First India-Jaipur Edition-23 April 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

22°C - 35°C

ALERT JAIPUR l THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 316

WORLD

1,81,422 26,04,718 681 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

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DEATHS

INDIA

21,370

CONFIRMED CASES

27

RAJASTHAN

1,888

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

829,013 SPAIN 208,389 ITALY 187,327 GERMANY 149,401 UK 133,495 TURKEY 98,674 IRAN 85,996 CHINA 82,788 RUSSIA 57,999

46,147 21,717 25,085 5,165 18,100 2,376 5,391 4,632 513

USA

+829 +435 +437 +79 +763 +117 +94 +3 +57

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO

LAST UPDATED: APRIL 22, 2020, 11:00 PM

IN RAJASTHAN DISTRICT

LOCKDOWN IS THE KEY! A couple maintaining strict social distancing in a house at Tripolia Bazaar area of Jaipur’s Walled City on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in India stood at over 20,000, including 15,474 active cases and 640 deaths on Wednesday. Despite the large number of cases being added in the last few days, the spread of the disease in India has slowed down considerably in comparison to other countries as a result of the lockdown, say experts. In eight days cases rose from 10,000 to 20,000 and this slow pace was primarily due to people following lockdown and social distancing rules..

—PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

ZERO TOLERANCE: GOVT SHIELD

FOR CORONA WARRIORS!

PM: Ordinance manifests our commitment to protect healthcare workers; Attack now a cognisable and nonbailable offence inviting jail upto 7 years & fine upto `7 L New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, manifests his government’s commitment to protecting healthcare workers braving COVID-19 on the frontline.

“The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, manifests our commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker, who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline. It will ensure the safety of our professionals. There can be no compromise on their safety!,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

The Central government on Wednesday brought an ordinance to end the violence against health workers, making it a cognizable, non-bailable offence with the imprisonment of up to seven years for those found guilty.

“We have brought an

—PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR A health worker in Jaipur on way to conduct corona survey.

MODI TO HOLD VC WITH CMS ON APRIL 27

CoronaWar: Modi emerges No1 globally New Delhi: As the world reels under the menace of Coronavirus, India has emerged as ‘bright spot’ in the fight against Covid-19.

Modi has topped the approval ratings carried out to find out the public opinion on which world leader is handling the coronavirus pandemic well. As of April 14, PM Modi’s net approval rating is 68, up from 62 at the beginning of the year, according to Morning Consult Political Intelligence. The survey was based on an average of 447 daily interviews

per US leader conducted between January 1-April 14, 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seen a rise in popularity amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted. Turn on P6

J&K’s Amarnath Yatra U-Turn

New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn a press release that said the Amarnath Yatra has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic that has brought the country to a standstill.

A press note released earlier on Wednesday said the pilgrimage scheduled from June 23 to August 3 was cancelled by the Amarnath shrine board during a video conference meeting. The decision on the annual pilgrimage would be taken soon after a review of the coronavirus situation Turn on P6

FB buys 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms ordinance under which any attack on health workers will be a cognizable, non-bailable offence.

In the case of grievous injuries, the accused can be sentenced from 6

months to 7 years. They can be penalised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar briefed media after the meeting of the Cabinet.

Turn on P6

New Delhi: Facebook on Wednesday announced an investment of USD 5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore) to buy a 9.99 per cent stake in Jio Platforms -- a deal that will help RIL cut debt and use WhatsApp to create an Indian e-commerce giant that could rival Amazon and Walmart.

The largest foreign di-

rect investment (FDI) in the technology sector in India will give the US social-networking firm a broader foothold in its biggest global market.

“Today we are announcing a USD 5.7 billion, or Rs 43,574 crore, investment in Jio Platforms, part of Reliance Industries Ltd, making Turn on P6

Sensex rallies 743 pts Mumbai: Equity benchmark Sensex rallied 743 points, buoyed by robust gains in index heavyweight Reliance Industries as it struck a Rs43,574-crore deal with FB, amid positive cues from global markets.

TOTAL CASES

AJMER 103 ALWAR 7 BANSWARA 61 BARMER 1 BHARATPUR 103 BHILWARA 33 BIKANER 37 CHURU 14 DAUSA 21 DHOLPUR 1 DUNGARPUR 5 HANUMANGARH 8 JAIPUR 725 JAISALMER 34 JHALAWAR 20 JHUNJHUNU 40 JODHPUR 287 KARAULI 3 KOTA 114 NAGAUR 75 PALI 2 PRATAPGARH 2 SWAI MADHOPUR 8 SIKAR 2 TONK 115 UDAIPUR 4 OTHER DIST. 0

1825 2 61 GRAND TOTAL 1888

TOTAL OTHER (Italy) EVACUEES

SAMPLE RECEIVED SAMPLE NEGATIVE

NEW TOTAL CASES DEATH

+44 — — — +1 — — — +1 — — — +68 — — — +11 — +6 +4 — — +1 — +17 — — +153 — — +153

— 1 — — 1 2 1 — — — — — 14 — — — 2 — 3 1 — — — — 1 — 1(UP) 27 — — 27

66,257 58,552

UNDER EXAMINATION

5,817

CORONA IN RAJASTHAN On Wednesday Jaipur reported 79 positive cases out of which 36 are from the red zone of Ramganj.

Ajmer is the new hotspot in the state where 44 new positive cases were reported in a single day.

P3

BIG RELIEF TO POOR

In absence of Centre’s grant, CM takes matter in hands  Gehlot directs to buy 6 cr kg wheat from FCI at market price for distribution!  Says, starting industries an auspicious sign Naresh Sharma Jaipur: After continuously asking the Centre to release additional wheat for reprieve to the poor section of

the society facing a food shortage, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has decided to now take the matters in his own hands. Sensitive to-

GEHLOT WRITES TO PM The Rajasthan Chief Minister has shot a letter to PM Narendra Modi requesting him to release additional thirty thousand metric tonnes of wheat under the Food Security Scheme. Gehlot said that currently the wheat allotment is based on the 2011 population when the state had 6.86 lakh citizens whereas the number has now swelled to 7.74 crore rupees in 2019, due to which the number of poor has also increased and should be included in the FSA.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during video-conference with media persons on Wednesday.

wards people’s suffering and pain, the Gehlot government will now buy wheat from

FCI at market rate to distribute ten kilo wheat packet among sixty lakh people in

Rajasthan. Addressing a video conference with media personnel, Gehlot said that the Central Government is allocating wheat to the state only after considering the 2011 census as the basis.

Whereas in the last years, 54 lakh people have come under the purview of food security.

“I have also written a letter to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Turn on P6

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JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

02

PANDEMIC KEEPS VISITORS AWAY...

A deserted view of the historic monument Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan during the second phase of the nationwide modified lockdown imposed in the state to curb the further spread of the dreadful coronavirus in Jaipur on Wednesday.

Lockdown Blues: Illegal liquor trade raise a toast Major factor leading to a rising number of cases is the dept policy itself: Sources Nirmal Tiwari Jaipur: Excise department in the state seems to be looking Tokyo and heading London at least that is the picture that emerges when anybody anises it’s ‘Special Operation’ to curb illegal liquor trade in the state. People bearing inner information of the trade believe that one major factor leading to a rising number of cases of illegal liquor trade even during lockdown is the department policy itself.

The fact that there exists a big illegal liquor syndicate in the state is no hidden fact that has been using the state as a transit route to smuggle liquor from Shahjahanpur to Udaipur via Jaipur.

When the lockdown was announced all liquor retailing outlets were also closed on March 22. But the state excise dept was busy to somehow manage and make arrangements for

ACTION BY EXCISE DEPARTMENT Country Liquor 7362 Bottles IMFL

4845 Bottles

Illegally Manufactured Liquor 5570 Bottles Wash

ACTION TAKEN BY THE POLICE

z Average Raids per day 277 z Average Cases registered per day 24 z Average Country Liquor Seized per day 272 litres z Average Arrests per day 5 z Average IMFL Seized per day 179 litres z Average Illicit Liquor Brewery Destroyed per day12

the new excise regime in the new fiscal year.

Due to wrong feedback, the department supplied the new licensees with liquor stocks to be stocked in their closed shops & godowns with a prerequisite of not selling it. All this was done during the unprecedented lockdown era just to earn revenue for the department which it had failed to do miserably in the preceding year.

With stocks lying unsold with them some of the licensees in the state started selling it illegally and registering theft cases for the illegally sold stocks to save their skins. Excise Commissioner BC Mallik launched ‘Special Operation’ to wipe off the illicit trade but his subordinates were busy collecting revenue for the department so whatever little they were able to do for the

4.02 Lakh litres

Doda Post (Poppy Left Over) Vehicles Seized Beer

44

3564 Bottles

Illegal Breweries Destroyed Cannabis

15 Kg

317 23 Kg

operation is evident from the data in the box alongside.

In fact, the police which was far busier as corona warriors seized 4 times more illegal liquor than the excise department put together.

Excise dept was busier in releasing authorization letters for the salesmen of closed shops and giving NOC to retail outlet locations without even visiting them in lockdown.

Rathore attacks govt on Corona Jaipur: Deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore has again attacked the state govt on Jodhpur case.

Rathore said that it has become clear from the reply submitted by the state govt in the PIL of Advocate Vivek Srimali in the Jodhpur HC that illegal pressure was imposed by govt on police officers who control situation of corona lockdown in Jodhpur.

—PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR

Raj govt not serious about the stranded people, says Poonia Jaipur: In the video conferencing of state BJP on Wednesday, the main point of discussion was the issue of migrant Rajanthanis.

BJP State President Dr Satish Poonia said that the state govt is showing negligence to the people of other states living in Rajasthan and the people of Rajasthan living in other states.

State govt officials are not serious about the

Dr Satish Poonia

problems of such people. No one responds or picks up the helpline numbers given by govt

officials.

Along with Poonia, BJP’s National Sah Sangathan Minister V Satish, State General Secretary Chandrashekhar, leader of opposition Gulabchand Kataria, deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kailash Chaudhary were present during the VC.

‘Raj govt has backtracked ‘Centre must decide to on deferment of power bills’ send labourers home’ First India News Jaipur: Rajsamand MP, Diya Kumari, has accused the Gehlot Government of backtracking on their announcement of deferment of electricity bills for 2 months.

Diya said this is playing with the sentiments of the people. The entire State has been under lockdown for the past one month due to Coronavirus. Work has stopped in factories and industries. The common people are facing

Diya Kumari

difficulties in their daily lives. In such a situation, instead of waiving the bills, electricity bills are being generated by Electricity department with arbitrary amounts.

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court said that the central govt should take a decision to send labourers trapped in different parts of the country to their homes amid lockdown. The suggestion has been made by state govt during the hearing of a PIL filed in this regard. On behalf of state govt, Advocate General MS Singhvi said that the way students in Kota have been safely sent to their homes, central govt should make a policy for the labourers as well. If

the govt will take such a decision, then the state govt is ready to make necessary arrangements for it. The response was given during the hearing of PIL filed by James Bedi and Public Against Corruption before the division bench of CJ Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Satish Sharma. The next hearing in the matter will be held on April 29. The court has also directed the state and central govts to submit a complete factual report on the matter.

