First India-Ahmedabad Edition-24 August 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

25°C - 29°C

ALERT AHMEDABAD l MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

8,10,883 2,35,10,528 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 22,253 DEATHS 6,82,383 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 6,517 DEATHS 3,79,385 CASES

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 268

INDIA

GUJARAT

57,692 31,05,038 2,897 DEATHS

KARNATAKA 4,683 DEATHS 2,77,814 CASES

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CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

DELHI 4,300 DEATHS 1,61,466 CASES

86,779

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 955 DEATHS 70,609 CASES

Sonia Gandhi to hand over the baton?

23 leaders’ dissent letter rattles Cong prz’s chair, Sonia may offer to resign at CWC meet today

Aditi Nagar/Tripti Nath New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi is expected to step down from the post of interim Congress president ahead of the crucial Congress Working Committee meeting on Monday and a final decision in this regard is to be taken in this crucial meeting.

Surprisingly, Rahul’s young brigade members like Jitin Prasad and Murli Deora, who have also gone a bit disappointed or frustrated in their respective States for various reasons, have maintained a mysterious silence on this entire sensitive issue.

This comes after 23 senior leaders wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi about the need for drastic restructuring of the party.

According to sources, this ‘disap-

Tributes to Mirdha in Assembly today

pointed or disgruntled’ lot of Congress leaders have gone really upset with the prevailing uncertainty at the level of the top leadership of the party, neither the ‘reluctant bride’ Rahul Gandhi seem to be Keen to take over this direct responsibility nor Sonia and Priyanka have been able to bring this entire issue of a full time Congress president to a logical conclusion. Therefore it will not be appropriate to term this group as ‘dissident’.

Sonia Gandhi took over as interim President of the Congress Party after her son Rahul Gandhi quit on May 25 in the wake of the party’s rout in the national polls. At the time of resigning, Rahul Gandhi had told the CWC that the party should Turn to P6

CAPT OPPOSES CHALLENGE TO LEADERSHIP New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has opposed the bid by some Congress leaders to challenge the Gandhi family leadership in the party, saying this is not the time to raise such an issue.

In a statement, Singh said the need today is for a strong opposition against the BJP-led NDA which is out to destroy the country’s constitutional ethos and democratic principles.

“The move by these Congress leaders to demand a rehaul of the party at this critical juncture would be detrimental to its interests, and the interests of the nation,” he said. “What the Congress needs is a leadership Turn to P6

‘Cong has no future without Gandhi’s’ Aditi Nagar Meanwhile, a Congress stalwart and a Gandhi family loyalist Ajay Maken who has been recently given an important charge of Rajasthan Congress incharge, has clearly said that the Congress party has no future without Gandhi’s. In his Saturday interview to Jagdeesh Chandra in his ‘The New JC Show’, Maken categorically showed his disagreement with Gandhi’s who say that now the leadership of the party should be given to a person outside Gandhi family.

SACHIN PILOT @SACHINPILOT Mrs Gandhi and Rahul ji have shown what it means to sacrifice for the greater good of the people and the party.Its now time to build consensus and consolidate. Our future is stronger when we’re united. Most Congress workers would like to see Rahul ji take over and lead the party

MODI’S SUNDAY DATE WITH NATIONAL BIRD New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday posted a video on his social media accounts in which he is seen feeding peacocks at his residence during his morning exercise routine.

The 1.47-minute video also has a few glimpses of the prime minister’s daily walk from his home to his office within the Lok Kalyan Marg residence.

PM also posted a Hindi poem, an ode to nature, with the video. He first put the video on his Instagram account and shared on Twitter later.

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has released its first video commercial that has short clips from PM Modi’s speeches and US President Trump’s historic address in Ahmedabad while aiming to woo the influential Indian-American voters.

More on P6 and 8

First India Bureau Jaipur. The death anniversary of late Ramniwas Mirdha will be observed in the Assembly on Monday where floral tributes will be paid in Vidhan Sabha.

Mirdha, a veteran Congressman, was son of ace farmer leader Chodhary Baldev Mirdha. Raminwas Mirdha while serving as minister in the state and Center established new norms of politics. He chaired many prestigious committees of the parliament. More on P4

BSF: Pak may bomb security set ups near border with drones New Delhi: Pakistan will use drones to bomb security establishments near the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s RS Pura and Samba sectors, the intelligence wing of the Border Security Force (BSF) has alerted.

The security establishments, including the Indian Army, have been informed about the plans of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelli-

gence (ISI) to carry out the attacks in Indian territory.

The BSF had alerted other security forces about Pakistan’s activities earlier this week.

Pakistan has increased bombardment in the Indian territories, while China has started transgression in Eastern Ladakh by creating a two-front war like situation.

Turn to P6

NATURE’S FURY

Blackout in 43 villages due to heavy rains, 13 NDRF teams on standby More showers to be expected over the next few days as state prepares for any eventuality First India Bureau Gandhinagar: A continual deluge of rainfall in the state over the last few days turned several villages and towns into islands, cutting them off from other places.

Additionally, hundreds of roads have become non-operational due to inces-

sant showers and the power supply of a total of 43 villages has been affected.

Addressing the media on Sunday, State Relief Commissioner Harshad Patel said, “A warning for very heavy rainfall has been issued for North Gujarat, Kutch and Saurashtra regions. As a result, 13 National Disaster Re-

A car stuck in the middle of heavy waterlogging seen on the Vasai-Dabhla Road in Mehsana district

sponse Force (NDRF) teams have been put on standby to deal with

any uncalled disasters.

Also, two State Disaster Response Force teams

and two other departmental teams have also been enlisted to help in

case of any calamity.”

Patel added, “Electricity in 43 villages has been disrupted, 20 buses of six routes have been suspended while 138 roads have been closed owing to heavy showers. All fishermen in coastal villages have also been asked not to venture out to sea till August 25.”

The state has so far received 94.57% of its annual rainfall and according to the weatherman, there is more in store.

State Chief Secretary Anil Mukim also took

stock of the situation in the state on Sunday.

All 251 talukas of the state received rainfall on Sunday with Kadi of Mehsana receiving 11 inches (289 mm) of rains in just 10 hours. It was followed by another town- Bechraji of the same district- which received 224 mm of rainfall.

Currently, over 108 dams in the state are on high alert while an alert has been sounded at 17 dams. Due to good rainfall, farmers have con-

cluded 95% sowing of crops so far, hoping for an excellent harvest this year. With heavy spells of rain seen across the state, 57 talukas received more than 1,000 mm of showers, while 129 talukas received 251 mm to 1,000 mm of rainfall.

Due to the huge inflow of water, many dams have released excess water with Ajwa Dam releasing 3,340 cusecs of water by lifting 62 gates. The Kadana Dam released 20,000 cusecs of water.

NEWS AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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02

POWERLESS: STATE APPROVES ‘TROPHY’

POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITIES Govt goes off-the-books from Supreme Court’s directive, appoints ‘criminal’ MLAs as members of district-level bodies Haresh Jhala Gandhinagar: In order to crackdown on police brutality, encounters and other offences executed by police officials, the government on Friday appointed two MLA members for each of the 23 district-level Police Complaints Authorities in the state.

Though the exercise was in accordance with the directive of the Supreme Court, it is albeit, a diluted version.

This is because the formation and appointments of the districtlevel bodies has not been conducted in the manner prescribed by the apex court. As per the primary conclusion of the 2011 Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) report, little change has been affected in the State Police Complaints Authorities or its district-level counterparts.

In 2006 and 2009, the Supreme Court had directed states to constitute such authorities to inquire into serious allegations against police officers. But, according to the 2011 CHRI report, only seven states had constituted these authorities while 15 states had these authorities only on paper. Monitoring authorities in their reports have clearly stated that the Supreme Court’s model for the authorities

SUPREME COURT’S DIRECTIVE ON POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITIES The Supreme Court in the 2006 Prakash Singh V/S Union of India case provided specific guidelines for the creation of Police Complaints authorities. A brief summary of the framework relating to the mandate, composition and powers laid down by the apex court for the authorities is as follows:

MANDATE The Supreme Court laid down a very specific mandate for the authorities. First and foremost, state governments were to set up these bodies at both state and district levels. The former would be empowered to look into allegations of “serious misconduct”, which included but was not limited to: • Death • Grievous hurt • Rape in police custody

COMPOSITION

DISTRICT-LEVEL AUTHORITIES WOULD LOOK INTO COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO • Death • Grievous hurt • Rape in police custody • Allegations of extortion • Land/House grabbing • Any incident involving serious abuse of authority

POWERS All established authorities will have the same powers as a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. This means it has the power to summon witnesses and compel their appearance, receive evidence in the form of affidavits, etc. Following its inquiries, the authorities can issue recommendations, which the apex court specified would be binding. The authorities can either compel the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against an errant officer, or initiate a departmental inquiry.

According to the Supreme Court’s directive, the head of the state-level authority is to be a retired judge of the High Court/Supreme Court, selected by the state government from a panel of names proposed by the Chief Justice. The district-level authorities are to be chaired by a retired District judge, chosen from a panel of names proposed by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court or by a High Court judge nominated by the Chief Justice. Additional members are to be chosen by the government from a panel prepared by the State Human Rights Commission/Lokayukta/State Public Service Commission.

