First India-Jaipur Edition-09 May 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

26°C - 39°C

ALERT JAIPUR l SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 332

INDIA

WORLD

2,73,932 39,76,655 1,985 59,642 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN

103

16 exhausted migrants sleeping on tracks mowed down by goods train; were walking to Bhusawal from Jalna and returning to Madhya Pradesh; Maha & MP govts announced financial aid to kin of deceased

Ashok Gehlot @ashokgehlot51 It is most heart wrenching to know several migrant workers were crushed to death by a train in #Aurangabad. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May they find strength in this terrible time.

Cops probe on railway track where 16 migrant workers died in a train accident in Aurangabad on Friday.

tance is being provided.

The migrant labourers, who had been walking for several kilometres, were

Take states into confidence: RaGa to NaMo New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to devolve power and make the states partners in efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, contending that “if we keep this fight in PMO, we will lose”.

Gandhi said there will be a “calamity” if the

fight against the novel coronavirus is centralised in the prime minister’s office (PMO).

Addressing a press conference through video conference, he also asked the government to adopt transparency in its actions to tackle the coronavirus and work together with states and take them into confidence.

His remarks came after complaints by Congress-ruled states that they were being pushed into fiscal distress in the absence of the Centre providing them resources to fight the pandemic.

Gandhi also called upon the government to immediately put money into the hands of the poor and Turn on P6

sleeping on the rail tracks when the mishap occurred, the railway officials said. Mokshada Pa-

til, SP Aurangabad said police has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

“Early morning, a freight

train ran over 16 labourers from Madhya Pradesh.

We are investigating the matter,” Patil said.

CPRO of South Central Railway said, “An empty petroleum tanker train was moving from Cherlapally Station to Panevadi Railway Station. The incident occurred early this morning. A high-level enquiry at the level of Commissioner Railway safety has been constituted.”

Railways later issued a notice saying, “The general public is requested not to use the railway track for any activity, this can prove to be fatal.

During the lockdown, only passenger trains are closed, but goods trains, Covid-19 parcel special and Shramik Special trains are in regular operation.”

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‘Give a thought for online sales, home delivery of liquor’

EASY ACCESS

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday inaugurated the Link Road to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via video conferencing. The BRO has provided road connectivity from Dharchula to Lipulekh, a stretch of 80 km, at an altitude ranging from 6,000 feet to 17,060 feet. —ANI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday asked states to consider non-direct contact or online sales and home delivery of liquor during the lockdown period to prevent the spread of coronavirus on account of crowding at the shops.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B R Gavai, which took up the matter through video conferencing, disposed of the plea challenging the guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 1, allowing sales of liquor through direct contact sales during the lockdown period.

The bench directed that States may consider allowing non-direct con-

tact sales or online sales or home delivery of liquor during these times, advocate Sai Deepak, appearing for petitioner Guruswamy Nataraj said after the hearing.

During the hearing, he argued that there are 70,000 liquor vends across the country and over five crore people have till now purchased liquor from these shops.

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PENDING CLASS 10, 12 CBSE EXAMS TO BE HELD FROM JULY 1 TO 15: HRD MINISTRY

DD NEWS, AIR TO BROADCAST WEATHER REPORT FOR POK, GILGIT

New Delhi: Pending CBSE class 10, 12 board exams, which were postponed due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown, will now be conducted from July 1 to 15, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced on Friday. “The students have been impatiently waiting for the schedule for pending exams. It has been decided today that the exams will be conducted from July 1 to 15,” he said. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will announce a detailed schedule of the exams later.

New Delhi: With effect from Friday, Doordarshan News and All India Radio will broadcast temperatures and weather reports of Indian towns and cities of Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit, in their prime time news bulletins- at 8.55 and 20.55. “Private channels, showing weather report, will follow soon,” said Amit Khare, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. “It was clearly conveyed that the entire UT of J&K and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India,” MHA said.

Completing 3 years as Rajasthan Incharge, a brief look at Pande’s journey P7&8

3,579

DEATHS

Tragic end to migrants’ journey back home Aurangabad: Bloodstained rotis, some torn currency notes, clothes, meagre personal belongings scattered around— the scene at the tragedy spot—where 16 migrant labourers were killed, and several others injured, looks gory.

On Friday morning, a goods train ran over them between Jalna and Aurangabad in the Nanded Division of South Central Railway in Karmad police station area of the Aurangabad district.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the death of 14 migrant workers in the train accident. He said all possible assis-

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CONFIRMED CASES

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

1,304,142 260,117 ITALY 217,185 UK 211,364 RUSSIA 187,859 GERMANY 169,430 BRAZIL 140,023 TURKEY 135,569 IRAN 104,691 CHINA 82,886 CANADA 65,400

77,663 26,299 30,201 31,241 1,723 7,392 9,600 3,689 6,541 4,633 4,473

USA

SPAIN

+735 +229 +243 +626 +98 +12 +412 +48 +55 +2 +65

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO LAST UPDATED: MAY 8, 2020, 11:07 PM

IN RAJASTHAN DISTRICT

TOTAL CASES

AJMER 196 ALWAR 20 BANSWARA 66 BARAN 1 BARMER 3 BHARATPUR 116 BHILWARA 43 BIKANER 38 CHITTORGARH 126 CHURU 14 DAUSA 21 DHOLPUR 21 DUNGARPUR 9 HANUMANGARH 11 JAIPUR 1145 JAISALMER 35 JALORE 4 JHALAWAR 47 JHUNJHUNU 42 JODHPUR 851 KARAULI 5 KOTA 232 NAGAUR 119 PALI 55 PRATAPGARH 4 RAJSAMAND 13 SWAI MADHOPUR 9 SIKAR 9 SIROHI 2 TONK 136 UDAIPUR 79 OTHER DIST. 2 3474 TOTAL OTHER (Italy) 2 EVACUEES 61 BSF 42 GRAND TOTAL 3579 SAMPLE RECEIVED SAMPLE NEGATIVE

NEW TOTAL CASES DEATH

+9 +2 — — — — +4 — +10 — — — — — +34 — — +2 — +9 +1 +9 — +5 — +6 — +1 +1 — +59 — +152 — — — +152

4 1 — — — 2 2 1 2 — — — — — 54 — — — — 17 1 10 2 — 1 — 1 2 0 1 — 2(UP) 103 — — — 103

1,52,245 1,46,198

UNDER EXAMINATION

2,468

PADHEGA RAJASTHAN, BADHEGA RAJASTHAN

Poor Peoples’ CM: Gehlot increases RTE income limit to 2.5 lakh  Now parents with annual income of 2.5

lakh can enrol their children under RTE  Gehlot warns schools not to remove students whose parents fail to pay fee Kartikey Dev Singh Jaipur: At a time when the economy has slowed down and rate of unemployment is running high, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot provided a much needed relief to parents on Friday when he announced

that private schools will not be allowed to remove a ward if the school fee could not be submitted. Gehlot issued a stern warning that the government will revoke school’s recognition if such a case comes to light.

“If parents are unable to deposit the school fee

of their children due to the financial situation, then private schools should not strike off the name of such a student.

If a school does this, the state government can revoke its recognition.

The Education Department should also examine how private schools can provide relief to the students in fees and other charges and the operation of those schools is also not affected,” Gehlot said while reviewing issues related to

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during a video conference with Govind Dotasara on Friday where Kuldeep Ranka, Amit Dhaka and others were present.

school education, higher and technical education through video conference at the Chief

Minister’s residence on Friday. He said that Corona crisis can be handled only by taking care

of each other. “Together we can combat these trying times,” he stressed.

The Chief Minister

said that the remaining examinations of Class X and XII of Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education will be postponed for the time being. “The decision to hold the exams will be taken as per the decision taken by CBSE, so that uniformity is maintained in both the board exams and the students of the state do not face difficulties. Similarly, in higher and technical education, examina-

tions can be conducted only if the conditions are normal,” he said.

Gehlot also instructed that the Education Department should ensure proper arrangements for mid-day meal for children during summer break. He said that due to lockdown, it is not possible to provide cooked food to children. In such a situation, it should be ensured that dry ration materials are provided to parents.

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JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

02

Aviation industry faces major air turbulence March 2020 witnessed not only reduction in passenger load but also saw the cancellation of a record number of flights

Kashiram Choudhary Jaipur: The aviation industry seems to pass through its worst-ever phase in recent memory. The date released by the DGCA reveals that March 2020 was the nail in the coffin in more than one way.

The international flights seized operating from 22 March while the domestic had curtains down on 25 March. March 2020

‘I salute corona warriors’ hard work’

Subhash Garg

First India News Bharatpur: Minister of state for medical & Health Dr Subhash Garg visited curfew bound areas in Bharatpur on Friday. He inquired people about water, electricity, and other problems.

Later speaking to media person, Dr Garg said that every government department is its district administration, police, health workers have been performing duties like a corona warrior. “I salute their hard work,” he added while hoping that Bharatpur will soon get rid of COVID 19.

The minister also expressed anguish over tragedies in Maharashtra and Vishakhapatnam.

He demanded strict action against guilty.

witnessed not only reduction in passenger load but also saw the cancellation of a record number of flights with decrease flight operation.

Air India was the biggest sufferer in terms of reduction in passenger load with an average 15% decrease for the industry as a whole.

The data reveals that while 115.96 lakh passengers took flights in February 2020, it

THE FALL OF PASSENGER LOAD

—Pic for representational purpose only

went down to 77.62 lakh in March 2020.

Air India also had a poor 60% on-time

flight performance while all airlines de-

faulting on this front.

The corona scare

Blue skies, clean air: Raj’s air pollution plummets in Lockdown

Bharatpur: Tourism min hails dist admn

Nirmal Tiwari Jaipur: The lockdown has improved air quality in cities. Ajmer, Alwar, Pali, and Kota have recorded better air quality during the modified lockdown.

Chairman of state pollution control board (SPCB) Pawan Goyal said that a comparative study of air quality, key pollutants, and nitrogen dioxide during prelockdown, lockdown, and the modified lockdown was conducted.

The lockdown imposed by CM Ashok Gehlot between March 22 and 31. The ban on travel and other nonessential activities resulted in air quality improvement in towns and cities. The SPCB

A deserted view of Johari Bazaar in Jaipur.

has been monitoring air quality through its 10 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station& CAAQMS including 3 in Jaipur and one each in Jodhpur, Kota, Pali, Udaipur, Alwar, Ajmer, and Bhiwadi.

To assess the impact of lockdown on air

—FILE PHOTO

quality, the data from these stations were analyzed on different parameters like AQI and PM10, Pm2.5, and nitrogen dioxide. The SPCB had published two reports on April 15 and 24.

In Jaipur, noise pollution was also analyzed.

The report found air quality satisfactory in

all the cities except Jodhpur, which has recorded a medium-range drop in air quality during the modified lockdown compared to the lockdown period.

However, the air quality deteriorated in Bhiwadi, Jodhpur Udaipur, and some parts of Jaipur during the modified lockdown compared to lockdown while improved in Kota, Ajmer, Alwar, and Pali.

PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels were also high in Bhiwadi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, & some areas in Jaipur during the modified lockdown.

But, except Bhiwadi, Pali, & Jaipur (Police Commissionerate) NO2 was high in all other places during the modified lockdown.

First India News Bharatpur: Tourism minister Vishvendra Singh has praised the district administration of Bharatpur. He held a press conference in circuit house in which he said that entire district administration has been doing its best under the leadership of district collector Nathmal Didel and SP Haider Ali Zaidi.

“We have begun to see the results of hard work put in by the district administration,” he said.

