First India-Jaipur Edition-28 April 2020

JAIPUR l TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 321

Well done Gehlot: Modi

R

oman Philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca had famously said, “The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity”, he perhaps forgot to mention that the victories after struggle mean more when even the opposition acknowledges it.

And, that is what exactly occurred on Monday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his ‘great work’ in handling the pandemic and steering the desert state through these tiring times. While Covid-19 is surely an adverse foe, a firm and resolute Gehlot has provided semblance to the general populace of Rajasthan.

His untiring efforts and burning the midnight oil, in literal sense, has even got the foremost leader of Congress’s main opposition party - BJP- to acknowledge this milestone. As Rajasthanis, we can all say just one thing : Well Done Mr Chief Minister!

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JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

02

RECLAIMING THE AREA!

A camel roams freely on Amber Road in Jaipur at 11.35 AM on Monday. This road which is normally filled with tourists wears a deserted look due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus..

‘Follow lockdown guidelines strictly’ New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah during the PM-CMs meeting on Monday urged the states to ensure that the lockdown was followed strictly, as per sources.

PM Narendra Modi on Monday held a video conference with CMs of all states to take a view regarding the situation across the country.

As per sources, during the meeting, the Union Home Minister put forth that certain relaxations had been given in trade and industry, however the lockdown guidelines needed to be strictly followed. He also urged the states to go ahead

Home Minister Amit Shah interacts with CMs of all States on COVID-19 situation through VC in New Delhi on Monday.

on the guidance of PM’s ‘Jaan Bhi Jahan Bhi’ motto since the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic was ‘long and needed to be fought with patience.’

Shah also called Ker-

ala CM Pinarayi Vijayan over phone to seek his opinion about extending COVID lockdown. TheVijayan told Shah that the lockdown should be withdrawn step by step.

—ANI

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

Complaint filed against Indian airlines may suffer Nadda, Malviya in Bundi $11.2 bn revenue loss: IATA First India News

Jaipur: Congress workers in Bundi have filed cases against BJP’s national president JP Nadda and IT cell Chief Amit Malviya for maligning congress party’s image.

Congress leader Bharat Sharma alleged in his complaint that AICC president Sonia Gandhi had spoken to all congress chief ministers in through a video conference facilitated by ‘The Print’.

She had sought suggestions and also praised the ‘Bhilwara model’ in Rajasthan.

But, Nadda and Malviya distorted her statement and disrespected corona warriors, which hurt people and con-

Kashiram Choudhary

JP Nadda

gress workers.

Bharat Sharma said that the Congress president has been regularly giving suggestions to the government but the BJP leaders didn’t like this. They distorted her statement to malign her and congress party’s image.

Kotwali police registered case in eight difference sections and started investigation.

Jaipur: The aviation sector is suffering major economic losses due to coronavirus across the globe. The impact of this economic crisis is also being seen at Jaipur Airport. In India, the operation of international flights was stopped from March 22, followed by domestic flights from March 25.

IATA has released the aviation sector forecast for India due to the pandemic, as compared to last year.

According to the forecast, there would be a huge reduction in passenger load by 47%, which amounts to about 8.97 crore passengers.

The operation of air-

craft would also decrease and jobs of about 29.32 lakh people associated with the air travel industry may also be in trouble. The IATA fears the economic loss of over $11.2 billion.

In order to deal with the crisis, the airlines may cut the salaries of their employees all over the country, including

Jaipur. As of now, SpiceJet & Go Air have started deducting the salaries by 50%. At present, 5 major private airlines operate flights in country, including public sector company Air India.

IndiGo leads with about 40% share, while SpiceJet, Air Asia, Go Air & Vistara are also major airlines of India.

BJP hands out around BJP’s Kataria accuses Arnab’s interrogation ‘Govt must provide 1 cr food kits: Poonia Cong of poor politics ends after 12.5 hours answers to the ques’ Aishwarya Pradhan Jaipur: State BJP president Dr Satish Poonia said that the BJP has distributed more than one cr food packets and 36 lakh ration kits during the corona crisis.

He said that nearly 1.5 lakh BJP workers delivered food prepared in 613 community kitchens.

They also connected 179168 people for a donation of Rs. 43.36 cr in the PM Care Fund. Besides, BJP workers distributed

Dr Satish Poonia

33 lakh masks and helped more than 21 lakh people download the Aarogya Setu app. A helpline had also been set up through which 26950 calls received and 24465 were provided help.

Jaipur: Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria has written a letter to CM Ashok Gehlot saying that the BJP has been supporting the state govt from the beginning but govt should also listen to its suggestions. Kataria alleged that BJP MLAs sanctioned money for the distribution of food grain from their MLALAD fund but administration is being pressurized by the ruling party to distribute as per its

Gulab Chand Kataria

dictate on basis of political preference.

Kataria said that having received feedback from BJP MLAs these facts have been conveyed to the CM.

Mumbai: Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami’s interrogation by the Mumbai Police finally ended after a marathon grilling of 12.5 hours. He was called into the NM Joshi Marg police station at 9 AM on Monday for his comments against Sonia Gandhi.

Arnab during his recent show had questioned Sonia Gandhi’s silence over lynching of Sadhus in Palghar. This had resulted in a bar-

BEYOND MAY 3

Schools, malls likely to remain shut New Delhi: Education institutions, shopping malls, religious places and public transport are likely to remain shut beyond May 3 when the ongoing lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic is slated to end, officials said.

There were enough indications to this effect at the three-hourlong meeting of chief ministers convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

In the green zones

districts, limited private vehicles may be allowed to ply but full scale train and air ser-

vices are unlikely to start anytime soon, an official privy to the developments said.

There is a possibility of regulated train or air services after midMay between some designated places depending on the COVID-19 situation.

Schools, colleges, shopping malls, religious places and public transport are likely to remain shut while a ban on public and social gatherings is also expected to continue beyond May 3, the official said.

A final decision on

lockdown will be taken during the weekend, officials said on Monday after the meeting on the strategy to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

At least five chief ministers out of nine who spoke during the video conference strongly pitched for the extension of the ongoing lockdown beyond May 3 while a few advocated a cautious relaxation in curbs with limited activities in COVID-19 free districts. —PTI

Arnab Goswami

rage of cases by Congress functionaries.

The interrogation began at around 9.20 AM in the morning after which he was seen taking a brief 2 min break with his lawyer.—Agencies

Jaipur: Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that the BJP supports the state govt in war against corona but the govt must provide answers to the questions about its actions. Rathore said the govt wants to bring migrant workers back, but it should decide whether there are enough quarantine centres. Has it built these centres in every part of state? He advised that govt should first send migrant

Rajendra Rathore

workers to their native place. Rathore said that he would not comment on Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma, who should tell us where he has kept 6.66L people in isolation and how they are being monitored?

Get building parameters for proposed Heritage City: Dhariwal instructs JDA Jaipur: UDH Minister Shanti Dhariwal has instructed the JDA to get the building parameters for the proposed Heritage City on Agra Road, to be ratified by him, and then proceed further. The matter is legally sensitive as it has a High Court ruling governing it which asks the whole heritage city scheme to adhere to the old master plan.

Recently when Minister Dhariwal came to know that the Chief Town Planner (CTP) RK

Shanti Dhariwal

Vijayvargiya had finalized the building parameters he has issued the instructions to make sure that the HC

orders are not infringed in any manner.

FI has come to know that the building parameters ready with the CTP as of now basically sticks to the concept of recreating the walled city façade in the heritage. It proposes zero side setback for plots up to 225 sq meters. The new parameters also require every building to compulsorily have façade on lines of the walled city with traditional jharokhas, jali, and ramparts.

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

23°C - 38°C

ALERT JAIPUR l TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

2,09,242 30,29,709 938

GLOBAL STATE OF AFFAIRS COUNTRY TOTAL CASES

TOTAL NEW DEATHS DEATHS

995,288 SPAIN 229,422 ITALY 199,414 GERMANY 158,142 UK 152,840 TURKEY 112,261 IRAN 91,472 RUSSIA 87,147 CHINA 82,830

56,139 23,521 26,977 5,985 20,732 2,900 5,806 794 4,633

USA

+726 +331 +333 +9 +360 +95 +96 +47 +1

WWW.WORLDOMETERS.INFO

LAST UPDATED: APRIL 27, 2020, 11:00 PM

IN RAJASTHAN DISTRICT

TOTAL CASES

AJMER 124 ALWAR 7 BANSWARA 62 BARMER 2 BHARATPUR 110 BHILWARA 35 BIKANER 37 CHITTORGARH 8 CHURU 14 DAUSA 21 DHOLPUR 5 DUNGARPUR 6 HANUMANGARH 11 JAIPUR 833 JAISALMER 35 JHALAWAR 40 JHUNJHUNU 42 JODHPUR 375 KARAULI 3 KOTA 165 NAGAUR 116 PALI 3 PRATAPGARH 2 RAJSAMAND 1 SWAI MADHOPUR 8 SIKAR 5 TONK 123 UDAIPUR 6 OTHER DIST. 0 2199 TOTAL OTHER (Italy) 2 EVACUEES 61 GRAND TOTAL 2262 SAMPLE RECEIVED SAMPLE NEGATIVE

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 321

WORLD

DEATHS

NEW TOTAL CASES DEATH

+1 — — — — +2 — +7 — — — — — +25 +1 +10 — +11 — +7 +3 +1 — — — — +8 +1 — +77 — — +77

— 1 — — 2 2 1 — — — — — — 27 — — — 6 — 5 1 — — — — 2 1 — 2(UP) 50 — — 50

CONFIRMED CASES

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DEATHS

INDIA

29,450

CONFIRMED CASES

50

RAJASTHAN

DEATHS

2,262

CONFIRMED CASES

Modi talks economy, future beyond May 3 with CMs  Give importance to economy and also battle Corona: PM to CMs in VC Aditi Nagar New Delhi: As India enters the final week of the lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed to chief ministers that the country will have to give importance to the economy as well as continue the fight against the novel coronavirus.

In a video conference with the chief ministers, fourth such interaction since March 22 when he first spoke to them on the pandemic, Modi also highlighted the importance for

 Focus on a graded exit from lockdown

states to enforce prescribed guidelines strictly in the coronavirus hotspots, the government said in a statement. PM said that efforts of the states should be directed towards converting the red zones into orange and thereafter to green zones.

The prime minister underlined that the nationwide lockdown has “yielded positive results as the country has managed to save thousands of lives in the past one and a half months”, it said.

Turn on P7

FAULTY CHINA KITS SHOWN THE DOOR!

A health official collects swab sample from a man for coronavirus testing, in Guwahati.

New Delhi: Not a single rupee will be lost to Chinese firms who provided faulty COVID-19 test kits to India as the orders have been cancelled and the payments not made, the government said on Monday amid a controversy over the issue.

