SATURDAY | 24 JULY 2021 | VOL.
2 ISSUE 15 | NEW DELHI
TOP OF THE DAY
bharaT bioTech
TerMinaTes
covaxin deal
wiTh brazil’s
precisa
NEW DELHI: Bharat Biotech
has terminated a memoran-
dum of understanding to sell
its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to
Brazil’s Precisa Medicamentos,
the Indian company said on
Friday without disclosing the
reason. Bharat’s statement
said it will continue to work
with Brazilian healthcare
regulator Anvisa to obtain all
required approvals for the use
of Covaxin in the country. There
have been allegations in Brazil
of irregularities in the govern-
ment’s efforts to buy 20 million
doses of the vaccine using
Precisa as an intermediary.
india reporTs
35,342 new
covid-19 cases,
483 fresh deaThs
NEW DELHI: As many as 35,342
new Covid-19 cases and 38,740
recoveries were reported in
the last 24 hours, the union
health ministry informed on
Friday. The cumulative positive
cases now stand at 3,12,93,062,
including 3,04,68,079 recover-
ies and 4,05,513 active cases.
The country’s Covid death tally
has reached 4,19,470, including
483 in the last 24 hours. As per
the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR), as many as
45,29,39,545 samples have
been tested for COVID so far. Of
these, 16,68,561 were tested
in the last 24 hours. The daily
positivity rate currently stands
at 2.12 per cent, and has re-
mained less than 3 per cent for
32 consecutive days. The active
cases constitute 1.30 per cent
of total cases. The recovery rate
is currently at 97.36 per cent.
zoMaTo lisTs in
sTock MarkeTs
wiTh a bang
MUMBAI: India-based food
delivery company Zomato made
a stellar debut on Dalal Street
on Friday as the stock opened
at Rs 116 on the National Stock
Exchange (NSE), a 52.63 per
cent premium to its final offer
price of Rs 76. The listing price
on the Bombay Stock Exchange
(BSE) was at Rs 115, up 51.32
per cent. Stock of Zomato end-
ed the day at Rs 125.20 on BSE
and Rs 125.30 at NSE. Zomato,
which was started in 2010 by
its promoter Deepinder Goyal
crossed Rs 1 lakh crore mark
of the market capitalisation, as
it stood at Rs 1,08,067.35 crore
after a stellar debut on Dalal
Street, racing ahead of IOC,
BPCL and Shree Cements. “A
lot of people are calling this
a ‘historical moment’. It is
not. History is always made in
hindsight. Never in the present.
Back to work,” Deepinder Goyal
tweeted after successful listing.
in uTTar pradesh
governor inTervenes, deaTh senTence of independenT
india’s firsT woMan May be changed To life
ASHISH SINHA
NEW DELHI
A new twist has come in the
case of Shabnam of Amroha,
who is set to become the first
woman in the country to be
sentenced to death. Uttar
Pradesh Governor Anandi-
ben Patel has now intervened
in the case.
After considering the appli-
cation of Sahar Naqvi, a wom-
2 12
flanked by
capTain, sidhu
begins new
innings wiTh a
‘big hiT’ gesTure
exclusive
india deserves a posiTion in securiTy
council: unga presidenT-elecT
UN General Assembly President-elect Abdulla Shahid, in an exclusive interview with
iTV Network, talks about Covid-19, terrorism, UNSC reforms, among others.
ASHISH SINGH
NEW DELHI
W
h e n Ab d u l l a
Shahid became
the President-
elect of the 76th UN General
Assembly in June this year,
he called his tenure the
“Presidency of Hope”. In
Jaish plan
Major terror plot thwarted as Jammu rains wreak havoc in MaharashTra,
police shoot down Pak drone with IED 129 die in floods and landslides
AJAY JANDYAL
JAMMU
Jammu Police on Friday
thwarted a major plot of Pa-
kistan’s terror outfit Jaish-e-
Mohammad to carry out a
major strike in the Jammu
region. Police shot down a
drone coming from Paki-
stan in the Guda Pattan area
Hockey player Manpreet Singh and boxer M.C. Mary Kom leading Team India’s biggest ever
Olympic contingent on the opening ceremony of the Olympics, in Tokyo on Friday. ANI
an lawyer of the Allahabad
High Court, seeking to com-
mute Shabnam›s death sen-
tence to life imprisonment on
humanitarian grounds, the
Governor has transferred it to
the UP government to take an
appropriate decision. The let-
ter of the Governor›s instruc-
tions has also been sent to the
Principal Secretary, Prisons
Department of UP.
Sahar Naqvi had sent a
an exclusive conversation
with iTV Network, Shahid
talked about his priorities
and more. Excerpts:
Q: Sir, let us begin with the tag-
line. What is the meaning and
intention behind the “Presidency
of Hope”? Anything specific that
you want to convey?
A: I came promising a presi-
of Akhnoor at around 1 am.
“Drone was shot at about
0100 hours in Guda Pat-
tan area of Akhnoor when it
was 10-12 feet from ground
level. Soon after the drone
was shot down, a bomb dis-
posal squad was called from
Jammu and destroyed the
timer IED. Drone was pow-
ered with four batteries of
Games begin amid pandemic
letter to the UP Governor
recently, interfering in the
death sentence of Shabnam,
who was convicted in the case
of killing seven members of
her own family. There was
an appeal to be converted
into imprisonment. After
considering this application
of Sahar Naqvi, Anandiben
Patel sent it to the UP govern-
ment to take an appropriate
decision.  special secretary to the gov-
5 fernando,
Modi 2.0: analysing
The dynaMics of
pli scheMe
dency of hope taking into
account the challenging
times that we have gone
through—the pain, the loss,
and the devastation due to
the pandemic. I felt that it
was time that we give hope
to the world. In record time,
the world came up with a
vaccine and it is fair to term
25,000 MAH each to help
it carry payload deep inside
Indian Territory,” a police
official said.
He added that from the
spot a black coloured drone
having 6 wings, 2 antenna
and 4 batteries, one sealed
packet and a thin string of
length about 6.5 feet were
recovered. Police have also
The Governor›s Secretariat
has also sent a formal letter
in this regard to the Princi-
pal Secretary of the Prisons
Department of the state. It
is clearly written in the let-
ter that after observing the
points raised in the applica-
tion of Principal Secretary
Advocate Sahar Naqvi, take
a proper decision on it as per
the law. Badri Nath Singh,
it a miraculous vaccine be-
cause it is impossible to come
out with a Covid vaccine in
such record time. The entire
193 countries should come
together and celebrate this.
We need to make sure that
we do not go into a depres-
sive mode. Therefore, I have
promised a Presidency of
collected samples of the de-
stroyed timer IED as it will
play a crucial role in the
investigation of Indian Air
Force blast case probe.
The National Investigation
Agency team is expected
to visit the spot where the
drone was shot down by
the police. The NIA is in
P2
ernor, has sent the informa-
tion about the transfer of the
case to the UP government
through a letter to advocate
Sahar Naqvi.
Sahar Naqvi wrote in
the application sent to the
Governor that till date no
woman has been hanged in
independent India. If she is
hanged, then the image of
India will be spoiled, because
P2
raJapaksa propel
sri lanka To
consolaTion win
Hope.
Q: You have said that vaccines
are the biggest hope. At the same
time, we are witnessing vaccine
nationalism. How do you see
this being addressed?
A: Addressing the Covid-19
pandemic is a serious is-
sue. Now that the vaccine
is there, we need to ensure
disasTer
PREETI SOMPURA
MUMBAI
Heavy rainfall in Maharash-
tra wrecked havoc as 129
people lost their lives in rain-
related incidents including
landslides in the state in the
last 48 hours, a senior official
from the state disaster man-
agement department said on
Friday evening. This includ-
ed 38 deaths in a landslide in
a village in the coastal Raigad
district›s Mahad tehsil.
«The death toll in Maha-
rashtra in the last 48 hours
has reached 129. Most of the
deaths are from Raigad and
Satara districts,» the official
said.Besides landslides, sev-
eral people have been swept
away in floodwaters.
Meanwhile, an official
put the death toll in vari-
ous incidents in Western
Maharashtra›s Satara dis-
trict at 27.
On 22 July 2021, at around
1:30 pm, the IAF received a
message for the requirement
of flood relief operations in
Chiplun and Khed town of
Ratnagiri district Maharash-
fighTing pandeMic
we May need
boosTer shoTs
for eMerging
varianTs:
aiiMs chief
CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
With the emergence of sever-
al Covid-19 mutations, there
might be a need for the coun-
try to adopt a booster dose
with second-generation vac-
cines, said All India Institute
of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
chief Dr Randeep Guleria.
“It seems that we probably
need the booster dose of vac-
cines as with the passage of
time the immunity tends to
fall. There is waning immu-
nity. We would like to have
booster dose that will cover
for various emerging vari-
ants,” Dr Guleria said in an
P2
sharpesT kid on The block
This is The iniTial
sTep in The paTh
Towards The
counTry's finesT
daily newspaper.
that it is accessible. We need
to make sure that vaccine na-
tionalism has no place in this
world. My five rays of hope
that the presidency is going
to be built on will cover the
major issues that confront
the world today. One, vac-
cines around, we need to en-
sure that the world recovers
tra. When the weather per-
mitted, a Mi-17 I V helicopter
got airborne from Mumbai
for Ratnagiri at 3:40 pm and
landed at Ratnagiri at 5 pm.
Bad weather did not permit
any further operations in the
evening.
Nevertheless, operations
resumed on Friday with the
helicopter deployed at Rat-
nagiri along with another
one flown in from Mumbai.
An NDRF team of 10 per-
sonnel with approximately
one-ton load has also been
flown in by IAF to Ratnagiri.
At least 56 villagers have
been rescued along with
cattle in Chiplun’s Mirjoli vil-
lage after they were trapped
following a landslide. Three
more teams of NDRF
reached Chiplun, while four
teams are already engaged in
rescuing people as incessant
showers in the hilly regions
of Ratnagiri district wreaked
havoc in the coastal town,
along with illegal construc-
tions near the Vashishti river
bed and discharge of water
from the Kolkewadi dam.
Based on a request received
paper snaTching case
Shantanu Sen suspended,
IT Minister says TMC
bringing culture of
violence to Parliament
SANJAY SHARMA
NEW DELHI
Trinamool Congress MP
Shantanu Sen on Friday was
suspended by the Rajya Sab-
ha for the entire Parliament
session. Sen, on Thursday,
tore documents related to
Pegasus from the hands of IT
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
“I am deeply distressed by
the course of events in the
House. Unfortunately, pro-
ceedings of the House hit a
new low with papers being
snatched from the Minister
and torn into pieces. Such
actions are a clear assault on
our Parliamentary democra-
cy,” said Rajya Sabha Chair-
fast from Covid-19. Two, the
world is rebuilt sustainably;
three, we need to respond
to the needs of the planet;
four, we need to respect the
rights of all; and finally, we
need to rebuild the United
Nations. These are the five
rays of hope on which I will
P2
from the Maharashtra gov-
ernment, the Western Naval
Command, Mumbai mobi-
lised flood rescue teams and
helicopters to assist in State
administration. Seven naval
rescue teams departed by
road for deployment to Rat-
nagiri and Raigad districts
on July 22 from Mumbai.
Incessant rains and result-
ant flooding have washed
out the ballast below the rail-
way tracks and embankment
in several patches between
Chiplun and Kamathe sec-
tion, said L K Verma, chief
spokesperson of KR.
Rains continued to lash
parts of Kolhapur, due to
which the PanchgangaRi-
ver in the district is flowing
above the danger mark and
is incessantly rising, officials
said. Talking about the traf-
fic situation on the Mum-
bai Bengaluru highway,
Kolhapur›s district super-
intendent of police Shailesh
Balkawde said, Ahead of Ka-
gal (in Kolhapur), a stretch
of road near a village in Bel-
gaum district of Karnataka
P2
man M Venkaiah Naidu.
“Santanu Sen, please with-
draw from the House. Allow
the House to function,” said
Naidu before adjourning
House till 12 noon following
an uproar that started dur-
ing TMC MP Derek O’Brien’s
statement over Thursday’s
incident.
As the Rajya Sabha began
on Friday, Union Minister of
State for Parliamentary Af-
fairs V. Muraleedharan’s pro-
posal to suspend the TMC
MP for the entire Parliament
session was accepted in the
House. However, Opposition
leaders Anand Sharma and
Mallikarjun Kharge opposed
P2
 2 news t h e da i ly gua rd i a n
sat u rday | 24 ju ly 2021
new d e l h i

conGress crIsIs ends GhazIabad ‘assaUlt’ vIdeo

flanked by caPtaIn, sIdhU beGIns HC quashes UP police

notice summoning
new InnInGs wIth a ‘bIG hIt’ GestUre
ANIL BHARDWAJ
CHANDIGARH
the state Congress has completely
ended.
agreed to it.
On the question raised by Sunil
Twitter India MD,
calls it ‘mala fide’
“The action of the re-
CORRESPONDENT
The reason for this is that while Jakhar regarding sacrilege cases, BENGALURU spondent (Ghaziabad po-

N
avjot Singh Sidhu finally
took over as Punjab Con-
gress president on Friday,
with his usual cricketing gesture
of hitting a ball out of park. Punjab
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder
Singh along with state Congress in-
charge Harish Rawat, former PPCC
president Sunil Jakhar and other
senior leaders of the party attended
the installation ceremony at Pun-
jab Congress Bhawan here. Work-
ing presidents Kuljit Singh Nagra,
Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder
Singh Daini and Pawan Goel also
took charge.
Captain in his speech said to work
in coordination with Sidhu and the
new PPCC president, after raising
questions on the issues of drugs,
farmers, teachers, doctors, nurses
as well as sacrilege cases, said that
the party is united. Former Con-
gress national president Rahul
Gandhi expressed happiness over
Captain and Sidhu coming together
on one stage, but doubts still re-
main about whether the tussle in
scathInG attack
PeGasUs Is IsraelI weaPon,
centre Used It aGaInst
Sidhu’s stance was visible while
speaking at the function, Sunil
Jakhar, expressing his anger, said
that of course he got the full sup-
port of Chief Minister Captain Am-
arinder Singh, but there were a lot
of issues including sacrilege cases,
which he failed to resolve. Along
with this, he also raised the issue
that bureaucracy has dominated
the tenure of the state government
so far. This needs attention.
At the same time, Sidhu an-
nounced that from 15 August, he
would stay in Punjab Congress
Bhawan. He also asked the minis-
ters to spend some time in the state
Congress office. Sidhu said to the
workers that he would give them
strength and on the basis of that
power, Congress will win in 2022
too.
Sidhu also said that there were
many talks as well opposition
about his appointment as presi-
dent, but he did not mind. Specially
naming Rawat and Bhattal besides
Minister Sukhjinder Singh Rand-
exclUsIve
IndIa deserves a PosItIon In secUrIty
Navjot Singh Sidhu and Capt Amarinder Singh.
hawa for their support, Sidhu said
that he would always be grateful to
colleagues like them.
Addressing the party workers
present, Captain Amarinder Singh
said that he and Sidhu will work to-
gether. He also mentioned his rela-
tionship with Sidhu›s family. Along
with this, he praised Ministers Bal-
bir Singh Sidhu, O.P. Soni regard-
ing health services and Vijay Inder
Singla for reforms in the education
sector during the Covid times.
Addressing Sidhu, Captain said
that the border of Punjab is adja-
cent to Pakistan and we need to be
very careful. He tried to indicate
that the distance between him and
Sidhu has ended, saying that the
day national president Sonia Gan-
dhi told him that he wanted Sidhu
to be the Punjab president, he had
Captain said that many cases are
part of the legal process, so they get
pending, but justice will definitely
be done. Harish Rawat congratu-
lated the new team and expressed
hope that in 2022 also the Congress
government will be formed in Pun-
jab.
On the other hand, Sidhu said
that today every worker of the par-
ty in Punjab has become ‘Pardhan’
with his appointment as president.
He said that he has to solve the is-
sues of Punjab. He will talk to the
farmers. Simultaneously address-
ing the Chief Minister, he said that
justice is necessary in the case of
sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib
and if it is not done then there is no
use of his stint as party president.
Earlier in the morning, Sidhu
reached Chandigarh Punjab Bha-
wan from Patiala. In a short time,
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder
Singh also reached Punjab Bha-
wan. After high-tea everyone left
for Punjab Congress Bhawan for
Sidhu’s installation ceremony.
In a relief to the Twitter
India managing director
Manish Maheshwari, the
High Court of Karnataka on
Friday quashed the notice
issued by the Uttar Pradesh
police seeking his personal
presence in connection with
a communally sensitive
video uploaded on Twitter
platform. The court said
that the notice under 41A
appeared mala fide.
The UP Police notice man-
dated the Twitter India
chief to appear before them
for an enquiry. The single
bench of Justice G. Naren-
dar maintained that if the
UP Police needs to question
Maheshwari, they can do
so by visiting his office or
home address or even virtu-
ally.
The Karnataka HC also
said that the notice issued
under Section 41A of the
CrPC can be treated as is-
sued under Section 160. The
court said the notice issued
to Maheshwari by the UP
police was mala fide. “The
notice under 41A appears
mala fide,” it added.
lice) trying to invoke section
41(A) of the CrPC give no
doubt in the mind of court
that the same has been re-
sorted to as an arm-twisting
method as the petitioner
refused to heed to the no-
tice under section 160 of the
CrPC,” the court observed.
The Ghaziabad police had
issued a notice under Sec-
tion 41-A of the CrPC on 21
asking the Twitter MD to
report at the Loni Border
police station at 10:30 am
on 24 June.
Maheshwari then ap-
proached the Karnataka
High Court as he lives in
Bengaluru in Karnataka.
On 24 June, the High
Court, in an interim order,
restrained the Ghaziabad
police from initiating any
coercive action against
him.
The Ghaziabad Police
on 15 June booked Twitter
Inc, Twitter Communica-
tions India Pvt.Ltd. (Twit-
ter India), news website
The Wire, journalists Mo-
hammed Zubair and Rana
Ayyub, besides Congress
leaders Salman Nizami,

IndIa: rahUl GandhI

NEW DELHI: Attacking the
Centre, Congress leader Ra-
hul Gandhi on Friday said
Pegasus spyware is an Is-
raeli classified weapon that
the government has used
against the institutions of
the country.
“Pegasus is classified by
the Israeli state as a weap-
on and that weapon is sup-
posed to be used against
terrorists. The Prime Min-
ister and Home Minister
have used this against the
Supreme Court... They have
used it against all the insti-
tutions of this country. The
only word for this is treason.
There is no other word for
this,” added the Congress
leader.
Earlier today, Congress,
DMK and Shiv Sena MPs
protested against the al-
leged Pegasus snooping
controversy in front of the
Mahatma Gandhi statue in-
side Parliament premises on
Friday.
coUncIl: UnGa PresIdent-elect
be building
my presidency on.
Q: India supported
your candidature
from Day 1. How do you see In-
dia’s role as far as your election
as the 76th UNGA President is
concerned?
A: You’d recall my contender
was from Afghanistan. We
are both from the same re-
gion, the SAARC region. So,
it was a difficult decision for
India. However, India came
Q: Sir, there has been a consist-
ent pitch from India’s side on
the UNSC reform. How do you
see it?
A: The Maldives’ position on
the Security Council reform
is very clear. The Maldives
was among the first 10 coun-
tries way back in the 1970s
that proposed the Security
Council reform and we have
made it very clear that India
should be given a position in
the UN Security Council.
encourage.
Q: The other topic is Afghani-
stan. How do you see the Af-
ghanistan issue being taken for-
ward at the international level?
Do you see any role being played
by the UNGA?
A: The maintenance of inter-
national peace and security
is the mandate of the Secu-
rity Council. However, I wish
Afghanistan all the best. I am
confident that the govern-
ment and the people desire
dressed. This is a very seri-
ous issue.
Q: I am sure you would agree
that one of the big challenges for
you would be terrorism. If we
look at the region, Pakistan has
been on the Grey List for the past
three years. How do you see this
being tackled under your presi-
dency?
A: Terrorism is a scourge
that has no religion, no bor-
ders. It is pure evil and the
number of innocent lives
Maintaining that the pro-
visions of the statute under
Section 41(A) CrPC should
not be permitted to become
«tools of harassment», Jus-
tice Narendar said that the
respondent Ghaziabad po-
lice did not place any mate-
rial which would demon-
strate even the prima facie
involvement of the petition-
er though the hearing has
been going on for the past
several days.
JaIsh Plan
Maskoor Usmani, Shama
Mohamed and writer Saba
Naqvi.
They were booked over
the circulation of a video in
which an elderly man, Ab-
dul Shamad Saifi, alleges
he was thrashed by some
young men who also asked
him to chant ‹Jai Shri Ram›
on 5 June.
According to police, the
video was shared to cause
communal unrest.

