First India-Jaipur Edition-25 April 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

24°C - 37°C

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

COVID-19 UPDATE

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 318

WORLD

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

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

INDIA

24,447

CONFIRMED CASES

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

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

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

USA

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32

RAJASTHAN

DEATHS

2,034

CONFIRMED CASES

RAMZAN MUBARAK

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

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

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO

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

IN RAJASTHAN DISTRICT

TOTAL CASES

AJMER 106 ALWAR 7 BANSWARA 61 BARMER 2 BHARATPUR 107 BHILWARA 33 BIKANER 37 CHURU 14 DAUSA 21 DHOLPUR 1 DUNGARPUR 5 HANUMANGARH 10 JAIPUR 776 JAISALMER 34 JHALAWAR 24 JHUNJHUNU 41 JODHPUR 316 KARAULI 3 KOTA 144 NAGAUR 93 PALI 3 PRATAPGARH 2 SWAI MADHOPUR 8 SIKAR 4 TONK 115 UDAIPUR 4 OTHER DIST. 0

1971 2 61 GRAND TOTAL 2034

TOTAL OTHER (Italy) EVACUEES

SAMPLE RECEIVED SAMPLE NEGATIVE

NEW TOTAL CASES DEATH

— — — — +1 — — — — — — — +36 — +4 — +6 — +22 — +1 — — — — — — +70 — — +70

— 1 — — 1 2 1 — — — — — 18 — — — 2 — 3 1 — — — 1 1 — 1(UP) 32 — — 32

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

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

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

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

Of the 11 empowered groups formed to suggest

74,484 68,133

UNDER EXAMINATION

4,317

CORONA IN RAJASTHAN Corona situation is deteriorating in state as 4 more people died of the infection in last 24 hours in Jaipur. With this, 32 people have died due to infection in the state so far. On the other hand, 70 new cases were reported on Friday.

P3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turn on P6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turn on P6

Mukesh Ambani’s Rs 5crore booster for CM relief fund!

Naresh Sharma Jaipur: Started with the prime objective of providing relief to the public for the ongoing Corona crisis, the Chief Minister Covid-19 Relief fund received a major shot in the arm when leading industrialist and business tycoon Mukesh Ambani donated five crore rupees to the fund.

By Friday, the fund had swelled to 225.70 crore rupees and after the donation by Mukesh Ambani, Rajasthan Chief

Minister Ashok Gehlot thanked him for the generosity. “Thank you Sh. Mukesh Ambani, Smt. Nita Ambani and Reliance Industries Limited for your timely contribution of rupees five crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for fighting #COVID19 crisis,” Gehlot tweeted. Notably, people from across the length and breadth of Rajasthan appreciated the Ambani family’s gesture.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

CM COVID RELIEF FUND REACH `225 CRORE

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

has started preparing for his third video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled on 27th April. Gehlot will pro-

Nita and Mukesh Ambani

vide grass-root feedback and suggestions to PM Modi on the prevalent scenario amid lockdown and future course of action as the modi-

fied lockdown is set to end on 3rd May. For the purpose, Gehlot has taken feedback from Chief Secretary DB Gupta, ACS Home

Apart from Rs5 crore contribution by Reliance Industries, on Friday, Bhansali Engineers Polymers Limited deposited one crore rupees to the fund as did the SS Jain Subodh Shiksha Samiti. Jai Club Jaipur donated five lakh rupees and a same amount was deposited by Rajasthan State Real Estate Development while Akshat Apartment Private Limited deposited 2.21 lakh rupees and Golden Dunes Builders and Developers, Manglam Build Developers and Khandelwal Vaishya Charitable Trust Kota all deposited one lakh rupees each. Notably, ex-serviceman Mahaveer Singh too donated his one month’s pension of over seventeen thousand rupees towards the CM Relief Fund.

Additionally, five lakh rupees has been donated by Bank of Maharashtra, 1.01 lakh rupees donated by Mansoori Samaj Sansthan and 1.21 lakh rupees by Bahuddeshiya Samudayik Swasthya Karyakarta Samiti.

Rajeeva Swarup and ACS Medical Rohit Kumar Singh and started his preparations for Rajasthan’s presentation.

Notably, highly placed

sources reveal that Gehlot is yet again going to raise the issue of stranded labourers in the VC with PM. The Chief Minister could

also raise the issue of people left without food grains even through covered under the purview of Food Security Act. Turn on P6

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JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

02

A LONG WAY TO GO IN CORONA BATTLE

—PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR

Women health workers cross an empty street at Badi Chaupar area in Jaipur on hot Friday afternoon, during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

World leaders launch WHO plan to curb Corona, US not involved World leaders pledged on Friday to accelerate work on tests, vaccines against Corona Zurich: World leaders pledged on Friday to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 and to share them around the globe, but the United States did not take part in the launch of the WHO initiative.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were among those who joined a video conference to launch what the WHO had billed as a “landmark collaboration” to fight the pandemic.

