First India-Ahmedabad Edition-08 December 2020

AHMEDABAD l TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

INDIAN NAVY RECOVERS BODY OF MISSING

MIG-29K PILOT OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD & LUCKNOW

A body believed to be that of pilot Commander Nishant Singh, who went missing after his MiG-29K aircraft crashed into the Arabian sea 11 days back, has been recovered,

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 14

official sources said on Monday, even as the Indian Navy asserted that the samples are being sent for DNA testing for confirmation of identity. The body was recovered by

16°C - 34°C

the rescue teams of the navy near the site of the crash. Indian Navy pilot Commander Singh went missing after his MiG-29K aircraft crashed into the Arabian Sea on Nov 26.

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ANNADATAS CALL FOR BHARAT BANDH TODAY Don’t force bandh, let it be peaceful: Farmer leaders New Delhi: Ahead of Tuesday’s Bharat Bandh, the protesting farmers at Delhi’s Singhu border have appealed for peace, and clarified that no shops and establishments will be forcibly closed on account of the Bandh.

“There will be complete ‘Bharat bandh’ till 3 pm Tuesday, but emergency services will be allowed,” farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal told reporters. Rajewal reiterated the farmers’ stand, saying they will not accept anything less than the withdrawal of the three new farm laws by the Centre.

Besides, the Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to tighten security and ensure that peace and tranquillity is maintained during ‘Bharat Bandh’.

In a countrywide advisory, the Union Home Ministry also said the state governments and UT administrations must ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines issued with Turn to P6

Barricades put up on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to prevent the entry of agitating farmers, ahead of Tuesday’s Bharat Bandh call, at Ghazipur border in New Delhi on Monday. —PHOTO BY PTI

AKHILESH SITS ON DHARNA, DETAINED Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday was detained and bundled into a police van after he sat on a dharna against the three new farm bills. Yadav, who was to take part in a ‘Kissan Yatra’ Monday, staged a sit-in protest outside his residence in Lucknow after the Uttar Pradesh Police sealed a road near the Samajwadi Party office ahead of his Kannauj rally, news agency PTI reported.

Oppn support exposes double standards: BJP

PM’s remarks made during virtual inauguration of Agra Metro rail project come a day before the ‘Bharat Bandh

ELABORATE SECURITY POLITICAL PARTIES IN PLACE: DELHI COPS BACKING BANDH New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Monday said elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called on December 8 and warned that strict action will be taken against those trying to disrupt movement of people or “forcefully” shut shops.

Eish Singhal, Delhi Police (PRO), said adequate arrangements have been made by the Delhi Police to ensure normal movement of people on roads during ‘Bharat Bandh’.

New Delhi: Political parties like the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, Aam Aadmi Party, Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Samajwadi Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Indian National Lok Dal have supported the Bandh call. AAP will hold a peaceful demonstration at 11 am at ITO crossing in Delhi.

AI ALLOWS FREE DATE CHANGE ON TICKETS New Delhi: Passengers who are unable to reach airport in time for their flights on Tuesday due to Bharat Bandh will not have to pay no-show charges and will be eligible for a free date change on confirmed tickets for flights from all Indian airports, Air India said on Monday.

Can’t build new century with old laws: Modi

New Delhi: With the opposition rallying around the farmers’ protest against the Modi government’s agri reforms, the BJP on Monday accused its rivals of “shameful double standards” as it claimed that parties like the Congress and the NCP had once supported what are now key provisions of the new laws. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Opposition have joined the agitation in a bid to save their existence.

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Lucknow: Amid the row over laws meant to bring a major change in the agri-marketing sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said reforms are needed for development and some laws from the past century have become a burden now.

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath addresses as PM Narendra Modi attends the foundation laying of Agra Metro Rail Project through video conferencing, in New Delhi on Monday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

1 dead as BJP workers clash with cops, party calls north Bengal bandh today Kolkata: One BJP worker died as party activists clashed with police in West Bengal’s Siliguri area during their ‘Uttarkanya abhiyaan’, march to the north Bengal state secretariat, to protest

against alleged corruption and deteriorating law and order in the state.

The police used water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells to stop the BJP workers from moving past the barri-

Call for Bharat Bandh is a political stunt by parties: Rupani The chief minister reiterated that the ‘gimmick’ will not receive support of state farmers First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani lambasted all political parties calling upon citizens, especially farmers, to join the Bharat Bandh being observed by protesting farmers in the national capital today. The farmers, who have blocked roadways near Delhi and other areas, are demanding the rollback of three farming laws recently passed by

the Parliament.

Expressing his outrage over the call for bandh, CM Rupani stated, “The people who were once advocating for the abolishment of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC Act) and also the Essential Commodities Act are now demanding the scrapping of agriculture laws. The Bharat Bandh call is a political stunt by parties that have no grassroot connection to farmers and agricul-

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani making a donation to the armed forces on the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day, in the presence of NCC cadets, Army and Air Force officers, on Monday.

ture and they will not receive any support from state farmers.”

“In its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sab-

ha elections, Congress had promised to abolish the APMC Act. Party leader Rahul Gandhi had even

advocated for repealing the Essential Commodities Act. Furthermore, in 2005, then Union Agricul-

ture Minister Sharad Pawar had written a letter addressed to chief ministers of all states underlining the need for revoking the APMC Act. These parties are now opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move, because they do not want the Modi government to get all the credit,” he added.

The chief minister also alleged that farmers have never supported the Congress party and that the bandh call was “a gimmick that would not work.”

Talking about the fallout from the bandh, Rupani said, “The state government is fully pre-

pared to deal with the bandh call. It will ensure that police protection is provided to operational APMCs. The police will sternly deal with people who try to disturb the peace in the state.”

Assuring farmers about the procurement of harvest at Minimum Support Price (MSP), the CM asserted that agriculture products will be acquired by the government and there was no question of discontinuation of the practice. Notably, the state has purchased agricultural products worth Rs15,000 crore at MSP from farmers in the past four years.

cades even as the protesters pelted stones.

Some activists even set fire to the barricades set up in the area. Several protesters and police personnel were injured in clashes.

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STATE POLICE TO REMAIN EXTRA VIGILANT TODAY: DGP Gandhinagar: Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will be imposed across the state on Tuesday, prohibiting gathering of four or more persons in public. State police along with State Reserve Police (SRP) and Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) will be on standby to handle the Bharat Bandh call made by protesting farmers.

The state government also extended the night curfew enforced in four major cities of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat, till a new notification is issued.

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

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Frequent tremors in Talala & Jamnagar not a major threat Despite recording over 122 aftershocks in the past few months, the Saurashtra region does not need to brace for a highintensity quake

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Talala region in the Gir Somnath district recorded 22 tremors in the range of 2-5 magnitude on the Richter scale, in the past 24 hours. But, Jamnagar district still holds the distinction of recording more tremors than even Talala and surrounding areas at 75 tremors, this year.

“Whenever rainfall in the region is recordbreaking, two months after the monsoon season ends, the fault lines turn active and that is

why the region experiences tremors repeatedly,” said Dr Sumer Chopra, Officiating Director General, Institute of Seismological Research (ISR), Gandhinagar.

According to research conducted of the Saurashtra region by the institute, the tremors and aftershocks are not causes for concern. The reason are the active fault lines in the region that span a maximum of 25 kilometres, whereas in Kutch, they span an area of over 100 kilometres and so. Therefore,

State police to remain extra vigilant today: DGP Bhatia First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will be imposed across the state on Tuesday, prohibiting gathering of four or more persons in public. State police along with State Reserve Police (SRP) and Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) will be on standby to handle the Bharat Bandh call made by protesting farmers. The state government also extended the night curfew enforced in four major cities of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat, till a new notification is issued.

On Monday evening, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashish Bhatia told media persons that no gatherings will be allowed in public places and if people try to block roads as part of any

demonstration, they will be booked under various sections of the IPC and also the Disaster Management

As call for bandh intensifies, night curfew extended in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot Act and Epidemic Diseases Act. He further stated, “Since the call for bandh has been made by farmers, police have identified Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), highways and district

roads which can be used by protestors.

These places will have adequate security cover provided by the state police force. Personnel will ensure restriction of movement by creating check posts at district and state borders.”

The police will also crack down on citizens who spread false or fake news, rumours on social media and book them under Information and Technology (IT) Act. “Senior police officers will be monitoring the law and order situation from district to state level with a special focus on major cities. Communally and otherwise sensitive areas have also been identified by local police and patrolling in such areas has been increased,” added Bhatia.

DGP Ashish Bhatia

the magnitude of tremors in the Saurashtra region is lower than those experienced in the Kutch region.

Another rationale

for the point can be attributed to the fact that Saurashtra falls under Zone IV, which is lower than that of Kutch, which is one of

Purpose of agri laws is increment in farmers’ income: BJP prez CR Patil

the regions covered under highest intensity seismic zones in the country.

Taking into consideration, active small fault lines the maximum tremors or earthquake that could hit a region would measure 6.0 magnitude on the Richter scale and not beyond that. It will certainly not have the devastating impact of the 2001 earthquake that occurred in Kutch.

Furthermore, as per research on seismology of the region conducted

in 2013-14, “The northern coast of Saurashtra is traversed by an inferred North Kathiawad Fault (NKF) that may have the potential to trigger a 6.5 magnitude earthquake. The eastern Saurashtra coast is traversed by the West Margin Cambay Fault (WCF) that may trigger earthquakes of 6 or less magnitude. The Cambay basin abuts against the Narmada basin and therefore the South Narmada Fault is active and may potentially create 6.5 magnitude tremors. The west-

ern and southern coasts of Saurashtra have boundary faults but no significant earthquake is known to have occurred along them.”

It further stated, “The eastern coast of Saurashtra has a hazard of magnitude 6.0 local earthquakes of while the southern Kutch falls under the hazardous zone that may experience 7.5 magnitude earthquakes at 50 km distance and 7.7 magnitude at 75 km distance. There are no serious earthquake hazards on other coasts.”

Gujarat farmer unions all for Bharat Bandh

BJP state unit president CR Patil

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Addressing members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kisan Morcha via video conferencing, state unit president CR Patil on Monday defended the farming laws passed by the Centre. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has enacted three agricultural laws with the aim to double the income of farmers. These reforms are very much in the line with the ones the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government wanted to achieve in order to streamline agriculture, trade and industry,” stated Patil.