FEW MLA MEMBERS OF DISTRICT-LEVEL POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITIES FACING SERIOUS CHARGES Name

District

Cases

Charges

Shashikant Pandya

Banaskantha

Total cases-02 Serious offences under IPC -05

Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (IPC Section-295) Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act (IPC Section-327)

Ketan Inamdar

Vadodara

Total Cases -03 Serious offences under IPC -03

False evidence (IPC Section-193) Threat of injury to public servant (IPC Section-189)

Govindbhai Parmar

Anand

Total cases -02 Serious offences under IPC- 02

Theft in dwelling house, etc (IPC Section-380) House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint (IPC Section-452)

Vimal Chudasama

Gir Somnath

Total cases - 02 Serious offences under IPC- 01

Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) Voluntarily causing hurt (IPC Section-323)

Jadeja Kandhal

Porbandar

Total cases - 11 Serious offences under IPC- 05

Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.

(IPC Section-467) Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion (IPC Section-387)

(Source- NGO Association of Democratic Reforms)

MEMBERS OF THE GUJARAT STATE POLICE COMPLAINT AUTHORITY No.

Name

Designation

1

Balwant Singh, IAS (Retired)

Chairman

2

Sangeeta Singh, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department

Member

3

Amrutbhai Patel, IAS (Retired)

Member

4

Harikrishna Patel, IPS, Additional Director General of Police (Inquiry)

Member Secretary

MEMBERS OF DISTRICT-LEVEL AUTHORITIES 1) District Superintendent of Police will be the ex-officio chairman 2) Additional District Magistrate to be appointed as the ex-officio 3) Two members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly to be elected from the same district 4) Deputy Superintendent of Police will be the ex-officio Member Secretary

has not been fully adopted in any state.

The directives by the apex court were very clear that these authorities should be headed by retired judges (High Court/ Supreme Court for state and district judges for district authorities). In Gujarat, a retired IAS officer has been appointed as the chairman of the state authority and all district authorities are headed by their respective district police heads. So, if a complaint is lodged against a member of the police

department, and the authority investigating it will be headed by a police officer. That is indicative of a conflict of interest, which may potentially affect the inquiry or outcome of the matter. Furthermore, even the independent member of the authority is a retired police officer and not a human rights activist or social leader, as directed by the apex court.

The district authorities, which are supposed to look into offences of serious misconduct by police

officers by preparing a report and if required, ordering a departmental inquiry against the concerned officer or directing action to the state authority or the government.

Nevertheless, advocate Shamshad Pathan has little expectation from these authorities and from the state government. Citing examples of the Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Ishrat Jahan encounter cases, Pathan said, “After a detailed inquiry, police officers had recommended filing a criminal complaint and yet the state had not granted permission. It’s curious as to why the ruling party has not given a free hand to such inquiries and their commission. There is little hope that justice will prevail.”

Speaking out against appointing MLAs facing serious offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as members of the district-level Police Complaints Authorities, Congress Chief Spokesperson Manish Doshi said, “When MLAs facing serious charges under the IPC are members of the districtlevel authorities, what sort of an inquiry will be conducted against the police?

What kind of justice should the applicant anticipate?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criminalized politics to remain in power.”

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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A’bad dist loses 26 patients in a week; death ratio slows The state reported 1,101 new cases and lost 14 people even as total cases almost hit the 87K mark Gandhinagar: After reporting a daily average of 20 deaths in the months of May and June, the district of Ahmedabad district has seen a significant drop in COVID-19 deaths. Though, in the last seven days, over 26 people succumbed to the virus. On Sunday, five deaths were reported in the district.

After discontinuing the practice of counting COVID-19 deaths due to co-morbidity the death ratio has fallen in the district. Despite receiving high praise on its model, Ahmedabad city still reports an average of 150 cases, with the number falling between 160-170 cases in the district. On Sunday, the district reported 177 new cases, of which, 153 were from the city and 24 from rural areas.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

First India Bureau

A medical worker collects a nasal swab sample at a residential society in Ahmedabad.

In Surat, over 248 cases emerged on Sunday, of which, 162 were from the city and 86 from rural areas. A total of 6,927 beds have been dedicated to COVID-19 patients in the diamond city, of which, 1,643 are occupied and 5,284 are available. The Vadodara district reported 144 new

Fee demand from jobless parents an outrage: Congress First India Bureau Ahmedabad: With uncertainty clouding over resumption of the academic session in schools, it has not stopped schools from demanding hefty fees from students. In order to raise their concern about the issue, Congress leaders have taken to social media platforms to voice their opinions.

Jamalpur councillor Shahnawaz Shaikh expressed concern over unemployment due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

“Many people are struggling for two square meals a day. There are no employment and economic activities available and despite that, schools are demanding fees from parents. It is shameful that private schools have not paid heed to requests of the state education minister.

A combined effort on part of the government, parents, and school owners can definitely resolve the issue,” asserted Shaikh. Secretary of the Na-

Parents at a school fee issue protest —FILE PHOTO

tional Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Bhavik Solanki said that the quality of education had deteriorated under the BJP government. “Permission to operate private schools has been rampantly given and school owners are looting parents.

During the lockdown, these owners were pressurizing students to leave schools over nonpayment of fees. There was a provision of free and compulsory education under Congress, but as of now there is just plunder. The state should extend the deadline of school admissions and create more awareness about the Right to Education,” he stated.

STATE COVID-19 REVIEW

cases, and around 112 emerged from the city and 32 from rural areas.

There are 1,384 active cases in Vadodara, with 146 patients on oxygen support, 55 on BiPAP and 1,183 patients in stable condition. The total number of positive cases in the district stands at 7,103. On Sunday, North Zone of the Vadodara city topped the list of highest number of active cases with 1,860 cases. It was followed by the South Zone with 1,386 cases. Around 33 patients from other districts and states are being treated for novel coronavirus in Vadodara. In the past 24 hours, the state conducted 60,808 tests, with only 1,101 results coming back positive.

There are 14,653 active cases in the state, of which, 79 patients are on ventilator support and 14,574 patients are stable.

AMC releases ten private hosps for non-nCov patients First India Bureau Ahmedabad: In a move to provide adequate medical facilities to patients unaffected by COVID-19, local civic body Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) denotified 10 designated COVID-19 hospitals and discharged them to operate as regular hospitals on Sunday.

However, if sources are to be believed, the denotified hospitals had been receiving a sum as rent from AMC despite having empty beds reserved for COVID-19 patients. It seems that after receiving backlash from various quarters for keeping a number of beds reserved for novel coronavirus patients, AMC officials released few hospitals from COVID-19 duties. This was done especially since the daily average number of cases in the city hovered around 130 cases while the bed vacancy at hospitals was more than 2,000 beds.

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Every monsoon, road caveins and craters are a menace which causes disruption in the lives of citizens across the state. This year was not an exception, with newlybuilt roads not being able to withstand even a little rainfall.

In order to highlight the state of roads, the Congress party has launched a campaign against the Bharatiya

A damaged road filled with potholes in Ahmedabad.

Janata Party (BJP) by posting pictures and videos of damaged roads.

Calling out the ruling party for approving skyscrapers in the state, members of

CRAFTY BIRDIES

since August 6 when a fire broke out on its premises and killed eight patients.

The number of reserved beds at Kothiya Hospital and GCS Hospital has been significantly reduced.

Furthermore, five out of 15 private hospitals that had been recently notified for private quota COVID-19 patients – Parth Hospital, Euro Care, Aarna Hospital, Sumitra Hospital, Pramukh Hospital and Bharti Vallabh Hospital – have been denotified based on their reports and other technical reasons.

Congress asked its opposition to ‘look at ground reality’ as roads in each city of the state become damaged.

The hashtag of ‘Vikas_ khada_ma_gayo’ was

also launched on the official Twitter handle of Gujarat Congress. ‘The citizens are paying hefty taxes and still dealing with potholes while the BJP is busy with celebrations,’ said the tweet.

Amit Chavda, President, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) compared state roads with the surface of the moon and termed them ‘full of potholes and uneven.’

Mukim reviews rain output, puts disaster response on alert

Sughri or weaver birds, which are known for their intricately built nests, were spotted on the Ahmedabad-Dholka Highway.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI Chief Secy Mukim and other officials at the meeting.

First India Bureau

The BJP state unit prez has begun an overhaul ahead of impending bypolls; asked leaders to host meetings with all members



Surat: The newly appointed state unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) CR Patil has started affecting change within the party in preparation for impending by-elections.

Commencing with minor issues, Pa-

“This step was taken only after receiving criticism from Gandhinagar. Since the discharge ratio of patients was high and more patients had been recovering in home isolation, few hospitals were cut from the list. All civic body officials have also been asked to work from the main office as normalcy has returned to the city,” asserted a source.

In the first phase, AMC has denotified SMS Hospital, Dr Jivraj Mehta Hospital, AlAmeen Hospital, and Lokhandwala Hospital.

Shrey Hospital has been considered denotified

ON SONIA’S RESIGNATION

Grassroot workers are vital to party: CR Patil til has directed party leaders to host a public meeting twice a week and also meet with grassroot-level workers of the party.

Patil asked all leaders and senior members of the party to give more importance to groundlevel workers. He also showcased an intoler-

Shrey Hospital, where a fire killed 8 COVID-19 patients, has also been officially denotified.

Cong slams BJP for shabby condition of state roads

ACKNOWLEDGING TALENT

Ruchi Thakar

03

BJP state unit president CR Patil.

ant attitude for factionalism and solicited everyone to discourage it.

Further, from this week onwards, all party leaders will host a meeting

with workers at the party head office.

Talking to First India, Patil said, “Workers at the grassroot level are the true face of the party. They understand the on-ground situation better than most. Hence, they should get equal opportunity and their voices must be heard.

The motto of the party has always remained of togetherness and we will continue to abide by and thrive on it.”

In order to whitewash its opposition from the

state, the state unit president will also frame new rules to provide acknowledgement to grassroot-level workers.

