First India-Ahmedabad Edition-18 July 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

26°C - 34°C

ALERT AHMEDABAD l SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

5,95,091 1,40,64,813 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 11,452 DEATHS 2,92,589 CASES

HIGH DRAMA IN

CONFIRMED CASES

DELHI 3,571 DEATHS 1,20,107 CASES

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 233

INDIA

26,281 10,39,018 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 2,315 DEATHS 1,60,907 CASES

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GUJARAT

2,108 DEATHS

KARNATAKA 1,152 DEATHS 55,115 CASES

46,516

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 546 DEATHS 27,789 CASES

Now its State vs Centre after FIR against Shekhawat!

RAJ HC: No action against Pilot, MLAs till Tuesday

Aditi Nagar & Kartikey Dev Singh Jaipur: The stage is set for the biggest battle of our times effectively pitching the Centre against the State. In a swift ‘stroke’, the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), on Friday, registered two FIRs against union minister for Jal Shakti and Jodhpur MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

and two others, for trying to topple the state government. This development is touted to have far reaching implications on the politics of Rajasthan. Moreover, political observers are now viewing the recently conducted IT raid on few Congress leaders, as motivated by the current political game.

Meanwhile, two FIRs have been registered by Congress leader Mahesh Joshi pertaining to the audio clips on the alleged conspiracy to topple Rajasthan government. “There were two complaints from Mahesh Joshi (Congress leader), it is with respect to the audio

that went viral yesterday. We registered 2 FIRs under section 124A and 120B. The veracity of clip is to be investigated,” said Ashoke Rathore, ADG - SOG. “Sanjay Jain was interrogated yesterday, he was called today also.

Presently we are trying to ascertain some facts from him,” the police official added. Jain was subjected to interrogation on Friday after which the SOG arrested the man. Rathore said it would not be appropriate to comment until it is established in the investigation that the alleged names that have surfaced in the complaint and audio clips are those the real per-

Ashok Gehlot

sons. He also said SOG is also going to move court for permission to hold voice spectrography tests to match the voice samples.

Earlier in the morning, the Congress accused Union Cabinet minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Congress legislator Bhanwarlal Sharma of conspiring to topple the elected government in Rajasthan.

Turn on P6

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

‘Not an inch of our land can be taken by any power in the world’

—PHOTO BY ANI

Lukung (Ladakh): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday assured that not an inch of our land can be taken by any power in the world while he interacted with the Indian Army and ITBP personnel at Lukung.

Referring to the India-China border standoff, he said, “Talks are underway to resolve the border dispute but to what extent it can be resolved I cannot guarantee. I can assure you, not one inch of our land can be taken by any power in the world.” Emphasising on finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff, Turn on P6

Speaker postpones hearing for four days First India Bureau Jaipur: Former Rajasthan PCC Chief and deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress dissident MLAs on Friday received a four-day reprieve from any action by the assembly Speaker on the disqualification notices served on them, after the Rajasthan High Court extended its hearing on the issue to coming Monday from 10 AM onwards.

The division bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta, hearing the dissident MLAs’ petition against the Speaker’s notices, adjourned Friday evening. The counsel for the Speaker assured the court that no order shall be

Cops stand before Raj SOG sleuths, disallowing them to enter hotel for 70 min where MLAs are ‘housed’!

Aditi Nagar Sachin Pilot

passed on the notice till 5.30 pm on Tuesday. Keeping in tune with the Court directive, Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi also later announced postponing the hearing on the notice he had served to these nineteen legislators, till Tuesday 21st July.

Earlier, Speaker DR. CP Joshi had written to the court that the notices would not be acted upon till 5 pm on Friday.

Turn on P6

Jaipur: Even as the SOG filed an FIR against union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a Special Operations Group team left for Manesar in Haryana to take statements of Congress MLAs purportedly heard talking in a viral audio clip about horse-trading of legislators to topple the Gehlot government in Rajasthan, an official said on Friday.

Dissident Congress legislators, supporting Rajasthan’s former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, are holed up in a resort in Manesar.

“A team is ready and will leave for Manesar to ascertain the versions of those whose names have come up in audio clips as there have been statements that these audio clips are fake or morphed,” ADG (ATS & SOG) Ashok Rathore said in the morning after which the team left for its destination.

However, an interesting chain of events unfolded at Manesar where the Rajasthan Police team was stopped by their Haryana counterparts outside the hotel premises. The team was stalled outside Turn on P6

Encounter not fake: UP police to apex court

Modi calls for reform in global multilateral system, UN

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday submitted before the Supreme Court that encounter of history-sheeter Vikas Dubey, who was the main accused in the

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a strong pitch for reforming the global multilateral system to enhance its relevance, improve its effectiveness and to make it the basis of a new type of humancentric globalisation while noting that India firmly believes that the path to achieving sustainable peace and prosperity is through multilateralism.

Addressing ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) commemoration of UN’s 75th anniversary, he said multilateralism needs to represent the reality of the contempo-

DUBEY

ENCOUNTER

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inspects a Pika machine gun at Stakna Leh on Friday.

Haryana cops ‘halt’ SOG in its Manesar ‘checking’ exercise

killing of eight cops in Kanpur, cannot be termed as fake.

The police made the submission in a detailed reply before the apex court on two petitions seeking a highlevel probe into the encounter of Vikas Dubey Turn on P6

rary world as only reformed multilateralism with a reformed United Nations at its centre can meet the aspirations of humanity.

“India firmly believes that the path to achieving sustainable peace and prosperity is through multilateralism. As children of planet Earth, we must

join hands to address our common challenges and achieve our common goals. However, multilateralism needs to represent the reality of the contemporary world. Only reformed multilateralism with a reformed United Nations at its centre can meet the aspirations of humanity,” PM said.

“Today, while celebrating 75 years of the United Nations, let us pledge to reform the global multilateral system. To enhance its relevance, to improve its effectiveness, and to make it the basis of a new type of human-centric globalisation,” the PM said.

Dalit youth accused of theft found murdered in Banaskantha VILLAGE SARPANCH HANSRAJ PUROHIT, 5 OTHERS DETAINED ON SUSPICION OF VIGILANTE JUSTICE HARESH JHALA Palanpur: Dhanera police have detained sarpanch Hansraj Purohit and five others of Ravi village for allegedly kidnapping and murdering a Dalit youth who was suspected of committing a theft.

Pintu Gulchar’s naked corpse was found in the village square on

Friday morning.

A relative of the deceased, Sanjay Gulchar told First India “The sarpanch and five others came to Pintu’s house last (Thursday) night and summoned him to join them for some work.

He never came back home. We found his body in the morning and called the police.”

Dhanera Police In-

A 25-year-old youth named Pintu Galchar of Ravi village of Dhanera tehsil of Banaskantha district of Gujarat was murdered last night. It is clear that after the murder, he was dragged naked. We will not sit peacefully until all the culprits are arrested. —Jignesh Mevani, Vadgam MLA and Dalit leader spector SA Dabhi told First India that police has detained village sarpanch Hansraj Purohit and five others in connection with the murder. He added, “Deputy Superinten-

dent of Police SK Vala too had rushed to the village when informed about the case. A postmortem is being carried out.”

The bruising on his body suggests that

Pintu was tortured before he died, possibly by being dragged at the back of a motorcycle, Sanjay Gulchar also said.

Inspector Dabhi said that while the complain-

ant did not mention any possible reason for the kidnapping and murder, primary questioning of the accused revealed that Pintu was suspected of committing a theft in the village.

“The accused said that a theft had taken place in a shop and that the deceased was seen in CCTV footage from the area at the same time. So they suspected that Pintu Gulchar was behind

the burglary,” he said.

Purohit reportedly also told the police that Pintu was suspected of committing other thefts as well, and had even booked for theft and in a liquor case.

Inspector Dabhi said that the case registered against the accused is under IPC sections for kidnapping, murder, conspiracy and even under the Atrocities Act. All six will have to undergo a test for COVID-19 before they are arrested and produced before the court.

NEWS AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

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02

—PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI

Travellers to Ahmedabad line up to be tested for COVID-19 at entry points into the city. With the numbers rising in Bhavnagar even as they are falling in Ahmedabad, the former has also tightened entry norms.

A’BAD, SURAT, MUMBAI PUT

BHAVNAGAR @ RISK

COLLECTOR CONFIRMS 6 LAKH PEOPLE HAVE ENTERED THE DISTRICT IN UNLOCK 1.0 Gargi Raval Ahmedabad: With their high incidence of COVID-19, Surat, Ahmedabad and Mumbai are now putting Bhavnagar at risk.

More than 350 of Bhavnagar’s total 842 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the past week and the spurt is being attributed to migration from the Surat, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. As a result, the local police and district administration have started screening of those entering the district.

A notification from the Bhavnagar collectorate and magistrate, issued on Thursday, reveals that contact tracing of COVID-19 patients

firmly points the finger at Surat, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

“Around 6 lakh people from outside have entered the district since Unlock 1.0 was imposed,” Gaurang Makwana, Bhavnagar district collector told First India.

The district administration has limited entry into the district to two points, both manned by teams of medical and police personnel.

“Keeping in mind the source of infection, the district administration has decided to screen people coming from outside the city. These checkposts have been functions for a long time but, for the last few days, we have

Govt data for Bhavnagar, as on Thursday.

strengthened the inspection,” Makwana added.

The limited entry points have led to long lines of vehicles but local doctors say things are likely to get worse before they get better.

In fact, former president of the Gujarat chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr MR Kanani says this is just the beginning.

“The number of cases will increase further

as many people have reached Bhavnagar from highly infected places. Moreover, most of the people are preferring to get admitted at private hospitals that are already full. Plus, testing results are already delayed by limited infrastructure,” he said, adding that the association has donated four high-flow oxygen units to the government and suggested that the 300-bed dental college at Amargadh be pressed into service as a COVID-19 hospital.

Fifteen people have died due to the virus already.

Infrastructure aside, the district is also facing an acute shortage of drugs used to combat the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

The Bhavnagar Dis-

trict Chemists Association has written to the district collector and municipal commissioner complaining that the district is facing a shortage of Remdesiver and that Tocilizumab is not available anywhere.