China’s loss could be Rajasthan’s gain if Gehlot govt acts fast ANIL SHARMA

The writer is a senior journalist

A

t a time when winds are blowing against China after coronavirus pandemic, some of the companies from countries including Japan, South Korea and the US among others, having their manufacturing hubs in China are planning to shift their units to states in India like Rajasthan, which offer location advantage and country specific zones can attract investment from these countries, if the state markets itself well.

The news regarding

companies planning to shift their base has come as a blessing in disguise for Rajasthan, which already has a Japanese zone in Neemrana in Alwar district.

For the last few years, Neemrana, situated on National Highway-8 between Delhi-Jaipur, is witnessing the hustlebustle of Japanese entrepreneurs who have made this region a hub of Japanese Industries.

It may be mentioned here that Japan holds a special place as one of the closest and reliable international partners of the state. Total area of over 1,000 acre has been reserved exclusively for Japanese companies in Neemrana by the state government. Around 55 Japanese firms with a combined investment of

over Rs58,00 crore, majority in auto manufacturing, either already have set up plants or are on verge of starting production here.

Neemrana has been transformed into an industrial hub with huge manufacturing plants and warehouses. Japanese names dot both sides of the highway, be it on a factory, a hotel or a restaurant. It is a “Mini-Japan” as the area has come to be known.

Nissan, Nippon, Mitsui, Mikuni the who’s who Japanese industry have set up industries here.

As per media reports Japan is considering to give 23.5 billion yen to companies seeking to move manufacturing base to other countries.

Japan is not alone as some South Korean companies based in

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

China and also from US and other countries are contemplating moving out of China.

Government of Rajasthan should not miss this opportunity and try to cash in on by offering various sops to come and set up their units here. Obviously, everything will happen after seeing how coronavirus pans out. But at least work on the table

should start as fast as possible as other states must also be looking to grab this opportunity.

Strike when iron is hot should be the mantra!

Nothing could have been better for the state during this time than to have an investor friendly, positive thinking and proactive chief minister Ashok Gehlot and a deft economic adviser Arvind Mayaram.

Both are knowledgeable persons. Gehlot has always been very positive while working out policies to attract investment in the state.

It was Ashok Gehlot, who in its first tenure as chief minister from 1998-2003 brought single window concept and in his second tenure from 2008-2013 had introduced Single Window Act, which made formalities for investing in Rajasthan easy to a great extent. During his present tenure, again Rajasthan became first state in the country to come out with an innovative and exciting policy for MSMEs. As per the decision taken by the state government new MSMEs in Rajasthan now require no approvals and no inspections for

first 3 years. A great step to bring in investment in MSME sector and to generate employment opportunities.

Gehlot has also selected one of the most diligent and one of the brightest bureaucrats Arvind Mayaram at the right place and right time. Mayaram who is a former finance secretary Government of India was appointed as economic adviser to government of Rajasthan around one and a half years back. And it was under his guidance that new set of rules for MSMEs came into being.

Knowing Mayaram, he for sure must have started to think regarding attracting the industries not only from Japan but also from South Korea or even US considering China situation.

Media reports apparently suggest that South Korean companies are also in talks to pull out their manufacturing units from China to more investor friendly countries like India.

Rajasthan government a few years back had decided to set up an industrial zone dedicated to the Koreans at Ghilot in Neemrana.

But as no Korean company came forward to set up unit there, it was then in 2017 decided to discontinue with the project.

Time, however is right, now, and Rajasthan government should cease this opportunity and go hard at attracting investment which otherwise is difficult to come by in these difficult times.

RAJASTHAN JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

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in

BRIEF

cases in JAIPUR STILL WORST HIT IN STATE, Maximum Dausa from Lalsot 1 DEAD, 153 NEW CASES IN 24 HRS First India News

SK Singh z Jaipur: Division

Bench of Chief Justice and Justice Satish Kumar Sharma heard PIL of Ramvir on Health Workers of Rajasthan and SMS Hospital Jaipur. State Government filed an affidavit mentioning that they are providing PPE as per WHO standards and a committee was formed to look into the matter of missing masks, also the canteen of SMS Hospital was seized after one doctor got infected. The state is providing safety gadgets to all Health Workers. This Petition was heard along with the Suo Moto PIL wherein certain directions were given to Union of India and State Government with respect to corona management, Advocate General and Additional Solicitor General sort time to file the detailed reply.

Court gave one week.

The matter will be heard on May 29. The matter was argued by Advocate SK Singh through VC.

z Jaipur: Curfew has

been imposed in Sector 85 of Pratap Nagar, Harinagar in Adarsh Nagar, Chaman Colony in Malpura Gate, Paldi Meena in Kho Nagoriyan and Nand Vihar in Shyam Nagar. DCP Rahul Jain informed that a curfew has been imposed in the Pratap Nagar police station area for the first time.

At the same time, the curfew has been extended after finding corona positives in new areas of Adarsh Nagar, Malpura Gate and Kho Nagoriyan police station areas. The curfew was imposed in Malpura Gate recently after an elderly got corona positive in Kagzi Mohalla. Now, the curfew has been imposed in the nearby colony after the daughter of the patient was also tested positive. Meanwhile, DCP Yogesh Dadhich said that a curfew has been imposed in Nand Vihar colony of Shyam Nagar police station after a Radiologist was found positive. On the other hand, 8 people were arrested and 503 vehicles were seized on Wednesday for violating Section 144.

Jaipur: On Wednesday Jaipur reported 68 positive cases out of which 36 are from Ramganj with patients surfacing from areas like Top khana, Gangapole, Subash chowk, Futa khurra, Jagannath shah ka rasta and Bisatiyon ka mohalla. Other areas also contributed with MD road reporting 14 cases, Ghat gate 2, Purani basi 2, RD Hostel 2 and Kho nagorian, Rani Nagar, Paldi Meena.

Chandi ki taksal, Sanganer, Chaman colony & Sethi colony reporting one case each.

Jaipur now has 725 corona positive cases.

One positive patient

Police patrolling in Mahesh Nagar, where curfew has been imposed and barricades have been placed so as to limit the movement of residents.

—PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

from other state was also added to the list.

The state reported 153 new positives taking the state cumulative to-

tal to 1888. Last 24 hours registered one corona death taking the death toll to 27. Ajmer is the new hotspot in the state

where 44 new positive cases were reported in a single day. On Wednesday Tonk reported 17 new cases, Jodhpur 11,

Lockdown has left a number of foreigners stranded, two such girls were seen near Ajmeri Gate area in Jaipur. —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

First India News Dausa: Lalsot in Dausa district is fast developing into an epicenter of coronavirus. Of total 20 cases in Dausa district, 14 are from Lalsot town.

Seven of eight cases in last 24 hours were also reported from there.

Two lab technicians were tested positive in Dausa and Chareda PHC. Dausa now has

five cases. After increase in positive cases, the police here have become strict to implement lockdown.

ADM Lokesh Meena and Additional SP Anil Singh Chouhan have been camping in lockdown for effective monitoring of lockdown. The police arrested a person for disturbing peace as he was not wearing mask.

Kota: 6 new cases include hosp workers

First India News

First India News

Ajmer: Ajmer has become new hotspot in the state. 79 corona positive cases have been recorded in just 12 hours in the district.

However, the problem for health department is to trace the source.

All these cases have been reported from Mochi Mohalla. First infection was detected in a person who sold garments on street, thereafter; there has been flurry of positive cases.

All corona patients are from the same colony. They are street vendors and live in same building, which ap-

First India News

ADGP Neena Singh Visits a quarantine centre as number of Corona positive case reached at 103 in Ajmer on Wednesday.

—PHOTO BY NADEEM KHAN

peared to be major cause of contagion.

Some cases have been reported from nearby areas. Officials said that here six to ten people have been living in

a small room. They allege that people have not been cooperating.

They are not providing travel history and the positive person had lived in Dargah area.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons who lived with the infected but absconded.

Their samples along with six others have been sent to Udaipur.

Jaipur: State Governor Kalraj Mishra congratulated and wished the people on Ramadan. He said, “On the happy occasion of Ramadan, people should pray from home only, all people pray to Allah, to get rid of the coronavirus from the country quickly and for happiness to come again everywhere.

Everybody should celebrate this festival with simplicity by staying at home and especially keep the social distancing.”

He also spoke to many people through video conferencing, including Syed Ainuddin

Governor Kalraj Mishra

Chishti of Ajmer Dargah’s Anjuman Committee and gave a message to the Khadims’ to worship from home on the occasion of Ramadan. Also the members of the Anjuman Committee told the Governor, ‘They will spread this message to the Garib Nawaz’s followers nationwide’

Kota: 6 new positive cases were reported in Kota. A 43-year-old nurse and a 27-year-old ECG technician, were found to be positive. A 12-year-old from Chandraghata, two women from Kolipala and Anantpura, and 21-yearold daughter of a head constable from Shivpura, Dadabari were reported positive. On the other hand, delivery of the 20-year-old corona positive pregnant woman from Ghanta Ghar, was carried out at JK Lon Maternal Hospital on Tuesday. Mother and child are out of danger.

Curfew in villages after Due to Pilot’s efforts, more than 5L Journos in state to be dead woman test +ve MNREGA workers enrolled in 4 days tested for COVID-19 First India News Bharatpur. A woman from Pathena village in Bhisawar Police Station area tested corona positive after she died, and it has caused quite an uproar in the village and the surrounding areas.

BMHO immediately reached the village and identified all the persons who were present during her funeral. He then ordered screening of all the identified persons who had come in contact with her.

As soon as the Collector got the information

an order was passed out to impose curfew in all villages surrounding Pathena gram panchayat, and the order has been strictly carried out.

The deceased lady was admitted to SMS hospital in Jaipur for treatment of diabetes where she died. A private lab report diagnosed her corona negative and her body was handed over to her family for cremation. It was later that the report from the govt lab diagnosed her corona positive and the administration came in to action.

First India News Jaipur: Deputy CM Sachin Pilot’s efforts to support rural economy has resulted in a jump of more than five lakh addition in MNREGA workers in just four days.

Till April 17, only 62000 people had found work due to lockdown.

However, considering importance of MNREGA in rural areas, the rural development department stepped up efforts because of which the number went up to 6.08 lakh on Wednesday.

People were encour-

Deputy CM Sachin Pilot interacted with labourers to ascertain their views about importance of MNREGA works during lockdown

aged to demand for work and the department also tried to achieve maximum number of enrollment.

Pilot visited Kumhariyawas and Teetariya villages for inspec-

DGP takes stock of lockdown in Udaipur DGP Bhupendra Yadav has been visiting districts of the states to encourage his force and also to review the condition amidst the pandemic outbreak

Kota 6, Nagaur 4 and Dausa & Bharatpur reported one case each.