He appealed that all members go through the details of these laws and share information about the benefits that the farmers will receive with them.

This will help clear any doubts they have, so that they are not misled

by political parties that have vested interests.

Patil further reassured the morcha and stated that farmers had always been a priority for the Narendra Modi regime and that these laws were passed to free farmers from selling their produce only to market yards they are registered with. “It is because of these laws that they can sell their harvest in any market that offers better prices,” he said.

He added, “Farmers have also been granted the right to sell their produce in other states, which earlier was prohibited. Now, they can lease their land or increase their cultivation area by getting land on lease.

This will increase their productivity as well as income. Contract farming will ensure that farmers have secured buyers and do not have to look for them after harvesting their crops.”

Farmer supporters protesting the new farming laws in Vadodara.

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Farmer unions including Gujarat Khedut Samaj, Gujarat Khedut Congress and Kisan Sabha have lent their support to the Bharat Bandh call for today.

Farmers’ groups across the country have called for a complete withdrawal of the three new farming laws enacted by the central government.

According to sources, trade unions have been approached by the

farming community to join the bandh. In fact, a Farmers’ Parliament will be organized by the Farmers’ Society in Gandhinagar on December 11.

Jayesh Patel, president of Gujarat Khedut Samaj, said that the farming community has other events planned including a state-wide strike on December 10 in each district. He added that farmer groups will march to New Delhi to join the thousands of protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana

—FILE PHOTO

on December 12.

Around 4,000 farmers from Gujarat are expected to travel to the national capital to join the agitation on December 12.

On December 6, the Congress party staged a protest at the Gandhinagar Satyagraha camp. Commenting on the ongoing protests, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) working president Hardik Patel stated, “The people stand with the farmers and are actively protesting against the new agricultural laws.”

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

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NGT orders `15L to families of Piplaj-Pirana blast victims

It also announced Rs5L compensation for those injured in the incident at Sahil Enterprise THE HEARING

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: After a public hearing held at Shahibaug Circuit House by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday, the victims of Sahil Enterprise boiler blast that occurred last month will now receive Rs15 lakh compensation.

At the hearing, families of the victims said that they had received assistance of Rs4 lakh, as announced by the government, but have not received any monetary help from the compensation of Rs15 lakh announced by the company.

“We have only taken evidence of the incident into account,” the NGT said during the hearing. It added, “A preliminary investigation into the incident is still underway, so we

Relatives of Sahil Enterprise boiler blast victims demanding compensation by holding a demonstration outside VS Hospital in Ahmedabad.

—FILE PHOTO

cannot say anything about the government or other officials. Only eight people came today, with no one from Sahil Enterprise present, so they will no longer be heard.”

In addition, the tribunal also said that the incident happened

within the purview of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, so all the details pertaining to it will have to be submitted by the collector and the corporation to NGT for further hearing. For now, the tribunal has ordered payment of Rs15 lakh to

those killed in the incident and Rs5 lakh to the injured.

“If the government does the right thing, such questions will not arise. There have been several fire incidents in the state. The report of all fire incidents that occurred

between February and November was then submitted to the National Green Tribunal. According to the records, there were 14 fire incidents across the state, in which 40 people were killed and 172 seriously injured,” said Mahesh Pandya, environmentalist.

35 buildings issued fire safety notices in Rajkot First India Bureau Rajkot: The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) fire department has finally geared up and intensified its safety inspections at various buildings including hospitals and hotels in Rajkot. In a fire safety drive on Monday, the department issued notices to 35 buildings, including hospitals, hotels, guest houses and buildings in the city.

The move comes after a major fire killed at least six people at the Uday Shivanand Hospital on November 27.

Speaking to First India, Chief Fire Officer IV Kher at the RMC said, “During the drive, we found that the fire safety system was missing in most of the structures. And at several other places, it was not in working condition. A notice in this regard has been issued to the respective building owners, who have been

Day before wedding, bride’s father dies of heart attack First India Bureau Veraval: The wedding day of an Ahmedabad-based young professional hailing from Veraval turned into a nightmare when her father died of a heart attack a day before her nuptials. Ayushi Tanna was scheduled to tie the knot with

her beloved on Monday. But, a day before the wedding, her father suffered a severe heart attack. He died while being rushed to Rajkot from Veraval for medical assistance on Sunday.

Ashokbhai Tanna, a leading pesticide trader in Veraval, was preparing for his daughter’s wedding but des-

Ayushi (the bride) with her parents.

Cong’s Doshi expresses concern for oversights in industrial safety First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) held a public hearing on Monday in relation to the chemical factory blast that resulted in the collapse of a textile godown on the PiranaPiplaj Road last month.

As many as 13 people were killed in the explosion. In this regard, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief Spokesperson Manish Doshi presented a host of grievances pertaining to industrial safety in the state before the Tribunal.

Doshi said that being a leading state in several

Manish Doshi

industries, Gujarat was bound to face industrial calamities. He further said that the performance and factory inspections conducted by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) at the blast site of Sahil Enterprise are under suspicion. The responsibili-

ties of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and factory inspectors employed by the Gujarat government needs to be ensured, he added.

“There is a growing need to protect human lives, especially those of industrial workers. The state government may implement long-term and short-term measures by evaluating the entire system in the event of an industrial accident. I suggest they take concrete steps in that direction by considering industrial safety measures and pollution regulations as part of industrial unit production,” said Doshi.

tiny had other plans.

Since him and his wife had no children of their own, they had adopted his younger brother’s daughter, Ayushi.

When family members decided to rush him to Rajkot for better care, Ashokbhai breathed his last in the ambulance near Gondal. His body was

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taken back to Veraval after an autopsy.

The Tanna family cremated his body later that same day and Ayushi lit her father’s funeral pyre who was supposed to perform her kanyadaan the next day.

Both the bride and groom’s families have postponed the wedding.

Addl. Chief Fire Officer of AMC Rajesh Bhatt conducted a fire safety inspection at a COVID-19 hospital in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad on Monday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

asked to set up a fire system with immediate effect. On failing to do so, we will remind them again, or else be forced to initiate legal action.

We have also sent notices to building owners whose fire safety NOCs have expired.”

A report by the special investigation team, appointed by the police after the recent fire incident in the city revealed that fire safety norms have not been followed. It was also

Gujarat COVID-19 tally falls below 1.4K

A man getting tested for nCoV in Ahmedabad.

First India Bureau

GOOD DEED

Ahmedabad District Collector Sandip Sagale on Monday took on the responsibility of the children, who lost their parents in the Sahil Enterprise blast on November 4. Alex Chavda (8) and his sister Prezy (13) will receive compensation of Rs8 lakh in the form of Rs3,000 expense amount per month.

brought to notice that, despite installation of fire equipment, the staff on duty was not qualified to use the equipment.

“After the hospital fire incident, we started training 30-32 employees of every organization at our emergency response centre on Morbi Road from December 3 onwards. A retired fire officer has also been appointed for the purpose,” said Kher.

Gandhinagar: The state recorded 1,380 new cases of novel coronavirus on Monday, the state health department mentioned in its COVID-19 bulletin. The number fell below the 1,400 mark after the post Diwali surge seen last month.

With a total case tally of 2,20,168 cases, the state saw 14 patients succumbing to the virus. Of these, nine died in Ahmedabad city alone, followed by three in Surat and one each in Rajkot and Amreli, thereby taking the death toll of the pandemic to 4,095 patients.

As many as 1,568 patients have recovered since Sunday evening.

Over 306 people were found to be COVID-19

—FILE PHOTO

positive in Ahmedabad district followed by Surat (222), Vadodara (177), Rajkot (128), Gandhinagar (71), Patan (58), Mehsana (54) and Banaskantha (39).

Gujarat’s recovery rate now stands at 91.56%. Over 68,886 tests were conducted across the state in the past 24 hours, taking the total to over 83 lakh.

Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) demoted an assistant municipal commissioner Akhil Brahmabhatt to the post of deputy head of department on Monday. After a thorough inquiry, Brahmabhatt was found guilty of presenting fake degree certificates for promotion.

He has been barred from five increments as well.

UNFAIR MOVE

Rajkot Cong demands withdrawal of FIR against four journos City president Ashok Dangar cited the Constitution as he stated that every citizen had the right to visit police stations First India Bureau Rajkot: The Rajkot unit of the Congress party on Monday demanded the withdrawal of the FIR registered against four vernacular news journalists for con-

ducting a sting operation, about the privileged treatment given to three doctors accused in the Uday Shivanand Hospital fire that claimed the lives of five COVID-19 patients on November 27.

Rajkot city Congress president Ashok Dangar and former president Mahesh Rajput remarked that this was something that had never happened elsewhere but is now being done to journalists in the hometown of Chief

Rajkot Congress President Ashok Danger

Minister Vijay Rupani.

“When Mumbai police took action against a private channel owner Arnab Goswami, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had decreed it ‘misuse of power’ on part of the Maharashtra government.

Where are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders now?” questioned Dangar.

“According to the Indian constitution, all

citizens have a fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. When the media or any individual tries to shed light upon reality, then the Rupani government promptly registers an FIR to save the police.

No permission is required to go to any police station as they are mediums to serve people, who go there seeking support and security. As per our Constitution, any Indian or

foreign citizen is permitted to enter a police station and maintains the right to seek information.”

“I wish to know what the union home minister, Gujarat government and CM Rupani have to say regarding the matter.

Who is to blame? The media representatives or the police?

We want clarification from the chief minister in this regard,” asserted Dangar.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

UNLIKE UPA 2, MODI GOVT. MAY NOT CAVE IN TO PRESSURE

ENHANCING STRENGTHS & ACCEPTING IMPERFECTIONS DR DIVYA JAITLY She is a TEDx Speaker, Integrated Communication Specialist, Leadership Mentor, Public Speaking Coach, Image Consultant & Renowned TV Anchor in India

T

he farmers’ agitation is turning out to be Narendra Modi government’s Anna Hazare moment and its biggest challenge yet. The United Progressive Alliance-2 government of Manmohan Singh acquiesced to the massive protests which, with alleged help from Vivekananda International Foundation, eventually led to its downfall.