Coronavirus test kits made by two Chinese companies Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon

87,777 80,830

UNDER EXAMINATION

4,685

CORONA IN RAJASTHAN 9 corona deaths were reported on Monday. Jaipur saw 6 deaths while one each was reported from Bharatpur, Jodhpur and Kota. State saw 77 new cases. Jaipur saw 25, 11 Jodhpur, 10 Jhalawar, 8 Tonk, 7 each from Kota & Chittorgarh and Nagaur 3.

—ANI

Diagnostics have been found “under-performing” by the ICMR, government said. It has asked states and hospitals to stop using the kits made by the two companies and since “due process followed (not going for procurement with 100% advance amount), GoI (Government of India) does not stand to lose a single rupee”, an official statement said.

Turn on P7

INDIA SEES HIGHEST ONE-DAY RISE IN TOLL WITH 60 NEW DEATHS New Delhi: Corona cases in the country on Monday soared to 29,450 with 1,463 new cases and 60 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, as per the data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday evening. The total coronavirus deaths in India are 938, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

 States must strictly enforce lockdown guidelines in hotspots

 At least 6 CMs for lockdown extension KEY POINTS  Most northeastern states are for extending lockdown  Masks and face covers will become part of lives of people in days ahead: PM  In the three-hour discussion, nine CMs got a chance to speak  PM forewarns danger of virus is far from over and constant vigilance is of paramount importance

PM Narendra Modi interacting with CM of states via video conferencing to discuss the emerging situation and plan ahead for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, in New Delhi on Monday.

—ANI

This institution not hostage of govt: SC New Delhi: This institution is not hostage of government, the Supreme Court said on Monday as it sought reply from the Centre on a plea seeking direction to authorities to allow migrant workers across the country to return home after conducting coronavirus tests.

The top court’s remark came after advocate Prashant Bhushan told the court that the government’s view is being blindly considered without verifying it, while fundamental rights of people especially migrant workers are not being enforced.

A bench of Justices N V Ramana, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B R Gavai questioned Bhushan, appearing for petitioners Jagdeep S Chhokar, former director Turn on P7

CDC EXPANDS LIST OF CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS Atlanta: US public health body, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has included six new symptoms for coronavirus which include, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. Earlier, CDC had listed fever, cough and shortness of breath as the symptoms of the deadly coronavirus disease.

 PM urges CMs to ensure people register in Aarogya Setu App

RBI’s `50,000cr special liquidity window for MFs Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday decided to open a special liquidity facility for mutual funds of Rs 50,000 crore in a bid to arrest redemptions in the asset management industry after last week’s collapse of six debt schemes of Franklin Templeton India.

Credit markets in India have been under pressure even before the coronavirus pandemic. “With a view to easing liquidity pressures on mutual funds, it has been decided to open a special liquidity facility for mutual funds of Rs 50,000 crore,” said the central bank in a statement.

“Heightened volatility in capital markets in reaction to COVID-19 has imposed liquidity

The RBI will conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate.

strains on mutual funds which have intensified in the wake of redemption pressures related to the closure of some debt mutual funds and potential contagious effects therefrom,” it said adding the stress is confined to the high-risk debt mutual fund segment at this stage and the larger industry remains liquid.

THREE TERRORISTS KILLED IN ENCOUNTER IN J-K’S KULGAM Kulgam: Three terrorists were neutralised in an ongoing operation in Kulgam’s Lower Munda, Indian Army said on Monday. One body was recovered so far from the site of encounter. An encounter started between terrorists and joint troops, said the Kashmir Zone Police. Further details are awaited.

The RBI said it remains vigilant and will take whatever steps are necessary to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and preserve financial stability.

Under the special liquidity facility for mutual funds, the RBI will conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate. The facility is Turn on P7

GLOBAL CASES PASS 3 MN AS LOCKDOWNS BEGIN TO EASE Beijing:Global confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 3 million on Monday, as the United States neared 1 million cases, according to a Reuters tally. It comes as many countries are taking steps to ease lockdown measures that have brought the world to a standstill over the past eight weeks. An average of 82,000 cases have been reported per day in the past week.

PM MODI TO GEHLOT: YOU HAVE SHOWN THE WAY!  PM lauds Raj CM’s efforts to fend off Corona, asks states to follow suit  CM writes to PM, puts forward fifteen point agenda Naresh Sharma Jaipur: “States need to come forward with reforms and I would like to congratulate Chief Minister Gehlot for countering this pandemic. Gehlotji took several initiatives and increased the working

time limit for labourers in factories, people might have critiqued the step but Rajasthan has shown a new direction to other states and all the states should follow in its tread”.

To the ordinary person these lines would seem to be coming from

Prime Minister Modi interacts with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot via video conferencing where Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma, DB Gupta, Rajeeva Swarup were also present on Monday.

a Congress party leader or from someone who has affiliation with the

grand-old party.

However, Monday brought about a major

change in the politics of the nation when to the surprise of many,

specially the BJP CMs, during the video conference with Chief

Ministers of states, to discuss the situation on the ground and chalk out a plan of action, an all powerful Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, lauded CM Ashok Gehlot for his untiring efforts to better the situation in Rajasthan. The development is being considered a step away from the routine hitherto followed by the politicians.

This also happens to be the second time when PM Narendra Modi has publicly acknowledged

admiration for Rajasthan government led

by CM Ashok Gehlot.

The two and a half hour long virtual meeting did not see a direct interaction between Gehlot and Modi, since Rajasthan was not scheduled to put forward its observations, however, the Prime Minister has asked the CM to write to him.

Gehlot has thus shot a letter to PM with his fifteen point agenda in which the Rajsthan Chief Minister has reiterated his Turn on P7

RAJASTHAN JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

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 Jodhpur: Subordinate courts get letter of High court that from May, Subordinate courts will have hearing on holiday day.

Presiding officers will have the hearing from 9:00 am to 11:30 am.

Chief Magistrate Dr. Jitendra Sanwaria have passed the office order.  Jaipur: A big help of Rs 1 crore 1 lakh from the former MLA association. 245 former MLAs have come forward and helped in CM relief fund.  Jaipur: ‘Staff below DS will not come until 3 May in the Secretariat’ the order was issued under the modified lock down.  Jaipur: Chief Whip, Dr Mahesh Joshi, visited the Chandpol Hanuman temple. And prayed for liberation from coron soon and also wished to rid the country and state of the deadly pandemic.  Jaipur: Send SMS on mobile, electricity bill will be available immediately on the screen. The consumers who did not get electricity bill a short SMS number is issued to them. Discom MD AK Gupta said that such consumers shall give SMS to number +91 7065051222 and include, JVVNL KNumber (JVVNL K.No.) in the SMS. After that customers will get the required information.

INCLUDING 6 IN JAIPUR 9 DIE, 77 NEW CASES FOUND IN RAJ First India News

—PHOTO BY NAIM KHAN

Jaipur: 9 corona deaths were reported on Monday with Jaipur reporting 6 deaths while one death each was reported from Bharatpur, Jodhpur and Kota. Monday reported 77 new cases out of which 25 came from Jaipur, 11 from Jodhpur, 10 from Jhalawar, 8 from Tonk, 7 each from Kota & Chittorgarh, 3 from Nagaur, 2 from Bhilwara and one each from Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Pali and Udaipur.

State has tested 87777 samples so far out of which 80830 have reported negative while reports for 4685 samples is awaited. As of Monday night the state has 2262 corona positive cases with Jaipur with

Medical personnel from SMS Hospital wearing full protection gear at corona hotspot Ramganj area.

833 cases followed by Jodhpur 375, Kota 165, Tonk 123, Ajmer 124, Bharatpur 110, Nagaur 116, Banswara 62, Jhun-

jhunu 42, Bikaner 37, Jaisalmer 35, Bhilwara 35, Jhalawar 40, Dausa 21, Churu 14, Hanumangarh 11, Chittorgarh &

Sawai Madhopur 8, Alwar 7, Dungarpur 6, Sikar & Dholpur 5 each, Udaipur 6, Karauli & Pali 3 each, Barmer &

The area where a positive case was found being disinfected.

First India News Jaipur: A curfew has been imposed in Haji Colony after a woman was found corona infected. The woman gave birth to a child a few days ago and died on Sunday, later testing positive. The newborn and four family members been quarantined and disinfectants were sprayed in the area.

DCP North Rajiv

Pachar imposed a curfew at Asian Tower in Haji Colony, northern part of Power House Road from Jhotwara Road, eastern part from Power House to Sikar House Road, Ashfaq Kabari House from Sikar House turn, southern part of Mali Colony Nukkad Link Road and western part from Mali Colony Sikar House Link Road to Jhotwara Road Asian Tower.

Gulabpura sealed after 2 more test +ve ‘To curb corona, don’t let stranded Raj First India News Bhilwara: After two corona positive cases were reported in Bhilwara on Monday, District Magistrate and Collector Rajendra Bhatt has directed to completely seal Gulabpura city till further orders. According to the order, people residing in the entire urban border area of the Gulabpura subdivision will

Messages written on road spreading awareness about corona at Vidhan Sabha road.

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

not be allowed to step out of their residence.

Moreover, all commercial and industrial

So far 13K held, over 1L vehicles seized for violating lockdown

Jodh: Central team satisfied by local admn

First India News

First India News

Jaipur: Despite frequent requests and warnings, people continue to defy lockdown rules in the state however they are paying a price for their recless sense of adventure.

Since lockdown came into force, the police have seized more than on lakh vehicles and arrested 13000 people.

ADG (Crime) B L Soni informed that the state government had imposed section 144 prohibiting gathering of people at one place to prevent spread of coronavirus.

He said that total one lakh security personnel including 80000 policemen and 20000 home guards have been deployed for enforcement of lockdown or-

Jodhpur: A team from Centre arrived in Jodhpur to take stock of the situation and expressed satisfaction on overall arrangement by the local administration.

WHO’s regional director Pankaj Saxena was part of this team, which examined AIIMS hospital and COVID care center at Jhanwar Road. Later, they visited Mathuradas Mathur and Mahatma Gandhi hospital.

They also visited CMHO office and discussed the situation with CMHO Balwant Manda and district incharge for corona, Sunil Kumar Bisht.

They also lauded teamwork of district administration, health department and police.

—PIC FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSE ONLY

ders. They are working in coordinaton with health department, district administration and other government departments.

The police have been enforcing lockdown as well as protecting health workers during survey and screening work. Soni said that 13000 preventive arrests were made. For

violation of lockdown 1575 cases have been filed against 3687 persons and 173 cases have been registered against 273 people for misuse of social media by spreading of fake facts about coronavirus.

