cmyk
THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA
WEATHER
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PRAYERS
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SUNSET TODAY 6.39 PM
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CORONA
C UNT
CASES DEATHS
(+44,220) (+853)
3,02,76,685 3,96,636
covid19india.org
STATE GOVERNMENT BULLETINS
(+5,127) (91)
TN: 24,65,874 32,290
WORLD CONFIRMED CASES
18,17,32,638
DEATHS
39,36,221
COUNTRIES,
219
AREAS WITH
CASES
worldometers.info
Over 10 cr Covishield jabs
produced in June
Pune: Fulfilling its commitment,
Serum Institute of India has pro-
duced over 10 crore doses of its
COVID-19 vaccine Covishield in
June so far as India ramps up
the pace of its vaccination drive
in the face of a possible third
wave of the viral infection.
India's COVID-19 inoculation
drive has picked up pace under
the new phase of universalisa-
tion of COVID-19 vaccination
that commenced on June 21 with
around 69 lakh vaccine doses
being administered on an aver-
age daily in the last six days.
Trump silent on 2024
election bid
Wellington: Donald Trump held
his first big campaign-style rally
since leaving the White House,
giving a vintage, rambling
speech Saturday to an adoring
audience as he launched a series
of appearances ahead of next
year’s midterm elections. The
former president, who has been
booted from social media plat-
forms and faces multiple legal
woes, has flirted with his own
potential candidacy in 2024, but
in the 90-minute address in Ohio
he made no clear mention of his
political future.
COUNTER POINT
Kiss flouts Covid protocol; UK min quits
London, June 26:
Embattled British cabinet
minister Matt Hancock on
Saturday resigned as health
secretary, amid mounting
calls for him to step down
over his admitted breach of
Covid-19 lockdown rules
with a kiss involving a close
female aide.
Former UK chancellor
Sajid Javid, Pakistani-ori-
gin Conservative Party MP,
deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle
Drones drop IEDs on IAF base
■ Two guards at Jammu station hurt ■ Police say LeT operative held
YUSUF JAMEEL,
PAWAN BALI | DC
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI, JUNE
27
In a major security lapse,
disquieting twin blasts took
place early Sunday morn-
ing at the overly sensitive
Jammu Air Force station,
which is just 14 km from the
India-Pakistan border. The
National Investigation
Agency is likely to probe
the incident, possibly the
first drone attack on a mili-
tary base in India. It is sus-
pected the drones were used
to drop low-intensity IEDs
to trigger the blasts.
The Indian Air Force,
with the aid of forensic
experts, has already begun
an internal probe into the
overnight attack that left
two personnel with minor
injuries and a barracks
which was marginally dam-
aged.
Air Force and J&K police
sources in Jammu said the
two explosions, within a
gap of five minutes, rocked
the high-security technical
area of the Air Force station
on the outskirts of Jammu
on the intervening night of
June 26-27, causing minor
damage to the barracks.
Though Jammu-based
defence spokesman Lt. Col.
Davendra Anand claimed
there was no injury to any
military personnel or dam-
age to equipment, sources
said two IAF personnel re-
ceived minor injuries. ■ P4
Shopping, worshipping to
resume in 4 districts today
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JUNE 27
Shopping malls, temples,
mosques and churches
were being spruced up on
Sunday ahead of Monday’s
reopening as the ‘unlock’
in Chennai and three
neighbouring districts
enters another phase.
In a late night announce-
ment, Chief Minister M.K.
Stalin said clothing and
jewellery stores are also
allowed to open for busi-
ness from 9 am to 7 pm
with customers allowed
up to 50 per cent capacity
in the 23 districts that
come under the Tier-2.
Twitter grievance
officer quits job
New Delhi, June 27:
Twitter’s interim resident
grievance officer for India
has stepped down, leaving
the micro-blogging site
without a grievance offi-
cial as mandated by the
new IT rules to address
complaints from Indian
subscribers, according to
a source.
The source said that
Dharmendra Chatur, who
was recently appointed as
interim resident griev-
ance officer, has quit the
post. The social media
company’s website no
longer displays his name,
as required under
Information Technology
(Intermediary Guidelines
and Digital Media Ethics
Code) Rules 2021. Twitter
declined to comment on
is set to replace him,
Downing Street said.
In a letter to Prime
Minister Boris Johnson, Mr
Classes for students only
through ‘Kalvi TV’: Min
First drone attack to force
military to review security
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JUNE 27
The drone attack on the
Indian Air Force station
in Jammu will have huge
implication as security
across all IAF and other
military bases in the coun-
try will now have to be
reviewed to prevent drone
attack by terrorists on
high security assets
Bus services are to
resume at 6 am on Monday
in 23 districts, categorised
under Tier-2 in Tamil
Nadu. The vehicles recei-
ved a water wash and
mechanical checks in
almost the whole of Tamil
Nadu save for 11 districts
which are still classified
as the worst-hit by the
coronavirus pandemic.
Buses will run with 50 per
cent capacity until the sit-
uation improves further.
Night services of long-dis-
tance buses and mofussil
services will also resume
on Monday. The private
omni bus association said
it will, however, not resu-
the development, which
comes at a time when the
micro-blogging platform
has been engaged in a tus-
sle with the Indian gov-
ernment over the new
social media rules.
The government has
slammed Twitter for
deliberate defiance and
failure to comply with the
country’s new IT rules.
The rules which came
into effect on May 25 man-
date social media compa-
nies to establish a griev-
ance redressal mecha-
nism for resolving com-
plaints from the users or
victims. All significant
social media companies,
with over 50 lakh user
base shall appoint a griev-
ance officer to deal with
such complaints.
Hancock said the govern-
ment “owe it to people who
have sacrificed so much in
this pandemic to be honest
when we have let them
down" and reiterated his
previous apology for break-
ing the government guid-
ance on social distancing
from people outside a close
household bubble.
It comes after leaked
CCTV images showed the
CHENNAI I MONDAY 28 I JUNE 2021
CITY | 3
including fighter aircraft.
In recent months terror-
ists from Pakistan have
been increasingly using
drones to drop weapons
and drugs across the inter-
national border in Jammu
and Punjab.
Drones have emerged as
the new security threats
across the world and ana-
lysts had long feared it
could be used by terrorists
me services immediately.
Transport minister S.R.
Rajakannappan’s stateme-
nt revealed that 9,333
buses will be operated in
27 districts from Monday.
SETC will run 365 buses
on long distance routes ro-
und the clock starting
from 6 am. Bus services
during night hours were
suspended on April 20
after the state government
imposed a lockdown bet-
ween 10 pm and 4 am. The
buses will now be operat-
ed within districts and
between districts and com-
muters can travel without
e-registration, sources
clarified. ■ P4
VACCINATION
HAS PICKED UP,
CLAIMS CENTRE
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JUNE 27
The The Union health
ministry on Sunday said
India’s Covid-19 vaccina-
tion coverage has
crossed 32 crores as 64.25
lakh vaccine doses were
administered in the last
24 hours.
“The vaccination drive
has been ramped up
through the availability
of more vaccines,
advance visibility of vac-
cine availability to states
and UTs for enabling bet-
ter planning by them and
streamlining the vaccine
supply chain,” the health
ministry said.
India reported 50,040
cases and 1,258 deaths in
the last 24 hours.
42-year-old married
Conservative Party MP
kissing Gina Coladangelo,
43, in his office. Coladangelo
is an old friend and col-
league of Hancock.
The images, published by
The Sun on Friday, dated
from May 6, before the social
distancing rules for close
contact indoors for people
from separate households on
May 17 were eased. ■ P5
cmyk
SPORT | 8
WORLD | 5
Macron, Le Pen face Serena to skip
Olympics
new poll test
Vol. 17 No. 93 Established 1938 | 8 PAGES| `3.00
Security
personnel
stand guard
RAJNATH SINGH Puducherry Lt. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and
outside Air
Force Station IN LEH AS CHINA CM N. Rangaswamy with BJP's A Namassivayam, NR
Congress' K Lakshminarayanan (2nd L), Chandira
after two low Priyanga (L) from NR Congress (AINRC) and BJP's Sai
intensity
explosions
FORTIFIES INFRA Saravanan Kumar (R) during oath taking ceremony as
Union Territory ministers, in Puducherry, Sunday. — PTI
reported in the DC CORRESPONDENT
technical area NEW DELHI, JUNE 27
of Jammu Air
Force Station
in the early
Amidst stand-off
China, defence minister
Rajnath Singh on Sunday
with
5 ministers join
hours of reached Leh on a three day
Sunday. One
caused minor
damage to the
roof of a build-
visit to the Ladakh sector.
The defence minister is
being accompanied by
Army chief Gen MM
Pondy cabinet
ing while the Naravane. Northern DC CORRESPONDENT revealed. Mr Lakshmi-
other exploded Commander Lt Gen YK PUDUCHERRY, JUNE 27 narayanan, Mr
in an open Joshi is also in Leh. Djeacoumar and Ms
area. — PTI The defence minister was More than a month’s sus- Priyanga represent lead
briefed about the situation pense over cabinet forma- partner AINRC, while Mr
at the LAC with China by tion ended in the Union Namassivayam and Mr
the local commanders from territory of Puducherry Saravana Kumar are from
14 Corps. The Chinese
deployment at the LAC and
counter measures taken by
Indian Army were also dis-
with five ministers,
including two from the
BJP, being inducted in the
Chief Minister N
the BJP. This is the first
time the saffron party is
part of a ministry in the
Union Territory.
cussed.
Defence Minister will also
inaugurate infrastructure
projects constructed by
Rangasamy-led NDA cabi-
net on Sunday.
A. Namassivayam, K.
Lakshminarayanan, C.
A woman
41-year gap with Ms
member
became a minister after a
Priyanga being sworn in.
to launch attacks in India Border Roads Organisation Djeacoumar, Chandira Congress leader Renuka
too. It is a matter of con-
cern that despite drone
and interact with troops
deployed in the region.
Priyanga and A.K. Sai J.
Saravana Kumar were
Appadurai was the last
woman minister from the
attack being a well known As per latest reports in sworn in ministers by Lt. UT who served in 1980-83
threat, not ample security Western media based on Governor Tamilisai Soun- while handling the educa-
measures could be put in satellite images and satel- darajan in front of Raj tion portfolio in the MDR
place and a drone could
drop explosive at high
lite imagery experts,
Chinese are undertaking a
Nivas. All the Ministers
took oath in the name of
Ramachandran (DMK)-led
coalition ministry.
security Jammu station. massive upgradation of God. Chief Minister The AINRC-led NDA had
Islamic State and Iran-
based militias have been
their military infrastruc-
ture and airbases on its
Rangasamy was present
on the occasion.
swept the April
Assembly polls in this
6
using drones to carry out front with India to “shift The portfolios of the union territory.
attacks in Iraq. the strategic reality”. ministers are yet to be ■ P2
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 28 JUNE 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 2

OTHER STORIES
Call to empower
MSMEs
To study fires in space, No social distancing

Chennai, June 27: The hard-

ships faced by MSMEs were in
focus on international MSME
Day, which was Sunday. A cru-
cial part of the economic fabric
of the country, the MSME sec-
tor has been hardest hit by the
pandemic in 2020-21. Recovery
will be possible only with high-
intensity and strategically
structured support to the sec-
tor. They are facing the imme-
diate challenges of cash flows,
wages and pressing creditors,
which may be inhibiting their
realisation of their potential.
The sector is acknowledged as
the growth engine of the econo-
my, contributing over 30% both
in GDP and employment gener-
ation. “As the pandemic contin-
ues to trouble the world, espe-
cially the developing
economies, there is a renewed
appreciation of the fact that
MSMEs need attention, care,
nurturing and rejuvenation,
failing which, the world order
of business, commerce, eco-
nomics and livelihoods will
crumble and wither, in no
time,” says Samir Sathe,
Executive Vice President,
Wadhwani Advantage an NGO
that helps accelerate job cre-
ation in India and other emerg-
ing economies through large-
scale initiatives in entrepre-
neurship, small business gro-
wth, innovation, and skilling.
IIT-M studies drones
Chennai, June 27:
Researchers at the Indian
Institute of Technology
(IIT) Madras have devel-
oped algorithms for
drones to help study how
fire behaves in space sta-
tions, shuttles and satel-
lites.
According to the team, a
multirotor microgravity
platform can also simulate
reduced-gravity environ-
ments similar to Moon
and Mars, thereby recreat-
ing those conditions on
Earth for experiments.
The team claims that at
present, generating micro-
gravity (gravity experi-
enced is close to zero) is
possible only through
space stations, satellites,
space shuttles, sounding
rockets, and drop towers,
almost all of which are
beyond the reach of most
educational institutions in
India.
"Another option is to use
'free-fall' flights on Earth
to create microgravity.
The free fall of sounding
rockets and free fall of
According to the team, a
multirotor microgravity
platform can also
simulate reduced-gravity
environments similar to
Moon and Mars, thereby
recreating those
conditions on Earth for
experiments
IIT Madras said.
"These microgravity
platforms provide stable
and high-quality micro-
gravity. However, it takes a
few months to years to
gain access to any of the
existing microgravity
platforms. Moreover, the
cost to access these plat-
forms' services is not
affordable by many educa-
tional and research insti-
tutions," he added. The
team has developed an
algorithm that can pre-
cisely control multirotor
Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) such as
quadrotors or drones.
"These algorithms and
techniques for multirotor
UAV control could accu-
rately maintain its accel-
using a quadrotor and a
hexrotor that we devel-
oped and found that those
flights attained stable and
high-quality microgravity
levels," he said.
"The research team
showed that existing
quadrotors could be
turned into microgravity
platforms via minor
design modifications and
appropriate control, esti-
mation, and automation
algorithms. Furthermore,
the methods and algo-
rithms developed by us for
turning multirotors into
microgravity platforms
are generic. So, they can
be replicated easily to cre-
ate multirotor microgravi-
ty platforms with high
payload capacities,"
Siddhardha added.
The two multirotors that
the team built and flew are
the first UAVs to conduct
on board experiments in
microgravity. Earlier,
efforts by other
researchers to make UAVs
as microgravity platforms
did not see much success
microgravity platform can
also simulate reduced-
gravity environments like
that on the Moon and
Mars. "All it takes is a
change in one parameter
in the software that
Siddhardha embeds in his
multirotor that
autonomously performs
the manoeuvres required
to achieve the level of
gravity needed," said Joel
George Manathara,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Aerospace
Engineering, IIT Madras.
The team has carried out
experiments on board his
multirotor microgravity
platforms to observe capil-
lary action as well as the
change in the shape of the
liquid meniscus in micro-
gravity. "These experi-
ments undoubtedly prove
that multirotors can be
turned into platforms on
which microgravity exper-
iments can be carried out.
Nowadays, almost every Public throng Ranganathan street, T Nagar but fail to follow coronavirus protocols.
educational institution — DC
has a robotics lab or a fly-
ing club with multirotors.

