First India-Ahmedabad Edition-18 June 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

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ALERT AHMEDABAD l THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

4,48,108 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 5,537 DEATHS 1,13,445 CASES

83,27,973 CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 576 DEATHS 50,193 CASES

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RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 203

INDIA

12,065 3,63,209 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DELHI 1,837 DEATHS 47,102 CASES

GUJARAT

1,561 DEATHS

RAJASTHAN 309 DEATHS 13,338 CASES

25,148

CONFIRMED CASES

UTTAR PRADESH 465 DEATHS 15,181 CASES

 INDIA WANTS PEACE BUT CAPABLE OF GIVING BEFITTING REPLY IF INSTIGATED: PM  CHINESE FM CALLS JAISHANKAR; BOTH AGREE TO ‘COOL DOWN’ TENSIONS New Delhi: In a strong message to China after the killing of at least 20 Indian soldiers in the violent face-off with Chinese troops, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India wants peace but is capable of giving a befitting reply, if instigated.

His remarks came at the sixth interaction with Chief Ministers, via video conferencing, to discuss the situation emerging post-Unlock 1.0 and plans ahead for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have prayed for the welfare of humanity. We have always worked with neighbouring countries in a friendly way and cooperation. We have always tried that our differences should not turn into disputes. We never provoke anyone. But we can never compromise on country’s integrity and sovereignty. We have always displayed Turn on P6

BRINGING A

BULLY TO HEEL! President of India @rashtrapatibhvn As Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, I bow to the exemplary courage and supreme sacrifice of our soldiers to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

MAJOR GENERAL-LEVEL TALKS INCONCLUSIVE New Delhi: The talks between Major Generals of India and China in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh are over, sources said on Wednesday. According to the sources, the talks have remained inconclusive. “Talks between Major Generals of India and China in the Galwan Valley are over. The talks have remained inconclusive as no immediate disengagement or change in the ground has taken place. More talks to take place in the coming days,” sources told ANI. An army convoy moves along the SrinagarLeh National highway, in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir on Wednesday. —PTI

Indian Army, Navy, Air Force raise alert level New Delhi: Front-line bases of the Indian Army and Air Force along the nearly 3,500 km de-facto border with China were on Wednesday put on high alert in view of border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley, official sources said.

The Indian Navy has also been

UN General Assembly polls: India set for a win

asked to raise its alert level in the Indian Ocean Region where Chinese Navy has been making regular forays. The decision to raise the alert level of the three forces were taken at a high-level meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held with Chief of Defence Turn on P6

PM CALLS ALL-PARTY MEET ON FRIDAY PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for an all-party meeting to be held on June 19 to discuss situation at border areas with China.

“In order to discuss the situation in IndiaChina border areas, PM Modi has called for an all-party meeting at 5 PM on June 19.

Presidents of various political parties would take part,” PMO tweeted.

Beijing: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the two leaders agreed to “cool down” tensions on the ground “as soon as possible” and maintain peace and tranquility in the border area in accordance with the agreement reached between the two countries, an official statement said here. Jaishankar conveyed to Wang India’s protest in the strongest terms on the violent face-off.

A’bad accounts for 80% of Guj’s Red-flagged! 52 Apps, telecom deaths, 70% of positive cases supplies from Chinese firms 24 HOURS: 520 CASES, 27 DEAD, 348 DISCHARGED TOTAL: 25,148 CASES, 1,561 DEAD, 17,438 DISCHARGED First India Bureau

New Delhi: United Nations: The UN General Assembly has begun elections for President of the 75th session of the Assembly, five nonpermanent members of the Security Council and members of the Economic and Social Council on Wednesday under special voting arrangements put in place here due to COVID-19 related restrictions.

India is expected to register a comfortable victory in the Security Council elections that will bring the country to the UN high-table as a non-permanent member for the 2021-22 term. India’s victory is certain since it is the sole candidate vying for the lone seat from the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping.

New Delhi’s candidature was unanimously endorsed by the AsiaPacific grouping, Turn on P6

INDIA-CHINA TO COOL DOWN TENSIONS

Gandhinagar: A day after the state hit an all-time high of 524 cases in a 24-hour span, Gujarat has again recorded more than 500 cases in a single day.

After 88 days, Ahmedabad is still the worst-hit in the state, accounting for 70% (17, 629) of all cases and 80% (1,253) of all deaths related to COVID-19.

According to a statement issued by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Wednesday morning, as many as 21 patients died in the city in the preceding 24 hours, leaving the mortality rate stagnant at 7.2%. There are 3,487 active cases in the city--84 more than on Tuesday.

Of the total active cases, 807 (23.1%) are from the North zone, 703 (20.2%) from the West zone, 605 (17.4%) from the East zone, and the rest from the other zones.

Ahmedabad city councillor Dilip Bhagaria is under

Class 3 and 4 workers from Civil Hospital went on strike inside the Medicity campus in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

treatment at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after testing positive for Sars-CoV-2.

Meanwhile, nine talukas of Ahmedabad district have reported two deaths and 25 new cases. The new cases were reported in Dholka (10), Daskroi (5), Sanand (3), Detroj (1), Dhandhuka (1) and Viramgam (1).

In Ahmedabad, resident doctors staged protest at the Sola civil hos-

pital alleging that only junior doctors are assigned duty in the COVID-19 wards, while seniors do not even visit.

They also alleged that even among resident doctors, only a few are assigned duty.

Similarly, in the Civil Hospital Asarwa campus, Class III and IV contract employees went on strike, alleging that the contractor is siphoning 30-40% of their salaries. They

have threatened to prolong their strike if their demands are not met.

Meanwhile, 62 fresh cases have been reported in Surat: 62 in the city and five in rural areas. Katargam zone is becoming a problem for the Surat Municipal Corporation, with another 19 cases being reported there. Limbayat had 12 cases, VarachhaA zone had 10, and the rest came from other zones.

Turn on P6

New Delhi: Indian intelligence agencies have asked the government to block or advise people to stop use of 52 mobile applications linked to China over concerns that these weren’t safe and ended up extracting a large amount of data outside India, say sources.

The list includes apps like Zoom, TikTok, UC browser, Xender, SHAREit and Clean-master.

Meanwhile, Depart-

ment of Telecommunications has put a blanket ban on procuring telecom supplies from Chinese

companies in staterun telecom BSNL and MTNL, a DoT source said.

“The discussions on the recommendations are continuing,” said an official, explaining that the parameters and the risks attached to each mobile app will have to be examined one by one. In April this year, the home ministry had issued an advisory on use of Zoom on the recommendation Turn on P6

Maya tries to ‘hinder’ Gehlot’s ‘unhindered’ RS poll win!

Aditi Nagar New Delhi: Just 48 hours before the Rajya Sabha polling is scheduled to begin, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has brought a new twist to the political tale unfolding in Rajasthan for a week now. While the Congress claimed BJP tried to ‘poach’ a few of its MLAs to bring the Gehlot government in minority, it is now time for the

BSP - whose six MLAs had jumped over to the Congress party under Gehlot watch to play its cards!

A two page letter shot to the Chief Election Commissioner,

BSP’s national general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra has urged the Election Commission to not let the 6 BSP MLAs from Rajasthan vote as Congress MLAs. “6 MLAs were elected on the party symbol allotted by national president Mayawati and after winning their names were duly notified in the official gazette notification of Election Commission of India.

Turn on P6

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02

75 Cong members held amid protests in 1 day

Congress supporters shout slogans against the BJP during a nationwide protest against the fuel price hike outside the Collector's office in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Opposition had called a statewide agitation against the recent hike in the price of petrol and diesel by the Rupani govt First India Bureau Ahmedabad/Surat/ Rajkot: The state unit of the Congress party has not taken kindly to the state government’s decision to increase the value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel, thus making the auto fuels more expensive by Rs2 each.

Wednesday, the second consecutive day of protests across the state, saw as many as 60 members of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Com-

mittee being detained by the police.

“We are protesting because the price of fuel directly affects each individual, and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is looting the people who are already facing the adverse effects of the COVID-19 outbreak,” Congress leader Babu Raika said, adding, “These almost daily price hikes are unacceptable and unbearable. The government must roll back the hike.

International crude prices are very low. In-

Former Rajkot Congress president Mahesh Rajput being manhandled on Wednesday.

stead of passing that benefit to the people, the BJP-run government is making money

off it.” He and Surat corporation’s leader of the opposition Praful Togadia were among

the 60 people detained in Surat.

Similarly, around 16 Congress workers--including Rajkot city unit president Ashok Dangar, women’s cell president Gayatriba Jadeja, forrmer city president Mahesh Rajput, Dinesh Chovatiya and Jaswant Bhatti--were detained in Rajkot.

Some leaders had planned a cycle rally across the city to mark their protest against the hike in fuel prices, while others sat on dharna in various

wards of the city. However, they were detained from Trikon Baug Chowk by A division police station before they could even begin the bicycle protest.

The city unit has accused the police of being hand in glove with the ruling party. A press release issued by the Rajkot Congress read: “In the current pandemic situation continuous price hike by the BJP-led government is only adding to the woes of people who are already passing through a difficult phase.

BJP MLAs convene for mock voting session ahead of Rajya Sabha polls

Leaders asked to stay in G’nagar until the election, Jadeja assures party has enough votes First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The state BJP unit called a legislative party meeting in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, where party MLAs will be undergoing a mock voting process in the presence of state leaders and observers. All MLAs have been ‘trained’ to vote for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election, because the fate of the party’s three candidates nominated for the polls is at stake.

BJP National President JP Nadda has deputed two leaders Bhupendra Yadav and Ashish Shelar as observers for the mock voting. BJP State Unit President Jitubhai Vaghani and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani are among the senior ministers and office bearers who will remain present at the meeting.

On Tuesday, all 103 MLAs were instructed about the meet by party chief whip Pankaj Desai. They will have to stay back in Gandhinagar until the Rajya Sabha polls are done.

Further, the three candidates nominated by the BJP for the polls- Abhay Bhardwaj, Ramilaben Bara and Narhari Aminwere once again introduced at the meet, who appealed to MLAs

to vote for them.

