First India-Jaipur Edition-26 April 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

24°C - 36°C

ALERT JAIPUR l SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 319

WORLD

2,01,132 28,88,684 825 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

INDIA

26,283

35

CONFIRMED CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

945,249 SPAIN 223,759 ITALY 195,351 GERMANY 155,418 UK 148,377 TURKEY 107,773 IRAN 89,328 CHINA 82,816 RUSSIA 74,588

53,243 22,902 26,384 5,805 20,319 2,706 5,650 4,632 681

USA

RAJASTHAN

DEATHS

2,083

CONFIRMED CASES

WE SHALL

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

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OVERCOME!

+1,050 ++378 +415 +45 +813 +106 +76 +3 +66

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO

LAST UPDATED: APRIL 25, 2020, 11:00 PM

IN RAJASTHAN DISTRICT

TOTAL CASES

SAMPLE RECEIVED SAMPLE NEGATIVE

+6 — — — +2 — — +1 — — +2 +1 — +15 — +5 +1 +10 — +5 — — — +1 — — — — — +49 — — +49

— 1 — — 1 2 1 — — — — — — 19 — — — 3 — 4 1 — — — — 1 1 — 1(UP) 35 — — 35

78,993 71,806

UNDER EXAMINATION

5,104

CORONA IN RAJASTHAN On Saturday, 49 new Corona positive cases were reported in state of which 15 are from Jaipur. This is the lowest number of new infections in the state after 13 days in a day. Three deaths each were reported from Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota on Saturday. P3

Border Roads Organisation on Saturday opened the 27 kilometres Rohtang Pass stretch on Manali Leh route for public amid the ongoing coronavirus lockdown. Essential supplies and relief materials needed in India’s fight against COVID-19 will now be able to reach in this area, which remains cut off for traffic for 5-6 months, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet. —ANI

Shops open, sans buyers! n AFTER A MONTH OF LOCKDOWN, MHA ALLOWS SHOPS TO RE-OPEN WITH RIDERS n SHOPKEEPERS AWAIT CUSTOMERS AS PEOPLE ONLY SHOPPED FOR ESSENTIALS n RESTRICTIONS REMAIN IN CONTAINMENT ZONES First India News Jaipur: Seeking to end the confusion over its Friday late night order allowing opening of shops selling non-essential items, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that shops in markets or market complexes must remain closed in urban areas, though all standalone shops, neighbourhood shops and shops in residential complexes in non-containment zones can open.

MHA on Saturday issued a clarification on its order allowing the opening of shops amid the lockdown imposed to con-

—PHOTO BY ANI

AJMER 112 ALWAR 7 BANSWARA 61 BARMER 2 BHARATPUR 109 BHILWARA 33 BIKANER 37 CHITTORGARH 1 CHURU 14 DAUSA 21 DHOLPUR 3 DUNGARPUR 6 HANUMANGARH 10 JAIPUR 792 JAISALMER 34 JHALAWAR 29 JHUNJHUNU 42 JODHPUR 326 KARAULI 3 KOTA 149 NAGAUR 93 PALI 2 PRATAPGARH 2 RAJSAMAND 1 SWAI MADHOPUR 8 SIKAR 4 TONK 115 UDAIPUR 4 OTHER DIST. 0 2020 TOTAL OTHER (Italy) 2 EVACUEES 61 GRAND TOTAL 2083

NEW TOTAL CASES DEATH

Members of the Muslim community buy groceries on the first day of the holy month of Ramzan during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, at Jama Masjid in New Delhi on Saturday.

tain Covid-19.

The relaxation of lockdown came with major caveats and it did not apply to hundreds of quar-

antined towns and other hotspots that have been hit hardest by the outbreak. Although MHA orders permitted opening of

INDIA RECORDS LOWEST DAILY GROWTH RATE IN CASES: GOVT New Delhi: The average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the country is 9.1 days as of now and from Friday 8 am to Saturday 8 am, India recorded a six-per cent growth in new cases, which is the lowest daily growth rate recorded since the country crossed 100 cases, the government said on Saturday. 13th meeting of Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 was held under the chairpersonship of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday. GOM was briefed on state-wise details of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals, along with the adequacy of isolation beds and wards, PPE kits, N95 masks, drugs, ventilators and oxygen cylinders, among others, the health ministry said. The GoM was informed that domestic manufacturers, Turn on P6

shops, people preferred staying indoors than making purchases, considering the shops were opened after nearly a month.

While shopkeepers stressed on maintaining social distancing, long queues were not to be seen in majority of the places.

Only at secluded places, where Ramzan celebrations are being carried out, with the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan from Saturday, could a gathering be witnessed.

Many shops selling stationery, toys, hard wear, electronics etc opened but shoppers preferred to stay indoors.

Turn on P6

CENTRAL TEAM FOR STRICTER LOCKDOWN IN NORTH BENGAL Kolkata: A central team visiting north Bengal to assess the COVID-19 situation wrote to the West Bengal government on Saturday, suggesting stricter implementation of lockdown there. Two central teams are visiting the state, one in Kolkata and the other, at Siliguri in north Bengal. In a letter to CS Rajiva Sinha, central team in north Bengal, led by senior bureaucrat Vineet Joshi, said more field officers are required to monitor and provide feedback about the effectiveness of various measures undertaken by the government. He sought a meeting with the police commissioner of Siliguri.

‘Raj ready for plasma therapy’ Jaipur: Rajasthan is prepared to conduct plasma therapy on severely-ill COVID-19 patients and has written to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) seeking permission to carry out the treatment, state health minister Raghu Sharma said on Saturday.

Under convalescent plasma therapy technique, plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 is transfused to patients who are in severe condition.

Sharma said the number of coronavirus cases reported in the state has risen to 2,061 on Saturday afternoon and asserted that Rajasthan

Health Minister Raghu Sharma

has so far done the highest 79,000 tests in the country.

The COVID-19 death rate in the country is 3.18 per cent while the state average is 1.43 per cent. The state government’s efforts have brought the death rate under control, the minister said.

Turn on P6

‘DECISION ON AMARNATH YATRA AFTER REVIEW OF SITUATION’ Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor G C Murmu on Saturday said the upcoming Amarnath yatra was subject to a periodic review of COVID-19 situation as comprehensive planning and execution are involved in conduct of the annual pilgrimage. The 42-day-long yatra to 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas is scheduled to commence on June 23. 10-day-long Buda Amarnath yatra in Poonch district of Jammu commences in August. “Govt will explore all possible means required for conduct of yatras.

However, all these developments are subject to review, in view of the COVID-19 crisis,” Murmu said at a meeting with a nine-member delegation of Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas at the Raj Bhavan here.

Concerned CM goes all out to bring stranded Rajasthanis back!

ALSO PROVIDES RELIEF TO FARMERS BY ANNOUNCING WAREHOUSES AS ‘GAUN MANDIS’ Naresh Sharma Jaipur: Concerned over the situation of stranded Rajasthanis across the nation, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had been working on war footing to bring them back to their home state and if all goes well, the Rajasthanis could come back from next

month onwards. Gehlot has been in touch with Chief Ministers of various states in this regard as also with the Union Home Ministry.

While Gehlot has already spoken to Chief Ministers of West bengal, Assam, Chattisgarh amongst other states regard this, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ud-

HELP AT HAND FOR FARMERS

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot taking VC where Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma, DB Gupta, Rajeeva Swarup, Rohit Kumar Singh, Kuldeep Ranka among others were present.

dhav Thackeray also phoned his Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Ge-

hlot regarding the arrangements made for the students of Maha-

rashtra in Kota.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav

In order to ensure that farmers get minimum support price and to promote decentralised sale of farm produce, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot gave permission to name godowns registered with warehouse development and regulatory authority, warehouses registered with Kendriya Bhandar Nigam and Rajasthan State Warehousing Corporation as Gaun mandi or markets.

Keeping in mind that social distancing is the need of the hour which would stop further spread of Corona virus, the godowns and warehouses have been declared as Gaun mandi for which an amount of fifteen lakh rupees has to be deposited by 30th June 2020.

Thackeray held a telephonic discussion with the Rajasthan

Chief Minister on measures taken to contain the spread of

coronavirus by both the states and on various other subjects,” Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Friday.

“They also discussed arrangements made for the students of Maharashtra in Kota and are collectively working on modalities to bring the kids back home,” it added.

While Gehlot has been proactively seeking relief for Rajasthanis and trying to bring them home Turn on P6

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JAIPUR | SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020

02

SOLACE IN THE SILENCE?

—PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR

Amber Maotha Lake, at 12.35 PM, normally buzzing with tourists, wears a deserted look due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus on Saturday.

Raj Home Dept issues changes regarding opening of shops Jaipur: The Rajasthan Home Department has issued amendments regarding the shops of electric fans, outlets for recharge of prepaid mobile phones and shops selling educational books.

The amendments are made in the implementation of lockdown orders. The district administration has been asked to coordinate with the shops of electric fans, outlets for recharge of prepaid mobile connection and shops selling educational books, and give them passes/permits to engage in home delivery. Schools/colleges and other educational institutions and coaching centres should also coordinate in the process to communicate the phone numbers of such shops to the students or parents to assist

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

People of muslim community buying essentials during Ramzan in Ramganj area.

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

in placing orders, the order added.

The system of home delivery has been suggested in order to avoid a rush at the shops, as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus.

In addition to these shops, neighbourhood shops, stand-alone shops and shops in residential complexes can also be open. This excludes market complexes and single and multi-brand

malls. It has also been clarified that outlets selling items or products can open, service providers such as eateries, salons, and parlours cannot open.

Apart from that, agriculture/horticulture and allied activities, and caregivers or attendants of elderly people are also exempted. These amendments are made outside the containment areas of hotspots and clusters.

Can all shops open?

No. Shops in containment zone will not open at all. Besides, restaurants, salons and barber shops will remain closed. Joint home secretary Punyasalila Shrivastava said that hair salon comes under services while the new order only for the shops that sell products. Multi and single brand malls are not allowed to open.