Senior TN officials
in Delhi for DGP
shortlist meeting
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JUNE 27
Tamil Nadu chief secretary R.
Irai Anbu, Home secretary
Prabhakar and DGP J.K.
Tripathi left for New Delhi on
Sunday evening.
They will be attending a meet-
ing of the committee that will
finally select the State police
chief which will include an
UPSC representative, the Union
home secretary, the head of any
central armed forces, the state
chief secretary and the current
DGP. Tripathi, DGP, is retiring
on June 30 before which the
name of the new DGP is expect-
ed to be announced in Chennai.
The State had first forwarded
a longer list of the names of
senior police officers for the top
cop post to the UPSC Committee
and about five senior officers
were tipped to be in the running
for DGP. One of the most senior
officers from the 1987 to 1989
batches is expected to be named
DGP.
payloads from high alti-
tude balloons and drop
towers can also enable
microgravity," Kedarisetty
Siddhardha, research
scholar, Department of
Aerospace Engineering,
DIVINE OPENING
eration. Although multiro-
tor UAVs currently do not
have high payload capaci-
ties, they are readily avail-
able at a low cost, making
them accessible to all. We
have conducted flight tests
as those platforms could
not attain gravity levels
close to zero.
"While most convention-
al microgravity platforms
can simulate only micro-
gravity, a multirotor
Thus, this research opens
up the possibility of con-
ducting experiments in
microgravity at every uni-
versity in India,"
Siddhardha said.
— PTI
Big Mosque, Luz Church
and Kapaleeshwarar
Temple being cleaned
after government annon-
cement allowing them to
open for prayers and
worship from Monday.
— DC
Nissan initiates ramp-up to clear
backlog and meet pent-up demand
Chennai,
Japanese
June 27:
carmaker
Nissan has initiated a
gradual ramp-up of pro-
duction at its Chennai
plant as it looks to cater to
the pent up demand for its
models across domestic
and international mar-
kets, according to a top
company official.
The Oragadam-based
plant, which is owned by
Renault Nissan
Automotive India Pvt Ltd
(RNAIPL), had to tem-
porarily suspend opera-
tions from May 26-30 due
to the worsening of the
Covid-19 situation in
Tamil Nadu. The plant
closure came after the
company had a prolonged
tussle with labour unions
who demanded work to be
stopped at the company's
factory.
The factory recom-
menced production on
May 31. On June 4, the
Madras High Court
allowed the plant to con-
tinue with production
while asking the automak-
“After a brief pause
due to the challenges
posed by the recent
increase in COVID-19
cases in India, we have
carefully resumed
operations and initiat-
ed a second shift by
ramping up production
in a phased manner”
the recent increase in
COVID-19 cases in India,
we have carefully
resumed operations and
initiated a second shift by
ramping up production in
a phased and gradual
manner,” Nissan Motor
India Managing Director
Rakesh Srivastava said.
He said that the situa-
tion is still fluid, with pro-
duction processes, man-
power and supply chains
taking time to attain nor-
malcy.
“But we are hopeful that
the situation in the coun-
try will steadily improve
so that we may operate at
full force and increase vol-
umes of the all-new
said, “The semiconductor
situation has also
improved drastically
since it emerged at the
start of the year. We, at
Nissan, work closely with
our global teams, manu-
facturing plant and chan-
nel partners to address
such supply chain and
production issues.”
The company has
formed a cross-functional
‘Semi-conductor Task
Force' that proactively
works on anticipating
global and local shortages
whilst seeking alternative
solutions, he added. “We
are confident that our
experience has allowed us
to manage the COVID-19
wave with more
resilience, positivity and
innovation to drive our
business,” Srivastava
said.
The first joint Renault-
Nissan Alliance plant for
global markets, the
Chennai facility has a pro-
duction capacity of
400,000 units per annum.
Opened in March 2010, the

Cabinet formation er to address issues

flagged by the state gov-
Magnite, Kicks
Datsun portfolio to meet
and plant involves an invest-
ment of Rs 4,500 crore and

dragged for long

ernment on the safety growing demands in India employs 1,500 people.
of workmen, vis-a-vis and our export markets,” Koleos and Fluence were

due to saffron party

From P1
But cabinet formation dragged
on for long as the saffron party
initially insisted on a deputy
chief minister’s post, but later
settled for the post of the assem-
bly speaker. Soon after leading
his alliance to a win, AINRC
founder Mr Rangasamy was
sworn-in Chief Minister on
May 7 but no other cabinet
member was sworn-in.
Later, BJP’s ‘Embalam’ R.
Selvam was elected speaker
unopposed on June 16.
AINRC had emerged victori-
ous in 10 segments out of 16
seats it contested. The BJP
annexed six of the nine seats it
contested.
The NDA enjoys the support of
three nominated members
belonging to the BJP besides
claiming the support of at
least three independent
MLAs.
Student
scholarships
Chennai: The Kalki
Krishnamurthy memo-
rial trust is offering
scholarships worth Rs 15
lakh for the 2021-22 aca-
demic year as education-
al aid to be distributed
among students on a
merit cum means basis.
Students studying in
Government approved
colleges, schools and
polytechnics can apply.
Details and application
form are available
online and can be down-
loaded from
www.kalkionline.com
website.
TN fishermen can stay connected while at sea
Chennai, June 27: Tamil
Nadu fishermen now have
a reliable and cost-effec-
tive means to send SOS
messages during life-
threatening situations at
sea thanks to the launch of
a solution by satellite-
based IoT technology. The
solution, indigenously
developed by Skylo
Technologies connects
with BSNL’s satellite
ground infrastructure and
provides PAN-India cover-
age, including Indian seas.
Compact and portable
hardware in Skylo Hub
can be mounted on the
boat and connected to the
battery for power supply.
With the help of inbuilt
sensors, it can relay mes-
sages via the Skylo
Satellite Network, trans-
mitting real time data to
the shore on desktop or
mobile phone. Fishermen
can also receive data
relayed from the shore to
boat through the hub, via
satellite network, on their
mobile app.
Fishermen can reach out
to the Indian Coast Guard
or any other Tamil Nadu
government officials in
case of emergencies, acci-
dents and get alerts if they
are in the danger of inad-
vertently entering foreign
waters while fishing. The
fishermen can also receive
weather alerts and
cyclone warnings. The
solution also helps fisher-
men increase their
income as they can share
information about their
catch immediately and
close deals with traders
while still at sea and they
can interact with their
friends and family mem-
bers.
Mr Ganesh Nakhawa,
Program Director - fits of this technology.”
Covid-19. he added. the first vehicles designed
“After a brief pause due On shortage of critical for the Indian market.
to the challenges posed by components, Srivastava — PTI
Fisheries, Skylo, said:
“For centuries, industries
like fisheries have been
operating offline, and have
not had the opportunity to
take full advantage of the
latest advancements in AI
& IoT. The world’s first
satellite-based NB-IoT net-
work capability in India
can transform the lives of
fishermen. Tamil Nadu
has more than 10 lakh
fishermen who live in
about 600 marine fishing
villages situated along the
13 coastal districts. They
all can now reap the bene-

Nice guys also win highest laurels at cricket ed to change in Indian

cricket soon.
appointed with Team
India’s performances on the
Team India were one of big occasions and over sev-
the two best Test sides over eral years at that. The
R. Mohan the entirety of the official
WTC cycle, their perform-
record shows Virat Kohli
has won 36 Tests for India
ances in Australia being of and can’t be slammed for
one or two poor choices for
the final playing XI that
backfired badly, including
the latest instance of choos-
ing Ravi Jadeja to bolster
the batting when the condi-
tions in rainy Southampton
The road ahead may be
smoother for Team India as
the sun may shine bright in
England in August and
September. The think tank
has already said that it
would make difficult deci-

Namma Chennai Diary the epic variety, their come-

back wins in two series
losing one, crucial though it
was. But there is talk of
before the final being out- looking at accountability
standing. But one must now, a promise to pick guys
were screaming out to play
four seamers.
What New Zealand’s suc-
cess as a Test team in the
sions firmly for the Tests
ahead. One hates to say this
but at least one opener’s slot
will be up for grabs if

T
eam India flunked
another test and one
more ICC Trophy has
slipped away, nevertheless
into deserving hands as
there is no finer representa-
tive of the gentleman’s
game than the New Zealand
captain Kane Williamson.
The cricket world could not
be happier, especially after
what the Black Caps went
through in the World Cup
final two years ago, at a
more famous venue than
the Rose Bowl of
Southampton. If not for
ICC’s muddled thinking
over the rule book, there
should have been joint win-
ners on that crazy evening
at Lord’s.
Williamson got his recom-
pense at last for his master-
ly displays as captain. His
understated style could not
be more of a contrast from
that of Virat Kohli, who
wears his heart on his
sleeve on the field, as if he
were a demonstrative
Opposition leader than the
presiding head of a cricket
team. Team India had been
promising to win every-
thing under the sun but
failed spectacularly at it
over the last eight years
since England handed a
Champions Trophy final on
a platter to MS Dhoni & Co.
Truth is not much is expect-
remember that the band of
fighting Indians were led by
Ajinkya Rahane in
Australia and England were
the opponents in conditions
that became more and more
Indian to suit the national
team, which, of course,
asserts an absolute right to
dictate on what type of dust
bowl of a pitch they wish to
play on at home.
The major problem with
the WTC final was that the
conditions, while being as
alien as they can be to an
Indian batting lineup that
gets undone by swing and
seam, were straight out of
New Zealand’s play-
book.
who will deliver when the same WTC cycle suggests is Shubman Gill does not con-
heat is on and not just on size is not everything. The vert into a big score what
reputation. The one thing country has a population of are impressively stylish
cricket followers might ask 5 million as opposed to starts. His batting is like
for is less of hubris and India’s 1,390 million, a mellifluous poetry in this
more of humility from the cricket board that earns $40 loud age of slam-bang crick-
captain in addressing issues million a year as opposed to et but then performance is a
so that this eight year BCCI’s $390 million. Maths yardstick in a game mostly
sequence of expansive fail- shows that the sum total of defined by its scorebook.
ures is broken. the New Zealand team is far And then the form of the
Kane Williamson rests his face on Virat Kohli in an emo- A closer examination of greater than its parts. No biggies - Rohit, Pujara,
tional moment after steering his team to victory over Team the figures of the vaunted more evidence is needed Kohli and Rahane - will also
India in the WCT final last week in England. Indian batting lineup will than the team’s appearance come under scrutiny if they
show why there was always in the World Cup final of fail to score big in the Tests
The final may as well have were getting the ball to the chance that it might 2019 where it shared the against England.
been in Christchurch on a speak all 80 overs, the swing come undone. India’s Test honours with England and
juicy green pitch or and seam movement taking team under Kohli has lost in its victory in the WTC final. (R. Mohan is the
Dunedin where the the ball hither and thither five of his last eight Tests as There are huge lessons to be Resident Editor of the
Antarctic chill factor in the as if it were on a string captain while winning drawn as to performing Chennai and Coimbatore
wind can burn your face. pulled by a whimsical force. three, all in India. In many under the pressure of tough editions of Deccan
The New Zealand bowlers Fans have a right to be dis- of those Tests he has made match situations. Chronicle)
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 28 JUNE 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 3

OTHER
CM orders search ops
STORIES
Road accident victim gets `23 lakh New coronavirus cases
for missing fishers compensation from motor tribunal
DC CORRESPONDENT
PUDUKKOTTAI, JUNE 27

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has

DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JUNE 27
dent. He sustained
injuries and suffered dis-
ability to the tune of 70
the lorry driver and not
due to the rash and negli-
gent act of the rider of the
declining in Tamil Nadu
directed the fisheries depart- The motor accident percent. motorcycle. Chennai, June 27: Tamil On May 30, the state mounted to 32,290 with 91 tions in double digits.
ment and the coastal police to claims tribunal ordered a R. Baskar, of Reddi- The Small Causes Nadu continued to regis- saw fresh cases drop- additional deaths in the Chennai posted 308 cases
launch a search for a missing compensation of `23 lakh kuppam, Gummidi- Court -V judge V. Sutha, ter a steady decline in ping below the last 24 hours. aggregating to 5,31,732 till
fisherman of Vadapudukkudi to a 16-year-old mason for poondi, the owner of the said in a motorcycle only daily cases as only 5,127 As many as 7,159 people date. The number of
in Pudukkottai district, who suffering disability due to lorry and ICICI Lombard two persons are allowed to were added afresh on 30,000 mark while on got discharged today, COVID-19 related fatalities
accidentally fell into the sea an accident in Chennai General Insurance compa- travel, but in the case on Sunday, pushing the aggre- June 7 the numbers aggregating to 23,90,783 in the State capital also
from the fishing boat on six years ago. ny Ltd., insurer of the hand, three persons trav- gate to 24.65 lakh. Chennai were under 20,000 leaving 42,801 active infec- reached 8,161. The testing
Saturday, according to In his petition, A Ajay, vehicle, B. Mani, owner of elled and hence the rider posted 308 new cases and and on June 17 they tions, a medical bulletin of RT-PCR samples stood
Environment and sports and 16, of Vyasarpadi submit- the two-wheeler and ICICI of the motorcycle also the fatalities were nine. said. at 1,66,203 in the last 24
youth welfare minister Siva. V. ted that he was working as Lombard General contributed some factors On May 30, the state saw were less than 10,000 Coimbatore and Erode hours, pushing the cumu-
Meiyanathan. a mason and earning Insurance Company Ltd, to the cause of this acci- fresh cases dropping bers were under 20,000 and reported an excess of 500 lative number of speci-
The minister called on the `15,000 per month. His insurer of the bike liable dent. below the 30,000 mark on June 17 they were less cases each while 21 dis- mens examined so far to
family members of Vashikaran family members depended to pay compensation to The rash and negligent while on June 7 the num- than 10,000. The toll tricts logged new infec- 3.23 crore. PTI
at his village on Sunday and on his income. On him. act of the lorry is fixed at
gave Rs 50,000, as a temporary December 31, 2015 at The insurance company 80 percent and rash and
relief to his family, from his
own fund.
about 11.45 p.m, he was
travelling as a pillion
denied the allegations and
stated the accident
negligent act of the
motorcycle is fixed at 20 Anglo Indians Classes for students only through ‘Kalvi TV’: Min
He told the media that as per rider in a motor cycle on occurred due to the bike percent.
the instruction of the Chief
Minister the officials are mak-
the Basin Bridge,
Vyasarpadi. A tipper
rider who rode in a rash
and negligent manner. As
Doctors at Rajiv Gandhi
Government General
submit memo R. VALAYAPATHY I DC
TIRUCHY JUNE 27
distributing the Covid-19
relief fund of `4,000 and
discussions about prepar-
ing for the ensuing local
ing all efforts to secure the
missing fisherman.
lorry driven in a rash and
negligent manner in the
the petitioner travelled as
a pillion rider, the owner
Hospital fixed his disabili-
ty at 70 percent, which
to CM Stalin The reopening of schools
grocery items to the
priests of Sri
bodies elections.
In a separate function,
same direction hit the of the two-wheeler is will affect the petitioner's DC CORRESPONDENT in the state will be decided Thayumanavar Swamy urban development minis-
Teenager drowns motorcycle. The petition-
er fell down and sustained
liable to pay the compen-
sation to the petitioner.
further earnings capacity
up to 70 percent. The
CHENNAI, JUNE 27 as per the guidelines of the
Indian Council of Medical
Temple (rock fort) at
Tiruchy on Sunday.
ter K.N. Nehru distrib-
uted Corona relief of Rs

in quarry pond grievous injuries. The

driver of the lorry is
responsible for the acci-
Mani replied that the acci-
dent occurred due to the
rash and negligent act of
judge ordered a compen-
sation of `23,02,600 to
him.
Members of the Anglo
Indian Suburban Front
led by A.Roy Rozario
Research and the World
Health Organisation after
clearing the psychological
He said as many as 603
priests and other staff
members of temples in
4,000 and 15 grocery items
to the priests and other
staff members of Sri Ran-
DC CORRESPONDENT met the chief minister fear of parents about Tiruchy district benefited ganatha Swamy Temple
PERAMBALUR, JUNE 27 M.K. Stalin on Saturday Covid-19, said school edu- from this scheme. Srirangam, Sri Mariam-

A teenaged student drowned in Villagers R. VALAYAPATHY I DC

NAGAPATTINAM, JUNE 27
reservoir on June 12 reached
the tail-end areas of Naga-
and gave a memoran-
dum with a request for
cation minister Anbil
Mahesh Poyyamozhi. As
He said the guidelines
for the preparation of
man Temple Samaya-
puram, Sri Jambu-
a stone quarry pond at pattinam district. It was di- intervention on six per the present situation, plus-two marksheets were keswarar Akilandeswari
Kaulpalayam village near
Perambalur on Sunday.
protest The villagers of Kakkazani
near Keevalur in Nagapatti-
verted through Kaduvaiyaru
river breaching a portion of
issues.
Among the demands
lessons can be taught to
the students only through
sent to all chief education-
al officers and the mark
Temple Thiruvanaikaval
and Sri Vekkalai Amman
Police said the deceased, S.
Prakash (19), hailing from
against river nam district on Sunday agita-
ted for repairing the breach
the bank and water was
stored in a large quantity in a
are the passing of a reso-
lution in the TN
‘Kalvi Television’.
Although the Covid-19 sec-
list of plus-two students
will be published soon.
Temple, Woriyur.
Tiruchy collector S.
Kumulur village near Ariyalur,
who came to his relative's house bank breach on the banks of Kaduvaiyaru
river and feared water would
nearby sand quarry. Since the
water flow is increasing and
Assembly urging the
Union Govt to restore
ond wave has slowed do-
wn, there is a buzz about
Later, the minister
accompanied by Tiruchy
Sivarasu, HR&CE depart-
ment's joint commission-
in Kaulpalayam, was wait- enter their village at any time. once the quarry is filled up, the special reservation the arrival of a third wave. East MLA Inigo ers Sudharsanam,
ing for his degree admis-
sion.
in Nagai According to the villagers,
the water for farming activi-
the water will enter the resi-
dential areas of the village, at
for nomination
Anglo-Indians
of
to
The minister was talk-
ing to newspersons after
Irudayaraj and other
DMK functionaries held
Kalyani, and Maariappan
were present.
ties released from the Mettur any time, they said. Parliament and State
Assemblies, which was
discontinued. To vacate

