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MUMBAI POLICE ISSUE SUMMONS INDIA TEST-FIRES 400-KM RANGE
TO ANURAG KASHYAP IN RAPE CASE SUPERSONIC MISSILE BRAHMOS
ilmmaker Anurag Kashyap has been issued summons by the Mumbai
FPolice to appear in the Versova Police Station on Friday for
investigation in a rape case filed last week. The
Producer-Director has called the rape allegations
"baseless" and issued a statement through his
lawyer Priyanka Khimani. The summons were
issued a day after the actor met Maharashtra
Governor BS Koshyari along with Rajya Sabha
MP and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale,
who has backed her demand for Kashyap's
arrest and sought Y-plus security for her.
www.dailypioneer.com
ndia on Wednesday successfully test-fired the extended range
IBrahMos supersonic cruise missile which can hit targets at over 400
kilometre range. Congratulating the team of scientists involved in the
successful test, DRDO chairman Dr G Satheesh
Reddy said that this will lead to adding 'more
indigenous content' to the supersonic cruise
missile. The test-firing was carried out under the
PJ-10 project of Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO), under which
the missile was launched with an indigenous
booster.
CHINA, RUSSIA, INDIA DON'T GIVE
CORRECT COVID COUNT: TRUMP
S President Donald Trump defended his response against corona,
Uwhich has affected over seven million people in the country, as
Democratic challenger Joe Biden said at the first Presidential debate,
"Seven million have contracted the virus. The President has
no plan." Joe Biden branded Donald Trump a liar and
told him to 'shut up' as the two clashed in a bad-
tempered start to their first televised debate. "When you
talk about numbers you don't know how many
people died in China, you don't know how many
people died in Russia, you don't know how
many people died in India," Trump said.
{ PRIYAMANI TO
PLAY AN IG RANK
OFFICER IN
TOUCHRIVER’S NEXT
Page 12
}
COMMON COLD IN PAST MAY
GIVE PROTECTION FROM COVID
esearchers have found that people who have had a seasonal or
Rcommon cold in the past may get protection from Covid. The study,
published in the journal mBio, also suggests that immunity to Covid-19
is likely to last a long time. The study showed that the Covid-
causing virus, SARS-CoV-2, induces memory B cells,
long-lived immune cells that detect pathogens,
create antibodies to destroy them and remember
them for the future. The next time that pathogen
tries to enter the body, those memory B cells can
hop into action even faster to clear the infection
before it starts.

Cinemas with 50% seating, All 32 accused in Babri

state to decide on schools demolition case acquitted
n Advani, Joshi, other accused get clean chit
n Attendance for students must not be enforced: Centre PNS n LUCKNOW
PNS n HYDERABAD Activities permitted from

̈ Cinemas/theatres/multi-
15th October 2020 Twenty-eight years after the
The Union Ministry of Home Babri Masjid was razed, a
Affairs (MHA), as part of its plexes with upto 50% of court here acquitted all 32

̈ Business to Business (B2B)

new guidelines on Wednesday,
allowed the reopening cine-
Union Minister
mas/theatres/multiplexes with
Gadkari recovers upto 50% of their seating
capacity. Standard Operating
from Covid
Procedures will be issued by
the Union Ministr y of
8 Information & Broadcasting.
The Centre has given the State
and UT Governments flexibil-
ity to take a decision on
their seating capacity people including BJP veterans
LK Advani, MM Joshi and
̈ Swimming pools being
exhibitions Uma Bharti accused of being
involved in the demolition of
used for training of the mosque they believed
̈ Entertainment parks and
sportspersons occupied the spot where Lord
education, MHA, in UNLOCK:5 people for religious, Ram was born.
OWAISI EXPRESSES OUTRAGE,
its guidelines, said, social, political gather-
“Where schools are conducting ing. In closed spaces, a maxi-
online classes, and some stu- mum of 50% of the hall capac-
dents prefer to attend online ity will be allowed, with a ceil-
̈ Higher education institu-
similar places

tions only for research

reopening of schools and
coaching institutions after 15th
October 2020 in a graded
manner.
However, the decision must
be be taken in consultation
with the management of the
respective school/institution,
based on their assessment of
the situation with certain con-
ditions.
While encouraging online
scholars (Ph.D) and post-
In a judgment that ran to
2,300 pages with enclosures,
the special CBI court on
Wednesday said there was no
SAYS VERDICT IS ‘OBNOXIOUS’
classes rather than physically ing of 200 persons. graduate students in conclusive evidence against HYDERABAD: AIMIM president Calling the judgement
attend school, they may be per- No international air travel of Science and Technology the 32 accused of being Asaduddin Owaisi on 'obnoxious', Owaisi claimed it
mitted to do so. Attendance passengers, except as permit- stream requiring laborato- involved in any conspiracy to Wednesday expressed outrage contradicted the Supreme
̈ In closed spaces, a maxi-
must not be enforced, and ted by MHA. Vulnerable per- ry/experimental works bring down the disputed struc- over the judgment of a CBI Court's observations in its
must depend entirely on sons, i.e. persons aged above 65 ture in Ayodhya. court in Lucknow acquitting all verdict on November 9 last
parental consent.” years, persons with co-mor- mum of 50% of the hall Delivering the verdict on the the 32 accused in the Babri year that the demolition of the
Schools that open will have bidities, pregnant women, and capacity will be allowed, day of his retirement, special masjid demolition case and Babri mosque was a calculated
to mandatorily follow the SOPs children below the age of 10 with a ceiling of 200 per- Judge SK Yadav did not accept demanded that the central act of destroying a public place
̈ In open spaces, no limit,
to be issued by the Education years are advised to stay at sons newspaper reports and video investigating agency go for an of worship and a violation of
Departments of States/ UTs. home, except for meeting cassettes as evidence. appeal. rule of law.
Further, in open spaces, essential requirements and for keeping in view the size of 2
there is no cap on number of health purposes. the ground/space 2

COMPETITIVE BORROWING Centre to APEX COUNCIL MEET

Hathras rape
victim cremated-
TS, AP on the verge of borrow
Rs 4.34 L-cr
KCR tells officials to corner AP, Centre
midnight, Yogi
sets up SIT breaching annual cap PNS n NEW DELHI
PNS n HYDERABAD

Telangana Chief Minister K.

The Finance Ministry on
cials to prepare all arguments
in support of the just demands
of Telangana on the matter.
future," a statement from the
Chief Minister's Office quoted
him as saying.
Chandrashekhar Rao has asked The Chief Minister has con- "Take the opportunity to

5 L VENKAT RAM REDDY

n HYDERABAD

At the state level, it is one thing

to compete for the top slot in
Ease of Doing Business and
quite another to stay rooted in
a position of sound fiscal
management. Strangely,
Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana are willy-nilly com-
peting with each other in rais-
ing loans to meet the revenue
shortfall on account of coro-
na-induced financial crisis
since April.
The Telugu States have been
on a borrowing spree so much
so that they are on the verge
of breaching the annual bud-
get estimates on raising loans
in the very first half of this fis-
cal itself (April-Sep). This puts
Farm laws
arm-twist
farmers
BJP to field Raghunandan for Dubbaka
The Telugu States
have been on a
borrowing spree so
Wednesday said the gov-
ernment will borrow Rs 4.34
lakh-crore in the second
half of the current fiscal to
meet its expenditure
much so that they requirement amid Covid-
are on the verge of 19 crisis afflicting the coun-
breaching the try's economy.
The government is stick-
annual budget ing to Rs 12 lakh-crore bor-
estimates rowing target for the current
fiscal, Economic Affairs
a big question mark over how Secretary Tarun Bajaj said.
they would manage in the sec- In the first half that ended
ond half of this fiscal, if there September, the government
is no respite from the fiscal has done borrowing of Rs
strain linked to the Covid-bat- 7.66 lakh-crore and remain-
tered economy. ing Rs 4.34 lakh-crore will
Telangana State has raised
Rs 29,219 crore till September,
while AP has raised Rs 47,130
be mobilised during the sec-
ond half of the current fis-
cal, Bajaj said.
crore till August.
Report in Page 5
2 PNS n TIRUPATI
officials to take the Centre to
task during the Apex Council
meeting scheduled on October
6 over the sharing of Krishna
and Godavari river waters
between Telangana and
Andhra Pradesh.
Stating that the Centre is
doing nothing, he directed the
officials to be firm in demand-
ing that there should be
absolute clarity on the alloca-
tion of water to Telangana.
KCR, as the Chief Minister
is popularly known, the offi-
Chennai woman
donates Rs 1cr
to Balaji temple
A woman devotee from
Chennai on Wednesday
made an offering of Rs 1
vened a high-level meeting
with the Water Resources
Department officials on
Thursday to discuss on the
strategy to be adapted at the
Apex Council meeting.
He instructed the officials
concerned to come with com-
plete data and information
and issues to be placed before
the Central government.
"Andhra Pradesh state is
intentionally creating disputes
on the River water sharing. We
have to give a befitting reply to
HC rejects ABV’s plea against arrest
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
The AP High Court on
Wednesday dismissed a peti-
tion filed by senior police offi-
cer AB Venkateswara Rao not
to arrest him.
the AP State's arguments at the
Apex Council meeting. Give an
absolute clarity on issues so
that the AP government will
not raise the issues again in
expose the seven years delay
caused by the Centre and its
inactive role on the matter.
Oppose and reject the attempts
made to undermine the rights
of Telangana people. Utilise the
Apex Council meeting to tell
the whole country about the
facts," KCR said.
He pointed out that under
the States Bifurcation Acts,
whenever a new State is
formed, it should be allocated
its water share.
2
out obtaining permission.
Following this,
Venkateswara Rao had chal-
lenged the government’s deci-
sion in the High Court, saying
that the State government did
not give him any posting and

2 PNS n HYDERABAD

The Bharatiya Janata

to village extensively.
The saffron party wants
to prove its mettle in the
the masses, the party will deploy
Union Ministers during its cam-
paign. The Ministers will high-
crore to Lord Venkateswara
temple at Tirumala near here.
She gave the sum with a
request to utilise it for devel-
Venkateswara Rao was ear-
lier suspended by the YSRCP
government on charges of col-
luding with and leaking crucial had referred the case to the
placed him under suspension
on vague charges which were
in violation of Articles 14 and
16 of the Constitution and
Party has almost series of elections to be light the assistance that the oping the temple-run TV information a foreign defence state government which would principles of natural justice.
TODAY finalised the candida- held in the state - MLC Centre had given to Telangana channel 'Sri Venkateswara manufacturing company. He have to face contempt proceed- The High Court had set
ture of Raghunandan elections, Dubbaka and so on. Bhakti Channel (SVBC),' an was later reinstated by the ings if it failed to file a case as aside the Central
ALMANAC Rao for the upcoming Assembly constituency BJP sources say that Ravi official of the hill shrine said. court. per the standard procedures. Administrative Tribunal
Month & Paksham: Dubbaka Assembly by-poll, GHMC polls as Shankar Prasad, Prakash After worship at the tem- In his petition, Earlier, Chief Secretary (CAT) order which had upheld
Ashwin (Adhik) & Shukla Paksha constituency bypoll. well as the elections to Warangal Javadekar, Kishan Reddy and ple, the devotee handed over Venkateswara Rao appealed to Nilam Sawhney had issued the state government’s decision
Panchangam Raghunandan Rao has been and Khammam municipal cor- two more Union Ministers a demand draft for the the High Court to direct the orders suspending Venkate- to suspend the senior IPS offi-
Tithi : Purnima: 02:34 am (Next Day)
actively campaigning in the porations.In order to take would be deployed for the poll amount to TTD Additional AP police not to arrest him. swara Rao and directed him cer.
Nakshatram: UttaraBhadrapada:05:57am
constituency, going from village Central government schemes to campaign. EO AV Dharma Reddy. The court observed that it not to leave Vijayawada with- 2
(Next Day)
Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start
any important work)
Rahukalam: 01:34 pm – 03:03 pm
MANSAS Trust wants MR College privatised Liquor seized from
Yamagandam: 06:09 am – 07:38 am
Varjyam:
Gulika:
01:55 pm – 03:42 pm
09:07 am - 10:36 am
PNS n VIJAYAWADA

