First India-Ahmedabad Edition-25 April 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

27°C - 40°C

ALERT AHMEDABAD l SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 149

WORLD

1,95,153 28,00,262 780 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

INDIA

24,447

CONFIRMED CASES

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

903,773 SPAIN 219,764 ITALY 192,994 GERMANY 154,159 UK 143,464 TURKEY 104,912 IRAN 88,194 CHINA 82,804 RUSSIA 68,622 BRAZIL 51,073 BELGIUM 44,293

50,988 22,524 25,969 5,653 19,506 2,600 5,574 4,632 615 3,407 6,679

USA

127 DEATHS

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GUJARAT

2,815

CONFIRMED CASES

RAMZAN MUBARAK

+752 +367 +420 +78 +768 +109 +93 +2 +60 +94 +189

The picturesque Pir Panjal ranges can be seen at the backdrop of Dargah Hazratbal in Kashmir on Friday. A day ahead of the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, an eerie calm has descended at the shrine, following lockdown prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile with the sighting of the moon, the first roza of the month will be on April 25. PM Narendra Modi has extended his greeting to the people on the occasion of Ramzan. —ANI

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO

LAST UPDATED: APRIL 24, 2020, 11:00 PM

IN GUJARAT DISTRICT

TOTAL CASES

AHMEDABAD 1821 VADODARA 223 SURAT 462 BHAVNAGAR 35 RAJKOT 41 GANDHINAGAR 19 PATAN 15 BHARUCH 29 ANAND 36 PANCHMAHAL 13 CHHOTA UDEPUR 11 KUTCH 6 MEHSANA 7 PORBANDAR 3 GIR SOMNATH 3 DAHOD 4 BANASKANTHA 16 JAMNAGAR 1 MORBI 1 SABARKANTHA 3 BOTAD 12 KHEDA 5 ARAVALLI 18 NARMADA 12 MAHISAGAR 9 TAPI 1 VALSAD 5 NAVSARI 1 DANG 1 TOTAL

2815

SAMPLES TESTED NEGATIVE CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

83 11 14 5 0 2 1 2 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 127

14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

LOCKDOWN CONTAINED PM Modi salutes CORONA MARCH: GOVT gritty rural india PANCHAYATI RAJ DIVAS

India would have had over one lakh COVID 19 cases by now if containment strategies like lockdown & robust surveillance network was not put in place

New Delhi: The government said on Friday the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a timely step, without which there would have been an estimated one lakh COVID-19 cases in India by now.

In a press briefing, officials said the virus outbreak is under control in the country and credited a robust surveillance network along with implementation of the lockdown and other containment measures for it.

Of the 11 empowered groups formed to suggest

43,822 41,007

UNDER EXAMINATION

0

CORONA IN GUJARAT In the last 24 hours, the state recorded 191 COVID-19 positive cases taking the total toll to 2,815. With 15 deaths, the death toll currently stands at 127.

For more, see P3

Delhi-Meerut Expressway wears a deserted look during nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against spread of COVID-19—ANI

measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce misery of people

UP TO BRING HOME STRANDED MIGRANT LABOURERS Lucknow: The UP government will bring back labourers stranded in other states because of the coronavirus-forced lockdown, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday, and directed officials to prepare an action plan in this regard. At a review meeting with senior officers here, Yogi asked them to prepare a list of people stuck in other states and have completed 14-day quarantine there so that they can return home in a phased manner.

once the lockdown is lifted, chairman of Empowered Group One and Niti Ayog member V K Paul

SITUATION ESPECIALLY SERIOUS IN 4 CITIES: MHA New Delhi: Centre on Friday said COVID-19 situation is especially serious in major or emerging hotspot areas including Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Home Ministry said that violations of lockdown measures reported in some parts of the country pose a serious health hazard to public and may lead to the spread of COVID-19. Earlier home ministry sent four interministerial teams to Gujarat, Telangana and Tamil Nadu to asses the ground situation. —ANI

said according to their analysis, lockdown has been effective in slowing the rate at which COVID-19 cases is doubling in India, and it now stands at 10 days.

“If we go back to March 21, the cases were doubling in around three days. An important turn came on March 23 after the Janata Curfew had happened. The direction changed and the doubling rate increased to five. By then, we had already put in place travel restrictions and had created an environment of social distancing.

Turn on P6

TIGRESS DIES IN DELHI ZOO, SAMPLES SENT FOR CORONA TESTING New Delhi: A tigress died in Delhi Zoo on Wednesday due to “kidney failure” and authorities have sent her samples for coronavirus testing. The 14-yearold big cat named Kalpana died around on Wednesday evening and the carcass was cremated on Thursday following direction to minimize human-animal interface, an official from the Environment Ministry said. Tigress had grown frail. Post-mortem revealed high creatinine levels, the official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Sarpanchs from across the nation via video conferencing, on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Diwas in New Delhi on Friday. —ANI

New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic has taught the country “to be self-reliant and selfsufficient” and not look for solutions abroad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told grassroots leaders on Friday as he stressed that every village, district and state should be able to provide for its basic needs.

Applauding people for their grit in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, Modi said the collective power of villages is helping country move forward and complimented the rural India for its simple and motivating mantra of Do Gaz Ki Doori to popularise social distancing.

The slogan given by the rural India showed the wisdom of the people , he said.

INDIA HAS LEAST COVID CASES: PM India has the least number of corona positive cases among some major countries at 5 lakh COVID-19 tests mark, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. “At the 5 lakh tests mark, India has of the least number of COVID-positives among some major countries,” the Prime Minister tweeted. He further informed that NaMo app users can now see interesting facts and steps taken by the Centre to contain corona spread.

PM said skills and knowledge of people are put to test during the time of a crisis, but India’s villages have displayed the best of their efforts to fight the pandemic.

Turn on P6

Commissioner Nehra at risk of whiplash with U-Turn on COVID-19 estimate Says city would see anything between 25K to 8 lakh cases, depending on when you asked him First India News Ahmedabad:If Ahmedabad’s Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra is to be taken at face value, the rate of doubling of COVID-19 cases fell by half in the span of a few hours in the city.

In his morning bulletin, he claimed that the

cases of Sars-Cov-2 infection were doubling in the city every four days.

He expressed great hope that the city would achieve the “very difficult task” of bringing the four-day doubling rate to an eight-day one.

By 8.30 pm, the official line was that the city was already seeing an eight-day doubling rate.

Our target is to bring down this rate to eight days. This will be a very difficult task because very few countries have achieved it.

Vijay Nehra, 12.30 pm COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad City are doubling every eight days. AMC Press release, 8.30 pm

Fogging in progress at the main offices of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

The swift turnaround does not bode well for Nehra. At best, he was misinformed in the morning and attempted to fix his mistake in the evening. At worst, he’s fudging numbers. Ei-

ther way, he does not seem to be fully aware of the situation, much less in control of it.

The evening press release stated: “COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad City are doubling every

eight days.”

This is a far cry from Nehra’s extensive statement from earlier in the day.

“At present, the rate of doubling of cases Turn on P6

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AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

02

SINGAPORE PM DIALS UP MODI TO DISCUSS CORONA P rime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during which both the leaders stressed the importance of the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership amid coronavirus pandemic.

The two leaders talked on Thursday and exchanged views on the health and economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They agreed to work together to address the present and future challenges posed by COVID-19, according to an official statement.

During the call, Prime Minister Modi promised to provide all possible support for maintaining supplies of essential goods, including medical products, to Singapore. He also expressed his appreciation for the sup-

port being extended to Indian citizens in Singapore.

The duo updated each other on the measures being adopted in their respective countries to tackle the pandemic and its economic and social effects.

Both leaders stressed the importance of the IndiaSingapore Strategic Partnership in the present context.

Prime Minister Modi also conveyed his best wishes for the health and wellbeing of the people of Singapore during the present crisis.

With 1,684 more COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India’s count of coronavirus cases has reached 23,077, including 17,610 active cases, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.

Meanwhile, Singapore has reported 12,075 coronavirus cases so far.

—ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. —FILE PHOTO

AMC to focus on the elderly, vulnerable sections of society First India News Ahmedabad: With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has now focused its attention to senior citizens and other vulnerable sections of society. Under the leadership of municipal commissioner Vijay Nehra, the local civic body has roped in 3,000 teachers to survey health data of the elderly citizens in the city.

The civic body has also procured data from the state government on pensioners and senior citizens to monitor their well-being. The municipal commissioner appealed to senior citizens to stay indoors and re-

Municipal commissioner Vijay Nehra

quested young members of families to go out and fetch supplies instead.

Along with local NGOs and a few educational institutes, AMC has provided meals to the needy on their doorstep. An erickshaw service was also run with 10 vehicles to sell vegetables along with a self-help group to provide vegetables in the

societies across all wards. There are more than 50 such vehicles currently selling vegetables in the city.

With five IAS officers reporting to him, Nehra has vowed to defeat novel coronavirus by May. In one of his video bulletins, he announced that if people follow strict lockdown, then the day

when the COVID-19 is uprooted in the city is not that far.

The COVID Care Centre (CCC) at Samaras Hostel of Gujarat University is touted to be the largest care facility for patients who have tested positive for the disease, with a capacity to house over 2,000 patients. There are indoor games facilities for the patients along with fully-furnished rooms, free Wi-Fi, telephone, a community radio, yoga room, library, TV rooms, music on demand, among others.

Now, the civic body is on the hunt to search for another place which can act as a care centre and accommodate 4,000 asymptomatic patients who do not require ventilators.

We are just performing the duty we were elected for: MP CR Patil First India News Navsari: Lending a helping hand to those in need, Lok Sabha MP from Navsari, CR Patil has mobilized booth representatives of BJP) in the district for the distribution of food.

Around 1.70 lakh people have received food packets under this initiative so far. Apart from grains, cooked meals are also being distributed to those with limited or no access to food.

Talking about the initiative with First India, Patil said, “As soon as the lockdown was enforced, we decided to implement this initiative by working for 24-hours in shifts in order to provide food to the maximum number of people. Initially, it

MP CR Patil

was hard to comprehend who was receiving food and who wasn’t. So, a meeting of stakeholders was called where it was decided that a boothwise election strategy will be implemented to understand the demand and fulfill it. We also discussed the plan with MLAs of Limbayat, Majura, Udhana and Choryasi and managed

to reach all our party booth representatives in these areas.”

He added, “There is a famous Surti saying, ‘Nobody can sleep hungry here, anyone can get food and shelter to survive here’. All we are doing is keeping with the proverb and ensuring that no person is wanting for food.”