Tusker ‘Rivaldo’ safe, not being tortured: MTR
B. RAVICHANDRAN I DC
OOTY, JUNE 27
Fake news mongers on social
media have become a men-
ace for the forest staff of the
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
(MTR).
A couple of days ago the
social media platforms were
abuzz about an injury inflict-
ed on the eye of a kumki ele-
phant in the MTR elephant
camp. The MTR administra-
tion came out with a clarifi-
a SLP pending in the top
court since 2002 and
restore the reservation Karur will be made corpn: Min
cation soon, explaining how zone), stated that the field We could see and hear many of one seat for Anglo-
the jumbo sustained an director of MTR has issued people on social media giv- Indians in engineering DC CORRESPONDENT ‘Makkal Sabha’ meeting He assured that Cauvery
injury in the eye. orders for constituting an ing misleading information and other professional KARUR, JUNE 27 along with Karur drinking water will be
It was alleged on social expert committee to study that Rivaldo is being tor- courses as existing in Collector T. Prabhu supplied to the people
media that the wild elephant and review the status of tured inside the kraal. These neighbouring States. Efforts would be made to Sankar for nine wards of of Karur every second
‘Rivaldo’, which is now in ‘Rivaldo’ for further course are baseless. Some vested They also seek the upgrade the Karur munic- the Karur municipality at day.
the kraal at Vaazhaithottam of action. interests and fake news ped- restoration of a manda- ipality as a corporation Karur on Sunday, he Later, the minister
in the MTR buffer zone, is “The expert committee will dlers are spreading mislead- tory post of Inspector of and to establish a govern- received petitions from flagged off 14 mobile vac-
being tortured. Rivaldo has visit Vaazhaithottam to see ing information on Rivaldo. AI Schools who was ment hospital at the people and said simi- cination teams to admin-
been in the kraal for the and analyse the status of The forest department is monitoring the func- Vengamedu near Karur, lar sabha meetings will be ister coronavirus vac-
last few weeks to get treat- Rivaldo and give an expert working hard for the better- tions of 41 Anglo-Indian according to electricity held in all other wards of cines at the doorsteps of
ment for a wound in its opinion report. Based on ment and safety of Rivaldo States of Tamil Nadu and excise minister V. the Karur municipality differently-abled per-
trunk. that, needful action will be even though we are facing but which was with- Senthil Balaji. and other local bodies of sons in Karur dis-
L.C.S. Srikanth, the deputy taken. As of now, Rivaldo is many hardships”, Srikanth drawn by AIADMK govt Participating in a Karur district. trict.
director of MTR (buffer safe and good in the kraal. stated. in May 2018.

COFFEE-BREAK
CALVIN AND HOBBES|Bill Watterson

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

Aries: Business training will equip you to
understand and analyse the objectives of your
company. Your callous attitude could spoil
domestic happiness.
Taurus: You need to make some changes in
daily schedule to enjoy the company of
family members. Use innovative ideas to THE WIZARD OF ID|Parker and Hartsd
make extra money.
Gemini: Imbibe positive thinking. You are
slightly frustrated at your lack of progress on
various fronts. You need to make simple
efforts to get rid of your bad habits.
Cancer: Timely planning will save you from
financial burdens. You might fall in love.
You are likely to experience a mental joy
by following a spiritual path today.
Leo: Parents will rescue you during the
time of need. Inability to refuse the
requests of people asking for favours ARCHIE|Bill Henry Scarpelli & craig boldman
will put you under a financial burden.
Virgo: Your optimistic attitude will give you the
courage to fight health problems. Be original in
your conversations. Your sheer hard work will
pave the way for professional success.
Across Down YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
1.Off (9) 2. Pester (5)
You share your b’day with 6. Black and white animal (5) 3. Blacken with heat (4)
Across:
1. Compress, 7. Loose,
Elon Musk, a businessman and the founder and CEO of 7. Roman love god (5) 4. Site (6) 8. Suave, 9. Castle, 10.
Seam, 12. Urge, 14.
SpaceX. He is also the CEO, and Product Architect of 9. Light beams (4) 5. Drain (5) Lethal, 17. Tamed, 18.
Tesla, Inc. and the founder of The Boring Company and 10. Whipped raw (6) 6. Low balcony wall (7) Tango, 19. Stretchy.
the co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI. 12. Door-blasting bomb (6) 8. Nude god (anag) (7) Down: 1. Cross, 2.
14. Loyal (4) 11. Agent (6) Muesli, 3. Ruse, 4. BLONDIE|Dean Young and John Marshall
Libra: Get ready to face a life filled with Stale, 5. Fluctuate, 6.
adventure and risk and don’t give importance to 17. Bole (5) 13. Ceasefire (5) Vermilion, 11. Septic,
18. Flatland (5) 15. Domain (5) 13. Gamut, 15. Handy,
minor hurdles. Romantic partner shows you the 16. Edge.
right way to lead life. 19. Clicking beat-counter (9) 16. Ready for business (4)
Scorpio: Spend quality time with children
by teaching them good values. Work in close
harmony with subordinates and have a clarity Word Mine jumble
of your vision to succeed.
Sagittarius: Your communication skills will
impress others. Challenging employees to out- G
perform themselves will take your business to
higher scales. R T D
Capricorn: You are likely to learn a lot
from a socially active life, provided you
listen carefully to others. Informal discussion
TNEEE ANDY CAPP |Reg Smythe

TODAY’S RATINGS: 11 AVERAGE; 13

with juniors at workplace would benefit all. GOOD; 15 OUTSTANDING
Focus on your work. How many words of four or
more letters can you make from
Aquarius: You are likely to pursue your interests at the letters shown in today’s
workplace. Romance is likely to cloud your mind. puzzle? In making a word, each
Following a healthy diet will reflect on your letter may be used once only.
Each word must contain the
general well-being. Try to control family issues. letter at the top of the pyramid.
There should be at least one
Pisces: A timely action will enable you to prevent nine letter word. Plurals, foreign
monetary losses. Your financial position will words and proper names are
improve after a little halt today. Personal not allowed.
guidance will strengthen romantic relationship.
regent, renege, reneged
genre, gent, greed, green, greened, greet, greeted,

TARZAN|Edgar Rice Burroughs

ANSWERS: degree, DETERGENT, edge, gender, gene,

O
ne of the arts of bridge is
bridge to know the strengths --
and shortcomings -- of
PHILLIP your three(!) opponents. It is
ALDER particularly important at
Chicago scoring for money.
DO You need to know the
strengths and weaknesses of
YOU your partner and the oppo-
nents.
TRUST On today's deal, South is
playing in a contract of four
YOUR spades. West leads the heart
OPPONENTS? three. East wins with the ace,
cashes the diamond ace and
returns a heart, which West diamond ace and a heart ruff, East cash the diamond ace,
ruffs. West exits with a dia- declarer needs to know his apparently letting South make
mond, East following suit. How right-hand opponent. If East is an impossible contract? East
should South continue if East a beginner, South cannot draw would do so only if he knew
is either a beginner or an any reliable inferences. East that West had just one trump
expert? might not realize that it would and the third round of hearts
North's two-heart bid was a
transfer, showing at least five
have been better to give his
partner a ruff at trick two, get
would reveal the position to
declarer.
spades. When East doubled, back on play at trick three with South should win the fourth
South "raised" to three spades the diamond ace and give his trick in the dummy, call for the
to indicate four-card support partner a second heart ruff to spade 10 and run it if East
and a maximum. With 4-3-3-3 defeat your contract. plays low.
distribution, this was an over- However, if East is an
statement.
After a heart to the ace, the
expert, declarer should be sus-
picious of his play. Why would
Copyright United
Feature Syndicate
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | MONDAY | 28 JUNE 2021
pg 4

IN BRIEF Drones drop

Kashmiri found
dead In Chandigarh IEDs on IAF base
Srinagar: A 22-year-old Kas- FROM PG 1 er person had been detai-
hmiri student was found de- ned from the same area
ad in a hostel room of a gov- The first blast ripped off and was being ques-
ernment-run medical college the roof of a single storey tioned. “Major terror
in Chandigarh, triggering building at 1.37 am while attack has been averted
protests by his family mem- the second one took place with this recovery. The
bers and a large number of on an open ground at 1.42 suspect is being interro-
mourners attending his fune- am. The IAF tweeted: gated. More suspects are
ral back home on Sunday. “Two low intensity explo- likely to be picked up in
The family of the deceased sions were reported early this foiled IED blast
Aamir Hassan Mir said that Sunday morning in the attempt,” the DGP said.
he was found dead in myste- technical area of Jammu Soon after the blasts, a
rious circumstances in his Air Force Station. One security alert was issued
hostel room by a fellow stu- caused minor damage to for all airports, airbases
dent during the intervening the roof of a building and other vital installa-
night of June 25 and 26. It while the other exploded tions in J&K and Ladakh.
claimed that the local police in an open area. There Tight vigil is being kept
has after registering a case was no damage to any near key installations in
said that the death of the equipment. The investiga- Pathankot in Punjab,
BSc Nursing student who tion is in progress along where on January 2, 2016,
was doing internship in Gov- with civil agencies.” a terror attack took place
ernment Medical College an- Officials said while by a heavily armed group
d Hospital, a medical school most probably drones at Pathankot Air Force
and a tertiary care hospital, were used to drop bombs, Station.
at Chandigarh is ‘unnatural’. the investigators are also An NIA team rushed to
examining a possible sab- the spot to gather evi-

Rave party busted otage angle. Sources said

the possible target may
dence immediately after
hearing of the incident.

in Maha, 22 held have been the helicopters

Mumbai: The Nashik Rural
police on Sunday raided two
private bungalows in Igatp-
uri and detained 22 persons
parked in the dispersal
area. They said weapons
and narcotic drugs have
been dropped as far as 12
Defence minister Rajnath Singh interacts with veterans in Leh on Sunday. — PTI km inside Indian territo-
ry using drones recently.
The J&K police said,
The National
Investigation Act 2008
gives the NIA powers to
take suo motu cognisance
of terror activities in any
part of the country and
register a case, enter any
state or UT without per-

Rajnath meets leaders from

including 12 women, a for-
mer tv reality show, few meanwhile, that it
small time models and actre- detained a man who was
sses among them, from an moving in a suspicious
alleged rave party. Accord- manner in the neighbour-
ing to Nashik Rural police ing Narwal area early
mission from the govern-
ment concerned and to
investigate and arrest
people. In 2019, the law
was amended to widen

Ladakh to hear admin views

sources, the bungalows
where raids were conducted
are situated around 50km
from Nashik. During the
raids the police found peo-
ple present there allegedly
consuming drugs, liquor and
hookah in a birthday party.
Amongst detained women,
at least five are small-time
actresses and one had taken
part in a TV reality show.
TMC men extort
Majority of outfits in Kargil want reunification with J&K, statehood restored
YUSUF JAMEEL | DC
SRINAGAR, JUNE 27
Ahead of a planned meet-
ing between leaders of a
group of political parties
● WHILE A Leh-based
group of political and
socio-religious entities
sought a separate legisla-
ture for the Ladakh UT, a
vast majority of similar
Kishan Reddy in New
Delhi on July 1.
Reports from Leh said
the defence minister, who
began a three-day tour of
Ladakh earlier Sunday,
them his ministry’s
resolve was to take care of
all defence personnel “the
way they take care or have
taken care of the coun-
try”.
the backdrop of last year’s
faceoff with China along
the Ladakh-Tibet border
and will also visit various
key formations and high-
altitude bases in eastern
Sunday. J&K's director-
general of police Dilbagh
Singh said while drones
were suspected to have
dropped explosive materi-
al, another IED weighing
5-6 kg was seized from the
arrested person. He des-
cribed him as a Lashkar-
e-Tayyaba operative and
said the man had claimed
it was to be planted at a
crowded place in Jammu.
Police sources said anoth-
the offences it could
investigate and prosecute,
including ones coming
under Explosive
Substances Act 1908.
A defence official who
spoke to this newspaper
and sought anonymity
said: “The perpetrators
may have failed to inflict
fatalities or damage to
aircraft or equipment, but
it's a serious lapse that
needs serious action.”

blind woman and groups of Kargil and

Berhampore: A visually
impaired tribal widow has
become the victim of extor-
tion by two Trinamul Congr-
ess workers who allegedly
took `80,000 from her as
cut-money from the amount
she had received to build
her house under the Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
in Murshidabad of WB. Parb-
ati Hembram, the woman of
Belsanda village in Bokhara
gram panchayat II, was given
`1.20 lakh in two install-
ments under the PMAY rece-
ntly. She claimed, “Two local
TMC workers, Kausar Sheikh
and Mujibur Sheikh, accom-
panied me to the bank. I
withdrew the money with
their help since I can not
see. Later the duo extorted
the amount from me.”
the Centre in New Delhi
early next month, defence
minister Rajnath Singh on
Sunday met the elected
representatives of both
Kargil and Leh districts,
which comprise the Union
Territory of Ladakh to
ascertain their views on
the demand for more leg-
islative, executive and
financial powers and
administrative issues
related to the landlocked
region.
While a Leh-based group
of political and socio-reli-
gious entities and political
parties have along with
BJP MP Jamyang Tsering
Namgyal sought a sepa-
rate legislature for the
Ladakh UT, a vast majori-
outfits in Kargil want
reunification of Jammu
and Kashmir and restora-
tion of its statehood as
existed on August 4, 2019.
ty of similar outfits in
Kargil want reunification
of Jammu and Kashmir
and restoration of its
statehood as existed on
August 4, 2019.
The Centre has invited
leaders of Kargil’s key
political and social groups
which formed an alliance
called Kargil Democratic
Alliance after J&K was
stripped of its special sta-
tus and bifurcated nearly
two years ago for holding
talks with Union minister
of state for home G.
had discussions with elect-
ed representatives
Ladakh Autonomous Hill
of
Development Councils of
Leh and Kargil in Leh. The
meeting was also attended
by senior UT government
officials. It is learnt the
representatives of the two
councils apprised Mr
Singh of the “demands,
aspirations and various
issues” of their respective
regions.
Earlier, the defence min-
ister, while addressing
about 300 Army veterans
at Rinchen Auditorium
Hall in Leh, said the Prime
Minister has fulfilled the
commitment given to
armed forces veterans by
granting “one rank one
pension”. He assured
Mr Singh is due to inau-
gurate infrastructure proj-
ects constructed by the
Border Roads
Organisation and interact
with troops deployed
along the borders with
China and Pakistan dur-
ing his visit.
Accompanied by Army
Chief Gen. M.M.
Naravane, the defence
minister will on Monday
dedicate to the nation the
“Kyungam Bridge” built
by the BRO deep inside
Ladakh. “The bridge is
quite vital for road con-
nectivity in the strategi-
cally important region,”
an official said.
He will have a compre-
hensive review of India’s
operational readiness in
Ladakh “to assess the
ground situation as well
as to boost the morale of
the troops guarding the
Line of Actual Control in
a hostile environment”.
Later, he will be given a
detailed briefing about the
overall situation in east-
ern Ladakh at the Leh-
based headquarters of 14
Corps of the Army, which
is responsible for guard-
ing the LAC in Ladakh.
This is the defence minis-
ter’s first visit to Ladakh
after the Indian and
Chinese militaries pulled
back troops, tanks,
infantry and other equip-
ment from the Pangong
Lake areas in February as
part of a bilateral agree-
ment.
SHOPPING, WORSHIPPING TO
RESUME IN 4 DISTRICTS TODAY
FROM PG 1
Major shopping malls in
the city that were sani-
tised and made ready to
welcome shoppers from
Monday have promised to
enforce Covid-appropri-
ate behaviour. Stringent
precautions like
increased frequency of
sanitation at high contact
points, automated mall
density checks, UV saniti-
sation of visitors’ bags,
the mandatory wearing of
masks by customers as
well as the maintenance
of social distancing and
the deployment of safety
officers have been listed
by Phoenix Market City
and Palladium, two of the
biggest malls in the city.
All malls and big retail-
ers have been pleading for
reopening in the ‘unlock’
phase so that their busi-
nesses could pick up.
They had all been shut
from May 10 leading to a
severe dent in their sales.
Malls have also ensured
that all employees and the
staff of retail partners
have been vaccinated.