On the face of it the movement was against rampant corruption in the government but the hidden agenda was to bring down the government. The farmers agitating against the three farm laws on the outskirts of Delhi compare with the Anna Hazare-led protests in size and intensity except that in 2011 the entire media was lined against the Central government and bayed for its blood. No one then called the protesters Pakistanis or Khalistanis. In the case of farmers stir the media is stingy in its backing for the agitators and large-hearted in its support of the government although, as per the Congress, none other than the late Arun Jaitley himself was a strong opponent of similar reforms initiated by the UPA government. His speech in the Lok Sabha is now doing the rounds on social media.

To mount pressure on the Centre the farmers have called for a Bharat Bandh from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Opposition parties and various trade unions have come out in support of the agriculturists. The success of the bandh will vary from state to state. The states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and MP where BJP is in power the protesters will be firmly dealt with. Its impact could be felt more in Punjab, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

Bharatiya Kisan Union’s president Rakesh Tikait said that the farmers’ protest, which is peaceful, “is to show that we don’t support some government policies” and assured that they won’t allow any political party to join them. He appealed to people to remain nonviolent as the protests were not for causing problem to the common man. The starting time for the bandh was kept at 11 a.m. only to facilitate office-goers reach their workplace on time. The smooth movement of supply trucks is likely to be affected the most.

As is visible on social media, the government and opposition parties are playing a political blame-game. Both the sides have been strong votaries of and against farm sector reforms but are now indulging in polemics.

The government is firm on not repealing the farm laws. This has raised doubts about the outcome of the talks due on Wednesday.

Doubts also remain on whether the government would make amendments to guarantee minimum support price in writing and allow a better mechanism for dispute redressal. If the government remains tight-fisted, this agitation could go out of its hands. It will then have itself to blame.

W

Enhancing strengths and accepting imperfections is a process that has to begin at a foundational level of selfexploration.

The idea of sitting down and coming up with the things you’re good -and not so good at -- can seem daunting, but there are a few methods to try, that can make the process a little easier

e have witnessed unparalleled and bizarre times in 2020, that have pushed people to reflect upon themselves and their priorities in life. Encouragement to the gig economy and the culture of working from home, has compelled us to embark on a journey of self-realisation and actualisation. Amidst all this chaos, I’ve managed to document some of my learnings that have become the milestones for many evolving individuals.

Strengths and Weaknesses go hand in hand and it is substantially important to understand both these elements before you decide to do your personality makeover in personal or professional life. This awareness can help you a lot in choosing the right career or making beneficial decisions in life by encouraging you to create something remarkable, while making it look effortless.

Enhancing strengths and accepting imperfections is a process that has to begin at a foundational level of self-exploration. The idea of sitting down and coming up with the things you’re good -- and not so good at -- can seem daunting, but there are a few methods to try, that can make the process a little easier. Either you can use online assessments / tools or simply divide the page into two columns and pen down at least five attributes, each pertaining to your Strengths and Weaknesses.

When you try to think hard about this, you’ll automatically think of something that comes easy to you or choose attributes that you’d like to have or that you admire in others - this is a typical trap. Avoid this inclination and instead of deep dive into the qualities that describe your core. Things that are so obvious that you almost don’t notice it in yourself anymore…

Do not to confuse strengths with likes and desires, What

you like to do is not necessarily what you do best!

Equally important is knowing your weaknesses. Of course, it is a tough call! That’s why you should try to let people do this for you and give you an honest, objective opinion. Often others see perspectives, we don’t see in ourselves. Get feedback from your peers or bosses and while evaluating, don’t just think about those technical skills you’ve acquired; also consider your soft skills. In general, you should have a sense of what your weaknesses are around dealing with tasks, processes, relationships, and communication.

Humans are indeed not perfect and it is natural to have weaknesses, so don’t hesitate to write them down. Just remember, that everyone has ‘some’ weakness that they have to keep in check at all times to avoid negative consequences and disrupting lives. Don’t get caught up in the old advice to always work on your weakness, it’ll only make you focus on your deficiencies and undermine your self-esteem.

Accepting our imperfections aren’t a weakness - It’s an act of love. It breeds freedom and validation within us. From there, we affect all who are in

HUMANS ARE INDEED NOT PERFECT AND IT IS NATURAL TO HAVE WEAKNESSES, SO DON’T HESITATE TO WRITE THEM DOWN. JUST REMEMBER, THAT EVERYONE HAS ‘SOME’ WEAKNESS THAT THEY HAVE TO KEEP IN CHECK AT ALL TIMES TO AVOID NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES AND DISRUPTING LIVES

our circle of life. When we can take a breath to lessen our selfloathing for our imperfection, we’ve actually dialed up selfacceptance. It’s not about narcissism… It’s about dignity and confidence... For ourselves and for those, whose lives we touch.

On the other hand, working to develop your stronger qualities is self-rewarding and motivating, allowing you to continually achieve higher levels of

Preventing the death of independent journalism

A

story too good to fact-check is the tale of the boiled frog.

Rather than being dropped directly into boiling water – from which it would instantly jump – the frog is slid gently into a pot of comfortably warm water, and the heat is turned up. By the time the frog realizes that the water has gotten too hot, it is too late, and it is boiled alive.

Independent journalism may now be confronting a similar scenario.

The water temperature around journalists has been rising for the last 15 years. But the heat has recently been turned up. For example, in 2019 alone, the number of unwarranted detentions of journalists increased by 12%, to a total of 389. Almost half are being held in three countries: China, Egypt, and Saudi

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Arabia.

Popular protests are particularly risky for journalists. At demonstrations in Algeria, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Venezuela, journalists have been routinely intimidated, harassed, and attacked. In the United States, journalists covering the protests against police brutality and systemic racism, led by the Black Lives Matter movement, have faced indiscriminate attacks at the hands of law enforcement.

The US Press Freedom Tracker counted more than 900 press-freedom violations so far this year, including more than 177 physical attacks.

Women often face an added layer of psychological intimidation, including open threats of sexual assault. In a recent survey, a shocking 75% of female journalists in Kenya re-

ported such threats. Perpetrators include individual misogynists and networked groups intent on suppressing women’s voices, as well as state-linked agents seeking to undermine press freedom and censor critical journalism carried out by women.

The COVID-19 crisis has

compounded the challenges facing journalists by constraining their ability to do their jobs. Part of the problem is restrictive measures ostensibly aimed at containing the virus: Freedom House recently highlighted 91 countries with emergency laws and regulations that hamper

independent journalism.

These range from relatively mild, such as limiting questions at press conferences, to suspending newspapers’ publication and blocking websites.

There is also an economic dimension to the challenge. Traditional news media have been under in-

tensifying pressure for decades, their business models upended by digital technologies. Now, the COVID-19 crisis has decimated economic activity in much of the world, weakening business revenues and forcing layoffs. Newsrooms have not been spared.

In a survey of 165 independent news media organizations asking how COVID-19 has affected them, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found that more than 50% expected a drop in revenue of 20% or higher in 2020. One-fifth reported an overall decline in audience reach this year. Those hit hardest are those that are advertising-based, as well as newspapers and local media. Respondents’ top reported priority is securing funding to cover operational costs.

ability and success. Invest your time and energy in being great at something. You will be happier, and the recipients of your work and your spouses will reward you for your excellence.

Being yourself seems like it would be an easy thing, right?

But, when you’re someone who has lived their life seeking the approval of others constantly, it’s not such an easy thing. You have to attempt to move past years of trying to appear this way, wondering if people will judge you, or doing your best not to cause waves and avoid conflict. When you don’t fully understand who your “self ” is, it’s pretty much impossible to actually “be” that person.

Improving your self-image, like improving any skill, takes time and practice. Developing good self-esteem involves encouraging a positive (but realistic) attitude toward yourself and the world around you and appreciating your worth, while at the same time behaving responsibly towards others. By working from the inside out, you can explore yourself to the fullest thereby working on enhancing your strengths and accepting your imperfections towards a more positive self-concept.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Prakash Javadekar @PrakashJavdekar Good progress in developing a 10year Vision Plan for the up-gradation of 15 select zoos in the country to global standards. It is hoped to ‘twin’ top Indian and foreign zoos and also bring in the corporate sector to invest in modernization as part of this project.

Ravi Shankar Prasad @rsprasad Swaraj Abhiyan of Yogendra Yadav had once tweeted criticising Modi Govt. for washing its hands of APMC Act. So when we suggested that states should do this, Yogendra Yadav criticised us. But when we actually did it, he is opposing it.

Spiritual SPEAK

Good and evil are not equal.

Repel (evil) with what is best, and you will see that the one you had mutual enmity with him will turn as if he were a close friend. —Quran 41:34

SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE

Vol 2 Issue No. 14 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

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

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BJP SLAMS OPPOSITION’S

FARM LAW ‘DUPLICITY’ Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Congress exposed its ‘double standards’ by opposing the agriculture laws as its own manifesto promised similar reforms

New Delhi: Accusing the Congress and other opposition parties of “utter duplicity”, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed them for their stand on Central farm laws stating that they are opposing the Narendra Modi government just for the sake of opposition.

Addressing a press conference on farmers’ protest, Prasad said “Opposition parties are opposing the Narendra Modi government for the sake of opposition, forgetting their own work in the past. In its 2019 poll manifesto, Congress promised to repeal APMC Act and make the trade of agriculture produce including export free from all restrictions.”

“Opposition parties have jumped into the issue of new farm laws.

During UPA rule, they did exactly what the Modi government is doing today for reforms in the farm sector. Now that they’re losing polls, they take part in any protest for the sake of their existence,” he said.

Targeting the Congress, Prasad said that “Despite the farmers union’s request against the entry of political parties in the protest, the Congress kept trying to become a part of the agitation. All of this just to get a chance to oppose the Modi government.” —ANI

Opposition parties have jumped into the issue of new farm laws. During UPA rule, they did exactly what the Modi government is doing today for reforms in the farm sector. Now that they’re losing polls, they take part in any protest for the sake of their existence.

