First India-Ahmedabad Edition-25 August 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

25°C - 28°C

ALERT AHMEDABAD l TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

8,14,284 2,36,88,377 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 22,465 DEATHS 6,93,398 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 6,614 DEATHS 3,85,352 CASES

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RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 269

INDIA

GUJARAT

58,399 31,57,717 2,910 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

KARNATAKA 4,810 DEATHS 2,77,814 CASES

DEATHS

DELHI 4,313 DEATHS 1,62,527 CASES

87,846

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 967 DEATHS 71,955 CASES

CWC REINFORCES GANDHIS’ AUTHORITY IN THE PARTY  Rahul all set to take over as Congress president in next 6 months  I don’t hold any ill will: Sonia CONG DENIES RAHUL’S COLLUDING WITH BJP REMARKS

Tripti Nath New Delhi: A day after news spread of alleged “dissensions” within the grand old party, which was seen by many as a mark of ‘opposition’ to Sonia Gandhi’s hold on the party, the Apex decision making body of the Congress party – Congress Working Committee – rolled over in favour of Sonia Gandhi, thereby once again reasserting the authority of Gandhis in the political party. The matriarch will continue as interim President, however, knowledgeable sources reveal that Rahul will take over as full time president within 6 months, specially after Bihar polls and some improvements in corona situation.

The CWC has unanimously passed a resolution requesting Sonia Gandhi to continue to lead the Indian National Congress until such time that circumstances in Corona times permit an AICC session to be convened. The CWC has also authorised Sonia to make necessary organisational changes she deems appropriate in view of the emerging challenges, party General Secretary Organisation, KC Venugopal told mediapersons on Monday evening.

Sonia Gandhi has laid to rest anxieties about disciplinary action against the 23 Congress leaders who sought a complete revival of the party. She said that Congress is a family and such issues should be raised in house. The sig-

New Delhi: The Congress denied that Rahul Gandhi had accused any party leader of “colluding with the BJP”, saying he “has not said” a word of that nature nor alluded to it.

At CWC meeting, Rahul lashed out at party leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi seeking several organisational reforms, including a collective leadership and devolution of powers to the party’s state units. Sources said, Gandhi was furious about timing of the letter and it being leaked to the media, and appeared to suggest whether these leaders were “colluding with the BJP”.

Soon after senior leader Kapil Sibal tweeted about any such insinuation, Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “Rahul hasn’t said a word of this nature nor alluded to it. Please don’t be misled by false media discourse or misinformation being spread.”

Sonia Gandhi with Rahul Gandhi. —FILE PHOTO

natories to the letter, interestingly, participated in the CWC meeting and lent their support to the CWC resolution.

After deliberations on the letter by senior Congressmen, the CWC unanimously adopted a statement which states, “The CWC, reflecting the overwhelming view and desire of the rank and file of the Congress, unanimously resolved to strengthen the hands of Smt Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi in every possible way.

The CWC makes it clear that no one will be or can be permitted to undermine or weaken the party or its leadership at this juncture.”

The suspense on speculation about Rahul taking over some day as Congress President, however continues. Replying to a question, Congress Communication Head, Randeep Surjewala said, “Members of the CWC unanimously, Pradesh Congress Committee Presidents, Leaders of the Opposi-

tion or wherever we have ruling partiesleaders there, Members of Parliament in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and more importantly millions of Congress workers, on innumerable occasions raised their voice to say that they want Rahul Gandhi to come back as President of the Indian National Congress. That is a sentiment that was also again expressed today by multiple or almost all members of the CWC but as we are all

aware, we are a democratic party. The election for the next President will be held at an AICC session, dates for which will be fixed by General Secretary, Organisation. It is the wish of everyone including myself that Rahul Gandhi should take over but I cannot predict what will happen in an AICC session.”

Asked of any disciplinary action would be taken against the senior leaders, Surjewala told mediapersons, Turn to P6

Congress leader KC Venugopal with party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala and others address a press conference in New Delhi on Monday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

RAHUL EMOTIONAL BUT LOYALTY OF AZAD & SIBAL QUESTIONED! Aditi Nagar New Delhi: Monday’s CWC meeting also brought with it a dark day for the Congress party wherein the loyalty of it’s senior leaders, be it Ghulam Nabi Azad or Kapil Sibal, was questioned by people close to the top brass in the grand old party. Allegations were raised that the leaders who shot the letter were hand in gloves with the BJP, hearing which both Sibal and Azad threw an open challenge to Rahul to prove their ‘collussion’ with the saffron party.

However, while there are such ‘actions’, there are those too who are adept in ‘damage control’ and thus the duo backtracked on their word and deleted the tweets.

But this has raised an important issue.

While the party shouts that it is democratic, party workers are confused if that is

AHMED PATEL AGAIN EMERGES AS KEY FIGURE After being low profile for quite sometime, the Congress war horse and a staunch Gandhi family loyalist Ahmed Patel again emerged as a key figure in the mainstream of Gandhis political management, when he, apparently with the consensus of Dr Manmohan Singh and Mallikarjun Khadge, moved a single line proposal in CWC to reappoint Rahul Gandhi as the next full-time party president. Ahmed Bhai’s resolution was unanimously passed by almost all Congress leaders and CMs present in the CWC meeting via VC.

so why can’t any individual put forward what they feel like on any forum.

But an even more pressing issue at hand for the top Congress leadership is the assent from the ‘reluctant bride’ Rahul Gandhi to take over as party chief. While party stalwart Ahmed

Patel has put forward a proposal to this effect, but even the proposal is under scrutiny since it is believed that it could be an eyewash for the Gandhi family too! Knowledgeable sources claim that Rahul is mentally not ready to take on the mantle Turn to P6

Unstoppable rain fury in Gujarat, 2 dead, thousands displaced At least five people swept away in flood waters, more than 300 roads damaged due to heavy rainfall across the state First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The incessant rains in Gujarat have left at least 2 people killed and swept away five others even as thousands of people were displaced and marooned at various places across the state on Monday. And

there are already warnings of more heavy rains ahead.

Morbi’s Machchu Dam was overflowing and 14 of its gates were thrown open up to 8 feet to release excess water.

The dam had received 69,552 cusec water and people have been alerted to stay away from the

Morbi-Kutch Highway submerged in water released from the Machuchu Dam. The highway was closed for traffic by local authorities.

riverbed and vacate low-lying areas.

As many as 314 roads have been damaged and these include 286 roads under the Panchayats, creating huge hardship for people especially in the rural areas.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a Red Alert for extremely heavy rains in North Gujarat and Saurashtra and Kutch regions for Tuesday.

Heavy to very heavy rain is “very likely” at isolated places in Ba-

naskantha and Patan in North Gujarat, Navsari and Valsad in South Gujarat and Kutch districts, which have been put under the Orange warning category.

A father and son were swept away near Morbi and the administration has initiated rescue operations. According to data shared by the State Emergency Operation Centre, two persons were swept away in Halvad.

The search is on for a missing 17-year old youth who was on way

to appear in the GUJCET (Gujarat Common Entrance Test) exams, along with his 45-year old father in Halvad taluka of Morbi district.

Naranbhai Becharbhai Dalwadi (45) and his son Ashwin (17) were on the way from Raysangpar village to Halvad for the GUJCET exam. Preliminary reports from Halvad Mamlatdar stated that the father-son might have been swept away in the heavy flow of water on the RaysangparHalvad route. Turn to P6

NEWS AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020

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Heavy showers at various places in the past 24 hours creates flood scare; Saurashtra, South Gujarat, Kutch drown First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Keeping with the weather forecast, the state received heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday.

Several cities and towns reported rampant waterlogging due to excessive spells of rain over the course of a single day. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) were deployed by the state government to evacuate people stuck in flood waters across the state. Further, several places of worship, schools, homes, business centres, shops, among others were reported to be flooded with water at different locations in the state. According to the weatherman, the rain has not abated yet and more rainfall is to be expected over the next few days.

78 state reservoirs record 70-100% water storage occupancy Over 206 reservoirs including the one near the Sardar Sarovar Dam have received an inflow of water from upstream areas and witnessed a significant rise in water levels due to heavy rainfall. According to reports, the Sardar Sarovar Dam has 22.19 million cubic feet (MCFT) water stored, which is 65.64% of its total storage capacity. Around 76 reservoirs in the state reported 100% storage owing to heavy rainfall. Further, 78 reservoirs recorded 70 to 100% storage and 20 reservoirs including the Sardar Sarovar clocked 50-70% water reserve.

Also, 16 other reservoirs in the state reported 2550% water storage with 15 reservoirs filled less than 25%.

RAIN LOGS OUT STATE WATER OUTFLOW IN DAMS ACROSS THE STATE AT 12 NOON ON MONDAY NAME OF DAM

WATER OUTFLOW (in cusec)

Bhadar 2 Dam

1.84 lakh cusec

HIGHEST RAINFALL RECORDED IN STATE IN PAST 24 HOURS

Kadana Dam

1.50 lakh cusec

Place

Machchu Dam

1.36 lakh cusec

Rainfall (in mm)

Ukai Dam

1.29 lakh cusec

Jodia (Jamnagar)

338

Und Dam

67,794 cusec

Kadi (Mehsana)

328

Wanakbori Dam

65,000 cusec

Tankara (Morbi)

270

Bhadar Dam

59,000 cusec

Umarpada (Surat)

256

Karjan Dam

40,907 cusec

Morbi (Morbi)

249

Machchu 1 Dam

32,768 cusec

Shetrunji Dam

13,000 cusec

The overall rainfall received by the state in past 24 hours was 853.69 mm —PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI

RAJKOT: Part of BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, located in Gondal city submerged in deep water following heavy rainfall in Rajkot on Monday.

