First India-Ahmedabad Edition-11 October 2020

AHMEDABAD l SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

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‘SOLDIERS ARE GETTING MARTYRED IN NON-BULLETPROOF TRUCKS WHILE THE GOVT BUYS COSTLY AIRCRAFT FOR PM’

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD 24°C - 37°C

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 316

BJP NATIONAL PRESIDENT JP NADDA ON SUNDAY WILL ADDRESS HIS FIRST ELECTION RALLY IN POLL-BOUND BIHAR

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STATE GOVT SHOULDERS GRIEF OF PRIEST’S KINS

BRAHMA KAMAL: ONE NIGHT BLOOM!

POTBOILER AVERTED: A ‘surprise troubleshooter’ Dr Kirodi plays Gehlot’s ‘peace card’ as law & order remains intact in Bukhna village a day after horrific death of temple priest over land dispute

Mohd Fahad Jaipur/Karauli: Efficient government machinery and true grit of political willpower were on full display on Saturday, a day after a temple priest who was burnt alive allegedly by land grabbers in Karauli.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, acting rationally, wasted no time in fulfilling demands of the victim’s family while his ‘arch-rival’ BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena met the aggrieved family in Bukna and despite being in the opposition admitted that justice has been done to an extent.

The family, facing economical hardships, initially sat on a dharna with the body, but later agreed to perform cremation.

CONCERNED GOVERNOR SPEAKS TO CM GEHLOT

Family members sitting near the body of priest Babulal Vaishnav in Bukna village of Karauli’s Sapotra region on Saturday.

DEMANDS MET  Financial assistance of `10 lakh  CONTRACTUAL JOB TO A FAMILY MEMBER  Removal of Sapotra police officer  ACTION AGAINST THE PATWARI

CRITICISM OVER HATHRAS PROBE

MHA advisory to states

on crimes against women New Delhi: In a fresh advisory to states, the Ministry of Home Affairs Saturday directed the police to strictly adhere to guidelines and adopt stringent action while dealing with cases related to crimes against women.

The directive comes amid criticism of the Uttar Pradesh police for its handling of the Hathras case. The police has drawn flak for allegedly intimidating the kin of the deceased, refusing to hand over the body of the victim to the family, and collecting forensic samples 11 days after the crime.

“It is requested that states/UTs may suita-

CBI TAKES OVER HATHRAS PROBE FROM UP POLICE New Delhi: The CBI will take investigate the alleged gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district by a group of so-called “upper caste” men, taking over the case that has triggered a nationwide outcry. Under searing criticism over the incident and pulled up by the Allahabad High Court, the Yogi Adityanath government had recommended the probe last week. bly issue instructions to all concerned to ensure strict compliance with the provisions in the law. It is also requested to monitor the cases on the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) to ensure that suitable follow up action is taken for

chargesheet of the guilty in a timely manner as required in the law,” the MHA said.

It said the government has over the years taken steps to strengthen the legislative provisions to deal with such cases.

“Even with stringent provisions Turn to P6

Jaipur: Governor Kalraj Mishra held a meeting with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and discussed the law and order situation in the state. The governor discussed with Gehlot the law and order situation in the context of several incidents, including the Karauli incident and the alleged gangrape of two minor sisters in Barmer. Mishra expressed concern over these incidents. Gehlot told him that the state government has taken cognisance of all these incidents and the police are investigating them. The chief minister assured the governor that the culprits will not be spared and action will be taken in all these incidents after the investigation has been completed.

CIVIC POLLS ON OCT 29, NOV 1 WITH NOV 3 VERDICT Jaipur: After the Supreme Court refused stay, the State Election Commission of Rajasthan on Saturday announced the election for the six municipal corporations in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota in two phases on October 29 and November 1.

Counting will take place on November 3.

Jaipur Heritage, Jaipur Greater, Jodhpur North, Jodhpur South, Kota North and Kota South Municipal Corporation will be going to polls on these dates.

The rare Brahma Kamal, the only flower to bloom after sunset and just once a year, has been spotted near Hemkund Sahib in Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It takes about two hours to bloom to about eight inches in diameter. The flower only blooms for a few hours, and is said to bring good luck and prosperity. Brahma Kamal is the state flower of Uttarakhand.

Pompeo: 60,000 Chinese soldiers at LAC, India needs US in this fight Washington: After the Quad grouping in Tokyo, Mike Pompeo gave three interviews during which he spoke of China’s “bad behaviour”, and said the “tide’s begun to turn”.

Addressing the “threat” China poses to the Quad nations, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the country has deployed 60,000 soldiers at its border with India. He also said India “absolutely need the United States to be their ally and partner in this fight”.

Foreign ministers from the Quad countries — the US, India, Australia and Japan — met in Tokyo on Tuesday for the first in-person talks

Must accept that talks with china won’t help: US

Mike Pompeo

since the pandemic began. On his return to the US, Pompeo gave three interviews during which he spoke of China’s “bad behaviour”, and said the “tide’s begun to turn”.

“I was with my foreign minister counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan… four

big democracies, four powerful economies, four nations, each of whom has real risk associated with the threats attempting to be imposed by the Chinese Communist Party.

And they see it in their home countries too,” he said on The Guy Benson Show.

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Washington: China has attempted to “seize” control of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India by force as part of its territorial aggression, US’ national security advisor has said, underlining that time has come to accept that dialogue and agreements will not persuade Beijing to change.

India and China are locked in a five-monthlong tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh that has significantly strained their relations.

Both sides have held a series Turn to P6

SMC spent Rs3.5 crore but, stray dog population surged: LoP Togadia Civic body standing its ground on the issue while residents want it to intervene First India Bureau Surat: In a shocking claim made by Leader of Opposition Praful Togadia of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) alleged misuse of funds by the civic body allocated for neutralizing the stray dog population in the city.

“The city has spent Rs3.5 crore to capture and sterilize stray dogs in the last six-and-a-half years. But instead of falling, their population has only increased, giving a boost to dog menace,” stated Togadia.

In response to Right to Information (RTI) activist Tushar Mepani, SMC has claimed

Stray dogs scrounging for food in Ahmedabad.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

that between January 2014 and September 2020, it caught 47,133 stray dogs and castrated 43,791 of them.

It further mentioned that zone-wise bids had been invited and an organization called Vet’s Society for Animal Welfare and Rural Development had been granted the contract for Rs3.48 crore.

In the RTI, Meplani has questioned the corporation’s claims of castrating stray dogs. Citing his own

experience, he stated that just a few days ago a dog had bitten her sister-in-law.

When his brother took her to SMIMER Hospital for treatment, the hospital did not have rabies vaccine and she was referred to Maskati Hospital.

Addressing the issue, Togadia also pointed out that the corporation had claimed that the sterilization of stray dogs had been executed but a surge in their population did not corrobo-

rate their assertion. He further implied that the irregularities cast suspicion over possible misuse of funds allocated to curtail dog population in the city.

With the number of people getting bitten by stray dogs increasing, the issue has become a serious cause for concern in Surat.

Shefali Pattharwala, resident of Ghod Dod Road, said, “I am a resident of Karimabad Society, near Ram Chowk.

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AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

CONG DEMANDS FEE WAIVER

FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL STUDENTS

02

In a bid to bounce back, Alpesh rides Thakor crest

Chief spokesperson Manish Doshi expressed dissatisfaction with DyCM Nitin Patel’s ‘no hike’ declaration

—FILE PHOTO

Medical students at a protest in Ahmedabad.

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: In response to the state government’s decision not to hike the fees of government-run medical colleges, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) demanded a fee waiver for students of medical and dental streams, on Saturday. Manish Doshi, chief spokesperson of the party, asked that the fees charged from medical

students be rolled back for at least for one semester.

Addressing the issue, Doshi stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has created an employment crisis and people are struggling to land jobs. The fees of medical and paramedical programmes are quite high. The students who want to devote their future to the medical field cannot manage without studying for it.

The private education sector alone logs more

Congress Chief Spokesperson Manish Doshi

than Rs1,500 crore in fees each academic year.”

He termed the announcement of no fee hike in government-run medical colleges by Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel as “hopeless”.

“Around 20,000 medical students pay hefty fees for a total of four out of five and a half year’s worth of medical education every year. We requested the state governor to waive their fees for at least one semester since col-

leges are also shut down,” said Doshi.

“On Friday, the deputy chief minister provided a small consolation to the parents of medical students regarding payment of fees. There are a total of 72,000 students enrolled in government and self-financed colleges in the state. We demand that an immediate announcement on fee relief be made by the government,” said Doshi.

DHANANI’S STRONGHOLD SHAKEN AS CONGRESS LEADERS JOIN BJP

l Mitha Lakhnotra and Balwant Ladumor from Amreli district were inducted into their new party on Saturday First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: Ahead of the upcoming civic body, nagarpalika, taluka panchayat, district panchayat elections in the state, the Congress camp

has received yet another blow as leaders from Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani’s stronghold of Amreli district joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday. The grassroot leaders including two former taluka panchayat presidents Mitha Lakhnotra and Balwant Ladumor were inducted into the ruling party in the presence of minister in-charge Dharmendra Singh Jadeja and former parliamentary secretary Hira Solanki.

The Congress leaders were welcomed into

Paresh Dhanani, Leader of Opposition

their new party with a scarf. This change in allegiances has left the

opposition party shaken causing uproar within its ranks.

A few days ago, more than 200 Congress workers from Kaprada constituency of Valsad district had joined BJP. Meanwhile, a few Congress leaders have been demanding the removal of Dinesh Sharma as the leader of opposition at Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) since the past few months. This development has forced the internal strife of the Ahmedabad city Congress to the surface once again, with the issue reaching the party’s high command.

All India Congress

Committee (AICC) state in-charge Rajiv Satav declined to comment on the issue by saying that the decision would be taken at the state level by the regional president and opposition leader.

On hearing of his alleged ouster plan, Sharma said that he will welcome any decision of the party high command. It is worth noting that former Leader of Opposition Badruddin Shaikh, who passed away from COVID-19 earlier this year, served at the post for five years before Sharma’s induction.

Shankar Chaudhary, Chairman, Banas Dairy

Alpesh Thakor, OBC leader

First India Bureau

ing Thakor into the ruling party.

