First India-Jaipur Edition-29 May 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

CORONA

32°C - 44°C

ALERT JAIPUR l FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 352

INDIA

WORLD

3,59,807 58,53,951 4,710 1,65,358 180 DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

 THE ORIGINATING STATE SHALL PROVIDE MEALS AND WATER AT THE STATION AND DURING THE JOURNEY

T

he Supreme Court Thursday directed that no fare for travel either by train or bus be charged from migrant workers, stranded across the country following the COVID-19 lockdown and want to return to their destinations, and said they be provided food and water.

The apex court, which passed interim directions, said all the migrant workers stranded at various places shall be provided food by concerned states and Union Territories (UTs) at places which shall be publicised and notified to them for the period they are waiting for their turn to board a train or a bus.

A bench headed by

RAJASTHAN

NHRC NOTICES OVER MIGRANTS’ HARDSHIPS NHRC has send notices to Union Home Secretary, Railways and governments of Gujarat and Bihar over hardships faced by migrants onboard trains due to delay in services and lack of food and water allegedly leading to sickness and death of some of them, officials said on Thursday. P8

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

8,067

CONFIRMED CASES

 SHOULD PUBLICISE PLACE AND PERIOD FOR PROVIDING FOOD TO STRANDED WORKERS

FUND TRAVEL, FOOD & WATER OF MIGRANTS: SC

‘Engaged with China to resolve row peacefully’ India said this while reacting to US President’s offer to mediate —PHOTO BY ANI

COVID-19 UPDATE

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Justice Ashok Bhushan said that the originating state shall provide meals and water at the station and during the journey, the Railways would provide the same to the migrant workers.

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Army convoy moving towards Zojilla pass, in Drass on Thursday.

‘All can see migrants’ pain, except Centre’

New Delhi: India on Wednesday said it was engaged with China to resolve the border issue, in a carefully crafted reaction seen as virtual rejection of US President Donald Trump’s offer to arbitrate between the two Asian giants in resolving their decadesold boundary dispute.

“We are engaged with the Chinese side to peacefully resolve it,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, re-

Congress President Sonia Gandhi delivers a video message as part of the party’s Speak Up India campaign.

New Delhi: Accusing the Central government of not listening to the plight of the migrants, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday demanded that government provide Rs7,500 to every needy family of the country for the next

six months and a Rs10,000 as immediate relief to them. In a video message, part of Congress ‘Speak Up India’ campaign, Sonia said, “Congress has decided to conduct this social campaign to raise the voice of India.

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plying to a volley of questions at an online media briefing.

The MEA spokesperson did not reply to questions like whether the US had approached India with the offer, whether New Delhi has communicated its response over it to Washington or whether the Trump administration has been briefed about the current standoff between Chinese and Indian soldiers in eastern Ladakh.

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MODI GOVT 2.0 1ST ANNIVERSARY A mother and child on board Shramik Special train fill up drinking water, at Mathura Railway Station on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

PULWAMA-TYPE TERROR ATTACK AVERTED IN J&K Pulwama: A major incident of a vehicle-borne IED blast was averted by the timely input and action by Pulwama Police, CRPF and Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said. According to sources, Pulwama Police got credible information last night about a terrorist moving with an explosive-laden car ready to blast at some location. They took out various parties of police and security forces and covered all possible routes keeping themselves and the police and security forces away from the road at safer locations. The suspected vehicle came and a few rounds were fired towards it. A little ahead this vehicle was abandoned and the driver escaped in the darkness. On close look, the vehicle was seen to be carrying heavy explosives in a drum on the rear seat. Possibly more explosive would be fitted elsewhere in the vehicle, sources added. —ANI

BANNED: ALL TRAVEL FROM FIVE STATES TO KARNATAKA Bengaluru: Karnataka has again suspended incoming transport from neighbouring states to contain the spiralling coronavirus infection in the state. This time the list has five states instead of earlier four. No flights, trains or other vehicles will allowed to come to the state from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the state said today.

State govt took the decision after it turned out that most of the fresh coronavirus cases have been of people travelling in from other states.

Event to see virtual rallies, PM’s letter to 10 cr families New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to organise one virtual rally per district to commemorate the completion of one year of Narendra Modi government. The party will also reach out to 10 crore families through a letter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will detail policy decisions of the government to make country self-reliant and precautions that need to be taken to prevent COVID-19 spread, informed Bhu-

pendra Yadav, party’s National General Secretary. Yadav also informed that party’s National President Jagat Prakash Nadda will address BJP workers across the country and abroad through Facebook Live.

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Congress will stand with Centre in crisis, hear us as well: Gehlot  During #SpeakUpIndia campaign, the Congress stalwart congratulated Sonia Gandhi for providing semblance to the voices of poor  CM demands special package for poor and states, speaks to Amit Shah on current situation

Naresh Sharma

GEHLOT DIALS UP AMIT SHAH

Jaipur: Congress party’s online campaign #SpeakUPIndia garnered support from every individual of the Congress party. While most leader kept their focus on the points on which AICC apprised them, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot gave a clear display of his political acumen by not only criticizing the central government but assuring that the Congress party would stand with the government in hour

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot spoke on phone on Thursday regarding lockdown.

Shah spoke with the Chief Ministers of all the states and took feedback from CMs regarding Corona situation in their respective states. Shah also sought suggestions from CMs and heard Gehlot’s suggestions as well.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

of crisis and demanded that the suggestions of opposition parties should be heard seriously.

“I would like to congratulate Congress President Sonia Gandhiji for strengthening the voice of lakhs of labourers of the country through the Speak

Up India campaign. As you know that after corona how lockdown was enforced suddenly, the problems thus faced by the nation cannot be expressed in words. Specially the visuals of migrant labourers walking home have pained the hearts of people. The

manner in which women are giving births on roads, children are dying, adults are dying on roads, this is something incomprehensible,” said the sensitive Chief Minister.

Gehlot said that it is for the first time “we are hearing that train leaves for Bihar from Mumbai and reaches Odisha. This has never happened in the past. The sensitivity which should have been there in the central government is no where to be seen otherwise the labourers would not have to walk for such a long time.”

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JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

02

HAPPY FAMILY

—PHOTO BY NADEEM KHAN

Indian spot-billed duck wades along with her ducklings in a pond to beat the heat on a scorching hot day in Ajmer on Thursday.

A FOOD SCAM IN THE OFFING IN DAUSA? Laxmikant Sharma

Dausa: The Dausa and Sikrai subdivisions have given a glimpse into what could be a big scam of cornering the benefits of the NFSA scheme.

The government machinery responsible for ensuring wheat distribution to the NFSA beneficiaries themselves is siding away with the wheat despite getting government salary for their jobs and all this happening in critical corona times when many poor, needy, destitute and migrants need to quench their hunger due to no other means to

—Pic for representational purpose only

gross irregularities by 611 government employees cornering away the wheat meant for NFSA beneficiaries.

This seems the tip of the ice-

do so. The administration is preparing to act against the guilty.

The physical verification in 16 village panchayats has revealed

Ensure no public spitting occurs: HC directs stateOgovt NT First India Bureau

Chandra, CEO

2020

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NO. JPC/010/2019

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d and issue risdiction’ order unSingh ‘defective ure from der press ’? Well, at than poJaipur: Rajas impec- gutka lobbywhat a PIL an is lice has had over the least that st the Rad again recor filed cable nment, history of jasthan Gover course of out the gov- targeting a recent order carrying mandate ef- issued by Director Genernment’s n to be e Bhupenfectively. Know ier po- eral of Polic says. prem dra Singh, one of the filed by in the counThe PIL, lice forces SK clad cate hi’ advo try, the ‘khak much to senior raised the men have given could Singh, has manuBut issue of gutka the state. going free Senior advocate SK Singh er’ have facturers their ‘pow d that of the due to an order issue gone past ing only gutka and t’s? Could bann nmen the sale of

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Kartikey Dev

facturers. paan manu no lorelease er DGP has the cops then s. Furth to issue the ibited, the the seized good cus standi it been proh order as citing the ring has aforesaid manufactu h Moreover, thed by direct conover whic dal’ unear comes under ‘scan not been, he that , “This domain of alists trol and the PIL reads non- two journ t, in or as proof of depar tmen h given sion Healt has confu Singh has overgiven a . Advocate this way DGP mandate clarity has escape pointalso cited two inhis oor ed reach has is clear backd wherein iction. It offenders and jurisd stances route to the that facturpolice and also prayed upon ry (gutka manudealers Jawaja Ajmer SP endent inqui later the - an indep ers, wholesale ordered into nue with transporta should be busted etc) to conti and gutka and the facturing, dubious tion of of the manu packaging seized the goods but malafide conduct storage, order, of d to tive tion force defec porta DGP’s were later and trans ectly s and once release the same un- which has indir their good the -crore then of ht a multi der the garb ’ and granted ed they are caug ment is order to the accus ‘defected their argu the relief seized good has even gone to dealers.” that these ing gutka Singh r is likely claim sale.” to matte for DGP Bhupendra h The lengt were not ed up for hearioner has issued an ‘DGP dilut The petit DGP Singh nt’s to come e the bench is a that Minister, ioning that Governme that this befor Jusorder ‘ment of gutka claimed ver, the Chief the State 18 to ing ed by Chief c speeches, sale loophole in is order of May r head the publi majo his nty. to only in 2 e benefit tobacco prod- DGP’s order that Indrajit Maha his October and other it give undu te gutka/ tice including bited’. Sinti speech, priva used for benef ucts is prohi Gandhi Jayan that being a lobby since some y announced gh has contested by gutk had clearl . sale has sale of gutka although to ban the on May 21, However,

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us le to vario and as . peop Khachariyaw s- state borders their The Tran buses times to The othster some districts in port Mini Nearly 3.7 conducted 11,500 perJaipur: ex- home s with the le stranded rounds to ferry said that an of er state of concernlakh peop in s iture laplace on pend at various - migrants, stucrore missi were facili Rs 15.20 state. bourers, Rajasthan red ing thanked to their their was incur The minister tated to reachthrough dents to Singh ays staff, drivs i o n s Pratap on this. destinat a- the roadw riyawas native place ctors for Khachariy lock- Khacha ays buses ers and condu during the state roadw the buses. aclockdown their servic was said that down for free, during the stranded Transport state goves took the cording to period, the Singh Sunp said on Minister Prata ernment day.

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The Division Bench paan, gutka, and tobacco in public places” directed that Advocate and Regulation No. 5, General will ensure with respect to the sale the compliance of the directions of the State was deleted.

RS Chauhan life: Justicewhich Government Advocate Singh furperience... from ex s, ok bo m ined fro Knowledge is ga ther pleaded in the are issued to prevent court that he is satis- spitting at public placfied with the decision es and in this way the of the Government but PIL was disposed off directions may be by the court.

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t High : Two days Hon’ble Gujara the state govNew Delhi of e Minister the conduct t situation in back, Prim Modi visely ernment & presen Narendra als are extrem as he did not public hospit cyclone-af but since ited the It should serve ra am Fans al of Odisworrisome. for the governjoin, Yadr Rajendra Chhab fected areas place r unced a an eye opene sent in his was was ha and anno relief are Ther e he too ment Chur u: Rs 500 crore state. wher e and ted out after greetings on the st in area s for shun ge heartie certa packa three I convey my law does on man, mere ly Eid Mubarak! Id-ul-Fitr even the h To the comm r as the of of Eid medd le too mont hs. In marc the occasion Solidarity is the true spirt not like rs. it could appea effect’ ndra Kuwho have & the affai Compassion this Eid to assist all those 2019 , Raje much in ‘cause and mic. te place in poste d and There was to this pande Let us dedica One such appe ars mar was principal. suffering due stay for e) that endured grave he could Raja sthan hs a cyclone (causon the u where in only four mont —FILE PHOTO , to be Chur rained havoc tribal ashpandeinc sche me July 2019 @avin ent E in the curr PAND of and the and AVINASH people Naveen Patnaik Gaut am in the it appears are struggling its effect, Pradhan with Tejaswini While people the Pandemic of things, ChPradhan along local Dharmendra state and in SP well. big as lled d not to for his is trave b’ , it is was poste suffering due that all gly, PM Modi is ‘honeycom ‘bees’, bol- flight sma is busy making Inter estin sthan i say- uru. ver, what fact that he cs and chari rate situation, Govt of citizens.

