why? To release.

Writing is a classic counselling tool used to alleviate stress and anxiety, and in this uncharted way of life that we are heading towards, it could well become man’s new best friend!

WORK EFFECACY IN CLEAR COMMUNICATION

FA CE OF TH ED AY

There will inevitably be a sharp rise in nuclear-working. Work-from-home, workremotely, reduced travel, be

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

it office within one’s citylimits, or travel outside state or country. This means that more and more work, as is already being practiced, will be ‘online’. Emails, videocalls, online-pitches, presentations, explanations; life, in the business and professional realms, will increasingly be, virtual. Medics will dispense advice online, legal matters and suits fought in the courtrooms on the cloud!

What does this mean? It means hugely diminished communication-efficacy, because without even realizing it, the physical presence, and the unmentioned, nonverbal power of body-language that helps us communicate so emphatically in regular interactions, will have vanished. We will therefore need to hone our

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Where ever you will go today, you will leave a deep impression on people and you will be the life of that party. Today if you facing any monetary problems than remember its just a temporary thing and therefore there is nothing to worry.

Avoid making any mistakes.

You may misunderstand someone taking advantage of you but that may not be the case so you must evaluate every thing before coming to the conclusions. You may face some problems on domestic front, the best advice would be to not loose your cool.

You will get a lot of recognition on academic front and you deserve this considering all your hard work and efforts. On professional front, you expertise will help solving all the complex problem and you will be rewarded for it. Always stand for the right.

Sometimes you have to act extra smart, blindly relying on promises is a serious problem, instead you must get signatures when it comes to any deal or propositions. It will be better to procrastinate the construction of a building as today may not be the best day to start with anything good.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You may come across a lot of distractions today but you must at any cost pretend yourself from losing focus. There may be people around you who keeps you update on what’s happening around, make sure they are reliable sources. You spend an easy and calm day in office today.

You good qualification will help you today to fetch a wonderful job that will not only fulfil your monetary needs but will also make you feel secure. You will also get the compensation that has been delayed for a while. Listen to your intuition today, it can help you from.

You will set an example for others to follow and this will make your pretty famous for a while. Keep making the good cause. On academic front, don’t listen to anyone’s advice expect your guru as you may otherwise get deviated from your path.

Your will heavenly at home and all because of your spouse and their organizing skills. Soe of you may get the marriage proposal today. On job front, you will spend a very busy day, working and attending meetings. Your outstanding performance today will help you.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Your devotion and dedication in professional life will pay you today in form of a promotion or an increment or both. Your seniors are very impressed with you and appreciates you like anything. Be rest assured you success is not far away.

You may need help.

Not everything that shines is gold, you may find a person very friendly from outside may have evil motives against you inside so be careful. You may do some charity work today or go and donate some stuff to the people in need. Your elder one in family needs care and love.

No matter how much someone tries to oppose your opinion, if you think you are right you must take a stand for it. You may get inspired from someone close to you and he/she may help you move ahead in direction in which you were hesitating to take step. You will have a good company.

You will spend a lot of time with your partner, compensating for all the times when you were not there for them. You may find good opportunities to build your career, be quick enough to grab that one great chance. You will get help from all the direction in business related matter.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

RUPAL TOSHNIWAL, Influencer

communication skills in areas of Conversation, Presentation as well as succinct yet impactful Writing so that we solicit the same winning results that we did,

Even though currently a fraction of our student population is continuing education using Online Learning, it will be steadily ramped up. Even modest schools, colleges, institutes, including state-run education, will go increasingly online.

Both students, and perhaps more importantly, Educators, will need to train themselves, or be trained, in a new way of Communicating. Not only will Teachers across the board need to imbibe Tech-Related Communication Skills, they will also need to work hard on their own traditional Communication Skills, their way of Speaking, Present-

ing, so that they become ‘engaging’ educators who are capable of holding the interest and attention of these physically-removed students in a virtual classroom; furthermore, develop an extra layer of communication-savvy that will be needed to substitute the ‘curiosity’ a teacher generates in a real-world class, now, online.

Since I began referencing a rather morbid song-title, let me conclude with a more hopeful one – the famous Bond theme song, Tomorrow Never Dies. While of that, there is little doubt, what is also certain, is that we will all, students, parents, citizens, professionals, need to up our communication skills, in order to be successful.

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

11

Blackout Tuesday O

ut of the many stars who stood in solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement, Selena Gomez also extended her support by shutting down her website to protest police violence against the black community. The 27-year-old not only participated in ‘Blackout Tuesday’ but also urged fans to develop introspective thinking and called for ... her post justice for George Floyd after the former football player’s tragic death at the hands of four policemen on May 25 in Minneapolis.