Addressing his followers on Facebook Live, Thakor said, “If anyone is spreading rumours that no Thakor will get a seat on the Banas Dairy board, then those people are lying and misleading the community. I assure the Thakor community that there will be one of us among the directors on that board.”

What Thakor has been trying to convey to his community is not something that will happen for the first time in the history of Banas Dairy.

In the last terms alone, three directors were appointed from the Thakor community including Muljibhai Patel, Thaljibhai Patel and Karsanji Thakor.

Reacting to the BJP leader’s statement, Bhabhar taluka Thakor community president Karsanji Thakor said, “I was appointed one of the directors five years ago by Shankar Chaudhary. And I am still serving as a director on the management committee.

So I do not know which injustice against the Thakor community is Alpesh Thakor talking about.”

Palanpur: After losing the 2019 state assembly byelection from Radhanpur constituency of Patan district, Other Backward Class (OBC) leader Alpesh Thakor has been trying to make a political comeback. During a Facebook Live session on Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader announced that the Banaskantha District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (Banas Dairy) was set to appoint a director belonging to the Thakor community on its board.

Sources from the cooperative sector said that Thakor has been sending signals within the party as well as to the Banaskantha political circuit that a new political axis is shaping up between him and Banas Dairy chairman Shankar Chaudhary.

The rumour mill indicated closeness between the two leaders even before Thakor crossed over from Congress to the BJP in 2019. In fact, in a few political circles, it is said that Chaudhary was instrumental in bring-

PROGRESSIVE APPROACH

State committed towards development of tier-two towns: Rupani l Govt seeks to boost infrastructure, provide basic amenities to facilitate growth First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani while dedicating a town hall for Viramgam on Saturday at an investment of Rs2.88 crore stated that the government will provide financial resources to the small towns to help develop

basic infrastructure to ease conduction of business.

Committed to urban development, the state government seeks to provide major towns as well as tier-two towns with basic amenities to boost their growth and development.

Talking about the state’s vision, Rupani

CM Vijay Rupani while dedicating a town hall to Viramgam on Saturday.

said, “The development of towns must be done on the lines of smart cities by making them habitable for everyone. They should be at par with towns world over in terms of infrastructure.”

The state’s total population habitation is equally divided among urban and rural areas.

As people in the latter have taken to migrating to the former, it is the prime duty of the state as well as local bodies to ensure that these cities are equipped with the necessary amenities.

Launching the Digital Seva Setu programme on Thursday, the chief minister had said that the objective was to ensure that people do not have to make ‘physical’ visits to various offices for securing government documents. In the first phase, over 2,700 villages will be provided 27 services by the government. The state also empowered talati (village-level administrative heads) to file affidavits. This move has invited the ire of the Bar Council of Gujarat.

On the same day, CM Rupani had also given the nod to Surat City Development Plan 2035, covering 1,085 square kilometre area under Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA). With the approval, the lands that were put under reservation for the past 30 years have been released. Also, 850 hectares of land will be made available for construction and developmental purposes.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

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GARBA EVENTS BANNED

organizers threaten doctors

03

DPS East derecognized

by CBSE, fined `50 lakh

Several artistes, event managers expressed outrage over loss of income on social media First India Bureau

PUBLICITY STUNT

Ahmedabad: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the state government took a decision to disallow commercial Navratri events, after paying heed to the advice of medical experts and doctors.

However, this has not gone down well with the organizers of Navratri events in the state, who expressed their dissent on various social media platforms.

In the face-off between organizers/artistes and doctors, a few event organizers have also issued threats to doctors using social media platforms.

The outrage about loss of livelihood among artistes has sparked a controversy after indecent remarks were posted against doctors online. In response, doctors reported the issue to cyber crime police and asked

The school will be officially shut down in April 2021.

First India Bureau

All public Navratri events have been barred by the state government due to the pandemic.—FILE PHOTO

large gatherings must be avoided at all cost.

We have not opposed any religious group or congregation.

But, there are some people who are defaming our fraternity,” said Dr Chandresh Jardosh, president of Indian Medical Association, Gujarat Chapter.

“We have been receiving threats. They have warned us that

they will organize plays and dramas at our clinics and homes, which I strongly condemn. If there are looking at financial losses due to the cancellation of garba events, then we will urge the state government to announce a special package for them. We request the government to intervene in the matter and

40.7K cases in a month, 3K more than Aug-Sept

ACB team to probe Ketan Patel case

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Gandhinagar: The state health bulletin has been putting in a lot of effort to show that the COVID-19 situation is being brought under control. Even the single-day jumps in new cases have decreased considerably, with just 1,221 being reported in the last 24 hours. However, reality is yet to catch up with the government’s narrative.

According to the data released by the state government, 37,507 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state from August 10 to September 10--a daily average of 1,209 cases. However, from September 10 to October 10, the state has reported 40,788 cases--a daily average of 1,359 cases. Thus, the numbers show that far from falling, the number of COVID-19 cases is actually on the rise.

In the past 24 hours, the state has tested

for a crackdown on those responsible for the abuse.

“There is a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. We (doctors) have been working around-the-clock to curtail the virus ever since it reached the state. The advice that we dispensed to the government was in larger public interest.

At this point in time,

A woman undergoing COVID-19 test in Ahmedabad.

51,288 samples. There are 15,958 active cases, with 81 patients on ventilators. Of the 10 patients who died on Saturday, four were in Ahmedabad, three in Surat, two in Gandhinagar, and one in Rajkot.

Although the state health bulletin continues to show just one or two deaths from Rajkot every day, local dailies are reporting doubledigit fatalities--on Saturday, local sources put the number of deaths at 12.

Surat reported the

highest number of cases, with 252, of which 171 were from the city and 81 were from rural areas. Other cases emerged in Ahmedabad (176), Vadodara (119), Rajkot (114), Jamnagar (96), Gandhinagar (37) Junagadh (37), Mehsana (35), Bharuch (34), Patan (31), Kutch (25), Sabarkantha (24), and Bhavnagar (22).

In Ahmedabad city, the civic body has identified 13 new micro-containment zones, taking the total to 162 such zones.

Surat: A team of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officers arrived in the city to initiate the investigation of Deputy Commissioner Ketan Patel in a disproportionate asset case.

The team will also question other officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). Sources said that they may put Patel’s relatives and friends under surveillance.

At present, Patel’s family members said that he is in his native place while police suspect that he is in a farm house near Ankleshwar or Bharuch. This is the second time Ketan Patel has been accused of corruption.

Earlier, he was grilled by the ACB and the crime branch in the Takshashila fire incident where 21 people died.

put a stop to such online harassment,” he added.

Dr Jardosh has also written a letter to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, seeking intervention from the government.

Ahmedabad : The derecognition of citybased Delhi Public School (DPS) East has finally come through following a dispute over allotment of land for the controversial Nityananda Ashram. The school has also been fined Rs50 lakh for functioning without accreditation from 2008 to 2011. As per the order of the Gujarat High Court, action has been taken after statements from school administrators and perusal of relevant documents by officials.

The school will officially be shut down from April 2021. The matter came to light upon investigation into the Nityananda Ashram, which revealed that DPS East had been

operating without a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The school had been functioning without the approval of the government at that time. School administrators obtained a bogus NOC and submitted it to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for recognition.

After a police complaint was lodged against the school, CBSE finally cancelled the affiliation of grades IX to XII and proceeded to revoke the school’s accreditation due to lack of requisite permission and insufficient land documents.

The Department of Elementary Education also later repealed the school’s accreditation.

In response, the school then filed a peti-

tion in the state High Court, which resulted in the court ordering derecognition of the school. It also asked the state government to take judicial action against the educational institution. As per officials of the district primary education department, the accreditation of DPS East was rescinded by the education department last December.

Notably, the main issue that drove derecognition of the school was the safety of students.

This was because 24 kids living in the Nityananda Ashram had been granted admission in the school without any prior verification procedure. It raised concerns about the safety of other students enrolled in the school.

ZOR LAGAKE HAISHA Pedestrians help push a police vehicle which broke down on a busy road near Bhadra Market in old city area of Ahmedabad on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

LOAN FRAUD CASE LODGED AGAINST NINE First India Bureau Surat: The Crime Branch of the city registered a loan fraud case against nine persons, including the former branch manager of Union Bank of India’s Rampura branch, on Friday.

They were arrested for allegedly causing wrongful losses amounting to Rs97.10 lakh, police sources said.

The First Information

Report registered by the Crime Branch named the accused as KC Parmar (branch manager), Dinesh Ranchodbhai Bhimani, Harshadbhai Himmatbhai Kachdiya, Dineshbhai Bhavchandbhai Chovatiya, Sangramsinh Ramsinh Chauhan, Janak Himmatbhai Gajera, Yogeshbhai Ramesh Savlia, Ashwinbhai Haribhai Gondalia and Chandresh Harshadbhai Sar-

vaiya.As per the FIR registered by current branch manager of the bank Hemanthari Varma, the accused allegedly availed of loans from the Rampura branch between 2010 and 2012. The then branch manager of the bank KC Parmar was also involved in the crime.

According to sources, the accused persons jointly defrauded the bank and caused wrong-

ful losses in the name of buying manufacturing machines. The loan holders had allegedly submitted fraudulent quotations and rental agreements to the bank. All the loans passed by the branch did not have a guarantor and the machinery was reported to have been sold by the accused. Therefore, the loan amount and the interest were not paid back to the bank.

ECO-FRIENDLY FESTIVITIES

After ‘Gomaya Ganesha’, 33 crore ‘Gomaya Deepaks’ to light homes 

The Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog launched its ‘Kamdhenu Deepawali’ campaign in 13 states of the country to promote cowbased products

Masuma Bharmal Jariwala Rajkot: After the successful launch of Gomaya Ganesha (Ganesha statue made from cow dung) during Ganesh Chaturthi this year, the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog has now geared up to promote the manufacturing and sale of Gomaya Deepak (lamps made from cow dung) across the country as part of their ‘Kamdhenu Deepawa-

li’ campaign.

Planned strategically, chairman of the Aayog, Dr Vallabh Kathiria, has been touring extensively to meet leading dignitaries in various states to take the campaign ahead. So far, he has visited 13 states to promote the concept among gaushalas, women selfhelp groups, gau sevaks, youths and those interested in the business of manufacturing cowbased products.