The aim is to speed development of safe and effective drugs, tests and vaccines to

We will continue now to mobilise all G7 and G20 countries so they get behind this initiative. And I hope we’ll manage to reconcile around this joint initiative both China and the US. French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DG of WHO and other world leaders about the coronavirus outbreak during a VC at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19, the lung disease caused be the novel coronavirus and ensure equal access to treatments for rich and poor.

“We are facing a com-

mon threat which we can only defeat with a common approach,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as the virtual meeting got under way.

Guv Mishra remembers national poet Dinkar on his death anniv

First India News

Jaipur: On Friday, Governor Kalraj Mishra remembered the national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on his death anniversary and said that Dinkar aroused the consciousness of patriotism among the people with his magnificent works. Mishra also congratulated the people of state on the occasion of National Panchayati

Governor Kalraj Mishra

Raj day, Akha Teej and Parshuram Jayanti.

Mishra said that the soul of India resides in the villages. Villages

are our strength and the deep roots of democracy are strengthened here as a panchayat. He added that festival Akshay Tritiya is celebrated in Vaisakh month.

On this day, Lord Parshuram was incarnated, so his birth anniversary is also celebrated on Akshaya Tritiya.

He also said that we need to celebrate the festivals from our homes this time.

“Experience has told us that even when tools are available they have not been equally available to all. We cannot allow that to happen.”

European Commission President Ursula

—Emmanuel Macron, French President

von der Leyen said that the objective at a global pledging effort in early May would be to raise 7.5 bn euros to ramp up work on prevention, diagnostics and treatment.

—Agencies

Raj assembly sets up Corona control room Jaipur: The Rajasthan assembly will set up a COVID-19 control room that will coordinate with those in the Lok Sabha and other state assemblies, according to an official release issued on Friday.

The control room was established after a video conference of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with presiding officers of state assemblies, it said.

The control room will coordinate with the control room of the Lok Sabha and other state assemblies for exchange of information and to work on the problems of migrant labourers, the release said.

Rajasthan assembly secretary Pramil Kumar Mathur issued an order to set up the control room, it said. —PTI

Kashiram Choudhary Jaipur: The lockdown in the country has completed a month now & the operation of air services has also been suspended for the last one month. Despite this, Jaipur Airport administration is fully alert to operate emergency services. In this duration, only emergency services have been operating from here. Certain special flights are being allowed to operate during

DR ASHOK PANAGARIYA Padma Shri awardee, Prof Emeritus Neurology, and former Director and vice-chancellor SMS health university approach. Corona outbreak was one of such an issue where the advanced sciences were completely blind and everyone went into lockdown, voluntarily arresting himself in his own house.

While predicting on Corona conceding that astrology is a nonlinear

science I took a chance and challenge to explore this age-old science, the mirror of human life inuniverse. The study of stars had suggested entry of Sun in Aries on the late evening of April

Govind Singh Dotasara along with officials during the meeting.

First India News Sikar: The corona positive cases in Sikar district have raised everyone’s concern. On Friday, MoS for Education Govind Singh Dotasara took a meeting of dist level officers in the Collectorate auditorium.

In the meeting, Dotasara said that the ration of mid-day meals kept in schools could be used when required.

The Dist Collector has talked about issuing or-

ders on the same soon.

While discussing the condition in Sikar, Dotasara took complete information and said that it is our responsibility to motivate people to stay in homes at this time, rather than intimidate them. Some steps are still needed to save livestock from this disease. It is a good thing that social organisations are also coming in support in the fight against the pandemic, minister added further.

Jaipur Airport handles medical emergency flights lockdown, including medical and transport of relief material etc.

As of now, a dozen flights have been operated from Jaipur Airport. Half a dozen flights are for sending patients from one city to another, while a female scientist was sent abroad from an international flight. Prior to the impact of coronavirus, 7 international flights were operated for 5 foreign cities from Jaipur Airport.

FLIGHT MOVEMENT FROM JAIPUR AIRPORT April 6: A patient Himesh Singhal sent Juhu for treatment

April 21: A patient Himesh Singhal brought to Jaipur after treatment

April 7: A patient Arun Soni sent to Nagpur

April 23: A chartered flight from Vienna to Zurich took a 2-hour halt and scientist Ursula Joshi was sent

April 10: An air ambulance from Thailand to Azerbaijan took a 1-hr halt April 12: Mortal remains of Ramjilal Agarwal taken to Hyderabad April 16: Air Force plane carrying relief goods left for Prayagraj

Dissecting the astrological prediction Jaipur: As a medical scientist one finds certain limitations in managing certain diseases despite huge developments in medical sciences which are the evidence-based linear sciences. The medical professionals in an attempt to provide relief try to use the holistic

Dotasara holds meet with district officers

13 from Pisces, and had suggested this to be a turning point in Corona control.

Today the health ministry data suggests that the doubling time of several Corona cases

has almost tripled to near 10 days from earlier three days, taking us towards flattening of the curve. My further reading on Stars had suggested that Rahu will become favourable and Mercury will enter Aries to strengthen the Sun on April 23 and it will pave way for a drug or vaccine discovery, a pharmacological success. Interestingly the oxford vaccine’s Clinical trial on 4000 volunteers started on April 23, the same date as above. While there is a

long way to go but certainly there is a silver lining and a sense of optimism adding to our confidence to win the corona war.

