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THE ASIAN AGE

NATION| 4
NEW DELHI MONDAY 31 JANUARY 2022

WORLD| 6 DELHI AGE| 16

Lata Mangeshkar has recovered No threat to Ukraine, Actress Keerthy Suresh may
from Covid-19 and pneumonia, want mutual ties with be planning on going easy
says Maha health minister Tope US, says Russia minister with female-centric movies
www.asianage.com RNI No. 57290/94, Regd No: DL-SW-05/4189/15-17 Vol. 28 No. 344 | 16 PAGES | `5.00

WINDOWS 75% Indians Nadal makes history, wins record 21st title ■ Session begins today; Union Budget tomorrow
fully jabbed, ■ Cong wants privilege move against IT minister

aim for 100%

quickly: PM Opp. to target govt on
2.34L cases, 893 deaths
nationwide in 24 hours
SANJAY KAW
Pegasus, Covid & jobs
AGE CORRESPONDENT
FM tables Eco Survey today,
NEW DELHI, JAN. 30
NEW DELHI, JAN. 30
With India achieving the
landmark of fully vacci-
nating 75 per cent of its
eligible adult popula-
The Opposition parties
plan to corner the govern-
ment on a variety of
all eyes are on GDP forecast
tion, Prime Minister issues in the Budget New Delhi, Jan. 30: The the President’s Address
Narendra Modi on Session of Parliament pre-budget Economic to both Houses.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Sunday lauded the peo- which starts on Monday. Survey, which is tabled One of the most-
Argentinian forward Lionel ple’s faith in the indige- The Congress, the princi- in Parliament ahead of watched numbers in the
Messi before a training session nous vaccines against pal Opposition, has sent the Union Budget to pre- pre-Budget Economic
at the Camp des Loges training Covid-19 and underlined Rafael Nadal celebrates as he made his- final that lasted over five and a half feelers to other Opposit- sent the state of the Survey, authored by a
ground in Saint-Germain-en- the need to accelerate tory on Sunday night, breaking the men’s hours. With the 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 ion parties to unite economy and suggest team led by the chief
Laye on Sunday. — AFP the “Har Ghar Dastak” record for most Grand Slam singles titles, win, Nadal has one more than his long- against the government policy prescriptions, economic adviser, is the
programme to achieve coming back from two sets down to beat time rivals Roger Federer and Novak on some specific issues. quite often misses on the projection of the Gross

EC will meet today 100 per cent vaccination Daniil Medvedev in an Australian Open Djokovic. ■ Report on Page 8 — AP The Congress has high- GDP forecast, some- Domestic Product for
coverage. lighted issues like the times by a significant the next fiscal. The gov-

to review its ban

Corruption can’t last if duty
While asserting India Pegasus spyware leak, the margin. This time, ernment named econo-
was fighting the new Chinese military incur- finance minister mist V. Anantha

on physical rallies Covid-19 wave with

“great success”, Mr
sions, unemployment, the
state of the economy, the
Nirmala Sitharaman
will table the Economic
Nageswaran as the new
CEA days before the
New Delhi: The Election
Commission will meet on
Monday to assess the
Covid-19 situation in the
Modi said: “People
should be safe, the pace
of economic activities of
the country should be
becomes paramount: Modi sale of Air India and relief
for Covid-19 victims. On
Friday, Congress presi-
dent Sonia Gandhi held a
Survey in the Lok Sabha
on Monday soon after
Economic
tabling.
Survey’s
— PTI

five poll-going states and

maintained — this is the
wish of every person in
Homage to Gandhi ■ ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti lives on at war memorial’ virtual meeting with
senior party leaders of
◗ THE LATEST Pegasus during
Session.
the Budget
decide on whether to con- spyware revelations
the country.” AGE CORRESPONDENT both Houses, comprising Information technology
tinue the ban on physical
Exactly two years ago, NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 the Congress’ parliamen- have come as a shot in minister Ashwani
rallies.The Commission may
on January 30, 2020, tary strategy group. the arm for the Cong Vaishnaw has already
also decide on whether
India saw its first Covid- Days after the controver- The latest Pegasus spy- with a New York Times clarified the govern-
fresh relaxations can be
extended to political parties
19 case when a third- sy over the flames at ware revelations have report claiming ment’s position in the last
and candidates in holding
year medical student “Amar Jawan Jyoti” near come as a shot in the arm the spyware was sold sessions of Parliament.
physical campaigning
from Wuhan University India Gate being for the Congress with a to India as part of Congress’ Lok Sabha
tested positive for the “merged” into those at the New York Times report an India-Israel deal leader Adhir Ranjan
events. Citing the rise in
deadly virus after she National War Memorial claiming the spyware was Chowdhury wrote to
Covid cases, the poll panel
returned home for the in its vicinity, Prime sold to India as part of an cal answers from the gov- Speaker Om Birla on
had imposed a ban on phys-
semester holidays. Since Minister Narendra Modi India-Israel deal. The ernment over its role and Sunday demanding that a
ical rallies and roadshows
when it announced the poll
then, India battled three on Sunday said that “like Congress wants categori- it will press the matter ■ Turn to Page 4
waves of Covid-19 and its the ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’,
schedule for UP, Uttarak-
seven mutated variants our martyrs, their inspi-
hand, Goa, Punjab and
Manipur on January 8. — PTI
— Alpha, Beta, Gamma,
Delta, B.1.617.1 and
ration and their contribu-
tion are also immortal”, Farmers to hold ‘Betrayal Day’ today
BJP to fight all 60
B.1.617.3, AY series and as he urged all to visit the
Omicron. The Delta and National War Memorial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Noida, Jan. 30: Alleging government on December The protest on Delhi’s

seats in Manipur
Omicron variants were Also, pointing out that Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on Sunday on the betrayal by the Centre, 9 but those remain unful- borders had started under
the most dangerous vari- “corruption hollows the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, observed to mark the death Bharatiya Kisan Union filled. the banner of the
Imphal: The BJP will contest ants, with the former country like a termite”, anniversary of the Father of the Nation. — PTI (BKU) leader Rakesh “A nation-wide ‘Betra- Samyukta Kisan Morcha,
all the 60 seats of Manipur driving the Covid-19 sec- Mr Modi, in response to a Tikait on Sunday announ- yal Day’ will be observed a farmers’ collective, in
Assembly and announced ond wave as the latter letter by a child who had address this year, Mr “digital sculpture of ced a country-wide obser- on January 31 because of November 2020 over the
its entire list of candidates was behind the ongoing asked him why one Modi also said that now Netaji has also been vance of “Betrayal Day” government’s betrayal to main demands of with-
for the February-March third wave. should wait till 2047 (100th the Republic Day func- installed at India Gate” on Monday over farm farmers. The movement drawal of three con-
election on Sunday. The list With 2,34,281 people anniversary of India’s tions start “from 23rd of and that “we can never issues. The national was suspended on the tentious farm laws that
of candidates was released testing positive for Independence) to get rid January — the birth forget the way the coun- spokesperson of the influ- basis of a letter given by were introduced by the
at the BJP state headquar- Covid-19, driven by of corruption, said where anniversary of Netaji try welcomed this, the ential north Indian farm- the government on Dece- BJP-led Centre.
ters here and signed by Omicron, in the last 24 “duty is paramount, cor- Subhas Chandra Bose — wave of joy that arose ers’ union claimed the mber 9 but those promises The farmers also
party national general sec- hours, India’s total case ruption cannot even and will continue till 30th from every corner of the over-a-year-long protest have not been fulfilled,” demanded a legal guaran-
retary Arun Singh. — PTI tally has gone over 4.10 think of entering there”. of January — Gandhiji’s country; the kind of feel- at Delhi’s borders was Mr Tikait, whose BKU is a tee for minimum support
Full report on Page 3 crores. The death toll In his first Mann Ki death anniversary”. The ings expressed by every withdrawn on the basis of part of the SKM, said in a price (MSP) of crops.
■ Turn to Page 4 Baat monthly radio PM also pointed out that a ■ Turn to Page 4 a letter of promises by the tweet in Hindi. — PTI
2nd dose from today
Key terrorist,
for 15-18 age group
New Delhi: Beneficiaries in
the age group of 15 to 18
Shah: Pick BJP’s Cong fields
CM Channi 4 more Jaish
years will start receiving
their second dose of Covid-
19 vaccine from Monday, ‘Golden Goa’, not from 2 seats men killed in
J&K gunfights
in Punjab
officials said. The drive to
inoculate the adolescents in
this age group had begun
on January 3. Delhi has
around 10.14 lakh beneficia-
Gandhi Parivar’s New Delhi, Jan. 30:
The Congress on
AGE CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR, JAN. 30
ries in the age group. — PTI
‘TMC, AAP or NCP can’t form govt’ Sunday released its
third list of eight can- Five militants, includ-
COUNTERPOINT Ponda (Goa), Jan. 30: tourist desti-
didates for
February 20 Punjab
the ing a top commander, of
the proscribed Jaish-e-
Launching the BJP’s elec- nation. They Assembly polls, field- Muhammad (JeM) were
tion campaign in Goa, come here ing chief minister killed in separate
Union home minister often. But as Charanjit Singh encounters with the
Amit Shah on Sunday for BJP, we Channi from Bhadaur security forces in twin
said people of the state are fulfilling and Chamkaur Sahib districts of Pulwama
need to choose between (late Goa CM) Manohar seats. The Congress and Budgam overnight,
BJP’s “golden Goa” and Parrikar’s “golden Goa” also fielded former officials said here on
Congress’ “Gandhi pari- dreams. People of Goa Patiala mayor Vishnu Sunday.
var ka Goa”, and asserted need to choose between Sharma from the Security personnel near the site of the encounter with militants at Tahab area of Jammu They identified the
that only the BJP can pro- BJP’s “golden Goa” and Patiala Assembly and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday. — PTI slain JeM commander
vide political stability for Cong-ress’ “Gandhi pari- seats against its for- as Zahid Ahmed Wani
development of the var ka Goa”, he said. mer leader Capt. alias Uzair and said he

North Korea test-fires most

coastal state. Hitting out at the TMC, Amarinder Singh. was one of the master-
Mr Shah was address- AAP, NCP for contesting Mr Sharma was minds behind the vari-
ing an indoor public the next month’s Goa once considered a ous IED attacks carried
meeting in Ponda, about polls, Mr Shah said these close confidant of the out across the Valley in
30 km from state capital parties have entered the former chief minister. the past few years. “He
Panaji, to campaign for a
BJP candidate ahead of
the February
Assembly polls.
14
fray just to expand their
base or get national
recognition. “These par-
ties cannot form a gov-
Former Union min-
ister Pawan Kumar
Bansal’s son Manish
Bansal has been
powerful missile since 2017 was a categorised terror-
ist active since May 2017
and involved in several
terror crime cases,
WEATHER “Congress’ Gandhi pari-
var treats Goa as its
ernment
asserted.
here,” he
— PTI
fielded
Barnala
from the
Assembly
Seoul, Jan. 30: North
Korea on Sunday tested
including attacks on
security forces and civil-
Max: 22OC constituency. its most powerful missile ian atrocities,” a state-
Min: 9OC The party since 2017, ramping up the ment by the Jammu and
RH: 68%
Rain: Nil Bengal BJP leader to announced
Singh Phalianwala
from the Jalabad
Mohan firepower for its record-
breaking seventh launch
this month as Seoul
Kashmir police here
said.
The officials said a
Forecast: Sunny

ASTROGUIDE
push for CAA in state Assembly seat against
Shiromani Akali
Dal’s Sukhbir Singh
warned nuclear and long-
range tests could be next.
Pyongyang has never
Pakistani national
Kafeel Bhai alias Chotu
killed with Wani in an
RAJIB CHOWDHURI duction in the state. Badal. test-fired this many mis- encounter in Pulwama’s
Sarvari: Dakshinayana KOLKATA, JAN. 30 Bongaon’s BJP MP, who The Congress also siles in a calendar month Naira village was active
is popular among state named Sukhpal Singh before and last week in the twin districts of
Tithi: Pushya Shddha Unhappy over non-imple- unit rebels for heeding Bhullar as its candi- threatened to abandon a Pulwama and Shopian
Panchami till 11.15 am mentation of the Citizen- their grievances, is also date from Khem nearly five-year-long self- A television screen shows a news broadcast with a file for quite some time and
Star: Purvabhadra till 6.19 am ship Amendment Act for likely to complain to the Karan and Tarsem imposed moratorium on footage of a North Korean missile test at a railway was involved in “a series
Varjyam: 2.20 pm to 2.44 pm refugees in West Bengal, party top brass over the Singh Siala from testing long-range and station in Seoul on Sunday after North Korea fired a of terror crime cases”.
Union minister of state for crackdown on dissidents Attari (SC) seat, while nuclear weapons, blam- “suspected ballistic missile”. — AFP Two other militants
Durmuhurtam: 9.04 am to shipping Santanu dropped in the last organ- Satbir Singh Saini ing US “hostile” policy for killed during the clash
9.48 am; 12.45 pm to 1.29 pm Thakur, who hails from isational rejig. Balichiki will fight forcing its hand. Pyongyang’s military when tensions were last were identified as
Rahukalam: 10.30 am to noon the sizeable Matua com- Mr Thakur, before leav- from Nawanshahr. With peace talks with muscles despite biting at breaking point, warn- Waheed Ahmad and
munity, will meet BJP ing for New Delhi on From Ludhiana the US stalled, North international sanctions. ing Pyongyang could soon Inayat Ahmed. A fifth
SUNSET TODAY 5.59 PM central leaders, including Sunday, held a meeting of South, the Congress Korea has doubled down South Korea said on restart nuclear and inter- man, Bilal Ahmed Khan,
SUNRISE TOMORROW 7.09 AM Union home minister the All India Matua has named Ishwarjot on leader Kim Jong Un's Sunday that North Korea continental missile tests. was killed in a gunfight
MOONRISE TOMORROW 6.30 AM Amit Shah, this week to Mahasangha. Singh Cheema. — PTI vow to modernise the regi- appeared to be following a — AFP with the security forces
MOONSET TODAY 4.58 PM press for the CAA’s intro- ■ More on Page 4 me’s armed forces, flexing “similar pattern” to 2017, ■ More on Page 6 ■ Turn to Page 4
 CITY
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 31 JANUARY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 2

■ ‘App designed to disturb communal harmony’

SHORT TAKES
‘AirVaidya’ fumes
can help preventing Delhi court denies bail
airborne infections’
New Delhi: Researchers at
Banaras Hindu University
to Bulli Bai app creator
have found that anti-viral, New Delhi, Jan. 30: A row last year. The judge opposed the bail applica-
anti-bacterial and anti- Delhi court has dismissed passed the order after tion arguing that in the
inflammatory properties of the bail application of hearing the arguments of present case, doctored
the fumes of ‘AirVaidya’ Niraj Bishnoi, the alleged the accused as well as the photographs of the com-
herbal incense sticks can be creator of the Bulli Bai prosecution. plainant, a journalist,
effective in preventing air- app, saying his offence “The sardonic conduct were shared on Twitter
borne infections. Prepared was not only against the of the applicant accused handle @bullibai through
by AIMIL Pharmaceuticals, essence of womanhood in targeting women jour- a web app.
‘AirVaidya’ contains phyto- but was also designed to nalists of a particular It submitted that the
chemicals from 19 medicinal disturb communal har- community, using offen- accused created a web app
which are known for their mony. sive monikers with ‘Bulli Bai’ on GitHub web-
potential therapeutic effects Additional sessions derogatory communal site/portal platform by
to combat the coronavirus. judge Dharmender Rana overtones on a social plat- using ProtonVPN to hide
The ingredients include raal, denied the relief to the form, is not only an his identity.
neem patr, vasa, ajwain, accused on January 29, offence against the Bishnoi, a 21-year-old
haldi, lemongrass (lamajja- noting that the allegations essence of womanhood engineering student, is
ka), vacha, tulsi, peeli sar- against him were serious but also an act designed to said to be the main con-
son, safed chandan, ushir, in nature and the investi- enrage passion and cause spirator and creator of
sudh guggal, nagarmotha, gation was at a nascent ill will amongst communi- the Bulli Bai app on
mehendi, tagar, loban, stage. ties and disturb commu- GitHub and the main
kapoor, jigat and cardamom Several complaints were nal harmony,” the judge Twitter account holder of
husk. Dr K.R.C. Reddy, pro- received by police stations said in the order. the app. He was arrested
fessor in the department of in the country regarding The accused had sought by the Delhi police’s spe-
rasa shastra (ayurveda), the listing of Muslim bail on the ground that cial cell from Assam’s
Institute of Medical women for “auction” on the investigation against Jorhat on January 5, 2022.
Sciences, BHU, who led the the ‘Bulli Bai’ mobile him was already complete An engineering student
research, said: “Participants application with photo- and no fruitful purpose from Bengaluru, a young
were divided into two graphs sourced without would be served by keep- girl from Uttarakhand,
groups — intervention group permission and doctored. ing him behind the bars. and one of her friends
(150 people) and controlled It has happened for the He had submitted that he have also been arrested by
group (100 people). They second time in less than a is an engineering student the Mumbai police in con-
were asked to inhale year. The app appeared to and has no criminal nection with the ‘Bulli
‘AirVaidya’ Herbal Dhoopa Schoolchildren at Rajghat on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, observed to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma be a clone of ‘Sulli Deals,’ antecedents. Bai’ app case.
fumes for ten minutes twice Gandhi in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI which triggered a similar The prosecution had — PTI
a day, while the control