In yet another controversial

Good Time: (to start any important work)
Amritakalam: 12:36 am – 02:23 am
Abhijit Muhurtham: 11:41 am – 12:29 pm
VIJAYAWADA
WEATHER
Forecast: solated thunderstorms
Temp: 32/24
Humidity: 78%
Sunrise: 06.06 am
Sunset: 06.04 pm
Current Weather Conditions
Updated September 30, 2020 5:00 PM
decision, the MANSAS Trust
on Wednesday appealed to the
state government to privatise
the Maharajah Educational
Institutions or MR College, one
of the oldest autonomous col-
leges in the country.
The institution was founded
by Pusapati Vijaya Rama
Gajapathi Raj-III, the then
Maharajah of the Vijayana-
garam princely state, in 1879.
MANSAS was formed as a
society in 1958 by PVG Raju in
the name of his father to prom-
ote the cause of education and
continue to administer the
educational institutions under
the patronage of the family.
The trust was set up with an
endowed property of over
13,000 acres and other proper-
ties to provide financial sup-
port for the educational insti-
tutions under MANSAS.
MANSAS Trust, whose
chairperson is Sanchaita
Gajapati Raju and daughter of
Uma Gajapati Raju, estranged
wife of late Ananda Gajapati
Raju, has appealed to the state
government to privatise MR
College that runs Intermediate
and Degree courses.
The Higher Education Co-
mmittee Special Commissioner
has directed the Regional Joint
Director of Education to look
into the appeal.
The appeal by the MANSAS
Trust to privatise the college
has pushed the teaching staff
into deep anguish and anxiety.
Anand Gajapati Raju and
Ashok Gajapati Raju were
founding members of the
MANSAS Trust Board.
However, Sanchaita Gajapati
Raju replaced Gajapati Raju,
her uncle, who has been head-
ing both MANSAS and
Simhachalam Trust Board
since the demise of his broth-
er Ananda Gajapati Raju.
He was removed from the
MANSAS Trust Board and
Sanchaita appointed in his
place by the AP government.
temple official’s car
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Sleuths of the Special
Enforcement Bureau on
Wednesday seized a large
number of liquor bottles from
a car parked in an apartment
at Sitarampuram in
Jaggaiahpet mandal of Krishna
District, following a tip-off.
The police identified the car
belongs to Kanakadurga
Temple trust board member C
Venkata Naga Varalakshmi.
Jaggaiahpet sub-inspector
DV Rama Rao said that the car
was seized as the vehicle was
found to be loaded with duty
liquor bottles on which duty
was not paid. The liquor was
believed to have been smug-
gled from neighbouring
Telangana state.
Rama Rao said that the
driver of the car R Shiva has
been taken into custody.
2
VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020
Farm laws arm-twist farmers
ntil four-five decades
U ago, when every village
in the country functioned as
a Republic in itself, agricul-
ture was not considered a
profitable vocation. It was
then more of a profession, a
passion and a serving mech-
anism. With a majority of the
population dependent direct-
ly or indirectly on agriculture,
the entire village economy
thrived mostly on a barter
system.
Each village produced agri-
cultural commodities main-
ly for its needs and nobody
gave a thought about surplus
production. Every farmer,
big or small, had some sort of
a storage mechanism that
included storage of seeds for
the next year. There was no
concept of buying seeds.
Gradually, with the advent
of market-based economy,
agricultural produce started
moving out of the villages to
nearby markets. This expan-
sion of geographical area
added to problems of farmers
and middlemen, traders and
agents entered the system,
complicating the whole
process. This gave rise to
commercialisation and the
producer of an agriculture
product became dependent
on outside market even for
his needs.
Despite policies and pro-
grammes being launched by
successive governments to
make the country self-suffi-
cient in essential commodi-
ties, not much was done to
make agriculture profitable.
On the contrary, due to loop-
holes and lacunae in agricul-
ture policies, farmers were
often pushed into debts, dri-
ving them to suicide.
For the first time in the
country, innovative schemes
were designed, developed
and delivered for the farming
sector in Telangana after K
Chandrashekhar Rao became
the Chief Minister. Notable
among them was Rythu
Bandhu or investment sup-
port scheme for agriculture
that involved payment of Rs
10,000 per acre in two install-
ments. Likewise, Rythu Bima,
a life insurance scheme for
farmers, gave tremendous
confidence to farmer. Many
schemes benefiting farmers
preceded and succeeded these
schemes in Telangana.
Besides, centres were set up at
the village level to procure
agricultural produce from
Gowda
launches
OWAISI EXPRESSES OUTRAGE,
SAYS VERDICT IS ‘OBNOXIOUS’
home delivery Continued from Page 1 par
construction, not destruc-
"...If the Supreme Court tion)," Owaisi said.
of fertilisers says that egregious violation of
rule of law, was masjid sacri- were facts, he sought to know
PNS n NEW DELHI
Union Minister DV Sadan-
anda Gowda on Wednesday
launched the home delivery
facility of fertilisers for farm-
ers in Andhra Pradesh.
Gowda launched POS 3.1
software, SMS Gateway and
home delivery facility of fer-
tilisers for farmers in AP. The
minister said the DBT (direct
benefits transfer) system was
launched on March 1, 2018,
on a pan-India basis that has
been working well.
He said the fertiliser
department has successfully
implemented a system of
end-to-end computerisation
of movement of fertilisers.
HYDERABAD
BULLION RATES
GOLD
` 52, 730 (10 gm)
` 200
SILVER
` 61,000 (1kg)
` 300
CHICKEN
RATES `/KG
Dressed/With Skin `199
Without Skin `226
Broiler at Farm `137
EGG
RATES `/100
VIJAYAWADA 513
HYDERABAD 503
VISAKHAPATNAM 517
RETAIL PRICE `5.13
(IN VIJAYAWADA)
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The free hand given to private
corporate houses will lead to
exploitation of farmers. With corporate
entities fixing the price to their
advantage while entering into written
contracts, the farmers will have no
option but to sign on the dotted line.
VANAM JWALA
NARASIMHA RAO
CHIEF PUBLIC RELATIONS
OFFICER OF CHIEF MINISTER
OF TELANGANA
farmers, irrespective of qual-
ity, at a price acceptable to
farmers.
This being so, the Union
government has preferred to
bring three controversial and
draconian laws that give a free
hand to corporates to ride
roughshod over the farm sec-
tor. For instance, the new
Essential Commodities Act
removes food items such as
pulses, potato, cereals, onions,
edible oilseeds and oils from
the list of essential commodi-
ties. Under the new Act, the
government cannot impose a
stock limit. In other words,
there are no checks or bal-
ances to stop a vicious super-
market chain, retailer chain,
or any corporate entity, indi-
vidual or individuals from
hoarding essential commodi-
ties.
In states, the Agriculture
Produce Market Committee
(APMC) sets up markets or
mandis or market yards,
where farmers bring their
produce, and wholesale and
retail traders buy it through
auction. The new Act says
that farmers can sell their
produce ‘anywhere’. That is,
they can sell within the state,
outside the state, or online!
How many farmers are capa-
ble of selling online, God
alone knows!
Presently APMC markets
ensure that farmers get the
Minimum Support Price for
nahi hai' (curbs are on
Maintaining that all these
ficed on December 6 (1992) by
any magic ? Were the idols
kept by magic in 1949? Were
the locks opened when Rajiv
Gandhi was Prime Minister by
magic? Thats why I say that
today's judgement came in
contradiction to what the
Supreme Court said," the MP
told reporters here.
Questioning how there was
no conspiracy behind the
pulling down of the structure,
he asked who had called for
the huge gathering of people
and who facilitated it.
"Isn't it true that the CBI
charge-sheet said that then
Uttar Pradesh chief minister
Kalyan Singh said 'rok con-
struction par hai, destruction
India received ‘above normal' this monsoon AP reports 6,133 Covid
PNS n NEW DELHI
The country received above
normal monsoon during the
four-month rainfall season,
recording the second highest
precipitation in the last 30
years, the India Meteorological
Department (IMD) said on
Wednesday.
The country received 109
per cent rainfall of the Long
Period Average (LPA) with
three of four months — June
(107 per cent), August (127 per
cent) and September (105 per
cent) — witnessing above nor-
mal rainfall, while July record-
ed (90 per cent) below deficient
rainfall.
"Quantitatively the 2020
monsoon seasonal rainfall dur-
ing 1 June to 30 September
2020 has been 95.4 centimetres
against long period average of
their produce. Farmers,
activists and experts are wor-
ried that if trading takes place
outside the APMC market-
place, farmers may not get
MSP, since there is no provi-
sion to that effect in the new
law. This may lead to distress
sale by farmers.
Another Bill says that
farmers can enter into ‘writ-
ten agreements’ with any-
one, including a company,
and sell them their produce
for a set period of time, as per
the contract. This implies
that companies will have an
upper hand in setting the
price for the produce, estab-
lishing standard and evaluat-
ing quality.
About 82% of farmers in
the country (more in TS) are
small or marginal farmers.
Can they assert their rights
while seeking implantation of
the contract on a level play-
ing field? What security, guar-
antee and protection does
the farmer have under the
new farm laws?
The free hand given to
private corporate houses will
lead to exploitation of farm-
ers. With corporate entities
fixing the price to their
advantage while entering into
written contracts, the farmers
will have no option but to
sign on the dotted line.
Corporate entities may also
resort to extending loans to
farmers for investment, which
could be on high interest
rates, for buying their pro-
duce after harvest.
Corporate companies can
now have contracts with
farmers to buy their pro-
duce, but farmers do not
have the protection of MSP.
Retail chains can contract a
whole bunch of farmers and
hoard produce, thereafter
artificially increasing prices.
The new laws are not as
progressive as claimed by the
Centre. They would essen-
tially destroy the problem-
ridden agriculture sector in
the country.
(With senior journalist
VJM Divakar)
how all the accused have been
exonerated.
As a "proud Indian
Muslim", he had felt helpless
and humiliated when the
Babri mosque was demol-
ished in 1992 and he felt the
same today, Owaisi said, alleg-
ing justice had been denied on
the matter since 1950.
Terming the CBI court's
ruling as "obnoxious," Owaisi
said the CBI must appeal
against the judgement to pro-
tect its independence.
He would also urge the All
India Muslim Personal Law
Board (AIMPLB) to challenge
the 'strange' judgement which
rewarded those who created
the issue of Ram mandir.
87.7 cm based on data of 1961-
2010 (109 per cent of its Long
Period Average)," RK
Jenamani, scientist with the
National Weather Forecasting
Centre (NWFC) said.
The monsoon season in
India officially starts on June 1
and lasts till September 30.
The southwest monsoon
delivers about 70 per cent of
the country's annual rainfall,
CM to inaugurate renovated
Vijayawada’s Bapu Museum
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan
Reddy will inaugurate the ren-
ovated Bapu Museum in
Vijayawada on Thursday.
The Victoria Jubilee
Museum was first conceived in
1887 as part of the Golden
Jubilee of Queen Victoria and
was brought under the auspices
of the Department of
Archaeology and Museums,
AP in 1962.
It has been renamed Bapu
Museum after the famous film
director, illustrator, cartoonist
and author Sattiraju Lakshmi
Narayana, better known as
Bapu.
The museum houses idols,
paintings and other objects
besides a presentation through
augmented reality digital tech-
nology through mobile appli-
cation. As many as 1500 objects
are put on display in the muse-
um in seven galleries.
Maoist
involved in
over 100
offences held
PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM
The Vizag Rural Police on
Wednesday arrested a Maoist,
carrying a reward of Rs 4 lakh
on his head, along with
explosive devices and a
weapon.
The arrested Maoist was
identified as Gemmeli
Kamesh alias Hari alias
Malathi (31), Area
Committee Member of
Galikonda Dalam of banned
CPI (Maoist) Party, a resident
of Kumkumapudi village, GK
Veedhi Mandal in Vizag
Agency.
The Maoist was involved in
over 100 offences under Vizag
and East Godavari districts of
Andhra Pradesh and parts of
Odisha.
Deputy Inspector General
(Visakha Range), LKV Ranga
Rao said that Kamesh was
involved in 21 offences in
Vizag district, including five
murders, seven exchanges of
fire with police personnel.
All 32 accused in Babri...
Continued from Page 1
The court also observed
that the late Vishwa Hindu
Parishad leader Ashok
Singhal wanted to save the
structure because Ram idols
were inside.
The 16th century mosque
was demolished on December
6, 1992, triggering riots that
left hundreds dead in the
country and widening rifts
between the communities.
Twenty-six of the accused
were present in the Lucknow
court when the judge read out
the operative portion of the
verdict.
Former deputy prime min-
ister Advani, the then Uttar
Pradesh chief minister Kalyan
Singh, former Union minis-
ters Murli Manohar Joshi and
Uma Bharti, Ram
Janmaboomi Teerth Kshetra
Trust president Nritya Gopal
critical for the agriculture sec-
tor that accounts for about 14
per cent of India's GDP and
employs more than half of the
country's 1.3 billion popula-
tion.
Good rains have boosted
sowing of the kharif crops
which farmers have sown in
record 1,116.88 lakh hectares
till last week as compared to
1,066.06 lakh hectares a year
The foundation stone for the
museum building was laid by
Robert Sewell, the then District
Collector, Krishna on June 27,
1887, to mark the occasion of
Golden Jubilee of Queen
Victoria’s coronation.
The museum building is
constructed in ashlar mason-
ry, a classic example of the
Indo-European architectural
style to house the industrial
Crime Branch to probe case of
missing CISF official from AP
PNS n NEW DELHI
The Delhi High Court
Wednesday transferred to the
Delhi Police Crime Branch,
investigation into the case of
disappearance of a CISF offi-
cial since May this year.
A bench of Justices Vipin
Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar
passed the order while hearing
a habeas corpus petition by the
wife of CISF constable Venkata
Rao seeking to know the
whereabouts of her husband
who went missing after visit-
ing his Dhaula Kuan office
here.
An FIR was lodged at police
station Usmanpur under
Section 365 IPC (kidnapping
or abduction with intent
secretly and wrongfully to
confine person) on September
17 on the direction of the High
Court.
A habeas corpus petition is
filed seeking direction to pro-
duce a person who is missing
or illegally detained.
The woman, Godi Raja
Kumari has approached the
Das and Shiv Sena leader
Satish Pradhan had sought
exemptions from personal
appearance.
Kalyan Singh and Uma
Bharti are in hospital recov-
ering from Covid-19. The
Ram temple trust president
was also tested positive last
month.
The judge took his seat at
12.10 pm and spent five min-
utes reading out the operative
part of his judgment.
As he pronounced them
not guilty, some of the
accused chanted "Jai Shri
Ram" in the court. As did
Advani, a key figure in the
Ram temple movement, at his
home.
"It is a very important deci-
sion and a matter of happiness
for us. When we heard the
news of the court's order, we
welcomed it by chanting Jai
Shri Ram," he said in a video
ago, according to the
Agriculture Ministry's data.
The IMD has four meteoro-
logical divisions. Of the four,
the east and northeast India,
central India and south India
have received above normal
rainfall. The northwest India
division has recorded deficient
rainfall.
Nineteen states and union
territories have received nor-
mal rainfall this year, while
nine states and union territo-
ries saw excess rainfall. Bihar,
Gujarat, Meghalaya, Goa,
Andhra Pradesh Telangana,
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and
Lakshadweep islands have
recorded above normal rainfall.
Sikkim recorded large excess
rainfall.
However, Nagaland,
Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura,
Uttarakhand, Himachal
exhibition.
In 1921, the All India
Congress Committee met here,
when Pingali Venkayya of
Munagala Samsthana present-
ed the tricolour flag to
Mahatma Gandhi in the pres-
ence of other leaders like
Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal
Nehru, Vallabhai Patel, Lala
Lajapati Roy, Babu Rajendra
Prasad, Tanguturi Prakasam
high court seeking to know the
whereabouts of her husband,
who was working as a driver,
as she suspected foul play in his
disappearance due to frequent
tiffs with his superior.
Advocate R Bajaji and K.
Sravan Kumar, representing
Kumari, said Rao is missing
since May 26, this year after he
allegedly visited his office at
Dhaula Kuan to seek clearance
of his leave to visit his native
place in East Godavari Andhra
Pradesh along with his wife
and her septuagenarian father.
Counsel submitted that the
matters required to be trans-
ferred to the crime branch to
instil confidence in a fair and
impartial investigation as there
are several contradictory
message.
The verdict comes less than
a year after the Supreme
Court's historic judgment in
the related
Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid
Ram
land dispute that paved the
way for the construction of a
temple at the Ayodhya site.
The apex court verdict had
called the demolition an egre-
gious violation of the rule of
law.
But combined with the
bhoomi pujan' for the Ram
temple only last month, the
verdict in the demolition case
has come as boost to the BJP.
It also helps bring the temple
issue centre stage just weeks
before the party faces assem-
bly polls in Bihar.
Iqbal Ansari, a prominent
litigant in the Ram
Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid
title suit, welcomed the ver-
dict.
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir
have recorded deficiency.
Ladakh has recorded large
deficiency.
"Considering recent years
since 1990, the seasonal rain-
fall was 110 per cent of LPA in
1994 and 2019. It is consecu-
tively for two monsoon years,
when India received good rain-
fall of 9 per cent above LPA or
more. Data shows similar con-
secutive good monsoon rain-
fall years in 1958 and 1959
when it was 10 per cent and 4
per cent above LPA respective-
ly," Jenamani added.
Monsoon made an onset
over Kerala on June 1, its nor-
mal annual onset date. Its
timely onset was also aided by
cyclone Nisarga. The mon-
soon covered the entire coun-
try by June 26, 12 days ahead
of its normal date of July 8.
vijayawada 02
Pantulu etc.
To this flag Gandhiji added
the Chakra and declared it as
the Indian National Congress
Flag which was declared as the
Indian National Flag by the
Constituent Assembly on July
22, 1947.
Later it came under the con-
trol of the Zamindars of
Nuzividu, District Board,
Krishna and Zilla Parishad of
Krishna. In the year 1962 the
Department of Archaeology
and Museums, Government
of Andhra Pradesh took over
the building and established an
Archaeological Museum and
named it as Victoria Jubilee
Museum.
Archeology and museums
commissioner G Vani Mohan
said that augmented/virtual
reality, mapping theatre, digi-
tal book, digital wall panel and
immersive projection installed
during renovation and avail-
able for visitors.
claims made by the CISF and
the Usmanpur police station.
Delhi government standing
counsel (criminal) Rahul
Mehra and advocate Chaitanya
Gosain said they have no obj-
ection to the case being trans-
ferred to the Crime Branch for
further investigation.
The High Court directed the
Crime Branch to submit a sta-
tus report within four weeks
and listed the matter for fur-
ther hearing to November 9.
Counsel for the petitioner
said the court agreed with
their contention that the mat-
ter ought to be transferred to
the Delhi Police's Crime
Branch since prima facie the
Usmanpur police had not con-
ducted a fair investigation as it
had recorded an FIR nearly
four months after the disap-
pearance of the official.
He said the court also asked
the wife of the constable to file
an application with the CISF
for immediate release of salary
arrears from May till date, af-
ter which the authorities sh-
ould consider it expeditiously.
TS, AP on the verge of ...
Continued from Page 1
AP's annual budget has esti-
mated the borrowings at Rs
48,295 crore for this fiscal
2020-21, while TS' annual
budget has estimated borrow-
ings at Rs 34,000 crore. Of
this, AP has already raised Rs
48,295 crore in the first five
months of this fiscal itself
(April-August), while TS
raised Rs 29,219 crore in six
months (April-September).
Curiously, for the record,
AP remains a 'revenue-deficit
state' since the bifurcation in
June 2014, while TS prides on
its being a 'revenue-surplus
state'. Still, when it comes to
borrowings, both the states are
sailing in the same boat this
fiscal due to financial crisis
exacerbated by the pandemic.
AP's revenue deficit has
mounted to Rs 38,199 crore in
the first five months of the fis-
cases, 48 fatalities
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Continuing the declining
trend, Andhra Pradesh on
Wednesday saw an addition of
6,133 new Covid-19 cases that
took the overall tally to
6,93,484.
The total recoveries
increased to 6,29,211 as 7,075
more patients got cured and
discharged in the last 24 hours
ending 9 am on Wednesday.
Another 48 patients died
while undergoing treatment
across the state, pushing the
tally to 5,828, the latest bulletin
said.
The state now has 58,445
active cases.
Government data revealed
that the infection positivity
KCR tells
officials to
corner AP,
Centre
Continued from Page 1
"The Telangana State was
formed on June 2, 2014 and
we wrote a letter to the Prime
Minister on June 14, 2014
requesting for the allocation
of water to the Telangana
State. We also stated that
water could be allocated by
constituting a Special tri-
bunal under section (3) of the
Inter State River Water
Disputes Act 1956 or through
the existing Tribunal. We
also wanted the allocation of
water should be done
between the Telangana State
and AP or among the river
basin states. Even after seven
years, there was no response
for the letter written to the
PM. The Centre kept mum
on the issue. Moreover, they
are giving a picture that they
were doing something by
convening Apex Council
meetings. But in reality, the
Centre is not doing any-
thing," he said.
The Apex Council meet
has been postponed twice. It
was last scheduled on August
25 but was postponed as
Union Minister for Jal Shakti,
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,
tested positive for Covid-19.
The meeting assumed sig-
nificance in view of the objec-
tions raised by Telangana
over Andhra Pradesh going
ahead with the Rayalaseema
Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS)
across Krishna river.
Telangana has been stating
that the project would
adversely affect its interests.
AP objected to six irriga-
tion projects or schemes.
Liquor seized
from temple
official’s car
Continued from Page 1
On questioning the driver,
he revealed that the liquor
bottles were brought from
Telangana state border on the
demand of the trust board
member’s son C Sur ya
Prakash. The S-I further said
that a manhunt is on to nab
Surya Prakash.
cal itself against the annual
budget estimate of Rs 18,434
crore, indicating that the rev-
enue deficit has doubled over
the budget estimates. This has
raised several concerns. The
AP government has spent a
whopping Rs 84,521 crore till
August towards
salaries, pensions, interest
payments and welfare
schemes.
TS spent Rs 53,313 crore till
August. Of this, almost half the
amount was mobilised thr-o-
ugh loans. TS raised Rs 24,719
crore till August. In Septe-
mber, it raised an Rs 4,500
crore additionally, taking the
total borrowings to Rs 24,719
crore. TS has issued these
bonds for a period of 30 years
at an interest rate of around
6.94 per cent per annum.
The TS government earned
Rs 8,224 crore through GST
till August.
rate dropped further to 11.94
per cent, while the recovery
rate improved to 90.73 per
cent. In 24 hours, East
Godavari district added 983
fresh Covid-19 cases and
Chittoor, 925.
West Godavari district,
which had been reporting
around 900 cases daily, added
only 464 on Wednesday.
Visakhapatnam district
crossed the 50,000 mark in
total cases with the addition of
235 anew, while neighbouring
Vizianagaram went past the
35,000 mark.
Eight out of 13 districts
have so far reported total
cases of over 50,000 each,
with East Godavari topping
with 97,174.
VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020
Botsa says YSR Jala Kala ‘a boon’
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Terming YSR Jala Kala as a
boon to the farmers of arid and
dry lands, YSRCP has said
Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan
Reddy has been implementing
the poll promises while the
TDP is confined only to criti-
cise the state without realising
what it has done during its
term.
Speaking to the media here
on Tuesday, Minister for
Municipal Administration,
Botsa Satyanarayana said TDP
has been making false claims
and it did not drill a single
borewell during its term and
has the audacity to criticise and
claim that YSR Jala Kala was
their scheme.
The Chief Minister has been
fulfilling every promise made
during elections and has been
implementing them as stated in
the manifesto. Seeing the plight
15 lakh houses to
be built for poor
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
As many as 15 lakh houses
would be constructed under
the first phase for poor in the
State under the Pedalandariki
Illu flagship programme of the
ruling YSRCP government.
Principal Secretar y to
Government Housing
Department, Ajay Jain has
instructed the officials to take
necessary immediate steps to
implement the Government's
prestigious programme
“Pedalandariki Illu ''in the
form of Jaganna colonies of
“Navaratnaalu”.
The one-day online training
programme for housing
department officials was held
at the Housing corporation
office at Tadepalli on
Wednesday. Addressing the
same, Mr Ajay Jain stressed on
the need of completing bene-
ficiary lists, survey codes ,
mapping, geo-tagging by 31
December and should be pre-
pared to start the construction
works by the Sankranthi fes-
Vizag Sarada Peetham seer Names finalised for
welcomes verdict on Babri Telugu Manila posts
PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM
Sarada Peetham
Swaroopananendra Maha
seer
Swamy welcomed the decision
of the CBI special court which,
on Wednesday, acquitted all
the 32 persons, who were
accused of demolishing his-
toric Babri Masjid.
The decree, which came
after waiting for 28 years, has
protected the Sannathana
Dharma, Swamy claimed
adding that it has put an end
to the Babri Masjid dispute for
good. He congratulated the
Modi government.
Meanwhile, the members
of Andhra Vanavasa
Kalyanasramam called on
Swamy and explained to him
the services they have been
providing to the Adivasi stu-
TTD executive
officer
transferred to
health dept
PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM
Anil Kumar Singhal, exec-
utive officer of TTD has
been transferred to health
department as principal
secretary.
The transfer and posting
of the 1993 batch IAS offi-
cer Singhal is ordered with
immediate ef fec t, s aid
Nilam Sawhney, cheif secre-
tary to government.
AV Dharma Reddy who
is additional executive offi-
cer at TTD now will take
full additional charge of
executive officer.
l Minister for Municipal Administration,
Botsa Satyanarayana said TDP has been
making false claims and it did not drill a
single borewell during its term and has
the audacity to criticize and claim that
YSR Jala Kala was their scheme.
l The Chief Minister has been fulfilling
every promise made during elections
and has been implementing them as
stated in the manifesto. Seeing the
plight of the farmers during the 3648
km padayatra, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
promised to stand by them and sort out
their issues and thus YSR Jala Kala has
come into being.
of the farmers during the 3648
km padayatra, YS Jagan Mohan
Reddy promised to stand by
them and sort out their issues
and thus YSR Jala Kala has
come into being.
tival. He said that Chief
Minister YS Jagan Mohan
Reddy is very particular about
this prestigious housing pro-
gramme and aimed to provide
houses to 30 lakh beneficiaries.
He said that 15 lakh houses
construction is target under
first phase and housing
department readying to start
construction works as soon as
the Government started to
distribute the Pattas to the
beneficiaries. He stated that
the Jaganna colonies will be
established with all basic
amenities like roads, water
and electricity.
dents. They told him that the
Adivasis were beginning to
learn tenets of Hinduism and
students were aptly listening
to the discourses being given
by the Vedic priests.
Oppn conspired to create
a wedge, says Sucharita
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Home Minister Mekathoti
Sucharita stated that the
Telugu Desam Party leaders
attacked Ramachandra,
brother of suspended judge
Ramakrishna, and the govern-
ment has evidence about the
attack. Addressing a press
conference in Guntur on
Wednesday, Sucharita said
that the police identified the
accused Pratap Reddy , who
attacked Ramachandra as a
TDP leader after thorough
investigation but the opposi-
tion parties criticising the gov-
ernment without verifying
facts. She alleged that it is a
conspiracy of the opposition
parties to create differences
between SC community and
YSRCP, who are supporting
the government. She lament-
ed that former chief minister
N Chandrababu Naidu and his
son Nara Lokesh were
indulging in mud-slinging on
the YSRCP government.
Sucharita lamented that the
government arrested MLA
Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, who
The Chief Minister also
promised to provide a separate
Corporation for every BC
community, giving political
prominence to the BCs. After
a careful study, out of 138
Govt hospitals to get a facelift
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan
Reddy will formally launch the
works of medical college in
Paderu and multi-speciality
hospitals in ITDA region on
October 2.
During a review meeting on
the Nadu-Nedu works taken
up in the health sector, held
here on Wednesday, the
Chief Minister told
the officials to
equip all the hos-
pitals with the
latest technolo-
gy and best
infrastructure
without com-
promising on
quality. There
should not be dearth
of funds for the presti-
gious projects, especially in
revamping the government
hospitals, said the Chief
Minister, and asserted that
public should feel the corpo-
rate ambiance within the gov-
ernment hospitals.
As the revamping of govern-
ment hospitals in the State was
being taken up after long gap
of about seven decades the
was involved in ESI scam,
and former minister Kollu
Ravindra , who was accused in
murder case but the opposi-
tion parties spreading false
campaign that the govern-
ment was attacking backward
communities. She said that
Naidu wrote a letter at 7 pm
and the incident took place at
4 pm, which shows political
conspiracy behind the inci-
dent.
Sucharita recalled that
Naidu had not taken any
action against former MLA
Chintamaneni Prabhakar, who
had attacked tahsildar
Vanajakshi. She said that the
police department responding
well whenever incident takes
place on Dalits.
castes, 56 were finalised to
have separate corporations,
where the funds will be allocat-
ed to them. He has taken a
decision to implement 50 per-
cent women quota and provide
Chief Minister told the officials
to make every hospital as the
best. He directed the officials
to complete the establishment
of all hospitals in the next three
years. All the hospitals must be
equipped with centralised air
conditioners, lifts, fire control
equipment, and the entire
required medical and non-
medical infrastructure. If nec-
essary solar energy
would be supplied
to the hospitals,
which would be
cost effective.
Works on
Paderu Medi-
cal College and
multi-specialty
hospitals would
begin from Octo-
ber 2 and the Chief
Minister will formally
launch the works virtually.
The officials said that the
proposed medical colleges at
Paderu, Piduguralla,
Machilipatnam, Pulivendula,
Bapatla, Vizianagaram, Eluru,
Anakapalle, Markapuram,
Madhanapalle, and Nandyal
are under the process of judi-
cial preview for confirming the
tender process.
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
The Telugu Desam Party
(TDP) is continuing its long-
standing policy of accommo-
dating the backward and
weaker sections of society in
the internal party leadership
positions. The party is all set
to name new leaders for its
women's wing, Telugu
Mahila.
Dalit leader and
former MLA
Vang a l apu d i
Anitha has
already been
made Telugu
Mahila State
President. Now,
the party has
selected the Telugu
Mahila Presidents and
General Secretaries for each of
the 25 parliamentary con-
stituencies.
A total of 50 posts were
finalised in this respect. All
care was taken to balance the
caste and regional equations
while filling these posts with
SC, BC, ST and OC women.
Of the total 50 posts, over 21
posts were given to the BC
women who got 10 president
and 11 general secretary posts.
Ms. Vangalapudi Anitha has
Vizag zoo ready for ‘wildlife week’ from Oct 2
PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
is conducting various activities
including online competitions
for the public with a special
focus on school children, college
students and all wildlife lovers
as part of the wildlife week cel-
ebration in the first week of
October.
66th Vanyaprani Saptah /
Wildlife Week 2020" celebra-
tions are being conducted in a
befitting manner to create
awareness among the general
public on wildlife conservation
in Vizag zoo. The online com-
petitions were conducted main-
ly on elocution, essay writing,
poster making, quiz and photog-
raphy competition from
September 23 to 27.
In addition to the above, various
more posts to women, the
minister said.
Chandrababu Naidu failed
to deliver his promises made to
BC welfare during his regime
and never bothered about
them while in power and has
been using BCs like vote bank
for political gains. He criticized
Chandrababu Naidu for mis-
using and pocketing
Aadharana scheme funds,
while leaving welfare to their
fate.
He said that Chandrababu
credited Pasupu-Kumkuma
amount to women only for the
sake of elections. Unlike
Naidu, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
has always stood by his
promise and implemented
many schemes within 16
months of forming the govern-
ment. After NTR and YSR, it
was Jagan Mohan Reddy that
gained the trust of the public,
said the Minister
Similarly, for the multispe-
ciality hospitals
Seethampeta, Parvathipuram,
in
Rampachodavaram,
Buttaiahgudem, and Dornala,
the project estimates were
ready and soon the works will
be initiated.
Health Minister Alla
Krishna Srinivas (Nani), Chief
Secretary Nilam Sawhney,
Special Chief Secretary for
Medical Health Dr KS Jawahar
Reddy, APMSIDC Managing
Director V Vijayaramaraju and
other officials were present.
Health Minister Alla Nani
slammed Opposition leader
N Chandrababu Naidu for his
slanderous campaign with his
friendly media at a time when
the spread of Corona is on the
decline due to the best efforts
of the Chief Minister and his
constant monitoring of the
situation.
While the initiatives of the
Chief Minister were lauded by
the Prime Minister, and the
State stood on top in terms of
number of tests conducted
per million, TDP leaders and
a section of media have been
trying to a give a different pic-
ture to confuse the people.
already taken over as Telugu
Mahila State President. Eight
more SC women were given
general secretary posts.
The TDP has given one
president and one general sec-
retary post to the ST women.
For OC women, about 14
president and 5 general secre-
tary posts were allotted.
As per the directions of
TDP chief N to bring in more industries
Chandrababu Naidu,
priority was given
to the youth in
the selection of
the posts. A 30-
year-old woman
was one among
those selected for
Telugu Mahila
Parliamentary
Constituency president
posts.
Also, a 29-year-old woman
was among those selected for
Parliamentary Constituency
general secretary posts. The
total committee was filled
with women in the age group
of 20 to 60 years.
Telugu Mahila State
President Anitha would
announce the newly-selected
office bearers of parliamentary
segment level committees on
Thursday.
events are also lined up in Vizag
zoo from October 2. The details
of daily program schedule is also
available at the Zoo website
www.vizagzoo.com
Over the past few decades,
there has been a paradigm shift
towards educating people about
nature and wildlife conservation
within zoos through various
modes of communication and
conservation education has
become one of the very impor-
tant objectives of Indian zoos.
Conservation education is
the process of influencing peo-
ple’s attitudes, emotions, knowl-
edge, and behaviours about
wildlife and wildlife habitats.
Public learning about conserva-
tion of wildlife and habitats is
vital for avoiding any further
extinction of wildlife and shrink-
ing of its habitats, when educat-
Yanamala accuses govt of
pushing State into debt trap
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
TDP leader, Yanamala
Ramakrishnudu on
Wednesday slammed the
YSRCP Government for 'push-
ing' Andhra Pradesh into a
deep debt trap from which the
State would never be able to
recover for generations to
come. He expressed concern
that in just five months, the
Jagan regime taken loans that
could be made for a full one
year period. He lamented that
it was a matter of greater con-
cern now that the govern-
ment would bring more loans
in the next 7 months which
would prove a big punish-
ment for future generations of
the State.
He demanded that the CM
explain why three-fourths of
beneficiaries among poor fam-
ilies were not receiving Cash
Transfer benefits. He alleged
that Jagan's rule was betraying
Senior
assistant lands
in ACB net
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Rokkam Dasanna, senior
assistant, RWS & S,
Penukonda, was caught red-
handed and arrested by the
Anti-Corruption Bureau
sleuths for demanding and
accepting a bribe of Rs 13,000
on Wednesday.
According to the DSP ACB
Anantapur, a trap was laid by
the ACB based on a com-
plaint lodged by Mala
Lakshmannagari Mohan, of
V Agraharam village,
Amarapur mandal for pro-
cessing the M-Books online
and to forward the same to
the 0/o the SE, RWS & S,
Anantapur for sanction of
bills pertaining to supply of
water to V Agraharam and
Valasa BC Colony villages
under utility of Calamity
Relief Fund (CRF) 2018-19.
The tainted officer was
caught red-handed when he
further demanded and
accepted the tainted bribe
amount of Rs 13,000.
He was arrested and pro-
duced before the Court of the
III ADJ-cum-Special Judge
for the ACB cases, Kurnool.
The case is under investiga-
tion.
APIIC develops MSME parks
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Minister for Industries and IT
Mekapati Gautam Reddy
instructed the officials to strive
keeping in view the Ease of
Doing Business that state is
implementing.
He was addressing a review
meeting with the officials of
Industries, MSME, IT and
APSFL at his chambers in the
Secretariat here on Wednesday.
The minister said that AP
Industrial Infrastructure
Corporation is developing 31
MSME parks throughout the
state. “The MSME would ben-
efit a lot with the new indus-
trial policy,” he said.
He told the officials to con-
centrate on establishing at least
one MSME in each assembly
constituency and if necessary
they could engage more
employees.
If there are good infrastruc-
ture facilities entrepreneurs
would be interested in setting
up industries. The minister
ing people about the importance
of conservation of species and
their habitats in zoos, what we
focus upon is creating a connec-
vijayawada 03
the people by giving them
with one hand and taking
away from them with two
hands.
Yanamala said that the
report of the Comptroller and
Auditor General (CAG)
revealed that the overall econ-
omy of Andhra Pradesh had
collapsed within 17 months of
the Jagan Mohan Reddy's rule.
He said that even for day to day
expenditure and ways and
means, the State Government
CM expresses grief over
Om Birla’s father demise
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
l Chief Minister YS
Jaganmohan Reddy has
expressed grief over the
demise of Shrikirhsna Birla,
Plea to help muscular
dystrophy patients
PNS n VIJAYAWADA
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a
group of muscle diseases that
results in increasing weakening
and breakdown of skeletal mus-
cles over time and the patients
suffering from this problems
needs the help of the govern-
ment, said the speakers in an
awareness programme organ-
ised to discuss the problems
being faced by patients due to
muscular dystrophy.
Amaravati Rare Diseases
Organisation organised a work-
shop at a private school in
Seetarampuram on Wednesday.
Neurologist Dr Anil Kumar
said muscular dystrophy is
caused by genetic problem and
the patients gradually get weak-
ness in the muscles. Expressing
pity over the problems being
also discussed with the officials
on Ease of Doing Business.
Meanwhile, the representa-
tives of Artificial Intelligence
firm Avineon met the minis-
ter to present the latest
Artificial Intelligence equip-
ment, which could detect in
case of industrial accidents
like LG Polymers. They said
that the equipment would
detect the industrial waste
with the help of remote and
alert them in case of any
chance of accident.
The equipment would also
alert the management one
month in advance if there was
tion between them and nature.
“These connections have the
potential to change attitudes
towards nature and help people
was taking loans which indi-
cated the hopeless financial sit-
uation right now.
Yanamala deplored that the
YSRCP rule brought four and
half times more loans when
compared to the previous TDP
Government and explained
that while the TD made just
Rs. 26,000 crore per year, the
present YSRCP regime brought
Rs 1.13 lakh crore loans in just
one year. He explained that
going by this, the total AP debt
would reach Rs 9.10 lakh Cr in
its five year term in power.
Ramakrishnudu said that
Chief Minister YS Jagan
Mohan Reddy would go down
into modern history of AP as
the only CM who had pushed
the State into Rs. 10 lakh crore
debt. He stated that even agen-
cies like the SBI have warned
the AP Government that the
ratio of GSDP output and fis-
cal deficit may reach an alarm-
ing 9 to 10 per cent.
father of Lok Sabha Speaker
Om Birla.
"We share your grief over
the bereavement and stand by
your family at this hour of
grief," the Chief Minster said.
faced by patients with muscu-
lar dystrophy, Dr Anil Kumar
said the patients could not do
their day to day works.
He said the patients can go
for the medical tests in the ini-
tial stages of the disease and felt
the treatment can give some
relief but there is no permanent
cure to the problem. He said the
patients suffering from the mus-
cular dystrophy problem may
get pension but they have to
submit the application.
Amaravati Rare Diseases
Organisation director Dr
Sobharani said the government
has to treat the patients of MD
and sanction financial assistance
of Rs.10,000 every month. She
also stressed upon the need to
provide wheelchair and other
supporting equipment and
materials to the affected people.
explosive material and other
waste material on the premis-
es. Stating that it was called
pollution monitoring solution,
which is a pilot project using
WiFi and data centre, they said
that this could be implement-
ed on a pilot basis in the
industries in the district.
Industries director Subra-
hmanyam Javvadi, IT special
secretary Sundar, MSME CEO
Pavana Murthy, APSFL MD
Madhusudan Reddy, IT joint
director Nagaraju, IT advi-
sors Vidyasagar Reddy, Loke-
swara Reddy, Srinath Reddy
and others were present.
imagine wildlife and humans
existing in harmony with each
other,” said Vizag zoo curator
Nandani Salaria.
VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020 telangana 04
CIVIC BODY POLLS
Transporters hit the streets
SEC to test face recognition tech
PNS n HYDERABAD
PNS n HYDERABAD