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2019 Vika believe every ruover VC to d PM Modi Janu ary d IG Jose struction cal observers was the to each and rs.

Sounds panie was poste While the an Shar ma the party leade ral household. min- aerial tour. that Pradh the ster took of PM’s bizarre? Well, like a Prime Mini ‘architect’ g further was istry, that visit, givin the estabpoints, impetus to through these l besaid that t of appea Cour ts also to the ambi . Focus on ty, some are an advocate, new comes large and dacoi statewith per, faces most contradictory associated and har- the field in prepara- ments. Study the postson like rape murder, difficulty apnarcotinal othm report, tion of crim nsible for in assment and that morte and keep sect against the peal. He suggested expe- respo IPC repor are and n. ics t. some knowledge can take ers’ actio treason. d be from the FSL repor 35 meniya country like crimes start shoul that is the mind much tion 34 and rience. “We Nizam Kantal adse some borate how from books tion this and thus r FIR becau There are cu- Corro knowledge can gathe iary as us the prose the lockhelp you should know what gives against judic g false base for can not cution. A Jaipur: With and so- and life is e vocates givin the Telan s,” Justic from prose tion and they is well like about it,” down in effect being experience while under deviate from it. After Fauzdari advocate if Justice, ent cing said.

Chief statem s find and gana Chauhan cial distan also detail er of facts ng the FIR, ed his caa few printhe day, the oath. CRPC the “There are who start le or readi ns does mast know the order of adlaw not sectio bailab an nal as as he does Bar Coun crimi out which crimes his reer in 1983 cipals of Rajasthan e, cogniza- the crime fall in and facts of the case, ninth sesthe first prin- vocate, said. e non-bailabl diwhich able becom ingre of r. cil held the s ogniz the Chauhan the webina nar on common law, ble or non-c are spe- then study section, go argument personal Justice RS Chauhan during sion of webig which cipal is of any . Even Chief Justice that every ed that before and then there POCSO ents of this the weak Telangana HC also matSunday durin of Tel- which states To stress for examlike the facts of be termed appearance ce innocent. cial laws or intention e through action can the judgadvocate,” reChief Justi Cour t - person is we also pping, rape, and others,” Justic guilty is ters of any case and read nal, two facts accused whichtion, ra- ple kidna ofprove him angana High reading the CJ Justice Chauhan omic said. lity of crimi to it need to be Chauhan ment after responsibi term as inten ledge, socio-econ es are of Chauhan lated judge the is Justice RS ates. t. er what and facts. or know the semi The form gover nmen go told advoc fence. Crim and FIR studied. First, has been tionale state you addressed types like of Rajasthan n is reinal apthat “When several High ed to nar on crim art of Every perso their ac- the action example a he said. there are ataka are relat for the , for “However, h some theft Karn peals and . sponsible sometimes taken And secin court actions whic erty like but theft or rape.

- some set prop argument advo- tion circumd of mind is the mind g ond, what there are Addressin the are devoi ce Chauwhere one set or psychology of cates, Justi there is stances be termed han said that ence in person can always a differ

‘Govt will conduct a fair probe into SHO Dutt’s case’ First India Bureau Jaipur: Government chief whip Dr Mahesh Joshi said that government will conduct a fair probe into SHO Vishnu Dutt Vishnoi’s suicide case. Dr Joshi who was on a day’s visit to Nohar told First India News that the government has complete faith in the state’s investigating agencies.

“There is no need for CBI inquiry,” he said.

Dr Joshi who was welcomed at state presi-

AY, MAY 25, JAIPUR | MOND

PIL! charge in HC and dubious’ e id af al ‘m s P face An honest DG —Jagdeesh

POSTAL REG

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Jaipur: Days after a news was published in First India, titled “An Honest DGP Faces Malafide and Dubious Charges in High Court PIL,” and on the very same day state government lifted the ban from tobacco gutka and paan masala.

Thereafter, the PIL of Advocate SK Singh was listed before the Chief Justice Indrajeet Mahanty and Justice Satish Kumar Sharma which was heard on May 27, wherein, Advocate SK Singh informed the Court that on 11 pm on May 25, regulation no. 4 was added in the Rajasthan Epidemic

2ND FR

on of the pious occasi Greetings on is a day of Eid Al-Fitr. Eid have and caring we sharing what ness to all! and happi for others. Joy Editor, First India

Dr Mahesh Joshi

dent of Congress OBC cell Shravan Tanwar’s home said that the government has been conducting a probe into this matter sincerely, however, the opposition has been doing politics in a sensitive matter.

Girl stranded in Delhi reaches Raj via Shramik bus

‘Practice hygiene & keep your family healthy’

berg and the number of guilty government employees could cross thousand in all 41 village panchayats of the Sikray subdivision. The investigation has many names which include government teachers and railway employees.

The NFSA scheme started in 2013 has a provision of distributing wheat and rice to various identified and listed sections at subsidized price of Rs 3, 2, and 1 per Kg. The matter surfaced when the quantity to be distributed fell short of requirement despite receiving it in full as per records. Local MLA Mu-

rari Lal Meena is miffed at the disclosure as he is in touch with as many as 2000 NFSA listed people who haven’t received the grains yet. The administration might be patting its own back on the revelation but the question is that despite proper norms to register as an NFSA beneficiary how did government employees get their names on the beneficiary lists.

Sikray SDM Haritabh Aditya said that during the physical verification 611 state and central government employees were found to be among the beneficiaries surprisingly.

Cabinet secretary holds meet with chief secretaries

Speak India Drive: Cong raises voice of labourers Traffic cops distribute

First India Bureau Jaipur: Central Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a VC with the chief secretaries of the states to take stock of the corona situation and to take feedback on the future course of lockdown. CS DB Gupta told Gauba about the steps taken so far in lockdown 4.0 and steps taken to resume 70-90% industrial activity in the state. Gupta gave a brief on the management of the health sector and briefed particularly about successful Bhilwara and Jaipur models. CS Gupta discussed the way forward after May 31 to increase the pace of the economy.

Sachin Pilot

First India Bureau Jaipur: Deputy CM and PCC chief Sachin Pilot spearheaded the social media campaign to raise the issues of migrant workers, labourers, small traders, and farmers. Sachin Pilot demanded that it is the duty of the central government to relieve these sections of society of

First India Bureau New Delhi: Shramik special buses by state are proving to be a blessing for stranded people.

Young Chanchal who went to Delhi two months ago with her mother for eye treatment returned home on this bus. DGM Rajasthan House, Delhi said under supervision of Resident Commissioner TJ Kavitha and Commissioner of Rajasthan Foundation Dheeraj Srivastava so far 55 shramik special buses have carried 1412 stranded people.

their misery.

A large number of congressmen including state in-charge Avinash Pande, many ministers including Dr Raghu Sharma, chief whip Dr Mahesh Joshi along with thousands of congress workers joined the social media campaign on the call of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi for the Speak India initiative to raise the voice of hitherto unheard sections.

Pilot asked the central government to transfer money directly to respective bank accounts of people who can’t even pay income tax. Pilot said that the state government is successfully trying to help these people with its outstanding work on MNREGA.

Mamta Bhupesh, KK Pathak and Anupama Soni at the event.

First India Bureau Jaipur: Women and child development minister Mamta Bhupesh said that women will have to practice hygiene in order to keep their families healthy. She was speaking on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day on Thursday.

The minister said that women should not neglect their health because of the corona pandemic. She said that in this difficult time, they have far more burden on their shoulders than before to take care of their families. This can only happen if the women stay alert about their own health.

sanitary pads, masks

ACP (Traffic) Rahul Prakash & team distributes napkins & masks.

First India Bureau Jaipur: Menstrual Hygiene Day is being celebrated across the world on May 28. Jaipur Traffic Police organized an awareness campaign for making girls & women aware of hygiene during menstruation days. On final day of the awareness week Additional

Commissioner (Traffic), Rahul Prakash distributed sanitary pads, masks, and sanitizers in the presence of many traffic police cops.

Prakash said that his team tried to make women aware of their hygiene during critical days during the whole week in different areas of city along with the distribution.

Mehta, a native of Dungarpur becomes Kerala CS Dr Vishwas Mehta, a native of Rajasthan & Kerala’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) as well as over-all-in-charge of Covid-19 will be the next Chief secretary of Kerala.

The decision to this effect was taken in a meeting taken by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Mehta, is a 1986 Indian Administrative Service senior officer and will take up his new post on May 31.

Neeti Gopendra Bhatt

B

orn to Pritam Kumar Mehta and Savita Mehta in an ordinary family in the town of Dungarpur of Rajasthan, Dr Vishwas Mehta had his initial education in Chandigarh due to his father being abroad. He also studied for some time at St Patrick School in Dungarpur. After the father's foreign return, he again moved to Chandigarh with his parents. Where his father was a Senior pro-

fessor in Punjab University. While living there, Vishwas studied till graduation and post graduation in BSC & MSC in Geology with gold madal. After this, in 1983, he was elected as the Executive Officer of Steel Authority of India and later ONGC. Later he got selected in IPS in Madhya Pradesh cadre but did not join the IPS service and studied for civil services examination.

He was selected as Indian Administrative Service officer in August 1986 securing 9th

Dr Vishwas Mehta

Rank and got Kerala cadre. Later, he also did MBA and got PhD from Mohanlal Sukhadia University while being Director of Western Cultural Center Udaipur.

Having tied knot with Preeti, grand daughter of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Haridev Joshi and daughter of Dinesh Joshi, former Chairperson of Banswara Municipality, this son of Vagad has moved forward by constantly reviving the name of his region.

Being the director of Udaipur Western Cultural Center, Vishwas Mehta started Vagad Mahotsav on the foundation day of Dungarpur.

Right from the princely times, the sup-

port of educational talent and through it has been the talent of the land of the Vagad region coming forward and due to this, many talents of the region along with the former royal family of Dungarpur have reached various national and international levels.

Having held many important positions, on Wednesday, Vishwas was selected to the post of Chief Secretary of Kerala, illuminating the name of his home district Dungarpur and his state Rajasthan.

RAJASTHAN JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

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BRIEF l Jaipur: Pradesh Congress Secretary and Being Sindhi Foundation President Sunil Parvani has expressed grief over the demise of former Justice Indrasen Israni.

Pravani said that irreplaceable damage has been caused to the Sindhi society. Justice Israni worked to connect Sindhi society with Congress. Health Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma also paid tribute to Justice Israni and said that he played an important role in the legal field. l Jaipur: The police have arrested two more accused, Bunty Sharma and Sitaram Meena, in the murder case of Amarsar Sarpanch Omprakash Saini in Shahpura. So far, 7 people have been arrested in the case.

The incident took place on May 18. The details were revealed by IG and Jaipur Rural SP Shankar Dutt Sharma through a press conference. l Jodhpur: A Bilara resident Advocate Narayan Rathore was found dead in an old pond of the Sojat police station area.

The deceased’s burnt car has been recovered from the Chanvadia village of Pali district.

