First india news paper gujarat-english news paper today-14 march 2020 edition

AHMEDABAD l SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 l Pages 14 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 107
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. —FILE PHOTO
Rupani Govt first to introduce performance grading in schools
Haresh Jhala
Gandhinagar: The
Vijay Rupani Govern-
ment is the first in
the country to have
introduced Perfor-
mance Grading Index
in primary schools
with an aim to see
that all school-going
children learn to flu-
ently read, write and
speak and there is an
overall improvement
in the quality of edu-
cation in state-run
schools.
It is because of the
government’s focus on
improving standards in
its schools that as many
as three lakh students
from private institu-
tions have joined the
State’s schools during
the last five years. Edu-
cation Minister Bhu-
pendrasinhChudasama
said it is a reflection of
the government’s com-
mitment that the grad-
ing system is made in
real time.
A budget of Rs
31,975 crore has been
earmarked for educa-
tion for this year and
this would be used for
the holistic develop-
ment of primary, sec-
ondary and higher
secondary education.
Chudasama said
with a view to curb ab-
senteeism in the
schools, daily attend-
ance has been made on-
line for 1.14 crore stu-
dents and nearly four
lakh teachers. He added
that the State Govern-
ment “is very strict
with irregular and ab-
sent teachers and has
terminated services of
115 teachers.” The gov-
ernment plans to tight-
en the present online
attendance system and
is planning to intro-
duce biometric or face
recognition system.
In Performance
Grading Index, Guja-
rat is at number two
in the country after
the Union Territory
of Chandigarh. The
State has scored 870
out of 1,000.
He added that now
the Maths and Science
subject textbooks of
secondary schools have
been made available on-
line. From current fi-
nancial year, Class VI
to VIII’s six textbooks
are carrying QR code
and because of this the
students have access to
e-books and don’t need
to carry textbooks eve-
ry time with them.
From next academic
year, the state govern-
ment is planning to put
all text books of class
III to VIII online.Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. —FILE PHOTO
BHUTAN, NEPAL, THE
MALDIVES AND SRI LANKA
HAVE ACCEPTED INDIA'S OFFER
PM MODI URGES SAARC LEADERS TO CHALK
OUT JOINT STRATEGY TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUSn a move that
can see a re-
vival of
S A A R C
g r o u p i n g ,
Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi on Friday
urged the south Asian
member state to chalk
out a joint strategy to
fight novel coronavi-
rus pandemic.
As positive cases in
India rose to 75, PM
Modi proposed that the
leadership of SAARC
nations chalk out a
strong strategy to fight
Coronavirus.”
SAARC stands for
South Asian Associa-
tion for Regional Co-
operation with eight
members including
Afghanistan, Bangla-
desh, Bhutan, India,
the Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri
Lanka.
In a series of tweets,
Modi wrote, “Our plan-
et is battling the COV-
ID-19 Novel Coronavi-
rus. At various levels,
governments and peo-
ple are trying their best
to combat it. South
Asia, which is home to
a significant number of
the global population
should leave no stone
unturned to ensure our
people are healthy.”
I would like to pro-
pose that the leader-
ship of SAARC na-
tions chalk out a
strong strategy to
fight Coronavirus, he
said.
The last SAARC
Summit was held in
November 2014, the
only gathering of
leaders of the member
states since Modi came
to power that year.
The scheduled summit
of 2016 in Pak was
cancelled after Uri at-
tack in Sept that year.
Bhutan, Nepal, the
Maldives and Sri Lanka
have accepted India’s
offer with their respec-
tive governments giv-
ing their assent on
Twitter. While the re-
sponse from Afghani-
stan and Bangladesh is
awaited, it will be inter-
esting to see if Paki-
stan’s government of
Prime Minister Imran
Khan accepted the pro-
posal.
On Thursday, Paki-
stani Foreign Ministry
had said it was ready to
“provide assistance to
our neighbouring
countries.” —PTI
I ‘Namami Gange’ improved
water quality of Ganga: Shah
New Delhi: The cen-
tral government’s
‘Namami Gange’ mis-
sion has improved the
water quality of Gan-
ga river, Union home
minister Amit Shah
said on Friday.
Shah said the project
to clean Ganga, one of
the important rivers of
the country, has been a
success and the govt
will launch similar ini-
tiatives to clean other
rivers in the country in
coordination with the
respective state govts.
Shah was speaking at
a ceremony to receive
the participants of the
‘Ganga Aamantran Ab-
hiyan’, a month-long ex-
ploratory open-water
rafting and kayaking ex-
pedition, covering 2,510
kms from Devprayag to
Ganga Sagar in WB.
The event was held
from Oct 10 to Nov 12
last year and personnel
of the 3 armed forces
participated in the raft-
ing and boating aware-
ness drive that aimed to
spread awareness about
the importance and his-
tory of the river among
the people. —PTI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during Flag-In
Ganga Amantran Abhiyan Event in New Delhi on Friday.
Narendra Modi @
narendramodi
I would like to propose
that the leadership of
SAARC nations chalk
out a strong strategy
to ﬁght Coronavirus.
We could discuss, via
video conferencing,
ways to keep our
citizens healthy.
Together, we can set
an example to the
world, and contribute
to a healthier planet.
PM’S GUJARAT VISIT POSTPONED
DUE TO CORONAVIRUS SCARE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Gujarat
from March 21 has been put off due to the coronavirus
scare, it was announced here on Friday. Making the
announcement about deferment of the PM’s visit, Deputy
Chief Minister Nitin Patel said new dates will be ﬁnalised
later. “In view of the current situation which has arisen
due to the coronavirus and a recent central government
advisory asking states to avoid organising any large
gatherings or seminars, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to
Gujarat on March 21 and 22 has been postponed,” he
said. Notably, no positive case of the novel coronavirus
(Covid-19) has been reported so far in the home state
of Modi. Patel said the state government is taking all
necessary steps to avoid the spread of the virus in view of
positive cases reported from neigbhouring Maharashtra
and some other states. Earlier, authorities had announced
that Modi will be in Gujarat for two days to inaugurate a
host of projects.

Washington: The In-
dian Embassy in the US
has set up 24-hour hel-
plines to address ques-
tions on the recent trav-
el restrictions imple-
mented by New Delhi in
a bid to contain the
spread of the novel cor-
onavirus.
India reported its
first death due to coro-
navirus on Thursday as
the number of positive
cases soared to 74. The
deadly virus that origi-
nated in the Chinese
city of Wuhan in De-
cember last year has
claimed over 4,600 lives
and infected more than
124,330 people world-
wide.
In a statement the
embassy said it has set
up round-the-clock hel-
pline numbers “for que-
ries and clarifications
regarding the recent
travel advisory issued
by the government of
India for travel to India
in view of the spread of
coronavirus”.
Helpline numbers
are being operated at
the embassy in Wash-
ington DC and consu-
lates at Atlanta, Chica-
go, New York, Houston
and San Francisco.
India on Wednesday
suspended all visas, ex-
cept a few categories
such as diplomatic and
employment, till April
15 in view of the coro-
navirus outbreak,
which has been de-
clared a pandemic by
the World Health Or-
ganisation (WHO). The
suspension came into
effect from 1200 GMT
on March 13 at the port
of departure.
“All existing visas,
except diplomatic, offi-
cial, UN/International
organisations, employ-
ment and project visas,
stand suspended till
15th April 2020. This
will come into effect
from 1200GMT on 13th
March 2020 at the port
of departure,” an offi-
cial statement said is-
sued on Wednesday.
Visa-free travel facil-
ity granted to Overseas
Citizenship of India
(OCI) card holders is
also kept in abeyance
till April 15, it said.
TALKING POINTAHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
02www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
Theaters, gyms ordered
closed in 6 Maha cities
THE CLOSURE ORDER WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MIDNIGHT, CM THACKERAY SAID, ANNOUNCING
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS INVOKED THE EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT OF 1897 TO TACKLE THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
Mumbai: In a drastic
step to curb the spread
of coronavirus, the Ma-
harashtra government
ordered closure of cin-
ema halls, gyms and
swimming pools in
Mumbai, Navi Mumbai,
Pune, Pimpri Chinch-
wad and Nagpur cities
from Friday midnight.
Making the an-
nouncement in the state
Legislative Assembly,
Chief Minister Uddhav
Thackeray said the gov-
ernment was invoking
the Epidemic Diseases
Act of 1897 from mid-
night.
Wherever possible,
companies should allow
employees to work from
home in view of corona-
virus threat, he said.
Thackeray an-
nounced that schools in
Pune and Pimpri
Chinchwad areas will
remain shut till further
orders.
However, the SSC ex-
ams in those schools
will continue as per
schedule, he said.
He also informed the
House that so far, 17 per-
sons have tested posi-
tive for coronavirus in
the state- three each in
Mumbai and Nagpur, 10
in Pune and one in
Thane.
The chief minister
also appealed to the peo-
ple to avoid visiting
malls.
Pune/Nagpur: One more person
was confirmed to have contracted
the coronavirus in Pune on Friday,
taking the number of COVID-19
cases in the city to 10 and that in
Maharashtra to 17.
The person who tested positive
for the virus in Pune on Friday had
travel history to the United States,
said divisional commissioner Deep-
ak Mhaisekar.
Earlier in the morning, two more
persons tested positive for the dis-
ease in Nagpur.
Two days after a 45-year-old man
was found to be infected with coro-
navirus in Nagpur, his wife and
friend also tested positive, Division-
al Commissioner Sanjiv Kumar had
said.
“The man had returned from the
US last week along with his wife and
the friend,” he had informed.
There are now ten confirmed
coronavirus patients in Pune, three
each in Mumbai and Nagpur, and
one in Thane.
3 more test positive for COVID-19 in
Maharashtra, number rises to 5
Govt makes
sanitizers,
masks essential
commodities
‘Animals can’t
transmit
COVID-19, stop
creating panic’
44 Indians evacuated from Iran shifted to
Naval quarantine facility in Mumbai
Mumbai: The Indian Navy on Fri-
day said that 44 Indian citizens who
have been evacuated from Iran,
have been shifted to the Naval quar-
antine facility at Mumbai.
Indian Navy spokesperson tweet-
ed that “44 Indian citizens have
been evacuated from Iran and shift-
ed to Indian Navy quarantine facil-
ity at Ghatkopar in Mumbai.”
External Affairs Minister of In-
dia, S Jaishankar, tweeted, “Second
batch of 44 Indian pilgrims has ar-
rived today from Iran. Our efforts to
bring back the others continue. @
India_in_Iran and our medical team
- keep up the good work. Appreciate
the support of Iranian authorities
and their airlines.”
On Thursday, Jaishankar had
said that a very detailed tracking
procedure was in place to prevent
the spread of coronavirus and un-
tested people cannot be brought
back to the country in a very severe
epidemic situation as the nation’s
health security has to be ensured.
Indian greeting
namaste gains
wide acceptability
New Delhi: “Na-
maste”, the Indian
way of greeting peo-
ple is gaining wide
acceptability in the
wake of the corona-
virus outbreak. Be it
US President Trump
or the French Presi-
dent Emmanuel Ma-
cron or British Roy-
alty Prince Charles.
Coronovirus, as
per the experts is
highly contagious
and is spread by
physical contact, one
of which is the hand-
shake. So, be it a com-
mon man or the pres-
ident or prime minis-
ter, it is the same for
everyone.
