First India-Ahmedabad Edition-18 August 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

ALERT

26°C - 32°C

AHMEDABAD l TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 262

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COVID-19 UPDATE WORLD

7,74,926 DEATHS

2,19,22,650 CONFIRMED CASES

INDIA

51,796 DEATHS

26,93,771

CONFIRMED CASES

GUJARAT

2,802 DEATHS

79,816

CONFIRMED CASES

COLOUR THERAPY

With Coronavirus hitting our lives and no relief in sight, it appears that nature has taken on itself the task of providing a soothing balm. The last flicker of setting sun against monsoon clouds presents myriad hues on Monday evening at Albert Hall in Jaipur.

—PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

CHINA ON MODI’S I-DAY SPEECH

BEIJING KEEN ON BUILDING MUTUAL TRUST WITH DELHI Modi had said, armed forces have given a befitting reply to those challenging country’s sovereignty Aditi Nagar New Delhi: China on Monday said it is ready to work with India to enhance political mutual trust, properly manage their differences and safeguard the long-term development of bilateral ties.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said this at a regular briefing when a Western media journalist sought China’s reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that the Indian armed forces have given a befitting reply to those challenging the coun-

The right path for the two sides is to respect and support each other as this serves our long-term interests.

—Zhao Lijian,

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman

try’s sovereignty.

Modi, in his 74th Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort, said the armed forces have given a befitting reply to those challenging the country’s sovereignty “from LoC to LAC”, in a veiled reference to Pakistan and China.

Responding to the

question, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao said that we have noted Prime Minister Modi’s speech.

We are close neighbours, we are emerging countries with over one billion people. So, the sound development of bilateral ties not only serves the interest of the two peoples but also stability, peace, prosperity of the region and the whole world, he said.

The right path for the two sides is to respect and support each other as this serves our long-term interests, Zhao said.

Turn to P6

—FILE PHOTO

PM Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

BENGALURU VIOLENCE

‘SIT formed, will recover damages from culprits’ Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Monday decided to recover the costs of damage from the culprits in Bengaluru violence, CM BS Yediyurappa said.

He said that the government will approach the high court for appointment of claim commissioner as per Supreme Court order.

“Our government has decided to assess the damage caused to public and private property in violent incidents in KG Halli and DG Halli and recover the costs from the culprits. We will approach Hon’ble High Court for appointment of Claim Commissioner as per Hon’ble Supreme Court order,” Yediyurappa tweeted.

BS Yediyurappa

Yediyurappa said that a team of three special prosecutors will be appointed for speedy trial in the cases.

“Stringent action has been initiated against the culprits of DJ Halli and KG Halli violent incidents including invoking of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act– UAPA Act,” he tweeted.

Turn to P6

Our platform prohibits hate speech: FB New Delhi: Facebook, that is at the centre of a political slugfest over allegations of supporting the ruling dispensation, on Monday said its social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence and these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation. However, the social media giant also acknowledged that “there is more to do”.

“We prohibit hate speech and content that incites violence and we enforce these policies globally without regard to anyone’s political position or party affiliation.

Turn to P6

Legendary music maestro SC gives green signal to hold JEE, NEET Pandit Jasraj no more M

JANUARY 1930 TO AUGUST 2020

usic legend and the doyen of Indian classical vocal music, Pandit Jasraj passed away at the age of 90 in the US, says his daughter Durga Jasraj.

He was 90 years of age and was living in New Jersey, US. The cause of death is not known yet. Born in Haryana, Jasraj was a recipient of various prestigious awards including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

His musical career has spanned more than 80 years and led to numerous major awards.

Turn to P6

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking postponement of JEE (Main) April 2020 and NEET-Undergraduate examinations, which are scheduled to be conducted in September, amid spurt in number of COVID-19 cases, saying precious year of students “cannot be wasted” and life has to go on.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said career of students “cannot be put under jeopardy for long”.

“Life has to go on. Life has to move ahead. Precious year of students cannot be wasted,” the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, said during the hearing conducted through video

conferencing while paving the way for commencement of the exams as scheduled.

Solicitor General

Tushar Mehta told the apex court that due precautions and all safeguards would be taken while conducting these examinations.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners told the bench that lakhs of students are looking towards the top court for relief and they were only seeking postponement of these exams. Turn to P6

STAYING PUT

Low-profile and clean CS Mukim gets six-month extension The government decided not to disturb the status quo in view of the COVID-19 crisis and Anil Mukim has a good track record Haresh Jhala Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s low-profile mild mannered Chief Secretary Anil Mukim, who was to retire this monthend, has been expectedly given an extension of six months. The 1985

batch IAS officer will now hang his boots in February.

The Centre has approved the Gujarat Government’s proposal to this effect. First India had reported last month that he was most likely to get an extension, giv-

en that the State Government might not wish to disturb the status quo in the top bureaucracy in view of the COVID-19 crisis.

And Anil Mukim has a clean track record without any controversies either in Gujarat or at the Centre.

With this, the government has sought to avoid any conflicts with the bureaucracy since there would be more than one contender for the top post.

Chief Secretary Anil Mukim

—FILE PHOTO

Bureaucratic sources said this was why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Modi’s close confidant and Chief Principal Secretary to the CM K Kailashnathan, and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani would have decided to continue Mukim for six months.

With this, the second seniormost officer Sangeeta Singh, who had a chance to be the Chief Secretary after Mukim,

would no longer be a contender. Singh, a 1986 batch officer serving as the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), retires in October.

Sources claimed that her chances of being selected as Chief Secretary were low, not because of her track record but for she is not among the favourites of either the Prime Minister or Union Home Minister. And then, she had only two months to retire.

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

02

DAM CAPACITY AS ON AUGUST 17, 2020 206

TOTAL DAMS COMPLETELY FILLED

The state has already received 660mm of rainfall—about 80% of its annual average

WATER STORAGE CAPACITY

SARDAR SAROVAR DAM WATER CAPACITY

down the drain?

Gargi Raval

Ahmedabad: Since it began in June, the monsoon season has been bountiful this year. The state has already seen 79.44% of its annual rainfall, and the weatherman says more rain is coming. With another month and a half of the monsoon to go, it is almost a certainty that Gujarat will receive considerably more rain than usual this year.

Yet, ecologists and environmentalists are worried that the state could face a water shortage well before the next monsoon arrives. By some estimates, these water woes will begin as early as October or No-

vember.

The idea might sound odd, at best, given that Gujarat has received 660.17mm of rain already and is expected to receive even more. Further, usually parched and waterscarce areas in the state like Saurashtra and Kutch have been inundated for the past few days. And, the state government has been attempting to deepen lakes, check dams and canals, and put in place several ambitious schemes like SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation)Yojana and the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan.

However, it is important to note that, last year, the state received 1,192.73mm

of rain, far more than the annual average of 816mm. Yet, athlete Sarita Gayakwad--who has won multiple gold medals for the country at the international level-was in the news this past June for having to walk a kilometre to fetch water.

So, where is the rainwater going?

The short answer: down drains and into the sea.

Noted Gandhian and environmental activist Sudarshan Iyenger says, “Kaprada in Dharampur which receives the highest rainfall in the state runs out of water after October. There is no proper planning to conserve and store water. The traditional wisdom of

water harvesting is no longer practised.”

He points out that even Meghalaya’s Mawsynram, which gets the highest rainfall in the country, does not have adequate water around the year.

“Due to lesser tree cover and forest, the water percolation process has been decreased. Even owing to climate change

25226.6 MCM 15242.12 MCM (60%)

WATER STORED

WATER GOING

55

there is a vast experience in rainfall pattern. Flash floods drain water to rivers and seas, and we can’t use it,” he explained, adding, “Community-based water storage is not reachable to all villagers. There is a need to have individual as well as community water storage for all.”

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani recently announced that all the villages in the state would get tap water by 2022, and that Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Porbandar, Borad and Vadodara districts would be covered 100% by October 02 this year.

This follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement last year that the government will provide piped water to every household by 2024--this was the 12th time that India set a deadline to provide water at the household-level.

Iyenger is not optimistic. He said, “All the so-called development schemes are not sustainable and practical. The government efforts are

STORED

9460.00 MCM

5113.66 MCM (54%) (million cubic metre)

AJWA DAM

for a limited purpose. Some parts of Dharampur, Dang, Kaprada, Valsad, Surat, Vadodara, S u r e n d r a n a g a r, Kutch, Banaskantha, Kutch, and many low-lying areas are inundated since the gates of many dams and reservoirs have been opened to release excess water coming from the upper stream. Still, many villages in the above-mentioned areas will start hunting for water by October.”