Rathore used to wear about 1 kg gold. The video of his burnt car has come out. l Bharatpur: The owner of Santoshi Guest House Dinesh Singh near Hiradas Bus Stand committed suicide by hanging himself due to depression. The family members of the deceased revealed that he was worried due to economic problems during the lockdown. l Churu: A case of violation of Article 144 has been filed on 20-25 unknown people present in the protest involving Rajendra Rathore. The protest was carried out on the issue of drinking water supply in Ratannagar. While the police registered the case carefully without using any names, BJP has made the outline of the protest after the case was filed. l Chomu: A youth got injured in the firing done by unknown miscreants in Kaladera on Renwal road.

After the incident, CO Sandeep Saraswar and SHO Dharm Singh reached the spot.

SEVEN DEATHS, 251 NEW CASES REPORTED IN RAJ

Death tally reached 180, while there are total 8,067 patients in state First India Bureau Jaipur: The corona positive tally touched 8067 on Thursday with addition of 251 positives in last 24 hours. The death toll due to corona also rose to 180 with 7 deaths reported on Wednesday. One patient each from Alwar, Banswara, Dausa, Jaipur, Karauli and Nagaur died. One patient from other state also died.

Maximum 69 new cases were reported from Jhalawar followed by 64 from Jodhpur, 32 from Pali, 12 from Bharatpur, 10 from Sikar, 9 each from Kota & Nagaur, 7 each from Bikaner, Jaipur & Jhunjhunu, 6 from Ajmer, 5 from Churu, 4 from Dausa, 3 from Hanumangarh and one each from Bhilwara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jalore, Sawai Madhopur & Sirohi.

One patient from other state was also diag-

Fire department vehicle sanitising streets and vehicles at Jorawar Singh gate. —PHOTO BY NAIM KHAN

nosed positive. State now has 3072 active cases under treatment in hospitals. active cases of corona. 4815 have turned negative from positive.

4249 have been discharged from hospital.

Jaipur leads the most positive cases tally with 1909 cases followed by Jodhpur 1375, Udaipur 523, Nagaur 425, Kota 423, Pali 413, Dungarpur

333, Ajmer 316, Jhalawar 204, Chittorgarh 175, Sikar 174, Bharatpur 165, Tonk 163, Jalore 154, Sirohi 142, Rajsamand 135, Bhilwara 135, Jhunjhunu 109, Bikaner 101, Barmer 92, Churu 90, Banswara 85, Jaisalmer 68, Alwar 51, Dausa 50, Dholpur 45, Hanumangarh 24, Sawai Madhopur 20, Pratapgarh 13, Karauli 12, Baran 8 and

Sri Ganganagar 5.

Apart from these 50 BSF jawans, 2 Italians, 14 from other states and 61 Indians evacuated from Iran.

On Thursday Jaipur reported 7 new cases. 2 cases were from Nandlalpura and one each from Bhojpura, SMS Hospital, Mansarovar, Amer Road and Shashtri Nagar.

RAJCOMP SCAM: NOTICE TO ACB DG AND SIX OFFICIALS First India Bureau Jaipur: HC issued notices to DG (ACB) and six others in an alleged scam in RajCOMP. The petitioner, Public against Corruption (PAC), claimed that RAJCOMP paid around Rs 2.40 crore even though neither the software was created nor it was in-

stalled in the computer.

Advocate Poonam Chand Bhandari and Dr TN Sharma told the court that Atishay Limited was given work order of and paid Rs 2.4 crore. But, the company did not deliver.

The petitioner also alleged that despite its complaint no action was taken by the ACB. After

Dholpur: Six die in different incidents Dholpur: A total of 6 deaths, including 4 women and 2 minors, were reported in Saipau in different incidents on Thursday. In the Saipau police station area, a married woman was killed for dowry, while another newly married woman was murdered by some of her family members.

In another incident, a woman was kidnapped by some people from her home and was brutally murdered, while a widow was beaten and hanged to death by her

PIL over jobs on fake docus disposed First India Bureau Jaipur: HC disposed off a PIL asking the petitioner to approach the appropriate authority.

The petitioner had filed the PIL alleging that IT department recruited people on basis of fake documents.

However, division bench of CJ Indrajeet Mohanty and Justice Satish Sharma asked the petitioner Rohitash Saraswat about not fling FIR in this matter. The bench also asked him to

approach authority.

Representing the petitioner, advocate Poonam Chand Bhandari informed the court that Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) had recruited analyst cum programmer and deputy director in the IT department in 2013-14. He also alleged that people got the job with fake documents citing case of one Parag Kachchawa who failed in the general category but got the job in OBC in violation of rules.

First India Bureau Jaipur: High Court has rejected demand for CBI inquiry into the suicide case of police officer Vishnu Dutt Bishnoi. Justice Sabina and Justice CK Songara’s division bench gave this ruling on a PIL filed by advocate Sonia Gill.

The petitioner had sought CBI inquiry into suicide case of Vishnu Dutt Bishnoi who was SHO of Rajgarh police station in Churu District. She claimed that many politically influential people suspected to be involved in this matter as the deceased police officer had alleged po-

Jaipur: State BJP President Dr Satish Poonia demanded CBI inquiry in SHO Vishnu Dutt Bishnoi’s suicide case.

In a letter to CM Dr Satish Ashok GePoonia hlot, he said that deputy LoP Rajendra Rathore, MP from Churu Rahul Kaswan and BJP MLA from Nokha went to the spot on his instructions.

They sat on dharna demanding fair probe and help to the family of deceased officer, which ended after agreement on the demands. Besides LoP Gulab Chand Kataria and union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjunram Meghwal and Kailash Choudhary too wrote for CBI probe.

A special Abhishek of lord Ganesha was done with 51 kg milk, kewra water and itra at Moti Dungri Ganesh temple on Pushya Nakshatra on Thursday. The prayers were offered by Mahant Kailash Sharma, in the presence of the Mahant family and pujaris. The general public was not allowed in the temple due to the lockdown, but arrangements were made to see the prayer online. The raksha sutra and charnamrit prasad will be distributed after the lockdown.

Not flying high: Flights cancelled, not following schedules Air connectivity to West Bengal could not start even on the fourth day of flight operations, which is largely because of opposition from WB government

Kashiram Chodhary Jaipur: Thursday was the fourth day of the start of domestic flights, but the operation of flights is not increasing at Jaipur Airport. A relatively higher passenger load was seen on Thursday, but 11 out of 20 flights were canceled, including 6 SpiceJet flights, 2 IndiGo, 2 Air Asia and 1 Air India.

Air connectivity to West Bengal could not

start even on the fourth day of flight operations.

IndiGo airline has given a schedule to start a flight from Jaipur to Kolkata, but due to opposition from the state government of West Bengal, the flight operation has not been approved yet. Sources associated with the airport administration say that the flight to Kolkata may start from today.

Out of 20 flights of 4 airlines to be operated from Jaipur Airport, 10

FLIGHTS CANCELED FROM JAIPUR AIRPORT ON THURSDAY Flight SpiceJet SpiceJet IndiGo Air India IndiGo SpiceJet SpiceJet SpiceJet SpiceJet Air Asia Air Asia

Destination Surat Jalandhar Mumbai Agra Kolkata Mumbai Udaipur Amritsar Guwahati Bengaluru Pune

Woman’s paramour kills her husband First India Bureau

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

lll

litical pressure in his suicide note.

However, the High Court said that it’s beyond its judicial purview to hear PIL in this type of matter.

However, if the family members of the deceased police officer wanted, they could file criminal miscellaneous petition.

Aishwarya Pradhan

First India Bureau

mother-in-law, brotherin-law and others.

On the other hand, the storm caused an accident where people inside a house were buried under debris due to the collapse of a house.

In the incident, 3 people died while one got injured.

Understanding the importance of removing the stigma surrounding mensuration and in order to spread awareness about #MenstrualHygiene our @BJP4Rajasthan govt. took the responsible decision to make sanitary napkins free and easily accessible to women in rural areas.

‘Order CBI probe in Dutt’s case’

IN DIVINE PRESENCE

hearing them out, Justice Sabina issued notices to then additional director of UID Aadhar Hansraj Yadav, Aadhar deputy director Ranvir Singh, project officer Sitaram Swaroop, then financial director Nilesh Sharma, manager (finance) Kaushal Gupta, MD of RajCOMP and DG of ACB.

Jaipur: One Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and 14 Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officers have been transferred. IAS Devendra Kumar has been deputed as SDM Sumerpur. RAS Naseem Khan-Deputy Director, Minority Affairs; Santosh Kumar MeenaSDM Aklera; Gomati S h a r m a - S D M Rani,Pali; Sunil AryaSDM Bayana and Bharat Bhushan Goyal-SDM Deoli.

Vasundhara Raje @VasundharaBJP

HC rejects demand of CBI inquiry in Rajgarh SHO suicide case

1 IAS and 14 RAS officers transferred

First India Bureau

03

Time 5:45 am 7:20 am 6:40 am 7:35 am 4:45 pm 8:00 am 9:45 am 11:15 am 2:15 pm 9:15 am 5:15 pm

flights were operated from on Wednesday and only 9 flights were permitted on Thursday.

Out of these, the SpiceJet airline gave the schedule of maximum 8 flights, followed by IndiGo with 6 flights and Air India and Air Asia with 3 flights each. But in the last four days, all 20 flights have not been operated on a single day so far.

The way airlines are not being able to operate flights as per their

schedules has increased the hassle for passengers.

Actually, the passengers who have already booked the flight, their tickets are being canceled. In lieu of this, the passengers are not even getting back their amount. Instead, the airline is keeping the amount as a credit shell. In such a situation, if the passengers do not meet any schedule again, they will not get a refund.

Jaipur: The police have resolved murder case of accountant Suresh Chand Sharma in Bagru industrial area which happened two days ago.

The police arrested paramour of his wife from Brahmpuri and is also investigating role of the deceased person’s wife in the crime. DCP Kavendra Singh Sagar said that the arrested person Pooran Mahawar was resident of Joshi colony Brahmpuri.

The wife of the victim had called the police control room on the night of May 26. She asked to search for her husband.

The police found her husband’s body in the industrial area.

PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

CONG BACK IN BUSINESS WITH #SPEAKUPINDIA

STATES ACTION PLAN TO RESTART ECONOMY DR GS SANDHU

W

ith political outfits like the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party adopting a soft approach towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress is playing the role of Opposition effectively. It is surprising to see how feeble the voices of Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati become when it comes to attacking the BJP for the mess it has made of the migrants issue and also of the pandemic. Neither the people nor the economy have benefited from the abrupt and long-extended lockdown. Disrupting the lives of about one crore migrant workers and leaving them helpless and hungry has been the biggest humanitarian crisis of recent times. And the biggest irony is that there’s none to hold the government accountable for its disastrous failures. On the contrary, the ruling party may claim success in handling the crisis in virtual rallies and media blitz planned to celebrate the completion of one year of Narendra Modi government’s second term in office on May 30.

Like a lone crusader the Congress Party is fighting on for the poor. On Thursday the party launched a massive campaign suggesting ways to ease the burden of common man, who has suffered the most during the lockdown. The campaign has also been launched on various social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi, who launched the campaign along with her MP son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, reiterated her demand for cash transfer, ration distribution, support for migrants and MSME sector and increased work days under MGNREGA. Priyanka seized the moment to attack the BJP. She urged the BJP to keep aside politics and work for the people during the ongoing crisis. She referred to the alleged attempts being made to destabilise the Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath government’s refusal to allow buses to ferry migrants. She also attacked the UP CM for arresting Ajay Kumar Lallu, president of Congress’s UP unit.

Congress Party has been consistently raising these issues and debunking the government’s effort as being inadequate. In fact, party’s demand for direct cash transfer is also backed by Nobel Prize winning economist Abhijit Banerjee. By launching its #SpeakUpIndia campaign the party has sent a message to the ruling party that its claims on relief packages will not go uncontested. The campaign is also aimed at striking a bond with the people thousands of whom have been reduced to penury.

