First India-Ahmedabad Edition-10 August 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

25°C - 31°C

ALERT AHMEDABAD l MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

7,31,729 1,99,20,645 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 17,757 DEATHS 5,15,332 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 4,927 DEATHS 2,96,901 CASES

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 256

INDIA

44,457 22,12,954 DEATHS

DELHI 4,111 DEATHS 1,45,427 CASES

TRAGIC SUNDAY

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CONFIRMED CASES

GUJARAT

2,654 DEATHS

KARNATAKA 3,198 DEATHS 1,78,087 CASES

71,064

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 789 DEATHS 52,497 CASES

From Andhra to Rajasthan: 2 incidents claim 21 lives

10 patients killed in fire at 11 members of Pak migrant COVID care facility in AP family found dead in Jodhpur Amaravati: As many as 10 patients died at a star hotel converted to a coronavirus treatment centre here on Sunday when panic-stricken inmates tried to flee a fire suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, the government said. Director General of Disaster Response and Fire Services Department Md Ahsan Raza said one COVID-19 patient was charred to death while nine died of asphyxiation caused by the smoke.

Three women were among the 10 victims.

The PMO announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of those who lost their lives in the fire. Apart from this, a sum of Rs 50,000 each would be given to those injured in the incident, according to the PMO. The ex-gratia and compensation will be paid out from the Prime Minister’s Turn on P6

Police personnel and other officials inspect the hotel, turned into Covid-19 care centre, where a massive fire broke out early morning, in Vijayawada on Sunday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

NARENDRA MODI @NARENDRAMODI Anguished by the fire at a Covid Centre in Vijayawada. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones.

I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. Discussed the prevailing situation with AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Ji and assured all possible support.

IDUKKI LANDSLIDE TOLL TOUCHES 43 Even as Kerala grapples with a bout of heavy rainfall, the death toll in the landslide that took place in Idukki district two days ago rose to 43 after rescue officials retrieved 17 more bodies from the debris on Sunday, say reports.

Jodhpur: Eleven members of a family of Pakistan Hindu migrants were found dead at a farm in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district on Sunday morning, police said.

A member of the family, however, was found alive outside the hut they lived at Lodta village of the Dechu area, over 100 km away from Jodhpur city, an officer said.

“But he claimed to have no idea about the incident, which believed to have happened in the night,” said SP (Rural) Rahul Barhat.

“We are yet to ascertain the cause and means of death. They appeared to have committed suicide by consuming some chemical in the night,” Barhat said. He said there was a smell of some chemical in the hut, suggesting they consumed something.

The family belonging to the Bhil community had come Turn on P6

Policemen inspect the site, where 11 members of a family of Pakistan Hindu migrants were found dead at a farm, in Jodhpur district on Sunday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

UNION MIN SHEKHAWAT SLAMS STATE GOVT OVER DEATHS Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday slammed state government over deaths of 11 members of a Hindu migrant family from Pakistan, saying the incident reflects the working style of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

“The deaths of nearly a dozen refugees from Pakistan put a question mark on @ashokgehlot51’s working style. The deceased include two men, four women and five children. One after other, very frightening incidents reflecting the deteriorating situation of the state, are coming to the fore. The government should swing into action and clear the picture,” Shekhawat tweeted.

Vadodara & Rajkot closing No consensus on Guj, now BJP badebandi in Jaipur in on COVID-19 top spot BJP ridden with factionalism: CM Aditi Nagar

First India Bureau

Gandhinagar: After Surat and Ahmedabad, now the cities of Vadodara and Rajkot seem to be catching up in COVID-19 numbers in the state. This worrying trend has emerged after Vadodara started reporting novel coronavirus cases in triple digits.

On Sunday, though the highest number of cases (222) was recorded in Surat, Vadodara reported 110 cases and Rajkot clocked 95 cases in a single day. With an

Fresh: 1,078 cases, discharged 1,311 and deaths 25 Total: 71,064, discharged 54,138, and deaths 2,654

average of more than 100 cases over the last two to three days, the situation in Vadodara continues to be grim.

Also, Rajkot’s daily average stands at more than 70 cases.

The death toll in the state stood at 25 on Sunday, of which, 15

were reported from municipal corporation areas. Rajkot and Surat city reported five deaths each while Ahmedabad city and Vadodara city logged three and two deaths respectively. The Kutch district recorded two deaths and Junagadh, Mehsana, Vadodara rural saw one death each.

The Surat and South Gujarat region lost one of its most renowned paediatricians Dr Ashok Kapse to the virus on Sunday. Kapse had tested positive for nCov a month ago Turn on P6

Jaipur: Is the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) going through an internal ‘strife’ in Rajasthan?

Are two ‘factions’ silently carrying out veiled attempts to negate the other? Is it really true that the saffron party’s ‘desert’ unit is being ‘polarized’? questions like these are making the rounds in political circles in Rajasthan as well as in New Delhi and the recent ‘tussle’ on shifting legislators out of Rajasthan and Raje’s perpetual ‘Delhi visit’ have only fanned the fire.

Political observers, highly familiar with the internal workings of the BJP, claim that while all may look good on the face, internally, leaders are riled up.

Sources claim that the central leadership had asked for select few MLAs to be shifted to Gujarat and interestingly, these legislators are believed to be of ‘Raje camp’ in the party.

However, during Raje’s Saturday meeting with senior leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, sources reveal that she raised an objection to the ‘shifting’, following which less than Turn on P6

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday questioned the shifting of BJP MLAs to Gujarat, saying the Opposition party was ridden with factionalism.

His comments came in the wake of the BJP herding its 18 MLAs in the past two days to party-ruled Gujarat ahead of the Rajasthan assembly session beginning August 14.

The BJP had claimed that their MLAs were being harassed by po-

lice and the administration at the behest of the Congress government in the state.

Gehlot, on the other hand, defended the stay

of Congress legislators at a Jaisalmer hotel, saying the party required to keep them together to thwart horsetrading.

Turn on P6

BIG BOON FOR FARMERS DURING COVID

PM’s SIXER SCORES `17,000 CR IN ACCOUNTS OF 8.5 CR KISANS Over 9 crore farmers registered themselves under the scheme between Dec 2018 & Nov 2019 New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released the sixth instalment of financing facility under PM-KISAN scheme via video conferencing. Under the sixth instalment of PM-Kisan scheme, Rs17,000 crore of PMKisan Samman Nidhi

has been deposited into bank accounts of 8.5 crore farmers with a single click.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, the government is providing annually Rs6,000 in three equal installments to 14 crore farmers.

Earlier in the day, he

PM Narendra Modi at the launch of the financing facility of Rs1 Lakh crore under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund through video conferencing, in New Delhi on Sunday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

tweeted, “Wishing countrymen especially farmers on the occasion of Balaram Jayanti, ‘Hal Chhath’ and ‘Dau janmotsav’. On this special day at 11 am, through video conferencing, I will introduce a funding facility of Rs 1 lakh crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.” “In this programme, the sixth installment of the assistance amount under ‘PM-Kisan scheme’ will

also be released. Rs 17,000 crores will be transferred to the accounts of 8.5 crore farmers. The scheme is proving to be of great help to farmers during the COVID-19 epidemic,” he said in another tweet.

“The fund would bring about the creation of post-harvest management infrastructures and community farming assets such as cold storage,

collection centres and processing units. These assets will enable farmers to get greater value for their produce, as they will be able to store and sell at higher prices, reduce wastage and increase processing and value addition. Rs 1 lakh crore will be sanctioned under the financing facility in partnership with multiple lending institutions,” read a release by the PMO. Turn on P6

NEWS AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020

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New Guj BJP chief CR Patil holds trump card on top posts of Rs 4,500 cr Sumul Dairy and this will be the first indicator of his thinking

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

CR’S TIGHTROPE WALK IN SUMUL POLLS TO SIGNAL HIS DIRECTION

Haresh Jhala

Surat: The anxiously contested elections for the new board of Surat’s Sumul Dairy are likely to give the first broad indications of the political strategy of newly appointed Gujarat BJP President CR Patil for his South Gujarat region as well as for the State.

Ahead of the Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd -- popularly called Sumul Dairy —elections on Saturday, Patil had claimed before the media there were no warring groups in the dairy that has lakhs of members spread across the Surat tribal belt.

But when the elections actually took place, both the factions, informally called the ruling panel led by current chairman Raju Pathak and the cooperatives panel headed by Tribal Development Minister Ganpat Vasava, could find unanimous candidates on only 2 seats while they hammered out a tough compromise on 5 seats.

But the majority of 9 seats out of the 16-member board remained a bone of contention, resulting in a neck and neck fight there. Eventually, the results created a tie of sorts, with eight winners on both the sides.

NEW STRATEGY? With the powerful Sumul Dairy board equally divided in two factions, CR Patil’s decision on who would be the new chairman and vice-chairman would reflect on his overall strategy for the State unit of the BJP, which is set to undergo the long overdue organisational revamp.

CM RUPANI E-LAUNCHES SCHOOLS, OTHER FACILITIES IN TRIBAL REGIONS The initiatives are set to benefit over 4,500 kids across 14 districts of state

across 14 districts with a significant number of tribal population, with the chief minister participating through video conferencing from state capi-

tal Gandhinagar, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a release.

“CM Rupani inaugurated six schools and laid the founda-

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: On the occasion of World Tribal Day, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated six schools and laid the foundation stones of four others on Sunday. The educational institutions are set to benefit 4,500 students from the tribal regions of the state.

Also known as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, it was celebrated at 28 places

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

tion stones of four others, for the benefit of 4,500 students from tribal regions of the state.

These schools will be built at a cost of Rs136.40 crore,” it said.

Talking about the initiative Rupani said, “The state government has made arrangements by constructing schools in the remotest villages of the state so that no tribal child remains deprived of education.”

He added, “The state has also spent Rs1,00,956 crore under the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana for the development of tribals in the state.”

The chief minister participated in these

celebrations through video conference from Gandhinagar, and e-inaugurated model schools, girls’ hostels and Eklavya residential schools and sports complexes in the districts of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Narmada, and Panchmahal. These institutions will be established with an investment of Rs71 crore and benefit over 2,700 students.