“We are keeping hawk’s eye on people spreading rumours and vitiate atmosphere,” he said.

establishments will remain closed, along with a ban on all group activities and private vehicles. However, twowheelers would be allowed during emergencies. For the government employees and essential workers, passes or identity cards would be necessary. The administration will deliver the essentials door to door in the sealed area.

‘ALWAYS READY’

poking his head through a head-sizedhole cut in a bunch of

newspapers went viral on social media.

“Police personnel

First India News Jaipur/Jalore: Jalore collector Himanshu Gupta shot letters to five Gujarat collectors asking them not to let any stranded Rajasthani worker approach the Jalore border.

Jalore collector took this step to thwart any corona positive enter-

ing his jurisdiction as all five districts he has written to are corona hotspots of Gujarat.

This has created a state of confusion as CM Gehlot has been very sensitive on the issue of migrant workers. ACS (Home) Rajeeva Swarup clarified the situation and said that the state govt was trying to bring

back the workers on its own level through a registration process and making proper testing arrangements as well.

Meanwhile there are malfunction complaints regarding the toll free number for the stranded workers which either is unattended or busy or even worst put on hold.

United stand: Cops carry out flag march First India News Jaipur: On Monday, Jaipur Police Commissionerate carried out a flag march to ensure strict curfew and lockdown in COVID-19 infected areas. Around 500 police, ERT, QRT

Cop gives haircut to colleague in Jodhpur face different kinds of problems on-duty. But there is a solution of every problem,” said Nagori Gate SHO Jabbar Singh. Nagori Gate area is a hotspot and is completely sealed.

The policemen in the vral video have been identified as Constables Padmaram and Poonamchand Police personnels all over the country have been serving the society, ensuring that the lockdown is strictly im-

workers come near Jalore border’

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

LOCKDOWN SKILLS

Jodhpur: As the country is under lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, various interesting videos and images have made headlines, another such incident came to light in Rajasthan, where a policeman was seen giving a haircut to his colleague on duty in Nagori Gate area of Jodhpur.

A video of the cop styling his colleague’s hair while he sits near a shuttered building

Pratapgarh with 2 cases each and Rajsamand one case. Apart from this 2 Italians and 61 Indians evacuated from Iran also tested positive. 28 out of 33 districts officially corona infected now.

So far 744 patients have turned negative after treatment. 584 have already been discharged from the hospitals and rest would follow the suite after they complete their mandatory quarantine period.

The state now will have more aggressive testing with center permitting Churu, Bharatpur, Bhilwara and RUHS the tests. Soon Dungarpur, Sikar, Pali and Barmer will also have the requiste permission for testing samples.

Haji colony under curfew after dead woman tests positive —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

in

BRIEF

04

plemented as well as helping those in need.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on March 24 announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown was later extended till May 3. According to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India’s tally of COVID-19 cases reached 26,917 on Sunday and 826 deaths.—ANI

and Nirbhaya Squad personnel, led by Commissioner Anand Srivastava, reached Chandpole riding on twowheelers and fourwheelers. The people applauded from their homes for the police.

Additional Commis-

sioner of Police Ajaypal Lamba, Additional Commissioner of Police Traffic Rahul Prakash, DCP North Rajiv Pachar and all the ACPs and SHOs of the Commissionerate were present in the march. From Chand-

pole Police Line, the police force passed from main areas of the city, including Galtagate, MD Road, Dhuleshwar Garden, Commissionerate Office and Collectorate Circle, reaching Shastri Nagar.

NCW TAKES COGNIZANCE OF ALLEGED RAPE CASE IN RAJ New Delhi: The National Commission for Women on Monday took cognizance in the matter of an alleged rape in Rajasthan.

The commission stated that it has written to the Director General of Police of Rajasthan to initiate immediate inquiry into the matter and take strict action against the culprits.

“The Commission has written to Shri Bhupendra Singh Yadav, Director General of Police, Rajasthan, for im-

mediate investigation and strict action be taken against the culprits and erring police officials as per the law,” the NCW stated in a press note.

The commission said that on the intervening

night of April 23 and 24, a 40-year-old woman was allegedly gangraped by three men amid lockdown.

The victim had been unable to make her way back to her home in Jaipur for over a month from Dausa due to travel restrictions, the NCW said. The woman was allegedly kept at a school for the quarantine purpose in the Sawai Madhopur district by the local authorities where the alleged crime was committed.

—Agencies

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Five out of eight NE states corona-free now: MoS Singh

The credit for low incidence of cases in North-east goes to Modi govt’s efforts, he said

New Delhi: Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh on Monday, said that five out of the eight states in the North-East are corona-free now.

He said that those five states are - Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura.

“Three states in the region - Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram - are not corona-free but there have been no new positive cases in these states in the recent past,” Singh said.

Singh said that the credit for the low incidence of cases in the North-east goes to the way the government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given priority to the region’s development in

Udit Raj’s tweet on price of test kits is fake: ICMR New Delhi: The ICMRrejected a tweet by Congress leader Udit Raj that coronavirus test kits are being sold at Rs 4,500.

Congress leader Udit Raj had shared on Twitter a message circulating on social media that “17 companies were ready to sell the coronavirus test kits for Rs 500 but PM Modi got a Gujarat-based company the contract for selling kits for Rs 4,500”. ICMR replied on the social networking site that the price range for the testing kits lies between Rs 528-1150. —ANI

Three states in the region - Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram - are not corona-free but there have been no new positive cases in these states in the recent past.

Jitendra Singh,

Delhi Pradesh Congress committee workers spray disinfectant at ITO area to contain the spread of COVID-19 in New Delhi on Monday.

MoS, DoNER

the past six years.

“Even during this emergency, the way the air cargo was operational in bringing supplies to the region, there was no shortage in the area of essential goods. From March 30 onwards, supplies kept

“The governments in all eight North-eastern states have worked hard and collaborated with the Centre during this crisis. The North-East Development Council which is headquartered in Shillong has done an excellent job of coordi-

MEETING DAILY NEEDS...

A woman carries a LPG cylinder on her back as another woman walks past her during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus in Kullu.

—PHOTO BY ANI

Central team reviews containment zone in Hybd Hyderabad: A 5-member Central team led by Arun Baroka, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, visited the containment zone at Masab Tank in Hyderabad to review the measures being taken to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“The Central team visited the containment zone at Masab Tank to review measures to con-

reaching the region through Air India and the Indian Air Force. It was Prime Minister Modi’s directive that the North-East, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and island areas of the country be given priority,” Singh said.

trol the spread of coronavirus,” an official said. The official also said that the state authorities provided them with details of coronavirus prevention activities in the city.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Lokesh Kumar and Zonal Commissioner were also present during the inspection. —ANI

Agra’s COVID-19 tally reaches 381 Agra: 10 more COVID-19 cases have been reported from Agra in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the district to 381, District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh said on Monday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of cases in Uttar Pradesh has climbed to 1,868 including 29 deaths. —ANI

nation during this period,” he added.

DoNER had made available a fund amounting to Rs 25 crore for state governments of the region even before the lockdown was imposed, he said. —ANI

Dehradun: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat said that he is following PM Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Jaan Bhi Jahan Bhi’ as the state government is gradually working on improving the economic situation while adhering to coronavirus guidelines.

His remarks came after attending the meeting of Chief Ministers with the Prime Minister over the prevailing COVID-19 situation.

“Now we are working on the mantra ‘Jaan Bhi Jahan Bhi’ given by the Prime Minister. While

sure that they stay indoors and follow social distancing norms.

“Government has taken various steps to create awareness among the citizens about the virus, and has appealed to all the people to follow the advisories. We selected four volunteers to create awareness about the same,” said RP Meena, DCP, Dwarka. —ANI

CLEARING THE AIR

‘Stigma on Corona be addressed via campaign’ New Delhi: Getting infected by coronavirus is not a stigma, which should be addressed through an intensive campaign, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, here on Monday.

During a press briefing, Agarwal said: “Stigma should be addressed through an intensive campaign.

We’ve to understand that there is no risk of transmission from re-

NEED OF THE HOUR

covered patients. They, in fact, can be a potential source of healing

for antibodies using plasma therapy.”

The Joint Secretary

further added that spreading of misinformation and panic

Leh: A COVID-19 laboratory has been set up in the Union Territory of Ladakh to ensure timely and cost-effective sample testing, officials said.

Earlier, the samples had to be sent to Delhi by flights leading to delays and heavy expenditure, they said.

“At this crucial time when COVID-19 poses a national challenge, we believe that urgent emergency resources need to be deployed to fight the crisis. We are happy to support Ladakh in setting up its first COVID-19 testing lab,” said Sunil Duggal, V-P, Corporate Affairs, Pernod Ricard India. The new laboratory is a fully equipped facility compliant with ICMR standards, he said. —PTI

Lockdown circulars issued randomly:Didi

Women Health workers during door-to-door screening in Kolkata.

Kolkata: On the Home Ministry order of allowing some shops in residential complexes to open, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said Central government is releasing circulars on lockdown without considering the position of states.

“Central government is releasing circulars all of a sudden. I don’t have any problem with it but there must be some consultation.

They should have asked the position of states,” Banerjee said. “On one side they say lockdown

should be strictly maintained on another hand they are saying to open all shops. What should we do? There is a lack of clarity between what Central government is saying and their directives,” she added. This comes after the Home Ministry said, “in urban areas, all standalone shops, neighbourhood shops, and shops in residential complexes are allowed to open. Shops in markets, market complexes, and shopping malls are not allowed to open.” —ANI

Now working on PM’s mantra of ‘jaan bhi, jahan bhi’: U’khand CM

COVID-19: Cops use themed helmets in Delhi Dwarka: Volunteers wearing COVID-19 themed helmets appealed to residents of Dwarka to stay at home, as part of an awareness drive about COVID-19 threat initiated by Delhi Police.

As part of the initiative, masks were also distributed and efforts made to sensitise people about the COVID-19 situation to en-

Ladakh gets its first COVID-19 Testing Lab

05

should be avoided and no community or area should be labelled for COVID-19 spread.

“We should avoid spreading misinformation and panic. No community or area should be labelled for COVID-19 spread. In particular, healthcare and sanitary workers or police should not be targeted as they are there to help you,” added Agarwal while informing about the Corona virus threat. —ANI

RISHIKESH: 20 BIGHA AREA IS ‘HOTSPOT’

strictly following the guidelines of the Government of India, we

are gradually working on improving the economic situation. Phar-

ma, food processing units are working, many industries have started under the guidelines,” Rawat said, according to a release by Uttarakhand CMO “Nine hill districts of the state are free from the influence of Corona. The works of National Highway, MNREGA have been started keeping in mind everything. For the economic revival of the state, a committee of cabinet sub-committee and experts has been formed, whose report will be received soon,” he said. —ANI

PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

ONLY ADVICE NO ASSISTANCE IN VC?