Indian state and against
our institutions,” said Rahul
Gandhi. “They have used it
politically...They have used
it in Karnataka. They have
used it to scuttle probes.
They have used it against
The protesting MPs de-
manded a Supreme Court-
monitored judicial probe in
this matter. The MPs carried
banners with the slogan
“#Pegausus Snoop Gate”.
as you rightly said, very early
on and backed the Maldives’
candidacy. That sent a very
clear signal from the SAARC
region that the preferred
candidate is from Maldives,
Q: Since you are in India, there
are three topics of interest in the
international affairs domain
that have been making the head-
lines. I will come to these one by
one. Let’s first start with the
democracy, peace and pro-
gress and I have confidence
in the capacity of the govern-
ment to work with the inter-
national community in order
to maintain the progress that
Major terror
that it has taken is a clear
testimony of it. Not only in
this region but in every part
of the world, terrorism has
been so heartless in killing
innocent people. The United
plot thwarted as

dIsaster
raIns wreak havoc In
maharashtra, 129 dIe
In floods, landslIdes
h a s go t
inundated due to
rainwater on Fri-
day.
Several parts have record-
ed unprecedented rains in
the past 24 hours, with Ma-
habaleshwar hill station in
Satara notching 480 mm,
the highest in 45 years, and
Matheran recording 330
mm rains, while many other
areas saw rains over 200
mm, creating panic.
Maharashtra Chief Min-
ANI
ister Uddhav Thackeray on
Friday took stock of the situ-
ation by visiting a control
room and met with officials.
Guardian minister of
Raigad, Aditi Tatkare,
told The Daily Guardian that
the Maharashtra govern-
ment has sought help from
the central government.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi meanwhile spoke to
CM Uddhav Thackeray on
Thursday and assured all
possible help.
which made it easier for
many other countries to
make the decision. I was able
to get a large majority from
not only SAARC countries
but also from ASEAN and
also from different regions.
Almost three-quarters of
the voting members voted
for me during the elections.
That is a very large mandate
I was able to get. I think the
decision early on assisted
many countries to make the
choice.
fIGhtInG PandemIc
We may need booster shots for
emerging variants: AIIMS chief
interview
with ANI. He fur-
ther stated that
the booster dose
South China Sea issue. Do you
see the UNGA playing a role as
far as these international issues
are concerned?
A: According to the UN
Charter, the maintenance of
peace and security is a direct
mandate of the UN Security
Council. So, the General As-
sembly does not have a direct
role in it. But the promotion
of direct dialogue, promo-
tion of peace, promotion of
mutual resolution of issues is
something that we all should
should come out now be-
cause trials in India are
already there in the vac-
cines which are available
they have achieved.
Q: Another issue that has made
a lot of noise is the Pegasus
‘snooping’ saga.
A: Since I have arrived here,
I have been told about it but
I am not very much aware of
it. The security and privacy
of individuals is something
that has been continuously
compromised. The Internet
and digital connectivity that
we have is being abused by
so many and this is some-
thing that needs to be ad-
children between the age
group of 12 to 18.
The Ahmedabad-based
pharmaceutical firm had on
Nations has been tasked
with coming up with a defi-
nition of terrorism in order
to get the commission on
terrorism finalised. I believe
that work has to proceed at
a great pace so that a clear
message is put through that
the international committee
is against terrorism. The po-
litical will needs to come out
so that terrorists and people
who fund them will not have
any place in the community
of nations.
cussions with COVID-19
vaccine manufacturers
Moderna and Pfizer, for pro-
curing their vaccine. How-
Jammu police
shoot down Pak
drone with IED
vestigat-
ing the Jammu
IAF blast case. It
is also in touch
with Jammu and Kashmir
Police for forensic reports
of explosives used for fabri-
cating IED.
“Thursday night, we got
specific inputs of terror
outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad
dropping some payload via
a drone in Akhnoor sector.
We acted swiftly upon the
input and laid an ambush.
PaPer snatchInG case
Around 1 am, a police team
shot down a drone, well
packed with 5kg IED, which
was almost ready to be used.
A preliminary analysis of the
drone revealed that it was a
hexacopter with six wings
and a flight controller and
GPS. We have recovered
the same threads and it is
now confirmed that a simi-
lar drone had dropped the
payload at IAF station,” said
ADG Jammu Zone Mukesh
Singh.

In Uttar Pradesh
will be a second-generation
vaccine.
“We will have second-
Governor Intervenes, death generation vaccines which
would be better in terms of
sentence of IndePendent the immunity they give, cov-
in India, Bharat Biotech
trial is in the final phase by
September we will have the
data,” he said.
The trial is conducted in
three phases by segregating
July 1, requested emergency
use approval for ZyCoV-D,
its three-dose COVID shot
- the world’s first Plasmid
DNA vaccine. It will, howev-
er, be a few more days before
ever, there has been a delay
over the same. “There could
Shantanu Sen suspended,
be multiple reasons of delay. IT Minister says TMC
I think two or three things
need to be kept in mind. One bringing culture of
is collaboration and the un-

IndIa’s fIrst woman may be

chanGed to lIfe
the
country has an
old tradition of
worshiping and
honouring women like god-
desses. According to her, she
is not raising any question
about Shabnam›s crime or
his punishment.  lover Saleem were upheld by
Rather, it wants that his
death sentence should be
converted to life imprison-
ment. It was also argued in
the application that the hang-
ing of Shabnam may have a
negative impact on her only
son, Taj alias Bittu, who was
born in jail.
The death sentences of
Shabnam, who was a teacher
in Amroha district, and her
the Supreme Court in May
2015 for killing seven mem-
bers of her family, including
her 10-month-old nephew.
ering of the new variants and
a having a better overall ef-
ficacy. Trails of booster vac-
cine shots are already going
on. You will probably need
a booster dose till the end of
this year. But that’s only once
the population is vaccinated,
then the next step will be to
administer a booster dose,”
Dr Guleria said.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin
trials for children are pres-
ently underway and the
results are expected to be
released by September, the
AIIMS director informed.
“The vaccines for children
children into categories ac-
cording to their age. The first
trial was started in the age
group of 12-18 years followed
by the age group of 6-12 years
and 2-6 years which are cur-
rently undergoing trials.
He further said that Zy-
dus Cadila has included the
data for children for their
COVID-19 vaccine. “Zydus
Cadila vaccine has also in-
cluded children and their
data is already there. They
have already applied for the
emergency use authoriza-
tion,” he said. Zydus Cadila
has concluded its trial for
the country’s drug regulator
Drugs Controller General of
India (DCGI) gives it emer-
gency use authorisation, as
per sources.
Dr Guleria also said, “In
the coming few weeks or by
September vaccines should
be available for children. We
should then start schools in
a graded manner as we have
been doing for 18-45 years
age and that also will give
more protection to kid and
more confidence to public
that children are safe.”
The Government of In-
dia has been holding dis-
derstanding with the gov-
ernment on the doses. But
they should also have that
many doses to give because
we must understand that
these companies have pre-
booked the order from many
countries. Thus, they have
obligation to give vaccines
to those countries. Unless
they fulfill the obligations,
they cannot spare doses for
other countries like India
and other parts of the world.
They have huge pre-booked
doses,” explained the AIIMS
chief.
WITH ANI INPUTS
violence to Parliament
the mo-
tion.
Point of order
raised by TMC
MP Sukhendu Shekhar
Roy and raised the objection
mentioning that there was
no list of business mention
for the motion moved against
Shantanu sen. Earlier in the
day, Leader of the House in
Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal
met Chairman Venkaiah
Naidu over the issue of
snatching of a paper from the
hands of IT Minister Ashwi-
ni Vaishnaw and tearing it
off by TMC MP Santanu Sen,
said sources. Deputy Leader
of Rajya Sabha Mukhtar Ab-
bas Naqvi and Minister of
State for Parliamentary Af-
fairs V. Muraleedharan were
also present at the meeting.
Asked about the incident,
Vaishnaw said, “TMC has a
culture of violence in Bengal.
They are trying to bring the
same to Parliament. What
message do they want to give
to the next generation of Par-
liamentarians?”
 the daily guardian
saturday | 24 july 2021
new delhi news 3
PoRN sCANDAL

RAj kUNDRA PoLICE CUsToDy ExTENDED TILL

TUEsDAy, sHILPA’s sTATEMENT RECoRDED
When Raj Kundra was taken out of court, The Daily Guardian sought his comment but he declined to
speak. Mumbai Police Crime Branch wants to probe bank accounts of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
bank accounts of Kundra’s While seeking extension of other app BOLLYFAME. transactions from Raj Kun- “Police is following what
URVASHI KHONA
MUMBAI wife and Bollywood actress the custody Mumbai Police We want to retrieve Ryan’s dra’s Yes Bank account to web series are doing these
Shilpa Shetty. They want to submitted that they have 4 Email accounts made account in United Bank of days—vulgar content. But

A
ctor Shilpa Shetty’s
statement has been
recorded by the
Mumbai Police in a case of
selling pornographic films
allegedly linked to her hus-
band and businessman Raj
Kundra. Raj Kundra was
sent to the police custody
till July 27 earlier in the day
following his arrest in a case
related to the alleged crea-
tion of pornographic films.
The Mumbai Crime
Branch also wants to probe
check if the financial pro-
ceeds from the app subscrip-
tion, were then parked into
Shilpa Shetty’s accounts or
not. The crime branch team
had reached Shilpa Shetty
and Raj Kundra’s residence
in Mumbai’s Juhu area on
Friday.
On Friday, Kundra and
his business associate Ryan
Thorpe were produced be-
fore the Magistrate Court
where their police custody
was extended till 27th July.
seized laptop of Raj where for Hotshots. We have re- Africa were made.” that’s not really classified
51 Adult videos were found. corded statement of the ac- When Raj Kundra was as porn. Nothing in this
“Raj Kundra was the part- countant and IT Developer taken out of court, The Daily remand shows that two
ner of Kernin. They made of their company and they Guardian sought his com- people actually indulged in
a plan B (Bolly Fame) af- have told us that monthly ment but he declined to act of intercourse. If it’s not
ter they received a Google expenses of their office speak. actual intercourse, it’s not
mail to discontinue the app. were 4 thoussnd to 10 thou- Kundra has denied any classified as porn,” Advo-
There are videos which sand pounds” police offi- wrongdoing. His lawyer cate Ponda told the court.
were used, we need to ver- cials said. Abad Ponda had objected Meanwhile actress Shilpa
ify with these people. Also Mumbai police property to classifying content as Shetty took to her Insta-
after Google, iOS and oth- cell also submitted in the pornography in the case, gram and urged her fol-
ers removed Hotshot app court, “We suspect that pointing out a technicality lowers to not let her film
from their app platforms so amount earned from the in the Information Technol- Hungama 2 suffer due to her
the accused activated their pornographic materials ogy Act when read with the husband’s alleged involve-
plan B, and launched an- were used for betting. Huge Indian Penal Code. ment in the case.

30 yEARs oF REFoRMs ‘HAPPy To kNow’ DEPLETION

MANMoHAN sINGH sAys 1991 REFoRMs Govt working to boost

UNLEAsHED sPIRIT oF FREE ENTERPRIsE, aviation sector: PM Modi
RoAD AHEAD MoRE DAUNTING
CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Noting that the economic
liberalisation process in
1991 triggered by an eco-
nomic crisis had helped
lift 300 million people out
of poverty, former Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh
on Friday said that the re-
forms process unleashed
the spirit of free enterprise
which has helped produce
some world-class compa-
nies and help India emerge
as a global power in many
sectors.
Dr Singh, who was the
Finance Minister in the
Congress-led government
of then Prime Minister P.V.
Narasimha Rao, also said
that “too many lives and
livelihoods have been lost
that should not have been”
in the Covid-19 pandemic
and it “is not a time to re-
joice and exult but to intro-
spect and ponder”. He said
the road ahead is even more
daunting than during the
1991 crisis.
connectivity, comfort in
In a statement on the 30th
anniversary of economic
liberalization, the former
Prime Minister said Con-
gress ushered in significant
reforms of India’s economy
and paved a new path for
the nation’s economic policy.
“On this day 30 years ago,
in 1991, the Congress party
ushered in significant re-
forms of India’s economy
and paved a new path for
our nation’s economic
policy. Over the last three
decades, successive govern-
ments have followed this
path to catapult our nation
to a $3 trillion economy and
into the league of the world’s
largest economies,” he said.
“More importantly, nearly
300 million fellow Indians
have been lifted out of pov-
erty in this period and hun-
dreds of millions of new jobs
have been provided for our
youth,” he added.
“The economic liberalisa-
tion process in 1991 was trig-
gered by an economic crisis
that confronted our nation
then, but it was not limited
to crisis management. The
edifice of India’s economic
reforms was built on the
desire to prosper, the belief
in our capabilities, and the
confidence to relinquish
control of the economy by
the government,” he said.
Dr Singh said he was “for-
tunate to play a role in this
reform process along with
several of my colleagues in
the Congress party”.
“It gives us immense joy to
look back with pride at the
tremendous economic pro-
gress made by our nation in
the last three decades. But I
am also deeply saddened at
the devastation caused by
the Covid-19 pandemic and
the loss of millions of fellow
Indians,” he said. Dr Singh
said the social sectors of
health and education “have
lagged behind and not kept
pace with our economic
progress”.
“Too many lives and live-
lihoods have been lost that
should not have been. It
is not a time to rejoice and
exult but to introspect and
ponder. The road ahead is
even more daunting than
during the 1991 crisis. Our
priorities as a nation need
to be recalibrated to fore-
most ensure a healthy and
dignified life for every single
Indian,” he said.
The former PM recalled
that he had quoted Victor
Hugo in his budget speech
and said it was time to re-
member Robert Frost’s
poem. “As Finance Minister
in 1991, I ended my budget
speech by quoting Victor
Hugo, ‘no power on Earth
can stop an idea whose time
has come’. Thirty years
later, as a nation, we must
remember Robert Frost’s
poem, But I have promises to
keep, And miles to go before I
sleep,” he said.
With ANI inputs
CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Friday said his
government is working to-
wards boosting connectivity
and comfort in the aviation
sector. In a tweet, PM Modi
said that Darbhanga airport
is becoming an important
contributor to Bihar’s prog-
ress.
Responding to the post of
a Twitter user who shared a
picture of himself boarding
a flight from Darbhanga air-
port along with his father,
the Prime Minister tweeted:
“Happy to know! We are
working towards boosting
connectivity and comfort as
far as the aviation sector is
concerned. As for Darbhan-
ga airport, it is becoming an
important contributor to
Bihar’s progress.”
Earlier on Friday, Presi-
dent of Bhartiya Janata
Yuva Morcha South Kol-
kata, Mukund Jha tweeted:
“For the first time I am
boarding in flight with My
Father. Thank you @naren-
dramodi ji for giving airport
to Darbhanga. BJP in 2014
promised to give us airport
and they kept that promise
and built one airport. The
aviation industry under BJP
Government has developed
with brand.”
Darbhanga Airport had
become operational on 8 No-
vember 2020. With a capac-
ity of about 200 passengers,
the airport is also equipped
with a child care room, bag-
gage X-Ray machine and,
conveyor belts. The airport
has an apron built to park
two AIRBUS-320 aircraft.
The airport has benefited
people from 17 districts of
North Bihar.
HARyANA CoNTINUEs To
wITNEss ‘ALARMING’ DECLINE
IN GRoUNDwATER LEvEL
Chandigarh: In the wake of the decreasing water resources
across the country, the union government continues to educate
people to conserve water for their forthcoming generations.
The situation in Haryana does not differ much from other
states as groundwater is declining every passing day. Out of 141
blocks across the state, 86 are extremely exploited, which is a
matter of serious concern. 12 blocks fall under critical category
along with 14 blocks in semi critical conditions in terms of
underground water level. Thus, only 14 blocks are in a safe zone
which are likely to meet the same fate if the scenario remains
unchanged. Thus, Haryana is staring at ground water level
depletion at a rapid rate.
A string of districts falling on GT road in Haryana are
witnessing the same fate. The list includes Sonipat, Panipat,
Karnal, Kurukshetra along with Kaithal, Fatehabad and
Yamunanagar. Most of the blocks in these have either dried up
or are in an alarming situation which continues to increase the
troubles of the state as well as central government.
Depleting water level can be mainly attributed to extensive
paddy farming as it needs water at large scale. An acre of paddy
is required to be flooded around 25 times and nearly 5000 litres
of water are required for reaping one kilogram of paddy.
Regarding the issue, Satbir Singh Kadian, Chief engineer
of the Irrigation department Haryana, said that the situation
is getting worse undoubtedly which requires the attention
of everyone so that the water resources can be preserved .
In wake of this, Atal Bhujal scheme has been brought into
existence to raise awareness among the people over the issue.
It is worth mentioning that Kaithal, Panipat, Gurugram,
Kurukshetra, Faridabad are among those districts whose all
water blocks are over exploited and worst affected as water
level in these areas is falling by one metre ever year. In wake of
ongoing alarming situation, the government took cognizance
and has launched a pilot project to encourage farmers towards
crop diversification. Besides, the government announced a
subsidy to those farmers going for peas and maize cultivation
and to some extent, the project proved fruitful as more farmers
have prefered some other crops in place of paddy over 50000
acres of land during the last year. Ravinder Malik

wATER woEs DRUG ABUsE

NCPCR going to check

sUPREME CoURT DIsMIssEs DELHI GovT’s PLEA
AGAINsT HARyANA oN wATER sUPPLy
ASHISH SINHA
NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court on Friday
dismissed the Delhi govern-
ment’s contempt plea against
Haryana alleging violation of a
1996 order on the water supply
to the national capital.
During the hearing, Supreme
Court asked Delhi government
to negotiate THE matter with
AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT
beggars’ kids for substance
the Haryana government. Additional Chief Secretary, Ir- water level in the Wazirabad
abuse in Chandigarh
stance in which the prevalence
TARUNI GANDHI
While dismissing the plea rigation and Water Resources reservoir is only 31% full. This CHANDIGARH
was higher among children than
filed by Delhi Government, the Department, Devender Singh, has the possibility of trigger- among adults. The five states
Supreme Court told Delhi Gov- for “willfully” disobeying a Feb- ing a severe water crisis in The National Commission with the highest prevalence of
ernment’s advocate, “Please ruary 1996 order of the court to Delhi. The petitioner has al- For Protection of Child Rights inhalant abuse among children
advise your client not to file ap- maintain the water level at the ready had to curtail water for (NCPCR) is going to check beg- were Uttar Pradesh (94,000
plication after application,” Wazirabad reservoir at full ca- several areas in Delhi, includ- gars’ kids for substance abuse. children), Madhya Pradesh
The apex court was hearing pacity to serve the drinking wa- ing the President’s Estate, the On 26 July 2021, NCPCR is go- (50,000 children), Maharash-
petition filed by Delhi Jal Board ter needs of the Capital. Parliament House, and other ing to instruct Chandigarh Ad- tra (40,000 children), Delhi
(DJB) seeking contempt pro- The DJB in its petition stated institutional and diplomatic ministration to utilise all medi- (38,000 children), and Haryana
ceedings against Haryana Chief that “Due to non-supply of ad- buildings as well as many resi- ums to check beggars’ kids for (35,000 children).
Secretary Vijai Vardhan and the equate water by Haryana, the dential areas, it added. substance abuse using medical Priyank Kanoongo, Chairper-
tests in case required. This whole son of NCPCR told The Daily
program would be managed un- Guardian, “We introduced to
der the recently launched Joint have exclusive De-addiction
Action Plan (JAP), in which and Rehabilitation Facilities for