“It’s my hope today you are taking the time to do some introspective thinking about how we can all come together and listen to one another with an open heart and mind,” read Selena Gomez’s statement on her website. “The country is long overdue for meaningful changes to our broken society. Black lives matter.”

—Agency

Selena Gomez

ANTI-SPITTING

ALWAYS HAS HIS BACK! A ... her post

ctor Kareena Kapoor Khan treated her fans with a cute picture of her star husband Saif Ali Khan spending time with their little munchkin Taimur.

In the picture that the ‘Jab We Met’ actor posted on Instagram, Saif is seen lying down on the ground with Taimur lying over him.

“Saif said, “I always got your back”... Tim took it literally. #FavouriteBoys # Q u a r a n tineMornings,” Kareena wrote in the caption explaining the picture.

As the lockdown is bringing the Pataudi family closer, Kareena keeps sharing pictures from their lockdown schedule on Instagram.

—ANI

CAMPAIGN

I

Bhumi Pednekar

n an attempt to bring the nation together in the fight against COVID-19, actor Bhumi Pednekar on Thursday launched an anti-spitting campaign that aims at educating people.

Posting a video of herself on Instagram, the ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’ actor launched the spit-free India campaign and urged others to join. “We have to defeat Coronavirus and everyone has to join hands!

Leave the habit of spitting. We have to save the country! Currently, our country is under the threat of Corona and the fatal disease spreads even by spitting!” she said.

Pednekar who is also known for ‘Climate Warrior’ initiative aimed at the conservation of the environment further said, “ the way we all have come together to get associated with the Toilet campaign and pledged to make the country clean! Similarly, let’s pledge to make the country Corona free, by avoiding to spit here and there.”

“Do your bit, do not spit.

Let’s come together and join the spit-free India movement,” she added.

She further added the link to the campaign in her caption and urged her followers to join. “I have joined the Spit Free India Movement for a healthier & cleaner India. You should too...@ pleg4life #spitfreeindia #pledgeforlife #covid19,” she wrote in the caption.

Pednekar has been roped in by an NGO as the face of spit free India campaign.

—ANI

Extending Kareena Kapoor Khan

Ned Harounian

HELP T

he 53-year-old actress took to Instagram Stories to post about Ned Harounian, an 81-year-old immigrant, who lost a lot when his shop on Melrose was destroyed.

She asked her followers to donate to a fundraiser set up to cover the costs of restoring the shop.

“An 81 year old immigrant father and business owner, Ned Harounian, had his Melrose shop looted and burned to the ground over the weekend,” she wrote.

“He immigrated in 1985 and for 30 years he put his life into his business and community. His recently deceased wife’s jewelry was also stolen,” she added.

“Los Angeles — I know things are crazy right now, but I hope we can all take a minute to help this man out!!’ she added.

—Agency

Late Basu Chatterjee

BASU CHATTERJEE

NO MORE

V

eteran filmmaker Basu Chatterjee, who was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan and is known for films like ‘Choti Si Baat’ and ‘Rajnigandha’ passed away earlier today following agerelated ailments in Mumbai.

Filmmaker and President of the Indian Film and TV Directors’ Association (IFTDA) Ashoke Pandit broke the news on Twitter.

“I am extremely grieved to inform you all the demise of Legendary Filmmaker Basu Chatterjee ji,” he tweeted.

Pandit also said that the last rites of the veteran filmmaker will be performed at 2 pm at Mumbai’s Santacruz crematorium.

“His last rites will be performed today at Santacruz creamation at 2 pm. It’s a great loss to the industry. Will miss you Sir. #RIPBasuChaterjee,” read Ashoke Pandit’s tweet. Some of Basu Chatterjee’s best films include ‘Chameli Ki Shaadi,’ ‘Manzil’ and ‘Baaton Baaton Mein.’

—ANI

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HEAL THE

AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

The beauty of life lies in the beauty of nature and biodiversity that surrounds us. As the world battles with global pandemic- COVID-19, locust infestations, cyclone and other disasters, there is an urgent need for responsible conduct of every individual to conserve and preserve the environment even in the smallest way possible.

Celebrate and preserve Biodiversity!

WORLD

—SHALINI AGARWAL, Collector, Vadodara

City First gets in touch with a few of its readers from Rajasthan & Gujarat to see what message they want to spread on the World Environment Day!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

W

orld Environment Day, celebrated on 5 June every year, is one of the most important days to encourage people across the globe to protect and save the environment from various challenges that the world is currently facing.