“There has been a tre-

Dr Kathiria with 'Gomaya Deepaks' and other products made from cow dung.

mendous response. Mother cow has held an esteem position in Indian culture. In states like Gujarat and UP we estimate sales of around 5 crore lamps respectively. As for other states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, sales may touch 2 crore lamps. This year, we are looking to sell a total of 33 crore lamps and I feel we might surpass this target too,” Dr Kathiria told First India.

“In fact, making Gomya Ganesha using cow dung was our first experimental project which explained the importance of cows. We managed to sell around 1 lakh statues across the country, despite the project getting launched in a short period. But the lamp concept has been carefully planned.

Gomaya lamps will cost people Rs1 to Rs10, depending on the size of the diyas. Members of organizations such as

Khodaldham, which has around 25 lakh members, have already agreed to use Gomaya Deepaks this Diwali,” he added.

Dr Kathiria further said, “We are also coming up with corporate Diwali gifts which have been made from cowbased products. Basically, the Aayog will work as a motivator and facilitator to help people who want to get involved in starting a business of such products.”

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

LEARNING LOSSES AND THE FEAR OF PANDEMIC

04

US PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES TURN INTO LITERAL SLANGING MATCH

I

f other than the economy the pandemic has hit any sector hard it is education. Ever since the lockdown began the Narendra Modi government has been looking at ways to reduce the burden on students by cutting the syllabus for academic sessions 202021 for students of Class 10 and 12.

With schools shut for fear of Covid-19, online classes began to be offered but the exercise was skewed as millions of students in India do not have access to a computer or a smartphone. Internet connectivity, in semiurban and rural areas, is also erratic despite mobile towers dotting the country’s landscape. In tribal areas, the electricity supply is also a problem. These drawbacks have resulted in varied standards of online teaching.

The Union HRD Ministry began the exercise of “rationalizing” the syllabus by dropping some chapters from textbooks for students preparing to write board exams next year. The CBSE and the CISCE which had earlier decided to trim the syllabus by 30 percent are now mulling a 50 percent reduction. As schools in some states are set to reopen from October 15, this plan has not yet been approved.

With schools remaining shut-in containment zones, as also in Delhi where they will remain shuttered until October-end, it will be fair to halve the syllabus. However, as the fear of the second wave of Covid-19 will deter parents from sending their children to school, reducing the syllabus by half would be a better option than “rationalisation”.

The boards also have the option of delaying examinations by about a month to help teachers complete the syllabus. The final decision will be taken by the education department as postponement of examination for however short a period will have a ripple effect on admissions at the undergraduate level.

The challenge that will remain is about reopening schools to mitigate learning losses suffered by deprived students. Even if there is a cautious restart of classroom teaching, parents will still be in a dilemma, while teachers and other school staff will be under tremendous pressure to maintain necessary protocols like sanitisation, and social-distancing for the well-being of students. They will have the added responsibility of reporting suspected cases and isolating them.

The debate around the reopening of schools amid fear of Covid-19 is not exclusive to India. In Britain, the government has been widely criticised for reopening of schools even as there was a spurt in Covid-19 cases.

In the US, there is no agreement between teachers, parents, and governments on whether to restart classroom teaching. In the Philippines, schools will remain closed till there’s a vaccine available.

If India has indeed subdued the virus, there should be no fear of schools becoming super-spreaders. Still, cutting down of syllabus would be in order.

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

I It is not the Kennedy-Nixon debate that is etched in public memory. What is remembered after sixty years is Kennedy’s speech delivered at his swearing ceremony.

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” resonates to this day.

witnessed the first debate between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy, Democrat, and Richard Nixon, Republican in October 1960 at the American Embassy, then located at Bhawalpur House. At the time colour television had not arrived, not even in the United States.

The contrast between Kennedy and Nixon was all too visible. Kennedy 6 feet tall, handsome and sartorially elegant Vice President Richard Nixon by contrast was lacking all tours. As for the debate’s outcome, Kennedy won but only just. He was the first Catholic to occupy the White House.

It is not the Kennedy-Nixon debate that is etched in public memory. What is remembered after sixty years is Kennedy’s speech delivered at his swearing ceremony. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” resonates to this day.

President Franklin DRoosevelt (1932-1945), the longest-serving President in US

history also made memorable inaugural speeches in 1932.

“The only thing we have to fear is fear 1936 - “The American people have a rendezvous with history”.

Jawaharlal Nehru in his great speech on midnight 15 August 1947, had no doubt in mind Roosevelt’s “rendezvous” speech, when used the word “tryst”.

I watched the Donald Trump and Joe Biden and Mike Pence and Kamala Harris debates. The former was not a debate, but a verbal slanging match, with Trump being rude and at times gave the impression of being disinterested. Biden was neither rude nor irrelevant. When Trump kept interrupting him, Joe Biden said to Trump “Shut up, man” What was the outcome. Joe Biden not only conducted himself with restrained dignity but proved to better debater and better prepared.

Yet, there was a short comingJoe Biden is not a charismatic or inspirational individual.

The Vice-President debate between Vice-President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris seemed to be a one-sided contest. Several times she put the Vice-President on the defensive. Once when Pence attempted to interrupt her, she said “Mr Vice-President, I am speaking” It was a spectacular

IN INDIA, IT APPEARS THAT TRUMP IS FAVORED, ESPECIALLY ON ACCOUNT OF HIS TAKING CHINA ON BIDEN IS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN IN INDIA

put down. The senator was the clear winner. President Donald Trump, throwing good manners to the winds called the senator a “monster” is an accomplished, confident, assertive politician. Not a monster.

Before he contacts the covid infection and was hospitalized, it looked that he might, just might make it to the White House again, but his own infection and constant playing down the seriousness of the corona the virus will in all probability cost him the election.

As of today it is more than evident that campaigning for Trump will be an ordeal. It will be risky if he does not wear a mask, for which he has disdain.

His other problem is that a

Mental health perspective during Covid-19 pandemic DR AKHILESH JAIN HOD,PSYCHIATRY ESI MODEL HOSPITAL, JAIPUR

S

everal mental health issues have emerged following the Covid-19 pandemic affecting all segments of society. People have been experiencing symptoms such as fear, frustration, uncertainty, sense of insecurity, sense of boredom, mood swings, guilt, anxiety, disturbed sleep pattern, obsessive thoughts and in extreme cases even depression.

Factors giving rise to this situation include several changes in day-to-day activities, redistribution of home chores, extensive

working from home, and greater time spent with those living together. It has also led to long separation from families (for those working away from their hometowns), financial stress, and interpersonal strain.

Mental health issues for those in isolation or quarantine can be attributed to the following factors z Increasing the duration of quarantine which can lead to increasing distress z Multiple confusing sources of information that increases anxiety z Fear of health or infecting others. z Loss of routine, lack of social contact, and

sense of isolation from the rest of the world. z Patients might face stigma from the community. z Loss of work can lead to a loss of pay or job. z Inability meet daily demands of life Recent studies have shown the increased prevalence of depression, anxiety, somatic concerns, alcohol-related disorders, and insomnia in the general population during Covid 19 pandemic.

One such study has reported that 55 percent of Covid treated patients had some kind of psychiatric illness, predominantly Anxiety in 42 percent, Depression in 31 percent, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) in 28 percent. Additionally, 20 percent of patient-reported obsessive-compulsive symptoms and 40 per-

cent had insomnia.

It becomes even more pertinent during this time to consider mental health issues of persons with mental illness(PMI) especially those with severe mental illnesses.

The latest data reports almost 14.3 percent of the population in India to have some kind of mental disorder, constituting about 19.73 crores of the total population. One in every twenty individual

tend to suffer from depression during their lifetime and almost one suicide takes place every forty seconds globally. Recent studies have demonstrated that almost three fourth of persons with severe mental illness did not have adequate knowledge about the symptoms and precautionary measures of Covid 19 infection.

These patients may face difficulty in the continuation of their

therapy due to social isolation and heightened fear. Though a temporary, yet sudden change in lifestyle during this pandemic may develop adjustment problems in this population.

These patients are at higher risk of relapse due to restricted availability of treatment and consultation during the Covid period and also have more chances of contracting infection due to their unawareness. During Covid 19 pandemic, the health care needs of such patients are more likely to be compromised, since most of the health care resources have been mobilized towards Covid care. This may result in a relapse of disease or worsening of symptoms.

The effective strategies to manage these

issues must address towards more effective utilization of community services through the District Mental Health Program, the use of video conferencing, and telemedicine for consultation, and availability of emergency care set up for patients in acute need.

Caregivers must be advised following steps for patient care. z To ensure regular availability of medicines and treatment compliance z Look for relapse or worsening of symptoms, z Ensure adequate and healthy communication with the patient, z Encourage to ensure precautionary measures to avoid Covid infection, z Encourage to maintain regular sleep, exercise, and diet, z Encourage to avoid alcohol or other substance of addiction and keep in touch with treating doctors.

dozen seniors members of his White House staff have also been infected and in a twoweek quarantine.

Polls are seldom reliable but at this point in time Biden is in the lead.

In India it appears that Trump is favored, especially on account of his taking China on Biden is relatively unknown in India. With twenty-three days left for 3rd November the world awaits with bated breath, guessing which way the dice will fall.

Ram Vilas Paswan’s passing away at the age of seventy-four is a huge national loss. He was the tallest and most well known Dalit leader who was elected to the Lok Sabha in the seventies with a record margin.

Inevitably his death will have extensive ramification in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world into a huge medical word, hundreds of thousand men, women have died. The miracle vaccine remains elusive, lifestyles of hundreds of millions of people have drastically changed and as long as the virus lasts it will be the case. What will the world look like post-pandemic?

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Reviewed the recently launched Freight Business Development Portal & other initiatives taken to enhance the freight operations Railways is proactively working to increase the modal share of freight business to 40% & bring down logistics cost.

Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda In a historic move to transform rural India PM Sh @NarendraModi will launch the physical distribution of Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme, tomorrow. Title deeds will help in ending property disputes that have gone on for years & will help villagers to use their property.

Spiritual SPEAK

The one who does not help to keep the wheel of creation in motion by sacrificial duty, and who rejoices in sense pleasures, that sinful person lives in —Bhagavad Gita vain.