“Looking at the current situation in Bhavnagar, we feel the district should stock up on these medicines to prevent any disaster. Moreover, these injections should be given at the company rate to all those who are in need and not to just VIP patients,” mentioned Pradip Mehta, president of the association.

“Outsiders are under the impression that the district has a high recovery rate. What they

Members of a medical team during a testing drive at Sanathal on Friday.

forget is that, after Surat, Bhavnagar is the hub of the diamond business. Plus, workers who had left Alang have begun to return to their jobs in the ship-breaking industry. All these factors have added to

the incidence of COVID-19 cases. At a present, average 60% of the cases are from urban areas while 40% are reported in rural areas,” said Kalu Dave, a senior reporter based in Bhavnagar.

DyCM inaugurates 1000CLASS ACT: Rupani govt holds back bed nCov hospital in Surat order to reduce primary teachers’ salary Rolls back circular that would have cut pay from Rs4,200 to Rs2,800 beginning next month

First India Bureau

l

CM with State Primary Teachers’ Federation prez Digvijaysinh Jadeja and Primary Teachers’ Association prez Bhikhabhai Patel.

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s government on Friday decided to roll back changes to the paygrade of primary schoolteachers. It has decided to put on hold the Education Department’s circular dated June 25, 2019, through which the monthly salary of teachers hired after 2010 was to be reduced from Rs4,200 to Rs2,800.

The circular was to meant to come into

effect from next month.

The decision came after Rupani and Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama met with the representatives of teachers’ associations on Friday.

Chudasama told the media that--through this decision--the chief minister aims to quell disappointment and dissatisfaction caused by the circular among primary schoolteachers and give them relief.

He added that the state also aims to ensure that no section of the society faces injustice at the hands of the BJP government. As a result, chose to arrive at a solution through discussions and dialogue to resolve the dispute.

Schoolteachers across the state had been protesting for more than a week, demanding that their old wages be restored.

They had called for a “Black Friday” pro-

test and had staged sitins and strikes in their respective schools.

Gujarat State Primary Teachers’ Federation president Digvijaysinh Jadeja told the media that Friday’s decision follows several rounds of meetings with the state education department and minister.

Although the state has promised to put the 2019 circular on the backburner, this will not happen immediately. “It will

take a month or two since the education department has to complete all its procedures,” said Bhikhabhai Patel, president of the Gujarat Primary Teachers’ Association.

Congress Party’s spokesman Manish Doshi had sat on a token fast on Thursday in support of teachers. He had said that 65,000 teachers were going to be affected by this “illogical circular” and demanded that it be scrapped.

Surat: Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel inaugurated a 1000bed COVID-19 hospital in Surat via video conferencing on Friday. The hospital has been equipped with facilities such as oxygen supply, ventilators, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and other resources. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, State Health & Family Welfare Minister Kishor ‘Kumar’ Kanani, Surat Mayor Jagdish Patel, MPs and MLAs were also present at the conference virtually.

Established at an investment of Rs97 crore, the hospital will provide treatment to COVID-19 patients.

Similarly, another COVID-19 hospital is being built, which is

Deputy CM Nitin Patel

expected to be ready by August 15, said State Special Officer Milind Torvane.

The hospitals were ordered to be built

by CM Rupani on July 4, after a surge in cases was reported post Unlock 1.0 & 2.0. The 1000-bed COVID-19 hospital on the Civil Hospital premises has been prepared on a war footing basis in just 15 days. Rupani congratulated and laud-

ed the health department and the district administration for the quick and effective operation.

“There were 1,500 beds available in Surat government hospitals and 800 in private hospitals. Another 1,000 beds have been added with this new hospital, taking the total tally of beds for COVID-19 in Surat to 3,300 beds,” said Rupani.

While Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel termed the achievement of setting up the hospital as ‘a golden page in the history of Gujarat’s health sector’.

Patel also pointed out that the state government has taken special care to control the transition of novel coronavirus in the industrial metropolis Surat.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

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12,830 samples tested, 949 cases reported in day of highs

Med students to be drafted into service as tally touches 46,516 cases, with 2,108 dead Haresh Jhala Gandhinagar: The state, which tested 12,830 samples in one day, recorded 949 fresh cases of COVID-19.

Both these figures are the highest since Gujarat reported its first case of the disease in March. Amid the burgeoning crisis, the government has now decided to pull final year medical students into service to meet the shortage of staff across the state.

According to a circular issued on Friday evening, students—including those in the first year—pursuing MBBS, BDS, BAMS, Physiotherapy, BSc nursing, GNM and BSc microbiology degrees will be roped into service to meet the labour shortage. They will be given different tasks and will be trained to carry them out.

The 949 fresh cases,

ROUND-UP

A woman gets tested for COVID-19 in Ahmedabad.

and 17 deaths, emerged from 30 districts and eight municipal areas.

Surat still tops the list with 234 new cases, 177 of which were from the city. Ahmedabad comes in next with 184, while Vadodara has 77 new cases, Rajkot has 58, Bharuch, 47, Bhavnagar, 44, Navsari, 30 and Mehsana and Kheda have 21 each.

Civic body continues to censor nCov information

There are 11,464 active cases in the state, with 71 patients on ventilator support.

In Surat, five more doctors have tested positive, as have 12 diamond workers, and nine persons associated with the textile sector.

Rajkot city now has 537 total cases, of which 256 are active ones.

With the Ahmedabad

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Municipal Corporation declaring 10 more microcontainment zones, the city now has 196 of them.

Vadodara has 760 active cases, of which 125 patients are on oxygen support and 38 are on Bipap machines. Padra town observed a bandh to pay tribute to those who died due to the novel coronavirus. With cases on the rise, traders in

Por on the outskirts of Vadodara have decided to operate between only from 8 am to 4 pm.

Dhrangadhra MLA Parsottam Sabariya has written to the district collector demanding a 15-day lockdown. Similarly, Halvad Nagarpalika has also demanded lockdown, and Unja businesses will remain closed July 20-25.

With heavy rain ahead, 15 NDRF teams sent in

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: It seems that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has not paid heed to the outcry regarding censorship of COVID-19 data, and has continued to censor information related to the pandemic.

The figures of daily COVID-19 sample collection and testing was not revealed by the local civic body. However, information about the number of tests conducted during the first two weeks under OSD Rajiv Gupta’s charge was shared in comparison to the period prior to it.

—FILE PHOTO

After sharing information about the list of COVID-19 positive cases, housing societies under quarantine and areawise data, AMC ceased revelation of all data, citing privacy concerns. At the same time, the civic body has continued to release videos of patients who have received treatment for COVID-19 from various hospitals.

“This is the home ground of the prime minister and the union home minister. They want to project it as a model city. That is why the local authority is hiding data,” said Dinesh Sharma, Leader of the Opposition, AMC.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: With a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Saurashtra and South Gujarat over the next 72 hours, all districts in the region have been alerted by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The state government body has also issued guidelines to avert any natural calamity due to the deluge about to befall the region. Over 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to the coastal districts.

According to sources, after receiving an alert from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), six NDRF teams have been stationed at Surat and Valsad, while five teams have been dispatched to Navsari. One team has been

The rains have damaged roads across Ahmedabad.

ADVANCE PLANNING

S

kept on stand-by for Saurashtra districts namely Amreli, Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Bhavnagar. Fishermen have also been asked not to venture into the sea for the next five days.

A cyclonic circulation over South Gujarat and its neighbour-

hood now lies between 1.5 and 7.6 km above mean sea level tilting southwestwards with height. A trough runs from the above cyclonic circulation over to south at Madhya Pradesh across north at Maharashtra between 1.5 and 2.1 km above mean sea level.

On Day 1 of 2-day visit, Central Surat needs docs, drugs, tests: IMA Guj health team lauds Guj efforts First India Bureau

Ruchi Thakar & Haresh Jhala

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

03

Surat/Ahmedabad: A four-member team from the Central government visited Surat and Ahmedabad on Friday to review the novel coronavirus situation in the city, which has emerged as the new hotspot in the state, and to provide necessary guidance to the local authorities.

Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who is part of the team expressed confidence that just like Ahmedabad, the viral outbreak will be brought under control in Surat as well.

Surat district has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections in recent days and recorded 9,451 COVID-19 cases and 395 deaths so far, second only to Ahmedabad.

In addition to Dr Gu-

Doctors with ICMR’s Dr Bhargava & AIIMS’s Dr Guleriya at the Surat Civil Hospital on Friday. —ANI

leria, the team includes NITI Aayog member Vinod Paul, director general of ICMR Dr Balram Bhargava and additional secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Arti Ahuja.

The team held discussions with senior officials and doctors of Surat’s civil hospital about the present situation, treatment protocols and availability of medicines

to fight the pandemic, an official said. It also visited containment zones in the city before leaving for Ahmedabad.

Guleria said he was hopeful of curbing the COVID-19 spread in Surat. “We held detailed discussions on various aspects like patient management, medicines and plasma therapy. We understood the issues and gave solutions,” he said.

The team stressed on the importance of better treatment for patients, contact tracing and testing to bring down the cases gradually, he added.

In Ahmedabad, NITI Aayog’s Vinod Paul said that a few good initiatives such as the Dhanvantri Raths, have been undertaken by the state government which can be implemented in other states.

Surat: The Gujarat branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) put forth its recommendations to curtail the transmission of COVID-19 in Surat before a fourmember Central team from Delhi which visited the city on Friday.

Representatives of the IMA stated that the first step is to increase sample testing and supply of the Tocilizumab injection.

Dr Chandresh Jardosh, President, IMA, Gujarat branch told First India, “Surat is going through a bad phase and if we want to control the spread of SarsCoV-2, an increment in sample testing is a must. If people infected with the virus are identified, it would be easy to isolate them and break the chain of transmission.”

He added, “The testing numbers being re-

corded right now are not enough. And, even though the government has capped the cost of COVID-19 test at Rs2,500, people are not getting tested. The government should make antigen testing free of cost. As for COVID-19 tests, they should be conducted on OPD patients too.”

The IMA team also recommended an increase in the supply of the Tocilizumab injection, known to help COVID-19 patients. In proportion to the number of patients being treated at hospitals, at least 250 vials can address any immediate need for the injectable drug.

With doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, lab technicians and ward boys working round-theclock, a call for recruitment of additional medical staff was also suggested by the IMA. This is to facilitate breaks and self-quarantine for existing medical staff.

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST

Youth arrested while trying to sneak into Pak to meet girlfriend

An engineering student from Maharashtra, Zeeshan Siddique had planned to meet the woman he’d befriended on social media

A+ FOR EFFORT



First India Bureau Bhuj: A 21-year-old man from Maharashtra has been apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the Rann of Kutch while he was trying to sneak into Pakistan on foot, officials said on Friday.

Police said that as per the preliminary probe, the man, identified as

Zeeshan Siddique, was on his way to meet a woman in Pakistan whom he had befriended on a social media platform.

“Siddique was held by the BSF on Thursday night and later handed over to the local police. He is from Osmanabad town in Maharashtra,” said Parikshita Rathod, Kutch-East Superintendent of Police.

A board signalling the approach to the Indo-Pak border in Kutch.

An engineering student, Zeeshan went missing on July 11 following which his par-

ents lodged a missing complaint with the local police station. Soon the police tracked him

—FILE PHOTO

driving towards the Pakistan border.

“The police had issued an alert after a mo-

torcycle with Maharashtra registration number was found abandoned near Dhola-

vira village in the Rann of Kutch on Thursday evening. The BSF later nabbed the man when he was found walking towards the border in a bid to enter Pakistan,” Rathod added.

With the help of GPS, Siddique reached Kutch and then up to Kala Dungar in the desert. He even inquired about a better road, as he was doubtful whether he would be able to cross the desert or not.

After his motorcycle got stuck in the sand, he started walking towards Pakistan in a bid to meet his social media friend living in

that country.

The BSF team found him in the desert a few kilometres from the Indian border. He has been taken to a central interrogation centre, where agency officers will interrogate him. If he is cleared of all suspicion, he will be free to go.

There have been incidents when Pakistani agencies have tried to trap Indian youths through social media and even defence services personnel through fake IDs on social media. It remains to be seen whether Zeeshan was walking into a trap or not.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

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SADHGURU, ISHA FOUNDATION

IN-DEPTH

ANTI-DEFECTION LAW IS BACK IN SPOTLIGHT

Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author Sadhguru has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2017, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service

C

A

s an intense court battle ensued in the Rajasthan High Court on Friday after Sachin Pilot challenged the Speaker CP Joshi’s disqualification notice to him and 18 other legislators, the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution was brought into focus. The legislation, also known as Anti-Defection Law, was enacted to address the problem of instability caused to democratically-elected governments by legislators shifting loyalties from the parties of which they are elected members. The Speaker’s notice to Pilot, the sacked deputy chief minister, and other dissidents was issued on the basis of a complaint by the ruling Congress party. Joshi gave them time till Friday to reply to the notice but Pilot went to the High Court.

Justifying his action, the Speaker told the court through senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi that the petition questioning the Tenth Schedule should not be entertained as it may render related judgments of the Supreme Court useless. Singhvi also argued that his client was within his remit while taking into consideration dissidents’ speeches and activities even outside the House. In that respect, it was within the Constitution.

Arguing against the Speaker’s order senior counsel Harish Salve said that the Tenth Schedule won’t apply in the present context.

“If it is an act outside the assembly, it will not come in the Tenth Schedule. If there is a difference of opinion with the CM or you speak against him, then he will not fall in the category of disqualification,” Salve said.

He argued that the party whip is applicable only when the assembly is in session and that the whip won’t apply on “meetings in homes and hotels”.

As the hearing will now resume on Monday, the legal issue raised promises that the battle will now be a long drawn one.

Meanwhile what the Jaipur political drama, like the one which played out in Madhya Pradesh a few months ago, has exposed is the Congress Party’s central leadership’s inability to act decisively. It is the problem of indecision or procrastination which forced Jyotiraditya Scindia to say good-bye to the party of which his father Madhavrao Scindia was an important part. In the case of Sachin Pilot also the central leadership sat quietly and watched till a breaking point was reached.

Another issue facing the leadership is its inability to strike a balance between the young and the old leaders. Managing the ambitions of the experienced senior leaders and relatively less experienced young Turks is a tough call. So far it has failed to strike the critical balance in the party and seem to favour one side instead of trying out a mix of the two. This quandary is threatening the grand old party’s very existence. Madhya Pradesh has been snatched by the BJP. Now a desperate fight is on to save Rajasthan also from falling into BJP’s net.

Thought itself is a reverberation and an energy.

You cannot generate a thought without energy. It is just that because it is happening in such a haphazard way, maybe it does not have the necessary energy to manifest itself.

You can generate so much energy with your thought process that you could kill someone

an a thought be empowered with one’s energy, to make it manifest into reality?

Sadhguru: Whatever people aspire for in their life – whether it is to grow a business, build a house or whatever else – the thought: “I want this” arises.

Once this thought happens, for most people, they focus their energy towards that something through action and start working towards it. If their action is incisive enough, their thought becomes a reality. That is the usual way people function in the world. But they do not know how to infuse or empower that thought with a certain dimension of energy.

However, if you have some mobility in your energy beyond the physical body, if the mobility becomes a conscious process, you can sit in one place and make your energies go somewhere else. However, if you do this without gaining sufficient mastery over your own life energies, you may not know how to pull the energies back into you. You can lose your life like this. You will see, if someone’s desire is beyond a certain pitch, they always die young. Most people’s desires are fickle. They desire something today, something else tomorrow – it keeps changing.

But if someone desires very powerfully towards something, they die young whether that something happens or not. Especially if that something happens, they die young because they know how to throw their life energies out, but do not have enough mastery to do the work and come back.

A SINGLE-POINTED MIND IS POWERFUL Thought itself is a reverberation and an energy. You cannot generate a thought without energy. It is just that because it is happening in such a haphazard way, maybe it does not have the necessary energy to manifest itself. You can generate so much energy with your thought process that you could kill someone. When your mind is single-pointed, it is a powerful instrument.

Unfortunately, most of the time this singlepointedness happens to people in a negative way, not in a positive way. An angry mind and

EMPOWERING YOUR THOUGHT

also a lustful mind are very single-pointed minds. That is why in Indian culture, children are always warned, “When you are angry, do not say anything negative about somebody,” because if your mind has become single-pointed with anger, it can easily manifest itself.

Let us look at the process of generating a thought. Is your thought conscious or is it just an outcome of a million things that have already gotten into you? When your thought process is unconscious, most of the time it is like mental diarrhea. There is no control over it. It simply rambles because there is old stuff inside. This is just like the more bad food you have in your stomach, the more your diarrhea goes on. When you have mental diarrhea, you cannot call it a thought.

A woman once invited a few friends for dinner. She served dinner and then told her 6-yearold daughter, “Why don’t you say the blessing?” She wanted to show off her daughter a little

Let us look at the process of generating a thought. Is your thought conscious or is it just an outcome of a million things that have already gotten into you?

bit. The daughter said, “I don’t know how to say a blessing.”

The mother said, “Just repeat what mummy says.” So the girl very religiously bent her head, held her hands together and said, “Why on earth did I invite all these people for dinner.”

These things are happening to you, isn’t it? You want to meditate, isn’t your mind talking so many things?

Global health emergency: Still no care for care workers

T

hose who thought that a pandemic would make everyone realize the crucial role of care workers should think again. With the coronavirus still spreading rapidly, frontline workers are more essential – and at greater risk – than ever, yet public attention has shifted elsewhere.

Worse, as economies collapse and labor-market conditions deteriorate, employers in the private and public sector alike have grown more cynical in their treatment of essential workers. Far from instilling a deeper appreciation for their employees, the pandemic-induced surge in unemployment has enabled employers to exploit workers even more.

Capitalism has always had an uneasy relation

ship with care work. Although capitalist production relies heavily on unpaid and underpaid labor performed by women, migrants, and other disadvantaged social groups, it has historically pushed that work off the books and underground, into informality. As a result, all the varied tasks associated with social reproduction are barely recognized, much less rewarded or remunerated.

Because so much care work is performed for free by women and girls within families and communities, it is simply taken for granted and, because it is outside the market, not counted as economic activity.

Unpaid work performed by women who have no other choice thus creates a vicious cycle of devalua-

The pandemicinduced surge in unemployment has enabled employers to exploit workers even more

04

tion. When women do enter labor markets, their wages tend to be lower than those of men, not only because they are willing to work for less, but also because so much of their work is available for free.

Hence, occupations dominated by women – such as in the care sector – tend to

be lower paid; even men doing similar work suffer a wage penalty.

In the case of health care, there are additional occupational hierarchies to navigate, from highly paid “professionals” like specialist physicians down to nurses, ward attendants, and cleaners. Unsurprisingly, the gender balance within each occupation changes as one goes down the pecking order, with women concentrated in the lower-status, worst-paid positions.

Globally, women hold 70% of all health-care jobs.

But they are more likely to be nurses, midwives, and community health workers, while men comprise a disproportionate share of better-paid occupations like surgeons, physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.

Community health work-

ers are perhaps the most exploited of all health workers, especially in developing countries. Often, they are not recognized as workers at all, but rather as “volunteers” (as is true in India). As such, they rarely benefit from formal contracts that provide job security and a fair wage, let alone protections like health care.

Women health-care workers are also more at risk in the current pandemic, because they are more likely to be involved in activities that require close physical contact with patients.

The public acclaim has not translated into better working conditions or higher wages, and certainly not systematic efforts to ensure their physical safety during the pandemic.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.PROJECT-SYNDICATE.ORG

CLEARING YOUR SLATE If you want to write on a blackboard, first you have to wipe it clean. Only then will you be able to write clearly. If a million things have already been written on it and you write something else on that, no one can figure out what you have written. And after sometime neither will you. You have to first clear the space and then generate a thought consciously.

If people have cleared their space and then have a thought, this thought really matters because this has come out of a conscious process. Once this thought is on like this and it is held in that clarity, infusing energy to it can be done.

If you just generate a thought in your mind consciously and if it is single pointed, it will find its way in the world. It will manifest itself naturally. And if you have little more control over your life energies, you can tweak it further.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Rajnath Singh @rajnathsingh Witnessed the Fire and Fury of the Indian Army during the Para Dropping and other military demonstrations at Stakna near Leh today. Also, I got the opportunity to interact with them.