BANKING ON THE BONDS? CA SONAKSHI GUPTA

The writer is a rank holder Chartered Accountant who has interest in banking and finance matters. She is currently working with Aditya Birla Group

W

ith the second round of lockdown entering its final week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting with state chief ministers, his fourth post-COVID-19, to discuss the way forward after May 3. During the interaction, the prime minister’s thrust was that the restrictions have had a positive effect and helped in saving thousands of lives. The prime minister’s message to states was to gradually convert red zones into orange and subsequently into green zones. He suggested the graded opening of the economy keeping people’s welfare in mind. Modi did not say anything about the lifting of lockdown after May 3 but gave enough indication that it may be extended.

Warning that the virus is not going away anytime soon, he stressed on constant vigilance. “Country has seen two lockdowns till now, both different in certain aspect, and now we have to think of the way ahead,” the prime minister said and again underscored the importance of do guz doori (two-yard distance) and masks.

These hints are strong enough to suggest that while relaxing curbs in green zones the curbs would continue at least until May 15 by when the Covid-19 curve is likely to flatten.

Experts, too, warn against easing curbs when the battle is not yet over. Several states like Odisha, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra were in favour of extending the lockdown in the red zones with economic activity being allowed in green zones. Although the Centre may leave the decision of extending curbs on the states, they will have to wait for guidelines from New Delhi.

The Centre will also determine the kind of activities to be allowed in green zones. Jumping the gun would invite chastisement from the Centre as happened to Kerala after April 20.

Rajasthan, on the contrary, came in for praise from the prime minister for extending working hours of factory workers from eight to 12 hours and several other initiatives of chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Some states later issued a similar notification.

Mamata Banerjee came out of the meeting bristling, alleging that there is only bhashan (speech) and no ration. She did not speak at the conference as only seven states were allowed to speak. There was speculation that she will give the virtual meet a miss like her Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan, who was asked for his suggestions in writing, not allotted any time to speak either.

The privilege was not extended to Mamata.

Politicking for political gains, it seems, can’t be kept aside even in times of crisis.

With their finances in dire straits, chief ministers expected Modi to mention financial assistance in vain. While Maharashtra asked for foodgrains, Tamil Nadu asked for funds to buy medical equipment. Modi did say, however, that the economy will have to be given as much importance as Covid-19, and reforms will have to be given a push.

T

However, we need to understand that in a typical recapitalization, there is no flow of funds, but only a capital restructuring involved. The banks subscribe to the bonds issued by the government and in return, the government uses that money to inject equity into the banks.

Interest revenue on these bonds is the only positive cash flow

he health of any economy depends largely on the health of its banking industry. Over the recent months, the banking system of the country has suffered various health issues, evidenced from the symptoms of growing bad loans, wilful defaulters, widening losses, governance issues and so on.

In fact, the 10th edition of the Fortune India 500 List has some unsettling numbers on these banks. Of the 500 companies, 65 reported a cumulative loss of `1, 67,851.6 Cr; and 14 PSBs accounted for 44.2% (`74,253.2 Cr) of the total loss. Moreover, 13 of the 14 PSBs were among the loss-makers in 2018 as well.

In such situations, big corporations are seldom left with no option but to depend on Government injections (bail out, as we popularly call it). If sources are to be believed, the government is looking at a `2.11 Lakh Cr recapitalization package to rescue the stressed PSBs. (This should not be confused with the current `3.74 lakh Cr package which is a short term measure inclined towards reviving the economic activity in the wake of COVID-19. Long term focus has to be on improving the CAR and liquidity of the banks.)

However, we need to understand that in a typical recapitalization, there is no flow of funds, but only a capital restructuring involved. The banks subscribe to the bonds issued by the government and in return, the government uses that money to inject equity into the banks. Interest revenue on these bonds is the only positive cash flow. Such an exercise improves the bank’s capital adequacy ratio which should be at least 8% as per the BASEL III norms. This enhances the bank’s ability to write off the existing NPAs and, increase their lending capacity.

But the question is, is recapitalization really the right solution? Shouldn’t the focus be on improving the actual liquidity and cash flows of banks rather than only increasing the tier 1 capital in the books? z Recapitalization as a concept

dates back to the 1990s in India.

While it serves to temporarily improve the quantum of lending, the banks do not get any fresh capital.

They still have to resort to public money or other fund raising channels. In fact, critics have also pointed out that it’s unclear how the redemption is usually done.

Can the banks sell these bonds or market them in any other manner? Plus, the losses continue to mount and the public continues to worry about a bail in. z The focus should be on improving the long term liquidity of banks through a win-win methodology for the public, government and the banks. One such solution, in my opinion, is issue of banking bonds to the public. These bonds can carry a coupon rate of ~5-7% which is at least at par with other government securities.

In the past when recapitalization happened, funds were raised from the public directly via equity. Such investments are exposed to lot of fluctuations and the taxpayer is in constant jeopardy in such situations. Instead, government backed bonds would ensure the public better stability and security for their money. z To encourage investments in

these bonds, several routes can be adopted. We can include them in the tax exemptions offered u/s 54EC of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on the lines of NHAI and RECL bonds. Banking bonds can be added to the list, at competitive interest rates with a lock in period of 3-5 years, based on an estimated time for the banks to recover.

For instance, ~`1.06 lakh Cr was raised by NHAI and RECL via 54EC and other long term bonds in

The 10th edition of the Fortune India 500 List has some unsettling numbers on these banks. Of the 500 companies, 65 reported a cumulative loss of `1, 67,851.6 Cr; and 14 PSBs accounted for 44.2% (`74,253.2 Cr) of the total loss

2019-20. So, if a similar strategy is adopted, let’s say, at the least 30% gets invested into these bonds, which is ~ `35,000 Cr. That’s a lot coming from the public! Besides, big corporate houses and mutual funds can also be encouraged to park their money in these bonds. z The funds so raised from the public can be invested directly in the equity of PSBs or via creating a state run holding company and investing in various PSBs a.k.a the subsidiaries. This type of consolidation structure can help strengthen the balance sheets of banks initially, capitalize on synergy benefits and eventually give way to their independent functioning. z Since the banking sector is a sensitive one, a performance report should be generated very frequently (maybe, monthly) to monitor the usage of funds and ensure greater accountability. In fact, there are talks of a perfor-

COVID-19 has challenged the logic of globalisation

U

ntil recently, globalization was heralded as the major engine of global economic growth and, particularly, of the dramatic reduction in intercountry inequality. Globalization was largely seen as a win-win mechanism for both developed and developing countries. Central to globalization has been the expansion of global value chains — the breaking up of the production process into a series of geographically separated steps. Some, such as design and marketing, were retained in developed countries. Others, such as manufacturing and assembly, were outsourced to developing countries.

The expectation was that over time, developing countries would “climb

06

up the value chain,” allowing them to converge with the developed West.

The COVID-19 crisis has fundamentally challenged the logic of globalization.

It has brutally exposed the underlying flaws of a system exclusively based on cutting costs. Take, for instance, the case of Switzerland. It derives much of its wealth from the pharmaceutical industry, which is a major driver of Swiss exports. Together with chemicals, pharmaceuticals account for roughly half of Swiss exports, way ahead of jewelry, watches and precision instruments.

Novartis and Hoffmann-La Roche are global players.

Yet when the coronavirus pandemic hit Switzerland, the country was caught completely unprepared.

At the beginning of March, pharmacies advised Swiss citizens to fol-

COVID-19 crisis has fundamentally challenged the logic of globalization. It has brutally exposed the underlying flaws of a system exclusively based on cutting costs

low basic health measures, such as washing hands and using hand sanitizer. There was only one problem: There was no hand sanitizer, neither in the pharmacies nor in the supermarkets. It took Coop, one of the country’s two major supermarket chains (the other is Migros), more than four weeks to provide hand sanitizer to its customers.

Things were equally disastrous with regard to face masks. By now it has been well established that face masks are an effective way to prevent the spread of the virus, which is carried in tiny spit droplets. The easing of lockdown restrictions will ultimately depend on the availability of protective masks for anyone venturing out into the public. Ironically enough, as the Swiss quickly found out, there was not one company in the country in a position to produce face masks. Swiss face masks were imported from Germany, which, in the face of a quickly escalating pandemic, stopped exporting masks to its neighbors.

COVID-19 has laid bare the soft underbelly of globalization — with disastrous consequences. Globalization has entailed two contrary develop-

ments: deindustrialization in the north and industrialization in the south. For years, major Western European and North American companies have outsourced core areas of their manufacturing operations to localities overseas. Producing basic commodities such as face masks just was not profitable. Better leave it to the Chinese, Indians or Vietnamese.

COVID-19 has been a wake-up call — or so one would hope. For ages, countries have refused to hand over their vital food supply to the outside world. Even in Switzerland, a country largely covered by mountains and lakes, consumers pay relatively horrendous prices for domestic agricultural products in order to keep domestic producers alive.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.FAIROBSERVER.COM

mance linked bail out doing the rounds. It will be interesting to see how that works out. This will, hopefully, avoid making banks complacent after receiving funds.

Such a liquidity measure should also keep the danger of bail in by the banks at bay. In fact, now the onus has shifted on the government to pay back the bonds. This should compel them to focus on the bank’s effective functioning and push up its market value. Once, the banks are healthy again, then, FPOs and other divestment options can be considered by the government.

While all the above points suggest a secure mechanism of strengthening the banks’ balance sheets, the long-term objective should be to target the root cause of NPAs. Who are the major defaulters? Does default hint lapse in a particular sector? Is it skewed towards a particular income class? Are excessive legislations the reason behind long gestation periods, thereby blocking money in large scale projects? Is there lapse (wilful) in the borrower’s diligence reports? Is there a casual attitude on the part of the public? Lessons can also be drawn from some of the world’s best banking systems, for instance Canada has a remarkable one, thanks to its solid funding and conservative lending practices. A lot more similar questions needed to be answered and acted upon by the government to ensure banks can self-sustain themselves and, the government can focus on real development issues.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp PM Garib Kalyan Yojana has been instrumental in waging a war against the economic challenges of #Covid19 and has played a crucial role in mitigating the hardships of the poor. Beneficiaries from Odisha thank PM Shri @narendramodi for the assistance in this hour of crisis.

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Food Security During COVID-19: Following PM @NarendraModi ji’s call to ensure adequate food supplies for all, Railways has transported 52 lakh tonnes of foodgrains since March 25, more than double the quantity transported in the same period last year.

Spiritual SPEAK

No purifier equals knowledge, and in time the man of perfect discipline discovers this in his own spirit. —Bhagavad Gita

Vol 1 Issue No. 321 RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur.