Citing “slippage” as another major problem, he explained, “This means that even those villages that are covered with drinking water facilities ‘slip back’ to ‘not-covered’

status due to various reasons that include drying up of the source or collapse of the facilities due to nonmaintenance.”

He also highlighted the fact that even in areas where the government has created reservoirs or other similar rainwater storage facilities, these are not in the vicinity of the village and are usually Centrally governed.

“The village community doesn’t store water and doesn’t govern its storage.

Add to this the problem of limited ground-water supply, and you can see how the monsoon water cannot sustain the state for the whole year,” he stated.

AVERAGE RAINFALL v/s MONSOON 2020

KARJAN DAM

Region

Annual Average

Rainfall till August 17

Gujarat State

831mm

641.76mm

Kutch Region

412mm

545mm

North Gujarat Region

719mm

405mm

East-Central Guj Region 819mm

508mm

Saurashtra Region

677mm

762mm

South Gujarat Region

1,447mm

1,003mm

Mundra to be a nagarpalika, Sanand gets new concrete roads First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The town of Mundra is set to be accorded nagarpalika status by the state government, said Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday. A decision has been taken to merge Mundra and the Baroi Gram Panchayat to provide better basic amenities to people living in these towns.

The proposed nagarpalika will cater to the population of 60,000 people and have more powers to undertake bigger development projects with the support of the state government.

There are over 170 urban local bodies in the state, eight municipal corporations and



New developmental projects seem to be on the agenda of the ruling party lately

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

162 municipalities, with the Kutch district accounting for six municipalities. Since the population of Mundra is less than one lakh, it was granted the nagarpalika status. But once the population crosses the one lakh-

mark, it will be called a municipality.

The chief minister also approved a cement concrete road for Sanand town and private societies falling under the Sanand nagarpalika. The state has allocated Rs2 crore for the

development programme. Under this programme, the nagarpalika will bear 80% of the cost of the cement concrete road within private societies and the remaining 20% will be borne by the societies getting new roads.

As a few nagarpalikas, municipalities, municipal corporations and district panchayats head to elections the state government has focused its attention on infrastructure development in urban areas.

Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) receives more votes from urban areas than rural, converting panchayats into nagarpalikas or municipalities may prove to be a long-term political benefit to the ruling party.

BHADAR DAM

On avg, nCov infected 571, killed 18 daily for the past 5 months Gargi Raval Gandhinagar: Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Gujarat on March 17, the novel coronavirus has infected 79,816 people across every single district in the state. It has also caused 2,802 fatalities.

This means, that on average, the virus has infected 571 people and killed 18 every day for the past five months.

According to a highly-placed source within the state’s health department, the “real” numbers could well be higher than the official figures mentioned above.

For one, the state government has not

Testing in progress in Ahmedabad.

been counting comorbid deaths in its COVID-19 data. In addition, the official numbers have remained steady despite the recent spike in testing across the state.

“Although the num-

ber of tests has been increased, positive cases are not increasing proportionately.

The government is using antigen tests, which are notorious for giving false positive and false negative

results,” the health department official said.

Further, the state has been conducting an average of 50,000 tests a day, and claims to have 61 laboratories that can perform RT PCR tests, this person also said, adding, “Before the state started using RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) kits, a number of tests remained pending for 48 hours and more. While most of these came from rural areas, at times, even samples from Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation were being sent to Rajkot and other centres.

Now, even with 61 laboratories in place for the tests, most tests use RAT kits, which is alarming.”

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

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03

Only 91 out of 2,022 hospitals in A’bad hold fire NOC; most staff not trained to combat fire; court orders top postholders to file response

HC slams govt for lack of fire safety measures in hospitals First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: The state high court on Monday pulled up the state government for not including municipal corporation areas under the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act. The court while orally observing the recent Shrey Hospital fire incident as sad, issued notices to the State Chief Secretary Anil Mukim, Secretary Urban Development Mukesh Puri, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar and Chief Fire Officer ( A h m e d a b a d ) Mehrnosh Dastoor asking them to file a response.

The principal bench comprising Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala

has been hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Amit Panchal. The matter came up for hearing, and CJ Nath made stern remarks over the poor management of fire safety measures at hospitals across the state. He also termed keeping municipal corporation areas out of the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life

2 women held for stealing `9.9 lakh from BJP MP’s son First India Bureau Ahmedabad: City police arrested two sisters on Monday after cracking a burglary case within hours. The women are accused of having burgled Rs9.90 lakh in cash and gold jewellery from real-estate developer Chirag Solanki, the son of BJP MP Kirit Solanki.

Ranip Police Inspector JB Khambhalia told the media that Chirag, in his complaint, had alleged that Jaya Vaghela and Rita Vaghela who worked for him as domestic help were the only people to have access to his digital locker, in addition to himself and his wife.

“Some time back, there was a technical issue with the digital locker, so we began to use keys to manually

open and lock it, rather than the passcode. The two sisters knew that we had stored the keys to the locker in the cupboard,” the complaint said.

The two sisters accused of the burglary work as domestic help Inspector Khambhalia added that—according to the complaint—a few days ago, Chirag’s wife had brought some ornaments and cash, and put these into the locker. The family got the locker repaired and Chirag generated a new passcode. Yet, on August 5, when his wife opened the locker, she and her husband discovered that the gold ornaments and cash were missing.

‘SERIOUS ISSUE’

Safety Measures Act, ‘a serious issue’.

Commenting on the issue, Chief Justice Nath said that the im-

plementation of the Act was a fraud with the people of the state. He also questioned the fire safety training of staff-

ers in hospitals across the state. “If a fire breaks out and they are not trained to combat it, or the fire safety equipment is not functional, who will be held responsible for that?” questioned the judge.

Notably, out of a total of 2,022 hospitals in the city of Ahmedabad, only 91 have a proper fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). The court raised concern about this discrepancy and questioned the logic behind letting hospitals operate without a fire NOC. It asked the local civic body Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to file a detailed report on the issue.

The court will pass a detailed order with queries on which the municipal corporation as well as the state will be required to file answers.

Will step up to help Surtis fight nCov: State First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The state government has assured the state high court that it would “do whatever is required to provide better medical services to the people of Surat.” It also said, “If there are any shortcomings, we will try to overcome them.”

The court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Surat Citizens Council Trust. According to the petitioner, people have not been receiving adequate medical services even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The petition also mentioned that people have also not been following social distancing in Surat.

The state govern-

ment also informed the court that diamond unit owners in the city who had reopened their units in haste had failed to

In July, the Surat Citizens Council Trust had filed a PIL complaining about medical shortfalls and rigid policies of insurance firms maintain social distancing thereby triggering a spike in COVID-19 cases.

In the last week of July, the Surat Citizens Council Trust had filed a PIL complaining about medical shortcomings and rigid policy of health insurance companies not to provision cashless policy for novel coronavirus patients.

The petition had also elaborated on the difficulties people had to undergo due to the non-existence of a cashless policy at hospitals. The petitioner and Council Trust president Sharad Kapadia also raised the issue of illequipped hospitals and poor medical facilities as well as shortage of adequate equipment. He also raised the issue of discrepancy in death toll data released by the state health department and the onground number of bodies disposed of under the COVID-19 protocol.

In its response to the petition, the state had last week stated that local authorities and its health team were doing enough to control the spread of the virus in the city.

BJP leader hosts public event, 3 found dead in Barda gets infected but faces no action Wildlife Sanctuary —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: There have been no legal repercussions to the public Janmashtami celebrations hosted in Rajkot district by BJP’s Porbandar MP Ramesh Dhaduk and his family, even after three members of the family tested positive for Sars-CoV-2.

Local leaders say the family celebrated the festival in a big way since it was the first one for Dhaduk’s grandson.

“They held a small procession, in which the grandson was made Krishna, and an event was organized in Gondal,” one person who witnessed the event told First India. This person also alleged that Gujarati folk singers were also invited for the event, which was attended by more than 50 people.

“Yet, district authorities did not take any action under the Epidemic Diseases Act or the Disaster Management Act,” the person said.

Dhaduk’s son, who is

With 1,033 fresh cases, 15 deaths in 24 hours, the state has now seen 79,816 cases and 2,802 fatalities.

A medic takes a sample as part of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s ramped up testing in residential societies.

SURAT STILL LEADS IN NEW CASES

a doctor, tested positive on Sunday; the MP and his daughter-in-law tested positive on Monday.

Over the past 24 hours,

the state has tested 45,540 samples, and now has 14,435 active cases. Sixtynine patients are on ventilator support. Fifteen

patients died: three each in Surat and Ahmedabad, two each in Morbi, Rajkot, Vadodara and Bhavnagar, and one in Gir-Somnath.