With each vote important to register a win, the party’s main objective is to ensure that not a single vote is wasted. In order to achieve that, each MLA has been assigned to a party whip, who will ask them to vote for the candidates nominated as per preference.

Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja seemed confident on the party’s chances to get all three candidates elected to the Upper House. “I appeal to the MLAs to vote fearlessly. The party has enough votes and it does not need any votes from Congress,” Jadeja said.

With 103 MLAs in its kitty, the BJP is hopeful to get all three of its candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha. Since it needs a minimum of 105 votes, the party is hopeful that NCP’s only MLA Kandhal Jadeja will vote for the BJP candidate. This leaves just one more vote which may come from the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP), which has two votes. If even one vote goes to the BJP, the party will be looking at a resounding win. At the same time, it has to keep its house in order and ensure that not a single vote gets rejected or disqualified.

When Congress tried to stage a protest across Rajkot against inflation and price hike using bicycles, our voice was suppressed. These are clear indications that police is working on the behest of BJP and trying to snatch away democratic rights of people.”

Rajput added: “The party had maintained proper social distancing. Despite following all the rules, around 16 of us were detained. This is nothing but snatching our democratic rights.”

BOOK LAUNCH

Ahmed Patel, other Cong leaders arrive in A’bad

Paresh Dhanani arrives at the private hotel where the party is meeting ahead of the RS election. —PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

First India Bureau

BJP MLAs gathered for the mock voting meet in Gandhinagar.

MLAs expect Rajya Sabha members to raise people-related issues First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Those elected by the people are answerable or accountable to the people, but does that apply to Rajya Sabha members too? Some are accountable and some don’t. Some aren’t even accessible, making any expectation of their taking up state-related issues a pipe dream.

However, Members of the Legislative Assembly are a hopeful lot.

The BJP MLA from Kankrej, Kiritsinh Vaghela told First India, “We ex-

pect that Rajya Sabha members will take up issues related to the Central government as we can’t reach the appropriate authorities due to our limitations. Since they can attend Rajya Sabha sessions, they have the chance to question to the respective Ministry and resolve the issue.”

He cites a recent example. “There was an issue with minimum support price and procurement of Chana. I took up the matter with the Rajya Sabha

member Jugalji Lokhandwala and he immediately took it up with the Centre’s food and supply ministry.”

Vaghela’s experience says that at least some Rajya Sabha members leave behind party lines when the issue is related to the state and people at large.

Wadhwan MLA Dhanjibhai Patel, who does not have much first-hand experience dealing with Rajya Sabha members, says he would expect all Rajya Sabha members to take up people-related issues.

However, there might be a bias in play, where a Rajya Sabha member might focus more on issues in his or her home state.

“If the Rajya Sabha member is from the state, then there is no issue. But, if the member is from outside, then it becomes difficult to contact them and request them to raise state issues,” complained one MLA requesting anonymity for fear of blowback within his party. This person suggested the parties should select a local leader for the Rajya Sabha seat.

Ahmedabad: After losing eight MLAs from its roster, the Congress party seems to be in no mood to take any chances to keep its house in order for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. To that end, veteran party leader Ahmed Patel, along with BK Hariprasad and Rajni Patil are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad today.

Patel, who had won a neck-to-neck fight during the Rajya Sabha election in 2017, will be providing guidance to party candidate for this election Shaktisinh Gohil. The party cannot afford to lose both the seats in the Upper House, despite the resignations of eight MLAs it may fall short of a few votes.

With Patel coming into town a day ahead of the polls, it is indicative of the fact that the senior leader intends to keep an eye on the ground situation. “He is monitoring the meetings and sitting down with a few senior leaders of the party. His arrival in Gujarat just a

day before RS polls suggests a lot. It means that he is actively trying to keep the flock together and convince other party MLAs in the state to vote for Congress,” said a source.

Senior party leaders have already issued a statement regarding a strategy to win both seats in the Rajya Sabha. “The meetings with region-wise groups conducted on Wednesday ran long. The leaders seem confident about winning two seats. But, the outcome will speak for itself, since, one can never underestimate BJP when it comes to elections,” said a leader.

As per reports, the BJP may be trying to keep a few Congress MLAs away from voting. Earlier, there were rumours about those infected with COVID-19 would not be allowed to vote. Imran Khedawala, who was infected and successfully recovered from novel coronavirus told First India that, ‘he will take all the medical certificates and reports to the polling booth, if necessary.’

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State undecided on Rath Yatra permission: MoS Home

Route goes via 24 containment zones, where virus has just been brought under control Gandhinagar: With less than a week to go for the 143rd edition of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, the state government is yet to take a formal decision on whether or not to allow the religious procession to continue as planned.

Making the announcement after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Minister of State of Home Pradipsinh Jadeja told the media, “There is no decision on the Jagannath Rath Yatra. The yatra passes through 24 containment zones, where COVID-19 has been brought under control with great efforts. The state government will take a decision after considering all aspects.”

The clarification follows reports that the home department had,

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

First India Bureau

‘Mamera’—clothes, ornaments, and fruits—offered by devotees to Lord Jagannath ahead of the Rath Yatra is displayed at the Saraspur Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

in fact, given the green signal for the procession on Tuesday.

Customarily, the 12hour procession sees participation from massive crowds as Lord Jagannath, his brother Balram and sister Subhadra travel 16km through the city to bless devotees on the second day of the Hindu month of Ashadhi.

Over the past decade or so, about 25,000 police, military and paramilitary personnel have been roped in annually to handle security.

Local health and even intelligence teams have suggested avoiding mass gatherings for fear of undoing any progress in the fight against COVID-19 in the city. Another major for the state is to

ensure the safety of all police, military and paramilitary personnel who--if infected while on Rath Yatra duty--run the risk of spreading the virus in their respective cantonments.

If at all the state gives the yatra the goahead, it will likely be limited to seven hours with participation from just 150-200

No labour without basic amenities: Patil

AMC to give Ayurveda saplings free

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Surat: Now that businesses have recommenced manufacturing post Unlock 1.0, the sector is witnessing a dearth of labour. A demand to bring back migrant labourers has been made by industrialists to the government. In response, Member of Parliament (MP) from Navsari CR Patil has asked industrialists to provide basic amenities and job security to labourers for their return. He also asked them to honour demands of the labourers.

Speaking to First India, Patil said, “The industrialists have demanded that the labourers be called back but, they haven’t assured us about the arrangements being made for them for their return. We have asked them to provide us with the number of labourers required at units.”

He added, “All industrialists have been

HIGH RISK

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Migrant labourers have begun returning to Gujarat.

AT A LOSS

asked to provide food and lodging facilities to the labourers if they do not have access to them. We also stipulated that the labourers will be quarantined for a period before reporting to work. They have not come forward

with any plan, neither have they talked about bearing the expenses to bring them back. If the labourers arrive in the city now, they will have a difficult time and the whole situation may get out of control.”

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation plans to distribute free tulsi plants and saplings of plants know n to be used in Ayurvedic medicine.

“We plan to give around five lakh tulsi plants to the public. In addition, we will give away two lakh saplings of other medicinal plants for free. In return, the people will have to give a written assurance that they will nurture them,” a civic body officer said.

“We are expecting to plant more than five lakh trees across the city this year. Last year, we planted more than a million trees under Mission Million Trees, of which five lakh were planted using the Miyawaki technique,” this person added.

members. The trustees of the Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad have previously announced their intention to keep the yatra a “simpler” affair, with just three chariots. Khalasis who will pull the raths will also have to undergo a thorough medical check-up prior to participating in the yatra.

03

Pro-farmer govt buys wheat, tuvar at MSP First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Over the past three months, the state government procured wheat and tuvar worth Rs149 crore from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). On Wednesday, it also launched an online teaching programme for Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) students.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s government purchased 42,000 metric tonne of wheat worth Rs82 crore at Minimum Support Price. Similarly, it procured 11,530 metric tonne tuvar by shelling out Rs67 crore.

This move was aimed specifically at the welfare of the farmers, who had been adversely affected by the lockdown.

The water level at the Sardar Sarovar Dam which touched 127.46 metre on Wednesday resulted in both the hydro-electric power plants being operation-

A man checks the quality of split pigeonpea or tuvar dal at a wholesale market.

—FILE PHOTO

ECI APPOINTS SPECIAL OBSERVER

T

al at full capacity. The combined output of the plants has reached 17 to 20 million units per day.

This means that the power being generated daily is worth Rs3.5 to 4 crore.

With all schools, colleges and other educational institutions slated to remain closed till August 15, the state gov-

RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION

ernment has raised a concern about the students studying at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Therefore, in order to engage the students enrolled in these institutes, the government has developed an online education programme, which was launched on Wednesday.

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

BJP supporters hold placards and posters during a protest against China, in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Afghan student hangs himself at hostel First India Bureau Ahmedabad: A 24-year-old college student from Afghanistan allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree outside the Gujarat University boys’ hostel, police said. University police have lodged a complaint of accidental death and is investigating the case.

The deceased has been identified as Sekib Fakir. His body was discovered early on Wednesday morning.

“He was pursuing a BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) degree from an affiliated college of GU,” Assistant Sub-Inspector Aniruddhsinh Mori of Gujarat University police station said.

While the investiga-

tors are yet to ascertain the motive behind his extreme step, his friends told the media that he was under pressure to clear an exam paper to obtain his degree.

“Though his threeyear BBA was over, he did not get his degree as he had not cleared one paper. This stress could have led to this tragedy,” one student from Afghanistan told re-

porters.

A witness said that Sekib had gone to meet a friend in E-block on Tuesday night. It in unclear if he returned to him room thereafter, but his body was found near A block.

Students say that, had the security guard posted near the hostel been on duty, this incident could have been avoided.

BACK STORY

Did BJP arm-twist Merja into resigning from the Congress party?

Former Cong leader reportedly lured by the chance to get his brother an IAS promotion

POWER MOVE



Gargi Raval Gandhinagar: Former Congress MLA from Morbi Brijesh Merja, who resigned from the party ahead of the Rajya Sabha election, reportedly may have been a victim of arm-twisting by the opposition

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Although, Merja has switched over parties in his political career, he was issued a ticket by the Congress during the Patidar agitation in 2017 and won from the Morbi seat.