Liquor and tobacco will remain prohibited.

What will affect home ministry’s order?

Earlier only essential items like, milk, grocery, fruit & vegetables, medical stores, petrol pumps, flour mill and mobile recharge shops were allowed to open.

Now, shops selling nonessential items can also

—ANI

open but with riders.

What are the conditions to open shops?

They have to be registered shops under Shops & Establishment Act of respective States/ UTs. Only 50% employees will be called.

Must maintain necessary precautions such as wearing face masks, gloves and keep socialdistancing.

Whether all shopping complex and markets will open?

Shops in market complexes, except those within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, would be allowed to open. Shopping complex, salon, restaurants and liquor shops won’t open. In villages, markets can open.

Poonia thanks PM over `3,500 cr grant

Five held for smuggling illegal stuff

First India News

First India News

Jaipur: Amid lockdown, some state leaders commented on the current situation. On receiving rarity for the state, BJP State President Dr Satish Poonia while thanking PM Modi took to twitter.

Poonia tweeted, “Thank you PM Shri Narendra Modi, who has given Rs. 3,500 crore to Rajasthan under (PMGSY) 3, from this budget, 6 bridges and 639 roads of 6,040 km length will be constructed, It is natural that there will be a rarity of development from all over the state to Jaipur district and Amer.” Poonia has also extended heartfelt greetings to the people on the occasion of Lord Parshuram Jayanti.

Former BJP State President Ashok Parnami said, “Even after finding the corona suspects being tested posi-

Jaipur: The illegal liquor smuggling business in the capital has increased during the lockdown. Police have arrested five people smuggling tobacco, cigarettes, and liquor in six police station areas on Saturday. Along with this, the liquor and the vehicles used for smuggling have also been seized.

DCP Kavendra Singh Sagar said that “smuggler Vicky Sansi, who was carrying liquor in an auto-rickshaw (tempo) in Karni Vihar area, has also been arrested and seized 18 cases of country liquor from him. Similarly, Vishwakarma Police station incharge of Mangilal Vishnoi has caught Bhagwan Sahay Sansi near the Vaidharana Shiva temple with 15 liters of illegal junk liquor and 82 bottles of country liquor.

IN THE COURTYARD Police commissioner’s continuous efforts to SEC appeals to Raj High Raj HC cancels constitution curb corona in state Court to postpone elections of benches to hear matters First India News

to go through the call details of all the corona Jaipur: Police Commis- positives patients in sioner has devised a their areas and prepare a thorough consensible and tact list so that unique strategy the police departto trace the conment can help the tacts of every cohealth officials to rona positive pareach all the sustient in the city. pects. UndoubtHe has reposed edly this strategy faith in his subor- Anand by the commisdinates Rahul Shrivastav sioner will furJain (DCP East), Rajiv Pachar (DCP ther reign in the spread North), Kavindra Sagar of the virus in Jaipur to (DCP West) and Yogesh help it come out of the Dhadheech (DCP South) red category.

First India News Jaipur: The State Election Commission has submitted an application to the Rajasthan High Court to postpone the elections to be held in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota, 6 municipal corporations on August 31.

The commission has told the court in this application submitted through advocate RB Mathur that, ‘it is not possible to conduct municipal elections under

the existing circumstances, and till May 3, the state has been under lockdown; the impact of the coronavirus has also been increasing continuously. The entire government machinery of the state is busy in controlling and fighting against the pandemic.

Even after the lockdown, it would be very important to keep social distancing.

First India News Jaipur: Rajasthan High Court has cancelled constitution of benches to hear matters.

The court will now continue to function as per its order of April 14 till May 3.

The notification was issued by the High Court registrar general after a high level official of court was tested positive for corona. The no-

tification informed that constitution of benches has been cancelled.

The notification has been sent to personal secretary of CJ, Advocate General and office bearers of Bar council of Rajasthan. It said that existing system of hearing matters will continue till May 3. For emergency matters, single or division bench would be constituted after permission from the CJ and other senior judges.

Dr Satish Poonia

tive, the State Govt is being careless in isolating them, which has increased the possibility of spreading corona in other persons”.

The Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria, while speaking about Rahul Gandhi has said, “Rahul has said cutting the salary and allowance of central govt employees is an inhumane and insensitive decision. If Rahul had suggested Rajasthan CM in the month of March, then a 30% salary of millions of govt employees and pensioners of Rajasthan would not have been postponed.

HUNGER HEROES

From left: Advocate Rajesh Karnal, Mahant Kailash Sharma, Dinesh Sharma. Brahmin society celebrated Parshuram Jayanti by following social distancing on Saturday. On this occasion, Mahant Kailash Sharma guardian of Saptarishi Mandal in Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple distributed free ration to 500 families. Brahmin people also lit lamps (diye) in their houses and the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra was recited in front of the picture of Lord Parshuram. During the day, peace sacrifice was conducted under the guidance of Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi, Sapta Rishi Mandal President Pandit Devi Shank Sharma and General Secretary Kaustubh Dadhich and Jyotisha Acharya Pandit Purushottam Gaur.

Stuck in Ajmer, family longs to go home Food at quarantine centres: JDC Jaipur: Thirty-four members of a Ludhiana-based family, who are stranded in Ajmer since the last one month following the clamping of the nationwide lockdown, have seen it all -poverty, hunger, domestic violence, communal harmony, philanthropy and brotherhood.

Stuck inside the hall of a hotel, all they want now is to return to their homes in Ludhiana.

Fed up of the daily blues, this family is now

pleading the govt to permit them to go back to their native place.

“Irrespective of caste and creed, we have seen help pouring in from all

quarters during this lockdown period. But now we just want to go home,” said Sanju, one of the members of the family.

“Our group comprises 10 women, an equal number of men and 14 kids. We came to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah for the first time to offer prayers on March 21.

Our return tickets were booked for March 24; however, all trains got cancelled in the wake of the lockdown. We arranged for money by requesting our family members in Ludhiana to deposit some amount in our accounts.

—Agencies

appoints 3-member team First India News Jaipur: On the instructions of dynamic Jaipur Development Commissioner T Ravikant, a team of three members will monitor the smooth functioning of the food system and timely delivery of food and quality food at the Quarantine Centers.

The team will appoint personnel at each place

where the food is being prepared. Ravikant also instructed that quality food be provided on time to the people at these centres and for this effective monitoring and checking should be done

by Director Finance, Additional Commissioner LPC, Joint Director and Nodal Officer. The threemember team will also appoint staff which will report to the control

room for timely sending of workers and monitor food centers to ensure early start of preparations of food, completion of preparations and

ensuring quality of food. In case of any kind of problem to the personnel, they will immediately inform the nodal officer so that the problem can be resolved with immediate effect. The nodal officer of food management will also regularly take feedback and reports from the incharge officers appointed at the Quarantine Centers.

RAJASTHAN JAIPUR | SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020

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in

BRIEF

 Jaipur: Rajasthan

Bar Council took decision due to lockdown. Financial assistance will be given to 1900 needy advocates of the state. Financial assistance of 5000 thousand will be given to each advocate. A 3 member committee is also formed to provide financial support and the responsibility is given to Suresh Shrimali, Jagmal Singh Chaudhary and Sanjay Sharma.  Kota: Coaching

student Vandana Mehra committed suicide in Kota in Mahaveer Nagar, located in Santoshi Nagar police station area. She wrote, “I could not live up to expectations” in a suicide note.  Alwar: No toll will be taken from the Private vehicles from Alwar to Behror-Narnol road.

This facility is also going to be available from Kishangarhbas to Khairthal-BansurKotputli road. Only commercial vehicles will have to pay the toll. Project Manager SS Meena gave the information.  Jaipur: MLA Kalicharan Saraf gave Rs 20 lakh from his MLA Fund to buy ration for the needy in Malviya Nagar area.

Saraf gave 20 lakhs to CMR Kovid 19 fund, 11 lakh rupees for the purchase of medical equipment and resources in Jaipuria Hospital and 1 lakh rupees in relief fund for purchase of sanitizers and masks etc.  Jaipur: Police seized 301 vehicles on Saturday. Apart from this, 24 people have been arrested for violating Section 144. So far, police have seized 13,723 vehicles during the lockdown. With this, 516 people have been arrested for violating the rules of lockdown.

Police commissioner Ashok Kumar Gupta said, “Strict action will be taken against those who violate law and order”.  Tonk: SDRF jawans are accused of assaulting a 60-year-old elderly who is seriously injured. People created uproar after incident which took place in Jata Pada area.

SOME GOOD NEWS: CORONA 3 DEAD, 49 NEW CASES REPORTED IN STATE UNDER CONTROL IN RAJ First India News

First India News

Jaipur: Rajasthan has been successful in curbing the infection growth rate by 35% during the first 10 days of second fortnight of April, despite of increased number of tests. State tested more samples in these 10 days than it did in previous one and half month.

Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma proudly informed that had the growth rate of infection been same then the state would have had 3,116 corona patients by now but they have been restricted to 2,061, which is 35% less. The icing on the cake is that the state tested 40000 samples in corresponding 10 days against 34928 samples in

—PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR

 Jaipur: Members of Vipra Foundation and Maa Vaishno Seva Samiti worshiped Lord Parshuram, under the leadership of Vipra Foundation Youth District President Arpit Sharma.

BJP state president Satish Poonia, MP Ramcharan Bauhra, Arpit Sharma, Rajesh Karnal, Kedar Sharma, Satish Sharma, Dinesh Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, Rajesh Chaudhary and other party workers were present.

03

THE DOWNFALL OF COVID-19 IN APRIL

Horse mounted policemen patrol the Johari Bazaar area of Walled City which wears a deserted look due to lockdown.

earlier 45 days. Dr Sharma said that the state health department has written to ICMT for permission of using plasma therapy in critical corona cases.

He said that our team of doctors is all set to begin the therapy once

ICMR gives the go ahead.