While Ketu, the headless star which represents the virus will continue to bully us till it shifts in September but favourable Jupiter will vary significantly dampen Ketu and dissociation of Saturn from Mars on May 5 will add to our armamentarium to further effectively control the dreaded Coronavirus.

April 23: Assam Police officials sent to Jaipur from Guwahati, the plane returned vacant April 24: A Hyderabad patient brought to Jaipur, took the medical team to Delhi after a short halt

ACS Singh assures all round medical facilities First India News Jaipur: Additional Chief Secretary of the Medical and Health Department Rohit Kumar Singh informed that dedicated COVID-19 hospitals have been established for the treatment of patients. But the availability of other medical facilities besides coronavirus is also being ensured in the state.

Under non-corona essential services, arrangements have been

made to provide delivery, maternal, newborn, child & adolescent health, & dialysis etc. facilities round the clock like before. For this, delivery rooms, newborn care units, postnatal wards, etc. are being set up in separate medical institutions, along with availability of doctors and trained nursing staff. Singh added that healthy people have been donating blood so that there is no shortage of blood in the hour of need.

RAJASTHAN JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

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CENTRE ISSUES GUIDELINES TO PROTECT CLEANING STAFF First India News

Jaipur: Gehlot government is making personal protective instruments available to them and has also remitted them Rs 1000 each to equip themselves with masks, gloves, sanitisers & soap etc. Centre has released guidelines to protect the cleaning staff among the corona warriors and has instructed all state govts to implement it. The advisory was released by the central social empowerment & justice department. It has categorically asked local bodies to implement Standard Operating procedure (SOP) for the cleaning staff. It demands orientation

HC building sanitised after reader tests +ve First India News Jodhpur: After the Jodhpur High Court Reader of the main bench of the High Court tested positive for coronavirus, both the Jaipur and Jodhpur buildings of the High Court are being sanitised.

The Reader used to sit in the office of the HC judge.

Deputy CMHO Pritam Singh informed that the Municipal Corporation sprayed sodium hypochlorite to sanitise the building in Jodhpur. Moreover, the samples of other staff members, who came in contact with the infected, were also taken. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Suresh Kumar Ola said that Chief Fire Officer Sanjay Sharma reached the HC building with three fire brigades to spray sodium hypochlorite outside the building. The inner premises were also disinfected manually.

A cleaning staff on work at Chandpole Bazaar area, sanitation workers are a big help in these trying times and are risking their own health to keep the city clean.

—PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

of the staff for protection against Covid-19.

There is emphasis on full gear for the cleaning staff including mask, gum boots, jack-

BRIEF

asking the local bodies to provide for the necessities the advisory alerts the staff itself.

It cautions the cleaning staff not to keep the

People recovering but some break lockdown

First India News Jaipur: An Fir has been lodged against two people who escaped from the quarantine centre in Jyoti Vidyapeeth Women University situated at MahlaJaipur Mega Highway in Jobner police station area. SHO Shiv Shankar Sharma said that Delhi residents Raja Dokat and Vishal Yadav were brought to the quarantine centre on April 16, and escaped on the night of April 22 by breaking windows of their room. The matter has raised questions on the administration.

However, both men were sent to a local quarantine centre by the Delhi administration after they reached their home in Delhi.

People gather at vegetable market without any regard to social distancing norms at Chandpole Bazaar in Jaipur, some of them are not even wearing masks. —PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

First India News Kota: More than 50% corona patients have recovered in Kota. Of 155 cases 88 have received negative report twice, and would be going home as they have stayed in quarantine for 14 days. Meanwhile, pictures of people breaking lockdown in Makbara areas have come to light.

Cases rose to 144 after 22 new cases were found.

There were 18 positive cases found in a con-

struction company in Suket. A policeman and a sanitation worker tested positive and a relative of a head constable who was tested positive earlier was found infected.

1000 students of Haryana, 400 from Assam left for their homes.

Infant born to a corona infected mother has been separated from his mother. Though, corona doesn’t transfer to baby from pregnant mother, but his sample has been taken for testing.

Jaipur reports 4 death in 24 hours, toll 150 govt employees to be tested for corona in city rises to 18, State stands at 32

Thieves active amidst curfew in Ramganj

First India News

First India News

Jaipur: So far Covid-19 has taken 32 lives in the state. Again Jaipur had maximum 18 Covid deaths. Kota 3, Jodhpur 2, Bhilwra 2, Tonk, Sikar, Nagaur, Bikaner, Alwat & Bharatpur had one death each. One person from Uttar Pradesh also died in Rajasthan due to Covid.

Last 24 hours reported 4 corona deaths, all the deceased were above the age of 60 died in Jaipur. The state reported 70 new cases of corona in last 24 hours out of which 36 were from Jaipur followed by Kota with 22, Jodhpur 6, Jhalawar 4 and Bharat-

Police officials meeting at Choti Chaupar under the leadership of Ajay Pal Lamba.