The presidents are re-

sponsible to provide food to the needy in his ward. People just have to register at the MP’s office. They can also download the CR Patil app of Navsari Lok Sabha and get a detailed idea of who should be contacted. So far, around 50,000 people have been aided.

In two days, around 15,000 kg rice, 4,000 kg dal and 700 l oil have been distributed.

“If there are people with no access to food, they can directly reach my office, and request for grains or meals. It is our duty to serve the people who have chosen us as their representative. We are working day and night to provide food to each person in need around the city,” Patil stated.

Free wheat and rice distribution to NFSA beneficiaries to start today: CM State to also test heavily pregnant women for infection in the run-up to their delivery date First India News Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s government will start distributing free wheat and rice to NFSA (National Food Security Act) cardholders from Saturday. This programme is meant to benefit those NFSA cardholders who regularly buy rations from fair price shops and have received free rations distributed at the beginning of April.

Information and

Broadcasting Secretary and Secretary to the Chief Minister Ashwani Kumar, who made the announcement, said the distribution will continue until April 29. The state will provide 3.5kg wheat and 1.5kg rice per head. So, if four family members are registered on one card, they will receive 14kg wheat and 6kg rice, he explained.

The state government has also decided to re-

HM TO DISTRIBUTE 60,000 KITS TO NEEDY PEOPLE

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will distribute 60,000 ration kits to needy people in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. He has appealed to people to wear face masks while venturing out.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel participated in a video conference with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday.

—FILE PHOTO

sume operations at subregistrars offices outside municipal corporation and Nagar Palika areas. There are 98 subregistrar offices across the state outside urban areas. Anyone interest-

ed in getting their revenue documents of property or land sale/ purchase deals registered will have to get an online appointment and pay the revenue duty fees online. They will have to follow the corona protocol strictly.

The state government has also decided to test pregnant women for COVID-19, focusing on those who might give birth in the next five days, and especially those who have been living in cluster containment areas, hotspot areas and shelter homes.

With the state government having relaxed

lockdown norms for medium, small and micro enterprises, 40,000 units have resumed operations in the first five days, meaning five lakh workers are back at work. Similarly, with the state permitting development projects to resume conditionally, work has restarted on about 573 real-estate projects, providing work to 20,000 workers after a month of unemployment.

On Friday, 4,42,860 quintals of commodities were traded at 127 market yards. Of that, wheat accounted for 2,42,904 quintal and castor for 1,23,389.

GUJARAT

Locality sees 66 deaths in 24 days against normal average of 40 deaths in 30 days —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Gargi Raval

A man looks out of a window in Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur area, where movement is still restricted.

HOSPITALIZED KHEDAWALA REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY

24 days,” he said, adding, “Most of the people in Jamalpur are from a

poor background. Staying in a cramped space with little supplies may

have caused their health to deteriorate. Stress and other illness could

be the reason for their death.”

Locals say that the report of the deaths has created quite a stir, and not for any right reasons.

“We are checking the claims. All of the names in the list are from one community,” said Atiq Saiyad, social workers and an advocate.

He said that those who have died were suffering from one or other illnesses. “In one case in Khamasa Khadki, a senior male was suffering from renal issues. He went for a routine check and was admitted to the hospital. He died on the third day and his corona positive report was declared two days after this death,” said Saiyad.

In a similar case in Maruvas, a 55-year-old man fell sick on April 12.

“He got fever on April 15 and two days later he died. He was having other health issues and due to his tobacco consuming habit his immunity was already low,” he added.

Jamaat responsible for for virus spread: CM 332

COVID DAILY CASES

as on 23.04.2020

251 176 150

124 76 22 27 25 2 5 6 6 15 5 3 5 5 5 5 6 4 9 5 8 17

46

61

247 215 206

217

135

79 78 45

19-3-2020 20-3-2020 21-3-2020 22-3-2020 23-3-2020 24-3-2020 25-3-2020 26-3-2020 27-3-2020 28-3-2020 29-3-2020 30-3-2020 31-3-2020 01-4-2020 02-4-2020 03-4-2020 04-4-2020 05-4-2020 06-4-2020 07-4-2020 08-4-2020 09-4-2020 10-4-2020 11-4-2020 12-4-2020 13-4-2020 14-4-2020 15-4-2020 16-4-2020 17-4-2020 18-4-2020 19-4-2020 20-4-2020 21-4-2020 22-4-2020 23-4-2020

With COVID-19, death rate doubles in Jamalpur area Ahmedabad: DThe city’s Jamalpur area has seen twice as many deaths as usual since the Sars-Cov-2 virus hit the locality which had been under curfew until 6 am on Friday. According to a report that has gone viral on social media, as many as 66 people have died in that pocket in the past 24 days. Local community leaders say Jamalpur usually witnesses around 40 deaths in a month.

Firoz Rechadivala, president of the Chhipa community, is quick to clarify that not all deaths were caused by COVID-19. “About 15 to 17 of the deaths in Jamalpur have been caused by the novel coronavirus,” he said.

Rechadivala oversees the local cemetery also.

“Some people were suffering from other illnesses. But, still, the number of deaths is very high compared to the monthly average, with 66 people dying in

03

AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

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First India News Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani during a Facebook live segment blamed Tablighi Jamaat attendees for the spread of novel coronavirus infection in the nation. He also assured citizens in the state that the government was ready to tackle the health situation if the number of COVID-19 cases increase.

In the last 24 hours, the state recorded 191 COVID-19 positive cases taking the total toll to 2,815. With 15 deaths, the death toll currently stands at 127.

State Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi on Friday said the highest number of new cases were reported from Ahmedabad (169).

26 HELD FOR ASSAULT: DGP

Of the state total of 15 deaths, 14 were reported in the city.

Meanwhile, in Surat, Sanjay Nagar falling under Limbayat has been declared a cluster containment area.

Around 17,580 people have been asked to remain at home.

Further, the Indian Council of Medical Re-

search has approved a corona testing lab at GMERS Medical College in the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital campus.

A woman ACP has been confirmed positive case, as are 70 AMC employees. Also, 17 SRP jawans have been infected and police have quarantined at least 90 others jawans.

Teachers demand PPE kits Argument over tobacco leads for door-to-door surveys man to murder youth in Kutch

Four army jawans infected with Sars-CoV-2 in Vadodara

First India News

Vadodara: Four army jawans have been confirmed as COVID-19 positive cases and are currently undergoing treatment at GMERS Hospital in Gotri area.

The Vadodara city health team is tracing those who may have come into contact with the jawans over the past few days. Meanwhile, the army has quaran-

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Ahmedabad: Primary school teachers from district panchayat-run schools gathered in good numbers at a school campus in the city on Friday, to demand Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits. The teachers staged a protest against the door-to-door survey duty assigned to them in wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

On condition of anonymity, a teacher said, “We are not against performing our duties.

Whenever we have been assigned any work, we have always completed the given tasks. After the COVID-19 outbreak, we were assigned to sit at fair price shops, we did that too. But, we also fear contracting the virus and just want the protection of PPEs.” Expressing her anguish, another teacher stated, “We have not

Masuma Bharmal Jariwala

Rajkot: Sanjay Shankar (22) was murdered by Jawahar Hira Baazigar (40) over tobacco at their community mohallah in Adipur, Kutch on Friday afternoon.

“Sanjay, his father, Jawahar and a few other people were all sitting together at one place inside their mohallah

when someone asked Jawahar for some tobacco. He responded that he did not have any and pointed out that Sanjay’s father had some. When Jawahar tried to put his hand inside the pocket of Sanjay’s father, an annoyed Sanjay rebuked him. This led to an argument during which Baazigar suddenly went inside his house and returned with a knife. He

then attacked Sanjay injuring his neck,” Anjar DySP DS Vaghela said, adding, “The blade cut the main blood vessel of the youth and he was declared dead.”

Meanwhile, someone broke stole tobacco and cigarettes from a paan shop in Ahmedabad. No police complaint has been filed, but addicts are thought to be responsible for the theft.

First India News

tined 28 other jawans who had come in contact with these jawans.

Vadodara municipal medical officer Dr Devesh Patel rubbished rumours that the jawans had withdrawn money from the same ATM, and contracted the virus from there.

So far, there is no reason to believe that an ATM could be the source of origin of the infection, he said.”

A teacher takes a survey at Shah E Alam area of Ahmedabad.

Whenever we have been assigned any work, we have always completed the given tasks. But, we also fear contracting the virus and just want the protection of PPE kits.

SEEKING & FINDING

—PHOTOS BY NANDAN DAVE & HANIF SINDHI

—Teacher on survey duty

been provided with face masks, gloves or sanitizers. And yet, the state government wants us to conduct door-to-door survey. We have continued to perform our duty as government employees but, isn’t the government risking our lives?”

Interestingly, this is

not the first time that teachers at primary schools have protested and demanded protection from the virus.

Earlier teachers at primary schools run by the Ahmedabad municipal corporation had also put forth the same demand.

The Chand committee looks for the moon to mark the start of the holy month of Ramzan (left); the moon makes an appearance.

Hosp staff take three kids under their wing

Muslims cremate Hindu neighbour

First India News

First India News

POSITIVE INFLUENCE

Ahmedabad: When the world seems to be going to pieces, it’s always good to have one’s faith in humanity restored.

This is what happened at the dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Ahmedabad.

In a heartwarming display of care, medical staff of the hospital looked after three children of a male novel coronavirus positive patient since April 20.

After the kids arrived at the hospital with the suspect patient, they were admitted to the isolation ward along with their father.

The hospital’s dean Dr Maitray Gajjar immediately decided to conduct COVID-19 tests on all three children to ascertain whether they were positive patients or not. When the reports arrived, the medical staff was relieved to discover that Janaki (3), Shailesh (6) and Arun

While Janaki (3), Arun (10) and Shailesh (6) have tested negative for the virus, their father is still admitted and recieveing treatment. for COVID-19

(10) had tested negative.

The children were kept in the kids’ ward under observation for three days and provided with toys and chocolates. The doctors and other staff took care of them by providing them with timely meals. After the observation period was over, it was decided that the kids will be shifted to a shelter home in Shahibaug for their own safety.

They were transported to the home on Friday.

Ahmedabad: The phrase ‘Care for thy neighbour’ holds true for residents of Khanpur area in the city.

Mandakini Tripathi, 75, passed away due to internal injuries after taking a fall in her home at Usha Kiran Apartment on Thursday. Since she did not have any close relative in Ahmedabad, local residents took the responsibility to conduct

her final rights.

AIUTC General Secretary Dr Hakim Yasir and LIA Relief Trust (UK) local representative Sahal Qureshi came forward to ensure that Tripathi’s final rights were held as per custom.