District collector Nathmal Didel informed that the district administration has made arrangements to send thousands of workers to their homes.

clearly has the wings of the aviation industry clipped which might take a long time to emerge from the current scenario.

Whenever the airlines resume the operations they will have to follow social distancing guidelines which might include keeping the middle seat vacant.

With so much reduced passenger load in every flight, experts

feel it may take two years for the industry to crawl back to the normalcy.

This could only stretch further with poor economic scenarios leading to poor demand which might force the airlines to keep the fares low.

So they will have to fly with fewer passengers with reduced fares to cover the costs first, losses will feature later.

COVID WAR: CENTRE GAVE FULL SUPPORT TO RAJ GOVERNMENT Aishwarya Pradhan Jaipur: Central Finance Minister (State) Anurag Thakur held a VC with state BJP leaders to discuss the corona situation in the state.

State president Satish Poonia, state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna, national co-organization secretary V Satish, state organization secretary Chandrashekhar, LOP Gulabchand Kataria, deputy LOP Rajendra Rathore and central ministers Gajendra Singh, Arjun Meghwal & Kailash Choudhary participated in the VC. Thakur alleged that CM Gehlot was hiding the figures despite getting full help from the

Anurag Thakur

central govt.

He said that the state has received 2753 crore as tax share, Rs 741 crore under state disaster fund and Rs 503 crore as GST compensation.

Thakur said that the CM should tell people what he had done for the people from state sources.

Israel Embassy thanks Sawant discusses resumption One injured as part of Ajmer DM Vishwa Mohan of developmental activities DRM office ceiling falls Rajendra Chhabra

Ajmer: Amidst the coronavirus induced lockdown, 117 Israeli tourists from Puskar were airlifted to their country on March 26. In this regard, The Embassy of Israel has thanked Ajmer District Magistrate Vishwa Mohan Sharma. The Israeli tourists from Pushkar left for Delhi in three buses, the screening of the tourists was carried out by the administra-

tion, along with providing them with their health reports.

In a letter written to DM Sharma, MinisterCounselor from the Embassy of Israel Yaacov Rosh has mentioned: “The embassy in New Delhi and I personally would like to express our deepest gratitude to thank you and your team for the kind cooperation and timely assistance to Israeli nationals in the current pandemic situation.’

First India News

Abhishek Srivastava Jaipur: Principal Secretary (UDH) Bhaskar A Sawant chaired a meeting of officers of urban development authorities and improvement trusts across the state through a VC on Friday. The meeting discussed the resumption of developmental activities after the new guidelines which had come to a halt due to restrictions earlier.

Bhaskar A Sawant

One important point taken up in the meeting was the CM Jan Awaas Scheme. The builders across the state had

been demanding relaxation in the rules for the scheme. Builders want the betterment levy to be charged for the basement to be waived off.

They also are demanding permission for unlimited construction under the scheme so that houses for poor can be built without incurring heavy losses making projects economically unviable. No decision could be taken on the issue at the meeting.

Jaipur: The Bill Pay section on the 1st floor of the DRM office of Jaipur Rail Zone office witnessed an accident when part of ceiling fell during working hours.

Office superintendent Kaushalya Daswani was injured in the incident. She was sent to railway hospital for first aid. The fall also damaged a computer.

Usually, 20 people work in that room. The

—Pic for representational purpose only

railway union had been demanding repairs for a long time was enraged at this and alleged the engineering section’s carelessness responsible for the mishap. Union demanded action against Senior DEN (Coordination).

An adroit Gehlot needs to market Brand Rajasthan in a big way!

ANIL SHARMA Senior Journalist

A

t a time when the economy is in crisis, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has taken a much needed forward-looking and proactive step to set up a task force in a bid to create an investor-friendly environment and to woo investment in the desert state.

Rajasthan as per initial reports has suffered a revenue loss of over Rs 10,000 crores between the period when

the lockdown was started till April 30 this year.

Out of this Rs 3,500 crore of revenue was lost in the last week of March alone. Lockdown in the state was imposed on March 22.

It is a huge loss for the state’s economy and to bring the economy back on track, the state government has to take effective measures.

With Ashok Gehlot, a proactive leader, in charge, it is clear that the state government would certainly take steps to bring in investment and improve the economy that too at this time of crisis.

Setting up of task force would certainly help in creating an investor-friendly environ-

ment in the state. But the state government also needs to look towards marketing and branding itself in a very competitive environment.

Indian economy is primarily a consumption-driven economy. In layman’s language, the economy thrives on spending.

So, the best way to solve the crisis the state is in is either to provide cash in the hands of people to spend or to create jobs. The first step to providing cash is difficult as it will be difficult for the state government to afford it in a long period as no one knows till when this coronavirus will continue. The best obviously would be to gener-

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

ate employment by attracting investment.

This time looks good, as some of the countries including Japan, South Korea, and even the US have asked their companies to move their

base out of China and best Rajasthan can be a good beneficiary as the state offers good investment climate, abundant land, and cheap labor force.

Rajasthan government can also think of

working out customized packages for industries showing interest in setting up their units in the state. No, harm in giving them red carpet treatment.

The state needs to market itself in a big way; it really is a very competitive environment out there. Branding will also have to be undertaken. But with Gehlot at the helm, the state is bound to prosper. No doubt.

Most probably, Ashok Gehlot was the first CM in the entire country who interacted with entrepreneurs and industrialists through videoconferencing and tried to assuage their fears and conveyed to them that the state

government is standing with them at the time of crisis. He said, “The state government is aware of the problems being faced by the industries due to coronavirus infection and lockdown. The government stands with entrepreneurs in this hour of crisis. We will make every effort so that industries can get support.”

Mind you, this kind of statement made by the leader of a state goes a long way in building confidence. The chief minister has done that and effectively too.

Another area where the state can focus is to put the migrant labor coming back to the state in productive use. Ask

them to engage in work suitable to them or start something for them, maybe a cottage industry like units, where they can produce or manufacture something and government, in turn, can buy them and sell it in the market. In present circumstances asking them to make masks, sanitizers, and safety kits for health workers is not a bad idea.

The help of Rajasthan Skill & Livelihoods Development Corporation or skills university could also be taken for providing skill training to this workforce as it would enhance employability. A win-win situation both for the government and also for the labor force.

RAJASTHAN JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

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in

BRIEF z Jaipur: A pregnant

woman in the curfew area of Jalupura was in labour pain and no one was helping her due to the fear of coronavirus. In such a situation, ASI Sunil Kumar and Head Constable took the woman to Janana Hospital in their private car.

z Kota: Congress

MLA Bharat Singh has written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding the whole procurement of wheat in Kota-Bundi Lok Sabha constituency.

z Jaipur: Rajyavard-

han Singh Rathore has appealed to the state government to take necessary actions as the law arrangements in the state are deteriorating.

z Jaipur: Assem-

bly Speaker Dr. CP Joshi saluted Jawan Abid Khan and other soldiers of our security forces.

z Jaipur: While

hearing the PIL filed regarding increasing the tenure of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, HC gave orders to the state government. The next hearing in the matter will be held on May 11. The order was passed by the division bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Satish Sharma on the PIL filed by OP Tak.

z Jaipur: HC has

asked the state government if an Excise Officer could be deployed at every liquor shop. But the government has refused for it, citing the shortage of manpower.

z Jaipur: The police

arrested 897 people, including 32 on Friday, for violating Section 144 during the lockdown and for opening shops and roaming on the streets without permission. Also, they registered 16 cases under the Disaster Management and Pandemic Act, which has increased the total to 356. In addition, 87 vehicles were seized on Friday, making the total reach 16,253.

z Jaipur: Due to

finding new corona patients in Jaipur on Friday, a partial curfew has been imposed in 7 new places of Jaipur city.

FOUR DEATHS RECORDED, 152 NEW CASES FOUND

Udaipur: 59 positive cases found in 1 day, tally rises to 80

First India News

First India News

Jaipur: 4 corona deaths were reported in last 24 hours taking the total to 103. Ajmer reported two deaths while Jaipur and Jodhpur reported one case of corona death each. Friday reported 152 new corona positive cases. Udaipur surprised everyone with 59 corona cases surfacing in a single day while 34 cases were reported from Jaipur. Chittorgarh had 10, Ajmer, Jodhpur & Kota 9 each, Rajsamand 6, Pali 5, Bhilwara 4, Alwar & Jhalawar 2 each and Karauli, Sirohi & Sikar one positive case each.

The state total for corona positives stands at 3579. State has tested 152245 samples so far out of which 146198 have reported negative while reports for 2468 samples is awaited.

Udaipur: Udaipur reported 59 positive cases in just one day. With this total tally has reached 80 in the Lake City. Of the 58 cases, 55 are said to be from Kanji Ka Hata under Surajpol Gate police station area.

The contagion spread from a home guard jawan who was tested positive two days ago.

After the latest development, range of curfew imposed two days ago in Surajpol Gate area has been increased. The district administration has been contemplating imposing curfew in the entire city. Senior officers have been reviewing the situation.

Meanwhile, the health department teams are tracing the contacts of the infected persons for testing.

People in Muhana Manda, where positive cases were found, thrrowing caution in the air by avoiding social distancing norms, some were even seen without masks. —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

Jaipur leads the most positive cases tally with 1145 cases followed by Jodhpur 851, Kota 232, Ajmer 196, Tonk 136, Nagaur 119, Chittorgarh 126 each, Bharatpur 116, Udaipur 79, Banswara 66, Pali 55, Jhalawar 47, Bhilwara 43, Jhunjhunu 42, Bikaner 38, Jaisalmer 35, Dausa & Dholpur 21 each, Alwar 20, Churu

14, Rajsmand 13, Hanumangarh 11, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar & Dungapur 9 each, Karauli 5, Pratapgarh & Jalore 4 each, Barmer 3, Sirohi 2 and Baran with one case. Apart from this 2 Italians, two from other states, 61 Indians evacuated from Iran. 31 districts are officially corona infected. iN Jaipur 13 new cas-

Positive cases found in JMC, HQ, to be closed for 2 days First India News Jaipur: The identification of a corona positive case at the headquarters of Jaipur Municipal Corporation created a panic on Friday. As soon as a civil defence volunteer was ftested positive, Additional commissioner Arun Garg immediately ordered the whole premises to be evacuated and all doors to be closed.

The JMC headquarters will be closed for next two days and the whole premises will be sanitised. For next two days people can register

complaints on 9413047400 and can meet officers at the civil lines municipal zone office.

JMC HQ will reopen on Monday.

Whereas, an employee working in Sanganer

zone of Municipal Corporation also tested positive. In this case, CMHO gave Quarantine instructions to all the employees who came in contact with the positive ones.

es surfaced from Film colony and Thathero Ka Rasta in Chaura Rasta,2 cases each from Chandpole, Ramganj, Jalupura, Sanganeri Gate and Gandhi Nagar and one case each from Bas Badanpura, Bhatta Basti, Sirsi village, Adarsh Nagar, Sanganer, Subhash Nagar, Amer, Mansarovar, Phulera and Niwaru Raod.

Court panel discuss post lockdown work First India News Jaipur: Lawyers are in favour of maintaining status quo regarding work in subordinate courts. Rajasthan Bar Council and Jaipur Bar Association have submitted their opinion in this matter to special committee constituted

by HC. In second meeting of committee to discuss ways for holding regular courts post lockdown, Justice Govardhan Badhdar, Justice Pankaj Bhandari, Justice NS Dhaddha, BCR chairman Shahid Hasan Jaipur Bar Association president Anil Choudhary were present.

Jaipur: The ambitious Sodala elevated road project will resume from May 12. JDA commissioner T Ravikant on Friday held V-C in which apart from JDA officials the officials of the company entrusted with the contract of elevated project participated.