Surat’s New Civil Hospital is treating 316 patients, of whom 18 are on ventilators, 51 are on BiPAP machines and 173, on oxygen. SMIMER is treating 191 patients, of whom 16 are on ventilators, 37, on BiPAP and 89, on oxygen. Vadodara tested 1,640 samples, of which 109 came back positive. Other cases have come from Ahmedabad (158), Rajkot (92), Jamnagar (44), Gandhinagar (32), Panchmahal and Bhavnagar (29 each), Amreli (28), Morbi (22), and Junagadh and Patan (21 each).

Forest beat guard Hetal Rathod and her husband Kirti Rathod.

First India Bureau Porbandar: Porbandar police found three bodies at the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday morning. The police have identified the victims as a female forest beat guard, her schoolteacher husband and a forest daily wage worker, who had all been missing since Saturday afternoon.

After receiving the missing persons’ complaint on Saturday, Porbandar Police and forest department officials had been searching for Hetal Rathod, her husband Kirti Rathod and Nagarbhai, the daily wager.

According to reports, all three had been on duty in the sanctuary on Saturday following which they disappeared.

On Monday morning, the car taken by the trio while on duty was found abandoned near Godhana Kundaraval. After conducting a thorough search of the sanctuary, police discovered their dead bodies. They have been sent to Porbandar for post mortem and the police have initiated an investigation into the deaths. Hetal’s father Govindbhai Solanki had lodged a missing complaint of his pregnant daughter and her husband.

GOING BACK TO ROOTS

India’s first Ayurvedic nCov Care Centre set up in Rajkot 

Patients with mild and moderate symptoms will be treated at the centre, allopathy doctors to conduct clinical research of the traditional remedies

Masuma Bharmal Jariwala Rajkot: The country’s first Ayurvedic COVID-19 Care Centre has been established in Rajkot under the aegis of the non-government organization (NGO) Shri Arvindbhai Maniyar Jankalyan Trust. The care centre has also received a stamp of approval from the state government.

All claims about the traditional Indian system of Ayurveda and

Panchagavya medicines working as immunity boosters amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic are wellknown but not scientifically proven. The care centre will not only treat mild and moderately symptomatic COVID-19 patients through Ayurvedic and Panchagavya medicines but also conduct clinical research based on allopathy guidelines.

The centre was launched by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on

Dr Vallabh Kathiria (centre) at the launch of the Ayurvedic COVID-19 Care Centre in Rajkot.

Sunday and officially opened its doors on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion Rupani said, “With this ongoing pandemic, people world over have accepted the fact that immunity development plays an important role in fighting against such a virus. We know that there is no medicine for COVID-19. All we can do is bolster our immunity, which will be further facilitated by the prohibition of liquor and usage of traditional meth-

ods in the state.”

“Today, we have a lower number of active cases in the state. Ayurvedic ukala and homeopathy medicines have benefited the people.

The Dhanvantri Rath experiment has been successful and even the World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged it. Ayurveda has the answer to COVID-19 but, we have lagged behind due to dearth of systematic efforts,” he added.

Dr Vallabh Kathiria,

Chairman of the NGO, said, “The care centre is a 90-bed facility where mild and moderately symptomatic patients who need isolation but do not require hospitalization but will be treated. They will be administered Ayurvedic and Panchagavya medicines with 24 hours medical care. The per day tariff is Rs3,500 for twin-sharing patients and Rs4,500 per day for single-room occupancy, including food and medical facilities.”

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

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04

RAM MANDIR: THE TEMPLE OF INDIAN CULTURAL RE-EMERGENCE GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT The writer is Union Jal Shakti Minister, Government of India

I

Lord Ram will not only invigorate the spiritual pulse of the nation but also the Economic pulse of the country.

According to a study by the Centre for Development Studies, nearly 55% of Hindus and 72% of Sikhs went to a religious place in 2019

n the English textbook, under the NCERT syllabus, there is a chapter ‘The last lesson’ written by a noted French writer Alphonse Daudet. The lesson opens with a premise that during World War II, Nazi Germany had passed an order to discontinue teaching French in all schools and had made the teaching of the German language mandatory. A French boy Franz who, per se, did not have any distinct emotions towards his mother tongue, however, attended his last French class only to value his culture. He very well understood that a country can be totally annihilated when its culture is attacked and demolished, its religious sites are destroyed, its Gods are discredited and its language is suspended.

Unfortunately for many years, in India, while we taught our children the importance of other cultures and allowed them to read chapters on different cultures written by foreign authors; we didn’t highlight the attempts that were being made to demolish our own culture. The biggest attempt was the razing of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The demolition of Ram Mandir by the marauding hoard from Central Asia under Babur was an attempt to do all of the above, to decapitate the philosophy, legacy, teachings, rules, and actions of our ancestors. But despite all attempts to extinguish the spark of pride and respect for our culture, the cultural DNA of the country has not only survived but prospered.

The Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Mandir is the catalyst for the ignition of cultural revival in India, the sacrificial fire where the incantations for Indian’s cultural re-emergence will be chanted.

To comprehend how Lord Ram plays a central character in the cultural DNA of the country can be understood with the help of a statement

A 3D image of the proposed Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

from Adi Parva 1.1 in Mahabharat, “The lamp of history destroys the darkness of ignorance”. Indeed, conquering armies and sultanates alike had tried to obfuscate Lord Ram from people’s memories, but luminaries like Tulsidas, Kalidasa, Kabir, and numerous Vaishnavite Goswamis and devotees kept him alive.

To understand Ram is to understand the role that a man has to play for society, to understand Ram is to understand the art of running a country, to understand Ram is to understand the role of duties and rights in our lives. Lord Ram is a symbol of fortitude, Lord Rama is a symbol of grace.

Lord Ram is the ultimate Karma Yogi, this was expounded centuries ago by Lord Krishna on the plains of Kurukshetra during the Mahabharata.

In an age where conversations around mental health have gathered momentum like never before, the example of Lord Ram is an example of not letting external factors disrupt what you can control,

i.e. your reaction to those conditions. When faced with adversity during this Corona Pandemic, this lesson from Lord Ram’s life is even more important, to not let adversity disrupt our sense of service and empathy towards the most impoverished population in our country. If we need to understand why we are the only Pre-Bronze civilization to exist today, we have to acknowledge the role of temples in our lives. In Hinduism, temples were not only centres of worship, but they were also the centres of life, they were centres of learning, the centres of philosophies from which vast swathes of areas and people were governed. Be it the Sangam literature in the south or Shaivism in the Kashmir, every way of life emerged from temples, thus the desecration of Lord Ram’s temple meant the demolition of culture in the entire IndoGangetic plain but it was because of greats like Tulsidas, Kabir and later Mahatma Gandhi who with their devo-

Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Mandir is the catalyst for the ignition of cultural revival in India, the sacrificial fire where the incantations for Indian’s cultural re-emergence will be chanted

tion kept him alive.

Lord Ram gave the foundations on which Indian Independence struggle was fought, the chants of “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” and “Vaishanva jana” reverberated in Sabarmati Ashram and reinvigorated the Indian spirit. Through his penance for killing Ravan, Lord Ram taught us to hate someone’s quality but never someone, a

tall testimony in times of racism and casteism. Lord Ram shows us the way in the most simple manner to respect women. In the tradition of Vaishnavism, the wife’s name precedes the name of the husband as a reminder of who is more important, it always Sita Ram, it is always Radhe Shyam, the place where Lord Jaganath resides is called Sri Mandir or the temple of the wife. Nothing belongs to God; everything belongs to the Goddess. From salutations “Ram Ram” to death “Ram Nam Satya hain”, Lord Ram is an essential part of this Country’s conscience.

Lord Ram will not only invigorate the spiritual pulse of the nation but also the Economic pulse of the country. According to a study by the Centre for Development Studies, nearly 55% of Hindus and 72% of Sikhs went to a religious place in 2019. With the construction of the great Ram Mandir, every Indian will yearn to visit Ayodhya, this will change the econom-

Why scientists are distrustful of Russia’s vaccine

R

ussia’s announcement that a fasttracked Covid-19 vaccine is registered there, with plans for quick distribution in the general population this fall, is being condemned by scientists worldwide.

Findings from scientific studies of this vaccine, named “Sputnik V,” are not available.

Large safety and efficacy trials are only now getting underway. But despite only two months of preliminary testing in people, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the vaccine “quite effective” and it has received regulatory approval.

In other places, notably the United States, China and the European Union, even as researchers rush to develop vaccines, they continue to publish studies of these vaccines at a more

measured pace than is happening in Russia.