Delhi civic buildings decorated Man held for

group was not given such
treatment. The results were
encouraging. Just 4 per cent
of the intervention group on
cheating over Scribe held for
for ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’
the medicinal therapy

`1.75cr from impersonating

showed Covid-like symp-
toms such as fever, cough,
cold, or no taste or smell.

home buyers
On the other hand, at least
37 per cent, who were not
given such therapy, were
found to have Covid-19 like
symptoms.” — PTI
Parks thematically decorated, martyrs’ memorials, Metro pillars beautified
New Delhi, Jan. 30: ◗ THE THREE civic bodies
in the national capital—
has taken various initia- coach special train has
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 MP Adityanath
‘Incense stick project
Municipal buildings have tives to overcome the chal- been exclusively wrapped
been decked up with the- North, South, and East lenges of waste manage- and decked with collage of A 47-year-old man was BHASKAR HARI SHARMA ◗ ACCORDING TO the
matic murals, Metro pil- ment so as to build a sus- photographs and slogans arrested for cheating NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 complainant, the alleged
to employ over 1,000 lars decorated with images
of various dance forms of
corporations—have come
up with a host of activities
tainable country for the
next generation.
depicting the glorious his-
tory of India’s people, cul-
more than `1.75 crores
from home buyers A freelance journalist
persons had sent emails

women workers’ India, and martyrs’ memo-

rials beautified in Delhi to
as part of the ongoing
‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’
At its recently inaugurat-
ed Bharat Darshan Park, a
ture, and achievements in
the last 75 years signifying
allegedly on the pretext
of providing luxury
was arrested for alleged-
ly impersonating him-
and forged letters to pub-
lic sector units including
New Delhi: Mysore Deep mark the 75th year of celebrations. ‘Tree of Unity’ has been the spirit of ‘Atmanirbhar apartments in Delhi self as Lok Sabha MP Power Grid Corporation of
Perfumery House (MDPH) India’s Independence. created using electric Bharat,’ officials earlier NCR, police said on Yogi Adityanath and India, ONGC and GAIL
with its brand Zed Black, has The three civic bodies in ◗ From school buildings to poles, tyres, and other said. Sunday. sending forged letters to India. They have even
inked a deal with the national capital— hospital structures and scrap material. Besides, a In East Delhi, the area’s Sanjeev Kumar Mavi is different public sector attached scanned letters,
HelpUsGreen, the pioneer in North, South, and East cor- parks to public round- chariot has been made civic body has recently got- a resident of southwest units seeking advertise- wherein they had forged
flower recycling technology porations—have come up abouts, thematic decora- from parts of a discarded ten made thematic murals Delhi’s Najafgarh. The ments for his local news the signatures of MP Yogi
to launch “Nature Flower” with a host of activities as tions have been done to car’s body frame at an on the walls of Swami police had declared publication, police said Adityanath.
fragrant incense sticks made part of the ongoing ‘Azadi mark the occasion. upcoming Shaheedi Park. Dayanand Hospital, the `25,000 on his arrest in on Sunday.
from recycled flowers. From ka Amrit Mahotsav’ cele- In Najafgarh zone, Kargil only municipal facility in connection with a 2017 Accused Manoj Kumar Similarly, fake emails
floral waste to fragrant sticks, brations. said. The South Delhi Chowk at Dwarka has been the region, as part of the case registered at Seth, 41, was arrested and fake letters were
the Zed Black Nature Flower From school buildings to Municipal Corporation beautified. The artefacts commemorative celebra- Ranhola police station. from his native sent to ONGC and GAIL
Incense sticks are launched in hospital structures and has carried out beautifica- have been freshly painted, tions. Mavi, the mastermind Bhubaneswar in Odisha for the advertisement
four natural fragrances, parks to public round- tion drives in all its four a wall of an adjacent park Images of freedom fight- behind the racket, had by the Intelligence support in favour of TOP
Sandal, Mogra, Kasturi, Rose abouts, thematic decora- zones. has been painted in a tri- ers like Sardar been absconding for Fusion and Strategic News. Through the IP
across the country. The joint tions have been done to South zone has also por- colour theme, and boards Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji quite some time while Operations (IFSO) unit Address analysis and
project aims to impact the mark the occasion. trayed the national bird, showing ‘Azadi ka Amrit Subhas Chandra Bose, his co-accused (brother- of Delhi Police’s Special human intelligence, we
lives of over 1,000 indige- “To commemorate 75 peacock, through art on Mahotsav’ have been Rani Lakshmi Bai, Bhagat in-law) Pawan Bhadana Cell, they said. identified the accused as
nous women workforce. By years of progressive India the wall of a six-storey installed, officials said. Singh, and Chandra and Ravi Shukla have A complaint was file by Manoj Kumar Seth,” he
using flower recycling tech- and ‘Azadi ka Amrit building of SDMC’s House Besides, several Metro Shekhar Azad have been already been arrested in Rajbhushan Singh said.
nology and establishing a Mahotsav,’ SDMC has Tax department in R.K. pillars in SDMC’s depicted, EDMC officials the case, police said, Rawat, PS to Lok Sabha Police said Seth was
first of a kind circular eco- beautified corporation Puram, the official said. Najafgarh zone have been said. adding a number of FIRs MP Yogi Adityanath aware that his plan to
nomic model in India, buildings, Metro pillars, The bird has been paint- painted to portray the Former president and were registered in Delhi alleging that some gain advertisement
HelpUsGreen are the forerun- schools, parks, and round- ed on the wall measuring dance forms of India and noted scientist A.P.J. and NCR against the unknown persons had favour was not success-
ners in starting the move- abouts with murals and 70-ft in length and 26-ft in its rich cultural diversity. Abdul Kalam has also been gang. created a fake email id ful and inorder to evade
ment to clean the rivers and other artworks,” a senior width and is a symbol of The Delhi Metro itself paid tribute through the According to police, purportedly of Yogi investigators, he was
the places of worship, thus official said. grace and beauty, he has also marked the occa- artwork on the wall of the constables Mintu and Adityanth, police said. continuously changing
giving the future generations The civic agency is mak- added. sion by launching a spe- hospital, which also seeks Shyam Sunder of Crime According to the com- his hideouts. Several
a clean environment and ing the city more beautiful As part of the efforts cially decorated train on to improve the level of san- Branch developed infor- plainant, the alleged per- times, raids were con-
decrease the carbon foot- and cleaner through towards environmental the eve of Republic Day. itation for the Swachh mation about Mavi who sons had sent emails and ducted at the possible
print in the country. ‘Swachhta’ campaigns, he sustainability, the SDMC The exterior of the eight- Survekshan 2022. was wanted in half a forged letters to public hideouts of accused but
dozen cases. “On sector units including he escaped every time.
Saturday, our team Power Grid Corporation On Friday, the accused

City records 3,674 new Maha auto driver reunites received information
that accused Mavi would
be coming to sector 134 of
of India, ONGC and
GAIL India. They have
even attached scanned
Manoj Kumar Seth was
arrested
Bhubaneshwar by our
from

Covid cases, 30 deaths runaway Delhi girl with kin

Noida in Uttar Pradesh. letters, wherein they team and during interro-
A trap was laid and the had forged the signa- gation, he revealed that
accused was apprehend- tures of MP Yogi he is a freelance journal-
ed by them,” said Adityanath. ist and also publishes his
AGE CORRESPONDENT was 57,686, it said. Dheeraj Kumar, Joint Deputy Commissioner newspaper fortnightly
NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 On Friday, Delhi had record- Palghar (Maharashtra), ◗ THE GIRL told the police said. The girl told the Commissioner of Police of Police (IFSO) K.P.S. “Samaj Aina”. He had
ed 4,044 cases with a positivity Jan. 30: A 14-year-old girl, police that she was from (Crime). Malhotra said that dur- created the fake email
Delhi logged 3,674 cases with a rate of 8.60 per cent and 25 who ran away from her
that she was from Pushp Pushp Vihar in New Delhi Mavi disclosed that he ing the course of investi- and prepared the forged
positivity rate of 6.37 per cent, deaths. The day before, on home in New Delhi after Vihar in New Delhi and ran and ran away from her used to work as broker gation, the fake email ID letters to seek advertise-
while 30 more fatalities were Thursday, it recorded being pressured by her away from her home on home on Friday as her for some real estate yogiadityanath.mp@gm ment support in favour
reported, according to data 4,291 cases with a positivity parents to focus on studies, Friday as her mother was mother was pressuring her firms in Delhi-NCR. In ail.com was identified of his local newspapers,
shared by the city’s health rate of 9.56 per cent and 34 was reunited with her fam- pressuring her to focus on to focus on studies, he said. 2016-17, he along with and the analysis of the Malhotra said.
department on Sunday. deaths. ily here in Maharashtra studies. The Palghar police The police here contacted his brother-in-law email header was done. Seth is also involved in
On Saturday, the national The number of daily cases after an auto-rickshaw contacted the Saket police the Saket police station in hatched a plan to dupe The contents of the a case of extortion regis-
capital had reported 4,483 in Delhi has been on the driver promptly alerted station in Delhi, where a Delhi, where a case on home buyers, he said. email was also analysed tered against him in 2020
Covid-19 cases with a positivi- decline after the record high police, an official said on charges of kidnapping was They recruited Ravi to understand the motive at Chaulia Ganj police
case on charges of kidnap- station in Cuttack on
ty rate of 7.41 per cent. As of 28,867 on January 13. The Sunday. already registered by the Shukla who is Mavi’s of fake email.
many as 28 deaths were also city had recorded a positivity On Saturday morning, ping was already regis- girl’s parents. friend. They created “The alleged email was complaint of an execu-
reported. rate of 30.6 per cent on the auto-rickshaw driver, tered by the girl’s parents. Later, the police informed shell companies and with request to release tive engineer of PWD,
According to the latest January 14, the highest dur- Raju Karwade (35), was the girl’s parents of her launched fake luxury advertisement in favour Odisha, police said,
update, the national capital’s ing the ongoing wave of the waiting outside Vasai sta- identity card and enquired whereabouts. apartment projects. After of English news paper adding further investiga-
case count has increased to pandemic. tion here for passengers about her. The girl The girl’s parents then collecting money from “Breaking News”. tion is in progress.
18,27,489 and the death toll to It took just 10 days for daily when the girl approached informed him that she was took a flight and reached home buyers they shut
25,827. The number of Covid- cases to drop below the 10,000 him and asked if she could from New Delhi and had Vasai where they were their office. They

Atal Aahar Yojana: SDMC

19 tests conducted a day ago mark. get a room to stay in the come here alone. reunited with their daugh- launched a project at
area, Manickpur police sta- The three-wheeler driver ter late Saturday evening, Crossing Republic, NH-24
tion’s senior inspector immediately alerted a traf- the official said. The auto- Ghaziabad. They collect-
Bhausaheb K Aher said.
The driver, out of suspi-
cion, checked the girl’s
fic cop and then took the
girl to the Manickpur
police station, the official
rickshaw driver was later
felicitated at the police sta-
tion, he added. — PTI
ed about `1.75 crores and
then vanished, the offi-
cer said.
changes rule for licence
New Delhi, Jan. 30: The Covid. He said the corpo-
South Delhi Municipal ration wants to restart

Cops introduce Hindi phonetic keyboard Corporation (SDMC) has

removed the condition of
producing acceptance
the scheme with certain
modifications like allow-
ing anyone to apply for a
license unlike earlier

in criminal tracking network & systems

letter from councillors to
apply for a licence under when only municipal
the “Atal Aahar Yojana”, workers could do so.
which aims to provide “Applicants will no
AGE CORRESPONDENT and executed under ing officers (IOs) will be Hindi typing; and often subsidised food to the longer have to procure a
NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 Special Commissioner of able to speak and record sought help of profession- poor, it said on Sunday. consent from the local
Police (Technology and their work electronically al Hindi data entry opera- A proposal in this con- councillor to get a
To facilitate professional Implementation) Muktesh using phonetic keyboard, tors, said Biswal. nection was approved by licence under the
investigation along with Chander, it is the first of dispensing the dependen- “However, the newly the SDMC’s standing scheme. We have on
data and records manage- its kind system innova- cy on Hindi typists or the developed procedure is committee on Friday. Friday removed this con-
ment, Delhi police com- tion to have taken place in compulsion to record quick, easy and Artificial Under the scheme, dition,” Oberoi said.
missioner Rakesh north Indian Hindi speak- hindi versions in English Intelligence (AI) based. A nearly 40 food kiosks “Breakfast and lunch
Asthana has introduced a ing states, police said. alphabets, bringing in dictionary of traditional having inbuilt kitchens will be served at prices
phonetic keyboard system As a pilot project, the efficiency, accuracy and Hindi/Urdu words, often will be set up to provide decided by the munici-
with Hindi voice typing system has been launched transparency in investi- used in police working, food at “extremely pality. Tentative rates for
facility in the crime and in all the police stations of gation works,” said has been added for con- cheaper prices”. People breakfast and lunch are
criminal tracking net- New Delhi and North dis- Biswal. venience of users. will get a thali (food likely to be `10 and `15,”
work & systems (CCTNS) tricts of the force and Till now, police person- The system catches new plate) at a subsidised Oberoi said.
on which all works of shall be rolled out in all nel, especially IOs were Hindi and Urdu words rate of `15. He said the breakfast
investigation beginning the districts shortly, said experiencing difficulty in also and stores the same Standing committee menu will consist of
with lodging of FIR, writ- Chinmoy Biswal, the operating CCTNS in Hindi for database, thus expand- chairman B.K. Oberoi puri-sabji and stuffed
ing case diaries and sub- spokesperson of Delhi for official works like ing its vocabulary to said this scheme was parathas while for lunch
mitting chargesheets are Police. writing FIRs, case diaries, include all words and syn- first implemented on there will be chapattis,
A worker sanitises a cinema hall ahead of its reopening in done across the country. “With this technological final report as very few tax used in police works,” pilot basis in 2018-19 but rice, lentils, vegetables,
Gurgaon on Sunday. — PTI This has been developed solution now investigat- personnel are adept in Biswal said. was put on hold due to and curd. — PTI
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 31 JANUARY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 3

SHORT
Around 60 cattle
TAKES Votes from polarisation politics
die in cow shelter
run by BJP leader
not acceptable to BJP: Rajnath
RABINDRA NATH
Kasganj (UP), Jan. 30: On
the campaign trail in
He also coined a new
term for Kasganj and said Manipur: BJP to
CHOUDHURY
BHOPAL, JAN. 30
Uttar Pradesh, defence
minister Rajnath Singh on
that it is Khasganj
(Special Place). contest 60 seats,
declares entire
Sunday hit out at the Mr Singh further said
Mass death of cattle in a Samajwadi Party and said that as a leader, Kalyan
that BJP seeks votes on Singh refused to open fire
list of candidates
‘gau-shala,’ cow shelter, run
by a BJP leader, on Sunday, the basis of humanity and at the Kar Sevaks and
sparked a political row with justice only. chose to go to jail instead.
Congress demanding action Taking forward Prime “His contribution to the Imphal, Jan. 30: BJP will
against the ruling party Minister Narendra Modi’s people of Uttar Pradesh contest all the 60 seats of
member. Around 60 cattle jibe at the Akhilesh Yadav- was so special that’s why Manipur Assembly and
were found dead in the cat- led party - “Red topi of SP the government of the day announced its entire list of
tle shelter here run by BJP spells red alert”, Mr Singh under Prime Minister candidates for the
Rajnath Singh Narendra Modi has
leader Nirmala Devi said, “We do not want February-March election
Shandilya. Bhopal district votes on the basis of caste, out to the people has been bestowed the Padma on Sunday.
collector Avinash Lavania creed and religion. We the drastic improvement Award on him...,” he said. The list of candidates
rushed to the spot after Union home minister Amit Shah spins the ‘charkha’ to unveil Mahatma Gandhi’s seek votes only on the in the law and order situa- As he signed off from the was released at the BJP
learning about the incident. basis of justice and tion in the state since 2017. day-long campaign, Mr state headquarters here
mural made with clay kulhads at the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Mr Lavania ordered the humanity.” Expressing confidence Singh said that this Uttar and signed by party nation-
— PTI that the BJP will repeat Pradesh assembly elec-
local sub-divisional magis- “Samajwadi Party is al general secretary Arun
trate (SDM) to take action doing politics. They have the win of 2017, Mr Singh tion, which happens to be Singh. Among the main
against the management of
the cattle shelter for piling
carcasses of cattle at one
Baghel: Amar Jawan Jyoti to crossed all limits to get the
vote of a particular reli-
gion. Votes from polarisa-
said, “You all want
Lakshmi ji (wealth and
prosperity) to come home.
the pre-final to the 2024
Lok Sabha elections, will
be no ordinary election
contestants are chief min-
ister N. Biren Singh who
will be contesting from

be built at C’garh by Cong

place and not disposing of tion politics are not Lakshmi ji does not come but a defining one. Heingang constituency,
them appropriately, an offi- acceptable to us,” he on a cycle (SP symbol), she It is from Uttar Pradesh PWD minister Th Biswajit
cial press release issued added. does not come on an ele- that the largest chunk of Singh from Thongju,
here on Sunday said. He Lauding Yogi phant (BSP symbol), she 80 Lok Sabha seats comes. Govindas Konthoujam, the