Ireland Prime
Minister Leo Varad-
kar in the Oval office
at the White House
on Thursday said,
“We didn’’t shake
hands today and we
looked at each other
and said what are we
going to do? Sort of a
weird feeling. We did
this (joined hands). I
just got back from In-
dia and I didn’’t
shake any hands
there. It was easy.”
Last week Israel
PM Benjamin Netan-
yahu too advocated
for Namaste way of
greeting. He asked
his fellow country-
men to greet each
other by folding
hands and saying Na-
maste as opposed to
shaking hands as
fears over the corona-
virus outbreak grow.
New Delhi: The govern-
ment on Friday declared
masks, including N95,
and hand sanitizers as ‘es-
sential commodities’ in the
wake of the coronavirus
scare leading to shortages
and black marketing of
these items.
These items will remain
under essential commodi-
ties segment till June-end,
a move aimed at ensuring
availability at reasonable
prices. The govt has noti-
fied an order under the Es-
sential Commodities Act to
declare masks (2 ply and
3 ply surgical masks, N95
masks) and hand santizers
as essential commodities
up to June 30, 2020.
The decision has
empowered the Centre
as well states to regu-
late production, quality,
distributions of masks
and hand sanitiziers, and
also to smoothen sale and
availability of these items,
and carry out operations
against speculators.
New Delhi: Dispelling
rumours that animals
spread novel coronovirus
(COVID-19), former Union
Minister and animal rights
activist Maneka Gandhi on
Friday made it clear that
animals cannot transmit
the infectious disease and
many government and
private departments were
creating panic by dissemi-
nating false information.
The Lok Sabha member
said that such informa-
tion is totally “wrong
and misleading” and is
being spread by some
government departments,
insurance companies and
private companies.
She made the an-
nouncement at a time
when rumours are
spreading faster than
the disease itself. The
BJP leader said: “The
health department of this
country has clearly said
that animals do not have
coronavirus and they can-
not transmit coronavirus.”
Iran: Satellite images of mass graves in
the city of Qom suggest Iran’s coronavi-
rus epidemic is even more serious than
the authorities are admitting.
The picture show the excavation of a
new section in a cemetery on the north-
ern fringe of Iran’s holy city in late Feb-
ruary, and two long trenches dug, of a
total length of 100 yards, by the end of
the month.
They confirm the worst fears about
the extent of the epidemic and the gov-
ernment’s subsequent cover-up. The
deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi,
held a press conference to “categorically
deny” the allegations, but he was clearly
sweating and coughing as he did so. The
next day, Harirchi confirmed that he had
tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
Bhopal: In the wake
of coronavirus out-
break, Madhya
Pradesh CM Kamal
Nath on Friday
chaired a meeting to
review the situation.
Several officials,
including the Chief
Secretary, Director
General of Police and
Principal Secretary
(Health Department),
attended the meeting.
The WHO on Wednes-
day declared corona-
virus outbreak a pan-
demic and expressed
deep concern both by
the alarming levels
of spread and severi-
ty and by the alarm-
ing levels of inaction.
The total number
of confirmed COV-
ID-19 cases across
India has risen to 75.
The country has also
reported its first cor-
onavirus death in
Karnataka, the
health ministry had
stated earlier.
Satellite images show Iran
has built mass graves
amid coronavirus outbreak
Kamal Nath holds
meeting,reviews
preparedness
IndianEmbassyinUSsetsuphelplines
toaddressqueriesonCOVID-19
Foreign tourists wear masks to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.
Indian citizens evacuated from Iran being shifted to a quarantine facility at Ghatkopar in Mumbai.
Workers clean entry gates at Rajeev Chowk metro station
in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, in New Delhi.
A priest wearing protective masks as a precautionary
measure against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), offers
prasad to a devotee at Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai.
Content: Divya Hemnani, Design: Shyam Shonkiya
C R NAVIRUS

AHMEDABAD l SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 l Pages 14 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 107
Srinagar: Senior Na-
tional Conference lead-
er Farooq Abdullah on
Friday promised to be in
the Parliament in the
next two weeks as he re-
covers from an eye sur-
gery, the former Jammu
and Kashmir Chief
Minister told the media
as he walked out free af-
ter being in detention
for seven months ever
since the abrogation of
Article 370 on August 5
last year.
“I can’t believe I’m
free. I hope everybody
else is released too. I will
attend Parliament if al-
lowed. And once I am
there, I will raise prob-
lems being faced by peo-
pleof Kashmir,”hesaid.
Bhopal: Madhya
Pradesh Governor Lalji
Tandon has expelled six
rebel cabinet ministers
from the council of
ministers as per the
suggestion of Chief
Minister Kamal Nath.
The six ministers
have rebelled against
the Kamal Nath gov-
ernment and have
been camping at a
Bengaluru resort
along with the other
13 rebel MLAs. The
rebel MLAs had sent in
their resignation to MP
Assembly Speaker, but
they have been asked to
come in person to ex-
plain reasons for their
quitting.
The portfolios taken
away from the expelled
ministers have been re-
distributed. Imarti De-
vi’s Women and Child
Development Deperta-
ment has been given
Vijayalaxmi Sadho. Go-
vind Singh has got De-
partment of Food Civil
Supplies and Consumer
protection, earlier led
by Pradhuman Tomar.
Turn on P5
New Delhi: The concern
around COVID-19 outbreak
reached its zenith world-
wide, with many countries
going into quarantine, major
sports tournaments being
cancelled. In India, the total
number of confirmed cases
across the country is 81,
which include 16 Italians
and one Canadian, Health
Ministry officials said. India
has so far reported one death
in Karnataka’s Kalaburgi.
On Friday, global toll from
the pandemic crossed 4,600,
with more than 125,000 peo-
ple in 118 countries infected
world-wide.
India on Friday declared
that masks, including N95,
and hand sanitisers as ‘es-
sential commodities’ in the
wake of coronavirus scare
leading to shortages and
black marketing of these
items. These items will re-
main under essential com-
modities segment till June-
end, a move aimed at ensur-
ingavailabilityatreasonable
prices and cracking down on
hoarders/black marketeers.
Centre also decided to al-
low international traffic
only through 19 border
checkposts out of 37 and de-
cided to continue suspension
of Indo-Bangladesh cross
border passenger trains and
buses till April 15, or earlier,
if so decided. Meanwhile, a
person who returned from
Italy was tested positive for
coronavirus at Army’s quar-
antine facility in Manesar.
CORO-NATIONS
FREEZEGLOBALLOCKDOWN
OVER VIRUS SCARE
Much at stake for Congress than BJP in Rajya Sabha elections
Haresh Jhala
Gandhinagar: The Ra-
jya Sabha tussle in Guja-
rat has much more at
stake for the Congress
candidates and their
mentors than the BJP.
The March 26 election
will see a straight fight
between the Opposition
party and a turncoat
Congressman for the
second time after 2017
when party veteran
AhmedPatelhadtohuff
and puff for every vote.
In 2017, on the eve
of Rajya Sabha elec-
tions, Congress whip
Balvantsinh Rajput
resigned from the
party and as an MLA
and contested against
Ahmed Patel, whose
victory was consid-
ered nothing short of
a miracle. And then,
it was Rajput who lost
and was not consid-
ered BJP’s loss.
In 2020, the situation
has not changed much.
This time the political
careers of its two State-
level leaders are at
stake while it may also
rub on the image of
Ahmed Patel.
The numbers are not
in favour of BJP’s third
candidate and Congress
party’s second candi-
date. The ruling party’s
two candidates can eas-
ily scrape through but
the third nominee
would need at least
three votes either from
the Congress or two of
Bharatiya Tribal Par-
ty’s MLAs and one from
the NCP.
On the other hand,
though Congress
claims it has 74 votes,
including an Inde-
pendent Jinesh Me-
vani, but it faces the
prospects of cross-
voting. Alternatively,
a few may even resign
on the eve of elections
making it difficult to
get adequate number
of votes for its two
candidates.
BJP has fielded old
Congressman Narhari
Amin with the calcula-
tion that his personal
equations with some
Congress MLAs may
fetch adequate votes to
meet the shortfall. The
BJP has 103 MLAs and
it needs at least eight
more votes to touch the
magic figure of 111.
Even if BTP and NCP
MLAs vote for BJP’s
third candidate, there
will be a shortfall of
five votes. Turn on P5
MPGuvexpels6rebel
mins,BJPseeksfloortest
Can’t believe I’m free: Farooq
after release from detention
With many countries going into quarantine, major sports events including IPL have
been cancelled; Centre declares masks, hand sanitisers as ‘essential commodities’
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES
SHUT IN 11 STATES
IPL POSTPONED TILL APRIL 15 VIRUS SCARE @ ATTARI BORDER
SC TO ONLY HEAR
URGENT CASES
All schools, colleges, techni-
cal and vocational education
institutes have been closed in 11
states of Uttarakhand, Odisha,
Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur,
Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhat-
tisgarh in view of the possibility of
infection. JNU has suspended all
lectures, examinations and events
on its campus till March 31.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
on Friday decided to postpone the Indian
Premier League (IPL) to April 15, 2020, as a
precautionary measure against the ongoing
COVID-19 situation.There was speculation as
to what the board will decide amidst the ongo-
ing coronavirus scare, and finally postponing
the tournament came up as the solution. P9
Foreign nationals will not be allowed to enter In-
dia from Pakistan through Attari-Wagah border
from Friday evening onwards, a senior BSF offi-
cial said. Indian nationals who had gone across
border would be allowed to come back before
their visas expire. Pilgrims from Dera Baba
Nanak in Gurdaspur through Kartarpur Corridor
to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib will continue.
SC on Friday took note of global
pandemic and decided that only
urgent matters shall be taken up
for hearing and no persons except
concerned lawyers will be al-
lowed inside its courtrooms. The
decision was taken in a meeting
presided over by CJI SA Bobde
after taking note of the Centre’s
March 5 advisory cautioning
against mass gatherings.
C O R O N A V I R U S E F F E C T
The Union Ministry
of Health & Fam-
ily Welfare under
the central govern-
ment has launched
a helpline number:
+91-11-23978046 for
coronavirus-related
inquiry and support.
There are also sepa-
rate helpline numbers
for the different states
and union territories.
NEPAL
SHUTS
ACCESS
TO MT
EVEREST
CANADA
PM’s
WIFE
TESTS
POSITIVE
AUSSIE
HOME
MINISTER
TESTS
POSITIVE
Nepal government has cancelled
all expeditions to Mount Everest,
until further notice, due to
novel coronavirus outbreak.
The decision effectively ends
all expedition attempts on the
Everest for the year.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s wife
Sophia Gregoire, has tested positive
for Covid-19 after she showed flu-
like symptoms upon return from the
UK.Trudeau himself, who has been
in voluntary self-quarantine, is said
to be “in good health,” say reports.
Australian Home Affairs Minister
Peter Dutton has tested positive on
Friday. Earlier on Friday, Dutton did
not attend his usual Today Show
interview due to a “stomach bug”.
Dutton had recently returned from
a tour of the United States.
Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath meets Governor Lalji Tandon, in
Bhopal on Friday. —ANI
Farooq Abdullah flanked by his wife Molly Abdullah and daughter
Safia Abdullah at at his residence in Gupkar Road on Friday.