For a fact, it is also called the ‘People’s Day’, we are the ones who have to protect the environment with our actions. In 2020, the theme focuses on biodiversity‘Celebrate Biodiversity’, and will be hosted in Colombia in partnership with Germany.

For the first time being held in 1974, it works as a flagship campaign in order to raise

12

The COVID lockdown has shown very clearly how man affects the environment. Clear unpolluted skies and clean rivers have prompted many people to reflect on changing their lifestyle to be more sustainable. This should also prompt us to consider two other important matters - how can we help the next generation avoid the mistakes we made and how can we encourage our Government to play a proper part in saving our environment for the future.

awareness on issues like marine pollution, human pollution, global warming, sustainable consumption, wildlife crime and lastly, environmental issues. There is a participation of over 143 countries annually.

— RASHMI DICKINSON, Environmentalist The World Environment Day to be observed today will probably be a little different this year. With a series of consecutive lockdowns enforced in India and other countries around the world, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has made drastic changes to not only humankind but the environment as well.

Be it a cleaner Ganges and Yamuna rivers or the improved Air Quality Index, only time will tell how much we are able to sustain in the future or go back to square one.

—ALLAN CHRISTIAN

HELPING HAND

POWER OF THE

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

WRITTEN WORD CITY FIRST AHMEDABAD

A CM Ashok Gehlot with the officials of Jaipur Club

C

M Ashok Gehlot accepted a cheque of Rs 11 lakh from Honorary Secretary Ajit Saxena,Chairman Dr Satish Bhardawaj and Fmr Chairperson Ramakant Sharma of the Jaipur

Club. CM thanked them for coming forward and they reinforced their commitment to fight against the COVID-19 scare assured all support.

—City First

FACEBOOK POST!

Vaibhav Gehlot

HAPPY B’DAY!

IAS Mugdha Sinha (left) and IPS Digant Anand celebrated their birthdays on 4 June, Thursday. We wish them all the best!

collective public project by Serendipity Arts Foundation, ‘The Memory Capsule Project’, launched on Wednesday, has invited people to participate in the process of writing their history and setting milestones for their future.

As an inspiration, the project has also shared excerpts of well-known personalities, written to their future and past selves, and to people near and dear.

The collection includes passages from letters by Ernest Hemmingway, Roald Dahl, Stan Lee, Frida Kahlo, to name a few.

The objective of the project is to create a public journal that would have a locking period and will be mailed to each contributor after the completion of two years. The project is a chance for people to shape their personal history and set aspirations for the future. The particulars of the letters submitted would not be made public, without permission after the locking period.

Shedding more light on this, Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, Serendipity Arts Foundation & Festival said, “Through this public initiative, we aim to turn to the power of words, and their ability to transcend the confines of time, borders, generations—and connect us not just with each other, but to ourselves. The transformative power of putting words to paper, jotting down our thoughts is even more relevant today, as we must create opportunities to

Rajasthan: MLA Rafiq Khan met all the people who came to his residence and listened to their problems one by one, on Thursday. The MLA instructed the officials to resolve these problems and complaints with immediate effect.

Rajasthan: As a part of the ongoing ‘Online Learning – Children’s Summer Festival, organised by Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK), a performing arts session on ‘Folk Dance’ was held on Thursday, by Dancer Anita Pradhan. The session gave an introduction to the folk culture and heritage of Rajasthan. It also focused on feet and hand movements, facial expressions and other basic techniques of folk dance.

Stan Lee

Frida Kahlo

connect within ourselves.”

To make the project more accessible to the diverse communities of the region the language barrier has been lifted from this project. People are free to submit their letters in any form and language they are comfortable in. Further to keep the secrecy intact, provisions have been made for people to submit their letters by choosing to retain your identity, or submit anonymously, or even by using a pen name. The letter submitted will be placed on Serendipity’s digital platforms, and will be showcased at the Serendipity Arts Festival, with consent from the writer.

Rajasthan: Amidst the ongoing lockdown, the ‘Rajasthan Agriculture Input Dealers Association’ appealed to the Rajasthan Government and sought concession of a few days for renewal of legal papers. On behalf of all the traders association, President of the association, Purushottam Khandelwal, has written a letter to Agriculture Minister, Lalchand Kataria of Rajasthan Government, seeking redressal of this issue.

Rajasthan: Shri Bhanwar Lal Jangid left for his heavenly abode on 3 June at Phulera.

He was 93 years old and had worked as a government teacher.

He was a poet and writer and a renowned Arya Samaj believer in his community. He is survived by three daughters and one son and their families, all who doted on him.