This is the first such campaign by the Congress during this pandemic and drew an overwhelming response on Twitter. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. #SpeakUPIndia garnered nearly 2 lakh posts using the hashtag. With a feeling of disappointment running across the country, this could be Congress’s answer to BJP’s campaigns like “Main bhi Chowkidar”. It may help the party find its magic.

The author is a retired IAS, Rajasthan

C

entral Government has announced its grand economic package to kick-start economy.

The package lacked direct cash transfers to the poor, unemployed and MSMEs, something considered essential to boost demand. Instead, it lay focus on credit flows and reforms in a few sectors. This evoked sharp reactions from some states and economists, as demand-side concerns had not been addressed. But the Centre continued to justify the package.

The focus has now shifted to the States- they are expected to initiate steps to revive and restart the economy. States are at the frontline both for fighting Covid19 crisis and for economic revival. Surprisingly not much is visible at their end- either they are too overwhelmed by the health emergency or their financial condition makes them feel helpless to handle this challenge.

An important point to be considered is that in our vast economy there are several things which can be done without or with minimal finances. The States can plan their action around such points. Some are mentioned herez SECTOR-WISE REVIEW AND

States should plan rental housing for the labour force.

Better housing facilities would help in checking the spread of infectious diseases like the coronavirus

FAST TRACK APPROVALS- A sector-wise review needs to be undertaken at the state level to set out the priorities and to decide the nature of support required for each sector. A process of simplified and fast track approvals needs to be put in place. Easy and staggered payment of government dues can be adopted.

z MAPPING, REGISTRATION

AND ENGAGEMENT OF LABOUR- Most of the major states are affected by the labour migration- inward or outward. With lakhs of labour going back to states like UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Bengal, Rajasthan and Orissa these states are a worried lot. The labour here

QUICK TURNAROUND OF THE ECONOMY

PUSH NEEDED FROM STATES

A LOT HAS HAPPENED DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS announced its economic package from 12 to 17 May 2020

z Lockdown has been relaxed

in most parts of the country

z Several economic activities

have been allowed in all zones including red zones

z Interstate movement of

transport has started

z Massive movement of

migrant labour

z New announcement by

RBI on 22 May,2020-more liquidity infusion

z Central Government

should be registered and their skills mapped. Based on their skills a plan for their engagement or reskilling need to be prepared. With some imaginative planning, possibilities of engaging labour in industry, mining, farming, transportation, retail, services etc can be identified. Those who cannot be engaged need to be supported with free foodgrains and subsistence allowance (based on the capacity of state government)

local bodies have a major role to play in approving and expediting real estate projects.

A directive must go from the State Governments to all their local bodies to fast track approval process in a timebound manner. This will help in the early restart of the projects. z CROWDSOURCING A LOCAL

LEVEL FUND- At each town/ city level a fund can be created through crowd-sourcing for providing food and shelter to the poor. Such a fund can attract small contributions from common people who wish to help the needy but are unable to find a proper channel.

z SUPPORTING

MSMES- Continued lockdown has eroded fund flows of MSMEs. States can play a major role in restarting them by coordination with banks for tapping finance without delays and ensuring them full benefit of schemes announced

by Centre and RBI. Some marketing assistance like preference to products of MSMEs can also be considered.

z URBAN LOCAL BODIES- Urban

z INFORMAL SECTOR- with

about 90 per cent of the labour force engaged in the informal sector, special efforts are needed to rehabilitate the vendors and to facilitate financing for them.

z RENTAL HOUSING- States

should plan rental housing

A chronicle of a lost decade foretold T

o exorcise my worst fears about the coming decade, I chose to write a bleak chronicle of it. If,

by December 2030, developments have invalidated it, I hope such dreary prognoses will have played a part by spurring us to appropriate action.

Before our pandemic-induced lockdowns, politics seemed to be a game. Political parties behaved like sports teams having good or bad days, scoring points that propelled them up a league table that, at season’s end, determined who would form a government and then do next to nothing.

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic stripped away the veneer of indifference to reveal the political reality: some people

04

do have the power to tell the rest of us what to do.

Lenin’s description of politics as “who does what to whom” seemed more apt than ever.

By June 2020, as lockdowns began to ease, leftwing optimism that the pandemic would revive state power on behalf of the powerless remained, leading friends to fantasize about a renaissance of the commons and a capacious definition of public goods.

Margaret Thatcher, I would remind them, left the British state larger, more powerful, and more concentrated than she had found it.

An authoritarian state was necessary to support markets controlled by corporations and banks. Those in authority have never hesitated to harness massive government intervention

Many on the left still cling to the hope that the COVID-19 crisis will translate into the use of state power on behalf of the powerless

to the preservation of oligarchic power. Why should a pandemic change that?

As a result of COVID-19, the grim reaper almost claimed both the British prime minister and the Prince of Wales, and even Hollywood’s nicest star. But it was the poorer and the browner that the reaper actually did claim. They were

easy pickings.

It’s not hard to understand why. Disempowerment breeds poverty, which ages people faster and, ultimately, readies them for the cull. In the shadow of falling prices, wages, and interest rates, it was never likely that the spirit of solidarity, which soothed our souls during lockdowns, would translate into the use of state power to strengthen the weak and vulnerable.

On the contrary, it was megafirms and the ultra-rich that were grateful socialism was alive and well. Fearing that the masses, condemned to the savage arena of unfettered markets amid a public-health disaster, would no longer be able to afford to buy their products, they reallocat-

ed their spending to shares, yachts, and mansions. Thanks to the freshly printed money central banks pumped into them via the usual financiers, stock markets flourished as economies collapsed. Wall Street bankers assuaged their guilt, lingering since 2008, by letting middle-class customers fight over the scraps.

Plans for the green transition, which young climate activists had put on the agenda before 2020, were given only lip service as governments buckled under towering mountains of debt. Precautionary saving by the many reinforced the economic depression, yielding industrial-scale discontent on a browning planet.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.REUTERS.COM

for the labour force. Better housing facilities would help in checking the spread of infectious diseases like the coronavirus. State Government should come out with a policy for this purpose wherein real estate developers and industry can be encouraged to take up such projects. z ACTIVATING DISTRICT-LEVEL

MACHINERY- The district level machinery needs to be fully geared up to meet the challenges in the field and for handholding industry and labour. Specific tasks need to be assigned to them.

z CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS-for their involvement in the revival process

As per the report of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s unemployment rate has climbed to 27.1% in April this year with 121.5mn people out of work.

This is a very grim picture and all out steps are needed to arrest this situation. If the current scenario worsens further there could be a serious fallout in terms of increased social unrest -this must be checked with all the seriousness.

If all the states make concerted efforts it may be possible to put the economy back on track and check its further downslide.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Digital initiatives are promoting transparency, facilitating convenience for our consumers and continue to increase the agility and speed of our organisations.Extremely pleased that domestic PNG payments at @ IGLSocialare now 100% cashless. #ContactlessPayments Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal CII has given me the opportunity to interact with new sectors of the ecosystem. All the interactions have been very useful & enlightening.

The nation benefits deeply from all the good work of CII & I am sure this will get better & better as we prepare for a post COVID-19 world.

Spiritual SPEAK

The spirit is beyond destruction. No one can bring an end to spirit which is everlasting. —Bhagavad Gita

Vol 1 Issue No. 352 RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur.

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

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INDIA JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

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05

‘CORONA WAR WILL BE WON THROUGH VACCINE’ ‘Almost 80% of COVID Alike many other countries, India’s scientific institutions are also working furiously to find a vaccine

New Delhi: As India’s Covid-19 infection tally climbed to over 1.58 lakh, the government on Thursday, said the country’s pharmaceutical industries are trying their best to find a vaccine to beat the virus.

“The fight against coronavirus will be won through vaccines and drugs. Our country’s science and technology institutions and pharma industry are very strong,” VK Paul, a member of the Niti Aayog said at a briefing.

Like in many other countries, India’s scientific institutions are also working furiously to find a vaccine for the virus that has affected almost 5.8 million peo-

EXPERT SPEAK

A medic collects swab sample of a pregnant woman for COVID-19 test in Hubli.

ple across the world.

The government’s Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) Professor K. Vijay Raghavan who also addressed report-

ers at the briefing said the country is on the right track to develop a vaccine. “There are about a total of 30 groups in India, big in-

dustry to individual academics, who are trying to develop vaccines, of around 20 are keeping a good pace,” Raghavan said. He also

IN THE COURTYARD

NIA pulled up over Navlakha’s transfer New Delhi: The Delhi High Court pulled up the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for hastily moving activist Gautam Navlakha from the national capital to Mumbai even when his interim bail plea was pending there.

Justice Anup J Bhambhani, said the NIA acted in “unseemly haste” in shifting Navlakha, an accused in Bhima Koregaon violence case

who was lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, to Mumbai where the investigation was pending. While the order was passed on

‘Article 30 harms constitutional equality’ Bhopal: BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has raised questions over Article 30 of the Constitution which provides the minority community the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

He tweeted: “Article

30 has harmed the constitutional equality of citizens. This Article allows the minorities to propagate their religion and education based on religion, which is not allowed to other religions. When our country is a secular one, what is the need of Article 30.” —Agencies

Wednesday, it was made available on the HC’s website on Thursday.

Navlakha was taken to Mumbai by train on

Tuesday and was sent to judicial custody till June 22. Following this, his family and lawyers claimed that the central investigative agency had not even informed them about this movement.

Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Shetty said the Mumbai court had issued a production warrant against Navlakha, based on which he was transferred from Delhi. —Agencies

Allahabad HC’s notice to UP govt on migrants issue Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has issued notice to the UP Government asking about steps being taken to ensure that its natives are not forced to seek employment in other states. The order was passed by a division bench of Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Ramesh Sinha on a PIL filed by two practicing advocates of HC. The bench has ordered the Government to apprise it of the “scheme of the government for rehabilitation of migrant workmen and their families in the state.”

The government is required to file its response in the matter by June 1.

‘Tablighis to move to alternate quarters’ New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed the application seeking permission for shifting 955 foreign nationals, who attended the congregation at Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin area here, to alternate places of accommodation.

A division bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar, while disposing of the petition,

said that all the foreign nationals will be shifted from quarantine centres to nine designated places in

SAMBIT PATRA IN HOSPITAL AFTER SHOWING COVID-19 SYMPTOMS New Delhi: BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra was admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon on Thursday after he showed symptoms of COVID-19, sources said. A source at Medanta hospital in Gurgaon said Patra was “admitted in the morning and is stable”. BJP leaders and many others posted

their wishes for a speedy recovery of the articulate party spokesperson, who is one of the more widely followed Indian politicians on Twitter. Patra is also among the most visible BJP faces on news channels. He posted several tweets, including tributes to Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary, on Thursday as well.

the national capital as suggested by the petitioner.

Notably, charge-sheets have already been filed

against most of the foreign nationals in a Saket court in connection with the congregation, which had reportedly emerged as an epicentre of the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The court said that present order will be read together with that of magistrate when & if, in future, the foreign nationals apply for bail in these cases. —ANI

NADDA ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF HIMACHAL BJP PREZ BINDAL New Delhi: The resignation of Himachal Pradesh BJP president Rajeev Bindal, has been accepted by party’s national president Jagat Prakash Nadda.Bindal resigned from his post on “high moral grounds” over alleged health products’ purchase scam in the state. Bindal took over as Himachal Pradesh BJP chief in January this year.

Prior to that, he was the state assembly speaker.

In a resignation letter sent to BJP president JP Nadda, Bindal said he was tendering his resignation on “high moral grounds (sic).”

spoke of a hackathon for computational drug discovery.

“All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and CSIR have

2G mobile internet services in J&K till June 17 Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir administration informed that internet access across the Union Territory with internet speed restricted to 2G only and internet connectivity with Mac-binding will continue till June 17.

“The directions to remain in force unless modified earlier,” the administration stated.