Rupani also laid the foundation stones for schools and residential schools in Chhota Udepur and Sabarkantha districts to be built at a cost of Rs65 crore.

These educational ventures are likely to benefit around 1,860 students.

Now, the trump card vests with CR Patil who will carry the ruling party’s mandate on who becomes the new chairman and vice-chairman of the Rs 4,500-crore Sumul Dairy. So if Patil backs the current chairman Pathak, who has been heading the dairy for 8 years, at the cost of minister Vasava, it will be seen as a clear indication that the new BJP chief wants a new tribal leader to emerge instead of Vasava in the region.

Though Pathak is not an Adivasi, Vasava sees him as a competitor given that both belong to Mangrol taluka and that the chairman-

ship of the Sumul Dairy has a widespread influence on two district panchayats, nine assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats. And if Patil picks the minister, the indication will be that he wants to end the long rule of Pathak and tighten his own grip.

Patil had dropped small hints about his future plan when he recently admitted farmer leader Jayesh Patel and cooperatives leader Vasant Patel, both owing allegiance to the Congress, in the party fold on the eve of the Sumul elections.

Both are directors of the dairy.

CR Patil’s decision

here would reflect on his overall strategy for the State unit of the BJP, which is set to undergo the long overdue organisational revamp.

The party will soon send observers with a mandate on the names of the chairman and vice chairman, said sources.

In Saturday’s elections, candidates of Raju Pathak’s panel were elected on Choryasi, Bardoli, Mandvi, Kukarmunda, Nizar, Uchhal, Mangrol and Songadh seats, while the Vasava panel managed to bag Olpad, Kamrej Mahuva, Valod, Vyara, Dolvan, Umarpada and Palsana.

Abolish fixed-pay system for govt employees: Hardik First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The fixedpay system for government employees in the state has been active for the past 14 years. But now, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) working president Hardik Patel has demanded that the system be abolished with immediate effect. He also asked that the state government regularise the salaries of all government employees.

Terming the fixedpay system as ‘unconstitutional’ Patel called for its termination. “I have asked the government to recall the fixed-pay scheme for recruitments. Back in 2012, the Gujarat high court had passed an order to do away with the fixed payment system. That order must be implement-

Hardik Patel

ed as soon as possible,” asserted Patel.

In a letter to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the working president made several demands.

“Since there is a minor difference between the 2017 notification of the fixed-pay system and the Seventh Pay Commission, the former must be removed. All employees must receive their full salary along with the remaining arrears as per the Supreme Court’s order,” stated the letter. It fur-

ther remarked that the state must revive the pension scheme. “In case an employee has worked under the fixedpay scheme assuming different duties, the government must consider those years as continuous regular service. The fixed-pay employees are the victims of this policy and any further exploitation of their condition must be prevented by the withdrawal of the dearness allowance,” the letter mentioned.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020

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9 dists to receive heavy showers today

Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, A’bad, Mahisagar, Surat and Tapi districts to be inundated First India Bureau Ahmedabad: With the monsoon season peaking in the state again, the weatherman predicts heavy rainfall in at least nine districts on Monday. The southwest monsoon has been active over the region with some parts receiving good rains. According to reports, heavy showers are very likely at isolated places in the districts of the Gujarat region namely Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Ahmedabad, Mahisa-

An autorickshaw crosses a waterlogged street in Saraspur area of Ahmedabad after heavy showers on Sunday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

gar, Surat and Tapi.

Currently, there is a trough line that runs

from Southeast Rajasthan to a cyclonic circulation associated

with a low pressure over Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Odis-

ha, West Bengal coasts at 3.1 km above mean sea level. This phenomena will, in all likelihood, result in decent rainfall across Gujarat.

On Sunday, very heavy downpour occurred at isolated places in the districts of Anand and Tapi. Other districts namely Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Anand, Kheda, Surat witnessed heavy rainfall while a moderate spell of rains was seen in the SaurashtraKutch region.

The highest amount of rainfall was recorded in Nadiad town of Kheda district where 90mm

rainfall was reported. Due to heavy rainfall, a total of 36 roads were closed for transportation in six districts of the state.

In order to facilitate internal movement in the districts, internal Panchayat roads were used by citizens.

In Surat and Tapi districts, over 11 roads were closed down by authorities, followed

by Porbandar where nine roads were closed. In Junagadh, three roads were shut off for traffic while one road each in Narmada and Devbhumi Dwarka were barred from movement.

SURAT RECORDS 100% RISE IN RAINFALL

A

ccording to data of the Met department, Surat city has received more than double the amount of rainfall as compared to last year. Until August 8 last year, there was 399 mm of rainfall in the city, while the number stands at 850 mm this year.

On Sunday, the city’s maximum temperature was recorded at 30.5 degree Celsius, while minimum

temperature was 27 degree Celsius. The wind speed was reported to be 13 kmph from South West.

This year, the monsoon arrived in Surat a day ahead of time.

The water level at the Ukai Dam was recorded at 329.10 feet with the water from rainfall reported to be 14,145 cusecs. In order to avoid overflow, over 1,000 cusecs of water was released from the dam.

Elder brother of Guj Revenue Advisory committee plans extension of Minister commits suicide Surat airport runway by 265 metres First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: State Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel’s elder brother Gautam Patel committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Shilaj on Sunday morning. An investigation has been initiated by Ahmedabad rural police and the reason for the extreme step remains unclear.

Gautam lived with his wife, son and daughter-in-law at Shalin Bungalows in Shilaj village. On Sunday morning until 10.30, he was with his family members on the ground floor of the house. Then, he

Surat: On the heels of the Calicut Airport crash, the advisory committee of Surat Airport held a meeting on Saturday and decided to extend the runway on Dumas End by 265 metres as a precautionary measure.

In order to ensure the safety of passengers and airport personnel, a culvert will also be created on runway four to protect the gas pipeline running under it.

This move will facilitate easy landing of planes and also ease any future expansions.

Currently, the total

The body of deceased Gautam Patel being taken for post-mortem.

went into his room and hung himself with the help of a dupatta. A few minutes later when his wife went upstairs, she found him hanging from the ceiling.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) KT Kamariya (Ah-

DUM LAGA KE HAISHA

meabad Rural) said, “The police have not recovered any suicide note so far. We are in the process of recording the statements of family members and inquiring about the reasons that led him to commit suicide.”

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

length of the runway stands at 2,905 metres, which will be 3,170 me-

tres post the planned expansion.

The extension of the

runway will help the pilots flying the planes to use the Runway Safety

Sola police arrests three for cheating 1.1K people off `18 L First India Bureau

An emergency ambulance van was given some roadside assistance by relatives of COVID-19 patients, as the driver attempted to restart the engine, near the COVID-19 Care Centre on the Civil Hospital premises in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

—FILE PHOTO

Surat Airport.

Area (RESA) in the time of an emergency. Last year, a flight from Bhopal to Surat had overshot the runway and had got stuck in the RESA area on the Dumas End. The 265-metre expansion of the runway strip has been approved on a primary basis because of the residential tower of Marina on runway 4 at Dumas End. Earlier, the runway was to be extended by 800 metres but, since the residential tower stands in between, the runway cannot be extended further than 265 metres.

Ahmedabad: Three people have been arrested by Sola Police for cheating people off their money in an online scheme. According to reports, the trio namely Anil Joshi, Vishal Sharma and Dhruv Hingol have been accused of duping 1,100 people and robbing them of over Rs18 lakh.

Speaking about the case, Sola Police SubInspector JJ Rana

said, “We had received information that three people were operating a fraud scheme from a Shreeji Pan Parlour in the city. They were offering mobile phones, laptops and even LED TVs at an amount 50% less than the market price. The trio had put up their advertisement on the networking Telegram messenger.”

He added, “Once an interested consumer

approached them to buy any of the electronic items they of-

The trio used to offer electronic items at 50% discount to attract clients fered, they asked them to make a payment of 50% in advance. After the payment was made through one of the payment applications or using QR code, they

promised delivery in three days time. Post that, if any client questioned the non-delivery of goods, they used to block their number, disabling their connection with them.”

Upon interrogation by police, Anil, Vishal and Dhruv admitted that they made Rs18 lakh by cheating 1,100 people. All three had also recently opened bank accounts at different banks and withdrawn money frequently.

PAYING HOMAGE

State honours 8 freedom fighters on ‘Quit India’ anniversary The ‘At Home’ reception could not be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic l

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: In accordance with tradition, the state government honoured eight surviving freedom fighters to mark the 74th Independence Day this year. On August 9, which also happens to be the anniversary of the ‘Quit India Movement’, the state government felicitates warri-

ors who had fought for independence from the British Raj back then.

The ‘At Home’ reception, which is usually hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan each year, had to be cancelled owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, eight freedom fighters were appreciated with a small felicitation ceremony at their

Nandlal Shah being felicitated by Ahmedabad Deputy Collector JB Desai.

residences in various districts. All recipients were reached out to by respective district collectors.

The kit, which was handed over to the recipients of the honour, was dispatched by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. An appreciation ceremony was conducted by the Collectorate office in Ahmedabad, where 94-year-old Nandlal Shah was honoured for his service to the nation.

A resident of Nava Vadaj, Shah quipped

that he did not fear the Britishers but was definitely afraid of novel coronavirus. “I have only one life mantra - no negative thoughts, ever.

One should not get carried away by negative thoughts. I have been following the same daily routine for years and it has never changed. I have a habit of reading,” advised the freedom fighter.

Ahmedabad Deputy Collector JB Desai, who honoured Shah, said that he felt proud appreciating the free-

dom fighter. “We are indebted to all the freedom fighters.

Nandlal Shah left everything to fight the Britishers at the age of 17. He even spent 16 months in jail for stealing bombs. He hurled a bomb in Surendranagar Jail in 1943, on a goods train, and a few other places. He was jailed and charged under several Acts but the case could not stand since he was a minor at the time,” said an official statement.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020

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VEDIC CULTURE A NEW NORM POST COVID-19 BRIG VETERAN ANIL GUPTA The writer is a Jammu based veteran, political commentator, columnist, security and strategic analyst

V

We are now being told to not to touch our eyes, nose etc without washing hands, in Manusamriti (4/144) it is written “Without a reason don’t touch your own indriyas (eyes, nose, ears etc).

edic culture is not religion specific but a way of life. It was the daily routine and rituals during the Vedic Period. The after-effects of corona which would cripple many economies, make many individuals jobless and turn many rich households to the poor would need the internal strength and peace to overcome the trauma. There is likely to be a paradigm shift in our way of life with glitter, extravagance giving way to simplicity and purity.

