First India-Ahmedabad Edition-10 June 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

25°C - 37°C

ALERT

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AHMEDABAD l WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 195

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

4,10,925 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 3,289 DEATHS 90,787 CASES

72,59,174 CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 307 DEATHS 34,914 CASES

7,700 DEATHS

DELHI 874 DEATHS 29,943 CASES

INDIA

2,74,085

CONFIRMED CASES

GUJARAT

1,313 DEATHS

RAJASTHAN 255 DEATHS 11,245 CASES

21,044

CONFIRMED CASES

UTTAR PRADESH 301 DEATHS 11,335 CASES

In what is seen as a major diplomatic win for the Modi govt, China moved back its troops by 2-2.5 km from several crucial flashpoints in Eastern Ladakh while Indian side too brought back some troops & vehicles before Wednesday’s divisional commanders meeting

CHINA BLINKS FIRST

New Delhi: Ahead of the next round of military talks scheduled to start this week, troops of India and China have disengaged on the ground at multiple locations in Eastern Ladakh.

The talks between the two armies are going to be held this week at multiple locations including Patroling point 14 (Galwan area), Patrolling point 15, and Hot Springs area, top government sources told ANI. Because of the talks to be held in the next few days and the Lt Gen-level talks held

on June 6, the Chinese Army has pulled back its troops from the Galwan valley, PP15 and Hot Springs in Eastern Ladakh area by 2 to 2.5 kilometres, they said.

The sources said to reciprocate the Chinese disengagement, the Indian side also brought back some of its troops and vehicles from these areas.

Sources said the talks are being held on these points at the battalion commander level and they have had hotline talks with their counterparts.

Turn on P6

The two sides agreed during a high-level military dialogue on June 6 to go for the “symbolic disengagement” just to send across a positive message.

—Sources

‘Delhi will explode to 5.5 Will Parl’s Monsoon Session be a virtual one? lakh cases by July-end’ New Delhi: The number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi will explode to 5.5 lakhs by the end of July even though the Centre says there is no community transmission in the capital, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia asserted on Tuesday, sounding a stark warning about the troubles ahead.

With such a surge in numbers, Delhi will need 80,000 beds by July end, he told reporters after a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority chaired

by LG Anil Baijal.

Nearly 30,000 cases have been reported in the national capital.

Sisodia said if the old growth rate of COVID-19 is taken into account, the doubling rate in Delhi is 12.6 days and almost all participants of the meeting agreed to this.

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu are exploring ways to work out a solution for conducting the monsoon session in line with social distancing norms following COVID-19 outbreak.

Sources said the Rajya Sabha Chairman

‘SEND MIGRANTS HOME WITHIN 15 DAYS’

“Officials from the Centre said at the meeting that there is no community transmission of COVID-19 virus yet in

Delhi and hence, there is no need of discussion on it,” Sisodia told the media after the meeting.

Turn on P6

Workers spray disinfectant at Parliament House.

—ANI FILE

and Lok Sabha Speaker on Tuesday reviewed various options for holding the ensuing monsoon session of Parliament. The secretaries-general of the two Houses briefed the presiding officers on various options under consideration in the meeting convened by Venkaiah Naidu. The

secretaries-general reported the outcome of the assessment of seating capacity in the chambers of both the Houses, the Central Hall of Parliament and the plenary hall of Vigyan Bhawan.

ANI has learnt that they informed that while the Rajya Sabha Turn on P6

Scindia, mother test Shah’s virtual threat to Didi: Will positive; Kejri negative be political refugee if CAA ignored New Delhi: BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and his mother Madhavi Raje tested positive for COVID-19 and were admitted to a private hospital here, sources said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tested negative for coronavirus on Tuesday, a day after he went into self-isolation at his

home after a bout of fever and throat pain, his party said. Aam Aadmi Party sources said that CM was feeling slightly better.

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former state minister Jaivardhan Singh wished BJP leader Scindia and his mother Madhavi Raje speedy recovery on Tuesday.

P5

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing Jan Samvad virtual rally for Bharatiya Janata Party workers in West Bengal, sounded the poll bugle as he attacked the Mamata Banerjee government for protesting against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that gives the rights of citizenship to

persecuted minorities coming from India’s neighbouring countries. Shah said CAA

was equally important as the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A. Full report P2

Ahmedabad death toll crosses 1K mark, mortality rate at 77% 24 HRS: FRESH CASES 470, DEAD 33 AND DISCHARGED 409 TOTAL CASES 21044 , DEATHS 1313 AND DISCHARGED 14373 First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The death toll of COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad touched 1,021 on Tuesday morning, with 2,993 active cases. It accounts for 77% of the total mortality rate of novel coronavirus

patients in the state.

According to the state health department records, the city saw 27 deaths until 5 pm on Tuesday which include three patients from rural areas and 24 from the urban areas. Ahmedabad.

Despite signing a MoU with private hospi-

tals, the state government has been receiving complaints by COVID-19 patients on being charged hefty amounts for treatment. For instance, Ghatlodia resident Savitaben Patel was transferred from Sola Civil Hospital to DHS Hospital but died six hours after hospitalization at the private hospital. Her family was then presented with a bill of Rs1,10,000 for treatment and Rs25,000 for ambulance service provided to them.

Two families complained about poor care and medical services at the Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. A youth, who had been undergoing COVID-19 treatment at Sola Civil was shifted to a private hospital where he died. He was shifted there because his family members were unhappy with the care provided at the government hospital.

In Vadodara, 92 patients remained critical, while 60 are currently on

oxygen and 32 are on ventilator support. The city has reported cases from new areas such as Waghodia Road, Fatehpura, Rani Vas and Yakutpura.

Whereas, cases from rural areas were reported in Karjan , Sevasi, Dabhoi and Padra.

Meanwhile, 63 cases were reported in Surat in the past 24 hours, of which, 59 belonged to the city and four were from rural areas. The total number of positive cases in Surat district has now touched 2,419. Turn on P6

NEWS AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

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SHAH’S

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah addresses ‘West Bengal Jan-Samvad Rally’ through video conferencing, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

VIRTUAL THREAT

Will be political refugee if CAA ignored, tells Didi Kicking off BJP campaign for 2021 Assembly elections in WB Amit Shah said Mamata calling Shramik Special trains as ‘Corona Express’ is an outright insult to the migrant workers. They will surely avenge it!

New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing Jan Samvad virtual rally for Bharatiya Janata Party workers in West Bengal, sounded the poll bugle as he attacked the Mamata Banerjee government for protesting against CAA that gives the rights of citizenship to persecuted minorities coming from India’s neighbouring countries. Shah said CAA was equally important as the abroga-

tion of Article 370 and 35A. “I want to tell Bengal that CAA is an equally historical decision for persecuted minorities and due to the politics of appeasement by prior governments. I saw Mamata’s face that day.

She was fuming and she was red-faced. She was so angry that she forgot civility. I want to know what wrong they (refugees) have done to her,” Shah said.

“Jab matpetiya

khulengi to Bengal ki janata aapko rajnaitik sharanarthi bannane wali hai. CAA ka virodh mehenga padega. (When ballot boxes open, Bengal will make you a political refugee. You will pay dearly for protesting against CAA),” said Shah while challenging the Bengal Chief Minister.

The Home Minister, while addressing the virtual rally, said that

BJP slams Cong for shifting Gujarat MLAs to Rajasthan

corona will not stop BJP’s campaign as national President JP Nadda has found a way of virtual rallies for the party to continue with its outreach programme.

He repeatedly urged West Bengal CM to send the list for availing Prime Minister Samman Nidhi scheme for farmers and accused the state government of stalling this benefit from reaching farmers in the state.

Shah also lamented that the Ayushman Bharat scheme was not being implemented by the TMC govt in West Bengal.

“Bengal did not get the benefit of this scheme because of the Mamata government.

Do people of Bengal not have the right to get their old members treated? We want to transfer money to farmers we don’t get a list of beneficiaries.

There is a limit to poli-

tics and you accuse us of politics. Even Kejriwal accepted Ayushman Bharat.

On the issue of special trains being run for migrants, Shah trained his guns on the West Bengal government for naming Shramik express as Corona Express. He mentioned that despite opposition from state, the Centre released a fund of Rs 11,000 crore for the state to fight the pan-

demic.

“You have insulted Bengal labourers who were coming to the state to meet their family amid corona by naming trains as Corona Express. This express will take you out of state. It will become your exit,” said Shah.

Shah targeted West Bengal govt over continued political violence in the state.

“Can political violence become a means

of politics. You can stop our helicopters and road journeys or rallies. Now we are speaking to people through a virtual rally. Can you stop the change? We are not the people who are afraid of violence. We will bloom more while you continue to spread violence,” added Shah while commenting that people are praising communists looking at the corruption and bad governance of TMC government. —ANI

SAFE DISTANCE

First India Bureau Ahmedabad/ Jaipur: Amid fears of horse-trading ahead of Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, the Congress has shifted some of its MLAs to a resort in Sirohi. Following the grand old party’s move, the BJP criticised and attacked the Congress for its action amid the Coronavirus crisis in the state.

BJP’s Narayan Purohit has filed a complaint against the Congress party and demanded action.

“Congress has lodged its MLAs in a hotel. The state government said that they are alert about COVID but they brought their 22 MLAs here. We have

BJP Sirohi district unit president Narayan Purohit.

filed a complaint and action must be taken against them,” said Purohit while speaking to media.

It is believed that the Congress has moved its legislators fearing poaching by the BJP ahead of the crucial elections for four Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat.

The MLAs were shifted to Sirohi after three Gujarat Con-

gress MLAs resigned from the Assembly.

The polls for 24 Rajya Sabha seats four each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka, three each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two seats in Jharkhand, and one each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh -- are scheduled to be held on June 19.

As restaurants, eateries, food joints resumed business post Unlock 1.0, the employees at a restaurant on Sindhubhavan Road in Ahmedabad follow all precautionary guidelines as they interact with customers. —PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Covid menace: Cong demands white paper on Corona scare Due to lack of information being shared by govt, the opposition party raises concern

Amit Chavda

Gargi Raval Ahmedabad: Despite the enforcement of four lockdowns, the COVID-19 situation in the state has received no respite. The rapid surge in the number of Sars-CoV-2 cases has worried the government as well as the people about the uncertain future. With the government not sharing COVID-19 related data on the public domain, the state Congress party has put forth a demand that the BJP-run government issue a white

paper report on the health crisis.

“It has been more than 20 years that the BJP has been in power in the state and for 15 years in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). And both the state and the city of Ahmedabad are one of the worst affected regions of novel coronavirus. The case fatality ratio of Gujarat is the highest in the country. More than 85% of the deaths reported are from the state,” said Amit Chav-

The hospitals in the state are in bad shape. The AMC commissioner who was conducting more COVID-19 tests has been transferred. And, the people in Ahmedabad are running pillar to post to secure admission to hospitals. —Amit Chavda, GPCC Chief da, president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC).