As an epidemiologist who studies vaccine hesitancy and vaccine-preventable disease, I am concerned about this news from Russia.

After essential workers and high-risk groups are vaccinated, I would want to be among the first in line for an approved Covid-19 vaccine, but the medical research system must make sure any vaccine is safe and effective before distributing it to the population at large.

CLINICAL TRIALS HAVE A VALUABLE ROLE Before any drug, vaccine or medical device is licensed for use in the general population, it needs to go through several rounds of large-scale testing.

These studies are designed to make sure the intervention is safe and ef-

Before any vaccine is licensed for use in the general population, it needs to go through several rounds of largescale testing

fective, and to understand what the appropriate dosage will be.

Under normal conditions, the research required to bring a vaccine to market can take decades.

For example, before the HPV vaccine was licensed in the US in 2006, a phase III clinical trial enrolled 18,644 participants in 2004-2005, a phase II clinical trial had enrolled 1,113 participants

in 2000, and the laboratory studies that led to a vaccine candidate had been published in the early 1990s.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists around the globe are focusing their efforts on developing a Covid-19 vaccine. They are working at an unprecedented pace to move through the necessary clinical trials to end up with a safe and effective vaccine.

One of the most time-consuming parts of clinical trials is enrolling participants, and pharmaceutical companies have sped up this process by lining up volunteers early, obtaining important baseline data from them even before a vaccine candidate is available.

An untested vaccine would not just harm the people vaccinated. If negative perceptions about the safety or efficacy of a Covid-19 vaccine spread throughout the population, it could limit how many people are willing to get the shot and perpetuate disease transmission.

Hasty rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine could prime people not only to not trust the Covid-19 vaccine, but also to doubt vaccination and public health systems as a whole.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.THECONVERSATION.COM

ic landscape of the place.

Lord Ram’s capital will be the epicenter of Indian tourism and economic activity in the years to come.

The story goes that as Lord Hanuman was denied permission by Valmiki to listen to the Ramayan, he instructed the saint to be born as Tulsidas so that Ramayan can be written in simple and easy to understand language and no Ram Bhakt like him will miss a chance to listen to the great epic. A similar miracle is happening once again, Lord Ram is once again accessible to everyone. When the doors to the temple open, Millions will rush to embrace the Lord and the Lord will grace us with his presence, this is a dream that many of our ancestors saw but couldn’t see it happen in their lifetime. We indeed are the more fortunate ones who have the opportunity to witness the Lord get reinstated in his glorious abode.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank @DrRPNishank #NEP aims to establish National Research Foundation (#NRF) to enable a culture of research to permeate through our universities. Thank you @pknanda ji for such an insightful article on #NEP. #NEPTransformingIndia.

Anand Sharma @AnandSharmaINC Sad to learn about the death of former India opener, former Parliamentarian and UP Minister Chetan Chauhan. I would fondly remember the time we spent playing cricket against each other in Lok Sabha Vs Rajya Sabha matches. My deepest condolences to the family. Om Shanti.

Spiritual SPEAK

We’re kept from our goal not by obstacles, but by a clear path to a lesser goal.

—Bhagavad Gita

Vol 1 Issue No. 262 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

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RAHUL, PRIYANKA SLAM YOGI GOVT

‘JUNGLE RAJ OF CASTE VIOLENCE PEAKING IN UP’ New Delhi: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Monday slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that incidents of caste violence and hate crimes against women have become rampant in the state.

Referring to the killing of a Dalit village head in Azamgarh’s Basgaon, Rahul Gandhi alleged that in UP the “jungle raj” of caste violence and rape is “peaking”.

“Now another terrible incident – Sarpanch Satyamev, being a Dalit, said ‘no’ due to which he was killed. Condolences to the family of Satyamev Ji, he tweeted.

The UP police has invoked the National Security Act against four people in connection with the village head’s killing, which triggered a mob violence. Basgaon village pradhan Satyamev, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste community, was shot dead last week. Po-

Govt takes

action against woman for breaking idols New Delhi: Days ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, Bahrain authorities have initiated legal action against a 54-yearold woman for breaking several Lord Ganesha idols and “defaming a sect” in a supermarket in Manama’s Juffair.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the woman is seen shouting at a salesman while lifting the idols from a shelf and slamming them on the floor.

The Ministry of Interior, Bahrain said that the woman was referred to Public Prosecution.

“Capital Police took legal steps against a woman, 54, for damaging a shop in Juffair and defaming a sect and its rituals, in order to refer her to the Public Prosecution,” it tweeted. The woman, speaking in Arabic, is heard purportedly saying “this a Muslim country”. Royal advisor Ahmed Al Khalifa condemned it.

RAHUL GANDHI @RahulGandhi Now another terrible incident – Sarpanch Satyamev, being a Dalit, said ‘no’ due to which he was killed.

Condolences to the family of Satyamev Ji.

There is no fear of law in the minds of criminals in the state, adding that gruesome incidents of crime against women are taking place as a result.

—Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress General Secretary

Rahul Gandhi should realise that he wouldn't come to power by degrading BJP instead he must try to gain the confidence of the people in his own party.

—NV Subhash, Telangana BJP leader

lice officials said he was killed by people who knew him — they were reportedly talking to him around 500 me-

tres from his home and suddenly opened fire.

Priyanka Gandhi also hit out at the UP government over the issue of

women’s security in a Facebook post in Hindi.

“Bulandshahr, Hapur, Lakhimpur Kheri and now Gorakhpur. Such repeated incidents have proven that the Uttar Pradesh government has completely failed in providing security to women,” she said, referring to reports of crimes against women in the aforementioned areas.

She further said there is no fear of law in the minds of criminals in the state, adding that gruesome incidents of crime against women are taking place as a result.

Priyanka alleged the police & administration are neither able to provide security nor take appropriate action.

“The UP government should review the lawand-order system & take every step to enure safety of women,” she said. The state dispensation has denied Congress’ allegation that the law-and-order situation is deteriorating in Uttar Pradesh under the BJP rule. —PTI

FB policy head Ankhi Das files complaint against ‘violent threats’ New Delhi: Ankhi Das, public policy director of Facebook India, has submitted a written complaint to the Delhi Police Cyber Cell, in which she has alleged that a number of people have been issuing “violent threats against my life and body through online posting/publish-

Ankhi Das

ing of content”. An FIR is yet to be registered. A senior Delhi Police of-

SC recommends to elevate judges at 3 HCs New Delhi: SC Collegium headed by CJ SA Bobde has approved proposals to elevate certain judicial officers & advocates as Judges of the High Courts of Allahabad, Kerala & Gujarat. Chief Justice Bobde, & Justices NV Ramana, Arun Mishra, RF Nariman & UU Lalit make up the Collegium.

In a meeting held on August 14, the Collegium recommended elevation of judicial officers Subhash Chand,

Sanjay Kumar Pachori, Subhash Chandra Sharma, & Saroj Yadav as Judges of Allahabad HC. Advocates Ziyad Rahman & Murali Purushothaman, & judicial officers Dr Kauser Edappagath & Karunakaran Babu as Judges of Kerala HC. Advocates Nirzarkumar Sushilkumar Desai, Vaibhavi Devang Nanavati, and Nikhil Shreedharan Kariel will be promoted as Judges of Gujarat HC.

through advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, had referred to COVID-19 pandemic and said authorities be directed to conduct these exams only after normalcy is restored.

The plea had also sought direction to the authorities to increase the number of examination centres. “Conducting the aforesaid examination across India at such perilous time, is nothing else but putting lives of lakhs of young students (including petitioners herein) at utmost risk and danger of disease and death. The best recourse at this

stage can be to wait for some more time, let COVID-19 crisis subside and then only conduct these exams, in order to save lives of the students and their parents,” the plea had said.

It had claimed that NTA, which conducts entrance exams for admission in higher educational institutions in India, has decided to conduct JEE (Main) April-2020 through online mode and NEET UG-2020 exams through offline mode at 161 centres across the country.

ficer said, “The complaint has been received and the matter is under inquiry.”

Das has alleged that the threats are in relation to The Wall Street Journal article, titled “Facebook hate speech rules collide with Indian politics,” which was published on August 14.

06

Cong ‘dissenters’ write to Sonia Gandhi? Party slams Jha’s claim New Delhi: Some 100 Congress leaders have written to Sonia Gandhi asking for a change in the political leadership and transparent elections in the party, suspended leader Sanjay Jha claimed in a tweet that was promptly rubbished by the party.

The Congress alleged that the “non-existent letter” was an attempt to divert attention from the Facebook controversy and was being circulated by ‘BJP stooges.’

