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NEARBY
24 COVID19 patients in Nashik Centre steps in to restore
die without oxygen as gas leaks oxygen supplies to Delhi ‘24/7 control team will mediate disputes between States’
Maharashtra sees record
Valve malfunction in hospital led to the leakage, says State Health Minister
Special Correspondent
high of 568 deaths Special Correspondent NEW DELHI/GURUGRAM
PUNE Pune Oxygen stocks at several hos
In its secondhighest
At least 24 COVID19 patients pitals in the national capital
singleday jump thus far,
on life support died after a dipped to alarming lows fol
Maharashtra reported
67,468 new COVID19 cases
leak in a medical oxygen lowing disruption of supplies
on Wednesday, taking the tank disrupted the supply of from Haryana on Wednesday.
active case tally to 6,95,747. the gas at Dr. Zakir Hussain Supplies were restored by
An alltime high fatality spike Hospital in Nashik, Maha late evening after interven
of 568 deaths pushed the rashtra, on Wednesday. tion by the Centre.
death toll to 61,911. Pune Attributing the leak to a Union Health Secretary Ra
district reported over 10,800 valve malfunction, State jesh Bhushan said, “The pro
new cases, while Mumbai Health Minister Rajesh Tope blem regarding Haryana and
recorded 7,654 new cases. said a highlevel inquiry had Delhi has been resolved.” Gasping for air: A relative of a COVID19 patient carrying an
WEST A PAGE 5 been ordered to ascertain if Hospitals in Haryana too empty oxygen cylinder for refi lling in New Delhi. PTI *
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD negligence had caused the might be staring at oxygen
tragedy. shortages soon, Chief Secre tral govt has increased Delhi’s plier of liquid oxygen in
38 inmates of Byculla Sources said the events tary Vijai Vardhan said. quota of oxygen. We are very Faridabad that the Harya
jail test positive unfolded around 10 a.m. “There is a 24/7 control grateful to centre for this.” na government was not al
MUMBAI
Tragedy unfolds: Medical oxygen leaking out of a storage unit at Dr. Zakir Hussain Municipal
when the tank was being re Hospital in Nashik on Wednesday. PTI * team by the Centre that will The disruption in supplies lowing to supply oxygen
Jyoti Jagtap, accused in the
fi lled after the oxygen level mediate in disputes between from Haryana was preceded outside the State”. Sumit
BhimaKoregaon violence
went down. The massive ics,” he said in a statement. tried to fi x the valve when at a hospital in Nashik be the States on supply of oxy by a tweet by Health Minister Ray, the hospital’s head of
case, and Indrani Mukerjea,
prime accused in the Sheena
leak caused disruption in the Mr. Thackeray said the low pressure caused the cause of oxygen tank leakage gen…. We are in a pandemic Anil Vij, who said a tanker the Department of Critical
Bora murder case, have vital oxygen supply for at tragedy showed the need to leakage,” he said. is heartwrenching. An and there will be diff erences carrying oxygen for a hospital Care, said the hospital had
tested COVID19 positive least halfanhour. A fi re bri be careful in the struggle “Currently, the other pa guished by the loss of lives that crop up between the in Faridabad in the State had stock that would last only
among 38 other inmates in gade team had to be rushed against the pandemic. “We tients are being supplied ox due to it. Condolences to the States on oxygen supply,” Mr. been “looted” by the Delhi until 11 a.m. on Thursday.
the Byculla jail. They have all to the spot to contain the have been facing the pan ygen from the repaired tank. bereaved families in this sad Bhushan said. There was a government on Tuesday. “Al At 4 p.m., the St. Ste
been kept in a quarantine leak. demic for more than a year They are in a stable condi hour,” he tweeted. committee for every hospital, so, pressure is being mount phen’s Hospital had oxy
centre at Patankar School. now and the available doc tion, as per medical authori Union Home Minister and guidelines on appro ed on us to supply oxygen to gen stock for two hours,
NEWS A PAGE 10
157 patients tors and medical staff are ties,” Mr. Mandhare said. Amit Shah and Congress priate management of oxy Delhi, but we will supply only which was replenished
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Mr. Tope said 157 patients working day and night to Chaotic scenes erupted leader Rahul Gandhi also gen, he said. “Green corri if we have spare oxygen. Our just in time. An executive
were undergoing treatment save lives of patients… Such on the hospital premises as condoled the deaths of the dors have been set up to fi rst priority is Haryana.” at the Apollo Hospital said
Door-to-door vaccination at the hospital, of whom 61 incidents should not happen fraught relatives of patients patients. Mr. Gandhi urged ensure smooth passage of ox Hours later, the Delhi its oxygen would last till
not possible: Centre to HC were in a critical condition in the future. The adminis converged on the scene of the Maharashtra govern ygen trucks.” based Holy Family Hospital late night on Wednesday
MUMBAI
and required oxygen. tration will have to work ve the tragedy. They accused ment to provide all assis Delhi Chief Minister Ar authorities said they had but that supplies were ex
The Central government
Maharashtra Chief Minis ry carefully to prevent any the Nashik Municipal Corpo tance to the aff ected. vind Kejriwal tweeted, “Cen been informed by the “sup pected in time.
told the Bombay High Court
ter Uddhav Thackeray, ex such occurrences that could ration authorities of not giv The tragedy comes at a
on Wednesday that
doortodoor vaccination
pressing grief over the inci erode the morale of the ing them proper information time when Maharashtra, the
dent, announced a thorough health personnel,” Mr. on the mishap. worsthit State in India in
Covaxin phase 3 trial shows
against the COVID19
was not possible as it inquiry. “The kin of every Thackeray said. terms of COVID19 cases and
is expected to lead to patient who died will receive Nashik Collector Suraj PM ‘anguished’ fatalities, is reeling under an
contamination and wastage. compensation of ₹ 5 lakh. I Mandhare said the tank be Prime Minister Narendra acute shortage of oxygen.
NEWS A PAGE 10
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
appeal to the people not to
indulge in any kind of polit
longed to a private vendor.
“Apparently, technicians
Modi expressed anguish ov
er the incident. “The tragedy CONTINUED ON A PAGE 8
vaccine has 78% effi cacy
The analysis was on a data set of 127 positive volunteers
Maharashtra
govt. tightens
Very few postvaccine infections: ICMR Jacob Koshy
NEW DELHI
mercially available. Ranking
by reported effi cacy gives re
In a press briefi ng on
Wednesday, Balram Bharga
The effi cacy of Covaxin has lative risk reductions of 95% va, DirectorGeneral, ICMR,
restrictions Council says such ‘breakthrough’ cases do not undermine the effi cacy of shots dropped a tad lower to 78% for Pfi zerBioNTech vaccine, furnished data to show that
from the 81% reported in 94% for the Moderna shot, four in 10,000 of those who
Staff Reporter SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT cines, have been reported March. 90% for Sputnik V, and 67% had been inoculated with
Mumbai New Delhi globally, including in India. On Wednesday, Bharat each for the J&J and AstraZe Covaxin went on to test pos
The Maharashtra govern The Indian Council of Medi “This is roughly around Biotech, in a press release, necaOxford vaccines, ac itive.
ment on Wednesday tight cal Research on Wednesday two in 10,000 and is a very, announced results from an cording to a review article in “Even if it had been fi ve or
ened restrictions in the said only a “small” fraction very small fraction. We have interim analysis of its phase the Lancet Microbe. 10 per 10,000, it wouldn’t be
State in an attempt to curb of people who had been vac seen similar rates of reinfec 3 trial. The effi cacy against The safety and effi cacy re a cause for worry because
the rising number of CO cinated with either Covaxin tion internationally, too, severe COVID19 disease was sults from the fi nal analysis the objective of the vaccine
VID19 cases. As per the or Covishield had tested pos from the use of other vac 100%, the company said, but will be available in June, and is to protect against severe
new guidelines, govern itive for COVID19. However, cines,” said V.K. Paul, Chair that against protecting from the fi nal report will be sub disease, and we have de
ment offi ces will function these instances of “break man, National Expert Group asymptomatic COVID19 in mitted to a peerreviewed monstrated that in protect
with 15% attendance, but through” infections did not on Vaccination that oversees fection was 70%. publication. “Based on the ing against severe disease it
emergency services deal undermine the effi cacy of the COVID19 management The analysis was on a data achievement of the success is 100%,” a senior scientist
ing with management of the vaccines. strategy. set of 127 COVID19 positive criteria, placebo recipients from Bharat Biotech, who
the pandemic will be ex “These vaccines defi nite When comparing patterns volunteers. have now become eligible to declined to be identifi ed,
empted from this rule. ly, defi nitely protect against of infection and mortality in Effi cacy, a measure of risk receive two doses of Covax told The Hindu.
All other offi ces can disease. However, the im ceived the second dose, 695 were as a population far the fi rst and second waves of reduction from a vaccine, in,” Bharat Biotech said in a
function with 15% strength mune response begins to de tested positive. more exposed to the virus the pandemic, a slight per varies among vaccines com statement. CONTINUED ON A PAGE 8
or fi ve people, whichever is velop usually two weeks af For Covishield, of the and therefore, more suscep centage increase in cases
more, the notifi cation said. ter every dose and there are 100.3 million who received tible. Second, the emer among those in the age
Private passenger buses variations within indivi the fi rst dose, 17,145 tested gence of “the highly trans group of 1020 is seen in the
can ply only for emergency duals, too. Even after the positive; of the 15 million missible second wave current wave — 8.5% com
services and at 50% of the fi rst dose, if exposure to the who got the second dose, (newer variants)” may have pared with 8.07% earlier.
seating capacity. virus happens, one can test 5,014 tested postive. contributed to instances of There is an increase in cases
Weddings can take place positive,” Balram Bhargava, infection among those vacci among those in the 4070
only with 25 people in at DirectorGeneral, ICMR, Key reasons nated. Several variants, age group from the previous
tendance in a single hall. said. Two key reasons for this, Dr. which have mutations that wave, and the same fraction
The ceremony shall not ex Of the 9.3 million who re Bhargava said, were that have been shown to avoid of those in the 3040 age
ceed two hours and viola ceived the fi rst dose of Co healthcare and frontline detection by the immune group persists.
tion of the rule will attract vaxin, 4,208 tested positive; workers, who were among system and in some cases,
a fi ne of ₹ 50,000. and of the 1.7 million who re the fi rst to be vaccinated, reduce the effi cacy of vac CONTINUED ON A PAGE 8
India adds 2.57 lakh cases, 1,533 deaths SII fi xes price
for Covishield
Maharashtra reported 67,468 infections, while Uttar Pradesh saw 33,214 new cases special correspondent
New Delhi
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT er number of tests conduct From May 1, Serum Insti
Chennai
ed on a single day in the tute of India will sell its CO
India recorded 2,57,002 new country. VID19 vaccine, Covishield,
COVID19 cases as of 9.15 This is the fi rst instance to the States at ₹ 400 a dose
p.m. on Wednesday. As ma when the number of daily and to private hospitals at
ny as 1,533 deaths were also tests crossed the 16 lakh ₹ 600 a dose, its chief exec
recorded on the day. mark. utive offi cer, Adar Poona
The country has so far re wala, said in a statement
ported a total of 1,58,66,256 Trailing U.S. on Wednesday.
cases and 1,84,104 deaths. Only the United States has The vaccines, however,
The fi gures do not include recorded a higher number of would not be sold in retail
cases and deaths in Delhi, Bi cases on a single day than In for four or fi ve months,
har, Chhattisgarh, Jhark dia. On January 2, 2021, the and corporates and private
hand, Assam, Sikkim, Tripu U.S. reported 3,00,310 new individuals could in the
ra, Arunachal Pradesh and infections, its highest single meantime only get these
Ladakh. The data are day spike. Other countries vaccines from “statefacili
sourced from covid19in- with signifi cantly high sin tated machinery”, the
dia.org, an independent ag gleday spikes are Brazil with statement added.
gregator of daily COVID19 33,214 new infections and deaths, while Gujarat regis 1,00,158 cases on March 25, Covishield constitutes
fi gures. Karnataka with 23,558 new tered 125 new casualties. 2021; the U.K. with 68,192 over 90% of India’s vaccine
Maharashtra reported cases. As many as 16,39,357 sam cases on January 8, 2021; and supply and is learnt to be
67,468 infections, account Maharashtra also record ples were tested in India on Turkey with 63,082 cases on sold to the Centre at ₹ 150
ing for nearly 27% of the new ed the most casualties (568) Tuesday (results of which April 16, 2021. ₹ 200 a dose.
cases, on Wednesday, fol on Wednesday. Uttar Pra were made available on
lowed by Uttar Pradesh with desh followed with 187 new Wednesday), the highestev CONTINUED ON A PAGE 8 CONTINUED ON A PAGE 8
CM M BM-BME
YK
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I’ll see you
:: esha modi sents to another and on Christ
mas Eve, unwrapped them to
It’s been a year since I joined col gether while guessing who it was
lege, and I haven’t once stepped from. “Whenever it is someone’s
soon?
into my classroom. I haven’t run birthday, or the end of an exam,
across the campus, I haven’t or a festival, we party online.
whiled away afternoons over sa- Everyone grabs some snacks and
mosas at the canteen, I haven’t something to drink. We synchro
conspired a mass bunk in the nise our virtual backgrounds
back benches. All my classmates and this one friend plays the DJ
are in tiny boxes on a screen in and makes us dance,” says
my lap. Khushiyaa Taleda from Chennai.