BID-HUB IN PGIMER CHANDIGARH woRks TowARDs ‘MAkE IN INDIA’ MIssIoN
TARUNI GANDHI
CHANDIGARH
The Biomedical Instruments and
Devices Hub (BID-Hub) has been
established at postgraduate insti-
tute of medical education and re-
search (pgimer) chandigarh, with
the support of the department of
science and technology dst, gov-
ernment of india, to promote in-
digenous development. a team of
doctors led by Prof. G. D. Puri and
Prof. Mathews of PGIMER made
a proposal to the DST for sanction
of bid-hub in 2015 which finally
became functional in 2018.
The center is also working to-
wards the mission of ‘Make in In-
dia’ by promoting the indigenous
development of high-quality medi-
cal devices through innovation,
design, and clinical validation
steps. The hub has already deliv-
ered indigenous medical devices
prototypes, patented and com-
mercialized novel medical devices.
Prof. GD Puri, Dean (A),
PGIMER, Chandigarh explained
that BID-Hub at PGIMER is not
only testing the new prototypes
and devices made locally but also
testing and validating the devices
which are being used by clini-
cians in different parts of the hos-
pital. The calibration testing lab at
BID-Hub aims to make the medi-
cal devices safer by calibration-
testing of all medical devices. The
fully functional lab is currently
doing in-house testing of different
medical equipment types already
in-use at PGIMER settings. Nota-
bly, the newly procured medical
devices are also being subjected
to the in-house calibration test-
ing center at BID-Hub for their
performance and safety evalua-
tion. This practice of testing the
equipment before the procure-
ment or installation in the hospi-
tals ensures critical analysis of the
medical equipment regarding its
accuracy and defined standards,
thereby improving patient care at
PGIMER and saving the cost.
A one-day virtual symposium
“3rd BID Workshop: Role of Clini-
cal Validation & Calibration Test-
ing in bringing Medical Devices
to the Markets” was specially de-
signed to decipher the role of
calibration testing and clinical
validation of medical equipment.
The seminar was inaugurated by
Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director IIT
Ropar. The seminar highlighted
the common issues faced by the
medical device R&D, Industry etc.
Prof. Jagat Ram, Director
PGIMER said that the multidisci-
plinary center is facilitating device
development by acting as a bridge
between the engineers and clini-
cians. The hub acts as a node for
CRIKC institutes IIT-Ropar, IIT
Mandi, Panjab University, IM-
TECH, IISER, CSIO, INST etc.,
in the region for a diverse range of
medical devices research & devel-
opment.
Prof. Joseph L Mathew, Depart-
ment of Paedriatics, PGIMER
explained briefly the activities of
the (BID-Hub) and highlighted
the clinical expertise at BID-Hub,
PGIMER, Chandigarh. He em-
phasized upon the clinical ex-
pertise at the Hub which can act
critically in the success of most
medical devices.
Being the end-user of the medi-
cal devices, clinicians can be the
better judges of how well a device
performs in clinical settings.
the Narcotics Control Bureau,
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, and Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment, Min-
istry of Education are actively in-
volved as stakeholders. NCPCR
is going to start such initiatives
under JAP across India.
NCPCR has identified 272 such
vulnerable districts across the
nation where State stakehold-
ers would extensively work on
Children who are substance
abused and would wean away
drugs from their lives while
adopting various mediums. A
recent study by the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment
identified 4.6 lakh children in the
country who are addicted to in-
halants, the only category of sub-
Children in 272 Vulnerable Dis-
tricts. The MoSJE shall expedite
the process to establish exclusive
de-addiction facilities meant for
children. However, if there are
any constraints or lack of space,
a separate portion in the exist-
ing facility has to be identified
and partitioned for the children.
Also, there has to be a provision
of separate toilets; and safety
and security of children have to
be ensured.”
“The action plan mandates
that ‘Prahari Clubs’’ be set up
in schools in collaboration with
Gandhi Smriti Darshan Samiti,
in which children will discuss
issues related to drug abuse and
become monitors of the abuse,”
he added.
 4 news plus t h e da ily gua r dia n
sat u r day | 2 4 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i

analysis

World order and india: negotiating

thucydides trap & great convergence
Standing as a gateway between Western hegemony and Chinese authoritarianism, India holds a
global promise that is much more sustainable, inclusive, peaceful, and economic growth-centric.
cal regions.” Mackinder fur- cost and expense, several Indonesia, and Turkey as nations and demanded stra-
ther added, “They will then countries of the world have the possible Swing States of tegic autonomy for itself in
balance the other thousand become wealthier and corre- the world and its transition. foreign policy choices. As the
million who live between the spondingly aspirational too. Global Swing States, as Fon- second-largest global mar-
Missouri (River in the USA) Knowledge economy and taine and Kliman would see, ket, India boasts of a huge
and the Yenisei (Russian its critical arsenals like AI, are those nations that pos- labour force and attracts
River).  A balanced globe of algorithm, big data, digital sess large and growing econ- much more global interest
human beings, and happy, currency, and decision tree omies, occupy central posi- than all other Swing States
because balanced and thus et al have become new fac- tions in a region or stand at put together. In the Indo-
free.” In the midst of the tors of production.  the hinge or gateways of mul- Pacific Sea lanes, India talks
RUDRA P. PRADHAN World War II, Mackinder While China took great tiple regions, and embrace of rule-based governance
wrote this piece at the re- advantage of this shifting democratic governments at and ‘security and growth for

H
arvard Professor
Graham Alison’s
‘Thucydides Trap’
and Geneva School of Eco-
nomics Professor Richard
Baldwin’s ‘Great Conver-
gence’ are two dominant
geopolitical perspectives to-
day that guide and capture
current global geopolitical
transitions and turbulence of
our times. Thucydides Trap
and Great Convergence are
recent propositions. There
is, however, a very interest-
ing third perspective too
that was prophesied back in
1940s by former Director of
London School of Econom-
ics, Sir Halford John Mack-
inder.  inder imagined, has indeed
Mackinder’s perspective
centred around the imagi-
nation and theoretical con-
struct of China and India
rising to world centre stage.
Back in 1943, Mackinder,
writing the last article of his
life, prophesied that “the
Monsoon Lands of India and
China holding a thousand
million people of ancient
oriental civilisation will grow
to prosperity and balance the
remaining great geographi-
quest of Foreign Policy mag-
azine and imagined a great
geopolitical turning point
emerging from the Asian
highlands where China and
India shall hold and define
the thread of international
geopolitical balance.  cline of American eminence
After over 75 years of
Mackinder’s hypothesis,
while China’s rise has great-
ly ruptured the global power
balance and distorted world
order today, the rise of India
into the world stage offers an
alternative narrative. Away
from the communist jingo-
ism and carefully balanced
from Western political pre-
scriptions, India, as Mack-
emerged as the largest demo-
cratic polity in the world with
a world view that is entirely
native of India and flows
from the civilisational values
of the subcontinent while be-
ing organic in character and
symbiotic with larger aspira-
tions of the world.
RISING MULTIPLEX
WORLD ORDER
Bretton Woods system is
under great stress today
symbolising a visible de-
in international affairs. The
United Nations — the largest
organ of Bretton Woods — is
unable to respond to conflict
situations in Syria, Afghani-
stan, Crimea, South China
Sea dispute, terrorism, and
radicalism issues. Demand
for UN reform is quite right-
fully growing. Indo-Pacific
Region (IPR) emerging as
new frontiers of conflict,
newer security alignments
and counter alignments
like QUAD, joint military
exercises like Malabar and
MILAN, Sea Guardian et al
are new strategic security
experimentations. Given
Chinese infrastructure in-
vestments in several Island
Chain countries, long-ne-
glected Island nations have
suddenly emerged as critical
investment destinations and
phenomena of Island shop-
ping by big powers.  esis, economists have far too
Bretton Woods financial
architecture is also under
stress. BRICS Bank and
Asian Infrastructure Invest-
ment Bank (AIIB) are seen as
alternatives to World Bank.
While the dollarised world
economy is threatened by
the Eurozone, cryptocurren-
cies, and the Chinese digital
Yuan, the international trade
regime is vacillating between
trade liberalism and aspira-
tion for protectionism. New
players and economic clus-
ters demanding and com-
peting for power and influ-
ence, it’s new world order of
pluralism and multipolar-
ity which Professor Amitav
Acharya captures as phe-
nomena of multiplex world
order. While the political an-
alysts from Robert Keohane
to Joseph Nye, and Kishore
Mahbubani et al are largely
in agreement with the mul-
tiplex world order hypoth-
matured explanations of this
change and the change driv-
ers.  economic powers. Goldman
GREAT CONVERGENCE
HYPOTHESIS
‘Thucydides Trap’ sensi-
tises all of us of a visible
war. Baldwin’s ‘Great Con-
vergence’ hypothesis on the
other hand squarely sim-
plifies this puzzle. Baldwin
argues that a fundamental
shift in the world’s mode of
production has occurred
leading to the emergence of
wealth in many parts of the
world — a critical structural
shift. Baldwin calls it as the
‘Fourth Industrial Revolu-
tion’ where North Ameri-
can and Western European
capital has integrated with
cheap labour in China, In-
dia, Indonesia, Mexico,
and Vietnam et al. The net
result — the erstwhile capi-
talist block is rendered de-
industrialised and at their
mode of production to build
the Chinese economic power
and its corresponding geopo-
litical influence and ambi-
tion, several other countries
like India, East Asian coun-
tries, Brazil, and Mexico et
al also prospered as growing
Sachs former Chairman Jim
O’Neill spotted this transi-
tion and coined the BRIC
acronym in 2001. Baldwin
called this a phenomenon
of ‘Great Convergence’ that
led to the pluralisation of the
wealth of the world which
was earlier limited to indus-
trialised G-7 countries only.
Several cluster economies
like BRICS, ASEAN, and
EU et al also emerged as sov-
ereign country clubs to share
the benefit of this change and
better negotiate their fortune
and influence.    international governance
INDIA AS A SWING
STATE
Meanwhile, Richard Fon-
taine and Daniel Kliman’s
hypothesis of ‘Global Swing
States’ is yet another ex-
planation that captures
countries like India, Brazil,
home. They are increasingly
active, aspirational, and de-
sire changes in the existing
international order. They
greatly represent the aspira-
tions of the developing coun-
tries that were systematically
marginalised in the Bretton
Woods arrangement.
DOES INDIA OFFER
THE WAY?
India, in many ways, offers
a very proactive and posi-
tive way forward towards a
smooth transition of interna-
tional order. In spite of being
a nuclear power, India tra-
ditionally has downplayed
military adventurism or
musclemanship in foreign
policy practice and choices.
As a country of civilisational
value order, India champions
participatory and inclusive
order. While India’s demo-
cratic polity is an assured
global value, as a critical
representative of developing
countries’ aspirations, India
symbolises consensus than
conflict. Since 1947, India has
always advocated respect for
territorial sovereignty for all
all’ — a cooperative develop-
ment module than predatory
hegemony. Throughout the
Covid-19 pandemic, India
acted as a benevolent vac-
cines supplier than monopo-
lising or profiting out of the
crisis. 
India characteristically
holds a ‘goodwill value’
which is beneficial to the
world at large. While Mack-
inder imaginatively predict-
ed the rise of China, he was
equally apprehensive of the
rise of ‘Yellow Barbarian’ and
anticipated that the rise of In-
dia shall beneficially balance
the world order. Standing as
a gateway between West-
ern hegemony and Chinese
authoritarianism, India,
undoubtedly, holds a global
promise that is much more
sustainable, inclusive, peace-
ful, and economic growth-
centric.
Rudra P. Pradhan is an Associ-
ate Professor at the Department
of Humanities & Social Sci-
ences, BITS Pilani, KK Birla
Goa Campus and serves as a
Distinguished Fellow, Political
Economy at Centre for Public
Policy (CPPR), Kerala.

international self-care day intervieW

Time out: Yoga asanas technology Will be a key part of fashion

amid busy work meetings industry’s groWth: sunaina kWatra
SHRADDHA IYER
Work from home means longer
working hours, with more emails
and even more work meetings.
Attending those long back to back
video calls can be boring, hectic,
and it definitely makes your body
stiff and sore due to long sitting
hours at the work desk. It also af-
fects your focus and productivity.
Obviously, how can one properly
concentrate while in pain? Howev-
er, a little movement and stretching
in between busy work meetings
can save you from unwanted mind
and body stress.
On International Self-Care Day,
let’s decide to prioritise a healthy
lifestyle amid busy schedules.  · Release your arms and come
Try these simple yoga asanas that
you can do while sitting on your
chair or while standing in between
breaks:
1. GARUDASANA
This asana can be done while sit-
ting on a chair or while standing.
It is a great shoulder and upper
back opener. It also works towards
removing stiffness from the lower
body as well. Remember to repeat
this asana on both sides.
STEPS
· Sit up tall on the chair with your
spine erect and feet flat on the floor  · Inhale, raise both your arms up
· Bring both your hands together,
elbows touching each other. Take
the right arm around the left and
bring it around so both palms are
facing each other
· Lift your right leg and place it
over your left thigh, tucking your
right toes around the left calf
· Gaze straight and breathe nor-
mally. Remove the bind to come
out of the pose
· Repeat on the other side  · Repeat on the other side  SARVA.
2. SITTING SIDE BENDS
Sitting at the desk for a long time
can make the upper body very stiff.
Hence, it is important to engage in
some simple movements like side
bends.
This pose can also be performed
while sitting on a chair or hile
standing.
STEPS
· Sit comfortably on a chair with
your back straight and feet flat on
the ground
in the air and palms facing each
other  · You can place your head on your
· As you exhale, take your right
arm over your head, stretching it
over to the left
· Simultaneously, bring your left
arm down to the right side
· Breathe normally, feeling the
stretch in your right-hand side of
the body
· Hold this pose for 30 seconds
CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
3. TADASANA
This is one of the most simple
Fashion & lifestyle leader Su-
and effective poses. It is
naina Kwatra spoke to NewsX
beneficial for overall health. It
India A-List about doing busi-
helps with aligning body posture,
ness during the pandemic, the
relieves back pain, increases
impact of technology in the
focus, and balance.
fashion industry and more.
Sunaina has proven expertise
STEPS in international retail manage-
· Stand straight on the floor and ment, brand positioning, and
keep a small gap between your feet turnaround execution. She has
· Inhale and raise both your arms almost 20 years of work experi-
· Interlock your fingers and ence, the majority of which has
stretch your arms upwards been leading fashion brands at
· Now come on your toes, raising the Louis Vuitton Moet Henne-
your heels  sey (LVMH) group in the Asia
· Feel the stretch in the sides of Pacific. Sunaina began her ca-
your body and be in this pose for a reer as an entrepreneur in the
few seconds homeware and lifestyle indus-
try working with retailers in the
down on your heels United States including Barneys
  New York and Pottery Barn.
4. SHOULDER OPENER She pivoted into luxury fashion
This is an excellent stretch for brand management after com-
the shoulders as well as the pleting her MBA and has held
upper back. This stretch not only strategic positions to expand
helps with stiff shoulders but and reposition brands within
also calms the mind as you fold LVMH’s Asia Pacific portfolio.
forward. In her most recent role, Su-
naina was the country head of
STEPS Louis Vuitton in India and legal
· Sit comfortably on the chair with director for all operations in the
your feet flat on the floor country. She was responsible
· Take your arms behind your for developing and expand-
back, interlacing your fingers  ing Louis Vuitton’s omnichan-
· Bend your torso forward, bring- nel retail operations, people
ing your hands over your head, and brand equity in this high
straightening it as much as possible growth market. She success-
fully led her team to achieve the
lap if that’s comfortable or else, just highest sales, client experience
gaze towards the floor  and brand growth that had ever
· Be gentle and know your limit  been achieved for the brand.
Remember to do deep breathing Excerpts:
during these asanas. It will help you Q. Tell us more about your back-
relax and destress. Take out at least ground and how your Indian roots
a few minutes every day to rejuve- brought you back to India?
nate and recharge yourself. A. I’m from Thailand. I am eth-
The writer is a Yoga Instructor at nically Indian but fourth gen-
eration, born and brought up in
Thailand. I was very blessed to
have an international upbring-
ing. I have worked in five conti-
nents, travelled extensively. My
last few roles have been within
the LVMH group based out of
Hong Kong.
My first role within the group
was as the Regional Head of
Asia Pacific for Emilio Pucci.
In this role, I managed the en-
tire scope of the brand’s direct
retail business in Hong Kong
and China as well as franchise,
department store and multi-
brand distribution in the Asia
Pacific. My next role within the
LVMH group was as the Com-
mercial Director for Givenchy
to identify and execute growth
strategies to maximise brand
development and reposition-
ing. In my tenure, I oversaw 61
locations, opened 24 stores in
line with the brand vision and
improved productivity across
the network. When they offered
me the position to come back to
India to amplify the Louis Vuit-
ton business in India, I was
thrilled at the opportunity and
I am very proud of all we did to
build the business and our team
in India.
Q. What are the tools that have al-
lowed you to succeed?
A. While growing up my father
always said that travel is the
best form of education. I had a
very international education in
Asia, Australia, and Europe and
have worked in five continents.
This allows me to be sensitive
to people and cultures while
executing different strategies
to grow businesses. I am a com-
mercially driven leader and am
passionate about people and de-
livering excellence. My general
management and end-to-end
experience overseeing teams,
networks, finance, logistics,
merchandising, client develop-
ment, and marketing allow me
to be detail-oriented yet see and
set the big picture.
Q. What have we learned in retail
during the Covid-19 pandemic?
A. The biggest learning is that
we have to embrace e-commerce
and the online experience. The
word ‘omnichannel’ was a buz-
zword a decade ago. I think
successful businesses during
the pandemic had to integrate
different methods of shopping
available to consumers. You
have had to expand the supply
chain through localities, fulfil-
ment centres or direct consum-
ers. E-commerce has been a key
to successful businesses in the
pandemic. Businesses had to be
agile and responsive to different
means of reaching consumers.
The lockdown has also led to
less physical interaction with
consumers. Brands have had to
re-think the consumer experi-
ence and how they engage with
clients. The big thing is how we
engage with clients in a number
of different ways.
Q. How do you think technology will
impact the fashion industry in the
future?
A. Technology will be a key part
of the growth of the fashion in-
dustry. Coming out of the pan-
demic, sustainable materials
are important and a key focus
for a lot of brands. Opting for
materials that are good for the
environment as well as good for
us: non-toxic and more breath-
able. We know that there are
now going to be ways to bridge
e-commerce and the successful
physical presence of stores. We
can have VRs, augmented real-
ity to help you try out clothing;
jewellery, fashion and many
brands have done it success-
fully. Just the engagement of
technology and digitisation is
the key to the success and sup-
ply chain management. This
is an exciting time for us and
technology will enable future
growth in retail.
Q. What advice would you give to
business owners in India as we come
out of second Covid-19 wave?
A. I am sitting in the US right
now and we are starting to
see lines in retail stores again.
People really want to embrace
human connection. I would
just like to say that there is
hope and light. I hope that
businesses now use this time
to strategise and further ac-
tivate their omnichannels,
integrate, and improve their
e-commerce presence, engage
with their communities on
social media platforms and re-
ally use technology to enhance
the supply chain and logis-
tics to better prepare them for
the future.
 t h e da ily gua r dia n
sat u r day | 2 4 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i comment & analysis 5
developMent