Earlier, 2G mobile internet services were restored in Srinagar after they were snapped on May 19 due to a gunfight in Nawa Kadal area of old Srinagar city. Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Junaid Ashraf Khan, son of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Mohammed Ashraf Khan, was among the two terrorists killed in the encounter with security forces at Nawa Kadal. —ANI

embarked on a drug discovery hackathon - this is a high-end hackathon - where students are trained with information on how to do computational drug discovery,” he said.Asked whether the coronavirus has mutated since it first struck late last year, Raghavan said there has been no change in the fundamental properties of the virus.

“RT-PCR test is testing for the presence of the virus and is agnostic whether you have symptoms or not.

Whether you are asymptomatic, if you have the virus it will be detected,” Raghavan said. —ANI

cases asymptomatic’ New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said almost 80 % of the COVID-19 cases in India are asymptomatic or at best with very mild symptoms.

In an exclusive interview to IANS, the Health Minister said, “Even today, in almost 80 per cent of the cases of COVID-19, which are being reported in India, the patients tend to exhibit either nil or mild symptoms.

These patients are mostly contacts of confirmed cases. Interestingly, had it not been for our contact tracing efforts, and if

left to their own in isolation, these patients may not have even remembered or reported their infection.”

Harsh Vardhan, who has recently been elected the chief of WHO''s Executive Board, was answering a query. —ANI

SKY IS THE LIMIT...

IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria preparing to fly a sortie in the Tejas Mk I fighter with 45 Sqn during the induction ceremony held at Air Force Station Sulur.

—PHOTO

BY ANI

Domestic flights resume at Kolkata Kolkata: Domestic flight operations to and from Kolkata resumed after a gap of two months due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Though domestic flight operations across the country began on May 25, they could not be restarted in Kolkata as the state machinery was involved in relief and restoration work after Cyclone Amphan whip-

Medics screen passengers as they arrive at NSCBI Airport in Kolkata.

lashed many areas of the state.The first flight from Kolkata left for Guhawati at 6.05 am

with 40 passengers, whereas 122 passengers arrived from New Delhi on Thursday morning.

36 TRAINS COMING FROM MUMBAI

‘Centre must have spoken to Bengal’ Kolkata: Miffed with Centre for sending 36 trains from Mumbai to West Bengal without State government's knowledge, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that if Central Government had planned and discussed the movement the trains with West Bengal, it would have been better.

Mamta Banerjee conducted a review meeting through vc with all DMs and SPs over cyclone Amphan.

“Without concerning us 36 trains are coming

DIDI’S TAKE

from Mumbai... I spoke to the Maharashtra Government, they said they were informed at 2 am on the night before.

If the Central Government had planned with

AUSTERITY MEASURES ANNOUNCED

BY MAHARASHTRA GOVERNOR Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday, announced austerity measures to cut down Raj Bhavan’s expenses by up to 15% this financial year to tide over the acute economic crisis because of the prevailing lockdown restrictions, which were imposed from end-March to contain the spread

of the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Governor has ordered that Raj Bhavan authorities would not undertake any new capital works. “There won’t be any new major construction or repair works at Raj Bhavan. Ongoing works will only be completed,” said a statement issued

by Raj Bhavan.

us, if the Railway Ministry had consulted us then it would have been better. We are hearing reports of 2-3 people sharing one seat in trains and not following

social distancing.”

Banerjee further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the current COVID-19 situation across several states.

“I appeal to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to take care of the situation. I want PM to intervene, this is no time for politics.

There is a spike in cases in Bihar and other BJP ruled states. This is one country. The virus has to be stopped from spreading,” the Bengal CM added. —ANI

DAATI MAHARAJ HELD FOR FLOUTING LOCKDOWN NORMS New Delhi: Self-styled preacher Daati Maharaj was arrested on Wednesday night for violating the lockdown rules by organising a religious ceremony at Shanidham temple in Asola in South Delhi on May 22, police said. “Daati Maharaj was arrested in the case registered under IPC’s Sections 188, 34, Section 54B of Disaster Management Act, and Section 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act at the Maidan Garhi police station on May 23. He has been released on bail,” said deputy commissioner of police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur.

INDIA JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

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RaGa’s 4 demands for welfare of poor

‘Speak Up India’ campaign sees 57 lakh people post live videos, which reached to 10 cr people, claims Cong New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, raised a set of four demands from the Centre for the welfare of poor people, migrant workers, and revival of small and medium enterprises (SME).

“After the COVID-19 crisis has hit India, the poor people and migrant workers have been forced to travel thousands of kilometres on foot to reach their homes. The small and medium enterprises, which provide employment to most Indians, are shutting down one after another,” Gandhi said in a recorded message.

“We have four de-

‘Breakdown in realty biz worrisome’ Mumbai: NCP President Sharad Pawar expressed concer ns that amid C ov i d - 1 9 pandemic & lockdown, the realty sector is in “a state of complete breakdown”. “Massive outflux of labourers halted work & sales for almost three months. Stagnant consumer demand & impaired economic activities have taken a toll on this industry which contributes substantially to the national GDP,” Pawar said. —Agencies

mands to make from the government. Firstly, every poor family should be paid Rs 7,500 each month for six months. Secondly, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) should be run not for 100 days but

Abolition of RBI bond cruel blow: PC New Delhi: Former Union Finance Minister & senior Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted, “Government has dealt another blow to citizens who save, especially senior citizens. It has discontinued the 7.75 per cent RBI Bonds. Effectively, after tax, the bond will yield only 4.4 per cent.

That is now taken away. Why? I deplore this action.”

Focus on migrants’ plight, says Priyanka New Delhi: Accusing the government of doing politics during the coronavirus crisis, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday raised the plight of migrant workers, citing the example of a toddler trying to wake her dead mother at a railway station.

“The country is pained to see such visuals,” she said and asked the government to provide help to the needy.

In a vc with Congress workers and leaders under the ‘’Speakup’’ cam-

FM launches free instant PAN card New Delhi: On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman formally launched the facility for instant allotment of PAN card using Aadhaar-based e-KYC, as announced in the Union Budget 2020. Those with a valid Aadhaar number and a mobile number registered on the UIDAI database will be able to apply for Permanent Account Number (PAN) online.

The allotment process is paperless and an electronic PAN (e-PAN) is issued to applicants free of cost by income tax department. “The facility of instant PAN through Aadhaar based

BABRI MASJID DEMOLITION CASE

Questioning to begin from June 4 Lucknow: The special court for Ayodhya case on Thursday set June 4 as the date for commencement of questioning in connection with the Babri Masjid demolition.

The bench of Judge SK Yadav, who is hearing the case, extended the date to June 4 after being told by the defense counsel that there had been difficulty in contacting the accused due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown. The Judge has asked BJP leaders LK Advani, Uma Bharti,

200 days in a year.

Thirdly, our small and medium enterprises should get an economic package for revival.

Fourthly, the migrant labourers who are stranded on the roads should be provided transport facilities to reach their homes,” he added. Under ‘Speak Up India’ online campaign arranged by Congress, Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “It is time for every Indian to stand together & speak up in one voice. For our brothers & sisters struggling for survival; for those whose voice has been silenced; for those in despair. We are India.

Together we can make a difference.” —ANI

FM Nirmala Sitharaman and MoS Anurag Thakur at 22nd (FSDC) meeting through vc in New Delhi.

e-KYC has been launched formally today, however, its ‘Beta version’ on trial basis was started on 12th Feb 2020 on the e-filing website of Income Tax Depart-

ment. Since then onwards, 6,77,680 instant PANs have been allotted with a turnaround time of about 10 mins, till 25th May 2020,” Fin Ministry said.If required,

the applicant can check status of request anytime by providing her/ his valid Aadhaar number & on successful allotment, can download the e-PAN. —ANI

New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is expected to reach the Kerala coast around its normal date of June 1 and earlier than forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

This is because conditions are becoming favourable for monsoon winds to advance as a low pressure area is expected to develop over the Arabian Sea between May 31 and June 4.

An area of low pressure formed over westcentral and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea on Thursday. It is likely to intensify into a depression on Thursday

cle’ that has occurred in the nation because of which no economic activity is being started, neither have the corona cases died down. The state governments are trying to win over corona,” he said, further adding, “The central government should have come forward and given packages to states.

Centre announced 20 lakh crore rupee package and the entire world knows the announced amount is ninety percent loans which is not going to benefit anyone. Unless the purchasing power of poor is increased, un-

less they do not spend, only then demand will rise and economy will be back on track. Thus Sonia Gandhi ji has said that government should have made advance payment of 21 days to NREGA labour.

Now congress party is demanding that poor should be given ten thousand rupees so that demand is increased.”

Gehlot demanded that the central government gives package for poor so that economy comes on track.

“Congress will stand with the government in this crisis. But instead of listening to

A woman feeds her child with water on a hot summer afternoon.

and move northwestwards towards the south Oman and east Yemen coasts during

the next three days.

It is also likely to intensify into a cyclone but may not impact In-

the oppositions’ suggestions, just going on criticising it and condemning them is unfortunate. Our effort is to bring the situation of poor and needy to the central government’s notice,” Gehlot said.

when social distancing is the mantra to prevent COVID-19 we have decided that only two workers per booth will distribute the letter,” said Yadav. —ANI

POWER Gallery SBI MAN ANIL KISHORA GETS INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENT

Anil Kishora, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer of State Bank of India, has been appointed Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of New Development Bank (NDB).Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman attended the Special Board of Governors’ meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) through video conference in New Delhi. The agenda included the election of next President of NDB, appointment of Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer and membership expansion.

VISHWAS MEHTA IS NEW CHIEF SECRETARY OF KERALA

paign, she spoke about the poor, migrants, and the middle class. “We are doing this to make government understand the demands of the people,” said Priyanka Gandhi. —ANI

‘36th Nat’l Games postponed’ New Delhi: The 36th National Games, scheduled for O c t o b e rNovember in Goa, day p o s t poned indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“National Games organising committee has decided to postpone National Games due to COVID-19 pandemic,” Goa’s dy CM Manohar Ajgaonkar, who also holds sports portfolio, said in a statement shared by IOA President Narinder Batra.

Monsoon likely to make onset over Kerala around June 1: IMD

former UP CM Kalyan Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, among 32 others to appear for questioning beginning June 4.

In the case filed by CBI, 49 people had been named as accused, out of which 32 are alive while the rest have passed away.

Earlier this month, SC extended till August 31 tenure of Judge SK Yadav, who is hearing the case, and directed him to complete the trial and deliver the judgement in the case by that time.

—ANI

06

dia’s west coast, IMD scientists said.

“Scattered low and medium clouds with embedded intense to very intense convection lay over southeast and west central Arabian Sea,” IMD said in its cyclone bulletin for Thursday.

IMD director general M Mohapatra said: “The second low pressure area is likely to bring rain to the west coast and make conditions favourable for advancement of monsoon earlier than expected. We can expect onset of the monsoon over Kerala around June 1 or 2.” —Agencies

Vishwas Mehta has been appointed new Chief Secretary of Kerala. The 1986 batch IAS officer Vishwas Mehta will succeed Tom Jose on June 1.

DG OF SAI, PRADHAN GETS EXTENSION DG OF SPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

Sandip Pradhan, has been given two years’ extension relaxing the maximum seven year limit on deputation.

HAULIANLAL GUITE JOINS MANIPUR CADRE ON ICD

Haulianlal Guite is joining Manipur cadre on inter cadre deputation (ICD) for a period of three years.

He is a 2011 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

HARSHA BANGARI APPOINTED DMD, EXIM BANK

Harsha Bangari, CGM, Exim Bank, has been appointed Deputy Managing Director (DMD), Exim Bank, for a period of three years.

