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CORONA
C UNT
CASES DEATHS
(+21,603) (+473)
7,19,449 20,174
covid19india.org
STATE GOVERNMENT BULLETINS
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TN: 1,14,978 1,571
WORLD CONFIRMED CASES
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worldometers.info
Girl burnt to death
near Tiruchy
R. VALAYAPATHY | DC
TIRUCHY, JULY 6
A teenaged girl was allegedly
burnt to death under mysterious
circumstances at Athavathur
Palayam village under
Somarasampettai police limits
near Tiruchy on Monday.
Police said the victim,
Gangadevi (14) was daughter of
Periyasamy of the same village,
studying in ninth standard in a
government school in that area.
She was playing near her house
along with friends. She went to
attend nature’s call in a nearby
field where there were a lot of
bushes.Since she did not return
after a long time, her mother
Maheswari went to search for
her daughter inside the field and
found her halfly burnt to death.
Upon information police rushed
to the spot and shifted the vic-
tim's body to Mahatma Gandhi
memorial government hospital
here for post-mortem.
Tiruchy Superintendent of Police
Ziaul Haque and DSP Gokila vis-
ited the spot and deployed a
sniffer dog at the crime spot.
POINT
COUNTER
CBI books Chennai-based firm, its directors for cheating SBI
New Delhi, July 6: The CBI
has booked Chennai-based
Thangam Steels Ltd and its
promoter directors for
allegedly cheating the State
Bank of India to the tune of
over `88 crore, officials said
on Monday.
Besides the 30-year old com-
pany manufacturing ingots,
the CBI has also named in the
FIR its directors PS
Krishnamurthy, PK
Vadiambal and PK
Srinivasan for alleged crimi-
nal conspiracy, cheating and
forgery among other charges
for the alleged fraud between
2008-13 on a complaint from
SBI, they said.
It is alleged that Thangam
deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle
India-China: Breakthrough seen
PROPOSED 3-SUBJECTS SYSTEM DROPPED
4-core subjects scheme
back for plus-2 study
after Doval talks to Wang Yi
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
Buckling to pressure
from the public, parents,
teachers and the media,
the Tamil Nadu govern-
ment restored the sche-
me to study four core sub-
jects in higher secondary
classes on Monday by ca-
ncelling its earlier order
introducing a three-sub-
ject scheme from the aca-
demic year 2020-21.
A government order on
Monday said the GO
dated September 18, 2019,
on adopting the three-
subject system for Higher
Secondary Education was
issued with a view to
reducing the stress and
fear of higher education
among the students and
to improve their job
opportunities from the
academic year 2020-21.
Free rice supply
till November
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
Free supply of rice
would continue till
November for ration
card holders, who would
be supplied the same
quantity that they had
been given in the months
of April, May, June and
July, Tamil Nadu minis-
ter for food and civil sup-
plies, R Kamaraj, said on
Monday.
Now that it has been
ordered that dhal, oil
and sugar would also be
supplied free of cost to
cardholders in July, for
those who paid for
TN virus tally touches nearly
1.15 lakh cases, daily count dips
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
The lifting of the total lock-
down after 18 days saw the
arterial roads of Chennai
flooded with vehicles and
people coming out in large
numbers on Monday when
the number of new infec-
tions all over the State was
at 3.827 and the day’s death
figure standing at 61.
Health minister C.
Vijayabaskar said the total
lockdown was helpful in the
government’s effort to con-
trol the spread of the coron-
avirus with the members of
the public extending cooper-
ation to the authorities.
He said that spread had
come under control and
urged the people not to fear
over the death figures.
Almost all the people who
succumbed to Covid-19 had
co-morbidities, he said.
Steel was acquired by PSK
group in 2007, they said.
Besides manufacturing
ingots at its plant near
Chennai, it also traded in
steel products of manufactur-
ers like Rashtriya Ispat
Nigam Ltd, Steel Authority of
India Ltd, JSW, Essar Steels also executed guarantee
and other producers, the FIR agreement in favour of the
said. bank guaranteeing prompt
Due to continued irregulari- repayment of the loan.
ty, the account turned into a
Non-Performing Asset (NPA) accounts became NPA due to
on May 30, 2013 with an out- diversion and siphoning off
standing of `93.31 crore, the funds, manipulation in the
FIR alleged. books of accounts resulting in
SBI had sanctioned fund a loss to the tune of `88.27
based and non fund based crore to the bank.
limits of `109 crore to the
directors of the company who tion on the fraud between
STATE | 3
Tamil scholar Mannar
Mannan passes away
● A government order on Monday said the GO
dated September 18, 2019, on adopting the
three-subject system for Higher Secondary
Education was issued with a view to reducing
the stress and fear of higher education among
the students and to improve their job opportuni-
ties from the academic year 2020-21
However, the school
education department
had requested to restore
to the old system of four
subjects as demands were
raised by the public, par-
ents and teachers
through newspapers to
not change the existing
pattern of study as the
proposed scheme would
bring down the opportu-
nities for higher educa-
tion and jobs.
Reacting to the restora-
tion of the old system,
DMK president MK Stalin
said that he welcomed the
withdrawal of the order
essentials like dhal, oil
and sugar before the
order was passed, ie
between July 1 and 3,
the amount would be
adjusted in the August
supply, an official press
release said.
Those cardholders
would receive SMS on
the amount that would
be adjusted in the next
purchase and the details
would be registered in
the vending machines,
too, the release said,
adding that they could
buy the additional rice
that had been
announced immediate-
ly.
● Health minister C. Vijayabaskar said the total
lockdown was helpful in the government’s
effort to control the spread of the coronavirus
● Among the politicians who tested positive
were former minister B. Valarmathi of AIADMK,
and former MLA Annadurai of CPI
The minister was speak-
ing to media after holding
a meeting with directors of
43 branches of medicine at
the Rajiv Gandhi Govern-
ment General Hospital,
where he also launched a
battery operated vehicle
fitted with a stretcher and
other facilities to trans-
port Covid-19 patients
from the out-patient sec-
tion to the wards.
He said RGGGH was today
more a research centre,
offering quality treatment
and care to Covid-19
patients, including plasma
treatment. The hospital had
● “It is observed that the company was maintain-
ing an account with UBI (without SBI
knowledge/permission) with cheque collection and
discounting facility and routed `116.21 crore dur-
ing 2009 to 2013 which implies diversion
of funds,” the report alleged
It is alleged that the
The bank did an investiga-
CHENNAI I TUESDAY 7 I JULY 2020
that he wanted to be can-
celled.
It is a decision that
involved the future of
lakhs of students, Stalin
said in a Facebook post.
Earlier, the proposal for
the three-subject scheme
had raised the ire of
many people, including
academics, who had
pointed out that students
from Tamil Nadu would
be disadvantaged due to
the new system that
would disqualify them to
even apply for many
courses in the universi-
ties.
Another big single
day jump of 24,248
Covid-19 cases
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 6
On Monday, as India
crossed the major mile-
stone of one crore tests to
detect coronavirus
among its population, it
also neared seven lakh
cases and close to 20,000
deaths.
With a high number of
cases now from new areas
like Telangana,
Karnataka and Uttar
Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh
too reporting over 1,000
cases daily, India till
Monday morning had
24,248 new cases and 425
more deaths, taking its
total count to 6,97,413 and
the death toll to 19,693.
1000 beds and had admitted
700 patients, he said, adding
that 1000 more beds would
be added soon.
He said an oxygen pipeline
was being laid with a view
to increasing the oxygen
capacity of the hospital to 20
kl and work on that would
be over in a week’s time.
The minister said that a
block in the Stanley hospi-
tal had been given for
Ayurveda treatment of
Coronavirus cases and in
the Guindy hospital facili-
ties would be provided for
yoga, Naturopathy and
Siddha. ■P3
2008-13 which shows that the
company valued the stocks at
cost price only and did not fol-
lowed the bank’s laid down
instructions.
These statements itself
admitting fudging of bal-
ances, circular trading
involving their associates
and outside firms to book
higher sales turnover to
enjoy higher credit limits and
incorrect stock valuation, the
Don’s July 11 rally in
New Hampshire
SRIDHAR KUMARASWAMI
| DC
NEW DELHI, JULY 6
In what seems a major
breakthrough, India and
China announced on
Monday they have agreed to
ensure “complete disen-
gagement” of the troops of
both countries along the
Line of Actual Control
(LAC) and de-escalation
from border areas. Both
sides also decided to com-
plete the ongoing disengage-
ment process along the LAC
“expeditiously and ensure a
phased and stepwise de-
escalation”. It was also
decided neither side will
take any “unilateral action
to alter the status quo” at
the LAC and both nations
will instead “work together
to avoid any incident in
future” that could disturb
peace. This was agreed in a
telephonic conversation on
Sunday between India’s
national security adviser
Ajit Doval and China’s state
councillor and foreign min-
ister Wang Yi, when both
had a “frank and in-depth
exchange of views on recent
developments in the west-
ern sector of India-China
border areas”, the Indian
government said.
Mr Doval and Mr Wang
are also their countries’ spe-
cial representatives on the
“boundary question” and
the interaction reflects a
move at top levels in both
nations to limp towards
repair of the enormous dam-
age in ties in the past two
months, especially after the
deadly clash in Galwan
Valley in mid-June. Mond-
ay’s announcement comes
in the wake of Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi’s Ladak-
h visit last week and India’s
recent move to ban 59
Chinese apps.
On Monday, the external
affairs ministry said: “They
(Mr Doval and Mr Wang Yi)
agreed it was necessary to
ensure at the earliest the
complete disengagement of
City roads see heavy traffic as lockdown ends
Anna Salai witnessed moderate traffic on Monday after lockdown restrictions were
eased. Several other arterial roads saw heavy traffic and 400 signals were operated
across the city to streamline traffic.
fraud report alleged.
“It is observed that the com-
pany was maintaining an
account with UBI (without
SBI knowledge/permission)
with cheque collection and
discounting facility and rout-
ed `116.21 crore during 2009
to 2013 which implies diver-
sion of funds. Company had
resorted to large scale diver-
sion of funds,” the report
alleged. It was also found in
the SBI probe that the bal-
ance sheet submitted by the
company was different from
the one filed with Registrar
of Companies (ROC) and
both the balance sheets were
audited by different audit
firms. — PTI
WORLD | 5
Vol. 16 No. 102 Established 1938
China on Monday WITHDREW ITS TROOPS by at least a
kilometer and dismantled its temporary structures in
Ladakh’s Galwan river valley, where 20 soldiers were killed
in action during a clash with Chinese troops on June 15.
Indian soldiers National Security Advisor
have also pulled
Ajit Doval and Chinese
back and a foreign minister Wang Yi
buffer zone has
on Sunday agreed that
been created,
both sides should strictly
sources said. respect and observe the
Line of Actual Control
and should not take any
unilateral action to alter
troops along the LAC and
de-escalation from India-
China border areas for full
restoration of peace and tr-
anquillity. In this regard th-
ey further agreed both sides
should complete the ongoi-
ng disengagement process
along the LAC expeditious-
ly. The two sides should also
ensure a phased and ste-
pwise de-escalation in the
India-China border areas.”
The MEA added: “They
reaffirmed both sides
should strictly respect and
observe the Line of Actual
Control and should not take
any unilateral action to
alter the status quo and
work together to avoid any
incident in the future that
could disturb peace and
tranquillity.” It said the two
SRs “agreed both sides
should take guidance from
the consensus of the leaders
that maintenance of peace
and tranquillity in the
India-China border areas
was essential for the further
development of our bilateral
relations and that two sides
should not allow differences
to become disputes.” This
was a reference to reviving
the earlier consensus betw-
een Mr Modi and Chinese
President Xi Jinping on
bilateral ties that faced a
severe jolt in recent times.
Nepal’s ruling Communist
Party’s meet deferred again
Kathmandu, July 6:
Nepal’s embattled Prime
Minister KP Sharma Oli
on Monday held another
round of talks with the rul-
ing Nepal Communist
Party (NCP) executive
chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to sort
out their differences as the
party's crucial Standing
Committee meeting was
once again postponed till
Wednesday, in a bid to pro-
vide them more time to
agree on a power-sharing
deal.
The meeting of the ruling
party's 45-member power-
ful Standing Committee
SPORT | 8
Conflict charge on
captain Kohli
earliest complete disengage-
ment of the troops along the
LAC and de-escala-
the status quo.
tion from India-
China border
areas,” the
government said
in a statement.
Chinese troops exit
3 places in Ladakh
PAWAN BALI |DC
NEW DELHI, JULY 6
India and China have start-
ed disengagement
Galwan Valley, Hot Springs
in
and Gogra Post in Ladakh
sector after two months of
tense military standoff.
“Disengagement with PLA
has started as per agreed
terms in
Commander’s
the Corps
meeting,”
said senior army officials.
Army sources said that
Chinese soldiers were seen
removing tents and struc-
tures at patrolling point 14
at Galwan Valley where on
June 15 Indian and PLA sol-
diers were engaged in brutal
hand-to-hand fight resulting
in casualties on both sides.
“Rearward movement of
vehicles of PLA seen at gen-
eral area Galwan, Hot
Springs and Gogra.
Confirmation about dis-
tance of withdrawal will be
only after verification,” said
government sources.
Sources said that in Galwan
— DC
was scheduled to be held
on Monday. But it was
postponed at the last
minute.
The political future of 68-
year-old Oil will now be
decided on Wednesday
during the Standing
Committee meeting.
The differences between
the two factions of the
NCP — one led by Oli and
the other led by
Prachanda on the issue of
power-sharing — intensi-
fied after the prime minis-
ter unilaterally decided to
prorogue the budget ses-
sion of Parliament on
Thursday. — PTI
cmyk
| 8 PAGES| `3.00
The two
sides
agreed
that it was neces-
sary to ensure at the
Valley, Chinese have with-
drawn by 2 kilometres and
same would be achieved in
Hot Springs and Gogra Post
too.
According to sources as
per the agreement between
the Corps Commander a
buffer zone of atleast 1.5
kilometers on both sides of
the LAC has to be created in
these areas of stand-off.
Though Pangong Tso
remains the most con-
tentious issue between the
two sides, sources said that
even at finger 4 there was a
marginal thinning of the
Chinese troops.
The military commanders
from both sides are in con-
stant touch with each other
and are reported to have
spoken 3-4 times on Sunday.
Sources said that in
Galwan Valley, the water
level of the Galwan river
has risen suddenly due to
melting of snow, which
could have forced Chinese
to move from the area
faster.
India reviewing
around 50 investment
proposals from
Chinese firms: Sources
New Delhi, July 6: The
Indian government is
reviewing around 50
investment proposals
involving Chinese compa-
nies under a new screen-
ing policy, three sources
familiar with the matter
told Reuters.
Under new rules
announced by India in
April, all investments by
entities based in neigh-
bouring countries need to
be approved by the Indian
government, whether for
new or additional funding.
China is the biggest of
these investors and the
rules drew criticism from
Chinese investors and
Beijing, which called the
policy discriminatory.
China steps up
precautions after
bubonic plague case
Beijing, July 6: Auth-
orities in China's north-
ern Inner Mongolia
region have stepped up
precautions after a
herdsman was confirmed
at the weekend to have
the bubonic plague.
The man was in stable
condition at a hospital
in Bayannur, the city
health commission said
in a statement.
The commission has
forbidden the hunting
and eating animals that
could carry plague —
particularly marmots —
until the end of the year,
and urged people to
report any dead or dis-
eased rodents.
— Agencies
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020 | CHENNAI
pg 2

OTHER STORIES Guidelines for online When restrictions eased...

Senior doctor
Chandramohan
no more
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
Senior surgical gastroenterolo-
gist S. C. Chandramohan passed
away on Monday following a
heart attack in Chennai. He was
64. Attached to the Rajiv Gandhi
Government General Hospital
till his retirement some years,
Chandramohan was known for
his amiability and simplicity.
Condoling his death, DMK pres-
ident M. K. Stalin said he was
shocked to hear about the death
of a dedicated doctor.
179 Indians return
classes by July 15 likely
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
The Union government
has informed the Madras
high court that the guide-
lines to regulate the con-
duct of online classes, a
mode of teaching intro-
duced during the Covid-19
lock down by schools and
colleges, are being pre-
pared and is like to be
notified by July 15, 2020.
Additional solicitor gen-
eral R.Sankaranarayanan
made the submission
when a batch of petitions
filed by S.Saranya and
advocate M.A.Vimal
CAN’T BE BANNED
■ The Madras high
court declined to
pass any interim
order
the children when classes
are conducted through
online to the students.
When the case came up
for hearing on Monday,
senior counsel S.Prabaka-
ran, advocate J.Ravindran
and others appearing for
the petitioners opposed
the conduct of online
classes without any rules
and regulations in place.
RANGANATHAN
STREET
Ophthalmology and Gove-
rnment Eye Hospital,
Egmore, Chennai, as
directed by the court earli-
er. The bench posted to
July 20, further hearing of
the petitions.
In her petition, Saranya
sought to restrain the
authorities and schools
from conducting online
classes without framing
proper schemes and
guidelines as prescribed
under the relevant Act
and Rules for such online
portals and classes from
accessing illegal ,
immoral adult websites,
thereby preventing stu-

from UAE Mohan and others came

DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
As many as 179 Indians, strand-
ed in UAE due to the ban on
international travel amid
Coronavirus, returned to the
country on Monday in a special
Air India flight as part of the
Vande Bharat Mission.
All passengers were provided
with a smooth Customs clear-
ance, a Customs department
official said. According to offi-
cial sources, the passengers
have been classified and rooms
up for hearing before a
division bench compris-
ing Justices M,M.Sunde-
resh and R.Hemalatha.
Earlier, the bench had on
June 23, 2020, directed the
Dean, Regional Institute
of Ophthalmology and
Government Eye Hospi-
tal, Egmore, Chennai, to
submit a detailed report
with regard to the hazards
caused in viewing smart
phones and other gadgets
emanating blue lights to
the retina of the eyes of
Advocate Ravindran
submitted that the direc-
tion of the bench, dated
June 23 had not been com-
plied with. The Dean has
not yet filed his report, he
added and urged the court
to stay the conduct of
online classes until the
next hearing of the case.
Declining to pass any
interim order, the bench
however directed the state
government to spell out
its stand, besides filing a
report from the Dean,
Regional Institute of
dents from accessing such
websites through any pop-
up re-directs.
In his petition, Vimal
Mohan sought a direction
to the authorities to
T. NAGAR
restrain all educational
institutions all over Tamil
Nadu from conducting Following easing of
online classes for not lockdown restrictions on
more than two hours with Monday, Chennai
intervals till uniform witnessed heavy traffic
rules and guidelines are on arterial roads and
framed in consultation crowds in textile and
with the expert bodies for
other shops. Shoppers
conducting of online
classes. were checked with
thermal scanner.
Shopping hub T Nagar
had large footfalls.

Nano-coated filter
were allotted to them. They
have to undergo a 14-day manda-
tory quarantine.
NEYVELI Small temples also
opened to devotees.