In a move similar to what he did in his constituency of Navsari, Patil will engage assistance from social media and technology to reach voters. Armed with his own mobile application, Patil remains connected to all party members.

The application also provides an informative brief about government schemes and benefits.

Gandhinagar: With a major portion of the state receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall over the past few days, several dams have been overflowing and a substantial inflow of water has been witnessed in reservoirs.

The on-ground condition of the state was reviewed by State Chief Secretary Anil Mukim on Sunday at a meeting where officers from relief, revenue and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) departments apprised Mukim of the situation. As the weather forecast indicates heavy to very rainfall in

the next 48 hours, Mukim has instructed officers and their departments to remain on alert to tackle any consequences.

During the meeting, Relief Commissioner Harshad Patel informed that due to good rainfall, cultivation in the state had been reported at 95%. In the past two months, over 13,108 people have been shifted to safe locations, with 2,077 people still living in relief camps. Over 47 state talukas have received 1,000 mm of rainfall this season, while 129 talukas have received showers between 500 to 1,000 mm. There is not a single taluka that has received less than five inches of rainfall.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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04

PATRIOT, STATESMAN AND PARLIAMENTARIAN

Ram Niwas Mirdha with Kofi Annan

Ram Niwas Mirdha with Indira Gandhi

UPENDER SINGH RATHORE Editor, The Police Post President Indian federation of working journalists, Rajsathan (IFWJ)

O Mirdhaji convinced all that he was a connoisseur of art. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had precisely for that reason nominated him as the chairman of Sangeet Natak Academy

nce Nobel laureate VS Naipaul, visiting Delhi, asked his host editor Sardar Khushwant Singh if he could arrange his interaction with some prominent Indian politicians. The Caribbean author wanted to know about the Indian economic and political situation. After all, India has been the ancestral homeland of Naipaul’s forefathers before they migrated centuries ago to Trinidad.

Khushwant Singh in his weekly column “With malice towards one and all”, wrote that: “I was anxious to find someone who would not embarrass me by not knowing who Naipaul was. I am pretty certain not more than two or three of Rajiv’s cabinet ministers have ever read anything by Naipaul. The only one I could risk exposing him to was Ram Niwas Mirdha.”

This veteran parliamentarian from Rajasthan, says Khushwant Singh met Naipaul and did not disappoint him. The litterateur and the politician interact-

Ram Niwas Mirdha with Atal Bihari Vajpayee

ed on a variety of national issues for long. At the end of the meeting, Naipaul asked Khushwant Singh: “What a civilized man like Mirdha doing in politics?”

After this Khushwant Singh, once M.P. himself, later wrote that he was also amazed “what was a gentleman like Mirdha was doing in the goonda profession of politics.”

Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, after meeting this Jat of stern Kisan stock from the desert area of Nagore was pleasantly surprised that Mirdhaji had read almost all his writings. The

RAM NIWAS MIRDHA HELD A RECORD OF BEING ELECTED TO THE RAJYA SABHA FOUR TIMES. THE PORTFOLIOS HE HELD AS UNION MINISTER WERE BOTH VARIED AND VITAL. THESE INCLUDED HOME AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, DEFENSE PRODUCTION, COMMUNICATION, TEXTILES, AND HEALTH AMONG OTHERS. HE WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RAJYA SABHA COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGES

Congress leader was quoting profusely from Naipaul’s “Area of Darkness” and the “Mimic Man”, among his other literary works.

This Jat politician simi-

larly shocked the viewers at the art exhibition “The Triennial” when he came to watch it. How could a politician from the countryside visit a thing of

beauty? But when he spoke about the art, everyone was pleasantly surprised.

Mirdhaji convinced all that he was a connoisseur of art. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had precisely for that reason nominated him as the chairman of Sangeet Natak Academy.

This feeling was also echoed by eminent art critic Kekoo Ghandhy who had remarked: “Mirdha’s presence at the show brings into focus the fact that art is a part of a larger reality.” To this Mirdha’s observation was: “If art is a part of life, it need not be on that walls alone. It need not

THE NEED FOR DEBT-FOR-CLIMATE SWAPS

A

global debt crisis is looming. Even before COVID-19 swept the world, the International Monetary Fund had issued a warning about developing countries’ public debt burdens, noting that half of all lower-income countries were “at high risk of or already in debt distress.”

As the economic crisis worsens, these countries are experiencing steep output contractions at the same time that COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts are demanding a massive increase in expenditures.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, developing countries’ repayments on their public external debts will cost $2.6-3.4 trillion just in 2020

and 2021 alone. Hence, market analysts now suggest that almost 40% of emerging- and frontier-market sovereign external debt could be at risk of default in the next year.

Worse, measures to confront this debt crisis will collide head-on with the global efforts to combat climate change, inequality, and other escalating global crises. We, therefore, need creative thinking about how to advance multiple objectives at the same time.

We must both achieve a strong recovery from the pandemic-induced crisis and mobilize trillions of dollars for the transition to a more financially stable, socially inclusive, low-carbon economy.

In April, G20 finance ministers endorsed a Debt Service Suspension Initiative to suspend debt service

temporarily for the world’s poorest countries while they manage the COVID-19 crisis. Unfortunately, few debtor countries have taken up this offer, fearing how it might look to markets and rating agencies.

Moreover, private-sector lenders have largely refused to offer meaningful forbearance of their own, thereby undercutting governments’ efforts.

In the absence of new

forms of liquidity support and major debt relief, the world economy cannot possibly return to pre-pandemic levels of growth without risking severe climate distress and social unrest.

Climate scientists tell us that in order to meet the targets outlined in the Paris climate accord, global net carbon-dioxide emissions must fall by about 45% by 2030,

and by 100% by 2050.

Given that the effects of climate change are already being felt around the world, countries urgently need to scale up their investments in climate adaptation and mitigation.

But that will not be possible if governments are bogged down in a debt crisis. If anything, debt-service requirements will push countries to pursue export revenues at any cost, including by cutting corners on climate-resilient infrastructure and stepping up their own fossil-fuel use and extraction of resources. This course of events would further depress commodity prices, creating a doom loop for producer countries.

In light of these concerns, the G20 has called on the IMF “to explore additional tools that could

serve its members’ needs as the crisis evolves, drawing on relevant experiences from previous crises.” One such tool that should be considered is a “debt-for-climate swap” facility. In the 1980s and 1990s, developing countries and their creditors engaged in “debt-for-nature swaps,” whereby debt relief was linked to investments in reforestation, biodiversity, and protections for indigenous people.

Developing countries will need additional resources if they are to have any chance of leaving fossil fuels in the ground, investing sufficiently in climate adaptation, and creating opportunities for twenty-first-century jobs. One source for such resources is debt relief conditioned on such investments.

be expensive. It should be inside as well as outside.” Mirdhaji had possessed a magnetic personality. Tall (above six feet), handsome, fair, attractive, mild-spoken with lots of humility, Mirdha held in his life many important positions to flaunt. But he never did. He was on the UNESCO executive board representing India.

An MLA in Jaipur for 14 long years, including a stint as the Speaker, Mirdhaji adorned both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

He held a record of being elected to the Rajya Sabha four times. The portfolios he held as Union Minister were both varied and vital. These included home and external affairs, defense production, communication, textiles, and health among others. He was the chairman of the Rajya Sabha committee on privileges.

In an age of bank fraud, Mirdhaji’s absence is felt more because as the chairman of the joint parliamentary committee on bank securities in 1992, he had successfully probed various scams. He had won praise than from Prime Minister PV Narsimha Rao. Today (24 August 2020) is his 96th birth anniversary..

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Prakash Javadekar @PrakashJavdekar ‘Contact Minimisation’ is at the core of the SOP. This will be ensured by minimal physical contact and sharing of props, PPEs for hair stylists and makeup artists among others.

Mallikarjun Kharge @kharge PM Modi called #MGNREGA a monumental failure. With more than 60,000 Cr allocated this year it has been a savior for people in these difficult times of pandemic.

Hope PM gives more impetus to such poverty alleviation programs rather than mere slogans that don’t feed empty stomachs.

Spiritual SPEAK

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.

—Buddha

SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE

Vol 1 Issue No. 268 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

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JEE, NEET 2020

LISTEN TO STUDENTS’ MANN KI BAAT: RAGA TO CENTRE His remark comes amid demands from pupils & parents to postpone exams due to COVID-19 New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged the government to take into account concerns of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) students who have been demanding postponement of the entrance examinations.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) (Main) will be held from September 1 to 6 and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) (UG) on September 13.

“Today lakhs of students are saying something. The GOI must listen to the Students

RAHUL GANDHI @RAHULGANDHI Today lakhs of students are saying something.

The GOI must listen to the Students Ke Mann Ki Baat about NEET, JEE exams and arrive at an acceptable solution.

Ke Mann Ki Baat about NEET, JEE exams and arrive at an acceptable solution,” the Congress leader said in a tweet.

Gadkari to unveil 35 highway projects in MP New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 9,400 crore in Madhya Pradesh on August 25, a statement said. These 35 projects entail 1,139 km of highways, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in the statement.

“Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari will lay foundation stone of and inaugurate 35 highway projects in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, the 25th of August, 2020,” the ministry said.

Nitin Gadkari

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan will preside over the virtual function, to be attended

by Union ministers Thavarchand Gehlot and Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel, Faggan Singh Kulaste and V K Singh and others. —PTI

His response comes amid the demands from students and parents to postpone the entrance exams in

view of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

On Saturday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi’s Edu-

cation Minister Manish Sisodia had also requested the Central government to cancel the JEE and NEET.”The Central government is playing with the lives of millions of students in the name of JEE-NEET. My request to the Centre is to cancel both these exams immediately and make an alternative arrangement for admission this year. In this time of unprecedented crisis, an unprecedented step will lead to a solution,” Sisodia tweeted.On August 17, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking the postponement of the NEET and JEE scheduled to be held in September 2020.