C’garh: Police band plays Abide

also removed Ms Shandilya New Delhi, Adityanath-led UP govern- does not move her hand Rajnath Singh’s younger former Manipur Pradesh
from her position and J a n . 3 0 : ment, Mr Singh said, “The (congress symbol); when son, Pankaj Singh, is in Congress Committee presi-
handed over the manage- Chhattisgarh Samajwadi Party has to Lakshmi ji comes, she the electoral contest as he dent who joined BJP
ment of the cattle shelter
to the local Janpad. Mr
Lavania ordered the district
chief minister
B h u p e s h
Baghel today
With Me to pay tribute to Gandhi accept the fact that it was
in their tenure only that
so many riots took place.
comes riding on a lotus
(BJP symbol).”
Addressing the audience
continues to contest from
Gautam Budh Nagar
where he is already sitting
recently, from Bishnupur.
BJP has given party tick-
ets to three women candi-
veterinary doctor to con- announced RABINDRA NATH in the beating retreat cere- They need to answer why during a ‘Prabhavi MLA. dates and denied three sit-
duct a post-mortem of that an eternal Bhupesh CHOUDHURY mony, marking the end of did this happen. And, you Matdaata Samvad’ (effec- Uttar Pradesh goes into ting MLAs.
some of the dead cattle to flame, ‘Amar Baghel RAIPUR, JAN 30 Republic Day celebrations all need to understand tive voter dialogue) pro- elections in seven phases Seven MLAs who had
ascertain the cause of their Jawan Jyoti’ in the country this year. why no one could dare to gram in Kasganj, Mr with the first phase on defected from Congress
deaths, the release said. will be lit in Chhattisgarh ‘Abide With Me’ was “On the occasion of the riot under the rule of Singh paid rich tributes to February 10 and the last and joined BJP have been
Pictures of dead cattle in as a tribute to soldiers who among other favourite death anniversary of Bharatiya Janata Party.” former Chief Minister phase on March 7. The poll given nominations accord-
the cow shelter went viral have sacrificed their lives hymns of Mahatma Mahatma Gandhi, a spe- One of the planks on and one of BJP’s tallest results would be declared ing to the list of candidates
in social media prompting for the country. The Amar Gandhi, played by Raipur cial programme is being which the BJP is reaching leaders Kalyan Singh. on March 10. — PTI issued on Sunday. — PTI
the district collector to Jawan Jyoti will be con- police band here to pay held by the Chhattisgarh
spring to action. Several structed in the premises of tribute to the father of police band at Marine
dead cattle were seen
dumped in a well in the
locality while some carcass-
‘Chaithi
Chhattisgarh
Vahini
Armed
forces” at Mana in Raipur.
nation on his death
anniversary.
‘Abide With Me’ hymn
Drive in Raipur.
It is said that the police
band will play favourite
BJP not aware of my loyalty, says Jayant
es of cattle were lying scat- Member of Parliament was shot into the news hymns of Mahatma Hapur,(UP), Jan. 30: “The BJP Shah’s election campaign Pradesh.
tered in the area. Congress Rahul Gandhi will lay the after it was dropped for Gandhi including ‘Abide Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is not in Muzaffarnagar, Mr Mr Chaudhary earlier
spokesman Narendra Singh foundation stone of the the first time in 70 years With Me’ song. chief Jayant Chaudhary, aware of Chaudhary said, “Good said, “They (BJP) did
Saluja claimed that the BJP Amar Jawan Jyoti on who has stitched an my loyalty that they are hitting the nothing for farmers. The
leader has been running the February 3. The chief min- Amar Jawan Jyoti at the armed forces, as well as the alliance with Akhilesh and emo- road. But what matters in police force was used
cattle shelter for the last 20 ister said that Congress India Gate was visible to brave hearts who sacri- Yadav’s Samajwadi Party tion. Amit an election is the last five against students in Bihar
years. He demanded action leaders had sacrificed visitors and instilled a ficed their lives in (SP) for the Uttar Pradesh S h a h years' track record which and Uttar Pradesh two
against her for the death of their lives for the nation sense of pride and grati- Chhattisgarh by lighting Assembly elections, has knows that is very bad. The law and days back. In such an
a large number of cattle in and the party knows how tude towards the martyrs ‘Chhattisgarh Amar said that the Bharatiya I won’t Jayant order have deteriorated environment, how can
the facility. to give respect to martyrs. of the country. Jawan Jyoti’. Janata Party (BJP) is not b r e a k Chaudhary in the state. There has they think that anyone
He said that the eternal The chief minister said The Amar Jawan Jyoti in aware of his loyalty and down or been an increase in would join hands with
1 killed, another flame in New Delhi was lit
by former Prime Minister
that he is deeply saddened
by the extinguishing of the
Raipur will have a wall of
brown marble with mar-
emotion and he will not
change his mind.
change my mind. By say-
ing that Azam Khan will
crimes against women
and SCs in the state.”
them?”
The RLD chief in a

injured in Rourkela Indira Gandhi in 1972 in

honor of the martyred
brave soldiers of the coun-
Amar Jyoti at India Gate in
Delhi. He added that now
Chhattisgarh will honor
tyrs’ names on it, a memo-
rial tower and also a VVIP
platform. The wall will be
Mr Chaudhary’s
remarks came as Union
minister Amit Shah dur-
replace Jayant
Chaudhary he is trying to
divert our supporters and
Jayant Chaudhary on
Thursday denied the pos-
sibility of a post-poll
tweet earlier said that the
invitation should not be
given to him, but to all
Bhubaneswar: A contractual try, but the Central govern- the martyrdom of the sons in the form of a crescent of ing a meeting with Jat end the brotherhood alliance with the the families of farmers
employee of Rourkela Steel ment shifted it from India of Chhattisgarh who sacri- about 25 feet high, length of leaders in New Delhi had among the people,” the Bharatiya Janata Party whose lives were
Plant (RSP) was killed while Gate to the National War ficed their lives for the about 100 feet and thick- said the BJP’s doors are RLD chief told ANI. in the upcoming destroyed during the
another sustained critical Memorial. He said that country by joining the ness of 3 feet. always open for the RLD. When asked about Amit Assembly polls in Uttar farmers’ protest. — ANI
injuries in a mishap that

Dubai Expo: J&K signs 6

reportedly occurred at
Captive Power Plant -1 (CPP-
1) of the unit on Sunday. The
deceased was identified as
Amar Panda while the
injured is Sushil Kumar. The
injured employee was admit-
ted to Ispat General Hospital
investment agreements
(IGH), Rourkela. The mishap YUSUF JAMEEL International.
reportedly took place when SRINAGAR, JAN. 30 ◗ THE GOVT signed at Further, the Emaar
a plate fell on the duo at the least 6 agreements in Group, the UAE’s biggest
CPP-1. While Amar reported- Jammu and Kashmir these and other poten- real estate developer, for-
ly died on the spot, Sushil authorities, on Sunday, tial sectors, generating mally signed an agree-
was severely injured in the said that the recently a large number of ment with the J&K gov-
accident. The duo was work- held Dubai Expo is investments which will ernment to develop a
ing as a contractual employ- expected to prove a cata- be ‘remarkable’ for the 5,00,000 square feet shop-
ee at the steel plant, sources lyst to international industrial growth of ping mall in Srinagar.
informed. The RSP authori- investments in the “This investment is
ties have set up a team to Union Territory, mainly J&K expected to pave the way
carry out an investigation in real estate, infrastruc- for further investments,”
into the matter. ture, tourism, health- Jammu. they said.
care, and food process- “Several global Lulu Group, on the
ing sectors. investors are now eyeing other hand, has pledged

BJP HAS FIELDED They said that during

the expo, the government
the untapped market and
industrial potential of
`600 million to develop a
food processing unit in

99 CRIMINALS,
signed at least six agree- J&K,” he added. J&K. Century Financial,
ments in these and other Officials claimed that whose owner incidental-
potential sectors, gener- several UAE-based com- ly is originally a resident

SAYS AKHILESH ating a large number of

investments which will
be “remarkable” for the
panies like Al Maya
Group,
Investments
MATU
LLC,
of J&K’s Doda district,
will be investing $100m
to build three hotels and
Lucknow: The BJP industrial growth of Century Financial, Noon one commercial-residen-
is one short of J&K. E-commerce, and others tial complex in the UT,
hitting a “centu- “The expo has opened signed memorandums of the officials said.
ry” of tickets the gateway for industri- understanding (MoUs) Dubai ports giant DP
given to candi- al investments for the with the J&K govern- World is set to build an
dates with a crim- entire J&K which will be ment. Also, letters of inland port in J&K and
inal history, the ‘dawn of a new era’ intent (LsoI) were signed the 250-acre site for the
Samajwadi Party for the industrial devel- with Magna Waves project will be finalised
chief Akhilesh Akhilesh opment here,” an official Private Limited, Emaar shortly, an official state-
Yadav alleged on Yadav spokesman said in Group, and Lulu ment said.
Sunday. In a
tweet, the former Uttar
Pradesh chief minister Modi pays homage to Odisha: 5 held for
claimed that the BJP has, so
allegedly selling
far, fielded 99 candidates
with a criminal history for
the upcoming assembly
‘supermom’ tigress in toddler for `12K
polls in the state. “Breaking
news about baba ji (chief
minister Yogi Adityanath)
‘Mann Ki Baat’ telecast AKSHAYA KUMAR
SAHOO
BJP is just one candidate RABINDRA NATH They bade BHUBAENSWAR, JAN. 30
short of hitting a century of CHOUDHURY h e r
criminal candidates... So far, BHOPAL, JAN. 30 farewell The Odisha police on
99 candidates with a crimi- filled with Sunday arrested at least
nal history have been given Prime Minister respect and five persons, including
tickets,” he tweeted in Hindi Narendra Modi on affection”, an Anganwadi worker in
in a tit-for-tat attack. Yogi Sunday paid rich trib- the Prime connection with the
Adityanath had on Saturday ute to ‘Supermom’ Minister alleged sale of a newborn
alleged that Mr Yadav was tigress Collarwali that said in his babygirl by a couple at
patronising criminals, passed away at the age Narendra latest radio Sanaraipara village of
goons, and mafia and of 16 in Pench Tiger Modi p r o - Jajpur district.
termed the SP as ‘dangawa- Reserve (PTR) in gramme. The parents of the
di’ (promoting riots), Madhya Pradesh last Mr Modi’s ‘befitting’ infant- Natabar Behera
‘tamanchawadi’ (fond of fortnight, in his 21st tribute to Collarwali, and Kanchan are also
country-made pistols) and episode of “Mann Ki considered a legend in among the arrested per-
‘pariwarwadi’ (working for Baat” programme. Madhya Pradesh’s his- sons. The anganwadi
family). The BJP has, so far, Mr Modi highlighted tory of conservation, staff was reportedly the
declared 294 candidates for the contribution to the has made the forest offi- middleman in the deal.
the upcoming assembly conservation by the cers of state nostalgic As the couple already
elections. Meanwhile, down- famed big cat in his about the tigress, which had three daughters, they
playing Samajwadi Party’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ pro- birthed a record 29 cubs allegedly sold the new-
claims that it was going to gramme, describing in her eight litters. born to a childless couple
form the government in how people bade the big “I felt emotional to see of Mahakalapada area in
Uttar Pradesh, deputy chief cat an emotional a befitting tribute on Kendrapara for `12,000
minister Keshav Prasad farewell after her death legendary Collarwali by soon after the delivery at
Maurya on Sunday said its in the PTR. the PM in Mann Ki Dharamsala Community
chief Akhilesh Yadav was “Her (Collarwali’s) Baat. I became nostalgic Health Centre (CHC).
daydreaming and that the death has made people to remember those days However, Natabar
BJP wave was evident. “Just (in PTR) so emotional when I was monitoring claimed that he is a daily
like 2017, the Bharatiya that they felt as if they her breeding ecology in wage labourer and it
Janata Party will form the lost one of their family Pench as a PhD scholar would be difficult for
government in 2022,” he members. People per- of Wildlife Institute of him to take care of four
said. — PTI formed her last rites. India (WII). children.
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 31 JANUARY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 4

SHORT
Raut kin have stakes
TAKES ‘Hitlershahi’: BJP ally after Bihar MLC seat denial
in liquor firm: BJP No Council seat given to Sahani’s and Manjhi’s parties ‘With heavy heart’: Ex-Jharkhand
Patna, Jan. 30: National BJP think they’re power-

minister resigns from Cong party

Mumbai: BJP leader Kirit president of the ful and have taken the
Somaiya on Sunday alleged Vikassheel Insaan Party, right decision. This is like Lata Mangeshkar
that Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Mukesh Sahani, on Hitlershahi.”
Raut’s family is having part-
nership in a wine company
Sunday, hit out at the NDA
alliance parties, Janata Mr Sahani announced Ranchi, Jan. 30: Former Jharkhand unit has been Mangeshkar
of a big industrialist.
Because of this, Mr Raut is
Dal (United) (JDU) and
BJP in Bihar, calling it
that his party will contest
on all the 24 seats on its
Jharkhand minister and
AICC member, Geetashree
fostering the recent lan-
guage controversy and recovered from
Covid infection:
supporting the decision of “Hitlershahi” after they own. Oraon has resigned from hostility, thereby demean-
“sale of wine” in supermar- did not give his party even “We have decided to con- the Congress party. ing the very cause of for-
a single seat for contest- test on all 24 seats on our “With a heavy heart and mation of a separate state
Health minister
kets, he said. Speaking with
the reporters on Sunday, Mr. ing in the Member of the own,” he said. deep regret I tender my of Jharkhand and the
Somaiya said that both Legislative Council (MLC) On the other hand, resignation from all party high command was
daughters of Mr Raut have a election likely to be held ahead of the Legislative responsibilities assigned also silent on the issue. BHAGWAN PARAB
partnership in Ashok Garg’s in March-April this year. Council elections, the to me by the Indian “The legacy of advocat- MUMBAI, JAN. 30
Magpie group. The BJP On Saturday, the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ of National Congress party ing and defending the
leader alleged that in order alliance in Bihar, JD(U) Congress-Rashtriya including primary mem- Geetashree Oraon rights of adivasis that was In a news that will bring
to serve the interests of Mr. and BJP agreed on a seat- Janata Dal is on the verge bership”, Ms Geetashree, a passed down to me by my music to the ears of
Raut, the state cabinet has sharing formula for the of a split as Tejashwi former education minister demnable”. father Kartik Oraon, for- crores of fans of Lata
approved the sale of wine in upcoming MLC polls in Bihar chief minister Nitish Yadav refused to contest of Jharkhand, stated in “Our rights are being mer Union Minister in M a n g e s h k a r ,
supermarkets and grocery which the BJP will con- Kumar pays floral tribute the elections together, fol- her resignation letter encroached upon by the so Indira (Gandhi) ji’s cabi- Maharashtra health
shops. “To benefit Mr. Raut, test on 13 seats, one of to Mahatma Gandhi on lowing which Congress addressed to All India called ‘outsiders’ while the net, mother Sumati Oraon, minister Rajesh Tope on
the state government has which the party has given Martyr’s Day observed said the party is capable Congress Committee provision of preferring former Union Minister in Sunday informed that
changed the policy and to the Rashtriya Lok on the death anniversary of contesting the polls on (AICC) president, Sonia native language in employ- Rajiv ji’s cabinet, seriously the legendary singer has
allowed wine to be sold in Janshakti Party (RLJP) of Gandhi in Patna on all 24 seats on its own. Gandhi on Saturday. ment and education is stand challenged. recovered from Covid
supermarkets,” Mr Somaiya led by Pashupati Kumar Sunday. — PTI Tejashwi Yadav hinted She further stated that respectfully applied in the “The recurrent of socio- and pneumonia.
said. The Raut family had Paras while the JD(U) will on Saturday, while speak- the recent controversy and states of West Bengal, cultural and political apa- “Lata Mangeshkar has
signed a partnership agree- field candidates on 11 (HAM-S) and Vikassheel ing to the media, that his uncalled for complications Odisha, Maharashtra, thy towards the people of recovered from Covid
ment on April 16, 2021 for seats. Insaan Party. party would contest the of tribal and regional lan- Gujarat, North Eastern my state has hit hard on and pneumonia. She is
the business with Mr Garg’s Notably, no seats were Speaking to news agency MLC polls on its own guage for 3rd and 4th grade states and majority of me. The broader INC ideol- no longer on a ventila-
Magpie Group, Mr Somaiya given to the former chief ANI, Mr Sahani said, while RJD is in alliance jobs and the dilutions of South Indian states”, she ogy that once armoured tor,” said Mr Tope.
said. minister Jitan Ram “The government in with Congress in New 5th Schedule provisions in said. the rights and privileges of The 92-year-old singer
Manjhi-led Hindustani Bihar stands because of Delhi. 13 districts of Jharkhand Ms Geetashree alleged the adivasis has turned had tested positive for
hostile”, she said. — PTI
Real Hindutvawadi
Awam Morcha-Secular Manjhi-Sahani. JD(U)- — Agencies was “highly con- that the Congress coronavirus with mild
symptoms and was
admitted to the
would have shot
dead Jinnah: Raut
Thakur to meet Shah for CAA, Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) of the Breach
Candy Hospital in south