In plasma therapy, the plasma of the blood of corona recovered patients is injected in critical patients to build the anti bodies to fight the virus. Sharma hinted that the doctors were ready with the required

Cases rising but we will overcome: Pilot

Fear makes hospitals reject pregnant lady

First India News

First India News

Jaipur: Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot provided dry snacks kits to 1500 people living in quarantine center in Tonk. Pilot has been regularly monitoring situation in Tonk. Earlier, he arranged three ventilators to the hospital. He also arranged 1750 dry ration packets for needy people in rural and urban areas.

On his appeal, philanthropists in the city have been regularly arranging food. On Friday, he thanked the Jat community for donating 2100 quintal flour, 56 quintal pulses and 15 quintal cooking oil.

PCC leaders Saeed Saudi, district presi-

Sawai Madhopur: A pregnant woman kept wandering for 3 hours in the Gangapur City in search of a hospital which would aid her in delivery of her baby.

Kavita Bairwa a resident of Garhi Sumail village reached Gangapur City Government Hospital with her family. However, the hospital administration said there was “no place”.

She, then visited 4 private hospitals. But everyone stepped back after a case of Corona virus positive turned out in Garhi Sumail village.

After that, they sought help from the police who had her admitted in government hospital.

Sachin Pilot

dent Lakshman Gaata and chairman of municipal council Ali Ahmed thanked Pilot.

The PCC chief said that every state and district has different situations. Corona patients have been increasing in the country but we will be able to overcome “We implemented modified lockdown. More than eight lakh people have been given employment in MNREGA,” he said.

plasma. Dr Sharma sums up the story with few figures, He puts forth 79000 tests and 493 recovered patients with 198 discharged cases. He also says that the death rate in Rajasthan at 1.43 is way better than the national average of 3.18.

Jaipur: 3 deaths were reported on Saturday one each from Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota taking the total corona death toll to 35 in the state. Jaipur has so far reported 19 corona deaths. The state reported 49 new cases in last 24 hours; 15 from Jaipur followed by Jodhpur 10, Ajmer 6, Kota & Jhalawar 5 each, Dholpur & Bharatpur 2 each and one each in Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Jhunjhunu, and Rajsamand.

10 new cases in Jaipur were from Ramganj, 3 from Shahstri Nagar and one case each from RD Hostel and Agra road. State tested 78993 samples so far, out of which 71806 were negative while reports for

Earthen wares under lock and key with no way for the traders to sell them, the season for the sale of these hand made goods is here but there is no business. —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

5104 samples is awaited.

As of Saturday night the state has 2083 corona positive cases with 792 cases in Jaipur followed

by Jodhpur 326, Kota 149, Tonk 115, Ajmer 112, Bharatpur 109, Nagaur 93, Banswara 61, Jhunjhunu 42, Bikaner 37, Jaisalmer 34, Bhilwara 33, Jhalawar 29, Dausa 21, Churu 14, Hanuman-

garh 10, Sawai Madhopur 8, Alwar 7, Dungarpur 6, Sikar & Udaipur 4 each, Karauli & Pali 3 each, Barmer, Pratapgarh and Dholpur with 2 cases each.

Chittorgarh & Rajsamand have entered the list of corona infected, making 28 out of 33 districts officially corona infected now.

MLAs submit demands to Centre team First India News Jaipur: The central team is on a three day tour of Jaipur to monitor Covid-9 preparedness. Both Congress and BJP MLAs met the team and not only apprised it of the ground situation but also gave their suggestions to improve the situation. Congress delegation consisting of Dr Mahesh Joshi, Pratap Singh Kahchariyawas, Rafeek Khan, Lalchand

BJP leaders apprising the team from centre of the situation in state.

Kataria, Ameen Kagji and Ganga Devi handed over a 11 point demand letter to the team. Con-

gress MLAs demanded special relief package for state, incentives for start ups, financial autonomy

and special package for corona warriors and Farmers among other things. Congress also complained about attempt by BJP to communalise the situation in city despite PM’s appeal not to do so. BJP MLAs led by state chief Satish Poonia mainly demanded sealing of Ramganj and shifting the quarantine centers elsewhere.

They also asked for shifting Covid facilities from Jaipuria hospital.

PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

AKSHAY TRITIYA, WEDDINGS LOSE GLITTER TO COVID

FORTHRIGHT GLIMPSE OF THE FATHER-SON BOND K NATWAR SINGH

A

head of Akshay Tritiya on Sunday, April 26, prices of 24 carat gold surged to Rs 45,610 per 10 gm. Last week the prices had touched Rs 46,785 per 10 gm.

The day is considered auspicious for purchasing gold, though people also buy other precious metals too. With shops being closed due to the coronavirus fear, direct sales of the yellow metal will not be possible, hence the sentiment remains muted.

Banks and digital wallets, however, do not want to let go of the opportunity and are pitching for online sales of gold certificates and coins. Those keen on making a purchase on the auspicious day may also opt for gold exchange traded funds on offer. With the pandemic battering the global economy, investing in gold offers the best bet in uncertain times.

How much gold will sell online this Sunday may be difficult to quantify at this point in time. What one can say is that online offers may not enthuse buyers due to the risk of being duped. Gold ETF and certificates are safer investment options. Also, the Indian gold buyer wants to feel the yellow metal and see its glitter before opening his purse strings. In that respect demand for gold may remain low unlike previous years.

The other factor that may affect gold sales on Sunday is the cancellation/postponement of the big fat Indian weddings, as they say, across the country due to lockdown restrictions of social distancing and wearing of masks. With an estimated 12 million weddings taking place in the country every year the wedding seasons, unfailingly, see a spurt in demand for gold and precious gems. With one report saying that 45 per cent to 80 per cent weddings were either getting postponed or cancelled one can imagine the setback to gold buying spree. Wedding planners, hotels, caterers fear that the situation could only get worse. With Delhi, Rajasthan, Kerala and other states banning public gatherings of more than 50, weddings scheduled for April-May were affected. In Rajasthan about 20,000 weddings have been either postponed or cancelled. For Rajasthan it is a huge loss as it is one of the top wedding destinations in the country.

Some of the weddings are being rescheduled for June but, with the situation being fluid, nothing can be assured. Several couples-to-be have opted for quiet, unostentatious weddings.

The tech savvy ones not willing to delay the nuptials are taking their sacred vows in the virtual world with apps like Zoom, YouTube and Google Hangout helping friends and relatives to join in sans, of course, the feasting, cocktails and splurging of lakhs of rupees.

There are unscrupulous elements waiting to exploit the lockdown curbs. In Rajasthan, where over 89 per cent child marriages take place in rural areas, authorities are especially vigilant to ensure that no such illegal wedding takes place.

The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

A

Broadly speaking, philosophers are reputed to be lacking in humor.

Radhakrishnan was an exceptionally witty man. The King of Greece came to India on a state visit.

President Radhakrishnan (He had succeeded DR. Rajendra Prasad) welcomed him at Palam airport. “Your Majesty. You are the first King of Greece to come to India on the invitation.

Alexander the Great came uninvited.”

mong the very best autobiographies written in the twentiethcentury was S. Gopal’s of his father, Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. Like his father, Gopal wrote great English. In the last paragraph of the first page, he gives the reader a forthright glimpse of the father-son bond. He wrote: “This is a son’s book. The relation between my father and me was closer and more continuous than is usual, in this age, between parents and children and they brought with it, at times, obscure pain on both sides. Such close association enables me to be witness to a great deal in the later years that has been recounted here. But I have tried not to be swayed by personal affection and have shirked nothing.”

About Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan’s date of birth, there has been confusion. The official version is that he was born on 5th September 1688, the second son of Brahmin parents, Sarvapalli Veeraswami and Sitamma. Radhakrishnan himself thought that he came into the world on 20th September 1887. I can think of no son of Indian writing that there is “the doubt whether Veeraswami was his father…..credence is lent to the story by the difficulty in believing that Radhakrishnan and his four brothers and sister belonged to the same genetic pool, both suggested that Radhakrishnan belonged to a different stock.”

Dr. Radhakrishnan, himself was exceptionally reticent about his private life. In “Fragments of a Confession”, there is a short paragraph in which he writes, “In the present account it is not my intention to speak of my personal life, my parents and ancestors, my marriage and family, my likes and dislikes, my struggles and disappointments. No particular good fortune has lifted me above the sphere in which our common humanity struggles along, and I have had my own share of the burdens and anxieties of life.

Although these are of immense importance to me, discretion forbids me to speak of them.

Besides, they are of no particular interest to the philosophical public, who may wish to know my ideas and the process of thought which led up to them.”

When I joined IFS in 1953, S Gopal, Dr. Radhkrishnan Son, was Director of the Historical Division of the Ministry. As a part of their training probationers were required to spend a week in various divisions of the Ministry including Historical Division. Gopal welcomed me in a non- bureaucratic manner. He asked about my family, my academic record. Being an oxford man, he humorously pulled my leg for going to the “other place”, Cambridge, when I told him that I had got to know EM Forster well at Cambridge, Gopal enquired what I thought of the “A Passage to India”. I do not recollect my answer but Gopal’s attitude became even more benign.

Before leaving for Peking – my first post, I asked Gopal, “What books should I read in China?” His answer was that few books on China are available in Delhi. “See if you can find Edgar Snows, “Red Star Over China”. No book shop in Delhi had the book. On my way to Peking in July 1956, I bought a copy in Hong Kong.

One of the highs of my stay in China was Vice President

ONE OF THE HIGHS OF MY STAY IN CHINA WAS VICE PRESIDENT DR. RADHAKRISHNAN’S VISIT TO CHINA IN SEPTEMBER 1957.

GOPAL ACCOMPANIED HIS FATHER

Dr. Radhakrishnan’s visit to China in September 1957. Gopal accompanied his father.

Chairman Mao Tse Tung received him in the courtyard of his house which was situated in Chungnanhai, the most exclusive part of Peking and the most well guarded. The members of the Political Bureau lived there. No one else.