Vol 1 Issue No. 316 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

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

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RAGA TARGETS CENTRE OVER VVIP PLANES

‘Our jawans are sent in non-bullet proof trucks’ New Delhi: Launching an attack on the Centre over the purchase of two VVIP aircraft, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that soldiers are being sent to become “martyrs in non-bulletproof trucks” while the government has Rs 8,400 crores aircraft for Prime Minister.

“Our jawans are being sent in non-bullet proof trucks to get martyred and for the PM -- Rs 8,400 crores aircraft.... Is this justice?” read Gandhi's tweet roughly translated in English from Hindi. He also tweeted a video where several purported soldiers, enclosed within a moving vehicle, can be heard discussing how sending people in non-bulletproof trucks was a

Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi “Our jawans are being sent in non-bullet proof trucks to get martyred and for the PM — Rs 8,400 crores aircraft.... Is this justice?”

dangerous prospect.

This is not the first time that Gandhi has brought up the VVIP planes.

Last week, Gandhi raked up the purchase

Courts shouldn’t interfere in fiscal policy: Centre to SC

New Delhi: The government informed the SC that “it’s not possible to give more relief to different sectors” amid coronavirus pandemic, stressing that the “courts should not interfere in fiscal policy”. The centre’s response came days after the top court said the government’s last week’s affidavit on waiving “interest on interest” on loans of up to 2 crore - frozen by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a six-month moratorium granted because of the coronavirus pandemic - was “not satisfactory”.

In its latest affidavit, the government has said: “Policy is the domain of the government and court should not go into sector-specific financial relief.

Any further relief, besides waiving of compound interest for loans up to 2 crore, is detrimental to the national

CASE SO FAR

hand, China is at our borders and our security forces are braving harsh cold to protect our borders,” the Congress leader had said. —ANI

protest. The Pagri had fallen off automatically in the scuffle that ensued, without any attempt to do so by our officer (visible in the video attached). It is never our intention to hurt the sentiments of any community,” West Bengal Police tweeted.

The officer had asked him to put his Pagri back before the arrest.

Srinagar: India has been able to thwart infiltration at the border to a great extent this year and the same is expected to help in improving the internal situation, Lieutenant General BS Raju, GOC Chinar Corps said on Saturday here.

“This year, we have been able to thwart infiltration to a great extent. Last year, the figure for infiltration (from Pakistan) was around 130, this year it is less than 30. I believe this will help in improving the internal situation also,” Lt Gen Raju told reporters here.

He said that “as per our intel agencies, there are around 250-300 terrorists at launchpads on the Pakistani side”, but added that they have been able to keep them at bay despite their regular attempts of trying to infiltrate.

The official was

LT GEN SPEAK

speaking to reporters about Indian Army personnel deployed at the Keran Sector of North Kashmir thwarting an

attempt by Pakistan Army-backed terrorists to smuggle weapons from PoJK on Friday.

He informed that four AK 74 rifles, eight magazines and 240 AK Rifle ammunition were recovered from the smugglers.

“We have shared basic information & initial court of enquiry has concluded during which we found faults.

On that basis, we have ordered a summary of the evidence.” —ANI

TRP FRAUD CASE : JT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MILIND BHARAMBE CONFIRMED RECEIVING THE LETTER Mumbai: Republic TV’s chief financial officer (CFO) Shiva Sundaram has written to Mumbai police stating he would be available to join investigations in the alleged fake TRP ratings scam only by October 14-15 and has asked the Mumbai police to not proceed with the probe till a writ petition in the matter is heard by the Supreme Court.

“I refer to the above

THE STORY BEHIND

T

summons issued by you on October 9, 2020 asking me to be present at your office on October 10, 2020 at 11pm for

Bhim Army boss denies inciting caste violence for money, challenges Yogi economy and banking sector.”

Last week, the government told top court that it was ready to waive interest on the repayment of loans of up to Rs 2 crore. The interest waiver is applicable for loans taken by MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), for educational, housing, consumer goods and auto loans and for credit card dues.

On Monday, the top court said the centre’s affidavit was not satisfactory and asked for a do-over in a week.

New Delhi: India has launched a national action plan for the conservation of migratory birds along with the Central Asian Flyway, Union Minister of E nv i r o n ment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadon Saturday. Taking to Twitter, he said saving migratory bird is saving the wetlands, terrestrial habitats and saving of an ecosystem.

“India has launched a National Action Plan for Conservation of migratory birds along the #CentralAsianFlyway. Saving migratory bird is saving the wetlands and terrestrial habitats and saving of an ecosystem, benefitting communities dependent on wetlands. # Wo r l d M i g r a t o r y BirdDay,” Javadekar tweeted. —ANI

‘Many infiltration attempts thwarted to great extent’

Suspend probe: Republic TV tells Mumbai cops

HATHRAS INCIDENT

WB COPS DENY PULLING OFF SIKH MAN’S TURBAN DURING BJP PROTEST Kolkata: West Bengal Police has denied charges of pulling off the turban of a Sikh man during BJP’s protest in Howrah and said that the pagri had fallen off automatically in the scuffle with policeman. The police also said that the man was carrying firearms.

“The concerned person was carrying firearms in

of two VVIP aircraft during a rally in Punjab.

“On one hand, PM Modi has bought two aircraft worth Rs 8,000 crores. On the other

‘National Action Plan to protect migratory birds launched’

05

Meerut: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekher Azad hit out at Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath over his allegation that some groups had received funds to trigger caste violence in the state in the backdrop of the Hathras incident.

He challenged the chief minister to order an inquiry into the matter. He claimed he would leave politics even if Rs 1 lakh was recovered from him, otherwise, the chief minister should resign, he said.

Chandrashekhar had posted this challenge

through a tweet, in which he said he was dedicated to his community and the (community) bore his expenses. “ I challenge Yogi Adityanathji to institute any kind of probe. Forget Rs 100 crore, even if Rs one lakh is found in my possession, I will quit politics, otherwise you (Yogi) should quit your post. My life is dedicated to my dignity. My expenses are borne by my community,” he tweeted. A call for justice is equated with ‘international conspiracy’ in UP, he said.

DELHI: FICCI FINED RS 20 LAKH FOR VIOLATING NORMS New Delhi: The Delhi government on Saturday imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for violating dust control norms at a demolition site on Tansen Marg in New Delhi, according to an official order. The commerce body has been told to deposit the environment compensation within 15 days, according to the order.

Directions have been issued not to carry out or restart any demolition activity without installing an anti-smog gun at the project site, it said.

the purpose of your investigation in the subject First Information Report. At the outset, I would express my com-

mitment to cooperate in the said investigations,” Sundaram says in his letter.

The letter then goes

on to request Mumbai police to halt investigations till the hearing of the writ petition filed before the Supreme Court.

“I wish to bring to your notice that a Writ petition under Article 32 has been filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India (Provisional application number 7848/2020) in relation to the above referred matter and we have requested for an

early hearing and it is likely to be listed by next week. Given that the matter is to be listed soon before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, I request you to not proceed any further with the investigations in so far as Republic TV and its employees are concerned.

We will join the investigations subject to the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.’ —Agencies

Huge crowd pay tributes to Paswan

Chirag Paswan with brothers carries the coffin of his father Ramvilas Paswan during a funeral procession, in Patna on Saturday.

Patna: A large crowd, including several political leaders, gathered outside the residence of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday, to pay last respect to the departed leader.

The mortal remains of Lok Janshakti Party’s founder were flown from Delhi to Patna on Friday for the last rites.

The union minister had passed away on Thursday after a long illness.

20-CR RUPEE SMOG TOWER IN CP TO BE 1ST-OF-ITS-KIND: KEJRI New Delhi: The Delhi Cabinet has approved a tree transplantation policy to prevent felling of trees due to development works in the national capital, CM Arvind Kejriwal said, asserting that it will be a first-of-its-kind policy in the country. Addressing an online media briefing in the capital, he said the Cabinet has also

approved a proposal to install a ‘smog tower’ in Delhi’s Connaught Place to deal with air pollution.

The government has sanctioned Rs 20 crore, and the tower will come up in 10 months, CM said, claiming that it will also be the “first-of-itskind” under the “Yuddh, Pradushan Ke Viruddh campaign.

He was 74.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, and several other leaders paid their tributes to the late leader at his residence in the national capital.

Ram Vilas Paswan held the portfolio of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Union Minister Piyush Goyal has been given additional charge of the ministry. —ANI

FIVE HELD FOR RAPING 17-YEAROLD AT GUNPOINT IN J’KHAND Jamshedpur: Five people have been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur, the police said. The girl was in the Bagbera area of the city with a male friend on Tuesday when the accused kidnapped them at gunpoint and took them to Kaliadih Gaushala, Senior Superintendent of Police Tamil Vanan said. The accused tied up her friend there and raped the girl, the official added. Among those arrested is a minor who has been sent to a juvenile home, while the others were sent to jail, he said.

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Bihar Assembly polls: JP Nadda to address first rally in Bodhgaya New Delhi: BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday will address his first election rally in poll-bound Bihar amid coronavirus restrictions, days after the ECI announced the schedule for state Assembly polls.

The public rally is scheduled in Gandhi Maidan of Bihar’s Bodhgaya and will begin at around 2 pm.Speaking to ANI, Tarun Chugh, BJP’s national general secretary said that this is a proud moment for the party as it has braved itself against COVID-19 and yet managed to stay in touch with its electorate. “We are a democracy and it is with pride that I say that our president who is the chief of world’s largest political party would be going amid people to seek their participation in the democracy’s biggest event,” stated Chugh. The sources in the party stated that Nadda would be staying in the state to motivate the cadre and

PM Modi, Shah at BJP CEC meet to decide candidates for Bihar polls

Jagat Prakash Nadda

leaders.

However, the party has taken care of guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and family welfare and Election Commission for the COVID-19.

On September 25, the ECI announced that elections to the 243-seat Bihar assembly will be three phases-- October 28, November 3, and 7.

The counting of votes will take place on November 10.

India’s active COVID caseload stands at 12.65% Mumbai: India’s active COVID-19 caseload stands at 8,83,185 to date, which is nearly one-eighth, that is 12.65 per cent, of the total number of cases across the country, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.