SANJAY PRAKASH PROMOTED TO IG GRADE IN CISF

Sanjay Prakash has been promoted to the grade of Inspector General (IG) in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

CENTRAL DEPUTATION TENURE OF USHA PADHEE EXTENDED

The central deputation tenure of Usha Padhee, working as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been extended for a period of two years beyond July 16, 2020. She is a 1996 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre.

V RAMESH APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR (ENT), BSNL

V Ramesh, Chief General Manager (CGM), BSNL, has been appointed Director (Enterprises), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment to the post.

CENTRAL DEPUTATION TENURE OF SUDEEP SHRIVASTAVA EXTENDED

The central deputation tenure of Sudeep Shrivastava, working as Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, has been extended for a period of six months beyond June 7, 2020. He is a 2001 batch IRSSE officer.

S K BHAGAT IS NOW HOME SECRETARY IN UTTAR PRADESH

SK Bhagat, who served the CBI for several years, has been appointed new Home Secretary in Uttar Pradesh. He is 1998 batch IPS officer.

TENURE OF ADITYA JOSHI AS DIRECTOR, CVC EXTENDED

The tenure of Aditya Joshi as Director, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has been extended for a period of six months. He is a 1995 batch IRAS officer.

PRATIBHA PARKAR APPOINTED NEXT AMBASSADOR TO ANGOLA

Pratibha Parkar, presently Consul General of India in Frankfurt, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Republic of Angola. She is an Indian Foreign Service officer of 2000 batch.

FROM PG 1 Congress will...

Giving his suggestions on what the centre should have done he said, “The central government should have issued advisory to states to start bus services and ensure that no labourer walks to their homes and within three days this issue could have been ended like what Rajasthan did. People supported the government fully.

Prime Minister asked people to clap, beat thalis and people accepted that and supported them. But we are pained to see the economic, social and political ‘deba-

Event to...

“The party has decided that PM’s message through his letter where issues like self-reliant India, the situation of COVID-19, fight against the infection along with stress on vocal for local will be sent to 10 crore families,” stated Yadav.

“As this is a time

‘Engaged with...

In the midst of this tense border standoff, Trump on Wednesday said he was “ready, willing and able to mediate” between the two countries.

“We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute,” Trump said in

a tweet on Wednesday morning. —PTI

‘All can...

We again urge the Central Government to open the lock of the treasury and provide relief to the needy.” “Arrange for safe and free travel of the labourers and bring them home and make arrangements for their daily bread and ration. Ensure 200 days work under Mahatma Gandhi MNREGA, to provide employment in the village itself. Instead of giving loans to small scale industries, give financial help, so that

crores of jobs can be saved and the country can also grow. In this hour of crisis, we all are with every countryman and together we will surely win these difficult situations,” she added.

She stated that for the last two months, the whole country is going through a severe economic crisis of livelihood-employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For the first time since independence, everyone saw the pain of millions of labourers who were forced to walk for hundreds of thou-

sands of kilometres barefoot, hungry and thirsty, without medicine and means. Every heart across this country saw their plight and pain, perhaps not the government,” said Sonia. —ANI

Fund travel...

It said that food and water be also provided to them for travel in buses.

The bench, also comprising Justices SK Kaul and MR Shah, directed that states shall oversee the registration of migrant workers and ensure that they are made to board the train or bus at the earliest. —PTI

TALKING POINT JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

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07

NOW WE HAVE FEWER CASES OF COVID-19, AND RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTING, MANY OF US ARE THINKING OF REJUVENATING OUR SOCIAL LIVES

BY HEADING TO OUR LOCAL CAFE OR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT

The path to INFECTION

 Let’s consider the risk of infection from the

moment you arrive at a restaurant or cafe.

 When you open the door, you may have to put

your hand on a door handle. If that handle has been touched by a person while infectious, they may leave behind thousands of individual virus particles. If you then touch your face, you run the risk of the virus entering your body and establishing an infection.  If you avoid the doorknob trap, you may pick up the virus when you take your seat at the table, by touching the chair or the tabletop.

Again, if you touch your face, you are risking infection. Similarly, you risk exposure by touching the menu or the cutlery.

HOW

to

STAY SAFE in

Restaurants &

N

Cafes

ow we have fewer cases of COVID-19, and restrictions are lifting, many of us are thinking of rejuvenating our social lives by heading to our local cafe or favourite restaurant.

What can we do to reduce the risk of infection? And what should managers be doing to keep us safe?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease spread directly from person to person, carried in droplets from an infected person’s breath, cough or sneeze. If the droplets come into contact with another person’s eyes or are breathed in, that person may develop the disease.

Those droplets can also fall onto surfaces, where the virus can survive for up to 72 hours. If someone touches these surfaces, then touches their face, they can also become infected.

Eating out has led to several clusters We know people around the world have become infected while eating out.

Back in late January and early February, three clus-

ters of COVID-19 cases in China were connected to dining in a single restaurant. A total of 10 people became ill over the next three weeks.

The air-conditioning had apparently carried contaminated droplets from an infectious diner to nearby tables. This prompted the researchers to recommend restaurants increase their

ventilation and sit customers at tables further apart.

In Queensland, more than 20 people connected with a private birthday party at a Sunshine Coast restaurant contracted the virus. Four were staff, the rest guests. We don’t know the source of infection.

Other outbreaks have been linked with restaurants in Hawaii, Los Ange-

les and a fast food restaurant in Melbourne.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF? There are some simple (and familiar) things you can do to protect yourself as venues reopen.

Keep washing and drying your hands, thoroughly and regularly. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use alcoholbased hand sanitiser.

Wash or sanitise after handling money, touching surfaces, before eating and after visiting the bathroom. Avoid touching your face, including wiping your eyes or licking juice off your fingers. If you must touch your face, use hand sanitiser first.

Maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres from other people, unless they are people you share close contact with.

Sit outside if you can.

Direct transmission is much more likely indoors.

Finally, think about using a credit or debit card with a contactless transaction, rather than having to enter a PIN. To avoid infecting other people, stay home if you have any symptoms or suspect you might have been in contact with a person who has tested positive.

WHAT SHOULD CAFES AND RESTAURANTS BE DOING? Regulations about the number of patrons allowed in cafes and restaurants vary between states and territories. But there are certain common rules of thumb.

First, tables need to be spaced at reasonable distances. This allows patrons to be outside others’ 1.5-metre breathing zones and also takes into account the potential effect of air conditioning.

While COVID-19 doesn’t appear to be spread through air conditioning systems, they do boost air flow. This means droplets

may travel a little further than 1.5 metres. This spacing will also reduce the number of people in the venue at the same time.

Some venues overseas are using plastic screens to separate diners to try to reduce the risk of personto-person spread. This should not be used as a substitute for correct distancing if there is sufficient space.

Tables and chairs need to be sanitised, using a chemical sanitiser such as diluted bleach, between patrons.

Cutlery and tableware cannot be left ready on the table. They must be stored to prevent contamination in the kitchen and brought to the patron with their meal. Afterward, they need to be cleaned and sanitised as usual.

Disposable cutlery should never be left out for self-service; it should only be provided with food or on request.

All frequently touched surfaces must be regularly sanitised – including door handles, refrigerator and freezer doors, taps, light switches, hand rails, PIN pads and touch screens.

Staff must maintain safe distances from patrons at all times and must never be allowed to work if they have respiratory symptoms or are suspected to have had contact with a COVID-19 positive person.

WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT Coronavirus cases in most states and territories are now very low. So, the chance of coming into contact with an infectious person is unlikely and is why restrictions are now gradually being lifted.

However, we musn’t become complacent. We need to continue to take precautions to reduce the risk of infection via our cafes and restaurants. It only takes one instance of carelessness to start the viral ball rolling again.

 When the waiter comes to take your order,

they will likely enter your breathing space.

This is usually considered to be a circular zone of about 1.5 metres around your body.  If the waiter is infected but not yet showing symptoms, you may be exposed to droplets containing the virus on their breath or the breath may contaminate the tableware in front of you.  Now, your food is delivered and there’s good news. The virus is not transmitted through food.  But wait. The air-conditioning can help the virus travel through the air from the infected person at the next table who has just choked on a crumb and is coughing uncontrollably.

 Later, on a quick trip to the bathroom, you

again open yourself to the risk of infection by touching the door and other surfaces.

However, this trip allows you to take one very important step to prevent infection. You wash your hands with soap, taking care to hum Happy Birthday twice as you scrub and rinse.  Unfortunately, you fail to dry your hands thoroughly. Wet hands are much more likely to pick up microbes, so you may recontaminate your hands as you open the door and go back to your table.  When you go to pay your bill, you may be worried that cash may be a source of infection.

While there were concerns about this initially, there is no evidence to date of any cases linked to handling money. Just in case, you use your credit card, but inadvertently transfer the virus to your finger as you type in your PIN.  On your way out the door, you not only pick up more virus from the doorknob, but transfer some of the ones on your hand in return, ready for the next unwary diner.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: VINOD KUMAR SHARMA

We all need a helping hand now and then, try and motivate people; with your words, actions or even your life.

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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2ND FRONT JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

08

Create action plan for workers’ livelihood, directs CM Gehlot CM also said that Corona has an adverse effect on our social life Naresh Sharma Jaipur: Tensed about the employment opportunities before workers who have come from other states, the ‘sensitive’ Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has instructed officials to draw up an action plan and arrange employment for labourers. “It should

be the priority of the state government to provide employment opportunities to workers who have come from outside and do not want to return.

The message should reach migrant workers that the state government is concerned for them as well as the local workers in this hour of crisis,” Gehlot said

GAZETTE OF 33 DISTS TO BE REWRITTEN

NOD TO E-NAM PROJECT

CM Ashok Gehlot

#SPEAKUPINDIA

Cong stalwarts raise demands, ask people to come forward to help poor

while chairing a high level meeting at CMR on Thursday. He said that it is our responsibility to connect workers with employment as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, CM Gehlot also said that Corona has an adverse effect on our social life and directed to start a special campaign to take care of the health of elderly people, adopt destressing techniques and motivate them to live with new health protocols.

Gehlot expressed satisfaction that the number of active cases of corona infection in Rajasthan has been almost constant for the last five days.

He directed that the Collector, Superintendent of Police and District Medical and Health Officer in all the districts should take regular review of the status of infection as well as take decisions regarding determining the zone of contention according to local conditions.

I will never go to the Rajya Sabha, says Arnab Goswami

AHMED PATEL, KC VENUGOPAL AND AVINASH PANDE CORNER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DEMANDING 10K DIRECT CASH TRANSFER AND INCREASING MNREGA DAYS TO 200 Aditi Nagar New Delhi: With the entire Congress party raised its ‘war-cry’ on on social media platforms on Thursday against the central government on its issues of direct cash transfer, support to middle class and MSMEs and demand of increasing the man hours of MNREGA, party’s stalwart leaders like Ahmed Patel, Avinash Pande and KC Venugopal took to social media to create awareness among their followers on the issue.

The #SpeakUpIndia campaign witnessed the fiery but calm demeanour of senior party member Ahmed Patel. “I have not come today to ask for vote but rather to reach you all through my party’s program. A situation has developed in this country after Covid-19 and the manner the people are troubled, specially our labourers and migrant work force, the farmers small entrepreneurs, traders and several others, it is heartwrenching to see them like this. No one was told about the lockdown which left us in perpet-

SPEAKUP, SAYS VAIBHAV

Ahmed Patel

KC Venugopal

Avinash Pande

RAGHU SHARMA WELCOMES THE DRIVE First India Bureau

The voice of migrant workers, labourers and middle-class people should be raised.

The Congress party did the same through the campaign #SpeakUpIndia and Center should help every sector of society, especially poor and needy, in times of crisis.

Jaipur: Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma also joined the campaign #SpeakUpIndia.