Sanjay Jha was sacked as spokesperson of the Congress last month after he publicly criticised the party in the turmoil over

Girl, 17, gangraped, in Gorakhpur; 2 arrested Lucknow: A 17-yearold Dalit girl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district on Friday. Her body was singed with cigarette butts by the two men who raped her, said the girl’s mother.

On Sunday, the police arrested Arjun Nishad and his associate Mahesh Yadav alias Chottu, who are now being sent to jail.

Shyam Deo Bind, Dy Superintendent of Police, Gola, said, the police have registered an FIR on the charge of kidnapping, rape against the duo under various sections of the IPC and has also charged them under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

RANDEEP SINGH SURJEWALA @rssurjewala

Sanjay Jha

Sachin Pilot's revolt.

“It is estimated that around 100 Congress leaders, distressed at the state of affairs within the party, have written a letter to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress President, ask-

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN “Special Misinformation Group on Media-TV Debate Guidance” in its what’sapp of today directed to run the story of a non existant letter of Congress leaders to divert attention from Facebook-BJP links. Of course, BJP stooges have started acting upon it. ing for change in political leadership and transparent elections in CWC. Watch this space,” he tweeted.

Congress denied it.

“There is no such letter written by Congress

members or MPs and the individual in question is doing this at the behest of BJP to deflect issue from BJP & its linkage with Facebook,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala retorted.

19,19,842 PEOPLE HAVE RECOVERED

Case tally rises to over 26.47 lakh in India New Delhi: With 57,981 new cases, India's COVID-19 tally rose to 26,47,663 on Monday, while the death toll due to the disease crossed the 50,000-mark with 941 fresh fatalities, according to the Union health ministry.

The number of people who have recovered from the disease went up to 19,19,842 in the country, pushing the recovery rate to 72.51 per cent, according to health ministry data updated at 8 am.

The number of tests for detection of COVID-19 also crossed the three crore-mark in the country, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The death toll due to COVID-19

TOLL BREACHES 50K MARK

climbed to 50,921 with 941 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours. The case fatality rate has declined to 1.92 per cent.

There are 6,76,900 active COVID-19 cases in the

country currently.

According to the ICMR, a total of 3,00,41,400 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till August 16, including 7,31,697 on Sunday. —PTI

J&K: 3 jawans killed in terror attack

COURTESY MEET

Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu (L) calls on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

—PHOTO BY PTI

Baramulla: Two troopers of CRPF and a Special Police Officer of J&K Police were killed in a militant attack in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Later two militants, who were involved in terror strikes, were also killed in an encounter with the security forces.

Police said a group of militants targeted the security forces’ joint patrol party at Watergam Kreeri, where three personnel were wounded

and succumbed to their injuries at a hospital.

Vijay Kumar, IGP, Kashmir, said three militants, who were hiding in an apple orchard, came out & started firing indiscriminately on joint patrol party on Monday morning.

“In the firing, two CRPF jawans, & an SPO of J&K Police were killed.

Soon, forces launched an operation against militants.” It is believed that militants were affiliated to LeT —ANI

with violence, said police. The accused has been identified as Samiuddin.

“One Samiuddin was detained in connection with violence in DJ Halli. It was found that he was in touch with accused of RSS activist Rudresh murder case and Al-Hind members for the past few years.

He will be taken into custody and probe will be done,” said Sandeep Patil, Joint CP, Crime, Bengaluru.

tual trust, properly manage our differences, step-up practical cooperation and safeguard the long-term development of bilateral ties, the spokesman added.

In his speech, Prime Minister Modi also said that “whether it is terrorism or expansionism, India is fighting both with determination.”

Referring to the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh in June, the prime minister said respect for India’s sovereignty is supreme and the world has seen in Ladakh what its brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve.

FROM PG 1 SC gives...

The plea, filed by 11 students belonging to 11 states, had sought quashing of the July 3 notices issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA), by which it was decided to conduct the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) April 2020 and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-Undergraduate exams in September.

As per the public notices issued by NTA, JEE (Main) April 2020 is scheduled from September 1-6, while NEET UG 2020 exam is scheduled for September 13.

The plea, filed

Music legend...

His performances of

classical and semi-classical vocals have become albums and film soundtracks. Jasraj has taught music in India, Canada and the US. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the demise of the legendary singer and tweeted saying, “Not only were his renditions outstanding, he also made a mark as an exceptional mentor to several other vocalists.”

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed his condolences and posted that the revered vocalist had “enthralled people with soulful ren-

ditions.” Last year, a minor planet, between Mars and Jupiter, has been named after Pandit Jasraj.

Our platform...

While we know there is more to do, we’re making progress on enforcement and conduct regular audits of our process to ensure fairness and accuracy,” a Facebook spokesperson said. The comments came as the ruling BJP and opposition Congress traded barbs over Facebook’s alleged bias.

While BJP accused the social media giant of censoring nationalist

voices, opposition Congress seized on a Wall Street Journal report that alleged that Facebook’s content policies favour the ruling party.

‘SIT formed,...

“A Special Investigation Team has already been formed to conduct a detailed investigation in the matter and a team of three special prosecutors will be appointed for speedy trial of the cases. SIT will consider invoking Goonda Act if warranted,” he added in a series of tweets.

Earlier in the day, one more accused was arrested in connection

Beijing keen...

So, China stands ready to work with India to enhance our political mu-

TALKING POINT AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

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07

THERE ARE NINE FREQUENCIES IN THE UNIVERSE WHICH HAVE NINE COLOURS, EACH COLOUR HAS DIFFERENT PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

HEALING THROUGH

COLOURS C

olours are part of the natural world and they play a major role in a way we feel and react in various circumstances. Colours have various frequencies that energise or soothe us. Colour therapy or Chromotherapy is the practice of getting colours and their frequencies to heal one both physically and emotionally.

The main objective of colour therapy is to correct physiological and psychological imbalances in the human body. There are nine frequencies in the universe which have nine colours. Each colour has different physical or psychological symptoms.

Dr Anju Sharma,

Psychic reformer, Sound and Energy Master and Founder of the Musical Healing Band “Sound of Infinity Band”, speaks regarding how an individuals can reap the benefits of each colour by applying them in their life.

We have seven colours and according to Indian philosophy, these seven colours represent the chakras that are the centres of spiritual power and the energy field within our bodies. The flow of energy in the human body (and even in the universe) moves upward.

Therefore, when the chakras move from its place or become imbalanced colour therapy helps to bring them back to its point.

VIOLET Violet It represents the Crown Chakra which is located at the top of the head. It is associated with awareness, higher consciousness and insight. It is the connection between the internal and external world. All those people who want to do meditation but are not able to because of lack of connection and distraction are due to their low frequency of colour violet. On the health front, these colours are related to the cerebral and nervous systems.

INDIGO Indigo is all about vision. It represents The Third Eye Chakra, located between the eyebrows. This is associated with the pituitary gland and influences our sleep cycles, self-esteem, clarity, wisdom, and intuition. This colour is good especially for kids, to help increase their focus, memory and concentration. On the physical level, problems like headache and weak eyesight are symptoms.

TURQUOISE

YELLOW

Turquoise represents the Throat Chakra. This is associated with the thyroid and metabolism.

Anybody who has thyroid their blue frequency is imbalanced. Looking from the psychological aspect, most of these ailing people are females. As they are suppressive. These days even kids are falling in this category.

During this Covid-19, the frequency of colour is getting disturbed. Increase in domestic violence has increased the suppression that lowers the frequency and makes the person weak.

Yellow represents the Solar Plexus Chakra, located between the navel and sternum. This bright and cheerful colour can help stimulate intelligence and also detoxify the body and mind and enhance the immunity to heal ailing people.

Yellow colour indicates fire and symbol of action. If the yellow frequency is weak then the ability to activate our plans go down. If a person gets easily anxious it is because the frequency of the colour yellow is imbalanced. Such people also face d i g e s t i v e issues.

ORANGE Orange is related to joy and happiness and represents the Sacral Chakra which is located 2-3 inches below the navel. It is the mindbody chakra. This colour is associated with reproduction, body parts like adrenals and pleasure. If the orange frequency is weak then the frequency of creativity also goes down. People with low orange frequency face infertility issues. Their sexual desire may also decline and even their water element is weak. On the other hand, if the frequencies are high the sexual desire is also high. If you want to create anything new either a project or a new life, the colour orange is very important.

RED Red is a passionate and warm colour which brings vitality and stimulates energy. It is the base colour representing the root chakra, located at the base of the spine. It is the basic frequency connected to the Earth. If the red frequency is excessively high then that person is over-confident in every aspect of life. If the red frequency is low, then that person lives in fear. A suicidal tendency may also come into the picture if the red frequency is on the lower side.