JAMNAGAR: A JCB machine and water tankers engulfed in water in Jodia town.

SURAT: Heavy rainfall in the catchment area of Ukai Dam on the Tapi River compelled water to be released downstream. As a result, the river was flowing at two ends while passing through Surat city inundating the slums on its banks.

RAJKOT: A woman tries to drain flood water from her home in Ramnathpara area.

PATAN: A tractor pulls a car through a waterlogged road.

MORBI: Morbi local police and an NDRF team rescue people in the town.

Dy CM visits Mehsana’s flood-affected areas SURTIS IN LOW-LYING AREAS CRY FOUL OVER FLOODING First India Bureau

A h m e d a b a d / Mehsana: In order to review the on-ground situation in Mehsana, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel visited a few places in the district on Monday.

After incessant rainfall, over 125 people were relocated to safer locations after flooding was reported in the district. “There has been a remarkable inflow of

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel taking stock of the situation in Mehsana.

water due to continual rainfall. The coming

year will be good for agriculture with no

water scarcity for irrigation. The government is actively working to repair roads affected due to rain,” Patel stated.

He added, “Kadi, Becharaji, and Jotana have received heavy rainfall and that has resulted in waterlogging and flood-like situation.

Instructions to take care of the existing conditions have already been dispensed.”

First India Bureau

Surat: Residents living in low-lying areas such as Parvat Patiya and Limbayat complained still of waterlogging due to heavy spell of showers and overflow of a nearby creek in Surat on Monday. Several residents lamented that due to flooding in their houses and shops, electronic appliances such as re-

A car stuck in the waterlogged Limbayat area of Surat.

frigerators and washing machines as well as furniture had been damaged.

Jay Chavan, a resi-

dent of Parvat Patiya, said, “There is water everywhere. We are being forced to live with waterlogged roads, pot-

holed roads, garbage dumps as there has been no permanent solution put in place for the creek overflow.”

Fire and Emergency Services personnel were spotted draining flood water with the help of pumps. They were assisted by municipal sanitation and health workers who were also seen running cleaning operations in the city.

BRACING FOR IMPACT

CM Rupani takes stock of on-ground situation as state inundated Orders more rescue missions as state anticipates more rainfall in the next 48 hours

MEET AND GREET



First India Bureau Gandhinagar: In view of the state receiving heavy rainfall over the past few days, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and other senior ministers of the government along with State Chief Secretary Anil Mukim reviewed the impact of excessive showers at a meeting

on Monday. Officials from the revenue and relief department as well as representatives of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) were also present.

According to sources, State Revenue Secretary Pankaj Kumar and State Relief Commis-

CM Rupani with the 2019 batch IPS probationary officers.

sioner Harshad Patel presented a brief about flood-like situations at places across the state.

They also mentioned the deployment of SDRF and NDRF teams

to various sites running rescue missions.

CM Rupani ordered all teams to stay alert and depute more rescue missions since several parts of the state were likely to

receive heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours.

Further, the chief minister also inaugurated FABEXA 2020- India’s first and longest running virtual exhibi-

tion organized by one of the oldest cloth markets in the country, Maskati Mahajan.

Talking about the expo, Rupani said, “Gujarat is the textile capital of India accounting for 33% of the total cotton production of the country. The state government has ensured technological upgrade, skill enhancement of workers and development of textile cluster parks through textile policies. With more than

28 textile parks operational in the state today, garment export in Gujarat has achieved a new high.

This has also been supported by various advantages such as interest subsidy on credit, assistance and development of textile parks, also keeping in mind the aspects of environment conservation and pollution control.”

The expo has more than 100 participants and will be open for a period of 90 days.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020

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HC seeks comprehensive report State inching towards on all government-run hospitals the 90K cases mark First India Bureau

ASKS STATE CHIEF SECRETARY TO FORM A 5-MEMBER COMMITTEE OF IAS OFFICERS BE POSITIVE

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: In order to seek a clear review of the condition, services provided and manpower of government-run hospitals across the state, the state high court has ordered State Chief Secretary Anil Mukim to constitute a committee of five senior IAS officers.

The court asked for a detailed report from the committee on September 4, which will be submitted after a tour of all civil/government hospitals across the state.

A principal bench comprising Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala, that has been hearing suo motu and COVID-19 petitions, in its interim order observed, “The first and the foremost direction that we intend to give is to the Chief Secretary, State of Gujarat. The chief secretary is directed to con-

—FILE PHOTO

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital (Asarwa)

stitute a team of five high-ranking IAS officers, not below the rank of joint/additional secretary, at the earliest.”

The court directed that the members of the committee shall immediately take a tour across the state of Gujarat and visit all civil/government hospitals to take stock of things prevalent. This

GUJCET 2020

held across the state

move will present a clear picture of the condition of treatment and services being provided to patients.

“The committee members shall, very minutely, look into the deficiencies, if any, at such civil hospitals so that such deficiencies can be resolved and taken care of. Though report is sought on all

the civil hospitals across the state, more emphasis should be laid on hospitals in Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Gandhinagar,” remarked the court.

On the intention behind the order, the court stated, “The picture that has emerged with regards to the conditions prevailing as on date in the state is quite

frightening. Although all the necessary steps are being taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic situation yet, the machinery needs to be geared up and the state should be prepared to meet with the worst of situations.”

The next hearing on the matter will be held on September 4.

Gandhinagar: As the state surpassed 87K cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases stood at 87,846 with a daily average of more than 1,000 cases. With the rate at its going, the state may soon hit the 90,000 mark. On Monday, Vadodara city broke its previous record of highest number of novel coronavirus cases reported in a single day (111) and reported a whopping 118 new cases.

The sanskari nagri (as it is fondly called) conducted testing of over 2,298 samples in the past 24 hours with 118 positive and 2,180 negative results. The number of positive cases in the city touched 7,221 cases. Rural areas of the Vadodara district reported 14 new cases on Monday which propelled the total positive case numbers to 7,316.

As of now, there are 1,446 active cases, of which, 157 patients are on oxygen support, 60 are on BiPAP and 1,229

A health worker collects a swab sample in Ahmedabad.

are in stable condition.

An inmate of Vadodara Central Jail, Kantibhai Chhotabhai succumbed to the virus late on Sunday night. He had tested positive for COVID-19 on July 26 and had been undergoing treatment since then.

Meanwhile, in a horrifying turn of events, a patient in Junagadh jumped to his death from a dedicated COVID-19 hospital. Ashok Chudasama, who was being treated for novel coronavirus at a private hospital leaped from the sixth floor of the hospital building.

While local police have initiated a probe, the reason behind the suicide remains unclear.

In diamond city Surat, 20 patients have been reported to be on ventilator support and 115 patients on oxygen support. A total of 218 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the New Civil and SMIMER hospitals.

In the past 24 hours, the state has conducted 63,065 tests. The total number of active cases stand at 14,686, of which, 75 patients are on ventilator support while 14,611 patients are stable.

Demo run of electric bus begins in Surat

BAPPA V/S VIRUS

Students at a GUJCET exam centre in A’bad. —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET) 2020 was conducted by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) across the state on Monday. The exam acts as a gateway for students to secure admissions to degree and diploma programmes in engineering and pharmacy courses in the state.

Initially, the GUJCET 2020 had been scheduled to be held on March 31 for which the GSHSEB had even released the admit cards.

However, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19, concerned authorities took a deci-

sion to postpone the entrance exam.

Hitendra Shah, whose daughter gave the exam, complained about the infrastructure at the school which acted as a centre. “My daughter gave the exam at Muktajivan School located in Isanpur area of the city. The ground floor of the school had 20 shops, which was a strange sight on a school premises,” he said.

“The school has no fire safety precautions in place. In fact, the school building had collapsed in the 2001 earthquake killing many students. Despite that, the government has allocated this school as an exam centre that too amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” lamented Shah.

SMC officials aboard the E-Bus on its first trial run.

First India Bureau

In a unique amalgamation of religious fervour and prayer to vanquish novel coronavirus, Dipak Jogi (extreme left), a resident of Amraiwadi, installed an idol of Lord Ganesha as well as the virus, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Engineer found dead at Surat diamond bourse First India Bureau Surat: A 23-year-old engineer working at a diamond bourse in Khajod area has been found dead on its premises under mysterious circumstances. The youth’s mobile was missing

which prompted family members to suspect foul play.

The deceased has been identified as Tanay Trivedi, a resident of Vikas Nagar. On Sunday, Tanay was found unconscious at his workplace and was rushed to Civil Hospital by fellow staff

members. He was declared dead on arrival by doctors.

According to his family members, Tanay did not seem stressed about anything and was in positive spirits when he left for work in the morning. They were

informed of Tanay’s condition by one of his friends but did not receive any word from his colleagues who took him to the hospital. The family has demanded a thorough investigation of his death and police have initiated a probe.

Surat: The maiden electric bus trial run was carried out by local civic body Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the diamond city on Monday.

The demo run was conducted as part of a transportation plan to induct 150 electric buses to SMC’s existing bus fleet to reduce the carbon footprint and boost clean mobility in the public transport system.

Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani termed the initiative, “a new chapter in the sustainable development in Su-

rat city.”

The trial will last three days where sandbags weighing 2,500 kg will be loaded on the bus to assume the weight of actual passengers. The bus will then be driven around for around 220 km and evaluated on various technical parameters. It will also be subjected to an inspection by a third party.