It is very interesting to know that some elements of the culture of the Vedic Age have survived for almost 3,000 years and continue to be a part of Indian culture even today. The Vedic period saw the emergence and exploitation of technology with the discovery of Iron. Many crafts developed during this period and growth of population and surplus of food grain due to extensive farming led to urbanisation. The period also witnessed the emergence of a sound system of governance even though the hereditary system prevailed. The Gurukul system of education, though not universal, was aimed at the holistic development of Shishyas which made them great warriors and kings. Meditation was the means to achieve inner peace.

Many of the things being promoted now worldwide as new norms of living to avoid being affected by corona were the usual norms during the Vedic period as very strict norms of hygiene were followed. Like we are now being told not to touch our eyes, nose, etc without washing hands in Manusamriti (4/144) it is written “Without a reason don’t touch your own indriyas (eyes, nose, ears, etc). As regards frequent washing of hands, Pad-

mashristi (51/88) states “Wash your hands, feet, mouth before you eat”. Another common thing being insisted now is avoid re-use and frequent change of clothing particularly after you return home from a visit outside. In the same scripture shloka 51/83 says “Don’t use the cloth (like towel) used by another person for drying yourself after a bath.” The Mahabharat teaches “Use different clothes while sleeping while going out while visiting a place of worship”. In Vishnusamriti shloka 64 preaches “Clothes once worn should not be worn again before washing.”

Aren’t these going to be the norms in the post COVID – 19 era? The material (samagri) used for Havan (fire worship) in Indian Households including incense sticks use many ingredients that purify the atmosphere and keep infections away. This is also a gift of the Vedic period which if promoted like Yoga could change the way of life of many.

An ayurvedic drug in India called ZingiVir-H has gotten the go ahead for clinical trials with patients tested positive for corona

The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit which means to join or to unite. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India. Yoga which was not very popular internationally and was desisted by some labelling it to be religion specific has now become popular worldwide due to the ef-

fort of PM Narendra Modi who succeeded in United Nations Organisation (UNO) General Assembly 2014 declaring 21 June as The International Day of Yoga. 21 June was suggested as the date by PM Modi since it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world. It is being celebrated every year since then with increasing number of nations joining the celebrations.

While addressing the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2014, PM Modi advocated the promotion of Yoga internationally and stated, “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in wellbeing.

Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.” The world was awakened and the UN going through its routine process declared in December 2014 that henceforth the International Day of Yoga will be celebrated every year.

Despite objections by various religious heads, it has now been accepted that Yoga, as practised internationally, is devoid of any religious content but at the same time it is not only for physical fitness but also helps in attaining inner peace. Attainment of inner peace is an individual requirement and is not religion specific. Yoga has now emerged as one of the elements of India’s multifarious soft power.

Namaste, Namaskar, or Namaskaram, the Hindu way of greeting has already gained wider acceptance and global recognition. Social distancing would be the norm post corona and Namaste is considered the better and appropriate form of greeting maintaining the requi-

Why streaming comes at a cost to the environment

C

o ro n av i r u s lockdowns have led to a massive reduction in global emissions, but there’s one area where energy usage is up – way up – during the pandemic: internet traffic.

Data-intensive video streaming, gaming and livestreaming for business, university and school classes, is chewing up energy.

Estimates can be notoriously difficult and depend on the electricity source, but six hours of streaming video may be the equivalent of burning one litre of petrol, due to emissions from the electricity used to power the data centres which deliver the video.

In fact, the energy associated with the global IT sector – from powering internet servers to

charging smartphones – is estimated to have the same carbon footprint as the aviation industry’s fuel emissions (before planes were grounded).

But Australia is a global leader in research to lower the energy used in IT, which is vital for meeting the streaming demand without the environmental cost.

WHERE DOES THE DATA COME FROM? Video requires huge amounts of data, and accounts for around 80% of the data transmitted on the internet. Much of the energy needed for streaming services is consumed by data centres, which deliver data to your computer or device.

Increasingly housed in vast factorysized buildings, these servers store, process and distribute internet traffic.

Research in 2015 found

Data-intensive video streaming, gaming and livestreaming for business, university and school classes, is chewing up energy

data centres may consume as much as 13% of the world’s electricity by 2030, accounting for about 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions. And the European Commission-funded Eureca project found data centres in EU countries consumed 25% more energy in 2017 compared with 2014.

Imagine what those figures will look like at

the end of this year of home-bound internet use.

The growth in IT is often taken for granted. In contrast to the old days of dial-up internet, we now demand a threehour movie, in high definition, to download immediately. We want phones that can take video like a pro.

None of this is free.

Nor is it sustainable.

Every year the number of computations, or transmission of information through space, done globally, increases by 60%, according to 2011 research.

All this computation uses “transistors”. These are tiny switches that amplify electrical signals, and are made using siliconbased technology.

For the past 40 years, our ever-increasing need for

more computing was largely satisfied by incremental improvements in siliconbased computing technology – ever-smaller, everfaster, ever-more efficient chips. We refer to this constant shrinking of silicon components as “Moore’s law”.

For example, since the late 1970s the length of transistors reduces by about 30%, and the area by about 50%, every two years. This shrinks the energy used in switching on and off each transistor by about 50%, which is better for the environment.

While each transistor uses only a tiny amount of energy, there are billions of transistors in a typical computer chip, each switching billions of time per second.

This can add up to a vast amount of energy.

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site distance. Persons greeting each other place their palms together, fingers pointing upward, and say “Namaste” with a bow.

“Namaste” is a combination of words derived from Sanskrit that mean “I bow to you.” It is a noncontact form of greeting, as opposed to hugging or shaking hands. It is quite proper if a person from a different culture uses this form of salutation to another person, Hindu or nonHindu. Thus, though recognised as Hindu way of greeting, Namaste can have universal acceptance due to its spiritual component.

We are fortunate that we are led at this crucial juncture also by none other than Narendra Modi. As the world is accepting new ways of living to avoid the spread of corona, PM Modi should take lead to promote the Vedic way of life sans any religious component. There are numerous pluses of Vedic way of life which the global community would adopt happily as they did while accepting Yoga. Ayurveda is also gaining popularity as an alternative system of medicine. Clinical trials for Ayurvedic medicine for COVID have begun. If this experiment succeeds, it would become easier to sell the idea of Vedic culture as the new norm in the post-Covid-19 era.

India through its various organisations particularly the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) should take the lead to promote Vedic culture worldwide itself and through the UN. If needed a separate vertical of International Promotion of Vedic Culture be added to the existing organisation of ICCR to provide it the necessary impetus and funds.

When India advocates Vedic way of life it is not doing with a view to promote a particular religion but to promote the culture that conceived the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family).

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Structural & policy reforms introduced by the #ModiGovt in the farm sector will help reshape the rural economy to meet the expectations of 21st century, create extensive employment in rural areas & help make India more self-reliant in the agriculture sector.#AatmaNirbharKrishi K C Venugopal @kcvenugopalmp BJP Promised: 2 crore jobs a year BJP Delivered: Highest unemployment rate in decades & millions of job losses due to their policies. How can the nation progress when its youth doesn’t have the opportunities for employment? Join the #RozgarDo Campaign & raise your voice.

Spiritual SPEAK

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. —Matthew 5:4

Vol 1 Issue No. 256 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.

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IT IS ESTIMATED THAT CONTRACTS WORTH ALMOST RS 4 LAKH CRORE WILL BE PLACED UPON THE DOMESTIC INDUSTRY WITHIN THE NEXT SIX TO SEVEN YEARS

Atmanirbhar Bharat: Rajnath declares import embargo on 101 defence items New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence will introduce import embargo on 101 items beyond given timeline to boost indigenisation of defence production, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Sunday, while stating it as a big step towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (selfreliance) in defence.

In a series of tweets, he made some major announcements and said that Defence Ministry has prepared a list of 101 items for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timeline indicated against them. The Minister also said that the Defence Ministry has also bifurcated the capital procurement budget for 2020-21 between domestic and foreign capital procurement routes.

A separate budget head has been created with an outlay of nearly Rs 52,000 crore for domestic capital procurement in the current financial year, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call for a self-reliant India based on the five pillars, i.e., Economy, Infrastructure, System, Demography & Demand and announced a special economic package for Self-Reliant India named ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

AMIT SHAH@AmitShah Modi govt’s decision of import embargo on 101 items and a separate budget for domestic capital procurement of nearly Rs 52,000 crore for the current financial year will surely provide a major boost to the indigenous defence sector. I thank PM @NarendraModi & RM @RajnathSingh for this historic decision.

Rajnath Singh

five pillars, i.e., Economy, Infrastructure, System, Demography & Demand and announced a special economic package for Self-Reliant India named ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” he said in another tweet.

“Taking cue from that evocation, the Ministry of Defence has prepared a list of 101 items for which there would be an embargo on the import

Army seeks update in fire-power

#HINDIIMPOSITION

government sources said. The case is going to be considered by a high-level Defence Ministry body including Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, who is now the in-charge of all capital procurements for the three services.

In the proposal, armed forces have proposed to equip drones with stronger surveillance and reconnaissance payloads for keeping an eye on enemy locations and stations and take them out, if required. The upgraded UAVs can be used against conventional military operations as well as in counter-terrorism operations in future, if required, sources said.

—ANI

CONG MLA BOOKED FOR TWEETING TAMPERED IMAGE OF PM MODI Indore: A case was registered against MP Congress MLA Jitu Patwari for posting a doctored image of PM Narendra Modi which the ruling BJP claimed hurt his dignity and religious sentiments of Hindus.

In the image uploaded

by Patwari, the PM is seen wearing a mask and holding a bowl during

QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT ANNIVERSARY

‘Courage of freedom fighters inspires us’

RAJNATH SINGH@rajnathsingh

“The Ministry of Defence is now ready for a big push to #AtmanirbharBharat initiative.