Expressing deep anguish over

Face Recognition software

would be tested in about 150
polling stations in the ensuing
local body elections, Telangana
State Election Commissioner C
Parthasarathi said. The soft-
ware, an advanced innovation
to identify voters with the
available data, would be used
in at least one polling station
from each ward, an official
release quoted him as having
said.
The SEC said the technolo-
gy had been tested in 10 polling
stations in an earlier election to
assess accuracy. The
Commissioner, who was
speaking at a training pro-
gramme for GHMC officials
on 'Te-Poll' software, said using
advanced technology in the
coming elections would
enhance efficiency, transparen-
cy and accountability. Using
technology in a big way would
help all stakeholders conduct
elections smoothly in the wake
of the COVID-19 pandemic,
he said.
Voters would be able to
download voter slips, con-
stituency and polling station
wise voter lists and know
polling station online within no
time with the help of technol-
ogy, he said. The 'Te poll' soft-
ware would allow contesting
candidates view all details
online, reduce working hours
of poll personnel, as well as
ensure accuracy, he said. He
said the Election Commission
was planning on an E- Voting
process for senior citizens, dis-
abled persons, polling person-
nel and others.
The SEC, in coordination
with IT&C department, would
examine the possibility of
allowing E-voting in the com-
ing elections, he said.
Flying squads constituted the behaviour of the state gov-
ernment in resolving the prob-
for Dubbak by-election lems being faced by them, the
Transport Operators of
following the guidelines of ECI.
PNS n SIDDIPET
Warning them that they would
Telangana on Wednesday
not hesitate to take action
resumed agitation demand-
In the wake of Dubbak by-
against any errant officials, he
ing waiver of Motor Vehicle
election, Siddipet Collector P
directed them to work from 9 am Tax for the lockdown period
Venkatrami Reddy instructed the due to Covid-19.
to 9 pm in the evening until the
officials to have a plan of action Led by Telangana State Cabs
election is completed.
under their purview to conduct & Bus Operators Association
Saying that they would monitor
elections without any issues. As (TSCBOA) president Syed or two. The officials convinced already sent the proposal to the
the movement of MCC and flying
the Election Commission of India Nizamuddin, along with other us that all the operators who Chief Minister's Office for
squad teams, the Collector said
had issued notification for leaders Gopal Reddy and have submitted online applica- consideration and a final deci-
that the vehicles allotted to them
conducting Dubbak by-election Naresh and other leaders, hun- tions for putting the vehicles sion would be taken by Chief
were geo-tagged. He advised
on November 3, the Collector dreds of travel operators from under 'Non Use' would be Minister K
them to rush to the location to
and Commissioner of Police, D all across the State held a considered. However, orders Chandrashekhar Rao him-
videotape the development if any
Joel Davis conducted a meeting protest at the RTA office in were issued extending the self. Everyone knows that it is
incident happens in the poll-
on MCC for officials and police Khairtabad. "When deadline to pay the MV Tax till almost impossible to meet CM
bound constituency. Reddy
department in Siddipet on we tried to hold agitation on September 30. We were and none of the travel opera-
further said that they would
Wednesday to train them on September 5, two days before assured that the orders for- tors have any access to the
forward the complaints they
election code. Asking the the commencement of the waiver of MV tax would be CMO. We were arrested when
receive to Dial-100 service,
members of the constituted Assembly session, we were issued in a while," he informed. we tried to visit Pragathi
election Control Room and C
teams to follow the directions of assured by the top officials that Nizamuddin said that Bhavan only to submit a mem-
Vigil Mobile application to
the ECI strictly while discharging our demand for waiver of MV Wednesday was September 30 orandum in the Inward
mandal wise teams so that they
their duties, Reddy instructed Tax for the lockdown period and the last day for payment of Section. In this scenario, we are
can visit the place immediately.
them to send the daily report would be waived and relevant MV Tax. "Now the top officials feeling cheated and let down,"
orders would be issued in a day are claiming that they have he said.

Covid fatality rate low in Prof Nageshwar to Revanth

approaches
State, claims Puvvada contest MLC polls NGT over nala
PNS n KHAMMAM PNS n HYDERABAD
encroachment
As part of the State govern- Veteran journalist and politi- PNS n CHENNAI
ment's initiative to ensure cal analyst Prof Nageshwar will
quality supply of oxygen to contest again from TPCC working president and
patients at government hospi- Mahbubnagar-Rangareddy- Malkajgiri MP Revanth

tals, a liquid oxygen plant has
been installed at Khammam
District Government Hospital.
Transport Minister Puvvada
Ajay Kumar has inaugurated
the plant at the hospital on
Wednesday. The oxygen plant
with the capacity of 13,000
litres was installed with an
expenditure of Rs 50 lakh and
was equivalent to 14,000 oxy-
gen cylinders, he said speaking
to press persons.
The Minister informed that
the oxygen plant set up in
Khammam was the second
LOT to be inaugurated after
Siddipet. With the liquid oxy-
gen could be supplied contin-
uously to Covid-19 ward,
Women and Childcare Centre
and ICU at the District
Hospital. In all oxygen could
be supplied to 256 beds direct-
ly. The demand for oxygen has
gone up as many people were
suffering from breathing prob-
lems after they were infected
with the novel Coronavirus.
Hence the government decid-
ed to set up oxygen plants at
district hospitals in the State,
Ajay Kumar noted. He
appealed to the people to
approach the doctors at the
government hospitals if they
were suffering with symptoms
of Coronavirus.
The government hospitals
were well equipped to treat
the Covid-19 patients, he
said and cautioned that those
who infected with the
Coronavirus should not delay
in visiting the hospitals and
the delay would pose a threat
to their life as other organs
could be infected. "Covid-19
tests were being conducted at
all PHCs and mandal level
hospitals, hence the public
having Covid-19 symptoms
should undergo tests and
there was no limit on con-
ducting the tests," the
Minister said and added that,
in anyone was tested positive
for the virus they should
take proper treatment by
staying in home isolation or
taking admission in the hos-
pital following the suggestion
of the doctors.
Hyderabad Graduates'
Constituency polls for the
Upper House to be held in
Feburary or March next year.
He successfully contested as
an independent candidate
from the same constituency in
2007 and 2009. He represent-
ed the constituency for about
eight years till 2014 from the
constituency. To put rumours
being floated in media and
social media about his candi-
dature at rest, he confirmed his
candidature from the con-
stituency officials on
Wednesday.
Electoral registration officer
Pankaja said that the applica-
tions for registering as voter
online on
www.ceotelangana.nic.in for
the Mahbubnagar-
Rangareddy-Hyderabad dis-
tricts graduates' constituency
will commence from October
1. The last date for submission
of the application would be
November 6.
Bulk and postal applica-
tions would not be accepted
under any circumstances, she
said. A public notice would be
issued on October 1 asking
voters to register their names.
The applicants should use
Form-18 to register their
names as voters. The last date
would be November 6. Claims
and objections would be
attended to from December 1
to 31, she said.
Reddy on Wednesday filed a
petition with National Green
Tribunal bringing to its notice
that a nala was encroached in
Puppalaguda to build heavy
structures. In his complaint,
Revanth stated that 30-
storeyed buildings were built
in violation of GO Ms No111
and Building Rules 2012.
Major player in real estate
sector with money and polit-
ical power like DLF, My
Home violated the rules, he
lamented.
Justice Ramakrishnan of
the NGT, who heard the
petition, served notices on
Union Ministr y of
Environment, Irrigation
department of Telangana
Government, Telangana State
Pollution Control Boad,
Ranga Reddy district collec-
tor, DLF and My Home.
TS schemes going
places: Talasani
PNS n HYDERABAD
Minister for Animal
Husbandry Talasani Srinivas
Yadav on Wednesday distrib-
uted Kalyana Lakshmi and
Shaadi Mubarak cheques
among 157 beneficiaries at the
RDO office in Secunderabad.
Under the scheme, girl child
belonging to poor family will
receive a marriage gift of Rs
1,01,116, he said.
Similarly, the state govern-
ment has been extending
Aasara pensions to aged, phys-
ically challenged, single
women, widows, he said and
added that other states are tak-
ing cue from Telangana
schemes. Besides provided
amenities on the scale of cor-
porate hospitals in govern-
ment hospitals, the govern-
ment took pains to open many
urban clinics, he said exhort-
ing people to make good use
of government schemes.
Corporators Attili Aruna
Goud, Akula Rupa, Uppala
Taruni, Kurma Hemalata,
RDO Vasanta Kumari,
Tahsildar Bala Sankar and
others were present on the
occasion.

Hyderabad steadily
getting on to its feet
Babri verdict a tight slap on Cong face: BJP New farm laws will
PNS n HYDERABAD

BJP state unit president Bandi

PNS n HYDERABAD
People, who were hesitant to
come out of the house due to
the Coronavirus pandemic,
are slowly coming out, helping
to boost several small and big
businesses in the city.
For a few weeks, the malls
in city are also experiencing
more footfalls, especially over
the weekends. In fact, the
smaller shops are also doing
some business each day.
With many people step-
ping out, it seems like life post-
Covid in Hyderabad is inching
towards normality. An IT
Professional, Shashidhar
Vuppala, shares, "I see people
coming out these days without
any hesitation. Malls are com-
mon place to hangout.
However, most of the smaller
shops on the roadsides are
open now and people are also
going there. I think this will
help boost several businesses."
"This IPL season is a great
time not only for sports enthu-
siasts but also friends and
family who are gathering in
small numbers for match
viewing in the comfort of
their homes. Swiggy has wit-
nessed a steady growth in
orders since the beginning of
the season and Hyderabad
being one of our strongest
markets is seeing a good surge
in orders, particularly for all-
time favourite dishes such as
Biryani."
Sanjay and BJP national OBC
Morcha president Dr K
Laxman on Wednesday wel-
comed the special CBI court's
verdict in the Babri case.
In a statement, they
observed that the court ruled
that there was no conspiracy
whatsoever or intension on the
part of the BJP to demolish the
Babri masjid. The latest verdict
proved the allegations levelled
against the BJP accusing it of
pulling down the structure at
the disputed place in Ayodhya
were wrong, they said.
Dr Laxman said that the BJP
fought for building Ram tem-
ple at the disputed site honour-
ing majority Hindus' senti-
ments. It never tried to hurt
religious sentiments of others.
The BJP is against practising
the politics of appeasement of
any particular group. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has
been working hard for devel-
opment of over 130 crore
Indians with his slogan "Sab ka
saath-sab kaa vikaas".
Bandi called the verdict a
slap on the face for Congress
benefit ryots: Guv
and others. He advised the
Opposition parties to stop
practising communal politics at
least now and focus on resolv-
ing people's problems. As a vic-
timisation measure against the
BJP, the Congress prolonged
trial in the case since 1992 in
the name of Liberhan
Commission, he said. After the
Babri Masjid incident, the
Congress dismissed govern-
ments in four BJP ruled states
undemocratically and banned
the RSS, he said. To appease
minorities, Congress conspired
to get BJP declared ineligible by
EC to run for elections.
Earlier, a court in Faizabad
declared LK Advani and oth-
ers innocent. Allahabad High
Court upheld the verdict. But
the Congress conspired to get
the case tried by the SC to set-
tle scores with the BJP. In spite
of the conspiracy, the Special
court of the CBI in Lucknow
tried the case thoroughly and
delivered the verdict on
Wednesday declaring Advani
and others, against whom the
charges were framed, were not
guilty.
The Congress, Left parties,
Samajwadi Party, Bahujan
Samaj Party and other pseudo
secular parties have no faith in
Indian Consitution and Indian
judiciary, he said. In the wake
of the special court of the CBI
acquitting the BJP leaders,
Bandi Sanjay demanded the
Opposition parties to tender
apology unconditionally in the
presence of people for having
levelled false allegations against
the BJP.
The true colours of pseudo
secular parties were exposed by
the verdict, he felt. The inci-
dents of acquittal of LK
Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi,
Uma Bharati, who led the Ram
Janmabhoomi movement, the
SC special Bench delivering
verdict ending the Ram
Janmabhoomi controversy, lay-
ing the foundation stone for
build a grand Ram temple at
Ayodhya are sure indicators of
the heralding of Ram Rajya in
future, he said.
At least now, good sense
should prevail on the political
parties that created bad blood
between people of different
religions to meet their political
ends, he felt. The people are
with the BJP which works as
per the values enshrined in the
Constitution.
Therefore, the pseudo-secu-
larists should stop levelling
baseless allegations against the
BJP and should cooperate with
it in building Ram temple in
Ayodhya.
PNS n HYDERABAD
Governor Tamilisai
Soundararajan stated that the
new agricultural legislations
enacted by the Central govern-
ment will immensely benefit
the farming community.
Expressing concern that farm-
ers are still poverty-stricken, the
Governor hoped that the new
legislations will economically
empower the farmers and
make agriculture profitable.
The Governor convened a
webinar on "Agricultural
Legislations and Impact on
Farmers" with experts and
those working in agriculture
related wings on Wednesday.
She said that the farming in
India was in distress and the
farmers were facing a pletho-
ra of challenges like exploita-
tion by middlemen, climatic
conditions, low price for their
produce, and limited options
to sell their produce. "The
three historic legislations will
go a long way in empowering
the farmers by promoting
greater marketing options,
remunerative price for their
produce, technology to
explore national and interna-
tional markets, and safeguards
to farmers in contractual farm-
ing," Tamilisai added. The
Governor called for the creation
of greater awareness among the
farmers to clear their apprehen-
sions about the MSP and
Procurement continuation by
the government.