CRUCIAL READ
REJECTED MERCY PLEA:
NIRBHAYA CONVICT MOVES HC
KULDEEP SENGAR, 6 OTHERS
SENTENCED TO 10-YR JAIL
New Delhi: One of the four death row convicts in the
2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, Vinay Shar-
ma, on Friday approached Delhi HC claiming that there
were procedural lapses and “constitutional irregularities”
in the rejection of his mercy plea by President Ram Nath
Kovind.The petition on Sharma’s behalf was moved by
his lawyer AP Singh who said matter has been filed in
HC registry.Plea claims that the recommendation sent to
the President to reject the mercy plea did not contain the
signature of Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain. P7
Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court on Friday sentenced expelled
BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and six others to 10
years imprisonment for the death of Unnao rape survi-
vor’s father. Sengar is already serving life imprisonment
for raping the minor. While sentencing them, District
Judge Dharmesh Sharma said, “There can be no deny-
ing that rule of law was broken. Sengar and his brother
Atul has been directed to give 10 lakh compensation to
family of the victim for loss of their father. P7
A child who tested negative for
coronavirus rides on a hoverboard
scooter, at the ITBP quarantine facility,
in Chhawla, New Delhi on Friday. —PTI
PULLS AND PRESSURES
The BJP on Friday established contacts with NCP
MLA Kandhal Jadeja and requested him to vote
for its candidate Narhari Amin. Sources claimed
that Kandhal has conveyed his helplessness as
he has already received a whip from his party. On
the other hand, Congress leader Ahmed Patel has
approached Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) leader
Chhotubhai Vasava requesting him and his son
Mahesh to vote for the Congress candidate.
CM Vijay Rupani with the BJP candidates for Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat Assembly on Friday.
—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE
Sachin Pilot @SachinPilot
Glad to hear the news of the release of
Former CM #FarooqAbdullah ji. I hope that
other former Chief Ministers detained in
J&K are also released soon.
15°C - 31°COUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

GUJARATAHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
BUGGED? Or is it the
grapevine... . First India
begins a column that
brings to you gossips or
tete-e-tete from the
corridors of power
GUP
SHUP
THAT CLASSROOM
FEELING
You’d think our elected MLAs
would be serious grown-ups,
right? If anything, the current
Assembly session shows that age
has nothing to do with growing up.
Just like in school, there are Lords of
the Last Bench in the House as well.
But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
MLAs like Lalit Kathagra and Pratap
Dudhat keep the House alive by
passing comments frequently. Even
the questions are decidedly less than
super serious. For instance, on Friday,
the ruling party MLA actually asked
the agriculture minister whether
farmers are trained in the classroom
or in the field. See, it’ just like school.
All that’s missing is the giggling and
chalk throwing!
NO DUMMIES
NEEDED
Unusually, the Congress party has
not filed a dummy candidate
for the Rajya Sabha election. This
might seem like an amazing show of
confidence, but it’s likelier that it’s the
result of insecurity. Not of the party,
per se, but certainly of the candidates
in the fray. We hear they are afraid
that the dummies may win the
election and the serious candidates
may be left out. By declaring
Shaktisinh Gohil and Bharatsinh
Solanki as their candidates, the high
command has managed to calm down
agitators within the party at the last
minute. Now, it is up to the MLAs to
make sure they send their candidates
to the Rajya Sabha, despite the rift
between the two.
ALL ABOUT THE NAME
In case you didn’t know, the BJP is quite superstitious, at least when it comes
to filing nomination papers. There’s a well-established tradition of filing Rajya
Sabha nominations at exactly 12.39 pm. However, on Friday, not only did they
miss their “Vijay Muhurat”of 12.39, they did so with an unexpected amount
of laissez faire. One BJP supporter was heard saying, “We have ‘Vijay’ Rupani
with us, so we don’t need Vijay Muhurat. Vijay means victory, he is with us and
will remain with us forever.” Does this mean Shakespeare’s query, “What’s a
name?” finally has finally been answered?
BE POSITIVE
Change is a certainty in life. We all know that. But, Deputy Chief Minister
Nitin Patel had a dry take on learning to be hopeful for a good future while
answering a question regarding state health facilities in the House. The State
Health Minister quipped that the incumbent health minister thirty years ago
had the same reply to that question as him. He said that time has changed
but not the answers to questions. He also commented that a shortfall of
doctors in the rural areas was seen back then and the situation today has not
changed. Then, he appealed to everyone to remain optimistic and hope that
things change for the better soon.
BJP nominees to canvas among OppnAfter days of intense speculations of horse-trading and pulls and pressures, especially in the Opposition Congress, the March 26 Rajya Sabha elections in
Gujarat have only become curiouser with the BJP tossing a third candidate, Narhari Amin, in the ring on the last date of filing nominations on Friday.
Both the parties have only as many members to win two seats each, but the BJP has made things tough for the Opposition by fielding a third candidate.
BJP confident all its
3 candidates will win
First India News
Expressing confidence
of a sureshot victory,
Bharatiya Janata Par-
ty’s three candidates for
the Rajya Sabha elec-
tions filed their nomi-
nations Friday.
Abhay Bhardwaj,
Ramilaben Bara and
Narhari Amin were all
smiles and beamed with
confidence. They were
to file their papers the
Vijay Muharat at 12.39
pm, they did so only at 2
pm because of the legis-
lative party meeting.
They were accompa-
nied by Chief Minister
Vijay Rupani, Deputy
Chief Minister Nitin
Patel, Minister of State
for Home Pradipsinh
Jadeja and State BJP
President Jitu Vaghani.
Hundreds of supporters
of BJP candidates from
Sabarkantha, Rajkot
and Ahmedabad turned
up in Gandhinagar.
Rupani told reporters
that the party has ade-
quate number of MLAs
to ensure the victory of
all three candidates. He
called out the fence-sit-
ters in the Congress and
other parties and said,
“Those who wish to par-
ticipate in the develop-
ment of the State are
welcome to join (the
BJP).” He denied that
the BJP is indulging in
any horse-trading. He
said all these are appre-
hensions of the Con-
gress spawning from
the fact that its party
members are unhappy
with their candidates
and could defy the par-
ty’s whip to vote against
the official nominees.
BJP NOMINEES AND THEIR
DUMMY CANDIDATES
Abhay Bhardwaj Kiritsinh Rana
Ramilaben Bara Dinesh Makwana
Narhari Amin Amit Shah (ex-Mayor)
As candi-
dates, we
have the
right to campaign
among all
the MLAs
and so I
and my
two col-
leagues
will approach the
Congress MLAs.
–Narhari Amin, candidate
I will try to
fulfil Dr.
Babasa-
heb’s dream to im-
plement
Uniform
Civil Code
by con-
vincing
the gov-
ernment to bring a
bill in this regard.
–Abhay Bhardwaj,candidate
Cong veterans in fray
sans dummy support
First India News
Gandhinagar: Hoping
to win two seats accord-
ing to its numbers, the
Congress has fielded
two veterans against
four vacant seats in Ra-
jya Sabha for Gujarat,
with former State chief
Bharatsinh Solanki and
national spokesperson
Shaktisinh Gohil filing
their nominations on
Friday.
They filed their pa-
pers in the presence of
State Congress Presi-
dent Amit Chavda and
Leader of Opposition in
the State Assembly
Paresh Dhanani. Both
the candidates, along
with other MLAs and
supporters, expressed
their confidence of vic-
tory in an apparently
unequal battle.
However, amid in-
tense speculations of
horse-trading and pos-
sible cross-voting the
body language of the
Congress leaders, in-
cluding that of the can-
didates, did not ooze
much confidence of a
sure victory. Their nom-
ination papers were pre-
pared on Thursday
night in presence of
Dhanani but they have
no back-up in terms of
dummy candidates.
Three sets of papers
were prepared for the
nomination, in which
according to the advice
of their lawyer, ten
MLAs supported each
candidate By announc-
ing the name of Solanki
along with Gohil, the
Congress leadership
seems to have assuaged
the tempers.
MLAs to be taken to Udaipur
Narhari’swildcardentry
as BJP’s candidate
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and State BJP President Jitubhai Vaghani with party’s
candidates, while State Congress chief Amit Chavda and Leader of Opposition
Paresh Dhanani with their nominees for Rajya Sabha elections.
CLAIMS AND COUNTER-CLAIMS
First India News
Gandhinagar: Stu-
dent leader of 1974
and seasoned politi-
cian Narhari Amin’s
nomination came as
a shock to many
within the party, but
most of all to the two
Congress candidates.
Born in June 1955
in Ahmedabad,
Amin was one of the
faces that led the
Navnirman Agita-
tion in 1973-74, which
forced then chief
minister Chimanb-
hai Patel out of of-
fice. However, he lat-
er joined the Janata
Party under Chi-
manbhai Patel.
When the Janata
Party and the BJP
took power together
in Gujarat, first he
was minister of state
for home and later, in
Chhabilbhai Mehta’s
government, deputy
chief minister.
After Janata Dal
Gujarat merged with
the Congress, he con-
tested Assembly
elections from Sa-
barmati and Matar,
but lost. He joined
the Bharatiya Janata
Party in 2012, on the
eve of the Assembly
elections.
IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH
NUMBERS GAME
BJP INC BTP NCP IND VACANT
103
2
1
1
2
73
182
TOTAL SEATS
Though the Congress sees an opportunity to win
both the seats given that it has the numbers, its
challenge is to keep the party’s flock together.
Soon after the nominations were filed, the legisla-
tors were locked in closed-door confabulations
for more than an hour. But three MLAs, Pratap
Dudhat, Mangal Gavit and Bhikha Joshi, were ab-
sent. Highly placed sources said the party is plan-
ning to pack off its MLAs to Udaipur in Congress-
ruled Rajasthan to ensure they are not influenced
by the rival BJP. Earlier in 2017, they were taken
to Karnataka. The party MLAs promised the lead-
ers to go wherever they take them.
Let there be rumours,
but they are not true. I
have faith in my par-
ty’s MLAs and both the candi-
dates will win the Rajya Sab-
ha seats. —Shaktisinh Gohil

First India News
Gandhinagar: The
state government has
spent hundreds of
crore rupees on adver-
tising to draw tourists
to Gujarat, and espe-
ciallyRannUtsav.How-
ever, ‘Khusboo Gujarat
Ki’ seems to be losing
its shine. The number
of foreign visitors to
the Rann Utsav in
Kutchhasfallenbyhalf
over the past two years.
Moreover, the domestic
tourist flow has also re-
duced by 1.25 lakh,
meaning revenue too
has declined by Rs80
lakh,saidtourismmin-
ister Jawahar Chavda
while answering a
questionraisedbyCon-
gress MLA Shailesh
Parmar during the As-
sembly session on Fri-
day. According to data
shared in the House,
8,186 foreign tourists
had attended Rann Ut-
sav in 2018. This num-
ber fell to 4,457 in 2019.
In 2018, domestic tour-
ists were 5,08,358; this
figure fell to 4,33,668 in
2019. In 2018, the Kutch
Rann Utsav netted the
state government Rs2.9
crore in revenue, a fig-
ure that fell to Rs2.1
crore the next year.