MoD will introduce import embargo on 101 items beyond given timeline to boost indigenisation of defence production,” Singh tweeted.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call for a self-reliant India based on the

New Delhi: Amid border tension with China, the armed forces are pushing a case for arming their Heron UAVs with laser-guided bombs, precision-guided munitions and antitank missiles for taking out enemy positions and armoured regiments. The proposal named Project Cheetah has been revived by the armed forces after being pending for a long time and is expected to cost over Rs 3,500 crores to the government.

“Under this project, around 90 Heron drones of the three services would be upgraded to be armed with laser-guided bombs, air to ground and air-launched antitank guided missiles,”

05

the Ram Temple bhoomi pujan ceremony, with a tweet in Hindi which said, “The country’s economy, business and income, declining economic status of farmers, jobs and unemployment, decline of economy, labourers and their struggle. These are not subjects of television debate. Because, (we) will walk with the bowl.”

Asked if I was Indian for not knowing Hindi: Kanimozhi New Delhi: DMK leader and LS MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said she was asked by a CISF officer at the airport whether she was an Indian. The query was posed to her by the CISF woman officer when Kanimozhi asked the former to speak to her either in Tamil or English. She tweeted, “Today at the airport a CISF officer asked me if “I am an Indian” when I asked her to speak to me in Tamil or English as I did not know Hindi. I would like to know from when being Indian is equal to knowing Hindi,” she posted on her tweet along with the hashtag #hindiimposition. CISF has ordered a probe into the matter.

—ANI

beyond the timeline indicated against them.

This is a big step towards self-reliance in defence. #AtmanirbharBharat”,” he said.

The Defence Minister said that the decision will offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence industry to manufacture the items in the negative list by using their own design and development capabilities

or adopting the technologies designed and developed by DRDO to meet Army requirements. “MoD has also bifurcated capital procurement budget for 2020-21 between domestic and foreign capital procurement routes. A separate budget head has been created with an outlay of nearly Rs 52,000 crore for domestic capital procurement in

Nepal PM is back with a claim on Ram’s birthplace New Delhi: PM KP Sharma Oli attempted to ignite a fresh row over Lord Ram’s birthplace, telling a delegation that he was convinced that Lord Ram was born in south Nepal’s Ayodhyapuri and not UP’s Ayodhya.

His remark on Ayodhya, the second in a month, comes against the backdrop of an acrimonious power struggle within the ruling Nepal Communist Party that is widely seen headed for a split.

PM Oli has made it clear that he isn’t going to step down anytime soon as demanded by the rival camp led by the party’s cochairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the two other former PMs, Madhav Nepal & Jhalanath Khanal.

Oli’s rivals have the majority within the party but have been unable to dislodge the PM who

UP ARTISTS CAST 2.1-TONNE BRASS BELL FOR RAM TEMPLE Jalesar: Dau Dayal has been making bells of varied shapes and sizes for more than 30 years, but what he and his team has pulled off this time has surprised everyone in UP’s Jalesar town - a bell weighing 2,100 kg for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Dayal and his collegue Iqbal Mistri say this is the first time they have worked on a bell of this size. “What’s unique about it is that it is just one piece, from top to bottom. It doesn’t have multiple pieces welded together. This is what made the task much more difficult,” Mistri said.

has been needling India - Nepal’s new map was one such effort - to endear himself to China’s communist party.

The PM who has been bunking meetings of NCP’s top leadership for weeks, took out two hours to meet a delegation from Madi in Chitwan district to discuss his plans for Lord Ram’s birthplace. He told the delegation led by Madi mayor Thakur Prasad Dhakal that they should get down to prepping for Lord Ram’s idol and promote Ayodhyapuri as his place of birth. A suggestion to rename the municipality to Ayodhyapuri was also floated.

PM Oli’s continuing effort to appropriate Lord Ram’s birthplace has drawn sharp reactions from religious leaders in Nepal, describing the claim as absurd.

the current financial year,” Singh tweeted.

“Almost 260 schemes of such items were contracted by Tri-Services at an approximate cost of Rs 3.5 lakh crore between April 2015 & August 2020. It is estimated that contracts worth almost Rs 4 lakh crore will be placed upon the domestic industry within the next 6 to 7 years,” he tweeted.

—ANI

New Delhi: On the 78th anniversary of Quit India Movement, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday, remembered millions of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence.

“On the 78th anniversary of #QuitIndiaMovement, we gratefully remember millions of our freedom fighters who sacrificed their all for our Independence.

Their courage and patriotism continue to inspire us to work for a prosperous and ever stronger India. #SalutingFreedomFighters,” the President tweeted. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also remembered the “brave

fighters of this revolution”.

“The “Quit India Movement”, popularly known as the August Revolution, challenged the British Government from the smallest village in the country to the big cities. Today, on the 78th anniversary of this movement, I remember all the brave fighters of this revolution and salute them,” he tweeted.

The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1941, during the Second World War, demanding an end of British Rule in India. It was an important milestone in the Indian freedom struggle. —ANI

NATIONAL TRADERS’ DAY

‘Urge consumers to buy ‘Make in India’ goods’ New Delhi: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Sunday, asked traders to undertake Customer Awareness campaign to make people buy make in India goods.

He asked traders to fully contribute towards the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat campaign and called upon them to act as the whistleblowers, in exposing traders and businessmen who are hell-bent on importing poor-quality goods from unfriendly countries. Goyal was speaking to the traders’ fraternity on the occasion of the National traders’ day through virtual interaction, in which he said that the community stands to benefit a lot from the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat campaign as good quality products made in India will usher in economies of scale, thereby lowering prices, and also making our products competitive in the international markets.

PAKISTAN VIOLATES CEASEFIRE IN JAMMU & KASHMIR’s POONCH Poonch: Pakistan on Sunday, initiated unprovoked ceasefire violations along LoC by small arms firing and shelling with mortars in Shahpur, Kirni and Krishna Ghati sectors in Poonch district of J&K. Pakistan violated the ceasefire at about 5.45 pm. Indian Army is retaliating befittingly. The shelling in Mankote sector

Ram Nath Kovind

was going on when last reports were received, but there was no report of any casualty, defence spokesperson said. “At about 6.45 am, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & shelling mortars along LoC in Mankote sector.

Indian army retaliates befittingly,” he added.

Piyush Goyal

Government has already put restrictions on many imported items, which can be easily produced in the country like agarbatti. sports goods, TV, telephone, tyres etc.

—Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry

“This will lead to more employment opportunities and prosperity of the people and more purchasing power. The Government has already put restrictions on many imported items, which can be easily produced in the country like agarbatti (incense sticks), sports goods, TV, telephone, tyres etc,” he said and further added that an estimated Rs 10 lakh crore worth of imports

can be easily substituted with the indigenously produced goods.

He also assured them that a National Traders Welfare Board will soon be constituted in the country and invited them to join the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.

He lauded role of traders during the pandemic and asked them to push for the PM’s clarion call for ‘Vocal for Local.’

—ANI

BIHAR: FAMILY STABS COUPLE TO DEATH, TRIES TO BURN BODIES Aurangabad: In a suspected case of honour killing in Bihar’s Aurangabad district, a 19-yearold woman and his 22-year-old boyfriend were stabbed to death allegedly by her family members and an attempt was made to cremate their bodies, a senior police officer said. Two persons have been arrested in this connection, and at least three others detained for questioning, SP Pankaj Kumar said. The victims, residents of Kapasia village in Mufassil police station area, were in a relationship for the past two years, he said.

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‘Vijayawada Covid-19 facility violated safety norms’ An electric short circuit is said to have caused the fire, according to the officials of fire department and an investigation has been initiated New Delhi: A hotel being used as a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) facility in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada city, where a fire killed 10 patients, violated safety standards, a senior fire department official said on Sunday.

The fire was reported from Swarna Palace, being used as a care centre for Covid-19 patients

by Ramesh Hospitals, early on Sunday.

“The alarm bell didn’t ring at the time of the accident and there was a delay in opening the back door,” Jairam Naik, the fire safety director, said. “Investigation has been initiated and there will be action on hotel management after it,” Naik added.

An electric short circuit is said to have

RELIEF FOR VICTIMS

caused the fire, according to officials. Staff noticed flames from the first floor at around 5am and it spread to the third to fifth floors quickly. Patients were on the third, fourth and fifth floors of the hotel.

Police personnel and other officials inspect the accident site on Sunday.

There were about 30 patients of the coronavirus disease and 10 medical personnel at the time of the accident.

YS Jagan Mohan Red-

dy, Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, said he spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the accident. “We are ensuring that things

are under control. An ex gratia of Rs 50 lakh has been announced to the families of the deceased. My thoughts & prayers are with the be-

K’taka health min B Sriramulu tests positive

COVID-19 UPDATE

Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister, B. Sriramulu tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. “From the time of Corona’s appearance, I had visited 30 districts and work in harmony with government’s desire to treat people well. It is in this backdrop that I am going to be hospitalised and treated,” he tweeted in Kannada.All those who have been in contact with me recently have been requested to take precautionary measures,” he said.

A man wearing protective gear, sprays sanitizer on the hand of a woman during COVID-19 test in Mumbai. —PHOTO BY ANI

With 3.5L cases, India’s tally@ 2,153,010 New Delhi: India’s tally of the coronavirus disease jumped to more than 2.15 million on Sunday morning after 349,315 cases and 5,244 deaths were recorded in one week, according to the Union Health Ministry’s data.

According to the ministry’s dashboard, there are 2,153,010 infections after 64,399 Covid-19 cases and 861 fatalities were reported from across the country between Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, there were 1,803,695 Covid-19 cases, including 38,135 deaths.

Sunday saw a record one-day jump in the number of daily coronavirus disease cases even as more than

‘7 Lakh tests done in a day, recoveries reach 68.78%’

BMC Medical staff conducting screening swab test at Kohinoor parking lot of Dadar.

—PHOTO BY ANI

60,000 infections were reported for the third straight day. There were 61,537 cases on Saturday and 62,538 on Friday.

There are 628,747 active cases and 43,379 death in the country so far. “In last one month,

Covid-19 Recovery Rate has shot up from 48.20% to 68.32%. Effective Clinical Management based on a Standard of Care approach has led to more patients recovering and lesser fatality,” Health Ministry tweeted. —ANI

Jagan Mohan Reddy announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 50 lakh each to the next of kin of the 10 victims. PM called Reddy and enquired about the incident. —PTI

ing at any conclusion,” he said.