About 82,753 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, whereas 73,272 new cases have been confirmed. The national Recovery Rate has progressed to 85.81 per cent. About 18 states and union territories (UTs) have recorded a Recovery Rate of more than the national average, while 76 per cent of the new recovered cases are concentrated in 10 states/UTs. On the other hand, 79 per cent of the new COVID-19 cases have also been reported from

New Delhi: A meeting of Central Election Committee (CEC) of the BJP is currently underway to decide the list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

The meeting at the BJP headquarters is being attended by PM Modi and Home minister Amit Shah. This is the second meeting of the CEC of the BJP for the October-November

SEAT-SHARING

polls.

The BJP is part of ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state. The party

has given 11 seats to Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) from its quota of seats decided with the JD (U). The BJP and JD(U) had agreed on a seat-sharing formula under which the former was allotted 121 seats and the latter 122 seats in the 243-member assembly. The JD(U) has given seats to Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awaam Morcha (HAM) from its quota.

‘Nitish deliberately insulted my father’ Patna: Hours before the death of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday, a letter written by LJP chief Chirag Paswan to BJP national J.P. Nadda reached the public domain, in which he alleges that his father was insulted by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over a RS seat election.

‘WB govt meets criterion to invoke Article 356’

10 states and UTs. Also 82 per cent of case fatalities are concentrated in 10 states and UTs, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

Maha continues to be the top contributor to the number of new cases and recoveries. It reported around 12,000 new cases in the last 24 hours, with 17,323 single-day recoveries, followed by Karnataka, which reported nearly 11,000 new cases and 9,091 recoveries.

New Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s government meets all criteria to invoke Article 356 (President’s rule) in the State, said Union Minister Babul Supriyo adding that she has made the State a hub of terrorists.

“Mamata Banerjee’s government meets all criteria to invoke Article 356 (President’s rule) in the State. She has made West Bengal a hub of terrorists.

Mamata Banerjee’s expiry date has arrived... she will get an answer in the 2021 elections. I haven’t seen such a cruel CM till date,” said Supriyo. “Mamata Banerjee and TMC wouldn’t have been in power if the police (WB) was not there in the State,” he added.

justice in the country, especially in context of women safety. Such lapses, if noticed, need to be investigated into and stringent action taken immediately against the concerned officers responsible for the same,” it said.

Explaining the guidelines and laws enacted to probe cases of sexual offences, the MHA told states to ensure mandatory registration of FIRs and take action against officers who refuse to register an FIR in cases of rape and other crimes against women. It also asked the police to treat the dying declaration of the victim as a matter of fact; ensure collec-

tion of evidence for forensic examination; use of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection (SAEC) kit; ensure completion of investigation of such cases within two months; and use of National Database on Sexual Offenders to identify and track repeat offenders.

The ministry had recently distributed SAEC kits to states for better investigations of sexual crimes through forensic evidence.

“The Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS) under the MHA has issued guidelines for collection, preservation and transportation of forensic evidence in sexual as-

In his letter to Nadda, written on September 24, Chirag said, “During the seat-sharing deal for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with then BJP chief Shah, CM Nitish Kumar, and my father, where I was also present, it was decided that one Rajya Sabha seat will go to LJP. But Nitish Kumar

insulted my father during the Rajya Sabha election and clearly said no to support the candidacy of Ram Vilas Paswan,” he said.

Chirag further alleged that the announcement of Ram Vilas Paswan’s candidacy was done by none other than Amit Shah in the presence of Nitish Kumar.

(Hons) Psychology.

The college has the highest cut-off among

Mohit Bansal has been transferred and posted as ADG, CS wing in DoT hq. He is an ITS officer.

RAO IS MEDIA CONSULTANT TO PRESIDENT

A A Rao, former Additional Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, has been appointed Media Advisor to the Vice President for a period of one year.

POST OF AKHILESH KUMAR REDESIGNATED AS DIRECTOR, NITI AAYOG

The post of Akhilesh Kumar has been re-designated as Director in NITI Aayog. He is a 2006 batch ISS officer.

MS. SHERPA APPOINTED MEMBER SECRETARY, SCHOOL EDUCATION

Ms. Kesang Yangzom Sherpa has been appointed Member Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Delhi. She is an IRS-IT officer.

ECI RELIEVES NINE IRS OFFICERS FROM EXPENDITURE OBSERVER’S DUTY

The Election Commission of India has relieved nine IRS(C&CE) officers from Expenditure Observer’s duty. They are- Upendra Kumar Dhruv,Dharam Raj, Virendra Kumar Meena, Pandiyaraj G Venkatesan, Ajay Gautam, Yatish Mani, Arshdeep Singh, Dharamraj Khatik and Umesh Rathod.

ONE IAS OFFICER FROM KERALA EMPANELLED FOR ADDL SECRETARY EQUIVALENT POST

dent Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi and party leader and veteran Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, according to news agency ANI. Congress’ national spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, actor Raj Babbar and chief ministers of party-ruled states will also campaign for the Bihar assembly elections.

LSR PEGS SCORE

BANSAL TRANSFERRED

Altogether 38 IRS(C&CE) officers have been appointed as Expenditure Observers for Bihar Assembly elections.

One Kerala cadre IAS officer of 1993 batch, out of total five, has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government of India.

ONE IAS OFFICER FROM WB EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY

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

SJ SINHA TO BE ADVISER, NITI AYOG

DU announces first cut-off list for undergraduate courses New Delhi: Delhi University on Saturday released its first cut-off list for merit-based undergraduate admissions for the academic year 2020-21. Lady Shri Ram College For Women has pegged 100 per cent score for three courses for general category aspirants - BA (Hons) Economics, BA (Hons) Political Science and BA

POWER Gallery

38 IRS OFFICERS DEPLOYED IN BIHAR POLLS

Bihar polls: Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka star campaigners New Delhi: The Congress has released a list of 30 party leaders who will lead its poll campaign in Bihar as star campaigners for the first phase of assembly election scheduled to be held on October 28.

Among the popular faces who will campaign in the poll-bound state include party chief Sonia Gandhi, former presi-

06

Science courses as well.

The college has announced a cut-off of 99.75 per cent for admission to B.Sc (Hons) Statistics for general category students, while Hindu College has pegged the score for the same course at 99.25 per cent. Hindu College has announced a cut-off of 99.33 per cent for B.Sc (Hons) Physics.

Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha – who is presently on deputation to Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) as GM/PMS at New Delhi – has been appointed to the post of Adviser, NITI Ayog, for a tenure of five years. He is an IRTS officer.

RAJ KUMAR BHATIA AWARDED IFS CADRE IN HARYANA

Haryana Forest Service officer Raj Kumar Bhatia has been awarded Indian Forest Service (IFS).

S D SHARMA IS ALSO DIRECTOR, ISTM

S D Sharma, Joint Secretary (Training), DoPT, has been assigned an additional charge of Director, Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) till November 8, 2020. He is a CSS officer.

By arrangement with: http:// whispersinthecorridors.com

FROM PG 1 SMC spent...

We are fed up with the number of stray dogs in our neighbourhood.

Apart from late night ruckus, we are concerned about the safety of our children. I want the municipal corporation to look into the matter.”

SMC’s standing committee chairman Anil Goplani was busy when contacted to comment on the issue.

MHA advisory... in law and several capacity building measures undertaken, any failure of police to adhere to these mandatory requirements may not augur well for the delivery of criminal

sault cases for Investigation Officers and Medical Officers. In order to facilitate the State Police, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has issued Sexual Assault Evidence Collection (SAEC) Kits to every State/UT. “It is necessary to use these SAEC kits in every case of sexual assault reported. MHA advisory dated 5 October 2020 in this matter may be referred.

BPR&D and LNJN National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences (NICFS) have been regularly conducting Training and Training of Trainers (ToT) pro-

grammes on procedure for collection, preservation and handling of forensic evidence for Police/Prosecutors and Medical Officers respectively,” the advisory said.

Pompeo: 60,000...

He then told Larry O’ Connor, “But they’ve all seen it, whether it’s the Indians, who are actually having a physical confrontation with the Chinese up in the Himalayas in the northeastern part of India, the Chinese have now begun to amass huge forces against India in the north.”

He said the Quad countries were developing a set of policies to

present a resistance to the threats that China posed to each of the four nations. “(India) absolutely need the United States to be their ally and partner in this fight,” he said.

“The world has awakened. The tide’s begun to turn. And the United States under President Trump’s leadership has now built out a coalition that will push back against the threat and maintain good order, the rule of law, and the basic civic decency that comes from democracies controlling the world and not authoritarian regimes,” he added.

Speaking to Fox News, he said, “They’ve

stacked 60,000 soldiers against the Indians in the north. When the Australians had the temerity to ask for an investigation of the Wuhan virus and where it began, something that we know a lot about, the Chinese Communist Party threatened them.

They bullied them.

Must accept... of high-level diplomatic and military talks to resolve the border row.

However, no breakthrough has been achieved to end the standoff.

“CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) territorial aggression is also apparent on its Indian border where Chi-

na has attempted to seize control of the Line of Actual Control by force,” US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said in a remark on China early this week in Utah.

“The time has come to accept that dialogue and agreements will not persuade or compel the People’s Republic of China to change.

There’s nothing to be gained from looking the other way or turning the other cheek.

We’ve been doing that for too long,” he said.

“We must promote American prosperity, practice peace through strength and advance American influence in the world,” he said.

TALKING POINT AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

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Many mental health conditions can be effectively treated at relatively low cost, yet the gap between people needing care and those with access to care remains substantial.

Effective treatment coverage remains extremely low

WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

W

orld Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 each year to increase involvement in the matters of mental health, encouraging global mental health education and advocacy against the social stigma that is often associated with it. This year, to shed light on the alarming rise in mental disorders, the international awareness day will be focusing on “Mental Health for All” and increased investment in mental health.

Under the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health and the Deputy Secretary-General Richard Hunter, the first-ever World Mental Health Day was celebrated on October 10, 1992. Each year, thousands of representatives and supporters gather to celebrate this annual awareness programme that makes it, it’s mission to shed light on mental illness and the effects it has on a majority of the global population.

Now more so than any other time in recent history, we are beginning to understand the importance of mental health and just how necessary it is to ensure its wellbeing.