BHAGWAN PARAB
MUMBAI, JAN. 30 steps on BJP rebels in Bengal Mumbai on January 8.
Giving a health update
about the singing legend,
Mr Tope said, “I spoke
Maharashtra’s ruling party RAJIB CHOWDHURI has to be understood.” with Dr Pratit Samdani
Shiv Sena has dismissed the KOLKATA, JAN. 30 On his secret meeting with who is treating Ms
possibility of a reunion with two temporarily suspended Mangeshkar. She’s recov-
the BJP in Maharashtra. Unhappy over the non- state BJP leaders, Ritesh ering, was on a ventilator
There is no truth in such implementation of the Tiwari and Joy Prakash for some days, but is bet-
speculations and the Maha Citizenship Amendment Majumdar, Mr Thakur ter now. She is no longer
Vikas Aghadi (MVA) govern- Act (CAA) for the refugees added, “They have been on the ventilator. Only
ment consisting of Sena, in West Bengal, union min- with the party over the last oxygen is being given to
NCP and Congress is here to ister of state for shipping 30 years. Suddenly they her. She is responding to
stay, said senior Sena leader Santanu Thakur, who hails have been suspended from the treatment.”
Sanjay Raut. In his weekly from the sizeable Matua the party. Where will they go On Saturday, Dr
column ‘Rokhthok’ (forth- community of Hindu Santanu Thakur now? They have not sided Samdani had informed
right) in the party mouth- migrants, is going to meet with the Trinamul that Ms Mangeshkar’s
piece Saamana, Mr Raut the BJP central leadership Thakur, who is the joint Congress or Congress or the ventilator support was
slammed Godse, the assassin including union home min- president of the All India CPI(M). They only met a removed two days ago as
of Mahatma Gandhi, saying ister Amit Shah this week Matua Mahasangha and minister from their party. there was an improve-
he was not a “real for the CAA introduction in also held a meeting of the What is the problem in it?” ment in her health,
Hindutvawadi”. Speaking on the state. forum recently on the CAA, State BJP president though she will continue
Congress leader Rahul The Bongaon BJP MP, said, “All issues will be dis- Sukanta Majumdar howev- to be under medical
Gandhi’s tweet on Mahatma Wrestlers participate in an open air wrestling compitition organised on the occasion who has become popular cussed with the central lead- er said, “Mr Thakur is one observation in ICU. “She
Gandhi being assassinated of Martyr’s Day to observe 74th death anniversary of the father of the nation, among the rebel leaders of ership because realities are of the prominent leaders of has been off the ventila-
by a Hindutvawadi, the Sena Mahatma Gandhi, in Kolkata on Sunday. — PRITAM BANDYOPADHYAY the state unit for paying associated with it. The CAA our party. Few days ago I tor for two-and-half days
MP said, “Formation of heed to their grievances, is had a deadline which is over spoke to him over the phone. but continues to be
Pakistan was Jinnah’s
demand. If there was a real
Hindutvawadi, he or she
would’ve shot dead Jinnah,
Assam: 2L land cases settled also expected to complain to
the top brass of the party
about the crackdown on
some of the dissidents who
now. It will be taken up with
the union home minister
because our people have
been the sufferers. If this is
Our party MLAs can visit
him. There is no problem
with it. Mr Thakur can also
talk about his problems
under observation. She
has been put off the
ventilator because of
marginal improvement
not Gandhi. Such an act
would’ve been an act of
patriotism.” Ruling out
future alliance with the BJP,
under mission Basundhara were dropped in the last
organisational rejig.
Before leaving for New
Delhi on Sunday, Mr
not sorted out, problems
will continue as there has
been a pressure on us from
our own organization. This
with the central leadership.
Problems can be solved
through discussion. I
believe it will happen soon.”
in her health. Her health
condition demands
her to be in the ICU,”
he said.
the Shiv Sena MP said, MANOJ ANAND ment ecosystem. ed work. The mission was
“Chief minister and Sena GUWAHATI, JAN. 28 Mr Sarma, who has also aimed at eliminating
president Uddhav Thackeray
in his address to Shiv Sainiks
on January 23 has sent a
Assam chief minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma
assigned a task to the state
bureaucracy to switch
over the state secretariat
the existence of middle-
men or brokers from the
system and enabling the
Dhankhar: Bengal a gas chamber of democracy
clear message that the MVA, here on Friday while into online mode by dis- public to resolve their land AGE CORRESPONDENT “After administering the After administering was unbecoming the way
comprising the Shiv Sena, acknowledging the efforts posing off entire pending related issues through KOLKATA, JAN. 30 oath to the CM, I had the CM passed comments
NCP and Congress, is the of state government files, said, “Extremely online mode. expressed my serious con- the oath to the CM, I in the state and beyond.”
political future of employees said that his happy to share that Mr Sarma in his social West Bengal governor cerns to her before all that had expressed my Lashing out at the gover-
Maharashtra. There is no government has achieved Mission Basundhara has media post said, “A total of Jagdeep Dhankhar on we can not see blood on serious concerns to nor, state education minis-
‘under the table’ deal hap- another milestone by dis- achieved yet another mile- 8,08,112 applications have Sunday alleged the state the holy land of Bengal. her that we can not ter Bratya Basu said, “He
pening between the Shiv posing off over two lakh stone today with disposal been received, out of turning into a “gas cham- People are talking about knows neither the history
Sena and BJP to join hands land related cases so far of 2 lakh cases. We which a total of 2,01,539 ber of democracy” under Bengal becoming a ‘gas
see blood on the holy of Bengal nor the political
together.” Mr Thackeray had under the ongoing mission are resolving all pending applications have been dis- the rule of chief minister chamber of democracy.’ I land of Bengal. awareness. He always car-
accused his former ally of Basundhara. land related matters in posed so far.” Mamata Banerjee. He also can not tolerate this like I People are talking ries a grudge. If there
practising ‘hollow’ Hindutva The “Mission Assam in a mission mode. During the ceremonial disapproved of certain can not accept the viola- about Bengal becom- was any incident of post-
for power. He also regretted Basundhara” which was Gratitude to concerned launch of the mission in comments of the tion of human rights here. ing a ‘gas chamber poll violence, the onus
that the Sena ‘rotted’ in launched by the chief min- officers for their sincere 2021 the chief minister had Trinamul Congress supre- As a result the Calcutta goes to all and not any par-
alliance with the BJP. ister on October 2, envis- effort.” announced that a total of mo inside and outside High Court ordered the of democracy’. ticular party. I still urge
Replying strongly to him, BJP ages reducing the penden- The Mission Basundhara `225 crore will be spent on the state. National Human Rights — J. Dhankhar him not to act as a
leader Devendra Fadnavis cy in updating of land was launched to render the implementation of the Paying tribute to father Commission to conduct a spokesperson of a party.
had said Sena’s Hindutva is records through a mission land revenue services to programme and the mis- of the nation Mahatma probe.” He should rather dis-
merely on paper and it grew mode and creating an ease the general public and sion would also enable the Gandhi on his death He added, “I will not of insult I face and how charge his duty according
politically when it was in of doing business environ- facilitate easy access to the rebuilding of all lost land anniversary, Mr deviate from my stand much the situation turns to the Constitution and
alliance with the BJP. ment in the land manage- public for their land-relat- records of the state. Dhankhar told the media, irrespective of the degree hostile and sensitive. It cooperate with the CM.”

Opp. to target govt on Pegasus, Covid Key terrorist, 4

‘Corruption can’t last ■ Continued from Page 1 committee appointed by the government. The govern- more Jaish men ‘Priyanka only coins
killed in J&K
if duty becomes first’ privilege motion be moved
against Mr Vaishnaw for
allegedly misleading the
House on the Pegasus issue.
Supreme Court was already
looking into the matter. The
spyware row had nearly
washed out last year’s
ment wants to see the
smooth functioning of both
Houses and has said it is
ready to discuss issues that encounters slogans’: Yadav slams
■ Continued from Page 1
countryman”.
Mr Modi further spoke about
fore. I appreciate the resolve of
the people of Assam to save the
rhinoceros,” he said.
The New York Times, in its
report, claimed the Indian
government bought the spy-
Monsoon Session, with the
Opposition seeking a debate
and a reply from Prime
are raised by the Opposition
parties.
Given the ongoing Covid-
■ Continued from Page 1
in Charar-e-Sharief area
of the neighbouring
Cong’s women drive
how “more than one crore chil- Mr Modi said: “Friends, in the ware in 2017 as part of a $2 Minister Narendra Modi. 19 third wave, the Lok Sabha Budgam district. Lucknow, Jan. 30: BJP
dren” have written to him Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the billion package for weapons. The unemployment fig- and Rajya Sabha will return The locals claimed leader Aparna Yadav on
through their “Mann Ki Baat” country is re-establishing its “In the light of the latest ures will also be raised in to have separate sittings in Inayat Ahmed, killed in Sunday took a swipe at
post cards in which they have national symbols through these revelations by the New York the House by the Opposition shifts with members seated the Naira gunfight, was the Congress party’s
highlighted their vision for the efforts. We saw that the ‘Amar Times, it appears that the parties. In the last session of across both chambers of the son of the owner of “Ladki hoon, lad Sakti
country. He also spoke of the Jawan Jyoti’ near India Gate Modi government has mis- Parliament, the Congress Parliament to ensure dis- the house where mili- hoon slogan” in Uttar
spread of Indian culture abroad, and the jyoti lit at the National led Parliament and the was mostly able to present a tancing norms. The Lok tants had been holed up Pradesh and said that
including in faraway Argentina, War Memorial in the vicinity Supreme Court and lied to united Opposition front. In Sabha will take up the dis- during a cordon-and- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
through an organisation called were merged. There were tears the people of India… In view this session, several leaders cussion on the motion of search operation only coins slogans but
the Hastinapur Foundation that in the eyes of many countrymen of the above, I demand that a will be busy as there are thanks from Wednesday and launched jointly by the doesn’t do anything.
is involved in the propagation of and martyrs’ families on this privilege motion may be ini- Assembly elections in five the Prime Minister is J&K police’s counter- Addressing a press con-
Indian Vedic traditions in emotional occasion. At the tiated against the minister states. expected to reply to the insurgency Special ference, Ms Yadav said
Argentina. He said the outfit had National War Memorial, the of information technology In the first leg of the debate on February 7. Operations Group that the party has not Aparna Yadav
been founded 40 years ago by a names of all the bravehearts of for deliberately misleading Budget Session, there will be Lok Sabha Secretariat offi- (SOG), the Army’s 55 given a single ticket to health cover. 43 lakh peo-
lady, Prof. Aida Albrecht, who the country who have been mar- the House on the Pegasus just ten sittings till February cials said four days starting Rashtriya Rifles and the women in Punjab state, ple have got pucca hous-
will turn 90 today. tyred since Independence have issue,” the Congress leader 11, out of which the first day from February 2 have been CRPF’s 182nd and 183rd while they are stressing es in five years. Two and
The PM also announced been inscribed. Some former said in his letter to the will be the President’s provisionally allotted for the Battalions late Saturday on the women-empower- a half crore people have
Ladakh “will soon be blessed soldiers of the Army have writ- Speaker. He also alleged that address to both the Houses discussion on the motion of night. ment slogan in Uttar been given toilets. Free
with an impressive Open ten to me saying that “the Amar the government “lied to the and the tabling of the thanks on the President’s The police confirmed it Pradesh. ration is being given to
Synthetic Track and Astro Turf Jawan Jyoti lit at the memorial Supreme Court when it was Economic Survey. On address. The session is being but said that he too was “Nowadays Congress is 15 crore people of the
Football Stadium being built at a is a symbol of the immortality directly questioned about Tuesday, finance minister held amid a heated election a militant killed in the saying ‘Ladki hoon Lad state,” she said.
height of more than 10,000 feet, of the martyrs”. Truly, like the purchase and deploy- will present the Union campaign in five states — exchange of fire with Sakti Hoon’. As per a Ms Aparna said that
and its construction is going to “Amar Jawan Jyoti”, our mar- ment of Pegasus”. Budget. The motion of Uttar Pradesh, the security forces. IGP news article, Punjab the law and order situa-
be completed soon”. He added tyrs, their inspiration and their The government, however, thanks to the President’s Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, (Kashmir range) Vijay Mahila Congress Chief tion in the state has
that “this will be the largest contribution are also immortal. is unlikely to accept a full address is expected to see and Manipur — which go to Kumar said that after Balveer Rani Sodhi said improved and the state is
open stadium in Ladakh, where I would urge all of you to cer- debate on the Pegasus issue fireworks as the Opposition polls in seven phases from taking on the hiding mil- that women were free from goonda raj, cor-
30,000 spectators can sit together tainly visit the National War and might point out that a leaders will be taking on the February 10 to March 7. itants, Ahmed was asked ignored in the ticket dis- ruption and riots under
(and that) this modern football Memorial whenever you get an to surrender “but he tribution. Priyanka the BJP government.
stadium in Ladakh will also opportunity.” along with other terror- Gandhi only gives slo- n Uttar Pradesh, the
have a synthetic track with 8
lanes”. He added that “apart
The PM added: “Today is also
the death anniversary of our
75% Indians fully jabbed, aim for fast 100% : PM ists opened fire at the
security forces and got
gans but doesn’t do any-
thing,” said the BJP
first phase polling will
be held on February 10,
from this, there will also be a revered Bapu, Mahatma Gandhi ■ Continued from Page 1 3,87,13,494, while the case was a matter of pride that killed”. He added: “He leader. the second phase on
hostel facility with one thousand ji. The 30th of January reminds also climbed to 4,94,091 fatality rate has been till now about four-and-a- was a hybrid terrorist.” She further praised the February 14, the third
beds and that this stadium has us of the teachings of Bapu. Just with 893 fresh fatalities, recorded at 1.20 per cent. half crore children were The IGP also said the work done by the BJP phase on February 20,
also been certified by FIFA, the a few days ago, we celebrated including 311 backlog The cumulative number of administered the first dose house owner is being government in the last the fourth phase on
biggest (global) organisation of Republic Day as well… One deaths in the same time anti-Covid-19 vaccine doses of the coronavirus vaccine. booked under the rele- five years and said that February 23, the fifth
football”. change you must have noticed is span. The daily positivity administered has crossed “This means about 60 per vant sections of the there was not a single phase on February 27,
On conservation of wildlife, that now Republic Day functions rate rose to 14.50 per cent 165.70 crores. In his month- cent of youth in the 15-18 Unlawful Activities riot and scam in the state the sixth phase on March
the PM lauded efforts that have will start from the 23rd of from the previous day’s ly “Mann Ki Baat” radio age group have got their (Prevention) Act 1967 for during the Yogi 3 and the seventh phase
led to a steady decrease in the January — the birth anniver- 13.39 per cent. The weekly broadcast, Mr Modi said: vaccines within three to providing shelter to mil- Adityanath government. on March 7.
hunting of rhinos in Assam. sary of Netaji Subhas Chandra positivity rate stands at “Now the cases of corona four weeks. This will not itants. “Under the Ayushman The counting of votes
“Where 37 rhinos were killed in Bose, and will continue till the 16.40 per cent. The number infection have also started only protect our youth but He termed the twin scheme, the poor of the will take place on March
2013, two killings in 2020 and 30th of January — Gandhiji’s of people who have recu- decreasing, this is a very will also help them to con- operations as “very state have been given 10. — PTI
only one in 2021 have come to the death anniversary.” perated surged to positive sign.” He said it tinue with their studies.” successful”.
 EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 31 JANUARY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 5

Subhani

31 JANUARY 2022

Meaningful debate critical,

beware of sabotage by govt
P
arliament meeting for progressively shorter durations than was previous-
ly the case, and even these short durations being disrupted on account of
volatile actions by Opposition parties and carefully calibrated actions by
ruling parties aimed to ensure Opposition members storm out and allow
governments to have their agenda cleared without any questions asked, have been
the bane of our parliamentary practice. We should keep this in mind when the
Budget Session commences today.
In recent years, India has been called an “elected autocracy”, which means the
show of elections is maintained but in practice the ruling party steamrolls its way
through overwhelming numbers in Parliament. Even outside the forum of
Parliament, the government conducts itself in an overbearing manner. The best
that Opposition parties can do is to make the government accountable on the floor
of the House. The first thing which suggests itself is that no matter what the provo-
cation from the Treasury benches, they will persist in asking the right questions.
They owe this to those who elected them. Noisy protests and walkouts are fine and
may become unavoidable at times. People will understand. The proviso is that
they will understand if their elected representatives speak on their behalf and
bring their concerns to the attention of the nation.
This is especially the case since the government would like nothing better than
to have the Opposition benches leave the House in
The government anger and protest. This should be uppermost in the
LETTERS
would like nothing minds of Opposition MPs and their parties. We are
better than to have living in a very different era from the Nehruvian
the Opposition times. The Opposition was miniscule in size.
Governments were elected with a large majority.
benches leave the But the government, especially in Nehru’s day,
Opp. divide to make it easy ON THE CARDS...