According to sources in the Congress party,

A

Brijesh Merja hands over his resignation to Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi.

—FILE PHOTO

the BJP is said to have a list of MLAs and their weak points. “Their first strategy is to lure the MLAs with money and target those who will easily switch sides.

And then, they go for established leaders who can be beneficial to their agenda long term.

In case of Merja, he left Congress due to his family,” said the source.

“Merja’s brother has been serving as a resident additional collector in Kheda district.

He is a senior Gujarat Administrative Service officer expecting a promotion to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). But, since there was an ongoing inquiry against him, his nomination papers were not sent to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for promotion,” added the source.

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IN-DEPTH

THE DRAGON IN LADAKH MUST BE TAMED

I

n a violent face-off with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley 20 Indian soldiers, including commanding officer Col. Santosh Babu, were martyred on Tuesday. The country seethed with anger against the aggressor. That there were casualties on the Chinese side did not douse that anger because China continues to occupy a sizable chunk of our land in the strategically located valley. To rub salt in our wounds it has claimed sovereignty over the territory and made its intention of not vacating the land quite clear.

It is in this context that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first remarks on the clashes have to be viewed. Breaking his silence on the border situation in his opening remarks at a virtual meeting with chief ministers of various states on Wednesday, Modi warned China that India “wants peace but is capable of giving befitting reply if provoked, be it any situation”.

He then observed two-minute silence to pay tribute to the brave martyrs. In what is seen as an effort to reassure the nation Modi said, “I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifice of our jawans will not be in vain. For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country is of utmost importance. India will defend every stone, every inch of its territory.” The prime minister further said, “India is a peace-loving country, we never instigate anyone but we will never compromise with the sovereignty of the country.” Before paying tributes to the martyrs, Modi said that the country will be proud to know that our soldiers died fighting the Chinese.

A diplomatic effort was simultaneously made with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi over the telephone to lodge India’s protest against the aggression.

The prime minister’s response came after opposition leaders, mainly Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and former PM HD Deve Gowda demanded a statement from him on the entire development in Ladakh.

Expressing her deep anguish over the killing of soldiers, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the developments have shaken the nation and urged the prime minister to tell the country how China seized our land, what is the situation on the spot today. She had a few other posers for Modi. She said that her party was with armed forces, the soldiers, their families, and the government.

Targeting Modi, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Why is the PM silent? Enough is enough.

We need to know what has happened…”

It is learned that the Chinese have beefed up their positions in the region and are in no mood to retreat. An almost similar conflict took place in Nathu La in 1967. After hand-tohand combat over fencing by India, China used machine-gun fire and killed 88 Indian soldiers.

India retaliated with artillery guns, wiping out all Chinese borders and 300 enemy troops.

Will such a step be an option today?

DID ABROGATION OF ART 370 AFFECT CHINA’S APPROACH TO LADAKH?

WHILE NEW TERRITORY STATUS OF J&K WAS RECOGNISED BY UNITED NATIONS, A MAJOR DIPLOMATIC VICTORY FOR INDIA, THE NEW LADAKH REGION IRKED CHINESE STRAIGHTWAY MOHD FAHAD The author is Jaipur-based journalist

T

One similar theory is the abrogation of Article 370 by India during August last year.

Previously, Ladakh was part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), but with the abrogation, it became a separate Union Territory without legislation

he gloves are off in this match.

Both teams are purposely committing fouls against opposing players! And the result is heavy casualties on either side. While no confirmed reports coming from Galwan Valley, various theories on the now bloody stand-off have been tossed around.

One similar theory is the abrogation of Article 370 by India during August last year. Previously, Ladakh was part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), but with the abrogation, it became a separate Union Territory without legislation. While the new territory status of J&K was recognised and respected by the United Nations, which was a major diplomatic victory for India, the new status of Ladakh irked the Chinese straightway.

China immediately hinted that with the new territories of Ladakh and J&K, the border disputes of China and Pakistan with India will become more complex. And it seems now that within ten months the can of worms is open. China by its actions is not only alarming India, but also assuring Pakistan on its take on border issues.

Last week Wang Xianfeng, who is a press officer for the Chinese embassy in Pakistan, tweeted a report from a Chinese analyst Wang Shida and titled ‘India blinded by double confidence’ on India’s abrogation move. The report claims that following the abrogation of Article 370, India opened “up new territory on the map” with respect to China.

“On the Chinese side, India ‘opened up new territory on the map,’ incorporated part of the areas under the local jurisdiction of Xinjiang and Tibet into its Ladakh Union territory, and placed Pakistani-administered Kashmir within its so-called Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir. This forced China into the Kashmir dispute, stimulated China and Pakistan to take counter-actions on the Kashmir

issue, and dramatically increased the difficulty in resolving the border issue between China and India,” opined Shida.

Shida also alleged, “Hindu nationalism is prevalent in India and that the Indian authorities and the strategic community have been blinded by socalled double confidence.” Shida explains the reasons for this ‘double confidence’ as being the BJP’s political predominance following two landmark Parliamentary election wins in 2014 and 2019 and the US cozying up to India, seeing it as a counterweight to China. Regardless of how confident India is and no matter how good it feels about itself. India’s attempts to forcibly seize territory are doomed to fail, the article had concluded.

This sharp reaction came in response to Home Minister Amit Shah speaking in Parliament about India’s intention of taking back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the disputed area of Aksai Chin. Last year Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar was also informed by China about the same. Jaishankar had at that time informed Beijing that the abrogation was an entirely internal matter that did not impact India’s external boundaries or the LAC with China.

In recent days, a number of Pakistani media outlets, includ-

While both India and China are nuclear powers and have big armies at their disposal, China’s defence budget is three times more than India’s. China has hiked its defence budget from US$ 177.6 billion in 2019 to US$ 179 billion in 2020

ing The Nation, Express Tribune, The News International, and state-run Associated Press of Pakistan have given coverage to Wang Shida’s analysis.

It seems strange that such a tweet emanated from a Chinese official in Islamabad, which means there is a Pakistani connection to it and the attempt is almost as if the Chinese are trying to reassure Pakistan. Even as scientists and governments worldwide burn the midnight oil to fight the corona pandemic, as millions lose their loved ones and keep vigil in hospital wards,

Sustainable development starts with children

O

“

ur house is on fire,” warned the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg at last year’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. Her pointed words – accusing adults of sitting idly by as the planet burns – quieted a roomful of global leaders, inspired young activists worldwide, and underscored the critical importance of putting children at the center of global action to build a better future.

Climate change is happening now. That was apparent in Australia’s recent unprecedented bushfires, in which 18 million hectares burned and an estimated one billion animals died. It was also reflected in India’s 2019 heat wave, among its longest and most intense in decades. And a

04

warming planet is contributing to the global spread of dengue, a mosquitoborne viral infection.

Climate change is not the only area where we are failing our children.

Predatory commercial marketing that targets children and their caretakers is contributing to the widespread consumption of unhealthy products, such as alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and sugar-sweetened beverages. The global economic losses associated with the inappropriate use of breastmilk substitutes – associated with lowered intelligence, obesity, and increased risk of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases – amount to an estimated $302 billion.

Children are our most precious resource, and

they deserve to live long, healthy, and productive lives. To determine how to enable them to do just that, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Lancet recently convened a landmark commission – which I co-chaired, along with Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Minister of State in Senegal – that brought together

40 experts on child health and wellbeing.

As the commission’s report – “A Future for the World’s Children?”

– notes, the key is to invest in people while they are young. Evidence shows that hungry children have poorer health, worse educational outcomes, and earn less as

adults. Children who are exposed to violence are more likely to commit violence.

Conversely, children who receive proper nutrition, appropriate care, and quality education grow up to be healthy, productive citizens, who are presumably better equipped to raise healthy, productive

children of their own.

In short, investing in children today brings lifelong, and even inter-generational benefits. This brings value to all of society. For example, a schoolbuilding program undertaken in Indonesia in 19731979 has helped to boost today’s living standards and tax revenues.

The return on investment in children is remarkably high. In the United States, every dollar invested in a preschool program was found to bring $7-12 in societal benefits per person, via reductions in aggressive behavior and improved educational attainment.

In lower-middle-income countries, every $1 invested in maternal and child health can bring over $11 in benefits.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.PROJECTSYNDICATE.COM

China has clearly twisted the crisis into a strategic opportunity by taking advantage of the geo-political distraction. China transgressing the LAC resulting in tragic deaths of 20 soldiers of the Indian Army, the first casualties of conflict along the IndiaChina border in 45 years, underlining the scale of the problem, and the challenge ahead. A problem that will require a united and firm resolve, and not robust diplomatic offensive.

While both India and China are nuclear powers and have big armies at their disposal, China’s defence budget is three times more than India’s. China has hiked its defence budget from US$ 177.6 billion in 2019 to US$ 179 billion in 2020. China has the world’s largest military of two million troops and the secondlargest military spender after the US. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China’s defence spending in 2019 amounted to US$ 232 billion. An article by the Indian Institute for Defence and Analysis (IDSA) states that India’s budget for 2020 amounted to US$ 66.9 billion (Rs 4,71,378 crore).

Therefore, war is clearly not an option. Both countries must continue to back-channel diplomacy and solve the issue while maintaining restraint.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Rajnath Singh @rajnathsingh The Nation will never forget their bravery and sacrifice. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen soldiers. The nation stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour. We are proud of the bravery and courage of India’s breavehearts.

Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp India does not support violence but it will also not shy away in giving a befitting reply if there is an attempt to compromise its territorial integrity. Under the leadership of PM Modi India’s borders and sovereignty are and will remain secure.

Spiritual SPEAK

Pleasure from the senses seems like nectar at first, but it is bitter as poison in the end. —Bhagavad Gita

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Tell truth about Ladakh incident: Sonia Sonia urged PM to tell nation how Chinese occupied Indian territory New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to come forward and tell the country how Chinese troops occupied Indian territory and why 20 soldiers were killed.

In a video message, she assured the country of her party’s full support to the Indian Army and government and said, “I am confident that in these challenging times, the entire nation will unite to face the enemy.”

“I urge the prime minister to come before the country and reassure it on the basis of truth and facts in this hour of crisis,” she added.