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

INDIA JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

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‘Kota students to start return journey soon’ ‘Students can’t be brought till Centre revises guidelines’

Stranded Students wait to board a bus from Laxmi Mandir Circle to go to their respective home towns situated in various districts of Rajasthan on Monday.

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has already initiated steps to ensure the return of Bengal students who are stuck in Kota of Rajasthan and they will begin their return journey soon, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday.

Banerjee said she has already instructed her officials to help all those from the state stranded in various parts of the country so that they can come back home.

“GoWB will initiate

Dr Singh to guide in corona revival plan for Punjab Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said former prime minister Manmohan Singh has accepted his request for guiding a group of experts formed to come out with a post-COVID-19 revival strategy for the state.

I had written to Dr Manmohan Singh Ji to guide us along with the group of experts headed by Montek Singh Ahluwalia & I am grateful to him for accepting.

We have been working hard to steer Punjab to the path of economic growth & post Covid-19 we will again focus on same, he tweeted. —ANI

369 REACH J&K Kathua: A group of 369 students, hailing from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, reached here on Monday from Kota onboard 15 SRTC buses.

391 REACH ASSAM Guwahati: Over 390 students of Assam arrived here on Monday from Kota at 3 am by buses and have been kept under institutional quarantine.

Delhi HC fixes rapid test kit price at Rs 400 New Delhi: Delhi HC has capped maximum price of each rapid test kit imported by Matrix Labs at Rs 400, including GST. “For the people to be assured that the pandemic is under control and for the governments to ensure, and for agencies engaged in the frontline battle to safeguard people’’s health, more kits/tests should be made available urgently at lowest cost throughout the country,” said Justice Najmi Waziri. —ANI

every possible help to people of Bengal stuck in diff parts of the country due to lockdown, in returning home. I’’ve instructed my officers to do the needful,” Banerjee said on her Twitter handle.

Banerjee assured everybody that she was personally overseeing the efforts and nobody should feel helpless.

“Till the time I’’m here, nobody from Bengal should feel helpless.

I’’m with you in these tough times,” she said.

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said it is not possible to bring back students stranded in Rajasthan's Kota until the lockdown guidelines are revised.

The CM made this remark during a video meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the situation arising out of the coronavirus. "A large number of students from Bihar are stranded in coaching centers in Rajasthan's Kota. Some states are bringing back their students. However, since the state is following the lockdown as per the Central government's guidelines. It will not be possible to bring the students back to the state until the guidelines are revised," Nitish said. —ANI

Cong asks PM to define lockdown exit strategy New Delhi: Ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s interaction with the CMs via video link on Monday, the Congress, demanded to know about the post-lockdown plan and the exit roadmap.

Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said the lockdown had been there for more than a month, but there had been no clarity on a number of issues.

“The lockdown can’t continue for long. We hope the Prime Minister will unveil some national plan to the Chief Ministers.”

Under section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, the states couldn’t make their

‘Maulana Saad not an absconder’ New Delhi: Advocate Fuzail Ayyubi, lawyer of Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad, on Monday, said that Maulana Saad is not an absconder as he has responded to the notices seeking information under Section 91 of the CrPC served by Delhi

Police in the Nizamuddin congregation case.

A search has already taken place at his residence in Delhi in the presence of his son. His native place in Uttar Pradesh has also been searched in connection with the case.

“Maulana Saad is not

an absconder, whenever he will be asked to appear before Delhi Police he will surely appear.

We have received three notices so far and we have responded to all three of them,” Ayyubi said. An FIR was registered against Saad in New Delhi. —Agencies

it is important that the limit of purchase on minimum support price (MSP) should be increased from 25% to 50% of the total agriculture production.

The Chief Minister has also raised the concern about industries and business and demanded a proper package. “The package should be on the lines of the one announced by former prime minister Manmohan Singh since Corona pandemic has badly affected industries and businesses,” he mentioned in the letter.

The Chief Minister said that the fiscal expenditure should be encouraged to bail out the economy at this challenging time. For this, the Union Government should immediately re-

lease the first installment of its share of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and the process of releasing the amount should also be simplified.

Through the letter the Chief Minister has made various other suggestions as well like a central scheme for salary payment of labourers, a scheme by centre to get the stranded labourers to their homes, restarting the inter-state supply chains, states being given freedom for economic and industrial activities, central purchase of medical equipments, interest free ways and means advance and making 2019-20 population the base for Food Security Act, increasing of net loan taking limit of states from

three to five percent and to immediately provide the GST Compensation and CST claims to the States facing severe revenue deficit.

PMO CLEARS FILE TO APPOINT TS TIRUMURTI AS NEXT AMBASSADOR TO UN

The PMO has reportedly cleared the file to appoint TS Tirumurti , currently posted as Secretary (Economic Relations) in MEA as India’s next Ambassador to the UN. He is a 1985 batch Indian Foreign Services officer. There were speculations earlier that Syed Akbarruddin, who is retiring this month, could get service extension.

Surjeet Singh Deswal is likely to be appointed new DGP of BSF. He is 1984 batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre.

plans until a national plan was finalised.

Tewari said the government didn’t anticipate Covid-19’s magnitude and took some steps in haste. But now the government must know what could happen, he added.

He questioned veracity of COVID-19 Task Force Chairman’s claim that there would be no case after May 16.

BARRING ONE NO SECRETARY GIVEN EXTENSION BARRING

Secretary, Health, Preeti Sudan, no other Secretary scheduled to retire by month end has been given extension in service. Earlier, it was believed that in present scenario, Secretaries retiring this month will get extension for 2-3 mths.

PRESIDENT ADMINISTERS OATH TO HIS OWN SECRETARY AS CVC

Probably for the first time in the history of President Secretariat, the President has administered the oath of office to his own Secretary, Sanjay Kothari as Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). Kothari, a 1978 batch retired IAS officer of Haryana cadre, was Secretary to President of India before joining as CVC. Incidentally, the new Secretary to the President, K D Tripathi, himself sought permission for his predecessor Sanjay Kothari from the President to initiate the oath taking ceremony in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

NEW VIGILANCE COMMISSIONER TO TAKE OATH THIS WEEK ?

Have directed Centre to provide food, counseling to needy: CJI

ties to the needy people during this COVID-19 lockdown,” CJI Bobde told reporters here. He said that the judiciary is doing whatever it can

POWER Gallery

DESWAL TO BE DG BSF?

RAGA RAISES PROFITEERING ON KITS

IN THE COURTYARD

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said that SC has given proper directions to the Centre to provide food, shelter, psychological counselling and other basic necessities to the needy people during the lockdown.

“We have given proper directions to the Central government to provide food, shelter, psychological counselling and other basic necessi-

07

at this time of crisis.

“It is up to the executive to decide how it can handle the situation effectively, as far as deploying money, relief materials and volunteers are concerned. It should ensure how speedily it can handle the crisis with a humane angle. The executive should thereby prioritise its system for expeditiously dealing with the crisis,” CJI Bobde said. —ANI

SC notice on plea for refund on air tickets New Delhi: The SC issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on a petition seeking airlines, both domestic and international, to refund the full amount of the tickets in relation to all flights cancelled due to the nationwide lockdown.

A bench headed by Justice NV Ramana, Justices SK Kaul & BR Gavai, said that the non-refund on the tickets booked for air travel after lockdown was “arbitrary.” —ANI

SC SEEKS CENTRE’S RESPONSE TO JOURNALISTS UNIONS’ PLEA New Delhi: The SC asked the Centre to respond to a PIL seeking directions to media houses not to sack journalists and non-journalists working with them during the Covid-19 lockdown.

“Other unions are

also saying this. The question is if business does not start, how long will they sustain?

The issue needs hearing,” a Bench of Justice NV Ramana, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice BR Gavai said.—ANI

tance of the use of technology as much as possible, and also to utilise time to embrace reform measures.

The prime minister said at the virtual meeting that India’s population is comparable to that of the combined population of several countries. “The situation in many countries, including India, was almost similar at the start of March. However, due to timely measures, India has been able to protect many people,” the statement said quoting the prime minister.

He, however, forewarned that the danger of the virus is far from over and constant vigilance is of paramount importance, it said.

He also urged the chief ministers to factor in the changes in weath-

er - advent of summer and monsoon - and the illnesses that can potentially come in this season, while strategising ahead. Citing experts, the prime minister said the impact of coronavirus will remain visible in the coming months.

Reiterating the mantra of ‘do gaz doori’ (maintaining distance of two yards) he said that masks and face covers will become part of our lives in the days ahead.

“The PM underlined that the lockdown has yielded positive results as the country has managed to save thousands of lives in the past oneand-a-half months,” the statement said.

The lockdown was first announced by Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the coronavirus endemic. It was further

CVC Sanjay Kothari is expected to administer oath of office to the newly appointed Vigilance Commissioner Suresh Patel this week.Patel was CMD of the Andhra Bank.

POST OF JYOTI ARORA UPGRADED TO SECRETARY RANK

The post of Jyoti Arora as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & IT, has been upgraded to Special Secretary & Financial Advisor rank. She is a 1987 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre.

POST OF B ANAND UPGRADED TO SECRETARY RANK

The post of B Anand as Secretary, NCMM, has been upgraded to Secretary rank. He is a 1987 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

POST OF NEEL KAMAL DARABARI UPGRADED TO SECRETARY RANK

The post of Neel Kamal Darabari as MD, Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium, has been upgraded to Secretary level.She is a 1987 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

POST OF BIDYUT BIHARI SWAIN UPGRADED TO SECRETARY RANK

The post of Bidyut Bihari Swain as Additional Secretary, Commerce, has been upgraded to Special Secretary level. He is a 1988 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.

POST OF APURVA CHANDRA UPGRADED TO SECRETARY RANK

The post of Apurva Chandra as Additional Secretary & DG, Acquisition, has been upgraded to Special Secretary level. He is a 1988 batch IAS officer of Maharashrata cadre.

FROM PG 1 PM Modi... demand of a one lakh crore rupee package for the states. Gehlot has also demanded that GST compensation to states should be increased from five years to ten years. Going back on his earlier demand, Gehlot has re-raised the demand for six month interest free moratorium for payment of loans taken by boards, corporations and companies.

Always the one to worry about farmers, Gehlot has also demanded in his letter that the minimum support price should be increased to fifty percent of the produce. Gehlot said, “Our priority should be to provide support to farmers at this hour of crisis. The farmers should get fair price on their produce for which

Modi talks...

“Prime Minister said that the country has seen two Lockdowns till now, both different in certain aspects, and now we have to think of the way ahead. He said that as per experts, the impact of coronavirus will remain visible in the coming months,” the statement added.

Modi also said that masks and face covers will become part of lives of people in the days ahead, adding everyone’s aim must be to ensure rapid response under the current circumstances. He emphasised on the impor-

extended till May 3.