I am proud of these brave and courageous soldiers.

KC Venugopal @kcvenugopalmp It is tragic that the BJP is focusing on toppling a govt that is performing so well against Covid & derailing the preparedness of an entire State & creating panic amongst millions of people as they did in Madhya Pradesh. BJP is a blot on democracy.

Spiritual SPEAK

All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrongdoing remain?

—Buddha

Vol 1 Issue No. 233 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: Jagdeesh Chandra, responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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PM Modi’s constant blunders have fundamentally weakened India: RaGa Disruptions in India’s relationships, weak economy gave China confidence to transgress into our terrain New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, targeted the central government over the India-China stand-off, stating since 2014 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “constant blunders and indiscretions” have fundamentally weakened the country.

He also posted a few minutes long video and asked, “What is it about India’s situation that has made China act in such an aggressive way? What is it about this moment in time that allowed China to take such an aggressive stand against a country like India?”

“Since 2014, the PM’s constant blunders and indiscretions have fundamentally weakened India and left us vulnerable. Empty words don’t suffice in the world of geopolitics,” the Gandhi scion tweeted.

In the video clip, the Congress leader said in the last six years, India was “disturbed” and “disrupted” because it

One has to go in multiple spaces to understand this. Countries are not protected by not one particular thing but by the confluence of forces, the confluence of systems. So a country is protected by its foreign relationships, it is protected by its neighbourhood, it is protected by its economy. It is protected by the feelings that people have. The vision that its people have. In the last six years, in all these areas India has been disturbed and disrupted.

—Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader

failed in various areas such as protecting the economy, foreign relations and added that these situations had “made China act in such an aggressive way.”

“One has to go in multiple spaces to understand this. Countries are not protected by not

JAISHANKAR SLAMS RAHUL ON TWITTER

‘India For Assam’ to raise funds for flood-hit state GOWDA URGES CENTRE TO PROVIDE RELIEF

People ride on a boat to move to a safer place in flood-affected area in Dhubri district of Assam.

Guwahati: An intiative called ‘India for Assam’ has been launched to create awareness about the current flood calamity in the state and help in rehabilitation.

The initiative, launched by media conglomerate Times Network, has urged all countrymen to help Assam by contributing to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, a release by the company said.

Floods are a recurrent feature every year in Assam and this year it has submerged 27 districts and affected more

Floods have submerged 27 districts & affected 40L people than 40 lakh residents.

“Assam flood situation continues to remain grim, painfully displacing both humans and wildlife,” the release said urging for donations.

Times Network MD and CEO M K Anand was quoted in the release : Assam is facing

DON’T TURN BIHAR ELECTION INTO SUPER-SPREADER EVENT: OPPN Patna: Opposition parties in Bihar have written a joint letter to EC asking to ensure an “equal opportunity” in state election due in October-November.

The opposition parties said Election Commission should ensure the twin goals are met - safety of voters from COVID-19, & free & fair election.

“People also expect the

commission to ensure that entire poll exercise does not become a super-spreader event,” they said. “The state has a population of around 13 crore with 7.5 crore voters. How does EC plan to ensure physical distancing of at least two yards recommended by WHO & ICMR, repeatedly advocated by the PM?”

the worst of natures fury, even as it confronts COVID-19. Efforts to restore normalcy in Assam requires our immediate attention. ‘India for Assam’ is a clarion call to the nation, appealing to all Indians to step forward and donate to the task of relief & rehabilitation.Times Network in its continuous news reportage through news stories, special feature, and digital videos will extensively cover the flood and aid the relief efforts through a fund raiser plea, he said.—PTI

MP: 6 COPS SUSPENDED FOR ASSAULTING FARMER COUPLE Bhopal: After shunting out the collector, SP of Guna district and Inspector General (IG) of Gwalior range over the beating of a Dalit couple at Guna, the Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday suspended six police personnel allegedly involved in the incident. Outgoing Guna SP Tarun Nayak issued orders suspending six police personnel including two women cops, official sources said. Ashok Singh Kushwaha, Rajendra Sharma, Pavan Yadav, Narendra Rawat, Neetu Yadav and Rani Raghuwanshi were suspended.

one particular thing but by the confluence of forces, the confluence of systems. So a country is protected by its foreign relationships, it is protected by its neighbourhood, it is protected by its economy. It is protected by the feelings that people have. The vi-

sion that its people have.

In the last six years, in all these areas India has been disturbed and d i s r u p t e d . ” Ta l k i n g about the Centre’s foreign policies, Gandhi stated that the country has strategic partnerships with the United States and Russia, which have now become transactional relations.

“Earlier, India could maneuver in geopolitics with the help of these relations but now India doesn’t enjoy these partnerships any more,” Gandhi said He spoke on India’s current relations with its neighbouring country and said the government has managed to anger Nepal, Bhutan and even Sri Lanka, who used to be friends with our country earlier.

“We have said on multiple occasions that the economy needs major boosts from the government. We have said fire the economy, protect small businesses,” he said. —ANI

05

Who will replace me: Oli changes tack on pressure to quit New Delhi: Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, who has been hemmed in by his rivals in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) for weeks, has suggested that his replacement should be from the CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) faction of the party. The suggestion, made at his meeting with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, is seen as a new effort to drive a wedge between leaders of the rival faction. Dahal, who has been widely seen to be his replacement, is from the CPN (Maoist Centre). The two parties had merged in 2018 to form the Nepal Communist Party.

PM Oli, who came to power in a 50-50 power sharing deal with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, renegotiated the agreement in November 2019 that envisaged letting Dahal run the NCP while he continues to hold the reins of the government.

But pressure has lately been building on Nepal Oli from the triumvirate in the communist party - former PMsDahal, Jha-

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli

MEET ON SUNDAY

la Nath Khanal & Madhav Nepal - to step down.

“It is a ploy to split his opposition & get Dahal & Madhav Nepal fighting among themselves. But I don’t think it will succeed. an NCP leader said. —Agencies

GOLD SMUGGLING CASE

‘Kerala govt will not protect anyone’ Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) Kerala unit chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asserted the party led LDF government would not protect anyone in gold smuggling case & the suspension of a senior IAS officer was a proof of it.

He alleged the opposition Congress-led UDF & BJP were at-

tacking LDF government over the issue as they fear that the ongoing probe by central agencies would “boomerang” on them if it proceeded in the ‘right direction.’

In a Facebook post, Balakrishnan said CM Pinarayi Vijayan removed M Sivasankar as his principal secretary immediately after

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

allegations were raised against him that he had links with

a key accused woman in bid to smuggle gold through diplomatic baggage. Responding to questions by opposition on why govt was hesitant to suspend the officer, he said regardless of nature of allegations, certain procedures had to be followed in order to take action against a senior IAS officer. —PTI

Roshni Nadar takes over ‘No need for CBI probe in Sushant’s death’ as Chief of HCL Tech New Delhi: Roshni Nadar Malhotra, India’s wealthiest woman, is now the chairperson of HCL Technologies, the Noida-based IT company said on Friday. The 38-year-old succeeds her father, Shiv Nadar. The appointment of non-executive director Roshni Nadar Malhotra to the new role takes effect immediately, the company said. Shiv Nadar will continue to be HCL Tech’s MD, with the designation as the chief strategy officer. Born and raised in New Delhi,

Roshni Nadar Malhotra

Roshni studied in Vasant Valley School, and graduated from the Northwestern University in Illinois, USA. She has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

BENGAL BJP MLA’S WIFE MOVES CALCUTTA HC, SEEKS CBI INQUIRY Kolkata: The wife of BJP MLA Debendra Nath Roy, who was found hanging near his home earlier this week, approached the Calcutta High Court on Friday seeking a CBI inquiry into her husband’s death.Chandima Roy, the wife of Debendranath Roy, has moved a writ petition before the High Court seeking a CBI inqui-

ry into the matter. An application seeking hearing of the matter on an urgent basis has also been filed.

Chandima has said that she does not believe that the truth will come out in the police probe. The Hemtabad MLA Roy’s body was found hanging outside his residence in Uttar Dinajpur district on July 13.

Nagpur: There was no need for a CBI probe into death case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput as Mumbai police were capable of handling the matter, said Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. The police were also examining the angle of “business rivalry” in the case, he said.

Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14 and what the police claimed was a case of suicide. In ini-

Sushant Singh

tial, cops had found that actor was under medication for depression. Rajput’s friend, actor Rhea Chakraborty, in a tweet, demanded a CBI inquiry to understand what ‘pressures’ prompted Rajput to take the extreme step. —PTI

NO PLAN TO SHUT, SAYS TIRUPATI TEMPLE AS, STAFF TEST +VE New Delhi: People can continue to visit the famous Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple, the top official of the temple’s board has said amid a controversy over priests and employees getting infected with coronavirus. The temple’s board decided to re-open it on June 11, in line with the centre’s “Unlock” plans to handhold the country out of the pandemic in phases. There are no plans to stop public darshan at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple, said YV Subba Reddy, chairperson of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board.

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India 3 to cross tally of 1mn cases rd

The death toll rose to 25,602, including 687 in past 24 hours, according to data released by Health Ministry New Delhi: With the total number of coronavirus cases breaching the 1 million-mark, India, now becomes the third country to cross that mark, trailing behind the US and Brazil now, which have 3.6 million and 2 million infections respectively, s per the data compiled

by Johns Hopkins University.

As India’s coronavirus cases exceed 1 million, the biggest hope to contain the pandemic rests on two indigenous vaccine candidates that will enter human trials this month.

India’s coronavirus count today jumped to 10,03,832 after a record 34,956 fresh infections in past 24 hours, according to the data released by the Union Health Ministry The death toll rose to 25,602, including

A man walks with his dog past a mural of frontline workers amid coronavirus outbreak in New Delhi on Friday. —Photo By PTI

687 in past 24 hours.

India has seen 25,602 deaths so far due to the

novel coronavirus, according to the health ministry.