The demo will be paid for by SMC and the state government at Rs55.26 per kilometre. Of the total amount, Rs25 per kilometre will be shelled out by the government to the operator firm deployed to execute the trial run.

NO-NONSENSE LEADER

Ministers follow Patil’s lead, start interaction with party workers State Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel spent hours at the BJP office headquarters in Gandhinagar on Monday 

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Days after Gujarat BJP President CR Patil gave out instructions that ministers must sit at the party headquarters, Shree Kamalam, on Mondays and Tuesdays, Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel spent hours with BJP workers to hear out their government-relat-

ed issues.

While Patel made himself available on Monday, one more minister is expected to meet the party workers on Tuesday.

Soon after he was made the Gujarat BJP chief, Patil had found that the common grievance of party workers was that their issues were not being heard in

the State Government.

He had then issued instructions that the ministers must sit at the party office.

Demonstrating that he is a no-nonsense leader, the new president had first asserted that “aayaram, gayaram” (turncoats) would not be entertained beyond a point. And then he asked ministers to sit at party

BJP state unit president CR Patil (centre), State Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel (right), General Secretary (Organisation) Bhikhubhai Dalsaniya with party workers at the BJP HQ in Gandhinagar on Monday.

headquarters.

After wrapping up his four-day visit to Saurashtra covering more than five districts, Patil is planning to visit North Gujarat, followed

by Central Gujarat. His Saurashtra visit evoked a positive response, though some leaders had felt slighted by his assertive approach. Especially, his firm remarks against groupism and that those found indulging in such activities will be denied party

tickets to contest elections did not go down well. His indication was that he should not be taken for granted.

Meanwhile, national BJP President J P Nadda held a video conference with all state unit heads, in which Gujarat was represented by CR Patil and General Secretary (Organisation) Bhikhubhai Dalsaniya. Nadda briefed them about the party’s new programmes and the ways to take them to the people.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020

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PAYMENTS BANK

THE FUTURE OR THE PAST? SONAKSHI GUPTA The writer is a rank holder CA who takes a keen interest in banking and finance matters. She has travelled extensively across the globe and is currently working with Aditya Birla Group.

P

“

Some of the notable ones are product crossselling, advertising, data monetization, facilitating utility payments, and tying up with merchants or retailers. But, all these sources will only be feasible when there is a high customer acquisition in the first place.

Since these banks would be competing with other digital gateways and mobile wallets which offer aggressive discounts, capturing the market is not so easy

ayments Bank (PB)” – a concept coined by the Indian Bankers in 2013, and tossed by the startup and banking ecosystems, has made headlines for a plethora of reasons. Some famous, some infamous. The question to ponder is, are they here to stay or not. If so, are they really the right vehicles for “rural financial inclusion”?

Let’s understand how a typical Payments Bank operates (read: expected to operate).

Regulated by the RBI guidelines, such banks require a minimum paid-up capital of 100 Crore, can only accept savings or current deposits, and not undertake any lending activities. At least 75% of these deposits have to be mandatorily deposited in government securities or treasury bills and max 25% in the fixed deposits of other scheduled commercial banks. Their main focus is to serve underserved areas and boost banking operations in rural areas.

With the above business model in place, what do you think is their prime source of revenue? Yes, it’s the difference between the interest earned on government securities or fixed deposits and interest paid on deposit accounts. How long can the payment banks live off this source?

Thus, they’re left with no choice but to look for alternate sources of revenue.

Some of the notable ones are product cross-selling, advertising, data monetization, facilitating utility payments, and tying up with merchants or retailers. But, all these sources will only be feasible when there is a high customer acquisition in the first place. Since these banks would be competing with other digital gateways and mobile wallets which offer

aggressive discounts, capturing the market is not so easy.

For instance, Paytm alone had greater than 50% of the market share in India. Initially, starting off as an online mobile recharge facility, it went on to become one of India’s most trusted e-wallets and the first profitable PB. But gradually, the market share is being lost to players like GooglePay and PhonePe. Both the latter entities are not even PBs, just mobile wallets.

So, with the line between PBs and mobile wallets getting blurred, many of them shutting shop for good and several others still grappling with high operating costs, it’s time to revisit these structures.

In fact, the RBI publication on Operation and Performance of Commercial Banks dated 24th Dec 2019 clearly states “The limited operational space available to them and the large initial costs involved in setting up of the infrastructure imply that it may take time for PBs to break even

Paytm alone had greater than 50% of the market share in India. Initially, starting off as an online mobile recharge facility, it went on to become one of India’s most trusted e-wallets and the first profitable PB. But gradually, the market share is being lost to players like GooglePay and PhonePe. Both the latter entities are not even PBs, just mobile wallets

as they expand their customer base“. At the same time, consolidated losses of all PBs rose to Rs. 626.8 Crore in 2018-19 from Rs. 515.6 Crore a year ago. This is because the operating expenses of PBs increased way more than their interest incomes, leading to nearly 5 out of 11 PBs shutting down. These PBs were started by large scale corporations not having a banking technology in place. This called for fresh investment in technology infra and operations.

In the backdrop of the above discussion, it’s impor-

tant to look for alternate and financially viable vehicles to push the rural economy.

So, how about doing away with multiple structures and focus on making the existing banks fully inclusive and approachable.

Several other structures such as small finance banks (SFBs) also have objectives similar to that of PBs, with the added merit of being able to provide credit for rural economic activities.

However, their credit picture also sees a geographic skew with the rural and semi-urban areas having only 17% and 20% of credit

accounts respectively. So, not really serving their purpose, are they?

Probably, it is time existing banks mandatorily spend on opening rural branches.

They already have the necessary infrastructure and technology. Fortunately, work has begun in this area. As per a mandate from the finance ministry, established banks (both private and public) are directed to open a branch within a 15 km radius of a village where there are no banking facilities available. But, it remains to be seen how far the directives get fulfilled.

Furthermore, to encourage rural penetration by established banks, tax subsidies and incentives can be given on these branches’ income. For example, subsidies are available for swipe machines that are deployed at the point of sale.

Even lending can be allowed by these branches at controlled interest rates based on income levels and category of the village. This can serve the twin purpose of avoiding exploitation by greedy money

The global responsibility of Biden and Harris

N

either Joe Biden nor Kamala Harris was my first choice among the contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination in the United States. But when Biden, by then the party’s presumptive nominee, announced earlier this month that Senator Harris would be his vice-presidential running mate, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

If Biden and Harris win in November, they will introduce important policy initiatives. They will improve the embarrassing US health-care system, which walls off a large section of the population from cutting-edge medical research and the world’s finest health facilities. They will try to remedy the worsening conditions confronting America’s working class, and restore some US efforts to combat climate change.

Nevertheless, there are two reasons to feel hopeful.

First, Biden and Harris are more likely to win the election than more radical Democratic contenders would have been. Second, they will bolster the institutions that previously made America strong and restore its leadership in the world. That will be crucial: although much has been written about what Biden and Harris should do for America, they also have a global responsibility.

One of the most damaging consequences of Donald Trump’s presidency has been the loss of America’s international stature.

This has had a huge adverse impact, spawning populism and authoritarianism around the world.

To be sure, America’s record of global engagement is not without blemish. In the 1960s and early 1970s, for example, it was on the

wrong side of history several times – including in prosecuting the Vietnam War, tacitly supporting the overthrow of Chilean President Salvador Allende, and attempting to thwart Bangladeshi independence.

Fortunately, this coldly “realist” US foreign policy slowly gave way to one with some moral compass and global concern. The president who deserves the great-

est credit for this shift is Jimmy Carter. Although he was low-key and not good at politicking, Carter had the rare mettle – evident in his moving 2018 interview with The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert – to be prepared to lose for a moral cause.

In today’s globalized world, we must recognize that all human beings, not just all co-nationals, are born equal. Hyper-nation-

alism is not only bad economics, but is also morally wrong. I have no doubt that a time will come when we regard hyper-nationalism – the belief that one’s compatriots are special and more deserving than others – the way we view racism or caste systems are today.

Because we currently live in a world of nation-states, nationalism is unavoidable for now. But we need leaders

who can pioneer an international mindset and help to build a better future for all of humanity, including the poor and dispossessed wherever they live. This is the big responsibility that Biden and Harris must shoulder in seeking to reestablish the global leadership from which America has retreated under Trump.

On the subject of internationalism, Biden and Harris may wish to consider the thoughts of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who spoke more eloquently about these values than perhaps any other leader. Nehru fought for India’s independence, in which nationalism was obviously a driving force. But he was mindful that we have to strive for a world in which human identity takes precedence over racial, religious, and national identity.

lenders and providing finance to families at fair rates and making it financially lucrative for banks to operate. Lending rates can be pegged to a percentage of the actual bank rate to ensure market dynamics are also accounted for.

Further, as per the last census, only 54.4% of the rural households availed banking services. While numerous door-door bank correspondents are deployed, regular financial education and use of technology is a must to encourage savings and investments in these areas. In fact, to a large extent internet connectivity determines technological advancement. With around 37% of internet users in rural areas, a lot of work remains to be done, following which relevant opportunities can be exploited in the banking and allied fields.

Not to forget, the very act of depositing money in a payment bank requires a bank account! Of course, one can jugaad his way through other methods, but a bank account remains the prime requisite!

Thus, the rural population still needs to be provided with an all-inclusive banking channel, following which ebanking can be further boosted. This foundation is yet to be laid in most of the villages, with nearly 50 Crore people still untouched by any formal banking system.