—ANI

‘Will fight Bihar polls under CM Nitish’s leadership’ New Delhi: All the three NDA constituents in Bihar - BJP, JD(U) and LJP - will together fight the coming assembly polls in the state with CM Nitish Kumar as the face of the alliance, BJP president J P Nadda said on Sunday and expressed confidence that they will emerge victorious.

Nadda’s remarks at a virtual address to the Bihar BJP executive meeting come amid a bitter war of words between Kumar’s JD(U) & Chirag Paswan-headed LJP. Whenever the three parties have fought together, their National Democratic Alliance has notched up a big victory, he said.

“We are going to the polls under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Our victory is certain,” Nadda said. —PTI

BJP National President JP Nadda addresses virtual Bihar BJP Karyasamiti meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. —PHOTO BY PTI

BIHAR ASSEMBLY POLLS TO BE HELD ON TIME: SOURCES New Delhi: The assembly elections in Bihar, which due later this year, would be held on time, highly placed sources in the Election Commission said on Sunday, amid demands by some political parties for postponing the polls in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.The term of the 243-member Bihar legislative assembly comes to an end on November 29.Indications are that the polls could be held sometime in October-November. “Bihar elections are definitely happening on time,” a senior official of the poll panel said on Sunday.

Javadekar announces SoPs for resuming film, TV shoots New Delhi: Thermal screening at entry points, manadatory use of face covers/masks and physical distancing of six feet are among the new rules people working in the media production industry will have to adhere to as they resume work amid the coronavirus pandemic. The new rules are part of the SOP issued by the government.

“The general principles behind the SOP will help create a safe working environment for cast and crew in the industry,” Union Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar said as he released the

I am happy to announce that we are releasing standard operating procedures for film and TV programme shooting which was stopped due to COVID-19 pandemic for the last 6 months.

Contact minimisation is at core of SoP, Prakash Javadekar said.

guidelines.

I am happy to announce that we are releasing standard operating procedures for film and TV programme shooting which was stopped due to COV-

ID-19 pandemic for the last 6 months,” Javadekar said addressing the media. These SOPs have been finalised after consulting the health and home ministries, he said.

Prakash Javadekar, I&B Minister

The SOP ensures adequate distancing at shoot locations and other work places and contains measures including proper sanitization, crowd management and provision for

protective equipment among others. Barring those who are in front of cameras all others will have to wear masks. “’Contact Minimisation’ is at the core of the SOP. This will be ensured by minimal physical contact and sharing of props, PPEs for hair stylists and make-up artists among others,” he added. Javadekar further said that he hoped that all the states should agree to the SOPs. Shooting for film and television programmes had been stopped from March 2020, owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdown. —ANI

Explosives recovered from house of LAC row: India rejects China’s arrested ISIS operative in UP: Police idea of ‘equidistant disengagement’ New Delhi: The Delhi Police has recovered a large quantity of explosives and an ISIS flag from the house of Mohammad Mustakim Khan in Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh two days after he was arrested in the national capital, officials said on Sunday.

An alleged ISIS operative, Khan, armed with two pressure cooker IEDs, was arrested from central Delhi’s Ridge Road area on Friday night following a brief exchange of fire.

A Delhi Police Spe-

Cops check public vehicles amid tightened security in Ayodhya.

cial Cell team took him to his Badhiyaa Bhaisaahi village.

One brown jacket containing three explosive packets and anoth-

MAN HELD FOR POSTING MORPHED PICTURES OF PM ON SOCIAL MEDIA Jabalpur: A man has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly posting morphed photographs of PM Narendra Modi and obscene comments on a social media platform, police said on Sunday. Parvez Alam, aged around 28, has been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 292, 504 and the

Information Technology Act Section 67, Gohalpur police station’s inspector Ravindra Goutam said.

One Sartaj Alam lodged a police complaint against Parvez Alam, accusing the latter of uploading morphed photographs of the prime minister with obscene comments on Facebook, he said. The accused was arrested.

er blue check jacket containing four explosive packets were recovered from his house, a senior police officer said. —PTI

I have not heard anything about explosive material. If I had any idea that he was collecting explosive material, I would not have allowed Abu Yusuf to stay in my house. Only after the police came in the evening and found the material I realised what it is.

Kafeel Ahmed, father of ISIS operative

UNSHACKLE POL CAGING OF ADMN,COPS : DHANKHAR TO DIDI Kolkata: West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said that he has urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to “unshackle political caging/chaining” of police and administration.

“Urge Chief Minister to unshackle political caging/chaining of POLICE and ADMINISTRATION. Law and order alarming-with reports of the free run to illegal ‘bomb making’. UNFORTUNATEPolice and administration ever at door of ruling party-in readiness to knock the door of opposition,” Dhanakar tweeted.

New Delhi: While efforts are underway to resolve the ongoing border dispute, India has rejected the Chinese suggestion to disengage equidistantly from the Finger area in Eastern Ladakh.

After the diplomatic level talks, the two sides are also working to hold more military-level talks to resolve the boundary issue. Meanwhile, the top military commanders have also told their field commanders to be fully prepared for any eventual-

At present, Chinese are around the Finger 5 near Pangong Lake.

ity or action on the LAC even as the Indian side is preparing for a long haul on the border.

“Chinese side had made a suggestion that

COP KILLED BY 2 UNIDENTIFIED MEN IN NAXAL-HIT BIJAPUR Bijapur: A police jawan was hacked to death with an axe by two unidentified men at a village market in the Naxal-hit Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday, an official said.

Police suspect the involvement of Maoists, but a probe is being carried out to know if the murder was a fallout of a personal enmity. “The incident took

05

place when the deceased, Assistant Constable Suresh Komra, had gone to the weekly market in Kutru village to buy essentials,” a senior police official said. Two assailants, who were dressed as civilians, repeatedly attacked him with an axe, leaving him dead on the spot following which they escaped, he said.

both India & China should go back equidistantly from Finger-4 area.

The suggestion is not acceptable to Indian side,” said sources. — ANI

‘Pak always lied about sheltering Dawood’

Dawood Ibrahim

New Delhi: “Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon, and Mustafa Dosa, the three absconding accused who planned, financed and along with Pakistan’s ISI, executed the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai in March 1993 are sheltered by Pakistan. This shelter was given days before the blast and has continued unabated,” former Joint Director, CBI, Shantanu Sen, who was in charge of the CBI special task force which investigated the case said.

“Pakistan has always lied about their presence. The media report which was a piece of breaking news last night is back to square one with its (Pakistan’s) denial,” he added.

“The list of 88 terrorists released by Pakistan’s MEA includes Dawood’s name. We should press for his deportation and persuade other countries to join hands in our efforts,” he said. —ANI

DEMAND OF BHARAT RATNA FOR MAJOR DHYAN CHAND New Delhi: Former and current hockey players came together to demand Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, for the legendary Major Dhyan Chand, a week ahead of his 115th birth anniversary. With National Sports Day approaching, greats such as Gurbux Singh, Harbinder Singh, Ashok Kumar and current player Yuvraj Walmiki took part in a virtual discussion on Saturday to celebrate the life and career of the iconic player. National Sports Day is celebrated on Aug29, on birth anniversary of Dhyan Chand.

INDIA AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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INDIA TESTS OVER 3.5 CR TILL DATE

Keeping a sharp focus on the ‘test, track and treat’ policy, the tests per mn have seen a boost touching 25,574 on Sunday New Delhi: Maintaining daily COVID-19 testing spree of more than 8 lakhs, India has tested more than 3.5 crore samples till date. In the last 24 hours, the test per million (TPM) reached 25,574 as on Sunday.

The country has performed 8,01,147 COVID-19 tests, taking the total figures to 3,52,92,220, stated the Union Health Ministry.

The steep rise in the testing is a result of effective implementation of the aggressive testing strategy of the Centre through a focussed and graded approach, it said.

The rising average daily tests during the past three weeks present a strong depiction of the progress made in the enhancement of COVID-19 tests across the country.

The rise in daily testing has been followed by a decrease in the average daily positivity rate. “It is only by aggressive testing that the positive cases can be identified, their contacts tracked in a timely manner and promptly isolated, as well as the severe and critical patients provided the needed clinical treatment,” said the Health Ministry in a press statement.

Till date, the government has created 1,515 labs are providing comprehensive testing facilities to the people, out of which 983 labs in the government sector and 532 private labs. —ANI

If everything goes well India would get vaccine by year-end: Dr Vardhan

KMC health workers prepare before collecting swab samples of residents for COVID-19 test, at a residential society in Kolkata.

Covishield to be sold only after successful trial: SII Bengaluru: The current claims over the coronavirus vaccine, Covishield, are completely false and it will be commercialised when trials prove successful and regulatory approvals are in place, said Serum Institute of India (SII) on Sunday.

SII issued this clarification after reports in the media began appearing which claimed that Covishield- Oxford University’s vaccine candidate, will be commercialised in a little over two months.

The phase three trials for the Oxford vaccine candidate are being conducted by SII in India.

“Serum Institute of India clarifies that the current claims over Covishield’s availabili-

ty, in the media are completely false and conjectural. Presently, the government has granted us permission to only manufacture the vaccine and stockpile it for future use,” SII said.

“Covishield will be commercialised once trials are proven successful and requisite regulatory approvals are in place. Phase-3 trials for the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine are underway.” it added. —PTI

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that if everything goes well, India would get a vaccine against the novel coronavirus by the end of this year. Three COVID-19 vaccine candidates, including two indigenous ones, are in different phases of development in India.