After shaking hands with Chairman Mao, Radhakrishnan did the unthinkable. He patted on his left cheek. The Chairman was taken aback. No one had ever taken such a liberty with the great helmsman. Everyone present, including Prime Minister Chou En-Lai The Indian side, was actually embarrassed.

I was one of them. Without belting an eyelid, the Vice President of India said, “Mr. Chairman, don’t be alarmed, I did the same

Has the pandemic temporarily stalled air travel?

A

irlines face an unprecedented international crisis in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The International Air Transport Association estimates that the global industry will lose $252 billion in 2020. Many airlines are cutting up to 90% of their flight capacity. On March 1, more than two million people in the United States were flying per day. A month on, fewer than 100,000 people are going through airport security daily.

Some climate activists have welcomed the emptied skies, pointing to the dramatic fall in carbon emissions. But others worry that the bounce back and attempts to take back some of the losses might mean that an opportunity for fundamental, sustained

04

change may be missed.

In the United States, a federal government $50-billion bailout fund – part of which will fund cash grants going towards airline workers, and the other part loans for the airlines themselves – was rolled out piecemeal in March, with revisions announced on April 14.

More than 200 airlines applied. American Airlines will get $5.8 billion, Delta $5.4 billion, and Southwest $3.2 billion, among others. US President Donald Trump stated that the airline bailout was needed to return the industry to “good shape” and was “not caused by them”.

Another US$4 billion is available for cargo airlines and US$3 for contractors.

In the United Kingdom, it was initially announced that no industry-wide bailout would be offered.

The survival of the global industry therefore depends on bailouts, not only to keep airlines afloat but also for the wider travel and leisure ecosystem

Instead, the industry would have to rely on broader aid packages covering 80% of salaries – below a cap – for furloughed employees. But subsequently, the government quickly gave easyJet a £600 million loan. Flybe, a smaller regional or “secondary” airline with pre-crisis financial issues, was not bailed out and collapsed. Many money-making routes Flybe ran have since been picked up by others.

Continental Europe is in worse shape. Italy has renationalised Alitalia, forming a new state-owned entity and investing US$650 million. France has indicated it will do whatever it takes to bailout Air France/KLM – France owns 15% and Netherlands 13% – with a possible $6.5 billionbailout package.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Qantas secured a $660 million loan. Debtladen Virgin Australia, meanwhile, was denied a

$880 million and has subsequently plunged into voluntary administration. Singapore Airlines, however, got a $13 billion aid package.

The airline industry has faced many crises before – 9/11 and the 2010 Icelandic volcano eruption, for example. But these pale in comparison to the economic hit that airlines are currently facing. Some are asking: can it recover? Is this an economic crisis that could reshape how we travel and

live? Or will it turn out to be more of a pause, before returning to business as usual? And what role does the climate crisis play in all this – how will sustainability figure in any rebooting of the industry going forward?

We are all experts in the airline industry. Darren Ellis, Lecturer in Air Transport Management, considers these questions first, looking at the industry’s structure and response. Jorge Guira, Associate Professor in Law and Finance, then explores bailout options and likely future scenarios for the industry. Finally, Roger Tyers, Research Fellow in Environmental Sociology, considers how the industry might just be at a turning point in terms of how it tackles climate change.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.THECONVERSATION.COM

thing to Stalin and the Pope.”

Tensions melted away to everyone’s relief.

Broadly speaking, philosophers are reputed to be lacking in humor. Radhakrishnan was an exceptionally witty man. The King of Greece came to India on a state visit.

President Radhakrishnan (He had succeeded DR. Rajendra Prasad) welcomed him at Palam airport. “Your Majesty. You are the first King of Greece to come to India on the invitation. Alexander the Great came uninvited.”

During the war against China in 1962 US Ambassador Ken Gelbraith asked the President whether Lt. General BM. Kaul had been taken prisoner by the Chinese. The answer was “It is unfortunately untrue.” General Kaul’s performance during the Sino-India conflict was an unmitigated disaster.

In June 1961 I had an appendicitis operation in the Safdurjung Hospital. Gopal somehow got to know. On the second day, I heard a lot of commotion in the corridor leading to my room. The door of my room was suddenly opened. Who had opened it, the doctor who had operated me? In walked the President of India, followed by S. Gopal, “What have you done to yourself, Natwar Singh. Get well soon”. I was then a thirtyone year old Under Secretary.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Amazed by the support pouring in from our citizens in the battle against #Covid19. Numismatist, Debiprasad Mangaraj’s decision to auction his years of hard work for the country is commendable. With such firm resolve of our people, India is bound to win. #IndiaFightsCorona Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Coach Building Back on Track: Taking precautions & following guidelines as per MHA orders, coach building work has resumed at Kapurthala Railway Coach Factory. Working in shifts to increase freight transportation, Railways staff has produced 2 parcel coaches during last two days

Spiritual SPEAK

Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely —Buddha find peace.

Vol 1 Issue No. 319 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

CORONA SCARE : TO OPEN OR NOT TO OPEN

States in dilemma over Centre’s order on shops

With Union government’s order allowing standalone shops to open, it is the states, who have to take a final call to implement the order New Delhi: In national capital where all districts have been categorized as hotspots, the government is expected to have a review meeting before taking the final call. According to a senior Delhi government official, the state government will first ‘study’ the order and go through ground reports before taking a final decision.

“The situation is different here; all our districts are currently under the hotspot category and we don’t want to take any decision hurriedly. The decision can be expected within a day or two,” the official, who asked not to be named, informed.

In Maharashtra, which has recorded most number of COVID-19 cases and deaths,

RELAXATION

A deserted view of closed shops at Connaught Place during a government-imposed lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in New Delhi on Saturday.

over 1.40 million shops and establishments are raring to get down to business after the Centre relaxed the norms, a top official said on Saturday. These 1.40 million include more than

20 per cent, or around 3,00,000 in Mumbai alone, with the rest spread across the state, said Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) President Viren Shah.

“Now that the Centre’s directive has come, we are eagerly awaiting the State government’s green light to resume businesses, though we are aware that Mumbai and certain other parts

‘Allow to bring remains of Indians, who died of non-COVID ailments abroad’ New Delhi: Pravasi Legal Cell, an NGO, filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Saturday, seeking directions to the Central government to take appropriate steps to bring back the mortal remains of Indian citizens who died of non-COVID-19 ailments abroad.

The petition said that at this critical stage, the unusual process of demanding noobjection certificate by the authorities here in India makes the whole repatriation a tedious process. “As a result of this, a number of bodies of Indian citizens who died of non-COVID-19 aliments are lying abandoned at airports especially in countries like Bahrain,

has time and again held that the right to decent burial is a facet of right to life. It is also the Supreme Court, which had in many of its judgements held that the right to dignity and fair treatment under Article 21 of the Constitution of India is not only available to a living man, but also to his body after death,” the plea said.

It also sought appro-

Oman, Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia,” the petition said.

The plea said that this would clearly amount to the denial of repatriation of the body of Indian expatriate to the country for decent burial/cremation which is clearly in violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

“The Supreme Court

priate arrangement to rescue and bring the Indian migrants stranded in Gulf countries who are living in vulnerable conditions in labour accommodations.

The PLC, in its petition, sought a direction to Union of India to take appropriate measure to ensure that migrant workers experiencing symptoms have access to timely testing as absence of the same would result in high risk of transmission owing to the cramped conditions in which they reside.

It sought steps to ensure adequate food, medicines, quarantine & emergency service facilities to the needy in abroad. —ANI

Cabinet secy meeting ‘Use of rapid test kits with DGPs, Chief Secys postponed for now’ New Delhi: Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba is holding a meeting via video conferencing with Chief Secretaries and DGPs of states and other officials over public health response to COVID-19, resumption of economic activities as per MHA guidelines, issues of migrant labourers, and of Indians stranded abroad.

India’s total number of Coronavirus positive cases have risen to

24,506 including 18,668 active cases, 5063 cured/discharged/migrated and 775 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. —ANI

GADKARI UNDERGOES ANGIOPLASTY IN MAHARASHTRA HOSPITAL NAGPUR: Union minister Nitin Gadkari underwent angioplasty recently, a close aide told PTI on Saturday. He underwent the procedure at a private hospital here on Monday, the aide said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda were among those who called Gadkari and inquired about his health, he said.

New Delhi: The use of rapid test kits has been postponed for now, sources told while referring to the Union Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting that took place earlier in the day. Sources said it was agreed in the meeting that the COVID-19 situation in the country is under control and the steps taken by the government have shown positive results. “Therefore,

the use of rapid test kits has been postponed for now.” According to government, currently, the capacity is to conduct more than 15 lakh tests, said sources. Additionally, they said, several Indian companies are in the process of developing test kits. More than 1.25 lakh volunteers are ready to assist in the fight against COVID-19, according to sources.—ANI

TWO TERRORISTS, ASSOCIATE KILLED IN KASHMIR ENCOUNTER Srinagar: Two terrorists whose identity is being ascertained and a terrorist associate were killed in an encounter with security forces at Goripora village of Awantipora in South Kashmir’’s Pulwama district on Saturday morning. “Two unidentified terrorists and one hardcore associate of terrorists killed. Search is

still going on,” police said in a brief statement. This is the second encounter in less than 24 hours in south Kashmir.

of Maharashtra are the coronavirus hotspots,” Viren said.

However, with the Centre’s green light, it is the state and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) au-

thorities which are likely to make their stand clear later on Saturday after discussions at various levels.

However, Shah feels that those areas which are not much affected

NEPAL EXTENDS BAN ON FLIGHTS OPS TILL MAY 15 Kathmandu: Nepal extended ban on operation of domestic and international flights till May 15 in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli’s office announced. The decision was taken during the High-Level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 held at Singhadurbar as coronavirus cases in the Himalayan nation reaches 48.

The meeting led by committee chair Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel took place at the PMO.

by COVID-19 in Mumbai and other cities in the state may be opened after taking into account all other aspects such as containment efforts or social distancing norms, as advised

by the state health authorities.