So, in a nutshell, the process runs like this: First, different structures are enacted and set up to cater to rural needs. Then operational restrictions are imposed on their working, making it difficult to break even in the short term. Ultimately, established banks are directed to set foot in the rural regions, adding to the competition of existing SFBs, PBs, etc. So, the rural households get to prefer the big names that inspire confidence and security for their hardearned money. Other institutions are then compelled to look for new avenues to stay fit, defeating the purpose they were meant for.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda Addressed @BJP4TamilNadu State Executive via video conference.

Development oriented NDA is making every effort to improve the lives of the people. Glad that BJP workers are working hard to meet the economic & cultural aspirations of the people of State.

Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank @DrRPNishank #Vidyadaan 2.0, a programme for the nation & by the nation, is framed to ensure continuity of quality learning via the #DIKSHA platform. We urge all individuals & organisations to help us reform lives by sharing knowledge with others.

Spiritual SPEAK

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed are those who heed wisdom’s instruction.

—Proverbs 29:18

SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE

Vol 1 Issue No. 269 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

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05

RAGA SLAMS CENTRE ON UNEMPLOYMENT

‘1 JOB, 1000 UNEMPLOYED’

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday again targetted the Central government over the issue of unemployment, asking what has been done to the country as there is "1 job and 1000 people are unemployed".

Sharing a media report on Twitter regarding rising unemployment across the country, the Congress leader wrote: "1 job, 1000 unemployed, What has been done to the country".

On August 20, the Wayand MP had asserted that a large number of small and medium businesses will shut down after the moratorium period and the country will soon not be able to provide employment to its youth for the first time in its history.

Gandhi, in a virtual press conference, had said the unorganised sector is responsible for 90 per cent employment in the country and asserted that many of them will go out of business soon after the moratorium period, creating an employment crisis.

"The unorganised sector is responsible for 90 per cent employment in the country. Who are these people? These are small and medium businesses, farmers. Narendra Modi has destroyed this system now. Now you will see, as soon as the moratorium period ends, companies will fall one after another," Gandhi had said. —ANI

NEVER MADE A STATEMENT IN FAVOUR OF BJP, SAYS SIBAL

The unorganised sector is responsible for 90% employment in the country. Who are these people?

These are small and medium businesses, farmers. Narendra Modi has destroyed this system now. Now you will see, as soon as the moratorium period ends, companies will fall one after another.

—Rahul Gandhi, Congress Leader

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that he has never made a statement in favour of BJP on any issue yet Rahul Gandhi said that “we are colluding with BJP”. “Rahul Gandhi says ‘we are colluding with BJP’ Succeeded in Rajasthan HC defending the Congress Party Defending party in Manipur to bring down BJP Govt.

Last 30 years have never made a Kapil Sibal statement in favour of BJP on any issue Yet ‘we are colluding with the BJP’!” Sibal tweeted. The tweet came after Rahul questioned timing of a letter to Sonia Gandhi by leaders. —ANI

‘SONIA SHOULD CONTINUE TILL NEW CHIEF IS ELECTED’

RaGa questions timing of letter by party leaders to Sonia Gandhi New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the timing of letter by party colleagues during the CWC meeting and criticised the move saying that it came when Sonia Gandhi was admitted to a hospital.

“Sonia Gandhi says she has given a note (a reply to the letter written by some senior Congress leaders to her over party leadership) to KC Venugopal, and

Asaduddin Owasi @asadowaisi Poetic Justice: GHULAM NABI sb u’d accused me of exactly this. Now you’re accused of the same. 45 years of ghulami for this? Now it’s proven that anyone opposing Janeudhari leadership will be branded B-Team. I hope Muslims now know the high cost of loyalty to Congress.

he will read it out. Rahul Gandhi pointed at the timing of the letter by party colleagues and criticised it,” sources said. “Rahul Gandhi said, why was the letter (over party leadership)

sent at a time when Sonia Gandhi was admitted in a hospital,” sources said.

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi asked CWC members “to begin deliberations

towards the process of transition to relieve her from the duty of party chief ”, sources said.

In the virtual meeting, Gandhi asked the CWC members to proceed with the process of electing a new President, sources said. The meeting was held after a controversy erupted over a letter by more than 20 senior leaders calling for ‘full time’ active leadership, even demanding CWC elections, sources said. —ANI

Party Prez from Gandhi family only: Workers New Delhi: several Congress workers gathered in front of AICC office & raised slogans demanding that Party President should be from Gandhi family.

Congress worker Jagdish Sharma, who had gathered outside the AICC office with tens of others, said, “We want Party President from Gandhi family only. Party will be destroyed and break away if any outsider is made President.”

—ANI

New Delhi: Even as Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi asked the Congress Working Committee (CWC) members to relive her from the top post, senior party leaders Manmohan Singh and AK Antony said that Manmohan Singh AK Antony she should continue till a new party President is elected, sources said. Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi asked CWC members “to begin deliberations towards the process of transition to relieve her from the duty of party —ANI chief”, sources said.

‘RAGA NEVER SAID SIGNITORIES WERE PLOTTING WITH BJP’ New Delhi: LoP in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad clarified on Monday that Rahul Gandhi had never stated that those who wrote the letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi were colluding with or doing so at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Rahul Gandhi at no point of time inside the Congress Working Committee (CWC) or outside it Ghulam Nabi has said that the signatories to the letter were doing it at the behest of the BJP. This is a totally wrong thing which has been attributed to Rahul Gandhi,” Azad said.

‘Biz with turnover of ‘Denied Dy CM post as knew of DRDO gives list of ` 40L GST exempt’ Kamal Nath-Diggi Raja’s Kartoot’ 108 systems to Singh New Delhi: The Ministry of Finance said that businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakhs are exempt from GST & those with a turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore can opt for the Composition Scheme and pay only one% tax.

Earlier, GST exemption limit was Rs 20 lakh, the ministry said.

“Now, Businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh are GST exempt. Initially, this limit was Rs 20 lakh. Additionally, those with a turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore can opt for the Composition Scheme and pay only 1% tax,” Ministry of Finance tweeted.

In a series of tweets, the Ministry also informed that significant reliefs have been extended to construction sector, particularly housing sector.

“Significant relief has been extended to the construction sector, particularly the housing sector. It has now been placed at the 5% rate. GST on affordable housing has been reduced to 1%,” it added.

—ANI

ISI, PAK TERROR GROUPS TURN TO LOCAL GANGSTERS FOR ATTACKS New Delhi: There has been a recent trend which has attracted the attention of Intelligence Agencies as well as security agencies in India.

Pakistan’ ISI and its terror outfits who are unable to execute any attacks in the country to disturb law and order situation due to the alertness of forces and intelligence agencies

are now giving the task to local gangsters. Recently, Chandigarh intelligence unit alerted all intelligence agency units regarding such tie-up between terrorists and gangsters who have clout and local connections. Some of the gangsters are absconding while some are locked up in jails, informed a senior government official.

Gwalior: Jyotiraditya Scindia, who left Congress to join BJP, has revealed that he turned down an offer of the deputy CM post under Congress government in MP as he knew what Digvijay Singh and CM Kamal Nath would do to the state with their ‘kartoot’ (bad deeds).

“I am a public servant and not a servant of the chair. If I had been a servant of the chair, I would have accepted the offer of being deputy CM. But I knew what people sitting in government would do to the state, and thus I didn’t want to be a part of their bad

Jyotiraditya Scindia

deeds,” Scindia said while addressing the BJP membership drive on Sunday.

After Congress party dethroned BJP in 2018 assembly polls, the Congress leadership chose MP Congress Committee chief Kamal Nath, not Scindia, to lead govt.

SENA TO GIVE MEMO TO UP GUV ON CHETAN CHAUHAN’S DEATH Lucknow: Shiv Sena will submit a memorandum to Governor Anandiben Patel on Monday demanding CBI probe into UP Minister Chetan Chauhan’s death. A delegation of Shiv Sena led by party’s state unit chief Anil Singh, will meet Governor today to submit memo. Earlier, RS MP & AAP leader Sanjay Singh submitted a complaint to Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey to register an FIR against CM Yogi Adityanath and his govt colleagues alleging that Chauhan died due to negligence of State govt.

After being in Kamal Nath government for nearly one-and-a-half years, Scindia joined BJP along with 22 Congress MLAs in March this year, bringing down Congress regime. BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan then took over reins of the state.

—ANI

New Delhi: DRDO provided a list of 108 systems to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh which have been identified for indigenous development only.

DRDO will also provide its support to industries in this development process, according to the Defence Minister’s office. The RMO also said that this will “pave the way for Indian Defence industry to develop many technologies towards building an AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

Raksha Mantri has extended his good wishes to Team DRDO in their future endeavours.” The systems and sub-systems in the list of 108

SENSEX SURGES 364 POINTS, NIFTY UP BY OVER 94 POINTS Mumbai: Domestic equity benchmark Sensex rallied 364 points on Monday, driven by strong buying in financial counters amid a positive trend in global equities and sustained foreign fund inflows. The BSE Sensex ended 364.36 points or 0.95 per cent higher at 38,799.08. The NSE Nifty jumped 94.85 points or 0.83 per cent

to 11,466.45.Kotak Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising over 3 per cent, followed

by IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Maruti and SBI. On the other hand, PowerGrid, M&M, Tech Mahindra, Titan, NTPC, Bajaj Auto and UltraTech Cement were among the laggards.

Rajnath Singh

items include mini and micro UAVs, ROVs, uncooled NV-IR sights for weapons (short-range), mountain footbridge, floating bridge (both metallic), mines laying and marking equipment.

The import embargo will come into effect on in a phased manner. The deadline had been set for December 2025. —ANI

SC asks govt to fly in pupils for NEET exam New Delhi: SC declined to pass direction to Centre to hold NEET UG 2020 exam in Gulf countries, but asked government to allow students to come via Vande Bharat Mission flights to give the exams.