Preliminary investigation indicated that there was some dispute in the family over some issue. Those, who died have been identified as Budharam (75); his wife Antara Devi; son Ravi (31); daughters Jiya (25) and Suman (22); grandsons Mukdash (17) and Nain (12); Laxmi (40) and three minor sons of Kewal Ram. —PTI

New Delhi: Scaling up testing capacity, over seven lakh samples have been examined for COVID-19 in a day taking the cumulative tests conducted so far to 2,41,06,535, Union Health Ministry said.

The number of recoveries too has surged to 14,80,884 with 53,879 coronavirus patients having discharged in 24-hours, highest in a day, pushing the recovery rate to 68.78%. The fatality rate has further dropped to 2.01 % it said. The ministry said the number of singleday tests has been grow-

There have been reports that coronavirus cases are increasing in the national capital. Many patients from outside Delhi are getting tested here, hence the rise in the number of cases.

There is otherwise a decline in cases here.

cases of which 143 patients are on oxygen support, 48 on bipap and 983 patients are in stable condition. Over 840 teams of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation have so far carried out surveillance of 14.99 lakh people in the city.

The Dhanvantri Raths deployed have treated over 6,000 people who reported fever and cold.

Of the significant number of migrant workers who were brought to the city from Odisha by contractors, six have tested positive for COVID-19. Therefore, all workers will be kept in isolation for a

period of seven days by local authorities.

In Ahmedabad, several people in 11 blocks of residential areas tested positive for novel coronavirus prompting local civic body Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to declare them micro-containment zones. This has taken the total tally of micro-containment zones in the city to 251.

The state conducted 30,985 tests on Sunday and it currently has 14,272 active cases, of which, 73 are on ventilator support and 14,199 patients are stable.

Other cities also had

—Satyendar Jain, Delhi Health Minister

ing exponentially &India has been testing over six lakh samples daily. —Agencies

reaved families & the injured,” he added.

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi condoled the loss of the lives in the fire accident and

spoke to CM Jagan Mohan Reddy over phone.

During the conversation, PM extended all possible help and assured support to the families of the victims.

“The incident took place around 5am.

Around 22 patients are being treated in the hospital. We are evacuating the entire building,” Mohammad Imtiaz, Krishna’s district collector, said. He said that the cause of the fire appears to be a short circuit, as per the preliminary report but needs further investigation.

Rescuers brought 17 patients to safely using ladders even as two staff members, including a security guard, jumped from the second and third floors of the hotel after the fire.—ANI

PRESIDENT OF INDIA @rashtrapatibhvn Struck with grief after hearing tragic news about COVID-19 care centre in Vijayawada where an accidental fire caused loss of lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery for the injured.

AMIT SHAH @AmitShah Deeply anguished by the news of tragic fire accident at a COVID-19 facility in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Centre assures all possible support to the state government. My condolences are with the affected families in this time of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.

SSR CASE

Sushant called Sis manipulative, Rhea shares whatsApp chat Mumbai: Actor Rhea Chakraborty has shared screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation she had with boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput, in which he’d expressed concerns about his sister Priyanka’s behaviour with Rhea. Sushant died by suicide on June 14, and his family has accused Rhea of abetting it.

Rhea said that he believed his sister was manipulating his friend and roommate Siddharth Pithani.

The conversations begin with Sushant praising Rhea and her brother Showik. “Your family is very epic.

Showik is compassionate and you too who are mine, you are a sufficient cause for the inevitable change and respite globally. It will be a pleasure for me to be around you folks Cheers my friend for being a rockstar,” he writes. In the next message, Sushant continues, “You please smile, you look great like that. I would try to sleep now. I wish I had a dream like Jamila. Would it be amazing? Bye.” He then writes that he is worried about his sister, and says: ‘pure evil’. He says that she is manipulating ‘Sid

Rhea shared screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation.

‘MUMBAI GAVE SUSHANT FAME, NOT BIHAR’ Mumbai: The tussle between Bihar& Maharashtra governments over a CBI probe into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death flared up as Maharashtra’s ruling Shiv Sena hit back at Nitish Kumar government for ordering an CBI probe. “Bihar government should not have interfered in matter of Sushant Singh Rajput. Over the last few years, Sushant was a Mumbaikar. Mumbai gave him prosperity & Bihar didn’t stand by him during his struggle,” an article in Sena mouthpiece Saamna read. bhai’. He writes, (“To Priyanka”), “You do

this, after the shameful act, making this a coverup to distract attention playing the victim card to the most non negotiable act of molestation under the influence of alcohol...”

Meanwhile, Enforcement Directorate has summoned actor Rhea Chakraborty and two of her family members for questioning in the case. In addition to Chakraborty, her brother, Showik Chakraborty, and father, Inderjit Chakraborty, Sushant’s friend, Siddharth Pithani, has also been summoned by the ED. This will be the second time that the agency will question Chakraborty and her father. It will be the third time that her brother will appear before the probe agency. —Agencies

FROM PG 1 10 patients...

National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Thirty two people have been rescued by Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services Department.

A hotel staffer broke his back and was hospitalised after he jumped out a window on the first floor in a bid to save himself after the fire broke out.

A criminal case under Sections 304 (2) and 308 of IPC has been registered against the managements of hotel Swarna Palace and Ramesh Hospitals.

Chief Minister Y S

11 members... to India from Pakistan’s Sindh province in 2015 on a long-term visa.

They had been living at the Lodta village farm, which they had hired for farming, for the past six months.

There was neither any injury mark on any of the bodies, the SP said. “But we have roped in a forensic team and a dog squad before arriv-

Vadodara &... and had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Surat.

Meanwhile, Vadodara reported 1,174 active

new cases including Jamnagar (63), Panchmahal (47), Bhavnagar and Amreli (35 each), Gir Somnath (32), Gandhinagar (29) Bharuch (28), Junagadh (27), Kutch (25) and Valsad (21).

No consensus... the intended number of MLAs were sent to neigbouring Gujarat.

Back home at Jaipur, the state party chief termed it ‘exploration’, while deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore asked that the entire issue should not be looked at as ‘baadebandi’. Some senior BJP leader also termed it as

‘religious tourism’.

Now that it has been ascertained that the MLAs will finally go into ‘baadabandi’ at Crowne Plaza hotel at Jaipur itself, Raje will also join the legislative party at the hotel from the very first day itself, ie 11th August.

BJP ridden...

But, what is worrying the BJP? They are herding their legislators to three-four places. I see a big split in them,” Gehlot told reporters in Jaisalmer.

He added that their fight to save democracy will continue even after

August 14 and the truth will prevail. “I can say this that the victory will be ours, truth will win, he said, stressing that his government will complete its five-year term .

PM’s sixer...

The beneficiaries of the scheme will include farmers, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, FPOs, SHGs, Joint Liability Groups, Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, agri-entrepreneurs, startups, and central/state agency or local body sponsored public-private Partnership Projects. —ANI

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TOUCH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE INTIMATELY RELATED TO WELL-BEING AND STRESS REDUCTION, CERTAINLY IN ITS ABILITY TO STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

PANDEMIC

SIX THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TOUCH 1. TOUCH IS THE FIRST SENSE TO DEVELOP

AND THE PAIN OF

LOSING TOUCH A n response to the coronavirus, people are being told to do something that doesn’t come at all naturally to this social animal: Stay away from each other.

Ten days into the country’s first shelterin-place order, I’ve been hearing stories from the trenches of what that’s actually like for people who, for instance, aren’t able to see their grandchildren, because their kids don’t want to take the chance; who can’t visit their parents in the assisted living center, because it’s on lockdown, and who wouldn’t dare anyway even if it wasn’t; who are massage therapists and hospital “baby cuddlers” who miss being able to nurture others; or who live alone and just feel damn lonely.

And the theme I see emerging from these stories is around the loss of not just our social life, but a particular element of it that’s crucial to health and happiness, and among our most sensual human arts—touch. And I don’t think it’s overstating it to say that what we’re feeling about all this physical distancing, sheltering-in-place, selfquarantining, six-foot socializing, and air hugging—is grief. Whether we acknowledge it or not.

We’re grieving the loss of many (and for some people all) of our physical connections with others, as well as the loss of our primary language of compassion, how we express our caring and concern for one another. An arm around the shoulder, a hand to hold, a hug, a massage, a kiss. And during a time of such profound fear and uncertainty, being cut off from soothing human contact is heartbreaking at the least, and unhealthy at the worst.

And it’s a quality of sorrow and lonesomeness,

of deprivation, that isn’t going to be assuaged by Netflix-bingeing. It’s going to be right there when we turn off the TV or finish up the h o m e - i m p r o ve m e n t projects we’re finally getting around to.

We can philosophize all we want about the

character-building potential of this whole pandemic, the opportunities for personal and planetary growth, the spiritual lessons in love and loss, but it’s still a gut punch, and the heart still doubles over with it. And it’s part of what our spiritual

teachers are telling us we need to sit with right now. (As we always have, of course, though not usually at this pitch.)

And what healing there may be in all this will depend on our ability—our willingness— to sit with our sorrow

and let ourselves feel the ache of it, the sense of loss at not being able to touch and be touched, comfort and be comforted, and listen to the sound of our hearts knocked loose from their riggings. (And this is on top of whatever grief we might

have around the loss of job and income, our sense of safety and security, our faith in the future, to say nothing of the anticipatory grief of losses yet to come.)

Touch is social glue, and without it, we’re in danger of becoming unglued. And there’s plenty of science to back that up. In the 1950s, the University of Wisconsin psychologist Harry Harlow showed that baby rhesus monkeys raised by surrogate mothers preferred one that was made of soft terrycloth but offered no food to one that had food but was made of wire. Touch was more important than food!

And studies a few years ago at Brigham Young University demonstrated that chronic social isolation increases the risk of mortality by almost 30 percent, which will hit hardest those who are already having problems with, say, social anxiety, depression, loneliness, or substance abuse.

On the other (wellwashed) hand, touch has been shown to be intimately related to well-being and stress reduction, certainly in its ability to strengthen the immune system, and in the case of shared hugs, in its protective effect against respiratory infections— both of which we could use right about now.