In Gujarat too, the state government is yet to decide on the easing of restrictions. State Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Saturday that after considering the notification, a decision will be taken by the Gujarat government shortly to grant permission for any relaxation.

The dilemma continues in Himachal Pradesh also as authorities in the state said a decision is yet to be taken to reopen the shops providing nonessential goods and services across the state amid imposition of curfew as per the MHA’s order. The order needs review and clearance at a high level as the state is placed under curfew, an official said. —Agencies

COP DIES AFTER HIT BY BULLET FIRED FROM FRIEND’S PISTOL Bulandshahr: A Sub-Inspector (SI) died after he was allegedly hit by a bullet fired from his colleague’s pistol, police said. SSP Santosh Kumar Singh said that Sub-Inspector Bijendra Singh, who was deployed at BB Nagar police station, was hit by the bullet in his stomach and later succumbed to his injuries.

“Sub-Inspector Bijendra Singh was living in police quarter. SI Narendra Singh went to his room. A bullet was fired from Narendra’s pistol. Bijendra got bullet injuries in his stomach,” Singh said.

“Narendra along with another cop took Bijendra to a hospital. We traced Narendra Singh from on Hapur-Ghaziabad route.”

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Sonia writes to PM over MSME revival The government should announce a `1 lakh cr MSME Wage protection package, she said in the letter New Delhi: Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi has written a letter to PM Narendra Modi with five recommendations to help the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSME) sector amid the coronavirus pandemic. Mrs Gandhi said MSMEs contribute close to one-third to India’s gross domestic product (GDP) and account for almost 50 % of the country’s exports.

The sector also employs over 11 crore people. But the lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic has put most economic activities to a halt and over 6.3 crore

MSMEs “stand on the verge of economic ruin”, Mrs Gandhi said in the letter.

The Congress Chief recommended five steps that could be considered for helping the MSME sector. “First, announce

a Rs 1 Iakh crore MSME Wage Protection package. This would go a long way in shoring up these jobs, boosting morale as well as greatly alleviating the predicted economic spiral,”Mrs Gandhi said. Secondly, she said to establish and deploy a credit guarantee fund of Rs 1 lakh crore. This is necessary to provide immediate liquidity to the sector.

“Third, actions taken by RBI must get reflected in actions by commercial banks to ensure adequate, easy and timely credit supply to MSMEs. “Fourth, these meas-

ures need to be supported by an expansion & extension of RBI’s moratorium on payment of loans for MSME beyond the stipulated period of three months. The government should also explore a waiver/reduction of taxes for MSMEs and other sector specific measures.”

“Fifth, high collateral security is leading to denial of credit. Same is the case with limits on margin money being extremely high. These factors combine to ensure a lack of access to available credit for MSMEs and must be addressed,” Mrs Gandhi said.

IS JUSTICE DELIVERY SYSTEM NOT CRUCIAL? Many people have expressed concerns about the method of testing in UP. Transparency is a big thing in the fight against Covid-19. Society and the government together can defeat this epidemic. In this context, I am sharing some tips here.

—Priyanka Gandhi Cong General Secretary

New Delhi: Questioning why the delivery of justice should not be considered an essential service, Congress leader Kapil Sibal requested judiciary to consider the issue. “Are not judicial services essential in this country? Is not delivery of justice essential?

This cannot be decided by government because judiciary is an independent entity. I would request judiciary to de-

Kapil Sibal

cide that delivery of justice system is an essential service,”he said during an interaction with

journalists through vc.

Pointing to low prices of crude oil, the Congress leader asked the government why the benefits were not being passed on to the public.

“The prices of petrol have come to 20 dollar.

The Government is not giving anything to public in crisis. It is giving it to its companies. Government should tell why is it not passing on the benefit to public?”

Don’t think halting DA at this stage necessary: Dr Singh New Delhi: Former PM Manmohan Singh opposed the Central government’s decision to cut back hike in dearness allowance of government employees and pensioners. Singh said that he did not think that at this “stage such cuts

were necessary”.

In a video message released by the Congress, Manmohan Singh, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and several other top leaders slammed the govern-

FROM PG 1 Shops open,...

In Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday said that selected shops will open from Sunday.

The Ministry has also clarified that sale of liquor and other items continue to be prohibited as specified in the national directives for Covid-19 management.

The order further states, “It is clarified by the ministry that sale by e-commerce companies will continue to be permitted only for essential goods.”

All services, including public transport, schools, colleges and shopping malls, have been closed so as to stop the transmission of the highly contagious coronavirus. The Central government is gradually easing down the re-

strictions which have been put in place. A large number of people flocked to the local market in Bapuji Nagar and were seen violating the social distancing norms on Saturday. However, most of them were seen using masks and handkerchiefs to cover their faces as a precautionary measure against getting infected. —ANI

ment over its decision.

Singh said, “We should be on the side of people whose DA is being cut. I sincerely believe that it is not necessary that it is the stage to enforce hardship to government servants and armed forces personnel.”

Lisbon court rejects Abu Salem’s petition

The remarks of the Congress leaders came two days after the Central government decided to freeze payment of additional instalment of DA to all its employees and dearness relief (DR) to pensioners falling due from January 1, 2020.

‘Franklin Templeton winding up 6 schemes a matter of grave concern’ New Delhi: Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said that Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund’s decision to wind up six debt schemes was a matter of “grave concern”to the investors, mutual fund industry and the financial markets and urged the government to “resolve”the situation quickly.

“Fortunately, the markets will be closed today. I expect that the government will act promptly and resolve the situation quickly,”Chidambaram said in a statement.

“I recall that a similar situation arose in the first week of October 2008 (during the global financial crisis) when mutual funds faced liquidity stress.

Government immediately consulted RBI, SEBI, IBA, AMFI and others. An urgent meeting of the FSDC was convened and a solution was found by the end of the day,” he added.

“The next morning, officers of RBI and SEBI met and the RBI announced a 14-day special repo facility. The situation was resolved”.

His remarks came two days after Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund voluntarily decided to wind up its six debt schemes due to liquidity issues amid the

POWER Gallery SEVEN SECRETARIES IN GOI RETIRING THIS MONTH

Seven Secretaries in the GoI are retiring on April 30. They are Preety Sudan – Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Gopal Krishna – Secretary, Shipping, Sanjeevanee Kutty- Secretary, Ex-Serviceman Welfare, Dr Arun Kumar Panda - Secretary, MSME, Atanu Chakraborty - Secretary, Economic Affairs, Dr MM Kutty - Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas and Rabindra Panwar - Secretary, Women & Child Development.

KD TRIPATHI JOINS AS SECRETARY TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA

P Chidambaram

RAGA SPEAK

Kapil Dev Tripathi, Chairman, Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB), has taken over the charge as new Secretary to the President of India on April 25, 2020. He is a 1980 batch retired IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

14 IRS-C&CE OFFICERS OF 1994 BATCH EMPANELLED AS JOINT SECRETARY IN GOI

As many as 14 officers of 1994 batch belonging to Indian Revenue Service (C&CE) have been empanelled for holding Joint Secretary or equivalent posts in Government of India. The officers include: Manish Mohan Govil, KVVG Diwakar, Shafat Ahmad Usmani, Yashwant Lal Mahawar, Mihir Kumar, Neeraj Prasad, Engineer Kesavan, Nitish Birdi, Debashish Sahu, Gaurav Kumar, Manish Goyal, Ashir Tyagi, Peri Umasankar and Subhash Chandra Agarwal.

10 IRS-C&CE OFFICERS OF 1995 BATCH EMPANELLED AS JOINT SECRETARY IN GOI

As many as 10 officers of 1995 batch belonging to Indian Revenue Service (C&CE) have been empanelled for holding Joint Secretary or equivalent posts in Government of India. The officers include: Ravi Pratap Singh, Manish Saxena, Rajesh Kumar Mishra, MG Thamizh Valavan, BAV Srinivasa Rao, Upendra Singh Yadav, K Balaji Majumdar, Dhirendra Singh Garbyal, Anice Joseph Chandra and Venkat Reddy.

coronavirus crisis. The funds which will be shut are Franklin India Low Duration Fund, Ultra Short Bond Fund, Short Term Income Plan, Credit Risk Fund, Dynamic Accrual Fund, Income Opportunities Fund. —ANI

New CVC, Kothari takes charge while practicing social distancing

—PTI

New Delhi: A Lisbon court has dismissed the petition filed by underworld don Abu Salem, also an accused in the Mumbai blast case, where he alleged that his extradition conditions were violated by India.

Rejecting Salem’s petition, the court said that it lacks jurisdiction in the subject matter, the CBI officials said.

“The Lisbon Administrative Court Fifth Organic Unit has ruled that Lisbon administrative court lacks jurisdiction subject matter, as a subject matter relates to political and diplomatic nature and escapes the rule of judicial authority,”the CBI officials said. Hence, the petition of the accused was dismissed. —ANI

New Delhi: Sanjay Kothari took oath as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) on Saturday, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

“At a ceremony held today at 10.30 hrs at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Shri Sanjay Kothari was sworn in as the Central Vigilance Com-

missioner. He made and subscribed the oath of his office before the President,”the statement read.

Kothari has been the Secretary to the President and was earlier selected as the new Chief Vigilance Commissioner by a highpowered committee headed by Prime Minis-

ter Narendra Modi.

He was selected with majority votes.

CVC is the anti-corruption watchdog with autonomous status. It is free of control from any executive authority. It also has the responsibility of monitoring all vigilance activities in the central government. —ANI

students being taken home by various states, has been a major turnaround for Gehlot government which is now organizing trains and buses to fetch the stranded Rajasthanis.

The Chief Minister has asked officials to ensure proper testing, food and transport and if need be quarantine facilities for these individuals once they return back.

On Saturday Gehlot tweeted regarding stranded migrant labor-

ers saying, “In fight against Covid 19, whole nation stands united.

Government of India should show the same unity when it comes to issuing guide lines for the states irrespective of the party lineage of ruling parties in the states.

Since Day one I have been saying a strategy must be devised for a smooth movement of migrant workers stranded across the country, but unfortu-

nately there is no clarity on the same.”