“We found she had a nephew in America, but he could not make it for the funeral. So, we completed all the rituals at home and later took her body to the Dudheshwar crematorium for cremation,” said Qureshi.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

CENTRE-BENGAL CONFRONTATION OVER LOCKDOWN

T

here’s no love lost between West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Centre. With the Bharatiya Janata Party desperately trying to dislodge the Trinamool Congress (TMC) from power, it has been a no holds barred struggle between the two.

They have been at each other’s throat ever since the BJP won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, causing a significant dent.

With assembly elections due in May 2021, relations between the BJP, governor and Banerjee are bound to remain sour.

Mamata sees Dhankhar as a man with an agenda. Last year in December the governor was not allowed to enter the state assembly building through the gate designated for him despite prior intimation of his arrival. He had to enter the building through another gate meant for media persons. A “humiliated” Dhankhar called it an “insult to the people of the state and the Constitution”.

A month before this, the chief minister accused the Narendra Modi government of snooping on her and sought an investigation in the “illegal surveillance”. The governor countered by saying it was in Mamata Banerjee who was indulging in “unauthorised electronic surveillance” on civil servants, activists, journalists and political workers.

Those familiar with West Bengal politics would know that Mamata Banerjee is not a coy politician who can be messed with. She earned her spurs by ousting the CPM government and is a hardened street fighter. Her belief in confrontational politics has remained unchanged. So it is no surprise that she has once again hit back at Dhankhar who, in a letter to the chief minister, has said that she was diverting people’s attention from her failures in fighting coronavirus and openly appeasing minorities. Dhankhar accused her of making “monumental blunders” in dealing with the pandemic and described her appeasement of Nizamuddin markaz participants as “most unfortunate”.

Dhankhar’s attack was in response to a strongly-worded letter from the chief minister in which she reminded the governor that she was an elected representative and appointed. She charged the governor with interfering in the administration’s functioning time and again.

The latest spat between the state and the Centre is based on the allegation that the TMC government has failed to strictly impose the lockdown. The chief minister alleged that fake news was being spread about the state. She also denied that Covid-19 fatalities were being underreported. Difference in the total cases claimed by the state (503) and the Union home ministry’s figures of 514 does create doubt. The Inter Ministerial Central Team visiting Kolkata has sought a detailed report on the functioning of the state’s coronavirus death audit committee.

In a significant remark earlier, Dhankhar reportedly said that Mamata Banerjee government be shown the door for her shoddy enforcement of the lockdown rules. Could Bengal be headed in that direction?

MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AGAINST CORONAVIRUS The nature of life is such that in what you think of as yourself, life, and death are packed in the same package SADHGURU, ISHA FOUNDATION Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author Sadhguru has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2017, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service

R

Compared to how the coronavirus is spreading in some of the other nations, in India we are way better that way because we did a little preemptive action.

It is an exceptional job by the authorities in India – the doctors, the forces, and the government decisionmakers. For as dense a population as we are, this is a phenomenal work

ight now, life situations are confronting us in a certain way, probably like never before for this generation. Compared to how the coronavirus is spreading in some of the other nations, in India we are way better that way because we did a little preemptive action. It is an exceptional job by the authorities in India – the doctors, the forces, and the government decision-makers. For as dense a population as we are, this is a phenomenal work. But unfortunately, about five hundred infected people, from a certain religious group, have gone missing. Authorities are searching for them, but they are just not traceable. I hope they lie low and do not go here and there because these five hundred people could infect another hundred thousand people in the next month or two, all by themselves.

And some young people are little strutting around saying that they won’t die, that only old people die. But it is getting them too now; a few young people have died.

Maybe it is because of other conditions they had or there was no medical care, or maybe the virus is learning to work on them also. We don’t know, but it is beginning to happen. And some of those young people that I know, who got infected and recovered, after more than a month, they are still not able to breathe properly. If they just walk hundred-and-fifty feet, they will have to stop and rest. They are breathless. Though they are young and the fever has gone, their breathing capabilities have not come back.

So, this is a time where the choices we make, how we behave, is going to have acute consequences.

The nature of life is such that in what you think of as

The nature of life is such that in what you think of as yourself, life, and death are packed in the same package. Love and hate, people can hold in the same heart; at the same time, they can love one person and hate another. Turmoil and tranquillity are also held in the same package

yourself, life, and death are packed in the same package.

Love and hate, people can hold in the same heart; at the same time, they can love one person and hate another.

Turmoil and tranquillity are also held in the same package. Whatever you normally think of as opposites of life are all packed, not separately, but in the same package. If you pick love,

you are one way; if you pick hate, you are another way. If you pick joy, one way; if you pick misery, another way. The creation is so compassionate.

If you want to suffer, you have the freedom to suffer! It is just a question of choice because everything is packed in the same package.

Right now, with the virus, it is up to you – becoming vulnerable and becoming

Spanish flu played a part in India’s freedom struggle

I

n India, during the 1918 influenza pandemic, a staggering 12 million to 13 million people died, the vast majority between the months of September and December. According to an eyewitness, “There was none to remove the dead bodies and the jackals made a feast.”

At the time of the pandemic, India had been under British colonial rule for over 150 years. The fortunes of the British colonizers had always been vastly different from those of the Indian people, and nowhere was the split more stark than during the influenza pandemic, as I discovered while researching my PhD on the subject.

The resulting devastation would eventually lead to huge changes in India – and the British Empire.

04

KANSAS TO MUMBAI Although it is commonly called the Spanish flu, the 1918 pandemic likely began in Kansas and killed between 50 million and 100 million people worldwide. During the early months of 1918, the virus incubated throughout the American Midwest, eventually making its way East, where it travelled across the Atlantic Ocean with soldiers deploying for World War I. Introduced into the trenches on Europe’s Western Front, the virus tore through the already weakened troops. As the war approached its conclusion, the virus followed both commercial shipping routes and military transports to infect almost every corner of the globe. It arrived in Mumbai in late May. When the first wave of

In India, during the 1918 influenza pandemic, a staggering 12 million to 13 million people died the pandemic arrived, it was not particularly deadly. The only notice British officials took of it was its effect on some workers. A

report noted, “As the season for cutting grass began...people were so weak as to be unable to do a full day’s work.”

By September, the story began to change. Mumbai was still the center of infection, likely due to its position as a commercial and civic hub. On September 19, an English-language newspaper reported 293 influenza deaths had occurred there, but assured its readers “The

worst is now reached.”

Instead, the virus tore through the subcontinent, following trade and postal routes. Catastrophe and death overwhelmed cities and rural villages alike.

Indian newspapers reported that crematoria were receiving between 150 to 200 bodies per day. According to one observer, “The burning ghats and burial grounds were literally swamped with corpses; whilst an even greater number awaited removal.”

THE FALLOUT In the end, areas in the North and West of India saw death rates between 4.5% and 6% of their total populations, while the South and East – where the virus arrived slightly later, as it was waning – generally lost between 1.5% and 3%.

Geography wasn’t the

only dividing factor, however. In Mumbai, almost seven-and-a-half times as many lower-caste Indians died as compared to their British counterparts – 61.6 per thousand versus 8.3 per thousand. Among Indians in Mumbai, socioeconomic disparities in addition to race accounted for these differing mortality rates.

The Health Officer for Calcutta remarked on the stark difference in death rates between British and lower-class Indians: “The excessive mortality in Kidderpore appears to be due mainly to the large coolie population, ignorant and poverty-stricken, living under most insanitary conditions in damp, dark, dirty huts.

They are a difficult class to deal with.”.

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strong are both in the same package. Someone may think, “I didn’t do anything, how did I get the virus?” Ah, that is the whole point; you did not do anything. You did not wash your hands, you did not sanitize yourself, you did not take care – so you got it.

This happened in Tennessee. A man who was standing for a minor office in the city was doing door-to-door campaigning. He knocked on a door, and a lady opened the door for him. He told her what all he intends to do for the town and why she should elect him. She smiled at him and said, “You are my second choice.”

“Oh, really! Who is your first choice?”

She said, “Well, just anybody!”

So, you need to pick your first choice. If you are conscious, you will choose what you want.

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TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Strong Panchayats lead to a stronger democracy and help in delivering the benefits of development to the last mile. Compliment Hon. PM @ narendramodi ji for launching the e-Gram Swaraj & Swamitva Yojana on #PanchaytiRajDiwas to accelerate the pace of development in our villages.

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal On the Forefront to Combat Coronavirus: Using innovative technology and novel thinking, Railways has created a new remotecontrolled device to serve isolated patients in hospitals. Now, patients can be properly taken care of, while maintaining social distance.

Spiritual SPEAK

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

—Philippians 4:13

Vol 1 Issue No. 149 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

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

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05

WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN WB GUV & CM ESCALATES, DHANKHAR ACCUSES MAMATA OF ‘APPEASING’ MINORITIES

The 11-page letter is in response to Mamata’s accusation that Dhankhar was repeatedly interfering in the functioning of the state admn Kolkata: The war of words between the West Bengal government the Raj Bhavan escalated further on Friday as Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of “explicitly appeasing” the minority community in an 11-page strongly-worded letter.

The letter follows an “initial response” by Dhankhar to Mamata's letter on Thursday in which he reminded the chief minister of her “Constitutional obligations in relation to me.”

Mamata had accused him of “repeatedly interfering” in the functioning of her government and said he has forgotten that she is the

“elected chief minister of a proud Indian state” whereas he is a nominated Governor.

Referring to Banerjee's letter, Dhankhar said the Chief Minister's outburst is an alibi strategy to cover up “monumental failures” in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.”Your communication is part of the alibi strategy that emanates from a script that seeks to cover up monumental failures in these challenging times by a series of blunders,” the Governor said in the letter.

“Your appeasement of the minority community was so explicit and awkward on the Nizamuddin Markaz incident. This is most un-

Corona

SPEED NEWS SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY SERVES MEALS TO OVER 4,000 PEOPLE New Delhi: With an aim to support India's effort in tackling COVID-19, South Korean Embassy provided meals to more than 4,000 people in New Delhi. In partnership with Annamrita Foundation, non-profit organization, ambassador Shin Bong-Kil and other staff members of the embassy served meals to around 1,000 people each at four hunger shelters. The food was distributed while strictly adhering to social distancing rules.

4-MONTH-OLD, INFECTED WITH COVID-19, DIES IN KOZHIKODE Kozhikode: “A 4-month-old child from Malappuram who had tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, lost her life today morning at Kozhikode Medical College. The child was undergoing treatment for heart-related problems for the past 3 months and had pneumonia,” Malappuram District Medical Officer said while informing about the case.