The numbers imply
that tourists are not
buying the tagline,
‘Kuchh to Din Gujaro
Gujarat Me’.
GUJARATAHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
MP Guv...
Govind Singh Rajput’s
Transport department
has gone to Brijendra
SinghRathoreandtrea-
sury department has
been given to Jitu Pat-
wari. School education
department, earlier
handled by Prabhuram
Choudhary, has gone to
Kamleshwar Patel. Ma-
hendra Singh Sisodia’s
Labour department
will not be taken over
by Sukhdev Panse.
Health department will
be taken over by Tulsi
Silawat.
Meanwhile, BJP
leaders Shivraj Singh
Chouhan and newly-in-
ducted Jyotiraditya
Scindia also met with
thegovernor.Asperthe
sources, the BJP lead-
ers told the governor
that the Kamal Nath
government was in mi-
nority and sought a
floor test.
Congress MLAs be-
ingheldhostagebyBJP,
says Kamal Nath in a
letter to MP Governor
Earlier in the day,
Chief Minister Kamal
Nath met Governor
Lalji Tandon and ac-
cused the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) of
indulging in
“horse-trading”of Con-
gress MLAs to unseat
the state’s Congress
government.
Much at...
But there are a few
Congress MLAs who
have a soft corner for
Amin and could bail
him out.
Again like in 2017, if
Amin loses it will be
more his loss than that
of the BJP. But if he
wins, it will remain to
be seen who cross-vot-
ed from the Congress
and which camp they
belong to.
In such a scenario,
if Bharatsinh Solanki
loses the election it
will be a big blow to
not only his career but
also that of his cousin
and GPCC President
Amit Chavda. Similar-
ly, if Shaktisinh Gohil
loses it will also have a
rub-off effect on his
mentor Ahmed Patel’s
image.
FROM PG 1
Vipul Rajput
Ahmedabad: Even as
Gujarat continues to
dodge the COVID-19
bullet, the state’s health
departmenthasordered
raids on unhygienic
and illegal factories
that have cropped up to
cash in on the mask
shortage reported in
Monday’s edition of
this newspaper. Sources
say the move came after
principal secretary for
health Jayanti Ravi
came across videos on
social media in which
masks can be seen be-
ing manufactured in
less than ideal condi-
tions.
As of 7pm on Friday,
none of the 68 people
tested for the Novel Cor-
onavirus in the state
have been found to be
infected. Yet, the few
available masks flying
off the shelves despite a
400-500% mark-up.
“Many people seem
to have started small,
unhygienic factories to
make a quick buck by
taking advantage of
people’s panic,” one
source in the health de-
partment told First In-
dia. “The health secre-
tary has asked the rele-
vant department to
crack down on such
mask manufacturers.”
Food and Drug Com-
missioner HG Koshiya
told First India, “Manu-
facturing units need to
comply with strict regu-
lations in terms of hy-
giene, but we have seen
videos of people mak-
ing masks in small un-
clean places. The people
in the videos appear to
be communicating in
Gujarati. So we have
launched an investiga-
tion into this. Some of
our teams have inspect-
ed some areas of
Ahmedabad but, as of
late Friday, we have not
found any such facto-
ries. For now, we are be-
ing vigilant.”
As reported previ-
ously, Dr GH Rathod,
Superintendent of the
Ahmedabad Civil Hos-
pital, says, “While COV-
ID-19 spreads through
physical contact with
the mucous and spit of
an infected patient,
only those suspected of
having the disease need
to wear masks. Healthy
people do not need to
wear them.”
UNMASKED BY SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOSAmidpanic,principalsecretaryforhealthorderscrackdownonillegalandunsanitarymask‘manufacturers’
High Court instructs state
to minimize gatherings
Ahmedabad: In a suo
motu public interest
litigation (PIL) regis-
teredonFridayinview
of the panic surround-
ing COVID-19, the Gu-
jarat High Court has
instructed the state to
ensureminimalpublic
gatherings. A two-per-
son bench comprising
Chief Justice Vikram
Nath and Justice to
Ashutosh Shastri is-
sued notice to the
chief secretary, princi-
pal secretary, depart-
mentof medicalhealth
and family welfare,
and the principal sec-
retary of the legal de-
partment. It pointed
out that the advisory
issued by the Union
Ministryof Healthand
FamilyWelfare, wasto
be strictly adhered to,
and issued additional
directions including
providingtemperature
guns at the security
check in the court
premises, taking nec-
essary steps in case
any person is found to
be having fever, and
sanitizing the court
building and premises
on a daily basis.
Other directions is-
sued include avoiding
public gatherings, dis-
couraging litigants
from attending court
hearings, and making
sure that any absence
of parties would not
entail adverse orders.
The high court also
directed, “Handshake
greetings may be
avoided and greetings
may be with folded
hands only.”
The state has been
directed to file an affi-
davit within a week
stating details of per-
sons affected by COV-
ID-19 in the state, and
the steps taken by the
government with re-
gards to their treat-
ment.
We have seen
videos (on so-
cial media) of
people making masks
in small, unclean
places. These people
appear to be speaking
Gujarati. So we have
launched an investi-
gation. However, as of
late Friday, we have
not found any such
factories. For now, we
are being vigilant.
—HG Koshiya,
Food and Drug Commissioner
First India News
Ahmedabad: A theft of
Rs9.5 lakh was reported
in the home of Addi-
tional Commissioner
with the State Revenue
Department Padmavati
Kann on Thursday. A
resident of Satellite,
she lives with her broth-
er Ramkumar Kann, 37,
and mother Sumatiben
at Vasu Pujya Row
House in Ramdevnagar.
The family did not
notice anything amiss
when an air-condition-
er repairman named
Bhurabhai visited their
home for AC repair ser-
vice on March 10 and
worked there the whole
day. But when Sumati-
ben opened the safe on
Thursday, she discov-
ered the cash missing.
The Kann family found
that one gold necklace
worth Rs45,000 was no-
where to be found. A
theft complaint has
been lodged at Satellite
police station who have
launched an investiga-
tion. In a separate inci-
dent, jeweller Yashwant
Kumar Patel has ac-
cused jewellery worker
Babulal Dangi of rob-
bing him of Rs8.39 lakh
worth of silver. The
complaint was filed at
Khadia police station.
First India News
Gandhinagar: The
state government’s Re-
gional Transport Office
(RTO) recovered Rs340
crore for the violation
of the Motor Vehicles
Act (MVA) in 2019. In
the last two years, it col-
lected penalties to the
tune of Rs686 crore
from transportation ve-
hicles.
Transport Minister
RC Faldu in response to
MLA Shailesh Par-
mar’s question in the
House stated that the
RTO collected fines to-
talling Rs346 crore in
2018, and Rs340 crore in
2019.
When asked specifi-
callyabouttheMehsana
district, Faldu replied,
“In 2019, recovery of
Rs4 crore was made and
the number stood at
Rs1.71 crore in 2018.
Therefore, in the last
two years alone, the
RTO has recovered
Rs5.71 crore for viola-
tions of the Motor Vehi-
cles Act in Mehsana
district alone.”
In Bardoli, the state
RTO department de-
tained 157 vehicles and
recovered a total fine
amount of Rs43 lakh
from transport vehicles
last year.
First India News
Ahmedabad: Over the
past two years, officials
from the Weights and
Measures (W&M) de-
partment has caught 691
merchants red-handed
in 31 districts. However,
they have not filed a sin-
gle police case against
any of these offenders,
according to informa-
tion revealed in the
House during Friday’s
Assembly session.
Congress MLAs had
raisedthequestionof ir-
regularities found dur-
ing W&M raids.
The House admitted
that many merchants
found charging prices
that were higher than
the maximum retail
price (MRP) printed on
thepackingof anumber
of goods. In all, a total of
691 units were fined a
total of Rs16.85 lakh for
charging more than the
MRP. Ahmedabad ac-
counted for the highest
number of these cas-
es–82–and fines amount-
ing to Rs2.16 lakh in the
last two years. Jayesh
Radadiya, minister for
food, civil supplies &
consumer affairs minis-
ter, informed the House
that the fees levied by
the department were
taken as settlement fees.
The opposition al-
leged that this practice
promotes corruption.
“By not filing police
complaints, and only
levying nominal fines
rather than hefty ones,
the BJP government is
encouraging malprac-
tice among dishonest
merchants. They do not
want to punish the cul-
prits,” said Manish
Doshi, chief spokesper-
son of the Gujarat Con-
gress. “Basically, by not
implementing the rules,
the BJP government en-
courages dishonest mer-
chants and is doing in-
justice to the honest
ones.”
2 thefts reported
in state capital
Weights and Measures dept notes
691 offences,files 0 complaints
State recovered
`340 cr as penalty
By not filing police complaints, and
only levying nominal fines rather
than hefty ones, the BJP govern-
ment is encouraging malpractice among
dishonest merchants. They do not want to
punish the culprits.
—Manish Doshi, Chief spokesperson, GPCC
An authorized mask manufacturing unit in the outskirts of Ahmedabad. —PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE
50% drop in foreign tourists

G Vol 1 G Issue No. 107 G RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.
Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor: Jagdeesh Chandra, Resident Editor : Darshan Desai, responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
PERSPECTIVEAHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
PEOPLE’S HEALTH
PREVAILS OVER
CRICKET MANIA
fter days of speculation on will
BCCI, or will it not, postpone the
13th edition of Indian Premier
League over Covid-19 fears, it has
been finally decided to reschedule
thecricketingextravaganza.Instead of March
29, it will now be played from April 15 provid-
ed the novel Coronavirus dies out or is con-
tained. The first match was due to be played at
Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium. The Board for
Control of Cricket in India had earlier said
that postponement was not on the cards.
Considering that public health is more
important, postponement is definitely a
better option than the league being played
to empty stands as has been planned for
the India-South Africa one-day matches at
Lucknow and Kolkata, or without foreign
players. Sans spectators the franchises would
have lost a huge amount of gate money, the
chances of which were high as Delhi govern-
mentrestrictedthemaximumnumberof spec-
tators at a sporting event to 200, Maharashtra
governmentbannedthesaleof IPLticketsand
Karnataka also thinking of doing the same.
With a host of foreign cricketers play-
ing for different franchises, IPL without
them would have been lackluster and re-
duced to the level of Ranji Trophy match-
es. With the Ministry of External Affairs
rejecting Australian player David Warner’s
visa application and the government’s visa
ban on several countries already in place, in-
dications were that many foreign players’
participation would be in doubt.
“The BCCI is concerned and sensitive
about all its stake-holders and public
health in general and it is taking all neces-
sary steps to ensure that all people related
to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing
experience,” the BCCI said in a statement.
The IPL is not the only sporting event to
have been rescheduled in view of health haz-
ards posed by the Coronavirus which has
made people paranoid despite the World
Health Organisation’s appeal for calm and
precautions. India Open Badminton from
March 24-29 and India Super League final
on March 14 will be played in empty sta-
dia. Organisers have already started the
process of refunding ticket money.
Globally also various sporting events have
beendisruptedbythevirus.America’sNational
Basketball Association suspended games until
further notice after a player tested positive, soc-
cer world cup qualifiers in Brazil and English
Premier League matches have been postponed.