Modi 2.0: Analysing the

dynamics of PLI scheme
The Modi government’s ambitious Production Linked Incentive scheme in
‘speciality steel’ to attract an additional investment of Rs 40,000 crore will employ
over 5.25 lakh people of which 68,000 will be by way of direct employment.
opinion
SANJU VERMA
will lead to a capacity ad-
dition of 25 MT. Speciality
Steel has been chosen as the
target segment because out
of the production of 102 mil-
lion tonnes of steel in India
in 2020-21, only18 million
tonnes of value-added Steel/
Speciality Steel was produced
in the country. Apart from
this, out of 6.7 million tonnes
of imports of steel in 2020-
21,4 million tonnes worth
of import was of Specialty
rial (finished steel) used for
making Specialty Steel will be
made in India only, thereby
ensuring that the scheme
promotes an ‘end to end’
manufacturing within India.
The Modi government’s
Production Linked Incentive
(PLI) scheme for the food pro-
cessing industry to support
the creation of global food
manufacturing champions
commensurate with India’s
natural resource endow-
ments in the international
markets with an outlay of
Rs 10900 crore. The food
processing sector in India
encompasses manufactur-
ing enterprises in all seg-
ments, from micro to large
industries. India has a com-
petitive advantage in terms of
resource endowment, a large
domestic market and scope
beneficiary shall be fixed in reducing the compliance Even during the pandemic
advance at the time of ap- burden, further improving last year fresh investment of
proval of that beneficiary. the ease of doing business over Rs 1300 crore was seen
Regardless of achievement/ (EODB), cutting down logisti- in the mobile manufactur-
performance, this maximum
shall not be exceeded.
cal costs for various industry
segments, and is expected to
ing and electronic sectors,
creating thousands of new
The implementation of this increase the country’s pro- jobs. On a different note, the
scheme would facilitate the duction by $520 billion in United Nations has declared
generation of processed food the next five years. In the cur- 2023 as the International Year
output of Rs 33,494 crore and rent year’s Budget, about Rs 2 of Millets and more than 70
create employment for nearly lakh crore was earmarked for countries came forward to
2.48 lakh persons by the the PLI scheme with a focus support India’s proposal and
year 2026-27 which is excel- on job creation. An average unanimously accepted it in
lent news. The PLI scheme of 5 percent of production the UN General Assembly.
would be monitored at the is given as incentive. Over This is a big opportunity for
Centre by the Empowered the past 6-7 years, several our farmers, which will get
Group of Secretaries chaired successful efforts have been added traction, thanks to the
by the Cabinet Secretary. The made to encourage ‘Make in PLI scheme in the food pro-
Inter-Ministerial Approval India’ at different levels and cessing sector.
Committee (IMAC) would the PLI scheme is at the fore- Again, IT Hardware is es-
approve selection of appli- front of indigenisation. timated to achieve Rs 3 lakh
cants for coverage under the PM Modi has on umpteen crore worth of production
scheme, sanction, and re- occasions, stressed the need in the next four years and
lease of funds as incentives. to take a big leap forward in domestic value addition is
The concerned ministry will terms of self-reliance, as well expected to rise from the

O
n July 22, 2021, the
Union Cabinet ap-
proved the Produc-
tion Linked Incentive (PLI)
scheme of Rs 6,322 crore for
the Speciality Steel sector to
create over 5.25 lakh jobs and
attract Rs 39,625 crore worth
of investment. This is yet an-
other instance of Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make
in India’ initiative, setting the
tone for an Aatmanirbhar
Bharat and thereby reducing
the dependence on the import
of steel to fulfill the country’s
needs. There is a cap as far as
the incentive is concerned at
Rs 200 crore per entity. This
is a demand-driven scheme
and it will fulfill the country’s
need for steel and create mul-
tiple export opportunities.
Specialty Steel is used in
some form or the other in
air-conditioners, fridges,
solar energy structures,
high strength/wear-resistant
products like construction
equipment, armour bodies,
specialty rails used in high-
speed rails, alloy steel wires
used in crankshaft walls, tyre
tracks and of course electri-
cal steel used in transformers
or electric motors. The Modi
government’s ambitious PLI
scheme in Speciality Steel to
attract an additional invest-
ment of Rs 40,000 crore will
give employment to over 5.25
lakh people of which 68,000
will be by way of direct em-
ployment. The duration of the
scheme will be for five years—
from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
With a budgetary outlay
of Rs 6322 crore, the scheme
Steel alone, resulting in forex
outgo of Rs 30,000 crore. By
becoming Aatmanirbhar in
producing Speciality Steel,
India will move up the steel
value chain and come at par
with advanced steel making
countries like South Korea
and Japan.
It is also expected that the
Speciality Steel produc-
tion will become 42 million
tonnes by the end of 2026-
27. This will ensure that 2.5
lakh crore worth of Special-
ity steel will be produced
and consumed in the coun-
try, which would otherwise
have been imported. Simi-
larly, the export of Specialty
Steel will be over 5.5 million
tonnes as against the current
1.7 million tonnes. The benefit
of this scheme will accrue to
both big players, as in, inte-
grated steel plants, and to the
smaller players (secondary
Steel players) too.
Specialty Steel is value-add-
ed Steel wherein normal fin-
ished steel is worked upon by
way of coating, plating, heat
treatment, etc., to convert it
into high value-added steel
which can be used there-
after in various strategic
applications like Defence,
Space, Power, Automobile
Sector and Specialized Capi-
tal Goods. There are 3 slabs
of PLI incentives, the lowest
being 4 per cent and highest
being 12 per cent. The PLI
scheme for Specialty Steel
will ensure that the basic
Steel used is ‘melted and
poured’ within the country,
which means that raw mate-
for promoting value-added
products.
Achieving full potential
of this sector would require
Indian companies to improve
their competitive strength
vis-à-vis their global coun-
terparts in terms of the scale
of output, productivity, value
addition, and linkages with
the global value chain. Sup-
porting food manufacturing
entities that seek expansion of
processing capacity and im-
proving brand equity abroad
to incentivise the emergence
of strong Indian brands is the
key motive of PLI.
Increase in employment op-
portunities of off-farm jobs,
ensuring remunerative prices
of farm produce, and higher
incomes to farmers are the
other benefits of PLI.
For the promotion of Indian
brands abroad, the scheme
envisages grants to the ap-
plicant entities for in store
branding, shelf space rent-
ing, and marketing. Scheme
will be implemented over a
six year period from 2021-22
to 2026-27. The scheme will
be rolled out on an India ba-
sis and shall be implemented
through a Project Manage-
ment Agency (PMA). The
PMA would, inter-alia, be
responsible for appraisal of
applications/ proposals, veri-
fication of eligibility for sup-
port, and scrutiny of claims
eligible for disbursement of
incentives. The scheme is
“fund-limited”, i.e. cost shall
be restricted to the approved
amount. The maximum
incentive payable to each
prepare an annual action plan
covering various activities for
the implementation of the
scheme. A third-party eval-
uation and mid-term review
mechanism would be built
into the programme.
Outgo on incentives in
next six years will be Rs
10,790 crore, increase in
sales will be at Rs 1.20 lakh
crore, incremental sales in
6th Year will be Rs 33,494
crore, cumulative additional
investment will be Rs 6057
crore, increase in exports in 6
Years will be Rs 27,816 crore,
increase in employment at
end of Year-5 will be 2.5 lakh
people per annum.
Apart from food processing
,South Korean company Sam-
sung Electronics, Taiwan’s
Pegatron and Foxconn and
Singapore’s Flex are looking
to either set up new units or
expand the existing units to
avail benefits under the PLI
scheme for electronics. These
companies have either re-
ceived approval or are in the
final stages of negotiations
to benefit from the Ministry
of Electronics and Informa-
tion Technology’s (MeitY)
production linked incentive
(PLI) scheme, for making
mobile phones and certain
other specified electronic
components. What exactly
is a PLI scheme for electron-
ics? Well, as a part of the Na-
tional Policy on Electronics,
the IT ministry had notified
a scheme which would give
incentives of 4-6 per cent to
electronics companies which
manufacture mobile phones
and other electronic compo-
nents such as transistors, di-
odes, thyristors, resistors, ca-
pacitors and nano-electronic
components such as micro
electro-mechanical systems.
According to the scheme,
companies that make mo-
bile phones which sell for
Rs 15,000 or more will get
an incentive of up to 6 per
cent on incremental sales of
all such mobile phones made
in India. In the same category,
for companies that are owned
by Indian nationals and make
such mobile phones, the in-
centive has been kept at Rs
200 crore for the next four
years. The scheme will at-
tract big foreign investment
in the sector, while also en-
couraging domestic mobile
phone makers to expand
their units and presence in
India. The PLI scheme will
be active for five years with
financial year (FY) 2019-20
considered as the base year
for calculation of incentives.
This means that all invest-
ments and incremental sales
registered after FY20 shall
be taken into account while
computing the incentive to be
given to each company.
For the first year, the total
incentive to be given has
been capped at Rs 5334 crore,
while for the second and third
years it has been kept at Rs
8064 and Rs 8425 crore, re-
spectively. In the fourth year,
the incentive will be hiked
substantially to Rs 11,488
crore, while in the fifth and
final year, the incentive to be
distributed has been capped
at Rs 7640 crore. The total in-
centives over five years have
thus been kept at Rs 40,951
crore for the electronics sec-
tor. Which companies and
what kind of investments will
be considered? All electronic
manufacturing companies
which are either Indian or
have a registered unit in In-
dia will be eligible to apply for
the scheme. These companies
can either create a new unit or
seek incentives for their exist-
ing units from one or more
locations in India.
Any additional expenditure
incurred by companies on
plant, machinery, equipment,
research and development,
and transfer of technology
for the manufacture of mobile
phones and related electronic
items will be eligible for the
incentive scheme. However,
all investment done by com-
panies on land and buildings
for the project will not be con-
sidered for any incentives or
determine the eligibility of
the scheme. Apart from new
players, companies such as
LG India— which already
have manufacturing units
in India— have also shown
interest in the scheme. In the
budget-category phone seg-
ment also, companies such
as Lava, Dixon, and Karbonn
have applied to give a further
boost to Prime Minister Na-
rendra Modi’s vision of an
empowered, aspirational and
transformative India.
Beyond the technicalities,
the PLI scheme is aimed at
as to increase the speed and
scale of local manufacturing,
by creating multi-modal in-
frastructure to reduce logis-
tics costs and constructing
district-level export hubs.
The government, Modi said,
believes that its interference
in everything creates more
problems than solutions and
“therefore, self-regulation,
self-attesting, self-certifica-
tion are being emphasised”.
“We have to attract cut-
ting-edge technology and
maximum investment in the
sectors related to our core
competency,” the PM added.
Underlining the difference
between the earlier schemes
and those of the current
government, the Prime
Minister said that earlier,
industrial incentives used to
be open-ended, input-based
subsidies, but now they have
been made targeted and are
performance-based through
a competitive process. About
PLI benefits,13 sectors have
been brought under the ambit
of this scheme and it would
benefit the entire ecosystem
associated with these sec-
tors. With PLI in Auto and
Pharma, there will be very
less foreign dependence re-
lated to auto parts, medical
equipment and raw materials
of medicines. The energy sec-
tor will be modernised in the
country with the help of ad-
vanced cell batteries, solar PV
modules, and Specialty Steel,
and the PLI for the textile and
food processing sectors will
benefit the entire agriculture
sector as well.
current range of 5-10 per
cent to a far higher range of
20-25 per cent in next five
years. Similarly, Telecom
equipment manufacturing
will witness an increase in
value addition of about Rs
2.5 lakh crore in the next five
years alone. In the Pharma
sector, there is an expecta-
tion of more than Rs 15,000
crore investment in the next
5-6 years under PLI, which
will lead to Rs 3 lakh crore by
way of added Pharma sales
and a massive rise in Phar-
ma exports of over Rs 2 lakh
crore. Further, trust has in-
creased in Indian medicines,
medical professionals, and
equipment across the world,
especially after the develop-
ment of Covaxin, produced
jointly by the Indian Council
of Medical Research (ICMR)
and Bharat Bio-Tech, in a fit-
ting tribute to Indian scien-
tists and of course the politi-
cal courage of conviction of
PM Modi, who has always
encouraged scientific temper.
It would be apt to conclude
with a quote by Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi who re-
cently said: “Time for phras-
es like ‘Hota Hai-Chalta Hai’
is now a matter of the past.
India is growing rapidly and
the world has high expecta-
tions from us. We cannot let
this opportunity go”.
The writer is an economist,
national spokesperson of the
BJP, and the bestselling author
of ‘Truth & Dare: The Modi
Dynamic’. The views expressed
are personal.

PERSPECTIVE
SLEAZY BUSINESS

Raj KundRa’s aRRest pRovides inside view of Bollywood’s XXX side

Business tycoon Raj Kundra’s
arrest for allegedly promoting
pornography, and in the pro-
cess minting crores of rupees,
has captured headlines of all
TV channels and newspapers.
However, there is nothing
shocking in the revelations
since it has been Bollywood’s
best kept secret of how upcom-
ing starlets and models are ex-
ploited by powerful people and
often forced into pornography
and prostitution. The visits of
rich Sheikhs from West Asian
countries to Mumbai and the
frequent travel to these nations
by several actresses includ-
ing successful ones, were not
only account of tourism but
also had in some cases linked
to sleazy activities. Kundra has
close business connections
with Dubai and some other
places, from where members
of the D-Gang often compelled
prominent actresses to come
and spend time in the lap of lux-
ury. The Mumbai police that is
probing the latest case is trying
to ascertain Kundra’s links with
the underworld as also with the
late Iqbal Mirchi, an associate
of Dawood who operated from
London but passed away some
years ago.
Investigations conducted so
far have revealed that the busi-
nessman along with his close
associates, his brother-in-law,
amongst them, persuaded
young starlets to come and
participate in film shootings of
pornographic films. In his own
defence, Kundra continues to
maintain that his movies were
about erotica and had nothing
to do with pornographic stuff.
The police maintain that in the
past one year and a half, he had
made more than 100 blue films
that were circulated through an
app which had nearly two mil-
lion viewers, This way he had
minted huge amounts of mon-
ey. In fact, two starlets, Poonam
Pandey and Sheryl Chopra
have directly accused him of
exploiting them and pushing
them into the XXX trade. In all
fairness, two other actresses,
Rakhi Sawant and Gehna Vash-
isht have come out and sup-
ported the film maker, whose
wife, Shilpa Shetty too has been
asked to join the probe.
Both Shilpa and Kundra had
also promoted an IPL team and
the allegation against them was
that they were mixed up with
the strong cricket Mafia operat-
ing out of Dubai and London.
However, this charge has to
be substantiated by a court of
law. It is a well-known fact that
many Bollywood starlets have
been acting in pornographic
films made by groups settled
abroad. Although it may not
be proper to name them, yet
their activities on the blue cel-
luloid are not hidden from
anyone. The charge of making
pornographic films was once
also levelled against the pro-
ducer director (a foreigner) of
an award-winning film star-
ring a well-known Indian ac-
tress in the mid-1970s. This
particular director, who also
owned a chain of other busi-
nesses had parked himself in
the suite of a five-star hotel in
the Delhi from where he oper-
ated. He had to leave after the
Hotel management learned of
his activities. There were many
Indian actresses in the past few
decades who got mixed up with
international pornography fol-
lowing their failure to pursue
a successful career. There were
some others, who were forced
to abandon their boyfriends
and live with members of the
D-Gang. In fact, Mandakini, the
heroine of Raj Kapoor’s `Ram
Teri Ganga Maili’, had married
Dawood himself and now lives
in a cosmopolitan city in South
India. Kundra’s case could just
be the tip off the iceberg. More
skeletons would fall out once
the Mumbai police completes
its investigations and uncovers
the sleazy side of Bollywood.
— Pankaj Vohra
6 legally speaking the daily guardian
saturday | 24 july 2021
new delhi

in court

Andhra Pradesh High Court

issues guidelines for prompt
transmission of bail orders to the petitioner/ A-2 in con-
nection with Crime No.38 of
2020 of Mothugudem Police
Station, East Godavari Dis-
analysis trict for the offence punish-
able under Section 20(b)(ii)
(C) r/w Section 8 (c) of the
SANJEEV SIROHI Narcotic Drugs and Psycho-
tropic Substances Act, 1985
(for brevity “NDPS Act”).”
While elaborating on the
prosecution version, the
tioner was engaged by A-1 on in a month till completion of The Hon’ble Apex Court in case status information. order to all the Principal
payment of Rs.15,000/- who trial.” catena of cases has held that (b) While filing the memo District Judges in the State,
accompanied him. Further Be it noted, the Bench then speedy adjudication process on behalf of accused for fur- who in turn shall sensitize
the officer who acted as a envisages in para 8 that, is one of the main facets that nishing sureties, the Advo- all the Presiding Officers
gazetted officer while con- “This Court having criminal
ducting the search and sei- roster from the last couple
constitute the essence of ac-
cess to justice and without it,
cate shall State in the memo and ensure implementation
that he/she has downloaded of this order.
zure is a veterinary doctor of months has noticed that access to justice as a consti- the order copy from the (h) Registrar (Judicial) is
and the said doctor is not a in spite of best efforts by the tutional value will be a mere High Court’s Website. The further directed to circulate
competent person to act as a Registry, there is significant illusion. Denial of this right concerned Administrative the copy of this order to all
gazetted officer under Sec- delay in issuing the certified undermines public confi- Officer / Chief Ministerial the Bar Associations in the
tions 42, 43 and 50 of the copies of the orders. This dence in the justice delivery Officer of the Court shall State through the Principal
NDPS Act. Learned counsel Court is conscious of the system. It is also settled law verify the order from the District Judges, so that they