Gandhi asked whether some Indian Army personnel were still missing and how many were still seriously injured. She said the government should explain its thinking and strategy to deal with the situation on the border in Ladakh.

“Today, when there is so much anger in the

Sonia Gandhi

WHY IS PM SILENT? WHY IS HE HIDING? ASKS RAHUL GANDHI New Delhi: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the face-off with the Chinese army at Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan valley area on Monday evening. Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi questioned why the Prime Minister is silent about the clash between the Indian and Chinese troops. “Why is the PM silent?

Why is he hiding? Enough is enough. We need to know what has happened,” Gandhi said on Twitter.

country over Chinese intrusion into Indian border, the prime min-

ister should come out and tell the truth on how the Chinese occu-

pied the Indian territory, why brave soldiers were martyred and what is the current situation along the LAC,” she said.

Gandhi assured the country of Congress party’s complete solidarity with the Army and government and said, “In this time of crisis, Congress stands with the Indian Army, the soldiers, their families and the government.”

“Which portions of the Indian territory have the Chinese occupied? What is their location? What is the government’s thinking and strategy to deal with this situation?” she asked.

The Congress president saluted the slain soldiers and said, “The sacrifice of 20 Indian soldiers on the LAC has shaken the very soul of India. I salute them and pay my tributes from the depths of my heart.

I also pray that god grants their families the strength to brave this loss.” —PTI

Army personnel carry the casket of Hawaldar Sunil Kumar, who was one of the 20 jawans who were killed during the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakhs Galwan Valley, after a wreath-laying ceremony at Jaiprakash Narayan Airport in Patna on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Security increased in Pithoragarh Pithoragarh: A day after Indian Army confirmed that 20 personnel, including a Colonel rank officer, had lost their lives in the violent face-off in the Galwan valley area of Ladakh on June 15, the security has been increased from Nabhidhang to Lipulekh Pass

Entire Army Company was trapped by Chinese PLA New Delhi: Around 120 Indian soldiers, almost an entire company, was trapped and encircled by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and followed by savage and deceptive attacks, many to a point of mutilation, on Monday night, sources said.

Pointing firearms on their faces, the Chinese PLA brutally tortured some Indian soldiers to death, sources further revealed, adding that the Indian soldiers were

SAVAGELY ATTACKED

—Pic for representational purpose only

helpless with the government directions of not to use firearms. It was not a hand-to-hand

Sensex dips by 97 points amid geopolitical tensions Mumbai: Geopolitical tensions between India and China at the Ladakh border curbed investors risk appetite, leading equity benchmark indices to close with slight cuts on Wednesday.

The bourses experienced bouts of volatility while the economy opens up after extended lockdowns and COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country.

At the closing bell, the BSE S&P Sensex was down by 97 points or 0.29 per cent at 33,508 while the Nifty 50 edged lower by 33 points or

0.33 per cent at 9,881.

Kotak Mahindra Bank dipped by 2.3 per cent, ITC by 2.2 per cent, Mahindra & Mahindra by 1.9 per cent and Hindalco by 1.6 per cent.

Power Grid Corporation, Bajaj Finserv, Asian Paints and Vedanta too traded with a negative bias. —ANI

SCRAP PENDING CBSE BOARD EXAMS: SISODIA URGES HRD MIN New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Wednesday wrote to Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, urging him to cancel pending board exams, citing the spike in COVID-19 cases and high number of containment zones in the city.

Sisodia’s letter came on a day the Supreme Court

asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to examine if remaining board papers can be scrapped and marks allotted to students on the basis of internal assessment. The apex court was hearing a petition by a group of parents seeking a direction to the CBSE to scrap the pending exams.

fight between the forces, as agencies has learnt and the PLA troopers used all kinds

Mayor, Dy Mayor polls: Delhi BJP shares names New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday announced the names of candidates for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections for all the three municipal corporations of Delhi. The BJP is in the majority in all the three municipal corporations.

The last date for submitting nomination is June 17. The elections are scheduled to held on June 24.

of weapons against the Indian soldiers, who bravely fought and tried to control the situation.

Sources said the Indian Army troopers were outnumbered by 1:5 ratio when they came under attack from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army soldiers at the patrolling point number 14 in Ladakh on LAC in eastern Ladakh.

“It was the deadliest attack carried on the Indian Army personnel by the Chinese military personnel to our memory,” the government sources said. —Agencies

in Pithoragarh.

DM, Pithoragarh, Vijay Kumar Jogdande on Wednesday said that the Indian Army and ITBP personnel are constantly patrolling the area along with the night vision cameras.

“The situation on the border is fine. The Army and ITBP are pa-

All parties will support any decision PM takes: Raut Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that all parties would support any decision taken by PM in connection with China but added that the PM should first reveal the truth behind the death of 20 Army personnel. “Our relations with China have not been great, but no bullets had been fired at the China border for close to 50 years. The

CBI books 2 Mumbai firms in `57.26 cr cheating case New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against two Mumbai-based private firms and others on allegations of cheating Bank of India of Rs 57.26 crore during 2013-2018, and also carried out searches at five locations.

The central investigation agency registered a case on June 12 on a complaint from Bank of India against Avyaan Overseas Pvt Ltd (now known as Bagla Overseas Pvt Ltd), its MD Mohit

DELHI HEALTH MINISTER JAIN TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 New Delhi: A day after testing negative, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement, Office of Delhi Health Minister said, “Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tests positive for COVID-19.” Earlier in the day, he was tested again for COVID-19 at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. He was admitted here after he complained of high fever and difficulty in breathing on June 15. The Health Minister had tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Kamboj and directors Jitendra Gulshan Kapoor, Siddhant Bagla, Irtesh Mishra.

The CBI also filed an FIR against KBJ Hotels Goa Pvt Ltd and unidentified persons, including government servants and bank officials. It was

alleged that the firms and its directors cheated Bank of India to the tune of Rs 57.26 crore.

The agency also conducted raids till Tuesday late night at five places in Mumbai that include the residential and official premises of the accused.

The raids were also conducted at office of the private company which led to recovery of certain incriminating documents including of property, loan, various bank account details and locker keys, the CBI said. —Agencies

AVAILABILITY OF BEDS IN HOSPS NEEDS TO BE UPDATED DAILY: DIDI Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the availability of beds for COVID-19 patients in private and government hospitals need to be updated on a daily basis to avoid harassment of patients. “Availability of beds in both private and government hospitals needs to be updated on

trolling and monitoring the Indo-China border with the district.”

In a strong message to China after the killing of Indian soldiers in the violent face-off, PM Modi on Wednesday said that India wants peace but is capable of giving a befitting reply, if instigated. —ANI

day-to-day basis to avoid harassment,” Banerjee said. CM said that as on June 16, over 3.5 lakh coronavirus tests have been conducted in West Bengal. “A total number of 104 safe home centre have been set up for those having mild symptoms or low fever because hospital beds are being kept for serious patients only.”

killing of 20 of our jawans is shocking. We cannot hold Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi responsible for whatever happened at the border,” Raut said. —ANI

05

MARTYRS WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES New Delhi: The Indian Army on Wednesday released the names of the 20 military personnel, including an officer, who laid out their lives in the violent face-off with China in Galwan Valley, Ladakh.

The names of the personnel are -- Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu, Nb Sub Nuduram Soren, Nb Sub Mandeep Singh, Nb Sub (Dvr) Satnam Singh-Gurdaspur, Hav (Gnr) K Palani, Hav Sunil Kumar, Hav Bipul Roy, NK (NA) Deepak Kumar, Sep Rajesh Orang, Sep Kundan Kumar Ojha, Sep Ganesh Ram, Sep Chandrakanta Pradhan, Sep Ankush, Sep Gurbinder, Sep Gurtej Singh, Sep Chandan Kumar, Sep Kundan Kumar, Sep Aman Kumar, Sep Jai Kishor Singh and Sep Ganesh Hansda. PM Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to these soldiers and asserted that their sacrifice will not go in vain.

The Prime Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CMs of 15 States and Union Territories, who were present in the meeting via videoconference on Wednesday, observed a two-minute silence as a tribute to the soldiers. —ANI

LG Baijal holds meeting with Kejriwal and others New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on Wednesday held a meeting with CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia to discuss the COVID-19 management in the capital as the cases are increasing with each passing day.

“Had a constructive meeting of Expert Panel with Hon’ble CM, Delhi @ArvindKejriwal, Dy CM @msisodia , CS, ACS, Pr. Sec Health & members of Advisory Committee on COVID-19 management in Delhi,” he tweeted. The LG held the meeting

Anil Baijal

with CM and others via VC on Wednesday afternoon. However, what was transpired between the meeting is yet to be known. According to the Health Ministry, the coronavirus case in Delhi has reached 44,688 on Wednesday. —ANI

DIGVIJAYA SINGH FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST MP CM Bhopal: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Crime Branch against MP CM Shivraj Chouhan for allegedly tweeting a doctored video of Rahul Gandhi last year ‘with an intention to tarnish his image’. “On the complaint of BJP, an FIR has been registered against me and 12 others. I want that an FIR should be registered based on our complaint,” Singh said. Earlier, Bhopal Crime Branch had registered an FIR against Singh in connection with an alleged fake video regarding Chouhan shared by him on social media.

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‘MAKE SAVING LIVES A TOP PRIORITY’ PM Modi called for expanding health infrastructure of states while addressing CMs of 14 states & UTs via VC —PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: India recorded the highest ever spike of 2,003 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday after Maharashtra and Delhi added earlier fatalities not attributed to the disease as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked states to make full use of the expanded coronavirus testing capacity and saving lives a top priority. Modi also called for fighting the stigma associated with the coronavirus and that people should be assured there is no need to panic if somebody has contracted the infection as the number of recovered patients has also been rising. The COVID-19

PM Narendra Modi paying tributes to the martyrs during Virtual Conference with the Chief Ministers, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

recovery rate for the country currently stood at around 53 per cent.

Speaking to chief ministers and representatives of 14 states and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir through video conference, Modi underlined

the emotional aspect of the fight against the coronavirus, including battling fear of being afflicted, and the stigma attached by making people aware of the high number of those who have defeated the infection and recovered.