T Ravikant instructed all pending wage payments to be done by

was coming from other side. The deceased were identified as Chaduwal resident Govind son of Bhoma ji, Bhagu son of Govind, Rekha and Kushmeet children of Pravin and Kalandri resident Vipul son of Kaluram and Chandan Yadav son of Awadhnarayan Yadav.

May 11 & resumption of the work from 12 May. He also asked the contracted company to take all precautionary measure to expedite the work as there was virtually no traffic on the roads. He instructed to follow all social distancing guidelines on the site. The project was scheduled to be completed by November 2020 is expected to be delayed now by 4-5 months.

Terrorist Harnek Singh gets special parole First India News Jaipur. HC has ordered conditional release of terrorist Harnek Singh on 28 days special parole. Singh is convict of Rajendra Mirdha’s kidnapping. He was serving life imprisonment in Jaipur central jail.

Although, Harnek Singh’s was included in the list of prisoners to be released following SC’s order as a precautionary measure against corona. State had refused to grant Harnek Singh parole on April 17. The decison was challenged and won over by his Singh’s lawyer Vishram Prajapati.

Half burnt body of Tonk rape case: Raje accuses RSS providing woman recovered Congress of supporting guilty relief work at 5k places in state

First India News

Jaipur: A half burnt body of a woman was found in a farm near Safeda farm house in Harmada police station area.

Harmada police reached the spot and called the FSL team.

ACP Priyanka Kumawat and SHO Ramesh Saini tried to collect evidence from the crime scene.

Police feels that

someone attempted burning the body after the murder.

The dead body could not be identified. Both police and FSL have collected some evidence from the crime scene and they are pursuing the investigation further.

The body seems have been brought to the deserted farm from somewhere else and the murdered woman isn’t a local.

First India News

Jaipur: Former CM Vasundhara Raje lambasted state govt for unabated crime against women. Raje accused govt of going soft on the perpetrators of rape on a minor in Tonk.

She said that the inaction is encouraging the criminals. Raje took feedback on Tonk incident from MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria and

Vasundhara Raje

MLA Kanhaiya Lal Chodhary. She alleged that the family of the rape victim was being

threatened and that the criminals had support of local Congress.

Prominent people from Rebari community from Barmer called Raje on phone regarding rape with a woman of their community. Asha Singh Rebari talked to Raje and demanded compensation for the victim and fast track trial of the case. Raje assured her of all the cooperation in her struggle.

Liquor shops exploit thirst, overcharge, avoid billing Jaipur. Liquor retail shops are riding a roaring business ever since they re-opened after a closure of 42 days.

5 days of liquor sales in the state has touched the figure of Rs 270 crore meaning hefty revenue for the excise department on expected lines.

The liquor traders who were until now shedding tears over their huge losses due to

Abhishek Srivastav

First India News

NO END TO GREED

Nirmal Tiwari

Sodala elevated road construction to resume from May 12

6 die in car accident at Abu road, 1 in critical condition Sirohi: Four members of a family died on the spot in a head on collision between two cars near Vinayak Petrol Pump on the four lane highway in Abu Road.

Three others seriously injured and were taken to government hospital where two succumbed to injuries during the treatment while one person is critical and has been referred to another hospital.

One car was heading towards Mamawali village while the other one

03

no sale are now busy minting money even in covert manner.

There have been large scale complaints from many districts of retail shops over charging the customers. The Rs 52 MRP pint of IMCL is being sold for Rs 80, Beer with MRP of Rs 150 is available at Rs 200 and the Rs 500 MRP bottle of IMFL is being overcharged at Rs 1000.

All the brands above Rs 1000 are available at

a premium of Rs 200Rs 400. The excise officers seem to be hand in glove with the retailers in fleecing the

customers who have no way of complaining to anybody.

Even if few excise officer plans a surprise

raid, the retailers get prior information courtesy the moles in the excise department.

The retailers are so

overwhelmed with over charging their customers that they are also not paying any heed to the sales guidelines of social distancing, sanitisers, barricading etc issued by the excise department.

There are strict instruction to display a rate list at each shop and issue bills for each sale but while the sales have touched Rs 270 crore the bills issued don’t even touch Rs 50 crore.

Aishwarya Pradhan

Jaipur: Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has been providing relief to distressed people during corona crisis. They claim to be running relief work in five thousand places in Rajasthan and 68000 in the country.

The sangh has divided Rajasthan into three parts Jaipur, Jodhpur and Chittorgarh. As per sangh’s claim, its relief work has been running in 67336 places in the country. There are 342319 swayamsewaks engaged in it.

Till May 2, ration kit was distributed to 50,48,088 families and 3,17,12,767 food packets were distributed.

Besides, 44,54,555 masks were given to the people. And, 58739 temporary shelter homes were set up.

The swayamsewaks also donated 22446 units blood.

21,24,404 people were

given DECOCTION (Kadha) and 1,61,005 nomads also received help from the sangh workers.

The three regions together have 35050 workers active at 5318 places. They distributed 356127 ration kits, 3425916 food packets and 553862 masks. 40090 people from other states got help and blood was donated for 1110 people while 104653 persons received kadha.

Sources claimed that it would expand its work in near future however there is going to be a challenge as large number of migrant workers are coming home.

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IN-DEPTH

GIVE MIGRANTS A THOUGHT IN COVID TIMES

HOW THE COVID CRISIS IS TESTING LEGAL SYSTEMS? AVTANSH BANA

T

he travails of a group of migrants trudging their way home ended in a gruesome tragedy on Friday. The group of 20 was fatigued after an arduous long walk from Jalna in Maharashtra. They were headed to Madhya Pradesh via Bhusawal and were walking along the tracks to avoid being stopped by the police. They are presumed to have decided to rest on the tracks and, out of exhaustion, fell asleep unaware that goods trains, and also the Shramik special, were running.

At 5.45 a.m. a goods train from Mumbai ran over 16 of them in Aurangabad on Friday. Four survived but are too traumatised and were being counselled.

Scenes from the accident site - their rotis and footwear and other meager belongings - lying scattered told a story of migrant workers with which we are now too familiar.

Just how many of these poor men and women have died after the sudden enforcement of lockdown and closure of their workplaces miles away from their homes concerns just a few. That these workers decided to avoid the highways and walk along the tracks shows the suspicion they had of how the police and authorities would harass them. It also shows how callous society has become.

A few hundred kilometers away from Aurangabad, a migrant Krishna decided to cycle down with his wife and two children from Lucknow to Chhattisgarh. Their journey was cut short when a rashly driven vehicle hit the family, killing the couple on the spot. The children were seriously injured.

In another incident, two migrants jumped off a Shramik special out of desperation when the train did not stop at their destination - Shahjehanpur in UP. Apparently, they were told that the train will halt at Shahjehanpur.

The plight of jobless stranded in Surat is also an example of how insensitively these lowly workers are being treated during the pandemic.

These workers wanted to return to their native villages but in a flip flop the Centre, which earlier allowed the migrants to return to their homes, changed the guideline to let only those distressed go back. Their anger soon turned into violence.

A similar about-face enraged migrants in Karnataka. While they wanted to return to their villages and spend the lockdown period with their families and children, BS Yeddyurappa government in an attempt to hold them back announced allurements like Rs 5000 each as part of Rs 1610 crore relief package.

Howsoever strongly one may complain about the behaviour of migrants, they do form the backbone of various sectors of the economy.

States are therefore worried about the prospect of migrants if allowed to go back, may not return soon enough after the lockdown is lifted.

That would delay economic recovery. Hence Karnataka’s about-turn, which the Congress said was keeping the migrants in bondage, and Centre’s modified guideline on their return.

The writer works in the corporate law field from the past one and a half years, in London and Mumbai

S

In India, public health and safety is a responsibility of the state government.

However, only eight states and union territories have so far enacted legislation regarding public health safety. The central government, however, has taken into use two acts to fight this pandemic

ARS-CoV-2 (Corona Virus) emerged in Wuhan, China in the latter part of 2019 causing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since then, states have scrambled to put into actions what would help them combat this deadly virus. There are various legal provisions in a country’s legal framework, which are designed to combat situations which the Corona Virus has brought. These laws more or less impact the autonomy of the citizens. However, these intrusions are allowed and legitimised by law because of the larger interest of the population. We can look at two democratic states, India and the USA, and note how the legal provisions have been used by them against the ongoing pandemic.

INDIA In India, public health and safety is a responsibility of the state government. However, only eight states and union territories have so far enacted legislation regarding public health safety. The central government, however, has taken into use two acts to fight this pandemic.

Firstly, the ‘Disaster Management Act 2005’, which has enabled the states to tap into the State Disaster Response Fund by classifying Coronavirus Pandemic as a disaster. Secondly, the central government has invoked Section 2 of the ‘Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897’, which is one of the few colonial-era laws still in place.

‘The Epidemic Diseases Act’ was designed to combat serious threats as and when they arose.

The Act gives the central government the power to take measures to deal with dangerous diseases at ports whereas the state government gets powers to deal with the disease which can be non-pharmaceutical in nature such as closing down of schools, colleges, gyms and other places of public gatherings. The act also empowers the state to invoke regulations

which lay in detail, the powers of the state during the course of the pandemic. Furthermore, ‘Delhi Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 regulations 2020’ has empowered the officers to isolate and admit a person in certain situations.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on April 24th kicked off an on-going lockdown which effectively shut down all non-essential government and private institutions. While many have been critical of the legality and enforcement of this step, it was a necessary one to take as India lacks proper medical care facilities keeping in account the size of its population.

USA Unlike India, the USA has more recent and stretched out statutes for emergency situations.

At the federal level, some of these statutes are the ‘Public Health Service Act’ which allows for a declaration of public health emergency and the ‘Stafford Act’ which establishes provisions for federal relief to states in event of a disaster.

The President of the USA can, in certain wartime or disastrous situations, compel companies to produce some essential products. These powers have been defined in the ‘Defence Production Act’. President Donald Trump has imple-

AMERICAN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS IS SHAPED BY ITS FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION WHICH TO MANY EXTENTS IS MUCH MORE DESCRIPTIVE THAN THAT OF INDIA

mented these powers to ask companies to ramp up production of essential protective gear which is needed by doctors when treating Covid-19 patients.

As per the ‘Public Health and Safety Act’, the United States Department of Health and Service (HHS) has declared Corona Virus as a national health emergency. These declarations can give the responders more powers by providing them limited liability, for example the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) can order mandatory quarantine of citizens coming from areas where

An abysmal failure of leadership L

eadership – the ability to help people frame and achieve their goals – is absolutely crucial during a crisis. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill demonstrated this in 1940, as did Nelson Mandela during South Africa’s transition from apartheid.

By these historical standards, the leaders of the world’s two largest economies have failed abysmally.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, both initially reacted to the coronavirus outbreak not by informing and educating their publics, but by denying the problem, thereby costing lives. They then both redirected their energies toward assigning blame rather than finding solutions. Owing to their

04

failures, the world may have missed the window for responding to the crisis with a “Sputnik moment” or a “COVID Marshall Plan.”

Leadership theorists make a distinction between “transformational” and “transactional” leaders. The latter try to steer through situations with business as usual, whereas the former try to reshape the situations in which they find themselves.

Of course, transformational leaders do not always succeed. Former US President George W. Bush tried to remake the Middle East by invading Iraq, with disastrous consequences.

By contrast, his father, former President George H.W. Bush, had a more transactional style; but he also had the skills to manage the fluid situation that the world found itself in after

DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, THE MOST EFFECTIVE LEADERS ARE THOSE WHO CAN BUILD SOLIDARITY

BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ITS OWN INTERESTS

the collapse of communism in Europe. The Cold War ended, Germany was reunited and anchored firmly to the West, and not a shot was fired.