W
hile granting bail GRANT OF BAIL in Suo Bench then lays bare in para for the petitioner further large number of cases pend- that the right of an accused High Court’s Website and can effectively address their
to an accused Motu Writ Petition (Civil) 2 that, “The case of prosecu- submits that the entire in- ing before the Court, due to to have his bail application make an endorsement to clients’ cause.
under The Nar- No. 4/2021 while taking tion is that on 03.09.2020 vestigation is completed and dearth of staff, it is difficult heard by the Court within that effect and then shall (i) Registrar (Judicial) shall
cotic Drugs and Psychotro- took serious note of this ma- on credible information the petitioner is languishing to issue the order copies a reasonable time has been place the same before the also issue a separate notifi-
pic Substances Act, 1985, the jor shortcoming or lacuna. about illegal transportation in jail from 03.09.2020.” within a short span of time. entrenched as a constitu- Court. cation in this regard and the
Andhra Pradesh High Court CJI led Bench of Apex Court of ganja, the respondent Po- As against what is stated In cases, where the accused tional liberty. At the same (c) The Public Prosecutor same shall be displayed in
in a cogent, composed, com- comprising also of Justice L lice rushed to Daralamma above, the Bench then points are entitled for statutory bail time, disposal of bail applica- shall also obtain necessary the High Court’s Website.”
mendable and convincing Nageswara Rao and Justice Temple, outskirts of Polluru out in para 5 that, “On the as they are languishing in jail tion without furnishing the instructions in this regard It is worth noting that the
judgment in Criminal Peti- AS Bopanna had expressed village of Chinturu Mandal other hand, the learned Ad- for more than 60, 90 and order copy within a reason- and assist the Court. Bench then makes it clear
tion No. 3933 of 2021 deliv- the Court’s willingness to and while conducting vehi- ditional Public Prosecutor 180 days, when default bail able time will not place the (d) The Presiding Officer on in para 11 that, “This order
ered on July 22, 2021 has evolve a system to electroni- cle check at about 11.00 AM, submits that on 13.10.2020 is granted, it was brought to accused in a better position. the same day shall dispose shall come into force from
taken a very serious note of cally transmit bail orders they found a Bolero pick-up charge sheet was filed.” the notice of the Court that Mere emphasizing that an of the same and dispatch 26.07.2021.”
the significant delay in issu- directly to prisons so that van bearing registration To put things in perspec- there was considerable delay accused has an indefeasible the release order to the con- Furthermore, the Bench
ing the certified copies of the prison authorities will not No.AP 24 TB 1550 coming tive, the Bench then while in dispatching the copy of or- fundamental right to bail it- cerned jail authorities forth- then also directs in para 12
orders. A Single Judge Bench delay the release of prison- from Donkarai proceed- taking a holistic view holds ders. Hence, this Court feels self is not sufficient without with through email or any that, “The Judicial Officers
comprising of Justice Lalitha ers awaiting a certified copy ing towards Lakkavaram in para 6 that, “Taking into that an alternative mecha- furnishing the copy of the other electronic mode. in the State shall bring to
Kanneganti of Andhra of the order. Accordingly, a Junction. On seeing the po- consideration the fact that nism shall be evolved to ad- order.” (e) In cases of anticipatory the notice of the Registrar
Pradesh High Court minced scheme called “FASTER” lice, the inmates of the said the entire investigation is dress the plight of these un- Most significantly, what bail, the burden to verify (Judicial), the issues / hitch-
just no words to make it pret- which implies “Fast and Se- Bolero van tried to escape completed and charge sheet dertrial prisoners/accused. forms the cornerstone of the authenticity of the copy es, if any, in implementing
ty clear that, “Disposal of bail cure Transmission of Elec- from the spot, but the police is filed and further the peti- Recently, the Hon’ble Apex this notable judgment is is on the concerned Station the directions of this Court.
application without furnish- tronic Record” is being con- apprehended them and on tioner is languishing in jail Court has also taken a seri- then elaborated upon in House Officer and if neces- In case of anticipatory bails,
ing the order copy within a sidered which will be used search, they found 300 KGs from 03.09.2020, this Court ous note of this issue.” para 10 wherein it is held sary, he should obtain nec- the Police Officials shall
reasonable time will not to communicate all orders of ganja. The police seized deems it appropriate to grant More significantly, the that, “This is high time the essary instructions from the bring to the notice of the
place the accused in a bet- to concerned jail authorities the contraband, registered bail to the petitioner. How- Bench then underscores in Courts shall address these Public Prosecutor’s Office Public Prosecutor, High
ter position.” Justice Lalitha without waiting. This will the crime, arrested the peti- ever, on certain conditions.” para 9 that, “Protection of issues with a progressive and complete the process Court about their difficul-
also observed that despite certainly benefit the under- tioner and remanded him to Adding more to it, the personal liberty of an indi- approach by adopting the on the same day expedi- ties in implementing the
the conscious recognition trial prisoners/accused and judicial custody on the same Bench then further holds in vidual is undeniably a con- innovative methods. Re- tiously as per law. orders of this Court and
of several pending cases, it so has to be lauded in no un- day.” para 7 that, “Accordingly, the stitutional duty of this Court. cently Andhra Pradesh (f) Registrar (Judicial) shall the Registrar (Judicial) and
is difficult to issue the order certain terms! As we see, the Bench then petitioner/ A-2 shall be en- Our criminal justice system High Court implemented communicate copy of this learned Public Prosecutor
copies within a short period To start with, the ball is set mentions in para 3 that, larged on bail on execution of always gives paramount con- a procedure whereby the order to (1) The Principal shall place the same before
due to staff shortage. She rolling in para 1 of this latest, “Heard Sri G.Venkata Reddy, self bond for Rs.2,00,000/- sideration to the protection concerned Court Masters Secretary for Home Affairs, this Court by the next date
has rightly diagnosed the learned, laudable and land- learned counsel for the (Rupees two lakhs only) with of the rights of the accused. are uploading the daily Andhra Pradesh; (2) The of hearing i.e. 31.08.2021.”
root problem which must mark judgment authored petitioner and the learned two sureties for a like sum Article 21 of the Constitu- proceedings / orders / judg- Director General of Police, For the sake of clarity,
be addressed now without by a Single Judge Bench of Public Prosecutor for the each to the satisfaction of tion of India mandates that ments on the same day. This Andhra Pradesh; (3) The the Bench then sought to
any further delay! Andhra Pradesh High Court respondent-State.” the Court of the Additional the personal liberty of an ac- Court deems it appropriate Director of Prosecution, make it clear in para 13 that,
Needless to say, we all saw comprising of Justice Lalitha While on the one hand, the Judicial First Class Magis- cused can be curtailed only to issue the following guide- who in turn shall sensitize “These directions will be in
how just recently the Chief Kanneganti wherein it is put Bench enunciates in para 4 trate, Rampachodavaram. after strict compliance with lines. the Police Officers / Sta- force until further orders or
Justice of India NV Rama- forth that, “This petition is that, “Learned counsel for On such release, the peti- the procedure established by (a) Parties/Advocates shall tion House Officers / Public suitable Rules are framed in
na too did not lag behind filed under Sections 437 and the petitioner/A-2 submits tioner shall appear before law. Sections 438 and 439 of download the order copy Prosecutors and ensure im- this regard.
in a notable case titled IN 439 of Code of the Criminal that the petitioner has noth- the Station House Officer, Cr.P.C. ensures that the ac- from the High Court’s Web- plementation of this order.
RE: DELAY IN RELEASE Procedure, 1973 (for short ing to do with the alleged Mothugudem Police Station, cused is not deprived of his site along with case details (g) Registrar (Judicial) shall Please read concluding on the-
OF CONVICTS AFTER ‘Cr.P.C.’) seeking regular bail offence and in fact, the peti- East Godavari District, once personal liberty arbitrarily. which are available in the communicate copy of this dailyguardian.com

Law & arts

Cinematograph Amendment Bill 2021: An analysis

analysis
PRITHVIRAJ LAGURI

Cinematograph Act 1952 nary powers to the Central

establishes Central Board
o f Fi l m C e r t i f i c at i o n
(CBFC), commonly known
as the Censor Board. The
Board is responsible for is-
suing certificates to films
and has the power to deny
their certificate (Section
5A). Section 6(1) of the Act
empowered the Central
Government to re-examine
and cancel the certificate
issued by CBFC. Supreme
Court in the case of K.M.
Shankarappa diluted the
provisions of Section 6.
The court held that the
provisions of Section 6 are
restrictive of Article 19(1)(a)
of the Constitution.
The new Cinematograph
(Amendment) Bill, 2021
attempts to dilute the judg-
ment of the Supreme Court
and aims to get back its
revisionary powers. This
will provide extraordi-
Government by creating
one more level of Censor-
ship. This year Central
Government passed an
ordinance, the Tribunals
Reforms (Rationalisation
and Conditions of Service)
Ordinance, 2021 which
abolished the Film Certifi-
cation Appellate Tribunal
(FCAT). The proposed bill
also aims to convert this
ordinance into regular law
by placing it in legislation.
FCAT was solemnly estab- release. held, “words contained in the words “or to whom a Speech and Expression. The autonomy of the Cen- pression of opinion is of
lished to resolve the issues Article 19(1)(a) of the con- the main portion of Sub- certificate has been granted Supreme Court in the Ran- sor Board will be deduced. paramount importance
related to the certification stitution says, “All Citizens section (1) of Section 6 of as the case may be” as con- garajan case regarded Mov- The Central Government under a democratic Con-
of Films. With its abolish- shall have Right to freedom the Act and in the first pro- tained in the first proviso ies as an effective medium will have the power to stitution which envisages
ment, the filmmakers have of Speech and Expres- viso thereto are opposed to to Section 6(1) of the Act, to raise any general con- strike down any certificate changes in the composition
to approach High Court in sion.” Article 19(2) of the the basic structures of the are unconstitutional as cern.The proposed amend- issued by CBFC. This also of legislatures and govern-
case the Censors Board de- Constitution empowers the Constitution and as such the same are violative of ment is an attempt to over- induces the concept of dual ments and must be pre-
nies providing certification State to restrict Freedom the words “or has been the basic structures of the utilize the powers provided Censorship, limiting the served.” The abolishment
or provides with some rati- of Speech and Expression decided by” and “or as the Constitution.”Supreme under Article 19(2) of the Freedom of Speech and of FCAT will further in-
fication. This will also in- provided that the restric- case may be decided by Court in many of its Judg- Constitution. Expression. Justice Mud- crease the backlog of High
crease the burden of High tions are legitimate. Su- the Tribunal” contained in ments has discussed the If the bill becomes an holkar in Sakal v. Union Courts and will lead to an
Courts. Ultimately, this preme Court in K.M. Shan- the main portion of Sub- importance of Movies as act then it will nullify the of India rightly said, “The unnecessary delay in the
leading to a delay in a Film karappa v. Union of India section (1) of Section 6 and a medium of Freedom of Supreme Court Judgment. freedom of speech and ex- release of Films.