“They spoke about the need to keep a close vigil on international borders, and also on addressing the economic challenge and ways to further boost health infrastructure,” it said without elaborating.

Among those present at the virtual meet, included Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and top officials from the PMO and the Union Health Ministry.

The CMS who attended the meeting included Arvind Kejriwal, Uddhav Thackeray, EK Palaniswami, Conrad Sangma, Trivendra Rawat & Yogi Adityanath. —ANI Inputs

Faulty China...

Earlier this month, around 5 lakh rapid an-

ti-body test kits and RNA Extraction Kits were procured by the government and distributed around the country after the ICMR recommended that every resident in coronavirus hotspots - or areas with a large number of cases - will be tested for the virus. —ANI

This institution... in-charge of IIM, Ahmedabad, and lawyer Gaurav Jain, and said as to why should the court hear him, if he does not have faith in the system.

RBI’s `50,000cr... on-tap and open-ended, and banks can submit their bids to avail funding on any day from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays). The scheme is available from April 27 till May 11. —ANI

Want a quick way to gain self confidence? Go ahead and DO that ONE thing which scares you the most!

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

POSTAL REG NO. JPC/010/2019-21 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

2ND FRONT JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

08

People will have to learn to live with new norms forced by Corona: CM Besides all these initiatives, economic assistance of Rs 2,500 has been provided to 33 lakh poor people who are not covered under the National Food Security Act and social security pension schemes.

Centre should hold states’ hands till economy revives Jaipur: With the Bhilwara Model paving way for the world to strategise in its fight against an unseen enemy -- the COVID-19 virus, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was congratulated by PM Narendra Modi for taking new initiatives to fight the pandemic during a VC held with the state CMs on Monday.

Gehlot said that the Centre needs to handhold the states till their economies are back on track while demanding a stimulus package for these economies. He highlighted the new changing world where social distancing, he says, will be sacrosanct and vows to work tirelessly till the corona battle is won…

Excerpts: z Rajasthan is being discussed all across the globe for its successful Bhilwara Model? The positive results are out, but what challenges were seen in the ‘textile city’ to make this

model a success and how were these challenges addressed?

Essence of Bhilwara Model is ruthless containment, strict compliance of the curfew and screening of the whole population of the district. Bhilwara challenge was unique because infection was found in doctors and other staff of a private hospital and without any knowledge, doctor continued with patient consultations and the source of infection was also untraceable.

The biggest challenge was screening and testing of the population of more than 3 million and to identify people who had come in contact with the infected persons and quarantine them. For this, extensive counselling of people had to be done. Ruthless Containment, strict compliance of curfew & Social Distancing were the key features of Bhilwara Model.

Around 2,000 teams carried door-to-door survey

for screening of whole population of the town. z The model has been shared in Canada too; any feedback from there?

The Ambassador of India to Canada showed keen interest in the Bhilwara Model and in his own wisdom, he shared the model with the Canadian Government. The ruthlessness with which the infection was contained in Bhilwara was appreciated by one and all within and outside India. The success of the model is shown by the fact that 25 of the 27 positive cases stand totally recovered now. I am not aware of any specific feedback from Canada. But part of best practices are put to use by different countries as per their suitability. z Your recent announcement to buy wheat under National Food Security Act scheme is yet again a very positive initia-

COOPERATE WITH MIGRANTS: GEHLOT First India News

Jaipur: Bracing up to welcome the stranded Rajasthanis from various states of the nation, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to the citizens of state on Monday to extend all help and give moral support to those returning home after a very hard period. The Rajasthan government has deputed teams of senior officers to coordinate with other states on the return of migrants. The Gehlot government had announced last week that migrant workers will be able to move out of Rajasthan or return to the state in a phased manner.

In a tweet on Monday, Gehlot said, “After much effort by state government, migrants of Rajasthan will soon be returning home from other states. These people suffered a lot during lockdown. Now when they return, it is our

CM Ashok Gehlot

tive for the poor? How does the state government plans to handle the plight of poor?

The State Government has been proactive in making all possible arrangements to ensure that not a single person remains hungry on any of the days. Regarding your question about purchase of wheat, we have decided to procure wheat from FCI at

market price i.e. Rs 21/kg and to distribute it free of cost to 60 lakh needy persons. We were probably the first state in the country to have announced an economic package of Rs 3,000 crore for the poor and destitute. Decision has been taken to provide 10 kg wheat per person for two months to the BPL, State BPL, and families covered under the NFSA.

moral duty to take care of them, provide them all help regarding food, medicines and quarantine facilities. My appeal to all is please give moral support to our brothers and sisters returning home after a very hard period. Following the culture of Rajasthan that we never leave our people in distress, take proper care of migrants.”

The migrant workers have not been able to return home due to the nationwide lockdown to contain spread of coronavirus. However, now

—FILE PHOTO

these workers will be able to reach their home only after getting necessary permission from state governments concerned and proper arrangements. For returning to the home state, the state government can be approached for the same through a helpline number (18001806127), eMitra Rajasthan portal, eMitra mobile app or e-Mitra kiosk.

After registration, the Rajasthan government will obtain consent from state governments concerned.

z What is your expectation from the Centre? You have been writing letters and holding VC with PM, has there been any satisfying feedback?

We expect that the union government would come forward with a stimulus package for all the states.

Centre needs to hand hold the states so long as their economies are not back on track. Proactive, state-friendly big policy decisions befitting the situation are expected of the Government of India. All dues that are payable to states need to be cleared at one go. z Please share your major concerns during COVID-19 and the way forward?

The experience so far suggests that the novel coronavirus is highly contagious and no definite cure is available.

Social distancing and using the mask, seems to be the order of the day. People will have to learn to live with new norms forced by

this pandemic such as social distancing, cleanliness of their surroundings, use of sanitizers and masks, work from home to the extent possible and above all to rely on credible sources of information only and not to be taken in by rumours. It seems crowded social ceremonies are to be put on hold for a fairly long period. z There is petty politics been played in the name of religion.

Your perspective on the same.

I would categorically state that corona does not differentiate between people based on caste, religion, nationality and any other denominators. We must combat this collectively with all the resources available at our command. It is unfortunate if somebody is indulging in petty politics at the cost of common good of masses. We will work with sole objective of saving the lives to the maximum possible. —IANS

Ahmed targets Centre over Corona curve started to flatten higher prices for test kits kits should in Raj: Dr Sharma Test be sold at lowest Vikas Sharma

CM Ashok Gehlot

z What challenges you see during COVID-19 crisis in terms of economic instability. Any way forward which the state govt is contemplating on to battle out the crisis?

With the view to bring the state economy on track and ensure growth at a faster speed, a task force has been constituted under the chairmanship of Arvind Mayaram (Retd. Finance Secretary, Govt of India).

Appropriate steps will be taken with proactive approach through continuous discussions with the experts and stake holders of all the sectors.

Even during the modified lockdown, the permitted activities are being supported to ensure that they resume and pickup their operations

without much obstacles.

Jaipur: The corona curve is now flattening in Rajasthan and the credit for the same goes to more testing, ruthless containment and better medical facilities. According to Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma, this could be achieved because of alertness of state government.

CM Ashok Gehlot has been personally monitoring the situation and finally, we are witnessing a decline in the number of cases.

“Not only the number of positive cases is on the decline but the number of patients getting recovered has also increased,” Dr Sharma claimed. He said that the moment a case appeared, state ensured all necessary arrangements were in place. “We im-

price, directed Delhi HC

Health Min Dr Raghu Sharma

posed a curfew, sealed the area, quarantined all suspects and provided the best possible medical care,” he said.

Dr Sharma, while talking about rumours of reducing tests in Ramganj said, “This is completely misleading. People have been spreading rumours, which is wrong.” When CM is serious about testing, there can be no question about conducting fewer tests. He said that the tests have been regularly increasing. Besides, we have been paying attention to patients suffering from other diseases.

New Delhi: A day after Delhi High Court asked to make COVID-19 test kits available at the lowest cost possible, Congress leader Ahmed Patel targetted the Central government over antibody test kits being purchased for Rs 600 per piece by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which were being imported for Rs 245 each.

“The recent Delhi HC judgement has raised a pertinent question - Why was ICMR purchasing antibody test kits for Rs 600 per piece, which was imported for Rs 245?” Patel tweeted asking the government to “clarify” the matter.

He said no one should profit at the expense of the poor in the midst of a pandemic.

The Delhi High Court had on Sunday directed

Ahmed Patel

—FILE PHOTO

The recent Delhi HC judgement has raised a pertinent question - Why was ICMR purchasing antibody test kits for Rs 600 per piece,which was imported for Rs 245? In the midst of a pandemic, no one should profit at the expense of poor Hope Govt clarifies this.

—Ahmed Patel, Senior Congress Leader that COVID-19 related tests should be made available to the general public at the lowest cost possible as the country is going through an unprecedented medical crisis affecting public order.

“The country is going through an unprecedented medical crisis affecting public order. People have

been cloistered in their homes or constrained to stay wherever they were on March 24. A profit mark-up of Rs 155 that is 61 percent on the landed cost price of Rs 245 is much on the higher side and in any case more than sufficient for the seller,” Justice Najmi Waziri said. —ANI

Justice Mohammad Rafiq takes oath as 31st CJ of Orissa HC Nizam Kantaliya

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal (L) administating the oath of office to Justice Mohammad Rafiq (R) as the new Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Bhubaneswar. Former senior Judge of Rajashan High Court and now former judge of Meghalaya High Court, Justice Mohammad Rafiq on Monday took oath as the 31st Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court. In an austere function at an auditorium near the Raj Bhawan Governor Professor

Ganeshi Lal Mathur administered the oath ceremony. Earlier High Court Registrar General SN Mishra and AG Ashok Parija welcomed Justice Rafiq.

Following the recommendation of the SC Collegium, President Ram Nath Kovind had transferred Justice Rafiq to Orissa High Court.

Justice Mohd.

Rafiq is second Ra-

jasthan HV judge to become CJ of Odisha HC after Justice KS Jhaveri. Justice Rafiq started his illustrious career with a humble beginning as a junior advocate in Sujangarh in 1984. He holds the distinction of being only advocate who held the coveted AAG post in both Congress & BJP regimes. He was appointed Judge to High Court on May 15, 2006 and Chief Justice of

the Meghalaya High Court on November 13, 2019. Interestingly, now three judges hailing from Rajasthan are appointed as Chief Justices.

With Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Govind Mathur and Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court RS Chaouhan, Justice Rafiq is the third Chief Justice from Rajasthan.