To a great extent, the entire world has experienced changes in their day to day lives, all that’s to the Covid-19 pandemic. For the past 7 months, the entire world has come to a stand-still. This pandemic has created a global state of emergency that shows absolutely no signs of stopping.

Many people are experiencing negative impacts on their mental health because of COVID-19, so it is more important than ever to make time to relax and de-stress this semester.

Even if you do not feel you have time to take a break, your mental health and work-life balance will benefit from a few practices you can easily implement — and I’m not talking about putting on a face mask and watching your favorite show even though those are fun.

07

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE AND SCHEDULE

W

hether you are a barebones minimalist or lover of “stuff,” it feels good to have a clean room or workspace. Not everyone thrives in a clean work environment, but cleaning can make you feel you accomplished something, albeit minimal.

Take a few minutes out of your day to pick the clothes up from your bedroom floor, wipe down the bathroom counter or organize the textbooks on your desk.

Don’t use cleaning as a way to procrastinate, but keep your space tidy if you know it helps your brain focus on the task at hand.

If you own so many things that you have no idea where to start cleaning, I recommend Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” You don’t have to do a complete overhaul of your home to feel better about life, but you may as well if you

have the time.

Sometimes a messy schedule can feel just as suffocating as a messy room. Take five minutes in the morning — it can even be while you eat

breakfast — to identify what you need to accomplish that day. A planner (or a complex system of whiteboards and sticky notes) can be useful for this practice.

M

indfulness is paying attention to what is happening in the present moment, Martin said. It can bring people a sense of peace or stress release.

Practices with mindfulness can, but don’t always, involve meditation, Martin said. You can also be aware of the sensations your body is feeling, such as the feel of the carpet under your feet or the chair you are sitting in.

Savoring your food, being engaged in social interactions, and participating in your favorite hobbies can all be components of mindfulness that bring about stress release, he said.

MONITOR TIME ONLINE

E

verything is online these days: school, work, meetings, friendships, TV, social media. Don’t discount the effect of cutting your screen time on your mental health and overall productivity.

There are plenty of apps you can use to track how much time you spend on your phone each

GET YOUR BODY MOVING

day if your phone does not track it automatically. Depending on what you use it for, your usage will vary, but less is always more with cell phones.

If you know getting to sleep is difficult when your phone is next to you, consider putting your phone across the room or outside your bedroom entirely.

Netflix has a new docudrama called “The Social Dilemma” if you want to scare yourself out of using electronic devices entirely.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES

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ost people think about yoga or low-intensity workouts for mental health benefits, but high-intensity workouts can also be beneficial because they release stress-reducing hormones called endorphins, said Joseph Martin, UREC group fitness and instruction coordinator. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends adults spend time doing aerobic exercise at least three to five days a week, depending on the intensity of the workout.

Mobility and flexibility based workouts are important for people who work from home and spend a lot of time sitting, Martin said.

Even if you don’t have time for a full 20-30 minute workout, taking a few minutes to stretch is an important part of a healthy working routine.

UREC is offering both in-person and online fitness classes this semester and registration is currently open for session two.

All online classes are free, he said.

For people who are new to fitness, mind and body yoga is a good place to start, Martin said.

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hese practices are great if you are a stressed-out college student or a workaholic who needs a break. However, if you are seriously struggling during the pandemic, don’t expect these to be a panacea for SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

what you are experiencing.

Seek help from mental health professionals if your stress or anxiety has become hard to cope with. You are not alone and there are people who can help you.

CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI

DESIGN: CP SHARMA

The Girl child needs special love and protection in the world today. As a society, we must pledge to make the world a safer place for our daughters. Greetings on International Day of the Girl Child!

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

F

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

TAMIL NADU 10,187 DEATHS 6,51,370 CASES

LJP, THE B TEAM OF BJP JP under Chirag Paswan is completely behaving like the B team of BJP. After the demise of Ram Vilas Paswan, LJP might get sympathy votes in Hajipur, Samastipur, Roseda, Khagriya, Vaishali and Jamui. Chirag knows very well that even if he fields his candidates on all 243 seats, his party will only win the seats where his candidates are strong. LJP candidate from Sasaram Rameshwar Chaurasia has been in charge of Bihar under the leadership of Amit Shah earlier and Rajendra Singh fielded from Dinara constituency was once touted as CM candidate of BJP in J h a rk h a n d .

For-

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SON BEATS FATHER TO DEATH OVER PROPERTY DISPUTE

DEATHS

KARNATAKA 9,891 DEATHS 7,00,786 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

mer MLA Usha Vidyarthi is contesting Paliganj, former JDU leader Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha from Jagdishpur.

Shahnawaz Husain’s close confidant Mrinal Shekhar is contesting as LJP candidate from Amarpur of Bhagalpur district. It is noteworthy that Shekhar’s wife is spokesperson of Bihar BJP. So post Ram Vilas Paswan, LJP is more of a saffronized LJP.

BADAL BUYING PRECIOUS POLITICAL TIME he decision by Harsimrat Kaur Badal to resign from Modi cabinet on the farmers issue is not being digested easily by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). A prominent BJP leader met dissident SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa

and offered him to join BJP. It is believed that Dhindsa is in touch with other dissatisfied leaders in SAD and will be attempting a division in SAD for which he has begun exercise. When Badal senior came to know of this, he directly called the PM and explained the political compulsions of core vote bank of Jatt Sikh farmer voters which led to resignation of Harsimrat. It is said that senior Badal said that SAD will join

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DEATHS

DELHI 5,740 DEATHS 3,06,559 CASES

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

of the former Maharashtra CM who now has little interest left in the Bihar elections. It is noteworthy that Boriya Baba has a long list of political followers and Yavatmal MLA Madan Yerawar is among his old disciples.

Devendra Fadnavis

Modi cabinet once the Punjab assembly elections are over. There is some time for the elections and Badal senior wanted to buy precious political time.

BJP WANTS NITYANAND RAI TO BE CM OF BIHAR f everything goes according to the calculations of Bhupendra Yadav then it will be Central MoS (Home) Nityanand Rai who will be the next CM of Bihar and not Nitish Kumar.

This is for the first time in the NDA coalition in Bihar that the elder brother, Nitish Kumar’s JDU is contesting lesser seats than younger brother, BJP. JDU is contesting only 115 seats as it has given 7 seats to Hindustani Awam Morcha

I

of Jiten Manjhi while BJP is contesting all 121 seats of its quota. Yadav ensured that Mukesh Sahni party contests all 11 seats on the Lotus symbol. Yadav is also very cleverly using Chirag Paswan’s emotions against Nitish. Chirag’s feelings were evident in his letter to BJP national president JP Nadda mentioning the pain which Ram Vilas Paswan had gone through when Nitish had refused to support his RS candidature last year. Chirag himself was pained due to allegations like ‘Kalidas’ and ‘Broker’ l e v e l l e d against him.

Earlier Yadav h a d

Harsimrat Kaur Badal

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 1,636 DEATHS 1,56,908 CASES

sliced away Annpurna Yadav from Lalu Yadav’s stable and made her contest Lok Sabha elections in lieu of a sitting BJP MP. Today Annpurna Yadav is national VP of BJP. Bhupendra Yadav has designs for a vertical divide in Lalu Yadav’s core Yadav vote bank by making Nityanand Rai the next CM of Bihar.

THE OLD BENGALI CONNECTION OF GUPTESHWAR PANDE he story behind Bihar CM Nitish Kumar snubbing former DGP Gupteshwar Pande has become clear now.

Sources say that Nitish never wanted Pande to remain DGP while Bihar assembly elections were held because he always took Pande to be more of a BJP man. It is a replay of an 11-year-old story when Pande had sought VRS and wanted to contest elections from Buxar on a BJP ticket. His political ambitions bit the dust then

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Gupteshwar Pande

Singed in caste cauldron, man seeks mercy killing

very much like now.

Sources say Pande had resigned from his coveted govt job only after getting consent from CM Nitish Kumar but clever politician Nitish shifted the ball in BJP’s court.

Nitish never asked BJP for the Buxar seat to be part of JDU quota and he signalled Pande to ask BJP for ticket from Buxar. Meanwhile BJP had its own fears regarding the 2012 Muzaffarpur Navruna Chakravarty case to surface again.

The role of Pande in the kidnap and subsequent murder case of the Bengali girl has been under question ever since. Now both BJP and JDU have asked Pande to remain calm as he will be sent to the legislative council of the state later. Since Pande is not once but twice bitten so he has decided to focus on his NGO which will work for dignity of Bihar and migrant Bihari labourers.

One company from Patna has already been assigned to handle the social media of the NGO. The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal

Work on metro, Surat fort to start in December

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Love birds allegedly separated by caste panchayats, threatened with exile

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: A 21-year-old man allegedly killed his father over a property dispute, police sources said on Saturday. The incident took place at Parijat Flats in Shilaj Road when Suresh Rabari beat his 65-year-old father to death by assaulting him with a stick, police said.

The daughter of the victim, who belongs to Sojitra village in Patan, has filed a case with Sarkhej police station accusing her brother of killing their father. According to the case details, the complainant works as a maid in a city school. The father of the accused worked as a security guard at

GUJARAT

10,75,358 3,73,13,888 1,08,046 70,37,357 3,560 1,50,414

MAHARASHTRA 39,430 DEATHS 14,93,884 CASES

WINDOW SHOPPING FOR THE ULTIMATE FANTASY ormer CM of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, is considered to be a very trustworthy man of PM Modi and he was made incharge of Bihar amid much fanfare after, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar complained about Bhupendra Yadav.

As soon as Fadnavis was appointed full time incharge of Bihar, he along with his trusted Maharashtra MLA Madan Madhukar Yeravar took a chartered flight to Ranchi to visit Maa Chhinnmastike temple, which was closed so he visited Boriya Baba ashram. There he performed a secret religious ritual and also received blessings of Boriya Baba who predicted Fadnavis to be CM of Maharashtra again. Baba also said that one day he will become the PM of the c o u n t r y.

The blessings gave a new height to flight of fantasy

INDIA

08

First India Bureau

Suresh Rabari, the accused.

the same school.

Two days ago, the complainant’s brother, Suresh, had a fight with his father over a property dispute. He wanted his father to sell their land, property and their mother’s jewellery and take his share. Her father Maganbhai had refused the demand and a fight had ensued.