According to the committee president, the tall claim made by the state about the COVID-19 situation being under control is in stark contradic-

tion to the actual ground reality. “The government does not have the will to save the lives of commoners. We do not understand the reason why there are so many cases in Gujarat despite four lockdowns,” Chavda questioned. “The hospi-

tals in the state are in bad shape. The Ahmedabad municipal commissioner who was conducting more COVID-19 tests has been transferred. And, the people in Ahmedabad are running pillar to post to secure admission to hospitals,” he added.

Moreover, Chavda also questioned the reason behind the government’s efforts to not reveal data pertaining to the outbreak. “The government and its officials have not been revealing any actual data

and also conducting press briefings. We want to know how many people were put on the Dhaman-1 ventilator and how many died while on it?” he stated. “The government sprung into action only after the state high court slammed its efforts. Now, they must reveal the work they have done after HC’s chastising. And also explain why a group of health experts held a briefing after 76 days and left people to God’s mercy,” he said.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

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Not a class act: Poor show in SSC exam results Of the students who appeared for the exams, only 60.64 % cleared them, students blame subjective questions for poor performance Gandhinagar: The Class X board examination results declared on Tuesday saw a shockingly low result this year, with only 60.64% students successfully clearing them.

The exams, which were conducted by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) in March for the academic year 2020-21, recorded its lowest result in five years.

Around 1,671 students cleared the exams with an A-1 grade. And, on the

contrary, over 174 schools recorded zero percent results, meaning all students who appeared for the board exams from these schools failed.

The GSHSEB declared results for the Class X board exams for which 8,04,268 students had registered to appear for and 7,92,942 students actually sat for them. Out of the total number who appeared for the exams, 4,80,845 students successfully cleared them. With 66.02% and 56.53% respectively, the girls fared a little better than the boys this year in securing a passing grade in the examinations.

Apart from the hours at school and tuitions, I studied for four to five hours daily. All that hard work paid off as I secured 99.53% in the board exams. My dream is to become a doctor.

—Het Pandya, Vadodara

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

First India Bureau

I studied for at least six hours a day. In fact, my father took voluntary retirement so that he could give time to help me with my studies. My mother, on the other hand, went on working and supported me. All our hard work helped me secure 99.31%.

—Pari Gadhiya, Rajkot

Students of HBK New High School, Shahibaug celebrate their A-1 grade SSC result on Tuesday.

Of all the 33 districts, Dahod recorded the lowest result with 47.47% of students passing the exams. On the contrary,

the highest number of passing grades was secured by students of the Banaskantha district with a whopping 94.78%.

Ahmedabad city fared an average result of 65.51% with Ahmedabad (rural) recording 66.07% pass grades.

While 291 schools scored 100% results, 1,839 schools lodged a 30% passing rate this year. Out of the total of 7,02,600 students who had opted for Gujarati language as a subject, 6,91,693 had appeared

for the exams and 5,91,345 cleared it. But, unfortunately 1,00,348 students failed to clear the subject and did not secure a passing grade.

One of the major complaints put forth by students who cleared

the exams was that the papers included more theoretical questions.

They also attributed the overall low result to the difficult questions posed in the papers.

Several teachers put the blame on the state education department and its system for the poor result. On the condition of anonymity, a teacher said, “Students are promoted to the next class and not failed in primary classes. The weak students reach Class X and teachers are expected to help them secure good grades in a short span of time. That is not possible.”

Over 51 lakh cases in city for herd immunity: LoP Paresh Dhanani Ahmedabad: On Sunday, a panel of health and medical experts appointed by the state health department, communicated that over 70% of the population will have to be infected and recover from the Sars-CoV-2 virus for herd immunity to kick in and facilitate lowering of case numbers.

In response to this revelation, the state Congress pointed out flaws in the state government’s plan to combat the virus. According to Leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani, the government wasted 75 days.

“The government wasted time and now their expert panel has suggested herd immunity as a solution. If we go by the birth rate, Ahmedabad has a population of 73 lakh people of which, 51 lakh would have to

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Gargi Raval

People at the Iscon Mega Mall after Unlock 1.0 was announced ahead of government's plans for herd immunity.

get infected by COVID-19 to decrease the number of cases,” said Dhanani.

“When the government had time to identify and isolate the positive cases, they didn’t do it.

There were only 70 cases in the state when the first lockdown was imposed and now when it has been lifted, so many people have been economically, socially, and emotionally affected by it,” the leader added.

Meanwhile, as per physicians, herd immunity might take time to kick in. “There is a general perception in the medical field that once 70% of the population of any particular region is affected by the virus, the antibody pathogen is developed in the body, which fights off the virus. But, it may take more time to happen in case of COVID-19,”said Dr Pragnesh Vachcharajani, Joint-Secretary of the Federation of Family Physicians’ Associations of India.

AMC fines two hosps `10L for MoU violations

T

he Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) slapped two private hospitals with fines of Rs5 lakh each for violating the MoU signed with the civic body for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Paldi-based Bodyline Hospital has been penalized for charging Rs4,500 from a COVID-19 patient who was referred by AMC. As per the MoU, hospitals cannot charge any patient referred by the civic body.

Also, Ambawadibased Artham Hospital has been fined for admitting private patients on 50% beds reserved for the treatment of COVID-19 patients referred by AMC.

`8L compensation for overbridge victims First India Bureau Rajkot: Gujarat Chief minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday announced a compensation of Rs4 lakh each to the families of the two youths who died on Monday, after a slab of wall of an overbridge collapsed on them near Aji Dam Chowkdi.

Rupani has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter.

The families of Bhupatbhai Miyatra and Vijaybhai Virda will receive a total of Rs8 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

The 400 metre overbridge was built by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in 2006.

Talking to First India about the development, Rajkot Project Head Ajay Singh Rathod said, “According to the structural engineer who visited the site on Tuesday, the main reason for the collapse has been attributed to moisture. The material used to build the overbridge was of standard quality. But, as a precaution, traffic

on one side of the bridge has been stopped temporarily.”

When asked about timely inspections of the overbridge and other structures, Rathod said, “We regularly conduct checks during the monsoon season. But the damage was not visible during our routine check-up.”

Timely rainfall but, sunk-in roads First India Bureau Ahmedabad: It seems that the rain gods have blessed the state with their presence on time this year, as Skymet Weather forecasted heavy rains this season. But, roads in Ahmedabad continue to trouble citizens as several sinkholes and damaged roads were spotted all across the city.

In the last 24 hours, heavy rains lashed the

Road cave-in at Mangal Vikas Crossroad.

state including Bhavnagar which recorded 110 mm rainfall, Ahmedabad (61 mm), Keshod (35 mm), Bhuj (29 mm), Veraval

Damaged road near MS Stadium.

NO INITIATIVE

No quarantine or tests for IAS Hareet Shukla’s staff First India Bureau Gandhinagar: In a glaring ove r s i g h t , the state government has not quarantined or tested the personal staff of an IAS officer, who was declared positive for COVID-19 ten days ago. Not only that, the development was kept a

closely guarded secret.

IAS officer Hareet Shukla, Secretary of the Science and Technology department had tested positive for novel coronavirus in May and has been on leave since then. But, according to sources, none of his personal staff at the science and technology department has been asked to either undergo a corona test or stay under quarantine.

Wishing anonymity,

an officer from the department said, “Since we do not have any symptoms indicating the presence of the virus in us, we have neither been quarantined nor asked to get tested.”

As per standard COVID-19 protocol, it is imperative that all people who have come in contact with a positive person be traced and quarantined.

But, if the officer from the department

—PHOTOS BY NANDAN DAVE

A sinkhole on Danilimbda Char Rasta.

is to be believed, the protocol has not been followed by the state government.

First India tried to contact the state Chief Secretary Anil Mukim, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and overseeing Health) Pankaj Kumar and even Health Commissioner Jai Prakash Shivhare about the follow-up action taken in the matter.

None thought it fit to comment on the issue.

Also, Information

and Broadcasting Secretary and Secretary to the Chief Minister Ashwani Kumar responded to our query and stated, “I don’t know”.

Since March, Shukla has been a member of the state health department core team working on the COVID-19 crisis. He attended a number of meetings daily, with a few of them even with the chief minister present.

(28 mm), and Kandla Aerodrome (21 mm).

As of now, Ahmedabad has received 82.8 mm rainfall against its

monthly average of 80 mm. The Gujarat region has witnessed surplus showers by 31% and Saurashtra and Kutch by 210%.

The monsoon season which usually commences in South Gujarat by June 15, has come calling early this year. The first half of June is expected to be very good in terms of rainfall. It is likely that the temperature in the state will remain marginally below normal.

Garbage collected in a patch of cracked road in Juna Vadaj.

9-year-old sexually abused by stepfather First India Bureau Surat: In a shocking incident, a nine-yearold girl was sexually assaulted by her stepfather in Dumas. A complaint was lodged at Dumas police station by the girl’s mother and police have registered a case under the POCSO Act. The accused Babli Turi, a resident of Dumas, allegedly raped his nine-year-old stepdaughter when his wife went to fetch water

from a colony on the evening of June 8. Since Turi was alone at home with the girl, he sexually abused her.

When the victim’s mother felt something amiss she spoke to her daughter which is how she came to know about the incident.

She then approached the police who registered the complaint and sent the girl for medical examination.

They have launched an investigation into the case.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

OF JAN SAMVAD & OUST MAMATA DIGITAL RALLIES

I HAVE TWO DOCTORS, MY LEFT LEG AND MY RIGHT REKHA KUMAR

A

fter a virtual rally purportedly to launch BJP’s poll campaign in Bihar on Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah trained his virtual gun on West Bengal where elections are due in 2021. The BJP called it Bihar Jan Samvad (dialogue with people) rally. Amit Shah said that the “do gaz kee dooree” can’t keep BJP and the people apart. Asserting that the rally had nothing to do with upcoming state assembly elections, Shah said that the rally was “aimed at connecting people with Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) campaign”. According to one estimate, Shah reached out to an estimated five lakh workers in almost 72,000 booths in the state. Bihar BJP leaders said that 70,000 LED TV sets were put up across the state and 43 lakh people attended the rally.

The BJP will have 75 such rallies, Shah added that no one is stopping the Rashtriya Janata Dal from holding similar rallies. His statement that the National Democratic Alliance will contest the elections under the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar gave the opposition the opportunity to attack Shah when the pandemic was raging in the country. The opposition leaders called it BJP’s “political vulturism” and staged a protest by beating thalis on roads, the symbolism used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to salute the frontline corona warriors at the start of lockdown 1.0.

In West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee has been BJP’s pet peeve for quite some time now, Shah did not hide the purpose of his virtual rally when he attacked the state chief minister for blocking Centre’s schemes meant for the people.

