First India-Ahmedabad Edition-31 July 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

27°C - 35°C

ALERT AHMEDABAD l FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

6,72,967 1,73,33,835 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 14,729 DEATHS 4,11,798 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

DELHI 3,936 DEATHS 1,34,403 CASES

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RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 246

INDIA

35,786 16,39,184 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 3,841 DEATHS 2,39,978 CASES

GUJARAT

2,418 DEATHS

KARNATAKA 2,230 DEATHS 1,18,632 CASES

60,285

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 667 DEATHS 40,936 CASES

As BSP threat abates, Gehlot relaxes!

Does not admit, but Raj HC issues notice to Speaker, Assembly Secy, BSP MLAs over Cong merger

Aditi Nagar & Nizam Kantaliya Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Speaker of the state Assembly, secretary of Assembly Secretariat and six MLAs who contested elections on Bahujan Samaj Party tickets and then merged with the Congress last year.

The court issued the notices while hearing two separate petitions filed by the BSP and BJP MLA Madan Dilawar, respectively, against the merger of the MLAs into the Congress. They have to submit their replies by August 11 which is the next date of hearing. However, political observers believe that it is a major breather for those in power since the Assembly has been called from August 14 onwards and it is un-

Six BSP MLAs giving letter to Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to merge the legislative party with the Congress in September 2019.

—FILE PHOTO

likely that the entire hearing will be completed before the session is convened.

The single-judge bench of justice Mahendra Kumar Goyal issued notices after two days of hearing.

The six erstwhile BSP MLAs who were issued notices are Sandeep Yadav, Wajib Ali, Deepchand Kheria, Lakhan

Meena, and Rajendra Gudha while notice to the Speaker was not issued in his name.

For the BSP, its national general secretary Satish Mishra argued the case while Madan Dilawar was represented by senior lawyer Harish Salve and Satpal Jain. Both the BSP and Dilawar had challenged the Speaker’s decision

regarding merger of the BSP MLAs with the Congress in September 2019.

Mishra said that the merger was completely unconstitutional while requesting the court to declare it invalid.

“The BSP is a national party; it cannot be merged into another party at state level. Legislators of national party cannot merge with-

out its national president. Until, the MLAs are re-elected, they will be considered MLAs of the party on which symbol they had been elected,” he said.

The BSP general secretary also cited Supreme Court judgment in Rajendra Singh Rana case in 2007, Jagjit Singh case in 2006 and the Haryana High Court’s judgment in Kuldeep Vishnoi versus Haryana Government case of 2014, to claim that the BSP MLAs merger in the Congress was unconstitutional.

While Dilawar’s lawyers Salve and Jain also termed the merger unconstitutional. Dilawar had filed a complaint to the Speaker against this merger in March 2020, which was rejected on July 24. Dilawar challenged the Speaker’s decision Turn on P6

Raj religious places Raj impasse discussed in to open from Sept 1 Sonia RS MPs virtual meet First India Bureau Jaipur: After being closed for 163 days, all religious places in Rajasthan will be opened from September 1 onwards. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot instructed all district collectors to start preparations in this regard on Thursday late evening, while chairing a review meeting on Corona crisis in the state.

In view of the Covid-19 infection, the Home Department will issue a separate guideline for this, however, Gehlot has already directed Collectors that following social distancing norms and health

protocol amid the pandemic would be the core need. It is believed that large congregation of authorities will not be allowed at religious sites and strict monitoring of peoples’ movements, so that health protocols are followed, will be conducted.

Gehlot stressed that increasing the recovery rate from Corona has been a top priority of his government. “The death rate in July has been less than one percent. It is our endeavor to continuously increase the recovery rate and bring the death rate to negligible level,” he said.

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday met with Rajya Sabha MPs of the party via video conferencing and discussed various issues including, the current political crisis in Rajasthan, COVID -19 pandemic and “government’s mismanagement and incursion of China in Ladakh.”

Speaking to ANI, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that there are several burning issues in the country that were discussed in the meeting. “We have discussed the way the Modi government has failed to handle COVID-19 pandemic. The political crisis of Rajasthan was also discussed in the meeting and how constitutional

SONIA ADMITTED TO HOSP New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Thursday for “routine tests and investigations” and her condition is currently stable, said Dr DS Rana, Chairman (Board of Management), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi. norms are being violated there openly. The incursion of China was also discussed. Sonia Gandhi said how Prime Minister Modi has lied on this issue by stating that even not a 1 inch of land has been grabbed

by China,” Singh said.

“We discussed how Rajya Sabha MPs can help people during this pandemic. Sonia Gan-

dhi also suggested that everyone should help people as much as help possible. She said that the strength of the organisation can serve the people in a better way,” the former Union minister Akhilesh Prasad Singh added.

Sonia virtually met Congress RS MPs and discussed various issues.

—ANI

CM Ashok Gehlot speaking to media persons on Thursday.

Hike in ‘Derby’ rates after House session announced!

Earlier, first instalment was of `10 cr & second `15 cr, which is now unlimited: Gehlot Aditi Nagar Jaipur: Even as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has made several claims that he has a majority, amid the ongoing political tussle between him and former deputy CM Sachin Pilot, on Thursday, he asserted that the ‘rate of horse trading’ has gone up substantially, since Governor Kalraj Mishra gave his approval for Assembly session.

Gehlot’s words spread like wildfire across Rajasthan, at a time when former ministers are being hounded, by state agencies like SOG and ACB, on alleged horsetrading attempts.

“After the Assembly session was announced on Wednesday night, the rates of horse trading have increased. Earlier, the first instalment was of Rs 10 crore and second was of Rs 15 crore.

Now it has become unlimited and all know who is doing horse trading,” Gehlot told

CONG MLAs TO BE FLOWN OUT FROM JAIPUR TODAY! Jaipur: Even as word spread on Thursday that Congress MLAs will be kept securely in Fairmont Hotel at Jaipur for a fortnight till the run up to the Assembly session on August 14, a sudden change was made in the plans when late in the night it was decided that MLAs will be flown to a resort at Jaisalmer via chartered flights. It is believed that around 95 MLAs would be taken there and ‘housed’ till Assembly session starts, while a few ministers are going to stay behind in Jaipur for effective functioning of the government.

According to sources, at the 11th hour, Gehlot camp may even spark a surprise by diverting Jaipur-Jaisalmer chartered flight to a luxury resort at Lavasa in Maharashtra, where a Gehlot friend, Sharad Pawar wields some considerable influence.

Turn on P6

reporters and stressed that horse-trading will never be successful in the desert state.

However, the senior Congress leader also appealed that the dissidents should come back to the party fold.

“The dissidents should come back. If you are miffed, you should sit at AICC, but all of them are guests of BJP. The entire game has been played by BJP and peo-

ple will not spare them.

Their leaders in Centre are conspiring and Gajendra Singh’s name has come to the fore too,” a visibly charged Gehlot said while adding, “Now we have called Assembly session and if they have won on Congress’s ticket, then it is their first duty that they should appear to be standing with the government.

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Surat Municipal Corporation asks for more funds to fight corona 24 HOURS: 1,159 CASES, 24 DEAD, 879 DISCHARGED TOTAL: 60,285 CASES, 2,418 DEAD, 44,074 DISCHARGED Haresh Jhala Gandhinagar: On average, Surat has been reporting 200-250 cases of COVID-19 a day for the past two months. Now, with another 217 cases coming in from Surat city, the municipal corporation there—which

has already spent Rs37 crore to fight the outbreak—has asked the state government for more funds.

Surat district’s 271 new cases reported on Thursday (including 54 from rural areas) form a major chunk of the state’s 1,159 fresh cases, which were re-

Staff at AMC’s 104 COVID-19 Helpline call centre are seen at their work stations at Paldi area in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

ported in 33 districts and eight corporation areas—another alltime in daily spikes.

With the health department testing 25,067 samples on Thursday, there are now 13,793 active cases in the state, including 84 patients who are on ventilator support.

On June 01, Surat had 1,659 positive cases and 71 deaths due to the novel coronavirus. As on July 30, those numbers have rocketed to 12,785 and 406, respectively.

In the past four months, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has spent Rs37 crore. Now, Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani has written to the state government asking for more funds. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had released Rs10 crore from the CM relief fund for Surat earlier this week, but this amount does not appear to be enough, especially with sources of income drying up.

Commissioner Pani

is apprehensive that, if the situation persists, the SMC will have spent Rs170 crore by the end of December.

Apart from Surat, Ahmedabad had 157 cases, Vadodara had 96, Rajkot, 86, Jamnagar, 40, Bhavnagar, 46, Gandhinagar, 37, Bharuch, 35, Junagadh and Surendranagar had 34 each, Dahod had 31, Banaskantha had 28, Amreli, 24, Panchmahal, 23, and Patan and Valsad reported 22 each.

Turn on P6

NEWS AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

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02

Do we have enough infrastructure & skills to take on the changes needed to make NEP 2020 a reality?

ANEWGOOD CHAPTER EDU POLICY AT PAR WITH GLOBAL STANDARDS Gargi Raval

Ahmedabad: The National Education Policy 2020, passed by the Union cabinet on Wednesday, aims to bring a sea change in the current education system by making it contemporary and skill-oriented, like those found in developed countries.

The ambitious NEP 2020—India’s first such policy in at least 28 years—recommends primary education in local languages, creating a single higher-education regulator, and easier board examinations. It also advocates that multidisciplinary studies be made accessible to all students.

While experts have welcomed parts of the policy, many are worried that actually implementing these changes could prove an insurmountable task, given the glaring inadequacies in terms of infrastructure and skills training.

Educational activist Sukhdev Patel said that the one good thing about

this policy is that it would decrease the burden on young adults. “At present, there is an extreme burden on adolescent students due to board exams. This is their most creative years. Now there will be less burden,” he said, adding, “However, so far, in my experience, policies aren’t converted into reality that easily.”

Author and educationist Bhadrayu Vachcharajani points out that the idea of multidisciplinary studies, in which students can choose courses across disciplines, is not new.

He also says it “has failed miserably”.

As he told First India, “The UGC (University Grants Commission) has put forth the concept on paper many times in the past. Medical students can get credit for art classes, etc… but this has failed miserably.”