REMEDIES TO CORRECT MISBALANCED COLOR FREQUENCIES TRY THESE REMEDIES

S

tart to wear that particular colour. If you don’t want to wear a particular colour then try to keep that colour around you so that your body can absorb its frequencies. A particular colour has various shades.

Therefore, wear those shades that you connect with. The same concept is applied to gemstones as well.

If we see in psychological perspective, your emotions are also weak due to imbalanced colour frequency.

Water is considered as the first medicine. Drinking water helps your body. If we infuse the frequencies of the colour into water and then consume, it will work wonders. Take fresh drinking water in a glass bottle, wrap it with the shade of the colour you connect with and place it in the early morning sun for around 2 hours. The sun’s rays will have infused the water with the colour

GREEN Green represents the Heart Chakra. It’s associated with body parts like the heart and lungs. Since the colour is associated with the heart so all related issues like peace, harmony, calmness and the feeling of lack of love can be sorted with this colour. This colour is known for its balanced healing properties. People with low green frequency are very introverted. They don’t want to mix with people. If the frequency is in excess then the person is called an extrovert. Both introverts and extroverts don’t have harmony.

BESIDES THESE, TWO MORE COLOURS– BLACK AND WHITE, HAVE AN AFFECT AND ADD UP TO A TOTAL OF 9 COLOURS:

BLACK It is the colour of absorption. Wear it where you want to hide your personality.

WHITE frequencies which you can consume the entire day.

Avoid plastic bottles.

If you feel that all your colour frequencies are disturbed then start with the red based frequency. This is for survival instinct. Follow

it for 20-25 days then move to the next colour in line – orange. If people balance the red frequency, the root chakra, then 90 percent of the problem is solved. Wear those colours that connect with you.

White is colour of reflection as well as spirituality. It is also the colour of universe because white is source of all the other colours. The universe started with the white light and ends with black.

SOURCE: INTERNET CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: CP SHARMA

If you do not see the trifling things through and perfectly, how will you ever have the confidence to see the important things through.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

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Rains to continue even as 400 roads remain closed across the State

Five of family killed, four hurt in mishap near Nadiad

Mandvi in Surat received 249mm of rain in just 12 hours, making it the wettest part of Guj on Monday

First India Bureau

Gargi Raval

Nadiad: Five members of a family were killed and 4 injured in a collision between a car and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) on national highway 48 near Nadiad town in Kheda district on Sunday night. The SUV driver also sustained injuries.

The 9 family members, hailing from Kalupur area of Ahmedabad, were returning from Anand town after meeting their relatives when the speeding SUV rammed into their overburdened car near Pij village on the highway, Vaso police station’s inspector F A Pargi said.

Five car occupants, including 2 children, died on

Ahmedabad: Movement of people and commodities has been adversely affected by the torrential rain that has been pelting the state over the past few days. According to data released by the State Emergency Operation Centre, as many as 393 roads in 21 districts have been hit by the heavy rainfall.

These include two national highways--one each in Anand and Kutch--and 16 state highways. The intrastate road between Talala and Veraval is also submerged, severing the connection between the two places.

Some parts of the South Gujarat and Kutch regions continue to witness flooding and flood-

IN SHORT

Heavy rains lashed Ahmedabad on Monday night.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Mandvi in Surat received the highest rainfall--249mm in just 12 hours--between 6 am and 6 pm on Monday. It is followed by Dolvan in Tapi, which received 205mm of rainfall during the same time. As on Monday, 177 talukas had received rainfall

in the state.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall for the state in the coming days owing to rain systems that persist over many parts.

There is a cyclonic circulation over the

Surat reports 77% nCov recovery rate in 3 days

Guj cadre’s Rakesh Asthana is new DG of BSF

like conditions. Lowlying areas in Navsari, Surat and Valsad are already inundated with excess water from the Purna and Auranga rivers. Even a police station in Surat’s Kadodara GIDC is flooded.

Across the state,

Gujarat region and its neighbourhood between 2.1 km and 3.6 km above mean sea level tilting southwards with height.

There is also another low-pressure area over northeast Madhya Pradesh and the adjoining areas of

North Chhattisgarh and Southeast Uttar Pradesh, with the associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level tilting southwards with height. This is very likely to move westnorthwestwards and weaken during the next 24 hours. An east-west shear zone along 20°N latitude across central India between 4.5km and 7.6km above mean sea level tilting southwards with height also persists.

In addition, a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the northern Bay of Bengal region around August 19. It is very likely to become more marked during the subsequent 24 hours and move westwards gradually.

08

BASKING IN SUN

the spot while 4 other injured persons were referred to the civil hospital. The SUV driver, Pramukh Patel, who was the lone occupant of his vehicle, was also injured and admitted to a hospital, the official said. The deceased have been identified as Seema Shaikh (24), her daughter Tanaaz (4), parents Yakub Shaikh (52) and Kausar Banu (50), and niece Inaya Shaikh (9).

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Ruchi Thakar Surat: For the third day in a row, the number of Covid-19 patients discharged from hospitals in Surat city and its rural areas surpassed the fresh cases on Monday. The total cases reported by the city and the district stood at 17,730.

Against 340 patients discharged on Monday, there were 243 new cases. The total number of discharged people now stands at 13,994. The recovery rate in Surat jumped to 77% as against the national rate of 71.61%.

Similarly, against 459 new cases on Saturday and Sunday, 707 people had recovered and gone home in Surat city and district. Twenty days ago, the doubling rate was 15 days and now it is 45 days.

In fact, the fatalities have also reduced to single digit in Surat city and rural areas, with 11 people succumbing to

First India Bureau

Covid-19 recovery rate in Surat has increased to 77% with improvement during the last three days.

Aggressive testing and Dhanwantri rath have helped control the situation.

—Banchhanidhi Pani, Surat Municipal Commissioner

the virus during the last three days. This is the lowest death number so far. On Monday, 2 persons died in the city, taking the total fatalities to 740.

The daily addition of cases in Surat city and rural areas dropped below 250 for the last 3 days after reporting more than this daily. The fall

started on August 15.

Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani said “We have increased the number of tests significantly but the daily additions seem to have reduced.

The number of recovered patients in the citydistrict has increased significantly and the recovery rate has reached 77%”.

New Delhi: Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana has been appointed as the Director-General of the Border Security Force (BSF), according to a Personnel Ministry order issued on Monday.

Asthana is at present the Director-General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in New Delhi.

He will continue as DG BSF until July 31, 2021, the date of his superannuation. A 1984 batch IPS officer, Asthana also holds the additional charge of DG, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). After holding sensitive posts in Gujarat, Asthana was moved to the CBI in New Delhi. And later transferred to BCAS.

People enjoying themselves on their terrace as the sun set between a small break in the rains in Ahmedabad.

FOUR ADVOCATES ELEVATED AS GUJ HC JUDGES First India Bureau

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium has approved the proposal for elevation of judicial officers and advocates as judges for Gujarat and Allahabad High Courts.

The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, recommended elevation of advocates, Vaibhavi Devang Nanavati, Nirzarkumar Sushilku-

mar Desai and Nikhil Shreedharan Kariel as judges of the Guja-

rat High Court.

In a meeting held on August 14, the Collegi-

um also recommended four judicial officers -Sanjay Kumar Pachori, Subhash Chandra Sharma, Subhash Chand, and Saroj Yadav -- as judges of the Allahabad High Court.

The decision was uploaded on the website of the apex court.

Apart from CJI Bobde, Justices N V Ramana, Arun Mishra, R F Nariman and U U Lalit are part of the 5-judge Collegium.

GROUND ZERO

CR Patil to test Saurashtra waters for the first time New Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party President to visit the party’s most challenging region ahead of the reorganisation of the State unit 

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party President CR Patil begins his maiden visit to the Saurashtra region on Wednesday with a visit to the Somnath Temple. This region promises to be a challenge for Patil for he is new there, while the Congress had caused major

Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil

upsets for the ruling party here in the 2017 assembly elections.

Even as the party’s State unit awaits reorganisation and appointment of a new team for long, Patil has decided to first have personal interactions with local leaders and apprise himself of the gound situation.

He will start his tour on an open jeep

from Sasan Gir on Wednesday morning and will be welcomed by workers at Keshod, Vanthali and other places. He will then reach Somnath Temple and after offering prayers there, will meet party leaders of the Gir Somnath district, State BJP vice-president Gordhan Zadaphia said. Patil will then address

leaders of Junagadh district.