for govt in Budget Session

House in protest. This encouraged the Opposition to play an important Debit cards used to be
should be uppermost part and this produced outstanding parliamentari- handed over to customers
in the minds of ans who were staunch opponents of the govern-
ment. The Budget Session is the longest in the par- by banks across the
Opposition MPs and liamentary calendar and arguably the most impor-
their parties. tant. The fundamentals of the government’s finan- counter on application.
No question has structure to enrolment to
cial and economic policies are cleared in been raised by any research work, has not Today it takes weeks not
Parliament. If the Opposition parties do not intervene effectively when this is
being done, when indeed will they do so?
Parsa Opposition leader
been taken up by any of
the Opposition parties.
because Covid has cut
At the present juncture, unemployment is at a record high and so is inflation. Venkateshwar on why the India- The reputed British sci- down staff attendance but
made Covaxin of ence journal, Nature, has due to poor supply of lami-
Rao Jr
The rate of growth is at best a sobering datum. Two years of Covid have badly
retarded the economy. The World Bank’s assessment of the prospect in the next Hyderabad-based done a critical editorial nated plastic cards to
two years is far from reassuring. The situation that confronts the finance minister on the issue. No one in the
is thus daunting. This is a time for all parties, especially those in the Opposition Bharat Biotech has Opposition has paid emboss. The biggest sup-
but also members on the Treasury benches, to contribute to meaningful debate. failed to produce attention to the reality of plier is China and we have

I
The template the present government has adopted to deal with the Opposition t seems unlikely at sures to deal with the the vaccine doses these so-called “uni-
produces points of friction all the time. Recent revelations on the Pegasus affair the moment that the Covid-19 pandemic. As needed in the corns” among the start- expanded card usage. The
made by New York Times are indeed damaging and contribute to the growing feel- Narendra Modi gov- the crisis has not yet
country... ups as much of it is mar- largest manufacturer of
ing in the country that the government has targeted political leaders, judges, the ernment has any passed, the government ket overvaluation. The
media, business groups, and other key institutions of democracy. The Opposition major legislative agenda cannot hope to do any- government is getting
cards globally is in
parties may be duty-bound to highlight this important issue. But whether this apart from the Finance thing really new and argument. away because there is not Shenzen at 10 million a
should consume all the time of Parliament, as the last Winter Session had, is some- Bill 2022 in the Budget innovative. The As the first phase of the an iota of diligence on the month and 12 years back it
thing to ponder. Session of Parliament President’s speech to the Budget Session is quite part of the Opposition
The Budget is to be presented on February 1 at a time when the country is in the that begins on Monday, joint session of short, the Motion of parties, and they don’t do was an MSME. It illustrates
throes of important Assembly elections. Will it be populist? How will it tackle January 31, and whose Parliament, which is the Thanks to the President’s their homework. how China found the
unemployment, very high prices, shrinking private consumption, and declining first phase will last till government’s statement, Address could take up In a press conference at
savings and investment rates? The Opposition parties must themselves be February 11. The is likely to talk about the much of the time though the Congress office in potential of this sector as
accountable in order to oblige the government to be accountable. Economic Survey will be successes achieved in the presiding officers and New Delhi on January 19, early as in 1990s. Our own
laid before Parliament on rolling out the vaccina- the government have 2021, Rahul Gandhi route to jobs and prosperi-
Monday itself, while tion programme, the free restricted it to a few days. lamented: “Vipaksh ko
finance minister Nirmala rations that have been This will most probably free and fair media ki ty lie in this sector. Current
Sitharaman will present announced for 80 crore end up in a slanging zaroorat hai” (The and future Budgets must
Stop denigrating nation’s icons the Union Budget 2022-23
on Tuesday. The second
phase of the session will
ration card households,
and various incentives
for different segments of
match between the gov-
ernment
Opposition.
and the
Prime
Opposition needs a free
and fair media). But the
media needs substantial
incrementally address this.
R. Narayanan

T
he Congress has demanded that Madhya Pradesh higher education minister be from March 14 to the economy. Minister Narendra Modi stories and not rhetorical
Mohan Yadav apologise for the tweet in which he sought to ridicule April 8. The all-party meeting will use his reply to the hot air. When the BJP
Navi Mumbai
Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. According to the party, the It is of course possible that the government cus- debate on the Motion of was in Opposition, its
tweet that has since vanished, said “Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar that the government has tomarily holds with the Thanks in the two Houses leaders used to dig out sto-
Vallabhbhai Patel were there in the parade of the Republic Day. Neither the coun- something up its sleeve, Opposition parties and its
allies is unlikely to be
to talk about the govern-
ment’s successes and dis-
ries of corruption and NYT GAMECHANGER
try’s fake father nor the fake chacha were there”. and that it will put the inefficiency, and hold
The tweet is a reflection of the desperate attempts by the Sangh Parivar to create cards on the table as it fruitful. The Opposition miss the Opposition’s press conferences. THE PEGASUS controversy has come
a narrative that would give an impression that the Hindutva forces were part of were only at the eleventh will demand a discussion charges, which could as Though Mr Modi enjoys back to haunt the Centre ahead of the
the freedom movement. Subhas Chandra Bose was president of the All-India hour. But it may not take on the Covid-19 situation, well be an indirect cam- huge support in sections budget session. The New York Times
Congress Committee before he fell out with the then leadership, quit and formed too many risks in the first on the controversial paign speech for the elec- of the media, there are claimed the Indian government had
the Forward Bloc, which was nationalist, secular and socialist in nature. Sardar phase of the session Pegasus issue involving tions to take place in the others who are looking to purchased the Pegasus spyware from
Vallabhbhai Patel was a Congressman till the end. The Parivar is making every because of the Assembly Israeli spyware acquired five states in the following get real stuff about the the NSO Group of Israel in July 2017 to
attempt at appropriating these leaders, and its outcome is yet to be seen. elections due in five states by the government, the weeks. government’s exaggerat- carry out targeted surveillance on citi-
The Mahatma and Pandit Nehru continue to remain a sore spot with the Indian — Uttar Pradesh, youth unrest over jobs. In more ways than one, ed claims and even lies. zens, triggering a fresh political row.
right wing for many reasons. The Parivar, even when underscoring the role of Uttarakhand, Punjab, The government is the government is on safe The Opposition leaders The investigative report claimed that
Gandhiji in Indian history, would never agree to the title “Father of the Nation” Goa, and Manipur — in unlikely to yield any ground. The focus will be are not willing to dig out the high-level visits by Prime Minister
borne by him. There are even fans of Nathuram Godse, Bapu’s assassin, associat- February-March. It may ground on the Pegasus on the Opposition. If the the facts. Narendra Modi to Israel in 2017 trans-
ed with the ruling dispensation. Yet despite the best efforts to dig up the story of well try to announce issue as it is being probed Opposition parties can An untapped story of lated into the $2-billion deal. The reve-
V.D. Savarkar, the finding of the Jivanlal Kapur commission that investigated the some measures in the by a Supreme Court- chalk out a strategy of secrecy and wrongdoing lations could put the ruling dispensa-
conspiracy behind Gandhi’s assassination that “all these facts taken together were Budget or bring in legisla- appointed technical com- cooperation, then it could on the government’s part tion on a sticky wicket.
destructive of any theory other than the conspiracy to murder by Savarkar and his tion to deal with sections mittee. The Congress is put pressure on the gov- is its much-hyped vacci- N.J. Ravi Chander
group” comes in the way of further venerating the Hindutva icon. of the electorate in these likely to use an exhaus- ernment on several nation programme, its Bengaluru
The Sangh Parivar can exult in celebrating the unsung heroes of the Indian free- five states. Due to the tive New York Times issues, especially during procurement of vaccines
dom movement and that would be welcome. But the tragedy is that it would have multi-phase polling, the report about an India- the debate on the Motion from various manufac-
none of its own to name when the future generations ask about its role. Attempts
to denigrate two greatest Indians are unlikely to be accepted as the answer.
extent of the Election
Commission’s model code
Israeli deal, which includ-
ed the undisclosed
of Thanks to
President. Unfortunately,
the turers. No question has
been raised by any
EVES COME OF AGE
of conduct will differ, and Pegasus spyware. But it the Opposition remains Opposition leader on why WOMEN’S CRICKET has come of age
the government will sure- will not be sufficient to divided, much to the the India-made Covaxin and we are witnessing keen matches in
ly want to do something cry foul and “treason”, as amusement of the of Hyderabad-based Bhar- the eves’ internationals. They are
electorally gainful in the Congress leader Rahul government. at Biotech has failed to vying for top honours just like men and
window that is available. Gandhi did at a press con- It is indeed the case that produce the vaccine doses this year Smriti Mandhana got named
The major policy instru- ference. There is a need the government is unwill- needed in the country, ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
ment that the govern- for some member to cull ing to yield time and and why is it manufac- Women’s Ashes has been more well-
ment has is the Budget, the facts and build a space to discuss issues tured-in-India Covishield matched than the male counterparts.
and it could announce strong case against the that the Opposition wants of Pune’s Serum Institute Good quality cricket and talent on both
measures for farmers and government’s secrecy in to raise, but the of India that has supplied sides on show. If women’s teams easily
address the unrest by the matter. It’s much Opposition most of the about 85 per cent of the bowl over 96 overs in a Test day then
unemployed youth as it most likely the issue will time is flailing its hands vaccine doses adminis- why do men’s teams struggle to bowl 80
THE ASIAN AGE exploded during the rail- create a lot of predictable in the air. It should be tered in the country. within the stipulated time? Obviously
way job examinations in heat and little of sub- using the Comptroller It is not surprising, monetary fines are not doing much.
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR Bihar. There will just be stance. There is likely to and Auditor-General’s therefore, that the ICC should look into more punitive
Editor Printer & Publisher minor bills that come up, be a furore in both Houses reports, though there are Narendra Modi govern- measures.
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at:
but little of major contro- on the issue. The not many of them, to ment can be assured of an M.R. Jayanthi
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: versy. It does appear that Opposition parties have expose the government. easy time in Parliament. Coimbatore
in the last two Covid-hit consistently failed to nail For example, the CAG
(011) 23211124.
Published and Printed on behalf of and for years, the government the many omissions and report on the new Indian The writer is a
`500 for the best letter of the
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,
had little room for any- commissions of this gov- Institutes of Technology, Delhi-based week goes to C.K. Ramani
New Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301.
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. thing else but to come up ernment. All that they which are failing on commentator and (Jan. 27). Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 with ameliorative mea- display is fury and little every front, from infra- analyst [email protected].

A
s sunshine finally creeps across the the Sue Gray Report will be edited out if it — but let’s hope he no longer behaves like Wouldn’t you love to attend a Regency ball, a la
London skies, the Prime Minister hampers the police investigation! And so the Hindi film heroes of days gone by... Bridgerton? The serial by the way returns
Boris Johnson is set to get lucky Opposition can keep trying to get him out but soon with an Indian heroine at the centre of

H
again! While the Opposition has been Boris isn’t budging. It is an old trick to get com- aving shifted our home closer to the it... and then of course we have yoga being

Kishwar Desai fuming over Partygate, it seems that he may

get away with a rap on the knuckles and a 100
missions and inquiries to look into controver-
sial matters and it is the best way to kick
city centre, I am always surprised at
the number of Indians who live and
taught everywhere — especially out in the
wilderness.
pound fine for attending parties at number 10 everything into the long grass. work here. And Asians of all varieties. The
London Diary
B
Downing Street while the rest of country were other day the friendly green grocer asked me ut while having fun in London a word of

O
forbidden from doing so! bsession can come in many forms — and which country I was from — and then imme- caution — everyday the media is full of
A lot of time in Parliament and on air has now Emma Raducanu, the champion diately said ‘Aap Hindi bol sakte hain?” women being duped by men they “met”
been spent in discussing how many parties tennis player is facing it from an over- Turns out he is from Afghanistan and loves on a dating app — and even so-called smart
there were actually at number 10 and who friendly fan who has become a stalker. India — a country he said had always sup- women are being ripped off — of their money

Partygate to be attended. There was even an impromptu birth-

day party for the Prime Minister who turned
50 during this period. But Johnson has always
managed to survive crisis upon crisis through
Unemployed Amrit Magar expressed his affec-
tion not only from himself but also his wife
Bina and dog Logan towards Raducanu — and
while he decorated her porch with a Christmas
ported Afghanistan. He immediately offered
to deliver the groceries whenever I wanted to
our home. I was impressed at how far reach-
ing Indian diplomacy can be! But good eco-
and their reputations. So swiping right might
not be the easiest thing in the world anymore.
The pandemic probably made things worse
because many relationships remained online

watered down; machinations no one can predict. It is difficult

to outwit him — and though he may have
become the first Prime Minister to face a vote
tree, none of it was welcomed by either the ten-
nis player or her family. He even walked off
with a shoe he thought was hers as a souvenir.
nomic sense must have prevailed on him,
because as I left he mumbled that home deliv-
ery was only possible if the basic cost was
for a long time — and allowed gullible women
to fall victim to swindlers, who rarely revealed
their identity. This seems to be among the

dating fraud the of no-confidence over parties he had either

allegedly known about or attended — the pos-
He now has a restraining order on him, and
the young player is keen to move into a new
more than 20 pounds. most common scams to hit the Internet. So
watch out!

L
sibility looks increasingly remote. The house to avoid any further visits by him. Well, ondon is now done with social distanc- Otherwise, head for London, which is back in
Metropolitan police has been hauled in to not only does the stalker appear to be of Indian ing. And masks are increasingly becom- business!

newest menace investigate if there were any parties — or

indeed who organised them. Their “investiga-
tion”, however, comes after a report by a
origin, the judge, Sushil Kumar, who found
him guilty certainly was... yes, we know hun-
dreds of Indian movies have been made where
ing a rarity. This weekend the city is
back to its days of having fun in the sun, and
staycations with themes or short specially
Kishwar Desai is a prize-winning author
and her latest book is The Longest Kiss: The
senior civil servant — which is to be the hero is a stalker, but no one thinks of it as curated experiential events are becoming Life And Times of Devika Rani. She is also
announced shortly on the same matter. a sign of affection anymore. Magar has con- increasingly popular. These intense moments the chair of the trust that set up the world’s
This means that much of the information in fessed he was ashamed of his own behaviour include a few which I finding very tempting! first Partition Museum in Amritsar.
 WORLD
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 31 JANUARY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 6

SHORT
LANKA’S TAMIL
TAKES
Nato aim to take Ukraine NSO denies wrongdoing
into its fold, Russia fears after criticism of Pegasus
PARTY PROTESTS
13th AMENDMENT
Jerusalem, Jan. 30: worldwide criticism. listing of the company by
Colombo: Sri Lanka’s hardline Israel’s embattled cyber Hulio’s interview came a the US Department of
Tamil minority party Tamil
National People’s Front (TNPF) Russia amassing troops near Ukraine border sparks panic in the West tech company NSO Group
has denied wrongdoing as
day after a New York
Times report on Friday
Commerce in November,
the company’s senior most
organised a protest march in it called criticism of its claimed that India bought executive called it an “out-
the Northern capital of Jaffna Moscow, Jan. 30: Russia’s sale of Pegasus spyware Pegasus spyware as part rage” that he hopes will be
to protest against the 13th foreign minister claims programme to non-demo- of a USD 2 billion defence lifted soon.
Amendment to the Constitution that Nato wants to pull cratic countries “hypocrit- deal with Israel in 2017, “Our technology has
on Sunday. Ukraine into the alliance, ical,” comparing the sur- triggering a major contro- over the years helped the
Tamils reject 13th amid escalating tensions veillance technology to versy with the Opposition interests and national
Amendment protest rally was over Nato expansion and military weapons systems alleging that the govern- security of the United
held near the historic Nallur fears that Russia is prepar- being sold by others, amid ment indulged in illegal States quite a bit,” he
Kovil, organisers said, adding ing to invade Ukraine. mounting allegations that snooping that amounted claimed. “I think the fact
that the protesters would also In comments on state tel- software was misused to “treason”. that a company like NSO
stage a walk from Nallur to the evision Sunday, Foreign globally, including in “There is not one coun- is on [a US blacklist] is an
Kittu Park in Jaffna town. Minister Sergey Lavrov Israel. try we’ve sold to, not one outrage. I’m sure we’ll be
The protest rally was held also challenged Nato’s An undeterred chief that the US does not sell to, taken off that list. I have
after the main Tamil party claim to be a purely defen- executive officer of NSO or that Israel doesn’t sell no doubt.”
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) sive structure. Group, Shalev Hulio, in an to. So it’s a bit hypocritical The NSO Group and its
and their allies wrote to Prime Russia’s amassing of an interview to Israeli to say it’s okay to sell F-35s controversial Pegasus
Minister Narendra Modi last estimated 100,000 troops Channel 12 on Saturday, and tanks and drones, but technology, which has
week seeking India’s interven- near the border with strongly defended the it’s not okay to sell a tool grabbed attention of gov-
tion to force the Sri Lankan gov- Ukraine has brought company’s operations, that collects intelligence,” ernments and people
ernment to implement the pro- increasingly strong warn- though he also conceded Hulio said, defending the worldwide with allega-
visions of the 13th Amendment, ings from the West that that some “mistakes” may company’s position. tions of misuse in India as
also known as 13A, in full. Moscow intends to invade. have happened over the He also pointed out that well, was blacklisted by
Russia in turn demands years. out of almost 90 clients the US Department of
TEAR GAS FIRED that Nato promise never to
allow Ukraine to join the
“I absolutely sleep
soundly at night,” Hulio
that turned to them for the
technology, they sold only
Commerce for acting con-
trary to the foreign policy
AT ANTI-COUP alliance, and to stop the
deployment of Nato A military instructor trains civilians holding wooden replicas of Kalashnikov rifles
told the Channel’s inter-
viewer when asked if he
to around 40 as per laid
down norms.
and national security
interests of the US last