Rajasthan has so far tested 66257 samples out of which 58552 were negative while report for 5817 samples is awaited. As of Wednesday night Jaipur has 725 cases, Jodhpur 287, Kota 114, Tonk 105, Ajmer & Bharatpur 103 each, Nagaur 75, Banswara 61, Jhunjhunu 40, Bikaner 37, Jaisalmer 34. Bhilwara 33, Dausa 21, Jhalawar 20, Churu 14, Hanumangarh & Sawai Madhopur 8 each, Alwar 7, Dungarpur 5, Udaipur 4, Karauli 3, Paili, Pratapgarh & Sikar 2 each and Dholpur & Barmer one case each.

Ajmer turns out to be new hotspot in ‘This Ramdan ask Allah state, 79 cases reported in 12 hours to rid country of corona’

SUPERVISION

zzz

03

First India News Udaipur: DGP Bhupendra Yadav reached Udaipur late on Wednesday evening. Police officials warmly welcomed him in the city.

The DGP has been visiting various districts of the state for the last several days, to comply with the ongoing lockdown due to the outbreak of pandemic Corona virus, and also to encourage the police personnel for the com-

DGP Bhupendra Yadav stopped at Pali on his way to Jodhpur.

mendable work they have been doing amidst tension during the lockdown due the pandemic.

He reached the Police Anweshan Bhawan at Badi in Udaipur by road from Rajsamand, where

he discussed various issues with Udaipur Range Inspector General Vinita Thakur, SP Kailash Bishnoi and other top police officials.

Yadav will rest at Police Anweshan Bhawan itself and will check the strict lock-down in various areas in Udaipur city on Thursday. After completing the tour of the city, his programme to take a tour of some other districts of Udaipur division is also being scheduled.

tion of model pond construction work. He asked, assistant engineer and development officer to ensure social distancing and availability of soaps to wash hands.

Jaipur: Rajasthan Health Department has decided that the media persons will undergo Coronavirus testing after some of the media persons tested positive in other states of the country.

The test will be conducted by holding a twoday camp. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on April 20 had said that 53 journalists in Mumbai tested positive for COVID-19.

“53 journalists in Mumbai tested positive for COVID-19; All are under isolation. Samples of 171 journalists

reporting from the field, including Photographers, Video Journalists and Reporters, were collected. Most of the journalists with COVID-19 were asymptomatic,” BMC had said. —ANI

TRAGIC INCIDENT

A massive fire broke out in a warehouse on New Sanganer Road in Mansarovar area of the city on Wednesday morning. Two nearby houses were also affected by the huge fire.

People living in them were immediately evacuated.

PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

MUCH-NEEDED LAW TO SAVE DOCTORS

COVID-19 AND FORCE MAJEURE – NEED FOR EFFECTIVE CONTRACT DRAFTING DHRUV GUPTA The writer is a practising advocate in the Supreme Court of India

C

all them uncivilised, miscreants, inhuman or even worse but the manner in which incidents of ill-treatment and humiliation of doctors, nurses, and other health workers continued unabated was worrisome. These sad occurrences were not confined to any one state. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and many other states have witnessed these dastardly attacks on teams visiting different localities to look for COVID-19 patients.

Doctors have been attacked and told to vacate their flats for attending COVID-19 patients. Those undergoing treatment in hospitals have spat on and abused nurses on duty.

The violent reaction in some places can be attributed to paranoia over COVID-19. Stress could also be a factor. At other places, the attempt has been to avoid testing because of misinformation about the tests to see if one is positive. However, under no circumstances can violence against medical personnel be justified.

The most condemnable case was reported from Chennai where Dr Simon Hercules, a prominent neurosurgeon was denied burial space after he died due to the corona virus-related infection. His family and friends, who took the body to a burial ground, were attacked with sticks and rods. The mob clearly lacked basic humanity. In the other serious incident which happened in Moradabad, two doctors suffered serious injuries after a mob pelted them with stones. The doctors were on COVID-19 duty.

Seeing no end to the unruly behaviour by people who looked at doctors and other health workers as the new untouchables, the Indian Medical Association decided to observe Black Day on Wednesday. Promptly, the government decided to decisively intervene in the matter as any protest by doctors at this stage would have adversely affected the country’s fight against the pandemic. The states have the freedom to invoke various sections of the Indian Penal Code and some even did by treating attacks on health workers at par with an attempt to murder, against the hoodlums. In the Moradabad case UP decided to invoke the National Security Act besides imposing community fine. Something more was needed to reassure the doctors and nurses etc. that they won’t be left at the mercy of goons in these challenging times.

Showing “zero tolerance” towards harassment of, and violence against, the frontline warriors the Union cabinet passed an ordinance to amend the 123-year-old Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to incorporate harsh punishment for those assaulting the medical fraternity. The penalty now includes heavy fines and also imprisonment of a maximum seven years in serious cases. The offence will be non-bailable.

Will this law act as a deterrent? Harsher law and fast trials have not had a significant impact on potential rapists. A police party came under attack in Aligarh’s Bhojpura area on Wednesday even after a dozen persons were arrested under the NSA in UP. Only an effective implementation of the new law will raise the spirits of doctors.

T

When an extraordinary event such as the COVID-19, pandemic does occur, the party invoking the clause must lead some positive evidence to show how the performance of its obligation has been rendered impossible on account of the pandemic

he entire world is grappling with an unprecedented crisis, posed by the pandemic, whereby supply chains have been disrupted, thereby threatening to delay, interrupt or even cancel the performance of promises under subsisting contracts. As a result, parties are seeking either to terminate existing agreements or put off their performance till such time normalcy is restored. This unprecedented problem has highlighted the importance of effective agreement drafting.

Parties to contracts are taking recourse to the existence or otherwise, of a Force Majeure clause, to wriggle out of or to compel performance of obligations, as the case may be.

The French term Force Majeure means ‘a superior force’. It is a principle devised to account for events that are beyond the control of parties such as Acts of God, natural calamities, etc.

The clause takes within its fold events that are beyond the control of contracting parties, and therefore, protects them from consequences of non-performance of their obligations on account of intervening unforeseeable circumstances. However, while the general meaning attributed to Force Majeure has been natural events such as floods, earthquakes etc., the term has hardly been used to connote an epidemic, let alone a pandemic.

Therefore, the question that begs consideration then is whether the Covid-19 pandemic can be included in the umbrella term, “Force Majeure”?

The question presupposes that the contract under consideration here does not explicitly specify either the term epidemic or pandemic, in its Force Majeure clause, as otherwise, an explicit mention will not leave any room for doubt about its inclusion.

In the realm of contract law, parties deal with their limitations of foresight, by

including in the Force Majeure clauses, umbrella terms such as, “extraordinary events” or “circumstances beyond the reasonable control”, and their variants, to mitigate the possibility of any event escaping the express coverage under the terms of the agreement.

In such cases, when an extraordinary event such as the Covid-19, pandemic does occur, the party invoking the clause must lead some positive evidence to show how the performance of its obligation has been rendered impossible on account of the pandemic. For instance, where the shipment of raw material from overseas has been cancelled due to the prevalence of pandemic, and as a consequence, the manufacture of the final product has been rendered impossible, the manufacturer can invoke the Force Majeure clause, supported by proof of cancellation of shipment of the consignment.

Where, however, a party fails to establish a direct link between the pandemic and the implication on the performance of its obligations, the other party can choose to insist upon fulfillment of promises and threaten termination of the contract. This month, the Bombay High Court refused to grant a Force Majeure exemption to importers of steel, from encashment of

THE OPERATION OF A FORCE MAJEURE CLAUSE WILL VARY ON A CASE-TO-CASE BASIS, DEPENDING UPON THE SPECIFICS USED IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE CLAUSE

their letters of credit, by holding that the fact that the importers would not be able to perform their obligations cannot be held against the exporter. Moreover, the lockdown cannot come to the rescue of such an importer.

The next question that beckons consideration is what happens when a contract is missing the Force Majeure clause altogether? The answer to that question depends upon the statutory provisions contained in Sections 32 and 56 of the Indian Contact Act, 1872. While Section 32 performance of contract is contingent upon the happening or otherwise of an event, Section 56 deals with

Coronavirus pandemic threatens the world’s wildlife

T

here have not been many bright spots in the coronavirus pandemic, but one has been the apparent return of nature as the frantic pace of modern life has slowed. We’ve seen fish-eating birds return to the clear waters of Venice, wild boar roaming the streets of Bergamo, and of course the feral mountain goats of Llandudno.

In Britain, wildlife seems set for a bountiful spring and sum mer. Fewer cars on the road means less roadkill, and many birds and voles will be spared as owners decide to keep their cats indoors. In towns and cities, wildflowers will surely flourish as councils realise that mowing their parks and verges is somewhat less than essential.

Nature, it seems, is making a comeback.

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Unfortunately, this is but a partial picture, and one that is limited to the minority world of industrialised nations. Most of the world’s biodiversity is found in the low-income countries and emerging economies of the Global South, and in such places the economic impacts of the pandemic are likely to be devastating for the natural world.

The difference lies in how people respond to the economic shock of losing their livelihood. Social safety nets are a widespread feature of many industrialised economies, keeping the poor and vulnerable from destitution, and the importance of the welfare state has never been more obvious than during the pandemic. In the UK, for example, the government’s furlough scheme guarantees that people unable to work will receive 80% of

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS AN EVEN GREATER THREAT TO LIVELIHOODS THAN CLIMATE CHANGE, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM

their income. But citizens of many low-income countries simply don’t have such back-up from their governments, leaving them incredibly vulnerable. For many, the forest and the ocean will provide their safety net.

Exploiting natural resources is often the only option for the destitute. Wild animals, fish and forest trees are rarely owned by anyone, and they are found in rural areas where policing is difficult. What’s more,

there are often few technical barriers to exploiting them – you don’t need a degree to be able to wield an axe.

I saw this first hand in a decade spent living in Madagascar, which is rich in lemurs and other unique creatures, but is also one of the world’s poorest nations.

My research has shown that when Malagasy people lose their source of income due to climate change-induced natural disasters, they often turn to natural resources to

make ends meet. Farmers suffering from drought may head to the forest to produce charcoal, or to practice “slash-and-burn” agriculture. Others head to the coast to fish, but lacking the necessary skills and equipment, they rely on destructive techniques like poison fishing. The impacts can be devastating for biodiversity.

Of course the coronavirus pandemic is an even greater threat to livelihoods than climate change, at least

in the short term. Following the last financial crisis, in 2008, unemployed workers in Cameroon turned to poaching and deforestation in a desperate attempt to maintain their income, and a similar story will now be unfolding worldwide.