He explains further: “The choicebased credit system is like going to a restaurant and selecting items from the menu.

However, in reality, it

is more like a cafeteria. If you ask for a paratha from the menu, they will tell you they don’t have it.

This will happen again when you choose something else from the menu until, eventually, you end up eating what the eatery is offering and not what you want.”

He went on: “An institution may put all the courses on paper, but do we have enough teachers for that? Do we have enough music teachers, art and drawing teachers, or even physical training teachers? Who will teach all these

courses? This idea is absolutely fine but is there any provision for teachers? There are vacancies but no recruitment.

Even for the research, there is no space for inter-disciplinary research.”

Patel points out that some universities have introduced multidisciplinary studies.

“Here in Gujarat, PDPU (Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University) offers such courses. It is a welcome step but is limited as the content is going to remain the same. It needs to be updated and en-

hanced to tackle new challenges,” he said, adding, “For me, this is structural change. I was talking with an expert and he told me the policy—despite coming amid calls to be ‘vocal for local’—is 60% copy-pasted from that of other countries.” He also points out that the committee that came up with NEP 2020 did not take the opinion of “anyone in the field of education”.

Mujahid Nafees, the founder of the Right to Education Forum, says, “NEP 2020 deals with education and skills as

synonyms which will affect the quest for knowledge. Too much emphasis on culture may be a tool against diversity. Moreover, the government is escaping from its responsibility and giving more space for private partners to operate schools. Currently, schools have a deficit of teachers even 10 years after the RTE Act was implemented.

The government is charging education cess but not investing that in education. This is just a name change and a few patches but it’s not a new road.”

Vachcharajani, while also sceptical, advocates a wait and watch policy.

“Policymaking and dreaming are not wrong but one must consider if the government can implement these changes and turn the policy into a reality. There are a few milestones in this policy: 2023, 2025, 2030, and 2035. In my personal opinion, the BJP has a habit of taking big while ignoring reality.

The result of this policy can only be discussed in 2036,” he said.

Too much emphasis on culture may be a tool against diversity.

Moreover, the government is escaping from its responsibility and giving more space for private partners to operate schools. Currently, schools have a deficit of teachers even 10 years after the RTE Act was implemented.

—Mujahid Nafees, founder, RTE Forum

This idea (of multidisciplinary studies) is absolutely fine but is there any provision for teachers? There are vacancies but no recruitment.

Even for the research, there is no space for inter-disciplinary research.

— Bhadrayu Vachcharajani, author & educationist

For me, this is structural change. I was talking with an expert and he told me the policy—despite coming amid calls to be ‘vocal for local’—is 60% copy-pasted from that of other countries.

— Sukhdev Patel, educational activist

GEARING UP FOR THE NEXT LEVEL

LIMPING BACK: Restos, shops to get extended biz hours, no night curfew First India Bureau

CM Vijay Rupani

Gandhinagar: Under Unlock 3.0, the state government on Thursday took a decision to extend the operation time limit of shops till 8 pm and restaurants till 10 pm.

Also, in adherence to the Union Home Ministry guidelines, there will be no night curfew enforced from August 1.

A meeting chaired

by Chief Minister Vi-

jay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and other senior officers, came to a consensus that by permitting more relaxation amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the trade and hospitality sector may help revive the state’s economy.

Other guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry will be enforced in the state but, gymnasiums and yoga centres will be permitted to resume operations under Unlock 3.0.

CM Rupani also decided to go ahead with the Prime Minister’s ‘Nal Se Jal’ programme

and make the state free of highly fluoridated water and handpumps.

Over 75% homes in the state will be covered under the programme and soon the entire

for the economically weaker sections of the society. It allocated funds to the tune of crores for the renovation of the historical Bhujia Fort in

CM Rupani & other top brass meet to discuss Unlock 3.0, seek to revive state’s economy state will receive potable water through taps, thereby eliminating the need for handpumps all together.

In the meeting, the state government also dedicated the establishment of homes

Kutch district and laying drainage pipelines in Jamnagar city. State Minister of Agriculture RC Faldu was also present during the e-lokarpan (launch) of the initiative.

Elaborating on the government’s plans for the state, Rupani said, “Our target is to ensure that each and every village and town receives all the basic amenities.

It is important that people do not have to be deprived of basic services and infrastructure.”

Under another initiative, the chief minister announced a flyover project to be built on the seven crossroads near Subhash Bridge in the city of Jamnagar.

The government has sanctioned Rs155 crore for the flyover, which will help ease

traffic congestion in the city. The development of such projects may soon catapult Jamnagar into a megacity. The Chief Minister also dedicated the taluka administration office of Dhrol town in Jamnagar district via video conferencing.

As the time for municipal corporation and district panchayats elections in the state nears, the state has sprung into action. Development projects have been put on fasttrack, probably to ensure a win in upcoming elections.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

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Concerned by state’s role in school fee exemption: HC Gujarat government asked to explain its stance on the issue at the hearing today Haresh Jhala

SELF-SUFFICIENT

Ahmedabad: While hearing the petition filed challenging the online classes being conducted by schools in the state and the fees row, the state high court on Thursday questioned the state government’s intention and logic behind the exemption of school fees until resumption of the academic session.

The court will hear the state’s response on Friday.

Since another petition had also been filed last week against the circular of fees exemption issued by the government by the SelfFinanced School Management Association of Gujarat, the court has decided to club both petitions and hear them together.

Upon the court’s inquiry, the state responded that parents were not in a position to pay school fees of their kids for the lockdown period, since

—FILE PHOTO

The Gujarat High Court.

their income has been affected.

The court asked if the state was asking private (self -financed) schools to make the fee exemption. It also inquired as to how the government planned to repay the difference amount to private schools. The state replied, “We have assured all self-financed schools that whatever expenditure occurs in this academic year, it will be taken into considera-

GTU student data leaked after mock test

If the government genuinely believes that parents are facing a financial crunch, then why hasn’t it lent financial help to them? The state government needs to create a short structural system to resolve the issue.

—High Court of Gujarat tion when the fee regulation committee decides on the school fee hike for the next academic year.”

Countering the response, the court further questioned the logic behind the fee

hike supposition, by stating, ‘If the government plans to hike the fees of schools in the next academic year, how will the parents of students be able to pay the fees then?’ The state did not reply to

this counter-query.

Over the course of the hearing, the court orally observed that it suspected the state government’s role in the issue.

“If the government genuinely believes that parents are facing a financial crunch, then why hasn’t it lent financial help to them?

The state government needs to create a short structural system to resolve the issue,” it stated.

Court rejects Hardik Patel’s plea to travel Haresh Jhala

Ahmedabad: A city civil and sessions court on Thursday rejected state acting president of Congress and Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel’s application seeking permission to travel to other states. The state government had opposed Patel’s petition stating that wherever he travels, it will create law and order unrest.

Additional City Civil and Sessions judge Bharat Ganatra while rejecting Patel’s application observed, “After going through the sedition case file, it is clear that the petitioner is intentionally delaying trial.

The court has to exercise its power judiciously and has to be careful while deciding on citizens’ rights.

Public interest is more important than a particular individual’s rights, and in this situation the court feels that the plea of the applicant should be rejected.”

Hardik Patel.

Patel had moved an application pleading to delete condition number five from his regular bail order. According to the bail order, under condition number five, Patel is restricted from travelling to other states, and may only do so with the court’s permission.

The petitioner’s submission was that even when the high court granted his regular bail, no such condition was put forth by it. He further termed the condition against the law and pleaded that it be scrapped. The petitioner also argued

First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: Students of the Gujarat Technological University have complained that their personal data, including ID proofs were leaked onto the university website during an online mock test held on Tuesday.

“Around 28,000 students took the pre-trial online MCQ (multiple choice question) test held on July 28. The data breach has captured all the students’ IDs—not just college IDs, but also government-issued identification like PAN or Aadhar cards, which are linked to our bank accounts,” one student said.

The data of thousands of students remained exposed on the university’s website for quite some time before being brought down.

Students took to

Rajkot: The decision of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) not to release the names of COVID-19 positive patients has witnessed backlash from various political parties.

After members of the Congress party staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to the RMC commissioner Udit Agrawal on Wednesday, the youth wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protested RMC’s move by carrying banners near Trikon Baug Chowk on Thursday.

Demanding that the local civic body release the names of COVID-19 positive patients, AAP members said that it would help people equip themselves with the information to stay safe and take necessary

A man immerses a statue of Goddess Dashama in the Sabarmati river near Ahmedabad’s Indira Bridge on the last day of the 10-day Dashama Vrat, which is celebrated every year in the Hindu holy month of Shravan.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

For Surtis, gold-silver rakhis have lost their shine First India Bureau Surat: The novel coronavirus pandemic has affected the economy as well as the health of people adversely. It seems that the festival of

Rakshabandhan has not been spared too.

The demand for gold, silver and diamond rakhis, which usually have many takers in the diamond city, has decreased this year.

Owing to the financial crunch brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and the rise in the prices of gold and silver, the demand for fancy rakhis has fallen this season.

With local jewellers

—FILE PHOTO

that the rights enshrined in the Constitution cannot be withdrawn or made ineffective by the court, which includes the right to move freely across the nation.

However, public prosecutor MV Dhruv opposed the application on grounds that since the beginning the applicant has not been cooperating with the trial, by being absent frequently from court proceedings. He argued that since Patel has not been abiding by the law or respecting court orders, he can be denied individual rights.

After Congress, AAP protests against RMC

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

First India Bureau

Twitter to voice their concerns, and strongly protested against the university and demanded answers.

General secretary of the National Student Union of India, Bhavik Solanki questioned GTU’s silence on the issue, and said, “GTU has a course on cybersecurity and yet the institution and its administrators have failed to provide security to their own students. They are charging hefty fees from the students and can’t even secure their data. If any student of GTU becomes a victim due to the data leak, then NSUI will launch a movement.”

03

coming up with such“precious” rakhis every year, they are seen as an investment

by Surtis, which can be worn for special occasions. The price of such rakhis ranges from Rs500 to Rs1 lakh.

The protesters carried banners near Trikon Baug Chowk.

precautions if they come in contact with a person who has been infected with the virus.