Touch was the first of the senses to come into being at the top of the evolutionary hour, and like the first singlecelled creatures, we, too, are surrounded by a membrane—the skin, largest organ in the body—that mediates all our tactile exchanges with the outside world (and keeps the inside world from spilling out). The skin is both a barrier and a bridge, a conveyor of both pain and pleasure, and exquisitely sensitive to touch, every square inch of it endowed with 1,000 nerve endings.

In the womb a foetus is thought to experience touch before it can hear, smell or taste. As the pregnancy progresses, twins even reach out to touch each other. After birth we know that “kangaroo care” – where the baby is held close to a caregiver’s skin – helps the baby to feel calmer and to sleep better.

2. THE SKIN IS THE BODY’S LARGEST SENSE ORGAN Human skin covers a surface area of at least two square metres. Sensors in the skin allow us to experience pressure, vibration and pain as well as temperature and physical pleasure. These sensors adapt rapidly to light touch, which means that within moments of putting on our clothes, we forget that they’re touching our skin, provided they’re not itchy of course.

3. THE TOUCH OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING CAN REDUCE STRESS IN ADULTS AS WELL AS BABIES Research has shown that physical contact with other people can reduce the effect of stress on our bodies. In an experiment conducted in 2003 people were asked to watch a five-minute romantic video while holding hands with their partner, followed by a 20-second hug. After that they were given just two minutes to prepare a speech which was recorded and then played back to them. Tests like this are designed to be so stressful that usually the blood pressure and the heart rates of the people taking part shoot up. But holding hands and having a hug from their partner meant they only rose half as much as usual.

4. WE USE DIFFERENT KINDS OF NERVE FIBERS TO DETECT DIFFERENT KINDS OF TOUCH Fast nerve fibers respond when our skin is pricked or poked, relaying messages to an area of the brain called the somatosensory cortex. But in recent years, the neuroscientist Prof Francis McGlone has been studying another type of nerve fiber (known as afferent C fibers) which conducts information at around a fiftieth of the speed of the other kind. They relay the information to a different part of the brain called the insular cortex – an area which also processes taste and emotion.

So why has this slow system developed as well as the fast one? Francis McGlone believes slow fibers are there to promote social bonding through gentle stroking of the skin.

5. EVEN A SIMPLE TOUCH ON THE ARM CAN CONVEY A RANGE OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS Experiments have shown that people can convey a list of emotions to a stranger through nothing more than a touch on the arm. If their arm was stroked or pressed or squeezed, a stranger could correctly identify the emotions the person was trying to communicate up to 83% of the time, with emotions ranging from anger, fear and disgust to love, gratitude, and sympathy.

6. WE HAVE RULES WHICH PERMIT US TO US TOUCH EACH OTHER MORE IN SOME SITUATIONS THAN OTHERS Strong cultural norms tell when it’s OK to touch each other. When you see a colleague in the office you might well greet them differently from when you bump into them on a night out. And in cafés, for example, there doesn’t tend to be much interpersonal touch, while at an airport people behave rather differently.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: CP SHARMA

2ND FRONT

Self Confidence and self esteem come from positive affirmative consistent ACTION. —Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020

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PIL demands strict Guj HC action against Shrey hospital owners

08

Junior MLAs to sit in visitors gallery of Guj Assembly

A petition has demanded that the State recover fire compensation from the culprits Haresh Jhala

TOTAL COMPLIANCE

Ahmedabad: After several petitions grieving over the State Government’s Covid-19 crisis management, there is one more public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the Gujarat High Court’s directions in the tragic August 6 Shrey Hospital fire in Ahmedabad that left 8 corona patients charred to death.

The petitioner is a high court advocate Amit Panchal, who wants that the money of compensation announced by the Central and State Governments totalling Rs 6 lakh be recovered from the owners of the private hospital. He has also pleaded for a direction for stern action for those accountable for the fire.

The PIL has also de-

— FILE PHOTO

Gujarat High Court.

manded that the high court should direct the State Government to fill all vacancies in the fire department across Gujarat on an urgent basis.

The petitioner has contended that the State Government or the

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation should recover the compensation amount as arrears of land revenue from those accountable for the fire to ensure that the taxpayers’ money is not used for the purpose.

Along with this, the petitioner has also raised serious issues related to the fire department’s shortcomings in terms of woefully inadequate infrastructure and number of firemen to handle

major incidents.

Panchal has pleaded before the high court to direct the State and all authorities concerned to fill all vacant posts at the earliest to ensure that the fire department is well-equipped to effi-

ciently prevent any calamity and fire incidents. He contended that the State and other authorities should submit a report on the approved manpower strength as against the present status.

The State should submit a report of which commercial, residential or other buildings possess valid No Objection Certificate on fire safety and how many buildings did not have it.

“It should also include NOCs issued to high-rise buildings and Special Buildings in the State. The report should be submitted in 7 days,” the petitioner demanded, and added the court should direct building owners to procure fire safety NOC within 4 weeks from the date of the court order.

ONLINE INTER-STATE JOB RACKET BUSTED IN VADODARA First India Bureau Vadodara: Be it a job loss or deprivation during the coronainduced lockdown, several people got trapped in this online inter-state job racket that the Vadodara police have busted with arrests of 7 persons.

The gang used to track people registered with various job portals. One such victim, Nagesh Dhugandhar,

was from Vadodara’s Bhayli village. An electrical engineer, he had uploaded his resume on Linkedin.

DSP (Rural) Sudhir Desai said this gang would get the victim’s mobile number from job portals and approach him with a “manpower membership” with an assurance to pay Rs 40,000 per new visit through him.

This way, the gang

@ahmedpatel

Vadodara Rural Police on Sunday nabbed 7 persons in connection with an online inter-state job racket.

Cong begins ‘Rozgar Do’ campaign on Youth Cong foundation day First India Bureau

Shri Nandi Yellaiha’s demise is a great loss for the people of Telangana. He was a grassroots leader who dedicated his life to champion the welfare of the poor & the marginalised

members coughed up Rs 1.8 crore from Dhugandhar. Later, he lodged his complaint with the rural police.

The police tracked all phones and emails and nabbed 7 persons from Mumbai and Tamil Nadu.

One Selva Santosh Nadar was found to be the kingpin. and he was running the racket. Selva has fluency in four languages and is a smart tel-

Ahmedabad: The Congress party on Sunday launched a “Rozgar Do” campaign on the foundation day of the Youth Congress, with its Gujarat President Amit Chavda asserting that it was high time the youngsters hit the streets and raise their voice to demand jobs.

“Before the 2014 elections, (Narendra) Modiji

had promised 2 crore jobs every year and so 12 crore youngsters should have got jobs in the last 6 years,” Chavda said.

“But, people’s jobs are being snatched away.

There is a complete failure of the economic policies,” he added.

Chavda said, “The youth fear for their future. The Youth Congress is strengthening their voice for their right. We have launched

an online campaign but it will touch everyone from the taluka to the national capital,” he said. He said being the youngest country with crores of employable youth, India’s most vital need is employment.

“This is why we have launched the ‘Rozgar Do’ campaign to unite the youth to force the government to generate employment,” Chavda said.

ecaller to trap victims. Each person in his team was assigned the task to withdraw money and follow up with the victim.

“What is shocking, they had got bank accounts on lease,” Police Inspector D B Vala of the Local Crime Branch (LCB) told First India.

He said they had cheated people of three states to the tune of at least Rs 3 crore.

Gujarat Assembly.

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The Covid-19 crisis would also have its impact on the upcoming monsoon session of the State Assembly, with its secretariat having to plan the seating arrangement according to the social distancing protocol.

State Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi told reporters that the younger MLAs, either elected the first time or into their second term, would participate in the proceedings from visitors’ galleries. As a result, visitors would not get entry.

The session is likely to be convened in September.

He said no minister or MLA would be able to sit at the 2-seat benches as is

— FILE PHOTO

the present seating arrangement.

There are 182 seats on the floor of the House. To maintain social distancing, the assembly secretariat has been instructed to remove a few chairs.

Out of 182 seats, only 92 will be occupied by the council of ministers and senior MLAs from the Opposition and the ruling party. The Speaker said the junior MLAs would sit in the visitor galleries and will be provided microphones to participate in the proceedings.

“The government employees and mediapersons will be allowed only after thermal temperature check. Anyone with fever or corona-like symptoms, will not get entry,” he said.

IN MEMORIAM

Members of All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO) on Sunday paid tributes to Shahid Vir Kinariwala at his statue inside the Gujarat College campus on his death anniversary.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

SWIFT ACTION

BJP moves six Rajasthan MLAs from Somnath in wee hours The BJP leadership decided to shift the legislators again after an overnight stay to Junagadh early on Sunday



First India Bureau Junagadh: Taking no chances, the Rajasthan BJP that had moved its 6 legislators to Gujarat ahead of the crucial Assembly session in that State starting on August 14, shifted them yet again in the early hours of Sunday.

Initially, there was a

suspense about where they were taken from the Somnath Darshan hotel in Somnath after an overnight stay. It was found later that they had been moved to the farm house of a political leader in Junagadh, which is a 2-hour drive from Somnath.

The six MLAs landed at Porbandar airport in

Six Rajasthan BJP MLAs, who reached Gujarat on Saturday, were shifted to another location on Sunday.

a chartered flight on Saturday evening from they drove straight to Somnath after a small break at Lord’s resort on the Porbandar highway.

The Congress government in Rajasthan under Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is in strife after Deputy CM Sachin Pilot rebelled and was

sacked from the post.

The 6 BJP MLAs, who reached Gujarat, told reporters that the Congress government in Rajasthan was “har-

assing” opposition MLAs, and that they had come on a pilgrimage to Somnath to seek mental peace.

Speaking on the issue,

Gir Somnath BJP general secretary Mansingh Parmar said. “The MLAs left the guesthouse by morning. I have no clue where they went. My responsibility was to receive them when they reached Somnath from Porbandar on Saturday, and get them to the guest-house. I had left after dinner. They were supposed to stay here for two days.”