Corona community transmission confirmed by Kerala Chief Minister T h i r u va n a n thapuram: Kerala reported 791 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, the highest single-day hike so far, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan during a media briefing admitted to community spread in certain coastal areas of Thiruvanathapuram such as Poonthura and Pulluvila. Meanwhile, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Mayor, M Goutham Kumar called for an extension of lockdown in

city for one more week due to rise in COVID-19 cases. “It will be better if we get more time to tackle COVID-19 cases, we wish for extension of lockdown for one

more week. We have given the proposal to government,” said M Goutham Kumar, BBMP Mayor, after the cases in0 state crossed 2,000 mark. —ANI

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today urged the govern-

40,000-MARK CROSSED IN ANDHRA

Amaravati: The COVID-19 tally shot past the 40,000 mark in Andhra Pradesh on Friday as 2,062 fresh cases were added in last 24 hours. The state’s COVID-19 table now showed a total of 40,646 positive cases, with 19,814 of them being active after 20,298 patients were discharged.

With 42 new casualties reported in last 24 hours, the overall toll mounted to 534.

It said 837 patients had recovered. —PTI

ment to take concrete steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus,

saying if it keeps spreading at the current pace then there will be more than 20 lakh cases by August 10.

“10,00,000-mark has been crossed. If COVID19 spreads at this pace, by August 10, more than 20,00,000 will be infected in the country,” the former Congress chief tweeted.

The US shattered its daily record for coronavirus infections on Thursday, reporting more than 77,000 new cases as the number of deaths in a 24-hour period rose by nearly 1,000, according to a Reuters tally.

More than 13.7 million people around the world have been diagnosed with coronavirus, while more than 7.7 million have recovered. Over 588,000 have died. —Agencies

‘Covaxin’s human trial begins at PGI Rohtak’ Chandigarh: The human trial of Bharat Biotech’s anti-COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin began at Rohtak’s Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij tweeted.

Human trial with Corona vaccine (COVAXIN) of Bharat Biotech started at PGI Rohtak today, Vij, who is also the Home & Science & Technology minister said. Three subjects were enrolled. All have tolerated the vaccine very well. There were

no adverse effects, Vij further tweeted. Bharat Biotech got the country’s drug regulator’s approval to start clinical trials of its anti-Corona vaccine Covaxin recently. There are over seven anti-corona vaccines at various stages of development in the country. —PTI

06

Yogi instructs to form 1L teams for effective monitoring

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a meeting on making an effective strategy on COVID-19 in Lucknow.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed to constitute one lakh teams in the state for effective surveillance on COVID-19 situation.

“For effective surveillance, the Chief Minister instructed to constitute one lakh teams in the entire state and said that the monitoring of the team of each district should be done under the leadership of the District Magistrate,” a tweet from Office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said roughly translated from Hindi. “KGMU’s Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Dr Ved Prakash informed the Chief Minister that presently due to rain, moisture in the air has increased, due to which

11L QUARANTINED

this infection is increasing,” said another tweet from the UP CMO. Dr Prakash said that it is necessary for everyone to wear a mask and comply with social distancing to deal with the infection. —ANI

PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA @priyankagandhi “Sitting in Lucknow, the UP government makes big claims on fighting coronavirus, but two kilometers from there, its claims are exposed.”

Mum: Toll in building ‘Top JeM IED expert among Aishwarya Rai Bachchan admitted to Nanavati Hospital collapse rises to nine 3 militants killed in Kulgam’ Mumbai: Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya Bachchan have been admitted to Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. The 46-yearold former Miss World was tested positive for coronavirus along with her eight-year-old daughter and was home-quarantined.

Nanavati Hospital confirmed that the duo has been admitted at the establishment and said that both, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Aaradhya Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

were hospitalised after ‘developing mild symptoms for COVID-19’.

The Bachchan family members, except Jaya Bachchan, were tested positive for COVID-19. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his

son Abhishek Bachchan have been recovering at the isolation ward in Nanavati Hospital. The 77-year-old actor has been updating his well-wishers about his health through social media.

On Friday, senior Bachchan expressed his gratitude towards well-wishers for supporting the family in their fight against coronavirus. “I receive all your blessings, love & prayers for our well being.. on SMS, on WhatsApp, on Insta on Blog & all possible social media,” he tweeted.”—Agencies

Sayed Tajamul

NDRF personnel carry a body of a resident during the rescue operation in Mumbai on Friday.

Mumbai: The death toll in the building collapse in the Fort area of Mumbai has gone up to nine, one of them a 17-year boy who succumbed to his injuries at J J Hospital here on

Friday, civic officials said. Of them, seven, including two women, have died since around Thursday, while a search and rescue operation was still on. —PTI

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress incharge Avinash Pande tweeted, “Why is Haryana Police not allowing Rajasthan SOG team to enter @ ITCBharat and meet @ INCRajasthan MLAs? If BJP claims not being involved in Congress’ internal fight then why BJP led Haryana Government is extending their support and protection to MLAs inside the hotel?”

tween troops of India and China at PP14, how some of our personnel sacrificed their lives protecting our border. I am happy to meet you all but also saddened because of their loss. I pay my tributes to them,” he added.

Singh interacted with the Army and Paramilitary troops here along with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane. —ANI

Srinagar: A top Jashe-Mohammad militant commander known to be an IED expert was reportedly among three militants killed in the gunfight with a joint team of police, army and CRPF in Kulgam district on wee hours on Friday, DGP Dilbag Singh said.

The top police officer also said that the militant commander had escaped previously from three to four encounters, leaving behind a MO4 American

rifle in one instance.

While three militants were killed, as many army soldiers were injured in the gunfight at Nagnad Chimmer area of Kulgam district. “The

operation was launched in the wee hours this morning on a credible input by Kulgam Police along with local Army (9 RR) and CRPF units,” he said. He said that three army soldiers injured during the encounter were evacuated to army hospital.

“The killed are from Jaish-e-Mohammed & reportedly include a top commander known to be an IED expert. He was responsible for a large number of attacks including many IED attempts against security forces.”

Mukul Rohatgi argued for the petitioners via video conference while Abhishek Manu Singhvi was among those who argued on behalf of the Speaker. During the hearing, the court was ordered to be vacated by everyone other than the lawyers pertaining to the case, followeing which Salve presented his argument for nearly three hours, followed by Mukul Rohatgi. Salve claimed that by looking at the notice it appears that the Assembly Speaker has been partial. The senior counsel questioned as to how

can a notice be given for not appearing in a party meeting and that it is against the right to speech ensured by the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Mukul Rohatgi claimed that the action was againt rules and minimum seven days’ time should have been given to respond. He also highlighted that BJP MLA Madan Dilawar had given an application on BSP MLAs to the Speaker long back, but till now no action has been taken, moreover, in this matter a notice was issued within a few hours.

Dilbag Singh

FROM PG 1 Now its...

These complaints were filed after Randeep Singh Surjewala read out a transcript of alleged audio of horse-trading between rebel MLAs and BJP at a press conference on Friday. Notably, Congress has suspended Sharma and another MLA Vishvendra Singh from the primary membership of the party for their alleged involvement in horse-trading of MLAs and demanded registration of a case against them.

Meanwhile, The saffron party also initiated its ‘counter-measures’

to bring the Congress on backfoot as late on Friday night, BJP leaders from Jaipur - Laxmikant Bhardwaj, Ashok Singh Shekhawat, Surendra Singh Naruka and others reached the Ashok Nagar Police Station to register FIR against Congress leaders -Randeep Surjewala, Govind Singh Dotasara, Mahesh Joshi and OSD to CM Lokesh Sharma for making false implications against central minister Gajendra Singh. Moreover, in another move, BJP MLA Madan Dilawar shot a letter to Rajasthan As-

sembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi reminding him of his appeal raised on 13th March 2020 against the inclusion of BSP MLAs in Congress party. Dilwara demanded that the appeal be heard soon and disposed, for ‘delivery of justice’.

Haryana cops... the gates of the hotel for nearly seventy minutes and it was after that a considerable time had passed, could the SOG team enter. The SOG sleuths stayed in the hotel for forty five minutes but did not come across any leader from Rajasthan Congress.

‘Not an... he further said, “If a solution can be found by talks, there is nothing better.” “Recently what happened be-

Encounter not... and his aides. In its reply, the Uttar Pradesh Police said that the en-

counter was correct, and in no way, can it be termed as a fake encounter.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde is hearing two petitions, filed by Ghanashyam Upadhayay and Anoop Prakash Awasthi, seeking a high-level probe into the encounter of Vikas Dubey.

Speaker postpones...

The counsel agreed to extend this to 5.30 pm on Tuesday as the court was yet to give an order on the petition.

Harish Salve and

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Initial lockdowns in both Italy and India provide cautionary tales on what happens when public messaging and enforcement is flawed

T

he World Health Organisation reported more than 230,000 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday — the world’s largest daily increase during the pandemic.

The surge has forced governments in many places across the world to order new lockdowns.

This includes Melbourne, which is back in a six-week lockdown after the second wave of new cases exceeded the city’s first peak in

LOCKDOWN, RELAX, REPEAT

late March.

But Melbourne’s not the only city to suffer a second wave of the pandemic.

Cities including Beijing and Leicester had lifted COVID-19 restrictions, only to re-enforce them when new outbreaks occurred.

So how have other cities gone about their second lockdown, and have the measures been effective in tackling the COVID-19 resurgence? Let’s take a look at a few examples.

LOCKDOWNS RETURN

T

hough there’s no strict definition of a lockdown, it describes the controls imposed by governments to restrict the movement of people in their communities. It’s often achieved through a combination of police presence and applying public health regulations.

It can be implement-

ed partially, progressively, or fully. The latter is called “hard lockdown” when the freedom of entry to, and exit from, either an entire building or geographic area is prohibited or limited.

The Segrià region in Catalonia, Spain re-entered an indefinite partial lockdown on July 4 following a signifi-

LOCKDOWNS MAY HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS cant spike in cases and COVID-19 hospitalisations.

The city of Leicester in the United Kingdom has gone into a second lockdown after it accounted for 10% of all positive COVID-19 cases in the country at the end of June. The city has been in lockdown for the past two weeks and despite this, the latest

data show an increase in the numbers of cases.

A second wave in Beijing was tackled by increasing degrees of lockdowns. The strictest measures were limited to a few high-risk neighbourhoods, accompanied by a ring of looser lockdown measures around them.