And then on his way to Rajkot on August 20, he will visit the Patidars’ place of worship, Khodaldham. After Rajkot, he will be traveling to Chotila, Zanzarka, Dhandhuka, Bagodara and Bavla, where he will meet local leaders to get a sense of the ground situation.

The Saurashtra-

Kutch region has been an invincible fort of the BJP for long until the 2017 polls shocker when the Congress took 30 out of the 54 seats -12 more than in 2012 -- despite Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and former BJP chief Jitu Vaghani belonging to this region. To regain this lost ground will be a challenge for Patil.

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia AHMEDABAD, TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 2020

CITY FIRST DIVES INTO A FEW QUERIES ASKED BY OUR READERS ON THE CLEAVAGE!

TO SHOW OR NOT TO SHOW? ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews.com

T

he cleavage is being flaunted and how!

You may take it as a fashion choice or a feminist statement, one thing is clear you have to do it with style. The cleavage has been carelessly flaunted by our rural women and ancestors alike for centuries and by the elite on the red carpet for decades but now the common women have started dipping the necklines and undoing the buttons… and why not?

Though let me tell you with the cleavage and fashion have never really gelled as breasts aren’t a consideration for the high fashion designers. Model figures are rarely busty and so the silhouettes

presented either disguise, or often ignore altogether, the bust.

But do keep in mind that there are a few do’s and don’ts which should be kept in mind so that the look remains classy and does not tip over to trashy.

The first and foremost is comfort and confidence, there is no point in having a plunging neckline if you are conscious and keep on tugging it up.

You should be clear that cleavage is about sex-appeal and are you clear you want to tap into this power? Acknowledge the obvious.

The second is that in the world of cleavage- less is more! In a professional environment, a discreet cleavage gives the message of feminine power whereas too much show might be perceived as sexual and unprofessional. Look at yourself in the mirror and see what your image communicates. By the way, for a company party where we might be dying to ‘show-off ’ a sexier avatar, it’s best to just undo one button as it says, after all, it is an official party.

For a night out in town with your friends, you can play up and flaunt your curves. As to the how, you can go in for a push-up bra with a plunging neckline, remember, comfort is the key.

You can always wear a low hanging pendant to accentuate or distract as the case may be.

A proper well-fitting bra is an absolute necessity if you have any plans to show off, though that is necessary even otherwise.

09

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

10

LIES - THE NEW RAPE RAINU SINGH

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

L

FA CE OF TH ED AY

ies have come to dominate so much of every narrative that this Devil’s Trojan Horse is being glorified by sexier euphemisms like POST-TRUTH, ALTNEWS, OPINIONS, DATA, etc. So much so that Oxford Dictionary named ‘post-truth’ as the Word of the Year in 2016 when the likes of Trump got to occupy seats of power. In earlier times marauding armies demoralised the enemy by resorting to the most heinous crime of rape. Such physical plunder of the soul of women left a permanent stain on the psyche of the people. Since there does not exist the concept of being UNRAPED, oceans of repa-

ration could not wash this blot.

As a prime example, Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of America 528 years back and had the Native people massacred and raped.

That sin created a wraith of wrath that is haunting the most powerful country for 5 centuries. This year it manifested itself in the ‘beheading’ of Columbus statues all over the USA. In the modern age, it is next to impossible for conquering armies to practice such depravity. But as Evil has to continue to find ways to defile the Human soul, it has begun to rape the minds via another powerful weapon: LIES! Just as a nation can rarely overcome the shame of mass rape, similarly nations get demoralised by the weapon of LIES! Lies, spoken under pelf, pressure or propaganda rape the minds of a populace and its spirit is crushed for generations. There does not ex-

ist a truth detector, but lie detectors are sold by the millions. It is because lies can be detected as they shake up the inner software of a human. Lies can be detected via bodily responses such as rising blood pressure, change in breathing pattern, faster heartbeat, increased perspiration, nervous stress, etc. This does not happen only when wired to a polygraph. It happens each time a lie singes the inner kernel of your soul.

A person with a burnt soul has no conscience.

Only whispering consciences can prevent evil acts, thus propelling evolution! The price of living in LIES is to be ruled by evil men. And such false Lords are not only evil in themselves but infect the souls of others. TRUTH, on the other hand, is the first outreach between two humans. It creates faith, then brotherhood, and ultimately common energy for growth. Truth can walk away victorious if lies are vanquished.

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You must make efforts in maintaining cordial terms with even those you don’t like on professional front.

You have the ability to win over any one’s heart by your inbuilt skills and make them agree on anything you say. Right now all your stars is supporting a big change in your life.

You will get lots of appreciation from your senior at work.

Overcoming challenges is something no one can know better than you. Make peace with people who you haven’t talked with in a while. Anyone undergoing any form of training will do it successfully.

In life there are always ups and down in life that doesn’t mean that we stop having hope in tough times. Youngsters will spend a day full of enthusiasm. You will get all the love and attention from your lover.

Generating big profits must be your priority at this moment.

You will realise your goal, all you have to do is to figure out how to reach it.

If you want something you achieve it and nothing can beat that.

You have an awesome romantic life and your lover always stand by you no matter what. Unity is must specially during the current times.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You are a philosopher and lots of your actions are based on this trait. You will devote a lot of time in fun and entertainment. You have managed to prepare well for your exams and you will surely get good results.

Disapproval in domestic matters must not happen rather sit and discuss.

You are a good parents and always try an understand your child’s emotions. You value people who cares for you and who have stood by you when you need them. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward.

Your achievements speaks for you.

You may go for a new diet which may not taste good but will be extremely beneficial for you. You will be entertained by calls whole day.

Your mother may put you up to some work. You have an excellent choice in dressing and you stand out. Refrain from any unnecessary expenditure.

You have a taste for art.

You are a pure soul. You love to connect with nature. Mutual liking proliferates on romance front. You will try hobby for a change You are a fitness freak and in a very good shape. Professionally you are doing alright and you have a secure job.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Those unwell can expect a quick recovery. You will redecorate your house today. Youngsters will spend lot of time in studying something. Your parents may need to see some sincerity from your side to support your dream. Professionally you leave no stone unturned in impressing boss.

You have to fight for your right and don’t give up till the very end. A friends support is indicated by your cards. Real estate business men/women can sign a profitable deal today. Control over a certain segment of business in the market is what makes you a known personality.

You may start a new clothing business and your spouse will be hundred percent supportive. You are stubborn when it comes to getting things done your way. You sometimes think differently than others and become the odd one out. Special care may be needed by house’s old people.

You need to workout regularly if you occasionally indulge in eating junk food. You have a balanced approach in life and you can very well manage and priorities things. You are a lucky person when it comes to family. You miss the old life and sometimes way too much.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

ASHI KHANNA, Content Creator

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

11

Traditional

With the post hitting the photosharing platform, more than 1 lakh netizens liked the traditional avatar of the diva.

AVATAR Malaika Arora

B

ollywood diva Malaika Arora on Monday soared temperatures as she channelled her traditional avatar in a Manish Malhotra’s designer lehenga for a photoshoot.

The 46-year-old diva shared her stunning pictures on Instagram, in which she flaunted her lean figure in a grey lehenga choli. In the picture, Malaika looks gorgeous as she

effortlessly poses in the designer lehenga by celebrity fashion designer Manish Malhotra. In the picture, the fitness enthusiast is seen sporting the grey lehenga choli with designer border and accessorised her looks with minimal jewellery.

Malaika is seen sporting a mang teeka with nude makeup and has added emerald green bangles and rings, which completed the glamorous traditional look for the diva.

Along with the picture, she tagged designer, Malhotra as she captioned the picture. Later on, the designer also shared a video and snap from the photo-shoot.

With the post hitting the photosharing platform, more than 1 lakh netizens liked the traditional avatar of the diva.

Malhotra also praised Malaika in the comments section writing, “stunning you in #Taban.” (along

with two red heart emojis).

Amrita Arora also chimed into the comments section and left fire and red heart emojis.

Of late, the mother of one has been quite active on social media and has been updating fans on her activities by sharing pictures and videos. Earlier, Malaika Arora shared a glimpse of her yoga session with her pet dog - Casper.

—ANI

... her post

PRINCESS

MASK SELFIE

W

ith the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, many celebrities have come forward to promote wearing masks and spreading awareness on why it’s important to do so. Joining the long list are Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, who have been doing their part in aiding those affected by COVID-19. This includes donating USD one million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. Moreover, Lively took to her Instagram Stories recently to show off her and Reynolds’ masks, which were crafted by their three children.

James, Inez, and Betty showed off their designing skills when they decorated masks which were modelled proudly by their parents.