`2 lakh robbed from for Covid warriors BLAST TOLL — N. Sampath and
E. K. Sanjay

bike showroom RISES TO 12

DC CORRESPONDENT Department of
DC CORRESPONDENT CHENNAI, JULY 6 Engineering Design DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6 This novel filter with CHENNAI, JULY 6

Burglars broke into a bike

The researchers at the
Indian Institute of
showroom in the busy Bazaar Te c h n o l o g y - M a d r a s
street in Madurantakam on (IIT-M) have developed
Sunday night and made away a nano-coated filter
with `2 lakh kept in a safe. The media for healthcare
police have got CCTV footage of workers treating Covid-
the incident, from the shop, that 19 patients.
shows two masked carrying out According to the study
the robbery. They removed the team, this filter also has
window grill on the backside of defence applications
the shop and decamped with the and other places where
money. air filtration of submi-
The employees discovered the cron particles is
burglary on Monday morning required.
when they opened the shop for Prof. K. Arul Prakash,
business. Based on a complaint Department of Applied
by the owner, an offence of bur- Mechanics, IIT-M, who
glary has been registered by the was part of the team,
Madurantakam police. Further said the project was a
investigations are on. collaborative effort of
It may be noted that a few days faculty from various
back, Madurantakam police departments of IITM
arrested a man for his alleged including Prof.
involvement in a robbery Raghuram Chetty from
attempt by making a tunnel in a Department of
jewellery shop in the locality. Chemical Engineering
and Prof. Saravana
Kumar from
multiple nano-coating
can filter particles of
the order of one
micron size. The filter
media was fabricated
with a nylon-based
polymer coating on cel-
lulose paper and was
developed through the
electrospinning
process. The coating
properties are opti-
mized for efficient
removal of sub-micron
sized dust particles in
the air. ‘’The nano-coat-
ed filter media is being
field tested in practical
applications. Upon vali-
dation through field tri-
als, it will be recom-
mended for bulk manu-
facturing through
industry collabora-
tions', Prof Prakash
said. This study is fund-
ed by the Defence
Research Development
Organisation.
The death toll in the boiler
ANNA UNIVERSITY NUNGAMBAKKAM
explosion on last
Wednesday at Neyveli
Lignite Corporation of
India Ltd (NLCIL) at
Neyveli in Cuddalore rose
to 12 on Monday. In the
industrial disaster, six
workers were killed and 17
others suffered serious
burns when a boiler
exploded at the thermal
power station in NLCIL.
The deceased were identi-
fied as Arun Kumar, 25,
Padmanabhan, 30,
Ramanathan 42, Nagaraj,
30 and Venkatesa Perumal,
37 and Silambarasan, 25.
The injured were rushed to
a private hospital in
Chennai.
The management institut-
ed a probe and ordered a GST ROAD
compensation of `30 lakh
to the family members of
the deceased. Chief
Minister Edappadi K
Palaniswami had
announced Rs 3 lakh each
to the next of kin of the

TN successfully conducts plasma dead workers, besides Rs 1

lakh each for victims with
severe injuries and Rs

therapy on 18 Covid patients

Chennai July 6: Tamil
Nadu has successfully per-
formed plasma therapy on 18
Covid-19 patients at the Rajiv
Gandhi Government
General Hospital here, a sen-
ior health official said on
Monday. The convalescent
plasma clinical trial had
begun here in May as per
Indian Council of Medical
Research guidelines.
The process involves infus-
ing blood from recovered
persons to those affected
with coronavirus. Inciden-
tally, the Delhi government
had last week launched the
country's first plasma bank.
“There have been no com-
plications so far. They are
doing well,” the official said
about the 18 patients. The
therapy has been possible
due to the donation of plas-
ma from patients who had
recovered from Covid -19.
Further trials would require
plasma donation from the
patients who have fully
recovered from the virus, the
official said. Sources said
the authorities were in a
predicament as there is still
some apprehension among
those who recovered in
donating their plasma.
Further, those with co-mor-
bid health conditions cannot
donate. “And those who meet
the norms for donation
could donate 14 days after
testing negative for Covid-
19,” the official said.
The donors, from all walks
of life, were men aged
between 30 and 50, and they
were selected based on their
health conditions. Tamil
Nadu, which succeeded in
the CPT, is hopeful of per-
forming the therapy on more
number of patients in the
coming days. — PTI
50,000 for those who suf-
fered minor burns.
According to sources, six
among the injured admit-
ted at a private hospital
died since July 1. While
junior engineer Sivakumar
died on the next day, G.
Selvaraj, 51, a worker
attached to the Industrial
Cooperative Service
Society (Indcoserve) and C.
Ravichandran, 51, a perma-
nent employee of NLCIL,
succumbed to injuries at a
private hospital in Chennai
on Sunday. On Monday,
M.Vaithyanathan, 47,
T.Elangovan, 49 and Jothi
Ramalingam succumbed to
injuries taking the toll to
12, sources said.

Sleuths grill cabbie, FoP men

ARULOLI M | DC
THOOTHUKUDI, JULY 6
The owner of the car used by
Sathankulam custodial death
accused, inspector Sridhar, in
his attempt to escape,
appeared before the CB-CID
here on Monday, for enquiry.
Inspector Sridhar had been
evading the CB-CID police by
shuttling between places,
before he was arrested at
Gangaikondan checkpost, in
Tirunelveli district, on
Thursday, on the highway
heading to Madurai.
The ‘Maruti Swift’ - TN10
AH2304 – which the accused
used, belonged to one Suresh
Kumar of Mugappair,
Chennai. Suresh Kumar, said
to be a BJP functionary in
Chennai, was summoned by
the CB-CID, also appeared for
enquiry in Thoothukudi, on
Monday.
TAKE THEM BACK Later, speaking to the media
outside the CB-CID office,
Thoothukudi, Suresh Kumar
said that he bought the used
car in 2017 and gave it on con-
tract to call taxi operator,
Ganesapandian, to run the
Traffic cops in Anna Nagar handing over seized vehicles to owners on Monday. car in Chennai.
— DC But a few months ago,
CRACKING THE WHIP Sathankulam case:
CB-CID IG SHANKAR, BRIEFING THE MEDIA
ON MONDAY, SAID THAT SOME Doctor in dock
CORONA VOLUNTEERS, SUSPECTED TO BE
DC CORRESPONDENT station and tortured
CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUSED THOOTHUKUDI, JULY 6 overnight.
POLICEMEN WERE INQUIRED. Her department col-
The government doctor, leagues feel that doctor
THE CB-CID WILL FILE A PETITION IN COURT Vinila, who issued fit- Vinila would have acted
SEEKING POLICE CUSTODY OF THE ACCUSED. ness certificate to the under police pressure,
Sathankulam father, son but added that she should
Ganesapandian shifted to his their counterparts were plan- custodial death victims, have voluntarily reported
native district, Tirunelveli, ning to enquire call taxi oper- is sure to face depart- the matter to department
and brought the car with ator, Ganesapandian also. mental action, said higher ups, and clarified
him. Three members of ‘Friends health department her situation.
Suresh Kumar alleged that of Police’, Ganapathy, sources, adding that the “Her failure to do so has
he had come to know that his Esakkidurai and Raja, sus- director, medical servic- complicated matters,”
car was used by the accused pected to be present at the es and rural health, had said one of Vinila’s col-
inspector, only when the CB- police station when the sought a report on the league, who added that
CID police contacted him. father-son duo was tortured, issue. the Joint director, health,
Suresh Kumar is said to also were grilled by the CB- The lady doctor went on Thoothukudi district, had
have produced all the con- CID on Monday. leave to her native, sent a report against her
tract documents signed Meanwhile, CB-CID IG Nagercoil, fearing public to the Directorate of med-
between him and the call taxi Shankar, briefing the media wrath in Sathankulam. ical services and rural
operator. on Monday morning said that She has been accused of health.
Police after scrutinising the
car documents permitted him
some corona volunteers, sus-
pected to be closely associated
acting hand in glove with
the police in the crime, as
Joint director, health
dept, Thoothukudi, Pon
to take the car by producing with the accused policemen she issued the medical Esakki, also confirmed
the same documents with the were also enquired. IG certificate in favour of that he had sent a detailed
Gangaikondan police who Shankar said the CB-CID the police, without prop- report on the issue, and
had seized the car last would file a petition in court erly examining Jeyaraj added that the director of
Thursday, when the inspector seeking police custody of the and his son, Bennix, on medical services would
was arrested. five accused, within this June 20, after the victims decide the final action on
A CB-CID source said that week. were held at the police his report.
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020 | CHENNAI
pg 3

OTHER STORIES
Tamil scholar Mannar
Mannan no more
116 test corona +ve in Kovai suburb
DC CORRESPONDENT
Chennai: Well known Tamil
scholar Mannar Mannan, son
of Tamil national poet
Bharatidasan, passed away on
COIMBATORE, JULY 6

As many as 116 residents

Monday. Chief Minister
Edappadi K Palaniswami con-
doled the death of Mannar
Mannan, who was a recipient
of many awards including the
Thiru Vi Ka Award and the
Kalaimamani. A speaker and a
writer, he had penned 50 books.
‘Clap’ as homage
to ryots
Perambalur: Members of the
Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam
led by state secretary R.
Rajachidambaram staged a
novel demonstration by clap-
ping their hands and paid hom-
age to the departed farmers
during the farmers' agitations
in recent years across the state.
The protesters garlanded the
statue of veteran farmer
leader and founder of the
sangam, Narayaswamy Naidu,
and they urged traders to pur-
chase their agricultural pro-
duce like cotton, paddy and
millets as per price fixed by the
Union government. They also
urged the Central and State
governments to withdraw its
anti-farmer amendment laws,
including the Electricity
Amendment Act, and sought
free power supply to farmers.
DMK remembers
Rettamalai Srinivasan
Chennai: On the eve of the
161st birth anniversary of
Rettamalai Srinivasan, who
fought for the rights of
Scheduled Caste people and
attended the Second Round
Table Conference in London,
along with B R Ambedkar,
DMK president M K Stalin paid
homage to him. Recalling
Srinivasan’s services, particu-
larly his demand for a separate
constituency for SC people
even during the British rule,
Stalin said he raised his voice
against the ban on SC people
using public spaces in the
Madras Provincial Assembly,
which led to the Justice Party
government opening public
places like ponds, wells and so
on for all through a legislation.
of Selvapuram area in the
city’s suburbs were
reported as Covid-19 posi-
tive, on Monday.
According to a source,
after 27 residents from
Selvapuram tested posi-
tive on Sunday, over 200
samples from the same
area were under process.
Of them, 116 cases were
recorded as positive cases
on Monday.
Of the 27 cases con-
firmed as positive on
Sunday, 17 are from the
same goldsmith factory
functioning near Ashok
Nagar in Selvapuram, and
the remaining 10 are
neighbours.
Under suspicion, health
officials urged
Selvapuram residents to
undergo Covid-19 test.
Most of them were report-
ed as ‘Asymptomatic
cases’.
District collector
Rajamani has announced
Selvapuram area as a con-
tainment zone. Under sus-
picion, both government
Creating awareness
A two-wheeler rally led by Bagayam inspector Suba and some police personnel on Monday attempted to create an
awareness among the public to sternly adhere to Covid-19 health norms like social distancing and keeping indoors
during curfew hours, to stem the spread of the disease. Vellore has been witnessing a spurt in corona cases, which
touched 166 mark, in a single day.
Man dies of corona,
another 15 test +ve
DC CORRESPONDENT
PUDUKOTTAI, JULY 6
A 72-year-old man, a
coolie by profession,
from Mathiyaani village
near Ponnamaravathi in
the district, residing in
Chennai with his wife,
died of Corona at his
native village on Sunday.
Sources said he had
brought his wife’s body
to their native who had
died at Chennai on
Friday due to some ail-
ments, along with eight
other relatives.
After the funeral of the
woman in which a large
number of people gath-
ered, public health offi-
and private bus drivers
and conductors plying via
Selvapuram area to
Ukkadam and Perur, were
recently made to undergo
Covid-19 test, of which
one driver tested positive.
The drastic spread in
cials on information
went to the village and
conducted swab and
other tests on all the
eight persons who
accompanied the body
from Chennai.
Since all tested positive
for Covid-19, they were
admitted to the govern-
ment medical college
hospital here, police
said. On Sunday, the hus-
band of the deceased
woman also died of coro-
na.
Meanwhile, health
authorities also collect-
ed swab, blood samples
from 110 persons who
attended the woman’s
funeral.
Coimbatore is reported
after several people from
Chennai and neighbour-
ing districts recently
entered the city, which
had remained a green
zone for a long time, added
the source.
— K. Senthil Nathan
Valarmathi tests positive, armed
reserve constable dies of Covid
FROM P1
Fisheries minister
D. Jayakumar held a meet-
ing with officials at the
Ripon buildings. He said
though the total lockdown
help curb the spread of
the virus, the government
announced the relax-
ations taking into consid-
eration the livelihood of
the people.
The spread would come
down step by step and the
government was taking all
efforts to control it fully,
he said, adding that they
were taking measures to
stop crowding at fish mar-
kets by insisting on social
distancing and wearing of
face masks.
Retail sales had been
banned at the Kasimedu
fishing harbor and even
other fish vendors had
been instructed not to sell
fish to those turning up
without face masks.
Food and civil supplies
minister R Kamaraj, who
inspected fever camps in
Kodambakkam and
Annanagar, said that the
number of people recover-
ing from coronavirus was
62 per cent.
In Chennai city, 12,712
fever camps were organ-
ized benefitting 8,20,358
people. From the camps
38,280 infections were
Fire breaks out
in hospital ward
G. SRINIVASAN I DC
THANJAVUR, JULY 6
Fire broke out due to a
short circuit behind the
Comprehensive
Emergency Obstetric and
Neonatal Care ward at
Rajah Mirasudhar gov-
ernment hospital here
around Sunday midnight.
Following the fire,
smoke engulfed the area
and panic-stricken
women who delivered
babies and were housed
in the second floor,
rushed out of the build-
ing. There were 200
women and 50 children in
the building.
TANGEDCO engineers
cut the power supply
immediately and fire ten-
ders rushed to the spot
and doused the fire.
● Minister
R. Kamaraj who
inspected fever
camps in
Kodambakkam and
Annanagar, said
that the number of
people recovering
from coronavirus
was 62 per cent
detected and 62 per cent of
them had recovered, he
said.
Stating that the infec-
tions had come down in
the city, Kamaraj said that
Kodambakkam had 2,414
infections 14 days back but
now it was only 990.
Chief secretary K.
Shanmugham organized a
meeting with Collectors of
15 districts through video
conference and urged
them to intensify efforts to
tor, inspected the place.
Later he talked to the
women in the building
and promised them safe-
ty. He was told by doctors
that when pits were dug
for construction of a new
building on the campus,
power supply connec-
tions were affected and
hence electricity supply
was arranged temporari-
ly from outside. There
was a short circuit in this
supply.
The collector asked doc-
tors, Tangedco and PWD
engineers to be careful
while constructing build-
ings and take precaution-
ary measures to prevent
such incidents in future.
He later inspected the
construction of new
buildings in the hospital
complex.
control the pandemic in
their respective districts.
He stressed the need for
creating awareness among
the people, increase test-
ing and enable people to
come forward for testing.
After Chennai that had
1,747 new cases on
Monday, Madurai report-
ed 245 cases, followed by
Chengalpattu (213),
Kanchipuram (182) and
Thiruvallur (175).
Among the politicians
who tested positive were
former minister B.
Valarmathi, who is now
the head of the Text Book
Society of Tamil Nadu,
and former MLA
Annadurai of CPI.
Nagarajan, an armed
reserve constable, died of
Covid-19, taking the total
number of police person-
nel succumbing to the
virus to three.
TV CHANNEL
THIRUKOVIL TO
BE LAUNCHED
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
Hindu Religious and
C h a r i t a b l e
E n d o w m e n t s
D e p a r t m e n t
Commissioner K.
Panindra Reddy has
urged all officers in
charge of the various
temples across the
state to shoot videos
of the temple festi-
vals, religious events,
and video features on
the significance and
history of the temple
to his office.
The videos would be
edited and processed
for telecast in
‘Thirukovil’ televi-
sion channel that
would be launched by
the state.

Nilgiris records Railways to switch The three-storied new

building was declared
open last month by Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister
Dr. Maruthudurai,
Dean (in charge) of
Thanjavur medical col-
lege, Dr.Usha Devi,
Chief
Edappadi
Palaniswami
Minister

made the announce-

K.
had

deficit rainfall over to solar energy

B. RAVICHANDRAN | DC
OOTY, JULY 6
There has been a near 22 per-
cent deficit rainfall in the first
quarter of the South-West
monsoon this year, in the
Nilgiris. But, ecologists are
optimistic of good precipita-
tion in the coming weeks.
The SW monsoon which pre-
vails here between June and
September, accounts for copi-
ous rainfall in the hills and has
raised hopes in mid-June when
precipitation was good. But, it
failed to intensify as expected.
The Indian Meteorological
Department data shows that
the Nilgiris received 159.50 mm
of rainfall against the average
normal rainfall of 204.50 mm
for the month of June, which is
the first quarter of the SW
monsoon in the Nilgiris. This
data revealed that there was 22
percent deficit rainfall in the
first quarter of the SW mon-
soon here.
Child labourers now get used to online classes
■ Digital technology helps them pursue their dreams
SANJEEVI ANANDAN | DC
KRISHNAGIRI, JULY 6
Thanks to digital technolo-
gy for helping these poor
children who continue with
their studies during the
lockdown period. This was
done to prevent them from
ending again as child
labourers. If not, they
would be forced to work to
augment their family
income.
“I was rescued from a
brick kiln by teachers work-
ing in ‘Access Residential
School’ (ARS), in
Denkannikottai,” 13-year-
old P. Billa told Deccan
Chronicle.
Billa has two younger sib-
lings and they belong to
Paranthur village in
Chengam taluk of
Tiruvannamalai district,
from where his family
migrated to work in the
brick making unit at
Dasanapuram village in
Karnataka bordering Hosur
of Krishnagiri.
The boy, who wants to
In major reservoirs also,
water level is almost half-
empty.
Commenting on this,
Managing trustee of the
Nilgiris Environment and
Socio-cultural Trust,
Sivadass, said that weather-
men had already predicted nor-
mal SW monsoon for Nilgiris.
“In early June, as the SW
monsoon began to set in, a
cyclone formed in the Arabian
sea that eventually moved
towards Maharashtra, and
upset chances of rains in the
Nilgiris in early June. Now, for
the past three days in July, the
precipitation has been good
here. When wind velocity
begins to pick up over the sea
surface, it will bring sufficient
rains to the hills. We can
expect good rains in the com-
ing weeks. The Nilgiris usually
gets an average rainfall of 759
mm during the SW monsoon
that stretches between June
and September,” he added.
Children of ARS school in Denkannikottai.
become an IAS officer, was
earlier identified as a child
labour by secret agents
working against brutal
child labour practice in
brick-making units in both
Tamil Nadu and neighbour-
ing Karnataka. Billa was
rescued by block resource
staff in this district, follow-
ing an alert by agents of
anti-child labour.
Many children like Billa
have big dreams, but are
DC CORRESPONDENT posed to get operational
COIMBATORE, JULY 6 soon, and is under exten-
V.
In a major step towards
sustainable energy, the
Indian Railways have
sive tests and trials.
Motivated by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi,
the Indian Railways seeks
decided to operate all rail- to be self-reliant for its
way stations across the energy needs, and solarize
country on solar energy railway stations by utiliz-
and make their fleet a ing its vacant lands for
complete ‘Green trans- ‘Renewable Energy’ (RE)
port’ mode. projects. The Railway is
With its mission aimed committed to utilize solar
at ‘Net Zero’ carbon emis- energy for meeting its
sion mass transportation traction power require-
network by 2030, named ments and become a com-
‘Mission Atma Nirbhar plete ‘Green mode of
Bharat’, the Indian rail- transportation’, said sen-
ways is all set to make ior PRO, Railways.
inroads in the field. The Ministry of Rail-
The railways have ways has decided to
already floated tenders for install solar power plants
2 GW of solar projects for on its vacant unused lands
Indian Railways to be on a mega scale. The use
installed on unutilized of solar power will accel-
railway lands. The pilot erate the Union Minister
project in Bina is sup- of Railways M R. Piyush
—File photo
reluctant to talk about it. To many children who are yet
them, it is almost like find- to be identified and rescued
ing water in a desert. from child labour.
“How will our desires be Now, Billa and his other
fulfilled when our families ARS friends are busy with
have been constantly fight- smart phones because that
ing the demon of poverty?” has become their class-
questioned Billa, when rooms. For them, their resi-
asked why children like him dential classes run by the
failed to fight against the Ministry of Human
child labour customs, and Resource and Development
not give a thought about (MHRD)’, was closed follow-
their rights to be educated. ing the lockdown.
According to Billa, there are The digital classroom
Goyal’s mission to achieve
conversion of Indian Rail-
ways to a ‘Net Zero’
Carbon Emission Railway.
The Indian Railways
present demand would be
fulfilled by the solar proj-
ects being deployed, mak-
ing it the first transport
organisation to be energy
self-sufficient. This would
help in making Indian
Railways green as well as
‘Atma Nirbhar’.
The Indian Railways has
acted as a pioneer in
green energy utilisation.
It has started energy pro-
curement from various
solar projects like 3 MWp
solar plant set up at MCF
Rae Bareilly (UP). About
100 MWp rooftop solar
systems have already been
commissioned on various
stations and buildings of
the Indian Railways.
daily connects 200 students
of two government-run resi-
dential schools at
Denkannikottai and
Kollapalli village in
Krishnagiri district. The
‘smart phone’ class room is
run by NGO ‘e-Vidhya Loka’
from Bengaluru in
Karnataka.
“We are not like other gov-
ernment school children
who have forgotten their
habit of reading their sub-
ject books. Our students
attend classes during this
lockdown period with help
of smart phone classroom
facility. This was given by
our school coordinator
Samson Wesley sir,” Billa
told Deccan Chronicle.
The man who had influ-
enced Billa, Samson Wesley,
when contacted over phone,
referred to the proverb, ‘It is
better to light a candle than
to curse the darkness’. He
said, as of now, only private
school children are able to
attend online classes after
payment of extra fees to
avail the facility.
Edappadi K.Palaniswami
through video conferenc-
ing.
On Monday morning,
M.Govinda Rao,
Thanjavur district collec-
Stop land acquisition: Stalin
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
DMK president M. K.
Stalin urged the govern-
ment to stop holding pub-
lic hearings for acquiring
farmlands in Salem,
Namakkal and
Krishnagiri districts to
implement the Bharat
Petroleum Corporation’s
pipeline laying project
between Irugur and
Devankonthi under the
IDPL scheme.
In a statement on
Monday, Stalin lashed out
MDMK: GOVT
TRIED TO HUSH
UP EXCESSES
Chennai, July 6: The
MDMK on Monday alle-
ged that the AIADMK
government tried to hide
excesses by police person-
nel that led to the deaths
of a father-son duo at
Sathankulam in southern
Tamil Nadu. The Vaiko-
led party said the direc-
tives and guidance of the
Madras High Court in
this case have given confi-
dence that the guilty
would be punished. The
Madurai Bench of the
court intervened at the
right time and gave direc-
tions to uphold justice
when the "Tamil Nadu
government, which must
own up responsibility for
the deaths of Jeyaraj and
Bennix made efforts to
conceal their brutal
killings (a reference to
alleged torture by some
police personnel)," a reso-
lution adopted at the dis-
trct secretaries meeting
of the MDMK said.. The
MDMK meet, held via a
virtual link was presided
by party presidium chair-
man TIrupur Su
Duraisamy. — PTI
Resident medical officer,
RMH, Vijaya Gowri, exec-
utive engineer, TANGED-
CO and PWD engineers
accompanied the collec-
tor.
at Chief Minister
Edappadi K Palanisamy
for trying to grab the land
of farmers even at the
time of the pandemic
without concentrating on
Coronavirus prevention
work in his district of
Salem, where there had
Pondy reports
65 new cases
Puducherry, July 6:
Puducherry on Monday
reported 65 new COVID-
19 cases, taking the over-
all tally past the 1,000
mark, the Health depart-
ment said. According to a
medical bulletin of the
Department of Health
and Family Welfare, 62 of
the 63 patients were
admitted to government
hospitals here while the
outlying regions of
Karaikal, Mahe and
Yanam recorded one fresh
case each during the last
24 hours.
The total number of
coronavirus cases stood
at 1,009 excluding two
patients from
Puducherry undergoing
treatment in Villupuram
in neighbouring Tamil
Nadu. While the total
number of active cases
stood at 515, the number
of patients treated and
discharged was 480.
Fatalities remained at 14
as no death was reported
in the union territory in
the last couple of days.
Twenty-two patients were
ment of the launch of
the television channel
in the Assembly and
had allotted Rs 8.77
crore for the purpose.
been 1247 infections and
five deaths.
He also alleged that
farmers were being
harassed by bank offi-
cials, forcing them to pay
the EMI for loans despite
the Central government
and the Reserve Bank of
India announcing a mora-
torium. He cited a cases in
Tiruppur district where a
farmer Rajamani commit-
ted suicide due to the pres-
sure exerted by agents of
a bank and demanded
action against the official
concerned.
discharged after recovery
in Puducherry. The bul-
letin said the 65 fresh
cases were identified at
the end of tests of 502
samples.
While eleven of the
fresh cases were below 18
years, 46 patients were in
the age group of 18 to 60
years and the rest above
60. Director of Health
and Family Welfare S
Mohan Kumar told
reporters that of the
20,778 samples tested,
19,324 returned negative
and results of the
remaining were awaited.
Health Minister Malladi
Krishna Rao said some
private medical colleges
here had not come for-
ward to cooperate with
the government to test
people for COVID-19.
“Some of the private
medical colleges had
expressed orally that
they were not interested
in supplementing the
efforts of the government
for testing patients for
the infection,” the
Minister said.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020
pg 4