The AAP members were seen carrying banners with slogans such as, ‘What is RMC hiding? Names of patients or its failure?’, ‘Release the names of corona patients, save people’s lives.’

The RMC ceased releasing names of COVID-19 patients and their addresses three days ago, a practice it had kept at ever since the outbreak reached Rajkot.

COVID-19 CARE

AMC designates 15 more hospitals for patients from other districts 

Since these hospitals can continue to admit patients until pressed into service, AMC does not need to pay for vacant beds or advance grants

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Thursday announced 15 more private hospitals in the city as designated COVID-19 hospitals, in view of a significant flow of patients coming to the city for treatment from other districts.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting attended by Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar

and officer on special duty Rajiv Kumar Gupta, among others.

“To accommodate these outside patients, the AMC has decided to designate 15 more private hospital for COVID-19 care. Since the AMC does not need more beds right now, these hospitals can utilise 100 per cent of their beds to admit patients under private quota,” Gupta said.

This means that AMC has the option of using 50% of the beds in these 15 hospitals, should the need arise in the future.

—FILE PHOTO

AMC building.

Until then, the hospitals can use all their beds for their own privately ad-

mitted patients. So, AMC will not need to pay charges for vacant

beds or advance grants.

The 59 private hospitals already designated

for COVID-19 treatment will continue to have the provision of 50% beds reserved for AMCreferred patients.

This new arrangement would add 500 more beds and ensure availability of more critical beds (with HDU, ICU, and Ventilator facilities) for COVID-19 patients in the city.

Gupta clarified that patients from the city can also be admitted by these hospitals. The AMC will need to be informed when patients from outside the city are

admitted to private designated COVID-19 hospitals. The newly designated hospitals have been directed to charge private-quota patients as per the order dated June 01, 2020.

Meanwhile, the civic body issued show-cause notice to 126 intern doctors who did not remain present during training to deal with the SarsCoV-2 outbreak, despite a reminder. The civic body has warned that if the interns will repeat this, they will have to face dire consequences.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

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RAFALE A GAME CHANGER. YES, IT IS.....

IN-DEPTH

TRANSFORMING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

A

fter 34 years the 10 plus 2 system of education is set to make way for the new 5+3+3+4 system under the ground-breaking New Education Policy passed by the Union government. The first five years will include foundational education. The NEP incorporates sweeping reforms like four-year bachelor’s programme with the flexibility of exiting and rejoining the course, no firm dividing line between arts and science streams, one-year MA programme, opening the doors for foreign universities. Fouryear degree course allowing students to choose one major subject, say physics, along with any other subject, like music is a new laudable element.

K Kasturirangan, who was chairman of the drafting panel called it a seminal moment and said that will transform education in the country in the next 20 years.

The much-needed reforms will touch all levels of education starting from preschool and bring about a qualitative improvement. The various state educational boards, multiple examinations, buying of university affiliations by private universities and colleges will all be a thing of the past. So will be the University Grants Commission and the AICTE, which will be merged. Students will no longer be required to worry about their percentages in class XII, which will become part of graduation course and Delhi University cut-offs as there will be a common SAT-like entrance test.

The reforms bring India’s education system at par with the global practices and will be especially helpful for students planning to go abroad for higher education. However, with the presence of foreign universities in the country they may not feel the need to do so.

COL DEVANAND LOHAMAROD

F

GEHLOT GOVT FACES ‘MERGER’ TEST

R

ajasthan political crisis got a new twist when Rajasthan HC issued notices to Assembly Speaker and secretary in the merger of six BSP MLAs with Congress.

The notices have been issued on a petition filed by the BSP challenging the merger. The six BSP MLAs–Sandeep Yadav, Wajib Ali, Deepchand Kheria, Lakhan Meena, Jogendra Awana and Rajendra Gudhana–defected to Congress in September 2019 giving the Gehlot government a comfortable majority of 107 in the 200-member House. The MLAs had contested and won elections on the BSP party symbol.

With odds seemingly against Gehlot the BSP decided to strike, baring Mayawati’s growing enchantment for the BJP. The party issued a whip to the six defectors asking them to vote against Gehlot government during a floor test. BSP generalsecretary Satish Chandra Mishra, who represented his party in HC, said that the merger announced by the Speaker was illegal and unconstitutional as per the provisions of para 4 of the Xth Schedule.

The HC’s notices are returnable by August 11, three days prior to the date of floor test fixed by the Governor. There is a possibility that the BSP MLAs might defy the party whip and help Gehlot to tide over the political crisis. The Chief Minister remained closeted with his party legislators for a meeting in a hotel, which will be their abode till the D-Day. But the danger is not yet over.

The aircraft is capable of carrying a wide range of potent missile systems like Meteor, MICA, Scalp and HEMMER. Each Rafale can carry maximum of six missiles including two fire-and-forget Scalp cruise missiles

ive Rafale fighter jets of the IAF that took off from Merignac in France on 27 July 2020 travelling about 7,000 km with a night stopover in the UAE touched down at Ambala on Wednesday in the middle of the ongoing military confrontation with China which could extend to the winters, or even beyond.

Gp Capt Harkirat Singh of the “17 Golden Arrows team” comprising of Wing Commanders MK Singh, R Kataria, Sidhu and Arun were given traditional welcome with water cannons at Ambala airbase on 29 Jul 2020. Bharat had bought 36 twin-engine fighter planes from Dassault Rafale for 3.7 Billion $ (`58,000 crore) through an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2016. These are first imported jets being inducted into the IAF after gap of 23 years since 1977 when the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets were inducted.

Of the ten delivered so far, five are in France for training.

Pilots and support personnel of the Indian Air Force have been given complete training about the aircraft and the weapon systems by France. IAF batches will continue to be trained in France for the next nine months. The delivery of all 36 aircraft will be completed by the end of 2021. Thirty will be fighter jets and six will be twin-seater trainers with similar features of the fighter jets.

It is being dubbed as “game-changers” by many thinkers around the globe and Is indeed going to be one as this has both strategic and national ramifications for Bharat. Early delivery of Rafale is a clear signal of trust in Bharat enjoys in the international community and at the same time withholding of supply of S-400 missile system by Russia to China is one of lack of trust in China.

Rafales are extremely swift, versatile, 4.5 Generation and deadly “Smart Aerial Machine

with Smart Weapons”.

Equipped with a wide range of weapons designed for Omni role with four mission capability in single sortie. It’s capable of performing interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support role and beyond visual range precision strike including ground and sea targets with nuclear deterrence. The deadly weapon systems, advanced avionics, sophisticated radars and state of art electronic warfare systems makes it currently an invincible platform in sky.

The aircraft is capable of carrying a wide range of potent missile systems like Meteor, MICA, Scalp and HEMMER. Each Rafale can carry maximum of six missiles including two fire-and-forget Scalp cruise missiles for high-value fortified targets well over 250 km of range.

The Meteor missiles with 150 km range are one of the best air to air missiles in the world for air combat with no-escape zone for hostile fighters.

The upgrades like Israeli helmet-mounted displays and low-band jammers to towed decoy systems, 10-hour flight data recording and engine capability for “cold start” in sub-Zero & high-altitude regions make it the best all-terrain /all-weather aerial platform in IAF combat inventory.

Its unique Stealth capability with Solid-state transmit-

Pakistan and China currently do not have any aerial platform with weaponry of this class in their combat inventories. Closest to raffles is Chinas J-20 so claimed to be 5 Generation aircraft which is devoid of any combat experience

ter system makes it almost invisible on any radar screen, electronic scanning radar with capability to scan multiple targets with lock and engage eight targets at any given time, mid fighter to fighter mid-air refuelling ability and holographic cockpit makes it first of its kind in the world. With proven operational track record in Iraq/Libya/Afganistan, higher range of engagement for a target as far as 300 km of distance, High altitude sub-zero capability, speed of 2 Mac and combat range of 1600 km gives it higher survivability in combat Zone.

Plastics threat on Himalayas: Who’s to blame?

I

n India, many people blame the communities living in and around the forests for exploiting natural resources. They are held responsible for forest degradation and deforestation. Communities who live in the Himalayas are no exception. Today, the once-pristine Himalayan mountains are littered with plastic. Even remote villages with age-old traditions have not escaped the plastic menace. As a result, we are witnessing one of the biggest environmental tragedies in the world.

TOURISM AND POLLUTION About two decades ago, I visited the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand in India. As the bus climbed the mountain

04

at a steady speed, we would occasionally stop for tea and snacks as well to engage in photography. At one point, the bus stopped at a cluster of roadside tea shops near a small village.

We decided to enjoy the view with chai and pakora.

We were not alone at the spot. Some tourists were also enjoying the spectacular view of mountain landscapes while quenching their thirst and slaking their appetite. As we were sitting on the benches, we observed that some of the tourists were drinking soft drinks and eating potato chips. A senior colleague in our group quipped: “See, here also, they are selling soft drinks and chips. They should not sell these items here. The shops should keep local products only.

See, the empty plastic bottles and packets are strewn

Even remote villages have not escaped the plastic menace.

Thus, we witness one of the biggest environmental tragedies

all around, polluting the beautiful mountain forest and environment.”

My colleague’s words set me thinking. Empathizing with the poor tea shop owners, I instinctively responded, “They are selling soft drinks and chips because tourists are buying.” Although I did not articulate it at that moment, I saw the poor tea shop owner mere-

ly supplying what his customers demanded. Not doing so could have meant not making enough money to feed his family.

Suffice to say, my senior colleague differed with me.

He offered the supply-side argument. If tea shop owners did not sell soft drinks and plastics, the tourists would not have been able to buy them. These owners were at fault. They had to be stopped.

Being a man of the mountains myself, I know how hard life can be for my people. This argument did not wash with my senior who retorted: “Poverty, poverty, poverty … what is poverty?

I do not see them starving.

In any case, they are destroying the environment everywhere selling these city products.”

Like my colleague, I too am appalled by the pollu-

tion. It is disgusting to see the beautiful Himalayan mountainside ruined by plastic. Yet my senior’s condemnation of the tea shop owners does not quite sit easily with me. The old ways of life in Himalayan villages are dead. Subsistence farming no longer meets local needs. Money talks. So, why blame these mountain folks?