Heavy barricading is made to stop farmers entering Delhi amid their protest against the new farm laws at Singhu border in New Delhi on Monday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

—Ravi Shankar Prasad,

RAGA DEMANDS REVOCATION OF FARM LAWS

TN govt against protesting farmers: Stalin

New Delhi: As the farmers’ agitation intensified, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday demanded revocation of the new farm laws passed by parliament. Gandhi termed the newly passed farm laws as the “Adani-Ambani Farm Laws. He said he would not accept anything less than repealing the laws.

He said in a Tweet in Hindi: “The Adani-Ambani farm laws have to be revoked.

Nothing less is acceptable.” Hundreds of farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since November 26. —ANI

UNLIKELY TO SHARE DRAFT AMENDMENTS

MAYAWATI TO BACK DEC 8 BHARAT BANDH

New Delhi: The Union government’s unrelenting attempts to resolve the farmers’ agitation through dialogue is making little headway with few of the farmer unions remaining adamant on their demand to repeal the new agriculture laws.While farmers expect the government to send the new draft with amendments to them before they come for the next round of meeting on December 9.

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday announced her party’s support to the December 8 Bharat Bandh called by the farmer unions. “BSP supports the farmers’ Bharat Bandh against the three farm laws and also appeals to the Union government to listen to the farmers’ demand,” Mayawati tweeted.

Union Minister

Chennai: Hitting out at CM Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami-led government, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president MK Stalin said the state government has not made fullfledged efforts to provide relief to people affected by recent rains and it stands against farmers protesting the Centre’s farm laws. After distributing relief materials in Ambedkar Nagar to people affected due to rains, Stalin said: “When I heard that people are affected due to recent heavy rains, then I reviewed the situation and helped the people. —ANI

05

PM to address India Mobile Congress 2020 New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver inaugural address at the virtual India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2020 on December 8 at 10:45 am.

IMC 2020 is being organised by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). It will be held from December 8-10. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) informed that the aim of IMC 2020 is to align PM Modi’s vision to promote ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Digital Inclusivity’, ‘Sustainable Development’, entrepreneurship and innovation.

“It also aims to drive foreign and local investments, encourage R&D in the telecom and emerging technology sectors,” the PMO added.

IMC 2020 will see the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

participation from various ministries, the telecom CEOs, global CEOs, and domain experts in 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Inter-

net of Things (IoT), data analytics, cloud and edge computing, blockchain, cyber-security, smart cities and automation. —ANI

5 suspected terrorists held in Delhi after encounter New Delhi: Five suspected terrorists, two of whom were allegedly involved in the murder of Shaurya Chakra winner Balwinder Singh in Punjab, were arrested on Monday in east Delhi’s Shakarpur area after an encounter and have revealed Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) attempt to link up terror outfits in Kashmir with Khalistan operatives, officials said. According to police, three of the five arrested are from Kashmir, while the rest are from Pun-

jab. Two of the Punjabbased men were involved in the killing of Balwinder Singh in Punjab, they said. Balwinder Singh, who received the Shaurya Chakra for fighting militancy, was shot dead in October.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said, “On Monday morning, our team received specific information that two Punjab based criminals were supposed to receive some money from three Kashmiris. On

this specific information, five people were arrested after a brief exchange of fire from the Laxmi Nagar area in Delhi.” Three pistols, two kilograms of heroin and Rs one lakh cash were recovered from them along with the two cars in which they were travelling, he said. During preliminary investigation, it has emerged that there was an attempt to link up terror outfits active in Kashmir with Khalistan operatives by Pakistan’s ISI, he said. Further investigation is on. —PTI

IN THE COURTYARD

CBI probe into alleged scholarship scam New Delhi: The CBI has started probe into an alleged scholarship scam in Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam and Punjab.

The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme is meant to help students of minority communities Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhist - from families with annual income below 1 lakh, according to officials. It has been alleged that middlemen with the help of government officials - have been siphoning off money and only a small

sum of the scholarship ends up with the students. While students from Class 1 to 5 receive 1,000 per year as a part of the scheme, students of Class 6 to 10 receive Rs 10,700 annually if they are in a hostel, or Rs 5,700 a year if they are day scholars.

RUPEE DROPS BY 10 PAISE TO 73.90 AGAINST US DOLLAR Mumbai: The rupee dropped by 10 paise to settle at 73.90 against the US currency on Monday due to a rebound in the dollar in overseas markets following geopolitical concerns. The dollar recovered from two-and-ahalf-year low on Monday after reports that the US was preparing to impose sanctions on Chinese of-

ficials, increasing the risk of geopolitical tensions.

Concerns over a Brexit trade talks as the EU and the UK were still trying to address major differences to avoid a no-deal exit by year-end supported the dollar sentiment. At the interbank forex market, the domestic unit witnessed a volatile trading session.

Petition is ambitious: SC refuses to entertain Arnab’s fresh PIL New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by ARG Outlier Media Private Limited, which owns the Republic Media network, seeking protection for the group and its employees in the cases lodged against them in Maharashtra.

The matter came up for hearing before a bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud which said that prayers in the petition were “all ambitious”.

“This petition is ambitious in nature. You want Maharashtra police not to arrest any employee and transfer the cases to CBI. You better withdraw this,” Justice Chandrachud

NCP ISSUES CLARIFICATION OVER PAWAR’S LETTERS Mumbai: The NCP has issued a clarification after controversy erupted over letters written by party chief Sharad Pawar (when he was the agriculture minister in the UPA dispensation) to then Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan asking chief ministers to amend the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act in their states to allow the private sector to play an important role in the field. “The model APMC act 2003 was introduced by the Vajpayee government.

told senior advocate Milind Sathe, who appeared for ARG Outlier Media.

Sathe told the bench that they have filed the plea to stop the Maharashtra police from “hounding” their media network, its Editorin-Chief Arnab Goswami and its employees.

“You have sought all the reliefs and these can’t be entertained in one petition,” the bench said, after which Sathe said he would withdraw the plea. —PTI

HC sets aside HC reserves order on order rejecting Manoj Tiwari’s plea custody of Amit New Delhi: The Delhi Mumbai: The Bombay High Court set aside an order of a special PMLA court, which had rejected the ED custody of Amit Chandole in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

The HC had directed the special court to reheat the remand afresh and order today itself.

The ED had arrested Chandole, a close aide of Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, in money laundering case related to private company Tops Security. —PTI

DENSE FOG ENGULFS DELHI, LOW VISIBILITY TO CAUSE FLIGHT DELAYS New Delhi: A thick blanket of fog shrouded national capital on Monday, leading to “zero” visibility in some areas & affecting traffic.

This is the first time that visibility has dropped to “zero” in the city. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the India Meteorological Department, said the Palam weather station

recorded “zero” visibility due to “very dense” fog at 6:30 am. At the Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, “moderate” fog was recorded which lowered visibility to 300 metres, he said. The visibility should be around 800 metres at the airport for flights to take off, the senior scientist said.

High Court on Monday reserved its order on a plea filed by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and MLA Vijender Gupta challenging summon issued against them by a trial court in a defamation case filed by Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

A single-judge bench of Justice Anu Malhotra, after the conclusion of lengthy arguments, decided to keep order reserved in the matter. The court also asked the counsels of both sides to submit

their written submissions, if any Manish & Delhi Police opposed the pleas filed by Tiwari and Gupta. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa appeared for Manish Sisodia in the matter, while senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra represented the state. —ANI

VOTING UNDERWAY IN FOURTH PHASE OF DDC POLLS IN J&K Srinagar: Polling for the fourth phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir began on a dull note as fog and chilly weather kept most people indoors early on Monday, officials said.The polling for 34 DDC seats -- 17 in Kashmir division and 17 in Jammu division -- began at 7 am but the turnout was less at polling stations in the Valley due to biting cold, they said. Voter turnout is expected to pick up later in the day, and polling is scheduled to conclude at 2 pm.

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‘Hundreds of projects to fight Covid’ Health min Harsh Vardhan said govt has declared a $120 million grant for vaccine research New Delhi: The government is supporting hundreds of projects in its fight against the pandemic & more than 100 start-ups have developed innovative products to deal with COVID-19, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday. Speaking at the India-Portugal Tech Summit, organised by the Department of Science & Technology and Confederation of Indian Industry, Vardhan said government has announced a USD 120 million grant for vaccine research. “This is being provided for COVID Suraksha Mission and is to be used purely for research and development. About 30 vaccine candidates are in different stages of development,” said Mr Vardhan, who is also the Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

INDIA SPEEDING UP REVIEW OF VACCINES, SAYS GOVT OFFICIAL

INDIGO AIRLINES TO REFUND CREDIT SHELLS

BY JANUARY 31

India is accelerating its review of coronavirus vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca for emergency use, a senior government official said, as the world’s second-most affected country struggles to contain the outbreak. The Indian government is pinning its hopes for mass supply of the vaccine on Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer by volume, which on Monday lodged the first formal application for emergency use approval for AstraZeneca Plc’s COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer Inc had already applied for emergency use approval for its vaccine in India over the weekend.

New Delhi: IndiGo on Monday said it will refund all customer credit shells, which were created when flights were cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown,

by January 31, 2021. The airline said it has already processed close to Rs 1,000 crore of refunds, which is approximately 90% of total amount it owed to its customers. IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta said the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 and the lockdown brought the airline’s operations to a complete halt by the end of March. “We are pleased to commit that we will disburse the full 100 % credit shell payments latest by January 31, 2021,” he said.

Karnataka Association of resident doctors hold a placard during a protest on the Medical college Doctors campus as they demanding the government to fulfill their demand of NonCovid service, and Non-Covid Allowance, in Bengaluru on Monday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

B’luru doctors demand exemption from tuition fee & timely payment Bengaluru: The Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD) Monday held a ‘symbolic protest’ in Bengaluru demanding that the government waive off tuition fee for postgraduate medicos, among

other needs. During protest, doctors were seen holding empty coconut shells to symbolise “lack of response from the government despite their hard efforts.” Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors

President Dayanand Sagar said, “There have been no proper clinical academic activities happening across the state. We urge the government to exempt us from the tuition fee stipulated for the year 2020-21.”

Sushil Modi elected PM Modi lauds sacrifices of soldiers unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Bihar

Sushil Kumar Modi with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar upon receiving his Rajya Sabha certificate.