GROUP IN SUDAN weapons near Russian bor-

ders and roll back its
during a training session at an abandoned factory in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on
Sunday amid growing fears of a potential Russian invasion. — AFP
can do so amid so much In reaction to the black- year in November. — PTI

forces from Eastern

Khartoum: Sudanese security Europe. ISRAELI PREZ.
forces fired tear gas in
Khartoum on Sunday at thou-
sands protesting for civilian
rule and against a military
The head of Russia’s
Security Council, Nikolai
Patrushev, on Sunday
rejected Western warn-
No threat to Ukraine, want ON FIRST-EVER
VISIT TO UAE
coup that took place last year,
an AFP correspondent said.
Pro-democracy activists have
upped calls for protests to
ings about a planned inva-
sion.
“At this time, they’re say-
ing that Russia threatens
mutual ties with US: Russia Abu Dhabi, Jan.
Israel’s President Isaac
30:

restore a transition to civilian Ukraine — that’s com- Moscow, Jan. 30: Russia spooking Nato and its of Nato near its eastern Herzog arrived in the
rule since the October 25 mili- pletely ridiculous,” he was said it wants “mutually members in the region and border, Russia has put for- United Arab Emirates on
tary takeover led by general quoted as saying by state respectful” relations with prompting the Western ward security demands to Sunday, in the latest
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. news agency Tass. “We the United States and alliance to explore bolster- Washington and the US-led high-profile diplomatic
The coup, one of several in don’t want war and we denied posing a threat to ing its own deployments military alliance. trip since the countries
Sudan’s post-independence his- don’t need it at all.” Ukraine, as the UK said it there. These include a guaran- normalised ties.
tory, derailed a power-sharing Russia has long resented was preparing fresh sanc- “We want good, equal, tee that Nato will not admit Herzog, who is travel-
arrangement between the army Nato’s granting member- tions against Moscow, on mutually respectful rela- new members, in particu- ling with the first lady, is People watch a news broadcast showing file footage of
and civilians that had been ship to countries that were Sunday. Tensions have tions with the United lar Ukraine, and the United scheduled to meet with a North Korean missile test in Seoul after North Korea
painstakingly negotiated after once part of the Soviet soared between Moscow States, like with every States will not establish Abu Dhabi Crown Prince fired a “suspected ballistic missile” in the country’s
the 2019 ouster of longtime Union or were in its and Washington after country in the world,” new military bases in ex- Sheikh Mohammed bin seventh weapons test this month. — AFP
autocrat Omar al-Bashir. sphere of influence as Western governments Russia’s Foreign Minister Soviet countries. Russia Zayed Al-Nahyan and for-

North Korea tests

members of the Warsaw accused Russia of amass- Sergei Lavrov told Russian has also demanded a pull- eign minister Sheikh
ETHIOPIAN PM IN Pact.
Nato “has already come
ing tens of thousands of
troops on its border with
TV on Sunday. He added,
however, that Russia does-
back of
deployed
Nato forces
to eastern
Abdullah bin Zayed Al-
Nahyan, his office said.
UAE AS TIGRAY close to Ukraine. They also
want to drag this country
ex-Soviet Ukraine.
The military build-up has
n’t want to remain in a
position “where our securi-
European and ex-Soviet
countries that joined the
“Flying now with my
wife Michal for a historic
WAR CONTINUES
Dubai: Ethiopian Prime
there,” Lavrov said.
— AP
sparked fears that Russia is
planning an invasion,
ty is infringed daily”.
Citing the encroachment
alliance after the Cold War.
— AFP
visit in the United Arab
Emirates, which symbol-
ises above all the prom-
ise of peace between
its longest-range
Minister Abiy Ahmed has trav-
elled to the United Arab
Emirates on a state visit amid
his country’s ongoing war
Russia-Ukraine crisis: UK likely to nations,” he tweeted
before departing to Abu
Dhabi.
Herzog will also sit
missile since 2017
against Tigray rebels. Ahmed
arrived on Saturday and was
greeted planeside by Abu
Dhabi’s powerful crown prince,
send more troops to support Nato
London, Jan. 30: ● A SECOND trip to meet Johnson. “If President Johnson is also expected
down with the UAE
Prime Minister and ruler
of Dubai,
Mohammed bin Rashid
Sheikh

Al-Maktoum, and visit

Seoul, Jan. 30: North
Korea on Sunday fired
what appeared to be the
most powerful missile it
demonstrated the poten-
tial to reach deep into the
American homeland.
Sunday’s test was North
Korea’s seventh round of
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed has tested since President
Al Nahyan. They later attended Embattled British Prime NATO member counter- Putin chooses a path of to speak to Russian Expo 2020 Dubai, his Joe Biden took office in launches this month. The
an honor guard ceremony and Minister Boris Johnson, parts is being planned for bloodshed and destruc- President Vladimir Putin office added. the US, as it revives its old unusually fast pace of
held meetings, according to the who is yet to receive a cru- early next month. UK tion, it will be a tragedy and travel to the region The visit comes some 16 playbook in brinkman- tests indicates its intent to
Emirates’ WAM news agency. cial report into alleged Foreign Secretary Liz for Europe. Ukraine must sometime next week to months after the wealthy ship to wrest concessions pressure the Biden admin-
The Tigray war has been rag- Covid-19 lockdown breach- be free to choose its own relay the message that Gulf country forged from Washington and istration over long-stalled
ing since November 2020. The es under his leadership, on Truss and UK Defence future. I have ordered our without deterrence and diplomatic ties with neighbors amid a pro- nuclear negotiations as
war has shifted in recent weeks, Sunday tried to focus Secretary Ben Wallace are Armed Forces to prepare diplomacy, thousands of Israel, becoming the longed stalemate in diplo- pandemic-related difficul-
with the Tigray forces retreat- attention on the crisis also preparing to make to deploy across Europe lives will be lost in both third Arab nation to do macy. ties put further stress on
ing into their region after with Russian troop build- visits to Moscow for talks next week, ensuring we Russia and Ukraine. so after Egypt and The Japanese and South an economy broken by
attempting to advance on the up on the Ukrainian with their counterparts in are able to support our A second trip to meet Jordan. Korean militaries said the decades of mismanage-
capital, Addis Ababa, and border. the coming days. Nato allies on land, at sea Nato member counter- The Emirati ambassa- missile was launched on a ment and crippling US-led
Ethiopia’s military saying it Downing Street said the and in the air,” he said. parts is being planned for dor in Israel, Mohamed lofted trajectory, apparent- sanctions over its nuclear
would not pursue them further. UK government is expect- ● THEY WILL be asked to It comes after Johnson early next month. UK Al Khaja, tweeted ly to avoid the territorial weapons program.
ed to bolster its offer to the improve relationships with asked UK defence and Foreign Secretary Liz Saturday that the trip spaces of neighbors, and South Korean President
BEIJING SEES SPIKE North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (Nato) with
President Putin’s govern-
ment and encourage de-
security chiefs to step up
defensive efforts in
Truss and UK Defence
Secretary Ben Wallace are
was previously sched-
uled for January 9 but
reached a maximum alti-
tude of 2,000 kilometers
Moon Jae-in called an
emergency National

IN COVID CASES a major military deploy-

ment to strengthen
escalation. Europe during a high-level
intelligence briefing on
also preparing to make
visits to Moscow for talks
“was postponed due to
Covid-19 conditions”.
and traveled 800 kilome-
ters before landing in the
Security Council meeting
where he described the

BEFORE OLYMPICS Europe’s borders in the

face of “rising Russian
aggression”.
Monday. “This package
would send a clear mes-
the situation in Ukraine
this week.
Downing Street said the
with their counterparts in
the coming days.
They will be asked to
“We look forward to
this historic visit, which
will enhance the bilater-
sea. The flight details sug-
gest the North tested its
longest-range ballistic
test as a possible “mid-
range ballistic missile
launch” that brought
Beijing: Beijing recorded its UK officials will be sage to the Kremlin — we additional troop deploy- improve relationships al relations... as we aim missile since 2017, when it North Korea to the brink
highest number of new Covid- deployed to Brussels to will not tolerate their ment is intended to rein- with President Putin’s to sign important eco- twice flew intermediate- of breaking its 2018 self-
19 cases after a year and a half finalise the details of the destabilising activity, and force Nato’s defences and government and encour- nomic and trade agree- range ballistic missiles imposed moratorium on
on Sunday, as the Chinese capi- offer with Nato next week, we will always stand with underpin the UK’s support age de-escalation, ments between the two over Japan and, separate- the testing of nuclear
tal gears up to host the Winter and ministers will discuss our Nato allies in the face for its Nordic and Baltic Downing Street said. countries in the near ly, three intercontinental devices and longer-range
Olympics in five days. the military options on Russian hostility,” said partners. — PTI future,” he added. — AFP ballistic missiles that missiles. — AP
China will hold the Games in a
strict “closed-loop” bubble as
part of its zero-Covid strategy
of targeted lockdowns, border
restrictions and lengthy quar-
Christian priest shot Thousands protest vax mandate in Ottawa
dead in Peshawar
antines. The approach has
helped the world’s second-
largest economy keep new infec- Ottawa, Jan. 30: Hundreds by broader discontent ● AN ENORMOUS clam- Parliament building. requirement for truck
tions far lower than many other of trucks and thousands of with the government. our rang out as hundreds He had driven seven drivers.
countries, but it is battling local Peshawar, Jan. 30: A protect minorities,” he people blocked the streets An enormous clamour of big trucks, their engines hours from northern Both Canada and the
outbreaks in several cities as Christian priest was shot said, adding that a team of central Ottawa on rang out as hundreds of rumbling, sounded their Quebec province to make United States imposed that
well as in the Olympic bubble. dead and another wound- consisting of officials Saturday as part of a self- big trucks, their engines air horns non-stop. his feelings known, “The requirement in mid-
The upcoming Lunar New ed by unidentified gun- from the Counter titled “Freedom Convoy” rumbling, sounded their vaccination requirements January, affecting drivers
Year — China’s biggest national men who opened fire on Terrorism Department to protest vaccine man- air horns non-stop. are taking us toward a new who cross the 5,500-mile
holiday — presents a further them as they were return- (CTD) and Peshawar dates required to cross the Closer to Parliament, out of their home and society we never voted (9,000-kilometer) border —
challenge as millions of people ing home from Sunday police had been formed to US border. families calmly marched taken to a secret location for,” he said. the world’s longest.
return to their hometowns. mass in Pakistan’s north- probe the case. Flying the Canadian flag, on a bitterly cold day, in the Capital, with much The protest originated The movement rapidly
western Peshawar city, Police said they were waving banners demand- while young people chant- of the protesters’ wrath last week in western gained steam as the origi-
MACRON REQUESTS police said, describing it
as a “terrorist act”.
reviewing the
footage to locate the
CCTV ing “Freedom” and chanti-
ng slogans against Prime
ed and older people in the
crowd banged pots and
directed at Trudeau.
“I want it all to stop —
Canada, where dozens of
truckers organized a con-
nal cross-country convoy
was joined by others en
IRAN TO RELEASE Bishop William Siraj
was shot multiple times
attackers, who escaped on
motorcycles. “Evidence is
Minister Justin Trudeau,
the truckers were joined
pans in protest under
Trudeau’s office windows.
these measures are unjus-
tified,” said one demon-
voy to drive
Vancouver to Ottawa to
from route to the federal capital.
Their rallying point was

JAILED RESEARCHER and died on the spot,

while Father Naeem
being collected from the
scene of the crime and
by thousands of other pro-
testers angered not only by
Canadian media said the
Prime Minister and his
strator, 31-year-old busi-
nessman Philippe
demonstrate against
Covid-related restrictions,
Parliament Hill, in the
heart of Ottawa. — AFP
Patrick was wounded in CCTV cameras are also Covid-19 restrictions but family had been escorted Castonguay, outside the particularly a vaccination
Paris: French President the attack that took place being checked,” police
Emmanuel Macron called for near Ring Road within said in a statement.
the “immediate release” of a
French-Iranian researcher
Gulbahar police station
limits, police said.
“William Siraj was a
padre at a church within ROUGH | WEATHER Heavily-hit areas see 2ft of snow, over 95k homes left without power
imprisoned in Iran, officials Police officials immedi- Chamkani police station

Storm in Boston triggers chaos, outages

said on Sunday. ately rushed to the spot limits,” it said. The body
Macron made the plea in a and started the search had been shifted to the
“long” phone call on Saturday operation. A strict securi- hospital for autopsy
with Iranian President ty has been made at the while further investiga-
Ebrahim Raisi, according to a entry and exit points to tion was underway.
statement from the French nab the culprits. A spokesperson for Lady Boston, Jan. 30: Blinding ● IN LONG ISLAND, offi- equalled the one-day temperatures temporarily where Central Park was
presidency. Fariba Adelkhah, a No group has immedi- Reading Hospital said snow whipped up by pow- cials said a woman had record of 23.6 inches set in paralyzed the large lizards. covered in 7.5 inches of
62-year-old anthropologist, has ately claimed responsibil- that the injured priest erful winds pummeled the been found dead in her 2003, the NWS said, while Residents in towns and snow and regional train
been detained in Iran since ity for the attack, the lat- was discharged after eastern United States early car by a snowplow the town of Sharon, 29 cities across the eastern lines were partially shut
June 2019. She had been under est on Pakistan’s small being provided medical on Sunday, as one of the kilometers to the south, seaboard were urged to down. In Boston, where a
treatment for minor
operator.
house arrest since October 2020, Christian minority that strongest winter storms in had recorded the highest avoid all unnecessary trav- snow emergency was
but was sent back to prison ear- has often been targeted by injuries. years triggered transport snowfall by 8.30 pm on el for a second night of declared, Mayor Michelle
lier this month. militants in recent years. Hafiz Muhammad Tahir chaos and power outages sive power of rapid drops Saturday with more than whiteout conditions, with Wu tweeted a reminder
Adelkhah was given a five- Capital City police offi- Mahmood Ashrafi, across a region of some 70 in atmospheric pressure. 30 inches. additional snowfall expect- Saturday “to stay off the
year sentence for “gathering cer Abbas Ahsan said that Chairman Pakistan million people. The heaviest-hit parts of The towns of Islip, New ed to be heaviest across roads if you can.”
and colluding” against Iran’s there were two attackers Ulema Council and Major cities such as New New York and York, and Warren, Rhode New England. Massachusetts Governor
security. French authorities involved in the attack. Special Representative of York and Boston bore the Massachusetts received Island, were similarly In Long Island, officials Charlie Baker said, “This
said her conviction is “purely “A comprehensive inves- the Prime Minister Imran brunt of the blizzard, two feet (61 centimeters) of blanketed. Cold weather said a woman had been storm is bringing strong
political and arbitrary.” tigation has been Khan for Interfaith which the National snow by early evening, stretched as far south as found dead in her car by a winds and lots of snow,
Macron also expressed his launched,” he said, Harmony and Middle Weather Service (NWS) with more than 95,000 Florida, where the NWS snowplow operator. with coastal, eastern and
“concerns” over the situation of adding that it was a “ter- East, condemned the confirmed had intensified homes in Massachusetts warned of “scattered to Salt machines and snow- southeastern MA commu-
another French national rorist act”. attack on the Christian into a “bomb cyclone” — reported without power. isolated falling iguanas plows crawled along the nities getting hit particu-
detained in Iran. “We are determined to priests. — PTI characterized by the explo- Snowfall in Boston from trees” as plunging streets of New York City, larly hard. — AFP
 MONDAY | 31 JANUARY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 7

„Mutual funds witness decline in market share

quick Retail investors’ share in
Ambani’s $75-bn plan targets
lion’s share of hydrogen mkt
BITES stocks rises during Covid RAJESH KUMAR SINGH &
DEBJIT CHAKRABORTY
JAN. 30

INDICATORS % SANGEETHA G
Billionaire Mukesh
Ambani's ambitious effort
Sensex 57,200.23 -0.13
Nifty 50 17,102.00 -0.05
CHENNAI, JAN. 30