Whatever their style, leaders can exert strong influence on group identity – the force that turns “me” and “you” into “us.” Lazy leaders tend to reinforce the status quo, by tapping into existing divisions to mobilize support for themselves, as Trump has done. But ef-

fective transformational leaders can have a farreaching impact on a society’s moral character.

Similarly, after World War II – in which Germany had invaded France for the third time in 70 years – the French diplomat Jean Monnet concluded that revenge would only reproduce the tragedy. To transform the situation, he devised a plan for joint European coal and steel production, an arrangement that would eventually evolve into the European Union.

These achievements were not inevitable. When we look beyond our families and closest associates, we find that most human identities are what the political scientist Benedict Anderson called “imagined communities.” No one shares directly in the experience of the millions

of others who belong to the same nationality. Yet for the past century or two, the nation has been the imagined community that people have been willing to die for.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic represented an opportunity for transformational leadership. A transformational leader would have explained early on that because the crisis is global in nature, it cannot be solved by any one country acting alone. Trump and Xi both squandered that opportunity. Both failed to realize that the exercise of power could have become a positive-sum game. Rather than thinking solely in terms of power over others, they could have thought in terms of power with others..

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the disease has spread.

The state governments in the USA have also enacted Covid-19 specific regulations which have enabled them to meet and vote electronically, appropriate funds for insurance coverage, paid leave, medical costs, unemployment benefits, and some bills giving temporary safeguard from evictions of tenants.

CONCLUSION The American response to Corona Virus is shaped by its federal and state legislation which to many extents is much more descriptive than that of India.

However, a late response by governments can be detrimental in situations which we are facing right now, of which the USA is a clear example as backed by the total cases in the country. However, India still battles with having an antiquated set of rules in very difficult times, and the Epidemic Disease Act lacks a modernday reality of the spread of disease. The Indian Government recognised this and in 2017, introduced the ‘Public Health (Prevention, Control, and Management of Epidemics, Bioterrorism and disasters) Bill’.

The bill was said to repeal the act however that has not happened till date.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Ahmed Patel @ahmedpatel Saddened by the death of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter-in-law Dr Shivalaxmiji Kanubhai Gandhi. May the Lord give peace to the soul of Dr Shivalaxmiji, who dedicated her life for the cause of education, health, women and child welfare and Gandhian ideology.

Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp On #WorldRedCrossDay, my deepest gratitude to all the emergency workers, healthcare professionals and millions of volunteers of the @ICRC who are rendering selfless service in saving lives and combating the #Covid_19 disease.

Spiritual SPEAK

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. —Buddha

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Published at 304, 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504. Editor: Jagdeesh Chandra, responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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05

‘Saddened beyond words’ NGT issues notice to Centre VIZAG GAS LEAK CASE

President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death of migrant labourers, who were killed in a train mishap in Aurangabad dist on Friday morning New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death of migrant labourers who were killed in a train mishap in Aurangabad on Friday morning.

President Kovind stated that he was ‘saddened beyond words’ to hear about this accident and that he wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. In the wee hours on Friday, 16 migrant workers were killed after coming under a goods train in the Aurangabad district, as they were sleeping.

Responding to the shocking and tragic Aurangabad train mishap, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of the deceased.

The accident happened near Karmad, Aurangabad when an empty rake of goods wagon ran over people who were sleeping on the tracks while walking a long distance. The workers, who were walking to Bhusawal from Jalna, were returning to Madhya Pradesh, an official at

Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office Rs 5 lakhs each has been announced as ex gratia to families of the deceased in Karmad (Aurangabad) train accident.

Police officials probing at the railway track, where migrants died in a train accident in Aurangabad.

INQUIRY ORDERED: PIYUSH GOYAL

PRESIDENT KOVIND’S TWEET

New Delhi : Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday expressed grief over the death of 16 migrant workers, who were run over early this morning by a goods train in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad, and said relief work is underway and an inquiry has been ordered. Taking to Twitter, he prayed for peace of the departed souls.”Relief work is going on, and orders for inquiries have been given. I pray to God for the peace of departed souls,” he said..” the Karmad police station said. They had been walking along the rail tracks and slept on

President of India @rashtrapatibhvn Saddened beyond words to learn about the loss of lives in the railway track accident near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured.

the rail tracks due to exhaustion, said Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of South Cen-

tral Railway. They were mowed down by the train at 5.15 am, the official added. —PTI

Rajnath Singh @rajnathsingh The Rail accident in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district is extremely tragic and unfortunate. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident.

I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi I am shocked at the news of migrant labourers being crushed to death by a goods train. We should be ashamed at the treatment meted out to the builders of our nation.

My condolences to the families of those killed and I pray for the early recovery of the injured.

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal issued notices to the Centre, LG Polymers India Pvt, Central Pollution Control Board and others in the Visakhapatnam chemical factory gas leak incident in which 11 people were killed and 1,000 exposed to it.

The NGT also directed LG Polymers India Pvt to submit Rs 50 crore an interim amount for damage to life.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also formed a fivemember Committee comprising Justice B Seshasayana Reddy to probe the incident and submit a report before May 18.

“Having regard to the prima facie material regarding extent of

‘TECHNICAL LEAK’

—SN Pradhan,

Director-General of NDRF

damage to life, and environment, we direct LG Polymers India Pvt Limited to forthwith deposit an initial amount of Rs 50 crore, with the DM, Vi s h a k h a p a t n a m ,

New Delhi: The ICMR is all set to start a study in about 75 districts of the country that have the maximum number of COVID-19 cases to check whether community transmission in India has started. This study was planned to be conducted through rapid antibody test kits. However, it was postponed when these kits showed variations in results. Now, it has been planned to conduct this study through ELISA (enzyme-linked

There are 5,980 COVID-19 cases in Delhi right now, yesterday 448 new coronavirus cases were registered and 389 patients recovered after treatment.

—Satyendar Jain, Delhi Health Minister

immunosorbent assay) test kits.

According to a scientist, “Residents from red, green and orange zones would randomly be tested for COVID-19 to see whether they have developed antibodies against the dis-

MIG-29 CRASHES NEAR JALANDHAR

Jalandhar: A Mig-29 fighter plane of IAF crashed at Chuharpur village in Nawanshahar district. The pilot is safe and has been taken to the nearby hospital. No causality has been reported. Mig-29 aircraft was on a training mission from an Air Force base near Jalandhar.

ease or not.” Another scientist from ICMR, requesting anonymity, told, “Now, we are likely to use the ELISA kit for study. This will let us know whether the individual has developed antibodies against the virus.” —ANI

CSIR to begin two clinical drug trials New Delhi: The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has received approval from DGCI for its two clinical trial drugs, ‘favipiravir’ & ‘phytopharmaceutical’ - to combat coronavirus. Favipiravir is a drug which is commonly used in Japan, China and some other countries, to treat influenza that has a very broad spectrum of RNA polymerase.

The CSIR is exploring a native herb as a biological medicine or phytopharmaceutical, which is already being tested as medicine for dengue for its efficacy to combat COVID-19.

CSIR Director General Shekhar Mande said that they will start the clinical trial within a week. “The CSIR is working with multiple renowned pharma firms, trying to see whether we can bring a certain solution as an intervention against COVID-19,” he said. —ANI

Mumbai: A special court extended till May 10 the CBI remand of DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan and RKW Developers promoter Dheeraj Wadhawan, arrested in connection with the Yes Bank

scam. The duo was arrested last month from a Mahabaleshwar- based quarantine facility, nearly 50 days after CBI booked them in a case of alleged bribery. They were produced before

557 COPS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19:MIN Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh informed that as many as 557 police personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state since the lockdown was implemented in the country. In a series of tweets, Deshmukh stated, “557 police personnel have tested positive for #COVID19 since the lockdown.” “2,26,236 people have been quarantined and 653 found violating the quarantine. The state govt’s running 4,729 relief camps where 4,28,734 migrants have been given refuge with food and necessities.”

Coronavirus came from bats, can infect cats, ferrets :WHO

A

World Health Org anization scientist said Covid-19 comes from bats and can spread among cats, amid an international debate about the virus’s origin.

The novel coronavirus comes from a group of viruses that originate or spread in bats, and it’s still unclear what animal may have transmitted the disease to humans, Peter Ben Embarek, a WHO expert in animal diseases that jump to humans, said in a briefing with reporters. The virus probably arrived in humans through contact with animals raised to supply food, he said.

Recent studies showed that cats can transmit the virus to other cats and the WHO is aware of instances of pets of Covid-19 patients being infected, it said in a statement.

While precautions should be taken to avoid

NEW MISSION

WHO scientists are considering a new mission to China to get more information about the virus’s animal origin, Maria van Kerkhove, one of the agency’s top epidemiologists, said. Questions remain about whether the virus traveled directly from bats to people, or if other species were involved.Pangolins, armored mammals that live in Asia, have been found to harbor versions of Sars-CoV-2 that are similar to those in people. The WHO wanted to conduct more animal investigations on an earlier mission to China, but the lockdown of the outbreak’s epicenter in Wuhan made that impractical, Ben Embarek has said. The first human cases were detected in and around Wuhan, and most of those people had contact with the animal market, though not all, Embarek said.

Trump has doubled down on claims that the Chinese mistakenly released the virus from the laboratory as the outbreak in the U.S. has grown to become the world’s largest and deadliest. the infection of pets from close contact with Covid-19 human cases, further evidence is needed to understand if animals and pets can spread the disease.

INDIGO TO CUT SALARIES OF SENIOR EMPLOYEES FROM MAY New Delhi: IndiGo will be cutting the salaries of senior employees from May onwards and also implement a “limited, graded leave without pay program” for the months of May, June and July, its CEO Ronojoy Dutta said.

India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The aviation

which will abide by orders of the Tribunal.

The amount is being fixed having regard to financial worth of the company extent of the damage caused,” the bench said. —ANI

CBI remand of Wadhawans extended till May 10

COVID-19 DISTS WITH MAXIMUM CASES WOULD BE STUDIED TO CHECK FOR COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION

ICMR to conduct study in about 75 districts

There are rumours in some section of media about a second gas leakage, let me categorically place on record that there is no such second leakage in Vizag. Some fumes get released during the process of neutralising. It happens during the neutralisation process. It is a technical process.

That process will continue.

industry is in a complete lockdown with bookings being cancelled until any further orders. While we had paid employee salaries in full for the months of March and April, I am afraid that we are left with no option but to implement the originally announced pay-cuts from the month of May 2020,” Dutta told staff via e-mail.

It’s important to find out which animals can get infected to avoid creating a “reservoir” in another species, the WHO expert, PeterBen Embarek said. —Agencies

special court on Friday at the end of their previous remand. The central probe agency sought an extension of their custody, saying they need to interrogate the duo further. —ANI

BJP fields 4 candidates for Maha MLC polls Mumbai: The BJP has released the list of four candidates for the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections scheduled to be held on May 21. The party has fielded Pravin Datke (Nagpur city BJP chief), Gopichand Padalkar, Ajit Gopchade, and Ranjit Singh Mohite Patil.

The polling will be held on May 21 to fill 9 vacant seats. These seats fell vacant on April 24 and the elections were withheld due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, the poll panel had last week granted permission for holding MLC elections in Maharashtra The ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra has finalised candidatures of CM Uddhav Thackeray and senior leader Neelam Gorhe for the polls. As per a notification issued by the Election Commission, the last date for filing of the nominations is May 11 and the date for withdrawal is May 14. —ANI

ECONOMIC WAR IS IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME: GADKARI New Delhi: At the ‘e-summit’, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari answered the questions.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that “the whole world is fighting against Corona. Only we are not fighting. Our primary duty is to win the battle against Corona first. We will win the battle of Corona and soon we will get a vaccine for it. During this time we will also fight on the economic front, the Minister for Road Transport said. He further added that work has started and gradually jobs will also be provided.