The biggest of them all, the 2020 Olym-
pics, is also under a cloud. The Olympic
flame was lit in Greece amidst lockdown
andif thedreadedviruscontinuestospread
Tokyo may have to take a call on whether
to postpone the event or keep spectators out
of the venue incurring heavy losses.
If that happens, Covid-19 would come to be
described as the biggest disrupter of normal
life in recent memory.
IN-DEPTH
A
merica has
been living on
hubris and bor-
rowed time,
mired in an
orgy of debt, delusion and
dogma. Its stock traders
have, for a decade now, cho-
sen to believe that events
which ordinarily would
have resulted in losses are
in fact causes for celebra-
tion in a marketplace that
has defied logic and gravi-
ty. The optical illusion is in
the process of ending.
Along the way, underly-
ing totems of bullish faith
have kept the party rolling.
These include the assump-
tion that the Federal Re-
serve will always do what
it takes to alleviate pro-
found market stress by cut-
ting interest rates and, in
the post-Great Recession
years, providing mone-
tary stimulus by means
of quantitative easing,
referred to as either the
Greenspan, Bernanke,
Yellen or Powell “put.”
In short, their actions
have comprised the belief
that the Fed will come to
the rescue during times of
extreme market stress. For
stock traders, the trope
has been: No need to
worry, the Fed will al-
ways be there to take the
buck, so load up on risk
because there is a floor
to any downside. More to
the point, the Fed will keep
the bull market in stocks
on its perpetual and seem-
ingly never-ending upward
trajectory.
FALL FROM GRACE
Nothing could interrupt
the perpetual bull market,
stock investors apparent-
ly believed, until a conflu-
ence of events — a global
pandemic, an oil price
war, a delusional presi-
dent and idiocy run amok
combined to smack Amer-
icans up-side the head
with a two-by-four. As the
world’s financial ba-
rometer, will even that
be enough to inspire
America’s market-mak-
ing stock traders and
algorithms to change
their ways?
As the global stock mar-
kets now endure their in-
evitable fall from grace,
irresponsible and amoral
money managers contin-
ue to tell their clients to
hold their portfolios in
place and ride the roller
coaster down, beating the
drum to continue invest-
ing in stocks that have a
long way to go before they
hit bottom. Greed and
hubris are alive and
well as the investment
industry proves, yet
again, that it has
learned nothing from
the Great Recession or
the series of other glob-
al financial catastro-
phes that took place in
the 20th century.
The trajectory toward
negative interest rates
merely inspires the in-
vestment community to
identify new ways to keep
the plates spinning. For
fast money traders, nega-
tive interest rates will be
another sure-fire winner.
They can make a lot on
money in a negative inter-
est rate environment
thanks to the duration
sensitivity of bond prices,
as long as they treat bonds
as a short-term upside
play.
Meanwhile, the
Trump administration
has had three months’
notice to order tens of
millions of test kits,
educate the public and
put mechanisms in
place to address the in-
evitable spread of COV-
ID-19 on America’s
shores. Since the out-
break began in China in
December last year, the
Trump administration
has mostly just sat on its
hands in collective denial.
This would be unforgiv-
able in most other coun-
tries and would cause ex-
isting governments to col-
lapse. In America, it mere-
ly serves to enhance the
political divide.
FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO
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Will Corona break the financial market’s Hubris?
A
THE FED WILL
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TOP TWEET
Shashi Tharoor
@ShashiTharoor
Welcome the belated release of
Dr Farooq Abdullah. I hope he will
soon resume his rightful place on
the front bench of the Lok Sabha,
where he can address with his usual
compelling vigour the issues facing
his state & the state of the nation.
His detention was a disgrace.
here is this tale about the wise
man and the fool. The wise man
does at once what the fool does
finally, said Niccolo Machiavel-
li, the father of modern politi-
cal philosophy and science.
Whether Jyotiraditya Scind-
ia is the wise man and Congress
a fool is best left for posterity to
decipher but current facts bode
a different political script.
This is not about Jyotira-
ditya Scindia who took 18
benefit-filled years to realise
that the grass on the BJP
side was greener. Nor is it
about the fall of Kamal Nath-
led Congress government or
the consequential rise of a
possible BJP equivalent in
Madhya Pradesh. Again, it is
also not about the political en-
gineering genius of Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi and his
party chief turned home min-
ister Amit Shah. This is about
the Indian National Congress.
In a canvass that spans centu-
ries many ‘Jyotis’ lighted up
and extinguished. Even father
Madhavrao left Congress and
returned to the fold for explora-
tionisthebirthrightof humans
so this too. The list is long.
ThefactisthattheJanSangh-
BJP-like most other parties - is
born out of the Congress gene
pool, Shyama Mukherjee and
all. But the rise of the Narendra
Modi -Amit Shah led BJP to na-
tional domination post
-2014 seeks a one point RSS
agenda.Congress must die for
the extreme right to build a
new national narrative. If it
involves denuding the Con-
gress of its bark and branch-
es so be it. Jyotiraditya is one
of many, poached nationwide
as part of this strategy.
Congress, in whatever form
it may be, is central to India. It
is the liberal-centrist forma-
tion that must lock horns with
the rightist BJP. It can bank on
the emerging left for grudging
support even as regional forces
prevaricate. These may be the
NCP-Shiv Sena in Maharash-
tra or the JMM in Jharkhand
who has chosen to go along
with the Congress. But if it
fails in this task the Con-
gress will be wiped out.
The Congress, however,
seems lost in the political
woods. It is teetering on the
brink because of its prolonged
indecisiveness caused by differ-
ences. Not within the party but
within the Nehru-Gandhi fam-
ily. An electoral debacle in 2019
saw Rahul Gandhi quit as party
chief but sister Priyanka seen
as a successor kept playing
wing-side but avoided centre-
play, creating confusion, the ag-
ing, and not-to-well Sonia Gan-
dhi took charge only to accentu-
ate the slide. Why? There is a
tussle going on within
the Congress between the
old guards who want to safe-
guard their citadels and the
young who would like to
forge a new path and take on
the Modi establishment
head-on. The day Rahul quit,
this young guard was orphaned
and the oldies ensured a clear
playingfieldfortheirilk-Kamal
Nath in MP and Ashok Gehlot
inRajasthantothedetrimentof
Jyotiraditya and Sachin Pilot.
As in individuals so in po-
litical parties age must give
way to youth but the old
guard surrounding Sonia
Gandhi is a coterie out to
scuttle what she most wants
- a place for Rahul under the
sun. This coterie has worked
overtime to disband, even dis-
perse all Rahul Gandhi favour-
ites.Thissamemodelplayedout
in other states of the country.
Jyotiradityaisjustoneexample.
Modi is a clear-headed,
calculating foe. He wants
and works to take the Con-
gress apart brick by brick.
And India’s sole stakeholder of
the independence struggle is
steadily sinking into a Modi
muddied quagmire, yet reluc-
tant to even raise its head and
even look around.
Congress needs to go no
further than Indira Gandhi
in lessons of revitalizing
their party. In fact, Rahul
began in right earnest, when
he started rebuilding the
moribund youth congress
through membership drives
and grassroots elections.
The impact was clearly visible
but the experiment fell by the
wayside when the old guard by-
passed the youth in ticket allot-
ment during the ensuing lok
sabha elections.
This was unlike Indira Gan-
dhi. Her leadership was deci-
sive. On numerous occasions,
Indira walked straight into for-
midable resistance by the old
guards led by the likes of
Morarji Desai, Nijalingappa,
Atulya Ghosh( the Congresso
or Syndicate Congress) as it
came to be known. Every time
she took on the old guard, she
created a new team. Written
off, every time there was a set-
back, she came riding back to
power after decimating her op-
ponents with a youthful team.
The loss of power in 2014 was
a classic opportunity for the
Congress to rebuild its organi-
zation. Rahul’s earnestness
paid dividends in Gujarat
Assembly elections in 2017
when the Congress scared
the daylights out of the rul-
ing BJP bringing it’s tally
down to less than 100 in a
182 member house but the
advantage was subsequently
frittered away after Rahul
relinquished charge.
Decisiveyouth-ledleadership
is the need of the hour for Con-
gress. It is still not too late to
rebuild the party from scratch,
whatever time it takes, more in
keeping with the aspirations of
a young India. Take a leaf out
of Indira Gandhi’s political
book and get to work. It can’t get
any worse, so no harm in clear-
ing all the old obstructions and
goingbacktothedrawingboard
with a new team to fashion a
new party. If you don’t, you per-
ish. India needs a strong and
vibrant Congress with its old
value system as a counterfoil
to the BJP.
And for those who left- and
there were many- they are best
forgotten. Those who go out
journeying on an ass, cannot
come back riding a horse!
Story is not Jyotiraditya, it is
Congress’ existential crisis
T
Congress,
however, seems
lost in the
political woods.
It is teetering
on the brink
because of its
prolonged
indecisiveness
caused by
differences. Not
within the
party but
within the
Nehru-Gandhi
family
RK
MISRA
The author is a veteran
journalist

New Delhi: Days after
senior Congress lead-
er Jyotiraditya Scind-
ia joined the BJP, his
former party on Fri-
day insisted that there
no “brain drain” in
the party and young
leaders will be “at-
tended to” and given
responsible positions
going forward.
“I do not think that
there is any brain
drain happening in the
Congress party as Ra-
hul Gandhi himself
answered vis-a- vis Jy-
otiraditya Scindia yes-
terday,” Surjewala
said at a party press
conference.
“Even if a person
leaves the Congress
party, we are all deeply
hurt. However, Jyotira-
ditya ji or any other
person needs to think
whether their core ide-
ology is far more im-
portant than the tempo-
rary allure of a post
and a position in pow-
er,” he said.
Asked about a possi-
ble “brain drain” in the
party Mr Surjewala
said, “The younger lot
or the younger leaders
whom you are referring
to have more than ade-
quate place in the party.
They will be attended to
and given responsible
positions. Some of them
have already been given
so during Rajya Sabha
elections.” —Agencies
INDIAAHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
Bhopal: BJP and Con-
gress MLAs gathered at
Raja Bhoj airport on
Friday after they got to
know that MLAs sup-
porting Jyotiraditya
Scindia were returning
from Bengaluru.
MLAs of both the
parties shouted slogans
and even a scrimmage
was reported.
Twenty two MLAs re-
signed from Congress
soon after Scindia quit
the party. Out of these,
19 were in Bengaluru.
The resignation letters
of all the MLAs were
submitted to Assembly
speaker N.P. Prajapati
by a BJP delegation.
Thirteen of these
MLAs were returning
to Bhopal after Praja-
pati asked them to re-
port. Ministers Tulsi
Silawat, Govind Singh
Rajput, Prabhuram
Choudhry, Imarti Devi,
Pradyumna Singh
Tomar and Mahendra
Singh Sisodia along
with MLAs Hardeep
Singh Dang, Rajyavard-
han Singh, Brajendra
Singh Yadav, Jaspal
Jajji, Suresh Dhakad,
Jaswant Jatav, Santram
Sironia, Munnalal Goy-
al, Ranveer Singh Jatav,
OPS Bhadoria, Kam-
lesh Jatav, Giriraj Dan-
dotiya, Raghuraj
Kansana, Aidalsingh
Kansana, Biasahulal
Singh and Manoj
Chaudhary have quit
after Scindia resigned.