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BELLES OF BALLET Ballet is a beautiful art form, it is aesthetic, ethereal and lifts the soul of the Dancer and audience. City First peeks into the history of this dance form!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

B

allet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century. Noblemen and women were treated to lavish events, especially wedding celebrations, where dancing and music created an elaborate spectacle. In the 16th century, Catherine de Medici began to fund ballet

in the French court. Her elaborate festivals encouraged the growth of ballet de cour, a program that included dance, decor, costume, song, music and poetry.

A century later, King Louis XIV helped to popularize and standardize the art form. A passionate dancer, he performed many roles himself, including that of the Sun King in Ballet de la Nuit. By 1661, a dance academy had opened in Paris, and in 1681 bal-

let moved from the courts to the stage. The French opera Le Triomphe de l’Amour incorporated ballet elements, creating a long-standing opera-ballet tradition in France.

By the mid-1700s French ballet master, Jean Georges Noverre rebelled against the artifice of opera-ballet, believing that ballet could stand on its own as an art form. He introduced the ballet d’action, a dramatic style of ballet that conveys a narrative. Early classical ballets such as Giselle and La Sylphide were created during the Romantic Movement in the first half of the 19th century. This movement influenced art, music and ballet. This is also the period of time when dancing on the tips of the toes, known as pointe work, became the norm for the ballerina. The romantic tutu, a calf-length, full skirt made of tulle, was introduced. The popularity of ballet soared in Russia, and, during the latter half of the 19th century, Russian choreographers and

In India Ballet has not reached its full potential because we are so rich in our own culture of music and dance with so many different styles that exposure of Ballet has always been limited and there are not too many who are teaching it and performing it.

composers took it to new heights. Marius Petipa’s The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, by Petipa and Lev Ivanov, represent classical ballet in its grandest form.

Choreographer and New York City Ballet founder George Balanchine, introduced the neoclassical ballet, an expansion on the classical form. He also is considered by many to be the greatest innovator of the contemporary “plotless” ballet. With no definite storyline, its purpose is to use movement to express the music and to illuminate human emotion and endeavor. Today, ballet is multi-faceted. Classical forms, traditional stories and contemporary choreographic innovations intertwine to produce the character of modern ballet.

09

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JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

10

The EDGE of

SEVENTEEN

I

ild of f you’re a ch ughes I am, John H the ‘80s like in dee rc a major fo movies were not ay m u uth. Yo fining your yo for d ha u yo t ll wha be able to reca g, in n sterday mor y breakfast ye er ev still recite s but you can de ca de e thre reakfast Club” B he s.

“T ay w of s d ou wor ysteri n works in m cceslater. The brai is a strong su n” ee nt ve Se of e dg ix of biting “The E cy with its m ga le ’ aes gh u sor to H . With her fe ersweet heart tt bi ly el d K an or or hum r/direct g debut, write in e bl ak ta m la lm re fi e ture of th ig hits many ara st C e ar on at m th re F ents gst-filled mom snotes and an nre: the narci ge y ed am dr en in te g e in th ples of ng happen n that everythi sistic sensatio the awkwardt, an per-import n su is fe li r u yo identity withi er lacerating ling to forge an h gg ig ru h st of of ss er partner for h ne ok g n co ri re ar sp su y es wor th Bruner (a won kes pr d truer than the high-sta y teacher, Mr. an or st er ho hi w rk r ), da he on so ls in re wit ’s al ted Woody Har be, and it upschool. But it ully understa and seems ually dared to rf it us de s s e ke ar lm ta fi at e h s’ th s as l ay el w Hughe w in as s t n. On the acterization dishes it ou subordinatio in er dates his char s. h ce by en d di te joy their litndaun today’s au ly seems to en e of Seve n - u al essential for dg tu E e ac h e h “T y, , ou gh py rapport be ld contrar P ri m ar ily, th ats. The snap ai le e St ei n fe sp e H e es m h ti it th w e ch n t, ak m li gh tle lu d Har relson its center. An te en ” is a de n Steinfeld an diant star at ee ra tw . e st 10 th be 20 as ’s s’ g er lm e fi servin n broth es some of th eet, smart ee for the Coe ally is the sw ar on the scen st ly p ke Oscar nomin po li n a u d er an h Her ot tly nerdy but rue Grit” er versatileto), the sligh h version of “T s Sz n al de ve re ay (H er Erwin harbors a not ld furth al ly m oron ic assmate who rise, Steinfe cl ci t s so n u t ce do ye de en t ly ar trem -s m deep her. Szeto is a one and only it y as a wh ip ecret crush on Nadine. Her -s nefits greated so be d am he an , n ic y er at rk m pe is e ar teenag th ch d is : cute an fy expectach il dh oo d ngness to de (H al ey L u find li il a fr ie n d si n ce w st ’s ri K ig ra ed nd in creater-a dj u st n ly from C hool types. A sc sl ig h tly be tt ot h er, D ar ia h ig br h r t de ou ol H er erges as both , tions ab acter who em R ich ards on ). ar the wide-eyed ch as d, e an bl si A ka li , so the film’s en dy ing an (Blake Jenner in “E ve ry bo heartthrob by ’ a er es d ay gh an pl u o ll H er h ba se late o can a fres h m an ba some of the lden boy wh ts to go gh e e ri m th ig ca is ra ), it C !” a hen Wants Some! m ot h er, M on rticularly w ing . Much H er w id owed e wrongs, pa g. n th Just try watch t ro s. or w re o pp tu epared to take n su ca pr do ri to d ca ar ic en nteen” is h n te h ks ix et broad, ick), wor tick in “S Edge of Seve sh e y h k “T ac . w of s (Kyra Sedgw om g’ em k Don Craig seems azzled, singl you Long Du d zingy, but inging. an as cr y t e, in pp ou h zi ad family as a fr it N w r taking the stoas it al es” now miserable fo comfortable , precarious es and Candl ld as on or st m cEvery day is w ju or e h ol h en er w h e honest dire when h Nadine’s it must be w to sadder, mor ashing down joy being in cr ly en ry ri can imagine es to sa m u a es co r yo , ec te w n y was n’t her af won’t allo e finds a read s. She does with her brot immaturity the room. Sh nd hooks up ts dat- tion in ie up in a way ar fr st g on st in rs en h be pe th yt d st er an ev — p ng ra ki w the smarte in dr ith d pleasing. long night of going along w that’s tidy an sly. She tries e ou th ri of what se at a m st hi ri g in n and K ilarly, much ia m ar Si D g in in in compelling is s place it at first, jo es Nadine so that only take ak y rt m s pa ng in gi g n e isn’t alway out, tryi kind of ra at fact that sh she also acts th g t u in B s gh s. u ad ie la le s ov ble of teen m self. Thi ice. She’s capa some sense of cidental n frequent folac er e h vain to recoup th r e: fo nr lf ge se e er h th at of le ap m od e is sing mis to another st t her default bu ly embarras , ve es si li as m s a d sh e do es n’t note take sending of an th ro py, an Nadine’s love is , m 16 n 20 ’s it od e to a go e ca n be m ea sive. Sinc ook message ff er fo ol s. Sh eb su n ac F te a of al s C of e’ er sh d the form (Alexand impulsive an y named Nick e com- and ow n u n do sh er t,” h ho looking bad bo of so m im ct hi e vi ad e m th e vi es th is in art.) vert). (“God, ju ei n fe ld m ak d the film’s st St ar g. w in to y gl e h in of contradicuches: T ments long uing jumble any clever to ig m tr ’s e ig lk ra C ta erve to One of and alive. Sh orks up the n ons feel real w ti e in in p ad u ed N es e st te re first tim rue” queu es n’t se em in dau Ballet’s “T an hom- do th is gi rl be ke to li to Nick, Span as s h u at g m ak in ound in wh ggr n ck yi tr ba e e th th ed on th e in Even wh o’s pe rch en Candles.” er te h ix r “S fo n to io e at ag wom an h oo d. epar onta ge in pr a ed ge of gh u ake ro th e on-clothes m ac pl just tries to m h N ick ta ke s . And She ct d pe an ex t e— bi g n ig h t w it h u ig tr er fe el m than you m ely se ts h es at ak im different pris m lt u at ig h at ’s w oly to n e C ra ntures th th e m el an ch ine’s misadve ad love her.

N s u of n s io e’ risks sh e for this sect th of e pl eat exam is another gr EN-2016

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FA CE OF TH ED AY

SOURCE: HTTPS

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

SEVENTE

S/THE-EDGE-OF-

T.COM/REVIEW WW.ROGEREBER

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

On domestic front, your spouse needs to take of their health as over exertion may make them feel low. On academic front, you will make most of your time. Don’t keep quite in ego when it comes to the matter of love otherwise you will loose all that was special.

Females trying to conceive may soon get a good news. Some sudden expensive may ruin your budget but relax it will be an expense for some thing worth it. Some of you may feel inclined to pursue arts for career and your parents or dear ones may totally support you for it.

You may find yourself burdened with too many responsibilities on work front but this dedication will soon pay in a form of promotion or a hike in salary or may be both.

You are the back bone of your family and your parents are very proud of you.

You will feel very emotional for your parents in general. You are working very hard in preparing for the competition exams and your hard work will surely pay one day. Your new business is doing good but you need to have some patience when it comes to profit.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

On the personal front, you will do everything to sponsor the expensive education of your kid. You are a very good boss and you always keep everyone in consideration. You must deal with any difficult situation with patience rather then over overacting at that moment.

On the personal front, some of your are very keen these days to save as much money as possible.

Your close one may get married and you may be involved majorly in some or the other way. On academic front, your sharp memory will help you big time in excelling.

For youngsters the expensive rented accommodation may be getting difficult to manage so search for alternatives in advance, before things go out of hand. On academic front, you may face a tough competition but that will only make you ready to out stand.

You must surround yourself with fitness freaks to make it your lifestyle. On the personal front, you believe in healthy competition. You are very controlling but at the same time don’t forget to give some space to your kids. Your lover is totally awestruck by you.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

On the family front, you must refrain from doing anything that may hurt your family’s prestige. On the academic front, students will do justice to their preparations for exam. Do not irritate your lover by trying to control them, leave them free to decide whatever they wish.

Your senior is sometime bias towards you but that should not make you take him for granted. You are satisfied with your earnings at present. This is a very good time to start with any kind of construction.

On academic front, you may travel in future because of some quiz.

You must work out on changing your current lifestyle to see some positive changes in your life.

Property dealers may just make a huge profit in real estate market. You must pursue the career of your interest without any external influence in this regard.

You may just get the chance to become big at the time when you will least expect. The peaceful environment at home will help you to relax after some tiresome jobs. On academic front, you are focused and clear in terms of what you have to do with life.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

JUHI TOLANI, Influencer

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

REMINISCING

TACKLE

emotional eating

‘BADLA’ BADLA DAYS!

B

humi Pednekar will share health and nutrition tips to tackle emotional eating during the novel coronavirus lockdown.