Another BJP
leader joins TMC
Kolkata: Close on the heels
of West Bengal BJP
Alipurduar district chief
Ganga Prasad Sharma’s
defection to the Trinamul
Congress, another key dis-
trict level functionary Madan
Mohan Choubey of the saf-
fron party in union minister
Babul Supriyo’s Lok Sabha
constituency: Asansol
changed his colour along-
with more than three dozen
other leaders and a record
number of rank and file on
Sunday. Choubey, who was
the general secretary of BJP
Asansol district joined the
TMC alongwith 38 other
leaders in presence of state
law minister Moloy Ghatak at
Rabindra Bhavan auditorium.
WB Bar Council urges CJI to remove UPBJP leader criticises own
Calcutta acting CJ, accuse him of bias govt’s Covid-19 management
RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DC
KOLKATA, JUNE 27
In a rare move, the Bar
Council of West Bengal
has urged Chief Justice of
India N.V. Ramana to
remove Justice Rajesh
Bindal as acting Chief
Justice of the Calcutta
High Court immediately.
It has branded Justice
Bindal as a “BJP’s man
through and through” in
hearing the CBI’s plea
against bail for four
heavyweight Narada sting
bribery accused on May
17, and assigning Chief
Minister Mamata
Banerjee's election peti-
tion to another judge,
Justice Kausik Chanda,
which the party has linked
to the BJP.
On Saturday, the state
level lawyers’ forum chair-
man Ashok Kumar Deb in
a letter to the CJI accused
Justice Bindal of “being
unfair, partial and biased”
and alleged the way the
CBI petition was dealt
with, “sets serious doubts
over the conduct and char-
acter of Justice Bindal.
Justice Bindal by an order
dated 17.05.2021 had stayed
an interim order of bail
passed by the Special CBI
Court in favour of mem-
bers of a certain political
dispensation without giv-
ing the aggrieved parties
an opportunity of being
heard.” According to advo-
cate Deb, “Justice Bindal
does not have any regard
for judicial propriety and
has committed a mockery
of the judicial conscie-
nce.”
He also pointed out the
“absurdity and insanity”
of Justice Bindal in assig-
ning cases and petitions to
judges like Justice Cha-
nda who “is an erstwhile
member of BJP and is
someone who takes great
pride in such an associa-
tion.” Deb also stated that
Justice Chanda, yet to be
made a permanent judge,
“is known to have a deep
and profound association
with the BJP and it’s lead-
ers” which hints that he
would not be able to deliv-
er “impartial justice.”
On the CM’s election pet-
ition, Deb argued that tho-
ugh it was scheduled to be
heard by Justice Sabyas-
achi Bhattacharya as civil
matters are heard by a sin-
gle judge on the original
side of the HC, “Justice
Bindal snatched away the
matter from Justice Bha-
ttacharya’s determination
and assigned the same to
his favourite judge”
Justice Chanda.
Ballia (UP), June 27:
Criticising the handling
of the Covid-19 crisis in
Uttar Pradesh, a ruling
party leader has claimed
that at least 10 people died
in every village during the
second wave as no lessons
were learnt from the first
one.
State BJP working com-
mittee member Ram Iqbal
Singh, who made the
remarks on Saturday, is
the latest among the
party’s own leaders who
have questioned the man-
agement of the novel coro-
navirus infection in the
state.
Speaking to reporters
here, Singh rued that the
health department did not
learn any lessons from the
first wave of Covid-19
which led to a large num-
ber of deaths due to the
disease in the second
wave.
At least 10 people from
every village in the state
died in the second wave of
Covid-19 pandemic, he
alleged.
The BJP leader also
demanded that `10 lakh be
given to the kin of those
who have succumbed to
the infection.
He lamented that after 75
years of freedom, this dis-
trict with a population of
34 lakh, has no doctors or
medicines.
Asked that UP Chief
Minister Yogi Adityanath
during his visit to Ballia
had expressed satisfaction
with the arrangements
made by the health
department, Singh said
the officials had misled
the Chief Minister,
and the truth was not
shown.
He also urged the BJP
government to give diesel
subsidy to farmers.
Meanwhile, Ballia BJP
MP Virendra Singh Mast
claimed that BKU leader
Rakesh Tikait was
derailing the farmers
protest against the
Centre’s three new agri-
marketing laws. — PTI