Doctors sanitize their hands while collecting samples from the suspected patients for the test of COVID-19 in New Delhi on Friday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

MALE NURSE AT AIIMS DELHI TESTS POSITIVE

MAHA: 14 DEATHS, 778 MORE CASES

New Delhi: At least 40 healthcare staff including doctors, nurses and paramedics at AIIMS are under self-quarantine after a 35-yearold male nurse tested positive for COVID-19, informed AIIMS authorities.

All these health professionals were posted at the Gastroenterology Dept.

Mumbai: 14 more COVID-19 deaths & 778 new coronavirus cases have been reported from Maharashtra on Friday.

The total count of coronavirus cases in the state has climbed to 6,427, said the state Public Health Department.

With 14 more deaths, the toll due to infection has risen to 283.

WILD ANIMALS RECLAIMING STREETS IN KERALA IN LOCKDOWN Idukki: As people are compelled to stay indoors due to coronavirus induced lockdown to curb the spread of virus, wild animals have come to reclaim the streets that was once their domain. Wild animals are being seen wandering the streets of Munnar in Kerala. Rare pictures and videos of wild animals roaming the city streets are being shared online. There have been multiple citing of elephants, including star elephant Padayappa, during the lockdown. People have named the elephant after the Rajanikanth movie ‘Padayappa’.

WB GUV SPEAK

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee with WB Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.

fortunate and cannot be appreciated,” he said.

He was apparently referring to an event where Banerjee was asked to comment on the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the national capital.

Nodal officers for sensitive districts in UP Lucknow: UP government led by CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday nominated 15 senior IAS officers as nodal heads of those districts that have reported 20 or cases of coronavirus.

The officers who have bene designated as nodal officers include.

These officials along with other senior police personnel, will oversee the arrangements made in their respective districts to battle the coronavirus. —ANI

Dhankhar urged the Chief Minister “to shun politics and confrontational approach” as her conduct is only “compounding the miseries” of the people of the state. The letter is in response to Mama-

—FILE PHOTO

ta's accusation that Dhankhar was repeatedly interfering in the functioning of the state administration.

In a strongly worded five-page letter to the Governor, which Mamata released to the pub-

lic, she asked him to judge who has “crossed the limit of constitutional dharma and decency” between the two constitutional functionaries. Banerjee said Dhankhar has forgotten that she is the “elected

Chief Minister of a proud Indian state” whereas he is a nominated Governor.

“You have to judge for yourself, whether your direct attacks on me, my ministers, officers, your tone, tenor and language, which in mildest words of extreme moderation, deserve to be characterized as parliamentary, your holding press conferences against the state government of which you are a governor, your repeated and consistent interference in the administration of my ministries make it clear as to who has flagrantly transgressed constitutional dharma,” she wrote.

“This response be

taken as initial one & a thorough one will be imparted to you today with complete documentation so that people of the state, as you say, are made aware and come to know the series of acts of indignities heaped by you, your ministers on the Governor all through. Your constant refrain of governor being ‘nominated’ is lamentable and can be ascribed only to elementary ignorance of the Constitution, the Guv responded.

Reminding Mamata of her oath as CM & the oath taken by him, he “spelt out” Articles 166 and 167 of the Constitution and Rules of Business 27 and 30 at the end of the letter. —Agencies

Centre, Govt doing their best to help needy: HC New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has said that Centre and Delhi governments are doing their best to provide food, dry ration and other essential items to people in need, particularly the migrant and daily wage workers, who are going through a tough time due to the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

A Division Bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad made the observation while hearing a

THE PETITION

ing in some campus have gone without food.

Mukherjee said that in order to maintain social distancing, the entire family cannot be expected to go to the cooked food distribution centres which are

located 1 to 1.25 km away from the labour camps to collect the ready meals on a daily basis and therefore, members of such families who are unable to go to the centres, are denied food packets.

The court asked the government whether a Nodal officer can be appointed for all seven clusters and their names and mobile numbers provided to counsel so that the Nodal officer can be approached in case any difficulty is faced. —ANI

petition, filed by National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour India News Communication Ltd, seeking supply of food and dry ration to migrants and daily wage labour at

relief camps in the national capital. Advocate Sneha Mukherjee, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that there have been several instances where the migrant and daily wage workers who are resid-

Donate blood plasma to save lives: Kejri to patients

‘Panchayati structure should reach out needy’

Defence Min reviews Army ops

New Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal and Dr SK Sarin, Director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences on Friday requested the recovered coronavirus patients to donate blood plasma so that the critical patients can be saved from organ failure.

'Central government had given us permission only for limited trials of plasma therapy on serious patients at LNJP hospital. In next 2-3 days, we will conduct more trials & then we will seek permission next week, for all the serious patients,' Kejriwal said. “As there is no vaccine yet to treat the

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Panchayati structure has an important role to reach out to every needy amid COVID-19 crisis.

“Today on National Panchayati Raj Diwas, my greetings to visionary and creator of local self-governance, Rajiv Gandhi ji, all heads, Panch and members of local bodies. In #Covid19 crisis, Panchayati structure has also an important role to reach every needy in the country,” Gandhi tweeted.

Earlier in the day, PMModi interacted with Sarpanchs from across the nation via vc. —ANI

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference.

coronavirus patients, the government and the doctors are working hard to bring in a treatment to prevent the deaths of coronavirus infected patients,” said Dr Sarin, during a video-conference. —ANI

Do not visit mosques during Ramzan: Owaisi to people Hyderabad: Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi appealed to people to cooperate with Anganwadi workers doing door-to-door screening, and requested them not to visit any mosque during Ramzan amid the coronavirus lockdown. Owaisi said, “We should all cooperate with our lifesavers who are doctors, nurses, police and ASHA workers.

We cooperate with the employees who are coming for screening in GHMC areas, as most of the cases are from that

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi distributes PPE kits to warriors.

place. Now that the Ramadan season is going to start, I request you all not to pray in

mosques.

Nobody should come out after 7 pm as it is curfew time, Owaisi added. —ANI

Rajnath Singh reviewing operational preparedness with various Commanders- in- Chief via vc.

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the operational preparedness as well as measures to fight COVID-19 in a video conference with operational commanders of the armed forces along with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat. Chief of Army

“My heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all Muslim brothers and sisters and their families in the Happy month of Ramadan, from Alsubuah till the evening (fasting) and daily work, as well as Tilawat-eQuran, Namaz and in this duty month of Tarawih, etc.

Zakat (donation) are special features of this month.”

—Mayawati BSP chief

Staff General MM Naravane, Chief of Navy Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Secretary Defence (Finance) Gargi Kaul participated in the conference. Singh appreciated the role of the Armed

Forces for assistance extended to civilian administration and preparatory measures taken to fight COVID-19.

Singh directed forces to initiate measures to spend financial resources, avoiding wastage in view of the economic burden imposed

by COVID-19. —ANI

Offer prayers at home during Ramzan: Cops New Delhi: In the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic, Delhi Police on Friday appealed people to offer prayers and have ‘sehri’ (pre-dawn meal) at their homes during the holy month of Ramzan.

“I wish people on Ramzan. I appeal to people to offers prayers and have ‘sehri’ (pre-dawn meal) at home during the holy month.

Azaan should be of-

fered as per the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal. Please do not venture out of your homes during the lockdown,” MS Randhawa, Delhi Police PRO said in a video message. Randhawa also urged people to not violate lockdown guidelines and continue their cooperation with Delhi Police in the fight against COVID-19. —ANI

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Cong attacks Modi govt on DA freezing New Delhi: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday, hit out at the Centre after it announced freezing the hike in dearness allowance (DA) for the central government employees and dearness relief (DR) for the central government pensioners till July next year.

He said instead of giving relief at the time of economic slowdown and income crisis due to coronavirus crisis, the government is adding insult to injury.

Centre to probe Kishore’s travel during lockdown

New Delhi: The Centre has sought to investigate allegations against election strategist Prashant Kishor taking a cargo flight from New Delhi to get to West Bengal, officials aware of the development said.

The enquiry began following news reports alleging that the election strategist had been summoned by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to handle the state government’s response over its tussle with the central government regarding actions taken to tackle coronavirus situation in the state. —Agencies

“Only a month ago, on 23 March 2020, the Modi government passed the budget of Rs 30,42,000 crore. Naturally, the accounts of income and expenditure are clearly given in the budget.

Then within 30 days of presenting the budget, what is the Modi government trying to prove by cutting dearness allowance of army personnel, government employees and pensioners?” Surjewala said in a press conference via video conferencing.

“On April 23, 2020, af-

ter the Finance Ministry issued an order that the dearness allowance, dearness relief and all the old and future installments have been deducted from the backdate i.e. January 1,

2020, to June 30, 2021. It was also issued an order that no dues from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 will be paid to any employee or pensioner,” he said.

Speaking further, the

Congress leader said: “With this unjustified deduction, about Rs 37,530 crore annually will be deducted from the salary of about 113 lakh soldiers, employees and pensioners.

These 113 lakh employees include 49.26 lakh employees and 61.17 lakh, pensioners. Rs 11,000 crore will be deducted from 15 lakh soldiers and about 26 lakh military pensioners.”

Surjewala said that the Modi government is cutting the income of soldiers, government employees, pensioners and middle class rather than cutting their “useless and unnecessary” expenses. Govt has not dismissed Central Vista Project worth Rs 20,000 crore, he added. —ANI

NBF strongly condemns attack on Arnab New Delhi: The News Broadcasters Federation, is concerned and shocked on the recent attempt to attack Arnab Goswami, Managing Director and Editor-inChief of Republic TV, and his wife, by a section a particular political party in Mumbai, while they were driving back home from work.

The NBF notes that it is deplorable to know that the alleged political party, which claims to stand for Freedom of Expression, has resorted to personal attacks, including filing of FIRs in various states across the country, against Arnab Goswami, for performing his professional duty as a journalist.

Journalists are professionals and reflect the views and sentiments of the larger people. Instead of engaging in a democratic debate, such incidents

‘Deliver free cylinders to PMUY assignees, fast’

Dharmendra Pradhan held a vc with District Nodal Officers.

New Delhi: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called upon all the stakeholders in the LPG cylinder supply chain to work diligently and in a systematic manner to speedily increase the delivery of free refills to PMUY beneficiaries.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan

MAKING A REMARK

package, over 80 million PMUY beneficiaries are eligible to get three free cylinders over the next three months, read a statement. He held a vc with District Nodal Officers of Oil Marketing Companies across the country on Thursday.

Pradhan called upon the DNOs to adopt the best practices to enhance efforts. —ANI

EDITORS GUILD CRITICISES ASSAULT

I am delighted to hear that the Supreme Court has given me protection from arrest. I am deeply grateful to the SC for also upholding my constitutional right to report and broadcast and for defending my freedom of expression and my freedom as a journalist.