Monsoon MayheM
aRMy, naVy, aIR FoRCe and CoasT GUaRd
LaUnCh oPeRaTIons FoR FLood ReLIeF
ASHISH SINGH
NEW DELHI
W
ith the unprec-
edented rains
and result-
ant heavy flow of water in
various rivers, a number
of areas in many states are
likely to be impacted by
floods. Presently the dis-
tricts of Ratnagiri, Raigad,
Pune, Satara and Kolhapur
and Sangli in Maharashtra
have been affected. In order
to support the state civil
administration, the Indian
Army, Navy, Air Force &
Coast Guard launched mul-
tiple operations for flood re-
lief, search and rescue.
COAST GUARD
TEAMS IN
MAHARASHTRA,GOA
AND KARANATAKA
Indian Coast Guard has
mobilized and dispatched
adequate resources for Hu-
manitarian Assistance and
Disaster Relief (HADR)
to the affected districts
of Maharashtra, Goa and
Karnataka to work in co-
ordination with the local
administration towards
Rescue and Relief Opera-
tions. Coast Guard units
located in Maharashtra,
Goa and Karnataka are
extending all assistance
and support to the concern
District Administration
in mitigating the effect of
incessant rains. A total of
7 Disaster Relief Teams
(DRTs)have been working
relentlessly in the affected
Coastal Districts to rescue
people in distress and relo-
cate them to safe locations.
Karnataka Coast Guard
has pressed 3 DRTs(One
each in Unglijoog Island,
Kharejoog Island and in
bodojoog village) and have
rescued and relocated 161
sURFaCe-To-aIR MIssILe
dRdo CondUCTs seCond
sUCCessFUL FLIGhT TesT oF
aKash-nG In ThRee days
ASHISH SINGH
NEW DELHI
Defence Research and De-
velopment Organisation
(DRDO) conducted a suc-
cessful flight-test of New
Generation Akash (Akash-
NG), a surface-to-air missile
from Integrated Test Range,
Chandipur off the coast of
Odisha at 1145 hrs on Fri-
day. The test was carried
out against a high-speed un-
manned aerial target which
was successfully intercepted
by the missile. The flight test
has validated the function-
ing of complete weapon sys-
tem consisting of the missile
with indigenously devel-
oped RF Seeker, Launcher,
Multi-Function Radar
and Command, Control &
Communication system.
The test was carried out
amidst inclement weather
conditions proving the all-
weather capability of the
weapon system. The system
performance was validated
through the data captured
by a number of Radar, Te-
lemetry and Electro Optical
Tracking systems deployed
by ITR, Chandipur. A team
of Indian Air Force Officers
witnessed the test.
First test on Wednesday
was done successfully with-
out seeker meeting all the
mission requirements
DRDO successfully flight-
tested the New Generation
distressed people to safe
locations. Maharashtra
Coast Guard has pressed
2 DRTs(One each at Ma-
had and Chiplun) besides
pressing a Chetak helicop-
ter into Rescue operations.
These teams are working in
tandem with the Local Ad-
ministration and have res-
cued52 in number people
so far and shifted them to
safe locations. Coast Guard
has extended the facility
of its Airbase at Ratnagiri
to Indian Navy and Indian
Air Force aircraft to oper-
ate from this base for Res-
cue and Relief operations
inMaharashtra.Goa Coast
Guard has pressed 2 DRTs
into service at Ponda be-
sides launching 04 helicop-
ter sorties to drop 200 food
packets for the stranded
people towards Rescue and
Relief Operations.
ARMY LAUNCHES
OPERATION
VARSHA 21
Indian Army based on re-
quest by the civil adminis-
tration has mobilised flood
relief and rescue teams to
assist the local administra-
tion in flood affected ar-
eas. A total of 15 relief and
rescue team comprising of
troops from Aundh Mili-
Akash Missile from Inte-
grated Test Range (ITR)
off the coast of Odisha on
Wednesday. The flight trial
was conducted at around
12:45 pm from a land-based
platform with all weapon
system elements such as
Multifunction Radar, Com-
mand, Control & Communi-
cation System and launcher
participating in deployment
configuration. The missile
system has been developed
by Defence Research &
Development Laboratory
(DRDL), Hyderabad in col-
laboration with other DRDO
laboratories. The launch was
witnessed by the representa-
tives of Indian Air Force. In
order to capture flight data,
ITR deployed a number of
Range stations like, Electro
Optical Tracking System,
Radar and Telemetry. The
flawless performance of the
entire weapon system has
been confirmed by complete
flight data captured by these
systems. During the test, the
missile demonstrated high
t h e da ily gua r dia n
sat u r day | 2 4 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i
tary Station and Bombay
Engineer Group based at
Pune have been deployed
overnight in affected areas
of Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and
Sangli. These columns will
be assisting the civil admin-
manoeuvrability required
for neutralising fast and
agile aerial threats. Once de-
ployed, the Akash-NG weap-
on system will prove to be a
force multiplier for the air
defence capability of the In-
dian Air Force. Production
agencies Bharat Electronics
Limited (BEL) and Bharat
Dynamics Limited (BDL)
also participated in the trials.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath
Singh has congratulated
DRDO, Indian Air Force
and the Industry on the sec-
ond successful flight test of
Akash-NG in a span of three
days. He said the develop-
ment of this state-of-the-art
missile system will prove to
be a force multiplier for air
defence capabilities of In-
dian Air Force. Secretary,
Department of Defence R&D
and Chairman DRDO Dr G
Satheesh Reddy congratu-
lated the teams for success-
ful trial of Akash NG which
is capable of intercepting
high speed and agile aerial
threats.
defence guardian 7
istration in rescue of local
population stranded in sub-
merged areas till normalcy
is restored. Lt Gen JS Nain,
GOC-In-C Southern Army
stated that the Indian Army
stands with people in these
BILaTeRaL exeRCIse
IndIan naVy exeRCIses WITh RoyaL naVy
CaRRIeR sTRIKe GRoUP
ASHISH SINGH
NEW DELHI
Indian Navy participated
in a three-day bilateral Pas-
sage Exercise (PASSEX) with
Royal Navy Carrier Strike
Group (CSG)-21 led by HMS
Queen Elizabeth in the Bay
of Bengal from 21st to 23rd
July. The bilateral Maritime
Exercise was designed to
hone the ability of the two
navies to operate together in
the maritime domain. The
maiden exercise between
Indian Navy and the Royal
Navy’s latest Aircraft Car-
rier, HMS Queen Elizabeth
included participation of
CSG-21 comprising Type 23
Frigates and an Astute-class
submarine in addition to the
other surface combatants. In-
dian Navy was represented
by IN Ships Satpura, Ranvir,
Jyoti, Kavaratti, Kulish and a
submarine. Anti-Submarine
Warfare capable Long Range
Maritime Reconnaissance
Aircraft P8I also participated
in the exercise.
With the presence of the
CSG-21 in the Indian Ocean,
the ongoing exercise has
afforded excellent oppor-
tunity to engage over the
entire spectrum of maritime
operations including ASW,
Anti-Air and Anti-Surface
warfare. The exercise also
witnessed the maiden par-
ticipation of the F 35 B Light-
ning which operate from
the deck of HMS Queen
Elizabeth. Regular IN-RN
testing times and all assis-
tance will be provided by
the Army in the affected
areas. The flood relief col-
umns include engineering
efforts and medical teams
from Army for providing
necessary first aid and med-
icines to locals being evacu-
ated from flood prone areas.
INDIAN NAVY
MOBILISES RESCUE
TEAMS FOR FLOOD
interactions over the years
have augmented their pro-
fessional content, interop-
erability and adaptability in
the ever-changing security
scenarios. The inter-opera-
bility achieved over the years
has ensured a quantum jump
in the complexity and scale
of professional exchanges
which is being further en-
hanced by the presence of the
Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike
Group in the Indian Ocean.
Both the UK and India
are in the midst of a carrier
renaissance, with the CSG
spearheading the UK’s Joint
Expeditionary capability.
The joint endeavour provides
tangible security to friends
and a credible deterrence to
RELIEF AND
EVACUATION
With large parts of Maha-
rashtra, Karnataka and
Goa reeling under extensive
flooding of both urban and
rural areas caused by inces-
sant rains and consequent
overflowing of riverbanks
and dams over the last few
days, the Western Naval
Command of the Indian
Navy has mobilised con-
siderable resources to pro-
those who seek to undermine
global security. An Indian
warship will also exercise
with the Royal Navy off the
coast of the UK in August.
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir
Tony Radakin said, “This
is a month that will see the
Royal Navy and Indian Navy
meet and work together in
two oceans – beginning in
the Indian Ocean as the UK
Carrier Strike Group arrives
for the first of multiple UK-
India exercises and events.
Later this summer, both will
participate in a separate ex-
ercise in the Atlantic Ocean.
The deployment is proof of
the strength, energy and
significance of the growing
relationship between our
vide assistance to State and
District administrations of
affected areas.
Maharashtra: Based on
request received for assis-
tance from civil authori-
ties, a total of seven Naval
Flood Rescue Teams (FRT)
from Mumbai have been
deployed to Ratnagiri and
Raigarh districts commenc-
ing Thursday evening. One
Seaking 42C Helicopter
from, Mumbai was de-
ployed for aerial reconnais-
sance at Poladpur/Raigad
during on Friday. One ALH
helicopter from Goa was
positioned at Ratnagiri for
relief/rescue Friday morn-
ing, Additional Flood Res-
cue Teams are being main-
tained on a high degree of
readiness at Mumbai, for
immediate deployment.
Karnataka: At Karwar,
Indian Naval Emergency
Response Team (ERT) com-
prising 17 Divers, five Gemi-
nis, associated equipment
such as Life Jackets and Life
Buoys was deployed in the
morning hours on Friday
in response to a request for
assistance from the District
Collector, Uttara Kannada.
District to rescue people
stranded near Kadra Dam,
Mallapur Kurnipet, Kaiga
due to heavy rains / floods.
The team was able to suc-
cessfully evacuate over
100 stranded people at Sin-
gudda and Bhaire villages
whilst rescue efforts are be-
ing continued at Kaiga and
Mallapur. The rescued per-
sonnel were shifted to safe
locations in coordination
with the district adminis-
tration. In an another swift
Search and Rescue mission
undertaken at Dongri in
Gangavalli river belt, eight
personnel stranded in two
hotels were air lifted by Na-
val Advanced Light Heli-
navies.”Chief of Joint Op-
erations, Vice Admiral Sir
Ben Key said, “The UK and
India are key defence part-
ners and the Carrier Strike
Group’s deployment is a
symbol of Global Britain in
action, showcasing our com-
mitment to India, the Indo-
Pacific region, and confront-
ing threats to international
order.”Commodore Steve
Moorhouse, Commander
United Kingdom Carrier
Strike Group, mentioned,
“As HMS Queen Elizabeth
and her Carrier Strike Group
cross the Indian Ocean, it is
only natural that we should
exercise with the Indian
Navy. At the strategic level,
the exercise is a muscular
expression of the closer de-
fence partnership that Prime
Ministers Johnson and Modi
envisaged when they agreed
the UK-India Roadmap 2030
earlier this year.”
As part of its maiden op-
erational deployment, the
copter (ALH), when local
attempts for rescue were
unsuccessful. The Naval
ALH was launched from
Goa and successfully com-
pleted rescue of the strand-
ed people in over two hours.
Goa: In addition to pro-
viding aerial support to
Karwar rescue efforts, A
sortie was made to Ganjem
near Ponda to check and
verify the receding water
levels. Another ALH has
been deployed at flood af-
fected Ratnagiri to under-
take Search And Rescue
missions.
IAF FLOOD RELIEF
OPERATIONS:
RATNAGIRI
On Thursday, at around
1:30 pm, the IAF received
a message for requirement
of flood relief operations in
Chiplun and Khed towns
of Ratnagiri district Maha-
rashtra. When the weather
permitted, a Mi-17 IV heli-
copter got airborne from
Mumbai for Ratnagiri at
3:40 pm and landed at Rat-
nagiri at 5 pm. Bad weather
did not permit any further
operations in the evening.
Operations have resumed
today with the helicopter
deployed at Ratnagiri along
with another one flown in
from Mumbai. An NDRF
team of 10 personnel with
approximately one-ton
load has also been flown
in by IAF to Ratnagiri. On
Friday, a helicopter from
Ratnagiri got airborne at
11:35 am, carried out recon-
naissance and rescued two
people before landing back
at Ratnagiri. The IAF is also
positioning two Mi-17V5s
and two Mi-17s for flood
relief operations. Another
helicopter is standing by at
Pune for any emergent re-
quirement.
CSG will sail over 26,000
nautical miles, engaging
with 40 countries from the
Mediterranean to the Indo-
Pacific and back again. The
fifth generation HMS Queen
Elizabeth carrier, at 65,000
tonnes, is the largest surface
vessel ever constructed in
the UK. Taller than Niagara
Falls, her propellers gener-
ate the power of 50 high-
speed trains. She leads six
Royal Navy ships, a Royal
Navy submarine, a US Navy
destroyer and a frigate from
the Netherlands in the larg-
est concentration of maritime
and air power to leave the UK
in a generation. It is equipped
with the fifth generation
F-35B Lightning multi-role
aircrafts. They are being
jointly crewed by the Royal
Air Force, Royal Navy and
the US Marine Corps. From
defending democratic values
and tackling shared threats,
to seizing new trade opportu-
nities through engagements
with Singapore, the Repub-
lic of Korea, Japan, India
and others, the deployment
marks a step-change in UK
engagement in the region.
The UK is already investing
significantly in the region by
seeking ASEAN Dialogue
Partner status, kicking off
negotiations to join the Com-
prehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific
Partnership (CPTPP) and
rapidly progressing trade
talks with Australia, New
Zealand and India.
8 policy & politics
Industry & BusIness
An analysis of the New
Labour Code and its impact
The effectiveness of the New Labour Code—which were supposed to see the light of the day this year but
deferred by a year due to Covid-19 pandemic—will be tested in due times when the same will be implemented.
analysis
DEVANSH MALHOTRA ALONG &
MAHI SHARMA
INTRODUCTION
Labour, enumerated as en-
try 24 & 25, falls under the
Concurrent List of the Con-
stitution of India. There-
fore, both Parliament and
state legislatures are com-
petent to enact laws regu-
lating labour. The Union
Government stated that
there are more than 100
state and 40 central laws
regulating various aspects
of labour such as resolu-
tion of industrial disputes,
working conditions, social
security and wages, etc.
Pursuant to the recom-
mendations of the Second
National Commission on
Labour, which submitted
its report in June, 2002, the
union legislature passed
The Occupational Safety,
Health and Working Con-
ditions Code, 2020 (here-
inafter as the ‘Code’). It
was re-introduced in Lok
Sabha by the Union Minis-
ter of Labour and Employ-
ment, Mr. Santosh Kumar
Gangwar, on September 19,
2020, with the new chang-
es which lead to the with-
drawal of the Occupational
Safety, Health and Work-
ing Conditions Code, 2019
(hereinafter as ‘OSH Code,
2019’). As the OSH Code,
2019 was referred to the
Department related Parlia-
mentary Standing Commit-
tee on Labour, which sug-
gested substantial number
modifications to the code
and also in the light of Co-
vid-19 pandemic, the Union
Government also proposed
certain changes to the OSH
Code, 2019. The Code con-
solidates 13 existing Acts
regulating health, safety,
and working conditions,
which include the Factories
Act, 1948; the Mines Act,
1952; and the Contract La-
bour (Regulation and Abo-
lition) Act, 1970. The OSH
Code intends to amalgam-
ate, simplify, consolidate
and rationalise more than
600 provisions of the 13
laws mentioned in a single
code consisting of around
143 provisions.
EXTENT
The Code emphasizes on
health, safety and welfare
of the workers employed
in various sectors such as
industry, trade, business,
manufacturing, factory,
motor transport under-
taking, building and other
construction works, news-
paper establishments,
audio-video production,
plantation, mine and dock-
work and service sectors.
It also aims to provide a
broader legislative frame-
work, thereby, enabling
the workmen to secure
just and humane working
conditions and, enables
the government at both the
union and the state level to
make rules and regulations
in consonance with the
emerging technologies and
developments in the indus-
trial sector.
IMPLICATIONS
OR CHANGES IN
THE LABOUR
JURISPRUDENCE
The Code aims at reducing
the burden of the employ-
ers as it replaces multiple
registrations under vari-
ous enactments to a single
common registration, one
licence and one return,
ultimately creating a cen-
trally consolidated data-
base which will be helpful
under ease of doing busi-
ness policies of the Govern-
ments. The Code places an
obligation on employers to
conduct free annual health
check-ups for their employ-
ees, to ensure the disposal
of hazardous and toxic
waste including e-waste, to
issue an appointment letter
to every employee on their
appointment in the estab-
lishment.
CONSTITUTION OF
ADVISORY BOARDS
AT BOTH NATIONAL &
STATE LEVEL
The Code states that the
Central Government shall
constitute a National Occu-
pational Safety and Health
Advisory Board which will
discharge the functions
conferred on it by or un-
der the Code and to advise
to the Central Government
on the matters relating to
standards, rules and regu-
lation to be framed under
the Code. The State Gov-
ernment shall constitute a
similar type of board to be
called the State Occupa-
tional Safety and Health
Advisory Board which will
advise on the matters aris-
ing out of the administra-
tion of the Code as may be
referred to it by the State
Government.
CONSTITUTION OF
SAFETY COMMITTEES
The appropriate govern-
ment may require a consti-
tution of safety committees
in certain establishments,
and for a certain class of
workers, consisting of rep-
resentatives of the employ-
er and the workers, howev-
er, the number of employer
representatives shall not
exceed the employee repre-
sentatives. The function of
these committees will be to
act as a liaison between em-
ployers and employees. In
any establishment which
is a factory employing 500
workers or more, or a fac-
tory engaged in hazardous
work employing 250 work-
men or more, or a build-
ing or construction work
employing 250 workers
or more, or a mine where
more than 100 workmen
are employed in ordinary
course; the employer will
appoint safety officers ac-
cording to the qualifica-
tions prescribed by the ap-
propriate government.
In another welcome step
the daily guardian
saturday | 24 july 2021
new delhi
towards providing some
semblance of social secu-
rity to the unorganised sec-
tor workers, the new Code
provides for the establish-
ment of a Social Security
Fund. Any establishment
having 100 workers shall
have a canteen facility and
that should be provided
by the employer. For the
appointment of welfare
officers under the Code,
the minimum number of
workmen in any establish-
ment is 250.
CONDITIONS OF
EMPLOYMENT
Workers cannot be sub-
jected to work for more
than 6 days in a week, one
day off every week and will
be entitled to one day off
for every 20 days of work.
Workers or Employees are
entitled to receive wages
for the work done overtime
at the rate of twice the nor-
mal wage rate as per the
scheme of the Code. Under
the Code provisions have
been made for the employ-
ment of female employees
by the employer for work-
ing beyond 7 pm till 6 am
(basically night shifts) with
their consent and condi-
tions relating to safety,
holiday, working hours.
Furthermore, the women
workers are entitled to The Code under section 2(1)(zx)(a)(i) contains health and safety provisions for workers in plantations
be employed in all estab-
lishments for any kind of measuring at least five hectares. In its report on the OSH Code, 2019 the Department related
work including hazardous Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour noted an assurance of the Union Ministry of Labour
ones subject to the condi-
tions that the appropriate and Employment, that workers in plantations measuring less than five hectares would be covered in
government may require
the employer to provide
the Code on Social Security, 2020. However, the definition of a ‘plantation’ in the OSH Code, 2019
adequate safeguards prior retained the five-hectare threshold. This recommendation has not been incorporated in the Code.
to their employment in
hazardous or dangerous
operations. The Code pro-
vides that the wages to the
audio-visual workers, shall of why there is a special tor in the case of factories, on the powers of inspec- gives the appropriate gov- of one year at a time. But
be disbursed electronically treatment for this category. or by the revocation of a tors envisaged by ILO ernment the power to ex- the drawback here is the
and this will ensure trans- Furthermore, the disputes license for contractors, the Conventions ratified by In- empt any establishment for regressive approach of the
parency, thereby helping in related to the contracts of Code under section 119 (6) dia, the provisions such as a period to be specified in legislature when it defines
keeping and maintenance audio-visual workers will provides for an administra- free entry at any time and the notification providing the phrase ‘Public Emer-
of the records as well. be resolved by the dispute tive appellate authority to without prior notice and as exemption. Further, it also gency’, in explanation to
resolution mechanisms be notified by the appropri- frequently as possible to se- enables the state govern- section 128 of the Code, as
FALLACIES IN THE devised by the appropriate ate government. However, cure effective application of ments to exempt any new a state of a grave exigency,
NEW CODE government, if still the dis- it does not provide a proper laws by the establishments factory from any or a group whereby, the security of the
As the Code consolidates pute remains unresolved judicial mechanism for of Labour Inspection Con- of provisions of the Code union or any part of territo-
the provisions of the 13 leg- the parties may invoke the hearing disputes under the vention, 1947 are diluted by in the interest of creating ry is threatened due to war,
islations related to the sub- jurisdiction of the Indus- code but provides a quasi- the passing of the Code. more economic activity and or external aggression, or
ject but at the same time it trial Tribunal established judicial one to be notified employment. Therefore, internal disturbance. Im-
is unable to simplify them by the appropriate govern- by the appropriate gov- EXCESSIVE the appropriate govern- plications of this could be
or be all inclusive while ment under the Industrial ernment as opposed to the DELEGATION ment has wide discretion in that in near future the gov-
dealing with the matters Disputes Act, 1947. earlier regime, for example OF POWERS & providing exemptions un- ernment may invoke the
dealt by those laws. These The Code under sec- the functions and constitu- REGRESSIVE der the Code. Every factory internal disturbance condi-
include provisions on reg- tion 2(1)(zx)(a)(i) contains tion of a labour court were APPROACH TOWARDS generates employment, tion to suspend the appli-
istration, duties of employ- health and safety provi- clearly laid down under In- DEFINING KEY TERMS and public interest could be cation of the code and this
ers, and filing of returns. sions for workers in plan- dustrial Disputes Act, 1947. Under the Constitution, interpreted broadly. Also will be a severe blow to the
It also includes additional tations measuring at least It can be argued that the bar the legislature is the law the exemptions could cover rights of the workers across
provisions which are ap- five hectares. In its report on civil courts from hear- making organ and the ex- a wide range of provisions India.
plicable to the specific on the OSH Code, 2019 the ing matters under the code, ecutive is responsible for including those related Also, this situation could
types of workers such as Department related Par- deny aggrieved persons an their implementation. It to hours of work, safety be done for indefinite time
contract labour, inter-state liamentary Standing Com- opportunity to challenge is often observed that the standards, retrenchment as the maximum life for
migrant workers, audio- mittee on Labour noted certain issues such as relat- legislature enacts a law process, collective bargain- a notification issued after
visual workers, or those in an assurance of the Union ing to the contractual terms on a specific entry/subject ing rights, contract labour. invoking this provision is
mines, beedi & cigar work- Ministry of Labour and in case of contract labour within its domain cover- The low numeric thresh- one year, but this would be
ers, construction workers, Employment, that work- before a civil court of com- ing the general principles olds with respect to the circumvented by re-issuing
factories, and plantations. ers in plantations measur- petent jurisdiction, as such and policies, and further, number of workers would the notifications.
Major Safety Issues side- ing less than five hectares matters may be governed delegates detailed rule- create adverse incentives
lined & some sectors left would be covered in the by the terms of contract making to the government for establishment sizes to CONCLUSION
out Code on Social Security, falling under Indian Con- thereby, allowing expedi- remain small, in order to The (in)effectiveness of the
For example, the Code 2020. However, the defini- tract Act, 1872. The only ency and flexibility. How- avoid complying with la- Code and the rules made
requires that any person tion of a ‘plantation’ in the judicial remedy available to ever, time and again the bour regulation and there- thereunder, will be tested
suffering from deafness or OSH Code, 2019 retained a person aggrieved is to file courts have reiterated that fore the real intention of in due times when the same
giddiness may not be em- the five-hectare threshold. a writ petition before the certain essential functions the legislature will remain will be implemented. These
ployed in construction ac- This recommendation has relevant High Court, as the and powers should not be unfulfilled as the laws will reforms were to see the
tivity which involves a risk not been incorporated in High Court is vested with delegated to the govern- not be applicable to them. light of the day this year but
of accident. The question to the Code. power of superintendence ment which include, fram- It is worth noting that the due to another deadly wave
be posed here is why such a over the courts and tribu- ing the legislative policy on Factories Act, 1948 only of the Covid-19 pandemic,
general safety requirement NO PROPER FORUMS nals functioning under its a particular subject matter permitted exemptions from the Union has deferred the
is not provided for all work- FOR APPEAL territorial jurisdiction. to determine the principles its provisions during the same by another year. Also
ers or why the legislature The Code bars the civil of the law. Also, it is the cases of public emergency, passing of these new laws
ignored such an important courts from hearing any WEAKENING OF THE general principle that any and such exemptions were is nothing short of packing
aspect. Similarly, the Code matters under the code. In INSPECTION SYSTEM rule made as a delegated limited to three months. the old & aged wine, into
provides for registration some matters where per- The Code weakens the in- legislation should also re- The Code under its scheme some new bottles and dis-
of employment contracts sons are aggrieved by the spection system in numer- main within the scope of also envisages similar pro- playing them, so that it may
for audio-visual work- orders of authorities such ous ways. To make matters the parent legislation. The vision but however, the life attract some new custom-
ers, raising the question as, Inspector-cum-facilita- adverse, the code is silent Code in section 127, also of such exemptions is that ers to the tavern.
 t h e da ily gua r dia n
sat u r day | 2 4 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i spiritually speaking 9
lookinG inwards
discourse

What does it really God understands

mean to be a Rajyogi?
B.K. CHANDRU
you very well
The key words for the
relationship with the
self are attention and
awareness. Having a
harmonious relation-
ship with the self means
to be constantly aware
that I am an eternal be-
ing, a being of divine
light, a soul. My origi-
nal nature is peace, pu-
rity, love, happiness and

R
ajyoga is not just
practice of medi-
tation for half an
hour or an hour. To be a
Rajyogi means bringing
all the understanding
and attainments into
a complete way of life.
Just as a ‘raja’, a king, be-
haves as a king through-
out the day - in thoughts,
words, actions and rela-
tionships — even when
he is not sitting on his
throne, so too a Rajyogi
keeps a check on his or
her behaviour, words,
tone. A simple life and
royal manners are the
credo of a Rajyogi.
Yoga means connec-
tion, relationship. A Ra-
jyogi has four principal
relationships or connec-
tions. Relationship with
the self, with God, with
people, and with nature.
truth. I use the body
while remaining aware
of my true nature.
The key words for a
relationship with God
are faith and love. God
is love. I remember God
with love and put the
wisdom of God into my
life for the benefit of the
self and others. This
makes me worthy of re-
ceiving love and respect
from all.
When it comes to re-
lationships with all oth-
ers, then the key words
are mutual respect and
healthy communica-
tion. It is so much easier
not to create any conflict
with anyone, than to try
to mend the damage
that conflict can cause.
Share only good news.
Bad news and gossip
spoil the atmosphere
and draw others into
negative, heavy energy.
Be light, make big things
small, be honest and
transparent, and in this
way we gain the trust of
all.
Finally, in our rela-
tionships with nature
the key word is learn-
ing. Despite all that we
have done to our natural
world, nature just keeps
on bestowing. We need
to learn from nature
how to keep on bestow-
ing with love for all and
cooperate in bringing
peace and benevolence
into the world.
All the elements have a
lesson for us:
a) Water: It has flex-
ibility, the ability to flow
around obstacles and
adjust to situations. Wa-
ter has coolness.
b) Earth: The earth is
tolerant of all that we do,
just like a mother. We
need to learn to tolerate
the behaviour of others,
to be patient and make
sure to cause no pain.
c) Air – It teaches us to
be light. We must make
sure to maintain the
right attitude and not
make the atmosphere
around us heavy with
negative feelings and
conversations. We need
to learn to uplift others
by lightening the bur-
den they are carrying in
their hearts.
d ) Fi r e : It b r i n gs
warmth. Intense fire
transforms. Intense fire
removes the alloy from
gold. We must transmit
warmth with a big heart
and compassion.
e) Ether – It is unlimit-
ed, vast. Let us have un-
limited hearts that can
accept everyone, with
no exceptions. We must
not limit our love and
kindness to just one or
two, but hold everyone
as worthy of our regard
and good wishes.
Rajyoga is a way of life
— a life of understand-
ing, compassion, atten-
tion and benevolence.
B.K. Sudha is General Di-
rector, Brahma Kumaris
Center of Spiritual Devel-
opment, Moscow.
DADI JANKI
Never have the thought that you
do not want a part in the drama of
life. That is not possible. It is good
to understand these things in de-
tail. Understanding allows you to
remove the sorrow. It makes you
a self-sovereign and makes others
this, too.
What is needed is to prepare the
self internally for whatever scenes
may come. Attention to the self like
this removes all worry and concern.
Then, even extreme situations ap-
pear as side scenes – they will come,
and they will go. Your mind will stay
free, happy and powerful and this
is what you will share with others.
The only thing we need to do is
remember “I am a soul and around
me is the game of life playing itself
out.” Then, whatever role comes
up for me to play I will play it very
well, no longer confusing the actor
with the act.
The one who remembers this is,
in God’s eyes, a hero. God says, ‘Un-
derstand the part I have given you to
play.’ But though I do not see myself
as God sees me, I should never say
‘How?’. God is the Director and He
understands me very well. Realise
this clearly: God understands you
very, very well.