“I have always strived to lead a balanced lifestyle and believed in the synergy of how nutrition, what we eat directly impacts our health and fitness. This lockdown, though extremely challenging for all of us because it has changed how we live life and exist, is also impacting our minds and that can throw off diet and nutrition in a big way,” said Bhumi, who will initiate the effort with her nutritionist.

“What we eat has a lot to do with how we feel - it’s connected and it’s mostly emotional.

This will create health and fitness issues and I want to share with everyone my nutrition journey through COVID-19 and I hope that people will find this useful.”

The actress has maintained a routine and stuck to her nutritious way of life all through the coronavirus pandemic.

—ANI

T

aapsee Pannu shared another throwback picture from her archives on Monday, reminisced the pre-shoot conversation in Glasgow with Sujoy Ghosh, the director of her 2019 thriller flick ‘Badla’.

In the capture, Pannu and Ghosh are seen engrossed in a conversation as the actor pointed out that one can never guess who is directing who.

Along with the picture she wrote, “A day before we kick-started the shoot of Badla in Glasgow. Just like this picture one can never guess who is directing who, who is the one talking n who is listening. But one thing is for sure the 2 ppl here love to have a conversation n that can range from the hair issues of this man to food issues of the woman.”

Pannu also recalled meeting the director 5 years back and added that she never knew ‘Badla’ would be the project they will be working on.

She shared, “5 years back when we met each other for the first time we never knew that THIS will be the film we will end up working on together

... her Insta

11

gram post

but now that we have, we surely know there will be many more times we shall surprise each other not just with films together but with more useless topics of never-ending conversations. Keeping the madness alive.#Throwback #Archive #QuarantinePost” —ANI

Taapsee Pannu

Alone, but together!

E

ven in times of social distancing, actor Alia Bhatt is chilling with her girlfriends - all thanks to technology! The 27-year-old actor on Monday took to Instagram and posted a screenshot of the video call she had with her gal pals. Split into seven-screens, all the girls are seen flashing huge smiles in the picture. Taking it to the captions, the ‘Raazi’ actor wrote: “Alone Together.”

Alia has been always been expressive on social media about the friendship she shares with her girl gang. Recently, the ‘Kalank’ actor shared glimpses from her 27th birthday that she celebrated with her friends. The

gang also included her friend Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and sister Shaheen Bhatt.

Earlier, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, too, was seen setting an example of ‘friendships in the time of coronavirus’.

—ANI

... her Instag

ram post

Bhumi Pednekar

A VIRTUAL DATE

S

everal cast members of the popular show ‘The Office’ are offering a chance to fans to meet them on a virtual coffee date. They have partnered with the fundraising organisation Omaze for the online coffee date for charity. People can make donations online to enter the run to meet the stars. The proceeds will go to the Variety Boys & Girls Club, the foundation provides families with meals, emergency supplies and activities during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kate Flannery, Melora Hardin, Ellie Kemper, Amy Adams along with many others from the show have made the announcement recently.

In addition to the virtual coffee session, the stars said they’ll share stories from the hit comedy show, which is aired in India on Star World. “We’re going to have so much fun. We’ll get to know each other, talk about the show, I’ll get your credit card information, stuff like that,” Bratton joked, adding: “And I’ll tell you some juicy, behind-the-scenes gossip.”

“Go now and join. Like, seriously, go right now. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. That’s what she said,” added Nunez, referencing the popular catch phrase from Steve Carell’s character Michael Scott.

—IANS

Scarlett Johansson

THE BEST CALL

H Alia Bhatt

Amy Adams

Melora Hardin

ollywood star Scarlett Johansson confessed that she was rejected constantly in her professional life, adding that she has “made a career out of being second choice. In a recent interview, the ‘Avengers’ actress looked back at her career. Since a very young age, I’ve been rejected constantly, the best call you can receive is after you are rejected for something and then you get it.

You appreciate it more. I’ve basically made a career out of being second choice,” she added.

—IANS

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

POSTCORONA EFFECTS!

A

recent snap poll conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry to assess the impact of the lockdown due to COVID 19 amongst the CEOs from CII Northern Region suggests that COVID-19 and resultant lockdown is likely to have a deep impact on Indian businesses.

However, on the positive side, three-fourth of respondents were of the view that India is better placed as compared to other countries in terms of handling this Pandemic. This is not surprising, given the fact that even without enough test kits, the 1.3 billion-population country is using a gigantic surveillance network to trace and quarantine infected people.

Many experts are of the opinion that lockdown has greatly helped in containing the spread of the infection. —City First

INSTANTLY ON INSTAGRAM!

Instagram has really picked up in the Lockdown period across all age groups.

City First delves into increasing the popularity of this social media platform!

JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

Since the lockdown happened I have more time than usual to spend on Instagram and honestly, I’m loving it. I am experimenting with my photography skills and also have included my parents in most of my videos, after-all they are also getting bored at home so why not have fun on social media. Being a content creator, I love exploring Instagram and lately, I’m hooked to their new filters such as gibberish, facial features, and also now you can create your own filter, I mean what you want on Instagram?

—ASHLESHA AHLUWALIA Beauty is God gifted and to maintain it is done by a beautician and experts. During this lockdown, I use social media to guide my customers and solve their queries by using Instagram live feature. Interacting on Instagram is very helpful to share ones views and give solutions or suggestions. Coming live on Instagram is the best way to connect ourselves without going out. Thereby it’s sharing and taking knowledge via the feature live on Instagram.

—KUNJAL RAWAL Social distancing has compelled people to find new ways to interact and communicate, including me.

I previously used Instagram to just post, like and view, but during the lockdown, I have seen people push their creativity to another level. As a professional photographer, I have noticed that people are using limited resources at home to create a photo studio finish on their pictures.

Apart from photography, people are also making videos and tutorials about different topics and it has helped me unwind and learn something new.

—SHARAD KUMAR

CITY FIRST JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

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nstagram is consistently staying ahead of the curve to remain one of the most effective forms of social media for business and personal both.

There are lots of reasons we

love using Instagram to share what’s new. Some features make it easier to engage. People say they like the options to like comments, reply to specific comments, ask questions and take polls in Stories, and send direct messages. Others help businesses manage their brands’ image on the platform.

These include archiving posts, adding usernames and hashtags into the bio, and saving other users’ posts into organized private collections. The latest features on Instagram are helping businesses sell products, with shoppable posts and product stickers within Stories. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

I am very happy on Instagram these days, definitely more than I used to be before the lockdown. One of the most interesting things that I have come across is the donation feature on the platform. You can see for yourself what hardships people are going through in areas near you and make a donation to a non-profit organization of your choosing. I think it’s a great feature which will ensure that help reaches the people who need it.

—GAURANG RAVAL

BRAINSTORMING! CITY FIRST

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ajasthan as a state is heavily dependent on tourism and the ongoing COVID 19 crisis has shaken the entire industry to its roots. Taking cognizance of the fact, Tourism Minister, Vishvendra Singh spearheaded the Rajasthan Revival Summit’ held at the Paryatan Bhawan on Monday.

He said that these are unprecedented times and we need to work together to rejuvenate the tourism sector. The meet-

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ing was held with all social distancing and masking norms. Rajsamand MP, Diya Kumari who is also the Member of the Parliament Consultative Committee of Tourism was also present. The Minister said all parties have to work together. It witnessed multifarious suggestions on reviving tourism in Rajasthan in these times of global pandemic and post-Corona.

The Minister said that an aggressive marketing campaign will be undertaken to project Ra-

jasthan as the preferred tourist destination for domestic tourists. He said new circuits will have to be worked on focusing on spiritual, wildlife and adventure tourism. The Palace on Wheels which had 98% foreign travellers will also focus on domestic tours. The Minister also suggested that the website of the Department needs to be revamped and social media be made more innovative and creative. He also informed that a committee on the health and hy-

Vishvendra Singh with Diya Kumari along with various tourism stakeholders at the ‘Rajasthan Revival Summit’.

giene issues has been formed within the Department. On a suggestion made by internationally acclaimed Kalbeliya dancer, Gula-

bo, the Minister replied that craftspersons and folk performers need to be looked after during these times and a package will be organised for

them as well.

The representative of Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) and Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Ra-

jasthan (FHTR), Randhir Vikram Singh said that there should be a toll-free number for the tourists so that they can get immediate information about the State. Other suggestions discussed pertained to the GST rates for hotels, reduction of GST rates, improvement in hygiene.

Quite a few of the Stakeholders of this sector were alos present at the meeting and gave their inputs.

Heritage Hoteliers like Pradeep Singh of Royal Heritage Haveli and Raghavendra Singh form Samode took part. The point of view of luxury hotels was put forward

by Abhishek Sharma from Trident and Ankush Mahajan from Oberoi Rajvilas. Conservationists, Rashmi Dickinson and Edward Dickinson and author Tripti Pandey added value to the evening as did Pradeep Bohra who put forth the issues with The Palace on Wheels and Jagat Rathore, representing the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Jodhpur.

Officials from the Department of Tourism included Sanjay Pandey, Manisha Arora and Anil Rathore, while Sreya Guha Principal Secretary, did not attend the meeting. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

RAJASTHAN: Dhruvika and Vishvaraj wait for their grandfather, Rajendra Rathore to finish his work so that they can spend some quality time with him during this Lockdown period. at their home in Jaipur.

AHMEDABAD: An artwork was drawn by artist Jayesh Patel as well as NGO Unity of Youngistan near Shukan Char Rasta and Kunj Mall Char Rasta in Nikol, Ahmedabad. The work was dedicated to all ‘corona warriors’ including doctors, sanitation workers, police and the media for creating public awareness about COVID-19.

GUJARAT: In order to provide assistance in a time of the COVID-19 public health crisis, Bank of Baroda donated 10,000 masks to the Urban Community Development Authority (UCDA).

The masks were presented to the organization by the general manager & zonal head of Ahmedabad zone Archana Pandey.

RAJASTHAN: During the ongoing epidemic coronavirus, the Founder of Vani Sanyam campaign, Vipin Jain and co-ordinator, Suresh Meena, presented 101 masks to District Collector KK Sharma on Monday.

RAJASTHAN: To boost the immunity of locals to fight physically against coronavirus, Arogya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Nayala, Jaipur distributed 2000 homeopathic medicine kits to the District Collectorate Office of Dausa District, District Superintendent of Police Office, CMHO Office, Police Stations, Media offices and more at Dausa district. The medicines have been prepared under the guidelines of the Ministry of AYUSH and Govt. of Rajasthan. The medicines have been distributed by Professor Dr Manish Arora, Medical Officer Dr Mamta Jajoria, Pharmacist Mohit Khandelwal and President of National Homoeopathic Doctors Association Rajesh Kumar Meena.