In another tweet, the Rajasthan CM said, “Planned strategy with unified command structure of communication to the states can be more fruitful instead of unofficially communicating to different states by different officers such as MHA and Cabinet secretariat to facilitate movement of Students and Migrant workers - this is not a comprehensive solu-

tion for the migrant problem we are facing.

Only meticulously planned strategy with proper mode of commuting such as special trains to be run by GOI will solve the problem.”

Notably, on 27 April, CM Gehlot has a video conferencing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he will raise the issue of laborers in this VC vigorously. It is believed that Gehlot has started work on the action plan to bring

the migrant Rajasthanis home this month and happy news is coming soon.

Those Rajasthanis looking to return will have to register themselves on government’ website (emitra.rajasthan.gov.in) or through e-mitra mobile app or kiosk. After registration the Rajasthan government will get in touch with concerned state government for approval. If someone wants to return by their

‘Raj ready...

“A team of doctors is fully prepared for convalescent plasma therapy. The state government has written to the ICMR for permission.

Treatment through plasma therapy can be started as soon as the permission is received,” Sharma said, adding the therapy can be used to treat severe or stage-two patients.

06

TWO IRS-C&CE OFFICERS OF 1996 BATCH EMPANELLED AS JOINT SECRETARY IN GOI

Two officers of 1996 batch belonging to Indian Revenue Service (C&CE): Deepankar Aron and Limatula Yaden have been empanelled for holding Joint Secretary or equivalent posts in Government of India.

ASHISH GUPTA EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI

Ashish Gupta has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary and Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government of India. He is a 1989 batch IPS officer of UP cadre.

SADANAND VASANT DATE EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI

Sadanand Vasant Date has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary and Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government of India. He is a 1990 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

SUNIL SHREEKRISHNA DADHE EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI

Sunil Shreekrishna Dadhe has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary and Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government of India. He is a 1988 batch IA&AS officer.

Prez Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to CVC, Sanjay Kothari at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

SUBIR MALLICK EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI

Subir Mallick has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary and Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government of India. He is a 1989 batch IA&AS officer.

ANAND MOHAN BAJAJ EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI

Anand Mohan Bajaj has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary and Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government of India.

He is a 1990 batch IA&AS officer.

FROM PG 1 Concerned CM... by also instructing the bureaucracy to keep constant talks open between their counterparts in other states, the foremost challenge faced by Gehlot government has been of permission from the state where the Rajasthanis are currently stranded.

Unless the other state does not permit the stranded individuals, they can not be brought home. However, the recent incident of Kota

own car, they will have to mention during the registration.

Passes will be issued to those looking to leave Rajasthan for their home states.

India records... which were identified earlier, have already started producing PPE kits and masks, and that an adequate quantity of the same was available.

“As on date, more than one lakh PPE kits

and N95 masks are being manufactured every day in the country.

There are, at present, 104 domestic manufacturers of PPE and three of N95 masks in the country,” the ministry said in a statement.

In addition, production of ventilators vide domestic manufacturers has also started and orders have been placed for more than 59,000 units through nine manufacturers, it added.

Greetings on the auspicious occassion of Akshya Tritya. May this day ‘signal’’ the ‘end of Corona’ and bring good health and prosperity to all.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

POSTAL REG NO. JPC/010/2019-21

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CORPORATE COULD RECEIVE RS 8L CR PACKAGE he nation’s economy has take a severe blow as a result of the lockdown due to Corona and the Modi government is also keeping a sharp eye on it. As a measure of damage control, a 30 per cent deduction has been done in the salaries of government employees while the revenue department has released a notification saying that till April 2021, every month all the employees of the department will deposit their one day’s salary in the Prime Minister Relief Fund. Moreover DA has been freezed till April next year. If the claims of the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, supported by the RSS, are to be believed, then from now there will be no increment and only 35 per cent employees will work in one shift. According to an estimate, with the deduction in salary and freezing of DA will save almost Rs 3 lakh crore. India’s corporate sector has been demanding Rs 15 lakh crore package and it is believed that the finance ministry is mulling over the demand

T

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

with utmost sympathy.

So it is possible that the corporate world could get package of Rs 7-8 lakh crore.

GOVT SURPRISED ON PK’S FLIGHT! ust before lockdown when Prashant Kishor received an urgent call from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee calling him to Kolkata, however at that time PK was stuck in the lockdown. The central agencies were surprised as to how within a few day of the call, PK managed to reach Kolkata. A newspaper carried that PK reached the city of Joy in a Cargo airliner, based on which the central government sought a report from DGCA and BCAS and in a haste all the footage from Kolkata and Delhi were searched but the investigating agencies did not find success.

PK has been claiming that he did not take any flight after March 19, but the question still remains as to how did he reach Kolkata amid lockdown? PK prefers to stay silent over this point.

Since the news has come that Mamata has been hiding the true number

J

Narendra Modi

Rahul Gandhi

Prashant Kishor

Akhilesh Yadav

of Corona patients, the Centre has taken a stern stance. On April 19, the Home Ministry sent two teams to Bengal since the Central Government had received intel that Corona is spreading fast in Kolkata, Hawra, Medinipur, 24 Pargana, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and North Darjeeling but the state government is hiding the facts related to it.

PK has a good grasp over the health sector and it is possible that Mamata wanted to hold an important discussion with him on Corona.

RAHUL ON TARGET

BY HIS OWN nowingly or unknowingly Rahul Gandhi manages to get media attention. The recent incident pertains to his tweet on the slashed prices of crude oil. Rahul had tweeted that while crude oil prices had gone down below zero in international market yet the prices in India are not going down. Even before BJP could post its reply, Congress leader Milind Deora tweeted that India imports Brent Crude

and not WTI crude, which had gone below zero dollars. But when BJP presented both the tweets, it created a ruffle in RG camp. When the matter gained momentum, Milind Deora clarified that he had tweeted two hours prior to Rahul Gandhi’s tweet and it was the fault of Rahul’s social media team that did not pay attention to Deora’s tweet. However, everyone knows this is the same Milind Deora who had appreciated ‘Howdy Modi’ program in Houston.

5K RUPEE MASK ince the time PM Modi addressed nation wearing desi mask, its popularity has gained momentum. Since these masks are not available at general chemist, BJP workers are contacting cloth shops. But shops are closed due to lockdown, so these masks are being purchased in black. The price of a mask fluctuates between Rs 10-250, price of desi mask is literally touching the sky. BJP workers are ready to pay anywhere between Rs1 to 5

K

Pregnant women will face no difficulties during delivery, assures CM First India News

—FILE PHOTO

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

CORONA REACHES CHITTORGARH

thorities have gathered details of delivery date of women across all districts and accordingly

LOCKDOWN COULD BE LIFTED n this time of global pandemic, Indian economy has slowed down to the extent that experts feel govt will not have any option than to lift lockdown. Sources reveal that even if lockdown is removed, situation could remain same in hotspot areas. Stern directions could also be issued if lockdown is removed under which wearing masks will be compulsory and pangutkha could be banned.

A report has surfaced which revealed that after lockdown is lifted, a jump in petty crimes could be witnessed. The report says that when there will be large scale unemployment, people would prefer going to jail than to die of hunger.

I

Committed govt ensures smooth delivery for moms Jaipur: Holding a high level meeting on Saturday at CMR, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot stressed on his government’s commitment to stop domestic violence against women in state. Gehlot said that women facing domestic violence or any other abuses could register their complaint on 1090 Garima Helpline and help would be provided to them without delay.

Always ready to take steps necessary for betterment of women, the concerned Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure pregnant women do not face any problem in getting treatment. “State government has made all necessary arrangements to ensure pregnant women do not go through trouble. Au-

thousand. The power brokers are also minting this opportunity as they are now getting orders for these masks with favoured companies.

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

arrangements have been made,” he said.

CM further added, “in this ongoing lock-

down, not only are women looking after their families, they are also carrying out their duty as corona warriors being doctors, nurses, teacher, cleanliness worker, administrative official and in other fields as well.

State government will leave no stone unturned in carrying out its responsibilities towards the women in state.”

Online hearing adjourned as lawyer shows up in vest Jaipur: A Rajasthan High Court lawyer appeared in an online bail hearing in vest, drawing the ire of a judge. Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma of the high court’s Jaipur bench criticised the lawyer for not appearing in proper uniform during the hearing via VC. Lawyer Ravindra Kumar Paliwal was appearing for accused Lalram, according to the court order. The judge wanted to dismiss the bail plea, but later accepted the public prosecutor’s request to not punish the accused for aberration on part of defence lawyer and postponed hearing to May 5. “This court has already observed that during this pandemic where court functioning is being done through VC, lawyers must appear in proper uniform... keeping in view that the petitioner’s counsel was not in proper uniform, the matter is adjourned,” the court said.

S

MARTYRDOM ON DEATH DUE TO CORONA wo youth leaders Akhilesh Yadv and Tejavi Yadav keep their

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08

presence registered by tweeting something or the other during the lockdown. Tejasvi is in Delhi due to some personal reason while Akhilesh is in Lucknow. A recent tweet

by Akhilesh caused concern in his party when he demanded martyr status for those who die of Corona. At that time it was searched as to who is Akhilesh’s adviser these days and it was Ali Khan Mahamoodabad, Raja Mahmoodabad’s grandson (Raja Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan), who has returned after finishing studies from Cambridge and is associated with Shia community. Raja Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan, had chosen Pakistani citizenship thinking that Jinnah will appoint him high commissioner in London, but Jinnah did not do any such thing and so he chose to stay in London. His grandson is now told to be Akhilesh’s main adviser and it is said that after his advice, Akhilesh demanded the martyr status.

The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal

‘Raj successful till now, but lockdown not a solution’ First India News Jaipur: Reiterating that the average infection rate in Rajasthan has gone down in the past seven days, Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma said that although hotspots are fast coming up in state and they also pose the biggest challenge before the government, but “Rajasthan has been successfull till now in containing the spread from hotspots. It is a good thing that the average infection rate has gone down,” he said.