Can you be friends with some
one you have never met, but Cross country for you
spent over 100 hours talking to? At Chennai’s Loyola College, the
It is a strange idea of friendship, There are no shared tiffi ns or dorms this party was not virtual. Before the
one that us fi rstyear college stu second surge, the situation
dents have been perplexed by,
year. Yet, friendships are blossoming over seemed stable. The fi rst year
ever since we enrolled in 2020. crosscountry Secret Santas, socially batch planned an informal fresh
A year into the COVID pan er’s day in March 2021. Of the 26
demic, this is the new college ex
distanced walks and Zoom dance parties. people that made it, 15 were
perience. What seemed like a This is the new college experience from Chennai. The rest fl ew in
stopgap measure in 2020, on New old friends: (Clockwise from from Delhi and Kerala, and other
line classes have changed the above) The writer when she fi rst parts of Tamil Nadu such as Sa
way 17 and 18yearolds are ap spend some time in real life. away from the stilted formality met her MOP Vaishnav College lem, Coimbatore and Erode.
proaching new friendships. “It didn’t feel like I was meet of Zoom classes. In afterschool friends; students from Stella Hosted at Level Up in Amini
For many teenagers, college is ing them for the fi rst time be icebreaker sessions, party Maris on a beach hangout and jikarai, they met the faces they
their fi rst window into adult life. cause I already knew so much games like ‘2 truths and 1 lie’ at a cafe. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
*
had only ever seen on Zoom
The homogeneity of schools about them,” says Vedant. helped get them more comforta calls, muddling through awk
gives way as they meet people “I didn’t expect the fi rst year ble. When they did fi nally meet, each other safely. The girls hope from online classes. Making Ting workouts in the day, with ward introductions. A twisted
from a wider variety of back of college to be like this even in it was at college while submitting to eventually be able to meet up friends had never been an issue these very newfound friends. version of Bingo to crown a Mr.
grounds. The hours and hours my wildest dreams. But once their documents. Spotting and as a class at least once a month — for the selfproclaimed extrov When Mitali came to visit her Fresher soon warmed things up.
spent together in libraries, hos you fi nd the right people — on recognising maskcovered faces at cafes, restaurants or the ert, but she adds, “I was very friends in Chennai for the fi rst The boys, joined by their se
tels and dive bars result in a life line or offl ine, everything works that they had only so far seen on beach. “It’s such a tough time sceptical about how genuine vir time, she stayed at her best niors, headed over to a private
time of infl uential alumni net itself out,” says Ayushi Jain, an their screens was like a game in but having each other’s back tual friends could even be.” friend’s house, whom she had villa on ECR and stayed up the
works and friendships. 18yearold studying Economics itself, says Ayushi. through it all helps,” she says. What she did not foresee was just met, for two days. Because, entire night, talking. When they
Could this experience be just at MOP Vaishnav College in She and Chetana have now Back in 2020, Salembased that she would be bingewatch she eventually discovered that as left the next day, they were un
the same on a single computer Chennai. The girls in her batch, started to coordinate their Mithali Surana, a 1st year BBA ing romcoms till 2.30 a.m. every diffi cult as it is making friends sure if they would ever meet
screen? I ask others in the same she says, cherish a close bond — morning walks so they can meet student had zero expectations other night and practising Chloe online, the more real is the con again in person.
boat as me. surprising, as a majority of them nection for it requires that much Cut to the second wave of the
had not met each other despite greater time and eff ort. pandemic, and now with Mum
A digital family being in the same city. Just ask the fi rstyear students bai under a crippling load of pos
In the past year, over group pro “Initially, it was funny know of ISDI, Mumbai. In the class of itive cases, the ISDI batch can
jects, assignments, and Zoom ing your new best friend lives 28 people, everyone is scattered only dream of meeting their
classes, Vedant Dugar found a only 15 minutes away and you across 22 States, including Guja friends from other cities. They
close bond with his classmates still can’t meet her,” says Ayushi rat, West Bengal, Delhi, Harya wonder out loud how they
from Mumbai, Gurugram and of her friend, Chetana Boothra, na, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Kar would react when they do. Dra
Kolkata. Often, their days would who like her, lives in T Nagar. nataka, and more. matic gushing? Sprinting? Bear
begin by waking each other up Long calls for work eventually That did not stop 13 of them hugs? “If we meet.. No, wait not
for attendance. By February turned into lighter conversation from playing a crosscountry Se ‘if ’, when we meet it’s going to
2021, they decided to fl y down to and fostered deeper, meaningful cret Santa last December. In a be a full Bollywood kind of run
Mumbai, even though their col relationships. But to help break sisterhood of travelling gifts, and hug,” says Khushiyaa, "And I
lege was still shut, to fi nally the ice, they fi rst had to move everyone couriered their pre can’t wait.”
Spotting the elusive big cat
Photographer Ismail Shariff tells us how to pick out a snow leopard in its natural habitat
:: Prabalika M. Borah
3
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CM M BM-BME
YK
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4 NORTH
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MUMBAI
Timings
MUMBAI
THURSDAY, APR. 22
RWAs face hurdles as they plan Critical patients can register on
RISE 06:16 SET 18:58
portal for beds in Gurugram
RISE
FRIDAY, APR. 23
RISE
RISE
14:19
06:16
15:18
SET 02:45
SET 18:58
SET 03:29
to set up COVID care facilities 2,988 virus cases reported; active cases stand at 16,027
SATURDAY, APR. 24
RISE 06:15 SET 18:59
Inadequate oxygen supply, building space and fi nding nursing staff add to woes
Special Correspondent dealt with strictly. “Chief Mi
<
> CM has even made
RISE 16:16 SET 04:11
Hemani Bhandari a community hall in their GURUGRAM nister Manohar Lal too has
NEW DELHI area which they could have The district administration an appeal to the made it clear that the govern
The concept to set up small turned into a COVID care fa on Wednesday incorporated workers and ment has no plans to impose
COVID care facility in resi cility and they had also spo a new feature on its web por labourers to not the lockdown in the present
dential areas was a novel in ken to doctors who were tal allowing the critical pa leave and continue scenario. CM has even made
itiative, but practical diffi cul willing to consult but they tients to register themselves working adhering an appeal to the workers and
ties have made life diffi cult couldn’t fi nd nursing staff . for admission to hospitals in to COVID-19 labourers to not leave and
for Resident Welfare Associa “The cost of one nursing view of increasing demand appropriate continue working adhering
tions in the Capital. Several staff is about ₹ 25,000 a for beds. behaviour to COVID19 appropriate be
RWAs are thus facing hurdles month but either they are “We acknowledge your Yash Garg
haviour,” said Mr. Garg.
in establishing these centres not available or they are de worry for getting the best Deputy Commissioner Meanwhile, Gurugram re
in residential areas as per manding ₹ 80,000 for a treatment for your loved ported record 2,988 fresh
the guidelines. month. It is not aff ordable,” ones, in this crisis. Hereby, the offi cial handle of Deputy COVID19 cases on Wednes
Nothing has vexed them he said. launching a ‘Register for Commissioner Yash Garg. day, taking the number of ac
as procuring oxygen cylin People carrying oxygen cylinders for free refi lling provided by Hospital Bed’ form on Mr. Garg also made it clear tive cases to 16,027 with
ders, a shortage the whole RWA of Turkman Gate in Delhi on Wednesday. PTI * Managing perils http://covidggn.com. Fill it & that lockdown would not be 15,010 patients in home iso
country is reeling under. He also said that given the our doctors shall get back to imposed in the district and lation.
Saurabh Gandhi, Rana Pra perately need it and can’t of East Delhi RWA Joint Front situation, they wouldn’t be you based on criticality of those indulged in black mar As many as 391 people
tap Bagh RWA president and fi nd a hospital bed,” he Federation, said while they able to manage the facility the patient and availability of keting and overcharging of have died so far with four
member of United Residents added. don’t have oxygen cylinders because people need oxy beds [Sic],” said a tweet from essential items would be deaths on Wednesday.
of Delhi (URD), said they in their possession, they are gen, which they are hard
Coach arrested possess four oxygen cylin Facilitating oxygen trying their best to facilitate pressed to provide. “For re
ders of 10 litres each while Rajiv Kakria (62), member of oxygen. “We are helping pe fi lling an oxygen cylinder,
for molesting
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
another one was to reach an RWA in Greater Kailash, ople in need with informa one has to wait for two hours
Turned to ashes
minor student them. But that is proving to
be inadequate.
said they possess just two ox
ygen concentrators and a cy
tion and making calls for
them. The situation, howev
in the queue. Earlier, the
price of refi lling was ₹ 50
“We are getting calls for linder and hence, facing er, is terrible,” he said. ₹ 100 and now it has crossed
STAFF REPORTER oxygen cylinders every few acute shortage. “We [RWAs] Their woes don’t end ₹ 400,” he said.
NEW DELHI minutes. All our cylinders are possibly doing more than there. Mr. Kakria said they Talking about house helps
A 57yearold basketball are currently with residents. what the government is. could not get the builder to being allowed in colonies,
coach was arrested for al We are also helping people Four days ago, a person agree to lend building space members said that unlike
legedly molesting his minor with contacts to buy oxygen needed to be admitted to a to set up the COVID care last lockdown, this time,
student in south Delhi’s cylinders, whoever can af hospital because his oxygen centre. “There is stigma. The house helps are allowed in
Hauz Khas, police said on ford them. But it’s been ex levels dropped. We provided builder says he won’t be able most of the localities. It’s
Wednesday. tremely tough,” he said. him with oxygen concentra to sell any fl at for the next down to individual residents
On April 10, a 17yearold This RWA has been able to tor. Unfortunately, he died one year,” he said, adding whether to hire them or not.
girl, along with her parents, help 11 persons with oxygen Wednesday morning,” he that doctors were exhausted “We have told everyone that
approached Hauz Khas pol in the last few days. “Oxy said. and no one was willing to if they decide not to call
ice station and levelled mol gen, in these times, is being B.S. Vohra, a resident of consult. them, they have to pay their
estation allegations against prioritised to those that des Krishna Nagar and president Mr. Gandhi said they have salaries,” Mr. Vohra said.
her basketball coach, a se
nior police offi cer said.
The victim further al
leged that when she Private schools told to discontinue 3 COVID Care
reached Siri Fort, her train
Centres set up
er molested her. She came
home and narrated the inci
dent to her parents, the of
online classes during vacation for policemen
fi cer said. A case was regis Around 100 shanties were gutted in a fi re that broke out at a timber market in west Delhi’s
tered under relevant ‘Students and teachers need a break to refresh themselves’ Staff Reporter Kirti Nagar on Wednesday morning. No one was injured in the incident. According to fi re
sections of the IPC and NEW DELHI offi cials, they received information regarding the blaze around 3 a.m. and 28 fi re engines were
POCSO Act. The accused Special Correspondent classes is extended for private Three COVID Care Centres rushed to the spot. The fi re was brought under control around 6 a.m. SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR *
was arrested on the same NEW DELHI schools too,” it added. have been set up for Delhi CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Man arrested for black marketing
In memory of your loved ones To dedicate a space in this section,
Please mail your query at : Remdesivir in Noida; 105 vials seized
mumbaimaterial@thehindu.co.in
Press Trust of India Tuesday, a senior offi cer said.
For placing advertisements online log on to Noida said. “He would procure the
www.thehinduads.com The Noida Police on Wed According to the police, medicine from Delhi and
DONATE EYES - GIFT SIGHT nesday said they have arrest Ghai would sell Remdesivir Chandigarh. Other details
ed a man allegedly involved for anything between are being gathered,'' Mr.
0 in black marketing of Rem ₹ 15,000 to ₹ 40,000 to peo Singh said The offi cer said
*Shipping charges extra | conditions apply
CM M BM-BME
YK
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THE HINDU
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021
MUMBAI
SOUTH 5
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IN BRIEF
Case surge crosses 23,500 in Karnataka Weather Watch
Rainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday
116 die in State, Bengaluru accounts for 13,640 cases; Kerala announces travel testing protocol
Special Correspondent
Cases and deaths conti
Bengaluru
nued to rise in Telangana
Karnataka on Wednesday re and on Tuesday, 20 patients
Buy vaccines directly,
ported 23,558 new cases of died and 6,542 were detect
says Union Minister
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
COVID19, of which 13,640 ed with the virus. Doctors in
Union Minister of State for were from Bengaluru Urban. government and private hos
External Affairs V. With 116 deaths, the toll pitals said deaths exceeded
Muraleedharan on rose to 13,762. The test posi fi gures in offi cial bulletins.
Wednesday said the Kerala tivity rate (TPR) for the day Of 6,542 cases, the highest
government should use the stood at 15.47%. of 898 cases were from Grea
Centre's new strategy to Kerala’s mass testing led ter Hyderabad region.
procure vaccines directly to the identifi cation of 22,414 The coronavirus claimed
from manufacturers. He said new cases on Wednesday. 38 lives in Andhra Pradesh,
the State’s political executive The TPR rose to 18.41%. Nine while 9,716 infections were
had gone on holiday after the districts reported over a reported on Wednesday. A
election. thousand new cases and TPR of 24.52% was recorded
there were 22 more deaths. from 39,619 samples. Krish
TTD sacks channel editor Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs)
Disease transmission in na district reported 10
named in smuggling case the northern districts soared deaths.