Barring for a brief interlude in the aftermath of Cyclone Ampham, both Mamata and the BJP, which is going all out to dislodge the Trinamool Congress from power, have had their gloves off.

Helping the BJP in its political machinations is the governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Before the cyclone intervened, the issue of migrant workers and Covid-19 were dominating West Bengal’s political debate.

Shah revived the migrants issue on Tuesday when he predicted that by calling the Shramik Specials “Corona Express” Mamata had insulted the workers and predicted her downfall. “Mamata ji, you referred to Shramik Special trains as Corona Express.

You have insulted migrant workers and rubbed salt into their wounds. They will not forget it. Corona Express will become your exit express,” Shah said.

While Shah connected with people through 70,000 LED TVs in Bihar, the number of TV screens put up in Bengal was not immediately known. Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said that Shah’s rally will kickstart a political change in the state. Before the rally, Ghosh claimed that a record number of people will be attending the first digital rally.

With social distancing in place due to Covid-19, digital rallies are the only option for political parties.

The writer is a personal development trainer working with corporate sector and government departments

D

One should focus on regularity rather than intensity.

Eventually, for a well-rounded fitness program, include weightlifting and stretching exercises. To reduce the risk of injury, to avoid burnout and discouragement that lead to quitting, keep exercise at a comfortable level

uring and post-pandemic, many are looking for reliable advice on a healthy life, one aspect of which is physical exercise. Can regular exercise ward off disease and improve productivity? There is evidence that it does. Exercise strengthens the body’s immune system. It produces endorphins i.e. natural brain chemicals which relieve depression and produce a sense of well-being. It helps maintain sugar levels, gives the body strength, balance, and flexibility. Physical activity improves recuperation from illness or injury, gastrointestinal and liver functions, metabolism, and energy level.

One should focus on regularity rather than intensity. Eventually, for a well-rounded fitness program, include weightlifting and stretching exercises. To reduce the risk of injury, to avoid burnout and discouragement that lead to quitting, keep exercise at a comfortable level. Three 10 - minute periods of exertion can be as beneficial as one 30 - minute session. Even a stroll can produce health benefits. Why not park at a distance and walk the rest of the way? Once we begin to see and feel the changes, we are motivated to do more.

It is best to replace half an hour of sitting time with walking or going up and downstairs. Even domestic caring duties provide health benefits. Simple stretching exercises at home help to regain vitality, and prevent sprains, aches, and stiffness.

Physical activity slows the process of aging, prolongs life, and reduces dependency. Anything is better than nothing.

Perhaps, we are among the many who start to exercise but quit after just a few days because we find it too strenuous, or we lose the motivation, or we feel we do not need it. This way we can miss out on the overall health benefits. We can over-

come this by setting realistic goals. Start slowly. All we have to do are the normal things, like walking and taking the stairs, just more often, a little longer, and a little faster.

We may say, ‘but I just don’t have the time’, ‘when I get up in the morning, I am simply too tired’, ‘I have too many other things to do’.

The reduction in physical work has led to many physical, mental, and emotional health problems. Inactive people lose their basic strength and flexibility for daily activities. Due to this, many lose their independence and have poorer mental health. Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide due to the increasing occurrence of obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

There is a saying, “I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.” Walking is good medicine, it reduces the risk of heart disease, can fend off diabetes by improving the body’s ability to use insulin. It keeps bones strong, preventing osteoporosis. It helps weight maintenance and improves sleep. People of all ages and health levels can experience the benefit of walking.

Life is sustained through movement. Our chest rises and falls with each breath,

There is a saying, “I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.” Walking is good medicine, it reduces the risk of heart disease, can fend off diabetes by improving the body’s ability to use insulin

and our heartbeats rhythmically, keeping us alive. These movements are caused by muscles. By proper exercise and rest, muscles can serve us like a well-designed engine, our body’s ‘ultimate motor.’

Do not hate your fat cells.

They are marvels at storing energy in the form of fat. They release their energy upon the body’s demand. They play an important role in the development of the body’s immune system. Crash diets make us lose muscle not the fat, because

Charles Dickens: How Great Expectations received a second life

C

harles Dickens’ first biographer, John Forster, ended The Life of Charles Dickens in 1874 with the Dean of Westminster’s sermon.

This was delivered in Westminster Abbey on June 19 1870, three days after the novelist’s funeral. Dickens’s grave in Poets’ Corner would, said the dean: henceforward be a sacred one with both the new world and the old, as that of the representative of literature, not of this island only, but of all who speak our English tongue.

In the century and half since his death, writers from the southern hemisphere have continued to recast Dickens’s fictions in new forms. Two novels – Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs (1997) and Lloyd Jones’s Mr Pip (2007) – rework Dickens’s Great Expectations (1859-60).

04

the “phantoms” or traumas of brutalised convict life. Oates thereby appropriates Maggs’s story as a series of “burgled secrets” which are to be recast as a crime melodrama for his own literary gain.

In doing so, they present readers with opportunities to rethink ways in which Dickens was “a representative of literature”; including the power relations around class and colonialism that have shaped the transmission of writing in “our English tongue” for the past two centuries.

Altered expectations In Jack Maggs, Carey – a double Booker Prize-winning Australian novelist – rewrites Great Expectations from the perspective of a convict who returns from his sentence in the new world to terrible risk: the only sure thing that old England can offer him is a noose.

Dickens’s original novel sees the world from the shifting perspective of Philip Pirrip – or “Pip” – an orphan boy plucked from obscurity who thinks he has been “made” by the wealthy Miss Havisham. In fact his

fortunes have been advanced by Abel Magwitch, a convict who the young Pip had helped in an escape bid.

In Carey’s pastiche, Magwitch becomes Jack Maggs, who has survived transportation to Australia and become a successful and wealthy brickmaker. He returned from the British colony of New South Wales to London in 1837, the year during which Dickens rose to fame. Maggs wants contact with Pip – rendered

here as the young man Henry Phipps, whom he has made into a gentleman.

Carey reminds us, through Oates, that the Dickens of 1830s closely observed a London world of crime and sexual misdemeanour that could scarcely be rendered in the language of fiction available to him. Dickens also flirted with the new science of mesmerism, a technique which Oates applies to Maggs to exorcise him of

Pip in the Pacific Lloyd Jones’s Mr Pip transports Great Expectations to the Pacific, the conflicted island of Bouganville in Papua New Guinea. The New Zealand novelist writes about the reading and interpretation of Dickens’s novel among a group of black children and their eccentric, self-appointed white teacher, Mr Watts, as an event punctuated by the rebel insurgence, military occupation and horrific violence experienced in the 1990s.

If Dickens wrote Great Expectations as a tale of betrayal, guilt and ambiguous origins in 1860, Jones’s novel shows how that moral and

emotional frame can be adapted to new, post-colonial conditions.

Matilda is Jones’s 14 year-old fatherless narrator, who comes to appreciate that Pip’s story of mobility and self remaking, which the migrant Mr Watts reads to his pupils as a source of inspiration, is powerfully apt for those whose lives are subject to displacement and migration.

Jones’s story casts powerful new light on the way in which Dickens can be seen as a leading “representative of literature”. In one sense, Dickens was the great author of Forster’s biography, buried in Poet’s Corner. In another, as Matilda comes to recognise, the name “Dickens” helped to drive and commodify the global transmission of Victorian literature in many different formats to many new parts of the globe.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.THECONVERSATION.COM

when on diet, the body turns muscles into glucose since the fat cells become resistant to release energy. The best is to eat the right food, at the right time, in the right amount, with the right kind of exercise and the right mental attitude.

The slowed metabolic rate occurs when we are on a low energy diet. This can be curbed by sustained movement like jogging, skipping, bicycling and brisk walking that can be done at home or outside. It increases the burning of fats, even at rest we burn more calories than those who don’t exercise.

The ultimate responsibility of caring for one’s health falls squarely on each one of us. We can ask ourselves, ‘am I active enough? Am I getting enough exercise? If not, what can I do to break free from my sedentary lifestyle?’

The bottom line is that our body is designed to move around and engage in physical activity. Just as we make time for eating and sleeping, we must take the time to remain active. This involves self-discipline and good personal organisation. So stay active, work those muscles, you will live a healthier and longer life.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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TWEET Ahmed Patel @ahmedpatel Wishing @JM_Scindia a very speedy recovery Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp PM Shri @narendramodi is committed to unleash the true potential of India’s farmers.

Several important measures have been taken by GOI for the welfare and well-being of farmers and for boosting the agriculture sector. #AgriRevolution

Spiritual SPEAK

The immature think that knowledge and action are different, but the wise see them as the same.

—Bhagavad Gita

Vol 1 Issue No. 195 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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WITH HIGH COVID-19 CASELOAD

‘Central teams deployed in over 50 municipalities’ These states and UTs are Maharashtra, Telangana, TN, Rajasthan, Assam, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, U’khand, MP, WB, Delhi, Bihar, UP, & Odisha New Delhi: High-level central teams have been deployed in 15 states and UTs with more than 50 districts or municipal bodies that are witnessing a spurt in cases to assist the local administrations in containment and management of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday.

These multi-disciplinary teams are helping the states and UTs address challenges like testing bottlenecks, low tests per million population, high confirmation rates, risk of capacity shortfall over the next two months, potential bed shortage, growing case fatality rate, high doubling rate and sudden spike in active cases, etc, it said.

These states and UTs are Maharashtra (seven districts/municipalities), Telangana (four), TN (seven), Rajasthan (five), Assam (six), Har-

Medics take samples of suspected COVID-19 patients for lab test at a government hospital, during the ongoing nationwide lockdown to curb spread of coronavirus, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

yana (four), Gujarat (three), Karnataka (four), Uttarakhand (three), MP (five), WB (three), Delhi (three), Bihar (four), UP (four), and Odisha (five). “The aim is to assist the state governments by providing technical support for containment and (to) facilitate management of COVID-19 outbreak,” the ministry

JD(S) candidate HD Devegowda with his sons HD Kumaraswamy (C) and HD Revanna (R) arrives at Vidhana Soudha to file his nomination papers, in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

maraswamy were present on the occasion.

“We have advised our party leaders and workers not to assemble at the venue in view of the Covid-induced lockdown guidelines and to ensure social distancing,” said the official.

Some members of the Congress were present outside the Secretary’s office to greet Gowda and wish him best for the contest.

Gowda, 87, agreed to contest after the Congress assured him of its surplus votes, as the JD-S with 34 legislators is short of 10 votes to meet the required 44 votes. —Agencies

BOMBAY HC ASKS GOSWAMI TO APPEAR BEFORE POLICE TODAY Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami to appear before Mumbai Police on June 10 for interrogation while hearing a petition by the journalist seeking quashing of two FIRs filed against him at Pydhonie and NM Joshi Marg police stations. The bench di-

Biennial polls to 7 Karnataka Council seats on June 29 New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced biennial elections to seven Karnataka Legislative Council seats will be held on June 29.