Surendranagar: A man from Surendranagar district has put forth a plea with local police to allow him mercy killing after some members of caste panchayats allegedly threatened him and his family.

According to police sources, a caste panchayat had taken a decision to separate Deepak Vaghela from his wife Mamta. The panchayats had even allegedly warned him that they would “throw him and his family out of their village.”

Deepak had been looking at a bright future when he married Mam-

Deepak and Mamta Vaghela on their wedding day.

ta in July this year. Both belonged to the same caste and community and lived in the Kesariya village of Lakhtar taluka in Surendranagar district. They had been a couple for the past four years.

As the couple belonged to the same caste,

neither of them had thought that their own caste members would become their enemies and try to separate them.

Therefore, the decision of the caste panchayats came as a nightmarish surprise for the couple that shattered their dream of being together

for life.

In a letter addressed to the Surendranagar District Collector and District Superintendent of Police, Deepak put forth his request for mercy killing. He also stated that the caste panchayat had threatened him and his family on numerous occasions.

He added that over 14 caste panchayats had allegedly separated him from his wedded wife, while community leaders were pressurizing the couple to sign divorce papers. They allegedly threatened to get his father suspended from his government job or frame him for a crime, if they did not comply with their demands.

Workers at the Metro-Rail project site in Thaltej area of Ahmedabad.

First India Bureau Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is likely to start work on the Metro Train Project and conduct its groundbreaking ceremony in December this year. In addition, the inauguration of the second phase of the historic fort of Chowk Bazaar could also take place in the same month.

Under the first phase of the Metro train project, tenders have been

invited by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) for the route from Kadarsha Nala to Dream City, which is yet to be opened. The work for phase two, which involves restoration of the Chowk Bazaar fort, is in its final stage.

Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani on Friday said, “The ground breaking ceremony of the Metro Train Project and the inauguration of the second phase of the fort will be initiated in December.”

Guj bros from UK awarded royal honours by Queen Elizabeth II Billionaire duo Zuber and Mohsin Issa will both be bestowed with CBE First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Two Gujarati borthers from the United Kingdom will be honoured with the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) award by Queen Elizabeth II. Zuber and

Mohsin Issa have been named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

The two brothers, with a net worth is 3.55 billion pounds, were born in Blackburn, UK after their father had moved from Gujarat to the UK around six dec-

ades ago. After their father left his job at a wool manufacturing factory and started his own garage, both the brothers joined him and then there was no looking back for them.

The duo was honoured after sealing a deal to buy the Asda supermarket chain from Walmart at 6.8 million pounds. The CBE award is an hon-

Zuber and Moshin Issa.

our just below a knighthood. The CBE is followed by the OBE and then the MBE. These awards are given to people to recognize a positive impact they have made in their work.

The brothers also own EG group petrol pump operators and primarily work in the hospitality and real estate sectors.

INDIAN-ORIGIN PROF TO BE NEXT HBS DEAN Srikant Datar, an eminent Indianorigin academician, has been named as the dean of Harvard Business School. The announcement was made by Harvard University President Larry Bacow on Friday. He succeeds Nitin Nohria to become the second dean from Srikant Datar the country to take charge. Datar will lead the institution on January 01, 2021.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Shahenshah

RISHTE MAIN TO HUM TUMHAARE BAAP LAGTE HAIN …. ON AMITABH BACHCHAN’S 78TH BIRTHDAY, CITY FIRST WISHES HIM ALL THE BEST AND PRAYS FOR A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE FOR THE ONE AND ONLY - SHAHENSHAH!

ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews.com

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

This week you need to devote time to the deeper needs that you have neglected, but they keep haunting you. Some emotional frictions will take place, as a result of the interference of people in your relationship. At the same time, unexpected events will change your daily routine and you won’t be able to stop them, for now. Make the most of your communication skills, be flexible and specific during conversations on commercial, financial or practical issues. Don’t take risks that you cannot handle. Expect positive developments this week.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20 This week will be intense, full of conflicts and strong emotions. This is not the right time for major decisions that could make you commit to new love stories; maybe you should wait until the end of the month. Enjoy what life has to give you and remain indifferent to the tensions, fights and problems that are unfolding around you. Your energetic mood will help you resolve the issues in your love life. Find more time for your partner, express your most romantic self and, together, you can fly to heaven!

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21 This will be a tiring but also creative week, especially in the professional area. You will face some issues in your love life, but the planets will help you get your points across where you have to.

Try to be honest with yourself and keep your feet on the ground. At the same time, be diplomatic and don’t point out every single mistake other people make. At work, whatever happens, your progress will be unstoppable. Your love life requires your attention, since you have neglected it due to all the fuss in the other areas of your life.

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23 You have been overreacting lately, but from now on, the only things calling for extreme reactions will be your social and professional life. You won’t have to think about what to do, as you will spontaneously follow the rules and do the right thing. You will change your image and your looks and this will make you stand out more. Your relationships will define your future, as the planets make you handle them in a dynamic and restrained manner. You need to make some time for your partner. Don’t focus on the negative aspects of your relationship, but on the positive ones.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23 While you can be flexible and try for the best, you never compromise. You seem to be an absolute person and you do not accept any interference or suggestion about what is right or wrong by anyone.

In a possible conflict over some key issues, you will continue with this attitude and never rethink your point of view, especially if you think you are right. Sometimes you do not need to fight more to accomplish things, because you exaggerate and you can not enjoy the moment. Your love life will be a bit stressed, with a lot of tension and nagging.

VIRGO

WEEKLY

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

18 TO 24 OCTOBER

VANESSA MARCIL, WHOSE BIRTHDAY FALLS ON 15 OCTOBER IS REACHING AN IMPORTANT TURNING POINT IN TERMS OF PERSONAL GROWTH. THIS IS A YEAR OF GREAT ENERGY, MOTIVATION, AND GROWTH. SHE WILL BE MORE AMBITIOUS IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

10

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22 This week will bring you positive developments and a chance to grow. Just when you thought that a collaboration was over, things change for the better and you really want to succeed. You will be able to win some things easily, just by talking and communicating, which will boost your morale. A financial issue or a real-estate problem will arise and you will have to handle it as diplomatically as possible. Otherwise, it might drag you into decisions that will not be beneficial for you.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22 Your collaborations and relationships are making you stronger. You will need to keep your promises, if you want people to consider you trustworthy. You need to maintain a good reputation, in order to make better contacts and make the most of the new opportunities that you will get. You need to follow through with your promises or contracts, in order to avoid any future difficulties. What you really need to do, even though it stresses you, is open up and communicate with the people who are close to you, like your family.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 22

Your strength and your team-spirit will help you spread your wings and fly, towards things you have always wanted to do. Your activities with other people will bring you even better opportunities that will help you move forward. New contacts will introduce you to a whole new social circle.

You need to make the most of everything you are given, because sometimes you get lost within your complex thinking. Keep things simple and clear as of now especially. Your mood will be good and you will spend a lot of quality time with your partner.

CAPRICORN DEC 23 - JAN 20

You have set your mind on some thing for quite some time now and you will manage to move forward, if you are practical and mature. You will achieve something good that will cheer you up.

Your relationships and your communication are improving, thanks to your efforts and the energy of the planets. You know what you have to do and you are willing to do it. You prefer to devote time to your job, but you need to make some extra effort in order to get what you want. Developments in your relationship will be positive.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

This week you will want to do many things, but at the same time you might feel tired or demotivated. Thus, you will stay away from people you love, in an effort to save up some energy. Your mood is weird and you have no time to waste. You might be thinking slowly and delaying everything, or you might with to change the environment in which you are living. The return of a friend or colleague will make you revisit your past, and you will not like that. Thankfully, this will only be a temporary phase for you.

PISCES

AUG 24 - SEP 23

FEB20 - MARCH 20

You have already made a great effort and you are on a good path, as long as you remain conciliatory and you cooperate. The planets will help you start implementing your plans.

Meeting people and discussing with them, even if you don’t agree with their views, will give you valuable insight on work issues, that you can use in the future. You might get confused and feel unable to decide which path to follow, but at least you are still in the game. You will also feel a bit irritated, due to all the workload.

All this time you have been trying to find the right path for you. You are disappointed because things around you are not as fair as you wish they would be, and that discourages you from joining new social circles. Justice is subjective, so don’t be so sure that your colleagues are underestimating you, because it might not be true. An issue with some property will go very well for you. Your finances will also go well and you will feel like you are moving forward in all areas.

ETC

DOWN

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THE MEMORY LANE

B

Vikrant Massey & Yami Gautam

GINNY WEDS SUNNY

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he much awaited wedding drama, titled ‘Ginny Weds Sunny’ released on Saturday in Netflix.

The film stars actors Yami Gautam and Vikrant Massey. The popular actor Vikrant Massey essays the role of a bachelor who is eagerly looking forward to tie the knot. The feature the stunner Yami Gautam essays the role of Ginny Gill. Vikrant

Massey’s character of Sunny Malhotra gets rejected by women and that becomes a bone of contention for the character.

Twitter users have shared their thoughts about this wedding drama that looks vibrant and full of festivities. There are some Twitter users who did not feel that the much awaited drama lived up to the expectations.

—Agency

ella Hadid celebrated her 24th birthday on Saturday, October 9. The supermodel is vacationing with her pals and has been flooding our timelines with photos from her holiday. While we try to control the jealous monster in us, Gigi Hadid had us feeling emotional with her sweet birthday post for Bella. The Hadid sister, who recently welcomed a baby girl with beau Zayn Malik, took to Instagram and

took us on a trip down the memory lane by sharing a bunch of photos of the duo.

From photos through their growing up years to backstage moments from fashion events attended together, Gigi dug out the archives to wish the model.

Sharing the photos, Gigi wrote, “Gigi Hadid on Instagram: “Today I celebrate, but am always grateful for, the 24 years that I have been blessed with my baby sister @bellahadid who always has my back…”

—Agency

...her post

Gigia and Bella Hadid

Mighty Thor

JUDGEMENTAL

HAI KYA?

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K

Ishaan Khatter’s post

Ishaan Khatter goes SHIRTLESS!