In India, millions of migrant workers have lost their jobs in cities and returned to their family villages, a mass movement of people not seen since partition in 1947. A similar thing is happening in Madagascar too, as it is throughout Africa and probably much of the tropics. Nobody knows what impacts this unprecedented rural exodus will have, but it is clear that many more people will be finding themselves poorer, hungrier, and much closer to exploitable wildlife than they were a few weeks ago.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.THECONVERSATION.COM

situations where the performance of obligations is rendered impossible, thereby, rendering the contract void. The Supreme Court has explained the law in Energy Watchdog v.

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, by observing that an event leading to frustration, which is relatable to an express or implied clause in a contract, is governed by Section 32 of the Act, and where it is rendered impossible de hors such contractual terms, the same shall be governed by Section 56 of the Act. Therefore, to summarize the above position of the law, the operation of a Force Majeure clause will vary on a case-to-case basis, depending upon the specifics used in the language of the clause. Where the language of the clause covers specific events, resort to those may be perfectly valid. However, where a clause takes resort to umbrella terms to account for every unforeseeable act, positive evidence, establishing the link between the Force Majeure and the impossibility of performance of obligation, will have to be lead. In cases where a Force Majeure clause is missing altogether, resort may be had to express provisions of the Indian Contract Act, as noted above.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Approval for promulgation of Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act,1897 making such acts of violence as cognizable & non-bailable offences and to provide compensation for injury to healthcare personnel or for causing damage or loss to the property, will act as a deterrent.

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Govt. led by PM @NarendraModi ji approves `15,000 Cr for ‘’India COVID-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package” Enhancing emergency response through better medical facilities, the package will bolster safety & well being of citizens.

Spiritual SPEAK

There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it. —Buddha

Vol 1 Issue No. 316 RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur.

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

INDIA JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

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Ensure healthcare workers are safe: MHA tells states State Govts have been asked to appoint nodal officers, Union Home Secy Ajay Bhalla said New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday asked all states and union territories to provide adequate security to doctors and frontline health workers who are facing attacks from unruly people.

In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also flagged a few heinous instances of unruly behaviour by people where the families and relatives of medical professionals, suspected to have died due to COVID-19 infection, were prevented from performing the last rites of the deceased.

“In such cases, adequate security should be provided; and, stringent action should be taken against such offenders who obstruct

‘Pak will export COVID-19 patients to infect people in Kashmir’

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police chief on Wednesday expressed concern over reports of Pakistan planning to send in coronavirus positive persons to infect people in the Union Territory with the deadly virus.

“What we have heard is that till now, Pakistan used to export terrorists, now they will export coronavirus positive persons to infect people in Kashmir. It is a matter of concern,” Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh said.

According to Union Health Ministry data, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 380 cases of COVID-19 including deaths deaths so far.

With 1383 more cases and 50 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, India’s total number of COVID-19 cases stands at 19,984, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday. —ANI

Rajpath wears a deserted look as it has been barricaded during the second phase of lockdown.

the performance of last rites of medical professionals or frontline healthcare workers, who, unfortunately, succumb to the infection from COVID-19 while discharging their services, or otherwise,”

Aviation ministry HQ to be sealed after staffer tests positive New Delhi: Ministry of Civil Aviation (B) wing at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan here has been sealed and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has been asked to sanitise the premises after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, ministry sources said on Wednesday.

An employee of the ministry, who had attended office on April 15 has tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. The ministry has asked the patient’s colleagues who came in contact with him to go into self-isolation as a precaution. “An employee of the ministry who had attended office on 15 April 2020 has

be available 24x7 to redress any safety issue on the functioning of medical professionals.

States &UTs should also take immediate action in case any incident of violence takes place, he said. —ANI

— Ajay Bhalla

Union Home Secretary

‘Be cautious while covering COVID-19: I&B Ministry to media New Delhi: In the wake of a large number of media persons contracting Covid-19, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to print and electronic media on Wednesday, calling on journalists covering coronavirusrelated incidents to take precautions.

The advisory also asked the management of media houses to take necessary care of their field as well as office staff.

“It has come to the notice of the Ministry that a large number of media persons have recently contracted Covid-19 while covering the happenings in certain parts of the country,” it said.

In view of the fact that media persons, including reporters, cameramen, photographers, etc. are covering incidents relating to Covid-19 in various parts of the country involving travel, amongst

others, to containment zones, hotspots and other Covid-affected areas, it is advised that all such media persons may take due health and related precautions while performing their duties, the advisory said.

“Management of media houses is requested to take necessary care of their field staff as well as office staff,” it said.

The advisory comes a day after the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi decided to arrange Cov-

id-19 tests for media persons. Some journalists from a Tamil news TV channel in Chennai tested positive for the infection in a fresh incident involving scribes.

Also, during a special camp organised at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai on April 16 and 17 for Covid-19 testing of scribes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) collected swab samples of 171 media persons, including electronic and print media journalists, photographers and cameramen. —ANI

Cabinet approves Rs 15,000 crore to combat Corona

STANDING GUARD...

THE DIRECTIVE

tested positive for COVID19 on 21st April. All necessary protocols are being stringently followed on the Premises.

All colleagues who came in contact are being asked to go into selfisolation as a precaution,” the ministry tweeted. —ANI

Slogans written on the road for people to stay safe in Varanasi.

A policeman stands in front of a graffiti depicting a portrait of sadhu during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic in Prayagraj.

—PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved Rs 15,000 crore for ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’.

The funds sanctioned will be utilised in three phases and for immediate COVID-19 Emergency Response, Rs 7,774 crore has been provisioned and rest for medium-term support (1-4 years) to be provided under mission mode approach.

Briefing media, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the key objectives of the package include mounting emergency response to slow & limit COVID-19

in India through development of diagnostics & Corona-dedicated treatment facilities, centralised procurement of essential medical equipment & drugs required for treatment of infected patients, strengthen and build resilient national and state health systems to support prevention and preparedness for future disease outbreaks. —ANI

Vast medical network of corona warriors set up 2 Chinese manufacturers under ICMR New Delhi: In a bid to create capacity building among the frontline warriors involved in the management of COVID-19 outbreak, the central government has built integrated platforms to train healthcare professionals and nonmedicos through various modes of e-learning modules. While the state governments are

300 TONS OF ESSENTIAL MEDICAL CARGO LIFTED SO FAR: PURI New Delhi: Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has informed that the Air India has lifted close to 300 tonnes of essential medical cargo from China, as of Wednesday. “Air India has lifted about 300 tons of essential medical cargo so far this month through the China-India aerobridge,” Puri tweeted. He

the letter said.

Bhalla said the state governments and union territory administrations are also requested to appoint nodal officers at state or union territory level and at district level, who would

In such cases, adequate security should be provided; and, stringent action should be taken against such offenders who obstruct the performance of last rites of medical professionals or frontline healthcare workers, who, unfortunately, succumb to the infection from COVID-19 while discharging their services, or otherwise.

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added in his tweet: “It is planned that @airindiain along with @flyspicejet & @BlueDart_will airlift another 220 tons of this critical cargo in the next three days.” Under the Ministry’s Lifeline Udan, flights are being operated to transport essential medical cargo to different parts of the country, amid lockdown.

The treatment mock-drill held by IMA & district admn in Kochi.

conducting online training of workforce occupied in tackling coronavirus, the Union

Health Ministry has operationalised iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training)

RLYS MINISTRY OFFERS TO SUPPLY 2.6 LAKH MEALS DAILY New Delhi: With the nationwide lockdown extended to May 3, Ministry of Railways has offered to supply 2.6 lakh meals daily from various railway kitchens wherever the district administration is willing and able to pick up cooked meals and distribute among the needy. This has been communicated to district authorities all over the country. details of zone wise kitchen in-charges have also been communicated to the States.

These meals will be available at just cost basis at Rs 15 per meal.

courses on the DIKSHA platform on COVID-19 outbreak and another one is webinars.

On iGOT, courses have been launched for doctors, nurses, paramedics, hygiene workers, technicians, ANMs, state government officers, civil defence officials, various police organisations, NCC and other volunteers at this stage. —ANI

scanner for providing faulty Testing Kits New Delhi: Two Chinese manufactures of rapid antibody test, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd. and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics Inc are now the subject of investigations by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as the much-touted, rap-

AYUSH MINISTRY CALLS FOR RESEARCH TO TREAT CORONA New Delhi: The government’s search for a way to tackle the highly infectious COVID-19 went into the field of alternative medicine as the Ministry of AYUSH asked practitioners of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Naturopathy to look for a cure for the global pandemic. Nearly 20,000 people have

contracted coronavirus in the country, of whom 640 people died and more than 3,800 people recovered. So far, there is no cure for COVID-19.

The notification from the ministry came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged AYUSH practitioners to take part in the battle against coronavirus.

id testing antibody kits of these two companies delivered results with wide variations and low accuracy rates. During the daily health briefing held in New Delhi, which gives updates on India’s effort against COVID pandemic, ICMR an-

nounced that states had been advised to immediately pause tests using the rapid antibody kits for a period of 2 days, till ICMR completed its validation of these kits. Both these companies combined exported close to 7 Lakh kits to India. —ANI

CABINET FIXES SUBSIDY RATES FOR POTASSIC FERTILIZERS New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic Fertilizers for the year 2020-21, said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday. The approved rates for NBS are - 18.789 for N, 14.888 for P, 10.116 for K and 2.374 for S. CCEA has also approved the inclusion of a complex fertilizer namely Ammonium Phosphate (NP 14:28:0:0) under the NBS scheme.

INDIA JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

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Send us ideas to uplift MSME: RaGa New Delhi: Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi invited suggestions from the public on the economic stimulus required to uplift the micro, small & medium businesses (MSME) sector which is hard hit by the Covid-19 crisis. #COVID19 has devastated our micro, small & medium businesses (MSME). The Congress party needs your help.

Send us suggestions & ideas for what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover on: http://voiceofmsme.in or our social media platforms. #HelpSaveSmallBusinesses,” he tweeted. Congress

#COVID19 has devastated our micro, small & medium businesses (MSME).

The Congress party needs your help.

Send us suggestions & ideas for what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover on: http://voiceofmsme.in or our social media platforms. #HelpSaveSmallBusinesses.

party has constituted a panel, headed by former PM Manmohan Singh, which will pre-

VVIP CHOPPER SCAM

had said on Monday.

The committee also looks to come up with a scheme to resolve the

issue of stranded migrant due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Apart from party president Sonia Gandhi, the 11-member group comprises former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, general secretary in-charge (Org) KC Venugopal, former union ministers P Chidambaram, Manish Tewari & Jairam Ramesh.

Technology & data cell chairman Praveen Chakravarty, spokespersons Gaurav Vallabh & Supriya Shrinate, & social media department head Rohan Gupta. —ANI

pare a detailed plan for revival of MSME along with measures to ensure procurement of

wheat, mustard and gram and submit it to the government in a day or two, the party

Wadhawans be taken into custody: Govt

Bill Gates lauds Modi govt’s efforts to deal with Corona

Satara: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that the state police has written to both CBI and ED intimating them that Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan along with their family members will be released from quarantine and the agencies could come and take necessary action against them. Wadhwan brothers, accused in multi-crore DHFL scam & Yes Bank scam will remain in the state police’s custody until the agencies take over, said the minister. —ANI

New Delhi: Philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic by adopting several measures including lockdown and increasing health expenditure to strengthen the health system response.