Saving lives should be the top priority, Modi told the chief ministers, as he called for expanding the health infrastructure of the states, according to an official statement.

The Wednesday interaction was the second and final segment of Modi’s sixth round of consultations with chief ministers in the last three months on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Referring to the rise in number of infections, he underscored the need for testing, tracking, tracing and isolating COVID-19 patients to deal with the pandemic.

SC slams Delhi over cases filed against docs New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Delhi government for threatening doctors, nurses, and health workers with legal actions for bringing to the public knowledge the state of healthcare in the hospitals of the national capital.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and also comprising Justice MR Shah and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul was hearing a suo motu matter related to the

Two jawans from Odisha were among the 20 soldiers martyred at Galwan Valley along the India-China border during a violent face-off with their Chinese counterparts on Monday night. The two are Naib Subedar Nandu Ram Soren (42) of Badachampauda village in Mayurbhanj district and sepoy Chandrakanta Pradhan (32) of Beorapanga village in Kandhamal district.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan paid tributes to martyred Odia jawans and other Indian Army personnel.

Pradhan tweeted, “The unshakeable cour-

age and love for the nation that runs through the veins of our soldiers has no parallels. I bow to the valour of the Indian Army and salute the sacrifice of our brave hearts.

The nation will forever remain indebted for their invaluable service.

Flag of IndiaFolded hands.

India does not support violence but it will also not shy away in giving a befitting reply if there is an attempt to compromise its territorial integrity. Under the leadership of PM Modi India’s borders and sovereignty are and will remain secure.”

Naveen said the supreme sacrifice of the jawans will always be remembered by the nation.

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday informed that the recovery rate of patients suffering from COVID-19 has risen to 52.8 percent in the country.

Currently, 1,55,227 active cases are under medical supervision.

“During the last 24 hours, 6,922 COVID-19 patients were cured. A total of1,86,934 patients, so far, have been cured

of COVID-19,” read a statement from the ministry. The number of government labs have been increased to 674 while private labs have been increased to 250.

In the last 24 hours, 1,63,187 samples were tested. The total number of samples tested so far is 60,84,256. On Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported that India's recovery rate was 52.47per cent. —ANI

ple’s Party, which had four MLAs, including three ministers, the lone Trinamool MLA and an independent MLA from Jiribam also withdrew their support to the BJP-led government.

The 60-member Manipur Assembly has a current strength of 59 MLAs after Shyamkumar Singh of Andro

assembly constituency, who had defected to the BJP from Congress, was disqualified. With three BJP MLAs joining Congress, the party now has 24 members in the Assembly even though former CM Okram Ibobi Singh claimed the effective strength of the party was now 27. —Agencies

Muzaffarpur: A lawyer on Wednesday moved a criminal complaint against 8 persons, including Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and producer-director Karan Johar, in a court regarding death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The court had fixed July 3 as the next date of hearing. In his complaint filed in the court

of Chief Judicial Magistrate, advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha alleged that these eight persons

Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta is now unlikely to get third extension in service in July.

He is 1984 batch IAS officer.

WILL MEHTA MOVE TO DELHI AS CHAIRMAN OF CERC?

In all probability, Sanjay Kumar will be new Chief Secretary of Maharashtra in July. He is 1984 batch IAS officer. One source however said that 1985 batch IAS officer Sitaram Kunte will succeed Ajoy Mehta as Chief Secretary. proper treatment of COVID-19 patients and dignified handling of bodies in government hospitals. —ANI

DEPUTATION TENURE OF KIRAN AS SP, CBI EXTENDED

The deputation tenure of Kiran S as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Central Bureau of Investigation has been extended upto June 8, 2021. He is a 2008 batch IPS officer of UP cadre.

APPLICATIONS FOR PESB VACANCIES SOUGHT TILL JULY 15

The willing applicants can apply for the vacancies advertised by Public Enterprises Selection Board fell last dates during lockdown till July 15, 2020.

THREE OUT OF FIVE FROM WEST BENGAL EMPANELLED AS DG IN GOI

Three 1987 batch IPS officers, out of total five, eligible from WB cadre have been empanelled for DG and equivalent posts in Government of India.

SN MISHRA TO GET ACS RANK IN MP

S N Mishra will get ACS rank in Madhya Pradesh on July 1. He is 1990 batch IAS officer.

MP HC STILL NEEDS NINE PERMANENT JUDGES

The Madhya Pradesh High Court still needs nine permanent judges as on June 1, 2020. positive for COVID-19.

Their sons, daughters-in-law and one grandson were discharged as per the latest COVID protocol on June 10 as they were asymptomatic, Mishra said. However, the minister and his wife, also a former minister in the Harish Rawat government were still at the hospital, he said.

Manipur govt in trouble as 3 BJP Complaint against Salman, 7 MLAs resign, NPP pulls support others in Muzaffarpur court Imphal: The N Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur was left on a sticky wicket after three sitting BJP MLAs resigned from the party and joined the Congress and six other MLAs withdrew support. With this, the strength of the NDA government has been reduced to 30 MLAs. The National Peo-

MAHA CHIEF SECRETARY UNLIKELY TO GET THIRD EXTENSION

SANJAY KUMAR TO BE NEW CHIEF SECRETARY OF MAHARASHTRA?

Satpal Maharaj, wife discharged from AIIMS Dehradun: Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj and his wife Amrita Rawat who tested positive for COVID-19 on May 31 have been discharged from AIIMS, Rishikesh after 17 days of treatment, officials said.

They were discharged from the hospital on Tuesday evening and advised to keep themselves in isolation at home, Dean hospital administration UB Mishra said. Maharaj, his wife, their two sons , two daughters-in-law and a grandson were admitted at the facility on May 31 after testing

POWER Gallery There are strong rumours that Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta is moving to Delhi as Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC). He is 1984 batch IAS officer.

Post will fall vacant early next year.

Pradhan, Patnaik pay 6,922 corona patients recovered in last tributes to martyrs 24 hours, recovery rate rises to 52.8% Vaishali

06

forced Sushant to commit suicide under a conspiracy which, he pleaded, amounted to murder.

Others named in the complaint are Aditya Chopra, Sajid Nadiadwala, Sanjay L Bhansali, Bhushan Kumar, Ekta Kapoor, and Dinesh. Complainant claimed these persons did not let Sushant's movies get released under conspiracy.

P&H HC STILL SHORT OF 25 PERMANENT JUDGES

As many as 25 vacancies of permanent Judges in Punjab & Haryana High Court as on June 1, 2020, are yet to be filled up.

MS SUCHITRA SHARMA RETURNS TO PARENT CADRE

Ms Suchitra Sharma, CVO, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Delhi, has been given premature repatriation to her parent cadre in order to avail the benefit of promotion. She is a 1987 batch IRS-C&CE officer.

SERVICES OF SUNIL MATHUR PERMANENTLY ABSORBED IN MAHA-METRO

The services of Sunil Mathur has been permanently absorbed in MAHA-Metro. He is an IRSEE officer.

R K SINGH APPOINTED AS JOINT SECRETARY, DPIIT

R K Singh has been appointed as Joint Secretary, DPIIT. He is an officer of the Central Secretariat Service.

GANGADHARAN APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR, CULTURE

C Gangadharan has been appointed as Director, Culture. He is an officer of the Central Secretariat Service.

P C MEENA APPOINTED AS DEPUTY SECRETARY, MINES

P C Meena has been appointed as Deputy Secretary, Mines. He is an officer of the Central Secretariat Service.

FROM PG 1 Maya tries...

It is submitted that in Rajasthan Assembly gazette notification also these 6 MLAs were shown as elected from BSP. Subsequently, without notice to BSP, honorable speaker of Rajasthan Assembly has changed their nomenclature in his records as MLAs belonging to Indian National Congress,” the letter reads.

Mishra contests that neither has there been a merger of BSP at national level nor its state unit in Rajasthan merged with Congress “which is a mandatory condition under the

10th schedule of Constitution of India.”

The letter claims that under such a situation the six BSP MLAs “cannot be and should not be permitted to participate in the voting as members of Congress party and they are bound to follow the whip of BSP.” The party has thus demanded from the ECI to ensure that the BSP MLAs are not permitted to participate in voting as Congress MLAs and a separate arrangement of voting should be made by treating them as BSP MLAs only, bound by the party’s whip.

While the party may have raised its points, knowledgeable sources reveal that BSP’s action in the RS polls will not be of any major consequence keeping in mind the past practice. It is believed that the election process will continue unhindered since even in past the same has happened.

Red-flagged!... of the national cybersecurity agency – Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERTin). India wasn’t the first country to restrict use of Zoom within the government. Taiwan

has banned government agencies from using Zoom, the German Foreign Ministry restricts its use of Zoom to emergency situations on personal computers while the United States Senate advises members to use other platforms. The company had responded to the home ministry advisory, insisting that it was serious about user security.

A’bad accounts...

Till date, 25 doctors have tested positive, 20 from new civil hospitals and five from SMIMER. Six doctors from private hospitals and two

nurses too have tested positive.

In Vadodara, there are 540 active cases; with 102 patients on oxygen and 50 on ventilators. As many as 44 of these are new cases.

As positive cases keep emerging from Jambusar, the local market association has decided to down shutters for seven days. Seven more cases were reported from Jambusar in Bharuch district in the past 24 hours.

In Rajkot city, three front-line warriors have tested positive: two doctors and one employee from IG Memori-

al Private Hospital.

Indian Army,...

Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs, sources said.

The Army has already rushed in additional troops to all its key front-line bases and formations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, they said.

The Indian Air Force has already raised the alert level in all its front-line bases tasked to keep an eye on the LAC, the de-facto border. —ANI

Bringing a... our power in protecting the country’s integrity and sovereignty,” the Prime Minister said.

“I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifice of our soldiers will not be in vain. For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country are most important. And no one can stop protecting our country. India wants peace but it is capable of giving a befitting reply if provoked.

“The country is proud of them as they sacrificed their lives while killing the enemy,” he added. The Prime Minister, Union

Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of 15 States and Union Territories, who are present in the meeting via video-conferencing today, observed a two-minute silence as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the violent face-off. —ANI

UN General... including China and Pakistan, in June last year.