Results will be declared by 5 pm on June 29 after counting of votes as the council membership of seven MLAs is expiring on June 30 and Commission is determined to complete whole election

process before it.

The ECI has announced the poll time from 9 am to 4 pm. The membership of Naseer Ahmed, Jayamma, MC Venugopal, NS Bose Raju, HM Revanna, TA Sharavana and DU Mallikarjuna is expiring on June 30. Based on the inputs received from Karnataka Chief Election Office, ECI will issue the poll notification on June 11, with nomination papers to be sub-

mitted by June 18. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on June 19 and last date of withdrawal of candidature will be June 22, Commission said.

In a statement, the ECI said that close monitoring of the whole process by appointing observers will be done to ensure free and fair elections.

The commission also directed the state Chief Secretary to depute a senior officer to ensure that the extant instructions regarding COVID-19 containment measures are complied with while making arrangements for the conduct of the elections. —IANS

ICC bans use of saliva on ball, Kejriwal does not have allows Corona replacement Coronavirus, tests negative

Gowda files papers for RS polls, Cong assures support

Bengaluru: Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda filed his nomination, here on Tuesday, to contest the June 19 Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka.

“Gowda filed nomination papers at the Vidhana Soudha by submitting them to Returning Officer MK Vishalakshi,” a party official told reporters.

Vishalakshi is the Karnataka Assembly Secretary. Gowda’s second son and former Minister HD Revanna and third son and former Chief Minister HD Ku-

05

rected Goswami to appear at NM Joshi Marg police station. A division bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Riyaz Chagla heard through videoconferencing a criminal writ plea filed by Goswami through advocate Madhavi Doshi seeking various reliefs, including quashing of two FIRs filed against him on April 22 and May 2.

said in a statement.

With 9,987 fresh infections, India saw a record daily rise in COVID-19 cases for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday. The threemember central teams comprise of two public health experts/epidemiologist/clinicians and a senior joint secretary level nodal officer for administrative

handholding and improving governance, the ministry said. These teams are working in field and visiting healthcare facilities to support the health department in implementation of containment measures and efficient treatment and clinical management of cases within the districts and cities, it said. —Agencies

Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday confirmed interim changes to its playing regulations, which include the ban of saliva to shine the ball and allowing replacement of players displaying symptoms of COVID-19 during a Test match.

The ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) ratified recommendations from the Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee, aimed at mitigating the risks

posed by the COVID-19 virus and protect the safety of players and match officials when cricket resumes. “Players will not be permitted to use saliva to shine the ball. If a player does apply saliva to the ball, the umpires will manage the situation with some leniency during an initial period of adjustment for the players, but subsequent instances will result in the team receiving a warning,” ICC said in a statement. —ANI

New Delhi: A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was reported to have Covid-19 symptoms, the national convener of Aam Aadmi Party has been tested negative for coronavirus, according to reports. Earlier, the 51 year-old leader was suffering from fever for a past few days and he went on self-isolation on Monday in anticipation of contracting the virus.

“Since Sunday evening Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been suf-

fering from fever and throat pain and because of this he has isolated himself at home. He will undergo a test on Tuesday. He is a patient of diabetes for very long.

Doctors have advised that he hold no meetings,” said AAP leader Sanjay Singh. —ANI

MP Secretariat became hub of ‘dalals’ during Congress rule: CM Shivraj Singh HP police HQ sealed; DGP, officers in self quarantine Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu and about 30 other police officials home-quarantined themselves on Tuesday, while the state police headquarters was sealed as a man who had met the police chief died of coronavirus, an official said. A man had visited the police headquarters to convey his best wishes to the DGP on his day of joining on June 1, police spokesperson Khushal Sharma said. It was learnt that the man tested COVID-19 positive on Monday and died on Tuesday in Delhi, Sharma said. Following the news, the DGP and about 30 other police officials, who might have come in contact with the man, home-quarantined themselves. —PTI

Indore: Hitting out at the Congress, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday alleged that Madhya Pradesh Secretariat had become a hub of “dalals” (brokers) during the Kamal Nath government’s tenure.

“The Madhya Pradesh Secretariat was turned into a hub of ‘dalals’. Congress government used to talk about money transactions there every

day... The Congress government committed the sin of destroying and ruining the entire state in 15 months,” Chouhan told reporters here.

Advertisement: 1:14 He arrived in Indore for the first time after taking over as the Chief Minister and held a review meeting regarding the COVID-19 situation at Indore District Collector’s Office.

Responding to verbal attacks on BJP leader

Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Chief Minister said: “Congress is a very strange party. Earlier

when Scindia was warning them to fulfil the promise, they said do whatever you want to hit the roads if you want to. Does any party treat its popular leader like this?”

In March, Scindia joined BJP after quitting Congress. Later, 22 Congress MLAs tendered their resignation, paving the way for BJP to form the government in Madhya Pradesh.

—ANI

‘TMC attempts to cut off power supply to hinder Shah’s rally’

Somaiya writes to Maha CM over missing bodies

In a letter to GoverNew Delhi: As politics over BJP’s virtual rally nor Jagdeep Dhankhar, the BJP leader escalates in stated that TMC’s West TMC has reBengal, with strained the both parties freedom of levelling allepeople to speak gations at each and express other, BJP MP their opinion Saumitra regarding the Khan has now Saumitra Khan Opposition alleged that the deliberate ruling party attempted through to cut off electricity measures. The digital supply in districts to rally was held by Amit obstruct the rally called Shah on various issued

by Union Home Minis- of the state at 11 am on Tuesday. —Agencies ter Amit Shah.

Mumbai: Bharatiya claimed that six COVJanata Party (BJP) ID-19 positive bodies had gone missleader Kirit Soing from varimaiya has ous governwritten to Mament hospiharashtra tals.

MahaChief Minister rashtra has so Uddhav Thackfar reported eray, Home 88,528 COVMinister Anil ID-19 positive Deshmukh Kirit Somaiya cases so far and Health Minister Rajesh Tope while 3,169 people have regarding the issue of succumbed to the dismissing bodies of COV- ease, according to the ID-19 patients from Union Ministry of government hospitals. Health and Family Somaiya in the letter Welfare. —ANI

EQUITY INDICES FALL SHARPLY IN LATE TRADING Mumbai: Equity benchmark indices were on a downward slide during the second half of Tuesday’s trading session, eroding most of the morning gains in banking stocks. Profit booking was witnessed across all counters as experts indicated towards increasing inflows through foreign portfolio investments and general optimism emanating due to reversal of the COVID-19 lockdown. At the closing bell, the BSE S&P Sensex was down by 414 points or 1.2 per cent at 33,957 while the Nifty 50 edged lower by 121 points or 1.19 per cent.

SUSPENDED J-K DSP, TWO OTHERS MOVE BAIL PLEA IN DELHI COURT New Delhi: Suspended Jammu and Kashmir DSP Davinder Singh and two other accused on Tuesday moved a bail plea in a Delhi court in connection with a case related to planning terror attacks in the national capital.

The matter is listed for hearing before a Patiala House court on Wednesday. The bail plea stated

that Davinder Singh, Irfan Shafi Mir and Sayed Naveed Mushtaq were arrested on March 14, and 27 respectively and have been in custody ever since and are no more required by the police for the purpose of investigation. All the accused are currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with the case.

BJP leader Patra back home from hospital New Delhi: After being discharged from hospital, BJP leader Sambit Patra has tweeted that he has come h o m e now but will take time to recover. He said that during this difficult time, the party took care of him and the leadership stood beside him.

He said the party is his family.

Patra was discharged from the hospital late Sunday night. He was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram on May 28 after showing symptoms of coronavirus. —Agencies

MASSIVE FIRE BREAKS OUT AT OIL INDIA’S WELL IN ASSAM Guwahati: A massive fire erupted in a damaged oil field in Assam’s Tinsukia on Tuesday. The oil well, part of Baghjan oil fields, had suffered damage after a blowout on May 27 and has been spewing gas since then. The blaze at Oil India Ltd’s oil well was so massive that it can be seen from a distance of more than four kilometres, eyewitnesses said. Incident created panic among locals, even as Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal appealed people to remain calm and assured that adequate efforts are on to douse the fire.

INDIA AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

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Rahul to Rajnath: Have the Chinese occupied Indian territory in Ladakh?

New Delhi: A day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responded to former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s jibe at Amit Shah, the Wayanad MP on Tuesday again questioned the government on Chinese intrusion in India.

“Once RM (Defence Minister) is done commenting on the hand symbol, can he answer: Have the Chinese occupied Indian territory in Ladakh?” Rahul Gandhi questioned in a tweet.

His remarks came a day after Rajnath Singh took a jibe at the Congress after Rahul raised questions over the issue of border dispute with China.

“Haath me dard ho to dawa kije, haath hi jab dard ho to kya kije (You

Priyanka meets UP teaching aspirants

apply medicine to the hand when it pains, but what to do when the hand itself is the cause of pain),” Rajnath Singh said in tweet in reply to the Congress leader with Ghalib couplet.

The war of words between the Congress and the BJP intensified on Monday after Rahul

PM MUST CALL PARL SESSION TO DISCUSS CHINA ISSUE: DIGVIJAYA New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday demanded that PM Modi should call a Parliamentary session to discuss the infiltration of Chinese troops on Indian territory. “PM must call Session of Parliament to discuss the infiltration of Chinese Troops on Indian Territory. No less than the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ji has accepted the fact. We do understand Modi is no Pt Nehru but the seriousness of the issue demands discussion in Parliament,” Singh tweeted.

—ANI

Sethi’s death is an irreparable loss to Odisha, says Pradhan New Delhi: Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan expressed sorrow over demise of former U n i o n Minister Arjun Charan Sethi. Pradhan said Sethi’s death is an irreparable loss to the Odisha political arena. “I am saddened by the demise of former Union Minister Arjun Charan Sethi, who has influenced the political and social life of Odisha for many years, Mr. Sethi’s death is an irreparable loss to the Odisha political arena. Wishing the well-being of the immortal soul and consoling the family.

May Mahaprabhu Sreejagnath be patient with his family during this difficult time,” Pradhan tweeted.

—ANI

Gandhi took a jibe at Shah after he claimed that India is the only country after the US and Israel to protect its borders. The Congress leader took a jibe at Shah, saying “everyone knows the reality of the borders”.

“Everyone knows the reality of the borders,

but ‘Shah-yad’ (maybe) it’s a good idea to keep one’s heart happy,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Addressing a public rally in Bihar on Sunday via VC, Shah said, “India’s defence policy has gained global acceptance. And India is next to the US, Israel in protecting its borders.” —IANS

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has met with aspirants for 69,000 vacancies for teachers in Uttar Pradesh and assured them of party’s support in the matter.

The Congress leader assured them that the party will fight against the injustice meted out to them after the aspirants said that grave injustice was done to them as corruption in the while recruitment process had come to the fore.