“We commend your leadership and proactive measures you and your government have taken to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infection rate in India, such as adopting a na-

New Delhi: The Supreme Court dismissed the bail plea of Christian Michel, an alleged middleman in the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper scam accused, on the ground that his petition “did not fall in the criteria for grant of relief.” A two-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and also comprising Justice B R Gavai dismissed the bail application of Christian Michel. Michel, in his bail application, stated

that he is aged 59 yrs, has a history of bad health which will make him easy prey to any Corona outbreak in the Tihar jail in Delhi & thus,he be released on bail. —ANI

RSS chief Bhagwat to address online on Sunday

NAROTTAM MISHRA GETS HOME AND HEALTH PORTFOLIOS IN MP CABINET Aniruddh Tiwari

New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will deliver an online address on Sunday on the current situation in wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the Sangh said on Wednesday.

According to senior functionaries, this is for the first time in its history that such an address of its head is being held through a virtual platform. Bhagwat will address on “Current Situation and Our Role’’ on April 26 at 5 pm.—PTI

No decision yet to resume flights: Min New Delhi: Amid nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday that no decision has been taken so far regarding the resumption of flight operations.

“No decision has been taken yet on the resumption of flight operations. An announcement will be made on time as to when it will resume,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said after the meeting of Union Cabinet. —ANI

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has assigned the departmental responsibilities to his five ministers on Wednesday . He had given the responsibility of two divisions to five ministers on Tuesday. But the sources believe that these departments have been allotted to avoid any procedural confusion regarding the visit or instructions of the ministers. Under this, a senior BJP leader and Chouhan’s confidant, Narottam Mishra has been given the responsibility of Home, Health and Family Welfare, an important assignment

tional lockdown, expanding focused testing to identify hot spots for isolation, quarantining, and care, & significantly increasing health expenditures to strengthen the health system response and promote R&D and digital innova-

First India News

The buses deployed by MP Govt to bring back students of the region stranded in Kota, departed from Gwalior on Wednesday.

boarded the buses, while practicing social distancing and

CVC APPOINTMENT ORDER LIKELY THIS WEEK?

PM Modi led govt is in action mode to clear all long time pending cases. After the appointment of new Secretary to the President, order regarding the appointment of new CVC and VC are likely to be issued this week. Sanjay Kothari had been selected new CVC about two months ago and former CMD of Andhra Bank, Suresh Patel as a Vigilance Commissioner by the panel headed by PM Narendra Modi.

BSF LIKELY TO GET NEW CHIEF THIS MONTH END

BSF is likely to get new Head by the end of this month. It is said that 3-5 IPS officers of 1984 to 1986 batches are in the race. The Force is without a regular Chief since March 9, 2020.

WILL RAJIV KUMAR BE PART-TIME ED OF UBI?

Whispers are in that the Central Govt may soon call for a list of former finance secretaries for selecting the next Part-time Non- Executive Director of Union Bank of India. In this connection, name of outgoing Secretary Finance, Rajiv Kumar is in circulation.

The posting of Ashish Srivastava, Chief Engineer (TP), Northern Railways, has been approved for deputation to DFCCIL as General Manager (Civil), for a period of three years.

NHRC DG PRABHAT SINGH GRANTED APEX SCALE

tion,” Gates wrote. He added: “I’m glad your government is fully utilising its exceptional digital capabilities and has launched Aarogya Setu digital app for coronavirus tracking & to connect people to health services.” —ANI

3,000 stranded in Kota, reach home in MP Bhopal: The buses of the state have returned from Kota with more than 3,000 students of Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh government had sent 151 buses to bring 3,000 students stranded in Kota.

These buses departed from Gwalior on Wednesday.

The students then

POWER Gallery

ASHISH SRIVASTAVA BEING SENT ON DEPUTATION TO DFCCIL —FILE PHOTO

SC rejects bail application of Christian Michel

CONTRADICTION

06

were sent to the state.

Deputy Transport Commissioner, Gun-

gan Sevatkar said that more than 3,000 students from Rajasthan were in Madhya Pradesh. This list of students was prepared from all the districts of Madhya Pradesh before reaching Kota.

The government had created a team of Active Officers to send students to their respective homes in various districts of Madhya Pradesh safely.

in view of the COVID-19 situation in Madhya Pradesh.

Tulsi Silavat has been

assigned the responsibility of Water Resources. Whereas, Govind Singh Rajput has been

appoinnted the minister for Food and Supplies.

Meena Singh is Minister for Primitive Caste

Welfare and Kamal Patel would handle the responsibilities of Agriculture Department.

some mischievous people are spreading rumors and lies about exempting a particular community in areas with lockdown and curfew. “Such people should understand that when people’s lives are at stake, caste and religion does not matter to the government. Our only goal is to protect the lives of the people. I have instructed the DGP that if anyone breaks rules, they should not be spared,” he said.

Gehlot termed the starting of industries as an auspicious sign saying, “we have made efforts to start industrial units in a planned manner under the revised lockdown, due to

which more industrial units have started functioning than we expected. They also include many large units. This is an auspicious sign.”

The Chief Minister said that there is a ban on selling tobacco, gutkha and liquor due to the lockdown. “If someone is found selling, he will be fined. Similarly, financial punishment will be imposed on spitting in public places, not applying masks, violation of section 144 etc. The government will not tolerate the violation of the lockdown under any circumstances,” he said.

Gehlot further informed that the state government has also

provided ration materials and other assistance to the needy Pak displaced people. “District collectors were instructed to provide ration materials to the Pakistan displaced living in the state. Ration material has been provided to about 4 thousand such families,” he said.

or clinics of healthcare workers, then a compensation amounting to twice the market value of the damaged property will be taken from the accused, said Javadekar. —ANI

Prabhat Singh, Director General (Investigation), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has been granted Apex Scale. He is a 1985 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

KS SREENIVAS RAJU GOES ON INTER CADRE DEPUTATION TO TELANGANA

KS Sreenivas Raju is joining Telangana cadre for a period of three years on inter cadre deputation.

He is a 2001 batch IAS officer of AP cadre.

DR BRAHMNEET KAUR GOES ON INTER CADRE DEPUTATION TO PUNJAB

Dr Brahmneet Kaur is joining Punjab cadre for a period of three years. She is a 2012 batch IAS officer of Tripura cadre.

DEPUTATION OF ASHWINI KUMAR MISHRA EXTENDED

The deputation tenure of Ashwini Kumar Mishra working as Joint Secretary at Director level in UPSC has been extended upto June 21, 2020. He is a 2000 batch IOFS officer.

DEPUTATION OF RAM SAJIWAN SINGH EXTENDED

The deputation tenure of Ram Sajiwan Singh working as Director in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has been extended upto March 31, 2021.

MAJOR EMPANELMENT AT SECRETARY LEVEL FROM GUJARAT

As many as six IAS officers of 1988 batch and one of 1987 batch, who have been empanelled as Secretary in Government of India, are from Gujarat.

They are Rameshwar Prasad Gupta (1987), Arvind Kumar Sharma, Anita Karwal, S Aparna, Bidyut Bihari Swain and Mukesh Puri.

VIMLA SINGH KAPOOR APPOINTED ADDL JUDGE OF CHHATTISGARH HC

Vimla Singh Kapoor has been appointed as an Addl Judge of Chhattisgarh HC for one year, with effect from June 18, 2020.

FROM PG 1 In absence... for allocation of additional wheat by including these people in the NFSA list,” Gehlot said.

Addressing the pressing demand of Rajasthanis to return home, Gehlot said that the Center should allow migrant workers, workers, small shopkeepers of Rajasthan stranded in other states to come home. “The Prime Minister has proposed a video conference on April 27 with the Chief Ministers of the states where we will raise this demand strongly,” he said.

Lashing out at certain sections trying to bring a gap between communities, Gehlot said that

Zero tolerance...

“Such crime will now be cognisable and non-bailable. An investigation will be done within 30 days. Accused can be sentenced from three months to five years, and penalised from Rs 50,000 up to Rs 2 lakh,” said Javadekar.

Moreover, if the damage is done to vehicles

FB buys...

Facebook its largest minority shareholder,” the company said in a statement. Reliance Industries (RIL) in a separate statement said the investment by Facebook values Jio Platforms at Rs 4.62 lakh crore pre-money enterprise value (USD 65.95 billion) CoronaWar: Modi...

The report also showed that PM Modi’s popularity rose to the high-

est among all global leaders. FM Sitharaman tweeted, “Public opinion based approval ratings of world leaders shown in the charts. @ PMOIndia leads #IndiaFightsCorona from the front. Consistent high approval ratings for @ narendramodi. Nation has confidence in its leadership in an extraordinary situation due (to) a pandemic..”

Mexico’s president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has the second-highest net approval over that period, though it fell slightly from 39 in January.

Among all ten countries surveyed, Japan’s Abe has the lowest rating (at negative 33) and

the worst decline in net approval, having fallen from negative 18 at the start of 2020, the data showed. Other leaders who have seen their popularity dip during this stretch include US President Donald Trump and Brazil’s Prime Minister Jair Bolsanaro. —Agencies

J&K’s Amarnath... the board said later.

“Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation being dynamic, an appropriate decision can be taken on organising the (Amarnath) Yatra on reviewing the situation in the coming future,” a fresh statement said. —Agencies

TALKING POINT JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

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RECENT HEADLINES HAVE SUGGESTED COVID-19 CAN SPREAD UP TO FOUR METRES, DRAWING INTO QUESTION THE CURRENT ADVICE TO MAINTAIN 1.5 METRES BETWEEN PEOPLE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS

CAN CORONAVIRUS SPREAD UP TO 4 METRES?

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? he study adds to the eviTbe detected dence SARS-CoV-2 can on surfaces.

But the finding that the virus could spread four metres is less convincing. Even if we disregard the study’s limitations, evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in the air isn’t evidence it’s infectious in that form.

The review assessed horizontal distance travelled by droplets from ten experimental and modelling studies. It found evidence droplets could travel beyond two metres, even up to eight metres using physical science experiments.

Of the ten studies, five were conducted using human subjects. These stud-

ies looked at the dynamics of droplet transmission but were not specifically related to SARS-CoV2-containing droplets.

So we need more research to better understand transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in hospital settings.

Health-care settings should adopt measures to prevent airborne transmission, such as using N95 respirators and gowns, if conducting any aerosol generating procedures.

But in the community, we’d encourage everyone to continue to practise the recommended physical distancing measures of staying 1.5 metres away from others.

WHAT DID THEY FIND? hey detected SARSThospital CoV-2 widely on surfaces and fre-

quently touched hospital equipment. The ICU had a greater amount of virus than the general ward.