President of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande announced the commencement of the elections at around 9 am Wednesday. —ANI

TALKING POINT AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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07

INDIA’S

‘celestial epidemiologists’ TACKLING PANDEMICS

CENTURIES

FOR

H

HINDU GODDESSES WHO PROTECT BELIEVERS AGAINST SICKNESS HAVE BEEN CO-OPTED TO COMBAT THE CORONAVIRUS

indus in India have had a helping hand – several in fact – when it comes to fighting deadly contagions like Covid-19: multi-armed goddesses co-opted to help contain and kill pestilence.

Collectively known as “Amman,” or the Divine Mother, the goddesses of contagion – and it always goddesses, not gods – have been called on for their services before. They have been deployed in many of the deadly pandemics India has experienced from ancient times until the modern age.

In conducting my fieldwork as a cultural anthropologist who studies religion, I have seen small shrines all over India dedicated to these goddesses of contagion, often in rural, forested areas outside village and town limits.

The goddesses act as “celestial epidemiologists” curing illness. But if angered they can also inflict disease such as poxes, plagues, sores, fevers, tuberculosis and malaria. They are both poison and cure.

BLOWING HOT AND COLD One of the first images of a contagion goddess recorded is of the demon-turned-goddess Hariti, carved and worshipped during the deadly Justinian plague of Rome that came to India via trade routes, killing between 25 to 100 million people globally. In the late 19th century, my hometown of Bangalore suffered an epidemic of bubonic plague, which required the services of a contagion goddess. British colonial documents record the repeated waves of illness that stalked the city, and the desperate pleas to a goddess named “Plague Amma.”

In South India, the premier contagion goddess is Mariamman – from the word “Mari” meaning both pox and transformation. In the North of India, she is known as the goddess Sheetala, meaning “the cold one” – a nod to her ability to cool fevers.

The goddesses’ iconography emphasises their therapeutic healing powers.

Sheetala carries a pot of healing water, a broom to sweep away dirt, a branch of the indigenous Neem tree – said to cure skin and breathing disorders – and a jar of ambrosia for eternal life.

Mariamman, on the other hand, carries a scimitar with which to smite and decapitate the demons of virulence and illness.

Contagion goddesses are not angelic and gentle, as one might expect caregivers to be.

They are hot-tempered, demanding and fiery. They are deemed wilderness goddesses – highly local and traditionally worshiped primarily by lower caste, Dalit, tribal and rural folk. Some are associated with tantric practices and dark magic.

RITUAL READINESS Placating the goddesses through blood sacrifice, decorative offerings and self mortification, was – and in some places, still is – a way of preparing for a pandemic in parts of India. Sometimes, painful piercings, hook swinging and self-flagellation were offered when patients recovered from illnesses, both mental and physical. Or in a sanitised version of blood sacrifice, small silver images of the patient were offered as a prophylactic against illness.

Rituals have often involved variation. A devotee would be inoculated with infected pus and the goddess invoked through possession to save them. The aim was to trigger a milder form of the illness and gain immunity.

High caste Hindus and those who mirror high-caste practices often ignored and shunned the contagion goddesses, fearful of the blood rites, possession and the tantric rituals, which they associated with low caste worship.

But these local contagion goddesses merged over time with the Divine Mother Shakti, the feminine personification of the energy behind creation. This domesticated the goddesses, making them more acceptable to bourgeois Hindus.

POST-POX LIVES With the widespread use of modern antibiotics, retrovirals and vaccines in the mid 20th century, traditional Hindu healing rituals become less relevant. Contagion goddesses were beginning to be forgotten and ignored. But a handful of them developed rich post-pox lives, reinventing themselves for modern afflictions. Some goddesses moved on from focussing on disease alone.

In Bangalore, a city plagued by traffic fatalities, the goddess Mariamman transformed from a cholera goddess into the protector of drivers. Now known as “Traffic Circle Amman,” the goddess’s temple sees cars and trucks line up everyday for blessings, before drivers face the deadly maelstrom of city traffic.

Other goddesses came into being to fight new illnesses. On December 1, 1997, World AIDS day, a new goddess named AIDSAmma was created by a science schoolteacher, HN Girish, not to cure AIDS but to teach worshipers the prophylactic measures necessary to prevent the disease.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

COVID-19 CONSCRIPTS During the Covid-19 crisis all the contagion goddesses have been re-conscripted. The Indian government’s quick action in instituting a stay-at-home lockdown that lasted two months prevented widespread contagion, but it also meant that

CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI

DESIGN: ABHISHEK SHARMA

people weren’t allowed to go to temples to worship the goddesses and ask for intervention. So priests offered special decorations, including garlands of acidic lemons believed to placate the goddesses.

The goddesses have also been recalled in posters by Indian artists that circulate through Facebook. Artist Sandhya Kumari’s rendering of “Coronavirus Mardini” – a hygienically masked Mother India attacking the coronavirus with a trident – recalled Shakti’s killing of evil, a familiar image to all Hindus.

A nationalistic caption was added during reposting – “Mother India will end the Coronavirus, but it is every Indians duty to stay at home and take care of loved ones.

Jai India!”

In Kumari’s rendering, the goddess’s iconography is updated for the pandemic. The

goddesses’ many gloved hands grasp sanitizer, masks, vaccination needles and other medical equipment. The coronavirus is held in chains, immovable and shorn of its virulence.

While controversies over temples reopening dominates the news, a new deity, crafted from polystyrene and called “Corona Devi” has been installed in a temple dedicated to the pox goddess.

Mr Anilan, the priest and single devotee, says he will offer worship for “Corona Warriors” – health care workers, firefighters, and other front line personnel.

Here science and faith are not seen as inimical to one another, but as working together, hand-in-glove.

Covid-19 has undoubtedly increased the goddesses’ workload. And with no known cure and no viable vaccine, the contagion goddesses may well have their hands full for some time.

2ND FRONT Minister fined for In death trap: Guj tops nation’s not wearing mask Covid mortality rate at 6.3% Not all paths are chosen ones.

What matters in the long run is how we walk the path we are on.

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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08

The country’s number of deaths has increased 1.33 times and surpassed case growth of 1.29 First India Bureau

FIGHTING DEATH!

Ahmedabad/New Delhi: Notwithstanding the State Government’s claims of a better recovery rate, the stinging fact that stares Gujarat in the face is that it reports the country’s highest mortality rate of 6.3 per cent. What is more, as many as 5 of the 10 high-mortality districts are also in the State.

Panchmahals district (along with Dahod), that also has a good percentage of tribals, has the highest death rate of 11.11 per cent in the country. The other districts are Anand (9.45 per cent), Patan (8.55 per cent), Aravalli (8.11 per cent) and Bhavnagar (7.69 per cent).

And among the bigger districts of the State and its most important city, Ahmedabad, has a very high mortality rate of 7.12 per cent, second only to Kolka-

Minister of State Ishwarsinh Patel paid fine of Rs 200.

First India Bureau

—FILE PHOTO

Para-medical staff sanitise a grave where Covid patients are buried.

ta (7.75 per cent).

Nearly 80 per cent of the total number of Covid-19 deaths in India is from 5 states — Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, there are 65 districts of India which have a

Sebi challenges HC stay on Franklin

MR of more than 5 per cent — 19 in Madhya Pradesh, 11 in Gujarat, 10 each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra — the most severely affected.

A deeper analysis of districts by howindialives.com reveals

Afghan college student ends life in city

that there are 71 districts which have reported 10 or more Covid-19 deaths in India and Maharashtra has the highest, 16, such districts.

But this is just one aspect of the India story. The bigger part is that as much as 45 per

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has filed a letters patent appeal against the Gujarat High Court order that had stayed the winding up process of Franklin Templeton’s shuttered schemes.

Sebi has contented that the court had erred in staying the crucial evoting process. This will ultimately delay the entire winding up process and cause loss to unit holders, the petition said.

It added that the court’s June 8 ruling has erred in interpreting that unit

holders’ consent is needed before the winding up decision.

The high court had ruled in favour of continuing stay on evoting process till Sebi’s forensic report on alleged lapses in managing these schemes is made public.

Franklin Templeton India had on April 23 decided to wind up its six debt schemes owing to severe liquidity and redemption pressures.

Sebi said if consent of the unit holders is also required to wind up due to urgent events, there would not be any difference with an independent provision which speaks about their role in winding up.

SANJIVANI RATH FOR SURAT

@ahmedpatel It is a dark moment for India.

We will be forever grateful to our martyrs I join the nation to offer my condolences to the families of our brave martyrs We stand firmly behind our Armed Forces in this dark hour

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: A 24-year-old college student from Afghanistan allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday by hanging himself from a tree outside a hostel in Ahmedabad. The reason was not immediately known.

The deceased has been identified as Sekib Fakir, police said. His body was found hanging from a tree outside the boy’s hostel of Gujarat University.

“He was pursuing a course in BBA (bachelor of business administration) from an affiliated college of Gujarat University and waiting to appear for an exam,” Assistant sub-inspector Aniruddhsinh Mori of Gujarat University police station said.

The investigators are trying to ascertain why he killed himself.

cent of the total Covid-19 deaths in India (4,507 of the total 9,915) have been reported after the lifting of lockdown restrictions since June 1.

What is even more chilling is that the rate of growth of deaths has exceeded

the rate of growth of cases since June 8.

The cumulative number of deaths has gone up 1.33 times while the corresponding rise in the number of cases has been 1.29 during the past week.

This has meant that India’s mortality rate has actually risen from 2.78 per cent on June 8 to 2.89 per cent on June 16.

Ahmedabad: A Gujarat minister of state had to fork out a penalty of Rs 200 on Wednesday for not wearing the mandatory mask while entering the premises of Chief Minister’s office in Gandhinagar to attend the regular weekly Cabinet meeting.

Wearing a mask outside home has been made mandatory by the Gujarat Government in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus in the State.

Local news channels showed Minister of State Ishwarsinh Patel entering the premises of the Chief Minister’s office without a mask. All other ministers who arrived

for the Cabinet meet had their masks on.

Patel holds independent charge of sports, youth and cultural activities along with the cooperation portfolio.