A bench of Justice L Nageswara Rao said that quarantine norms are mandatory for students who would come from Middle East countries to give exam but allowed petitioners to approach State authorities to seek relaxation.

The bench said exam will be offline & students who fly in will have to maintain 14 days quarantine. —ANI

ED’s FRESH NOTICES TO TMC LEADERS IN NARADA CASE Kolkata: ED sent fresh notices to a Trinamool Congress’ Minister and several LS members in West Bengal, apart from a suspended police officer, in connection with Narada sting operation in 2016. The notices were sent to Transport Minister Subhendu Ashikari, Lok Sabha MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Aparupa Poddar, Sougata Roy, and suspended IPS officer SMH Mirza. TMC leaders were asked to furnish details about their properties and bank statements within a specific deadline, informed a few reliable sources.

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India’s total recoveries cross 23L INDIA’S RECOVERY RATE NOW STANDS AT 75.27%, SAYS THE UNION HEALTH MINISTRY New Delhi: India crossed the 23 lakh COVID-19 recoveries mark and the case fatality rate ‘has further dipped’ to 1.85 per cent, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, here on Monday.

“With more patients recovering and being discharged from hospitals and home isolation (in case of mild and moderate cases), India’s COVID-19 total recoveries have crossed 23 lakh today. Recovery of 23,38,035 patients has been made possible because of effective implementation of the policy of testing aggressively, tracking comprehensively through surveillance and contact tracing& treating efficiently,” the Union Health Ministry said in a statement. The Health Ministry further said India’s recovery rate now stands at 75.27 per cent.

India has posted more than 16lakh (16,27,264) recoveries than the active cases.

Meanwhile, the infection rate in Delhi is below 10 per cent, said Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday. —ANI

SC rejects plea for National policy to compensate families

A health worker in personal protective equipment (PPE) collects a nasal sample for the COVID-19 test at a health centre, in New Delhi on Monday.

Haryana CM, speaker test COVID-19 +ve Chandigarh: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. The CM took to Twitter to announce his positive status. “I was tested for Novel Corona Virus today. My test report has returned positive. I appeal to all colleagues and associates who came in my contact over the last week to get themselves tested. Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta has also tested positive on Monday. —ANI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking formulation of a national policy for uniform compensation for families of those who have died due the coronavirus.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and RS Reddy dismissed the plea saying that every state has a different policy and gives compensation as per its fi-

-ve report not older than 48 hrs mandatory HC extends all for devotees at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine interim orders Jammu (J&K): The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Jammu and Kashmir on Monday said that all devotees coming from outside the Union Territory are required to bring ‘valid coronavirus negative test report’, which should not be more than 48 hours old at the time of arrival.

Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi Temple resumed on August 16, nearly 5 months after it was suspended due to COVID-19.

Devotees will not be allowed to

till October end

enter the temple without a COVID-19 negative test report.

“All devotees coming from outside Jammu and Kashmir for Vaishno Devi Yatra require valid COVID-19 negative test report not more

than 48 hours older at the time of arrival.

Without negative test report, they will not be allowed for the yatra,” Ramesh Kumar, CEO, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Jammu and Kashmir said. —ANI

Rhea has not received any summons from CBI: Lawyer PITHANI, NEERAJ AT DRDO GUEST HOUSE

‘‘Dubai compliant drug dealer’ met Sushant on day of his murder’

Subramanian Swamy

been collected.

The agency had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the case after FIR was filed by KK Singh, the late actor’s father, against Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. In his complaint, KK Singh had alleged that around Rs 15 crore was with-

drawn from Rajput’s bank account in the last one year and transferred to ‘accounts that had no link with him’.

On August 19, the Supreme Court had asked the probe agency to investigate the case related to the actor’s death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate. —ANI

L

how hurtful the remarks were or have been in the past. I have always risen above them to keep the Congress family together and to fight for the cause of the people.”

The CWC has noted that “Inner party issues cannot be addressed by deliberated through media or in a public fora. It has urged and advises all concerned to raise such issues only in party fora in the interest of discipline and propriety.”

By the time the seven hour long meeting of the CWC ended, Sonia loyalists had found a new explanation for her previously defined tenure that

expired on August 10. A senior Congress supporter told First India, “Sonia Gandhi has got overwhelming support.

There is no fixed tenure for her Presidency.”

While all eyes were on the CWC meet, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, a signatory to the extraordinary letter, stirred a fresh controversy on social media when he slammed Rahul Gandhi for alleging that those who had written the letter were colluding with the BJP. The tweet was later deleted by Sibal who said, “Was informed by Rahul Gandhi personally that he never

said what was attributed to him. I therefore withdraw my tweet.”

ate Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput had met a Dubai compliant drug dealer on the day he was murdered, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has alleged in a tweet on Monday. The veteran politician has been tweeting over the past couple of weeks, insisting Sushant was murdered. —Agencies

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday extended till the end of October all the interim orders, which were to expire on August 31. The interim orders include stays, bails and paroles.

High Court also made it clear that it will slowly start physical hearing with the consent of all.

A special bench of CJ DN Patel, Justice Siddharth Mridul, and Justice Talwant Singh decided to further extend all interim orders till October 31. —ANI

Postpone NEET, JEE until situation gets conducive: Didi Kolkata: In wake of COVID-19 outbreak, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to the Centre to assess the risk and postpone the JEE and NEET until the situation becomes conducive to hold the exams.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that the JEE (Main) will be held from September 1 to 6 and NEET (UG) on September 13. Banerjee stressed that it is the duty of the government to ensure a safe environment for all our students.

“Now with the directive of @EduMinOfIndia to conduct NEET, JEE 2020 in Sep, I would again appeal to the Centre to assess the risk and postpone these examinations until the situation is conducive again. It is our duty to ensure a safe environment for all our students,” the TMC supremo tweeted.

She further mentioned that in her last video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she had raised her voice against the UGC guide-

Mamata Banerjee

In our last video conference with PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, I had been vocal against the UGC guidelines mandating completion of terminal examinations in Universities/Colleges by the end of September 2020, which had a huge potential to put student lives at risk.

—Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM

lines mandating completion of terminal examinations in universities and colleges by the end of September 2020. —ANI

Military option on table if talks fail: Rawat on China

SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT DEATH CASE

Mumbai: Actor Rhea Chakraborty and her family have not received any summons from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), so far, in connection Satish the Maneshinde with death case of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, said her lawyer on Monday.

“Rhea Chakraborty and her family have not received any summons from CBI, so far.

If they receive a summon, they will appear before the agency,” Satish Maneshinde, lawyer of the actor. The ED had already questioned Chakraborty twice -- on Augut 9 and 10 -- and 56 persons’ statements and other relevant evidence have

nancial power.

Advocate Deepak Prakash, appearing for petitioner Hashik Thayikandy, said that all he is asking for is a national policy to be formulated that would provide for uniform compensation throughout the country. So many people have died in India due to COVID-19 and the victims are not getting equal compensation, he said.

—PTI

06

Prashant Bhushan

Prashant refuses to apologise to SC for tweets New Delhi: Activistlawyer Prashant Bhushan refused to offer an apology to the Supreme Court on Monday for his two tweets against the judiciary saying what he expressed represented his bona fide belief which he continued to hold.

An insincere apology would amount to the contempt of my conscience and of an institution, Bhushan said in his supplementary statement filed in the suo motu contempt case against him by the top court. —PTI

New Delhi: India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has explicitly stated that a military option to deal with transgressions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Ladakh is on the table, but will be exercised only if talks between the two armies and the diplomatic option are unfruitful.

“Transgressions along the LAC occur due to differing perceptions about its alignment. Defence services are tasked to monitor and carry out surveillance and prevent such transgressions turning into intrusions. Whole of government approach is adopted to peacefully resolve any such activity and prevent intrusions. Defence services always remain prepared for military actions should all efforts to restore sta-

tus quo along the LAC do not succeed,” General Rawat said.

“Defence minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval and all those

responsible for national security are reviewing all options with the objective that PLA restores status quo ante in Ladakh,” he said.

The CDS, who was army chief during the 73-day military standoff in Doklam against the PLA in 2017, also dispelled the notion that there is a lack of coordination among the principal intelligence agencies. He said that India has a vast frontline along the northern and western borders along with the Indian Ocean Region, all of which require constant monitoring.

According to him, while India is still working towards acquiring round-the-clock capabilities to monitor its areas of interest, there is regular interaction between all agencies responsible for collection and collation of information. —Agencies

year from now, but apparently the Gandhi Scion intervened and asked to hold the same within six months. In the meantime, a committee will be formed to help Sonia in the final decision making process. Notably, the predictions made by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and state incharge Ajay Maken have been correct. Gehlot had termed the letter by 23 leaders as unfortunate and even Ajay Maken had announced that there is no option other than the Gandhi family.

Gandhis are the beacon of light for the Congress much like RSS is for the

BJP and therefore Patel moved proposal to make Rahul party president.

However, during the CWC meeting, it was an emotional Rahul who gave a verbal ‘thrashing’ to the leaders that were trying to corner his ailing mother. Word is that, Rahul, engaged in plain talk, and clarified that he has been hurt by the letter being sent at a time when his mother is unwell. “I am her son and a son’s feelings towards his mother is well understood by you all. When our issues are told to the media, it benefits the BJP,” Rahul reportedly said in the meeting.

Unstoppable rain...