—Arnab Goswami, President , NBF of harrasement and attempt to physically attack the individual is shocking and highly condemnable.

“The News Broadcasters Federation strongly condemns the attempt to attack onArnab and his wife, while he was performing his professional duty,” said R Jai Krishna, Secy-Gen, NBF. “The attack on Arnab Goswami, Editor-inChief and Managing

06

POWER Gallery REVIEW OF 1989 BATCH IPS SOON

Review of 1989 batch IPS officers for empanelment to the rank of ADG in the Government of India is expected to take place soon. A couple of IPS officers are to be cleared.

FIELD MARSHAL IN IAS AND IPS?

Field Marshal means who doesn’t retire. In IAS, it is said 1964 batch IAS officer N K Singh and in IPS, 1975 batch officer Vijay Kumar is Field Marshal. Presently NK Singh is Chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, while Vijay Kumar is senior security adviser in Home Ministry.

WHO LOOKS AFTER ACC IN PMO?

In power corridors, it is said that Joint Secretary in the PMO, V Sheshadri is looking after the ACC cases. He is a 1999 batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

SANDHYA RANI PROMOTED AS MEMBER, POSTAL SERVICES BOARD

Sandhya Rani, CPMG, Telangana circle, has been promoted as Member (Banking and DBT), Postal Services Board. She is a 1987 batch officer of Indian Postal Service.

PRANNOY SHARMA IS ALSO SECRETARY, POSTAL SERVICE BOARD

Prannoy Sharma, DDG (IR&GB), Postal Directorate, has been assigned an additional charge of Secretary, Postal Services Board until further orders.

He is a 1998 batch officer of Indian Postal Service.

THREE IAS OFFICERS OF MAHARASHTRA EMPANELLED AS SECRETARY IN GOI

Director of Republic TV, will not be taken lightly. We stand by Arnab and will do whatever required in this fight. Attack on media will not be tolerated,” said Sanjive Narain, Founder, Prag News (Assam) “Sorry to know about this (incident). The Government should provide sufficient personal security,” to prevent any future instances, said Anand Sankesh-

war, Managing Director of Digvijay News (Karnataka).

“It is very shocking,” said Sreekantan Nair, MD, Twentyfour News. “We strongly protest against the incident, and request the police to take immediate action to arrest the culprits.”

“We at Itv network condemn this cowardly act of violence against Arnab goswami and his family in today’s india

this is unacceptable and must be condemned by all,” said Kartikeya Sharma, Promoter, ITV Network.

“It’s disgrace for someone to attack on Arnab & his wife. Such a cowardly act is deeply condemnable and shouldn’t be taken so easily. This is the price a journalist gets for raising Relevant questions it’s a shame,” said Shankar Bala, CEO, Fourth Dimension.

42 CRPF officers via e-passing out parade

Transfer probe to NIA: Plea in HC

New Delhi: In a first, the CRPF inducted 42 Directly Appointed Gazetted Officers (DAGOs) into its rank through ePassing out Parade (PoP) in view of the social distancing norms to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The 51st batch of the DAGOs presented the PoP at the Central Reserve Police Force CRPF) academy in Gurugram. —ANI

Mumbai: A petition was filed in Bombay High Court on Friday seeking to transfer the investigation into the Palghar incident, in which two Sadhus and their driver were killed by an angry mob, to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The petition, filed by Mumbai-based lawyer Ghanshyam Upadhyay, also sought directions to

PALGHAR MOB LYNCHING the Central government and Palghar SP to submit a report to the NIA with a view to enabling the agency to make a decision about taking over the investigation.

“The investigation of the case so transferred by this court to the Respondent Number 4 (NIA) be monitored by this court and the same is directed to be carried out within some time-

bound manner and the Respondent No 4 be further directed to submit their periodical reports to this court,” the petition said.

The matter is extremely serious in nature and also has farreaching consequences since powerful persons seem to be involved and appear to be kingpins of the criminal conspiracy, plea said. —ANI

Punjab’s youngest sarpanch interacts with PM, gets praise Pathankot: Punjab's youngest sarpanch Pallavi Thakur was surprised when she received a phone call from the PMO informing her that Narendra Modi would talk to her in the

next half an hour. “It was really a surprise for me,” said the 21-yearold, who was one of the many members of the panchayati raj system Modi spoke to on Panchayati Raj Diwas.

Thakur was elected as the head of Hara village in Pathankot district's Dhar block when she was 19 years old. The PM and the sarpanch spoke about the different measures being

taken at the village in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak and on the use of fertilizers and urea. PM appreciated Thakur for “properly” taking care of villagers in difficult times.

have down to a four-day doubling rate. If we can slow down the doubling rate to eight days, our cases will be only 10,000

by May 15 instead of 50,000. Similarly, the cases will be just 50,000

by May 31 instead of the estimated eight lakh,” he had said in the morning bulletin.

He had even sounded hopeful. “If we can achieve a 10-day doubling rate, we will see only 7,000 cases by May 15 and 20-25,000 cases by the end of May. While this is very difficult to

achieve, we are confident we can do it if we have the full cooperation of the people.” As of Friday, Ahmedabad had reported 1,821 cases and 83 deaths.

“proved to be very timely and beneficial”, as shown by the change in the growth trajectory of India’s COVID-19 cases.

“The curve has begun to flatten. Had we not taken the decision of clamping the nationwide lockdown, we would have had around 1 lakh COVID-19 cases by now, as per a reasonable estimate. Now, the outbreak is under control,” Empowered Group One chairman said. Officials, said these projections are based on growth pattern at a particular time.

PM Modi...

Notwithstanding the limited resources at its disposal, India has taken the challenge proactively and showed its resolve to move forward with new energy and new ways, he said.

The prime minister was interacting with gram panchayat heads and members to mark Panchayati Raj Divas on Friday. The programme was scheduled to be held in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh but was held by a video bridge following the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Three 1988 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officers have been empanelled as Secretary in Government of India. They are: Apurva Chandra, Arvind Singh and Sanjay A Chahande.

EMPANELLED 2000 BATCH IRTS OFFICERS STILL AWAITING PROMOTIONS

The 2000 batch IRTS officers who were empanelled under Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) in the Railways are still awaiting their due promotions.

SN GUPTA APPOINTED CFO OF JAMMU & KASHMIR BANK

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has appointed Satya Narayan Gupta as Chief Financial Officer of the Bank.

JUSTICE DIPANKAR DATTA APPOINTED CJ OF BOMBAY HC

Justice Dipankar Datta, Judge of the Calcutta High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

JUSTICE BISWANATH SOMADDER APPOINTED CJ OF MEGHALAYA HC

Justice Biswanath Somadder, Judge of the Allahabad High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

SAVANUR VISHWAJITH SHETTY APPOINTED ADDL JUDGE OF KARNATAKA HC

Savanur Vishwajith Shetty has been appointed as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court, for a period of two years with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

VIJAY SHARMA BEING POSTED IN NFR

Vijay Sharma, on his return from deputation to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, will be posted in Northeast Frontier Railway. He is an IRAS officer.

RAKESH RANJAN SELECTED FOR DEPUTATION TO RCIL

Rakesh Ranjan presently posted as CCE in East Central Railway has been selected for deputation to RCIL as General Manager (Tech.), Bangalore for a period of three years. He is an IRSSE officer of 1998 batch.

FROM PG 1 Commissioner Nehra... in Ahmedabad is four days, which means that cases double every four days. If this rate continues, we will have 50,000 cases

by May 15 and around 8 lakh by May 31,” Nehra had said in the video, streamed on live videos on social media platforms around 12.30 pm.

He went on to say, “Our target is to bring down this rate to eight days. This will be a very difficult task because very few countries have

achieved it. If this happens, we will have 10,000 cases by May 15 and around 50,000

by May 31. The US and Europe currently have a four-day doubling rate, and only South Korea has achieved the eightday rate.” He had pointed out that the civic body was working hard to bring down the rate of doubling.

“On April 17, the city had 600 cases and, on April 20, the figure was 1,200. This means the cases were doubling over a three-day period.

Our efforts first brought

Lockdown contained...

“There were some disturbances in between and we went back a little. But from April 6, the doubling time started improving,” he said.

Paul also said the big decision of imposing the nationwide lockdown taken by the prime minister has

Applauding people for observing lockdown rules, he said it is because of them, the entire world today is talking about how India has responded to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“COVID-19 is a huge crisis for the world but people of India have shown grit in this fight.

We are fighting this and we are moving ahead with new ideas to tackle the virus,” Modi, who used a ‘gamcha’ as face mask, said.

Heads and members of gram panchayats from across the country

shared their experiences in handling the crisis and conveyed to the prime minister that people are religiously following the lockdown.

During the interaction, a gram panchyat member of Jammu and Kashmir said amid this crisis respect and suspect for the people should go hand in hand to ensure that spread of the virus is checked.

He also launched Swamitva Scheme, which provides for an integrated property validation solution for rural India. —Agencies

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experience is described in Dohas 120 and 121.” The concerned post goes on to quote the relevant portions.

MAHENDRA SINGH

DG Income Tax Investigation, Rajasthan

T

he Covid-19 pandemic has engulfed our attention these days.

Social media is, as usual, active on this topic also.

Many posts, dealing with the claim that great sages and preceptors foresaw the prevalent pandemic, are going viral. One of them caught my attention. It goes something like this – “Are some stanzas of the epic, Ramayan, coming true today? Our current

“Sab kai ninda je jad karhin, te chamgadur hoi avatarhin.

Kam bat kaf lobh apara, krodh pitta nit chhati jara.

Ek byadhi bas nar marhin, ei asadh bahu byadhi.

Ehi bidhi sakal jeev jag rogi, sok harash bhay prit biyogi.

Ram kripa nasai sab roga, jaun eh bhanti banay sanjoga”

Covid-19 pandemic has engulfed our attention these days. Social media is, as usual, active on this topic also. Many posts, dealing with the claim that great sages and preceptors foresaw the prevalent pandemic, are going viral

DID GREAT SAGES AND PRECEPTORS FORESEE THE PANDEMIC? ‘REMEMBER GOD, CHARITY AND LIVE IN SAMADHI’

A

n opinion based on distorted facts garnering a viral following may appear surprising.

But that is the new normal for our world closely connected through the social media platforms.

‘Post Truth’, as a term, came up in the context of the Trump Election and the Brexit Vote. Oxford Dictionary in 2016 accept-

The viral post explains, “when condemnation increases in the world and sins multiply, then bats will be born on the earth. Disease related to them will spread in all directions.