The phase-one human clinical trials of the two

MP HEALTH MINISTER TESTS POSITIVE Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Prabhuram Choudhary on Sunday said he has tested coronavirus positive. He shared the information on his Twitter handle. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh too has tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr Harsh Vardhan

indigenous vaccine candidates, one developed

by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and the other by Zydus

Cadila Ltd, have been completed and the trials have moved to phasetwo, ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava had said.

The SII, which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford has been permitted for conducting its phase two and three human clinical trials in India. —PTI

‘Pranab remains in deep coma, on ventilator’ New Delhi: There is no change in the medical condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee as he remains in a deep coma and on ventilator support, according to the Army Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital on Sunday.

“There is no change in the condition of Pranab Mukherjee this morning. He remains in

Pranab Mukherjee

a deep coma and on ventilator support. His vital parameters are stable,” the update from the hospital read. —PTI

Agra: Extensive Sero-survey from Aug 26 Agra: The state health department will conduct an extensive SeroSurvey in the Taj city to determine the percentage of the population with anti-bodies against Covid-19.

The four-day random sample survey will be carried out by

ten teams, an official said. Meanwhile, the surge in the number of new cases of Covid-19 continues to remain alarming in the Agra region.

While Agra reported 36 new cases in the past 24 hours, Mathura reported 100, Firozabad

42, Mainpuri 31, Etah 31 and Kasganj 21.

The total number of cases so far in Agra is 2,481. Out of this 272 are the active cases and 105 deaths have occurred.

The number of recovered patients is 2.104, a healthy 84.80 per cent recovery rate. —Agencies

BSF to undergo tech upgradation TO GET 436 DRONES AND NEW ANTI-DRONE SYSTEMS New Delhi: With Rakesh Asthana taking over as full-time Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), technological upgradation of the force has started with approval for 436 small and micro drones for border surveillance and anti-drone system being currently tested on India-Pakistan border to shoot down any drone carrying weapon-load for terrorists in Punjab, and J&K. According to senior MHA officials, while the cost of small and micro drone will come around Rs 88 crore, the BSF with the help of security agencies is currently testing an indigenous antidrone system on the sensitive Punjab border with Pakistan. In

CIBM PLAN

the past one year, Pakistani deep state is using Chinese commercial drones to transport assault rifles, pistols and grenades to the Khalistani terrorists in Punjab as well as jihadis in J&K. —Agencies

Make plan for ‘land bank’: CM Trump campaign releases first commercial Rawat directs dist magistrates for Indian-Americans featuring PM Modi Dehradun: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat instructed the district magistrates to make a long-term plan for the ‘land bank’ so that the disaster affected people can be displaced if required.

His directions came while he was reviewing the disaster management works through VC with the District Magistrates at the Secretariat. The CM said it is necessary to have land available to displace sensitive villages in future if needed.

He also said that a proposal will be sent to the Central Government for approval of forest land for displac-

ing people. In this regard, he asked the district collectors to make a proposal and send it.

In case of loss of life due to the disaster, their families should be provided assistance within 3 days, said Rawat. During the disaster, people who are being shifted to other places should

have proper arrangements for their living and eating, he told the district magistrates.

Secretary Disaster Management SA Murugan informed that 62 people have died in the state, 33 were injured and 04 people are missing since January due to natural disasters. —ANI

Washington: Aiming to woo the influential Indian-American voters numbering over 2 million, the Trump campaign has released its first video commercial that has short clips from PM Narendra Modi’s speeches and US President Donald Trump’s historic address in Ahmedabad.

Modi and Trump addressed a huge crowd in Ahmedabad during the US president’s visit to India in February this year. Trump was also accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration on his trip to India.

and ‘active in the field, elections to the CWC and the urgent establishment of an “institutional leadership mechanism” to collectively guide the revival of the party.

This section comprising sitting MPs and former ministers demanding collective leadership, while another group has sought the return of Rahul Gandhi to the helm.

Two dozen Congress leaders, including some former ministers have written to Sonia for overhaul of the organisational structure and changes to the leader-

ship, some leaders close to Rahul have also written to the CWC pressing for the Gandhi scion’s return as chief.

This letter by former ministers and some MPs was believed to have been written a few weeks ago and sets the stage for a stormy CWC meeting where issues flagged by dissenters are expected to be discussed and debated.

Meanwhile, it is being anticipated that Rahul may push the name of KC Venugopal, so everybody is gearing up with their strategies.

Oher Prominent names among those in the

CWC are former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Members of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, A. K. Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad and former MPs Motilal Vora, Mukul Wasnik besides the promising Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Sources say that it may as well be a way to facilitate the return of Rahul Gandhi who is attempting new cosmetic changes reminiscent of the persona of his late father and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Sources say that there is nothing dramatic

CM Rawat held a meeting with district magistrates on Saturday.

STAR APPEAL

PM Narendra Modi with Donald Trump.

“America enjoys a great relationship with India and our campaign enjoys great support from Indian-Ameri-

cans!” Kimberly Guilfoyle, national chair of Trump Victory Finance Committee said in a tweet releasing the vid-

eo commercial.

The president’s son Donald Trump Jr, who is leading the campaign and is well connected

about the leaked contents of the letter which in any case has been part of public discourse.. Party insiders say that in any case, the closed door CWC meetings encourage only monologue and discourage free and easy dialogue.. There will be the usual clamour by loyalists for Sonia Gandhi to continue as the only person who can hold the party together. You are already seeing statements by Sonia loyalists affirming faith in her leadership But if the CWC decides for elections, the matter may be laid to

rest. In the meantime, top Congress managers are busy reaching out to dissenters in the party.

While the younger leaders in the Congress are expected to chalk out a strategy to push for Rahul’s return to the helm, the leaders who earlier petitioned to Sonia Gandhi have called for contacting and winning back all those Congressmen who have quit the party and joined the BJP and expressed concerns over rank and file getting demoralised due to the drift in the party.

Among leaders learnt to have signed

the letter are Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, deputy leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, former chief ministers Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Prithviraj Chavan and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, besides ex ministers Mukul Wasnik, Kapil Sibal, M Veerappa Moily, Shashi Tharoor, MP Manish Tewari, and former MPs Milind Deora, Jitin Prasada and Sandeep Dixit.

They signatories are also said to include former party unit chiefs including Raj Babbar,

with the Indian-American community, also retweeted it as the commercial soon became viral on social media with over 66,000 views on Twitter in the first few hours.

Titled ‘Four More Years’ the 107-second video starts with the iconic footage of Modi and Trump walking hand in hand at the NRG Stadium in Houston during the prime minister’s visit to the US last year wherein the leaders of the world’s two largest democracies made a joint address before a strong crowd of Indian-Americans numbering more than 50,000. —PTI

FROM PG 1 Sonia Gandhi... elect a non Gandhi as its new President, which has recently been endorsed b his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. The leaders have raised a 5 Point Agenda to revive the party and emphasised the need for active leadership in the grand old party. According to reports, the extraordinary letter sent by 23 leaders to Sonia Gandhi, has called for sweeping changes from top to bottom and calls for a ‘’ full time and effective leadership” which is both “ visible”

Arvinder Singh Lovely, Kaul Thakur besides leaders Akhilesh Singh and Kuldeep Sharma.

Capt opposes ... that is acceptable not just to a few but to the entire party, through its rank and file, and the nation at large,” he said.

BSF: Pak...

The BSF, India’s first line of defence with Pakistan and Bangladesh, has also alerted that “ISI plans to pump in consignment of drugs/ arms/ammunitions inside India with the help of drones”.

TALKING POINT AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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WHETHER YOU FIND YOURSELF WORKING FROM HOME, IN QUARANTINE OR TRANSITIONING BACK TO AN OFFICE, CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED HOW YOU EAT

P

EATING STRATEGIES TO

COOK CREATIVELY

FUEL YOUR BODY P A A N G D N E I M R I U D

T

here are many ways to build balanced, nutritious meals by combining protein with a starch and a vegetable. Keep an arsenal of creative “no recipe” recipes or ideas that allow you to cook with what you have. Some options may include soups and stews, frittatas, casseroles, stirfries, burritos and pasta dishes.

Challenge yourself to invent a meal based on ingredients available. This can stretch the time between grocery trips, which saves money, shrinks food waste and develops your creative cooking skills in the kitchen.

C

eople eat for many reasons – pleasure, emotional release, boredom or to connect with others. And then there is eating during a pandemic. Whether you find yourself working from home, in quarantine or transitioning back to an office, chances are good that Covid-19 has impacted how you eat.

As a dietitian, I address eating disorders and disordered eating, defined as a behavior that doesn’t quite fit the criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis. I do this by helping students at Binghamton University to eat in ways that support both optimal physical and mental health.

In working with students who have food concerns, I teach them that food doesn’t have to be a problem but rather a source of fuel that supports our bodies and minds. And while the pandemic has shaped our lives in unexpected ways, there are a few simple strategies to help you strike a nutritional balance no matter your situation.

EAT LIKE CLOCKWORK

PACK A LUNCH

O

ur bodies love routine and tend to perform best with repetition. This is especially true of eating. Without the structure of a regular work or school day, or when your “desk” is within arm’s length of your fridge, it can be easier to eat erratically. Try to eat at around the same time each day. This can help regulate hunger and fullness cues, leading to more mindful decisions about what and when to eat. Aim to eat a balanced meal every three to four hours. Add a snack when meals are more than five hours apart. Include at least three food groups for a meal and two for a snack, and try to include protein whenever you eat.