Talking to First India, the senior Congress leader and CM Ashok Gehlot’s ‘deputy’ in this War on Corona, Dr Sharma said that government has provided ration to nearly a crore people under the BPL category. “78 lakh people were given pension of two months and Rs 2,500 have been transferred to accounts of 31 lakh labourers. We

Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma

—FILE PHOTO

“Lockdown is not a permanent solution for this problem. How long can we all be inside the houses. It will be around forty days by May 3 and we will have to think of some other strategy.

—Dr Raghu Sharma, Health Minister

held a survey through Collectors which revealed laborers that did not fall uner any beneficial scheme, but we included them. Most tests in country were conducted in Rajasthan and we have prepared one lakh quarantine beds in state,” he said.

Stressing the CM Ashok Gehlot has been personally moni-

toring the entire work, Sharma said that state government’s efforts resulted in Bhilwara becoming Corona free.

“Lockdown is not a permanent solution for this problem. How long can we all be inside the houses. It will be around forty days by May 3 and we will have to think of some other strategy,” the health minister said.

Churu cops keep residents motivated CS apprises cabinet secy of migrant with Facebook live sessions by experts situation, demands financial package Churu: After a man committed suicide here fearing that he contracted coronavirus, the Churu Police has started an initiative to create a feeling of togetherness and keep people motivated during the lockdown by connecting them with motivational speakers, artistes, celebrities and experts from different fields through social media.

Apart from scheduling live sessions of TV actors, motivational speakers and theatre personalities in the series, the Churu Police is also planning to invite Bollywood actresses like Mahima Chaudhary and Lara Dutta, and Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa.

“People are getting emotionally depressed during the lockdown period and it is very important

Tejaswini Gautam

to keep them motivated. Positivity in society also helps in good policing therefore, we arranged live ses-

sions of various celebrities and experts on the Churu Police’s Facebook page,” Churu SP Tejaswini Gautam said. The initiative, supported by Samriti and Filmsthan organisations, started with Churu Collector Sandesh Nayak’s session which was followed by the live session of javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia on April 20. —PTI

Dr Rituraj Sharma Jaipur: Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba held VC with chief secretaries of all the states and union territories on Saturday to review the implementation of lockdown restrictions and resumptions of economic activities as per Centre’s guidelines. Gauba emphasised on an effective containment strategy to be adopted by all to

contain spread of corona. He said that strong action on surveillance front and aggressive testing is required.

CS DB Gupta apprised him about departure of migrant workers and withdrawal of students by various state governments. He said that in past, roadways buses had been provided to ferry migrant workers but after instructions

CS DB Gupta

from the Centre, they were stopped. Gupta said that CM Gehlot has already called for clear specifications to send

students and migrant workers to their homes.

CS also demanded financial package for state citing arrangements of shelter, food and other things for migrant workers. He also informed about resumption of economic activities as per union home ministry’s guidelines outside municipal areas and allowing industry which have provision for keeping workers in the premises.

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JAIPUR, SUNDAY APRIL 26, 2020

STUDY,

WHENEVER-WHEREVER SINGER SHAKIRA HAS USED HER TIME DURING THE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE COURSE IN ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

W

ith the Lockdown, online courses have become hugely popular and students are continuing their studies through these classes from the safety of their homes.

Global superstar Shakira is also keeping up with her schoolwork at home, as she celebrated her graduation from a Penn course on Thursday. Shakira took to Instagram and Twitter to share a photo of her Coursera certificate of completion awarded to her after four weeks of taking Ancient Philosophy: Plato and His Predecessors, taught by Philosophy professor and undergraduate chair Susan Sauvé Meyer. “ just graduated from my 4-week Ancient Philosophy course with the University of Pennsylvania (@ Penn). I know... my hobbies are very impractical, but it took a lot of hours after the kids were asleep.

Thank you, Plato and predecessors, for all the “fun” over the past month,” she posted. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira is a hugely popular Colombian pop singer who is known for the hits ‘Whenever, Wherever’ and ‘Hips Don’t Lie’. Shakira is the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, with estimates of more than 70 million albums sold worldwide. Additionally, she has served as a judge on the popular singingcompetition show ‘The Voice’.

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia.

With a Lebanese father and Colombian mother, Shakira honors both her Latino and Arabic heritage in her music.

She wrote her first song at the age of 8 and signed her

Shakira with Gerard Piqué

Her Certificate

first record deal at 13. By 2012, Shakira’s U.S. album sales had reached nearly 10 million and her worldwide album sales had reached more than 70 million, making her the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, and the second most successful female Latin singer after Gloria Estefan.

Outside of her busy career, Shakira created the Pies Descalzos

Foundation to help children in her native Colombia receive a quality education. She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and was honored by the United Nations’ International Labor Organization for her philanthropic efforts in 2010. Shakira is in a relationship with Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué. The couple welcomed their first child together on January 22, 2013. They named their son Milan, which means ‘dear, loving and gracious’ in Slavic; ‘eager and laborious’ in Ancient Roman; and ‘unification’ in Sanskrit, according to a statement on Shakira’s website. In August 2014, the couple announced she was pregnant again. Their second son, Sasha, was born on January 29, 2015.

Shakira

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JAIPUR | SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020

A quick overview of the current situation of the world, and how it all started

lion CIVILIANS! So can the pot call the kettle black?

SURELY NOT! This is just not the time for blamegames to distract world attention from the gross negligence of one (CHINA) and the inept handling of the situation by the other (USA).

Top world leaders cannot afford a dilemma. There is only ONE OPTION: cooperate with all to find a cure for this disease and return to normalcy. As many future inquests will surely unravel, China will be found to have caused the outbreak, intentionally or by accident. Either way, it is an inexcusable act and China will have to make good the loss to the world in its fullest capacity. Loss of lives will forever remain a stigma and a constant reminder to the Big Boys not to indulge in activities that can end human existence.

But NOW, at a time when the world needs a coordinated global response, both US and China cannot be trusted to lead the response. The world will need to navigate between them and find a way. When the USA walked out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement the world found a way! Trump is withholding funds for the WHO, the world will still find a way. USA and CHINA must stop flexing their muscles and STEP BACK from trying to tear down each other. The world has to exist, not become a victim to the egos of two demagogues.

RAINU SINGH

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

A

FA CE OF TH ED AY

common man around the world lives in blissful ignorance about the endless battle for power and horrific ‘experiments’ that are constantly conducted in top-secret labs and Military arenas of the so-called ‘powerful nations’.

Probably one such ‘experiment’ went terribly wrong in China, and has now engulfed the world in an incurable disease (so far), and caused the biggest economic loss in human history; and it is only in its third month, with some scientists predicting its end by 2021, at the earliest!

Similarly, near to the middle of the 20th Century, Atom Bombs were being assembled in the land of the ‘Moral leader of the Free World’. Two of those bombs were infamously called ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Boy’ in cruel cynicism.

The ‘Boys’ destroyed two cities and killed or maimed half a mil-

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Financially you are doing very well and good opportunities keep knocking at your door. You are big time into mediation and yoga or any kind of exercises that keeps you stress free. Your family may put some pressure on you for some outing when you want to relax.

Your ideas will be appreciated and will be taken into consideration on professional front. You will find yourself very busy in doing preparation for some social event or function. On academic front, there is not scope of mistakes so make sure you are fully ready.

On family front, you are blessed with a very understanding family and they stand by your side no matter what. This is an excellent time for you to pursue higher studies, all your planets are very supportive.

Keeping your ego aside you must resolve any issues with your friends.

On professional front, your consistent efforts will surely help you in building an image that will help you in long run. If you want your big dreams to come true then you must start saving right away. You are in love and everything seems to be beautiful.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You will keep smiling whole day long. You may get some money in form of blessing from elders. You may feel neglected by your lover but that not true, there may be other reasons that is keeping him/her busy.

You may decide to get into some creative business.

You will pay off all your debts. You may think you are doing right but that may be not justified from someone else’s point of view therefore analyse thing from all the angles. You may redo your house interiors. You will manage to impress your interviewer today.

Homemakers will do everything in their best capacity to take great care of the guests. You may get a gift in form of a vehicle could be from family or company you work for. If you are attracted to someone you must be able to express your feelings to them.

You will attract big money in your life and with the money will come big opportunities as well. You may just decide to make your hobby as your career. You must try and adopt methods which will help you to be in positive frame of mind all the time.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Your love life will bloom and you two may get married when the right time comes.

On professional front, someone will appreciate you for all your hard work and these words will boost your professional image. Your friends will bring lots of fun and excitement to you today.

You will make a major contribution in office today in turning the work environment into more friendly one. Your friends may surprise you with some trip or a special day out. Your efforts to make peace in your relationship won’t get wasted.

You will create your own way to success and no matter how many hurdles you will need to overcome, you will deal with them all. You may sell your property to invest the money in some other business or to help your kids with education. Your hard work will pay you at the right time.

Money is floating in the air all you need is a way to attract that money. People look up to you on professional front because of your dedication and sincerity. Do not compromise when things come to your self respect, take a stand for yourself.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

SHAURYA SANADHYA, Influencer

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DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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JAIPUR | SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020

11

Hacked!

U

Arijit Singh

QUARANTINE BIRTHDAY!

A

rijit Singh, who has given many hit songs in Bollywood and singles, celebrated his 33rd birthday on 25 April, Saturday. Singh is one of the most popular playback singers in the current age. Having shot to limelight with the romantic track ‘Tum Hi Ho’ from the movie Aashiqui 2, Arijit Singh is now irreplaceable in the industry. On his birthday, Singh was overwhelmed by the wishes and prayers poured in by celebs and fans.

rvashi Rautela’s Facebook account has been hacked, the actress informed on Twitter. She warned fans not to respond to posts originating from her Facebook account.

“My Facebook has been hacked please don’t respond to any messages or post as it is not done by me or my team @Facebook @facebookapp,” the actress tweeted.