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

pur reported one new case. The new cases reported in Jaipur had a predominant 18 cases from Ramganj, 5 each from Shahstri Nagar & Paldi Meena, Adarsh Nagar 2 and Sanganer, Raja Park, Housing Board Delhi By Pass &

Neelgaron Ka Mohalla with one case each. Two persons from Uttar Pradesh also tested positive. State has tested 74484 samples so far out of which 68133 have reported negative while reports for 4317 samples is awaited.

As of Friday night the state has 2034 corona positive cases with Jaipur with 776 cases followed by Jodhpur 316, Kota 144, Tonk 115, Bharatpur 107, Ajmer 106, Nagaur 93, Banswara 61, Jhunjhunu 41, Bikaner 37, Jaisalmer 34, Bhilwara 33, Jhalawar 24, Dausa 21, Churu 14, Hanumangarh 10, Sawai Madhopur 8, Alwar 7, Dungarpur 5, Sikar & Udaipur 4 each, Karauli & Pali 3 each, Barmer & Pratapgarh 2 each and Dholpur with one case. Apart from this 2 Italians and 61 Indians evacuated from Iran also tested positive.

So far 26 out of 33 districts are infected.

K K Sharma

First India News Tonk: After six government employees tested positive, Tonk district administration has collected samples of 150 employees including five RAS and two RTS officers who had stayed in the circuit house.

District collector K K Sharma informed that out of 2263 samples collected in the city 115

tested positive. He said that 1741 people were found negative while report of 389 was awaited. The district collector said that after six employees were found positive, samples of five RAS officers and two RT officers and all those who came into contact of previously positive six employees and their family members were sent for tests.

Jaipur: A Robbery case came to light from Ramganj area wherein a family had left to attend their patriarch’s funeral, during which, the thieves broke the locks of their house in Ramganj and stole cash and jewellery. The resident of Balaji ka Rasta Ghat Gate Bazar Dilip Kumar Gupta lodged a report at Shyam Nagar police station. The police have filed a zero number FIR and sent it to Ramganj In another incident, a theft was carried out at an under construction plot in Govind Vihar of Bhankrota by breaking the locks.

‘Offer namaz at home, Poonia interacts with party cooperate with admin’ workers, holds VC with MPs

‘PIL over sanitation at court baseless’

First India News

First India News

Jaipur: Ramdan, the holy month for Muslims would begin from Saturday. Muslim religious leaders in the City have appealed to people to offer namaz at home and to cooperate with administration.

They have advised that people affected by corona or any other illness and cannot live without water during the day and those undergoing a long journey

z Alwar: Shahjahanpur po-

in

et, hand sanitiser, soap, full sleeved shirt, trousers and apron. It also expects appointment of one nodal officer at the work place. Apart from

gloves in pockets but in a separate bag. It strictly says not to touch the face with gloves on. It mandates washing hands with soap & water before beginning and after finishing the cleaning work. The advisory asks cleaning of hands each time the gloves are taken off.

All personnel have been asked to maintain a social distance of one meter from each other and to work in small groups. This will make it easy to identify & isolate a positive if the infection occurs. Personnel have been asked to clean & sanitised their equipment after work and keep it in sunlight.

It asks all to use phone on speaker mode to avoid touching the face.

FIR against two quarantine escapees, held

by Delhi admin

03

lice station in Alwar seized truck carrying illegal liquor, in which 1,005 cases of alcohol have been recovered. Under the leadership of Police Officer Surendra Singh station incharge, the truck which was coming from Delhi to Jaipur was seized. Police have filed a case against the accused.

The total price of the alcohol has been estimated at around 50 lakhs.

z Jaipur: A case of rape

has been reported in the Galta Gate area. The accused connected the victim on Facebook and called her to meet on Delhi Road by promis-

should resist keeping Roza. Pregnant women or lactating mothers have also been given the relaxation. All of them along with elderly people can observe the fast skipped by them later.

Meanwhile, since the walled city is placed under ‘Maha Curfew’, Muslims offered Friday prayers at home. Only two members of mosque committee along with Imam and Maulana offered Namaz in the mosque.

Aishwary Pradhan Jaipur: BJP state chief Satish Punia has not only contributed to the war against coronavirus but has also kept his party MPs and workers at the task by constant motivation.

Punia keeps in touch with his party from top to bottom through apps like audio bridge and phone.

He held a meeting with nation organization secretary V Satish and state incharge Chan-

ing marriage. After that, the accused Sohail Khan raped Purana Jalupura resident. The police have started the investigation after registering the case.