Twenty two MLAs resigned from Congress soon after Scindia quit the party. Out of these, 19 were in Bengaluru
BJP-CONGCLASHATBHOPALAIRPORT
Bhopal: Madhya
Pradesh Parliamenta-
ry Affairs Minister
Govind Singh has
handed a letter to the
Speaker requesting
him not to accept the
resignations of the
MLAs for now. There
was also a suggestion
that the Budget ses-
sion be deferred in
view of the threat of
coronavirus.
The Chhattisgarh as-
sembly session has al-
ready been deferred till
March 23. There have
been no positive cases
of the virus in Madhya
Pradesh so far. —Agencies
Congress
wants MLAs’s
resignations
rejected
‘MP govt stable,
nothing to worry’
Bhopal: Most of the 19
rebel Congress MLAs
from Madhya Pradesh,
including six ministers,
who have been camping
in Bengaluru, are ex-
pected to reach Bhopal
on Friday evening, par-
ty sources said.
After former Union
minister Jyotiraditya
Scindia quit the Con-
gress, 22 party MLAs,
including six minis-
ters - most of them
said to be his support-
ers - resigned from the
assembly earlier this
week, pushing the
Nath government in
major crisis.
Of the 22 rebel MLAs,
19 lawmakers, includ-
ing half a dozen minis-
ters, had e-mailed their
resignation letters to
Governor Lalji Tandon.
"Most of the 19 MLAs
have left Bengaluru
where they were stay-
ing. They will travel by
air and are expected to
reach here," a Scindia
loyalist told the media
reporters.
In view of their ex-
pected arrival, security
at the Bhopal airport
has been beefed up.
The ruling Congress
has alleged that 19 of
the rebel Congress
MLAs, including minis-
ters, have been held
"captive" by the BJP in
a resort in Bengaluru, a
charge denied by the op-
position party. —Agencies
MP Cong MLAs to reach Bhopal
Of the 22 rebel MLAs, 19 lawmakers, including half a dozen ministers, had e-mailed their resignation letters to Governor Lalji Tandon.
Bhopal: Just days af-
ter 22 MLAs resigned
pushing Congress gov-
ernment into crisis,
Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Kamal Nath
on Friday confidently
stated that his govern-
ment is "stable" and
there is nothing to
"worry" about.
The statement from
the CM came just hours
after meeting Gover-
nor Lalji Tandon. Nath
also accused BJP of
horse-trading. "I have
told the Governor how
MLAs are being kept in
captivity in Bengaluru
and how their resigna-
tions are being given to
Speaker by a BJP lead-
er. This is a joke. This is
a conspiracy by BJP.
My government is sta-
ble and there is nothing
to worry out," he said.
When asked to com-
ment on Jyotiraditya
Scindia exiting Con-
gress and joining the
rival BJP, he said, "
Only he can say why he
has gone." —Agencies
Bhopal: Hours after Jy-
otiraditya Scindia
joined Bharatiya Jana-
ta Party (BJP), the Mad-
hya Pradesh Economic
Offences Wing (EOW)
re-opened a six-year-old
forgery case against
him.
The development
came after Jyotiraditya
Scindia, who was a vet-
eran of the Congress
for almost 2 decades,
left the grand old party
and joined the BJP on
Wednesday.
The Madhya Pradesh
Economic Offences
Wing (EOW) has decid-
ed to begin the inquiry
afresh by re-verifica-
tion of facts in a com-
plaint against former
Union Minister Jyotira-
ditya Scindia and his
family, in which they
are accused of falsify-
ing a property docu-
ment while selling land.
Scindia has been ac-
cused of falsifying a
property document
whilesellinglandworth
10,000 crores.
The Madhya Pradesh
EOW has started an in-
vestigation. On Wednes-
day, Scindia joined BJP
in New Delhi in the
presence of party Presi-
dent Nadda. —Agencies
MP EOW reopens forgery case
against Jyotiraditya Scindia
New Delhi: Finance
Minister Nirmala Si-
tharaman on Friday
said the government as
well as the RBI are
"closely monitoring"
the domestic and global
stock markets, which
are facing intense vola-
tility amid mounting
coronavirus fears.
Sitharaman also said
different departments
of the government are
working to provide re-
lief to industry, which
could be severely im-
pacted by the fast-
spreading virus.
"As it is global mar-
kets have all had severe
volatility and we are
also consciously moni-
toring all of them. It is
no consolation to say
that the stock markets
elsewhere have also
suffered. I am con-
scious of that but glob-
ally there is a serious
repercussion felt and
we are conscious of the
developments. Togeth-
er with RBI we are
closely monitoring,"
she told reporters.
After being battered
in the early session,
the BSE Sensex spurt-
ed 1,325.34 points and
the NSE Nifty rose
365.05 points to end in
the green.
Indian markets saw
their biggest intra-day
selloff in early session
on Friday, wiping off
nearly Rs 12 lakh crore
of investor wealth in
less than 20 minutes of
opening trade.
As coronavirus-led
recession fears trig-
gered panic selling
globally, both Sensex
and Nifty plunged
over 10 per cent in the
opening session, hit-
ting their lower
circuit levels.
Stock exchanges
halted trading for 45
minutes. Normal trad-
ing resumed at around
1030 hours.The last cir-
cuit freeze happened in
January 2008.
On coronavirus, the
finance minister said
the Centre is in touch
with the states and has
been continuously mon-
itoring the situation.
It has been made
sure that effective time-
ly steps are taken to
safeguard Indian inter-
ests and also to ensure
that Indians who trav-
elled abroad are tested
and monitored, she
said. Where necessary
and wherever possible,
they are being brought
back to the country,
she added. —Agencies
‘Markets being closely overseen’
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a PI.
Congress’s chief spokesperson
Randeep Surjewala.
New Delhi: The board
of ICICI Bank on Fri-
day approved an in-
vestment of Rs 1,000
crore in Yes Bank via
equity route. ICICI
Bank will acquire 100
crore equity shares of
Yes Bank at Rs 10 per
share, including a pre-
mium of Rs 8 per share.
“This investment is
likely to result in ICICI
Bank holding in excess
of 5 per cent sharehold-
ing in Yes Bank, with
the final shareholding
to be determined based
on the final Scheme of
Reconstruction and
share issuance thereun-
der,” ICICI Bank said.
The announcement
came as the Union Cab-
inet approved Yes
Bank’s restructuring
scheme to safeguard de-
positors’ interest and
ensure a stable finan-
cial banking system.
A day earlier, SBI had
announced an invest-
ment of Rs 7,250 crore
in Yes Bank through the
acquisition of 725 crore
shares at Rs 10 each.
SBI’s shareholding in
Yes Bank after recon-
struction will be within
the 49 per cent limit, it
said in a statement.
RBI had announced a
draft scheme of recon-
struction for the coun-
try’s fourth-largest
lender. The has imposed
a month-long moratori-
um on the bank and re-
stricted withdrawals to
Rs 50,000 per depositor
till April 3. —Agencies
ICICI Bank to invest
`1kcr in Yes Bank
via equity route
‘No ‘brain drain’,
young leaders will
be given positions’
SEC 144 IMPOSED
DELHI ASSEMBLY PASSES
RESOLUTION AGAINST NCR, NPR
New Delhi: The Delhi
Assembly passed a
resolution against NPR
and NRC on Friday. The
resolution “earnestly”
appealed to the Centre to
withdraw and not carry
out the whole exercise
of NRC and NPR “in the
interest of the nation,
particularly when the
economy is witnessing
the worst-ever downslide
and unemployment is
witnessing a terrifying
growth, and with the
threat of the corona
pandemic looming large”.
It also said “should the
Government of India in-
sist on going ahead” with
the exercise, it should
be restricted to carrying
out the NPR only with its
2010 format and no new
fields added to it.
VISTARA IMPOSES TRAVEL BAN
ON KUNAL KAMRA
Mumbai: Full service carrier Vistara said it has
barred stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from tak-
ing its flights till April 27. The decision has been
taken after Kamra was found “guilty” for alleged
misbehaviour by an internal committee of IndiGo.
“Based on the order passed by an internal com-
mittee constituted by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd in
compliance with the respective CAR and follow-
ing due process, we have placed the passenger
on our no-fly list until April 27, 2020,” a Vistara
spokesperson said in a statement.
NCAP ENVISAGES CITY-
SPECIFIC PLANS: JAVADEKAR
New Delhi: The National Clean Air Programme
(NCAP) is meant to ensure that the problem of
pollution is addressed at the local level and cities
have been asked to prepare plans to deal with the
issue, Environment and Forests Minister Prakash
Javadekar said. Javadekar said NCAP envisag-
es drawing city-specific plans. “Every city has
different pollutants and the sources also vary,”
Javadekar said. Replying to another question,
he said water bodies in the country are polluted
because 70 per cent of sewage goes untreated.
ORDINANCE FOR RECOVERY OF
PUBLIC PROPERTIES PASSED
Lucknow: The Uttar
Pradesh cabinet on
Friday approved “UP
Recovery of damage to
public properties Ordi-
nance-2020” for recovery
of losses due to damage
to government and private
properties during political
processions. The decision
in this regard was taken
by a cabinet meeting
chaired by Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath on Friday
evening. “The cabinet has
approved UP Recovery of
damage to public prop-
erties Ordinance-2020
for recovery of losses of
government and private
properties during polit-
ical processions, illegal
agitations,” UP Minister
Suresh Kumar Khanna
told reporters after the
cabinet meeting.
SBI’S INVESTMENT
FM SPEAK
MP POLITICS DRAMA

INDIAAHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
New Delhi: One of the
four death row convicts
in the 2012 Nirbhaya
gang rape and murder
case, Vinay Sharma ap-
proached Delhi HC
claiming that there
were procedural lapses
and “constitutional ir-
regularities” in rejec-
tion of his mercy plea
by President.
The petition on Shar-
ma’s behalf was moved
by his lawyer A P Singh
who said the matter has
been filed.
The plea claims that
recommendation sent to
the President to reject
the mercy plea did not
contain the signature of
Delhi Home Minister
Satyendar Jain. Vinay’s
mercy plea was rejected
on February 1. Accord-
ing to the petition, when
the issue was raised be-
fore SC, the Centre had
contended that Mr
Jain’s signature was ob-
tained on Whatsapp. It
further claims that
when the mercy plea
was moved the model
code of conduct (MCC)
was in force and Jain
was only a MLA candi-
date at that point of
time as polls had been
announced and there-
fore, he could not have
exercised the power of
Home Minister.
“To reject the mercy
petition, the powers
used are illegal, uncon-
stitutional, a miscar-
riage of justice and also
miscarriage of consti-
tutional values of Elec-
tion Commission of In-
dia,” petition said.
Nirbhaya convict moves HC
over rejected mercy plea
Convict Vinay Sharma’s mercy plea was rejected on February 1.
New Delhi: A Delhi
court sent suspended
AAP councillor Tahir
Hussain’s brother, Shah
Alam, and three others
to judicial custody for
14 days for the violence
in New Delhi’s north-
east area.
Besides Alam, Chief
Metropolitan Magis-
trate Pawan Singh Ra-
jawat sent Abid, Rashid
and Shadab to the cus-
tody till March 27.
Hussain’s brother
and others were arrest-
ed by Crime Branch of
on March 9.