—PHOTO BY ANI

Patna: Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi was on Monday declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in a by-poll that was necessitated by the death of Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan.

Sushil Modi was declared elected unopposed on the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

In addition to the former deputy chief minister a lone Independent candidate, Shyam Nandan Prasad had filed his nomination papers which were rejected during scrutiny.

Prasad's papers were not supported by at least 10 members of the 243-strong assembly as proposers, which is mandatory, poll offi-

THE TIMELINE

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the Armed Forces Flag Day on Monday that this is a day to express gratitude to the armed forces and their families. India is proud of their heroic service and selfless sacrifice, he said in a tweet and urged people to contribute towards the welfare of the forces.

This gesture will help so many of brave personnel and their families, he said. Since 1949, December 7 is observed as the Armed Forces Flag Day throughout the country to honour

Prime Prime Minister Narendra Modi being affixed the lapel pin for the Armed Forces Flag Day in New Delhi on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI

martyrs and the men in uniform who valiantly fought and con-

tinue to fight on the borders, according to the MyGov official

SC allows Centre to go ahead with stone-laying ceremony cials said. Sushil Modi was handed over his certificate in the presence of a host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with whom he is known to enjoy an excellent rapport, his successors as deputy chief minister Tar Kishore Prasad and Renu Devi and state BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday allowed the Centre to proceed with the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Central Vista project on December 10 after the government assured it that no construction or demolition work would commence till the apex court decides the pending pleas on the issue.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar that there would be

through video conference, Modi said the reforms carried out by his government are also getting reflected in election results.

His pitch on the importance of reforms comes ahead of Tuesday’s Bharat Bandh over the three new farm laws enacted at the Centre. But during his brief address, the prime minister made no direct reference to the new laws or the farmers’ protests.

“Reforms are needed for development. Reforms are very much needed for a new order and to give new facilities. We cannot build

only foundation stonelaying ceremony, and no construction, demolition or felling of trees would be done for the

project as of now.

The Central Vista revamp, announced in September last year, envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, that is to be constructed

by August, 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024 under the project against which various pleas have been filed.

the next century with the laws of the previous century, he said.

Some laws that used to be good in the past century have become a burden in the present century.

Reforms should be a continuous process,” he said.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the event.

Modi said his government is carrying out holistic reforms . Earlier, reforms used to happen in a piecemeal manner, or keeping in mind some sectors and de-

partments,” the prime minister said.

He said the reforms carried out in recent past have infused selfconfidence in the country, adding that people will be satisfied when they go through the finer details .

This confidence has been seen in every election in the recent past.

A glimpse of this confidence is seen in the election results in every part of the country, including UP,” he said.

The PM said in recent years the poor and the middle class have showered their unprecedented blessings on the ef-

website. Rajnath Singh in a tweet said,” On the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day, I salute the valour and service of the Indian Armed Forces. This day reminds us of our solemn duty to ensure the welfare of Ex-Servicemen, differentlyabled soldiers and the families of those who lost their lives defending the nation.” India has been observing December 7 as the Armed Forces Flag Day since 1949 to honour the soldiers who valiantly fought on the borders to safeguard the country’s honour.

06

POWER Gallery EMPANELMENT OF 1987 AND 1988 BATCH IRS (IT) IN A WEEK OR TWO?

Empanelment of 1987 and 1988 batch IRS (IT) officers is expected to take place in a week or two.

TWO IRS OFFICERS TO JOIN ED AS SPL DIRECTORS

Two IRS (C&E) officers- Prashant Kumar and Subhash Agrawal- are set to join the ED as Special Directors.Agrawal is a 1993 batch while Kumar is a 2001 batch officer.

SHEEL VARDHAN SINGH GETS APEX PAY SCALE

Sheel Vardhan Singh, Special Director, Intelligence Bureau, has been granted Apex Pay Scale.

He is a 1986 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre.

RAHUL NAVIN RELIEVED TO JOIN AS SPECIAL DIRECTOR, ED

Rahul Navin has been relieved to join as Special Director of Enforcement in the Directorate of Enforcement, New Delhi on deputation basis. He is an IRS-IT officer.

IA&AS OFFICER S RAMANN RECOMMENDED FOR CMD, SIDBI

The name of S Ramann has been recommended for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).He is 1991 batch IA&AS officer.

VARUNESH MISHRA JOINS NATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY

Varunesh Mishra is joining National Health Authority, New Delhi on loan basis. He is an IRS-IT officer.

MISHRA’S TENURE TO BE OVER IN JANUARY

The deputation tenure of S K Mishra,, Principal Advisor in TRAI, ends on January 15, 2021. He is an IP&TAFS officer.

COLONEL HARJOT SINGH IS SECURITY ADVISER, MHA

Colonel Harjot Singh has been appointed as Security Advisor in the LWD Division of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

FOUR IAS OFFICERS SHIFTED IN WEST BENGAL

Khursheed Ali Qadri has been appointed as Additional Collector, Darjeeling, while Khursheed Ali Qadri was made Executive Magistrate, Darjeeling and Khursheed Ali Qadri is Additional District Magistrate, Darjeeling. Besides, Nitin Singhania has been appointed as Commissioner, Asansol Municipal Corporation in West Bengal.

By arrangement with: http:// whispersinthecorridors.com

Actress Divya IT DEPARTMENT Bhatnagar loses CONDUCTS SEARCH AND battle to Covid

SURVEY IN ASSAM, DELHI

New Delhi: Actress Divya Bhatnagar, famous for her roles in show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, has died after battling coronavirus. Divya’s condition was critical and her oxygen levels were revealed to have had dropped significantly while she battled Covid-19.

New Delhi: The Income Tax department conducted search and survey on December 4 in the case of leading coal traders of Assam at 21 locations in Guwahati, Digboi, Margherita and Delhi. According to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the group of coal traders are accused of having allegedly routed accomodation entries of over Rs 23 crores and Rs 62 crores in the form of non-genuine share capital and

non-genuine unsecured loans respectively, through certain Kolkata-based shell companies. All this was done by suppression of its true net profit. “During the course of the search action, it has been established that the group engages in out-of-books transactions. Handwritten documents/diaries regarding cash transactions have been recovered which are not reflected in the regular books of accounts.

forts of the government. He said their support and the small joys experienced by the countrymen gives me the courage to do new things and take new initiatives”.

Modi said his government intends to solve the festering problems faced by people, make life easy, increase investment and ensure the maximum use of modern technology.

He said a major problem in the country’s infrastructure sector was that new projects were announced but not much attention was given on how they will

be funded.

He said over Rs 100 lakh crore will be spent under the National Infrastructure Pipeline project and work is being done on the master plan for multi-modal connectivity. Efforts are also on to attract investment from all over the world to improve the country’s infrastructure, he added.

Work is being carried out on 1,000 km of new metro rail lines in 27 cities countrywide, Modi said, claiming big progress in this sector since his first government took charge in 2014.

1 dead...

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh claimed one of the workers died of injuries in the police lathicharge. However, police claimed there was no lathicharge and the cause of death of the protester was being ascertained. BJP has called a 12-hour bandh in north Bengal on Tuesday. The pre-announced protest march was called by BJYM, alleging that Mamata-led government had not fulfilled promises made to the people of north Bengal, and benefits of welfare schemes launched failed to reach people.

FROM PG 1 Aanandatas call... regard to health and social distancing are strictly followed.

Meanwhile, the Transporters’ Union AIMTC on Monday said it will suspend operations in the entire country on Tuesday to support the Bharat Bandh called by agitating farmers. The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) is the apex body of transporters, representing about 95 lakh truckers and other entities. Some auto and taxi unions in New Delhi, including those associated with app-based aggregators, have also decided to join

the ‘Bharat Band’ on Tuesday. However, many other auto and taxi unions have decided to continue normal services despite their support to demands raised by the agitating farmers. Traders’ body CAIT and All India Transporters Welfare Association on Monday said markets across the country including in Delhi will remain open on Tuesday and the transport sector will function as usual. In Mumbai, BEST buses and taxis will ply as normal.

Can’t build...

Launching the Agra metro rail project

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

07

Will our generation be able to achieve the goals for this century and make the planet a better place to inhabit?

JEFFREY D SACHS

S

ixty years ago next May, US President John F Kennedy put the United States on a mission to the future. “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.” Our generation’s moonshot is sustainable development on Earth.

We have already set the goals, but not yet embraced the challenges in full. In two pivotal moments in late 2015, all of the world’s governments unanimously adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. The world pledged to end extreme poverty, ensure universal health care, and provide education for all children by 2030; countries would decarbonize the world’s energy system to head off the dire risks of human-induced climate change. A subsequent scientific report in 2018 indicated that the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C requires meeting the latter goal by mid-century.

These bold goals are no less achievable than the moonshot, which the US accomplished on Kennedy’s original timeline, in July 1969. The US moonshot in fact illuminates how to achieve bold goals such as the 17 SDGs and the needed energy transformation.

The moonshot was a “mission” with organizational attributes – ably described by historian Douglas Brinkley in his study American Moonshot – that were vital to its success. It had a clear goal and timeline, and a rigorous plan based on both. NASA, the US space agency, devised a three-act mission, including the single-astronaut Mercury flights, the twoastronaut Gemini flights,

and the three-astronaut Apollo flights that ultimately went to the moon and back. And there was a national commitment to an integrated publicprivate program, ultimately involving some 20,000 private companies and 400,000 workers across the US. Finally, there was a large and realistic federal budget commitment that funded the effort from 1961 to its completion in 1969.

In 2021, with President-elect Joe Biden in office, the US will recommit to the SDGs, rejoin

MISSION

SUSTAINABLE

spur Japan and Korea to do the same, and China to commit to decarbonize by 2060, a date that can and should advance to 2050.

My colleagues and I in the US chapter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network have recently laid out a ZeroCarbon Action Plan (ZCAP) that charts a technological, financial, and employment pathway for decarbonizing the US energy system by 2050. Like the moonshot and subsequent US tech-

Development

the Paris climate agreement, and commit to cooperation on these efforts with the rest of the world. Success will require no less a bold commitment than the moonshot, but this time for goals on Earth and carried out by all countries together rather than one acting alone.