Just as mountain folks have their needs, so do tourists. They escape to cool and green mountains from hot and dusty cities.

They have developed a taste for soft drinks and chips. Lest we forget, these are advertised incessantly on their television sets or computer screens. They want to soak in the scenery while partaking something they enjoy. Surely that is a natural human instinct.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.FAIROBSERVER.COM

The Rafale jets has various Bharat specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low-band jammers, 10hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems. Rafale has unique HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick system). This means the pilot can use the throttle and stick to control the entire spectrum of the operations. Rafale’s throttle and stick have 36 switches on them. “Each switch has four distinct movements that are meant for specific operations.

Pakistan and China currently do not have any aerial platform with weaponry of this class in their combat inventories. Closest to raffles is Chinas J-20 so claimed to be 5 Generation aircraft which is devoid of any combat experience and certification. In spite of China’s claims of its J-20 being a 5th generation aircraft, Rafale is a far superior in weapon system, stealth technology and avionics.

If the J-20 was the best, why would the Chinese go for the Russian Su-35.

The second squadron of Rafale will be stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The IAF has created adequate required infrastructure like shelters, hangars and maintenance facilities at the two bases.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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TWEET Prakash Javadekar @PrakashJavdekar One year ago on 30th July, 2019 @narendramodi government abolished #TripleTalaq. It has contributed to women empowerment and given them the dignity they deserve in our society. Now, #TripleTalaq Cases have dropped by 82% since the law was enacted.

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Delighted to note that a Madein-India cycle helped kickstart a healthy UK campaign and was used by PM @BorisJohnson Indian products are without doubt the best recipe for nursing back the health of the World.

Spiritual SPEAK

...And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while —Ayat 42 you know.

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passenger trains on India’s partnerships marked ‘Need Haridaspur-Paradip route’ by respect, diversity, says PM Vaishali

Speaking at the inauguration of Supreme Court building in Mauritius, PM Narendra Modi said the country’s approach to development is mainly human-centric New Delhi: Asserting that India’s development partnerships are marked by respect, diversity, care for the future and sustainable development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the fundamental principle in development cooperation for India is “respecting our partners.”

Speaking at the inauguration of Supreme Court building in Mauritius, PM Modi said India’s development cooperation does not come with any conditions. PM Modi said, “India is making development partnerships that are marked by respect, diversity, care for the future and sustain-

With Mauritius, we share not only the waters of the Indian Ocean but also a common heritage of kinship, culture and language. Our friendship draws strength from the past and also looks towards the future. India takes pride in the achievements of the people of Mauritius.

Mauritius has built its success through hard work and innovation.

PM Modi speaks during the inauguration of the new SC building of Mauritius through video conferencing.

—PHOTO BY ANI

able development. For India, the most fundamental principle in development cooperation in respecting our partners. This sharing of development lessons is our only motivation.

That is why our development cooperation does not come with any conditions. It is not in-

fluenced by political or commercial considerations.”

“We want to work for the welfare of humanity. History has taught us that in the name of development partnerships, nations were forced into dependence partnerships. It gave rise to colonial and im-

OFFERING PRAYERS IN TIMES OF CORONA

He said the completion of project that has been sanctioned in 1996 was possible due to PM Modi’s commitment to realise the vision of Purvodaya & constant monitoring on implementation of key infrastructure projects languishing for years.

“I would request you to solicit the presence of PM Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for a grand inauguration of the project,” Pradhan said.

Islamabad HC forms special bench to hear Jadhav’s case

SSR’s father files caveat in SC on Rhea’s transfer plea

eration and shared values between the two countries. “Today we celebrate yet another landmark in the special friendship between India and Mauritius. The new Supreme Court building in Port Louis is a symbol of our cooperation & our shared values,” the PM said.—ANI

Islamabad: The Islamabad HC has formed a special bench to hear the case of former Indian navy commander Kulbushan Jadhav from next week. Jadhav, a former Indian navy commander, has been sentenced to death for alleged involvement in a spying case Islamabad HC Chief Justice Athar Minallah will be heading the bench. A lawyer will also be appointed for Jadhav on Monday.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan government presented the International Court of Justice Ordinance, 2020, in Par-

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba as they maintain social distancing.

Dharmendra Pradhan

para and facilitate economic development in the region,” the letter said.

Expressing his gratitude to Goyal for taking personal interest for swift completion of the long-pending project and thanking Odisha government for prompt resolution of various issues, Pradhan said the project will unlock massive potential for development in Eastern India envisioned under PM’s Purvodaya vision.

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

perial rule. It gave rise to global power blocks.

And, humanity suffered,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi said the two countries’ friendship draws strength from the past and also and looks toward the future. He also said the new SCbuilding is a symbol of coop-

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for introduction of passenger train service on HaridaspurParadip rail line that is ready for movement of goods trains.

In a letter to Goyal, Pradhan said the 82-km rail link between Paradip & Haridaspur passing through Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Jajpur districts is the widely anticipated railway line in the State since sanctioning of the project in 1996.

Passenger train service is a long-standing demand of the people of Kendrapara.

“I request your personal intervention in starting of passenger train service through this line which will provide much-needed connectivity to Kendra-

liament for approval.

This legislation will pave the way for Jadhav to appeal his death sentence handed to him by a military court in 2017.

The ordinance will have an overriding effect as its provisions shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the

time being in force, including the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

On July 22, the Pakistan government had approached the Islamabad HC to appoint a legal representative for the Indian spy.

The move was made in the light of the International Court of Justice’s July 17, 2019 decision, following which the International Court of Justice Ordinance, 2020 was enacted to implement the court’s verdict.According to the government’s petition, Jadhav refused to file a petition against his sentence. —Agencies

Priyanka Vadra writes to CM Yogi, 35,000 troops deployed at LAC demands release of Kafeel Khan ARMY’S BIG EDGE OVER CHINA IN EASTERN LADAKH

New Delhi: Preparing for a long haul in the Eastern Ladakh sector in extreme winters, the Indian Army has an edge over the Chinese as it has deployed 35,000 troops there who have already done tenures in high altitude and cold conditions.

The Indian troops deployed there are mentally prepared for tackling the weather and terrain. In contrast, the Chinese troops deployed along the LACare not used to these conditions as they have

been brought from mainland China and are not accustomed to high altitude extreme cold weather conditions. “We are preparing to provide extreme cold weather portable cabins for around 35,000 troops that have been

VAT ON DIESEL REDUCED TO 16.75 PERCENT IN NEW DELHI New Delhi: The Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel in Delhi has been reduced to 16.75 per cent from 30 per cent, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government decided on Thursday.

“Delhi Cabinet has decided to reduce VAT on diesel from 30 per cent to 16.75 per cent. This will reduce the price of diesel in Delhi from Rs 82 to Rs

73.64, i.e., by Rs 8.36 per litre,” Kejriwal said while addressing a press conference here. “Many people including traders were demanding a reduction in prices of diesel. This was affecting the budgets of industries and other establishments,” he added.

Job portal opened by his government has received a positive response.

deployed in the Eastern Ladakh sector,” government sources told ANI. “Our soldiers deployed there have already done a tenure or two in Siachen, Eastern Ladakh or Northeast and they are physically and mentally prepared for a longer deployment there,” they said.

The Chinese soldiers deployed on Indian front include mainly conscripts who join the PLA for a period of 2-3 years and then return to their normal lives, sources said.—ANI

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has written to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding the release of Dr Kafeel Khan who is in jail after the NSA was invoked against him by the government.

In her letter to UP Chief Minister, she said that she wanted to raise the issue of Kafeel Khan who has spent around 450 days in jail.

Khan has selflessly served the people in

ECI TO CONDUCT BY-ELECTIONS FOR 2 RS SEATS ON AUGUST 24 New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will conduct by-elections for two vacant Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and Kerala on August 24. “There are two casual vacancies in the Rajya Sabha, one each from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. The seats got vacated due to the deaths of former MPs Beni Prasad Verma and MP Veerendra Kumar,” the ECI said in a press note. “The Commission has decided to hold by-elections to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala to fill up the said vacancies,” it added.

CONG GEN SECY VACATES GOVT BUNGALOW IN DELHI’S LUTYENS’ ZONE

tough times. “I hope that you will look into the matter in a sensitive way and ensure that Dr Khan gets justice,” said Priyanka Gandhi. The Allahabad HC is set to hear the matter on August 5. —Agencies

New Delhi: Congress General-Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra vacated her central government allotted accommodation at Delhi’s Lodhi Estate, sources said. Priyanka Gandhi will return to Delhi to her permanent address after staying in Gurugram for a few days. She has kept all her belongings in 10, Janpath for time being.

DEHRADUN-GAUCHAR CONNECTING HELICOPTER SERVICE BEGINS New Delhi: A helicopter service on the Dehradun-New Tehri-Srinagar-Gauchar route in Uttarakhand under the Central government’s regional connectivity scheme UDAN has been inaugurated.Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and CM of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat jointly

flagged off the helicopter routes virtually.The helicopter routes are to be operated by Pawan Hans Limited. Civil Aviation Minister congratulated the people for being able to avail of these services under the RCS. these helicopter services will be available for three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Mumbai: The family of Sushant Singh Rajput filed a caveat in SC on Rhea Chakraborty’s petition seeking transfer of investigation in the actor’s death case to Mumbai Police. A caveat is a legal process, in which the party, which had filed it before the concerned court, shall have to be heard definitely before the court concerned will pass any order in future.

‘Let nothing to be done in the above mentioned matter without prior notice to the undersigned,’ said the caveat, filed by Rajput’s father KK Singh in the apex court.

This comes a day after actor Rhea moved a petition in top court seeking directions to transfer probe in the FIR filed by Rajput’s family in Bihar to Mumbai Police.An FIR had been registered against Chakraborty by Rajput’s father at Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna under various sections. —ANI

SENSEX TUMBLES 335 PTS; NIFTY GIVES UP 11,150 Mumbai: Domestic equity benchmark Sensex slumped 335 points on Thursday, dragged by losses in financial stocks amid negative cues from global markets. The 30-share BSE benchmark ended 335.06 pts or 0.88% lower at 37,736.07; while the NSE Nifty tumbled 100.70 points to 11,102.15. IndusInd Bank was the top laggard in the Sensex pack, falling over 5% followed by HDFC, Axis Bank, PowerGrid, SBI, Bajaj Finserv and Bharti Airtel. Whereas, Sun Pharma, Maruti, Infosys & RIL were among the gainers.