Forecast for Thursday: Thunderstorm with lightning/hail/gusty
TIRUMALA wind likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh,
and the active case pool in The State branch of the All Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, Arunachal Pra
The Tirumala Tirupati
six districts was over 10,000: India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) desh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, West Bengal,
Devasthanams (TTD) issued
orders terminating the
Ernakulam had 21,854 pa requested the Chief Justice of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, coastal Andhra
services of Mittapalli tients, Kozhikode 18,466, the Andhra Pradesh High Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala
Ravikiran, working as editor Malappuram 12,832, Kannur Court to disallow physical city rain max min city rain max min
11,300, Thrissur 11,209 and tic travellers coming in must testing on the eighth day. tive, they should be on self appearance of advocates and Agartala................ —....37.1....26.2 Kozhikode................. 0.6....33.2....25.8
on contract basis in Sri Ahmedabad ........... —....39.8....26.0 Kurnool ....................... —....38.6....26.0
Venkateswara Bhakti Channel Kottayam, 11,141 patients. undergo RTPCR test, irres Even if they test negative, observation for seven days. parties at the trial court level Aizawl................... —....31.4....16.9 Lucknow...................... —....35.4....25.5
(SVBC), for his alleged The Idukki district admi pective of vaccination status. they should continue in qua Business travellers should re and to declare vacation from Allahabad.............. —....36.4....27.0 Madurai ....................... —....38.7....26.1
nistration conducted checks The highrisk primary rantine for seven more days. gister on ejagratha portal May 1 to June 1. Bengaluru .......... 0.6....34.6....22.8 Mangaluru ................... —....34.2....25.0
involvement in the smuggling
Bhopal .................. —....37.5....24.2 Mumbai ....................... —....32.6....25.6
of red sanders. He was jailed of plantation workers from contacts should compulsori All international travellers and produce a negative RT (With inputs from Bhubaneswar......... —....39.2....27.6 Mysuru ........................ —....33.6....20.6
after the Red Sanders Anti Tamil Nadu. ly undergo room or institu should undergo RTPCR test PCR test got within 48 hours. Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh ........ 3.6....31.3....18.3 New Delhi ................... —....33.4....19.2
Smuggling Task Force booked As per the State’s revised tional quarantine for 14 days. and remain in home isola Those without RTPCR test Hyderabad and Vijayawada Chennai ................ —....36.4....28.0 Patna .......................... —....35.5....25.7
Coimbatore ........... —....35.0....23.2 Port Blair..................... —....32.2....24.2
a criminal case recently. travel guidelines, all domes They must undergo RTPCR tion. Even if they test nega should take one on arrival. bureaus) Dehradun .............. —....32.0....19.8 Puducherry .................. —....35.0....26.5
Gangtok ................ —....19.5....13.6 Pune............................ —....38.4....20.2
Goa....................... —....34.2....26.0 Raipur ......................... 1....40.0....22.5
Guwahati .............. 1....33.0....21.5 Ranchi ......................... —....36.0....24.1
No lockdown, says Kerala CM; Karnataka seeks oxygen Hubballi ................ —....36.0....22.0
Hyderabad ............ 5....37.9....24.0
Imphal .................. —....31.5....16.6
Jaipur ................... —....33.2....21.0
Kochi ................. 0.4....32.0....24.0
Shillong.................. 35.8....25.8....14.8
Shimla.................... 16.2....18.6......7.4
Srinagar....................... —....18.8......8.8
Thiruvananthapuram......... —....34.0....25.2
Tiruchi......................... —....40.2....26.8
ters, the Chief Minister said oxygen every day. Kohima ................. —....27.4....13.8 Vijayawada .................. —....38.4....27.0
Telangana gets a little over 6 lakh the second wave was taking “The Chief Minister has Kolkata ................. —....37.9....27.8 Visakhapatnam ............. —....33.6....27.9
additional doses of vaccine the entire nation into its grip requested the Centre to pro (Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius)
Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday
and all the districts should vide 1,500 metric tonnes ev
Special Correspondent CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE
Mr. Vijayan said the go take measures to contain it. ery day. I have appealed to Ahmedabad..... 36 .50 .33 ....82 .114 ....*
Thiruvananthapuram In observation made at
vernment had not insisted Also, the Karnataka go the Central Ministers also to Bengaluru ....... ..5 .42 .67 ..114 ...93 ....* 4.00 p.m., Singrauli,
Kerala Chief Minister Pina on a lockdown. It was incum vernment directed labs and provide additional oxygen Chennai .......... ..4 .16 .83 ....47 .....— ....* Madhya Pradesh recorded
Delhi .............. 36 .64 .76 ..132 .118 ....* an overall air quality index
rayi Vijayan on Wednesday bent upon citizens to save testing agencies to give the and we are hopeful of a posi Hyderabad ...... ..4 .51 .35 ....89 .111 ....* (AQI) score of 275
indicating an unhealthy
ruled out a Statewide lock the State a shutdown, he RTPCR test results within 24 tive response,” Mr. Sudhakar Kolkata ........... 11 .20 110 ....81 ...93 ....* level of pollution. In
down. said. hours after collecting sam said. Lucknow ......... 11 .62 .65 ..258 .180 ....* contrast, Khanna, Punjab
Mumbai .......... 46 .16 .67 ....47 ...81 ....* recorded a healthy AQI
However, the government The 9 p.m. to 5 a.m curfew ples. It instructed that the Pune............... ..— .54 .48 ....80 ...61 ....* score of 34
would curb civic life to a con would continue till May 3. test results be updated on Vaccine doses Visakhapatnam 14 .39 .13 ....51 ...90 ....*
siderable measure on the Shops should down shutters the ICMR portal. Telangana has received a lit Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI)
weekend to slow down the at 7.30 p.m. District magis tle over 6 lakh additional SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system,
transmission of a resurgent trates could relax hotel tim Oxygen shortage doses of COVID19 vaccine making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air
Fighting the virus: Annam Varkey, 104, taking her fi rst jab at particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues
and more virulent COVID19 ings to deliver food to citi the Angamaly Taluk Hospital in Kerala on Wednesday. She is Amid concern over shortage on Tuesday. and monuments.
virus. There was no change zens observing Ramzan fast, the oldest recipient of the COVID19 vaccine in the State. of oxygen, the Karnataka go Up to Wednesday night, NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by
reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters.
in the higher secondary ex he said. vernment has requested the the State had around seven CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to
amination schedule, he said. asked his Cabinet colleagues after opposition leaders, at Centre to fi ll the lacunae, lakh doses. This is expected critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause
Only essential services Karnataka CM’s plea to work more proactively in an allparty meeting, criti State Health Minister K. Sud to last for four to fi ve days. dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death.
PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes,
would operate on April 24 Amid raging cases in Karan districts to check the virus cised the government over hakar said on Wednesday. The State is giving jabs to ov nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced
and 25. The government has taka, Chief Minister B.S. Ye spread. its handling of COVID19 cri He said the State might re er 1.2 to 1.7 lakh people a day. lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature
declared Saturday a holiday. diyurappa on Wednesday The direction comes a day sis. In a letter to the Minis quire 1,500 metric tonnes of (With PTI inputs) death in people with heart or lung disease
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WEST
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Maharashtra sees all-time high of 568 deaths Goa announces 10-day night curfew
Press Trust of India ma halls and casinos in the condary Education.
Panaji wake of rising COVID19 cas The curfew, from 10 p.m.
State reports second-highest daily surge of 67,468 new cases
State to foot Remedisivir bill The Goa government an
nounced a 10daylong night
curfew in the State eff ective
es. The government also an
nounced the postponement
of the Classes X and XII ex
to 6 a.m., would come into
force on Wednesday and re
main in operation till April
for tribal patients, says Padvi Wednesday and imposed
curbs on restaurants, cine
aminations of the Goa Board
of Secondary and Higher Se
30, Chief Minister Pramod
Sawant said.
Staff Reporter of the integrated tribal deve
Mumbai
6 EDITORIAL MUMBAI
I
f Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the perpetuation of historical evils. To properties. er by dominant groups.
country amid the raging storm of COVID19 cases treat religion as a subject beyond To be sure, that this was once
I
was intended as reassurance of the government’s n the midst of the recent electo the state’s sovereign reach was to the case does not by itself suggest In other religions
ral campaign in Tamil Nadu, a thwart the Constitution’s aim of es that state control over religious in Those calling for deregulation also
R. RAGU
commitment to averting economic decline and ramp
movement to free Hindu tem tablishing a free and egalitarian so stitutions must now continue. But point to the state’s approach to
ing up health facilities, he provided little insight into ples from state control gained ciety at its very founding. The the circumstances that existed in other religions. But a reading of
specifi c measures. It should be evident from the pace of some traction. Ask the proponents framers were also conscious that sions shows us that a religious de the 1920s, when the government the Waqf Act, 1995, will show us
infection spread and the large number of deaths in sev of the movement who they see as achieving these goals meant that nomination has substantial free of Madras enacted its fi rst endow that the government also exercises
eral regions that the sensible course open to the Centre the state’s successor and the answ the government had to ensure that dom over matters concerning its ment law, have not substantially substantial supervisory control ov
and State governments is to enable economic produc er you get is, the community of resources vital to the common faith. But this right does not over changed. The provincial adminis er management of properties ded
tion and consumption while massively scalingup the Hindus. But by that, what do they weal were properly managed. As ride the state’s power to make laws tration of the time introduced the icated for religious purposes un
mean? Who selects the personnel they saw it, it was the state’s res regulating the management of pro law because it found that the colo der Muslim law. It is possible to
health response. Mr. Modi, who advised States to treat
that will constitute this communi ponsibility to guarantee, for in perties belonging to these denom nial regime, in ceding regulatory argue that this legislation does not
lockdowns as a last resort, has virtually acknowledged, ty? Does the movement want a re stance, that a temple dedicated for inations. The state’s authority is authority over temples, had paved go far enough, as Justice S.A. Kad
with the benefi t of hindsight, that last year’s measure version to the status quo ante that public use was, in fact, being put wider still in attending to religious the path for a division of power in er, a former judge of the Madras
dealt a severe blow to unorganised labour and the self existed before the state intervened to such use. institutions that partake a public which powerful castes and com High Court has in his book, The
employed. The priority now is for the workforce to be in the management of temples? If character. The protections of Arti munities within the Hindu fold ap Law of Wakfs. Similarly, in the
vaccinated and containment measures against disease so, what was that status quo ante? Caveats and provisos cle 25 are expressly restricted to propriated control over religious State of Kerala, repeated demands
spread to be restricted to micro locations. Yet, the cru A lack of clear answers to these It was with these ends in mind that matters within the domain of reli institutions. The statutes of 1951 have been made by reformist
questions suggests that what the various caveats and provisos were gion. Government has every auth and 1959 which succeeded the Christian groups for the creation
cial question is that of universalising vaccinations for
programme really seeks is to plant written into Articles 25 and 26 of ority to regulate and restrict a sec 1927 legislation were both framed of statemanaged committees to
everyone above 18 years of age from May 1. The Centre’s in the state’s position powerful the Constitution. The former ular function performed by a with the same objective: to ensure administer the church’s fi nances
latest policy has eff ectively opened the fl oodgates to an private interests, and in the pro makes the freedom of conscience public religious institution. It was that Hindu public endowments and properties. Perhaps a time
unregulated system with marketdetermined vaccine cess, reinstate some of the hierar and the right freely to profess, in exercise of this power that the were being put to use for the true will come for such laws.
pricing. Rather than use monopsonist power to pro chical divisions that might have practise and propagate religion government of Madras enacted a purposes for which the endow In the meantime, though, we
cure all vaccines for pricecapped distribution, extend been negated, albeit not nearly en subject to public order, morality Hindu Religious and Charitable ments were fi rst made. must consider the HR&CE law on
ing the model that has been in place since March 1, the tirely, through the Constitution and health. What is more, this Endowments Act in 1951, which To that end, the law accords to a its own merits. An examination of
and its processes. right, the provision clarifi es, will was replaced in 1959 by the Tamil stateappointed commissioner a the legislation enforced in Tamil
move has led to a 266% to 400% price increase for Cov
not stand in the way of the state Nadu Hindu Religious and Charita power of general superintendence Nadu demonstrates that the move
ishield for State governments and private hospitals, res Civic history and faith making laws regulating any eco ble Endowments (HR&CE) Act. over all Hindu religious endow ment seeking a delinking of state
pectively. Bharat Biotech has also hinted at the need to At an intuitive level, the idea of go nomic, fi nancial, or other secular ments, and it authorises the com and religion misprizes the law’s
recover its investments in Covaxin through price fl exi vernments overseeing the man activity associated with religion, As essential role of the state missioner, among other things, to value. If applied properly, the re
bility. Manufacturers should not be rushing to seek ap agement of religious institutions or in the way of the state making But this power to oversee adminis appoint executive offi cers to tem gime will allow the state to act as a
provals in those regions where the profi ts are the high strikes one as anathema to a secu laws providing for social welfare tration of religious bodies was ples to ensure that their funds are genuine tribune of social justice.
est, leaving out the poorer territories. All vaccines need lar, democratic republic. But the and reform. seen as an incident of sovereignty being properly applied. The Su No doubt there might be defi cien
principles on which secularism Article 26, on the other hand, long before the Constitution came preme Court of India tested the ra cies in how the statute is applied
a sustainable manufacturing base, but the government
rests in India are distinct from protects group rights. It grants to into force. In his 1918 treatise, The tionale for this oversight in the Shi today. For this reason, we must
must ensure a good, free people’s vaccine for all. their western antecedents. The every “religious denomination” Law Relating to Hindu and Mo rur Mutt c ase (1954). In constantly demand transparency
With 2,94,365 new cases and 2,011 dead on just April makers of India’s Constitution the right to establish institutions; hammedan Religious Endow substantially upholding Tamil Na and hold the state responsible to
20, India is waging a war against the virus that calls for were conscious of the dangers in to manage its own aff airs in mat ments, P.R. Ganapathi Iyer points du’s 1951 legislation — which was the administrative standards pre
strong leadership, decentralisation to allow States to promising an American style right ters of religion; to own and acquire to how Hindu kings habitually em repealed and reenacted in 1959 — scribed under the law. But a call to
take speedy action and the eff ective use of regulatory to nonestablishment. To them, property; and to administer that ployed ministries to supervise the Court recognised that the basic do anything more is to risk the
authority. The Prime Minister is right to identify urban there was little doubt that all per property in accordance with law. temples and charitable bodies. In framework of the law was in per abandoning of the promises that
workers and labour as key coverage groups for vaccina sons must be entitled to a freedom This right too is bound by consid deed, the regulation of temple fect consonance with the authori underpin the Constitution.
of conscience. But that freedom, erations of public order, morality, management was seen as an es ty vested in the state under Arti
tion, with support from the Centre and States. Here, the
they believed, ought not to be cir and health. sential role of the state. The book cles 25 and 26. Today, with no Suhrith Parthasarathy is an advocate
Union Budget allocation of ₹ 35,000 crore for COVID19 cumscribed by extending to ex A plain reading of these provi also shows us how under Mughal obvious successor available, practising at the Madras High Court
vaccines should be able to cover more categories this
year and the outlay can be enhanced if necessary.
Worldwide, governments have made COVID19 vaccina
tion a fully statefunded eff ort. The case for free market
pricing for vaccines, on the ground that private enter
Strengthening the process of choosing the police chief
prise is leading vaccine development, is overstated. For A balance needs to be struck between the government’s legitimate role and the police chief ’s operational autonomy
AstraZenecaCovishield, the single biggest research the appointment and removal of these terms or specifying their ele Kingdom provides a useful exam
funding component, at over £38 million, came from the police chiefs was fi rst suggested by ments to guide the appointments. ple. The Police Reform and Social
British government, followed by overseas govern the National Police Commission What qualifi es as a “good” range of Responsibility Act, 2011, intro
ments, universities and charities. What India needs is (NPC), constituted in 1979, and experience? How is the integrity of duced public confi rmation hear
free universal vaccination, modelled on the polio cam much later reaffi rmed by the Su a candidate measured during ap ings as an additional layer of check
preme Court of India in its judg praisals? What is the process re for the appointment of the heads
paign. The Centre cannot abdicate that responsibility.