SPECIAL | STATUS
Centre may restore J&K statehood before polls using Central agencies
RAJNISH SHARMA | DC
NEW DELHI, JUNE 27
The Centre may consider
restoring full statehood to
Jammu and Kashmir immedi-
ately after the delimitation
process is over and perhaps
even before the Assembly polls
are held, top government
sources have indicated. J&K
was converted into a Union
territory along with Ladakh in
August 2019 when the Centre
revoked its special status
under Article 370 of the
Constitution.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi had chaired a high-level
meeting with 14 top leaders
from eight political parties in
J&K when he had said he was
committed to removing “Dilli
ki doori” and “Dil ki doori”,
reiterating he was committed
to restoring J&K’s full state-
hood an “appropriate time”.
The sources said most
Kashmiri leaders at the meet-
ing had demanded that full
statehood be restored to J&K
before the elections are held.
Modi sought help from state leaders to complete delimitation process
Raut says Modi govt
● PRIME MINISTER had
chaired a high-level meeting
with 14 top leaders from eight
political parties in J&K when
he had said he was committed
to removing ‘Dilli ki doori’,
reiterating he was committed
to restoring J&K’s full state-
hood an ‘appropriate time’.
The Kashmiri political elders
had agreed to support the
Centre on the issue of delimi-
tation, but the local leadership
gave the “timeline of delimita-
tion-statehood-elections”, they
said. It is now believed that the
Centre, seeing the positive
response from the local leader-
ship, might offer give a major
concession — of granting full
statehood to J&K before the
Assembly polls are held.
At Thursday’s meeting, Modi
sought “cooperation and assis-
tance” from senior state lead-
ers urging them to help in the
delimitation process to help
redraw the new Assembly con-
stituencies to hold elections.
The sources said most leaders
at the meeting expressed will-
ingness to assist the Election
Commission and the local
administration to help com-
plete the delimitation process
at the earliest, emphasising
that immediately after than
full statehood should be
restored.
Home ministry sources said
more rounds of negotiations
are expected in the next few
months with the J&K leader-
ship on the complex issue of
restoring the democratic
process, but the Centre was
“favourably inclined” towards
restoring statehood once the
delimitation process was com-
pleted in J&K.
“The meeting on Thursday
was held on a very positive
note and some more talks are
likely in the coming weeks.
Seeing the state leadership’s
response, the Centre too is
willing to concede some of
their demands like giving full
statehood if the local leader-
ship cooperates in the delimi-
tation exercise,” a senior
home ministry official added.
MUFTI SAYS ‘ERA OF SUPPRESSION’ MUST
END, VOICING DISSENT NOT CRIMINAL ACT
New Delhi, June 27: PDP Centre to make the dialogue
chief Mehbooba Mufti said on process credible, and said it
Sunday said the dialogue should initiate confidence
process initiated by Prime building measures and allow
Minister Narendra Modi with “people to breathe” and also
Jammu and Kashmir’s main- ensure protection of jobs and
stream leadership can gain land for the people.
credibility by ending what she “When I say allow people to
called an “era of oppression breathe, I mean that today any
and suppression” in the Union dissenting note from any side
Territory and understanding has to cool his or her heels in
that a dissenting voice is not a the prison. Recently, a man
criminal act. was jailed for expressing
“Give the people right to his sentiments that he had
breathe and rest will follow lots of hope from a Kashmiri
later,” the former chief minis- advisor. The concerned
ter said, as she termed the Deputy Commissioner
Prime Minister’s meeting wi- ensured that he was in jail for
th a 14-member delegation fr- a few days despite being grant-
om J&K on Thursday as a way ed bail by the court,”
forward to end the “suffer- Mehbooba said.
ings” of people in the erstwhi- So, when the Prime Minister
le state now under central says that he wants to eradicate
rule. ‘Dil ki doori’, such kind of sup-
Mehbooba, who was part of pression has to come to an end
the delegation, made it clear immediately, she added.
that the onus was on the — PTI
SONU
SHRIVASTAVA | DC
taken action against
senior NCP leader and
West Bengal
Maharashtra. “In the
and
MUMBAI, JUNE 27 former state home
minister Anil
pre-independence era,
revolutionaries were
The Shiv Sena on Deshmukh as if he is a not afraid of the tyran-
Sunday accused the dacoit of Chambal. He nical rule of the Brit-
Centre of using the also termed the search ish, but political work-
central investigation operation at ers in independent Ind-
agencies to pressurise Deshmukh’s residence ia were afraid of cen-
the non-BJP govern- was a direct attack on tral investigating agen-
ments and political the autonomy of cies like ED and CBI.
opponents in the coun- Maharashtra. The People went to jail
try. The Sena said that It is pertinent to note and get hanged for the
rich politicians and that Deshmukh was country, but today they
industrialists have sur- asked to depose before (the political leaders)
rendered before ED the investigating offi- are surrendering
(Enforcement Direct- cer at the ED’s office in themselves before the
orate) and CBI (Central Mumbai on Saturday institutions like ED
Bureau of in the money launder- and CBI,” Raut said.
Investigation). Earlier ing case in connection Speaking with the
this week, Shiv Dena with an alleged multi- reporters on Sunday,
MLA Pratap Sarnaik, crore bribery-cum- Raut said that ruling
who is under the ED extortion racket, parties of MLAs are
scanner, wrote a letter which resulted in his being unnecessarily
to chief minister resignation from the harassed. The state
Uddhav Thackeray post of home minister police can probe the
urging him to reunite in April 2021. allegations fairly, but
with the BJP. The Sena leader also the central agencies
Shiv Sena leader asked whether the ED are being roped in
Sanjay Raut on Sunday and the CBI were deliberately to investi-
said that the ED has established only for gate it.
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | MONDAY | 28 JUNE 2021
SHORT
5 DIE IN HOT AIR
TAKES
BALLOON CRASH
IN NEW MEXICO
Los Angeles: Five people died
in a hot air balloon accident in
Albuquerque, in the south-
western United States, the
city’s police announced on
Saturday.
The accident caused power
outages in the area for several
hours after the balloon came
into contact with a power line.
“Unfortunately, 4 individuals
died as a result of their
wounds from the hot air bal-
loon crash,” Albuquerque
police said on Twitter, adding
that one person was taken to a
hospital in critical condition.
Authorities said later
Saturday that the adult male
had died of his injuries.
“Our prayers go out to the
friends and family of all five
people who tragically lost
their lives,” police said on
Twitter. Early Saturday morn-
ing, some 13,000 people were
without power because of the
accident, local utility PNM
weeted.
VATICAN PROBES
ALLEGED ABUSE
NEGLIGENCE
Warsaw: The Vatican’s em-
bassy in Poland said on
Saturday that a Holy See envoy
spent 10 days in the country
checking reports of alleged
negligence by a retired arch-
bishop of Krakow who had
served as personal secretary to
the late Pope St. John Paul II.
The embassy said that dur-
ing his June 17-26 visit, retired
Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco
held a number of meetings
and reviewed documents.
“The aim was to verify sig-
nals, also made in public, of
negligence by Cardinal
Stanislaw Dziwisz during his
term as the archbishop of
Krakow (2005-2016),” the
embassy statement said.
Bagnasco is to present his
finding at the Vatican.
A priest in Poland, the Rev.
Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski,
says that in 2012 he personally
gave Dziwisz a letter contain-
ing evidence of sex abuse by a
priest of a 12-year-old altar
boy. Dziwisz at first denied it
and suggested the matter sh-
ould be investigated, but later
said the letter had been found.
MAN JUMPS FROM
MOVING PLANE
AT LA AIRPORT
Los Angeles: A passenger
was taken to the hospital
Friday night after jumping out
of a moving plane at Los
Angeles International
Airport, authorities said.
United Express flight 5365,
operated by SkyWest, was
pulling away from a gate
shortly after 7 pm when the
man unsuccessfully tried to
breach the cockpit by pound-
ing on the door, then managed
to open the service door and
jumped down the emergency
slide onto the tarmac, accord-
ing to the airport, the FBI and
SkyWest.
The man was taken into cus-
tody on the taxiway, treated for
injuries that were not life-
threatening and taken to the
hospital, authorities said.
The twin-engine Embraer
175, which was headed to Salt
Lake City, returned to its gate,
the airport said.Nobody else
aboard the plane was injured.
The flight department for Salt
Lake City late Friday evening
and arrived early Saturday
morning, according to the
flightaware.com website.
TWO CHURCHES
BURNT ON CANADA
INDIGENOUS LAND
Ottawa: Fires on Saturday
destroyed two more Catholic
churches in indigenous com-
munities in western Canada,
following grim discoveries at
former church-run indigenous
residential schools of nearly
1,000 unmarked graves.
St Ann’s Catholic Church on
the Upper Similkameen
Indian Band and the Chopaka
Catholic Church on the Lower
Similkameen Indian Band
were set ablaze less than an
hour apart in the early morn-
ing, federal police said.
“Both churches have been
destroyed,” Sergeant Jason
Bayda of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police said in a state-
ment. Authorities consider the
two fires “suspicious, and are
looking to determine any pos-
sible connection to the church
fires in both Penticton and Ol-
iver on June 21, 2021,” he said.
The Penticton and Oliver
fires are still under investiga-
tion. The destruction of the
four churches comes at a raw
time for many of Canada’s
Indigenous peoples still strug-
gling with the discovery.
People crowd to board a ferry as authorities ordered a new lockdown to contain the spread of the Coronavirus in
Munshiganj in Bangladesh on Sunday.
Moscow sees high Covid death toll
New delta variant drives infections in Russia since mid-June
Moscow, June 27:
Moscow on Sunday
recorded the worst daily
coronavirus death toll so
far for a Russian city, as
countries across the Asia-
Pacific region extended or
reimposed restrictions to
tackle fresh waves of
infections.
The pandemic has now
killed close to four million
people across the world
but vaccination drives
have brought down infec-
tion numbers in many
wealthy countries, though
the Delta strain of the
virus remains a concern.
The variant is now in 85
countries and is the most
contagious of any Covid-
19 strain identified,
according to the World
Health Organisation. Still,
in much of Europe and
the United States curbs on
daily life are easing as vac-
cination programmes
bear fruit, although
Russia is grappling with a
deadly third wave.
The Russian capital on
After min quits, UKprobes
leak of his kissing footage
London, June 27: The
UK government said on
Sunday that it will launch
an investigation into how
footage from inside a
departmental office was
leaked and ended in Matt
Hancock resigning as
Health Secretary to make
way for Sajid Javid.
The Department of
Health and Social Care
(DHSC) will look into how
the former health secre-
tary came to be videoed
kissing one of his aides,
Gina Coladangelo, who
has also resigned from her
DHSC role of non-execu-
tive director in the wake
of the scandal.
Nearly 20 hurt in Lebanon protests
Beirut, June 27: Nearly
twenty people were
wounded in overnight
scuffles in northern
Lebanon between security
forces and protesters
angered by a spiralling
economic crisis, a medical
association
Sunday.
said on
The protests in the city
of Tripoli came as the
Lebanese pound plumbed
fresh lows on the black
DESPERATE | MOVE
Bargaining over global tax enters key stage
Paris, June 27: Nearly
140 countries will haggle
over key details of a global
corporate tax plan this
week, with some con-
cerned about giving up too
much and others eager to
ensure tech giants pay
their fair share.
The Group of Seven (G-7)
wealthy democracies appr-
oved a proposal to impose
a minimum corporate tax
rate of at least 15 per cent
earlier this month, hoping
to stop a “race to the bot-
tom” as nations compete
to offer the lowest rates.
It is one of two pillars of
Migrant workers
flee Bangla capital
Reenagar, Bangladesh,
June 27: Tens of thous-
ands of migrant workers
fled Bangladesh’s capital
Sunday on the eve of a
tightened lockdown that
will curtail most econom-
ic activity and confine pe-
ople to their homes as
Coronavirus infections
soar. Restrictions on activ-
ities and movement have
been in place since mid-
April as cases and deaths
jumped.
Infections declined in
May but started to rise
again this month, with
Sunday recorded 144
Covid-19 deaths in the last
24 hours, a day after Saint
Petersburg set the previ-
ous highest figure.
Matt Hancock
There had been growing
calls for a probe after
questions were raised
about the reasons behind
the presence of a camera
inside a smoke alarm in
market due to a financial
crisis that the World Bank
says is likely to rank
among the world's worst
since the mid-19th centu-
ry.
Calm returned to the
city on Sunday after pro-
testers tried to storm offi-
cial buildings, including a
branch of the central
bank, overnight, forcing
the army to deploy.
“18 people, both civilians
G7 hopes to see through proposal after a year of pandemic-induced stimulus spending
reforms that would also
allow countries to tax a
share of profits of the 100
most profitable companies
in the world — such as
Google, Facebook and
Apple — regardless of
where they are based.
The deal now goes to the
Organisation of Economic
Cooperation and Devel-
opment (OECD), which is
overseeing two days of
talks starting on Wedn-
esday (June 30) to find a
consensus among 139
countries.
The proposal will then be
taken up by the G-20 club
over 5,000 new cases and a
pandemic-high of 119
deaths on Sunday, accord-
ing to the health ministry.
The resurgence has
prompted the government
to toughen restrictions in
stages from Monday, with
economic activity —
including shops, markets,
transportation and offices
— to shut down by
Thursday. People will be
ordered to stay at homes
while only emergency
services and export-ori-
ented factories continue
operations. — AFP
Saint Petersburg has
hosted six Euro 2020
matches and is due to host
a quarter-final on Friday,
with spectator numbers
Hancock’s former office
and security concerns
over footage from it being
accessed.
“The Department of
Health will be investigat-
ing quite rightly to under-
stand how this was able to
happen,” UK Northern
Ireland Secretary
Brandon Lewis said.
“We have got to be con-
cerned about the fact that
someone was able to
secure a recording from
inside a government
building… We have to
understand how that hap-
pened and how we deal
with that,” he said.
— PTI
and soldiers, were injured,
including four who were
hospitalised,” said the
Emergency and Relief
Corps, a local medical
charity that dispatched
ambulances to treat the
wounded
Rubber bullets and shr-
apnel from stun grenades
accounted for some of the
injuries, a spokesperson
for the charity said .
The army said 10 sol-
of wealthy and emerging
countries at a meeting of
finance ministers in Italy
on July 9 and 10.
“I don’t think we have
ever been so close to an ag-
reement,” said Mr Pascal
Saint-Amans, director of
the OECD tax policy cen-
tre. “I think that everybody
has realised that a deal is
better than no deal,” Mr
Saint-Amans said earlier
this month, adding that
failing to agree would lead
to unilateral taxes and US
reprisals.
US President Joe Biden
has galvanised the issue
—AFP
capped at half but still
upwards of 26,000 people.
Russia as a whole has
seen an explosion of new
infections since mid-June
driven by the Delta vari-
ant. The dramatic rise in
cases comes as officials in
Moscow are pushing vac-
cine-sceptical Russians to
get inoculated after lifting
most anti-virus restric-
tions late last year.
“To stop the pandemic,
one thing is needed: rapid,
large-scale vaccinations.
Nobody has invented any
other solution,” Moscow
mayor Sergei Sobyanin
told state-run television
on Saturday.
The Delta variant is also
feeding fresh outbreaks in
Southeast Asia and
Australia where authori-
ties have brought back or
prolonged restrictions.
More than five million
Sydney residents endured
their first full day of a
two-week lockdown Sun-
day to contain an outbreak
of the strain. — AFP
UK FINDS SECRET
DEF. DOCUMENTS
AT A BUS STOP
London, June 27:
Britain’s government
said Sunday it was inves-
tigating how secret
defence documents, out-
lining the movements of
a warship that led to
Russia firing warning
shots off the Crimean
coast, were found at a
bus stop in England.
The Ministry of
Defence said that an
employee told it last
week that the documents
had been lost, and that
an investigation had
been launched. “It
shouldn't be able to hap-
pen,” Brandon Lewis,
minister for Northern
Ireland, said. — AFP
diers were wounded in the
Tripoli clashes, the major-
ity in a single incident
that it said involved a
group of protesters on
motorcycles throwing
stun grenades at person-
nel.
The southern city of
Sidon and the capital
Beirut saw smaller dem-
onstrations against the
ongoing dramatic fall in
living standards. — AP
by backing the global min-
imum corporate tax, and
Europeans want a deal, he
said. Negotiations have
gained new urgency as
governments seek new
sources of revenue after
spending huge sums on
stimulus measures to pre-
vent their economies from
collapsing during the
Coronavirus pandemic.
While the G-7 - the United
States, Canada, Japan,
France, Britain, Italy and
Germany — approved the
plan, it still faces hurdles
as the negotiations expand
to other nations. — AFP
Macron, Le Pen
face new poll test
First round of France’s regional polls were
shunned by a record 66.72% of voters
Paris, June 27: France
was voting in the second
round of regional elec-
tions on Sunday after a
first round that saw a
drubbing for President
Emmanuel Macron’s rul-
ing party, disappointment
for Marine Le Pen’s far-
right and record low
turnout.
For some observers, the
outcome of the June 20
first round raised doubts
over whether the 2022 pr-
esidential election would
come down to a duel bet-
ween Macron and Le Pen
in a run-off long seen as
the most likely scenario.
The first-round results
marked a boost for the tra-
ditional right-wing The
Republicans as well as the
Socialist Party, who have
been squeezed after the
centrist Macron surged
into power in 2017 with
his brand-new Republic
on the Move (LREM)
party.
Analysts warn against
too much extrapolation
onto a nationwide scale
from the results of the
regional elections, which
choose the heads of Fra-
nce’s 13 mainland regions
from Brittany in the nor-
thwest to the Provence-
Trump silent on
2024 election bid
Wellington, June 27:
Donald Trump held his
first big campaign-style
rally since leaving the
White House, giving a
vintage, rambling speech
Saturday to an adoring
audience as he launched a
series of appearances
ahead of next year’s
midterm elections.
The former president,
who has been booted from
social media platforms
and faces multiple legal
woes, has flirted with his
own potential candidacy
in 2024, but in the 90-
minute address at a fair
grounds in Ohio he made
no clear mention of his
political future, even
when the crowd chanted
“four more years! four
more years!” Trump did
tease them at one point by
alluding to the possibility
of another stab at the
White House.
“We may have to win it a
third time. It is possible,”
he said, showing yet
again he thinks he won in
November. The crowd
Friction in North America
after one year of trade deal
Washington, DC, June
27: One year after it took
effect in the midst of a
record economic down-
turn, the United States-
Mexico-Canada
reement (USMCA) has yet
Ag-
to end trading friction
between the North
American allies.
The three countries said
the new treaty would ben-
efit their economies and
workers but, as the anni-
versary nears on Thu-
rsday, the neighbors have
already entered into a
range of disputes — many
of which have seen the
United States object to
Mexican or Canadian
The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development will on Wednesday dis-
cuss a plan backed by G7 leaders for a minimum 15% corporate tax rate.
Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PACA)
region in the southeast.
But there was cross-
party concern over the
turnout for last week's
polls, which were shu-
nned by 66.72 percent of
voters — a record in mod-
ern France. “What we are
seeing is the culmination
of a disconnection bet-
ween voters and the politi-
cal class,” said Jessica
Sainty, politics lecturer at
Avignon University, while
acknowledging the Covid-
19 crisis also played a role
in high abstention rate.
The woeful turnout pro-
mpted a debate over how
to improve participation,
with several figures in-
cluding government spo-
kesman Gabriel Attal sug-
gesting electronic voting
could help in future.
According to a poll pub-
lished Thursday, just 36
percent of voters plan to
cast their ballots on
Sunday. “France is sulk-
ing,” the Le Parisien
newspaper said.
Four hours after polls
opened, turnout
Sunday stood at the same
on
dismal 12.66 percent as
during the first round.
The first-round results
put Le Pen’s National
cheered wildly.
On other matters Tr-
ump flitted from one to
the next — immigration,
crime, gun rights, Afg-
hanistan, Iran and more
— bouncing like a pinball
in true Trumpian style.
One repeated message
was that President Joe
Biden is a catastrophe.
“Joe Biden is destroying
our nation before our
very eyes,” Trump said.
And Trump hammered
away yet again at the
falsehood that he won the
November election but
Biden prevailed through
fraud.
“The election was over,”
Trump said, “And we took
a massive victory. They
did into something that
should never be allowed.”
Until now Trump had
delivered two major
speeches since leaving
Washington in January,
including a vindictive
monologue in North
Carolina early this month
when relitigated his loss
to Biden. — AFP
practices.
“Most of the focus on
USMCA over the next sev-
eral years is going to be on
the disputes,”
Edward Alden, an expert
said
at the Council on Foreign
Relations.
USMCA replaced the
North American Free
Trade Agreement, which
had been in force since
1994, and which Alden
said had envisioned the
continent’s
economies at one point
three
becoming a single market,
like the European Union.
That vision appears to
be dead, at least for now.
“USMCA is very much
pg 5
Rally (RN) ahead in just
one region, PACA, a major
disappointment after polls
showed a possible break-
through in several areas.
One of the most closely
watched races on Sunday
will be whether RN candi-
date Thierry Mariani can
defeat his right-wing rival
Renaud Muselier in the
region. Gaining control of
a region for the first time
would be a huge boost for
Le Pen as she seeks to con-
vince voters that the RN
—which she has reformed
and rebranded since tak-
ing over from her firebr-
and father Jean-Marie—is
a serious party of power.
Muselier could be helped
by the withdrawal of left-
wing candidates in a
repeat of the “Republican
Front” seen in past presi-
dential elections to block
the far-right.
“The idea of a victory
for Mariani— even if it is
far from being probable —
would show that the RN
can almost triumph alone
over the coalition of all
the others and head the
powerful executive of a
modern region,” said
Jerome Sainte-Marie, pr-
esident of the Pollingvox
Institute. — AFP
BLINKEN MEETS
NEW ISRAELI FM
AMID IRAN MOVES
Paris, June 27: US
Secretary of State
Antony Blinken meets
Israel’s new top diplo-
mat Yair Lapid on
Sunday, in the United
States’ first face-to-face
meeting with the freshly
installed government
that seeks a less combat-
ive approach with its
main ally Washington.
Lapid, a centrist who
delayed his own plans to
be prime minister as he
masterminded a coali-
tion to unseat veteran
leader Benjamin
Netanyahu, is flying to
Rome to see Blinken,
who arrives in Italy on
Sunday on a three-
nation tour of Europe.
The meeting comes as
President Joe Biden’s
administration moves
ahead with fresh talks
on reviving a 2015 ac-
cord with Iran — strong-
ly opposed by Israel — in
which Tehran drastical-
ly scaled back nuclear
work in return for prom-
ises of sanctions
relief. — AFP
the rules for three sepa-
rate North American eco-
nomies to cooperate, whe-
re they can, and rules for
fighting where they can’t
cooperate,” Alden said.
While the disputes
between the countries
have made headlines,
Jeffrey Schott, a senior
fellow at the Peterson
Institute for International
Economics, credited the
deal with “removing the
cloud of uncertainty”over
continental commerce.
“That creates a better
atmosphere for trade and
investment than we’ve
had in some time,” he
said. — AFP
— AFP
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 28 JUNE 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 6

28 JUNE 2021

Don’t shift goalposts, Subhani

meet jab deadlines
R
eports of the Delta Plus variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus, declared a
variant of concern by the Union government, have become a new
threat here in India and the world over at a time when it looked
like the worst is over for this country caught in the second wave of
Covid-19. The government has cautioned eight states about the urgent
need to take precautionary measures against the spread of the variant,
which is stated to have increased transmissibility, stronger binding to
receptors of lung cells and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody
response. As of now, there are 50-odd cases and four deaths that have been
attributed to the variant. Given its potential to spread at a faster rate, no
amount of caution looks excessive.
A disturbing feature of the mutant virus that experts fear it possesses is
its ability to resist medical intervention such as vaccination and treat-
ment. With only 19.2 per cent of the population receiving at least one dose
and only four per cent fully vaccinated, and with a proven inadequacy of
medical infrastructure to withstand a major
The government surge, India has reasons to remain alert. The

A step forward after two LETTERS

government has asked states to implement the
has been able to Covid-appropriate protocol more vigorously
cobble up a and be careful when it comes to allowing more
procurement plan relaxations.
All experts are in agreement saying that the
GOOD EVALUATION
but all depends on way out of the mess is to speed up the vaccina-

steps back: Twist in J&K

the determination tion programme before more mutants appear. With reference to the
with which it Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reviewed news, Class 10, 11 marks
pursues its the drive the other day, has directed officials to to fix12 result, the Tamil
targets maintain the momentum it has got of late. India
had vaccinated a record 89 lakh people last Nadu Government’s
Monday but the numbers slipped in the following days. As per the affidavit Continental nations ing the Kashmir issue but
the Union government filed in the Supreme Court, a total of 35.6 crore with far-flung regions the matter was never decision to include 50
doses of the Covid vaccines have been made available by now. It has also have to extend some form clinched. Early resump- per cent marks on the
estimated that the country will require 186 crore doses to fully vaccinate
all eligible people above 18. The government, which launched the “world’s
Sanjaya Baru of special status to border
areas in the interests of
tion of cross-LoC trade
and traffic can help in
best of three subjects in
largest vaccination drive” in January, has, for the first time, given the national unity and building confidence. class 10 in the evaluation
Sanjayovacha
apex court a sneak peek into its procurement plan for the vaccines — 51.6 integrity. India is still a How things evolve will method of the present
crore doses will be made available by July 31. As for the remaining 135 70-year-old republic and also depend on the
crore doses, the two Indian manufacturers together will offer 90 crore extending benefits to cer- response of regional and class 12 examination is a
doses and the imported Russian vaccine will chip in with another 10 crore. tain regions to facilitate global actors. Many ana- good one because the
The vaccines in the pipeline by Biological E. (30 crore) and Zydus Cadila their fuller integration is lysts have suggested that
board exams provide a

O
(5 crore) will make up the rest. ur democra-
The government has been able to cobble up a procurement plan but how cy’s biggest
far the people can rely on it depends on the determination with which it strength,
pursues its targets. The government, which had told the Supreme Court P r i m e
that domestic manufacturing of the vaccines would be substantially Minister
increased by July, has, in a subsequent note, said it will happen only by Narendra Modi tweeted
October. This wavering is unacceptable. The government needs to pull up hours after his meeting
its socks and ensure that the milestones it has marked will be covered in with 14 senior political
time. Excuses hardly offer immunity against the deadly virus. leaders from Jammu and
Kashmir on Thursday, “is
the ability to sit across a
tance provided “we are
able to unleash a process
by which we can arrive at
a workable blueprint that
can help create a new
chapter in Kashmir’s his-
tory. Not by compromis-
ing on one’s ideals, but in
a spirit of mutual toler-
ance, understanding and
accommodation”. That
not a big price to pay.
The question remains if
New Delhi is any closer to
a resolution of the
Kashmir conundrum as a
result of all the steps
taken by the Modi-Shah
team or whether the
delimitation exercise and
election process that is to
follow will continue to
last week’s meeting was
part of an elaborate exer-
cise orchestrated by the
United States to facilitate
its peaceful retreat from
Afghanistan. It may be
recalled that in his first
term in office President
Barack Obama had
named Richard Holb-
rooke as the US special
standard assessment. At
the same time, there is
no scientific reason to
include subject like
Social Science which is
completely different
from many class 12 sub-