Alongside this was extensive and widespread testing, with a peak capacity of 300,000 tests per day.

This approach proved successful – the city reported zero new COVID-19 cases on July 7. While there are increasing examples of a return to some lockdown measures, there are no examples demonstrating the success of a second lockdown — other than in Beijing — because it’s too early to tell.

A

fter a lockdown, the majority of the population remains at risk of infection without a vaccine.

So as restrictions ease, cases are likely to increase again, leading to a pattern of lockdowns, relaxation, and renewed lockdowns So why can’t governments just aim to eliminate the virus? An elimination strategy requires strict, intensive lockdowns and closing external and internal borders to eradicate local transmission and prevent the virus being imported.

Elimination strategies have worked in only a few countries and regions, such as New Zealand which imposed an early and strict lockdown.

The effectiveness of lockdowns can be

diminished by increasing population fatigue in response to reimposed restrictions.

Lockdowns also have many serious repercussions, includ-

ing a severe impact on mental health and the economy. French Prime Minister Jean Castex has ruled out another total lockdown arguing that its economic and

CLEAR PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING IS KEY

W

hen entering a second lockdown, it’s useful to consider the lessons learned from the first.

Initial lockdowns in both Italy and India provide cautionary tales on what happens when public messaging and enforcement is flawed.

Italian media published information about internal movement restrictions a day before the Italian prime minister officially announced it and signed the decree.

After the news spread, workers and students, many of whom car-

07

ried the virus, rushed back home across the country, flooding the train stations. Soon after, it was discovered that new COVID-19 cases in southern Italy were families from students who came home from the north.

Similar panic among migrant workers occurred in India when the prime minister gave the public only a few hours notice before the start of the lockdown. This is just one reason why India’s lockdown has been labelled as “a spectacular failure”.

human consequences are disastrous.

Locking down a given country can cost up to 3% of GDP per month, according to UBS Global Wealth Management.

LOCKDOWNS CAN WORK IF WE USE MASKS

I

t’s clear that lockdowns cannot be maintained indefinitely. That’s why the rapid development of a vaccine to achieve herd immunity, without extensive infection, is critical – along with the development of drugs to relieve the symptoms of COVID-19.

So how long should Melbourne’s lockdown last? The Grattan Institute has argued it

should continue until there are no more active COVID-19 cases in the community to eliminate the virus – and after that, should remain in place for another two weeks.

We argue that the duration of the lockdown could be halved if paired with mandatory universal use of face masks.

Wearing masks lowers the risk of spreading and contracting the disease.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

Crisis brings out the best in many people, the challenge is to live each day of life in the ‘best’ way possible.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

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08

Lockdown blues: Home sales dip 54% in A’bad According to a nation-wide survey of eight top cities in India, housing & office sales hit the lowest in a decade Shishir Awasthi Ahmedabad: With the world’s longest lockdown hitting one and all, housing and office sales in Ahmedabad and seven other top cities of the country fell the lowest in at least a decade, if not more.

Housing sales dipped 54% year-on-year to 59,538 units during the first half of 2020, according to leading property consultancy Knight Frank India.

New residential product launches also reported a fall of 46% over a year ago to 60,489 units during the period.

Autorickshaw men renew demand for Covid relief

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: With posters and stickers behind their autorickshaws, ‘Amari Bhul, Kamal nu Ful’ (Our mistake we voted the Lotus), the drivers’ union has launched a fresh attack on the ruling BJP for not granting any relief package to them.

While they had no work during the lockdown, as many as two lakh auto-rickshaw drivers are not earning much even after it has been lifted. They are angry the government did not grant any relief, while the traffic police arbitrarily imposed fines on them.

The protest is backed by the Congress party. “There was a recent government circular for compulsory dress code for auto divers. How could we afford it when we have hardly earned anything,” a protester wondered. They have demanded that the government form a welfare fund for them.

HOME SALES

OFFICE SALES

l Housing sales tumbled 84%

year-on-year to 9,632 units in the second quarter of the calendar year as the lockdown stalled all activities in the real estate industry, it said.

l Housing sales in the first three

months of the year stood at 49,905.

l The number of new launches

slumped 90% over the yearago period to 5,584 units in the second quarter. In the first three months, it stood at 54,905 units

l Office supply declined by nearly a third

year-on-year in the first half of 2020 to 17.3 million sqft.

l Project completions declined by 79%

year-on-year during the second quarter.

l Mumbai and Chennai markets saw the

most supply come online; accounting for 40% of the total 1.6 million sqm (17.3 mnsq ft) delivered during the period.

l The sharpest fall in supply was seen

in NCR and Pune markets at 86% and 87% year-on-year, respectively.

Real estate sales in housing and office sectors have drastically fallen.

(See Boxes) Simultaneously, office rentals dropped the sharpest in Ahmedabad at 12.1% followed by NCR with 8.8%.

These are the findings of the consultancy’s half-yearly study report of Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi-National Capital Region,

Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

Already passing through a rough patch, the residential real es-

tate sector has been hit the most, according to Shishir Baijal, chairman and managing director of Knight Frank India.

He says, “With income uncertainty for future, demand for housing will take a hit.

While the RBI has announced liquidity in-

jecting measures and cut in policy interest rate, there is an urgent need for the government to come up with some demand boosting

measures for the real estate sector.”

Unsold inventory across the top eight markets, the report said, dropped by 1% to 446,787 units in the first half of the year. Mumbai had the highest quantum of unsold inventory at 150,154 units, followed by NCR at 118,064 units and Bengaluru at 77,043 units.

Meanwhile, office transactions declined 37% year-on-year to 17.2 million sq feet in the first half, even as new completions were lower by 27% over the previous year at 17.3 million sq feet.

SET UP MORE TEST LABS, STEP AAP smells rat in `300 cr expense by RMC in 3 years UP SAMPLE TESTING: AMA First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) has moved yet another petition before the Gujarat High Court seeking a directive to the State Government to set up Covid-19 testing laboratories in all districts as well as to increase corona sample testing.

AMA President Mona Desai has submitted that after ICMR and National Accreditation Board for Testing Laboratories, there is no other state agency

The Ahmedabad Medical Association has moved the High Court.

that approves laboratories, though 19 private labs have been approved. Still, five are unable to function because the State has not notified it for more than four weeks.

Desai contended that there is an urgent need to have testing laboratories in all districts.

Though there are 33 government and 21 private laboratories

in the State, 19 districts don’t have them at all.

Though Gujarat’s population is 6.5 crore, it is not conducting adequate tests. Delhi has a population of 1.9 crore and it is conducting 23,000 tests per day.

Maharashtra tests 30,000 samples, Uttar Pradesh 29,000 and Tamil Nadu 35,000 a day.

Against every positive case, there should be five times the number of tests according to the Central directives. In real terms, 90,000 samples must be collected every day.

‘Edu institutes not to open as yet, syllabus to be cut by 30%’

First India Bureau Rajkot: Taking on the BJP-ruled Rajkot Municipal Corporation, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday asserted that an expenditure of Rs 300 crore incurred by the RMC between 2016 and 2019 smacked of corruption.

At a press conference, the AAP cited the instance of an auditor’s query about a Rs 41.53 lakh expense, “as to where it was used, how and by whom.” It released a list of expenses of Rs 300 crore under 20 heads, calling

Rajkot Municipal Corporation.

it doubtful.

An audit done by chartered accountant and AAP leader Chetan Kamani for the year 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 revealed that “various expenses done during this period smacked of corrup-

—FILE PHOTO

tion.”

AAP’s Rajkot city president and former standing committee chairman Rajbha Zala called this an “irresponsible behaviour of the BJP ruling party and the Municipal Commissioner”.

SEVEN GENERATIONS’ FIGHT

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama has said the government has decided to reduce the syllabus by nearly 30% this year, while there is no hurry to open the schools.

He said the Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training had been tasked to seek opinions of experts and a committee constituted to rationalise the syllabus had suggested up to 30 per cent cut in it.

He added, “I have giv-

The Guj Govt is in no hurry to reopen educational institutions.

en clear instructions that the syllabus be rationalised to ensure the continuity with the next year is not broken. Suppose a portion of the syllabus in class 9 is useful for class 10 studies, it can’t be compromised.”

Meanwhile, experts have suggested reopening educational institutes in a phased manner by opening colleges first, followed by standard 10-11-12 classes, class 8 and 9 and class 1 to 7 in the last phase.

This Surat family comprising four generations under one roof has successfully fought off the deadly infection that ensnared seven members, one after the other. Among them is a three-and-a-half-year-old boy and a 106-year-old man too! It is indeed a tale of supreme grit of the family of real estate developer, Khodidas Goyani (36), who stuck together through the trying times in home isolation in Varachha area.

NEW AVENUES

Rajkot toy-makers betting big on anti-China sentiments With over 80% toys being imported from China, Rajkot toy manufacturers see a “Make in India” opportunity l

First India Bureau Rajkot: Days after entrepreneurs in neighbouring Morbi forged an alliance to take on Chinese products, toy manufacturers in Rajkot also see an opportunity with

anti-China sentiments growing in the country after the Galwan Valley face-off last month.

Already upbeat, Arvind Jhala, a director at Aditi Toys in Rajkot, beams, “Almost 80 to 90 per cent of toys are be-

ing imported from China. And with such an increase in demand, it is an opportunity to grow the domestic market as well as increasing the prospects of exporting to other countries, helping boost the Indian economy.” Oozing confidence, he said, “In the next three-four months we hope that we would make more than 100 products and in one year, we would make more than 200 products

Toy makers in Rajkot see good business, seeking to replace Chinese products.

so that we would be able to fulfill the demand of the Indian market.”

According to him, there is also an opportunity in the fact that there are very few toy manufacturers in the country and many more entrepreneurs could tap this “relatively nascent industry”. Jhala said because of this the competition is quite low and growth opportunities are faster. According to him, “There are more employ-

ment opportunities over here.” Subhash Jala, the co-director of the toy company, adds that with anti-China movements across the country taking place wherein people have been boycotting Chinese products, there has been a demand for made in India products these days.

“The anti-Chinese movement has made people demand made in India products these days,” he said.