Housing sales pick up in Hyderabad post unlock MODEL VILLAGE

PNS n NEW DELHI
After three months of lock-
down, housing sales have
picked in the July-september
quarter and are back to pre-
Covid-19 levels. Hyderabad
witnessed 1,650 residential
units sold in Q3 2020 as com-
pared to 2,680 units in Q1
2020. In Q2 2020, Hyderabad
sold only 660 units. Housing
Sales are back at 62% of Q1
2020 levels in Hyderabad, as
per ANAROCK Property
Consultants .
India's top seven cities wit-
nessed 46 per cent drop in sales
of residential properties during
the July-September quarter at
29,520 units, amid muted
demand due to Covid-19 pan-
demic, according to property
consultant Anarock. Housing
sales in July-September 2019,
stood at 55,080 units across
Delhi-NCR, Mumbai
Metropolitan Region (MMR),
Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru,
Hyderabad and Pune.
During the Januar y-
September period this year
sales have declined by 57 per
cent to 87,460 units, from 2,
02,200 units a year ago.
Commenting on the numbers,
Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri
said sales during July-
September have more than
doubled from the previous
quarter when the Coronavirus
cent of the pre-Covid-19 lev-
The top 7 cities els. In the January-March
witnessed quarter, sales were at 45,200
units, the leading residential
housing sales of brokerage firm said.
nearly 29,520 According to Anarock data,
sales have declined in all seven
units in Q3 2020 cities during July-September
as against 2020 from the year-ago peri-
45,200 units in od. Housing sales in NCR fell
to 5,200 units in July-
the pre-COVID- September, from 9,830 units
19 quarter of Q1 a year ago. In MMR, sales
declined to 9,200 units from
2020 17,180 units. Sales of residen-
tial properties in Bengaluru
dipped to 5,400 units, from
10,500 units, while in Pune
pandemic had brought sales demand slid to 4,850 units
down to just 12,730 units. from 8,550 units.Housing
He said the Indian housing sales in Chennai during the
sector has made a decisive third quarter of this calendar
comeback in the third quarter year stood at 1,600 units, as
of 2020 calendar year, with against 2,620 units a year A view of Palle Prakruthi Vanam in Nirmal district. The government took a decision to create Palle Prakruthi Vanams (forest-
sales rebounding to 65 per ago. cum-park) in each of the 12,000-plus Gram Panchayats across Telangana
VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020
Hathras rape victim
cremated in dead of night
PNS n NEW DELHI
The body of the 19-year-old
Dalit woman, whose brutal
gangrape and death spotlight-
ed once again the vulnerabili-
ty of women in India, was cre-
mated in the dead of the night
on Wednesday with family
members alleging they were
forced by police to hurriedly
conduct the last rites.
"The cremation was done
around 2.30-3 in the morning,"
her father told PTI, a day after
his daughter, who suffered
critical injuries when she was
allegedly gangraped and tor-
tured by four upper caste men
a fortnight ago, gave up the bat-
tle for life.
As protests broke out in
several parts of the country and
‘Acquittal of all accused in
Babri case travesty of justice’
PNS n NEW DELHI
The CPI(M) described the
acquittal of all the accused in
the Babri Masjid demolition
case by a special CBI court in
Lucknow on Wednesday as a
"travesty of justice".
The court acquitted all the
32 accused in the case, includ-
ing BJP leaders LK Advani,
Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma
Bharti, in the absence of con-
clusive proof to suggest a
criminal conspiracy.
"The acquittals amount to a
travesty of justice. It took 28
long years for this verdict but
not justice to be delivered. All
the top leaders of the BJP-
VHP-RSS who were present at
Victory of truth,
say BJP leaders
PNS n NEW DELHI
Top BJP leaders on Wednes
day hailed the special CBI
court's order acquitting all the
accused in the Babri masjid
demolition case and
described it as a victory of
truth and justice. Welcoming
the judgment, senior BJP
leader and Defense Minister
Rajnath Singh in a tweet said
he welcomes the court's deci-
sion as “it shows that though
late but the justice has won”.
BJP leader Ram Madhav said
this acquittal was long over-
due.
‘Babri case lost its relevance after SC verdict’ Truth has won again, says
PNS n MUMBAI
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on
Wednesday said the Babri
masjid demolition case lost
itsrelevance after the supreme
court settled the Ram
Janmabhoomi title suit in 2019
even as he welcomed the spe-
cial court's verdict acquitting
all the 32 accused in the case.
Speaking to reporters, Raut
said the demolition episode
needed to be forgotten now.
The court in Lucknow has
acquitted the accused,includ-
ing BJP veterans L K Advani
and Murli Manohar Joshi, say-
ing there was no conclusive
proof against them. " T h e
Yediyurappa hails Babri mosque USAID to support Indian women entrepreneurs
verdict, calls it ‘victory of truth'
PNS n BENGALURU
Karnataka Chief Minister B S
Yediyurappa on Wednesday
welcomed the acquittal of BJP
stalwart LK Advani and 31
others in the Babri mosque
demolition case by a CBI
court, describing it as a "vic-
tory of truth." All the 32
accused in the case, including
former Deputy Prime Minister
Advani, ex union minister
MM Joshi and Uma Bharti
were acquitted by a special CBI
Yogi sets up SIT amid outrage
political leaders and activists
voiced their protest over the
manner in which the funeral
was conducted near the
woman's home in a village in
the scene guiding the criminal
act have been found to be
innocent of the charge of con-
spiracy to demolish the
mosque.
"The SC, in its Ayodhya
judgment on November 9 last
year, had called the demolition
an egregious violation of the
law. Now, the Lucknow court
has found the main perpetra-
tors of this crime not guilty,"
the CPI(M) politburo said in
a statement. It said the verdict
will "blemish the image of
India as a secular-democratic
country governed by the
Constitution". "The CBI must
immediately appeal against
this judgment," the Left party
added.
Verdict in Babri case runs
counter to SC judgement: Cong
PNS n NEW DELHI
The Congress Wednesday said
the decision of the special CBI
court to acquit all the accused
in Babri Masjid demolition
case runs counter to a Supreme
Court judgement and the con-
stitutional spirit.
Congress' chief spokesper-
son Randeep Surjewala said
every Indian who has innate
faith in the Constitution and in
the spirit of communal amity
and brotherhood expects and
urges the central and state
governments to file an appeal
against the decision of the
special court. "The decision of
the Special Court to acquit all
the accused in Babri Masjid
demolition case runs counter
to Supreme Court judgement
as also the constitutional spir-
it," Surjewala said. The
Had Babri (mosque)
not been razed, the
MP CM on Babri case verdict
(demolition) case in the special
court lost its relevance after the
supreme court's verdict on
Ram temple and bhoomi pujan
of the temple performed by
prime minister (inAugust),"
Raut said. "This verdict was
The W-GDP initiative is
the United States
court in Lucknow, which
said there was no conclusive
proof against them. "The
Hathras, a local police officer
said it was carried out as per
the wishes of the family.
In the moments preceding
the cremation of his sister in
Key figures among 32 accused in Babri mosque case
PNS n NEW DELHI
Here are the key figures among
the 32 accused in the Babri
mosque demolition case who
were on Wednesday acquitted
by a special CBI court in
Lucknow of all charges.
L K Advani: The political
face of the Ram Janmabhoomi
movement, he along with many
other accused, including Murli
Manohar Joshi and Uma
Bharti, was at a podium as
frenzied mob of karsevaks
(volunteers) brought down the
mosque on December 6, 1992.
He later called it the saddest
day of his life, a statement that
did not go down well with the
BJP's Hindutva base.
Supreme Court in its judge-
ment on November 9 last year,
pronounced by five judges,
had clearly held that the demo-
lition of Babri Masjid was a
clear illegality and “egregious
violation of the rule of law”,
Surjewala told reporters.
"But the Special Court exon-
erated all the accused. It is clear
that the decision of the Special
Court runs counter to the
decision of the Supreme Court
of India," he said. "Entire
Country witnessed a deep-
expected. I, on behalf of Shiv
Sena and party president
Uddhav Thackeray, welcome
this decision of the court," he
added.
Raut also said that had Babri
(mosque) not been razed, the
court's observation that the
incident was not preplanned is
a victory of truth," Yediyur
appa told reporters.
Giving credit to BJP veter-
ans Advani, Joshi and Bharti
for setting the stage for con-
struction of the Ram temple,
whose foundation laying cer-
emony was performed about
two months ago in Ayodhya in
Uttar Pradesh, the CM said,
"in this moment of joy for
every Indian, I welcome the
verdict."
what seemed to be a night
without end, the teen's broth-
er told PTI from his home,
"Police have forcibly taken the
body and my father along with
them for cremation. When my
father reached Hathras (from
New Delhi), he was immedi-
ately taken (to the crematori-
um) by the police."
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
and said strict action should be
taken against the culprits,
according to the CMO.
Adityanath constituted a
three-member SIT to probe the
case and asked that the trial be
conducted in a fast track court.
The SIT has been asked to sub-
mit its report in seven days, an
official said.
At 92, he is no longer active-
ly involved in politics but a
judicial closure to the case in
his and other accused's favour
will be a matter of huge relief
to him.
A leader who often spoke
rooted political conspiracy by
BJP-RSS and its leaders to
destroy the country's commu-
nal amity and brotherhood for
usurping power at any cost," he
alleged. All the 32 accused in
the Babri mosque demolition
case, including BJP veterans L
K Advani and MM Joshi, were
on Wednesday acquitted by a
special CBI court here which
said there was no conclusive
proof against them.
Delivering the much-await-
ed verdict in the 28-year-old
case, CBI judge S K Yadav did
not accept newspapers and
video cassettes as evidence.
The case relates to the raz-
ing of the disputed structure in
Ayodhya on December 6,
1992, which triggered riots
for several months leaving
nearly 2,000 people dead
across the country.
'bhoomi pujan' of Ram
temple in Ayodhya
wouldn't have been
possible, said Raut
'bhoomi pujan' of Ram temple
in Ayodhya wouldn't have been
possible. "...We have to forget
that episode now," he added.
The top court also ordered
the government to give an
alternative 5 acres of land in
another place to UP Sunni
Waqf Board.
PNS n NEW DELHI
The United States Agency for
International Development in
India has been selected for
funding from the White
House-led Women's Global
Development and Prosperity
(W-GDP) Initiative and it will
collaborate with SEWA Bharat
to support women entrepre-
neurs using the funding
amount, according to a state-
ment.
The W-GDP initiative is the
United States government's
first whole-of-government
effort to advance women's
economic empowerment glob-
Govt to borrow Rs 4.34L cr
in second half of 2020-21
PNS n NEW DELHI
The Finance Ministry on
Wednesday said the govern-
ment will borrow Rs 4.34 lakh
crore in the second half of the
current fiscal to meet its
expenditure requirement amid
COVID-19 crisis afflicting the
country's economy.
The government is sticking
to Rs 12 lakh crore borrowing
target for the current fiscal,
Economic Affairs Secretary
Tarun Bajaj said.
In the first half ended
September, the government
has done borrowing of Rs 7.66
lakh crore and remaining Rs
4.34 lakh crore will be
mobilised during the second
half of the current fiscal, he
said. The government had
envisaged to raise 58 per cent
of the total borrowing target of
Rs 6.98 lakh crore from the
about the importance of pub-
lic propriety and morals in pol-
itics, the verdict has vindicat-
ed his stand that the then BJP
leadership was not a party to
any conspiracy to mosque's
demolition.
Victory of
truth: VHP on
Babri verdict
PNS n INDORE
The VHP on Wednesday
termed the Babri masjid
demolition case verdict, in
which all accused were
acquitted by a special court,
as the"victory of truth".
Welcoming the verdict, VHP
international president
Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje told
PTI that the demolition of the
mosque on December 6, 1992
was not "pre-planned".
"We welcome the court
judgement. It is the victory of
truth," Kokje said. "The
court took nearly 28 years to
give its judgement, but it
was clear from the day one
that it (demolition) was not
a pre-planned incident.
'Karsevaks' were not called to
Ayodhya for demolishing the
mosque. Its razing was a
sudden incident,"he said.
PNS n BHOPAL
Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan on Wednesday
hailed as the "victory of truth"
the special CBI court's verdict
acquitting all accused in the
Babri masjid demolition case.
"Satya pareshan ho sakta
hai, parajit nahi. Aaj ek baar
phir satya ki jeet hui hai.
Bharatiya nyaypalika ki jai.
(True can be troubled but it
cannot be defeated. Today,
truth has won again. I hail the
Indian judicial system,"
ally.
"Through the W-GDP Fund,
USAID will be partnering with
the Self-Employed Women's
Association (SEWA) Bharat, a
dated securities in the first half
of the current fiscal. Against
this, the government has bor-
rowed Rs 7.66 lakh crore dur-
ing April-September.
Hard-pressed for funds to
combat rising coronavirus
infections, the government in
May increased its market bor-
rowing programme for the
current financial year by more
At 92, Advani is no
longer actively
involved in politics but
a judicial closure to the
case will be a matter
of huge relief to him
It was his 'Rath Yatra' in 1990
in favour of building a temple
at the disputed site, where
believers hold that Lord Ram
was born, that brought the
issue to the center stage of
national politics and help the
BJP emerge as an alternative to
the Congress.
Murli Manohar Joshi: Joshi
was the BJP president during
Satyamev Jayate:
UP CM on verdict
PNS n LUCKNOW
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath on Wednes
day welcomed the court ver-
dict in the Babri mosque
demolition case, terming it as
the victory of truth.
A special CBI court acquit-
ted all the 32 accused, includ-
ing L K Advani, M M Joshi,
Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh,
in the absence of conclusive
Chouhan tweeted in Hindi.
Chouhan also released a
video statement, saying the
then Congress government
was prejudiced and levelled
false allegations against saints
and senior leaders.
national federation of women-
led institutions providing eco-
nomic and social support to
women workers in the infor-
mal economy," according to a
nation 05
than 50 per cent to Rs 12 lakh
crore.
Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman in the 2020-21
Budget had pegged the gross
market borrowing which is
also a reflection of fiscal deficit
, for the current fiscal at Rs 7.80
lakh crore. The amount was up
from Rs 7.1 lakh crore in
2019-20.
the period when thousands of
karsevaks gathered in Ayodhya
as part of the campaign for
building Ram temple, and the
mosque was brought down.
A contemporary of Atal
Bihari Vajpayee and L K
Advani, he along with his two
more illustrious colleagues was
one of the key faces of the party
in 80s and 90s. At 86 years of
age, he like Advani is no longer
much active in politics. He has
been a member of Parliament
from Uttar Pradesh several
times and was considered close
to the RSS. Kalyan Singh:
Another veteran BJP leader, he
was Uttar Pradesh chief min-
ister when the mosque was
demolished.
proof against them in the
case. Satyamev Jayate, the
chief minister said while wel-
coming the decision of the
special court, a statement
issued by his advisor
Mritunjay Kumar said.
The chief minister also
accused the then Congress
government of framing saints,
BJP leaders, VHP office bear-
ers and others to defame them
for vote bank politics.
"These allegations were
proved baseless (in the court's
judgement on Wednesday).
Everything has become crystal
clear now. We welcome the
verdict of the court," Chouhan
stated. The special CBI court
in Lucknow has acquitted all
the 32 accused in the case,
including BJP veterans L K
Advani and Murli Manohar
Joshi, saying there was no
conclusive proof against them.
The case relates to the raz-
ing of the disputed structure in
Ayodhya on December 6,
1992.
government's
first whole-of-
government effort to
advance women's
economic
empowerment globally
statement by the US embassy.
Highlighting the need to
support opportunities for
women and women-owned
businesses, US Ambassador
to India, Kenneth I Juster, said
SHORT READS
Muslim bodies to
collectively decide on
challenging verdict
Lucknow: All-India Musl
im Personal Law Board
senior member Maulana
Khalid Rasheed Firangi
Mahali on Wednes day said
organisations representing
the community will togeth-
er decide whether they
need to challenge or not
the CBI court verdict in the
Babri mosque demolition
case. On Wednesday morn-
ing, the special court had
acquitted all 32 accused,
including former deputy
prime minister L K Advani,
ex-Union minister M M
Joshi, Uma Bharti and for-
mer UP chief minister
Kalyan Singh. Refusing to
comment on their acquittal,
Mahali said, "I don't have
anything to say on the ver-
dict. Everybody knows how
the Babri mosque was sac-
rificed on December 6,
1992 in Ayodhya and how
all rules were flouted." In
its verdict on the Ramjanm
abhoomi land dispute case
on November 9 last year,
the Supreme Court had
said Muslims were wrongly
deprived of their mosque,
he said, adding that the
demolition of the masjid
was an illegal act. “It is
for the court to decide if
anyone is guilty or not.
CBI to decide on
challenging special
court verdict
Lucknow:The CBI will
decide on filing an appeal
against the special court
verdict acquitting all 32
accused in the Babri Masjid
demolition case after con-
sulting the legal depart-
ment, its counsel said on
Wedn esday."After a copy
of today's verdict is
received, it would be sent
to the CBI headquarters
where it would be studied
by the legal department
and a decision on filing an
appeal would be taken as
per its suggestion," CBI
counsel Lalit Singh said.
He was replying to query
on whether the investigat-
ing agency will challenge
the verdict of the special
court which had on
Wednesday acquitted all
the 32 accused, including
BJP veterans LK Advani, M
M Joshi, Uma Bharti and
Kalyan Singh, in the politi-
cally sensitive case. Delive
ring the much-awaited ver-
dict in the 28-year-old case,
CBI judge S K Yadav held
that there was no conclu-
sive proof against the
accused. The case relates to
the razing of the disputed
structure in Ayodhya on
December 6, 1992, which
triggered riots for several
months that left nearly
2,000 people dead across
the country. The structure
was demolished by 'kar
sevaks' who claimed that
the mosque was built on
the site of an ancient Ram
temple.The central agency
produced 351 witnesses
and 600 documents as evi-
dence before the court.
the US Government recognis-
es that women are indispens-
able contributors to a country's
economy and is committed to
tackling barriers that prevent
women from doing so.
"The COVID-19 pandem-
ic has made it more difficult
for women entrepreneurs to
participate and succeed in
economic activity. This part-
nership between USAID and
SEWA Bharat will help
women overcome barriers
and help women contribute
more fully to the Indian econ-
omy as it recovers from the
impact of the pandemic, he
said.

VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020
www.dailypioneer.com
facebook.com/dailypioneer | @TheDailyPioneer | instagram.com/dailypioneer/
PAPER WITH PASSION
Expected verdict
LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti acquitted of conspiracy
charge in the Babri demolition case
Lessons from Vodafone
O
nce the Supreme Court made the Ram temple at
Ayodhya a reality last year and allocated an alter- There should be a certainty about tax liability but retrospective changes in tax
native site for the razed mosque that stood there
to be rebuilt, it was seen as a quid pro quo. So there laws are undesirable. They negate the basis of key investment decisions
wasn’t much expectation from the ruling on the Babri
Masjid demolition case. Primarily because in the pre-
vailing national sentiment after the Ayodhya verdict and
its acceptability, nobody wants to get into a debate on
righteousness. Besides, there was an impassioned mob
which was uncontrollable, making it amply difficult to
locate faces and track evidence, sweeping reason under
a heaving tide of emotion. A special court, therefore,
acquitted all the accused, including BJP veterans LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and
Uma Bharti, of criminal conspiracy, citing lack of evidence and a runaway chain of events SUBHASH C PANDEY
that even the leaders couldn’t stop. So the guilty, by that logic, would be the thousands
of faceless kar sevaks, who wanted to claim the birthplace of Lord Ram and had run amok. eath and taxes are cer-
The problem with judging a mob fury is that the search for an instigator or motive becomes
as pointless as finding a needle in a hay stack. It also becomes easy to then label them
under the umbrella term of “anti-socials.” Which is why the conspiracy charge had ear-
lier been dropped by a trial court in 2001 with the Allahabad High Court upholding it but
it was restored after the Supreme Court order in 2017 as investigative agencies claimed
D tain but when, how or
why can be most
uncertain. Experts
find ways and means
— sometimes genuine and some-
times sham — of minimising tax
liability. This is to contextualise an
they had audio clips of fiery speeches. Advani though has been consistent in describing arbitral panel under the Permanent
Court of Arbitration rejecting
the demolition as a “terrible mistake” and wondering if it was the consequence of a “mob India’s income tax claim of about
going out of control or a small determined group which did not agree with the leadership `22,100 crore from Vodafone.
of the movement.” As for the hurt of Muslims, it has dulled in 28 years, with an entire The tax dispute goes back to
generation growing up in between without visual memory of the event that changed the 2007 when Vodafone International
Holdings, a company registered in
political landscape of India. They would rather focus on jobs and the temple town econ- the Netherlands, acquired CGP
omy that would develop around Ayodhya than dwell on scars. Although the top court had Investments Limited, a company
called the demolition “unlawful destruction” and said Muslims had been wrongly deprived registered in Cayman Islands.
Normally, acquisition of one foreign
of a mosque that was constructed well over 400 years ago, nobody, except compulsive company by another foreign com-
litigants, is interested in seeking redress on its basis. Besides, the original crusaders of pany should have nothing to do
the temple movement — Advani, Joshi, Bharti and former UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh with Indian law and taxmen. A
company’s shares are supposed to
— are in the twilight of their political life and do not matter enough in the changed dis- be situated in the country where it
pensation within the BJP. So clean chit or not, the temple glory has anyway been appro- is registered. Legally, only Cayman
priated by the new leadership. As for the larger question of the travesty of justice, even Islands’ Government had the right
to tax the capital gain made by the
the Opposition is tired of sloganeering and in the prevalent majoritarian sentiment of the shareowner as the share sale took
day, has little or no resonance. place there. However, Cayman
Yet the temple is a reality because of Advani, who even crafted the BJP’s national iden- Islands does not impose income tax
or capital gains tax (and that is why
tity with a definitive alternative ideology. He began a rathyatra from Gujarat with the goal so many companies are registered
of reclaiming the temple site. Although he couldn’t complete the yatra, it aroused passions there.)
across the country and paved the way for the party’s ascendancy to political power. And Through other offshore entities,
the Cayman Island company con-
in the process, religiosity overtook secularism as an electoral agenda. Only social justice trolled CK Hutchison Holdings
forces in the shape of VP Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav held out. Ltd’s 67 per cent stake in the
But that led to polarisation and Ram became less of a guiding visionary with his neo-dis- Indian company, Hutchison Essar
Ltd (HEL). So the end result of this
ciples becoming more like avengers of historical insult. Hinduism became Hindutva. In share sale was that the ultimate
fact, the Congress, too, was taken in by the Hindutva wave with Rajiv Gandhi himself allow- “owner” of the Indian company got
ing the opening of the Babri Masjid gates and ‘shilanyas’ prayers to be held inside for fear changed from the Hong Kong-
of losing the Hindu vote. This opened the floodgates for the right-wing fringe like the Vishwa based Hutchinson to the UK-
based Vodafone, both controlling
Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal to claim political centrestage. That’s when the the Indian company indirectly
temple became more than a symbolism, a cause to correct historical denials because of through a chain of intermediate
the Congress’ minority appeasement. Rajiv had grossly misjudged that the mosque, too, companies. Since the share sale in
Cayman Islands did not entail any
could co-exist. That was not to be. Advani had merely sought a balanced discourse where income tax, it was a “tax-efficient”
Hinduism could be defined not by exclusion, revisionism and minority appeasement but arrangement.
as an inclusive philosophy of national life. One that translated into the reasoned prime min- HEL was a joint venture compa-
ny formed by the Hong Kong-
istership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Unfortunately, today he and many seniors have been benched, based Hutchison and Essar Group.
not even consulted or properly invited to temple affairs. Meanwhile, the hardline extrem- HEL held a telecom licence. The
ism and otherisation of non-Hindus have become the centrifugal force of the BJP, one that share sale transaction in Cayman
Islands meant that the Hong Kong
has been condoned by a tacit electorate, which returned the Narendra Modi Government company Hutchison ceded control
with a brute majority. Ayodhya is done and settled and now that the foundation stone has of HEL to British company
been laid, the temple politics, too, seems to have run its course. Even the BJP’s ideolog- Vodafone to the extent of 67 per
cent of HEL shareholding. Had the
ical fountainhead, the RSS, is non-committal about pressing for Kashi and Mathura. In shares of the Indian company been
fact, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has categorically said that the RSS does not get into agi- sold directly, Indian income tax
tations and that the Ram temple was an exception. But there is a bigger demolition at work, would have been unquestionably
payable on capital gains. But
that of a community the BJP feels has been privileged by secularism and the liberal dis- Vodafone indirectly acquired 67 per
course so far. Hate crimes against Muslims, cow vigilantism, crackdown on protesters cent control in HEL from
against the citizenship Law are all intended to make the minorities dependent on majori- Hutchinson in a $11.2b deal.
Indian taxmen did not like what
tarian consent. Let us not forget that the Supreme Court, while going with faith on the
Ayodhya verdict, had also upheld the secular nature of polity by classifying the act of demo-
lition itself as illegal. In a post-pandemic world full of challenges that matter, the BJP should-
n’t create new faultlines or give ammunition to others to do so.
At present, we are fully equipped
to deal with the situation but the
Chaotic debate fact of the matter is if things turn
very grave and if the spread goes
beyond our calculation, it might
lead to a difficult situation.
The live televised battles between candidates make the
Kerala Chief Minister
US stand out but at times they can be in shambles —Pinarayi Vijayan
B
ack in 1960, when the concept of live television
was still unique and one where the United States
had already grabbed a sizeable lead, the fledg-
LETTERS
ling television networks of the nation tried something Will justice prevail?
new — organise a debate between the candidates of Sir — As yet another girl from
the two parties. Back then it was John F Kennedy ver- Uttar Pradesh succumbed to the
sus Richard Nixon and while today we think Kennedy
won by a landslide, the 1960 election was controver-
brutal physical torture that she
was subjected to, after being
gang-raped, it is clear that there
sial and close, a precursor to the problems that the is still a long road ahead towards
US had in 2000 and 2016. Kennedy was the under- purging our culture and psyche
dog and while he is today remembered as one of the of the deeply-embedded toxici-
ty of male dominance. The rape
most influential modern American Presidents, it was of the 19-year-old Dalit girl
actually his performance in the televised debate where he came across as calm, con- from Hathras mirrors a typical
fident and reassured the American public that his lack of political experience was not a caste-ridden patriarchal set-up
that bestows a sense of entitle-
challenge. Nixon, who had a slight fever on the day of the debate and was visibly sweat- ment on a certain section of men
ing under the studio lights, was seen as lacking confidence. That debate set the politi- and engenders the objectification
cal template in the US and while many other nations have tried the formula, few have of woman. The horrific act is
characterised by the same age-
managed to pull it off. old feature: Upper caste youths
However, the debate between the current US President Donald Trump and his pre- assaulting a Dalit woman and
sumptive challenger Joe Biden, the former US Vice-President under Barack Obama, was inflicting fatal injuries on her.
Equally archetypal is the delay in
an unmitigated disaster. If you can imagine two 70 plus-year-old men going at each the arrest of the beastly perpetra-
other with a 50-year-old trying to control it, you kind of get the picture. This was not tors. The much tom-tommed
supposed to be a drawing room argument but it felt like one. Worse still, at times it felt laws for the prevention of the
sexual assault of women that
like you were watching two panellists on a popular English news channel in India with were tightened after the 2012
stupid arguments learnt from Whatsapp. It made the world look on in horror at who will Nirbhaya case are proving to be
have his fingers on the world’s largest military arsenal of conventional and nuclear weapons. ineffective. It is time to revisit
Sure, Chris Wallace, the debate moderator, let control of the debate slip from his hands these laws and introduce stricter
reforms. Swift justice is crucial as
and allowed Trump the usage of the bully pulpit, but let us all be clear, while Trump did it can act as a strong deterrent by
not lose the debate, nobody really won. Far from the class and style of debates, some- putting the fear of law in the
thing like this might have put more people off proper debates and even democracy. In minds of such criminals.
N Sadhasiva Reddy
60 years, the US has come a long way indeed. Bengaluru
op nion
06
how “tax havens” flourish. One
would wish greater internation-
al cooperation in enforcement
and “tax-and-share” being put in
place but the interminable
debate on limits of taxation, sov-
ereignty and protection to crim-
inals, acceptability of national
laws on crime and taxation by
outsiders, unfair/unjust/exces-
sive taxation and fair end-use of
tax proceeds block any such
agreements from fructifying.
Taxation of foreigners and
foreign companies presents spe-
cial challenges. There is a clash
between two principles. One is
the US system based on “situs”
of the assessee’s nationality and
the other is the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) system
based on “source” of the
assessee’s income.
The tax liability attaches to
assessees based on their nation-
ality. A Government may tax its
citizens and the companies reg-
istered under its national laws.
The 2012 Supreme Court judg-
ment was based on the law then
in force which limited extra-ter-
ritorial application of tax laws.
The “situs” of the taxed enti-
ty is now pitted against the
they saw as a tax-dodging ed the tax law retrospectively inatory taxation and regulatory “source” of the entity’s income.
arrangement. They argued that with effect from June 1, 1976, regime, ease of doing business The OECD project on Base
the Cayman Islands’ share sale giving itself the power to re-open but the Government also has a Erosion and Profit Shifting
was actually an indirect sale of past mergers and acquisitions if legitimate interest in collecting (BEPS) is gaining traction.
shares of the Indian company. the underlying asset was in taxes. Last year, we reduced More and more Governments
They raised a demand (2009) of India. Vodafone then contested corporation tax for new manu- are now coming to clash with the
$2.2 billion as capital gains tax. the claim under the Bilateral facturing companies to a record classical worldview on foreign
With interest and penalty, the Investment Treaties (BITs) low of 15 per cent. taxation and asserting that a
total tax demand rose to `22,100 between India and the There should certainly be a Government’s jurisdiction
crore. Vodafone contended that Netherlands and between India certainty about tax liability but extends to foreigners and foreign
it was not liable to pay tax and UK. retrospective changes in tax companies who may be present
because the transaction did not A PCA arbitral tribunal laws are undesirable. They on their soil or drawing suste-
involve transfer of any capital recently adjudicated the invest- change assessment of future nance from it. Big MNCs like
asset situated in India. ment treaty arbitration dispute profits and may negate the very Google, Apple, Facebook,
On January 20, 2012, the and rejected the Indian tax basis of important investment Amazon and Netflix are inviting
Supreme Court ruled that the demand. The retrospective decisions. global attention for earning
Government had no jurisdiction change in income tax Law in Discerning eyes can see that from different countries without
to levy tax on overseas transac- 2012 was held to vitiate the guar- the primary driver of the contributing enough to the local
tions between two foreign com- antee of Fair and Equitable Cayman Islands sale was acquir- public exchequer.
panies. A sale transaction Treatment (FET) given to ing controlling interest in the There is a global consensus
between two foreigners was Dutch/British investors under Indian telecom company and regarding the need for a compre-
beyond Indian tax jurisdiction the BITs. the deal was structured to make hensive mechanism to tax cross-
even if the subject matter of sale The Government can now it an offshore transaction beyond border transactions in the dig-
was controlling interest in an appeal against the order in the the reach of Indian taxmen, an ital economy. OECD, UN and
Indian company having valuable High Court of Singapore. If innovative tax avoidance mea- EU are working on a resolution.
assets. No Indian company had not, it has to spend about `85 sure. The world’s rich shift their We amended the Income Tax
directly sold anything. crore (`40 crore to PCA as 60 incomes and wealth from their Act in 2018 to bring the concept
The Government requested per cent of litigation cost and high-tax home countries to of ‘Significant Economic
the Supreme Court to lift the `45 crore refund to Vodafone). these “tax haven” countries like Presence’ from April 1, 2019, and
corporate veil to see the true sub- Another similar arbitration Cayman Islands having almost introduced equalisation levy
stance of the transaction, the involving UK’s Cairn Energy Plc no income tax. How can “tax (Google tax) in an attempt to tax
true end-beneficiaries of the is expected to be concluded haven” countries defend giving incomes being collected by for-
transaction and not go by mere soon, where $1 billion of Cairn shelter to people running away eigners from Indian consumers.
form, or the corporate bound- Energy’s shares have been con- from their taxing home jurisdic- In an imbalanced world, the
aries of shell companies through fiscated. tions is a big international terms of trade and investments
which ultimate owners operate. India and similarly placed debate. It is an ideological bat- are not always favourable to
These arguments were not financial resource-starved coun- tle between tax-free emerging economies. They also
accepted. The top court said that tries face this dilemma. We Governments of these countries don’t have the freedom to print
the law as it then stood did not want to welcome foreign capital and remaining “tax-and-spend” money and spend. Balance has
allow lifting the corporate veil to bring financial resources and Governments who want to to be struck between fair taxa-
based on such interpretations. technology to expand the earn- impose their ideology on nations tion and honest tax compliance
Instead of “look through,” the ing capacity of the Indian econ- following “minimalist in form and substance.
court adopted a “look at” omy, create jobs and raise Government” ideology. (The author is an IAAS officer,
approach. income levels. The investors One country’s “black money” superannuated as Special
Unwilling to give up the tax have a legitimate expectation of (tax-evaded income) is a source Secretary, Ministry of Commerce
claim, the Government amend- a fair and equitable non-discrim- of survival for another. That is and Industry.)
SOUNDBITE
The Government will surely High-quality rapid tests show I don't take pressure on
repay the people who have us where the virus is hiding, myself that I have to create
endured the difficulties by
succeeding in controlling
the virus and protecting
the economy.
which is key to quickly tracing
and isolating contacts and
breaking the chains of
transmission.
an impact. I keep calm, cool
and focussed on what I have
to do. I look to do the basics
right and enjoy the game.
South Korean President WHO Director-General Cricketer
—Moon Jae-in —Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus —Rashid Khan
TO THE EDITOR
Centre in denial
Amnesty shuts down operations in India Sir — The collection of statisti-
mnesty International (AI) India's decision to shut cal data and its dissemination are
A down operations in India came as a shock as the
organisation has been successfully working on
cases of human rights violations since it was first set
vital for good governance in a
democracy. It is equally true that
the “No Data Available (NDA)”
up in the country in 1966. This decision, which came strategy undermines the existing
after the recent move by the Government to freeze the transparency in the polity.
human rights watchdog's bank accounts, will cost us Further, India has reliable insti-
around 150 jobs. tutions engaged in data collec-
Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had ini- tion, aggregation and analysis.
tiated a probe against Amnesty based on an FIR filed The Registrar General and
on charges of an alleged violation of the Foreign Census Commissioner of India
Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). After the inquiry, is responsible for conducting
the ED filed an FIR and alleged money laundering It is worrisome that the human rights watchdog is population census and registra-
charges. It is believed that the two exhaustive reports shutting down its operations in the country at a time tion of births and deaths. The
on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the abro- when we are faced with flagrant violations of human Directorate of Economics and
gation of Article 370 and the riots in Northeast Delhi rights. One can reasonably assume that it is a part of Statistics is the apex body for
might have been the reason for the Government to the Government’s tactics to silence critical voices and agriculture statistics in India.
harass and intimidate Amnesty through investigative suppress dissent. And the Labour Bureau is vest-
agencies. Apart from investigations and raids, the organ- Venu GS ed with the job of developing
isation also faced numerous smear campaigns. Kollam databases on labour and employ-
ment. In this context, the current
Government’s reluctance in dis-
cancelled and will now take Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, closing crucial data, including
Quad meeting place in Tokyo. It holds great Japanese Minister for Foreign the number of deaths of migrant
Sir — Union External Affairs importance as extensive discus- Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu and labourers and healthcare staff, is
Minister S Jaishankar will be vis- sions will take place on the Australian Foreign Minister baffling. It is clear that the rul-
iting Japan on October 6 and 7 strengthening of strategic ties Marise Payne. The Foreign ing dispensation is worried about
to participate in an informal between India and Japan, espe- Ministers will discuss the much- facing criticism for its abysmal
meeting of the Quad, cially with tensions brewing in needed coordination in response handling of the pandemic.
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the South China Sea, which has to the various challenges emerg- Haridasan Rajan
a multi-lateral group comprising been a matter of great concern ing from the ongoing COVID- Kozhikode
India, US, Japan and Australia. for the larger Indo-Pacific region. 19 pandemic.
The meet was initially planned to During the visit, Jaishankar will Kavya Shah Send your feedback to:
be held in New Delhi but got also, separately, meet US Ujjain letterstopioneer@gmail.com
 analysis
VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020

www.dailypioneer.com 07
FIRSTCOLUMN
Mainstream some THIS SHOWS THAT THOUGH DELAYED, JUSTICE
POINTCOUNTERPOINT
ONE WONDERS IF JUSTICE HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN
ends as means EVENTUALLY TRIUMPHED (IN THE BABRI MASJID
DEMOLITION CASE).
THIS CASE. EVEN THE APEX COURT HAD SAID THAT IT
WAS AN UNLAWFUL ACT, WHAT HAPPENED THEN.
Mahatma Gandhi showed us how one can
—DEFENCE MINISTER —IUML LOK SABHA MEMBER
internalise peace, sustainability and empathy in
RAJNATH SINGH PK KUNHALIKUTTY
one’s thoughts and actions

White collar blues

RAM KRISHNA SINHA As India unlocks, formal sector jobs in the Government space and the private sector are facing
A
morally worthy end, according to Mahatma Gandhi, could be
achieved only by adopting morally pure means. He did not various churns from lay-offs, delayed payments, reduced salaries and so on
agree with those who believed that means were after all means.
For the Mahatma, means were everything. According to him, the
problem with not prioritising or undervaluing means, in contrast
to ends, are many. First, a person is always anxious about the result
of his/her action (end).
The Mahatma often said, “If our means are pure and our course
is just and clear, all anxieties are removed. This way a man can
also develop an attitude of detachment from the fruits” of labour
and attachment with actions as the Bhagavad Gita teaches us.
Second, a person may think fulfilment of ends is the real reward.
Ends will, after all, justify the means. The Father of the Nation always BALWANT SINGH ARJUN
maintained that a moral means is almost an end in itself because MEHTA KUMAR
virtue is its own reward. Third, all focus and energies may get dis-
proportionately concentrated on the end, which is unforeseeable. he Coronavirus pandemic and the global
According to Gandhi, means are foreseeable, ends are not. Thus,
means can be controlled, managed and guaranteed. “If one takes
care of the means, the end will take care of itself.”
T economic recession have destroyed the jobs
of millions of people across the world at
staggering levels. Due to the lockdown and social-
Last, but not the least, more often than not, the end changes distancing, many casual, regular workers and self-
employed people were unable to work and had
in character as a result of the means adopted in its attainment. to lose their livelihoods. Understandably, this has
Gandhi, therefore, stressed on the “organic connection” between aggravated the already grim employment situa-
means and the end. Now, there are many worthy and aspirational tion worldwide, particularly in developing regions
ends or goals which mankind strives for. Still, there are a few, which such as South Asia, for both white and blue col-
are critical to the sustenance and welfare of mankind. These are lared workers.
peace, sustainability and empathy. In all three, we need a conver- The job loss scenario in South Asia: As per
gence of means and the ends. Unless ends are “mainstreamed” the latest report by the International Labour
as means, the ends will remain as lofty ideals and their real real- Organisation (ILO), nearly 400 million full-time
isation will either be distant or elusive. jobs were lost this year by the second quarter (Q2
Peace, as an end, is hugely worthy and aspirational. As the April-June). South Asia significantly accounted
for 110 million of the total 235 million full-time
Dalai Lama points out, “Emotional disarmament is the dire need jobs estimated to be lost during the Q2. There THE CMIE
of the hour to cleanse us from evils of rage, anger, vengeance and were 21 million full-time job losses in the first REPORTED THAT
selfishness and foster happiness, harmony and brotherhood.” Yet, quarter (Q1) and 110 million in the Q2 of this ABOUT
we cannot attain peace unless it is reflected in our day-to-day year. Since Q1, it is estimated that job losses 18.9 MILLION
thoughts and actions, public policies and doctrines of sovereign increased by over 400 per cent in both South Asia SALARIED PEOPLE
governments. and Africa.
Another report highlighted the major reduc- LOST THEIR JOBS
“There is no way to peace, peace is the way,” Gandhi ji often
tion in working hours that had occurred in Latin DURING THE
asserted. Peace has to be mainstreamed in emotions, actions and
America (20 per cent) and South Asia (18 per LOCKDOWN.
mindsets at all levels: At home, in schools, institutions and nations.
cent) in Q2. Job losses were the highest in the SALARIED JOBS
Just having a discourse on peace or setting it as a worthy goal
informal sector, given the casual and temporary WERE ESTIMATED are salaried or contract employees private or Government organisation. manent and temporary employees) job
will never bring or ensure peace. Eleanor Roosevelt, a noted human nature of jobs in the services and industrial sec- AT 86.1 MILLION IN without any social safety net. However, the pandemic did not impact losses and revised terms of contract and
rights advocate, rightly remarked, “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. tors, owing to severe lockdowns. The South Asian Job losses as India unlocks: Similar white-collar clerical employees too salaries, owing to the poor performance
2019-20, WHICH
One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must region has the highest share (75 per cent) of the to the independent survey findings, the much. These largely include employees of businesses and enterprises, have
FELL TO 67.2
work at it.” informal workforce, especially in India, as 81 per Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy ranging from secretaries, office clerks to revealed the fragile state of affairs.
MILLION BY JULY.
Sustainability is a profound goal which would ensure that nobody cent of those employed work in the informal sec- (CMIE), an independent think-tank, BPO/KPO workers and data-entry This is a serious cause of concern for the
SUCH JOBS ARE
is left behind in our planet. But it would be tough to attain the goal tor. also estimated that 21 million people operators. They possibly shifted to the Indian economy.
Job losses in India during the lockdown: PREFERRED FORMS have rejoined work after the work from home (WFH) mode, said the Many countries across the world,
if it is not mainstreamed in the design and implementation of every
Livelihoods of most of the people were affected OF EMPLOYMENT Government began the “unlocking” of CMIE report. Since the lockdown was such as the US and the UK, are provid-
developmental project, policy instruments, institutional pro-
during the lockdown and the pandemic in FOR MOST PEOPLE the economy. The reversal of job loss — announced, several companies across ing various kinds of support to business-
grammes and mechanisms, governance and, indeed, every aspect
India, especially of those engaged in the informal AS THEY OFFER if not incomes — has been achieved and sectors have taken to job cuts, along es and salaried workers to stem job loss-
of human lives and lifestyles.
sector. Although there have not been any official BETTER TERMS the employment rate is moving towards with salary reductions and leave with- es and the problems arising from them.
Our global challenges relating to hunger, poverty, disease, the estimates, several surveys conducted in the OF EMPLOYMENT pre-lockdown levels. out pay. They are taking various measures such
environment, energy, water, biodiversity may soon become disas- country highlight the misery of the people who Almost two-thirds of the jobs added This exposed the fragility of India’s as contribution to salaries, unemploy-
AND WAGES. THE
ters if all our means — choices, actions, practices — are not cho- have been left jobless. An important finding from (14.4 million) were of self-employed formal sector, which was traditionally ment allowances, loans and so on,
BIGGEST LOSS
sen carefully, prudently and wisely. In doing so, we can set off a several studies during the lockdown was that on (small traders) and wage labourers. The considered the ideal place in the labour often surpassing the debt limits, to help
WAS OF
virtuous cycle and thus create more. As the late CK Prahalad, a an average, six out of 10 workers had lost their CMIE report also mentioned that about market. The report also highlighted the their citizens during the ongoing pan-
WHITE-COLLAR
visionary on corporate strategy, was fond of saying, “We need to jobs or livelihood sources. Seven out of 10 casu- 6.8 million daily wage earners lost support the formal sector requires for demic and recession. As we move
al labourers had lost their jobs, while six out of PROFESSIONALS, their jobs since April and 15 million resilience. These ballooning numbers of towards the “new normal” of COVID-
move from seeing sustainability as a cost or hindrance to realis-
10 self-employed respondents could not pursue WHICH INCLUDED people took to farming during this peri- job losses for formal white-collar work- 19 protocols, WFH, a virtual economy,
ing that it’s a key driver of innovation.”
their usual economic activities and four out of 10 5.9 MILLION od either as self-employed or casual ers, having higher value addition, are digitisation and automation of work
Empathy is the base of compassion, a highly cherished dhar-
regular workers had been retrenched. WORKERS labour. This reveals that the loss of jobs depicting a worrisome picture of the processes, more and more white-col-
ma. But moral virtue should not find occurrences and be confined
Frighteningly, as many as 41 lakh youths in BETWEEN in the self-employment and casual Indian job market. There is consider- lar jobs will be threatened.
to only scriptures, texts and preaching. Empathy must be revealed the country faced a job loss due to the contagion- MAY AND AUGUST labour category is a temporary phenom- able research that indicates that job loss- In India, the Government has urged
in all our motives and actions. Unless we place empathy, as a uni- induced lockdowns while construction and farm enon, which is not true in case of full- es can result in permanent economic businesses to keep jobs intact without
versal value, at the centre of everything we pursue and make it a sector workers accounted for the majority of lay- time salaried jobs. Salaried people damage if workers stay unemployed for any potential and significant support. As
driving force in all our endeavours, we cannot hope to transform offs, according to a joint report by the ILO and (both permanent and temporary) who too long. This is the key concern of pol- India unlocks, formal sector jobs in the
the world. Indeed, this unique quality is all the more required in the the Asian Development Bank (ADB). While the have lost their jobs may not get back to icymakers in the country and other Government space and the private sec-
new knowledge economy and the human-Artificial Intelligence (AI) Government has not released any data pertain- employment in the near future. stakeholders today. tor are facing various churns from lay-
world. In his book Hit Refresh, Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO writes, ing to job losses during the lockdown, it acknowl- Particularly, white-collar jobs, once Towards resilience for formal jobs: offs, delayed payments, reduced salaries
“If we hope to harness technology to serve human needs, we edges the quantum of migrants, around 1.5 crore, lost, are far more difficult to retrieve. The COVID-19 pandemic and the and so on.
humans must lead the way by developing a deeper understanding who returned to their homes. The estimates by White-collar job losses: The CMIE global economic recession, undoubted- Clearly, the Government needs to
and respect for one another’s values, cultures, emotions and dri- the Government indicate that around eight-10 reported that about 18.9 million salaried ly, have put a major strain on national act now and focus on regeneration of
crore workers were affected due to the lockdown, people lost their jobs during the lock- economies and the employment sce- economic activities as well as stimula-
ves.” Thus, empathy needs to be mainstreamed as a crucial ingre- mostly those who were in the informal sector and down. Such jobs were estimated at 86.1 nario. In India, apart from the agricul- tion of aggregate demands, giving due
dient in development of designs of all products, services, public whose work was non-agricultural in nature. million in 2019-20, which fell to 67.2 ture sector, which has shown a positive consideration to those who have lost
policies and all corporate actions, to earn trust and serve human- Based upon the data analysis of the Periodic million by July. These are preferred growth rate, both the manufacturing their jobs in the formal sector, and also
ity in the true spirit. Working ceaselessly on a path of non-violence, Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to understand the forms of employment for most people and services sector are under major to businesses rendered vulnerable by the
selfless service, compassion and caring for the environment, Gandhi likely impact on informal workers in urban areas as they offer better terms of employment stress. This has serious implications for pandemic. The road towards an
ji in fact demonstrated to the world by his glorious personal exam- during and after the lockdown period, we esti- and wages. The biggest loss of jobs the informal and casual workers, small Atmanirbhar Bharat and “New India”
ples how one can internalise peace, sustainability and empathy in mated that about 93 million people were involved among salaried employees was of white- and medium enterprises as well as big should ensure resilience in the formal
one’s thoughts and actions. It is not without reason that he famous- in five sectors that have been the most affected, collar professionals, which included 5.9 businesses. economy, give immediate support and
ly said, “My life is my message.” On the eve of Gandhi ji’s birth namely manufacturing, trade, hotel and restau- million workers between May and As India unlocks, there are recov- harness our data and digital capabilities
anniversary, let us absorb that message and make it a part of our rant, construction, transport, storage and com- August. This group includes engineers, eries recorded for casual workers and for to make a significant impact on the lives
munications, finance, business and real estate. Out software engineers, physicians, journal- the self-employed ones with obvious of people.
lives.
of the total 93 million informal workers in these ists, accountants, analysts, teachers and limitations for the economic activities (Balwant is Research Director,
(The author is a former bank executive and writes on educa- sectors, 50 per cent are self-employed, 20 per cent mostly those who are professionally that can be undertaken for the moment. IMPRI and Senior Fellow, IHD and
tion, learning and spirituality.) are casual workers on daily wages and 30 per cent qualified and were employed in some For the regular/salaried workers (per- Kumar is Director, IMPRI)