Most swabs, including computer mice and doorknobs, were positive for the virus. The highest virus concentrations were found on the floor, likely from virus-containing droplets falling to the ground. People then tracked the virus to the hospital pharmacy, presumably on the soles of their shoes.

The study looked at possible transmission through aerosol particles in the ICU by taking samples from three sites.

Two sites were along the

R

ecent headlines have suggested COVID-19 can spread up to four metres, drawing into question the current advice to maintain 1.5 metres between people to prevent the spread of the virus.

The news was based on a study conducted in Wuhan, China, and published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Meanwhile, a review published last week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases has concluded respiratory droplets, which may carry the virus, can travel up to eight metres.

So what can we make of these findings? And should we really be standing much further apart than we’ve been told?

he researchers conTments ducted their experiin an intensive

care unit (ICU) and general ward, both of which were looking after patients with COVID-19.

WHAT THE STUDY DID Over 12 days, the researchers collected swab samples four hours after the morning clean from floors, bins, air outlets,

computer mice, bed rails, personal protective equipment and patient masks.

To determine whether

direction of the airflow, about one metre away from patients’ beds. One site was further away, approximately four metres from a patient’s bed and against the airflow.

Virus was detected in 35.7% (5/14) of samples taken near air outlets, and 44.4% (8/18) of samples in a patient’s cubicle. At the site located against the airflow – four metres away from the patient’s bed – virus was detected in 12.5% (1/8) of samples.

Although virus was detected in air samples from the general ward, the numbers of positive samples were fewer. Studies have shown people with less severe disease shed less of the virus, so this may be why.

aerosolised particles containing SARS-CoV-2 were present in the air, the researchers also took samples upstream and downstream of the air flow in both wards.

FIRST, HOW DOES CORONAVIRUS SPREAD? oronavirus spreads C through droplets when a person with COVID-19

HOW SHOULD WE INTERPRET THE RESULTS? e should consider the W results from this study with caution. The study tests

for the presence of the virus on surfaces and in the air, but doesn’t indicate if the virus was living and infectious.

The authors didn’t describe the nature of medical procedures undertaken in these wards, particularly if any might be likely to generate aerosols.

The virus sample detected four metres away was described as a “weak positive”.

Both “intense positive” and “weak positive” samples were grouped together as positive samples in the results without defining what a “positive sample” was or explaining the distinction

coughs, sneezes or talks.

This means it can spread during close contact between an infected and uninfected person, when it’s inhaled, or enters the body via the eyes, mouth or nose.

Infection can also occur when an uninfected person touches a surface contaminated with these droplets, and then touches their face.

Some respiratory pathogens can also transmit through the air, when tiny particles, or aerosols, hang around.

Aerosols can be generated through coughing

and sneezing, and sometimes from breathing and talking. We know some infectious diseases like measles can be transmitted this way. But we need more research to understand to what degree this could be true for COVID-19.

Aerosols containing viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are more likely to be generated through hospital procedures such as intubation and manual ventilation.

This may go some way to explaining the results of the four metres study, which took place in a hospital. Let’s take a look at the research.

between the two outcomes.

The study had a small sample size and importantly, researchers didn’t use any statistical tests to determine the significance of their findings. So the results have limited utility in the real world.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATON

DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

move on.

Time does not change anything, we change. We learn to let go or hold on, we decide to stay or

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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2ND FRONT JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

CONGRESS ERUPTS AT ARNAB AS GEHLOT, PILOT DEMAND ACTION! After Arnab’s comments, 2 complaints have been filed against him in Jaipur First India News Jaipur: Day after Republic TV’s Editorin-Chief Arnab Goswami made some loose comments on Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the Palghar lynching, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot demanded action against the senior journalist and asked the Editor’s Guild to do so. During his show on Tuesday night, Arnab had made scathing comments on the Con-

gress President questioning if she would have remained silent had a maulvi or a christian clergy been lynched.

Goswami further claimed that Sonia would send a report to Italy for praises on killing a Hindu saint. Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening a complaint was registered against Goswami in Bajaj Nagar police station in Jaipur by PCC Secretary Jaswant Gurjar.

Late in the night one more complaint was registered in Shyam

CM Ashok Gehlot

Sachin Pilot

Arnab Goswami

nagar police station of Jaipur.

Tweeting his disappointment over the issue, CM Ashok Gehlot said, “Attack on Mrs Sonia Gandhi by Arnab Goswami is highly condemnable. He has

gone insane and crossed all limits, he should be ashamed of himself. I must ask the Editor’s guild - isn’t this all time low for journalism? Mr Rajeev Chandrashekhar must sack him immediately.”

Meanwhile, PCC Chief and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot condemned the comments made by the Republic TV anchor and said that Arnab crossed the limit by forgetting about the traditions

of democracy. “The attack on Sonia Gandhi and the use of indecent words against her is condemnable and unacceptable. Journalism is a great tool for social change, not personal attacks,” Pilot said.

Former President of State Seed Corporation Dharmendra Rathore said that Arnab’s remarks on Sonia Gandhi are extremely indecent and condemnable. “I demand the Indian government to take action against such a journalist and channel. Sonia Gandhi has spent her entire life in service of the country,” he said.

08

400 OPD mobile vans deployed to treat other diseases First India News Jaipur: The state government has deployed 400 OPD mobile vans across the state. “In order to ensure common patients do not face any trouble due to COVID-19, 400 OPD mobile vans will be operating across the state from today,” CM Ashok Gehlot said on Wednesday.

Regarding the same, Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma interacted with health officials and apprised them about the state government’s intentions. The health

minster interacted with officials to review medical and health services functioning through mobile medical units, mobile vehicles and base ambulance. Dr Sharma asked chief medical and health officers to give this initiative priority. ACS (health) Rohit K Singh asked them to ensure that people should not suffer because of lockdown. Vans will be available at subdivision HQ as well as other important places and will reach the villages-towns to provide treatment.

‘Rise in +ve cases provides Quarantined migrants paint school in Sikar clear picture of Corona’ Sikar: Quarantined in two schools in Rajasthan’s Sikar district - a group of migrant labourers have added colour to their temporary abode by painting the chipped walls of the institutions.

About 54 workers from Haryana, Rajasthan, MP and UP quarantined in the Shaheed Sitaram Ku-

735 doctors recruited, 9000 nurses, midwifes to be given posting Vikas Sharma Jaipur: While people are tensed over Coronavirus spreading its wing in Rajasthan, Health Minister Raghu Sharma has claimed that there is nothing to worry about as the rise in positive cases only provides a clear picture of the infection in state.

“CM Ashok Gehlot believes that more tests are necessary for better assessment of the situation and therefore, we increased the number of tests,” Dr Sharma said. Notably, this comes after a spate of efforts made by the state health department to up the ante against the infection in which 735 doctors have recently been recruited and posted to hospitals in the state. Moreover, the process for recruitment of 2000 doctors has begun as per the announcement of the Chief

Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma

Minister in the last budget, Sharma told.

“We will complete the process in the next one and half months.

735 doctors have recently been recruited and posted in hospitals. Recruitment process of 12,500 general nursing and midwife and auxiliary nurse midwife had been completed but posting couldn’t be done due to some litigations. After consultation with Advocate General, the Chief Minister has now given orders for the posting of 9,000 such staff,” the health minister said.

“In the beginning, we had zero capacity to conduct tests but within month it has been increased to 4700 tests per day, which will fur-

ther go up to 10,000 tests per day in the coming days. We want to have testing capacity in all 33 districts,” he added.

One of the main challenges before the state government is of asymptomatic patients who appear normal while carrying the virus. “The number of asymptomatic patients are rising. It can only be detected through testing, but there is shortage of testing kits. It was due to alertness of the state government that the truth about rapid testing kits came out,” Sharma said adding that 57 Covid dedicated hospitals have been readied in the state.

There is also a facility for pregnant women.

Sonia to talk corona with CMs today First India News

New Delhi: Congress Working Committee VC will be held on Thursday to discuss coronavirus situation with CMs of the Congress-ruled states. Congress President Sonia Gandhi will talk to CMs and CWC members on various topics, including medical, employment, workers’ problems, economy etc.

Also, there could be a discussion on recommendations of Manmohan committee, which is a consulting committee formed under leadership of exPM Manmohan Singh.

Vishvendra discusses tourism rejuvenation plan with Aditya First India News Jaipur: To boost domestic tourism and bridge the gap that might occur due to lack of international travellers, Rajasthan Tourism will shift focus to the domestic travellers. Similarly, tourists will also need to be reassured on all hygiene standards being followed at hotels and other locations to increase tourist inflow, stated Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh. He was in conversation with Tourism Minister of Maharashtra Aaditya Thackeray via video conference on

Vishvendra Singh during the VC with Aditya Thackeray on Wednesday. Sreya Guha, Bhanwar Lal, Tripti Pandey, Dr Edward Dickinson and Dr Rashmi Dickinson were also present.

Wednesday.

Various officials of the Department of Tourism from both States were present during the conference call. These included – Principal Secretary of Tourism

Sreya Guha, Director of Tourism Bhanwar Lal, Retired Joint Director, Department of Tourism Tripti Pandey and civilian advisors, Dr Edward Dickinson and Dr Rashmi Dickinson.

Officials from Government of Maharashtra included Minister for State Tourism Maharashtra Aditi Tatkare and Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture Valsa Nair Singh.

Discussions were held on drafting a rejuvenation plan for the tourism industry postCorona crisis. Both States will be focusing on short term measures to boost tourism in their respective States. They will also coordinate with the Union Government and respective Health Departments to set up and improve guidelines over the coming weeks.

mawat and Seth KL Tambi Government Higher Secondary schools in

Palsana wanted to express their gratitude for the arrangements made

for them in quarantine.

Palsana Sarpanch Roop Singh Shekhawat said that in response to the good care taken of them at the quarantine centres migrant workers wanted to express their gratitude. Wall paint and other necessary items were made available to them, which they used to give

makeover to the schools. “The entire village is overwhelmed by their behaviour. All these people are perfectly healthy and their quarantine time is also over. It is joyful to see the constructive work done by the workers who have used the quarantine period beautifully,” Shekhawat said. —PTI

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09

HILARIOUS

‘BEAUTY MODE’

JAIPUR, THURSDAY APRIL 23, 2020

A

myra Dastur has a hilarious Tik-Tok video for fans and followers. In the clip, Amyra starts off in pyjamas and transparent face mask, mouthing dialogues in a man’s voice.

“What the hell is beauty mode?” she says in a gruff voice. Then, the actress enacts clicking on the beauty mode and instantly morphs into her gorgeous self, in a beautiful white crochet top and minimal make-up.

“Oh damn! okay!” she says in a pleasant surprised tone.

Recently, she treated her fans with a question-answer session amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. Amyra was then asked if she believed in live-in relationships. She said: Right now with the divorce rates being

so high, I definitely believe that couples should live together for 1 year minimum before getting married.