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More than 2.5 lakh people have made use of this facility so far, said, Joint Secretary, MHA, Punya Salila Srivastava

‘Rlys has run 222 Shramik trains’

A medical staff checks the temperature of migrants at Danapur railway station in Patna on Friday.

‘REVISED LIST OF ZONES WILL BE CIRCULATED’

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday informed that a revised list of red, orange, and green zones regarding COVID-19 will be circulated to the states soon. “A revised list of red, orange and green zones will be circulated to the states soon after the analysis of data,” said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, during a media briefing on the COVID-19 situation.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday said that Railways has run 222 Shramik Special Trains for movement of stranded persons, and more than 2.5 lakh people have made use of this facility so far.

Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, MHA told that, “The sequel in this series is now an attempt by the government to bring back the citizens trapped abroad in a phased manner. The arrangement for this travel is being carried out by non-scheduled commercial flights and

According to the SOP issued for this type of travel, the Indians trapped abroad will get themselves registered with the Indian Embassy and High Commission. Pregnant women, students, people whose VISA is about to expire and medical emergency cases will be given priority.

—Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, MHA

navy ships, the process has commenced from May 7.” “According to the SOP issued for this type of travel, the Indians trapped abroad will get themselves registered with the Indian Embassy and High Commission.

Pregnant women, stu-

Priyanka Gandhi sends 1L masks to UP Lucknow: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sent one lakh masks to be distributed among people of Uttar Pradesh, specially those in the red zone, a party leader said.

Party workers will start distributing the face covers to the needy from Saturday, said Lalan Kumar, the media coordinator of state Congress.

Gandhi, who is party in charge of UP, had earlier sent ration through trucks in various districts of the state, he said.

Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi said, “Ever since she became in charge of the

CHAHAL, NEW BMC CHIEF, DEATHS CROSS 400

Feel saddened to hear about the demise of senior journalist Pankaj Kulshrestha, who got COVID-19. My condolences are with his family and with friends in the media industry. The media persons are doing the important work of providing us with information in this critical time.

—Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Cong General Secretary state, she has been active and extending a helping hand to the needy”. “This time she has sent masks which

India to expand ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ beginning May 15 New Delhi: India will expand from next week its mega mission to evacuate stranded Indians from abroad by including countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Germany, Spain and Thailand, official sources said on Friday.

They said stranded Indians in central Asia as well as in various European countries will be brought back home under the second phase of the ‘‘Vande Bharat Mission’’ beginning May 15.

Sensex climbs 199 points Mumbai: Markets squandered early gains but managed to end in the green, propped up by heavyweight RIL which announced another stake sale deal for its digital platform. A strengthening rupee and firm global cues also supported the domestic bourses, traders said. After rallying 645.13 points during the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex finally settled 199.32 points. —PTI

New Delhi: The SC declined to entertain a PIL claiming “illegal opening” of certain offices, during the nationwide lockdown, by PSEs such as SAIL, NBCC etc by ‘wrongly identifying and equating themselves as government department/offices’.

The petition submitted these companies “have issued orders directing their employees to step out of their houses and attend office and

resume their duties during the lockdown period w.e.f. April 20, in abject and manifest violation of the statutory order and regulatory guidelines issued by the Central Government declaring country wide lockdown”. Justices Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul BR Gavai, who took up the matter through vc, said the court was not inclined to entertain the matter & dismissed the PIL. —ANI

Merit and counseling will be the first appointment in all the recruits. Clerk grade II candidates will be renewed district allocation.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to hold re-allocation of districts and departments o f the clerical grade II recruitment examination-2018 through a new process.

He said that all departments should provide the list of selected candidates according to their requirement on merit basis. After that the concerned department should allot the district to them on the basis of

merit and counseling.

Gehlot also said that during UPA government’s rule, a historic step was taken to bring quality education in private schools to the children of poor class by bringing the Right to Education Act. In the last few years, according to the spirit of this law, children of needy families could not get its benefits. He directed the officers to ensure compliance with this law with transparency.

For this, the income limit of parents should be increased from one lakh to two and a half lakh rupees. He emphasized that through RTE, children should get an

opportunity to study in big private schools.

CM said large number of schools were closed in the name of integration by the last government.

Unused buildings of such schools can be used to reopen schools as well as panchayats, sub-centers and community centers when needed.

Tragic end...

Meanwhile, according to Railways officials, migrant labourers were native of Madhya Pradesh working in SRG Company, Jalna in Maharashtra.

“As per the version of survivors they had left Jalna at 7 pm on May 7 by foot. They initially

walked on the road (upto Badnapore) and later shifted onto the track towards Aurangabad. After walking for about 36 KMs, they became tired and sat on the track and most of them slept there causing the mishap,” read a statement by railway officials. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh governments announced financial aid of Rs 10 lakh - Rs 5 lakh each - to families of the deceased. —Agencies

Take states... provide a financial package to the industry to help revive the economy amid the nationwide lockdown to combat the deadly virus.

He also called for having a migrant policy in place as also a lockdown exit strategy in consultation with states.

He said the lockdown is not an “on/off switch”, but is a transition which requires cooperation of all -- the Centre, states, district magistrates and the people of India.

“We need to decentralise power in dealing with the virus. If we keep this fight in PMO, we will lose. The PM must devolve power. If we centralise, there will be a calamity. PM has to trust chief ministers and chief ministers have to trust district magistrates,” he said.

AJOY MEHTA UNLIKELY TO GET THIRD EXTENSION?

Maharashtra Chief Secretary, Ajoy Mehta, despite the present CoronaVirus crisis, is unlikely to get third extension beginning July 1. He is a 1984 batch IAS officer.

SANJAY KUMAR TO BE CHIEF SECRETARY OF MAHARASHTRA?

In all probability, Sanjay Kumar will be new Chief Secretary of Maharashtra on July 1. He is a 1984 batch IAS officer.

IRS OFFICER TAKES VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT

Dipak Bardhan has taken Voluntary Retirement (VR) frm IRS(C&CE) w. e. f. May 2, 2020. He was posted in Bengaluru.

30 MORE BSF PERSONNEL TEST POSITIVE

PRADIP KUMAR DAS TAKES OVER AS CMD, IREDA

New Delhi: Thirty more BSF personnel, including two posted at its headquarters in Delhi, have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the overall infections in the force to 223. The border guarding force has the maximum confirmed cases of the disease among the CAPFs.The CAPFs have over 500 active COVID-19 cases at present.”Thirty new cases of COVID-19 (six from Delhi and 24 from Tripura) have been reported from different establishments. All of them are under the best available medical care at AIIMS-Jhajjar and G B Pant Hospital, Agartala,” BSF spokesperson Shubhendu Bhardwaj said.

KARMVIR SINGH LIKELY TO RETURN TO PARENT CADRE IN MAY

The deputation tenure of Karmvir Singh, working as Director in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, is coming to an end in May 2020.

He is a 2002 batch IRS-C&CE officer.

Pradip Kumar Das, Director (Finance), ITDC, has taken over the charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA).

SELECTION PROCESS FOR CMD, BEML SHELVED

The selection process for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director, BEML has been shelved for the time being due to COVID-19 pandemic. A vacancy of this post is arising soon.

TENURE OF SMITA S CHAUDHRI ENDING THIS MONTH

The central deputation tenure of Smita S Chaudhri working as Joint Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is coming to an end on May 15, 2020. She is a 1990 batch IA&AS officer.

ANURAG SHARMA TO JOIN AS DIRECTOR (ONSHORE), ONGC ON JUNE 1

Anurag Sharma, ED, ONGC, will be taking over the charge as Director (Onshore), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) on June 1, 2020. He will succeed incumbent Sanjay Kumar Moitra retiring in May. NO EXTENSION ORDER OF MANOJ MISHRA TO CMD, NFL SO FAR ?

As the date of completion of first term approaching, the Government of India is yet to issue orders on extension to Manoj Mishra, Chairman & Managing Director, National Fertilizers Limited. Five year tenure of Mishra is ending on June 2, 2020. He is expected to get extension till November 2021.

Veera new CEO of MP Bhopal: The MP Government appointed senior IAS officer Veera Rana as chief electoral officer of the state.

The 1988-batch IAS officer was earlier posted as additional chief secretary of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department, an official order said.

The post of chief electoral officer was lying vacant after V L Kantha Rao was went on central deputation. —PTI

FROM PG 1 Padhega Rajasthan...

POWER Gallery

dents, people whose VISA is about to expire and medical emergency cases will be given priority,” she added. Passengers will be screened before boarding and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to travel. —ANI

SC declines to hear PIL opening of SAIL

TWO PILOTS’ ASSOCIATIONS WRITE TO MINISTER PURI

New Delhi: India Commercial Pilot Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots’ Guild have jointly written a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri regarding financial support and stated that Air India employees have not been paid wages since February. The association said that Air India has been instrumental in fight against COVID-19 and has lent its resources to support the government initiatives and policies to deal with the pandemic. “

will be distributed among people, specially those in red zones, for their safety and security,” Awasthi said. —PTI

Mumbai: In a major development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray shunted out Praveen Pardeshi from the Mumbai civic commissioner’s post, as the city counted 437 deaths from the novel coronavirus. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state, with Mumbai contributing a bulk of the novel coronavirus cases at 11,394.

Addl CS Iqbal Singh Chahal has replaced Pardeshi.

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Rahul also ruled out returning as Congress president, a post he gave up last year after his party was pulverised in the national election. “I stand by my letter,” he said on question on possibility of his comeback as Congress boss.

SC bats... delivery of liquor during these times, advocate Sai Deepak, appearing for petitioner Guruswamy Nataraj said after the hearing.

He said due to social distancing norms not being followed at the liquor vends and shops, there has been rise in Covid-19 cases. —Agencies

PK AGARWAL TO SUCCEED DR RANI AS CMD, CCI ON JUNE 1

Pradeep Kumar Agarwal, Director (Marketing), CCI, will be taking over the charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI) on June 1, 2020. Agarwal, whose appointment to the post has been approved by the ACC, will succeed Dr Alli Rani retiring this month.

FOUR OFFICERS OF DOT GRANTED PERMISSION TO ‘WORK FROM HOME’

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted ‘work from home’ permission to four officers, who were on leave with due permission but could not return due to nationwide lockdown.

They are: Jai Kumar Wadhwani, Director, DoT HQ; M A Rehman, Director, DoT HQ; M Chandrasekhar, DDG, WB LSA and Amit Gurudasani, Director, WB LSA. They have been given permission to work from home and will report back to their respective offices as soon as the situation normalises.

MANOJ JAIN’S NOMINATION AS CHAIRMAN AWAITS MAHANAGAR GAS BOARD’S APPROVAL GAIL (INDIA)

CMD Manoj Jain’s file for his nomination as Chairman of Mahanagar Gas Ltd has been recently sent for approval, but is yet to be cleared by its Board.

SINGHAL’S TERM END IN JUNE

L Singhal, Development Commissioner, SEZ, Noida, is superannuating in June this year. The 1986 batch Indian Trade Sevice (ITrS) officer is on Deputation for five years.

APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER INVITED

Applications have been invited for the post of Development Commissioner, SEZ, Noida. This is a JS level post. Interested can apply till May, 28, 2020 to DoPT. YOGESH KUMAR MEENA APPOINTED DIRECTOR (A/C), FERTILIZERS

Yogesh Kumar Meena has been appointed as Director (Accounts), Department of Fertilizers. He is a 2004 batch ICAS officer.