“Alam was merely ar-
rested because Tahir is
his brother. There is no
evidence against him,”
advocate Sarfaraz Asif,
who is representing the
four accused, told IANS.
Tahir Hussain is in
the eye of a major con-
troversy for his alleged
involvement in the re-
cent violence in Delhi’’s
northeast area.
Hussain’s
brother sent to
judicial custody
for 14 days
New Delhi: Parlia-
ment on Friday passed
Direct Tax Vivad Se
Vishwas Bill, 2020 with
an aim to settle pend-
ing direct tax disputes
in the country.
The Bill, which will
provide taxpayers a lu-
crative opportunity to
settle direct tax dis-
putes within the cur-
rent financial year by
waiving interest and
penalty on their pend-
ing taxes, was passed by
voice vote and returned
by Rajya Sabha as it
was a money bill.
On March 4, Lok Sab-
ha had passed the Vivad
se Vishwas Bill with
certain amendments.
Moving the Bill, Fi-
nanceMinisterNirmala
Sitharaman said, large
number of appeals re-
lated to tax disputes are
pending at the various
level which are putting
pressure on the tax pay-
ers. She said, this bill
has been brought up
with the objective to set-
tle the tax dispute in an
efficient manner.
Congress member M
V Rajeev Gowda said
that bill has been
brought up in haste
and it provides the op-
portunity of one time
settlement.
He said, unrealistic
target of tax collection
is putting pressure on
the tax payers in the
form of tax terrorism.
Replying to the some
members who had
raised issues on the
bill asking how can the
Central Board of Di-
rect Taxes issue a cir-
cular on the scheme
before passage of the
bill in Parliament, she
said, “There is no
breach of privilege.”
The Minister also
said that the Bill will
give an option to tax
payers for settling dis-
putes. She also said that
the government would
send a circular to states
in all languages for pro-
viding detailed infor-
mation about the bill.
First proposed in Un-
ion Budget 2020, the Bill
was approved by the
Union Cabinet on Feb-
ruary 12. The Vivad se
Vishwas Bill aims to
resolve 4.83 lakh direct
tax cases worth Rs 9.32
lakh crore that are cur-
rently locked up in vari-
ous appellate forums
such as Commissioner
(Appeals), Income Tax
Appellate Tribunal,
High Courts, Supreme
Court and Debt Recov-
ery Tribunals.
Parliament passes Direct Tax
Vivad Se Vishwas Bill 2020
DIPLOMATIC RESHUFFLE ON CARDS
Whispers are that a key diplomatic reshuffle is on
cards in the next six months with new heads of
missions to be appointed in atleast 7 missions.
SINGH FOR CHAIRPERSON, SAIL?
A K Singh, Executive Director, SAIL, is whispered
to be in the race for the post of Chairperson,
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) falling
vacant on January 1, 2021.
ASTHANA STILL HOLDS ADDL CHARGE
Rakesh Asthana, DG, BCAS, will continue holding
an additional charge of Director General, Narcot-
ics Control Bureau (NCB) till the appointment of a
regular incumbent. He is a 1984 batch IPS officer
of Gujarat cadre.
CEO BHARATHI MAY GET EXTENSION
While rumours are still floating around that Mrs P
V Bharati, MD & CEO of Corporation Bank could
be moved to Union Bank of India Board, whispers
are that she may be offered an extension as MD
& CEO of Corporation Bank beyond March 31,
2020 as a special case as the Bank would be in
the midst of the merger with Union Bank of In-
dia—the date she is retiring. However, the tenure
of extension in not known.
SETTY AS NOMINEE ON YES BANK?
Whispers are that SBI Managing Director C S
Setty could be sent to YES Bank as SBI’s Nominee
because as DMD with SBI, he was In-charge of
Stressed Assets Group and has sizeable experience.
WILL RBI MOVE MAHAPATRA
TO YES BANK?
There is a curious case of Syndicate Bank MD &
CEO Mritunjoy Mahapatra whose name was in
circulation previously as ‘being moved to RBI’
but whispers are that the RBI may move him as
Additional Director in YES Bank.
SHIVALLI MAY RETURN TO PARENT
CADRE IN APRIL
Dr Shivalli M Chauhan presently on deputation as
Director in the Expenditure is expected to return
to parent cadre in the first week of April. Dr Chau-
han is a 1997 batch IDAS officer.
SAXENA TO BE POSTED IN IROAF
Sudhir Kumar Saxena on his return from depu-
tation to RITES is being posted as CAO (Energy
Management) at Indian Railway Organization for
Alternate Fuels. He is an IRSEE officer.
KUNDU MADE ADDL CS, FISHERIES,
Varinder Singh Kundu, Additional Chief Secretary,
Printing and Stationery, Haryana has been posted
as Additional Chief Secretary, Fisheries Depart-
ment, Govt of Haryana.He is an IAS officer of
Haryana cadre of 1986 batch.
GULATI MADE ADDL CS, PRINTING &
STATIONERY, HARYANA
Sunil Kumar Gulati, Chairman , Haryana Minerals
Ltd has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary,
Printing and Stationery, Govt of Haryana.He is an
IAS officer of Haryana cadre of 1984 batch.
QAMAR RELIEVED TO JOIN MOSPI
Tanweer Qamar Mohammad has been relieved to
join as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Statistics &
Programme Implementation. He is a 1994 batch
officer of Indian Postal Service.
3 IAS OFFICERS SHIFTED IN MAHA
Ranjit Kumar has been posted as Project Direc-
tor, Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society,
Mumbai, while Mrs Shweta Singhal was posted
as Deputy Secretary to the Governor, Rajbhawan,
Mumbai and A W Kakade is Managing Director,
SARATHI, Pune in Maharashtra.
KUMAR RECOMMENDED FOR CEO
State Bank of India has recommended Prashant
Kumar as new CEO of YES Bank.
RAGHAVENDRA VATSA PROMOTED
Raghavendra Vatsa, SP, CBI, has been promoted
as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He is a 2005 batch
IPS officer of Gujarat cadre.
RAUT PROMOTED AS DIG, CBI
Sharda Raut, SP, CBI, has been promoted as
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI). He is a 2005 batch IPS
officer of Maharashtra cadre.
MOHD SUVEZ HAQUE PROMOTED
Mohd Suvez Haque, SP, CBI, has been promoted
as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Central
IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre.
PREM KUMAR GAUTAM PROMOTED
Prem Kumar Gautam, SP, CBI, has been promot-
ed as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Central
IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
POWERGallery
NOT CONG, MODI GOVT GAVE TRUE
MEANING TO SECULARISM: BJP
New Delhi: BJP General
Secretary Bhupendra
Yadav has said not the
Congress, but the Naren-
dra Modi government has
given a true meaning to
the concept of secularism
in the country. Taking a
dig at Congress in RS,
Yadav said: “Congress
has always misinterpreted
secularism. Congress
is trying to become the
champion of secularism
by standing with the Shiv
Sena and the Muslim
League But Narendra
Modi’s government has
given true meaning to the
concept of secularism in
the country. Our secu-
larism is “Sabka Saath’’
Everybody’’s development
and everyone’’s faith. We
will move forward with
this brand of secularism”.
YOGI TO OVERSEE SHIFTING OF
RAM IDOL IN AYODHYA
Ayodhya: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Ad-
ityanath will participate in the rituals for shifting
of the Ram Lalla statue to the new makeshift
structure on March 25, which will also mark the
beginning of “Navratri’’. The Ram Lalla statue will
be shifted to a specially constructed structure
in Manas Bhavan to pave the way for the con-
struction of the grand Ram temple. According to
sources, Adityanath will reach Ayodhya on the
evening of March 24 and will offer prayers as
soon as the deity is installed in the new structure.
4G INTERNET WILL BE RESTORED IN
J&K TONIGHT: OFFICIALS
Srinagar: The J&K Union
Territory administration
on Friday said the high
speed 4G Internet ser-
vices would be restored
by later in the day evening
so that people of the
Valley can sit inside their
homes, thereby effectively
containing the global
pandemic COVID-19.
Talking to Radio Kashmir
government spokesper-
son Rohit Kansal said
the decision was taken in
a high level meeting on
late on Thursday chaired
by Lieutenant Governor
GM Murmu in Jammu.
“We thought of imposing
curfew but that won’t
keep people at home in
this part of the world.
Best is to give them 4G
speed internet,” Murmu
informed the reporters.
Mumbai: With seven
candidates, including
two women, in the fray
for the seven Rajya Sab-
ha seats in Maharash-
tra, the stage is set for
all getting elected unop-
posed, on the last day of
filing nominations, on
Friday.
Among the promi-
nent leaders who have
filed their nominations
are NCP President
Sharad Pawar, RPI (A)
President and Union
Minister Ramdas Atha-
waleandBJP’sChhatra-
pati Udayan Raje Bho-
sale. The others include
Shiv Sena’s Priyanka
Chaturvedi, who had
quit the Congress last
year, AICC General Sec-
retary and Congress
leader Rajiv Satav,
BJP’s Bhagwat Karad
andNCP’sFauziaKhan.
On the final day of fil-
ing nominations, only
seven candidates re-
mained the fray, the
scrutiny will take place
on March 16 and the last
date for withdrawals is
March 18, paving the
way for all the nomi-
nees getting elected
without a contest.
The retiring mem-
bers are NCP’s Pawar
and Majeed Memon,
Congress’ Hussain
Dalwai, Sena’s Rajku-
mar Dhoot, BJP’s
Amar Sable and BJP-
supported independ-
ent Sanjay Kakade.
Both the ruling MVA
of Sena-NCP-Congress
and Opposition BJP
are contesting as per
their respective
strength in the
288-member assembly.
The requisite num-
ber for a RS seat is 37
votes and with the cur-
rent party positions in
the state, Sena and Con-
gress will get one each,
NCP two and the BJP
will get three, including
Athawale who is sup-
ported by the party.
Maharashtra: 7 RS
candidates set to be
elected unopposed
IN THE COURTYARD
BJP ISSUES WHIP
SCINDIA IN RACE
New Delhi: The
Union Cabinet
chaired by PM Modi
on Friday approved a
four per cent hike in
dearness allowance
(DA) for central gov-
ernment employees.
“The Union Cabi-
net has approved four
per cent hike in dear-
ness allowance for
central government
employees,” I&b Min-
ister Prakash
Javadekar said.
The Cabinet ap-
proved an increase of
four per cent DA to
Central Government
employees and Dear-
nessRelief (DR)topen-
sioners with effect
from January 1, 2020.
This is over the exist-
ing rate of 17% of the
Basic Pay/Pension.
DA for Central govt workers hiked
COURT SENTENCES SENGAR,
6 OTHERS TO 10-YEAR JAIL
New Delhi: Tis Hazari Court on Friday sentenced
expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and six
others to 10 years imprisonment for the death of
Unnao rape survivor’s father. Sengar is already
serving life imprisonment for raping the minor.