Amyra made her Bollywood debut in 2013’s ‘Issaq’, alongside Prateik Babbar.

She was later seen in films like ‘Kaalakaandi’, ‘Rajma Chawal’, ‘Made In China’, and ‘Prassthanam’ among other films.

—IANS

Amyra Dastur; (inset) Stills from the video

‘NATMASTAK HOON MAI’

A Meme shared by Mumbai Police

That smile with horns...

A lia Bhatt features in Mumbai Police force’s latest effort in their ongoing campaign exhorting people to stay indoors, in these times of COVID-19 pandemic.

On their official page, Mumbai Police have shared a meme featuring a smiling Alia in her ‘Gully Boy’ look. “That face when he says he is going out for a walk during lockdown,” reads the meme.

Mumbai Police tweeted the meme with this caption: “Abort mission. We repeat Abort Mission! #StayHome #StaySafe.”

This is not the first time Alia features in a tweet by Mumbai Police. Recently, they had created a message using the names of her popular films while urging people to stay at home. “Mumbaikars, we hope you all are ‘Raazi’ with this advice of Ms @aliaa08 to not venture out in any ‘Gully’ unnecessarily and take care of ‘Dear Zindagi’ for all!” they had tweeted.

Lately, Mumbai Police have been posting quirky tweets featuring Bollywood stars, their films and popular on-screen characters, while advising people to stay at home dur-

Alia Bhatt

ing the lockdown. Other stars that have featured in Mumbai Police’s quirky tweets include Ajay Devgn, Shahid Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Arjun Kapoor.

—IANS

Amitabh Bachchan

mitabh Bachchan has paid tribute to the care givers and first responders, whom he referred to as the ‘social warriors’.

Big B took to Twitter, where he shared an image of Lord Ganesha made out of the words ‘Nurse’, ‘Doctor’, ‘Safai karmchari’ and ‘Police’.

“The front line workers.. the doctors and nurses.. the Social Warriors..

Natmastak hoon mai,” he captioned the image.

Recently, the Bollywood veteran blogged about meeting boxing legend

Muhammad Ali, recalling how bigwig filmmaker Prakash Mehra almost cast the two icons in a film.

Big B went down memory lane and blogged: “Its been a groggy night .. had been watching the Greatest Mohammad Ali in his numerous victories .. and Tyson .. and it just would not leave the attention .. became past 4 am .. and then suddenly thought of the meeting itself with the MAN.” On the work front, Big B will next be seen in a few films soon.

—IANS

Stills from the video

NEW BAKER IN B-TOWN!

T

Poster of the series

KHILADI ‘LARA’ L

ara Dutta is excited to play a police officer for the first time in the comedy-action web series ‘Hundred’, and says her character is trying hard to survive in a man’s world.

In the series, Lara will be seen as ACP Saumya Shukla. “The show is a fun and entertaining story of a dysfunctional jodi and the chaos that ensues in their lives. The makers have carefully scripted the show to bring alive action and humour in a very entertaining way,” Lara said. “One of the many reasons I chose to do the show

is because I have never played a cop on screen and my character is trying hard to survive in a man’s world. She has very interesting dynamics with the people in her life and the more complex a situation, the more she thrives. She is nothing like me in real life,” she added.

The Hotstar Specials show chronicles the misadventures of two contrasting women, set in the backdrop of Mumbai, its chawls and crime gangs.

Being described as a masala entertainer, the show also stars Rinku Rajguru. It is codirected by Ruchi Narain, Ashutosh Shah and Taher Shabbir. The series will launch on April 25.

—IANS

Janhvi Kapoor

he nationwide lockdown has resulted in many Bollywood celebrities bringing out their inner chefs.

From Deepika Padukone to Katrina Kaif, actors are busy trying their hands at new dishes and the latest to join the bandwagon is Janhvi Kapoor.

The actress baked a carrot cake and asked her sister Khushi to tell her how it was. The latter, after some hesitation, takes a bite and says ‘It is good’. However, when Janhvi asks her to take another bite, Khushi refuses and says ‘I don’t like it’.

Earlier, Janhvi had shared a long note on Instagram, describing how the lockdown has made her appreciate the little things in life.

—Agency

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JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

L

ove and Other Drugs” stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall, a pharmaceutical salesman who sells love, Zoloft, Viagra and other products with equal sincerity. He’s a charmer, determined to sell his way out of Ohio and into the big Chicago market, and if that involves flirting with the receptionists in doctors’ offices, it’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.

The movie takes place at that point in the 1990s when Viagra was tumescing in the marketplace, and Jamie is riding the success of his employer, Pfizer. He infiltrates hospitals, befriends doctors, pushes drugs and sabotages the best efforts of his aggressive rival Trey Hannigan (Gabriel Macht), whose product Prozac is outselling Zoloft.

Whether these products, or any of their products, works very well is not a concern of the salesmen. They sell.

James is egged on by his supervisor Bruce Winston (Oliver Platt), and it seems quite possible he’ll make it to Chicago when his life makes an unexpected course correction. He’s buddies with Dr. Stan Knight (Hank Azaria), who introduces him as his intern and allows him to observe as he palpitates the breast of his lovely patient Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway). Strictly speaking, doctors aren’t supposed to do that. Maggie discovers the fraud, and in the course of an argument with Jamie about it they both grow so passionate that, well, they rip off each other’s clothes and fall upon a bed in a confusion of sheets and moans.

Maggie and Jamie discover that they really, really like each other. She has something she wants to tell him. She is in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. This introduces an unexpected note into what seemed to be a screwball comedy. Hathaway brings such tenderness and so-

10

Bruce and Trey. The movie’s most effective single scene occurs at a meeting of people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. The husband of a victim describes to Jamie in stark, realistic detail the possible course of the disease and how it may affect the woman he loves. After this scene, the movie has definitively introduced a note that makes the rest seem trivial.

The director is Edward Zwick, a considerable filmmaker. He’s essentially working with a screenplay (by Charles Randolph, Marshall Herskovitz and himself) that doesn’t work. Given that problem, you have to observe that he is a capable filmmaker even in bad weather. He obtains a warm, lovable performance from Anne Hathaway and dimensions from Gyllenhaal that grow from com-

lemnity to her role that she moves the film away from comedy and toward “Love Story,” and from then on, we never quite know where we’re headed.

The emotional tug-of-war in-

tensifies because of the presence of Jamie’s brother Josh (Josh Gad), who seems to have been imported directly from an odd buddy movie. Josh is helpless in the area of appropriate behavior,

FA CE OF TH ED AY

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

seems to have selected his wardrobe in high school for the rest of his life, has made millions of dollars in the markets and has a disastrous personal life. That would be permissible in another kind of movie. Not in this one, where matters grow serious between the two lovers — so serious, indeed, that they begin to discuss how their love will prevail

edy to the serious. The scene with the husband of the Parkinson’s survivor has a simple grandeur.

As a filmmaker by nature, Zwick gives that scene its full weight, no matter that it’s not a good fit in his movie. That counts for something.

Source: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/love-and-otherdrugs-2010

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You will aim to tone your body today but do not over exert as excess of everything is bad. You have lot of money but a little guidance is needed as to where and when to spend. On the personal front, you will travel to different places with your partner.

No matter how touch the situations appears to be right now, with patience and focus your will easily find your way out. You will get many innovative ideas today, share them with the right person and you will soon get successful. Someone talkative will keep you entertained.

Those of you who don’t get defeated, will soon rise as victorious in your individual endeavours. You will love all the attention that you will get today specially from opposite sex person. You will go on a journey and the results will be fruitful. All your tensions will disappear today.

You will easily manage to raise finances for the project in which you have invested your many years for it to get worked out. You will get good news from a family youngsters and he/she will make you proud. You may utilise your ancestral property for commercial purpose.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You can really benefit from the meditation classes so without any delay indulge yourself in some or the other spiritual activity. You may be expecting a child and this baby will change your fate for good. Realise your dreams and work towards it thats the only way of life.

To remain fit the most important factor is your diet so mind the food that you eat and half of your problems will be already solved. Your relatives might need your help. You are fully satisfied with your career and you give lot of attention to always keep moving forward.

You have enough money to help anyone you want to.

Your family members are really helpful when it comes to fulfilling your dream. Your seniors at work really trust you so always make sure to deliver nothing but the best. Putting your money in property would be the right decision.

You will get the expected price for your property today. You have managed to create a stability in life in both emotional and financial matters and this really helps you to live life fully. You must always live in a nuclear family for your peace and happiness.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You are deep person from inside and sometime you don’t express your pain and happiness, specially when you need to. Today is the best day to invest in stocks, do your calculations and study in advance. You are earnings big time from renting your properties.

You are sincere by heart.

You love to get close to nature thats why some rejuvenating trips are must for you in every few months. You will spend the day today in paying the bills and clearing everything else up. On professional front, your performance will take everyone by surprise, positively.

You love your family and you really tae good care of everyone. Focus on your work and never poke your nose in other people’s matter as negativities only slows one down. You have positive effect on people so keep it up as not everyone is capable of doing that.

Good returns are expected today from business. You have a balanced approach when it comes to work and family. Your better half will spend some good money in making your house beautiful and you will not be disappointed. Some positive changed are going to take place in your life.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

SAPNA SINGH, Model

through the difficult road ahead.

The movie gives full weight and attention to the subject of Parkinson’s and doesn’t trivialize it or make jokes (how could it?).

But the more weight the story of Maggie and Jamie takes on, the more distracting is the screenplay’s need to intercut updates on the pharmaceutical wars. Nor do we continue to care much about

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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ADDRESSING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES!

S

inger Beyonce Knowles highlighted the deadly impact of coronavirus pandemic on African American communities during her stint in ‘One World: Together at Home’ virtual concert, saying the virus is killing black people at an alarmingly high rate in the US. Beyonce made a surprise appearance during the concert, and advocated for the communities most vulnerable to the deadly virus.

She also expressed her gratitude for the medical professionals and essential workers. “Tonight we celebrate true heroes, those who are making the ultimate sacrifice to keep us all safe, fed and healthy,” she shared, adding: “To the doctors, the nurses and other health care workers

who are away from their families taking care of ours we continue to pray for your safety. To those in the food industry, delivery workers, mail carriers and sanitation employees who are working so that we can be safe in our homes, we thank you for your self-less service.”

The 38-year-old singer then highlighted the plight of African-American community, saying: “Black Americans belong to these parts of the workforce that don’t have the luxury of working from home.

And African-American communities at large have been severely affected. Those with preexisting conditions are at higher risk.”

“This virus is killing black people at an alarmingly high rate in America,” she added.

—IANS

JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

11

CLEAR boundaries!