Don’t demolish the judicial system

A major thrust should be towards improving and consolidating selection processes so that only people with integrity get elevated to the top
J GOPIKRISHNAN
constant and consistent pat-
A tern is emerging in the corri-
dors of the Indian judiciary,
particularly the apex court. The
design, indicative of attacks on the
Chief Justices of India (CJIs), past,
present or incoming, is neither a
desirable sign for the judiciary nor
is it, in any which way, a healthy mea-
sure of our democracy. Though one
cannot, in truth, deny that there have
been instances of corruption in the
judiciary, but to taint and paint all
with one brush is in no way serving
the nation or standing up for that
which is right.
Those who make unfounded
allegations vitiate the atmosphere,
reduce the strength and indepen-
dence of the judiciary and gradual-
ly make it supine and weak.
Subsequently, over a period of time,
due to the constant and consistent
attacks on the judicial system, it
begins to crumble and has no option
but to start leaning towards the
executive for support.
When the judiciary begins to
shake and eventually tremble, antic-
ipating the unending onslaught of
attacks, then the entire system cries
foul and finally alleges that the judg-
ments are not strong enough to
ensure that justice is delivered in
every possible sense. So, at a time like
this, it is prudent to ponder whether
Public Interest Litigations (PILs) do
more harm to the judicial system
than to the individual judges.
It is a fact, that in spite of a major
hue and cry, a particular judge of the
Supreme Court continued — unaf-
fected and happy — till his retire-
ment. No media campaign or pub-
lic scrutiny could alter this position.
But it is an equally disturbing truth
that the image of the judiciary not
only got dented but also went down
in the eyes of the citizens of the coun-
try.
That poses a very pertinent
question to all stakeholders in our
democracy — is this trend healthy
and does it serve any purpose to any
constituent? The larger question
also related to the issue is whether
this continuing trend shall visibly
shake the citizenry’s faith in the judi-
cial ecosystem? Because, make no
mistake about it, the country’s judi-
cial ecosystem and all the stakehold-
ers in it have been facing erosion —
one inch at a time — owing to mul-
tiple events which have unfolded in
the recent past.
If this goes unchecked, we are
heading for real bad times that will
not just impact the judiciary but will
threaten democracy itself.
The one feasible option forward
is to improve the system, alter the
way it functions today, rather than
demolish it brick by brick, with alle-
gations and complaints.
A major thrust should be
towards stressing on the need to
simultaneously improve and consol-
idate the judicial system, so that only
individuals with impeccable integri-
ty get selected by the Collegium and
make it to the top. Most important-
ly, if the system is strong, then indi-
viduals do not matter in actual
terms.
The judicial system is a complex
jigsaw puzzle with many entities
from the Bar and the Bench, the ever-
growing number of litigants, the
media, the restless people of the
country empowered by the social
media and PILs — an array of coter-
ies that keep fighting among them-
selves for one reason or the other.
In the end, if the judicial process-
es in India do not end up becoming
robust and protected, all the stake-
holders in the system would end up
being the major losers.
It is to be first acknowledged that
there are a series of attempts being
made by outsiders to precipitate
fights and differences between the
Bar and the Bench and these should
be collectively thwarted by the entire
judicial system.
People who are placing individ-
uals and individual interests over and
above institutional interests are not
bothered about the system and in the
process end up committing a great
disservice to the nation. Needless to
say, they ultimately forget that they
would end up being the biggest losers
in the long run. However, what
remains unrealised is that the real
casualty in this prolonged tug of war
is the sanctity and the institutional
integrity of the system itself.
Such people will realise finally
that by fighting some robed luminar-
ies, they may emerge as crusaders in
the short-term but in the long haul
FOREIGN EYE
end up causing greater damage to the
system to which they owe everything,
and destroy its credibility making it
vulnerable to the core. Does such a
judicial system serve any purpose?
The CJIs are such luminaries
who come with the heft of decades HELP ACID ATTACK
of dedicated service in the judiciary
and a great service to the nation at VICTIMS RECOVER
large. The testimony of evidence for An acid attack devastates the
this emanates from the hundreds of
judgments penned in their capacities lives of survivors. The State,
as judges at various High Courts and as a guardian, must ensure
subsequently upon their elevation to that the survivors have free
the apex court.
A flurry of allegations against
them at the time of elevation shows
and full medical support,
either in Government or
private hospitals. After all
the judiciary in a bad light and caus-
es the people to lose faith in them their horrific experiences, the
and question their every move. It is victims should not be
the solemn duty of all stakeholders struggling to receive medical
in the Bar and the Bench to wake up attention. This is not
to this bid to tarnish individuals and
thereby weaken the system. It is time something the Government
to pause, introspect and react. of Nepal can shy away from.
(The writer is a Special (The Kathmandu Post
Correspondent of The Pioneer) editorial)
VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020
SHORT READS
FY19 GST annual
return filing deadline
extended by1 month
New Delhi: The government
has extended the deadline for
filing GST annual return and
audit report for 2018-19 fiscal
year by a month till October
31. “After obtaining due
clearances from the Election
Commission in view of the
Model Code of Conduct, Gover
nment has extended due date
for furnishing Annual Return in
GSTR-9 and GSTR 9C for
2018-19 from 30.09.2020 to
31.10.2020,” the CBIC tweet
ed. In May, the government
had extended the last date for
filing annual GST return for
2018-19 by three months till
September 2020. GSTR-9 is
an annual return to be filed by
taxpayers registered under the
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
regime. It consists of details
regarding the outward and
inward supplies made or recei
ved under different tax heads.
8 core industries;
output contracts
8.5 pc in Aug 1
New Delhi: Contracting for the
sixth consecutive month, the
output of eight core infrastruct
ure sectors dropped by 8.5 per
cent in August, mainly due to
decline in production of steel,
refinery products and cement.
The production of eight core
sectors had contracted 0.2 per
cent in August 2019, showed
data released by the Comme
rce and Industry Ministry on
Wednesday.Barring coal and
fertiliser, all sectors -- crude
oil, natural gas, refinery
products, steel, cement and
electricity -- recorded negative
growth in August.
GPS Renewables
raises USD 3 min
Mumbai:Cleantech startup
GPS Renewables on Wedne
sday said it has raised USD 3
million in a round led by Dutch
impact investor Hivos- Triodos
Fund. The funding will be
primarily used for research
and development and
expansion activities, an official
statement said. Other investo
rs who participated in the
funding round for the 2012-
incorporated company include
Hyderabad-based impact
investor Caspian, it said. The
company is into deployment of
biogas technologies to solve
the organic waste manage
ment challenge and accelerate
the substitution of fossil fuel
with bio-energy, as per the
statement. The market is USD
50 billion and it is building in
India for the world. Its produ
cts include a modular biogas
plant and a proprietary AI
solution for remote predictive
bioprocess management and
its clientele include companies
such as Microsoft, Intel,
Bosch, Cummins, Saint Gob
ain, Reliance, JW Marriott
Group, and the TATA group.
“Their business model and
sustaina ble solutions address
the overwhelming need for
organic waste management
challenges faced by urban
establishments,” Caspian's
Investment Director Ravi said.
Uptick in demand to buy, rent homes
PNSn NEW DELHI
The demand for residential
properties for buying and rent-
ing is rising in tier-II and -III
cities after the outbreak of
COVID-19 pandemic, driven
by reverse migration of large
number of workforce to small-
er towns, according to
Housing.com report.
In its report 'Time for
Internal Globalisation - Small
Cities Setting the Tone for
Revival', News Corp and
Softbank-backed realty portal
stated that the virtual demand
for buying/renting of homes has
grown almost three times in
August from the year-ago peri-
od. Housing.com released
'Virtual Residential Demand
INDIA'S MEDIA TO REACH
RS 1.86L-CR REVENUE IN 2021-22
PNS n MUMBAI
The media and entertainment
sector, which was badly hit due
to the disruptions caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic, is
expected to rebound to touch
a revenue of Rs 1,86,600 crore
in 2021-22, due to acceleration
of digital adoption among users
across geographies, according
to a report.
The sector should recover
and post a 33 per cent growth
in 2021-22, following a con-
traction of 20 per cent in 2020-
21, which still implies a loss of
around two years of growth,
said KPMG in India Partner
and Head (Media and Enterta
inment) Girish Menon.
He was quoting the KPMG
Media and Entertainment
(M&E) report, 'A year off
Birla Tyres scouts for
strategic collaboration
PNSn NEW DELHI
Birla Tyres, which was recent-
ly carved out of Kesoram Ltd,
is in talks with multiple
prospective partners both
within the country and over-
seas for strategic collaboration,
a senior company official said.
The discussions with
prospective partners and fund-
ing agencies are in advanced
stages and would be finalised
in the next three to six months.
"The company is in talks
with multiple partners both
within the country and over-
seas for strategic collaboration,
including technical know-how
to manufacture an off-site
range of tyre products and
other speciality segments,"
Manjushree Khaitan told
Govt extends BPCL bid
deadline to November 16
PNSn NEW DELHI
The government has for the
fourth time extended the dead-
line for bidding for privatisa-
tion of India's second-biggest
oil refiner Bharat Petroleum
Corp Ltd (BPCL) by one and
a half months to November 16.
While the Cabinet, in
November last year, had
approved the sale of the gov-
ernment's entire 52.98 per
cent stake in BPCL, offers
seeking expression of interest
(EoI) or bids showing interest
in buying its stake were invit-
ed only on March 7.
Initially, the EoI submission
deadline was May 2, but it was
first was extended up to June
13, then to July 31 and later to
September 30.
"In view of further requests
received from the interested
bidders (IBs) and the prevail-
ing situation arising out of
COVID-19 pandemic, the last
date for submission of EoIs is
further extended to November
16, 2020 (by 5.00 pm)," the
Department of Investment and
Public Asset Management
Index' that jumped to 210
points for 'Shadow Cities' or
tier-II/III cities compared to 150
for the metros post the nation
entering into Unlock Phase 4.0.
"On our Housing.com plat-
form during last few months,
we have seen a significant
uptick in interest levels for res-
idential properties especially
from shadow cities such as
Amritsar, Chandigarh,
Vadodara, Nagpur, Vijayawada
and Coimbatore," said Dhruv
Agarwala, the CEO of Elara
Technologies that owns
Proptiger, Makaan and
Housing.com.
The index renders this trend
more prominently post May
2020, he added. Going for-
ward, Agarwala said, the reverse
Digital advertising,
over-the-top (OTT) and
gaming fared much
better, with massive
spikes in digital
consumption
script: Time for resilience',
which examines the perfor-
mance of the M&E sector dur-
ing a particularly challenging
period.
The two areas that offer
encouragement are the contin-
ued economic growth of India
and the universal acceleration
of digital adoption among users
across geographies, he said.
"As per our revised esti-
mates, India could be home to
a billion digital users by 2028
shareholders at the companys
virtual annual general meeting
on Tuesday.
The company was looking
at all tyre segments including
off-road and other special cat-
egories, she said. The tyre
manufacturer's CEO P
Radhakrishnan said plans
were afoot to raise about Rs
200 crore in combination with
fresh equity and debt.
"Discussions with prospective
strategic partners and funding
agencies were in advanced
stages and would be put in
place in the next three to six
months," he said. The compa-
ny's facilities in Odisha are also
being revamped to maximise
capacity utilisation through an
innovative mix of existing and
new product lines, he added.
(DIPAM) said in a notice.
The government is keen to
close the sale before March 31,
2021, to help meet a record Rs
2.1 lakh crore target which
Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman has set from disin-
vestment proceeds in the
Budget for 2020-21.
But with this extension, the
sale being completed by March
2021 looks doubtful as after
EoIs come in, the government
will open a data center for
interested bidders to conduct
due diligence, only after which
financial bids will be called,
The analysis of online
interest parameters
suggest that the
interest in the smaller
cities has been
gradually increasing
migrations and the concept of
remote working would have
"powerful reverberations" on
the future of residential
demand.The analysis of online
interest parameters suggest that
the interest in the smaller cities
has been gradually increasing
and the share increased to 27
percent in the first half of 2020,
as compared to 18 percent in
the same period in 2019,
rather than the earlier project-
ed 2030 timeline," he added.
Menon added that there
have been several structural
changes to digital behaviour on
account of the experience of
the lockdown resulting in a
new homogeneity among
users. "It is our belief that
many of these changes will
translate into a more democra-
tic and sophisticated digital cit-
izen within the country."
JSPL receives
rail supplier
status from IR
PNSn NEW DELHI
Jindal Steel and Power
Limited (JSPL) on Wednes
day said it has received rail
supplier status from the
Indian Railways.
"JSPL becomes India's first
private company to get
approval from Indian
Railways for regular rail sup-
plier status for its upcoming
and ongoing projects," a com-
pany statement said.
Research Designs &
Standards Organisation
(RDSO), which works under
the ambit of the Railway
Board, has approved field
performance of UIC 60 kg,
880 Grade prime (Class- A)
rails made by JSPL at its
Raigarh Plant, a company
statement said.
"We are thankful to the
RDSO for field performance
approval. The approval is an
illustrious qualification for
JSPL's rail mill, as their eval-
uation quality and safety
parameters are very stringent,
and not many rail producers
in the world can meet quali-
ty norms laid by RDSO,"
JSPL MD said.
industry sources said.
The financial bids will have
to be evaluated and approved
by the Cabinet and the trans-
action will close once the pay-
ment is made.
At Wednesday's trading
price of Rs 360.55 on the BSE,
BPCL has a market capitalisa-
tion of about Rs 78,300 crore.
At this price, the government's
stake is worth over Rs 41,436
crore. The acquirer will also
have to make an open offer to
minority shareholders for buy-
ing up to 26 per cent stake at
the same price.
Housing.com said.
"Post the sharp decline in vir-
tual interest in April 2020, it has
recovered rather quickly and
has been on an upswing since
then with virtual interest for
residential spaces between
June–August 2020, overarching
the pre-Covid levels of
January–March 2020," the
According to the report, the
overall revenue of the sector
during 2019-20 stood at Rs
1,75,100 crore that is expected
to contract to Rs 1,40,200 crore
during the current financial
year and recover to Rs 1,86,600
crore in 2021-22.
There will be a deeper inte-
gration of digital technology
across the M&E value chain —
from content production to
distribution. Technology adop-
Union Minister Gadkari recovers from Covid
PNSn NEW DELHI
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
on Wednesday said he has
recovered from coronavirus.
The Road Transport,
Highways and MSME minister
was tested positive on
September 16. Thanking peo-
ple for their prayers and wish-
es, the minister in a tweet said:
"I am happy to say that I have
recovered from coronavirus
with the blessings and good
wishes of all".
Public APP raises $35mn
PNSn NEW DELHI
Public App, a location-based
social network, on Wednesday
said it has secured USD 35 mil-
lion (about Rs 258 crore) in
funding from Addition, SIG
Global and Tanglin Venture
Partners.
The funds will be utilised
towards rapid scaling up of
technology infrastructure, con-
tent offerings and employee
base to further speed up the
growth and continue improv-
ing on retention and engage-
ment, a statement said.
NTPC eyes
Rs 98,000 crore
revenue in FY21
PNSn NEW DELHI
NTPC is eyeing Rs 98,000
crore revenue from opera-
tions and about 15 million
metric tonne of coal output
from its mines in the current
fiscal year.
The state-owned power
giant is also aiming 340 BU
(billion units) of electricity
generation in 2020-21 as part
of its MoU with the Ministry
of Power, a company state-
ment said.
As per the MoU, NTPC
will aim to achieve capital
expenditure of Rs 21,000
crore and coal production of
15 million metric tonne in
the current fiscal year.
NTPC Group has over 20
GW of capacity under con-
struction, including 5 GW of
renewable energy projects.
With installed capacity of
62.9 GW, NTPC Group has
70 power stations comprising
24 Coal, 7 combined cycle
Gas/Liquid Fuel, 1 hydro, 13
renewables along with 25
subsidiary & JV power sta-
tions.
report said.
Cities witnessed an impres-
sive growth of more than 100
percent in the virtual residen-
tial demand over pre-Covid,
while cities of Vadodara, Lud-
hiana, Mangaluru, Chandigarh
and Lucknow saw more than 80
percent growth in residential
demand.
tion could, however, face some
challenges in terms of skill
development and the shift to a
digital-first mindset but will
result in operational cost sav-
ings and potentially lower lead
times over the longer term,
Menon said.
India was already experienc-
ing a slowdown in economic
activity even prior to the out-
break of Covid, and the onset
of the global pandemic and
ensuing lockdown dealt a
severe blow to the Indian econ-
omy, the report said.
The M&E sector has been
affected but to varying degrees
like the outdoor entertainment
formats, and traditional media
have been badly impacted as
people stayed indoors and
advertising spends dried up, it
said.
The former BJP president
also thanked well-wishers for
their affection to him.
On September 16 after con-
tracting the virus, Gadkari
had isolated himself. The min-
ister had also requested all who
had come in his contact to fol-
low the protocol.
The monsoon session of
Parliament concluded on
September 23, eight days ahead
of the schedule, due to con-
cerns over the spread of the
coronavirus among members.
Public App is a social net-
work for local information,
including updates on local
events, commerce, jobs, classi-
fieds and others.
The company said the plat-
form is used by political lead-
ers, government authorities,
Inflation for industrial
workers eases to 5%
PNSn NEW DELHI
Retail inflation for industrial
workers eased to 5.63 per cent
in August as compared to
6.31 per cent in the same
month a year ago, mainly due
to lower prices of certain food
items. Retail inflation mea-
sured in terms of the CPI-IW
is the benchmark for working
out dearness allowance for
central government employees
and dearness relief for pen-
sioners.
"Year-on-year inflation
(CPI-IW) based on all-items
stood at 5.63 per cent for
August 2020 as compared to
5.33 per cent for the previous
month (July 2020) and 6.31
per cent during the corre-
sponding month (August
Sebi bars four individuals in Birla
Cotsyn's GDR manipulation case
PNSn NEW DELHI
Markets regulator Sebi has
barred four individuals in con-
nection with manipulation in
the issuance of global deposi-
tory receipts by Birla Cotsyn
(India) Ltd back in 2010.
Currently, Birla Cotsyn
(India) Ltd (BCIL) is facing liq-
uidation proceedings under
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Code.
In a 55-page order passed on
Tuesday, Sebi banned four for-
mer individuals -- P V R
Murthy, Yashovardhan Birla, Y
P Trivedi and Mohandas Adige
-- who were associated with
the company.
money 08
Country reports current
account surplus at 3.9%
PNSn MUMBAI
India's current account surplus
increased to USD 19.8 billion
or 3.9 per cent of GDP for the
June quarter as merchandise
imports declined amid the
Covid, the Reserve Bank said
on Wednesday.
The country's current
account surplus had come at
USD 0.6 billion or 0.1 per cent
of GDP in the preceding
March quarter, while it had
reported a current account
deficit of USD 15 billion or 2.1
per cent of GDP in the year-
ago period. "The surplus in
the current account in Q1 of
2020-21 was on account of a
sharp contraction in the trade
deficit to USD 10.0 billion due
to steeper decline in mer-
chandise imports relative to
exports on a year-on-year
basis," the RBI said.
The session, which started
on September 14 amid
COVID-19 pandemic, was
otherwise scheduled to con-
clude on October 1.
media houses and citizen jour-
nalists to connect with com-
munities and disseminate ver-
ified and trustworthy video
content, while local business-
es like shops, astrologers, doc-
tors and lawyers use the plat-
form to reach out to con-
sumers.
"We are thrilled to have this
support from Addition, SIG
Global and Tanglin Venture
Partners in our journey
towards building the world's
largest location-based social
network," Azhar, founder and
CEO of Public App, said.
2019) of the previous year," a
labour ministry statement
said.
According to the statement,
the food inflation stood at 6.67
per cent against 6.38 per cent
in the previous month and
5.10 per cent during the year-
ago period.
The All-India CPI-IW for
August 2020 increased by 2
points to 338. On one-month
percentage change, it increased
by (+) 0.60 per cent between
July and August 2020 com-
pared to (+) 0.31 per cent rise
between corresponding
months of the previous year.
The maximum upward
pressure in current index came
from Food group, contributing
(+) 1.14 percentage points to
the total change.
While a three-year ban has
been imposed on Murthy, Birla
will face a ban for two years.
Trivedi and Adige have been
barred from the securities
market for one year each.
In September 2019, the
National Company Law
Tribunal (NCLT) ordered the
commencement of liquidation
of BCIL under the Insolvency
The current account bal-
ances, which represents the net
of the country's export and
imports of goods and ser-
vices and also payments made
to foreign investors or inflows
from them, are considered as
an important indicator of a
country's external sector.
Domestic ratings agency
Icra had said that current
account will swing to a surplus
of USD 30 billion or 1.2 per
cent of GDP on a slowdown in
imports during the pandem-
ic, but added that it will be a
"temporary" phenomenon.
Many MPs, including some
ministers, had tested positive
for COVID-19. In a first in
Indian parliamentary history,
some members of the Lok
Sabha were also seated in the
Rajya Sabha chamber and vis-
itor galleries to ensure social
distancing. The Rajya Sabha
also followed similar practice,
with its members seated in the
Lower House. During this ses-
sion, while the Rajya Sabha met
in the first half of the day, the
Lok Sabha assembled at 3 pm.
HMSI unveils
H'ness CB350
PNSn NEW DELHI
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter
India (HMSI) on Wednesday
globally unveiled a 350 cc
bike, H'ness CB350, marking
its entry into the growing
mid-sized motorcycle seg-
ment in the country.
The bike comes with a
BS-VI compliant petrol eng
ine, and would be sold from
the company's 'Big Wing'
sales network.
The model would be avail-
able in two variants -- Deluxe
and Deluxe Pro, with ex-
showroom price expected to
start around Rs 1.9 lakh.
"This is a completely new
product from Honda's glob-
ally renowned CB range and
would be priced around Rs
1.9 lakh," HMSI Managing
Director, President & CEO
Atsushi Ogata told reporters.
The company has already
started taking bookings of the
model on its website and Big
Wing outlets, he added.
Ogata said the company is
looking at expanding Big
Wing sales network across
the country. "By the end of
the fiscal, we aim to have
around 50 such dealerships
across the country," he noted.
Ogata said the company
took insights from Indian
riders for developing the
bike. "To this end, the latest
technologies are generously
reflected in its nine new
patent applications. Today, we
are proud to usher in a new
motorcycling culture in the
mid-size segment with this
global unveiling of H'ness
CB350," he added.
and Bankruptcy Code.
Against this backdrop, Sebi
said present the present pro-
ceedings initiated against the
company stands disposed of.
"However, in the event that
the order for liquidation passed
by the NCLT is reversed in
appeal, the noticee No. 1
(BCIL) shall be restrained
from accessing the securities
market..." for three years from
the date of such reversal of liq-
uidation order, the watchdog
noted.
Sebi had conducted an
investigation into the issuance
of Global Depository Receipts
(GDRs) by various compa-
nies, including BCIL.
 Follow us on
@TheDailyPioneer
facebook.com/
dailypioneer