The share of retail

MARKET TO TRACK BUDGET, GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS to pivot his conglomerate
Reliance Industries Ltd
towards green energy
S&P 500* 4,431.85 2.43 investors in the ownership RAVI RANJAN PRASAD from a two-year old pan- could transform India
Dollar (`) 75.04 0.06 of listed companies has MUMBAI, JAN.30 demic," said Shanti into a clean-hydrogen jug-
Pound Sterling (`) 100.31 0.48 been rising since the Ekambaram, group presi- gernaut.
advent of the Covid-19 pan- The stock market will be dent-consumer banking, Ambani announced
Euro (`) 83.54 0.60 demic. Simultaneously, the largely tracking the Union Kotak Mahindra Bank. plans earlier this month broken out how much will Reaching a $1 price point
Gold (10gm)* (`) 47,777▼423 0.88 share of mutual funds has Budget scheduled for "We are expecting the to invest $75 billion in be devoted to hydrogen, will require a steep drop
witnessed a dip. Tuesday and so could take Union Budget to continue renewables infrastruc- the $75 billion investment in the cost of electroly-
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 91.18 2.06 During the pandemic, the global cues in its stride. As to support growth over fis- ture, including generation in clean energy is by far sers, the equipment need-
IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.768 0.33 share of individual retail the market faced the worst cal consolidation by con- plants, solar panels and the biggest in the country. ed to make green hydro-
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.778 -0.002 investors holding stocks of fortnight of foreign tinued focus on capital electrolysers. There is Other companies such as gen, says Debasish
listed companies rose. investors booking profit in expenditure, rural devel- growing speculation that Adani Enterprises Ltd Mishra, a Mumbai-based
* As of 8:30 PM IST Before the pandemic, retail the recent past, a positive opment, pandemic-related the strategy entails trans- and state-run energy partner at Deloitte Touche
investors accounted for 8.6 stance from them post- healthcare, support to forming all of that clean firms NTPC Ltd and Tohmatsu.
per cent of the total equity budget will boost market MSMEs, measures to power into hydrogen, one Indian Oil Corporation In addition, a capacity

MRPL Q3 net
of listed companies. This sentiments. boost green energy, and of the largest endorse- also have set plans for utilisation of more than
rose steadily during the The US market's bounce of 16600-17600 and either spending on public wel- ments in the next-genera- green hydrogen. 80 per cent will be
pandemic months to reach back on Friday will cheer side's decisive break fare," Ekambaram said. tion fuel. The number of coun- required, and that should
rises to `970 cr, 9.9 per cent in the quarter
ended December 2021, as
Asian markets
Monday. Good fourth
on would trigger the next
directional move," said
“Other than the budget,
global cues will be very
Analysts say Reliance is
likely to opt for hydrogen
tries with a hydrogen
strategy doubled last year
be powered by constant
energy supplies at less

margins go up per the data of Centre for

Monitoring
Economy.
Indian
quarter performance
from Apple led to sharp
gains in US market
Ajit Mishra, VP-research.
Religare Broking.
"Global monetary policy
important where global
markets are trying to
digest the rising interest
in a bid to avoid the whole-
sale electricity market,
which is dominated by
to 26, and expected plans
from the US, Brazil, India
and China could reshape
than 3 cents per kilowatt-
hour, Mishra said. To
achieve around-the-clock
The Mangalore Refinery and The share of retail indices, led by Nasdaq has seen a reversal on the rate scenario but geopolit- financially stressed utili- the global market, accord- supplies, supplemental
Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) investors in the floating (3.13 per cent), S&P 500 back of strong growth and ical uncertainties is ties and plagued by ing to BloombergNEF. But forms of energy such as
posted a net profit of Rs 969 stock or non-promoter (2.43 per cent) and Dow strong inflation. We are another major concern... delayed payments. the sector is still experi- storage or hydropower
crore during the third quarter shares of listed companies Jones (1.65 per cent). likely to see rate hikes The rising dollar index "Reliance is preparing mental and far from com- will be needed, and that
of 2021-22 against a loss of Rs increased from 16.4 per "The Union Budget this year signalling the and rising crude oil prices itself to capture the entire mercially viable. India is can take the cost beyond
76 crore in the year-ago quar- cent just before the pan- would set the tone for the end of monetary accom- are other issues for value chain of the green relying on its billionaires, the desired levels.
ter. The gross revenue from demic in the quarter ended domestic markets amid modation. In this back- emerging markets like hydrogen economy," said including Ambani and his Ambani may also be
operations stood at Rs 25,238 December 2019 to 19.4 per the global sell-off. Vola- drop, we are optimistic India. We are in the mid- Gagan Sidhu, director at rival Gautam Adani, to hoping for government
crore against Rs 14,136 crore. cent by the quarter ended tility remains high during that the government will dle of the Q3 earning ses- the Centre for Energy lead the way. support.
The gross refining margin December 2021. the budget week. We make the right moves in sion," said Santosh Finance at New Delhi- A key challenge will be "No one knows if we can
stood at Rs 9.29 a barrel The rise of ownership by expect the Nifty index to Budget FY2023 to help the Meena, head of Research, based think tank CEEW. to produce it at affordable get there," said R.
against Rs 3.26 a barrel a year individuals coincided with hover in a broader range economy emerge stronger Swastika Investmart. "They clearly have seen costs. Green hydrogen Ramachandran, a former
ago. The refinery throughput the fall in ownership by the writing on the wall." produced by renewables is director for refineries at
was 4.37 mt against 3.08 mt. domestic mutual funds. Green hydrogen -- made far from competitive com- Bharat Petroleum Corp.
This shift in favour of indi- Smartphone-based per- mutual funds lost only 94 Foreign portfolio from water and clean elec- pared to other fuels, cost- "If Reliance succeeds,
viduals coincided with the sonal apps and a sharp fall basis points and foreign investors (FPIs) continue tricity -- is seen as crucial ing nearly double the then there is good oppor-
start of Covid-19, the con- in transaction costs with portfolio investors lost 89 to remain the dominant for the world's emissions price using coal. tunity. If it doesn't, then
LIC chairman’s sequent lockdowns and the
phenomenon of work-for-
the advent of discount bro-
kers helped. While work-
basis points.
Ownership of mutual
owners of listed equity in
the floating stock space.
reduction goals, helping
consumers and key indus-
Ambani has vowed to
produce green hydrogen
there may be a need for
some government subsi-

tenure extended home of the salaried class-

es. This seems to suggest
from-home facilitated the
shift, the personal apps
funds in the equity of list-
ed companies peaked at 7.8
Even after yielding some of
their stake recently, these
tries such as steel transi-
tion to lower-carbon fuels.
at $1 per kg, a more than
60 per cent reduction from
dies" or other forms of
official support.

by a year
that individuals who earli- helped engineer this shift per cent in the quarter investors account for a sub- Prime Minister Narendra today's costs. "Reliance India plans to unveil its
er assigned the task of and the discount brokers ended March 2020. Then, stantial 36 per cent of the Modi last year announced will aggressively pursue first green hydrogen poli-
managing their invest- made the shift a com- during the pandemic it floating stock of listed a plan to make India into a this target and achieve it cy in about 10 days, power
ments portfolio to profes- pelling case, said CMIE. started to decline. By the companies. FPIs' share had global hub for production well before the turn of minister Raj Kumar
sional fund managers like While the retail investors end of the June 2021 quar- peaked at 38.8 per cent in and export of the fuel. this decade," Ambani said Singh said on Thursday.
MFs have taken direct gained 235 basis points in ter, the share had dropped the quarter of December While Reliance hasn't last year. —Bloomberg
interest in investments. market share, the share of to 7.2 per cent. 2020.

MacKenzie Scott cut Online purchases moderate

PAK SAYS TEXTILE LAB-GROWN
EXPORTS GAINING SEAFOOD ON
The government has extended
LIC chairman M. R. Kumar’s
SHARE FROM
BANGLADESH, INDIA
Amazon stock worth after Covid 2nd wave: IMF THE MENU FOR
$8.5 billion last year
tenure by one year to facilitate SANGEETHA G
a smooth listing of the insurer,
sources said. The Centre has FASEEH MANGI &
CHENNAI, JAN. 30 TOP TUNA FIRM
also extended the tenure of KAMRAN HAIDER The share of online pur- ANURADHA RAGHU &
one of the managing directors, JAN. 30 chases in total commerce RANDY THANTHONG-
Raj Kumar, who was to retire TOM MALONEY & went up during the peak KNIGHT
on January 31, for one year. Pakistan's textile sector is SOPHIE ALEXANDER pandemic time compared JAN. 30
With the extension, M. R. bringing cheer to its flail- JAN. 30 to the pre-pandemic lev-
Kumar will continue at the ing economy, with exports els. But, it started moder- In the race for alterna-
helm of LIC till March 2023. set to swell to a record MacKenzie Scott's stake ating since the second tive proteins, lab-grown
Notifications in this regard after gaining an edge over in Amazon.com Inc wave, finds a study by the seafood could be next on
would be issued soon. South Asian rivals during shrunk by 2.5 million International Monetary the dinner table.
the pandemic. shares last year, accord- Fund. One of the biggest
Textile exports are ing to a regulatory filing, MacKenzie Scott In India, the share of e- makers of canned tuna,
poised to surge 40 per cent as the world's fifth-rich- commerce was 4.4 per cent economies," the study across industries is also Thai Union Group Pcl,
from a year earlier to a est woman set records Index. It would be con- prior to the pandemic. said. seen. The increase in has set up an innovation
JSW director record $21 billion in the 12
months ending June,
with the pace of her phi-
lanthropy.
siderably more, but she's
donated more than $8.6
This went up during the
first and second waves of
The latest data suggest
that the spikes in online
online spending shares is
more persistent in the
center with more than
100 scientists and engi-

Malay Mukerjee according to Abdul Razak

Dawood, commerce advis-
Those shares would be
worth as much as $8.5
billion since their split
to hundreds of charities
the pandemic, and by May
2021 it stood at 7.4 per
spending shares are grad-
ually dissipating at the
retail sector and restau-
rants, suggesting some e-
neers working to devel-
op various forms of

passes away
er to Pakistan's prime min- billion based on the aver- across the US. cent. From then on, with aggregate level. commerce learning and a faux meat and seafood.
ister. Dawood predicted age of Amazon's share Scott announces her increased mobility, it However, in some longer-lasting impact of It is also partnering
that figure would expand price between the dates donations in blog posts started moderating and economies this deviation social mobility restric- with several companies
JSW Steel to $26 billion in the next of the two disclosures. that explain her motives currently stands at 6.5 per from the peak levels is tions in these sectors. through a venture fund,
announced the fiscal year, surpassing the The stake would total and concerns over cent. smaller compared to the Department stores, elec- which could lead to the
passing away of nation's total exports last $7.3 billion based on inequality in society. In The IMF had studied 47 pre-Covid levels. This trical appliances, clothing production of lab-grown
Malay Mukerjee, 74, year, he said. Amazon's current 2021 she gave at least $2.7 economies, including includes small economies stores, discount stores, seafood.
an independent The textiles industry— $2,879.56 stock price. billion, according to a India, and 26 sectors for such as Bahrain and restaurants-bars, and The alternative sea-
director on its which supplies everything Scott still holds 14.9 June 2021 post. In a the period between Jamaica, which are the drug stores still report food industry is expect-
board, on Saturday. from denim jeans to towels million shares, accord- December post, she January 2018 and two main outliers, as well high online shares. Some ed to be worth $1.3 bil-
Mukherjee held key for buyers in the US and ing to the filing. It details opted to keep the amount September 2021. as large developing of these sectors, in partic- lion a year globally in 10
positions like CEO Europe—is one of the Jeff Bezos's holdings, she gave secret. "When the Covid-19 pan- economies such as Brazil ular, restaurant-bars and years’ time, up from $30
of Essar Steel Global and mem- country's few economic including stock that Scott's philanthropy is demic hit unexpectedly in and India. In all the other drug stores, also had low million to $50 million
ber of the board of directors at bright spots. Textiles Scott ended up with fol- overseen by her Seattle- early 2020, there was a economies, including the pre-Covid e-commerce currently, according to
ArcelorMittal. He was also sen- amount to about 60 per lowing their 2019 divorce based family office Lost sudden surge in e-com- United States and many shares. On the other hand, Maarten Geraets, MD of
ior executive vice-president at cent of Pakistan's total and which Bezos retains Horse. merce. In a matter of a few developed economies, the the share of online spend- Alternative Proteins at
ArcelorMittal. exports and the nation voting power over. Bezos is the world's sec- weeks, lockdowns were online shares are now ing in services, specifical- Thai Union, which owns
allowed its factories to Scott is worth $48.3 bil- ond-richest person with imposed, severely limiting either at or below the pre- ly professional services, the Chicken of the Sea
open ahead of India and lion, according to the a $168.9 billion fortune. physical retail purchases dicted pre-Covid trend lev- utilities, and recreation, and John West brands.
Bangladesh when the pan- Bloomberg Billionaires —Bloomberg and increasing the pace of els. has fallen below its pre- Faux seafood is about
demic first emerged in online purchases in most A significant variation pandemic trend. eight years behind the

AGS Transact 2020, drawing orders from

global brands, including
more mature alterna-
tive meat market,

to make market
Target Corp and Geraets said. That pres-

debut today
Hanesbrands Inc.
"A lot of orders actually
were shifted
Bangladesh and India to
from And prize for longest speech goes to Sitharaman ents a "huge opportuni-
ty" for the company
because it's based in
Asia and is already a top
Pakistan" during the pan- New Delhi, Jan. 30: Finance min- was all that the then finance min- led government later decided to seafood processor. US
Payment solutions provider demic, said Dawood in an ister Nirmala Sitharaman will on ister Hirubhai Mulljibhai Patel print the Budget papers in both sales of plant-based
AGS Transact Technologies, interview at his Islamabad February 1 present her fourth delivered in 1977. Hindi and English. seafood grew 23 per cent
which has completed a Rs 680- office. "The other good straight Union Budget when she ■ TOP BUDGET PRESENTERS: ■ PAPERLESS : Covid-19 pandem- to $12 million in 2020,
crore share sale with over eight thing that's happening is presents financial statements and Former Prime Minister Moraraji ic turned the Budget for 2021-22 according to the Good
times subscription last week, is we are now becoming com- tax proposals for fiscal year 2022- Desai holds the record for present- paperless—a first in Independent Food Institute, a non-
listing on Monday. The issue petitive with Bangladesh. 23 (April 2022 to March 2023). Here ing the most number of budgets. India. profit group pushing for
saw promoters and other sell- Three, four years ago, are some budget trivia:- He had presented 10 budgets dur- ■ FIRST WOMAN: In 2019, more sustainable pro-
ing shareholders divesting Bangladesh was really ■ FIRST BUDGET: The budget ing his tenure as finance minister Sitharaman became the second teins, compared to the
stakes at a price band of Rs beating us." was first introduced in India on during 1962-69, followed by P. woman to have presented the conventional seafood
166-175. AGS Transact provides The government also April 7, 1860 when Scottish econo- Chidambaram (9), Pranab budget after Indira Gandhi, who market worth tens of
services like ATM and cash- plans to announce a pro- mist and politician James Wilson Nirmala Sitharaman Mukherjee (8), Yashwant Sinha (8) had presented the budget for the billions of dollars.
recycling machines outsourc- posal next month that will from East India Company present- During the course of this speech, and Manmohan Singh (6). financial year 1970-71. Thai Union started a
ing, cash management and dig- likely provide incentives ed it to the British Crown. she broke her own record of July ■ TIME CHANGE: Until 1999, the ■ RAILWAY BUDGET: Till 2017, plant-based seafood and
ital payment solutions. for exports to new markets Independent India's first budget 2019—her maiden Budget—when Union Budget was presented at 5 railway budget and Union Budget meat line in March, join-
such as Africa, South was presented on November 26, she had spoken for 2 hours and 17 pm on the last working day of were presented separately. After ing the likes of Tyson
Printed & Published by America and Central Asia, 1947 by the then finance minister minutes. February as per British era prac- being presented separately for 92 Foods Inc. and Nestle SA
K. Sudhakar on behalf of Dawood said. The nation is R. K. Shanmukham Chetty. ■ MOST WORDY SPEECH: At tice. Former finance minister years, the Railway budget was in the faux seafood
Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited. doubling down to boost ■ LONGEST SPEECH: Sitha- 18,650 words, Manmohan Singh Yashwant Sinha in 1999 changed merged in the Union Budget in space. Its OMG Meat
Printed at BFL Infotech Ltd, C-9 Sector textile exports through raman holds the record for deliv- delivered the longest Budget the budget presentation timing to 2017 and presented together. offering features items
3, Noida-201301. Published at 219, N D measures,m including tax ering the longest speech when she speech in terms of words in 1991 11 am. ■ PRINTING : Till 1950, the budget like fish nuggets,
Tiwari Bhawan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay breaks, cheap loans and spoke for 2 hours and 42 minutes under the Narasimha Rao govern- Arun Jaitley started presenting was printed at Rashtrapati seafood burger patties,
Marg, New Delhi-110002. supplying electricity at while presenting the Union ment. the Union Budget on February 1 in Bhavan till it got leaked and the crab dumplings and dim
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI rates that are comparable Budget 2020-21 on February 1, In 2018, then finance minister 2017, departing from the colonial- venue of printing had to be shifted sum. It mainly uses soy
Registration number 30074/09, with rivals in South Asia. 2020. With two pages still remain- Arun Jaitley's speech with 18,604 era tradition of using the last to a press at the Minto Road in and pea protein as
Air surcharge Re 1. © All rights A 60 per cent decline in the ing, she had to cut short her words was the second longest in working day of that month. New Delhi. In 1980, a government ingredients, and is look-
reserved. Reproduction in whole or local currency against the speech as she felt unwell. She terms of word count. Jaitley ■ LANGUAGE: Until 1955, the press was set up in the North ing at options like mung
in part without written permission of dollar since 2018 has also asked the Speaker to consider the spoke for 1 hour and 49 minutes. Union Budget was presented in Block - the seat of the finance min- beans, lentils and chick-
The Editor, helped. rest of the speech as read. ■ SHORTEST SPEECH: 800 words English. However, the Congress- istry. —PTI peas. —Bloomberg
Financial Chronicle ® is prohibited. —Bloomberg
 GAMES
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 31 JANUARY 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 8