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CUTE DIPS City First brushes you through how dimples are found to be attractive when people smile!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

W

hen you meet someone for the first time and notice they have a dimple, don’t they instantly become really attractive? Dimple being a small natural indentation on the body, notably on the cheeks, is that one thing that changes the entire look of a person. They are said to be extremely attractive as

they are quite prominent and catch the eyes whenever one looks at them.

The cute ‘depressions’ never fail to make people look cute. There are times when people fake a dimple, just to look attractive; yes, it’s true! Some people say that dimples make people look more approachable and are associated with beauty.

They are also considered to be a good-luck charm in a few cultures.

While some people think that dimples are a sign of beauty in a person, we would like to pop that bubble for you- they are actually a defect in the muscle. At the same time, it is extremely

important to know that they don’t have any negative health effects. So let’s just consider them to be a beautiful defect.

There are so many people in the Bollywood and Hollywood industries like Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Preity Zinta, Sushmita Sen, Cheryl Fernandez, Ashley Benson and Miranda Kerr among others, who never fail to bless the silver screens with their beautiful dimples.

Here’s a quick fact about dimples- the ones that occur on the cheeks while one laughs or passes a smile, are known as ‘Gelasin’.

09

ETC

10

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AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

he mental health drama “Lost Transmissions” sadly only begins and ends with aspiring songwriter Hannah (Juno Temple), and is otherwise about Hannah’s schizophrenic friend Theo (Simon Pegg). Which is only disappointing because it’s hard to fully appreciate Hannah’s relationship with Theo, the latter of whom runs away from Hannah whenever she tries to get him the care he apparently needs. There’s a fair chance you’ve been, or had a friend like Theo, somebody who is so mentally and emotionally unwell that they don’t understand why they need therapy, medication, and/ or hospitalization. It’s also hard to know why Hannah sticks with Theo in writer/ director Katherine O’Brien’s drama, even if you know that “Lost

Transmissions” is based on what happened to a friend of hers.

Unfortunately, the worst parts of “Lost Transmissions” are the early scenes where Theo’s friends talk about the emotional ties that previously bound them to him. These supporting characters are not very sympathetic because they’re either talking too much or not doing enough to show us what motivates them. So it makes sense that Hannah is underdeveloped, because so is everybody else in O’Brien’s movie.

O’Brien’s protagonists only seem to exist to push Theo from one confrontation to the next, as we hear in drab, mystifying expository dialogue when Hannah talks with Theo’s friends about staging an intervention, stuff like “You know, he says the same things when he’s normal.

He’s so funny.

It’s just when he’s off his meds, he

means ... all of it.” In another scene, Theo’s longsuffering friend Angus (Jamie Harris) complains bitterly to Theo, who makes a scene when he’s dragged to a mental hospital: “Where’d you go, Theo? The Theo I’d know would never say anything like that.”

Mind you, Angus yells this at Theo right after he tells Hannah that he can’t care for Theo because he already did that two times before, and doesn’t want to subject his new girlfriend to the worst of Theo. So, to recap: Angus knows how badly Theo behaves when he’s at his worst, but somehow doesn’t understand why he’s ranting that nobody

cares for him, their timeline is breaking apart, and that he needs to reunite with the “Princess of Time”?

Here’s a clue: Theo refuses to take his anti-psychotic medication, but does love to self-medicate with magic mushrooms and other psychotropic drugs, as one of Theo’s friends explains: “We’ve been through this so many times with him, and he still messes with his medication. I mean, who does psychedelics on antipsychotics?”

Apparently not Theo, who takes more recreational drugs, and less prescription medication as Hannah chases after him, at the expense of her own budding

career writing pop songs for airhead diva Dana (Alexandra Daddario). He inevitably and repeatedly escapes Hannah’s grasp, because the American healthcare system is so overworked and underfunded that they can’t care for high-functioning patients like Theo (on a more personal note: yup, this tracks).

And, for some reason, none of Theo’s family members seem to care enough about him to personally fetch him wherever he is or make him accept their care.

Which leaves one to wonder: why does Hannah care so much about Theo? There are some hints early on in the movie: she takes medi-

cation, having suffered bouts of suicidal depression, and he likes her enough to ask her to record music for him. Because when Theo’s not raving about making “ripples” in the “timestream,” he’s a burnt-out music producer who’s well-connected and respected enough to put Hannah on the path to writing for Dana. Hannah’s own mental and emotional deterioration is also hinted at in a few scenes, like when she dilutes a carton of milk with tap water, or takes psychedelics with Theo.

But these scenes don’t build to anything memorable, nor do they suggest Hannah’s bond with Theo is as great as his hold on her.

While Theo and Hannah’s codependent relationship is believable, it’s not revealing or well-represented enough to be compelling.

One scene lurches into another, and most are filled with details that only repeat the same basic power dynamic: Theo is unwell, and only Hannah is committed to caring for him. So we follow her while she chases after him, never stopping long enough to talk about anything that he doesn’t want to talk about. I mean, I wish I could say that I’m glad that I got to see them play “I, Spy”.

FA CE OF TH ED AY

Sources: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lost-transmissions-movie-re-

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Amazed by your kindness, your parents will shower you with all the love and blessings. You want to buy something and it may seem out of your reach bu will surely get it. You must review your files carefully before any submission on office front. Your lover will talk a lot.

Altruism towards elderly is the best thing to do also make sure to influence others doing the same. Be careful before you decide to spend you savings in something not so important. You will be favourably placed both on personal and professional front. Do not sit ideal.

Applauses can motivate someone to do better so being on an important designation its your responsibility to up lift others to perform better as the each day passes. It may feel important to invest today for future events.

Favours from mothers are expected.

A Biddable sweet person is often liked by everyone and straight forward and blunt ones are often criticised, but in the end the ones who can speak the truth and take the stand without fear are the winners. Your success is inevitable, you need to look for an ideal mentor.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Carnivals will keep you busy and all excited.

Curbing your habit of eat junk is an achievement in itself and you are doing good. You will stand victorious if you will participate in any kind of competition. You will enjoy your day with friends and family if not physically then virtually.

Demonising someone in front of a group is an act of weak person so choose your side wisely. Your lifestyle often inspires many and people want to follow in your footstep. For those who are taking a day off from work should relax and get free from all your tensions.

Disposition of furniture or other interior decoration items is what homemakers will be worried about and involved in today. The more time you spend with your books and more knowledgable you will get. Owning a property is the best feeling in the world and you shall feel it today.

Derivation of thoughts are sometimes unclear but the unique thought in itself is nothing less than a wonder. Life is full of ups and downs but it depends on us whether we take things positively and keep moving ahead or get stuck and fall. You may finally meet your lover today.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Immunise yourself by not eating junk or having any beverages, this is the only thing that matters right now.

Your constant effort on work front will open the doors for promotional prospects. You will derive satisfaction from being in the company of your mother. Give time to your relationship.

Multitudinous options are there in the world but it depends on you which one would you like to choose. as far as your career is concerned.

Your efforts on academic front will pay big time. You are very important to your spouse. You will actively participate in social matters.

Vitiating important business plans is not what you want to do therefore be extra careful of your actions.

Nothing is permanent in this world so learn to accept the changes. A family elder will shower his/her love in form of money. On academic front refrain from any kind of mischief.

Unnatural behaviour is something that you don’t like at all and you keep away from pretentious personalities. You have a huge friends circle and you are always in demand. People like to seek your advice because of your maturity and experience in life.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

NAGMA MIRAJKAR, Content Creator

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

11

First look of S

BHUJ ... her post

Sonakshi Sinha

NEW ‘More the merrier’ ALBUM OUT I

‘Kurta Pajama’

out now

B

Poster of the song

T

he much-awaited track by Tony Kakkar and Shehnaaz Gill, ‘Kurta Pajama’ was released on Friday. It is a perfect Punjabi party number with amazing beats.

Kurta Pajama is written, sung and composed by the multi-talented Tony Kakkar, while Anshul Garg don’s the director’s cap. Shehnaaz Kaur Gilla aka Punjab’s Katrina Kaif is surely the highlight of the song because she adds the ‘oomph’ factor. ‘Kurta Pajama’ will be you groove along with TonyNaaz’s chemistry. —Agency

onakshi Sinha on Friday shared the first look of ‘BHUJ- The Pride of India’ on her social media handles. A while back, the makers of the film had announced its release digitally due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film will be starring Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Sharad Kelkar, Sonakshi Sinha, Ammy Virk, and Nora Fatehi among others.

Sharing the first look of her character in the film, Sonakshi wrote, “Honoured to play the HEROIC role of Sunderben Jetha Madharparya, the brave social worker who took 299 women along with her to support the Indian Army! #BhujThePrideOfIndia a crucial incident from History will unveil soon with #DisneyPlusHotstarMultiplex.”

‘Bhuj- The Pride of India’ is set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and the film is about the life of IAF Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, the then in-charge of the Bhuj airport who reconstructed the IAF airbase with the help of 300 local women. While Ajay Devgn portrays the role of Vijay Karnik, and the film is based on true events of the Indo-Pak war, wherein 300 local women helped in reconstruction of destroyed airbase in Bhuj, Gujarat.

—Agency

Ellie Goulding

ritish singer Ellie Goulding is ready to reintroduce herself with her new album Brightest Blue. Over her past decade in the industry, Goulding has amassed more than 2 0 billion streams worldwide thanks to her electropop hit singles such as Lights, Burn, On My Mind, and Love Me Like You Do. With her new track, Goulding, 33, wants to scale back and put her songwriting center stage. The pop singer said, ‘I wanted people to get to know me as a writer again.’

The new album that dropped on Friday features 18 songs clocking in at 57 minutes and is split into two halves. The first features honest, introspective songs about love and heartache like Flux, a wrenching piano ballad about trying to hold onto a relationship well past its expiration date. ‘I think it’s the saddest song I’ve written,’ Goulding commented on the song.

—Agency

t has been a time of double treat for actress Sanya Malhotra who had back to back reasons to celebrate.

Recently, the trailer of her next, Shakuntala Devi was released and she has been garnering wide appreciation ever since. Now, her film LUDO’s announcement came in and she is super thrilled!

Sharing her excitement on the upcoming lineup with back to back reasons to celebrate, Sanya shares, “This is a very exciting time for me, first the trailer of Shakuntala Devi was released and then Ludo’s release on Netflix was announced.