The sustainable-development mission should engage the public and private sectors worldwide, marshaling the idealism, energy, and digital savvy of today’s young people. To provide the demand stimulus and technological breakthroughs needed to spur the post-COVID-19 global recovery and prolonged economic advance will require ambitious longterm goals and plans, key intermediate milestones, and the financing needed to achieve them.

At the start of 2020, Europe adopted just such a mission approach with its European Green Deal (EGD) and accompanying program for research and investment (Horizon Europe). Economist Mariana Mazzucato has argued wisely and persuasively for Europe’s mission orientation.

The EGD calls for decarbonization of the energy system by 2050, a circular EU economy that slashes industrial pollution, and a comprehensive “farm to fork” program to achieve a sustainable and healthy food system. Europe’s commitment to decarbonize by 2050 helped to

nology missions (including the creation of the Internet and the sequencing of the human genome), ZCAP envisions a public-private partnership to accomplish four key objectives: shifting all power generation to zero-carbon sources, mainly wind and solar energy; adoption of electric vehicles; converting buildings from oil and gas heating to electricity; and switching from coal, oil, and gas in industry to hydrogen and other “green” (zero-carbon) fuels.

The main goal of ZCAP is to help the Biden administration and the incoming Congress do what governments generally find difficult: to think ahead as far as 30 years, by setting a clear goal and charting the technological and financial pathways to reach it. ZCAP compellingly demonstrates the feasibility of decarbonization by 2050. At an annual incremental energy systems cost below – and perhaps far below – 1% of US national income, the US economy can complete the energy transformation while increasing jobs, reducing air pollution, and addressing the special needs of hard-hit communities in order to ensure a just transition.1 The key to mission thinking is to identify the technological pathways to success and the policies and finances needed to pursue those pathways.

Of course,

not every step on the actual path can be known at the start. NASA had to innovate at every step of the moonshot, and the engineers scrambled relentlessly and brilliantly to develop new technologies in order to overcome obstacles. Yet NASA had charted out the main milestones of the moonshot by late 1962.

In the same way, there are still critical unknowns about the energy transformation to 2050, such as the best zero-carbon solutions for aviation, ocean shipping, steelmaking, and some other heavy industries. Yet for each hard problem, there are several possible solutions that can be explored through directed research and development. Similarly, we have much to learn in how best to use new digital technologies to fight extreme poverty (SDG 1), ensure healthcare coverage (SDG 3), and guarantee universal access to education (SDG 4). But many promising demonstration projects are underway around the world.

The coming year can therefore mark a breakthrough for the planet, a positive coda to the deaths and despair of 2020. With intensified public health policies around the world modeled on the successes of the Asia-Pacific countries, and with the introduction of vaccines, the pandemic can be brought under control, thereby opening the way for a fresh global start on sustainable development.

There will be three major UN gatherings in 2021 – on biodiversity conservation (in Kunming, China in May), food systems (at UN headquarters in September), and on climate (in Glasgow in November).

All are opportunities to launch our generation’s bold mission for sustainable development. To seize them, governments, academia, and businesses worldwide should work together intensively in the coming months to chart out the pathways to the future we want and need so much.

Understand your power to create happiness! Even by a smile at a stranger you can make someone happy. Use the power.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

INDIA

08

GUJARAT

15,46,009 6,76,67,462 1,40,925 96,97,843 4,095 2,20,168 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 47,774 DEATHS 18,55,341 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

UTTAR PRADESH 7,924 DEATHS 5,54,944 CASES

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

KARNATAKA 11,867 DEATHS 8,94,004 CASES

DEATHS

DELHI 9,706 DEATHS 5,93,924 CASES

‘Don’t play with fire, you can’t create Gujarat in West Bengal’

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 2,448 DEATHS 2,82,512 CASES

A’bad cops catch 9K sans masks in 5 days

—FILE PHOTO

At her first huge poll rally, Mamata warns BJP, ‘you can’t provoke riots in Bengal’ Shishir Awasthi Kolkata: Coming down heavily on the “communally divisive” politics of the ruling BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asserted that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won’t let the BJP create a Gujarat in West Bengal.

Addressing a rally, she asserted that she would not let the BJP provoke communal “riots here”. “Remember we will not let BJP make Bengal a Gujarat. We will not let you give rise to riots here,” she said.

A huge turnout was witnessed at Mamata Banerjee’s first election campaign at College Maidan in West Midnapore district of West Bengal. This was significant given that she was addressing the

MAMATA UNSTOPPABLE!

First India Bureau

At an election rally, West Bengal CM says she won’t let BJP win 2021 polls.

crowds at rebel TMC leader Suvendu Adhikari’s turf.

Taking a jibe at the BJP, she said, “BJP is a big identity card.

See how they are breaking parties and state governments.

In 2021, we will come back to power. Those who killed Gandhiji, do not support them.

Never do that. Do not do conspiracy and succumb under pressure. Continue holding the TMC flag.”

She asserted, “If the BJP thinks they can blackmail us, they are wrong. Don’t play with fire. Do not try to play with TMC. Show me a party or a state govt that gives so many

—FILE PHOTO

state govt schemes and exist peacefully with Ram-Rahim?”

Slamming the BJP, she said, “They say everyone is corrupt only they are pure.

What happened to the Rafale scam and PM Cares Fund? A small thing that happens in a village, you are creating a ruck-

us? We have still taken action. They are asking for a ‘hisab’ on (Cyclone) Amphan compensation and how many masks we have distributed to combat COVID-19.

Have you given a single penny that we will give you a ‘hisab’?”

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Police rounded up 9,773 people for not wearing a mask in public during the last five days and fined them a collective Rs 97.73 lakh. Most of those who were caught for violating the mask rule were from West Ahmedabad.

The city police have got strict about imposing the mask rule in public after the city saw a surge in Covid-19 cases post-Diwali.

In the last 250 days,

In-laws drove woman PSI to suicide: Father

STOP, LOOK & GO!

First India Bureau

Worried truckers parked their vehicles near the Ahmedabad-Bareja Highway on Monday night, in view of the Bharat Bandh call given by farmer organisations against the new farm laws.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Surat: The suicide case of Udhna police station’s woman Police Sub-Inspector Amita Joshi, who shot herself over a video call, has taken a new turn.

Her father and brother have made serious allegations against the in-laws of the PSI. Amita’s father Babubhai Joshi (retired policeman) and her brother Nainesh had leveled serious allegations against her inlaws, alleging that Amita had been harassed by her husband Vaibhav and in-laws for a long time.

They also alleged that Amita shot herself

during a video call when her in-laws told her if she wanted her son she had to resign from the job or shoot herself. In a fit of anger, she shot herself.

PRIYANKA CONDOLES FAMILY OF AHMED PATEL New Delhi : Priyanka Gandhi met the family of Ahmed Patel to pay homage to the leader and also her condolences in person to Memoona Patel (wife), his son Faisal and daughter Mumtaz on the demise of the Congress Stalwart leader and Gandhi family loyalist, in New Delhi on Monday

afternoon. Patel had passed away in the early hours of 25th November due to Covid-19 complications at the age of 71.

Priyanka Gandhi had said via a tweet on the tragic day, “Ahmed ji was not only a wise and experienced colleague to whom I constantly turned for advice and counsel, he was a friend who stood by us all, steadfast, loy-

al, and dependable to the end. His passing away leaves an immense void. May his soul rest in peace.”

Rahul Gandhi had attended the funeral ceremony of Ahmed bhai on 26th November wherein the party’s key strategist and trouble shooter was laid to rest in native village Piraman in Gujarat’s Bharuch district

Priyanka Gandhi with Ahmed Patel.

did not step out in public without a mask, the Gujarat Government had on August 10 increased the fine for not wearing a mask in public places to Rs 1,000 from the earlier Rs 500.

The decision came after the Gujarat High Court asked the state to fine a minimum fine of Rs1,000 from those found without masks in public places.

Earlier the fine for it was Rs200 which was increased to Rs 500 before benign jacked up to Rs1000.

19 mild quakes in Somnath district, no casualties

PSI Amita Joshi committed suicide.

—FILE PHOTO

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Anita

21.40 lakh people have been nabbed without a mask and a collective fine of Rs 93.56 crore has been recovered from them.

In all, 33,407 Epidemic Act violations have been registered in which 42,228 people have been arrested.

As many as 4.92 lakh vehicles were detained for violating the lockdown and curfew norms since the Covid pandemic began.

In a bid to prevent the spread of the virus and to ensure that people

—FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: As many as 19 earthquakes of magnitudes in the range of 1.7 to 3.3 were experienced in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district from the early hours of Monday till morning, officials said.

There were no casualties or damage to property.

A senior official at the Gandhinagarbased Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) called the phenomena as “monsoon-induced seismicity,” generally experienced in a few areas of Gujarat’s Saurashtra region after two-three months of heavy rainfall, and said there was nothing to

worry about.

Since 1.42 am, 19 quakes, having intensities of 1.7 to 3.3, were recorded with their epicentres in East-NorthEast (ENE) of Talala in Gir Somnath district of Saurashtra, an official from the ISR said.

While most of these quakes were of below 3 magnitude, six were of intensities of more than 3, including a 3.3 magnitude quake recorded at 3.46 am with its epicentre 12 km ENE of Talala in the district.

The latest earthquake, of magnitude 3.2, was felt at 9.26 am with its epicentre 11 km ENE of Talala, the official said.

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09

AHMEDABAD, TUESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2020

CHUPKE SE...

ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews.com

M

y all-time favourite of the super duo Dharmendra and Sharmila is Chupke-Chupke. I cannot count the number of times I have watched it and still it holds the same charm. Each character of that movie added grace to it but the joyful chemistry of the birthday duo was the best!

The shudh Hindi dialogues executed by Dharam paaji leading to English – Hindi contests, the camaraderie between the friends as they wrestle with changed personas and love with Amitabh Bachchan getting the brunt of it impersonating Dharmendra and alienating his lady love Jaya, the comic timing, Om Prakash in his usual amazing form, the one liners – the entire situational drama all woven in the simplicity which was the trademark of Hrishikesh Mukherjee come together with such deep-rooted humour that one finds oneself smiling

throughout the movie and breaking into loud laughter often.