The 6 MLAs, Nirmal Kumawat, Gopichand Meena, Jabbar Singh Sankhla, Dharamveer Mochi, Gopal Lal Shar-

ma and Gurudeep Singh Shahpini, left between 2 am and 3 am accompanied by local BJP leaders to an undisclosed location, guest-house sources said. Later, it was found that they went to Junagadh.

Kumawat had told reporters on Saturday that the Gehlot government lacked a majority in the Assembly and that “he is harassing and putting mental pressure on BJP MLAs using SOG (Special Operations Group) and departmental raids”.

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09

AHMEDABAD, MONDAY AUGUST 10, 2020

TOUCH THE HEIGHTS

In Bollywood, tall heroines are definitely ruling the roost nowadays, though the same may not be the story for the male actors. City First takes the inch-tape to fame!

ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews.com

I

f you are talented, you will make it!

And if you are tall and talented, so the chances get better? We leave it to you, our readers to decide that as we bring you a few of the tallest heroines of Bollywood who carry off their inches with glam and attitude!

Sonam Kapoor at 5’ feet 11” inches is easily among the tallest. She made her Hindi film debut in 2007 with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic film ‘Saawariya’, now she is a recipient of several awards including a Filmfare and a National Film Award and is also one of the highest-paid stars. I am sure you remember Cocktail and Diana Penty, she packs a punch at 5’10”, she went on the star in ‘Lucknow Central’ and ‘Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran’. At 5’8”, Katrina Kaif sizzles on the screen like nobody else. A British actress, who made her acting debut in

the Hindi film industry in 2003 with ‘Boom’ and has been in the industry for more than 15 years. She has been paired with actors shorter than her and is among the highest-paid actress in the tinsel town.

Anushka Sharma is also the same height as Katrina and carried it as gracefully married to Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Anushka has several awards on her name including a Filmfare Award. She was once featured by Forbes Asia in their 30 Under 30 list. She made her debut alongside Shah Rukh in a successful romantic film ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

The 5’7” feet Kriti Sanon has carved a place for herself in the film industry after her debut in ‘Heropanti’ opposite Tiger Shroff. Sushmita Sen carries her 5’74” height with a leonine grace which seems to get better with the years. She was crowned Femina Miss India Universe in 1994 at the age of 18. An avid Social Media influencer today, she sets major physical fitness goals.

Mastaani Deepika Padukone oozes sex appeal in every inch of her lithe 5’7” frame. She is on the list of the most popular and highly paid B-star! The world’s popular magazine TIME named Deepika one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. She made her acting debut with ‘Om Shanti Om’ opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Fitness enthusiast Shilpa Shetty Kundra looks taller than her 5’7” and has worked in dozens of Bollywood movies and also in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil language films. She made her acting debut with ‘Baazigar’ in 1993 which earned her nominations for the Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Lux New Face of the Year.

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GIS APPLICATION BASED PROPERTY TAX SURVEY IN ALL CIVIC BODIES OF HARYANA

AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020

INNOVATIVENESS

A

IAS Amit Agarwal

standing and in calculating tax demands.

Typically building and maintaining the property tax inventory and attribute database is labor-intensive and costly. Digital tax parcel Mapping potentially will also provide for future land pool schemes with an effective and proven property tax management system.

The many advantages of the system include; scalability, selectability, ease of maintenance, low storage, protection against data loss, and versatile planning and spatial analysis of local direct taxation.

Furthermore, the monitoring and realization of the revenue and improvement of transparency in Six clusters and 86 towns

 Mobile application-based

taken up till date

payment gateway and real-time information for clearance of dues and issuance of NOC

 Online verification by

each ULB for field survey coverage on web-based GIS platform

Drone Fly

field with a proven track record.

This database will very useful in making decisions such as avoiding developing in certain areas, execution of policy, and development control. Tailor custom reports to meet the evolving needs of the database like defaulters and illegal encroachment zones, areas of conflict, land suitability and monitoring an area or conducting a feasibility study of a location for a specific purpose, will help in under-

FA CE OF TH ED AY

n integrated property tax database across ALL 86 ULB’S of Haryana, resulting in an increase in overall net Tax-Base, improved service delivery, administrative, legal management including redressal of public grievances.

The Haryana Government is pioneering an initiative under the active leadership of Director General urban local bodies, IAS Amit Agarwal to integrate extensive Geo-referenced property information and tax database available with Urban Local Body (ULBs).

The objective is to conduct aerial surveys using Drones, to keep a check on encroachment and illegal construction on government properties in the state to help improve tax collections and transparency.

Improving governance, boosting the economy, and inclusive development through credit flow to the priority sector are just some of the benefits of this initiative. Additionally, areas of improved outcome-oriented performance in the districts across sectors will create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and improved infrastructure.

Director-General Urban Local Bodies Haryana, has awarded the assignment to M/s Yashi Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd., a Jaipur based consultancy firm for the 86 towns GIS-based (property unique identification) mapping and database projects. The firm is a wellknown consultancy firm in the urban planning and Engineering infrastructure

10

 Versatile thematic

mapping –ward boundary, sector and colony boundary, hoarding, mobile tower, solar panels geo points on each property.

 Accurate drone survey

using Drone UAV technology.  Data validation from each

ULB with the integration of old survey ID’s.

Integration of UPID, with revenue Authority.

 Integration of property

I’d with electric and water consumption data, under one billing approach

 Issuance of TS-1 register,

distribution of notices & affixing of UID plates  Development

of digital door

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

 Unique ID to each road of

numbering (QR code) for all more than 32 lacs urban properties of the state.

properties shows an increase in the projected Tax base.

the city, for all, 86 ULB’s, provides digital road mapping useful to keep and maintain road history.

crease the ease of carrying out operations like assessment, billing, and collection for the property tax department. The projects that use such systems have demonstrated an increase in tax revenue in India by over 60%. With a better system of tax calculation and collection and opportunity for private sector participation, there is increased efficiency in tax collection and development goals as well. The in-built capability of IT service management and security, quality management, and capability maturity model integration (CMMI)®) are the further requirements for this ambitious Haryana Government project.

About Yashi Consulting Services Pvt Ltd • Firm having 15 yrs experience in the GIS field, with an experienced and rich team of more than 200 Employee in Planning, GIS, Engineering, Architectural, IT and digital and physical survey.

• Project prepared by firm received Hon’ble President award for best practice documentation.

• PMAY software framed by firm considered as best practice software by MoHUA, GoI. • Firm stood first in delivering public grievances matter in Pali, Rajasthan under Prashashan Sharon ke Sangh Abhiyan.

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Take initiatives to help those in need as there is no bigger joy than doing this. Respect everyone’s opinion even if in the end you have to do as you wish. Your kids may indirectly ask for your time and attention. Money will find their way back and you will take a sigh of relief.

Parents company makes you happy and this is one of your most important need. You have to wait and be patient before you start seeing results in your physique. An unexpected call will make your day.

You will spend a romantic evening with your spouse.

Today you will get one step closer to your dreams . All you want is some peace at home today. Some of you will get in touch with your friends and relatives from whom you haven’t heard in longest period. In long term your positivity will bring lot os happiness on family front.

Those troubled from health related issues will see progress. You have an amazing family and you can do anything for them. Quite environment is all you want but your kids and spouse are in mood for some fun today. People love you for honesty and straight forwardness.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You have harmony at home and nothing can shake it away. You share lovely bond with your wife full of respect and understanding. Sort out your difference with your sibling as life is too short to have grudges.

Stubborn behaviour won’t be entertained at home so keep yourself.

Your family is always ready to do what it takes to make your dreams or desires come true basically they are your god sent angels.

Shifting residence can be delayed due to restrictions everywhere. You may have to do some work today that will require a lot of focus.

You always make healthy choices of food. Today may be the right time to let your lover know how you feel about your future with him/her.

Home makers will make their spouse feel special and will cater to their every need. You will accomplish that was impossible to achieve at first.

These days you are trying your best to complete day to day office work on the same day and not to delay any deliverance. On academic front, all your unanswered questions will be answered and there will be no more confusion. Elders will feel energetic today.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Your mother will pamper you with good food and love in other words you will get a lot of attention from your mother. Your sincerity will pay on academic front but you won’t let it get to your head as you have a big goal in life. Spending freely should be avoided at the current moment.

God help those who help themselves and you are a self dependent person and very hard working and thats how you get the support from all the directions. Keep your house very clean to avoid any infection.

Ultra-careful approach in business will be quite beneficial for you.

You inspire people around you specially your younger siblings. It will be in your interest to devote time to any form of spirituality. Your parents really adore your partner and your partner does a lot for your parents in return. You will see an improvement in earnings and this will motivate you.

You benefit from someone else’s fate so make sure to never hurt or take this person for granted. Putting money in property related business can prove to be favourable.Luxury displays fascinates you but now is the time to take your mind away and focus on new avenues in life.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

AYUSHI VIJAYVARGIYA, Anchor

 Digitalization in for

Sanjay Gupta

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020

New Furry Friend

11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

T

he family is only getting bigger and adorable! Actor Priyanka Chopra, along with husband Nick Jonas, welcomed a new member to their family -- Panda, an adopted dog.

The ‘Fashion’ actor took to Instagram shared the details about their new-four-legged friend, who have joined the duo’s other pups Gino and Diana. “Welcome to the family, Panda!

We adopted this little rescue (soon he won’t be so little) just a few weeks ago. We can’t be sure but he seems to be a Husky Australian Shepard mix.... and those eyes... and the ears!!!,” Chopra wrote in captions.

‘The Sky is Pink’ actor also shared a cute family portrait, featuring the couple adoring Panda along with Gino. They also managed to edit and fix a picture of their other pet Diana in the portrait, to make it “work as she wasn’t around during their family

Mahesh Babu

P

rince of Tollywood, Mahesh Babu celebrated his 45th birthday on Sunday and fans showered him with warm wishes on social media. Many celebrities like Samantha Akkineni, Jr NTR, and others wished Mahesh Babu on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the superstar started his birthday on a great note by planting saplings in his backyard. Mahesh Babu took part in this initiative on his birthday to spread awareness about it.

Mahesh Babu took to Instagram and shared a video of him planting saplings. He further passed Green Indian challenge to Jr NTR, Vijay, and Shruti Haasan. Mahesh Babu wrote, “There couldn’t be a better way to celebrate my birthday #GreenIndiaChallenge ... I pass this on to @jrntr, Vijay & @ shrutzhaasan. Let the chain continue and transcend boundaries... I request all of you to support the cause. One step towards a greener world!