Kashmir on Friday. Three days ago, 180 other people of Kashmir were also sent to their homes. As of now, 232 Kashmiris have been sent.

z Jaipur: On the occa-

z Jaipur: On Friday, the

sion of Swadeshi Sankalp Diwas of Swadesh Jagran Manch, people will light lamps at their homes today at 6:30 pm. The beginning would be done with Onkar sound, patriotic songs and religious songs, along with prayers to God to save the country from coronavirus.

z Jaisalmer: An Air Force

plane took 52 Kashmiris, who came from Iran to Jaisalmer, to Srinagar in

Shwetambar Jain Society Jaipur provided 2000 PPE kits for the cleanliness workers of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation in the presence of UDH Minister Shanti Dhariwal at the minister’s residence. The society has given 5000 PPE kits across the country.

z Dungarpur: Two youths,

20 and 21 years old, drowned in Mahi river.

They had gone in the river

Satish Poonia

drashekhar along with 5 party MPs on Friday.

Punia took feedback on the relief work being done by the district presidents and their

to bathe after performing the last rites of their grandmother at the crematorium. The youths were the residents of Motagaon in Banswara and belonged to Kalal community. Incident took place in the Nithauva police station area. z Sawai Madhopur: Taking

advantage of the dark, 3 people raped a married woman in Bonli. The administration had lodged the woman at the community centre in Batoda police station area. CO Bamanwas Parth Sharma is investigating the case. The victim had got lost and reached Batoda. The accused have been identified and are

units and also took stock of food packets being distributed.

He also took feedback on relief work being done by the district administration.

Punia asked all party MPs to ensure maximum contribution to the PM Cares fund by the people of the state. He also asked them to motivate people to download the Arogya Setu App and to encourage the people who were involved in serving the needy.

being interrogated. z Jaipur: A strange situ-

ation is being created on the roads of the capital city of Rajasthan, where the streets of the city were completely empty during the nationwide lockdown due to the outbreak of the pandemic coronavirus before April 20, whereas the same has now started showing a gamut amount of vehicles running on the streets of the city after the modified lockdown was implemented. However, the traffic lights of the main intersections of the city are still being closed; due to which any major road accident can happen anytime.

Jaipur: High Court has sought response from central government, state correspondent, Municipal Corporation for lack of cleaning in Jodhpur bench. They have been asked to file the reply in two weeks.

A PIL was filed by Dinesh Garg who alleged that despite coronavirus contagion, sanitation work has been stopped in high court and subordinates

Although traffic police officials and other police personnel are stationed on the streets of the city. But still there is a possibility of accidents from vehicles coming and going at a high speed. According to the police officers, due to the relaxation given to several sectors in the modified lockdown, the density of traffic and pressure of the vehicles on the roads has increased. In such a situation, traffic lights will start operating at the main intersections of the city soon. z Bhubaneswar: In a

humanitarian gesture, the railways transported camel milk from Falna in

courts. Garg said that in such case infection can spread to lawyers and people coming to courts.

Advocate Prateek Kasliwal representing HC administration termed the contents of petition baseless.

Rajasthan to Odisha for a three-and-half-year-old boy in Berhampur who is suffering from autism and food allergy. The milk was transported in two days by parcel express via Delhi and Howrah and then delivered to the autistic childs family member at Bhubaneswar Railway station on Thursday evening, a railway official said on Friday.The total cost of the transportation of the rare milk was merely Rs 125 for package weighing about 20 kg, he said, adding that the entire arrangement was made by SETU, a voluntary initiative launched by IRTS Probationers.

PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

CENTRE-BENGAL CONFRONTATION OVER LOCKDOWN

T

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spanish flu played a part in India’s freedom struggle

I

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

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

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

04

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

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

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

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

worst is now reached.”

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

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

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

Geography wasn’t the

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

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

They are a difficult class to deal with.”.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.THECONVERSATION.COM

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

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

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

She said, “Well, just anybody!”

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

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

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

Spiritual SPEAK

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

—Philippians 4:13

Vol 1 Issue No. 318 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

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05

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Corona

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

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

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

—PHOTO BY ANI

MALE NURSE AT AIIMS DELHI TESTS POSITIVE

MAHA: 14 DEATHS, 778 MORE CASES

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

All these health professionals were posted at the Gastroenterology Dept.

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

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

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

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

WB GUV SPEAK

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee with WB Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.

fortunate and cannot be appreciated,” he said.

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

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

The officers who have bene designated as nodal officers include.

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

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

—FILE PHOTO

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

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

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

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

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

“This response be

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

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

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

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

THE PETITION

ing in some campus have gone without food.

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

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

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

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

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

Donate blood plasma to save lives: Kejri to patients

‘Panchayati structure should reach out needy’

Defence Min reviews Army ops

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

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

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

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

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

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference.

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

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

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

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi distributes PPE kits to warriors.

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

mosques.

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

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

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

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

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

—Mayawati BSP chief

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

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

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

by COVID-19. —ANI

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

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

Azaan should be of-

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

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

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

Centre to probe Kishore’s travel during lockdown

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

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

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

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

“On April 23, 2020, af-

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

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

Speaking further, the

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Deliver free cylinders to PMUY assignees, fast’

Dharmendra Pradhan held a vc with District Nodal Officers.