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Ayodhya priest, 15 cops test Covid +ve ahead of Ram Temple event Priests from Varanasi and Ayodhya will perform the puja on Aug 5

Lucknow: A priest and 15 policemen on duty at the Ram temple site in Ayodhya, where the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ will take place next week, have tested positive for coronavirus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the ceremony on August 5.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust has issued an appeal to all saints across the country to perform puja in their respective temples and Maths from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm on August 5.

Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Trust, requested people to watch the live telecast of bhoomi pujan on television and light earthen lamps at home in the evening.

Last week, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister

The structure was demolished, my government was dismissed on that day, I have no regrets for it. My aspirations along with millions of Hindus is being fulfilled now.

—Kalyan Singh, Former UP CM

Intel input warns of attack in J-K, Ram Mandir also under threat New Delhi: After failing to target Jammu and Kashmir on Eid-ul-Fitr in May, Taliban terrorists are now planning attacks in India on the anniversary of abrogation of Article 370.

According to the intelligence input, Yogi Adityanath had visited the Ram Janmabhoomi complex to re-

Pakistan Army would facilitate the infiltration of 20-25 cadres through International borders.

Terrorists are planning to carry out attacks on August 5 or 15, 2020, all necessary safety measures are being taken. view preparations for the mega event.

For the ceremony on

August 5, 11 priests from Varanasi and Ayodhya will perform the puja. Pradeep Das, priest who tested positive, is not part of this group of 11.

“There is nothing to worry about. One of the priests who performs daily rituals at the temple site has tested positive. The entire campus will be sanitised on a routine basis,” said Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, successor designate to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of the Trust.

Some 200 people have been invited, the list includes veteran BJP leader LK Advani, chief ministers from different states etc.

The rituals will begin on August 3 and end with a bhoomi pujan on August 5, said sources. —Agencies

A hoarding of PM Narendra Modi and other leaders put up beside a statue of Lord Hanuman, ahead of the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple, in Ayodhya on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

Billboards at the iconic New York’s Times Square to display Lord Ram’s images, temple model on Aug 5 New York: Images of Lord Ram and 3D portraits of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be beamed across the giant billboards in the iconic Times Square in New York on August 5 to celebrate the temple’s groundbreaking ceremony.

President of the American India Pub-

High resolution LED screens are being leased for the event.

lic Affairs Committee Jagdish Sewhani on Wednesday said that

arrangements are being made to celebrate the historic moment

in New York on August 5. Prominent billboards like giant Nasdaq screen along with high-res LED screens are being leased for the occasion.

Members of the Indian community will also gather to mark the celebration. This is a dream come true event for Hindus across the globe.

‘Soon 10 L tests will be done per day’ J&J starts safety trial for vaccine

A medic takes samples from a man at a free COVID-19 rapid antigen testing camp during Unlock 2 in Thane on Thursday.

New Delhi: India is currently conducting around five lakh COVID-19 tests every day and the plan is to double the number in next onetwo months, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.

During the launch of a compendium on ‘Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Technologies for COVID-19 Mitigation’, Vardhan, who is also the Union Health Minister, said the country’s recovery rate of over 64 per cent is the best in the world while the fatality rate is nearly 2.2 per cent.

The first COVID-19 case in India was detected on January 30 and since then the fight against the virus is still on.

About ramping up

New Delhi: Johnson & Johnson on Thursday, kicked off US human safety trials for its COVID-19 vaccine after releasing details of a study in monkeys that showed its bestperforming vaccine candidate offered strong protection in a single dose. “This

AIIA starts free testings & treatments Harsh Vardhan

health infrastructure in the country, the minister said, “India has now developed a capacity to manufacture three lakh ventilators.”

“Our plan is to take it to 10 lakh tests daily in 1-2 months,” Vardhan said.

However, soon we shall discuss on what can be reopened up for the exports.

Referring to human trials of vaccine candidates being conducted

by Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila. —PTI

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has started providing free testing and treatment to patients in its COVID-19 Health Centre (CHC), announced the Shripad Yesso Naik, Union AYUSH Minister. He also inaugurated the Intensive Care Unit of CHC. A COVID Call Centre has been established at AIIA. The minister praised prophylactic program ‘AYURAKSHA’ going on for 80,000 Delhi Police personnel under the directions of the ministry. —ANI

Suspension of flights to Kolkata from 6 cities extended till Aug 15 Kolkata (West Bengal): Suspension of flights to Kolkata from six cities ---Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur and Ahmedabad --- has been extended till August 15, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, the West Bengal Additional Chief Secretary (Home) informed P S Kharola, the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation in a letter on Thursday. "I am directed to inform you that that the suspension of flight from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur

and Ahmedabad to Kolkata will continue till August 15, 2020," the letter stated. Earlier this month, Kolkata Airport had extended the temporary restriction on the arrival of flights to Kolkata Airport from six cities till July 31 in the view of the rising

COVID-19 cases in the city. Kolkata Airport authority said, "The temporary restriction on the arrival of flights to Kolkata Airport from six cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur and Ahmedabad has been extended up to 31st July."

gives us confidence that we can test a single-shot vaccine in this epidemic and learn whether it has a

protective effect in humans,” Dr Paul Stoffels, J&J’s chief scientific officer. The drugmaker said it had started early-stage human trials over 1,000 healthy adults. Govt is backing vaccine effort with $456 million in funding as part of pandemic.

India’s tally reaches 15,83,792 New Delhi: India witnessed a singleday spike of 52,123 COVID-19 cases as the total cases reached 15,83,792, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on

Thursday. A total of 775 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 34,968.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state. —ANI

‘More than 1 mn patients recovered yet’ New Delhi: Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health, here on Thursday.

“More than 1 million people have recovered from COVID-19 in the country. The recovery rate was 7.85 per cent in April and now it is 64.4 per

cent, which is a heartening news.”

He added, three vaccine candidates, are in phase 3 clinical trial. —ANI

Am ambulance carries the mortal remains of West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Somen Mitra during his funeral procession in Kolkata on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

WB Cong chief dies, Sonia RaGa condole demise

Kolkata: West Bengal Congress President Somen Mitra died of kidney and heart ailment at a private hospital in the early hours of Thursday.

Mitra was 78 and is survived by his son Rohan Mitra, state youth Congress leader, and wife Sikha Mitra, a former legislator.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, “Bengal Congress Party has lost a pillar of strength, his con-

tributions and services to the people will always be remembered.

“My deepest condolences to his family, followers and wellwishers,” tweeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“All my love and support to family and friends of Somen Mitra at this difficult time. We will remember him with love, fondness and respect,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

Mitra was elected

legislator from the Sealdah constituency in central Kolkata seven times. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha as a Trinamool Congress candidate in 2009.

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Ranjan Chowdhury said, he has lost a guardian.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, “Mitra was the face of the old political culture.”

CPI(M) Md Salim said, “He knew constituencies like the palm of his hand.” —PTI

FROM PG 1 Surat Municipal...

Of the 24 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, 10 occurred in Surat, five in Ahmedabad, two each from Patan, Vadodara and Gandhinagar, and one from Kutch.

Meanwhile, in Vadodara, 96 of the 807 samples tested back positive. There are 1,029 active cases there, with 143 patients on oxygen support and 50 on ventilators and BiPAP machines. Vadodara health department has decided to conduct door-to-door health surveillance from August 04 to August 08.

In Surat, two more doctors of civil hospi-

tal, and four private practitioners have tested positive. Three nurses from SMIMER are also undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

Hike in...

They do not know what the people in their area must be thinking and only when they go there they will know that instead of getting works done through the government, they have sided with the BJP.” Gehlot went on to say that he called up the Prime Minister and informed him of the entire episode.

“I am happy the Gov-

ernor accepted my request and now we will talk on issues like Corona and floor test among others. Rajasthan will become turning point of nation’s politics.

BJP’s leaders rush to Delhi in secrecy, it is not wrong to go to Delhi but the BJP should let go of its plans to topple the state government,” he said. Interestingly, Gehlot said that he has been ‘God-gifted’ in staying tension free.

Targeting BSP chief Mayawati for her statements against him, Gehlot accused the former UP CM of acting at the behest of the BJP.

As BSP... in the HC claiming that the Speaker decided the matter without hearing him. Total nine petitions have been filed related to this political tussle including four by MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma from Pilot group. He has sought dismissal of ACB and SOG cases. Two PILs pertain to conduct of the Governor.

Cong MLAs...

The MLAs are likely to leave for their destination by 11.45 AM on Friday prior to which they will have breakfast and hold a CLP at Firmont hotel. Such

was the secrecy on the entire ‘travelogue’ that the MLAs were not told the final destination and on enquiry they were informed that their destination would be revealed at the time of boarding the plane. Sources say two charter flights, if the MLAs are finally taken to Jaisalmer, will make two trips wherein the planes will leave around 11.45 AM with 37 and 11 MLAs respectively.

Then planes will return to Jaipur and at 3 PM, 47 MLAs in two planes (37 in one and 10 in other) will head for Jaisalmer.

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T

he COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe affecting millions. The fact that no cure has yet been discovered for the coronavirus has led to the spread of several myths related to the spread.

The World Health Organization (WHO) keeps putting out information on its website and social media pages, cautioning people against myths and debunking them.

Here are some of its latest myth busters.

Studies show hydroxychloroquine does not have clinical benefits in treating COVID-19 Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, a treatment for malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis, has been under study as a possible treatment for COVID-19.

Current data shows that this drug does not reduce deaths among hospitalised COVID-19 patients, nor help people with mild or moderate disease. The use of hydoxychloroquine and chloroquine is accepted as generally safe for patients with malaria and autoimmune diseases, but its use where not indicated and without medical supervision can cause serious side effects and should be avoided.

People should NOT wear masks while exercising People should NOT wear masks when exercising, as masks may reduce the ability to breathe comfortably. Sweat can make the mask become wet more quickly which makes it difficult to breathe and promotes the growth of microorganisms.