People will die because of this disease, and there is just one panacea – remember God, charity and live in Samadhi, or under lockdown.”

07

ed it as the word of the year. However, the Cambridge Dictionary provides an apt meaning - relating to a situation in which people are more likely to accept an argument based on their emotions and beliefs rather than one based on facts.

The Manas is a gem of devotional poetry in the vernacular language that

made it accessible to the common man. It has many layers of deep philosophical meaning embedded in its text for the seeker to try to fathom.

Sadly, an attempt is being made to use it, as a drunk would use a lamp post – for support rather than illumination. We often end up finding what we seek.

FEAR OF INFECTION AND DEATH UNLEASHED BY COVID-19

T

he entire Manas is composed as a set of three dialogues of which one is between Kakbhushundi (so called because Rishi Bhushundi was in the avatar of a crow at that time), and Garuda, the King of the Birds. In Uttarkhand, or the epilogue to the Manas, Garuda puts seven questions before Kakbhushundi to clarify his own doubts and, perhaps, to test the knowledge of Kakbhushundi.

Dohas 120 and 121 of Uttarkand, and the related Chaupais, together form a part of these seven questions and the explanations for them given by Kakbhushundi. In media reports, there is often a complaint by the newsmakers that their words have been quoted out of context. Tulsidas might have legitimately expressed the same annoyance, if he was still around.

Questions 6 and 7 were - what is the greatest sin, and what are the diseases of the mind? Rebirth as a

bat comes in the context of committing heinous sins and its consequences on the nature of the next birth. Kakbhushundi explains that those who criticise Shiv or the Guru are condemned to a rebirth as frogs, while denouncers of Brahmins will be reborn as crows. People who arrogantly talk ill of God and the Vedas would go to hell, and rebirth as an owl, the fate of the critics of saints. As a part of that discourse, rebirth as bats is mentioned as the punishment for those who condemn everyone. To say that Tulsidas predicted that bats would descend on the earth to terrorise all human beings with disease related to them would be stretching the meaning of these verses composed

by Tulsidas beyond recognition.

Kakbhushundi did expound on the nature and types of diseases of the mind (Manas Rog), but had no occasion to speak of physical ailments akin to that caused by the coro-

navirus. The principle advocated was that desire or lust (Moh) is the root cause of all mental illnesses. Infatuation, limitless greed, anger, jealousy, wickedness and other such sentiments, with very few aware of the entire list, are the underlying cause of all physical ailments. Just one disease is sufficient to kill anybody, and there are so many around. When all living beings suffer from mental ailments, how can peace (Samadhi) be attained? Discipline, Religion (Dharma), ethical conduct, dedication (Tap), knowledge, rituals (Yagya), charity and many similar palliatives may be tried. But none of them cure mental disease. The blessings of Ram can alone destroy all ailments.

That is the gist of the relevant passages from the Ramcharitmanas. Trying to link them to our current pandemic is unreasonable, as some experts on the Manas have already declared.

OPINION BASED ON DISTORTED FACTS

A

n opinion based on distorted facts garnering a viral following may appear surprising.

But that is the new normal for our world closely connected through the social media platforms.

‘Post Truth’, as a term, came up in the context of the Trump Election and the Brexit Vote. Oxford Dictionary in 2016 accepted it as the word of the year. However, the Cambridge Dictionary provides an apt meaning - relating to a situation in which people are more likely to accept an argument based on their emotions and beliefs rather than one based on facts.

The Manas is a gem of devotional poetry in the vernacular language that made it accessible to the common man. It has many layers of deep philosophical meaning embedded in its text for the seeker to try to fathom. Sadly, an attempt is being made to use it, as a drunk would use a lamp post – for support rather than illumination. We often end up finding what we seek.

DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

It is important to stay connected with your family and loved ones in these times. Reach out to those whom you haven’t talked to or seen in years. Connect, the distance is physical, it doesn’t have to be emotional.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

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08

NPG Bauxite industry demands urgent relief!

Export is the only option for NPG Bauxite as it has no domestic market, for competitive pricing waive off 15% Export Duty!

First India News Ahmedabad: The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) has requested the Finance Minister to bail the industry out of the fix it is in which has been accentuated by the ongoing lockdown restrictions. In a representation by FIMI to FM Nirmala Sitaraman it has asked to immediately waive off the export duty levied on the non plant grade (NPG) Bauxite which typically produced in states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The representation stated that the bauxite de-

posits occurring In India’s west coast (low in alumina content 3845 per cent and high in silica content 7 per cent) are technically not suitable an d economically unviable for the Indian refiners/smelters. It thus requested that as export of this mineral is the only alternative, export duty should be removed to enable the mineral to be priced competitively.

Currently the Bauxite, used by domestic refiners and smelters, attracts an export duty of 15% irrespective of it being high grade or low grade or usable by domestic industry or

Bauxite, used by domestic refiners and smelters, attracts an export duty of 15% irrespective of it being high grade or low grade or usable by domestic industry or not. Considering that low-grade bauxite (non-plant grade bauxite) is unsuitable and uneconomical for the consumption of the domestic aluminium industry and with a view to have optimum utilization of our low-grade mineral resources.

—RK Sharma, Secretary General, Federation Of Mineral Industries

—FILE PHOTO

not. “Considering that low-grade bauxite (non-plant grade bauxite) is unsuitable and uneconomical for the consumption of the domestic aluminium industry and with

a view to have optimum utilization of our low-grade mineral resources, we request that the export duty imposed at 15 per cent on exports of bauxite may kindly be

withdrawn completely.” FIMI Secretary General R K Sharma said in his letter to the finance minister.

India is gifted with about 3,896 million tonnes of Bauxite re-

Ayush dept starts Bank Employees plea for shift or branch closure treatment for Covid-19 patients First India News

—FILE PHOTO

First India News Gandhinagar: AYUSH department of the state govt has started treating the asymptomatic Covid-19 patients at Covid Care Centre in Samras hostel of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad. Immunity is the key word in the coronavirus infection and that is what the Ayurvedic treatment focuses on. According to Director of Ayush department, Vaidya Bhavna Patel, Ayurvedic treatment has given good results in prevention of Covid19 through increase of immunity.

Increase in immunity of Covid19 positive patients who are asymptomatic is equally necessary.

Ayurvedic method treatment of asymptomatic positive pa-

tients of Covid 19 has been started from Friday. The team who has taken the initiative forward consists of District Ayurvedic Officer Vaiya Hemant Joshi with a team of two medical of ficers(Ayurved) and five Post Graduate scholars.

It is noteworthy that Principal Secretary (Health) Dr. Jayanti Ravi had facilitated Ayurvedic and Homeopathic treatment to more than 6,000 asymptomatic quarantined persons earlier across the State. When tests were run on them, only 11 tested positive for Covid 19.

These 11 cases had taken only 3-day Ayurvedic treatment instead of full 7-day course. Generally, out of total tests 3-10% suspects are found Covid19 positive.

Ahmedabad: Anticipating a big rush once lockdown is lifted and also considering the rising number of corona positive cases in various clusters the Maha Gujarat Bank Employees Association (MGBEA) have asked to temporarily close branches located in the red zones. In a representation to the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) the employees health concerns have been

—FILE PHOTO

put forth citing present scenario.

Citing that five bank employees in Gujarat have tested positive for coronavirus infection and expressing concerns over fear of contamination

to bank employees, the representation states “60% of the cases in Ahmedabad are spread within 8.7 square Km area and in these areas, social distancing is a challenge.

Thus, we seek to close bank branches situated in these areas temporarily. In fact, bank branches of red zone area should be closed or relocated to other area branches within a 5 km vicinity, banks can function alternatively.”

sources and it was placed 6th in the global rank in 2015. All of India’s alumina and aluminum producers have their own captive mines or meet their requirement from mines located in eastern and central India, which contain plant grade bauxite. So mines in west coast, particularly in

Ahmedabad: Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) has assured the country of no shortfall to meet the domestic demand of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Viranchi Shah, Chairman, IDMA Gujarat chapter said, “Our current production capacity of HCQ is 35 to 40 crore tablets a month. This is 10 times more than our requirement. There is no shortage of HCQ in India. India holds almost 70% of global

capacity of manufacturing HCQ.” The tablet has traditionally been used to treat diseases like Malaria and certain Arthritis anc

the consumption during last year was 2.4 crore tablets against the mammoth production capacity.

With Covid-19 threatening the world, new usage of the drug is being experimented globally amid mixed reports on results. “India is one of the leading manufacturers in pharmaceuticals.

We export medicines to almost every country globally. Even during the lockdown with support of the Modi-government, we have been able to maintain the manufacturing and supply of

Malaysia and Guinea.

Indian Bauxite exports which peaked to 8.91 million tonnes in the year 2015-16, have sharply declined to a meager .50 million tonne during the year 2019-20 (April-January). FIMI attributes the export duty to be the main reason for the sharp downfall.

READY AND WAITING!

Circles and movement routes are marked at ticket windows and railway platform for those standing in queue at Ahmedabad railway station ahead of resumption of passenger train operations post lockdown period

10 cr Hydroxychloroquine tablets reserved for nation!

First India News

the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra with low grade bauxite production depend only on exports. China was the prime market for exports but according to FIMI the export duty has made Indian Bauxite noncompetitive and the market has been captured by producers in Indonesia,

the medicines. We are also in the position to cater to the international demands of medicines,” informed Viranchi Shah.

Shah pointed out at the problems faced by the manufacturers in the initial phase of the lockdown related to the travel of their company employees but the govt resolved them swiftly. He also mentioned limitation of workers but didn’t consider it a major crisis as the industry knew to concentrate of essential medicines as a priority.

Doc ‘in dock’ for flouting norms First India News Vadodara: Perhaps the police is left with no option but to register cases against qualified persons when they don’t follow much publicized social distancing norms.

Police booked a homeopathic doctor Shahidabanu Shekh when she was found to have made 8 women patients sit next to each other in her Nisar Manzil apartment clinic in wadi area.

Sheikh has been booked under IPC Section 188 and under sections of the Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Diseases Act. The govt

—FILE PHOTO

has been appealing through mass media to maintain social distancing and if doctors don’t follow it then it would become impossible to contain the virus, Although the doctor managed to flee from the spot when the police reached her clinic but she is being looked out.

REVIEW BY CENTRE

IMCT, NDMA teams set to monitor Covid-19 hotspots in Gujarat First India News Ahmedabad: Ineterministerial teams (IMCT) constituting of public health specialists and officers of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will visit state hotspots Ahmedabad and Surat to monitor the Covid-19 situation in the state. The Union Home Ministry has sent four new inter-ministerial teams to monitor the COVID-19 situation

in Gujarat, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, officials said on Friday.