SHORT

4 COVID WARRIORS
TAKES
SUCCUMB TO
COVID IN ODISHA
AKSHAYA KUMAR
SAHOO | DC
BHUBANESWAR, JULY 6
Amidst increasing number of
Coronavirus cases across
Odisha, four Covid-19 war-
riors succumbed to the virus
in Ganjam district in the past
24 hours. Also, an MLA tested
positive.
“We lost four Covid warriors.
Entire district administration
is with their families. We
request all people in Ganjam
to follow social distancing
norms. By doing this you will
help our Covid-19 warriors in
fighting this war,” Ganjam
administration tweeted on
Monday.
The district administration
shared identities of deceased
Covid-19 warriors in a series
of special messages.
The four have been identified
as Bharati Swain, an Ang-
anwadi worker of Kholakhali
village; Simanchal Satapathy,
junior teacher (contractual)
posted at S Pankalbadi
Primary School under Kabis-
uryanagar block; P. Suresh
Kumar, junior engineer in
Dharakote block; Sudhartha
Shankar Padhya, teacher at
Raisingi Upper Primary
School under Aska block.
Source of 41 cases
untraced in Kerala
GILVESTER ASSARY | DC
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
JULY 6
Kerala recorded 193 Covid-19
positive cases on Monday
even as triple lockdown was
enforced in state capital
Thiruvananthapuram for one
week following increasing
number of cases through con-
tact.
Of the new cases, 92 came
from abroad, 62 came from
other states and 35 contracted
the infection through contact.
At present, the state has 2,252
active cases and 1.53 lakh per-
sons are under observation
and 2,075 are in hospitals. As
many as 167 persons recov-
ered from the infection on
Saturday.
As part of the triple lock-
down, all roads coming into
the capital city have been
shut.
All offices including
Secretariat will remain
closed and the CM will work
from the camp office.
The decision to enforce
triple lockdown was taken in
the wake of 22 of the 27 new
cases contracted by contact.
All vehicle movement includ-
A milkman provides milk to customers through a pipe to help maintain social distance at Bikaner in Rajasthan on Monday amid ing public transport has been
Coronavirus pandemic. — PTI stopped.
Shops selling essential com-
reported less than 20 cases.
However, at present the num-
ber of cases in
Thiruvananthapuram has
gone up to 277 of which 206
are from abroad and 61
through contact.
The health officials have
stepped up activities connect-
ed with contact tracing. Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
said in Kerala, the source of
only1 per cent cases was yet
to be traced.
The rate of untraced
sources in the country was 40
per cent. Till June 30, the
source of 41 cases was yet to
be traced.
According to data published
by the National Centre for
Disease Control, 110 persons
who travelled from Kerala
tested Covid-19 outside the
state till June 30. However,
this was contested by the
Kerala health department.
A detailed verification exer-
cise was carried out by the
department and it was found
that 90 persons did not con-
tract the infection in Kerala.
There were three duplicate
entries and information on 11
cases was not available.
The report titled ‘Report on
Keralites tested positive out-
side Kerala’ prepared by
Kerala health principal secre-

High viral load, exposure

Ganjam has been worst-hit modities will remain open tary Dr Rajan Khobragade
by Covid-19. Of the state’s total between 7 am and 11 am stated that only six tested pos-
9,526 cases, the district has daily during the lockdown itive for the virus in the state.
reported 2,348 positive cases. period. The details were given out
22 persons in the district have Heavy fines would be levied by the health department in
died of Covid-19. on people who venture out of the wake of reports that a

kill 106 doctors, 25 nurses

According to state health and
family welfare department
sources, a member of Odisha
Legislative Assembly from
Balasore district has tested
positive for Covid-19. “The
swab sample of an MLA of
Balasore district was sent for a
test two days back and the
result came out positive,” Ch-
ief District Medical Officer, Dr
Antaryami Panda, informed
their homes without any pur- number of Keralities travel-
pose and those who are found ling outside the state were
without masks. testing positive for Covid-19
Till May 4, and these cases indicated
Thiruvananthapuram had community transmission.
Data from across nation till April 15 shows yougsters too fall prey
MP ‘Corona kill’ drive
KANIZA GARARI I DC precautions and misun- periphery of cities. The
HYDERABAD, JULY 6

One hundred and six doc-

derstanding the serious-
ness of the illness have
also caused to lapses,
extensive work of com-
piling data with the help
of colleagues and med-
Covid fire fans to identifies 10,000 cases
STORM OVER tors have died in India
due to Covid 19 till April
leading to death.
During the initial
ical associations was car-
ried out by Dr Rajeev
rural Telangana
SEIZURE OF GOLD 15, when the data was
last compuled. The case
stages of pandemic, doc-
tors were exposed to the
Jayadevan.
The data showed that
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY | DC
Coronavirus, malaria and
dengue have been conducted

AT AIRPORT
DC CORRESPONDENT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 6
A day after customs officials
seized 30 kg gold, worth
`15-16 crore from a diplomatic
cargo meant for UAE con-
sulate in Thiruvanantha-
puram, serious allegations
have come up against a former
staff of the consulate.
A former UAE consulate staff
Swapna Suresh who was mar-
keting liaison officer of Space
Park under Kerala State
Information Technology
Infrastructure Ltd has been
arraigned as the main accused
in the case.
Soon after she was made an
accused in the case, Bharatiya
Janata Party Kerala unit pres-
ident K. Surendran came up
with a startling allegation that
the Chief Minister’s office and
IT secretary had intervened to
save Swapna.
The BJP leader demanded
that the call records of Chief
Minister’s Office and IT secre-
tary should be examined to
ascertain the involvement of
top people.
Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan rubbished the BJP
leader’s allegations. “The
people of Kerala know about
the Chief Minister’s Office.
Not a single person who
indulges in any wrongdoing
would be spared. This has
been the experience for the
past four years in office.
Surendran’s wild allegations
cannot bring the Chief
Minister’s Office under
cloud,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he
was not aware of Swapna’s
appointment in the IT depart-
ment. “I understand the cus-
toms investigations are going
in the right direction and I
hope the accused will be
brought to justice. The state
government will extend all
cooperation to the investigat-
ing agency to nab the cul-
prits,” the Chief Minister
added.
POWER | TALK BJP president says federalism not being followed by Mamata
fatality rate is 6.1 per
cent due to the high viral
load because of repeated
exposure while treating
patients. Twenty-five
nurses and other health-
care providers have suc-
cumbed to the disease.
Two nurses and two
doctors died in road acci-
dents due to mental and
physical fatigue of infec-
tion. Five nurses and one
doctor died by suicide
due to stress and the stig-
ma of contracting Covid
19.
Some of them died after
taking care of their fami-
ly members. There are
two instances where doc-
tors and their spouses
died after getting infect-
ed and they were below
60 years of age.
The gaps in following
Encounter: 3 cops suspended,
reward on Dubey increased
K a n p u r / L u c k n o w,
July 6: Uttar Pradesh
police have suspended
three more of their
men, suspecting that
they tipped of Vikas
Dubey whose
gang members killed
eight policemen in
an ambush at a village
near Kanpur last week.
Police on Monday also
increased the reward
for Dubey arrest to
`2.5 lakh, up from the
`1 lakh offered earlier.
UP Director General
of Police H.C. Awasthy
said police are conduct-
ing raids to track
down the gangster,
based on information
they get.
Police had earlier sus-
pended Vinay Tiwari,
station officer at
virus while not having young doctors too suc- KANIZA GARARI AND The GHMC area regis- BHOPAL, JULY 6 during the corona kill cam-
access to personal protec- cumbed to Covid 19. Why BALU PULIPAKA I DC tered 1,419 cases, accord- paign.
tion equipment, gloves, they suffered from severe HYDERABAD, JULY 6 ing to the daily Covid-19 The fortnight-long ‘Corona The state government has
face shields and other Covid-19 is not clear. bulletin on the health kill campaign’ launched by set a target to screen the
secondary protective Dr K.K. Aggarwal, past The Coronavirus fires department. Eleven Madhya Pradesh on July 1 to entire population of
gears. president of Indian are slowly being lit again deaths were reported, detect Covid-19 patients 7,67,28,228 of the state during
These deaths also Medical Association in rural Telangana, taking the toll to 306. across the state has identified the campaign which is sched-
include those have been (IMA), said "The high including the smaller In the rural areas, from around 10,000 suspected cases uled to end on July 15.
sudden and without any viral load in doctors urban centres, if the 137 cases outside of in first three days of the On-the-spot samples have
underlying illness. The could lead to clotting of numbers since July 1 are GHMC on July 1, the drive, an official report said been tested during the fever
deaths in those below 40 blood which is not under- anything to go by. number rose to 215 on on Monday. survey and the samples have
years of age are 21 per stood. After noting the On Monday, the non- July 2, 234 on July 3, 278 Of the total 1,81,17,73 people been sent to different labs for
cent, below 50 years of cases of rapid deteriora- GHMC areas recorded on July 4, 313 on July 5 screened under the campaign tests.
age 29.6 per cent and tion, the oxygen levels the highest-ever 412 and 412 on Monday. across the state by July 3, Chief Minister Shivraj Sin-
below 60 years of age 55.5 are being checked. This cases. This marks a The recent announce- 10,091 suspected cases of gh Chouhan has earlier sou-
per cent. is helping identify those three-fold increase from ment that the govern- coronavirus have been detect- nded that MP may witness ar-
National Indian who need to be isolated July 1, when 137 cases ment might consider a ed, the official reports said. ound 60,000 Covid-19 positive
Medical Association data in case the oxygen levels were registered in these fresh lockdown in Bhopal has topped the chart cases, ‘in the worst situation’.
till April 29 showed that are low." districts. Ranga Reddy Hyderabad city is driving of suspected cases recording The state government has so
927 doctors were infected The highest risk factor and Medal showed 160 thousands of people out 1,431 cases, followed by far created around 80,000 beds
with Covid-19, of whom has been noted in opera- and 117 cases respective- of the city to their homes Gwalior where 1,110 suspect- for coronavirus patients, of
57 died. This data does tion theatres and it ly on Monday. in rural Telagnana and ed cases were reported in the which only 14 percent have
not include small private requires extensive man- A total of 1,831 new to the smaller towns first three days of the cam- been utilised till date.
hospitals and nursing agement in terms of lim- cases were recorded such as Karimangar or paign, the report said. As of Monday morning, MP
homes, general physi- ited healthcare profes- statewide on Monday, the larger ones such as Surveys on different types has reported 14,930 confirmed
cians and those in the sionals. taking the total to 25,733. Warangal. of fevers such as due to cases and 608 deaths.
KOREGAON: SC
Lawyer fined for SETS ASIDE
frivolous petition DELHI HC ORDER
DC CORRESPONDENT
Chaubeypur station inspectors Kunwarpal lowing a complaint by PRAMOD KUMAR | DC ● LAWYER REEPAK Kansal MUMBAI, JULY 6
and were examining the and Krishna Kumar local businessman NEW DELHI, JULY 6 had sought action against the
possibility that he Sharma and constable Rahul Tiwari that he registry officers allegedly The Supreme Court on
informed Dubey that a Rajiv. was thrashed the The Supreme Court on involved in the listing, clear- Monday set aside an
police team was head- “A preliminary alleged gangster. Monday pulled up a lawyer for order passed by Delhi
ing to his Bikru village enquiry has been initi- On Sunday, police levelling frivolous allegations
ing, and the bench hunting. High Court asking the
to arrest him. ated against the three arrested Vikas Dubey’s on its registry for allegedly ● THE PETITIONER lawyer National Investigation
The gangster, who has suspended policemen, alleged accomplice giving preference to the cases had referred to the case of Agency to produce judi-
faced about 60 criminal he said. Superintendent Dayashankar Agnih- filed by the petitioners repre- Republic TV editor-in-chief cial records on transfer
cases over the years, of Police (Rural Area) otri, who said that the sented by influential lawyers of civil rights activist
then allegedly set up an has been asked to probe gangster had sum- and the law firms and seeking
Arnab Goswami where his Gautam Navlakha from
ambush for the police- the matter. moned his men directions to the registry to petition was listed for hearing Delhi to Mumbai. He
men, killing eight of He said an FIR would after learning from give equal treatment to the on the very next day of its was arrested in connec-
them in the early hours be lodged against the someone at the police cases filed by ordinary filing. tion with the Koregaon
of Friday. suspended policemen if station that policemen lawyers. Bhima case.
the inquiry showed were on their way to
● DISMISSING the petition, a
Kanpur’s Senior Lawyer Reepak Kansal had A bench comprising
Superintendent of their involvement in arrest him. sought action against the reg- bench imposed a cost of `100 Justices Arun Mishra,
Police Dinesh Kumar P. the attack at Bikru vil- Hours after the failed istry officers allegedly on him as a token to remind Navin Sinha and Indira
said more Chaubeypur lage. raid on Thursday- involved in the listing, clear- him of his responsibility Banerjee observed that
policemen have now A police officer said Friday night, police had ing, and the bench hunting. towards the noble profession. the Delhi High Court
been suspended. Three all three policemen had killed two alleged Dismissing the petition by had no jurisdiction in
police personnel have accompanied the then accomplices of the Reepak Kansal, a bench com- tioner who is an officer of this entertaining Na-
been suspended for Chaubeypur station gangster in an prising Justice Arun Mishra Court to file such a petition to valakha’s bail plea and
their suspected role in officer Vinay Tiwari in encounter. Vikas Dubey, and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer demoralise the Registry of this held that courts in
leakage of information, the raid, meant to however, remained on imposed a cost of `100 on him Court instead of recognising Mumbai had the juris-
he said. They are sub- arrest Vikas Dubey fol- the run. — PTI as a token to remind him of the task undertaken by them diction in the case.
his responsibility towards the even during a pandemic and The apex court also
noble profession and that he lockdown period,” the Court expunged it’s adverse
ought not to have preferred
such a petition.
said.
Holding him careless and not
remarks against the NIA
made in May 27 order
Advocate Kansal had said serious as inferred from his while dealing with the

Oust TMC govt, Nadda urges BJP workers that he had made a complaint
to the Secretary-General of the
top court against the illegal
activities of the registry but
there was no response.
conduct, the court said he had
filed the writ application
without due inquiries and
without collecting the requi-
site material.
bail plea.

RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DC
KOLKATA, JULY 6
With less than a year left
for the Assembly Election
in West Bengal, BJP presi-
dent J.P. Nadda on Monday
called for the Trinamul
Congress’ ouster from
power in the state.
Nadda told the state BJP
leadership at a virtual ral-
ly, “Now is the time to res-
tore the pride of Bengal fo-
llowing the path of Syama
Prasad Mookerjee. It has
to be brought back and ta-
ken to a height from a pol-
itical and educational per-
spective. For this, the pres-
ent government, which ha-
s been inflicting all types
of losses, has to be thrown
out lock, stock and barrel
to establish the BJP rule.”
He said, “It is our task
which we have to fulfill.
The politics of violence
and criminalisation has
become the order of the
day in the birthplace of
Mookerjee. We never
heard the word - cut
money which we hear
now.” Setting BJP’s agen-
da, Nadda alleged,
“Education has taken a
nosedive in West Bengal. It
should be our resolve to
restore the past glory in
education which Syama
Prasad Mookerjee
achieved by serving as the
vice-chancellor of the
Calcutta University at a
young age of 33.”
He claimed, “There is
nothing left in West Ben-
gal except vying for posts.
They are ready to compro-
mise on all fronts only to
remain in power. Crimi-
nalisation has grown so
much now that it has
become a crisis for Bengal.
We have to give the answer.
We have to fight this bat-
tle. Bengal was once
known for its conscience.
But conscience ends
where force is used. The
present government is
throttling the conscience
in Bengal. Political oppo-
nents are slapped with
cases even of narcotics
and put in jail. Our MPs
are not allowed to work in
corona crisis. They are put
under house arrest with
notices pasted outside.?”
He added, “While Syama
Prasad Mookerjee spoke
about national integrity
from regional aspirations,
the present Bengal CM
does not think it fit to
report the Corona cases to
Delhi. What type of feder-
alism are we working in?
At a time when our PM
believes in cooperative
federalism and takes all on
board to fight Corona, the
Bengal CM is otherwise.
Aayushmaan Bharat is for
the poor. But it is not
implemented in Bengal
because it’s from the
Centre.”
The petitioner lawyer had
referred to the case of Republic
TV Editor Arnab Goswami
where his petition was listed
for hearing on the very next
day of its filing.
In its 12-page judgment, the
Bench held that there was no
justification for the lawyer to
allege discrimination vis-a-vis
him and to favour any particu-
lar individual, particularly at a
time that the registry was
working with less strength
because of the ongoing pan-
demic caused by Covid-19.
“During such a hard time, it
was not expected of the peti-
“Such conduct was least
expected of an officer of this
court,” the court said,
stressing that the petitioner
ought to have been careful
before casting unnecessary
aspersions on the registry
and staff of the court. The
lawyer is always treated as
an officer of the court, the
Bench noted.
It said he ought to have
impleaded the Supreme
Court of India in the writ
through its secretary-gener-
al, but the omission indi-
cates careless conduct on the
part of the petitioner lawyer.
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020
pg 5

Douglass statue
IN BRIEF
‘Tragedy’ to use law to stifle Don’s July 11 rally
in New Hampshire
vandalised
Rochester (US): A statue of
abolitionist Frederick Dougl-
ass was ripped from its base
freedom in HK: US diplomat
Hong Kong, July 6: The
Washington, July 6: US
President Donald Trump
will host an outdoor cam-
paign rally in New Hamp-
Rally images showed the
stadium was filled to less
than a third of its capaci-
ty, despite the campaign
in Rochester on the annivers-
ary of one of his most famo-
us speeches, delivered in that
top American diplomat in
Hong Kong said Monday China criticizes US SOMALILAND shire, his team said Sun-
day, after his last rally
boasting of huge interest
ahead of time and more
city in 1852. Police said the that it is a “tragedy” to use AND TAIWAN drew criticism for ignori- than a million ticket requ-
statue of Douglass was taken
on Sunday from Maplewood
Park, a site along the Under-
ground Railroad where Doug-
the semi-autonomous Chi-
nese territory’s new nat-
ional security law to chip
away at “fundamental fre-
carrier drills in SCS ESTABLISH TIES
ng Covid-19 health guidel-
ines. The “Make America
Great Again” event will
take place on July 11 in
ests. Pictures of Donald
Trump’s return to the
White House in the midd-
le of the night, with a
lass and Harriet Tubman hel- edoms” in the Asian finan- Beijing, July 6: China on ● CHINA HAS sought to Taipei, July 6: Taiwan Portsmouth, his campai- worn-out air and his tie
ped shuttle slaves to freed- cial hub and create an Monday accused the US of shore up its claim to the has scored a rare diploma- gn said in a statement. undone, cemented the im-
om. The statue was found at “atmosphere of coercion flexing its military muscl- sea by building military tic victory in establishing “There will be ample age of a flawed comeback.
the brink of the Genesee Riv- and self-censorship”. es in the South China Sea relations with the indepe- access to hand sanitiser With just four months
er gorge about 50 feet from “Using the national secu- Hanscom Smith by conducting joint exerc-
bases on coral atolls. ndent region of Somalila- and all attendees will be left before election day,
its pedestal, police said. The- rity law to erode fundame- ises with two US aircraft nd. Intense pressure from provided a mask that they Trump — criticised for
re was damage to the base ntal freedoms and to crea- Beijing’s boldest step yet carrier groups in the stra- evolving area of operatio- China has reduced self-go- are strongly encouraged his response both to the
and a finger. te an atmosphere of coerc- to erase the legal firewall tegic waterway. ns.” China claims almost verning, democratic Tai- to wear,” the rally annou- Covid-19 pandemic and to
ion and self-censorship is between the former Briti- Foreign ministry spokes- all of the South China Sea wan to having just 15 dip- ncement said. anti-racism protests —
Idaho lake plane a tragedy for Hong Kong,”
Hanscom Smith, US cons-
sh colony and the mainla-
nd’s authoritarian Comm-
person Zhao Lijian said
the exercises were perfor-
and routinely objects to
any action by the US mili-
lomatic allies and being
excluded from the United
The billionaire Republi-
can, who is seeking re-ele-
has been lagging for
weeks in the polls behind
collision: 2 die ul general to Hong Kong
and Macau, told reporters.
unist Party system.
The government has also
med “totally out of ulteri-
or motives” and undermi-
tary in the region.
Five other governments
Nations and most other
international organisatio-
ction on November 3, had
made his grand return to
his Democratic rival, Joe
Biden. While there have
Coeur d’Alene (US): Two pe- “Hong Kong has been su- specified that popular pro- ned stability in the area. claim all or part of the sea, ns where Beijing has leve- the campaign trail in been calls for caution in
ople died in a plane crash Su- ccessful precisely because test slogan “Liberate Hong “Against such a backdrop, through which approxim- rage. China claims Taiw- Tulsa, Oklahoma on June interpreting the poll resu-
nday over Lake Coeur d’Ale- of its openness and we’ll Kong, revolution of our the US deliberately dispat- ately $5 trillion in goods an as its own territory to 20. The event quickly lts, observers have noted
ne in Idaho, and as many as do everything we can to time” has separatist conn- ched massive forces to co- are shipped every year. be brought under its cont- came under fire for flouti- that Biden’s lead over
six other people may be mis- maintain that.” The law, otations and is thus crimi- nduct large-scale military China has sought to sho- rol by military force if it ng health measures aim- Trump is far greater than
sing, the Kootenai County imposed last week followi- nalised. In public librari- exercises in the relevant re up its claim to the sea deems necessary. ed at slowing the spread the one held by Democ-
Sheriff’s Office said. Witness- ng anti-government prote- es, books by pro-democra- waters of the South China by building military bases Somaliland broke away of the Covid-19, such as ratic nominee Hillary
es said they saw two planes sts in Hong Kong last year, cy figures have been pull- Sea to flex its military mu- on coral atolls, leading the from Somalia in 1991 as wearing masks or main- Clinton at the same point
colliding above the water, makes secessionist, subve- ed from the shelves, inclu- scle,” Zhao said. US to sail warships throu- the country collapsed into taining social distancing. in 2016. — AFP
then crashing into the lake rsive, or terrorist activiti- ding by prominent pro-de- The US Navy said over gh the region in what it warlord-led conflict and
near Powderhorn Bay, accor- es illegal, as well as forei- mocracy activist Joshua the weekend that the USS calls freedom of operation has seen little of the viole-
ding to a release from the sh-
eriff’s office. The crash happ-
ened around 2:20 p.m. Multi-
gn intervention in the cit-
y’s internal affairs.
Any person taking part
Wong and politician Tanya
Chan. The authority that
runs the libraries said it
Nimitz and the USS Rona-
ld Reagan along with their
accompanying vessels and
missions.
Washington does not offi-
cially take a stand on the
nce and extremist attacks
that plague its neighbour
to the south. Chinese fore-
Israel sends spy
satellite into space
ple local agencies, including in activities such as shout- was reviewing the books aircraft conducted exercis- rival territorial claims in ign ministry spokespers-
the sheriff’s marine teams, lo- ing slogans or holding up in light of the new legisla- es “designed to maximize the region, but is closely on Zhao Lijian said, “Chi-
cal fire departments and the banners and flags calling tion. Many pro-democracy air defence capabilities, allied with several of the na firmly opposes Taiwan
US Coast Guard responded for the city’s independence shops that stood in solidar- and extend the reach of claimants and insists that and Somaliland establish-
to the crash, the Spokane is violating the law regard- ity with protesters have long-range precision mari- the waters and the air- ing an official agency or Jerusalem, July 6: Isr- and immediate so they re-
Spokesman-Review reported. less of whether violence is removed pro-democracy time strikes from carrier- space above be free to all having any form of offici- ael’s Defence Ministry quire constant monito-
used. Critics see it as sticky notes. — AP based aircraft in a rapidly countries. — AP al exchanges.” — AP announced the successful ring,” said Amnon Hara-
launch of a new spy satel- ri, the head of the mini-
lite early on Monday, giv- stry’s Space and Satellite

Oz moves to seal off Victoria as outbreak worsens

ing the country what offi- Administration.
cials said was an addi- Israel does not confirm
tional tool in keeping tabs how many satellites are
on its many threats operational, but Harari
across the region. mentioned at least two ot-
Melbourne, July 6: Australia will record 127 new cases Monday as the The Ofek 16 joins a fleet hers, the Ofek 5, launched
effectively seal off the state of
Victoria from the rest of the count-
ry, authorities said Monday,
announcing unprecedented meas-
virus spread through Melbourne —
including a cluster in several dense-
ly populated apartment blocks.
Victorian Premier Daniel
VIRUS: EGYPT GAGS CRITICS, NABS DOCS
Cairo, July 6: A doctor ures. A pregnant doctor the health crisis by the have been warned by
of Israeli spy satellites
that have been launched
over the past two decades.
While officials did not
in 2002, and the Ofek 11,
launched in 2016.
“You can assume that
once you have more than
ures to tackle a worrying surge in Andrews described the decision to arrested after writing arrested after a col- government of administrators to keep name specific threats, one satellite in parallel in
Covid-19 cases. close off the state as “the smart call, an article about Egypt’s league used her phone President Abdel Fattah quiet or face punish- arch-enemy Iran, which the sky, you achieve be-
For the first time since the epi- the right call at this time, given the fragile health system. A to report a suspected el-Sissi. ment. One foreign Israel accuses of trying to tter visit times over the
demic began, the border between significant challenges we face in pharmacist picked up Covid-19 case. At least 10 doctors and correspondent fled the develop nuclear weapons, targets of interest,” he
Australia’s two most populous stat- containing this virus”. Police said from work after posting As Egyptian authori- six journalists have country fearing arrest, is first among them. “All said. The satellite was
es — Victoria and New South Wales they will use “drones and other aer- online about a shortage ties fight the swelling been arrested since the and another two have the group of satellites are developed by the ministry
— will be closed overnight Tuesday, ial surveillance” to patrol the bor- of protective gear. An Covid-19 outbreak, virus hit Egypt in been summoned for being used to monitor along with the state-
officials from both states said. der, with fines and up to six months editor taken from his security agencies have February, according to reprimand over “pr- any threats on the state of owned Israel Aerospace
Home to more than 6.6 million in jail for people who breach the home after questioning tried to stifle criticism rights groups. Other ofessional violations”. Israel, which as you know Industries.
people, Victoria announced a order. — AP official Covid-19 fig- about the handling of health workers say they — AP are sometimes far away — AP

COFFEE-BREAK
CALVIN AND HOBBES|Bill Watterson

Your day today By Dr C.V.B. Subrahmanyam QUICK CROSSWORD

Aries: Today, people appreciate your deci-
sions. Your personality and charms win you
favours. Expect support from seniors. Don’t
decide without thinking first.
Taurus: Maintain communications with peo-
ple. Your finances and position at work may
improve. Expect long-awaited good news THE WIZARD OF ID|Parker and Hartsd
from afar.
Gemini: Be cautious today. It’s a good day to
relax with friends and family. Domestic prob-
lems may crop up and your routine may be
disturbed fully.
Cancer: Expect unknown hindrance. Avoid bad
people; none of your friends will help if you
get in trouble. Your social surroundings will
strengthen due to family.
Leo: Parental guidance is essential in your
success. Make yourself internally fit. Your
lover desires your undivided attention and ARCHIE|Bill Henry Scarpelli & craig boldman
love. A good day for teachers.
Virgo: Colleagues try to influence your thinking.
Be cautious. Romance blooms through a pleas-
ure trip. Your mental peace depends on your
tackling domestic issues. Kids demand attention. Across 1. Rider's straps (5) YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
1.Brought to mind (8) 2. Obey (6)
You share your b’day with 7. Slang (5) 3. Endure (4) Across: 1. Isolated,
6. Stew, 7. Bovine,
M.S. Dhoni, an Indian international cricketer who captained 8. Hindu teacher (5) 4. Precise (5) 9. Llama, 11. Edges,
the Indian national team in limited-overs formats from 2007 9. Finally (6) 5. Personal determina- 12. Nears, 13.
to 2016 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014. He is the only Adder, 16. Enrich,
10. Engrave with acid (4) tion, resolution (9) 18. Iron,
captain in the history of Cricket to win all ICC trophies. 19. Incensed.
12. Long ago (4) 6. Reduced weight of
Libra: Expect changes in your plans, but don’t let 14. Knotted mass (6) (9) Down: 1. Insolence, BLONDIE|Dean Young and John Marshall
17. Build (5) 11. Vehicle shelter (6) 2. Opera, 3. Tuba, 4.
others bully you into anything. Visit distant Divided, 5. Son, 8.
places. Today’s partially auspicious for you. You’ll 18. Living (5) 13. Dairy product (5) Enshrined, 10.
19. Most clever (8) 15. Culpability (5) Martini, 14. Darts,
succeed at work. Friends may behave differently. 15. Chic, 17.
Down 16. Agitate (4) Now.
Scorpio: You may achieve the desired success
at work. People working in government/MNC
organisation may get appreciated. Avoid new Word Mine
meetings.
jumble
Sagittarius: Expect success in new projects and
a sudden gain of money. Today’s for romance
and affairs — fall in love. You may enjoy com-
C
forts and luxuries with your beloved. SHA
Capricorn: Don’t think of work, love and prob-
lems; do something else. Find out problems that
hinder your overall growth. Depression could
SETLM ANDY CAPP |Reg Smythe

TODAY’S RATINGS: 32 AVERAGE; 36

affect interest in activities. GOOD; 40 OUTSTANDING
How many words of four or more
Aquarius: Involve yourself in creative work letters can you make from the letters
for energising. Mental agility helps you shown in today’s puzzle? In making a
word, each letter may be used once
handle additional responsibilities. Expect only. Each word must contain the
work to increase. letter at the top of the pyramid. There
should be at least one nine letter
word. Plurals, foreign words and
Pisces: Follow the path of dedicated medita- proper names are not allowed.
tion and righteousness to enjoy life’s joys. If scathe, schema, sect, talc, teach

you fall in lower tax slabs, invest schemes match, MATCHLESS, sachet, satchel, scale, scat,
cleat, each, etch, lace, latch, leach, mace, mach,

that ensure high returns despite being tax-

chaste, chat, cheat, chess, chest, clam, clash, class,
cash, cast, caste, castle, chalet, chase, chasm,

able. Think before expressing your thoughts.

ANSWERS: ache, acme, calm, came, camel, case,

TARZAN|Edgar Rice Burroughs

J
bridge . William Fulbright said,
"We must dare to think
PHILLIP 'unthinkable' thoughts.
We must learn to explore all
ALDER the options and possibilities
that confront us in a complex
CONSIDER and rapidly changing world."
At the bridge table, learn
OPTIONS to explore all of the options.
In today's deal, for example,
BEFORE West was defending against
five spades. He led a low
did West lead to trick three? which would have been a and a club to the ace, what
The auction contained slight overbid. North's dou- did West do?
some debatable choices. ble indicated three-card He was sorely tempted to
East could have overcalled spade support. When East return a club, hoping East
two no-trump to show at sacrificed in five hearts over could trump it. But first he
least 5-5 in the red suits. four spades, North should explored his options. He con-
Although South had only 2
points, he did have a six-card
have doubled. That contract
would have probably gone
tinued with the heart king.
Declarer had to ruff on the
spade suit. (A response of
two spades would not have
down three, minus 500 -- a
good save against a vulnera-
board, and then West's
spade queen was the setting
been weak in his system.)
West's raise to two hearts
ble game. North-South could
have taken one spade, two
trick.

PLUNGING heart. East won with his ace

and shifted to the club eight.
After taking the trick, what
was a tad cautious. He could
have cue-bid two clubs to
diamonds, a diamond ruff
and one club.
Copyright United Feature
Syndicate
show a limit raise in hearts, After a heart to the ace (Asia Features)
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020 | CHENNAI
pg 6

7 JULY 2020

China’s Bhutan claim to Subhani

build pressure on India
C
hina’s recent discovery that it has a border dispute with tiny
Bhutan, covering the eastern part of that country, soon after its
People’s Liberation Army troops intruded into eastern Ladakh
and set up some posts there, is a clear attempt by Beijing to rachet
up pressure on New Delhi even as the two Asian giants are engaged in dis-
cussions on how to defuse their ongoing crisis on the Line of Actual
Control. Over three decades, from 1984 to 2016, China and Bhutan have
held over 24 rounds of boundary talks, where the two sides have tried to
sort out their differences over areas in western and central Bhutan, but at
no time had the Chinese raised any claims to territory in eastern Bhutan,
and it had simply not figured in their bilateral negotiations. This “claim”
first emerged at a virtual meeting of the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) council in June as it was considering a Bhutanese application for a

Study Ancient China to LETTERS

grant for its Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, located in eastern Bhutan, when
the Chinese representative raised objections on the ground that it was a
“disputed” territory, to which the Bhutanese naturally objected, saying
the sanctuary, in its Trashigang province, was part of the “integral and
sovereign territory of Bhutan”. The GEF then voted to allow Bhutan the
DISENGAGEMENT
funding it sought, but the Chinese would not allow the matter to die down

learn to tackle Beijing

that easily. It may be recalled, incidentally, that three years ago, in 2017, It is highly satisfying that
the Chinese PLA had intruded into the Doklam plateau, which is the Chinese have agreed for
Bhutanese territory, and began building a road there, and it was only after
Indian forces deployed in strength that the standoff could be defused after complete disengagement
over two and a half months. This year too, there have been reports of the and started pulling back
Chinese trying to build another road that could pose a threat to India’s their troops to the point of
Siliguri Corridor.
The timing of China’s raising the pitch over its claims to Bhutanese ter- China’s Ming planners wrongly LAC. The fact that they have
ritory last weekend is significant too – coming just a day after Prime assume that they are
Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile visit to Indian troops deployed in
the Ladakh sector, where he publicly warned China (though without nam-
Manish Tewari Dynasty’s actively
engaged the out-
more resilient as a people
in terms of their ability
removed the illegal struc-
tures also shows that the
ing any country) that the “era of expansionism is over”. China, though side world. It dis- to take punishment as message conveyed by our
quick to deny any expansionist ambitions, started ramping up the Bhutan patched huge mar- compared to us.
PM through his surprise visit
border issue the very next day. New Delhi needs to take this matter State of the Union itime fleets on
It often makes me won-
extremely seriously – it is not a threat to Bhutan alone, but a clear and pre- der what would have to Leh has worked out won-
sent danger to our national security. Eastern Bhutan abuts Arunachal expeditions across been the trajectory of our ders to make them feel our
Pradesh, in which lies a major chunk of the 3,488-km Line of Actual Asia and right liberation movement if