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

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan

MAKING A REMARK

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

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

EDITORS GUILD CRITICISES ASSAULT

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

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

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

06

POWER Gallery REVIEW OF 1989 BATCH IPS SOON

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

FIELD MARSHAL IN IAS AND IPS?

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

WHO LOOKS AFTER ACC IN PMO?

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

SANDHYA RANI PROMOTED AS MEMBER, POSTAL SERVICES BOARD

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

PRANNOY SHARMA IS ALSO SECRETARY, POSTAL SERVICE BOARD

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

He is a 1998 batch officer of Indian Postal Service.

THREE IAS OFFICERS OF MAHARASHTRA EMPANELLED AS SECRETARY IN GOI

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

war, Managing Director of Digvijay News (Karnataka).

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

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

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

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

42 CRPF officers via e-passing out parade

Transfer probe to NIA: Plea in HC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CM Gehlot has already raised the issue with the Centre on sending the students stuck in Kota back to their homes, which could also be discussed in the VC.

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

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

Officials, however, said these projections are based on the growth pattern at a particular

time. Director of National Centre for Disease Control S K Singh that surveillance has been the country’s primary weapon in the fight against novel coronavirus. “We started our surveillance mechanism even before the first case was reported in India.

This played an important role in helping us contain the spread of the infection,” Singh said.

He informed reporters that around 9.45 lakh suspected coronavirus cases are under the surveillance network at present and

upon detection of symptoms of the infection, samples are taken from these people for testing.

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

EMPANELLED 2000 BATCH IRTS OFFICERS STILL AWAITING PROMOTIONS

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

SN GUPTA APPOINTED CFO OF JAMMU & KASHMIR BANK

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

JUSTICE DIPANKAR DATTA APPOINTED CJ OF BOMBAY HC

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

JUSTICE BISWANATH SOMADDER APPOINTED CJ OF MEGHALAYA HC

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

SAVANUR VISHWAJITH SHETTY APPOINTED ADDL JUDGE OF KARNATAKA HC

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

VIJAY SHARMA BEING POSTED IN NFR

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

RAKESH RANJAN SELECTED FOR DEPUTATION TO RCIL

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

FROM PG 1 Mukesh Ambani’s...

Sources claim that Gehlot will mainly focus on bringing stranded Rajasthanis back home while also raising the demand for economic package.

Moreover, on the occasion of Panchayat Raj Day, Chief Minister tweeted his elation and also thanked the Panchayat representatives for standing with government in the current crisis. “We remember the efforts of our two PMs, Pandit Nehru ji and Rajiv Gandhi ji behind this. Rajiv ji’s vision was to give power to

the people and bring democracy to the doorsteps of Indians,” Gehlot tweeted. Moreover Gehlot also remembered former Rajasthan Chief Minister Tikaram paliwal on his birth anniversary. CM Gehlot also extended Ramzan greetings to the people with the sighting of the moon on Friday.

Meanwhile, Cabinet secretary Rajeev Gauba will hold a video conference on Saturday where he will take feedback on migration of labourers and other issues concerning various states.

Lockdown contained...

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

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

PM Modi...

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

The prime minister was interacting with gram panchayat heads and members to mark Panchayati Raj Divas on Friday. The programme was scheduled to be

held in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh but was held by a video bridge following the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

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

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

We are fighting this and we are moving ahead with new ideas to tackle the virus,” Modi, who

used a ‘gamcha’ as face mask, said.

Heads and members of gram panchayats from across the country shared their experiences in handling the crisis and conveyed to the prime minister that people are religiously following the lockdown.

Modi also launched e-GramSwaraj portal and mobile app to make the operations of gram panchayats digital and also Swamitva Scheme, which provides for an integrated property validation solution for rural India. —Agencies

TALKING POINT JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

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

MAHENDRA SINGH

DG Income Tax Investigation, Rajasthan

T

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

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

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

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

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

Ek byadhi bas nar marhin, ei asadh bahu byadhi.

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

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

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

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

A

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

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

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

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

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

07

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

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

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

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

FEAR OF INFECTION AND DEATH UNLEASHED BY COVID-19

T

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

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

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

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

by Tulsidas beyond recognition.

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

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

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

OPINION BASED ON DISTORTED FACTS

A

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

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

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

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

DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

It is important to stay connected with your family and loved ones in these times.

Reach out to those whom you haven’t talked to or seen in years. Connect, the distance is physical, it doesn’t have to be emotional.

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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2ND FRONT JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

Corona growth rate coming down, 24% cured: Raghu Test results which are coming now are of pending samples, he said

VC WITH UNION MIN

Vikas Sharma Jaipur: Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma has praised doctors for halting coronavirus in its tracks in the state. He claimed that Rajasthan has better track record than other states in tackling COVID-19.

The health minister said that the state has collected 75,000 samples. As many as 2,008 people have been tested positive for novel coronavirus in the state till Friday afternoon, of which 473 or 24 per cent have been cured and 193 of them have been sent home.

The state has also reported death of 32 patients, which according to the health minister is the lowest among stats with high number of cases.

Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma during VC with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. Also seen with him is Mission Director NHM Naresh Thakral.

“The growth rate of positive cases has come down in the state. The test results which are coming now are mostly of pending samples. Fresh positive cases are less now,” the minister said. The health minister attributed this improvement to hard work of doctors and better medical arrangements of the state government.

Dr Sharma also said

Youth ‘quarantined’ on tree as villagers denied his entry Jaipur: A youth in Bhilwara has had to ‘quarantine’ himself on a tree after being refused entry to his village recently. The 24-year-old Kamlesh Meena walked all the way from Ajmer to reach his village Sherpura in Bhilwara, however, was stopped by villagers while entering into his village fearing corona spread.

He was advised to go to district hospital first and get himself tested.

However, Kamlesh refused to go out of his village. As the tension gripped the village, a medical team soon reached the spot and collected the samples of youth. Other medical tests were also done.Meanwhile, the medical team to sort out the issue, asked Kamlesh to come along to Bhilwara quarantine centre.

However one of the section of villagers did not allow them to do the

same. After a long debate, it was decided to quarantine the youth 3 kms far off the village on a tree. A temporary ladder was put aside a tree to help this man come down to attend nature’s call. A medical team has been coming daily to test him.

Meanwhile district collector Rajendra Bhatt said that this man is healthy. “As he did not want to go to quarantine centre, he was quarantined on a tree.” Kamlesh’ father Sagarmal said that his son was a daily wager in Ajmer. After lockdown, he was stranded in the city and waited for some vehicle, however, when he did not get any vehicle, he walked 150 kilometres to reach his village. As villagers objected to his entry in village, he started living on a tree by making a ‘machan’ on it. We are giving him two meals and water,” he added. —IANS

that the state has ramped up its testing capacity and it was way ahead of other states in testing. The testing capacity of state has been increased to 5,000 tests per day and the target is to double it in the next few days, he added.

“We are making arrangements for quick testing of samples.

More tests would help us contain the contagion. Testing would be

Pilot extends greetings on multiple occassions Fisrt India News Jaipur: PCC Chief and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot congratulated people on the occasion of National Sachin Pilot P a n chayati Raj day, Ramzan and Prakash Parv of second Sikh Guru Angad Dev. He also requested people to follow guidelines of social distancing.

Speaking on the occasion, Pilot said that the soul of India resides in the villages, so the development of the country is possible only by the development of the villages. Let us all come together to build a strong India through strong Panchayati Raj.

in hot spots,” he added.

A government official, referring to an assessment of the state health department, said the current growth rate of coronavirus cases in Rajasthan was less than what was projected.

“There has been a decrease in the growth rate after April 14. If we go by the growth rate during first phase of the lockdown

(March 25 to April 14), the number of COVID-19 patients would have been 2,834 (on Thursday) during the second phase of the lockdown,” the official said.

Accounting for nearly 38 per cent of the total cases in the state, Jaipur is one of the coronavirus hotspots in Rajasthan. Of the total 32 deaths, 17 are in Jaipur alone.

Send us home: Bihar students stage sit-in!

Bihar students want their ‘Kota’ of return Kota: Nearly 1,400 students from Haryana and Assam left Kota for their home towns by buses on Friday morning, while over 2,000 from various places in Rajasthan are scheduled to leave in the evening.

Meanwhile, students from Bihar have appealed to Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of their home state, to make arrangements for their return and staged a silent protest here.

Over 50 students from the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Diu had left for home in three buses on Thursday noon and more than 250 students from Rajasthan had left for their respective home districts till Thursday night. 18 buses carrying students from Assam and 31 with students from Haryana were scheduled to leave Kota on

—Pic for representational purposes only

Friday, ADM (administration), Kota Narendra Gupta said.

At least 50 students from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and six from Diu had left Kota in three buses on Thursday noon, while students from Bundi, Jhalawar and Baran in Rajasthan were dispatched in 10 buses on Thursday night, he added.

Nearly 1,000 students from Haryana left for home on Friday morning and about 400 students from Assam have started the journey towards their home state. Over

KNOT happening: Raj authorities extra vigil during Akshaya Tritiya Kota: Authorities in Rajasthan’s Hadoti region are extra vigilant during the lockdown to make sure child marriages taking place on Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on April 26, are prevented. No report of child marriages has surfaced so far from Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar and Baran districts in the region.

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, is believed to be an auspicious occasion when girls and boys are tied in nuptial knots in large numbers, particularly in the rural belt of Hadoti region.

According to a recent report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the prevalence of child marriage is 89.4 per cent in rural areas of Rajasthan, while 10.6 per cent in urban areas of the state.

The authorities in

CHILD MARRIAGE FIGURES

the four districts initiate awareness programmes and set up control rooms every year to check child marriages.

“This year, the reports of possible child marriages around Akshaya Tritiya are zero so far as no child marriage is supposed to be taking place in the district due to strict enforcement of the lockdown,” Deputy Director of Integrated Child Develop-

08

ment Services (ICDS), Bundi, Bhairu Prakesh Nagar said.