Earlier the ministry had sent the six previous teams to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal to review the implementation of the lockdown measures after the assessment of ground situation in identified select districts. These teams, headed by Additional Secretarylevel officers, will

Policemen patrol a street during lockdown to control the spread of the new coronavirus in Ahmedabad.

visit Ahmedabad and Surat (in Gujarat), Hyderabad in Telangana, Tamil Nadu

state capital Chennai, Home Ministry Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said. The

team is to leverage the state government for management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As against politically floated myth the teams are deputed under the authority conferred on the Central government under Section 35 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 which states that “the central government shall take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of Disaster Management”.

Two of these teams have been sent to Bengal -- one to Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, East Medinipur; and the other to Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The teams sent to Bengal had kicked up a controversy, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying it was against the spirit of federalism since the state government had not been consulted

before such a move.

The teams which were sent earlier have already shared its insights with the respective state govts beneffiting them immensely. It told Indore authorities that out of its 17 containment zones 20 were critical. The state government has introduced ‘saudapatras’ to decongest ‘mandis’ which are proving effective, she said, citing inputs from the team.

Srivastava said the IMCT in Mumbai has suggested installing portable toilets in Dharavi, a densely-populated slum area of the city which has reported over 200 coronavirus cases, to augment the number of community toilets. IMCT had also suggested quarantining 2000-3000 people apart from ramping the testing facilities to strengthen the fight against Covid-19 in Maharashtra.

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Bae Worth Watching!

A walk down memory lane for ‘Baywatch’, with flashbacks of TV series and Hollywood Film

CITY FIRST

T

he year 2020 was awaited for many reasons and the Baywatch documentary slotted for an April 2020 release, was definitely one of them.

With the Worldwide lockdown at present, there is no update on the release of the documentary of this most-watched TV show during its tenure from 1989-2001.

Filmmakers Matthew Felker and Brian Corso lined up some of the show’s top-billed cast members to take a walk down memory lane for Baywatch and talk about their time on the show and the hours they spent in skimpy red suits. But beyond the iconic beachwear, the Documentary will take a deeper dive into the cultural impact of the long-running syndicated show. Further, it will investigate the cast, their participation, anecdotes from filming, and where they are now.

Baywatch, the American

drama television series is about the Los Angeles County lifeguards as well as Hawaii Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, and Hawaii, starring David Hasselhoff. The show led to a spin-off, Baywatch Nights, and three directto-video films: Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise, Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay, and Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.

We have a special connection to Baywatch as our very own Priyanka Chopra made a glam Hollywood movie debut as vampy Victoria Leeds in Baywatch, the R-rated movie remake of the campy TV series. The former Miss World rocks power outfits and 5-inch Louboutins as an evil real-estate developer able to look meddling lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (6-foot-5 Dwayne Johnson in the role made famous by David Hasselhoff) dead in the eye.

“Being a villain is awesome.

It’s so good to be bad,” says

Chopra. She surprised herself by gleefully unleashing her “inner Victoria” each morning on the set. “It’s like, why do I like being evil so much? Why do I have

so much fun torturing people?”

It’s this kind of unbridled baddie joy that compelled director Seth Gordon to cast Chopra after a Skype call to discuss a part for her as a lifeguard. Gordon saw her dark side and immediately changed the film’s planned male baddie from Victor to Victoria while rejiggering the shooting schedule to accommodate Chopra’s Quantico work. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

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THE DRESSMAKER I

occasionally delightful in its nuttiness. This ultimately exhausting tilt-a-whirl of a revenge tale set in 1951 that takes place in the mythical dusty Down Under hamlet of Dungatar embraces all manner of influences— spaghetti Westerns, a Tim Burton-esque aesthetic, a warped world view that rivals John Waters, a small mob of morally corrupt Dickensian-style eccentrics and a story whose wild tonal shifts range from Tex Avery cartoony to Douglas Sirk melodramatic.

The lady above is one Myrtle “Tilly” Dunnage (Kate Winslet, providing a captivating harbor in this storm of kookiness), who has returned to the community that once banished her as a child. She is ostensibly there to care for her dotty crank of a mother, Mad Molly (a cantankerously cagey Judy Davis, nearly unrecognizable until her character regains her wits and pretty much steals the movie), who has been living in pungent squalor. But Tilly also is clearly out to right some wrongs while shedding a light on a tragic incident from the past that she can’t quite recall.

All that sounds quite

FA CE OF TH ED AY

n the dark of night, a striking figure decked out like a film-noir femme fatale materializes along a road side, toting leather luggage and a Singer sewing machine. She is clearly dressed to impress with her crimson lipstick, white gloves, cocked-justso chapeau, wavy blonde locks and a black-and-white ensemble that conforms to her womanly shape as if it were her birthday suit.

She takes a slow drag on her cigarette and issues this statement of intent that is more of a warning than greeting: “I’m back, you bastards!”

If that weren’t enough, a car stops and a uniformed constable gets out. He briefly stares before inquiring, “Is that, uh … Dior?”

It’s quite an entrance in quite a movie. However, when it comes to “The Dressmaker,” nothing is ever enough. And that is its main problem.

Another woman who can rightfully proclaim, “I’m back,” is Australian director and screenwriter Jocelyn Moorhouse. She made a splash in the ‘90s with “Proof,” “How to Make an American Quilt” and “A Thousand Acres,” before taking time off to raise her family.

Now, 18 years later, she has adapted a book by Rosalie Ham with a script co-written by hubby P.J. Hogan of “Muriel’s Wedding” fame that is positively exploding with a surfeit of pent-up creative energy that unfortunately doesn’t know when to stop.

Not that “The Dressmaker” is ever dull and is even more than

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

logical, until Tilly, who learned how to make haute-couture designs while in Paris, hauls out her sewing machine and starts a business doing fashion makeovers for Dungatar’s frumpy female citizenry. This budding Edith Head also has an unusual way of attracting her first customers: She disrupts a rugby match by showing up in a curveclinging scarlet gown before changing into an even more striking Rita Hayworth-inspired black dress—eventually causing the opposing team to lose by simply stripping off its matching jacket. It’s as if “Project Runway” took over the Super Bowl.

In the midst of all this, we are rushed through introductions to a raft of quirky characters.

Some make an instant impression, such as Hugo Weaving’s slyly campy rendition of a crossdressing police sergeant who can’t help but hungrily caress Tilly’s luxurious fabrics with his eyes (shades of his drag queen in “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”).

Then there is Liam Hemsworth as hunky farmer Teddy, who quite fancies the reluctant Tilly.

Until now, I have primarily thought of this actor as Chris Hemsworth’s younger, less talented but equally strapping brother. But working in his native Australia seems to have unleashed a very fetching devil-may-care nonchalance that casts quite a masculine spell.

Also, please note that although they are meant to be contemporaries, Winslet’s a luscious 40 years old while Hemsworth is 26—and it doesn’t make a whit of difference. Gender parity at its finest.

Naturally, evil also lurks in Dungatar and it takes several forms, including a hunchback town pharmacist and wife

10

abuser who greets Tilly by hissing, “Your mother’s a slut and you’re a bastard,” the rumormongering female schoolteacher whose lies caused Tilly to be forced out of town and the womanizing councilman who torments his clean-freak wife. By the time a rival seamstress strolls into town slinging her own Singer, Moorhouse is clearly guilty of over-accessorizing her already jam-packed fable.

Still, certain individual scenes are gems and stand out like statement pieces. Davis is at her riotous best when she accompanies Tilly and Teddy on a date to see “Sunset Boulevard” at a local cinema. Molly’s repulsed reaction to the gorgon-like visage of Gloria Swanson’s aging movie queen is beyond priceless—especially when the silent-screen diva puts the moves on William Holden’s gigolo of a screenwriter.

Source: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-dressmaker-2016

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Your spouse will give you special treatment today for all your love and sincerity.

You will feel on the top of the of the world today and you will spread happiness wherever you will go. You will be mentally very relaxed on professional front as you have managed to finish your work.

You are soon moving abroad to your place of desire for permanent settlement. You usually don’t sit at peace until your work is done. You are a tough, strong person by heart but you don’t forgive people who play with your sentiments. You are a one man army.

People will not only notice your hard work but will also appreciate you for it.

You will be able to successfully negotiate. Exercises alone won’t help you, you have to careful consider what you put in your belly. Many opportunities will knock at your door.

Things are getting easy for you on academic front as you have starting exerting more than you ever have.

Love life is secure for you. All your worries will vanish once you get the promotion and hike which will happen soon. You may feel very emotional about your parents.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

A fun trip with family is on cards for some. On academic front, you will be very busy in doing your preparations that you will have no spare time for leisure. You will keep your promises as far as helping someone with money is concerned.

You will complete a project.

On professional front, you colleagues or your boss may give you a surprise party for your sincere effort in some project. Always be optimistic when it come to love.

Homemakers will spend the whole day in resetting and arranging things in the house.

You must learn to maintain good relationships on work front as you cannot be blunt with people at work.

Romance is in the air for you and you will spend some amazing time with you love today. You may think of buying a property but the only problem is the area.

You have a good family life and you are very emotional about them. You need to wait until you find a good life partner. You are good at managing your expenses and savings as much as possible. On professional front, you will come across every kind of person.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You will go out of your way to help someone with their personal problems. You will meet someone who shares same ideologies like you. You are person of strong resolve and you don’t stop until you have accomplished whats in your mind. Your family may demand your time.

You will benefit from buying or selling the property about which you have been thinking for quite some time. Look for the strengths rather than the weakness.

You are very serious about your career and you don’t tolerate any mistake in your work.

You need to not only understand what your partner wants but also make sure to deliver it. On professional front, you will meet the expectations of your boss. In financial matter, you know hat needs to be done and you tend to make no mistakes.

Doing some charity is on your mind.

You may excel in some or the other sports an there is no harm in taking it seriously for once. Some of you have really started earning well and you are professionally growing day by day. A good news is waiting for you on professional front.

You are about to achieve something.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

ASHLESHA AHLUWALIA, Influencer

AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

ETC

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AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

11

Unplanned Holiday!

A

Poster of ‘Holiday’

dah Sharma feels the best trips in life are the ones that aren’t planned.

“I truly believe that the impromptu ones without months of planning, no maps, no itinerary but with your closeknit group of friends are the ones which are the most memorable,” Adah said.

She is thrilled about her web show, ‘The Holiday’, which streams on MX Player. The show promises to take the audience through one of the most memorable bachelorette trips that Patrick, Armaan and Kabir, played

by Priyank Sharma, Aashim Gulati, and Veer Rajwant Singh, throw for their best friend and brideto-be, Mehak, played by Adah.