“Injustice should not be done to the hardworking youths. If the state government can-

HAD TO MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH JUST TO GET WIFE TESTED, SAYS CONG’S TEWARI New Delhi: Saying that he had to move “heaven and earth” to get his wife tested for COVID-19, Congress lawmaker and spokesperson Manish Tewari on Tuesday launched an attack on the health system of the national capital under AAP governance. Tewari’s wife has tested negative. “My wife, on written advice of her doctors, was asked to test for COVID-19. Despite growing up on a hospital campus and knowing every medical professional of consequence, I had to move heaven and earth just to get her tested. Delhi’s health systems are broken,” he tweeted. Delhi, governed by Aam Aadmi Party, is in the eye of a storm ever since the city government said no outsider will be allowed to get Covid treatment in the capital even —ANI as the number of cases touched 29,943.

PROVIDE JOBS TO MIGRANTS, DROP CASES AGAINST THEM: SC TO STATES, UTs New Delhi: The SC passed a slew of directions to state governments and UTs to provide benefits for migrant workers, who returned to their native states and directed governments to submit schemes to generate employment for the migrants, and also to withdraw cases against them for violating lockdown orders. The top court also ordered withdrawal of complaints against migrant workers’ who set off on foot. The bench said that all cases registered against migrants’ who allegedly violated lockdown orders, under the Disaster Management Act 2005, should be dropped.

for Shramik Special trains shall be met within 24 hours by it, and total demand, which is

now pending is only 171 trains whereas ministry has earlier run 250 trains in one day.

The Centre informed the top court that Ministry of Railways has issued letters on May 29

POWER Gallery RADM ATUL ANAND JOINS AS DY COMMANDANT, NDA

Rear Admiral Atul Anand VSM has assumed charge as Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of National Defence Academy, Pune ANSHUMAN SHARMA IS GOVT NOMINEE ON IDBI BANK BOARD

The Central Government has nominated Anshuman Sharma, Director, Ministry of Finance on the Board of IDBI Bank.

not give them justice, a reply will be given through a movement,” she had said in a tweet on Monday.

On Monday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra compared what she dubbed the teachers’ recruitment scam in Uttar Pradesh with Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Vyapam scam’, and slammed the Yogi Adityanath government by claiming that diaries seized from certain racketeers indicated to the involvement of many high-profile people in the recruitment scam.

The Allahabad High Court on last Wednesday stayed the recruitment process to appoint 69,000 assistant basic teachers in the state, holding that there has been an ‘error’ in the evaluation of answer sheets.

The recruitment examination was held on January 6, 2019 and results declared on May 12 this year.

JAVED IQBAL WANI APPOINTED JUDGE OF COMMON HC FOR UTs OF J&K & LADAKH

—IANS

RAVINDER KUMAR SHIFTED TO LADAKH UNION TERRITORY

‘No train fare charged from migrant workers’ New Delhi: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has informed the Supreme Court that for train travel no fare is being charged from the migrant labourers and the same is borne as per arrangement between originating states and receiving states.

The Centre told the apex court that railway ministry has made it clear that any demand

06

and June 3, to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories on the subject of “projected demand for movement of stranded persons by Shramik rail”.

In response to the aforesaid letters, request has been received from different states for trains from June 3 to June 16, which is the last date on which trains have been prayed for.

—IANS

Wani appointed as ‘OCI cardholders from US face J&K High Court judge harassment at Mumbai airport’ New Delhi: A prominent advocate, Javed Iqbal Wani, was on Tuesday appointed a judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. According to a Law Ministry notification, Wani has been appointed a judge of the common HC of the UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh.

His recommendation, made by the SC Collegium, was pending with Centre for past few months, which was processed last week.

Wani is son-inlaw of Mian Abdul Qayoom, president of J&K HC Bar Association, who was detained under the Public Safety Act. —PTI

Washington: The family members of five Indian-American couples having Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Card have alleged that they were subjected to “harassment” by immigration authorities on their arrival at the Mumbai airport from the US. The couples arrived at Mumbai airport on Monday as part of Van-

de Bharat Mission.

“It’s shocking that OCI cardholders are being treated like this by Indian officials,” said New York-based social activist Prem Bhandari, who is also chairman of the Jaipur Foot USA. After speaking to the family members of these OCI cardholders in the US, Bhandari said he has taken up the matter with

officials in Mumbai and New Delhi, including the Civil Aviation Secretary, who has assured him to do the needful. Bhandari, who has been taking up the case of OCI card holders and issues related to Indian diaspora for years now, urged Indian to allow Indian nationals stranded in the US to travel to India with their non-Indian children. —PTI

In Bhavnagar, one corona warrior police personnel tested positive with a travel history of Surat. He had been posted at the Civil Hospital Surat prior to his arrival home.

Meanwhile a Washington-based think tank has said, “The current Sino-Indian border crisis has revealed that China has little respect for India’s long-standing efforts to freeze the status quo along the two countries’ disputed frontiers or for New Delhi’s cautious efforts to avoid the appearance of balancing against Beijing.” The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in its report, “Rather, treating India’s internal actions regarding Jammu and Kashmir as a provocation, it has chosen to expand its

control over new parts of the Himalayan borderlands through brazen actions that confront India with the difficult choice of either lumping its losses or escalating through force if the negotiations presently underway yield meagre returns,” it said. —ANI

from Tuesday.

The bench, which posted the matter for further hearing in July, said the schemes for welfare and employment of migrant workers should be publicised adequately. —ANI

COVID-19 cases in the city, saying that operation of flights could have been delayed by 15 days.

When asked if Delhi has reached community transmission level as far as coronavirus infection is concerned, Jain said a declaration on this is made by the Centre.

“Epidemiologically, community transmission is the third stage of the infection... In Delhi, of the new cases being reported, in nearly half of the cases, the source of infection is not known,” he said.

“It is estimated that Delhi will record 2.15 lakh cases by July 15

Javed Iqbal Wani has been appointed as Judge of Common HC for the UTs of J&K and Ladakh.

THREE IAS OFFICERS GET NEW ASSIGNMENTS IN MAHARASHTRA

Nand Kumar has been posted as Principal Secretary (EGS&WC), Soil and Water Conservation Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai, while Atul Patne will now be Commissioner, Fisheries, Mumbai and Mrs Pallavi Darade is Project Director, Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society, Mumbai.

MISS SAVITRI RATHO APPOINTED JUDGE OF ORISSA HC

Miss Savitri Ratho has been appointed as a Judge of the Orissa High Court .

DR JORAM BEDA GOES ON INTER CADRE DEPUTATION TO ASSAM-MEGHALAYA

Inter cadre transfer of Dr Joram Beda from Punjab cadre to Assam-Meghalaya has been approved.

He is a 2008 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre.

MS INDHU VIJAYAN GOES ON INTER CADRE DEPUTATION TO KERALA

The inter cadre deputation of Ms lndhu Vijayan from AGMUT cadre to Kerala cadre has been approved for a period of three years on personal grounds.

ICD PERIOD OF MS MAYA N EXTENDED

The inter cadre deputation tenure of Ms Maya N to Kerala cadre has been extended for two years beyond August 19, 2020.

AJEET KUMAR SAHU TRANSFERRED TO LADAKH UNION TERRITORY

2003 batch IAS officer of J&K cadre Ajeet Kumar Sahu has been transferred from J&K UT to Ladakh.

Ravinder Kumar has been transferred from J&K UT to Ladakh UT. He is a 2012 batch IAS officer of Jammu & Kashmir cadre.

BHIM SEN TUTI TRANSFERRED TO LADAKH UNION TERRITORY

Bhim Sen Tuti has been transferred from J&K UT to Ladakh UT. He is a 2004 batch IPS officer of Jammu & Kashmir cadre.

RAJIV OMPRAKASH PANDE SHIFTED TO LADAKH UNION TERRITORY

2010 batch IPS officer of J&K cadre Rajiv Omprakash Pande has been transferred from J&K UT to Ladakh UT.

MS SARGUN TRANSFERRED TO J&K

2012 batch IPS officer of J&K cadre Ms Sargun has been transferred from Ladakh UT to J&K UT. WILL SPACE COMMISSION CHAIRMANSHIP BE HEADED

BY PMO OFFICIAL?

According to reliable sources, Space Commission Chairmanship is going out of ISRO. It is likely that a very senior official in PMO would be appointed the Space Commission Chairman in near future.

WHO WILL BE NEW CHAIRMAN OF TRAI?

Who will succeed Chairman of TRAI, RS Sharma, in October? Will he be an IAS officer or a technocrat? One can wait and watch.

1989 BATCH IPS OFFICER TO BE ADG IN CISF?

It is now certain that a 1989 batch IPS officer will be ADG (Airports Security) in CISF. Post is currently lying vacant.

BHATNAGAR LIKELY TO BE NEXT DG, AIR NEWS

Jaideep Bhatnagar has been appointed as OSD, AIR News, prior to his taking over as DG AIR News. Ira Joshi present DG is scheduled to retire in July. Bhatnagar is a 1986 batch IIS officer.

FROM PG 1 Ahmedabad death...

Of these, 2,238 are from city areas and the rest are from the rural.

After doctors and nursing staff, now even cleaning staff has tested positive at Surat Civil Hospital. After Unlock 1.0, even pan masala shop owners, electricians have tested positive which may become a new category of super spreaders. The highest number of COVID-19 cases in Surat city were in Limbayat (685), followed

by Katargam (409), Central Zone (307), Varachha-A (261), Udhna (272), Rander (109), Athwa (79) and Varachha B (54).

China blinks...

The initial talks are being held in these areas, the Chinese activities had also started in Eastern Ladakh from this location only, they said.

Indian military teams are already in Chushul to engage the Chinese in talks and are coordinating with the senior officials in this regard.

‘Send migrants...

The bench also directed the authorities to identify and register migrant workers who want to go back to their native places and conclude the exercise, including their transportation, within 15 days

‘Delhi will...

However, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the source of infection is “not known” in nearly half of the fresh cases being reported and epidemiologically, community transmission is the third stage of the infection.

He also blamed the Centre for the spurt in

and 33,000 beds would be required. There might be 5.5 lakh cases

by July 31 and Delhi would need 80,000 beds,” Sisodia said. —ANI

Will Parl’s...

Chamber can accommodate about 60 members as per the norms of social distancing, the Lok Sabha Chamber and the Central Hall is adequate enough for a little over 100 members.

They further said that even if the members were to be accommodated in the galleries, the total seating capacity would be much less than the required,

if all members were to be accommodated.

Even the plenary hall of the Vigyan Bhawan would not be adequate to accommodate all the members of Lok Sabha, the two senior officials informed Naidu and Birla.

They informed the two presiding officers of certain other limitations if the Central Hall and Vigyan Bhawan were to be used for the session like the non-availability of AC facility during the day in the Central Hall and problems of enabling simultaneous interpretation service. —ANI

TALKING POINT AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

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07

HUMAN COVID-19 VACCINE TRIALS ARE UNNECESSARY

I

was recently stunned to learn of the serious consideration being given to deliberately infecting human volunteers with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in order to assess the effectiveness of potential COVID-19 vaccines.