Fears over Tokyo Games table and exchange

views”. Regrettably, that
thought had not occurred
sentiment did not come
through clearly in Mr
Modi’s recent initiative.
feed dissension in the
Kashmir Valley. Over the
past three decades state
envoy for Afghanistan
and Kashmir, linking the
American exit from the
jects. Education boards
across the country were
caught unawares last
J
apan’s Olympic Committee and the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide to the leadership of the An important difference Assembly elections and former to a resolution of
Suga seem equally determined to go ahead with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics from BJP when they chose to between the 2006-07 meet- delimitation exercises the latter. The Manmohan year by the pandemic
July 23 despite adverse opinions expressed by the Emperor of Japan and mil- boycott the three all-party ings and last week’s is have been held several Singh government flatly
lions of citizens. Having invited the investment of huge sums into the Games, roundtables on Kashmir that Article 370 of the times and their validity refused to allow Mr
and could not evolve
which were postponed by a year due to the pandemic, the core decision-makers that Prime Minister Constitution, granting a internationally endorsed. Holbrooke to land in New suitable evaluation. As
may wish to avoid losses by going ahead with the Games that are, however, unlike- Manmohan Singh had special status to the erst- This new round of Delhi till President the course of the pan-
ly to be a hit with the athletes, fans and Japanese people. convened during 2006-07. while state of J&K, stands delimitation must inspire Obama delinked the two.
The money committed may be to the tune of $30 billion, all but $6.7 billion of The need to sit across a repealed and J&K the confidence of all if the President Joe Biden, demic remains uncertain
which is public money. With less than seven per cent of the Japanese population table and exchange views reduced to the status of a elections following it have who comes from the same a continuous assessment
having been vaccinated as of now, there are genuine fears of the Games becoming had also not been felt Union territory, minus to acquire legitimacy. stable, has been cleverer.
an incubator for the coronavirus despite an inhibiting number of restrictions that when the Union govern- Ladakh. Even after all that the Without making any system for 2021- 2022
will be imposed on participants, coaches, officials and spectators, of whom 10,000 ment took momentous The repeal of Article 370 Kashmir problem would explicit link between the and beyond has become
locals may be allowed into each venue. decisions with respect to was in accordance with not have been resolved if two he is seen as having a necessity. New method
Indian athletes have even more reason to feel hyper-anxious about the Games as Kashmir in August 2019. the BJP’s long-standing all stakeholders are not pushed India and
they are lumped with the participants of 10 other countries who will have special Far too much pain has electoral commitment party to the final solution. Pakistan into addressing of periodical assessment
restrictions imposed on them. They would have to keep away from mingling with been inflicted on the and has since become a Dr Manmohan Singh both issues together. This system which will force
fellow athletes for three days after landing at the Olympic Village. Their special Kashmiri people over non-issue. While many and Gen. Pervez Mushar- would explain much toing
diets could be compromised as the Japanese would have to make arrangements to these past two years bef- non-BJP parties did not raf worked towards a final and froing by the external students to learn contin-
get their food to their rooms where they will virtually self-isolate. How they can pre- ore the dawning of this support that decision in solution that the BJP has affairs minister and the uously is the urgent
pare for what is invariably once in a lifetime opportunity to shine on one of the new wisdom that both August 2019, most have repeatedly rejected. Yet, national security adviser need of the hour.
world’s biggest stages in Olympic arenas is anybody’s guess. “Dilli ki doori” and “Dil ki reconciled to the change. given its U-turn on so to countries that are obvi-
Indians have also to take RT-PCR tests every day for seven days before they leave doori” have to be bridged. The question of J&K’s many issues, it remains to ously involved in facilitat- P. Victor Selvaraj,
for Tokyo where, of course, everyone will have to take the test every day and go to While a total of 14 leaders statehood remains on the be seen if on this issue too ing the transition in Palayamkottai
a fever clinic if they fail it. The movement of all visitors could be tracked by GPS attended Mr Modi’s meet- table and none less than the BJP will take a differ- Afghanistan.
the Union home minister, ent view in future if the That the United States,
VIOLENCE CONTINUES
making the Games unique though it is being held in difficult circumstances cloud- ing last week, close to 30
ed by succeeding Covid waves around the world. The Games may go on in ritualis- had attended Dr Singh’s Amit Shah, gave an assur- current process does not China, Russia and
tic fashion but the spirit of competition and camaraderie may be compromised. roundtables. The 2006-07 ance to Parliament that yield results. Dr Ma- Pakistan would have an The sentencing of the former
process reached out to a statehood would be nmohan Singh summed interest in stabilising Minneapolis police officer Derek
wider cross-section of restored at some point. A up his approach pithily Kashmir as part of the Chauvin to 22.5 years in prison for
DECCAN CHRONICLE Kashmiri public opinion new round of elections to when he said that “bor- transition in Afghanistan George Floyd’s murder has brought
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR than last week’s meeting local bodies and a UT gov- ders can’t be changed but is entirely understand- the tragic case to a fair end. In the
Editor Printer & Publisher which was dominated by ernment will not, howev- can be made irrelevant”; able. But the question that last 13 months since Chauvin
R. MOHAN what Prime Minister er, address the real chal- if there was trust between still remains is if half- pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for
Resident Editor Modi and Union home lenge facing New Delhi in India and Pakistan and hearted and self-serving more than nine minutes, the whole of
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: the assurance of peace initiatives pursued
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254747, minister Amit Shah have J&K. Neither the repeal of the U.S. has been forced to confront
22254748 pejoratively dubbed the Article 370 nor the ques- and security. through some discredited the fact that racial injustice remains
Coimbatore: 77 Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore 641009. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 “Gupkar gang”. The tion of statehood are real- Dr Singh and Gen. leaders will be welcomed deeply rooted in the American expe-
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040) Abdullah and Mufti fami- ly at the centre of what Musharraf came to an in the Valley. The chal- rience. But, comfortingly many U.S.
27805256. understanding on resolv- lenge of winning the
Bengaluru: 5th Floor, BMTC Commercial Complex, 80 Ft. Road, Koramangala, Bangalore-560095. Ph: lies and the likes of may be called the cities have progressed in making
08043460500; Fax: 080-22960551/52/55 Ghulam Nabi Azad have Kashmir conundrum. The hearts and minds of the policing less dangerous and people-
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, been discredited by dec- core issue remains the Kashmiri people and find- friendly. The nation has even
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 ades of misgovernance. It status of Kashmir and the Many analysts ing a final solution accept- embraced a new federal holiday that
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866)
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234
remains to be seen if the equation with Pakistan. have suggested able to all concerned acknowledges America’s devastating
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 new process restores pub- Even if Kashmir is that last week’s remains. history of enslavement and racial
lic faith in the electoral denied its own flag and discrimination. Yet, the fact remains
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903,
Fax: 08554-276904 process given that it is nomenclature for the
meeting was The writer is an econo- that police across U.S. has killed
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. being initiated with their head of the government, part of an mist, a best-selling author more than 1,000 people last year
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580
Karimnagar: Survey No. 1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar 505 001. imprimatur. some elements of its spe- elaborate exercise and a former adviser to according to data collected by
Phone: (0878 ) 2228908; Telefax (0878) 2220433 In his opening remarks cial status will have to be orchestrated by the Prime Minister ‘Mapping Police Violence’, a project
at the 2006 meeting Dr preserved. In theory this Manmohan Singh. His to track violence by police, and con-
Kochi: No. 3-B, 3rd Floor, DD TRADE TOWER, Kaloor-Kadavanthara Road, Ernakulam,
Ph: 0484-4039408 is not a problem since
United States to latest book is India’s
Singh had called the firms that nearly half of those killed
Kozhikode: No 6/1002 E, First Floor City Mall, Opp. YMCA Kannur Road, Kozhikode - 673 001
roundtable “a dialogue of there are other border facilitate its Power Elite: Class, Caste were Black Americans.
Fax : 0495 4019018
Thiruvananthapuram: St Joseph Press Thycaud post, Cotton Hills, Thiruvananthapuram-14, Ph: 0471- equals” that would states with special peaceful retreat and a Cultural R. Sivakumar,
2735105/6/7, Fax: 0471-4016112 Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08ss achieve historical impor- status. from Afghanistan Revolution. Chennai

R
ight from its first issue in 1823,
Lancet was more than just an
ordinary medical journal. Its
founding editor, dyspeptic sur-
geon and coroner Thomas Wakley, pur-
posefully gave the journal the name of a
sharp scalpel that could cut away use-
Stuart Ritchie less, diseased tissue: he used it as a
campaigning organ, to push back
against injustice, bad ideas and bad
practice.
What bothered Wakley most was the
establishment. Not only did the Royal
College of Surgeons care little about
ular editorials railing against the gov-
ernment of the day’s handling of
healthcare and other matters. But on
medical science, things are quite differ-
ent: the journal is now very much a
part of the system, with all the prob-
lems that entails. L’éstabliment, c’est la
Lancette. And because Lancet has such
remarkable reach and such strong cul-
tural cachet, when it makes a mistake,
it really matters.
The journal’s role as a mouthpiece of
the medical establishment couldn’t
have been clearer in February 2020,
tial conflicts of interest -- for instance, if
a clinical trial was funded by a phar-
maceutical company — but in this case
Lancet let it slide. In retrospect, now
that the lab leak theory is taken far
more seriously, this looks at best mis-
conceived and at worst rather suspect.
None of it makes the theory any more
plausible of course (we should be scep-
tical but open-minded, and await the
results of the continuing investiga-
tion). But it was an unforced error.
It’s not just scientists and health
workers of China that Lancet praised.
respect, and honesty between friends”.
If the modern Lancet has a patchy
record in holding the establishment —
or, at least, certain establishments — to
account, how is it doing in the fight ag-
ainst Wakley’s other bugbear, the
quacks and frauds? For that, we have to
look beyond the editorial and corre-
spondence pages and into the scientific
research published in the journal. Alas,
some of the most famous stories of sci-
entific fraud have originated at the
Lancet during Horton’s tenure as edi-
tor. The best-known is, of course, that
of the most important research on
Covid-19, it blotted its copybook by pub-
lishing, in May 2020, a paper by
Harvard researchers claiming that the
drug hydroxy-chloroquine led to a
higher death rate in Covid patients.
Although it was catnip to those who
wanted to get another one over on
Donald Trump — an on-the-record fan
of the ultimately useless drug — pub-
lishing the paper turned out to have
been a terrible decision. The Harvard
researchers had been given all the
results from a dodgy company called

How Lancet quacks and snake-oil salesmen, its

members were also engaged in corrup-
tion and nepotism, ensuring that their
when it published a group letter organ-
ised by zoologist Peter Daszak on the
origins of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.
In May last year, its editor-in-chief
Richard Horton appeared on the state-
owned broadcaster China Central
of Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced
doctor who managed to get an almost
entirely faked paper on autism and the
Surgisphere, and when they asked
Surgisphere for the raw data to check
some anomalies, they were rebuffed.

lost world’s cronies got the best positions and fill- As well as “strongly condemn[ing] con- Television to praise how “tremendous- MMR vaccine published in Lancet in In 2021, we might find that the best
ing their pockets with lecture fees. spiracy theories” that the virus did not ly decisively” the Communist Party of 1998. It wasn’t retracted for 12 years, all rejoinder to our establishment isn’t a
Wakley wrote in 1838 of the “merce- have a natural origin, the letter China had handled the pandemic. He the while allowing the worst anti-vax- new journal, but an entirely new way
nary, goose-brained monopolists and expressed “solidarity” with all scien- also penned multiple editorials on xers to claim their ideas had been ta- to think about science and how it’s pub-