TALKING POINT JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

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From Left: Chairman state Waqf Board Khanu Khan, Bansur MLA Shakuntala Rawat, AICC General Secretary, and Rajasthan Incharge Avinash Pande, PCC Chief Sachin Pilot, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Congress leaders Pushpendra Bhardwaj and Arun Kumawat at the rally organised on December 29, 134th foundation day of Congress party in Jaipur.

Also seen were Niranjan Singh and Lokesh Sharma.

—FILE PHOTO

Bhaagidari: Pande mantra for Cong-grace Aditi Nagar z Avinash ji, you have completed three years as Rajasthan incharge. How do you see this state?

The people of Rajasthan are politically aware and the state has a great history. After closely observing Rajasthan, I believe that people from Rajasthan have the utmost nationalism and love for the motherland. They have a connection with the organisation and I would like to also add that people here are not opportunistic, they do not fear anything and are principled. This is the reason that the Congress party has a special connection with Rajasthan because the qualities that people of Rajasthan have, it is the same as Congress’s ideology. z How do you, as General Secretary and Incharge of Rajasthan, take Ashok Gehlot as a CM and as a party leader?

Ashok Gehlot is rarest of leaders who is liked beyond party lines.

He is among those rare politicians who command respect across India’s diverse political and social spectrum.

Even his harshest critics appreciate the way he has handled his political journey and personal life so far. His experience has helped party not just in Rajasthan but across India. z How is Gehlot government fighting corona in Rajasthan?

CM Ashok Gehlot has taken several important

‘Gehlot is rarest of leaders who is liked beyond party lines,’ says Avinash Pande in an exclusive one-on-one interview with Aditi Nagar on completing three years as Raj incharge steps in the ongoing fight against corona. He was the first to initiate lockdown in state and the union government followed suit. The success of the Bhilwara model is not hidden from anyone. Even the Prime Minister has appreciated CM Gehlot’s efforts to weed out corona before other Chief Ministers. I believe the Gehlot government and health department headed by Dr Raghu Sharma as a minister, is heading in the right direction in the fight. z What was your first thought when you became in-charge of Rajasthan?

As soon as this responsibility was given to me, I started motivating the workers for which we started several pilot projects and I am proud to say that these new experiments gave us good results in Assembly elections. z How did these pilot projects help and especially, which ones were they?

The Organisation Strengthening Programme, ‘Mera Gaurav Mera Booth’, booth training programmes, etc.

‘Sangathan shashaktikarn’ was started at the end of 2017 and has turned out as great preparation for the assembly elections. The project continued for four months from July 2017 to October and with

this project, we formed a framework of how we would choose our candidates. We could thus train our several workers based on the capabilities of the individuals, many women and youth workers were trained and hence given tickets as well. We worked on the block and district level and identified several prospects. z Yours has been a long political journey.

What is the utmost importance in any state to come in power?

Many a time it happens that after coming to power we forget the organisation, but prior to winning and after coming to power, in both the scenario it is the organisation that is of utmost importance. And I was fortunate enough that on one hand there were experienced men like Ashok Gehlot and CP Joshi and at the same time there was the young energy of PCC Chief Sachin Pilot, working with whom I got a chance to do some quality work in Rajasthan. The booth level training program made it possible for workers to come face to face with Congress’s ideology and history. Meetings were started in all assembly constituency units which was aimed at strengthening the worker so that they stand surefooted with the party. z How has your experience been with

Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot?

As I said, Ashok Gehlot is an experienced leader and it is indeed good luck to be working with him. On the other hand, there is Sachin Pilot who is a young and dynamic leader. So I could work with both to provide a new direction to Rajasthan. z It is said that there was a different ‘power game’ going on in Congress even a year before the assembly elections. Was it a tough time for you to establish yourself and form a government in the state?

See, this can be seen in any state and in any political party, but Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot helped and cooperated with me and worked hard towards the mission despite the differences. z What is your vision for Rajasthan?

First is leadership development, then organisation strengthening, motivating workers and to bring about the feeling of nation-building in every home. z How did you achieve the difficult task of motivating workers?

By making them, partners. z Making them partners?

See, when the worker gives his hundred per-

AICC General Secretary and Rajasthan Incharge Avinash Pande, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Preeti Pande ( wife of Avinash Pande) with the newly wed couple, Dewang (son of Avinash Pande) and Aditi on January 16 at Suraburdi Meadows, Amravati Road, Nagpur.

—FILE PHOTO

cent whether it is the assembly election or Lok Sabha election or some other work, there is only one way to motivate them and that is making them a partner in the power structure and to give them honour. That is possible through political appointments which we have narrowed down to provide to 2.25 lakh workers. z Even the workers are waiting for political appointments for a long. When do you think the appointments will be made?

See, Sonia Gandhi Ji has already clarified regarding political appointments that all ministers should be given the responsibility and thus I informed Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and PCC Chief Sachin Pilot about it.

We discussed it jointly and gave responsibility to the ministers of various districts. It is natural that due to Corona the political appointments have been delayed. All the ministers were asked to submit their report by March 15th but not all are working honestly and are trying to cut corners by not submitting the report. z Will any action be taken against ministers for lacunae in political appointments?

Strict measures will be taken. I never compromise on performance. Those who do good for the party, I try and do the best of my ability for them but those who do not, I do not spare them.

Congress leaders Avinash Pandey and Priyanka Gandhi during a meeting with party General Secretaries at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi.

—FILE PHOTO

I congratulate Avinash Pande Ji for completing 3 successful years as in-charge of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee. His ability to take everyone along and his political acumen has been appreciated. Not only his political instinct, managing highly sophisticated control during Rajasthan and Maha elections has shown his management skills.

—ASHOK GEHLOT, CM Rajasthan

My congratulations to Avinash Pande Ji on successful tenure so far. I have followed him closely since we have grown up in politics together. He became an MLA and then held the reins of youth congress. He is an extremely simple and amicable person and has worked wonders in the organizations.

—ASHOK CHAVAN, Former CM Maharashtra

My heartiest congratulations on completing three years as General Secretary Incharge of Rajasthan. You have proved yourself on the responsibility given to you by Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji. The party won several elections under your successful leadership and played an important role in forming Congress government in the state. I wish that the Rajasthan Congress goes from strength to strength with your leadership.

—RAGHU SHARMA, Rajasthan Health Minister I had the good fortune of working closely with Avinash Pandey Ji, I am always at a loss of words when it comes to describing his magnanimous leadership and in his belief in decentralized working methods. A farsighted man who even after putting his point of view across, gave us freedom to do things our way. He probably knew that it will benefit us.

—DEVENDRA YADAV, Former Secretary Rajasthan

Avinash Pandey has great leadership qualities. He is a team leader and takes everyone along with him from block level to top. I was fortunate to be a part of his team in Rajasthan and with his inspiration. We have walked a path of success. I remember, the first thing he told us as a captain of the team that communication from top to bottom is the core idea.

—KAZI NZAMUDDIN, Secretary (organisation) AICC

Avinash Pandey and Congress are now like synonyms. His dedication and devotion is commendable for the party. I have personally seen him working since he was in his youth.

The kind of work he has done and is still continuing is an inspiration for me and also for others. We want more and more leaders like him in politics who can think selflessly for others.

—SACHIN SAWANT, MPCC spokesperson We have been friends for over three decades. He is hardworking, workaholic, and highly disciplined.

He is a dedicated party worker and a leadership creator. He has had great relations with Indiraji and Rajiv Ji. He is a friendly person with a strong character.

—RAJU KODHE, GS MPCC Maharashtra

I would like to congratulate him as he is the captain. There was completely bonhomie on the team and although it is difficult to handle four secretaries, in this entire period we have been more than satisfied with his style of functioning. He gave us complete freedom and we have learned a lot from him.

—VIVEK BANSAL, Secretary AICC-Co-in charge Rajasthan

Love, honesty and respect are not just critical to a relationship but to life. These are the bricks to build upon for a stable relationship and life.

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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Yogesh Sharma/ Aditi Nagar Jaipur/ New Delhi: The year was 1977. the entire world was looking towards India and the big political developments of the day. The emergency had just ended and many new parties had cropped up to take ‘benefit’ of the ‘anti-emergency’ wave that was among the people and translate that into electoral victories. Indira Gandhi was at the helm of the most powerful party of the time, Congress. Even in those tumultuous times, what stood out for Congress was its ideology of standing with the poor, nation building and keeping the core values of nation intact across its length and breadth.

Now imagine a lanky and exuberant nineteen year old teenager from Nagpur, who believes he

2ND FRONT JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

Avinash Pande: The quintessential party man! needs to play a part to set the things straight in the turmoil. At a time when not many would speak good of the grand-old party, the teenager reviewed the ideologies of all the parties and chooses that though time might not be right, but the Congress party was indeed the pillar of strength for the nation.

As a result he joins the student wing of the party to start his ‘new life’, a life that has seen ups and downs, the goods and the bads and everything in between and after over four decades in politics, have come to be established as a well known and respected face of the Congress party as its General Secretary and Incharge of Rajasthan Avinash Pande.

(From left) Avinash Pande, Ramesh Girde, Dr Shrikant Jichkar Indiraji Gandhi, Dr Sunil Deshmukh, Mukul wasnik and Raju Korde.

62 year old Pande has been one of the few individuals who can lay claim to have interacted and work with Indira Gandhi! Starting off in the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Pande was quickly spotted by his peers and the ‘seniors’ for carrying an ability to see a prob-

lem differently. It would take some time for Pande to establish himself but when he did, he was made the NSUI chief, a position that he held for seven long years!

When time came, Pande ‘graduated’ to the Youth Congress where he spent a considerable time working for the

Ahmed Patel

party and was made its national general secretary. By this time, everyone in prty circles knew Pande was in it for the big league. Little by little, he continued working for the party, all this while asking nothing in return. Everytime Pande was given a challenging job, he achieved it

Jodh med college gets nod for plasma therapy treatment State to resume dedicated mother and child services First India News Jaipur: Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma informed that after Jaipur, ICMR has also permitted government Medical College, Jodhpur to go ahead with plasma therapy treatment trials on corona infected and critical patients. Dr Sharma expressed happiness on the fact that now two government and one private institution will be providing plasma treatment in the state.

Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma

He said that the medical colleges at Kota, Udaipur, Bikaner and Ajmer also have been asked to seek permission from ICMR for plasma therapy so that more centres can provide the facility to the patients in the

Babri demolition case: Verdict by August 31 New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday extended by three months the time for completion of trial in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case involving BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti and said that judgement should be delivered by August 31.

The top court asked special judge S K Yadav to control the proceedings in accordance with law. It indicated to the special judge to avail the

facilities of VC to complete recording of evidences and hearing of applications that are filed during the course of trial proceedings. A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Surya Kant, hearing the matter through video conferencing, passed the orders on receiving a letter from the special judge seeking extension of time granted to him for completing the trial in the politically sensitive case. —PTI

state. He expressed faith that this would help bring down the death rate due to coronavirus in the state which was already low at 2.79 per cent compared to the national average rate. Dr Sharma was upbeat about the fact that the

state only has 1,475 active corona positive patients.

The Health Minister was also very satisfied at the recovery rate of the patients in the state which he claimed was highest in the country.

Dr Sharma said that the corona positive patients from Jaipuria hospital were being shifted to RUHS and NIMS. Now with only 85 positive patients in SMS hospital even they could be shifted to some other facility so that the patients of other ailments can benefit from SMS like earlier.