My first reaction was that the advocates of such “human challenge studies” had gone so mad with panic that they had forgotten the history and horrors of medical experimentation on humans. But on closer inspection, I saw that they included some of the world’s most respected vaccine researchers and medical ethicists, and even the World Health Organization.

As far as I can tell, their principal argument is that waiting for an answer from naturally occurring infections will take too long.

The new coronavirus has already infected 6.5 million people worldwide and killed more than 386,000, including 107,000 in the United States alone. And in the absence of safe, effective vaccines and treatments, measures aimed at controlling the virus’s spread are ruining economies around the world.

The WHO’s recent white paper on the use of human subjects for vaccine research makes it clear that such trials are a desperate last resort.

Vaccines are indeed the

most effective medications we have. Some have conferred long-term immunity against great scourges such as smallpox, polio, typhoid, diphtheria, typhus, and tetanus. But there are just as many diseases for which no truly effective vaccine exists, including HIV/ AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. And some vaccines can do more harm than good, as attempts to develop a dengue vaccine have demonstrated.

Caveats notwithstanding, the rush to develop a COVID-19 vaccine that will definitively end the loss of life and stop the economic devastation has already produced more than 100 candidates, all in very early stages of development.

With so many pharmaceutical companies and gov-

ernments scrambling to get some skin in the game, each day seems to bring announcements of new programs, most of them unaccompanied by supporting data.

But deliberately infecting volunteers with SARSCoV-2 to test the efficacy of vaccine candidates is unnecessary, uninformative, and unethical.

Deliberately infecting healthy human volunteers with the SARSCoV-2 virus in order to test the efficacy of potential COVID-19 vaccines is unnecessary, uninformative, and unethical.

And it risks destroying trust in the integrity of science and medicine for generations to come

VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AMONG THE YOUNG

umerous N studies have shown

NO SHORTAGE OF NEW INFECTIONS ost vaccines are deM veloped in the context of active epidemics. But

one prominent British researcher recently opined that there is only a 50% chance that enough people in the United Kingdom will be infected with the virus for the University of Oxford vaccine field trial (as currently designed) to yield a statistically significant result. What a curious statement. Does it mean that the trial is too small, or

too short, or that the Oxford team expects their vaccine to be only partly effective – or all three?

After all, there is no shortage of new infections.

On an average day, close to 100,000 newly confirmed cases are reported worldwide, and I cannot recall another disease for which such a number was insufficient for a field trial of a drug or vaccine. Surely, with more time and patience, a real test is possible.

STOP PINNING HOPES ON A VACCINE oreover, the major M departure from the norm entailed by human

challenge studies presupposes a lack of alternative means to control the pandemic. But many East Asian countries, as well as some Nordic states, New Zealand, and Australia, have so far successfully controlled the virus in the absence of highly effective drugs or vaccines.

And Wuhan, the Chinese city where it originated, is now essentially free of COVID-19, save for minor, containable flare-ups.

In each case, the relevant authorities have

executed well-known, proven public-health measures: clear messaging, strong stay-at-home orders, vigorous disease detection, contact tracing, and mandatory supervised controlled isolation for all those exposed to the virus.

Although not every country is capable of implementing what works, all should try their best to control the pandemic through proven methods, rather than pinning their hopes on a vaccine that either will be slow in coming or may not work at all. In addition, medical ethicists should consider govern-

ments’ moral obligations to protect citizens through proper use of public-health measures, rather than by opening a Pandora’s box of unnecessary human experimentation.

Challenge studies are also uninformative. To the best of my knowledge, all current protocols for vaccine trials envisage enrolling only young, healthy adults. This is understandable from a recruitment perspective, but COVID-19 morbidity and mortality are highest among the elderly, who have a plethora of underlying chronic diseases.

that vaccines that are effective among the young can fail in older populations – sometimes completely. Our bodies’ ability to respond to most, if not all, vaccines declines precipitously with age. Are today’s COVID-19 vaccine developers seriously entertaining the idea of trials that use a live virus in this vulnerable population?

Furthermore, preliminary studies using non-human primates have already shown that potential vaccines may not provide complete protection; when confronted with the virus, the vaccinated animals were spared serious infection of the lungs, but not of the nasal passages. The same was true of the wide variety of vaccine candidates previously developed for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), also coronaviruses. And the implications of partial protection for both community spread and human disease

are not well understood.

Finally, human challenge trials are unethical. SARSCoV-2 causes multi-system disease in about 20% of those infected, and the incidence may be even higher in challenge studies, given the large virus doses likely to be used. Infection may permanently damage the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys, in the young as well as the old.

Moreover, once someone is infected, there is no known drug that completely cures or even ameliorates COVID-19, much less reverses serious damage. And because it is extremely unlikely that all vaccine candidates will work in all trials, a number of volunteers will be permanently harmed.

If such trials are unnecessary, uninformative, and dangerous, then they are by definition unethical. I fear that in the rush to find a “medical miracle” to end the pandemic’s toll in human lives and livelihoods, we will jeopardize the centuries-old moral imperative to do no harm, possibly destroying trust in the integrity of science and medicine for generations to come. In that case, the losses we will face will be far greater.

SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

Helping others is the first rule in the book of humanity. It is important to ‘think good’ but it is more important to ‘do good’. Reach out in whichever way you can.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

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GHCAA PRESIDENT IN THE DOCK: HIGH COURT INITIATES CONTEMPT MOVE

08

Hindu-Muslim bond continues to inspire people in Rajkot

GHCAA prez had made harsh statements against senior most judge RM Chhaya and his functioning First India Bureau Ahmedabad: High Court has initiated suo motu contempt of court proceedings against Yatin Oza, President of the Gujarat High Court Advocate Association, for making scathing remarks on the senior judge and registry of the high court.

GHCAA Secretary Hardik Brahmbhatt confirmed this development to First India and said that they are waiting for the order to be passed by the court. He added we understand that the proceedings are against the president in an individual capacity and not against the Association, still only the order can clarify a few things.

GHCAA president had made harsh statements against

HC NOTICE TO STATE GOVT

—FILE PHOTO

the senior most judge R M Chhaya and his court functioning. He had gone to an extent of alleging that Chhaya has never passed full judgement in his nine years in the office. He calls 300 matters board in just two

hours and sometimes calls the board twice a day.

He also cast serious allegations against the High Court registry, he said that he has received complaints from many advocates that their petitions are not listed for hearing for

days and weeks, whereas some advocates petitions are listed next day on filing petitions. This basically created an impression that the high court registry is biased and not working in a fair manner.

In reply to the order, Oza has written

another letter addressed to Chief Justice in which he has drawn attention to his point that never in the history of judiciary has it been seen that order is passed without giving opportunity to respondent.

ATS arrests two mafia with drugs worth `38L

Fire engulfs SUDA market again, no casualty as structure was sealed

First India Bureau

Surat: A fire broke out at Raghuveer textile market on Puna Kumbhariya road in Surat early Tuesday. This is the third such incident in the last six months said the fire officials.

The fire department received a call at 11.45 pm on June 8, officials reached the spot around 12 am. Over 15 fire tenders extinguished the flames and was under control within three

Ahmedabad: Yet another arrest by The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Aava Gujarat ATS has arrested 2 more people and seized Rs 38 lakh from them.

Gujarat ATS got information that 2 people were going to Juhapura via Thai Shastri Bridge on Suez Farm Road, Ahmedabad.

Based on the information, the ATS team put a watch and stopped the car. It contained 380 grams of methamphetamine, a drug worth Rs 38 lakh.

ATS has arrested Nasruddin Katiyar and Javed Ali , both the accused are residents of Ahmedabad.

The ATS is investigating both the accused and also, how long these people have been in the business in Ahmedabad and who are their buyers.

First India Bureau

A fire broke out at Raghuveer Textile market on Puna Kumbhariya road in Surat early Tuesday.

hours. Chief Fire Officer, Surat Municipal Corporation, Basant Pareek said, “The

@ahmedpatel Will these so-called virtual rallies control the spread of the epidemic?

Will these bring back the lost jobs? Will these feed the poor?

Will these revive the economy?

It is tragic that these words of Congress party sarpanch , Sh Ajay Pandita turned out to be true.

We wish the Central government had listened to his pleas. Our sympathies are with his family and supporters.

market was sealed” due to the previous fire which took place on 21st January, due

to which there was no human presence. The elevation structure is not proper leading to safety hassles. A report is filed with the SUDA chief to make changes in the elevation structure.” Staffers were divided and dispersed in all directions due to fire being widespread.

There were no casualties.” said the fire officials.

There are 15 textile markets on Puna Kumbhariya road.

Oza is also facing another petition where the petitioner advocate Amit Panchal has challenged GHCAA president’s move to take a poll on Google to decide whether the High Court should hold virtual or physical hearing. Panchal’s stand in the petition is that Oza conducted a parallel poll when HC had already initiated the process to take the census of the bar.

In the said petition, petitioner has pleaded to stop GHCAA president and even the management committee from taking any decision. As per Oza, he had conducted this poll because of the tough times faced by advocates due to the lockdown and now with the relaxation, it is time the court also functions physically.

The temple of Lord Hanuman and the shrine of Adil Shah.

First India Bureau Rajkot: India displays an amazing characteristic of mutual tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Examples defining this unique identity of the country are to be found at its every nook and corner. So, today we take you to Rajkot, a city of Gujarat to witness one such exemplary of religious harmony that narrates centuries-old bond of two different faiths.

Explaining the true meaning of these lyr-

ics is the Vanpari village of Rajkot, where a temple of Hindu Lord Hanuman and Shrine of Saint Adil Shah stand in close proximity to each other and are visited by both Hindus and Muslims. There is not even a wall separating both the places of worship and it is believed that if a person visits one site then he has to pay his obeisance at the other site as well, otherwise his prayers will not be worth it.

RESCUED

An eight-feet-long python was rescued from a village in Sanand of Ahmedabad (rural) by wildlife activists, a day after incessant rainfall was witnessed in the area. According to officials, the python was discovered by villagers of Mankol in Sanand early on Tuesday, after which an SOS call was made to wildlife activists, who reached an rescued it.

Toddy laced with pesticide accidentally takes 4 lives First India Bureau Chhota Udepur: Four members of a family died on Tuesday and another was in serious condition after they consumed toddy that was accidentally mixed with pesticide in Gujarat’s Chhota Udepur district, police said.

A fermented drink produced from the sap of a palm tree, which

—FILE PHOTO

they applied on trees to keep insects away, caused the accident said district SP M S Bhabhor.

The couple and their 2 sons died, while the other person, their relative is in serious condition. “Their health deteriorated while they were in a primary health centre, they were further shifted to a hospital in Chhota Udepur, where four of

them died.”