life mantra

to overcome fear, empower the soul last can lead to Alzheimer’s
or Parkinson’s disease in the
elderly.
Once we resolve to over-
come fear, three steps help
in attaining our goal: ac-
ceptance, listening, and in-
trospection.
First, we need to accept
that we are afraid of some-
thing. Some people camou-
flage their fears with brava-
DR. GIRISH PATEL
do, but that does not help in
The mind has two great the long run. Even if we have
enemies – fear and worry. subtle fears, acknowledging
Everyone experiences some them is half the battle won.
kind of fear. Fear can be of Only when we acknowledge
many types, and sometimes our fears do we take steps to
it assumes serious dimen- overcome them.
sions. It immobilizes us and The second step is to lis-
we are unable to do any- ten. Our fears carry a mes-
thing. The mind is paralysed sage: they tell us that we
or confused and we cannot need to change. How do we
think sensibly, because of listen? We can note the kind
which even simple tasks be- of thoughts that are pass-
come difficult. ing through the mind and
Fear adversely affects the become aware of our inner
entire body. It reduces im- world. We need not take
munity, upsets the digestive out time from our schedule
system, and impairs the flow for this: we can check the
of blood to the brain. The quality of our thoughts and
feelings while we are walk-
ing or doing work that does
not demand much mental
focus. Once we have recog-
nised the cause of our fear,
we can take the next step of
introspection.
When we analyse our fears
we find that most of them
are unfounded. Some people
are afraid of flying. Thou-
sands of planes fly each day,
how many of them crash?
The risk of getting killed in a
plane crash is negligible. On
the other hand, every year
a number of people die in
their sleep. Do we stop sleep-
ing because of that? So how
rational is the fear of flying?
When we think logically like
this, we can overcome many
fears.
Living in the present also
helps. Fear and worry are
mostly linked to past events
or an imaginary future. In-
stead of making the most of
the present, many people
spend their time agonising
over the past or envisioning
future scenarios. This can
lead to depression or anxi-
ety disorders. Worrying is
not the same as planning.
Once we make a plan we are
done with it and at ease, but
worrying is repetitive and
draining.
Another way to get rid
of fear is to put away fear-
ful thoughts in a mental
‘box’. When such thoughts
arise, we tell ourselves
that this is not the time for
such thoughts, and put
them in the box to be dealt
with later. Once we make a
habit of doing this we will
not be gripped by fear. Our
productivity also increases
when we stop wasting time
worrying, and if the mind
is busy with useful things
there is less scope for waste-
ful thoughts to arise.
We can face our fears bet-
ter if we consciously make
an effort to be logical, calm,
and detached. When we are
emotional, we become con-
fused and unable to respond
effectively.
The most powerful tool
for removing fear from our
life is meditation, or linking
up with the Almighty. Fear
arises when the soul is lack-
ing something – it could be
peace, power, knowledge,
or something else. When we
recognise the fact that we are
souls, children of God, and
remember Him, the ocean
of peace, power and love, we
begin to experience these
virtues. Regular practice of
meditation fills the soul with
these qualities. Once the
soul gains the clear discern-
ment that comes with purity,
becomes stable in peace, and
is full of power, the lacunae
that provide space for fear
vanish, and we are liberated
from fear.
Dr. Girish Patel is a well-known
psychiatrist based in Mumbai,
and a student of Rajyoga with
the Brahma Kumaris.

deep within

A THOUGHT
FOR TODAY
When I look at the world
through a social justice lens, I
see oppressors and oppressed.
Through a psychological lens, I
see victims and abusers. Through
a spiritual lens I see ‘beings’ who
want peace, but are trapped in
old patterns of hurt and revenge,
and numbed by materialism.
I am able to see each person
through the lens of respect and
compassion, no matter how
twisted their journey may seem.
When I develop tolerance, I can
respond with respect in every
situation rather than aggression
or anger. Today let me see the
world through a spiritual lens
and grow my capacity to tolerate
and respect.
seekinG the inner silence
ANTHONY STRANO
Most of us feel some emptiness
within, or a neediness or dis-
content, and yet we do not real-
ise that what we are hungering
for is the experience of inner si-
lence. This inner silence is able
to fill and satisfy us, giving us
the inner strength and ability
to heal ourselves by putting us
in touch with the real meaning
of life.
Deep within, we all remem-
ber the meaning of life. We
could think of these sketchy
memories as the few remain-
ing strands of a thread of life.
Sometimes, little everyday
situations – such as an un-
expected moment of silence
during a busy day – jerk this
strand, stirring up an innate
feeling that reminds us, “I
am something more. I can be
something else.”
This tug of the thread kin-
dles a desire to search, to find
out what that “something
more…something else” is.
Perhaps that is why you are
reading this page. A hope stirs
deep within – the thought that
we are not bound by anyone
or any situation. It reminds
us of what we are at the core
– not what we are as a parent,
spouse or child or because of a
job or special talent, but what
we are because each of us is
a self that lies beyond the so-
cial, physical and emotional
realms. We might think of it as
a point of eternity – a point of
unique spirit within the uni-
verse, which is eternally me.
So, the inexplicable pull of
that thread is accompanied by
the feeling that “there is some-
thing I must reach, something
I must know and (even more
important) something I must
be.”
Now, we ask, how can I catch
hold of this thread that will
guide me and enable me to
clearly see the difference be-
tween the dead end of the noisy
world and the open door of real
life? “Simple”, a little voice
whispers. “It seems difficult
and laborious, but it is not; it
is as easy as stopping for a mo-
ment and becoming silent.”
A PEACEFUL THOUGHT
It is not so difficult. All I have to
do is to give myself permission
to stop – to stop for a moment
in this hectic spinning called
life.
Take a moment, or two or
three, and be still and silent.
Sense the quietness of the mo-
ment – and slip into a place
of no thinking, become com-
pletely still. In the stillness
become aware of the real, true
you. Let this awareness appear
quietly, but brilliantly. After a
few moments, as you return
to your daily activities, try to
retain this consciousness, this
original state of being, which is
serene and complete, the real
you.
The late Anthony Strano was an
author and Rajyoga teacher with
the Brahma Kumaris.
 10 lifestyle t h e da ily gua r di an
sat u r day | 2 4 j u ly 2021
new de l h i

Food
SNIPPETS
Scaling new heightS
Café Delhi Heights completes 10 years and is all set to keep growing.
OF LIFE
Noor ANANd ChAwlA 

NOOR ANAND CHAWLA

New delhi
I T
n an industry where
brands come and go at
the speed of lightning,
Cafe Delhi Heights has a
firm foothold as one of the
capital’s favoured culinary
spots. Its unique concept,
the unfailing loyalty of its
customers, as well as the
consistency in its food and
product offerings, have en-
sured sustained growth for
this brand. Ten years since
the opening of its first out-
let in Gurugram, Café Delhi
Heights now has 25 outlets
across Delhi, Gurugram,
Mumbai, Pune, Chandigarh,
and Noida, with plans to ex-
pand further.
Described as ‘cool and
hippy, fun and witty’, this
café chain has an enduring
appeal for the young and
old alike. The brainchild of
Vikrant Batra and Sharad
Batra, Cafe Delhi Heights
is perhaps the first all-day
casual neighbourhood café
in Delhi-NCR, offering a
quirky yet comfortable and
vibrant ambiance. Vikrant
Batra is an established name
in the Indian Food and Bev-
erage Industry, known for
his inventive concepts and
stand-alone ventures, the
most popular of which is
Cafe Delhi Heights.
On the successful comple-
tion of 10 years, Batra says,
“I live Café Delhi Heights
in each and every moment
of my life. If someone asks
me my age, I measure it in
terms of 10 years of the Café,
25 outlets and 1000 team
members. What began as a
dream is my life now. I am
immensely happy about in-
troducing Café Delhi Heights
to India which became a pio-
neer in many different ways.
We introduced true Café cul-
ture to the city, encouraging
a space for happy and casual
dining. There is no formal-
ity of any kind here, and of
course our vast menu caters
to every palate.”
The iconic Juicy Luicy
burgers are an invention of
the Café Delhi Heights team,
and they ran with this con-
cept to ensure high engage-
ment of their clientele. By
introducing simple elements
like displaying the ‘Number
of Burgers Sold’ on slates
in every outlet, they were
able to create a buzz unlike
competitor brands. “Café
Delhi Heights is the result of
the positive attitude and the
immense gratitude of my
team along with a focus on
consistency, which is what
our customers love about
us the most. We began in an
era where Café was a new
term—people thought Cafés
were synonymous with cof-
fee shops—but by introduc-
ing our vast menu we turned
this entire idea on its head,”
shares Batra with a smile.
As he was always confident
about Café Delhi Heights as
a concept, Batra feels validat-
ed in his belief after complet-
ing a decade in the industry.
However, even he did not an-
ticipate the kind of customer
loyalty, positive feedback
and dedicated following that
the brand has garnered over
the years. He shares, “sur-
viving and expanding in the
industry while sustaining
the essence of the brand
despite continuous innova-
tion, has been our mission
since inception. Food has
always been our forte and
the key feature of Café Delhi
Heights. We believe in un-
derstanding the palate of
the audience, while innovat-
ing and experimenting with
it in a comfortable manner.
However, we believe it is the
wholesome experience we
offer our customers with
live gigs, awesome cocktails,
Vikrant Batra
welcoming interiors, and a
value for their money, that
has made repeat patrons of
our brand.”
With 8-10 new outlets
lined up to open in the next
couple of years, expansion is
most definitely on the cards.
Earlier this year, the brand
introduced Bakehouse
Comfort as its in-house bak-
ery, which has been received
well.
To celebrate the 10-year an-
niversary, Café Delhi Heights
launched campaigns on so-
cial media for customers to
redeem vouchers, and win
meals simply by participat-
ing and winning contests.
These are mostly focussed
on creating nostalgic mem-
orabilia around the brand.
Additionally, every food de-
livery customer receives a se-
cret code enabling them for
20% discount on their next
order via direct delivery.
Batra signs off with, “Café
Delhi Heights has always
struck a chord with custom-
ers by doing things efficient-
ly. With excellent dine-in
options already in place, we
also stepped up our delivery
model last year with the pan-
demic in mind. Great food
has always been our prior-
ity and now relevant safety
precautions have become a
major priority for us too.”
The writer is a lawyer who pens
lifestyle articles for various
publications and her blog www.
nooranandchawla.com. She
can be reached on nooranand@
gmail.com.
Faith healing for
incurable diseases
his column often highlights faith and energy healers,
each of whom have a distinctive forte. The very con-
cept of faith healing works best when one personally
resonates with the energy of the healer. Success is guaran-
teed only if there is strong belief in the outcome of success.
Hence, I hesitate to refer to healers as performers of miracles
or magic—but there is indeed something miraculous about
an incurable disease being almost entirely cured.
Mohan Sadashiv Joshi has for years been known as a
healer of diseases that have no treatment. A quick search
online takes you back nearly 30 years to an article where
Joshi, steeped in concentration, hand placed on the head of
a patient, is front and centre. The title reads ‘The Man Who
Healed Ambani’. As astonishing as it sounds, this simple
bank teller, with no history of spirituality, found his calling
when a man told him that he was destined to be a healer.
In the last 39 years—ever since he cured his boss of a re-
curring ganglion on the wrist—Joshi has healed lakhs of
people. At first operating out of a small space in Nariman
Point, Mumbai, and travelling around India to hold healing
camps, he now functions from his home in Thane, Maha-
rashtra. He can heal 30-40 people in a single day, a distinc-
tion not many lay claim to. Though he accepts donations,
he does not charge for his services except to cover travel ex-
penses when he conducts healing camps in different cities,
but even this amount is waived off for poor and deserving
candidates.
Joshi says, “I’m but a small man—the healing power comes
from above through me. Healing is a permanent cure—oth-
erwise how could it be divine? As a healer, I deal with prob-
lems that doctors cannot deal with.” There is no disparity in
healing, and Joshi works for the poor as well as the rich and
famous. Apart from Ambani, he was in the news last year
for helping actor Sushant Singh Rajput overcome bouts of
depression in November of 2019, well before the actor’s un-
timely demise.
However, his most recent case is perhaps his most as-
tounding—the rapid physical improvement in a 16-month-
old child suffering from Multiple Mitochondrial Dysfunc-
tions Syndrome. This rare disease affects the mitochondria
in our body, which are the energy-producing structures of
cells. Symptoms develop early in life and may include en-
cephalopathy, poor muscle tone, seizures, developmental
delays, and other severe health problems. Unfortunately,
most affected babies do not live past their infancy. Treat-
ment can vary depending on symptoms, but there is no
known cure in the world.
“This boy’s parents reached out to me in February this
year. I have been using my Yogic Healing method on the
child and his parents have found 80 percent improvement
in just three months,” shares Joshi candidly. Despite never
having heard of this genetic disorder, Joshi was not deterred
from attempting treatment through his proprietary yogic
healing.
Recurring issues like migraine, insomnia, depression,
chronic stomach-aches and tinnitus or ringing in the ears,
are his specialty which he claims to be able to heal very
quickly, as they are functional diseases. Organic diseases,
on the other hand, take anywhere from 6-9 months. His
methodology of healing sounds simple on the face of it - he
places one hand on the head and one on the back of the pa-
tient, all the while praying to God to improve the situation.
“I just become quiet and surrender for 5 minutes and I can
feel the energy leaving from me. The patient feels like there
is a hot water bag on those points or some sort of infrared
device. The higher the level of their pain, the hotter it feels to
them,” he explains.
When the pandemic put a stop to physical healing ses-
sions, he began teaching virtual healing workshops. His
students tune in for these exclusive classes from around the
world for 3-4 hours on fixed afternoons. Priced at Rs 7,500,
these sessions are affordable and popular.
Ultimately, faith healing is just that—a manifestation of
one’s own faith. With no side effects and no huge monetary
investment, it is a methodology that appeals across classes,
genders and ages, and Mohan Sadashiv Joshi is one of its
most eminent ambassadors.
The writer is a lawyer who pens articles for various publications
and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on
nooranand@gmail.com.

A musician is never alone

MUSIC
MUSINGS
NITHYA RAJENDRAN
As I sat for my online con-
cert last month, I was com-
pelled to deliberate on how
Covid isolation has changed
the tapestry of the classical
music concert scene. From
the grand stage with fancy
acoustics and live instru-
ments, we have now moved
to the Zoom or Facebook
interface with our electronic
sur peti, the itabla pro app
and our electronic tabla box.
In some cases, artists call
some accompanists home
to accompany them on the
tabla and the harmonium
for the live relay. But still it is
a very different scene from
the feel of a live concert with
applause and cheer of live
audiences.
Even so, I noticed some
things still remain the same.
Artists still have found a way
around to reach their audi-
ences and collaborate with
other artists albeit virtually.
Which means the instinct
for music and artistry to be
innately collaborative and
social still remains. This
made me ponder about the
life of a musician and how
it is shaped from childhood
till late adulthood as a senior
artist.
As a child one is always
brought into the fold of mu-
sic by a parent and a guru.
The child remains under
the aegis of the guru when
she learns to grow her musi-
cal practice through training
and influence of peers. There
is an unsaid rule that over-
rides competitiveness and
rivalry. The love for music
itself and the desire to ex-
perience the grandeur and
divinity of ragas is supreme.
As the artist grows as a mu-
sician, she learns to sing with
the support of the accompa-
nying artists on the tabla and
the harmonium or in the case
of Carnatic music, the violin-
ist and the mrindangist. The
three artists on stage learn
to blend their music into a
wholly fulfilling experience.
Music is always taught and
performed in social and col-
laborative settings.
Even as the student grows
into a mature artist, he or she
attracts more people to the
process of making his mu-
sic. Organisers, audiences,
students, instrumentalists,
artists from other genres,
etc. The artist while on the
one hand grows in his indi-
vidual artistry, also grows
in a community of art lovers
and fellow artists. This testi-
fies to the unifying powers
of music. It testifies to the
power that has kept music
alive and growing in this
lockdown.
Never before has music
been so easily accessible.
Never before have artists had
the access to audiences all
over the word so easily and
so quickly. Never before has
music been so omnipresent.
The musician is, was and
will never be alone because
she is engaged in something
which is intrinsically all en-
compassing and divine. The
nature of music is to connect
people through the experi-
ence of collective emotions.
Of joy, of sorrow, of happi-
ness, of longing, and of grief
and love. The musician is
bound viscerally to human-
ity through his audiences,
through his fellow artists,
and through the music itself.
In this fact lies the beauty
of music. A gift that music
offers to those who choose
to engage with it.
A musician will always re-
main from beginning to end
in a bubble of positive ener-
gies of people around. A mu-
sician is never alone.
The writer is a vocalist of both
Hindustani and Carnatic Clas-
sical music, with over three
decades’ experience. She is also
the founder of Music Vruksh, a
venture to make classical acces-
sible for its aesthetic and well-
ness benefits.
 t h e da ily gua r dia n
sat u r day | 2 4 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i entertainment 11
KartiK aaryan to play a
JaCqueline Fernandez
pilot in Hansal MeHta’s sHares sultry piCtures
FroM latest pHotosHoot
‘Captain india’
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan is all set to headline
NEW DELHI: Setting the temperatures soaring on social media, Bol-
lywood diva Jacqueline Fernandez shared stunning pictures from her
latest photoshoot, accompanied with a powerful message for society.
RSVP and Baweja Studios’ ‘Captain India’, which will be directed Taking to her Instagram handle, Jacqueline shared a couple of pictures
by ace filmmaker Hansal Mehta. The upcoming film is inspired by where she could be seen posing effortlessly in a bathroom while wrap-
one of India’s successful rescue missions from a war-torn country. ping her body with a bright reddish-orange blanket. In the pictures,
Kartik took to his Instagram account to unveil the first look poster Jacqueline is seen sporting a high glossy make-up look while
of ‘Captain India’ which features him in a never-before-seen avatar. flaunting her flawless skin. With her luscious locks open, the
The actor captioned the post, “When a man goes beyond the call of actor showcased her toned body on Instagram.
duty. With great pride and honour, we bring to you #CaptainIn- She captioned her photoshoot pictures with a strong mes-
dia @hansalmehta sir @rsvpmovies @bawejastudios #Ronni- sage about self-love. “You.. you’re not ugly.. society is #livey-
eScrewvala #HarmanBaweja.” ourlifenow,” she wrote. With the post hitting the photo-shar-
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Harman Baweja, the in- ing platform, it garnered more than one million likes. Scores
spiring action-drama will star Kartik as he steps into the shoes of of fans chimed into the comments section and left multiple
a pilot who spearheaded the operation and displayed exemplary hearts and raising hands emoticons in awe of the post.
bravery and courage in the process. “Damn right,” one user wrote. “The moment we re-
Speaking about the upcoming film, Kartik said, “Captain India is move context, we find our own process,”
inspiring and thrilling in equal measure and it gives me great pride wrote another. Meanwhile, on the work
and honour to be a part of such a historic chapter of our country.” front, Jacqueline has her kitty full with
“I have immense respect for Hansal Sir’s body of work and this some interesting projects like, ‘Cirkus’,
was the perfect opportunity to collaborate with him,” Kartik fur- ‘Bhoot Police’, ‘Kick 2’, ‘Ram Setu’, A
‘ ttack’
ther said about the filmmaker who is best known for projects like and ‘Bachchan Pandey’.
‘Aligarh’, ‘Shahid’ and ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’. She will also be a part of South star Kich-
National-award winning filmmaker Mehta said the film will revisit cha Sudeep’s multilingual film ‘Vikrant
a moment where a man goes beyond his own pain. He said, “Captain Rona’, for which she recently shot a dance
India which is inspired by true events will revisit a moment in time number. Additional details regarding her
where a man goes beyond his own pain and suffering to save thou- character in the film have been kept under
sands. I’m happy to collaborate with Ronnie Screwvala and Harman wraps. — Correspondent
Baweja on the film and I look forward to working with Kartik.”
Talking about the film, producer Ronnie Screwvala said that
‘Captain India’ is “not just a story of one of the biggest humani-
tarian operations ever but also about the indomitable human
spirit, one that rises above failure despite the odds.” He added,
“Hansal Mehta is one of the finest filmmakers of our time and
has always beautifully captured the true essence of humane stories.
Kartik Aaryan’s fans are surely in for a treat as he steps into all-new
territory with ‘Captain India’.” — Correspondent

aJay devgn
gets nostalgiC as ‘singHaM’
CloCKs 10 years
MUMBAI: Reminiscing the movie that sa-
luted the spirit of today’s frontline warriors
- the cops - actor Ajay Devgn on Thursday
got nostalgic as his action-thriller ‘Singham’
clocked ten years.
Taking to his Twitter handle, the ac-
tor shared a video that featured different
shots of the film. Along with the video, he
tweeted,”Jismein hai dum, toh fakt Bajirao
Singham. Singham sirf ek film nahin hai,
Singham ek jasba hai, emotion hai, ek sa-
laam hai uss police force ke naam jo apni
parwah kiye bina, imandaari aur sachhi
nishtha se apna kaam iss desh ki seva mein
kar rahe hain,” (Singham is not just a film,
it is a passion, an emotion, A salute to the
police force who are doing their work in the
service of this country with honesty and
true devotion, regardless of their concern)
“I want to thank the team and all the fans
for the super successful 10 years of Sing-
ham. And dedicate it to all the frontline
workers out there,” the actor added.
The video shared by the ‘Golmaal’ actor
features different shots from the film, fea-
taHira KasHyap
turing the actor in the uniform of unveils Her latest sHort
a cop. It showcases Ajay with Kajal
Aggarwal who essayed the role of FilM ‘quaranteen CrusH’
his love interest in the movie. MUMBAI: After the success of ‘Toffee’ and ‘Pinni’,
Directed by Rohit Shetty, ‘Sing- author-filmmaker Tahira Kashyap Khurrana unveiled
ham’ is the first installment of the her third short film titled ‘Quaranteen Crush’ as a part of
‘Cop Universe’ and a remake of the Netflix’s anthology series ‘Feels Like Ishq’.
2010 Tamil film ‘Singam’. The film Tahira penned a heartwarming post to express her
features Devgn in the lead role as gratitude to the entire team. She captioned the post, “My
Inspector of Police (S.H.O.), Ba- happy place! Dekhna zaroor aaj #feelslikeishq @netflix_
jirao Singham, and Prakash Raj as in par! Had the most amazing time making #quarante-
the antagonist. The sequel to the encrush big thank you to the entire team.”
action-thriller, ‘Singham Returns’ Having shot for the short film in just four days in
was also released in the year 2014. Chandigarh between the first and second lockdown,
Inspired from the flick, a spin- ‘Quaranteen Crush’ depicts an innocent love story be-
off, titled ‘Simmba’, starring Ranveer tween two teenagers with the innate quirky zing of Ta-
Singh as the titular officer, ACP San- hira. Utilising her quarantine to the fullest, Tahira has
gram Bhalerao hit theatres in 2018. A sec- been working on different things through the lock-
ond spin-off, ‘Sooryavanshi’, too, is slated down, including her book ‘12 Commandments of Being
for release in the near future, featuring A Woman’, that released last year, ‘Quaranteen Crush’
Akshay Kumar reprise the role in the and her upcoming book ‘7 Sins of Being A Mother’.
lead, with both Devgn and Singh repris- Tahira is also gearing up for her upcoming project,
ing their respective characters Singham for the same the author-filmmaker was seen doing
and Simmba in a climactic sequence. a recce in Chandigarh. — Correspondent
— Correspondent