The World Health Organization keeps putting out information regarding Coronavirus for the public on its website, cautioning people against myths and debunking them The important preventive measure during exercise is to maintain physical distance of at least one meter from others.

The likelihood of shoes spreading COVID-19 is very low The likelihood of COVID-19 being spread on shoes and infecting individuals is very low. As a precautionary measure, particularly in homes where infants and small children crawl or play on floors, consider leaving your shoes at the entrance of your home.

This will help prevent contact with dirt or any waste that could be carried on the soles of shoes.

The coronavirus disease is caused by a virus, NOT by bacteria The virus that causes COVID-19 is in a family of viruses called Coronaviridae. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Some people who become ill with COVID-19 can also develop a bacterial infection as a complication. In this case, antibiotics may be recommended by a health care provider. There is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19. If you have symptoms, call your health care provider or COVID-19 hotline for as-

sistance.

Most people who get COVID-19 recover from it Most people who get COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms and can recover thanks to supportive care. If you have a cough, fever and difficulty breathing seek medical care early - call your health facility by telephone first. If you have fever and live in an area with malaria or dengue seek medical care immediately.

Drinking alcohol does not protect you against COVID-19 and can be dangerous The harmful use of alcohol increases your risk of health problems.

There are currently no drugs licensed for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 While several drug trials are ongoing, there is currently no proof that hydroxychloroquine or any other drug can cure or prevent COVID-19. The misuse of hydrox-

ychloroquine can cause serious side effects and illness and even lead to death. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop and evaluate medicines to treat COVID-19.

Adding pepper to your soup or other meals

DOES NOT prevent or cure COVID-19 Hot peppers in your food, though very tasty, cannot prevent or cure COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is to keep at least 1 metre away from others and to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. It is also beneficial for your general health to maintain a balanced diet, stay well hydrated, exercise regularly and sleep well.

COVID-19 is NOT transmitted through houseflies To date, there is no evidence or information to suggest that the COVID-19 virus transmitted through houseflies. The virus that cause C OV I D - 1 9 spreads prim a r i l y through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. You can also become in-

fected by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands. To protect yourself, keep at least 1-metre distance from others and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces. Clean your hands thoroughly and often and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.

Being able to hold your breath for 10 seconds or more without coughing or feeling discomfort DOES NOT mean you are free from COVID-19 The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are dry cough, tiredness and fever. Some people may develop more severe forms of the disease, such as pneumonia. The best way to confirm if you have the virus producing COVID-19 disease is with a laboratory test. You cannot confirm it with this breathing exercise, which can even be dangerous.

Vaccines against pneumonia DO NOT protect against the COVID-19 virus

07

Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, and WHO is supporting their efforts.

Although these vaccines are not effective against COVID-19, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health.

Exposing yourself to the sun DOES NOT protect you from COVID-19 You can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is. Countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19. To protect yourself, make sure you clean your hands frequently and thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.

Eating garlic does NOT prevent COVID-19 Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.

 SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION  CONCEPT: RAKSHITA PAREEK

 DESIGN: SITARAM SHARMA

What you find interesting is not dependent on the “thing”, it depends on your perspective. Ants walking in a queue is interesting to a child

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

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Patel’s ‘full support’ to PM in Covid fight, but wants action in Gujarat

Man stopped from flying after testing Covid+ve

Seeking Modi’s directives to the State Govt, Congress leader calls for urgent steps Darshan Desai Ahmedabad: Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat Ahmed Patel has extended his “full support” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in dealing with the dreaded pandemic, but sought his urgent intervention in the “worrisome” handling of the Covid-19 crisis in Gujarat.

“You have my full support to defeat this pandemic,” Ahmed Patel categorically stated in an SOS letter to the Prime Minister, but added that he was constrained to bring the Gujarat situation to his notice after his earlier “appeal” to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani “apparently went unnoticed.”

The Congress leader wrote, “Having served as Gujarat’s Chief Min-

ister, I am sure you will understand the gravity of the situation and issue necessary directions.”

Citing the instance of his home district Bharuch in South Gujarat, Patel asserted in his letter dated July 29, 2020, that: “If

GUJ TO GET NEW POLICE MANUAL

DGP Shivanand Jha presented a draft of the new "Gujarat Police Manual-2020" to CM Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar on Thursday.

Gandhinagar : After 45 long years, the Gujarat Police will have a new manual in sync with contemporary challenges like cyber crimes, multi-level marketing frauds, fake currency and human trafficking, besides new crime detection techniques in forensics and information technology.

Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha on Thursday handed over the draft of the new police manual to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The manual in force currently was prepared in 1975. Now, with this latest version of ‘’Guja-

Ahmedabad: A person was detected Covid-19 positive just before he could reach the airport to catch a flight for America. He argued and escaped an AMC checkpost, but was caught by AMC and SVPI airport teams and sent to Asarwa Civil hospital.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has set up corona checkposts at Expressway toll plaza and entry/exit points of the SP Ring Road of the city.

Those entering Ahmedabad city have to undergo a rapid antigen Covid-19 test.

At 4 pm on Thursday, a Tavera car with registration number GJ-23

It is my humble submission that you (PM Modi) may consider sending a team of the Union Health Ministry to Bharuch district and other vulnerable districts of Gujarat to assess the ground situation.

Gujarat’s mortality rate is still high and needs to be brought under control.

has to conduct far more tests, establish testing centres across all district headquarters and towns.” The Congress leader pointed out that with the infection spreading to rural areas, “It is essential that people do not have to travel long

rat Police Manual 2020’’, it has become the second state after Andhra Pradesh to prepare a new police manual in recent times.

The need to prepare a new police manual was felt because the present one had become outdated and was out of sync with latest policing practices, procedures and technological advancements, an official release said. The will be available in English and Gujarati languages, so that policemen can understand it. It will be uploaded on the ‘’Pocket Cop’’ mobile application in the form of an e-book to maximise its reach among the force.

distances to get tested, else there is a high risk that Covid positive patients will go undetected.”

He cited the instance of Bharuch district to buttress his point. Patel said in Bharuch, “People are still finding it difficult to undertake a test

near their place of residence and as a result less than 9000 tests have been conducted.” The situation is similarly “worrisome” in several other districts of Gujarat. Expressing concern over the lack of facilities at Covid-19 hospitals across Gujarat, he

Somnath faces tremor at 2.9 on Richter scale First India Bureau

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

—Ahmed Patel, Congress Rajya Sabha member and AICC Treasurer

right steps are not taken, this pandemic will simply crush the state’s healthcare infrastructure and will have a cascading impact on the lives of people.”

He has listed his key concerns in the letter.

Patel said first and foremost, “Gujarat

Somnath: Gir Somnath district in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region on Thursday experienced tremors measuring 2.9 on the Richter Scale. No damage was reported but many people came running out of their homes in panic, officials said.

According to an official of the Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research, the mild earthquake measured 2.9 on the Richter scale.

The Saurashtra and Kutch regions experience such tremors on a regular basis. Only last week, people in Rajkot felt tremors and an earlier earthquake, on July 16 measured 4.5 on the Richter scale.

The epicentre of this quake was in the north-north east, 14 km from Bhachau town in Kutch district.

It may be recalled that Gujarat reported its worst earthquake on January 26, 2001, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale.

08

said they must be equipped with adequate ventilators and oxygen. “I have received various representations from people in Bharuch in particular about the lack of appropriate infrastructure in my district.”

AN 3547 entered the SP Ring Road from Himmatnagar side. During rapid antigen test, one of the inmates of the car was detected Covid-19 positive.

The medical team present there asked that person to stop traveling further and immediately go for medical treatment.

However, he argued that he had to take a flight to America and escaped the checkpoint.

A medical officer in Ramol immediately relayed a message to AMC officials, who contacted SVPI airport manager Navin Yadav. The person was immediately identified, stopped and taken to Asarwa Civil hospital at 6.45 pm.

SHARING COVID TIMES

Two men chat at the otherwise deserted Lal Darwaja AMTS bus terminal in Ahmedabad, which has been shut since COVID-19 first emerged in the city in March.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

One held for duping retired teacher of `1 lakh First India Bureau Surat: The Delhi Police have arrested a Surat-based man for allegedly posing as a Paytm employee and duping a retired Delhi government school employee of over Rs 1 lakh.

ecutive officer of Paytm. He got him to download an application to complete his Paytm KYC and talked him into sharing his debit card number and CVV. Within minutes, Rs 1 lakh was debited from his pension ac-

Abdur Rehman, 32, had duped former government school viceprincipal MS Siddique, 70, last year. According to Siddique, he received a phone call from an unknown mobile number on November 14, 2019 and the caller introduced himself as an ex-

count. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena said the bank and Paytm account details, and the IP address of the transaction were collected during the investigation. The money was restored in the viceprincipal’s account.

BIG LEAP

Gujarat cadre IAS officer is PM Modi's Private Secretary From Deputy Secretary in the PMO, 46-year-old Hardik Shah has now been appointed as the PS to Modi 

Aditi Nagar New Delhi: The appointments committee of the Cabinet on Thursday approved the posting of Hardik Shah, a Gujarat cadre IAS officer, who is currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister on co-

terminus basis, or until further orders.

Shah, 46, had also worked as Private Secretary to Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Prior to this appointment, Shah was the Additional Collector, Himatnagar (Sabarkantha) district.

He has also served

as the Member-Secretary of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and Secretary, Gujarat State Expert Appraisal Committee constituted by the Government of Gujarat for implementation of EIA Notification, 2006 in the State.

Shah was appointed as a Senior Technical Officer and Under Secretary, Department of Forests and Environment, in the Gujarat Government after completing his graduation.

After a bachelors in

Hardik Shah is the new Private Secretary to PM Narendra Modi.

law, he studied Masters in Environmental Engineering from Gu-

jarat University. He has also received fellowship from the Ken-

nedy School of Government, Harvard University, in “Developing

Design for Applicability of US Water Quality Trading Program in Indian Scenario.”

Shah has also received a post-graduate certificate in Environment Impact Assessment from University of Manchester.

A Giorgio Ruffolo research fellow in the sustainability science programme of Harvard Kennedy School of Harvard University and once a doctoral candidate in the chemical engineering department at Nirma University,

Shah was awarded by the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) Outstanding Manager of the Year Award 2013. His two pet projects “Environment Clinics for Industry” and “Help Desk” also got wide recognition.