E

Beyonce

Revealing the party trick

va Mendes says she won’t post photographs of her daughters until they are old enough to give her consent. The actress, 46, explained why she doesn’t share photographs of Ryan Gosling or their daughters Amada Lee, and Esmeralda Amada. “I have always had a clear boundary when it comes to my man and my kids,” she wrote on Instagram, responding to a comment from a fan. “I’ll talk about them of course, with limits, but I won’t post pictures of our daily life,” she added. The actress went on to share that it doesn’t feel right to make decisions for her children. “Since my children are still so little and don’t understand what posting their image really means, I don’t have their consent,” Mendes said, adding: “And I won’t post their image until they’re old enough to give me consent.” When it comes to posting pictures of Gosling, there is one exception to her rule.

“As far as Ryan, I’ll only post flashbacks of things that are already ‘out there’ (like pics from movies we did or stuff like that),” she shared last month, while responding to a fan.

—IANS

A

ctress Keira Knightley has opened up about her party trick. Knightley, who is currently adhering to self-quarantine guidelines as the world combats COVID-19, revealed it while taking part in World Health Day’s Hope from Home live stream. Introducing herself on the event’s social media livestream, she told viewers: “Hello, I’m Keira Knightley and I am here for Hope from Home on World Health Day. “I made a little sign, and I was trying to think of something entertaining to do and I couldn’t think of anything so I’m going to play my teeth, which is my one and only party trick.” The British star proceeded to tap out the melody to ‘Yesterday’, a 1965 hit for The Beatles.

Finishing her party trick, she added: “Thank you all for watching. Thank you to all the frontline workers and medical teams who are working so hard right now. If you want to donate, that would be great.” She had previously shown off the skill while appearing on a show in 2019.

—IANS

GAGA

CHEERS FOR SRK

P Keira Knightley

Lady Gaga

op icon Lady Gaga was seen cheering for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan during ‘One World: Together at Home’, which celebrated healthcare workers fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. A video of GaGa rooting for Shah Rukh is doing the round, which seems to be have taken from the ‘Shallow’ hitmaker’s social media account. In the clip, Shah Rukh is seen talking about the pandemic while GaGa is heard hooting. Several Shah Rukh fan clubs have shared the video on social media.

GaGa’s COVID-19 relief concert ‘One World: Together at Home’ has raised almost $128 million in the US. —Agency

POST-PREGNANCY GLIMPSES!

A

Jenna Dewan

ctress Jenna Dewan, who has just given birth to her second child, a baby boy with fiance Steve Kazee was seen dancing passionately to pop singer Justin Bieber’s ‘Intentions’ in a TikTok video.

Accepting actress Sara Foster’s challenge on the video-making application, Dewan shared the clip with a caption that read, “Okay okay okay... I’m here @ tiktok!” Dressed in pink loungewear and with her medium-length hair let down, she even offered glimpses at her post-pregnan-

cy tummy as she shook-a-leg to the beat.

On seeing how well she danced, Foster praised Dewan: “I need to understand how a body can move like this, especially a body that had a baby 4 weeks ago. I will delete myself doing this dance, burn all traces of it and never dance again. You are perfection.”

Actress Kate Hudson wrote: “Wait...what?!

U had a baby five seconds ago! Amazing.”

Odette Yustman said: “Ummmm..... you are a superhuman!!!!” Fellow actress Emmanuelle Chriqui simply commented: “YES!!!!

She is back!” This was not the first time the ‘Flirty Dancing’ host showed off her dancing skills on social media.

—IANS Eva Mendes

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MY BEST FRIEND!

I AM NEVER ALONE BECAUSE I READ CITY FIRST JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

M

ore than ever when we are in ‘LOCKDOWN’, it is a golden time to ‘OPEN’ our minds through reading and delving into books.

Through books, we can travel not only this world but also of centuries ago and even decades

ahead. Books can help us to combat isolation, reinforce ties between people, expand our horizons while stimulating our minds and creativity.

Take this time to read stories to your children and introduce them to new authors.

It is a time to celebrate the importance of reading, foster children’s growth as readers, and promote a lifelong love

of literature and integration into the world of work.

Through reading and the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, 23 April, we can open ourselves to others despite the distance, and we can travel thanks to the imagination. All lovers of books have a favourite one which has changed their life and they still love to read it, picking it up regularly to lose themselves in the words. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

LOCKED IN?

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

CITY FIRST

I Rajasthan: To help prevent the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in India, the director of Oliria Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., Vardhman Jain Tijaria, Arihant Jain Tijaria and Shreyans Jain Tijaria have come forward to take the initiative and handed over 2000 masks to the soldiers in the Pink City.

Rajasthan: With the efforts of Deputy Whip Mahendra Chaudhary, Navan assembly constituency is working towards providing better medical facilities to the people. In view of this, the state government has promoted the Navan community health centre to a 50-bed hospital.

Moreover, 7 doctors have been appointed in the health centres of Maharajpura, Champapura and Bhatipura.

Ahmedabad: To battle against the deadly COVID-19, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) provided medical van to the locals at Gulbai Tekra, Ahmedabad.

Rajasthan: On the occasion of World Earth Day, observed on April 22, students of Seedling International Academy decided to showcase their love and commitment through their little initiatives at home amidst the lockdown. From craft activities to planting trees to making bottle planters to creating bird feeders, every little task spoke of a renewed commitment to the Earth.

t’s almost a month now since we are locked in our houses due to the nationwide lockdown announced to counter the deadly COVID 19; however, this lockdown has not been able to dampen the spirit of Radio City’s RJ Ved, who hosts the breakfast show in the pink city from 7:00 am -11:00 am. He continues to entertain the city and citizens whilst working from home. This has been the case for all the RJ’s across Radio City’s 39 stations, thanks to RJ Ved the technology.

Radio City and RJ Ved in Jaipur have left no stone unturned in ensuring that listeners stay enthralled with music and entertainment, by various unique programming initiatives, one of them being ‘Concert from home’. With Radio City’s ‘Concert from home’, Radio City has roped in many prominent Bollywood singers to perform a concert from their home for entertaining listeners, thereby giving them a unique experience during the lockdown.

Rajasthan special of the same is being scheduled on Radio City India’s Facebook page, on 20th April at 5 PM, where Top 5 Rajasthani contemporary artist will come live with RJ Ved cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

CORONA WARRIORS! Rajasthan: Emerald Garden Club has come forward to fight against coronavirus amid the lockdown. The members of the club are providing food to more than 200 people per day, under the leadership of Club’s President RP Mathur, along with the support of Bhankrota Police Thana.

Rajasthan: Ronak Sihag and Manan Sharma, students of St. Xavier’s School, started an organisation ‘Anuyayan’ for social welfare for around seven months ago. Under the name of their organisation, the 15-yearold children along with their friends are providing 310 food packets daily to the needy in the city amid the lockdown.

Rajasthan: Amidst the global pandemic, where the number of patients is growing constantly, Raghukul Trust under the aegis of ‘Raghukul For Frontliners’ collected 370 bedsheets for Jaipuria Hospital, with the support of Mahavir International and Lawyer Anuradha Yadav. Chairperson Sadhana Garg shared that the aim is to collect 1000 bedsheets, to necessitate every patient with a fresh pair. Raghukul Trust is also looking to sponsor N96 masks as they are urgently needed by the medical personnel in the Hospital.

JAIPUR | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

There are so many books I have loved, but the one that struck a chord with me is ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee. While the book is set in a different time altogether, racism and discrimination continue to be a part of our current reality. Its values continue to resonate in our society even today.

—AHELI RAYCHAUDHURI

My favourite book till date has been ‘Who Moved My Cheese’ by Dr Spencer Johnson. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want in life. It could a job, health, money or relationship. The core message of the book is that things change constantly...

It teaches us how to Anticipate, Monitor, Adapt and Enjoy the Change.

—RITU KEDIA

My all-time favourite book is ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ by Arthur Conan Doyle. The intricate plots that are woven in each story leave the reader flabbergasted no matter how many times they read it. Also, the description of the minute observations and scientific facts behind them always teach me something new every time I read the book.

—RONIL PATEL

One of my all-time favourite is ‘Vital Voices: The Power of Women Leading Change Around the World’ written by Alyse Nelson. It talks about five elements: mission, community, connection, action and “paying it forward”.

This book really changed my thinking process, my actions and my attitude towards everything in life.

—APRA KUCHHAL

My all time favourite book is ‘The Alchemist’ by the Spanish writer Paulo Coelho. I am a dreamer by nature and the whole theme of this book resonates with my beliefs. Dreams are messages of God and we need to believe in them. The most potent message of this book is, “And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” —MEERA KATARIA

I absolutely loved the book ‘Palace of Illusions’ by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni because no one ever wrote about Draupadi’s take on the same.

Draupadi’s character was strong, intriguing and oh so refreshing. The portrayal of her friendship with Krishna and her secret love for Karan tugged at my heart strings.

—KOMAL AHUJA

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Going from Roots to Wings! down she has decided to go ahead and release this folk medley on Youtube and post three days of this release the song will be available on Facebook too. Rajnigandha was supposed to KAVITA CHAUHAN perform in Jaipur for Rajasthan Dicityfirst@firstindia.co.in vas this year but due to the Pandemic the event was called off. Talking ajanigandha Shekhawat, a about the medley Rajanigandha said popular singer from Ra- that she invited girls to perform on jasthan who gave a modern traditional ghoomar song and mail charm to the Rajasthani folk her the videos. Women from different music with her beautiful voice and parts of Rajasthan along with women also adding the zing to them by sing- from Madhya Pradesh and United ing Rajasthani folk mashup along Kingdom sent her videos performing with English song is back with her on ghoomar which have been comnew medley. The new folk medley re- plied in this medley. About the new release, Rajanigandha said, “8 of the leased on Wednesday on most popular folk songs have been YouTube. woven together in a 10 min video “A dream does not bethat goes seamlessly from one hit come reality through to the next without breaking the magic; it takes sweat, dance beat for the convenience of determination and those who like to dance uninterhard work”. In a telrupted, especially in big fat Inephonic conversadian weddings Or when they tion with City are at home with nothing to First, Rajanido during the lockdown.” gandha spoke Rajnigandha has perto us about her formed for Bollywood films journey. She and was also part of the started the consong ‘Badri ki Dulhaniversation with ya’. But what actually got the excitement in her into the limelight her voice while was the mashup of the talking about song ‘Cheap Thrills’ her new release. with Rajasthani She said amidst Folk and then this lockthere was no looking back.

Rajanigandha Shekhawat

R

A TEAM EFFORT! A CITY FIRST AHMEDABAD

n Ahmedabadbased organization ‘Green Environment Team’ has come to the aid of locals in the city by providing meals and doing sanitization work in various areas. The team has delivered more than 30,000 bottles of sanitizers, over 30,000 masks and 15,000 bottles of floor cleaners. As part of a cleaning drive,

the team also completely sanitized Narol, Vatva police stations along with many housing societies near Vatva village. The team distrib-

utes meals to 10,000 people daily under the management Arjun Sisodiya, Mukesh Agrawal and Pratik Joshi. cityfirstgujarat@gmail.com