trust over its charlatans” who won privileges that

should have been due to merit. This
system was “the canker-worm which
China praise
eats into the heart of the medical body”.
Different times, different canker-
worms. Lancet is still going strong, but
it exists in a very different system of
academic journals than that of the 19th
century. It certainly has a strong radi-
cal stance as regards politics, with reg-
tists and health workers in China, end-
ing with some oddly Soviet-era phras-
ing: “Stand with our colleagues on the
front line! We speak in one voice.”
The letter didn’t reveal that Daszak
was himself involved with virological
research at the Wuhan Institute of
Virology, the lab at the centre of the
“lab leak” speculation. Medical jour-
nals are usually hyper-aware of poten-
China, including one entitled “Covid-19
and the Dangers of Sinophobia”. This
did mention “the case against China”,
including “the repression of the Uighur
people” and “belligerence towards
Taiwan”. But it went on to write these
off as mere “perceived encroachments
on liberties”, concluding that, essen-
tially, we should all just get along: “a
pandemic is a moment for conciliation,
ken seriously by a prestigious journal.
No less disturbing is the case of Paolo
Macchiarini, the flamboyant surgeon
who was apparently able to transplant
artificial tracheas into human patients.
Many of those patients ended up dead,
but Macchiarini claimed in Lancet (and
elsewhere) that the surgery had been a
success.
And though Lancet has carried some
lished: a way that doesn’t hand over all
our trust to editors and reviewers, but
that emphasises openness and trans-
parency right from the start. There are
several proposals for how it could hap-
pen. The next rotten thing that needs to
be cut away could be the journal sys-
tem — and Lancet itself.
By arrangement with the Spectator
 MONDAY | 28 JUNE 2021 | CHENNAI
quick
BITES
INDICATORS %
Sensex 52,925.04 0.43
Nifty 50 15,860.40 0.44
S&P 500* 4,280.70 0.33
Dollar (`) 74.20 -0.04
Pound Sterling (`) 103.17 0.39
Euro (`) 88.59 0.00
Gold (10gm)* (`) 46,309▼66 0.14
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 76.07 0.67
IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.028 0.00
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.502 0.015
* As of Friday/Saturday
FPIs invest over
`15,280 cr in
stocks in June
After remaining net sellers for
two months, foreign portfolio
investors (FPIs) in June turned
net buyers by pumping in a net
Rs 12,714 crore into Indian mar-
kets. Prior to this, they had
pulled out Rs 2,666 crore in
May and Rs 9,435 crore in April.
According to depositories data,
FPIs invested Rs 15,282 crore in
equities between June 1 and 25.
At the same time, FPIs with-
drew Rs 2,568 crore from the
debt segment.
Front seat
airbags must for
cars by Dec. 31
The road transport ministry has
deferred by four months the
mandatory installation of dual
airbags for front seats in the
existing car models, in view of
the pandemic, an official said.
Now only the driver's seat
airbag is mandatory for exist-
ing models of cars. The min-
istry on March 6 had said that
existing models shall be fitted
with an airbag for the person
occupying the front seat, other
than the driver, by August 31.
KIMS, Dodla
Dairy to make
mkt debut today
Krishna Institute of Medical
Sciences (KIMS) and Dodla
Dairy, which recently conclud-
ed their initial public offerings,
will make debut on the stock
exchanges on Monday. KIMS
successfully raised Rs 2,144
crore through its IPO, which
included a little over Rs 955
crore that was mobilised from
anchor investors. Dodla Dairy
garnered Rs 520 crore from its
public issue, including Rs 156
crore from anchor investors.
Crude steel
output grows
47% in May
India registered a 46.9 per cent
year-on-year growth in its
crude steel output at 9.2 million
tonnes (mt) in May, according
to worldsteel data. The country
had produced 5.8 my steel in
the same month a year ago.
"The production of the 64
countries reporting to the
World Steel Association (world-
steel) was 174.4mt in May 2021,
a 16.5 per cent increase com-
pared to May 2020," the global
industry body said.
Printed & Published by
K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed &
Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses
situated at SP-3 Developed Plot,
Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai.
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI Reg. No.
TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re 1.
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written per-
mission of The Editor, Financial
Chronicle ® is prohibited.
■ Broader market rally helps smaller funds win by large margin
Mid-cap, small-cap funds shine in H1
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, JUNE 27
The broader market out-
performance in the first
half of 2021 has helped
mid-cap and small-cap
mutual funds outshine
large-cap funds by a big
margin. The returns kept
increasing down the lad-
der, said analysts about
the stock performance in
January-June period.
The top five small-cap
funds, ranked by the size
of their assets under man-
agement (AUM), have
given returnsa between 30
per cent and 44 per cent in
the last six months period.
This is way higher than
the returns of the top five
large-cap funds, which
grew by 11.69 per cent to
20.48 per cent. The top five
Executives, babus vie for Irdai chairman’s post
MADHUSUDAN SAHOO
NEW DELHI, JUNE 27
A government-appointed
high-level search commit-
tee is learnt to have identi-
fied the best performing
CMD of the insurance sec-
tor for the Irdai chair-
man's post.
It is, however, expected
that the top post at the
insurance regulator may
be offered to a retired or
working bureaucrat. The
post at the Insurance
Regulatory and Develop-
ment Authority (Irdai) has
fallen vacant after
Subhash Chandra
Khuntia, a former chief
secretary of Karnataka,
completed his three-year
term on May 6 this year.
According to a finance
E-commerce rules could Bankruptcy board goofs up, leaks
prolong MSME recovery Aadhaar and PAN info of creditors
SANGEETHA G
CHENNAI, JUNE 27
Disruption and uncertain-
ty over the proposed new
amendments in e-com-
merce rules will affect the
recovery of micro, small
and medium businesses
hit by the pandemic, say
experts.
“During the pandemic a
large number of MSMEs
are struggling to restart
their business. During
lockdowns and other
restrictions, e-commerce
is the most viable platform
for MSMEs to sell their
goods and services. By
coming out with new rules
for e-commerce at this
time will disrupt the mar-
ket and hinder the recov-
ery of MSMEs,” says
Aruna Sharma, member,
digitisation committee,
Reserve Bank of India.
According to her,
MSMEs that are looking to
grow their export busi-
nesses are increasingly
depending on e-commerce
platforms, replacing the
traditional exporter and
trader meets. “MSMEs
account for 45-48 per cent
of exports and the aim is
to take it to 60 per cent.
ABU DHABI FUND
PICKS UP STAKE
IN MOBIKWIK
Mumbai, June 27: The
UAE's sovereign wealth
fund Abu Dhabi Invest-
ment Authority has picked
up a minority stake in the
IPO-bound digital pay-
ments player Mobikwik
for nearly $20 million
(about Rs 150 crore), valu-
ing it at $700 million, the
company has said.
Mobikwik had a bad press
in March after alleged
massive data theft, follow-
ing which the Reserve
Bank of India had ordered
a forensic audit on the
Gurugram-based company
set up in 2009. Personal
data of its about 10 million
customers were allegedly
stolen by hackers.
Since March 2021, the
firm has raised over Rs 235
crore. It is reportedly
working on a Rs 1,200-
crore IPO. — PTI
BEATING
THE BIG BOYS
Mutual funds’
performance in the
first half of 2021
Fund return % (Last six months)
LARGE CAP FUNDS
Axis Blue Chip Fund
ABSL Frontline Equity Fund
HDFC Top 100 Fund
ICICI Prudential Blue Chip Fund
Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund
NOTE: Each group is represented by top five funds by AUM
mid-cap funds by AUM
have given returns rang-
ing between 22.82 per cent
And 32.76 per cent.
ministry source, technical-
ly, no other chairman and
managing director (CMD)
of any state-run insurance
firm, except LIC chair-
man, is eligible for the
post, which is equivalent
to the Union secretary
post. "As all the heads of
state-run insurers are hav-
ing the rank of additional
secretary, the search com-
mittee has the power to
consider a relaxation in
case it finds an eligible
candidate therein," the
source said.
"Many heavyweights,
like retired and working
bureaucrats, and a few
heads of insurers have
applied for the Irdai chair-
man post. The selection
committee will vet them.
The final announcement
For this, MSMEs will have
to tap the e-commerce
route,” she said.
In a similar vein, Anil
Bharadwaj, secretary gen-
eral, Fisme said, “In
recent times we have
increasingly seen MSMEs
using the digital platform
to improve their reach. E-
commerce has played an
important role during the
lockdowns by ensuring
products are delivered at
home safely.”
E-commerce companies
have been handholding
MSMEs and providing
sales platforms as well as
logistics services. For
instance, Amazon is host-
ing Amazon Small
Business Days from July 2
to July 4 to help generate
customer demand for the
unique and differentiated
selection of products
offered by small sellers,
manufacturers, start-ups
and brands, women entre-
preneurs, artisans and
weavers and local shops.
Some of the proposed
amendments in the E-com-
merce Rules are detrimen-
tal for the MSMEs. As per
the rules, no e-commerce
entity shall indulge in
mis-selling of goods or
TIGHT | MARKET
After layoff, Disney offers $1,000 signing bonus
CHRISTOPHER PALMERI
JUNE 27
Walt Disney Co is offering $1,000
bonuses to recruit new house-
keepers and select kitchen staff at
its Florida theme parks, just
months after laying off some
32,000 employees.
Housekeepers, making $16 an
hour, and line cooks, earning $18,
can receive the money if they
stay on the job for at least 90 days,
according to the company's web-
site.
Disney, the world's largest
theme-park operator, also rein-
stated its paid summer internship
programme, which lets students
live in dedicated apartments
while they work in the Orlando,
Florida, resorts.
It's a sign of how tight the
labour market has become, with
domestic travel roaring back at a
time when many potential work-
Fund return %
MID-CAP FUNDS
(Last six months)
Axis Midcap Fund 22.82
HDFC Midcap Opportunities Fund 27.51
Kotak Emerging Equity Fund 32.76
Nippon India Growth Fund 27.22
Sundaram Midcap Fund 24.25
SMALL CAP FUNDS
Nippon India Small Cap Fund 44.52
11.69
HDFC Small Cap Fund 42.08
17.43 DSP Small Cap Fund 33.70
20.48 Franklin India Smaller
17.58
Companies Fund 32.60
17.78 SBI Small Cap Fund 30.55
SOURCE: AMFI
These top performing
funds are managed by the
top 10 fund houses by
AUM.
for the post will come
soon," the source added.
It is learnt that Anup
Wadhawan, commerce
affairs secretary, who will
be retiring this month-end,
is another name doing the
round for the coveted post.
Wadhawan had a good
stint in the Department of
Financial Services earlier
as a joint secretary in
charge of the insurance
sector and was also an act-
ing chairman of the
PFRDA, the pension regu-
latory body.
Among the serving and
retired IAS officers who
are believed to have
applied for the top regula-
tory job are B.V.R. Subrah-
manyam (1987 batch), who
recently joined as secre-
tary, Ministry of Comm-
services offered on its plat-
form. Mis-selling means
an e-commerce entity sell-
ing goods or services by
deliberate misrepresenta-
tion of information by
such an entity about such
goods or services as suit-
able for the user who is
purchasing it.
According to experts,
goods and services are
sold by the seller, and e-
commerce companies are
just the platforms. E-tailer
can do due diligence and
take measures based on
customer feedback. But
for all the products and
services, the platform can-
not be held liable.
Further, a marketplace e-
commerce entity shall be
subject to a fall-back liabil-
ity where a seller fails to
deliver the goods or serv-
ices due to negligent con-
duct, omission or commis-
sion of any act by such
seller in fulfilling the
duties and liabilities in
the manner as prescribed
by the marketplace e-com-
merce entity which causes
loss to the consumer.
These two rules will result
in restraint on the part of
the platforms while board-
ing MSMEs.
Domestic travel is roaring back but many workers are still at home
ers are still at home. The overall
unemployment rate in Orlando
was 5.6 per cent in April, a third of
what it was a year ago.
At Florida's Walt Disney World -
- which includes four theme parks
and a couple dozen hotels -- about
33,000 of the more than 41,000
members of the Service Trades
Council Union have returned to
work, according to Matt Hollis,
pg 7
Crypto exchange
WazirX parent
The large-cap indices—
Sensex, Nifty-50 and BSE
100—have given returns of
Quant Mid-cap Fund (36.16
per cent), Quant Small-cap
Fund (66.93 per cent) and
Binance in a jam
11.76 per cent, 14.85 per
cent and 15.20 per cent,
BOI-Axa Small-cap Fund
(40.02 per cent).
respectively, during the Mid- and small-cap SANGEETHA G
last six month period. scrips continued to fare CHENNAI, JUNE 27
But broader market better than their larger
returns are much higher, peers for the second con- Cryto currency exchange
with the BSE Mid-cap secutive month even dur- WazirX, which is facing
Index’s return at 26.27 per ing the second wave of the troubles over Fema viola-
cent, Nifty Mid-cap’s, at pandemic, according to a tions, has more worries in
28.06 per cent and BSE report by Tata Mutual store. Its parent Binance
Small-cap’s, at 40.85 per Fund. has been asked to stop all
cent. "This is evident from the regulated activities in
These top performing performance of the broad- Britain. including trading in
funds are managed mostly er market indicator— dozens of digital coins,
The UK’s financial
by the mutual fund indus- CMIE Overall Share Price watchdog, the Financial futures, options, stock
try's top 10 fund houses. Index (Cospi), which Conduct Authority, has tokens, as well as savings
For some of the smaller housed 2,810 actively trad- also imposed stringent accounts and lending. It
asset managers in the mid- ed scrips in May 2021. The requirements on one of recorded crypto trading
cap and small-cap cate- Cospi rose by 7.8 per cent, the world’s biggest crypto volumes equivalent to $1.5
gories the outperformance outperforming the Nifty 50 currency exchanges. trillion last month.
is even higher, like in
cases of Edelweiss Mid-
and the S&P BSE Sensex
by 1.3 per cent each," Tata
“Binance Markets Limi-
ted is not permitted to
Japan’s Financial
Services Agency had
cap Fund (33.08 per cent), Mutual Fund said. undertake any regulated warned last week that
activity in the UK… no Binance was conducting
other entity in the unauthorised trade in
Binance Group holds any crypto currencies with
form of UK authorisa- Japanese citizens.
tion, registration or licen- Germany’s financial
ce to conduct regulated watchdog too has warned
activity in the UK,” FCA investors in April that
erce after having served as instrumental in pushing was quoted by a Reuters Binance had probably vio-
a chief secretary of J&K through significant report. lated securities rules over
since 2018, Manoj Parida reforms in the Insolvency Binance Markets is not its launch of trading in
(1986 batch), advisor to the and Bankruptcy Code and approved under the FCA’s stock tokens.
administrator of Chandi- the Companies Act. crypto currency registra- A troubled parent could
garh, V.P. Joy (1987), chief Irdai members such as K. tion regime. The entity not be of much help to
secretary, Kerala, Chhabi- Ganesh and T.L. Alamelu had applied to become a WazirX, which had
lendra Roul (1985), former have also applied for the registered crypto curren- received a show-cause
secretary, Department of post. LIC chairman M.R. cy company with the reg- notice from Enforcement
Fertilisers, and Preeti Kumar, who has got one- ulator, but pulled that Directorate a few days
Sudan, (1983-batch) who year extension of late, has application last month back for foreign exchange
retired as the Union health also applied for the post. “following intensive enga- management violations.
secretary in July 2020. The other applicants for gement from the FCA”. “ED has issued show
The name of Injeti the post include Rajesh The FCA reviews con- cause notice to WazirX
Srinivas is also doing the Relan, former head of trols and practices of crypto-currency exchan-
rounds in the government
circuit. Srinivas is cur-
PNB Met Life, who is cur-
rently the CMD of
such exchanges to pre-
vent money laundering
ge for contravention of
Fema, 1999 for transac-
rently the chairman of the
International Financial
Ecomoney Insurance, and
S.S. Gopalarathnam, MD
and the financing of ter-
rorism.
tions involving crypto-
currencies worth Rs 2,790.
Services Centres Autho- of Chola MS General Binance is one of the 74 crore,” the ED had said
rity (IFSCA), located in Insurance. most important operators in a tweet.
GIFT City, Ahmedabad. The government is yet to in the fast-emerging cryp- WazirX allows users to
Srinivas was also a former decide on the date of the to market, offering a wide trade in crypto currencies
secretary of Ministry of interaction to be held for range of services to cus- such as Bitcoin,
Corporate Affairs and was the post. tomers around the world, Ethereum and others.
SHEELA FOAM
FOCUSING ON
access of the creidtors. The
EXPORTS, IMPORT
SUBSTITUTION
New Delhi, June 27: The
Insolvency and Bankrupt- work started a few days
cy Board of India (IBBI) back.
"inadvertently" put out on In some cases, the details
its website Aadhaar and about creditors, including
PAN details of creditors, information such as their
including workmen, of Aadhaar and PAN, were
some companies undergo- submitted in the PDF for-
ing resolution process, and mat. Since it is difficult to
the issues are expected to There was no official remove specific details
be sorted out in the next comment from the IBBI. from the PDF files,
few days. Under the IBBI regula- Aadhaar and PAN infor-
A senior official said the tions, details about credi- mation of many people New Delhi, June 27:
details came into the pub- tors, including workmen, were inadvertently made Sheela Foam Ltd, maker
lic domain "inadvertently", of companies undergoing available on the IBBI web- of popular mattress
as the regulator is working
on a beta project to host the
CIRP or liquidation should
be disclosed on the web-
site, the official said.
There have been instan-
brand Sleepwell, is look-
ing at exports and import
information of creditors of
companies undergoing
sites of the companies (cor-
porate debtors). The details
ces of resolution profes-
sionals approaching the
substitution as the next
big opportunities for
Corporate Insolvency required include name of IBBI and the National itself, leveraging "on
Resolution Process (CIRP) the creditor concerned, Company Law Tribunal China becoming weaker
and liquidation. amount claimed and over the regulations on sentiments" in the
The IBBI, a key institu- amount admitted. requiring public disclosure global markets, according
tion in implementing the In case of a CIRP, these of details of creditors. to the company’s manag-
Insolvency and Bankrupt- details have to be disclosed Since the provisions of ing director Rahul
cy Code (IBC), is working by the resolution profes- the CIRP came into force Gautam.
on the project to ensure sional while in liquidation on December 1, 2016, a total The company, which
and enhance transparency processes, the liquidator of 4,376 CIRPs have com- recently completed 50
with respect to CIRP and would make these disclo- menced till the end of years of operations, is
liquidation processes, the sures. March this year. also looking to expand
official said, adding that Such details have to be Out of the total, 2,653 into beddings related
the matter will be sorted put out on the websites of have been closed, including areas such as bedsheets,
out in the next few days. the companies concerned. 348 CIRPs that ended in comforters, duvets, and
The details that were put With instances where approval of resolution beds and bedroom furni-
out have been removed, the many small companies do plans. As many as 617 ture as it embarks on the
official added. not have or are unable to CIRPs were closed on journey for the next half
It could not be immedi- maintain their websites, appeal or review or settled, century.
ately ascertained details of the IBBI is working on a while 411 were withdrawn "Post-corona, I think,
how many creditors were project to host these details and 1,277 ended in orders there are two things
put on display. on its website for easy for liquidation. — PTI which are coming out as
glaring for us. Number
one is exports. Till date
we could not have thought
that we would be able to
export voluminous items
like mattresses, but with
China suddenly becoming
weaker on sentiments and
other things, that oppor-
tunity has come by and
president of that worker coali- returning to work. They were set we're trying to take full
tion. About 15,000 of the 32,000 to end June 26 in Florida, which advantage of that,"
workers at California's opted not to continue them, but Gautam told PTI.
Disneyland resort have returned, will last until September in Earlier, the company
the company said. California. wasn't too focussed into
Disney, which was forced to Another union executive said exports although it was
close its theme parks around the some California employees are shipping some quantity to
world due to the coronavirus, reluctant to return to the parks, the US from India.
announced plans in September to which no longer take the temper- "Foam products are very
lay off 28,000 employees, a num- atures of guests coming in the voluminous and the
ber that later grew to 32,000 com- gates and don't require masks, freight costs are very
panywide. Most of them were at except in select areas like buses. high. There was no back-
its domestic resorts. Guests who self-identify as unvac- ground or system for
Disney said it has rehired more cinated are encouraged to wear exporting polyurethane
than three-quarters of those them, however. foam, except that China
affected by furloughs and work Another challenge is finding had learned to compress
reductions. Disneyland, in safe child and elder care in the the mattress into a small
Anaheim, California, has been wake of the pandemic, when box and put it on a ship
bringing back 300 staffers a week, unemployed workers have gotten and send it across. And
and the company wants to hire used to staying at home. Many of that's the technology that
thousands more at its US resorts those being asked to return have we use now," he said.
this summer and fall. the least seniority and less cer- At present, Sheela Foam
Enhanced federal unemploy- tainty in their work schedules has a presence in Spain
ment benefits, enacted in the when recalled. Disney said it and Australia. The com-
wake of the pandemic, may be offers employees support for child pany also uses its Spanish
one reason employees aren't and senior care. — Bloomberg operations to export to
the US market. — PTI
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | MONDAY | 28 JUNE 2021
pg 8