Dr Raghu Sharma posted a video on his social media handles in which he said that Congress’s campaign is worth welcoming. ual problems,” he said, and further added, “When elections come schemes are announced for the poor but they are not looked after in such times of crisis. The demand that Congress and party President Sonia Gandhi has made is for the poor. Direct cash

transfer is important since the twenty lakh crore rupee package will not be enough.

Nothing is going to reach to the poor out of this package. The migrant workers and poor should get seven thousand rupees per month for the next six months

along with free wheat in addition to the ten thousand rupees direct cash transfer.”

Notably, Congress General Secretary and RS candidate to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan KC Venugopal also appealed to the central government to take con-

crete steps. “We know the real situation of our migrant workers. The soul of India is crying seeing the terrible visuals of migrant workers walking on the roads.

Day 1 onwards Congress party has demanded direct transfer of cash to poor but gov-

ernment is totally insensitive on these things. Direct cash transfer, safe travel of migrant workers, increasing MNREGA man days to 200 and protection of MSME sector are key components in providing relief to people,” he stressed.

Talking on the issue, AICC General Secretary and Rajasthan Incharge Avinash Pande said that corona virus and lockdown has troubled everyone. “The labourers, middle class and small businesses are troubled, but the government is not listening. The Congress party has suggested of giving money directly to people, and government talks of giving loans.

It is important to save poor and middle class while giving semblance to small businesses hence I appeal to the government to give ten thousand rupees to poor and support to small businesses which will provide relief to the middle class too. It should be ensured that migrant labourers are sent home safely and MNREGA work day should be increased to two hundred days,” he said.

Arnab Goswami

First India Bureau Jaipur: A year after an abetment to suicide case was closed against renowned journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami, the Maharashtra government has asked the state CID to probe the matter yet again. The case was closed by Raigad police citing ‘not enough evidence’ against Goswami.

However, the Maharashtra government is reopening the case on the request of Anvay Naik, who committed suicide.

Interestingly, at a time when various political parties have laid accusations on the feisty journalists that he is ‘close’ to the ruling BJP and gone to length of saying that he wants to get into the upper house of Parliament,

Arnab has claimed that he has no interest in getting elected to the Rajya Sabha.

In fact an upbeat and enthusiastic Goswami said that if such an opportunity came across, he would clearly say no. “If I do anything that puts a cloud over last 2223 years of my career - then I would not just hesitate, I would blindly say no to it,” he said. This occurred when Goswami was interviewing former Chief Justice of India and now Rajya Sabha Member Justice Ranjan Gogoi over his appointment to RS. Notably, both the cases filed by Arnab after an alleged attack on him while he was returning home from work, have now been transferred to a single police station after Goswami moved an application in this regard.

THE MORAL VICTORY OF DHUMALS OVER NADDA CAMP! The flip side of Bindal’s resignation Vaishali New Delhi: The sweltering summer sun of North India seems to have affected the polity in the hills too where situation has truely become ‘too hot to handle’. With the resignation of Himachal Pradesh BJP’s state chief Dr Rajeev Bindal, over a video clip wherein two men are discussing hand over of Rs five lakh and in connection of which the vigilance and ACB have arrested director of health services Dr AK Gupta, the ‘political chess’ of the hill-state is set for a new game.

While Bindal may

have resigned citing ‘moral high grounds’, Congress party has demanded the resignation of the health minister, a portfolio which is held by CM Jai Ram Thakur. Former Congress CM Veerbhadra Singh and his MLA son Vikramaditya have fired first salvo asking Thakur to step down.

However, there is a flip side to this story too. Political observers see this development as moral victory of Dhumals over Nadda camp. Lets us divulge into that for a bit.

Firstly, there is a strong word going around that Bindal’s resignation has

JP Nadda

Anurag Thakur

Dr Rajeev Bindal

come not as a moral conduct, rather since there were allegations of his doctor daughter - who runs a diagnostic centre at Solan - being linked in the issue.

Secondly, Bindal’s resignation is not a small development. He is a five time MLA, who till two months back, was speaker of HP Assembly and

Nadda chose him for the job of state party chief.

The matter might have been hushed up and Bindal could have retained his position however, this is where politics comes in. It is said that MoS Finance Anurag Thakur apprised PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of the develop-

ments and ‘facts’ concerned with it after which New Delhi called for Bindal’s resignation. Bindal camp believes that Anurag has been instrumental in flaring up this issue in New Delhi.

And this is where a history lesson is important.

Let us go 22 years back in history to 1998, a time

when Prem Kumar Dhumal, whose son Anurag is MoS Finance in Modi government, was the CM. During those times, Bindal was considered to be a hardcore loyalist of Dhumal, popularly known as Dhumal’s ‘Hanuman’ in Himachal political circles. However like they say, time changes everything, so did the relation between Dhumal and Bindal and around three years back, Bindal left caravan and jumped into Nadda bandwagon, a move which apparently did not go well with Dhumals.

As Nadda’s political graph rose, so did Bindal’s and although he was appointed as speak-

er, he wanted to become a minister. When opportunity presented itself Bindal came out as the likely choice for BJP party chief was appointed to position two months back. The appointment came as a blessing in disguise as though he was shrugged away from ministry, with his elevation as party chief, he was virtually a CM candidate on any first available opportunity! Highly placed sources believe that even CM Jai Ram Thakur started started feeling that Bindal could be his reckoning leading to a minor internal tussle between the two men.

With the latest devel-

opment, various quarters within the party feel that now there are three power centres at Shimla i.e. JP Nadda, Dhumals (With Anurag Thakur) and Jai Ram Thakur where every group has its own ‘equations and calculation’. Interestingly, such is the situation that PMO had to appoint a nodal office to look into the matter which is fast pacing out to be Nadda versus Dhumal. It is noteworthy that there was a time when PM Modi was incharge of HP and since then he has been close to Dhumals.

Modi is aware of ground realities of HP politics and which way ‘winds’ blow in the hill state.

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia JAIPUR, FRIDAY MAY 29, 2020

YAADON KE JHAROKHE LIFE BEFORE THE NATIONAL LOCKDOWN WAS SOMETHING EVERYONE TOOK FOR GRANTED AND TODAY, CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THEY MISS THE MOST!

NEHAL NAYAR nehal.nayar @firstindia.co.in

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efore the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus across the globe, most of the people used to fantasize about what they would be doing next, where they would be going to hang out with their friends, which movie is being released that particular week, where to get that perfect chaat from, and what not. But after the unfortunate event and the application of the National Lockdown in the country, where no one is even allowed to step out of their houses in order to stay secure, all they can think about is the life they lived before the lockdown.

There are some who have turned Chefs and

artists during the pandemic, while there are still a few of them who have been craving for that roadside pani puri and ‘chatpati chaat’, and some just wish to spend time with their loved ones- go on dates, movies, parties, and so on. Everyone was so lost into themselves, that they never really realised the value of these small things that they wish to do right now.

Like for an example, in this scorching heat, one would prefer going for a dip in the swimming pool, or head to the beach; looking at the current situation, people will not be able to even think about these things for a few more months.

Taking this topic further, City First got in touch with a few of its readers from Rajasthan and Gujarat, to find out about their views on what they miss the most from life before lockdown.

“I miss meeting my friends and visiting new restaurants almost every alternative day. Being a Blogger, it’s so much fun exploring new places and trying various cuisines and street food with friends and colleagues,” said Sonia Makhija from Jaipur. Talking about how much she misses eating chaat, Rashmi Jain from Jodhpur stated, “Hanging out with friends, eating rawa dosa and tangy panipuri is what I miss the most.

People say marriage brings spice, tears, happiness, flavour and taste to life! Personally, I believe Pani Puri does a better job at a cheaper cost.”

Let’s see what the people in Ahmedabad have to say- “My friends and I routinely used to get together at one of our homes over alternate weekends. Some of us could meet again due to the relaxation in the lockdown but it just wasn’t the same. All of us dearly missed our chilling sessions,” said Shadab Nasir, while Abdullah Mistry stated, “I love watching movies with family and friends. Being a VFX artist myself, films have become an important part of my life. I just miss the whole movie watching experience on the big screen.”

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JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

‘THE ENEMY IS LISTENING’

ne year after director Robert Zemeckis took us on a dizzying journey in “The Walk” he delivers “Allied,” a romantic thriller set in the midst of WWII. Brad Pitt plays Max Vatan, a Canadian intelligence officer who is sent on a mission with French Resistance fighter Marianne Beauséjour (Marion Cotillard) to assassinate a German ambassador in Casablanca. But there is more to tell. This duo has to pose as a married couple, and they have to give an Oscar® worthy performance to outwit their enemies (I just had to

throw that in).

As Max and Marianne continue to work together, they discover that they make great partners for each other both in and outside of their work and fall madly in love.

The couple eventually get married, move to England, and have a child. As the war continues to march forward, though, Max is hit with some startling news.

The English Special Operations Executive informs him that Marianne is suspected of being a German spy. But the bad news gets even worse.

If it is proved that Marianne is in fact a German spy, Max needs to execute her or be hanged for high treason. Devastat-

ed by this news, Max sets out to prove that his wife is not a spy. But as he begins the hunt for the truth, the plot thickens, questions arise, and many lives become gravely endangered.

“Allied” is fairly entertaining, but it is certainly a slow two hours, which you do not want to see from a WWII thriller.

There really isn’t much to be praised in “Allied,” as the main key in this film is survival and discovering the truth. A character does mention that “everything will be in God’s hands,” and Max’s character’s alias

FA CE OF TH ED AY

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

and alcohol use and you get one mess of a film that any parent should want to keep their child away from. “Allied” may appear to be a wellcrafted WWII thriller. But after two hours of slow, shallow, and disengaged storytelling, you’ll find your glass half full, longing for more thrills and more substance.

It may look great, but the characters and the story being told lack chemistry, and do not intertwine well with one another. “Allied” isn’t as much of a soft dud as it is a forgettable, modern day tragedy.

Source: https://christiananswers.net/ spotlight/movies/2016/allied2016.html

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

This is the time to become serious about getting in shape and start eating healthy. You have limited income as of now and that could trouble you but don’t worry the times will change. Due to no work pressure in office, you could spend more time with near and dear ones.

You have a fine health so nothing to worry. It may take some time for you to have a financial stability. It will be good for your image to maintain healthy relationship with your colleague and keep them in your favour. It may get difficult for you to deal with the firm opinions.

You are satisfied with your health and you enjoy that feeling. Money will flow into your life to make you financially stable. Some of you may earn good name for being consistent at work. In social life, it’s a good practice to avoid blaming others for our own shortcomings.

You will get the financial help that you are seeking for and then accordingly you will decide what steps to take next. At work place you may earn oodles of joy and recognition by foraying into something new. Please take good care of your health and avoid stepping out.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You will continue to enjoy your good health if you stick to a proper diet and exercise regime. You may finally meet your financial savior who will help you put the pieces at the right place. Some of you may assist your family by organizing a function or an event.

You have a good health and there is nothing to worry as such. To prevent any monetary loss, you should care to read your business proposal twice before taking any decision. In office, you may need to persuade someone to stand in your favour but it will be worth it.

You continue to stay fit and healthy and there is nothing to worry as far as health is concerned.

Because of limit flow of money, your financial condition is not stable yet.

Your hard in office will bring your recognition and appreciation from your senior.

Keep a close tab on what you eat if you want to remain healthy. You must limit your expenses to only buying essential stuff. In office, your colleagues may not like your upfront nature. Your love may not give the kind of attention you have been waiting for.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Your optimism will keep you going and you will find yourself in absolute peace.

The more time you invest in a project completion, the better it will in terms of monetary gains. In social life, avoid venting your anger on some who is younger or elder to you. You will go on a business or a leisure trip.

You have a good healthy but that does not mean you should ignore the minor problems. On business front you need to be open minded to make some financial gains. You may all of a sudden feel the need to clarify some rumour about you surfacing in the office.