RAFA & TOUGH

U-19 | WORLD CUP
SHORT TAKES
Arjun reigns in
Challengers chess
Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands:
Indian Grandmaster Arjun
Erigaisi won the Tata Steel
Challengers event with a round
to spare after a draw with Thai
Nadal comes from two sets down to win historic 21st Slam
Dai Van Nguyen of Czech Melbourne, Jan. 30:
Republic in the 12th and penul- Rafael Nadal roared back NADAL FACTFILE
timate round here. The 18-year from two sets down to win
■ Age: 35
old Erigaisi, who has been in a titanic five-set duel with
■ World ranking: 5
fine form throughout the event Daniil Medvedev and ■ Prize money: $125,050,235
and has been unbeaten so far, claim a record 21st Grand ■ Career titles: 89
took a quick draw late on Slam men’s title in the ■ Grand Slam titles: 21
Saturday against Nguyen, who Australian Open final on ■ Australian Open winner:
is joint second, in just 15 moves Sunday. 2009, 2022
to take his tally to 9.5 points. The Spanish great ■ French Open winner: 2005,
He is 1.5 points ahead of the looked dead and buried as 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011,
second placed Nguyen and the Russian world num- 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018,
Jonas Buhl Bjerre. ber two carved out a two- 2019, 2020
The teenaged player (Elo 2632) set lead but Nadal surged ■ Wimbledon winner: 2008,
has so far won seven games home for one of his 2010
and drawn five. He faces Marc mightiest comeback wins ■ US Open winner: 2010,
Andria Maurizzi of France in the 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in 2013, 2017, 2019
final round later on Sunday. 5hr 24min on Rod Laver ■ Coaches: Carlos Moya,
Maurizzi had beaten India’s Arena. Francisco Roig, Marc Lopez
India’s Angkrish Raghuvanshi en route to his 44 against
Surya Shekhar Ganguly in the Nadal came out on top in Bangladesh in their U-19 World Cup quarterfinal in
12th round. Ganguly has 5.5 the physical war of attri- LEADING MEN’S Coolidge, Antigua, on Saturday. — BCCI
points and is in 9th place. tion to move ahead of era SLAM WINNERS
With the triumph, the Indian rivals Novak Djokovic
GM qualifies for next year’s Tata

India oust Bangla

and Roger Federer on the 21: Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Steel Masters Group. all-time list of men’s 20: Roger Federer (SUI),
He is the fourth Indian after P. major winners. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Harikrishna, B. Adhiban and Djokovic missed his 14: Pete Sampras (USA)
Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi to win chance to improve on his

to set up Oz clash
12: Roy Emerson (AUS)
the Tata Steel Challengers nine Australian Open 11: Rod Laver (AUS), Bjorn
event. — PTI wins when he was deport- Borg (SWE)
ed over vaccination 10: Bill Tilden (USA)
issues on the eve of the 9: Fred Perry (GBR), Ken
Unnati, George tournament,
Federer is injured.
while Rosewall (AUS), Ivan
Lendl, Andre Agassi,
Coolidge (Antigua), Jan.
30: Left-arm pacer Ravi
● Four-time
champions India will
win Odisha Open It was one of the 35-year-
old Spanish warrior’s
Jimmy Connors (all USA). Kumar bowled a sensation-
al opening spell as India’s meet Australia in
Cuttack: Teenager Unnati greatest title victories in ‘class of 2022’ exacted a their semifinal on
Hooda became the youngest his 29th Grand Slam final sweet revenge on
Indian to win a Super 100 tour-
nament as she beat compatriot
as he won his second
Australian Open, 13 years
MEDVEDEV ‘NOT Bangladesh, knocking out
the defending champions
February 2.

Smit Toshniwal in straight

games to claim the women’s
singles title while unseeded
after his first in 2009.
“This has been one of
the most emotional
DISAPPOINTED’ by five wickets to enter the
semifinals of the U-19
World Cup here. In the last
In reply, India chased
down the target in 30.5
overs with opener
Kiran George emerged tri-
umphant in men’s singles final
matches of my tennis
career,” Nadal said.
WITH FINAL LOSS edition of the tournament,
India lost to Bangladesh in
Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s
44 being the top score.
of the $75,000 Odisha Open “It’s just amazing. I did- Melbourne, Jan. 30: the title clash. Skipper Yash Dhull made
badminton tournament here on n’t know a few months Daniil Medvedev insisted Four-time champions 20 not out and his deputy
Sunday. The 21-year-old George back if I would even be on Sunday he was not dis- India will meet Australia Shaik Rasheed contributed
prevailed over Priyanshu playing again on the tour appointed to give up a in their semifinal on 26. The victory was even
Rajawat 21-15, 14-21, 21-18 to and I am back on this two-set lead and lose the February 2, having won an more satisfying consider-
clinch the men’s singles title court before you all today. Australian Open, while unprecedented seven out of ing the youngsters came
after battling hard for You don’t know how heaping praise on “unre- their nine U-19 World Cup back without any training
58 minutes. much I fought to be here. al” Rafael Nadal. quarterfinals. post recovery from Covid-
Before that, the 14-year-old “The huge support I “If we talk about tennis, Son of a CRPF personnel, 19. It was a fitting reply
Unnati produced an excellent have received in the three I’m not that disappointed. the Uttar Pradesh-born from the ‘Boys in Blue’ to
performance to emerge tri- weeks here is going to It was a huge match,” said Ravi, who has followed in the ‘Tiger Cubs’ after their
umphant in her event. Unnati stay in my heart for the the 25-year-old Russian. the footsteps of his illustri- predecessors lost an ill-
won 21-18, 21-11 to be crowned rest of my life.” “For sure, some small ous state senior tempered final of the 2020
the Odisha Open champion for Nadal also became only points, small details that I Mohammed Shami to ply edition, which was fol-
the first time. the fourth man to win could have done better if I his trade for Bengal, ended lowed by boorish behav-
In the mixed doubles final, each of the four Grand wanted to win. But that’s with excellent figures of 7- iour from both sides, espe-
India’s MR Arjun and Treesa Slams twice and the third RESULTS tennis, that’s life. Rafa 1-14-3 on a tacky track as cially the Bangladeshis,
Jolly suffered a 16-21 20-22 oldest man in the Open played unreal, he raised Bangladesh were all out for whose reactions have
defeat at the hands of Sri Era (since 1970) to win a Men’s singles final: Rafael his level.” 111 in 37.1 overs. always been over the top
Nadal (ESP x6) bt Daniil
Lankan duo Sachin Dias and Grand Slam title, behind
Medvedev (RUS x2) 2-6, 6-7
It was the second time Bangladesh were 56 for when it came to beating
Thilini Hendadahewa in a match Ken Rosewall and (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. Nadal had denied seven at one stage before India. — PTI
that lasted 36 minutes. — PTI Federer. Women’s doubles final: Medvedev in a Grand SM Mehrob (30) and Brief scores: Bangladesh 111
The final went down to Barbora Krejcikova Slam decider, winning a Ashiqur Zaman (16) added (Meherob 30, Ravi 3-14, Ostwal
the bitter end with Nadal (CZE)/Katerina Siniakova Rafael Nadal celebrates after five-set epic at the 2019 US 50 runs for the eighth wick- 2/25) lost to India 117/5
Moeen stars as being broken as he served
for the championship
(CZE x1) bt Anna Danilina
(KAZ)/Beatriz Haddad Maia
defeating Daniil Medvedev of
Russia in the Australian Open
Open.
“At two sets to love up I
et to take the team past 100-
run mark.
(Raghuvanshi 44, Rasheed 26,
Dhull 20 n.o., Mondol 4/31).
Eng level series only for the Spaniard to
break back.
(BRA) 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-4.
final on Sunday. — AP was just like, ‘go for
him’,” said Medvedev,
Bridgetown, Barbados: Stand-in On his second attempt to set epic at the 2019 US August. ond consecutive who was in his fourth
skipper Moeen Ali starred with
bat and ball as England beat
serve it out, Nadal pow-
ered to three match points
Open. Nadal holds a 4-1
lead over Medvedev in
He then caught Covid in
December which, he said,
Australian Open final
after falling in straight
Grand Slam final.
“In the fifth set I was EARTHQUAKE DURING U-19
the West Indies by 34 runs to to win amid chaotic their five matches to date. made him “very sick”. sets to Djokovic in last just like ‘make him run’.
set up a series decider.
Moeen, leading England in
scenes in his player’s box
and the frenzied crowd.
It crowned an extraordi-
nary effort from Nadal at
Medvedev had wrecked
Djokovic’s calendar
year’s final.
“It’s tough to talk after
But he was unreal, he was
really strong the way he
GAME, TV VISUALS SHOOK
place of the injured Eoin the year’s opening major, Grand Slam push and bid five hours 30 and losing played. Port of Spain, Jan. 30: Live visuals of the ICC U-19
‘I WAS AMAZED’ but I want to congratulate
Morgan, struck seven sixes, having to modify his for a 21st title in New York “So talking about ten- World Cup match between Ireland and Zimbabwe
including four in a row off It was the second time game to compensate for a four months ago and was Rafa because what you nis, I don’t have much shook vigorously for few seconds as an earthquake off
Jason Holder, during a 63 made Nadal had denied degenerative bone disease aiming to do the same to did today, I was amazed,” regret. I’m going to try the coast of Port of Spain sent mild tremors through
from just 28 balls as England Medvedev in a Grand in his left foot that ended Nadal in Melbourne. Medvedev said. and continue my best,” the Queen’s Park Oval here. While the players were
posted a total of 193 for Slam final, winning a five- his 2021 season last Medvedev lost his sec- — AFP he added. — AFP unaware and continued the action on the field, the
six on Saturday. commentators could feel the tremors as the commen-
The off-spinner then took two tary box began shaking.

Barty ‘humbled’ after

wickets for 28 runs in four overs The earthquake was measured at 5.2 magnitude on
during the West Indies’ 159 for the richter scale. Commentator Andrew Leonard
five as England levelled the described the tremors as the commentary box began to
five-match series at 2-2 ahead wobble. “We are... I believe we are having an earth-
of the teams’ return to the quake right now. In the box. We are indeed having an
Kensington Oval.
England’s bowling in the latter
stages of matches earlier in this
series had proved expensive.
But with the West Indies need-
joining tennis royalty earthquake. It felt like not just a train going by behind
us, but the whole Queen’s Park Oval media centre
rocked,” he said.
The tremors were said to have lasted for 15-20 sec-
onds.
ing 61 off the final four overs, Melbourne, Jan. 30: The only other active single day and get better Ireland spinner Matthew Humphreys was bowling
Chris Jordan — recalled after Ashleigh Barty says she players to snare majors and better.” the fifth ball of the sixth over to Zimbabwe’s Brian
England’s defeat on Wednesday feels “humbled” to have on clay, grass and hard Even her coach Craig Bennett when the front-on camera showing the action
— and Reece Topley held their joined tennis royalty’s courts are legends of the Tyzzer is amazed at what began to shake. — PTI
nerve. — AFP most exclusive club with sport — Serena Williams, Barty has achieved.
Brief scores: England 193/6 a Grand Slam crown on Roger Federer, Rafael “I think we’ve all got to
(Moeen Ali 63, Jason Roy 52; three different surfaces, Nadal and Novak sit back and just look at
Jason Holder 3/44) bt West but vowed: “There’s still Djokovic. Barty and what she’s been able to WEST INDIES | SERIES
Indies 159/5 (Kyle Mayers 40, work to be done.” Williams are the only do on different surfaces

Shahrukh, Sai
Jason Holder 36; Moeen Ali The 25-year-old two to win their first and just her ability to
2-28). achieved the feat by three Slams on three sur- play the level of tennis
becoming the Australian faces. “I feel very humble that she does,” he said.
Open’s first home cham- to be in such a select “I mean, sometimes I’m
Starc didn’t want pion in 44 years when she group. To be honest, I just in awe of it.”

to be in IPL bubble
Melbourne: Australia pacer
beat Danielle Collins 6-3,
7-6 (7/2) in the final.
It followed her break-
through French Open
don’t really feel like I
belong with those cham-
pions of our sport,” said
the world No. 1.
She often pays tribute
to Tyzzer for helping her
become the player that
she is, but it started at a
Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Ash Barty
join as reserves
Mitchell Starc has said that he success in 2019 and “I’m still learning and much younger age with New Delhi, Jan. 30: Rising ● Both Shahrukh and
opted out of the IPL auction at Wimbledon last year, put- trying to refine my craft childhood coach Jim poses with the trophy at a park in Melbourne on Sunday. T20 sensation M.
the last minute as he did not ting her in elite company. and try and learn every Joyce. — AFP — AP Shahrukh Khan and his Sai Kishore played a
want to spend another 22 state-mate, orthodox left- huge part in Tamil
weeks in a bio-bubble. “I was a arm spinner Sai Kishore, Nadu’s victorious

Yuki, Prajnesh open campaign today

click of the button away from will be joining the Indian campaign and their
entering the auction but per- white-ball team as stand-by
sonally didn’t want to spend 22 players for the upcoming
call-up is more of a
more weeks in a bubble,” said six-match series against precautionary
Starc on Saturday. “They’ll be a the West Indies. measure in Covid-19
time where I’d love to go back Pune, Jan. 30: India’s Yuki Gunneswaran, the fourth ● Lithuanian matches will take place on Both Shahrukh and Sai times.
to the IPL but in terms of want- Bhambri and Prajnesh edition of Asia’s only ATP TATA | OPEN highest ranked Day 1 of the main draw. Kishore played a huge part
ing to play as much as I can for Gunneswaran will kick- 250 event, which is organ- In the qualifying match- in Tamil Nadu’s victorious
Australia that’s a decision I’ve start their campaign at ised by the Maharashtra player for all time, es, played on Sunday, campaign and their call-up For Sai Kishore, this is
done for a while,” he was quot- the 4th Tata Open State Lawn Tennis Ricardas Berankis, India’s Sasikumar is more of a precautionary the second opportunity in
ed as saying by espn.in. Maharashtra as the main Association, will also have who had a semi- Mukund and Manish measure in Covid-19 times an Indian team set-up after
The former Royal Challengers draw begins on Monday at country’s top-ranked play- final finish in the Sureshkumar suffered when there is every possi- he was part of the net
Bangalore player has only fea- the Balewadi Stadium er Ramkumar defeats in the first round. bility of a player from the bowlers’ group during a
tured in two IPL seasons, bag- here. Ramanathan and local boy last edition, will also While Mukund lost to main squad testing posi- tour of Sri Lanka under
ging 37 wickets in 27 matches. The Delhi-born Arjun Kadhe starting be seen in action. Turkey’s Celikbilek Altug tive. Rahul Dravid last year.
— PTI Bhambri, who received a directly in the singles 6-3, 6-3, Sureshkumar con- “Yes, Shahrukh and Sai Shahrukh, who was in
directed entry into the main draw which consists singles opening round ceded a 6-2, 6-3 loss against Kishore have been called contention to make it to the
Published by K. Sudhakar for and on main draw, will take on of a strong field in the matches will be played on Czech player Kopriva Vit. as stand bys for the main squad, has been in
behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Slovak player Jozef presence of top players Monday. Berankis will be Alexandre Muller, Elias Windies series. They will the news this season for
Limited at Jawaharlal Nehru National Kovalik in the opening from the world including up against Halys Quentin Ymer, Jay Clarke, Gian also enter the bubble with scoring runs at critical
Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay round encounter while the World No. 15 Aslan of France. Marco Moroni, Marc main team players,” a sen- stages, including a last ball
Marg, New Delhi 110 002. and Printed by Asian Games medallist Karatsev. Top-seeded Australian Polmans and Kimmer ior BCCI official confirmed six against Karnataka, to
him at BFL Infotech Limited, C – 9, Prajnesh, who entered the Lithuanian highest pair of Luke Saville and Coppejans were the play- the development. win the Syed Mushtaq Ali
Sector – III, Noida – 201301. tournament as a wildcard, ranked player for all time, John-Patrick Smith will ers who progressed into The limited overs series Trophy final.
Editor – Kaushik Mitter,
will start his challenge Ricardas Berankis, who open their campaign the second qualifying starts in Ahmedabad with It was the same match
RNI Registration number 57290/94,
against the fifth seeded had a semi-final finish in against Stefano Travaglia round and are now a win a three-match ODI rubber where his colleague Sai
Price in Nepal - Nep.Rs. 20.00
per copy.
Daniel Altamaier. the last edition, will also and Bernabe Zapata away from a spot in the followed by three T20 Kishore got three wickets.
Apart from Bhambri and be seen in action as seven Yuki Bhambri Miralles as four doubles main draw. — Agencies Internationals in Kolkata. — PTI