In another incident, three persons travelling in a Maruti Ciaz car were swept away in Maha river causeway between Dighaliya and Shekhardi on Sunday night, while 2 persons in same car survived. Those swept away were Jaydip Kaliya, Yogesh Jadav and Narsinh Bavalya, all three from Surendranagar. In Sabarkantha district, Keshusinh Motisinh Chauhan (55), who was out with herd of cattle on northern side of Gadhdasha village, fell in a water body. His body was found from water body and sent for post mortem.

Bipin Rawat

BLOODY SKIRMISH

FROM PG 1 CWC reinforces...

“Congress President Sonia Gandhi has said in her concluding remarks at the CWC that Congress is one big family.

We have differences and different views on many occasions but in the end, we come together as one.

The need of the hour is to fight for the cause of the people and the forces that are failing this country. Organisational issues are always addressed and the process of constitution or reconstitution is a continuous one. I don’t hold any ill will or any thought of any nature against any colleague irrespective of

Rahul emotional... and thus the next natural questions is,what was the meaning of CWC’s stamp of approval on Ahmed Bhai’s proposal to bring Rahul Gandhi at helm of affairs. Therefore, the future of Congress is uncertain since on one hand Rahul is not agreeing on taking a role, and on the other hand, no unanimous decision on one name could be reached on names from outside Gandhi family.

How then will the party battle out the challenge

posed by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Political observers claim that in the coming times, a few senior leaders could leave the party fold.

Interestingly, there is round of speculation being strongly backed in Congress circles wherein it is said that there are signals of Rahul Gandhi coming to helm after Bihar polls and his name would be announced in the next AICC session. It is believed that the session will be held within the next six months.

While this proposal was also mooted in the CWC, with a timeline of election being held after one

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07

BUILDING DESIGNERS TODAY DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CHEATED BY NOT BEING TAUGHT HOW TO VENTILATE BUILDINGS NATURALLY

O

ver 200 scientists, including myself, signed a letter that was published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases on July 6 2020 saying that COVID is not only spread by touch and droplets sprayed from the mouth and nose but, importantly, via a third route too.

The third infection pathway is in very tiny airborne particles of liquid and material, known as aerosols, that stay suspended in the air for a long time. If the virus attaches to these tiny particles, it can float on the air and spread much further. An effective way to reduce this spread is to purge the air containing those aerosols from rooms by simply opening the windows, as shown below.

This illustration shows that by opening a window to let the virus escape, the amount of it in a room can be reduced, leading to a lower risk of infection. Three days after our letter was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, the World Health Organization admitted that aerosol transmission can’t be ruled out, given the growing evidence of disease spread in poorly ventilated venues such as restaurants, nightclubs and places of worship.

Aerosol spread was shown in late January in Guangzhou, China, where ten people fell ill with the novel coronavirus after eating lunch in a fifthfloor restaurant without windows.

The virus had probably been spread in aerosol form by an air conditioner – although the study has yet to be peer-reviewed.

TO PREVENT COVID FROM SPREADING:

CAN OPENING WINDOWS REDUCE THE SPREAD OF

COVID-19?

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

Building regulations are written largely by HVAC engineers, including in the US and the UK. HVAC engineers are typically paid according to the amount of HVAC equipment that goes into a building, which is a conflict of interest issue that needs to be addressed globally.

Given that engineers write the rules, it is hardly surprising that buildings are required to have ever more machinery installed in them to comply with those rules.

No wonder architects now earn less than HVAC engineers, bricklayers, plumbers and even scaffolders.

If you are sitting in an overheated, stuffy room, with

windows that don’t open, or are finding it difficult to pay for the rising air-conditioning bills, don’t worry.

Things are about to change.

The future will have to be about buildings that are naturally ventilated for as much of the year and the day as possible, for many excellent reasons, including energy costs, carbon emissions and the basic health and safety of occupants.

Windows must be a life-saving feature of safer, better buildings in a less predictable future – never more so than during a pandemic when the power grid fails.

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

 Medical experts promote hand washing, protective clothing, cleaning surfaces, spatial distancing, fewer people in lifts, and the wearing of face masks – all practical and effective actions.  Heating, ventilating and cooling (HVAC) engineers recommend limiting the spread of the virus with expensive, high-efficiency particulate air and ultraviolet filters for climate-control systems in buildings that work well for those who can afford them.  Architects, when looking at the impacts of COVID on buildings often deal with issues of social and physical distancing within buildings, and toy with the idea of the “end of tall buildings”, or the effect of the shift to home-working on the energy efficiency of our homes.  Very few of the above groups even mention the importance of simply opening windows, or the added benefits of the thermal, emotional and sensual delight of a cooling breeze on the skin on a warm day. Or the relief of clean, fresh air pouring into a stuffy room.  Building designers today often don’t understand that they have been cheated by not being taught how to ventilate buildings naturally. Modern, fast, cheap, design has three key drivers. One, the architectural fantasy that their main professional contribution to society is in sculptural art. Two, what the building regulations require. And three, the limits imposed on designers by the almost universal use of flawed building simulation models that steer designers away from naturally ventilating buildings.

You can’t lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself. You have to lead by example to be an effective leader.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020

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After 5-yr battle, HC asks Guj to allow Pak citizen to go home Sajjad Vora was acquitted in a fake currency case but is finally free after the high court’s intervention First India Bureau

FINALLY JUSTICE!

Ahmedabad: After a protracted legal battle, the Gujarat High Court on Monday allowed a Pakistani national, who was acquitted in a fake currency case, to go back to his home country and asked authorities to complete formalities for his return.

A division bench of Justices Sonia Gokani and NV Anjaria directed the Railway police in Surat city to issue the Pakistani man, Sajjad Burhanuddin Vora, a no objection certificate (NOC) for him to obtain the required exit permit.

The bench disposed of a habeas corpus plea moved by the Pakistani High Commission while directing the Superintendent of Police, Surat Railway police, to issue him the NOC by August 29 for him to travel to his country.

A habeas corpus plea is a petition filed to ensure a person under ar-

High Court Gujarat.

rest is brought before a court to determine if the detention is legal.

The court also directed the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to issue the exit permit and also waive all leviable fees of overstay, among other things, within a period of seven days from the date of NOC. Vora, a resident of

Security beefed up at Guj BJP headquarter

Karachi, was in 2016 found in possession of fake demonetised currency notes by the Surat Railways police when he was on his way to Mumbai along with his relatives to attend a religious function, police had said.

He was later acquitted in the case by a local court in Surat, which, however, did not

allow him to leave India as the appeal against his acquittal moved by the state government in the High Court was pending.

The HC had in July 2019 dismissed the appeal. However, the local police refused to give him an NOC without which his return to Pakistan was not possible as the FRRO asked for

the document.

In its order on August 17, the Supreme Court also dismissed an appeal against his acquittal moved by the state government. Through his lawyer Aum Kotwal, Vora had last month approached the High Court seeking its direction to the police to issue him NOC.

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Guj to offload securities of `1,500 crore today First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Government has announced that it is offloading its stocks worth Rs 1,500 crore on Tuesday, with the option to retain an additional amount of up to Rs 500 crore for tenure of 10 years to finance capital expenditure.

The decision has been taken to fund the development programmes, particularly the schemes included in the Annual Development Plan for 2020-21.

This is not the first time. The State had auctioned securities of Rs 1,000 crore in May, while it did so consecutively for three years from 2011.

Joint Secretary (Budget) S Chhakchhuak stated on Monday that the auction will be conducted by the RBI on Tuesday.

Successful bidders will have to make payments on August 26,

Gujarat Secretariat.

before the closure of banking hours.

The State Government’s debt liabilities as on March 31, 2019, was Rs 2,40,652 crore. The debt was utilised for development activities and in creation of productive assets.

State’s debt-Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio was 16.7 per cent in 201718, while it was 16.03 per cent as on March 31, 2019 as per the revised estimates. The State’s Consolidated Sinking Fund (CSF)

was Rs 12,346 crore as on March 2019. The fund is managed by RBI and the corpus is invested in Government of India’s securities.

As against this, over the years the State has become revenue surplus.

The revised estimate for 2019-20 showed a surplus of Rs 2,874 crore. The fiscal deficit was Rs 31,253 crore and its ratio to GSDP was 1.84 per cent. The public debt is 15.69 per cent against the GSDP.

—WITH PTI INPUTS

RERA to auction Vadodara builder’s flat to repay buyer

Guj ‘helpless’ over school fees issue

First India Bureau

The State Police have stepped up security at the BJP headquarters.

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Security has been beefed up at Shree Kamalam, the Gandhinagarbased headquarters of the Gujarat unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, after an alleged sharp-shooter reportedly belonging to the Chhota Shakeel gang was caught conspiring to assassinate a BJP leader recently.

The State Home Department has set up three police points at Shree Kamalam. Official sources said 10 more police personnel would now be deployed

at the BJP headquarters.

The Gujarat AntiTerrorists Squad (ATS) and the Ahmedabad Crime Branch recently claimed to have nabbed a Mumbai-based sharpshooter from Vinus Hotel on Relief Road in the walled city of Ahmedabad.

The police claimed that the accused had even conducted a recce of the BJP office and the movements of former minister of state for home Gordhan Zadaphia. The mobile phone of the accused person also had details of Zadaphia.

Vadodara: In the first such case that may bring a sense of hope for homebuyers in the State, the Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has put the private property of a Vadodara-based builder up for auction to recover the amount due to a buyer.

The order has been passed by District Collector Shalini Agrawal. The builder had to refund Rs 28 lakh with Rs 1.4 lakh interest to the buyer. The price of the builder’s property is pegged at around Rs 37 lakh.