He said anganwadi and ASHA workers are already in the field to conduct surveys in connection with coronavirus and they have not reported any suspected child marriage in the area so far.

Forty-eight cases of child marriages were reported to the district control room in Bundi on Akshaya Tritiya last year, Na-

gar said. Kota District Collector Om Kasera on Thursday directed officials to ensure that no child marriage takes place in the district.

Officials of an NGO – Childline – are divided over their opinion on child marriages taking place in the region.

Childline coordinator in Kota Alka Ajmera said, “We receive a lot of calls on child marriages from across the district around Akshaya Tritiya every year, but this year no call reporting about child marriage has been received so far due to the lockdown.”

But the coordinator of Kota Railway Childline, Bhupendra Singh, said child marriages are likely to take place in rural areas in the usual manner as the entire government machinery is focused on fighting against COVID-19. —PTI

2,000 students from various cities and towns of Rajasthan were also scheduled to leave Kota in the evening, he added.

Meanwhile, over 12,000 students from Bihar, who are stuck here since the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus was imposed, appealed to Kumar to call them back on Thursday. They held up placards with the appeal written on those from their respective places while maintaining social distancing. —PTI

Justice Rafiq to take oath on Sunday

Justice Mohammed Rafiq

First India News Jaipur: Justice Mohammed Rafiq will be sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Orissa HC on Sunday. Justice Rafiq who belongs to Shekhawati in Rajasthan, will be the 31st CJ of Orissa HC. He has been transferred on recommendation of Supreme Court Collegium. Justice Rafiq will leave in a special plane on Saturday. Since, the Orissa government doesn’t have a plane; it had requested Rajasthan government to provide its chopper. The talks between two are underway.

There is possibility that Justice Rafiq will take oath on Sunday morning.

None ‘worthy’ in Raj Bureaucracy for GOI empanelment?

Rajendra Chhabra Jaipur: Gone are the days when Rajasthan cadre IAS ruled the roost while deputing in the central government in Delhi. There was a time when as many as 10 state cadre IAS were posted in Delhi as secretaries to important departments. The condition is so pathetic today that only one state cadre IAS

is on deputation with the central government.

Usha Sharma had to wait for 8 long years in Delhi to get empanelled and become Secretary in ordinary department like Youth Affairs & Sports.

There isn’t much to sing about even on the Additional Secretary level where only Madhukar Gupta and Sanjay Malhotra are posted with Gupta due to

retirement in coming September.

The latest development in the matter is that the empanelment list, for Secretary and Additional Secretary, which came out last week also doesn’t feature any name from the state. In all 28 IAS from 1987-88 batch have been empanelled in this list. 1987 batch Neel Kamal Darbari has been empanelled as Secretary Equiva-

CM Ashok Gehlot

CS DB Gupta

lent in the list while 1987 batch Veenu Gupta could not make it to the list yet again. 1991 batch Sudhansh Pant and 1992 batch Rajat Kumar Mishra were also waiting for empanelment as Additional Secretary but both were disappointed. Future empanelment also are a dismal scene as there aren’t many officers posted in Delhi to qualify for Secretary or

Additional Secretary.

New deputations with the centre don’t seem to be the fruit of the season with files of Shikhar Agrawal and Praveen Gupta lying pending with the DOPT. Will a ‘sensitive’ CM Ashok Gehlot and an ‘effective’ CS DB Gupta take up the issue with Prime Minister Office and cabinet secretary Rajeev Gauba at appropriate time?

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Bae Worth Watching!

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

CITY FIRST

T

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

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

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

Baywatch, the American

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

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

“Being a villain is awesome.

It’s so good to be bad,” says

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

so much fun torturing people?”

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

09

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THE DRESSMAKER I

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

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

All that sounds quite

FA CE OF TH ED AY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10

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

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

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

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

You will complete a project.

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

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

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

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

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

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

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

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

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

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

Doing some charity is on your mind.

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

You are about to achieve something.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

ASHLESHA AHLUWALIA, Influencer

JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

ETC

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JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

11

Unplanned Holiday!

A

Poster of ‘Holiday’

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

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

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

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

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

—IANS

Content-driven

cinema!

E JOURNEY TO THE DARK! B

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

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

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

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

—IANS

Still from the video

Varun Dhawan

Celebration amid

LOCKDOWN!

V

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

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

—Agency

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

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

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

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

—Agency

Anushka Sharma

MISSING MOM!

K Kajol

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

“Friday...miss my mom.

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

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

... her Instagram post

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

—IANS Bhumi Pednekar

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

JAIPUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

DALGONA KARA NA?

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

CITY FIRST JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

I

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

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

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

—RAHIL MANSURI

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

—GAURI SHARMA

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

—SWATI JANGID

LIFE IN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—RADHIKA AGARWAL

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

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

12

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

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

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

Lockdown!

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

KIRTI CHAUHAN

kirti.chauhan@firstindia.co.in

A

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

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

Jaipur-based Kapilakshi, who made coming projects.”

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

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