And the response that I’m getting for the trailer as well as Ludo’s announcement is overwhelming, I’ve been flooded with congratulatory calls from family and friends since yesterday and I’m happy with how both announcements lined up together.

With back to back good news, it’s always more the merrier, specially while we are stuck on lockdown.”

Sanya Malhotra has time and again, treated the audience with her phenomenal performances on-screen and her latest one being, Shakuntala Devi is where one will be witnessing the actress play the real life character of Anupama Banerji, daughter of Shakuntala Devi. —Agency

Sanya Malhotra

CARAMELIZED ONION AND CHEESE CROQUETTES Chili Caramel Sauce and Caramel Crumble SERVING – 4 PORTIONS

INGREDIENTS

PROCESS

 Onion Red 2 Large

 In a heavy bottom pan, heat the oil

 Cheddar cheese 2

 Add the slice onion to caramelize by adding brown sugar  Grate the boiled potato and cheese  In a mixing bowl, add potato, cheese and caramelized onion and mix well with salt and pepper. Shape into croquettes  Dip the barrel shape of above mixture in egg wash and coat it with breadcrumb  Deep fry to golden colour

tbsp

 Potatoes boiled 1

large

 Sugar brown 1

tbsp

 Butter ½ cup  Cream ½ cup  Chili flakes 1 tsp  Breadcrumb 1 cup  Egg 1 whole  Salt to taste  Pepper corn 1 tsp

Oil refined for frying Shehnaaz Gill

CARAMEL CHILI SAUCE

 In a pan, heat sugar to caramel stage  Add water and butter  Add cream and chili flakes off the flame  Crush the

remaining crystallized caramel to powder and mix with Flour Crumble.

ABOUT CHEF BRIJESH KANTHARIA

Chef Brijesh Kantharia, Executive Chef Of Courtyrad

By Surat has a reputation for adhering to high ethical standards. Hailing From Surat (Gujrat), Chef Brijesh has done his apprenticeship from The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai On 1999 To 2001.

He Began His Career with The Orchid, Domestic Airport, Mumbai, Chef Brijesh’s Extensive Knowledge and Expertise of Indian and International Cuisines.

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AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

12

EXPERT LECTURE

QUE...

QUEen Q1. I am 28 years old and well placed professionally and financially.

I’m worried I’ll be single forever. Why can’t I meet anyone? - Lonely Male Ans. My dear Lonely Male, first of all dear chap, 28 is too young to even start being worried. I would like to congratulate you on being well placed professionally and financially, which is no mean feat nowadays at your age. I am sure you must have worked very hard in the past few years to reach this point and it is quite understandable that maybe you did not pay much attention to the other sex during this period. Well, the good news is my dear chap that you have plenty of time and are in the right place to start. First, join a class where there are opportunities to meet women.

Secondly and most important develop a positive mindset. Attract romance and love into your life and the universe will align to ensure it. Spread the word casually that you are open to dating and download a dating App. Life is beautiful and full of love, embrace it and you will no longer be lonely!

Q2. I’ve just turned sixteen and my friends laugh at me for my fashion sense. I tried to convince my parents for new and fancy clothes, but they are a bit conservative. What do I do now?

Ans. Ooohhh Baby, I can understand your issue and at the same time, it’s not easy for your parents also. The thing is that you can be conservative and stylish at the same time. New and fancy revealing clothes are not a style statement. How you carry yourself and your confidence is what makes ‘style’! Why don’t you develop your own style with something ethnic and traditional which will keep your parents happy and also make your fashion sense something to be followed by your friends?

Just hold on to the thought that you are beautiful and stylish as long as you are confident and happy. Focus on that!

Have any questions? Mail them to quequeenfirstindia@gmail.com; don’t worry, your name will not be disclosed!

POORVIKA AGRAWAL cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

C

artoons have the power to influence the minds of children as well as adults and are an essential part of one’s life. Cartoons are not only meant to entertain us but they also teach us many life lessons.

Adults watch cartoons when they feel nostalgic as it reminds them of their good childhood days and aims to laugh, relax, and breaking the monotony of daily routine. City First brings you the reason for people watching cartoons in their adulthood even after having a lot of work, from it readers from Rajasthan & Gujarat. The lessons that an adult learns through the animations are very useful in real life, and they can be applied as practical solutions to various problems.

Cartoons show the right path ahead to those who want to enter into their love life or those who do not know how to impress a girl of their choice. They are selectively are always confi-

UNFORGETTABLE

FRIENDS

dent and can deal with complex situations in a better way. An adult can understand the hidden message, sarcasm or any other clue which we might have not figured out as a kid.

Shinchan is my all-time favourite cartoon; the reason I like Shin Chan because he’s funny, weird, but sometimes kind too. And I love the show as it teaches me about quite a few stuff that goes on in real-life. I find him a nice kid who is full of life.

—DAISY SHARMA

Tom and Jerry, a cartoon that will make you laugh no matter what your age is. I love watching Tom and Jerry because on some days my Dad also watches it with me.

It is the only cartoon for which he doesn’t scold me to watch for rather sit with me to watch. Our little father-daughter bonding time.

Well Watching cartoon shows is a lovely escape from reality.

For me, it has been ‘Duck Tales’ and ‘Uncle Scrooge’. I remember it for great stories, scientific approach for problem-solving, good morals for kids, and lovely family values it showed.

I have DVD copies of all 4 seasons and rewatch it whenever I have time!

My favourite cartoon has always been Tom and Jerry. The pair knows all the tactics to annoy each other and make us laugh along with their journey. Yet these two become friends when they need each other. This shows that life goes on with bit of anger, laughter and togetherness.

—SHUBHRA KALLANI

‘APNI BHASHA APNE LOG’ Bina Kak CITY FIRST

T

he first event of ‘APNI BHASHA APNE LOG’ co-hosted by Siyahi and sponsored by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation was held on Thursday. The session featured Bina Kak who has served as a cabinet minister in the Government of Rajasthan in conversation with Nand Bhardwaj (Sahitya Akademi Puruskar Winner).

Mita Kapur, CEO of Siyahi, opened the event by remarking how to important it is to revive and celebrate the rich language of Rajasthan and ‘APNI BHASHA APNE LOG’ is an endeavor to promote Rajasthani literature by discussing the significance of our native language.

The moderator then took over and began by appraising the contributions of Vijaydan Detha whose name was also nominated

T

he one-day Expert Talk on ‘Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles’ was completed successfully at the Rajasthan Institute of Engineering and Technology (RIET) yesterday. The online webinar was chaired by Dr Dilawar Singh (President, International Business Council, Australia).

More than 100 students of RIET and other colleges along with more than 20 faculty members have attended the online webinar. Dr Singh focused on the impor-

tance and need for Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles. He outlined that almost all countries will adopt electric and hydrogen vehicles by 2030. The event was concluded by a vote of thanks

by Prof. Anoop Singh Poonia. He added that RIET has always been a pioneer college in organizing seminars which facilitates the students to think beyond what is going on in the industry currently. He told that RIET Jaipur will keep organizing such Seminars and Expert Talks in the future also. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

—ASWATHY DAMODAR

—SHILPI SINGH

for the Nobel Prize in 2011.

He started the discussion by asking Bina Kak, which made her compelled to read Detha. To this, Kak dived into her past and mentioned her early interactions with Detha fondly calling him ‘Bijji’ and then steered the conversation to the present times. During the lockdown, she recovered her literary passion from reading Urdu Shayari but couldn’t resist the longing to read Rajasthani language especially Detha whom she has an emotional connection with.

Kak highlighted how Detha talked about various pertinent issues, wrote words with extreme precision, and unabashedly voiced his opinions. She then narrated an exceptional piece by Detha reiterating his remarkable contribution to Rajasthani literature giving the audience a positive take away.

On this subject, Bina remarked, ‘The imagination of Vijaydan Detha is noteworthy as he wrote about everything from relationships between mothers and daughters to class and caste struggles.’

Then the conversation touched upon the famine that strikes Rajasthan eve-

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ry 3-4 years and how men abandon their villages leaving the women behind.

The speaker recited an outstanding and heartwrenching story written

by Detha based on the famine. This left the audience contemplating Detha’s extraordinary imagination and spellbound with Bina’s storytelling process.

Towards the end of the talk, speaker and moderator extended the scope of their conversation with one last recitation of Detha’s story that surprisingly was about topics such as head lice that no other writer has written about and done it brilliantly. The conversation was culminated by commending the power of literature and cherishing writers of substance like Vijaydan Detha. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

oom Video Communications, Inc. on Thursday announced Zoom for Home, a new category of software experiences and hardware devices to support remote work use cases. In a time where employers are grappling with what the new normal of work will look like, Zoom for Home elevates employee experiences to connect remotely and be productive.

Zoom for Home - DTEN ME, is the first ever Zoom for Home device. Zoom partnered with DTEN to create an immersive and productive workspace. Features for the all-in-one 27-inch device include: three built-in wide-angle cameras for high-resolution video; an 8-microphone array for crystal-clear audio in meetings and phone calls; and, an ultra-responsive touch display for interactive screen sharing, whiteboarding, annotating, and ideation. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

AFFILIATED! CITY FIRST

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earl Academy on Thursday announced that it is now an approved affiliated institute of Rajasthan ILD Skills University (RISU), a pioneering government vocational skills university recognized by UGC. With this affiliation, students of Pearl Academy –Jaipur, batch of 2020 and onwards, are eligible for a Bachelors of Design (B.Des) degree from RISU. Talking about this further, Alka Madhan, Campus Director, Pearl Academy Jaipur, said, “We are proud to be affiliated with RISU since 2017 and are delighted to take this association a step ahead through a B. Des degree from the university. Both Pearl Academy and RISU have a shared vision to make students employable and enterprising by imparting education that is industryrelevant and futuristic.” cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

RAJASTHAN: FICCI FLO brought in an opportunity for all the members to connect back to food. The session named ‘GROW OUR OWN FOOD’ was held virtually on Zoom on Friday. The session was chaired by the founder of EDIBLE ROUTES Kapil Mandawewala who motivated the members and told them the benefits and process of urban farming.