O
Control, and in any case China disputes India’s sovereignty over the state, ne of the myths
which it refers to as “Southern Tibet”. that China has sed-
As part of its overall long-term strategy, China is systematically target- ulously perpetrat-
ing all our smaller neighbours in a bid to deter them from developing ed about its current
friendly ties with India. Bhutan has historically been extremely close to pugnaciousness with its
India, especially in the conduct of its foreign policy, and all its negotia- neighbors is the ‘Century
tions with Beijing, for example, are through the two countries’ embassies of humiliation’ that it
in New Delhi. Similarly, amid an ongoing political crisis in Nepal, with its ostensibly endured from
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli facing flak from within his party for, the commencement of
among other things, mishandling relations with India, the Chinese ambas- the First Opium War in
sador’s meddling in domestic issues is worth watching. 1839 till the establish-
ment of the Communist
state in 1949.
First Opium War.
British traders were
also flustered as a grave
trade imbalance subsist-
ed between the Qing’s
China and Great Britain
due to the latter’s astro-
nomical demands for tea,
porcelain, and silk. Tea
import alone amounted
to over 23 million pounds
in 1800. The annual tab
was 3.6 million pounds
down to the coast
of Africa. However,
it later retreated
into seclusion for
two centuries.
inscribed the words
‘avenge humiliation’ on
every page of his diary
for twenty long years.
Therefore, a failure to
discern how central the
our overlords were the
Japanese rather than the
British. Imperial Japan
was the most tyrannical
power in the first 45
years of the twentieth
Century before two atom
bombs tamed them.
However, we shall leave
that for another day.
Returning to the pre-
sent: Are there any
lessons that we need to
determination. While our
military personnel deserve
adulation for the valour they
exhibited, the speech of
Modi stating that the era of
expansionism is over imput-
ing the Chinese with the
motive of trying to indulge
in land grabbing on all sides

A healthcare dilemma Xi Jinping, while speak-

ing at the 19th National
Congress of the
paid in silver. To offset
this imbalance,
British started pushing
the
spectre of humiliation is
to the whole idea of mod-
ern China would entail
draw from China’s self
flagellation narrative to
fine tune to our border
has woken up the world to
the reality and resulted in
them ganging up against

A
video recording of a lady government doctor, who was not discharged Communist Party of
by a private hospital in the Old City of Hyderabad after she alleged that China, in 2017 bemoaned
the bills were “exorbitant”, went viral, prompting the Telangana health the fact that Ancient
department officials to “rescue” her. China, once a great
The entire episode raises crucial questions over healthcare as an institution, empire, was plumbed
an eco-system, a fundamental right, and over the yawning gap between want into the dimness of
and availability, because with some variation, this story could have been of domestic turmoil by for-
any Indian city or state. eign aggression. Its pros-
Two stark realities face us – government hospitals are inefficient, corrupt
and so unrealiable, so unworthy of trust, that most people including politi-
perous people
reduced to penury, torn
were
cians, bureaucrats and even government doctors avoid it; even as private sec- asunder, and compelled
tor hospitals are seen as dishonest, commonly perceived as “businesses” to subsist in destitution
which are compromised on ethics, where professionals use fear psychosis to and despondency for
force needless extensive testing and redundant expensive care. over 100 years.
Is it fair for people to expect the private sector to sell wares at prices fixed or A bit of history may just
overseen by the government? If the government was so efficient as to advise, be in order. China’s Ming
would it not use its own wisdom to achieve better results in its own healthcare Dynasty’s (1368-1644)
establishments? Should we be blind to a social faultline, where for so long we actively engaged the out-
have accepted substandard public healthcare because only the very poor were side world. It dispatched
using it? Has quality become an issue only after the private sector bills have huge maritime fleets on
become unaffordable even for middle classes?Most customers in corporate expeditions across Asia
hospitals complain of astronomical bills; common phraseology describes it as and right down to the
“extorting” and “bleeding”. Telangana Health Minister Etala Rajender gave a coast of Africa. However,
sermon on “profit-seeking” hospitals, never mind a transparent account of the Ming’s China later
public healthcare budgetary spends.Do we risk killing the private sector med- retreated into seclusion
icine by stifling it with public control? Or should we indeed “tame the beast”. for two centuries.
The answers will define our nation’s future. And we need them urgently. Consequently, it missed
the great intellectual
DECCAN CHRONICLE renaissance and industri-
alisation that swept
ADITYA SINHA K. SUDHAKAR Europe and later the
Editor Printer & Publisher America’s.
R. MOHAN
Resident Editor In 1839, China declared
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: war on drugs by
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254747, impounding over 1,000
22254748
Coimbatore: 77 Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore 641009. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256
tons of opium from
British dealers in Canton
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040)
27805256. (modern Guangzhou).
Bengaluru: 5th Floor, BMTC Commercial Complex, 80 Ft. Road, Koramangala, Bangalore-560095. Ph: The British drug cartels
08043460500; Fax: 080-22960551/52/55 pressured London into
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony,
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 demanding that Beijing
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) recompense them the full
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 street value of these nar-
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 cotics. The Chinese
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903,
Fax: 08554-276904 emperor naturally
snubbed this egregious
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore.
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 extortion attempt. In
Karimnagar: Survey No. 1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar 505 001. 1840, British warships
Phone: (0878 ) 2228908; Telefax (0878) 2220433
Kochi: No. 3-B, 3rd Floor, DD TRADE TOWER, Kaloor-Kadavanthara Road, Ernakulam, laid many Chinese
Ph: 0484-4039408 coastal towns to waste.
British troops slaugh-
Kozhikode: No 6/1002 E, First Floor City Mall, Opp. YMCA Kannur Road, Kozhikode - 673 001
tered even non-combat-
Fax : 0495 4019018
Thiruvananthapuram: St Joseph Press Thycaud post, Cotton Hills, Thiruvananthapuram-14, Ph: 0471-
ants along the coastline.
2735105/6/7, Fax: 0471-4016112 Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08ss
Thus, commenced the
opium into China that
they sourced from India.
With their defeat in the
First Opium War, the
Chinese were compelled
to cede Hong Kong to the
British and open five
other treaty ports to
international trade. They
soon had to offer the
same terms to the other
western imperialists.
During the Second
Opium War in 1860, the
British chastened the
Chinese by raising
Beijing's Summer Palace
to the ground. The ruth-
less pillage of the palace
that contained a gargan-
tuan number of priceless
artifacts was to psycho-
logically bludgeon the
Chinese into submission.
The decades that fol-
lowed seared the Chinese
ego further. China lost
one third of of its territo-
ry to invasions and tens
of millions Chinese per-
ished in internal conflict.
The second World War
left another thirty-five
million Chinese dead.
Many scholars hold
that the Chinese
Communist Party has
cynically perpetuated the
‘shame’ narrative to sub-
serve its own ends.
However, the fact is that
this ignominy was
painfully felt even by the
Nationalist leader
Chiang Kai-shek, who
In 1993, an
attempt was
made in the Sino-
Indian Peace and
Tranquility agree-
ment to establish
the LAC.
making strategic and tac-
tical miscalculations.
However, no country
can base its present on
historical injustices and
humiliations, howsoever
traumatic they might
have been. If China suf-
fered one hundred years
of humiliation at the
hands of Western imperi-
alists, India experienced
1300 years of dishonor at
the hands of foreign
invaders, beginning with
Muhammad bin Qasim
in 705 AD and ending
with the British in 1947.
Can or should this
become India’s raison
d'être in its dealings with
its neighbors? The
answer is no. India has
not even been vociferous
in demanding repara-
tions from the British for
two hundred years of
rapaciousness if you take
the Battle of Plassey in
1957 as the inflection
point. China needs to
come out of its persecu-
tion complex.
There is another prob-
lem of how China per-
ceives itself vis-à-vis
India. From 1911 to 1949,
China went through a
murderous civil war and
a brutal conflict with the
Japanese before the
‘Communist Shangri-La
‘could be established.
Subsequently, it went
through the murderous
experiments of the Great
Leap Forward and the
Cultural revolution.
Conversely, the estab-
lishment of a liberal
democracy in India was a
relatively less bloody
experience. It perhaps
makes Chinese strategic
strategy? The foremost is
that even a weak China
did not except the British
overtures in 1899 when
CM McDonald attempted
to delineate India’s
Northern and China’s
western border respec-
tively. In 1913, they
refused to sign off on the
MacMohan Line at the
Simla Conference. From
the Chinese point of
view, the borders remain
fuzzy for over a century
now. They have the
patience to play the long
game. We must be tena-
cious enough to go toe-to
toe and nose to nose.
In 1993, an attempt was
made in the Sino-Indian
Peace and Tranquility
agreement to establish
the concept of the Line of
Actual Control (LAC). Its
non-delineation on the
map and non-demarca-
tion on the ground, how-
ever, has rendered it vir-
tually useless today.
How then would this
impasse substantively
end even if the Corp
Commander-level talks
are temporarily able to
arrive at a modus-viven-
di? It would only recede
when the Chinese are
made to realize by a con-
cert of Asian powers that
there will be no Middle
Kingdom in the 21st
Century. China cannot
rise alone.
The author is a lawyer,
Member of Parliament
and former Union infor-
mation and broadcasting
minister. The views
expressed are personal.
Twitter handle @man-
ishtewari
China. It is not only a mili-
tary victory but also a diplo-
matic one.
V. Rajagopalan
Chennai
RURAL DEMAND
IT’S INTERESTING to note that
rural demand in the country is
improving. It is believed that
increase in demand for agricultural
goods, should boost the demand in
the secondary sector (manufactur-
ing) and tertiary sector (services).To
put it differently, rural people with
increased income will demand goods
and services from the other two sec-
tors and this would help achieve all-
round development in the country.
But the economic situation in the
urban areas is pathetic, thanks to
intense lockdown in many states due
to Covid-19. The salaried class, entre-
preneurs and edupreneurs have to
bear the brunt of the severe recession
in the country. The fact that teachers
in some places do some manual jobs
to eke out their livelihood is testimo-
ny to that.
S. Ramakrishnasayee
Chennai
GST LESSON
WHEN GST (Good and Services
Tax) was rolled out in 2016, it was
hailed by many as Independent
India’s major indirect tax reforms as
it promised a one nation-one tax with
simplified tax structure and higher
revenues to the state exchequer. But,
with its multiple tax structure and
tardy progress when it comes to
rationalisation of tax rates, GST sys-
tem is struggling to meet its stated
objectives. Concrete steps towards
the end of simplifying GST tax struc-
ture and rationalisation of tax rates
are the need of hour.
M. Jeyaram
Sholavandan

We have a full-blown epi-

F
or writers it has become diffi-
cult to pick which disaster to
write about this week. There
Aakar are so many. An embarrassment of
riches, or actually whatever the
Patel opposite of it is.
Let us start with health. On
Friday, 22,000 Indians tested Covid
positive and over 440 died of the dis-
ease. We are registering 10 per cent
of global cases now and are now the
third highest in terms of the number
of cases. By the end of July we will
have 50,000 cases a day, the same
has few high frequency indicators
that can tell us the current state of
the economy and the change. The
best such indicator we have is auto-
mobile sales, because at the begin-
ning of each month manufacturers
put out the number of units they
have sold to dealers. We can com-
pare the number to the same month
last year to see how things are going.
Passenger vehicle sales in January
2020 dropped to 2.6 lakh from 2.8
lakh in January 2019. This is before
Covid-19, and two months before the
demic, an economic reces-
sion with the highest
unemployment in Indian
history, and a powerful
enemy whose aggressive
actions we did not antici-
pate.
economy, and this pain began before
the lockdown. The government has
not admitted it, though the data is
clear, and therefore the government
Actual Control with China was set-
tled. He was wrong. Now we are
moving troops to the area from the
Pakistan front and rushing to buy
new warplanes.
Strategic affairs analyst Praveen
Sawhney has reported the reason
that the talks with China are taking
so long and not progressing. It is that
the Chinese want India to acknowl-
edge the current positions that its
Army is occupying, meaning a shift
in the LAC. Of course this can’t be
conceded by us, but it cannot even
refusal to accept the reality for what-
ever reason, whether it is embar-
rassment or the PM’s image. We
could have mobilised support
around the world if we had said
openly and clearly that China was
violating the LAC, but there’s no
point in crying over spilt milk. We
still have the opportunity when
Prime Minister Modi goes to the G-7
summit in a few months, though it is
not clear if China will have cement-
ed its intrusion by then.
So we have a full-blown epidemic,

Indians must number as the United States now

does, and 1,000 daily deaths. By the
end of August, it will be one lakh
lockdown. Commercial vehicle
sales, meaning trucks and other
transport and cargo vehicles that
is not doing anything to correct it.
The pain will continue, and our
economy will suffer.
be discussed properly because the
Prime Minister has said there is no
intrusion, while the defence minis-
an economic recession with the
highest unemployment in Indian
history, and a powerful enemy

unite to face cases a day. At that point, how many

doctors workers will show up for
work and how many will be able to
industry requires, fell from 87,000
units in January 2019 to 75,000 in
January this year.
As if these two problems were not
substantial enough, we face the
gravest strategic threat of the last
ter and the external affairs minister
have conceded that China has vio-
lated the LAC and are on our side.
whose aggressive and offensive
actions we did not anticipate.
At the beginning of the year I

a huge threat is something to consider.

There is no point in thinking about
September and October, but consid-
Two-wheeler sales fell from 15 lakh
to 13 lakh. Across the middle class,
the lower middle class and industry,
two decades. China is bullying us
and occupying parts of Ladakh that
we used to patrol till March. We do
Mr Modi's visit to Ladakh on Friday
was to correct that confusion. His
warlike speech was to confirm that
would have said that the biggest
problem in our nation was the fact
that the ruling party was trying to