You may go for a cheat meal all as a reward for maintaining good health. If you have been struggling with money then that’s a thing of a past now as money will flow in from all the directions. In office, you will support your colleague by sharing his/her work pressure.

Don’t take your health for granted as it could raise concerns. Think twice before spending as you can over spend unnecessarily. You may find yourself burden with extra work in office today but you will be able to successfully complete it.

Things may not go as planned.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

AVNEET KAUR, Actor

is supposed to be a devout Catholic. That is the closest we get to any form of spirituality. One thing is for certain, Max loves his wife and will not accept any information on Marianne being a German spy until he unveils the truth himself. His character is a courageous one, and he does express deep, passionate love to Marianne and his daughter. Though Marianne is suspected of being a German spy, the couple’s love for each other does prove to be genuine, and they do appear to be willing to do anything it takes to protect their family and keep them all together.

As John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends…”

But love doesn’t really win in this thriller. Max and Marianne’s love for each other may be genuine at heart, but this film still sends some mixed messages about the true meaning of love and self sacrifice, as the story takes some of its twists and turns. “ The immorality on display in “Allied” is appalling and completely unnecessary .

Add in some hefty language, strong violence, and drug

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DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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

Flirting in 2020!

A

ctress and former beauty queen has predicted how flirting will be post lockdown in 2020. Urvashi took to Instagram, where she shared a video of herself dancing on a song titled: “Party in the house”. She is seen dressed in a red crop top and denims. “I want to get quarantined & house party with you flirting in 2020 Directed by yours truly U.R,” she captioned the video. She had recently shared a short video, where she takes a dig at her taste in men. “Bad taste in guys is my talent,” she wrote while posting the video along with a heart emoji. Meanwhile, the actress is looking forward to the release of her film ‘Virgin Bhanu-

priya’ on an OTT platform. She has assured fans that the experience of watching the movie on a digital platform will be no less than watching it in theatres. —IANS

Much-needed Break!

... her post

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K

ourtney Kardashian headed to Utah desert along with her three kids Mason, Penelope, and Reign to spend her Memorial Day weekend and the 41-year-old feels it was a much-needed break for her in quarantine. Kourtney has been taking care of her kids at home during the social-distancing phase. Recently, Kourtney was troubled because of ex Scott Disick’s rehab drama and had posted a cryptic Instagram story amidst all the confusion.

However, her short trip to the desert seems like a good escape for her. A day ago, Kourtney took to her Instagram handle and gave us a sneak-peek into how her Memorial Day weekend getaway looked like.

—IANS

... her post

asha Pieterse who is most famous for playing the role of Alison DiLaurentis in Pretty Little Liars has shared great news with her fans. The 24-year-old actress took to her Instagram handle a few hours ago and announced her pregnancy. She shared an adorable picture of herself flaunting her baby bump while her husband, Hudson Sheaffer kissed her. The actress broke out the happy news on her second wedding anniversary with her husband Hudson Sheaffer and revealed that the baby is due in October. Sharing a monochrome picture of herself and her husband, Sasha Pieterse wrote, “We are so beyond excited to finally share our sweet news with all of you we will be welcoming a precious little human this October!” She also revealed,” Today marks our 2nd wedding anniversary and what better way to share our joy!”

—IANS

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Shopping

adventure!

Still from the video

Urvashi Rautela

HAPPY NEWS!

JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

S

... her post

porting masks for ‘shopping adventure’ with her brother Siddhanth Kapoor, actor Shraddha Kapoor on Thursday shared a picture giving her fans insight into what grocery shopping looks like during coronavirus lockdown.

The ‘Stree’ actor reposted a selfie on Instagram where she is seen with her brother doing groceries shopping as they are seen wearing masks and gloves as precautionary measures and were seen pushing the trolley around inside the store. Along with the post, Shraddha wrote, in writing, “ Groceries adventure with my bhaiya @siddhanthkapoor.”

The picture was originally shared by the ‘Aashiqui 2’ star’s brother on his Instagram.

Alongside the post, he noted, “It’s a lotttttaaaaa fun when you go grocery shopping with your sibling... stay safe all and ... when you are with some one at a close distance, make sure you are wearing a .. for your safety and others around.”

The ‘Ek Villain’ star has been quite active on social media amid the lockdown as she has been updating her fans on her quarantine activities.

—ANI

Kourtney Kardashian

Shraddha Kapoor

REAL LIFE

MOVING ‘Shaktimaan’

OUT! K

Sasha Pieterse

Khloe Kardashian

hloe Kardashian is all set to sell her luxury Calabasas house and the property will hit the market for USD 18,950,000. The six-bedroom, sevenbathroom house is located in California’s exclusive gated community The Oaks. Reportedly, this house was the first place that Khloé bought after ending her marriage with Lamar Odom in late 2013. The 35-year-old television personality bought the place for herself before moving out of the home they shared as a couple. After sparking breakup rumours for months, Khloé finally filed for divorce from Odom in 2013. —IANS

Sonu Sood

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overnor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari recently lauded ‘Dabangg’ actor Sonu Sood for helping stranded migrant labourers to return to their native places.

The governor complimented the actor over a phone call and alsoSonu Sood posted the information on Twitter. “Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari called up actor, filmstar @SonuSood and complimented him for his dedicated work in facilitating the safe transportation of migrant people from various states to their home states,” tweeted the Governor of Maharashtra.

—ANI

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

JAIPUR | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

The show must go on…

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Spending lockdown without music could be tough and I, being the part of the DJ community, couldn’t let this happen to the music lovers.

During this period, I have organised various live shows, where I have played music for all age groups to get their fun mood-on, even at home during the quarantine. And, for me, seeing the people enjoying every beat of the music is the most satisfying feeling ever.

—DR ABHISHEK SHARMA, DJ Dance is fun but teaching dance online in a fixed space to move, without one to one connection and without knowing the reactions of the student was a real challenge to face for me and my training institute ‘Buskers’. But we took the challenge enthusiastically and observed that students are enjoying this new medium of learning dance with their parents at home while keeping themselves fit & healthy.

—KHUSHAL ANAND, DANCER After the lockdown imposed, I got accustomed to taking classes online.

My students were able to connect with me in a digital and virtual arena. I also initiated online hobby classes for Calligraphy and Sketching. The response was overwhelming when I announced an online give away contest. I also cajoled them to read my blogs, which inspired them to start documenting and honing their writing skills.

City First got in touch with a few professionals who didn’t give up on their passion & profession during the lockdown, and found new ways to continue what they should do!

KIRTI CHAUHAN

kirti.chauhan@firstindia.co.in

B

e it an attack of a deadly virus or a nationwide lockdown which has led people to stay inside their homes for more than two months now, no matter what happens, The Show Must Go On…! Almost every Indian soul is calling out the

same mantra, and keeping their spirits high towards their passion and profession.

Though the ‘Lockdown’ has blocked many traditional pathways but alternatively has also given birth to new innovative techniques to learn from and has also taught the mass to ‘Never give up’ in any situation. Well, it looks like that the ongoing pandemic situations have not stopped the creativity of the artists and the spirit of professionalism among the people, which made them continue what

they used to do, however, in newer aspects and ways, to entertain and educate the general mass. City First got in touch with a few artists from a different profession like acting, modelling, singing, dancing, teaching and DJing, for whom, work from home was never an option, but somehow, they have successfully found the way out.

‘Mask on’ doesn’t

—MELVEN CASTELINO, TEACHER

Lockdown did affect our industry but not me. Even during the lockdown, I have shot various acting videos and done still photoshoot with the help of my brother Jatin, who is a photographer. Apart from that, while utilising my modelling skills, I am giving online sessions on modelling to the participants of Elite Miss Rajasthan and freshers, and also polishing my acting skills by taking classes online. Meanwhile, this lockdown has also made me more creative with drawing and colours.

—AKANKSHA BHALLA, ACTOR/MODEL

TWEETED!

Lockdown couldn’t stop me from entertaining the general mass and creating more content for them.

Definitely, there were travel restrictions, which made me record and shoot my songs in the house and at nearby locations from my phone, which I later released on my social media channels. Along with that, I have also participated in various live sessions organised by multiple media channels from different cities to entertain the mass.

—HIMANI BAIRWA, SINGER

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

have to mean face ‘off’

—PHOTOS BY NANDAN DAVE

W

ith masks having become a necessity to contain the spread of COVID-19, Billu Sharma, a photographer in Gandhinagar, is selling digitally printed masks customised with a person’s face on it.

Sharma said it gets difficult to recognise the face behind the mask. The photographer said they suffered a massive loss due to lockdown and “even thought of starting some other business”.

“Now masks have become a necessity and people are going to need them for their lifetime.

After wearing a mask, it gets difficult to recognise people behind the mask. So we came with the idea of printing the hidden face on the mask itself,” Sharma said. “After clicking the picture, some editing is required on a computer and then the print is ready. It takes only 10-15 minutes in making this customized face print mask,” he added.

Sharma said they are selling these masks at Rs 50 each. —ANI

Warriors and Champs

Rajasthan: In an ongoing series of art talks being organised weekly by Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK), ‘A Journey with Indian Sculptures Through the Ages’ was presented by eminent art historian, Dr Vijay Mathur, on Thursday. The talk focused on understanding what is Indian art and its significance throughout the ages. It spanned over the Indus Valley Civilisation, Maurya Empire, Gupta Dynasty, Vakataka Empire, among others.

Maharashtra: Dr Kamaljeet Kaur Randhe, who is a health care worker from Nagpur and serving from last 14 years, informed that to protect yourself from the attack of deadly coronavirus, people should work on boosting immunity. She also said that many depression and anxiety cases have also been reported during coronavirus pandemic, and told that Meditation and Yoga can keep a person safe from going in the state of depression.

Rajasthan: Amidst our fight against the pandemic, Help India online institution organised a program, where they provided 100 packets of immunity boosters, 500 pieces of masks, sanitizer machine and a warm welcome to Additional DCP and Nirbhaya Squad’s Head, Sunita Meena, on Thursday at Gandhi Path, Jaipur.

Rajasthan: During the ongoing online musical series ‘Sumiran’, initiated by Rajasthan Forum, in association with Shree Cement and Raghu Sinha Mala Mathur Charity Trust amid the nationwide lockdown, a wellknown singer Mehboob Khan Langa aka Hichki created the musical environment through his performances on the popular songs, on Thursday.

CITY FIRST AHMEDABAD

I

n keeping with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s “I am also a Corona warrior” campaign, which ran May 21-27, NCC cadets from Gujarat had decided to make masks that would then be handed over to their respective collectors.

On Thursday, Commander Shiv Singh CO 1 Naval Unit along with NCC cadets handed over 4,500 masks to Ahmedabad Collector KK Nirala, on behalf of NCC Group Headquar-

ters Ahmedabad. These masks were made by cadets of eight Battalions/units of NCC’s Ahmedabad Group over a period of eight days.

The Collector appreciated the intention and

efforts put in by NCC cadets. He promised that these face masks will be delivered to the weakest of the society who cannot afford masks on their own. cityfirstgujarat@gmail.com

Rajasthan: Vikas Jain Tijaria, Director, Tijaria Polypipes, Subhash Nagar, Jaipur, presented PPE kits to Father John Ravi of St Xavier’s School Nevta Jaipur on Thursday. During their meet, Father John Ravi also discussed the safety norms to use for the protection of school staff and students when the school re-opens. On the occasion, social worker Michael Castellino was also present.

Rajasthan: On the 11th day of the ongoing ‘Online Learning – Children’s Summer Festival’, organised by Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK), a session on ‘Theatre’ was conducted by theatre strategist, Raju Kumar, on Thursday.

The session aimed to encourage theatre enthusiasts to use their faces and eyes for expressing emotions and feelings on stage.