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n Saturday, Ishaan Khatter took to Instagram to share a shirtless photo as he posed right amid trees. Ishaan Khatter raked up a storm with his latest rustic avatar in Khaali Peeli with co-star Ananya Panday. While the film received a mixed response from all corners, Ishaan and Ananya’s act in the masala entertainer was much talked about. Ishaan’s action scenes and the chiselled body was quite the eye-catcher and even off the screen, the actor makes sure to flaunt it and why not. On Saturday, Ishaan took to Instagram to share a shirtless photo as he posed right amid trees.

If that wasn’t enough, Ishaan’s perfectly carved abs were on display and so were his muscles. The actor’s ripped body sent his fans into a meltdown.

—Agency

angana Ranaut joined many others across the world to mark World Mental Health Day on Saturday. The actress had starred in a film named Judgementall Hai Kya which revolved around this subject and had released last year. To mark the day, Kangana shared a clip from her film in which she starred opposite Rajkummar Rao. The short clip celebrates the normalcy around mental health as the actress’ scenes from the film have been put together for a montage.

While sharing the video, Kangana took a supposed dig at Deepika as she alleged that those who run ‘depression ki dukan’ tried to get her film’s title changed at the last minute. The film was earlier titled ‘Mental Hai Kya’.

—Agency

Kanagana Ranaut

...still from the trailer of Laxmmi Bomb

LAXMMI BOMB’S TRAILER OUT

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s Akshay Kumar has come up with the trailer of Laxmmi Bomb, he has been receiving a lot of praises for the same from celebs and audience.

Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani starrer Laxmmi Bomb have been one of the most talked-about movies of the year and it has been all over the news for days now. After making fans wait, the makers finally unveiled a beautiful trailer of the movie and it is making a lot of buzz in the town.

This Raghava Lawrence directorial presents Akshay starrer in a never before seen avatar and the trailer has been winning hearts. It has received accolades from all walks of life.

Amid these, transgender right activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi has hailed the Laxmmi Bomb trailer and sang praises for Akshay and his team. Laxmi shared a video on Twitter and called it a refreshing trailer.

—Agency

hor: Love and Thunder is preparing to set the ball rolling in the coming few days. The team is assembling in Australia and it won’t be long before Taika Waititi starts filming the fourth film of the franchise. As previously revealed, Natalie Portman returns as Jane Foster in the flick but she will be wielding the Mjolnir, playing the new Thor.

But before she could take on the role of the Goddess of Thunder, Natalie is dropping interesting spoilers about the movie.

Speaking with Fatherly, the actress confirmed that Thor 4 will be based on the events of Mighty Thor. Marvel comic book fans know that Mighty Thor sees Jane battle with cancer. “I’m trying to think — it’s based on the graphic novel of the Mighty Thor. She’s going through cancer treatment and is a superhero on the side,” she c o n firmed.

—Agency

Immune Booster Oats/Bajra Millet Laddu

VRTIKA JAIN

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

INGREDIENTS Oats Aata/Millet Flour - 500 Gm’s Jaggery - 200- 250 Gms Ghee - 200 Gms Ashwagandha - 10 gms Giloy Powder - 10 Gms Liquorice Root Powder ( Mulethi ) - 5 Gm’s Black Pepper Powder - 5 gms Cardamom Powder - 10 Gms

Almonds - According To Taste Chopped Dates ( Khajoor ) According To Taste Pumpkin Seeds, Melon Seeds, Watermelon Seeds, Sunflower Seeds - According To Taste Cardamom Powder - 5 Gms Ginger Powder - 5 Gms p

METHOD Note-To make Oats Aata, Grind the oats in a Mixer.

Melt Jaggery with a little bit of water.

Melt Ghee in another pan.

Roast Aata on slow flame

properly, Stir it continuously.

Switch off the flame and let it cool for a bit.

After it cools, mix the roasted atta with the melted Jaggery Add all the above ( all the dry powder, and almonds and dates ) ingredients one by one.

Mix it properly.

Bind them in a shape of Laddu.

It’s very good for your health. Try It and Enjoy it.

Natalie Portman

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AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

12

CONGRATULATIONS! The newly elected executive officials of the Pink City Press Club met Jagdeesh Chandra at his residence on Saturday morning to seek his guidance and blessings. He wished them all the best for the year ahead. The election results for the Pink City Press Club were declared on Friday.

Jagdeesh Chandra with Mahipal Singh, Wasim Akram Querishi, Ramendra Solanki, Mukesh Meena, Rajkumar Sharma and DC Jain.

Jagdeesh Chandra with Om Vir

KBC promotes Organ

Training Program on AI

DONATION CITY FIRST

D

r Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation was invited as a Karamveer to appear on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ on Friday.

The idea was to promote organ donation through the NGO, MOHAN Foundation pioneers in the cause of Organ Donation. The episode was selected as a special event on the eve of the birthday of Amitabh Bachchan. Dr

Shroff said, “ When I first received a call in February from the KBC team, it seemed like a huge opportunity to promote organ donation on a popular national platform with the bestknown celebrity in India.” Actor Riteish Deshmukh, a Champion of the Cause was also in the same episode. Riteish and his wife Genelia have recently decided to pledge to donate their organs.

As per Dr Shroff,

the best part was the sets turning green and Mr Bachchan wearing the green ribbon along with us to spread the message of organ donation. At that moment what flashed through my mind were the efforts of PallaviKumar in Delhi, Bhavna Jagwani in Jaipur and Jaya Jairam in Mumbai who had worked so hard to get national monuments and landmarks lit up in green during the organ donation week two years back to promote the

...during the session CITY FIRST

A cause. Dr Shroff won Rs. 25 Lakhs and several millions of hearts through KBC. Through this program, the message of

organ donation has gained penetration into every household and every conscientious citizen of India. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

ICTE-AQIS and Department of ECE, Poornima College of Engineering (PCE) are jointly organising a one-week short term training program (STTP) on ‘Artificial Intelligence & 5G Communication Technology’. The mission to organise this STTP is for equipping teachers with skills and knowledge in the field of communication, Artificial Intelligence and networking.

It was inaugurated by Prof. R.P. Yadav, MNIT, Jaipur; Dr Maghendra

A CALL FOR

HAPPY B’DAY!

Sharma, Secretary Vigyan Bharti, Rajasthan; Dr Rahul Singhi, Director, Poornima Foundation; Dr Mahesh M. Bundele, Director, PCE and Dr Garima Mathur Event Convener.

More than 400 Faculty members are attending this training program. Eminent speakers from all over India are giving their knowledge on the upcoming topics like MIMO, OFDM, AI, Nature Inspired Antennas for Modern Communication Systems, Green 5G & its evolution towards 6G, Networking, CST Studio along with some hands-on sessions for practical exposure.

Expressing Grief

ARTIST DATABASE CITY FIRST

From left: Dudu MLA Babulal Nagar, IAS Karan Singh and IPS Monika Sen celebrated their birthdays on 10 October, Saturday. We wish them all the best!

EVENTS! GUJARAT: Students of Tamil Higher Secondary School of Khokhra area stood outside DEO office and protested while holding the placards after 22 days of cancelled school recognition by DEO at Vastrapur in Ahmedabad on Saturday. —PHOTOS

BY HANIF SINDHI

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n a digital effort to collect artist database from across Rajasthan, the State Government along with Department of Art and Culture, Government of Rajasthan and Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) launched the initiative ‘A Call for Artist Database’ (as a crowdsourcing initiative) on the JKK Facebook page on Saturday. A detailed demonstration of how to fill the ‘Google Form’ for data submission was also given during the launch.

The form has to be submitted on the email address, artistdatabase.jkk@gmail. com. On the occasion, Minister of Art and Culture, Government of Rajasthan, Dr B.D. Kalla said that art and culture is the backbone of any civilisation. In the context of Rajasthan, re-

Puja Agarwal

Felicitations

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view of information relating to conservation and promotion of art as well as artist development is of primary importance. Due to lack of information, we tend to fall behind on fulfilment of our objectives.

Secretary, Department of Art and Culture, Government of Rajasthan and Director General, JKK, Mugdha Sinha said that it is a matter of immense pride that as per the directions of the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, the ‘A Call for Artist Database’ has been launched. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

ntegral Humanism Forum organised ‘Stree Shakti Award 2020’ in honour of late Sushma Swaraj in Delhi on Friday. Dr Puja Agarwal, Vice President, Arya Group of colleges was felicitated on this occasion along with other eminent women of the country, for her contribution in promoting Indian culture by her renditions of Mahabharat in the form of a story in her voice as promoted on Facebook and YouTube, especially during the COVID times. During this program, eminent women from the premium institutes of the country like ISRO, DRDO, Administrative Services, Police services etc. from various States were nominated from states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, NCR, Himachal, Assam etc.

This year, the ceremony was conducted via an online mode due to the COVID situation and the certificates of honour were given through an online medium.

—City First

CITY FIRST

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s a tribute to the great poet and writer, Dr Taraprakash Joshi, Bhupendra Singh Shekhawat expressed his grief, saying that 6 October has turned out as a really sad day. On this day, his father, late Bishan Singh Shekhawat passed away and recently, on the same day, his father’s integral friend, who gave him affection like father, retired IAS officer, Dr Taraprakash Joshi also passed away.

“What can I say, my father passed away on 6 October, and 24 years after his death, the great literary writer, the poet of the nation, who always gave me affection, and even more of a good and great personality, Dr Taraprakash Joshi also breathed his last.” cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

CONDOLENCES!

International Day of the Girl Child is a United Nations designated day, observed every year on 11 October, today. Every year, on this day, UNICEF launches an annual campaign with girls to amplify their voices and stand up for their rights.

This year’s theme goes like ‘My voice, our equal future’. The theme focuses on how girls globally are leading the way.

REMEMBERING...!

October 10, 2020, marked the ninth death anniversary of legendary singer Jagjit Singh. While remembering the ghazal maestro, netizens apart from sharing interesting trivia, also shared some unseen pictures and videos of the late ghazal maestro. He has left a void in the world of music.

Jagdeesh Chandra paid condolences to the son Mohd. Rafi and the family of Late Ashraf Ali of and prayed for the dearly departed, who left for his heavenly abode at the age of 72 years after a long illness on Saturday morning at Jhotwara, Jaipur. Late Ashraf Ali was a native of Raisingh Nagar in Sri Ganganagar district. He is survived by a loving large family of two sons, three daughters and their families.