Mukherjee brings that special moments to his songs as he always does, they are so much a part of the movie- the lyrics and situations a part of the plot. My all time favourite is Ab ke sajan saavan mein where Sharmila is teasing and playful with both her beau and her Jiaji!

Garam Dharam and Sexy Sharmila starred in quite a few movies together and a lot of them by Mukherjee- Anupama being the first one. The songs of Anupama ‘Dheere Dheere Machal Ae Dil-E-Beqaraar’, ‘Kuch Dil Ne Kaha’ and ‘Ya Dil Ki Suno Duniya Walon’ are still a treat as was the dhoti clad Dharmendra and the shy Sharmila! They perfectly complemented each other.

Devar was a movie much ahead of it’s time.

I find Dharmendra’s performance in Satyakam among his best and Sharmila was the perfect supportive wife.

Yakeen, I loved for Sharmila;

her hot pants were WOW and it does feature one of my all time favourite ‘life song’ – Gar tum bhula na doge, Mere Humdum mere dost and Ek Mahal ho sapnon ka – again worth a watch.

But today, to celebrate the birthday of this lead pairwatch the out and out entertainer Chupke Chupke- you won’t regret it!

Today, on 8 December, two superstars of Bollywood- Sharmila Tagore and Dharmendra celebrate their birthdays. City First takes a look at a few of the movies they starred together in!

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

10

WAR, ITS NONSENSE AND HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY DR RAMAWTAR SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

E

very battle leaves its marks in form of destruction of properties and human lives, is forgotten from public memory after a while but recorded in history albeit with a bias towards the winner.

But is there a real winner in any battle? A winner may win but loses almost equally or sometimes more than the loser - the losses increasing proportionately as the battle grows into a war.

The First World War, more commonly known in Europe as The Great War is a classic example of human folly and stupidity.

Millions of lives were lost, a huge amount of public and private property was destroyed, immeasurable misery was inflicted on hapless people even while it was evident from the beginning that the war has no purpose and no goal! The war was majorly fought for no national interest and not only decimated almost the whole world, but it also planted the seeds of the Second World War. If there would have been no First World War, the chances of the Second World War were remote.

The First World War was not a war because of any international issues but was an outcome of some palace intrigues and personal conflicts. There was Hapsburg dynasty ruling AustriaHungary Empire, which also ruled Bosnia and Herzegovina

by annexation. The neighbouring powerful country Serbia resented this annexation as it wanted to create a Greater Serbia by uniting Bosnia and Herzegovina with itself. The mixed population of Bosnia included Serbs, Croats and Muslims and all three were hostile to Austrian officials and assassination attempts on these officials were frequent. This was the geopolitics of that time.

The Hapsburg Empire was headed by Emperor Franz Josef who has one son - Crown Prince Rupert who was to be the next Emperor but he committed suicide along with his lover Mary Vetsera. This opened the gates for another line of Hapsburg family to head the Empire once Emperor Josef was to die. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, thus, became Crown Price once his father, the brother of Emperor Josef, also died.

Emperor Josef disliked Franz because of his choice of wife.

Franz fell in love with Czech Countess Sophie and married her. She was not considered pure royal blood and hence was banned by the Emperor to accompany Franz on public appearance and the children of the couple were denied any royal tag and an undertaking was taken from Franz that his children would not make any claim to the throne in future and would lead a life as ordinary citizens. All this has pained Franz Ferdinand, thereby, making him a rebellious prince. He was practically isolated in the overall Hapsburg establishment. His wife Sophie was excluded in every official ceremony and was never allowed to set foot in the palace.

Hapsburg establishment was ruthlessly traditional and conservative.

But one day during June 1914, Emperor Josef asked Archduke Franz to go for an official tour of occupied Sarajevo to have a look at the law and order situation.

Franz was reluctant to visit as he feared his life because rebellion was erupting in that part of the empire. He agreed finally when Emperor allowed him to be accompanied by his wife Sophie on official status. Franz was a devoted husband and wanted his wife to be accepted among the royal hierarchy so he finally agreed to visit Sarajevo, Bosnia.

It was June 28, 1914, when both Archduke Franz and his wife Sophie were assassinated by a Serb when they were moving through the market place in their car. The Hapsburg establishment blamed Serbia for assassinations, though many historians believe that Emperor Josef was complicit in the killings. Is was very unusual to grant official status to Sophie and then leave the pair with practically no protection in the hotbed of rebellion.

FA CE OF TH ED AY

YOUR DAY Horoscope by

Saurabbh Sachdeva

Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and placed 15 conditions upon that country if it wanted to avoid war. Serbia agreed for all except one humiliating condition. However, one single rejection was enough for AustriaHungary to declare war on Serbia. This madness started on July 29, 1914, and the whole of Europe plunged rapidly into Armageddon. Russia came in support of Serbia, Germany attacked Russia and France while Britain attacked Germany.

The Great War lasted for four years in which 80 Lakh ( 8 million) soldiers lost their lives and the civilian deaths were countless. The stupid leaders created a hell on earth as unrelated countries like British India also suffered deaths as soldiers were forcefully recruited from colonised countries.

Now comes a big question regarding human psychology of war and violence. Why people become willing participants in widespread violence where they might lose their lives and that of their families, friends and compatriots? How come that the sane

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Good earnings indicated for those in retails business. You will be very happy with your finances today as you will make some huge profit from stocks. If you are inclined towards arts than give it a shot, do not decide whether something is good or bad for you.

Be brave in spirit and go and confront your family incase if you have made any mistakes. You are as pure as possible inside and as tough as one can be from outside. Helping your spouse or mother in completing house hold chores is a sign that you care and love them.

A promotion is sure shot deal even at this time.

Some of you may soon become a parent or may start planning your family. You are more than satisfied and have nothing to complain about. You keep experimenting with your ideologies.

You do not like doing household stuff.

You have accomplished a lot in life and it gives you immense satisfaction too but you are still not done and wish to do more with life. You earn enough to satisfy all your need and you always encourage everyone to be self dependent. You never fail to amaze everyone.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Face your fears and do not run away from them. Risk taken in business will fetch you amazing results and also if you continue to have the same attitude than that day isn’t far when you will be among wealth people. You desire pleasure in doing charity work as this satisfaction give you a kick.

Something or some power is above is all and you need to have faith. Believe it or not, you have it in you to make it big in life and all you need is to believe in yourself.

Sometimes people take advantage of your innocence and you dont even realise it.

You always have good intentions about others but your angel ruins it all sometimes. If you have given money to someone thinking about his/her welfare or need than you will surely get this money back.

You are desperate to have someone in life but you don’t want to change.

The leading a group in a company will find the day very favourable. An increase in salary is possible even amidst the covid situation. Sweat out as much as you can because thats the only way to show improvement. You love your younger sibling more than anything.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You believe in god but you also believe in the fact that nothing will happen on its own and you need to work hard for it. Those of you who are willing to sacrifice your sleep to reach achieve your goal will certainly make it happen and for others you need motivation and sincerity.

Those working part time will have lots of work in hand today. You may make a late loan payment but it will have no repercussions for you.

You may not be willing to continue working in the same role in your firm, discuss about it with your senior.

You will spend a pleasant day and will invest lot of time with your spouse or parents or both. You are going to get fantastic returns from a recently made business deal. You are health conscious but still cheat often every now and that. You love music whether listening or playing.

You will not go wrong by following the instructions in letter and spirit at work.

Good budgeting is likely to increase your buying power and make you save too. Cheerful mood will keep you both physically and mentally contented. Aftermath of a function or ceremony will be exciting.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

RIYA JAIN, Influencer

voices of logic and peace are either not raised or suppressed during the times of irrational frenzy and madness?

There was a frustrated and lonely Emperor who lost his son by suicide and wife by assassination. His nephew, to whom he despised, was to be the natural inheritor of Empire on the demise of the Emperor. As per existing social and succession rules even the Emperor was not authorised to change the succession line. The inheritor was a nonconformist and was disliked by the ultra-conservative Hapsburg establishment. And this man and his wife’s assassination, which might have been directly or indirectly facilitated by the Empire, was used to invade a neighbouring country.

Any ruling establishment, when becomes insecure or feels vulnerable, creates an enemy.

Massive propaganda is the main weapon which makes people believe that their homes, their children are under threat. And what better enemy can be than your neighbouring country? Psychologically, people become so fear-

ful that they become extremely violent and want to see blood and gore. They become part of the war cry even when they know nothing about the behind the curtain games of powerful and power-hungry people. Anyone who talks of the futility of war and violence is labelled as a coward, anti-national and even traitor.

One more thing is commonly observed. The people who cry war don’t send their children to armed forces and this is a global phenomenon. The warmongers send their children to medical, law, economics and such related schools, a majority of armed forces is constituted by upwardly mobile middle class where armed forces are perceived as a career, not a force to kill.

There is no second option that a nation should have strong defence forces - to avoid war, a deterrence rather than invasion. Every war leaves a nation much poorer.

Look at once super-rich Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria. European giants like Britain, France and Germany saw the once well off citizens fighting for a loaf of bread after both the world wars and have practically lost all the wealth they accumulated from their colonies.

They never regained that powerful status on a global platform which they used to have.

Psychologically, war may be seen as a thrilling event in a grossly monotonous lifestyle of a society. The blood lust is a hidden trait in all of us. The real warrior classes fight the war only when it becomes unavoidable if the decision is left to them but the ruling class has its agenda, usually shuns to send their children to the war front and, mostly, decides on war to gain from it.

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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K

ylie Jenner is all ready for Christmas, and she already has decorations that would be the envy of anyone. On her Instagram, she posted photos of her home and the massive Christmas tree that caught everyone’s attention and led to impressed comments from fans. “favorite time of year,” she wrote alongside the photo of a tree that touches her extremely tall ceiling.

Jenner also kicked off the holiday season with her family in Lake Tahoe while Los Angeles is on lockdown during record-high COVID-19 cases. The Kardashian-Jenners rented an estate at the popular California mountain location to film Keeping Up with the Kardashians. —Agency

AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

Kylie’s Christmas Decorations

... her post

Kylie Jenner

Pankaj owns the screen

Moore’s disastrous date

BIG B PAYS TRIBUTE

R

eal Housewives of Atlanta alum Kenya Moore recently looked back on her date with Kanye West. The 49-year-old reality star opened up about her date with the 43-year-old rapper, calling it a “disaster.” “I did go out with Kanye once,” Kenya shared on The Wendy Williams Show. “That was a disaster.” “Somehow, we ended up going to his house and there was, like, some very explicit things on TV,” Kenya continued.