Thursday
October 1, 2020

‘ZERO-HUNGER, ORPHAN-LESS T
he Coronavirus pan- started this own foundation,”
demic has wreaked shares the founder.
havoc in the lives of Not only did his work
millions of people spread to his family — his
across the globe. father C.C Reddy an ex-Army
Businesses crashed, official and mother Lalitha, a

INDIA IS THE AIM'

education’s on a break, pro-
jects stood cancelled. But it’s
not just the average human
being that has been reeling
under COVID-19’s effect.
Children and the elderly are
most vulnerable. Animals had
none to care for them.
Attending to these very
groups are volunteers from
The fear of COVID has across the state of Telangana
via the group ‘Serve Needy’.
gripped our lives since Yes, as simple a name as that.
Simple in their name and
December last year, no one demeanour, extraordinary in
their passion, compassion,
and work. Volunteers across
saw the pandemic and its all age groups, religions, and
backgrounds have joined
impact coming. The most hands to take extra care of
those abandoned — old and
vulnerable are the elderly young, those left to die out of
starvation -
and kids, who need double strays, and
many oth-
the protection. Realising ers.
this early on and serving
them were the volunteers
of Serve Needy, who talk
to The Pioneer's
RACHEL DAMMALA
about their work,
challenges, and more
Founded in 2014 by
THESE VOLUNTEERS, AS PART Goutham Kumar, a former
OF THEIR ‘PROJECT software professional who felt
empty on the inside despite
ANNADAATHA’, SERVED MORE pocketing a 6-digit salary,
Serve Needy now has volun-
THAN 4 LAKH MEALS AMID teers and branches, not just in
THE PANDEMIC TO ORPHANS, Hyderabad, but Nandhyal,
Chennai, and Bengaluru too.
THE ELDERLY, DESTITUTE, AND “Before I began work on my
MIGRANTS STUCK IN THE TWIN own, I did a lot of background
work at slums, streets,
CITIES DURING LOCKDOWN. orphanages, old-age homes,
etc. for over 2 years and then
former teacher, who’re now
involved in the service of soci-
ety, but several youngsters
from across the Southern
states of India. Today, it is not
just Goutham, but an entire
team of volunteers too, with
same goals and vigour, setting
out every day to serve those in
need.
These volunteers, as part of
their ‘Project Annadaatha’,
served more than 4 lakh meals
amid the pandemic to
orphans, the elderly, destitute,
and migrants stuck in
Hyderabad and Secunderabad
at the time of the lockdown.
Not just that, the team per-
formed the final rites of more
than 1,100 orphans to date.
Amid the pandemic, they per-
formed last rites in place of
those families who feared
catching the virus from those
who died battling COVID.
“We distributed more than
3000 groceries kits to
the poor, daily labour-
ers, frontline workers,
etc. during the lock-
down,” one their volun-
teers informs. “We’ve also
been feeding dogs, cows,
and monkeys who found no
food,” he adds. They fed
these strays pedigree,
boiled eggs, boiled
chicken, buns, curd
rice, biscuits, etc. They
also donated leafy veg-
etables, carrots, beetroots,
cucumbers, sweet corn, cab-
bage, etc. to feed more than
600 cows at a Goshala. The
organisation has an orphanage
home with 58 kids from dif-
ferent backgrounds. Some of
these kids were rescued traf-
ficking, sexual harassment,
etc. They also serve an
old-age home.
“We reap what we sow. I’m
sure we’d definitely receive
something in return for the
service we do to the people
around us, not necessarily in
the form of rewards, awards.
The amount of inspiration the
team’s work causes to onlook-
ers, the amount of difference
the care and love does to
people who receive is
unmatched,” shares Manohar,
another volunteer.
The team of youngsters
broke 5 world records to date
with their Annadaatha project
and several awards for per-
forming the last rites of those
abandoned. Asked about his
goal, Goutham says, “Zero
hunger and an orphan-less
country is my ultimate dream.
Let’s inspire as many as we
can and do our best for
humanity before we leave.”
If you’re one looking to be of
any help, monetary, volunteer-
ing, etc., join their page on
Facebook ‘Serve Needy’ for
other details.

Local delivery app Don't mess

connecting restaurants with actress
With many restaurants limited to pickup and delivery in light of the
ongoing coronavirus pandemic, food delivery apps like Yumzy in
Hyderabad have become a particularly convenient way to grab
Lizaa Malik!
some grub. The Pioneer's SHIKHA DUGGAL writes about one such t a time when time and opportunity

A
women are and I am loving every
increasingly bit of my learning. It
app new to the market, Yumzy under the combines strength, sta-
risk of being mina, focus, and agility
f you have a only one core mindset groped at — all at once. It’s a high-

I
food app to — expandable growth gatherings and other intensity sport and I
order your and numerous collab- such horrendous acts, urge everyone to take
favourite orations. Yumzy lever- singer and actress Lizaa up some form of a
food pre- ages the talent and Malik needed to take up sport once in a life-
pared by skills of all the indi- another form of sport! time,” shares Lizza of
cooks in your neigh- viduals to drive results She’s now into mixed ‘Who’s Your Daddy
bourhood — whether towards success,” martial arts — her new fame!’
a local dish or north- Avnish Mistry, growth pastime and a sport that The popular actress
ern cuisine or head at Yumzy, tells comes handy for her has also been making
Chinese, and want to us. protection. An avid fit- sensational headlines
relish them from the A hyperlocal food ness enthu-cutlet, there’s recently after she
comfort of your place, tech unicorn, Yumzy no stopping her! talked about an inci-
look no further and gives more reasons to “MMA is something dent at actress Kriti
pick the food of your Suresh, CEO the customers for tap- that has always interest- Sanon’s birthday
choice from the app ping be it their ability ed me. I have really amid rumours of the
and place your order to learn, growth factor, young memories of latter dating her late
using only a few clicks rant options, with employee empower- watching Bruce Lee co-star Sushant Singh
— Yumzy by Laalsa more than 200 enthu- ment, leadership qual- movies and how he Rajput. On the
will deliver it to you! siastic employees ities, or trying to make championed MMA. work front, we
Yumzy, Laalsa’s working on it allowing a difference! Running Since then I wanted to are seeing some
brainchild is a 100% you to order directly to be the king of con- add another craft to my great work from
Indian food delivery from your smartphone venience in the local bag and break the norm Lizaa who knows
app and India’s — Yumzy is turning market eradicating of MMA being a mascu- no boundaries-
youngest entrant into out to be a great app. unnecessary trips for line practice. Lockdown the woman is on
the food delivery mar- “We are diverse in consumers, they are blessed me with the fire!
ket space. Available in nature, having a multi- looking for a leapfrog
various cities, having cultural team that is for a long-term
thousands of restau- result-oriented with alliance.

Vijayawada Thursday October 1 2020
Stars today are
obsessed with fitness;
‘Do they look like
drug addicts?’:
JAVED AKHTAR
riter and lyricist
W
Javed Akhtar has
defended the film
industry, which
has been caught in
controversy after
the Narcotics Control Bureau
opened an investigation into
its alleged connections to
drugs trade and consumption.
Javed also spoke about his
recent tweet about Karan
Johar’s parties, and said that
he wanted the attention of the
media to be diverted to mat-
ters of importance.
In an interview, he said that
he isn’t an expert on agricul-
ture and economy, and that
certain news channels could
provide people like him with
information, instead of
focussing on Bollywood. “I’m
not an expert on agriculture
or economy. Certain channels
can educate people like me
who don’t understand these
things but they did not hold
up their responsibility,” he
told journalist Barkha Dutt.
Javed on September 25 had
tweeted, “If Karan johar had
invited some farmers too for
his party life would have been
easier for our TV channels.
They would not have had to
choose between farmers
protest and Karan’s party!. it
seems that Karan’s do is the
second most favourite PARTY
ARCHIE
GARFIELD
NANCY
GINGER MEGGS
No truth in 'clean chit to
Deepika, Sara, Shraddha': NCB
he Narcotics
T
Control Bureau
(NCB) on
Wednesday
refuted claims
about clean chit
given to Bollywood divas
Deepika Padukone,
Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali
Khan and others questioned
in connection with the a
drugs case surrounding the
death Sushant Singh Rajput,
saying such reports are
“devoid” of “truth and
facts”.
“The news article men-
tioning that the drugs law
enforcement agency giviing
clean chit to those exam-
ined by NCB is devoid of
the facts and truth.”
He said that the neces-
sary “rebuttal” is being
issued to the concerned.
of our channels.” Last week,
more than 200 farmers’
groups across the country
blocked roads and organised
rallies in protest against three
controversial farm bills passed
in the monsoon session of the
Parliament.
Asked about the ongoing
NCB investigation into the
alleged Bollywood-drugs
nexus, he said, “I have never
used any drug in my life.
Although I was not a very dis-
ciplined young man and I
used to drink a lot. I don’t
believe in those reports but
look at their health, their
physique, their physical fit-
COVID-19 EFFECT: DISNEY PARKS
ness. These boys and girls,
unlike the stars of yesteryear
who were not obsessed by
TO FIRE 28,000 US EMPLOYEES
their physical fitness, which isney Parks is let-
D
this generation is. In fact, they ting go of 28,000
spend two to three hours in US employees due
the gym. Do they look like to impact of the
drug addicts? They are ongoing the pan-
extremely professional and demic on
responsible people. Today, the Disneyland and Walt
film industry is much more Disney World. Two-thirds
disciplined and responsible of these employees are
than it ever was.” part-time workers.
The NCB has so far ques- Disney Parks chairman
tioned actors Deepika Josh D'Amaro wrote a let-
Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, ter to employees, saying
Rakul Preet Singh and that this was “the only fea-
Shraddha Kapoor, after their sible option we have” due
names came up during the to the Covid-19 pandemic
agency’s investigation of actor forcing the parks to limit
Rhea Chakraborty.
The remarks came after a
media report claimed that
the NCB has given clean
chit to Deepika, her former
manager Karishma Prakash,
Sara, Shraddha and others
in a drugs related case.
Ther NCB questioned
Deepika, Shraddha and
Karishma on Saturday in
Mumbai for several hours
over their alleged chats dis-
cussing drugs. The NCB
also questioned Sara, who
starred with Sushant in
Kedarnath for over five
hours in the case on
Saturday.
Deepika is the daughter
of badminton icon Prakash
Padukone and married to
actor Ranveer Singh, while
Shraddha is daughter of
veteran actor Shakti
Kapoor. Sara is daughter of
capacity and the ongoing
closure of Disneyland in
Anaheim, California,
reports variety.com.
He added in another
statement that the state of
California’s “unwillingness
to lift restrictions that
would allow Disneyland to
reopen” worsened the situ-
ation. Disneyland has
remained shut since mid-
March. Walt Disney World
in Orlando, which also
closed in March, reopened
in mid-July with safety
measures as well as
FUN
CALVIN AND HOBBES
REALITY CHECK
what’s brewing?
actors Saif Ali Khan and
Amrita Singh.
The NCB also grilled
actor Rakul Preet Singh in
connection with its probe
on Friday for four hours.
However, the officials of
the NCB have remained
tightlipped on its findings
after the questioning of
these actors in the case as it
is corroborating the state-
ments of all the people ques-
tioned in the case so far.
The NCB also arrested
Kshitij Ravi Prasad former
executive Producer of the
Dharma Productions in
connection with the case
after it was found that he
procured drugs for over a
dozen times between May
to July and paid Rs 3,500
for every 50 gm of the con-
traband.
reduced visitor capacity.
In the letter to workers,
D’Amaro said that the com-
pany would meet with
affected salaried and non-
union hourly employees
over the next few days and
will begin discussing next
steps with the unions that
represent those theme park
workers.
About 67 per cent of the
cuts will impact part-time
workers, affect Disney
staff across executive,
salaried and hourly posi-
tions.
SUDOKU
10
The NCB has already
arrested Sushant's girlfriend
Rhea Chakraborty, her
brother Showik, the late
actor's house manager
Samuel Miranda, personal
staff Dipesh Sawant in the
case along with 16 other
accused.
The NCB registered a
case after it received a
request from Enforcement
Directorate (ED) following
the alleged chats discussing
drugs came to the fore. The
NCB registered two cases
and Sara and Shraddha are
Mumbai Police
inter linked in both of the
cases.
Besides NCB, the CBI
summons Anurag
and the ED are also probing
the death of Sushant, who
was found dead in his
Bandra’s Mont Blanc apart-
Kashyap in
ment on June 14.
MeToo case
umbai Police have Police.
M
issued summons The summons by
to filmmaker Mumbai Police to Kashyap
Anurag Kashyap has been issued just a day
in connection with after Payal had a meeting
the sexual harass-
ment charges levelled
against him by actress
with Maharashtra
Governor Bhagat Singh
Koshyari on Tuesday. The
Payal Ghosh. Kashyap has actress was accompanied
been summoned to appear by Union Minister of State
at Versova Police Station for Social Justice and
on Thursday. Empowerment Ramdas
“A summons has been Athawale and her advocate
served to Anurag Kashyap Nitin Satpute.
by Versova police station Alleging that there is a
to appear on 1.10.2020 for threat to the actress’ life,
investigation of offence her lawyer has submitted a
registered against him,” letter to the governor seek-
reads an official statement ing Y-category security for
shared by the Mumbai Payal and himself.
SPEED BUMP CROSSWORD
Yesterday’s solution
Rules
l Each row and column can
contain each number (1 to 9)
exactly once.
l The sum of all numbers in
any row or column must
equal 45.
 11
VIJAYAWADA | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020
KL Rahul 222 runs
TODAY

VS
Live from 7:30pm
STAR SPORTS 1 & 3
Kagiso Rabada 7 wickets

Warner always backs me

and tells me that you know
They outplayed us in all three
departments and credit to
I felt really good playing my
first match in the IPL. I also
We were on track to get 170-
180, there is talk of our
DUGOUT
what's best for the team. them for that. 162 was a par hit a big six, it gave me middle order not being that MOTION PICTURE
Only when things aren't score on this wicket. We confidence that I will be good, but we put our game
going my way I go and ask didn't execute the way we able to do good in the together against Delhi and we
the captain what to do wanted to. coming games backed ourselves