Showing off the masks goofily is everyone’s favourite couple as Blake’s mask was filled with yellow stars and a small girl’s face while Ryan’s mask comprised a bunch of

DIANA

A

ustralian actor Elizabeth Debicki will play Diana, Princess of Wales, in seasons five and six of ‘The Crown,’ the Netflix series announced on Sunday.

According to reports, the 29-year-old actor will join a new cast for the series that includes Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret and Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip. Staunton succeeds Olivia Colman and Claire Foy in the role. Emma Corrin is playing Diana on the drama’s upcoming fourth season, but Debicki will take on the part for what’s sure to be the character’s most dramatic chapters.

Seasons five and six are expected to be the show’s final seasons. However, the premiere date of season four has not been announced yet.

Debicki said on Twitter.

“Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me hooked from episode one.” The latest report states that the Debicki is seen as a rising star after a breakout performance in Steve McQueen’s ‘Widows’.

—ANI Elizabeth Debicki

different shapes and patterns. What had fans cackling was The Rhythm Section star’s caption to the wacky mask selfie which read as, “We won’t embarrass them at all in middle school.” We love how the couple manages to troll their kids like they do each other!

—Agency

... her post

PZ THANKS

MAHI T

NISHIKANT PASSES AWAY AT 50

F

ilmmaker Nishikant Kamant passed away in Hyderabad on Monday; he was believed to be suffering from chronic liver disease.

Riteish Deshmukh, who starred in the late filmmaker’s ‘Lai Bhaari’ shared on twitter, “I will miss you my friend. #NishikantKamat Rest In Peace.”

Ajay Devgn, who had starred in ‘Drishyam’ wrote, “My equation with Nishikant was not just about Drishyam, a film which he directed with Tabu and me. It was an as-

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Late Nishikant Kamant

sociation that I cherished. He was bright; ever-smiling. He has gone too soon. RIP Nishikant.”

—ANI

Preity Zinta

hanking India’s World Cupwinning captain MS Dhoni for all the incredible memories, actor Preity Zinta on Monday shared a throwback picture with the former Indian skipper as she said that ‘You are and always will be the coolest one.’

“The Helicopter has landed but the ride will be unforgettable,” wrote the Kal Ho Naa Ho’ actor as she remembered the Dhoni’s signature Helicopter shot. The ‘Koi Mil Gaya’ star put out to Twitter a throwback picture that captured a light moment between the two. In the picture, Zinta is seen holding hand with the ‘Captain Cool’ as they both share a smile, amid the cricket field.

The picture seems to be taken in between an IPL match as Preity is seen sporting the ‘Kings XI Punjab’ team Tshirt while Dhoni is seen wearing the ‘Chennai Super Kings’ T-shirt as he holds the cricket protective helmet.

She continued to write in the post, “Thank you @msdhoni for all the incredible memories. You are and always will be the coolest one. Wish you all the best in life #Captaincool #Legend #India’sfinest #ting.”

—ANI

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION CITY FIRST

A

V Muraleedharan

Prem Bhandari during the session

s India celebrated its 74th Independence Day, the country must pay its regards to the multitude of COVID-19 warriors and frontlines workers who have been working tirelessly to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Union Minister V Muraleedharan said on Sunday.

The Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs was the chief guest at a ‘Virtual Kavi Sammelan’ organized by Jaipur Foot USA to celebrate India’s Independence Day which was presided over

by Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External

Affairs PP Chaudhary.

Moderator Deepender Singh welcomed and felicitated everyone at the ‘Virtual Kavi Sammelan’.

He also threw light on the importance of 15 August.

Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari said India’s Independence Day celebration this year was “very special” as it came just days after the 5 August ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ ceremony of the Ram Temple

THE UNIQUE GESTURE CITY FIRST

S

tate Bank of India Jaipur Circle celebrated the 74th Independence Day in a very unique way. On this occasion, the Chief General Manager of Jaipur Division Amitava Chatterjee hoisted the flag at the head office in the city. The institution providing food to the needy families provided assistance of Rs 5 Lacs to Akshaya Patra.

This month, 4 ventilators were provided in the government hospitals in Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Alwar, in Rajasthan, respectively. Drought relief ration materials were also provided to 201 needy families by the bank management.

General manager, Shiva Om Dixit, Anuj Bhatnagar,

HAPPY B’DAY!

gling with the COVID-19 pandemic were given sanitizer, face shields and face masks. The bank also planted saplings for environmental protection through bank branches across Rajasthan. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

HAPPENINGS IN GUJARAT! —PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI

GUJARAT: People from the Parsi Community in Ahmedabad greeting each other as they celebrate ‘Navroj’, Parsi new year outside the Parsi Agiyari Temple on Sunday, as the temple is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

GUJARAT: A Digambar Jain family was seen getting blessings from Lord Mahavir Ji, as Paryushan week started in the Ahmedabad city inside the Hutheesing Jain Temple in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

WORLD SITAR FESTIVAL CITY FIRST

Circle Development Officer Deshbandhu Kataria and senior officials of the bank and their family members attended the ceremony, following the norms of social distancing.

Jaipur traffic police strug-

in Ayodhya, terming it “a dream come true” for Hindus around the world.

Republican candidate for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District Robert Lancia, addressing the event, said the “oldest democracy in the world, the United States and the largest democracy in the world, India, need to be working together closer than ever.”

Poet Madan Mohan Samar and US-based poet Abhinav Shukla was the special attraction of the Webinar and they both elegantly presented their love for the nation.

Rajendra Bafna gave the vote of thanks and felicitated everyone to spare some of their precious time on behalf of Jaipur Foot USA. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

GUJARAT: Food packets, water, medicine and other necessary items were distributed in Limbayat Zone, Surat on Saturday. 4 boats were also sent by the SMC Commissioner for the same.

S

waranjali, Pracheen Kala Kendra and Gunijankhana organized the World Sitar Festival, where 35 sitarists from 12 countries including India, Sri Lanka, Germany, Bangladesh, Singapore, Japan, United States and Scotland among others. The festival began with the speech of the chief guest Dinesh K Patnaik, Director General) ICCR, Sajal Kosar, Secretary, Pracheen Kala Kendra, Dr Ajit Pradhan, Founder of Navaras School of Performing Arts, Akhilesh and Rashmita Jha from Gunijankhana and Convenor of the Program. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

12

GUJARAT: Overflow of water occurred due to heavy rainfall in the Limbayat, Udhna stretch of Surat, due to which the entire Mithikhadi was flooded. On Sunday, the Unity Charitable Trust distributed water bottles, milk, biscuits here.

PROUD MOMENT

T IAS Sushree Chinmayee Gopal celebrated her birthday on 17 August, Monday. We wish her all the best!

he Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), formed by CII in 2001, with the support of Government, Architects, Corporate, Developers, Engineers, Institutes and many other stakeholders, has enabled India to become one of the top 5 countries in the world in terms of the built-up area of green developments. There are 5,975 projects equivalent to 7.55 billion sq ft which are adopting IGBC green rating programmes.

GUJARAT: People seen boating inside the Heritage Sarkhej Roja Lake in Ahmedabad on Monday. The water level of the lake rose due to rainfall in the past —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI few days.

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

UTTAR PRADESH: On the occasion of 74th Independence Day, National Secretary, AICC, Vivek Bansal hoisted the flag in the presence of various Congress officials at Maris Road, Aligarh. Yameen Khan Meo recited poems of love for the nation and enthused the party workers.

RAJASTHAN: On the 74th Independence Day, Shekhawati Horse Riding School, Sirsi commemorated the day with their students.

National Coach Army 61 retired, Madan Singh Shekhawat shared that the programme was organised to motivate people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RAJASTHAN: The monthly ration was distributed to 20 families by Castelino Eye Foundation in presence of Bishop Oswald Louis, who shared that the ration will be distributed to these families for one year.

RAJASTHAN: The Secretary of Department of Art & Culture, Government of Rajasthan and Literary Secretary, IAS Association, Mugdha Sinha was seen in conversation with Vedic Astrologer, Spiritual Counselor and Theta Healer, Medha on a live chat on the IAS Literary Society Facebook page on Monday, where Medha mentioned, “Astrology is like your own user manual guide.”

RAJASTHAN: FICCI Flo is all set to launch its ‘Ficci Flo Mentorship Cell’ today, 18 August.

Flo Jaipur and Flo Kanpur have joined their hands together and are stepping towards growth, empowerment. After the launch, keynote speaker, Gunjan Jain will be talking about ‘Mentoring: The Key Pillar to Success’ in a webinar, to enlighten the members on mentorship.

RAJASTHAN: Abhilasha Women’s Welfare Society celebrated Independence Day with Naya Savera at Nirman Nagar. During the occasion, sweets were distributed to children.