Devyani Srivastava ment in 2006, in Prakash Singh. quired to be followed by the SSC in of their police forces known as
While the top court entrusted the reviewing the suitability of candi Chief Constables (outside of Lon
Towards racial justice
VIVEK BENDRE
R
ecent developments in the (UPSC) with a role in shortlisting the candidates be considered as a
Conviction in the George Floyd case and the Mumbai Police which result candidates from which the State requirement, for instance? Enabling fairness
ed in the removal of Param government is to appoint the pol Similarly, no scrutiny process The proposed candidates are re
police reform bill should help build bridges Bir Singh from the Mumbai Police ice chief, the Model Police Bill, meetings since 2014), their design has been prescribed to justify re quired to participate in a hearing
A
U.S. judge found Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis Commissioner’s post focus the 2015 (https://bit.ly/3at9U8q) plac itself will have to be strengthened movals from tenure posts. The organised by the police and crime
police offi cer, guilty of murdering an unarmed spotlight once again on long over es the responsibility with a multi if they are to drive meaningful re NPC had required State govern panel in each area(made up of re
AfricanAmerican man, George Floyd, an inci due reforms needed in the process party State Police Board, also re forms. ments to seek the approval of the presentatives from local councils
dent last May that ignited a nationwide storm of protest of appointing and removing police ferred to as the State Security Moreover, in as many as 23 State Security Commission before and coopted independent mem
chiefs. A crucial way in which go Commission (SSCs), instead (Sec States (https://bit.ly/3as9aAC), go removing the police chief before bers) where questions centre on
against police brutality and a worldwide outpouring of
vernments exercise control over tion 8). Made up of government of vernments retain the sole discre the end of term. This important the candidate’s ability to “recog
anger at America’s racial injustice. Mr. Chauvin has the State police is through their fi cials, the Leader of the Opposi tion of appointing the police chief. check was diluted under the Pra nize and understand the separa
been convicted of seconddegree and thirddegree mur unregulated power to decide who tion as well as independent Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, kash Singh judgment that only re tion of political and operational
der, and manslaughter — all three for an encounter that the chief will be. members from civil society, the Meghalaya and Mizoram are the quires governments to consult the responsibilities in relation to the
lasted around nine minutes, during which he pinned There is no independent vetting board provides the additional safe only States where, on paper, the SSC. Most States omit even this post”. This constitutes a crucial
Mr. Floyd’s neck to the roadside with his knee until he process to assess the suitability of guard of civilian oversight over the SSC is given the responsibility of cursory step. Broad terms such as step of the timebound vetting pro
stopped breathing. Mr. Floyd’s fi nal words, “I can’t qualifi ed candidates, and the go appointment process. shortlisting candidates. Whether “on administrative grounds” or “in cess based on which the panel
vernment’s assessment, if it is this process is followed in practice the public interest” continue to be makes its recommendations on
breathe”, became the clarion call of a massive wave of
done at all, remains opaque and is Gaps in SSCs each time remains to be verifi ed. retained in police acts to justify the suitability of the candidate.
street protests across the U.S. At the time, erstwhile an exercise behind closed doors. India, however, has made little the government’s power to re Importantly, these panels have the
President Donald Trump fanned outrage when he de While the principles of democratic progress in constituting truly inde Need for transparency move the police chief. Such terms power to veto (by twothirds ma
scribed the protests a result of the “radical left” and accountability necessitate the pol pendent bodies. While 26 States The second element critical to pol remain liable to misuse. jority) the proposed appointment
threatened to send in the National Guard. President Joe ice chief to remain answerable to and the Union Territories (https:// ice reforms is instituting an inde Indeed, the Supreme Court has as well. On removals too, the pa
Biden, at the time a presidential race frontrunner, con the elected government at all bit.ly/2P8nab3) have established pendent and transparent selection rightly emphasised that “prima fa nels allow the police chief an op
trarily went to Houston to meet with Mr. Floyd’s rela times, the moot reform issue is in SSCs, either through new police and decisionmaking process cie satisfaction of the govern portunity to respond to the allega
ensuring the right balance bet acts or amendments or through around appointment and removal, ment” alone is not a suffi cient tions on the basis of which their
tives. He said at the time that he would not “fan the
ween conditioning the govern executive orders, not a single one against objective criteria. Much ground to justify removal from a removal is being sought as part of
fl ames of hate”, but instead, “seek to heal the racial ment’s legitimate role in appoint adheres to the balanced composi standardsetting work is needed tenure post in government, such the scrutiny process.
wounds that have long plagued this country”. A few ing or removing the police chief tion suggested by the top court. on this as only basic safeguards as that of the police chief (T.P. Sen- Such steps can help ensure fair
months ahead of one of the most remarkable presiden with the need to safeguard the Some do not include the Leader of have been defi ned in reform mea kumar vs Union of India, 2017). ness in administrative decisions
tial elections in recent history, his words lent hope to chief’s operational autonomy. the Opposition; others neither in sures towards protecting the oper The rule of law requires such deci and need to be considered in our
many Americans that should he win, there might be a clude independent members nor ational autonomy of the police sions be for compelling reasons context as well in order to protect
real possibility for reform in law enforcement and cri Have an oversight panel follow an independent selection chief. On appointments, the Court and based on verifi able material the political neutrality of the pol
Two elements are vital to reforms process of the members. In es and the Model Police Act require that can be objectively tested. ice. Any further delay in imple
minal justice that could result in less violence against
in this area. The fi rst is the need to sence, the commissions remain the UPSC/SSC to shortlist candi Clear and specifi c benchmarks menting reforms in this area will
racial minorities. shift the responsibility of appoint dominated by the political execu dates on the basis of length of ser need to be integrated into deci continue to demoralise the police
Yet, it is clear that the road towards achieving a more ment and removal from the go tive. Keeping aside the concern ov vice, service record, and range of sionmaking processes, both on and cripple the rule of law.
perfect union is laden with pitfalls that render the task vernment alone to a bipartisan, in er nonfunctioning SSCs (as of experience and a performance ap appointments and removals, to
at hand formidable. Literally minutes before the verdict dependent oversight body of 2019, information secured praisal of the candidates over the prevent politically motivated ad Devyani Srivastava is Head, Police
in the Chauvin trial, a teenage girl in Columbus, Ohio, which the government is one part. through the Right to Information past 10 years. verse actions. Reforms Programme, at the
was killed by the police. Her death comes in the wake of Establishing a statelevel over Act (https://bit.ly/3n7D1n1) indi However, no further guidance In improving transparency of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
others felled in police encounters, including Eric Gar sight body with a specifi ed role in cates that only four SSCs have held has been developed on explaining the review process, the United (CHRI)
ner, Michael Brown and Tamir Rice in 2014, and Breon
na Taylor in 2020, to name but a few. In most such cas LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
es, charges have been rare, and convictions rarer still.
To read more letters
Analysis of these cases suggested that most often charg Pandemic fi ght situation is not surprising. were not asked for to honour take place. The Union at the root cause of the online, scan the QR code
CM M BM-BME
YK
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THE HINDU
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021
MUMBAI
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OPED 7
REUTERS
stage for State governments, private tricted use. The rich can then avail of the global manufacturing order to Asia’s dis ability between central bank digital curren
hospitals and the private market vy the best vaccines in the open market, advantage. But in the ‘Digital Data Revolu cies at the Bank for International
ing to have access to vaccines from in line with the government’s an tion’, algorithms requiring massive amounts Settlements. The U.S., far behind in mobile
*
the Serum Institute of India (SII) and nouncement that all imported vac of data determine innovation, the nature of payments, is falling back on data alliances
Bharat Biotech. gamble in allowing companies to sell profi ts, but we have sacrifi ced what cines will be available only in the productivity growth, and military power. and sanctions to maintain its global position.
The April 19 announcement of the vaccines at huge profi ts amid a pan we call ‘super profi ts’,” he told private market. Mobile digital payment interconnections im India’s goal is to become a $5trillion eco
rollout of vaccines in the third demic, and particularly so when the NDTV. “Super profi ts are needed to The second wave has amply de pact society and the international system, nomy by 2025. While the country is fast
phase, wherein anyone above 18 second wave is ravaging the country further build capacity, innovate and monstrated that unlike last year, having three strategic implications. tracking its digital rupee, the challenge is
years is eligible for vaccination, and daily deaths are spiralling. compete with the western compa more people in the age group of 18 First, because of the nature and pervasive promoting engagement with major powers
comes at a time when many States The government’s projected pop nies. But we don’t care for these at 40 years have been symptomatically ness of digital data, military and civilian sys while retaining its data for innovation and
have already been reporting shortag ulation for the year 2021 for the 1844 the moment as we want to address infected, with many requiring hospi tems are symbiotic. Cybersecurity is national competitive advantage.
es in supply, which is refl ected in the years age group is 595 million. With the needs of the nation fi rst … and we talisation. Hence, a policy that pro security, and this requires both a new mili
dropping number of vaccine doses two doses per person, this translates can make profi ts after a few months.” motes vaccine inequity based on age tary doctrine and a diplomatic framework. Fluid dynamics
administered daily, the fourday Tika to 1,190 million doses. This huge pop However, since the Centre has al bands is a dangerous proposition. Second, the blurring of distinctions bet With Asia at the centre of the world, major
Utsav (vaccination festival) ulation has not been included in ready agreed to advance ₹ 3,000 A bigger issue is that with States ween domestic and foreign policy and the re powers see value in relationships with New
notwithstanding. priority groups to have access to vac crore to the SII and ₹ 1,500 crore to required to procure 50% of vaccines placement of global rules with issuebased Delhi. India fi ts into the U.S. frame to provide
While allowing all adults above 18 cines, and it would be covered solely Bharat Biotech to ramp up manufac directly from manufacturers, the go understanding converge with the growth of leverage. China wants India, also a digital
years is indeed a welcome move, the by State governments and the private turing facilities, would the two vac vernments will end up competing smartphonebased ecommerce, which en power, to see it as a partner, not a rival. And
Centre’s announcement comes with sector. While the private sector may cine manufacturers still feel the need with each other and with private sures that massive amounts of data give a China remains the largest trading partner of
several caveats. be able to cater to a small percentage to make a killing? players. A similar situation was seen sustained productivity advantage to Asia. both the U.S. and India despite sanctions and
The two vaccine manufacturers of the population that can aff ord to in the United States last year, when Third, data streams are now at the centre border skirmishes. These fl uid relationships
will supply 50% of their vaccine dos pay a higher price per dose, the Rising costs former President Donald Trump of global trade and countries’ economic and have their own tradeoff s, raising the ques
es to the Union government, while States must buy vaccines and admi On several occasions, the latest being made individual States procure ven national power. India, thus, has the capacity tion: whose interests do the current rules
the remaining doses will be made nister them for free for a huge num December 30 last year, both Oxford tilators and Personal Protective to negotiate new rules as an equal with the really serve? India, like China, is uncomfor
available to State governments and ber of people, lest the poor are left University and AstraZeneca pro Equipment (PPEs) on their own, U.S. and China. table with treating Western values as univer
private hospitals. A press release out. Whatever policy each State go mised to manufacture and distribute leading to a chaotic situation where sal values and with the U.S. interpretation of
from the SII says Covishield will be vernment formulates to identify the vaccine “on a notforprofi t basis States outbid each other and diver A renewed strategy Freedom of Navigation rules in others’ terri
available in retail and free trade after those eligible for free vaccines, it for the duration of the coronavirus sion of supplies from one State to Innovation based on data streams has contri torial waters. New Delhi’s IndoPacifi c vision
four to fi ve months. would need to allocate huge resourc pandemic”. When AstraZeneca another became rampant. buted to China’s rise as the secondlargest is premised on “ASEAN centrality and the
Unlike the rest of the world, the In es to buy the doses. A signifi cant walked back on its word with Brazil, With around 2.4 million doses be economy and the “nearpeer” of the U.S. The common pursuit of prosperity”. The Euro
dian government took the fi rst step number of people are likely to be left the company said it had the right un ing produced a day, the SII is current U.S. IndoPacifi c Commander recently said pean Union recently acknowledged that the
of charging for vaccines by fi xing the out in this process. der the contract “to declare the pan ly manufacturing 6065 million dos the erosion of conventional deterrence capa path to its future is through an enhanced in
cost of jabs at private hospitals at up As per the Centre’s demand, on demic over by July 2021” and that it es a month. According to Mr. bilities was the greatest danger in the strateg fl uence in the IndoPacifi c, while stressing
to ₹ 250 per dose. But with the April Wednesday, the SII announced the could extend the agreement beyond Poonawalla, the company will be ic competition with China. The national se that the strategy is not “antiChina”. The U.S.
19 announcement, the government price at which vaccines will be sold July 2021 but only in “good faith” and able to ramp up production only af curity strategy of the U.S. puts more position in trade, that investment creates
has gone the whole hog by allowing to States and private hospitals. Adar if it considered that the COVID19 ter June; capacity addition at Bharat emphasis on diplomacy than military power new markets, makes it similar to China’s Belt
the two companies to decide the Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Insti pandemic was not over. Biotech, too, will take a few months. to resolve confl icts with China, acknowledg and Road Initiative.
price of vaccines. tute of India, told CNBC-TV18 that In India, the SII, despite not selling Hence, the current shortage is likely ing that its military allies have complex rela India alone straddles both U.S. and China
Covishield will cost ₹ 400 for both the vaccine at the cost price, is mak to continue for a few more months. tionships with Beijing, as it seeks to work led strategic groupings, providing an equity
A contradictory approach Central and State governments and ing a small profi t while supplying it at Amid the sharp criticism for the with them to close technology gaps. based perspective to competing visions. It
Many developed countries have ₹ 600 for private hospitals. ₹ 150 per dose. With the price tags of shortfall, the Central government, by China’s technology weakness is the de must be prepared to play a key role in
sealed vaccine supplies many times On April 6, Mr. Poonawalla went ₹ 400 and ₹ 600 per dose, the compa allowing States to procure vaccines pendence on semiconductors and its power moulding rules for the hyperconnected
their total population; most coun on record saying that even at the sub ny will be earning more than 2.5 to directly from manufacturers, has lessness against U.S. sanctions on banks, 5G world, facing off both the U.S. and China to
tries, including the U.S., where sidised price of ₹ 150–₹ 160 per dose, three times the profi t as early as May deftly shifted any future blame to and cloud computing companies. But its realise its potential of becoming the second
healthcare is highly privatised, are the company was not selling at the 1, when the pandemic is nowhere State governments. Fourteenth Five Year Plan emphasises a $1.4 largest economy.