“The toddy got accidentally mixed with insecticide, making it poisonous,” he said.

The deceased were identified as Devsinh Rathva (42), his wife Dedhariben (40), their sons, Suresh (22), and Manish (20), Their bodies were sent for post-mortem and further investigation was underway, the SP said.

CORONA WARRIOR

DEDICATION AND DUTY ARE THE BYWORDS FOR DOCTORS! First India Bureau Ahmedabad: It’s been five months since Vadodara-based Dr Archana Asher met her husband who is stationed in Kerala and three months since she met her parents who stay in the same city, but she says it’s worth it when she sees her patients recovering!

On Covid-19 duty since March, Asher’s typical day starts as early as 6 am, that is

if she has slept at all.

“I get calls around the clock, sometimes throughout the night, especially if a critical patient is wheeled in,” she says. “There’s no time to feel fear or think about anything beyond my patients,” says 34-year-old Dr Archana, a physician at the governmentrun GMERS (Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society) Hospital in Va-

I get calls around the clock, sometimes throughout the night, especially if a critical patient is wheeled in.There’s no time to feel fear or think about anything beyond my patients.

—Dr Archana Asher, Physician

Vadodara-based Dr Archana Asher has been on duty since three months.

dodara.

Her official day starts at 9:00 am with 30 minutes to wear the PPE which protects the medical staff but also makes the day tougher as they cannot use the loo and it gets really sweaty inside it. But Asher says she forgets everything once she is with the patients, they need medical care as well as counselling.

Asher was recently

felicitated by Gujarat MLA Manisha Vakil for her selfless work.

Her husband, a doctor is pursuing a urological surgery course in Kerala and though her parents and in laws stay in Vadodara she hasn’t met them too for fear of infection.

“Senior citizens who are my grandfather’s age have walked out of the hospital and in the end, it all seems worth it,” she smiles.

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09

AHMEDABAD, WEDNESDAY JUNE 10, 2020

(Below, from left) Ha

Sonam K Ahuja wi th her family: (Top) Anand Ahuja an d Karan Boolani rshvarshan, Sunita, Rhea and Anil Kapo or

DAZZLING DIVA Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is the ‘Fashion Icon’ of Bollywood for a reason as she makes fashion styles look effortlessly elegant. City Fist showcases some of her styles!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

T

he one name that pops up in the mind when anyone says ‘Fashion in Bollywood’, is SONAM KAPOOR AHUJA. Standing out in the crowd and acing each and every look is something only she can do, and she has never been afraid to experiment with new things every now and then. From being a desi Indian girl to wearing bold western outfits, Sonam always leaves many heads turned with her elegance, beauty and obviously her fashion sense.

The 3 main things that one can observe and learn from Sonam K Ahuja’s styling tips are: Experiment all you can- Until and unless you experiment with what you have, you will never know what you’re best suited for; it results in standing out of the crowd and Sonam K Ahuja eventually mak-

acing different looks

ing a fashion statement.

Pick up the perfect accessory- Selecting the perfect accessory to go with the outfit is a task, and has to be done in just the right way; too much or too less can make your styling go for a toss.

Be confident- No matter what you wear, how you style it and where you wear it, confidence is something that much always be top-notch; it definitely adds a lot of power to your styling.

The style icon turned 35 on Tuesday, and received so much love from everyone across the country. Among a few, “Wish you a very happy birthday @ sonamkapoor! May you continue to steal the show wherever you go, for years to come, love and hugs,” wrote Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who celebrated her birthday just a day before. Anil Kapoor posted a series of photos and wrote, “To a daughter like no other, the perfect partner to @anandahuja, a star on screen and an icon with an inimitable style. She’s my confidant, my joy, my pride, the most generous-hearted soul I know, (the only person I am shit scared of) & now a bona fide master chef ! Happy Birthday, @sonamkapoor! I’m so happy that you’re here with all of us today! Love You, Always,” while her mother Sunita Kapoor said, “Happy happy birthday my darling beta .. My firstborn..loving .. caring .. kind.. bit crazy, love you so much.. May you always keep your face to the sunshine..

May you always be blessed with all that your heart desires.”

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AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

10

ART-A HIGHER PURPOSE

KARTIK BAJORIA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

G

uernica, the bold, questioning, warcritiquing, iconic work of art by Picasso, is one among a galaxy of art-expressions, that goes infinitely deeper than providing ‘luxurious set dressing’.

Similarly, popular culture too, even in the melodious and often-times ‘commercial’ strains of its many songs, creates ‘A Bad Dream’ by alternativerock band Keane, that, once again, in a stark, poignant and haunting way, through its amalgam of music & lyric, examines the futility of war!

Film, Literature, Sculpture, Music, the entire gamut of the Arts, has always, been inextricably socio-political. In India too, within the sometimes constraining and myopic boundaries of the entertainment-arts, we have, strong voices that manifest in films such as Mulk,

Article 15, Thappad, Lipstick Under My Burkha.

Poetic moving images that do much more than entertain. They stir, instigate, make us uncomfortable, make us ask, delve deeper, search for the right QUESTIONS! Art, as has always been the case, is ‘beyond beauty’. Transcending the superficial. Today, as the world grapples with arguably the most paradigmshifting event in history, the Coronavirus Pandemic, ART and Artists, have a vital role to play. An absolutely indispensable, multifaceted, set of duties.

RECORD & CHRONICLE

While the world, by way of personal experiences, stories, photographs will capture facets of the pandemic, as will the wider, global media-machinery; it is imperative that artists, through song & lyric, poetry and painting, images and imagination, too, record this momentous event. To have with humanity, until posterity, a moving account of the pandemic recorded through the creative lens of an artist, to my mind, seems one fundamental duty of the artist, and of society.

HOPE, RELIEF, RELEASE

FA CE OF TH ED AY

Another crucial role of art and artists at this juncture, is to provide relief.

Human beings don’t only need ‘physical rescue’. We need relief for body, mind and soul. Many artists, singers, visual artists are already engaged in this, and though their individual medium of expression, have been providing hope.

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

MIRROR, TRUTH, CRITICISE

Arguably the greatest role of the artist during a period such as the world is witnessing, far more important than entertaining and simply-recording, is to seek the truth and capture it. While governments and organizations sugar-coat statistics and the situation, it is the Artist, along with the Journalist, who is that one, dedicated, unwavering truth-seeker, who will, for instance, find that messy hospital-ward with intermingling covid and non-covid patients and manifest this grim reality in a telling yet touching poem. An artist will find the irony in administrative video-conferencing and unmask the veil that is being strung in the form

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You will be very happy whole day long as you have achieved your financial target and you are ready to fulfil your dream. You may face lots of distraction in work today but remember whether openly or not , your boss has eyes on everyone.

Buying an apartment is on the cards.

You will do many job simultaneously till the time your financial thirst is quenched. For you no work is big or small as long as it serves your purpose. You by hook and crook always manage to make your spouse dance on your tunes. You are very confident in general.

You may receive money in form of inheritance and it can change your life forever. You must not get bothered from those who keep taking behind people’s back. You may just throw a party to celebrate your promotion, salary hike or any other kind of professional achievement.

You like to take risk with your investments and we all know mostly only the risk takes becomes wealthy. You know how to motivate people so give an encouraging speech to those who lack zeal in life.

You must handle any problem with maturity today.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Your career will get boosted if you decide to use your full potential and give your all. On financial front you may have to take decisions on spot as few things are not foreseen. Your presence will ease the tensed atmosphere at home and there is nothing that cannot be resolved.

Your manager will entrust you will some important assignment which will be very challenging and now this is your moment to show your true potential. Family dispute needs to be resolved and that can only happen if someone decides to take an initiative and that must be you.

Your superiors are always impressed with you as you never take your responsibilities lightly and are always well aware of the deadlines without any reminder. You will feel very energetic and passionate today to do things that you love.

Money will multiple but not by itself so keep doing something or the other, the idea is to never stop trying.

You are ready to follow whatever discipline it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your sibling will make you proud and your bond with him/her is eternal.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

APeople who matters in your life will surely understand and appreciate for who you are. You have managed your business well but you require some funding so try all the options that comes to your mind to make it work. Harmony in family shall prevails, if you can mend ways.

You will become wealthy but only if you are not scared from hard words and experimenting. Your stars are quite supportive for a dream wedding so if you haven’t expressed your love to the person you like then this is the time to do it.

Your spouse will be supportive.

You will earn lots of profit today as money is in the air for you. The doors which appeared to be closed before are now all open for you.

Universe will answers all your prayers as far as they are for a good cause. You are well prepared to move abroad and its just a matter of time.

It will be challenging for you to grasp new things and complete the work in time but you will try as hard as it takes to not disappoint your boss. As long as you continue to work hard towards your goal nothing can stop you from becoming rich. You will get some answers.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

HINA RAHEJA, Travel Blogger

From singers performing in their apartment balconies in Mumbai on the 1st test-quarantine day, to any number of youtubers, performing artists, making videos and putting them out there for us to watch, listen, be entertained by, and ultimately, feel some semblance of normality!

of public-perception through a satirical painting. And ultimately, it is us, citizens, who will watch, observe, interpret, these myriad expressions of our many artists, and find the courage, conviction, and evidence, to question people, decisions, missteps, and emerge a healthier, more honest, more robust society.

Exposing our inherent societal hypocrisy and placing a painful mirror in front of us has been the essential purpose of art and artists. From Manto to Ghalib, Ray to Ritwik, did precisely that. Alas, we are in a world where even artists are becoming increasingly unsure of taking a stance, expressing their ‘real’ opinions for fear of backlash. As a truth-seeking teacher & writer, I can only urge the art-community to be bold, be involved, be invested. That there is no such thing as Apolitical Art. That we need Art and Artists more than ever.

That Art, has A Higher Purpose!

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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‘No justice, no peace’

AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

11

It’s a Love

T

he past week has seen numerous celebrities stepped out of their homes to participate in the Black Lives Matter movement. From Harry Styles to Halsey and Cole Sprouse, protesters were supported by ample Hollywood celebrities. Over the weekend, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas also joined a Black Lives Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner Matter protest, demanding justice.

The ‘Game of Thrones’ actress and the Jonas Brothers crooner shared pictures of their participation on Instagram. The actress, who is also pregnant, and the singer sported a mask and practiced social distance while protesting with residents. —Agency

STORY

Supporting the cause Kangana Ranaut

A

fter showcasing her poetic skills, actor Kangana Ranaut surprised her fans on Tuesday by showing off her hidden talent for playing the piano.

The video of her playing the piano from her residence in Manali was shared in the official Instagram handle of team Kangana Ranaut.

In the video, the ‘Queen’ actor was seen effortlessly playing the classic theme song of the movie ‘Love Story’ in the grand piano.

Scores of her fans bombarded the comment sections raving about the ‘Fashion’ actor’s hidden talent.