SHORT
England women
get better of India
TAKES

Bristol: Skipper Mithali Raj’s

fighting half-century went in
vain as England Women rode
ITALYCIOUS WIN
Super subs fire Italy past Austria in extra-time thriller
on Tammy Beaumont and Nat
Sciver’s aggressive unbeaten Italy 2 Tomas Holes and Patrik
fifties to beat a below-par India (Federico Chiesa 95,
by eight wickets in the first ODI Matteo Pessina 105)
of the three-match series here
on Sunday. Mithali led from the Austria 1 ry
front with a patient 72 to guide
India to a modest 201 for eight (Sasa Kalajdzic 114)
after being put in to bat. Mithali
held India’s innings together London, June 27:
following two early dismissals. Substitutes Federico
She shared two crucial partner- Chiesa and Matteo
ships — 56 runs with Punam Pessina struck in extra-
Raut and 65 with Deepti time as Italy beat battling
Sharma — to help India go past Austria 2-1 to reach the
the 200-run mark. — PTI quarter-finals of Euro
Brief scores: India 201/8 2020 at Wembley on
(Mithali Raj 72, Punam Raut 32; Saturday.
Sophie Ecclestone 3/40; The two teams were
Katherine Brunt 2/35, Anya locked at 0-0 after 90 min-
Shrubsole 2/33) lost to England utes in London, with Italy
202/2 34.5 overs (Tammy enjoying the better of the
Beamont 87 (not out), Nat first half and Austria
Sciver 74 (not out); Jhulan coming back strongly in
Goswami 1/25, Ekta Bisht 1/55). the second period.
But Chiesa made the
crucial breakthrough
Max emerges on early in extra-time and
another goal from Pessina
top in Styrian GP set up a quarter-final
against the winners of
Spielberg: Max Verstappen Sunday’s tie between
tightened his grip on the Belgium and holders
Formula One driver standings Portugal, despite late
as he cruised to victory in the drama.
Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday “We knew we had to suf-
with his closest challenger fer because Austria are
Netherlands
Czechmated
Budapest, June 27:
Schick scored second-half
goals Sunday to give the
Czech Republic a 2-0 victo-
over 10-man
Netherlands and a place in
the European
Championship quarterfi-
nals.
The Netherlands central
defender Matthijs de Ligt
was sent off for a handball
in the 55th minute when
under pressure from
Schick. The red card was
given following a video
review.
Holes then put the Czechs
ahead in the 68th minute
with a powerful close-
range header. He sprinted
into the left of the penalty
area and squared the ball
to give Schick his fourth
goal of the tournament in
the 80th.
Only Portugal forward
Cristiano Ronaldo has
more goals at Euro 2020
with five. The Czechs will
next face Denmark in the
quarterfinals on Saturday
in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Italy’s Domenico Berardi goes for an acrobatic kick during the Euro Last 16 match against Austria at Wembley The Czechs reached the
in London on Saturday. — AP last eight of a major tour-
Czech 2
(Tomas Holes 68, Patrick
Schick 80)
Netherlands 0
nament for the first time
since Euro 2012, when they
lost to Portugal. Ronaldo
scored the winner that day.
They have not qualified for
past three World Cups and
finished last in their group
at Euro 2016.
On a warm evening at the
67,215-capacity Puskas
Arena in Budapest, the
Dutch team paid for not
creating enough chances.
With Schick practically
on his back inside the
penalty area, De Ligt
slipped and scooped the
ball away with his right
hand. Referee Sergei
Karasev awarded a free
kick and, after jogging
over to check his TV moni-
tor, sent off De Ligt with a
red card.
The incident came only
moments after the Dutch
could have taken the lead.
— AP

Rejuvenated Spain on a
Lewis Hamilton a distant sec- the typical side who do not start. Leonardo
ond. The Dutchman started allow (you) to play well,” Spinazzola’s buccaneer-
from pole in his Red Bull and said Italy boss Roberto ing bursts from left-back ARCHERY | WORLD CUP
led throughout to finish more Mancini. were a constant threat and
than 35 seconds head of British “The substitutes made he had Italy’s first sight of
reigning champion Hamilton in
his Mercedes. Finn Valtteri
Bottas was third for Mercedes,
chased home by the second
Red Bull of Mexican Sergio
the difference for us, but
everybody gave their best
tonight. I’m
because the lads gave
happy

everything to win even

Perez. “Unbelievable. The car when we were tired.”
was on fire,” Verstappen on Having emerged as
team radio at the finish. Group A winners with a
“Another win at home feels 100 percent record after
really good. It’s looking really playing all three of their
good.” he said after climbing games in Rome, Italy were
out of his car. — AFP on the road for the first
time in the tournament.
Mancini made seven
Yuvraj might play changes from the side that
beat Wales as Marco
for Melbourne club Verratti started instead of
Manuel Locatelli in mid-
Melbourne: A Melbourne-based field, while Giorgio
cricket club has claimed that it
is very close to striking a deal
with Yuvraj Singh and Chris
Gayle for its T20 games this
Chiellini again missed out
with a hamstring injury.
After belting out a rous-
ing rendition of their
national anthem with
summer. The Mulgrave Cricket
Club, who play in Melbourne’s ample backing from the
Eastern Cricket Association largely Italian crowd, the
(ECA) third-tier competition, Azzurri made a lively
said they are also in talks with
West Indies legend Brian Lara
goal with a blast wide
from an acute angle.
Nicolo Barella’s low vol-
ley from Spinazzola’s
cross forced Daniel
Bachmann to save with
his legs. Marko
Arnautovic thought he
had given Austria a shock
lead in the 65th minute
when he nodded home
from David Alaba’s head-
er, but the former West
Ham striker was ruled to
be marginally offside after
a lengthy VAR review.
Substitute Locatelli
fluffed his chipped effort
and Domenico Berardi
sent a bicycle kick well
over as Italy’s frustration
mounted. The sides were
locked at 0-0 at the end of
normal time but it did not
take long for Italy to make
their mark in extra-time.
— AFP
mission against Croatia
Copenhagen, June 27:
The good news for Spain
came all at once, their
five-goal rout of Slovakia
on Wednesday steering
them clear of an early exit
and restoring hope they
could even win Euro 2020.
Luis Enrique said he
would have taken any
position in Group E as
long as Spain got through
and yet from desperation
came elation, a goal-fest in
Seville transforming
expectations after a whirl-
wind 60 minutes.
Whether optimism
proves brief or longer-
lasting will depend on the
outcome on Monday
against Croatia, the World
Cup finalists who appear
to be growing into this
competition themselves.
Croatia also qualified in
second place and will cer-
tainly offer a sterner
examination than
Slovakia, who put up sure-
ly the worst performance
of any team in all 36
matches of the group
stage.
SWISS HAVE THEIR
TASK CUT OUT
Winning the toughest
group at the Euro wasn’t
really a big surprise for
the World Cup champions.
Winning only one match
in that group was, though.
Regardless, it was still
enough for France to fin-
ish first in Group F and
set up a match against
Switzerland on Monday in
the round of 16.
“A new competition is
starting,” France coach
Didier Deschamps said.
With Kylian Mbappe,
Antoine Griezmann and
Karim Benzema,
Deschamps has enough
attacking power to deliver
back-to-back major titles. Indian archer couple Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari after
Switzerland have it’s
own battle with history to
winning a gold in the mixed team event at the Archery
World Cup Stage 3 in Paris on Sunday. —Twitter
deal with. The Swiss are
hoping to end a run of
three consecutive exits in
the round of 16 at major
tournaments. Overall,
they have not won a match
Golden glow for
Deepika & India
in a knockout stage at any
major tournament in 67
years. — Agencies
Paris, June 27: The sea- van den Berg and Gabriela

Winning series is priority: Dravid

and South Africa great AB de
Villiers. Mulgrave president
Milan Pullenayegam said: “We
are in negotiations, and with
Chris (Gayle) and Yuvraj we are
nearly 85 to 90 per cent there.
We need to finalise a few things
but it looks really good.” — PTI
Sajan on a spree
of setting records
New Delh: A day after achiev-
ing the elusive ‘A’ cut for the
Olympics, swimmer Sajan
Prakash continued his purple
patch by setting a new national
record in the 200m freestyle
event at the Sette Colli Trophy
in Rome, Italy on Sunday.
Prakash clocked 1:49.73 sec-
onds in the heats at the FINA-
accredited Olympic Qualifier,
bettering the 2010 Asian
Games bronze medallist
Virdhawal Khade’s previous
national mark of 1:49.86 sec-
onds. This is his third national
mark this month. On Saturday,
he became the first-ever Indian
to breach the Olympic
Qualifying Time (OQT), clock-
ing a record-breaking 1:56:38
seconds in the men’s 200m
butterfly event. — PTI
Arputha named
president of CDTTA
Chennai: A. Arputha Raj has
been unanimously nominated
Mumbai, June 27: India
head coach for the tour of
Sri Lanka, Rahul Dravid,
on Sunday said it is unre-
alistic to expect that all
the youngsters picked for
the limited-overs assign-
ment will get a game as
they try to make an
impression ahead of this
year’s T20 World Cup.
The series marks the
coaching return of
Dravid, who is based in
Bengaluru as the chief of
the National Cricket
Academy. The second
string squad, led by
Shikhar Dhawan, has six
uncapped players.
“...I think it’s probably
going to be unrealistic to
expect us in a short tour
like this with three games,
or three one-dayers to give
everyone an opportuni-
ty...and the selectors will
be there as well,” Dravid
declared in the pre-depar-
ture press conference.
Among the players who
are fighting for a place in
the T20 squad for this
year’s World Cup are the
capped trio of Ishan
Kishan, Suryakumar
Yadav and Sanju Samson.
India second-string team captain Shikhar Dhawan and
coach Rahul Dravid.
The Sri Lanka series
starts with the ODIs from
July 13, followed by T20s
from July 21.
The World Cup, original-
ly scheduled in India, is
set to be held in the UAE
in October because of the
Covid-19 pandemic.
—BCCI
The three T20s in Sri
Lanka hold more impor-
tance than the ODIs as it
will be the last set of inter-
national games India play
before the marquee event.
“There are a lot of peo-
ple in this squad who are
pushing for places or look-
ing to cement their places
in the World Cup coming
up, but I think the key goal
of everyone in the squad
and in the team...is to try
and win the series,” the
former India captain said.
“The primary objective
is to try and win the series
and hopefully people get
the opportunity to put in
some really good perform-
ances. These are the only
three games before the
World Cup.
“I am sure that you know
the selectors and manage-
ment would have a pretty
fair idea by now as to what
is the kind of squad that
they are looking for.”
DHAWAN EYES
SUCCESS AS CAPTAIN
It’s a new challenge, said
Shikhar Dhawan as he
geared up to captain an
India senior team for the
first time in his career,
confident that the positivi-
ty and excitement in the
squad would ensure a suc-
cessful limited-overs tour
of Sri Lanka.
Dhawan said the two-
week quarantine has
helped the bonding among
the players and hoped that
it will reflect in perform-
ances on the ground.
“This is a very good
team. There is positivity,
confidence in our team
and everybody is confi-
dent that we will do well.
There is a lot of excite-
ment,” Dhawan said.
“It is a new challenge but
at the same time it is a
great opportunity for all
of us to show our talent.
Everybody is waiting (for
the tour to begin),” he
added.
In the absence of regular
skipper Virat Kohli and
the first side, currently
touring England, Dhawan
will have pacer
Bhuvneshwar Kumar as
his deputy.
Talking about the com-
position of the side,
Dhawan said: “The boys
are doing smart work and
are looking forward to
these matches. The play-
ers have already per-
formed well.
“The team is a nice blend
of experience and youth,”
said the left-handed open-
er.
— PTI
soned and in-form Deepika Schloesser 5-3.
Kumari was a constant in This was after the
India’s remarkable haul of women’s recurve team of
three gold medals at the Deepika, Ankita Bhakat
World Cup Stage 3 here on and Komalika Bari
Sunday, an unprecedented notched up the gold medal
sweep for the country at with a comfortable win
the mega-event ahead of over Mexico, shrugging off
next month’s Tokyo the disappointment of
Olympics. missing Olympic qualifica-
Deepika blanked Russia’s
Elena Osipova 6-0 in the
tion last week.
“It feels amazing. First
final of the women’s indi-
vidual recurve event to
time we won the final
together, it feels so happy,”
complete a hat-trick of Atanu said after their win.
gold medals in one day. She The two got married after
had earlier been a part of a two-year courtship and
the mixed and women’s would be celebrating their
gold-winning Indian first wedding anniversary
teams. on June 30.
In the mixed final, “It feels we are made for
Deepika and her husband each other. But in the
Atanu Das, who are India’s ground we are not couple
best medal hope in archery but like just other competi-
in the Olympics, bounced tors, we motivate, support
back from a 0-2 deficit to and back each other,”
down the Netherland’s Sjef Atanu said. — PTI
Olympic briefs
Serena not to play in Tokyo
S erena Williams said on Sunday that she will not
compete at the Tokyo Olympics next month, joining
fellow Grand Slam legend Rafael Nadal in withdraw-
ing from the Games. The 39-year-old American
revealed her decision at her pre-Wimbledon press con-
ference. “I’m actually not on the Olympic list, so...Not
that I’m aware of. If so, then I shouldn’t be on it,” she
said. She refused to divulge the reasons for her deci-
sion. “There’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic
decision,” she said.

Djoker aims to add one

as the president of Chennai
District Table Tennis WIMBLEDON | CHAMPIONSHIPS
Association at its annual gener-
al meeting held on Sunday. Raj
PM Modi applauds athletes
P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday applaud-

more feather in his cap

is the father and coach of TT
star and Arjuna awardee A.
Amalraj.
Live on TV
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London, June
Novak Djokovic targets a
27:
record-equalling 20th
major and sixth
Wimbledon title from
Monday which will edge
him tantalisingly closer
to becoming only the
third man in history to
complete a calendar
Grand Slam.
The world number one
has already won a ninth
Australian Open and sec-
ond French Open this
season.
That has put him
halfway to emulating
Don Budge (1937) and
Rod Laver (1962 and 1969)
in sweeping all four
majors in the same year.
It is a feat even his clos-
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic during a photoshoot est rivals Roger Federer
ahead of the Wimbledon Championships. — Twitter and Rafael Nadal have
never managed.
“Everything is possi-
ble,” said 34-year-old
Djokovic after winning
the French Open earlier
this month when asked if
the Golden Slam of all
four majors and Olympic
gold was a realistic tar-
get.
Djokovic memorably
captured a fifth
Wimbledon in 2019, sav-
ing two championship
points to defeat Federer
in the longest ever final
at the All England Club
at four hours and 57 min-
utes.
He was deprived of
defending his title in
2020 when Wimbledon
was cancelled due to the
pandemic.
Djokovic has won seven
of the last 11 Slams as he
ramps up his assault on
the record of 20 majors
held jointly by Federer
and Nadal.
The Serb starts his
defence on Monday
against British world
number 250 Jack Draper
who was born just six
miles (9.5km) from the
All England Club.
Federer, who under-
went two knee surgeries
in 2020, won the last of
his eight Wimbledons in
2017 and the most recent
of his 20 majors in
Australia in 2018.
The Swiss star has lost
three finals to Djokovic
at the All England Club
— 2014, 2015 and the epic
2019 clash.
— AFP
ed India’s Olympic-bound athletes, saying that they
have all endured “years of toil” and the country
should back them without putting them under pres-
sure during the Tokyo Games next month. “Every
player going to Tokyo has had one’s own share of
struggle, and years of toil. They are going not only for
themselves but for the country,” Modi said in ‘Mann ki
Baat’. “These players also have to enhance the glory of
India and win the hearts of the people and that is why
my countrymen I want to advise you too, that we
should not pressurise these players.”
Sindhu told to work on tactics
A
bsence of defending champion Carolina Marin
will be an advantage but there are at least six more
title contenders at the Tokyo Games and PV Sindhu
must examine her past performances to devise a prop-
er strategy, says former India chief coach Vimal
Kumar. Vimal said there is still a lot of time and
Sindhu needs to work on her strategies against poten-
tial opponents. “A lot can be done like they can discuss
about her potential rivals, can look and analyse the
matches: what situation they lost a match, the errors
that they committed. It helps devise tactics and also
gives confidence to the players. They still have time as
Olympics is still a month away,” he advised.