SMS officials are working on the possibility of such a move.

without any difficulty.

At a time when terrorism was high in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and even the north-east was witnessing its own turmoils, Pande was asked by the party to go to these disturbed areas and carry out party works and like a ‘true soldier’, Pande executed the task assigned to him.

In more recent history, in times of calamities, like the 2003 super cyclone in Odisha, 2007 tsunami in Andman and Nicobar and earthquake in Maharashtra, when ever Sonia Gandhi delegated a task to Pande, displaying her trust in the Congressman’s capabilities, Pande has delivered, thus earning faith of the party president.

This dynamic person-

ality has experienced not only Maharashtra and Rajasthan in his political career but has worked in Uttar Pradesh for 4 years between 20092012 and later in Assam for 3 years in 2013 -16.

In Pande’s political ‘journey’, the names of two leaders - Ahmed Patel and Mukul Wasnik cannot be missed. While Wasnik has been a contemporary of Pande since his Youth Congress days and even prior to that, Ahmed Patel has been like the big brother to him who has always guided him, in matters of polity and party, when Pande sought counsel.

Since assuming charge of Rajasthan Incharge, Pande has literally scripted Congress’s comeback in the state in the 2018 as-

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sembly elections. More recently, it was team Gehlot-Pande that provided strength to the party’s numbers by including 6 BSP MLAs into party fold overnight, it was team Gehlot-Pande who took on the challenge of providing a safe haven for non BJP MLAs of Maharashtra while the party was forging an alliance with Shiv Sen and NCP. Infact, a little after that Rajasthan played host to Gujarat MLAs as well when a political crisis marred the state. These two developments were enough to prove the point that Sonia Gandhi has utmost faith in team Gehlot-Pande to take on any political challenge and give the desired results.

Having literally given a lifetime to the party, Avinash Pande has quite literally been the ultimate ‘grassroot worker’ for the Grand-old party!

A SPECIAL BOND

Amit Shah is very much the doting grandfather with Rudri, who turned 3 in April this year. He is now a grandfather to two girls as his son Jay Shah and Rishita became proud parents to a baby on Thursday afternoon at KD Hospital, Ahmedabad. It is said that ever since Rudri was an infant, Shah would make it a point to speak to her twice a day and the bonding and mutual joy between the grandfather-grand daughter duo is quite visible.

He said that now people will be able to benefit from teleconsultancy facility from e-mitra kiosks as well.

These services were launched on May 4 and will now be available to all through such kiosks. Dr Sharma also announced the resumption of dedicated Thursday mother and child services. He said the services were paused due to the pandemic but have been resumed now.

Every Thursday, like earlier, will be celebrated as Mother and Child health and nutrition day on every CHC, PHC, subcenter and Anganwadi centres.

All RHB projects to have sanitizing stations First India News Jaipur: RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora announced an innovative Covid-19 precautionary move on Friday. Arora said that all existing and future RHB projects will have a sanitization station at the entrance. Arora said that it is being done keeping WHO guidelines for corona into consideration. Instructions for implementation of the same have been issued to

RHB commissioner Pawan Arora instructing his team at Pratap Nagar Chaupati on Friday.

all deputy commissioners and engineers. Arora said that all RWAs will be motivated to get the station at their entrance and the board will en-

courage them with a reward of Rs 25,000 for each station.

Arora also went to Jaipur Chaupati, Coaching Hub and Mukhyam-

natri Shikshak evam Prahari projects to see the work progress. He decided to increase workers at Pratap Nagar and Mansarovar sites and instructed to maintain social distancing.

Chief engineer KC Meena, ACE Natthuram, dy commissioner Sitaram Bari accompanied Arora. It is noteworthy that RHB was among those departments which assisted govt in its drive to create quarantine on the outskirts of the city.

FIRST OF ITS KIND IN COUNTRY The Sanitizing Station initiative

by RHB is the first of its kind in India which will go a long way in the control of corona.

In fact, private builders should learn from this and immediately install such stations in their gated residential areas to ensure safety of the residents. The installation of such stations at entry gates should be taken up on priority by all govt departments also who have their residential colonies like railways, excise, bankers, customs and other officials. Before easing of lockdown, these type of stations should be installed in shopping malls and multiplexes also. The initiative by RHB was welcomed by all.

Explore income generation options for dairy farms: CM First India News Jaipur: Humans as well as animals are reeling under the Corona crisis and in Rajasthan animals specially bovines have a high regard. On Friday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot instructed officials to distribute grants given by state government towards gaushalas be distributed as soon as possible. “The government has given a grant of about Rs 275

crore to the gaushalas.

Dairy and animal husbandry are the mainstay of economy and livelihood of farmers. Due to Corona epidemic, the state government will not allow any trouble to the cattlemen and the farmers,” Gehlot said while holding a review of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy, Fisheries through VC at CMR on Friday.

Gehlot observed that demand for milk products has been af-

CM Ashok Gehlot with DB Gupta and Niranjan Arya during VC.

fected due to the lockdown. “In such a situation, dairies should strengthen their mar-

keting system. Also, explore options that can increase the income of those associated with

it,” Gehlot said.

The CM directed that more work should be started in MNREGA to provide employment to workers, farmers, agricultural laborers, cattle rearers who are suffering due to this epidemic.

He said that due to stray animals, the crops of farmers get destroyed and there is a risk of accidents. “To overcome this problem of stray animals, strong arrangements should be made.

The problem of lack of fodder should be overcome in the districts of western Rajasthan,” Gehlot instructed officials.

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Lalchand Kataria said that due to corona, fisheries and poultry farmers are facing problems. “The state government is giving them relief but the Government of India should also be requested for assistance in this hour of crisis,” Katariya said.

Gopalan Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya said that due to corona, there has been a huge difference in demand and supply of milk products. “If the corona infection increases further, the department is preparing for door-to-door supply of milk products,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Bhajan Lal Jatav suggested that the work of Gaushalas be done through MNREGA.

Ahmed Patel @ahmedpatel Absolutely shocked to hear about the migrants who were killed on railway tracks.

Many of them are sole breadwinners,govt has to provide every possible assistance to their families.

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CHOLI MEIN DIL HAI MERA!

City First explores the world of the humble choli, affixed to the saree forever, it has come a long way from being a simple cloth tied to the chest to the lacy, gold, tasseled fashion statement it is today! accessories, attachments, etc available to set up the saree blouse.

It is one garment which though available in ‘readymade’ is still given for ‘stitching’ with many a nip and tuck to be done before the perfect fit.

Whatever it may be, the blouse cannot be divorced from the saree anymore, wear it with panache and flaunt that midriff or cleavage as the case may be, our strong women ancestors support us!

ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews.com

A

t a family wedding, an aunt is often apt to glare at you for flaunting a bit of cleavage from the sexy choli covered by a demure saree with the dialogue, ‘hamare zamaane mein…’. Well, you can tell her that in the days of our preBritish ancestors, whom we have chosen to follow, the saree was worn without a choli.

Today the choli or the blouse is given as much if not more attention than the blouse but it only became a part of the Indian woman’s wardrobe after the rather hypocritical Victorian standards of propriety took over the Indian classes. It was Jnanadanandini Debi, the wife of Satyendranath Tagore, brother of the Rabindranath Tagore who popularised blouses after being refused entry to clubs under the Raj for wearing the sari fabric over her bare breasts.

The choli makes a statement even today, from the de-

mure long-sleeved blouse which indicates professionalism with a hint of feminine strength and goes well with silk and cotton both. The sleeveless blouse, at one time, frowned upon as too modern is one of the most popular today adding oomph and comfort to the saree. Blouse styles are of as many types as the sarees with the spaghetti strap blouse and backless one a hot favourite with one and all.

The basic idea is that the humble saree blouse is no longer something to be worn ‘under’ the saree simply to cover the bosom, it is a fashion garment in its own right. One can’t even begin to describe all the styles,

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JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

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DOWNTON ABBEY

Comes to Rajasthan

Maharani Divya Kumari of Bharatpur

RASHMI DICKINSON cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

W

FA CE OF TH ED AY

ho hasn’t seen and loved Downton Abbey!

A very British period drama about the trials and tribulations of the lives of the fictional aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic staff in Yorkshire. Woven in are the true great historical events from 1910’s onwards, and their effects on their lives. Downton Abbey was filmed at the majestic Highclere Castle in Hampshire.

A particularly poignant storyline is about the fictional Downton Abbey Cottage Hospital, built on land donated by the Earl of Grantham, the husband of delightfully acerbically witty Violet, played by Dame Maggie Smith. The Cottage hospital fails to serve the needs of the great numbers of injured men in during the first world war of 1914-18.

Cora Crawley, the new Countess of Grantham, played by American Elizabeth McGovern, turns their magnificent Downton Abbey to run as a rehabilitation hospital for injured soldiers.

Two years later, in 1920, the fiancé of Mathew Crawley, the future Earl of Grantham, dies of Spanish flu. This was an epidemic which infected 50 million and killed 10% of those, i.e 5 million people. Fast forward to 2020.

A beautiful Maharani of the erstwhile Princely state of Bharatpur creates our own Downton Abbey in our beloved Rajasthan. Only this time it is for real! So who is she? And what has she done?

The alluring Divya Kumari is the daughter of Raja Surendra Singh of the earstwhile Princely state of Beri, now in UP. Educated at Loreto Convent and Isabella Thoborn College in Lucknow, she probably never imagined her life now.

Just as she was finishing her graduation, the young Vishvendra Singh saw her at a wedding and was completely smitten by her dazzling beauty. He overruled all objections and married her regardless. She came to Moti Mahal, the grand Palace of Bharatpur, as a young radiant bride in 1989. Rajasthan was just so different from Beri and Lucknow. But she loved every bit of it- the colours, the music, the dances, the customes, but above all its people.

Vishvendra and Divya were deeply in love but they threw themselves into serving their people, who in return adored the young couple. Their only child, Anirudh, was born 2 years later.

Initially, there had been a little disquiet that young Divya was not a Jat but a Rajput. All that melted away when, not contented with just living an opulent life of a Maharani, she devoted herself to working for the people of Bharatpur. They chose her as their member of

Divya with her son Aniruddh

parliament in 1996 from Bharatpur and later a Member of Legislative in 2003 from Deeg constituency.

While she herself has been out of active politics since 2009, she has fully supported her husband, Vishvendra Singh B h a r a t p u r, who is the cabinet minister for Tourism and D e v asthan Department.

But it was during these c o ro n av ir u s times that she has shown her true mettle. Despite the tremendous efforts by the administration, sadly, Bharatpur has emerged as red zone for coronavirus infections. Hospitals have become overloaded and frontline carers exhausted.

Divya Kumari decided she couldn’t just sit by and watch.

So, while a lesser mortal might worry about residual coronavirus infection and keep herself and her family at a safe distance, she decided to offer their Rajmahal Kothi Ijlas Khas and the

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

land surrounding the main Moti Mahal Palace to the Government to do anything to protect the people of Bharatpur and their carers from coronavirus. They will erect Quarantine tents, treatment tents or kitchens for front line workers and those impacted by the virus.

Ofcourse, the administration is only too delighted to accept her magnanimous offer.

It goes without saying that no money is expected in return!!

So, here we are, exactly 100 years after the First World War and then Spanish flu, when a fictional aristocrat turns her grand home, the Downton Abbey, into a rehabilitation hospital for injured soldiers. Now we have the softly spoken but feisty Maharani Divya Kumari doing it in real life! She says she is only doing what generations before her have taught her to do- looking after their people.

Standing ovation!

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Chances of getting good returns from a previous investment look bright.

Dont take on any additional job today, especially involving money. Blessings of a family elder will be reserved for you for your helpful nature. A drive to countryside is likely to give you the thrills.