vaccinating adults for free. Against cost price but was making a profi t. “I close to ending and the second wave trillion strategy for the development of
this, India has taken a dangerous would not say we are not making any is raging in India. prasad.ravindranath@thehindu.co.in science and technology. China’s digital tech Mukul Sanwal is a former UN diplomat
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Vaccines off ering by political activists, and re
prisals instigated by crimi
could access the Internet
through the Internet kiosks
shows 78% effi cacy CHANDIGARH
“Even if it had been 5 or 10
per 10,000, it wouldn’t be a
rected at the spike protein,
it does a great job at neutra
full swing in Punjab and Ha
ryana, farmers, for the fi rst
time, have started receiving
Special Correspondent
New Delhi
The Maoists said in a state
Call to free Hidme Markam High Courts as “docket ex
plosion”, the Supreme
Court activated a “dor
cause for worry because of lising the various.” minimum support price ment on Wednesday that SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT freed and all charges mant” constitutional pro
the objective of the vaccine The company has report (MSP) payment directly in security forces had on NEW DELHI against her, including vision to pave way for ap
is to protect against severe ed effi cacy against the U.K. their bank accounts under April 19 dropped 12 bombs Over 1,000 activists, UAPA, be dropped. pointment of retired High
disease and we have demon variant in a peer reviewed the Direct Benefi t Transfer from a drone near a village academics and concerned Hidme Markam was Court judges as adhoc
strated that in protecting journal (Journal of Travel Scheme (DBT). in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur citizens from across the arrested on March 9 by ones for a period of two to
against severe disease it is Medicine) but is yet to publi The government data district. globe have petitioned police and paramilitary three years to clear back
100%,” a senior scientist cise results on the vaccine’s shows ₹ 5,385 crore has been Bharat Bhushan Ashu The Chhattisgarh police Chhattisgarh Chief Minister forces from Dantewada’s log and came out with gui
from Bharat Biotech told The effi cacy against the Brazilian transferred so far in the on said the “allegation being Bhupesh Baghel demanding Sameli village, where a delines to regulate
Hindu, who declined to be strain. going procurement season been procured and more levelled by Maoists regard that Hidme Markam, an programme was under way appointments.
identifi ed because he was “Covaxin has been found by the Central and State pro than 20 lakh tonnes lifted by ing air strike/drone attack adivasi human rights to remember and mourn Article 224A, used rare
not an offi cial spokesperson. to eff ectively neutralise the curement agencies to farm various government were baseless and it was defender and the rapes and murders of ly, of the Constitution
The vaccine had been double mutant variant as ers against purchase of their agencies. an outcome of fear and environmental activist, be adivasi women. deals with appointment of
tested against emergent in well,” the ICMR tweeted on crops in both the States. “In Punjab, both the confusion in the rank and DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD adhoc judges in High
ternational variants of con Wednesday. In Punjab, ₹ 2,600 crore farmers and the arhtiyas fi le of Maoist cadres”. Courts and says “the Chief
cern, such as the U.K. strain Krishna Ella, chairman has been paid to accounts of [commission agents] are A statement signed by ‘Vi minutes before the attack of the native population. It is Justice of a High Court for
and the Indian B.1.617 and managing director, Bha farmers till April 20 under happy over the wheat pro kalp’, spokesperson of the took place. They claimed the Maoist cadres who have any State may at any time,
strain, this person said. “Be rat Biotech, said, “Covaxin the scheme. In Haryana, curement,” he said. Dandakaranya Special Zonal that this was the fi rst time taken away the lives of thou with the previous consent
cause the vaccine produces has demonstrated an excel ₹ 2,785 crore have been In Haryana, ₹ 2,785 crore Committee of the Maoists, that a drone had been used sands of innocent civilians of the President, request
a very broad range of anti lent safety record in human transferred directly to the has been transferred direct said on April 19, the drone to aerially bomb areas, ad by using IEDs and explosive any person who has held
bodies, unlike many other clinical trials and in usage accounts of farmers. ly to the accounts of farmers dropped “12 bombs” bet ding the attack was a retalia materials. They haven’t even the offi ce of a Judge of that
vaccines that are solely di under emergency use.” Punjab Food Minister till April 20, according to an ween Bottalanka and Pala tion of the April 3 encounter spared children, women and Court or of any other High
Bharat Bhushan Ashu said offi cial statement. The Ha gudem villages in Pamed at Tarrem on the SukmaBi animals during their desper Court to sit and act as a
“under the DBT scheme ryana government on Wed area of Bijapur in which japur border where 22 se ate attempts to harm the se Judge of the High Court for
Serum Institute of India payments more than ₹ 2,600
crore has been paid to the
accounts of farmers till April
nesday procured 3.11 lakh
tonnes through various pro
curement agencies on the
some plants and trees were
destroyed and a few animals
were injured.
curity personnel were killed
by the banned group.
Chhattisgarh IGP P. Sun
curity forces by using IEDs.
The Maoists do not have any
moral authority to level such
that State”. A bench of
Chief Justice S.A. Bobde
and Justices S.K. Kaul and
fi xes Covishield price 20”.
He said 54 lakh tonnes of
MSP. Of the 64.77 lakh
tonnes of wheat that arrived
The Maoists also shared a
photograph of the aff ected
darraj said, “The security
forces in Bastar operate
baseless allegation against
the security forces. It is high
Surya Kant issued a slew of
guidelines pertaining to is
wheat have arrived in ‘man at procurement centres till area and the “bombs”. The within the legal framework time that they stop unleash sues such as tenure, salary,
On Monday, when announc pressed reservation. Kerala dis’ till April 20, out of April 20, 55.62 lakh tonnes statement said they were with a single objective of ing cruelty against innocent perks, etc, and their role in
ing vaccination for all above Chief Minister Pinarayi Vi which 50 lakh tonnes have have been procured. able to change their location protecting life and property tribals of Bastar.” adjudicating cases.
18, the Centre said compa jayan said such a policy
nies could sell half their ap would place additional bur
proved lot of vaccines in the
open market, opening up
avenues for States to direct
den on States’ fi nances.
West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee said the
Delhi HC verdict likely today in Special Task Force to monitor
ly procure them without in policy amounted to States
tervention from the Centre.
States have, however, ex
abdicating
responsibility.
their
WhatsApp privacy policy case J&K government employees
The messaging app had challenged CCI order for a probe It will scrutinise cases in timebound manner, says govt.
India adds 2.57 lakh new Staff Reporter issue of its privacy policy CCI, on the other hand, Peerzada Ashiq the concerned department man said the STF shall spee
The Delhi High Court is like
was before the Supreme
Court. Social media giant Fa
said the probe order was
made to gauge whether ac
Srinagar
THE HINDU
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021
MUMBAI
NEWS 9
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lakh vials a month to 1 crore. for medical oxygen, a critical ply has been “very neatly production of 1 crore vials
“Measures that the go treatment tool for COVID19, mapped and new permis per month,” the Ministry
Bajwa demands white paper
Special correspondent
vernment is taking include the Finance Minister assured sions have been given, par statement added. Kolkata
importing medical oxygen, seamless supply to States,” ticularly for the hard “The government has Eminent poet and critic
roundtheclock working of the Finance Ministry said in stressed 12 States of Delhi, cleared an advance payment Sankha Ghosh passed away
the oxygen fi lling stations
and allowing containers
used for nitrogen and argon
a statement after she met 150
industry leaders virtually, in
an interaction hosted by the
Maharashtra, U.P., Chhattis
garh, M.P., Gujarat, Rajas
than, Punjab, Haryana, Kar
of ₹ 4,600 crore to Serum In
stitute of India and Bharat
Bio Tech, to help them ramp
in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The Jnanpith awardee was
89 and had tested positive
on hiring of lawyers in Punjab
to be used for oxygen,” Ms Confederation of Indian In nataka, Tamil Nadu and up capacities,” Ms. Sithara for COVID19. He was un SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT said, “It is necessary for us diately, lest the faith of the
Sitharaman said. dustry (CII). Kerala”. man said on the vaccination der home isolation for the CHANDIGARH to be judicious about extra public in the State be irre
“On meeting the pheno In a separate meeting with She also laid out measures programme. past few days, but his con Congress Rajya Sabha MP vagant expenditure when vocably damaged.”
dition deteriorated late on Partap Singh Bajwa has said the State has a fully function Mr. Bajwa issued state
Tuesday. He is survived by it is imperative that the Pun ing Advocate General’s offi ce ment in against the back
Punjab okays
reward policy
for drug cases
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CHANDIGARH
New coronavirus lineage found in West Bengal Shashi Tharoor, Adhir
Ranjan test positive
It has a major mutation that helps it evade the immune system and possibly compromise vaccine effi cacy
Both had campaigned for the polls
Jacob Koshy monthlong exponential rise there was no “conclusive” by Indian scientists on the
NEW DELHI in cases that is now seeing evidence that the lineage global repository GISAID, a Special Correspondent
With the election on in West over 2,70,000 new infec was driving the epidemic in forum for researchers eve New Delhi
38 inmates of
Byculla jail Congress fl ays pricing of vaccine Doortodoor vaccination not
test positive The higher cost for States will bleed them dry, say Opposition leaders possible: Centre to Bombay HC
Special correspondent SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT reacted to the announce
Mumbai New Delhi ment by the Serum Institute Contamination and wastage may aff ect effi cacy, says govt.
Jyoti Jagtap, accused in the The Congress on Wednesday of India (SII) on vaccine pric
BhimaKoregaon violence criticised the Centre over dif ing. Mr. Ramesh tweeted, Special Correspondent “There was also the possibil
case, and Indrani Muker ferential pricing of the Cov “The Central government Mumbai ity of high wastage as inocu
jea, prime accused in the ishield vaccine, with former will continue to pay ₹ 150 per The Central government lation drive will take longer.
Sheena Bora murder case, Union minister Jairam Ra dose for Covishield. State go told the Bombay High Court At the request of State go
have tested positive for CO mesh calling it “atrocious” vernments will now be on Wednesday that doorto vernments, more vaccina
VID19 among 38 other in that the Centre could pro charged ₹ 400 a dose. This is door vaccination against the tion centres have been ap
mates in Byculla jail. cure it for ₹ 150 per dose but not cooperative federalism. COVID19 virus is not possi proved with special
A prison offi cial, re States would have to pay Can’t they talk to Opposition Everyone knows how digni This will bleed dry the alrea ble as it was expected to lead consideration for senior citi
questing anonymity, said ₹ 400 per dose. leaders? I don’t think there is fi ed a person he is. If he is dy reeling State fi nances. to contamination and zens.”
Sudha Bharadwaj and Sho While former fi nance mi any Opposition leader who is giving suggestions when the Atrocious. We demand One wastage. As to the registration for
ma Sen, also accused in the nister P. Chidambaram not giving them constructive nation is facing a pandemic, Nation, One Price for Centre Satyendra Singh, Under vaccination, it said that peo
BhimaKoregaon case, posed a series of questions and positive sugges then suggestions should be and State governments.” Secretary in the Ministry of ple could register in advance
have been vaccinated but on Twitter, party general se tions...The government taken up with the same dig “Who will pay the ₹ 400 Health and Family Welfare, Adverse events after or on site.
have fever and an upset cretary Ajay Maken, at an on needs to be sensitive at this nity with which they were of for one dose in government fi led an ffi davit and listed vaccination can be better The reply was submitted
stomach. line press conference, time. The Prime Minister fered,” she added. hospitals? The State govern reasons for not being able to managed at hospitals. in a public interest litigation
They have all been kept charged the Narendra Modi needs to show up, he needs Ms. Vadra fl agged the is ment or the benefi ciary? go doortodoor. (PIL) fi led by two citybased
in a quarantine centre at government of reducing In to get off the stage of the rally sue of shortage of vaccines How many persons between The affi davit read, “In 30 minutes after vaccina lawyers who sought those
Patankar School opposite dia from being “a vaccine where he is laughing and because of “the Modi go 18 and 44 years can aff ord to case of any Adverse Event tion. There were chances of above 75 years, bedridden
Arthur Road jail. Rapid an leader to a vaccine beggar”. cracking jokes. He needs to vernment’s PR exercise”, pay ₹ 400 per dose? Will the Following Immunisation, contamination as during or wheelchairbound may be
tigen tests were conducted Congress general secre come here, sit in front of pe lack of planning to ensure benefi ciary be burdened case management may not doortodoor inoculation, vaccinated at home.
on the inmates and some tary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, ople, talk to them and tell smooth supply of oxygen with the cost ? How many be proper and there will be the vaccine container will be A Division Bench of Chief
of those infected are admit in an interview to news agen them how is he going to save despite India being its largest States would be willing to delay in reaching the health taken out at each house, Justice Dipankar Datta and
ted to JJ Hospital, St. Ge cy ANI, said, “This govern lives.” producer, and allowing ex pay the price of the vaccine facility and challenges in which could aff ect its Justice G.S. Kulkarni is ex
orge Hospital and GT ment can speak to ISI. They “Manmohan Singhji was port of critical drugs. and subsidise the people?” maintaining protocol of ob effi cacy.” pected to hear the PIL on
Hospital. are speaking to ISI in Dubai. Prime Minister for 10 years. The party also sharply asked Mr. Chidambaram. servation of the patient for The affi davit mentioned, April 22.
The tests were conduct
ed on 350 women prison
ers, 225 men prisoners and
60 prison staff , out of
whom 40 women prison
Provide uninterrupted Citing oxygen shortage, hospital Assam gives ambulance
ers tested positive. The By
culla prison has the capaci oxygen supply: Punjab asks kin to shift critical patients status to oxygen carriers
ty of 462 prisoners (262
women and 200 men), but Special Correspondent He also reiterated urgent SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oxygen to critical centres,”
presently, it houses 306 fe CHANDIGARH steps to set up two pending Special Correspondent a notice to draw the atten shared on social media and GUWAHATI
Health Minister Himanta
LUCKNOW
male and 203 male Punjab has requested the Pressure Swing Adsorption tion of the attendants. “After also by the attendants. The Assam government has Biswa Sarma tweeted on
inmates. Central government to en (PSA) plants approved by Relatives of COVID19 pa repeated requests to the UP Madhulika Singh, director granted ambulance status to Wednesday.
Ms. Jagtap is an artiste sure uninterrupted oxygen the Centre two months ago. tients admitted in a private CM/ Central government we of Mayo Hospital, confi rmed all vehicles carrying oxygen, Offi cials said the ambu
belonging to Punebased supply for the State. While the capacity for hospital in Lucknow got a are not able to get enough that the hospital had put up nitrogen and argon. lance status would also be
cultural group Kabir Kala Chief Minister Captain storage of oxygen for all scare on Wednesday after oxygen supply. Hence we are the notice. After raising an “Assam Govt has granted given to oxygen carriers to
Manch who was arrested Amarinder Singh on Wed healthcare facilities in the the authorities, citing acute requesting family members alarm, the hospital got 80 all oxygen vehicles – tankers and from Assam’s neigh
from Kondhwa on Septem nesday wrote to Union State is around 300 MT, dai shortage of oxygen, alleged of those patients who are on cylinders through the State carrying Nitrogen, Argon bours in the northeast.
ber 8, 2020. Ms. Mukerjea, Health and Family Welfare ly requirement as per the ly asked them to shift the pa oxygen support, please take government and at present and Oxygen – the status of The State Health Minister
a television executive, was Minister Harsh Vardhan present case load is 105110 tients on oxygen support to their patients to higher did not have a shortage, she ambulance, to enable their also said everyone in Assam
arrested in August 2015 seeking at least 120 MT daily MT, the Chief Minister point other centres. centre for further manage said. The hospital has 117 CO hasslefree movement in aged 1845 would get two
and has been lodged at By allocation of oxygen for ed out, adding that this fi The administration of the ment,” read the notice. VID19 patients and barring state & transit through As doses of the COVID19 vac
culla jail since then. Punjab. gure was expected to rise. Mayo Medical Centre put up The notice was widely 27 all are on oxygen support. sam for speedy delivery of cine free.