Sticking to a regular schedule and eating balanced meals and snacks throughout the day will help prevent excessive snacking at night. If you feel hungry sooner than you plan to eat, have a small snack or adjust your mealtime. By eating when you begin to feel hungry, you can avoid the urgent, frenzied eating triggered by your body as you get hungrier.

PRIORITIZE SLEEP

S

leep quality and quantity are tied to the way we eat. A lack of sleep is associated with higher levels of the hormone grehlin, which signals hunger, and lower amounts of leptin, the hormone that signals fullness.

Poor sleep quality and quantity also seem to be correlated with an enhanced reward response to foods that seem irresistible – salty, sweet, oily – and that can lead us to reach more often for those foods. The best way to support your sleep is to practice good sleep habits. Try going to bed and waking up at consistent times each day. Put screens away an hour before bedtime, and avoid caffeine eight hours before you go to sleep.

H

STOCK A NUTRITIOUS PANTRY

T

hese days, trips to the grocery store are often less frequent, especially if you are quarantined for illness or exposure. Stocking up on nutritious foods that can be stored for several weeks is a good practice so you are prepared no matter what the situation. This practice makes it easier to throw together easy, healthy meals using what you have on hand.

Pantry staples may include canned and dried beans, brown rice, whole grain pasta, oatmeal and whole grain cereals, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, almonds, canned tuna, peanut butter and dried fruit.

SNACK WITH INTENTION

M

any people tend to snack more when they are stressed. This is a normal response. Just make sure that these foods don’t displace regular, balanced meals. To be more conscious about snacking, use a bowl or plate rather than eating directly out of a container. This helps you see how much you’re eating and can slow how quickly you eat. Most importantly, if you’re going to have a snack, enjoy it! Focus on your delicious task. Allow yourself to eat without distraction, noticing the texture, smell, temperature and taste. By paying attention, you’re more likely to connect with your hunger and fullness cues, which will lead to a greater sense of physical satisfaction.

SHOP FOR THE FREEZER

O

ne of the biggest challenges of infrequent grocery shopping is fresh fruits and vegetables, which tend to spoil within a week.

Shop for produce that lasts longer such as carrots, potatoes, cabbage, apples, winter squash, oranges, clementines, yams, celery and sweet potatoes.If you have the freezer space, stock up on frozen vegetables and fruit, which are flash frozen right after being picked, locking in most of their nutrients. Not only do these products last a long time, but they can be less expensive and equally nutritious as fresh vegetables.

eading back to work?

Consider packing a lunch. Bringing your own lunch may be necessary anyway, as workplace cafeterias and eateries may be closed or have limited service. Bringing food from home tends to result in a more nutritious meal and can help to avoid areas where people congregate to purchase and eat food. To avoid using a communal microwave, there are also several portable products on the market that both heat and keep your food hot.

KEEP MOVING

M

ove your body when working from home or quarantining. It is more important than ever to have a consistent exercise routine. In addition to the numerous benefits of physical activity, including boosting your immune system, exercise can have a positive impact on how and what you eat. A recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that the more participants exercised, the more likely they were to eat nutrient-dense foods, like fruits and vegetables, rather than less nutritious snacks. People who exercise may be more likely to be motivated to fuel their body properly.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: CP SHARMA

If you cannot find the time for exercise today, you might be forced to find time for illness tomorrow.

2ND FRONT 455 students get INVESTIGATIONS INTO NAVAL degrees at virtual SPYING LEAD NIA TO KUTCH IIT-Gn convocation —Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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A team of NIA has been camping in Kutch in connection with Andhra naval espionage racket Haresh Jhala Bhuj: The investigations in the sensational Visakhapatnam naval espionage racket have brought the sleuths of the National Investigation Agency to the border district of Kutch where they have been camping for the last three days interrogating several persons in the connection.

It all began in December 2019 when the Andhra Pradesh police lodged a case for conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Official Secrets Act. The NIA subsequently took over the case and arrested 15 people, including 11 sailors of Indian Navy, who were allegedly involved in the racket.

On May 15 this year, the NIA arrested the

OPERATION DOLPHIN 

First India Bureau

A team of the NIA is in Kutch in connection with the Andhra Pradesh Navy espionage case.

key conspirator, Mohammad Haroon Haji Abdul Rehman Lakdawala (49) of Mumbai. Lakdawala visited Karachi on the pretext of trading on several occasions and reportedly met the Pakistani intelligence handlers.

And in June, the NIA picked up alleged terror funding conspirator, Abdul Rehman Jabbar Sheik (53). Several in-

criminating documents and digital equipment from his home. His wife, Shaista Qaiser, and 13 more were arrested in the international racket of passing on critical information to Pakistan agencies.

Highly placed sources from the Kutch Police said that after learning that NIA had started questioning three persons of the district, the lo-

cal police too swung into action. The NIA has questioned a Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) jawan and an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) in this connection.

Sources said the NIA team first questioned two youths from Paddharwadi and Baranda village. They have even traced some banking transactions among the suspects. According to

sources, the youngster questioned in Baranda is a relative of the GRD jawan, who in turn remained in constant touch with the ASI. This is why all are being questioned by the agency.

In February this year too, the Andhra Pradesh Police was in Kutch, when they had interrogated four others in connection with spying on the Indian Navy.

When Andhra Police and the central Intelligence Bureau picked up seven navy personnel in December for their alleged role in spying, they had stumbled upon a dairy by a Navy personnel. The dairy had references about persons in Kutch. Based on this, the team had visited Kutch in February and questioned four persons.

Food Security Act benefits

LONE RANGER

given a go-by in Gujarat First India Bureau

A peacock eats from a plate on a swing where Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat looking at some files at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence in New Delhi on Sunday; and (below) Modi feeds a peacock at his residence.

Ahmedabad: Even as the National Food Security Act (NFSA) envisages covering 75% rural and 50% of the urban population for subsidized rations with the expenses being borne by the Centre, Gujarat has been found to be reducing the scope of the coverage under the law.

Investigations by Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, a civil rights organisation, have revealed that the State has a coverage of 3.35 crore under NFSA. This is 48% of Gujarat’s population, as against the provision to cover 75% rural and 50% urban population under the NFSA. After the post-Covid lockdown was announced on March 24, all priority households – antyodaya (poorest of the poor), below poverty line (BPL), and those covered under NFSA called above poverty

National Food Security Act provisions for free rations to 75% rural households not followed in Gujarat.

line-1 (APL-1) – were supposed to be allocated double the quota of the ration across the country.

But in Gujarat, according to Pankti Jog of MAGP, there has been an option of “splitting” ration cards – antyodaya, APL or BPL – once families get bigger and separated. For this, they need to fill up form No 5, issued by the State Food and Civil Supplies Department.

Under the provision, before issuing a separate card, the competent authority

is supposed to determine the category of the ration card to be handed over to the separated family. According to a government resolution (GR) dated March 23, 2016, a three-member bocklevel committee should decide on the criterion to include a family in the priority household list under NFSA. “However, this procedure is not followed, and every separated family is automatically put under non-NFSA category,” Jog said.

Gandhinagar: The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) hosted its 9th convocation in the online mode on Sunday, but it pulled out all stops to ensure the graduation ceremony had the elements of the real thing.

Right from the academic procession by the faculty members to the invocation and convocation addresses by the Director and the chief guest gave the feel of a physical event. The entire event was streamed online on IITGN’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

A total of 455 students, including 173 BTech students, 1 BTech-MTech Dual Degree student, 1 BTech-MSc Dual Degree student, 115 MTech students, 84 MSc students, 19 MA students, 55 PhD students, and 7 PGDIIT students were conferred their symbolic degrees in digital mode.

In addition, 56 medals, including 25

gold, and awards were given for excellence in various categories. Delivering the convocation address, Chairman and Co-Founder of Infosys Nandan Nilekani said, “It is a difficult time for all of you to graduate during this global crisis. But it’s really your attitude and your sense of optimism about the future, which will give you the confidence to continue and do what you have to do. And surely we will emerge from this crisis. ” He added, “Technology is now becoming central to our world. Thanks to digital technologies such as smartphones, video conferencing, e-commerce and big cloud operations, we are able to continue many things and work from home.”

Earlier, IIT-GN Director Prof Sudhir K Jain said, “I know you are missing the grandeur of our usual, in-person convocation.

But let this be a special moment where, though physically apart, we will be together in spirit, thanks to technology.”

ATS NABS FOUR MORE IN ZADAPHIA CONSPIRACY CASE First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS) has picked up four more suspects in connection with the alleged conspiracy to attack BJP leader and former minister of state for home Gordhan Zadaphia.

The ATS had 5 days ago arrested, what it claimed, a sharp- shooter Irfan Shaikh with two pistols from

Ahmedabad. Shaikh allegedly belongs to the Chhota Shakeel gang.

His interrogations led a team of the ATS to Maharashtra and Karnataka, from where they rounded up 3 persons and one suspect respectively.

They will also undergo Covid-19 tests, like Irfan, once they are brought to Ahmedabad.

Irfan tested positive for the virus and is being treated at a hospital.

FITNESS FUNDA

PEDAL POWER: COVID TRIGGERS FITNESS FAD With the Covid-19 crisis inspiring a new fitness regime, bicycles selling like hotcakes in Ahmedabad 

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: If the Covid-19 crisis has tethered lakhs of people to their homes, it has also spawned a new health consciousness. If sales of fitness equipment have increased, bicycles have emerged the bestsellers -- at least in

Ahmedabad, where there is a veritable waiting list of buyers of all kinds of new models.

Be it for pleasure or for professional uses, including for mountaineering, hybrid and kids bikes are witnessing an unprecedented surge in demand.