Someone is likely to take you for a ride in money matters, so consult others before committing your money. Dont let people discourage you from pursuing what you think is in the interest of your career. Get rid of your arrogance or it will put off family and friends.

You will manage to nip a medical problem in the bud and save yourself from problems. Getting careless with money is possible and may make you waste it on dubious schemes. Be clear of your objective, so as not to get caught on the wrong foot by higher ups.

It may become difficult for some to kick a bad habit affecting their health. Think twice before going in for a heavy investment, as money once invested may not be returned till maturity. A task assigned to you at work will be to your liking, but you may get little time to complete it.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

A visit to an exciting event may keep you in an excited state today. A good offer on the property front is foreseen. Your preparation will be adequate for acing a competition or exam on the academic front. Those hoping for a passionate evening with partner may have to take the initiative.

Diet and exercise will prove an effective combination in bringing you back in shape. Good earning opportunities may come your way to make you more financially secure. A challenging assignment may come to you on the professional front. You’ll be proud today.

On the fitness front, your efforts of coming back in shape succeed. Curb wasteful expenditure, as it may eat into your savings. Job seekers may get some good openings. The day appears enjoyable, as you get to spend it with friends and relatives.

Your busy schedule will keep you on your toes, but keep you fit! An investment today will come in handy at a later date. You will need to guide someone regarding a new job or task, so be prepared for it. A family problem will need to be solved quickly, before it becomes disturbing.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Balanced diet is the key to your good health. Those looking for financial security for the future may need to act now. You will find the right opportunity to strike when the iron is hot on the professional front!

Differences may need to be sorted out with spouse.

Those trying to shed extra kilos will need some more will power to do so.

Unexpected gains are likely from an unexpected source. A problem on the professional front may beg your attention, so dont ignore it. You may start preparations for a festival in the right earnest.

Take steps to burn off fat.

You will manage to bring down the price of an expensive item through hard bargaining. Retailers may find their business on the upswing. You can expect a hectic time in the company of friends and relatives. Commuting problems may need to be addressed.

Some of you are likely to take time out to work on your figure. Handsome commission in a deal is possible and will help make your bank balance healthy. Your ultraefficiency at work is likely to get noticed by those who matter. A family elder may make life hell.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

AASHNA SHROFF, Blogger

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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

JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

MORE SHOTS TO COME! T

he popular web series ‘Four More Shots Please!’ is set to get a third season, it was confirmed on Friday, and actress Tannishtha Chatterjee is on

board to direct all episodes of the season. Created by Rangita Pritish Nandy for Amazon Prime video, the series stars Kirti Kulhari, Sayani Gupta, Bani J. and Maanvi Gagroo.

While Anu Menon directed the

first season, Nupur Asthana had called the shots for season two.

Devika Bhagat, who scripted the two seasons so far, returns to write the third season. Ishita Moitra will pen the dialogues.

The series follows four unapologetically flawed women as they discover life while balancing their friendship in Mumbai.

They are not ashamed about their sexual desires and unabashed about how they lead

their lives. They mess up but also own up to their mistakes.

They are successful and yet face failure in certain aspects of life.

Launched in April, the second season of ‘Four More Shots Please!’ is the most-watched

Two down,

HOLLYWOOD

MORE TO COME!

S

onam Kapoor Ahuja and Anand Ahuja, complete two years of marriage on Friday. Marking the occasion, Sonam took to social media and wrote an emotional note for her hubby. “4 years ago today I met a vegan who could do complicated yoga positions and speak about retail and business with the same ease. I found him unbelievably cool and sexy., he still makes my heart race and grounds me at the same time. Nothing compares to you @anandahuja, your compassion, kindness, generosity and smarts are incredibly attractive but so is your moodiness and your annoying perfectionism,” she posted.

Sonam even thanked Anand for “being my partner and standing beside me for these 4 years”.

“They have been my most fulfilling. Happy happy anniversary husband.

I’m soo thrilled I get to keep you for the rest of my life,” she added.

—ANI

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

Not-so-good Quarantine!

H

ollywood couple Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have been at each other’s throats amid the ongoing lockdown. A source said that they are “staying at opposite ends of the house”. “Kim and Kanye are arguing and at each other’s throats during this pandemic,” said a source. “Kim is getting stirred crazy, as she’s used to being on the go.

It’s also a lot of time alone with the kids for her.

She is frustrated with Kanye and thinks he’s not pulling his weight in family responsibilities.

They’ve been staying at opposite ends of the house to keep things civil,” they added. —IANS

... her Instagram post Sonam and Anand Ahuja

Cate Blanchett

‘Borderlands’ adaptation

O

scar-winning actress Cate Blanchett is in talks to get on board the film adaptation of the video game ‘Borderlands’. Several sources said that Blanchett is in talks to star as Lilith in the Lionsgate’s project. Eli Roth is on board to direct the film, Avi and Ari Arad producing through Arad Prods along with Erik Feig, who is producing via his Picture start banner. Craig Mazin, who won an Emmy for writing the popular ‘Chernobyl’, has penned the latest screenplay draft for the film.

—IANS

11

Cast of the series

show from India so far this year on Amazon Prime Video.

The show also features Prateik Babbar, Lisa Ray, Milind Soman, Neil Bhooplalam, Simone Singh and Amrita Puri.

—IANS

Casting couch

EXISTS! A dah Sharma, who has worked in both southern cinema and Bollywood, says that the casting couch exists everywhere.

Several Bollywood personalities have previously spoken out about their horrific casting couch experience in southern cinema. “Casting couch isn’t something that just exists in the South or the North. I think it is something that has been spoken about worldwide. The production of couches exists universally,” Adah told.

Adah, who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries apart from Bollywood, says there is always a choice.

“I think you always have a choice of whether you want to sit on it, lay on it, stand on it or not do anything on the couch. You can sit on the floor,” quipped the actress.

On the acting front, Adah, who was last seen on screen in ‘Bypass Road’, will next be seen in the film ‘Man Adah Sharma To Man’.

—IANS

SNEAK PEEK!

P

rabhas 20, the latest film Prabhas is acting in, is waiting for the lockdown to end to resume the shoot. The untitled film is being directed by Radha Krishna Kumar of ‘Jil’ fame and he has posted some pictures from the movie launch that happened two years ago. In the pictures, Baahubali star Prabhas is seen with leading lady Pooja Hegde as they pose with the crew of the movie.

“Here is a glimpse of our darling from the opening ceremony of #Prabhas20,” wrote Radha Krishna on Twitter as he shared stunning pictures from the ‘Prabhas 20’ launch ceremony.

In the images, Prabhas was spotted wearing stylish sunglasses and Pooja Hegde in a simple avatar. Rajamouli, VV Vinayak, and Krishnam Raju were seen at the movie launch.

—Agency

Cast and Crew of ‘Prabhas 20’

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

JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

12

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

AMER FORT, JAIPUR

BEATLES ARE

VIRAMGAM RAILWAY STATION, AHMEDABAD

Virtual session on ‘The Beatles Are Forever’ by Beatles lovers of the Pink City to be held today!

Impact of our deeds

FOREVER! O

CITY FIRST

n the 50-years of the break-up of the world’s most wellknown rock band ‘Beatles’, a virtual session is being organised by the Beatles lovers of the city at 4 pm on 9 May. The topic of the session is ‘The Beatles are Forever’.

The participants of the session will include – Siddhartha Chaturvedi (Music Festival Producer and Event Manager), Vijay Andrews (Publisher, lead singer and bass guitarist), Melven Castelino (Teacher, musician and music producer) and Jagdeep Singh (PR professional and Beatles Researcher). The session will witness scintillating discussions on the journey of the Beatles, its metamorphosis, the longevity of its music, the reason for their break up, etc. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Think Tank!

A foresight before the pandemic

SWATI JANGID

swati.jangid@firstindia.co.in

T

his collection had been showcased in INIFD Jodhpur Designer’s Day 2019, where masks ought to be obliged an important accessory in future. The mother nature rebalancing the world.

It’s deep. It’s about massive change.

It’s time for us humans to accept responsibility, let’s just pray that we meet our fate walking the right paths.

Designer’s - Rucheeta Jain, Simran

Sachdevani and Kavita Behra.

The collection has been inspired by marine life. From the little mermaid to the colours of the ocean, fashion has a long-standing love affair with the big blue sea. The current and past outlook of our beloved oceans and seas that has been neglected for many years now will be reflected in this collection.

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

CITY FIRST

A

midst the ongoing lockdown across the country, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot interacted with Industries of Rajasthan via video conferencing on Friday. During the call, CII submitted policy recommendations for addressing the Coronavirus pandemic which included financial matters as well as non-financial matters: To simplify the process of Inter-District and Inter-State transport of labour and staff through companyowned vehicle only, RIICO land auction process can again become life and rate of RIICO should be decreased so that people are encour-

aged to buy land.

State Govt is requested to initiate an investment cell to attract investment from those countries from where industries are starting to shift.

Payments to industries from government companies and departments should be expedited. Completion dates of the projects need to be reconsidered and extended without liquidated damages, till such time the fear of COVID-19 is over. There are many Government projects of electricity board, RIICO, PWD, RSRDC, PHED which are time-bound and

penalty will be there if the project is not completed in time.

Video Conferencing was attended by Chairman, CII Rajasthan, Vishal Baid and Director and State Head, CII Rajasthan, Nitin Gupta at Yojana Bhawan.

They suggested that all kinds of compliances and NoCs related to various Government departments like labour, sales tax, fire, factories and boilers, excise, RIICO, industries, PHED, electricity board, PWD, RPCB, and RSRDC must be extended by at least 6 months.

Jay Shah

Rajasthan: PCC General Secretary and RCA President Vaibhav Gehlot congratulated BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, on the telephone, on being blessed with a baby girl on Thursday. Jay, son of Amit Shah and his wife Rishita became proud parents to a second daughter; their elder daughter Rudri turned three years old in April this year.

O

this program will be broadcast live on more

than 30 Facebook pages.

This was informed by the FORTI Youth Wing Executive President Ankit Khandelwal.

During the event, various celebrities including Hema Malini, Jayaprada, Singhu Tai who is the mother of 20,000 kids in Pune, Veena Modani, RJ Kartik and poet Harish Hindustani among others will come live on the platform.

Gujarat: Medics take a break from their duties near a quarantined cluster in Ahmedabad.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Rajasthan: Amidst the ongoing pandemic, volunteers of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Swami Vivekananda Mandal and Navyuvak Mandal came forward to spread awareness about the novel coronavirus through painting and rangoli on Thursday, where police personnel were also honoured with the painting made by Rambabu Sharma. Along with this, these corona warriors have also been spreading awareness about the Arogya Setu App.

CELEBRATING MOTHERHOOD n the occasion of Inter national Mother’s Day, the third season of the event ‘Ek Sham Maa Ke Naam’ is going to be organised on 10 May, under the aegis of Lions Club Jaipur Hawamahal and Forti Youth Wing.

The event will be live on Facebook page ‘Ek Sham Maa Naam’ at 5 pm. In order to set the Golden Book of World Record,

Vaibhav Gehlot

Rajasthan: Amidst the global epidemic, four and a half year-old Jinisha Choudhary, great granddaughter of DB Choudhary of Dainik Navjyoti and granddaughter of Vijay Kumar, prepared a slogan poster thanking the Corona warriors.

Gujarat: Seventeen persons left Ahmedabad’s Haj House on Friday after spending 15 days in isolation at the COVID-care centre.

Gujarat: Five more COVID-19 patients were discharged from the Civil Hospital in Anand after successfully beating the disease.