Talking about the show, she said: “‘The Holiday’ is all about fun and brings out the emotions of true friendship. I don’t think anyone has watched a bachelorette before where a girl goes with 3 of her best friends who happen to be boys. Now, since no one can go for a Holiday for a while, we’ll take them with us on our Holiday!”

—IANS

Content-driven

cinema!

E JOURNEY TO THE DARK! B

ver since her debut film ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ in 2015, Bhumi Pednekar has worked in films that carry a social message. The actress says she has mostly gravitated towards cinema that is meaningful and leaves an impression.

“I believe all of us have the power to make the world a better place in our own unique ways. I try and do that through my cinema and the way I lead my life,” said Bhumi.

“I have mostly gravitated towards cinema that is meaningful and leaves a message. From ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ (against body shaming) to ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ (women’s hygiene) to ‘Saand Ki Aankh’ (women empowerment), I have deeply connected with these films. I would like my films to leave a positive message on society and thankfully my films have done so effectively in their own way,” she added.

Bhumi says she wants to walk the talk when it comes to leading a conscious way of life. The actress pledges to work hard towards climate conservation as it is the need of the hour.

—IANS

Still from the video

Varun Dhawan

Celebration amid

LOCKDOWN!

V

arun Dhawan rang in his 33rd birthday amid lockdown with his near and dear ones at home. As the actor is spending quality time with family during home quarantine, he received a surprise birthday gift from them at midnight.

He took to Instagram Stories where he shared a photograph of his modest celebration at home. The actor shared a picture of a heart-shaped chocolate cake. He then shared another image of himself posing with his cake. Varun Dhawan also gave a surprise to his fans on his birthday by coming LIVE on his Instagram in order to celebrate his special day with his fans. In other news, Varun has provided free meals for doctors and healthcare staff who are leading the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

—Agency

ollywood actor-producer Anushka Sharma’s first web production, an Amazon Original series, ‘Paatal Lok’, will launch on May 15. Amazon Prime Video on Friday unveiled the logo and the release date of the series produced by Anushka’s Clean Slate Films.

The series features actors Neeraj Kabi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Gul Panag, Swastika Mukherjee and Abhishek Bannerjee.

It is based on a crime thriller book written by Sudip Sharma, who previously worked on ‘Udta Punjab’ and Anushka’s first production ‘NH10’.

As per the press release issued by the makers, the series explores the ‘dark bylanes of immorality’. Inspired by the ancient realms of Swargalok (heaven), Dharti Lok (earth), and Paatal Lok (netherworld), the neo-noir series delves into the interplay within the four estates of democracy.

—Agency

Anushka Sharma

MISSING MOM!

K Kajol

ajol is badly missing her mother, veteran actress Tanuja, amid the coronavirus lockdown. Taking to her Instagram, Kajol posted a picture in which she is seen sharing smiles with her mother.

“Friday...miss my mom.

It’s all our 45 day quarantine anniversary,” Kajol captioned the image.

Many fans left heart emojis on the motherdaughter’s picture. On

... her Instagram post

the work front, Kajol will be seen making her digital debut with Netflix’s film ‘Tribhanga’, which is directed by Renuka Shahane. It is drama set in Mumbai, weaving a complex tale that goes back and forth through three generations of the same family, from the late 1980s to modern-day. Actors Mithila Palkar, Tanvi Azmi and Kunaal Roy Kapoor will also be seen in pivotal roles.

—IANS Bhumi Pednekar

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AHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

DALGONA KARA NA?

I am a coffee lover. I tried the Dalgona Coffee a month back and totally loved it! Some people have started making fun of this coffee but what they don’t know is that ‘Dalgona’ is a name derived from a Korean sugar-sweet, due to its resemblance in taste and appearance.

CITY FIRST JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

I

f you’ve scrolled through Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook lately, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a video of someone whipping together sugar, instant coffee, and boiling water.

This concoction is spooned over iced milk to create According to the foamy drink known Google Trends, as Dalgona Coffee. It’s not hard to see the ‘Dalgona Coffee’ visual appeal: the has become the most ingredients are mixed together to searched type of create a whole new coffee worldwide, and foamy, silky, pillowy substance, the kind City First talks to its of transformation readers about their that always does well Dalgonic on social media.

Like so many social experiment! media food trends, it’s about what can we share with our networks, what can we say we have done, and experienced - even while stuck at home. And that carries a certain amount of social capital, especially when other kinds of foodie Instagramming (like photographing beautifully displayed cafe foods) is off the menu. It might not be your cup of tea, but having these experiences recorded on your social media feeds is very powerful for some people. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

—RAHIL MANSURI

Dalgona coffee is basically whipped coffee, a trend that has taken over most social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook. Instant coffee seems best for whipping it to a creamy, fluffy cloud of coffee, which is then dolloped onto milk. I personally liked this cuppa of coffee goodness.

—GAURI SHARMA

Dalgona Coffee is the latest viral trend on the internet right now— I tried it out, and really it’s a soothing coffee heaven, refreshing and relaxing in these days of quarantine. It’s always better to keep yourself occupied during this pandemic, and such trends just add to the fun.

—SWATI JANGID

LIFE IN

Rajasthan: Considering the current situation of COVID-19, Bank of Baroda has started a Mobile ATM Van Service, which will serve at the doorstep of the people of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar city. Bank’s Mobile ATM Van was inaugurated in presence of Collector and District Magistrate, KK Nirala, General Manager and Zonal Head BOB, Archana Pandey, along with many other dignitaries. This Van will move from time to time in Ahmedabad City and Gandhinagar cantonment areas and will provide services like cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, mini statement of account, PIN number change, mobile banking registration, card to card transfer, NEFT Remittance, cheque book request, aadhar seeding, green PIN facility etc.

Rajasthan: Coronavirus pandemic will change the PR and Media Management sector as we know it. The sector is signalling a ‘new normal’ that is likely to continue even after the pandemic passes.

PR will be reshaped through new PR trends, tools and technology. The PR landscape will merge the traditional PR tools like press releases and press conferences to include newer forms of communication like social media, blogging, digital PR kits, and e-brochures among others. This was informed by the Jaipur- based senior PR practitioner, Jagdeep Singh.

He was a guest speaker at a video conferencing session organised by Business Network International (BNI) Royals Jaipur North chapter on Friday.

Ahmedabad; The health check-ups of essential commodities traders like vegetable hawkers, medical stores, grocery stores, milk parlours being conducted in Mahisagar district at an Urban Health Centre (UHC) in Lunawada Nagar.

Rajasthan: Serendipity Arts Festival is organising a six-day online multi-disciplinary crosssection of arts, ‘SAF 2020 x You’, from 25 to 30 April. SAF is one of the largest multidisciplinary art initiatives in the South Asian region. It spans the visual, performing and culinary arts, whilst exploring genres with film, live arts, literature and fashion.

Ahmedabad: During the lockdown, West Kutch Bhuj Police Band organized musical awareness programmes at Sreejinagar, Sanskarnagar, Somaiyanagar and Madhapar in the city of Bhuj.

Rajasthan: Prakash and Swati Jangid from Jodhpur celebrated their 2nd Wedding Anniversary on 24 April, Friday. We wish them all the best!

—RADHIKA AGARWAL

Even though Dalgona coffee is quite trendy these days, it takes a lot of time and effort. It seems inclined more towards aesthetics than practicality. I think I would prefer a hot brew from freshly ground coffee beans, over an animated cup of Dalgona.

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

Rajasthan: During the ongoing online musical series ‘Sumiran’, initiated by Rajasthan Forum, in association with Shree Cement and Raghu Sinha Mala Mathur Charity Trust amid the lockdown, Gangani Brothers from the Jaipur Gharana mesmerized the online viewers with their performance on Thursday. During the eighth session, Pt. Mohit and Pt. Nitin Gangani played the instrument Table, wherein Pt. Sangeet Gangani presented Kathak dance on the beats.

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Ahmedabad: Raths are being cleaned at the Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad’s Walled City area, ahead of Rath Pujan ceremony on Akshaya Tritiya. These raths are used in the city’s annual Rath Yatra.

Rajasthan: The name of the young app developer Rahil Mohammad from Alwar has been recorded in the India Book of Records. Rahil shared that he had uploaded the apps on the official website of India Book of Records on 13 January, and on 14 February, Rahil’s apps were registered in the India Book of Records.

More than 90 thousand students have downloaded the class 12th chemistry app created by Rahil and 40 thousand students have prepared their board exam by staying active on Rahil’s apps.

Lockdown!

Rajasthan-based actors Kapilakshi Malhotra and Anurag Vyas share their life during the lockdown

KIRTI CHAUHAN

kirti.chauhan@firstindia.co.in

A

s the glamour industry faced shutdown due to Coronavirus pandemic, the lockdown has made celebrities sit at home and enjoy the time with their families.

Some of them are even busy in digging out their hidden talents, be it cooking or painting. City First got in touch with two actors from Rajasthan, Kapilakshi Malhotra and Anurag Anurag Vyas Vyas, who are working tirelessly to earn name and fame in the glamour ing to find my new looks for the upindustry.

Jaipur-based Kapilakshi, who made coming projects.”

Anurag, who is currently playing her Tollywood debut this year with the film ‘Prema Pipasi’, is currently the character of ‘Gaurav’ in the daily soap ‘Dil Yeh Ziddi Hai’, decided to spending her quarantine move to his home town Bikaner beperiod in Mumbai and fore the lockdown was announced. said that it’s Yoga and Taking this time as an opportuPranayam which nity, he is enjoying the lockdown keeps her motivated. with his mother and dog ‘Ace’.

Adding to her rouTalking about his current routine, she said, “I am tine, he said, “Even during the trying ‘desi gharelockdown, I do not miss my fitlu nuskhe’ for my ness regime at home, and skin and hair practice mediation as well care regime, to keep myself calm. I am as skincare is also enjoying delicacies essential and cooked by my mom possible even and imbibing some without the saof her cooking skills lon. Apart from too.” this, Youtube has Anurag, who become my cookcalls himself a ing guru and I am bookworm, said trying my hands that the books of on making various Italian, Chithe author nese, ContinenPramod Sharma tal dishes and have become an sweets during important part the lockdown.” of his lockdownOn the work life. Apart from front, Kapilakthis, he is also sparshi has a few projects ing time to watch lined up, including a something new daily, web series, Telugu and also trying his film and magazine hands-on painting. shoots. Keeping her His upcoming proworking mode alive, jects include two she added, “I am web series and working on my Teluamong them, one gu language pronunis with Director Kapilakshi Malhotra ciation and also tryShekhar B Kumar.