“We are out of stock

of many models,” Mayur Parikh, owner of Revolution Bikes and H Parikh and Co, one of the oldest cycle shops and bike rentals business in Ahmedabad, told an urban news portal, Citizen Matters.

He informed that there was a greater demand for bikes in the

AMC has launched an “Amdabike” project to encourage cycling among the citizens.

price range of Rs 4,500 to Rs. 20,000, while those who used to rent bicycles had become buyers.

Groups cycling enthusiasts have emerged.

According to professional bikers, they are flooded with calls seeking advice on the type of cycles to buy, which routes to take and which Apps to download.

Meanwhile, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation, under the

guidance of Nitin Sangwan, Deputy Municipal Commissioner and CEO of the Ahmedabad Smart City Authority, has been experimenting with pilot projects to support cycling.

The AMC even hopes to win the “Cycles4Change” contest announced by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Authority to promote cycling in the city. Officials said the efforts were to get Rs 1

crore fund to develop infrastructure for cycling under the scheme.

The AMC has launched, “Amdabike”, a bike share system that deploys around 800 cycles, and 250 e-bikes through a network of 59 stations, under partnership with two private entities, Mybyk and Yulu bikes, with parking space provided by AMC and the bikes provided and maintained by the two companies.

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09

AHMEDABAD, MONDAY AUGUST 24, 2020

Alia Bhatt

Apart from following all the necessary exercise routines and being on strict diets in order to stay fit, Bollywood Actresses have their ‘Binge Moments’ in-between shoots or shows, when they feast on their favourite dishes from across the globe. After all, they have cravings too!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

B

ollywood industry is a power-house of talent and glamour. Apart from acing the silver screens with their acting skills, the celebrities are known and looked upon to for taking good care of their appearance.

Each one of them spend hours working out to maintain their physique, but on some days they deserve a cheat meal, don’t they?

There are a few celebrities who treat their fans with balancing content- they moti-

Shilpa Shetty Kundra

vate them to be fit and healthy, but also try their best to spread the message that cheat days are important too. Just like laymen, there are various Bollywood actresses who never fail to share drool-worthy content on their social media handles, while they binge-eat!

Shilpa Shetty Kundra tops the chart of foodies, hands-down. Her ‘Sunday-Binge’ moment is something that people wait for every week. Known for being a yogaenthusiast and a fitness freak, Shilpa never fails to make the viewers drool over her binge moments; she sure is the fittest foodie in the industry.

The fashion icon of the Bollywood industry, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is yet another known-foodie. She has a strong fetish for chocolates and keeps sharing pictures of herself with food on her social media handles.

Kiara Advani, who’s one of the prettiest and sexiest actresses of the industry at the moment works extremely hard towards getting the desired body. But at the same time, she never forgets to grab her cheat meal whenever and wherever she gets the chance. That’s more like it; isn’t it?

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who has been nailing it with her skills in not just Bollywood but Hollywood too, is a major foodie. She was seen sharing a Pizza with her husband Nick Jonas on the balcony of their hotel room right before they hit the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Cute.

The list of foodies in B’Town can just go on and on with Parineeti Chopra, Rakul Preet Singh, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and many more being a part of it.

Rakul Preet Kaur

(Clockwise) Kiara Advani, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Priyanka Chopra Jonas

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

10

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

GURMAN SINGH cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

T

FA CE OF TH ED AY

he Most Electrifying Person in All of Entertainment”, Dwayne Johnson, byname ”The Rock” is an AmericanCanadian actor, producer, businessman, retired professional wrestler, and former American football player. whose charisma and athleticism made him a success in all the fields.

Considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers. Johnson headlined the most-bought professional wrestling pay-perview event ever (WrestleMania XXVIII) and was featured among the most-watched episodes of WWE’s two flagship television shows (Raw and SmackDown).

He has won several championships, being a two-time Intercontinental Champion, a 5-time tag team champion, and

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

a 10-time world champion. He was also a Royal Rumble match winner and WWE’s sixth Triple Crown champion. From delivering dialogues in his typical breathless style, flaunting the raised one eyebrow, and playing the archetypal ‘tough guy’ Johnson had his first leading film role in The Scorpion King (2002) and has since starred in several commercially successful

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You are a child at heart and never let this child die. You have a big heart and you always help someone if you can. You love gardening and you can spend day in doing only that.

Video gathering is possible as you miss your social circle like anything.

Best day to buy gold and silver.

You give tough competition to people. Many people get inspired by you. You will get special treatment from your dear ones. Your time invested in studies will not get wasted and stop making excuses. Opposing views must not be nurtured. Be easy going and don’t take too much tension.

You must see a doctor if you have any doubts about your health. Don’t attack stress even if you don’t have any. Let go of things that are not in your control. You want to have your own house and you will work hard to make your dream come true.

Being an adventurer is your thing.

You make sure to make things work your way. You are most wanted by your friends. You can have romantic affair in office and a serious one. You will invest to of money in clothes and accessories today. You are a God fearing person. Fun and excitement on cards today.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

There may be delays in property possession and it won’t effect you. You are happy spending whole day at home. Some of you may feel very lazy today. Help your mothers at home today and give them a reason to smile. Silly behaviour should not be encouraged in business.

You workout daily to keep yourself fit. You may start a side business to earn extra money. You are not a jealous kind and you feel happy for others. Family may arrange a meeting with an eligible bachelor.

You are a very grounded person.

Don’t overspend.

Your personality will attract many eligible bachelors.

You don’t take rejections easily and that s not how things should be always. You may need a friend’s help n love related matter. Spend time talking with likeminded people as it will make you feel good for now.

You will feel amorous towards your wife. Work on your limitations, there can be no better time than this. You have more opposite sex friends than the same and you may be judged sometimes but don’t care.

Approval is needed from all the business investors before decision.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You are very generous by nature and also you are the backbone of your family.

Today is a favourable day for business. You may postpone your study plans. Be careful of the words that come out of your mouth. Your lover may finally yes to get married to you. You are very fortunate.

You need a break from day to tensions and the way to cope up with stress is to meditate. You will succeed in any sort of examination if you put your heart and soul to it. Promotion can be expected even if other are not.

Difficult job must be avoided today.

You will earn good money.

Your spouse may make you spend more than you expected. Fantastic day for investing money in stock market as you can make fortune. You miss your parents a lot and somewhere fear to loose them. Admit your faults in relationship. Determined spirit is all you need to reach your goal.

You may have a little fight with sibling but don’t drag it and make peace asap.

You care about you lover but somehow hesitate in expressing that care. On social front, you may have to spend some extra money in buying gifts for someone for some specific occasion.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

SANYA HISSARIA, Model

films, including The G a m e Plan, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Hercules, San Andreas, Central Intelligence, Moana, Rampage, and Skyscraper.

Johnson’s most successful box office role has been as Luke Hobbs in The Fast Saga films He first appeared in Fast Five and helped catapult the series into one of the highestgrossing film franchises ever. Later in his spin-off film Hobbs & Shaw. He also stars in the Jumanji franchise, appearing in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and its sequel Jumanji: The Next Level.

Johnson produced and starred in the HBO series Ballers (2015– 2019), which ran for five seasons and was ranked as HBO’s mostwatched comedy in six years. He has also attained success as a television host and autobiography author. In 2000, he released the autobiography The Rock Says... which debuted atop The New York Times Best Seller list.

In 2012, he founded the production company Seven Bucks Productions, which has since produced several films and other entertainment projects. Consistently ranked among the world’s highestpaid actors, Johnson made the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World list in 2016 and 2019 and is the co-owner of the American football league, the XFL.

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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‘When it rains, I share my umbrella’

P

AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

osing with a yellow umbrella amid the rainy season, actor Katrina Kaif on Sunday treated her fans with a refreshing all smiles picture. The ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ actor posted to Instagram an adorable picture as she holds a big yellow umbrella as the prop. In the picture, Kaif is seen in a casual avatar as she flaunts her long legs while sporting white ripped denim shorts with matching hoodie and yellow sports shoes. The actor is seen holding a yellow umbrella as she leaves her luscious locks open while smilingly posing for the camera.

The ‘Bharat’ actor noted in the caption, “When it rains, I share my umbrella. If I have no umbrella, I share the rain - anonymous.” Filmmaker Homi Adajania along with more than 3 lakh netizens liked the picture within thirty-two minutes of being posted.

The actor has been quite active on the photo-sharing platform and cherishes more than 42 million followers. Earlier, actors Kaif joined other Bollywood divas in Instagram’s viral ‘women supporting women’ challenge and posted a monochrome picture of herself wearing a grey solid T-shirt and a pair of shots with it.

—ANI

Katrina Kaif; (inset) Her post

Confident to release

A

mid the shuttering of theatres due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Reliance Entertainment has expressed faith that ‘Sooryavanshi’ and ‘83’ will be able to stick to their scheduled release dates on Diwali and Christmas.

The Reliance Entertainment on its official Twitter handle wrote, “We are very confident that the ongoing theatrical exhibition situation will improve much in time for the release of our awaited films, Sooryavanshi and 83, this Diwali and Christmas, respectively.” Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibashish Sarkar said that though they are committed to releasing the films in theatres, they do not want to push the release dates any further.

“Just to reiterate we are 100 per cent inclined to release Sooryavanshi & 83 in theatres,” Sarkar tweeted.

—ANI

11

TROUBLE FOR SPEARS

Britney Spears

B

ritney Spears‘ father Jamie Spears is pushing to reinstate someone else in his daughter’s finances. The 68-year-old father of the 39-yearold Glory singer submitted a petition to the Superior Court of California on August 19 requesting to have Andrew Wallet, an attorney who handled her finances until 2019, return as co-conservator of her estate. In the document, Jamie asked that he and Andrew be granted the “power to obtain all documents and records” relating to her estate, including “all contracts, information relating to credit cards, bank statements, estate planning documents, receivables, and any and all powers of attorney.” The filing also revealed that she has a total of USD 2.7 million in cash assets and an estimated USD 57.4 million in non-cash assets as of December 31.