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THE HINDU
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021
MUMBAI
WORLD 11
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Chauvin convicted of Floyd’s murder Sri Lanka detects nuclear
The former police offi cer faces a potential 40year jail sentence; Biden slams ‘systemic racism’ in U.S. material on Chinabound vessel
Sriram Lakshman polis did the right thing,” calling systemic racism “a
Washington former U.S. President Barack stain on the nation’s soul.” Shipping fi rm didn’t obtain prior nod for ‘dangerous cargo’
Former Minneapolis cop De Obama wrote, saying justice Mr. Biden said he had spoken
rek Chauvin, 45, was found was done in this particular with the family of Mr. Floyd Meera Srinivasan
Colombo
guilty of murder and man case at least. again — he had spoken with
slaughter by a jury on Tues “But if we’re being honest them on Monday. Sri Lanka on Tuesday detect
day, nearly a year after he with ourselves, we know that “I’m praying that the ver ed radioactive material on a
used his knee to pin the neck true justice is about much dict is the right verdict,” Mr. Chinabound vessel berthed
of an African American man, more than a single verdict in Biden had said earlier. It is at the southern Hambantota
George Floyd, to the ground, a single trial,” Mr. Obama, rare for a sitting President to Port. The vessel has been
killing him. Mr. Chauvin, said. comment on the outcome of asked to leave the Port, ac
who is white, faces a poten a trial before its conclusion. cording to offi cials, as the
tial 40year jail sentence. Biden’s address However, Mr. Biden said he shipping company failed to
Floyd’s death sparked President Joe Biden and had waited until the jury was obtain prior clearance for
‘Black Lives Matter’ protests VicePresident Kamala Har sequestered (i.e., without ac “dangerous cargo”, as per
for racial justice across ris, the fi rst African Ameri cess to the outside world) be Sri Lankan law.
America, the likes of which Day of reckoning: Derek Chauvin listening to the verdict can woman in her position, fore calling the family. When contacted, Sri Lan
the country had not seen before being taken away and people marching in Atlanta. *
AFP addressed the nation on “Let’s also be clear that kan Navy spokesman Cap
since the civil rights move Tuesday night after the ver such a verdict is also much tain Indika de Silva con A fi le photo of the Hambantota Port. * R.K. RADHAKRISHNAN
ment of the 1960s. gree murder and secondde Mr. Chauvin, 45, dressed in a dict was announced. too rare,” Mr. Biden said on fi rmed the development.
Floyd’s brother, Philonise gree manslaughter. grey suit and wearing a surgi “America has a long histo Tuesday night. “For so many Offi cials said a local ship nium hexachloride is nu Port,” he said.
Floyd, speaking to CNN, de Floyd had said, “I can’t cal mask, appeared to listen ry of systemic racism,” she people, it seems like it took a ping company, handling the clear material that is com Meanwhile, Leader of Op
scribed sitting in the cour breathe” repeatedly during intently, eyes darting from said, adding that Black peo unique and extraordinary vessel sailing under the fl ag monly transported from one position and the Samagi Jana
troom listening to the verdict the approximately ninemi side to side, as the judge read ple — Black men in particular convergence of factors. A of Antigua and Barbuda, country to another. But as Balawegaya (SJB or united
as, “a moment I would never nute encounter with Chau out the verdict for each of — have been treated as “less brave young woman with a from Rotterdam in the Neth per Sri Lankan law, we need people’s front) Sajith Prema
be able to relive, I will al vin on May 25 last year, an three charges brought than human” throughout the smartphone camera, a erlands to China, cited a any vessel carrying radioac dasa raised the issue in Par
ways have inside of me.” An encounter that was fi lmed by against him by the State of course of history. crowd who was trauma “mechanical emergency” tive material to obtain prior liament on Wednesday. The
emotional Mr. Philonise bystanders, particularly a Minnesota. The judge re “Black men are fathers, tised... a murder that lasts and sought permission from permission before berthing Navy had “not been allowed
talked about his faith and teenage girl, whose footage voked his bail $1 million and and brothers, and sons, and [sic] almost ten minutes in the harbour manager at the at any of our ports. This ves to board the vessel to carry
listed the names of other vic went viral on social media. Chauvin was handcuff ed and uncles, and grandfathers, broad daylight... offi cers Chinarun Hambantota Port. sel had not obtained that out an inspection”, he said,
tims of police violence. Witnesses to the incident taken into custody and friends, and neighbours. standing up and testifying However, the company did clearance,” H.L. Anil Ran adding: “The government
Tuesday’s result was an pleaded with the police to let immediately. Their lives must be valued in against a fellow offi cer in not declare that the cargo jith, Director General of Sri appears to be under pres
nounced after a jury of six go of Floyd. While the verdict was wel our education system, in our stead of just closing ranks… was radioactive material, a Lanka Atomic Energy Regu sure from a diplomatic mis
white and six racial minori comed in Washington D.C., healthcare system, in our for so many it feels like it requirement under Sri Lan latory Council, told The Hin- sion.” He did not name the
ties reached a (necessarily) Others charged the expressions of relief housing system, in our eco took all of that for the judi ka’s Atomic Energy Act. du on Wednesday. mission. “I am asking the go
unanimous verdict deliberat Three other offi cers have were tempered with remin nomic system, in our crimi cial system to deliver... just The vessel was found to vernment to examine this
ed for some 10 hours and been charged with aiding ders that this was a begin naljustice system, in our na basic accountability.” be carrying uranium hexa Ordered to leave …this is a very serious mat
found Chauvin guilty on and abetting murder in the ning and not an end to syste tion,” Ms. Harris said. Chauvin will be sentenced fl uoride, which is classifi ed “After consulting the Minis ter, something that can af
counts of second degree un second degree. matic racism. “It was a murder in the full in approximately eight under “dangerous cargo”, try of Defence, we have fect the life of our communi
intentional murder, third de The trial was televised and “Today a jury in Minnea light of day,” Mr. Biden said, weeks. according to offi cials. “Ura asked the vessel to leave the ty,” Mr. Premadasa said.
Justice department to probe Minneapolis policing Pak. frees 669 TLP supporters
Associated Press murder and manslaughter in and may result in major ment’s current systems of ac the past have typically ended Associated Press Minister said on Wednesday. killed in violence that broke
WASHINGTON Floyd’s death last May, set changes to policing there. countability, Mr. Garland in settlement agreements or Islamabad Saad Rizvi was arrested April out April 12 after Mr. Rizvi’s
The Department of Justice is ting off a wave of relief across It will examine the use of said. consent decrees to force Pakistani authorities freed 12 after threatening protests arrest.
opening a sweeping investi the country. force by police offi cers, in It’s unclear whether the changes. nearly 669 supporters of if the government did not ex Mr. Ahmad said fi ve police
gation into policing practices cluding force used during years under investigation The Minneapolis Police outlawed radical Islamist pel France’s Ambassador ov offi cers were “martyred”
in Minneapolis after a former ‘Pattern or practice’ protests, and whether the will begin when Floyd died Department is also being in group TehreekeLabaik Pa er the publication in France and 800 were injured in the
offi cer was convicted in the The new investigation is department engages in dis or before. Mr. Garland said a vestigated by the Minnesota kistan (TLP), hours after it of controversial cartoons clashes with Mr. Rizvi’s sup
killing of George Floyd there, known as a “pattern or prac criminatory practices. It will public report would be is Department of Human agreed to end a week of vio depicting Islam’s Prophet porters.
Attorney General Merrick tice” — examining whether also look into the depart sued, if the department fi nds Rights, which is looking into lent protests following talks Muhammed. Mr. Rizvi faces a murder
Garland announced on there is a pattern or practice ment’s handling of miscon a pattern or practice of un the department’s policies with the government. Interior Minister Sheikh charge after police offi cers
Wednesday. of unconstitutional or unlaw duct allegations and its treat constitutional policing. and practices over the last TLP’s leader, however, Rashid Ahmad for the fi rst died in the clashes with his
The decision comes a day ful policing — and will be a ment of people with The department could al decade to see if it engaged in will remain behind bars with time acknowledged that supporters. Mr. Ahmed said
after former offi cer Derek more sweeping probe of the behavioural health issues so bring a lawsuit against the systemic discriminatory charges pending against eight supporters of the hard Mr. Rizvi could approach the
Chauvin was found guilty of entire police department and will assess the depart police department, which in practices. him, the country’s Interior line Islamist group were courts to seek relief.
Putin warns rivals against Sri Lanka marks Easter bombing anniversary
‘crossing red line’ with Russia Devotees gather at attacked church; Opposition, Catholic leaders slam government for delay in probe
Meera Srinivasan after the Easter attacks, on the Easter day attacks were
Moscow’s response will be asymmetric and harsh, he warned COLOMBO the plank of enhanced na “politically motivated”, and
Sri Lanka on Wednesday tional security, vowing to the “real mastermind” is yet
AGence France-Presse in relation to Russia. And marked the second anniver bring perpetrators to justice. to be identifi ed.
Moscow where it will be — we will de sary of the Easter terror His victory brought hope to A Parliament Select Com
President Vladimir Putin on termine that ourselves,” he bombings that killed more many who were outraged by mittee, set up under the
Wednesday warned Russia’s added. than 250 people on April 21, the security lapses in the former government, and a
foreign rivals against “cross Moscow has seen its di 2019, amid mounting criti former Maithripala Sirisena commission appointed by
ing the red line” with Mos plomats in recent months cism from the Catholic Ranil Wickremesinghe admi President Maithripala Sirise
cow, as he gave a state of the expelled from a host of West church and political opposi nistration ahead of the terror na, which continued its
nation speech amid deep ern countries, which have tion over the delay in com attack, despite receiving probe after regime change,
tensions with the West. imposed sanctions on Russia pletion of the probe into the prior intelligence, including submitted detailed reports
Russia’s ties with the West over allegations of cyber at incident. from India. on the incident. However,
have deteriorated to near tacks, hacking and the poi On Wednesday morning, Grim memories: Families of victims of the 2019 Easter attacks Making a special state neither has conclusively es
Cold War lows, with Moscow soning of Mr. Navalny. hundreds of devotees, in at St. Anthony’s Church in Colombo on Wednesday. AP *
ment in Parliament on Wed tablished what or who drove
and Western capitals at log Vladimir Putin The Kremlin last week cluding relatives of victims, nesday, Prime Minister Ma the nine suicide bombers
gerheads over jailed Kremlin said it was “good” that US gathered at the St. Anthony’s the eastern city of Batticaloa, the commemorative service hinda Rajapaksa said all who blew up themselves,
critic Alexei Navalny, a Rus a new kind of sport.” President Joe Biden was Church in Colombo, which and three luxury hotels in at St. Anthony’s Church. those responsible for the killing and injuring hun
sian troop buildup on Uk The Russian President ad seeking dialogue with Putin was one of the sites of the se Colombo, griping the coun Easter attacks would be dreds.
raine’s borders and a series ded that Moscow wants by off ering a summit bet rial bombings executed by try in shock a decade after its More time brought to justice. His state Although the police have
of espionage scandals. “good relations” with all ween the two leaders, even suicide bombers from an IS civil war. Days before the anniversary ment came a day after Oppo arrested some 200 people
members of the internation as Washington slapped Mos inspired local Islamist radial The head of Sri Lanka’s event, however, the cardinal sition lawmaker Harin Fer since the suicide attacks, no
Blame game al community — even with cow with new sanctions. group. Roman Catholic Church Car — who earlier called for an nando from the Samagi Jana one has yet been charged in
“In some countries, they those that it does not see eye It has said, however, it is Most gathered at the dinal Malcolm Ranjith said international investigation Balawegaya (SJB, or United connection with the bomb
have started an obscene cus to eye. “But if someone per still considering the off er. church were attired in black, he was “deeply saddened” into the bomb attacks — told People’s Front) made serious ings. On the eve of the se
tom of blaming Russia for ceives our good intentions as As he spoke, Russian pol as they mourned and prayed by the lack of progress in the a media conference he was accusations in Parliament, cond anniversary, 16 men
anything,” Mr. Putin told weakness... let them know ice were detaining suppor for their loved ones. Bombs investigation. “We have to willing to give the govern linking a senior intelligence among them were charged
gathered lawmakers and re that Russia’s response will ters of Mr. Navalny who have had simultaneously explod stress that what is happening ment some more time as offi cial with the Easter terror for allegedly desecrating
gional governors in a speech be asymmetric and harsh,” called for mass protests on ed two years ago at the St. at the moment is an attitude such investigations take network. Earlier, Janatha Vi Buddha statues in December
broadcast on national he said. Wednesday in support of the Sebastian’s church in Ne of ‘don’t care’, where all fac time. President Gotabaya Ra mukthi Peramuna ( JVP) 2018, an incident that inves
television. “I hope that no one will country’s most prominent gombo, 40 km north of Co tors are not properly investi japaksa fought elections in leader and MP Anura Kuma tigators consider a precursor
“It’s some kind of sport — think of crossing the red line opposition fi gure. lombo, the Zion Church in gated,” he said, speaking at November 2019, six months ra Dissanayake alleged that to the Easter day attack.