Builder Kalpesh Raiyani had failed to give possession of a flat to the homebuyer, Amey Joglekar, who had filed a com-

First India Bureau

TOUGH ORDER

plaint against the builder for not handing over possession in December 2017.

Joglekar had paid Rs 20.84 lakh to the builder, the order said.

The flat was at-

tached by the Vadodara revenue authority last year after Raiyani failed to repay the amount paid by Joglekar despite RERA’s orders. The property would be auctioned in the first week of Sep-

tember.

In October 2018, RERA had ordered Raiyani to return the money to the buyer. When the developer did not refund the amount, the Authority issued a recovery warrant against Raiyani. The district collector accordingly passed an order. The flat was attached in October 2019.

Gandhinagar: The State Government has informed the Gujarat High Court that it is unable to issue any circular to private schools as ordered by the court on the issue of school fees for the lockdown period.

The government, in an affidavit submitted in the High Court, stated that it had called a meeting with self-financed (private) school managements on August 17 and 20th with an open mind to reach some understanding.

The affidavit submitted that despite its efforts, the govern-

ment was unable to persuade the school managements and so could not arrive at an amicable solution. The State expressed its helplessness to issue a fresh government resolution, as directed by the High Court.

The government has requested the High Court to issue fresh directions on the matter.

The private school managements had challenged the government resolution of schools fees exemption. The High Court had scrapped the resolution and directed both parties to find a win-win solution.

SENSE OF OWNERSHIP

CLASS ACT: For these govt teachers, school is where heart lies 

Teachers of Ahmedabad government high schools have taken up cleaning and repairs in the institutions sans any orders

First India Bureau Ahmedabad:If you thought government staff works only on orders and official circulars, think again. Notwithstanding the stereotypes attached to public servants, teachers of government high schools in Ahmedabad have taken the broom in their hands and have also turned mechanics of sorts.

No circular or order

has been issued for this but the teachers are voluntarily joining and going to the schools, which need cleaning every day.

In interior villages, teachers have also been removing weeds and wild shrubs from the school compounds.

Most government high schools are not maintained especially during vacations. And this time, their clean-up had become all the more necessary given the forced extended vaca-

Government school teachers have taken upon themselves to clean the school buildings in Ahmedabad.

tion owing to the Covid-19 crisis.

After visiting a few schools, the Ahmedabad Rural District Education Officer appealed to the teachers to spare some time for their schools. And many responded to the call and got down to cleaning the schools. While many schools had got flooded, in several others the floor of the school building was broken. The teachers took upon themselves to repair the

damage.

Our objective is cleanliness, said Ahmedabad Rural DEO Rakesh Vyas.

And then, the teachers should take care that there are no hygiene issues in their schools, like in any other school. “No circular has been issued for this donation of their time. Teachers who want to join voluntarily could join and they did come,” according to Vyas.

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SPARKLERS

BAUBLES

The one thing that has been constant in a woman’s wardrobe for hundreds of years, is jewellery.

Gemstones in jewellry never fail to make a simple piece look stunning and elegant!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

E

very woman has a great collection of jewellery in her wardrobe that she flaunts whenever, wherever. One thing that adds a lot of value to the simple jewellery is the right gemstone. These are precious or semi-precious stones that are cut, polished and used in jewellery to make it look elegant and attractive.

There are around seven precious and semi-precious gemstones that are really popular: Diamond, pearl, ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst and topaz. Most of these gemstones are worn in relation to astrological purposes.

DIAMOND: It is one of the best-known and most used gemstones and has been used as decorative items since ancient times.

PEARL: It is a hard gemstone found within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk and is composed of calcium carbonate. It is considered to be one of the most elegant gemstones.

RUBY: It is a dark pinkish to blood-red coloured gemstone and this stone is said to bring happiness and passion into the life of a wearer.

SAPPHIRE: It is a gemstone that is dark blue in colour and is believed to symbolize wisdom, good fortune and holiness for the royals.

EMERALD: It is a gemstone that is green in colour.

People normally wear it to recover from difficulties, allergies, nervous disorders and respiratory-related ailments.

AMETHYST: This gemstone is of violet colour and also has a lot of healing powers. People usually wear this to help with physical ailments and emotional issues.

TOPAZ: This gemstone is one of the prettiest ones.

It is a stone of nobility, love, passion and pur-

pose; it also strengthens one’s confidence and trust in one’s inner power and abilities.

Did you know that there are birthstones for every month? January- Garnet; February- Amethyst; MarchAquamarine; April- White Topaz; May- Emerald; June- Moonstone; JulyRuby; August- Peridot; September- Iolite; October- Pink Tourmaline; November- Citrine; December- Blue Topaz.

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020

10

EVERGREEN

DEV SAAB GURMAN SINGH cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

L

FA CE OF TH ED AY

ong before Indian films and stars went international, there was Dev Anand. Debonair and inimitable, Dev Saab (as he was affectionately called) was the first really ‘cool’ hero of the Hindi silver screen. Known as the Adonis of Indian cinema for his good looks and charismatic personality, he cast his cinematic spell over generations of Indian women. Dev Anand’s inspiration for becoming an actor was another legendary actor, Ashok Kumar.

He was inspired after watching his performance in films like Achhut Kanya and Kismat. Interestingly, Dev was given his first big break by Ashok Kumar. The veteran actor chose him to play the hero in 1948’s Ziddi. Dev Anand’s movies were suave, modern, and not afraid of tackling bold subjects, just like the man himself. Whether it was Hare Rama Hare Krishna (that dealt with Hippie culture) or Des Prades (that explored the lives of Indian immigrants in the UK), all his films personified his different way of thinking. ‘Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya’ went the timeless melo-

dy from the movie Hum Dono. He signed all the film offers and subsequently the movies Aandhiyan, Taxi Driver, House No. 44, Nau Do Gyarah, and many more went on to become big hits. Nonchalantly puffing a cigarette and wandering through the woods, Hindi cinema’s legendary hero Dev Anand embodied the spirit of this ode to life on screen and in personal life. Ruling the roost in Hindi cinema for decades, Dev Anand won the Filmfare Best Actor Awards for his role in Kala Pani in 1958 and the cult film, Guide, in 1966. It was the first international collaboration of Indian cinema. He also won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. In 2001, he was bestowed Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian honor. A year later, he won the Dadasaheb Phalke award for cinematic excellence. Dev Anand turned to direction later in his career. His movie Chargesheet was released under the banner of Navketan International Films, a production company he launched in 1949.

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You may change your accommodation but choose wisely considering place and the nature of landlords. Today you will share and care for your family more than usual.

A telephonic get together is possible.

Someone who is difficult to control and full of spirit is people define you.

You have to be very careful with your kids upbringing and be careful of what you teach them to do. You will get support from even strangers today such is your luck. Go out of way if you need to, to be there for your lover and to support him/her when they need you at times.

You must rejoice as you may soon get married and a beautiful journey of your life will start. You will crave for your friends as they are at far distant place. If you plan to travel amid the current situations than be careful while doing so as any leniency won’t be good.

You will socially become more famous for your talents and looks. Students must not be careless as self discipline is must. Excellent day to buy precious metal or stones. You are popular among opposite sex friends. Genuine faith in your dreams is your need of the hour.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

If your parents are not able to understand you then you must try and be more clear with your words and expression rather than giving up on the idea. Your boyfriend/girlfriend may propose you. You need to live in reality and accept it, day dreaming is good but only to an extent.

You are both mentally and physically strong.

Someone in your family may need your help in form of guidance. Property as a gift is possible. You are happy and you will make everyone around you smile. Don’t take your love life for granted because its precious to you.

Your attitude towards work will get appreciation from everyone. You are someone who do things with full dedication. You believing God like anything. Happiness is something that is found within not outside, think on it. A special gratitude to your family is must.

Your best friend will do something amazing that will make you extremely emotional. Family support is all that you need right now. Look at the bigger picture in life and forget about small issues. Negotiate well before buying something. Expensive big parties are a thing of the past.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You will flourish by the blessings of your parents.

End the confusion by discussing your options with someone and then choose wisely. You are more than satisfied with your married life and are happy with partner. Someone in your social circle may need your help so do not hesitate.

An exciting times with siblings is on the cards.

You will be get satisfaction as far as physical intimacy is concerned.

Those in medical profession will see a hectic day. Something is better than nothing don’t forget. Unreasonably high demands are not good.

Spend time with your lover and hear them out, try to understand what they want to convey to you. You are very close with your sibling and you can do anything for him/her. Address issues which need immediate attention.

Old fashioned places or corners fascinate you in an unusual way.

You will manage to keep peace at home and things will be just fine. If someone tries to provoke you, please don’t loose your cool.

You will ace the coming exams.

Romance is good but please see with whom are you getting romantically involved and see if there is future.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

SONIYA INDORIYA, Model

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

ETC

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AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020

THIS IS PARIS P

Mirzapur cast

aris Hilton is bravely opening up about the terrifying abuse that she suffered while attending boarding school as a teen. The 39-year-old media personality talks about the abuse in her new YouTube documentary ‘This Is Paris’. “I buried my truth for so long,” Paris said. “But I’m proud of the strong woman I’ve become. People might assume everything in my life came easy to me, but I want to show the world who I truly am.”

Paris says that her parents sent her to a series of boarding schools when she was 17 and in her rebellious years. The final school she attended, where she stayed for 11 months, was Provo Canyon School in Utah. “It was supposed to be a school, but [classes] were not the focus at all. From the moment I woke up until I went to bed, it was all day screaming in my face, yelling at me, continuous torture,” she said.