to our nation er that the places that are going

through the peaks now are Delhi,
Mumbai and Chennai, which have
the best healthcare facilities in
India. When the disease spreads
rapidly in places without urban
healthcare, what will come is not
difficult to imagine.
Let us turn to the economy. India
there is a decline. In February com-
mercial vehicle sales fell by 32 per
cent, and passenger vehicle sales by
seven per cent.
After zero sales in April, we should
have had a huge bump in May and
June, but both months are negative
in substantial terms. There is some-
thing that is hurting the Indian
not know why China is doing this
and we do not know what it wants.
This government has a former spy
as its national security adviser, a
position that is usually taken by
scholars. We have a Chief of Defence
Staff whose focus has been on the
counterinsurgency in Kashmir and
was confident that the Line of
the threat is real and the Chinese
need to go back. He has still refused
to name China, but perhaps that will
divide Indians. In the long term that
remains our primary self-induced
worry. But for now, we have to unite
come soon as it becomes obvious to combat the immediate threat to
that we have a long and difficult our people and our nation.
road ahead to get the Chinese to
vacate.
One must say here that we have The writer is a senior journalist
lost valuable time because of our and columnist
 TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020 | CHENNAI
quick Q1: IT revenue fall
BITES of over 5% likely
INDICATORS % Citigroup Inc sharply
Sensex 36,487.28 1.29
Nifty 50 10,763.65 1.47
S&P 500* 3,171.65 1.33
Dollar (`) 74.68 -0.05
Pound Sterling (`) 93.27 -0.25
Euro (`) 84.29 -0.47
Gold (10gm)* (`) 48,964▼42 0.08
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 43.14 0.34
IN 10-Yr bond yield 5.836 -0.009
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 0.697 0.026
* As of 9:30 PM IST
Covid to add
`1.67 lakh cr to
delinquencies
Covid-19 and the "associated
policy response" will result in
Rs 1.67 lakh crore of debt owed
by top-500 corporates turning
delinquent by March 2022. This
will take the cumulative quan-
tum of delinquencies to Rs 4.21
lakh crore, or about 11 per cent
of overall debt, India Ratings
and Research said in a report.
It said before the onset of the
pandemic, it had estimated
debt of Rs 2.54 lakh crore to
turn delinquent till FY'22.
Adani, Gateway
resolve dispute
over Snowman
Adani Logistics Ltd (ALL) and
Gateway Distriparks Ltd (GDL)
said they have resolved their
dispute over sale of controlling
stake in Snowman Logistics.
Adani Logistics will continue as
a minority shareholder with 26
per cent stake in Snowman
Logistics. The firms said ALL
will not have any right to nomi-
nate or appoint any director on
the board of Snowman and will
not be involved in the day-to-
day operations.
Airtel to give
preference to
`499-plus users
Bharti Airtel said it will give
preference to platinum mobile
customers, who pay Rs 499
and above per month for post-
paid connection, on its 4G net-
work. The platinum customers
will get better 4G speed on
Bharti Airtel network compared
to other customers. "Airtel has
deployed advanced technolo-
gies that give its Platinum
mobile customers preference
on the network,” the company
said in a statement.
MG Motor opens
bookings
for Hector Plus
MG Motor India opened book-
ings for its multi-purpose vehi-
cle Hector Plus, which will be
launched later this month. The
firm said the six-seater vehicle
with two 'captain seats' in the
middle row can be booked
with payment of Rs 50,000.
MG Motor India president & MD
Rajeev Chaba had earlier stat-
ed that the new model will be
costlier than the company's
existing sport utility vehicle
Hector by about Rs 1 lakh.
Printed & Published by
K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed &
Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses
situated at SP-3 Developed Plot,
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 Companies may skip guidance again
ASHWIN J PUNNEN
MUMBAI, JULY 6
Hit by Covid-led lockdown
in developed markets and
demand destruction in key
verticals, Indian IT compa-
nies are likely to report 5-
8.5 per cent quarter-on-
quarter (QoQ) revenue
decline in the first quarter
of FY21.
Analysts fear that the
limited visibility on Covid-
19 recovery, coupled with
the risk of a potential sec-
ond wave, will make it
highly challenging for
companies to provide guid-
ance on revenue growth.
Deal signings in the past
quarter and commentary
around the pipeline are
likely to be the key focus
areas for investors as this,
according to experts, is the
latest proxy for demand.
In the fourth quarter of
FY20, despite the impact of
Covid, deal bookings of
Indian companies remai-
ned resilient, with net new
signings showing a strong
increase.
Moreover, as this would
be the first full quarter
where the majority of asso-
ciates would be working
from home, operational
metrics (e.g., utilisations
and general & administra-
tive expenses) in the new
normal would also be keen-
ly watched, analysts said.
In fact, PE multiples of
IT companies will be large-
ly dictated by growth in
global IT services spend-
ing, which has ranged from
2-6 per cent from 2010-2019.
It is expected that after a
sharp decline in CY2020,
industry analysts forecast
Rossari Mylan to sell generic
Biotech to
launch remdesivir at `4,800
`500-cr IPO
New Delhi, July 6: After
a lull of nearly four
months, the IPO market is
likely to see some buzz
next week with the
launch of specialty chem-
icals manufacturer
Rossari Biotech's Rs 500-
crore initial share-sale,
market sources said.
This would be the first
company to brave the cur-
rent volatile markets.
There has been a lull in
the IPO market since the
SBI Cards & Payment
Services issue that closed
on March 5.
Rossari Biotech's IPO
comprises fresh issuance
of shares to the tune of Rs
150 crore and sale of more
than 1 crore equity shares
by the company's promot-
ers through offer-for-sale.
It raised Rs 100 crore in
a pre-IPO placement in
March, sources said.
The shares were offered
at Rs 425 apiece and the
IPO price is expected to be
in the same range. At this
price, the company will
have a market capitaliza-
tion of Rs 2,200 crore,
they added.
— PTI
Oyo slashing footprint in virus-hit Japan China puts checks on large
TAKAHIKO HYUGA &
PAVEL ALPEYEV
JULY 6
Oyo Hotels, one of the
largest startups in Soft-
Bank Group Corp's portfo-
lio, is dramatically shrink-
ing its footprint and head-
count in Japan as bookings
in the country plunge due
to travel restrictions.
The Indian startup
slashed its regional pres-
ence by closing offices in
provincial centres Sapp-
oro, Sendai, Nagano,
Hiroshima and Omiya at
the end of June, chief busi-
ness officer Ryota Tano-
zaki said in an interview.
Oyo is also looking to
downsize its Tokyo head-
quarters, which occupy
two floors in an office
building walking distance
from the Imperial Palace,
he added. The moves
extend the company's ongo-
ing effort to downsize
global IT services spending
to accelerate to 6-8 per cent.
The underlying assump-
tion for growth seems to be
based on pull-forward of
digital and technology
transformation by clients.
IT companies’ growth
prospects will brighten up
if this assumption does
play out.
Part of the optimism is
based on commentary of
clients across verticals that
intend to accelerate tech-
nology transformation.
For example Inditex has
outlined $1 billion digital
spending over the next
three years to increase
online sales to 25 per cent
from 14 per cent currently.
A recent survey of Fortune
500 companies indicated
nearly 75 per cent of the
CEOs intend to accelerate
technology transforma-
tion.
“Companies may incre-
ase technology budgets
post-Covid to facilitate
accelerated adoption of
digital transformation pro-
grammes funded by a cut
in other expenses.
Filtering of higher tech-
nology spends to IT servic-
es can lead to medium-
Bengaluru, July 6:
Drugmaker Mylan NV
said on Monday it would
launch its generic version
of Gilead Sciences Inc's
Covid-19 treatment
remdesivir in India this
month at Rs 4,800 per 100
mg vial, as infections
surge in the world's third
worst-hit country.
The Drug Controller
General of India
approved Mylan's remde-
sivir version, to be called
Desrem, for the treatment
of suspected or laborato-
ry confirmed severe inci-
dences of Covid-19 in
adults and children, the
company said in a state-
ment.
Mylan's version comes
after two Indian drug-
makers, Cipla Ltd and pri-
vately held Hetero Labs
Ltd, launched their gener-
ic versions of the drug.
Cipla will price its ver-
sion, Cipremi, at less than
Rs 5,000, while Hetero has
priced its version,
Covifor, at Rs 5,400.
Gilead has priced
remdesivir at $2,340 per
patient for wealthier
nations. It has agreed to
send nearly all of its sup-
ply of the drug to the
United States over the
transactions after bank runs
internationally as it adapts
to a much smaller tourism
industry in the wake of the
coronavirus outbreak.
Oyo is encouraging its
employees to quit, offering
up to a four-month sever-
ance, according to a person
asking not to be named.
The changes in Japan are
part of a global retrench-
ment by the startup that
just a few months ago
looked set to become the
world's largest hotel opera-
tor by room count. But the
company's expansion prov-
ed overly aggressive and it
term growth above long-
term average of 4-5 per
cent for global IT services
and drive a re-rating for
the sector,” says Kotak
Securities in a report.
Acceleration in digital
transformation spends
offers upside potential to
growth estimates as firms
across verticals are adapt-
ing business and operating
models to the new normal
leading to increased adop-
tion of WFH technologies,
online platforms, collabo-
ration tools and digital
technologies.
According to analysts,
margin disruption should
not be as severe as feared.
“Our recent interactions
with companies suggest
that pricing pressure was
not to the extent that was
anticipated earlier,” said
Motilal Oswal Financial in
a report. “Street appears to
be focusing on recovery
path which is also visible
in strong rally in the sector.
P/E multiples of select
stocks have expanded even
above pre-covid levels. We
see limited absolute
returns in the sector for
most stocks” said Centrum
in a report.
next three months, stir-
ring concerns about avail-
ability elsewhere.
Remdesivir is in high
demand after the intra-
venously administered
medicine helped to short-
en hospital recovery
times in a clinical trial.
On Friday, it got condi-
tional approval from the
European Commission
for use in severe Covid-19
patients.
Gilead has signed licens-
ing agreements with
India's Dr. Reddy's Labor-
atories Ltd, Jubilant Life
Sciences Ltd, Syngene
International Ltd and
Zydus Cadila, listed as
Cadila Healthcare Ltd, to
make and sell remdesivir.
Cases of the novel coro-
navirus in India stood at
697,413 on Monday, health
ministry data showed.
—Reuters
was scaling back even
before the coronavirus out-
break, slashing staff in
China by about half and
reducing its global work-
force by about 5,000 people.
Oyo furloughed further
thousands of employees as
the virus spread and is now
offering them stakes in the
company at a steep dis-
count to make up for a drop
in pay.
Japan has been a market
of particular import to the
hotel-booking startup,
whose founder and CEO
Ritesh Agarwal earned
Citi cuts
GDP growth
forecast
SHWETHA SUNIL
JULY 6
lowered its forecast for
India's economy as the
coronavirus pandemic
shows no sign of slow-
ing.
The nation's gross
domestic product will
contract 6 per cent in the
fiscal year to March
2021, steeper than Citi's
previous estimate for a
3.5 per cent decline, its
analysts led by Samiran
Chakraborty, chief India
economist in Mumbai,
wrote in a report to
clients. The revision is
largely due to a cut to
the fiscal first-quarter
forecast—with the econ-
omy seen slumping 21
per cent during the peri-
od against 16 per cent
estimated earlier.
"The delay in flatten-
ing the curve has been
one of the primary rea-
sons for our forecast
revision," Chakraborty
and Baqar M. Zaidi
wrote. "The spread of
the virus has largely fol-
lowed the 'Most Severe'
scenario in our fore-
casts."
Citi's estimate is severe
than the International
Monetary Fund's fore-
cast for a 4.5 per cent
decline this year and
Goldman Sachs Group
Inc's prediction for a 5
per cent contraction.
Consumer and busi-
ness sentiment is likely
to remain low in the sec-
ond quarter. Return of
economic activity to pre-
pandemic levels is likely
to happen in the third
quarter, Citi said.
—Bloomberg
Banks park excess funds
in long-term govt bonds
FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, JULY 6
With bank deposit growth
outpacing loan demand,
banks are investing a
large part of their excess
funds in long-term gov-
ernment securities.
According to the latest
RBI data, the scheduled
commercial banks invest-
ments in statutory liquid-
ity ratio (SLR) securities
have increased from
March 2020 due to rate cut
by the RBI but have stood
stable for the last two fort-
nights. The SLR invest-
ments stood at Rs 41.4
lakh crore and Rs 41.5
lakh crore for the last two
fortnights as compared to
Rs 34.7 lakh crore for the
fortnight ended June 21,
2019.
The liquidity surplus
has remained above Rs 3
lakh crore throughout the
period from April 1 to
June 26, 2020.
“Credit growth is not
happening as compared
to the deposit growth as a
result of that banks are
having surplus liquidity.
This liquidity is being
parked as investment in
SLR. Banks have been
parking their surplus liq-
SoftBank supremo Masa-
yoshi Son's favour and ben-
efitted from SoftBank's
brand association and pro-
motion. The headcount in
its Japanese hotel opera-
tions has shrunk to 150
from about 600 in October
through furloughs and job
re-assignment to SoftBank.
Oyo has struggled in
Japan even with the full
endorsement of SoftBank.
Son's ubiquitous brand is
on one of the country's
largest wireless carriers,
the leading web portal and
the Fukuoka SoftBank
Hawks, which have won
five of the last six baseball
championships. Oyo's push
for rapid growth in the
country was hampered by
technical problems and
backlash from hotels.
Overseas visitors to
Japan totalled 1,700 in May,
marking a 99.9 per cent
decline from a year earlier.
—Bloomberg
GIC Re reduces
agri cover by 45%
MADHUSUDAN SAHOO
NEW DELHI, JULY 6
In a bid to improve its rat-
ings and profitability, the
country's lone reinsurer
GIC Re took a host of deci-
sive measures, including
cutting its domestic agri-
culture capacity signifi-
cantly by up to 45 per cent.
The move comes at a time
it bore a downgrade from
international rating
agency AM Best last week.
Sources said GIC Re
chairman and managing
director Devesh Kumar
Srivastava told his col-
leagues in an internal
communique that the
reinsurer had decided to
cut its domestic agricul-
ture capacity-- the largest
amount of reinsurance
available from the compa-
ny---by 45 per cent.
"Agriculture, which
formed about 30 per cent
of the risk portfolio on the
back of government sup-
ported national crop
insurance scheme, is like-
ly to shrink to about 18 per
cent during 2020-21. Thus,
a major source of strain
Large-caps lift market to four-month high
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, JULY 6
Reliance Industries, lar-
gest Indian company by
market capitalisation,
scaled new all time high on
Monday after it announced
a new product launch and
one more investment
worth Rs 1,894.50 crore
from US firm Intel in
Reliance Jio last week.
The stock closed at Rs
1,855, up 3.75 per cent on
uidity in the reverse repo
with the RBI on a daily
basis. The opportunity to
invest in treasury bills
has become unremunera-
tive as they are quoting
below the reverse repo
rate.
“As banks are investing
in long-term government
bonds, they run an inter-
est rate risk. If the yields
rise, then there would be
a requirement of mark-
to- market (MTM) provi-
sioning if not held in the
HTM portfolio,” said
Ashutosh Khajuria, exec-
utive director at Federal
Bank. Under current
rules, only 19.5 per cent of
the net demand and time
liabilities can be in the
Held To Maturity portfo-
July 6: China imposed a
programme to keep large
transactions in check
amid heightened concerns
over t]he state of its finan-
cial system as bad debt
balloons in the wake of
the coronavirus outbreak.
The People's Bank of
China this month kicked
off a pilot plan in Hebei
province that would
require retail and busi-
ness clients to pre-report
any large withdrawals or
deposits, according to a
statement. The two-year
programme will be
expanded to Zhejiang and
Shenzhen in October,
encompassing more than
70 million people.
Chinese lenders are fac-
ing a surge in bad debt
with the economy set to
expand at the slowest pace
on GIC Re's financials has
been addressed," the
source said.
AM Best has downgrad-
ed the reinsurer's finan-
cial strength credit rating
from A-(excellent) nega-
tive outlook to B++ (good)
with stable outlook. The
rating revision is based on
the financials for FY19-20.
However, the reinsurer
has chalked out various
strategies to improve its
rating and profitability in
the future.
In a letter, the reinsurer
said it had taken decisive
actions on the domestic
property portfolio in 2019-
20. "These improvements
will feed into the financial
results going forward.
These together with sup-
plemental measures on
the NSE and helped Nifty-
50 and Sensex close at fresh
four-month highs. RIL’s m-
cap rose to Rs 11.76 lakh
crore.
Two other super large
cap stocks in the indices,
HDFC Bank and TCS also
gained 2.65 per cent and
2.79 per cent, respectively.
Vinod Nair, head of
research at Geojit Finan-
cial Services said, "Indian
indices ended with gains,
in sync with solid global
lio.
SLR is the portion of
deposits banks must inve-
st in government bonds.
The overall credit
growth in the banking
sector has remained flat
for the fortnight ending
June 19, 2020 as per the
latest RBI data. The credit
growth has continued to
remain nearly at half the
level during the last two
fortnights at 6.2 per cent
compared to last year’s
level of 12 per cent as of
June 21, 2019 and 12.3 per
cent as of June 7, 2019
owing to risk aversion in
the banking system and
weak demand.
Though the lockdown
was opened since June 8,
2020, the metropolitan
regions which accounts
for nearly 63 per cent of
bank credit have still not
been able to open com-
pletely, hence credit pick-
up is weak.
Deposits growth stood
at a marginally lower
level of 11 per cent as of
June 19, 2020 compared
with a growth of 11.3 per
cent in previous fort-
night. The banks have
been lowering their
deposit rates to protect
margins.
in four decades. Authori-
ties stepped in last month
to halt banks runs at two
local lenders in Hebei and
Shanxi. That comes on top
of an already shaky situa-
tion last year, which saw
China bail out and seize
several struggling banks.
The pilot programme
aims to tighten monitor-
ing of "unreasonable dem-
ands of large amounts of
cash" to keep systematic
risks in check, the PBOC
said in the statement.
Regulators will protect the
public's normal need for
large transactions, it said.
The plan will require
businesses to provide
information on transac-
tions exceeding 500,000
yuan ($71,000). For indi-
viduals, the threshold
spans from 100,000 yuan to
pg 7
the underwriting disci-
pline and portfolio rebal-
ancing will put GIC Re on
the path of sustained
underwriting profitabili-
ty."
GIC Re has also gone for
increasing outward pur-
chases. Moreover, its
domestic exposure to
Covid-19 insurance claims
is extremely limited.
The rating downgrade
follows deterioration, in
AM Best's view, in GIC
Re's balance sheet
strength. GIC Re's risk-
adjusted capitalisation, as
measured by Best Capital
Adequacy Ratio (BCAR),
declined to the 'strong'
level at fiscal year-end
2020 as compared with the
'strongest' level in fiscal
year 2019 and prior. This
deterioration follows
about 30 per cent decline
in GIC Re's reported capi-
tal and surplus in fiscal
year 2020 due to a signifi-
cant fall in the market
value of its equity invest-
ments, as well as from the
reporting of a full year
operating loss, AM Best
explained.
cues. Global markets ral-
lied on hopes of a faster
Chinese economic revival,
which could provide a sup-
port to the global economy.
The positivity regarding
the recovery is extending
to Indian markets also,
inspite of surging infec-
tions...The first signs of de-
escalation of India–China
border tensions should
also calm the markets. We
maintain the sell-on-rise
strategy.”
VISTARA WILL LET
PASSENGER BOOK
ADJACENT SEAT
TO KEEP IT VACANT
New Delhi, July 6: A
passenger planning to
travel on a Vistara
flight will soon be able
to book the adjacent
seat as well at a dis-
counted rate so as to
keep it vacant, said its
chief commercial offi-
cer Vinod Kannan on
Monday.
This statement came
after Vistara released a
survey on Monday that
stated 24 per cent pas-
sengers were worried
that fellow fliers would
not adhere to coron-
avirus-related health
protocols while flying.
Kannan told reporters
the airline has sent out
a note to travel agents
informing that current-
ly, passengers can book
the adjacent seat, in
order to keep it vacant,
at the same price.
However, he added,
"We are looking to pro-
vide this on the online
scenario and also pro-
vide some kind of
incentive by discounts.
That is something that
is in the works."
— PTI
300,000 yuan depending on
the region, according to
the statement.
While the statement did-
n't say banks can reject a
transaction exceeding the
amount, lenders will need
submit reports, mark
risks and follow up on cus-
tomers that come from
high-risk sectors or those
make frequent transac-
tions or deviate from past
behaviour.
Authorities are seeking
to shore up their $41 tril-
lion banking system,
which could suffer an 8
trillion yuan increase in
bad debt this year, accord-
ing to S&P Global. Small
Chinese banks tracked by
UBS Group AG need an
estimated $349 billion of
fresh capital.
—Bloomberg
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020
SHORT
IOA adopts new
logo on centenary
TAKES
New Delhi: The Indian Olympic
Association (IOA) on Monday
adopted a new branding and
visual identity, including an
institutional and a commercial
logo, to celebrate a century of
participation of the country’s
athletes at the Summer
Olympics. The IOA said the
decision to adopt a new identi-
ty was taken “on the occasion
marking 100 years of participa-
tion of Indian athletes at the
Olympic Games, the new identi-
ty celebrates a century of pas-
sionate work, and contribution
of the athletes and officials
from across the nation in build-
ing Team India.”
IOA president Narinder Batra
and secretary general Rajeev
Mehta stated: “The new logo of
the Indian Olympic Association
is a symbol of our country’s
identity and our values in sport.
The new logos have been
approved by the IOC and the
IOA is planning to have a spe-
cial launch event of the logo on
this year's Independence Day
on August 15. — PTI
S. Korea to probe
triathlete’s death
Seoul, South Korea: Top South
Korean officials on Monday
offered a public apology and
vowed to delve into the death
of a triathlete who had report-
ed to government and sports
bodies that she had been
abused by her team coach,
physical therapist and col-
leagues. Choi Suk-hyeon, 22,
was found dead late last month,
after sending a mobile chat
message asking her mother to
disclose the alleged crimes of
people who abused her.
Public outrage later erupted
following media revelations
that authorities didn’t quickly
act even though Choi had regis-
tered petitions over the alleged
abuses with several government
and sports organisations.
On Monday, Sports Minister
Park Yang-woo told a parlia-
mentary committee meeting
that he feels heavy responsibili-
ty for her death and apologised
to her bereaved family and the
South Korean public.
Vice Sports Minister Choi Yoon-
hee said, “We will thoroughly
investigate we’ll sternly punish
those responsible for Choi Suk-
hyeon’s death. — AP
Atwal tied-45 as
Bryson triumphs
Detroit: Form deserted Indian
golfer Arjun Atwal in the final
round as he returned a one-
over 73 to sign off tied 45th at
the PGA Tour’s Rocket
Mortgage Classic here.
He finished with rounds of 70-
69-66-73 for a 10-under 278
overall.
Bryson DeChambeau, who had
top-10 finishes in the first three
events of PGA Tour’s ‘Return to
Golf’, finally claimed the trophy
after all the hype about trans-
forming his body and adding
40 pounds to his weight.
DeChambeau (65) was on fire
both at the start and the close
as he birdied four of the first
seven holes and closed with
three in a row for a career-best
23-under 265 and a three shot
win over Matthew Wolff (71).
Kevin Kisner (66) was third.
— PTI
BUCKS SHUT
PRACTICE OVER
VIRUS THREAT
Los Angeles: The NBA-leading
Milwaukee Bucks have become
the league’s latest team to
close their practice facility in
the wake of Coronavirus test-
ing, ESPN reported on Sunday.
The US sports network report-
ed the Bucks closed the facility
after receiving results from
Covid-19 tests conducted on
Friday, although it wasn’t clear
how many may have come back
positive. The team reportedly
won’t allow players back to
train until they depart on
Thursday for Florida, where the
NBA plans to resume play in a
quarantine environment at Walt
Disney World in Orlando start-
ing on July 30.
Paddlers raise 17 lakh for TT fraternity
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
Chennai paddlers Sharath
Kamal and G. Sathiyan,
along with Olympian Neha
Aggarwal from Delhi, have
raised around `17 lakh to
support the needy in the
table tennis fraternity.
When the trio kicked off
their campaign on social
media, they anticipated to
raise around `10 lakh, but to
their own surprise they not
only achieved their target,
Reds bring down Villa
Mane exploits keep champions in record hunt
London, July 6: Sadio
Mane helped Liverpool
keep alive their bid to set
a new Premier League
points record as the cham-
pions beat Aston Villa 2-0,
while struggling West
Ham twice blew the lead
in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle
on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are
hoping to break
Manchester City’s Prem-
ier League record of 100
points and second-half
strikes from Mane and
Curtis Jones ensured they
still have a chance to shat-
ter that mark.
Mane’s 20th goal in all
competitions this season
was followed by Jones’
89th-minute strike.
Jones netted from 12
yards for his first Premier
League goal, just 24 hours
after the promising mid-
fielder signed a new con-
tract. Liverpool need 12
points from their remain-
ing five games to surpass
City’s 100-point total from
2017-18.
Villa remain in the rele-
gation zone, one point
from safety as they battle
to avoid an immediate
return to the
Championship.
SOUTHAMPTON DUMP
MANCHESTER CITY
Che Adams scored from a
spectacular long-range lob
for his first goal for
Southampton to earn a
surprising 1-0 win over
Manchester City in the
Premier League.
Adams struck a curling
first-time effort from
around 40 meters that
sailed over stranded goal-
keeper Ederson Moraes
and into an unguarded net
in the 16th minute.
The result left second-
place City 23 points
behind already-crowned
champion Liverpool with
five games remaining.
Southampton climbed to
13th place and is assured
of another season in the
Premier League.
Meanwhile, West Brom-
wich Albion moved a step
closer to the Premier
League after Matheus
Pereira turned on the
style in a 4-2 win over Hull
on Sunday.
Charlie Austin opened
the scoring in the fourth
minute. Ahmed Hegazi,
Kamil Grosicki and Grady
Diangana also found the
back of the net for West
Brom’s victory.
Slaven Bilic’s side are
five points ahead of third
placed Brentford and one
point behind leaders
Leeds with five games left
in the race for automatic
promotion. — Agencies
Members of ‘WhistlePodu Army’ during an IPL match.
DHONI BIRTHDAY
TINGE OF DISAPPOINTMENT AS
FANS TO CELEBRATE ONLINE
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 6
It’s a special day for the ‘WhistlePodu Army’, the offi-
cial fan club of Chennai Super Kings, as their ‘Thala’
M.S. Dhoni turns 39 on Tuesday. However, there is a
tinge of disappointment among the fans for not being
able to do their annual ritual of giving back to the
community through charity work.
“Since 2015, we have been actively doing charity
work like blood donation camps, helping differently
abled children and old-age homes. Owing to the pre-
vailing situation, we have to stay indoors in the inter-
est of everyone,” announced the fan club.
Dhoni fans have decided to celebrate online by reliv-
ing the old memories. “As much as we feel it’s our
duty to celebrate responsibly every year and set an
example for all fans, we feel, this year is more impor-
tant to stay safe. When things settle down we will get
back to doing what we love,” they added.
but also exceeded the
expectations.
“We all had a chance
to serve and I am so
happy that we have
aced it,” said Sathiyan
in a video posted on his Sharath that includes 40% for
Instagram handle.
The money will be
handed over as a one-
time benefit. More than
100 players, coaches,
referees and umpires
who work at the grass-
roots level will benefit
from the trio’s gesture. Sathiyan Sharath added.
Liverpool’s Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (third from right) shoots past Aston Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina to
score the opening goal during their English Premier League football match at Anfield in Liverpool, North West
England, on Sunday. Liverpool carved out a 2-0 victory.
Barcelona boss over Villarreal
Madrid, July 6: Antoine
Griezmann answered his
critics in style on Sunday
by scoring with a sensa-
tional chip as Barcelona
thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to
keep their faint La Liga
title hopes alive.
After the humiliation of
being brought on in the
90th minute against his
former club Atletico
Madrid, Griezmann was
back in the starting line-
up at La Ceramica and
repaid the faith with a
stunning goal, teed up by
Lionel Messi.
“It was the kind of goal
only great players can
score. He played a spectac-
ular match,” said
Barcelona coach Quique
Setien.
Messi also laid on a curl-
ing Luis Suarez shot into
the top corner after
Gerard Moreno cancelled
out a Pau Torres own-goal
that had put Barca in
front. Ansu Fati then
added a fourth late on.
Barca were ahead with-
in three minutes, Torres
diverting Jordi Alba’s
cross into his own net
under pressure from
Griezmann at the near
post.
An impressive victory
for Setien’s side reduces
the gap back to four points
behind Real Madrid, who
earlier ground out anoth-
er 1-0 win over Athletic
Bilbao at San Mames,
with a Sergio Ramos
Neha said people
from as many as 18
states contributed to
the fund.
“We can now sup-
port 170 beneficiaries;
our players and rest
for coaches and sup-
port staff,” she said.
“Funds for the first
80 beneficiaries have
been dispersed, the
remaining will hap-
pen this week,”
Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi (left) chal-
lenges Villarreal’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (right)
and Mario Gaspar during their Spanish League football
match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal on Sunday.
Barcelona won the game 4-1.
penalty proving the differ-
ence.
Madrid’s resilient per-
formance, and their third
1-0 victory in a row,
offered a stark contrast to
a goal-fest from Barcelona
that was certainly easier
on the eye but instructive
on the title race too.
An end-to-end contest,
full of chances for both
sides, showed Messi,
Suarez and Griezmann at
their free-flowing best yet
the defence was opened up
with ease by Villarreal,
who might have scored
more.
Covid-free New Zealand
offers to host IPL 2020
New Delhi, July 6: New
Zealand is the latest coun-
try after UAE and Sri
Lanka which has offered
to host the IPL in case the
billion dollar league can’t
be held in India due to ris-
ing cases of Coronavirus.
The postponement
announcement of the T20
World Cup, to be held in
October-November
Australia, is imminent,
creating a window for the
IPL.
The BCCI has already
zeroed in on the end
S e p t e m b e r- N o ve m b e r
window for the IPL. The
Board’s first choice is
staging the tournament at
home but that is looking
increasingly unlikely
with India having the
third largest case load of
Coronavirus cases behind
Brazil and USA.
“Staging the event in
India has to be the first
choice but in case it is not
safe to have it, then we
will look at the overseas
options. After UAE and
Sri Lanka, New Zealand
has also offered to host
the IPL,” a senior BCCI
official said on conditions
of anonymity.
“We will sit down with
all stakeholders (broad-
caster, teams, etc) and
take a call. The safety of
the players is paramount.
There will be no compro-
mise on that,” the official
said.
The IPL has been held
overseas in the past. The
entire 2009 edition was
staged in South Africa
due to the general elec-
tion back home and par-
— AFP
Madrid’s discipline and
organisation has made
them firm favourites with
four games remaining.
Griezmann celebrated
his goal by sharing a
warm embrace with
Messi. Villarreal looked a
difficult opponent after
winning five games out of
six since the restart, a run
that has put them in in
touching distance of the
top four.
This defeat leaves them
three points behind
Sevilla, who play Eibar on
Monday.
— Agencies
in
Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(left) and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat
Kohli with the IPL trophy in this file photo.
● With New Zealand, India has a seven-and-a-
half hour time difference and even if matches
start at 12.30 pm, maximum office-goers will
miss the action. Apart from Hamilton and
Auckland, which can be covered by road,
places like Wellington, Christchurch, Napier or
Dunedin will require air travel.
tially in the UAE in 2014
due to the same reason.
However in 2019, despite
elections, the BCCI man-
aged to schedule the IPL
in India avoiding clashing
with poll dates in various
states. The UAE again is
the front-runner to host
the tournament if it hap-
pens overseas. Sri Lanka
is a cost-effective option
while New Zealand,
which has been largely
free from Covid-19, faces
feasibility issues.
With New Zealand,
India has a seven-and-a-
— AFP
JUWARA SPURS
BOLOGNA WIN
AGAINST INTER
Milan, July 6: Teenage
substitute Musa Juwara
helped Bologna come
from behind to win 2-1 at
Inter Milan in a pulsating
Italian league game
which saw both teams
reduced to 10 players and
the Nerazzurri miss a
penalty. Juwara cancelled
out Romelu Lukaku’s
opener before Musa
Barrow scored the winner
10 minutes from time.
“I really want to thank
the coach for showing me
that trust against Inter,”
the 18-year-old Juwara
said.
At the other end of the
table, Genoa boosted its
chances of avoiding rele-
gation with a last-minute
equaliser to draw 2-2 at
fellow struggler Udinese.
Andrea Pinamonti’s
penalty was saved but he
fired in the rebound.
Genoa moved two points
above the drop zone, and
five points below Udinese.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo
Insigne’s stunning strike
into the top right corner
helped Napoli beat Roma
2-1 and move level on
points with the fifth-place
capital side. — AP
half hour time difference
and even if the game
starts at 12.30 pm, maxi-
mum office-goers (even
those who work from
home) will miss the
action. Apart from
Hamilton and Auckland,
which can be covered by
road, places like
Wellington, Christchur-
ch, Napier or Dunedin
will require air travel.
The official added that
the date of the IPL
Governing Council meet-
ing will be announced
soon. — PTI
pg 8
Conflict charge
on captain Kohli
New Delhi, July 6: Third ● BCCI Ombudsman D.
parties with “vested inter- K. Jain will examine a
est” are trying to malign
India captain Virat Kohli’s
complaint by Madhya
image with conflict of Pradesh Cricket
interest allegations based Association life
on conjectures, CEO of tal- member Sanjeev
ent management firm Gupta, who has alleged
Cornerstone Bunty Sajdeh that Kohli is conflicted
said on Monday, defending as he occupies two
his client. posts — captain of the
Madhya Pradesh Cricket Indian team and
Association life member
Sanjeev Gupta has alleged director of a venture
that Kohli is conflicted as which has co-directors
he occupies two posts — linked to Cornerstone
captain of the Indian team Sport and
and director of a venture Entertainment Private
which has co-directors Limited that has on
linked to Cornerstone board, several of his
Sport and Entertainment teammates.
Private Limited that has on
board, several of his team-
mates. BCCI Ombudsman jecture, nothing more.
D. K. Jain has said he “will Virat is a contracted, exclu-
examine” the complaint by sive client of Cornerstone
Gupta, who has levelled exactly like the rest of our
similar charges against esteemed talent roster,” he
other players in the past asserted.
which were deemed Kohli does not have a role
“infructuous”. in Cornerstone Sport and
“This is with reference to Entertainment Private
the recent conflict of inter-
est speculations surround-
Limited. He is, however, a
director at Cornerstone
ing Virat and Cornerstone.
It is unfortunate to repeat-
Venture Partners LLP and
Virat Kohli Sports LLP
edly see Virat’s name being along with Sajdeh.
dragged into absurd allega- Gupta had also filed simi-
tions every now and then,” lar complaints against
Sajdeh said in a statement. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav
Sajdeh said allegation of Ganguly and VVS Laxman,
conflict is nothing but con- which were deemed
jecture. “Such speculations “infructuous” by Jain.
are based entirely on con- — PTI
FAN FRAME
S. F. Nayeem took this pic with Australian cricketers
James Faulkner (left), Brad Hodge (right) and Shane
Watson in the background at a mall in Bengaluru dur-
ing the 2014 IPL season.
PUNJAB ORGANISER HELD
FOR TOURNAMENT FRAUD
Chandigarh, July 6: Punjab police on Monday arrest-
ed alleged match-fixer Ravinder Dandiwal in connec-
tion with a T20 match played in Mohali district but
streamed online as a game in Sri Lanka.
The game held last month had caught the attention of
BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit, the police and Sri Lanka
Cricket.
“Ravinder Dandiwal, who has emerged kingpin in
the entire racket, was arrested on Monday, Pal Singh,
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kharar said. He said
that Dandiwal was arrested from Punjab. “He has been
arrested in connection with ongoing investigations
into the T20 match that was played, in which already
two arrests have been made,” Pal Singh said.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Dandiwal, an
original resident of Rajasthan, had organised fraudu-
lent tournaments in the past as well. Police had got
vital clues about Dandiwal from the two other accused,
Pankaj and Raju, arrested on Thursday. — PTI
Pakistan struggles
to find sponsors
Karachi, July 6: The for the same beverage com-
Pakistan Cricket Board pany,” the source said.
(PCB) is feeling the finan- He said the company had
cial impact of the Covid-19 offered only 35 to 40 per
pandemic as it has failed to cent of the amount it had
find a main sponsor for the earlier paid to the board in
national team which is their last contract. “It is a
presently in England. problem but negotiations
Pakistan play England in are still on but it is becom-
a three-match Test series ing clear that the
beginning in Manchester Coronavirus outbreak has
on August 5, followed by a even hit the multinational
three-match T20 series.
A well-placed source in
the PCB said that negotia-
companies badly,” he said.
— PTI
tions were continuing with
one multi-national bever- Regd. No.
age company, which had
shown interest in signing a TNENG/2010/35692
new team logo sponsorship
deal but had offered an Printed & Published by
K. Sudhakar on behalf of
amount far below the
Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited
expectations of the Board’s
and Printed at
marketing pundits. Deccan Chronicle Presses situated
“The PCB’s deal with the at SP 3, Developed Plot, Industrial Estate,
beverage company expired Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
recently and the Board RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987
invited fresh bids for the Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750,
national team’s main logo 22254751
sponsorship deal but no one Editor: ADITYA SINHA
submitted any bids except
 chennai
CHRONICLE TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2020
HRITHIK’S ENDEARING
MESSAGE FOR
GRADUATES
PG
3
Not the time to party A simple
man, then
With the pandemic in full-flow, it’s for every individual,
including the elite set, to re-evaluate priorities and change
behaviour patterns to become socially responsible
SWATI SHARMA