Thanks to @mpsantoshtrs garu for taking the initiative. #HaraHaiTohBharaHai.” —Agency

... her post

photoshoot”.

The duo’s furry friends have their own separate Instagram accounts, with thousands of followers.

—ANI

#JONASPARENTS

J

oe Jonas and Sophie Turner are the ultimate doting parents as they’ve been all wrapped up in taking care of their first child, a baby girl who they named Willa Jonas. The couple welcomed their daughter on July 22, 2020, and since then, the parents have been keeping their social media interactions very lowkey. Turner hasn’t posted anything on Instagram ... his post since June 7 while Jonas has posted about the Beirut explosion as well as celebrating one year since the Jonas Brothers’ Happiness Begins Tour commenced.

However, much to the admiration of their fans, the pair decided to share their first selfie as new parents on Joe’s Instagram Stories with an important message for everyone. “Wear a mask.

That’s the tea,” the fellow Jonas brother wrote as he and the ‘Game of Thrones’ star had their swag pose on point while wearing matching white tees. Jonas still has his quarantine buzz cut with a well-trimmed beard while Sophie had her hair tied in a messy bun. We’re also loving the Vogue cover IG filter which makes it look like the pair has posed for the magazine.

—Agency

ALLEGATION DENIED

Badshah

A

Lockdown

productivity

S

inger Madonna has revealed that she has been writing a screenplay lately.

The pop diva has been collaborating with ‘Juno’ writer Diablo Cody. In a black-and-white video Madonna has shared, she can be seen sitting at a discussion with Cody.

“When you’re stuck in a house with multiple injuries what do you do.? Write a Screenplay with Diablo about ?#nuts#iconic#walk#s erve#diablo,” Madonna captioned the post. Their table in front is covered in drafts and different scripts Madonna can be heard saying: “All these details are important.” It wasn’t all work, though. At one point, the superstar singer was in the mood for some fun and games, with two peanuts up her nose.

—Agency

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

s per the latest news reports, rapper Badshah has reportedly denied allegations of being involved in the fake social media followers scam. According to news reports, the rapper stated that he has categorically denied all the allegations of being involved in the fake social media followers scam. The news reports further added that the rapper’s official statement has claimed that Badshah has aided the officers who are investigating the case of fake social media followers. Rapper Badshah has reported also stated that he has faith in the legal producer that is followed by the authorities in this case.

He further mentions that all those who have shared their concern for the rapper, he is thankful to them. Previously, it was reported that the Crime Branch office in Mumbai had summoned rapper Badshah in the fake social media followers scam. The news reports further state that Crime Branch had nearly 238 questions ready for Badshah.

—Agency

‘SHOWING NO OTHER SYMPTOMS’

B

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner Adele

ollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who on Saturday was admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital after complaining of breathlessness, is doing completely fine and is showing no other symptoms, hospital authorities said.

As per the doctor’s statement, his health condition is stable and is maintaining normal oxygen saturation. However, the ‘Rocky’ actor will be kept under observation for a day. The 61-year-old actor has now been shifted from ICU to the normal ward and is expected to be discharged from the hospital in a day or two.

On August 8, the ‘Kalank’ actor, soon after getting admitted to the Mumbai hospital, issued a statement on Twitter assuring his legion of followers that he is “doing well” and his reports for COVID-19 were negative.

—ANI

Sanjay Dutt

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020

SE TAK!

PALLAVI JAISWAL

cityfirstgujarat@gmail.com

he concept of ‘Kitchen GJ05: Ghar Se, Ghar Tak’ by Satyen Naik was initiated during the lockdown phase with just a small Facebook page called ‘Homemade Items Surat’. The page tried and promoted home talents.

Through the process, it was realised that there is a lot of talent in women of Surat, especially when it comes to kitchen or food.

Lockdown has created so many financial issues for so many houses. People had no choice but to look for alternatives.

This is when they

thought to start an ecosystem which brings out the best from the kitchen (homemakers) and promote their own menu, provide them the packaging and do the delivery also.

They found around 20+ home kitchens through a selection process.

It was named as ‘Kitchen GJ05’ because these kitchens belong to Surat. Their selection criteria was very simple- food should be of good quality.

As of now, ‘Kitchen GJ05’ takes average 10 to 12 orders a day without single paid advertisements and these orders reach up to 20 to 25 during weekends. They have delivered tiffins to quarantine families too with no contact deliveries and we offer online payments for safety.

Home chefs are from differ-

12

For the last 5 years, my husband was on dialysis and we had financial issues and in between, I lost my husband. With my family and friends support I started cooking from home and one of my friends referred me about ‘Kitchen GJ05’. I thought it was an amazing concept for women who want to work but can’t go out. Now I happily cook and earn through ‘Kitchen GJ05’.

—SUMAN PURI

Being from an ordinary middle-class family during lockdown I got to know about ‘Kitchen GJ05’ concept through Facebook and I decided to give it a try and got selected. I am happily earning from my home thanks to them and my talent is paying me off.

—PRACHI DESAI

ent backgrounds.

Some of them are single, some have lost their jobs, somebody’s husband

passed away and somewhere the family is running through the crisis.

‘Kitchen GJ05’ is not a commercial empire. It’s a family that earns together.

The aim is that each home chef from the family reaches a daily order average of 20 with average monthly 600 orders and earns at least 50K a month through ‘Kitchen GJ05’.

I am proud to be associated with ‘Kitchen GJ05’. It is a great medium for us as it will let our talent reach to lot many people and at the same time, it will upgrade our financial condition.

—DHARMISHTHA PAREKH

IFMA’S RAJASTHAN

DURING THE DAY!

CHAPTER I CITY FIRST

GUJARAT: Standing committee Chairman Anilbhai Goplani visited COVID-19 War Room of South West (Athwa) Zone. He inquired about the procedure of contact tracing. He inspected the data and assessed the situation and gave directions/suggestions for improvement.

RAJASTHAN: A program to pay tribute to the freedom fighters of the Bundi district was organised under the leadership of Former Minister Harimohan Sharma on Sunday, where he honoured a freedom fighter’s wife, Suraj Kanwar, by presenting a shawl.

ndian Film Makers Association (IFMA) launched the Rajasthan Chapter on Sunday, intending to boost up the sector of Filmmaking in Rajasthan. IFMA is an autonomous, non-profit body of registered companies, unions and professionals, and individuals within the film and television production and distribution industry of India. After running 1000+ institutions in various levels and segments for over 2 decades, IFMA has launched its Ra-

CREATING Somendra Harsh

jasthan chapter, ‘Indian Film Makers Association Rajasthan’ which will provide the opportunity to the filmmakers of Rajasthan.

The President of the Rajasthan Chapter will

Parmanand Ramdev

be Somendra Harsh who is also the Festival Director of RIF, Jaipur whereas; Parmanand Ramdev is appointed as the Vice President of Indian Film Makers Association Rajasthan. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

BLOOD DONATION CAMP CITY FIRST

T RAJASTHAN: On the occasion of World’s Indigenous People Day, Mahamandaleshwar Balmukund Acharya served the cows of Hathoj Dham Gaushala. During the occasion, 11 saplings were planted by Shri Shyam Rasoi on Sunday.

RAJASTHAN: A program was held at Poddar School in Gandhinagar, Jaipur, in which a total of 150 trees were planted under the joint aegis of District Administration, Forest Department, and Education Department on Sunday. Collector Antar Singh Nehra, and Zilla Parishad CEO, Athar Aamir were present as the chief guest in this program. Followed by a seminar in Gandhi Nagar Girls School on the topic of ‘Quit India Movement’, in which intellectuals of the city participated.

During the occasion, Mahatma Gandhi District Convenor of the 150th State Level Committee, Sawai Singh; State Convenor Manish Sharma; Dharmveer Kateva and Team Mahatma Gandhi Jeevan Darshan’s subdivision; block-level convener and coconvenor of all Jaipur were present.

o commemorate the birth anniversary of Former State President and Rajya Sabha MP Lt. Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi, a blood donation camp was organised on Sunday, where 135 unit of blood was collected.

During the occasion, his son and State Convenor of Siddhi Mahabhiyan, Dr Lokesh Chaturvedi started the camp by planting a sapling and taking a pledge of the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’.

BJP’s Former State President, Ashok Par-

nami; Jaipur MP Ramcharan Bohra; BJP State Minister Ashok Saini; Dausa district President Ratan Tiwari; President of G.I. Foundation, Hari Singh Godara; Dausa’s former assem-

RAJASTHAN: President of Akhil Bhartiya Yuva Mahila Yadav Mahasabha, Kusum Yadav organised a seminar at Hotel Grand Safari on Sunday.

During the seminar, there were discussions regarding expanding the organisation to a national level. Present during the seminar with Kusum Yadav were Seema Yadav, Sonu Yadav, Suman Yadav, Neelam Yadav, Anuradha Yadav, Geeta Yadav, Shanu Yadav, Shalini Yadav, Surabhi Yadav, Pratibha Yadav, Preity Yadav, Sunita Yadav and Ruchi Yadav.

bly candidate Babulal Sharma, among others were present on the occasion where the activists of Siddhi’ Mahabhiyan were felicitated for their constant social service amidst the pandemic. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

AWARENESS

CITY FIRST, BIKANER

A

‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) has recently been signed between Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar and Bikaner Technical University with the aim of creating awareness about Bikaner, students’ attachment to religion and spirituality and responsibility towards their culture. The agreement was signed between Vice-Chancellor of Culture University Chinmaya Pandya and Vice-Chancellor of Bikaner Technical University, Dr HD Charan and on the occasion, the two universities transferred their MoUs to each other.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Charan said, “Our Indian civilization culture and education system is very ancient and has taken its cultural form. With the latest education system, students are becoming disenchanted with their original culture, civilization and spiritual religion, due to which it has become very necessary to include them in the mainstream of cultural renaissance. Unfortunately today, education is being seen as a way to increase the earning potential of students. I believe that the university should set a goal to apply our ancestral knowledge with education. Our oldest education system is based on knowledge by our sages and sages.” cityfirst@firstindia.co.in