Urvashi realised that her Facebook has been hacked when a few posts, comprising pornographic content, started originating from the account.

Mumbai Police have informed Urvashi that they have acted on the issue, and a complaint has been registered with the cyber police cell.

“We have forwarded your complaint to Cyber police station,” Mumbai Police informed Urvashi on Twitter.

Former beauty queen Urvashi Rautela is a social media sensation. She enjoys a huge fan base on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter among others.

On the work front, ‘Beat pe thumka’ a peppy wedding number featuring Urvashi Rautela has just been released. The song is from her upcoming comedy flick ‘Virgin Bhanupriya’.

—IANS

Urvashi Rautela

FOUND NEW

LOVE!

E Kylie Jenner

Jenner’s natural habitat!

R

eality TV personality Kylie Jenner shared a hilarious video where she pranks her mother Kris Jenner while she is napping. “Guys you’re not going to believe this. I found a Kris Jenner in her natural habitat,” Kylie said as quietly while the camera panning at Kris who was sleeping.

She then

made some highpitched screams, prompting Kris to wake up. “Are you serious? It takes you that long to wake up?”

Kylie screamed. “You guys are crazy,” Kris said to Kylie and one of her friends.

—IANS

lnaaz Norouzi of ‘Sacred Games’ fame is in love with nature and spending more time with plants these days.

She has taken to a new routine that is focused on gardening during the quarantine.

Elnaaz has a wide knowledge of plants and she is using it now while being locked down in Germany.

“I just love plants.

I think it’s in my f a m i l y, my aunt and my

mom love gardening! So I guess that’s where it is coming from, and now that I have so much time I thought I’d take up gardening,” she said.

“It’s amazing. I get into a state of flow sometimes and forget everything around me, maybe I can find a way to continue having lots of plants around me when I’m back in India,” she added and urge everyone to “abide by the protocols set during the lockdown and let’s all try to look at positives from it.”

—IANS

Kris and Kylie Jenner

Elnaaz Norouzi

THINGS WILL CHANGE!

T

Taapsee Pannu

aapsee Pannu, who is on a photo-sharing spree these days, shared an exquisite throwback picture from her trip to Rome. Reminiscing about her vaca-

tion in her latest throwback post on Instagram, the actor wrote: “One of those trips I just decided to take very impulsively.

Rome. Was in my list since long time.”

“I love seeing places which should either have a beach, crystal

...her Instagram post

blue water n good restaurants or should have a lot of history to know n study about and have a lot of good restaurants,” the caption read. “Basically good restaurants are the basic common key here,” the 32-year-old wrote.

She also mentioned her interest in using the ‘local apps’ to find her ‘local transports and restaurants to dine in’. “Quaint cafes which make u pause,” she added.

Lately, she has been sharing many throwback pictures.

—ANI

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JAIPUR | SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020

On Akha Teej, City First talks to some of them in the pipeline wedding couples who are wither waiting for the lockdown to end so that they can tie the lifetime bond CITY FIRST JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

A

kha Teej is considered auspicious if it falls on the Rohini Nakshatra day. Akha Teej and Parashurama Jayanti occur on the same day.

Parshurama Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Parashurama, who is considered as the 6th incarnation of God Vishnu. For Jains, Akshaya Tritiya observes the ending of a year fast by Tirthankara Rishabha by taking the juice of Sugarcane.

The word ‘Akshaya’ means the never diminishing and the festival is believed to bring good fortune, prosperity, wealth, and success. As per scriptures, the good effect of auspicious activities done on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya never gets finished, and you enjoy them for the lives to come, which is why it is a very popular day for solemnising of weddings.

With the Lockdown in place lakhs of weddings to be held across India have been put on hold. Many have opted to conduct very simple weddings with just family in attendance while more have decided to wait out the lockdown and have the flamboyant wedding of their dreams. We wish each

Mujhse Shaadi

Varun and Meenakshi Dhanadia

BRINGING IN PROSPERITY!

Mahesh Bang

Corona? and every loving couple our best.

Keeping the current situation in mind, a Jodhpur couple, Varun and Meenakshi Dhanadia also tied a knot, keeping the wedding extremely low key. He had earlier postponed his wedding because of lockdown, however, since his ailing grandfather wanted to see his granddaughter-in-law, the young man had no choice but to tie the nuptial knot with his fiancée. Not a single member of both families was present at the wedding.

12

MAHESH BANG

A Due to the lockdown, my destination wedding in Udaipur on April 20 had to be cancelled. We had made all the arrangements, from the venue, catering to decoration, accommodation, everything was set. But, after the COVID-19 pandemic came to India, the lockdown was enforced and my fiancé and I were forced to call it off. We are hoping that if the courts open up, we might get hitched there.

—SHANAYA GUPTA

It required a pandemic to realise the value of not just our lives but also of our loved ones.

With our marriage bells ringing, came in the deadly virus, which has no doubt tested our patience, but also made us realise how capable true love can be to sustain itself even in such difficult times! My wedding is scheduled to be in June, and we’re still confused about how to go about everything!

kshaya Tritiya is the day that multiplies your prosperity. It is being celebrated today, 26 April, this year. It is also known as Akha Teej and is one of the most auspicious days for those who follow Hinduism. As currently, we are in quite unusual circumstances, this date has been much awaited for one that would be astrologically optimal to pray for the relief of our situation. Finally, the day has arrived, it’s a special occasion that happens once every year whereby the Sun and the Moon are in exalted positions, at the peak of their astrological power.

Derived from the Sanskrit word Akshaya, which means never di-

minishing, imperishable, and eternal, the day is believed to bring in good luck and success, of which every moment is auspicious. It is believed that sacred deeds (Punya Karya) performed on this day never go unnoticed and that starting a new venture or investing in valuables doesn’t end without fruitful rewards. Hence the benefits of doing any Jaap (chanting) and charity on this day never diminish and remain with the person forever.

Whatever your faith may be, please use this astrological date to combine our prayer so that we achieve some divine intervention. If you follow Hinduism then you should read Shree Hanuman Chalisa 11 times on this day.

Whenever you are read-

ing this choupai ‘Nassei rog hare sub peera, Japat nirantar Hanumant beera’. Read it aloud with full determination as it means: O Lord Hanuman You Destroy Diseases and Remove all Pains, When one Utters your Name Continuously.

The energy of this day is so high and due to planetary alignment it will multiply many fold benefits. So we all should send positive energy to the universe by thinking positive thoughts and pray to get relief from COVID-19 soon. During this lockdown period you should think positive like my family and I are healthy, happy, the situation will improve soon, finances will be fine, have full faith in God, and we are still blessed to be alive.

Rest in Peace, Maa! Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan’s mother Sayeeda Begum passed away on Saturday morning. She was 95. Sayeeda Begum, who belongs to the Nawab family of Tonk, was unwell for a long time.

She died due to natural causes. Begum resided in the Beniwal Kanta Krishna Colony in Jaipur.

—ANI

—AAYUSHI SANGHARSHEE

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

Rajasthan: Raj Khalsa Aid provided 3,000 PPE Kits 90 gsm and 10,000 surgical masks to the Government of Rajasthan, which was received

by ACS Health Rohit Kumar Singh and MD Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Pradeep Gawade on behalf of Govt. of Rajasthan.

Rajasthan: The book ‘Sard Shab Sulagte Khwaab’, written by Dr. Ashish Gaur from Bikaner, is a series of 55 poems, has been released online and available on various portals including Amazon, Flipkart, Shopclues and BlueRose Publishers. Talking about the book, Dr. Gaur said, “I have a deep love for languages and especially Urdu, hence I have used many Urdu words in the book, which clearly justify my love for the amalgamation of Hindi and Urdu language.”

Rajasthan: PCC General Secretary and RCA President, Vaibhav Gehlot gave good wishes on the occasion of Ramadan and said, “My heartiest congratulations on the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. May this holy occasion bring good health, peace and happiness in our lives.” He also urged people to be safe by praying from their respective homes.

Gujarat: Migrant workers stuck in Ahmedabad after lockdown play carrom at a shelter home on Ashram Road on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Rajasthan: JECRC University has bagged externally funded research project entitled ‘Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE)’ for a grant of Rs 3.1 Crores from Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and for its successful execution, they have also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The TIDE aims to assist Institutions of Higher learning to strengthen their Technology Incubation Centres, enabling young entrepreneurs to initiate technology start-up companies for commercial exploitation of technologies developed by them.

Rajasthan: The country’s first indoor marathon ‘Run United Marathon at Home’ is going to be organised today, where more than 1000 runners from 114 cities will run at home to thank all our Corona warriors including health workers, police, journalists, sanitation workers and basic essential providers among others. The founder of the World Wide 20 Minutes of Running Community, Mukesh Mishra, informed that among the runners, 124 runners will complete 42 km at home and more than 200 runners will run 21 km and the rest will run for 10 km, 5 km and 2 km. The marathon will also create a world record.

HAPPY B’DAY!

IAS Laxmi Narayan Soni (left) and IPS Deepak Kumar celebrated their birthdays on 25 April, Saturday. We wish them all the best!

Rajasthan: Amidst the global pandemic coronavirus, Electro Homeopathy Medicine Council provided financial assistance of Rs 5,42,000 to the Chief Minister’s Assistance Fund and PM Cares Fund. Along with this, the council is ready to provide emergence health services in various districts of the Rajasthan state. Council member RB Gupta shared that a check of Rs 3,21,000 was handed over to the OSD to Chief Minister, Deva Ram Saini for the Chief Minister’s Assistance Fund and a check of Rs 2,21,000 for the PM Care Fund was presented to MP of Jaipur, Ramcharan G Bohra in the presence of many renowned dignitaries.

Rajasthan: During our fight against the epidemic, Ashu Singh Surpura has come forward to donate Rs 1 Crore for the distribution of food and ration packets to needy families in the Jhotwara assembly constituency.

Every day 17,000 food packets are being distributed in the urban area and 20,000 ration packets are being distributed in the 150 villages of Jhotwara assembly constituency.