Vidya Balan and Raj Arjun starrer ‘Natkhat’ exposes

deep-rooted patriarchy in Indian society
MURTAZA ALI KHAN
Short films offer a great platform
for young and upcoming film-
makers to showcase their tal-
ents. But, making a short film is
always a tricky proposition. For,
the financial prospects are quite
uncertain. However, the one thing
that drives such productions is
passion as the constant threats
and fears often serve as fuel that
end up stirring the deepest artistic
urges of the filmmaker. One thing,
however, is more or less certain.
What these films lack in scope
they more than make up for it in
terms of vision. Of late, the short
films are becoming more and
more mainstream with big names
from the Hindi film industry join-
ing the bandwagon. Also, the pan-
demic has given a further fillip to
this emerging trend of making
short films with established stars.
Natkhat, co-written and directed
by Shaan Vyas, is a fine example
of what storytellers can achieve
using the shot film format.
Natkhat stars Vidya Balan in the
role of a mother who takes it upon
herself to teach her young son an
important lesson about gender
equality that he will never forget.
The short, co-produced by Vidya
Balan and Ronnie Screwvala,
has already traveled to many
international film festivals. Ever
since its premiere at the ‘We Are
One: A Global Film Festival’ last
year, Natkhat has found a spot
on many most-anticipated short
films lists. The short film is now
being streamed by Voot Select as
part of Voot Select Film Festival—
a direct to OTT Film Festival that
will showcase more than 15 criti-
cally acclaimed movies across
genres over an eight day period.
The Shaan Vyas directorial suc-
ceeds in singularly pointing why
despite so many reforms and new
laws patriarchy has still managed
to endure in our society. Let’s try Will you crucify him for this?” begins long before they even real-
and examine the story of Natkhat Now, the servile mother (essayed ize it. By the time they grow up
to understand this better. The by Vidya Balan) in a ghunghat is into adults the damage is already
short follows Sonu (portrayed listening to the conversation from done. If, however, the parents can
by Sanika Patel) who one day a distance. She is not even allowed make conscious efforts to educate
along with his friends at school to sit and eat with the men of the their children about the impor-
decides to teach a girl a lesson family even as she serves them tance of gender equality then the
she would never forget. At din- hot food and rotis. She can only dark influences of patriarchy can
ner time when the grown-ups eat inside her room after they are be greatly mitigated.
discuss a female politician who is finished. But even from within There is so much that remains
causing them some trouble, Sonu the ghunghat we can sense her unsaid in Natkhat and so the onus
offers them a suggestion with the dread and uneasiness on hearing is on the actors to convey the same
ghastly admission of the sinister her son’s ghastly admission of an non-verbally and they are up to
act he committed at school. The act he committed at school. She the mark. In particular, Vidya Ba-
bunch of boys had taught the is deeply disturbed by the toxic lan, Raj Arjun and young Sanika
girl who had dared to hit one of machismo her young son with Patel need to be commended for
them a lesson by dragging her an impressionable mind is in the their brilliant performances in the
to the woods and threatening process of inheriting from those short film. It’s really heartening
her to cut off her pigtail. When around him. So she takes matters to see a leading Bollywood actress
he offers the same advice to the into her own hands and decides like Balan taking such keen inter-
grown-ups at the dinner table in to teach her son the principles of est in a project like Natkhat and
order to teach the female politi- equality using the age-old art of not just as an actor but also as a
cian a lesson, the father (essayed bedtime stories. producer. While there still there
by Raj Arjun) gets up in a fit of Natkhat is a powerful reminder is still a long way to go before the
rage to scold his young son but that the root cause of all oppres- short films start enjoying the same
he is stopped by the grandfather sion that women are subjected reverence and recognition that’s
(played by Atul Tiwari). The old to in our society is a direct result generally associated with feature
patriarch consoles his enraged of patriarchy. What children see films, Natkhat proves that short
son by reminding him about the while growing up has a lasting im- film format is more than capable
boy’s gender privilege: “Boys will pression on their impressionable of delivering a strong message in
be boys. What do you expect? minds. Their conditioning already a most effective manner possible.
12 sports t h e da ily gua r dia n
sat u r day | 2 4 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i

tokyo olyMpics final odi

fernando,
Wait’s over, let the rajapaksa propel
sri lanka to
Games begin despite consolation Win

Covid pandemic
CORRESPONDENT
COLOMBO

Avishka Fernando (76)

and Bhanuka Rajapaksa
(65) smashed fifties to

Japanese athlete Naomi Osaka becomes the first tennis player to light the ensure Sri Lanka did not
lose the third and final

Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games. ODI against India despite
a late wobble on Friday.
With this win, Sri Lanka
CORRESPONDENT
opened their account in
TOKYO
Mary koM, Manpreet lead the series. India won the

A
fter much debate on
the fate of the Tokyo
Olympics thanks to
the COVID-19 situation, the
Games were finally declared
open on Friday as fireworks
kickstarted the Opening
Ceremony here at the Japan
National Stadium.
With the emergence of CO-
VID-19, many athletes had to
train for the showpiece event
in isolation and this was the
highlight during the Open-
ing Ceremony as performers
showed how they have been
connected by their hope and
shared passion. After the fire-
works and lighting show, In-
ternational Olympic Commit-
tee (IOC) President Thomas
Bach was welcomed on the
stage. The IOC had decided
that only six officials will be
allowed per contingent.
Japanese athlete Naomi
Osaka on Friday became the
first tennis player to light the
Olympic cauldron during the
Opening Ceremony of the To-
kyo Games. Osaka had the
distinct honour of serving
as the final torchbearer of the
Olympic Torch Relay, lighting
the cauldron inside the Olym-
pic Stadium for the Olympic
indian contingent
CORRESPONDENT
TOKYO
Five-time world champion
Mary Kom and men’s hock-
ey captain Manpreet Singh
led the way as India made
its way at the Parade of Na-
Tokyo Olympics 2020 opening ceremony begins Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka
at Japan National Stadium, in Tokyo on Friday. tions during the Opening
Ceremony of Tokyo Olym-
pics on Friday here at the
Japan National Stadium.
Back home, Union Minis-
ter for Youth Affairs and
Sports, Anurag Thakur
was also seen waving the
Indian flag as the Indian
contingent made its way
into the stadium. Twenty-
five members from the In-
dian contingent attended
the Opening Ceremony
amid COVID-19 concerns
Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021. physical distancing. At the off the ceremony showed hosting of the Olympics even
Osaka, 23, is a four-time ma- beginning of the ceremony, Tokyo’s elation at winning when the host nation has
jor champion in tennis who the Japanese flag entered the the bid to host the Games and been witnessing a surge in
is making her Olympic debut. Olympic Stadium and after then the stadium went into Covid-19 infections and total
She won her fourth Grand that, the light show began. darkness as the 2020 event Games-related cases have
Slam title at the Australian This year’s Olympics will had to be postponed due to risen to 106. Even though
Open earlier in 2021. feature a record 33 sports the Covid-19 pandemic. the Opening Ceremony
During the ceremony, comprising 339 events. The There have been questions kicked off, protestors took
parading athletes observed initial video which kicked raised in Japan over the to the streets to voice their
Hockey player Manpreet
Singh and boxer
M.C. Mary Kom leading
Team India's biggest ever
Olympic contingent on the
opening ceremony of Tokyo
Olympics, on Friday.
in the Japanese capital.
Ankita Raina was added
to list of players who at-
tended the event on Friday
while Manika Batra and
Sharath Kamal from Table
Tennis team did not attend
the Ceremony.
unhappiness of the Games
going ahead in Tokyo.
The torch relay had
recently concluded its
journey through Tokyo
having spent most of the 15-
day final leg of its nationwide
tour off roads and away from
the public.
ODI series 2-1 after failing
to secure a win in the dead
rubber on Friday. The
hosts defeated India by
three wickets on the back
of some stunning perfor-
mances. Chasing 225, Sri
Lanka got off to a steady
start scoring 35 runs in
the first five overs. Krish-
nappa Gowtham claimed
his maiden international
wicket when he dis-
missed Minod Bhanuka
in the sixth over.
However, Sri Lanka
ensured a solid start as
they raced to 55/1 in 10
overs. Avishka Fernando
and Bhanuka Rajapaksa
held the ground as they
stitched a 109-run stand
for the second wicket.
Fernando smashed his
fifth half-century to put
Sri Lanka in control of
the chase in Colombo.
Meanwhile, Rajapaksa
also registered his maid-
en ODI half-century to
aid the hosts’ chase. In-
dia bounced back with
Bhanuka Rajapaksa and
Dhananjaya de Silva’s
wicket but that didn’t
Sri Lanka win final ODI
against India by 3 wickets.
dent Sri Lanka’s hopes.
However, the visitors
again wobbled when they
lost Charith Asalanka and
skipper Dasun Shanaka
in successive overs.
In the last ten overs,
Sri Lanka needed just 10
runs but Rahul Chahar
struck to give visitors
another blow. However,
Akila Dananjaya and Ra-
mesh Mendis ensured the
hosts get over the line in
the 39th over.
Earlier, Praveen Jayaw-
ickrama and Akila Dan-
anjaya picked had three
wickets each to restrict
India to 225. India were all
out for 225, with Prithvi
Shaw and Sanju Samson
scoring 49 and 46 runs
respectively. Suryakumar
Yadav scored 40 before
getting trapped in front
of the stumps. None of the
India batters reached a
half-century in the game.

suMMer olyMpics HigH Hopes

We need to be careful against I think we will be able to win

neW Zealand, says Manpreet
CORRESPONDENT
TOKYO
The Manpreet Singh-led Indian men’s
hockey team will make a cautious start
to their campaign in the group stage at
the most-awaited Olympic Games To-
kyo 2020 as they take on dark horse
New Zealand in their first Pool A match
on Saturday.
Grouped along with the defending
Olympic Champions Argentina, the
formidable Australia, New Zealand,
Spain and Japan, World No.4 India’s
task will be cut out to ensure a spot in
the quarter-final. Playing at the same
venue, in the north pitch, back in 2019
at the FIH Test event -- Ready Steady
Tokyo Hockey, India had beaten New
Zealand 5-0 in the final.
However, in the round-robin stage,
New Zealand had got the better of In-
dia with a narrow 2-1 victory. “They
Indian hockey captain Manpreet Singh.
are a team we need to be careful of,”
expressed Manpreet Singh who will
be India’s flag bearer at the Opening
Ceremony on Friday. He further em-
phasized that: “The team must stick
to basics, ensure we execute our plans
properly and not get complacent at any
point in the game.”
Manpreet’s caution to his team also
comes from past experiences while
playing against this team which will
be led by the experienced Blair Tar-
rant who has 217 international caps. In
2018, when New Zealand toured India
ahead of the FIH Men’s World Cup in
Bhubaneswar, India had tasted consid-
erable victories (4-0, 3-1, 4-2) against
this team but had gone down 2-3 in the
crucial semi-final at the 2018 Common-
wealth Games.
“New Zealand is a very good team,
and I have a lot of respect for the way
they play. They are mentally very tough,
and they never give up. This attitude of
theirs makes them a dangerous oppo-
nent,” expressed India chief coach Gra-
ham Reid. “They have a very skilful for-
ward line and honestly at the Olympics,
world rankings don’t really matter. So,
it will be important for us to start well
on Saturday,” Reid said. With the team
getting good training hours at the Oi
Hockey Stadium, Reid believes the team
is ready for the group stage challenge.
8-12 medals, says Yogeshwar
CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Former India grappler Yo-
geshwar Dutt on Friday said
he is confident of the Indian
contingent coming back
with 8-12 medals from the
Tokyo Olympics. The Tokyo
Olympics will be declared
open later on Friday as the
Opening Ceremony takes
place with boxer Mary Kom
and men’s hockey captain
Manpreet Singh as India’s
flag bearers. “We have high
expectations from our ath-
letes. The entire country is
praying for our athletes and
we hope that we win a lot of
medals. I think we will be
able to win 8-12 medals this
time around. Hockey, bad-
minton, wrestling, all our
athletes are in good shape,”
Yogeshwar told.
“I think we can win 2-3
medals in wrestling and if
God permits, there will be
good things to see in wres-
tling. All our athletes are
hungry to win medals. I
believe that we will have a
better showing than the Lon-
don Olympics,” he added.
Former India weightlifter
Karnam Malleswari echoed
Yogeshwar’s sentiments
and said she also thinks
that India would come
back with 10-12 medals.
“We are thinking positively,
if we look at the performance
in the past years, Mirabai
Former India grappler
Yogeshwar Dutt.
Chanu has been performing
well and I have high hopes
from her. It depends a lot on
planning, this time around,
Mirabai has planned well
and we hope that she will
win the medal. I think we
will be able to win 10-12
medals,” said Malleswari.
Twenty-five members from
the Indian contingent will at-
tend the Opening Ceremony
to be held on Friday at the
National Stadium amid the
COVID-19 concerns in the
Japanese capital. Ankita
Raina has been added to
the list of players who will
attend the event on Friday
evening while Manika Batra
and Sharath Kamal from the
Table Tennis team will not
attend the ceremony, IOA
Secretary General Rajeev
Mehta confirmed on Twitter.
Amit, Ashish Kumar, Mary
Kom are among the eight
boxers who will be present
at the function along with
six Indian officials.

great expectations

tokyo olyMpics, day 2: big day for indian contingent

CORRESPONDENT
TOKYO
Tokyo Olympics which was
declared ‘open’ on Friday
with a toned-down Open-
ing Ceremony, will see the
spotlight shift to sporting
activities and the second
day of the Games is one of
the biggest for the Indian
contingent.
Saturday can indeed prove
to be one of the most re-
warding days for the county
at the Olympics. The day
possibly holds the prospect
of winning six medals. Mi-
rabai Chanu who is the sole
Indian representative in
weightlifting will kickstart
her campaign on Saturday.
Competing in the 49kg cat-
egory, her real challenge lies
in China’s Zhihui Hou, but
looking at the recent form
of the Manipur-based lifter,
it is safe to say that Chanu
can indeed come back with
a medal.
The mixed pair competi-
tion of archery will also get
underway on Saturday and
after the ranking matches
on Friday, Pravin Jadhav
and Deepika Kumari would
be paired alongside each
other. Deepika might have
practised with Atanu Das
heading into the tourna-
ment, but who knows the
pair of Deepika and Pravin
might just emerge as the
darkhorse.
The qualification matches
will kickstart at 6 am on
Saturday and it will be fol-
lowed by the medal matches
at 10:45 am.
In shooting, men’s 10m air
pistol and women’s 10m air
pistol events will be held.
Apurvi Chandela and Elave-
nil Valarivan are the two
Indian shooters who have
emerged as the frontrun-
ners in the women’s 10m air
pistol events after having a
good showing in the events
this year.
Saurabh Chaudhary is
someone who everyone has
put their money on to bring
back gold in the men’s 10m
air pistol event. South Ko-
rea’s Jin Jong-Oh is expected
to be a thorn in Chaudhary’s
way, but looking at the re-
cent form, it is safe to ex-
Deepika Kumari.
pect the Indian youngster
to emerge as the winner of
gold.
On Saturday, shuttler
Sai Praneeth will start his
men’s singles campaign
while the doubles pair of
Chirag Shetty and Satwik-
sairaj Rankireddy will also
open their campaign. The
matches will showcase the
form these three shuttlers
have been in, and one will
be able to gauge how far the
badminton contingent can
go in the Games.
Both men’s and women’s
hockey teams will start
their bid to win gold at the
Games on Saturday. While
the women’s team clashes
against the formidable
Netherlands, the men’s lock
horns against darkhorse
New Zealand.
India will also make its
presence felt in tennis, judo
and rowing on Saturday,
hence the very second day of
the Games will help the fans
gauge whether the nation
can come back with medals
in double digits or not.
Meanwhile, ace sprinter
Hima Das on Friday wished
all the best to the Indian ath-
letes who are going to fea-
ture in the ongoing Tokyo
Olympics.
Earlier this month, Hima
Das sustained a hamstring
injury while running in the
100m heats during the Na-
tional Inter-State Athletics
Championships. The ace
Indian sprinter said she will
watch all the games and will
cheer for athletes. Hima is
also confident that Indian
athletes will script history
in the ongoing Games.
“Indian athletes will script
history this time. Unfortu-
nately, I got injured at the
last moment, never mind
I’ll watch the Games and
will cheer for our athletes.
I just want to say everyone
should cheer for our athletes
as it will provide them extra
motivation,” Hima Das told
ANI.
Lovlina Borgohain (69kg)
along with fellow boxers
will feature in Tokyo Olym-
pics. The men’s boxing side
comprises number one and
Asian Games champion
Panghal (52kg), Manish
Kaushik (63kg), Vikas Kris-
han (69kg), Ashish Kumar
(75kg), and Satish Kumar
(+91kg).
The women’s squad in-
cludes Mary Kom (51kg),
Simranjit Kaur (60kg), Lov-
lina (69kg), and Pooja Rani
(75kg).
“It’s an honour for Assam
that Lovlina Borgohain will
compete in the Tokyo Olym-
pics. She is my old friend
and I’m sure she will bring
a medal for India and As-
sam,” said Hima Das. ANI