and now
DECCAN CHRONICLE
For some high-fliers the
party hasn’t stopped despite

Friends, fans and fellow cricketers

the tightening grip of the
pandemic. A top Hyderabad jew-
eller, who threw a lavish birthday
bash attended by at least 100 people,
died of COVID-19 on Saturday. This
recall past birthday celebrations of
is not the first such event, since
India began unlocking. In Bihar, a
“Captain Cool”
wedding ceremony in rural Patna
on June 15 set off the biggest BIPIN DANI
Coronavirus infection chain so far,
and the groom was among those Former Jharkhand cricketer Satya Prakash Krishna had
who died while around a 100 were never imagined that the young boy named M.S. Dhoni,
infected. In May, a Hyderabad shop whose first birthday celebration after joining the Indian Railways
owner threw a party after which 45 was held at his home, would go on to become an international star.
tested positive in May. In Tamil (file pic) BJP MLA M. Jayaram at his birthday party (pic via Twitter) “I very well recall the day — July 7, 2001 — when four friends met
Nadu, a DMK man who organised a at my Kharagpur home and celebrated Dhoni’s birthday. It was a
bash for his birthday in Thiruvallur Each one of us needs to act responsibly. very simple celebration. We were all from lower middle-class fam-
district on June 14 has tested posi- For the economy to not get further beaten ilies and could not afford to spend much. We didn’t even go for an
tive for Coronavirus along with out of shape, the lockdown was relaxed. The outing that day. We simply wished him and had dinner together.
three guests. purpose of the lockdown was to create aware- We also presented him with a shirt then,” said Satya Prakash,
It may be recalled, singer Kanika ness and get people ready to adapt to the new speaking exclusively over telephone from Kharagpur on the eve of
Kapoor’s Lucknow party in March Dhoni’s 39th birthday.
had exposed several to the
codes. It is up to us to be judicious in protecting In fact, Satya Prakash was instrumental in Dhoni getting his
Coronavirus. Why are people find- our health. first job in the Railways. Unable to find a job in Ranchi, Dhoni
ing it so difficult to act in accor- — SANJAY GULABANI, chairman, P. Mangatram went to Kharagpur in early 2001 seeking a job through the sports
dance with the minimal demands? Jewellers quota in the Railways. Satya Prakash, who was Dhoni’s
Don’t they realise how their actions Jharkhand team-mate, introduced him to the
can affect others? These are classic Divisional Railway Manager and Dhoni
examples of the misplaced belief got the job.
that ‘Nothing will happen to me’. “We also celebrated his
Sanjay Gulabani, chairman, P. birthday in 2003-04 when he
Mangatram Jewellers, says, “Each won a place in Team
one of us needs to act responsibly. India A,” he said.
For the economy to not get further “People all over the
beaten out of shape, the lockdown world now cele-
was relaxed. The purpose of the brate his birth-
lockdown was to create awareness Bina Mehta, Vinod Ranka, MD, Uday Pilani, day every year. I
entrepreneur Avni Tech entrepreneur &
and get people ready to adapt to the Ventures investor will be planti-
new codes. It is up to us to be judi- ng a tree near
cious in protecting our health,” he them... it’s about taking a risk with Bina. my house on
pointed out. “There was general their families and friends as well. Life doesn’t have Tuesday and
carelessness and apathy towards It’s time we all get responsible and to stop because of I will send a
the problem,” feels Uday Pilani, accept that precaution is better than the Coronavirus, message to
entrepreneur and investor, who cure,” says Madhu Jain, an entre- but it’s smart to my friend.
owns hotels in the UK, as well as the preneur. re-evaluate pri- Planting a
FinTech and Management While the world’s scientists are orities, feels tree is the
Consulting company in India. “The working towards finding a cure and entrepreneur best way to
Agarwal Marwadi Samaj now has vaccines for COVID-19, we need to Vinod Ranka,. “I celebrate a
over a thousand affected. The thing take all preventive measures, feels was invited to birthday,”
is that the recovery rate is excel- Bina Mehta, another entrepreneur. few parties and he asserted,
lent, so they are losing fear,” he “Social distancing will only ‘flat- weddings, but I adding, “I
adds. It’s been difficult to ten the curve’. Let us all under- declined the invi- am proud to
curb the jet-setting crowd stand and respect our own lives tations,” he says, be a friend of
from organising parties and and value others’ lives too. It is giving an example of Dhoni, who
society events. “Now is not a sin to invite people to events, how priorities should has played with
the time to show your sta- and an even bigger sin to be change. legendary crick-
tus; it’s time to show part of any event,” says eters like Sachin
responsibility. The Tendulkar, Rahul
vast majority of the Dravid, Sourav
people who are defy- Now is not the time to show your status; it’s time Ganguly, Rohit
ing calls for social to show responsibility. The vast majority of the Sharma and even
distancing are not people who are defying calls for social distancing are Virat Kohli.”
realising that it’s not realising that it’s not about just them... it’s about
not about just taking a risk with their families and friends as well TURN TO PAGE 5
— MADHU JAIN, entrepreneur
 Tuesday 7 July 2020 2

tollywood Deccan Chronicle

‘Everything happens Silver lining

at the right moment’
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar discusses her
role in Naandi and her future plans
SASHIDHAR ADIVI
DECCAN CHRONICLE
After her impressive debut
in Telugu in the role of an
antagonist in Tenali
Ramakrishna B.A., B.L, last year,
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar will next
be seen as a lawyer in the upcoming
Naandi, directed by Vijay
Kanakamedala.
The Maari 2 star says the role of a
lawyer has challenged her as an
actor. “Usually I don’t prepare for
roles, but for this character it was
like going back to school. I had sev-
eral lines in pure Telugu, so, to get a
hang of it, I had to practise my lines
a lot in advance; in fact, there are
lengthy dialogues worth six pages,
so it was difficult,” explains
Varalaxmi, adding that she is well-
versed in colloquial Telugu.
The actress is on a signing spree.
Krack will be her third in Telugu.
So, has the actress who has worked
in many Tamil films, turned her
focus to Tollywood?
“I haven’t planned anything but I
believe everything happens at the
right moment. I look at the versatil-
ity and substance my role can bring
GUESS WHO
I have seen ups and
downs, success and
failures. What I have realised is
that it is difficult to plan, as
things never go that way. So I
take things as they come
to the story, and I have been get-
ting some interesting projects,”
explains the Pandem Kodi 2 star
who has also played antagonist
roles in her earlier films.
“I don’t like to be typecast; I
always like to surprise the audience
with new roles, and that attitude
sort of pushes me to greater heights
as an actor,” explains Varalaxmi,
who describes her eight years in
showbiz as, “Good Bad and Ugly.”
“I have seen ups and downs, suc-
cess and failures. What I have
realised is that it is difficult to
plan, as things never go that way.
So I take things as they come,” she
says. Daughter of senior actor
Sarathkumar, Varalaxmi clarifies
that she doesn’t discuss scripts
with him. “I read the script and
take a final call; I take my own
decisions,” she stresses.
Shraddha says delay in
releasing Krishna… has
worked in her favour
SURESH KAVIRAYANI
DECCAN CHRONICLE
Krishna and his Leela was supposed to be
Shraddha Srinath’s debut film in Telugu, but
for the Kannada actress, the delay in the film’s
release has been a blessing in disguise — her
Jersey starring Nani was released before Krishna…,
and now her name has become a household one in the
Telugu States.
“I was definitely bothered about the
delay in the release, and I was wondering
whether it would be released at all, but
now I don’t have any regrets. I’m
happy that the film was released in a
private channel during the lock-
down,” says the U-Turn actress.
Shraddha has now signed
Chakra, a multi-lingual film in
which she plays a cop. She took
inputs from her father, who is in
the Army, about things like hold-
ing a gun, reveals the actress.
“I got a good response
after the recent release of
the trailer. I have a lot of
action scenes in the
film and people can
see me in a com-
pletely new
avatar,” she
says, adding,
“Action scenes
are very new to
me, and I am
quite excited about
this film.”
For Shraddha, the lock-
down has been quite an eye-
opener.
“My maid has not been
coming in to work, so I am
helping my mother in
cleaning the house. It’s a
very humbling experience.
I have realised that I am in

Producer in jitters
a privileged position. I
realise that I can do a lot to
help society, including
working to create aware-
A couple of days back, the gone into hiding as he is afraid ness about various issues,”
police raided a star hotel and that the cops may come for him. she says.
busted a rave party. Cases were He has also reportedly asked his Shraddha has done
filed against some people and the actor friend for help, and the lat- Tamil, films and a Hindi
cops are looking for others who ter is said to have assured him film too.
participated in the event. The that he will do what he can, with “My strategy is always to
buzz is that a young producer, who his own influence and his pick good films. I strike a
happens to be the friend of a top father’s clout. balance among all the
actor, was present at the party. The producer doesn’t seem to be industries,” she says.
Now, this producer has reportedly completely reassured though.
For Shraddha, the
lockdown has been quite
an eye-opener. “My maid
Ravikanth set for his next has not been coming in
to work, so I am helping
my mother in cleaning
After Krishna and his Leela, filmmaker the house. It’s a very
Ravikanth Perepu will next collaborate with humbling experience. I
director Krish. have realised that I am in
Krish is said to have liked the idea of the film the a privileged position. I
Kshanam helmer presented to him, and has agreed realise that I can do a lot
to produce it. Krish and his friend Ravjeev Reddy,
will reportedly be bankrolling Ravikanth’s film. to help society, including
“The film belongs to the motivational genre and working to create
will be a coming-of-age-entertainer. It has a plotline awareness about
that has enough twists to keep the audience glued. various issues,” she
Krish, who has been looking to out-of-the-box plots, says
felt that Ravikanth’s script will be a step in that
direction,” says a source.