“Playing like professional,” commented one user, while another Instagram user wrote: “Mastero in every field.”

On the professional front, Kangana is all set to wear the director hat for her ambitious project ‘Aparajitha Ayodhya.’ The upcoming movie, written by the ‘Baahubali’ scriptwriter KV Vijayendra Prasad, and bankrolled by her production house, revolves around the Ram MandirBabri Masjid case.

—ANI

‘GULABO SITABO’ Tongue Twister

A

m i t a b h Bachchan launched a tongue twister challenge on Tuesday, as a part of film promotions, ahead of the online release of comedydrama ‘Gulabo Sitabo’.

T h e tongue twister: ‘Gulabo ki khatarpatar se titarbitar sitabo, sitabo ke agarmagar se uthalputhal gulabo,’ reflects the funny and unique camaraderie of the main characters of the film. The film, scheduled to release on June 12 on Amazon Prime Video, stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Bachchan as the lead. The two actors will be seen sharing the

Natalie Portman

M

any celebrities have stood for the Black Lives Matter movement and now Natalie Portman is also expressing her take. Speaking about ‘Defund the Police’ campaign she stated, “When I first heard #defundthepolice, I have to admit my first reaction was fear.”

“My whole life, police have made me feel safe. But that’s exactly the center of my white privilege: the police make me as a white woman feel safe, while my black friends, family and neighbors feel the opposite: police make them feel terror and for good reason,” she continued. Natalie now supports ‘Defund the Police’ campaign.

—Agency

... her post

K

endall was accused of using a photoshopped image of her joining the protestin the wake of the death of African-American man George Floyd in US police custody. A photograph of Kendall, one of the youngest sister’s of reality TV

screen space for the first time.

Bachchan who is quite active on social media posted a video of himself on Instagram in which he could be seen trying to ace the tongue twister challenge only to get it wrong every time.

At the end of the video, the 77-year-old actor was seen asking his followers to take the tongue twister challenge and re-

Poster of the film

peat it five times.

The quirky comedy was slated to hit the screens on April 17 but due to the shuttering of cinema theatres over COVID-19 crisis that could not happen.

—ANI

GUNJAN SAXENA to Release on Netflix

Accusations on the way! s t a r Kim Kardashian, went viral, where she is seen wearing an all black ensemble paired with a black mask while holding a Black Lives Matter sign.

Social media users were quick to notice that her sign didn’t show up in her shadow on the ground. It seemed that the photo was to be taken from a 2019 Facebook post.

The netizans took to Twitter to blast Kendall for reportedly editing the picture. Kendall came out and debunked all rumours of her faking the image and denied that she edited the photo and posted it online, saying someone else did it.

Amitabh Bachchan

G

unjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is now a Netflix original film, the streaming service announced Tuesday. Starring Janhvi Kapoor in the lead as one of the first two Indian women to fly in a combat zone, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl also stars Pankaj Tripathi (Mirzapur) as her father, Angad Bedi (Inside Edge) as her brother, Viineet Kumar (Mukkabaaz), Manav Vij (Udta Punjab), and Ayesha Raza (Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety). Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl has been directed by debutante Sharan Sharma, an associate director on Lust Stories, and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions,

“This is photoshopped by someone. I DID NOT post this,” she wrote on her Twitter account along with the picture in question.

—Agency

Kendall Jenner

Poster of the film

and Zee Studios.

Originally slated for theatres, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is now the second major Bollywood movie — after the Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmaan Khurrana-starrer Gulabo Sitabo, releasing Friday on Amazon Prime Video. to release directly on streaming amid the pandemic with the continuing the partnership between Netflix and Dharma. —Agency Janhvi Kapoor

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AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020

KEEPING THE

STANDING

LEGACY ALIVE

STRONG! KARISHMA GWALANI

Karishma.gwalani @firstindia.co.in

T

NEHAL NAYAR

R

itu Singh, Principal Architect at her Jaipur based firm ‘Design Architects’ has been appointed as a member of Council of Architecture, the statutory body of Government of India that regulates architecture profession and education in India.

She has been included as a nominee of Rajasthan government and her current tenure will be up to June 2023.

An architect of repute, she has designed over a hundred institutional buildings in Rajasthan, which have benefited a lot of people. Her firm undertakes all kind of architectural works and services but designing the institutional buildings such as universities, medical colleges, hospitals, engineering colleges are core to her passion. Reacting to

Ruhi Singh has starred in a short film to spread awareness about the increasing domestic violence in the country, regardless of the gender!

he national lockdown has reported an increase in domestic violence and the complaints received by the National Commission for Women (NCW) have doubled during this period. One of the major reason is people are locked in their houses with no escape.

Although there shouldn’t be any escape, this issue needs to be resolved completely and for that, the victims of marital rape need to come forward, and do the right thing, despite their gender.

Yet, again, Actress Ruhi Singh, who hails from Jaipur is making us all proud by being vocal about the ongoing issues of domestic violence through her recent short film ‘That Neighbour’s Wife’, directed by Kristy De Cunha. In an exclusive interview with City First, Ruhi shared the idea behind the production of short film betwixt the pandemic.

“My director Kristy came up with the concept and the moment she told me about it, without thinking twice, I said yes, because marital rape is not okay, domestic violence is not okay, and we can’t continue to normalize these crimes. Violence is not a part of any marriage, bond or union. If you hear or see someone facing violence, speak up and support them,” said the actress of the film.

While most of the people across the country have appreciated her laudable performance in the short film, some of

them have criticised her for touching the topic of taboo, that has been prevailing in our society from ages but deemed not so important.

“Owning to the lockdown, the film was shot on the phone. Of course, the experience was different than the traditional way of producing the film; however, I couldn’t wait for things to get normal because let’s face it, the situation has become pretty serious now and I believe its the high time to be vocal about this unnoticed issue,” said the former beauty queen.

With this film, the director Kristy and Actor Ruhi wanted to educate everyone about the universal signal for help: a discreet symbol that can help victims in need of rescue.

Talking about the Pink City, she said, “I miss Jaipur a lot because that’s where my roots are. The best thing about my city is the incredible people. Their support is what makes me strong to take stand against these odds.”

When asked about her next project, the actress said, “I have been working with Sanjay Mishra for the upcoming web series, where I will be seen in the role of a Bihari character.”

Unique Initiative by Doctor Couple Officer in the same hospital has been making difs the entire ferent folk art world inpaintings like cluding InPhad and Worli dia has art, depicting been suffering from steps to prevent the corona pandemcorona spread in ic, the government a very effective along with medical way. fraternity has been According to trying its level best the doctor couple, to make things norDr Akhilesh Jain Dr Garima Jain paintings and pomal. In this time of ems are the easicrisis, a doctor couDr Akhilesh Jain, HOD, est and most effective way ple, Dr Akhilesh Jain and Dr Garima Jain have Psychiatry of ESIC Model to reach into heart and adopted an innovative ap- Hospital has been encour- mind of people. Their efproach to educate people aging public and instilling forts have largely been apand make them aware of hope by writing bilingual preciated in social media the prevention strategies- poems on how to win over by public and health prothe most important ap- corona effect, while Dr Ga- fessionals. proach to curb the spread. rima Jain, Chief Medical cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

A A Good Sign!

her nomination, Ritu Singh expressed her gratitude to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for nominating her, by recognising her contribution to architecture field. She shared that her effort would be to ensure high standards in profession and education, by taking inspiration from architecture landmarks that Rajasthan is known for. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Ruhi Singh

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y father Dr Baij Nath Singh, born on 7 June 1919, just after the First World War, celebrated his 101st birthday in Lucknow by holding a zoom family meeting with his extended family in India, UK and the USA. Twenty-one family members children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around the globe - “attended” his virtual birthday party which he greatly enjoyed, marvelling at modern technology.

A Freedom Fighter, Etawah Pilot Project member, founding professor of Pantnagar Agricultural University, and career UNESCO expert, Dr Singh rose through hard work and bright intellect, living through the history of our country.

A chance meeting on a train with Madan Mohan Malaviya changed his life. He received a scholarship to Banaras Hindu

University. His activism during the Quit India Movement in 1942 led to his imprisonment for sedition for 2 years by the British. In 1945 he was handpicked

by Mahatma Gandhi to focus on rural development as 90% of India lived in villages. After Independence Nehru assigned him to the Etawah Pilot Project with Albert Meyer (the original architect of Chandigarh). He was then sent on a Rockefeller Scholarship to Cornell University. Upon his return, he joined the Planning Commission (now called Niti Ayog) but was then asked by Nehru to become a Professor at Pantnagar Agricultural University to focus on integrated rural development. He never looked back and later enjoyed a long and distinguished career with UNESCO. He has authored 33 books on a variety of subjects. But his masterwork was an epic poem called “Bandi Yug” written when he was in prison. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

WHAT’S HAPPENING! Rajasthan: An interactive webinar was organised by IIHMR University, Jaipur, on Tuesday, where various marketers and brand consultants decode the real meaning of Vocal for Local campaign. The webinar was kick-started by President IIHMR University, Dr Pankaj Gupta and moderated by Chair Branding and Communications, IIHMR University, Dr Sheenu Jain.

CITY FIRST, JALORE

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t Jaswantpura sub-division headquarters, a large number of bears have come out in the wildlife census, which is a good sign for the forest department. Forest officials were seen spotting wild animals from the watchtower. In the Jaswantpura wildlife census, 12 teams marked the concerned points in the forest. In the census, 38 Jackals, 32 Hyenas, 21 Wild Cats, 33 Foxes, 9 Honey Badgers, 66 Bears, 2 Sambhars, 483 Blue Bulls, 204 Wild Boars, 51 Porcupines, 785 Langurs, 5 Vultures, 11 Wild Roosters, 719 Peacocks and 7 Pythons were found.

Rajasthan: As a part of Jawahar Kala Kendra’s (JKK) ongoing ‘Online Learning – Children’s Summer Festival, art lovers witnessed a visual arts session on ‘Oil Pastel Work on Paper’ by artist, Tirthankar Biswas from Delhi. The session taught step-bystep techniques to create illustrations using oil pastels. Following this, a visual arts online learning session on ‘Mandana’ was conducted by artist, Vidhya Devi Soni from Bhilwara. It focused on drawing designs, materials used to create the art form and much more.

Gujarat: Gujarat Cricket Association players did warm on the Gujarat college ground.

Players got together after over 75 days, due to the global pandemic.

Rajasthan: Anganwadi worker Kanta Meena, who was infected with Corona while conducting house to house surveys in Bagar Lal Haveli area, defeated the virus and returned home on Tuesday.

Rajasthan: Beauty expert Purnima Goyal unleashed ‘Beauty with safety’ campaign in Jaipur, on Monday.

The campaign aims to sensitize people about checking all the safety measures a salon adheres to before taking beauty services.

The occasion also marked the opening of ‘Silverine Salon’ that is based in City Pulse Mall.