ELSEWHERE
Slain Chad leader’s son takes over reins Nigeria varsity
students
Japan PM sends off ering
abducted to controversial shrine
Opposition parties call it a ‘coup’, urge people ‘not to obey’ the military decision
China, Koreas often slam such moves
Agence France-Presse er remained in their hands, period is meant to last 18 Agence France-Presse
N’Djamena installing Deby’s 37yearold months and lead to demo Kaduna Associated Press War criminals among about
Indonesian submarine Chad faced an uncertain fu son Mahamat Idriss Deby as cratic elections, though it Gunmen have attacked a TOKYO 2.5 million war dead.
missing with 53 aboard ture on Wednesday as the President and head of a tran can be extended once. private university in Nige Japanese Prime Minister Chief Cabinet Secretary
JAKARTA son of slain leader Idriss De sitional military council Chad’s main opposition ria’s northern Kaduna Yoshihide Suga on Wednes Katsunobu Kato told repor
Indonesia’s military said it by Itno took power in what while dissolving Parliament parties were unconvinced, state, killing one staff mem day donated a religious of ters that Mr. Suga’s off ering
was searching for a the opposition called a coup and the government. denouncing an “institutional ber and kidnapping some fering to a Tokyo shrine at the shrine was considered
submarine with 53 crew even as Western allies that They tore up Chad’s Con coup d’etat” in a statement students, police and offi viewed by China and both “an activity as a private per
aboard after losing contact rely on the country’s mili stitution and established a and calling on citizens “not cials said on Wednesday. Koreas as a symbol of war son” and the government
with the vessel during naval tary might pleaded for “Transition Charter” that to obey illegitimate deci It was not immediately time aggression, though he was not in a position to com
exercises off the coast of Bali stability. lays out a new basic law for sions” by the military clear how many students avoided a visit. ment on it.
on Wednesday. The German Deby had ruled the impo the country of 16 million pe council. had been abducted from Mr. Suga’s off ering of Mr. Suga’s predecessor,
built KRI Nanggala 402 was verished desert country for ople that spans western and Beyond that, the threat re Greenfi eld University dur “masakaki” leaves at Yasu Shinzo Abe, known for revi
scheduled to do live torpedo three decades before the Ar central Africa. mained from rebels who ing the Tuesday night at kuni Shrine was his second sionism concerning Japan’s
exercises when it asked for Mahamat Idriss Deby
my announced his death on The charter issued on launched an incursion into tack and one offi cial said since taking offi ce in Sep wartime atrocities, visited
permission to dive early
Tuesday from wounds suf West’s antijihadist eff orts. Wednesday proclaimed that the country’s north from Li they were still conducting a tember. the shrine on Wednesday.
Wednesday morning,
fered while leading troops in Deby’s death was an Mr. Mahamat, a career sol bya on the day of the April 11 headcount. Victims of Japanese mili Mr. Abe stayed away from
authorities said. A helicopter
looking for the missing vessel
battle against rebels. nounced only a day after dier like his father who had election despite army claims Two offi cials at the un tary aggression during the the shrine for seven years af
spotted an oil spill in waters The shock demise of the provisional results declared been head of the powerful they had been defeated. iversity said at least 20 stu fi rst half of the 20th century, ter his 2013 visit triggered
where the submarine was 68yearold led to immediate him the winner of an April 11 presidential guard, will “oc The rebel group, known dents were still missing especially the Koreas and outrage from China and the
thought to have submerged, concerns of a power vacuum election giving him a sixth cupy the functions of the as FACT, told AFP on Tues though it was unclear how China, see the shrine as a Koreas. However, he has
it added. The Navy said it had in Chad, which sits at the term in offi ce. President of the republic” day it would pursue its off en many had been taken by symbol of Japanese milita regularly visited since he re
narrowed down the search heart of the troubled Sahel Allies of the late leader and also serve as head of the sive after a pause for Deby’s gunmen or may have fl ed rism because it honours signed as Prime Minister last
based on the spill. AFP region and is key to the moved swiftly to assure pow armed forces. The transition state funeral on Friday. the attack. convicted Second World year.
CM M BM-BME
YK
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Farm exports
rose 16.9% in Exporters fret over delay in rebate rates Wait and watch, FM tells
industry on second wave
AprilFeb. FY21 The RoDTEP scheme came into eff ect on Jan. 1 but lack of clarity is hampering sector’s ability to price
‘Govt. with industry in fi ghting COVID’
Press Trust of India Special Correspondent and concerns would be ad count with the Customs de
New Delhi NEW DELHI dressed in the early stages of partment, which could be Special Correspondent
India exported agricultural Even as exporters fret over operationalisation,” RSM As utilised to pay basic customs NEW DELHI
commodities worth ₹ 2.74 an inordinate delay in notifi tute noted in a white paper duty on imported goods. Assuring industry of ‘full go
lakh crore till February of cation of the rates under a on the scheme. “Due to CO “Clarity would be required vernment support’, Finance
the 202021 fi scal, a 16.9% new WTOcompliant scheme VID19, India’s exports may whether the refund could be Minister Nirmala Sithara
increase from ₹ 2.31 lakh for rebating taxes and duties require more stimulus and utilised to pay other taxes on man said India Inc. must
crore in the year earlier, to the export sector, they are the exporters hope that RoD imported goods such as IGST ‘wait and watch’ as the se
notwithstanding the pan also seeking greater clarity TEP would not be an impedi and Social Welfare Sur cond wave of COVID19
demic, the agriculture mi from the government on ment to their business charge,” the tax consultant plays out. She added that
nistry said on Wednesday. some grey areas in the plans,” it added. said. Under the MEIS the PM’s address and new
Similarly, imports of scheme’s functioning, ac scheme, which RODTEP has vaccination norms would
agriculture and allied com cording to tax consultancy Grey areas replaced, these refund cre add ‘a sense of reassurance’.
modities increased by 3% fi rm RSM Astute. The consultancy fl agged the dits could be used to pay cus “With all these steps, we Nirmala Sitharaman
to ₹ 1,41,034 crore during power given to Customs of toms duty, additional cus should hope to see a posi
the AprilFebruary period ‘Very near future’ fi cers to suspend the scrips toms duty (with some tive change in the way the FICCI president Uday
of 202021 from ₹ 1,37,014 On Tuesday, Commerce Se or refund credits or even to exceptions) as well as central second wave of COVID19 Shankar fl agged the need
crore in the year earlier pe cretary Anup Wadhawan Booster dose: Due to COVID19, India’s exports may require bar exporters from utilising excise duties. pandemic is moving,” she for clarity on the supply of
riod. Despite COVID19, ba had said that the rates under more stimulus, RSM Astute said. B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
*
these scrips especially as the The delay in operationa said in a meeting with the essential and nonessential
lance of trade in agricul the RoDTEP (Remission of grounds on which such sus lising the scheme is aff ecting FICCI national executive. goods aff ected by local lock
ture has favourably Duties and Taxes on Export ing the government to lift the the absence of the crucial in pensions could be done have the exporters by restricting “I would request the in downs in some parts of the
increased to ₹ 1,32,579.69 Products) scheme, which uncertainty over the benefi ts formation especially in sec not been spelt out. their ability to price pro dustry to watch the next few country as also the need to
crore from ₹ 93,907.76 came into eff ect on January that would accrue to them tors with thin margins. As per government state ducts competitively and the days a bit more carefully, extend support to the mi
crore in the said period, 1, would be notifi ed in the under the scheme, as they “The trade and industry is ments, the refund of taxes uncertainty was making it and then assess for yourself cro, small and medium en
the ministry said in a ‘very, very near future’. are it fi nding it diffi cult to hopeful that the scheme’s on exports would be credit harder to fi nalise contracts, what this quarter is going to terprises, which were cur
statement. Exporters have been urg price fresh global orders in operation would be smooth, ed to exporters’ ledger ac RSM Astute pointed out. be like,” the minister added. rently facing diffi culties.
“India has consistently
maintained trade surplus
in the agricultural pro
ducts over the years. COVID cuts a Oil slips as India’s COVID India among Care Ratings lowers FY22 ‘Curbs costing
...Even during the diffi cult
fi fth of ONGC top 5 markets truckers daily
time of the pandemic, In
dia took care not to disturb
capex in FY21 surge dents outlook for Ericsson
GDP forecast to 10.2% ₹ 1,000 crore’
the world food supply
chain and continued to ex Key importer reports record deaths ‘Lockdowns to aff ect GST collections’
port,” the ministry said. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Special Correspondent Press trust of india
During AprilFebruary NEW DELHI Reuters NEW DELHI Special Correspondent mumbai
of the 202021 fi scal, the ONGC spent about one London Swedish telecom gear mak MUMBAI Truckers’ body AIMTC on
country exported agri fi fth less than its budgeted Oil prices fell for a second er Ericsson, which posted Care Ratings has lowered its Wednesday said the tran
commodities worth ₹ 2.74 capex in 202021 fi scal after day on Wednesday, heading a net sales of SEK49.8 bil India GDP growth forecast sporters are suff ering loss
lakh crore as against ₹ 2.31 COVID19related restric for their biggest daily drop lion in the JanuaryMarch to 10.2% for FY22 following es of about ₹ 1,000 crore
lakh crore in the same pe tions delayed projects but in more than two weeks and 2021 quarter, said India fi fresh lockdowns imposed in per day due to the fresh
riod of the previous year. fuel marketers such as IOC weighed down by concerns gured among the top fi ve parts of the country to con restrictions and weekly
Among agricommodities exceeded targets, a govern that surging COVID19 cases countries, accounting for trol the pandemic. lockdowns in some of the
exported, wheat ship ment report showed. in India will drive down fuel 3% of the net sales. On March 24, it had pro States, and the losses could
ments rose in terms of va Oil and Natural Gas Cor demand in the world’s third Other countries in the jected growth for FY22 to be spike further if certain re
lue to ₹ 3,283 crore in April poration (ONGC) had bud biggest oil importer. er record increase in the dai top fi ve with regard to sales in the 1111.2% range based lief measures are not taken
February, from ₹ 425 crore geted ₹ 32,502 crore of cap Brent crude futures for ly death toll from COVID19. were the U.S. (36%), Japan on Gross Value Added (GVA) up by the government to
in the yearearlier period. ital spending in the fi scal June declined $1.14, or 1.7%, Raising the possibility of (8%), Australia (4%) and growth of 10.2%, and on added. Earlier this month mitigate the situation.
NAFED exported 50,000 from April 2020 to March to $65.43 a barrel at 12:50 further oil supply, Iran and the U.K. (3%). April 5, a day after Maha the RBI had stuck to its FY22 On April 12, when res
tonnes wheat to Afghanis 2021 but ended up spend GMT. world powers have made The fi rm said that its cur rashtra imposed restric GDP forecast of 10.5% des trictions were imposed in
tan and 40,000 tonnes to ing only ₹ 26,441 crore, ac “Demand jitters were headway in talks to save a rencyadjusted sales in tions, it further lowered its pite the surge in infections. Maharashtra, the research
Lebanon under govern cording to the report of the thrust back into the spot 2015 nuclear accord. creased by 21% yearon GDP forecast to 10.710.9%. “As tax collections too unit of the All India Motor
menttogovernment ar Oil Ministry's Petroleum light yesterday amid a sharp Still, major oil trading year in southeast Asia, “With conditions chang would be aff ected, there Transport Congress
rangement. In the case of Planning and Analysis Cell. rise in global coronavirus companies are stowing die Oceania and India region. ing very swiftly it does be would be an impact on GDP (AIMTC) had assessed daily
nonbasmati rice export, A company offi cial said cases,” PVM analysts said. sel and jet fuel on newly “Sales increased YoY in come imperative to revisit growth which is now placed loss of about ₹ 315 crore per
the ministry said the ship projects’ implementation “Nowhere is this more ob built supertankers in Asia networks, driven by conti these numbers more often at 10.2%. Therefore, the loss day, it said.
ments increased to ₹ 30,277 was delayed following the vious than in India.” and Africa in anticipation of nued investments in LTE, to get a better sense of the in GDP this year due to the According to a fresh as
crore in AprilFebruary of disruption caused to sup India, also the world’s COVID19 vaccinations driv primarily in India, and by future; and the picture lockdowns would be... sessment, the daily losses
202021 from ₹ 13,030 crore ply chain and labour move thirdlargest oil user, on ing prices higher in the 5G momentum, predomi shows a 1% dip from our fo 0.81% from our earlier esti have mounted to about
in the yearearlier period. ment by COVID19 curbs. Wednesday reported anoth months ahead. nantly in Australia,” it said. recast on March 24, 2021,” it mate of 1111.2%,” it added. ₹ 1,000 crore per day.
THE HINDU
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021
MUMBAI
SPORT 13
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Du Plessis, Deepak Chahar help CSK conquer KKR and go top
Opener’s 95 n.o. and swing bowler’s four reduce Kolkata to its knees; freeswinging Russell and Cummins threaten a miracle but 221 proves a bridge too far
Sunrisers dismantle Punjab Kings, get off the mark Can RR ground highfl ying RCB?
After bowlers skittle Rahul’s men out for 120, Bairstow powers Hyderabad to fi rst win in four games Samson’s outfi t will need to bring its best to beat Kohli’s unit
Ayan Acharya Ashwin Achal
SCOREBOARD
S unrisers Hyderabad made
light work of Punjab
Kings’ 121run target, romp
PUNJAB KINGS
K.L. Rahul c Jadhav b Bhuvnesh
war 4 (6b), Mayank Agarwal c
37 (37b, 3x4, 1x6), Jonny Bair
stow (not out) 63 (56b, 3x4,
3x6), Kane Williamson (not out)
R oyal Challengers Banga
lore holds all the aces in
its fi xture against Rajasthan
ing home by nine wickets at Rashid b Khaleel 22 (25b, 2x4), 16 (19b); Extras (lb1, w4): 5; Royals at the Wankhede Sta
Chris Gayle lbw b Rashid 15 (17b, Total (for one wkt. in 18.4
Chennai’s M.A. Chidamba dium in Mumbai on
2x4), Nicholas Pooran run out 0 overs): 121.
ram Stadium on Wednesday (0b), Deepak Hooda lbw b Ab FALL OF WICKET
Thursday.
for its fi rst win of IPL14. hishek 13 (11b, 2x4), Moises 173 (Warner, 10.1). RCB is fl ying high with
Henriques st. Bairstow b Ab PUNJAB KINGS BOWLING three wins in as many
Positive start hishek 14 (17b), Shahrukh Khan c Shami 20160, Allen 41221, games, while RR has slipped
David Warner and Jonny Bair Abhishek b Khaleel 22 (17b, Arshdeep 3.40310, Henriques to two losses in three
stow got SRH’s chase off to a 2x6), Fabian Allen c Warner b 1070, M. Ashwin 40220, outings.
positive start, racing to 50 for Khaleel 6 (11b), M. Ashwin c Hooda 40220. RCB has fi red in all de
no loss in the sixover Power Bairstow b Kaul 9 (10b, 1x4), Toss: PBKS; MoM: Bairstow. partments and looks a domi
Play, with the latter’s two six Mohammed Shami run out 3 Sunrisers won by nine wickets nant force. The evergreen
(3b), Arshdeep Singh (not out) 1 with eight balls to spare.
es off Fabian Allen and Mois AB de Villiers underlined his
(2b); Extras (b9, w1, nb1): 11;
es Henriques the highlights. class in the 38run victory
Total (in 19.4 overs): 120.