Shah is also a recipient of various awards including “Special Recognition Award” as a Member Secretary, GPCB for e-Governance under ‘Environment Category’ by CSI Nihilent e-Governance Awards 2009-2010.

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09

AHMEDABAD, FRIDAY JULY 31, 2020

DP’S ON DEMAND

THE MONTH THAT WAS...

CITY FIRST BRUSHES UP THE HAPPENINGS OF THE MONTH OF JULY IN BOLLYWOOD, COME WHAT MAY... LIFE GOES ON!

Deepika Padukone launched a campaign ‘DOBARA POOCHO’ on 2 July to highlight the importance of trying to understand if their loved ones are suffering from mental health issues after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput due to depression. A vocal advocate of mental health issues, Padukone has tried to spread nationwide awareness around mental health and also launched de-stigmatization campaigns. Later on 19 July, the news broke out on all social media platforms that Deepika Padukone will be seen next to Prabhas for a new Nag Ashwin film ‘Prabhas 21’ as the female lead. After Mumbai Police started tracking down social media pages of high-profile personalities concerning fake and paid followers, they are likely to question various celebrities including Deepika Padukone.

TRIBUTE TO SSR

COVID ATTACK

Dil Bechara was released on 24 July. The protagonist roles were played by late Sushant Singh Rajput and Sanjana Sanghi. It was a debut for Sanjana and was released on Disney Plus Star for subscribers and non-subscribers to pay a tribute to the late actor.

Starting with the Bachchan family, various celebrities in the industry were tested positive during the month of July, like Amitabh, Abhishek, Aishwarya and Aaradhya Bachchan, Anupam Kher’s mother and his brother’s family, SS Rajamouli and his family, Parth Samthaan and Shrenu Parikh, among various others.

LEGEND, NO MORE Bollywood’s legendary choreographer late Saroj Khan passed away at the age of 71, on 3 July due to cardiac arrest in Mumbai. She had severe diabetes and related illness.

RESIGNED After the heated arguments and discussions on the insideroutsider debate post-Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha resigned from Bollywood on 21 July. He was later backed with Sudhir Mishra and Hansal Mehta.

DIGITAL DEBUT Abhishek Bachchan made his digital debut in a web series ‘Breathe: Into The Shadows’ which was released on 10 July on OTT platform Amazon.

The psychological crime thriller, created and produced by Abundantia Entertainment, mark’s Abhishek’s digital debut along with Southern star Nithya Menen.

GONE TOO SOON Actor Divvya Chouksey was suffering from cancer and passed away on 12 July.

She had been battling the illness for the past 1.5 years. Just hours before passing away, the actor made a post on her social media about her being on the ‘deathbed’.

SUPERHERO LASHING OUT Kangana’s team lashed back at filmmaker Pooja Bhatt’s tweet on 9 July, in which she attempted to prove that Kangana owes her career to Mahesh Bhatt. Right before that, there were conversations between the two parties about whether or not Kangana should be grateful to the Bhatt family for launching her.

On 27 July, Sonu Sood gifted a tractor to help a farmer from Chittoor district after recognising their poverty and immediately helped them. He took to Twitter and said that the girls should be allowed to focus on their education. Later on 30 July on his birthday, the actor announced 3 lakh jobs on his ‘Pravasi Rojgar’ portal.

FULL STOP Sonakshi Sinha launched a campaign ‘FULL STOP TO CYBERBULLYING’ to end cyberbullying on 25 July, collaborating with Team Josh. The campaign aims to educate people about online harassment, trolls, impact on the mental health of victims who have faced trolling.

AMBASSADOR Priyanka Chopra Jonas was appointed as the ambassador of the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 July.

Priyanka has joined the list of 50 celebrated filmmakers and actors who are invited as the ambassadors of the TIFF. After Mumbai Police started tracking down social media pages of highprofile personalities concerning fake and paid followers, they are likely to question various celebrities including Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

ETC

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AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

10

KOHINOOR OF

INDIAN CINEMA - DILIP KUMAR GURMAN SINGH cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

D

FA CE OF TH ED AY

ilip’s versatility, the subtle nuances, and shifting moods, he so brilliantly enacted on the screen with such effortless ease that the acting seems like child’s play.

But we all know how hard Dilip al-

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

Marlon Brando, the monarch of the method, redefined Hollywood histrionics and even before the term itself was coined by a Russian acting teacher. Kumar debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata (1944). In a career spanning over five decades, Kumar worked in over 65 films. India’s greatest actor delivered “Ameero ko lootneywala, aur garibo ko bachaneywala, mera naam hei Azaad!”, the heartwarming Babul, the impassioned Deedar, the flamboyant Aan, social drama Daag, the dramatic Devdas, Yahudi, Madhumati, Kohinoor, the epic historical Mughal-e-Azam, the social dacoit crime drama Gunga Jamuna, and the come-

dy Ram Aur Shyam. In 1976, Kumar took a five-year break from film performances and again returned as the unmatched giant in the film Kranti (1981) and continued his career playing leading roles in films such as Shakti, Mashaal, Karma, and Saudagar. He has also won eight Filmfare Awards and is the first recipient of the Filmfare Best Actor Award (1954) He also gave memorable songs and melting melodies like ‘’Sare Shaher Mein Aap Sa Koi Nahi, Dheere Dheere Bol Koi Sun Na Le, Peete Peete Kabhi Kabhi, Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re that are still playing on the loop of his dieheart- fans.

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You love your spouse and he/she is the most important person in your life. You should only expect great returns from the property dealing if you are honest. All the tensions will disappear in the coming time, just remain positive and never give up on hope.

Life is full of lessons but it depends on us if we learn something to we don’t.

After the pandemic situation you have learned to manage things within a set budget. You practice yoga everyday for healthy body and mind and suggest the same to others.

You are beautiful inside and out. You are fit and fine and life has been treating you really well but you want more and your ambitions doesn’t let you sleep in night. Your financial status will help you get the desired loan for some big investments whenever you apply for it.

Don’t run away from problems, face them head strong. Bargaining is your speciality so use it to the fullest whether in shopping or in business matters. Invest some time and money in real estate business if you wish to, your stars favour this field.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You have plenty of reason to be happy so don’t worry about single issue. Exciting times is on the cards, after a long break you can expect some fun. You live a rich lifestyle and you have earned it so flaunt it if you want.

Always remember to count your blessings and not your problems.

You are always connected with the nature. Time has taught the importance of health and you do everything to remain perfectly fine, this can also become your profession if you like. Your wealth will only increase so never take too much tension about it.

You don’t get bored in family’s company ever. Its true to stay prepared for the bad times but that doesn’t mean you should not enjoy your present therefore treat yourself special even if its at home. Take right actions at right time when it comes to your ancestral property.

You are not scared of anyone or anything as long as you know you are right.

You are a positive influence on those around you and for many you are an inspiration. You love rich lifestyle and you like to comfort people to make them happy because you have a big heart.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You love something related to arts and you want to make you career in the same. Good performance is always appreciated therefore give your best in whatever field you are. You really take care of hygiene. You may soon buy a new property, keeping your kids in mind

You may be trying for government competitive exams and you will surely get the success but you have to make sure you leave no stone unturned. You may have to share the work load of your colleague because of his leave from work but at least you have the comfort of home.

Charity is important if you are blessed with power. You earn more than enough and you are very satisfied with life only the restrictions imposed because of pandemic may effect you.

Those in food business must remember to always try and make something innovative to get the results.

Respect and value what you have as these are the times of self reflection.

Money may seem a troublesome issue right now but believe it or not its very very temporary as tomorrow will be beautiful for you. Worry less and work more on work front specially.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

SHAURYA SANADHYA, Content Creator

ways worked to get under the skin of the character he was portraying. His most invaluable gift as an actor was his incredible dialogue delivery. It was Kumar who alone developed the blueprint that all Hindi film heroes have borrowed. Kumar did serious, tragic & weepy roles, even played the role of a lover who has to unleash multiple pranks to win his lady-love, He was a proponent of the understated and naturalistic style of acting. The Tragedy King, as Kumar came to be known developed method acting, Javed Akhtar once claimed that Kumar was the first method actor in the world. He was doing method acting much before

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

11

IT’S A BOY!

Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic

Katy Perry

ANONYMOUS

GIFT

K

Kate Beckinsale

ate Beckinsale Received a very peculiar gift post her 47th birthday. The British actress received a pet rabbit, the model has no idea on who it’s from or why a rabbit. The 47-year-old Underworld actress documented the strange occurrence on July 28 on her Instagram stories. “What the f–k is going on?”

Kate questions during the video, looking puzzled as she greets the rabbit, w h i c h t h e y ’ v e named Marvel.

“PLEASE P L E A S E PLEASE however much someone loves animals please never send an unsolicited pet to someone’s house, especially anonymously and especially on a boiling hot day where it could have been left outside to roast to death.

We have found a loving home for Marvel without cats but it was quite a shock and I think pretty unsettling for Marvel too.

Appreciate so much the good wishes but please please don’t send anyone an animal as a present or a joke or really at all,” she cautioned in the caption of the post.

—Agency

Teaser out!

K

aty Perry has been a busy bee quite literally as she’s not only on a promotion spree for her sixth studio album ‘Smile’ but she’s also going to be welcoming her first child with fiance Orlando Bloom anytime now. Smile was originally supposed to release on August 14, but “due to unavoidable production delays,” the highly-awaited album

will now drop two weeks later on August 28. During a recent appearance on SiriusXM Hits 1 and The Pulse Virtual Celebrity Session, Katy was asked to reveal which song from Smile she’s really excited for her daughter to hear.

“The last song on my record coming out August 28th is a song called What Makes a Woman and, you know, it’s a song about how you are going to have a tough time

measuring what truly makes a woman because women are so many things. And, I’d like to say not one thing, not just one thing,” Perry confessed, and added, “And such chameleons, and so adaptable, and so malleable and transformative and can handle the weight of the world on their backs and do it all in heels and make it look pretty effortless sometimes.”