After the lapse was pointed out by news channels, the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation slapped a penalty of Rs 200 on him.

After the Cabinet meeting, Patel paid the penalty and showed the challan (receipt) to reporters. The minister said it happened inadvertently.

“I have paid Rs 200 towards the fine for not wearing a mask. I always wear a mask. I somehow forgot to wear it when I stepped out of my car.

Later I realized my mistake,” he told reporters outside the Secretariat.

Surat Municipal Corporation gets 20 Mobile Health Units, called Sanjivani Rath, from the State Government to fight Covid-19. The units will be used for ARI treatment at doorstep, serve high risk persons/contacts with medicines and do counselling for mental health.

People take to streets, give anti-China calls First India Bureau

Suratis burning pictures of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ahmedabad: The death of 20 Indian soldiers along the LAC in Ladakh triggered protests across Gujarat on Wednesday with people breaking China-made electronic gadgets and calling for boycott of

Chinese products.

People took to the streets in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat and set fire to the Chinese flag and pictures of President Xi Jinping. Protesters urged the Modi government to ensure that the soldiers’ martyrdom did

not go in vain.

In Surat, residents of a housing society decided to boycott Chinese products and broke a China-made LCD TV in front of media persons. “We hereby boycott all Chinese products” - read a notice board at the Pan-

chratna Garden Society in Varachha area.

“It’s time we teach China a lesson. We have decided not to use Chinese products, whether it is TV, mobile phone or other items. “We urge countrymen to follow the suit,” said Gopal Sharma, a resident.

‘LAC’ OF SORTS!

This is a ‘Line of Anybody’s Control’, cross it & get your beer! 

Separated by States, United

by Railways: Half of Navapur Railway Station is located in Maharashtra and half in Gujarat.

Gujaratis cross it to get liquor

First India Bureau Navapur (Gujarat/ Maharashtra): India and China might be squabbling over the Line of Actual Control, but here is another right on the Gujarat-Maharashtra border which could be arguably called the Line of Anybody’s Control (LAC).

Navapur Railway Station is equally divided between the two neighbouring states. Even

the wooden bench on the railway station is clinically slit into two, with half of it falling on one side and another half on the other.

This LAC of sorts came first to light when a bemused Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal once tweeted in 2018: “Separated by States, United by Railways”.

It has come to the fore with a Twitter user touching off a debate about who does the

Even a wooden bench has been divided between two States at Navapur.

railway station belong to -- and it has gone viral now.

While bureaucrats may keep on defining the boundaries, it is a win-win situation for people on either side.

They don’t bother who controls what as long as both sides serve each other’s purpose well. Sale of pan masala and gutkha is banned in Maharashtra but open in Gujarat, and alcohol is banned in Gujarat

but open in Maharashtra. They just have to criss-cross the border a few metres.

The Twitter user wrote, “This is the unique station, possession of liquor is legal on one side of this (wooden) bench!”. Another shared, “If I wanted beer I just had to cross over.”

He said, “I have worked at Sanjan, east of it comes in MH & west in Gujarat. I stayed on Gujarat side.

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AHMEDABAD, THURSDAY JUNE 18, 2020

NAILED IT! Go for that perfect nail art, which is the most creative way to embellish the nails!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

H

aving beautiful nails is every girl’s dream, but at the same time, maintaining them is a major task for most of them. The majority of girls tend to grow their nails long so they can decorate them, and go for that perfect nail art, which is the most creative way to embellish the nails.

Whether you like it subtle or bold, there are so many ideas out there on the internet you can take inspiration from, for the perfect idea. In fact, considering the fact that nail art takes an ample amount of time, it is the best past time for girls who are looking for things to do at this period of time.

There are various nail art techniques like using the sponge art, stamping art, taping art, digital art, airbrush art, decals and stickers art, splatter art, water marble art, sharpie art, adding accessories, glitter art, dotting tools’ art, and so much more. With this, you might also want to know the various nail shapes you can go ahead and experiment with, like round, square,

rounded square, oval, squoval, ballerina, almond, stiletto and lipstick nails.

Even though nail art is alluring, there is something very elegant and beautiful about plain nail polishes. For a fact, the nail care industry has grown extensively in the

last couple of years, after the invention of modern nail polishes. The United States of America witnessed surging popularity of nail art back in 2012, and that is where it all began.

Later that year, a documentary ‘NAILgasm’ was released, that explored the various growing trends of nail art by women across the globe.

With time, there have been several options for nail art, like going for acrylic nails, gel nails, or even the basic nail polish.

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AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

Cinema GHAR

KARTIK BAJORIA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

T

THE SHOW WILL GO ON, BECAUSE IT MUST

I would tend to believe that unlike speculation in some quarters, the world will go

FA CE OF TH ED AY

ina rings the bell, signaling the start of the ‘show’. She ushers young and old, gesturing, to quickly settle in.

The lights go out, the room goes pitch black, not a sound. “Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hain, naam hai, Shehensha!” Booms out of the speakers. Lights, camera, action!

Movie setting, yes. At the theatre? Certainly not! Like most things these days, from ‘eating out’ to ‘working out’, everything, in the midst of a world gripped by the covid-pandemic, is, home-based! Cinema and entertainment, no different then. Is it not ironic, that a rather popular way of addressing a movie theatre in India, for some time has been, Cinema GHAR? The entertainment industry in India is in a tizzy.

Everyone is skeptical. For

the general public, the consumers of content and entertainment; we remain, I’d argue, less savagely impacted. We take recourse in a galaxy of ‘online’ content.

That too however, will inevitably, run out! So what is likely to happen to the world of movies, shows, and entertainment then?

on. Albeit slowly, just as segments, sectors, industries are opening-up again, as the world ‘resets’, as will the entertainment industry. Sure, people may not make a beeline for tickets to the next blockbuster, they may not throng the theaters like years past; there will however be a return to the old ways, the original normal, bit by bit.

NEW NORMS, NEW NORMALS

There will however, be a transitionary phase in or-

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

der for the entertainment sector to restart. Because of the nature of the beast that is the coronavirus, the majority restructuring in the world of movies & shows, will have to be in the form of ‘production-protocols’. Typically, an Indian film, even a reasonablebudget OTT or TV Show, shoots with a crew of a 100 people! With social distancing likely to become standard operating procedure, there will need to be a metamorphosis in terms of crew

the like, that have traditionally been largely isolated pursuits; these shall continue largely in the same way; there will also need to be a reexamining, reimagining, and redefining of Content-Exhibition. It is likely, that the movie-theatre, that was, even pre-covid, experiencing a patronage-decline (thanks to OTT options and streamed content, among other reasons), will now be at an even greater risk, possibly face extinction even.

Having said that, exhibition

per say, will not stop. Content will be created, it will be showcased and consumed, slightly differently to the more orthodox channels – mostly online, mostly alone, or in very intimate groups (not in public spaces).

SHIFT-FOCUS

From the movie or contentlover’s point of view, I would put a wager on Movies, Shows, even Vlog-content, moving to a place where the visual pizzazz, the spectacle, the frills, the pomp, may reduce (due to the aforementioned, shrunk crew-sizes); the quality, the essence, the messaging, the meaningfulness, the poetry, the intellectual quotient, will rise, exponentially. Why? Because as a human race, we will hopefully have emerged more sensitive after the coronavirus pandemic. Artists, creators, makers especially, ought to vividly reflect this newfound insight and wisdom, in their writing and creations.

The Cinema GHAR then, might not be what it once used to. But the Cinema in our GHAR, will have, undoubtedly, evolved!

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Until July 12th, you may need to fix some problems or deal with delays.

However, it’s a time of great ideas and increased enjoyment of your domestic life. Positive action or support can come from behind the scenes or unexpected sources today with a Mars-Pluto transit.

Watch for expressing yourself prematurely about a matter today, or for saying things that you don’t truly mean.Decision-making is not as straightforward as it typically is, as you search within for answers and need more time to draw conclusions.

Review may be necessary before moving forward, particularly with finances.

While there can be some communication breakdowns, you’re learning a lot about what you truly want and need. There can be a strengthening connection with a parent or boss.

It’s better not to begin a brand new project, as it will likely get off to a slow start, or you might reconsider it later. In the weeks ahead, there can be more than the usual delays, misunderstandings, or lack of clarity on a significant matter, keeping you in limbo.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Decision making can be complicated in the next while, as you play with different possibilities or with information missing. You might be playing a waiting game in a key area of your life. You could wrestle with whether to leave a situation behind.

With a stronger sense of how your actions might affect your future, you’ll find that strategy goes a long way today. However, Crossed wires can easily occur right now.

Avoid taking on new projects now & think about what you’d like to change to make your social life happier.

You may need to backtrack over work that you thought was complete.

You’re in good shape for refining projects that are already underway. Consider that communications may not be exactly right. Some plans drawn up during this shift may never come to pass.

You might need to review a project or pursuit, or you could be waiting on word or information that keeps you in limbo. It’s best to check your facts, particularly as this shift occurs now. There can be up-in-the-air issues surrounding higher education, publishing, or transportation.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

There can be some misunderstandings or missing information that delays you now, but this can be a blessing in disguise, you’re in good shape to review, budget, and get a different perspective on your intimate relationships, support systems, dependencies &personal psychology.

You’re likely to learn new things about past problems, mainly related to work, health, and relationships. Seeing where you may have been tripping up in the past can lead to better decisions later. It’s best not to take for granted that others will understand you.

It might feel as if things are stalling or even moving backward, but the refinements you make during this cycle, lasting until July 12th, can be most beneficial. You may be dealing with the need to rework old projects. Old problems with work, chores, or daily affairs can resurface.

It can be all too easy to get our wires crossed. Try to avoid overloading your schedule and bringing up tricky topics. You might also get the chance to arrive at a different perspective. Keep in mind that your communications may not always be taken in the way you intend.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

FAIZA SAYEED, Model

sizes, that will need to be cut by large chunks. Shoots will have to be done with bare minimum, skeletal crews, ostensibly with just the primary cast, director and director of photography present! Will this mean a dilution of quality? Not necessarily. Will it mean leaner productions that are more pocket-friendly? Most definitely, and that is a great advantage, by default.