—Agency

RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED

A

mid the lockdown, one question that was in the minds of Mirzapur fans was about the release date of Mirzapur season 2. Finally, the wait is over, as Amazon Prime has an answer. The streaming site re...poster of the series cently announced that the famed series will be returned for Season 2 on October 23, 2020. Set in Mirzapur, the hinterland of North India, season 1 of the crime drama had taken the audiences into a dark, complex world of guns, drugs, and lawlessness. With Season 2, the canvas of Mirzapur gets bigger but the rules remain the same!

The series features Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal , Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Rasika Dugal, Harshita Shekhar Gaur , Amit Sial, Anjum Sharma, Sheeba Chaddha, Manu Rishi Chadha and Rajesh Tailang. The series revolves around a journey where crime, drugs and violence rule and one needs to fight to survive.

—Agency

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Paris Hilton

BATTINSON ON FIRE

T

Robert Pattinson

he Batman teaser trailer debuted at the DC Fandome, giving fans a look at Robert Pattinson’s Batman. The trailer teased Matt Reeves’ new spin to the character, making the Batman dark, brutal, and a vigilante out to protect Gotham City. Apart from showcasing Pattinson in a Batsuit, we also see the Zoë Kravitz as the Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner James Gordon, John Turturro as mob boss Carmine Falcone, the gloomy Gotham City, Colin Farrell’s The Penguin and teases the Riddler.

With the release of the

...still from the trailer

trailer, the debate over Pattinson’s casting left DC fans divided. While a pool of fans approved the Twilight alum as the Knight, there are other fans who continue to support their opinion that Pattinson doesn’t fit. “I was wrong about him Robert F**kin’

Battinson is killing it. Pure Batman vibes Heart suit,” a fan wrote.

“This Batman looks. This version of Batman seems interesting.

Dark,” added another fan.

—Agency

MISSING DARLINGS

...still from the trailer

TEASER OUT

A

A

...his post

s we speak, the newest daddy in town, Hardik Pandya is in Dubai for the IPL, and as expected, he is missing his darling son, and wifey, Natasa Stankovic, and so, he took to social media to share a photo while he was video-calling with them. Taking to social media, Hardik shared a photo wherein he is seen video calling with Natasa and their daughter and alongside the photo.

Well, it was on July 30, 2020, that Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic welcomed their little bundle of joy in their lives as they became proud parents of a baby boy

Natasa Stankovic and Hardik Pandya

and soon after, Hardik revealed their son’s name as he took to Instagram to thank a car dealership store for sending a toy car for his son ‘Agastya,’ as his caption read, “Thank you @amgbangalore for Agastya’s first Amg.” —Agency

WONDER WOMAN IS BACK!

A

long with many new trailers, Wonder Woman 84 trailer also made its debut at the virtual event during the panel, carrying with it all the glitz and glamour one could expect from an ‘80sset superhero adventure.

The brand new trailer features the most extended look yet of Kristen Wiig as The Cheetah! At the trailer’s debut during the panel, main cast members – Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, and Kristen – all made an appearance alongside director Patty

Jenkins.

The trailer shows that Gal Gadot is back as Diana Prince in the longawaited sequel, and is joined by some promising new villains. Wiig who is taking on the role of Wonder Woman’s famed nemesis Cheetah will appear

with Pedro Pascal who essays the role of the mysterious Max Lord.

In the clip, you can also get a closer look at Wiig’s Cheetah in action as she takes on her once-friend Diana Prince in that iconic gold suit. —Agency

Gal Gadot Ananya Panday

nanya Panday is one of the most sought after newcomer and despite being just two movies old, she has successfully carved a niche for herself in the industry. Her upcoming movie Khaali Peeli has shared an interesting teaser of the movie and it is a complete mad ride which will leave you wanting for more.

Ishaan is sporting a rugged look in the movie while Ananya looks beautiful yet d a n g e ro u s.

The movie m a r k s Ishaan and Ananya’s first collaboration and their chemistry comes like a breath of fresh air as they promise for an interesting story.

Khaali Peeli, which is being helmed by debutant director Maqbool Khan, will be hitting the OTT platforms soon.

—Agency

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JAIPUR

AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020

F

rom the past few years, there is a world of change to the female entrepreneurial scene in India. Women have started to discover a business opportunity in their passion and ambition at home while responding to the needs of her family. With a vision to create a platform for such mompreneurs and a motto of “let us grow together” Rachna Kaushik started her Facebook page of ‘Jaipur Moms’ six years ago.

Her journey has been incredible since then. Business needs trust and trust develops through a bond. In a close-knit group of around 6000 women there are active discussions on an array of topics including business ideas, parenting, health and mental

MOMS SHALBHA SARDA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

‘I’M A RIDER’

Rachna Kaushik

well-being. Talking about her plans, Rachna said, “In the current grim economic climate with many job losses and pay cuts a mompreneur’s business needs to keep afloat more than ever. They need to shift from brick and mor-

tar to an online model and my page is evolving accordingly. Going vocal for local is the need of the hour for which I have created a similar page like Jaipur Moms on Instagram”. Her page helps garner attention on food clothes, schools, interesting city events and locally owned businesses.

“I plan to host online exhibitions for the display of products, conduct sessions, and webinars for ideas to get across and also help to promote new businesses on the page. This will not only help the group to have a holistic shift from offline to online but also directly engage them with the client. Providing women an open canvas to share ideas and her participation in boosting the economy is what’s needed for a self-reliant nation,” mentioned Rachna.

WHAT’S HAPPENING! GUJARAT: Alliance club of Surat ‘Hope’ donated milk, drinking water, food and masks at the flooded areas in the city on Sunday.

KARISHMA GWALANI

Karishma.gwalani @firstindia.co.in

C

lub Roaring Hawks, one of the prestigious biking club in Jaipur, has set up a record by riding 1700+ Kilometers in an unstoppable manner across the different cities of Rajasthan. After completing this journey, the club has become the first biking club in Rajasthan which has ever attempted and completed this feat.

On being asked about the journey, the riders said, “Although it was very difficult to achieve this feat, as we faced challenges while riding like unmanageable cattle on highways, unpredictable rains and speed breakers; we somehow, managed to achieve our target by riding 24 hours non stop without even having food and drink.”

In the early morning of 18 August, 4 riders and bike enthusiasts from the club viz: Gaurav Soni (Founder & Director of the club & a tattoo studio owner), Abhishek Ashia (Gallon 56 – A Biker’s Café owner), Anoop Sharma (an IT professional) and Ilu Raj Kumawat (BPCL contractor) started the journey from

Jaipur en-routing the different cities of the state i.e. Beawar, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Tanot, Phalodi, Bikaner, Sikar and Jaipur.

“This was an amazing and a great achievement of the group and their members.

Our group is committed to riding in the extreme manner in the future as well,’ said Gaurav.

Even after all the gruelling challenges, these riders completed their non-stop 24 hours journey of 1700+ Kms, all in a Day and are looking to continue the same.

HARMONY WITH HORMONES CITY FIRST

F

ICCI Flo Ladies Organisation, Jaipur curated an interesting parent-child centric session ‘Harmony With Hormones’ where an internationally renowned Psychologist with an experience over 20 years in cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, behavioural science and social psychology, Dr Preeti Vats was invited to address the session. During the session, she shared that a teenager faces many problems due to hormonal imbalance and the ways to make harmony with hormones like eating

habit, happy hormones, among others. While addressing, she also shared that a teen is more comfortable to talk at night, a lot of things are running in their minds and advised the

parents to put their teen sin multiple classes and observe their behaviour and performance, try to collaborate with them, they will listen to you and try to reward them always! cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

KRITIKA KANODIA

RAJASTHAN: A book ‘Media Sansar’ written by Dr Prabhat Kumar Singhal and KD Abbasi was published by Sahityaghar, Jaipur on Monday in the presence of Kota District Collector, Ujjawal Rathod, Dr Prabhat Kumar Singhal, co-author KD Abbasi and Advocate Akhtar Khan Akela. It is a multi-purpose book on the changing nature of journalism in the country. The book will benefit journalists, trainee journalists, and budding journalists.

RAJASTHAN: A horse riding show was organised by Horse Riding School in Jaipur, where Abid Hussain, son of Muhammad Zaid, won the silver medal at the age of 8 in the horse jumping show held on the occasion of Independence Day.

DECODING ‘I’

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

H

ave you ever wonder how humans can identify the chief goal of their present lifetime. Undoubtedly, every moment teaches us a lot.

However, how do we recognize the principle purpose that we are yet to imbibe?

It’s indeed possible through self-reflection and internal analysis.

If you have an elder in the family or experienced the natural death of a close one, you must have heard them talk about virtues such as honesty, loyalty, and trust.

Common teaching they all impart is to forget our vices and prejudices.

While this is excellent, understanding this when a lifetime is about to end is rather delayed.

Human behaviour is the key to identify this life’s purpose. Another common mis-

12

conception is that evolution has stopped because we have developed from the ancient apes to present-day humans.

However, mental evolution is an on-going process where we learn countless things right from the time of our

birth.

Youths are stereotypically in a state of frenzy because there is just so much all around to grasp. How about moving beyond material possessions to focusing on something that the soul is likely to carry to the next lifetime?

While the human body remains perishable, I believe that the soul has to move on from one journey to another.

Presently, our bodies are dictating our soul’s learning.

The human body experiences pain, frustration, irritation, aggression, hunger, and thirst, which elicits our responses to circumstances.

However, we have a long journey ahead to overcome our learning gaps. While you may or may not believe in my thoughts of multiple lifetimes, this can also be a social mechanism to mend our ways and make our surroundings better. Come back next week to understand if and how vital material possessions are.