—Agency

NOT TOO HAPPY

S

inger Katy Perry is not too happy with people comparing her to fellow female singers.

She pointed out that male singers are never made to compete, but she gets comments comparing her to artistes like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga.

“We never see Niall Horan and Shawn Mendes fighting, you don’t read about Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber fighting, right? You never hear that,” she said during a podcast.

“But take any female performer and you hear about it every single day. You wanna read my Twitter comments? No, you don’t, because it’s like, ‘who’s better than who?

Who’s skinnier than who? Who’s sold more number ones than who?

Who’s doing better this year than who? Who made this much more?’

‘Okay, well, what about just liking the music? Why?” she asked.

—Agency

FRENCH GIRL

R

eminiscing about a trip to Paris, France, actor Kangana Ranaut on Sunday revealed how she is always misunderstood for a French person.

The ‘Queen’ actor shared some never-seenbefore pictures on Twitter through her team’s handle and said, “Paris. I like France but wherever I travel America, Europe, Middle East people just assume I am French, they even speak to me in French.”

Talking further about what people assume when they tell them that she’s Indian, the ‘Panga’ actor added, “when I say I am Indian they assume I am French based in India, worse with my friends from north east everyone assume they are chinese.”

Ranaut took a walk down the memory lane as she posted pictures from some of the cherished moments in France. In the first picture, Kangana is seen smilingly posing in a hotel lobby as she sports a light purple dress, on the other hand, the other pictures show the actor posing with her friends while she sat with her friends and they posed at the dinner table.

—ANI

CONGRATULATIONS

‘T

he Notebook’ star Rachel McAdams as she gets ready to welcome baby number 2. The Mean Girls star and her boyfriend, Jamie Linden, are expecting their second child together. While the couple has not commented on the news, the actress was photographed out in Los Angeles debuting her baby bump this week.

In April 2018, reports revealed the couple welcomed a baby boy, whose name has yet to be publicly shared. The star is notoriously private about her personal life, but she has made the rare comment or two about what it’s like to be a mom.

Months after welcoming her first child, the actress said that becoming a mom was the “greatest thing that’s ever happened to me, hands down.” “People say your life is not your own anymore,” McAdams shared. “But I had 39 years of me, I was sick of me, I was so happy to put the focus on some other person. I waited a long time for motherhood.”

—Agency

...her post Kangana Ranaut

Katy Perry

Rachel McAdams

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

T

Swapnil K Gulale

dets will join for gruelling training at their respective academies at OTA, Chennai and Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.

Swapnil K Gulale, an NCC Cadet of 5 Gujarat

CITY FIRST

R

ecently installed art installation in Albert Hall has awakened the curiosity of the visitors. The mask art installation has been established with the aim of bringing awareness among the people towards preserving the monuments and the cultural heritage of the country. This installation, built under the ‘Design Conclave 2020’ organised by the Department of Science and Technology and Design Cohort of the Government of Rajasthan, is based on contemporary art and is inspired by the social distancing protocol of COVID-19.

Through the installation, people have been given the message that just like we use masks to protect ourselves against Covid virus, similarly the monuments also need to be protected from pollution and deterioration. Visitors will keep these monuments clean and if they do not spoil, then the heritage of our country will remain forever. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Batallion and student of Sir P. T. Sarvajanik College of Science, Surat will pass

out as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army after completing 49 weeks of training.

Senior Under Officer Jaydattsinh P Sarvaiya from PDPU got success

Art Installation in form of a mask at the Albert Hall

Kumar Pachar inaugurated the event and welcomed the speaker, Er. Pradeep Garg. The event was organised to prepare students for upcoming online placements. Pradeep shared his experience in preparation for the interview that a candidate required to face an interview. Assistant Prof. Nishant Sachdeva hoisted the event whereas Head, Training and Placement Cell, Dr Amber Srivastava extended the vote of thanks. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

EHPVO successful I n Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, the patients are being treated regularly, following all the necessary rules related to the corona epidemic seriously.

The untiring efforts of Neurosciences team’s Neuro Vascular Interventional Radiologist Dr Sitaram Barath, Gastrologist Dr Dhawal Vyas and team, Dr Karuna from the Department of Anesthesia, Dr Neha, Dr Manav, Cath Lab and CCU staff have successfully treated a patient suffering from EHPVO (extrahepatic portal vein obstruction).

Dr Sitaram Barath shared that the pa-

Team at GMCH

tient from Pratapgarh came to GMCH with the problem of blood with faeces. Due to the increase in pressure in the colletal veins, blood was flowing and the main vein was closed.

The obstruction was removed by lever stenting of the main

portal vein by Dr Barth, which started the normal flow of blood.

It is known as EHPVO (Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction).

This disease is generally very rare. The patient is now completely disease-free and has been discharged after seven days. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

SURVIVAL IS A CHALLENGE CITY FIRST

“W

hen we talk about startups is only about money making, but there is another stuff that’s hidden in all business, Value. And Value is also wealth. The value business generates is way more appreciated than money it creates. Most startups forget the importance of value while they are running behind money.” said Padmaja Ruparel, Co-Founder & President, Indian Angel Network (IAN) addressing at the Interactive session on Wealth

lege and family. NCC has helped them to develop discipline, character, comradeship and a suitable environment to take up a career in the armed forces. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Dr AKHILESH JAIN

INTERVIEW

A

Jaydattsinh P Sarvaiya

BEING LONELY T

TIPS FOR ONLINE webinar on ‘How to Face Interviews’ jointly organised by the Department of Civil Engineering and the Training & Placement Cell, Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology (SKIT) and Student Chapter of Indian Concrete Institute witnesses its inaugural ceremony at (SKIT), Jaipur where students across the country participated. The Principal, SKIT, Dr Ramesh

through Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT). Earlier another NCC cadet from PDPU, Cdt Joshi Achal Dharmendra Kumar had joined Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala for permanent commission in the Executive Branch (General Service) of the Indian Navy.

These boys have credited their success to their training as an NCC cadet, as well as support from col-

Awakening Curiosity Being alone is not

CITY FIRST

CITY FIRST

12

NCC: PRIDE OF INDIA

CITY FIRST

wo NCC cadets Swapnil K Gulale from Surat and Jaydattsinh P Sarvaiya from Bhavnagar have been selected to join Army & Air Force respectively as officers. Swapnil joined through NCC Special Entry Scheme which allows the cadets to report directly for the interview on account of holding an NCC ‘C’ certificate with A/B grading whereas Jayduttsinh cracked AFCAT written exam for becoming an Aeronautical Engineer in Indian Air Force. Both ca-

AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

During the interactive session

Creation Through Startups organised virtually by Yi Kota Chapter on Sunday.

Keynote speaker at the interactive session Ruparel also added that in the current sce-

nario, survival is the main challenge for Startups and less than 10% make it past the first year.

Welcoming the delegates and speaker at the interactive session, Saurabh Shourie, Chair – Yi Kota Chapter said that the aim of entrepreneurs should be to create a profitable business with a long term vision for growth. Shourie also briefed about the CII – Yi initiatives.

Mr Prashast Jain, Chair, Yi Kota Entrepreneurship Vertical moderated the session. Mr Bhuvan Gaur, Co-Chair - Yi Kota Chapter proposed the vote of thanks at the end of the session. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

he ongoing pandemic has widely introduced the concept of self-isolation or quarantine for one’s safeguard as well as others.

The quintessential element of paradox that has emerged out during this period of isolation is the interpretation of being alone and feeling lonely. The dialectical understanding of these two similarsounding words is very important as the wrong interpretation may create cascades of emotional upheavals and further gloomy situation.

Being alone refers to physical isolation, where you have detached yourself physically, though your longings, connectedness with friends and families, your aspirations and expectations, sense of belongingness, communication, all remain intact and active, though with a change of environment and modes of communication. Nevertheless, you feel social, emotionally and spirituality integrated

HOD, Psychiatry ESI Model Hospital, Jaipur

with whom you adore and that sense of belongingness becomes the foundation of your intact mental wellbeing, thus keeping your morale high, expectation alive and desire to conquer the crisis keeps firing.

This is how you may find it quite easy to survive such hard time with no tangible physical or psychological trauma.

On the contrary feeling loneliness is something beyond being alone. You may physically well be placed in crowd or family yet you may feel lonely as long as your connectedness with surroundings gets lost, your aspirations target no definitive goals, your expectations from loved ones seems to have been fading away, your

communication finds no source to pay heed, your desires have no accomplishments, the relationship becomes insipid and your recognition as an individual seems withering.

You find your existence languishing just because you do not have someone to acknowledge it.

Hence the loneliness may induce juggernaut of emotional consequences such as anxiety, fear, boredom, uncertainty, confusion, depression etc.

With this understanding of the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, one ought to learn that isolation or quarantine during COVID 19 is nothing but a mere protective strategy that may lead you feeling alone but not lonely. Keeping our bondings intact, emotions positive and communication alive, we may substantially avert the associated psychological trauma.

Our understanding about this fact can very well help us to fight the situation positively keeping our spirit high and hopes alive. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

The satirical drama ‘Indian Wife vs Yamraj’, directed

by Manoj Swamy and written by Neeraj Sarna, was successfully staged on the stage of Nettet Next Aera Theater.

GUJARAT: On the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, a Pooja was performed to welcome Lord Ganesha on Saturday at Atal Samvedana in Surat, by Salim and Shankar.