District Judge Dharmesh Sharma said, “There can
be no denying that rule of law was broken. Sengar
was a public functionary and had to maintain the
rule of law. The way the crime has been committed,
it does not call for leniency.” Sengar and his brother
Atul has been directed to give 10 lakh compensation
to family of the victim for loss of their father. “There
are four minor children involved, three girls and
one boy. They have also been uprooted from native
place,” the judge said. Seven people, including
Sengar, his brother and two police personnel, were
held guilty for culpable homicide and criminal con-
spiracy, earlier this month. The case pertains to the
death of rape survivor’s father in custody on April 9,
2018. It was alleged that he was assaulted following
a quarrel with some of the accused in the case. He
was taken to the police station and then framed for
allegedly possessing an illegal firearm. He was sent
to custodial remand, during which he died.

New Delhi: Top shut-
tlers from across the
world have hit out at
the Badminton World
Federation (BWF) for
taking the novel coro-
navirus outbreak ‘too
lightly’ and putting
them at ‘risk’ by going
ahead with its interna-
tional tournaments.
The coronavirus out-
break, declared a pan-
demic by the World
Health Organisation
(WHO) on Wednesday,
has led to nearly 5000
deaths globally.
It has also badly af-
fected the sporting cal-
ender with several
events across the world
being either postponed
or cancelled.
International stars,
including London
Olympics bronze med-
allist Saina Nehwal,
former World No 1 Kid-
ambi Srikanth and ex-
top 10 players Hans-
Kristian Vittinghus,
Paruapalli Kashyap
and Jan O Jorgensen
expressed their con-
cerns and asked the
BWF to suspend all its
upcoming tourna-
ments.
“I honestly don’t get
it! We should not be
travelling the world
playing badminton,”
Denmark’s Vittinghus,
a former World No. 8,
said in a post which he
has shared on his social
media accounts.
He urged the BWF to
follow other sporting
federations in suspend-
ing the events. —PTI
BWF has continued hosting tournaments
around the world despite the coronavirus
outbreak that has affected world sports
SPORTSAHMEDABAD | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
Kane tests negative
for COVID-19
Sydney: Australian fast
bowler Kane Richard-
son was on Friday
cleared of coronavirus
after his tests returned
negative, Cricket Aus-
tralia said. The right-
arm pacer, who re-
turned with the Aus-
tralian team from South
Africa earlier this
week, had informed the
medical staff of a sore
throat on Thursday and
was then sent for a pre-
cautionary COVID-19
testing. However, Rich-
ardson’s coronavirus
test returned negative
and he was on his way
to the Sydney cricket
ground where the first
ODI against New Zea-
land is taking place.
Man Utd beat LASK
in Europa League
Paris: Manchester
United won 5-0 at LASK
Linz behind closed
doors in the first leg of
their Europa League
last-16 tie, in a competi-
tion thrown into chaos
as a result of the coro-
navirus pandemic. Odi-
on Ighalo slammed
home the opener via the
underside of the bar
from 20 yards just be-
fore the half-hour, and
Daniel James added a
second with a sharp
run and finish just be-
fore the hour mark.
Juan Mata bagged a
third eight minutes
from the end and Mason
Greenwood and Andre-
as Pereira struck in in-
jury time, as United ex-
tended their unbeaten
run to 11 matches, with
nine clean sheets in
that time.
Aus defeat NZ by
71 runs in 1st ODI
Sydney: A spirited per-
formance guided Aus-
tralia to defeat New
Zealand by 71 runs in
the first ODI at Sydney
Cricket Ground here on
Friday. Chasing a mod-
erate target of 259, the
hosts bundled out the
Kiwis at 187 in 41 overs.
The match was played
at an empty stadium as
a precautionary meas-
ure amidst coronavirus
outbreak. Pacer Pat
Cummins and Mitchell
Marsh bagged three
wickets each while Josh
Hazlewood and Adam
Zampa scalped two
wickets each.
Mudit off to flying
start at Oman Open
Muscat: Indian pad-
dler Mudit Dani regis-
tered a 4-0 win to begin
his campaign on a high
note at the 2020 ITTF
Challenger Plus Oman
Open here on Friday.
Mudit Dani looked
dominating during his
convincing 11-6, 11-2,
11-5, 11-4 victory
against Oman’s Asad
Alraisi in the men’s
singles round-of-64
match. He will now
face Portugal’s Marcos
Freitas in the round-
of-32. Another Indian
player Manush Shah
also made his way into
the round-of-32 with a
4-1 win.
BRIEF
in
Tokyo: Japan is on
track to hold the Tokyo
2020 Olympic Games as
planned, top govern-
ment spokesman Yoshi-
hide Suga said on Fri-
day, after US President
Donald Trump suggest-
ed a possible delay of a
year.
“I am aware of Presi-
dent Trump’s com-
ments, but we are work-
ing closely with the
IOC, the organising
committee, and Tokyo
in preparing for the
Games as planned,”
Suga told reporters.
TrumpsaidonThurs-
day that officials should
consider delaying the
Games for a year amid
the coronavirus pan-
demic, saying the sum-
mer event would not be
the same without spec-
tators.
In a Friday phone call
between Trump and
Japanese PM Shinzo
Abe, the two leaders did
not discuss postponing
the Tokyo Games or
holding them without
spectators, senior gov-
ernment spokesman
Naoki Okada said. “The
prime minister said
firmly that he wanted to
win the battle with cor-
onavirus and make this
summer’s Olympics a
success,” Okada told a
media briefing follow-
ing the phone talks.
“President Trump said
he thought highly of
the effort.”
The two leaders did
not talk about travel re-
strictions between Ja-
pan and the US, Okada
said. —Agencies
Japan says Tokyo Olympics 2020 stays on track
DESPITE TRUMP’S SUGGESTION TO POSTPONE
Mumbai: The Board of
Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) on Friday
decided to postpone the
IPL to April 15, 2020, as
a precautionary meas-
ure against the ongoing
COVID-19 situation.
There was specula-
tion as to what the
board will decide
amidst the ongoing cor-
onavirus scare, and fi-
nally postponing the
tournament came up as
the solution. “The BCCI
is concerned and sensi-
tive about all its stake-
holders, and public
health in general, and it
is taking all necessary
steps to ensure that, all
people related to IPL in-
cluding fans have a safe
cricketing experience,”
the BCCI said in an of-
ficial statement.
The board has also
assured that it will
work in unison with the
Sports Ministry and
will adhere to the guide-
lines issued.
Earlier in the day,
Delhi’s Deputy CM
Manish Sisodia an-
nounced that all sport-
ing activities, including
the IPL, attracting a
large crowd turnout
have been banned
amidst the coronavirus
outbreak.
“Sports activities,
seminars, conferences,
we have decided to shut
them. No sports event
including IPL would be
allowed in Delhi until
the next order. Corona-
virus is spreading, we
have decided to main-
tain social distance, IPL
is a big event, many peo-
ple come from various
corners, I would also
like to appeal to the peo-
ple,” Deputy CM Delhi,
Sisodia, told.
Amidst coronavirus
fears, the cricketing
board had mainly two
options-- either post-
pone IPL or play it be-
hind closed doors.
The Central govern-
ment has suspended all
visas to India till April
15 as part of measures
to contain the spread of
the pandemic. If the
board decided to go on
with the tournament as
planned, then the avail-
ability of foreign play-
ers would have been in
doubt.
The 13th edition of
IPL was scheduled to
commence from March
29, with Mumbai Indi-
ans and Chennai Super
Kings meeting at the
Wankhede Stadium in
Mumbai for the first
match.
World Health Organi-
sation (WHO) on
Wednesday had de-
clared the coronavirus
outbreak a ‘pandemic’
and expressed deep con-
cern.
The coronavirus dis-
ease was first detected
in Wuhan in China’s
Hubei province, in late
December, and has
since spread worldwide.
—ANI
IPL POSTPONED TO APRIL 15 DUE TO CORONA THREAT
‘BWF putting players at risk,
taking things too lightly’
First India News
Rajkot: Skipper Jaydev
Unadkat on Friday pro-
duced a lion-hearted
spell when it mattered
the most against Ben-
gal, leading Saurashtra
to their maiden Ranji
Trophy triumph a year
after stumbling at the
last hurdle. The win
was achieved on the ba-
sis of first-innings lead.
Bengal had the upper
hand going into day five
after Anustup Majum-
dar (63) and Arnab Nan-
di (40 not out) shared an
unbeaten 91-run stand
in the final session
Thursday.
But Unadkat rose to
the occasion yet again
to script a historic vic-
tory. The left-arm pacer
had the in-form Majum-
dar LBW and Akash
Deep run out in a space
of three balls to turn
the game on its head.
Unadkat ended as the
season’s leading wicket-
taker with 67 scalps at a
staggering average of
13.23, one short of an
all-time record.
The morning session
yielded 27 runs and four
wickets with Bengal all
out for 381, giving Sau-
rashtra a 44-run first
innings lead. Bengal
needed 72 runs with
four wickets in hands.
In the second in-
nings, all Saurashtra
had to do was to bat out
the remaining time be-
fore both captains de-
cided to call off the
game and shake hands.
They eventually did
that after Saurashtra
sauntered 105 for three
in 34 overs.
With the win, Sau-
rashtra ended their
Ranji title drought
while a fighting Bengal
will have to wait longer
for their first crown
since the 1989-90 season.
Unadkat fires Saurashtra to
maiden Ranji Trophy title
India-SA series called off due to COVID-19
New Delhi: The two re-
maining ODIs between
India and South Africa
in Lucknow and Kolka-
ta were on Friday called
off owing to the COV-
ID-19 threat as the coun-
try’s sports calendar
continued to go haywire
because of the global
pandemic.
“With the Indian Pre-
mier League being post-
poned, it only made
sense that at this point
of time, this series is
also called off. The
country is facing a seri-
ous pandemic,” a top
BCCI official said.
The first ODI be-
tween the two sides in
Dharamsala was
washed out. Both the
sides had reached Luc-
know on Friday.
“The South African
team will come to Delhi
and leave by taking at
the earliest available
flight,” he added.
The matches were
earlier planned to be
held behind closed
doors due to the govern-
ment directive, which
asked for sporting
events to be shut for
fans in view of the pan-
demic.
India has recorded
more than 80 positive
cases so far with the
global infected count
standing at over 100,000
patients. —ANI
JaydevUnadkat
rosetothe
occasionyet
againtoscripta
historicvictory
Ketan Joshi
Ahmedabad: Table
Tennis in Gujarat en-
tered a new para-
digm when Gujarat
State Table Tennis
Association (GSTTA)
launched it’s GSL on
Friday at Mahatma
Gandhi Labour Insti-
tute Ahmedabad.
GSTTA president Vi-
pul Mittra, IAS an-
nounced franchises,
date and venue of
GSL Season 1.
The Season 1 will
be a four-day event
scheduled in Surat in
May will feature five
teams. The teams are
Bhayani Star, Ka-
taria Kings, Multi-
met Marvels, Shamal
Squad and Tapti Ti-
gers. The League has
official sanction of
GSTTA and TTFI and
was borne out by the
dignitaries on the
dais – GSTTA presi-
dent Vipul Mittra,
GSTTA honorary
secretary and TTFI
v i c e - p r e s i d e n t
Haresh Sangtani,
GSTTA treasurer
Amit Choksi, GSTTA
selector Pathik Me-
hta and GSTTA
chairman media
committee Kushal
Sangtani.
Guj Super League
Table Tennis’s 5
teams announced
Saina Nehwal
Paruapalli Kashyap
Kidambi Srikanth

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