Battle of equals
MI, KXIP look to move on after heartbreaking losses
KNIGHTS BEAT ROYALS
ball 34 not out) to stay till the end.
PTI n ABU DHABI Sheldon Cottrel for five sixes in
an over to win the match for his
KKR: 174/6 (20 overs); RR: 137/9 (20 overs) Archer bowled the first over
of the match and there was full
oming off heartbreaking team. pace in display in the range of 145-
C losses, the game between Even Mohammed Shami
Mumbai Indians and Kings XI (3/53), who has been in brilliant
150kph mark and it needed Gill's
brilliance to see him off with just
Punjab will be a test of charac- form prior to that onslaught, one run from it.
ter for both sides as they look was taken to the cleaners. With Gill looking well set for Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler chats with
to regain momentum on Skipper KL Rahul and a second successive fifty, Archer his country-mate Eoin Morgan during warm up session ahead of
Thursday. Mayank Agarwal have made was reintroduced in the 12th IPL clash between Kolkata Knight Riders & Rajasthan Royals IPL
KXIP were at the receiving inspiring starts this season, hit- over and he dismissed the set
end of the highest successful ting a century and a fifty each, opener straightway with a leading IYER FINED FOR SLOW OVER-RATE
run-chase in the tournament and getting the duo out early edge. Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer has been slapped with a fine
history as Rajasthan Royals will be the key for Mumbai. In his next over, Archer dis- of `12 lakh after his team maintained a slow over-rate against
overhauled a target of 224 with Against Rajasthan, the pair missed Karthik with a beauty, full Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL match.Given that this was his
three balls to spare on Sunday. shared a 183-run opening stand of pace that went straight with a first offence of the season, Iyer was fined `12 lakh under the
While Kieron Pollard and with Agarwal scoring his maid- bit of inswing and the KKR skip- IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offence.
Ishan Kishan led a remarkable en ton while Rahul, fresh from per was forced to play, edging
fight-back, chasing 202, before recording the highest score by straight to Jos Buttler. RCB FAV FOR IPL TITLE: VENGSARKAR
Mumbai went down an Indian in IPL histo- Russell was finally promoted For legendary batsman Dilip Vengsarkar, this IPL season Virat
to Royal Challengers MATCHES 24 ry, hit a 54-ball 69. up at No 5 but the star Jamaican Kohli's RCB could break the jinx of not winning the title in 12
Bangalore in a Super KINGS XI PUNJAB 11 Mumbai Indians became victim of Ankit Rajpoot attempts, and the former India captain rates them among the hot
Over. MUMBAI INDIANS 13 are blessed with a while trying to accelerate the favourites, citing their well-rounded team as one of the factors.
Defending “In this T20 format, it is very difficult to say who the front
Stats: Faisel Features splendid batting fire- scoring rate.
runners will be. But I would say Bangalore are winning it this
champions Mumbai power with the likes of Russell’s wicket meant KKR
Indians lost their opening game Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav and lost four wickets for 33 runs in the time, because they haven't won it so far. Kohli, AB de Villiers and
but bounced back to beat Ishan Kishan at the top-order, back-10 and with KKR playing Yuzvendra Chahal will come good. They have a lot of good
Kolkata Knight Riders. followed by the big-hitting with an extra bowler, it was left to players in the squad. Pacer Navdeep Saini bowled extremely well
However, Rohit Sharma’s men Pollard and Hardik Pandya. Morgan to prop up the total. in their first game (against SRH). So, I will be interested to see
Jofra Archer celebrates with his Rajasthan Royals teammates after taking wicket of KKR batsman Shubman Gill IPLT20.com
failed to cross the line against A major cause of their progress in the tournament,” Dilip told IANS.
RCB. concern for them will PTI n DUBAI
MUSTAFIZUR REGRETS IPL MISS
Similarly, after losing to
Delhi Capitals in their open-
be pace ace Jaspirt
Bumrah’s inconsisten- olkata Knight Riders found Sanju will play all formats for India soon: Warne Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman rues missing out on
er, KXIP came back strong-
ly to register their first points
by defeating RCB. But, despite
cy. The speedster has
picked up only three
wickets in as
K a fast and furious Jofra
Archer too hot to handle as
they were restricted to 174 for six
PTI n NEW DELHI think you will see him represent-
ing India in all forms of the game,”
playing in the IPL and the perks that come with it after the
postponement of his national team's tour of Sri Lanka amid the
Covid-19 pandemic. “It would have been great to play the Test
series. Sri Lanka's proposal to have us quarantined for 14 days
a fabulous batting dis- m a n y by Rajasthan Royals in their IPL f all the talented cricketers that Warne told PTI.
play, they lost to
Rajasthan.
games and
has failed to
match here on Wednesday.
Archer (2/18) hit the deck
O Shane Warne has seen over
the years, Sanju Samson is the one
The legendary Australian is
impressed with Samson’s maturi-
didn't seem possible for us,” Mustafizur told Cricbuzz. “You can't
sit in your room before such an important series, no matter how
KXIP have failed make the hard and clocked the fastest deliv- that strikes him as “something else” ty and his evolution as a batsman, hard you train. BCB tried, but the 14-day quarantine is their law.
to tighten the screws kind of ery of the tournament (152.1 and the Rajasthan Royals mentor who is taking way more responsi- I think we should respect it. “If the BCB knew that the Sri Lanka
when it mattered impact that kph) in a fiery spell, taking two feels that the big-hitting batsman bility in this edition. series would be postponed, they would have given me the NOC
most. In their two is expected key wickets of KKR — in-form would become an India regular in “He’s (Samson) such a talent- for IPL. But whatever happens, happens for the best. I may have
losses, they were in from a bowler earned Bangladesh Taka 1 crore had I played the IPL,” he added.
opener Shubman Gill (47 from 34 all formats if this IPL goes well for ed player. I have seen a lot of tal-
a good position but of his calibre. balls) and skipper Dinesh Karthik him. ented cricketers in my time but
could not grab the Mumbai, (1) — after the Royals opted to The clamour to have the enor- watching Samson bat in the nets, WE WERE OUTPLAYED: PONTING
Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting had no qualms in admitting
moments. though, will field. mously gifted Kerala batsman being around him, speaking to
that they were “outplayed” in all departments against SRH and
Their bowling have the psy- With Archer triggering a mid- play regularly for the national mer Royals captain and brand him over the years and now
refused to blame the pitch, saying it played better when his team
looked out of sorts chological innings collapse, the big-hitting team has grown over the years and ambassador, believes the day is not watching him evolve, I mean he is
batted. “I don't think the conditions were that different. The
against Rajasthan as advantage hav- Andre Russell (24 from 14) too knocks of 74 (32 balls) and 85 (42 far away. something else,” he said. grounds are bigger, there are bigger square boundaries in Dubai.
they failed to defend a ing played a was dismissed cheaply and it was balls) for RR in the ongoing IPL “I hope Sanju has a consistent “He is a very special talent and (But) At the end of the day, we were just outplayed by Sunrisers
big total with Rahul game in Abu left to England World Cup-win- have only amplified the noise. tournament this year. If he has a I hope he hit the international stage Hyderabad,” Ponting said at the post-match conference. “We
Tewatia hitting pacer Dhabi before. ning skipper Eoin Morgan (23- Warne, the IPL-winning for- consistent tournament this year, I very soon,” added Warne. were a little bit off from our absolute best. SRH had good top-
order partnerships and they rotated the strike well, and a few of
them made big scores. So, that was the difference in the game,”

Can’t allow Rahul to score: Bond Women’s

PTI n ABU DHABI
Challenger
series from Nov 4-9 line-up.
the Australian great added.

DHONI TO PRODUCE SCI-FI WEB-SERIES

umbai Indians bowling coach Shane
M Bond on Wednesday said Kings XI
Punjab skipper K L Rahul would be his
team’s prime target in their upcoming clash
and called the opener a dynamic batsman,
capable of scoring around the field.
Kings XI openers Rahul and Mayank
Agarwal are enjoying a superb run in the
ongoing IPL, leading the run-scorers’ tally
with 222 and 221 runs respectively, includ-
ing one century and a fifty each.
And Bond very well understands the
importance of stopping the duo on
Thursday, insisting that early wickets would
be key to success for the title-holders.
“KL Rahul has got runs against us in the
last few games and he is a brilliant player.
We are having our bowlers’ meeting this
afternoon, in terms of our planning for our
opponents who are playing well. KL is a
dynamic player, who scores all around the
field,” the former Kiwi pacer said.
“We also know that he (Rahul) takes his
time generally through the middle overs, so
that’s perhaps an opportunity to create some
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal IPLT20.com
pressure on him and the batsmen around
him.
“We will have specific ideas about how
we can get him out. In the end, we can’t allow
him (Rahul) to score in the areas he is very,
very strong. He scores well over extra-cover,
picks up over fine-leg.”
Bond stressed that MI has the potential
to restrict the marauding Kings XI’s batting
“We have got a quality bowling unit, we
just have to put pressure on them. Mind you,
the two key batters for Kings XI Punjab
played brilliantly so far.
“If we can create some pressure and get
those boys out early, and put some little bit
more pressure on that middle-order early,
we can restrict them to a score, stop them
from scoring (big) runs,” he said.
Bond said having already played two out
of their three matches in Abu Dhabi so far,
MI are well-versed with the conditions of
the ground.
“We are reasonably confident with our
batting line-up. They have put up good runs
on the board so far and we are a tough bat-
ting order to stop. We have played on this
ground twice and so we sort of know what
to expect with the conditions, so that
should help us a bit,” he said.
He also said that Tuesday's match
between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi
Capitals has indicated that the wickets might
slow down as the tournament moves on, but
the bowlers need to be accurate with their
line and lengths.
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni, who forayed in the
entertainment industry with a documentary as producer last year,
will next be backing a mythological sci-fi web-series. The
NEW DELHI : The much-awaited Neetu David, which has now been
Challenger series, popularly known as
women’s mini IPL, will be held in the
entrusted to pick the three squads.
It is expected that the teams will
cricketer's wife Sakshi Dhoni, who is the managing director of
the production house, said the upcoming series is a “thrilling
adventure”.
United Arab Emirates from be flying to the UAE by the second
November 4 to 9, a senior IPL offi- week of October and will undergo a
cial confirmed the development on six-day mandatory quarantine peri-
Wednesday. od on arrival.
“Yes, the dates of the tournament “The girls haven’t had training for
have been finalised. It will be held such a long time and they would need
from November 4 to 9. There will be to be given adequate time for net prac-
single round robin league between the
three teams Trailblazers, Velocity
tice,” the source said.
It is expected that all three teams
POINTS TABLE
and Supernovas along with the final. will have more Indian girls this time P W L NRR PTS
In all four matches will be held,” a considering the fact that for health
senior IPL official told PTI. safety reasons, teams need to carry 1 RR 2 2 0 +0.615 4
“The final has been slotted on more players. 2 DC 3 2 1 +0.483 4
November 9 as we didn’t want to Also top players from Australia
schedule on the the day of the men’s and England will not be available due 3 RCB 3 2 1 -1.450 4
final. There is enormous interest for to the Women’s Big Bash League, 4 KXIP 3 1 2 +1.498 2
the women’s event and its only com- where they have already signed prior
mercially prudent that it is separated contracts. 5 MI 3 1 2 +0.654 2
from men’s event,” the official said. The four matches are likely to be 6 SRH 3 1 2 -0.228 2
Only last week, the BCCI has held in Sharjah or Dubai considering
announced the new women selection that Abu Dhabi has separate quaran- 7 KKR 2 1 1 -0.767 2
panel under former left-arm spinner tine rules. PTI 8 CSK 3 1 2 -0.840 2

Perfect penalties
Spurs shootout Chelsea to reach
League Cup quarters
AP n LONDON
ottenham staged a second-
T half comeback before elim-
inating Chelsea on penalties to
reach the quarterfinals of the
League Cup.
The first nine penalties were
all successfully converted before
Chelsea’s Mason Mount missed
the target to ensure Tottenham
advanced 5-4 in the shootout
after the game ended 1-1.
Tottenham, playing its sec-
ond of three games in a four-day
span, was completely over-
whelmed by Chelsea in a first
half when Timo Werner scored
his first goal for the west
London club.
Sergio Reguilón gave the
ball away on his Tottenham
debut at left back before Werner
scored in the 19th minute. But
the recruit from Real Madrid
made amends in the second half
when Jose Mourinho’s side was
transformed, showing the threat
missing before the break.
Reguilón chipped the ball
over for Erik Lamela, who got
ahead of Emerson Palmieri to
net the equalizer in the 83rd
minute past goalkeeper
Edouard Mendy, who was
making his debut in the
Chelsea goal.
No extra time is played in
the League Cup, so the game
went straight to penalties and
Tottenham scored all its spot
kicks in a shootout without the
usual pressure coming from
the stands.
Srikanth, Saina
Serena pulls out of French Open receive decent draws
AP n PARIS PTI n ODENSE
French Open (Day 5)
Sforaying she is “struggling to walk,”
Serena Williams ended her latest bid
Live from 2:15pm IST
STAR SPORTS 2 NETWORK
Nadal, Wawrinka march on O lympic hopefuls Kidambi
Srikanth and Saina Nehwal
a 24th Grand Slam title and AFP n PARIS a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) victory over were on Wednesday handed decent
withdrew from the French “We kind of both thought about it and American qualifier Jack Sock. draws at the Denmark Open Super
Open before her second- we decided it wasn’t the best for efending champion Rafael Nadal The Austrian third seed will play 750 tournament which will mark the
D
round match on
Wednesday because of
an injured Achilles heel.
Williams hurt her-
me to try and play today.”
This is Williams’ earliest
exit at any Grand Slam tourna-
ment since a second-round loss in
took another step closer to a 13th
Roland Garros title while US Open
winner Dominic Thiem swept into the
third round at Roland Garros on
Norway’s Casper Ruud, seeded 28th, or
American Tommy Paul for a place in
the last 16 in Paris.
“I’m very happy with my game in
restart of the adjusted international
calendar after a coronavirus-forced
hiatus of seven months.
Former world number one Saina
self during her semifi-
nal loss at the US Open
Paris in 2014.
She also pulled out of the
Wednesday.
Second seed Nadal claimed a 6-1,
the first two rounds. It was not an easy
draw at all and I’m very happy not to
and Srikanth will resume their hunt
for valuable ranking points to inch
three weeks ago and
said she hasn’t had
French Open in 2018 prior to what
would have been a fourth-round
6-0, 6-3 win over Mackenzie McDonald
of the United States. It was his 95th
drop a set,” said Thiem, who defeated
2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic in
closer to their Tokyo Olympics
dreams when the $750,000 tourna-
“enough time to proper- match against Maria Sharapova, career win at the tournament and next round one. ment, the only event to take place
ly heal” and needs “four citing a pulled muscle in her faces either Kei Nishikori of Japan or Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 champi- since the All England
to six weeks of sitting, chest. Italy’s Stefano Travaglia for a place in on, shrugged off the Paris sonic boom Championship, begins on October
doing nothing.”
The sudden
That was Williams’ first
major tournament back on
the last 16.
Nadal didn’t face a break point in
incident mid-match as he comfortably
beat Dominik Koepfer of Germany 6-
13.
Srikanth, a Rio Olympics quar-
announcement tour after having a baby. Wednesday’s tie and hit 31 winners, 3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on Court Suzanne terfinalist, will open against
came roughly an She would go on to looking in ominous form as he stepped Lenglen. He had beaten fellow three- England’s Toby Penty and may face
hour before the reach the finals at four up his pursuit of Roger Federer’s 20 time Grand Slam champion Andy fellow Indian Subhankar Dey in the
39-year-old American of the next six Slams, major titles. Murray in the first round. second round. Subhankar will take
was supposed to head out losing each time, as “The aim was to play as well as pos- Sebastian Korda, the son of 1992 on Canada’s Jason Anthony Ho-Shue
onto Court Philippe she tries to add to sible. I’m very happy. I have another dif- Roland Garros runner-up and 1998 in the first round.
Chatrier to face Tsvetana her profession- ficult match next,” said Nadal. Australian Open champion Petr Korda, The world number 14 Indian, a
Pironkova. al-era record Thiem had to save three set points also progressed after a four-sets victo- title-winner here in 2017, may face
Williams said it is of 23 major late in the match but progressed with ry over fellow American John Isner. second-seed Chou Tien Chen of
“more than likely” she will singles trophies Taiwan in the quarterfinals if he can
not play another tourna- and equal It was in the third set of that match Now the question becomes when register two wins in the earlier
ment in 2020. She said she Margaret Court’s that Williams stretched her Achilles dur- the world will see Williams compete rounds.
tried warming up for the all-era mark. ing a point and then leaned over, next. For world number 20 Saina,
match but knew she wasn’t Earlier this month in New York, clutched at her lower left leg and asked “I think I need four to six weeks of France’s Yaelle Hoyaux awaits her in
able to compete. She spoke Williams made it to the semifinals for a trainer. She took a medical time- sitting and doing nothing,” she said the women’s singles opener and she
to coach Patrick before bowing out 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 out for a tape job and continued to play Wednesday. “At least two weeks of just is likely to meet local favourite Mia
Mouratoglou and, she said, against Victoria Azarenka. but was unable to pull off a win. sitting down.” Blichfeldt, seventh seed, next.
 12

Vijayawada Thursday October 1 2020

tollywood
BUNNY to kick-off Priyamani to play
an IG rank officer
in Touchriver’s

Pushpa with action? fter shooting in plan. And now after 11

F
next
ilmmaker Rajesh Touchriver,
who is making a crime thriller
based on the life of the notori-
ous criminal ‘Cyanide’ Mohan,
a physical education instruc-
tor in Karnataka who killed 20

A
Athirappilly
forests, Kerala for
six days last
November with
Shatru and
Jagadish (Gods of
Dharmapuri fame), Sukumar
couldn’t continue with the
shoot of Pushpa as planned
this year due to varied rea-
sons, with the outbreak of
COVID-19 being the prima-
ry reason. The director toyed
with the idea of shooting in
Maredumilli and
Rampachodavaram forests
near Rajahmundry a couple
of months ago but with coro-
navirus cases spiking
in AP, he had to
abort the
months, he has swung back
into action.
With the film set to
resume principal shoot next
month in Kerala, Sukumar
and his team are rehearsing
action sequences. According
to reports, he has conceived a
couple of massive action
sequences to be filmed in
Kerala for a month and as a
part of the prep, his team is
rehearsing at Aluminum
Factory, Lingampally right
now. Started a couple of days
ago, the practice session will
go on for another day.
Sukumar is filming the por-
tions and after going
through the footage, he will
check if the sequences need
creative push further. Peter
Heins and Ram-Laxman
duo will choreograph the
action sequences in Kerala.
A text to Y Ravi
Shankar, one of the part-
ners of Mythri Movie
Makers, for a confirmation
didn’t elicit response until
press time.
Set in the backdrop of
Seshachalam forests, Pushpa
deals with red sanders smug-
gling and will see Bunny as a
truck driver who converses
Balu garu would get along
in typical Chittoor accent. To
be shot in Telugu and later
dubbed into Hindi, Tamil,
with people of different age
Kannada and Malayalam, the
film, a Devi Sri Prasad musi-
cal, sees Jagapathi Babu,
Brahmaji, Raj Deepak
groups effortlessly: Anup
Shetty, Dhananjay
young women by giving them
cyanide, has signed on Priyamani to
headline it. She will be seen as a spe-
cial investigation officer with an IG
rank, who probes the case, film’s pro-
ducer Pradeep Narayanan said on
Wednesday.
To be shot in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil,
Malayalam and Kannada at the same
time, with a mix of actors like
Rohini, Chittaranjan Giri, Tanikella
Bharani, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Shiju,
Shaju, Sriman, Mukundan, Sameer
and Sanju Sivram and Riju Bajaj from
the five languages, the film will roll
in January next year. It would be shot
across Hyderabad, Mangalore, Goa,
Madikeri, Kodagu and Kasargod.
Sadat Sainudeen, who worked with
Kamal Haasan on Vishwaroopam and
Uttama Villain, is the film’s director of
photography, while Padma Shri awardee
Sunitha Krishnan is acting as the con-
cept advisor. George Joseph from
Bollywood has been signed on to score
the music and background score. Ravi
Punnam is penning the Telugu version’s
dialogues.
omposer Anup Rubens,

C
and Kannada who is continuing to receive
Kishore in sup- good feedback for his work
porting roles, in Orey… Bujjigaa, is
while Rashmika delighted that after watch-
Mandanna is ing thrillers and murder
the leading mysteries on OTT platforms due to the
lady. lockdown, the audience can now enjoy
a fun family entertainer like Orey…
Bujjigaa on Telugu streamer aha from
today. “The people who’ve enjoyed
Gundejaari Gallanthayyinde will enjoy
this film as well. It’s a nicely packaged
film with humour and romance in
equal measure,” he says.
This is the composer’s third film
with director Vijay Konda and he

Dil points out that the latter is like a

brother to him. “He makes full-on
entertainers but his films always had
scope for music. That’s the advantage
Raju's of working with him. Plus, all the
songs in Orey… Bujjigaa are situation-
al,” he states, noting that Ee maya

Shaadi peremito and Krishnaveni are his

favourite numbers from the sound-
track. “Raj Tarun aced the dance
moves in Krishnaveni number. I did-
Mubarak n’t expect him to dance this good.”
Anup’s another composition Neeli
neeli akasam from 30 Rojullo
he filming of Dil Preminchadam Ela has been a chart-

T Paagal to be
Raju’s brand new buster. Released earlier this year, the
production ven- number, crooned by Sid Sriram
ture, Shaadi
Mubarak, featur-
ing Mogalirekulu
shot in Hyd and and Sunitha, has attained a mas-
sive fan base. “I’ve got loads of
messages in appreciation of it. ferent age groups effortlessly. You
fame Sagar and newbie
Drishya Raghunath in
Puducherry In fact, some people said that
despite hearing 25 times a day,
interact with him for some time and
you’ll have a memory to cherish. He
the lead roles, is over. aunched in March earlier this year, they never got bored of it. After had that magic in him. As a singer, he

L
Directed by Padmasri the filming of Paagal, starring Manam, this was the first time would record his songs just in an hour.
Reddy, the film’s first Vishwak Sen in the titular role, will that a song of mine has cut There won’t be any complaints with his
look was unveiled by Sri commence after Dasara. Speaking extreme positive appreciation from rendition. Before he records a song, he
Venkateswara Creations to The Pioneer, film’s producer all corners,” he states with glee. would ask the composers to mail the
on Wednesday. Bekkem Venugopal said they’ve Anup is slowly coming to terms lyrics so that he can run through them.
Made as an out-and- used the lockdown time to enhance the script with the passing away of celebrated Many singers of present generation
out entertainer with the further. “I believe we have a winner in hand. singer SP Balasubrahmanyam. The land in studios and record songs. But
sole purpose being to The film is an emotional love story and the tunesmith recorded some devotional he believed in rehearsals. That was his
dish out full-on laughs, script has shaped up well. It will be shot in albums with the legend in the past. dedication despite recording thousands
the makers are planning Hyderabad and Puducherry,” he said. “The unique trait of Balu sir was that of songs. He was like a father figure to
to release the film short- According to a source, the producer has he would get along with the whole south music industry,”
ly. The post-production roped in Nivetha Pethuraj to be cast opposite people of dif- he sighs.
work is presently in full- Vishwak in the film. Clarifying about it, he
swing. stated, “The heroine hasn’t been finalised yet.
The likes of Aditi, There has been a delay due to the present cir-

Kiss girl
Jhansi, Hema, Rajasri cumstances but we hope to announce the
Nair, Priyadarshi Ram, other cast details shortly.”
Hemanth, Shatru, Debutant director Naressh Kuppili has
Bhadram, Madhu assembled a strong technical team for the
Nandan and Ajay Ghosh project. While Manikandan, who shot Hit,

stages a comeback
have played supporting will be the cinematographer, Radhan is on
roles in the film, a Sunil board to compose music. Garry has been
Kashyap musical. signed on as the editor.

to Telugu
e were the first to inform joined the ongoing schedule in

W
you (Sept 15) that streamer
aha has tapped Praveen
Sattaru to direct a corpo-
rate thriller series for
them. The director later
roped in Tamannaah and Adith
Arun to front it. To this end, the
latest is that Priya Banerjee, who
made her film debut with Adivi
Sesh-starrer Kiss (2013), is
staging a comeback to Telugu
with the series. She will be
playing a role with dark
shade. It is believed
that she has
already
Hyderabad.
The as-yet-untitled web series has
been conceived by a Mumbai-based
production house Intro Films headed
by Pradeep Uppalapati, son of
Uppalapati Narayana Rao, who
directed films like Rakshana, Allari
Police, Veedu Samanyudu Kadhu
in the ’90s. A Hyderabad-set
drama, it will unfold in eight
episodes, with each episode
running into 30 minutes.
Srikanth Iyengar, Shatru
and Vizag Vamsi are
playing support-
ing roles.