—Agency

...hispost

I

ndian cricketer Hardik Pandya was blessed with a baby boy on Thursday; he took to his social media handles to share a photo of the baby boy to let his fans know about the news. He wrote, “We are blessed with our baby boy.”

Pandya and Natasa Stankovic announced their pregnancy in May on Instagram.

—Agency

SWEET WISH

ANNOUNCING 3 LAKH JOBS

O Amber Heard

PAINFUL WORD ‘LIAR’

A

mber Heard spoke to members of the press outside the Royal Courts of Justice at The Strand in London, England on Wednesday. The 34-year-old actress made a statement after the libel case hearing against News Group Newspapers and The Sun‘s executive editor, Dan Wootton, by her exhusband, Johnny Depp. As per reports Amber said: “I travelled here to the UK to testify as a witness to assist the court.

After obtaining a restraining order in 2016 and finalizing my divorce, I just wanted to move on with my life. I did not file this lawsuit and, despite its significance, I would have preferred not to be here in court.”

During closing arguments earlier on Wednesday, Johnny‘s lawyer called Amber a liar for her false testimonies about the abuse she claimed she received from him during their marriage, which lasted from 2015 to 2017. “She is the liar, the abuser–-not Mr. Depp. He is no wife-beater,” his lawyer said.

—Agency

n his 47th birthday on Thursday, actor Sonu Sood announced three lakh jobs for migrant labourers on the job portal ‘Pravasi Rojgar’ that he had launched earlier this month.

The ‘Dabangg’ actor who has launched several initiatives for helping migrant labourers of the country made the announcement about the additional three lakh jobs on his Instagram account. Sood posted two flyers of the employment application and shared that the jobs came with additional benefits like PF and ESI. “On my birthday a small initiative from my side...3 lakh jobs tied up for Pravasirojgar. com. All these will provide good wages, PF, ESI, and other benefits,” he wrote in the caption.

—ANI

Farah Khan’s post

F

ilmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan on Thursday happy birthday to musician Sonu Nigam, as he turned 46. Farah took to Instagram to share a picture of herself with the ‘Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin’ singer and penned a short birthday wish for her in the caption.

“Aaj all the Sonus that i love ka birthday hain, happy birthday my talented friend @sonunigamofficial .. keep making the world happy with ur voice,” she wrote in the caption.

—ANI

ANIL MURALI, NO MORE

Late Anil Murali

M Sonu Sood

alayalam actor Anil Murali passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Kochi, where he was undergoing treatment for liver-related ailments. The actor was 56 years old and his sudden demise was a huge shock to everyone in the industry.

—Agency

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AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

Age is Just a

SHALBHA SARDA

FACEBOOK POST!

number afterall

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

I

n a country such as our women after a certain age are supposed to have a laid back lifestyle which primarily revolves around their families. Her hobbies have either stopped to persist or she is not able to pursue them independently because of her age. Breaking such stereotypes Neeru Saluja, a retired professor from Jaipur has kept her passion to travel alive at the age of 66. Not only has she travelled to more than 75 countries but she had been to those places in the world which lay sleepily inside that “impossible to do” bucket list for many of us, and she has done it all alone. From scuba diving in the Galapagos Island, chasing wildlife in Okavango Delta, trekking in Croatia to sleeping under the stars in Antarctica she is indeed a traveller with a capital “T” She fondly remembers that it all began from her teenage days. “My father was an open-minded person and made sure I was exposed to a

Robert Vadra

SPREADING AWARENESS

Neeru Saluja

variety of experiences in life and he gave me a lot of independence. Since then I had developed a desire to do things on my own which gave me a level of confidence.

After my marriage, my husband shared my passion. After my husband passed away I had to hold the fort together for my family.

Things haven’t always been silk and smooth in this

Fastest human

journey but I prefer to call them happy travel accidents.

From being stranded without a visa to getting locked in the bathroom of an empty train compartment, in an attempt to explore something off the tourist trail I found myself lost and scared sometimes. But there is a silver lining to everything and something to learn from those experiences as well,”

she concluded. What is remarkable about Neeru Saluja is that she never let her age hold her back. Her story is an ode to all women who let their dreams survive amidst the duties of life. And whenever they get that little time in life they don’t get caught up in the mindset that certain milestone can only be achieved at a particular age. They go ahead!

R

obert Vadra on We d n e s d ay posted a few pictures on Facebook, including himself and his son Raihan holding a camera, with an awareness caption on World Tiger Day. He wrote, “On World Tiger Day, learning from my

Raihan Vadra

son’s passion for photography and to cap-

RAJASTHAN: BJP state president, Satish Poonia offers sweets to his son Mahip on his birthday on Thursday.

Poonia has been currently very busy with the current political situation but on this day he took out time to bless his beloved son.

Confront the truth

CITY FIRST

Anupama Banerji

CITY FIRST

G

uinness World Records has honoured the late Shakuntala Devi with the record title for ‘Fastest human computation’. This certificate has come as a welcome surprise mere days ahead of the release of the biopic, Shakuntala Devi on Amazon Prime Video. The Fastest human computation is 28 seconds and was achieved by Shakuntala Devi (India), successfully multiplying two randomly selected 13-digit numbers, at Imperial College London, UK, on 18 Jun 1980. The certification was received by Anupama Banerji, daughter of

HAPPY B’DAY!

the late Shakuntala Devi.

To celebrate the extraordinary life of the genius Shakuntala Devi, Amazon Prime Video is all set to globally premiere an exciting biopic titled Shakuntala Devi, chronicling her various achievements both personal and professional. The film is directed and written by Anu Menon and produced by Sony Pictures Networks, India and Vikram Malhotra, under his banner Abundantia Entertainment. Vidya Balan as Shakuntala Devi, Sanya Malhotra as Anupama Banerji alongside Jisshu Sengupta and Amit Sadh in other pivotal roles. Prime members can stream the premiere of Shakuntala Devi from 31 July.

ndia needs dialogue and not argumentative Indians said author Anant Vijay while discussing his latest book ‘Marxwad ka Ardhsatya’ at the Kitaab book launch Bhupendra Yadav Anant Vijay event organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation from against Marxism but against the Marxists who are rank Kolkata on Thursday.

Eminent litterateurs, opportunists driven by selfscholars, book lovers, stu- ish motives and scant condents and journalists from sideration of the wishes of across the country joined the people whose cause they online for an engaging claim to espouse. “Money hour-long session with the and power is the summum bonnum of Marxists and author who was in conthe egalitarian conversation with senior cepts they tomtom are journalist Bishambhollow and vacuous,” har Newar. Chief Vijay said.

Guest, Bhupendra Ya“My book is more dav, Rajya Sabha MP, flagged off the session say- about Marxists and their ing, “Anant’s book helps us double standards and not confront the truth about against Marxism as such.

Marxists and see facts from The only point I raise close quarters. While Marx- against Marxism is that ists use poverty as a means there is no mention of the to gain power, eliminating environment anywhere in poverty is never on their the whole treatise. This, I think, is a major oversight agenda.”

Clarifying that his book, of Marxism,” Vijay said, rebased on 12 years of research sponding to a question. and case studies, is not cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

UPLIFTMENT OF THE SPORTS ONLINE CAREER COUNSELLING

CITY FIRST

T

IAS V Sarvan Kumar (top) and IPS Deshmukh Paris Anil celebrated their birthdays on 30 July, Thursday. We wish them all the best!

he State Bank of India, Jaipur presented the water cooler to the Wonder Cricket Academy players at the Hunting Bari Cricket Ground, for the upliftment of the game in the state.

The water cooler was inaugurated

by Chief Guest SBI Deputy General Manager Kuwar Dinesh Pratap Singh Tomar and Rajasthan Cricket Association Secretary Mahendra Sharma. It is noteworthy that more than 200 children take part in this cricket academy who train following social distancing.

CITY FIRST

O On this occasion, Tomar encouraged the players to concentrate and move towards the goal.

Presiding over the function, Secretary of the Cricket Association of Rajasthan, Mahendra Sharma said in his address that with the cooperation by State Bank of India, the players will be encouraged. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

nline Career Counselling provides the advantage of making highly credible career counsellors accessible to today’s young generations and their parents.

Career Counselling can help them to find the career paths whereby they can really excel and be extra-ordinary performers. With this concern, The School of Basic Sciences, Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is going to organise an ‘Online Career Counselling’ session today at 11 am. for the students seeking admission in various programs.

In this session, the student will get a chance to interact with highly experienced and qualified faculties of different streams including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Computer Applications. This will help the students to build awareness about various career opportunities.

ture tigers from the correct angles, at the right moments in their habitat... let’s help to create Tiger awareness & respect their habitat.

All photos are available on raihanrvadra. com, contact +91 8800843140 to purchase!”

—Vaishali

BIRTHDAY WISHES!

COMPUTATION I Vidya Balan

12

TWEETED!

Vaibhav Gehlot

DURING THE DAY! RAJASTHAN: Smart India Hackathon, is a nationwide initiative to provide students a platform to solve some of the pressing problems that we face in our daily lives, and thus inculcate a culture of product innovation and a mindset of problem solving. Owing to the pandemic, this year the program is going to held online from 1 to 3 August. It will be centrally inaugurated from New Delhi by Minister for HRD and Minister of State for HRD. The Prime Minister will also interact with the students on August 1, 2020 at 7:00 PM, like he does every year.

RAJASTHAN: FICCI FLO, Jaipur organised a webinar on ‘FromPassiontoProffession’ on Thursday, where celebrity photographer Dabboo Ratnani talked about his life in the glamour world. During the session, he shared his journey from ordinary to extraordinary. With the increasing dependency on the virtual world, Chairperson Wandana Parnami emphasized on Mobile Photography so that FLO members can explore their vision and enhance their photography skills.

RAJASTHAN: Dr CS Chaturvedi operated on both the hip joints of Manoj from Bansur, Alwar. Manoj had been unemployed due to this condition for the past three months and approached Dr CS Chaturvedi. The good doctor agreed to operate on him without any charges at Prem Niketan hospital and also collected Rs. one lakh for the implants and medicines.

It is a rare operation where both hip joints are replaced together and Manoj started walking after 2 days of surgery. Dr Chaturvedi said that the surgery is a success and the earlier bed ridden Manoj can return to work in a month’s time.