While many other functions of creating content – music, editing, writing and

10

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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11

TRIBUTE TO THE SOLDIERS T

he Bollywood fraternity on Wednesday paid their homage to the bravehearts killed during the violent face-off with the Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the violent face-off, government sources had revealed and added that the casualty numbers could rise. Indian intercepts revealed that Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured in the violent clash. —ANI

ANUSHKA SHARMA

VARUN DHAWAN

As a soldier’s daughter, the death of a soldier will always hurt hard and feel personal. The sacrifice of their lives and the sacrifice of their families will always leave a void.

I pray for peace and I pray for strength for the brave bereaved families. Indian Army, JaiJawan.

Heartbroken about the death of our brave soldiers. #GalwanValley. Our defence stands it is ground.

We are forever indebted to the sacrifice of our brave soldiers. #jaihind ... her post

Gentle Introduction

S

AJAY DEVGN Salute every soldier who laid down his life protecting India’s border & honour. Jai Jawan, Jai Bharat RIP Brave Hearts My thoughts are with your families during this hour. #GalwanValley #IndianArmy

MADHURI DIXIT NENE

SANJAY DUTT

My humble gratitude to the Indian Army and our brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the safety of our nation. Sincere condolences to their families. Jai Hind.

Mourning the loss of our brave jawans who were martyred at #GalwanValley. My condolences to their families and salute to the Indian Army who has always put the nation first!#JaiHind

ushmita Sen took to social media and introduced co-actor Manish Chaudhari’s character - Shekhawat, to be seen in her upcoming debut web series ‘Aarya.’

The former Miss Universe showered praises on Chaudhari for the actor he is, and the “discipline, focus and the controlled intensity” he possesses. Sharing a still with him on Instagram, Sen introduced his character in the series, Shekhawat to be a “suave, ruthless” one.

“Yet in real life is the gentlest soul...an absolute Gentleman!! I will forever cherish the grace he showed me in the most difficult of Scenes!! I can’t wait to work with him again...so much to learn!!! Here’s wishing you every happiness & success, you so richly deserve Manish!! Sen added to her captions.

On Monday, the ‘Main Hoon Na’ actor dubbed her other co-star, actor Namit Das as an “institution himself,” while introducing his character in the forthcoming series. Das will essay the role of Jawahar.

—ANI

SANITY

Tough Fight!

K

AMID CRISIS

A

ctress Jennifer Garner says staying with her family and taking her cat for walks in a stroller is keeping her sane during the lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

During her virtual appearance on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, the actress opened about spending lockdown with her family. “We have our moments, of course, but they have been great. They really get the call to action to stay put,” Garner said while talking about her three children Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11 and Samuel.

Garner also shared the story behind the images of her walking her cat in a stroller. “One of my kids is just not into going for walks, and I thought ‘oh my goodness we need to just get out of the house’ and she said ‘I want to bring the cat’”, Garner explained. “So we ordered the stroller.”

—Agency

Jennifer Garner

CAN’T WAIT: SONAM

S

haring a still from her much-loved film ‘Khoobsurat,’ actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja on Wednesday expressed her desire to get back to film sets again.

The ‘Delhi 6’ actor posted the still from her romantic-comedy film on Instagram and said that she loved the character of ‘Mili’ that she portrayed in the film. “Can’t wait to be rehearsing lines, acting and being on set again.. miss it so damn much. This still is from ‘khoobsurat’,” she wrote in the cap-

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja

... her post

Sushmita Sen

tion. “I’ve never felt as joyful playing a character. Mili I love you. @ ghoshshashanka @ rheakapoor @juhic3 @ fawadkhan81 @disneyfilmsindia,” her caption further read. A film by Disney - ‘Khoobsurat’ continues to win hearts even after 6 years of its release.

The film narrated a elationship between a prince from Rajasthan’s royal family and doctor. While Sonam portrayed the role of the clumsy doctor in the film, Fawad Khan starred opposite her. —ANI

ylie Jenner and her little one Stormi Webster have been shelling out major mother-daughter goals time and again.

From playing tennis together to chilling by the pool, trying out different hairstyles to cuddling together, Kylie Jenner and Stormi Webster are one of the cutest duos. While the 22-year-old beauty stalwart undoubtedly looks flawless in her pictures, it wouldn’t be wrong to stay that the 2-year-old is all set to give her tough competition. Inheriting style from her mommy Kylie Jenner, 2-year-old Stormi is no less than a diva. The little child loves to be in front of the camera and never shies away from posing.

Kylie is found raising the heat levels with her gorgeous pictures on Instagram while Stormi manages to take away the cake with her cuteness. Adorable swimsuits, pretty dresses, stylish athleisure, Stormi pulls it off all just like her mommy. Recently, Kylie Jenner and little Stormi headed for their ‘Wild, Wild West’ getaway and the two posed together in stylish leather boots.

—Agency Kylie Jenner

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AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

HEALTHY & FIT

12

I SALUTE!

CITY FIRST, GUJARAT

W

eight loss diet for women has gained much importance in the present world primarily because of the lifestyle we lead – all work, no exercise. It starts with an unhealthy lifestyle, breeding unhealthy dietary habits, building up toxins in the body and eventually leading to excess weight gain. In such scenarios, women have become conscious about their weight and appearance and of course, health is at the forefront of all.

Set realistic goals that can be measured.

Do not expect to lose 30 pounds in the first month. Set a goal of 1 pound a week and track your progress. Reward yourself with a fun activity (but not an unhealthy treat) when you meet each goal!

Plan your meals ahead of time. Most people who eat

CITY FIRST, NEW DELHI

R

obert Vadra posted a message about the recent India-China dispute, on his Facebook wall, on Wednesday, that reads, “I salute our soldiers who laid down their lives in the clashes at the India-China border at Galwan valley. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred and of the captured soldiers, who should be safely released at the earliest. We are facing the worst Indo-China border clash in more than 40 years.”

—Vaishali

WHAT’S HAPPENING! healthy plan most of their meals ahead of time so that they don’t binge as much on unhealthy food.

Figure out which meals you’ll be eating at home for the week ahead. Make a grocery store list for those meals and snacks. Stick to your list when you go shopping.

Make just one change at a time. It can be difficult to change everything you eat all at once. Pick one small healthy eating goal and work on it. Like you can decide that you will eat while sitting only. This will gradually decrease your ignored munching.

Sometimes what we think is hunger is actually thirst. Try drinking water before snacking to see if that helps you put off eating until it’s time for a meal. Or maybe you will eat less if you’ve filled up on some water first.

Drink water first.

trol will help you lose weight over time.

Exercise. Most women need about 45 minutes of moderate physical activity, like cycling or brisk walking, most days in order to be healthy.

Getting enough.

Think about your drink. Don’t forget to add in the calories you drink each day.

Juices, coffees with syrup or creamer, and flavored water all add calories. Even some diet sodas can have a small number of calories that are not listed on the Nutrition Facts label.

Prepare and serve smaller portions. It is natural to eat everything on your plate.

Solve this problem by putting less on the plate to start. You can also try using a smaller plate. Portion con-

RAJASTHAN: A ‘PCR Fitness Challenge Run’ was organised by PCR Running Group, Manoj Soni and Namita Sharma, on Wednesday, where the runners had to run at least 2 km in the given time. The challenge was completed by a Jaipur-based runner Vishnu Tak and seeing his achievements, he was given the title of The Ultra Runner.

DR POOJA ARORA BAMS, ISSA Certified Sports Nutritionist

PKIN IS THE NEW NORMAL

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ue to the unfortunate and sudden pandemic, most of the things, may it be a wedding or a regular event, are either getting cancelled or are being postponed. Wedding being one of the major and crucial events of a couple’s life isn’t the same anymore.

The ones that were scheduled in the initial days, were cancelled, and the ones that were scheduled to be in recent times are taking

RAJASTHAN: A virtual celebration of PCS Day was organised by the Jaipur Chapter of the Indian Company Secretaries Association, on Monday, where 6 senior CS members from Jaipur discussed the possibilities and corona effect on CS in future.

Celebrity Fitness Advocate Milind Soman’s Speaking Minds join hands with experiential events agency Idence BDS to launch an E-talk titled ‘Transformation Series 2020’, where they are going to educate, inform and empower people by addressing the questions and doubts on adapting and navigating into the post COVID era. The first session is scheduled on 30 June.

Pankaj Kothari NEHAL NAYAR

Robert Vadra

place with a very limited crowd. Keeping the safety and precautions in mind, there has been a new trend where the bridal couple opts for designer masks rather than the regular ones.

Pankaj Kothari from ‘PKIN’, a fashion designer from Jaipur, who is part of ‘The Fashion Connect’

by First India, shared an interesting story of a groom with City First. “So much has been happening around, but nothing

stopped our client Pranjal from getting engaged. Even when the ceremony was limited to 14 people, he wanted to look best on his special day. We designed him this bespoke outfit adhering to all safety protocols.

At our store, social distancing is highly maintained, while choosing the fabrics and design.”

He added, “We also designed a special mask for him, looking at the trend for the next 6 months.”

RAJASTHAN: As a part of the weekly art talk series organised by JKK, a talk session on ‘Building Inclusive Society Through Art’ was held on Wednesday, which was attended by Manoj Joshi, Varsha Kharatmal and Lokesh Punia. They were in conversation with Bharat Ratna Bhargava and Director General, JKK, Kiran Soni Gupta.

LIVER TRANSPLANT AT CIMS CITY FIRST, GUJARAT

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wo-year-old baby Hirva, suffering from an inherited fatal liver disorder, has undergone a successful living donor liver transplant, becoming the youngest to undergo the treatment in Gujarat so far. The feat was achieved at CIMS Hospital in Ahmedabad in these difficult COVID times making it a very valuable

milestone. Prior to the successful surgery, the odds were heavily stacked against Hirva. Her father is an auto driver and could not afford the treatment.

She had lost a sibling to the same disease earlier, and she herself had slipped into a coma several times because of the disorder.

Moreover, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic increased manifold the risks surrounding organ transplants.

HAPPY B’DAY!

IPS Prasanna Kumar Khamesra celebrated his birthday on 17 June, Wednesday. We wish him all the best!