glam sham
Hrithik’s endearing
message
The actor congratulated the graduates
of 2020, saying that that the finest
steel must endure the hottest fires
class of 2020. In an address
to this year’s graduates, the
Jodha Akbar actor praised the
efforts of the teachers and stu-
dents to have stood determined in
the face of the current testing
times. Giving a glimpse of his mes-
sage, the actor shared a part of his
address on his social media web-
site. “I almost feel envious of all
of you because I truly feel that you
guys are the chosen ones. So much
of the world and what it's going to be
depends on you, your choices, and
your attitude during this time,” said the
Dhoom 2 actor. Adding further, Hrithik
said, “I always believed that the finest
steel must go through the hottest fire,
and that is what I have based my life on.”
The actor, who was recently invited to
become a member of the Academy,
reminded the students to be hopeful. He
said, “Don’t feel disheartened. Life is
more than what meets the eye, so
believe. Some of us in times of disorder,
chaos, and uncertainty can be fragile;
some of us can be strong and stay unaf-
DC CORRESPONDENT fected. What I want you to be is the
kind that improves in that chaos, dis-
As the ongoing Coronavirus pan- comfort, uncertainty, and disorder —
demic has been playing party that for me is an adventure, beyond
pooper on all the graduation cere- the intellect, it is really about the
monies this year, Hrithik Roshan has soul. If you can be that, you are going
stepped up to boost the morale of the to see the magic happen.”
Catherine’s
passion project
DC CORRESPONDENT
After Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand Goop
amassed financial success, Welsh actress
Catherine Zeta-Jones has decid-
ed to follow the Iron Man
actress’ footsteps and launch
her own lifestyle brand. Just
like Goop, Jones plans to sell
makeup, kitchenware, coffee,
vegan shoes, and much more.
According to the Daily Mail,
her line of vegan shoes is made
from the finest vegan leather.
Additionally, the collection will
also include traditional Welsh
spoons. “Everything I have
designed has truly been a pas-
sion project…I wanted to take
this passion a step further and
create a brand that’s beautiful and luxurious, while
still being attainable,” said the actress to the publica-
tion. Friends of the actress said that the Goop-
inspired project will “boost her profile and give her
something to focus on as her children get older.”
This is, however, not the actress’ first foray into
business. With her brand Casa Zeta-Jones, the
Entrapment actress has been selling pyjama sets, tow-
els, blankets, candles, and more home décor items.
Tuesday 7 July 2020 3
Deccan Chronicle
Madhuri
delays
goodbye
to Saroj
The actress is unable to
attend the late
choreographer’s prayer
meet, and has reportedly
asked Saroj’s daughter to
postpone the same
DC CORRESPONDENT
One may recall that Madhuri Dixit was a stu-
dent of the late ‘Masterji’ Saroj Khan for 33
years and they have collaborated on a plethora of icon-
ic songs. However, the actress has been unable to attend
the choreographer’s prayer meet as she is busy at home
taking care of her 87-year-old mother, who hasn’t been in
the pink of her health. Sources say that owing to this,
Madhuri has requested Saroj
Khan’s daughter Sukaina to
try and keep the prayer meet
for later as she is very keen to
attend. “Madhuri wants to be
at the prayer meet as Saroj ji
is also like a mother to her in
the film industry, who has
held her hand for years and
is responsible for making
her the graceful diva that
she is. Hence, she request-
ed Sukaina if the prayer
meeting could be kept at
a more suitable time. Other filmmakers, actors and
actresses too want to be there for the meet. Yet anoth-
er point is also that there are hundreds of dancers
who are indebted to Saroj Khan for her help and
guidance over the years. Hence Saroj ji’s family is
thinking of keeping the prayer meet, perhaps after
a month or two, when the COVID situation also
improves, as the current situation does not allow
many people to be present for the meet,” says a
source. — Sanskriti Media
Brad ahead of the curve
DC CORRESPONDENT
In the ongoing coronavirus
pandemic, governments across
the world have made it mandatory
for their citizens to wear facemasks
when stepping out. However, in a
video that has gone viral, actor
Brad Pitt is seen raving about the
benefits of facemasks in the pre-
coronavirus times, proving to be
ahead of the curve. While promot-
ing his film Ad Astra in 2019 in
Tokyo, the two-time Oscar winner
was lauding people for their sense
of hygiene. “When I first came here
and I saw all the people in the faces
masks at the airport, I thought,
‘That’s a bit paranoid’,” the actor
admitted in September last year.
“Then I came to understand it’s
when you have a cold and protect-
ing others and I think that’s so con-
siderate. I don’t know why the rest
of the world…I don’t know why we
don’t do that,” he said.
 Tuesday 7 July 2020 4

bodylicious Deccan Chronicle

Acanthosis Shine-free nose

nigricans The T-zone in the face — comprising the forehead,
or skin nose, upper lip, and chin — is usually the victim of
oiliness, but the nose usually also comprises black-
darkening heads, whiteheads, and an excess amount of oil as
can occur compared to the rest of the face. If you are looking
to smooth out your skin, here are some at-home
with age, remedies to help you.

but experts EXFOLIATE:

Exfoliating, or scrubbing
T-zone after cleansing, both in
the morning and at night. Or

say it can be
over your nose, is among the you can use it once a day if
easiest remedies that helps get your skin feels tight.
rid of the dead skin cells and it
controlled also prevents clogging of
pores. Apart from this, scrub-
LEMON:
With its citrus properties,
with the bing can also help to get rid of
the blackheads on the nose.
lemon is always good when it
comes to oily skin and nose as
right You can either use a home-
made scrub made from pulses
it can help get rid of the stub-
born dirt and debris from the

regimen
or a chemical pores and clarify
exfoliant. the skin.

Instructions: Instructions:

Lighten your
● Use a gentle ● Take a cotton
scrub for at least ball, add a few
two-three times drops of lemon
in a week as it juice and apply it
can help to keep gently on your
your nose oil-free nose. Do this two-
for a long period three times a
of time. week to get rid of

dark patches
NIRTIKA PANDITA
Your skin is the most sen-
sitive organ in the body
that undergoes a lot of
wear and tear with time. While
rashes and pimples are a com-
mon occurrence, more visible
ones like a type skin pigmenta-
tion also called acanthosis nigri-
cans, are easily visible and can
make one feel conscious of them-
selves.
Dermatologist and aesthetic
physician Dr Ajay Rana explains
that these thick dark skin patch-
es are a symptom of an underly-
ing disorder that takes place
when skin cells start reproduc-
ing quickly. “The cause for acan-
thosis nigricans is still not clear-
ly known, but it appears to be
related to insulin resistance. It
has been associated with various
benign and malignant condi-
tions,” he says.
AT-HOME REMEDIES:
● Apple Cider Vinegar: It balances the pH
level of the skin, removes dead skin
cells and acts as a great exfoliator.
● Baking Soda: It removes dead skin cells
and promotes blood circulation. It also
nourishes the skin from within. Mix
with water and let it on the patch for 10
minutes.
● Potatoes: It has a bleaching property
that helps to remove all dark patches
from the skin and makes skin tone
even. Grate the potatoes, apply the
juice and leave it for some time and
then rinse.
●Yogurt: It has natural enzymes that act
with the acids in lemon to remove all
dark patches from the skin. It also nour-
ishes the skin and makes it smooth.
Apply two tablespoons of yogurt and a
teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix it and
apply it to the patches. Leave it for
about 20 minutes before and after that
rinse off with water.
people with naturally darker
using a moisturiser containing
urea as it helps get rid of exist-
ing dull and dead skin while
simultaneously moisturising it.
Whereas, Dr Rana suggests
maintaining a healthy diet as it is
the most important factor in the
growth of acanthosis nigricans
and can often times clear up after
weight loss. “Intake of fruits, veg-
etables, whole-grain bread, low-
fat dairy products, beans, lean
meats, and fish, as a healthy diet
can control blood sugar levels of
the body. Follow a regular exer-
cise regime for 30 minutes.
Exercise can help control your
blood sugar level and also help to
manage the weight of the body,”
lists the dermatologist.
Dr Dube, on the other hand,
recommends using sunblock as
it protects the skin from the UV
rays of the sun. “An individual
may also take steps such as keep-
ing the elbows clean and moist,
ALCOHOL-FREE
TONER:
Remember to use an alcohol-
free toner as it can help get rid
of the dirt and dust from the
nose. It can help to prevent
pore clogging and also shrinks
the size of enlarged pores.
Using an alcohol-free toner is
extremely good for oily skin as
it helps to keep your nose clear
and oil-free. This temporary
fix can reduce oil production.
Instructions:
● An astringent based toner,
such as witch hazel will help
eliminate the accumula-
tion of sebum—a.k.a. oil
on the nose. Dab the
toner over the
Our nails are often overlooked, but they need just as much care as
any other part of your body. Here are some quick nail care tips:
OLIVE OIL
—FREEPIK the dirt and
grime from the
nose.
YOGURT:
With its anti-bacterial prop-
erties, yogurt is effective in
keeping the nose oil-free.
Combined with lemon and
honey, it helps remove excess
oil from the nose, thus giving
you smooth skin.
Instructions:
● Take one spoon of yogurt
and add a few spoons of lemon
and honey to it. Mix well,
apply on your nose, and let it
sit for 15-20 minutes. Then
wash off with cold water. Do
this twice or thrice in a week
to get rid of an oily nose.

Based on the pre-disposing con-
ditions, acanthosis nigricans
has been broadly divided into
seven types, out of which obesi-
ty-induced acanthosis nigricans
is the most common. It can occur
at any age, but is more common
in adulthood. Hereditary is one
of the important factors for
acanthosis nigricans.
According to cosmetic derma-
tologist and laser specialist Dr
Abhijit Desai, the most common
reason for extra darkening of
elbows or knees is just the accu-
mulation of dead skin over a
period of time and skin thicken-
ing due to friction while sitting
in different postures.
Dr Sunita Dube, Founder and
Chairperson of Aryan Hospital,
Mumbai, further explains that
skin tones are more likely to
develop dark elbows and knees.
“Dark spots on the skin, or
hyperpigmentation, occur when
more melanin — it adds colour
to the lips, skin, and hair — is
formed in some areas of the
skin,” she says, adding, “Some
common causes include certain
drugs like birth control pills, a
scar from a healed bite of
insects, psoriasis, an allergic
reaction, hormonal changes
from pregnancy, a build-up of
dead skin, exposure to the sun,
age spots, bumps, etc. In fact, dia-
betes can also cause areas of
skin to become darker.”
Dr Desai advises moisturising
the affected area twice a day to
keep it soft and control the dry-
ness. Specifically, he suggests
using exfoliating soaps to
remove the dead skin around the
elbows, and regularly reapplying
the sunblock while in the sun,”
she says.
Since under lockdown, Dr Dube
lists home remedies that may
help with lightening the dark
patch around the elbows. “Grind
oatmeal mix with water, apply
on the patch, and leave it till the
skin absorbs. Or, rub a lemon on
the patch as citrus fruit are
known to provide some protec-
tion from sun exposure and help
lighten the skin. Thirdly, aloe
vera has soothing properties
that also help in lightening the
pigmentation of the skin. Lastly,
turmeric paste has medicinal
properties and helps in lighten-
ing the dark spots,” she says.
Iandtthecanthen
help keep nails shiny by nourishing
cuticles. Clean your nails thoroughly
warm a small bowl of olive oil.
Dip your fingers for 15 minutes in it. Then
wipe clean with a towel and repeat the
process daily for best results.
LEMON JUICE
A great cleanser, lemon juice also helps in
getting rid of discolouration. In a bowl,
mix one teaspoon of baking soda and water.
To this mix, add one tablespoon of lemon
juice and then soak your nails for about 10
minutes. Gently scrub your nails and wash
clean. For better results, mix two teaspoons
of sea salt in a bowl of lukewarm water, add one teaspoon lemon
juice and soak your fingers for 10-15 minutes.

the buzz
Simbu croons
for Friendship
It’s ruthless, says
Meera Chopra
Actress talks about the underbelly of the
film industry and questions the silence
Meera Chopra aka Nila in
Tamil films, who worked
with the likes of Arjun, S.J.
Suryah etc., has not been shying
away from uploading posts on
nepotism and the crude realities
of the film industry after the
demise of young actor Sushant
Singh. She recently shared her
thoughts on what pushes actors
to commit suicide.
“Lots of people including me,
want to break the silence as to
why actors commit suicide in this
industry, what brings them to the
edge. How does the system works
against you, and how some direc-
Found a good friend through
this film, says Harbhajan Singh
ANUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN
Simbu’s penchant for singing is well-known. And
when the makers of Friendship, Harbhajan Singh’s
debut film in Tamil, approached Simbu to croon a
song which hails Superstar Rajinikanth for the film, the
actor didn’t hesitate to give his nod, being a fan of Rajini
himself.
Simbu recorded the Superstar Anthem and the lyrical
video of the single
track was unveiled
by choreographer/
actor/filmmaker
Raghava Lawrence
on his social media
handle recently.
Bhajji has report-
edly thanked STR for
the song and said, “I
got a good friend
through this film.
Will meet you soon
in Chennai.” Simbu tuning for Superstar Anthem
Directed by John
Paul Raju and Sham Surya, Friendship
has Harbhajan playing a mechanical
engineer and an ardent fan of
Superstar Rajinikanth. Arjun will
be essaying a key character in it.
Losliya who shot to fame with Bigg
Boss 3 debuts as the female lead.
A college campus story, there is
no love angle between Harbhajan
and Losliya throughout the
film. It mainly deals with
friendship, sports and col-
lege politics, says JPR.
Composer D.M. Udhaya
Kumar sets the to tunes
and Santhakumar.C han-
dles cinematography.
tors exploit you emotionally and
ruthlessly. (The wise ones never
do and education plays a big part
here) I’ve been there and I still get
subjected to it. But the point is
how much support you get when
you open up, and how many peo-
ple stand with u. Has it stopped
after Sushant’s suicide??
NO…The fear of everything
makes u take that step eventu-
ally. Its never about work,
there’s plenty in the industry,
its about your self respect,
dignity, principles and most
of it your peace!!(sic)” she
posted.
Tuesday 7 July 2020 5
Deccan Chronicle
A simple man,
then and now
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Dhoni's last birthday was celebrated in England when Team
India was participating in the World Cup. “We were in Leeds
and preparing to go to Manchester, but before boarding a bus we
cut the cake,” recalled Sunil Subramanium, who was the team
manager then. “Dhoni’s wife (Sakshi) and daughter (Ziva) were
present. It is the regular practice to celebrate each player’s
birthday. All players like the team physio Patrick Farhat very
much, and his face was always sought for to smear with icing,”
he added with a grin.
Mohali’s Ram Babu is considered
to be Dhoni’s greatest fan. “In the
last few years, I have never missed
any international match in India
where Dhoni has played. I have
also followed him on a few over-
seas tours,” he said. “Whenever
Dhoni is in Ranchi and not on a
cricket tour, I don’t miss a chance
to visit his house. This year,
because of COVID-19, I won’t be
going to Ranchi. But I will cele-
“I was his manag- brate his birthday by cutting a
er for about 10 cake and feeding about 50 poor
years and don’t boys here,” he said, adding with
recall him arranging a simple pride, “Dhoni is my God”.
Interestingly, Dhoni’s birthday
big party on his birthday. and wedding anniversary fall in
He always prefers simple the same week. Ten years ago, he
celebrations, though we married Sakshi on July 4.
once or twice did host a He, however, does not like to
party on his birthday. spend lavishly on parties to mark
his birthday, says Yudhajit Dutta.
“I was his manager for about 10
— Yudhajit Dutta years and don’t recall him arrang-
Dhoni’s manager
ing a big party on his birthday. He
always prefers simple celebra-
tions, though we once or twice did
host a party on his birthday,” recalled Dutta.
We wish Dhoni a wonderful birthday, and many successful
years ahead!
“People all over the
world now celebrate
his birthday. I will be planting
a tree near my house and will
send a message to my friend.
It is the best way to celebrate
Snippets by AS a birthday.”
— Satya Prakash Krishna,
Former Jharkhand
cricketer
 Tuesday 7 July 2020 6

matinee Deccan Chronicle

Salman
heads north
The actor will be
travelling to Punjab and Haryana
for a 50-day long schedule for
Abhiraj Minawala’s Guns of North
Salman Khan and his Haryana, the fields and the
brother-in-law Aayush grittiness of the terrain will Still from the film Jayeshbhai Jordaar
Sharma are all set to get all come in handy in telling a

on to a 50-day long schedule in
the heartlands of Punjab and
Haryana for the gangster
drama Guns of North directed
‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar
story like this. If you look at
the Marathi version directed
by Pravin Tarde, it has a raw
feel which will be replicated

shooting complete’
by Abhiraj Minawala. The in the Hindi version as well,”
film is an official remake of says a source close to the
the Marathi superhit Mulshi development of the film.
Pattern, which was set in Salman, who is enjoying
rural Maharashtra and based lockdown time in his Panvel
on some real-life stories in the farmhouse, will first shoot for LIPIKA VARMA seems to be the last pri- if awards were rigged.
state. It has been adapted to his film Radhe, for which he ority,” she says. “I would not have any
the north Indian has a schedule lasting less Ratna Pathak Shah Switching gears to personal information
milieu now for than a week, and then is an unforgettable awards and accolades, about that, but the fact
the Hindi ver- join Aayush at the name in both film and Shah reveals that she is that the same kinds of
sion. shoot. Aayush, who theatre, with multiple does not support com- people keep getting
“The film recently quit fantastic performances peting with others in awards over and over
was earlier Twitter after being across both fields. Her the industry. “In any again. The award cere-
called Dhak, relentlessly last film Thappad saw ways, I cannot stand mony itself has become
but the name trolled, will hope her playing a strong competitive awarding the only value in the
has changed, to get into a posi- mother, and her next and film festivals process. It has become a
keeping in tive mode in this film Jayeshbhai Jordaar because I do not under- chance for people to
mind that it negative lead role. will also see her playing stand the idea. I find it show off in various
is an actioner — Sanskriti mother to male lead very hard to trust any ways. I don’t think that
and it needed Media Ranveer Singh. kind of award that is is the purpose of acting
a solid title. When asked about the Gandhi Jayanti this fought over. The Nobel and filmmaking. I
More important- status of the film, Shah year, the actress says prize for example, it is really wish we didn’t
ly, the rustic look reveals that while the that she has not heard hard to believe that have to do
in the north — shooting is over, she from the production these are the only peo- that,” she
especially in isn’t sure if there is any house about an alter- ple who are worth asserts.
Punjab patchwork left to do. nate release date. appreciating,” she
a n d While the film was orig- “The movie theatres opines, adding that she
inally set to release on will open last because it would not be surprised

Lara reunites with debut hero

Lara Dutta will soon be seen cop’s role in the Matrix franchise
in a multi starrer film called years ago, due to her mother’s ill-
Bell Bottom, in which she is work- ness.
ing again with her co-star from Meanwhile, the actress is enjoy-
her debut film Andaaz (2003), ing her return to acting, and
Akshay Kumar. If Priyanka opines that the digital platforms
Chopra was in Andaaz with her, have been game-changers in the
Bell Bottom has two more women field of entertainment.
vying for Kumar’s attention — “There is great content on the
Vaani Kapoor and Huma Qureshi. OTT platforms at the moment.
Huma earlier acted opposite There are mainstream actors like
Akshay in Jolly LLB 2. Saif Ali Khan and Abhishek
“The film will be shot in London Bachchan who are also part of
as planned and there are no such shows, so why not
changes, just the time frame has Lara Dutta? Those
changed a bit. Lara has a very piv- lines are blurred
otal role in the film and not much now. No one can
can be revealed about it,” says a say that they can The
source. only do films or
actress will
The shooting of the film is slat- just web series.
ed to start in the month of August It is a great next be seen
with a lot of British actors and time to be in opposite Andaaz
British Indian actors in tow. Lara, the business,” co-star Akshay Kumar
who was last seen in a web series says the in Bell Bottom, which
called Hundred directed by Ruchi actress will be shot in
Narayan, played a cop in it. Lara — London
would have played a cop much Sanskriti
earlier had she not turned down a Media