“I was lost, he left me alone, I was just there for like five minutes, wandering around his house. When I followed the noises, he was watching something on TV that he probably shouldn’t have been.” So, that was my exit! As much as I love him, it was just the craziest thing,” Kenya added —Agency

Poster of ‘Shakeela’

W

hat’s intriguing about the much awaited biopic of Shakeela is not just Richa Chadha playing her on screen to perfection but also Pankaj Tripathi who is playing the role of a superstar actor. Pankaj, riding high on the success of Ludo and Mirzapur, will be seen in his element.

Dressed in snazzy clothes, the actor plays the part in all its glory.

Talking about it, Pankaj says, “I am thrilled that our little labour of love Shakeela is all set to release in theatres this Christmas. I am so excited about the film because I have worked with the very talented friend Richa Chadha in this film. I have a beautiful part in the film. I play an actor for the first time in my career.”

—Agency

Amitabh Bachchan

A

mitabh Bachchan on Monday marked the Armed Forces Flag Day with a special video message honouring the braveheart soldiers of the country. He posted a video of himself on the platform where he is seen paying his heartfelt tribute to the defence forces. “Namaskaar this is Amitabh Bachchan. On the occasion of the Armed Forces Flag day 2020, I send my greetings and my salutations,” Bachchan said in the video. The veteran actor then invoked a quote about serving the country and continued expressing gratitude towards soldiers for safeguarding the country. “’He loves his country best who strives to make it best.’ We have not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our veterans. The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country,” he said.

— Agency

‘TOP GUY’ Kanye West

Kenya Moore

MADE IT OFFICIAL

A

Varun’s post

ctor Varun Dhawan, who had been shooting for Raj Mehta’s ‘Jug Jug Jeeyo’ in Chandigarh, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The ‘Coolie No.1,’ actor took to Instagram on Monday to share his health update along with a picture of him interacting with his

friends over a group video call.

“So as I returned to work in the pandemic era I have contracted COVID-19,” he captioned the post. Dhawan assured that while shooting all health protocols were followed and asked everyone to be “extra careful.”

—Agency

DAVID LANDER PASSES AWAY

L

Late David Lander

averne & Shirley alum David Lander recently passed away at the age of 73, the veteran had been battling multiple sclerosis for the past 37 years. David Lander, who was best known for playing Squiggy on the beloved sitcom Laverne & Shirley, died at the age of 73. Lander died of multiple sclerosis, which he battled for the past 37 years. He passed away on Friday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Lander publicly revealed his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis back in 1999 and became an advocate for those also battling the disease.

— Agency

WELCOMING ALIA BHATT

F SS Rajamouli’s tweet

11

ilmmaker SS Rajamouli on Monday welcomed actor Alia Bhatt to the sets of his upcoming film ‘RRR’ as the two began shooting for the much-anticipated film.

Rajamouli took to Twitter

to share a picture of himself with Bhatt from the sets and introduced her by her character “Sita” in the film. “A very warm welcome to our dearest #Sita, the supremely talented and beautiful @ Aliaa08 on to the sets of

#RRRMovie! #AliaBhatt,” he tweeted.

The picture sees the actor-director duo exchanging smiles as they stand in the middle of a lush green field.

—ANI

Alia Bhatt

Ayushmann’s post

A

yushmann Khurrana who is currently shooting in Chandigarh for his upcoming film on Sunday shared a candid picture with director Abhishek Kapoor, and termed him ‘Top Guy’. The ‘Shubh Mangal Savdhaan’ star took to Instagram and shared a candid picture that showcases Abhishek and Ayushman while the filmmaker is seen passing on some instructions while engaged in a conversation. The snap shows Khurrana in a different hairstyle as he ties his hair in a braid while sporting a white jacket and blue joggers. In the candid picture, the ‘Bala’ star is seen smilingly and staring at Abhishek ‘Gattu’ Kapoor.

— Agency

CITY BUZZ www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

MISS OCEAN WORLD 2020

NEHAL NAYAR

M

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

Chile

Uganda

on 30 December by Yogesh Mishra. Miss Ocean World 2021 will be conducted in India, with the participation of about 40-45 countries from all over the world. nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

CITY FIRST

O

nline Fringes Jai Rangam witnessed a play Crossing To Talikota on Monday. Convener Aishwarya Grover asserted that one or two activities would be organised on all the working days and that too during evenings. Most of the activities and programs of the festival would

H

ouse of Kotwara is an international fashion house founded in 1990 by filmmaker, painter, Muzaffar Ali – the Raja of Kotwara, and his architect wife Meera Ali with the mission to revive the traditional craft of the region of Awadh, India and provide rural employment through their foundation, Dwar Pe Rozi Society (Employment at Doorstep).

Over the last 30 years, Kotwara has been a symbol of style and elegance inspiring many brands and trends. The creations have a timeless quality to them, blending cultures and taking inspiration from Muzaffar Ali’s films - Umrao Jaan, Anjuman and Zooni.

Sama Ali is presently the Creative Director of the brand and a London College of Fashion Alumna. Having grown up

be taking place on weekends, so that maximum number of audiences can be benefited.

Before this, an online panel discussion - Theatre Training in India: Challenges and Possibilities was conducted by Ajit Roy, where he shared his experiences. An amazing play, named Hunger Strike directed by Gurleen Judge would be performed today. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

RAJ: Young educated ladies performed their social duty to motivate the public to follow instructions & guideline issued by the government to save people from Covid 19 in Jodhpur on Monday. Practising Advocate of High Court A few days ago, the song Corona bimari re ghar ghar fail rahi was released by Tanuja Vyas in a small ceremony.

Designs of ‘House of Kotwara’

alongside the House of Kotwara, she is the personification of the brand’s values and aesthetics. Her vision and creativity breathes new energy into the House of Kotwara. Sama’s fantastical artistry is an amalgamation of her life experiences, heritage and affection for beauty.

House of Kotwara is also one of the participating designers of The Fashion Connect Season 8 by First India, taking place in Jaipur on 16 December at Rambagh Palace.

THE BIG WEDDING!

DIGITAL BAAL MELA

D

Niharika Konidela and Chaitanya Jonnalagedda’s highly anticipated wedding and the day is set for Wednesday, 2020 at Udaivilas Palace in Udaipur. It will be a closeknit affair with only close family members and friends of Niharika and Chaitanya in attendance. Recently in November, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut’s brother Akshit Ranaut tied the knot with Ritu in the same city.

igital Baal Mela witnessed an interesting competition of cooking class on Monday. Lubna from Jodhpur made amazing pasta. Children from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh tried their hand at cooking and sent their entry in the Digital Baal Mela. Awareness of Corona could also be seen amidst the children.

Some kids made their favourite cake, while others showed the art of decoction. Not only girls but the active participation of boys could be seen equally. While 12-year-old Yashvi Khandelwal made a chocolate cake from Ludhiana in Punjab, Nabhya Lunia, a 7-year-old studying in Shanti Asiatic, Jaipur, made bread cake and sent it to the Digital Baal Mela’s Team. —City First

GUJ: Members of Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi Central committee held the sacred cloth to offering at Shrine of Ahmad Sha on the occasion of 610 years (Urs) Celebration and prayed for people against coronavirus at the mosque which has the tomb of Ahmad Sha, Founder of Ahmedabad city, at Manke chowk old —PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI city area on Monday.

Yashvi

Lubna

Nabhya

RAJ: Rajasthan Progressive Writers Association witnessed beautiful poems recited by the talented poetess Sonu Chaudhary of Jaipur on Sunday in the Facebook Live program series. Sonu discussed her literary journey with a recitation of poetry in the program. The live telecast series will host Jaipur satirist Ajay Anuragi on the coming Sunday.

Shivansh

SCOPE IN AGRICULTURE STREAM

CITY FIRST

I IAS (GUJ) Manish Bhardwaj, Secretary Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Cooperation Department celebrated his birthday on 7 December, Monday. We wish him all the best!

EVENTS!

NEHAL NAYAR

Jairangam Theatre Festival

HAPPY B’DAY!

Bride and Groom: Mallika and Kushagra

DB Gupta, Mallika, Kushagra and Veenu Gupta

HOUSE OF KOTWARA

India

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WEDDING BELLS! Chief Information Commissioner DB Gupta and ACS PWD Veenu Gupta’s son Kushagra was wed to Mallika in a beautiful intimate wedding ceremony at the Treehouse Resort on 7 December, Monday. As per the Corona protocol only family and close friends were invited for the big day.

iss Ocean World 2020, an international beauty pageant that has been ranked #17 all over the world by the prestigious Euthopia Models in the list of World Pageantry, began on 1 December and will go on till 30 December. Organised by Yogesh Mishra from Jaipur, this beauty pageant has been witnessing models from across the globe, who are proving themselves in order to be the winner of the prestigious title. Due to the global pandemic, the pageant is being held virtually, and the winners will be declared after six rounds, namely- introduction, bikini, talent, national costume, catwalk and interaction with the judges.

The results will be announced virtually

AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

ndian Agriculture has transformed from traditional cultivation methods to high-tech agriculture. There are great demands and opportunities for agricultural graduates in banking and insurance sectors, the retailing industry, multinational companies, government departments

Jaipur National University

and non-governmental organizations.

The student READY programmes introduced by the ICAR in the undergraduate curriculum motivates them to seek self-employment and become entrepreneurs. All the undergraduate programmes offer the scope for pursuing higher education by joining M.Sc. and

PhD degree programmes. There are a total of 95 courses at postgraduate level in agriculture and allied subjects in India.

Jaipur National University is UGC approved First Private University of Rajasthan and First Private University to get NAAC Accreditation. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

GUJ: Anshikaa Arora represented Surat, Gujarat and won the title Mrs West India Empress of West India 2020 1st runner up and Mrs Style Icon Diva 2020 by diva pageants recently at Aliladiwa, Goa. She was crowned by model-actor, Mahek Chahal. Actor Aman Yatan Verma hosted this grand show.