The duo blunted the PBKS at over Kolkata Knight Riders
tack with some good running FALL OF WICKETS with a whirlwind unbeaten
115 (Rahul, 3.1 overs), 239
and positive strokeplay. 34ball 76. The middleorder
(Mayank, 6.6), 339 (Pooran,
PBKS captain K.L. Rahul 7.1), 447 (Gayle, 8.4), 563
is further solidifi ed by Aus
would have hoped his spin (Hooda, 11.3), 682 (Henriques, tralian Glenn Maxwell, who
ners would take control 13.4), 7101 (Allen, 16.4), 8110 has backtoback fi fties to his
through the middle overs and (Shahrukh, 18.1), 9114 (M. Ash name.
up the asking rate. But the win, 19.1). On the bowling front, pac Delivering the goods: RCB’s Harshal and RR’s Sakariya have
SRH openers kept the score SUNRISERS BOWLING ers Harshal Patel and Mo bowled some impressive spells. SPORTZPICS/IPL *
TV PICKS
IPL: Star Sports 1 & SS Select ‘India Open postponement is disheartening’ Rizwan and Qadir help
1 (SD & HD), 7.30 p.m.
Serie A: Sony Ten 2 (SD & Pakistan down Zimbabwe
HD), 10 p.m. & 12.15 a.m.
(Friday)
Kashyap says Saina is nearing full fi tness, despite being troubled by niggles
Premier League: SS Select 2 players getting a fair chance
PAK IN ZIM
(SD & HD), 12.15 a.m.. BADMINTON of qualifying for the Games. Agence France-Presse
(Friday)
South Africa vs V.V. Subrahmanyam “Exactly for this reason, I HARARE
Bangladesh: 1st Test, Sony HYDERABAD feel the All England Cham
Six (SD & HD), 9.45 a.m. Mohammad Rizwan scored
pionships early this year a fi ghting 82 while legspin
The postponement of the In
should also have been treat ner Usman Qadir grabbed
dia Open, an Olympics quali
IN BRIEF fying tournament scheduled
ed as a qualifying event.” three wickets as Pakistan
to be held in New Delhi from Kashyap added that Saina edged out Zimbabwe by 11
May 11, is disheartening and is nearing full fi tness, despite runs in the fi rst Twenty20
shows that the players’ inter being troubled by niggles International here on
ests are not taken care of, which are taking a long time Wednesday.
said P. Kashyap, husband of to heal. Pakistan managed 149 for
Saina Nehwal. seven in its 20 overs with in
Tough phase form wicketkeeperbatsman
Helpless “It has been a very tough last Rizwan anchoring the in Usman Qadir. AFP
Lewandowski back in two years for her. Because of nings after the team was
*
“It is really upsetting that the
training the pandemic, the condi Haris Rauf bowled a tight
Delhi event is postponed. We sent in to bat.
MUNICH
are helpless. tions are bad. length to concede just eight
Robert Lewandowski and pull off a hard earned
returned to training with the “We have serious doubts “But when IPL and tennis Aggressive start
Ready, but...: Saina Nehwal and P. Kashyap hope that the Malaysian and Singapore Opens win, helping Pakistan to 10
Bayern Munich team on whether anyone cares for would be held as scheduled. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
*
can go on, a way should be Zimbabwe looked threaten
found out to ensure the ing at 77 for two in the 10th lead in the threematch
Wednesday as the Polish the players when they take
Olympics qualifying events over but Qadir (3/29) and series.
striker aims to break a long these decisions,” the 34 reer, said the India Open, with only the last two events. pics cut were bright,” Kash
The scores: Pakistan 149/7 in
standing record for most yearold Kashyap told The along with Malaysian and the “Our calculations were yap said. are held,” he said. pacer Mohammad Hasnain
20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan
goals in a Bundesliga season. Hindu here on Wednesday. Singapore Opens, are the last that if Saina were to make it “Now, it has come to two “Now all we can do is to (2/27) kept it to 138 for seven 82 n.o., ) bt Zimbabwe 138/7 in
Lewandowski has 35 goals Kashyap, who also dons three Olympics qualifying to the quarterfi nals in two of out of two. It is not going to hope that at least the Malay in the allotted 20 overs. 20 overs (Craig Ervine 34, Luke
from 25 league games with the role of a mentor to Saina events and now players like the three tournaments, her be easy and I strongly believe sian and Singapore Opens Zimbabwe needed 20 off Jongwe 30 n.o., Usman Qadir
four matches left in which to besides pursuing his own ca Saina and Srikanth are left chances of making the Olym no one cares about the will be held on schedule.” the last over but fast bowler 3/29). Pakistan won by 11 runs.
break Gerd Muller’s record of
40 goals from the 197172
season. AP
ECB removes national
selector in shakeup
Chelsea fourth despite goalless draw against Brighton Arjun Kalyan is
LONDON
The national selector of the
England men’s cricket team
In Bundesliga, Schalke relegated, Bayern Munich pulls further ahead even as Leipzig loses
rival Arminia Bielefeld on
India’s 68th GM
was removed as part of a EURO LEAGUES Tuesday.
restructuring that made the CHESS
role redundant after more Associated Press Fabian Klos’ 50thminute
than a century. Ed Smith is London goal was enough for the Special Correspondent
home side to boost its own CHENNAI
leaving at the end of April As Chelsea’s ownership
after about three years in the climbed down from plans to chances of survival. Arjun Kalyan became the
role, the England and Wales join a breakaway Super country’s 68th Grandmaster
Bayern Munich capital
Cricket Board (ECB) said on League, the team climbed in in the ongoing GM round ro
ised on secondplace Leip
Tuesday. Overall to the top four of the Pre bin “Rujna Zora3 2021”
zig’s shock 21 loss at Co
responsibility for future tournament at Arandjelovac
mier League with a farfrom logne by moving 10 points
squad selections will fall on in Serbia.
impressive 00 draw against clear at the top with a 20
Chris Silverwood, the team’s The 18yearold B. Com.
Brighton on Tuesday. win at home over Bayer
head coach.
Leverkusen. student defeated GM Kosic
Thomas Tuchel’s side was
Dragan of Montenegro in the Arjun Kalyan.
stifl ed inside Stamford The results: Premier League:
FC Goa loses to fi fth round to achieve the
Bridge, barely creating a Chelsea 0 drew with Brighton
Persepolis
MARGAO
clearcut chance against the 0.
feat.
“I was 2477 before leaving
<
> Ileaving
was 2477 before
for Serbia
FC Goa put up a spirited fight relegationthreatened Serie A: Hellas Verona 1 (Salce for Serbia and needed 23 and needed 23
before going down 21 to visitor. do Mora 72) lost to Fiorentina 2
points to become a GM. I am points to become a
Group E leader Persepolis FC, The point moved Chelsea (Vlahovic 45+2pen, Caceres
65).
happy that I did that beating GM
bringing to an end the Indian above West Ham on goal dif Kosic,” Arjun told The Hindu Arjun
club’s unbeaten run in the ference and into fourth Bundesliga: Cologne 2 (Hector on Wednesday.
AFC Champions League here place. 46, 60) bt RB Leipzig 1 (Haidara
Arjun said that he was re robin “Rujna Zora2” last
on Tuesday. 59); Bayern Munich 2 (Choupo
The results: Persepolis FC 2 Schalke was fi nally rele Moting 7, Kimmich 13) bt Bayer
lieved to achieve the feat as week, Arjun needed a win to
(Mahdi Torabi 18pen, Seyed gated — for the fi rst time Leverkusen 0; Arminia Bielefeld he had come close to becom become a GM, but he missed
Jalal Hosseini 24) bt FC Goa 1 since 1991 — from the Bun 1 (Klos 50) bt Schalke 0; Ein ing a GM quite a few times it. “Now I just want to keep
(Edu Bedia 14); Al Wahda 3 bt Final nail: Arminia Bielefeld’s Fabian Klos scores to send Schalke hurtling into the second desliga after a dismal season tracht Frankfurt 2 (Hinteregger earlier. improving my game and my
Al Rayyan 2. division. REUTERS
* with a 10 loss at relegation 37, Silva 58) bt Augsburg 0. In fact, in the GM round ratings,” he said.
Sathish Kumar pulls out
Tokyo Games: decision on fans or George delivers for the Clippers
from Asian meet
KOLKATA
Twotime Commonwealth
Games champion S. Sathish
Kumar withdrew from the
Asian weightlifting
championships in Tashkent
no fans delayed until June Knicks pull off a seventh straight win
due to ‘an injury’. “Sathish got need a little more time to we must contain the spread to be rerouted as conditions NBA
injured during the warmup
GENERAL make a proper judgement.” of the virus as soon as possi change. Osaka and Tokyo Reuters
prior to the competition and Press Trust of India Government minister Taro ble." Many of the worries were expected to come un PORTLAND
had to withdraw from it,” said Tokyo Kano, who is in charge of the now center around the torch der new emergency orders
Indian Weightlifting Paul George made two free
vaccine rollout in Japan, relay. A leg of the relay on this week. Tokyo Governor
Federation secretary Sahdev
Japanese residents with tick throws with 4.8 seconds left
hinted last week that empty Wednesday was moved off Yuriko Koike has said mea
Yadav on Wednesday. Sathish ets to the Tokyo Olympics to cap a 33point eff ort and
venues seemed likely as CO the public streets in Mat sures needed to be taken "as
had entered his name in may not know until weeks propel Los Angeles Clippers
VID19 surges across Japan. suyama City in the prefec soon as possible" to stem the
Group B of men's 81kg before the games open if to a narrow 113112 victory
Hashimoto’s backpedal ture of Ehime. It was to take spread.
category. they’ll be allowed to attend. over host Portland
ing is typical of the ever place in a city park with “no
Fans from abroad have al Trailblazers.
changing planning as virus spectators or stage perfor Death toll
Divij loses in doubles ready been barred, and on George scored the fi nal
cases rise in Japan with To mances," an organising com Japan has attributed more
quarterfinals Wednesday organising com six points of the game as the
kyo’s postponed Olympics mittee statement said. than 9,600 deaths to CO
BELGRADE mittee president Seiko Hash Clippers won for the 15th
imoto said a decision on ve set to open in three months This followed the torch VID19, good by global stan time in the past 18 games
Wild card entrants Ivan
Sabanov and Matej Sabanov nue capacity — or if there in the midst of a pandemic. being detoured last week in dards but poor by standards and defeated the Trail Blaz
of Croatia beat Aljaz Bedene will be any fans at all, or just Hashimoto acknowledged Osaka — Japan’s second lar in Asia. ers for the sixth consecutive
gest metropolitan area — and Just in time: Paul George uncorked two baskets with less than
of Slovenia and Divij Sharan empty venues — may not be the low public support in Ja "If the coronavirus infec time.
run only in a city park. fi ve seconds remaining to help Clippers edge Trailblazers. AP *
Sachin was the lone Indian
man to book a place in the
fi nal of the World youth
boxing championships
Holder Brazil to Atanu and Ankita ranked second Victorious Anish Giri
here.
Sachin defeated former
face Germany ARCHERY WC back in the hunt
European junior champion Sports Bureau
ing phase and then tight
last year due to the COVID19 CANDIDATES CHESS
Michele Baldassi of Italy FOOTBALL pandemic.
GUATEMALA CITY
ened the noose around his
with a 50 verdict in a 56kg Atanu Das and Ankita Bha Rakesh Rao Chinese rival who struggled
semifi nal bout to set up a In the women’s draw re
Agence France-Presse kat took second spots in NEW DELHI with his timemanagement
title clash with Yerbolat Sa cord fourtime champion
Zurich men and women’s indivi Anish Giri was back into the during this 38move
byr of Kazakhstan. the USA will feature against
Reigning champion Brazil dual recurve ranking titlerace after a clinical vic encounter.
Sweden, Australia and New
Three other Indian men was on Wednesday drawn rounds respectively in the tory over Wang Hao for a
Zealand. Of the three drawn
— Bishwamitra Chongtham with 2016 runnerup Germa archery World Cup Stage 1 share of the second spot be
The groups: Men: Group A: Ja games, jointsecond Max
(49kg), Ankit Narwal ny, the Ivory Coast and Sau pan, South Africa, Mexico, here. hind leader Ian Nepom ime VachierLagrave es
(64kg) and Vishal Gupta di Arabia in the Tokyo Olym France. Atanu collected 680 niachtchi in the ninth round caped with an 88move
(91kg) — lost their lastfour pics men’s football group Group B: New Zealand, South points to lie behind USA’s of Candidates chess tourna draw against Ding Liren.
bouts and will get bronze stages. Korea, Honduras, Romania. Brady Ellison (694), while ment in Yekaterinburg in
medals. Group C: Egypt, Spain, Argen Ninth round results: Alexan
Host Japan, which has Pravin Jadhav (666), B. Dhi Russia, on Tuesday.
The results: Men: Semifi nals: tina, Australia. der Grischuk (Rus, 4) drew
never won a medal in the raj (664) and Tarundeep Ankita Bhakat. *
FILE PHOTO Atanu Das. * FILE PHOTO The victory for Giri, the with Ian Nepomniachtchi (Rus,
49kg: Bishwamitra Chong men’s event, will play Group D: Brazil, Germany, Ivo Rai (663) placed 15th, 20th only winner of the day, was
tham lost to Sanzhar Tash ry Coast, Saudi Arabia. 5.5); Anish Giri (Ned, 5) bt
France, South Africa and and 22nd. hu Vedwan (654) took third, (2012). The women’s team described as World cham Wang Hao (Chn, 4).
kenbay (Kaz) 41; 56kg: Sa Women: Group E: Japan, Cana
chin bt Michele Baldassi (Ita)
Mexico in Group A. da, Britain, Chile. Anikta scored 673 to 12nd and 14th places (1353) was second after USA pion Magnus Carlsen as a Kirill Alekseenko (Rus, 4)
50; 64kg: Ankit Narwal lost The tournament starts on Group F: China, Brazil, Zambia, come second behind Mexi respectively. (1362). “very, very, very good drew with Fabiano Caruana
to Sabirzhan Akkalykov (Kaz) July 22, a day before the Netherlands. can Ana Vazquez (680). The Indian men’s team India (2003) was the top game.” (USA, 5); Ding Liren (Chn, 3.5)
41; 91kg: Vishal Gupta lost to opening ceremony of the Group G: Sweden, United Deepika Kumari (671), Ko placed third (2010) behind ranked side in the mixed Playing white, Giri used a drew with Maxime VachierLa
Jakub Straszewski (Pol) 50. Games that were postponed States, Australia, New Zealand. malika Bari (659) and Mad USA (2036) and France team event. great new idea in the open grave (Fra, 5).
CM M BM-BME
YK